Alenko couldn't believe what he was hearing. Tevos's suggestion seemed so ludicrous, his first instinct was to laugh. A bitter sound of disbelief caught in his throat as he struggled to process her words. Was she really saying what he thought she was saying?

He glanced at his fellow diplomats; their expressions mirrored his own confusion and growing alarm. Then his gaze shifted to Admiral Shepard. The man's face was as unreadable as ever, a mask of practiced diplomacy, but Alenko could see the tension in the set of his jaw, the slight narrowing of his eyes.

Kaidan's mind raced, replaying every moment of the negotiations he had been present for. He couldn't recall the Council ever raising this point before. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead as he considered the implications. How long had they been planning this?

He scanned the turians, their avian features offering little in the way of emotional cues to his human eyes. But even he could see the uncharacteristic rigidity in their postures. The Primarch sat silently, mandibles clenched tightly, eyes fixed on Tevos.

The rest of the Council seemed to be considering this whole thing seriously. He knew they had always been too eager to move things along as quickly as possible, but did they really think this was an appropriate condition?

Are they fucking kidding?

The negotiations session had started with the thorny issue of turian reparations to humanity. This was the last 'serious' item on the agenda and arguably the most challenging one. As it had always been during these sessions, the conversation began with the participants engaging in a blame game, spiraling endlessly in a circular debate around the table.

"We have several key points to discuss. First, we propose that the Hierarchy provide financial compensation for the destruction on Shanxi, particularly focusing on civilian infrastructure."

General Lorik Qui'in bristled. "You expect us to foot the bill for every such incident?"

Anderson kept his voice steady, "Your forces razed entire settlements. It's only right you help rebuild them."

Primarch Vakarian held up a hand. "We're willing to discuss financial aid, but within reason. What else?"

"Furthermore, the Hierarchy shall assist in rebuilding key infrastructure on Demeter and Mindoir—power plants, communication arrays, essential facilities."

"You ask much, General," Qui'in uttered, his tone respectful but displeased.

"We're also prepared to offer something in return," Shepard intervened. "A non-aggression pact. A formal treaty ensuring no hostile actions against each other's colonies or ships for a set period."

The turian delegation exchanged glances, their subvocals humming with interest.

"We also propose a war reparations fund to support families affected by the conflict and to aid recovery efforts in human colonies."

"And what of our colonies?" Qui'in demanded.

"The fund could be mutual," Shepard conceded, "but with a larger portion allocated to Alliance systems, given the extent of the damage."

He paused scrolling through the agenda on his datapad.

"We also demand the immediate release of all human prisoners of war," Shepard finally said. "No conditions."

The Primarch nodded slowly. "That's... acceptable. A gesture of goodwill. Though I trust the Alliance will extend the same courtesy to our captured soldiers?"

"Of course," Shepard replied. He hesitated before moving to the next item, the one the command wouldn't budge on. "There is... one more condition," the admiral said carefully. "The Alliance requests a clause restricting turian colonial expansion near human space for a set number of years."

The turian delegation bristled visibly. Primarch Vakarian's voice was firm. "Absolutely not. We will not cede our right to expand or limit our fleet movements. This is non-negotiable."

Shepard held up his hands. "These are opening positions, Primarch. We're here to negotiate, to find common ground."

The Primarch's spoke in an even tone. "And yet you make demands that you know are unacceptable. No expansion limitations, no dismantling of our military bases, and no restrictions on our fleet movements. These are our red lines, Admiral."

Alenko looked across the room wearily. All in all, it was the same delicate dance of concessions they had grown used to—each side probing for weakness, testing how far they could push. The admirals and generals moved through their practiced steps, knowing which arguments would yield ground and which would hold firm. Their everyday routine for the last couple of weeks… With one notable exception. Garrus Vakarian was not present.

The Primarch had always made sure his son was in attendance during these sessions, taking great pride in it. Vakarian junior, unlike other turian and human officers, was usually quiet, preferring to listen rather than speak. But his presence had been a constant, so now Alenko wondered what had changed.

The turian was, of course, with Kathreen.

Kaidan fought against the unwanted thought, concentrating instead on the mundane conversation happening around him. But it lingered in his brain, like an itch he could not scratch. The image of the two together was too vivid, too painful to bear. It was one thing to know of their relationship, and completely another to come to terms with it.

Alenko clenched his fists under the table, his nails digging into his palms. The physical pain was a welcome distraction.Focus, damn it, he commanded himself, forcing his attention back to the proceedings and the endless, boring talks that filled the air.

"…As it turns out, arranged marriages are a common practice both on Earth and Palaven." Tevos sounded excited, her eyes gleaming with enthusiasm.

Wait, what?

Alenko glanced at Shepard. The admiral's usual composure slipped for a moment, revealing a flash of irritation. "An archaic tradition."

"Indeed," Tevos agreed, either oblivious to or choosing to ignore Shepard's tone. "However, in human culture, this tradition was often used as means of solidifying alliances between powerful families or to bring about peace between feuding clans, were they not?"

