Author's Note:
I actually didn't want to write this chapter, but I can't concentrate. Over the past week, I've written half a chapter of Darkus Archon and started the prologue for two other stories. But I've decided to please my few fans and prioritize Rogue Effect.
XXX
Story Arc: Welcome to the Normandy SR-2
Episode 2: Getting to Know the Magical Aliens (II)
Chapter 7: The End of First Contact
Plot: Kat Shepard takes a brief moment to reflect. Then she returns to speak with the three aliens from the Azure Galaxy; after a chat, will she be able to convince them to accompany her to the Omega space station and recruit the Professor, Archangel, and the Veteran?
XXX
POV Narrator
The uppermost deck of the Normandy SR-2 consists entirely of the captain's quarters. It is located directly beneath the outer pressure hull, earning it the nickname "the attic" by shipyard workers.
In addition to a double bed, bathroom, office desk, and standard furnishings, the captain's quarters features a display to monitor progress on objectives, a private terminal to monitor squadmate information, read new and archived emails, and view advanced training videos, a locker for Shepard's battle armor and casual attire, and a sound system.
There is also a display case for model ships that can be dimmed to become a visual communications screen.
All in all, the Captain's Cabin, or Commander's Cabin in this case, is a pretty nice little place.
But that's not enough to soothe Kat Shepard's spirits; in the last few hours, she's experienced emotions stronger than when she was hunting Saren.
Seeking a moment of solitude to compose herself and gather her thoughts, the red-haired woman let herself fall onto the mattress of her bed, stretching out her tired body.
Gazing at the cabin ceiling, he began mentally summarizing the events aloud:
"To recap... a portal opened in front of the Normandy SR-2, and a completely unknown ship model emerged. We had peaceful First Contact and discovered a coalition of ten alien races operating under the banner of a royal family. The Captain of this mysterious vessel is an elf woman with dozens of doctorates; she personally came aboard the Normandy SR-2, bringing with her a guard in armored personnel carriers with a massive shield and a sexy, honey-voiced demon with a beautiful tail..."
As Kat Shepard spoke these last words, a faint, visible blush appeared on the red-haired woman's face, betraying the effect that close encounter had left on her.
"We received a chest full of alien gold, Jacob made a fool of himself, Miranda and I had a private meeting with the new aliens, the Ysatnafians. I learned a lot: the existence of SPECTRA, Inquisitors, Cyberware, Bioware, Mecha Sports Racing, Rogue Traders, Warmasters, intergalactic travel... and these aliens have no problem selling their services or technology."
Kat Shepard muttered these words to herself, picking up a smartphone-like device. This small, compact piece of technology effectively served as a digital catalog for the goods the Voidwalker Fleet was willing to hand over.
"The deal of my life: in exchange for all the star charts we have and a commitment to answer their every question, the crew of Renai AB-3 has agreed to lend us a hand on Omega and give me one of their products. But I don't know which to choose," Kat Shepard declared openly.
As he spoke, a floating, advanced holographic screen rose from the device and projected into the void of the cabin.
The interface displayed crisp product icons, text descriptions, detailed technical statistics and corresponding prices for a multitude of items: from heavy and complex mechanically based physical projectile weapons to deadly laser weapons and physical melee weapons forged from unknown alloys.
Alongside the offensive systems were compact medical kits, specialized mechanical maintenance equipment, and massive battle armor.
Finally, the hologram displayed a huge variety of unique trinkets, charms, and trinkets, featuring geometric carvings and finishes that gave them a decidedly occult or religious air.
"Miranda and Dr. Chakwas are in the basement keeping Amelia, Traveler, and Shilder company, talking about Element Zero and Biotics, while I'm trying to figure out what would be more useful... a laser gun, armored armor, or a med kit?" Kat Shepard muttered, her eyes scanning the numerous digital products with extraordinary promises.
From what he'd seen and heard, USKY was a highly advanced alien nation. Traveler served as a Rogue Trader Militant for the Voidwalker Fleet, a monumental intergalactic exploration force dedicated to mapping the unknown, gathering unique resources, and brokering deals in exchange for information, favors, or valuable goods.
The red-haired woman exhaled a deep breath, relaxing her muscles and calming her mind and spirit, which were under unprecedented pressure. It was a matter of conducting diplomacy with aliens from beyond the Milky Way, technologically superior and carrying a culture radically different from their own.
