The spaceport greeted us with noise and bustle. The remains of the beacon were immediately being unloaded from the hold, and it wasn't humans doing it, but representatives of other races working for the Spectre corps not as field agents, but as support staff. Meanwhile, Kryik remained near the SSV Normandy to oversee everything. Anderson, Jane, Chifuyu, Rebecca, and I headed to the embassies, as Udina was already very eager to meet with us.
The trip to the embassies was quick and even comfortable, but once inside...
"Anderson, you can't be trusted with anything!"
Those were the exact words the Ambassador greeted us with as we entered his office.
"You were entrusted with the simplest task—helping a human pass the Spectre evaluation—and you went and failed it! Do you even realize that such a thing is unacceptable?! That now even the Batarians will laugh at humanity?!"
Listening to this man, with every passing second, I wanted more and more to clock him right between the eyes. But I couldn't do that. So I had to stay silent and listen to him berate Anderson over nothing.
"Ambassador, the fault for what happened isn't ours..."
"Yes, yes, of course, it's Saren Arterius's fault. I was given your report to read. You know, it's very entertaining reading—so entertaining that I can tell you right now what the Council representatives will say to such a report. Or do you think they'll step down from their podium, pat you on the head, and say they'll punish the mean Turian? Not a chance!"
A sarcastic sneer sounded in Udina's voice.
"They'll say you're to blame for everything yourselves. And it will be you who are found guilty, since John Shepard hasn't yet lost the chance to become a Spectre! So get ready—better yet, write your resignation from the Systems Alliance fleet in advance."
"That's not for you to decide."
Steel entered Anderson's voice.
"Anderson, you understand nothing of politics."
Udina sighed wearily.
"Your name already sounds like a mark of failure to the Council, and frankly, I was against you participating in this operation from the start. Но since you're here, you must rewrite the report I'm going to submit to the Council."
"Ambassador..."
"Anderson, don't argue! You're not a politician; you don't know how things are done in our world. So just write a new report where everything is your fault."
"Ambassador Udina..."
Oh, how I wanted to call him "Mudina" instead of his last name at that moment, but I restrained myself. A cold smile played on my lips, and I tried to convey everything I thought of him through it.
"I believe Captain Anderson, before you interrupted him, wanted to remind you that there was a Spectre on board the ship. For your information, he knows exactly how everything happened and, even before the SSV Normandy was in port, he requested a copy of the report for the Council. No, if you wish to disgrace yourself, then both Captain Anderson and I will undoubtedly write a new report, and you will submit it to the Council... but..."
"Shepard..."
Udina hissed my name, and he clearly understood all the subtexts I had put into the smile and the tone I used.
"...you're meddling in things that don't concern you."
"I don't give a damn whether it concerns me or not. I'm simply saving humanity's reputation. Because if it comes out that our Ambassador is forcing subordinates—and even those who aren't his subordinates—to forge documents..."
I didn't finish the sentence, but my tone and gaze showed "Mudina" better than anything else what would happen in that case.
"Fine... very well..."
From his voice, I knew he wouldn't forget this, but I didn't care. We don't leave our own behind, and if necessary, we'll shove a stake up "Mudina's" ass just to straighten his posture. After all, even though my corporation mostly operates in the Terminus Systems, the weapons we produce are of extremely high quality, and the army buys them with pleasure. And if it turns out that contracts aren't being renewed because of one specific "Mudina"...
In short, things would get very miserable for him.
And no, it wouldn't be petty on my part. Aria T'Loak had taught me very well back in the day that power is meant to be used, not just sat upon while rejoicing that it exists.
** Flashback **
"So, kid..."
Aria T'Loak looked at me with a slight smirk.
"...that wasn't a joke."
"No, ma'am."
I looked at the Asari who, in my previous world, had been a favorite of so many—perhaps among Asari, she shared a prestigious second place with Samara, while Liara T'Soni was naturally first. She was sitting in my father's chair, and I was standing across from her. A gorgeous woman, dressed in extremely elegant clothes that emphasized her figure.
"It wasn't a joke."
"And you're truly ready to hand over your father's corporation to me?"
"Yes."
"Amusing..."
Aria T'Loak thoughtfully inspected me from head to toe.
"...and very attractive. However, I long ago outgrew the age where I believed someone would voluntarily give up such a choice morsel as a corporation. What's the catch? Is your father in debt?"
"No."
"Is someone trying to squeeze the corporation out of him?"
"No."
"Then what?"
"I simply want to preserve it. Preserve it and develop it. And turning to you for help is the most sensible decision."
"To me?"
A slight mockery sounded in Aria T'Loak's voice.
"Boy, did you hit your head?"
"Maybe a little."
I allowed myself a smirk.
"But in reality, I was simply taught well enough to understand that Asari have a cult of the child, and as long as I am a child, you won't kill or rob me. No, if we were talking about some failure of a bandit, I wouldn't be so sure. But you..."
Respect and admiration were in my voice and gaze.
"...you are the Queen of Omega. You have everything, and although my father's corporation is undoubtedly a choice morsel, you won't go against a fundamental Asari trait for the sake of that morsel. So you are my only chance to truly preserve the corporation."
"Hm... and what about following your father's will? He would surely have passed it to you... there's something else here..."
"I have sisters... and they ran away. I'd like to find them and mend our relationship. Although right now that can only be done with the elder one, since the younger is still too small for it. But as long as Henry Lawson is in power, Miranda Lawson won't even talk to me."
