AN: I still don't have a beta, but I am working on a full rewrite. If anyone wants to beta for me send me a PM. As always I encourage feedback and reviews.
Chapter 1: Turian Connection
On occasion Primarch Fedorian and Logan Shepard would meet on the Citadel to discuss business. Kalia and Lendris would quickly disappear together. They would hold hands as they walked together. People would just stare at this very young odd couple, a turian and a human. One time, another young turian male approached them, his posture threatening.
"Is this human your girlfriend?" he scoffed, voice dripping with venom.
"What's it to you?" Lendris asked as he squared his shoulders in an effort to appear large and threatening.
"This is ridiculous! Our relationship is none of your business," Kalia spoke in near perfect Palavenese.
The young turian made it clear that he didn't approve of their familiarity with each other. For Lendris, being protective of Kalia seemed so natural, he growled at the threatening male. Kalia's eyes narrowed as she stared down the opposing turian; she understood their predatory nature. Unlike most humans she was not intimidated in the least.
"I wouldn't if I were you!" she spouted in warning.
The adversarial male wasn't about to back down. He moved rapidly taking a swipe at her with his talons. She coolly dodged him and retaliated before Lendris could do anything. Her small frame spun around with force, precision, and flexibility; her foot connected with the turian's mandible and he went down. Her movement so well trained that it appeared to be instinct. She then pinned him using a pressure point on the soft underside of his wrist while wrenching his arm behind his back. She left him with no choice but to lay on his stomach with his mandible pressed into the ground. He risked serious damage to his arm if he attempted to move not to mention intense pain; the leverage belonged solely to Kalia. Lendris looked at her with wide eyes; he just laughed. Kalia, small even by human standards only standing about five foot three inches; the turian that she had pinned stood at least a foot taller than her.
"Call c-sec," she insisted, keeping her would be attacker pinned.
"Okay," Lendris said, still laughing. He snapped a holo on his omni-tool as they waited for the officer.
The turian on the ground started to swear at Kalia as she held him down.
"Look you barefaced pain in the ass, just shut up!" she leaned in close yelling at him as she exerted more force on the pressure point, his sub-harmonic hums becoming a pathetic cry.
A turian officer arrived within minutes to see this petite human female pinning a much larger young turian male to the ground. The officer laughed at the sight before him just as Lendris had.
"I am officer Chellick. What happened here?" he said in citadel common as his sub-harmonics hummed with amusement.
"Would you mind grabbing him so he doesn't kill me when I let him up?" Kalia asked still speaking Palavenese with a slight accent due to her lack of sub-harmonics.
Chellick's eyes darted to Lendris; he had never heard a human speak their language. Nodding, he then walked over and cuffed the pinned turian.
Kalia shot Lendris a concerned look. Lendris tenderly slid his fingers around her wrist. She sighed and began to relax. Lendris pulled her close and put his arms around her.
"It will be fine. You acted in self-defense," Lendris said with low soothing sub-vocals in an effort to comfort her. She leaned her head in towards him and their foreheads touched.
Chellick watched the interaction bafflement evident on his face. The human spoke Palavenese and responded to turian cues. He cocked his head to the side having never seen such an exchange between a human and a turian before. Chellick cleared his throat to get their attention before he spoke.
"So, tell me exactly what happened here? Keep in mind that we can check the surveillance records," Chellick's sub-vocals remained neutral.
"He threatened me then came at me with his talons. I just defended myself," Kalia explained meekly still holding on to Lendris for comfort.
"He questioned us about our relationship and decided to attack her," Lendris confirmed with an irritated twitch to his mandibles.
The officer quickly ran their IDs through his omni-tool. He gasped when he realized who they were. The cuffed turian sneered at them as he began to growl, shouting racial slurs at Kalia.
Chellick shoved the young turian to shut him up. His sub-vocals filled with annoyance as he barked, "You have no idea who you just assaulted do you?"
"Does it matter?" The young turian mocked with an undisciplined, insubordinate click.
"This is The Primarch's grandson and Logan Shepard's daughter," Chellick informed the young turian.
