Spectre Bk 02 Ch 04

A/N - Australian / British standard English. There is a good chance of reading the following: lots of profanity, characters drinking, typos, and bad grammar at times.

Proofreading and editing suggestions provided by OhDave1. Any mistakes are still mine.

Comments are appreciated as always.

Feedback by email is always welcome. Enjoy chatting with anyone who likes my work.

*****

Shepard returns to the Citadel to reunite with friends.

*****

"Citadel Control, this is the Normandy. Requesting docking permission."

I was standing behind Joker on the flight deck as I just knew this might get awkward. And it didn't take long until it did.

"CSV Normandy. We have you flagged as a Cerberus vessel. We demand that you turn your vessel to the nearest relay and leave Council space immediately. Continuing on your current path will result in your vessel being stopped, boarded and all crew members arrested."

"Citadel Control, this is Commander Shepard. Council Spectre. Requesting permission to dock. Please pass a message to the Council that I wish to convene a meeting with them as soon as practically possible. I will also need to speak to any Alliance representatives currently on the Citadel in regard to my return." I waited until the line clicked off before continuing. "Joker, hold here for now. I'd rather not give them a reason to fire on us."

"Sure thing, Commander."

We waited for at least fifteen minutes before we heard back from them.

"Commander Shepard, this is Citadel Control. Docking permission is granted. Councillor Gromova has requested that you visit her first. Her private chambers are in the Citadel Tower. Alliance representatives will meet with you after you meet with the Council."

"Thank you, Citadel Control. Normandy out."

Joker had the

Normandy

docked a few minutes later. Well away from where we had docked the original ship, I can only assume they considered my new ship a civilian vessel. Gathering the crew around the galaxy map, I issued orders regarding leaving the ship though suggested that just like Omega, any crew to leave wear clothing without the Cerberus logo.

Although I was working alongside Cerberus, I had told Miranda that I didn't want to wear anything with their symbol. Given that I probably wasn't part of the Alliance any longer as I assumed I was written off as KIA, I was dressed in jeans, a shirt and a leather jacket. Even though the Citadel was considered safe, I still carried my pistol and shield pack.

I wandered by myself, ending up on the Presidium and I could feel myself smiling at the recovery. There were few signs of the attack two years previously. I had no idea what things were like on the Wards, but that was a good sign of progress. I wasn't recognised by anyone as I strolled on by. I rode the elevator to the private chambers of the Council. I walked past the hallway that would have led down towards Kira's private office and apartment. There was a holographic sign for Councillor Gromova and a human receptionist sat a desk outside. She looked up and greeted me with a smile.

"Do you have an appointment?"

"Commander Shepard here to..."

Her jaw dropped and it looked like she'd seen a ghost. Well, to be honest, I was back from the dead. "I'll... I'll go and get her right away!"

I waited outside for her to reappear. She did within a minute, beckoning me in to follow her. There was a large waiting area with plush couches and places to make hot drinks and enjoy a snack, walking through another door into a large office overlooking the Presidium. Councillor Gromova was standing in front of her desk waiting for me.

"Thank you, Gloria. I think we'll be fine for now."

Councillor Gromova walked forward, offering her hand. "Thanks for agreeing to see me, Councillor."

"As soon as I got word that you were here, I knew a mountain of shit was about to start. I thought that I might as well get on the front foot. You're looking good for a dead man, Commander."

"Yeah. I'm already figuring that's going to be a problem."

"Just one of many. I'm going to be blunt. You're supposed to be dead. You've been gone for two years. And now you show up in command of a Cerberus vessel. It doesn't look good."

"I figured as much. All I can do is talk to you all and explain it as best as I can."

"Take a seat and tell me the basics to start with." She gestured towards a nearby lounge instead of sitting at her desk. There was already a pot of coffee and mugs waiting for us. After we'd made ourselves a drink, we leaned back and relaxed before she looked at me again. "Okay, explain the basics."

"Okay, I can share we both know. I was spaced over two years when an unidentified vessel attacked my ship. I don't suppose the Alliance ever figured out who did attack us?"

"No. They eventually wrote it off as a surprise geth attack."

