John sat on one of the benches that lined the wall in the lower section of Citadel Tower, next to his sister. They'd taken the quarian girl, Tali, back to meet with Udina the day before. Her evidence- a voice recording of Saren and a woman they didn't recognize- was currently being submitted by Udina to the Council. He was just waiting his turn.
He still couldn't believe how crazy the last week had been. First Eden Prime turned into a full-on battlefield, and now John and a team of aliens were trying to stop this damn war from starting. He smiled over at Mia, who was flicking through her Omnitool. After action reports, again. He needed to talk to her about that when this settled down.
"Hey, I don't think I told you this," John started, getting her attention. She put her Omnitool away, almost jumping as if she were a child with something she wasn't supposed to have.
"What?" She asked, curiously.
"Having you here, especially going into a war… It's been nice." He told her fondly. "Not to mention, you kick ass." He teased, trying not to get too mushy.
"It's nice having family so close, yeah." Mia agreed, looking down at her boots. "You talked to Mom?" She asked quietly. John's heart stopped for a moment, but he supposed it was better to be honest.
"Not since Dad passed." He told her, watching her carefully. He paused for a moment, wondering where Mia's relationship with their mother had gone. "You?" To his surprise, Mia shook her head.
"Not since the Blitz." She admitted. John frowned at that.
"The Blitz? Why-" John didn't understand why that event would have any bearing on his mother, or Mia talking to her.
"After the Blitz, Mom went a little… crazy. I'm talking coo-coo, little birdies flying around her head like in the old Earth vids we watched growing up. I wrote to her, telling her I'd be leaving for Akuze, and updating her on what you'd been doing. I hope you don't mind, she could have found any of the information I'd passed her herself with her credentials, I didn't even think it'd bother you-" Mia was rambling, and as adorable as it was that she was worried she'd crossed a line, he was more curious about his mother being crazy.
"Mia. It's fine. I've not had contact with either of you in too long, and that was selfish of me. You passed information to Mom, and…?" He prompted with a little smile.
"And she lost her fucking mind , John. When she read my email, she called me. I was in the barracks, so I picked up. I wish I hadn't. 'How could you support your brother after he and his father left us for nothing' and 'I don't care if the Alliance considers him a war hero, I consider him a goddamn traitor.' It was a nightmare." She shuddered, then offered him a weak smile. "I'm glad you got out of there. I wish Dad would have taken me, too."
"Me, too, kiddo," he said, wrapping her in a side hug. "I'm sorry you had to deal with her narcissism. That's not fair to you." He told her.
"No, it's not fair how she treats the idea of you. I don't blame you for never writing to her, you heard from me how horrible she'd gotten. A few months ago, she was suspended with pay for 'irrational behavior patterns'. I don't know if it's mental, or if she's on drugs, but I'll get a vid of her screaming nearly incoherently into the camera every few months. I open them. Try to make sense of it. Don't reply." She sighed, then peeked up at him. "Too busy."
"Yeah, I earned that." John sighed, nodding. He leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. "Listen, kid." He said, meaningfully. "Never again. Never for you. Our only decent parent is gone, and the one that's left is off her rocker. It's me and you, Amelia. Against the world." He promised. She scanned his face, hopefully. Determined to make sure he was all in for this, he was sure. He stuck out his pinky finger, and she cracked a smile, curling hers around his. "Pinky promise." He winked.
"Two Shepards against the world. I like our odds." Mia mused, finally giving him a genuine smile.
"Thank you, by the way," John said softly, and Mia frowned up at him questioningly. "For sticking up for me against Mom. You dropped contact with her when she started shit-talking me. I assume that's why?" He pressed.
"Any soldier worth their salt knows that you're a damn hero, John. She's fucking crazy for even suggesting otherwise." Mia spat defensively.
"Aye, but you wouldn't tell her that when she was telling you how awful you were at… well, everything." John prodded, arching a brow at her. "Miss perfectionist got that way somehow." he teased.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll trauma dump about this the next time you buy me a drink, hm? Bit of an important day here, and I'm trying to be supportive of my brother." She teased, then nodded at Anderson as he made his way down the stairs. "Looks like you're up, hot shot."
"Wish me luck," John said, getting to his feet.
"Better you than me," She snorted, standing as well to head to the balconies with the rest of the crew. "I'd have some things to say to the Council that would make a Batarian slaver blush," she told him, then smiled. "But good luck."
John smiled at his sister, then took a breath and turned to Anderson, who just waved John to follow him.
"Come on. Udina's finishing up his presentation." John followed the man up the stairs and across the walkway used to speak to the council as the recording was playing over the speakers. Saren's voice, proclaiming Eden Prime a victory. The woman's voice, proclaiming the return of a race called the Reapers. It gave John a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. The recording finished as he came to stand behind Udina.
"You wanted proof. There it is." He stated evenly.
"This evidence is irrefutable, Ambassador." The Turian Councilor spoke. "Saren will be stripped of his Spectre status and all efforts will be made to bring him in to answer for his crimes."
"I recognize the other voice, the one speaking with Saren. Matriarch Benezia." the Asari Councilor said.
"Who is she?" John asked.
"Matriarchs are powerful asari who have entered the final stage of their lives. Revered for their wisdom and experience, they serve as guides and mentors to my people. Matriarch Benezia is a powerful biotic, and she had many followers. She will make a formidable ally for Saren." The Asari Councilor informed him.
