Nar Shepard

by TheH8fulM8s

The Migrant Fleet traders came to Mindoir hoping for a chance to open overtures with the new people called 'humans'. A rare opportunity to build connections untouched by the cold hand of the geth war and the blame other races placed on the quarians. Instead they found ruin and death. And a little girl. Who, like them, now had nowhere to call home. (AU: Shepard Raised by Quarians)

5. The Seeds of the Antiipa

Chapter 5: Seeds of the Antiipa

Shala'Rann vas Tonbay, recently minted Admiral of the Patrol Fleet, was already too tired to deal with anymore problems. Ivo'Solda offered a prim salute that barely made-up for the message he brought.

"Requesting my presence on the bridge?! He's got a lot of nerve!"

"We tried to…explain," Ivo said, "but he is an Admiral now, Admiral. We could only do so much."

"An Admiral for all of one day! He hasn't even held his first general meeting with his Captains yet, but he can make time to invade a Patrol Fleet warship. Uma'Res vas Neema would tear him apart if Han'Gerrel was still a Captain." She glanced around the hallway suddenly. "Where are the soldiers I dismissed?"

"All Heavy Fleet Marines aboard have been persuaded to return to the starboard hangar," Ivo'Solda said, keeping pace with her. "Captain Yun'Razi is there. So is Captain Lum'Jezza vas Kareesh."

"Keelah, as if we don't have enough problems without those two butting heads. Hana'Nur will have to keep them in check," she noted Ivo looking back down the hall, "Ivo'Solda vas Gorach. You're worried about that little girl, aren't you?" The slim officer shrugged.

"That orange suit of hers," he said, "it's color is almost the shade as my Genna's that's all. She cracked Syf'Hajj's mask. The word is spreading she's a biotic."

"First and foremost, she's a little girl," Shala'Rann said, "who's been through a waking nightmare. She's not here because of any choice she made. None of this is her fault and I won't let anybody put that on her." She growled in frustration and slapped the corner of the corridor as they turned towards the hangar. "May those idiots get a bowel obstruction! She's going to tell the universe how we treated her, and they point guns at her. We're going to the hangar first to make exceptionally clear that the Kareesh's soldiers aren't allowed free movement around this ship."

"Admiral Shala'Rann," Ivo said after clearing his throat, "may I address the discussion you were having with Captain Yun'Razi earlier?"

"Ivo, this the worst possible time."

"Let me add my voice to Hana'Nur's testimony. The Ruah was never actually invoked on the Shepherd."

"Ivo…"

"But otherwise, I only wish to say I have no interest in taking over for my Captain in the event of her removal. That is all." Shala'Rann shook her head at him before they boarded the elevator.

"Oh, is that all? You have nothing else to throw at me? I'm already quite upset, Ivo, I can't imagine getting much angrier is possible now." Ivo'Solda stared at her for a long moment and gave a little shrug of his shoulders as if to say, 'if you mean it…'.

"Admiral Daro'Xen vas Moreh is refusing to attend the Admiralty Session you're calling. Says it's a waste of time." Shala'Rann balled up a fist to punch the nearest wall but pulled herself back at the last second.

"I need better control of myself."

"You're doing wonderfully, ma'am," Ivo said, "dearly departed San'Asra vas Ahsor would've headbutted something. That Krogan shop-keeper she modded guns for on her Pilgrimage left deep habits in our late Admiral." Rann felt a brief twinge of sadness at the memory of her mentor. The woman had been a drive-core meltdown of anger at her worst. She'd have scared the Heavy Fleet away with a single word.

The fierce woman had so looked forward to her retirement, to evenings in the liveship recreation centers with her friends. Watching her granddaughter in the bubble while her daughter and son-in-law worked their shifts. Writing down her tenure as Patrol Fleet Admiral for the full twenty years of possible service. Peace and quiet.

One last scouting run. A little light exploration in a single-pilot fighter, ending her career where she'd began it. No possible harm…but she's not here now. It's just you, Shala. So take command. Daro'Xen would not defeat her so easily.

"I'll handle Xen," Shala'Rann brought up her omni-tool, opening a private channel, "Rael will get her over here."

There was a long wait as the call went unanswered, but Shala kept her calm by mentally listing the Frigates of the Patrol Fleet in reverse alphabetical order. She'd arrived at the Gorach, ironically enough, when a scattered, annoyed voice broke through.

"Yes, Rann, what? I'm on my way there please be patient."

"Admiral Rael'Zorah," Shala'Rann said, "whatever datapad you're reading right now please put it away." There was an indignant shuffling.

"I wasn't," the Science Fleet Admiral protested, unchanged after a year of holding the position, "nothing important anyway. What is it? The human hasn't died has it?" Shala'Rann watched the elevator lights reach the hangar, praying for patience from the Ancestors. Finding little. San'Asra must be hovering by my shoulder.

" 'It'. Lovely." she said, "No, Rael, and what an awful thing to say. Jane is alive and well. Resting in fact. Or so I hope. She was treated rather roughly by some of Han'Gerrel's over-eager troops."

"You let them onboard one of your ships?" He could be the stupidest genius ever sometimes.

"Not willingly."

"Oh," Rael'Zorah sounded slightly astonished, "oh! Oh, I see now. That's not right, Shala'Rann. I'm sorry you have to deal with that. I'll…be there soon and I'll have a word with him. Han is being stupid. Showing off. I'll set him straight." Shala'Rann smiled in spite of herself. He could also be a ridiculous gentleman as well, when he got his head out of his experiments and used his heart before his brain.

"I hear his battle-armor clicking as he trembles," she teased, "for now, simply help me get Xen off the Moreh. She'll listen to you if you make the argument."

"Hmmm," Rael'Zorah's voice strained, "eh, she doesn't quite see the point of the Special Projects Fleet being involved in this…"

"Her fleet is filled with quarians," Shala'Rann said sternly, "that's her involvement. Gently remind her that being an Admiral is about more than just doing what you please." Rann tapped her foot. "And if that's not enough, add that her failure to attend may result in her losing access to my long-range scouting units until we retake the homeworld and she'll have to run acquisitions on her own."

"Well said, Shala'Rann," Rael'Zorah meant it, she knew that, but he always praised such statements in a disaffected, nervous way. Like he wanted to believe as firmly as she did but was held back at the last inch. "Oh, and Tali wanted to say she misses you." Shala'Rann felt her first genuine smile since leaving Jane.

"I miss her too," she said, "I'll visit very soon. Where you with her today?

"Oh," Rael said, "I, uh… my assistant passed it along to me. From her teacher aboard the Rayya. We-we had a vid-chat last night…no that was last week wasn't it? I'll see her very soon either way…" Her genuine smile became a disappointed frown, but she had enough trouble today without dredging up old arguments. Her thoughts strayed naturally to Eema'Zorah.

She wouldn't have left Jane's side. Admiral or otherwise. She felt the loss of her best friend keenly as she stepped out of the elevator. A fight was brewing in the hangar and Eema could've calmed it, she was good at that. It wouldn't become a brawl, as other species might vent their anger, but a quarian fight could be ugly. Her people had long memories where a grudge was concerned. None would dare deny aid or assistance to their fellow quarians…but trade events could be delayed indefinitely, matchmakers could suddenly reconsider their marriage advice, and, if all else failed, certain entertainment stations could 'accidentally' fail to broadcast on specific frequencies.

It was mean and petty but it was, at its core, the last way her people could express that they felt hurt or betrayed. Both emotions running high in the smallish hangar as she stepped into the throng. A dozen Marines skulked around an old troop transport, haughty and restless, cracking their knuckles or otherwise demonstrating a pugnacious sense of authority. Her Patrol Fleet was giving good, if unhelpful, account of itself.

Pilots, soldiers, even a few custodians. They outnumbered their guests two to one and lounged about the black bulk of the Shepherd in a passive show of strength. Shala'Rann made for the large circle of figures concentrated but a firm hand grabbed her bicep, digging in tightly.

