Sorry for the wait; I've been alternatively busy and distracted.
SEE CHAPTER ONE FOR DISCLAIMERS
PLEASE READ & REVIEW, AND TEND TO THE TROPE PAGES
-CHAPTER START-
Realm ME-N7 – Near the Citadel
A short (in astronomical terms) distance away from the five-armed station, two ships pulled up alongside each other. The 170-meter Normandy II connected with a docking tube extended from the side of the 1600-meter Starshot, and the N2 ground team crossed over, accompanied by the Swanson sisters, Asa, and (fresh up from the Citadel, having been told by Kaidan to go see their teammates) Timmy & Mariko.
"Certainly quite a bit of sharp angles in Forerunner construction…" Javik murmured as he looked around. "And it seems they favored silver, blue, and orange where we favored black and green."
"Still hard to believe I'm on a ship over half again the size of an Alliance dreadnought" James remarked. "And it's small compared to a lot of the DDF's other capital ships?"
"Wait 'til you see a Sangheili Alliance Divinity-class supercarrier" Marie replied. "They're humongous by our standards."
"What, like 5 or 6 kilometers?"
"10,692 meters" EDI replied.
"Christ, seriously? You got ships a fourth the size of the damn Citadel?"
"Hey pal, that's nothin'" a UNSC marine said as he walked by. "The Bureau just finished refitting the Saint's Cradle, now the Olivie; she helped push the Reapers out of Midchilda."
"The Cradle…" Shepard mused. "I remember the recordings; some kinda Al-Hazredian super-dreadnought, right?"
"Yep! 14 kilometers end to end, the biggest ship any DDF member has ever even encountered, much less used. Only one of her, though; her makers never even built a second one of her class."
"Thing like that, one's all you'll ever need…" James said.
"Heyyyy~!"
The group turned to see a girl with red-orange hair and bright blue eyes, wearing her red and dull-purple Barrier Jacket with gold lining, running toward them. Sarah and Marie's eyes lit up, and they ran to her as well. Meeting in the middle, Sarah swept Teana into a tight hug, Marie catching up and joining in a half-second later, the three girls overwhelmed with relief and joy at seeing each other safe and sound.
"Thank the Saint…" Teana whispered, holding onto the girls for dear life as they did the same to her. "From the moment I realized what was happening, that Harbinger's invasion had begun, I've been worried sick. But now you two are here, and Shion & Ahsoka got off Shakuras, too; they're waiting in the closest rec-room from here."
"Any word from Mai and Kaede?" Marie asked.
Teana's smile faded. "Mai's still on Equestria" she replied. "The UNSC & Sangheili sent a fleet there earlier today, but they couldn't spare a full-sized one, and the Reapers there are pretty well dug-in and numerous, and we got a report from Canterlot saying they've got a Sovereign-type 'commander' Reaper commanding the assault – a blue-lights one calling itself 'Executor'…"
"Another command-subtype?" Garrus asked as he and the others came up.
"Yeah. There were two attacking Shakuras and Midchilda, named Praetor and Pinnacle, but they're both dead now. I overheard a communiqué stating there's another named Venator leading the assault on Lucavos, where Kae-chan still is. There wasn't one leading the attack on Sanghelios, though, and I hear Cybertron's not dealing with one, either; it's odd."
"I remember Legion saying there were only around 150 of them out of thousands of Reapers total" Shepard said. "Maybe all the rest are busy in this Realm."
"Hm…"
The whole group, led by Teana, headed to the closest rec-room. There, a handful more people were waiting – Subaru, Ginga, Ahsoka, Shion, Laicixa, Erio, & Caro. The three kids, upon seeing the arrivals, got up and ran toward their teammates Timmy, Erika, & Mariko, meeting in the middle in an enthusiastic six-person hug. Subaru and Ginga, meanwhile, walked over to their teammate Asa.
"Any word from the others?" Asa asked Sigma Team's second-in-command.
"They're all safe" Ginga replied. "They're on their way, in fact. All right, everyone! Let's all head to the translocation chamber; we've got a few more people coming."
As the whole group started down the halls of the Starshot, at times carried along by horizontal gravity lifts, Teana turned to the Swanson sisters.
"So," she said, "who're the two new guys in Team Shepard?"
"The big muscle-head-looking guy is James Vega" Sarah said. "Bit of a hotshot, but a damn good soldier. Smarter than he looks, too…" she smirked "well, a little."
"Hey, I saved the day on Mars, didn't I?" James chimed in.
"By crashing a shuttle."
"Into a Cerberus shuttle to prevent it from making off with vital intel."
"While you were flying a shuttle that had forward-facing heavy cannons that probably could've taken the Cerbie shuttle down without t-boning it and totaling the one you were flying."
"And the other?" Teana looked to the four-eyed, red-armored alien bringing up the rear.
Marie grinned. "Javik. He's a Prothean."
"…You're serious."
"Yep! Stasis pod on Eden Prime. He's, uh… kind of a jerk, though."
"Well, I probably would be too if I woke up to find out I was the last of my kind, and everyone had dismissed the warnings about the beings responsible as superstitious nonsense."
"Precisely" Javik rumbled. "I felt like I wanted to tear something in half when the Commander showed me the recording of your Councilors 'dismissing his claim'."
"For what it's worth, Javik-san, the other member-states of the Dimensional Defense Force believed the warnings about the Reapers as soon as we learned of them. We've been preparing as best we can ever since… though, the technology, durability, and sheer numbers of the Reapers means those preparations still might not have really been enough…"
"Any is better than none."
Soon, they all arrived in the Forerunner Destroyer's translocation room, a large chamber with a good-sized interstellar, inter-Realm slipspace translocation portal projector up against the far wall; the Starshot held the 'original', while a handful more had been constructed at a few important locations and on a chosen few ships like the UNSC Infinity. The blue-&-black portal came to life, and from it emerged Aqua Acionna, Mana Kirishima, Kaede Kanade, and Anya Cocolova. As Anya hurried over to join her teammates, the members of Sigma Team gathered together as well.
"Is everyone okay?" Aqua asked her team.
"We're fine, ma'am" Subaru replied. "A few close calls, but we're okay."
"I've never seen anything like them…" Mana said. "I mean, even their little ones are twice the height of an Evangelion! How are we supposed to fight that?"
