Citadel
"So this is the Presidium Commons," Miona muttered in disappointment as she looked around the promenade.
Shutters were drawn on all shops, holo-advertisements were inert. Cleaning bots whizzed back and forth deserted walkways. A few C-Sec officers in sight stood at their posts. More could be see on their patrols in the distance. The only spots of colours were plants to relieve the cream, glassy greyish place. After the gloom and the dark of Omega, she expected something of the sort since the station was still closed off. It was brighter and cleaner than the old Omega but nevertheless it was still a disappointment not to see it at its best when she heard so much about it.
But I was so young then.
"Only a part of it. The Commons catered to those who can afford better accommodations." Shiala lightly touched Miona's arm to draw her attention to the apartment block off to the right. "Banks, cafes, shops. The lower tier of the Presidium harbored the more grittier trading exchanges."
Grittier? Miona smiled sourly to herself when she thought of the trading practices on Omega where a harsh or a deadly hand was a daily staple.
Not seeing the smile, Shiala continued to point out the locations of the Commons as she led the way along the promenade. There was not much to see, just empty buildings and monuments. She headed for the gardens. They crossed a bridge spanning the promenade and the gardens. Miona peered into the water of the reservoir below. Another disappointment. The water was blue and crystal clear but nothing moved. Of course there wouldn't be anything in it, she knew that. The water beckoned invitingly for her to jump in and swim. She thought longingly of the oceans of Thessia.
"Did you know the krogans thought there were fish in the reservoirs at one time?" Shiala said conversationally. "There were incidents of illegal 'hunting' and near drownings until C-Sec finally got tired of fishing krogans out of the water, fending off accusations of fallacy and fights over fishing rights. They got the Council to publicly proclaim there are no fish in the Citadel reservoirs."
Miona laughed. "You jest, surely." When Shiala shook her head, she laughed again. "But how did the krogans get the idea?"
Shiala grinned. "The same way you were searching the water just now. Once they get it in their heads, the krogans just kept going."
"They certainly can get going," Miona said wryly, "the problem is stopping them. I'm not surprised C-Sec resorted to the hardest block they could find."
"Did you often run into them on Omega?" Shiala asked curiously.
"All too often. They're not the most unpleasant customers compared to the batarians." Bracing herself against the railing of the bridge, Miona stared down into the water. "For all their crude fanged facade, even the vorcha are mild. And the humans? They can be shady and sly as the next salarian but they can be fair minded."
"Why do you say batarians are the worst?"
"Most krogans and vocha are pretty much up front when they're crossed. Deal them a bad hand and the worst you can get out of them is a straight up hard fight, spilled blood and missing chunks. If you're very unlucky, you get a rematch. Batarians-," Miona shook her head. "It's not a fight some of them look for, but terror and pain." She bent her head, images flaring across her eyes. "But they're mere babes compared to Cerberus."
"Do you blame Aria for losing Omega to them?"
A derisive snort escaped Miona. "What could she have done against a fleet of ships and mutants?"
"It is not an easy thing to win over such a place like Omega and to retain it as long as she did. It takes skill to manage a disparate and volatile potpourri and remain standing."
"I suppose," Miona growled and stared darkly back at the water swirling below.
Knowing she was brooding over Omega, Shiala tapped Miona to get her attention and moved off towards the gardens. After another look at the water below, Miona followed her. They went down a winding path that ran parallel to the huge reservoir. It curved along a low wall of a sprawling glass building through which groves of towering verdant trees and flora were visible. Part of the the wall was overflowing with a thick trellis of climbing plants. Bough of trees reared overhead. A furtive movement along a branch caught her eye. A pair of bright eyes from a rounded feathered head looked down at her, a familiar trill and the quick flash of amber of wings. A qiori.
They turned into the entrance. The perfume of flora was sharp to Miona's senses, bringing back the scents of home. Drawing deep breaths, she slowed as she gazed at the lush green canopy overhead, the blue of the false sky peeping through the gaps. Tiny sparkles scintillated off the wings of insects weaving swiftly through beds of flowers whose unfurled bright faces danced softly atop wavering leaves. A fast moving small stream cut through the wide green field, slipping shyly among the trees before branching off in many veins to flow directly to the large glass building in the distance. Amidst the rustle of leaves, the soft trills of qiori. It was akin to Thessia in spring and summer. Miona removed the glasses, desiring to see with her naked eyes.
