Angel Synthesis
Chapter 1
Bioware owns the rights to all Mass Effect characters. The rest are mine.
This story takes place after ME3. The events of ME2 and ME3 are covered within my previous stories: Angel: The Rebirth of Samantha Shepard and Angel and the Demon. This story begins almost immediately after Angel and the Demon ended. Shepard chose Synthesis, combining all organic and synthetic life in the universe. She was married to Miranda Lawson in an impromptu ceremony just before they reached the Citadel at the very end of Angel and the Demon. Shepard, Miranda, and Admiral Anderson were rescued from the Citadel with various wounds. The Normandy crash landed on an uninhabited part of Bekenstein, and the crew is waiting for the Normandy to be repaired. Tali and Garrus are dating, as are Traynor and Liara. Multiple AU characters will be introduced. This is my first attempt at an original storyline. Constructive criticism welcome. There will be explicit sex scenes throughout the story, mostly girl girl, and some heavy topics like child abuse and religion, you have been warned.
Shepard thought there might be repercussions from her choice of Synthesis, but she never imagined the backlash. Will she be able to live in peace, or will her enemies get revenge?
Samantha Shepard woke, surprised to find Miranda still in bed. Her overachiever wife was usually up long before she gained conscious thought. She snuggled into her, taking a deep breath of her earthy scent. Miranda murmured something, but did not wake. Shepard kissed the side of her head. She relaxed back into her pillow, intending to return to sleep. Synth, her personal AI installed by Synthesis, listed a few biometrics across her vision. She had him to clear it away. After several minutes she realized she would not return to sleep. I've slept too much, unlike Miranda. Miranda was working nonstop with Liara, Specialist Traynor, Oriana, and EDI analyzing satellite data for rescue operations. She'd also been helping Shepard get ready for the inevitable interviews that were fast approaching. Admiral Anderson was keeping the press away, but eventually they would get an interview with the Savior of the Citadel.She carefully disengaged herself from Miranda, but woke her anyway. Miranda's eyes opened halfway, then she smiled.
"What time is it?" She asked sleepily.
"Still early, go back to sleep." Shepard said. She bent down to kiss her cheek. Miranda's eyes closed.
"Mmm." Miranda said, already drifting back to sleep. Shepard got up, then pulled the covers back over her wife.
Shepard crept from the bedroom, only turning on a light once she reached her office. Hackett had her and Miranda set up in an apartment in London. The three room apartment was large, much larger than her cabin on the Normandy. Hackett tried to offer her an estate in Chelsea, but Shepard had refused. Her personal belongings fit in one of the apartment's closets. Living in the mansion would have been like living in the corner of an empty warehouse.
Shepard couldn't believe it was all over. She'd been focused on the Reapers since Eden Prime. Now...it was over. She tried to remember what her life was like before then. Had she had goals? Something she was striving for? She couldn't remember. She remembered a drive to root out injustice, but she couldn't recall anything further. What little therapy she endured led her to believe it might have started as revenge for her parent's death. Somewhere along the way it morphed into a desire to please her surrogate father; Anderson.
Now, Shepard was content to deal with the aftermath. The Reapers disengaged and immediately started to repair the destruction caused by their attack and the Synthesis. The universe reeled from the lost lives, the destruction, and the consequences of the Synthesis. For herself, Shepard anticipated countless interviews and an inevitable victory tour. This piled on top of her belief that she could have saved more lives. Miranda and Anderson tried to convince her otherwise, but she mentally relived scenarios in an attempt to finish sooner.
She'd been unconscious for nine days to heal immediately following her leap into the Synthesis beam, which were very confusing for everyone. The universe was still in war mode, even though the enemy had disengaged. Also, the mass effect relays were inoperable, forcing any travel between systems to take months rather than days. The Alliance struggled to maintain control with essentially all of their forces in one part of the galaxy. It was feared some remote settlements would break down into anarchy until Alliance forces were able to return.
Shepard flipped through news feeds on her omni tool. The Reaper war was finally over, and every race had cause to celebrate. On the other hand, every single person in the universe had experienced loss of some kind, bringing a somber note to every news cast. Most of the Alliance was concentrating on finding survivors. Rebuilding would come later.
Shepard started the Synthesis, and every sentient being in the universe knew within a day. The optical nerves were among the first to be altered, and everyone had physical evidence in the form of a message written right across their vision. Their eyes also glowed from the changes within their optic nerve.
The Reapers started repairing the Citadel and relays almost immediately after they stopped fighting. It was unknown whether they were told to do so or decided on their own. Most people assumed Shepard commanded them somehow, but since she'd been unconscious since the official start of Synthesis, she doubted it. It sure would be an unusual thing for my subconscious to coordinate…and Synth would have told me if he did it. The Reapers were putting out communication bulletins with status updates, but they didn't appear to receive signals from anyone.
A few Reapers rejected Synthesis, most notably Harbinger. Her nemesis took off from earth the instant the Synthesis signal began. When the green wave overtook it the huge Reaper convulsed. Green lightning blistered the exterior, but the stubborn Reaper refused to give in. In a final desperate act it dove into the sun. The few smaller Reapers to reject Synthesis either followed Harbinger's suicidal lead or were destroyed by other Reapers.
