A/N: Hope everyone had or is having a great summer break. For those of you going back to school I hope you at least learn one thing like I did the other day...
As we all know...#... equals... hashtag... but apparently... %... now equals... 'Fuckyer'...put them together, % # and you get fuckyer hashtag...learn something new everyday I guess but I can't keep up with all of it
Hope you all enjoy...and as always feedback is welcomed
%Coldplay
"Fix You"
When you try your best, but you don't succeed
When you get what you want, but not what you need
When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse
And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone, but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?
Lights will guide you home And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I...
Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face
And I...
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
'Perhaps I can be of some assistance.' EDI chimes in. The AI had been listening in on the conversation after finishing her examination of the Commanders medical scans. Most, if not all of her time and processing had been utilized to help scan for signs of life after the Quarian ship exploded but now, with the two crews going out to do a physical search, EDI was able to look into Shepard's well being. After all the human had become her friend...
'Miranda, I was wondering if you had heard of a project 'Kelly' during your time with Cerberus?'
"I heard rumors about it but never thought it was allowed to proceed because of what it entailed...I honestly thought it was a myth." The former Cerberus operative says, a little relieved that she's no longer the main focus of the conversation for her lack of tact. She hadn't truly meant to overreact about Shepard's condition and she had been frantically thinking of something to say to her Asari friend to make up for it. Having nothing, Miranda became relieved when the ships AI spoke up.
'Apparently the illusive man felt the same way and stopped all funding once he found out the true meaning of the project. It may have to do with the fact that this had happened around the same time as the Lazarus project. Either way his reasonings weren't based on morals but only because the test subject and the head of the project were related and it became a more personal quest than a Cerberus directive...The fact that he wasn't informed about what it entailed also helped in the decision to no to not allow it to proceed...looking back he may have been mistaken with his decision to stop the funding...' The ships AI continues. She was about to go into more detail about the project when Liara stops her.
"EDI what exactly does this have to do with anything?" Liara asks a little harshly. She appreciated the fact that the ships AI wanted to help but this had nothing to do with the current conversation. Plus the specifics about what was wrong with her lover had yet to be answered.
'I apologize Doctor T'Soni... Project 'Kelly' was something a Cerberus scientist, Doctor Susan Gallagher created. She had initially come up with a breakthrough in modern medicine and it was supposed to be a 'cure all' for any disease a human could contract...according to the files her assistants took over while she was on maternity leave but when she came back the main focus changed. It was discovered that her child died during birth from a chromosome abnormality called trisomy eighteen. Doctor Gallagher made it her life's goal to eradicate this and any other genetic defects from that point forward.'
"Gallagher, but isn't that..?" Liara begins to ask.
'Yes, she is the same woman, although I'm sure that is not her real name. She is the one responsible for the Commanders current medical condition.' Seeing that this was an opportunity to continue the Normandy's AI informs the trio of what data she had been able to collect.
'According to the remaining files, doctor Gallagher became pregnant again with two children at the same time; twins is the correct word I believe. Initial scans of the fetuses showed they were both healthy. However, after a blood test was done signs of the same genetic abnormality began to show."
"I've heard of this disorder." Chakwas chimes in. "...but I thought it was no longer a problem. And with what I do remember about it there is a short life expectancy of every fetus it affects. She couldn't have had much time to come up with a cure for this." Chakwas had heard of this disorder but not since medical school and either way she was not an expert when it came to children. It still didn't explain how this would help Shepard but seemed to be a step in the right direction...EDI would not have suggested it if she did think it would work.
'That is correct doctor Chakwas. The last reported incident of a fetus having this disorder was nearly a hundred years ago but for reasons unknown Gallagher's children were susceptible. And as far as life expectancy most children do not survive the gestation phase and those that do will likely not make it past the first few hours after their birth; there are reports of a small amount of children with this disorder living for years but with a lower quality of life. Doctor Gallagher's children were no exception.'
"Goddess, I can not imagine a child having to go through that." Liara says quickly placing a protective hand on her stomach. To think of the life she had been carrying inside her not have a chance at a long healthy life was a horrible image but there were more questions that needed to be asked before the Asari began to feel better.