"The water here circulates from the hydroponic system-," Shiala pointed to the building, "and is independent of the reservoir."
It took her a moment to realise Miona was not with her. Looking around, she saw the young asari taking off her boots as she walked towards the nearest tree. Quicker than a blink of an eye, she leaped up into the branches the moment she was close. Opening her mouth to call, Shiala closed it just as quickly. What was she to say? Certainly not to commend her. She doubted the gardeners would look kindly on people climbing trees, not that they expected anything of the kind from visitors.
Peering hard, she could just make out the young asari perched on the broad lower branch. She glanced around. There was no one about so why not let her be? She could understand Miona's desire to be close to innocuous surroundings that exude life than death. She would wander off a little way and let Miona have her privacy. But not too far away, she told herself. She sauntered slowly along the path.
The smell of wood and leaves was strong, slightly dank but soothing to Miona. She closed her eyes, freeing her senses to spread out around her. She could taste the presence of small living beings among the trees and flowers. The gentle rustle of leaves, the soughing of branches in the breeze, the subtle thrumming vibrancy of life around her. She drank it in thirstily, opening her eyes when she felt the gentle trilling vibration of qiori tugging at her like strings.
As a child, she followed flocks of qiori through the forest near her home, hoping to tame one. Much as she hoped for success, her youth, her awkwardness and her impatience worked against her. She did not want to tame one now but she wondered if she would be able to get close enough to share thoughts. A test of self, intent and discipline. No qiori would allow someone of a vicious nature to approach. She turned her head in the direction of the birds. Anticipation lit her eyes. She sprang for the upper branches.
More sensed than seen, Shiala knew Miona was leaping from branch to branch, nimbly crossing from one tree to the next. She followed below along the path, keeping an eye on Miona and at the same time, cataloging the flora. The trees were varied. Sogra with flat crowns and broad trunks holding out wide branches. Tall spindly Dnal with wide crowns and branches. Planted not long after the Citadel was discovered, they towered high.
It did not seem to daunt the young asari. Nor did she pause to decide on her course, swinging and springing across new territory with such confidence that Shiala wondered if she was merely relying on her reflexes or was she using additional augmented senses. She picked up her pace, trying to keep track of Miona and where she placed her feet. One misstep and she would be taking a bath in the stream.
Near the top of a sogra, Miona sensed she was nearing her quarry. Coming to a halt, she squatted and took a moment for her body rhythm to slow. Approaching qiori required a calm and gentle aura. If she did it right, the resonance of her mental aura would spark some interest among the birds perched on the branches above.
What should she think about? Thessia. She realised. Her home, the ocean she visited a few times as a child. She remembered the smell of the sea. Swimming in it. The surging waves that lifted, pushed at her. Floating like a leaf on the surface, the sky high above her. She drifted in the feeling. A soft brush of air from fluttering wings whispered against her face. Opening her eyes, she found herself looking into the glimmering blue eyes of a qiori.
It was a male, creamy white with a rich mixed hue of dark and golden amber. A faint sprinkle of red and green glinted at feather tips. His head was cocked at an angle, his eyes examined her curiously, his twin cream and amber head crest half raised. She held herself still, returning the gaze steadily. It chirruped and seemed to sniff in her direction, opening its beak as if tasting the air. Its crest rose and spread as it straightened, nodded his head and chirruped at her as if in greeting. She hummed softly, watching intently.
"You there! What're you doing up there?"
The voice was loud and shocking. The startled quiori leaped into flight with a burst of wings as she jumped in fright at the same time. Feeling herself slipping, she reached for the branch she was sitting on as she fell but missed it. Shiala heard a yelp and froze when Miona plummeted through the branches of the tree she was in. A miscalculation or a slip? She dashed towards Miona, ready to cushion her fall.
The thick branches of the canopy struck Miona, broken twigs and leaves following in her wake. She grunted when she bounced off a branch and made a grab for the next. She caught hold with both arms and winced at the wrenching momentum that pulled her to one side as her fall came to a abrupt stop. Looking around, she realised she had fallen far; the ground was a mere four metres away. She would have struck the ground if she hadn't stopped herself. She doubted the fall would kill her. Seriously injured, yes. She winced at the thought; she did not relish a visit to any doctor or medbay. She had enough of those.
