"You are expected."
The Council secretary invited us into the chamber, where all Council members were already present. It was clearly not the beginning of the hearing: Nihlus was already standing before them, and Saren's hologram was visible off to the side.
"Oh, yes… humans… who else would testify against me…"
Saren's voice carried mockery.
"Interesting what they could have seen, if, according to Nihlus, he was alone when I shot him in the head?"
The Spectre shook his head in bafflement.
"Spectre, maintain silence."
Tevos shot Saren an annoyed look, but otherwise didn't show her attitude.
"We have convened to conduct a full investigation. And while the humans cannot confirm your presence on Eden Prime, they can confirm the rest of Spectre Kryik's statement. We will now question them to determine whether their testimony is consistent."
Saren demonstratively moved his mandibles. I got the impression he was implying that we could have coordinated our story during the flight and made our statements identical.
"Captain Shepard, step forward."
At Tevos's request, I stepped forward and looked closely at the Council members as they stared me down. Besides Tevos, the Council included Sparatus of the turians and Valern of the salarians. They were the most stereotypical representatives of their species imaginable.
"You were assigned to Eden Prime to retrieve a Prothean beacon. Tell us what happened during the mission. Start with the short version."
"Before departure, I argued with supply, who refused to provide the necessary equipment for the ship, and I argued about the landing team being limited to two people, not counting me…"
"We are not interested in your problems."
Sparatus said it with arrogant disdain.
"Get to the point."
I shrugged.
"On approach to the planet, we received a distress signal. Please review it."
I activated my omni-tool and sent the video to the secretary, who immediately entered it into evidence. I could see the Councilors were shocked that something that massive could land on a planet. They were ready to declare right now that it was a lie and such ships couldn't exist.
"If necessary, your technicians are welcome aboard the Normandy. They can examine the original recording and assess its authenticity. After we received the signal, the ship engaged all stealth systems and reached the colony, where, at Spectre Kryik's insistence, we split up. He went alone; we advanced toward the dig site from another direction."
"Who attacked the colony?"
"We fought two types of enemies. The first were the geth. The second were unknown creatures—presumably made from humans by implanting something into them…"
"Clarify."
Valern looked at me intently.
"We encountered strange mechanisms—extendable spikes. In some places we saw dead humans hanging on them, and in others there were creatures… gray-blue, moving… the closest term would be 'zombies.' Human culture has apocalypse films…"
"We are familiar with the term 'zombie.' Are you saying they were slow and clumsy?"
"No. I'm saying they didn't react to us until we came within a certain distance. Then they charged at us regardless of anything. You had to destroy the head for the creature to stop trying to tear you apart."
The Councilors continued to bore into me with their stares.
"When we reached the dig site, the beacon had already been moved. We proceeded to its presumed location. Along the way we found Mr. Kryik unconscious. At first I thought he was dead… but it turned out he'd been shot in the head and the bullet ricocheted off the skull. Rare, but it happens."
"We know it happens. What happened next?"
Tevos pressed me.
"We took the monorail to the spaceport, where we discovered turian nuclear bombs from the Krogan Rebellions—at least, that's how Spectre Kryik identified them. Because the bombs were set up in a way that made disarming impossible, I had to use a fairly complex biotic technique taught to me by an asari mentor. I gathered all the bombs and threw them into space, where they detonated and caused no harm to the planet. After that I temporarily stopped monitoring events, because while I can use that technique, it currently requires excessive effort. Lieutenant Shepard can explain what happened next in more detail."
"Lieutenant Shepard?"
Valern nodded to Jane, and she stood beside me and quickly recounted the remainder. The Council withdrew for a brief deliberation, then asked Jane and me several more questions to clarify details.
Naturally, they were also trying to determine whether we'd colluded with Kryik.
"This is all very well…"
At some point, Saren couldn't take it anymore.
"…but neither of the Shepards has produced any evidence confirming my involvement in the attack on Eden Prime. And I have work to do."
"Forgive me…"
I decided it was time to play the trump card.
"…but we didn't present it because we were not asked whether we had data confirming Spectre Arterius's involvement."
"And you have such data? If so, you should have mentioned it in your account."
"We do. And I didn't mention it because it was obtained only after we arrived on the Citadel. It was a fortunate coincidence. A quarian managed, by miracle, to extract several audio tracks related to Eden Prime from a geth she encountered elsewhere. With the Council's permission, I can play them."
"Proceed."
I immediately played the recording. It was short, but more than enough to identify Saren by his voice.
"Spectre Arterius, do you have anything to say in your defense?"
"No… I act in the interests of the Turian Hierarchy."
After that, Saren's connection cut out.
"I consider Spectre Arterius's guilt proven."
Tevos said it lazily, but it was obvious she was tense. It's not every day a Spectre's guilt becomes known, even if not to the public, then to a fairly wide circle.
"Agreed."
"Confirmed."
Sparatus and Valern confirmed Arterius's guilt, and Kryik beside me clicked his mandibles in satisfaction.
"To decide further actions, the Council will withdraw for deliberation. Spectre Kryik, proceed to the report room."
"Understood."