"Is it true someone used a stunner on her?" Hana'Nur's voice made Shala'Rann glance at the gorach painted across the hangar wall. A she-beast with wicked eyes and long teeth. Her schooling reminded her they could be homicidally protective of their blind, defenseless young. Liable to track a hunter for days if they had the stench of blood on them.

"No, Hana, she's fine," Shala'Rann nodded to the crowd, "now please, help me keep this from escalating." Hana's hand relaxed, rubbed softly, apologetically at the space she'd gripped before breaking away.

"She didn't attack a Marine then?"

"She defended herself I think." Hana'Nur hummed at that, head set thoughtfully to the side.

"Sas ish an klen-reega."

"We have enough warriors onboard right now," Shala'Rann said, "little or otherwise. Anything more I should know? How bad is it?"

"Lum brought Keenah," Hana said before she melted into the gathered troopers, touching shoulders and having brief words. Keenah was here. Rann shook her head as if she might deny the problem right out of existence.

Lum'Jezza was a tall, broad-shouldered man and cut an imposing figure in his stark-white suit. The black accents and his pale visor added a slightly sinister air to the Captain's considerable presence. His talrin was patterned black-and-white squares. He had a hawkish, superior aura about him and stood with his muscular arms crossed as he watched Shala'Rann enter the scene. She knew he'd should the barest amount of deference to her rank.

Two figures caught her eye. A quarian boy, no taller, likely no older, than Jane, suffered silently as one-eyed Yun'Razi checked the lifeline of his suit. His talrin, chessboard like his father's, was unclipped slightly, making him look half put-together. He squirmed in embarrassment at the new arrival.

"Moooooom," he whined as he saw Shala'Rann, "the Admiral."

"Just a moment," Yun'Razi said, "there." She glanced up at Lum'Jezza as she spoke, directing her criticism. "You would've been smelling your own sweat, me klen-agho."

"If his mother was there to show him how to fit it properly," rumbled Lem, "maybe not so big a problem?" Keenah froze as he fumbled to rewrap his talrin, making a little noise of protest as his father started in at his mother. Yun'Razi stood, rolling her shoulders so they crackled.

"If his father was not such a von maybe he'd take the time to check his child's lifeline." She waved towards the elevator. "Keenah, go wait in my quarters." Keenah looked at Shala'Rann as she he hook his talrin properly, fingers clumsy as any young quarian with their first suit.

"But…I wanted to ask the Admiral-"

"Did you hear me?" Yun'Razi's eye turned on her son, narrowing a little. Shala'Rann made to step in before Yun said something she'd regret. "Keenah, please, I'm very tired and I have no energy to argue with you."

"Go on," Lum said, "take a last look, son. Your mother isn't going to be Captain of the Gorach much longer. You just learned what 'invoking the Ruah' is in school, didn't you?" Keenah began to fidget rapidly, trying to figure out how he could smooth things over between his parents. Shala'Rann broke in and rescued him with a gentle squeeze of his shoulders.

"Keenah'Razi nar Rayya," she said, hearing Lum'Jezza snort at his ex-wife's clan name, "how big you've grown. You'll be larger than your father before long."

"Smarter too, thank the Ancestors," Yun'Razi said.

"Admiral," Keenah almost whispered, gold eyes, the eyes of his mother, blinked rapidly up at her, "could I see…could I see the human?"

"Keenah," Lum said, "don't bother the Admiral with your games. I let you come along to see your mother. That's enough for one day."

"'Let him' ," Yun'Razi said, "like you have the right to stop him."

"I was concerned his mother may have brought danger to the Migrant Fleet." Lum shrugged like this was no great concern. Like Jane was there specifically to inflame their feud. "The boy has a Jezza's heart, Yun'Razi. Fearless."

"Keenah," Shala'Rann said to draw the boy's attention back to her, "Jane is not a pretty trinket on the trade deck you can stare it. She's a person. And right now needs rest."

"When she doesn't need rest could I…?"

"Keenah, please," Shala'Rann said, "everyone wants to argue with me today. Go to your mother's quarters and I will tell you everything you wish to know later." Keenah huffed at the rejection but brightened suddenly and stepped by Rann to throw his arms around the quarian behind her.

"Auntie Hana'Nur!" He was jittery with excitement. "You are here! I saw the Shepherd but I couldn't find you. How do you keep disappearing like that?"

"I'm actually a ghost," was Hana'Nur's deadpan response, "haunting the Fleet until my death has been avenged." She hugged the boy. "Ancestors, you're getting so big, Keenah." Shala'Rann gave her a subtle nod towards the elevator. "C'mon, suitling, I have work to do, let me walk you to your mama's quarters."

"Tell me about the human! What does it look like? Is it dangerous?"

"Her name is Jane, little one," Hana'Nur corrected gently, "and she's not much bigger than you." Shala'Rann faced Lum'Jezza and straightened her spine.

"You, Captain, are very lucky not be under arrest pending an investigation. I gave no-one from the Heavy Fleet permission to occupy this ship. I certainly didn't give anyone permission to treat our non-quarian guest like a hostile invader! She was terrified, Captain, and if anything had happened to Syf'Hajj it would be your fault for letting your soldiers stomp around without due consideration."

"I was following the orders of my Admiral," Lum'Jezza ground out, shifting a little at the accusation.

"An oaf leading a brute," Yun'Razi said, pissed-off beyond reason. Shala'Rann held up her hand and her Captain went silent. The Patrol Fleet Admiral poked Lum'Jezza in the chest hard and dressed him down at volume.

"You and your soldiers are confined to the hangar. Be grateful I am not confining you to your seats aboard that transport." Shala'Rann turned to leave when Lum spoke up in defiance.

"I understand you insulted one of my soldiers, Admiral, and I'd like an apology." Several of the Gorach's crew rose in response to that challenge. Shala'Rann kept walking like she hadn't heard, the crowd parting to let her pass and closing up behind her.

Her choice of language had been harsh, cruel even, but when the memory of the child pinned underneath a grown-man's knee, stunner pressed to her neck, she did not regret it. She rode the elevator with Yun'Razi and Ivo'Solda. As they made their way to the helm, Ivo announced the arrival of Rael'Zorah.

"Admiral Daro'Xen is on her way," he added, "it was just confirmed by the Ahsor." Rann resisted the urge to curse. Of course, the old Patrol Fleet Command Ship would feel duty-bound to support her against the Heavy Fleet's bullying. Those stupid, kind, loyal fools.

"The Ahsor has moved into range…Keelah, its like the Migrant Fleet is about to erupt in civil war. What is Admiral Van'Atur telling the Civilian Fleet? And will she be joining us?"

"Captain Zaal'Koris vas Qwib-Qwib arrived with her via shuttle some time before Admiral Han'Gerrel. They refused to leave their transport ship until you confirmed their right to be here." That was a headache of its own. Shala'Rann knew it was her rank, not herself, that was being shown respect. The time it took for them to be admitted was time to question the young Patrol Fleet Admiral's competence.

"Then let them know they can come up," she said, "let's get them all in one room. Xen and Rael can be late; they'll be unoffended that we started."

The CIC of the Gorach featured the Turian design so common in Volus ships. Outside the main windows Rann could see the bulk of the Asari-built Kareesh lurking beneath the prow, a predator stalking the Tonbay, her Command Ship, as she floated above the Gorach.

The sleekness of the Kareesh felt like an outright mockery of her Tonbay which was one of a handful of Krogan starships within the whole Migrant Fleet. The Tonbay was small, rusty-colored and ugly but her systems had remained fully functional for decades after prettier vessels were scrapped for parts. She felt a certain pride in her ship, wiped out by a youthful, devil-may-care voice booming with laughter. Shala'Rann braced herself for the hearty slap that landed on her shoulder.

"Finally, she appears! How the hell are you, Rann?"

"A little unhappy with you, Han'Gerrel," she said, turning on the latest addition to the Admiralty Board. His suit was remarkably similar to her own in coloration, a reminder of their shared heritage through Han's father's family. There was a time such connections boded well for the Admiralty Board, but so much had changed or, she conceded, had seemed different to her optimistic eyes. She felt adrift from this colleague of hers, unlike their former mentors. Uma'Res and San'Asra had been close friends from childhood.

