"Good morning! How can… Miss Shaix? I thought you were on vacation?"

Nyxetka smiled at the secretary, who looked genuinely confused at seeing her come into work today. "I was, but when I heard the Ministry needed every available person for the recommendation teams I came straight back."

The secretary stared, "Weren't you on Kapia?"

"Yes," Nyxetka smiled as the nearby guard directed her to the nearby clearance scanner, "My best friend let me use her vacation home on Azure Beach."

The turian security guard glanced down at her body at that, but Nyxetka paid him no mind. The secretary scoffed. "You left the beach planet to come back to work?" She looked down at her desk as Nyxetka's ID was cleared before retrieving an ebadge from her desk. "Why put your life on hold for a dull legal job?" she asked, the guard beside her still staring.

Nyxetka took the ebadge and fastened it to her shirt, right over her heart. She beamed as her name appeared in glowing letters. Junior Associate Nyxetka Shaix. "Are you kidding me?" she smiled, "This is what I live for."

As soon as she passed through the security doors, Nyxetka knew she'd been right to return. Everywhere she looked she saw people rushing towards different rooms, lawyers and legal experts with armfuls of datapads and interns gingerly navigating orders of caffeine drinks through the hallways. She even dared to hope that her eyes weren't deceiving her, senior members working alongside junior associates! She picked up conversations here and there, the same topic on several alien tongues.

The Gaians.

"Hey Nyx!" someone called out to her. Turning, Nyxetka saw Zeleemna waving over to her by a doorway to one of the conference rooms, several other people crowding around her. "Back into the fray?"

"The Law never sleeps," Nyxetka cheered their university motto before hugging her old friend. "I haven't seen the Ministry this busy since we made Remote Contact with the heriig…"

"Ha!" someone next to Zeleemna laughed, a turian Nyxetka had seen around the offices a few times. "The slugs weren't nearly as problematic for galactic metalaw as the humans are. Worst they asked for was the legalization of artificial sex-determination in heriig children and semicide."

"What a week that was," Zeleemna breathed.

Nyxetka nodded along with them, remembering the terabytes of legal information she poured through over those seven days. She was on the team that drafted some of those laws. It was a controversial move at the time, but her collaboration with her team earned her some repute within the Ministry. More importantly, it allowed the heriig to maintain their cultural practices without fear of being called into court for crimes against life. Nyxetka thought it was a shame that the heriig didn't have much of a presence in Citadel space; they were a lively bunch and she found their religion fascinating.

"I hear you're working with Matriarch Iallior's team, I hear she's amazing. Have you read her book, The Three Relativities of Personhood?"

Nyxetkar grinned, reached into her briefcase and pulled out her favorite datapad. "Temporal, Spatial and Sociocultural," she recited the subtitle of Iallior's infamous work. "I reread it on ship ride back here, I can't believe I get to work with her. This is a dream come true."

The turian grumbled, "Hmmm, isn't that the book that argues that the rachni are persons, and that their extermination was a crime against galactic life? Sounds a little crazy to me."

"Hush you, get back inside and see if Tulpi found the legal code she was looking for, you know how she is with tort." The turian grumbled some rude remark before disappearing back into the room, leaving the two women alone at the doorway. "He only says that because it's easier for galactic society to swallow the idea that the rachni are dumb animals. And if I didn't know any better, I'd say he was trying to impress you."

"No worries," Nyxetka replied, "Compared to some of the criticism I've read on her work, calling it "a little crazy" is absolutely tame." She paused for a moment before her mind analyzed the last part of her comment. "Impress me?" she laughed, "By insulting the works of one of my idols? I might be a tame maiden, but I know enough to know that's not how you get a date."

Zeleemna grinned, the two making way as a group of turians made their way into the conference room. "What can I say? Some boys never grow up into men. By the way, that was my team leader, so I've got to get inside. Say hello to Lyni for me."

"Will do," Nyxteka said before giving the girl another hug, "You should come over sometime. You, me, Lyni. Fast food and terrible movies."

"Ah, the college classics!" Zeleemna laughed, "Maybe in a few years when this whole mess is resolved and we get some free-time. Now get to your office and get me an autograph!"

Conference room 169.

This was it.

Nyxteka steeled herself as she entered the room. First impressions were important, and she wanted to make a good first impression on the Matriarch. Checking her suit one last time, fixing any wrinkles and smelling her breath against her hand, she decided she was ready.

She stepped forward, the door automatically opening before her.

"Good morning," she cheered happily.

Only to greet the faces of her old co-workers.

"Nyx!" "Welcome back!" "Heeeey!" "Beach girl!"

Nyxteka turned just in time to see her best friend Lynithnea "Lyni" Sali run up to her, capturing her in a hug. "When did you get back? You should have called me, I would have picked you up at the spaceport."