Within the first week there were two groups of sentient beings who opposed the Synthesis. The first group was a conglomeration of religious organizations who thought combining organic and synthetic life was an abomination in the eyes of whatever god they followed. It was impossible that each and every member within the religions were against the Synthesis, but their leaders definitely were. They spanned all races, but were concentrated within the humans and turians. Shepard didn't know what to say to this group. She'd never been religious, and couldn't imagine how Synthesis was different than medical implants.
Shepard held deep sadness for the second group who opposed the Synthesis. This unfortunate group of souls suffered from the malady newly referred to as the Synthesis sickness. These people, one in a million universe wide, experienced sensory pain caused by the Synthesis. It was not specific to any race. Doctors were scrambling to find a cure, but so far they didn't know the cause. Shepard's heart went out to this group, and she hoped they would find a cure soon. She was expecting a question about it in her first interview. Anderson, Hackett, and Miranda had all discussed the issue with her, but other than sympathizing, there wasn't much she could say.
Thinking about that first interview, it was inevitable that she would be asked to explain her choice of Synthesis. Of the three: Synthesis(of synthetic and organic life), Destruction(of all synthetic life), and Control(of all synthetic life); Destruction was the expected choice, and there would always be people who thought that was the proper choice. In the light of the Synthesis sickness, she would forever be torn over her decision. She was not looking forward to the conversation, which would delve into subjects theologians had been discussing for eons. She felt woefully unprepared to offer any convincing arguments.
Time Miranda wasn't spending pouring over data was spent training Shepard for the interviews. Shepard had an aggressive stance towards the media. She barely resisted the urge to punch her interviewer on several occasions. An unsympathetic journalist could use her anger to force her into a compromising statement, or a lawsuit. It did not help that she had pretty liberal ideas for a soldier. The Alliance didn't always agree with her.
As for her life in the Alliance; Miranda didn't want her in active duty any more. Worrying about her proved to be too much, and Miranda couldn't stand the thought of losing her. As a start, Shepard had given control of the Normandy to Kaiden. Admiral Hackett, hoping she wouldn't retire, told her she had her pick of assignments, even going so far as to offer her a cushy position of recruitment poster model.
Since she and Miranda were going to adopt children, being near home would be a must. Becoming an instructor was an intriguing possibility. There were Alliance academies throughout the galaxy, the largest on Palaven, Thessia, and Earth. Smaller academies were spread even further. Since Miranda had expressed a desire to be near her sister on Illium, and Liara already had her broker headquarters on Illium, it didn't take a lot of consideration to lean towards the Asari colony.
Thinking about the future brought some fear to Shepard. A surprising amount, considering what she'd faced during the past three years. She was going to get married. True, she was already married, and Miranda was all she could ever want of a spouse, but...a wedding. She would have to stand in front of everyone she knew, possibly in a dress, and repeat her vow to Miranda. There were a million arrangements to make, and even more decisions... Ugg.
Then there was the even more frightening prospect of starting a family. Children? I don't know how to handle children. I barely had parents. How am I going to handle a family?
Miranda found Shepard an hour later. She was watching a vid on her omni-tool with a horrified expression. Miranda moved behind Shepard to see. A classroom of screaming children filled the screen. For some reason there was no teacher or guardian present. Without an adult the room had devolved into utter chaos. Shoes were flying across the room. Several jars of paint had been spilled in one corner, and colored footprints were spread across the floor. A large turian child was accosting a small quarian child against a wall.
"Sam, what are you watching?" Miranda asked.
Sam jerked her head around to look at her. "Oh...um...I searched for videos of children, and this was one of the top results." She stopped the playback.
"And now you're scared." Miranda said.
"Scared? Maybe. Worried, unsure..." Sam said slowly.
"You know the top searches on the web are not typical." Miranda sat down on her lap. Sam wrapped her arms around her. Her hands snaked under her shirt. Intentionally or not, Sam rubbed against the bottom of her breasts. Miranda had to focus to continue the conversation. "The worst filters to the top."
"I know, but you can't blame me for being nervous." Sam smiled at her. Her fingers made circles on the underside of her breasts. Miranda's breathing sped up.
"Sam...are you trying to distract me?" Miranda looked into her eyes.
"Is it working?" Sam said with a mischievous grin.
"Yes." Miranda stood up, then straddled Sam's legs and sat back on her lap. She leaned her head down until their foreheads touched. "Those are not our children..." She kissed her lightly. "Our children are going to be great."
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When Tali'Zorah wasn't researching the repairs and improvements underway on the Normandy, she was in the medical center with Garrus. His leg had been cut off below the knee during the final rush to the Citadel, and Dr. Chakwas was concerned about healing. His AI notified him that healing was underway, and she was concerned that it might seal up the wound rather than rebuild his leg. Garrus was taking it in stride, but the painkillers he was on made him short tempered and irritable. He was also not entirely accepting of his Synthesis AI. He kept waving at something in his vision.
"Do you think Shepard and Miranda will both wear dresses at their wedding?" Tali asked. Shepard contacted them and the rest of the squad earlier. They discussed her future plans, including when the full wedding would be. She was stepping down from her position as Commander of the Normandy, and the wedding would be the earliest possible date after most mass effect relays were functional.
"I don't have any idea." Garrus said, obviously not as interested as she was.
"Dr. Chakwas? Do you know anything about weddings with two brides? I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with human customs." She asked. The doctor turned her chair to look at her.