"Let's be honest... the Ysatnafians have so far proven themselves reasonable, friendly, and sexy as hell. But we must be absolutely careful not to offend their martial honor, their religion, or speak ill of the Ysatnafian Royal Family," Kat Shepard muttered to herself. Traveler's displeased reaction flashed vividly in her mind, as did that precise, instantaneous moment when he'd revealed his true nature, declaring, "I am War."
"First Contact between our peoples... on one side, a Rogue Trader who was the former Warmaster of the Realm, loyal to the Royal Family and some sort of Champion of a Goddess of War named Mavuika. On the other, there's me: the first woman—no, the first human—to become a Spectre, an elite agent of the Council, then killed and resurrected by pro-human terrorists. Historians are going to have a very hard time explaining something like that," said Kat Shepard.
Her lips parted in a small smile, genuinely amused by the absurdity of the circumstances. The red-haired woman, after all, had certainly been born under an interesting star.
"I'm about to start recruiting the most capable people for a suicide mission, then I have to deal with the squid monsters that want to exterminate us. The presence of the USKY could do wonders for us, or at least I could ask them to get as many of us out of this galaxy as possible. I should definitely ask about their refugee policy or disaster relief," said Kat Shepard, desperate to learn much more about the laws and culture of the Realm of races that seemed to have been plucked from a fantasy video game.
"If all goes well this time, in the long run, everything in this catalog will be shared with the Council races, though Cerberus will want humanity to get the best. So I have to focus on the short term: a medkit seems useful, but Amelia and Traveler are age-old geniuses. The latter is a Ripperdoc, he could fix me up... if that happens, I'll ask him to make my breasts bigger and maybe give me wings," Kat Shepard said, trying to sound positive.
"Weapons, well, I've done well so far with the weapons I have and my biotic powers. The sensible thing would be to choose good armor; being rebuilt a second time is not something I want to do," Kat Shepard said, glancing at the defense systems sections of the catalog. The holographic icons showed undersuits, Standard Suits, Stealth Suits, Tech Suits, vests, light armor, medium armor, heavy armor, Medieval Armor, Power Armor, Exoskeletons, Energy Shields, and... a huge variety of ethnic, religious, festive clothing, and what looked like professional-level cosplay costumes.
"Why are there ten pages of Maid outfits?" the red-haired woman asked, seeing that, in addition to the purely military material, there was a lot of stuff that looked like it came from a Dungeons & Dragons manual or straight from a geek shop.
Elysium's heroine must understand that these aliens are extremely intelligent and technologically advanced, but they are eccentric and bizarre like few others. Not the entire species, but the trio she encountered.
The Normandy, in any form, is like its Commander: a natural magnet for attracting the galaxy's most unusual characters. Although this time, it has outdone itself.
XXX
A quarter of an hour later, the red-haired woman left her cabin, moving along the ship's metal corridors to reach the mess hall of the Normandy SR-2.
The room is located on Deck 3: after passing the elevator, it opens into the open central area, positioned just before accessing the crew bunks and Doctor Chakwas' medical office.
As soon as Kat Shepard crossed the threshold, she found herself faced with a decidedly interesting and slightly absurd scene.
Amelia and Traveler are sitting comfortably at one of the tables in the room. Immediately behind them, motionless and alert, is Shielder, wearing his heavy armor and carrying a shield larger than Shepard herself.
Across the table sit Dr. Chakwas and Miranda Lawson, both intently discussing some complex medical topic.
At the surrounding mess tables, several members of the Normandy crew have gathered in small groups, staring at the Ysatnafians with wide eyes, as if they were the most interesting creatures the galaxy has ever seen; and, in a way, they are.
Aliens from another galaxy that look like fantasy creatures isn't the kind of news that fizzles out over a weekend.
The red-haired woman notices Kelly Chambers at the table closest to the "show," with a visibly dreamy expression on her face.
Clearly, she's the one most struck by the magnetic charm of the new aliens, and Kat Shepard can't blame her: after all, she's not entirely immune to their appearance either.
