I'll follow you down through the eye of the storm,
Don't worry, I'll keep you warm…
Following the aftermath of the Reaper War, Liara T'Soni returned to Illium, resuming her guise as an invested information dealer, and revealing to no one she was indeed the true Shadow Broker. She had taken back her old office in Nos Astra, keeping Feron as her assistant. She also managed to secure her old apartment as well, pulling a few strings here and there to do so. Liara spent most days in her office, sifting through feeds of binary code and reports of agents throughout the galaxy. With every passing day, she became more aware of the galaxy's comings and goings than most political leaders, even more so than perhaps the Council.
At present, Liara stood in front of her multitude of vid screens, watching for anything that may raise suspicion or seem out of the ordinary. In the months that followed the explosion of the Crucible and the Citadel, Liara got wind from a variety of sources that none of Shepard's remains were found among the Citadel wreckage, either orbiting Earth or what had crashed on its surface. She found it odd that the only remaining object was the Commander's helmet. Of course, Shepard had given Garrus her dog tags before she darted off toward the beam one last time. It was entirely possible that Shepard's body had been completely disintegrated, though she cringed at the thought, remembering the state of her body after she and Feron found Shepard on Alchera. Upon returning to Nos Astra, she immediately leaked threads to a variety of groups and persons in the hopes that any information of Shepard's disappearance or death could be coaxed from the depths of the galaxy's underworld.
After several long minutes, her omnitool beeped, alerting her to a vid call. It was Tali, and Liara had a sinking feeling she knew why the quarian wished to speak to her.
"Hello Tali," she said bringing up the vid on one of her screens.
"Liara," the quarian said, inclining her head. "Are you getting these readings from Dholen?" Tali was noticeably stressed.
Liara pulled some stats onto another monitor. "I am. These numbers are a bit worrisome."
Tali scoffed, "You don't need to tell me. Haestrom is getting worse, and Dholen may go supernova in the next fifty years if this keeps up. That's within my lifetime, Liara"
Liara watched as Tali placed her hands on the console in front of her and waited for her to continue.
"Dark energy levels have been increasing all over the galaxy since the end of the Reaper War. It doesn't make sense, but I fear the Reapers may have keeping it at bay," Tali said, shaking her cloth covered head.
"I know Tali. I have yet to pinpoint where the dark energy is originating from. I do, however have a small team, scouting the outer regions of the galaxy to take measurements. But… forgive me for not looking into it more than I am… I just have other- more pressing matters on my mind," Liara said, wringing her hands together.
Tali sighed, "I'm sorry Liara. I forget sometimes that she's-" A pause. "Keelah! I still punch her number into my omnitool to try to call her before I remember she's not here… How's Garrus doing by the way?"
Liara shrugged, "Heartbroken… angry… Insistant that she's still out there…"
"You have your doubts?" Tali asked.
"Honestly? Yes, I do. You saw what happened when the Crucible fired… I have feelers out there, hoping to find some answers, but I won't be surprised if nothing comes of it."
"I… I understand. I keep thinking she's going to call me up and tell me to get my ass back on the Normandy,"
Liara and Tali both chuckled.
"Well, Liara… Thanks… Let me know if anything changes,"
"You know I will, Tali,"
"I should go now- Bosh'tet! I will never forgive her for saying that!" Tali muttered as she severed the connection on her end.
Liara smiled at the blank screen. Somehow Shepard had managed to leave a part of herself behind in all of them. That much was apparent.
She turned to sit back down in the chair at her desk. For quite some time, Liara reminisced as she found herself doing often these days. After what seemed to be an age, Feron burst through her office door, causing Liara to jump to her feet.
"You may want to take a look at this," the drell said breathlessly, handing her a datapad.
Liara watched the security vid in dismay, her insides twisting.
"Check and recheck that vid. I want to know if it's someone trying to toy with me. And get me Admiral Hackett of Alliance Command…" she said, anxiously sifting through her desk drawers. "Also arrange transport. I'm going to Palaven,"
The stakes had just been raised tenfold.
The restaurant was dark, sparse accent lighting lit small tables and niches, unnecessarily lengthening long, obscure shadows. Music was playing in the background, something Garrus immediately comprehended as classical, human music. It sounded a bit out of place, but everyone seemed to not take notice to it. The only reason he recognized it, was because of the time Shepard insisted on downloading some classical files onto his visor for him to listen to during a firefight. She had teased him for months after discovering he listened to music while he was in combat. Water trickled from a nearby fountain, and could be heard over the private whispers of the restaurant's patrons. Most were turian, though there were a few asari, leaned close to their bond mates, their radiation gear left near the front door. A group of soldiers stood close to the long bar, the bartender within distance, in case any ran out of drink. Several politicians sat at a larger table, reviewing datapads and tapping notes into their omnitools. It was a quiet restaurant. Garrus hoped he wouldn't be acknowledged.
Nevertheless, the second he walked into the establishment with his sister, all heads turned in his direction, and he was greeted by a flurry of admirers, wishing to have autographs or pictures taken with Palaven's newest and youngest Primarch. Garrus brushed them away, agitated, and Solana pushed three weeping asari back to their seats in a dark corner. Garrus instantaneously broke away from the throng of people and scoped the bar. He found an empty seat near the end, ordering a full bottle of turian brandy to take away his edge.
