Periphery

by writeowl3

The reflection from the comm screen glowed orange on Shepard's face. She stood in her quarters on the Normandy, her profile outlined in the room's diluted light. She stood, waiting patiently until the figure of an Alliance captain finally appeared on screen. The skin crinkled around the corners of the captain's pale blue eyes as she smiled at Shepard's image. They saluted one another. "It's good to see you, Captain," Shepard said.

The captain tucked the graying strands of hair behind her left ear. "You as well, Commander," she replied. "I must say, it's a welcome relief to see you. I don't usually get the honor of a personal meeting with you these days. Most of the time, I've got to knock down the door of every hard-assed Alliance brass out there just to find out where your ship has docked, let alone what you're actually doing. But I guess I shouldn't complain. Happy to have the privilege, I suppose. Especially since we hadn't heard from you once everything went to hell in a hand basket out there on Earth. Thought maybe they did you in for good this time. "

Shepard scratched the back of her head and grinned. "I've got eight more lives."

The captain crossed her arms and shook her head. "And from the reports I heard, it was nearly seven. Don't be so eager to use them all up at once."

Shepard nodded. She couldn't hide the amused expression on her face. "Noted, ma'am."

"So tell me," the captain said as she leaned against the desk behind her. The neatly stacked datapads shifted slightly against her weight. She readjusted them. "What's the situation out there, Commander? I don't want the fluff or the speeches. What's really going on, plain and simple?"

Shepard thought for a moment. Her expression was pensive. She hesitated. "It's grim," she said finally, her voice firm. "The resistance is splintered everywhere. There's no focus. Earth's burning as we speak. The turians are slowly retreating from Palaven-"

"Are they trying at all to hold it?"

Shepard shook her head. "They've focused their military forces on Menae at this point."

The captain sighed. She rubbed her forehead. "They've retreated to one of their moons already?"

"It's the best shot they have."

"The bases are strongholds, but they won't last forever," the captain replied.

"They know. The Reapers have been sending in ground forces to pick them off one by one." She paused, balling her hand into a fist by her side. "But they're holding on for now."

The captain sighed again, exhaling deeper than before. She rested her forefinger and thumb against her temple, watching in silence as Shepard wandered over to the wall of model ships. The commander ran her fingers along the curve of the miniature quarian vessel.

"Shepard, is there any way to get assistance to Earth?" the captain asked finally, her voice almost pleading.

"We're working on it, Captain."

"I thought for sure that the turians were our best bet. But from what I've seen, the Reapers are trying to divide and conquer as swiftly as possible. Truly a blitzkrieg of massive proportions, if I've ever seen one. And the sickening part is that it's working. No one is willing to risk their corner of the galaxy for someone else."

"We haven't exhausted all our options yet. Where's the Orizaba now?" Shepard asked, turning to face the comm.

The captain shifted her weight again against the desk. "Our ship is in the Petra Nebula, cleaning out the remnants of Cerberus after you plowed through here. We were previously hailed to the Horse Head Nebula to assist the Shasta. But we were delayed in our own battles at that time in the Maroon Sea. We...didn't get there in time."

Shepard frowned. She stared down, gripped her fingers on the edge of the desk behind her. The door to her quarters opened. She turned to see Liara's figure outlined by the light in the hallway. Liara turned to leave, but Shepard motioned for her to enter.

"She was destroyed?" Shepard asked.

The captain nodded. "Nearly obliterated. What parts were left weren't salvageable. Barely recognizable as Alliance. No survivors."

Liara gingerly entered the commander's quarters. She lingered by the aquarium, observing the discussion. Glyph hovered nearby, casting a blue light around her.

"She was a good ship," Shepard said quietly.

"And commanded by a good friend. Isaeus was one of the best. He and your father served on their first tour of duty together, from what I was told," the captain replied.

Shepard nodded. "I remember my father's stories. Straight out of the Academy together. And drinking partners to the end." She looked up at the comm screen, smiling wryly. "Dad always told me how much I reminded him of Isaeus back then. I never really knew why."

"Because," the captain said, "Isaeus could always fall into a pile of shit and come out smelling like a rose." Her laughter lilted along with Shepard's, harmonizing in impromptu melody.

The captain smiled. "It seems you two shared that 'permeating' quality since your Academy days. Call it luck or wits...or maybe an equitable amount of both. I'd like to think that it was just luck Isaeus ran out of this time and not the latter."

"I promise you, ma'am, his sacrifice and that of his crew will not be forgotten."

The captain selected a datapad from the stack on the desk behind her. She began typing as she spoke. "I'm sure his family would appreciate a note, Commander, especially from you."

"Are you telling me or asking me, Captain Hannah?"

The captain paused in her typing and looked up at the commander. "Both," she said pointedly.

"Right," Shepard sighed, "I'm not sure what to say though."

"The truth," the captain said, her voice softening, "about the way he lived and the man he was. What he meant to your family. You know enough stories, have enough memories to share. They need someone to reach out right now, to let them know that a connection is still out there, to the man they lost."

