"How do we want to handle this?" Tela said as the Blind Well approached Hagalaz.
The ship had made good time through the relays, but it was almost a certainty that the team the Broker had sent to Omega had missed their check in window by now. The Broker wouldn't necessarily know he would be under attack soon, but he would know something was wrong.
"If we blow a hole in the side of the ship or breach it in any other way we run the risk of hitting somewhere without redundancies." Rigel said, looking over the holographic projection of the Broker's ship that Nova had created in the cockpit to allow everyone to plan accordingly. The space was a little cramped, but everyone was more concerned with making sure they didn't get killed taking the Broker's resources. "This ship looks like it was designed with stealth as the foremost concern. It's possible he never expected anyone to ever find him. I don't want the whole ship depressurizing and going down before we've secured the Broker's resources."
"It's better if the ship doesn't go down at all." Aria said, arms crossed over her chest as she looked over the image. "It may not be the most heavily armed ship, but it would be a strong addition to any fleet."
Rigel looked at Aria sidelong. "You want the ship for Omega's fleet."
Aria shook her head, not looking away from the projection. "No. Like you said, it wasn't designed with combat in mind. I could adequately equip it for battle, but it would be better as a command ship. Regardless, knocking it out of the sky is a waste of valuable resources."
Tela stepped forward and indicated a place on the top of the Broker's ship. "Zoom in here, would you, Nova?" As Nova enlarged the indicated area, Tela started nodding absentmindedly. The image zoomed in on a roof access door. It was made from sturdy metal and locked down tight. "That could work. If Nova can transmat us down here we can breach this door. If we don't want to get explosive she could hack us in."
Aria looked at Nova with narrowed eyes. "Will your teleportation tech work through the planet's weather? I don't want my molecules scattered through the atmosphere."
Nova's shell spun around her as she hummed. "If I had a good window I could get you down there. There's a lot of interference, but so long as we bring the Blind Well within range and stay there for a while I'll be able to drop you in without issue. Once we're down I can plug into the ship's boarding defenses and turn them against the Broker's security."
Looking at his ghost, Rigel said, "Is there an access point close enough to that door or will we have to fight through some of them?"
Nova mimicked a shrugging motion, her shell expanding out before returning back to normal. "There should be something. I really just need something connected to the ship's network. I'll be able to take command of everything once I'm in."
"Will you be able to take over the ship?" Tela said, a considering expression on her face.
"I should be able to. It would take a bit though, so my time would be better served taking out their security with their own defenses. The three of you can worry about dealing with the Broker and taking command of the ship."
In his head so Aria was unable to hear the conversation, Rigel said, When you're in their systems, purge any and all Stasis data the second you find it. I don't want to risk someone sending it to a second site when they realize they're under attack.
That was the plan, Rigel. I'll also find where the Broker is keeping the bow and whether or not it's actually on the ship. I didn't want to risk digging around too much when I broke into his system the first time. With you there physically, I'll be a bit more comfortable rifling through his servers.
"Send the map you pulled to my omni-tool." Aria said, studying the image before her. "I'll take the bridge while the two of you deal with the Broker."
"Are you sure you want to go alone?" Tela asked, looking suspiciously at Aria.
"Please, it isn't in my interest to betray you. I'll be more than capable of fighting through a few groups of mercenaries who are beset by their own defenses. One of us needs to take command of the ship in case they shut down remote controls and force it to be strictly manual."
"I sent you the map, Aria." Nova said, floating up to eye level as the hologram disappeared. "You can use the same entry point but you'll have to move in the opposite direction of Tela and Rigel. The largest power sink is pretty far removed from the bridge, and I think that's where the Broker is." Nova spun to face Tela and Rigel. "You'll probably have to kill most things yourselves. I'll do what I can, but the bulk of my attention will be on backing up Aria." And dealing with any Stasis issues, of course. Nova finished mentally to Rigel.
"We'll be able to handle it." Tela said confidently. "Do you have any intel on the Broker himself?"
Nova shook her shell in the negative. "When I get into their systems I should be able to give you more, but for now I'm blind."
"The Broker's ship doesn't have any escorts we need to worry about, does it?" Rigel said, furrowing his eyebrows as he turned to look out the viewport. The Blind Well was beginning its descent into Hagalaz's atmosphere.
"No. The weather is too volatile for fighters. It would really screw with us too if we hadn't made upgrades."
