Welcome to chapter 5 of The Betrayal, thank you for the reviews as always and putting up with my random ass writing.
In this chapter I am going to be showing off a new Citadel Council that does shit properly, with no one species biases causing bullshit and each councilor trying to one up the other.
Liara and Zaire finally reunite and they start to work on understanding Shepard's new cybernetics.
~ As always, I don't own mass effect, bioware and EA does, as apparently people on this site get confused about that for some reason ~
20.02.0005 PRW
Citadel - Widow nebulae
Private Council Chambers
Councillor Dominic Osoba took a moment to breathe, the private chambers of the Citadel Council was far more relaxed than its public counterpart, as he was seated in a comfortable leather backed cushion chair, facing the equally seated councillors of the other respected races, the walls were painted and the floor was carpeted in relaxing colours, with glass tables next to each councilors chair for drinks.
In the middle of their circle was a high quality holographic projector currently projecting medical data, as well as accompanying Spectre and Alliance files, while a separate one projected Councillor Shala'Raan, who was on Rannoch.
Right now however, Osoba was frustrated. He had spent the better part of his morning arguing with Admiral Holt, and then hours later with Fleet Master Mikhailovich, before going to the Council Chambers and announce that the Alliance Military had been lying to them for years.
"I will say it again, I was only notified of this development recently!" He exclaimed.
Councillor Irissa, the Asari Council representative nodded in agreement, "I believe that the correct human saying is 'Don't shoot the messenger' and I agree, the Systems Alliance's Admirality board kept this a secret from all of us."
Councillor Esheel, the new Salarian councilor, spoke up, "why are we talking about this development anyway, Spectre work is done by the Citadel Military Board."
The Volus Councillor, Kari Varn answered "we are here to discuss whether or not to disclose this information to the public."
The new Turian Councillor Vail Quentius, spoke for the first time that meeting "disclosing this now would limit the number of allies she could draw on, and stop her from being welcome on quite a few planets outside our influence, however, the moral drop would be incredible, and it would seriously and unnessersarily damage the Alliance Government for its Millitary's mistake."
The Holo of Councillor Shala'Raan made a sound of agreement "this Galaxy is fragile enough as it is, thanks to the Volus we still have a working economy to start with, Spectre Williams has adequate resources for her to capture Commander Shepard, if this changes, I'm sure the Geth Collective will be happy to supply reinforcements."
Councillor Irissa nodded "It would also be best if the Eclipse was kept out of this as well, as my informants say Jona Serdaris is furious with the Commander due to when she refused to release her from incarceration."
"And the Alliance?" Asked councillor Esheel.
Osoba was quick to answer, "Alliance Internal Affairs is starting a investigation into the admirality board quietly, and we have taken Shepard out of their jurisdiction, so they no longer have control over her."
Councillor Quentius ended the meeting quickly and efficiently "good, then there is nothing more to discuss, the public will know once Shepard is in our custody, and the Alliance Military can be dealt with without compromising Humanities Government."
Destiny Ascension
Widow Nebulae
Director Phaore T'neari of the Citadel Navy
"The Alliance Admirality board is getting far too arrogant for its own good." Stated Director T'neari.
"Agreed" said the Turian Director Quimius, of the Citadel's Ground Forces, "however, they will have to wait, as we have a rogue Intergalactic War Hero to worry about."
"Spectre Ashely Williams has already started the hunt, and quite frankly, I think she has the best chance of success, the Normandy's AI spotted Shepard heading for Tuchunka and has the equipment and personal needed." He continued.
The Director of Patrol Fleets, a Human called David Flesher added to the Conversation "I spoke with the Geth Collective, they have agreed to provide reinforcements if it becomes necessary or if outside parties become involved."
The 3 Directors in the conversation turned to their 4th, the Military Intelligence Director, a Volus by the name of Dera Von. "I have spoken with Urnot Wrex and he has claimed that Shepard has not been seen, however, he has always been supportive of Zaire Shepard, and she did cure the Genophage during the War, he is going to trust her over us."
Director T'neari grimmised, "Shepard is as powerful as she is adaptive, from my limited experience with her she gave the impression of unpredictable ability, who knows how this will escalate."
Director Quimius flared his mandibles, "indeed, I have no doubt that this will escalate, just a matter of how."
01.03.0005 PRW
Space Station - The Stop
Terminus Systems
The space station itself was Asari in design, one of the older explorer-class stations from before the Rachni wars, which had stopped production when the ban on exploration of new relays was created.
Like everything built by the Asari though, a lifetime for them was 1,000 standard years, so any space stations built by them had a longer life expediency than models built by other races.
