CH 15

The three councilors were having an avid discussion. Spartacus was arguing with Tevos. A pointed glare directed at her.

"I told you that allowing the Bartarian to set up here was a huge mistake." His mandibles twitched as he glared at Tevos. "The first opportunity they got, they turned to their favourite pass time. Slaving."

Tevos was rubbing her head as she replied. "I did not expect them to be so brazen about this Spartacus. I never expected that them to be this bold. I was hoping that bringing them close to the heart of the Citadel would allow us to influence them for a change. Have an approach with the carrot and the stick."

"They never cared about such things from the very beginning." His hand slammed down on the table between them. "Give me permission to give the go ahead to the Turian fleets. We will drive them out of Citadel space."

"A war that will break the Turian's backbone." Vartok Sazz the Salarian councilor interrupted. "We were aware of the risks, yet we did not expect the Bartarian to be so brazen." The Salarian councilor brought the argument to a close.

"At the moment, we do not have the resources to support such a war. We will need the humans to act as a counter balance to the Bartarian expansion." Vartok Sazz closed his eyes. "Such an action should have been expected, would have been easier to deploy specter assets to prevent such a mishap."

"Not STG." Spartacus looked with interest at Vartok. Tevos turning to him as well,.

He shook his head. "Would represent bad faith, using STG within the Citadel. Specters represent combined effort, more effective to use them."

Spartacus and Tevos nodded at that explanation. 

"Now, about the humans." Spartacus had complicated feelings at this particular moment regarding the humans. The humans had been too quick to expand, each of the other races had taken time and settled into one particular role. Humans were different, they were expanding at an unprecedented rate. It was worrying for him, they may open some relay and unleash some type of ancient evil on the world. At the moment, they were expanding and the human market was one of the hottest ones present investment wise. 

Already, the things that other species had to work for centuries. Humanity was achieving them within a few years. He was worried that they may take more responsibilities than they can handle. Something that would lead to their and to the wider galaxies determent.

"So, the System Alliance found the Bartarian slaving operation." Spartacus mouthed those words with great difficulty.

"No, it was the champion and his friend who were responsible. A C-Sec officer went rogue to help them." Vartok brought up a few images showing each of the individual responsible.

"These are children." Tevos said with great worry in her voice.

"That is what happens when adults fail to uphold their responsibility." Spartacus had great venom in his voice when he turned to Tevos again.

"Indeed. Both of them are abnormal in a variety of ways. All of their information is air tight, too perfect."

"Explain." Spartacus turned towards Vartock. 

"It's too perfect with a perfect paper trail. It seems like a cover up." Vartock turned and looked towards Spartacus. "That is just a hunch."

Spartacus nodded at that.

"Like the other races, humans have augmented soldiers. The most famous example being their Spartan program. The Turian have their Elite program, same as the Asari who have their Saviant programs and our own mirror program."

"I suspected that they had undergone genetic mutation, that was until I got the male's test back. He was shown to be a base line human. No modification or gene augmentation done. He is however, an impossibly strong human. All matrices show that."

"I suspect that is same as the girl."

"So, are you saying that they won the genetic lottery?" Tevos asked.

"Along with the Talent lottery. You watched the same matches as I did right."

Tevos nodded at that. "It was the first time I have seen a human go up against Krogan and topple it's raw strength and brutality. There was a certain beauty to it."

Vartock sighed. "That's not all. Please look at the footage."

A footage played showing Alex splitting a mass round fired from a sniper in slow speed.

Vartock observed and saw Spartacus's mandibles twitch in shock and Tevos almost crushing the glass she was holding, giving off an unintentional biotic field.

"I know. I was shocked as well. This video is circulating the holo net." At this point Vartock sighed. "Please look at the proceeding scene."

The video continued as the little girl took out a antique rifle and fire three times. The camera changed to one on s a building, where two shots impacted shield bringing it down and a third shot entered the sniper's head, killing him.

Spartacus was frozen at the moment. Vartock continued. "Modern snipers have mini computers in them, that account for wind direction, drop in projectile velocity, weather conditions. She made the shot without any of those, somehow regardless of the recoil. She hit three times at the same point." 

"Is she modified?" Spartacus asked him.

"I don't have confirmation yet. But, I don't believe so." Vartock said. 