"I made a call, Rann, I own that fully. Once I had confirmation there was an alien onboard and potential hostiles on route to the Fleet I followed procedure. No disrespect intended, Admiral."

"Confirmation? From whom?" Han'Gerrel turned her sideways to indicate a young quarian in red who was trying very hard not to be noticed.

"Another Reegar," Han laughed, "the best one in years if his story stands up. Killed six hostiles with nothing but a Carbine and the guns he scooped off their corpses. How's that for 'Anytime, anyplace, any way we can', eh?" He beamed as he spoke the Marines' motto. His pride was prickling her.

"Kal'Reegar vas Neema," Shala'Rann turned to him, "you contacted your Admiral?"

"I did ma'am," the youngster stayed saluting for a while, "I was concerned about the enemy following us…I didn't mean to start anything, ma'am."

"Kal went through me for permission," Yun'Razi added, "he's too much of rule-follower not to." Shala'Rann could accept that at least.

"Kal'Reegar," Rann inclined her head slightly, "thank you, on behalf of the Patrol Fleet, for making such a strong effort to keep your charges safe. I think perhaps a commendation might be in order."

"Don't try to lure my soldiers with sweets, Rann," Han nudged her, "Kal'Reegar got to keep that fresh-off-the-line Mattock-96 he took. Anything more would make his head too big to fit inside his helmet. Just got him here for a few loose-ends then we'll head back to the Naqam for debrief with the Captains."

"Thank you, ma'am," Kal said to Rann, "I'm just honored to serve." He glanced at his Admiral and added. "Happy to ensure the safety of the young lady we found to uh…assist in our continued efforts to explore the galaxy in search of allies to retake the homeworld."

"Kid thinks he's won Earth over onto our side," Han laughed. Shala'Rann let her colleague believe that but gave Kal'Reegar a warm nod of her head as she caught his meaning.

"Jane is doing fine," she said, causally, "she speaks very highly of you, Kal'Reegar."

"That's good," Kal let out a big breath he'd been holding, "I, uh, offered to guard her but Admiral Han'Gerrel-"

"Made himself at home on my ship," Yun'Razi said, covering Kal's attack of conscience. Han'Gerrel's laughing eyes sharpened a little as he looked at the Gorach's Captain.

"Is it your ship, Captain? I have it from a few of my soldiers the Ruah was invoked aboard the Shepherd. By you."

"That's not for you to decide, Han," Rann stepped in. The elevator opened and Han'Gerrel cut her off with a caw of delight. The quarian who stepped out was gangly, dressed in soft purples, and had his visor glued to a datapad. He jumped when the Heavy Fleet Admiral shouted at him.

"Rael'Zorah, they must've pried you off a microscope with the jaws-of-life." Han'Gerrel approached the Science Fleet Admiral and juked suddenly, rapping his knuckles against Rael's belly. "Getting soft, Zorah, they'll need to resize your suit if you're not careful." Rael tried to block his attacker with his datapad but the sleek Han'Gerrel flicked him on the visor. "A shame thinking doesn't burn calories, Rael, you'd be two-dimensional."

"Please, Han, could you-if you'd-this is really undignifi-ack! Just stop it, you bosh'tet!"

"C'mon," Han'Gerrel boxed at his unwilling opponent, "show me old Sgt. Od'Gef's training didn't go completely to waste. Block me!" Rael tried and made a heavy, gasping noise when Han's left hook buried itself in his stomach. Han clapped the doubled-over Admiral on the back. "Say, where's that prodigy you and Eema made? I've got another warfare suite for her to try cracking. Little Tali always catches the openings my usual code-breakers miss out on. Need them twice as tight if I'm be responsible for the whole Heavy Fleet."

"You think," Rael'Zorah groaned and rubbed his stomach, "I'd bring her onboard a contaminated vessel?"

"Lum'Jezza brought his suitling. So why not? Ancestors know you could stand to spend more time with her. Let her have some fun now else she'll blow up a space-station or something crazy when she's finally on Pilgrimage. You know how it can get."

Keelah. Rann thought. I'm actually in agreement with him about something. Why isn't this day over?

"Tali is safe aboard the Rayya," Rael said, "and she does visit me on the Alarei, thank you very much. I'll consider the warfare suite, Han, but I want her to start focusing on her school-work now that she's out of the cubby. Fewer distractions."

"Who's her klennu?" Han asked, trying to make further conversation. Rann muttered quietly when Rael's pompous attitude faltered.

"Uh," he said, "well, you see…I haven't had the time to look for another quarian family that needs a cubby and there's so few young couples among the Science Fleet just now…" Han laughed.

"See, Rael? She must be terribly bored. She'll hate you for not letting her see the alien," chided Han'Gerrel, "Lum's son will get to see it."

"No," Yun'Razi said, "Keenah most certainly won't." Han'Gerrel shook his head.

"Am I the only one of us still in touch with my inner child?"

"Childish is more like it," Rael said.

"I don't like people thinking Jane is here for our amusement," Shala'Rann interrupted, "if she ends up coming to speak with us, I want none of this flippancy. Am I understood?" She glared at Han'Gerrel. "You have already frightened the poor child enough for one day Han'Gerrel, it's best you don't speak to her at all."

"Me frighten her?" Han'Gerrel snorted. "I had an experienced commando in here not half an hour back practically wetting her suit over that one. Says the little human about punched Syf'Hajj through a bulkhead."

"Maybe that's why you don't supersede my Fleet's authority to flex your muscles, Han. How dare you send armed men through the halls of this ship!"

"I was acting within the Heavy Fleet Admiral's authority, Rann," Han'Gerrel said, almost like he was teasing her, "I can list it down to the subsection and page number if you like. Aliens are a threat to quarian lives period. Hostile intentions or no they still bring contaminants. If it's deemed necessary the military can get involved."
"He's right," Rael said, absently, as he edited something on his datapad. He looked up at the feeling of Shala'Rann's glare. "Uh…but it was badly done, Han. Indelicate."

Han'Gerrel spread his arms out to the CIC. "What was I supposed to do anyway? Rely on the Science or the Special Project Fleets to handle it? Wait for Van'Atur to debate the rules? She still in the shuttle?" As if on cue a door opened. Neither of the quarians who strode in were the Civilian Fleet Admiral.

"Admiral Daro'Xen, I'm happy you could join us." Shala'Rann said. The Admiralty Board's most reclusive member was acting like a sullen teenager…largely because she was. At nineteen-years-old Daro'Xen had made history with her appointment to lead the small but vital Special Projects Fleet. She had the displeased attitude that suggested whatever was happening now was not, in fact, more important than her work.

The other was no Admiral at all. Han Gerrel spread his arms out wide in joy.

"Qwib-Qwib!" The tall, slender quarian in a candy-red talrin didn't visibly react which was, to an extent what Han wanted. Zaal'Korris minced into the room, followed by a surly Xen.

"Admiral Van'Atur vas Wenrum is having some difficulty with her breathing," Zaal'Koris said, Shala'Rann's heart went out to the concern in his clipped voice, "she asked me to represent the Civilian Fleet in the meantime."

"He's all grown-up, Rann," Han said, "our little Zaal."

"Whereas," Zaal Koris sniffed, "no-one could ever accuse you of maturity, Han…" Han'Gerrel leaned in, gleeful, "…Admiral Han'Gerrel." The addressed cracked up. Rann heard Kal'Reegar shift uncomfortably at his leader's antics.

"He hates saying it but that stick up his backside won't let him say anything else." Han'Gerrel took a spot in the turian-styled command perch, leaning over the galaxy map with easy impudence. "So! The gang's all here. Shall we commence?"

"Firstly," Shala'Rann said, taking her place in the circle of Admirals, "a brief moment to thank the Ancestors for guiding us to this season." The silence went unbroken by all personalities present until, as one, they intoned.