She looked down and saw a turian. The shout came from him. His mandibles were agape as he stared at her, eyes wide. Her own eyes flared at him in fury. Before she could say anything, he dropped whatever he was holding in his hands and ran off towards the hydroponic building just as Shiala reached Miona.
"Are you all right?" Shiala asked anxiously.
Miona took a deep breath; she did not want the other asari to see her anger. When she was sure of herself she looked down to meet Shiala's worried gaze. "I'm fine. I think I scared him. I wasn't expecting anyone?" She felt that was a generous response than the one she wanted to give the turian.
"Maintenance and security services remained," said Shiala, picking up a device from the ground. "He's a gardener. I recognised his uniform. He was using this to check soil stability."
Stupid timing. Miona fumed silently. She was so close. The qiori was gone now and unlikely to come back. She dropped to the ground. "I left my boots behind."
"I'll get them while you-," Shiala pointed above, not certain that Miona wanted to return to her exploration.
"No. I'm not familiar with the layout of the trees and garden." Miona turned and headed back towards the entrance. The grass felt cool and springy beneath her feet.
Shiala returned the device where the gardener dropped it and kept pace with her, restraining the urge to rush the young asari off. She had her suspicion of what the gardener was going to do. Response would come swiftly. How did he spot Miona? She was high up in the tree and would have blended in with the gloom. Perhaps there were sensors on the trees to keep track of their stability.
"You were moving very smoothly. Were you using other senses?"
"Only my eyes and instincts. Didn't turn out very well as you can see."
"You traversed half the garden." Shiala waved at the distance Miona had gone. "I'd say you did very well. Were you chasing something? I couldn't see from where I was."
"I was looking at the birds."
"Qiori," Shiala said with a smile, guessing that the young asari was trying to attract one. "There're no other avian species on the Citadel."
"Why not?"
"Most of the plants come from Thessia," Shiala gestured around them. "It follows they would use pollinators like the quiori and gesh."
"The Citadel is supposed to be the hub of many applications," Miona said caustically.
"It's not an easy thing to transplant living species from its natural environment. Environment requirements and exigencies in adaptability have to be considered."
"And the costs." Miona dropped down beside her boots and began to pull them on. "Who'd want to pay mega credits to maintain flowers from Palaven?"
"Who'd want to be bitten by tarcs from Sur'kesh?"
A chuckle escaped Miona as she imagined the horror the bristly insects would bring. Although harmless, their appearance and their bristles always brought forth a spate of disgust and a rush for protective ointments. A brush from those bristles often raised mild skin irritation. Most people tend to think the worst however just from the insect's appearance. As she sealed her boots, there was a scuffle thump of running feet. Two C-Sec officers, a human and a turian, came running into the garden, eyes darting all around, plainly looking for the trouble reported by the gardener. They halted in confusion. Shiala watched them worriedly.
"Excuse me, have you seen-," the turian began to say to Shiala when Miona turned her head to look at them. The human's eyes widened. He grabbed his pistol with a warning shout. "TI! How did she get pass security?!"
Knowing what he was about to do, Miona rolled. Shots sizzled the space where she sat. Before he could fire again, Miona was upon him. She knocked the pistol out of his hand and struck him flat. Before his partner could fire on her, she disarmed him before his weapon cleared the grip. A blow to the chest and the turian was similarly down on the ground.
"Miona, no!"
Afraid the situation would spin out of control, Shiala put herself between the young asari and the downed officers. Miona didn't move. Before Shiala could say anything further, she heard the human called for backup behind her and the thud of running feet. Turning around, she saw the human C-Sec officer had scrambled up and was making for the entrance.
"Don't, Miona," she said sharply when she sensed the other moving to intercept. "You'll make it worse."
"Spirits. Run," the turian gasped at her before staring at Miona with a look of icy dread in his eyes.
Private Ward
"I'm not sure this is a good idea," Shepard muttered as she watched Liara bounced Delenn gently in her arms as they made their way to the medical ward.
Her mother's list of expectations did not run to an alien grandchild. Her reception to Delenn would be cold at best. Liara seemed to think otherwise or perhaps she harbored hopes that the sight of the child would soften the heart. Tried as she might, Shepard couldn't talk her out of it.
"How do you know it is not good when it has not been tried?" Liara said patiently.