"Upgrades?" Aria said, her eyes darting between Rigel and Nova with interest.
Rigel shrugged, lifting his helmet off the pilot's seat and pulling it down over his head. "If we stay friends, we might share some tech with you."
Aria's eyes narrowed, but she didn't comment, instead following Tela's lead and affixing a breather over her mouth.
"Cloaking." Nova said, a dull hum rising into the space around them as the ship's stealth drive activated. "Get ready. I don't know exactly how long this will take, but the moment I have a clear path through the storm to transmat you through to that access door I'm taking it."
Rigel picked up his Vouchsafe from where it was leaning on the pilot's seat and double-checked to make sure Ace was holstered on his leg and Wicked Sister was slung around his back. Tela slammed a thermal clip into her rifle and checked her two sidearms. Aria, by far the least armored and armed, wore the same black jumpsuit and white half coat she'd been wearing every time Rigel had seen her. A small pistol, an M-5 Phalanx, attached to her belt was her only weapon.
There was a tense silence hanging heavily in the air as the trio waited for Nova to transmat them. The only sound present in the ship was the dull hum of the stealth drive.
"Firing transmat!" Nova cried suddenly. Everyone vanished in a flash of white.
Immediately, the near-serene quiet of the Blind Well's cockpit was torn away, replaced by a cacophony of wind and electrical discharges as the planet's atmosphere crackled against the Shadow Broker's ship around them.
Rigel and Tela stepped to either side of the sturdy metal door blocking their path and covered Nova as she appeared before them, a stream of white light cascading forth from her eye to paint the door. Aria stepped up behind Nova and silently watched the ghost work, her eyes intently darting around to gather as much information as possible.
"Got it." Nova said, vanishing in a flash as the red lock flashed green and the door slid open.
Rigel, Tela, and Aria hurried through the door, letting it slide shut behind them. Rigel and Tela swept the area with their rifles, searching for threats. Aria lazily strolled forward, drawing her pistol almost as an afterthought as she opened her omni-tool.
"It looks like I go left." Aria said, closing her omni-tool and looking at the fork in front of them. "I'll meet up with you when this is over. Don't try to fuck me." She easily walked ahead and turned left, only throwing a cursory glance right to make sure she wasn't flanked.
"She seems a little too nonchalant." Tela observed when Aria had departed.
"She can afford to be. I'm here."
Rigel and Tela both looked over their shoulder to find Nova connecting to an orange terminal in the wall.
The ghost turned to them and smugly said, "I'm in their systems. They left all these wonderful little combat drones just lying there. I couldn't resist taking control of them, and I…just got control of their cameras too. This is going to be fun!"
Simultaneous screams followed quickly by explosions rose up from both directions of the hall in front of Rigel and Tela. The Spectre and the Risen shared a look as the ghost behind them started laughing low and maniacal.
"Yes! Flee before me, insects. I am Nova. Behold your goddess!"
"She get like this often?" Tela asked curiously, walking forward to peek down the hallway.
"First time actually. I think being the only digital superpower in town is starting to go to her head." Rigel said as he stepped forward and led Tela down the right hallway.
Don't tempt me to take off your head with a well-placed gunner drone round, puny human. My moment is at hand! I shall–
Where am I going?
Rigel could practically feel Nova's pout through their bond.
Just follow the light tracks I'm making through the ceiling. Nova said, dejected.
Thank you, Nova. I'm sure you'd make a wonderfully evil overlady.
Nova projected smugness through their bond. Damn right I would.
Oblivious to the silent conversation happening beside her, Tela said, "If you took over their cameras, can you see the Broker?"
"Nope. And that's why I know exactly where he is." Nova said, floating over Rigel's shoulder to hover next to Tela. "There's only one room in this entire ship that isn't littered with enough cameras to ensure there are no blind spots. Follow the glowing lights in the ceiling and you'll get there. The trip will be rather uneventful so long as you don't slip on the blood. Just…Actually, you should make a pit stop before going after the Broker. There's a drell strapped down to a chair with some very obvious signs of torture."
Rigel nodded as a new marker appeared on his HUD. "We'll check them over."
"Good. Now you kids have fun, I'm going to make sure Aria doesn't end up dead." Nova disappeared in a flash.
"Wanna place bets on how many mercs she just slaughtered?" Tela said as she and Rigel rounded a corner to find an empty power station.
