OK. This was originally one chapter that was over 11,000 words so instead I'm going to break it up.

CHAPTER 7: THE ALLIANCE

Mallory looked around at the shining walls of the SSV Normandy. The lights hurt her eyes and she felt like if she stepped to loud she was going to piss off the entire room. She was surrounded by Alliance sailors working diligently at terminals and Marine grunts standing around looking their best approximation of tough. It made her ache for the pistol and shotgun which had been removed from her person before she was brought onboard.

Mal was also keenly aware of the two Marines standing behind her with Avenger assault rifles in their arms. In front of her was a stuffy looking Second Lieutenant who was brandishing a data pad.

"Understand that at this time you are not free to leave. You are not under arrest but you will be detained until your duty to the court has been satisfied. Please sign here to acknowledge that you have been informed of the terms of this order."

Mal stared at the man who looked as though he was fresh out of college, with the aftershave to match.

"Ok, but why?"

A slightly exasperated look appeared on the man's face.

"Ma'am, you are a witness both to the Geth attack on Eden Prime as well as the destruction of the Prothean Beacon that injured Commander Shepard. Given your proximity to the events, the Alliance has need of your testimony. Once your testimony has been given, you will be released from this order, and compensated for your time. Given that your testimony will be needed on the Citadel, the Alliance can provide for the costs of your transportation to a destination of your choosing."

Mallory really didn't want to wind up in the capitol of the whole goddamn galaxy and getting her name put on fucking galactic court documents. It was kind of the opposite of keeping a low profile.

The lieutenant pushed the thing closer to her and Mal felt her eye twitch as there was an overwhelming urge to smack the thing out of her hand. The cell block lawyer in her head informed her that was a terrible idea.

"What if I don't want to?"

The sailor's face turned sour.

"Then the two Marines behind you will escort you to the brig where you will be held on charges of contempt of court."

Fuck…she was on parole. If she caught a charge they'd violate her parole and send her back to corrections.

'Shit.'

Mal took the pad and signed something illegible before tossing it back to the sailor who caught it.

'Lot of practice, asshole…'

The sailor was instantly pleasant again.

"Thank you, ma'am."

Mallory scowled as the lieutenant nodded and the Marines took her down some stairs to a galley.

She was walked to a table and told to sit. One of the Marines stood against the wall behind her as the other one said something in his headset. The Marine then looked at her.

"Food will be provided during the midday meal."

Food was brought at what the ship's clock determined was midday. Mal ate the synthetic food with some nostalgia for the soy meat and spuralina rice of the AMX. After some time Mal fell asleep in the chair with her head laying in her arms on the table.

When she awoke, there were different Marines in front of her. The Earther stretched her neck with a crack and looked at the Marines. One of them said something into her earpiece before addressing Mallory.

"Ma'am, if you'll remain here, the captain needs to speak with you."

Mal felt an incredulous stare come across her face.

"I'm literally not allowed to move."

The Marine shrugged before she moved back to stand against the wall.

A dark skinned man in a much nicer uniform than the rest of the grunts entered the room and made a beeline for her. Mal cut her eyes to the Marines against the wall.

'Let's play a game.'

Mallory stood up as the guy she assumed was the captain came closer. She expected the Marines to get really pissy, but instead they didn't move a muscle.

'Weird.'

The captain stopped in front of Mallory and the ganger lifted her chin slightly to look into the eyes of the tall man. He held out his hand. Mallory looked at it for a moment before looking back at Anderson. The captain narrowed his eyes and actually smiled.

"If that's how we're starting our relationship, this is going to be a very uncomfortable conversation."

Mallory stared at him for a moment before gripping the man's hand and shaking.

'Holy. Shit.'

This man's grip was like shaking hands with a bulldozer.

"Captain Anderson. Commanding officer of the Normandy."

'Old timer is stronger than he looks.'

"Mallory."

Anderson freed Mal's hand before sitting down and dropping a data pad on the table. Mallory sat back down and looked at the captain expectantly.

"I understand you gave your testimony to Lieutenant Hastings. I've read it. Interesting read." Anderson interlaced his fingers and leaned forward on the table.

"Just to clear up a few things, how did you come to be in possession of an Alliance Security Forces issued sidearm?"

Mallory shrugged.

"Like I said, the Turian gave it to me. I guess he got it from someone who didn't need it anymore."

Anderson nodded.

"Your biotics. You perform them without an amp?"

Mallory's stomach sank. She still had Red Sand on her person. Without missing a beat Mallory said,

"Yeah."

