A Matter of Time and Space: Epilogue

A Matter of Time and Space

EPILOGUE

Spectre Office, Citadel Embassies, Presidium – 06:00 GST – 5th July 2185 CE

"Severan. Turian. Spectre status recognised," the VI said as the Spectre Office doors slid open.

Valni still hadn't got used to her new title. She wondered if she would ever get used to it.

The last few days had been a blur of interviews, personal messages from friends and family – her mother had been especially proud to have a Spectre in the family, though she did give Valni a stern lecture for not telling her she'd been selected for Spectre candidacy – briefings with advisors whose names Valni could barely remember, and a deluge of Council reports that she was expected to wade through.

In honesty, Valni was grateful the Spectre clearance gave her access to classified intelligence, it gave her a clearer picture of the movements of the Collectors, and especially the Normandy.

Valni had received only one message from Kenneth since learning he and Gabby were alive. It had been short, but emotional. Kenneth appeared on the screen, looking smart in his Cerberus uniform, and joking readily enough, but the haunted look in his eyes betrayed the trauma of the Collector attack. When Gabby appeared by Kenneth's side, Valni felt the same wave of relief she'd experienced seeing Ken, though Gabby's eyes were equally drawn and tired. Valni didn't want to risk dredging up memories they'd sooner forget by asking about the attack – she knew from experience the traumas a soldier could suffer. Whatever had happened during that attack, the Normandy crew weren't going to recover quickly. Valni suspected those events would haunt them for months to come.

But the call was all too brief, soon the link was severed as the Normandy had to run dark. From what Valni could gather, it was something to do with the attempted assassination of Shepard's former squadmate, Liara T'Soni on Illium.

Valni examined Council reports from Illium and discovered that the Shadow Broker was involved. Details were sketchy, but the salarian specialist Sekat had been killed, apparently at the hands of an asari Spectre named Tela Vasir. Shepard had exposed Tela as an informant for the Shadow Broker. The two Spectres had battled on an Illium penthouse and now Tela Vasir was dead and Shepard was reportedly gunning for the Shadow Broker.

Valni shook her head in amazement when she'd read that. After fighting slavers, mercenaries and Collectors, she wondered what her new role would bring next.

The Spectre office corridor consisted of a long corridor leading to a series of terminals and holographic displays.

Standing by the requisitions terminal was T'Moirai. The asari looked up from the tablet she was reading and grinned slyly as Valni approached.

"What is it?" Valni asked, trying to read T'Moirai's expression.

"You're not going to believe this," T'Moirai said.

"The list of things I don't believe is growing smaller by the day."

"The company who owns the Hello Krogi brand would like to use your image in a new clothing line. They're calling it Hello Spectre."

"You're kidding?" Valni said pleadingly. "Please tell me you're kidding!"

T'Moirai shook her head and handed over the tablet. "They saw you wearing your shirt at the Citadel Tower and thought it would be good exposure."

On the pad was a series of caricatures of Valni, including a chibified cartoon of her with an oversized head, a short body, and her fingers held in a 'victory' salute as she gave a cheeky wink.

"Oh, for the love of…!"

"It's not so bad. It'll increase your profile. At least people will know who you are."

"Yeah, for all the wrong reasons," Valni said. "Spectres are supposed to command respect. How can I be taken seriously if the criminal I'm arresting has an image of me plastered all over their underwear?!"

T'Moirai tried to suppress a grin. "I'll admit that is a concern…"

"Don't pretend you're not enjoying this!

The asari cleared her throat. "Ultimately, the decision is yours, but the financial rewards are substantial. The royalties alone would allow you to purchase an apartment on the Silversun Strip."

"That is some serious money."

"You won't be hard up for credits."

Valni sighed. "I'll think about it…" She switched the tablet off. "Is there any real work?"

"Eager to start?" T'Moirai observed. "That's a good sign." The Major retrieved another computer tablet from the terminal behind her. "There are three assignments we'd like you to look at. The first and most obvious is Jona Sederis. The Eclipse leader is still at large. The Council would like her dealt with as soon as possible."

"Could you clarify 'dealt with' for me?"

"Captured. Alive, preferably," T'Moirai explained. "Though, be warned, she is extremely dangerous. And she knows you arrested her sister. She will be gunning for you. I advise you to assemble a team to take her down.

"Secondly, we'd like you to meet with the representatives of the Andromeda Initiative."

"That deep space exploration project?" Valni frowned. "I've seen the recruitment ads but I don't know that much about them. I thought they'd left already?"

"Not quite yet. And it's more than exploration – it's colonisation. They've been looking for volunteers from every race for a mission to reach the next galaxy. 600 years of cryo-suspension. They're calling it the 'next great frontier'."

"What's our interest in the Initiative? I hope you're not asking me to join them?"

"Nothing quite so drastic," T'Moirai assured her. "All the details are in the file."

"Is this the kind of routine I can expect now?"

T'Moirai smiled. "I think you'll find the term 'routine' rarely applies to a Spectre." She handed the pad to Valni. "The third mission might interest you. It's a simple arrest, though it's far from routine. It requires a degree of diplomacy and you have some experience with the fugitive in question. We've been liaising with Alliance officials and the human Councillor. The Alliance will be taking custody, but the Council wants a Spectre there to detain the target and supervise the handover."

Valni looked at the details. Her eyes widened as she read the orders.

After a few seconds, she looked up, surprise etched across her face.

"You want me to arrest Commander Shepard?!"

FIN

Valni Severan (and other major characters) will return in

"A Matter of Life and Death"

An original story set before and during the events of Mass Effect 3.

Author's Note: Without trying to sound like someone giving an awards speech, I would like to thank the fantastic Bayzee for their constant encouragement, advice and support in the writing of this story, and to everyone who has read, enjoyed, and provided feedback. Valni's adventures have been an absolute joy to write, but unfortunately the next story will be the finale of the Matter trilogy. Valni's journey will see her return home to Palaven, and visit new worlds, including the most powerful civilisation in the galaxy, Thessia. And while it may be the concluding part of the trilogy, I can promise it will go out with a bang… in more ways than one.

Thank you all for reading. May you have a great Christmas, and a happy and prosperous 2017.