Because of this, all it took was for Liara to have some people dig through a junk site and find it, repair and upgrade it, and it was ideal for use as a Broker stop off point to the Terminus systems.
Liara paced the length of one of The Stop's docking bays nervously, she had been pushing her network to its maximum to try and find out what happened to Zaire, and she had been in luck, the Citadel Council had been given information about the IR who escaped from Vancouver, and it was Shepard as she had feared, and the implementation of Cybernetics were extensive.
She hadn't completely lost hope, as the Alliance had been unable to find any indoctrination effects in the understood sections of Zaire's cybernetics, but the pieces placed in her brain were still unknown.
Zaire herself, had also asked for a cell to be ready for when she arrived, that in itself gave her the most hope, as a fully indoctrinated Shepard would have not bothered preparing a cell for herself.
Looking up as Miranda Lawson stepped into the bay with her, she was dressed in a full hard suit, equipped with a rifle on her back and a submachine gun on her thigh. Two more Shadow Broker Operatives stepped out after her and took positions at opposite ends of the dock, Miranda had insisted on having an armed presence after seeing the files the Alliance had on Shepard's cybernetics.
Walking up next to her Miranda nodded once before signaling to the closest camera, and the docks sealed doors opened, a Kinetic Barrier stopping air from leaving, and the Frigate; The Wanderer, slipped into its cradle.
The Frigate itself was a retired Turian Scouting ship, as the small size, over the top engines and streamlined look, made it distinctive, at some point it had been painted pure black, which would make it impossible to find in space if the crew were to cut the engines.
The doors sealed back behind the Turian Ship and anchors moved into position and locked into place, keeping the ship from moving, The Wanderer powered down its oversized engines and finally, the underside cargo door opened and the ramp descended, standing at the top of it, was Zaire Shepard, who looked incredibly nervous with her head held low and her arms folded, she appeared to be considering disappearing back into The Wanderer.
Liara didn't notice. In a storm of biotic energy she rushed up the ramp and tackled Zaire to the ground, tears falling down her face as she kissed her bondmate for the first time in 5 years.
Zaire, momentarily stunned, quickly returned the kiss with as much force as she could manage, her own pure white biotics flaring in response to Liara's chaotic blue.
"Christ, je Liara avez raté votre goût."
And from there it dissolved into more crying, hugging and plenty of kissing.
Shepard was brought out of the moment by a rather loud cough, looking up, Zaire was grinning in genuine happiness in what felt like the first time in years, "finally, some good luck, it's been too long since that's happened to me."
Miranda Lawson grinned back, "we have a bed ready for you if you can hold out long enough."
Zaire's eyes lighted up at the suggestion, "Miss Lawson, that is an excellent idea" talking a look down Shepard laughed as Liara tightened her hold, refusing to let go.
"Though I might need a hand getting up." Lifting a hand towards the former Cerberus operative, she also used her biotics to simoltaionouly lighten Liara and herself enough to be pulled up by Miranda.
As they walked down the ramp, Zaire carrying Liara bridal style, Miranda signaled the two guards to remain at their posts, they wouldn't be needed.
02.03.0005 PRW
Space Station - The Stop
Terminus Systems
Zaire hadn't separated from Liara since they had been reunited at the stations dock, and both were not planing to separate anytime soon.
They had spent the first few hours once they were alone finishing what they started on The Wanderers cargo hold, after that however, they had kept close and slept, content to bask in each other's presence, and for the first time since Zaire had woken up in that private hospital, she didn't have any nightmares.
Now they were walking through the stations corridors, heading to meet up with Miranda, Shepard had wanted to have Liara find Miranda with her contacts, in the hope of having someone she trusted and who was the closest to a expert give the analysis. That however, was not needed, to her pleasant surprise Miranda had been helping Liara manage the Broker network with Feron.
Combined with their preparations, Miranda had the equipment needed to start looking at the cybernetics in her body, as well as whether they were trying to indoctrinate her.
"We are going to have to have a talk tonight Liara." Zaire said quietly, while she slipped her arm around the Asari's waist and leaning on her shoulder.
"Oh?" She murmured.
"I cannot tell if I'm the same woman that I was Li, and you have been without me for 5 years, it was terrible enough when I was gone for 2, because of the dam Collectors."
Stopping at the door to the medical lab, Liara turned to look at her lost bondmate, and she realised just how truly alone she must feel she was. It was aggravating, she thought, that they could not meld until they could establish whether Zaire was being indoctrinated or not, and she could not truly help her until she could prove to her bondmate that she was till the same person as she was before the War.
