25 - Citadel (1)

Citadel, ah, the Citadel.

A space station, housing embassies of every known species in the galaxy. Its structure was considered indestructible. Had 5 'arms' that closed on themselves, preventing the station from suffering catastrophic damage.

The population was estimated at 15+ million.

Symbol of power for every species in the cycle, as the 'owner' of the Citadel was the fact leader of the galaxy. There were the Prothean, various unknown species before them, and now were the Asari.

Only, all of them didn't know it was a Trap set by the Reapers from the beginning.

It was something like a hidden Mass Relay, capable of bringing in the Reapers from the Dark Space to the Milk Way in a flash. Also, think about it. Where would every race go hiding, if there was an invasion on the Galaxy?

If you thought of the Citadel, you would think the same as the Reapers.

Essentially, the CItadel was both poison and an antidote. You just had to pray you were in the era of the antidote.

Managing the Citadel was a race called Keepers, an insectoid race that had been doing that job for countless years. Impossible to study, as every time someone tries to do it, they simply melt in a pile of minerals.

Probably the first ever species enslaved by the Reapers, they were the reason the Reapers were allowed to use the Citadel Relay. In the last cycle, the Protheans managed to disrupt that signal, freeing the Keeper from the Reapers influence.

Even though too late to save themselves, the Protheans gave a fighting chance for the next cycle, as the Keepers now evolved only to serve the Citadel.

They are no longer under the Reapers. The Keepers were the epitome of Neutral, only focusing on the Citadel.

Anyway, Samael and his crew were now looking at the Citadel right in front of them. It was busy with traffic, as that was the center of the galaxy.

They had already announced their presence and were now waiting for the people in the air control to allow them to dock their ship.

Also, RR had already marked a meeting with the Council for the next day. So, after docking everyone would have a day of vacation.

''OK, everyone. We don't really have a schedule here, we only came to announce Javik then we will leave.''

'' BOOOOOHHHHH!''

'' I want to see the ASARI CONSORT!''

Samael ignored the duo and continued, '' But you know me, so you will have the day off when we dock, and a few more days after that. Also, I'll give you a few hundred credits for you to laugh around, so enjoy!''

'' BOSSS!''

'' BOSS!''

The grumbling duo was now chanting BOSS, which the whole crew followed right after.

'' We are granted permission to land.'' Veronica's voice came through the speakers and lit a fire in the eyes of everyone in the crew.

Everyone looked at Samael, waiting for his order.

'' Go prepared yourself. If you get in trouble, call everyone and we will help.''

While his crew wasn't exactly a huge one, they still could fight in pairs with an army of at least 100. That's if you don't count Samael and Javik. If you did...

After Samael said that, everyone went to their quarters, to prepare for their sudden vacation. Only 3 people didn't move. Miranda, Samael and Javik.

While the meeting with the Council was tomorrow, they still had a lot to discuss.

'' So, we will hide Javik until tomorrow? Can we even do that?'' Miranda asked one more time, just to be sure.

'' Yes and Yes. The galaxy can wait one more day to receive the news that they are fucked. Also, this is the Citadel. Do you think a living Prothean is the most strange thing in the place right now?''

While Miranda never visited the Citadel before, she had also learned about its fame of being a place where stranger things happen. So, a living Prothean should be considered normal... right?

It seems that getting to know Samael turned her perceptions of things a little convoluted.

Samael then looked at Javik, '' Sorry we could not let you meet them sooner. The Council, the so-called leaders of this cycle, are ... complicated as I said before.''

He even asked RR to schedule this meeting way before saving Javik. At least 3 months before. Of course, RR had to 'change' a few things here and there for the meeting to happen, but the 3 months wait-period was crazy.

That was to show how things are complicated regarding meeting the Council.

Samael and Javik had a few conversations about the galaxy, the Asari, the Council, and some other things, in the days before they arrived at the Citadel. So, while not much, Javik now knew the basics of the basics.

''Don't worry. It would be good enough to just let them know. What happens next will influence the result of this cycle.''

Miranda gulped after Javik said that. She knew he was right... If the Council didn't listen to them, things would get more complicated than necessary.

'' Until tomorrow, what you two are going to do?'' Samael asked both.

