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Liara T'Soni, The Citadel – Sol System.

"Emperor Harrison... mmmmm... how did we end up here?" Matriarch Tevos asked, taking a step forward and naturally assuming the role of leader of the terrified Council, who stood huddled together, observing everything around them in absolute shock and intrigue.

Liara swallowed nervously as more of the imposing Terran soldiers arrived. They were just as enormous as the Emperor himself, coming in two distinct silhouettes, allowing Liara to deduce that they belonged to two different genders.

That did not make them any less impressive thou, the young Asari thought, utterly astonished by the imposing physique the human female possessed. She was as tall as a Krogan, and that was without even counting the males, who were even larger and more intimidating, with arms so... developed... that the young Asari had no doubt whatsoever they could tear the head off a turian with a single blow.

But Liara could no longer continue observing her surroundings.

Because the Emperor spoke.

"I brought you here using Sling Space. I considered a face-to-face meeting to be far more practical," he replied with complete naturalness, while reading an enormous amount of information at incredible speed across the holographic terminal built into his throne.

"I see... Asari. Native to Thessia. Athena Nebula. Pornithia System. Roughly two thousand years as an interplanetary civilization. First contact with these... Salarians... followed by the foundation of the Nexus Council. Interesting..." the Emperor muttered to himself, leaving every Asari present completely stunned.

Tevos' eyes widened in utter disbelief, her mouth opening and closing several times without producing a single sound.

"B-But... but... how do you know that? We..." the imposing woman tried to ask, only to watch the... Emperor shrug his shoulders before answering.

"Simple. My daughter analyzed and synthesized every piece of information Athame has gathered over the years. Quite an interesting galactic society... however, I see serious limitations and an obvious technological stagnation. You are still relying on primitive Mass Effect drives. Crude and far from elegant... but effective. I imagine your ships' capacitors must be an absolute disaster. How much FTL endurance do your vessels possess? Fifteen... twenty light-years per day?" the Emperor asked without even lifting his eyes from the reports displayed upon his terminal.

Where, to the obvious concern of the entire Asari Council...

They could clearly see extraordinarily detailed schematics of warships belonging to the Republics.

Ultra-classified schematics.

Hidden behind the most advanced firewalls in the galaxy.

Reduced to little more than casual reading material for a complete stranger, who analyzed them as though he were looking over the homework of an infant.

It was...

Offensive.

And Liara could clearly see that every Matriarch present felt exactly the same way.

None of the Asari understood the irony.

That the way Harold was looking at them now...

Was exactly the same way they themselves looked at every other race serving on the Council.

Matriarch Aethyta stepped forward before speaking calmly.

"Twenty-three light-years on our newest generation of vessels. The static generated by a Mass Effect drive condenses into dangerously unstable levels beyond that point," confessed one of the very few Asari who, from what little Liara could infer, possessed genuine experience in warfare.

Emperor Harold nodded softly before raising one hand, projecting the schematics of a vessel completely unknown to Liara.

Judging by the dimensions shown upon the blueprint...

It would be absolutely titanic.

"What in the Goddess' name is Project Ascension?" the young Asari asked her mother, who stood frozen in complete disbelief while staring at the projection before them.

"T-That... that's an ultra-classified file belonging to the High Command of Thessia! How in the Goddess' name did you find it?" her mother, Benezia, demanded, completely horrified and alarmed by the catastrophic security breach unfolding before her eyes.

"This is your most advanced project, isn't it? Destiny Ascension. Still under construction. It is... beautiful, I suppose. Personally, I would replace those outdated capacitors, but I understand your rather limited Mass Effect engines are... primitive. You are simply doing the best you can with such limited tools," the Human said with obvious amusement in his voice, prompting every woman of the Asari Council to wear deeply offended expressions.

"But that is not what truly matters, the important thing is the future of our relationship." said the Emperor putting away the files and looking at them with curiosity.

"The relationship between the Terrans and the Asari from this moment forward, my daughter will share a brief dossier regarding our civilization with your Omni-Tools."

And just as the Emperor finished speaking...

Every Omni-Tool belonging to every Asari present—Matriarchs, Commandos, and Liara alike—activated simultaneously, all of them receiving the information in question.

"Oh Goddess!" more than one of the Asari present exclaimed, their eyes widening in utter disbelief as they began reading the information before them.

"Terrans, also known as Homo Ascendens... terrifyingly similar to the Asari, only... larger and stronger," Liara murmured to herself, greedily reading everything the Emperor had shared with them.

Strong.

Powerful and intelligent.

Physically attractive.

And, most incredible of all...

Just as long-lived as the Asari, Liara thought with fascination, watching the calculating expressions slowly spread across the faces of the Council.

Liara did not need to be a genius to understand what was passing through their minds at that very moment.