"Unfortunately Tali, most of my experience with weddings consists of heterosexual ceremonies." The doctor said. "We know Samantha already expressed her intent for Anderson to conduct the ceremony, and your truculent friend here to give her away." Garrus grimaced. Tali smiled at him, gripping his arm tightly.
"Anything else you can guess?" Tali asked.
"I don't think they'll have Miranda stand up at the dias like a groom normally would, so I assume Miranda will walk down the aisle after Kasumi and any other bridesmaids, and Shepard will enter last with Garrus." Karin told her.
"How many bridesmaids will they have?"
"Well, Shepard has her pick of quite a few willing friends including you, Liara, Traynor, and maybe a few others. But as far as I know, Miranda is only close to her sister. Most wedding planners prefer to have an even number of people on either side of the couple. They might limit the wedding party to Kasumi and Oriana. Hopefully that wouldn't upset you." Chakwas told her.
"No, I'll be fine as long as I get to attend." Tali reassured her. "Do you think they'll both wear white?"
"That is the human standard, and Miranda does like wearing it." Karin told her.
"Garrus is going to look great in his suit." Tali said with a smile at her man.
"Assuming I can walk at all." He said with a grunt. "I'm sure it will be great hobbling down the aisle on crutches."
"You'll be fine by then, right Dr. Chakwas?" Tali said expectantly.
"Worst case scenario you'll have to wear a brace, and that's with us reaching the cloning center a month before the wedding."
"See?" Tali said, smiling at Garrus.
"Thanks Doc." He said begrudgingly.
"Of course, Garrus. And again I'd like to apologize for the complications with your painkiller." She told him.
"It's not your fault, Doc." He said. They sat quietly until Chakwas returned to her terminal.
"Are you sure you want to come with me to Rannoch?" Tali asked Garrus.
"If Shepard isn't in command of the Normandy I will leave it behind." Shepard held a video conference with the entire crew to let them know her intentions. She was through with ship life, and was considering instructor positions on earth and Illium. It was obvious Miranda had a lot to do with the decision. "And how else will I make sure my babe is safe." He gave her a smile with his scarred jaw. Tali was pretty sure she wouldn't be in any danger on Rannoch, but having him around would be nice. Very nice.
"Thank you, Garrus." She gripped his arm. "I know what you give up by not returning to Palaven."
"Cushy position in the turian military...possibly politics. That might be nice...but then when would I get to calibrate huge guns." She rolled her eyes at him. Then he whipped out his arm, waving the air in front of his face. "Arrrg. Go away you little..." She knew he was waving at something his AI flashed across his vision.
"Just tell it to go into cloak mode." She told him, leaning her head against his shoulder.
"Go into cloak mode." He said out loud.
"You can think your commands to it." She said absentmindedly. Garrus was taking a lot longer to get used to the Synthesis. She knew he didn't completely agree with Shepard's choice at the Crucible.
She wished Kasumi would contact her. She was getting worried. Kasumi had sent a message to say she was fine, but Tali couldn't be sure she wasn't lying. The thief was so secretive, they didn't even know where she was. Even if she was fine, they had a bachelor party and wedding to plan. At least, Tali wanted to help, and had expressed this interest to Kasumi. But Kasumi had just laughed in that way she does, so she wasn't entirely sure she would be involved in the planning.
She closed her eyes and rested her head on Garrus' shoulder. They were usually so busy they didn't have time to enjoy each other's touch. It was nice. Though now they had too much time. She was a little afraid he would get tired of her.
In the corner of her vision she read the percentage she was most excited about: "Biologic immune system compromised. Alternate immunosuppression system: 35% complete."
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Kasumi Goto frowned at the pill bottle on the table in front of her. It contained plain over the counter painkillers, but it upset her none the less. Painkillers were drugs, and drugs altered your senses. Even slight changes in her perception threw off her game.
Pain throbbed in her temple. It wasn't unbearable, but she knew it would get worse. All the reports about the Synthesis sickness said the pain grew the further you progressed through Synthesis. Her headache started just a few days after the Synthesis washed over her, and had been growing steadily over time. Her AI, who she affectionately named Keiji, told her it might go away once the Synthesis process was complete. She would normally just go without painkillers and suffer through the pain, but enough pain was just as likely to alter her senses and reflexes.
Reports were that there was a group of Synthesis sickness sufferers who were recruiting members for some kind of Shepard hate group. She understood their motivation. Pain is an excellent motivator. But she would never join them. Not only was Shepard a dear friend, but she knew exactly why Shepard didn't choose to destroy synthetics: the geth and EDI. There was no way Shepard would condemn them to die.
She'd discussed it with Liara and Tali during a call to the Normandy. Not the sickness, she didn't want them to know about that yet. They discussed Shepard's motivations. They'd gone through her options and decided very quickly that Synthesis was the only option Shepard would go for. There was no way she would kill all the synthetics, and very little chance she would want to become the conscience for all synthetic life.
Liara had offered her a job working for the Shadow Broker. There were apparently a multitude of jobs requiring her specific skills. She had declined. Besides the fact that she preferred to work for herself, she didn't think she'd be at full capacity unless the pain went away.
And so she sat, frowning at a bottle of pills.
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Samantha Traynor spent most of her time analyzing data, which wasn't unusual. However, the data she was pouring through was unusual, very unusual. EDI supplied her with data on the Normandy, which was undergoing exciting changes to her core, propulsion, and stealth systems in addition to her repairs.
