"So, mom, I really am going to get to go with you, right?" A 'teenage' girl asked her mother.
"You wouldn't be here with me if you didn't. You'd be with either your grandmother or your grandfather."
"So either Grandma Hannah or Grandpa Aethyta. Warrior woman number one or warrior woman number two."
"Be nice, they're your grandparents."
"But it's true. Grandma is one of the longest serving admirals in the alliance military and Grandpa, as she would put it, has had over a thousand years to learn how to fight dirty."
"And a lot of their knowledge has been passed on to you, unfortunately."
"Why do you say unfortunately? I think it's a good thing that I know how to kick some serious butt if need be."
"Yes, it's all well and good that you know how to defend yourself but the level of violence that they are capable of, I just don't want you to have to fight that hard…ever."
"You used to, mom. During the great war."
"Yes, but that was sixty years ago. This is an age of peace. No need for the hyper violence of the past. There are still pockets of malcontent here and there. Fights still happen, people still have tempers. But, it's nowhere near what it was back then. And I want you to be a child of this age. Peaceful, not really even knowing how to make a tight fist, let alone how to throw it at someone's head."
"Oh here we go with that again. You punch out one guy cause he grabbed your butt and all of sudden you're a rage-aholic in your mother's eyes. Jeez, mom, the guy had it coming. And I didn't hit him that hard. Hard enough to knock him over, sure, but I didn't give him a concussion or anything. And believe me, I wanted to. He pinched my backside so hard that I wanted to hit him with something….well, let's say it was biotic related."
"Heh, I swear. I don't know how, but you definitely got your father's temper. Goddess, she could be so full of venom. I loved her all the same and still do but, I felt sorry for anyone dumb enough to make her mad. It's a wonder the reapers didn't lose sooner."
"Um, mom, from what I've heard, you had a pretty nasty streak too. Grandpa's told me about how you threatened to flay somebody alive with your mind back on Ilium."
"Remind me to have a talk with my father and to politely ask her to learn when to shut her mouth."
"There it is. The rarely seen, but oh so deadly, Liara T'soni temper."
Liara put her hand on her hip and her face scrunched up a bit as she stopped to stare at her daughter.
"Okay, Krinda, I know what you're doing here. We've played this game a million times already. I know this mind game like the back of my hand. You pick and choose your words carefully so you can get under my skin and once you've done that, you start laughing hysterically. Which you know will get me to laugh, since I can't resist joining you when you laugh. But, now's not the time for this. We're going to be seeing Hackett. You know how highly ranked he is in the Alliance military. We need to be as serious as we can be and show respect. Understood?"
"Yes, mom. I understand. I won't cause any trouble. I promise. So, who's going to be on this trip, and what exactly are we going after?"
"Well, some artifacts from several of the lost civilizations that were around before and some during the time of the Protheans were recently discovered. They were found on Vector 5 in the Whirlwind Nebula, which is near the home nebula of the Quarians and Geth. Knowing my desire to learn about these cultures in detail and taking my previous record for things like this into account, I was chosen to lead the Alliance funded archeological team that will retrieve these artifacts and then dig for more. And of course, we'll study them in detail when we're done with the dig. To sweeten the deal, before I could even think to ask, they said you could come with me. So, you can be my second in command."
Liara gently rubbed her daughter's head with this last comment. She felt the points of the crests on her daughter's head. Krinda was beautiful, the prettiest Asari maiden in all of existence in Liara's mind. And she looked so much like her father it was almost scary. It was as if her father had been reborn as an Asari. Liara couldn't figure out why this was, nor could she figure out why Krinda was a sort of teal green color when all of her predecessors, Liara herself included, were all varying shades of blue. Liara chocked it up to a genetic hiccup that must've occurred during the randomizing she went through to create Krinda. Krinda was conceived the night Liara last slept with her love, Commander Katrina Shepard, before she sacrificed herself to save everyone in the known galaxy, and perhaps the universe, from the reapers. She hadn't told Shepard she intended to get herself pregnant that night, but she felt that, should things go south in the final battle, Shepard's heroic legacy should be continued into the future with an heir. Krinda was this heir. The daughter of the legendary commander, respected by most of the galaxy just because of who she happened to be.