"She is a natural born sniper." Spartacus as he modified the two camera two slow down her shooting motion. His eyes narrowing as he saw her relaxing after taking the three shots and bringing her weapon down. This showed confidence. There was one more thing that he noticed.

"She did not have a scope."

Vartock confirmed. "Yes."

"So, she just used her iron sights to make that shot." This time Tevos interrupted.

"Yes."

"We must come to a decision about what to do about the Bartarians." Spartacus said.

"Allow them to keep their embassy but expel them from the Market district." Vartock said. Saying a more moderate option, one that both Spartacus and Tevos would agree with.

Both of them with great reluctance raised their hand. "I agree with that decision."

"Me as well." Tevos raised her hand.

"What about the humans?" Spartacus asked.

"We will have to make some concessions to them. In the eyes of the public, they were primarily responsible to give shelter to the victims of the Bartarians. They played their hand well, when they decided to give asylum to the children of the other races as well." Tevos conceded.

"Councilors, the Human and Bartarian ambassador are here, along with the witnesses." A voice rang over the speaker.

"It seems that we have an audience. I really hate that Anita Goyle." Spartacus said as the councilors went outside to settle accounts.

--------------------------------------------------

The councilors entered the chambers to pass judgement. They paused when they saw the weapon in the hands of both the girl and the boy but they ignored that for the moment and proceeded to take their place. They would ask for a report from the security later, right now, they had a hearing to attend. It would not do to delay it any further.

"Lies, all lies. The Bartarian Hegemony does not deal with pirates or slavers." The Bartarian Ambassador was yelling at the human ambassador, who was ignoring him.

"Enough ambassador, have some dignity." Tevos glared at him.

The Bartarian ambassador turned towards the councilors as he spoke. "I would not have my people discredited by a bunch of children with an active imagination."

"Specters have already entered the Market district and are shifting through the rubble. You have not painted yourself or the hegemony in a good light, ambassador."

Tanya's eyes twitched. Are these Bartarian going to self-destruct? What was the point of calling them if that was going to happen?

"I am sure that the Hegemony had nothing to do with this, the ambassador must have been the one to collude with the pirates." There was nothing but pleasantness in her voice. "We cannot judge the entire race because of the action of a few people. Can we?"

Tanya stopped a hint of a smirk from showing on her face. She was impressed. This woman was surely going to extract a few promises from the Bartarian Hegemony using this excuse, as well as weaken them. Tanya could certainly admire such talent.

Alex looked up and saw that the councilors were also caught in a predicament at that statement.

"Be that as it may, we cannot allow the hegemony to operate the warehouse district anymore." Spartacus said after a pause. "After a complete investigation, the warehouse district will be taken over by C-Sec. until normal operation can be continued."

The Bartarian Ambassador shuddered. He would be the one the be made into a sacrifice if he returned to the Hegemony after causing all of these losses. No, he will not allow this. He still had his guards with him and he had smuggled in a few guns inside. All he had to do would be to kill the witnesses then The Bartarian Hegemony can deny any wrongdoing. There would be no proof. He would be a sacrifice but that would be acceptable. 

"Now" He yelled at his guard, who took out a pistol and began to rapidly fire at the two children.

Alex was anticipating something like this happening, he had been ready and it all payed off in the end.

And so as the two guards took out guns and fired at him and Tanya. Tanya leapt behind him, as Alex drew both of his Katana and in front of everyone began to deflect one bullet after another. 

Clang Clang Clang Clang. Sounds went off, as everyone witnessed this heaven defying scene.

Alex's arms were getting numb and tired. If he had his light saber, he would be basically melting all of these slugs and his arms would feel no resistance. But for now, his Katana's shook as he felt the full effect of the kinetic force in his arms.

Alex deflected one bullet after another. Swinging his swords as he stood his ground. He wondered why was anyone not moving. 

It was just that everyone was frozen by shock as they were seeing this scene.

Anderson had leapt at Anita Goyle, bringing her down to protect her. 

Now, all they saw was two swords moving as if they were a silver blue, and each strike rpoducing yellow sparks.

Soon, the gun overheated as the Bartarian dropped it. Alex was panting as he had taken a full assault for 20 seconds, deflecting about 30 bullets in this time. Each time, he felt the impact ring through his arms and body.