"Keelah se'lai." Shala'Rann touched the interface and brought up a picture of a small planet with twin moons. "Roughly twenty hours ago our trade mission to the Skyllian Verge entered into an open engagement with an as of yet unidentified group of human adversaries on the colony planet Mindoir." She gestured to Yun'Razi and Ivo'Solda.

"On planet-side we suffered minimal casualties, with our worst injury being Uli'Rann's gunshot wound." Yun activated indicated the twin moons. "All told we count less than twenty but more than twelve dead hostiles. The battle followed into atmosphere. Ivo'Solda vas Gorach took a surprise flanking maneuver after Hana'Nur vas Shepherd's cyberwarfare suite deactivated the shields and propulsion systems. They were caught in the gravity-well of the planet and crashed."

"Beautifully done," Han'Gerrel whistled, "we got a name for that trick yet? The Hana'Nur-Half-Step? Maybe the Solda-Shuffle?" Zaal'Koris grunted softly and added his voice.

"Have we had any contact regarding this incident yet? From the Systems Alliance? From anyone?"

"Nothing so far," Shala'Rann switched the galaxy map's view to show fifty-thousand small shapes representing the Migrant Fleet and the entirety of their people. They were skimming a red dwarf system on the edge of the Attican Traverse. It was so far unnamed, with little to recommend it but a slim, mineral poor asteroid belt made of extra-solar debris captured over the eons. They were a short five hours journey through FTL from the nearest Relay jump-point.

We could've named it. Rann thought sadly. Once we could've. But with no embassy and no Council support it's just another blank spot on our long journey home. She thought sadly of the wreckage that had awaited them when they arrived. San'Asra. That's this system's name in my heart forever. For the Admiral who died exploring it.

"We've had three perimeter pings in the last twenty-seven hours," Zaal'Koris said, "but none of them quite match the timeline."

"Just Traverse flotsam," Rael'Zorah quipped, "scuttling away when they see we're here."

"We needed those granger-units," Daro'Xen finally spoke up, voice edged with judgement, "the Chayyam's agriculture output is already on track to yield at a 4% decrease."

"Keelah," Rann swore, "surely not so much! How many times did you run the numbers?" Xen arched her neck in a snooty show of distaste.

"I would not bring you bad data, Shala'Rann, I'm not an idiot. Rael'Zorah has already twisted my arm into committing the Sachar and its crew towards making keleven stalks edible sooner in their growth." Thin soup was better than starvation at least.

"Less strain on the system," Rael said, "quicker yield. Might spare us having to tighten our belts."

"Our belts," Han'Gerrel snorted, "indeed, Rael. Your scientists are the first to take a ration decrease. Certainly not, say, the men and woman protecting you?"

And off we go. Shala'Rann briefly considered resigning her position simply to avoid this conversation.

"I won't rise to that, Han," Rael'Zorah tapped away at his datapad, "I have data backing me up when I say the Science Fleet intake is barely a blip on the radar."

"Hungry soldiers don't win wars," Han said.

"Our soldiers aren't at war," Zaal'Koris snapped, "much as I know that disappoints you, Admiral."

"We are always at war, Qwib-Qwib," Han'Gerrel said nodding at the galaxy map, "until the geth have been melted into slag and the homeworld retaken. Even now human ships could be massing at their Arcturus Station or in the Sol System itself. Maybe they're schooling their officers to cripple the Fleet completely right this minute. I have the burden of needing to assume that."

"The Alliance wouldn't dare attack us unprovoked," Shala'Rann said, "the Council would not permit them to engage in open war without an impartial investigation. The batarians are using their pirates to wage a proxy-conflict but we remain a sovereign power."

"You think they'll care? We left twenty or more human corpses cooling in the middle of their colony space." Han said. "Not to mention however many were aboard that frigate, unless they managed a crash landing. We've drawn first blood we need to be prepared to draw the second, third, and fourth!"

"Admirals," Yun'Razi said, "the hostiles refused to identify themselves as Alliance soldiers when we encountered them. They acted in a manner threatening and uncooperative. We had no choice."

"The Council may not recognize us completely," Zaal'Koris stepped in, "but certainly they won't allow their new favorites to spark a war with the Migrant Fleet while batarian shadow-forces are blindsiding their colonies in the Verge. There's too much financial risk. Besides which we were acting in accordance with Galactic Law, which gives our failed trade mission a certain diplomatic security."

"Ha!" Han'Gerrel pointed at the thin line of dots patrolling the three large circles of the liveships. "Shall I send the Shield Flotilla away then, Zaal? Is Galactic Law so thick that it can stop a rail-gun?"

"What do you suggest, then, Admiral," Shala'Rann asked, "since you clearly wish to speak?" Han'Gerrel leaned back, drawing himself up to his full height.

"Let's move to a war-footing as a start," he raised at hand at Zaal'Koris, "easy, Qwib-Qwib, don't rupture a seal, I just mean we should prepare to defend ourselves. This system is hardly secure. We need to find a strongpoint to hold up until we can negotiate with any unexpected visitors. Secondly, if and when the Alliance finally wakes up, we make sure the girl explains to them exactly how everything went down." He drummed his fingers on the haptic interface. "Maybe…coach her along if she's muddy on the details."

"Narru Rannoch," Shala'Rann said solemnly, "sees'aus pahneemu. Are we seriously going to bully a bereft child into doing things our way?"

"Bully nothing!" Han'Gerrel said. "I was going to say you could do it, Rann, since you have such a bleeding heart over it. But if it came to it…yes! I'm not ashamed of that. None of you should be. I'd rather hurt the feelings of one human child if it means keeping every quarian child from a sudden, fiery death and a cold grave in the vacuum of space!"

"Do I have to be here for this chest-thumping?" Daro'Xen groaned.

"You've not changed a bit," Zaal'Koris said, "you've not a single idea what you're talking about."

"Zaal," Rann said, "please, what would Van'Atur suggest?" The principled man faltered at that. "Zaal?"

"I won't speak for her on that," he said, "it's out of place. But in my opinion the girl should've been returned to her people at once. The safest course of action."

"Safest for who?" Rael'Zorah said, not looking away from his datapad. "The girl maybe but what about our people? Any quarian entering an Alliance spaceport with that child and the story behind her should expect, at best, a lengthy visit to an interrogation room."

"This is unhelpful," Shala'Rann tried to take back control, "what should've been done is not important to what must be done now."

"I'd not risk any of our ships entering Alliance space," Rael said, "not with the humans on high alert." Zaal'Koris gestured at him helplessly.

"Admiral Zorah, surely we could explain-"

"The explanation isn't the problem, Qwib-Qwib," Han'Gerrel chuckled, "it's whether the humans believe it or even care. How are they looking right now? The race that bloodied the turians when they were barely out of their home system." Han'Gerrel clapped his hands once. "And just like that some half-literate batarian slavers wiped out their entire colony."

"Not their entire colony," Daro'Xen spoke up, interested suddenly, "where is the human anyway?"

"Resting," Rann said firmly. The Admirals looked between each other and Rann felt very alone.

"We'll not keep her long," Rael'Zorah said, "Rann, we need her here. To ask after what her people's response would be."

"She's had enough of our callousness today," Rann glared at Han'Gerrel.

"She attacked a quarian soldier," Han'Gerrel sighed, "if they got rough with her after that I will not make an apology. Would you even care, Rann, if she wasn't a child? Where'd be your concern then?"

"Where is your concern now!" Shala'Rann snapped. "If the Admiralty Board requires it, I will summon Jane, despite my wishes, but please! I'm asking you all to think about this as more than Admirals." She glanced at Rael. "As parents if that applies. She's been through something beyond horrible. She's…keelah, Han'Gerrel, she attacked your soldiers because she's been traumatized by what happened on her planet."

"A fact," Zaal'Koris said, "we will endeavor to respect but we should get a look at this girl before we-"

"Why!" Shala'Rann exploded. "Why do we need to parade her around! If she was a quarian child-"

"She isn't." Daro'Xen cut her off. "Rann, I'm asking you as an Admiral to bring her to the helm."

"Seconded," Han'Gerrel said. Rael'Zorah's hand paused over his datapad.

