Waking out of a haze it takes a few seconds for Liara's eyes to adjust to the room. Sitting up slowly with her head pounding slightly Liara looks around the room.
"Liara?"
"Tali?"
"Here have some water." The Quarian hands the asari a cup with a straw.
"Where?"
"She and Mia are home right now. Aethyta thought she would be more comfortable sleeping at home for a while. I told your father I would watch over you."
Liara quickly looks over toward Raina.
"There is no change," says Tali "her vitals are strong. The nurse was just in here."
Liara's eyes start to water.
"Hey it's okay Liara she is going to be okay."
"How long have I been asleep?"
"You slept through the night. It is morning right now, about…."
"…Goddess Tali I have to get to Elly." Liara starts to remove the covers from her in order to exit the bed.
"What why?" Tali puts her hands on the asari's shoulders to stop her.
"Please let me go."
"Tell me what is going on first Liara."
Liara takes one of Tali's hands and removes it from her shoulder. "Let me go," she says "please."
Tali takes a step back giving her friend room to get out of bed.
Liara stands without issue. "Thank you Tali. I need to reach Elly."
"Why?"
Liara ignores her friend and dials her omni-tool. There is no answer.
"Liara please tell me what is going on."
"I melded with Raina. She told me to get to her father." Liara dials another number in hopes someone will answer.
"Liara is that you?"
"Karin," says Liara, "thank the Goddess. Is Elly there I need to speak with her right away."
The silence is too long, about two seconds too long.
"Karin? What is it?"
"Liara I am not sure how to tell you this," says Dr. Chakwas.
Liara grabs Tali's shoulder to prepare herself. "Is she dead?"
"No no Liara. She is unconscious. We don't know why."
"Unconscious?" She shares a concerned look with Tali. Liara puts the call on speaker. "Tali is here with me Karin please tell me what happened."
"Hello Tali. From what I understand she and the squad were on the surface. She had a seizure."
"A seizure?"
"That's right."
"Is she in some sort of dream like state?" asks Liara.
"Uh…y-yes how did you know that?"
"I need to see her."
"Actually we are almost there."
"What?"
"Her brain scan is very similar in activity to when she was hit by the Prothean beacon Liara. Ashley routed the Normandy back to Thessia because she thought you could help her."
Liara lets out a breath she did not realize she was holding. "Thank the Goddess."
"Do you k now what triggered the seizure Doctor?" asks Tali.
"It has to do with some piece of metal found on the surface. Ashley believes it is from a reaper."
"What?" Liara and Tali both speak in unison.
"When the metal is close to her she reacts with convulsions. I am afraid her vitals are not very good Liara."
"How bad is she?" Liara grabs Tali's hand to hold.
"She is holding her own, but I do not want to think about what will happen if she suffers another seizure."
Liara places her hand over her mouth, Tali knows she cannot speak.
"Doctor, are you bringing Shepard to Thessia Medical?" asks Tali.
"I am not sure. I can why?"
"Raina seems to be suffering the same thing, we are here now. She is also unconscious."
"Oh Liara," says the doctor, "I am so sorry. Are you holding up okay?"
Liara shakes her head.
Tali replies, "She is doing the best she can, everyone is."
"Of course. I am sorry I wasn't thinking asking such a thing."
"It's okay Doctor. Do you need the number to coordinate with the hospital?"
"No I have the number thank you Tali. And Liara, hang in there. We are doing all we can."
The call disconnects. Tali hugs her asari friend.
"You wanted to see me Dr. Collins?"
"Yes Blake. I have news."
Blake stands up from behind the desk. "What is it?"
"It seems a piece of the reaper was not recovered from one of the sights in New York."
"And?"
"Well it looks like the Alliance picked it up. Rather I should say the squad that is headed by the two human Spectres."
"You mean Shepard?"
"Yes Blake. It seems she had an adverse reaction to it."
Blake's eyes light up. "Do tell."
Dr. Collins smiles at his employer. "Apparently she collapsed and had a seizure."