She also knew her bondmate, and exactly what she was attempting to do.
"You are Zaire Shepard, I know it, you know it, and you are not going to shut me out." She warned. "We will face whatever challenges the future has together, as we always have."
Zaire bowed her head in defeat, before sliding forwards and hugging her beautifully stubborn girlfriend, muttering in her ear. "I'm scared Liara, I don't know if I will wake up tomorrow and try to kill you or not, and it scares me."
A tear fell down Zaire's cheek, which Liara wiped away. "Then let us help you Zaire, let us in."
Zaire's only response was to nod, before she sniffed. "This is why we need to talk Li, we need to plan what we want to do with our lives."
"I agree love, so let's get this done, and then we can plan our future together."
Taking a moment to compose themselves, Liara pressed the HI to open the Medlabs door.
Miranda was standing in the middle of a rather large full body scanner, and she turned to see who had entered her lab.
"Shepard, Liara." She acknowledged, but was already turning back to the scanners interface.
"I'm just getting the scanners calibrated to human biology, it shouldn't be too long."
"Am I just getting scanned today or are there other things I'm going to have to endure?" Zaire asked nervously.
Liara guided her to a table she could lean against, while she herself went to help Miranda set up the equipment needed.
Miranda's reply was quick and to the point, "we will do some deep penetrating body scans and I will take some blood and skin samples, after that we will test your reflexes, strength, speed and biotics."
Zaire took a moment to carefully look around the room and she noticed something hidden in the corner, the Cell she had sent plans for, they had built it ... good.
Apart from the Cell, it was a typical looking medical lab, plenty of sharp objects and scanners looking every which way, tiled floors and white washed walls separated by tinted windows., with interactive holographic projectors in the middle of the room for data study.
"There, done" stated Liara "Zaire love, could you come here and stand on the scanners pad?"
Hopping off of the table Zaire moved forward and onto the marked pad, and the scanners automatically registered her presence and shifted to the correct height.
The scanner was basically a collection of 3 rings that rotated around a white plated pad, the rings contained scanners, designed to create a 3D scan of the entire body, and be able to be adjusted for any species.
To the right of the pad and rings was a bank of monitors that were connected wirelessly to the pad, where all of the data from the rings were sent to.
From the monitoring station the person in control had the ability to see the incoming data, send commands to the scanners themselves and transfer the data to holographic projectors placed in the space in the middle of the room.
It took 10 minutes of Zaire standing still as the rings rotated around her, once finished however, the rings all lined up to let her out, and Liara was already looking at the Holographic displays of her new implants.
One thing stood out to Zaire immediately. "They're Gold?"
"Gold coloured, most likely, which is rather different than black and purple." Stated Miranda, placing her hand to the projection, she motioned for it to expand, and the Holo complied.
Miranda was muttering under her breath, but Zaire was sure she caught the line 'they didn't ever bother to ask me first' at one point.
"They look, almost crude, compared to the cybernetics found in the dead thralls recovered after the War" Stated Liara.
"Agreed, they are of the same origin, but it's older, likely they are older versions of reaper cyber tech."
"Which means?" Asked Shepard, completely lost to her friend and bondmates medical ramblings.
"It means we will have to look onto it more closely later" dismissed Miranda, instead she typed something on her Omni-Tool and the Holo of her cybernetics zoomed out, and refocused on her head.
"The scanners didn't detect any subvocal sound waves used in first stage indoctrination, but these implants here are of some concern" she continued.
"I'm going to need a few days to figure out what their purpose is, but one of them is replacing the spot where I used cybernetics to reattach your nervous system to your brain stem."
Liara frowned, "it's also in the same place a Asari Biotic implant would go."
Miranda nodded in agreement "it may be some sort of Amp, and it would explain why your biotics are white as well Zaire."
Shepard crossed her arms "I tried using my biotics back on Earth, but apart from changing my mass, I can't access anymore of my abilities."
While Liara frowned at her bondmate, the Ex-Cerberus Operative shook her head "let me get those blood and tissue samples and Liara can show you the rest of the station while I work."
She sighed, "you always manage to give me the impossible to figure out" she then smiled "keeps me on my toes."
And that's the end of this chapter people!
No Williams this time, though she will be in the next one.
So we get a bit of a look at what Zaire really has in her body, and we also see just how badly the War hurt Zaire psychologically.
Anyway, I'm going to be posting chapters every Thursday for the near future, as College is kicking into gear.
As always please feel free to review as I find them increasingly tasty, yep!
~ JunkMail