"Thirded," Zaal'Koris said, "please, Admiral Shala'Rann, let's not make this harder than it must be." She looked at Rael with fading hope.

Please. I'm already outvoted, Rael, please don't-

"Fourthed. Just for a few minutes, Shala. We won't hurt her."

"She is allowed to leave the minute she wants to," Rann said, "and that is my prerogative as Admiral of the fleet in which this ship serves." She brought up her omni-tool and dialed a number.

"Admiral?" Hana'Nur asked.

"Bring Jane Shepard to the helm, Hana'Nur. The Admiralty Board must speak with her" There was a pause.

"I understand."

The Admirals fell into quiet conversations with each other as they waited, but Rann simply paced the floor. Rael was trying to talk Han down from his war-footing idea. Zaal'Koris was asking a reluctant Daro'Xen for updates on the keleven project she mentioned. Shala'Rann knew what being an Admiral meant. It meant making hard choices, even cruel choices, for the good of her people.

But the sight of that little figure trembling on the ground, weeping under her helmet. The knowledge that there was no-one looking for her, no mother waiting for her return, was overwhelming.

Is there no room for kindness in our authority? Are we supposed to hack away at ourselves until only the cold, clinical bits are left? She was going to visit Tali'Zorah when there was time. She needed to hear a few happy words, a bright laugh, and feel the little arms hugging her tight.

The elevator opened again and Shala'Rann was taken by surprise. Admiral Van'Atur was an old woman. Her talrin had faded from emerald to grassy-green and her visor had the tell-tale signs of age smoking the edges a dull white. She entered the room slowly, one-hand supported on the shoulder of the little human girl, bent slightly to whisper to her.

Hana'Nur slid in behind them, silent as the surface of a moon.

"Ah," Van'Atur coughed a little as she looked up, "my friends, I met the most helpful child. Thank you, dear, I'll sit down now, I think." The Admiral of the Civilian Fleet creaked into an ensign's chair by the elevator.

Jane looked around the room shyly but, Rann's was relieved to see, not with fear.

"Hello," Jane said, "I'm sorry about punching that one guy. I didn't mean it." Kal'Reegar barked a laugh and Jane smiled as she recognized him.

"Then I'd really hate to see you 'mean it', Miss Jane."

"Jane," Shala'Rann said, "this is Admiral Han'Gerrel vas Naqam. Admiral Daro'Xen vas Moreh. Captain Zaal'Koris vas Qwib-Qwib." The girl made a 'snrk' noise, grinning at the strange name, but a little tap from Hana'Nur quieted her. Zaal'Koris affected deafness for the sake of diplomacy. "Admiral Rael'Zorah vas Alarei. And I see you've already met our Admiral Van'Atur vas Wenrum."

"Pleased to meet you," Jane said, adding a little bow that seemed more made-up on the spot than traditional, "I'm Jane." She cleared her throat. "I am Jane'Shepard nar Jennifer." Han'Gerrel laughed. Daro'Xen cocked her head.

"Jennifer? Is that a ship?"

"No," Jane said, "it was my mom's name."

"Well, Jane child of Jennifer," Zaal'Koris spoke first, "let me welcome you to the Migrant Fleet. You have made-"

"History? I know." Van'Atur chortled from her seat.

"Pleasantries bore our visitor, I think," she croaked, "shall we get down to business?"

"What's the nearest fleet to Mindoir, kid?" Han'Gerrel asked. "Any ideas?"

"Uh…I don't know." Jane shrugged. "The…Alliance Fleet I guess?"

"Which one? Numbers or names, perhaps? Know who commands it?"

"Why would I know that?" Jane arched a sharp red eyebrow.

"I could tell you who the Admirals of our fleets were at your age," Han said, impishly.

"Cuz there's only like five of you!" Jane replied hotly. "I don't know."

"What about emergency plans," Rael'Zorah said, "did you ever hear anything like that when you were growing up? Who to send distress calls to? How to evacuate the planet and where to rally in case of attack? What was the standard response for your colony?"

"I…we were supposed to meet up at the spaceport during fire drills…" Jane looked around. "Like that?"

"Would you say the average Alliance frigate carries enough firepower to by-pass kinetic barriers that are, at youngest, two decades old?" Daro'Xen's voice was dripping with teenaged sarcasm.

"Admiral!" Shala'Rann snapped.

"Can you answer any of our questions, child?" Xen asked.

"Maybe," Jane said, sneering through her bubble helmet, "maybe not. I got a question for you. Could you bite me-"

"Jane," Shala'Rann said sternly.

"She's being a jerk," Jane said./"She's being a brat," Xen said.

"Got you pegged, Xen," Han'Gerrel said, "folks, sad to say this has been a complete waste of time. Captain Hana'Nur, escort the kid to Lum'Jezza. We'll find someplace on the Kareesh for her."

"We haven't agreed to that!" Shala'Rann interrupted.

"And don't talk about me like I'm not here!" Jane said. Han'Gerrel turned his palms up in supplication to a higher power.

"Fine, all in favor of letting the Heavy Fleet take custody of the…" he turned to Jane, "of you…speak up."

"Against," Shala'Rann said.

"Seconded against," Van'Atur said.

"Abstain," Daro'Xen scoffed.

"Third against," Rael said.

"Really? Rael, be serious."

"There is a right way to do this, Han," Rael'Zorah said, "and throwing someone in the brig isn't always the answer."

"Jane," Shala'Rann turned to the girl in question before Han'Gerrel could complain, "we can't send you home just now. I'm sorry. But we're working towards that. Can we ask you a few questions about your family? Is there anyone else you could stay with out there somewhere? Aunts or uncles or friends?"

"All my mom's friends died on Mindoir," Jane said, setting her jaw against the bitter memory, "and mom was in foster care. I…I guess I don't have anybody."

"Hang on," Rael'Zorah said, "there's one link missing. Where's your papa?" Jane's face twisted behind her helmet. When she next spoke, her words ground out through clenched teeth.

"I don't have one."

"Unless humans are very different than quarians-" Daro'Xen began and jolted when Jane suddenly shouted at her.

"He didn't want me, ok?!" Shala'Rann shut her eyes and whispered a soft oath to herself. This poor child. "My mom tried talking to him when I was like five so he could at least see me once and he said he 'still didn't want a kid'." She crossed her arms, then hugged herself. "Happy now?"

"Then we must take you to an Alliance installation," Zaal'Koris said, "as was the original plan." A cold silence centered itself around Yun'Razi. "And, though it pains me to bring this up, now we must discuss something we've been dancing a magala around. The Ruah."

"The Ruah was never invoked," Hana'Nur said, silver mask unreadable, "I made an agreement with Captain Yun'Razi and we decided to return home."

"The Ruah was mentioned," Han'Gerrel said.

"But never invoked," Yun'Razi stepped forward.

"What's the Ruah?" Shala'Rann waved a hand a Jane for silence but Van'Atur had leaned forward.

"It was one of our first ships," she said, stopping to clear her throat, "we had only just left Rannoch. The geth in our colonies were killing our brethren." Jane's eyes were fixed on the old quarian's visor. "The Ruah's Captain had been sent to recover another of the Fleet's early vessels, the Yad. The Yad was scuttled on a planet called Haestrom. Ruah rescued the crew and the Captain but she suffered great losses. So far so good?" Jane nodded and Van'Atur went on. "The Ruah was now home to more Yad-crew than Ruah-crew. And when the Ruah's Captain wanted to attack the geth, Yad's Captain lead a mutiny."

"And…and Captains aren't supposed to tell other Captains how to use their ships, right?" Jane asked. Van'Atur nodded.

"Very good, de'agha," she said, "yes, this was most unacceptable. Enough for severe punishment. Perhaps even Exile. But the Ruah's Captain, in a strange turnaround, asked that the mutineers not be punished. He'd calmed down and decided, since more of the Yad's crew was aboard his ship he couldn't fulfill his duty as the Ruah's Captain."

"Why not?"

"Is the history and cultural exchange really necessary?" Daro'Xen was 'tsked' into an indignant silence by Van'Atur.

