Welcome to chapter 4 of betrayal, as always thank you to those who Reviewed.
Please note that I have gone back to previous Chapters and added dates! That's right, I was an idiot and have created more headaches for myself, but now you can see how long it is between chapters and stuff.
And possible future time skips become much easier to show.
Note: PRW means Post-Reaper-War
Anyway that's pretty much it, so.
~ I don't own mass effect, bioware and EA does ... fuck ~
Location: Citadel
Date: Unknown
Shepard groaned in pain, it felt as though someone had set fire to her skin with plasma.
She attempted to move her left arm, but all that did was cause her to lose consciousness from the unbelievable pain that caused.
Some time later, she woke to her body being shook awake, turning her head, Shepard looked up at Anderson, he looked better than she felt, though she had little idea as to what state she was in herself.
"How do I look?" Her felt voice rough and dry.
"Looks like a broken left arm, ah, and you also have burns on your arms, chest, and legs" he stated, while shuffling up to meet her eyes.
"Cerberus cybernetics should deal with the broken bones if they are set straight, uah, and the burns can be dulled with medi-gel" Shepard grunted, trying to sit up.
Anderson stopped her, pulling out a medi-gel canister and injecting it into her broken left arm, waited a few seconds for it to kick in, before pulling it straight, the pain was muted thanks to the medi-gel, though it still, in Zaire's opinion, it hurt like a bitch.
Anderson helped her up, "stay here for a moment Zaire" he moved to stand "I'll go find the controls for the arms, you follow when you can move, child."
He handed her another capsule of medi-gel, before turning and limping off towards a door.
"Well Shepard" she muttered to herself "congratulations, first person to survive a direct HMD shot" she grunted as she shot the medi-gel into herself, "lucky, fucking, me."
A few minutes passed and Shepard sat in silence, taking the time to look around and get her bearings, Zaire decided that she was under the presidium tower, in keeper rooms most likely, as everything was square and gray.
Realising that she could move without feeling like she was dying all over again, Shepard attempted to get up, pain shot though her left arm again, but it was bearable.
Getting to her feet Zaire started to walk towards the door that Anderson had gone through, the door however, refused to open and Shepard realised that she was trapped.
Taking another look around, she ignored the empty transport rails and what appeared to be containers, she didn't want to know what was in them.
Spotting a blue glow in one corner, Shepard moved slowly towards it. It was a hidden elevator, used most likely to transport Keepers around fast enough to keep up with the changing conditions of the Citadel.
Stepping into the boxed space, Zaire stared at the holographic control panel, one of the icons was blinking at her, hitting it with her right hand, the elevator began to rise.
After 3 minutes passed the door opened, the elevator had brought her to the Precidium rooftop, she could see Anderson below her, typing into the control panel that would open the Citadel arms.
"Anderson!" The glass was obviously sound proof, as no matter how many times she yelled, Anderson didn't react. Spinning around to the elevator she watched the door close, she was trapped again.
Looking back down Shepard's eyes widened in horror, The Illusive Man, he was walking up the steps towards David, and Zaire realised quickly that she couldn't warn him. Realising her lack of time she hit on the glass but David didn't hear that either, running out of options and seeing the illusive man holding a heavy pistol she brought her right fist back and she slammed it into the glass ... nothing, not a chip or crack.
Not bothering to stop, Zaire brought her fist back again and punched as hard as she could ... a small crack appeared in the glass.
It wouldn't be enough, Anderson, hearing either the Illusive Man coming or Shepard's desperate punches, turned, and was promptly shot in the chest twice.
Zaire Shepard screamed, brought back her fist, her body a glow of pure blue, and brought her fist down like a hammer. The glass blew out beneath her, and she fell downwards, her fist, still glowing blue, slammed into the the Illusive Mans upturned, surprised face.
Rage burning in her, out of control, she flattened the remains of The Illusive Man to the ground, and kept punching until she was hitting the metal floor.
It took her a moment to realise what she had done, and for the previously ignored pain to hit back with crippling force. Barely able to stand, Zaire part crawled, part limped over to David Anderson.
"Christ Zaire, where the hell did you come from?" He was bleeding from 2 gun shot wounds to his upper chest, he wasn't going to last long.
"Don't give up on me Sir, you didn't on me." Shepard ignored the question, desperately hoping to stop the bleeding.
"Shush child, I'm done, to be honest with you I'm surprised I made it this far." Anderson sighed, pushing her hands away gently.