"The future family denizens my mother may be hoping for are of the pink and hairy variety, not that I ever thought of filling that obligation."
"Perhaps you should think of it."
Utterly shocked by that unexpected suggestion, Shepard halted to stare at Liara. "What did you say?" She was certain she did not just hear what her bondmate said.
"You could be the last in your family line," Liara said softly.
Where was she going with that? "What?" Shepard spluttered in confusion.
"Dr Chakwas and I were having a brief discussion about the project," Liara put more emphasis on the word project. "The question of genetics came up."
A frown creased Shepard's brow. "She's not thinking..."
"It is one of a few possibilities she is exploring should she fail to achieve her objective in her lifetime. Your being possibly the last of your genetic line was brought up."
"And she suggested..," Shepard tried not to show how upset she was but knew Liara felt her feelings as clearly as the sun.
"She made no such suggestion." Liara put out a hand to touch Shepard's arm soothingly.
"Why're you saying it then?" Shepard looked meaningfully at Delenn who was peering in her direction with a little frown as if sensing the disturbance.
Pulling her hand away to smooth it over the baby's head, Liara said reflectively, "Delenn shares our essence. Our memories will remain with her and guide her as long as she lives. A part of you will always be with her but I cannot help but wish there is something physical of you lives on. In a way-," she rushed on at the stupefaction she felt from Shepard, "it would meet some of Hannah's hopes for you."
Not knowing what to say, Shepard kept silent. Carrying on the family tradition was a phrase Hannah was fond of saying to her. Having kids would qualify but that was something she never gave much thought to. She understood her bondmate's sentiment however. Liara would outlive her. A passing she would have to experience once more in the future albeit with better preparation and support from her family. It was natural she wanted something of her bondmate to physically live on.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, I'm not planning to go underground any time soon," Shepard said finally as they stepped up to the door to the medical ward. She declined to reveal that she had arranged to be cremated after her death. She was not going to have some nutball taking into their heads to clone her or something in the far future.
"As for being the last, who knows some distant cousin may not appear?" she added, turning to usher Liara protectively. Medical personnel moved to and fro across the rooms, tending to patients.
Liara said nothing but there was a look in her eyes that told Shepard she was allowing herself to be diverted. They would have another discussion over it at another time. Shepard couldn't imagine why her bondmate was getting maudlin. She was perfectly fine having blue kids with her. Even if she seriously entertained the idea, there was no one among those she knew she would want to have a kid with.
She could clone herself. The Alliance and Citadel legal charter on cloning allowed a clone legal status as long as she endorsed such a clone her child. However she couldn't imagine herself raising 'herself'. Granted, the clone wasn't she. The clone's environment would be different. She would have a different personality, different memories, different outlooks. It was not something she would consider nevertheless.
Hannah was sitting up in bed, watching the entertainment screen at the foot of her bed when they stepped into her room. Her hair was combed neatly. She looked much more awake than she did last night. For a moment, Shepard thought her mother did not recognise them. Hannah stared at them expressionlessly until she raised a hand uncertainly at Shepard. Usually, Shepard would just call but she did not hesitate to grasp that hand and plant a swift kiss on Hannah's cheek.
"Hey mom, how're you feeling?"
"I'm fine," Hannah said before looking curiously at Liara who came to stand on the other side of the bed.
"This is Liara," Shepard introduced carefully. "Do you remember her?"
"..yes...I think I do," Hannah murmured, frowning slightly.
"Hello Hannah." Liara smiled but did not try to touch her, she could see Hannah was trying to recall more than placing a face to name. "Do not try to force yourself to remember, everything will come back to you soon."
"Thank you," Hannah returned politely, her eyes drifting down to the baby.
Liara held the child up. "Would you like to meet Delenn?"
"She is lovely."
Shepard wondered if her mother was being truthful but there was a ring of sincerity in her tone.
"Is she yours?"
Having discussed with Shepard how she would respond, Liara nodded, "Yes." Now wasn't the time to confuse and distress Hannah with explanations. Once she was fully recovered, she would remember. "May I present her to you?"
"Present?"
"Here." Liara held out the baby tentatively, wondering if Hannah would respond. She smiled when Hannah held out her arms, almost instinctively.