"Shit!" the turian hung his head. The poor guy must have realized the shit storm that he might have caused for himself.
Kalia interrupted, "Look, I know that your code is not forgiving where this kind of stuff is concerned. How about we call it even? I pinned you to the ground, called you barefaced, and embarrassed you."
"Why, would you do that?" the young turian said to her.
"Your actions were ignorant, but not worth all of the trouble that the turian code will cause you for it," Kalia's voice was sympathetic even without sub-harmonics.
"Please, let him go," She implored.
"You are lucky that she is so forgiving," Chellick clicked, making what Kalia perceived to be a stern sound while he unfastened the handcuffs.
The young turian eyed Kalia hesitant. "I am Prertees… I sorry for the way I acted. I owe you one, human," his voice was shook flanging heavily as he spoke.
She stood firm holding Lendris' hand. Her eyes fixed on Prertees giving him a slight nod as Chellick finished his report. Kalia and Lendris then left together hand-in-hand as a mystified Chellick looked on after them.
"You are too kind for your own good," Lendris cooed, humming sweetly.
"Actions speak louder than words. Someone has to step up and show the galactic community that humans aren't all bad." Kalia spoke in a hushed tone, looking into Lendris' eyes.
"You truly are your father's daughter." Lendris purred as he stroked her cheek affectionately.
A few months later a pro-human group planned a precision terrorist strike against key persons that were high profile collaborators with aliens. Kalia's father, Logan, was among the targets that were successfully eliminated. Helena and Kalia were both devastated by the news.
The Alliance took over the funeral and arrangements, Logan Shepard, being such a prominent figure. Many important politicians, dignitaries, and Alliance brass were there to offer their condolences. Kalia found it overwhelming, as if it was more of a political affair than a goodbye to her father. Primarch Fedorian arrived there with Lendris, having pulled some strings to secure military leave for his grandson. Lendris hastened through the crowd to stand by Kalia. He could see the anguish in her eyes. He held her in his arms and gently stroked her hair as she cried into his chest. Their exchange was quiet and in Palavenese. Helena stood by Fedorian; his decorum was formal as if this was an official event.
He leaned down and whispered into her ear, "Please meet me in private after this. I will extend every advantage of being family to you and your daughter."
Helena looked at him with tears in her eyes. "Thank you, Sharmid," she managed through her sniffles.
She looked around for Kalia and saw her with Lendris.
She whispered back to the Primarch, "Are you worried about how close Kalia and Lendris have become?"
"Not in the slightest," Sharmid whispered back with his hand on Helena's shoulder.
Sharmid observed them; Kalia didn't hesitate before accepting Lendris' attempts to comfort her.
Lendris studied Kalia as he comforted her. Her black dress laid in a very flattering way on her elfin frame. Kalia's blazing red locks spilled down her back in long waves the sides had been pinned back allowing her ears to peek out. Her normally intense green eyes were cloudy from her grief. Looking at her tear streaked cheeks made him feel guilty for finding her so attractive in spite of the circumstances.
The funeral seemed to drag on. Kalia's emotions were strained and her exhaustion was evident. A young human in an Alliance uniform made a snide remark to her about her turian companion. In her current state diplomacy didn't cross her mind.
Kalia shoved him and got in his face, "What did you just say you son-of-a-bitch?" Tears poured down her face.
"Nothing, I was just joking." The guy lied, putting his hands up in mock surrender.
Lendris realized that this was not going anywhere good and tried to pull her back to him. She squirmed out of Lendris' grip to glare at the uniformed human.
The guy smirked and then told Lendris, "You should find a girlfriend that is more your species."
At that point Kalia lost it completely. She punched him in the jaw, then a quick roundhouse to the ribs, and followed up with a spinning wheel to his face. She knocked him out cold. She then jumped on him ready to punch him in the face if he moved. Lendris took her hand and pulled her off of the guy. Kalia's body shook as she sobbed. Lendris held her silently; ignoring the looks people were giving them. Helena wasted no time flying through the crowd to get to her now hysterical daughter, Sharmid hot on her heels.
