Hannah rubbed her eyes as a persistent beeping sounded in her cabin. She flicked on the light next to her bed and reached over for her tiny comm link, placing it in her ear.
"Yes?" she spoke out, her voice picked up by the receiver sewn into her uniform.
"We're arriving, Commander. I thought you'd like to join me on the bridge."
"Thank you, sir. I'll be there ASAP." Hannah stood, still wiping sleep from her eyes and stumbled to the sink in her room. She splashed some water on her face and ran a toothbrush over her teeth, then bolted through her cabin door. In the hall, she walked swiftly, but purposefully, wanting to keep the appearance of composed authority. She entered the elevator at the end of the hall and anxiously waited for it to ascend. When it opened onto the bridge, she stepped off and hastily marched up next to Captain Hackett.
"Sir," Hannah spoke, greeting him.
Steven turned to her with a soft smile. "Commander. Take a look." He turned back to the windshield of the frigate and Hannah followed his gaze. She saw a large object looming through the glass. Her heart beat in anticipation as the ship drew closer, the object becoming clearer, revealing a vast complex with five arms radiating from a central ring. For the first time, she beheld with her own eyes the Citadel, central station of the entire galaxy and housing the influential Citadel Council. Hannah could hardly believe she was here, about to see the Citadel and its aliens for herself.
Steven had called her up four months ago, offering her the opportunity to join him on his ship, the SSV Agincourt. He had an opening for a Lieutenant Commander and remembered how she'd always expressed a deep interest in the alien races of the galaxy. He had let her in on some confidential intel—his ship would be accompanying a delegation from the Systems Alliance to the Citadel. Hannah had wanted to jump at the chance, but didn't know what Daniel would think. When she'd hesitantly asked him if he would mind, he'd flashed a large smile and explained that Steven had contacted him before her, asking permission to bring his wife along on his ship. Daniel couldn't imagine not giving her the chance to see aliens in person.
So it was that Hannah found herself on the Agincourt, standing next to Steven, gazing at the Citadel. Having turned thirty last year, Hannah had depressingly reassessed her life, passing a milestone that caused her to ruminate on her career. She'd wanted to be a captain by thirty, but it hadn't happened. When Steven called, she felt like being assigned to the Agincourt was an answer to the fear she would end up being stationed on carriers indefinitely. As she stared at the station floating outside the ship, she felt she had finally accomplished something, if only just being able to insert herself into the social center of the galaxy.
The Agincourt slowed down and hovered several kilometers from the Citadel.
"Sir, we've taken up our position with the fleet," the helmsman reported.
"Well done," Steven replied, then turned to an officer standing to his left. "Inform the crew that once the delegation has left the Elbrus, we will begin rotating for shore leave."
"Yes, sir."
Steven turned his head to Hannah, speaking in a lower voice, his tone of command absent. "What do you think?"
"It's quite impressive. I can't believe I'm this close to it."
Steven nodded to her. "Would you like to be one of the first from the ship to step foot on it? I'm going over as soon as we're settled here. I've been allowed to take a select number of the crew with me for the first round of shore leave."
Hannah grinned at him, letting her military guard down for just a moment. "Thanks. Of course I want to come with you."
Hannah traipsed back to her cabin, elated. In approximately forty minutes, she'd be on a shuttle and on her way to the Citadel, seeing its inside for herself. It had been five years since the First Contact War and although much had changed technologically and socially for humanity, she still hadn't met any aliens in person. She felt both excited and nervous at the prospect of discovering the races of the wider galaxy.
Hannah packed her bag quickly. She wouldn't be on the station long, maybe two days at the most, so she packed light. She picked up her data pad. It was a newer model, influenced by alien technology. She tapped the screen and it lit up. She wanted to send a message to Daniel and Jane, letting them know she had arrived at the Citadel. She noticed that a new message was waiting for her from Jane. She pressed the subject line and up popped the message.
