Forgiveness is not always easy. At times, it feels more painful than the wound we suffered, to forgive the one that inflicted it. And yet, there is no peace without forgiveness — Marianne Williamson

• DECK THREE · CREW'S MESS •

Tali came around the starboard elevator supports in time to catch Garrus, EDI and Samantha leaving the Med Bay. "What did I miss? She still alive in there?" EDI answered as Garrus and Sam walked by her, each saying 'Hi Tali' as they headed for the mid-deck passage to the port side lounge. "She's fine, Tali. Still disoriented from pain killers and the anesthesia Dr Chakwas used. She just needs time to heal."

"Did she talk to Samantha? Is there going to be a rematch when Dr T'Soni's back on her feet?"

"You too, Tali?" EDI managed to sound displeased. "Why is everyone so ready to see the specialist punished? I have forgiven her. Alenko deemed her offenses not worthy of a permanent reprimand. I believe Liara will forgive her again, when she is free of the mind-numbing drugs keeping her pain at bay."

"Keelah, EDI. There's no reason for you to get upset. I am out of the inner circle, I guess. It's just that, you know … she is Shepard's promised. I thought Samantha was going to be confined to quarters for … well, forever."

"My apologies, Tali'Zorah. It just seems there are more than a few people on this ship that are hungering for some excitement, especially if it's at someone else's expense." EDI's tone lightened. "Now, if you will excuse me, there is one person on this ship that is going to have some excitement of his own."

"You must mean the Flight Lieutenant. Do you think he will enjoy it?"

"Oh, no. The excitement I have planned for him will not please him in the least. It will be fun … for me," EDI finished. Handing her eye patch to Tali, she requested, "Please place this back over my left eye, Tali. The pirate queen of the Terminus is about to skewer her next victim."

• DECK TWO, CONFERENCE ROOM · 1105 •

Alenko had returned to the conference room and was waiting for Shepard when her avatar appeared in the center well of the table. "Kaidan. Looks as if you found a solution for Traynor. I think Joker doesn't feel as you do regarding her punishment, or lack thereof, nor can I say I agree with your decision either. Fill me in … what'd I miss?"

"I was going to confine her, cut her pay," Alenko started to explain in an apologetic tone, "but I didn't feel the Normandy's best interests would be served by doing so. I discovered bits and pieces, from her, from Garrus, from Alliance records … she had some incredibly intense training in an Alliance black-ops program, Shepard." Alenko paused, closed his eyes and massaged his temples between thumb and fingers. "The program was terminated, records sealed, participants ordered to remain quiet. For good or bad, the Alliance created a number of these human weapons, Traynor among them; the survivors are all loose cannons, still loaded, cocked in most cases. It doesn't take much to set them off."

"Do you believe all of this, Kaidan? How much did she tell you?"

"What she could without completely violating her NDA. I learned some more from Garrus this morning. She studied astrophysics, plus mathematics and statistics in college. Did you know, she even has a solid background in computer science?" Alenko 'scrubbed' his face with both hands, attempting to wake himself up a bit. He hadn't had an unbroken night's sleep in thirty hours. "What she told Garrus? Scary stuff, Commander. I would not want to face her as an enemy in the dark. Neither would you. Classification is CvØ7, every bit as capable as any N7. When we were discussing her proposed punishments this morning, she told me she's an Alliance created version of Subject Zero; every bit as deadly, just minus the biotics."

Shepard replied in a thoughtful tone, "EDI is fine. Liara is on the mend. I'm sure Žiuk'Durmah is taking good care of Javik. Your reasoning is sound, Major, and you have my sincere apologies for even doubting you. Why confine a crew member when we're all confined to this ship. At least she can continue to be productive, and Westmoreland and Campbell don't have to watch her every move."

"I fully expect her to request a transfer off the Normandy once we're in the turian home system, Commander. She won't want to remain aboard when Javik returns, if he returns. Do you think he will wish to remain with Žiuk'Durmah?"