'Is the Normandy SR-2 a paramilitary ship or a high school?' thought the red-haired woman, feeling a certain irritation well up inside her at such adolescent behavior from her crew.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I need to speak privately with our guests. So, the recess is over; return to your duties," said Kat Shepard, intending to converse with the Ysatnafians without the eyes of her crew, who would otherwise likely see her embarrass herself or succumb to the charms of that alien demon.
Kelly Chambers prepared to protest, intending to say she had nothing to do, that she still had to finish her meal, or to utter some absurd phrase involving the unions; however, after receiving a direct glare from Miranda, she reluctantly chose to play the grown-up woman and stood up to leave, not without sparing a last glance at Traveler.
The rest of the crew departed more quickly and with more dignity, though they continued to mutter among themselves about how lucky Miranda and Kat were to be able to handle diplomacy with such exotic beauties.
In an instant, the only humans left inside the mess hall were Dr. Chakwas, XO Miranda, and Commander Shepard.
"Excuse me, my crew is normally more disciplined," Kat Shepard said as she sat down, taking a seat to Miranda's left.
"No problem. I'm used to attracting attention wherever I go, especially if I'm the new kid on the block," said Traveler, who wasn't bothered by people staring at him; after all, he'd been through worse, like being the only adult man in a city full of talking animals, robot scientists, and teenage girls with halos and an addiction to guns.
Traveler's life was crazy even before he became a Rogue Trader Militant.
"Unfortunately, going unnoticed is not one of our talents," added Amelia, her elongated, pointed ears drooping slightly.
'With her height and breasts that size, what do you expect?' thought Kat Shepard, fully convinced that Amelia was capable of attracting the gaze of men and women everywhere she went, especially when she was with Traveler. Two exotic, high-class beauties together, only a blind man would not be attracted to them.
"What were you talking about?" Kat Shepard finally asked, looking back at the two human women at the table, intent on catching up on the details of the conversation.
"Dr. Amelia and Ripperdoc Traveler were speaking to us in more detail about the Cyberware, Bioware, and other medical technologies in use in USKY. Some practices and procedures are even procedurally similar to ours," Dr. Chakwas explained, her voice laced with keen and deep interest.
Rarely, after all, did the opportunity arise for a veteran professional of her caliber to learn completely new notions about the subject she had mastered all her life.
"All advanced civilizations eventually invent surgery, prosthetics, and cybernetic implants. These are fundamental concepts, just like the wheel and fire, constant elements in evolution. The differences lie solely in how they are performed, the specific tools chosen, and the end results achieved," Traveler added, speaking with the measured tone of a teacher who has spent years studying the biological development and social structures of radically different species.
"For my part, I am extremely curious to analyze your Medi-Gel so that I can compare it with our healing elixirs, as well as with the regenerative fluids and gels that we have collected during our intergalactic travels," declared Amelia, expressing her desire to field test the effectiveness and real biological capabilities of what, in this galaxy, was considered a true universal panacea.
Kat Shepard was silent for a moment, thinking carefully about the words Traveler and Amelia had just spoken.
"I'm not a trained sociologist, nor have I studied the development of civilizations or technological evolution, but what you're saying makes perfect sense," said the red-haired woman, trying to actively engage in the conversation. Kat Shepard wasn't stupid at all; in fact, she possessed an extremely sharp intelligence, but her mind was used to being applied to leading people in the field and tackling any situation head-on. She was Commander Shepard, after all, not Doctor Shepard.
"Actually, just before you arrived, Amelia was explaining to us a specific technology called the Eternal Dress," Miranda intervened, moved by the desire to pick up the thread of that complex scientific discussion that Kat's entrance had temporarily interrupted.
"Eternal Dress? What exactly is that? A completely indestructible dress?" Kat Shepard asked, struggling to follow the conversation and making a guess based simply on the product's name.
"In a way, yes, but its functions go far beyond that," Mash replied. Her voice, with its distinctly feminine and synthetic tones, resonated in the room after a long moment of total silence.
"It's much easier to demonstrate it in practice than to get lost in theoretical explanations," Traveler said with a smile plastered on his face, as if he had just obtained the perfect stage all to himself.
The Rogue Trader Militant proved to be a multi-faceted individual: an explorer, a warrior, an artist, a scientist, a Sorcerer, and, last but not least, a teacher who took genuine pleasure in explaining how things worked to others.