"Fuck off," Imosley growled, the old green sour-face laying back in her chair, a cloth shielding her eyes from the lights. "I don't need your upbeat just-back-from-vacation-cheer so early in the day."

Nyxetka and Lynithnea rolled their eyes before Nyxetka grinned. "I guess you won't want to hear about the bottle of Kapian Wine I brought back-"

Imosely's biotics flared, lifting the cloth off her eyes, "Glad to have you back," she said, a forced smile on her face. "Where's the wine?"

"It's back at our place," Nyxetka beamed, the green woman scoffing and going back to sleep. "My flight came in an hour ago, I just stopped by the apartment to put away my luggage and get a bit of breakfast then came straight here."

"Aren't you tired?" Nyyru asked from her desk, a holographic screen displaying pages of legalese. "Kapia to the Citadel is no joke, isn't the last leg of the flight eighteen hours?"

"Nineteen," Nyxetka corrected, "and no, I'm not tired. How's it been working with Ma-"

"Good morning everyone."

Nyxetka's eyes went wide as she spun around and face to face with one of the top celebrities of the legal world.

The Honorable Matriarch Tev'ya Iallior.

She looked just as Nyxetka hoped she would; regal, wise, serene and beautiful. The very picture of the ideal matriarch. Just like the ancient goddess of law herself, Vaiais.

"You must be Nyxetka Shaix.," the Matriarch greeted before reaching out her hand in greeting. "I read your opinion on the Articles of Appropriate Semicidal Acts. Quite impressive."

"I like your book!" Nyxetka squeaked before composing herself to the stifled laughter of her coworkers. "Matriarch Iallior," she began, desperately attempting to fight down the blush on her cheeks, "I must say it is a honor to work with you, I've looked up to you ever since I read On Galactic Naturalization as a little girl."

The Matriarch smiled, "I hear we have Miss Sali's family library to thank for that don't we? Please, let's all sit down."

Everyone scattered and took their places at the large ring-shaped table that dominated the room, the massive holographic projector at its center flickering to life. Nyxetka sat beside Lynithnea, who couldn't help but grin at her best friend's excitement. Next to the two asari women sat the holographic projection of a turian male.

"Oh, hello Nyx," Martius greeted through the directional speakers at his desk. "I didn't realize you'd be back today."

Nyxetka couldn't help but glance down at Martius' legs, or rather, the lack of legs. "I ended my vacation early for this, couldn't pass up this opportunity."

"Miss Shaix," the Matriarch interrupted, "Did you receive the data packet that Miss Sali sent you?" Nyxetka nodded, holding up her datapad in the process. "Good, I trust that you've read through all of it?" Another nod, more eager this time. "Wonderful. Aside from our current assignment, how much do you know about this the current state of Citadel-Protectorate metalaw?"

Here Nyxetka floundered, not eager to admit that she didn't know something in front of her idol. "Not much," she admitted, "except generalities. The FC Handshake was taking much longer than usual, so the Ministry put us all on standby. That's I went and took my vacation time…"

"That's entirely fine, don't feel bad about taking some time to yourself. Sometimes I wish I could go away for a few years of fun and relaxation." Chuckles and grins all around. "I'll remind us with what we are contending with; we are facing a First Contact situation that is completely and utterly without precedent."

The Matriarch pressed a button at her desk, flooding the dimmed room with light as the massive holo-projector at the center began listing information.

"Firstly, the Protectorate uses a technological base that is entirely unlike our own. Element Zero and the mass effect technologies which we take for granted are completely unknown to the Protectorate; instead they rely on an energy source that is as equally mysterious to us, Anima." The screen flickered to a brief display of all known information on Anima collected by the Citadel Library. Surprisingly, the screen was rather bare – the workings of that particular energy source leaving the top scientists in Citadel space scratching their heads. "Miss Shaix," the Matriarch turned to lock eyes with her, "What is one legal problem that already presents itself?"

Nyxetka's palms began to sweet, she wasn't expecting a pop quiz right off the bat like that! Luckily, she knew how to answer. "The Citadel Council Charter, Chapter 1 Article 5, establishes an expectation of "good faith" with regards to "the infrastructure necessary for galactic civilization", the Mass Relays." Nyxetka grew more sure of herself as the Matriarch motioned for her to continue. "The Citadel Council Charter stipulates this as one of the founding principles of galactic society. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem; ff the Protectorate were a mass effect society like everyone else they'd be glad to open and maintain the gateways of galactic civilization and reap the benefits of economic and cultural trade. But the Protectorate does not use the Mass Relays and perhaps never will. It is entirely likely that the Protectorate could deem the maintenance and monitoring of Mass Relays solely for the benefit of others to be a wasteful endeavor at best or at worst conflict with their own government charter, making it illegal to do so. If any of this is true, then the Protectorate could be said to be acting in "bad faith". This isn't illegal, but certainly won't endear the Protectorate to any of its galactic neighbors, especially since it effectively locks some areas of space that were being prospected for colonization rights." Nyxetka let out a breath she didn't she know she was holding before she continued. "The Hegemony is already raising this issue in the galactic courts."

