A week rolls by of this retarded schedule I have going on because of the stupid Alliance. Today's the day. My court date with the Council. I slide out of bed and head to the bathroom, brush my teeth, take a shower, shave, etc. Just when I finish getting ready, Vega walks into the room.
Shepard's View:
"Ready Loco?" James asks.
"As I'll ever be." I admit.
We both exit the room and he brings me to the room with the Council inside. James doesn't enter the room though, he opens the door for me, and leaves. I see all the Council members standing before me, an Alliance officer in a corner, and Anderson off to the side.
"Shepard, please, were about to begin." The Asari councilor says as her hand motions to a seat. I sit down in it, and we begin.
"So Shepard, were going to ask you some questions, just answer them honestly." She says. I nod, and she begins.
"Were you working with the terrorist organization Cerberus?"
"I was only working-"
"Yes or no answer Shepard." Udina demands as he cuts me off.
"Yes." I answer.
I see the Salarian councilor shake their head in disappointment, and Udina smirks.
"Did the Illusive Man force you to work with them?"
"No."
"So you do agree that you committed treason?"
"No I-"
"Yes or no Shepard." Udina reminds me.
"No, Udina, I'm tired of you guys not believing me, then you guys believe me when it's too late. I was only working for Cerberus to help Humanity, to stop the Collectors. No one BUT Cerberus was doing anything to stop them. So if I had to work with Cerberus to save the Galaxy once again, so be it. So I'm not going to sit here, and get insulted for doing the Galaxy a favor because the Alliance and the Council sat on their asses, and watched till my team and I defeat the Collectors so then you can ground me when its all done." I take a breath. I somewhat regret somethings I said in there...but I think the Council needed to hear it.
The Councilors all look at me baffled, except Udina, he just looks more pissed off.
"That is enough Shepard! Arrest this man, now!" He yells at an Alliance officer standing in the corner.
"Stop Udina, he's right, we didn't do anything. We just watched Shepard take the bug bastards down. If only the Alliance did something with Shepard, then we wouldn't be in this mess in the first place." Anderson defends.
He looks at me, I nod at him. Anderson looks at the female Alliance officer. He puts his arm in her path to me. "Stand down Williams." The look in her eyes, sad, disappointed, depressed? I can't tell. But I think it has something to do with me working for Cerberus, the 'terrorist' group. Alliance soldier, she always said it was in her blood. She lost some respect for me, I can tell.
"Enough, all of you." The Turian councilor announces. "Please, continue with the trial." The Asari councilor nods, and resumes.
"Shepard, as much as I don't want to, we have to ground you, have all eyes on you for some time. You did still commit a treason act."
"So how long?" I ask.
"With good behavior...about 6 months at the least." She explains.
"Ok, are we done here then?"
"Yes, for now Shepard. If we find anything to shorten, or extend your sentence, we will inform you immediately."
Extend? Thats great to hear... Although I don't think they will even look. I mean defeating the Collectors should be enough to let me go I would've thought.
I start to walk away, but the councilor says one more thing.
"You know Shepard, if it was anyone else, they would've been executed."
"Gee, is that suppose to make me feel better?"
I stroll away before she can answer. I open the doors and James is there to greet me.
"How did it go Loco?" He asks dying to hear the answer.
"Well, not so good. I'm grounded, and my status is still revoked. I'm probably going to be reinstated when I get out of here though, I mean when the Reapers come, they will just force me to have it so I can save the Galaxy once again. You know, do what they can't."
"Sorry to hear that Shepard, I'll be right back, gotta take a leak." He shares.
Just then Ashley approaches me.
"Hey Skipper, its been a while."
"Yeah, it has. How are you Ash?"
"I don't really know anymore. I've been thinking about our encounter on Horizon. I feel really bad about what I said back there. I hope that one day you can forgive me."
"Don't even sweat it, water under the bridge." I tell her as I put a hand on her shoulder.
Although it wasn't all under the bridge.
"Good. Um, James and I are going to be your Alliance officers until you leave."
"Why do I need two?"
"So Vega can have a break, we have to monitor you almost 24/7."
"Almost?"
"Yeah, once a month we report in to Udina about your behavior."
"So what do I do for that time you both are reporting in?"
"We'll just have cameras on you I believe, and Alliance control will watch over. Don't try anything stupid Shepard, you don't want to extend your time."
"Maybe, I'll think about it." I laugh.
"Okay then...Lets go Skipper." She brings me back to my cell...er...room so I can repeat, and repeat, and repeat my boring ass schedule the Alliance has cooked up for me.
I lay on my bed, thinking what to do next. Maybe I can escape? No. That wouldn't look very good on me. Wait it out? Too damn long, the Reapers are coming. Then I thought for a second. You know who would know what to do next? Miranda.
To be continued...
A/N: Okay so announcement! This is the first half of this story. Part two will still be in this story though. Since this is basically where Mass Effect 2 ends, I thought I can do Mass Effect 3 as part 2. I definitely don't want to do part 2 as ALL of Mass Effect 3, that would be just like reading Mass Effect 3 instead of playing it. I wanna do some things differently, just need to figure out what things. But the gist of it will be like Mass Effect 3, for instance defeating the Reapers...More like the pathway to that point will be different. Maybe some people who died will live, and some people who lived will die...who knows? I will definitely think about what the difference can be for sure, so I might be out for a week. Anyways...Thank you if you're still reading on and staying by my side! See ya guys next time.