Disclaimer: I do not own the Mass Effect games. This story is written with no profit in mind. I make no money from it. It isn't for sale or rent.
Chapter 1: Of cops and spectres
=DC=
Part 7
=DC=
22.04.2183 GS
lower levels
Zakera ward
The Citadel
Insect shaped drones, mimicking some of the most common crawling things on the citadel, skittered down the corridor in the clinic. Encrypted burst signals ensured that their operator had real-time picture at the price of a very short short life – which wasn't really a problem considering that they were cheap and expendable.
"I'm seeing two mines – looks like standard shaped charges, pointed at the door. HE with some kind of shrapnel – omni-tool forged, light yield. Continuing sweep." The ERS drone operator announced. He along with the rest of his unit was near the weak-point in the ceiling, where they were finally ready to breach.
Vasir gave a critical look at the walls besides the entrance, scanned them with her omni-tool just in case and took position to the left after motioning to Shepard and the Detectives to stack on the right side.
"If this goes to hell, I want you to stagger overloads the length of the corridor. Once you've triggered the mines I'm using biotics to charge in and tackle the Krogan. You're moving after me while the ERS breaches." Vasir gave a long look to the three men who all had standard issue assault rifles on hands and their omni-tools on the ready with the appropriate programs ready to trigger. Once she got their confirmation, the Spectre overrode the lock on the door and waited it to slide open. A few bursts flew past the now opened entrance and ruined the back of a police car.
"Boys, I'm Tela Vasir with the Spectres. I'm feeling generous today and giving you a chance to surrender."
Three helmeted heads snapped in her direction at that announcement.
"If you're expecting to shoot someone inside and then make a deal or for Fist's benefactor to get you out of this mess, you can forget it. It's my way or the hard way."
"We don't get paid enough to deal with a frigging Spectre!" One of the thugs inside exclaimed in fright.
"Bah, I can take her!" The Krogan naturally blustered. Vasir sighed. With a few notable exceptions the smart ones died a long time ago and the less said for what passed as younger generations these days, the better.
"You can, but we can't!" A third voice joined in and a loud argument got in the way.
"That's just embarrassing." Vasir shook her head.
"You're staying right there until I say so!" The Krogan raged.
"Fuck this, I surrender!" A clatter of weapon thrown on the floor echoed from within.
"Cowardly Pyjak!" The Krogan roared.
"What… don't! A loud crash echoed from within the clinic followed by the distinct sound of unfolding weapon and a loud shotgun blast.
"Does anyone else want to surrender?!" The Krogan sneered.
"The go to hell plan it is. ERS, breach on my mark at three. One," She nodded at Shepard who nodded back, finger ready to launch a payload. "Two… breach!"
Electricity cracked around the left arms of the three men and then arched around the corner straight down the corridor. The first overload charge lit up the entrance in crackling energy and a moment later two deafening explosions sounded practically on top of the staggered squad. Red hot shrapnel scythed through the opened door and the discharge of the other two overload was left unheard. A corona of biotic energy surrounded Vasir who stepped in front of the entrance as if she had no care in the world. She sent a biotic shock-wave that tore through the makeshift barricade and disappeared within a blink of an eye leaving behind just a rush of displaced air.
A loud crack came from the back of the clinic in that moment followed by multiple deafening bangs and blinding flashes of light. Shepard wasted no time charging after the Spectre with the Turians hot on his heels. The first thing he saw was wisps of quickly dissipating smoke – all that remained from the explosion along with scorched and dented metal. Vasir surely wasn't joking, whatever the walls in here were made of was a fascinatingly tough stuff. The next thing to get his attention were the twisted, crushed and ruined remains that used to be the beds stacked at the end of the corridor. The combination of the shock-wave and biotic charge had simply obliterated them leaving only mutilated metal and torn fabric lining the walls and floor.
There was no trace of the two hostiles who covered the corridor earlier. One was probably dead thanks to the Krogan with anger issues and the second was likely hunkering down after that combined with Vasir's charge. Shepard wasted no time looking a gift horse in the mouth and sprinted until hit the reception. As previously agreed, he was to cover the centre, while Chellick swept left and Garrus, right. Shepard got into the clinic proper just in time to see Vasir has her way with the Krogan. While the huge lizard might have been at least half a ton of armour and angry muscle it immediately became obvious he was no biotic. That turned Vasir's charge from a potentially very dangerous distraction into a one sided beat-down when she went at him with biotic enhanced strikes. Two punches that Shepard barely saw pulverized the Krogan's shotgun and shattered an elbow. A kick snapped his right kneecap and its solid metal protector bending the leg back and sending the poor bastard falling to the ground while he howled in pain and rage all the way down. Vasir wasn't done with him however. Still moving faster than she had any right to be, she unlimbered her white, oddly shaped shotgun, aimed it at one of the eye sockets of the Krogan's helmet and shot him from point blank range. Whatever munitions she packet, sliced through the armour as if it wasn't thee and dented the back of the helmet from the inside – which meant that the lizard just got his head and brain turned into mush.