"Amelia, Miranda's suit would suit you," Traveler said. At that precise moment, his tail wrapped itself firmly around the space elf woman's waist, lifting her to her feet with absolute ease.
'How strong is this Rogue Trader? Lifting a two-meter-tall woman with just one tail is no small feat,' thought Miranda, continuing to mentally record every single move the aliens made in front of her to gather as much information as possible.
Amelia blushed visibly at the gesture. As soon as the amethyst-scale-covered tail retracted, the woman demonstrated her familiarity with that appendage. The brilliant scientist with the neon-yellow hair then turned her gaze to Miranda—examining her suit with pinpoint attention—before placing her own military cap and red cape on the table.
Within seconds, the fabric of Amelia's yellow and black jumpsuit began to morph, transforming into an exact replica of Miranda's black and white dress, reshaped to fit her grandiose silhouette.
"This is impressive," commented Kat Shepard, literally at a loss for words to describe the phenomenon she had just witnessed.
"The truly impressive thing is that no matter what she wears, it always looks great on Amelia. Miranda undoubtedly has good taste, but Amelia knows how to bring it out," Traveler retorted. As he said this, he slid the end of his tail down Amelia's spine, making her gasp with pleasure and blush even more.
Unconsciously Mash began to tap her foot lightly on the floor, not at all enjoying being left aside and having to listen to her Senpai speak so flatteringly about Amelia.
"I don't like being jealous. If the Normandy crew weren't all human, I wouldn't have had to wear this armor, and I could have sat with Amelia and Bruce instead of standing here behind them keeping watch. Sometimes a thankless job, but necessary," Mash thought, immediately stopping tapping her foot and giving way to reason and her own maturity.
'These aliens are definitely not as prudish as we humans, another trait they share with the Asari,' Dr. Chakwas mused to herself, eager to understand the newcomers better, and not just in a purely technological sense.
"How is something like this possible? Is it some kind of smart fabric?" Miranda asked, having only vague guesses to try to understand the exact process by which Amelia's dress had managed to replicate the aesthetic of her personal suit.
"Unstable molecules, a deep passion for tailoring, and many years of applied work in various fields," Traveler replied, providing an explanation that effectively clarified no technical details.
The Rogue Trader, on the other hand, had agreed to play the role of the charming diplomat, certainly not that of openly revealing his industrial secrets and personal discoveries.
"Your home world must be a technological paradise," Kat Shepard commented, keeping her eyes fixed on Amelia as she returned her suit to its original yellow and black appearance.
"In reality, Ysatnafia is a Death World. Although with the advancement of civilization the overall dangers have diminished," Traveler explained stoically, instantly erasing the idea of a technological paradise from the red-haired woman's mind.
"Death World?" Miranda asked, immediately memorizing the expression, intuiting that it had a very specific meaning.
"Our way of describing a planet with an extreme ecosystem that actively seeks to kill anyone who sets foot on it. It features hyper-aggressive flora and fauna, toxic atmospheres, crushing gravity, or lethal weather," Amelia explained in detail as she returned to her comfortable seat at the table.
"A very fitting description for Tuchanka, the krogan homeworld," Miranda commented, knowing of no planet in the universe more apt to fit that description.
"Are you telling me that Ysatnaf, your home planet, is a Death World?" asked Dr. Chakwas, visibly intrigued by this information.
After all, if their home world shared such characteristics with that of the krogan, how could the Ysatnafians resemble supermodels from a fantasy universe?
"On a scale of 1 to 10, modern Ysatnaf stands at a 3 within urban centers, while ancient Ysatnaf reached a 8 in peacetime, even within large cities," Traveler specified, giving a rough estimate.
"In our galaxy, a so-called Death World gave us the krogan; in another galaxy, a Death World created the Ysatnafians, a race of sexy space elves. Life isn't fair at all," Kat Shepard thought to herself, almost wishing humanity had originated in another galaxy.
"How dangerous is it?" Miranda asked, intent on finding out more about their home planet.
"Ninety percent of the planet is covered in boiling, acidic water. This creates the Boiling Rain; dying from the rain was a common occurrence in the past. Nowadays, thanks to the introduction of personal energy shields and protective domes installed around cities, it has become a rather rare event," Amelia explained, appearing decidedly happy that this historic scourge had been resolved.
