The citadel.
Disclaimer
Starcraft is the property of Blizzard entertainment.
Mass effect is the property of Bioware.
Any elements used in this story are used only in order to create a story for no monetary gain nor do I claim any ownership over them, beyond the names and characters unique to this story.
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Welcome to the Galactic codex, your request has been processed:
The citadel: A massive construct of unknown origin, dated to be millions of years old. It stands today as the heart of galactic civilization. Serving as the political, cultural, financial and military hub to the species ruled by the council.
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SSV Normandy - Serpent Nebula
Shepard.
After he had deemed it appropriate to leave the med-bay, Shepherd made his way towards the bridge to ask Joker how much time would be until they arrived at the Citadel. He was surprised to find Ashley and Kaidan looking through the window in the cockpit.
"Well. Did I miss it already?" Shpard asked as he approached the two soldiers.
"Just pulling us over commander. Might as well enjoy the view" responded Joker.
As the Normandy passed through a nebula cloud, they were welcomed by the sight that could only have been described by an old book from the twenty first century.
As the Normandy cruised through a sea of darkness the group waited expectantly as they were glued to the port window as they waited for the darkness to leave and reveal one of the great wonders of the galaxy.
In time, darkness gave way to light and as the clouds moved aside to reveal a distant star as it shined over its precious companion which was beared for the whole galaxy to see.
The massive habitat that was built in deep space was of alien design as five gigantic arms extending from a central ring acted as both housing and defense since the wards protected the civilians at the center of the station.
Its scale was beyond anything a united galaxy could build.
The Normandy had its course set and made its way towards the ring at the center of the station. Where both the presidium and the heart of galactic civilization was located.
As they approached the wards they saw a vessel of alien design continue its patrol near the citadel.
Its size was one of titanic proportions.
"Look at the size of that ship" said Ashley
"The destiny ascension. Flagship of the citadel's fleet" answered Kaidan.
The trio continued to marble at the vessel as their small tub combated to squat when put against that massive vessel.
"Well, size isn't everything" commented Joker.
"Feeling insecure Joker?" Replied Shepard.
Joker shocked his head "You also need firepower".
"You are sadly missing both. What a sad existence" Williams' joke had both Shepard and Alenko break out in laughter.
"I hate you all" was Joker's answer as he continued to pilot.
A faint smile formed on his face.
"Citadel control, this SSV Normandy requesting permission to land" Joker spoke to the citadel's operator.
"Standby for clearance…" the operator and Joker began to coordinate the vessel's approach and the group saw it as fraying to leave pilot do his work while they went towards the CIC.
"What do you think will happen with the council?" Kaidans asked his other two companions.
"They'll probably give us whatever excuse they can to protect their precious agent…" Ashley answered coincidentaly "I hate spectres" she shook her head while saying this last part.
Shepard had to agree with Ash's first ascertainment as their scheduled meeting with the council would certainly go south…
Once Shepard had regained consciousness and had a chance to meet with captain Anderson several revelations were made that worried the group.
First and foremost was the discovery that according to the port worker's story, the turian that had supposedly attacked Nihlus was none other than Saren Arterius.
They were told by captain Anderson that whoever this Saren was, he formed part of the organization that was the council's mailed fist and guardians of galactic peace: the spectres.
Anderson had a surprising extensive understanding of this organization and its functions. He explained how the spectres acted as agents of the council's will and could not be stopped in completing the task given to them as they were given ultimate authority over any government in council space.
Due to this, it wasn't uncommon for some spectres to be dismissed as the most unstable individuals would be found guilty of overreaching with the power invested in them and to actively going against the will of the council. This would in most cases end up with said Specter being dismissed from the organization and his record of service to be black listed thereafter.
But Saren…
Despite being a ruthless agent who never doubted twice about sacrificing the lives of the innocent or destroying the property of any civilian or military organization on the spot, he was never punished for this actions as he was the council's favorite and best agent.
They would be fighting an uphill battle.
Soon the Normandy found itself landing at a port designated for the alliance's use. As the magnetic anchors began to secure the ship the crew began preparations for resupplying and repairing the ship as best they could.
The original purpose as to why they came to the citadel had been to finish the tuning and final modifications on the vessel but unfortunately for the crew their visit would most likely be a short one.
