CHAPTER 24: The Chain
2185 CE
It's a terrible thing for the old to envy the young, but as I stood on Tuchanka, staring at the new Alliance UT-47 Kodiak Drop Shuttle that Grunt won, I could not help but feel a hint of jealousy.
Grunt was leaving it behind with Wrex to allow other potential pilots to train with it; the first official ship of the new United Krogan Navy.
'Come on, you have to want something, right? Just tell me what you want and I'll get it for you. You have no idea how much this would help me out.' Kaidan wheedled.
'I want a fully functioning navy.' Grunt ruthlessly laid out his first offer.
Kaidan looked like he was honestly contemplating agreeing to those terms before shaking his head and attempting to bring himself back to his senses.
'I can't get you that, but I can introduce you to some nice ship manufacturers that I stopped Krell from robbing.' Kaidan offered.
'They're Cerberus. The cell that built the Normandy SR-2. I tracked them down through the eezo core public purchase bidding request they sent out.' I added, since I wasn't sure if Kaidan was going to tell Grunt or take advantage of him.
'They... What.' Kaidan asked, revealing a third possible option, that he didn't do his due diligence before torpedoing my heist jobs.
'They were all Cerberus; cells or front operations.' I admitted.
'Wait, that can't be true. What about that Salarian orphanage?' Kaidan asked.
'Okay, so that one I actually thought was STG at the time, but it turns out it's actually a Cerberus money laundering operation. The information was in EDI's database.' I admitted.
'So every one of them...'
'Was a lead on Shepard.' I nodded enthusiastically.
'I hate you, Krell.' Kaidan admitted.
'Your hate has made you powerful! Now, fulfill your destiny, take your father's place by my side!' I overact.
'Is that a reference? Are you doing a reference? What is that even from?' Kaidan asked.
Grunt knew the answer, and immediately jumped to explain it. 'Return of the Jedi. Joker suggested it as an introduction to asymmetric warfare with a technologically advanced species. I learned many things from the Battle of Endor.'
I blinked. 'From... the Ewoks?' I clarified.
'A ferocious race of warriors. Inside each Ewok beat the hearts of a Krogan.' Grunt pronounced with finality.
I squinted at Grunt, trying to figure out if he was being serious, but if he wasn't then the kid had the greatest poker face ever.
I never can seem to get a good read on that kid.
2185 CE
'Doraemon?' Kasumi asked.
'I stand by what I said. Doraemon is the ideal Krogan.' I replied.
'You've never actually watched any episodes, have you?' Kasumi verified.
'Not a single one.' I admitted.
'You actually had me going for a second there. But if it's not Doraemon, what fictional character do you actually think is the ideal Krogan?' Kasumi asked.
'None of them. There isn't any ideal Krogan. It's up to each Krogan to seek and obtain their own personal ideal.' I explained.
'Okay, then who is the ideal Krogan for you?' Kasumi reframed the question.
'Huh.' I thought.
'Stumped?' Kasumi challenged.
'Not at all. They are just a lot of options, aren't there?' I replied.
'You only need to narrow them down to one.' Kasumi teased.
'Sure. Only.' I agreed, thinking.
After a few seconds, I finally decided. 'Okay, have you ever heard of Spider-Man?' I asked.
'Keiji and I once stole a copy of Amazing Fantasy number fifteen. His first ever appearance in comic books, but the buyer was one of those rich idiots. He wouldn't accept it. Demanded Spider-Man number one, instead. We kept the comic. I may have paged through it once or twice.' Kasumi admitted.
'Right. So... Peter Parker. He's just this really smart dumbass who the world seems to hate specifically; trying his best to save everyone simply because he believes he has the power to actually do it. He's a polymath, an inventor, an engineer, and an artist. But here's the thing. He never gives up. Not really. He say he does. He quits an uncountable number of times, but when it's actually time to fight? He never surrenders. His hubris shatters him time and again. It destroys his life. It steals his friends. But he never gives up on his goal to save literally everyone he can. So... for me, Peter Parker is the perfect Krogan.'
'And you said you didn't want to travel around the battlefield via grappling hook!' Kasumi pounced.
I laughed. 'I said it was impractical and I'd look ridiculous. Not that I didn't want to.'
2185 CE
'The standing bounty on your head has been removed.' Thane abruptly informed me while I was eating lunch.
'What standing bounty?' Jacob asked, worryingly. Though... there were actually quite a few, so the question wasn't exactly wrong.
