RANNOCH
The large transport ship slowly descended and was secured to the landing bay. Shepard is the only one greeting Garrus Vakarian. Tali and Raktim are busy making a special meal for him. Shepard requested that she be alone when she met him, no kids, no Liara. Her bondmate seemed to understand, but she knows that perhaps her blue beauty was a bit hurt that she wanted to meet her old friend by herself.
When Garrus finally steps out of the ship Shepard almost jumps up and down like a little girl but stops herself. She hasn't seen her comrade in arms for years. In a very reserved fashion she raises her hand until they make eye contact then they each nod with a smile.
Garrus looks good though time has made him a bit slower. He walks with a slight limp and the spark he always had has diminished a little. It was four years ago when he called Shepard one late night. She knew he had been crying but didn't admit to it. His wife died. She took ill and suffered for months until she finally died. Shepard talked with him until the morning hours. She never met the Turian woman in person, though Gloria was a lovely person. She poked her head in front of the vid monitor so Shepard could see her from time to time when the retired Captain and Garrus were visiting via vid phone. Shepard always joked with Garrus that he made her up. That he wasn't really married. He married her during the time Little A was born so Shepard and Liara were not able to attend their wedding.
As she watches him come towards her she can't help but think he has lost a step. When he looks at her again they exchange smiles.
"Garrus!" She cannot contain herself she gives her Turian friend a great big hug. "How the hell are ya?"
He steps back from the hug, "Can't complain Shepard. You are looking good."
"You too." She pats him on the shoulder as they start walking out of the docking bay.
"This it?" he asks.
"What?"
"No welcome party on my behalf Shepard? I was expecting banners and music. I think I am disappointed."
"Sorry Garrus, but I wanted you all to myself."
"Aww shucks."
She points in the direction of Tali's sky car as they walk toward the parking lot. The Quarian told her she could borrow it if she promised to be careful. She never did like Shepard's driving. "You hungry?"
"Starving. The food on that ship was to say the least undesirable."
"Tali and her husband are making something just for you."
"And where is your family?" They reach the sky car. He puts his luggage in the back.
"They are at Tali's."
He looks at her across the car. "Like I said Garrus, I wanted you to myself."
They fly toward Tali's home. Garrus is quiet for most of the trip aside from a few yawns.
"You tired?"
"I'm getting old Shepard. Seems like I am always tired."
Shepard pats his leg, "Well you still look good to me."
"So how is your family? How is Raina doing? Has coming to Rannoch helped?"
"I think she is doing better. She loves worrying about everything ya know."
"Sounds like someone I know." He nudges her in the shoulder.
"Yeah unfortunately she has not learned to let things go yet. Little A had a little accident."
"Oh?"
"Broke her ankle but she is out of the hospital now and better than ever."
"Dare I ask?"
Shepard laughs a little. "Kids were playing and she fell."
Garrus laughs a little.
"Here we are," says Shepard as she lands the sky car.
"Wow nice place," says Garrus.
"Wait until you see the inside."
They both get out. Shepard beats him to the back of the car and takes his luggage.
"I can take that Shepa…."
"Uncle Garrus!" Little A is runs toward him. There are no signs of any type of injury she incurred.
He kneels down with arms open and scoops her up into a big hug spinning her around and then sets her down. "Hello there Little Aethyta. I heard you took a spill."
She touches his face while locking eyes onto his. "Raina dropped me, but I'm okay."
He stands up and looks over at Shepard who is laughing. "Dropped her?" he asks.
"Hi Uncle Garrus." It's Mia now. She gives him a hug and a kiss to his cheek. "It is good to see you."
"Now which one are you again?"
"Uncle Garrus!" Mia gives him a soft punch to the arm.
"Ouch owww careful. You don't know your own strength." He says it with a smile at least it looks like a smile.
He is flanked by Little A and Mia as he walks toward the house. Waiting for him are Liara, Raina and Eva as well as Tali and her family.
Liara is the first to approach. "Garrus how are you?" She gives him a soft long hug. "It is so good to see you, I am so sorry about Gloria." She says this while still embraced.
Clearing his throat he quickly looks away from Liara. She always had a way to make him feel when he didn't want to. "Thank you Liara. Good to see you too."