She was also getting interesting data about the Synthesis and how it was transforming sapient beings. Her own Synthesis was well behind most everyone on the ship because she had no implants whatsoever. She didn't even have an AI yet. EDI told her it would be installed in the next couple months. It currently had no physical location to store itself.
The final influx of data was on the state of the universe following the war. Several systems were completely blacked out, and there were disturbing rumors about gangs replacing the government in smaller settlements. With the mass relays out, it could be months before the local governments regained control. Traynor shuddered to think about the atrocities that might be committed in the interim.
When her eyes couldn't focus on tables of data any longer she got out of her uniform and made herself comfortable in Liara's room, mostly watching her keep up the Shadow Broker persona. She was trying to reconnect all the remaining pieces of her information network. Oriana assisted, but she left soon after Traynor made her appearance every day. Samantha suspected she was uncomfortable when she flirted with Liara.
She lounged on Liara's couch watching the asari type on her console. She wore a simple knit dress. Liara became distracted when she wore anything more revealing, which wouldn't normally bother Traynor, but Liara liked to keep her physical desire in check, and tended to stay far away from her when too much skin showed. She didn't like that.
"Need any help, beautiful?" Traynor called out. Liara looked over with a warm smile, which got a little serious before she turned back to her terminal.
"I'll be done shortly, Samantha. I'm adding the last few details on a source contract." She told her.
"Where at?" Traynor asked.
"Omega." Liara said.
"Omega? Better be careful, love. Aria doesn't like competition." Traynor told her.
"It's purely public area surveillance. No infiltration or insider information." Liara said.
"Ok. Shepard might be on her good side for setting her up over all the merc gangs, but she doesn't know the Shadow broker is associated with Shepard...and we should keep it that way."
"I know. The surveillance is entirely hands off, the signal is shielded, and the transfer is through a legal front." She gave her an annoyed look. "I have done this before."
"Sorry Liara. Fell back into over-protective mode again." Traynor apologized.
"Like you are with all your girlfriends?" Liara said.
"Ex-girlfriends." Traynor gave her a look. "My last girlfriend broke up with me shortly before the Normandy overhaul...when I asked her to marry me." She couldn't keep the hurt from her voice.
"I'm sorry, Samantha. I didn't mean to..." Liara started. She looked back to her drone. "Glyph, finish this up and send it off." She quickly moved to kneel in front of Traynor. She took her hands. "It was not my intention to insinuate anything." Traynor felt tears start to well in her eyes.
"It's the story of my life." Traynor told her with a tremor in her voice. "I dress sexy and I'm not ashamed of my body. Therefore the only girls I attract think commitment is a dirty word. Every nice girl I come across assumes I'm not monogamous, and wants nothing to do with me."
"Samantha, I..." Liara started before being cut off.
"I just want the little house with a white picket fence and a beautiful girl who loves me. Nothing more." Traynor said with finality.
"I did not mean to imply otherwise, Samantha." Liara said, holding her hands. Traynor pulled her hands away and stood up quickly.
"Sorry Liara...I need some time...alone." Traynor walked quickly out of the room.
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Liara sat stunned after Traynor left. She had to admit that Traynor was correct. She had thought the specialist might be promiscuous, and was worried Traynor might grow tired of her if they got together. She'd even considered the possibility that Traynor was just settling for her because Shepard was taken.
It worried her that she had based her opinion of Traynor on how she dressed. Her activities with Shepard might have warranted some concern, but a short conversation with Shepard should alleviate those concerns. Why had she allowed Traynor's clothes to fill her mind with assumptions?
And now she'd upset her.
"Goddess." She said to herself. She wasn't used to dealing with people. Her time as a archeologist was spent alone or mostly alone, and it wasn't until the last three years that she had any regular contact with anyone else. She needed to talk to someone. Oriana is too young. Tali is...Tali. She's more clueless than me. Kasumi could help, but she's a long distance signal away. Same with Shepard.
She opened a call to the medical center. "Dr. Chakwas? Can you come over here when you have time?"
Dr. Chakwas arrived in less than a minute.
"Thank you for coming, doctor." Liara said.
"It's no trouble at all, Liara. I'm happy for any excuse to be away from Garrus. His medicine makes him grouchy." She said.
"I have a...relationship question. If you don't mind." Liara said.
"I see. It's been a long time since I've been in a new relationship, but I'll do my best." Liara waved her onto the sofa. She sat on the side of her bed facing her.
"I seem to have upset Samantha...Specialist Traynor, and she told me she wanted to be alone."
"How did you upset her?" She asked.
"I...implied that she had many girlfriends." Liara admitted.
"Thereby intentionally or not insinuating that she was not monogamous." Chakwas said with a nod.
"Which she took as me considering her 'not the type to bond with one person and settle down.' I said I was sorry." Liara said.
"Sounds like a personal grudge she's been holding for a while."
"Apparently her last girlfriend broke up with her after she asked her for her hand in marriage."
"That's horrible." Chakwas said, appalled.
"And I made it worse." Liara said.
"You couldn't have known, Liara."
"But in my mind I guessed it was true. All because of how she acted and dressed." Liara looked at the ground.
"Liara, no one would blame you for making that type of assumption."
"But I should have known better! We've spent hours talking. She's offered to leave the Alliance and work for me. Why would anyone interested in sleeping with every pretty girl they see leave an opportunity filled environment like Alliance service? Goddess, I'm a fool."