Miranda looked around the ship and noticed Jack smiling at her from the distance. She coughed to hide her embarrassment, '' We- I will visit some places around the Citadel. Who knows, maybe we can find something good while looking.''

' It seems she didn't realize she said We at the end while she tried to hide the We at the beginning...'

Samael then looked at Javik.

'' ... Everyone and everything I knew are gone. Of course, I know the Citadel but not its people... I don't even know what I would be doing with this free time.''

'' How about you follow me then?''

'' What are you going to do?''

'' Look around the Citadel and look around for new recruits. After all, we need more people. Even if we are good, we have too few numbers.'' Samael wasn't lying. He would not tell Javik, but this trip probably will not held any result in recruiting, but it would allow them to meet some good seedlings.

Javik nodded at that. The crew now had 30 people, with half being male and the other female. Of course, this number was counting the rescued biotics.

In the past few days, Samael used his network around the galaxy, to try and find their families. Only 2 people still had families alive and they still decided to work with LD, with the pretext to heal their minds.

Who could blame them though? They were tortured since they could remember, they really need time to heal. Also, Samael raised the salaries of those 2, so they could 'secretly' help their family.

Also, Samael made sure to know beforehand if those 2 families sold them, but from what he could gather, they were victims too.

Suddenly, the trio felt something accoupling in the ship. Just in cue, Veronica's voice sounded, '' We are docked. The hangar door is opening.''

Before separating, Miranda remembered something, '' About the ship we launched in the market before we left Earth ... It's a success.''

Based on the lack of reaction from Samael, Miranda knew he expected this result. It made sense though, as the ship LD was selling was that good.

Of course, the amount of sales of the complete ship was big, but the blueprints were even bigger. It seems a lot of people were trying to better it or make some modifications.

' Oh well, good luck for them.'

That was what was on Miranda mind's, as the unnamed ship they are now was the best in the whole galaxy. Better than the one they launched by at least 50%.

So the rest of the galaxy had a lot of ground to cover to reach their levels.

'' Good. Keep your eye open and watch for other companies who try to better it. If they do so, try to buy them and let them continue their research under LD.''

'' If they refuse?''

'' Well, they refused. We weren't the villains who would destroy others just because they didn't follow what we wanted.''

Miranda nodded at that and was glad that Samael was reasonable. If it was her father or others, the company that managed to make something similar to them would be swallowed or disappear from the face of the galaxy.

After that, the conversation came to an end and the trio said their goodbyes and prepared to exit the ship.

--

WREX POV

In an obscure bar called Chora's Den, in the lower parts of the Citadel, a Krogan was sitting on a table, alone, nursing his drink.

From the quantity of cups scattered across his table, he must have been there for quite some time now.

No one seemed to care about that though, and he continued drinking. There are countless scenes like that in Chora's Den, with a majority of the table having a lot of cups, some even having an Asari stripper.

But, Wrex continued drinking like there was no tomorrow.

He had just returned from a completed mission, only for his employer not to pay him in full, causing the Krogan to break its arm. Only then he was paid his due.

He could not understand the logic of those people, if you had the money to pay me upfront, why pay only after I broke your arm? Like, you will only pay more to a doctor.

... But Wrex would not deny it was fun to break that Batarian arm.

'' HEHEHE.''

Wrew laughed slowly but loudly. No one paid attention to that, and he continued using the money he gained from the mercenary mission to drink.

This is the life of a Krogan, work, gain your 'salary', waste all of it with food or drink, and then repeat the process.

Of course, Wrex harbored ambitions way above that, but right now, he was waiting for something to change the status quo of the galaxy, allowing him to pull all Krogans under his command and rule over them. But for now, nothing indicates that change would happen, so he was waiting.

Krogans had nothing but time to spare anyway.

Just as he was going to drink another cup, two people sat across him. The Krogan noticed it was a human, a species that had a meteoric rise in just a few years, and another humanoid alien covered in a hood.

'' What do you want?'' Wrex said in an irritated tone.

The human smirked, '' Hello there.''

--

NORMAL POV

Samael smiled seeing Wrex once more. He knew the Krogan well to know the irritated tone of his voice was his normal one.

'' Can we buy you a drink or two?'' Samael asked the Krogan, knowing he would not reject free drinks.

That made Wrex relax, '' Suit yourself.''

Samael raised his hand and an Asari waitress came to their table, '' How can I help?''