Raina and Eva wait for Tali to go. The Quarian gives him a great big hug. "It is so good of you to come Garrus. I am glad you could make it."
He looks at her and studies her a bit. "You are beautiful Tali, Raktim is a very lucky man."
She hugs him again, "Thank you Garrus."
Raina is next. She approaches slowly and carefully hugs the Turian.
"I am not going to break Raina," he laughs.
She squeezes tightly. "I love you Uncle Garrus."
He is caught a bit off guard. Though the Asari girls have told him that before he was not expecting it. "I love you too Raina."
She steps back from the hug and he cannot help but notice the bags under her eyes, the sadness that they carry. Shepard was right; she is carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.
"Hi Uncle Garrus," Eva says.
He gives her a hug, "Hello my sweet thing how are you doing?"
"Good. How are you?"
"I am great now that I am here."
"Garrus," says Tali, "I want to introduce my husband Raktim and my two sons Rael and Keenah."
Garrus extends his hand. "It is a pleasure to finally meet all of you in person. Thank you for allowing me to stay with you."
When Tali asked Liara and Shepard about staying with them they declined. Having to find a place to put up six people was too much to ask in their opinion. They were happy to stay in a hotel.
"Welcome to our home Garrus," says Raktim. "Lunch is ready if you are hungry."
"I am famished."
EARTH
"What's going on?" asks Oriana of her colleague and friend Claire.
"Don't know, I think Dr. Sadler is going to make some sort of announcement."
The scientists are gathered by the stage where a podium sits. Much like when they all first started their project almost three weeks ago. They were asked to stop their work and congregate before breaking for lunch.
"Hey do you want to go to that Italian place today?" asks Claire.
Oriana looks at her with raised eye brows.
"What? I think best when I eat Italian, I told you that."
"Every day?"
"What can I say? I love the stuff."
Oriana giggles a little trying to keep her voice down. "Sure. Can we go to that place we went to before where I had to leave?"
"I thought you'd never ask. Everything work out with Mark and the kids?"
"Yes. I am doing better."
"I have noticed."
"Have you now?"
"Yes. Some days I have even noticed that you have left before me." Claire nudges shoulders with her.
"Well Mark and I had a long talk. And just like you said, he said I put too much focus on my work where I lose time and don't realize what I am missing along the way. So I set my omni-tool to buzz me at a certain time every night. If I am still here that is my cue to pack up and leave for the night."
"And do you keep work at work?" asks Claire.
"Now that I am still working on."
"Attention, your attention please," says Dr. Sadler.
Oriana could swear the woman does not look too well. She looks a little pale and her hair is duller somehow as if she is not getting any sunlight, there is no shine to it.
"Thank you," she says when the scientists quiet down. "I want to commend all of you on your hard work to date. I know it has been less than a month, but I feel progress is being made. If you please look at this."
A monitor displays the DNA of a human being.
"Dr. Cochran has been doing some tests specifically with one of the four nucleotides, Cytosine. Dr. Cochran if you will." Dr. Sadler steps off to the side to allow Dr. Cochran to speak.
He clears his throat then begins. "Yes. I am trying to see how Cytosine will interact when introducing this protein."
"Why a protein Dr. Cochran?" asks Oriana. All faces look to her. She wonders if she is not supposed to ask questions.
"I understand that DNA's instructions are used to make proteins Dr. Lawson," says Dr. Cochran. "I wanted to see what would happen if I introduced more protein. This is what happens. Now this is a simulation over the course of only 3.25 minutes."
The monitor displays the new DNA strand with added protein as well as the RUST disease. The DNA strand starts to disintegrate three minutes after it is infected with the disease.
"Have you tried a different nucleotide or perhaps worked specifically with the ribonucleic acid?" asks Dr. Lawson again.
Dr. Sadler touches Dr. Cochran's shoulder and he moves off the stage back into the crowd of scientists. "All good questions," says Dr. Sadler. "Thank you Dr. Cochran. I like this test. I know there can be some problems with the protein but I want a few more people with Dr. Cochran on this idea. I want you to further develop what you can and report your progress in two weeks for the group. Please see me if you want to assist. Thank you and please return to your work."
"Well?" asks Claire.
"Well what?"
"Should we volunteer?"