The Matriarch applauded, a great smile on her face. "A great answer, Miss Shaix. That is indeed one of the legal ramifications our two technologically distinct societies coming into contact. Already we begin to see the enormity of our task. Let's continue."

"Anima also presents a second problem, not only does it form the technological basis for the Protectorate's society, but it also grants most Gaians access to magical abilities." The main display changed to video shot inside some sort of testing facility; Nyxetka could see asari and turian researchers working alongside human test subjects as they launched fireballs and lighting from their fingers or teleported themselves across short distances. "How do we treat these abilities?" the Matriarch asked, "Do we use the Biotic Rights Act as a basis for a hypothetical Anima Rights Act? While it may seem convenient to equate biotics with Anima, keep in mind that Anima also allows for mind-reading, telepresence and limited forms of precognition, both of which could be used for unparalleled violations of privacy; not to mention could wreak havoc with economic markets." The Matriarch looked around the room, locking eyes with everyone in turn. "Do we then restrict magical abilities, liken them to firearms and other prohibited substances or objects? Doing so may make us feel safe, but how would we enforce these prohibitions? Not to mention, how would we do so without violating the Citadel Council Charter, Chapter 1 Article 1?"

Another button was pressed and the holo-projector was filled with images of the myriad races of the Protectorate.

"The third issue is that the Protectorate is not comprised of a single species. First Contact with the Protectorate also meant First Contact with humanity – the face of the Protectorate, the blajini, fauns, jinn, padurii, sasquatch, spectres, vampires, demonkind, werewolves, fairies and spirits. Many of these are not single species either. For example, demonkind and spirit-kind is an umbrella term for a whole host of species. The Protectorate contends that their home-world itself is a living being, Gaia and that she communicates to the Protectorate through the messenger race known as the Buzzing. These last two add another wrinkle; Gaia and the Buzzing are not members of the Protectorate, rather they are separate entities that oversee the Protectorate." A few eyebrows went around the room, Nyxetka realizing this was the first time everyone else was hearing about this too. "But that is another division's problem," the Matriarch continued, waving away any questions on that topic.

"I'd like to remind you all," the Matriarch went on in a much calmer voice, "That these issues are galactic in scope. I don't expect them to be resolved by one team working in one conference room, only weeks after the Ministry began official work. No, it is more likely that these are conundrums that will stay with us for years, perhaps decades." The Matriarch paused and fiddled with a very crude piece of jewelry around her neck, one that seemed out of place with the rest of her immaculate outfit. "So please, do not be so hard on yourselves. Do not mistake calm, deliberate action with failure, do not mistake expediency for success."

Nyxetka turned to Lynithnea, a goofy grin on her face as her idol's words bumped her excitement to near uncontrollable levels. A couple of her coworkers also seemed moved by the Matriarch's words. Even Imosley, herself a closet fan of the woman, looked less irritated at the world than she usually did.

"Now, I ask us to officially begin Day Three of Group 16-D of the Ministry of Metalaw's Citadel-Protectorate Committee, sub-committee on Human Affairs. Our job is to provide our considered opinion to the committee heads who, in turn, will take our proposals to the Protectorate in the hopes of establishing legislation which will treat both our societies with respect and tolerance."

Nyxetka took a deep breath before she began opening all the relevant files at her desk. Legal precedents from over three thousand years of Citadel history, as well as her own notes compiled throughout university and her own time at the Ministry. She saw others do the same.

"Legally, are humans persons?"

"Martius brings up an interesting point," Nyyru continued, nodding in the hologram's direction. "I think an argument could be made that the humans became legal persons when the Council met with the crew of the GPS Sampson." Nyyru pressed a few buttons at her desk, projecting several files up for view. "If you look at CCC 722a-"

"I see where you're going," Imosley interrupted, "but it's a very flimsy argument to make. It smacks of supreme arrogance to suggest that simply speaking to our ambassadors makes someone a person. How do you think they'd take that line of argument? 'Hey good news; you are now persons solely because we talked to you.' They'd be outraged." Imosley leaned back in her seat, a frown on her face. "Let's treat our new neighbors a little more respect."

Martius and Nyyru both seemed to deflate at her words, before Nyyru nodded. "You're right. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-it does reek of Citadel-centrism to suggest what I did."

"It was just a thought," Martius mumbled weakly.