It was this hype that made Krinda want to constantly prove herself in varying fields. Her latest exploit was following her mother into the field of archeology and science. She wasn't very good, Liara had to admit, but she had an incredible tenacity, just like her father. Liara was sure, if Katrina had somehow failed to stop the reapers, Krinda would've grown up and got it done. No way, she thought, could the reapers deal with the force of two Shepards attacking them, relatively, back to back. But, Liara was glad that Krinda didn't need to fight the reapers. She was glad that, as far as Krinda was concerned, the reapers were a long gone atrocity. They still existed, out in the reaches of dark space. Out in the unexplored frontier. But, they were no longer a threat. Shepard had seen to that. Liara didn't know how exactly she'd done it, but she knew the crucible was involved. She felt in her heart that Katrina had sacrificed her life to activate the crucible and cause what was known simply as 'the synthesis'. A green wave of energy had burst out of the crucible after Katrina had activated it and caused all organic life to gain some synthetic qualities. The most notable of these was the fluctuating grid like patterns that could be seen on the skin. Also, synthetic life took on organic qualities that varied between the species. Liara's old friend EDI, for example, had developed motherly instincts and she and Joker had adopted a child. It was a Caucasian girl with fiery red hair and small freckles on her face. She had been named Hillary Moreau the second and nick named Gunny, in honor of her aunt. Gunny was one of Krinda's closest friends. They had known each other for years. Krinda was naturally older than Gunny, being sixteen when Gunny was adopted. But thanks to the synthesis, Gunny got to live an easy aging process until now when Krinda had hit her 'teenage' years in Asari terms. Krinda was now sixty years old, effectively eighteen by human standards, and Hilary was forty-four, but had the body and mind of a woman in her twenties, thanks to the incredibly slowed aging effects of the synthesis that seemed to kick in around twenty years old for most species. The Asari and the Krogan were the exceptions. They aged normally, as if the synthesis knew that slowing the aging of an Asari or Krogan would be too much of a delay for the blue beauties or the proud warriors.
"Okay, cool. I'm lieutenant-commander Krinda Shepard, under Commander Liara T'soni. Who else will serve alongside us, Commander?" Krinda asked with a quick salute.
Liara chuckled lightly before continuing. Krinda knew how to make her mother laugh. She always did.
"Well, Lieutenant-commander, I know that flight lieutenant Jeffery Moreau will be our helmsman and miss EDI Moreau will be his lovely co-pilot." Liara said, trying to sound official and beginning to walk down the hall again.
"Is Gunny coming on this trip?" Krinda asked as she followed.
"Yes. It's very low risk so.…well, it's pretty much no risk. With all the technology we have at our fingertips, archeological digs have become a breeze to perform in recent years. So, since the risk is so low, anybody that's coming along on this trip is free to bring wives, husbands and children along if they wish. Not a lot are taking advantage of this leniency. It's really a small handful from what I've heard. You won't have many in your 'age group' to talk with but a few will be there. I know Gunny will be there and the Quarians are collaborating with us on this, so I imagine Tali will find a way there for sure. So, I'm sure she'll bring her daughter Ciala with her."
"Cici? Cici's coming with us?"
"I would imagine so. I take it you're excited?"
"Hell yes! I haven't seen Cici for two years. Goddess, I've missed her. I really hope she's coming because I wanna see her."
"She'll likely be there. And so will Ashley and her son Devin. Ashley is going to be the acting commander for this trip and Devin's a member of the military conveniently serving under his mother."
"Yeah, how does that work? I mean, aren't there regulations against that? If dad was still alive, I couldn't serve under her, could I? I'm not holding it against them, I'm just wondering."