"Did it work...what she did? And would this help Shepard?" Liara was still unclear as to how any of this was supposed to help Kerry but EDI mentioned it for a reason.
'The data I have collected on this project has not been fully attained and downloaded yet. Unfortunately since the funding was redacted I don't believe there is much more information than I've already found in the Cerberus databanks. With that being said I have compiled data to show that the doctor continued on her own with the experiment and eventually tried to save her remaining children. Unfortunately I do not have any information to the whereabouts of the living offspring...'
"EDI!" Miranda nearly screams at the AI to get on with 'her' answer, desperately wishing there was a 'Yes','No' button.
'Yes ...it would seem that the intended results the scientist wanted were met...and if Ms. Lawson is correct with her assumption, and Commander Shepard is in fact dying then this procedure can help her.' EDI answers almost apologetically.
"I understand all of this EDI but she isn't a child and this isn't a genetic defect or a disease she has...she's being poisoned. So how is this supposed to help?" Miranda's tone was a little harsh but she began to feel like they were wasting time.
'You are correct Ms. Lawson, according to the information I have gathered this treatment was supposed to cure a human of any disease they may be suffering from. The initial focus of the project was just to eradicate diseases in humans from young children to adults. After Gallagher lost her first child she made the changes of the projects focus to include unborn children and birth defects and that changed the end result... With the exception of a longer life span it can keep any human from dying from any ailment, to include bullet wounds and certain injuries sustained in battle, allowing the subjects to heal rapidly...They were searching for a way to create the perfect soldier...so if the data I have collected is correct than this will help the Commander...From what I have found I believe she was after the results of Shepard's operations that you and Oriana conducted on the Commander to slow down the aging process of humans in order to perfect what she started. That is one of the reasons for Shepard's kidnapping.'
This was it; this was what Liara needed to hear. The fact that Shepard could be cured of her ailment and they could finally live their lives together as a family was what the Asari had been waiting patiently to hear and this would make that dream a reality. She became so caught up in what EDI had said that she nearly missed the conversation that had continued on without her.
"...the risks aren't worth it. Especially since we don't know the exact results of the tests or what the side-effects could be...Shepard's health is to fragile..."
"This...is not up for discussion!" Liara says, just daring either of them interrupt or contradict her. "EDI I need you to continue to do a complete search on this project and if you could please send all of your findings to my terminal."
'As you wish doctor T'Soni.'
"Liara, please listen to me." Chakwas begins in an almost motherly tone. "I understand you are upset, we all are. And we are looking for a sliver of hope that we can help her, but this may not be it."
"I do understand that Karin, but if I don't find as much information as possible...if I don't at least try to look into this for her...then I've already given up. And I won't be able to live with myself much less see our daughter's expression when she asks how her Atta died...knowing I didn't do all I could for her."
Her memories quickly turn to the destruction of the Normandy, the death of her lover, and how devastated she was, yet how determined she became to retrieve her lovers body after she was contacted by Miranda. Even though the initial introduction with Lawson was not a friendly one, the Asari could see it in how the human carried herself, that she did not allow failure to be an option.
Neither of them accepted failure then and now was no different. But seeing the doubtful look on both of the humans on the screen in front of her causes Liara to become concerned that she may be alone in finding the information she desired with this particular cure.
"I need the both of you to listen to me." Liara begins. "In the short amount of time we have known Shepard she has been the only one to never give up on any of us. So now I am asking you to give her the same in return. Miranda, you never gave up during the Lazarus project, nor did you when she needed her heart transplant...which I will be forever grateful. So please do not give up now."
The Asari wasn't one for inspirational talks- that was her lovers forte but this was for Shepard and they both needed to hear what the Asari had to say.
"And Karin, how many times did you, did we...almost lose her on the operating table? Yet you never gave up. I'm not asking for miracles, only help."
Receiving a nod and a smile from both of the human woman, Liara begins to go over all of the information EDI and Miranda had sent. It seemed endless but the problem and subsequent solution to what was happening to Shepard was buried amongst the data. They all knew they may have been jumping the gun with this, not knowing for sure if the Commander was indeed dying or if anything EDI had said would even help, but with the information collected so far, it all pointed in that direction. The last thing needed was Oriana's findings and after that they could proceed with a definitive goal in sight; save Shepard.