Someone slapped him on the shoulder in greeting. With his hand on his sidearm, Garrus spun around, coming face to face with his father. Tychus Vakarian's mandibles flared into a wide smile until his eyes fell upon his son's scarred face. Garrus was shocked to see he had finally surpassed his father in height.
"Spirits Garrus…," Tychus said gently, touching Garrus's scars. It was abnormal to see him this… tender?
"Dad," Garrus said bowing his crested head low, a gesture of respect towards elder turians. Tychus put his hand under Garrus' chin and lifted his head. The two turians' eyes met, and suddenly Garrus felt shame and disgrace for ever thinking ill will towards his father.
Solana came forward, eyes rolling and whispered, "Can we find a table please?" She led them to an empty table and gestured for them to sit, glancing around to be sure no others were too eager to greet them. Garrus brought his bottle of brandy.
"So… one big happy family, back together again," Solana said a bit too sarcastically. Garrus knew she was still pissed at him for not being there when their mother, Rixa, finally passed. Hell, Garrus couldn't blame his sister. He would have been cross as well, but he found no reason to attempt to justify his "leave of absence", as she called it.
"Garrus, I don't blame you for leaving," Tychus admitted. Garrus was astonished by his father's revelation. "I was angry... so stuck in my ways. Furious my children were becoming adults. And distressed over your mother's sickness," he said the latter part with a weary sigh.
"I know I've grown soft in my old age son. I think I've earned a right to though. Your mother was a kind soul. And I wish I could have been more like her when the two of you were younger. I wish I could have been there more. I was so damn hard on the both of you, but especially you Garrus. I wanted you to be the perfect turian. Instead I failed you; I failed in being the perfect father. And I am ashamed…
"Though you took a different path than the one I intended for you, look at you now, Garrus. Primarch! A hero of the Reaper War! You have brought honor to the Vakarian clan in ways I never could."
Garrus had not anticipated this at all, and he was having difficult time trying to digest all that his father was saying to him.
Tychus continued, "It took losing my wife, and almost losing my children to come to terms with what really mattered in my life. My only hope now is that, someday, you may find solace in my regret."
"Dad… you don't have to apologize for anything," Garrus said.
"Oh but I do,"
No one said much of anything in the following minutes. Tychus took a long swill from the bottle of turian brandy Garrus had loosely clutched in his hand.
Solana finally broke the silence, "So Garrus… find yourself a mate yet?"
Garrus nearly spit his brandy back out, "What?! No… I mean yes… I mean… well…"
Tychus chuckled and gave his son another slap on his back. Solana leaned in closer, "Well? Who is she?"
"That's not really…" Garrus stammered. His sister looked towards their father, "I bet it's that secretary… what was her name? Aurelia? She is very pretty, G."
Garrus was baffled. He never considered Aurelia as bond mate material. Ever. She was too shy, too naïve and certainly not Shepard.
"She's not turian," he finally admitted. Solana's mandibles widened into a sadistic grin.
"Asari then!" she nearly burst with anticipation. As she watched her brother to reply with bated breath, Garrus eyed the entrance door as it opened.
An asari walked through, removing her radiation helmet and breathing apparatus. As she approached the table, Garrus identified her immediately.
"Liara," he breathed. He knew knew she wouldn't come all this way if it wasn't something important. He hopped to his feet to greet her.
"Hello Garrus," she said anxiously. Solana's brow plates nearly hit the ceiling.
"Liara, this is my sister Solana, and my father Tychus Vakarian. This is Dr. Liara T'Soni. She and I have been good friends aboard the Normandy since hunting down Saren."
"It's a pleasure meeting you, but may I speak with you, Garrus... in private?"
"I like her!" Solana exclaimed, elbowing a smirking Tychus. Liara frowned at her and said, "It's a very urgent matter."
"I'll be right back," he said to his family, trying desperately to hide his anxiety.
Liara led him to the far end of the bar, away from prying eyes. She handed him the same datapad Feron had showed her. He read through his visor that her biometrics were skyrocketed and she was visibly agitated and distraught.
Garrus synced what little audio there was to his earpiece and tapped "play". His heart pounded in his chest as he watched the vid feed.
"How long ago was this taken?" he said, adrenaline thundering in his ears, once it finished playing.
"I'm not sure… I received it myself not days ago," she said, looking apprehensive.
"Is it real?"
"I have no reason to believe it's a fake, if that's what you're asking. I had Feron run extensive testing on it to determine what you have just asked me."
"Who else have you told?" he growled.
"Garrus, this isn't an interrogation," Liara said reproachfully. "But I've already forwarded a copy to Admiral Hackett."
"I'm sorry Liara, but if she's alive, spirits, we need to find her… Yesterday,"
"Agreed. That's why I've already arranged for a shuttle to pick us up tomorrow morning, 0700 Alliance standard time. We will rendezvous with the Normandy when we get back to the Sol system."
Updated 6/6/14