The Matriarch hummed, drawing everyone's attention. "Currently, it is a rather… ill-advised argument to make, for the reason Miss Iessido already pointed out. However, I do think it may be necessary to cover every conceivable angle." She turned to look at Martius and Nyyru, "Why don't you two look into this line of argument a little more? We can always frame it in a friendlier way." Martius and Nyyru glanced at each other and nodded, Nyxetka grinning as they did so. It was an open secret that the two turians were in love with each other. "Perhaps it would be best to start with some form of precedent that we are familiar with before we consider wholly new rulings."

Surkan immediately raised his hand, a habit he'd picked up somewhere in university. "Might we go back to the very basics," he began, without waiting for the Matriarch to call on him. Another habit he'd picked up somewhere in university. "We are here to determine if the humans met the legal requirements to be persons, but to answer that question we must first answer another. Are humans alive?"

Imosley immediately scoffed, "Of course they are."

"Really?" Surkan challenged before typing something out on his desk. "We can all agree that humans meet all of the classical requirements for life," he gestured up at the screen, drawing everyone's eyes up to various biological definitions of life. Then a new screen providing information on the so-called ghosts appeared. "But, when humans are injured in such a way that… well, injured to the point where their bodies expire, their…"

"Souls?" Martius offered.

Surkan frowned, "I am given to understand that the preferred term is Anima-form, but several of their official media use the term interchangeably with ghost, souls, specters, poltergeists. So long as we all understand what I am referring to, I will continue to use the term Anima-form. Now, their Anima-forms are not composed of matter and therefore do not meet any of the requirements for life except response to stimuli." Surkan waited a moment before continuing. "I therefore contend that Anima-forms are not alive and therefore cannot be persons."

Someone coughed as the entire group mulled over his argument. "Surkan, are you saying humans aren't persons at all?" Imosley questioned.

Surkan's eyes widened while a few of the others looked at him expectantly. "I should have been clearer, I apologize. The human Anima-form is not alive and therefore cannot be a person."

Nyxetka hummed at that. The genetic definition of life had long held considerable sway in the metalaw courts and his argument seemed entirely derived from that precedent. Still, it seemed culturally insensitive to the humans to declare one of their stages of life to not actually be a stage of life. Nyxetka turned her head to the side, bringing her hand up to shield her mouth as she spoke into her omni-tool. "Tariya," she whispered, "please forward any relevant information on bioethics, definitions of life and exotic lifeforms to my desk. Include any Protectorate files in this search."

"Of course, Miss Shaix," her VI assistant answered as her desk lit up with several new communications. Nyxetka silently thanked Mama Sali for buying her such an advanced VI; she probably wouldn't have graduated law school if it weren't for the wonderfully adorable VI assistant. Nyxetka tried her best to review the files Tariya had compiled while also paying attention to the current conversation. Unfortunately, she realized her multi-tasking skills weren't as wonderful as she'd imagined, only a few seconds had passed and she'd already lost track of the conversation. She hissed in pain as her best friend Linythnea gently kicked her underneath the table.

"-oposing Mister Naxe?" The Matriarch leaned forward, Nyxetka noticing her full figure as she did so. She hoped she'd develop as wonderfully as the older woman.

"I propose we end recognition of legal personhood for humans while they are in their Anima-forms. To be clear; we collaborate with the Protectorate to determine when the fetus develops a brain or whenever it is they have culturally decided to consider their unborn as legal persons" he signaled with his hands, segmenting off different portions of his argument. "They retain personhood throughout their biological life. Personhood ends when they sustain enough physical trauma that they must enter their Anima-form," he then motioned to cut off the final portion of his argument. "Personhood is restored when they repair their biological bodies and resume corporeal form." He glanced around the table, seeing some of the wary looks on people's faces. "This is not without precedent." Surkan continued. "Many of the galactic nations have long recognized that personhood is not a quality inherent to all life; furthermore, many hold the opinion that personhood may be limited to certain stages of life. Fetuses are not persons, even though they will develop into the intelligent animals that we recognize as persons. Coma patients with extensive brain damage are not persons." Surkan paused, blinking as he looked down at his desk. "At least, current medical technology cannot restore their brain's functionality necessary for personhood."

Imosley, who sat next to Surkan, smiled before turning to the salarian. "I'd like to direct our esteemed colleague to T'doran tust T'doran, it's a pre-Citadel court case. Happened on Thessia about 400 years before the asari met the salarians at the Citadel. That court found that the peculiarities of our reproduction," at this she pointed to herself and all the other asari at the table, "mean that our little bundles of joy are considered persons."

Surkan's eyes roamed all over the archaic court case, reading words that had become common knowledge among the asari of the galaxy. "This court case is over 3,800 years old. How could you-"

"How could I know about it? Two reasons." Imosley smiled, "One – that's the famous court case that made abortion illegal in the Republics. Every asari knows it. And two – 3,800 years ago, was my great-grandmother's time," she answered. "As for why you didn't know about it; another two reasons. One – that's about… 90 grandfathers ago for you, isn't it? And two – it's also a court case that deals with sex and reproduction, which is of little interest to you salarians."

