Council Private Lounge, Presidium Ring
Tevos was not having a good day, all things considered.
It was to come with being the asari councillor on the Citadel, and thus one of the single most influential individuals in the galaxy. Every day, it was a trade agreement, or a spat between minor races, or perhaps a push to colonize a world with valuable resources. She had to confer with the other councillors, hold meetings, sign paperwork -lots of it-, and negotiate treaties.
She was used to it, however. Over the years, she'd adapted quite well to her job, and had grown to even like it.
She wasn't used to dealing with something like this.
"Run this by me again," she said, rubbing her temple with one finger as she laid back in her seat. "So, we've been receiving reports of this..."
"Superman," finished Bavern, the salarian Councillor. "Self-given term, apparently. Language of origin unknown."
Tevos sighed. "Is it the name of its species?"
"Do you constantly tell others that you're asari?" asked Lintus, the turian councillor, who was pacing about the room and adding to Tevos's headache. "I believe Superman is its name, or at least its title. It hasn't exactly stopped for questioning."
"I've gathered that much." Tevos looked down at the list she'd been given. "Seven days ago: mysterious 'Superman' saves cruise liner over Palaven, then also stops to prevent a landslide on Dekuuna, thwarts an attempted robbery on Thessia, and helps a boy on Sur'kesh find his lost pet. And this is all in the first day of its arrival."
"Speed of this individual far outpaces mass relays, let alone starships." Bavern absentmindedly sniffed and scratched her chin. "Conservative estimate of speed is several billion c, also assuming that target uses mass relays. Technology far outstrips ours."
Lintus stopped his pacing. "Technology? Technology? Didn't you read the reports?! He's been doing all of this in a skintight suit, only using his bare hands! When the liner failed, he carried it to safety, like it was just a toy kite!"
"You have to admit, the idea is outlandish," Tevos said. "A person who can lift a starship with his bare hands, or zip about the galaxy faster than anyone else? Sounds like a story made by some teenagers."
"Am I the only one who actually reads the reports?" Lintus asked, exasperated. "The captain of the liner personally spoke with the man, and saw him up close. The cameras clearly showed him carrying the liner, and ripping away the hatch like putty! Just yesterday, there was footage of him walking through gunfire like it was a breeze as he stopped a gang shootout on some station."
"Do you also believe the elcor report that this 'Superman' also stopped the landslide by freezing it solid with his... breath?" Tevos shot back.
"At this point, I'd believe almost anything about him." Lintus put a video on screen. "Just look at this."
Tevos turned to watch. Based on the camera angle, it appeared to be on the underbelly of a high-speed patrol craft. The image magnified, revealing a red splotch moving through the blackness of space. The figure turned, and Tevos sucked in a gasp.
"Is that..."
"Apperance matches description," said Bavern.
"We found him entirely on accident, near one of our colony worlds," Lintus said. "We believe he may have just been enjoying the view."
"Did you just make a joke?"
"B-but he's without any equipment! How's he surviving?" Tevos exclaimed.
"How does he do any of this?" retorted the turian. "Keep watching."
The craft approached, apparently drawing Superman's attention. One moment, he was there, then he was just gone in the next. Tevos blinked a few times, as if expecting the whole thing to just be a glitch.
"Was there an error in recording?" asked Bavern.
"No," Lintus replied tersely. "He did the same thing in atmosphere on Palaven, when we were trying to keep pace with him. Apparently, it amused him, if the booming chuckle heard over half of Nararus City was any indication."
In a rare gesture, he sighed. "I'm starting to wonder if we're actually the dominant power in the galaxy, now that he's around; there might be an entire civilization of him, and that's a terrifying thought to contemplate. Thankfully, he seems to be on the side of law and order."
Tevos glanced back down at the image. "What's that symbol on his chest?"
"No match found in our databases," said Bavern. "Complete enigma."
"I didn't know what to expect." Tevos got up, and sighed. "I think I'll be heading on a walk, to try and clear my head."
"Take care," Lintus called after her. "I think I'll be sampling that antique brandy I received last month." S
Tevos breathed in deeply, letting the cool breeze hit her face as she strolled down a narrow pathway. The scenery around the Presidium always managed to cheer her up, especially on the less busy days. Lost amongst the trees and trickling streams that seemed to bubble up from the ground, she could imagine that she was in a world of her own, without a worry in the world.
"With pleading urgency: come down, Volna."
Normally, anyway.
Tevos looked over to the source of the voice. A large elcor female was at the base of a tree, craning up as much as possible to look at a small critter dangling from the branches. The asari councillor couldn't make out just what kind of animal it was, only that it had six legs, green fur, and was the size of a volus.
"Sadly, at the verge of tears: it's not safe up there, Volna. Somebody, please get him down."
Tevos started over, cautiously. The small animal up in the tree was evidently distressed, considering how it seemed to cling to the branch for dear life.
"Hi!" a voice called from above. "Don't worry; I'll get him."
Tevos found her gaze drawn skyward, and she gasped.
It was him.
He was lazily swooping down, his cape flapping gently in the low gravity of the Presidium, one arm outstretched while the other was close to his brawny chest. Tevos gaped at the sight; the realization that the reports were true hit her like a brick wall. There was no sign of a flight pack, or a field; it was like seeing some ephemeral being descend from the sky, graceful.
In one smooth motion, he plucked the animal from the tree and descended down, offering it to the elcor. Tevos took another step forward, deciding whether or not to call down C-Sec.
"With ecstatic relief and joy: thank you, thank you," the female said, cradling her pet in one arm.
Superman smiled. "Just here to help. Take care."
With that, he took off again. Passing over Tevo's head, he smiled and waved as he flew away.
"Goodbye!"
Tevos blinked a few times. Superman was on the Citadel, somehow bypassing all security to reach the Presidium ring. For a moment, she considered trying to order the station locked down, but she had a feeling that wouldn't stop the strange visitor.
Then, she giggled to herself. Lintus was going to have an amusing reaction later, once she told him.