They had been handed a golden opportunity.

One that, quite obviously...

They intended to exploit to its fullest.

Taking advantage of the fact that the Matriarchs continued whispering quietly among themselves, the young archaeologist took a timid step forward before raising one hand, politely asking permission to speak.

An action that, apparently...

The Terran Emperor found extremely amusing.

He looked directly at her with unmistakable amusement before responding.

"Is there something you wish to ask, Doctor T'Soni?" the Human asked. His voice—deep, masculine, and terrifyingly attractive—sent an involuntary shiver through Liara's most intimate places. Swallowing with some difficulty, she finally answered.

"You mentioned that... you discovered the Citadel while carrying out terraforming operations. Did you happen to find anything else on the planet? I... I'm an archaeologist, and I specialize in the Protheans. Perhaps... perhaps you discovered something interesting... ahmm... Your Highness," the young Asari said, her voice filled with embarrassment.

That single question caused every Matriarch to immediately fall silent.

All of them turned their attention toward the Emperor with obvious anticipation.

The Terran ruler, however, appeared completely lost in thought, his piercing emerald eyes fixed upon the young Liara, who looked every bit as expectant as she was embarrassed.

Without saying a single word, the Emperor moved one hand across the holographic controls built into his throne without a second thought, for a couple of seconds nothing really happens, but then...

The entire station began to rotate, to the fascination of all the Council.

Slowly yes, but the simple fact that something so unimaginably colossal could move at all was...

Terrifyingly impressive.

Completely frozen, Liara watched as the immense panoramic window behind the Emperor's Throne slowly shifted its view, revealing an unknown planet.

It appeared barren in some parts.

Desolate even.

Yet strange blue patches could be seen scattered across the central regions of its surface, surrounding what looked to be a small ocean.

"This is Mars. A planet currently undergoing planetary terraforming," Harrison said, while the holographic displays immediately projected the planet's surface in extraordinary detail, allowing Liara to finally understand what those tiny blue patches visible from orbit truly were.

"By the Goddess!!!" the young archaeologist cried out, watching titanic vessels seemingly... bombard the surface of the planet with enormous emerald-green beams, expanding the oceans slowly but steadily across the dead world.

The vessels were...alien to her,

Circular in shape, they look slow and somewhat ugly, but titanic, and obviously designed for planetary terraforming.

Technology completely unknown to every Asari of the Council.

"During the early stages of the exploration process, one of my wives discovered... rather troubling anomalies near one of the planet's polar regions. Something that delayed all of our original plans," Harrison explained, causing the images of the terraforming operations to disappear.

What replaced them...

Could only be described as the young Asari's wildest dream.

Something that also left every Asari present completely frozen with excitement.

"Th-That... is that what I think it is?" Tevos asked, trembling with excitement, prompting the Emperor to chuckle softly before moving his hand once again, this time displaying far more detailed images of the Terran excavation efforts.

"Prothean vessels... and Prothean corpses. Thousands of them. The remnants of a titanic space battle, so devastating that it shattered this planet's atmosphere before crashing both the ships and a ruined Citadel onto the surface. Unlike the station itself, however, the ships are... primitive compared to our technological standards. We have recovered several interesting artifacts, but just like your own civilizations, the Protheans were extremely dependent upon what you refer to as Eezo," the Emperor explained while image after image appeared before them, showing intact Prothean vessels being carefully recovered, along with fossilized bodies preserved and transported under heavy security.

Liara's wet dream come true.

Ignoring the warning looks her mother was sending her, the young archaeologist instinctively stepped forward once more, her eyes overflowing with hope.

"Th-Those... those... were Protheans?" Liara asked, trembling with excitement before letting out an involuntary squeal of happiness as the Terran Emperor nodded with obvious amusement.

But before Liara could literally fall to her knees before the Emperor and beg for a place among the excavation teams...

Tevos stepped forward.

Once again taking control of the conversation.

"I believe... we have a great deal to discuss, Emperor. And I also believe our peoples can benefit greatly from one another," the Matriarch said, her voice soft and seductive, attempting to take advantage of the obvious interest the Terrans had in the Asari as a whole.

The Emperor nodded calmly before rising from his throne and walking toward where the Council stood. The Commandos immediately raised their weapons, although that did not appear to concern or even interest the Emperor in the slightest. With heavy, measured strides, he continued walking toward Tevos.

Liara swallowed with difficulty at the... imposing sight of the alien.

He was so tall that every Asari present had to tilt her head upward simply to look him in the eyes.

His face was handsome.

His cheekbones were high.

And his emerald eyes were the brightest Liara had ever seen in her entire life, making every single Asari present visibly nervous.

Every Asari possessed at least a vague understanding of what the word masculinity meant, mostly because it was a concept the Turians used with regularity.