"95 generations ago," Surkan corrected. "And you are right, those peculiar biological imperatives are irrelevant to me." He leaned back as he finished reading over the court case, eyes rolling. "I often forget just how vast the gulfs between our lifespans are… Mr. Milton, one of the human ambassadors, was born 3,800 ago."

"He will outlive everyone here. They all will, the laws we propose here will affect them far longer than they will us." Linythnea added. Beside her Nyxetka smiled as she imagined Ambassador Milton, a few trillion years older, walking around on Thessia. "Back to Keakisy's T'doran tust T'doran example. Unfortunately, asari law isn't as clear cut. Fetuses are only considered legal persons with regards to their right to life, in every other legal context they are not."

Surkan perked up, eager to see where Linythnea was going with her argument.

LInythnea gestured around her desk, her hands graceful as she gestured towards main display screen. "Tolomar Industries tust City of Armali, an even older case from the dawn of the machine age." Nyxetka glanced at her best friend; Linythnea had written several papers on Tolomar Industries tust City of Armali. She knew the case by heart. "The court case concerned the use of child labor. Not the first such case, but it was a pivotal one. Rather than use expensive machine presses, Tolomar Industries would hire young asari for their biotic abilities. Their child laborers would use their biotic abilities to crush or flatten raw materials into whatever shapes were needed to fuel the booming steel industry."

Linythnea displayed images surrounding the case. Ancient black and white photos showing young girls working in terrible conditions. Martius gasped as the images changed, showing some young girls maimed or killed by uncontrolled biotic abilities. A few of the other people at the table winced or looked away, all except the Matriarch and Imosley. The older woman gave sad, pitying looks at the girls in the pictures. Imosley looked livid. Centuries ago, when she and Linythnea had snuck into her mother's library and spied those gruesome images for the first time, they had both cried.

"When brought before the courts, Tolomar Industries argued that such 'workplace accidents' were expected, nearly 60% of all steelworkers suffered similar fates due to similar cost-cutting measures." The images switched, the gruesome photos of little girls crushed on factory floors changing to grown women crushed on factory floors. "They argued that since these deaths were acceptable among adults, then they should be acceptable among children. An idiotic argument." Linythnea scoffed, glaring at the images of several of the Tolomar Industries defendants.

"I agree," the Matriarch announced, earning a smile from Linythnea.

The prim girl continued with her argument, "The prosecutors working for the City of Armali called several child psychologists who testified that asari children under 50 are incapable of entering legal contracts and incapable of giving consent to safety waivers. Because of this ruling Tolomar Industries lost upwards of 90% of its workforce. Bankrupt within the week." Linythnea leaned back in her seat, the entire group watching her. "This also set the precedent for all manner of future rulings which effectively made legal personhood unattainable by asari under 50, until they reach the age of majority." The holographic images then switched to children of all species; all equally adorable. "Most legal systems do not consider children as legal persons, they cannot own property, they cannot enter contractual obligations, they cannot sue or be sued, they have curfews, they cannot bear arms, they cannot vote, cannot give consent to… several things."

Martius' hologram flickered, "I think you may be conflating legal personhood with natural personhood. Children are natural persons, it is simply that we don't grant them all the rights of all legal personhood until their age of majority."

"Isn't this what we're debating?" Linythnea asked. "Show of hands, how many of us believe the humans are persons, even as ghosts?" Nyxetka raised her hand, as did everyone else. Even Surkan raised his hand, drawing a urprised look from Martius. "But legally it's a very different story."

Linythnea made to stand up before looking at the Matriarch. "Of course," The Matriarch announced, rolling her shoulders. "Please everyone, feel free." At her words, Nyyru stood up and stretched, while Keakisy made a break for the refreshment and sweets table.

Keakisy began walking around the table, "Anima-forms don't have physical bodies," she stopped at her desk as her own personal VI assistant appeared. "Please activate my simulation." Her VI assistant bowed before the main holo-tank was cleared and a simuvid was loaded. Nyxetka leaned forward, happily watching as a scene was created in front of her; an apartment, two dead humans and several C-Sec officers storming into the room. "Let us suggest that C-Sec responds to a disturbance at Mister and Missus Human's apartment suite, they find the scene of an apparent suicide. Like all good officers should, they begin to investigate the scene of the crime." The simuvid began playing, little holographic C-Sec officers moving about the room, before long one of them discovers a pistol in the hand of the Missus. The simuvid changed, adding a pixilation effect over the heads of the two human bodies. "The officers assume this may be a suicide pact, or perhaps a domestic dispute that turned bloody. Maybe John and Jane were attempting to fight off an intruder and failed. Whatever the cause, they both have gunshot wounds to the head. A tragic, but legally uncomplicated situation, isn't it?"

