EARTH

The one bedroom apartment that James rents is in a 10 level apartment building close to one of many docking bays in Chicago. He loves the location because when he is called for an assignment he can be in the air within an hour, something that is vital when trying to capture breaking news.

James has been working as a freelance writer for a national news station. He is not sure it is something he wants to pursue long term but right now it pays the bills and with Eva in the picture he needs to be able to provide a life for himself and the asari that he hopes to one day wed. James just finished his shower. He is making lunch for him and Eva. The asari is still sleeping and he doesn't want to wake her until the food is ready. He has never felt this way about anyone before and he wants everything to be perfect, realistic or not, Eva left her family, her home planet to be with him and he needs to make sure she is not sorry…ever.

Happy with the taste of the sauce James lowers the heat then dishes out noodles onto two plates. He walks into the bedroom to wake Eva. The asari was so tired she slept in the clothes she travelled in. He watches her for a few seconds. He smiles because she looks so beautiful. She is a lighter shade of blue than her mother. She also does not have the freckles under each eye like her mother or like her younger sister Little A. He traces his finger along her cheek bone. Eva swats at the disturbance. James stifles a laugh then starts tracing her cheek again. Eva swats again this time making contact with a loud smack.

"Ow!" James brings his hand to his chest and holds it as if mortally wounded. "You're awake!"

Eva with her eyes still closed smiles ear to ear.

"Oh I see two can play at that game." James leans over and starts to tickle her.

Eva starts to laugh and wiggle and tries to get away from James' hands. "Stop….please…."

James is relentless. He continues to tickle until Eva stops making noises because she is laughing so hard no sound is coming out. He decides to give her a break so she can catch her breath.

Still laughing and now coughing Eva sits up finally and starts to take in deep breaths.

"Geez you're turning blue, oh wait…"

Eva slaps his arm playfully. "Oh yeah, like I have never heard that before."

James puts his arm around her shoulders and kisses her temple, "I love you you know."

Eva looks at him then her eyes flitter to his lips. James leans in and kisses her. When she breaks from the kiss she asks, "How long have I been asleep?"

"It is past lunch time. I hope you're hungry."

"I am actually why?" Eva gets up to start making the bed. James grabs her hands and leads her out of the room.

"I hope you like spaghetti."

Eva smells the sauce as she approaches the kitchen. "Hmm I love spaghetti. Let me just run to the bathroom."

James pours sauce over the noodles and sets them on the small round table. He pours two glasses of milk then sits down and waits.

Eva comes in looking a bit more refreshed. "Oh you didn't have to wait for me."

"Of course I did." James stands and waits for the asari to sit. He starts to dig in after Eva takes her first bite.

"This is very good."

"Don't sound so surprised."

Eva almost spits out her mouthful of food. She covers her mouth. After swallowing she says, "No sorry, I …"

"I'm joking."

After a few minutes of eating in silence, Eva asks, "Do you have plans today?"

James wipes his mouth. "Well, I was thinking I could show you some sights and then maybe stop in at the station. Let them know I am available for assignment. For some reason communications are not working. Plus maybe you can check it out and see if you like the place."

Eva looks at him, "What? For a job?"

"Sure why not?"

"I guess I didn't think you would want me working for the same place. Wouldn't that be a conflict of interest or something like that?"

"Hmm, I never thought about that. I can't imagine why it would be. I mean we can see."

Suddenly a very loud boom sounds and then the apartment seems to shake, like a tremor during an earthquake.

"What the?" James stands quickly and runs to the window.

"What is it?" asks Eva as another loud boom is heard and another stronger tremor shakes the building. "James?"

"Shit!"

Eva sees James turn as white as a ghost. "What?" She starts to hurry to the window but James grabs her.

"We have to go!"

"What?" She looks out the window.

"We need to grab supplies only what we can carry!" James runs into the bedroom.