Hi mom! I'm sending you a short report I wrote for school. I got a 100! It was for history class. We had to interview our parents about the First Contact War. I interviewed dad. Sorry I didn't ask you, but he kind of was in it. Anyway, I've attached it. Hope you get to the Citadel safely. Can't wait to hear which aliens you get to meet! Jane
Hannah smiled at the message. Jane was only eight, almost nine, but sounded so much more mature than she was. She excelled in school, the rate at which she devoured information astonishing both Hannah and Daniel. Hannah tapped the attachment and the report appeared on her data pad.
Historical Event: The First Contact War Interviewee: Daniel Shepard, my dad
My dad fought in The First Contact War. He was on the SSV Galileo, but he was a marine, so he fought on the ground and helped free Shanxi from the turian invasion. My dad said he was proud to help the colonists.
Even though my dad fought in the war, he said that war should be avoided if at all possible. My dad said that humans and aliens should try to get along and support each other, not fight each other. We have a lot to offer each other and the galaxy can only get better if all the races get along.
I think my dad is right. Every culture is unique and I hope I get to meet aliens some day to learn about them. So, the First Contact War was good because it helped Shanxi, but also good because it introduced humanity to the galaxy. I also think it was good the Citadel Council came to stop the war so we could all get along.
Hannah took a deep breath. It was a good report, not only because Jane had got an A, but also because it revealed Daniel was willing to talk about the war with her. He had avoided discussing it with her as she grew and Hannah wondered if he would ever be willing to share with Jane what he had learned. Apparently he had grown as well as Jane over the last five years.
Hannah quickly sent a message back to Jane, congratulating her on her report, letting her know she had arrived at the Citadel and instructing her to tell Daniel she loved him. Then she shoved the data pad into her bag and headed for the door, eager to get to the shuttle that would ferry her over to the Citadel.
Once on the Citadel, Hannah found her attention pulled in several different directions all at once. There were aliens aplenty. Hannah identified them as she walked along: asari, turian, krogan, volus, hanar, salarian, elcor and on and on. Over the last five years she had read all the material humanity had received on the alien races both about their cultures and their histories. She'd learned about the krogan and the Rachni Wars and knew there was a statue somewhere in the Citadel commemorating the krogans' role in stopping the Rachni. She knew about the war between the quarians and the geth and that the quarians had been forced off their home world onto ships as their perpetual homes. She knew about the turians' own civil war called the Unification War. She knew pretty much anything there was to know that could be found in a book, but what she didn't have was actual experience with aliens herself. So as she passed the aliens on the Citadel, she tried not to stare, but couldn't help studying every one she walked by, curious about who he or she was and what history he or she had seen.
Added to her interest in the aliens was the Citadel itself. It was full of movement, aliens walking every which way, keepers (she'd read a book on the Citadel that mentioned them) strolling down the hallways, shops galore doing business, restaurants catering to patrons and entertainment venues flashing signs that displayed their services. There was almost too much to take in.
"Have you been here before?" Hannah asked Steven, who was keeping step beside her.
"A couple times. I've escorted other delegations. The Systems Alliance would like an embassy here at some point."
"So, where are we headed?"
Steven smiled. "The Presidium. You'll love the view." He stopped at an elevator and punched a button. When the door opened, they entered and Steven pressed another button. When the elevator stopped, Hannah found the door opening onto a breathtaking sight. Beyond a waist high wall lining the hallway in front of them, Hannah beheld a shimmering lake complete with fountains. Greenery poked up along walkways and stood in corners. There was even a "sky." Hannah had read the sky was artificial, designed to give the inhabitants of the Citadel the feeling that they lived in a natural environment. What surprised her was the pleasant feeling that filled her as a breeze flitted over her face.
"Did I just feel a slight breeze?" she asked as they descended some steps to move closer to the lake.
"Yep. They made this part of the Citadel as close to a lush paradise as possible."
As they strolled along the lake, Hannah gazed at the fountains and sighed. This certainly was a sight worth seeing. She wished Daniel and Jane could have come along and seen it with her. Maybe they should plan a family holiday sometime and come to the Citadel.
"Do humans come here often?" Hannah asked.