"And did you communicate with her before this?"
"No... we were raised differently; I only heard that she exists."
"I see. However, I still don't believe you. Ready for an Embrace Eternity? To prove to me that you're hiding nothing from me?"
"Ready."
I nodded readily, and Aria T'Loak beckoned me closer with a finger.
"So... Embrace Eternity..."
Her eyes turned black, and I fell into darkness.
"Ahem..."
I came to, sitting in a guest chair, while Aria T'Loak sat in the adjacent one, looking at me thoughtfully.
"Yes?"
"Tell me, are you an idiot?"
"I beg your pardon?"
Aria T'Loak took a deep breath and exhaled very slowly, massaging her temples.
"You remember a past life..."
At those words, I tensed slightly, but only slightly, as I had initially anticipated both the meld to confirm the lack of catches and the fact that Aria T'Loak would be able to see more.
"...you know that Asari can view memories, and you still agreed to the meld. Do you even realize that I could just hand you over to the Republics' intelligence right now and live comfortably for the rest of my days?"
"I... assumed as much."
I said it in a calm voice, though I wasn't actually calm, and judging by Aria T'Loak's mocking half-smile, she saw right through me.
"But I assumed you would appreciate that right now, even considering my past life, I am essentially a child before you, by Asari standards..."
"You short-lived ones are all children to us. Except by human laws, you're far from a child. So that argument is invalid."
"Well, it wasn't the only one, or even the main one. The main reason for trusting you was the hope for your gratitude."
"Gratitude?"
"Yes, you apparently didn't look at my memory in much detail..."
"And what was I supposed to see there?"
"Memories of a computer game."
I allowed myself a smirk.
"A game?"
I heard a slight threat in Aria T'Loak's voice, and her eyes narrowed as if to say that joking wasn't a good idea right now.
"Exactly. In my previous world, there was a game called Mass Effect, a trilogy, and in the second part of the game, we met such an extraordinary individual who loved to say she wasn't just the Queen of Omega—she is Omega."
Aria T'Loak continued to look at me, but now I saw doubt in her eyes regarding my sanity.
"And in the third part, we learned that the daughter of a certain Aria is dying."
Aria T'Loak flared with Biotics, and I was immediately lifted into the air, my neck constricted.
"Speak, but remember that your life is in my hands."
"If you know how to dig through brains, you'd better look for yourself. Because I only remember that your daughter will get involved with a rogue Cerberus agent, and the Illusive Man's people will decide to hit that agent, killing your daughter and making you think it was his fault. Meanwhile, somewhere around the same time, Omega will be attacked and you'll simply be kicked out of it."
"Me?!"
Aria T'Loak's eyes were terrifying and alluring at the same time.
"I may have been a fan of the game, but I never paid much attention to the lore outside the game itself. So there's a lot I might simply not remember. So if you can..."
"I'll look..."
And once again, black eyes looked into my soul, and I fell into who-knows-where.
"Fine..."
That word, spoken in Aria T'Loak's completely calm voice, made me open my eyes.
"...for this information, I am grateful to you. I won't hand you over to intelligence; moreover, I will help you, but answer me this: why didn't you mention the Reapers?"
"Because that information is harder to verify."
"But we'll have to prepare for their arrival..."
I sighed with relief.
"...but if Shepard truly exists in this world and if, at the start of the invasion, she also just announces it at an open session, then we'll all be hearing that phrase: 'Ah yes, Reapers...'"
Shock and lack of understanding could surely be seen in my gaze right now.
"If the Council acknowledges their existence, it will lead to riots. And yes, if you're hoping that I'll do everything now as the one with power, you're mistaken... you're going to be working very hard. But first, we need to study the training program Henry Lawson drew up for you and adjust it. We have... ten years?"
"I think so."
I nodded slowly.
"Prepare for the next four years to be hell for you, and after that, you're going into the army."
"Huh?"
"One must use their opportunities and create their own army. And for that, it's extremely convenient to be inside a state's army and recruit those kicked out by idiot commanders for trumped-up reasons. And anyway..."
She looked at me more closely.
"Didn't you want to be a figurehead? Well, screw you... I'll help with the corporation, but taking all the upcoming headache onto myself? Find another fool. So you'll work like a good boy, though I'll also show you how to enjoy all the benefits you're entitled to."
I could only nod gratefully at Aria T'Loak's words.
** End of Flashback **
"...then don't count on my help. You'll deal with the Council yourselves."
In the voice of "Mudina," who had pulled me out of the memories that had flashed before my eyes in a single instant, I heard spite. He was certain we wouldn't be able to handle the Council on our own.
"As you wish, just don't try to attach yourself to our victory later."
"Ha, I won't even leave the embassy! Do whatever you want!"
"John..."
Anderson placed a hand on my shoulder, stopping me from further words.
"...enough. I'm grateful to you for standing up for me, but..."
"David, I didn't just stand up for you; I also didn't let both of us, in particular, and humanity as a whole, be portrayed as cretins who don't realize that the Spectre on the ship will submit not only our report but his own to the Council. And the Council won't consider our report in isolation from his. Anyway, I suggest we take a walk around the Citadel; I haven't been here in a while..."
"Fine, they haven't called for us yet anyway."
Anderson cast a not-very-kind look at Udina, after which the whole crowd of us left the embassy.
"Still, you shouldn't have started all that... he won't give you a peaceful life now."
"But I will..."
I smirked wickedly.
"...I'll catch up and give him another one."
***
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