Eva cannot believe her eyes. She cannot see the ground because it is covered in smoke and flame. Her eyes catch something that crashes into one of the lower levels of the apartment building. "James!" She is scared. She is about to yell his name again when a loud explosion can be heard. This time the building shakes and seems to rock.

"What the hell was that?"

"Someone threw something through the window down there."

"What?" James has a backpack and a bag in his hand, he takes a look. "I can't see anything."

"Me neither. I just saw something enter, not where it originated."

James grabs Eva's shoulders. "We need to go. Take this backpack and grab some of your stuff. I will grab some canned goods okay."

"Canned goods?"

"Eva just go, now!" He sees her flinch at his tone. He cups her cheek with his hand. "Sorry. Please grab some stuff. I don't know what is going on, but that place on fire out there is the docking bay. So wherever we go we may need to walk okay? I don't have a sky car."

Eva swallows. She looks at her omni-tool. "I…I should call home."

Another explosion rocks the foundation of the apartment building. "Not now go go go."

Eva quickly heads to the bedroom. She rifles through her suitcases to find anything of value. She grabs a change of clothes and a vid display. It is a small black circular device that projects pictures she has of her family and friends from home. She places it in the backpack.

"Eva we gotta go!"

The asari hears fear in his voice. She quickly runs out of the room. She is thrown from her feet when another explosion hits, this time the apartment building actually seems to teeter. Her ears are ringing. Eva coughs as she gets onto her hands and knees. The wall of the bedroom has collapsed in. She looks around, dust is clouding her vision. "James? James!"

"Eva!" James kneels down and pulls her up with him and gives her a huge bear hug. "Oh thank God. You okay?"

The sound of his voice is echoing. Eva thinks she knows what he is saying. She nods.

James looks her in the eye. "You sure?"

"Ears are ringing!"

James touches her cheek and smiles. "Follow me."

Eva nods.

"We will have to take the stairs okay, watch your step."

Eva nods.

Hand in hand they leave the ruined apartment.


THESSIA

Valya is outside Liara's room. Aethyta called her to fill her in on the situation with Liara, Raina, Shepard, Mia and her daughter Dava. Valya has been trying to get through to her daughter but hasn't been able to. She was happy to get an update. She called Arelia to let her know. The head of the commandos already knew the situation and apologized profusely for not informing Valya sooner.

Arelia dispatched two commando units to Sur'Kesh to transport Dava and the rest back to Thessia. She spoke with Councilor Tevos personally when the asari Matriarch called to ask about the well-being of Shepard and the others. When Arelia told her what she did Tevos was pleased to hear it. The Councilor is on Thessia though no one but certain commandos know her exact location.

"Mom?"

Valya hears Raina waking and decides to enter the room. "No Raina it's me Valya. Are you okay?"

Raina slowly sits up.

Valya pours her some water and hands her the plastic cup.

"I have felt better." Raina drinks the cup dry. She hands it back to Valya who refills it. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard what happened. I wanted to drop by to see if you or Liara needed anything."

Raina looks around the hospital room.

"I sent your grandfather home. She was exhausted."

"Is she all right?"

"Yes nothing like that. After I promised to stay with you she finally decided to leave."

"Where's Mom?"

"She is across the hall."

Raina studies Valya for a moment. "What aren't you telling me?"

Valya lets out a sigh as she averts her eyes. "She hasn't woken up yet. The Doctors are not sure why."

Raina sets down the plastic cup. "I need to see her." She starts to draw back the covers but Valya stops her.

"You need to rest Raina."

"She might need my help Valya. Please."

Valya holds up a hand to halt Raina. The detective checks the hallway. She comes back into the room. "Okay. But you take the blame if a Doctor or Nurse walk in okay?" Valya winks at her.

Raina smiles, "Thank you."

A little shaky on her feet, the former commando helps Raina walk across the hall into her mother's room. Valya quickly moves a chair by the bed and helps Raina sit.

"Do you want me to stay?"

"If you could keep watch?"

"Will do." Valya squeezes Raina's shoulder then stands in the hallway.