Shepard shook his head, his frustration now evident in the set of his shoulders. "Ancient history. The idea of forced unions goes against everything we stand for in the Alliance. We've moved beyond such... primitive customs."

"What we are saying, Admiral," Sparatus interfered, "is that unions like that have been a part of both cultures since their respective beginnings. And are still very present in the turian society."

Everyone looked at the Primarch, who was visibly uncomfortable. His mandibles twitched with contained emotion as he paused for a moment before speaking, choosing each word carefully. "The turians view arranged joinings as a necessary part of high society breeding," Castis explained. "We believe that by meticulously selecting partners based on compatibility and potential offspring, we can ensure the unbroken succession and prosperity of our noble houses."

The turian Councilor nodded at the words, clearly satisfied. The leader of Palaven, however, added, "Such arrangements are not without their challenges, as many turians today are questioning the tradition and advocating for change. It's a complex issue that demands understanding and patience. You could even call it controversial."

Sparatus narrowed his eyes, his whole demeanor immediately changing to displeasure. "Not that controversial, when even the Primarch of Palaven sees fit to make such an arrangement on behalf of his own son," he declared sternly.

Alenko stared at the turian leader. Did the Councilor just say that Garrus Vakarian wasengaged— or whatever they called it in bird-talk? Did Kathreen even know?

"Councilors," Shepard stated with a frown, "I have to question the relevance and necessity of this tradition in our current negotiations." He paused, taking a deep breath to calm himself before continuing. "We're here to discuss peace between our species, not to resurrect outdated customs."

Kaidan's head was spinning — he could barely believe this was actually happening. They'd spent most of the session focused on the issue of reparations and were finally closing in on a tentative agreement. And now the Council was throwing this into the mix? A marriage between a human and a turian? They couldn't even agree on peaceful coexistence, let alone something like this. Was this just another political ploy, or were the Council genuinely considering that the Alliance would agree to this?

"This proposal is not only misguided, but also disregards the rights and autonomy of both our species," Shepard continued. "We're trying to foster peace and understanding between our races, not force our people into unions they may not want. I believe we should focus on finalizing the reparations agreement and moving forward with the peace process, instead of pursuing this ill-advised course of action."

"Spoken like a true diplomat," Sparatus smirked.

He exchanged glances with his fellow Councilors giving the word to Valern, who had been silent up until now. "We need to ensure a personal stake in preserving the peace for both species," he said, large eyes blinking rapidly. "If we can find a way to make them feel connected and invested in each other's well-being, it will be a much stronger tie than any written agreement could provide."

"This is a bit too personal, don't you think?" Castis said, his voice firm and resolute. Shepard nodded in agreement, grateful for the Primarch's support.

Sparatus frowned. He clearly expected the humans to resist, but not the turians. He fixed his gaze on the two leaders, his expression unwavering. "You want to prove to the whole galaxy that our races can coexist together. Joining ceremony is the best way to demonstrate just that. It shows that we're willing to put aside our differences and work together for the greater good."

That Councilor had some nerve! Kaidan felt like the conversation was going in circles, and Shepard's every argument was hitting a brick wall. He realized that the Council had already made their decision, and this discussion was nothing more than a formality. Though it was barely any consolation at this point, Alenko could see the turians were just as disturbed.

The admiral objected, "Forcing two individuals into a marriage, just to prove a point to the galaxy? That's not diplomacy, that's manipulation. How can you even suggest such a thing? These are people's lives we're talking about, not political chess pieces."

"I tend to agree with the admiral," the Primarch nodded. "The agreements we reached so far will be more than enough to ensure peace between our species. We don't need to resort to such extreme measures."

Tevos narrowed her eyes at his words. "Will it be though, Primarch? For how long? Until the next Shanxi? Or maybe Eletania?" Her voice was uncharacteristically sharp. "We need to make sure both species are truly invested in keeping the peace by way of union between their own people."

"By keeping those people hostage?" Shepard spat, his face flushing with anger. "That's not the way to build a lasting peace. It's a form of control, not cooperation."

"Don't be over-dramatic, Admiral," Sparatus waved at the human with dismissal.

"It's a very logical solution, if you think about it," Valern continued in the typical fast-paced salarian manner. "Turians will start paying reparations and will be taking care of the human integration into the inter-galactic community. And since family is an important part of turian society, protected by law, a joining between a turian and a human will leave the Hierarchy no choice but to accept humans completely. Our logic is undeniable."

"You want to use a human as a bargaining chip, that's all that it is," the admiral almost growled at his words. "How can you expect me to ask anyone to do this?"

"Not anyone, Admiral Shepard. The one person prechosen by the Council," Sparatus replied, his tone matter-of-fact.

Alenko felt a chill run through him.

"Am I to understand you have a list of candidates?"

"We wouldn't have brought up the matter if we weren't prepared."

"Apparently, our input was not deemed necessary," the human fumed. "Our opinions mean nothing to the Council."

This was getting out of hand. They were not asking anymore, they were telling.

"Why weren't we consulted?" Castis Vakarian asked the turian Councilor, his own voice laced with barely contained anger. "We could have selected appropriate candidates..."