"Commander. Have your team geared as you are going to accompany me to the human embassy" ordered Anderson through Shepard's personal comm.
"Understood, sir" Shepard then turned to his team "Alenko. Williams. Get ready and meet me at the airlock in twenty".
They both saluted and then headed to the cargo hold and as they began to gear up while Shepard remained behind on the mid section of the ship.
He headed for his locker and extracted a tablet from it.
The notification of several missed calls confirmed his fears.
Fate wasn't on his side.
Later at the human embassy…
"This is an outrage! The council would step in if the geth attacked a turian colony" this were the words of ambassador Udina as he presented his case for a meeting with the members of the council who had graced the human with some of their time.
The present holograms of the three figures must have meant that these people were so uninterested by the case for the humans that they had only deemed it as fitting to call the ambassador.
"The turian's don't found colonies on the edge of the terminus systems, ambassador" the salarian councilor replied.
"Humanity was well aware of the risks when you went into the traverse" the asari councilor continued.
"What about Saren? You cannot ignore a rouge spectre. I demand action!" the human continued.
"You don't get to make demands of the council, ambassador" the turian councilor spat back.
"Citadel security is investigating your charges against Saren. We will discuss the C-sec findings at the hearing. Not before" explained the asari councilor.
And with that final slap in the face… their holograms disappeared.
The ambassador turned towards the captain and Shepard.
"This stonewalling gets more annoying each time" the middle-aged man began "I didn't ask you to bring your whole crew, captain Anderson" he continued while he raised an eyebrow.
Shepard already knew he wouldn't get along with this man.
"I brought the commander and his team so they could give their account of what occured" Anderson tried to explain before Udina dismissed him with his hand.
"I already read through the report, Anderson" he said before turning to Shepard "You almost blew your chance with the spectres, commander. Not to mention that the loss of the beacon had the council and the alliance up in arms. You are lucky to still retain your position, commander".
Shepard sombered a little because of Udina's words.
He knew that Saren had to be stopped because of his direct involvement in the attack of Eden Prime but now it became a personal matter for Shepard as his position in the alliance was on the line.
The turian wouldn't get away with this.
Udina approached his desk and pressed a button that raised the privacy blinds that had obscured the room while he spoke with the council.
"The hearing will begin shortly. I just hope that C-sec has uncovered something of value…" Udina said before he turned towards the door.
Before he even approached the door it suddenly activated and remained open without anybody pressuring the button.
Everyone became confused as to why it had done that by itself.
Udina just shook his head and walked towards it once again "It has been doing that the whole week. Keep focused and follow me to the council chamber".
This was a lie.
The door had never malfunctioned.
Xiltar
His dream had been more than just an illusion as he had originally hoped.
The creature who had chosen the moniker of 'Nebula' had revealed onto him a path by which his people could be freed into this galaxy…
All while giving the dark god what Nebula had called… the slip.
Her mannerisms were more strange than what he would guess the Xel'naga to be.
Regardless, she had told Xiltar that for his people to return safely two things needed to transpire: Saren had to die and his master's plan had to be stopped.
The death of the turian was certainly a task he would be able to accomplish once he acquired a vessel and a lead on him…
But to destroy the abomination that could assault his mind in such a manner without knowing what it was capable off was certain suicide.
Nebula had disclosed a manner to stop this assault while aiding in his task to free his people and stopping Saren.
What the curiously juvenile being had instructed him to get was something she had called… 'a shopping list'.
Four relics he would be forced to acquire and merge into an artifact that would aid in this task.
An all seeing eye, a whisper from the void, the last wish of an old growth and a frozen crown.
These words meant nothing for the protoss as he had no idea what any of these relics could be safe for one.
An eye that sees all…
…
Xiltar knew now that his task would take time that he most certainly had.
While discussing this with the Xel'naga while the dream dissipated around him, the being reached out for his face with one hand and told him how to reach all of this.
(The ones you know as terrans will be your guides, companions and maybe one day… part of those you care about) the being said with a smile that emanated the love a mother was supposed to show one of their offspring (Go and find the forge. There you will find oblivion, death and then life anew)with that little command the dream abandoned him and he found himself in the dark belly of that vessel.
