Note: I will be writing about Shepard meeting up with the crew, whilst still on the Citadel. I will get in as many interactions with the crew as I can. But I will be placing my own in it as well*
It was the next day, following the incident with Shepard's clone. Most of the crew was hungover after going straight out when returning from the fight on the Normandy. Shepard had some emails from the crew, who wanted to meet up with her. She decided to meet each of the crew before the party. Edi asked to meet Shepard at her apartment, she wanted help with something regarding the crew.
Shepard was cleaning up, when Edi arrived, carrying a small box and a datapad. "Hey, Edi. What idea did you have in mind doing today?"
"I would like your help in acquiring gifts for each of the crew" She placed the box down on the counter. "Joker gave me his credit chit and told me 'live it up, like a girly girl'" She said using air quotes.
"You don't have your own money?" Shepard thought since Edi is part of her crew, she would have some sort of wages to coming in. She does more than enough work to deserve pay.
"No, because I don't own a bank account. So I don't really need to be paid. I could resort to robbing, but that would look bad on a resume" She started to sort through the datapad.
"Well after this, we will see what we could do about getting your own funds. You have done more than enough to earn it. So what did you want to get the crew?" Edi turned the datapad around and placed it in Shepard's hands. It was a shuttle car website.
"I noticed, Joker doesn't own a shuttle car to use around the Citadel. He did say he liked one, but because we never stayed long enough for him get the paperwork sorted for one. I thought since we had a couple more days, I would get one for him. This one" Edi pointed at the datapad. "It is the newest in its class. A sports special edition"
Shepard looked it over. It was nearly a years worth of Jokers salary to buy it. "Edi. This is too expensive. I think Joker meant little gifts. Not something that would bankrupt him"
"Okay, maybe hire it for the weekend then" Shepard nodded. "Okay, next is yours. Close your eyes" Shepard closed her eyes, hearing Edi pick up and open the little box. "You can open them" Shepard looked down, Edi was holding a ring box that held a small silver and gold ring.
"Uhh... You know I'm dating Garrus right?" Edi smiled at her. "It's a nice thought, Edi. But why a ring?"
"It is called a victory ring. Each element is mixed metals from each of the council's homeworlds. I know you cannot wear it whilst in uniform. But I thought something like this would give you hope that we will win" Shepard looked back down at the ring, smiling at it.
"Thank you, Edi. I love it, I will keep it next to my bed and look at each morning for motivation" Edi passed the ring over to Shepard, she looked it over in her hands. The kitchen light made it twinkle. It really was beautiful. "Okay, whos next?"
Liara and Javik bumped into each other whilst getting some lunch. They decided to eat together and catch up on their chat before the whole clone incident happened. They sat at the same table as before, looking over the Presidium. "How are you liking the Citadel, Javik?"
"I like this station very much. Many look at me but seem to shy to talk to me. I've had those Hanar ask me many questions and kept referring to me as an Enkindler. I don't like those 'Salarians'. They ask many questions and get in my way" He looked down at his food. "Your food is very bland as well. You do not cook Salarians anymore?"
Liara couldn't help but laugh at his remark about the food. They stopped cooking Salarians long before they even came to the Citadel. They advanced more in the intelligence side of other species. "I'm not surprised the Hanar won't leave you alone. They believe your species to be gods to them, they have a whole religion dedicated to the Protheans. It was mostly the Krogans who ate the Salarians, they stopped after being uplifting and the Salarians got smart enough quite quickly to protect themselves"
"Yes, your Krogan friend mentioned about Salarian liver being served rare. I was inclined to agree with him. The salarians didn't seem to happy about it" Liara just laughed at him. "What is the meat Humans eat, Chicken and Beef?"
"They are animals from Earth. Chickens are a small feathered bird and Beef comes from a large mammal called a Cow. Humans have eaten them for centuries. They have other animals they eat. But Chicken and Beef are the most you'll find outside of Earth. Earth is the only planet with a widest range of animals" Javik nodded. He had seen pictures of Earths animals. He liked the Lions and Tigers the most.
"What about what they call Dinosaurs? I've seen pictures, but they don't seem to live anymore. Why? They are advanced and made humans look so primitive?" Liara brought up a picture of a T-rex from the extranet.
"They died long before humans walked the Earth, they were thought to be mice back then. An asteroid hit the planet and wiped it cleaned. Most animals that survived soon starved. Small mammals lived because they could store food and hide underground. The T-rex is actually thought to be related to Chickens" Javik looked at the picture of the T-rex and then the picture of Chicken he remembered.
"They have become small birds that are eaten by the same species that they ate years ago?" Liara nodded. "We saw Earth many times in my own cycle. It was a lush green world, now it is full of cities and overrun with humans" Liara continued to eat her food. "How old are you?"