"Is 'all of the mercs on the entire ship' an acceptable answer?" Rigel said sarcastically.
"Nevermind. I like not losing my money."
As Rigel and Tela passed through a door, they found the first signs of Nova's slaughter. A pair of batarians in white armor lay dead on the floor. A trio of missile drones flew over their heads back down the way they came. A few seconds later, the hallway behind them exploded, eliciting more screams. Neither the Spectre nor the Risen spared the corpses a second glance as they advanced through the room into another hallway.
In his head, Rigel said, Any sign of the bow?
I can't see it, but the files I've been able to turn up say the Broker was privately studying something. It's safe to assume he's got it.
Great. Let's hope he doesn't know how to use a bow.
"The Broker's probably armed with my bow." Rigel warned Tela as they passed through another room with three dead humans and a bullet-riddled salarian. "Do not let any of the arrows hit you."
"Got it." Tela said, her eyes hard. An amethyst glow rose up around her as she summoned a biotic barrier in response to the news.
Three hallways, four common areas, and a mountain of exploded corpses later, Rigel and Tela found themselves in front of a locked door.
This is where the drell is. Give me a second to open the door. The security here is a lot better than anywhere else we've been in this universe. I still haven't quite cracked the Broker's personal files. It would be a lot easier if you can plug me in directly once he's dealt with. Nova said in Rigel's head.
Will he be able to send any information to an outside contact?
No. The first thing I did before I even took over the drones was kill their communications. I'm also monitoring for any form of transmission I might have missed so I can intercept that with the Blind Well.
Let me know when you crack it. It would be good to know what exactly he's doing with my bow.
I'll let you know once I break through, but it'll take a bit.
The door in front of Rigel and Tela slid open with a hiss. Keeping their weapons raised, they made their way into the room.
A waist-high control panel sat to their left directly beneath a pane of reinforced glass. Through the glass Rigel saw a green alien with dark eyes and a humanoid frame. The alien was strapped to a reclined interrogation chair with several sinister-looking instruments leering over him, his wrists, ankles, and chest bound tight to keep him still. The drell looked weak, as if he'd been subject to invasive interrogation and provided little in the way of food for quite a while now.
Tela kept her rifle up as she walked over to the glass, staring suspiciously at the drell. "Do we know for sure that he's the Broker's enemy? It's possible this is how the Broker disciplines his employees when they step out of line."
Rigel stepped up beside her and looked over the controls. "Until Nova breaks into those files, we can't know for sure. That said, if he tries to stab us in the back we can just kill him."
Tela pursed her lips as she thought it over. She gave a sharp nod, and lowered her rifle, but her muscles were still tense.
Rigel placed a hand against the glass and a violet energy quickly expanded out from it, spreading out from his hand through the glass like the first ripple in a pond.
The drell's attention immediately focused on the window. He struggled futile against his restraints for a moment, stopping when he saw Rigel and Tela through the rapidly disintegrating hole. "Who are you?" he said, his voice hoarse.
Tela stepped in front of Rigel, her eyes narrowed. "We're here to kill the Broker. Do you have a problem with that?"
The drell's eyes snapped to the Spectre. "Get me out of here and I'll help you."
Rigel shook his head. "Not in your condition. You'll just be in the way. Grab a rifle off one of the bodies and get to the bridge. We've got someone there trying to take control of the ship."
A dull whirring sound from the door alerted Rigel and Tela to the arrival of a missile drone. It flew between them and stopped directly in front of the drell. A built in speaker said, "I may not be there in person, but I will be watching you nonetheless. Try anything and I'll take you out."
The drell's gaze hardened. "I'm no friend of the Broker."
The latches confining the drell released simultaneously as the missile drone once more spoke in Nova's voice. "Then there shouldn't be any issues."
I'll deal with him and let Aria know she's got potential help incoming. You and Tela need to get to the Broker. Nova said in Rigel's head, a new waypoint appearing on Rigel's HUD.
"Let's go, Tela." Rigel said, walking out the way they came and lightly jogging in the direction of the marker on his HUD.
With one last look at the drell, Tela followed, easily catching up to Rigel and maintaining his pace.
The two ran through the halls, finding more corpses and blown apart machinery but no active threats. At the end of a long hall, they stopped in front of a sturdy metal door. Just as Rigel was about to ask Nova to open it, the door slid open on its own.
Thanks. Rigel said in his head.
I didn't do that.