"Really?" Blake checks something on the computer.
"Yes. And when exposed to the piece again she got worse."
Blake looks up from the computer. "Anything else?"
"I think we are going to lose our asset."
"Why?"
"The asset missed the last check in, has missed the last three in fact."
"That's not good."
"The asset knows what to do. We will not be betrayed."
"I still don't like it. I will push up our move."
"You were right Blake; Shepard seems to be the key."
"Indeed. Thank you Dr. Collins. Now if you don't mind I have calls to make."
"Of course."
Aethyta enters the room holding Mia hoping to find her daughter resting. Instead she finds Liara coordinating with the hospital staff.
"What is going on here?" Aethyta asks as she hands Mia over to Tali.
"Hello little one," says Tali. She walks outside with her to give the two asari some privacy.
"Hello Dad. Thank you so much for …"
"…I asked what is going on?"
"Elly is on her way here. Apparently she is suffering from the same thing as Raina."
"What?" Aethyta grabs Liara by the shoulders. "Sit down please and tell me everything."
Liara sits down.
"What happened with the meld Liara? You made no sense last night."
"Oh I…sorry. She told me to get to her father."
"That it?"
"Yes. I tried to push further in but there was heavy resistance I could not move further into the meld."
"Why? What caused that?"
"I…I am not sure. I have not felt such resistance since…"
"Since?"
"Well since Elly kept me out during the war. Her nightmares she was having. There were times where she would block me."
"You think it was Shepard somehow?"
"I do not know. I do not understand any of this. I just know that she should be arriving within the next few hours. I hope to find out then."
"Is that even possible? To have a link like that?"
"There are a few incidents that I have heard about where the asari mother and daughter have some sort of link even with great distance between them. I have not however, heard of such a thing outside of the asari."
"So having a link between father and daughter is rare but having the father not be an asari is rarer?"
"Precisely."
Aethyta thinks for a minute taking in the information.
"I really do need to help," says Liara as she looks at the nurses in the room.
"Have you eaten?"
"I…uh.."
"You can help Liara, but when I bring you something to eat you are going to stop what you are doing and you are going to eat."
Liara smiles at her Dad. She likes being cared for, it feels nice. "Of course."
"I will be back soon."
Aethyta returns with a tray of food. Liara is speaking to a nurse.
"Is Raina okay?"
"Yes there is no change," says Liara. She looks at the tray.
"This is for you."
"There is still …."
"Ohhh no you don't kid. You sit down over here and you eat."
"I would but…"
"…I mean it Liara. You don't eat I make everyone leave." Aethyta sets the tray down on a nearby table and moves the chair in front of the table. "Now."
Liara knows not to argue; she sits and starts to eat.
"Where is Mia?"
"I saw Tali with her in the cafeteria. It looked like they were almost done. Should be here soon," says Aethyta. "Any word from Shepard?"
Liara gives her a look.
"You know what I mean. Her squad?"
"Joker contacted me about ten minutes ago. The Normandy should land shortly. Then they will shuttle her here."
"So I ah…have been thinking Liara."
Liara looks at her father. She looks nervous. "What is it?"
"When Shepard gets here I was thinking…"
"Yes?"
"I want to help with…"
Liara furrows her brow. "You want to perform a multiple meld"?
"Just hear me out."
"I am not comfortable with that Dad. You…I mean..she….no..I am not comfortable with that."
"Liara."
"No Dad."
"I said listen!"
Liara sits quietly. She takes another bite.
"When you performed your meld with Raina you were in there a very long time. You were exhausted when you backed out. I believe I can help you Liara. I can help keep you grounded."
Silence.
"Liara?"
"Can I speak now."
"Yeah yeah what?"
"I appreciate the offer Dad but I do not think it is wise."
"And why is that? I am not going to go poking around Shepard's mind if that is the problem."
"No…it…it's not that …not really."
"Then what?"
Liara swallows the last of her meal. "You and I…I mean we have not.."