"Many Ysatnafians were left speechless when they discovered the existence of cold rain or oceans in which one could swim and cool off, instead of melting," Traveler added, wearing an amused expression as he remembered several comic scenes he had witnessed.
"Boiling ocean and boiling rain… I totally understand why you call this a Death World," commented Kat Shepard, considering dying because of stupid rain a pretty bad outcome.
"Rain is only the premier scourge of Ysatnaf. The ecosystem is entirely populated by savage creatures, carnivorous trees and hyper-aggressive parasites, geysers of lava or ice, and Alpha predators ready to defend their territory at all costs," Amelia specified, listing the most common dangers one might encounter on her home planet.
'I have a feeling the krogan would find Ysatnaf an ideal vacation planet,' Kat Shepard thought to herself, clearly imagining how the krogan would cope with the dangerous ecosystem of the space elf planet.
"During my childhood, everyday activities, like going to school or shopping at Bonesborough Market, required me to handle deadly threats. Several times, when I returned to Owl House, a predator or plant would try to eat me; it failed, so I brought home extra food, free and fresh. It was useful for feeding a large family, as well as for obtaining materials suitable for tailoring, blacksmithing, and the preparation of potions or elixirs," Traveler explained with a nostalgic expression, recalling events that occurred before his 50th birthday.
"I'm beginning to understand how you became the Warmaster," Kat Shepard commented, realizing that these space elves were a unique mix of asari and krogan.
"Did everyone do things like that?" Dr. Chakwas asked, looking at Amelia and wondering if she, too, used to fight off predators and then turn them into dinner.
"No, Traveler lived outside the city, in the forest about an hour from Ars Magus Academy. People who live in rural areas tend to be able to fend for themselves. I live in the city, which is definitely safer, but I still had to always keep a few vials in my bags and backpacks to heal myself, or to create a small explosion, a flash bomb, or a stun grenade," replied Amelia, who had her own personal means of protecting herself, especially when she was a young girl with two left legs or with no clear idea of what to do.
"The worst were the migrations. Sometimes they happen every few years, sometimes every several decades: flying predators capable of devouring an Ysatnafian in a single bite swooping over the city in droves, or herds of armored beings capable of flattening a house. Thank the Goddess of Light for the Hunters' Guild," Amelia added, mentioning one of the greatest dangers that had plagued her people for most of their history.
"Hunters' Guild?" Kat Shepard asked with a raised eyebrow, considering the name more suited to a video game or a fantasy manga.
"One of the most important institutions in the history of Ysatnaf. They don't enjoy the same importance today as they did in ancient times, but they still retain enormous value," Traveler expressed, offering his opinion on the matter and showing sincere respect.
"Contrary to popular belief, their primary purpose is not to exterminate predators, but rather to preserve the ecological balance and ensure coexistence between us and the wild, preventing the extinction of species. In short, they are responsible for preventing Alpha Predators from harming us and us from harming them," specified Amelia, who had always found the work done by the Hunters' Guild admirable.
"Could you tell us about these Alpha Predators?" Miranda asked, eager to learn details about these dangerous animals and their specific properties.
"Perhaps another time. We've talked more than enough about ourselves; don't we have business to complete?" Traveler asked, his tone suddenly changing, his face serious, his focus now squarely on the Heroine of Elysium and the negotiations they needed to complete.
"Here's a Data Module, it contains all known star maps," said Kat Shepard, reaching into her clothing pockets and placing a sturdy, armored cartridge, the type typically used by military forces to safely transport sensitive or classified data, on the table.
Traveler grabbed the armored unit and held it up in front of Amelia. The space elf scientist fluidly pulled a metal object resembling a metal pen from a compartment in her tech belt. With a quick movement of her hand, the steel cylinder broke apart, splitting into two precise segments and reshaping itself into the shape of a letter L.
The two-meter-tall elf woman pressed a button on the surface of the lower half of the device, instantly activating the projection of an interactive holographic screen in mid-air.
The three human women could only see a digital interface filled with text strings and characters in an alphabet completely unfamiliar to them. However, a linear loading bar remained a universal visual element, even if the numbers indicating its percentage were expressed in a foreign language. In moments, three-dimensional star maps covering all the territories explored thus far by the Citadel Council took shape on the luminous surface of Amelia's device.