"We'll probably be mainly deployed against their ground forces" Kaede K. said. "None of us have the power to take down an actual Reaper, but we can mow down Husk forces in droves."
"And that might be a little bit easier for our team now" Aqua said with a smile.
"Why's that?" Asa asked.
Aqua smiled "Our potential seventh member said yes to my offer."
Asa, Subaru, and Ginga perked up. "Really?" Subaru asked. "We're really gonna have a seven-person team like Gamma and Theta?"
Aqua nodded, and sent a telepathic call 'through' the portal. Just as the rift closed, someone hurried through – a girl around 16 or 17 with upper-back-length reddish-brown hair, wearing a pink sleeveless short dress over a white shirt, and pink boots. She called up her Keyblade, the flower-themed Destiny's Embrace, and held it in the at-rest stance Master Aqua had taught her.
"Permission to come aboard, ma'am" she said.
"Permission granted, Sigma-7" Aqua replied. "Come over here, Kairi. Let's hammer out some details and get some lunch."
-SCENE BREAK-
Citadel – Docking Bay D24
As Shepard strolled into the docking area, past a lounge area and a Turian-Asari couple discussing the former's deployments, he spotted a familiar figure, one who'd e-mailed him that she'd be here. She turned to face him, a small smile on her face.
"Commander Shepard" Miranda Lawson greeted. "It's been far too long. We live in interesting times."
"A little too interesting" Shepard replied.
"I couldn't get near you when the Alliance had you holed up doing all that work. …About Earth…"
"Countless people lost their lives within minutes. The Reapers are everything we feared."
"They should have listened to you a long time ago. I'm sorry, Shepard."
"What about you? What brings you here?"
"I need to talk to a few people, like you. The Citadel is a good place to meet… for now. What's the Alliance's next move?"
"We have a plan. It's a long shot."
"Not surprising. ...Shepard, there's… something I wanted to mention. I haven't heard from my sister, Oriana, for a while now. I'm getting worried."
"Your sister?"
"Yes. I don't want to overreact, but… well, there's a lot going on."
"I thought we made sure she was safe."
"We did. It's probably nothing, but… I just know my father is involved."
"What happened?"
"I don't know. Everything I had in place to make sure she was safe went dark."
"What do you need from me?"
"I appreciate the offer, Shepard, but you have your hands full. If I need a door or two kicked down, I know just who to call. But for now, I'll be fine."
"It's okay. I understand."
"I have to figure this out…"
"You will. Have you had any run-ins with the Illusive Man?"
"Just once. He said it had been a pleasure to work with me, but he needed to 'contain the situation'."
"That sounds final."
"It nearly was. He doesn't take rejection well."
"No, he doesn't. Why do you think your father is involved in Oriana's disappearance?"
"I kept careful tabs on my sister. I always knew where she was. For her to just vanish… it could only be him. After I hid her away, I still knew he'd stop at nothing to find her. I have a hunch what happened, but I'll fill you in once I'm certain."
"If you're looking for a lead here, anyone associated with Cerberus will be hard to find."
"No question. But I'm owed a few favors. Someone here will give me a tip on Oriana.
"It's been a while. What's happened with you?"
"I was in hiding for a little while, on the run from just about everyone. But around two months ago, I was contacted by someone I'd never expected: Kate Compton, head of the Phoenix League's Office of Naval Intelligence. The League's ONI needed an operative in Citadel space, and she was impressed enough by my service record to ask me if I wanted the position. The League's ONI is a bit… cleaner, morally, than the UNSC's, so after a little consideration I took the offer." She smirked. "The fact my salary's now around four and a half percent higher than it was with Cerberus helped a little, too. …Unfortunately, none of my other ONI or non-ONI contacts in this Realm know where Oriana's gone…"
"Nice to see you're still putting your skill-set to good use. Well, I've gotta get back to it."
"And I should get out of sight."
"Be careful, Miranda."
"No promises…" she replied as she walked away.
-Break-
Huerta Memorial Hospital
"Shepard."
The Commander was drawn away from his trek toward Ashley's ICU room by a familiar rasping voice off to the side. He turned, and smiled as he saw Thane Krios standing by a window overlooking the Presidium.
"Fancy running into you here, Thane" he shook the Drell's hand.
"When I heard Earth was under attack," Thane said, "I tried to call them, but it couldn't get through. What brings you here?"
"Visiting a friend, Ashley Williams. She was badly injured in a skirmish on Mars."
"The dark-haired human woman in intensive care? She starts soon in the physical therapy class I oversee here. If she means something to you, consider her under my protection for the duration of her stay."
"Why are you here, Thane? Is your Kepral's Syndrome back?"
"No. The Hokage did an excellent job curing me; I have had no relapses… so far. I have been semi-officially appointed as a security advisor for the hospital; so far, the security improvements I implemented have foiled two attempted assassins after a few of the inpatients here – one was Indoctrinated, the other simply angry and looking to settle a grudge. I am also training a few of the more adept security officials to take my place eventually. Unfortunately, my position prevents me from accompanying you for the time being. Perhaps in a while, I will be able to join 'Team Normandy' again, but not right now."
"Well, I suppose the safety of wounded soldiers and civilians takes priority. ...It's bad out there, Thane. The Reapers are worse than we ever imagined."
"It could have been even worse, Shepard; imagine if the Protheans of Ilos had failed in their mission to disable the Citadel Relay's remote activation."
"Yeah… So, have you heard that Cerberus has finally gone completely bad?"
"I heard a few rumors, but nothing concrete. How bad?"
Shepard called up his Omnitool and showed him a recording of Cerberus troops executing Alliance personnel, the footage of a Cerberus assassin venting a room full of people, and an image capture of the Cerberus Trooper's Husk-like face. Thane let out a long breath.
"What is the Illusive Man trying to do now?" he muttered.
"He wants to find a way to control the Reapers, 'for the advancement of humanity'."
"Then he is a fool. No mortal mind could hope to control those entities."
"…How's Kolyat doing?"
"Very well. He lives in an apartment not too far from here, and he occasionally assists C-Sec with some of their cases. We have been working on our reconciliation; we're still not 100% there yet, but far better than we were six months ago."
"I should probably go check on Ashley; I got an email from her telling me she was awake."
"Farewell for now, Shepard."