"I doubt that. The weapon tore through our shields and armour like it was tissue paper. No geth vessel has weapons of that capability from what we do know about them."

"Pardon me for asking bluntly but how the hell are you here after that?"

"I haven't pinned down how I ended up in the hands of Cerberus, but they did receive my body and have spent the best part of two years and billions of credits putting me back together. Before you ask, I am still human. It was just cutting-edge technology that made sure that I'm here again."

"Okay, they put you back together. Why are you still working with them?"

"The Collectors are abducting human colonists."

That made her sit back and eventually sigh. "And I can only guess that the lack of response from the Council and Alliance means that Cerberus believe they have a right to interfere?"

"I'll leave any questions I have about that until I'm with all four of you. But you should know me by my reputation. I solve problems."

"What did you hope to receive by returning here today?"

"Answers to some questions. I'm not sure as to my status regarding the Alliance. I guess if I was considered KIA... And the same thing about my Spectre status as well."

"I'm not sure about the Alliance status, but the Spectre status... Thing is, even though you're considered dead, your status remains on the books. All we have to do is activate it again and you will at least have your Spectre status back. Not sure how it would help. And we'd all have to agree." She sipped at her drink. "Kira would agree immediately. She already knows. I'm not sure if she'll be excited, crying or incredibly angry."

She asked a few questions about what I'd been doing since waking up. She'd heard the rumours about my presence on Omega. I was honest about the reasons, recruiting people to help me take on the Collectors. We still knew little about them, so I was focusing on building a team while the Illusive Man worked on gathering information.

Walking alongside her towards the Council Chamber itself, she gestured towards a different corridor. I followed her through the door to be greeted by the three other councillors. Kira met my eyes and hers glistened as soon as she saw me.

"Shepard..." she whispered.

Then she said something to herself before walking around the table and crashed into my chest. And she wept. No one appeared surprised by that as I stroked her back. "Sorry," I said softly.

"You're a bastard for leaving me, but I'm so glad you're back."

"I know that I have a hell of a lot to explain." She leaned back, raising my thumbs to her cheeks to dry them. "Thanks for giving me the chance, at least."

The four councillors gathered on one side of the table while I sat on the other side. Kira just looked pleased to see me. I remembered Kyla, or Councillor Gromova, well enough. I was glad not to have run into Udina, her deputy. I still disliked the man. The other two councillors appeared to be curious about my return. I was sitting there wondering how badly it would go.

"Some of the reports we've received have been unsettling, Commander," Valern stated. The salarian councillor never gave much away.

"We'll get straight to the current day first. I've been brought back because human colonies are disappearing in the Terminus Systems. I have already gathered evidence that they are being abducted by the Collectors, and data suggests that the Collectors are working on behalf of the Reapers."

"The Terminus Systems are beyond our jurisdiction," Sparatus retorted, "Your colonists were aware of that when they chose to leave Council space."

"And the Reaper threat?"

"Ah, yes. The Reapers," he replied, using air quotes for the Reapers, "The immortal race of sentient starships allegedly waiting in dark space. We have dismissed that claim."

"You fucking what?" I said, almost slamming my first on the table, "You dismiss a claim that is easily verifiable if you were to take just a minute to check over the wreckage that ended up spread across the Presidium?" I glared at the turian and held his stare until he blinked first and turned away. "Have any of you even spoken to Doctor T'Soni and the research that she carried out on Ilos? There are also the recorded conversations that we had with Sovereign."

"There are no records of those conversations, Commander," Valern explained, "And as for Doctor T'Soni, the reports that we have received on her in the recent past would suggest that she would also be an unreliable narrator."

"You're fucking kidding, right?" I glanced at Kira who couldn't meet my eyes. Kyla wasn't on the Council during that time. She was only selected in the weeks before I was spaced. "We spent weeks on Ilos after we defeated Sovereign. The amount of information we received from Vigil on Ilos..."

"Which stopped working not long after you departed Ilos for the last time. Rather convenient," Valern suggested.

"You calling me a liar, Councillor?" I growled, glaring at him.

"Not at all, Commander. But we have looked over the remains of Sovereign and have found no evidence to believe that it's not a geth creation."