"Oh shit. I didn't think about that. We did when you were young."
"We did? I do not remember that."
"Yeah well, you were pretty young. Probably too young."
"I see."
Aethyta looks at her daughter. She wants to feel useful, she wants to help. "We could right now for practice if you…"
"…what? Now?"
"Ah..well yeah sure..why not?"
Liara stands and checks the hallway.
"What are you doing?"
"I don't want anyone to walk in."
"Shit Liara they know we are related. It's not like we are doing it."
Liara sits back down across from her Dad ignoring her last comment. "We better hurry, Shepard should be here soon."
"Okay." Aethyta is suddenly very, very nervous.
Liara moves her chair closer then extends her hand. Her Dad takes it.
"What do you want to see?" asks Aethyta.
"Oh…ummm. Do you have a memory from my childhood you want to share?"
Aethyta thinks a moment. She smiles and her eyes light up. "I have something in mind."
Liara is a little surprised. She is still getting to know her father after all. "Okay."
Aethyta takes Liara's hand. "Embrace Eternity."
Liara sees herself digging in the grass. She is a child in Armali. She knows she is digging for artifacts.
"This is the memory I shared with Elly," says Liara though it is not said just something she thinks.
The perspective she is seeing the memory from is different.
"You…you were there watching me?"
"I was. Nezzy didn't want me to have contact with you. I never told her, but there were times before I left Thessia where I watched you. I didn't want to go against her wishes so I didn't let you know I was there."
"Oh Dad..this is…I didn't know."
The meld ends quickly. Liara felt immense love from her father as they ended the meld, it was almost overwhelming.
"I..I didn't know," says Liara.
"Yeah…well. It wasn't exactly easy to stay away. To see you from time to time yet not be able to approach you or talk to you. I left your mother a message before I left Thessia. I ..uh…well I couldn't handle not being able to talk to you."
"I am sorry she did not want you in my life."
"Nah..it's okay. You know how she was, how stubborn she could be."
"Yes I do."
"Well hell..I didn't mean to make you cry or anything."
Liara wipes a stray tear, "Sorry."
"No need for that. So we good?"
"Ah…"
"About the shared meld I mean?"
"Oh…yes..ah..yes. I think we are good."
"She is here Dr. T'Soni."
"Oh thank you Doctor."
Liara and Aethyta ensure the table and chairs are not in the way. Liara quickly moves to the hallway. She sees a bed rolling toward the room. She sees Dr. Chakwas and Ashley.
"Karin, Ashley."
Liara moves with the bed as it is rolled into the room. She stays out of the way best she can. Ashley gives her a quick hug. "Oh Goddess she is so pale."
"Her vitals are holding Liara," says Dr. Chakwas. "
"Has she waken up at all?"
"I am afraid not." Karin's eyes look to the Matriarch and Liara notices.
"Oh…I apologize. Karin, Ashley this is my father Aethyta."
Both human women try not to let their jaws hit the floor. Dr. Chakwas finds her voice first, "Hello there, it is nice to meet you."
"Yeah..I mean yes. Nice to meet you," says Ashley.
"This is Dr. Karin Chakwas and Commander and Spectre Ashley Williams."
"Hi." She shakes their hands. "You two served with Shepard?"
"Yes."
"I didn't realize you had a father Liara," says Ashley "I mean..ah..well you know what I mean."
"Do you both mind if perhaps I fill you in later?" asks Liara "I would like to get started."
"Of course Liara forgive us," says Dr. Chakwas "what is your plan?"
"Oh God Raina," says Ashley. The human woman walks over to the little one's bed. "Liara..oh God."
Liara places an arm around Ashley giving her a squeeze.
"I am sorry Liara. I …well I'm sorry. I will let you do what you need to do. Seeing her like …well…" Ashley turns her back on the asari. She doesn't want to show her tears.
Liara hugs her friend. "It's okay Ashley. We are going to help both of them okay?"
"Yeah..yeah I know. Sorry Liara. I should be comforting you not the other way around. I'm sorry."
