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Requested By :

Espacole and Spork

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Shepard stepped out of the shuttle and into a stretch of wide, flat beach along the northern coast of the southern continent of Rannoch, which curved around a wide, somewhat shallow, ocean dotted by hundreds of near-surface underwater volcanoes, and dozens of tiny islands formed by those that had breached the surface over the millennia. The sand gave way to the dark, dry soil of Rannoch about forty yards in, where the great jungles of the continent started. Jungles that, unlike Earth's own, were made up of towering, titanic trees with white, speckled bark, almost like birch trees had blended with the ancient, great Californian Sequoias. They rose up easily a few hundred feet, and were topped by thick red, green and even blue, spined fronds large enough for three of her to lay across them with room to spare, and giant seed-nuts as big as her torso. Leaping between limbs as thick as she was were odd little scaled monkeys, working at the huge seed-nuts to get into them, who paid her little mind. And, with them, huge, bat-like birds, their car length leathery wings carrying them under the thick canopy noiselessly.

The ground, though, was starkly barren aside from short, sparse bushes that clung to the sides of the towering trees. And viney plants that snaked up a few dozen feet, crawling along the trees and then curling into little nests, almost, with bell-shaped flowers that hung down. Just low enough for a few scaly, deer like animals to crane their heads up and get their long tongues into, lapping up the nectar and seeds before moving on to the next - likely filling the role that the absent insect world had back on Earth.

"Wow…" She murmured, "What the hell is even this?"

"Rannoch." Her girlfriend said, voice… Wistful as she stepped out of the shuttle and joined her. After a moment, she took Shepard's hand and tugged her off to the side. "Come. I want to show you my place."

"Oh?" She smirked, letting herself get dragged along, "Already found your spot?"

"Legion shared detailed maps and close-air imaging of the entire continent." Tali answered, voice turning a bit… Playful and coy. "And, since I'm one of the leads in, you know, getting this peace agreement, the Admiralty gave me prime pick."

"Oh?" Shepard smiled wider, "That's generous of them."

"Yeaaaah…"

"You hacked the server, didn't you?"

"W-Well, yes, but when I asked if I could pick a spot they said it was fine…"

"Did they?"

"Aunty Raan did?" Tali chuckled, tugging Shepard into a wider clearing where the sand gave way to harder, rust colored clay and dirt, sticking up above the beach-line a few feet. Like a little hill, backed by the towering trees on three sides and a thin stretch of sand before the water on another. Turning, she waved her hand at it and said, "Ta-dah! Welcome to, uh…"

"Tali…?"

When she continued, the words were rougher, more accented, in semi-broken english, "Welvome to Cava de Tally!"

"Tali!" She snorted and laughed, wrapping her girlfriend in a tight hug and shaking her head. As she pulled away, she grinned and poked her mask, right over her forehead, nudging her back, "That, love, is the absolute worst English I have ever heard."

"Seriously?" She grunted, relying on the translator once again, "I spent days on that damn language app!"

"I think it's your accent." Shepard chuckled, padding over to a particularly dry spot at the top of the hill and plopping down on it. Tali joined her and she sighed, letting the lighter Quarian lean against her shoulder while they watched the sea's violet water wash in and out. Quietly, curious, she asked, "Why is the water-"

"Violet?" The Quarian chuckled, "Volcanic mineralization of a unique mineral made up of several others, found here, in the impact basin. Running theory, before the war, was that an asteroid hit here, which caused an extinction event millions and millions of years ago and deposited unique minerals. Since they aren't found anywhere else on Rannoch, it's a good theory."

"Sure." It wasn't that important, really, and she had no reason to argue about it besides. Chuckling, she asked, "Maybe a Reaper crashed?"

"Oh, don't ruin this." Tali sighed, "Or I won't give you your present."

"Oh?" Shepard smirked, "Presents? And I didn't even get you anything."

"I think we're sitting on my gift…"

"Fair." Even if she'd only been a part of the greater whole to win even this small part of Rannoch, Shepard wasn't going to argue the point. Her girlfriend was happy, so why should she? More importantly, "So, what'd you get me?"

"You sound so excited." Tali teased, "Like a cute little child."

"Uh huh." She rolled her eyes, "Tell me or I'll sleep on the couch."

"How is that- You're supposed to threaten me with sleeping on the couch." Tali pointed out, "Also, your couch is far too comfortable to be a threat."

"First of all, I could never make you sleep on the couch." She grinned and snorted when Tali rolled her eyes and huffed. "Second, it is pretty comfy… But no Shepard snuggles on the couch."

"Ah, I see no." Tali snorted, "You absolute devil."