Shepard nodded. "Okay," she whispered.

"Good, I've already sent you their contact information. Now," the captain said, pointing toward Liara. "Aren't you going to introduce me?"

Liara came forward, smoothing her white jacket against her thigh. She bowed slightly. "Dr. Liara T'Soni. It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am. I've heard a lot about you."

The captain grumbled. She brushed the sleeves of her jacket, then folded her arms. "Only the good things, of course."

Liara laughed. "Of course."

"I've heard a good deal about you as well, Doctor. I realize you're not military, but we appreciate your service here, your expertise, and your friendship," the captain said.

"Thank you," Liara replied.

The captain glanced at Shepard. "I should be going soon; the XO will be looking for me. Any other updates for me, Commander? Did I hear correctly that the krogan are now working with the turians? I was under the impression that the krogan would rather eat a still beating turian heart before they'd ever fight alongside one of them."

Shepard nodded. "We were able to broker a deal. I've made a mess with the salarians in the process, but maybe I can still smooth things over with Dalatrass Linron."

"Off the record, Commander? I wouldn't piss on her even if she were on fire."

Liara's jaw dropped. Shepard laughed. "That's an interesting sentiment, Captain. I guess there's a first for everything."

"Really," the captain scoffed, placing the datapad back on the largest of three stacks on her desk. She arranged it so it was square to the rest of the pile before approaching closer to the comm. "In my personal experience, the dalatrass has always suffered from rectal-cranial inversion and because of it, she's barely hung onto power over these last years. And since credits no longer buy allegiance, she's losing even more control. She's not worth it, Commander."

"What are you suggesting instead?" Shepard asked.

"Politicians aren't our last line of defense," the captain said.

"No," Shepard mused, "the military is. And the Special Tasks Group has a stronghold on their military."

The captain nodded. "If you can garner STG's support, the rest of the salarians worth anything will likely follow as well, with our without the dalatrass."

Shepard reached for a datapad from the sprawled assortment next to her. "Thank you, Captain. I'll follow up with some of my contacts. See what channels they can open."

"Keep me updated on your progress, Commander. I realize that I can't keep constant tabs on you. But it would be nice to see you...once and a while. "

Shepard nodded. "I promise. If I can find a secure channel, you'll hear from me again as soon as anything changes."

"Keep the Normandy safe, Commander Shepard. With any luck, we'll see this through to the end."

"I don't know how, yet. But I'll do my best," Shepard said.

"I know you will. We'll all be ready with courage and commitment, to honor and protect."

"Aye, aye, ma'am."

The captain sighed. "I need to get back. We should almost be finished out here. I believe the admiral will be ordering us back to Arcturus Station soon. Thanks for the personal debriefing this time, Commander. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it."

Shepard smiled, but her gaze was somber. "Of course. Take care of the Orizaba. Keep her and the rest of the Fifth Fleet safe."

The captain laughed. "She's got 156 broadside mass accelerator cannons. She'll keep herself safe. But I'll keep her running. And Commander? One more thing before I go."

"Yes, ma'am?"

The captain cleared her throat. She straightened her posture and adjusted her blue coat. "I know that if your father saw you today, he'd be very proud of you," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "Because I'm damn proud. Every step of the way." The captain saluted. "Never forget, that we'll never be lost in these lonely skies..."

"...if all we ask for is our ship...and a star to guide her by," Shepard finished quietly. She returned the captain's salute.

"Stay safe out there," the captain replied.

"You too, Mom. Shepard out."

The comm screen went dark. Gylph swirled around Liara as she straightened the datapads on the desk. "I'm sorry, the door wasn't locked."

Shepard waved her off. "I know. We were just catching up."

"You look a lot like her, your mother."

Shepard laughed. "I'm not sure if that's a bad thing or a good thing."

Liara smiled. "Asari pride themselves on transferring the traits of their mothers. It's a sign of strength; an honor to carry on in her image. To also pass a part of her on, hopefully, to your own children. And from what I could tell, you share a lot more with your mother than just a smile or the way you laugh. So yes, I'd say it's a good thing."

Shepard handed her a glass. She carried one for herself and walked toward the sofa. Liara followed and sat beside her. "Where is she serving now?"

"The Orizaba."

Glyph swirled in between them. "SSV Mt. Orizaba," he prattled, "Dreadnought capable of heavy, long-range attacks. One kilometer long. Flagship of the Alliance Fifth Fleet. Commissioned in 2185-"

Liara raised her hand, as if she were shoving it in his face. "Thank you, Glyph. That wasn't really necessary."

Shepard opened the bottle on the table. Liara held up her glass to be filled. "Shepard, do you miss your father?"

Shepard paused, poised to pour the liquid. "All the time."

"Tell me about him."

