“It’s not my fault!”
Williams was being led to the brig, and she was trying very hard to prove she wasn’t at fault.
But I wasn’t listening.
Instead, I watched as Jane was loaded onto a stretcher and carried onto the Normandy.
“What happened here?”
Anderson looked at me intently.
His gaze was stern and demanded an answer.
“The beacon was found.
Unfortunately, I…
was a bit out of commission.
I had to send three turian nuclear bombs from the Krogan Rebellions into the sky.
It required significant concentration and focus.
Command was temporarily transferred to Jane Shepard.
She began sweeping the spaceport.
I was recovering.
Then came Jane’s report that the beacon was found and active, followed by a shout for Williams to step back.
We’ll get more details from Shepard when she wakes up.”
“I see.
So we’ll keep the girl in the brig for now.
Though it’s a shame…
Williams.
If she’s related to that Williams, he was a good man.
It would be a shame if his granddaughter is responsible for this incident.”
“We’ll see.”
I shrugged, trying to convey my indifference to that particular girl.
“Nihlus, how did you get yourself into this mess?”
Anderson looked intently at the turian, who was pensively watching the remains of the beacon being loaded onto the Normandy.
“I got caught stupidly…
I just met with my mentor, who wasn’t supposed to be here, and I relaxed.
You’d think…
an experienced operative, and I took a bullet to the head like some rookie.”
“Mentor?”
“Saren Arterius.”
When that name was mentioned, Anderson seemed to turn into a statue.
“Saren?”
“Yes…
frankly, I had every chance of dying.
But my conversation with Shepard on the Normandy made me tense up internally.
I didn’t realize it, but inside, despite my relaxed state, I kept monitoring the situation.
So I heard him drawing his pistol.”
Nihlus sighed.
“I don’t know what came over him…”
There was confusion in Kryik’s voice.
He was genuinely trying to understand his mentor’s motives but couldn’t.
“…working with the geth…
and that giant ship…
what is all this supposed to mean?”
“I suppose we’ll find out sooner or later.”
I said this with a slight sigh.
Still, Saren, no matter how Anderson and others felt about him, was an extremely loyal Council agent, and his actions here, on Eden Prime, raise questions.
Simply because they cast a shadow on the Council itself.
“Alright, let’s load up…”
Anderson waved his hand, inviting everyone aboard the Normandy.
Then we smoothly lifted off the planet’s surface.
I headed to the comm room.
“I’m listening, John.”
A pleasant, melodic voice came from the other end.
“Hello, Oriana.”
I smiled at the girl I’d found a few years ago.
Even though I knew exactly where to look for her.
Of course, I hadn’t told her yet that I was her brother, but that didn’t stop us from working together.
She’s currently the head of the division in the corporation responsible for colony development.
“Did something happen?”
“Yes…
Eden Prime.
Send humanitarian cargo ships there, plus medical vessels.
The excavation was attacked, and the Alliance won’t turn down help now.”
“And quietly try to take the planet for ourselves?”
“Exactly, my dear.”
“Understood, John.
I’ll take care of it.”
“Thank you, Oriana.”
“Heh-heh-heh…”
Oriana laughed awkwardly.
“Two of our colonies are already well protected.
Not perfectly, of course, but it’s no accident they have the status of the most defended and safest colonies on Earth.
As they used to say in ancient times, a virgin in the most revealing clothes, riding a donkey with sacks of gold strapped to its hindquarters, could travel there safely at any hour of the day or night.”
“I think you’re exaggerating…”
“Well, maybe a little.
And of course, I understand that I’ll have to invest a lot more into the colonies, but…”
They’re already turning a profit, even though we’re still developing them.”
“Exactly.
So it’s time to take on the third colony.”
“Alright, I’ll take care of it.
The corporation’s ships will launch soon.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s my job.”
Oriana shrugged casually and smoothed her hair.
But despite her outward composure, I could see how much my gratitude pleased her — and that I valued her as a specialist.
“Alright, I’ve left you your orders.
Time for me to get back to my own business.”
“Until the next call.”
“Yes.”
I nodded goodbye, and the connection cut off.
“Using your position?”
There was a hint of amusement in Anderson’s voice as he stepped into the radio room the moment the call ended.
“Yes.”
“Tch…
no remorse?”
“Should there be?”
“No…
I’m just…
grumbling like an old man.”
“Like an old man?”
I looked at the captain mockingly, and he just waved me off.
“I’m not young anymore, and I size up my abilities honestly.
I’ll tell you more — if you get appointed as a Spectre, I’ll be relieved of my post as captain of the Normandy.”
“The ship gets transferred to me?”
“Exactly.”
In Anderson’s gaze and voice, you could easily see and hear agreement — and joy that he didn’t have to spell out the importance of this step.
“That’s a shame.”
“Tch…
John, you have to understand…”
“I understand everything — the political meaning, and all the other reasons for transferring this ship to the first human Spectre.
I also understand what follows.”
“And what’s that?”
Anderson looked at me carefully.
“Well, there’ll be calls asking me to look into this or that corner of the galaxy, cover someone’s ass here and there, bury information…
in short, lots of requests.
And sure, I can turn them all down, but then at the next docking, some reporter will come up to me and ask, ‘Is it true that you betrayed the Alliance and humanity?'”
“Hm…
That’s not impossible.
And you see a way out?”
“Resignation.”
“Excuse me?”