But Liara had never truly understood that concept...

Until now.

The Emperor gently caressed Tevos' face, making it perfectly clear that, despite the tenderness of the gesture, it was also an unmistakable act of dominance.

The Matriarch gasped in surprise.

Her biotics immediately slipped out of control.

A brilliant violet aura suddenly surrounded her entire body.

At least...

Until the Emperor's eyes shone with a brilliant emerald light.

The overwhelming force washed over Tevos' body, completely suppressing the Asari's powerful biotics as though she were nothing more than a child, and making the future councilor let out the lewdest moan that Liara had ever heard in her life.

"Relax. You are not in danger. And we have... all the time in the world to talk," the Terran said, causing the overwhelmed Asari to gasp before involuntarily stifling a soft moan, her eyes now carrying an almost overwhelming desire.

Liara swallowed nervously.

The negotiations had already begun...

And the Terrans held the advantage.

The young archaeologist watched with quiet amusement as the rest of the Asari looked toward Tevos with unmistakable envy, crossed arms, and deeply furrowed brows, all of them very obviously wishing they were standing in the Matriarch's place as the de facto leader of the negotiations.

Tevos swallowed hard before letting out a slow breath, making not the slightest effort to move away from the Terran's presence before finally answering.

"We... we need to return to our homeworld and... and... organize a proper cultural exchange. We... we... have protocols and... and..." the Matriarch stammered.

The woman's pitiful attempt made the alien laugh softly.

He simply nodded.

He removed his hand from the Matriarch's face...

To her very obvious disappointment.

The Emperor looked toward the entire Asari Council and simply nodded before raising both hands and beginning to perform a series of... circular motions with them.

Then it happened.

The same orange portal from before appeared once again.

This time...

The unmistakable image of the Temple of Athame could clearly be seen beyond the... portal.

"By the Goddess! What kind of technology is this?" Matriarch Aethyta exclaimed aloud, staring at the portal in complete disbelief.

"It was a pleasure meeting all of you. I will send an emissary in one week. Same place. Same time. If you wish to establish diplomatic contact with us, you will have a delegation waiting for you," the Emperor ordered with a tone filled with finality, making it perfectly clear that the meeting, at least for the moment...

Had come to an end.

Alarmed, Tevos' eyes widened and she immediately stepped toward the Emperor.

"Wait! We..."

However...

The Matriarch's words were abruptly interrupted as the damned portal suddenly surged forward, passing through every single Asari present—including the Commandos—and returning all of them to Thessia before vanishing completely...

Faster than any of them could even blink.

"DAMN IT!" her mother shouted, completely astonishing Liara.

Suddenly, every Omni-Tool activated at once.

Acolytes.

Commandos.

Soldiers.

All requesting immediate confirmation of the Council's status.

"Damage control, sisters. What we have just witnessed is a State Secret, Classification Zero. Have our finest Shadows intercept every Salarian STG team. Calm your Houses and your troops. We shall reconvene here tomorrow morning to organize the diplomatic delegation that will be sent to the Citadel," Tevos ordered, causing every Matriarch to nod in silent agreement.

Not a single one of them objected.

"Come, Little Wing," her mother said, taking Liara gently by the hand and leading her out of the chamber while House T'Soni's Acolytes and Commandos followed closely behind them, every face solemn.

Liara turned toward her mother and opened her mouth, intending to ask something.

Benezia spoke first.

"Not here. We'll talk inside our compound, with every security measure operating at maximum capacity. From this moment forward, you are a high-priority member of the Thessian Council, my daughter."

A small smile appeared upon her mother's face.

"Welcome to the major leagues."

Liara could only swallow nervously.

Something told her...

The madness had only just begun.

And...

She was not mistaken.

Jean Grey, Mars – Sol System.

The roar of the planetary engines, as Harrison called the colossal vessels that had begun terraforming the planet, could be heard in the distance, but Jean did not truly care.

She was far too focused.

Preparing herself for the arrival of her beloved.

She could feel it inside her...

This... entity...

Purring within her mind, pleading to be released.

There was no fury.

There was no hatred.

Only an almost unbearable desire to... spread its wings, for lack of a better description.

Jean's green eyes glowed with a golden radiance, while an aura of gentle flames enveloped her body. Her support drone continued feeding her constant updates regarding the state of the planet's atmosphere.

"Oceanic proliferation at thirty percent and rising. Magnetosphere levels remain low but continue increasing. The first mutant colonists are currently aboard the colony vessel Spirit of Fire. The first wave will arrive in forty-eight hours," the mechanical voice reported, prompting Jean to nod softly to herself.

"How much longer until Harrison officially announces the creation of the Empire?" the redhead asked, slowly beginning to levitate as she prepared herself for the dance that awaited her.