Rigel was instantly on guard, raising his Vouchsafe and scanning for threats. Tela followed his lead, watching his blind spots and looking for threats.
The two slowly advanced into a large room. There was a staircase on either side leading up to a second level; a dorr beyond that leading off somewhere else. Set between the opposing staircases was a massive control panel. Monitors lined the wall above the panel, displaying a wide array of data. A hulking, spherical cage of energy was built into the ceiling, electricity zapping through it.
In the center of the room, directly beneath the sphere, there was a cylindrical glass display. A trio of iron mounts in the display held aloft the shattered remains of the first Lunulata-4B Rigel had constructed in this universe. A figure, large as a krogan, stood looking at the bow, his hands clasped behind his back. The alien had dark skin. Three eyes to either side of his face rested directly below two crests that rose to create the image of a simple crown above his head. Rows of teeth framed a triangular mouth that opened as he spoke.
"Welcome to what is left of my home, Rigel. I had not expected you to find me, but I suppose insufficient data will create such unforeseen problems. It matters not. Now that you are here, I have a proposition for you." The alien turned away from the glass case to look at Rigel, ignoring Tela's presence.
"Before I listen to your proposal, hear one of mine. Surrender all of your assets immediately and we might not kill you." Rigel said, eyes narrowed and rifle trained on the presumed Shadow Broker.
The Broker shook his head. "Impossible. You will not usurp me. Your only hope is to pledge yourselves to me."
"Can I kill him yet?" Tela said irritably, having maneuvered herself to the foot of the nearest staircase while the Broker's attention was on Rigel.
"Not yet." Rigel said, lowering his rifle. The Risen disappeared in a flash of light, reappearing a foot from the display case holding his bow, directly opposite the Broker. Rigel thrust both hands forward, streams of violent energy devouring their way through the air. Rigel's power impacted the display case and ate through it in moments, quickly moving on to absorb the destroyed remains of Rigel's bow.
"No!" The Broker roared, smashing his fist through the display case to futilely grasp at the disintegrating bow. The Broker's large hand closed around the largest piece, what remained of the grip, and pulled it through the glass. It was too late. The Void was already feasting upon the piece. All the Shadow Broker succeeded in doing was spreading the energy onto himself.
"NononononoNO!" The Broker howled as the Void devoured the grip in his hand, slowly beginning to spread over his own body. "My people…we were supposed to…" The Void ate through the Broker's torso; his body fell, only to be consumed moments later until there was nothing left.
Tela lowered her weapon, head tilted as she stared at the space the Broker just occupied. "Well that was fucking unsatisfying. I was expecting a fight with a suped up krogan, then he goes and offs himself like a bitch." Tela shouldered her rifle, a dissatisfied frown on her face as she walked over to the control panel. "Nova, any chance you could–"
"Already on it!" Nova said, appearing directly in front of Tela.
The Spectre's only reaction to the ghost's sudden appearance was to sigh. "You need to stop doing that."
Nova's shell drooped. "It's not as fun when you don't jolt away."
"Has that drell tried to kill Aria yet?"
"No actually. Apparently they've met. He and Aria have control of the ship and are discussing what to do with it. Aria is pretty dead set on converting it into her capital ship, but we'll see what happens." Nova felt a sense of unease through her connection with Rigel and turned around. "Rigel?"
Rigel hadn't moved. Standing in front of the sundered display case, he stared across at where the Broker had touched the Void. He reached up and took off his helmet, a worried frown on his face.
"Rigel?" Nova said again, hovering closer.
Rigel shook his head. "I'm… I'm fine. Get into the Broker's files before anything unexpected can wipe them or something. See if you can find out if he shared his Stasis research with anyone else." Rigel turned around and began walking the perimeter of the room. With every step, he flexed his senses, both mundane and non, but he couldn't find anything out of the ordinary. So why did he feel like there was something more going on here?
"Got it!" Nova called excitedly. "It's–woah."
Tela looked sidelong at the ghost. "Is that a good woah or a bad woah?"
"Um…yes?"
"What is yes supposed to mean?"
"Well…I just became the most well-informed individual in the entire galaxy. I know everything from secret government projects to secret lovers."
"You're kidding me."
Nova shook her shell in the negative. "Nope. The Broker knew about everything the Alliance was working on with the materials we gave them and he also knew that Councilor Valern discreetly frequents an elcor prositution outfit. He goes every Sunday apparently."