"I would like to get started."
"Yeah sure…sure thing."
"Will you do me a favor Ashley?"
"Anything."
"Watch her for me? I mean there will be nurses but," she takes her hand "It will make me feel better if you watch over her."
"You can count on me Liara."
"Thank you."
The nurses are in place. Dr. Chakwas insisted on watching Shepard's vitals the other two nurses in the room are to watch Raina and be prepared to assist where necessary. Mia started crying uncontrollably when Tali tried to leave the room with her. She knows something is going on. She does not want to be away from her big sister anymore. Liara finally said it was okay for her to remain. The two are at the foot of Raina's bed while Ashley is standing watch over the little one.
Dr. Chakwas is by Shepard's bed as are Liara and Aethyta.
The Matriarch takes her daughter's hand and gives it a reassuring squeeze. "You ready for this?"
"I think so…I mean yes I am ready."
Liara's eyes go dark as does Aethyta's. Together they meld with the unconscious Shepard.
Darkness.
"Elly can you hear me?"
"Is it always like this Liara?" asks Aethyta though it is a thought not something she voices aloud.
"No."
"Raina?"
The feeling of fear is overwhelming to Liara and Aethyta. Neither was expecting the strength of the it. Liara and Aethyta both answer with feelings of love to push back the wave of fear.
"Raina?"
Liara and Aethyta both feel her at the same time.
"Where is she?" asks Aethyta.
They both wander further. Only small white lights can be seen now. One is pulsing.
"Do you see it?" asks Liara.
"Yeah."
They both go towards the pulsing white light. They know the fear is coming from it.
"Raina it's me, it's Ma Ma and your Grandpa. Let us in honey."
The white light flickers a little.
"It's okay."
Both asari see the white light grow, soon they are enveloped within it. When they open their eyes they are on an empty street. It is littered with debris made up of rocks, sand and concrete. In front of them is a small house.
"What is this place?" asks Aethyta.
"It looks like Elly's childhood home on Mindoir. Oh Goddess we have to get in there."
"Wait." Aethyta stops her daughter. The house flickers almost as if someone is turning a light switch on and off. In the on position they see the house in the off position they see a door, only a door. The door is inside the house.
They both walk slowly wondering what Shepard is showing them. There is no sign of her and Liara has yet to feel her presence she only feels Raina. Upon entering the home the house disappears and there is only a door. When looking behind them or left and right they see the house and the street, but when looking ahead they only see a door with blackness at its edges.
Aethyta is very nervous though she tries to hide her feelings because she knows Liara will pick up on them. Her daughter takes her hand and gives a nod of encouragement. Liara reaches toward the door handle. "Raina?"
When there is no reply she turns the handle and opens the door. It is as if they are back at home in the kids' room. Raina is huddle in the corner her legs are bent. She has her head down and her hands over her ears. Liara and Aethyta send feelings of love. Liara kneels down in front of her daughter and holds out a hand scared to touch her.
"Raina? Raina it's Ma Ma and your Grandpa. Can you hear me?"
"Trick it's a trick. Da Da said they were tricky."
Liara's heart sinks. "It's not a trick honey." Without further delay Liara touches her daughter on the knee. "It's Ma Ma Raina I want you to look at me."
"Trick! Leave me alone! LA LA LA LA LA LA!"
Liara touches both of Raina's hands with hers to pull them away from her daughter's ears. "Raina shh please listen. Feel my mind honey. Know that I speak the truth."
Raina slowly raises her head and sees her mother in front of her. She feels her hands being held. Sees her Grandpa behind her mother. She shakes her head and tries to pull her hands away. "No! Trick!"
Aethyta kneels down next to Liara and touches Raina's cheek. "Listen child. Concentrate. You know it is us. Feel our presence."
Raina's big eyes look between mother and grandfather. Still shaking her head tears appear.
"Yes honey. You can believe it. We are really here honey. We need you to wake up now," says Liara.
"But Da Da."