'The Hanar had the Professor listed as an enemy of the Enkindlers. It was the highest standing bounty the Hanar had on offer.' Thane explained.
Did... I do anything to the Hanar to un-offend them? Was that even a thing you could do? I mean, I had a half-Hanar grandkid I never paid attention to who might know; but that seemed like a rather abrupt way to introduce yourself to a relative, asking about why their entire culture suddenly stopped hating you.
'Do you know why?' I asked Thane.
'I was not cleared for any specifics, only that you are no longer considered an enemy of the Enkindlers.' Thane admitted.
Weird. Just goes to show there's no real way to predict any of those crazy jellyfish, I guess.
'So, does this mean I'm going to have fewer Hanar trying to blow me up while preaching about the glory of the Enkindlers then?' I asked.
'It means you will have fewer Hanar trying to blow you up.' Thane corrected.
It took me a few seconds to realize the implications of that statement.
'Damn it. I can't kill them to get out of awkward conversations if they're just proselytizing at me, can I?'
'Yeah, that's generally frowned upon.' Jacob agreed.
I winced. 'Ugh. I think I preferred it when the bounty was still in place.'
2185 CE
I wasn't expecting a message requesting a meeting when we arrived on Illium for a refueling stop. Aye Aye's bar looked like a burned out wreck still. Honestly, I don't know which is weirder, that those mercenaries actually managed to think Conrad Verner was Shepard, or that Conrad was able to actually use a singularity grenade properly. If I'd known he actually had those I would have warned him against using one near bottles of high proof alcohol; especially when the enemy was using inferno rounds. Honestly though it was such a niche life lesson that I assumed only people like Shepard would need it.
I take a moment to stare at the outline of an Elcor in full combat gear in the wall of the bar. Aye Aye had to have used her hammer to get that kind of result.
Did you know that bismuth is the heaviest non-radioactive metal found in nature on Tuchanka? I actually only discovered that after I decided to make Aye Aye's hammer head a cool rainbow design for her. Had to alloy it with Eezo and a few other metals to get the thermal conductivity, mass shifting, and malleability right, but it turned out really cool looking; also, very effective.
Well, Aye Aye had the deed to Apollo's Café on the Citadel if she needed it. She'd be fine.
The message sent me deeper into the bowels of Illium towards the Baria Frontiers counter.
'Oh Blue Rose of Illium! Let your roots dig deep into the hot soil of Tuchanka! Let our Scorching sun and sheeting rain turn your supple beauty into strength! For if our love is to survive, it must grow thorns to pierce the hand of any that would uproot it!' I heard.
Interesting. The poetic style takes a lot more from more modern Human influences than my own metered, epic, and didactic verse. I wonder if the Krogan's target used to date a Human? Or if she were interested in them? That's not a bad leap, actually. Humans and Krogan could be pretty alike in temperament and lifestyle. As long as the Asari wasn't into Humans for the novelty or for their own similarity to Asari, the Krogan might actually have a chance.
Of course, I didn't have time to talk Poetry with my fellow Krogan. I was on a mission.
'Grandfather!' came the cry from the Green Asari in green and white casual wear.
I blinked.
'We... never actually met, but you were on Feros with Shepard when she freed us from the tyranny of the Thorian.' Shiala explained.
'Right, Shiala, you were... cloned by the Thorian, Shepard got the Cipher from you.' I recalled.
'Yes! Exactly. Anyway, I was here to visit mother, but she had to leave suddenly. She mentioned that you could probably help me?' Shiala replied.
'And your mother is... Aye Aye?' I asked, trying to confirm my suspicions.
'I am the daughter of Matriarch Aethyta and Fountain of Bountiful Joy. Now that you are no longer the arch-heretic Mom finally admitted who you were. I've been trying to contact you for the past month or so.' Shiala explained.
I blinked. 'Is that Ovidicles' soul name?' I asked. I'd kept track of the Hanar that Aye Aye had gotten involved with a few centuries back, but for obvious reasons I hadn't gotten their soul name.
'It is.' Shiala agreed.
I activated my Reaper Indoctrination tracker. She showed up as... blue? There wasn't supposed to be a blue. The scale went from red to green. Did the Protheans program in the Thorian specifically?
I checked the codes with my omnitool. It was a separate code. Non-reaper related mental degradation. Weird.
