Mass
Effect Serialisation – Chapter 9
I’ll
Stop Him
Shortly after walking down from the
Council platform from the successful damnation of Saren and his induction as a
Spectre, Commander Shepard, Tali and Wrex came across an Alliance Rear Admiral,
trying to get through to the right people about the disappearance of one of his
elite squads. He saw Shepard, and knowing the no-limits access of Spectres,
decided to approach him.
“Congratulations on becoming the first
human Spectre, Commander. I’m sure you’ll be up to the challenge.” The Rear
Admiral said, saluting his lesser ranking officer in a sign of respect. He
exuded authority, his grey beard just about covering his weathered face, but
his Hawaiian ethnicity shining through a youthful exuberance to get things
done.
“I appreciate that, sir.” Shepard
said, firmly shaking the Rear Admiral’s hand,
“I’m Admiral Kahoku. It’s about time
we got one of our own in with the Spectres. We need people like you to deal
with our… problems.” Kahoku said,
“Having some difficulties Admiral?”
Shepard enquired.
“Just being stonewalled by bureaucratic
assholes. So nothing new there.” Kahoku said, cleared pissed off by the
situation he found himself in. “One of my teams was out in the Traverse,
investigating some disturbances. They dropped out of contact yesterday and now
suddenly it’s a restricted area – I can’t get anything from anyone. But those
rules don’t apply to you, Shepard. You’re a Spectre, you can go where you want.
You could find out why my team dropped out of contact.”
“I’ll be out in the Traverse
Admiral, I’ll look into it.” Shepard said,
“I appreciate that Shepard, despite
my gut telling me otherwise, I’ll try and find out what I can through the
official channels.” He said with a slight chuckle, knowing it would be futile.
He nodded to Shepard, and returned to his console, trying to get information
that he knew only Shepard could retrieve.
Shepard, Tali and Wrex left the
Citadel Tower and returned to the Presidium below, as they walked through it to
reach the C-Sec Academy and the Alliance Docking Bay where Udina and Anderson
would be waiting, they passed a large krogan statue, Wrex stopped and sighed,
“This statue represents what the
krogan used to be – a proud, noble, warrior race. Responsible for saving the
galaxy from the rachni. Now look at us. Reduced to mercs and killers only
available to the highest bidder.” He said remorsefully, knowing it wasn’t quite
the time or the place, they moved on to the Alliance docking bay where Udina
and Anderson were talking beside the Normandy. Udina saw Shepard coming and
turned to face him.
“I’ve got big news for you Shepard.
Captain Anderson is stepping down as Commanding Officer of the Normandy. The
ship, is yours now.” He said, as Anderson crossed his arms and gave Shepard a
determined look, he was stepping down to give Shepard the best chance of
hunting down Saren.
“She’s quick and quiet, and you know
the crew. Perfect ship for a Spectre.” Anderson added.
“This isn’t right, the Normandy is
your ship. It belongs to you.” Shepard replied, knowing that Anderson had been
coerced into it.
“You needed your own ship. You
answer directly to the Council now. And it’s time for me to step down.”
Anderson said, looking down with a slight glint of disappointment, the words he
said were clearly well rehearsed.
“Come clean with me Captain, you owe
me that much.” Shepard said, wanting the truth from Anderson.
“I was in your shoes 20 years ago
Shepard. The Council were considering me for the Spectres.” Anderson said
reluctantly. “Ask me later and I’ll tell you the whole story. All you need to
know for now is that the Council sent me on a mission with Saren, and he made
damn sure that I wouldn’t succeed. I had my shot. It came and went. Now you
have a chance to make up for my mistakes.” Shepard nodded thoughtfully, and
respected Anderson enough to leave well enough alone for the time being.
“Saren won’t get away this time.” He
said,
“Saren’s gone. Don’t even try
looking for him.” Anderson said, pointedly, “But we know what he’s after: The
Conduit. And he has his geth scouring the Traverse looking for clues as to its
whereabouts.”
“There have been reports of geth in
the Feros system, and sightings around Noveria.” Udina added,
“Find out what Saren was after on
Feros and Noveria. Maybe you can figure out where the Conduit is before he
does.” Anderson said,
“I’m more concerned about the
Reapers. They’re the real threat.” Shepard said, reminding them of what was
said in the audio recording.
“I’m with the Council on this one
Shepard.” Udina said, holding his chin, “I’m not sure the Reapers even exist.”
“But if the Reapers do exist, the
Conduit is the key to bringing them back. Stop Saren from reaching the Conduit,
and it will stop the Reapers from returning.” Anderson added, clearly not on
the same wavelength as Udina and the Council, and much more thinking the same
as Shepard.