Tela blinked, staring at Nova as if she couldn't tell if the ghost was being serious, when Nova didn't start laughing, Tela stared straight ahead. "I will never look at that man the same way again."
"Did you find anything about what he learned from my bow? Did he send out any of the information to anyone else?" Rigel asked, walking up to the control panel, a concerned expression on his face.
Nova nodded. "Yeah but don't worry. All he found was that it held some sort of energy that could be manipulated. We got to him before he could figure anything else out, and I've already purged what little he did find. I'm also not finding any record of him sending the data to anyone. That doesn't mean he didn't, but if he did, it was kept off the books for some reason."
"Did he leave any notes about why he was so interested in it? Why he would die trying to save a fragment?"
Nova's eye widened as she spun back around to face the console, a beam of light shooting forth from her to connect with it. A tense few seconds later, Nova's shell slumped in relief. "We're good. He was a yahg. They're a pre-spaceflight race. He was planning on learning everything he could about it then leaving it and everything else the galaxy knew of in a time capsule for his people for after the Reapers came through this cycle, letting them rise to be the dominant power in the next cycle."
"He has proof of the Reapers arriving?" Tela asked, a smile forming on her face.
Nova shook her shell. "He knew they were real, but there's no proof anyone would listen to. Just hearsay from a dead Shadow Broker we don't want to reveal if we want to take over his operation."
Tela's smile instantly vanished. "Dammit. So we're back where we started."
Rigel shook his head. "No. We're not. We have the Broker's resources now. Nova? Did he have a fleet? Credits? What useable assets aside from intelligence can we use?"
Nova mimicked a shrug. "Well, if we really wanted to, we're now in a position to buy the Citadel."
Tela and Rigel shared a look before turning to Nova in unison.
"What?" the ghost said, looking between the disbelieving glances she was receiving. "The Broker has enough credits, influence, secrets, and retained paramilitary forces for us to buy, blackmail, and force our way into owning the Citadel if we really wanted to."
"I fail to see how that would benefit us."
Nova, Tela, and Rigel turned to face the new voice, Rigel and Tela relaxing and stowing weapons when they recognized the speaker.
Aria joined the group at the console and crossed her arms, looking over the various monitors in front of her. "I'm keeping the ship. Nova can access the Broker's resources any time she wants and give you what you need. I need a hardline and to prepare Omega for the Reapers."
Tela shook her head and said, "I really don't understand your obsession with this 's large, but its defenses and weapons are tailored to defending against boarders. You'd have to–"
"I know what I'll have to do. I'm making a statement as much as anything else. Anyone with actual power will realize the Broker is operating differently than normal. With a new capital ship that seemingly appeared from nowhere they'll draw the conclusions I want them to."
"You'll drag a lot of attention down on your head that way." Rigel pointed out.
"No more than usual. Suspecting I had a hand in this and having proof I did are two entirely separate things. Now if you're done here, feel free to get the fuck off my ship."
Nova floated up into Aria's face. "I left a lot of backdoors into this system. If you try to cut us out or screw with us, your access disappears."
Aria didn't look intimidated. "And if you try to screw with me, I plaster all the backups I'll have made by that point over the net, ending your monopoly."
"Now that we've established we all have the power to end each other, let's leave." Rigel said, stepping forward with his hand extended. "It's been fun, Aria."
Aria looked strangely at his hand before sighing and shaking it. "Whatever, Risen. Don't let anyone know you can come back to life or all of our lives are going to be a lot more annoying."
Rigel smirked. "I'll make sure to keep that to myself. Nova? Is there anywhere nearby you can transmat us from?"
"The ship is on its way down. I'll just pull up alongside the ship and pull you out. No need to worry about weather or range now that we're not being subtle."
Tela looked back at Aria and said, "What about that drell? Did you kill him?"
Aria shook her head. "He's staying with me. He has friends that'll owe me favors when I return him to them."
Nova chuckled. "And with that delightfully ominous statement, we bid you adieu, Aria."
Tela and Rigel vanished in a flash of light, finding themselves in the cockpit of the Blind Well.
Tela pulled her rifle off her shoulder carrier and laid it over her lap as she sat down. "That was one of the single most boring missions I've ever been on. I was expecting to get to shoot something, but everything was dead before I could do anything."
Nova happily spun through the air. "And that is why this galaxy really needs to diversify its technology. They haven't met someone like me that can compromise everything simultaneously before. Maybe if we keep doing this, they'll finally learn."