"I do understand you both being hesitant about this supposed treatment..."Liara begins. "but are you certain that she is in fact dying?" Receiving only a nod Liara continues. "And the purpose of Oriana coming here would be what exactly?"
"The recent scans we have gone over have shown a dramatic decrease in her immune system as well as each of her organs shutting down. The implants I installed are helping but not fast enough. Having the results of an actual physical examination of her may possibly help us narrow down what exactly is happening to her." Miranda explains, obviously calmer then she was before. She knew she had overreacted when she was talking to Liara but they were friends and she was upset. Personal feelings aside her and Chakwas were Shepard's doctors and needed to act as such. So going over each option was the next step until Oriana arrived and could send back her results.
"So if what you are saying is true and Shepard is... dying then don't we owe it too her to look into every option there is in order to help her?"
The next questions that would arise would be, was EDI correct? Even though the AI seemed confident and had not been wrong before, she was just turned back on and rebooted. Also there was a limited amount of data on the defunct Cerberus project, to include the results and whereabouts of the test subject. The child in question was important only as a curiosity and not for medical purposes since no one knew what to look for if they could run tests on the child to see if any of this was true. Even with that being said they needed a place to begin looking so the childs whereabouts became important.
The more Liara thought about it the more defeated she became at being able to find the child since according to EDIs findings Doctor Gallagher's quest to save her children started around the same time as the Lazarus project and the subjects weren't a thirty year old female like Shepard, they were infants. With one living long enough for Gallagher to be successful, how did the child survive the past few years and who, if anyone had been taking care of it, Liara wondered. Also, how did it all work and why would a 'machine' that was set up to help a child with a genetic defect help an adult that was being poisoned? EDI had already mentioned how it would work to Miranda but Liara had her doubts. And if it did help her what would be the side effects? Would she be the same person or would her previous worries that Cerberus had changed her to something else entirely become a reality?
The scariest thought that began to play over in the the Asari's mind was would it cause any harm to Kerry and was all of this just a temporary fix, prolonging the inevitable? If they retrieved all the information they could and did all that they could, only for her to die in the end with this 'cure' being the cause then what were they really doing? The Asari began to realize that all they'd be successful in is torturing the Commander.
Liara knew she had to be as impartial with this entire process as she could but knew it wouldn't be an easy task and her dark thoughts turn darker. She began to wonder if any of this was worth the pain she may be causing her lover. Was the reasoning behind all of this work to find a cure just Liara being selfish? She knew no one else would get this kind of attention and irregardless of her status as the savior of the galaxy did Shepard deserve it, did they?
Did they deserve to be together for as long as Miranda had given them? With the way their relationship had gone on so far, wasn't Shepard supposed to die saving the galaxy, not living centuries past her life expectancy because of who she was and who her friends were? And was Liara along with everyone else involved trying to fix someone that couldn't be repaired?
It was almost too much for the Asari to even think about. The fact that she herself could be the real reason for her beloveds suffering because Liara can't let go is nearly impossible for her to admit. Tears begin to stream down her face and on cue, doctor Chakwas tries to reign the Asari back in and not let her begin to give up.
"Liara, now I need you to listen to me. We do what we can for her and even though I can not tell you what will happen it will be enough; it will have to be. You asked us not to give up so we won't... With that said I have to ask everyone here; can we all be impartial... if the time comes and we have no recourse but to stop, can we? Will we be able to let go?"
X
X
X
X
Searching on one of the moons of the planet Prospect, Garrus can only look out over the current landscape of another desolate area they had found themselves on and sigh a little. He had to remind himself that everything they had fought for would be worth it and that they'd eventually recover. To see everything they had fought so hard for begin to show signs of coming together, as the galaxy started to recover made him grateful to be alive but with months having passed since the war ended he hoped there'd be more.
There were still reports of suffering all over the galaxy and he knew it wasn't going to be an overnight fix but with all that was happening he began to wonder if they were quick enough. Did they build and fire the crucible fast enough, and if they did why was each race going through more horrors?