"Sometimes," Steven answered, walking along with his hands behind his back. "The human presence has been growing slowly."
Hannah perceived the "sky" above them lessening in intensity. "It's getting darker, moving towards its night cycle."
"There's a really good restaurant on the second level down at the end," Steven mentioned. "I figured the least I could do was treat you to dinner. I want Daniel to know I treated his wife right while she was with me."
Hannah nodded, accepting his proposal. She really liked Steven Hackett. He and Daniel had continued to be good friends. She knew facing the First Contact War together had cemented their friendship. Hannah had discovered early on that combat often bound soldiers to one another.
As they approached the restaurant, Hannah whistled. "Wow. The Citadel Tower is so much more amazing in person."
Steven glanced up at the immense tower that contained the Council Chambers and its offices. "This place takes your breath away," he agreed.
They spent the evening dining at what Hannah thought must have been a five star restaurant. She hadn't eaten so well in a long time. Several other officers joined them and she enjoyed the company. Many of the officers had been to the Citadel before, but the ones who hadn't were just as awed as her. A few had been to the shops and their purchases convinced her to seek the shops out after dinner.
Hannah walked alone, savoring nighttime as it displayed its splendor in the Presidium, the "sky" having dimmed and its artificial lights now twinkling like stars above her. She bought an alien starship model for Jane. She would have liked to have purchased a fish, but all the fish were alien in nature and she didn't know if they would be compatible with the Earth fish already in Jane's tank back on Mythos.
She also spent some time listening to Avina, the Citadel's VI, to learn as much as she could about the station. In her mind she constructed a map of the Citadel for future reference. As she made her way to the room she would be staying in overnight (a small group of rooms had been rented by the Systems Alliance for shore leave), she caught sight of an imposing turian, large in stature, a determined look in his eye. He stood with his hand on his omni-tool, apparently hard at work. He was muttering to himself and she couldn't help but be slightly interested in his conversation as he finally put his hand to the side of his head to talk to someone on the other end of his comm link. She paused for a moment to glance over a balcony so she could eavesdrop, glad she'd been fitted with a translator for the duration of her stay.
"I haven't found any evidence of foul play," he spoke brusquely, his voice deep and flanging, his mandibles twitching in irritation. He paused, apparently listening. "It was a human who reported the incident. With their unstable emotions, it was probably a mistake." Hannah felt anger boil and she immediately took offense at his statement inside. He had stopped to listen again, then continued. "It's not necessary." Another pause, then, "Vakarian out." He marched off down the hall and Hannah turned to watch him go. The war may have ended five years ago, but apparently there was still no love lost between humans and turians.
The next morning Hannah rose early and accompanied the other officers back to the Presidium to find a place for breakfast. After they ate, they split up and went their different directions, each intent on his or her own designs of how best to enjoy the Citadel.
Hannah found herself alone by virtue of the fact that she had decided to check out the wards on the Citadel. One officer had told her it was best to stay in the Presidium where security was effective and the "riff-raff" didn't assemble. But Hannah wanted to see how the other spectrum lived, the other classes of aliens that weren't as well off as those that could afford permanent residence in the Presidium.
As she walked the Upper Wards, Hannah perceived that the aliens here were middle class, as the shops, restaurants and entertainment venues offered services in a mid-range of credits. She observed fewer humans in the Upper Wards, but they were there nonetheless. She did catch a few glances sent her way, though she didn't feel any threat behind them, just curiosity.
Mid-morning, she found herself in the Lower Wards, which were obviously a scale down from the Upper Wards. Larger groups hung about, some of them clearly unsavory. Systems Alliance officers hadn't been allowed to bring any weapons onto the Citadel. Humans hadn't gained enough respect yet to be trusted to carry guns freely on the central station of the galaxy. Still, Hannah didn't feel any fear. She could take care of herself if she needed to and no one had approached her in animosity.
Hannah wandered through a few shops. The Alliance Navy had just recently been issued omni-tools. She noticed several upgrades for omni-tools, though she'd left hers back at her room. She wasn't quite used to wearing it yet and kept forgetting to put it on.