"I don't know, Major. He seems to be content, researching Prothean history before the Reapers invaded. It's possible he'll want to publish a definitive history on his race, to separate the truth from the speculation. Can't think of a better use for his time."

Shepard continued in a reflective tone of voice. "I've taken some time to meditate, to reassess all that's happened these past few days and weeks. I am way too close to this situation, Kaidan. You know I am in love with Liara. Makes me biased. Not a good position for any officer in charge. I'm going to have a heart-to-heart talk with Samantha … discuss her lack of belief in my continued existence. We'll get it sorted out. Thank you for having my back … I know I've been difficult to deal with sometimes … hell, maybe all the time since the Crucible fired."

"Being difficult is not a hanging offense, Commander," Kaidan said with a chuckle. "Just makes you human. I hope you can reach an accord with Traynor. She is such a talented person … best damn comms specialist and analyst I have ever seen. If you need any assistance, call me … only, maybe after I've gotten some sleep?"

• DECK THREE, PORT SIDE · CREW LOUNGE •

Garrus and Sam entered the crew lounge and found Vega and Cortez having a quiet conversation over glasses of beer. Vega saw them first and hoisted his glass in their direction. "Look who's here! Garrus! Specialist Traynor! Come have a beer with us, Specialist!"

Traynor looked at Vega, then at Cortez. "What are you drinking, Lieutenant? Seems the ship's beer supply should be just about depleted." Cortez took a swallow from his glass, then replied, "Tecate. Be glad to open one for you, Specialist."

Vega took a swallow from his own glass and replied as he wiped the foam from his upper lip, "Pacífico. Brewed in Mazatlán, Pacific Ocean coast of Mexico. Exquisito. I just hope the Reapers didn't obliterate the brewery."

"Actually, I'll have one of each. Tecate first. Working on the Normandy in dry-dock, before the Reaper attack, I used to unwind at the end of the day with a Tecate. Can't get too wasted, though. I still have to talk to Dr T'Soni."

"Garrus, I really wish we had some dextro-based beer for you," Steve said as he opened a bottle of Tecate and poured the contents into a half-liter glass. "Doesn't seem fair we can't all be drinking the same stuff." Handing the frothy topped glass of amber liquid to Samantha, he waved his own glass in her direction and said, "Cheers, Specialist."

Garrus had bent down behind the bar; after clanking a few containers this way and that, he pulled out his own treasure … a small bottle of extremely potent quarian whiskey, something Tali had not yet discovered. "No problem, Cortez. I'll just have a bit of this stuff. Guaranteed to set any turian on his ass. Human or asari? It's pure, fast-acting poison."

James turned to Samantha. "So, Specialist? How did you manage to get Alenko and Shepard to give you a pass?"

"Lieutenant Cortez was there. Decision was totally on Major Alenko. I expect he found stuff from my early years in the Alliance that contributed to my unexpected loss of control, stuff the Alliance does not wish to become general knowledge." she responded before taking a long drink from her glass. "Mmmmm … that's damned good beer, Cortez! Surprised you still have any left."

"Esteban here helped me procure a bunch of small shipping containers full of both brands during our last stop at the Citadel, right after Shepard's party," Vega replied for his friend. "Also got some of the lesser brands, you know, for the grunts. It stays good for a long time when it's kept refrigerated, and there are spaces below engineering where the HVAC piping is especially cold. Unfortunately, our stocks are getting a bit low these days."

James took another swallow from his own glass before fixing the specialist with a steely gaze. "So, you put Buggy on the deck. I would have really enjoyed seeing you do that … may even have helped. Never did trust that guy … "

Garrus strolled over, sat down beside James and interrupted him. "Samantha, I really think James needs to see what you did … Cortez too. They should be aware of how incredibly capable you are at hand-to-hand combat." As she started to protest, he raised a hand, "Just the takedown of Javik … that's all."

"Okay Garrus, fine. It seems the pyjak is out of the sack." Traynor sighed, then finished her beer. Cortez refilled her glass, this time with a Pacífico.

"Just … guys, please? I had a lot of very extreme training. Supposed to be a long buried Alliance secret. I signed an NDA, so I would really appreciate your discretion. I don't want this to leave the ship."

