Tuchanka was hardly how any of them remembered it from before the war Wrex and Grunt had told them about the changes to the planet but it was completely different seeing it rather than hearing about it. The atmosphere was clear, any sign of nuclear fallout was cleaned up and in its place were fields of green and buildings clumped together in cities, even from their current height Joker and Elissa could see that Tuchanka now resembled a human colony rather than a desolate wasteland. Not even the crew that had accompanied Kaidan to find a gem for Elissa's "engagement" ring saw any of this, having stayed away from the more populated areas during their search. Elissa grinned widely as they approached the docks, Tuchanka was everything Bakara and Wrex had hoped it would be once they ended the genophage and survived the war.
"I can't wait to see Grunt," said Elissa as Joker began docking procedures, "and Wrex and Bakara's son. Did Bakara ever get back to us concerning the plans for Mordin's memorial?"
"She did, Elissa," said EDI from the co-pilot's seat. "She informed me that everything would be seen to by the time we arrived. I would have told you sooner but you had Cerberus to deal with on Horizon, so I responded for you, giving her a date to have everything ready."
Elissa nodded as she leaned against Joker's chair. "Thank you, EDI, we would be lost without you."
"Speak for yourself," muttered Joker as he finalized the procedure. "Docking procedures complete, preparing for landing party to disembark."
Elissa rolled her eyes. "What landing party? The whole crew is pretty much getting off once you're done docking the Normandy. Your Alliance training is showing again."
Joker grinned. "Well, after over a decade, it should pay off at some point. Anyway, you should gather the landing party and tell them that we're ready to go, Grunt's probably on his way to tear the doors off and we both know he'd be more successful at it than Alenko."
"Roger that, Flight Lieutenant Moreau," said Elissa as she stood at attention with a mock salute. "EDI, please tell everyone that they are officially released for forty-eight hours of leave to enjoy the beauty of Tuchanka. Joker and I will be meeting with Wrex and Bakara once we land so have the shuttle ready."
"I do not think that will be necessary," said EDI, pointing at her console screen. "It appears that a shuttle is already here and that Wrex is waiting on the dock."
Joker and Elissa moved to look out of the Normandy's windshield, seeing that EDI was right, there was a shuttle waiting and Wrex was standing outside of it with Bakara and Grunt as well as a guard of at least six Krogan and a baby one being held by a female Krogan behind Bakara. The two looked at each other and shrugged.
"I guess this is their version of a royal welcome," said Joker as he put an arm around Elissa. "Let's go greet the rest of the family, we've left them waiting long enough."
Elissa nodded and they headed out of the bridge, finding the rest of the crew waiting by the airlock for them, all dressed in civilian attire. The memorial for Mordin would not be held until later, so they would not be expected to be in their blues until then, which suited Elissa. From what Chakwas said, her belly was small for carrying twins since they were sitting closer to her back but it was still bigger than what could fit in her standard issue armor. She could not wait for the day when she could put on a shirt and not watch it stretch out to the point it looked like it would burst open.
EDI opened the doors and they stepped through, the fresh air of Tuchanka surprisingly refreshing after being locked in the ship for weeks without much a of a reprieve, and as she breathed it in deeply Elissa felt as if she could run a marathon. For a moment she seriously considered it, until she saw a two-ton Krogan running right at her with his arms outstretched.
"Shepard!" roared Grunt happily, his footsteps echoing loudly in the dock as he ran down the gangplank closing the distance between them fast. "Shepard! It's so good to see you."
"Grunt, do not tackle her!" shouted Bakara so severely even Elissa was scared to disobey. The female clan leader hurried after the disappointed Krogan, Wrex behind her as the guard stood waiting by the shuttle.
Grunt looked at Elissa with sorrowful eyes as he took the remaining steps to her. "But Bakara, it is how a Krogan is supposed to greet their battlemaster. Why did you stop me?"
When Bakara was close enough she hit Grunt in the back of his hump. "Because if you stopped for a second to observe your surroundings you would have realized that Shepard is with child."