He coughed, blood staining his lips, "you've got a mission to finish Zaire, you have T'Soni waiting for you back down in London."
"You think I should be thinking about the mission, when the only other person I have ever considered a father to me, is dying in front of me?"
David smiled, "I've been waiting years to hear that Zaire, ever since you joined the Alliance."
He coughed again, far more violently this time. "I can die happy knowing that when I meet your parents, I can tell them with pride of what you've managed to do."
Zaire, who was crying by this point, simply smiled, "I'll see you on the other side Dad, whenever that is."
Admiral David Anderson died with a smile on his face, even as his eyes lost their light.
Zaire Shepard, watched as the only other person on her life she had considered a father, die in front of her, and with a quick wipe of the eyes she stood up, and headed for the Holographic Interface that controls the Citadel arms.
Limping up to the screens Shepard placed her hand on the correct tab, before selecting the icon to open the arms.
The whole Citadel shook slightly as the arms disengaged their locks and pulled back the armoured plating.
Shepard watched in awe as the combined fleets pushed the reapers out of the way, letting the Crucible dock with the Citadel.
The icons on the holographic interfaces disappeared, and a singular, New symbol appeared in their place. Tears still falling down Zaire Shepard's face, she placed her hand on the icon ... and everything went white.
28.02.0005 PRW
Location: Space - on Route to Illium
Zaire Shepard screamed as she awoke, her fist striking out and hitting solid metal.
It took her a few moments to realise that she had been dreaming, her breathing was laboured as she tried to calm down. She had dreamed of the Crucible being fired, and it still worried her, because she couldn't remember anything after the white light.
She simply remembers waking up in hospital 5 years later, God, 5 years, Liara must have been devastated by the Alliance's lie.
Getting up, Zaire moved to enter the bathroom to take a quick shower, but paused when she spotted the bulkhead, there was a fist imprinted hole in it.
Looking at her right hand, she flexed it, no major damage at all, just some scraped skin.
Christ, she wasn't really human anymore, she was a robot with flesh over the top and a broken mind in control.
Entering the shower, Zaire hit the controls to turn it on and stepped in, washing away the sweat and tears.
Even as her body started to feel better her mind continued to replay the nightmare in detail. Nothing after the white light, nothing at all, it scared her sometimes, as she had to guess that she received the Reaper implants during that time.
Why was it always her who had to live? Couldn't she finally rest without some crazy organization, run by bigots, always reviving her?
Hell, Kahlee must have been devastated, you would have to be blind and deaf to miss the obvious attraction they had for each other, David had spoken of her fondly, fuck, she didn't know if Kahle live through the war or not.
And Mordin, he was old, for a salarian anyway, but he had deserved to see the fruits of his labor, the Krogan were slowly realising that they could do more than fight and destroy.
Legion, the poor thing, he had just gained proper individuality, only to sacrifice it and himself to give it to his people, from what she had seen on the extranet, the Geth collective were finally sorting their issues out with their creators.
Thane and Kaiden, both had died protecting something important to the mission, if only they could see the new council now.
The Citadel Council, she had read of the changes made and she was happy to see that they were finally learning from their mistakes, and getting properly organised.
The old system was gone away with, and species who 'considerably contribute to the galactic community' are given full council seats. Embassy's would be given to new species and as they integrated themselves they would move towards getting a seat themselves.
No more Overlords of the Galaxy who thought they knew everything.
The biggest change however had come in the form of the Galactic Military, a separate organisation ran by a military board and funded by the new Council.
They would act as peace keepers and first aid responders, and they would be in charge of keeping the border between the Terminus Systems and Council Space free of Pirates and Slavers.
They would also act as the force unleashed on any hostile engagements on new species believed violent. Leaving the Turian Navy to patrol Asari, Salarian, Krogan and Volus borders.
Zaire thought it was a excellent idea, as the multi- species Millitary would not be biased by any one government, while also giving the Citadel Council new teeth.
Finishing her shower Zaire wrapped a towel around herself and reentered her small cabin, she had been picked up a few days after Wrex made his call, and now she was on her way to a space Station to transfer over to Liara's personnel ship.
Zaire sighed as she once again spotted the dent in the bulkhead, she just hoped there was something left of the person Liara loved in her for when they finally reunited.
Location: Archturus
Date: 23.02.0005 PRW
Ashely Williams sat in the Captins cabin on board the Normandy SR2, waiting for Intelligence to give them a lead.