"You know it." Shepard said, "Now, what'd you get me?"

"W-Well, I was researching Earth traditions, and looking for an adequate blend. You see, when partners in the fleet… Get serious, I suppose, they typically link suits and exchange hand-made veils, cowls or suit sections, if we have the time and resources. You are usually supposed to ask first about the suit, though, if only because sizes are important." Tali said, laying a hand on an armored little pocket on her breast and tapping it gently to unlock it. "But… You don't have a veil or cowl. And you don't have an enviro-suit either."

"I'd wear one if you made it for me." Shepard pointed out, "You know that."

"Then maybe we can make one together." She murmured, shooting the Commander a playful look. "And maybe you can make me one. But right now…" She finally held up her present - a matte black little ring with a simple ruby ensconced into its top and Shepard's eyes widened a bit. Seeing her lost for words, Tali said, "Normally, the Admiralty board would demand a child from me first but given Rannoch… They approved our coupling."

"They did…?"

"Yes." Tali nodded, "All you have to do is say yes, and-"

"Yes."

"-sign some paperwork back on the ship." Tali chuckled, picking up the armored woman's suddenly trembling hand and tugging off her glove so she could slide the little ring onto her finger. "Then, it's official. You and I are one."

"It feels… Warm." Shepard muttered, holding up her hand to look at it and feeling her heart race. "What's it made of?"

"It's a rare material from Palaven, which absorbs the heat around it so that it's always warm." She answered, suddenly a bit shy, "Not hot, but warm. I don't know the science myself, but it's apparently a very romantic gift and, well… That one had a ruby in it, and that made me think of you. So…"

"I love it." She whispered, turning and leaning her head in against the Quarian's mask.

Tali accepted the affection and laid down so they could curl up together, and for the first time in a long time, Shepard felt… Safe. Like everything was just right. All the fighting and war and death in the galaxy, pushed to the background. Gunfire, quieted by distance and time. And pain, muted by comfort and rest. And in its place, where she was normally so terrified, so anxious, so pained. She only felt…

Peace.

XxX-XxX-XxX

Just over two weeks after accepting her new title, Pyrrha Nikos, Ambassador of Rannoch, sat on a simple bench down at the bottom of the series of stairs and platforms that made up the Council Chambers. She'd been there since that morning, waiting through a dozen or more people with appointments to see them. But the time hadn't done much for her nerves except let her sit in her armor and sweat through the jitters and anxiety while C-Sec's guards over by the lift watched her with at least a bit of sympathy. Not that either of them said anything, of course - but she didn't begrudge them that.

They had their duty, after all.

And she had hers…

It had been quite a long time since a simple meeting like this had filled her with so much anxiety. On Remnant, she'd been trained on how to engage with the media and even politicians. And had met with Mayors and even Council-members when things got bad. But back then it'd been easy - a flubbed chat early on risked a deal here or there, sure, but she was acclaimed enough that others would come. And what was a bit of Lien anyways? She'd scarcely spent much of it.

Here, if she made a mistake, an entire species- Two entire species, even, would pay the price.

But… This was her duty.

"Chosen." She reminded herself quietly, "Not burdened…"

"Miss… Nikos?" She looked up at a young Asari with violet skin and long, thin lines of face paint and she smiled, smoothing the front of her blue dress and bowing her head ever so slightly. "The Council will see you now, unless you would like a moment to compose yourself?"

"Only a second, if you please." The Asari nodded and waved a hand and another Asari approached from behind Pyrrha, offering her a bottle of water, some crackers, and a hairbrush. Taking a drink and using the brush to smooth out her hair she took a breath and smiled. "Thank you."

"We always strive to allow all who come here the chance to present themselves in their best light." The Asari nodded, waving away the other and adding, "The better for democracy to run its course, no?"

"As you say."

"Now, if you would follow me." The Asari turned without waiting for Pyrrha to acknowledge the words, and Pyrrha followed her up the stairs.

At the top the Council were waiting, but not standing as she had seen in so many pictures. Instead, three of the four were sitting in comfortable, high chairs behind their podiums, with standing tables beside them topped with food. Only the Salarian Councilor, Valern, was standing as Pyrrha stepped up onto the plinth, with his own table cleared and cleaned, and his chair pushed back. Councilor Anderson, at least, recognized her for who she was - in part at least - and set his meal aside, sitting up straighter and flicking Valern a suspicious look. Pyrrha somewhat understood the suspicion - why was the Salarian Councilor the only one standing to meet her?

Before she could dwell on it, the Asari who'd lead her in said, "Introducing, Pyrrha Nikos, Ambassador of the Quarians."