Elissa's eyes went wide. "You could tell that all the way from there?" She pointed at where the shuttled was located. "Lord, I must really stink or something."
"It's your pheromones, Shepard," said Wrex as he came up to Bakara's side. "Even I could smell it and I'm a male, we don't have the strongest of receptors that the females do for that kind of thing."
Suddenly self-conscious, she wrapped her arms around her chest like she could prevent the smell for emitting further. "Damn, maybe I should go take a shower."
Joker could barely contain his laughter, while he felt bad for Elissa he always knew she excelled in everything she did, and this was one for the record books. "Ellie, would you just relax? That's probably making it worse, and you're carrying twins so that's not doing you any favors either. Besides, you smell fine to me."
"Twins?!" exclaimed Grunt, Bakara, and Wrex all staring at Elissa's abdomen.
Elissa raised her eyebrows curiously. "What? You haven't heard of twins before?"
"We have," said Bakara as she stared in awe at Elissa, "they are just extremely rare for the Krogan, and are revered in our society as blessings from the Ancestors, treated with the utmost respect and reverence."
"Our kids aren't even born and they're already worshipped by a whole species," laughed Joker, kissing Elissa's cheek.
"They're yours, Joker?" asked Wrex looking confused. "I thought Shepard was with Alenko."
They both shook their heads. "That . . . fell apart," explained Elissa flatly. "He's with us but he has his own child from his marriage to someone else. If you want the details, you can ask him."
Wrex shrugged. "We don't need to know everything, Shepard, all that matters is my sister is with someone who makes her happy and that her offspring are healthy." He put a hand on her belly and was rewarded with a hard kick, making him rumble with laughter. "That one will certainly live up to your legacy, Shepard."
Elissa smiled fondly, putting a hand on her belly. "I'm sure they'll both be trailblazers and do things I can't even imagine." She then looked at Joker. "Just like their father."
"This is getting too mushy," complained Grunt. "Come on, Shepard, we brought a shuttle and we intend on showing you all that we've done to Tuchanka."
"Sure, Grunt," said Elissa kindly as she took Joker's hand and pulled him along with her as she followed the Krogans to their shuttle.
When they arrived, the second female Krogan handed a baby to Bakara who then turned to Elissa. "This is my son," said Bakara fondly as she handed the infant over to Elissa who held him like he was a precious commodity. "We named him 'Shepard' after you."
"Urdnot Shepard," said Elissa with a watery grin. "I'm honored that you would name your firstborn after me, Bakara, but I thought you were going to name it after Mordin."
Grunt stepped forward grinning. "No, that honor goes to my first child. Wrex already promised and no one is going to go against his word."
Wrex bumped his hump against the younger one. "Well, since he is in charge of the most successful unit in the Krogan military, I thought he earned a few perks."
Joker looked over at the tiny Krogan in Elissa's arms, stroking its forehead gently with his fingertips. "You know, Krogan are actually kind of cute when they're this small. How soon before he gets as big as you, Wrex?"
"Maybe twenty years," replied Wrex with a shrug. "Then again he could get bigger sooner, so we'll just have to wait and see. Now, get in the shuttle, there's a thresher maw fight tonight and I don't want to miss it."
Elissa and Joker looked to Bakara for clarification.
"He's serious," was her reply before stepping into the shuttle, the two of them following after her and Grunt.
The shuttle took off with four Krogan and two humans, the guard that had been standing on the dock followed them in a different shuttle and Elissa understood; the combined weight would have caused the shuttle to go plummeting out of the sky. Elissa paid that little mind once she caught sight of the newly constructed city in the heart of Tuchanka, it was truly a far cry from what it had been before the war and it looked as if they were still working on it. The ground below was covered in bright green and yellow grasses, streamline buildings were situated on top of that with bustling streets seen even from the sky, even from that height Elissa could see many of the Krogan walking around with smaller ones. She grinned as she watched the scene play out, glad once again that she had not accepted the Dalatrass' offer and sabotaged the Krogan cure, she never would have done it but she did like the reaffirmation that she had been right.