Shepard watched dubiously as Liara placed Delenn in Hannah's arms, half afraid her mother would find some fault or other. Her concern lifted slightly when Delenn wriggled to sit up by herself. Her eyes blinked at Hannah, as if recognising her. She patted Hannah's cheek curiously. The puzzled bemusement about her mother was replaced by a smile. That smile spread further when Delenn gurgled at her.
"She has your eyes." Hannah glanced at Liara and back at the child. "How old is she?"
"She is close to five months."
"Five months?" Hannah's eyes widened. "That is most unusual. Babies at that age usually sleeps and eats and their vision isn't so clear."
"Uh...I think that applies to human babies," said Shepard.
Hannah looked down at Delenn before turning a cryptic look on her offspring. "Indeed, you were a quiet easy baby at first," she said, "before you became a difficult handful at night."
Shepard leaned against the wall next to the bed, not certain if her mother was picking fault with her or joking. "Since I don't recall a single thing, I can hardly call up any line of defense."
"What is the difference with human babies at this stage?" Liara asked curiously before Hannah could respond to that reply.
Hannah frowned. "Muscles are weaker, they're curious about their surroundings though they don't see that clearly. Every little thing is a distraction. This little one." She held up a finger for Delenn to grasp which she did immediately. "She's holding her head up very well. It seems she can define objects before her. Is she on solid food?"
"Yes-," Liara nodded, "she is taking soft food."
Hannah looked amazed. "That is fast. I had such a time trying to get April to eat solids."
Shepard rolled her eyes. It sounded like she was a chore to Hannah. The beep of an incoming call from her omni-tool interrupted Liara's next question. Gesturing to her to continue, she moved away so as not disrupt the beginning of what might be an empathetic rapport between her mother and Liara.
I can hope. Uh oh.
She prepared herself mentally when Tevos appeared on the small screen. From the moving scenery behind Tevos, she was making the call from a skycar.
"Councilor," she greeted.
"Shepard, a situation concerning the prodigy has developed at the Hydroplaz Garden on the Presidium Commons," Tevos said urgently. "I'm on my way there. I would appreciate your presence as well."
"On my way," Shepard said and turned back to the other two. "I'm sorry, I've been asked to attend a urgent meeting." She shifted a glance at Liara; did she want to stay or go home?
"I would like to stay a little longer," Liara said to the unasked question. "If Hannah does not mind," she smiled at the older woman.
"I don't mind at all." Hannah returned the smile before turning it on Delenn. "This child is charming."
As if she understood the compliment, Delenn laid her head on Hannah, her little arms splayed out to hug her.
Despite Hannah's response and Liara's quick look of triumph at her, Shepard could hardly believe her mother wasn't at all repulsed. With brows threatening to disappear above her hairline, she said, "It shouldn't take long. I'll drop in again later."
At the doorway, she cast another disbelieving look at Hannah before hurrying to the lobby and took the elevator to the car park on the roof. Not knowing which skycar was designated for her use, she called a cab and took over the controls as soon as it arrived. Tevos's message about the prodigy meant Miona had landed in trouble. Or trouble had found the young asari. If she was at Hydroplaz Garden, she couldn't have gone there alone. The commandos wouldn't have let her out of their sight so that meant Hiaras or someone else was with her.
There was not much traffic so she floored the accelerator. She automatically punched her old Spectre code when security warnings flashed at the speed she was pushing the skycar to and then realised what she had done. She was bemused seconds later when the code was accepted. Did someone forget to update her status with Citadel security? The sounds of sirens catching up from behind gave her pause. Were C-Sec chasing her? But no, the vehicles rushed past her. Towards the Presidium Commons. Not good. She piled on the maximum speed the cab could make as she came up with various scenarios that could have happened.
The sight of numerous C-Sec vehicles and a riot truck dotting the pathways to the garden hove into view when she reached the Presidium Commons. She slotted her cab in the space closest to the entrance of the Hydroplaz Garden and alighted at a run. C-Sec officers guarding the entrance saw her. One of them, a turian in heavy hardsuit with lieutenant's stripes, gestured.
"Hold it right there, ma'am, this area is closed off," he said.
"I'm Captain Shepard of the Systems Alliance, Councilor T'Annor is expecting me."
"Shep-," his eyes widened. One of the officers behind him scanned Shepard with his omni-tool. "Identity confirmed, sir."
The lieutenant did not hesitate. He stood aside immediately. "Go on in, sir." The other officers crowding around the entrance cleared a path for her.