'' Bring me the 10 bottles of your most expensive and strong drink.''

The Asari paused. The commission of those 10 bottles would be the same as a 2-month salary. So, she didn't hesitate and said, '' ON it.''

She then rushed to the bar to grab them.

Wrex was now paying close attention to the duo in front of him, as no one normally would pay 100.000 credits just for fun.

'' My name is Samael, by the way. This is Javik.''

Javik nodded at the Krogan.

''Nice to meet you ...?'' Samael offered his hand to Wrex.

Wrex looked at it for a moment before shaking it, '' Wrex.''

'' Wrex. Nice name.''

'' What do you want from me?'' Wrex went directly to the subject. He really didn't like to beat around the bush.

Samael was glad the old dino never changed across all cycles. It was refreshing, it was like seeing the first Wrex from his first cycle.

A small flash of uneasy passed trougth Samael mind but he pushed it away. He then smiled at the Krogan, '' I just wanted to pay for some drinks to the scary-looking Krogan in the bar. Can't I?''

'' ... I will not say no to free drinks.'' While Wrex was still confused by the whole situation, and the 2 in front of him did give some warning of danger, he was calm. That calm came from the fact if both attacked him, he was sure he would at least survive... or drag both of them to hell with him.

Just in time, the 10 drinks arrived at their table. '' Here it is. Can I help with some more?''

'' No need.'' Samael then showed his omni tool and paid the waitress. He even gave her a generous tip.

The Asari smiled widely, '' Thank you very much.''

After she left, Samael grabbed two drinks, passed one to Javik, and opened the other. Wrex didn't hesitate and did the same. The trio then drank at the same time.

''''' AHHHH.''''

The trio had the same reaction with Javik being the most surprised.

'' ... This is actually good.''

'' Better than the drink in your cycle, right?''

Javik nodded, '' Very few drinks have the same taste. They were stronger, of course, but not better.''

'' We learned and evolved in the art of drinks.''

'' Only if you evolved in the right parts.''

Samael laughed followed by a small chuckle from Javik. Only Wrex was still nursing his drink while looking around Chora's Den. It seems the spending of the human in front of him attracted the wrong attention to the poor fellow.

' Should I warm him....? Nah, he will be good.'

Wrex instinct was telling him the duo in front of him was more than capable of handling everyone here. Expect him, of course.

So, the trio continued drinking, and Samael and Javik did most of the chat, while Wrex just gave his opinion or grunted when necessary.

After a good hour or so, Wrex now was best friends with both, as the initial 10 bottles turned into 20, then 30, then 50...

Everything was paid by Samael of course.

' If that is not a best friend, who is?!'

At this point, even Wrex was a little tipsy, something the other patrons in Chora's Den noticed and started to move. They told every waitress to hide.

The one who grabbed the drink from Samael's table tried to warm the trio of the danger but was held back by the other waitresses and they all rushed towards safety.

The trio noticed that and Samael sighed in relief, '' Finally. That took a lot longer than I thought.''

Javik nodded, '' Yes. It seems they are cowards who waited until we got very drunk.''

'' Only if they knew.'' The drunk face of Samael changed and he returned to normal-looking-one.

Wrex knew what happened, '' You were baiting them.''

Clearly, it was all a show and the people fell for it.

Samael nodded at Wrex, '' Yes. You see, the owner of this place, Fist for those who know, wi- hurt a friend of mine. A Female Quarian to be exact. Blow a hole in her suit that it almost killed her.''

Wrex whinced a little. He knew how weak Quarians were if their suits malfunctioned. The Quarian girl was lucky to be alive.

'' So we came here to have revenge.''

''... But why did you decide to come drink with me?'' That was the part that was puzzling Wrex the most.

Samael smiled widely, '' You are the most dangerous person in the whole place. If we got in your graces and even paid for your help, things would happen faster.''

Now that made Wrex interesede, '' How much is the pay?''

'' 10.000 credits for kill. Plus more drinks.''

Wrex smiled. Only that smile wasn't filled with good intentions.

'' Also, try not to kill the important people here. There are probably a few patrons who are from the higher-ups. Don't need to agitate them.''

'' Leave it to me.''

The trio then continued ignoring the upcoming threat and continued drinking, waiting for them to start the fight.