Amelia carefully examined the graphs and navigation vectors before nodding at Traveler, confirming that the transmitted data appeared to be entirely authentic.
"You've done your part, now tell me what you want us to do," Traveler said, his tail still moving freely behind his back, swaying like a constant wave.
"The Normandy SR-2 is to land at Omega, a gigantic space station carved out of a hollowed-out asteroid. This is by no means a safe haven. It's the dark heart of the Terminus Systems, an area completely outside the control of the Citadel Council," Kat Shepard explained, describing her ship's current destination.
"A lawless land ruled by space pirates, smugglers, and all manner of criminal scum from across the galaxy. It doesn't strike me as the ideal place for a leisurely visit, but rather a place to conduct morally dubious business, seek useful information, rare goods, or individuals with unique talents," Traveler commented. His tone betrayed a profound familiarity with the dynamics that govern such seedy environments.
"Do you happen to be a mind reader?" Kat Shepard asked, using a noticeably joking tone to lighten the seriousness of the conversation.
"No, telepathy isn't one of my gifts at all. But unfortunately, I know telepaths, and as useful as they may be, it's always best to stay away from them," Traveler replied with absolute stoicism.
Whether he was being serious at that moment or just joking, no human being sitting at that table could tell.
"So, are you looking for new talent for your crew?" Amelia asked to keep the conversation going, as she closed and put away her technological device.
"We need to recruit three specific individuals: the Professor, Archangel, and the Veteran," Miranda interjected, providing their respective code names precisely.
"Let me guess: you want our help in recruiting these people to your crew," Mash speculated, taking a few steps closer to the table and actively joining the conversation.
"Yes, if I'm not asking too much," Kat Shepard replied, hoping not to push her guests too far.
The two alien women immediately turned their gaze to Traveler, implying that the final decision rested solely with him.
"If you agree to give us a personal trinket of yours as a souvenir, and half of any loot we recover during these recruitment operations, we're done," Traveler declared. He extended the end of his scaly tail directly toward the red-haired woman's hand.
"Do you want an item of Shepard's?" Miranda asked, regarding the request as something decidedly unusual and strange.
"Objects once belonging to great figures are transformed into relics and catalysts. In dark ages, they can be used to invoke the spirits of ancient heroes, helping the living face adversity," Traveler explained, illustrating the concepts of Magecraft and Heroic Spirits through a more markedly religious lens.
"Deal," Kat Shepard announced. The commander grabbed Traveler's tail, squeezing it firmly as if it were a normal human hand; the sensation was decidedly strange against her skin, yet mildly pleasant.
"Before we continue," Traveler began, flashing a smile so sweet it was almost devilish.
In a flash, Traveler's tail wrapped tightly around Kat Shepard's forearm, pulling her toward him with the utmost ease, as if the Hero of Elysium were a fragile rag doll rather than one of humanity's most dangerous and well-trained women. The red-haired woman found herself face to face with the Rogue Trader, mere inches from his face.
'His eye is even more beautiful up close,' thought a part of Kat's mind, rather lightheartedly.
'If he tries anything strange, I'll instantly block him with a Stasis Field,' reflected the serious, cold, and pragmatic voice of the military Shepard instead.
Fortunately for everyone in the mess, Traveler simply wanted to clarify matters verbally.
"I have some absolutely inviolable rules. One: I kill anyone who dares call me half-breed. Two: I keep my word and the contracts I make. Three: anyone who breaks a pact with me will end up losing, at the very least, their hand," Traveler articulated, his visible eye seeming to glow brightly in the dim light.
"A very simple concept: I don't screw you, and you do your end of the bargain," Kat Shepard replied firmly. After all, she had no ulterior motives that required harming the crew of the Renai AB-3; her only goal was to have them firmly on her side for the mission.
At those words, Traveler loosened his grip, slipping his tail from the red-haired woman's forearm.
"Excuse him, but he takes contracts extremely seriously," Amelia interjected, using a visibly apologetic tone to apologize for the Commander's behavior.
"I get it," Kat Shepard replied, starting to massage the skin on her forearm, completely sure that that tail grab would leave her with some very visible bruises in the days to come.