With that done, Shepard continued on his planned journey. Into the ICU ward, he entered Ashley's room to see her reclining in the hospital bed, awake and alert though with a few nasty bruises on her head and face. Furthermore, there was someone else in the room already, wrapping up a conversation with her.
"I'd like an answer, Lieutenant-Commander" Udina said. "The galaxy has need of exceptional soldiers like you, now more than ever."
"I still need time" Ashley replied. "You'll have my answer soon, I promise."
"I'll look forward to it" Udina replied. As he turned and left, he acknowledged Shepard with a small nod.
"I got your email" Shepard said to Ashley. "Made your decision yet?"
"On becoming a Spectre? Not yet. It's an honor and all, but… I don't know. I need to think about it some more."
"It's a big decision. Smart to give it some thought. How are you doing?"
"Good, considering. The nurse said you checked in on me earlier. Still out cold, I guess."
"We didn't have time to talk. I thought maybe if you were up for it…"
"Yeah. I wasn't sure you wanted to. You were pretty clear on Mars about where things stood."
"What do you mean?"
"You're not a part of Cerberus anymore. Case closed. Full stop."
"It's the truth, Ash."
"Okay. You cut all ties. I accept that. It's just that if you're giving the orders, I need to be able to count on you."
"That works both ways. It's a damn mess out there. All we've got is the people around us. We have to trust each other or this doesn't work. Deal?"
"Deal."
"Have you heard anything about Earth?"
"We have reports coming all the time on what's going on. Half are wild speculation, and half are probably too optimistic to be true."
"We have to believe that we can do something."
"When I thought you were dead, I lost hope. But when you came back? I was ready to believe anything. I mean, maybe this problem can't be solved by some grunt shooting the boogeyman in the face, but if you think it might help, I'm game."
"That sounds more like the Ash I know. Who's back on Earth?"
"Mom plus my three sisters. The youngest, Sarah, was away on her honeymoon. Married a military man – Thomas. He got called back in and she was stuck alone. She called me. It's been pretty tough."
"I imagine."
"I was always there to protect them growing up. Even when I was off on tour, they knew they could talk to me. I told her to come to the Citadel. We can wait for news together."
"I didn't hear from you while I was stuck in Vancouver."
"I couldn't face you. Even when Anderson requested my presence… it was difficult."
"It's okay. We're both professionals. We have more important things to worry about."
"You're right. I'm just restless laying here, doing nothing."
"We can't afford to be at each other's throats. If we plan on getting through this, we need to trust each other."
"I was trying to keep the family stuff to myself, to be professional. I don't know how you manage to keep it all together."
"There's a war on. People are counting on us."
"I get it. But it's still hard to put it all aside."
"So… Lieutenant-Commander, huh?"
"Seems like the old Williams curse is losing its grip. Was sure I'd top out at gunnery-chief."
"You've worked hard. You deserve it."
"I thought so, too… until Eden Prime. Losing 212 was… well, you know."
"It was the Reapers, Ash. You did the best you could and survived to help us."
"Just… Losing everyone under my command… it's tough to face. I'll never forget any of them."
"Right now, we need you back on your feet."
"I'll be back. And first order of business is to shove their metal tentacles right up their- …Uh… I mean, I'll fight with honor and courage… sir."
"Roger that, LC. I should get back to it. Take care of yourself."
"Will do, Commander."
-Break-
Citadel Embassies
"Commander Shepard" the black-&-yellow-armored Salarian greeted. "Jondum Bau, Special Tactics & Recon. I've got intel suggesting that high-level Hanar officials may be Indoctrinated."
"That's a damning accusation" Shepard replied. "What have you got?"
"Evidence of an Alliance black-ops team raiding a Batarian research station. The Batarians were studying Reaper technology. The Alliance raid turned into a massacre, and the humans ended up with nothing. Your people faked a power failure to hide the incident."
"The Batarians would've gone to war if they found out. But how does this implicate the Hanar?"
"They maintained discreet gray-market trade relationships with the Batarians – and led the Alliance to the station. We suspect those Hanar operatives escaped with Batarian tech. If your reports on the Reapers are accurate, they could already be Indoctrinated."
"What's your source on all this?"
"It was an anonymous 'gift', but I believe it came from a thief named Kasumi Goto. I've been after her for years."
"Kasumi? You're hunting a thief?"
"A master thief. Her intelligence and skill are almost Salarian."
"I'm sure she'd appreciate praise from the Spectre who's chasing her down."
"I only need her data. I admire her personally. And since she sent me this, I assume her feelings are mutual."
"What do you need me to do?"
"The Hanar operative is now a diplomat on the Citadel. I don't have a public name, and the Hanar will go to ground if I make a formal inquiry."
"So we're hunting."
"I'm tracking suspicious transmissions to Kahje. I could use your help."
"I'll see what I can dig up at the Spectre office."
"Thanks, Shepard. And for the record, not everyone doubted your concerns about the Reapers. I just hope we're not too late."
As Bau walked off, Shepard headed into the nearby Spectre Office. And as he approached the terminal…
"So…" Kasumi said as she de-cloaked right behind him. "Remember when you helped me get Keiji's graybox from Donovan Hock? The one with information that could start a war?"
"I thought we destroyed that information to keep you safe" Shepard replied.
"There were enough clues left for me to piece things together when I… got curious. It was big enough to leak it to Bau. If you don't mind me tagging along cloaked, maybe I can help you dig up some dirt on the Hanar."
"I'd appreciate it."
"Shepard," Bau radioed, "I'm checking security reports. Can you track the transfers coming from the Hanar embassy?"
"On it" Shepard replied as he moved up to the terminal, enabling tracking.
"Bau's got a good plan" Kasumi remarked. "Hanar are predictable. Anything suspicious in their terminal use should narrow down our list of suspects."
"So you approve of Bau?"
"Absolutely. He's a good Spectre. The galaxy needs more like him."
"And the fact that he's trying to arrest you…?"
"Well, nobody's perfect."
They headed out of the office, Kasumi cloaking and matching her footsteps with Shepard's, as the Commander's omnitool led him to a terminal on the wall between two embassy offices. He scanned it, pulling up the data.
"Bau, I have some possible hits" he said. "Got some strange money transfers on Bolohn, and Oloon is sending a lot of data."