"Four days. The population of the planet already suspects something is happening. They are all holding their breath, awaiting the Black Lion's final decree."

Jean nodded quietly at the drone's report, at the exact moment a soft pop announced Harrison's arrival, followed almost instantly by his familiar, warm, and overwhelming power intertwining with her own.

Jean closed her eyes and floated toward Harrison, the two meeting in midair before melting into a warm and deeply passionate kiss.

"Sorry for the delay. I had... unexpected guests," her beloved Lion said, making Jean laugh softly before letting out a quiet moan as she felt Harrison's lips against her neck.

"I read the report. An entire race of blue alien women... and according to Hermione's recordings, every single one of them was only one command away from kneeling before you..." the redhead said with obvious amusement.

At the same time, her eyes blazed with a brilliant golden light and, without the slightest warning, she slammed Harrison into the Martian ground before straddling him.

"But let's not talk about your alien pets, my love. Your future Queen wants sex... and we have work to do... unleash our life force and revitalize this planet," Jean declared, while the voice deep within her screamed in delight and approval.

Harrison simply looked at her with that satisfied smirk of his before his own eyes ignited with the same golden radiance. In a single movement he reversed their positions, effortlessly pinning Jean beneath him, leaving her on her hands and knees upon the Martian soil while, through the use of his magic, he stripped the young redhead completely bare.

All around them, the barren and lifeless earth had already begun to change.

Grass.

Flowers.

And the first tender shoots of new life had begun emerging from the soil.

The planet was beginning to live once more thanks to the cosmic power of Harrison and Jean.

The redhead moaned uncontrollably.

Her eyes blazed like two liquid suns.

She panted heavily while instinctively moving her hips, desperately searching for more friction.

"Fuck me, Harrison. Take your Queen and let us fill this planet with our essence. Let us revitalize our future home. Let Mars die... and let Veridian, the capital of the Terran Empire and the home of mutantkind, take its place!" Jean cried out, completely beside herself as she unleashed the entirety of her power, causing even more vegetation, plant life, and living organisms to erupt across the planet.

Harrison answered in exactly the same way, increasing the effect exponentially.

"This is only the beginning, my love... I hope you're ready... because we're going to be here for quite a while," the Lion warned, making the redhead look back at him with unmistakable challenge burning in her eyes.

"Bring it on..." she whispered before pressing herself even deeper against the virility of her man, releasing even more energy into the planet, making the entire world tremble as the sleeping core finally began awakening from its ancient slumber.

"YES!! YES!! AT LAST!! AT LAST!!!" a feminine voice screamed from within Jean.

A voice that did not belong to the redhead.

The unexpected outburst made Jean hesitate for the briefest instant.

At least...

Until Harrison's voice reached her.

"It's alright, Jean. Don't worry. Let her come out. Don't be afraid. I'm with you," her beloved Lion said, giving the redhead all the confidence she needed.

Without another moment of hesitation, Jean unleashed the most powerful psionic scream of her entire life, while from her body a pair of flaming wings erupted into existence, trying to lift her high into the air.

At least...

Until Harrison firmly grasped her hips and anchored her against the Martian ground, continuing to make love to her with primal intensity, his own body wrapped in the cosmic energy of life and creation.

Jean opened her mouth.

But it was not her voice that spoke.

It was...

Something else.

Something infinitely older.

Infinitely more powerful.

Something...

Primordial.

"Let life come forth! Let life come forth! I, Phoenix! Have decreed it!" the entity proclaimed, unleashing a wave of utterly monstrous power that spread across the entire planet with terrifying speed.

The sensors aboard Jean's support drone would not stop sounding as they struggled to process the wildly contradictory readings flooding its systems.

"Planetary terraforming at fifty percent. Correction... parameters adjusted. Planetary terraforming at fifty-five percent and rising... error... recalibration required."

"OHHH... MORE!! MORE!!" the delirious redhead moaned, completely lost within ecstasy and pleasure as the lovemaking of the cosmic entities flooded the planet with unimaginable vitality.

And when the climax finally arrived...

Jean and Harrison reached it together.

Both releasing the very essence of life, in its purest form, upon the soil of the planet.

"AHHHHHH YES!" Jean cried out with an enormous smile as she felt the... Phoenix, finally satisfied and temporarily subdued, retreat once more into the depths of her psyche.

"My God... my love... that was... incredible," the trembling redhead whispered, her legs completely incapable of supporting her weight as she looked around herself with obvious pleasure and satisfaction.

The desolate wasteland had changed completely.

An enormous mountainous prairie had taken its place.

The ocean was now barely visible along the distant horizon.

Just as Harrison had theorized...

Mars had died.

And Veridian...

Had been born.

This...

Was only the beginning.