"I'm 109 in my years. That is the age of a normal teenager by other galactic standards. I'm lucky to have my people actually listen to me. Before no one batted an eyelid at me" Javik knew Asari and Krogan lived the longest. He never understood why Salarians lived no much longer than 40. But it would explain why they are so fast and change their moods very quickly "How old are you?"
"I'm 41 years old by your galactic years. I became a Commander at 25. My people always put honour before anything. I know the Turians are the same with many of their people joining their military from a young age"
"Yes, that's correct. They take high honour on their people joining the military to do their service for Palavan. Garrus joined at a young age then worked on the Citadel as a cop, before joining up with Shepard" Liara looked over at lush green plants around them. "I wanted to ask you something. If you are okay with that?" Javik nodded, tilting his head to the side, curiosity dancing across his face. "Did you have a partner, before all this?"
Javik sat back in his seat. He had many dates before. But the Reapers definitely made that short-lived. "No, I had dates. But, my work was more demanding of my time. We did always think the Qurains were of beauty, their masks hide that now. How about yourself?" Liara looked down at her empty plate. She remembered having feelings for Shepard but looking back now. She was young and naive.
"I had feelings for Shepard a long time ago. I definitely regret those feelings. She always had eyes for Garrus. But no, my mother left me a long time ago and no one has ever stayed long enough to love me" Javik gave her a little smile.
"That cannot be true. You are a sweet woman. Anyone would be lucky to have you" Liara started to blush, by that meaning of her cheeks going dark blue against her light blue cheeks. Javik chuckled when he noticed.
"You know that date you mentioned. Is this happening right now?" Javik held his hand out for her. Liara looked at him then his hand, she wasn't sure what to do.
"If you want this to be our date, I'm happy to say it is. I have grown warm towards you T'soni. The one thing that has made me smile in 50,000 years" Liara smiled and placed her hand in his.
Edi had left not long before Vega showed up. They had a short talk, he came to show her his new tattoo. A large N7 piece across his back. He wanted to unofficially give it to himself since channels weren't up and running for him to do his N7 training. He was about to leave but he found Shepard's small gym. He started to fistfight with the heavy bag, that was attached to the ceiling.
"You've been holding out on me huh, Shepard? Wouldn't take me long to find this room" He started to dance around on the tips of his toes, whilst he swung at the bag with each fist. Shepard followed him into the room.
"Well I could charge you for using my little gym" She looked up at the pull-up bar, it was attached beside each of the doorway leading to the bathroom. James stopped punching the bag and walked up behind her.
"You know, my personal best is 182" Shepard turned her face, smirking at him. She wanted to accept the challenge to beat his personal best. She stretched out her body, whilst walking to stand underneath the bar. She faced Vega as he went back to the punching bag.
"Be ready to get smoked, Vega" He gave her a small smile and went back to punching. Shepard cracked her neck and moved her shoulders around then jumped in the air to grab the bar and begin.
Thane was walking towards Bailey's office. He wanted to know how Koylat was doing at his new job. Thane walked into the embassy and saw queues of people, wanting the answers for their missing family members. One human lady was trying to get her Asari daughter back home to Thessia. Another was an elderly human trying to look for her son.
Thane walked up the stairs, seeing the human councillor room still locked up since he got killed during the coup attempt. Thane remembered that day like it was yesterday, the day Gemma saved his life. He walked into Bailey's office, Koylat was already there. "Father, it is good to see you"
Thane wrapped his arms around his son. "Koylat, it's a pleasure. How have you been?" Bailey was working on his computer, to busy to really notice Thane. Koylat waved him over to some seas at the end of the room.
"I'm doing well, work keeps me busy. how are you feeling? Are you still well?" Thane sat down, the room was large but cluttered. He could imagine most of it was paperwork for the war.
"I am very well. The doctors have said that my Keprels syndrome has nearly gone. By the time it should start to return, there will be a cure hopefully in place. How is your work going? Are you still keeping out of trouble?" Koylat smirked a little. He had not been in much trouble. Bailey would be breathing down his neck if he did.
"No trouble. Bailey keeps me busy all day. I was able to get a small apartment and started to settle down more. How is the rest of the crew doing?" Koylat sat back in his chair, crossing his leg over the other.
"They are good. We had some trouble when we arrived, a past of Shepard's came back to haunt us. Unfortunately, Gemma ended up in the hospital again. She collapsed not long after stopping the war with the Qaurians and Geth. She is well now" Bailey had got up to join them. Thane could see the bags under his eyes. He was hunched over and walked slowly. "Hello, Commander Bailey. I hope you are well"
Bailey sat down across from them both. He slumped into his seat. "Hey, Thane. I wish this damn war would end. I have hardly slept in days. How is it going on the Normandy?"
