Author's Note:
This story is a sequel to 'Transitions' and closes out that work's story-arc. I recommend you read 'Transitions,' 'Mass Effect: Longing,' and 'Recollections' prior to reading this story.
Mass Effect is owned by Bioware/EA; regards and gratitude to them for creating a universe which is so fun to play around in. This work is for my own amusement without financial gain, and is fair use.
This story contains graphic depictions of mental illness, suicide, and harsh language. If that is something that makes you uncomfortable, you may not want to continue.
Regards and thanks FemShepFanSR2 and others for some advice and feedback that helped me get this out the door.
On a personal note, thank you all for joining me on this journey with Victoria, Liara, and their family and friends. It has been a fun, and cathartic, exercise telling their story, and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I have.
Dedication:
This work is for all those who we couldn't save.
Prologue:
"Move!" Kelly Chambers shouted at her. Samara looked into the eyes of one of her parents' closest friends, her late grandfather's mate. Aunt Kelly had always had the kindest face, the most soothing voice, through all the years of her childhood. Kelly had helped her parents raise her. Now her eyes were wide, her teeth bared, her otherwise fair complexion deep red with spiking blood pressure and the guttural scream she now directed her way. Spittle flew from her mouth, "Move Sam! Move!"
Kelly handled her roughly; she slammed one hand on her shoulder and pushed. The other hand reached to the collar of her leather jacket, "Tora, tora, tora!" Someone slapped her face so hard it burned. That wasn't Kelly. Her face was on fire, she couldn't hear anything but a deafening ringing. Oh goddess, what's happening? Samara looked back at Kelly. All her clothes on her left side were shredded. Her left hip was a bloody mess of sliced and singed flesh. Oh mom, help me!
Samara felt a tug.
Suddenly she was sitting on the alley floor looking up at the sky. Where are all the stars? She wondered in confusion.Her thoughts felt fragmented, everything in her field of vision had a slightly grey hue. She shook her head; the world slowed its spinning, but only barely so. What was that? She looked to where Kelly had just been. She wasn't there anymore. Where's Aunt Kelly? She looked at her arms, rolling her hands palms up then palms down to get a good view of all sides. Her armor, the beautiful armor she'd bought a few weeks ago, was covered in blood. Oh goddess! Where's Aunt Kelly? Something's not right, a seeming eternity later Samara realized that the blood was crimson, not maroon. This isn't my blood! Where's Aunt Kelly?
Samara looked around. Kelly was gone. She was just gone!
A nagging ache drew her attention downward. Samara shrieked. Her leg was missing above the knee. She drew a ragged breath and screamed.
Samara bolted awake from her nightmare to a shriek. Her heart pounded, she was covered with a cold sweat. She looked around. She was home. She was safe. She heard a scream, a long, ragged, agonized scream. Samara's heart rate accelerated wildly, her eyes darted in all directions. There was crying from downstairs. Mother!
Samara jumped from her bed, at least as much as her stump of a leg allowed. She grabbed for the crutch leaning against her end table and nearly tumbled over herself. Mother! Mother I'm coming! Samara hobbled her way towards the door to her room in a series of frantic poorly balanced lunges.
She had to slide down the stairs on her bottom. Just like when I was a toddler, she thought to herself. Reaching the main floor Samara erected herself and resumed her awkward race towards the crying noise. Mother's in pain! I need to help her, mom would help her, she thought to herself. Mom's probably still on Earth, it's up to me!
Samara rounded a corner and came upon the main foyer. She took in the scene; Mother collapsed on the floor, her arms crossed tightly over her breasts, mom nowhere to be seen, she must still be on Earth. Mother was shuddering, tears streamed from her eyes. Standing above her were two men in Alliance uniforms.
They all turned to the sound of her dropped crutch. She stood, for a moment, teetering but still balanced on her remaining leg. Her mother looked her in the eyes. She'd never seen her so upset before, not even when they'd brought her back from the hospital after her misadventure in New Orleans. Samara T'soni's mother looked broken; the life had gone from her eyes, like all the light in the world had disappeared. She was an empty shell. She was desolation.
Samara collapsed to the floor. Oh goddess! Mom!