"Liara. You are not a fool. Everyone makes mistakes." The doctor said. "You've already apologized once. Let her sleep on it, then find her tomorrow and apologize again. Try to talk to her about it."
"What if she doesn't want to see me?" Liara asked.
"She adores you, Liara. She'll see you." Chakwas gave her a smile.
"She adores me?" Liara looked surprised.
"Everyone can see it but you. She hasn't so much as flirted with anyone else in months." Dr. Chakwas left her in stunned silence.
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Christina Hu, former Cerberus agent, former clone of Miranda Lawson, and former enemy of the Alliance; found herself in a temporary witness protection facility on earth. Her assistance and subsequent surrender within the Sanctuary facility had convinced Shepard she was not without compassion, and Shepard convinced the Alliance to forgive her former crimes within the service of Cerberus.
She didn't know it, but she was only a few miles from Shepard and Miranda's apartment near London. Medical facilities were still dealing with life threatening injuries first, so her minor facial wounds, the result of an attack by a Cerberus mole, would have to wait.
She didn't know what the facility used to be, but it looked like a regular criminal detention center. The area they had her in was a group of six cells with a passage splitting the six into sets of three. The main cell-block door was closed for her protection, the rest were open. She could wander anywhere among the block.
In reality she didn't think she needed protection any more. Any Cerberus sympathizers or former agents had higher priority targets than her. Commander Bailey agreed and told her she could leave at any time. Her medical bills would be paid for by the Alliance, along with her eventual facial reconstruction. She was seated on a bed, her back propped up against the headboard. She had a book pulled up on her omni-tool, but she hadn't read anything in half an hour. She was recalling the events that led to her being over earth.
The Reapers shut down the Citadel when it was still in Widow space. The resulting power outage plunged the Citadel into an information black-out. Unknown to anyone inside, the Reapers dragged it to Sol space during this time. Bailey and a few other C-sec agents hunkered down in the witness protection wing because they had decent food and water storage there for emergencies. After less than a day they found themselves in the Sol system. Not that they could see anything. They only knew because their omni tools started receiving signals from outside the Citadel.
The video feeds showed a devastated earth. There were Reapers everywhere, either poised in the atmosphere or scouring the surface below. The only reports about Shepard and the Normandy during this time were about her assault on the Cerberus base halfway across the galaxy(Christina got a surge of pride from her part in that mission). The C-sec agents searched nearby for survivors(there weren't many within their closed off section of the Citadel), but mostly they sat around watching video from outside the Citadel.
Less than two days after the Citadel was dragged to Earth the assault began. Video feeds showed massive numbers of Alliance vessels descend on the Reaper forces, followed by the geth, the batarians, and even all three major mercenary groups. It was astounding that Shepard managed to convince them all to join the fight. The Crucible was last to arrive, surrounded by several of the huge Alliance cruisers and the Destiny Ascension. Christina searched the footage for the Normandy, but other than brief glimpses, the video feeds had a hard time tracking the cloaked vessel.
After just an hour of frenzied fighting the Citadel opened up. They could barely feel the movement from within, but the video feeds outside showed everything. The power was still off, but they might be able to see something...if they could find the right angle. Most of the Citadel was facing away from earth. Bailey led her and the C-sec group out of headquarters to the diplomatic wing. They finally found a view port facing the proper direction. It only took a few minutes, but the Crucible had already docked by the time they reached the viewing platform.
The C-sec agents were concentrating on the battle outside, but Christina kept her attention focused on the Crucible. Therefore she was the first in the group to see the Synthesis begin. She didn't know it was the Synthesis at the time, but within ten minutes everyone knew. She alerted Bailey when the green glow started.
By the time the blast shot out from the center of the Citadel they were well into the conversion. Paralyzed with the sensations of Synthesis, they could only watch as the Citadel was torn asunder. Two of the Citadel arms broke off while they watched, and their own arm was wracked with explosions. In the confusion they missed the Reaper retreat, but they soon heard about it over the net.
Bailey and the C-sec agents started the evacuation as soon as they found functional shuttles. He objected when Christina insisted on helping, but not enough to keep her from going. The digital display in her vision was easily ignored while pulling people from under rubble, but the voice in her head really freaked her out. It had access to her memories, and that gave her a nasty jolt. She immediately told it to shut the fuck up, and it gratefully complied. They spent the next week making evacuation runs between earth and the Citadel. It was overall a fulfilling adventure. Being the hero was a heady change of pace from her former covert operations, and she was even more torn about her future than before.
She'd been in Cerberus for her entire adult life. Her deal with Shepard had cleared her of all charges, so she could do anything or go anywhere.
She could join the Alliance. They would need all the people they could to keep order. Most governments were in tatters and would need time to rebuild their security forces. Until then the Alliance would need to help out. But would I be accepted? The Alliance expunged my record, but it's almost guaranteed that someone will find out about my past...even with a new face.
She could join one of the mercenary gangs. The Blue Suns or Eclipse would be happy to accept an ex-Cerberus agent. But the shady business that Cerberus conducted at Sanctuary had left a sour taste in her mouth. Smuggling wasn't too bad, as long as it wasn't living beings. But prostitution, slavery, and definitely murder were off her list of acceptable functions. She could try to stay within the security force, but her resume read assassin, and that's exactly what they would want her to do.
