Loyalties:
Mass Effect Trilogy is a Bioware game. For any reference to the Official Game All rights are owned by Bioware. The Fan Fiction "Mass Effect At Dawn Again" is fruit of my imagination and my work, it is a free tribute, passionate and personal to a great video game. It is not allowed any use partial or total for profit and not.
Chapter 3
Dreams on fire
Matriarch Aethyta has been sitting all the time, absorbed in a stubborn silence, listening carefully every word, motionless, without reveal no emotion. Liara has just left the room, and Karin tries shaking off every humiliating sense of guilt, which she is struggling against for hours. She gets up, glancing quickly sideways, unwillingly slipping inside Matriarch's look, which does not give way. Karin gives up first, looking down and moving fast to the communicator. She turns it off, while she keeps repeating herself, she's doing it for Shepard. Not neglect any possibility it is her duty, all remote possibility included because, she must find a way, whatever bloody way of bring her home! Her frustration grows up, it swells, rapid burning, it is brooding in irritation. It Slithers insidious inside her heart. An irrepressible sense of challenge flow out, it shakes her strong, from inside the cells, setting on fire in a flash all her pride, while her provocative tone, scratch sudden that annoying silence ...
K: Well, Matriarch, what do you say? Do you think that's enough? Are you finally convinced, now?!
Aethyta stares her, coloring her face with a gloating insolence, which flowing quickly into a challenge cutting smile ...
A: Oh, I am so fucking dazzled ... Sugar! Commander Shepard is really a great whiz of soldier, but I already knew that! Ah, ah, the Goddess sees, I knew it! The first time with my daughter, it was surely the most hellish arousing experience for Shepard. You know, the kid is hot like her mother! So, it is not enough to convince me, Shepard is truly in love with her ... Obviously Doctor, you had never got any sex hellish hot experience with Asari, isn't it? Mmh, it is highly probably you got it with none! Otherwise, you would have already guessed that a true union with Asari, has no equal experience in whole damn Galaxy! So ... it was absolutely normal, a Shepard's lust intoxication, but ... it doesn't mean this was Love!
Karin begins to feel a strong murderous impulse, and urge to grab that arrogant and vulgar blue deranged by the throat, squeezing her, until shut her up, it is becoming more and more compelling. She feels her cheeks burning, trying to control her reactions, she tries hard keeping calm, after all that egocentric Asari is ever Liara's father!
K: Oh, I can't stand you, Do you know?! Get out of here, right now! I have no time wasting with you! Come back tomorrow, if you like ... Same place, same time! You never know, sometime even retarded has brainwave!…
... Karin let herself drop on the chair, disappointed. She is exhausted, she only wish close her eyes, and keep out of her mind this mocking voice. She is really annoyed by Matriarch. She doesn't look at all Liara's father, but her exact opposite instead. She speaks as coarse and too chatty Vorcha, her strict and determined manners not allow replies. Of all Asari diplomacy, even the slightest reflection it seems she ever touched. To be honest, more than Asari, she reminds her a lot Urdnot Wrex! However, the next morning, the Matriarch, arrives early, she greets with a mocking smile, sitting down on better easy-chair, without asking any permission. When Liara entering the room of Shepard, the communicator is already on …
… Liara sits down next to her, stroking her hair. She carefully arranges them, on top of the pillow, remaining suspended over her face, looking with nostalgic her eyes, for too long hidden. She feels the frozen heart leafing through her memories, then she looks Emily, feeling her love warm it up, slowly wrap it like a mantle, alleviate all her pain. She melts of sweetness, slowly drawing the outline of her cheek with the back fingers. Her lips meet finally those of Shepard, caressing them, slowly and sweetly, whispering something, it is indistinct, as light as a breath ... "I love you"!
L: You know, Emily I had a terrible nightmare this night! I dreamed the worst day of my life! ... We were on Normandy, remember? We had already gone through many difficult times: we had recently lost Ashley, and your wound was still open ... Even if you couldn't admit it, not even with yourself, you didn't live with it terrible decision. I had recently lost my mother, in really cruel way, forced to fight against her, unaware victim of Sovereign's fatal indoctrination, which unfortunately, she could not resist! It was really hard, but we defeated Saren, destroying the Sovereign, we saved the Citadel Council, and Anderson was appointed first Human councilor … Sadly, there was no time to celebrate because Council and Alliance, assigned you some new missions, immediately. Eliminate all Geths' resistance pockets, before they regroup, becoming dangerous again, and investigate also in order of some human ships disappearance. With your degree of Spectrum, with the occasion, you continued looking for evidence of Reapers existence ... When in mission, you know, day and night do not exist, there is only action and rest, then more action and maybe an other little rest ... We wandered for about a month, exploring the most remote and hidden sites in the galaxy, searching of enemies, pushing us to the borders of Terminus Systems. We were probing every inch, for four days, without any significant achievement. Therefore, that day, you ordered Joker, to set a course toward Earth, and called me on communicator ...