"This is magnificent," said Elissa, her voice thick with emotion as she looked out of the window, amazed at all she saw. "I can't believe all you've done in such a short time."
Bakara smiled proudly. "Don't let the thresher maw fights and blood lust fool you, the Krogan are a resourceful species and we always find a way to survive."
"I never once doubted," said Elissa sternly as she faced Bakara. "It's just amazing that a race not known normally for their construction skills have managed to rebuild so much in so little time when it took the Asari centuries to do the same."
Wrex laughed loudly. "Those blue pyjaks probably figured they had all the time in the world to build their empire. We Krogan have a great deal of time to make up, so we're focusing as much energy and resources as we can in building what should have been ours long ago. We are getting some assistance though from the Quarians and Geth, they might be building their joined home world but they've still been available to help us."
"I'm glad they're at least helping," said Elissa as she smiled at Wrex. "It would have been interesting though if the Salarians helped you out."
"Ironic would be a better word," chuckled Joker then he thought for a moment. "You know Wrex, I'm surprised you're so welcoming to us. We aren't exactly welcome in this part of the galaxy right now."
"Only on Council species planets," said Wrex dismissively. "We aren't part of the Council so we don't have to necessarily adhere to their rules, and even if we were we wouldn't in this case, Shepard is my sister and a true friend to the Krogan people. To deny you or anyone associated with you a safe haven would be the same as defiling our sacred places."
Bakara nodded. "We are prepared to give you a home here, Shepard. I know the Normandy is your home but you can't spend the rest of your existence on a ship, even one like her. Here your children could grow with ours, you would be treated with the respect you deserve, and nothing would be denied to you."
Elissa looked at Joker and shrugged. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to stay here for a few days, it's not like we have anything else to do right now, and it would be nice to live in a house."
"Sounds like a vacation to me," said Joker, adjusting his cap. "Do we get our docking fees waived?"
Wrex nodded. "Of course, Joker, who do you think we are? The Volus?"
Joker and Elissa laughed as the shuttle moved smoothly through the air.
Elissa groaned as she tried to fit her blues' jacket over her abdomen, somehow she had managed to get the pants on despite the fact she had put on a couple of pounds and now she was trying to tug the on jacket without ripping it. She tugged on it a few times and managed to fasten one button but it looked like it was going to rip off so she quickly undid it, throwing the jacket on the nearest flat surface, narrowly missing her husband in the process.
"Bad time?" he asked as he came in already dressed in his blues, he sat on the bed and she did too, making a dramatic noise in the process.
"I hate being pregnant," she said glumly, crossing her arms tight against her chest. "Between my body and my hormones, I feel like I'm trapped in some kind of amusement park funhouse."
Joker smiled sympathetically as he put an arm around her shoulders, bringing her against him. "I know it's hard, and while I'll never know exactly, what I do know is you can do this. I don't think any male member of your crew could do what you're doing and certainly none of them are brave enough to try. Just think, soon enough we'll be holding Malcolm and Felicity and you'll go back to how you want to be and we'll be a family."
Elissa smiled, stroking his beard as she nuzzled against him. "Why is it you always know exactly what to say to make me feel better?"
"It's been part of my job since the beginning," said Joker, kissing her forehead. "Now, about this jacket, I think I have a solution for that too. The jacket we gave Ash to wear is a little too big for her and yours would probably fit her just right, so why don't I go give this to her and come back with hers for you?"
"Sounds fine," sighed Elissa as she pulled away, lying back down on the bed, looking up at the ceiling. "Thanks, Jeff, I love you."
"No problem, Ellie," said Joker as he stood up and picked the jacket up from the floor. "I love you too, I'll be back in a few minutes."