The simuvid started over, this time with only the two humans in the room. Their holographic avatars were friendly, laughing and sharing drinks. They look over the handgun, tossing it around before shooting each other in the head. Their Anima-forms, blue avatars, step out of their bodies and resume their conversation. They sit in their living room, chatting happily.

"Except that Mister and Missus are merely thrill seekers who wondered what it would feel like to take a mass accelerator round to the head – some of you may have heard of the extreme sports on Lluvia, the extreme soccer. Players run around a field kicking a ball loaded with explosives into nets, often losing limbs in the process. Human immortality means that they may seek thrills in dangerous ways."

Nyxetka remembered the news coverage over that little fiasco.

The simuvid continues as before with C-Sec officers entering the room, except now two ghosts are visible, reacting to their presence.

Keakisy took a deep breath before she started speaking again. "While discharging a firearm is a criminal offense, what happens after that? Mister and Missus Human are still there, invisible to our eyes and ears, natural or otherwise. They don't want C-Sec searching through their house."

A sharp intake of breath drew Nyxetka's attention to Martius. "A violation of their right to privacy…"

Keakisy, who by now had walked all around the circular table and reached Martius, smiled and tapped him on the shoulder. "Would be the least of their worries, those C-Sec officers would have no legal authority to be operating in the room, no warrants. Any 'evidence' collected would be an illegal seizure, it's possible a good lawyer could argue that it also constitutes an illegal quartering of armed forces. If they physically examine the bodies of Mister and Missus without their consent they could be charged with a whole host of offenses, dozens of Chapter 1, Article 1 violations. If medical examiners or paramedics arrive on the scene and enact any medical procedure on the bodies, well, in addition to the CCC 11, the medical malpractice suits would boggle the mind. But, just to give you a hint of the situation…" Keakisy's VI assistant appeared again, before bowing towards the room. The simuvid gained an overlay which detailed every possible legal offense, there were at least thirty.

"No." Linythnea ventured from her spot near the drinks, a cup of caffeine drink in hand. "No. The officers would have reasonable suspicion. They'd be protected."

"But do they have reasonable suspicion that a crime has occurred?" Imosley asked, rolling her shoulders and popping her neck. "Death is trivial for humans, so much so that elementary schools teach children safe ways to escape their physical bodies. Only Protectorate authorities could have reasonable suspicion that a crime has occurred; Citadelan police forces are simply out of their field of experience." The green woman looked like she'd swallowed something vile. "Xeno-criminology and xeno-penology are already fantastically complicated areas, with lots of legal grey room for any one of those charges to stick. If Keakisy is right…" she mumbled, reading over all those potential violations. "I've studied those fields for years, I know how strange things can get. Citadelan police officers would be better served by not responding to any calls to known Gaian residences."

Keakisy, who was now in front of her seat, placed both hands on her desk, locking eyes with everyone. "This is just the beginning of the legal meteor shower."

The Matriarch, who had been mostly quiet until now, elected to speak. "Currently, the Ministry of Communications has rated the Protectorate-Citadel as a plus-plus on the Kianpa scale. But we must accept the possibility that the Protectorate may never seek to fully integrate itself with the Citadel. Given that we have never discovered Anima ourselves and the possibility that the Protectorate may never wish to share their technological edge, it is possible that we may never develop a method to interact with Anima-forms." The Matriarch glanced at her desk, then at the chronometer on the main display screen. "We've been at this for hours, how about we take a break?" Several people murmured in agreement. "30-minute break everyone, please don't go far. I believe that today lunch is on Miss T'meze."

"I'm surprised you still aren't over there, gushing like a schoolgirl." Linythnea smiled through small bites of their take-out lunch, both looking over at the Matriarch as she laughed with Keakisy, Martius and Nyyru.

Nyxetka beamed, food stuck in her teeth as she held up her favorite datapad. The Matriarch's book, The Three Relativities of Personhood, sporting the elegant digital signature of the Matriarch. "She signed it!" she grinned, trying to keep her voice down and failing. "I even bought a separate copy for Zeleemna, signed it for her too. She is going to flip!" Nyxetka hopped. "We all need to get together soon, catch up."

Linythnea held up a napkin, wiping her excitable friend's mouth. "As soon as we get some time off, of course. If I have to keep up this proper rich girl act any longer…"

"mmhh fffuu mfffh," the girl began through the lace napkin before taking it from her friend's hand. "I've been thinking about the Matriarch."

"She's amazing, isn't she?" Linythnea agreed, still signaling her friend that she had a bit of food on her mouth.

"She is," Nyxetka nodded, dabbing the napkin wherever her friend pointed to, "In fact, that's what I'm thinking about. The Matriarch could have picked any team in the Ministry; instead she picked ours. You know our team Liny, I love them all."

