Crossroads
Year 2387
Kaja T'Soni, eldest daughter of Dr. Liara T'Soni and the late Commander Leia Shepard, is on a forced two month leave from the asari military. She hasn't taken any type of leave in over two decades. Too busy working to weed out officers that tend to fraternize too much with enlisted personal. This wasn't the type of job, Kaja wanted to do within the military. When the higher ups found out who her parents were, is when she got put behind a desk or out on ships trying to bust someone. The only reason T'Soni has stuck it out for as long as she had is because of the utmost respect she has for her father, Commander Shepard and the advice she was given the day she left to start her commando training. Do your duty, Kaja. That comes first and before personal desires. Those words stuck.
Kaja heads home to see her mother on Elysium. Her mother still lives in the house her parents built over one-hundred-eighty years ago. As Kaja's taxi drops her off at the house, the asari commando notices the house looks like it needs a little work done to it. Kaja hasn't been home in over twenty-five years and she doesn't remember the house looking like it does now. The asari maiden puts in the security code and thinks her mother really needs to change the code.
"Mom, you home?" asks Kaja as she walks into the house. It seems so big and empty now. Kaja puts her bag on the couch and walks up the stairs to the loft. Her mother isn't at her desk. The commando is wondering where her mother is. "Mom, you home?"
Dr. T'Soni walks up the stairs when she hears Kaja up in the loft. "Yes, Kaja, I'm home," says Liara as she gives Kaja a hug. "It's good to see you, Kaja. Finally taking some leave?"
Kaja hugs her mom back, "Forced leave for the next two months. May I stay here? I really don't have any other place to go." Kaja's cheeks get a little flush from being embarrassed because she doesn't have any other place to stay.
"What kind of question is that, little one? You are always welcome to stay here. Why are you on a forced leave?" asks Liara. The look on Liara's face shows concern that her eldest daughter did something she shouldn't have. Which is very unlike Kaja.
The younger asari sits in the chair next to the her father's desk. She gives her mother a hint of the Shepard smirk, "No, I'm not in any type of trouble, mom. I can tell what you are thinking from the look on your face, mom. I'm very good at reading people. It's part of my job. My CO thinks I need a break and forced me to take the next two months off. I don't know if I'm going to stay in the military any longer then I have to. I don't like what I am doing."
Liara pulls the chair from her desk and moves it next to Kaja's chair. "What are you doing you don't like?" asks the information broker. Liara gives her daughter's arm a soft squeeze.
"All I do is investigate officers who fraternize with the enlisted personal. It's not what I signed up to do. I'm a very good biotic, mom. I don't think I am as good as you are though. Ever since my superiors found out who my parents are, I'm not allowed to do anything dangerous," comments Kaja. She uses air quotes when she says dangerous.
"If you get out, what are you going to do then?" asks T'Soni. Liara hopes Kaja doesn't leave the military then join one of the merc bands out in the Terminus. It is the one thing, Leia never wanted any of the kids to do. Or be a dancer at some club like "Afterlife" or "Chora's Den".
Shrugging her shoulders, Kaja replies, "I don't know, mom. All I ever wanted is to serve like dad did for the Alliance. I wonder if the Alliance will let me do more than the Asari Republic?"
There is something Liara has never thought of before. She doubts the Alliance would allow an asari to join their military. Even if the asari's father is the Savior of the Galaxy. "I don't know if the Alliance will take you, Kaja. You can always work as a bodyguard for Gaia," comments Dr. T'Soni. Liara gives her daughter a grin because Liara knows Gaia wouldn't want Kaja being her bodyguard.
The younger asari cocks her head to one side and give her mother a blank look. "No way could I work for Gaia. She has a big enough head without me being her employee." Kaja puts her elbows on her knees and clasps her hand under her chin, looking at her mother before continuing, "Mom, all I wanted was for dad to be proud of me. I don't think the job I am doing would make dad proud. Yes, she was happy I joined the military and was proud of that."
"I know, Kaja. Your father was always proud of what you and your sisters were doing. The only thing she didn't want was for you girls to join some Terminus Systems merc band or dance at some sleazy club. Do what makes you happy, Kaja. That is what your father wanted most of all. For you and your sisters to be happy," replies the elder asari.
The commando stands up and starts to head down the stairs. Before she leaves she turns to her mom saying, "I'm going to unpack a few things. I'll let you work." The younger T'Soni walks down the stairs, grabs her bag, and heads to her old bedroom to unpack a few items.