A booming Krogan voice interrupted the conversation. 'Blue Rose of Illium, you have blossomed in a tower of glass and plastic. But beauty under glass is untested and weak. Where are your honored dead, to fertilize the ground that you might grow strong? On the rocky plains of Tuchanka I will build you a garden from the bones of my ancestors!'
Huh. Very dramatic. Good use of metaphor, but I don't think the Krogan thought through who his audience was. That was an extremely sweet declaration of love, but Asari don't bury their dead; they cremate them so that the Eezo inside them can be released to nourish the next generation.
'It's nice to meet you, Granddaughter.' I finally decided.
I paused. 'How can I help you?'
'I promised after Shepard saved me to help the colonists in any way I could, and that's why I'm here. But I've reached the limits of my diplomatic abilities. Mom said you could help. I... It's hard, thinking of you as a diplomat rather than the arch-heretic. But... I admit that you have much more experience in reaching diplomatic solutions than I do. Your work on the First Contact War, for instance; and the Treaty of Firaxis...' Shiala pleaded.
'Well, I can certainly attempt to solve things diplomatically. What is the problem?' I agreed.
'Some of the colonists had Health problems as a result of the Thorian control. We hired a colonial group to do some medical scans, but... The contract apparently allows the medical company to perform invasive procedures without our consent.' Shiala revealed.
'Yeah... if you want medical assistance, you probably should have gone with a Human-owned company. Lots of Humans are shocked that their own particular medical ethics don't exist among the wider galaxy.' I agreed.
So, normally I could just slip this little puzzle to Mordin and he would fix it right up. But, well... That... Right now probably wasn't a good time for that.
I'd need to solve this myself.
'Right. Who is the contract with?' I asked.
'Baria Frontiers. They offered to do the scans and perform treatment for next to nothing. In hindsight it was... too good to be true. the fine print allows them to perform invasive follow-up procedures if they deem it valuable. Which they have.' Shiala admitted.
'Huh. Sound like a simple problem to solve then. All we need to do is make sure that they don't believe it's valuable to do those follow-up procedures.' I reveal.
'Can you do that? The Baria Frontiers representative seemed extremely certain of the profit potential.' Shiala asked, uncertain.
I grinned; this time with teeth.
'Just leave this to your grandfather, I'll fix everything.' I instruct her.
The Krogan's voice rung out again and I looked over at him. He was kneeling.
'Blue Rose of Illium, leave eternity unembraced and grapple in the glorious struggle that is us, here and now! I am speechless, not with blood rage but with love, and I stand here, humble and mute, to offer you a home. Come to me Blue Rose of Illium, and let our three hearts beat as two.' The poet stood in time with his statements. Good physical presentation; a standard part of the Krogan tradition for oral history, but the Human influence was clearly there too! Two hearts beating as one was a purely Human metaphor. It didn't work well when translated for Krogan at all. It really is fascinating watching that Krogan blending disparate traditions like that. I should probably go talk with him after I deal with this.
Actually, speaking of which...
'I saw your conversation, Krogan. You're here to complain about the medical contracts those colonists from Feros signed. I suggest you leave. Go and hijack a trading ship or whatever it is you Krogan do. Don't waste your life bothering me.' The extremely blue Asari representative stated.
'You don't recognize me.' I realized.
'Should I? All you aliens are the same. Only the Asari matter in this universe. All other races are a blight upon the galaxy.' The Asari stated.
'Let me make this simple then. If you attempt to hold those Humans in breach of contract, Baria Frontiers will never get another contract from a Human ever again. The System Alliance with sanction you to the point where you will effectively be shut out of all of the new and exciting markets in Human space. Your company will become a pariah in the business world. Your offices on Noveria will close. Your regional office on Eden Prime will close. And then? Your ventures on the Citadel will suddenly be swarmed with STG operatives trying to figure out exactly why.'
'An empty threat.' The woman said.
'What is your name?' I asked.
'I don't have to tell scum like you that.' The woman sneered.
I checked through my Omnitool and dialed a troubleshooter.
'Parasini. This is Krell. One Time Authorization Code: Kalros Geth Serpentia Hollow. Inform Baria Frontiers that they're no longer welcome on Noveria. I want it done as quickly as possible. Use the medical ethics clauses in the contracts to liquidate their assets on planet. I want them smoldering ruins by tomorrow's rotation.' I state.
Gianna Parasini's voice drifts out of my omni-tool. 'Understood, sir. And if Baria Frontiers asks why?'