"No problem, Specialist." James and Steve watched as Garrus entered several commands on his omni tool, resulting in a large still frame from the video being projected on the forward inboard side wall above the couch. "This is from Žiuk'Durmah's perspective," explained Garrus. "Less than ten seconds for this segment—287 frames."

Entering a final command, he held his omni tool steady as the video played, from Traynor's demand for an apology and Javik's response [' … I will not apologize to you for attempting to … '] to Traynor cursing as she stood over Javik's prone body [' … Žiuk'Durmah! You can keep this wretched bastard for eternity!'] Total silence reigned as Garrus secured his omni tool.

Cortez, looking at the specialist with an apparently newfound respect, was the first to speak. "That was absolutely incredible, Traynor! I never would have believed anyone capable of performing such a quick takedown, much less … "

"A woman?" Traynor finished for him.

"Well, yes, I guess … I mean … Samantha, why didn't you tell anyone about your abilities? We all know you're an absolute marvel as a comm tech. It's really just too … amazing … " Cortez was finally at a loss for words.

"Garrus, how many seconds of video just for the punches?" James wanted to know.

"One-to-two. Maybe 40-45 frames. Even watching frame-by-frame? It's all a blur, gentlemen. I believe Shepard's description was 'wicked fast'. And Specialist Traynor? …" Garrus turned his blue-eyed gaze back to Samantha. "'wicked fast' doesn't even begin to do justice to that three-punch combo. That … " pointing to the now empty wall, " … was a thing of absolute beauty. You are an artist."

" … I don't know, Garrus." Traynor was blushing furiously. "I didn't do anything special."

"I'll second your opinion, Garrus," James added. "Is it just possible," James kept his eyes on Traynor as he asked, "that this woman is living on the wrong side of the ship?"

"I don't understand your question."

James finished his brew and set the glass down. "I believe she just may be in the wrong branch, is all. Traynor? Sure you weren't supposed to enlist in the Marines? You certainly seem to have the hand-to-hand training. Did you also learn how to handle weapons … pistols? Assault rifles?"

Traynor appeared even more embarrassed at these questions. "I really shouldn't talk about it, guys."

"Samantha, come on," Steve cajoled. "We're all shipmates here, right Vega?" James nodded in agreement. "The Alliance must have trained you to be more than a comms specialist. What other skills were you taught?"

Sam took another swallow from her glass before answering shyly, "Weapons training. Long range or close up, I can probably outshoot anyone on this vessel, Lieutenant … probably most anyone in the Navy or Marines. I aced all the training. Maybe I should have transferred into the Marines."

"That almost sounds like a challenge, Specialist."

"Just stating facts, Lieutenant." Traynor returned Vega's steady gaze without flinching.

A grin gradually spread to the corners of Vega's face. "Las hembras [the females] on this boat?" he asked no one in particular as he shook his head in seeming disbelief. "How did we wind up with a shipload of such totally kick ass women?"

Garrus looked at James. "Who else besides Traynor, Shepard, Tali and EDI?"

Cortez interrupted, "Don't forget Dr T'Soni," causing Sam to cover her face with her free hand. "Oops. Sorry about that Specialist. But, T'Soni does have killer biotics. Just saying."

James finished with, "Gabriella Daniels. She has some killer moves with her hands and feet … ¡pies descalzos! [barefoot!]—kick boxer! You should have seen her destroy that husk head. Use the observation windows … watch her punishing my heavy bag in the early mornings. I'll have to buy a new one by the time she's done abusing that thing."

Garrus raised his glass of quarian whisky. "Gentlemen! A toast!" As James and Steve raised their glasses high, Garrus continued, using sub-harmonics to emphasize his words. "To Specialist Samantha Traynor and the women of the Normandy. May we never have the misfortune of having their skills directed at us!"

"Hear! Hear!" James and Steve clanked their glasses together as they shouted as one.