She could bodyguard for some rich person, or even run their security force, but most people with enough money to need a bodyguard were in the same kinds of slimy deals that Cerberus was into, sometimes worse.
What she wanted, really wanted, was to find Shepard, bow before her, and pledge her life to her for eternity. As in 'Knights of the Middle Ages' style. Watching Shepard in action at Sanctuary was an epiphany. She was dying to learn even half of what Shepard knew. The problem was, would Shepard accept her? She'd been a part of Shepard's most hated organization. Granted, she had helped Shepard bring down the conglomerate, but she could hardly blame her for a lack of trust. Worse, she'd gotten facial reconstructive surgery to look like her lover for the sole purpose of killing her. How could Shepard ever trust her?
Christina's head jerked up as the cell-block door unlocked. Bailey entered. She smiled at him.
"My wife had some Edgar Allen Poe and H. P. Lovecraft, if you'd like to try something darker." He said. He walked into her cell and dropped a few memory sticks on the bed.
"Thanks, Bailey. You're the best. You know...if you weren't married..." She gave him a sly smile.
"Oh no." He shook his hands at her. "I'm much too old for you, even if I weren't married."
Christina picked up the sticks and uploaded them into her omni-tool. She handed them back to him.
"Is there anything else I can get you?" He asked. "Are you hungry?"
She shook her head. "No thanks, Bailey." She thought for a minute. "Actually, how well do you know Commander Shepard?"
"Better than most, I suppose. What would you like to know?" He said turning back to look at her.
"Can you put me in touch with her?" She asked eagerly.
"I don't think so...they're keeping her hidden for now."
"Why?" She asked.
"You've heard the reports, I'm sure. Shepard was badly hurt in the final moments before the Synthesis, and she's healing."
"She's going to make it, isn't she?" She said.
"I talked to the shuttle pilot who found her, Miranda Lawson, and Admiral Anderson. He said she looked moments from death, there was so much blood. But I've also heard reports directly from Admiral Anderson saying she will be available to the press for comment in a week." He told her.
"So she must be almost fully healed. They're probably debriefing her, and getting her ready for the interviews." Christina said.
"That would be my bet." He said.
"Can you get a message to her?" She asked.
"I could probably manage that, though it would have to be something you didn't mind being read by Anderson...and probably Ms. Lawson as well." He said.
She wasn't sure how Miranda would react to a message from one of her former clones, but decided she had to try. "Thanks Bailey. I'll forward you the message when it is ready."
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"Next on Battlespace, we have the first interview with Commander Samantha Shepard after the defeat of the Reapers. Three years ago she saved the Citadel from the Reaper Sovereign and an army of geth. A year ago she defeated the Collectors. And two weeks ago she conquered the Reapers." Diana Allers said into the camera. She turned to Shepard. "Thank you for choosing Battlespace for your first interview." Diana Allers was picked for Shepard's first interview due to her mostly pro-Alliance stance, and because she had treated Shepard decently in the past.
"No problem, Diana." Shepard said with a smile.
"First, most Battlespace viewers would like to know how you are. Reports indicated you were badly wounded in the final stage of the battle." Diana Allers said.
"I'm almost fully healed, though obviously it will be a while before my hair grows back out." Shepard told her. She ran a hand through her short red hair. It wasn't peach fuzz any more, but it wasn't long enough to style yet either. Luckily her eyebrows were pretty much grown in. Humans looked odd without eyebrows.
"How badly were you hurt?" Allers asked.
"Badly enough that I didn't wake up for nine days." Shepard told her. "I had a large laceration through my side, extensive internal bleeding, and most of my skin was sheared off. I spent most of the nine days in a medi-gel tank." Shepard hadn't needed much coaching for this part of the interview. There was no need to hide her injuries.
"And that all happened in the Citadel?" Diana asked.
"The laceration was right before I reached the beam to the Citadel, along with the internal bleeding. The external shearing occurred within the Synthesis beam."
"The Synthesis beam?" Diana asked.
"Yes." Shepard said. "To choose Synthesis I had to leap into a bright green beam of energy."
"We'll return to the beam in a minute." Diana said. "Weren't you afraid of dying?"
"The Reapers have been destroying civilizations for millennia." Shepard said. "The universe needed to be rid of them. If it took my life to do it, so be it."
"What would your wife, Miranda Lawson, think if you had died?" Diana asked.
"I'm sure she would be sad, but also proud. She helped me reach it, after all." Miranda hadn't anticipated this question, but Shepard didn't see any harm in answering it.
"We'll return to your ordeal in a moment, but first; our viewers want to know if you two are planning a real wedding any time soon." She asked.
"Technically the real wedding already occurred. But I imagine your viewers want to know if and when we're going to have a big flashy wedding with flowers and bridesmaids and white dresses." Shepard smiled. "I can assure your viewers it will happen. Most likely after the mass effect relays are repaired."
"And will the Battlespace cameras be allowed to view the proceedings?" Diana asked with more than a little eagerness.
"Possibly, though I'm not sure how a wedding fits the Battlespace format." Shepard looked resigned. "If so, the cameras will be stationary, and there will be no interviews afterwards." Diana smiled wide.
"Ok, back to the Synthesis. We have been told you had three choices on the Citadel, Synthesis is obviously one of the three. What were the other two?"
