The matter with the asari planet was resolved; all that remained was to return to my ship with a new crew member – Samara. From the standpoint of combat strength and connections, she is probably my best acquisition in recent years.
Usually, I had to complete most missions alone for one important reason – it's difficult to keep up with my pace. When not working, I often walk slowly, trying not to rush, which is fundamentally different from combat. After all, the faster the task is completed, the better, right? By emulating a whirlwind in speed and destructive power, I am largely building my reputation across the galaxy.
How am I building it?
The issue of the unauthorized dumping of garbage beyond the planet's atmosphere had to be resolved with Samara's help. There were cameras everywhere, and a satellite was also monitoring events in hard-to-reach places, so the culprit was quickly identified. But I had something to counter the local authorities with: a Justicar.
It worked even better than expected. They feared her more than a star exploding, which is paradoxical, because in a direct confrontation, I would be the one forced to defend myself – with words and deeds: hypnosis and a lightsaber.
On my ship, however, I still had to send a couple of written explanations to the Citadel Station – the center of galactic decision-making, where the Council has ruled for over a thousand years. But if it had to be done, what do I lose by writing a couple of messages to their security service? Nothing. So I did it and…
— Is something wrong? - I murmured thoughtfully, moving away from the work terminal to the viewport to look at the stars. It wasn't about the explanation I'd sent. There were clear disturbances in the Force.
There could be many reasons, but I had drawn the ugliest one – a threat to all life in space. I had foreseen a cosmic storm, but certainly not on this scale. It's one thing when a couple of planets are threatened with death, and quite another when all life is, in a ridiculously short time. What could possibly appear that could exterminate everything and everyone in a matter of moments?
Placing my hands behind my back, I analyzed the situation and considered the most reliable moves.
I have some resources for a rainy day; there will be no problems with upgrading the ship. I've ordered rare technologies to create PROXY; in a few months, or half a year at most, I'll begin assembly. It would be nice to have the geth with their memory modules handy, but the AI robots don't stick their necks out of their System, so we're waiting for an alternative.
I also vaguely remember blueprints for some technologies from my past life, which could be put into action if things get really tight. According to them, theoretically, if I gathered a group of outstanding scientists... we could build a Death Star. If not better: Starkiller I. I'll name the world-destroyer in my own honor.
Smiling smugly under my mask, I sensed Samara's approach.
— You gathered information from the crew members, passed it to your order, and came here. Tell me, are you satisfied? - I asked, without turning around.
— Merciless to enemies, peaceful toward friends. More than, - she nodded. — The order replied that I am to continue my observation for the next six months.
— Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer? - I shook my head. — Six months will most likely stretch out much longer. I scanned the Milky Way for disturbances in the Force. Simply put, I checked for cosmic threats to all life in the galaxy. And according to my predictions, in a few years, five at most, humanity, turians, asari, krogan, batarians, and all other races will be destroyed.
Closing my eyes, I sensed the place where a massive slaughter had recently occurred.
— I see corpses... destroyed monuments... burning skyscrapers... It looks like Earth, but with much cleaner air and a lower population density. Eden Prime. There's a massacre there, and it's connected to what is coming to sow destruction.
— It all starts with Eden Prime? - she asked calmly.
— It has already begun. Eden Prime has fallen, - I stated, heading back to the terminal.
Quickly establishing a connection via the extranet to the human colony, I confirmed there was no communication. I immediately sent a message to Citadel Security about the dire situation, requesting a strike team.
Who the enemies were – I did not see.
Scanning with the Force is not my strong suit. What I do best is kill.
Stop, what? A minute later, a message came through: a call, straight from the Council.
I had to answer in the communications room, so the interlocutor could see my full-size hologram. Otherwise, negotiations are not conducted in this bureaucratic nest.
Samara went with me, but she stayed off to the side, just to listen.
Soon, the holograms of the Council members appeared before me.