"Captains," Shala'Rann took up the lesson, "are more than just leaders, Jane. They represent their crew. That's why there are only five Admirals. We are not allowed to tell everyone what to do. We discuss and debate and bring solutions back to our Captains to bring to their crew members."

"But why is invoking the Ruah so bad? If it saves lives why does it matter? He did the right thing." Jane said, falling firmly on one side of an old quarian question. Han'Gerrel scoffed at that but kept silent otherwise.

"Any Captain who invokes the Ruah," Van'Atur said, "must immediately resign their Captaincy and is barred from being a Captain for life."

"But if the Ruah's Captain wasn't really its Captain anymore," Jane said, "or…if he couldn't decide for his crew without hurting the crew of the other ship what were they supposed to do? All die?"

"Jane," Hana'Nur said, "if Yun'Razi had invoked the Ruah she would've been within her rights. I would've taken you straight to the Alliance."

"But you're scared the Alliance might attack you…"Jane sounded small and ashamed, "because of me."

"Exactly," Daro'Xen said.

"In a way," Rael added, more gently.

"In no way!" Shala'Rann exclaimed. "Jane, this isn't your fault. Please don't think otherwise." She shot a disgusted look at her fellow Admirals. "If the Ruah had been invoked Yun'Razi would give her reasons and lose her position. That's her choice."

"You were an unexpected wrinkle in the plan, Jane'Shepard nar Jennifer," Yun'Razi said, "I won't pretend otherwise but I don't hold you to account for what happens to me."

"Either way," Zaal'Koris said, "the Ruah is a delicate, but no less ratified, part of our law. And whether it was invoked officially is beside the point. The threat was there."

"I didn't recognize it as such," Hana'Nur said, "there was no real chance. Yun was just bluffing me because she was so scared."

"Thanks so much, Hana, for that assessment," Yun'Razi groused.

"We will table this…"

"The Civilian Fleet," Van'Atur cut off her protégé, "will not be involved in this case other than to let our traders provide testimony. They were passengers. Not crew." Zaal started to protest but Van waved a skinny hand. "Zaal, you must pick your battles. Bending the rules is not always permissible but if you don't do it sometimes, they'll just get brittle and break more often."

"The Special Projects Fleet is uninvolved." Daro'Xen added disinterestedly.

"As is the Science Fleet." Rael said, not bothering to look away from his datapad. Everyone turned to Han'Gerrel.

"Rann, let me get an apology to my soldiers for your unkind words and I'll say the Heavy Fleet is not involved." Shala'Rann bristled. "Easy, Shala, just an apology between us that's all."

"I retract my statement regarding your trooper." But I do not take it back.

"See?" Han'Gerrel thumped the railing with a fist. "We can all play nice." Shala'Rann turned to her two Captains.

"Yun'Razi vas Gorach, was the Ruah invoked by you?"

"No, ma'am," Yun said, "as witnesses I have Kal'Reegar vas Neema, Hana'Nur vas Shepherd, and others listed in my report."

"I don't remember hearing it either," Jane piped up.

"That's cuz you were conked out on a sedative, Miss Jane," Kal said, "doesn't count I'm afraid."

"Hana'Nur vas Shepherd?" Shala'Rann asked. "Do you believe the Ruah was invoked?"

"It was not, Admiral." Shala'Rann sighed and activated a little shot of cold air to cool her misty forehead.

"Then I find no evidence the Ruah was invoked. You will both retain your positions."

"Well," Daro'Xen said, "that's one pointless distraction resolved. Now, the actual goal of discussion? How shall we handle this incident?"

"Take me back," Jane said, surprising them with her determination, "get me to the Alliance and I'll tell them you guys saved me and that the batarians attacked us. But what about the other-"

"Well said, young lady, you have a fine sense of responsibility," Zaal'Koris declared, "shall we assemble an official diplomatic envoy? We could yet turn this around to a smooth introduction to the humans."

"Introduction? What about-" Jane found herself ignored.

"Sure," Han'Gerrel shrugged, "why don't you go, Qwib-Qwib? You could bury the humans under a long list of safety violations you find inside the cell they'll put you in."

"We could meet at neutral ground," Zaal said, struggling to salvage his moment, "in the Terminus Systems perhaps. We could suggest a single envoy. The humans don't want this story getting out more than we do."

"Um, wait a minute," Jane began.

"Oh, that'd be wonderful," Shala'Rann snapped, "how would we write that message, Zaal? 'Come to this location alone or you'll never see Jane again?' The Terminus Systems. Very appropriate."

"Better there than waiting for them to grab some poor Pilgrim to hold for ransom!"

"Go in force if we're going," Han'Gerrel said, "with the Kareesh or another Heavy Fleet ship. Demonstrate our ability to defend ourselves."

"That's provocation, Han," Rael said, "the humans won't take kindly to a quarian warship appearing in their territory, whatever its mission."

"They're not meant to take kindly to it, Rael, they're meant to be intimidated."

"We're arguing around an easy solution," Daro'Xen said, "we have Patrol Fleet ships with proven stealth capabilities. Slip into a human colony, drop off the girl on the outskirts and let the humans believe whatever they want."

"Hey," Jane said, "I don't like that idea for the record but what about-"

"A rather cold-blooded solution, Admiral," Hana'Nur said. "That's hardly leaving her somewhere safe and sound."

"It presents the fewest obstacles for-"

"HEY!"

The Admiralty Board all whipped around to look at Jane. She was huffing and puffing, fists curled at her sides, hair askew inside the helmet. Van'Atur nodded at her.

"Go on, Jane."

"What about the others?" Jane asked. Shala'Rann looked at Hana'Nur but got no helpful answer.

"What others?" Han'Gerrel asked. Jane glared at him.

"The other kids," she ground out, "that the batarians kidnapped!" If a pin had dropped in the CIC it would've sounded like a thunderbolt.

"Oh, keelah," Rann whispered as she understood, "Jane, I'm sorry, I didn't even think about that."

"Four-eyed cowards," Han'Gerrel growled, "batarians never did like fighting people who could defend themselves."

"A tragic situation. Monstrous, truly…," Zaal'Koris tapered off and looked away.

"It's not our problem," Daro'Xen said. Shala'Rann whirled on her. "What? It isn't. Shall we lie and say it is?"
"There is a thing called sympathy," Shala'Rann thundered, "which would cost you nothing, Admiral Daro'Xen." The Captain of Gorach stepped forward, her single-eye taking in the sole survivor of Mindoir.

"Jane," Yun'Razi said softly, "I'm sorry. But the truth is that we are simply too late to help them now."

"Too late?" Jane said, blinking. She bared her teeth. "Too late?! Why? Are they dead? Do you know? How can it be too late?"

"Believe me that no-one here understands that better than I," Yun'Razi said, "which is why the hard truth is this. Those children could be in any of a dozen places, scattered across space from that point forward. Maybe your Alliance could organize an effort, but the Hegemony is cunning about these things-"

"Their leader has a gold tattoo right here," Jane jabbed at her forehead, "they can't be that far away! You have more ships than anybody in the whole galaxy." Shala'Rann heard the slight, hyper gasps starting to crack into her words. "You…you have to do something. You have to!"

"We can't risk open war with the batarians," Zaal'Koris said, reasonable as ever, "or a lot of skirmishes with pirates they support. Jane, our hands are tied." A logical conclusion. One that a hurting child couldn't care less to hear.

"Whoever did this will die, kid," Han'Gerrel offered blood, "your navy will have to slaughter them, or they risk looking weak."

"But the other kids need help now."

"Help we can't give them," Daro'Xen said. "It's an unpleasant fact, child." Jane quieted and started to shake. Shala'Rann moved to comfort her when Jane reared up suddenly. She wasn't sobbing she was trembling with barely suppressed rage.

"You don't care!" She screamed. There was a sudden change in the air around her and an aura began to outline her body in a rapidly darkening blue haze. "You don't even care!"