The Humans were losing their home planet and half a million of them had just died. Then it was feared by the Salarian scientists that Palavin may follow the same fate as Earth and need to be evacuated. Then the fact that the Asari were scattered everywhere and their leaders were still trying to deal with the fallout over losing Thessia. Not to mention there were those that continued to blame the Matriarchs and councilor Tevos for not accepting aid during the war.
This was true for the remaining councilors and with the exception of Hackett, they all required armed escorts each time they went somewhere. The reported problems didn't even include the rest of the non-council races and their own plights. But when Garrus stopped to actually think about what had happened he realized they did everything they could. He realizes he can not start to second guess any decision made. If he did he'd begin to feel guilty for each death every race suffered and end up driving himself insane. With that said he knew he needed to think about all the good to come out of all of this and focus on all the positive that was happening.
The Humans may have lost Earth but they were being given the chance to start over entirely. And the Turians were living in an extremely unstable environment yet the more help that began to arrive to aid the Turian home world the more hope they all had that the Eco system and in turn the planet could be saved. Then there was the fact that the Krogans and Quarians were being recognized for their help in the war and the possibility of a seat on the council was being discussed. The Quarians themselves were gaining their home world back and the development on Ranoch had begun. People were living and certain things were beginning to get better, or seem to. Before arriving on the Normandy the Turian Primarch had contacted the Vakarian siblings and informed them that the water and food sources had been made available across Palaven and surrounding Turian planets. It wasn't much but it was something and it gave a glimmer of hope to Garrus that most if not all of the remaining survivors of the war could in fact rebuild and continue on.
Unfortunately, not everyone was on board with the celebrations of life and just enjoying the fact that there were any survivors of this war at all. Solana had been informing her brother all about these experts who had their own views of what should have happened during the war and how they had no problem voicing their opinions to anyone who would listen.
After the debacle with the Shepard interview on the Crucible where a firefight ensued, multiple people were killed and the savior of the galaxy nearly wiped out an entire race, the Galactic News Network had been leery of who they would interview. Still, they allowed these people to be heard since no one respectable wanted to be affiliated with the GNN.
These experts had their own views on what should have happened and it left the majority of the viewers shaking their heads wondering how these people talking survived at all. Even with the majority of the public watching, not actually listening to what these morons had to say it was still feared that there would be those that believed these experts and take what they were saying seriously.
The 'Shepard interview' was a testament to that fact. There were numerous protests being reported from every planet demanding the Commander come out of hiding and answer for her crimes. Fights ensued over the different opinions that were expressed by people who still believed what was said by Cerberus and blamed her for causing the Reapers to focus the majority of the attack on humans. The leaders of each race had feared this would be the case and they'd have problems with radicals delivering death threats to the galaxies savior when Shepard came back into the public eye. Hackett had made numerous appearances in front of the galactic press in order to tell everyone that the accusations that had been made were false, that none of these allegations had any merit to them. That everything that was said by doctor Schneider had been only the ramblings of a mad man. The doctors personnel file had even been disclosed to the public to prove that he had been treated for numerous mental disorders and had been relieved of his medical license. When the war was ongoing there was no real way to check on anyone's status as help was needed everywhere and he slipped through the cracks. There were no guarantees of this not happening again but the GNN would be under stricter guidelines as far as who they were allowed to have on. Even with that true, not all of their more recent guests had had an in depth back ground check.
It had been broadcasted by the Galactic News Network on numerous occasions how these 'experts' felt that even though the war was over, that the harvest would continue and life as everyone knew it would end. They pointed out that the amount of damage sustained to all planets in every part of the galaxy was too much. They said that all of the planets would follow the same fate as Earth even if it was at a slower rate. And that no matter what help was given there was no reversing the effects the Reapers had caused.
These same experts also pointed out that Shepard and everyone else should not have gotten involved and basically blamed the galaxies military's for causing mass genocide even after the Reapers were destroyed. It was said that, 'The Reapers harvest should have been allowed to go on uninterrupted, that it was the galaxies way to cleanse itself and we should have surrendered peacefully...that the Reapers would have been merciful and we could have served them... That it would have been a process of elimination and the strongest would have survived even if we would have been subjected to indoctrination and possibly repurposed, like the Protheans. But some of us would have been alive longer...'