Sparatus scoffed. "So you could throw at us some low-level scrub, someone expendable? The idea is to choose equally significant people from both species."

"You could still have informed us in advance," Shepard said. "We deserve to know what's being decided on our behalf."

"We knew you'd reject the idea in its initial stages," the turian's voice was condescending.

"And when you say 'equally significant', what exactly do you mean?" Shepard asked, ignoring his tone.

"Someone important to the stakeholders on both sides," Sparatus replied, and Kaidan could've sworn the Councilor savored his next words just a little too much. "We chose your daughter, Kathreen Shepard, as the human in question…"

Castis was utterly confused. He watched the admiral, who appeared pale as a sheet.

"You did what?" the human gasped. Shepard's hands were shaking, whether from rage or shock, it was hard to tell. "This is ludicrous and beyond reason! If you think I could ever agree to this, you're completely out of your minds!"

Sparatus ignored his outburst, his face impassive. "…and a high-ranking official of the Hierarchy as the turian counterpart," he continued, as if discussing the weather rather than people's lives. "Both individuals are of significant importance to their respective species."

This time it was the Primarch's turn to trill with surprise. A high-ranking official of the Hierarchy?

Unthinkable!

Garrus!

This was for sure all his doing! Had the brat gone behind his back and brought up the matter directly to the Council? Castis fumed internally, his mandibles flaring wide before clamping tight against his face.

Wasn't it too convenient that they had an argument about the human female just this morning, and now, out of the blue, the Council was insisting on the joining between their two species? But how did Garrus do this? And when? Had he spoken to Sparatus or some other Councilor? Had he planted that ludicrous idea in their heads? Did his son want the human that badly?

This was madness, pure madness. If Garrus thought that the Primarch would ever allow his son to be joined with a human... The thought was preposterous and beyond reason.

Yet something didn't add up. How could Garrus swing it so fast? He had no direct lines of communication with the Council. Their protocol and endless red tape made sure of that. Or did they mean someone else? There was only one way to find out.

"Who?" Castis asked gravely, preparing himself.

"Admiral Septimus Oraka of the First Fleet," Tevos replied solemnly.

Oraka?

Castis's mind reeled at the unexpected turn of events. His eyes darted to his left, where the turian in question sat. Septimus's subvocals rumbled, not with surprise Castis had anticipated, but with a disconcerting undercurrent of consent. The Primarch's suspicions flared. Had Oraka been privy to this scheme all along? Or worse, had he orchestrated it himself?

Memories of the dinner at Shepard's residence flooded back. The way Septimus had looked at the human female, the impression she had clearly made. But this—a formal turian joining ceremony—was simply unacceptable.

A tide of rage swelled within Castis. The audacity of it all—Oraka's presumption, the Council's secrecy, the blatant disregard for his authority. He, the Primarch of Palaven, kept in the dark while his own admiral was approached behind his back! The betrayal cut deep, all the more painful for the implicit trust he had placed in Oraka.

Spirits damn you all, he seethed inwardly as he struggled to maintain his composure in the face of this political ambush.

"Do you expect me to give my daughter to a turian admiral who slaughtered hundreds, even thousands of humans?" Shepard bellowed. His eyes were burning, moving feverishly from Oraka to Vakarian, then to Sparatus. "This is going too far even for you! My daughter is not a bargaining chip! She's a person. How dare you even suggest this?"

"You came here for peace, Admiral, did you not?" a crackling sound echoed from behind. Saren Arterius suddenly reminded everyone of his presence from the far corner of the chambers, his voice calm and tinged with the usual mocking tones. "And this is what you are offered here. Yet the second it becomes even remotely personal, you back down. You say you want truce, but how are we to believe the sincerity of your words and your intentions when your actions speak otherwise?"

Major Alenko leapt from his chair, face flushed with anger at the turian's audacity. "How dare you?" he spat out. "You have no right to speak to the admiral in such a manner. This is a direct insult to the Alliance and to this whole forum."

Saren's mandibles twitched in what might have been amusement, his cold eyes fixed on the officer with predatory intensity. But before the human could say anything else, Shepard's hand touched his arm in a commanding gesture. "Sit down, Major."

Castis shook his head. Despite the inner turmoil, Shepard knew he had to maintain at least some control of the situation. The younger officer blinked, realizing what he had done. Exactly what Saren wanted. The barefaced tried to provoke the admiral, but it was his major that took the bait. Spectre's face was triumphant when he continued in the same calm and mocking manner.

"How do we know this whole thing is not a distraction orchestrated by the Alliance? Smoke and mirrors, a waste of our time? You want the Council to take your species seriously. Something I personally advise against... This is your chance, human. Take it or leave it."

Shepard stared intently at Arterius. He remained silent, clenching his jaw as he contemplated his response. Saren had been waiting for this moment, biding his time until he could corner him, and did it masterfully, leaving the admiral with no easy answer—nothing he could say now to escape the weight of the Spectre's words.