He exited his dark sanctuary with care and was surprised to find that he almost had come face to face with the terran known as Shepard who was overlooking his team as they were fitting themselves into their armors.
To his relief the vent had not been found and the terrans had not disturbed his rest.
But…
According to the memories of the one named Shepard, it had been more than a day since he had recovered from his wounds… and far more than said day since Xiltar would have most likely seen him last.
…
He had slept for all that time and he still felt tired…
Damn you Nebula.
Maybe following these terrans would be worthwhile.
After the meeting in their embassy…
Xiltar was impressed….
Incompetence wasn't apparently a solely human feature.
As he had followed the terrans towards what they had called an embassy, Xiltar had been a witness to the exchange between whoever this ambassador Udina was and what appeared to be the most powerful individuals in the galaxy…
He abandoned the room after he had gone through the memories of both the ambassador and who appeared to be the leader of the terran group.
This council of races apparently acted as the voice of their people to the whole galaxy as they held a level of authority only of this space station and by extension… the whole galaxy.
This throne of power was a bizarre place…
After he left the terran's to their own devices as he knew that whoever these council members were, they would be a special case of incompetence that would certainly be nothing but a waste of his time or that of the terrans.
He would search for a lead by himself and plant it at the feet of the humans so they would just continue with their damn journey to wherever Saren was.
But he had to admit. Xiltar was surprised.
Not by the size or grandeur of the station, no. The voidworlds of his people were relatively similar in function as each of the three that remained was more than capable than acting as this station did.
No.
The sheer quantity of aliens that he saw in once single place was what surprised him.
To young Xiltar, his kind had been nothing but backward zealots that had allowed their passions and certainties to condemn the galaxy and his race to annihilation…
This feeling of disconnect from how the arrogant and ever prideful protoss acted had esteemed from an incident that occured while his tenure as an Ihan-rii judge had taken place.
He was sent to cleanse a relic of his… now abandoned beliefs.
He instead doomed the innocent to the torch of annihilation.
All because they wished to save their homes.
…
He continued to walk through this station while cloaked by the void and found himself entertained as he saw all the different beings that he didn't recognize in what they all collectively knew as the presidium.
While most people in this spot gave him nothing of interest on Saren, they nonetheless managed to entertain him by how they lived their lives and how much jargon he did not understand they used.
*How come the alliance has blocked travel to another planet?
*These new prices are killing me…
*That asari bitch is gonna pay…
All very… informative.
Xiltar shook his head in a playful manner. What was an alien warlord supposed to do? Bend their lives towards his designs as his people showed them the true way?
…
HA!
No.
Xiltar knew that his people would do for poor overlords as the only life they would value was that of themselves and whoever was like them.
They would fail in that regard as they had originally failed on their promise to the Xel'naga…
Their… gods… had supposedly taught him and his kind that all that had been, was or will be was their domain and their creation which had to be reclaimed.
As an aspirant of the creator creed he had been given access to the most sacred relics of his kind for their study. It was there that he had discovered a new interpretation of their doctrine and faith… their legacy had to be defended. Not reclaimed.
Life was their legacy.
Nebula had confirmed to him that this was the truth, the true intent of her kin and that his people had been following fake edicts that were the misinterpreted commands of the dark one, Amon.
He regained hope at the revelation that his people could live again for he could teach them the true way once they had returned.
And for this he would have to lay a foundation for them to be released into this new galaxy as he would have to create no animosity for his kind or their ways so they wouldn't be dragged into another pointless war.
The time in which he would reveal his presence to the galaxy would have to be at an event of great import so he could sway as many hearts and minds as he possibly could.
And above it all Nebula had advised him to learn.
Of the races of the Galaxy and the interest of each.
And as such he continued to listen.
*How come they haven't removed it?
*What were those worthless suit rats doing here?
*How disgusting?
What?
Xiltar was perplexed as to why the thoughts of the people had suddenly changed but he realized that he had walked into another part of the presidium while deep in thought.
Something stopped him in his tracks.
A body…
He couldn't identify what the creature was but it wasn't something savage as he had originally thought.
The creature was encased in a suit.
One that he could have confused as made only for its use in space, but the blue clothes adorning its exterior could confirm to him that the creature had been confined to it for a long time.