Anderson looked at her.

"And you do this how?"

Mal shrugged.

"Always been this way."

Anderson shook his head.

"Let's be honest with each other."

Mallory feigned confusion as Anderson narrowed his eyes.

"Your Red Sand use is evident. Even without the pale skin and red teeth, your iris is turning red from you putting it in your eyes."

Mallory's fists clenched but Anderson put his hand up open palmed.

"You're not the first. Not the last. This is just confirming what we already knew. Be aware that you may be asked about it in your testimony."

Mallory unclenched her fists, but the tension remained in her shoulders.

Anderson looked at the data pad a final time.

"Your name. So far we only have Mallory. What is your surname?"

Anderson looked at her expectantly before Mallory didn't answer. Mallory shrugged somewhat helplessly. Anderson's eyes looked sad for a moment before nodding and tapping on the data pad.

"Alright. We'll leave that blank for now. A couple more formalities."

An older woman entered the room wearing a doctor's uniform.

Mallory looked at Anderson.

"Doctor Chakwas will need a blood sample to test for any microorganisms brought from Earth before we get to the Citadel."

Mallory looked at the doctor who held up a needle.

"I ain't afraid of needles…"

The doctor smiled and held up an injector in her other hand.

"Good. You'll also be receiving a translator implant."

'Shit…' Mallory's heart sank.

"Doctor! Doctor Chakwas! He's waking up!" Lieutenant Alenko's voice rang through the medical bay as he spoke into his earpiece.

Ashley stepped forward as Commander Shepard moved his hand to his jaw and squinted against the medical bay's harsh light. The Commander groaned and sat up mumbling something about staring at the sun.

"How are you feeling Commander?" Doctor Chakwas stepped back into the medical bay from the galley and pulled up a data pad to begin taking notes.

The Commander put his forehead in his palm and sighed heavily.

"Like the morning after liberty. How long was I out?"

"About 15 hours. Do you remember the beacon exploding?"

Shepard nodded.

"Yeah. Lieutenant?"

Lieutenant Alenko stepped forward and straightened his back.

"I take responsibility Commander. When I approached the beacon I must have triggered some kind of security. The blast knocked you cold Commander. We CASEVACed you to the Normandy."

As Ashley watched she noticed a slight tightening around the Commander's eyes that indicated an inbound ass chewing…before it disappeared and the Commander nodded.

"Very well, Lieutenant, but we don't know if that's what happened."

Chakwas tapped her data pad.

"Commander, I detected unusual brain activity while you were unconscious. As well as an increase in rapid eye movements. Signs typically associated with intense dreaming."

Shepard looked surprised for moment and Ashley tilted her head as the Commander almost seemed embarrassed.

"I…uh…I don't know if it was a dream at all…I saw…death. Destruction. Synthetics slaughtering organics."

Ashley crossed her arms.

"Geth, sir?"

Shepard shook his head as Captain Anderson entered with the ganger, Mallory, on his heels.

"How's our XO, Doctor?"

Chakwas lowered the data pad.

"Fit for duty, Captain. Commander, if these visions and headaches continue I'll need to know."

Shepard nodded to Chakwas before turning to Captain Anderson.

"Captain?"

The Captain put his hand to his chin and leaned forward.

"A vision, Commander?"

Shepard related the events of his dream to Captain Anderson who appeared thoughtful.

"I'll have to add this to my report."

Ashley frowned and noticed Mallory smirk out of the corner of her eye. Shepard's brows furrowed.

"Report what, sir? That I had a bad dream?"

Anderson shrugged.

"We don't know how this technology works Shepard. I'm more interested in Saren."

Ashley huffed and paid attention as Captain Anderson went on to talk about his interest in the alien on alien violence that occurred on Eden Prime. Apparently, a Turian Spectre, Saren Arterius, murdered a Spectre that the Normandy had on onboard.

Ashley Williams rocked back on her heels and tuned out as Doctor Chakwas continued checking Shepard's vitals. Mallory was standing to the side brooding. She was repeatedly rubbing her head behind her left ear. Ashley once again examined the woman.

Willowy. The build of a biotic. No amp.

Some experience with weapons. Not passing Alliance qualification anytime soon, but knew where to point the dangerous end of the gun.

Most concerning was the blatant signals of Red Sand abuse, likely to let her use her biotics with no amp.

Brown coat. Red knit cap. Cheap shirt and pants. Military surplus boots. Red soles on the boots. The reoccurrence of the color combined with the weapons experience, drug use, and clear abilities in combat with brute force biotics marked Mallory as 100% a ganger in Ashley's book.

