We hadn't even moved away from the Council chamber when my omni-tool received a call from Councilor Tevos. I sent my subordinates back to the Normandy and hurried to the Councilor's private office.
"Shepard…"
The moment I entered and the door closed behind me, the Councilor began.
"…I won't beat around the bush. I don't like how closely you're tied to Aria. She dared to call me before the hearing and demand that I confirm your Spectre candidacy, threatening to send her scum into Republic territory to run wild there."
Anger was easy to read in the asari's look and even in her gestures. It didn't scare me. She couldn't do anything to me—neither with authority nor personally. Aria had blocked the authority angle; that's why she called. And personally… I knew Tevos had long since stopped training, and in terms of skill she was already inferior even to ordinary marines. Sure, she had plenty of raw power like any older asari, but power without skill doesn't decide much when both sides have enough power.
"Well, I have good friends."
I shrugged.
"Shepard, this is not a joke. You became a Spectre, and you've been attached to the asari branch of the Corps. Now you report to me, and if I tell you to remove Aria—"
"Then I'll tell you to shove it."
"How dare you speak to me like that?"
Tevos was clearly furious, but she restrained it, though her eyes ignited with biotic light.
"I'm only saying Aria is the one force that keeps the Terminus scum more or less within limits. Remove her, and they'll immediately launch their crusade against the 'law-abiding' parts of Citadel space."
"Fine…"
Tevos pulled herself together in the time it took me to answer. Now her expression was blank.
"…I understand your position. Now about your assignment—specifically the part that wasn't discussed in the open hearing. What can you say about the Reapers mentioned in the report?"
"Nothing, except that the asari working with Saren believes in them—and so does Saren himself."
"You can say more…"
She drilled me with a dissatisfied stare.
"You're right. I can. But should I?"
"I am a Councilor. I have to know everything. Because if there is a threat…"
She didn't finish, and I exhaled heavily.
"There is a threat, and asari have known about it for…"
I closed my eyes, recalling the date of Liara's first thesis.
"…about thirty years."
"What?"
"An asari maiden—an archaeologist studying the Protheans—published her first work around thirty years ago, where she speculated that the Protheans vanished too 'cleanly,' as if someone carefully erased their traces. Most discovered ruins are bunkers with extremely high anti-detection security, only found because that security fails after such an enormous span of time."
"Hm…"
Tevos frowned.
"In her publications there are also notes that some complexes look like overtly military installations—sealed and hidden from an enemy."
"You're saying the Reapers destroyed the Protheans?"
"I suspect so."
"And why do we know nothing about them? Why don't they run the Council?"
"Well, I suspect they simply don't need to."
"Don't need to?"
"Yes."
I considered how to convey the idea without sounding insane.
"My guess is that during the war, the Protheans had something the Reapers desperately needed—something that made them come from far away. And when the Protheans refused to give it up—or if the Reapers saw the Protheans as a future threat—they destroyed them and erased traces of their existence."
"And you're saying Saren wants to bring them back? Nonsense."
She said the last word as absolute truth, beyond discussion.
"Maybe he's trying to save his species from the Protheans' fate and believes that if he serves, they won't destroy them. Or maybe there's some other reason we can't understand."
"I see…"
Tevos closed her eyes.
"…Can I count on your loyalty? And will your ties to Aria interfere with your duties?"
"Other Spectres don't seem to be hindered by working for more than just the Council."
I smirked, making it clear I knew far more than ninety percent of ordinary citizens.
"…"
Tevos stared at me for several minutes.
"Very well. I understand your position. Next, I must provide you with access codes to the Spectre requisitions. There you can find the newest weapons, armor—everything you might need to carry out your mission."
She said it as if she'd just mentioned the weather was nice on the Citadel.
"How many personnel can I outfit? And what other information do I have access to?"
"Almost all data. Don't worry—if you don't have access, the system simply won't display it."
"Understood."
I nodded calmly and waited for her to break the silence.
"Alright… you may go. And… if you contact Aria, tell her she's a shameless purple ass and should forget my number."
"Absolutely… though it's probably clear that such a message will only provoke her and make her call more often."
Tevos narrowed her eyes.
"Out."
One word was enough. Continuing the conversation was a bad idea. If I said one more thing, she might try to throw me out of the office—and I didn't need that.
"All the best, Councilor Tevos."
I nodded and left, immediately using my omni-tool to contact Tali. She answered quickly.
"Congratulations!"
She sounded genuinely happy.
"Thank you…"
"I'm so happy for you! You've achieved incredible success! This is truly a great day for humanity!"
"Tali. Tali."
I called her name a few times to pull her focus and make her listen.
"…I'm grateful for your sincere emotions, but I'm not calling just for that."
"Yes? Can I help?"
"Yes. I need someone on my ship who can extract data from the geth during encounters. Do you know such a person?"
"Well… yes…"
Sadness slipped into her voice.