'Tell them that an Asari at their kiosk on Nos Astra, near the memories of Illium storefront, is in express breach of their contractual requirements. I don't know her name. She wasn't even willing to tell me it. Just sneered and called me Krogan.' I explained.
'Understood, sir.' Gianna replied and hung up.
'You think that will intimidate me? Talking to a friend on your omni-tool? A Krogan might have been duped by such a simple attempt at scamming them, but I assure you that Asari such as I are above such petty tricks.'
I smiled at her, with teeth.
'Leave.' She ordered.
'Sure. I'll be right over there when you decide to apologize and fix your fuck up.' I nodded, pointing at the Krogan poet.
'Idiot.' The Asari muttered as I left.
I strode purposefully towards the Krogan.
'Blue Rose of Illium I-' He saw me and stopped, choking.
'Charr? Is something wrong?' The Asari he was... I guess you could call it wooing immediately looked his way, worried as she stopped.
'I- No. Nothing's wrong, Ereba. I just...' Charr replied.
'I couldn't help but notice your poetry. You have an interesting blend of influences, traditional Krogan oration with distinctly Human metaphors.' I admitted.
'I- Really!?' Char asked, stunned.
'Charr, who is this?' The Asari, Ereba presumably, asked.
'You don't recognize-? Ereba, that's Nackmor Krell!' he shouted, and I was treated to the wonderful image of the prior Asari, the one from Baria Frontiers, realizing what she'd done, just as she got a call on her omni-tool.
'Nackmor Krell? The Human Xenoethnographer?' Ereba asked.
'Huma- No, He's a Krogan. He's the greatest living Krogan poet in existence!' Charr corrected.
'No, I mean, he's a Krogan that studied Humans.' Ereba explained.
'Oh! Yes. He did that too! It's why I looked into Human poetry!' Charr agreed.
'He's standing right here.' I prompted.
'Oh! I... I'm so sorry, Warlord!' Charr immediately apologized.
'Like I said, I heard your poetry, and while I'm fascinated by your influences, I can't help but notice that you forgot to consider your audience when crafting it.' I explained.
'My... audience? But this is for Ereba, my Blue Rose of Illium?' Charr asked, confused.
'Charr, poetry needs to consider three things and three things only. First, meaning. Your poetry, whether romantic, epic, didactic, metered, unmetered, rhyming or not, must convey the meaning you wish for it to. The second thing you must consider is your audience. You should choose meanings and metaphors that your audience will understand and relate to, even if you have to make up new ones to do so. Finally, presentation. You have that aspect down, but you've erred on the first two prongs.' I explained.
'What do you mean?' Ereba asked, intrigued.
'Charr, Why did you craft these poems?' I prompted.
'My Blue Rose of Illium asked for a break. My Krantt said it was probably because I wasn't cultured enough for someone as fancy as Ereba, so I crafted these poems to show her both the depth of Krogan culture and that I can understand and appreciate alien cultures just as she can.' Charr admitted.
'Is Ereba familiar with Human poetry?' I asked.
'No, but that makes it better right? We can learn about this new culture together.' Charr explained.
'Charr, if Ereba isn't familiar with human poetry, she won't get any of the references. They won't land properly. They'll just sound awkward like your adaptation of the Human two hearts beating as one metaphor. She won't understand the hard work you put into them.' I advised.
'That's what you mean by my audience! I need to use metaphors and such that will speak to Ereba specifically! Not just to Humans.' Charr realized.
'That's right. But let's step back for a second. Poetry is a tool, it isn't the means to an end. Ereba, why are you on a break from Charr?' I asked the Asari Charr had chosen.
'I... Charr wants kids and... Being with a Krogan isn't like being with a Human. You can't just leave after a century or so. A Krogan can live even longer than an Asari can. I... I guess I'm not sure if he's serious about me or if... he just wants kids?' Ereba admitted.
Charr looked hurt. 'I... Ereba. We... didn't we talk about this?' He asked.
'We did, but... I- I'm sorry I'm just not sure.' Ereba confessed.
The other Asari, the one by Baria Frontiers was on the ground now, sobbing. I could see corporate security coming for her. I should probably finish this up quickly so as not to be interrupted.
'Krogan can live to pretty pronounced ages, but very frequently? We don't. You're worrying about centuries in the future, Ereba, but those centuries in the future aren't promised. All you have is now. You need to decide if you trust Charr or not, and if you do, whether you want to have kids with him. They're two separate questions, but if you want kids, and Charr wants kids, and you both understand what that means together, then the answer for that question flows easily from the answer to the first. Ereba, do you trust Charr? Do you want to spend your life with him?'