The house looks the same as it did before Commander Shepard died. Kaja wonders if her mother will ever move on. She has a slight temptation to nose around her parents room to see if her father's clothes are still in the closet. Even her bedroom has remained the same over the years. It's clean, but nothing changed from when she left home at the age of fifty-six. Which in some way makes Kaja sad and worry about her mother.
After unpacking a few things, Kaja walks out the back door to lounge around outside. The view from the backyard is still beautiful even though there are more neighborhoods around the outskirts of the colony. She closes her eyes thinking, thinking what else is there for her to do in the future. Kaja's unsure at the moment, but she's sure it will work out. It always does with her family.
Liara joins Kaja outside. Putting an arm around her daughter's shoulder, Liara says, "I am about to fix some lunch. Do you want anything, Kaja?"
"Sure," answers the young commando.
Mother and daughter walk towards the kitchen. Liara opens the fridge and grabs a few ingredients to make a salad. Kaja sits at the table watching her mother make salad. "Mom, I want to ask you something." comments Kaja.
Dr. T'Soni brings over two serving of salad. She puts on next to Kaja as she sits across the table from her eldest daughter. "What do you want to know, little one?" Liara thinks she has an idea or two on what Kaja's question might be about. She isn't sure if she can answer those questions. Even after all the time that has passed.
Kaja mixes the salad around with her fork. She looks at her mother unsure if she should ask what is on her mind or let it drop. Thinking what would her father do in this situation. Kaja decides to go ahead and ask, "Why do you stay in this big house alone? You haven't moved on since dad died. I know dad wanted you to move on, mom."
Liara always knew this is something Kaja would ask. She gives her daughter a warm smile before piecing the answer together in her head. There are still a few secrets she needs to keep from her children, but Liara isn't sure anymore if keeping things about their father should remain a secret. "Kaja, I'm going to tell you something you and your sisters should have been told by now. Your father and I kept it a secret and now I'm not sure why."
The elder asari eats more of her salad. Dr. T'Soni smiles to her daughter, thinking about how to say what needs to come out into the open. The reason why she can't let Shepard go. Even though they spent almost two centuries together, Liara is still unable to let Leia go and she isn't sure if she even wants to let go. This time she doesn't have a desire for revenge against an enemy. She enjoys the memories of their decades together.
"Let me guess, mom. You're going to tell me about how dad died in 2183," comments Kaja without any emotion in her voice.
Liara is glad she already swallowed her bite because the shock on her face is telling. She wonders where Kaja found out and how long as she known. The information broker is sure Shepard didn't tell her. Or did she? Liara mentally shakes that thought out of her head. Maybe Kaja heard something about it while on duty from another commando. That makes more sense to Dr. T'Soni.
Liara looks at her daughter knowing she needs to answer the question posed to her. "Yes, your father died in 2183. I..." Liara closes her eyes remembering the feelings from watching Shepard struggle in vacuum, dying. She opens her eyes once more, "I watched her die from the escape shuttles when the Collectors destroyed the Normandy."
Kaja sees the grief in her mother's eyes and wishes she hadn't said anything. The eldest daughter already knows about her father's death. It's something she overheard after returning from attending Shepard's funeral. What she doesn't know is how dad returned. "I'm sorry, mom. I shouldn't have said anything."
"It's alright. How did you find out?" asks the asari matron. If Kaja knows about Leia's death, does she also know about how she came back? That is something Liara is pondering as she waits for her daughter to answer the question posed to her.
"I overheard two other commandos talking about dad when I returned from her funeral. I didn't say anything and they didn't know I was there. I did a search later and found an interview dad did with a reporter named Emily Wong," replies the commando. She keeps her eyes on Liara to watch for her mother's reaction.
Dr. T'Soni smiles at her eldest, "If you have any questions, little one. Now would be a good time to ask them." To her surprise, this topic isn't as hard to talk about as she thought it would be. Her heart is still heavy, but that is from Leia no longer being with them. That may never go away. Liara isn't sure if she wants her feelings for Leia to ever go away.
The commando smiles back to her mother. Kaja does have questions, but isn't sure if she wants to know the answers. If her father really did die in 2183, how did she come back? Kaja wants to know, but does her mother have the answers? "If dad died, how did she come back? Once you're dead, don't you normally stay that way?"
The manner in which Kaja phrases her questions throws Liara off. The sorrow look in the elder asari's eyes returns. The guilt, the mourning of those two years come flooding back. Dr. T'Soni closes her eyes to hold back the tear she feels is coming. Sighing softly, Liara begins to tell Kaja how her father died and came back.
