"Joker, set a course for Thessia."
"Thessia? That system's gonna be crawling with reapers real soon, Commander."
"Jeff's assertion is correct, Shepard. Even with stealth systems engaged, once the bulk of the reaper fleet has arrived we will be unable to avoid detection."
"Then get us there now. I plan to be long gone by the time the reapers get there in force." Shepard's meeting with the asari councilor had given him renewed purpose. The possibility of finding the Catalyst, completing the Crucible, and potentially ending the war had provided him with something he had almost lost: Hope.
"Aye Commander. ETA is 30 minutes."
With that Shepard switched off the comm and headed from the galaxy map to the elevator. Instead of pushing the button marked 'Deck 1' as he usually did, he decided to go to Deck 3 to seek out Liara. Once the door opened he didn't have far to look, as she was stood just outside facing the memorial wall.
"I was just looking for you."
"I know, we're going to Thessia. The reapers are already there. The main force has been held up by the small asari fleet guarding the relay, but they don't expect to hold out long. The reapers will reach the planet within the hour." Shepard was surprised by the calmness in Liara's voice, considering what was at stake.
"I know it doesn't look good, but we could end this war on Thessia. The councilor has given me the co-ordinates for an artifact that could help us find the Catalyst." Shepard tried to be as positive as he could, hoping it might give Liara at least a glimmer of hope.
"An artifact on Thessia? Give me the co-ordinates, and I'll see what I can find out."
"Sure. It's a temple of some kind. You probably know more about it than me." He tried to change the subject, to avoid talking about the deteriorating situation on the asari homeworld. "What were you doing out here? By the wall, I mean."
"Oh, just...thinking. It's nothing, Shepard." He noticed the change in her voice immediately, and he could tell something was wrong.
"Thinking about who we've lost?"
"More about who we might lose if we don't win this fight." Both of them were quiet for what seemed like an eternity. Shepard couldn't think of anything to say that would help. He was simply reminded of how high the stakes were. Eventually, gesturing towards the names on the wall, he broke the silence.
"Sometimes it doesn't seem fair, how these people gave their lives to save the galaxy and yet everyone considers me the hero."
"You did die as well. You were just too important to stay that way." Liara let out a small chuckle, seemingly forgetting everything else going on around them.
"That almost makes it worse. Why was I brought back instead of them? Who says I'm too important to the galaxy?"
"You're too important to me." Liara leant in and kissed him on the cheek. "I'll see what I can get from these co-ordinates." She went to her office, and left Shepard alone. He felt better, knowing someone cared about him as a person, just for who he was, not because of his role as some kind of great leader, commanding the forces of every species in battle against the reapers.
His train of thought was interrupted by Joker cutting in over the comm.
"Commander, you'd better get up here. We're getting all sorts of transmissions from Thessia, and they're not good."