"Everyone, get back," Han'Gerrel's voice lost its mirth, now nothing but the hard tone of a commander, "Zaal'Koris, protect your Admiral!" Zaal rushed past Rann to put himself between the child and Van'Atur. Shala'Rann moved back a pace, hand reaching instinctively for her hip, curling inward to stop from grabbing at the pistol there. Daro'Xen had no such reservations and it was Rael'Zorah's intervention that kept her from drawing her gun.

Shala'Rann found herself at a loss. Biotics were all but non-existent amongst the quarians. She wanted to soothe the girl, she understood that Jane was not trying to hurt anyone. But the story of Syf'Hajj's visor cracking under a punch from a child's fist haunted her. So much raw, cosmic power at the disposal of child in the claws of grief. She was not too proud to admit she was scared. Then Hana'Nur moved like a varren's shadow, springing towards Jane and wrapping her arms around her from behind, threading their fingers together.

"Jane," Hana'Nur said, "it's alright. Calm now, Jane. Calm." The girl's face had contorted with effort and was shiny with sweat. Shala'Rann was pulled backwards by her shoulder, Ivo'Solda and Yun'Razi formed a living barrier between her and the girl, guns drawn but pointed at the floor.

"I-I can't," Jane squeaked.

"You can, child," Hana'Nur said, "breathe. In-and-out. Nothing but breathing, Jane. That's all I want you to think about now." Shala'Rann watched in wonder as the biotic field surrounding the girl began to purple into such a deep violet it was almost black. Small mass effects fields being born and dying inside seconds. "In." She watched Jane gulp down a big breath of air. "Out."

Inhale. Exhale. Shala'Rann's own breathing began to fill her ears as she watched the little human trying desperately to control herself.

"It's going to be alright, Jane," Hana'Nur was saying, "you can do it. You are in control."

"I'm in control," Jane repeated. Breathe in. Breathe out. In. Out.

In.

Out.

The haze began to disperse like thin storm-clouds blown away by a zephyr. It turned lighter until the color left completely and only the sound of Jane's heavy, controlled breathing filled the room. She fluttered her eyelids like she was coming out of a dream and looked around the room with terrible revelation.

"I…I didn't mean to do that," she sounded so heartbreakingly little, so unlike the defiant girl from a moment before, "I swear, I didn't do that on purpose."

"Jane," Hana'Nur turned the girl around so her back was to the frightened room, "I'm very proud of you. You see? You did it." Jane nodded. "I think we've given the Admirals enough of our time. Let's go for a walk. Get you something to eat."

"What'll happen to the other kids? Why won't they help?"
"They are, Jane," Hana'Nur said, "they're helping you. If we'd gotten there in time maybe, we could've done more for them but please trust that we aren't trying to upset you." Jane slumped into the arms holding her.

"I've done nothing but cause trouble," she mumbled.

"No," Kal'Reegar stepped forward, "sorry, Miss Jane, but that's just not true. You saved my life on Mindoir." Shala'Rann shot a look at Han'Gerrel.

"He…might have mentioned it." The Heavy Fleet Admiral shrugged. "It didn't seem important."

"Not important?" Van'Atur put a hand on Zaal's shoulder and pulled herself to her feet. The old Admiral grunted in effort and coughed hard. "A quarian says he owes his life to this girl and you call that not important? I hope we have not become so harsh." She looked around the room. "Does anyone here carry the Seeds of the Antiipa?" Van'Atur flipped the edge of her talrin out to show a line of white ovals sewn into it. Zaal'Koris, slightly abashed, showed off some of his own.

"I do," he said.

"And I," Hana'Nur added, hands too busy holding Jane to demonstrate.

"What's that word mean?" asked Jane in an exhausted voice. "Someone called me that earlier." Van'Atur laughed.

"I'm certain. It's means 'rascal'. 'Troublemaker'." She approached the girl. "It is also the name given to a small flowering plant that was common on the homeworld. We had so few plants with us when we left. Somehow we ended up with the seeds of our most common weed." She knelt with some effort to show Jane the stitching. "There was a turian colony on a little moon somewhere near the home systems. One of our first ships escaping Rannoch begged the Governor to use their long-range communicator to send out a general warning to the galaxy at large. Many of our people were away and had no idea that, if they jumped through our Relay, they'd come face-to-face with the geth."

The Admiral hummed in thought.

"My great-grandmother was just about your age when she was there, clinging to her father's side. She told me the story so many times. She remembered the turian woman leading the colony had red markings like this," she drew imaginary lines along Jane's helmet, "and she helped them. Jane, there is no telling how many lives that woman saved by one small act of kindness. All we could give her as rewards were the seeds of the antiipa."

"What happened to the colony?" Jane asked. Van'Atur squeezed the girl's shoulder.

"It was evacuated a few months later. It's empty now, one of the abandoned places of geth space, but the whole area is still covered in the little white flowers from our homeworld. So, some of us stitch the seeds into our talrins. And we set aside some of the precious digital space our people have available to hold the names of all the non-quarians who've helped us in our long Exile. Big deeds like that…small ones too. In hope that one day, on Rannoch, we can build a wall covered in their names."

Shala'Rann felt a twinge of guilt. Her mother and father had carried the seeds. There was a time, when she was girl, it seemed everyone had. Now so few did. So few cared to remember.

"You too now, Jane child of Jennifer. Thank you for saving Kal'Reegar's life. And, when you think of us, please, be gentle." Admiral Van'Atur played with seeds in her talrin. "Remember that we remember. That we carry these seeds because sometimes the least you can do is all you can do. To chase these heartless men back to their lairs would be difficult. And we cannot order our people into danger so easily."

"But what's happening to them," Jane said, "it isn't fair…" Van'Atur shook her head slowly.

"No, de'agha, it isn't fair."

"Jane," Hana'Nur said, "it isn't your fault that they were taken and you escaped. It isn't your responsibility to rescue them. I'm sorry, Jane. I am truly sorry that this fell on you." Jane Shepard slipped free of Hana'Nur's arms and stared at the ground.

"Can I go now, please?" she asked softly.

"Of course," said Shala'Rann, "Captain Hana'Nur?" Jane Shepard left the CIC without another word, Rann felt she'd never seen a more heartbreaking image of defeat. Nor, as she considered herself and her colleagues, a worse picture of impotence.

Fifty-thousand ships. Five Admirals. The strength of an entire race behind them. And they couldn't even comfort one little girl. Zaal'Koris helped his Admiral stand and paused as she whispered to him. His eyes narrowed in consternation, but he didn't argue.

"If…we must host Jane for an extended time the Admiral of the Civilian Fleet agrees to address the issue with her Captains. With the understanding that getting Jane safely home is of paramount importance." Shala'Rann's fragile hopes stirred and she spoke up next.

"As Patrol Fleet Admiral I second this." Daro'Xen seemed untouched by all that had transpired but when she spoke she offered only a dramatic sigh and a single question.

"Will we be required to house the…to house Jane?"

"No," Shala'Rann said.

"You will have no objections from me. I will speak to the Captains."

"I see which way the keel is listing," Han'Gerrel said, "and fair enough I'll gather the Captains. I still maintain the opinion that we can't stay here. If we are dead-set on resolving this without direct confrontation the Fleet must move. At least to a bearing where the Alliance can't attack us so easily."

"That would take…at least month if we moved at breakneck speed," Rael'Zorah warned, "but we're not getting much out of the asteroid belt here anyway."

"That's for the best," Van'Atur coughed, "somewhere near the Terminus Systems but not quite across the line. Send me a list. We'll figure it out. Rann, we'll worry about establishing the meeting point." Zaal'Koris hummed thoughtfully.

"Perhaps…we could ask the Citadel for intervention? A neutral system for a meeting. Send a small delegation." The Captain paced suddenly, speaking almost to himself. "Yes. Yes! That could work. Two Admirals. Civilian Fleet and Scouting Fleet. Rann, you have a warm aspect and a spotless record. And it was your people that found her…"

"Wait, Zaal, before we get too carried away let's discuss what comes before the meeting," Shala'Rann said, "can we count on the Civilian Fleet to find a place for Jane? Something more comfortable than a scout's quarters on the Gorach?" Zaal'Koris fell back into his prim stance, voice failing him all at once, after a moment of silent consideration he shook his head.