An hour later, Liara finishes telling Kaja the story about Commander Shepard's death in 2183 and how she came back two years later. Kaja sits there with a dumbfounded look on her face. She can not believe what she is hearing from her mother. The eldest daughter knows her mother is not lying about it and understands why her and her sister have never been told these things. Kaja wishes she hadn't brought it up in the first place.
Kaja T'Soni doesn't know what to say. She sits on the couch thinking about why would anyone spend billions to bring back one person. Kaja is glad it happened, but it still doesn't make sense to bring back one person. "Mom, thank you for telling me. I am having a hard time understanding why this Cerberus group would bring dad back. And dad ended up ridding this group from the galaxy. Did they not get along?"
"No, they didn't. They lied to her about many things and only used your father for their own gains. One of their biggest lies was about me. That did not sit well with Leia," answers Liara. She keeps her eyes on Kaja. The Shadow Broker can see the confusion in Kaja's face. "Are you okay, little one?"
"I think so. What was the lie that got dad all upset?" asks Kaja. She thinks this is the last question, but the more her mom shares with her. The more questions she seems to have. The huntress leans forward with her elbows on her knees and her hands under her chin.
Liara grins at her daughter. Kaja's posture reminds her of Leia and that warms Liara's heart. "She was told I was working for the Shadow Broker and I was not to be trusted. The Illusive Man knew it was a lie when he told her that. I honestly think he was trying his best to keep us apart. It didn't work out like he hoped." Dr. T'Soni smile grows bigger thinking how they got rid of Cerberus.
Kaja's brow furrows together as she thinks about those comments. She also rubs the back of her neck. Cerberus brings her father back. Her mother helps them recover the body. Gives it to them because they said they could bring her back. Then tell lies about her mom to her father. None of that makes a lick of sense to the commando. Kaja understands why her father got upset over it. She is upset now and wants to do something about it.
"Thanks for telling me, mom. I understand why it was kept a secret. I don't know what to say. Between this Shadow Broker person and The Illusive Man, I want to do something about it. There isn't anything to do, is there? They are all dead. Good riddance to bad trash," comments Kaja as she gets off the couch and heads to the kitchen to grab something to drink. Kaja pours herself a glass of tea and one for her mom then returns to the living room.
"There isn't anything you can do about something that happened two hundred years ago, little one," remarks Liara when Kaja returns to the living room. Seeing Kaja's reaction makes Liara regret she said anything about it. She is so much like her father. Always wanting to make things right. Liara thinks Leia would be so proud of her. Liara knows she is very proud of Kaja. Actually, Liara is proud of all three of her daughters in their own way. The Shadow Broker asks, "Are you going to tell your sisters what I've told you?"
Shaking her head, Kaja answers, "No, it's not my place to tell them. Unless you want me to tell them. I doubt Gaia cares much, mom. She is too involved in herself to really care about anything else. And Liv, I don't know."
Liara feels the same as Kaja does. Gaia probably doesn't care. She is too caught up in being an actress that she doesn't seem to care about anything else. Liara is surprisingly fine with that. Gaia always was the actress. Hamming it up for photos or pretending to act out scene with her sisters and parents, Gaia always wanted to act. It does sedate her need to explore and travel like asari maidens tend to do, because that is all she does. Travel from one location to the next.
Olivia cares deeply about her father. She's like Kaja in that regard. Only difference is Olivia followed in her mother's footsteps instead of her father's. The youngest daughter also has a doctorate in computer information and security from the University of Serrice on Thessia. She is working as a security consultant for the Council races excluding the salarians.
"No, Kaja. No need to go out of your way to tell them. If it comes up, be honest with them. I don't think it will come up though," answers Liara. The Shadow Broker's omni-tool starts beeping. She checks the message from the drone, Glyph. There is an incoming call from the asari councilor. "Excuse me, little one. Works calls." Liara goes upstairs to her office to take the call.
Kaja nods her head while she watches her mother leave the living room to head up to the loft. Leaning back against couch, Kaja thinks about the things her mother told her. She can tell from the subtle clues in Liara's body language that her mother misses her father. She also thinks her mother left out a few things as well. If things were taken care of two centuries ago, who is the Shadow Broker now? Kaja's investigative instinct is kicking in.
