"I'm sorry Liara." Shepard sighed. The body of Matriarch Benezia laid before them…the matter of the Rachni Queen was still lying heavily on Shepard's mind.

"It is fine Commander. She was under the indoctrination of Saren. There was no hope left for her." Liara replied quietly.

Shepard steps over the body and squints at the Rachni Queen. It was huge. Very huge. "Impressive.", mumbles Garrus.


"So what do we do with it?" Shepard asks Garrus and Liara.

"The Rachni Wars happened way before our time. We have no idea what will happen if we let them go. I suggest we destroy them. They could be dangerous and attack us once more if we don't." Garrus suggests.

"You mean commit genocide? We can't just 'destroy' them. We'll be killing off an entire species! We can't become what we seek." Liara argues, referring to the Reapers.

"It's your choice Shepard. Whatever it is, we'll stand by you." Garrus adds, only slightly seeing the truth behind Liara's words.

Shepard stands there silent, pondering over their words. "Fine. Let them go. This had better not bite us in the ass later on."

'You're right Liara.' Shepard thinks, as she pushes the button to release them. 'Sorry Garrus. Looks like you still haven't learned your lesson.'

"I suppose it makes sense Commander. Like you said, hopefully this decision won't affect us later." Garrus gave in.

'Or maybe there's still hope for you yet Garrus.' Shepard thinks, smiling at Garrus.


"Had fun on Noveria Commander?" Joker calls out to Shepard as the trio walks in.

"Oh yeah so much fun. Messed around the local authorities, stopped a hanar from smuggling, helped a Noveria 'secret forces' whatever to capture Administrator 'Salarian', prevented genocide, released the Rachni Queen, and…killed Liara's mother who was Matriarch Benezia. But overall it was a blast." Shepard says, counting off the things she did triumphantly.

"It's not fair. You guys get all the fun. I guess I'll just stick to piloting less I break an arm against Saren and his geth."

"You do that Joker." Shepard grins at him and follows Liara. 'I feel like a stalker.'

"Liara!" Shepard yells out, hoping to get the asari's attention. But the asari was already heading out down the stairs. 'Dammit.'

Shepard races after her, taking two steps at a time. Liara slips into the medbay and into her office. Shepard flies in, catching Chakwas by surprise. "Hey Chakwas." Shepard yelps out as she trips on air.

"Not very graceful are we Commander?"

"Not at this moment I am. Later Doctor."

"Good-bye Commander." Chakwas says with a laugh.

Shepard steps into Liara's room and sighs heavily. "Liara are you okay?"

"Oh I'm fine Commander. Just the shock of it all is overwhelming a bit."

"I understand. If you need some time to-"

"No that's not necessary. But thanks. Now if you excuse me, I've got things to…research." Liara replies, voice sounding less chirpy.

"Alright Liara I'll let you be." Shepard steps back out, feeling oh so very guilty. 'Why do our crew member's parents die? Such a hassle.'


"Kaidan I shot her. Shot her right in front of Liara. I feel…horrible almost. I let another crew member's parent die." Shepard glances up at Kaidan, seeing the distress on his face. "Oh…sorry Kaidan."

"No I understand Shepard. Sometimes you've got to do the things that nobody else does."

"That still doesn't explain my actions back with your family." Shepard whispers, head hung low.

"Shepard nobody could've done anything. You know this. You just have to forgive yourself for what you have done and move on."

"Which reminds me, how's Kal doing?"

"Huh. She acts like as if nothing happened. I hope that's a good thing."

"Yeah, sometimes you have to forget things as well…instead of forgive."

"I guess there's always that option. Hope you'll feel fine Commander."

"Yep. Thanks for the talk Kaidan. See you later."

"I'd like that." Kaidan murmurs. He watches her walk away, hoping to see her soon.

Shepard flops onto her bed, exhausted. She has a surprising thought. 'Kaidan's mother…Kal's mother…Liara's mother…heh Mother Dearest.'

She giggles senselessly before heading off to shower; bringing a clean pair of pj's to wear.


'God what time is it?' Kal wonders to herself, as she desperately tries to go to sleep in the sleeper pod. She carefully edges herself out and pads off into the mess hall with only a white tank top and black Alliance sweats. She yawns once and sits on top the table. "We eat there you know?"