"Bolohn's clean" the Salarian Spectre replied. "His money transfers are to support his mistress. Not sure about Oloon; I'll pull his bio."
"I'll check Oloon's personal records and pull his recent messages."
"Can I just note how odd it is for a Hanar to have a mistress?" Kasumi murmured.
"You know, if Bau catches up with you, I can grant you immunity."
"What, if I join up? Last time I did that, you roped me into a suicide mission."
"I didn't say you had to join up."
"You were working your way around to it. Anyway, it looks like the next terminal's down in the docks."
Shepard & Kasumi boarded the nearby elevator, taking it down to Docking Bay E24. Upon exiting into the dock, the next terminal marked on Shepard's tac-map was right by the entrance. He tapped in, calling up the data inside.
"Bau, Oloon's doing some heavy lobbying for the Hanar to support the war effort."
"So he's clearly not Indoctrinated. Who's opposing him?"
"An unnamed Hanar recently posted here from Kahje. I'll check transit records for incoming Hanar."
"It all comes down to the war…," Kasumi said, "and you trying to pull everyone into it."
"Would you rather the Reapers win?"
"No. And I owe you for getting Keiji's graybox back from Hock. But I can't do another Collector Base, Shep. The Reapers aren't people; I can't infiltrate a Reaper party and steal a big "I win" bomb."
They made their way into the docks proper, and Shepard almost walked right into a familiar man in blue armor.
"Kaidan?"
"Shepard!" Alenko smiled. "I heard you'd made it off Earth."
"What are you doing here?"
"Mostly I've been helping coordinate refugee and supply movements down here, but I'm also issuing commands to and coordinating a task force of Biotic specialists; they're spread out among a few hot-spots in Citadel space. They're handling themselves well; not a single KIA yet… though, with how this war's going… So, what are you up to, Commander?"
"Partially I'm waiting for a diplomatic summit to get set up; my ship's going to be the neutral meeting ground. In the meantime, I came to visit Ashley at Huerta Memorial, and I'm also helping Kasumi and Jondum Bau hunt for an Indoctrinated Hanar diplomat."
Kaidan's eyebrows rose. "Indoctrinated diplomat? Here on the Citadel? …Well, if you and Bau are on the case, they won't be at large for long. And Kasumi's here, too?"
"Right here" the girl spoke softly, startling Kaidan slightly; the Biotic quickly spotted the tell-tale faint shimmer standing next to Shepard.
"Should've expected that… I visited Ash yesterday; Cerberus droid did a number on her…"
"I went and saw her less than an hour ago" Shepard replied. "Udina asked her to become the third human Spectre; she's still considering it – she's not sure if she considers herself worthy of it."
"Well, I do. She's a damn good soldier, and she's learned from the best. I'd love to chat more, but you should probably hunt that diplomat down before he gets the chance to cause some major damage."
"Right. See you around, Kaidan."
"You too, Shepard, Kasumi."
As Shepard & Kasumi moved on, they only made it a little farther before Shepard spotted someone who looked familiar over in one of the refugee areas. Upon getting closer, he smiled as his suspicion was confirmed.
"Yeoman Kelly Chambers…" he said.
The redhead woman turned to see him, and her eyes lit up with a smile. "Shepard! It's really you! Oh, I could just hug you!"
He smiled and moved in, granting her request. Kelly relaxed into the hug… and then stiffened as she felt a third person join in. She looked to the side, seeing a shimmer right in front of her face.
"Hi~" Kasumi said.
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Chambers relaxed. "Kasumi…" she said with a weary smile. "Still spooking people, huh?"
"Sorry" Kasumi giggled as she de-cloaked, her & Shepard letting go. Kelly turned her attention back to Shepard.
"I've been so worried" she said. "Without my Cerberus contacts, I had no way of knowing if you'd survived the invasion."
"You left Cerberus?"
She nodded. "Working with you opened my eyes, got me thinking. I looked closely at what Cerberus had done. In good conscience, I couldn't stay with them. You inspired me to leave."
"I'm glad to hear that. …Why don't you come back to the Normandy?"
Kelly sighed. "Please believe me: I'd like nothing more than to be a part of your team again, but… I can't. Ever since the Collectors abducted us… I relive it every night." She looked haunted. "I see Joker running out, then that cold hand pulls me back. They're above me, around me… They stuff me into that coffin, and… I'm relieved, that they aren't touching me anymore… But then it's so small; I can't breathe. It seems like forever. I watched people melt. God…"
"Hey" he placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay."
"I'm fine, I just… can't step back onto the Normandy. I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
"And even if I could, I shouldn't. I'm making a difference here. If there was ever a reason I studied psychology, it was to help people at a time like this."
"I'm surprised Cerberus let you go."
"They didn't, but they have more important things to worry about than me."
"Don't take chances with Cerberus. Change your look, change your name, get new identification."
"That takes time, and the people here need my help."
"Do it for me, Kelly."
"…Okay, I will. If you think I should. …I'm so glad you found me. Seeing you makes everything right again."
"See you around, Kelly" Kasumi said. "Be careful."
"I will, Kasumi. Thanks."
Kasumi re-cloaked as she and Shepard moved on. Nearing the next terminal marked on Shepard's tac-map, however, they heard another familiar voice, issuing orders amongst a group of Turians. The two moved in, and Garrus saw Shepard coming.
"What's happening?" Shepard asked.
"We convinced the Council to accept our wounded" Garrus replied. "Nowhere else to go."
"How bad is it?"
"More dead than injured – 85% killed in action. We'll need a morgue soon. Not a lot of flesh wounds when you're fighting Reapers."
"Casualties are that high?"
"Our front-line units are being wiped out whole platoons at a time. A single Reaper can destroy nine or ten of them with one attack."
"That's not war, it's slaughter."
"They're called Reapers for a reason, and these guys found out why."
"Do what you can for them."
"A few of them might get back on their feet, but the rest… Sympathy is about all we can offer."
"Any sign of your family?"
"Not yet, but I keep hoping. What about you? I'm starting to see some wear and tear."
"I won't lie; it's been rough."
"Well, don't forget to come up for air. There's a lot more war to go. See you later, Shepard. …You too, Kasumi."
"How did you know I was here?" Kasumi asked, exasperated.