"I…Rann, what you ask is difficult. So far this is purely a military concern and the Conclave can only remain uninformed and uninvolved by the thinnest interpretation of our laws-"

"Zaal," Van'Atur touched his arm, "say 'no' if that's your answer. Don't string the Admiral along." Koris's eyes lit up and he turned to his mentor, but she wagged a finger at him like a fond grandparent. "No. Don't ask me to make the decision. I am old. My retirement is imminent. I may not be Admiral by the time this is resolved, and I cannot make this choice for you."

"Who says I will be Admiral after you?" Zaal'Koris asked miserably. "You know there are better-"

"But they aren't here right now," Van'Atur said, "so it is up to you. Decide."

"Rann," Zaal said, "we simply don't know how safe it would be. Our most vulnerable people live on the Civilian ships. And for smaller ships, family ships, it would be cruel to press an extra body on them simply because it wouldn't be as dangerous. If we instituted a volunteer program perhaps?"

"The military ships are no place for a child," Shala'Rann stood firm, "especially not one so recently terrorized by strangers armed to the teeth. We need somewhere calm. With minimal traffic and plenty of protection. And she needs those things soon, not after lengthy debate, Zaal." Shala'Rann perked up at a stray thought. "Rael!"

"Hmm?" Rael'Zorah looked up from his datapad, hardly having followed the conversation. "Wha-oh. No, Rann, it's not possible."

"I went onboard the Alarei not long ago with Tali. There are still specially sectioned habitats onboard aren't there?"

"We're phasing them out," Rael said, "we've decided trying to synthesize immunity through experimentation on multi-planet species isn't going anywhere. You're not suggesting keeping her in one of those are you? Rann, they're meant for varren!"

"Why not?" Shala'Rann said. "Adjust them a little. Clean one. Put a cot inside. Lay down some fabrics. It's the right dimensions for someone her size. You have a decommissioned one in your office that would be perfect."

"That's where I keep the filing cabinets for my physical back-ups." Rael'Zorah protested.

"Oh, Rael, it'd be a month or two at most. At which point Jane would never be on the Fleet much less in your lab!" Rann rallied the Admirals. "The Conclave can be told that Jane is staying in the same conditions we have kept other non-quarian lifeforms without incident. She'll never set a toe inside one of the Civilian Fleet ships. And there won't be any need for rigorous decontamination."

"Oh, seconded," Han'Gerrel snickered, "this is too funny not to happen." He saluted them both languidly. "Keep us updated. I'm going to spread the word amongst the Captains. Come on, Kal." The marine jogged after his leader.

"Thirded, please hesitate to involve me further," Daro'Xen said, already halfway into the elevator.

"That…could be amenable I suppose," Zaal'Koris nodded, "it should at least prevent anyone threatening to leave the Fleet out of fear. Very well." He looked at Van'Atur but she remained stonily quiet. "F-fourthed." The old Admiral nodded at him, eyes aglow with pride. They fell into a whispered discussion as Rann turned back to Rael.

"Hang on," Rael'Zorah grew increasingly desperate, "I haven't agreed! My Captains need to be briefed first!"

"Rael," Shala'Rann took the datapad from him and clasped his hands, "do you remember who else bore the seeds of the Antiipa?" Rael's purplish eyes flattened at her.

"That's not fair. Tali's mother was…"

"Eema was good-hearted and you loved that about her. And she'd want you to do this. Please, Rael. You weren't unmoved by Jane I can tell. Choose what Rael the father would do not Rael the Admiral."

"…I don't like this." He liberated his hands to fidget, hooking and unhooking his fingers.

"It's temporary." Rael'Zorah sighed with regret.

"I'll look into it. Have an answer in a few days." Rann embraced her old friend. "For Eema. And because you clearly care so much."

"She reminds me of Tali. Don't you think so?" Rael shivered in revulsion. "Oh, Rael, be a grown-up." The Science Fleet Admiral gathered up his datapad and retreated into the safety of his data-stream to take his leave. He nearly bumped into Kal'Reegar as the elevator door opened.

"Forget something?" Shala'Rann asked.

"No, I just…" the door closed shut and Kal'Reegar, after checking the coast one last time, dug into the pocket of his suit. "Give that to Miss Jane for me, ma'am?" It was a data-stick. "It's got a pirated copied of Blasto: Kahje's Finest on it. Uh, drell subtitles I can't get rid of and the sound cuts out for a few minutes in the second act…"

"I'm sure she'll appreciate it." Shala'Rann said. The marine turned away then, losing some inner struggle turned back. "Yes?"

"How did Hana'Nur do that? I thought for sure Jane was gonna shred the ship into little pieces." Shala'Rann hesitated but, deciding the young man was asking out of care, gave a simplified answer.

"Hana'Nur vas Shepherd is an expert in biotics. She studied them extensively in her youth and on her Pilgrimage." Kal's eyes sparkled with a dozen questions. The rumors about Hana's five-year journey would only recirculate if she said more. "And that's all I'll say. Privacy is privacy after all, Kal'Reegar vas Neema. Please, attend your Admiral. Good luck and thank you."

Several hours later, Hana'Nur vas Shepherd nar Adeli watched Jane doze off in the bed Uli'Rann had so selflessly given up for her. She adjusted the room temperature slightly to make up for Jane's bared head and turned off the alarm function on the radio.

Jane stirred once, then turned over, teeth clenched with a nightmare. Hana'Nur touched her face but the girl shied away from her gloved fingertips, squirming in the grip of unconscious terror not even the bold quarian could save her from. Hana'Nur, making a split second decision, sealed off the wrist of her right hand.

Her suit VI blinked a bright red warning that she ignored. Her shoulders twitched as she exposed her hand to the cold air of the room. Her skin was steely gray, flecked with small black stripes along her palm. She flexed her hand once, checking for cuts or scrapes that didn't register on her VI scan.

Satisfied, she touched her fingers to Jane's pale, freckled cheek and inhaled sharply at how warm her skin was. Hana stroked her knuckles with feather-lightness along the clenched jaw and saw it relax. She fixed the soft strands of red hair and rested her palm on the Jane's cheek. The girl settled.

Hana'Nur had a reputation for coldness. For being as blank and mysterious as the visor of her second-skin. But she still remembered. She remembered this feeling of soothing a sleeping child. Even though it hurt her to remember.

She saw the brief flare of her audio light glow against Jane's face as her breath hitched and she shut off her suit's audio output. Hana kept her hand still, comforting Jane even as she felt her heart turning to ice.

"…N…" she set her teeth against her voice, feeling the twin lines of heat on her face and watching the tears reflect in the back of her visor. She averted her eyes when Jane's red hair began to look too much like the folds of a child's talrin. "…N-no…"

She fought. She breathed in-and-out. She was in control…until Jane muttered, half in a dream of a woman who wasn't Hana'Nur.

"Mom…"

Hana pressed her visor into her arm, trying not tremble with the sobs muted by her helmet. Trying not to wake Jane.

"No…"she hiccupped, "…Noa." Her eyes reflected on her mask were too silver to bear looking at. Too painful to see again. She closed her eyes and tried not to think of a girl who wasn't Jane. "Noa…".

Silver eyes behind a visor. A voice, small and confused.

Mom…?

A fraction of an instant that lasted an epoch…

The unbearable heat and then the unbelievable cold.

When her eyes ran dry, Hana'Nur looked over the girl one last time.

"Sleep safe in your cradle of steel. When you wake up…we'll have traveled across the horizon to another new sun…" she pulled her hand away slowly and slipped on her glove, already feeling the sub-dermal itch of an allergic reaction. She let her suit-VI handle the treatment regime without much concern.

She'd been through worse.

Author's Note: Hi! Thanks for reading, everyone. The speed of uploads may slow a little going forward just as a heads up but I'm still very interested in continuing the story. I just can't promise two chapters inside a week routinely. Hope everyone is doing well in a difficult time. Stay strong.