Their Finest Hour

Title: Their Finest Hour, Chapter 20

Author: Draygon

Game: Mass Effect

characters/pairing: F!Shep/Garrus

Disclaimer: Bioware owns it all. I am just playing with their toys. U No SU. Also, SPOILERS for All the things!

---

Shepard took a deep breath as she stepped off of the shuttle, six guards in Alliance armor forming around her. She squinted as the early afternoon sun hit her and for a moment everything seemed washed out. Shepard had only visited Earth a few times in her life, mostly during her N7 training in Buenos Ares. London felt different; wetter, colder, older. Shepard allowed herself one rueful chuff. It took her only a moment to adjust, her strides matching her guards'.

The fanfare of the trial had attracted tens of thousands to London, and the walkway to the Parliament building was packed with bodies, dozens deep, all here to get a look at Shepard as she was led in to the building. Beings of every species gawked at the procession, most shouting their support for Shepard and expressing their disdain for the trial itself as the Alliance bowing to the Batarians. Shepard had to agree with them. Most probably had deduced that the Hegemony had threatened the Alliance with all out attack and some were even in full armor in the crowd, showing viscerally how ready they were to take them on.

The noise of the crowed was intense, however the officers assigned to keep them from getting too rowdy seemed to be having an easy time. The decision to land the Batarians at the top of the building was a good one. If they had been led down the same path she had, the crowd would have tried their best to tear them apart. Shepard sighed as she entered the building, the noise disappearing almost entirely as the doors closed. The Parliament building itself was so quiet Shepard almost thought she had walked into a church. Most of the non-essential staff had been given leave for the event so as to minimize the risk anyone on either side trying anything stupid.

The entire group entered the lift, quiet as the dead the way up. The guards had not spoken a single word to her since they met her inside the docking bay of Arcturus Station and Shepard was grateful for the silence. It gave her time to prepare herself mentally for the trial. She knew the Hegemony would play dirty, they always did. Shepard closed her eyes and took a deep breath, again. She had to hope that her crew could carry on in her stead should the worst happen. She thought about Garrus and Thane and Miranda and all the others she considered as close to her as her own family, the memories of their time together brought a small smile to her face.

The doors opened and the group stepped off of the lift, their legs eating up the distance to the doors of the court room. Like everything in the Parliament building, they were huge and guarded by two squads of soldiers, all of whom saluted as Shepard and company passed. Shepard was not able to return the salute, so she gave a slight nod of her head. She suspected their gesture was directed right at the Hegemony, whose delegation was just now entering a door further down the enormous hallway. Whatever the reason, Shepard appreciated the moral support as she was led down the long walkway to the center of the court room.

Once there, Shepard's guards stood behind her in a line, snapping salutes to the judges on the raised dais. There were six judges in all, three from the Alliance and three from allied council races. Audience members from all Citadel races occupied the seats behind Shepard, several of whom she recognized. Emily Wong was there as was Khalisah Bint Sinan al-Jilani, along with another reporter in a shorter dress most likely chosen to pander to the Asari viewers, all of whom had their cameras trained on Shepard's back. Among the audience were others Shepard recognized through photos she had seen. The families of those lost on the Normandy SR-1 were represented in the audience as well, some even wearing the dog tags she had found on Alchera.

"Jane Abigail Shepard," Shepard was brought out of her own thoughts as she was addressed directly by the judges presiding over the trial. "You have been brought before this court on the charges of Genocide, War Crimes against the Batarian Hegemony, Treason in cooperating with Cerberus, Terrorism against the Batarian Hegemony and cavorting with the Geth. How do you plead?"

Shepard paused a moment. What should she say? That she was guilty on all charges but for the best of intentions? Shepard opened her mouth, ready to answer. "She pleads Not Guilty, your honors."

Shepard snapped her head to the left, eyeing a rotund volus who had spoken in her stead. He was seated in between two sharply dressed humans whom Shepard assumed were her legal counsel. The volus motioned for Shepard to take the empty seat at the end of their table and she did so, leaning her head so that she could speak to her legal counsel.