They continued by saying that now the remaining population will all die a slower more painful death... food and water supplies will eventually run out or be too contaminated to consume because of the pollution from the decaying corpses among other things. Illnesses, would decimate the remaining races due to the lack of medical resources and new and old diseases would eventually surface with no cures available. And even if any of that could be avoided and a planetary system was found to sustain a substantial amount of the galaxies population it would eventually be overpopulated and the natural resources would be consumed before another planet could be found...
They went on to discuss the Commander and the miliary by saying that Shepard and all of our forces should have surrendered as soon as the Reapers arrived... That they understood it would have been a difficult decision for all of the proud militaries across the galaxy to give up but by fighting back they have now sealed our fate and we will all be subjected to die a slow painful death.
The experts even went as far as comparing what would have happened had the harvest been allowed to go on uninterrupted to a wild-fire in a forest...Saying- 'All of the creatures caught in the fire will die but the forest would ultimately grow back that much stronger...like it did after the Prothean cycle. They were the only race in power at the time of their cycle and even though they were annihilated and turned into slaves the galaxy was allowed to regrow stronger, with better technology and more races were involved in space travel.
These geniuses stated that their analogies were more complex than that but with the majority of the stronger and smarter among our races dying during the war they needed to dumb down their explanations a little. This caused a mass uproar and the GNN stopping the interview immediately but just like before with the Allers/ Shepard interview everyone had already heard all about it and it was being replayed at a constant.
Before they were taken off of the air they finished by saying- 'With our interference and subsequent survival the future races will never be allowed to grow like we did after the Protheans became extinct; that we were selfish for choosing to survive and now we would be the cause of stunting other races by not allowing them to find the relays and the technology on their own. We'd take away all the accomplishment a new alien race would gain by handing them the technology we already had, with the end result being disastrous. We would either force it upon them before they were ready or not allow them the same advancements as everyone else because we were using up all the resources that were available...and these new races would suffer because of it.
After a while of listening to his sister, Garrus finally has had enough and voices his own opinion. "Solana you have to be kidding me...there are people out there that are actually saying this? That we should have given up? This is insane!" Garrus can only shake his head at his sisters words as they walk across the surface of another moon. It seemed as if this search was endless but necessary and since the search for Tali had begun, Solana had been trying to keep Garrus focused. She didn't have much to say until she remembered seeing this on the Vid screen at a bar on Palaven. He wanted to know what he had missed since being stranded for the last few months and these experts discussing how everyone should have died was the only thing Garrus had not heard about.
"Yes actually there are many out there that believe this...that Shepard should not have gotten involved...that no one should have but like I said it's only an opinion. And there are some that agree with what they are saying. Maybe not in the beginning but the more you hear them speak the more scarred people become that they survived the war just to die later on under worse circumstances. I mean just look at what we are doing now...trying to figure out how a large chunk of the human population was just killed...this will just add fuel to the fire."
"Yes but these are radical views-" Garrus says, running another scan for life signs with his Omni tool. "and they are only succeeding in causing everyone to panic even more. It may be a slow process and the Humans may have lost Earth and those that died on the Quib Quib but we will rebuild and these experts can go screw!" Garrus says a little harsher than he intended to but he was angry and had every right to be pissed that anyone who had no knowledge of the sacrifices that had happened and continue on happening can say things like this. Everyone is entitled to their opinions but some people should really keep quiet.
"These are just the thoughts of certain people but many are beginning believing them...they have a large following now. I think even the Asari as a people believe as these experts do and with this disaster, many more all across the galaxy will begin to follow them as well." Solana says looking out over the barren rocky surface.
Stopping in his tracks Garrus lays a hand on his sisters arm to stop her progress. He knew the Asari had refused help during the war and Thessia had fallen due to that fact but Garrus was finding it impossible to believe that Liara's people would be repeating their mistakes of the past that nearly cost them everything. To not accept the rest of the galaxies aid during the greatest time of need is beyond the Turians's comprehension.
"What do you mean the Asari believe them...what have you heard?" Vakarian asks, worry laced throughout his voice.
"Just that after the war the galactic council had set up aid for all that needed it and the Asari were using it for a time but stopped asking for help. They have began to turn away all aid offered but what assistance has been given is small compared to other races and I can't imagine it being enough... it's like they are allowing what these experts are saying to happen...allowing the food and water shortages...the illness to take over and finish what the Reapers started. But... who knows maybe they weren't hit that hard during the war and don't want to take away from others that need the help more."