• DECK ONE, THE LOFT · 1355 •

Traynor used her omnitool to activate the chime on the door lock, which obligingly turned green. The door segments slid into their pockets with a quiet swish, allowing Sam to enter the commander's quarters, unoccupied these many weeks since Shepard had thrown herself into the energy beam generated by the docked Crucible. The hatch closed and latched behind her as the specialist slowly walked past the twin aquariums; she marveled again at the many life forms within as she stepped down into the sleeping area and moved towards the L-shaped couch on the starboard side living space. "Commander Shepard?" She picked up the bottle of water sitting on the table and took a seat with her back to the model ship display.

"Specialist Traynor." The commander's ultraviolet and red avatar appeared in the space between the forward end of the couch and the desk. "Thanks for coming up to chat."

"What do you wish to talk about?" Traynor schooled her voice, keeping all her emotions tightly bottled up inside.

"Samantha, when you were first posted to this ship, when it was still dry-docked in Vancouver, you did an incredible job reworking the communications systems, setting up the QEC and war room. I suspect you may have even had a hand in setting up the Shadow Broker's equipment. Your work was always exemplary, until the day Liara and I recovered Javik and brought him on board. You changed. It was subtle. The quality of your work never betrayed your feelings, and I don't believe anyone else noticed until the Normandy was grounded and I found my way back. That first meeting, in the conference room? You really cut loose." Shepard paused, thinking. "Hindsight? To use an old expression, it's always 20/20, always perfect. There was no way to foresee what would happen. Do you think we would have been wrong to maroon Javik on that planet? I believe so, even though he offered to leave."

"I don't see how revisiting history is going to help us reach a finer understanding of each other, Commander." Traynor leaned back on the couch, hands behind her head, one ankle on the knee of her other leg. "I wanted Javik dead. Did you talk to Garrus? I told him I pulled my punches when I hit Javik. I could have killed him … 'ell, maybe I should have completed the job Tali started. I pulled my punches when I hit Liara. I'm really sorry I hit her … sorry I injured her, but by that time I was totally on auto pilot, with only enough conscious control to use the minimum amount of energy needed to get the job done."

Shepard was impressed, enough so that she did not want to see what the specialist was truly capable of doing. "What I really don't understand, Samantha, is why you never confided in me or Alenko, or even Garrus during our fight against Cerberus and the Reapers. From what little you told Alenko and Garrus, you would have been an outstanding addition to any squad taken groundside. I believe you could have taken that sword away from Kai Leng and used it to relieve him of his own head. I know we talked before about your hatred of Javik; I really believed we had put that issue to rest. But there's something else, isn't there?"

"What do you mean, Commander?"

"You don't believe I am really … me, do you?" Shepard asked in a melancholy tone. "After everything we've been through, do you think I am any less human because I can't sit on that couch, drink a cup of tea, play chess against you or sleep in my bed under the stars?"

"I am having trouble with that concept, yes. You are not human, Shepard. No flesh and blood. To hear you tell it, your body was consumed in the energy blast generated by the Crucible. Before that? When Cerberus brought you back to hunt down the Collectors? You were as much machine as human." Traynor looked intently at the glowing avatar. "I saw your eyes, Commander. They were synthetic … glowed red in dim lighting. You are truly a ghost in the machine."

Shepard's voice went slightly darker. "This ghost in the machine makes mistakes, Samantha, mistakes an actual computer would be incapable of committing. I care about everyone on this ship, including you. It broke my heart that I couldn't personally intervene when Javik grabbed you in the airlock." Shepard softened her tone of voice. "If it had been me instead of Tali holding that shotgun? I might have pumped another round in him, finished him off before Žiuk'Durmah took notice of what was happening."

Samantha shifted her posture; leaning forward, she placed both feet on the deck with her hands on her knees. "But the shore party, Commander. You took the other side. You ordered me to back down after Liara basically told me to just forget about Javik's assault. Fucking cockroach wouldn't apologize, yet she took his side over mine, and you seemed to be backing her, or did I not hear you correctly." Traynor took a long, shuddering breath. "She would not or could not admit her viewpoint needed correction, and I just could not let that go, Ma'am. I sincerely regret my actions. I lost it, okay? Punching EDI? Liara? I wasn't trained to injure my friends, injure the people I love … the people I care about. I am truly sorry, Shepard, but I'm sure I'd react in the exact same way if placed in that situation again."

