Melody paced the cock-pit while Nihlus and Joker chatted casually. Kaiden and Ashley had been hovering and pacing around the med-bay enough for everyone. Nihlus sighed angrily, his arm in a splint from the blast they endured from the beacon. "They'll be fine. Your doctor is an ace in her field."

Melody dropped into the co-pilot seat and sighed back. "I know. It's just stressful. They've been out for a while."

"Anderson just went to check on them again. It's only been 7 hours." Joker interrupted. "It's more than most of us sleep but I imagine they need it."

She scratched her head, "I guess..." she stretched a bit. "None of us sleep though, let's be honest."

Joker smirked and Nihlus chuckled deeply before taking a sigh. "I see a lot of sleepless nights ahead." he stated, a hint of worry in his voice. "The council is not pleased and Saren is out there free roaming doing whatever he plans. I brought them our findings but we might have to do this ourselves."

Melody nodded. "We're going to need to heavy load this team." She jabbed her head casually to his arm. "You probably won't be going ground side for a couple of weeks."

"Ah, just a flesh wound." he shrugged. "But we will need some guys. I have a young turian friend looking into Saren's C-sec file on the council's request and heard a few whispers from here and there we need to confirm on the citadel. This will help our investigation no problem"

Suddenly the doors to the cockpit opened, in came Jane and John, looking a little bruised but otherwise they both were smiling widely at our little group.

Joker smiled back at them. "Good timing commanders," he turned back to the console for piloting. "I was just about to bring us in to the Citadel. See that taxpayer money at work."

Everyone grinned at the quip from Joker and he opened the cock-pit's window shielding just as we hit the relay. The blur of blue overwhelmed the window and the colours seemed to bleed into the room with the rest of them. We hit the next relay, the Craddle was full of purple and grey gasses and space dust. Slowly from the clouds it emerged into veiw. The huge space station, arms open and lights all an orange glow from every arm. The sun behind it making it glow mysteriously like a gem in space.

As we got closer to the dock we heard Kaiden and Ashley enter. Ashley fawning over the Destiny Ascension, the largest ship they floated by, it glowing blue in the sun and looking polished. "Look at the size of that ship!"

"The Ascension." Kaiden equally sounding impressed. "Flagship of the Citadel fleet."

"Well size isn't everything." Joker grumbled humorously.

"Why so touchy, Joker?" Ashley and Melody wittily remarked, sharing a grin from having the same bad joke in response to him.

"I'm just saying you need firepower, too." he smirked at them.

This made Melody nod in agreement. Having a shiny ship wouldn't help when an enemy force was at the Citadel's doorstep, it would just be a huge glistening target.

"Look at that monster!" Ashley continued, obviously still in awe. "It's main gun could rip through the barriers on any ship in the Alliance fleet."

"Good thing it's on our side then." Kaiden mumbled loudly. Nihlus chuckled.

Jane shook her head. John was looking out the opposite window. He was admiringsome of the arms of the space station, as if he was trying to pinpoint where they would dock.

Finally we were granted clearance and John gave Joker a smirk of pride. "Finally get to see the Citadel again. It's been so long."

"For you," Jane said teasingly. "I'm going to see everything I can when we get the free time."

We felt a slight jerk as we docked. It wasn't enough to send anyone flying but enough that you could feel your body sway.

Nihlus stood up and pulled out his omni-tool. "I must speak with the council. Jane and John, meet me in the Human Ambassador's office at once. I will comm them on my way. Everyone is free to explore until we are finished with the council, I hope."

Jane and John followed him out. Melody stretched and Joker yawned loudly. "Want to head out to the wards?"

He shook his head. "Nah, you go. I need to catch a nap."

She stood up and headed out, a couple members of the crew had filed out to the cabs and elevator. She ran to the elevator and waited with them as they went down few floors to C-sec.

When she exited the cramped space and the crowd dispersed, she saw her young asari friend from across the room., talking to a turian behind the desk."Jaliyna!" she shouted in shock and ran over. Some folks turned their heads at her sudden outburst.

Jaliyna turned to her name and chuckled, "Mel?" she asked, just as shocked to see her. Her skin was a dark blue and her eyes brown, bordering black, she had yellow markings around her fringe like a turian would. She rested her data pad down on the desk she was at. "I didn't think you'd be on the Citadel again so soon!"