"Destruction and Control." Shepard said, allowing Diana to ask the follow up questions as instructed. Miranda and Anderson wanted her to feed the information slowly, to reduce the chance of a knee jerk answer to surprise questions.
"Can you describe each of the options?"
"Destruction was the destruction of all synthetic life. Control involved controlling all synthetic life."
"Can you explain why you chose Synthesis over either of those options?" Diana asked.
"Destruction would destroy all synthetic life, including the geth. Even if I was willing to condemn an entire race to death, there's no telling what would happen to people with implants. I don't know many people without any." Shepard hadn't needed to be coached to avoid mentioning EDI, though the AI weighed heavily on her decision against Destruction. Shepard paused. Miranda and Anderson discussed Control extensively with her, but no one really knew what the final result would be, had she chosen it. They had to guess from the hints she was given inside the Crucible. "Control would be me personally taking control of all synthetic life. The Reapers, the geth, all of them. I don't know about you, but it would make me nervous if any one person had control of every synthetic thing in the universe."
"I'm pretty sure that wouldn't serve anyone but the person who took control." Diana said with a smile. "So you compared Destruction and Synthesis and chose Synthesis. With so many unknowns, how did you decide on Synthesis?"
"Mostly the geth. I couldn't commit genocide on an entire race in good conscience." Shepard told her.
"Even though many people consider them artificial, and therefore not alive at all." Diana said.
"I've met synthetics with more empathy than some people I know. I've also run into some living sentient beings who committed atrocities so vile that they couldn't possibly have a soul. I'm no theologian, but it seems pretty clear to me." Shepard told her.
"Do you have anything to say to the religious organizations that consider the Synthesis an abomination?"
"Not really. Most of them consider my marriage to Miranda an abomination." Diana couldn't help but chuckle. It was not true across the board, but Miranda agreed it was the best way to cut off extensive discussion of the slippery subject of morality.
"Onto a more serious note: the Synthesis sickness, as it is being called, affects a small portion of sentient beings in the universe..." Shepard cut her off.
"And my heart goes out to each and every one of them. Your viewers should know that the Alliance already has a team of scientists searching for the cause of this unfortunate malady, and we hope to find a cure as soon as possible. Free painkillers are being supplied where available, and more will be shipped out once the mass relays are repaired."
"Sufferers of this malady are among the most ardent supporters of the Destruction option. They argue that the lives of the geth are not worth the pain caused." Diana actually looked nervous about the question, obviously not sure how Shepard would respond, but also aware her viewers would want an answer. Shepard had been drilled extensively on how to answer the obvious question. An unkind interviewer could grill her over this. It was the main reason she refused to sit down with Khalisah al-Jilani for an interview.
"I'm sure the geth would disagree." Shepard told her seriously. "Look...there was no way I could predict the Synthesis sickness would exist. In addition, death to the geth would be instant, and final. The sickness is horrible, but manageable for most sufferers, and we are constantly striving for a cure. Please give us a chance."
"Alright." Allers said. "You've saved the Citadel, destroyed the Collectors, and now saved the future for the civilized universe. What's next for Commander Shepard?"
"As we already discussed, first a wedding, then a honeymoon." Shepard said.
"Of course." Diana said.
"After that, I was thinking about becoming an Alliance instructor."
"Really? There's been some conjecture that you would run for humanity's representative on the Council."
"Oh, no. I'm no politician." Shepard told her.
"Maybe not, but you certainly maneuvered the political arena well enough to convince most races to join the battle against the Reapers, including the Batarians and mercenary groups. Two groups that have more reason to dislike you than almost anyone." Diana insisted.
"Other than slavers." Shepard smiled. "Look, Diana. I would not make a good politician. I've already been tempted to hit each of the Councilors at one time or another. I don't think it would be a good idea to put me closer to them." Shepard was not sure about this line of questioning. Anderson mentioned something might come up, but didn't think it would take much to cut the topic off.
"Even if none of the current Councilors are on the Council?" Diana asked. "Councilor Tevos and Valern have already submitted their resignations, and Councilor Sparatus is under investigation for hiding Council actions from the turian Primarch."
"I doubt any of their replacements would be any more willing to consider my point of view. It's a rare politician who respects anyone outside their social class. Even the human councilor didn't value my judgement." Shepard told her.
"Maybe that's why the public wants you on the Council...as a voice of reason." Diana said.
"I'm flattered, but I don't have the proper mental make up to negotiate the political arena. Humanity needs someone able to analyze every decision from any angle and make decisions in the best interest of all humans. I'm willing to give my support to a candidate who proves worthy, but rest assured, anyone seeking my endorsement will need verifiable proof of advocating the people, not business or political interests." Shepard said.
"Your inbox just filled up." Diana said with a smile.
"Don't I know it." Shepard said.
"What course did you want to teach? I'm sure it will be popular."
Shepard laughed. "Biotics or tactics, and I'm sure the academy will make it difficult to qualify for the course. Otherwise I'd never get any rest."
"That's all our time for today. Thank you for talking with me, Commander Shepard." They shook hands. "This is Diana Allers for Battlespace."
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Commander Shepard,
Thanks to your endorsement, I have been acquitted of all crimes that I perpetrated during my employment to Cerberus. Thank you for your confidence. I do not think I earned it, but I will strive to be worthy from now on.
I don't know if Commander Bailey told you, but I assisted with the rescue operation on the Citadel after the Synthesis. It felt good to be helping rather than hurting.