"But?" Linythnea prodded, taking a sweet off Nyxetka's plate.

"Well, our team hasn't exactly endeared itself to the higher ups. We're very liberal in our proposals." Nyxetka glanced down at her plate. "I thought we had a truce on sweets?"

"I'm not the one on a diet," Linythnea smiled before eating her stolen goods. "The galaxy thinks the Ministry is filled with super liberals, but most of the Supreme Judges are asari born multiple centuries ago. But it fits. The Matriarch is a liberal herself. Probably why she hasn't been offered a position as a Supreme Judge, not with Corlitora and Prasan on the bench."

Nyxetka whistled her favorite musical tone while staring out the window, the gleaming white of the Presidium before them.

"What are you thinking Nyx?" Linythnea asked, staring out the same window.

"I'm thinking the Matriarch is frustrated. She won't show it, because she's too well-mannered for that. Her politics lean to the right, and she picks the most right-leaning team in the Ministry. And what are we doing? Playing it safe."

Linythnea finished her drink, staring at the empty cup. "I've noticed the same thing. If all my mother's high-class parties taught me anything, besides giving me a wonderful lesson into the dangers of underage drinking, it's reading people's facial expressions. Some people make or break their careers based on how well they can keep their tongue." She turned to her friend, leaning into a whisper. "So, what are we going to do about it?"

The two girls grinned, that stupid grin they had whenever they got into trouble together.

"Do you remember university?"

"That's an interesting proposal, Miss Shaix," The Matriarch mused, her face pleased. "You have already heard the arguments against, how would you respond?"

Nyxetka looked over at Linythnea, just to see if her friend was on board. She wouldn't proceed if she wasn't. Unfortunately for her, she was on board.

"I can't respond, at least I can't counter the arguments Keakisy and Surkan have made. They are right, completely right." Keakisy raised an eyebrow, while Surkan fixed his gaze on her. "Practically, it would be difficult to extend legal personhood to Anima-forms. Every interaction between us and Anima-forms would require a technological mediator, one which we simply don't have." Nyxetka took a deep breath, looking at all her friends. "But I know Surkan and Keakisy's hearts weren't really in their arguments, no matter how well they made them."

The Matriarch chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand. "The trait of a good lawyer."

"The best." Nyxetka beamed, "Everyone here is. I love this team, I love this family. Even you Imosley. But I know this team doesn't play it safe. So, I say we don't worry about the practical concerns, the hurtles. That a machine or a piece of technology must mediate interaction between us and them. I say we don't go by the letter of the law and go by the spirit of the law. And the spirit of the law is that we acknowledge the personhood of every form of life, even if they don't exist in physical space."

The Matriarch smiled, looking incredibly pleased. "Please continue, Miss Shaix."

"The MoC and the MoS are working to our benefit here," Nyxetka announced. "The first says this is a plus-plus on the Kianpa scale; the Protectorate and the Citadel both stand to benefit from good relations. Everyone wants to keep it that way." Nyxetka, who seemed in full control of the room now, gestured at the main screen, her VI Tariya taking her cue to project needed information. "While the MoS' preliminary report suggests this is a 11/0 First Contact, they note that the Protectorate's armed forces are formidable."

Martius and Nyyru scoffed, "Formidable," the girl quoted. "You know all Hierarchy citizens received an information packet a month ago on counter-human combat operations. Standard stuff the Hierarchy sends out whenever a new species is discovered. It recommended the use of heavy weaponry to 'incapacitate' humans. Without Anima weaponry of our own, we have no real way to combat Protectorate forces. Doesn't matter if we outnumber them a million to one."

"Good?" Linythnea guessed. That piece of military information surprising everyone in the room save the Matriarch.

"Really good," Martius agreed, his hologram leaning forward. "It means the Citadel will think twice about souring any relations between us and them."

Imosely clapped with a laugh. "Ha! Usually, politics wrangle us to do stupidly bad things, Now, politics are wrangling us to do stupidly good things." She smiled, viciously baring her teeth. Nyxetka wondered if she did have varren blood somewhere in her ancestry. "It feels good to buck the party line."

Surkan, who was pacing about the room with his omni-tool activated began talking at high speed. "Forcing the Citadel to acknowledge the legal personhood of the Anima-forms coincides with their interests. Legal interaction with the Anima-forms require Anima technology; the Citadel could petition the Protectorate to share those technologies in order to further good relations between the two. Either the Protectorate agrees and shares at least some form of Anima technology, which will allow us to study and potentially reverse engineer the technology, thus closing the technological gap between our peoples. Or the Protectorate turns down the request and instead offers the assistance and personnel needed to mediate between corporeal beings and Anima-forms, thus further deepening the cooperation between our peoples."