Shepard responded quietly as Sam drank from the water bottle. "I appreciate your honesty, Specialist. Thank you. And as I said, I make mistakes. Do you think I haven't agonized over those twenty minutes over there? So, you corrected Liara's viewpoint for her?"

"No, Ma'am … not intentionally, anyway. EDI grabbing my arm was the trigger. Liara was aiming to hit me from behind. Self-defense. I still have to talk to her, to apologize for causing her injuries. After I do that, whether she accepts or not, I will continue to perform my duties to the high standards you expect from me. When we reach the turian home system, I'll request a transfer to another Alliance ship or shore facility."

"Samantha, really? I know this ship wouldn't fall apart without you here, but … "

"But what, Commander. I disobeyed an order from … my commander, even if I'm still not totally convinced she's not just a freaking ghost. I severely injured a hybrid synthetic woman of whom I am extremely fond, not to mention an asari to which said commander has promised her life. Flight Lieutenant Moreau believes I should be stood against a post, stripped, flogged and executed … 'ell, he wants to watch!"

Shepard's avatar shifted colors … red brightening to almost orange, violet deepening to ultraviolet. "Samantha, none of what happened can be changed … well, maybe Joker's attitude will change, since said hybrid synthetic woman is really bustin' his chops for his vindictive attitude towards you. Interesting conversation. One-sided, but interesting."

She paused, as if concentrating on the one-sided conversation taking place on the bridge. Her voice sounded as if she were smiling. "EDI has forgiven you, Sam, and is still your friend. I'm sure Liara will forgive you as well. She isn't one for holding a grudge … says it's a waste of energy. The person really needing forgiveness? Look in the mirror, Traynor. You have to be willing to forgive yourself. Just … don't make any irrevocable decisions before we arrive. Talk to me, or Alenko. Talk to Garrus or Steve Cortez. There are a lot of people on this boat that would really miss you, and not just for your talents with the communications systems … they'd miss you … they'd miss Samantha Traynor."

Sam was silent for several minutes, looking in Shepard's direction but focused on something in the distance. Finally, she stood and said, "Thank you, Commander. You've given me a lot to think about."

As she turned and started for the door, Shepard took her parting shot.

"Sam, before you talk to Liara, give some thought to this: she really is in need of an assistant, someone that's not Glyph. Kaidan could arrange for you to be assigned as the Alliance's liaison to the Shadow Broker. Promise me you will at least think about it?"

Sam paused on the stairs by the aquarium. Turning partway back to look at the dodecahedron, she said, "Thank you, Shepard. I will consider it." With that, she continued out the exit, leaving Shepard's avatar in the compartment.

• DECK TWO, BRIDGE · 1415 •

For perhaps only the second time since EDI had known Flight Lieutenant Jeff Moreau, the usually snarky pilot was totally speechless as he stared in near disbelief at the last frame of video EDI had just shared with him. After several minutes of gawking at the image of Liara lying unconscious in a puddle of her own blood on the deck, and EDI—his EDI—sprawled out next to her, he slowly turned his attention to the synthetic hybrid woman beside him. "EDI, has anyone else seen this? Does Specialist Traynor know you planned to share this?"

"She is my friend, Jeff. She trusts my judgment … and no, she does not know I am sharing this with you." EDI pulled the OSD from the reader and deleted all local copies from the bridge playback terminals. "Having seen just a tiny bit of what she is truly capable of, do you still think we would be justified in terminating such a valuable member of this crew?"

"I've never seen anything like that, even in the action vids, EDI. But how did Javik … "

"Grab her in the airlock?" she finished for him. "Biotics, Jeff. Her skills do not include biotic ability, and she does not possess physical defenses against a trained biotic." Indicating the OSD she held, she added, "Žiuk'Durmah employed a biotic dampening field in that chamber. Had she chosen, Traynor could have killed Javik. She could have killed Liara T'Soni. She could have, despite what I previously told you, permanently disabled me in any number of ways once I was lying on the deck."