"Apologies, Shepard." The volus kept his voice low. "I was appointed by several acquaintances of yours to facilitate your defense. I would have met with you had the Hegemony's counsel not cried foul over the possibility of vital information being passed to you while you were incarcerated."

Shepard nodded, knowing it best not to ask which acquaintance paid for her defense. Though she was initially put off by not knowing she actually had competent counsel, she was understanding of the circumstances and quite relieved she wouldn't have to be defending herself. The reasoning behind the Hegemony's protests were ludicrous, however they had the Alliance over a barrel at the moment.

---

Four days.

Shepard sighed as she sat down once again, shackled, in the chair near her defense counsel. This circus had gone on for four days and Shepard was left with the uncomfortable feeling that the Hegemony was stalling for time. Each time they presented proof, her counsel would shoot it down with testimony from her crew or those she had interacted with. The Hegemony would then fire back with a motion that would ensure the trial would keep going for at least another day.

Shepard's time in between had been spent sequestered in her appointed quarters, her only contact with anyone was when her meals were brought to her and when the soldiers came to collect her for the next days proceedings. All in absolute silence, she had learned, at the Hegemony's orders. The Alliance didn't want to give the Hegemony any excuse to accuse them of colluding with Shepard.

There had already been close calls with the Hegemony fleet that had become a permanent fixture near both Arcturus and earth. Bluffing or not, no one in the Alliance wanted to call them on it.

The tensions were mounting around the Parliament building as many were wanting to make an example of the Batarians. Earth First was organizing rallies around the globe protesting the treatment of Shepard. While many from other races were showing their support in more subtle ways. While the Council had distanced themselves from Shepard politically, they each understood what would happen if the Batarians ever started a war with Humanity.

Shepard had gotten used to doing absolutely nothing during the trial. Neither side seemed willing to call her to the stand to testify on any of the charges, both most likely knowing that any thing she said would shatter either of their cases. And so here she had sat for the last four days, half listening to the lawyers argue and counter each other, understanding almost nothing being said.

"And during your tenure aboard the Normandy, Miss. Chambers, did you ever get the impression that the Commander-"

"Objection! Shepard no longer holds any rank within the Alliance."

"My apologies, counsel. Old habit. Once again, Miss. Chambers, when you served aboard the Normandy, were you ever under the impression that Shepard enjoyed killing any who were not of the human persuasion?"

Kelly, who's hair had since grown by several inches, merely shook her head. "No, counsel Dileed. I saw many times where she gave all who fired on her the chance to put down their guns and leave, often at great personal risk. She never killed unless she had no other choice."

The batarian counsel rose from his seat. "But you can not deny that the body count from her 'adventures' is quite impressive. Many of whom are not human."

"No, I can not." The batarian counsel was momentarily taken aback by Kelly's steady gaze into his lower pair of eyes. He had intended to use the discomfort most humans felt in speaking with his race against her. "Proportionately, the numbers were about the same. There are those among all races who think themselves invincible, and it is not Shepard's fault if that belief was ended by being on the other end of her biotics."

The batarian counsel sat back down at his table, quietly conversing with his two advisers.

"I think we both know this trial is nothing but a farce, Bar'gekk."

Shepard snapped out of her own musings, this being the first time she had heard any of the lawyers present address each other by name.

"If you had allowed us to interrogate her, we wouldn't even need this trial, Dileed."

Shepard looked sidelong at her counsel. The judges, for the most part, had opted to stay silent during most of the proceedings, merely letting it play out for as long as it would. Though at Bar'gekk's statement, one of them chose to speak. "You understand why interrogation was not a viable option, counsel. Most would see your methods as torture and any tensions between the Hegemony and the Alliance may well have become all out war."

The batarian made a rude sound in the back of his throat, waving his hand as though to dismiss the Asari judge's statement. "This trial is merely a formality. It was supposed to be a gesture of good will to your Alliance, however, it seems you have used it as a means of slandering the batarian people."

"I do believe you have done more to disparage your own people than any of us ever could." Shepard could almost see Dileed's smile.