Castis knew that whatever came next could have far-reaching consequences, not just for Kathreen Shepard, but for the entire peace process. Though the Council were technically just mediators and had no real authority to impose such a provision, their influence was immense—they could shape the narrative, frame the choices, and make any refusal feel like an obstacle to peace. Should the Hierarchy accept their proposal, Shepard's rejection would paint the Alliance as unwilling to compromise. If the admiral wanted to salvage the situation, he'd need more than composure—he'd need support. And so, he turned to the Primarch, searching for an ally amid the madness.

"Surely I am not the only one who thinks this is simply unacceptable," Shepard said in a much calmer voice. "As to the sincerity of my words and my intentions, I will leave it for Primarch Vakarian to judge. I do believe, however, that he agrees with me—we are capable of honoring our commitments without turning to some brutal medieval techniques."

The Primarch's thoughts swirled as he weighed the options before him. The Council had presented him with a potential solution to a problem he couldn't easily fix otherwise. Giving Kathreen Shepard to Oraka would kill two pijaks with one shot. On the one hand, it would put an end to his son's ridiculous obsession with the human. No matter his personal feelings, Garrus would have to accept the sacred connection of the joining ceremony making Kathreen untouchable for any other male. With her out of the way, there would be no more distractions for Garrus, and Castis could try to rectify things with his son, make him see reason and repledge his commitment to join with Sparatus's daughter.

On the other hand…

Damn it!

As he looked now at the Alliance admiral, he couldn't shake the feeling that it was wrong. The human female was not a trophy or a symbol of good will. And whereas Oraka was more than happy to take her into his possession, something told Castis Kathreen would be less than pleased with the outcome. It was immoral to drag her into this mess on so many levels. For Spirits' sake, she was just a pup...

Besides, turian society would never accept such a condition without resistance. Sure, Oraka was an aging widower, no longer relevant to the continuation of any noble line, and yes—the union might've served as a bold gesture, a sign that the Primarch of Palaven was willing to take unprecedented steps toward peace between their species. But a ceremony with a human? That clashed with centuries of tradition. And tradition was not so easily set aside.

What was Sparatus even thinking? Of all people, he should've known how the Hierarchy would respond. Did he seriously believe Council support would be enough to sway the conservative factions? Even if it were true—why push so hard for something so volatile? And why act like it was already a done deal?

That last part enraged Castis the most.

Sparatus hadn't consulted him. Hadn't even opened a discussion. He'd made the decision on his own and reached out to Oraka directly, as if Castis—his own Primarch—was an afterthought. As if the Councilor was above protocol. Above consequence.

Had Citadel politics gone to his head? Had he sat in that seat so long he'd started believing he was untouchable, that service on the Citadel somehow lifted him above turian chain of command? If so, he'd forgotten something important.

His seat wasn't permanent. It was granted—by the Hierarchy, by the Primarch. And it could just as easily be taken away.

Maybe it was time Castis reminded him.

"I'm sure Primarch Vakarian has many things to say on the matter," Saren suddenly interrupted his train of thought. "Perhaps he even believes there is someone more suited for the joining with Miss Shepard. Someone closer to home..."

Everyone in the room stared at Castis as they tried to decipher the meaning behind Saren's statement. But his words were meant for the Primarch and the Primarch alone.

Castis felt as if the ground had suddenly disappeared beneath him. His heart was pounding against his rib crest with such force he feared even humans might hear it.

That barefaced bastard knew.

Somehow, Saren had uncovered the explosive secret of Garrus and Kathreen Shepard. And he had just threatened him, the Primarch of Palaven himself. Castis knew, with a sickening certainty, that Arterius would not hesitate to detonate this political bomb if he dared to resist. The Spectre's cold, calculating eyes seemed to bore into his very soul, silently challenging him to make a move.

The audacity of the Spectre left him speechless, cornered, and with only one possible answer. Saren enjoyed the look on the Primarch's face, reveling in his power over him. That's why the Spectre was here, Castis realized. Doing the Council's bidding. Forcing all of them into submission. Knowing he would get exactly what the Council wanted.

Castis felt anger welling up inside him, but he knew he had no choice but to play along. The stakes were too high, and the consequences of defiance too dire. He took a deep breath and prepared to speak.

He was a smooth talker, that turian. Katie smiled as his latest message flickered on her omni-tool in the dimly lit bedroom. She lay tangled in the sheets, her thoughts drifting to the moment she would see him again—his eyes, striking and impossibly blue; the feel of his talons tracing delicate patterns on her skin; his dual-toned voice whispering sweet nothings in her ear.

The two of them had been exchanging messages back and forth for an hour now, each text more eager than the last. Garrus was growing increasingly impatient, desperate to see her. He said he had something important to tell her, something that couldn't wait, and Katie wondered if it was about the talks. She knew that today they would be discussing reparations. A subject that was, undoubtedly, painful for the turians. Had they finally reached an agreement? The thought filled her with excitement and anticipation.

It meant they could tell her father soon. He probably would be angry, but he will come around eventually. Garrus insisted on speaking with him personally. Her turian really had a chivalrous streak in him. Katie didn't argue. It would probably be for the best. When the admiral saw that their feelings were mutual and genuine, he would have no choice. He loved his daughter too much.