Elissa waved her hand and he left, closing the door behind him. She sat up on her elbows and took in her surroundings; she and Joker were staying in a very luxurious room in Wrex's new mansion their room had a massive bed against the main wall, a bathroom that seemed more like a spa than anything else, and a wall of windows that let out onto a balcony of the same length. The rest of the crew was housed in the mansion as well but according to those who visited their room, they were not in as grand quarters. She knew it was because of her status as the Krogan people's hero and that Bakara had seen to her being treated as such, but she thought it was a bit too much. She would have been happy in a regularly sized room closer to the crew, although she would not mind having the bed from this room there, it was by far the comfiest thing she had slept on and supported her pregnant body in ways she did not know were possible. For now it was nice but she was sure this would have to end, things had to be dealt with and she was never one to settle down on a planet.
"Got it!" called Joker as he entered the room, showing her the jacket. "Ash was very happy to have yours, she said it fit her just perfect."
"Thanks, Jeff," said Elissa as she accepted the jacket, putting it on immediately. It was still pretty big, not as form fitting as her other one though she did not necessarily see this as an issue, if anything it was a confidence boost. "Was Kal there when you stopped by Ash's room?"
Joker nodded, smiling broadly as he sat beside her. "I think Kal is slowly falling under her spell, he follows her around like a lost puppy. And she's only too happy to have him around."
"I think it's sweet," said Elissa as she finished getting ready. "Ash deserves someone good who understands the struggles of being in the military." She then thought for a moment and smiled. "I do find it ironic that Ash would let an alien get so close when she was a borderline xenophobe when we first met."
"I completely forgot about that," laughed Joker as he watched her brush her hair. "The way she acts with Kal it's like she could never form a negative thought against an alien. Do you think they'll end up together?"
Elissa shrugged. "That's always a possibility, I haven't completely ruled it out. We shouldn't push it either, whatever happens will happen naturally."
"Just like us," said Joker lovingly, reaching for her hand, which she gave. "You know, as happy as I am I never actually pictured this being my life."
"What do you mean?" asked Elissa, furrowing her brow in confusion.
Joker was quick to explain, knowing how his wife could easily misinterpret something like that these days. "I mean that I thought I would be with EDI and you with Alenko, I had long ago accepted that you wouldn't be with me and I was fine with that. I had this fantasy that EDI and I would adopt a kid and you and Alenko would have a few and at some point one of yours would fall for mine and join our families."
"Now that'll only happen if Felicity marries Tristan," laughed Elissa.
"No way in hell," said Joker sternly. "My baby girl will only date after she's gotten married."
Elissa raised an eyebrow. "You do realize how impossible that sounds, right?"
Joker nodded. "Absolutely, which is why it makes total sense."
"I'm so glad I'm not in your head," said Elissa, shaking her head. "Come on, we have a memorial to get to."
"One a long time in the making," agreed Joker as he stood, taking Elissa's hand, together they headed out of the room.
The shuttles touched down in the main square of the city, Elissa stepped down with some help from Grunt and Joker, and she smiled when she saw that in the center was a large statue of Mordin looking over the Krogans. She would have never believed it if she had not seen it for herself, that a Salarian would be revered by the Krogan.
Elissa looked at Bakara with some curiosity. "Why put the statue here, Bakara? Why not at the Shroud where he died?"
"He saved us, so he deserved to be placed where he could watch over our children," explained Bakara as she caressed her own baby. "And the children should always remember whom they owe their existence to."
"It's a nice likeness," said Joker as he put an arm around Elissa's waist. "I wonder if he'd like it."
Elissa shrugged casually. "He probably would have wanted to do it himself, otherwise someone might have gotten it wrong."
"Uncle Mordin would have wanted new lab," said Quaes, standing beside Elissa and Joker. "But statue is nice."
"Surprised they built it?" asked Elissa, knowing he would understand her question.
Quaes nodded. "A little, most Krogan would not put aside age old grudge. This must have been Bakara's idea."
"It was," said a familiar voice. They turned around and saw Dr. Ingleside approaching them; they had not seen him since their extended stay on the Citadel when he had done their psychological evaluations. "She asked me and a few others for funding for the project, and I was only too happy to help."