Shepard looked back at Anderson as
though he was staring down the sight on his rifle, and sternly but simply said,
“I’ll stop him.” Anderson nodded in agreement.
“Oh… there is one more lead.
Matriarch Benezia; the other voice on the recording. She has a daughter, a
scientist who specialises in the protheans. We don’t know what her role is in
all this yet, and she may not even be involved. Her name is Liara, Dr Liara
T’Soni. We have reports that she was exploring one of the archaeological digs
on one of the uncharted worlds in the Artemis Tau Cluster.” Udina said.
“I think I’ll start there then.”
Shepard thought aloud.
“It’s your call Shepard, you don’t
answer to us anymore.” Anderson reminded Shepard,
“But your actions reflect on
humanity as a whole,” Udina aggressively pointed out, “You make a mess out
there, and I’m stuck cleaning it up.”
“I’ll worry about Saren. You worry
about any political fallout.” Shepard said, clearly not giving a crap about
Udina’s worries.
“Not exactly the answer I was
looking for. Remember, you were a human long before you were a Spectre,
Shepard. I have a meeting to get to, Captain Anderson will answer any questions
you might have.” Udina spat as he walked away. Shepard looked over his shoulder
to see Udina descend in the elevator, then he turned to face Anderson.
“Yes, Shepard?” Anderson asked,
“How are you holding up?” Shepard
asked, knowing that it had been a big day for himself, but also had been a big
day in a different way for Anderson.
“Honestly?” Anderson asked, “This
isn’t how I imagined my career coming to an end. Pushing papers really isn’t my
thing. But you’re the one who can stop Saren. I believe in you, Shepard. If
that means I have to step aside, the so be it.”
“Tell me what happened between you
and Saren.” Shepard said, wanting to know the full picture from Anderson.
“It’s getting on for 20 years now. I
was sent on a mission by the Council, and they sent Saren along with me to
evaluate my performance. Much in the same way that they sent Nihlus along to
check you out.” Anderson said,
“I want the full story Anderson,
tell me what happened.” Shepard insisted.
“We had intel on a rogue scientist
being funded by batarian interests. He was trying to set up a facility to
develop illegal AI technology out in the Verge.” Anderson started to explain,
“Alliance intel had done all the work, but the Council wanted a Spectre involved.
We compromised: I was assigned to help Saren in his investigation. We tracked
the scientist to a refining facility on Camala. He was hidden away somewhere
inside, protected by an army of batarian mercenaries. The plan was simple. We
sneak into the plant, capture the scientist and sneak back out. Quick, quiet
and a minimum of bloodshed.”
“I assume things didn’t go as
planned?” Shepard asked,
“Saren and I split up to cover more
ground. Then, about halfway through the mission, there was a massive explosion
in the refinery core.” Anderson started, “Officially, it was ruled an accident.
But I think Saren detonated it on purpose to draw off the enemy guards.”
“That’s smart. Create a diversion to
distract the guards.” Shepard said,
“This went much further than a
simple diversion Shepard. The explosion tore the refinery apart, killing
everyone inside. Black chemical smoke poured out of it. There was a small
settlement, not far from the refinery. Between the explosion and the chemicals
spilling out into the atmosphere, the death-toll was well over 500 – mostly
civilians.” Anderson started to explain, “But Saren didn’t care. The target was
eliminated. Job done. And I got the blame.”
“But the explosion was Saren’s
fault!” Shepard exclaimed,
“In his report. He blamed me for
blowing his cover, said it was my fault the guards were ready for us. He
claimed that’s why it turned into a massacre. Saren’s report was all the proof
the Council needed to kill my chances of becoming a Spectre.”
“Why’d you let him get away with
it?” Shepard asked,
“Who do you think the Council was
going to listen to? Me? Or their best agent? I had a bad feeling about him
right from the start. I should’ve been more careful. Maybe I could have stopped
things before they go out of hand.” Anderson told Shepard,
“Don’t blame yourself Captain.”
Shepard replied,
“I don’t. I blame Saren. I think he
wanted things to go bad. He was looking for an excuse to blow that refinery.
Maybe he just likes the violence. Maybe he was just trying to make me look bad
to keep human’s out of the Spectres. If so, he pulled it off.” Anderson
concluded. Shepard nodded his head one in acknowledgement,
“Well, the only thing I care about
now is stopping Saren.” He said, “I should go.”
Shepard saluted Anderson and he
reciprocated, as Shepard, Tali and Wrex boarded the Normandy.
Toolbox24
No comments:
Post a Comment