Garrus knew the last part of his sisters statement was not true after witnessing the fall of Thessia. He could not believe what he was hearing and his fathers words continue to replay over in his mind. The eldest Vakarian had constantly made certain that his offspring realized that learning from your mistakes was imperative. That repeating mistakes was worse than making one in the first place and if they didn't learn then they'd never would and this is exactly what the Asari are doing now.
He had a feeling that having multiple responsibilities would be a daunting task but everything had become a lot more difficult since finding out about the decisions the Asari have made. It didn't make any sense why they were going at it alone. Even though most populations were decimated, with the exception of the Batarians, all others had enough surviving members of their race and the opportunity to receive help to sustain life and eventually increase the dwindled numbers. So why Tevos and the remaining Asari leaders would run the risk of their people dying due to shortages in food, water and lack of medical supplies when these things were being offered, baffled the Turian to no end. Having this on his mind helped forget the current lack of progress they were having in trying to find Tali, but he could only focus on one task at a time, knowing this problem with the Asari would be there when he got back to Palaven.
He had many titles in the Turian government now but the one he was reluctant to obtain from the Primarch before they left was being tasked with becoming a liaison with all of the alien races since Victus had his own issues and not enough time to handle it all. Plus there was the fact that the Turian Councilor was basically in hiding due to the death threats he had received. Victus told Garrus that he was the best Turian for the job since he had already served under a human, worked hand in hand with nearly every other race and more importantly fought next to a Krogan without killing each other.
This new position however, brought about the headaches that the other races would surely bring to the table to include the Asari. He wished he had the time to talk to Tevos and put a foot up her ass so that her people did not repeat their history and go at the recovery process alone. His thoughts turn to Shepard and Liara and how needed they were even now. Liara may be pregnant, currently recovering with Shepard and both of them were hesitant on becoming a leader for their people but Garrus knew for certain that the future for the Asari as a people was in fact Liara and Shepard for the Humans. He knew the Commander wouldn't want anything to do with the councilor position but more importantly her Asari lover would be extremely overprotective due to the fact that there still were people of every race unhappy with what was said and shown on the Galactic News Network.
Most of the fallout from the Cerberus interview had started to subside with Admiral Hackett being able to curb most of the rumors about what the interview meant. He was able to explain away the majority of what had happened but there were still people who witnessed an Alliance soldier get shot by the savior of the galaxy and there were some who wanted Shepard to stand trial for what she had done. There were even those people who wanted to ask the Commander personally why she had almost obliterated the entire Krogan race and ask her if what had been said by the Cerberus doctor was true. Was she against humanity and if she was then why? But the real question that had continued to surface over the GNN, talked about in bars on each planet and even on her own ship was whether or not the Reapers targeted Human colonies first over other races because of Shepard's involvement. The leader of the human extremist group mentioned numerous times that if it wasn't for the Commanders involvement that Humans would not have been apart of the harvest. That the Reapers would have ignored us since we were new to using the relays and space flight... that she brought the attention onto us when she became a Spectre and destroyed Sovereign and eventually the Collectors.
Garrus and everyone involved knew these accusations were the farthest thing from the truth but when he actually stopped to think about it all, some of it made sense. If it wasn't for Shepard destroying Sovereign and stopping the initial Reaper invasion would the Reapers, lead by Harbinger, focus on the Humans as much as they did? Would the Collectors have focused solely on Human colonies in order to make a Human Reaper and why were they making a human Reaper in the first place? Humans weren't the dominant alien race of this cycle. And even if they were going to be targeted by the Reapers would they have attacked Earth first and the hardest without Shepard getting involved in delaying the war, and not backing down when being confronted directly?
Garrus can only shake his head in order to get rid of his current thoughts but begins to focus when he hears a blip on his Omni- tool.