The huntress tries to put some of the thoughts she has about the Shadow Broker out of her mind. So, she decides to head down to the basement to see if the workout room still has equipment her father used. Unsurprisingly, the room still looks the same as it did before Commander Shepard died twenty-seven years ago. The punching bag looks like it has seen better days, thinks Kaja as she puts on the protective gloves her father used.
Kaja starts punching the bag. Slowly at first then the intensity grows with each punch. She thinks about her job, the Shadow Broker, and her mother. Kaja stops punching the punching bag when she starts thinking about her father. Realizing in time, Kaja puts her hands out to stop the bag from hitting her. She leans over, her hand on her knees, panting. The eldest daughter says to herself, "I love you, dad." She closes her eyes. "And I miss you." After punching the bag with a three punch combo, Kaja removes the gloves and puts them back on the shelf.
There is a stationary bicycle and it is looking inviting. It's saying to the asari, "ride me." A smile appears on Kaja's face when she remembers her grandmother, Hannah Shepard, riding an older stationary bike when she was very young. She gets on the bike and starts peddling at a steady tempo. One Kaja thinks she can maintain for an hour, hopefully longer.
As she peddles, the more she thinks about what to do during her down time. Earth sounds like a good place to visit. Kaja thinks maybe she can try to locate Gaia and see if her sister has time for a visit with her older sister. Or not. That is one thing Kaja isn't sure on yet. Does she even want to visit with Gaia? Does Gaia even want to see her older sister? Kaja turns the peddles over with a faster tempo. She stands up and starts peddling as fast as her legs will go. She sits back down while slowing her peddling. After a couple of minutes of slow peddling, Kaja stops and remains on the seat, breathing heavily.
Her leg muscles are screaming out from the effort given. Kaja T'Soni rubs her thighs to help loosen the muscles. She walks over to the area they're allowed to use their biotics. The padding looks like it needs replacing. Her parents were always safety minded as possible. The room has padding running across the floor and ceiling. Walls included. The young asari wonders if her parents ever knew what they did to each other down here. Or is that why the room has all the padding? Maybe they did know.
Kaja starts smiling as she thinks of the memories from her childhood. Remembering showing off her biotic ability by tossing Olivia around the room. Gaia would catch their younger sister. Olivia would come back for more. Kaja shakes her head at the mischievous nature her and her two younger sisters when they were children.
Kaja looks down at the computer terminal that controls the turrets and other items used in the practice sims. Her hand hovers the terminal debating with herself if she wants to turn it on or not. Kaja pushes the buttons for the program designed for her. Droney the drone appears, "Good to see you, Kaja. It's been over one hundred..."
Interrupting the drone by saying, "I know how long it's been, Droney. No need to tell me." The asari's extends her arm with her palm facing out. She chuckles to herself thinking how surprised she is the drone is still functional and still recognizes her. "I am surprised you are still functional, Droney. It is good to see you."
In the drone's mono-toned male sounding voice, the drone replies, "I receive regular maintenance and upgrades. Kaja, I have a message for you. Uploading to your omni-tool now." Ten seconds later the drone says, "Upload complete. Do you want me to run any practice simulations?"
"No. Thank you for the message, Droney," replies Kaja as she presses a few button on the terminal and Droney, the drone disappears. She looks at her omni-tool, wondering what this message is about and who is it from. Most likely it's from her father, Commander Leia Shepard. Who else would do that? Give Droney a message and only give it to her if she activated the drone. The more she thinks about the more she feels being alone with the message is a good idea. Kaja is willing to bet everything this message is from her father.
Kaja goes back upstairs and sees her mother is still in her office working. She finds a piece of paper and a pen and writes a note for her mother.
Mom,
I've going to town for the night. I don't know what time I will return, so don't wait up.
Love,
Kaja
She leaves the note in the kitchen next to the dirty dishes. It's the one spot outside of her mom's bedroom, Kaja thinks Liara will see the note. The huntress doesn't feel like disturbing her mother's work. After a quick shower and change of clothes, Kaja is out the door to head to town. There are a few things she wants to do. Visiting her father's grave is one of them. It's the one place Kaja thinks she can listen to the message in peace.
A/N:This is what I would call a hybrid story. It follows more along the arc I was writing before Mass Effect 3 was released. I started this chapter in February. There will be certain events and people from ME3 mentioned in this story. The ending will not be mentioned at all. Anything I wrote before March was stuff I was speculating on. Even though I know what happens I wanted this story to keep some of the speculation while also mentioning some events from the third game.
I hope it works. :)
Next chapter will be posted next week. See you then.