— We received your message. Confirm, can you provide more concrete evidence than just words? - Tevos began, the asari in the red dress, with a talent for irritating people with her silver tongue.
— Check the connection and see for yourselves.
— Outrageous, - declared Valern, a salarian whose main talents were tactics and strategy. Like most representatives of this brilliant race, he could solve a computer-level problem without using external aids. — The connection could be faulty for a thousand reasons! Sending an entire squad just because of interference is the height of audacity.
— Are you running a covert operation there? - I crossed my arms, waving one hand toward the frozen faces of the three councilors.
— A covert operation? - the turian repeated.
His name is Sparatus, and he is distinguished by a peaceful disposition. Despite the fact that it was the turians who attacked humans during First Contact, he later acted as a balanced judge of the conflict. At his initiative, we were even granted an embassy and a separate place to hold receptions. Generous.
— The Council itself responded to my call for help, which is strange. And the fact that it responded to a human's call is doubly strange. When there are too many peculiarities surrounding one planet, you immediately sense the Council's interest, - I smirked. — I don't know what plans you have for the human colony, but it is almost completely destroyed right now. Want to save the remaining survivors? Go ahead. No? Your right. My job is to warn you about the incident.
I can't handle it myself; a planet-scale job is not the work of one man.
Unless I develop the talent for absorbing the life force of entire planets...
— Again, where did you get this information about what happened?
— Bought it from the Shadow Broker? Did a little bird fly in with parchment under its wing? Was I flying past Eden Prime on my ship and caught a distress signal? Make up a reason if you need one for the report.
— Insolent humans... - Valern sighed. — Stay right where you are!
The connection cut off abruptly.
It seems they received news related to my case.
— Aren't you afraid of angering the Citadel? I once hunted one of their Spectres, and even I had a hard time fending off their attacks afterward.
— We only fear when we have something to lose.
Two minutes later, I received a signal.
This time, they no longer looked so skeptical.
— The information has been confirmed. We received a report from the Normandy: the human colony was attacked by the geth, - the asari reported. — You are summoned to the Citadel as a witness. You do not have the right to refuse. If you do not appear at the appointed time, you will be declared a galactic criminal. But if you agree... Among humans, you are considered the strongest biotic, with a rare mutation. Your abilities leave no energy emissions, which is why they cannot be tracked.
— We don't have time for politics... - the turian sighed. — You have interested the Council, and we are prepared to consider your candidacy for the position of Spectre.
— Only on one condition, - Valern interjected. — Starkiller... Your original documents were erased from the database. Later, security services discovered a new registration, with changes to the first and last name. Answer: why is that, do you have a criminal past? Are you still independent of the Alliance and their command? Have you entered into an alliance with anyone for longer than a single... - his large black eyes twitched squeamishly. — Mercenary job.
— Galen Marek – I find that this first and last name suit me better. All other information remained unchanged in the forged documents. This shows that I have nothing to hide. I do not have a criminal past. I have always taken contracts on those who fell outside the protection of Citadel laws: red sand dealers, space pirates, smugglers, slavers, and other tumors on the body of society. Yes, I have completed some cleanup jobs twice for the same clients, but I have had no long-term contracts. As of now, I have completed my last assignment on Thessia.
— You desecrated the space of my home planet. And you should thank your human deities that no one was harmed, - the asari reprimanded me.
Tevos is one of those who works for Aria, eats from her hand. That's why she was pretending to oppose my actions now. In reality, she has covered for me with her Council colleagues before – I'm almost certain of it.
— Faith in gods? - I shrugged. — My religion consists of revering the Force.
They exchanged glances, conversed with gestures, and came to a decision.
— The information provided will be verified. Upon your return, if it is confirmed, and you do not wish to become famous for having the highest wanted level, we will be glad to see the first human Spectre. Unfortunately, our second candidate... Judging by the message, has failed.
— The first candidate, I remember him: David Anderson. He was blamed for the failure of the test mission to capture the organizers of the Sidon massacre. Who is the second?