Kal yelps and reaches for her pistol but isn't equipped with one. "Jeez Shepard. Scare a woman half to death…"

Shepard yawns. Kal yawns. Someone else yawns. They both swivel around to see Kaidan in his tank and briefs. "Jesus Alenko, put something on will you?" Kal groans.

"Uh…" Kaidan blushes and rushes off to collect Alliance sweats. "Better?" Kaidan grins, walking back into the mess hall.

"Much." Kal mumbles.

"Why you still up Kaidan?" Shepard asks, yawning in the process.

"Was having a migraine. Doctor fixed me up with something nice so I decided to hang out for a bit. Can't really sleep when she gives me the stuff."

"I hear you. Gulped down some of those sleeping pills but it works crap." Kal pipes in, rushing to the fridge.

"Don't raid the food Kal." Kaidan scolds playfully, grabbing a cold piece of pizza.

"Pizza?" Shepard questions, staring wide-eyed at the slice. "Didn't know we had any on board."

"Meh." Kaidan shrugs and bites into the slice. Kal fishes around some more and swipes another piece of pizza.

"Pass me a piece Kal?"

"Me too." Another voice pipes in. Kal glances over her shoulder and sees Ash.

"No problem." Kal glides it over to Ash and grins happily when it lands in Ash's hands.

Kal grabs another slice of pizza and throws it over to Shepard with a little help from biotics. The four of them sit down at the mess hall table and eventually…gradually…fall asleep.


"Come one Garrus you big sleepy head. All you ever do is work on that Mako so no wonder you're tired every day. Let's go eat." Tali drags Garrus out of the elevator to the mess hall. "Ah."

"Oh what now?" Garrus grumbles then looks at the scene in front of him.

Shepard was lying on a table with Kaidan across from her. Kal was barely sleeping on the floor nearby. Ashley was snoring softly a foot away, body on the other table.

"Well this is interesting." Tali drawls, catching a glimpse at Garrus. Garrus just grinned back and walked over to wake Shepard before Tali stopped him. "No let's take a picture. This'll be so great to have in a holoframe."

Tali opens up her omni-tool and a flash goes off. Tali giggles softly and shows the image to Garrus. "The Commander looks peaceful…" Garrus whispers.

"I read an article about human expressions and read that humans look different when they sleep. I'm not sure why though. See Gunnery Chief Williams? That frank look on her face is gone. Look at Kal. That constant grin is gone. Humans are strange…yet it's actually fun to learn more about them."

"Yeah…interesting."

"You don't say much do you Garrus?" Tali inquires Garrus with a look.

Garrus doesn't say anything and continues to stare at the Commander's still form.


'Virmire.' Shepard thinks. "Joker, take us to Virmire. Council wants us to go stat."

"You got it Commander."

'Something doesn't feel right…' Shepard shuts out the thoughts and walks out of her room to see Kaidan and Ashley huddled together by the mess hall tables. She hears tiny snippets and the name 'Shepard'.

"So Alenko. You and Shepard huh?"

"Great not you too Ash." Kaidan huffs.

"Well everybody can see it! Make a move Kaidan or else she'll move on."

"You really think she'll move on to someone else?" Kaidan's voice yelled distress.

'Plan is working…' Ash thought.

"Oh yeah totally. I saw Liara making eyes at her all day yesterday." Ash whispered, stressing the word 'Liara'.

"What should I do then?"

"After Virmire be really obvious about your feelings. Like you usually are but more so. And-"

"…and what Williams?" Shepard crossed her arms and smirked.

"Commander!" They both yelp at once, saluting sloppily. It wasn't exactly as funny as Kal and Kaidan but it still was funny.

"Shape up marines this isn't high school." Shepard barked, enjoying this way too much.

"Sorry sir." Kaidan mumbled.

"Can't hear you Alenko." Shepard ridiculed, laughing on the inside.

"Sorry sir." Kaidan said louder, blushing radiantly.

"That's better. Back to what you were." Shepard stomped off and exploded with laughter up on the stairs.

"Our commander is way too evil for her own good." Ashley noted, shuddering slightly. "Keep a tight rein on her Kaidan."

"Whatever." Kaidan grumbled once more, and moseyed back to his console.

A/N: Sorry this chapter is sorty short. I wanted to give Virmire its own chapter and its aftermath along with it. So who's going to be left on Virmire? Ashley Williams…or Kaidan Alenko? We'll see I suppose…I'm racking my brain for an answer. Watch out! Evil brain at work here.