"EDI, no!" Jeff's horrified expression would have been perfect for a well-timed 'that was a joke, Jeff,' but she maintained her dead-serious demeanor.

"That she chose to let all of us live—including Javik, a person she absolutely loathes—speaks to her training, yes, but also her humanity. No one is a born killer. One has to be trained to kill. Few enjoy it."

"You don't suppose she'll want pay back, do you? For all the things I said before? She knows I was only joking, right? See, I still have really brittle bones. A punch in the face like she gave Javik, or T'Soni? It'd probably snap my neck like a dried twig. You won't let her do that, right? EDI? Right?"

EDI almost felt … sorry? … for the usually smart-assed pilot. His fear of retaliation by the specialist was evident in his expression. "I am unable to monitor her every waking moment, Jeff. You may wish to enlist the aid of Commander Shepard; she is all over this ship and appears to never sleep. In the meantime," EDI smiled as she finished, "you may request my services as an escort. I can accompany you when you need to leave the bridge. I do not believe she will attempt an attack while I am with you."

• DECK THREE, MED BAY · 1630 •

Dr Liara T'Soni was dreaming … about her home on Thessia. Vast plains of luxuriant vegetation, dotted with numerous lakes and streams, rolled out before her all the way to the distant mountains southwest of her estate. Shepard had accompanied her for a bit of R&R so they could see the sights, enjoy each other's company. Strolling hand in hand along the bank of a peaceful lake, she turned towards her lover to ask how she was enjoying her visit, only … it was not Rachaél. The person turned to face her, talked to her in some strange language, then punched her in the face, again and again, leaving her lying in the sand at the lakes edge, bleeding from her nose, from her mouth. She groaned … unable to speak or cry out for help. She reached out, silently praying to the Goddess that someone, anyone would see her, help her. It seemed like an eternity before a tall, silvery woman appeared in her line of sight, bent down, reached out and grabbed her hand. She pulled and lifted with surprising strength, helped her to her feet. Liara staggered as the silvery woman placed an arm around Liara's waist, lending much needed support, helping her to walk. Her vision was becoming hazy, as if a mist from the lake was surrounding her. She had to rest, to sit down, for just a minute …

… she found herself lying down once again, this time on a bed. Not hers. Too uncomfortable, but at least not the sand and gravel of the lake shore. Smells of disinfectants and industrial strength cleaners. Lights. Too many sources for outside. Not even her compartment. She risked opening an eye. Not a wise decision! Her limited view through the slit she allowed her eyelids to create confirmed her apprehension. She was in the Med Bay on the Normandy, lying on her right side on a bed/examination table. There were sheets, thin blankets. A low volume beeping from somewhere overhead and behind her. An uncomfortable sensation in the back of her left hand. Bringing her hand to her face brought a twinge of … pain? … soreness, to her shoulder. She discovered a needle in the back of her hand, held in place with a narrow piece of surgical tape. A liquid-filled tube attached to the needle led off … to somewhere. She was unable to see without moving her head, an action she did not feel capable of performing. She left her arm in its new position, her hand resting in front of her face on the pillow, fingers curved, relaxed. She started to drift off into the oblivion of a drug induced sleep.

A voice quietly asked from behind her, "Awake, are we?" There was a weariness to the voice … the sound of someone who had experienced everything bad about the galaxy without having had the time to experience … or enjoy … that which was good.

Rachaél? Liara tried to form a few words, but nothing came out. She was finally able to manage a groan of assent.

"I'll take that as a maybe," came the snarky response. That was Rachaél. Liara started to turn over in the bed. "Don't. Lie still. Just listen." Liara relaxed.

"I am sorry, Liara. I realize now that my love for you has blinded me. When I still had a body, when I was still human, I was responsible for the well-being of everyone on this ship. I don't believe that changed as a result of my death on the Citadel. There is some purpose, some task I have not yet completed that brought me … my spirit, mental self, whatever you wish to call it … back to this ship."