"They obey all regulations and no one is showed any favoritism. By playing it cool like that, they are allowed to serve together on the same ship. The only time they're allowed to act as a family is during shore leave, which I hear is a bit more frequent than other ships. Ashley doesn't stop for leave every five minutes or anything like that, but she knows how to keep her soldiers happy. An average ship might stop for shore leave once a month while Ashley will stop twice. And since these are peaceful times with no end in sight, the alliance military top brass is willing to overlook that, it seems."
"Sounds like a strategy dad would employ."
"Hmm, yes, yes it does. I guess Ashley learned something from Katrina. And this was the woman I heard say 'you're a crappy commander, ma'am' several times since I first met her until Katrina died. Heh, it's ironic really."
Krinda nodded. She then noticed they were nearing the door that would take them into Hackett's office.
"Okay, there it is mom. Do I look okay?"
"You look perfect. Now come on. Let's not keep him waiting."
Krinda nodded and the mother and daughter entered the room. Hearing the door open, Hackett turned around.
"Ah, Liara. I was just wondering when you'd get here. It's good to see you again."
"It's good to see you too. You look well."
"I think I can thank Shepard for that. I look and feel like I haven't aged a day since the reaper war ended and the synthesis happened. If not for that, I surely would've died from old age by now."
"Oh, please don't talk that way, Admiral. I don't want to think about any of my good friends leaving me. I've experienced too much of that already."
Hackett nodded and then looked at Krinda.
"Is this who I think it is?"
"Yes, that's Krinda."
"Hello, sir. It's been a while. Nice to see you looking fit as ever." Krinda said, trying to sound a prim and proper as she could to please her mother.
"You look good as well, Krinda. You've grown into quite the young woman since I saw you last. You've definitely had some major growth spurts in the five years since I saw you last. How old are you now?"
"I turned sixty a few weeks ago, sir. That would roughly be eighteen by human standards."
"Heh, eighteen huh? I can remember when I was eighteen. I was quite the hell raiser."
"Really, sir?" Krinda asked, her brow furrowing.
"Oh yes. I used to drive down the street of my home town with my friends and I would smash mailboxes with baseball bats. We'd also purposefully knock over fire hydrants, especially when it was hot, so that we and the other kids in our neighborhood could mess around in the geyser."
"Really? Hmm, I've never tried any of that. Maybe, when I go to Earth again…"
"Don't even think about it, young lady." Liara said.
"Just kidding, mom." Krinda replied with a wide grin.
"She's Shepard's daughter alright. Knows how to raise hell and how to be lite hearted. You've got a good one there, Liara."
"Yes, I know. I love her with all my heart. I would gladly give up all of my worldly possessions if it meant I could keep her safe, with me, forever. But, she's in her maiden stage now. No doubt she'll want to go out on some grand adventure, trying to become some interplanetary heroine like her father was. Isn't that right, Krinda?" Liara asked, turning to face her daughter.
"Well, one day, sure. But for right now, I'm happy to just to be able help you, mom. I think that's what dad would've wanted me to do. I think she would've wanted me to stay close to you for 'as long as I could resist the urge', as Grandma Hannah would say, but eventually go out and sew my 'wild oats', as she would also say. Dad would've wanted me to protect you and make you happy, but she also would not have wanted me to live a sheltered life. So someday, I'll go out for a while, can't say how long, and get myself into some trouble. But when I do, I won't get myself into too much trouble. I'm not going to join eclipse or anything like that, that's for damn sure. But, I'm going to explore the galaxy even more in depth than I already have….and maybe bust a few bad guy heads along the way."
Liara chuckled slightly. If Krinda hadn't mentioned fighting bad people somewhere in that spiel, she would've been disappointed.
"You know, Liara, there is something that I would like to talk with you about. It involves Krinda." Hackett said.
"If you want her to join the military, forget it, sir. That's off the table, period."
"Actually, I was going to suggest…"
Hackett was cut off by a beeping from his omni-tool. He checked it and turned off the alarm function that was causing the beeping.
"It'll have to wait, I guess. That was my reminder for when the ship will be ready. You really got here just in time. Let's go."