Mallory was leaning against the wall very visibly trying to remain calm. Clearly pissed off at the fact she wasn't free to leave.

'She's probably got a few warrants.'

The Marine hadn't been in favor of bringing the ganger on board, but Lieutenant Alenko had ordered it. Captain Anderson concurred, deciding that another witness to the Prothean Beacon exploding wasn't a bad thing. Mallory had turned over the pistol and shotgun she was armed with towards the end of the Eden Prime op. Begrudgingly turned them over. The Kessler handgun was clearly Alliance issue and would have come from a Marine or Security Forces officer. Mallory had likely found the weapon after the previous owner no longer had use for it.

'Resourceful.'

If Mallory was to be believed, she'd landed on the planet just before the attack began and was looking to get out of dodge when Shepard's fireteam found her and the civilians she was escorting along with that Turian, Davus.

'The civis…'

As Ashley and the rest of the fireteam were approaching the ongoing firefight at the Fort Ernest Smith tram station, Ash had seen a gangbanger and Red Sand addict, inexplicably, charge Geth guns to protect a mother and child. The Gunnery Chief kept an eye on Mallory out of the corner of her eye, but anyone willing to eat a bullet to save a child was a person that couldn't be all bad.

"Captain, we're approaching the Citadel." The helmsman's voice echoed in the medical bay. Both Shepard and Mallory winced at the volume.

"Understood Joker. We'll be up shortly."

Commander Shepard came to his feet as Doctor Chakwas backed away and over to a counter. On the counter she sat a used injector and several vials of blood.

The commander turned to look at Ashley and Mallory curiously. The captain said something to the ganger that caused her to leave the room. The commander approached Ash and the Gunnery Chief saluted.

"Sir!"

The Commander saluted back.

"Gunny. Not that I am averse to your presence, but what are you doing aboard the Normandy?"

Ashley gestured to the door.

"Captain Anderson brought me aboard as a witness and, once aboard, requested I be transferred to this command. Given the status of the 212, the request was approved damn quick. Sir."

Shepard let an easy smile slide on to his face.

"Well, good to you have Guns. The ganger?"

Ashley's mood slightly soured.

"You'll have to ask her, sir. I don't make a habit of associating with addicts."

Shepard frowned but didn't address the insult.

"Very well. As you were, Gunny."

Ash saluted as Shepard walked away.

Shepard walked out of the medical bay and found Mallory sitting at a dining table alone. The woman was sitting at the table with her shoulders slumped and head laying on her crossed arms.

The Commander walked over and pulled up a chair. The ganger's head snapped up. Shepard smiled but internally winced whilst looking at the reddening irises and snappy movements of Mallory. The girl was drugged out of her brain. Probably consistently high and just maintaining the high with a hit every few hours. Shepard decided to see what he could learn about this woman that would be testifying before The Council.

"Morning, Mallory."

The ganger nodded.

"Hey."

Shepard put his elbows on the table.

"Thank you for your help on Eden Prime. Your assistance was very welcome."

The ganger seemed uncomfortable.

"Yeah. Sure."

No dice. Shepard tried a different tack.

"What were you doing on Eden Prime? You don't look like a farmer."

The ganger leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms.

"Passing through."

Shepard pressed forward.

"Where were you going? I mean this detour is an inconvenience. I'd like to see you to your destination once we're done on The Citadel."

Mallory licked the inside of her lip then sighed.

"I dunno where I was goin'. Just goin'. I guess."

Shepard recognized the truth in the statement and side stepped.

"What about family? I can make sure they know you're alright. The Normandy has a state of the art comms system."

Shepard registered a brief flash of pain in Mallory's eyes. As quickly as the woman recovered, Shepard was struck for a moment. The pain in Mallory's eyes was intense. Like Shepard had seen in the eyes of Torfan veterans. The eyes of a person who has seen such death that they may only now wallow in misery and self-doubt.

"I don't have a family." Mallory's voice was stiff.

Shepard was instantly sorry. That was either a very recent or very old wound.

"I'm sorry, Mallory. I didn't realize."

Mallory shrugged. Shepard decided to see if he could patch things over. Nothing like a little shared misery.

"I lost my younger sister when I was a kid. Killed before I ever got the chance to save her."

Mallory stared at him. Unmoved.

"Sorry to hear that Shepard."

Shepard nodded.