Convincing the Primarch, however, would be an entirely different challenge. Garrus had warned her from the beginning that it wouldn't be easy. The thought troubled her deeply. Would Castis ever accept their relationship? Garrus kept telling her not to worry about it, but how could she not? Katie knew that she would have to find a way to reconcile the two, no matter what it took.

With the truce on the horizon, they began to make plans for their future together. The Citadel would make a suitable starting point, at least for the short term, as they both knew tensions would still be high and animosity between the two races would linger. Katie didn't kid herself into believing that everyone would just accept their union, but she also didn't let that discourage her. They would have to be patient and stay in the neutral space of the station.

Garrus planned to quit his service as soon as the truce had been declared and he had ensured his troops were out of danger. He would retire and move to the Citadel. And she would move in with him.

She wondered what Garrus wanted to tell her. He insisted on speaking in private and asked to meet as soon as possible.

[K.S.: Is it about the talks?]

Couldn't he just tell her now? She needed to know what was going on.

There was a long pause. Her fingers tapped impatiently against the omni-tool. Finally, it beeped with his reply.

[G.V.: Not exactly]

Another pause followed, and she couldn't help but frown as she read his next message.

[G.V.: Missed today's session]

[G.V.: Meet tonight?]

Garrus was insistent and cryptic.

[K.S.: Can't tonight]

Her father was coming home any minute, and she couldn't just leave without explaining where she was going.

[G.V.: Morning]

[G.V.: ?]

[K.S.: I will try]

[G.V.: Consort's Chambers. 10 am]

Katie bit her lower lip. The thought of seeing him again filled her with longing.

[G.V.: sharp]

She smiled at the word.

[K.S.: Sir, yes sir!]

[G.V.: Exactly what I want you to say when I tell you to take off those human garments of yours]

Katie flushed at the thought.

[K.S.: Anything else?] she teased.

[G.V.: No]

[G.V.: You can leave the rest to me]

She felt a shiver run down her spine at the thought of what he would do to her, and she knew she would let him.

[G.V.: I will deal with your undergarments myself]

[K.S.: Garrus!]

At the rate he was dealing with her underwear, she'd run out fast.

[G.V.: Sorry]

She knew he wasn't.

[G.V.: It's that private piano lesson we took the other day]

[G.V.: Can't get it off my mind]

[G.V.: The music we made]

[G.V.: I want more of it]

He seemed to take delight in making her fluster with every message. She could tell, Garrus enjoyed the game of teasing and tantalizing each other from a distance.

[K.S.: You have a dirty mind, Major]

[G.V.: But a pure heart]

Katie smiled. She could read his smug expression between the lines.

Then she heard the residence doors swoosh open, revealing the sharp sounds of her father's voice followed by the softer tones of Liam Stone. She sat up sharply in bed, listening in.

Shepard spoke in brief, curt sentences, while Liam responded promptly with a "Yes, sir." As the staff officer stepped away and the sound of him faded behind the doors, the apartment was once again enveloped in silence, broken only by the soft hum of the central air system. Left alone downstairs, the admiral remained quiet for some time, then his footsteps echoed through the corridors as he went to his study.

[K.S.: My father is home]

[K.S.: Can't talk]

[G.V.: Tomorrow. 10 am]

[G.V.: Will be waiting]

[G.V.: My human]

Katie grinned at the lines of text she knew were filled with so much love, then typed in a quick response.

[K.S.: Will be there. My turian]

Garrus signed off, and she got out of bed, put on her robe and headed downstairs. Her father went straight to his study—it was a bad sign.

When she entered the admiral's private room, she immediately knew something was wrong. The atmosphere was heavy, oppressive, like a thick fog settling over everything. Shepard was sitting in his chair, expression clouded with gloom. His eyes were fixed on empty space, and the lines on his face seemed deeper than usual, carved with worry and fatigue.

Katie approached him cautiously. "Hey," she said gently, trying to keep her voice steady despite the growing knot in her stomach. "Is everything okay?"

Shepard looked up at her, his eyes filled with sadness. The depth of pain she saw there made her breath catch. Her father was never a man of many words, but when he was this quiet...

She came closer and placed her hand on his shoulder, feeling the tension in his muscles. As she did so, he covered her hand with his own, giving her a gentle squeeze. The warmth of him contrasted sharply with the coldness she felt spreading through her. Despite the loving gesture, his eyes remained weary and distant, lost in some internal struggle she couldn't understand.

"Alright. Tell me." She gave him a warm, comforting smile, but the admiral didn't return it, his face remaining serious and grave. "That bad, huh?"

"The Council decided it was about time to derail the talks," Shepard finally broke his silence.

"Oh?" Katie walked around him and took a seat in the opposite chair as she tried to process his words. "It's the reparations, isn't it?" She leaned forward, her eyes searching his face for any clues.

He sighed heavily, slumping his shoulders. "Surprisingly, no."

She frowned. If it wasn't about the reparations, then what could be so troubling for the admiral?

"Can you tell me?" She knew that some things her father couldn't share. The admiral's daughter was still a civilian and wasn't privy to sensitive Alliance's information. But the look in his eyes told her this was different.