While waiting, the team was going over every scrap of data they had on Zaire Shepard, in the hopes of coming up with strategies for taking her down that don't involve killing her in the process.
Her thoughts were interrupted when her comm. pinged, taking a look, she saw it was from EDI, opening it she asked "got anything for me EDI?"
"I believe that Shepard has gotten off of Earth, and is currently on Tuchunka"
"Then tell Joker to set course and get us there as fast as possible" Williams was already out of her chair and in the elevator.
"How did you find her?" She asked, hitting the button for the command deck.
"I ran facial recognition software through ports in the area of last sighting, and I got a match, she was boarding a empty cargo holder heading for Tuchunka"
"Excellent work EDI" she replied, walking up to the command post.
"Any thoughts to her goals?"
"She may be attempting to contact Urnot Wrex, and gain access to resources or contacts, as I believe that Shepard will be trying to find Doctor Liara T'Soni."
Ashley grimmised, "you think Shepard still has enough of herself to want to find her?"
"It is the most likely scenario, as Doctor T'Soni has always been a buffer for Zaire when she becomes overwhelmed or agitated."
Williams sighed, "Liara fell off the grid years ago, if anyone can find her, it's Shepard."
Vega walked up next to her "what's are ETA?"
"At best speed we can be there in 6 GS days." Answered EDI.
"She's going to move fast Williams, I hope we can catch her on Tuchunka, but I'm not sure it'll be that easy."
"Nothing ever is Vega, but as a Spectre I can call in a few favours and keep her from getting near council space without causing a massive panic."
27.02.0005 PRW
Unknown Location
"SHE'S WHAT?" Liara T'Soni was having either the worst, or best day in years, though right now, all she could think of was one thing, 'Zaire Shepard was alive'.
Her mind was trying to find an explanation to how, and why it was now that Shepard had come back. She had once again began to believe that Zaire had truly passed on to Athames embrace, and then she appears on Tuchunka, of all places.
She was crying, though she barely noticed, she had also fallen to her knees at some point, though she couldn't remember when. Her love, her bondmate, was alive, and the Alliance had lied to her, lied to her face about the fate of her bondmate.
"Why?" She asked Miranda "why did they lie to us, and why didn't we spot it?"
Miranda grimmised and looked to Feron, who had remained silent since the news of Shepard's status as alive was anounced.
"The Admirality board" He stated, "Mikhailovich became Fleet Master after Hackett disappeared, and he brought in his own people, who have similar ideals to his own."
Miranda nodded, "Mikhailovich was always very Terra Firma, perhaps when the reapers showed up he went to Cerberus?"
"Were missing something" quietly stated Liara "Mikhailovich being Cerberus doesn't account for keeping Zaire locked up for 5 years."
"Did Wrex say anything else?" Asked Feron.
"No, though he sent the schematics for a prison cell, designed for Biotic Krogan, to me, said Zaire wanted one ready."
"Biotic Krogan?" Liara looked bewildered, before she pailed to a grayish blue, "Oh Goddess no!"
"What?" Asked Miranda, alarmed at Liara's reaction.
"Who has the Alliance recently lost?"
"Lost?"
"The IR, they said that a Indoctrinated Remnant broke out of Vancouver, Remember?" She continued.
"That cage Wrex sent could hold a Biotic Krogan, or a Cybernetic Biotic Human!"
Miranda froze, paling as well "If Shepard asked for this she must have some concrete evidence."
Feron, however, was far more detached. "I say we build the Cell Wrex sent us and bring it, and as much medical equipment as possible with us."
He continued "If she is indoctrinated or becoming so, she goes in the Cell, if not, the cage is not necessary."
Miranda Lawson grimmised but nodded, "Nikola, get the Construction Drones to build the Cell Urnot Wrex sent plans for."
Her Omni-Tool beeped once at her, confirming it's orders were given.
"I, I think I need to lie down" Liara muttered.
Stumbling to her feet, she left through the door, towards her quarters.
"You get us ready" stated Miranda, "I'll watch Liara."
Feron nodded before heading to the bridge.
And that's the end of this Chapter!
Please feel free to review, as ideas and comments are always welcome.
I think I will show the new council in the next chapter, hopefully anyway.
Next chapters the story starts to be explained a bit more and Zaire gets a long term objective and some much needed R&R with Liara.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
~ JunkMail