All that happened in the space of time Shepard needed to cross the corridor and hit the reception. He was just in time to see the surviving man supposed to cover the entrance try to get to his feet. He had lost his assault rifle and was trying to draw his SMG. The Commander put a stop to that with three bursts – two popped his target's shields and the third perforated his right shoulder, thus destroying the joint and sending him spinning to the ground.
"Centre clear!" Shepard shouted and swept right – where the remaining hostiles were supposed to be.
"Left clear!" Chellick's flanging voice echoed a moment later.
"Right clear!" Multiple voices joined the chorus.
The pair covering the hostages had stood quite close to the breaching point so they got the worst of both the breaching charges and the flash-bangs before the ERS poured through and unloaded at them with concussion rounds. Two Turians were covering the hostages in case they were anything but, while the Asari and their Captain were busy flash-forging bindings for the stunned prisoners.
Vasir looked around the clinic and nodded in approval.
"Good enough. Shepard, you shot him, you bind him." She turned to look at the shocked human who sat frozen at her desk.
"Doctor Michael, I presume? Tela Vasir, Spectre. Please tell me all about your Quarian patient."
=DC=
Part 8
=DC=
22.04.2183 GS
lower levels
Zakera ward
The Citadel
"Tali, you mean?" The doctor stammered. "Well, she came day, day and half ago..." Michael shuddered. "Sorry, too much adrenaline and coffee and too little sleep." She shrugged. "I've been busy lately."
"It's all right. It's over now, you're safe." Vasir said in a gentle, motherly tone. She put a hand on the doctors shoulder and gently squeezed it. "Please, tell me more about Tali. As you figured out, she is in danger and we're trying to help her."
"All right." Michael nodded and spoke a bit more calmly. "Tali stumbled in delirious. All I could get from her initially was that she was shot and in danger. That's why I called a friend in C-SEC, however he couldn't be reached so I sent him a message. It was nasty stuff they hit her with – polonium rounds. Medi-gel, her suit's medical systems and enough immuno-boosters to drown someone was the only reason she was still alive on arrival. I managed to patch her up and left her to rest in the back of the clinic. She eventually began speaking in her sleep, despite the medications. Something about an attack and Geth. With her being shot and Quarian I didn't know what to think, especially with the news from Eden Prime. Do you think she managed to escape the attack and saw something?"
"Not on Eden Prime." Shepard joined the conversation. "The timing doesn't work. She should have found whatever intelligence she has closer to the Citadel. The Normandy is one of the fastest ships in existence and we got underway here as soon as a relief force arrived in system. As far as I know we didn't detect any friendly or neutral shipping leaving after our arrival. Just the Geth."
"I wouldn't know." Michael shrugged nervously. "Do you think she'll be all right? Tali should be still in bed recovering..."
"If she was here she would be likely dead now." Vakarian joined in too. "Hey, Doc, you all right?"
"Garrus! You came!" Michael exclaimed excitedly and pounced to hug the startled Turian who caught her with a gobsmacked expression on his face.
"Ah, so this is your secret girlfriend. You know, there's nothing wrong and no reason to hide, right? I know for a fact that your dad at least is accepting of such things." Chellick snickered.
"It's not what it looks like!" Garrus spluttered.
"You sure about that, Detective?" Everyone could practically hear Vasir's smirk despite her mask.
Vakarian gave everyone a respectable glare before glancing down at the woman in his arms. "Doc, Chloe, I'm sure the Spectre here has a few more questions for you. Like a description."
"I'm all right." Michael grumbled and let go of the Turian. When she turned to face the rest of them, her face was almost as fiery red as her hair. "She's about one sixty five tall, slim, has dark blue almost black suit with purple scarf and visor…" The doctor continued to ramble about what she could remember of her patient. "I'm sorry but I don't have a picture… my clients kind of frown on that...''
"Or make people disappear." Chellick muttered.
"Now that we have a description, Detectives please do get it distributed through C-SEC and make sure we want Tali safe and intact."
"That's the order already."
"Just making sure. The last thing anyone needs is for some bigot to get overzealous. If that happens, I'll be throwing them off the nearest airlock." Vasir warned. "We're leaving you to wrap up around here." She turned to look at the ERS officer. "Lieutenant, you and your people did good. I'll make sure a commendation finds its way into your records."
The Turian officer preened at the prize.
"Come on, Shepard, we've got a Krogan to pick up."
"This is about Saren, isn't it?" Garrus blurred out, making everyone pause.
"What makes you think so, Detective?"