"Rachaél, I, …" Liara managed to croak, causing Shepard to pause. "… mistake … should not have, …" was all she managed to get out past her sore mouth. There was something else there, pressure, metal, across her front teeth. A puzzlement.

She used the tip of her tongue to explore this addition to her mouth as Rachaél continued, "Liara, you know Specialist Traynor has hated Javik ever since I activated the Crucible … hell, since we revived him on Eden Prime. Even after I managed to broker a peace between them, he didn't hesitate an instant when presented with an opportunity to murder her. I failed to support her after we stopped him … and that is totally my fault. Do you feel you made a mistake standing up to Traynor after she punched Javik?"

Tears had welled up in the asari's eyes. It broke her heart to hear Rachaél sound so discouraged, so sad. "She threatened … no choice … had to …"

"Liara, you simply must learn when to walk away from a fight. I know you're stubborn, but really? Without a weapon or your biotics to help extract your foot from your mouth?"

The old Earth reference was lost on the asari. "Wha? Foot?" Makes no sense … "

Rachaél sounded amused. "Old human expression. Not important. I should have tried to reason with her when she confronted you. Ordering her to stand down, then having EDI grab her arm? That was the trigger, apparently. Alenko told me the Alliance trained her and others like her to react without thinking. Apparently saved her life more than a few times, even against weapons fire, before the program was terminated." Rachaél paused for several seconds, as if gathering her courage. "There's plenty of blame to go around, Liara, but ultimately, it was my job to keep everyone safe from harm, and I failed miserably. You should not have been on that shore party … Traynor either. Bad choices, both of them. I am so incredibly sorry I could not physically intervene before Samantha hit you. You are the love of my life, and I could not protect you. Can you forgive me?"

The tears seeping from Liara's eyes increased in quantity. "Shepard, I, …" her voice hitched. "… you did nothing wrong. Please …" Liara slowly turned over on her other side so she could see Rachaél's avatar. Her efforts triggered alarms from the same area as the previously measured beeping, which had increased in tempo to match her exertion. "… you did … best wif … 'vailable info. Notchur fault … notchur fault, …" her voice trailed off.

The entry hatch swished open to reveal Dr Chakwas rushing into the Med Bay. "Dr T'Soni, are you okay?" She held up her own omnitool, "Your bed is sending alarms to my monitor."

"My fault, Doc. Just having a quiet chat with Liara," Rachaél explained. "Her movements must have set off the alarms. Sorry."

Karin walked up to the bed. Waving her omnitool over the semi-conscious asari, she looked at the readings and compared them to the previous stats. Satisfied with the results, she yawned. "Shepard, Liara? I'm going back to my quarters, see if I can get some sleep."

"Liara, I will talk to you later." Shepard's avatar faded out as the hatch swished closed behind the departing doctor, leaving Liara to fall back into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Žiuk'Durmah needed to have a discussion with SHEPARD-NORMANDY, but did not want to announce this to the entire ship. What to do? Having 'observed' the crew communicate with primitive written messages, created and delivered back and forth through their omnitools, Žiuk'Durmah decided to utilize this technology, but it needed to be directed at a specific individual. With a thought, it scanned the entire ships roster and chose the one person on board that would understand the urgency and importance of secrecy. The text generation was simple. A one line message:

TO: TRAYNOR-SPECIALIST
FROM: ŽIUK'DURMAH
SUBJECT: MESSAGE FOR SHEPARD-NORMANDY
›URGENTLY NEED TO CONVERSE WITH SHEPARD-NORMANDY; TIME: 2200 LOCAL SHIP; LOCATION: WAR ROOM; RESPONSE REQUESTED.‹
END MESSAGE.

Žiuk'Durmah sent the message and waited. This was a new experience. It was eager to discover if this ancient form of communication would be as effective as simply projecting its voice into the hull of the ship. Žiuk'Durmah chose not to use the even faster direct-to-mind linkage, due to lingering paranoia regarding Reaper indoctrination. Traynor's reply hit the Reaper's message processor within minutes. Traynor-Specialist was prompt.