Oriana looks at her with narrow eyes. "You know I don't play well with others."
"And yet you are capable of it. Look how nice you and I have been playing together this past week."
"That is about as much change as I can handle right now. Besides, I think my idea is better."
"Of course you do."
RANNOCH
Raina, Mia and Eva are walking down main street. They asked if they could walk off their lunch. Little A decided to stay behind in order to hang out with Rael and Keenah.
"So any bets on when Little A is going to kiss Rael?" asks Eva.
"You can't be serious!" says Mia.
"Of course I am serious! Don't you see how the two look at each other?"
Raina is walking behind her two sisters though she can still hear them. The street is too crowded to have three people walk side by side.
"I don't think she should kiss him at all. In fact if she gets kissed before I do I think I will be really mad," says Mia.
"What about you Raina?" asks Eva as she turns to look at her sister and turns again to watch where she is going.
"I think Eva is right. I think it may just happen."
"Are you saying that because you know it is going to happen?" asks Mia.
"I am saying it because I think it is going to happen," says Raina, "I don't know for sure."
"Has anyone taught her how to kiss?" asks Eva.
"Has anyone ever taught you?" asks Mia as she pushes her younger sister softly.
"Oh I know how to kiss."
"If you are looking to practice you can always practice on me." It is a voice none of them recognize. They turn and see a human male walking behind Raina. He has short blonde hair with green eyes and is very tan. He has a great big smile on his face revealing beautiful white straight teeth aside from a chip in one of his front teeth.
"What?" Eva asks. She is not sure if the man is joking. He looks to be about her age but she is not sure how to tell how old humans are or any other species outside of Asari for that matter.
"You heard me gorgeous. You can find me in here." He stops walking and stands in front of what appears to be a bar of some sort.
Mia continues to walk as does Raina but Eva stops and approaches him. "Eva," whispers Mia as she turns around with Raina.
"What kind of place is it?" asks Eva.
"Come in and find out. I will buy you something to drink."
Raina takes Eva's arm and whispers, "No. We are not going in."
The male boy enters the bar like place. Eva pulls her arm away from Raina and without looking back says, "I'm going in."
Mia tries to grab her but is too slow; her sister is already through the door. "Well that's just great," she says. "What are we going to do now?"
"Well we certainly cannot leave her in there alone," says Raina.
"Should we call Mom or Dad?"
"I don't think that is necessary just yet. Let's go in and see what kind of place it is first."
"Okay, but if I have to kick butt you got my back right?" asks Mia.
"Mia honestly, why are you always looking for a fight?" Raina holds the door for her.
"Why not?" She enters with Raina on her heels.
The place is a bit dark. It takes a few moments for their eyes to adjust. It is a sort of lounge and game room. There is a large bar in the center of the room with tables and chairs on either side. There are arcade games to the left and right and toward the back behind the bar. Large monitors don the walls showing all sorts of sporting events. There is even a skyball game being telecast.
"Oh wow!" says Mia. She finds a chair by the monitor to watch the skyball game. She has already forgotten why they entered the place.
Raina puts her hand on her shoulder, "I am going to look for Eva."
"Let her have some fun. We can get snacks," says Mia.
"We just ate."
"Who cares?"
"I am going to find her. Do not leave."
"I'm not going anywhere." Her eyes never leave the monitor.
Raina walks toward the back of the place. She doesn't like that her sister followed a complete stranger, but she is happy that she is not getting any sort of vibe or weird feeling. At the very back of the establishment is a corner booth that looks like it can hold about ten people. She sees Eva in the middle of the booth surround by four others two Quarian and two Humans. They are all male.
Eva doesn't see her at first she is too busy talking to the blonde male. She looks up to see her sister approach. "Oh hey Raina. These are my friends."
"Your friends?" Raina cannot believe it, she just met them.
"Yeah," she laughs and then takes a sip of something. "This is Zach." She is pointing to the blonde that spoke to them. "That's Isaac," the other human, "and these guys are Deven and Jafar," the two Quarians.
They all smile and nod. Deven who is at the end of the booth stands and bows slightly.
The table laughs at him. "What are you doing?" asks Zach.