"Good to see you again, Doc," said Joker, shaking the Salarian's hand. "Glad we aren't meeting again under bad circumstances."
"Likewise, Joker," said Ingleside, having been given permission by Joker to use his nickname. "Shepard, you're looking well."
Elissa smiled kindly. "Thank you, it's great seeing you again."
"I'm glad you're here," said Ingleside. "Prison on the Citadel would not have been good for you, you would have gone stir crazy."
"You're right about that," said James, putting a hand on her shoulder. "She was barely able to stand being in the Alliance prison on Earth, I should know, I was responsible for making sure she was entertained constantly."
"It was not constant," argued Elissa. "And if I remember correctly, you were the one who begged me to teach you how to play chess and cards."
James shrugged. "Whatever you say, Lola." He looked around at the people standing, it was nothing like the memorial they had held on the ship. "Everyone seems surprisingly upbeat for a memorial."
"We've had time to cope with Mordin's death," explained Elissa. "Those people we lost at Sanctuary and on Rannoch, we hadn't been able to say goodbye or were prepared for that kind of loss. This time we're simply here to remember."
"I didn't know him for more than a few days, but he seemed to know what he was doing," said James as he stared up at the statue. "Or maybe he had no idea and was just bullshitting until something happened."
"At least you didn't ask him for relationship advice," cringed Joker. "When I thought about dating EDI, I made the mistake of asking him for the logistics of . . . a physical relationship working out between EDI and I. My inbox was flooded with all sorts of articles and images, it was extensive."
"He thought I was interested in him," laughed Elissa, making both James and Joker look at her strangely. "I would go visit him in the lab and help him out sometimes, he eventually asked me if it was because I was attracted to him since I was in there so often. I didn't have the heart to tell him I wasn't but he let me down gently, though he did say if he wanted to be with a human he would try with me."
"Sounds like Uncle Mordin," said Quaes with some melancholy in his voice. "He enjoyed teasing others. Enjoyed giving plenty of advice. Researched everything he could. Never left a stone unturned."
"Or a seashell untested," said Elissa wistfully before remembering that no one would have any idea what she was talking about. "Did you bring anything special of Mordin's, Quaes? We have a picture from when he was part of the Normandy crew, and his plaque is still on the ship, where it will remain as a testament to him."
Quaes pulled a bundle from his pocket. "Found this in my room back home. Wasn't sure why I brought it. Guess this was the reason." He unwrapped the bundle and Elissa almost laughed, it was a vid case with Mordin and another Salarian on the cover digitally altered to resemble Gilbert and Sullivan. "He made this after leaving STG. Only sold a few copies. Good quality but poor reception."
Elissa looked closer at the second Salarian, he seemed familiar.
"I remember this," said Ingleside, looking over Quaes' shoulder. "Mordin and I did this as a way of unwinding after he left the STG, I figured it would be a good way for him to get over what happened during the creation of the genophage."
"Perhaps you could sing for us?" suggested Elissa as Quaes placed the vid case at the base of the statue.
Ingleside nodded. "I would be honored, if Quaes would do me the pleasure of joining in?"
Quaes shrugged. "Couldn't hurt, though voice isn't as good as Uncle's."
"That doesn't matter," said Ingleside kindly, putting a hand on his shoulder. "What matters is doing your best, that's what your uncle would have said anyway."
"Cue up the music then," said Quaes with a slight smile, he then stood beneath the statue with Ingleside beside him. Suddenly there was music and he started singing, with Ingleside providing the harmony, "Oh, better to die to a thresher maw, with shotgun-blasting-roaring-raw, than the play ambassadorial games, with the blood of Shiagur in her veins."
He took a short breath, his voice very similar to Mordin't though not quite the same. "Off to fight, since Turians can't, with diplomats instead of a krantt. But she'll be true to Tuchanka's dream, and live and die a Krogan queen!"
He seemed to be gaining confidence with every passing beat and by the end he was incredible. "For . . . she is the Krogan queen! Hurrah, hurrah for the Krogan queen! And it is, it is a glorious thing to be the Krogan queen!"