I am now back in witness protection and I have yet to receive facial reconstruction. Once I have been released from the hospital I am willing to assist you in any capacity. Even if your wish is for me to stay away from you. I will work for you for free, if that is your desire. Attached is a copy of my credentials.
Please allow me to earn your trust,
Christina Hu
Miranda's hand hovered over the delete button. Christina was a carbon copy of herself. If she was allowed to work for Samantha, would Sam be able to resist the temptation?
Miranda shook her head. Is this what I'm going to feel like every time someone pretty is around Sam? Not only does it show a complete lack of trust, but it's juvenile. I don't even know if Christina would even be interested…though Sam is very persuasive. She moved her hand over and hit the send button, forwarding the message to Sam.
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Anya Reysus was in a makeshift orphanage in a suburb of Illium. She was asari, and fourteen years old, which made her look about seven or eight in human years. Her father was a turian who was killed in an Alliance cruiser in a battle with the Reapers a month before. Her mother was killed a week before Synthesis by a stray Reaper blast that tore through their apartment. She'd been stuck in her bedroom for two days before a rescue squad dug through the rubble and found her.
Now she was listening to an orphanage official ramble on about her relatives. The orphanage was set up in a school gymnasium, so it was difficult to hear. The kids had a play area at one end with a box of scrounged toys and some sports equipment. Most of the kids were kicking around a ball. There were a few ragged couches for seating in the middle of the gym. Anya and the official were at the other end of the gym where there was a desk and a few chairs.
"I'm sorry, sweetie." The light blue asari told her. "Your family was a long line of soldiers, and they don't tend to live long. Your mother's sister was killed in the battle with Sovereign three years ago, which you know." She swiped through a few screens on her omni-tool. "Your grandmother was killed during the Rachni wars, along with your great grandmother. Your grandmother's sister was assassinated on Omega fifty years ago during a coup attempt. Your father's family is harder to trace, but we've requested more thorough records from Palaven. Your grandfather was killed during the battle with the humans. We're still searching for your uncle."
"Ok." Anya said with a sigh.
"We'll find someone, sweetheart. Just you wait and see." The asari tried to sound hopeful.
Anya turned back towards the rest of the kids. There were several asari, a human, a salarian, and two turian girls. Most of them had family coming as soon as the relays were fixed.
"Did they find anyone, Anya?" The small voice of her friend Aurora came from her left. She turned towards her.
"Not yet. They're looking into my father's family now." Anya told her. They walked over to a couch and each grabbed an end.
Aurora was the sole human in the group, and the smallest. She also had the darkest skin of any human she'd ever seen. They had bonded because they both had odd colored skin, at least among the group of children at the orphanage. Aurora had the darkest skin there, and Anya was the only purple asari among them. It also helped that Anya protected Aurora from the pair of turians, who took it upon themselves to torment the small human whenever they could. Anya was the only one strong enough to stand up to them.
"When's your father going to arrive?" Anya asked. Aurora's father was a fighter pilot. He was stranded on earth following the final battle.
"When the relays are fixed. The ones between here and there." Aurora said.
"I wish I could come with you." Anya said dejectedly.
"I asked daddy if you could come, but he said there was still a chance they find a relative." Aurora said. Anya looked over to where the other kids were playing.
"Come on. Let's go play." Anya hopped up and ran to get a ball.
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Liara woke with a start. It was still early, and the light was dim. Once her eyes adjusted she noticed a form on her couch. Traynor was back in her normal spot. Wait. She was so mad yesterday. Why did she come back? Liara sat up.
"Samantha?" She said out loud. Traynor was curled up under a blanket.
"Yes love?" Traynor mumbled. "Dinner will be ready in five minutes." Her words trailed off.
Liara smiled, then got out of bed. She crouched over the human and brushed her hair away from her face.
"Do you want dessert?" Traynor mumbled.
"Definitely." Liara said. She kissed her on the cheek.
Traynor woke up. "But it's not ready yet!" She blurted out. "Huh?" She looked around in confusion. Her eyes focused on Liara. "Oh, um, hi Liara." She shifted into an upright position.
"Samantha, let me apologize for what I said yesterday. It was unfair. You've never given me any reason to doubt your intentions." Liara said.
"I'm sorry as well, Liara. I overreacted." Traynor rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
"What made you come back?" Liara asked, surprising herself with the question.
"I can't stay mad at you, Liara." Traynor said. Liara leaned forward and kissed her. "Besides, you know I hate to sleep alone."
"Well, that ends tonight." Liara said. She stood up and held out her hand.
"What?" Traynor asked. She reached out her hand tentatively. Liara grabbed it, then pulled her off the couch.
"No more sleeping alone for either of us. There's still a couple hours before we need to get up." Liara climbed onto the bed and pulled Traynor with her. "And wear whatever you like around me. I will not change who you really are."
"Are you sure?" Traynor asked, sliding into bed beside her.
"I am sure." Liara said, draping the covers over her. "Just watch your hands. I'm not willing to go that far…yet."
"Temptation so close..." Traynor said with a smirk. "I will restrain myself."
"Good. Now, come here." Traynor slid towards her. Liara took her hands in hers, then kissed her deeply. "I'm falling in love with you, Samantha."
"I've already fallen for you, my blue goddess." Traynor said. They fell back to sleep hands clasped and foreheads together.