Presidium Ring

"Outrageous!" Lintus barked, mandibles flared as he glared at the figure standing below. "You colonize a world without alerting the council, and now you wish to to re-enter?!"

"We simply wish to resume more proper relations," the quarian said, her voice firm. "And the system containing Keel'Super is not within the space of any of your races. We felt no need to alert you of our settlement."

"The second planet had been selected for a future terraforming mission by the salarians," Bavern retorted. "Such mission was scheduled for the end of the decade."

"We had not been told of your mission, but it matters little," the quarian replied. "We have already settled two-thirds of our people on the surface. Millions are touching solid ground for the first time in their lives. We will not be easily dissuaded from Keel'Super."

"You keep calling it that," Tevos said. "Does it have any connection with the individual known as Superman?"

"He gave us the world," said the quarian. "He made it into a home for us, with his own two hands!"

Lintus snorted. "Ever since the liberation of the batarian slaves, many have been claiming that Superman was responsible for many things, but that doesn't make all of them true. We have no reason to believe that he actually terraformed a world for you and said you could colonize it."

"We have records of him doing it," the quarian said through gritted teeth.

"Records can be fabricated. It'd take more to-"

Suddenly, the heavy doors swung open, and a figure calmly strolled in, his footsteps echoing in the now-silent chamber. A red cape billowed gently behind him, and he stopped right next to the quarian envoy, arms folded.

"Is this enough?" Superman asked.

Tevos gaped. "You..."

"I was handling some business when I overheard. I can verify that I allowed the quarian people to settle on the planet after I helped terraform it for them."

"And how did you do that?" Bavern asked.

Superman smiled. "I gave it a little nudge in the right direction."

Two dozen C-Sec guards aimed their weapons at him. He sighed, and gave a look that screamed 'really?'.

"Stand down," Lintus reluctantly said. "It wouldn't do any good, anyway."

"Who gave you the right to grant the quarians a world?" Bavern said, voice accusatory.

"Who gives you the right to deny them one?" Superman shot back. "The quarians are not under your jurisdiction."

Tevos spoke up. "But the world is."

"I decided to read your laws and documents while I wasn't busy, and found something interesting: the system had not been officially claimed by the salarians, as they were waiting until the terraforming survey to make that decision. Therefore, it's fair game."

"What legal documents are you speaking of?" Lintus asked.

"Sur'Kesh Survey Deliberation, number two hundred and seventy-nine," Superman replied cooly.

The turian councillor pulled up the document on his omni-tool, then glanced over at Bavern. "He's right."

"Of course, I'm not concerned about legalities, here," Superman said. "I don't necessarily do what's legal; I do what's right. And I feel giving the quarians a home was right."

"You've outright admitted you have no care for our laws," Bavern said.

"In batarian space, slavery was legal," Superman said. "Did you feel it was right?"

Bavern fell silent. Superman paused for a few moments, then continued.

"I don't go out of my way to break laws, but I won't hesitate if the cause is right. I know you think your treatment of the quarians is justified due to the geth, but I disagree. The ones who created the geth are long dead; you're punishing an entire race for the actions of their ancestors. If you were in their place, you would have no complaint if I violated a law to give you a home. Trust me; I know what it's like."

Another silence. It was Tevos who finally broke it.

"You personally saved fifteen million of my people from the batarians. You've mended tens of millions of broken families throughout Citadel space. And now, you have given a nomadic people a future. You have proven yourself to the galaxy, and so I say the quarians can remain on Keel'Super."

Superman flashed a funny look at the quarian ambassador.

"I say so as well," Lintus said.

"As do I," Bavern grumbled.

Superman smiled. "Thank you."

S

"You've secured Rannoch for us?" Vala asked, voice hopeful.

Superman nodded, keeping to her side as they strolled through the gardens of the Presidium. Behind them, a pair of C-Sec guards kept their eyes peeled, but it was more for show than anything else.

"I offered the geth a new home, and they'll take it once they've finished repairing yours by the end of the month. They were happy to take the offer. Well, as happy as geth can be."

"That reminds me," Vala said. "You mentioned that you 'know what it's like'. What do you mean by that?"

Superman sighed. "It's a long story."

"We have time."

"Maybe later. There's still a lot to do, and not a lot of time to do it."

"True," Vala admitted. "It must be a never-ending battle for you, isn't it?"

"Truth, Justice, and the American Way," Superman murmured.

"Pardon? What does 'amerekin' mean?"

"Uh, it means freedom," came the quick reply. "I should go, anyway."

"Can you at least tell me where the geth will go?"

Superman smiled as he began to fly away. "Somewhere they won't be bothered."

S

Fortress of Solitude

"Everything okay down there? Brainiac's tech can be iffy at times, and I don't like having to do repeated shrinkings."

"Yes, Superman-Caretaker. The Shell experienced no difficulties in the latest transference. All programs are running optimally."

"Glad to hear it."

Superman carefully lifted the Shell with special-made tweezers. It was smaller than a grain of sand, but he could still see it perfectly, and he took care not to disturb it too much as he carried it over.

"Are the Creators settling on the homeworld?"

"Many of them are. They're happy to have a home again."

"We regret that we must minimize relations with the Creators."

"Maybe for now, but that can change with time."

Superman carefully lowered the Shell into the large bottle. He managed to avoid the artificial sun at the apex, and the Shell touched down softly on the ground. Already a crowd was gathering around the structure, some carrying connective equipment.

"Take care down there," Superman said. "They'll help you out with anything you need."

"Thank you, Superman-Caretaker. Perhaps in time, we shall meet the Creators again."

One of the figures, smaller than all but the most minuscule organisms, reached out and touched the Shell's exterior, smiling.

"Welcome to Kandor, Geth Consensus."

"We are glad to be welcomed."