Author's Disclaimer: I don't anything belonging to the Mass Effect universe. Nothing but this story beat.
Author's notes: In the codex and other files, you find out salarians were the first alien species to follow the asari to the Citadel and into the galactic community. Considering how asari are perceived to other species, this literally came to mind as I thought about it. Hope you enjoy. I know salarians lay eggs, but I put in that salarians have a sheath for their privates like turians. Yes, I'm using the hierarchy of the salarian clans as the title. I'm sure you get the other meaning :P
"Citadel explorations"
Chapter one "Salarian Union"
By penpaninu
The first concern for a space-faring species was the daunting age-old question. "Are we really alone?" The asari had been traveling past their system for a few decades now and had found the abandoned Citadel twenty years ago. Upon landing, they were certain there'd be a welcoming committee from the inhabitants. Friendly or war-faring, they didn't know until they'd sent a few commando teams to scout ahead and establish contact.
The fully functioning station was abandoned aside from a spattering of a strange bug-like alien species that could not communicate but were benign and made repairs and checks on the Citadel in silent tandem. The asari learned to trust their doings and left the species they had named Keepers alone.
When the unidentified ship had landed in one of the Citadel's docking bays, the asari had been full of trepidation and hope. Biped lanky tall aliens with full body armor and gleaming helmets had disembarked. The highest of the matriarchs were side by side with the hardiest of their commando soldiers, ready to greet or fight. When the helmets were taken off, the asari were shocked they were very alien indeed. Tall, taller than asari, with elongated feet and legs, three-fingered hands, horns atop their sharp scalps, and large eyes that saw much.
Fast garbled words were exchanged, too guttural to follow. One of the aliens had approached, large hands spread in a gesture of peace, as he tried to explain their version of a translator. A quick pass with the asari scientists and both races received their implants and could understand each other.
Since the new race, the salarians, came in peace, the asari welcomed them onto the Citadel. Weeks passed to months, and relations were going very well. Asari couples that were already bonded welcomed friendship, but unmatched maidens and matrons took their new company with open arms.
With their fast talk and quick wit, many salarians had indeed charmed their Citadel counterparts. Many dates and talks were had, which eventually moved to the bedroom. The next question hovering over everyone's minds was the next outcome of breeding. Salarians were the first alien species known to asari. Which genetic traits would be dominant with the first wave of inevitable children between new and eager partners?
The asari matriarchs had been talking about this current issue. Salarian females laid eggs, so it was a new experience for salarian men and women to hover over their asari partners, not knowing how to help a viable pregnancy but unwilling to be scared away.
The first batch of babies, born from asari pregnancies that still ran 18 months like with their own kind, were all the same, screaming blue infants with the familiar crest instead of salarian horns, small delicate eyes instead of the salarian wide orbs, five fingers instead of three and delicate feet instead of the elongated calves and feet of the salarian. There were grumblings maybe some of these partners had been unfaithful to botch the outcomes, but one of the new mothers, a new matron named Talena N'Sheer, was up for defending her position. "Talena is an honest girl. She truly loves her new partner," the matriarchs declared. Talena staunchly defended her position with her new male salarian bondmate. Her good name was on the line.
When more primarily asari babies were born, the matriarchs proposed a scientific viewing. One new couple would bond and mate under surveillance, without any outside distractions and the pregnancy would be observed for the dominant genetic traits.
"Better we gain a volunteer, it should be as democratic as possible," the matriarchs agreed. A newly bonded asari maiden and her salarian partner volunteered themselves. They had bonded wrists in the temple of Athame on Thessia, like so many new unions, and were offered a bedchamber with every luxury available on the Citadel for observation. Select members of the matriarchs and of the salarian clans observed the passionate joining. Matriarchs who had never seen a male naked were surprised when the man's penis engorged out of its protective sheath. The salarians were quick to explain, and when the maiden's eyes glowed black in the throes of passion, the matriarchs explained also. The couple was young and healthy, having been scanned before this experiment. The matriarchs observed their asari candidate had the vitality of Kurinth herself but the salarian candidate kept pace with her.
After that first night, the couple were observed for a few more days, each sexual encounter heavily watched when they joined. The meld had been observed and once the couple were released to their lives on the Presidium, the maiden had said she'd taken the deep mating meld to conceive. Her bond mate was happy enough, and when the maiden began to show, her flat belly rounding, everyone seemed to hold their breaths for the outcome.
When she gave birth, the child was blue and looked primarily asari. But the infant had gained the distinct facial markings of her father, high on her crest. So though the asari form was primary, the father DID contribute in some way. The reports were filed, and the two races rejoiced. Asari and salarian could mate and could produce children together.
Before they'd ventured to space, the asari race couldn't conceive having children with anyone but their own. Now, there was a possibility for change, and it was for the better, many said. The doctrine of siari was going around, that all could love and be loved, "all is one". The new asari and salarian bond mates pronounced this sacred and true.
"We made it to this station, and the salarians found us here. Who else is out there?" Many asari wondered, as they clasped their new offspring and took the hands of their new alien bond mates.
The End?
End notes: Review if you liked, or it not, tell me why. I like to hear what you think.
Pen 1/19/2022