When he finished, the crew applauded, the Krogan present seemed very proud to have enjoyed the song immensely; given the content of the song it was expected. Quaes bowed and smiled as he accepted their accolade, then he motioned for them to be quiet and he whispered something to Ingleside who was quick to start the music. Elissa recognized it by the tune and knew what was coming, the true testament to Mordin.
Quaes stood tall, as he looked out at the crowd, ready to perform the final song. "I am the very model of a scientist Salarian, I've studied species Turian, Asari, and Batarian. I am quite good at genetics . . ."
"A subset of biology," sang Ingleside.
"Because I am an expert . . ." sang Quaes.
"Which I know is a tautology," interjected Ingleside.
Taking a large breath, Quaes finished the number, "My xenoscience studies range from urban to agrarian, I am the very model of a scientist Salarian!"
The crew erupted in deafening applause, especially from those whom had been privileged enough to hear Mordin sing it during their time dealing with the Collectors. Tears glistened in Elissa's eyes as she looked up at Mordin's statue smiling down at them, she knew that he would have been proud of his nephew and would have enjoyed listening to him pay tribute. 'For once he might not have thought that someone else would get it wrong,' she thought wryly as she smiled at Quaes.
After the little show, the crew mingles, sharing stories about Mordin and how much they still missed him despite the amount of time that had gone by. Elissa saw Quaes still standing at the statue looking up at the likeness of his uncle and she went over, standing beside him as she too looked up at Mordin's face.
"Penny for your thoughts?" she asked quietly, glancing at the Salarian.
"He would have like this," said Quaes. "Watching the Krogan thrive. Hearing the stories. Seeing his old friends. I wish he had lived."
Elissa put a hand on his shoulder. "I know, I feel the same. When the time came I tried to talk him out of it, even offered to go up myself, but he refused. Sometimes I wish I had tried harder to stop him."
Quaes chuckled warmly. "Never would have let you. Knew what he was doing, Shepard. Do not blame yourself for his death. Blame Reapers, blame Dalatrass, do not blame yourself."
"Easier said than done," said Elissa with a mirthless laugh. "What are you going to do with your life, Quaes? I know you're with us but I'm sure you'll want to get back to a proper lab and have a life of your own."
"Actually, no," said Quaes, much to Elissa's surprise. "Would rather stay on Normandy. Come to love it as home. And see the crew as my family."
"We would be honored to keep you," said Elissa kindly. "Welcome aboard, Doctor Solus."
Quaes smiled and with one final look at the statue of his favorite uncle and one of Elissa's dearest friends, they walked away.
Elissa woke up contentedly a few days later, the light coming through the curtains stirred her from her slumber and she spent a few moments just staring out into space before moving closer to Joker. Gingerly she put an arm around his waist, resting her head against his shoulder as she enjoyed the quiet, she knew Joker would be awake soon and they would have to go down for breakfast with everyone else. For now, she would simply relax and take the time to appreciate the calm that she was becoming accustomed to.
"Good morning," said Joker sleepily, rubbing his eyes with his free hand in order to wake up. "I have to say, I quite like this."
"Same here," said Elissa with a slight yawn. "I'm not really looking forward to going back on the ship after this kind of luxury."
Joker chuckled as he kissed the top of her head. "I know what you mean, this is almost enough to make me give up flying forever and settle down for a life of ease."
Elissa propped herself up on her elbow and grinned wickedly at her husband. "Really? The great pilot of the Normandy is willing to give it all up for a nice bed and pretty surroundings? I should have thought of this a while ago."
"I did say almost," laughed Joker as he pulled her down gently on top of him. "If we can get a mattress like this in our cabin, then I would be perfectly happy to continue flying our stolen ship."
"We'll have to face that fact sooner or later," said Elissa glumly. "After all we've been through, it's easy to forget that we're actually wanted by the Alliance and the Council for crimes we didn't commit. I don't know how we can live with that on us constantly."
Joker shrugged. "We could always live here with the crew."