X
X
X
X
Would Liara be able to let go? Could she finally come to the realization that there was only so many times she could save Shepard before the inevitable happened. Once again she finds herself in another situation where her lovers life is in danger but this time there might not be a definitive cure to save her. Death itself could not stop the heroic savior of the galaxy before but now it seemed a serum made to indoctrinate her could possibly be her undoing. Sitting next to her lover while Shepard lies in the Med-Bed, Liara can only watch Kerry's chest rise and fall, giving the Asari the knowledge that her lover was still alive. It gave her some reprieve but she was furious that the now deceased Cerberus doctors were still involved in limiting their futures together. Holding Shepard's hand in her own, brining it to her mouth and kissing it, Liara tries to hold back the tears that are threatening to fall as she starts to think of the two Cerberus doctors and what they had done to her lover.
Liara had initially been irritated at Aethyta for stopping her from getting revenge on the Crucible but she eventually began to feel grateful for elder Asari stepping in and not allowing her to act on her feelings, allowing the rest of her friends to take of them but now she feels conflicted. Yes they deserved everything they received but Liara could feel the slight pang of guilt begin to build for even entertaining the notion of taking away a child's parent.
Shepard, Liara, Aethyta and even Miranda all had to deal with losing one, or both parents no matter the relationships they had and it took its toll on all of them. It defined who they were and even if Aethyta would never admit it, her parents and their death was a part of her and how she acted towards people; an almost non-caring façade. Miranda was the same way, not allowing anyone in to her life with the exception of her sister, Shepard and Liara. Even with that being said Lawson was still reluctant to allow anyone into her life to include her closest friends but she was never taught how to act any differently and witnessed first hand what how it was to be rejected by someone that was supposed to love you.
Liara and Shepard each had a loving family up until certain points in their lives. Both lost their families at different times and for different reasons but still became a big reason for who they are now, fighters. They all were, and once again they had to fight for something or someone and none of them would quit. Before Liara disconnected the call with her father the elder Asari assured her daughter as much as she could that everyone would do everything they could to help her bondmate. The Matriarch stated she'd get in touch with some of her Salarian contacts and if they were still alive, they could possibly find some way to help.
Liara couldn't describe how everything was playing out. Over the course of her bondmates life she had dropped everything to help everyone she ever met who needed it, even if she was involved in the middle of a mission. Shepard made sure everyone's private matters were taken care of above her own happiness but now Shepard was in need of help and her friends were possibly needed to come to her aid. And as her Asari lover runs her fingers through the woman that she loves blonde hair, Liara begins to realize that the biggest concern is whether or not there would be help available. With all the recovery efforts on each planet, the current situation with the humans and Quarians, and every other race suffering, there seemed to be an abundant amount of problems that may take precedence over Shepard's survival. Liara can only hope that the limited resources she currently has with the Shadow Broker network, her father and her friends onboard the Normandy will be enough.
X
X
X
X
She couldn't remember what her parents had told her about what happens in the afterlife. She couldn't think of what the history of her people had said in the old Quarian texts, with regards to what she was supposed to see and hear. Try as she might she could not remember exactly what her education said about who they worshiped as a people... who their biotáille was...What he or she was supposed to look and sound like?.. But she knew it wasn't supposed to be a Turian who reminded her of someone that looked an awful lot like her boyfriend Garrus Vakarian... Boshtet is even going to be a pain in my ass in the afterlife...
The more she thought about it the more the fog began to clear and her mind started to focus. She wasn't dead, maybe a little disoriented and suffering from hypoxia but alive... and apparently laying on the ground being looked down upon with concern by multiple people of all races. And one that even oddly looks like a female Turian...Didn't realize they had one...thought Garrus would just squat and plop, out came an egg...
She would have laughed if she didn't feel so awful...it felt like she had been riding in the Mako with Shepard again and the Commander chose to drive on a flat surface for a second...then that led to a cliff... and a ninety degree drop and then they were somehow upside down... Now I may vomit.
"Thank the spirits" She hears him say as she tries to remember what exactly happened to her.
Focusing was next to impossible...head throbbing...chest tight... breathing shallow. A pulse is barely there but she's alive and that's all that could have been hoped for.
They had been searching for hours on any and all moons and planets the scanners found to have any kind of wreckage or signs of life. Most of the ships or escape pods that were found had been leftover from the war. Reminders of what they had all been through only a short time ago but this one desolate rock seemed to have made it possible for this lone soul out of the many to be rescued.