Shepard hesitated, his eyes flicking to the side as he searched for the right words. "The Council wants the turians to have a personal stake in making sure that humanity coexists with other races and contributes to the galactic stage."

"I don't understand. What does that mean, exactly?"

He ran a hand through his hair. "Sparatus and the rest of the buffoons want to make sure turians not just pay reparations to the humans, but help them become a part of the Citadel space."

He sighed.

"Since it was turians who started the war, the Primarch would be required to ensure that peace between our races lasts, and I as the Alliance admiral must provide him with personal motivation."

"How personal are we talking?" Katie didn't like the word, and her father just kept repeating it.

He stood and paced as he spoke, agitation palpable in every step. "By making a mockery of everything I have stood for since the beginning. Apparently I have to prove I amtrulyinvested into the sodden peace, since I'm the one advocating for it. They want to have me involved directly, not just as the Alliance representative. They want to have my family to serve as the guarantee of my commitment. The Council knows what I hold most dear and made damn sure to hit me where it hurts."

Katie had never seen the man lose his calm so fast before. Whatever the Council had done, one thing was for certain—they had struck a nerve. The admiral placed both hands on the table and looked at them instead of his daughter.

"I'm sorry, Kathreen. I never thought they would do something like this." His voice cracked slightly, the pain in it unmistakable.

"What did they do?"

"They asked for something I can never give them, because it's not mine to give in the first place."

"Dad," she was genuinely scared now. "Just tell me."

"They want to arrange a marriage between a human and a turian, as a personal stake for both races to stick with the peace agreement," he said with anger, his words coming out in a rush, as if saying them quickly would somehow lessen their impact.

The world seemed to spin around her as she grasped the gravity of his words. Her legs felt weak, and she was grateful she was already seated.

"The Council has ordered that a high-ranking turian officer will take a human into their family through a joining ceremony," her father continued. "This way, the Hierarchy will be forced to accept that human and their entire race on a personal level. You see, family is incredibly important to turians."

She swallowed hard. A cold sweat broke out on her forehead as the pieces started to fall into place. "Not just any human," she whispered.

His gaze was heavy, full of hurt. He could barely speak the words. "No, Kathreen. The Council chose you to be their token human."

The room felt too small, the air too thin. "Can they do this?" was all she could ask.

Shepard shook his head in exasperation. Apparently they could.

Choosing her to be bound to a turian family? The enormity of it was almost too much to comprehend.

"When they first told us, the Primarch was on my side, fighting it. But for some reason, he eventually agreed in favor of this madness. Making my voice a minority." His bitterness, his disappointment in the leader of Palaven was clear.

"Who?" she asked suddenly. A faint glimmer of hope was echoing in her heart. Could it be him?

The admiral hesitated before saying in a grave tone. "Septimus Oraka."

She closed her eyes, feeling trapped, suffocating. The image of Oraka's purple-marked face filled her mind. Her fingers gripped the armrests of her chair until her knuckles turned white, her chest constricting with each shallow breath.

Garrus! Did he know? Was it what he wanted to tell her? No, he said he had missed today's session. He had no idea. Oh, God. Katie could hear it is so clear now, the sound of her hopes and dreams being crashed. The future she had dared to imagine shattered into a million pieces, each shard a reminder of what could never be.

"But what about..." she started, unable to finish the sentence. What about Garrus? she wanted to scream. What about us? But the words died in her throat, choked by the reality of her situation.

"I'm so sorry, Kathreen. If I had known... if I had even suspected..."

Then he paused, and she saw it—something hardened behind his eyes. The weight of command slipped away, replaced by fierce resolve.

"I will not allow this," he suddenly said.

A tremor ran through her. Relief. Shock. Hope.

"Dad..."

"I will not let them give you to that... thing." His voice grew louder, anger seeping through.

"Can you really refuse?" she asked, her own voice trembling with doubt. She wanted to believe he could protect her, but she also knew what was on the other side of the scales. "Wouldn't the Council—"

"To hell with the Council. To hell with this whole madness. And to hell with the Primarch. That back-stabbing bastard."

Katie gazed into his eyes. And she saw what he was going to do. His fury and resolve at that moment were terrifying. Everything he had done, he had done for her, and now he was losing her because of it. The irony was not lost on both of them; the truce meant nothing to him if it required sacrificing his daughter. His pain was overwhelming, his anger too dangerous. She knew, without a doubt, that he would refuse the Council. He would reject the truce. He would destroy everything he had worked so hard to achieve, all for her.

She couldn't allow him to do that.

The admiral couldn't see it now, blinded by emotions, but no price was too high for peace. What's one life compared to the future of humanity?

"It's alright," she whispered softly. Tears clung to her lashes, shimmering but unshed, as a strange sense of resolution settled over her. "It's alright. I will do this."

He shook his head. "No. I won't let them use you like this. I can never ask you to do this."

She looked him straight in the eyes. "You don't have to. This is not your decision to make, is it?"

"We will find another way. The price is too high."

"You don't really believe it. I know you don't. You can tell the Council that I accept."

"Katie." His voice broke. "You don't know what you're saying. You don't understand what this means."