"You're quite strong for someone your size," Miranda commented, wanting to know if that extraordinary physical power was a natural trait of her race or simply a completely abnormal occurrence.
"Physical strength isn't one of my primary attributes. I consider myself slightly above average in terms of raw power. More than I'm strong, you're... fragile," retorted Traveler, who had standards where muscular strength was measured in how many tons you could lift or move, not simply in kilograms.
"I'm not fragile," Kat Shepard snapped back, her voice instantly rising to defend her military pride.
In response, Traveler flicked his tail, hitting the end hard against the metal surface of the table, which bent and deformed with extreme ease under the impact.
"And you claim to be barely above average in strength?" Dr. Chakwas asked in amazement, completely certain that only a krogan of enormous size would be capable of doing such a thing to a massive metal table anchored solidly to the floor.
"Yes, on a scale of one to ten I naturally place myself somewhere between a six and a seven. Shielder, on the other hand, is at the top of that scale," Traveler clarified, turning slightly toward Mash.
"If I can break an arm with ease, you can literally tear a person in two like they were a simple sheet of paper," Traveler added with a note of obvious pride in his voice.
'This is something I absolutely don't want to see,' Kat Shepard thought to herself, fervently hoping she would never have to witness such a display of brutality on the field; after all, she had already seen enough horrible things in her life.
'A bizarre mix of asari and krogan,' mused Dr. Chakwas, convinced that only the krogan race could boast such martial potential within their ranks.
"I don't do things like that," Mash commented quietly. From a purely technical standpoint, she would have been perfectly capable, but she much preferred to simply knock people out without retaliating.
Not wanting to see where such a conversation would go, Kat Shepard pulled out the smartphone-like device.
"As for the goods on offer, I want a medium armor, but there's so much I can't decide," Kat Shepard said, handing back the floating device filled with Voidwalker goods.
"I'll let you handle this case," Traveler said, immediately passing the task to Amelia.
The woman with the neon yellow hair touched her forehead with her fingers and looked Kat Shepard up and down, as if she were standing in front of a complex machine that needed perfecting.
"I'd say the BB-077 armor, manufactured by Blight Galaxy Industrials, would be a good fit for you. However, I'd like Commander Shepard to come aboard our Starship once we arrive at Omega so we can get a custom-fitted suit for her and have some adjustments done," Amelia said, wanting to offer the highest quality service.
"If Commander Shepard is going to be boarding your ship, then as his XO I will have to come too," Miranda immediately intervened, not intending to miss the unique opportunity to see the inside of the Renai AB-3 with her own eyes.
"I'll let you accompany Kat Shepard, but I'm not offering a tour," Traveler cut him off, having no desire to be a tour guide for humanity.
"If we're done discussing this, should we return to our Starship and let the Normandy guide us to our destination?" Mash asked, eager to finally return to the Renai AB-3 and shed that heavy battle armor.
"I think it's time to end this First Contact," Amelia agreed, as she put her red cloak and military cap back on.
"We've talked too much," Traveler declared, in perfect agreement with his life companions.
"It's been a truly surprising few hours. Taking a break now seems like the best option," Kat Shepard concluded, not wanting to detain the extragalactic aliens any longer; moreover, she too felt the need for a real break to reflect alone on everything she'd just seen and heard.
"It will take us twelve hours to get to Omega," Miranda informed the newcomers, filling them in on the total travel time.
'Either this pirate space station is extremely far away, or this human Starship is terribly slow,' Traveler thought to himself, decidedly more inclined to consider the latter option valid than the former.
"We'll see each other in person in twelve hours," Traveler finally said, rising fluidly from the table, Amelia following closely behind.
In less than five minutes, the three aliens from the Azure Galaxy quickly reached the Normandy's hangar, boarding their LAAT for their final return to Renai AB-3.
First Contact between USKY (via the Voidwalker Fleet) and humanity had been concluded, and it had gone rather well.
Continues...
XXX
Author's Note:
I managed to write this chapter in the little free time I have that I don't dedicate to studying.
Honestly, I wrote the last fragments the morning I have to take an exam.
I have four exams to take in the next two weeks and I'll be done with university.
Wish me good luck.
... Ps. I don't know how I did it, but I got a seven on an extremely difficult test. I can't believe it.