"The Quarians?" The Turian grunted, wiping his mandibles with a rag and turning to regard her. "Why would a Human represent them, Alina?"

"I am unsure, Councilor, but-"

"Mild correction." Pyrrha smiled, pressing her hands together in front of her and bobbing them up and down for emphasis, and to draw attention with the motion. "I am a representative of the People of Rannoch. Not the Quarians."

"A distinction without a difference." Councilor Tevos sighed, easing back in her chair and frowning. "But if you want the record officially corrected, then that can be arranged, representative."

"Ambassador." She smiled politely, and nodded her head ever so gently when the Asari's eyes narrowed the tiniest bit. A sign of displeasure, if one she swiftly brushed aside. Moving on, but watching the Asari a bit closer - if only because her media training actually applied to her facial expressions more or less one to one - Pyrrha went on. "And the distinction is quite important, I assure you."

"How?" Sparatus asked tiredly, "Please, do explain."

"I represent the people currently living in Rannoch's system, Councilor." She answered simply, "Sent to relay certain…" She paused to wave her hand in a little, theatrical circle, as if looking for the right word before finally 'settling' on, "Events."

"Rannoch…?"

"Yes." Pyrrha nodded, "The people of Rannoch have been… More or less reunified."

"You can't mean-"

"I have with me documents relating to, detailing, and officiating the peace treaty known as 'The Evening Peace' in Quarian." Pyrrha nodded, pulling the tiny capsule out of one of her armored pockets and holding it our for Alina to, after a moment to shake off her surprise, take and slot into her own Omni-Tool. Inside a moment the little stands the Councilors sat behind lit up and as they leaned forward to read, she explained, "According to the treaty, the Geth Consensus releases all rights yo the southern continent of Rannoch, henceforth named Quaria, and agree to allow those interested to settle the other continents alongside them. Further-"

"This treaty is illegal." Sparatus snapped hotly, waving his hand at it and grunting. "AI cannot sign peace treaties in the first place."

"No, but according to Citadel law, any persons may designate an ambassador to officiate in their stead." Pyrrha smiled, the picture of diplomatic grace, exactly as she'd spent weeks rehearsing as a child. "Curiously, 'persons' is only defined as 'sentients'. And 'sentients' as 'a being which thinks and acts'. Thus, the Geth appointed myself their ambassador. You will find my name at the bottom of the document."

"That's ridicul-"

"Completely accurate." Valern cut in, turning to pay his fellow Councilors a look. "It's a loophole the Geth no doubt found to allow this. And as a result, this treaty is perfectly legitimate."

"They're AI!"

"Which are allowed in Council Space." Anderson grunted, crossing his arms and smiling. "But Rannoch isn't in Council Space. Now is it?"

"And you expect us to stand for this?" Sparatus snapped, turning to the Human Councilor and pointing a sharp claw at him as he rose. "This is a flagrant insult to our authority, and that of every species that lost lives on the Geth attack on the Citadel!"

"Actually…"

"What, Ambassador?" Sparatus hissed, turning to glare balefully at her. "More loopholes you've exploited to force this on us? Or try to, at least?"

"The Consensus never attacked the Citadel." She explained, withdrawing another little cylinder and handing it to the attendant as well, who slotted it into her 'Tool. "As detailed here, once the Reaper Nazara, or, as you know it, Sovereign, reached out to them the Consensus… Well, couldn't reach a consensus on what to do regarding its offer of alliance."

"And they split up…"

"Indeed, Councillor Tevos." Pyrrha nodded, "The Consensus allowed those who wished to join the Reapers to leave as, at the time, they held no wish to fight their own kind."

"How very convenient." Sparatus grunted, waving the data off and growling, "I don't care for synthetic lies whether they come from your lips or a data-shard, Human."

"There's hard proof here, too, Sparatus." Valern grunted, leaning on his plinth and frowning. "Battle data. The Migrant Fleet, along with Commander Shepard and a… Small Cerberus support fleet, and mercenaries from Omega, fought a Heretic incursion toward Geth space. Along with…"

"The Collectors." Pyrrha filled in quietly, "Acting on behalf of the Reapers. The same Collectors who, on their behalf, have been assaulting Human colonies. And who, according to the data provided, attacked your own SPECTRE, Shepard, almost three years ago. All, as I said, on behalf of the Reapers."

That, finally, seemed

"There is no proof of that." Tevos grunted, "Only your analysis of the situation."