She'd finally decided to leave the Lower Wards when she spotted a club that was already open for business early in the day. She couldn't read the title of the club which was flashing in neon blue, but it looked interesting from the outside. She was curious to see aliens in a relaxed environment; maybe she'd even get to talk to one.
Hannah walked to the door of the club and slipped inside. It was noisy, if only because of the loud music pounding through the room. There were more patrons present than Hannah expected for the time of day. By the looks of many of them, they'd spent the night in the place. As Hannah glanced around, she realized she was the only human in the club. It felt awkward being in the minority and she almost left, but then noticed an asari bartender staring at her with an open and welcoming smile.
Hannah sauntered over to the bar and sat on one of the stools. The asari nodded his or her head to her. Hannah knew the asari were mono-gendered. So, was it him or her? Hannah considered the asari the most beautiful race in the galaxy and found they were even more so up close as she studied the bartender's flawless blue skin and shapely face.
"Alliance Navy?" the bartender asked in a feminine, though deep voice.
"Yes," Hannah replied glancing down at her navy blue uniform.
"I'm guessing you have shore leave? I heard there was a human delegation on the Citadel."
"Yes, I'm with the fleet."
"Well, welcome to Gian's."
"Thanks. I was a little nervous to come in."
The asari smiled broadly. "We don't get many humans in the Lower Wards, not yet anyway. But I'm glad you came in. I'm fascinated with your species."
"Oh," Hannah said. Her own interest in aliens had occupied her thoughts over the last few years; it had never occurred to her that aliens might reciprocate with their own intense interest in humans. "How so?"
"You're a new race. There's so much to learn about who you are and what you're like. I've talked to a few humans."
"So…" Hannah decided to venture a question, "What do you think of us?"
The asari grinned. "I like you. You're young and adventurous. I've never been one for the stuffy Matriarchs of my own culture. I think I have a lot more in common with humans."
The bartender's mention of the Matriarchs made Hannah wonder how old the Asari was. "How old are you?"
"Six hundred fifty-one years. I guess I'm supposed to be moving towards being a Matriarch myself, but I really don't want to."
Hannah stared at the asari, finding it nearly impossible to comprehend her vast age. She then scanned the room, her eye stopping at the dance floor. A handful of patrons were dancing.
"You gonna go dance?"
Hannah snorted and looked back to the asari. "I've been told that really isn't what I'm good at."
"By humans?"
Hannah nodded.
"Well, maybe you look better to asari. Show me some moves."
Hannah felt a little embarrassed, but the asari's open way motivated her to stand. She swayed and spun until the asari started laughing.
"What?" she asked, sitting back down, slightly offended.
"Yeah, you can't dance. I think you should stick to drinking while you're in here. Don't want you causing a riot when they throw you out." The asari laughed again good-naturedly and Hannah found her defenses lowered as she could tell no insult was intended.
"Speaking of drinks…" Hannah said.
"What would you like?"
"Well, I haven't tried anything that's not human in origin yet."
"Ah. First alien drink. Let's see…" The bartender kneeled down and Hannah could hear glass bottles tinkling against each other underneath the bar. The asari popped up after a few seconds holding a decanter filled with an amber liquid.
"I'll start you light. Fesavi. It's batarian. Has a sweet aftertaste. Most humans I know like it." The bartender picked up a glass and poured the liquid into it, passing it to Hannah.
Hannah studied the drink, then took a sip and let it roll around in her mouth before she swallowed it. She nodded her head slowly. "Yeah, it's good."
"Thought you'd like it," the asari smiled. She glanced down the bar. "Sorry. I've got a couple others to attend to."
"No problem," Hannah said, taking another sip and watching the asari walk to the other end of the bar. She was about to continue consuming the drink when it was abruptly pulled from her hand. Turning, she found a batarian had appeared next to her. He was staring at her with all four of his eyes, his head tilted to his right. He had yellow and black markings immediately noticeable on the sides of his head. Hannah was well aware that the batarians had been disturbed by the advent of the humans into the galaxy. Both the humans and the batarians wanted to colonize the same area, the Skyllian Verge. Only a year and a half ago humanity had established its first colony in the region on Elysium.