"Enough." The turian judge intervened, slamming his gavel down on the dais to get the arguing counselors' attention. "Either produce a viable piece of evidence or we will be forced to declare a mistrial."

"Shepard will be made to answer for her crimes, one way or another!"

"Have a care, Bar'gekk." The volus counsel stood, putting himself between Bar'gekk and Shepard. "That statement could be taken my many as a declaration of war."

"With half our fleet around earth," Bar'gekk bared his teeth as he smiled. "we are already at war."

Half the court audience were already on their feet, some ready to run out of the court room and some ready to throttle the batarian counsel.

Bar'gekk turned to the judges. "How far will the Alliance go, once again, to stay our hand? You have already shown your duplicity and weakness to the entirety of the galaxy. We would be doing everyone else a favor wiping you out."

Several of the judges hammered their gavels, trying to bring order back to the court as nearly every audience member burst out in angry shouts at the batarian's declaration. "Your behavior will not be tolerated!" One of the human judges stood, barely restraining his rage. "You are held in contempt-"

"All of you are in contempt!" Bar'gekk pointed his finger at the judges, snarling his words. "You will all pay for the destruction of Bahak!"

Several staffers scurried to the judges, whispering in their ears. Shepard watched as each expressed shock in their own way, the humans' eyes widening slightly, the turian's mandibles flaring out a fraction and the asari shaking her head. The shouts from the audience were near deafening as Shepard looked from the judges to the batarian counsel, her hands balling into fists in their restraints. In the chaos, her eyes caught movement in the audience. Turning her head, she locked eyes with Hanna Shepard.

The elder Shepard's eyes were glistening with tears as she saw the determination in her daughter's eyes. Her hand went to her chest as she nodded once, as though to say she understood what her daughter was about to do.

Shepard stood and took a deep breath. "Enough!"

The entire room went silent, all eyes on her as she stood tall, her shoulders squared. She stepped up to Bar'gekk and looked him square in his lower eyes. "If I go with you, do you promise to take your fleets out of the Sol system?"

"Shepard!"

She ignored the voices raised in protest and kept her eyes on Bar'gekk. "Do I have your word?"

Bar'gekk nodded, a none too subtle smile on his face. "Yes. We will leave this system."

Shepard nodded as the two batarian advisers held her by the shoulders, leading her out of the court room in utter silence.

As soon as the doors were opened on street level, the shouts from the crowd hit Shepard like a sledge hammer. Additional security had been called to keep the crowd back by a good three meters as the three batarians led Shepard to the shuttle. As soon as the crowd got a good look at them, they began pressing against the barricades, screaming threats at the batarians leading her away.

As the three neared the shuttle, Shepard slowed down, the two leading her tightening their hands on her arms. "Wait. Give me a moment." The two looked to Bar'gekk who waved his hand dismissively. The two got in after him, leaving Shepard standing in front of the shuttle door. She took a breath, letting the feeling of the late July sun soak into her skin before she spoke.

"I know you are angry." She waited until the crowd's cries died down before continuing. "And you have every right to be. But this is not the time to fight. I am leaving with the batarians of my own free will. I will not see humanity embroiled in a pointless war with a race we have no true quarrel with." She watched as the anger on their faces faded, replaced by sadness enough to make her own eyes sting with tears. "There are more important things to be doing right now, bigger enemies to be fought." She knew many in the crowd knew exactly what she was talking about. "Seeing you all here gives me hope that we might all have a chance when that time comes." Shepard swept her eyes around the crowd, smiling at the determination on their faces and the nods in response to her words.

Near the entrance to the Parliament building, she spied Admiral Anderson standing beside her mother, both standing as straight as they could. "Make me proud."

---

Somewhere on Palaven, a turian leaned forward in his seat, clawed hands holding his head as he tried not to scream. Not even his sister's hand on his shoulder could comfort him as he watched the shuttle disappear into the distance on the vid.

'She's gone.'

Garrus took a deep breath to steady himself, his claws digging into his scalp.

'She's gone. And I wasn't there to save her. Again.'