"The Reaper theory just proves how unstable your mental state appears to be. You have been manipulated by Saren and now you are being manipulated by Cerberus," Sparatus status.

I nearly shot him in the face. I had to keep my hands on the table to stop myself from whipping out my pistol and shooting at least two of them.

"The Reapers are a myth," Sparatus finally concluding, "One that you insist on perpetuating."

"I do all that work to stop Saren conquering the Citadel and keep you lot alive, and this is the thanks I get. Fuck me, I don't know why I bothered even coming here."

Kira finally spoke up. I could read her body language. I think Kyla generally agreed with Sparatus and Valern. Kira knew the truth, or at least she did when I last saw her. I know Liara had shared some of her findings with her and others back on Thessia. But I guess after I died, it was easier just to make it all go away and live in ignorant bliss.

"Shepard," she stated softly, waiting until I met her eyes before continuing, "We are in a difficult position because of the link to Cerberus. Many would consider you a traitor for working with them."

"Hang on a second..." Kyla started to say. The Reaper thing could be dismissed. Calling the only human Spectre a traitor was another thing entirely.

Kira held up a hand. "I don't believe he is a traitor, just suggesting how it might be viewed. Given your disappearance and now your current ties, going public about certain things is difficult for us... What we've already agreed is that we will reinstate your Spectre status. However, this does come with caveats. While you remain allied with Cerberus, you will have to restrict your movements to the Terminus Systems. You may visit the Citadel but... You will have to keep a low profile while doing so."

"Is that everything?" I asked.

"It is a show of good faith on our part," Valern explained, "We have discussed this and believe we do owe you for all that you did two years ago."

"We simply can't be directly involved in this, Shepard," Kira continued, "But reinstating your Spectre status shows our support for you personally." She paused and gave me her best smile. "And you can still report to me personally from time to time."

Kyla laughed out loud as she knew exactly what she meant by reporting personally. I gather it was no longer a secret that each time I reported to the Citadel, I stayed with Kira at her apartment.

"I guess with everything that I understand the Council's position, Councillor," I replied, looking directly at Kira, "You honour me again by returning my status to me."

"We do wish you well during this time, Shepard. We've been aware of the abductions, but the Council involving itself in that region of space will eventually lead to a galactic war that we simply cannot afford. What we do wish to see in the end is you terminating your relationship with Cerberus."

"It will be done as soon as the Collectors are defeated. But if the Council won't intervene, and it seems the Alliance is of the same opinion, then I have very few options and Cerberus are willing to fill the breach."

"I guess that's all we can ask, Shepard," Kira stated.

"We do have one question though. How are you back?" Valern wondered.

"I can explain that in very basic terms. What I could do is gain the information available and provide it. Truth be told, as far as I'm aware, I was pretty much as dead as anyone can be. It took them two years and billions to revive me. I'm sure that your people would be rather interested in some of the advancements in science."

"Despite everything, Commander, we are glad you're back," Sparatus added in a conciliatory tone.

"Thank you, Councillor. It's good to be back."

Sparatus and Valern did shake my hand before they left the room. Kyla gave me a hug and wished me good luck before that left me alone with Kira. As soon as the door closed, she leapt on me as my hands cupped her arse while her mouth was eager for mine. She sat on the table as her legs wrapped around me, one of my hands fondling one of her breasts as she moaned into my mouth.

"I should hate you, Shepard," she whispered when breaking the kiss, "You just left us."

"Should I keep saying sorry?"

"I still love you. Never stopped."

"My feelings are still the same. Nothing has changed in that regard."

"Carry me to my apartment?"

I snorted which made her giggle, wrapping her arms and legs tightly around me and I easily carried her all the way down to her office and then through to her apartment. She told me straight to the bedroom as we started to undress each other on the way. By the time we made it to the bedroom, we were both naked as I laid her down on the bed. She reached down between us to grab my cock, any thought of eating her pussy ending as she made sure I was inside her.

As soon as I was buried, she burst into tears. I didn't move as I rolled over onto my back and cuddled her. I sensed her smiling as I did, feeling her try and mould her entire body into mine at the same time. She eventually lifted her head, using my thumbs to dry her cheeks again, and she gave me such a shy smile that she was frankly adorable.