"Well. We had some close calls, but so far we are winning. The Alliance is said to be having a good handle on pushing the Reapers back and stopping them from holding key locations" Bailey slumped back even more in his chair, huffing and puffing.
"Well, I'm glad the Alliance is doing good. I wish we could say the same about this place. The files keep flooding in and we can't keep up. Families looking for their loved ones. Most are missing or dead"
Thane nodded in understanding. It was upsetting to hear the Citadel was struggling so much. "It does seem no one can even tell a war is going on at the moment. It is sad how everyone wants to try and hide the fact it is happening" He saw many people drunk, most Alliance soldiers on a short shore leave.
"Many don't want to know that a war is going on right now. It is their way of hiding the real pain. But come let's talk about something different. Koylat has been doing very well lately, he works hard. I might need to soon find him harder work" Thane looked over at Koylat. The frills on his cheeks went darker.
"I am glad to see how well Koylat is doing. We are going to grab some lunch together, we would like for you to join us, Commander?" Bailey got up to get some coffee.
"That would be nice, but this work isn't going to get itself done" He downed his coffee in one and went back to his computer. Thane and Koylat left to go to their favourite restaurant that sold a speciality in Drell food.
Shepard had finally finished the last pull up, she did 183 in total. Her shoulders, back and neck all protested against her. She tried to lift her arms ups, but they weren't having any of it. "Well done, Commander. You beat my personal best. I will need to train harder now"
"I'm going to feel this in the morning" She cracked her neck with each little movement she did. Vega stopped with the punching bag. He started to walk towards the door.
"Thank you for the good meet up, Shepard. Me and Cortez are planning to watch the game tomorrow. Could we do it here, we would love for you to join us?" He pulled his back out, letting it crack from being stiff and punching the bag.
"Sure, come round before it starts and we can have some beers. I'm off to meet Wrex soon, he is moaning because the females aren't leaving him alone" Vega laughed. He had seen many Krogan females and they are probably more aggressive than the males.
"Hah, well you shouldn't have cured the Genophage if he didn't want that to happen" Shepard laughed, they said their goodbyes and he left. She needed a long shower before meeting Wrex. The sweat was all down her body and going to club right now wouldn't be the best idea.
Kaidan and Gemma were staying in their hotel room. It was much bigger than their room on the Normandy. They sat next to the fireplace, drinking some hot chocolate. It was something that Gemma used to do with her mum when she was younger, it brought back so many good memories. "You know, this is something I used to do all the time with my mum" Tears started to well-up in her eyes. "I miss her, Kaidan"
Kaidan sat up and placed his mug on the floor. He pulled Gemma into his lap. "I know. She will be safe, her and your dad. They are out there somewhere. We will find them, the first chance we get"
Gemma wiped her tears away, the tears making her vision blurry. "I just want to find them now, we have always had work to do. Edi can't even find anything. They are probably dead, saying they got kidnapped by the fuckers"
"Come on. It'll be fine. Look I will talk to Hackett tomorrow. You have done more than enough to ask for favour off him" He pulled her into a kiss. "Come on, let's go and get some food and we could go to the casino. We will become poor, but fuck it"
Gemma laughed at him. He started to run towards the bedroom. The tight boxer shorts around his waist was the only thing Gemma could look at. She wanted more than just to go for food right now.
Shepard arrived at the club. It was packed up and people started crowd around her. Luckily the bouncers stopped all the reporters following her. She found Wrex by the bar, his face slammed on top of it. "Hey, Wrex. You look like your enjoying yourself?"
Wrex stood up straight, groaning and moaning. "Shepard, I can't fight this war anymore. The females are killing me as it is" A barmaid came up to them asking for their orders. "Two whiskeys and a bag of ice"
"Well, you wanted the Genophage cured Wrex" He just grumbled in reply. Their drinks arrived. The bag of ice was chucked on the side for Wrex. He looked at Shepard then back at the bag. She got the point and turned around.
Wrex did his business and pushed the shot glass towards Shepard. He downed it in one and stretched his body out. Shepard could hear the bag of ice moving around in the last area she wants to know where it was. "They keep cornering me, Shepard. 4 cornered me in my quarters. I had to climb out of my own bathroom window to getaway"
"Why can't the other males take your place. There is enough of you do it anyway" Wrex sighed. Ordering another drink.
"Of course we could. But the females want the strongest of us to father their first children" Shepard wanted to play with him a little. She leaned against the bar.
"Well, you're going to be a father now, Wrex. To a veryyyyy big family" Wrex slammed his head back onto the bar, a big roar flooding out of him.
"MORE ICE!"