"This eyepiece of mine can see infrared, and even my natural eyes can recognize that telltale shimmer of your cloak. Don't worry, though; most people wouldn't."
Finally, the duo moved to the third terminal, tapping in.
"I've got a list of Hanar arrivals, Bau. Forwarding it to you."
"Damn. These are all face-names. The Hanar names from the Alliance raid are soul-names. And Hanar soul-names are private. There's no public record. Can you get back to their personal communications?"
"On it. Maybe we'll find names there."
"So how's the rest of the gang?" Kasumi asked as the two made their way back through the dock. "Meet up with anybody else besides Garrus?"
"Joker & EDI, Dr. Chakwas, and Kal'Reegar so far."
"What about Jacob?"
"Haven't heard from him."
"See, Jacob could've got me back on the Normandy…"
"I'm touched…"
Back at the entrance terminal, Shepard tapped in again, this time calling up a different set of data.
"Bau, here's the correspondence. If there's any mention of soul-names…"
"…I've got it. A recent arrival – Zymandis, soul-name 'Regards the Works of the Enkindlers in Despair'. He was with the alliance team that massacred the Batarians. He's been on 'special research assignment' ever since."
"So he got his tentacles on some Reaper tech."
"Looks that way. I'm sending you the Nav-Point for his office. I'll meet you there."
-Break-
Citadel Embassies – Hanar Embassy
Shepard, Bau, and the cloaked Kasumi entered the office, the door locking behind them. A human guard leaned against the wall near the door, relaxing but keeping his eyes on the Spectres, while a lone Hanar hovered near a computer terminal.
"Zymandis?" Shepard said.
"Or should I say, 'Regards the Works of the Enkindlers in Despair'?" Bau added.
"It seems this one has been apprehended," the Hanar replied, his translator module translating his bioluminescence into slightly echoing speech, "but confinement is irrelevant. The work of the Enkindlers cannot be stopped."
"Why are you trying to help the Reapers?" Shepard asked.
"We obtained information regarding the Enkindlers from classified sources."
"By Enkindlers you mean the Protheans?"
"Yes. As you are aware, Commander Shepard, the Protheans eventually became the Collectors. And the Collectors serve the Reapers."
"You've got to be kidding me…" Shepard muttered, seeing where the mind-fragged Hanar's crazy-train of thought was going.
"Therefore, as faithful servants of the Enkindlers, we too must serve the Reapers."
"You big, stupid jellyfish…"
"I support religious freedom for all species," Kasumi whispered, "but this is just plain crazy."
"Your skepticism does not matter" Zymandis continued. "When the Enkindlers uplift us as their chosen sapients, the galaxy will bear witness."
"You're insane, and we can't allow you to endanger your planet. We're taking you into custody."
"Your belief in your victory is mistaken. Our planetary defense network is largely automated. It can be disabled with a single virus… which I have just uploaded."
"Damn it!" Bau cursed. "Wait… A virus would be detected unless sent on low-priority channels, which have a time-lag." He called up his omnitool. "I may be able to block the upload."
Suddenly, the human guard lunged into action, pinning Bau to the wall by the throat and trying to strangle him.
"You may be… delayed."
"Help him!" Kasumi shouted to Shepard as she de-cloaked, vaulting over a table and over to the office's main terminal. "I'll handle this!"
As Kasumi got to work, Shepard yanked the Indoctrinated guard away and floored him with a single punch. Bau rubbed at his throat for a second, and then drew his Carnifex pistol. One shot tore through Zymandis' body, and the Hanar's corpse flopped to the ground with a wet 'splat'.
"Got it" Kasumi reported. "Upload's disabled. Looks like we're in the…" A red signal appeared on the display. "He's got some kind of failsafe. Get down!"
The computer terminal exploded violently, almost knocking Shepard and Bau off their feet. Kasumi was sent flying into the far wall, slumping down motionless, her cloak apparently shorting out and activating, hiding her body. Bau stared in shock.
"She was here the whole time…" he murmured.
"She was a friend of mine…" Shepard said solemnly. "She helped me take down the Collectors… and she just gave her life to save planet Kahje."
"…Point taken. It was an honor to work with you, Commander Shepard. When the time comes, I'll be there to return the favor, with a few friends."
As Bau left, Shepard looked around the room, scorched by the explosion that had apparently claimed the life of one of his team… and then he smirked.
"You can come out now" he said.
"How'd you know?" Kasumi asked as she de-cloaked.
"Lucky guess."
"There's no way you're recruiting me to fight on the front lines of a galactic war."
"The Crucible Project needs technical experts."
"I'm not a scientist!"
"No, but you're the best thief in the galaxy, and you can hack unfamiliar technology better than anyone. They could use your help. And think about it: all that expensive tech just lying around… It's not like they're going to check your pockets at the end of the project."
She smiled. "You say the nicest things. All right, I'm in. And Shep… Nice working with you again."
-Break-
Purgatory Club
As Shepard entered the club, the air vibrated with pulsing bass. People of all sorts and species mingled, drank, and danced. And off to one side, a large L-shaped couch had been claimed by a certain Asari, flanked by two of her guards, and looking annoyed as an immigrations officer interrogated her.
"So you admit that you and your thugs are here illegally" the officer said.
"In a sense, yes" Aria T'Loak replied. "And it only took C-Sec three weeks to figure it out."
"I don't care who you are; you have to go through processing just like everyone else. Come with me."
"I don't think so." The 'queen' turned to the guard on her left. "Sheerk, get me Tevos."
The Batarian nodded, calling up his Omnitool, and the Asari Councilor's hologram appeared via comm.
"Yes, who- …Aria. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I'm being asked to submit to immigration processing…"
Tevos sighed. "Of course you are." She tapped a few keys on her terminal. "Done. Anything else."
"No; thank you, Tevos. I'll let you know if anything comes up."
"Any time. Farewell."
The connection ended, and Aria turned to the surprised officer.
"She and I have a past from before she became Councilor. Now then, if that was all, you'll be going now."
The officer stalked off, and Aria smirked a bit as she caught sight of her guest. "Enjoyed the show, Shepard?" she asked.
"Looks like there's still only one rule on the Citadel" Shepard replied as, at Aria's gesture, he had a seat.
"Seems that way…" Her smile faded into a frown. "I hate this place; so sickeningly uptight…"
"Then why are you here?"