›Žiuk'Durmah. Shepard-Normandy will meet with you as requested.‹

• DECK TWO, WAR ROOM · 2159 •

Shepard's avatar appeared in its usual location to the right of the QEC compartment entrance. Specialist Samantha Traynor came through the door at the same time. "Commander. I see you received my message."

Shepard asked, "What's this about, Specialist. Why would Žiuk'Durmah contact you, and with a text message?" Traynor had a theory, but a projection of a Sovereign class Reaper materializing in the main projection well forced her to postpone answering the question until the conclusion of the meeting. Shepard-Normandy. Traynor-Specialist. We appreciate being able to meet with you.

Shepard responded, "What do you need to discuss, Žiuk'Durmah?"

We studied the remnants of the destroyed projector device EDI-hybrid-synth was recently using. We have replicated a similar device for your use, Shepard-Normandy. It has been placed on the platform outside Normandy-frigate's air lock. We wish to learn if it will operate as did the previous device. Please have EDI-hybrid-synth retrieve the device and test it. We believe it will have increased range, less interference and better appearance of the projection. Please report back in twenty standard hours.

"Our thanks, Žiuk'Durmah. We will contact you in twenty. Logging you out."

"Traynor, please send a text to EDI regarding Žiuk'Durmah's request." Shepard paused, then added, "Tell her to have James with her, shotgun ready, before she opens the outer hatch. I don't want her to encounter any unannounced returns of a Prothean nature."

"Do you think Žiuk'Durmah might have returned Javik to the Normandy?"

"I don't like surprises, Traynor. We don't need any more people disabled because I'm not taking precautions." Shepard went back to her original question as Traynor sent the request to EDI. "I'm still puzzled. Why would Žiuk'Durmah contact you, and with a text message no less?"

"I believe it did not wish to announce its request through the entire ship, Commander. Since it wished to talk to you alone, it sent me a text, which … " here she reactivated her omni tool, entered several commands, then closed it down and continued, " … I just forwarded to computer memory and deleted from my own local record. I believe it chose me as the recipient because I'm listed on the crew roster as the comms specialist."

Shepard replied in a thoughtful tone, "Makes sense, I suppose. Surprising such an advanced being would resort to such a primitive method of communication."

Traynor thought for a moment before replying. "When you sent text messages to the HUD in the shuttle, you only had to … think the message and direct it to the correct interface. It would be the same with Žiuk'Durmah. As an intelligent machine, it would only need an address … my omni tool … to be able to send its thoughts as text."

"Why not just send the thoughts directly to me? Bypass the interface?" Shepard inquired before thinking about the source of the message.

"Indoctrination, Commander. What would you have thought if it had sent the request straight into your processors … your memory. Personally, I would have screamed my bloody 'ead off."

They were interrupted by EDI entering the war room. "Commander? Specialist? I have retrieved the object," here she indicated a small device clipped on her belt, "sent by Žiuk'Durmah. Shall I bring it online?"

"Have you inspected it? What is its energy source?" Shepard asked.

"It appears to utilize a dark energy core, similar to the device Kai Leng used on Thessia. I believe the image generated will be affected less by structural component interference from bulkheads and decking on this ship." EDI tilted her head as she thought for a moment. "It also may have a distance advantage over the one I was previously carrying. I can have Tali'Zorah inspect it, if you wish."

"Sounds like a good plan, EDI. Ask Tali to join us here in the war room. Specialist Traynor, no need for you to hang around any longer. It's been a long day. You are dismissed."

Traynor was only too happy to leave. "Aye aye, ma'am. Thank you."

A/N: So, a number of loose ends have been tied up. Steve, James and Garrus (and especially Joker) all have a new, healthy respect for Samantha Traynor's abilities. Sam is coming to terms with Shepard's existence in the computer, and Liara—although she's blissfully unaware of most everything around her—may be gaining some much needed assistance. (Does anyone know if a Yahg ever sleeps?). Many thanks for the favs, follows and reviews. Stay tuned...