The Matriarch look pleased as she stood up and cleared her throat. "Miss Shaix, well done. I must say, that this is the team that I was expecting." She clapped her hands together, "Now, let's write our proposal. Be as radical as your team dossier says you all are. If we are all in agreement?" she asked.

Everyone in the room glanced at each other and gave signs of agreement. Nyxetka could tell her little group was eager and excited, like it was their first day on the job right out of law school.

"Wonderful," the Matriarch was just as excited as everyone. No one was sure if the team's excitement had affected her, or if her excitement was what affected the team. The holo-tank was cleared as the room's VI went into dictation mode. "This is Matriarch Sealthia Iallior, Group Leader 16-D of the Ministry of Metalaw's Citadel-Protectorate Committee, sub-committee on Human Affairs, dictating the Legal Recommendation for the Supreme Judges."

She took in a breath.

"It is the considered opinion of this group that the Citadel Council Charter demands that All Members of the Citadel Council acknowledge the personhood of Humans, both in corporeal and Anima-form…"

"Miss Sali, Miss Shaix," the Matriarch called out as everyone filed out of the room, happy and excited to have finished up the first draft of their legal recommendation for the Supreme Judges. The Matriarch had invited everyone to dinner at a nearby luxury restaurant to celebrate the "metamorphosis of their team". The two girls waited as the rest of their team headed towards the elevators. Nyyru had left early to pick Martius up at his apartment, the two turians agreeing to meet everyone at the restaurant. The Matriarch sauntered up to them, datapads in hand. "I have to say, today was an explosive first day."

Nyxetka stammered while Linythnea kept her composure. "What Nyx means to say, Matriarch, is that 'it was nothing'".

The Matriarch held out her hand, the two girls looking at the outstretched hand and then at each other before rushing to shake her hand first. Nyxetka won first, putting both hands on the Matriarch's and shaking with wild abandon. If the older woman objected to the handshake, she didn't show it. Instead she laughed, the laughter of a mature woman used to tongue tied adoration.

"I made a good choice working with this team," she admitted as she switched to shake Linythnea's hand. "I have been following everyone's career here for quite some time. You all remind me a little of myself. I'll have you know, I requested Miss Artesir be transferred to our little group."

"Zeleemna!?" Nyxetka gasped while Linythnea's shock halted her handshake.

"She's the missing part of your three girl team isn't she?" The Matriarch questioned, pulling out a datapad. "You've read my work," she said, flipping through electronic pages, "And I read yours," she announced, holding up a copy of an article the three girls had co-written in university.

"Zeleemna…" Nyxetka began, looking at all the notes the Matriarch had written along the margins of their paper.

"…is going to flip!" Linythnea breathed.

"A very provocative argument," the Matriarch mused, looking over the datapad once again. "After all, most papers written on the legal personhood of artificial intelligences stick to the letter of the law or outline the dangers of non-organic intelligences; as if the history of organic beings is one filled with peace and happiness. Whereas you three made a compelling argument based on the spirit of the law. Now, where have we heard something similar?" The older woman shared a sly glance with her two juniors. "I'm sure the Supreme Judges will accept our recommendation and extend legal personhood to the various Anima-forms in the Protectorate. It is the right thing to do. And if Corlitora and Prasan can't see that, I'm sure they'll see the self-interest in the recommendation," the Matriarch announced as she began walking towards the elevators, the two star struck girls following closely behind.

As they entered a free elevator the Matriarch continued, "Tell me, did you two know the Protectorate extends citizenship to artificial intelligences? There aren't many, but they are there. Once they discover our anti-AI laws, I'm sure their lawyers will butt heads with our lawyers…" the Matriarch trailed off, letting the two girls pick up her train of thought.

Linythnea was the first to speak up. "Normally, none of the Citadelan societies would budge. Our AI laws are often challenged but rarely ever threatened, no court has ever managed to seriously call for their repeal…"

The two asari then turned to Nyxetka. "Usually because no society has ever had evidence that AIs and organics can co-exist peacefully. But if the Protectorate does, then that blows a hole in most anti-AI logic." Nyxetka put a hand to her head, "Oh! And if the Ministry accepts our proposal, then we'd have already set a precedent for the acceptance of non-corporeal beings as persons. The difference between a floating energy pattern and an electronic mind is trivial! Or, at least the argument could be made that the difference is trivial.

For several seconds, no one said anything.

"In a few years," the Matriarch began, "A good team of lawyers will have to argue that the difference is indeed trivial. Would you two-I'm sorry-would you three, Miss Artesir included, be interested?"

Nyxetka slowly turned to Linythnea, who looked as shocked as she felt.

Then, slowly, a grin creeped up on their faces. The same stupid grin they had whenever they got into trouble together.

"Are you kidding me?" Nyxetka answered, "This is what we live for."