"What the hell just happened?" Helena asked her voice irate and bewildered.
Kalia couldn't speak through her tears.
"Ma'am, this guy made snide comments about turians being here, then insulted me. I believe she was defending us," Lendris defended Kalia keeping his tone respectful.
"Well, I guess I don't really feel sorry for him, but Kaila you need to control yourself," Helena half-heartedly scolded her distressed daughter.
"How dare he dishonor my father's memory by speaking that way about turians at his funeral!" she seethed.
Lendris' efforts to calm Kalia all failed. She clung to him wracked with sorrow shaking between sobs.
"Lendris, please take her to my private quarters so she can settle down without onlookers. I think she has had enough of this spectacle," The Primarch said giving him a gentle tap on the shoulder.
Sharmid put his hand on Helena's shoulder to prevent her from protesting his intervention.
"She is a tough girl, but I think she hit her limit, wouldn't you agree?" Sharmid asked his hum soft and sympathetic.
Lendris put his arm around Kaila to guide her out of the funeral and to the Primarch's private quarters on the citadel. The dazed look on her face showed her exhaustion. As they entered Lendris guided her to the sofa so she could sit then he sunk in next to her. He realized that she had never cried in front of him before. She leaned into him trying desperately to regain control.
"I'm so sorry," Kalia sobbed.
Lendris put his fingers under her chin forcing her tear streaked face to look up at him. His pale green eyes filled with sympathetic sorrow for her. His low hum mirrored her heartbreak.
"What could you possibly have to be sorry for?" Lendris' tones were touching.
"I lost it and you are being forced to take care of me," her voice wavered.
Lendris answered only in sub-harmonics that couldn't be translated, "I adore you and would do anything to comfort you".
Kalia could feel the vibrations, only understanding that they were meant to comfort her. Lendris had his arm around her. She kissed his mandible nuzzling in close, climbing in his lap. Eventually Kalia found sleep in his warm comforting arms. He rested his chin on her head taking in the scent of her hair. As Helena and the Primarch came in Lendris motioned for them to be quiet because he didn't want them to wake her.
"I have guest rooms. Please stay here for the night." Sharmid invited Helena, her exhaustion evident.
Helena nodded and allowed him to show her to a room. Helena decided that she needed a shower before retiring for the evening; she hoped that the hot water would help ease the tension in her muscles. Her head was pounding and her heart broken. She felt uncomfortable accepting charity from the Primarch. He meant well. She had so many concerns, what ifs, and uncertainties to consider.
Lendris carefully deposited Kalia on the bed covering her with a blanket from the end of the bed. She stirred a bit rolling over towards him. He made sure that she settled before he left the room. Lendris walked out to the common area where his grandfather was waiting for him. Lendris collapsed onto the sofa next to the Primarch.
"This day hasn't been easy on any of us, has it?" he asked Lendris, his mandibles drooping with a gloomy hum.
Lendris sighs, his voice gritty, "No."
Sharmid Fedorian just looked at his grandson waiting for him to elaborate, but it never came. Only a heavy silence permeated the room.
"What is bothering you the most right now?" Sharmid asked flatly.
"I have never seen Kalia cry before today. It was heartbreaking," Lendris' undertones stuck in his throat.
"All I could do was stick by her side and comfort her. Then that guy had to be an ass. I couldn't protect her from that," Lendris recounted, hanging his head in despair.
"She will be fine. She is strong and her parents have taught her well. Remember, all people are the sum of their experiences and if you try to protect her from everything you might rob her of her potential," Sharmid spoke with a soft hum as he imparted wisdom to his grandson.
The next day Helena and Kalia traveled back to Mindoir. They went through Logans things together and kept the meaningful mementos that they wanted. The rest of the things they donated to charities. Kalia kept his dog tags, favorite sniper rifle, the holos, his N7 hoodie, and all of his language/ cultural files. Kalia loaded all of the holos of them into her omni-tool along with all of the language/ cultural files. She wore his dog tags and kept the sniper rifle in her room.