Hariltonia;
Epilogue
The twin red suns of Hariltonia shone down on her. The sand of the beach felt soft and warm between her toes.
Alteia lay sleeping a few metres away. She allowed herself a faint smile at that; she'd earned it.
She couldn't bear to sleep herself, something about the old nightmares kept her from closing her eyes and setting her head down. She was busy in thought, like she always was when not confronted with an immediate problem. Shepard had been right and in his own way, so had Karnak. There was always going to be another target, always going to be another person who'd lost something and decided to take it out on humanity.
She raised her hand to the sun and blocked the light out.
Cerberus was a distant memory now, for the life of her she could barely even remember the Illusive man's face. Or her father's. A part of her mind far in the back wondered idly what Oriana would be doing right now. Maybe she'd go find out. After all, she had a whole week to waste. She'd ask Alteia along when she woke. Yes, that sounded good.
It was all so unfamiliar to her, the doldrum and routine of simply being with another person in day to day life. But it was refreshing too, like a cold splash of water.
She couldn't work for the Alliance. Or wouldn't, she wasn't truly sure. But Shepard had been onto something. There were a myriad of different opportunities out there for someone like her. She thought about it for a second, after all, she still had contacts almost everywhere.
She looked down at Alteia's sleeping form and smiled. But darkly this time. Cerberus were still out there, still a threat.
Maybe that would do for a first job. After all, she owed the Illusive Man a visit.
But still, whatever it was, wherever she'd be, it could wait.
She tilted her head back and closed her eyes.
She could hear gunshots, screams, even now. But they sounded faraway, like something underwater crying out. Not the harsh screeches that had plagued her nights for so long.
She let one last smile pass over her features, and slept like that for a long time.