The scene that met her eyes was exactly what she envisioned for a manageable scenario. No dead bodies. A face off. Miona stood with arms crossed, her stance nonchalant as if she did not notice she was surrounded by numerous C-Sec officers. That there weren't dozens of rifles and pistols pointed at her. Shepard was willing to bet snipers were already in place, ready to take the shot when commanded. If they were lucky, they might wing the changeling but not without taking out an innocent bystander. Shiala, who was standing protectively near the young asari. Off to one side, just inside the entrance, engaged in deep conversation was Tevos and another turian C-Sec officer. As she approached them, she caught the tail end of a sentence.
"...once more that she was examined thoroughly before authorization was granted," Tevos said firmly but patiently.
"With all due respect, Councilor, those documents should have been submitted to C-Sec division chiefs," the turian said heatedly, a captain from the stripes on his armor. "Until it is done, she has to be confined, for the safety of the people on the station."
Tevos caught sight of Shepard and nodded to her when she reached them. "Captain Vitian, this Captain Shepard. You were asking earlier how T'Riest came onboard. She came with Shepard on the Normandy."
Vitian looked even more unhappy. "Captain, you could not have condoned this? Transporting a TI to this station?"
"Captain," Shepard said softly. "Most of the populace from Thessia are here, including my family. Would I have taken such a risk if I wasn't certain she posed no threat?"
Vitian was nonplussed at that. He shifted uneasily. His eyes flicked to Miona.
"She has undergone the most stringent scan and medical examinations. It is ascertained there is no sign of cerebral atrophy, no sign of infectious reaper contagions. The changes forced on her was not done by the reapers," Shepard explained further.
"Not the reapers?" Vitian frowned in puzzlement. "Who?"
"They have numerous allies," Tevos said evasively. "She is the only one to survive out of thousands. Captain, we have all experienced the horrors of the Reaper War. We all know the dangers a TI represent, we will not attempt such foolishness."
Seeing that Vitian was still not convinced, Shepard gestured at Miona. "Has she killed anyone?"
"No." Vitian's mandibles wavered as he looked at the young asari and shuddered slightly at that blackness. Those eyes. He turned his gaze back to Shepard. "She disarmed the officers who first responded to the alarm and returned the weapons when ordered to."
"And she has done nothing since," Shepard pointed out. "She can if she wants to. Before you count to twenty, all officers within ten metres would be taken out."
Vitian snorted. "That's impossible. I've fought the husks, they were fast but not that fast."
"I've seen her. Believe me, if she intends to kill you all, she can," Shepard emphasized heavily. "Captain. I assure you, she is a friend and ally, not an enemy."
Shifting in indecision, Vitian looked at the young asari again, taking note that her posture was one of defiance and confidence. There was no sign of fear. If he insisted on taking her in, she might resist. Would resist. The struggle would not be pleasant. He did no doubt the other asari beside her would defend her.
If she was successfully subdued, if not killed, his men would be on edge for days. If the councilor and Shepard were wrong, if any of his men were injured or killed, they were in for the worst if she was contagious. If however, they were right and she posed no threat, he would be stirring up a pot of political trouble on his superior and on himself. The latter, however, was the least of his concern. Should he believe Shepard?
"Captain," said Shepard. She waited till she had his eyes. "On my responsibility."
He took a deep breath. "Shepard, I trust your word. Councilor..."
"Executor Kralinx has been notified. He is aware of the situation," said Tevos, hiding her relief that he was not going to be stubborn. "He will confer with you shortly."
"Very well. Councilor, Shepard." Vitian nodded to them and turned away. The C-Sec officers shifted uncertainly when they received orders to move out. They moved more quickly when it became clear the crisis was over.
Shiala watched them go with relief. She was afraid there would be a bloodbath. "I'm so sorry-," she began to apologise when Tevos and Shepard came up to her.
"There's nothing to be sorry for," Tevos said assuringly.
Shiala smiled. "Miona, this is Councilor Tevos T'Annor," she began to introduce formally.
"You are Miona T'Riest." Tevos held out her hands. After a slight hesitation, Miona returned the greeting, bowing her head in respect. Tevos's smile became warmer. "Come, we have much to discuss."
"May I suggest we adjourn to my home?" said Shepard.
Tevos nodded. "More suitable than my office. There have been developments back home, Shepard, we need to settle on a course."