Anderson stared at me in shock.
“Resignation from the Alliance military.
I won’t stop being human, but everyone who wants to pressure me will suddenly find it way less convenient.
Especially since there’s probably something in the Spectre regulations — which I haven’t received yet — that’ll let me say I couldn’t have done otherwise, unless I want to cast a shadow on humanity.”
“Hm…
While we’re flying to the mass relay, we could ask Kryik about it.
I think he wouldn’t mind a little consultation.”
“Let’s do it.
And while we’re at it, I’ll ask Chakwas how Jane’s doing.”
With that, we headed to the medbay, where Nihlus was.
“Karin, can we bother our turian friend?”
Anderson addressed Chakwas, who gave him a warm smile.
“Of course.
Despite the fact that the wound looks terrible, and the first aid was barbaric…”
She shot a disapproving look in my direction.
“…there’s no danger to his life.”
“Then why am I still here?”
Nihlus tried to sit up, but meeting the ship’s doctor’s kind, understanding gaze, he flinched and immediately lay back down.
“Though, it’s not hard for me.”
“Good.
Captain, Captain…”
She nodded first to Anderson, then to me, then lost interest in our upcoming conversation, sat down at her desk, and started filling out documents on the computer.
That was perfectly normal — at least for the Alliance, where medics…
they were simultaneously the most respected people on the ship, even if it wasn’t written in any regulations, while also being treated like servants — no one would ever think a doctor might leak information.
“And how’s Jane?”
“She hasn’t regained consciousness yet…
based on my data, there was a very serious effect on her brain.
She needs deep sleep.
Please don’t wake her.”
“Of course.”
Neither Anderson nor I had any intention of going against the ship’s doctor.
“Nihlus…
we have some questions about service in the Spectre corps.”
“Hah, you haven’t even been inducted into the corps yet, and you already want to know the inside workings?”
There was both mockery and irritation in the turian’s voice.
Apparently, he was bothered that I was poking my nose where I shouldn’t yet.
“No, I’m not interested in the inside workings, just as I’m not interested in whether you’ll recommend me or insist I’m unworthy — since, as far as I know, the Council will make the final decision anyway.” You are reading on novelping.com, the official source.
“So what are you interested in?”
Seems I managed to pique his interest.
“First, I need to know if your regulations forbid a Spectre from being a member of the armed forces of one of the Citadel Space nations.”
“Interesting question.
No, there’s no such requirement.
What’s more, Spectres can absolutely carry out tasks for their own governments, and not just them — for individual Councilors as well.”
“Too bad…”
Everyone present must have heard the sadness in my voice.
“Well, priority always goes to Council assignments.
Everything else comes after.
So…”
Kryik looked at me carefully.
“…you don’t have to resign from the Alliance military.”
“That’s exactly what’s troubling.”
I sighed.
“Funny.
Usually people react differently to that news.”
“Hah, usually the person joining the Spectres isn’t a representative of a race that only recently became part of Citadel Space.
A race that still thinks everyone owes them.
So…”
I grimaced.
“…I’ll have to come up with a very believable story about how exactly it works out that I can’t fulfill all of the Alliance government’s assignments.”
Kryik just shrugged.
“Fine, I’ll think about that later.
But what interests me more is the possible reaction to the fact that it was Saren who attacked Eden Prime.”
“I’ve already sent a message…
as I was informed, Saren’s punishment will be determined at a hearing on the Citadel.
We just need to get there so I can testify.”
Nihlus winced.
“Interesting…
and how safe will it be for you on the Citadel?”
“Not very safe.”
Kryik looked thoughtful.
“Of course, the Council has already suspended Saren’s Spectre license, but he has a lot of friends, acquaintances, debtors, and he can hire mercenaries.
Still, there’s no need to worry about that.
If I’m eliminated on the way to the hearing, it’ll only prove Saren’s guilt.”
“Well then, we have nothing to worry about.”
With a faint smirk, I turned toward the exit of the medbay — and right at that moment, with a quiet groan, Jane opened her eyes.
Chakwas was in front of her instantly, deftly restraining her when Jane tried to hit our ship’s doctor.
Without acknowledging it at all, she continued her examination.
“How do you feel?”
“Terrible…
feels like a herd of geth stomped on my head.”
“Well, there definitely wasn’t a herd of geth…”
I looked at Jane thoughtfully.
“…but one dumb chicken who went poking at an activated beacon is definitely responsible for your condition.”
“Williams…”
Jane said the name of her temporary subordinate with a quiet groan and disappointment.
“Exactly.
Did you give the order not to approach the beacon?”
“Yes…
my armor should have recorded that.”
“We haven’t started the investigation yet.
We decided to wait until you regained consciousness.
So as soon as Doctor Chakwas says you’re fine, we’ll hold a hearing.”
“She’s fine…”
Chakwas cut me off.
“…but her brain activity is abnormal.
It’s gradually decreasing, but it’s still not normal.”
“It’s all…
visions…
or nightmares…”
Jane touched her head carefully.
“Visions?”
Kryik looked at Jane intently, and she, noticing my nod, decided to explain.
“I didn’t understand much…
it’s all…
like some kind of mush.
Except…
total war…
fear…
hopelessness…”
She closed her eyes.
“I didn’t understand anything else…”
“I’ll report this to the Council.”
Kryik said this in an extremely serious voice and immediately activated his omni-tool.
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