Chapter One
Staring defiantly at the small metallic plaque she held in her hand; Dr Liara T'soni was revisiting old wounds that had barely healed.
"Goddess, he can't be gone... Not again". She thought to herself as she traced her fingertips over a name that had held her heart for almost 4 years.
A faint smile traced across her lips, thinking of old times.
She was a lot different back then. She had an aura of innocence about her. This past few years had not been kind to her and it was clearly evident.
Everything reminded her of Shepard. From the terminal in her office which he conveniently came to check every day. To Glyph; the shadow brokers information drone. It would always seem to grab Shepard's attention and interrupt whatever Liara was saying at the time.
Brushing datapads out of her way; she sluggishly lifted herself from her bed and made her way towards her private terminal.
Delicately placing the plaque on he desk; her tired eyes scanned the terminal for the hundredth time;
-
From: Lt. Commander Williams
To: (Redacted)
Sorry Liara.
Here if you need to talk...
Ash
-
Fwd:
From: Admiral Hackett
To: Lt. Commander Williams
The crucible was successful; the reapers are non-responsive.
I wish I had better news.
Our scanners indicate Commander Shepard was on the crucible when it fired. There was a resulting explosion. Shepard is presumed KIA. Rescue teams have scoured the site continuously since the blast and have found no evidence of life.
Admiral Anderson was in the vicinity and was KIA.
I'm sorry for your loss, he did the impossible.
Return to Earth ASAP to help with recovery efforts.
-Hackett.
A small knock on the door broke her concentration and she turned just as a purple figure entered the room.
Nervously rubbing her hands together, the quarian said; "Liara, sorry to disturb you. Are you alright? No, of course you're not alright. Uhm, we thought we should let you know that the service is starting soon."
Turning her head back to her terminal, her eyes laid upon the silver plaque laying on her desk. Running her fingertips over it once more, the Asari responded; her voice clearly distraught.
"I know Tali." The Asari said as she let out a whimpering sigh.
Distressed to see her close friend going through so much pain, the quarian slowly inched her way forward and placed a hand on the Asari's shoulder.
With an encouraging squeeze, the quarian tried to console her friend; "Shepard would not want this. He would not want you to feel this way. Keelah, he loved you. He would hate to think he caused you this much pain."
Delicately placing a small, blue hand on top of the quarian's, the Asari wiped a single tear from her eye.
"I always had my fears it would end this way. But Shepard refused to let me think that way. He promised..."
The Asari whimpered, unable to contain her emotions any more.
"I never thought it would end this way; he helped me believe in better. I guess people like us were not meant to have a happy ending."
She removed her hand from Tali's, buried her face in her hands and released the barrage of emotions that had been building up ever since she laid eyes on Shepard again on Mars.
Kneeling beside the Asari and taking a hand in hers, the quarian gently said; "Thats good, you need to let it out." Gently stroking her thumb on Liara's hand, she continued to try to comfort her friend.
"It is hard for all of us... He.. Shepard meant a great deal to all of us. If it weren't for him... He helped get my home planet back Liara."
Her voice slightly cracking, she took a breath to compose herself before she continued; "He did a great deal for everyone he knew. And everyone he didn't. We will never forget him and the galaxy will never forget the sacrifices he made to make it safer for all of us."
The quarian put a hand under the Asari's chin and moved her face, revealing Liara's ocean blue eyes that were bloodshot and watering.
"But it is important for us to try to get used to a galaxy without Shepard. He would not want us to be upset for him."
The quarian picked up the silver plaque and placed it in the trembling hands of the Asari.
"Which is why we need to honour him. We need to... We need to say goodbye Liara."
Liara stared blankly at the metal plaque, a few of her tears gently rolling onto her beloved's name and trickling into her lap. Noticing the concerned posture of her friend, the Asari dried her tears and responded; "I understand what you are saying Tali. And I appreciate what you are trying to do. But I cannot say goodbye to Shepard."
Bringing her eyes; a fire reignited, to meet the faceplate of the quarian's environmental suit, she took a breath and continued; "Whilst I have gone over the facts several times, I cannot rule out the possibility that Shepard is still with us. His body has not been recovered."
The quarian bowed her head, breaking eye contact with Liara.
The Asari stood up and began pacing around her cabin, weighing out facts and figures.
"I know the chances are slim Tali, I know. But I have to hope. I just need to find the answer. I lost him before but I got him back. I got him back because I couldn't let him go..."
The quarian stood up and embraced her friend.
"What if the answer you get is not the one you are looking for Liara... I saw what it did to you before."
The Asari slowly backed away from her friend and returned to her seat, beginning to open a new comm on her terminal.
"I have to hope Tali. He promised me he would return."
Knowing she could not convince her friend otherwise, the quarian began to leave the room looking deflated.
"If you need anything... Someone to talk to. You know where I am."
The Asari nodded as Tali left the room.
Activating her comm, the Asari spoke into a voice modifier; deepening and distorting her voice. "This is the shadow broker. Communications have been slightly disrupted, but expect to be repaired soon. I need updates from all operatives within the vicinity of Earth. I want all resources focused on gathering intel on the crucible. Locating Commander Shepard is a priority. I expect damage reports within the next solar day. Shadow broker out."
Ending the comm, the Asari let her eyes trail once more over the silver plaque.
"I will get my answers Shepard. And I will not let you go."