The Spectre left at once, and we were asked to exit the chamber, since there was nothing for us to do there.
"Any ideas?"
Jane looked at me carefully and adjusted a strand of hair behind her ear.
"What's there to say? Either yes or no… And if yes, I have a feeling we'll be the ones shoveling the shit."
Chifuyu snorted quietly.
"When has it been otherwise?"
"Basically never… but before, we were shoveling much smaller piles—one shovel was enough. Now what—an excavator?"
"Ha…"
I turned my head slightly and saw a turian standing a short distance away. My words clearly amused him.
"…Your commander says the right things. You're climbing very high, and if you manage to hold your footing up there, you really will be shoveling shit with excavators. Though I can't say I'm not pleased with how you're climbing. I've been gathering dirt on Arterius for a long time, but my superiors…"
"And who are you, exactly?"
"Garrus Vakarian, C-Sec investigator. A pleasure."
With those words he subtly hinted he already knew all of us. Still, courtesy was courtesy.
"Captain John Shepard, commander of the Normandy's landing unit. This is my lieutenant, Jane Shepard, and her subordinates Chifuyu Orimura and Rebecca Lee. And our commander…"
I nodded toward Anderson, who hadn't said a word this whole time. They hadn't even questioned him to establish the truth.
"…David Anderson. The pleasure is ours."
"And what do you plan to do next?"
"For now, nothing…"
I shrugged carelessly.
"…since we still don't know the Council's position or our place in their plans. Once that's clear… I'll do my job."
"I see. If you ever need a decent investigator and an excellent sniper, contact me."
Garrus quickly sent me his comm number and left us.
"John?"
Anderson looked at me questioningly.
"What?"
"What do you think of that turian?"
"I think not every turian is equally useful… but if you cook him right, even an investigator can be put to work."
"So you want him on the team?"
"Too early to decide, but if I'm sent after Saren, I'll contact him. A good sniper really will be useful."
We stood in silence for a while, each thinking our own thoughts. Personally, I was thinking about canon—what I'd already managed to change before it began, and what I still had to break over my knee. Or I'd break my knee…
My thoughts were interrupted quickly enough.
"Enter."
We were called back inside, and we entered the chamber. The Councilors stared at me.
"I still believe this is too early for humanity."
Sparatus said it with mild displeasure.
"Two against one, my friend. Two against one…"
Tevos gently reminded him that the Council was a triumvirate and decisions were made by majority vote. In my view, the asari were foolish to share power. They should've built an empire with younger species as vassals. But… not everyone is capable of that. The turians, for instance, wouldn't have missed the chance if they'd reached the Citadel first.
"Captain John Shepard, step forward."
I took a few steps.
"Effective immediately, by decision of the Citadel Council, you are granted all authority and privileges of a member of the Citadel Special Tactics and Reconnaissance corps."
Tevos spoke evenly, with solemnity in her voice.
"Spectres are not trained. They are chosen. They are tempered in battle and in special assignments. Through their actions, they place themselves above all ranks and titles."
Valern picked up the solemn speech after Tevos.
"Spectres are an Ideal, a Symbol—the embodiment of Courage, Determination, and Self-Sacrifice…"
Tevos pronounced almost every word as if capitalized.
"…They are the Council's right hand, an instrument of our will."
Yeah, and also your left hand, plus an excavator for shoveling shit. And, in passing, personal assassins, saboteurs, and so on. I kept those thoughts to myself.
"Spectres bear a heavy burden. They are guardians of peace in the galaxy. They are our first and last lines of defense."
Isn't that line of defense a bit flimsy? I kept that thought to myself too, despite it forming right after Sparatus's words.
"The security of the galaxy rests in their hands."
"You are the first human Spectre, Captain. It is a great achievement for you and for all humanity."
"It is an honor, esteemed Councilors."
I had to say something, and that was all I could manage. If not for Aria's lessons, it would've sounded painfully fake. Because it's not an honor—it's a hemorrhoid!
"We are sending you into the Traverse to pursue Saren."
Valern said it while staring at me with his huge eyes. Even at this distance, his eyes seemed too large. It looked a little unsettling. Still—who cares, I'm not planning to start a family with him.
"He is evading justice. You are therefore authorized to use any means necessary to arrest or eliminate him."
On the last word, the Councilor put a barely noticeable emphasis, subtly indicating which option was preferred.
"Do you have any questions?"
Sparatus looked at me intently.
"I do. Do I already have access to the Corps databases? Before flying to the Traverse, I should study where Saren has been most often, his routes, and—"
"We already have that information. We gathered it during our deliberation. All information will be delivered to you by a Spectre courier."
At least they weren't going to hand it to Udina. They could've.
"Thank you. I will do everything in my power to complete the task."
"This session is adjourned."
Tevos closed the hearing, and we finally left. Outside the chamber, Anderson shook my hand.
"Congratulations… you deserve the title, my boy. I had no doubt, so I already cleared the ship—only the code transfer remains."
He extended his hand and activated his omni-tool, and I did the same.
"Good luck, Spectre Shepard."
"Thank you, Captain Anderson."