"I don't want human filth tainting the glories of my home world," the batarian growled out. He downed the drink himself, swallowing it in one go.
"Excuse me?" Hannah spoke, her voice taut with threat.
The batarian placed the glass on the counter. "Get out, human." He spat the last word out like an insult.
Hannah's heart thumped in anger and offense. She stood up and folded her arms over her chest. "I have just as much right to be here as you do. You can leave if you don't like me."
The batarian moved close to her. They were about the same in height, so they met eye to eye, that is, she met the batarian's lower set of eyes. "I'll make you leave. Don't start a scene, human. Leave now."
Hannah shook her head. She didn't know if the batarian understood the gesture, but he reached out and grabbed her arm, apparently in an attempt to force her out of the club. Hannah twisted her arm out of his grasp. "Don't touch me," she warned.
The batarian didn't listen. He went to grab her again and instead found a fist connecting with his face, smashing into his lower right eye. He howled in pain and probably would have started an all out fight with Hannah if the asari bartender hadn't returned and intervened.
"He bothering you?" the asari asked Hannah, her forehead creased in anger.
"Yeah," Hannah said, rubbing her knuckles.
"Get out of here, Balak," the asari demanded. "I don't want to see you in here again."
Balak stood with a hand over his eye and glared down the asari, not moving toward the door.
"I'll call my bouncers and they'll throw you out if you don't get your feet moving towards that door."
Balak narrowed all four of his eyes at Hannah, but walked to the door, glancing back to give Hannah one last frown. The asari shook her head.
"He's a hothead, that one. Always causing trouble. I try to keep him out when possible."
Hannah sat back down, breathing quickly, steadying herself.
"You're impressive. Quick thinking and skilled with your fists. The Alliance Navy must have some good combat training."
"Yeah," Hannah agreed, fingering her empty glass. She'd never been confronted like that, prejudice directly aimed at her.
"Here, let me get you another drink, on the house." The asari poured the golden liquid into another glass and handed it to Hannah who drank it slowly. "Don't fret over Balak. He's not worth your thoughts."
Hannah smiled. "Good point."
"So…" the asari intoned, "You here alone?"
"Only with my fleet."
"Yeah, so, would you like to go out somewhere? I get off work in twenty minutes."
Hannah spluttered, recognizing her first proposition from an alien. She was slightly flattered, but mostly flustered. She raised her left hand and pointed at the ring on her finger.
"So, what's that mean? Yes? No?"
Hannah laughed. "I'm married."
"Oh!" The asari joined her in her laughter. "I guess you learn something new every day. Do all married humans wear a ring on their left hands?"
"Most," Hannah informed the asari.
"Got it. Look for a ring next time."
Hannah spent about ten more minutes at the bar, finishing her drink and chatting with the bartender who seemed to want to know everything about humans. She said good-bye and left the club, happy she'd made at least one alien friend on her visit to the Citadel.
Hannah spied the elevator at the end of the hall and made her way towards it. She was about halfway there when she passed a narrow hallway. Before she knew what was happening, she'd been grabbed from behind, a hand clapped over her mouth. She struggled against her attacker, who was pulling her down the hall towards a door at the far end. No one else was in sight. Hannah finally managed to break the hold on her and without even looking behind her, swung her leg around in an arc. She knew she'd connected with someone when she heard a deep throated groan and saw a form crumpled on the ground in the dark hallway. As the figure began to rise, another set of arms linked around her. There was more than one attacker. She recognized the figure that pushed himself up off the ground. It was the batarian from the bar.
As she struggled against the new set of arms that held her tightly, covering her mouth and hugging her waist, she watched Balak narrow his eyes at her. "Get her through the door." The second batarian had a tight grip on her and the first one followed, ready to catch her if she made a break for it. The door slid open and she was pushed through, landing on her hands and knees. She stood up and found herself encircled, counting eight batarians surrounding her, all of them angry and out for blood.