"I was in charge of investigating him on C-SEC's side. The Council didn't give me enough time nor your office access to anything useful. The whole thing was a Spirits damned sham. And while I was busy wasting my time, you people got the whole C-SEC look for a Quarian girl. The same girl who has been muttering about 'Geth' and 'attack' while sedated after being attacked on arrival at the Citadel. I don't believe in coincidences, Ma'am." Vakarian stared defiantly at the Spectre.
"Your reasoning is sound, though the evidence you have is merely circumstantial."
"I've learned to trust my instincts. Look me in the eyes and tell me I'm wrong. Besides, I watched Shepard during the meeting with the Council – he was on Eden Prime and now, suddenly he's working with you tracking this Tali kid." Garrus glared.
"This is why you got an offer to join is, Vakarian." Vasir nodded. "However," She looked around. "Your timing sucks. Lieutenant, make sure your people keep mum about anything you heard in here until it obviously no longer matters. Chellick, you're taking Doctor Michael and her patients in protective custody until our investigation is over. Congratulations Vakarian, you just volunteered to be with us until I'm sure you won't be opening your large mouth where it should remain firmly shut. Now you two, walk with me." Vasir's tone left no place for arguments.
"Me and my Spirits damned big mouth,.." Garrus grumbled. "How did she rope you into this anyway?"
"Spectre evaluation for potentially joining them." Shepard explained.
Vakarian stared warily at Vasir's back. "Is she trying to conscript me or something?
"Move it people!" The Spectre barked loud enough that everyone jumped.
=DC=
C-SEC Academy
Presidium lower levels
The Citadel
A not very long, yet awkward ride later, the trio arrived at C-SEC's academy, which was situated near the docks. The building held the local precinct, as well as ERS response units meant to cover the area. They were also the place where anyone detained at the docks, usually smugglers or people on the run trying to snatch a ship, got held until processing.
The moment they entered the lobby, it became obvious who they were looking for. A huge Krogan clad in blood red armour was at a stand off with eight C-SEC officers. A ERS fire-team backed them with their weapons lowered yet ready to snap up at a moments notice.
"Listen to me, Krogan – we have information that you are here to commit murder. You aren't going anywhere with your weapons!" A human C-SEC officer bravely or stupidly confronted the giant lizard.
"Just try it, Pyjak!" The small mountain of armour, muscle and anger shifted so his back was to the wall revealing his face and huge toothy grin. A nasty scar – like something particularly deadly and vicious had clawed him - stretched from almost the top of his impressive bone crest all the way down to the throat. The gouge tissue barely missed his right eye.
"Wrex, stop antagonizing C-SEC. I already promised we won't be trashing this station too." Vasir spoke with fond exasperation – that was certainly new side of her Shepard just saw.
That gave the Krogan pause. His eye narrowed at the newcomers before focusing at the Asari. "I know this voice..." He trailed off and sniffed the air like a giant mutant dog. The newly named Wrex took a few steps towards the Spectre while everyone but Vasir watched him warily and ready to explode into action. "You even smell like her..."
"It's been a few centuries, Wrex. Did I left that much of an impact?" Vasir smirked.
"It took me a whole week for my ribs and lung to regenerate properly." Wrex laughed. "Aleena, I didn't think I would see you again, woman! What did you do, go back to Thessia to play Matriarch or something?"
"Went back out of cover, you oversized varen! What were you thinking picking up a fight with C-SEC anyway?"
"I was wondering who ratted me out? Do you have something to do with it?"
"I have a job offer for you. You aren't going after Fist until we've got him in custody and have squeezed every drop of useful information out of him."
At that statement, Wrex growled from deep within his chest. It sounded closer to the roar of a gunship's engine than something that came from a flesh and blood. "In exchange, I'll let you come with me when I go after your second target. You can then claim the bounty once we're done."
"And if I refuse?"
"For old time's sake I hope you're still one of the few Krogan with more than two brain cells left to rub together." Vasir's voice lost any warmth it previously held and became an ugly thing seeped into liquid hydrogen. "It would be shame if the epic of Urdnot Wrex ended up here – dying like a fool."
Shepard's heart beat faster at that declaration. John was sure that Vasir just stepped over the line and they would be fighting for their lives. He coiled in preparation to jump into action and mentally planned to open up with an overload that would weaken the biotic barrier that the Krogan would surely throw if he was a biotic or hopefully fry his shields if he wasn't. He saw from the corner of his eye Vakarian lighting up his omni-tool and placing a hand on his heavy pistol. The ERS guys shouldered their weapons too and the other C-SEC agents smartly got out of the line of fire before going for their weapons too.
Instead of attacking, Wrex smirked, then spread his arms and let out a loud belly laugh that shook his bulk. "Ahahaa! Woman, you still have a quad!" The laughter soon died to a mere chuckle and he stared at Vasir with a gleam in his eye.
"Let's speak details, Aleena or whatever you call yourself these days..."