The sound of the Bartarian dropping his gun woke everyone up, as a few guards leapt at the Bartarians bringing them to the ground.

"Take him away now." Vartock yelled. It was rare for him to lose control of his emotion in such a way. He was the voice of reason within the council but these actions had angered him beyond a measure of a doubt. He would investigate what happened and how guns were smuggled into the council chambers, and heads will roll after he is done today. The worse thing was that this was all broadcasted. If necessary, he will bring the STG here, fair play be damned.

It took a moment for everything to calm down as order was restored and the spectators within the chambers calmed down.

 Vartock gave a sharp look to both Tevos and Spartacus who nodded. "The Bartarian Hegemony is henceforth expelled from the Warehouse district, they will be allowed to keep an embassy open to facilitate conversation. All in agreement."

"Yes." "Yes." Both Tevos and Spartacus agreed.

"Now, we would like the testimonies of the human children."

And so a round of questioning began. All of them were answered by Tanya.

"How did you track the children?"

"My friend here is a tech genius. He had made a tracking device for the children, I used that to cross refrence their last location."

"Why did you not alert C-Sec?"

"I believed that C-Sec were not allowed to move. When I tried to share information, they told me that they had to follow regulations. That the lives of a few kidnapped children in broad daylight was not above regulations. An Asari stopped the C-Sec from helping."

Tevos turned to Solana.

"Is that true?"

She nodded.

Tevos closed her eyes. It seems that certain Matriarchs must have made under the table deals with the Bartarians. She will have to make sure to have them audited and certain facts leaked on the holo-net.

"And what happened when you entered the facility where the children were being held." Spartacus asked.

"I caught them unaware and managed to triumph over them with the help of Solana." She pointed one hand at the now named Turian for her Solana.

"Miss Solana, can you elaborate."

"We went in and engaged them in combat. We won." There was no other way for Solana to reply to that question.

"I see." Spartacus answered. 

"And how did you make your escape." The Salarian asked this time.

"I drove the truck."

The Salarian looked at him indecorously. "Through the wards. How did you handle the traffic?"

"I drove through it." Alex answered.

"You drove through ---" The Salarian councilor caught himself, there were no reports of any accident. Most of this stuff can be easily verified. For now, he had to protect his own dignity.

Most of the questioning was done.

"Ambassador, what about the other children." There was a smile on Goyle's face. 

"We have taken them under protective custody for the moment. We do not trust C-Sec under the current circumstances."

"Understandable." Vartock nodded at that.

"We can for the moment in good conscious only return them to their guardians after they have been verified. A full list and their details have already been made available publicly." Anita Goyle continued. "Failing that, we will deal with the respective governments directly."

"I believe the session is about to end. Is these anything you want from the council for your bravery and dedication to justice." Vartock eyed both of these anomalies in front of him sharply. This was also a way for him to judge both of their character and come to his own conclusion regarding them.

Both 

Alex looked at his shattered Katana's. He looked up the Councilors and showed them his broken blade. His eyes almost tearing up.

"What my friend wants to say is that those swords have accompanied him through out his life. There value to him is undefinable. Seeing them destroyed, especially within the hollowed chambers of the council has left him distraught. We would like to request some compensation for that."

"How much?" Tevos asked.

"A million credit." Tanya answered.

"Agreed." Tevos.

"Each." Tanya added in the end.

"I would personally provide the funds, on the condition that the broken blades be left with me." Tevos replied.

"Very well." Tanya said before Alex could say anything.

"And what do you desire?" Spartacus looked at Tanya, trying to peer inside her soul.

Her answer left his flabbergausted.

"I am setting up a company. I want it to be tax free for three years." That was not something that Spartacus was expecting to hear. He thought that with her natural talent and skills, she would join the System alliance. 

It was fortunate that among them, Tevos was still sound of mind.

"One year." She replied.

"2 years." Tanya negotiated.

She looked at both of her fellow councilors who nodded at her.

"Agreed." Tevos stated.

"How about you, Solana. Your own contribution cannot be understated, you went against orders, all because it was the right thing to do. What is your desire?"

She took a deep breath. "Councilors, I wish for some time to decide that. Thank you." She bowed before them.

Spartacus nodded at her. "Very well then."