S: Liara, can you join me, in my cabin? I should talk ...
L: Of course, I'll be right ...
I thought you wanted to discuss work. Instead, you were preparing some drinks ... Your voice was so sensual, your smile such alluring, as you pass me the glass ...
S: You know ... after that unforgettable night, you and I we have not had a bit of time for us, but ... Since we're coming back ... How about … a romantic dinner by candlelight, only two of us, we say tonight ... at 8 o'clock?
L: Oh, well ... I'd like!
You took my empty glass, putting it on the table next to yours, suddenly you were so close. Your hands were seeking mine, kindly driving them, in an embrace around your hips, wrapping my body, squeezing to your own, with ardor. I felt a great warmth in that contact ... tenderness, emotion ... Your eyes were speaking with mine, while you caressed my face, brightening me into your smile, pulling me slow inside your breath ... Our lips were fused in a kiss, they were taking and leaving each other, by taking, then leaving again, returning to fuse together with emphasis, emotion and sweetness, with passion ... I could feel your heart banging strong in perfect sync with mine: the same beats, the same breath, the same thrills ... Every feeling perfectly shared ... Then, your smile again, and the affectionate tone of your voice stroking me gently …
S: Oh, thank you, for being here! ... I had a great need for that kiss ... to feel you so close ... I missed you, a lot in these days ...
L: I'm sorry, I missed you too ... oh, really to die for! You should deal with Admiral Hackett ... Maybe, you might ask him an honor license and ... Oh well, in the meantime, I look forward to ... tonight!
You took me close, embracing me, while you were smiling and gently playing with your fingers on my cheeks, making me feel completely wrapped inside your tenderness, and you said ...
S: Oh yeah … I too!
We felt so well, remember? You were going to kiss me again, instead something terrible was about to happen ... Alarm started on suddenly, booming frightful, throughout the ship ... Joker's voice on comm was terrified, I had never felt it so ...
J: Commander?! ... Soon, we're Under Attack! Stealth System has no effect, it is on intercept course ... they're aiming weapons!
Your voice turned immediately in peremptory tone, of whom carries on her shoulders the fate of entire crew, and willing to do everything she can that same fate taming ...
S: all on their spots! ... Helmets and suits! ... Joker, evasive action, right now! ... Come on, move! Liara quick, get on Deck!
A massive ship, which seemed coming out of nowhere, hit us with a devastating ray, who pierced Normandy as butter. It was opening a huge gash on Second Deck ... The roof was gone, and in its place stood the sky! Gravity also was gone, navigator Pressly died, and other bodies of Crew's members, our friends, lying motionless, spread out on the floor! We were in frantic activity, several explosions and fires blazed everywhere constantly, through the hectic bustle of companions who, they were trying to make the ship safe. You immediately realized the Normandy was lost, and you gave evac order ... I reached you on Crew Deck, rushing with a suffocating terror into heart ... You seemed very quiet as usual, you knew exactly what you had to do, there was none uncertainty in your voice. Fear instead, shook mine ...
L: Shepard!
S: beacon rescue is ready to launch ...
L: Alliance will arrive in time?
S: Alliance won't drop out of us! We just have to resist. Bring everybody on rescue pods!
L: Joker is still in his cabin, he will not go, and I'm not leaving, too!
S: I need you guide the Crew to evacuation modules ... I'll take care Joker!
L: Shepard! ...
S: Liara, go ... right now!
Your voice was so determined! It was an order which brooked no argument ... But your eyes said you just wanted to know, I was safe! I did have not strength to fight, dare to argue with you! I felt a great regret explode inside me, but you gave me a very precise order, and there was no time, no more ... So I ... I had to go!
L: Aye, aye!
... When capsules were unhooked, our ship was ripped to shreds. I could see you, dangling into space, while you were putting Joker into his pod, and you were looking to follow him. Another explosion got you lose your grip ... You were in balance, suspended ... Your module was about to explode, you couldn't get into! You didn't have time, no more! You might unhook Joker and bring him safe ... But you were not able to reach it, you were too far away! ... My blood was frozen by shudders, uncontrollable terror every breath sucked because I knew very well what would you have decided! I was sure that you never would have left him! I saw you float into space, looking desperately for a foothold ... You were drifting, when there was still another explosion. I could only stand looking at you, into my secure prison, helpless and completely terrified! Joker was safe, but soon you realized, your life-support system was irreparably damaged, and you lost oxygen faster. You were desperately trying stopping up every leak, but there were too many! You couldn't breathe. You struggled, but ... it all seemed useless! Emily Oh, I would have given my life to save you, my love! Instead, I could only watch you die! On my lips, I could still feel the taste of that kiss, on my skin, the warmth of your body ... I wished I wanted to lose myself forever inside your embrace that ... suddenly had become, all you have left of you! By the Goddess! Why was it happening?! Why did I compelled watching you to die?! Without tell you ... that … the way I felt for you ... it might only have one name! Without telling you at least once ... I Love you! Oh Goddess, why? ... don't I ... couldn't I ... ...