"If you plan to keep doing all the work, count me out. I expect to be able to shoot things when I'm on a job." Tela opened her mouth to say more, but closed it with narrow eyes. She lifted her arm and opened her omni-tool, focused.
"What's wrong?" Rigel asked, noting the serious expression on Tela's face.
"Council alert to all Spectres. We only get them in a handful of circumstances. With the Reapers coming it's probably…" Tela's eyes widened as she opened the message. "What the hell?"
"What?" Rigel asked, sitting down in the pilot's chair and preparing to take the ship wherever they were needed.
Tela turned to him with wide eyes. Numbly, she said, "Commander Shepard has just been reinstated as a Spectre. She's alive."
X
Councilor Tevos couldn't help the amused smile on her face as she observed the proceedings before her. While Sparatus and Valern hid behind a holo projection so as not to meet Shepard in person, she wanted to see the resurrected Spectre in the flesh to see if she could garner any insight into how the human returned to life. If the lines of glowing blue cybernetics marring the woman's face were any indication, whatever had contributed to her convalescence was grounded in science.
How boring.
Sparatus made some mocking remarks concerning Shepard's mental stability due to her insistence that 'Reapers', he made physical air quotes and everything, were real. Before any more damaging words could be spoken, Tevos stepped forward.
"Commander, I understand the position you find yourself in is extraordinary, but you must consider for a moment our own position. You return to us after two years of presumed death working with Cerberus, an avowed enemy of the council. Not only that, but you bring a Cerberus agent with you to this hearing." Tevos indicated the black-haired woman standing behind Shepard. The skin-tight white-black jumpsuit was an interesting fashion statement, but far be it from Tevos to judge one on their aesthetic choices. "Commander, I want to assist you. After all, we owe you for saving our lives during the Geth's assault on the Citadel, but you cannot expect us to overreach our authority into the Terminus Systems without proof of a true threat."
Shepard turned from the holograms of Councilors Valern and Sparatus to face Tevos. The red-haired woman was breathing deeply, attempting to control her emotions. She closed her green eyes to take another deep breath, the dark-hued N7 armor covering her torso expanding and contracting with her breaths, the weapons affixed to the carrier on her shoulders rising and falling with the motion.
"Councilor," Shepard began, the tone of her voice carefully controlled. "I understand the lack of proof is an issue. I wasn't aware Vigil was shut down, but that does not mean I am crazy. Disregarding the Reaper threat, the Collectors are an observable threat. Dozens of colonies have vanished from the Terminus Systems. All of the intelligence available to me points to it being the actions of the Collectors."
"Again, Commander, you fail to understand that the Terminus systems are beyond our authoritative reach." Sparatus cut in, the man drawing a strange, amused pleasure in watching the Commander squirm. "We cannot assist you in recovering humans that were told they would be on their own."
Tevos held up her hand, forestalling any additional comments from either Sparatus or Shepard. "Shepard, the Council cannot help you openly, but we would still offer our support."
The Commander looked skeptically optimistic as she said, "What kind of support?"
Smiling, Tevos said, "We have discussed the matter, and we have decided to offer you peripheral support by reinstating your Spectre status."
"Provided your operations are contained to the Terminus Systems, of course." Valern hastily added. "Until your relationship with Cerberus is abandoned, we cannot be seen to openly support you."
Shepard's lips pulled into a thin line. She looked past Tevos at Councilor Anderson. When her fellow human nodded, Shepard stepped forward and said, "I accept your offer. It's good to have the Council on my side."
"Excellent. Ensure you take on your duties with the necessary caution, Shepard. Cerberus is not to be trusted." His wisdom delivered, Valern disconnected his holo-call. Sparatus vanished mere moments later.
Tevos smiled widely as she walked forward, extending her hand and gently shaking Shepard's when the reinstated Spectre hesitantly clasped her hand. "I am glad you accepted our offer, Shepard. I apologize for the behavior and words of my colleagues, but they refuse to believe the Reapers are a genuine threat."
Shepard's eyes narrowed as she withdrew her hand. "Respectfully, Councilor, the Reapers are coming."
"Oh, I am well aware of that fact, Commander."
"What!" Anderson cried out, stepping forward and saying, "If you know the Reapers are coming, why have you supported Valern and Sparatus's position that they are a myth?"
