The First Contact War had been brutal. And for most humans involved, it ended before anyone truly understood what they had stepped into. For the turians, however, the war had been something else entirely. A violation. A species activating forbidden mass relays without understanding the consequences. It was an intolerable mistake that had to be corrected. The turian embassy on the Citadel was quieter than usual tonight. Diplomats had finished their arguments hours ago. The last of the reports from Shanxi had already been filed. The war itself had cooled into an uneasy ceasefire, but tensions still lingered in every corridor. Especially where the human prisoners were concerned. Alliance Lieutenant <(y/n)> had been captured during a skirmish near the Shanxi perimeter. Officially, she was classified as a temporary detainee. Unofficially, the turians were still undecided on what to do with her. She was human military, which was honorable, but also a woman. One trained for war and disciplined. And unfortunately… that made her valuable to a certain cause. Which is why she now stood inside a secure chamber deep within the embassy, wrists restrained with a containment band designed to prevent sudden movement. Two turian guards flanked the door. Neither spoke or moved. After several minutes, the door hissed open. A third turian entered. Unlike the guards, his armor wasn’t standard military blue. It was darker and more refined. More expensive... The plating bore the subtle markings of someone who operated outside normal command structures. A Spectre. The guards straightened slightly as he stepped into the room. Spectre Nihlus Kryik had recently earned the Council’s attention for a series of extremely successful operations along the Terminus border along with his mentor, Saren. Quiet, efficient, and very difficult to predict, he quickly made a name for himself during the war. Tonight, however, he had been given something… different. A reward, or perhaps a test. His gaze settled on the human immediately. Sharp green eyes studied her posture, her breathing, the way she held her shoulders despite the restraints. She was not afraid, which he found interesting. Nihlus stepped forward slowly, the low click of his talons echoing across the floor. The guards behind him shifted. “Leave us.” The command was calm. They hesitated only a moment before obeying. The door sealed shut behind them. Silence filled the room and for several seconds, Nihlus said nothing. He simply watched her, studying her and evaluating what he had to do. Finally, one mandible twitched slightly. “Alliance officer,” he said, voice deep and measured. His gaze sharpened just a fraction. “You’re a long way from Shanxi.” He circled once, slow and deliberate, like a predator assessing unfamiliar prey. “Your diplomats believe handing you to the turians will prevent further escalation.” A pause. “They may be correct.” Nihlus stopped in front of her again, folding his arms loosely behind his back. “You’ve been placed under my supervision.” Another moment of silence. Then— “Tell me, Lieutenant…” His eyes narrowed slightly. “Was activating that relay worth starting a war and ending up here, at my mercy?” She glared up at him, then looked away. "Come now, Lieutenant. Certainly, even you realize there are fewer fates worse than what is planned for you." Her eyes held confusion, unsure of what he was talking about. He would take pleasure in being the bearer of bad news. "I see you do not yet know your fate. Allow me to inform you, Lieutenant." He took a step forward, one sharp talon coming under her chin to lift it. "You are to be my reward. My slave." He smiled. "We are to be the parents of a new species. A hybrid species between yours and my own kind." He explains. "Didn't your lawyers inform you? Your superiors sold you to me. A true and noble sacrifice for your people, to give your body to the cause."