'I... do.' Ereba admitted.
'And Charr, do you understand that if you have kids with Ereba, those kids will be Asari, with everything that that means?' I asked.
'I do.' Charr nodded immediately.
'Well then, I think the rest is up to you. And Charr, here's my contact information. Let's talk more about your poetry later. You have talent and I'm interested in seeing you hone it.' I admitted.
Just in time too, because no sooner had I turned away than I saw a Salarian in front of me.
'Hello.' I nodded.
'You are Nakmor Krell?' The Salarian asked, he seemed nervous.
'That's me. Who are you and why are you asking?' I replied, walking back over towards Shiala.
'My name is Sekat. I'm the head of the Baria Frontiers' office on Illium. I wanted to apologize for how Erinya treated you and see if we could possibly work out a mutually beneficial arrangement for compensation?'
I smiled.
'Yes. I do believe that can be arranged.' I agreed.
2185 CE
Baria Frontiers didn't end up liquidated off of the surface of Noveria, and Sekat apparently understood the implicit threat that was the idea of a respected scientist like me telling a Human news agency about the egregious breach of medical ethics by Baria Frontiers. He was most eager to learn about the pitfalls of medical contracts with Humans and their differing societal expectations of medical treatment. Especially after I mentioned that I'd be following up and investigating further into any such contracts with either Humans or Krogan.
By way of apology for rudeness of the Asari, whose name apparently was Erinya, he assured me that the colony on Feros would be duly taken care of with no expenses spared and a priority on the wellbeing of the colonists.
Shiala was stunned when he departed.
'You talked to her for less than a minute!' my half-hanar granddaughter marvelled.
'Well, sometimes diplomacy's just as much about who you say things to as the things you're actually saying.' I admitted.
'How did you do it?' Shiala asked.
'A human weapons engineer named Archimedes once said 'If you give me a lever and a place to stand, I can move the world.' he was talking about a different more literal kind of leverage, but the same maxim holds true in diplomacy. With the right leverage, you can move the entire galaxy.' I admitted.
'Thank you, Grandfather.'
'Any time.' I smiled back.
2185 CE
'Professor, I need advice and I was told to ask you for yours.' Miranda explained as she exited the elevator.
'What kind of advice? I can't imagine anything that you need to know that I might be an expert in.' I admitted.
'I need advice on how to write a letter to an estranged relative whose parent I killed right before I left her life forever. Shepard told me you could help me.'
'Shepard needs to learn when not to tell people to bother the grandparent of her girlfriend.' I decided.
'Can you help me?' Miranda asked.
'How did you even get into that situation?' I asked, incredulously.
'Krell. You were there. You even called in the hit.' Miranda pointed out.
'Wait, this is your sister clone?' I ask, beginning to understand what was going on.
'Yes, Krell. Unless I have other estranged relatives to worry about.' she snarked.
'I'm pretty sure you're estranged from all your relatives. I never see you contacting them.' I pointed out.
Miranda sighed heavily.
'Can you help me, Krell?' she asked.
'Have you tried faking your death to get out of having to do this? Because I tried that once and it bought me a millennium or so to think of a better idea.' I confessed.
'Did you?' Miranda asked.
'Did I what?'
'Think of a better idea?' Miranda clarified.
'Oh, yes. I definitely did.' I agreed.
'What was that idea?' Miranda asked, eager for my hard won knowledge.
'Don't fake your death to try and get out of awkward conversations with your daughter.' I admitted.
'Are there any other options?' Miranda asked.
'Well...'
I paused.
'Your clone is human, right? Early teens?' I confirmed.
'Yes.' Miranda agreed.
'Have you tried sending her a picture of us together?' I asked.
'But we're not together. I'm dating Kaidan.' Miranda revealed.
'You. Wait. What?' I asked.
I was sitting on the floor. Why was I sitting on the floor? I was standing a few seconds ago.
'I just told you that I'm not dating you, and you collapsed, Krell.' Miranda explained.
'That's not... Wait. That's what you thought shocked me?' I asked incredulously.
'Krell. As wonderful as you are, and I have been assured by reliable sources that you are very nice, you just aren't my type. You're a terrible family man, you killed your last wife, you run off for hundreds of years at a time, and your fame would bring unwanted attention if I dated you. Also, you're a Krogan, which I feel I shouldn't need to tell you.' Miranda explained slowly, as if I were a child with a massive yet obvious crush.