Patiently, Tevos turned to Anderson and said, "Because for some time now I have believed them to be a myth. I saw no legitimate proof that Commander Shepard's claims were anything more than the delusional ramblings of a mad human." Tevos turned to face Shepard and said, "No offense intended of course."
Shepard's eyes narrowed as she said, "None taken."
Turning back to Councilor Anderson, Tevos said, "I am sure you noted my overeagerness to not only rebuild but to bolster the Citadel's fleet in our most recent meetings?"
Anderson nodded, his eyebrows furrowed. "Yes. I had assumed Thessia had pressured you to do so given the number of asari ships that you proposed to add to the fleet."
Tevos shook her head. "An understandable conclusion given my history, Councilor Anderson, but incorrect nonetheless. A short time ago, I received undeniable proof of an imminent Reaper invasion. I will not allow my people to be slaughtered when the Reapers arrive, and am doing everything I can to prepare both Thessia and the Citadel for their inevitable attack."
Shepard's eyes widened. She hastily said, "If you have proof of the Reapers coming, why haven't you shared it with the other Councilors?"
Tevos chuckled softly. "Because they would not believe me, Commander. I alone would take my proof as genuine, as evidenced by several individuals and groups receiving the same intelligence and dismissing it as lies or madness."
Anderson's eyes narrowed. "What was this proof?"
Tevos smiled, amused at the man's suspicious expression. "Does it really matter, Councilor? Know that I am your ally in the protection of both of our races."
The Cerberus woman, who had rudely yet to introduce herself, stepped forward and narrowed her eyes at Tecos. "If you have proof of the Reapers, you need to share it. You need to get the other Councilors to listen to you."
Easily meeting the arrogant woman's gaze, Tevos said, "I could make them listen to me, but think of the long term consequences. What will happen if the ruling body of the Citadel proclaims the end of the galaxy is at hand? Will we all join together as one united galaxy and face our end as allies?"
The woman's fierce expression fell and she took a step backward. "The batarians and merc groups would hoard as much power as possible and possibly move to destroy us."
Tevos smiled victoriously. "And that, my girl, is why I have been as subtle as possible." Tevos fixed Shepard with a pointed look. "Something you could certainly benefit from, Commander. You do not need to ally the galaxy against the Reapers in order to unite them. Make friends and earn favors to be called in later – when the proof is unneeded for the Reapers are already here."
"And leave us unprepared to meet their first assault?" The Commander said, her gaze challenging.
Tevos's smile grew wider. She was beginning to like this human. "Leave repelling their initial attack to me. There is much I can do in the way of amassing a wartime fleet before they arrive. I believe my efforts will be enough to buy you the time you need to effectively organize a counterattack."
"I can help on that front." Anderson said, nodding to Shepard. "Leave the military preparations to us. You focus on the Collectors and see if you can find out how they're aiding the Reapers."
Shepard's second companion, a scarred turian in blue and black armor with a sniper rifle folded up on his shoulder, said, "We're going up against some long odds. You said your authority doesn't reach into the Terminus Systems, but is there anything you can do, anyone you know who could help us fight the Collectors?"
"Do not worry, Officer Vakarian. Continue getting into trouble and more help than you will ever need will fall into your lap."
The turian seemed shocked when Tevos called him by name. "I'm surprised you remember me, ma'am."
"I remember everyone I have ever met, Officer. That is why I will not allow us to fail. Too many I have met are already dead. I will not allow myself to suffer a loss so large a second time."
Anderson and Shepard looked at each other questioningly, but before either could speak, Tevos's omni-tool lit up on her arm.
Tevos nodded her head at the assembled figures in the room. "You have my apologies, but I have an urgent meeting with several matriarchs to discuss the details of our bolstering Thessia's forces. I wish you luck in your mission, Commander. Anderson, I will contact you this evening to begin our collaborative efforts to save our people."
Anderson nodded, his eyebrows furrowed in thought. "I look forward to it, Councilor. Good luck in your meeting."
Smiling warmly, Tevos said, "Thank you, Councilor." Tevos turned and walked away from the group, enjoying the suspicious, curious, and near-hopeful gazes she felt on her back as she walked. She hummed a gentle tune to herself as she left the group, allowing the individuals behind her to hear her melody in its entirety before the door to Anderson's office closed behind her.
Tevos knew what it was like to have everything taken from her, to lose everything she ever cared for. She would not allow it to happen again. There was much work to do.