"…On the Fleet there are several specialists who could suit you."
"Tali…"
Disapproval entered my tone.
"…If you don't understand hints, I'll say it directly. I'm offering you a temporary name: Tali'Zorah vas Normandy."
"What?!"
Shock, confusion, and disbelief—that's what I heard in her voice.
"Tali?"
"I… th-this… you meant me?!"
"Yes. I'm offering you a place on my ship's crew. You're an excellent geth specialist and can support the landing team on missions, and during travel you can help the engineers keep the ship in top condition. If you're interested, of course."
"Yes!"
Tali sounded like she was afraid I might change my mind.
"I accept!"
I allowed myself a smirk. She couldn't see it, but that didn't matter. What mattered was that my team would have a technician like her—hell with the technician part, I could find better. My team would have Tali, who would already feel enormous gratitude and a desire to repay me for what I was doing for her people.
"Excellent. Then come aboard the ship. I'll warn Jane that you'll be arriving. And one more thing…"
My voice turned serious, and Tali went silent instantly.
"…We have a very dangerous, difficult mission ahead. So I expect you not to be shy and to make a list of everything you need—both for ground operations and for keeping the ship in excellent condition. And, of course, for all personal needs as well."
"I… I have everything…"
"Tali…"
I cut her off—she was clearly about to refuse.
"…That's an order from the captain. You must make a list of what you need. And if I return and don't see personal items in that list—along with tools, weapons, and armor—I will take it as an insult. Do you understand?"
"Y-yes…"
Her voice trembled… she sounded like she was ready to cry. Hopefully from happiness, because I hadn't insulted her. Of course, there could be quarian cultural quirks, but there's nothing I can do about that. Knowing everything is impossible.
"Good. I'll send you the ship's coordinates as soon as we finish."
"I… thank you."
Her quiet voice was my answer, and then the connection ended. I immediately sent her the Normandy's docking location by message.
As I walked toward the Spectre armories, I kept thinking. Did I really need Garrus on the team? And Wrex, too—there were doubts. Not that I disliked them—in the game they were… pretty great characters. It's just…
Shaking my head, I quickly called Garrus before I could change my mind.
"Speaking, Mr. Shepard."
"Garrus Vakarian, this is Spectre Shepard. I'm offering you a place on my team for the Council assignment."
"Oh… honestly, I didn't expect that…"
Garrus sounded thrown off by my offer.
"…I'm honored, but… I have work and a duty to support my family. If this involved the Citadel, I'd agree, and my sniper rifle would be at your disposal. But…"
"Do you have problems?"
"Yes…"
His voice made it clear he didn't want to talk about it.
"And as I understand it, those problems are solved—or at least kept under control—by your salary in C-Sec?"
"Yes."
"Would it be presumptuous to offer help? My current status could solve many problems that even a C-Sec officer won't have enough money and influence to handle."
"Ahem… that's… flattering…"
He sounded slightly embarrassed.
"…But I don't think your status can change anything. Not when we're talking about rare, incurable illnesses."
"Ahem…"
I thought for a couple seconds. In canon, something like that really was mentioned.
"…If it truly is incurable, then there's not much I can do. However, as far as I know, the Citadel has one of the best clinics—one that also specializes in maintaining quality of life for patients with no current cure. They develop individualized therapy and—"
"I'm afraid even if my salary tripled, I couldn't afford it."
Garrus sounded sad.
"Yes, treatment there is very expensive. But… you understand our mission will be extremely dangerous? If you come with us, I'm willing to pay for a full course of treatment at that clinic for whoever you name."
"What?"
Shock and disbelief filled Garrus's voice.
"I'm saying I'm ready to cover the full course—from supportive treatment all the way to developing a therapy regimen that will let the person live a long—and possibly even happy—life, even with some limitations."
"Shepard… don't joke like that…"
"I'm not joking. My corporation regularly engages in charity and spends unbelievable sums on it. And I don't think the clinic's bill would make me hesitate for even a second."
"I… agree…"
Gratitude and disbelief were both in his voice. But he chose to trust me. Interesting—canonically he went with Shepard fairly easily, though… there, they had adventures on the Citadel first, and here they didn't…
"Excellent. Then I need the patient's data—well, not me. I'll pass the directive to my representative on the Citadel, and you'll send him the patient's information. Then pack up and report to the ship. And on the way, think about what gear you'll need to be as effective as possible."
"Understood… Shepard…"
He said the last word uncertainly.
"Yes?"
"Thank you. If you keep your word, you won't have a more loyal friend than me. And one more thing… C-Sec detained a krogan—fairly well-known. If he causes trouble, many people will be hurt, and he himself will be killed. You might be interested in speaking with him. His name is Urdnot Wrex."
"Thank you for the information…"
The call ended. At last, I reached the Spectre requisitions and, after presenting my clearance, began reviewing them.