"Well, the Heretics joined with the Reapers. Or at least, Sovereign, as stated by the Consensus' records." She argued flatly, never allowing a shard of emotion into her voice that the irate Turian could seize on. Or, just as likely from Aria's warnings, Tevos. In the same way she went on, "Unless the Reapers exist, even if only in the Geth Heretics' opinion, they would have no reason to work with the Collectors."

"And the Collectors would have no reason to have targeted Shepard." Anderson added, turning to face the other three, "I believe the sudden ending of the attacks that lured her out there after her death testifies to her being targeted. As your own analysts agree, Sparatus."

"True…" The Turian rumbled, mandibles flicking as he thought and read. "But that analysis was inconclusive."

"Is it still?" Tevos asked, leaning back away from her console as she apparently finished reading and flicked Pyrrha a look. A questioning one. Then she asked, "If it were, wouldn't that be… Quite a rare thing?"

"Not so rare as an honest Volus out of Ilium." Pyrrha offered, smiling thinly at the words. She hated them, hated the caricature in them, but the Asari's eyes widened ever so slightly when she heard them. And Pyrrha pushed on, "Regardless of all of this, which I am sure you will need to debate and verify internally, the Consensus has paid reparations for the Morning War in terms of the continent and colonization support on Rannoch, and investment support throughout the system. Further, they are willing to offer you, or more accurately the Citadel, precisely one hundred tons of Eezo and one hundred tons of sampled Geth technology as reparations for allowing the Heretics to leave and, in turn, attack the Citadel."

"A bribe…?"

"No, an offer." Anderson grunted, "Not unlike what your people offered my own after the First Contact War."

"The Relay 314 Incident is immaterial here." Tevos cut in when Sparatus turned, mandibles clicking, to face the Human. Taking a breath, she said, "We will need to discuss our own political stance regarding the so-called 'People of Rannoch'. But as for the Treaty of the Evening Peace… I hereby motion for a vote on its ratification into Citadel records, and vote in favor."

"Seconded." Valern grunted, smirking, "And favor."

"Oppose." Sparatus grunted quietly, resignedly leaning back in his seat.

"Favor." Anderson grunted, smiling. "We hereby ratify this treaty into Record, and recognize your station for it, Ambassador Nikos. And, for now, I will offer you accommodations at one of the Human liaison dormitories."

"A generous gesture." She smiled, "Thank you."

"Mhm." Anderson nodded, attention more on the other Councilors, now, than anything. She could see suspicion there, in the way he looked at Tevos and Velern. But he only turned, smiled, and said, "They aren't much, but they should do. Now, if there is nothing else, please. We need to finish our dinners, and settle in for what I'm sure will be a long conversation.

"Damn right it will be…"

"Of course." She bowed her head, "Thank you, Councilors."

With that, she turned to leave, escorted out by Alina. Who, when they reached the elevator, stepped inside and said, "Councilor Anderson forwarded me a request to show you to your room. Unless you are opposed, of course."

Pyrrha only nodded and let herself breath, now all was said and done.

At least, the part that threatened war…

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The Illusive Man reclined in his seat, reading the report from the combat zone - and the treaty as well, of course. Humming, he smiled and pressed a button on his chair, opening a direct comm-link to a particular person, "Doctor?"

"Yes, Illusive Man?"

"How goes Project Overlord?"

"It goes well, Sir." Doctor Archer answered dryly, "David has made strides in controlling individual units, and-"

"I am forwarding a dossier on bullet points to you, Doctor." He cut the man off smoothly, "Redirect the project's goals away from direct control, for the moment, and to engaging with the individual programs. Have the subject convince the Geth that we never meant harm to them. Instead, convince them that we only desired… Some way to relate to them, to prevent conflict."

"I… Can manage that, Sir." Archer answered, "But, if I may, the project-"

"Read the debrief." The Illusive Man cut in, "And you will understand why our goals are shifting. But only undertake these changes two weeks from now."

"Sir…?"

"Until then," he smiled, "see what you can manage. If we need this asset in the future, we need to have as much data as possible regarding this avenue of defense."

"Ah." He hummed, "Yes, Sir."

Ending the call, he turned to watch the solar flares dance across his base's source of power and sighed. "Adaptability is the king of the battlefield…"

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Captain Dick Scratcher :

The issue with keeping it a secret, in the end, is the Salarians. Their spies would find it out sooner or later - and with no word from them, they wouldn't have any pressure NOT to act violently. This way, at least, the Council has official word, and is pushed by their own laws to respond a certain way. Along with a few subtle additions some may notice in the scene, lmao.

That said, the People of Rannoch have a lot of work to do just establishing themselves in Geth space. Conflict, if any, will wait for now.

Fat Quacker :

And she's good at it, too! Lol.