"Me neither." she smiled and rested on the table nearest. Melody didn't really hug friends and she didn't want to make her friend worry that she had missed her too terribly. So she remained casual, it had only been about a galactic day "The bosses have to do some business, thought I'd stop by."

"Of course." she grinned, clutching her data pad into her grasp again. "I am on the clock though. If you're still docked at 20 hours let me know. I should be free then."

Melody gave her a grin back, "You know it. See you later."

Jaliyna nodded and walked briskly to her office probably to file that data pad's information. Melody walked over to the exit and headed through the Presidium, the place was full of plants and fountains. She was taken aback with how bright and beautiful it all was. However she was distracted for a moment by a C-sec turian pushing past her angrily. He had blue markings to match the armour, his skin grey.

"Fucking Council...fucking Saren." Melody heard him grumble under his breath.

Melody blinked in surprise, but before she could stop him he had made it into the building. She followed after him but she couldn't spot him again.

She sighed and headed back to the Presidium, making her way around. She wandered around the buildings, enjoying the view and taking in the sights but knowing that if she stayed too long she would run out of time to shop in the wards.

"Hey." she heard a soft female voice. She turned to it. A young attractive asari was smiling at her. "Yes you."

Melody walked over cautiously.

"Hello, I am Nelyna." she bowed her head only. "I am the recpetionist of sorts and worker for the Consort. She wishes to speak with you."

Melody shook her head in disbelief. "Sorry, the Consort wants to speak with me?" she was dumbfounded. The most expensive and hard to talk to asari in the galaxy wanted to meet to and spend some time with her. Even for a chat. Nelyna nodded.

"Uhm...okay" Melody wasn't into women so she was terribly worried for a moment but set that aside so she could focus on the conversation. What did she want? It probably wasn't anything romantic or sensual but it still could be just as important.

She made her way into the building with no door, walking past some patrons and the asari speaking with them. Nelyna led her upstairs and to a locked door at the end of the small narrow hall. "Sha'ira? I have the young miss."

A calm whispy voice responded; "Enter." Nelyna opened the door and let her in. Staying behind the entryway and closing it behind her.

Inside the room was a lavish sitting room with a large coffee table, a couple of couches and an asari woman standing next to one. "Come here little one." she smiled, her voice was calming and immediately reminded Melody of a mother trying to calm down her crying child.

Melody sat down across from her and Sha'ira followed suit, sitting across from her. "You probably have a million questions." she said, sipping her drink and gesturing to the one in front of Melody she had not noticed a moment before. Melody took it in her hand and allowed herself a small sip. It was just a fruity water beverage.

Before Melody could ask anything Sha'ira spoke again. "Now, I had Nelyna find you the moment I sensed you on the Citadel." she set her drink down and turned to her. "You have a gift, Melody Milan, an unused gift resting deep below the surface of your mind."

"Wh-what type of gift?" Melody asked. Her voice failing her a bit from concern.

"I am so glad you asked." Sha'ira stood and walked over to her gracefully, sitting back down next to her. Causing Melody to sit up straighter. "Many adepts never use their biotics for anything but dark energy attacks and fields. However I and many others have honed them to heal and see the life threads that bind the galaxy." she sounded impassioned.

"Like the force?" Melody said before she could stop herself, her face turning red in embarrassment from her overly old world nerdy question.

Sha'ira chuckled. "Whatever you call it. It is the dark energy of the galaxy. Now, some people can see that energy, feel it and read it in its entirety. However I sensed in you the moment your ship landed, you can sense it and glean things from it. Like-" she smirked coyly. "Like the crew mates you just met and their romantic surge towards Commander Shepard and Lieutenant Commander Shepard."

Melody blinked, her jaw dropping open. "How did you-"

"I sensed it too." she chuckled. "Notice how the feeling only went one way though?" Melody scrunched her forehead in thought. She had felt the overwhelming feelings of guilt Kaiden and Ashley had felt and the immense amount of romantic feeling of passion they felt for their Commander's. But Sha'ira was right, she only felt friendly vibes from the Commander's.

"Is that fixable?" Melody asked.

"Ahh." Sha'ira almost sighed in content. "Now you're asking the important questions." she took a sip of her drink and placed a hand on Melody's after she finished it. "Not always. You possibly only felt the emotion from that moment, however people's perceptions of each other change with closeness, jealousy and many other factors."

"The question is," she pressed, tapping her fingers on Melody's wrist. "Do you want to see all the dark energy that and the threads that my bind your crew?"