Aria got up, pacing slowly. "Cerberus stole Omega from me. The Illusive Man is now squarely at the top of my shit list. He will pay for every second I've spent in this bureaucratic hellhole."
"How'd they defeat you?"
"Deceit, distraction, and a big fuckin' army. They lured me away from Omega and ambushed me. I escaped, but Cerberus had already laid siege. By the time I could launch an assault, they were too entrenched."
"At least you lived to fight another day."
"And that day is coming. …I'll take Omega back, but I'll get to that later. You're here because I have a proposition." She sat down.
"I'm listening."
"They way I see it, if you don't defeat the Reapers then we're all dead; won't matter where I'm sitting. It's in my interest to help you."
"What are you offering, Aria?"
"On Omega, I kept the Blood Back, Blue Suns, and Eclipse in check. Now, they're running amok. Nobody wants that. Unite them under my rule, and you'll have a powerful and ruthless force for your war. I've laid the groundwork with all three groups. I just need you to close the deals."
"Normally I'd not want anything to do with those groups, but in these days, if they'll fight Reapers I'll take them."
"Now that's a bottom line I can respect. Meet with Narl, my agent who's dealing with the Blood Pack, up on the Presidium. The Blue Suns' current leader is incognito down in Bay E24; he'll be expecting you. And I already have a deal with Jona Sederis, the Eclipse leader. You just have to get your friend Bailey to let her out of jail."
"You obviously don't know Bailey very well."
"He respects you. Lean on him. I think a united force of professional mercenaries is worth it, don't you? It's always a pleasure, Shepard. Let me know if you wanna talk later."
-Break-
Embassies – C-Sec Office
"Shepard," Comm. Bailey said, "to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Here to talk about the possibility of releasing Jona Sederis" Shepard replied.
Bailey sighed and frowned. "Damn, you too? Somebody got the Council to order her release. I'm delaying as best I can. What's your stake in this?"
"It's a long story involving a chain of deals; I don't think it'd be wise for me to tell you everything right now."
"Look, there's no way I'm letting that psychopath out. The woman's unstable and a clear public threat."
"How is she 'unstable'?"
"She was a ruthless sadist before she got caught. Her imprisonment has cracked the shell off the nut."
"Maybe freedom will improve her."
"She rages day and night, Shepard, calling for the brutal deaths of all of Eclipse's enemies. No, freedom will only give her the chance to kill."
"Hmm… I'd like to speak with her so I can judge for myself."
"Sure thing. I'm sure you'll agree. Then maybe the Council will listen to you and rescind the order. Go to the C-Sec outpost in the Presidium. My assistant will connect to Sederis' cell from there. Then call me back."
-Break-
Presidium Commons
Shepard hadn't really been up here since this whole debacle began, but it hadn't really changed much. Civilians and C-Sec officers of all ages and species mulled about, doing their own thing. Remembering that he had two tasks to attend to here, however, Shepard started down the steps into the market area, meaning to cut through to reach the C-Sec outpost. However, it was less than half a minute before he spotted a familiar face tending the bar of a little open-air restaurant/café. He walked over, and the Asari Matriarch spotted him.
"Hey, I remember you" she said. "Shepard, right? Heard you're fighting the Reapers now."
"Matriarch Aethyta" Shepard replied. "You were working on Illium. How'd you end up here?"
"Eh, with the Reapers making noise, I figured it was time to get somewhere safer, so I moved here."
"I don't think so. I've seen some video footage… of you looking at Liara." He looked over at Liara, sitting at a table by the railing bordering the artificial lake.
Aethyta sighed, looking a bit solemn. "Yeah… Matriarch Benezia was… was her mother, and… she doesn't know it, but I'm her father."
"You mean you were her other mother, right?"
'No. I didn't pop her out. Hell, she's never even met me."
"Sorry. If you were human, you'd both be called the mother, regardless of which one gave birth."
"Well, I'm not human, am I? Anthropocentric bag of dicks…"
"She'd love to meet you."
"Why? She doesn't even know me from a hole in the ground. Benezia ran off before the kid was born. Besides, this isn't charity work. She's one of the biggest intel brokers in the galaxy, and she's got some shady connections… like a human Commander who used to work with Cerberus. Sound familiar?"
"I only worked with them to fight the Collectors and the Reapers."
"And you're not with 'em now. I know. If you were… you wouldn't get within a light-year of Liara…"
"Is that a threat?"
"I'm no commando, but I've had a thousand years to learn how to fight dirty. Nobody messes with my little girl. Anyway, you combine that with her work with Benezia, and… well, the Matriarchs might've ordered a hit on her if I hadn't agreed to keep an eye on her."
"That's not going to happen" Shepard scowled.
"No argument here. I only took the crap jobs to keep the Matriarchs happy that she's 'under control'."
"Just as long as we're clear."
"Clear as crystal."
"You should come clean with her. It'd be better for everyone."
"Yeah. We'll see how that goes…"
Shepard left as another Asari came up to engage Aethyta in conversation. He slipped away, making his way over to Liara's table.
"Hello, Shepard."
"Taking a break from work at the moment?"
"For a little while, yes."
"So… That bartender over there…"
"The Matriarch hired by the Asari government to track my movements?"
"She's your father."
"I know."
Shepard's eyebrows rose. "…I never get to surprise you with anything."
"I'm a very good information broker."
"And you haven't talked to her about spying on you?"
"If I did that, they might send someone who wasn't as sympathetic to me. Besides, this is hardly the time for family reunions."
"Liara…"
"…Oh, fine."
As Liara got up and made her way over to the bar, Shepard moved on. Cutting through the markets, he made a couple minor purchases (pistol mods, a couple model ships for his collection…). Soon, he found Joker sitting on a bench.
"Hey, Commander, check it out!" he said as Shep sat beside him. "Big news: the Blasto movie is breaking opening-week records! There's also a big exposé on quasar tournaments, tips on how to make your apartment look bigger, and… oh yeah, a big-ass Reaper invasion!" He scoffed. "These people have no idea…"
"When big events shake up the galaxy, people cling to what's familiar."
"You say that like it's a good thing."
"It's better than riots in the streets."
"I guess. I just wish there were a middle ground. You know, a little less gardening advice, a little more war prep."
"It'll happen… once there's something people can do to help."