He saw people walk around it while trying the best they could to ignore it. Their demeanor left as if they were walking over trash dropped in the street.
This disgusted him.
For as he continued to read through the thoughts of the people walking around it, he finally got the name of the creature after filtering the designations that were clearly intended to be slurs: a quarian.
He felt pity for the now gone creature but could do nothing without breaking his cover.
He analyzed the body. The blood had not completely dried.
He died not too long ago.
Xiltar found that more blood trailed further on.
From another one most likely. He followed to investigate.
He found that the trail led him down one of the station's wards through several elevators and long corridors. What creature could have left a trail so long and yet managed to walk so far may have had an unwavering spirit or an honest desire to live.
He eventually found what was spreading that blood.
Another quarian.
She was huddled next to a bench while clutching her side as her suit had been perforated.
She was scared.
Xiltar reached into her mind to try and find why she had been shot in the first place.
(All right. It seems they lost my trail, I should try and find somewhere to patch my suit…) she thought to herself. He could understand that she was being followed as someone was clearly trying to kill her.
She had lost too much blood and reaching for any medical establishment by herself would be impossible. He continued to listen (Who am I kidding…) she thought meekly (I'll die like this…) sorrow permeated her thoughts.
Poor creature.
(I got them killed… I got my friends killed…) Xiltar felt pity for the young one.
Maybe he could aid her so that she could carry on the memory of her lost comrades.
"Damn you, Saren…" she said weekly.
…
Saren.
She knew him.
She could not die.
(Quarian. Listen to my words if you wish to live) Xiltar spoke into her mind. She was surprised at first, but thinking this was her own delusion she just nodded (Think of somebody who can aid you. Where were you going?) she thought how odd her final moments were, hearing voices.
She thought of the place where she was headed while speaking a name.
"Dr… Michel…" she fell unconscious after saying this.
Time was running short.
He wasted no time and as gently as he could be, he began to carry her.
Using the information she had given him, the place where this healer was supposed to be ended up being relatively close.
Seeing the symbol he had associated with terran medics he began to sprint in that direction while he used the void to conceal the girl from her attackers who definitely were among the approaching crowd.
He arrived at the place and moved aside for a moment.
"Thank you … Dr. Michel …" a stumpy little creature in an environmental suit said as he exited the door he intended to cross.
Xiltar saw a terran woman waving goodbye to the alien.
He was in the right place.
Dr. Chloe Michel.
Dr Michel knew odd.
Being an oddball even among her family she knew when even the strangest of situations could materialize.
Right until that day…
The door to her clinic opened.
Thinking it was the volus trying to sell her something once again as a 'gift' after she treated him.
"You know if you wished for me to buy something you could at least try and buy me dinner first…" Dr Michel said to no one in particular as she turned and saw that nobody had entered her clinic.
Or so she thought.
(Dr. Michel) smoke began to form in the middle of her clinic (I require your help) a voice spoke in her mind.
What appeared in front of her frightened her.
She saw a massive creature which was taller than any alien she had ever seen before. And it had just appeared out of thin air.
His skin, a dark color of gray. Two eyes glowing a dark blue light as they were focused upon her.
This creature was like nothing she had ever seen.
(There's not much time) the voice spoke again, from where did it come? Him? (She must live) she saw as the creature cradled something in his arms.
A quarian.
She was bleeding.
The creature left the girl on an operating table with great care and focused on her once again (Do what you can for her) it commanded her to save the quarian.
Then the smoke formed once again and as if it wan't even there to begin with, the creature disappeared.
Doctor Michel wasted no time in trying to save the girl's life. She ferociously tried to have her wound healed and closed. Time was critical, she needed to patch the suit after this and have her infection treated.
She ignored the sound of the door opening again.
She ignored the sound of heavy steps coming her way and weapons being readied.
She ignored the sound of two snaps and the sound of bodies falling limp to the ground.
She even ignored the sound of two objects being thrown from the railing outside of her clinic.
And she ignored the sound of the people screaming as the body of two turians fell from above.
She would be glad she missed that.
Afterword.
Litl guy in big city. Who he gona hurt?
Shep about to have a bad day.
Edit - MOAR