Liara stops. Her voice is broken by her sobs. Reliving that day gives her an unspeakable evil, so choking, which scratches her breath and does not let up ... It is such an intense pain, which cannot be forgotten even with time, even with love because it has violently torn her heart irreparably, like a fire brand, which can never disappear. Tears flow, unstoppable in her eyes, like a swollen river, evading the shores of her eyelashes, flooding her cheeks with devastating force ... She cannot stop those tears, all tremor, which propagate from her heart, right into the soul, making her shake and shiver. Shepard's beats, quickly go out of range. Two hundred at first, 220/minute later on, while terminal detector furiously screams. Doctor Chakwas' voice is plenty anxious while she is talking on communicator, but greatly affectionate tone ...
K: Liara ... Angel! Oh, Come on! ... Hey, hold on! You only need to calm down, right? Shepard is out of control! ... You know, it's very dangerous. I'll have to take action if you don't calm down!
Liara reply between sobs, then she reacts ...
L: OK! ... OK Karin, you're right!
She is thinking, inside her : "Oh come on, T'Soni! Stop you whimpering as you're still prisoner in a ridiculous bubble! You are grown up by now, you are waiting for a daughter! You have taking care of her father ... This only matters! Help her coming back! ... She's alive ... She is alive! Stand strong, not give in!" Liara closes her eyes, concentrates, she wraps her body in an intense blue halo. Takes a deep breath, then another, and another one ... Slowly, her emotions back under control ... She can open her eyes, fortunately the worst has passed. Shepard's beats do not improve, they are still out of range, then Liara puts the hand on her chest, near heart, it seems wanting to burst. She squeezes her with the voice, if as the most delicious caress ...
L: Please ... Oh, please, calm down, my Star! I'm all right! I'm so sorry, forgive me! I shouldn't have let me go, it's just that ... This memory is always hard for me! But it is only the past ... You're here now ... you are here, my love, with me and you won't get away! Come on, Shepard Oh, please, take it easy! It was just a memory!
… Shepard is still, between her bed clothes, her eyes are closed, her expression is peaceful, as if asleep. She can't move, she can't speak with the voice, but she can do it, only with the heart ... She feels Liara's tone, wrapping around, so thoughtful and sincere ... She can feels all her Love pervading, gently caressing her, until reaching her crazy heart, stroke it, comfort it. Slowly she relaxes and reassuring herself, she feels trusting in Liara is always possible, and finally its own beats within normal parameters. Karin's voice is very sweet as she reaches Liara on communicator ...
K: OK Liara, now that's better! You were very good, Angel! Do you want to relax a bit? You might continue tomorrow ...
L: No, all is well! Thanks Karin, don't worry, everything's fine. I will continue, if you don't mind ... I'm OK!
K: OK, as you wish ... So, I leave you alone, Chakwas out.
Actually communicator is open and matriarch Aethyta has a great suffering expression on her face, a wince of sincere pain, which Karin had never seen before, inside her impenetrable look …
K: Matriarch ... is everything okay?
Aethyta tone looks much changed now. It is so sad, full of unexpected guilt, making her seem so fragile and exposed as Karin would never have imagined possible ...
A: Oh no! It's not good at all! I have a wonderful daughter, whom I hardly know, she has suffered a heap in her life, without ever having this specimen twit father who stayed close to her!
Suddenly Karin cannot help but sense a spontaneous attention for her, springing from depths, making soft her soul, pushing her to find kind words for her, with which alleviate her tension, soothe her pain ...
K: Oh, Well, it's never too late! And, you know ... maybe you're not so arrogant and numb as you seem ...
A: Yeah, thanks ... maybe even you are not the frigid example of ice that I thought!...
The voice of Liara is more controlled now, she tries appearing calm, when she starts talking ...
L: I stayed into the escape pod, for a time which seemed to me endless ... I was like paralyzed, not only my body, but also my mind could not move ... Reasoning seemed impossible, breathing appeared absolutely useless! I was wrapped around hard torment, it made me hurt more and more every second. It was crushing me inside its coils, louder and louder until it smother me. Someone found me! Beacon rescue has worked, but I was not interested in being saved, no longer. Not without you ... Not alone, with all this despair!
To be continued …