The moment Ivea stepped foot on the Citadel he couldn't help but let out a gasp of complete shock. There were so many species just in this one docking bay! Asari, Turian, Human, even a Hanar! All of them waiting in line to gain access to the Citadel.
As Ivea looked around with wonder his eyes automatically went to one of the nearby docked ships. It was an Alliance frigate, no doubt ready in case of an emergency situation.
Ivea had never been to the Citadel but he had heard the news of the battle that had occurred here. The Geth had invaded and ever since the Citadel had been ready to jump at a moments notice. Speaking of the Geth… Ivea thought to himself as he saw the C-Sec officers, Human and Turian, that had been standing at the welcome counter now walking toward him.
He didn't need to see them; he felt their eyes on him the moment he set foot off the shuttle. He heard about this from other Quarians who had returned from Pilgrimage. All they saw was the suit and that was all they needed to think you were a beggar or thief. Ivea knew what would come next as he stood there waiting for the two officers to pull him out of the line he stood in for entry to the Citadel.
"Excuse me sir but we'd like to pull you aside for a…random screening." Sure enough there they were, standing on both sides of Ivea with their weapons set to fire.
Letting loose a silent sigh he gave a small nod and followed the Turian. He could feel the stares from the people in line as well. Humiliating. That is the only way to describe it. He was pulled away from the others simply because he was a Quarian.
The officers lead him through the terminal and into the main office where they made sure everyone was who they said they were. But that was not their stop, they turned left and lead him through the door and into a small dimly lit room which was labeled on the outside as 'Interrogation 01'. There was a single table with three chairs in the center of the room, one chair on one side two on the other.
As Ivea took a seat in the single chair he felt his heart pounding against his chest. His visor flashed warnings of his accelerated heart rate which he swiftly deactivated. The two officers sat their guns down beside them leaning against their chairs as they sat down across from Ivea.
"W…What do you want?" Ivea attempted to sound fearless but failed, miserably.
The Turian arched a plate as he glanced over to the Human. Without missing a beat the Human began.
"So why are you here Quarian?" Ivea swallowed hard as he played with his hands.
"I'm on Pilgrimage." He replied quieter than he had wished.
"Really? And what gift will you bring to the Fleet?" The Human asked leaning forward.
"I…I'm not sure. I haven't really thought about it." The Human grunted in a manner that told Ivea he didn't buy it. The Turian besides the Human shifted in his seat drawing Ivea's attention.
In that single moment Ivea learned everything about that Turian. Impatient, Eager, Bored. So Ivea decided to go on the offensive now.
"Officers I know you have better things to do as do I and if I'm not being charged with anything I'll just be on my way through customs." Ivea said standing up and waiting for the Human whose brows furrowed. He was about to voice otherwise but the Turian officer nudged his side. When the man looked over the Turian gave a nod. The man let out a sigh and nodded as well.
"Alright you're free to go, hope the rest of your stay is less confrontational." Ivea nodded and left out the door. The moment the door closed behind him he let out a giant breath he'd been holding in as his knees began to shake. This would be something that he would not soon forget.
Not even ten minutes later had Ivea found himself looking down the barrel of an M-8 Avenger Assault Rifle. Once more his heart was pounding within his chest.
"I'm not looking for any trouble I'm just here on-" Ivea was cut off as the butt of another rifle struck him in the back of the head. He fell into a heap on the ground groaning and grabbing where he was struck.
His vision swam as the voices sounded as though they were far off.
"You just came here on Pilgrimage right? You Quarians are all the same." The Human who came up behind him spat. Then without any warning shot Ivea twice in the side. As Ivea screamed in pain the Human laughed.
"Oi, reckon we should get 'is mask off, watch 'im squirm?" The man who held a gun to Ivea originally asked with a horrid grin. The breath in Ivea's throat suddenly was caught. If that visor were taken off…Ivea would die a slow and awfully painful death.
"N…No please…I'll do anything." He groaned as he tried to get up on all fours but was stomped back down by the man kicking him between his shoulder blades.
"Shut it suit!" The man who kicked me down hissed. Ivea attempted to blink and clear his vision when he saw a hand over his visor which he knew belonged to the Human. He squeezed his eyes shut when he suddenly heard a gun shut and the man screaming in pain.
"Drop your weapon and step away from the Quarian!" Ivea recognized the voice as a Human female's.
"Bloody hell! You know how much that hurt you bitch!" The man hissed grabbing his arm. The woman who shot him narrowed her eyes and kept her gaze locked upon the two armored thugs.
"You have no idea who you're messing with little girl." The man's companion said as they turned and walked away.
Ivea coughed in pain as he felt his suit sealing off the punctures from the gun shots.
"Th…Thanks. I'm-" He began attempting to stand but fell back to the ground with a grunt. The woman rushed over by him and looked him over.
"Don't try and talk you have two shots to the torso looks like one in the stomach and one in the lung…I'm gonna get you to a doctor just hold on!" She urged but her voice sounded as though it were echoing in a hallway. He tried to open his mouth and speak but no words came and just breathing alone burned like nothing he'd ever felt.
Before he knew it he fell to the depths of unconsciousness.