"Meanwhile," Joker looked at EDI's mobile platform perusing the market stands, "they ignore the unshackled AI walking around the Presidium."
"She run into any trouble?"
"No, no, she's my 'mobility assistance mech'. Thanks to Vrolik's Syndrome, I'm legally entitled to bring her everywhere. Finally getting some use out of those disability benefits."
"I'm sure she appreciates getting out to see the sights."
"Ah, she's earned a little shore leave."
Joker's attention focused on EDI, a smile on his face, as Shepard got up and left. After a little more window-shopping, Shepard came up to the AI.
"Hello, Shepard" EDI greeted.
"You look like you're gathering data."
"That is a safe assumption."
"Anything big and world-shaking? Man's inhumanity to man? Does objective reality exist? That kind of thing?"
"I was running scenarios in my head to analyze Jeff's behavior. I believe he has a strong affectionate attachment to me, but he has not stated it to anyone yet. Shepard, you have firsthand sexual experience. How do you know when someone is romantically invested?"
Shepard looked distinctly uncomfortable all of a sudden. "They'll… usually show signs they can't stop thinking about you. You know: asking you out, giving you presents, maybe playing music…"
"I lack material wants other than hardware and software upgrades, and my core programming does not assign values to music. Perhaps we could discuss how to provoke Jeff into an emotional commitment."
"That's not how to think of it. It's got to be natural. You need chemistry."
"I see. There are a number of pharmaceuticals I could inject to simulate the desired emotional state."
"No, that was a figure of speech, EDI. I mean relax and do something you both like. Something simple. For example, you both like humor."
"Correct. I will see if there are comedic entertainment shows being presented on the Citadel. Scanning... Do you think he would like 'The Man Who Hung Himself'? It appears to be about an amorous plastic surgeon."
"EDI, the important thing is to have a good time, wherever you go. And if you're having fun, he probably will, too."
"Then the outcome is an unknown quantity, but you are saying I should attempt it anyway."
"Nobody ever fell in love without being a little bit brave."
"I see" She smiled a little. "I believe you have improved my chances, Shepard. Thank you."
Shepard moved on, finally reaching the C-Sec outpost; a lone Turian officer was present.
"I've connected with Jona Sederis in her cell, Commander" the officer reported. "You can speak to her via that console." He gestured to the screen on the wall behind him.
"Thanks. We'll need some privacy."
"Of course" the officer got up. "When you're done, you can also contact Commander Bailey from that terminal."
Once the officer had left, Shepard walked up to and activated the terminal. The face of an Asari appeared on-screen, and Shepard could immediately see something was… off about her just by looking into her eyes.
"Who's that spying on me, now? Ah, I see – good. Aria's indentured servant has finally come to deliver me to freedom."
"I want to talk to you before I secure your release."
"Bullshit. You have no choice. And when I get out, heads will roll…" She giggled. "Oh, yes… You've killed a lot of my people; don't think I've forgotten that."
"You have to move on."
"And I will… once all my enemies are dead. I love holding all the cards! Even here, you must deal with me; I have all the power!"
"Is that right?"
"Yes. Sayn, my second-in-command, is a weak-willed toady. If he had balls, he'd leave me to rot and take control himself. But he won't defy me; he knows better. Now, get me out of here, Shepard! Tell Bailey to release me!"
Shepard cut the connection, and then contacted the C-Sec Commander.
"Bailey, I've just spoken with Sederis."
"She's crazy, right? It would be ridiculous to let her out."
"She's a menace. Let me try to make this problem go away."
"Sounds good. I'll hold the line until I hear from you."
As he made his way back through the Presidium, Shepard's tac-map pointed him in the direction of the apartments he was passing; apparently, this was where Aria's man with the Blood Pack was waiting. Deciding to get it over with, he followed the nav-point to one of the apartments. Upon entering, he found a lone Batarian waiting for him.
"Quick," he said, "hands behind your back. They'll be here any minute."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Shepard asked.
"Kreet, the Blood Pack's leader. Aria 'brings' him the great Commander Shepard, Kreet pledges the gang to her. We're just luring him into the open so we can take him out."
"Not the best start to our friendship, Narl."
"He's coming! Quick, put your hands behind your back and, uh… try to look like I beat you up or something."
"This better be on the up-and-up…" Shepard muttered as he assumed position in front of Narl, holding his hands behind his back and slouching over. The door opened, and three Vorcha wearing Blood-Pack colors walked in.
"Aria T'Loak even more powerful than thought" the lead Vorcha hissed. "Her instructions on boarding Citadel undetected were one thing, now this! Commander Shepard! Want you to know, your head will be hood ornament on my personal shuttle!"
"Keep your distance, Kreet" Narl said, clandestinely placing a pistol in Shepard's hands as he walked to beside him. "So, do you agree to Aria's terms?"
"Most definitely. Aria can use Blood Pack as she sees fit."
"Wasn't talking to you, Kreet." Narl looked to one of the Vorcha guards. "Gryll?"
"What?-!" Kreet was dumbfounded.
"You have my word!" the other Vorcha replied. "Now open fire!"
Shepard and Narl immediately drew their guns, each putting a round each through the skulls of Kreet and his other guard. Shepard pointed his piece at the last Vorcha, who raised his hands in a defensive gesture.
"Not him!" Narl pushed Shepard's weapon arm down. "Gryll's next in line to take over. Aria's deal is with him."
"Yes!" Gryll said quickly. "Yes. I'm Aria's mole, Shepard. You've scratched my back, now I'll scratch yours."
"Word of advice" Shepard said. "Don't double-cross Aria."
"I may be ambitious, but I'm not crazy."
"Uh-huh… Good work, Narl."
"Any time, Shepard. Gryll and I will let Aria know the light is green."
Docks
"Men," the Salarian said, "get ready for trouble."
The Turian and other Salarian nearby got up, tensing.
"Not here for that, Sayn" Shepard told the lead Salarian. "Just want to talk about Sederis' release."
"Oh, you're the one coordinating that, right? My idea, you know? Aria came to me looking to gain Eclipse support. I'm leveraging it to bust the boss out."
"Sayn, you should run Eclipse."
"Huh?"
"You can do it. Leave Sederis locked up and make the deal with Aria yourself."