Raina takes her mother's hand between her own. "Mom? I need you to wake up now."

Liara does not stir.

Raina checks the doorway. She turns back to her mother. She closes her eyes, when they open again they are black.

"Mother can you hear me?"

Raina sees a field of flowers, much like the field of flowers that can be seen from the path that leads to the back of their home. Raina is worried at first when she does not see her mother anywhere, but she is relieved when she feels her presence. "Mother, make your presence known."

"Raina?"

Raina looks behind her. It is the same field of flowers but this time Liara is sitting on a swing in the middle of them. When the young asari turns to look behind her she sees the same thing, her mother on a swing in the middle of a field of flowers. She approaches her mother who is just sitting, not swinging.

"You need to wake up Mother."

Liara's smile disappears. Raina feels her mother's sadness. "Why?"

The question stuns Raina. "Dad and your family need you."

Liara looks off into the distance.

Raina follows her eyes but has no idea what she is looking at. The sun about to set? The butterflies that are fluttering around? The large black form just off to the left that gives off a feeling of death and destruction?

Raina looks to her Mother who seems unfazed by the black form.

"It's beautiful here don't you think?"

Raina hears a baby crying in the distance. She looks again toward the dark figure. It is pulsating in rhythm of the crying child, cries she can hear but she cannot see a baby.

Raina feels tremendous sadness coming from her mother. She doesn't understand. Is her mother somehow trapped? She knows she helped her break the link with her father, but she doesn't understand what is happening.

"Mom? What is it? Why don't you want to wake up?"

Liara does not look at her daughter; she just stares straight ahead as a single tear falls down her cheek.

"What is it Mom?"

The crying from the baby grows louder.

"Your father doesn't know and I don't know how to tell her. I …I never meant to not tell her, the timing was never good."

The cries of the baby increase in volume.

Raina wonders if she heard her mother correctly. She looks toward the dark form. It looks more menacing as the cries become overwhelmingly loud. Raina covers her ears. She looks at Liara; the asari does not seem to notice.

Then Raina puts it together. She kneels in front of her mother who looks so distraught, so exhausted, so sad. She takes her hands. "Tell me."

Liara shakes her head a little.

The cries of the baby are so loud now; Raina knows she is the only one who can hear it. "She will understand Mom. She loves you. She will understand that you cannot have another child."

The cries stop. Raina does not need to look to know the dark figure is no longer there.

Liara is crying now. Raina stands and pulls her mother up out of the swing to hold her. "It's okay Mom. It's okay."

All Liara can do is shake her head as she cries.

Raina just holds her. "You need to leave this place Mom. You don't have to hide. I need you to wake up."

Liara shakes her head not letting go of her daughter.

"Mom you are everything to us. Please, please wake up. We need you. I need you."

Raina is growing tired. Liara must sense it. She breaks from the hug. "You go. I am going to stay here a while."

"No!" Raina grabs her mother's hands and does not allow her to sit down on the swing again. "I need you to wake up."

Liara pushes Raina back without lifting her hands. Raina is shocked. Liara sits down on the swing and looks at the sunset. "Isn't it beautiful?"

Raina feels dizzy. She knows she has to end the meld. "I love you Mom."

Liara doesn't seem to hear her.

Raina ends the meld.

"Whoa whoa you okay?"

Raina is being held up by Valya. "What?"

"Take it easy I've got you."

Raina is able to sit up without help now. Valya remains close with hands out just in case.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes fine, thank you."

"You don't look fine Raina. You look like you have seen a ghost." Valya takes a closer look; she wipes a tear from the young asari's face. "You can talk to me."

"Can you please help me to my room?"

"Sure."

Raina stands though she is wobbling. Valya lifts her in her arms and when Raina does not protest, she knows something is wrong. She carries the Psychiatrist into her hospital room and sets her on the bed.

"Can I get you anything?"

"No thank you." Raina turns on her side facing away from Valya.