"I do, Admiral. I understand perfectly. This is bigger than me, bigger than us."

Katie saw it then—the sorrow, the guilt, the helpless love. It struck her how old he looked in that moment. Not the stalwart admiral the galaxy admired, but her father, worn down by years of duty and regret.

He pushed himself forward, crossing the short distance between them in two quick strides, kneeled down and took her in his arms, embracing her as tightly as he could, not knowing what to do or how to make it better. "My sweet, Katie," he murmured, stroking her hair gently. "I'm so proud of you. And so sorry."

Katie pulled back slightly. "Don't be sorry, dad. This is my choice."

She hesitated, a shadow falling on her face. "It's just…"

"What is it, dear?"

"Am I expected to…?" she couldn't say it out loud. Her cheeks flushed with shame and he immediately understood.

"Absolutely not! He will never touch you."

She nodded at his words, not daring to look at him at that moment.

Shepard's heart was breaking. "My God, Kathreen. You deserve so much more than that. You deserve love, real love."

Katie felt a fresh wave of grief wash over her. Love. The kind of love she felt towards Garrus. The kind of love that now seemed impossible and out of reach.

Her chest ached, and she felt like she was drowning in a sea of regret. She remembered how hopeful she was just an hour ago. How foolish she was in her belief that she could ever be with her turian. She thought she could tell her secret to the world, that it wouldn't matter who knew. Now, she realized that she would have to take it to the depths of the darkest, most hidden corners of the universe. And the weight of it threatened to crush her.

She couldn't stop the sob that escaped her throat.

"Oh, sweetheart."

Shepard pulled her close again, cradling her head against his chest. "I'm so sorry. I know this isn't what you wanted for your life. Certainly not what I wanted."

"I know, dad."

They stayed like that for a moment, then Katie spoke. "Tell me about him. Septimus Oraka. I know what's in his profile, but we only met one time during dinner."

Katie felt anxiety as she said it out loud, the name of her future... husband? Mate? She wasn't even sure what to call him.

"There's not much to tell," her father admitted. " He was married once, no children. His wife passed away twelve years ago. He rose up the ranks long before the First Contact. Was already an esteemed and well-respected high-ranking officer of the Turian Hierarchy. I know he commanded the turian fleet in the Relay 314 Incident. And…" Shepard hesitated. "The occupation of Shanxi was his plan."

Her eyes widened slightly. She didn't know that.

"Maybe he feels the same way I do," Katie said with hope. "That it's worth the personal sacrifice if it means lasting peace."

The admiral didn't say anything, but she could see he doubted Oraka's motives were this pure and honorable.

They remained in silence for quite some time before she finally asked "When?"

When Alenko entered the room, he saw them sitting each deep in their own thoughts. The room was silent, the only sound being soft clinking of ice as they sipped their drinks.

His heart clenched at the sight of Kathreen. Her eyes were red from crying, and the glass in her hand trembled slightly. He could only imagine what she was feeling.

But it didn't matter. None of it did. He was going to take her away from here, this terrible place they called the Citadel. The supposed beacon of hope and order in the galaxy? Yeah, right. A damn black hole of autocracy and cruelty, hidden intentions, pettiness and pride. The Council members could sit in their high-up chambers all they liked, pretending they mattered, wielding that power they were so terrified to lose. They were all beneath her, not worthy to share the same air as Kathreen. This place was no place for her.

He lingered in the door for a moment, then cleared his throat and reported to his superior, "The ship is ready to depart whenever you are, Admiral."

Shepard gave him a heavy look. "Thank you, Major. That won't be necessary."

Alenko didn't understand, "Sir?"

Katie glanced at Kaiden, then her farther, raising her eyebrow in question. "Did you want me to run?" She would laugh at the thought if she hadn't just finished crying.

"I had to be prepared for everything," the admiral answered seriously, taking a sip.

He looked at Kaidan, his voice heavy with sorrow. "Kathreen will remain on the Citadel. She has accepted her role as the human token, as proposed by the Council."

"What?"

Alenko's mind raced, trying to find the reason for the admiral's words. Was it some part of a bigger plan? Was Kaidan missing something?

Shepard sighed, understanding major's bewilderment.

"Kathreen has agreed to the joining with Admiral Oraka."

The words seemed surreal, they didn't make sense. He looked at Kathreen with a mix of shock and disbelief.

"You can't let her do this!" Kaidan raised his voice unintentionally. "This is insane!"

"Let her?" the admiral gave him a sad smile. "If that's what you think I've been doing for most of her adult life, you couldn't be more mistaken. I thought you knew us better than that."

Kaidan walked past him, focused solely on his daughter. "Why?" he asked her.

Kathreen didn't respond. She took a shaky sip of her drink. The liquid sloshed against the sides of the glass, and her hand trembled even more now.

Alenko's eyes searched her hers, the desperation in him growing with every passing second, but she wouldn't look back at him. And so, he went down on his knees, his face now at her level, scanning for any clues as to why she would do something like that. The thought of her father watching never once crossed his mind. At that moment, all he cared about was her. All he saw was her.

"Kathreen," he spoke her first name softly, voice filled with an intensity that made her look back at him. "Why are you doing this?"