"Right, come on, Krinda."
"Okay, mom. Wait, what's the name of the ship we're taking? I've got a bit of a thing for starships, so I know a fair bit about a number of them. So, which one are we taking, so I know what to expect?"
Hackett chuckled a bit before looking back at Krinda.
"We're taking the only ship fit to shuttle Commander Shepard's family and friends."
"You mean!"
Hackett nodded and continued walking.
"Yes! I finally get to board the Normandy!"
The trio made their way to the dock. Joker, EDI and Gunny were waiting for them just in front of the boarding dock for the Normandy. Once she saw Krinda, Gunny's eyes lit up like fireworks.
"Krin!" Gunny shouted, hurting Joker's ears.
"Ow!" Joker said.
"Sorry, dad. Hey, Krinda. Long time no see."
"No kidding. You look well. How's your boyfriend, what was his name…Brent?"
"Well thanks, you look good too. As for Brent, well, we broke up. Kinda had to. He talked me into taking him onto this really nice starship dad was the pilot of and the next thing you know, we hear that some refined Eezo in the hold is missing. Sure enough, we find it in his room. He wanted it to boost the biotic powers he had. He was arrested and is currently serving at least six years in prison."
"So was he just using you from the start?"
"Heh, knowing my luck, probably. But, I got back at him. I ended up knocking him out with one quick, barely charged warp shot from my own biotics. That's how he got caught after he tried to run."
"Irony based revenge tastes great, huh?...Uh, not that I would know anything about that." Krinda said as she felt her mother's stare on her.
Liara shook her head and then turned to her old friends.
"It's nice to see you both."
"It is good to see you as well, Liara. Krinda, you have grown vastly more beautiful since I last saw you. But, then again, you have always been beautiful. I believe it is because you have 'good genes'." EDI said.
"Well, it doesn't hurt to have two parents who are total babes. I just I start to get a little, um, 'more fulfilled' right around here, you know?" Krinda asked, while passing her hand over her chest.
"Don't want to favor dad in that department, know what I mean?"
Edi suddenly walked over to and then around the back of Krinda. She then wrapped her arms around Krinda's chest from behind.
"What are you doing, aunt EDI?"
"I am doing my best to take your measurements. If my calculations are correct, your bust size is approximately seventeen centimeters, which makes you a triple c, borderline d cup in bra size."
Krinda ripped away from EDI and folded her arms over her chest.
"Geez, announce it to the whole world, why don't ya?"
"You're almost a d, and you feel 'unfulfilled'?" Gunny asked.
"Well, it's cause, well, you know. I mean, look at mom, or look up old pictures of Grandma Benezia. My whole Asari family is 'huge' in that regard. I'm a pipsqueak compared to them."
"Yeah, but hell, I'm physically in my twenties, and I'm just a high b. You should feel grateful for what you've got." Gunny said.
Krinda smiled to herself. She knew Gunny wouldn't reveal her size out loud that easily unless she was trying to make her old friend feel better.
"Yeah, I guess you're right, Gun. Alright, shall we board?"
"Let's." Admiral Hackett said.
"Alright, EDI and I will begin the pre-flight checks and we'll then head out for Rannoch, where we'll be meeting the quarian half of our team. In the meantime, go familiarize yourselves with the ship, guys. This is the new SR-3, so it's a bit different since you were last onboard, Liara." Joker said.
"Got it. Let's go, Krinda."
"Oh, this is it. The first step onto the Normandy. This is like fate. Goddess, this is gonna feel good!"
Meanwhile, on a darkened planet in the fringes of the terminus systems.
"Sir, our forces are ready to test Rannoch." A relatively small salarian, dressed in black occult like robes with crimson trim, said to a similarly dressed Turian.
"Excellent. Let's see if either of Rannoch's native races is worthy."
"Yes sir. Survival of the fittest…"
"Only the strong survive. Now go!"
"Sir!" The salarian said and took off.
"Which is strongest? Quarian or Geth? Creator or created? It's time to find out."