"Hmm… Aria would be a step up… And you think she'd let me run things?"
"I don't see why not."
"Right, right. Then that's the plan. Keep Sederis in jail; I'll call Aria right away."
"Good man."
As Sayn made the call, Shepard moved a little ways further into the docking area, finding a man in plain civilian clothes but with the hint of a Blue Suns tattoo peeking out from within his shirtsleeve.
"Wow, Aria wasn't kidding" the man – Darner Vosque – said. "Aria wasn't kidding – the great Commander Shepard on a leash."
"I'm here for my own reasons, Vosque" Shepard replied.
"Sure you are. Anyway, tell her I'm impressed, but to do business, I still need my little problem taken care of."
"Which is?"
"A Turian general named Oraka has it out for the Blue Suns. He's raising a stink over our activity in this sector. I'll commit my gang to Aria as soon as Oraka's dead."
"There must be more to Oraka's complaint."
"We're just making little raids along trading routes. With Aria's blessing, I might add. Oraka's just some military fossil who came out of retirement to relive the glory days and justify his existence. Losing him won't affect your war in the least, but gaining the Blue Suns… well, you know our work."
"You seriously think I'll assassinate a Turian general?"
"Aria seems to think so, or else why would she send you? She knew the price. The two of you work it out." He started walking away. "Oh, and… tell Aria I still expect her blue ass in bed with me."
As Vosque walked away, Shepard made a call of his own.
"What is it, Shepard?" Aria asked.
"You knew about this?"
"Can you be more specific?"
"Darner Vosque expects me to kill General Oraka."
"Who cares what Vosque wants? What he needs is for Oraka to stop disrupting his operations. I figured you'd talk to Oraka, see if you can get him to lay off. And if he won't listen to reason, call me, and I'll take care of it."
"I don't see the distinction."
"The distinction is that I'm giving you the chance to save his life."
"Right. Why didn't you just tell me this yourself?"
"Vosque needed to see you, needed to realize who he's dealing with. Plus, if I have to suffer that scumbag staring at my tits one more time, I might have to kill him."
"Right, he mentioned-"
"That he thinks I'm going to sleep with him?" She let out a dry chuckle. "We all have our delusions. You should be able to find Oraka lounging around in the Presidium, last I heard."
"Roger that" he said as the connection cut. "Back and forth and back and forth…" he muttered.
"Shepard," Bailey radioed, "the Council just withdrew the release order to Sederis. Aria T'Loak, of all people, got 'em to do it. Crazy."
"You can say that again."
"Thanks for your help, Shepard."
Presidium
"Commander Shepard" the old Turian greeted.
"General Oraka. I think we met in Chora's Den. You were pretty miserable, as I recall."
"Yes – neck-deep in drink just before I retired. I'm clean now – reinstated."
"I hear you're taking on the Blue Suns."
"I need to do my part for the Citadel, Commander. The Blue Suns are raiding C-Sec weapons shipments. I'm putting a stop to that. Those mercs are seriously jeopardizing the Citadel's ability to defend itself if the war comes here. …When the war comes here."
"There are other ways to secure weapons, General."
"You don't think I've tried? There's a black-market dealer on the Citadel right now, but he won't sell his top-line arms. The Reapers are destroying everything in their path, and I can't stop them. But I can stop the Blue Suns."
"Hmm… Before I try talking to that dealer, let me try something else first."
Shepard called up his Omnitool, opening a channel to the Starshot still holding position near the Citadel, and Colonel Holland's face appeared on the holo-screen.
"Commander Shepard, do you need something?"
"I'm trying to recruit the Blue Suns to help in the war effort, but they won't budge as long as General Oraka is interfering with their operations. They're raiding C-Sec weapon shipments, and C-Sec needs guns if – or when – the war finds its way here. I was wondering if the DDF could provide some armaments; the Starshot's forges might be able to contribute."
"What sort of weapons do they need?"
"I'll send you a list" Oraka replied, uploading a file to Holland.
"Hmm… About half of these we already have in the ship's auto-forge's databanks; if you can send us the schematics we don't have yet, I think we can help. We won't be able to make every single gun you need, since we probably don't have the time to do that and our boys need some of those guns too, but the Dimensional Defense Force can provide you other weapons of comparable ability to fill in the rest; our guns may work differently than the mass-accelerator ones you people use, but they still kill what you shoot them with."
"As long as we get enough top-class hardware to outfit C-Sec with what we need to fend off any potential invasions, I'm happy."
"We'll get it done."
"Thank you, Colonel" the Commander said. "Shepard out."
"Excellent" Oraka said. "With a steady supply of weapons, we can focus on Citadel defense. It won't bring Palaven back, but it's something."
"And the Blue Suns can go about their business?"
"As long as they focus the majority of their 'business' on the Reapers and Cerberus, then sure. Thank you, Commander."
-SCENE BREAK-
Normandy II – Deck 5, Hangar
"Everything okay with the shuttle?" Shepard asked, finding Cortez hard at work on the Kodiak.
"Just double-checking the inertia dampener coils; they can be twitchy in these UT-47s. But don't worry. This bird's been rock solid."
"I always see you working your ass off. Ever take any down-time?"
"I get my sleep, Commander. Flying tired is nearly worse than flying drunk."
"What about your waking hours? Any R&R?"
"I need to keep myself busy. Otherwise, well... too much time to think."
"I appreciate your dedication, but I don't want to see you burn out."
"I know my limits. I wouldn't take a chance with your life."
"So before this war, you must have done something to relax."
"Sure. I remember back when the Hawking was based out of Arcturus and I was just a fighter jock. There was this observation deck overlooking the main flight paths. You could watch every ship taxi in and out. When I was alone, I'd turn off the auditory emulators and just watch them drift by in silence."
"You know, there are views like that on the Citadel. Next time we're there, you should take some shore leave. Clear your head."
"I don't know. Maybe."
"Take some time off on the Citadel, Steve. As a favor to me."
"If you put it that way, how can I say no?"
"Shepard," EDI contacted, "the delegates from the Salarian Union and the Krogan Clans are ready; they have arrived at the designated coordinates and are awaiting our arrival so as to begin the summit."
"Very well. Get us there, best speed."
"Aye-aye."
-CHAPTER END-
Sorry for another talk-heavy chapter; next time, the Battle of Sur'Kesh