'What? I know I'm a Krogan, Miranda.' I explained.
'Why are you so surprised that I am not dating you, then?' Miranda asked.
'I'm not... I'm not surprised you're not dating me, I'm surprised you are dating Kaidan.' I replied.
'Kaidan is a perfect specimen of Human manhood. Why would I not date him? He has no outstanding genetic ailments, and his high biotic potential despite his L2 implant just shows how capable he is. Also, he has a very pleasant jaw line to look at. I enjoy tracing it with my fingers just before he shaves.'
'That's... A lot of information that I don't need, Miranda.' I thanked her.
'So can you help me?' Miranda asked.
I flash forge a camera drone with my omni-tool and pull Miranda to my side.
'All right. Climb up on my shoulders. Like you're having a piggyback ride.' I instructed.
'A what?' Miranda asked.
'Oh. Wow. That's... really sad. I'm just gonna let Kaidan deal with that. Just... Let's take the picture. Remember to smile. It's for your sister.' I instructed.
Miranda nodded and we took the picture with her standing next to me.
'Alright. Now, send her an email with this picture. Tell her you are working with me to help save the Galaxy. Don't mention Cerberus.' I cautioned.
'Why not?' Miranda asked.
'Because whether you agree or not, Cerberus is thought of as a terrorist organization which means you shouldn't mention that you work for them to your family. It would worry them.' I explain. Did Miranda's father not give her any training in scoially acceptable lying among family members? Wait, what am I thinking? Of course he didn't.
Miranda nodded.
'Now, just send the picture. Mention that you're working with me, and then all your problems will be solved. The conversation will flow from there. Also, don't mention that we conspired to murder your mutual dad. People get unreasonably upset at me when they find out I killed their parents. It's really awkward. So just keep that a secret.' I state with remarkable confidence for someone who has just learned exactly how bad Miranda was at socializing.
'And it'll work?' Miranda asked, hopefully.
'Probably? If something goes terribly wrong, ask Kaidan for help. He understands how to talk to people who are upset at you because you murdered a person in a position of authority over them in order to protect them.' I suggested.
Miranda nodded.
'Thank you, Professor.'
I nodded back.
Miranda and Kaidan, huh? He sure went from 'fuck Cerberus!' to 'Let's fuck Cerberus!' remarkably quickly.
I wonder if he's aware he's dating her?
Maybe I should tell him?
Nah. Kaidan's a big kid. He can figure it out on his own.
2185 CE
Dear Aye Aye,
Saw Shiala today. Apparently we almost met on Feros two years ago. Did you know she was green? Because she's green now. That's new, right?
I fixed her problem with Baria Frontiers for her and her friends. Next time she needs medical assistance tell her to use a Human company.
Love,
Dad
2185 CE
Dear Dad,
Humans didn't exist when I was teaching her about medical companies. I thought they were a myth you made up. Like Unicorns.
In conclusion,
Fuck you
2185 CE
Dear Aye Aye,
Look, in my defense, I meant to draw the horn. I just forgot.
Love,
Dad
2185 CE
Dear Dad,
I've seen your calendar. You remembered some random Human's birth year over two millennia before it happened; in the Human calendar, which the Humans hadn't even invented yet.
No one believes you when you say that you forgot.
In conclusion,
Fuck you
2185 CE
Dear Aye Aye,
The paint dried before I remembered, and after that I thought it would be funnier that way.
Love,
Dad
2185 CE
Dear Dad,
It is. Every time a Human hears me open my mouth after seeing the rainbow colored 'unicorn' hammer you made me, it warms my heart to watch their anthropocentric brains melt.
It was less hilarious when the Human ambassador to the Citadel cheerfully tried to empathize with me as a 'fellow horse girl' and I tried to convince her that it was a Unicorn, a mythical creature my dad invented.
In conclusion,
Fuck you
2185 CE
Dear Aye Aye,
Wait, that's why she asked me if I invented horses?
Love,
Dad
Dear Dad,
Fuck off.
In conclusion,
Fuck you
Author's Notes: In retrospect I should have posted the informational on medical ethics on the Citadel after this chapter, but I was revising it and both threads touched upon the concept independently, and I couldn't help myself.
Anyway, here's a bit of a breather to close out the Mordin Arc. Not everything's resolved yet, but some things take time. Like, maybe a week. Maybe less. Who knows?
