Hey guys! Long time no update! I mean, LONG TIME. I'm so sorry guys! Between work, cramming in an extra two grades in school this year, and just plain old life, I haven't had much time to do any writing. I feel horrible. :/ Rest assured, the next chapter is already half written, and I'm still writing the revision. Slowly but surely. Sorry for any mistakes you catch. My Beta has seems to have dropped off the face of the earth. Any who, thanks for sticking around so long! Enjoy!
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DECEMBER 7th 2185
CRESCENT NEBULA / TASALE / ILLIUM / DR. LIARA T'SONI'S OFFICE
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I sat on a chair in Liara's office, my knees pulled up to my chin, chewing my thumbnail as I watched the three blue dots weaved through the digital map on my Omni-tool. Shepard had taken Jack and Garrus to recruit Samara, and I directed them the best I could through the comm, using a camera installed in Shepard's helmet, and a map Liara had provided.
"You've got two more around the corner." I said, as two red dots popped up on the map.
"This would be a whole hell of a lot easier with you here." Shepard growled in annoyance.
"I know. That's like the tenth time you've said that."
"That's a good question." Liara said, looking up from the data pad she held. "Why didn't you go with them?"
I sighed.
"We had a run in with a prison warden when we recruited Jack. He some how knew about me. And Timmy used the opportunity to try to turn Shepard on me. I don't wanna risk it happening again."
"The chances of someone else figuring out, is slim to none." Shepard said through grit teeth, as she pulled an commando behind her cover and stabbed her with an omni-blade.
"Again, the tenth time you've said that."
"Either you come clean with whats really bothering you, or you are coming on the next mission."
"You can't make me." I said, narrowing my eyes, regardless of the fact that she couldn't see it.
She stopped right before she turned another corner, staring at a teetering Volus as he tried to keep his balance.
"Okay, I've had it. What's the hell is going on, Anna? You're usually begging to go on missions like these."
I sighed.
"Not now, Shepard."
"Hey, I-"
"I said not now. Just, talk to the volus, then head into the next room. Defeat the eclipse leader, get the data pad, and head back and find Samara."
I sighed, and cut the comm link, as well as the video feed, and put away my omni.
Liara blinked at me in confusion.
"You are unusually moody." She stated.
"I am not." I replied, standing up and leaning against the wall.
"You just hung up on the Commander."
"So?"
She eyed me.
"You're moody."
"I am not!" I replied a little louder.
She quirked an eyebrow.
I sighed.
"Okay. Maybe a little." I said as I sat down again with a plop, covering my face with my hands.
"What's going on? Did you and Joker have a fight?" She asked, sitting next to me.
"How did you know about him?"
"I'm a very good information broker."
"Shepard." I stated plainly.
She laughed.
"No. That's not it." I said with a sigh.
We sat there silently for a few minutes.
"Liara, I need your opinion on something."
"Go ahead."
"Okay, let's say, hypothetically, that someone on the Normandy, might have, maybe, gotten pregnant, right before a huge suicide mission. What would you recommend the person do?"
"By the Goddess... Shepard?!" She asked, her eyes widening.
"What? No!"
"... You?" She asked a bit softer.
I let out a sigh.
"Yeah." I said, my voice cracking, as my eyes filled with tears.
"Hey, come here." She said, pulling me into a hug.
We sat there for a little while, letting me cry on her shoulder. When my sobs became sniffles, she released me.
"I'm guessing I'm the first person you've told?" She asked.
I nodded.
"Chakwas knows, but that's only because she was the one who told me."
She just nodded.
"What? You're not gonna tell me I need to tell Joker and Shepard?" I asked, drying my eyes with the back of my hands.
"No, I think you should, but you do have your reasons. I suggest you tell them before they figure out on their own. And especially before the mission. But I understand the necessity to go with them. As it stands right now, Shepard is much to suspicious. And you and I both know that she won't give up until she gets to the bottom of it. She'll dig until she finds something."
I nodded.
"I will. I'm just hoping to keep this hidden until after the mission. I promised Chakwas I'd tell them within two weeks. I'm hoping the mission will be done with by then."
We sat talking back and forth for a while until Shepard got back. After practically dragging me back to the Normandy, and up to her cabin, I sat across from her, my eyes downcast as she glared at me.
"Now, either you tell me what the hell is going on, or you go gear up, so we can go recruit the Assassin."
I sighed, as I stared at my feet, and rubbed my shoulder, thinking up a different excuse.
"I've told you about my family right?"
"Yes."
"I told you I had three older siblings, and two younger. Well, I wasn't completely honest..."
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EARLIER...