"No, they don't deserve that," sighed Elissa. "Hiding out here isn't living, it's acting cowardly. What we need is to come up with some way of proving that we've been set up and need to have our names cleared. I just don't know how we're going to do that."
"We'll come up with a plan," said Joker solemnly, putting a hand on her belly. "It's not just about us anymore, it's about our kids now too. We have a lot more at risk than just our lives."
Elissa nodded and clung to Joker a little tighter. "I don't want this to be the end, and I will do everything I can to keep it from that."
"I know you will, Ellie," said Joker, holding her closer. "You haven't failed yet."
She looked up at him and kissed him tenderly as if kissing him for the first time all over again, she did not know how much time they had left before things started unraveling but she was going to make damned sure she did not waste a second. She was going to kiss Joker as often and as passionately as she wanted until he was forced away from her.
"We should get ready for breakfast," said Joker between kisses though he made no move to leave the bed.
"Just a few more minutes," she said seductively, moving her hand beneath the sheet.
Suddenly there was a frantic knock at the door before it came flying open, revealing Garrus and Wrex, both looking like they had seen a ghost. Elissa and Joker immediately moved to cover themselves, though neither was completely naked.
"What's going on?" asked Elissa, knowing that the apocalypse must have started for Garrus and Wrex to come barging in.
"Shepard, you need to get downstairs," said Garrus, putting a hand to his head. "There's something you really need to see and I don't know how to tell you."
Elissa reached for her robe and with practiced ease put it on before getting out of bed, Joker putting on his T-shirt before joining her side. Without another word they followed Garrus and Wrex down a floor to the main conference room where the leaders of the clan would gather for their almost daily meetings, only this time it was packed with the Normandy crew, all of whom were gathered around the vid screen. Elissa pushed through and when she saw what they were looking at she almost fell over from fright, the face filling the screen was one she had not seen since the war and never thought to again: Udina.
"What the hell is going on?" wondered Elissa aloud, not really wanting an answer in case she was dying again.
"Apparently he's the "real" Udina," said Kaidan, stepping forward, "or so the news is claiming. From what they said, he was captured by Cerberus and replaced with a clone whose ambition was to claim the spot as the first human councilor. Somehow he managed to escape a Cerberus facility and secretly arrived on the Citadel on a ship he stowed away on, although they aren't releasing the name of the ship. The Council is due to give a press conference in a few minutes."
"This can't be good," said Joker, coming up and wrapping his arms protectively around Elissa as if that would protect her from what might come. "I guess we have to watch it."
"I guess so," said Elissa darkly.
They did not have to wait long, as the Council quickly stepped onto their podium, Sparatus taking the center position with Tevos and Valern flanking him, Udina beside Tevos.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the press, thank you for coming," started Sparatus, looking out at the crowd. "Today we are pleased to announce that our long lost human councilor has returned after a harrowing ordeal. Councilor Udina was not who we thought he was, he was actually a Cerberus clone who was sent to replace the true councilor in order to gain control of the Council. Luckily that plan failed thanks to Spectre Alenko and now we have our fellow councilor back. We hope that now we can move ahead with our plan to forge a proper union between Earth's Alliance and the Citadel Council, to show unity between all species in both military and politics."
"You've got to be kidding me!" exclaimed every Alliance officer in the room.
"That being said, we will call together a meeting that involves the Alliance Admiralty Board and the Council," continued Sparatus. "This meeting will outline our union and hopefully will be the beginning of a new start for the galaxy. There is, however, one issue that must be dealt with before things can proceed." He then stared directly into the camera. "Shepard, I am addressing you personally. You must surrender yourself and your ship to us or face the possibility of our wrath. We do not wish to hurt you or your crew but if you do not surrender we cannot guarantee your safety, and this is not the time to push your luck. We will give you until the day of the meeting to surrender yourself, after that, your life is forfeit."
There was a baying of press as the Councilors left the podium, however the noise was not as deafening as the silence that had fallen over the room in Tuchanka. They were out of time.