The detective touches her shoulder, "I'll be in the hallway if you need anything." She doesn't wait for a reply. She leaves Raina alone while she returns to the hallway.


"Miri?"

Oriana has made some food for her sister. They both have been working nonstop since the attack on the Councilors across the galaxy. They both have been looking for a common thread between the humans who were involved in the attack. No group is taking responsibility for the attacks which is rare these days. The radical or extremist groups always take credit when they do harm.

Because they both are working together they are using what used to be Oriana's lab in the estate when she lived there before marrying Mark and moving to Earth. She finds her sister asleep at one of the consoles. She sets down the tray of food and lightly shakes Miranda's shoulder. "Miri wake up."

Slowly Miranda wakes. She yawns and stretches. "How long have I been asleep?"

"Just over an hour. I left to take a break and made some lunch. Any luck yet?"

"No. The searches are still running." Miranda looks at the tray of food. "Thank you Ori."

Oriana gives her a smile. "Shayna and Rose are out with friends. They will be home in time for dinner."

"Have you heard from Arelia?" Miranda takes a bite of food.

"No. I was actually going to ask you that."

"Ever since the attacks I hardly see her. I have no idea how long this is going to last. We have to find a connection."

"We should maybe go visit Liara and Raina in the hospital later. Valya called with an update."

"Oh?"

"Raina is awake."

"And Liara?"

Oriana shakes her head.

"What the hell happened?"

"I'm not sure. If you are not up for it, I can to the hospital to relieve Valya. Maybe Raina can tell me what happened."

Miranda looks at the display. She lets out a long sigh. "I don't think this will be done running anytime soon. I can go with you if that is okay."

"Of course it's okay."

"This is really good Ori, thank you." Miranda takes another bite.

"You're welcome. Have you heard from Shepard?"

"No. I suspect the commandos Arelia sent will arrive shortly. Hopefully communications will be better by then. I'm still having issues with my contacts on Earth. I don't understand what is happening. It's like someone is playing with the whole communication system."

Oriana studies her sister.

"What?"

"Is that possible?" asks Oriana.

"What?"

"To play with the communications?"

Miranda shrugs it off and is about to say some sarcastic remark but stops to think. "That would take a lot of planning and coordination."

"Kind of like the attack on the Councilors across planets?"

"But that's…" Miranda stops in mid-sentence. "You really think the disruption to the communication systems is on purpose?"

"Why not?"

"But the entire galaxy?"

"Who says it's the entire galaxy? All we know for sure is that communication to Earth is horrible and spotty on Sur'Kesh."

"So what are you saying exactly?"

"Think about Miri. If you were going to attack something and you decided to strike directly, wouldn't a great way to cover your tracks be to disrupt communications?"

"But how? I mean on such a massive scale? Who has that kind of…?" Miranda's voice trails off when she sees her sister's expression. She follows her eyes to the vid display.

Oriana turns up the sound.

"Transit stations all over North America have been hit the hardest. As you can see the destruction is immense." Images of rubble and fire and dead bodies flash on the display. "Stay inside your homes, I say again do not leave your homes. Stayed tuned to this station for more updates."

"Holy shit," says Miranda. "What the hell is going on?"

"Oh God." Oriana gasps when they show collapsed buildings and charred and dismembered bodies. "I have to call my grandkids." Oriana brings up her omni-tool. She cannot get through.

Miranda sees the panic start to take root in her sister. She quickly stands and hugs her. "I'm sure they are fine Ori."

"I can't get through."

"I know…I know." Miranda looks at her sister from arm's length. "You had a great idea Ori. Ori." Miranda squeezes her shoulders. She does not want her sister looking at the vid display thinking the worst has happened to her grandkids. "Ori?"

"What?"

"Find out how to disrupt communications."

Oriana searches her sister's face. "Are you serious? Now?"

"You have something better to do except drive yourself crazy with worry?"

"I suppose not."

"Good." Miranda squeezes her sister's shoulders. "Good. Then help me find out what is going on."

Oriana nods then gets to work.