"Well if you would like us to drop you somewhere following our business aboard the Citadel, please let me know and I'll get it cleared with Captain Anderson…and if you feel like talking…"

Mallory shook her head.

"No thanks, Shepard. Sooner we're done the sooner I can get back to my own business."

'Like finding a hole to hide and wallow in…' Shepard walked away from the woman and was about to go up the stairs to the CIC. The Commander stopped and turned.

"Mallory?"

The woman looked up from where she had her head laying on her crossed arms again. She pivoted her head on her chin and looked at Shepard.

"You ever seen the Citadel?"

Mallory shook her head.

"Well come on. I've got the best seat in the house."

Mallory lifted her head off her arms and moved to stand before looking at the Marine guard. Shepard waved a hand.

"They won't bother you. I'm their boss."

Mallory smirked at the Marines before walking over to follow Shepard upstairs.

Mallory followed Shepard through the CIC and into the cockpit of the Normandy.

"Hey, Commander. Just in time, I'm about to bring us into the Citadel."

Mallory looked out the cockpit window to see the ship was approaching a Mass Relay.

"You may wanna hold on to somethin'." The pilot cautioned Mallory.

Mallory grabbed a bulkhead and steadied herself as the Mass Relay filled the cockpit window. Then it was gone. In its place was purple haze which the pilot maneuvered through like he knew exactly where he was going. Then the haze was gone and, like a curtain dropped, Mallory saw the biggest object she had ever seen.

The Citadel. The Normandy approached it quickly and Mallory's mouth dropped open as she understood the full scope of the galactic capitol. The thing was so damn big it looked like it could swallow every ship around and have room for them to dogfight inside the arms.

"Look at the size of that ship!"

Mallory turned around and found Williams standing in front of a window. Mal walked over to look between Williams and Shepard. The ship in front of her was massive. It made the Normandy look like a toy.

Alenko's voice sounded.

"The Destiny Ascension. Flagship of the Citadel Fleet."

"Yeah, well, size ain't everything," the pilot added drily.

"Dick envy." The words were out Mallory's mouth before she even thought about it. She didn't look at what she was sure were incredulous looks and instead looked at the passing ships. The big kind. Dreadnoughts?

"Yeah, Joker. You sound jealous." There was a smile in Williams' voice before the pilot, Joker, went on the defensive.

"I'm just saying you need firepower to."

The conversation about the massive ship continued as Mallory looked at the lights of the arms. There must have been millions of people on board this thing.

The ship suddenly shifted as Joker lifted the nose and began slowing down.

The ship came to a stop and there were several solid thunks as docking clamps locked into place. Shepard stood tall and gestured to the rear of the ship.

"Come on. Let's get dressed for show. Mallory, you come to."

Mallory followed the Marines down the CIC.

Mallory marveled at the air cars zipping by over the green grass, clean water, and clean everything. The clean air was more amazing than the fact she was looking at a Turian speaking a sort of warbling English and a Salarian frog man speaking in one of the whiniest voices she'd ever heard. The human in the garish white suit was throwing a tantrum.

"The Council wouldn't sit idly by if the Geth attacked a Turian colony!"

The frog man spoke like it was talking to a child.

"The Turians don't found colonies on the borders of the Terminus Systems, ambassador."

Mallory kind of wanted to strangle it. Little shit.

The Asari was more exasperated.

"Humanity was well aware of the risks when you went into the Traverse."

The Human Ambassador threw up his hands.

"What about Saren? You can't just ignore a rogue Spectre! I demand action!"

The Turian shook its head.

"Humanity doesn't get to make demands of The Council, Ambassador."

Mallory scowled at the subtext of the statement.

'You are beneath us,'

"Citadel Security is investigating your charges against Saren. We will discuss the matter at the hearing and not before."

'We don't believe you and can't be bothered…' Mallory shook her head. Bastards.

The Council hung up without saying any sort of goodbye. The ambassador turned around.

"Captain Anderson. I see you brought half your crew with you."

Anderson stepped forward and didn't rise to the jab.

"Just the ground team from Eden Prime."

The ambassador looked Mallory. Anderson interceded.

"This is our civilian witness to the Geth attack and the Beacon exploding."

The Ambassador looked at Mallory before huffing and looking to the captain.

"Come, Anderson. We've got some things to do before the hearing. Commander Shepard, meet us at the Citadel Tower."

As the sanctimonious prick walked out of the room, Mallory controlled her urge to crush him like a grape.

"And that's why I hate politicians." Ashley's voice echoed in the room.