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "You know why. This is what I have to do."

"No, you don't." He took her hand in his and felt her shivering. "We can just leave. Right now. We can leave the Citadel and never return here."

Kathreen closed her eyes, letting new tears run down her cheeks. When she opened them again he saw her anguish. "And then what?" she asked. "You go back to fighting? To dying?"

Her other hand put down the glass and reached for the scarred side of his face. His muscles twitched at the contact. "So much pain and suffering... where does it end?" she murmured. "Do you know? Does anyone know? What if I can end it? For all of us... for you?"

Her last words sent a shiver down his spine.

"Kathreen," he leaned into her touch, pressing her soft palm to his cheek. "Not like this, I beg you. Don't throw your life away."

"It's the only way," she said softly.

"No," he protested, his voice filled with anger now. "I refuse to believe it. There has to be another."

She smiled, her eyes filled with sadness. "If there is, please tell me."

Alenko remained silent, his heart shattering into a million pieces for her.

She looked at the admiral. "I made my decision."

Shepard rose from his seat. "I will convey the news to the Council. You'll need to appear before them tomorrow at noon to officially accept their proposal, so they can incorporate the marriage clause into the peace treaty."

She gave her farther a tiny nod. He lingered for another moment, then walked out of the room, leaving the two young people alone.

This is madness, Alenko thought. He couldn't believe Shepard was actually doing this.

"How do you expect me to let you do this?" he demanded.

"It's going to be okay," she whispered, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

The pain in his chest was all-consuming. The thought of giving her to the turian was infuriating. It was one thing to lose her to a turian she loved, it was completely another…

Wait.

Did Vakarian know? He hadn't been at the session? Could that be the reason why? Or was he completely unaware?

"What about him?" Kaidan asked with the sudden realization. "Does he know?"

Kathreen looked at the major sharply, her eyes wide with worry. "I... I don't... It doesn't matter now."

She couldn't think about Garrus now. Couldn't let her thoughts go there. That pain was too much to bear. It threatened to destroy her completely. And Alenko saw it. The depth of her love for Vakarian. The anguish in her eyes at the mere mention of him and the fact that she was giving up the one she loved. What if she didn't have to? The thought that had been breaking Kaidan's heart for days was now giving him hope. Could Vakarian do something? Wasn't he high enough in the Turian Hierarchy? And the Primarch's son?

"What if we tell the Council?" he suggested, hoping against hope. "If they knew..."

Kathreen recoiled, her eyes filling with terror. "No! There's no way of predicting what they would do. They are not our allies, can't you see?"

Alenko took a deep breath.

If the Council were indeed just waiting for an excuse to blow up the peace talks, he thought, this would be a perfect opportunity. They could easily spin the story however they wanted, turn Kathreen's relationship with Vakarian into a scandal of galactic magnitude, dragging the admiral's name through the mud, accusing the man of allowing something so outrageous, or blaming him for letting it transpire right under his nose.

Damn it, Kathreen!

She could've avoided all of this if she'd just told her father the truth from the start. But now? It had gone too far. The risks—for the admiral, for the entire summit—were too great. And while his head knew that, his mind still protested, grasping at every straw.

"Maybe if you talked to the admiral," he said, thinking out loud. "He could go to Primarch Vakarian directly. Skip the formalities. The two of them could figure something out… find a way to replace Oraka—"

"You don't understand," Kathreen's voice cracked. "Primarch would never allow this. He'd sooner disown his son."

"But Shepard deserves to know what you're giving up," Kaidan insisted, leaning closer. "Who you're giving up—"

"And what would that change?" she shook her head with resignation. "I've already said yes to the Council."

"Kathreen, we can still—"

"Stop it! Please," her face contorted with pain. She was the one begging now. "I can't. It's too much… Please don't make this harder than it already is."

Kaidan clenched his jaw, but didn't say anything else. He slowly rose to his feet, unable to watch her surrender herself like this any longer. The sight of her tears, the defeated slump of her shoulders—it tore at his inside, stirring up rage. At her. At Shepard. At everyone who had pushed her into the corner.

He turned away, trying to wrestle the fury down, and let his gaze settle on the Presidium skyline beyond the window. Sleek buildings, trimmed gardens, crystal-clear lakes—on the surface, it was all calm and ordered. But it was just a front. A pretty backdrop for the power plays and backroom deals happening out of sight. Councilors, diplomats, generals—different titles, same game. They talked about a better future while trading away the lives of those it was meant to serve.

But this time, they'd gone too far.

Kathreen deserved more than to be reduced to a pawn in some galactic chess match, bartered away for a fragile peace that might not even last. She deserved a choice. Even if Kaidan thought she was making the wrong one, it still had to behers. Not the Council's. Not this... quiet execution of her freedom, dressed up in diplomacy and duty.

His blood burned at the thought of what he had to do. He had to find Vakarian. If that bastard truly loved her, then he'd damn well fight for her and prove he's worth it. And if he backed off or bailed—then Major Alenko would find another way.

This fucking war had already taken too much from all of them.

It wasn't taking her too.