"I love you, Kira," I whispered, "I died not telling those who mean the most how I felt. Only Liara..."

"She's on Illium, Shepard," she whispered back, "I don't know if she's heard yet."

"Benezia?"

"Still on Thessia living with Tessia... I know how that sounds, by the way."

"I heard rumours about the Consort."

"No, she's still here. So is Naira... She... She spent a year in mourning." I looked away as that just broke my heart straight away. "Shiala is still on Feros with the colonists."

"They're doing well?"

"You should visit them if you get the chance. The Asari Republics really stepped up to make sure the colony will soon be thriving."

"And you?"

She had me roll her over and her hips moved. I started to move as well and the two years apart for her disappeared instantly. She was eager to kiss me. Her pussy was squeezing my cock with every thrust. Her fingers caressed my entire body. I loved hearing her moans and whimpers of pleasure again. When her legs were wrapped around me once again, she was begging me to cum inside her.

"Goddess, Shepard. I've missed this feeling..."

So had I even though it hadn't felt as long for me. When she climaxed, she kissed me with as much passion as I could remember, and she really started to move her hips in desperation to feel me cum inside her. When I upped my tempo even more, I felt her fingers digging into my back.

"Fuck me, Spectre!" she cried out, "Goddess, keep fucking me. All day and night. I'll cancel everything. Just fuck me..." Then she almost made me laugh. "I'll invite Kyla. I bet she'd love some of this Spectre dick inside her."

"I only fuck asari councillors," I growled into her ear, "Beautiful asari councillors who deserve my big cock."

"You really love me?"

"There are a few women out there that own a piece of me."

Then I came, the usual grunting and groaning as feeling me cum inside her made her moan with pleasure. I kept pumping until I felt rather empty, leaving my cock buried as I relaxed on a forearm and caressed her cheek.

"We'll meld next time in the proper position. Though I'm not sure..."

"I'll always be an open book with you, Kira."

I called Miranda and to my amusement she immediately put two and two together when I said that I would be gone for at least a day. She just told me to have fun and that she'd monitor the activities of the crew. Kira and I made love again twice more before my stomach growled and she suggested that we head out for dinner. Given that I wasn't dressed in a uniform and news of my return hopefully hadn't reached everywhere, she dressed casually as well, and we wandered out hand in hand onto the Presidium before heading to Tayseri Ward.

Neither of us missed the second glances in my direction though thankfully were left alone as we ended up at a small restaurant serving asari delicacies. I genuinely loved asari food as I was often fed it at Kira's apartment, and Liara had introduced me to other dishes that had my tastebuds dancing.

"Will you meet with the Alliance tomorrow?"

"Hopefully. I would like to clear the air with them. I know going to Arcturus is impossible."

"We've invited an Alliance Fleet to be based here at the Citadel as a show of strength and unity alongside the three other Council species. They now have a small base on the Citadel near the turians. There's an air of cooperation between the two forces now."

We made small talk while eating dinner as I asked her questions about what I'd missed during my absence. She didn't want to talk about my death, funeral or memorial service. It was still too painful even though I was back. We did end up in a club that played slow music so that we could dance. I didn't miss how she pressed herself into my body, and she definitely approved of how my hands moved over every curve of hers in return.

I think we made it an hour before the desire to make love again was overwhelming. While we were rushing back to her apartment, we did pass Kyla in the hallway near her apartment. She was dressed casually and chuckled at seeing us hurrying.

"Someone's eager," she stated in a tone that brought Kira to a halt, "I guess you're making up for lost time."

"Two years without having him inside me..."

"Consider me jealous." I raised my eyebrows at that. There was no doubting Kyla Gromova was gorgeous. Bright red hair. Definitely red, not quite ginger, but lighter in colour than Jane. Her blue eyes were captivating. And she had a body that one wouldn't expect of a politician. Great tits and some curves that would look wonderful on any model.

"Are you single, Ms. Gromova?"

"Very much so. Sure, I enjoy the company of an asari more often than not, but as for men, well..."