Placing the bottle back on the table, she then leaned back on the sofa and closed her eyes. "He was a tall man. Lean. Not skinny. But lean. My father just didn't look right unless he was in uniform. Maybe that's because that's how I always remember him in my dreams. But I guess that's how I always saw him. He was firm. Expected a lot from me. And I was there, always eager to please. He didn't laugh a lot. But when he did, it filled the room. It made you feel...full. Whole." She paused, thinking briefly. "Sometimes his features are a little fuzzy. I can't remember how his voice sounded anymore." She frowned. "It's there, I think, but...I just can't find it."

Liara touched her shoulder. "Does that bother you?"

"Sometimes. It makes me worry, I guess."

"About what?"

She looked at Liara. "That I'll really lose him. What I remember of him. For good."

"What about vids? Holos?"

Shepard shrugged. "There are a few. Somewhere. The ones I carried with me were destroyed when the Normandy went down."

Liara pulled back. She placed her hands in her lap and stared down at them. Shepard reached out again and continued pouring drinks. The pink liquid rocked back and forth inside the lowball glass as she handed it to Liara.

"I understand," Liara said finally. "I still miss my mother."

Shepard sipped her drink. The glass was cool against her lips, but the liquor warmed her cheeks. "Do you think of Benezia a lot?"

Liara nodded. She sipped and then stared into her glass. "Sometimes," she mused, "when I'm not busy. I think of her. I miss who she used to be, when I was much younger. I used to drive myself crazy, wondering if there was something I could have done differently to help her escape from Saren. But mostly now, I wonder as to how we would be. Would we have finally healed our argumental wounds? Could we have become close again? Supportive, even, of one another? Many times, I daydream about what could have been. And then I wonder sometimes what she would think of me and the person I've become; this path I've chosen. Not quite the little girl she left behind. Sometimes I wonder if she would even recognize me."

"What about your father?" Shepard asked.

Liara put her glass down. It clinked against the tabletop. "I don't know," she said, "How can you miss something you never had?"

"I never thought of it that way."

"I'd still like to think that whatever the reason was that Benezia raised me by herself, that it was a damn good reason. My father was not meant to be part of my life. Of who I am. And...I'm at peace with that reality."

Glyph quietly circled them again. Shepard watched him. "You know, do you ever worry about him?"

"In what way?"

"I don't know. He never does anything weird...like hum to himself, does he?"

"Why would he do that?" Liara asked.

Glyph floated toward Shepard. "I am not capable of producing true musical tones. However, if you like, Commander, my memory banks have stored 1.5 million compositions that I could replicate for you," he said.

"No, please, just...no," she replied.

Liara crossed her arms and glared at him. "Can you give us some privacy, please?"

"As you wish, Dr. T'Soni," he said and floated toward the aquarium.

"Shepard-" Liara said, but hesitated. Shepard frowned. She placed her glass on the table next to Liara's.

"Liara," she said, "is there something you need? I'm guessing you didn't come all the way up to my quarters just for an introduction to my mother."

Liara shook her head. She moved away from the sofa and began pacing. "Shepard, one of my contacts. He came to me with updates on the activity on Omega."

"What did the Illusive Man do now?"

Liara waved her question off. She slowed her pacing until almost a standstill, watching Glyph whirl next to the aquarium. The bubbles from the fish cascaded upward as they swam behind him.

"Liara," Shepard said more forcefully, now standing beside her.

"It's not the Illusive Man I'm here to tell you about. It's Dr. Heplorn."

"Whatever it is, Liara, just tell me."

Liara began fidgeting. She went to the desk and grabbed a datapad. Continuing her pacing, she scrolled through the information in her hand.

"Before the Illusive Man took control of Omega, Dr. Heplorn managed to escape."

Shepard stared blankly. "Maelon?"

"Dr. Maelon Heplorn, salarian scientist," Glyph piped, "Member of STG-"

"I remember who he is, Glyph," Shepard said, exasperated. "Why are you telling me about Maelon? Mordin's gone."

"While running his clinic in Omega," Liara continued, "he had a variable amount of gene therapy developments that he persisted in working on."

"On test subjects?"

Liara nodded. "Some. But not like before. I don't know the specifics of what he was trying to do. But my sources tell me that he stumbled over what one might consider as...a cure." She looked at Shepard and offered her the datapad.

Shepard frowned and pulled the device from Liara's hand. She scrolled through its contents. The two exchanged glances. "You mean-"

"I don't know if he had one fully completed." Liara said quickly. "Shepard, I almost didn't tell you. In case...in case it may be too late. I don't know how or even if it would work on the advanced stages of Kepral's Syndrome. And I don't have enough information to know for certain."

Shepard closed her eyes. "Thane," she whispered. She tossed the datapad on the sofa and grabbed Liara by her shoulders. "Where is he?"

"My, my contact is on the Citadel now," she stammered.

"No! Where is Maelon?"

"He didn't say."

Shepard strode toward the door. She turned and looked at Liara as the hallway opened up behind her.

"Then I guess we need to find out."