"I'm more interested in the Reapers." The Salarian Councilor stated. "What do you know about them?"
"Only what was extracted from the geth's memory core. The Reapers were an ancient race of machines that wiped out the Protheans. Then they vanished." Anderson informed.
"The geth worship the Reapers as gods. And Saren is the prophet for their return." John said evenly.
"We think the Conduit is the key to bringing them back. Saren's searching for it. That's why he attacked Eden Prime." Anderson said.
"Do we even know what the Conduit is?" the Salarian Councilor asked.
"Saren thinks it could bring back the Reapers. That's good enough for me to want to find out." John asserted.
"Listen to what you're saying! Saren wants to bring back the machines that wiped out all life in the galaxy? Impossible. It has to be!" The Turian Councilor asserted. "Where did they go? Why did they vanish? How come we've found no trace of their existence? If they were real, we'd have found something!"
"You sound like a human before First Contact. So sure we were alone in the galaxy because we weren't advanced enough to see otherwise." John shook his head. "I tried to warn you about Saren, and you refused to face the truth. Don't make the same mistake again."
"This is different. You proved Saren betrayed the Council. We all agree he's using the geth to search for the Conduit, but we don't really know why." The Asari Councilor said.
"The Reapers are obviously just a myth, Commander. A convenient lie to cover Saren's true purpose. A legend he is using to bend the geth to his will." The Salarian Councilor said.
"Fifty thousand years ago, the Reapers wiped out all galactic civilization. I know, because that Prothean beacon that I was sent into hell to collect for you put an image in my brain. I don't claim to understand Prothean tech, but I know what I saw. If Saren finds the Conduit, it will happen again." John nearly shouted.
"Saren is a rogue agent on the run for his life. He no longer has the rights and resources of a Spectre. The Council has stripped him of his position." The Turian Councilor said.
"That is not good enough! You know he's hiding somewhere in the Traverse! Send your fleet in!" Udina chimed in.
"A fleet cannot track down one man." The Salarian Councilor reasoned.
"A Citadel fleet could secure the entire region. Keep the geth from attacking any more of our colonies." Udina countered.
"Or it could trigger a war with the Terminus Systems! We won't be dragged into a galactic confrontation over a few dozen human colonies!" The Turian Councilor said.
"Then don't send a fleet," John said, speaking up. "Send me." There was silence for a moment in the chamber before the Asari Councilor spoke up.
"The Commander's right." Even if they wouldn't outright concede to him being correct on all fronts, John had to admit it felt nice to be acknowledged for something. "There is a way to stop Saren that doesn't require fleets or armies." She said, looking at the Turian Councilor.
"No, it's too soon! Humanity is not ready for the responsibilities that come with joining the Spectres." The Turian Councilor said. This was John's chance, and he couldn't pass it up.
"I don't know about all of humanity, but I faced Saren on Eden Prime, and exposed him as a traitor. I think I've proven myself." John asserted. The Councilors exchanged a look, and then all three of them interacted with their consoles before returning their attention to John.
"Commander Shepard. Step forward." The Asari Councilor said. John did as he was told after a reassuring nod from Anderson, stepping in front of Udina. He was suddenly self-conscious, aware of the eyes watching him from the balconies around the Council Meeting Room. He caught a flash of red and risked a glance, seeing Mia, Kaidan, and Garrus watching from above, Wrex watching from the next section of railing.
"It is the decision of the Council that you be granted all the powers and privileges of the Special Tactics and Reconnaissance branch of the Citadel." The Asari Councilor stated.
"Spectres are not trained, but chosen." The Salarian Councilor continued, crossing his arms. "Individuals forged in the fire of service and battle, those whose actions elevate them above the rank and file."
"Spectres are an ideal. A symbol. The embodiment of courage, determination, and self-reliance. They are the right hand of the Council, instruments of our will." The Asari continued.
"Spectres bear a great burden. They are protectors of galactic peace, both our first and last line of defense. The safety of the galaxy is theirs to uphold." The Turian Councilor said.
"You are the first human Spectre. This is a great accomplishment for you and your entire species." The Asari Councilor finished.
"I'm honored, Councilor." John nodded, holding back what he wanted to say to the Council.
"We're sending you into the Traverse after Saren. He's a fugitive from justice, so you are authorized to use any means necessary to apprehend or eliminate him." The Salarian Councilor said.
"We'll forward any relevant files to Councilor Udina." The Turian Councilor said, looking at the Asari Councilor.
"This meeting is adjourned." She said, and John let out a sigh as he turned to descend the stairs back down to the lower level. Before he could even get there, though, Anderson stopped him to shake his hand and congratulate him, before Udina swept him away to get things set into motion. John took a deep breath, then turned to see his crew just in time to see a flash of red as Mia threw herself into his arms excitedly.
"That's my brother! First human Spectre, are you fucking kidding me ? I told you! John Shepard, war hero, Spectre, my brother! " Mia laughed, hugging him fiercely. John hugged her back with a laugh, looking her in the eye as he pulled away.
" Fucking politicians." He deadpanned, copying her words from last week. She giggled, hugging him again. She finally pulled away, turning to the others.
"We all wanted to see how it went. We worked too hard on this for them to ignore us again." She explained.
"I thought the ambassador would be a little more grateful. He didn't even thank you." Tali chimed in.
"Well, until I find Saren, I haven't done anything," John admitted, shaking his head. "Come on," he said, waving the crew to follow him.
"Right behind you, Shepard," Garrus said.