"I am performing the Asari greeting am I not?" he looks between Eva and Raina. He has a scar over his right eye that continues onto his cheek. He has dark brown hair with a slight curl that falls to his shoulders. Raina cannot help but think how nice it would be to touch it. To run her fingers through it because it looks like silk. It looks thinner than human hair, thinner than her Father's hair.
"You do not need to bow at the waist," says Raina with a smile. "It is more of a head nod like this." She shows him.
"Ah I see. How's this."
"Very good."
"May I get you something to drink?" asks Deven.
Raina looks at her sister with a worried expression. Eva just waves her off and resumes talking to Zach and the others.
Instead of being a spoil sport Raina decides to take him up on his offer. The place seems nice enough and so far the Quarian has some manners. "That would be nice thank you."
"Great." He holds out his arm. She takes it. He leads her to the bar in the middle of the lounge.
"Is it okay if we sit here or do you prefer a table?"
Raina walks further down the bar so she can actually keep her eyes on both of her sisters. "This is good."
Deven smiles and sits next to her. "I am afraid I did not catch your name."
"It's Raina."
"That is a beautiful name. I see you are very protective of your sisters."
"I'm sorry?"
"I couldn't help but notice you wanting to sit here so you can keep an eye on them." He is smiling. "Don't you get tired? I sure do."
"What do you mean?"
"Well I am the oldest of three brothers. I am the one always looking out for them almost like a third parent and I get tired of it."
"Sorry to hear that."
"What can I get you two?" asks the bar tender.
"May I?" asks Deven.
Raina wonders what he means. She nods with a small smile.
"Two specials please."
The bartender leaves to make the drinks.
"It does not have alcohol in it does it?" asks Raina.
"Just a little. Why?"
Raina doesn't say anything.
"Don't tell me you have never had a drink before?"
Raina's eyes move to Eva then to Mia then to Eva again. "I drink wine from time to time."
"Your parent's parties don't count."
She looks at him with narrow eyes.
"Hey I know remember, oldest of three brothers. Seems like kids always get a sip of something during one of their parents parties."
"I suppose you are right."
"You ever sneak a bottle?"
"No."
He does a double take thinking at first she is joking. He realizes she is not. "So you are a real straight shooter eh?"
"I'm sorry?"
"You don't break the rules much do you?"
"They are there for a reason."
"Yeah," he laughs loudly, "to break."
"Here you go." The bartender sets two glasses down, one in front of each of them.
Deven brings up his omni-tool and pays for the drinks.
"You should let me buy my own," says Raina.
"Nope. I wanted to buy you a drink." He raises his glass and waits for her.
She raises her glass.
He clinks them together, "To new friendships." He takes a long swig of the drink then licks his lips when he sets down his glass.
Raina is more conservative in her sip. It slides down her throat nicely, no burn and leaves a nice sweet taste on her tongue, nothing too strong. She takes a bigger sip this time."
"It's good isn't it?"
"Yes it is." Raina finishes it.
"Whoa, I mean wow."
"Did I do something wrong?"
"No no not at all. Just take it easy. They kind of sneak up on you." He takes another sip.
"What do you mean 'sneaks up on you'?"
"You might not feel the effects right now but after a second one you might not be able to stand up."
Raina covers her mouth in embarrassment. "Oh I didn't realize."
Deven laughs. "Hey it's no problem. I was the same way when I had my first real drink. I passed out after my third one. I don't want to see that happen to you. Sorry, I should have warned you."
"That …" she is finding it a bit difficult to form the correct words. "..okay."
Deven laughs again. "Yeah you are not having any more tonight."
Raina laughs out loud. She has not felt this relaxed in months. She likes how fuzzy she is starting to feel. She is aware enough to know what is going on, but fuzzy enough not to really care. A part of her wants to feel like this all of the time. She makes a mental note to ask what the name of the drink is so she can ask for it on Thessia. She probably won't remember to ask. "Can I have a sip of yours?"
"I don't think so," says Deven. "I think you have had enough."
"Aren't you tired?"
"What?"
"Aren't you tired?"
Deven furrows his brows at her. "Tired of what?"
"Of always protecting and looking out for people? I thought you were going to show me how to relax."
"Well you got me there. Only a sip."
Raina takes his glass which is still half full and empties it in one large gulp.