DECEMBER 7TH 2016
LOCAL CLUSTER / SOL / EARTH / UNITED STATES / NEBRASKA
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I was staying the weekend at my parents house, and it was Saturday morning. I woke up to chatter and laughter in the kitchen. Rising to my feet, I yawned and walked out of the guest room, previously, my bedroom, and made my way towards the dining room. I turned the corner and started to walk in, but froze in my tracks.
There, leaned against the far counter, was a woman with floor length, Silver hair, and silver-blue eyes, one of them covered with side-swept bangs, wearing blue jeans, and a black tube top with a white jacket.
"Rose...?"
"Anna. Thanks for the scar." She said, lifting her bangs to show her right eye, which had a scar down the middle.
I swallowed past the lump in my throat, as I remembered the last conversation I had with my sister.
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2 YEARS EARLIER
JUNE 4TH 2014
LOCAL CLUSTER / SOL / EARTH / UNITED STATES / NEBRASKA
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"What happened to your shoulder?" Rose asked as I slipped my shirt off, revealing the starch white bandage on my shoulder from where the Geth had shot me on Virmire.
"Shit! Rosalina? I thought you where outside!"
"I forgot my phone on my nightstand. Now are you going to answer my question?" She asked, closing the door to the room we shared.
"Crap..." I whispered.
I explained what had been happening the past few weeks.
"What happened to telling each other everything?" Rose asked, glaring at me.
"Look, I didn't know how to explain it! I don't even know what's going on!"
"You know I would've believed you!" She yelled at me.
I could see that I had hurt her by keeping this a secret.
"I didn't know how to tell you!" I repeated myself, as I slipped on another shirt.
Before Rose could reply, my mom opened the door.
"Rose, I got your plane ticket. We'll leave about five tomorrow evening. You have everything packed?"
She glared at her.
"Yes, thank you mom." She hissed.
"What? What plane ticket? Where are you going?" I asked, my brows furrowed.
"You haven't told her yet?" Our mom asked.
"Told me what?"
"Well, since I had a bit if money saved away, and since I'm seventeen and graduated, I decided to travel the world."
My mom had decided that it was a good time to walk away
"And you had the nerve to yell at me for keeping a secret?!" I screamed at her.
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DECEMBER 7TH 2185
SSV NORMANDY SR2
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"This had hurt me more then anything before. Rose was two years older then me, but we had always been close. Close enough that most people thought we were twins. We always confided in each other, with matters we didn't feel comfortable telling anyone else. And to learn that she was leaving, for God knows how long, pissed me off to no extent." I explained to Shepard.
"I took a swing at her, and caught her eye, and a ring I was wearing cut her. She caught my arm as a swung, and twisted it, breaking it."
"So that was what happened to your arm after Ilos." Shepard said.
"Yeah. Anyway-"
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EARLIER...
DECEMBER 7TH 2016
LOCAL CLUSTER / SOL / EARTH / UNITED STATES / NEBRASKA
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I blinked.
"When did you get back?"
"Yesterday. I stayed at a friends house last night, and came over today."
The room had gone silent. The rest of my siblings and my parents Stared, watching to see what would happen.
I stiffened, before turning around and grabbing my keys, and headed out the door, but I didn't make it before Rose caught my shoulder, making me turn around.
"Look, I know we didn't part on a good note. But..." She sighed.
"I'll be going to church with you guys tomorrow. Okay? Then we can catch up."
I just nodded, before leaving the house, and pulled out of the drive way, no real destination in mind.
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DECEMBER 7TH 2185
SSV NORMANDY SR2
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I went back home after that. I'm trying to decide if I should go to church in the morning or not." I said as I finished.
"Look, I understand you two had an argument. But your sisters! She's been gone for two years, and you haven't even mentioned her the entire time! Go to church. Talk to her. Get this straightened out. I know this might make me sound like a bitch, but I need you at your best. This suicide mission is right around the corner. I really need your help with these recruitment and loyalty missions. You need to fix this." Shepard said.
I sighed, pulling my knees up to my chin.
"Maybe you're right." I said as I stood.
"I'll go, and get this taken care of. I understand that you need me."
I swallowed hard before saying the next part.
"I'll be ready for the next mission."
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I shook as the door to Port Observation closed behind me.
What had I done? Not only do I have to deal with Rosalina, now I've just agreed to put my baby's life on the line.
'It was that, or tell Shepard about the baby…' My mind reasoned.
'I can't freak out right now. I just… REALLY need to get this suicide mission done and over with… The best way to do it, is to go with with Shepard. But in the process, I'd be putting my baby in danger.'
I laughed, tears running down my face.
"Damned if I do, Damned if I don't."
I couldn't take much more if this. It was tearing me apart inside. All of this, lying, and secrecy.
I Plopped down into bed, and started to sob into my pillows, until I fell asleep.
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So, there we have it! Stay tuned! Hoping the next chapter will be done by next week! Wish me luck!
Shalom!
~Ali