"Where is your father?"
Raina points. Liara is not sure where so she lets go of her hand. Raina raises her arm and points behind them. They both look and in that moment a flash of light reveals a figure curled within herself on the floor, but where she is is not clear. In the same instant the figure is gone. There is blackness, nothing beyond Raina's room.
Pushing her feelings of despair down Liara returns her gaze upon her daughter. "Raina we need to leave this place."
"But Da Da!"
"I will get your Da Da."
"You promise?"
Liara's heart skips a beat. "Yes honey of course."
The little one convinced starts to stand. Liara gets up on her feet keeping hold of one of her daughter's hands. All three look out the door. Only blackness can be seen. Liara and Aethyta both sense Raina's tremendous fear of what lies beyond. They both hold hands and push the fear away and flood the child with their love for her as they walk across the threshold. Raina keeping her little eyes shut tight is led out of the room.
When she opens them she is outside on a street. She sees her mother and her grandfather smiling down on her. She hugs her mother's leg tightly.
"Ready?" asks Aethyta.
Liara bends down and picks up her daughter kissing her on the cheek and holding her close. Taking her father's hand in her own they end the meld.
Liara slowly opens her eyes. She feels a hand on her shoulder, it is an asari nurse. "You okay?"
"Y-yes I …I think so."
She sees Aethyta opening her eyes steadying herself against Shepard's bed with both hands. She knows her father must be as tired as she is.
"Liara."
Liara turns her head toward the voice. She recognizes it as Ashley's.
"She's awake."
Liara tries to stand but is very shaky. The nurse is there to aid her. She is led slowly to Raina's bed. When she looks down at her eldest daughter she sees big emerald eyes staring at her. Raina sits up and hugs her mother around the neck. "Ma Ma!"
The nurse helps Liara sit on the bed with Raina attached to her, she won't let her go. Liara holds her close. "It's okay now you are safe honey. Everything is going to be okay."
Ashley pats Liara's shoulder and gives a smile to Tali and Mia who are anxious to see Raina. She walks over to Aethyta, "You okay?"
"Yeah," the Matriarch says., "just a little tired. How long were we…?"
Ashley looks to Dr. Chakwas. "Two hours," she says.
"Why didn't it feel that long?" asks Ashley.
"No."
"Did you see Shepard? Is she alright?" asks Chakwas.
"Just saw a glimpse."
Not sure what she means the doctor says, "Her brain activity has calmed down quite a bit and her vitals have returned to normal. I was worried about her heart but it is strong and her breathing is no longer labored."
"Will you tell Liara for me, I have a hell of a headache."
"Of course. Ashley can you check on their room please?"
"Sure Doc. I'll be right back."
When Dr. Chakwas and Liara spoke before arriving Liara told the doctor what she had planned. Chakwas requested a room be made available for the asari to recover.
Liara is lying beside her daughter not letting her go. Mia is on the bed as well holding onto her big sister.
"How is everyone?" asks Dr. Chakwas.
"You tell us," says Tali.
"Well the nurse assures me Raina is fine. It is good to see you again honey."
Raina smiles a little before yawning. She is having a hard time keeping her eyes open.
Chakwas bends down to speak softly to Liara. "Shepard's vitals have improved Liara."
Liara turns to face her, "Thank you Karin. You are sure she is okay?"
"Yes physically she is fine. Did you see her at all? Aethyta mentioned seeing a glimpse."
"Yes. Can we discuss this later Karin?"
The doctor knows she does not want the children to hear.
"Of course Liara."
"The room is ready Doc," says Ashley.
"Liara, I am going to bring your father into the next room so she can sleep."
"Thank you Karin, I am staying here."
The doctor is about to leave when she feels a hand on hers. "Karin. Thank you so much for bringing Elly."
"Don't thank me it was all Ashley here."
"Thank you Ashley. You two are welcome to stay at the house."
"Oh that's okay Liara," says Ashley.
"Please I insist."
The two humans smile and look at Tali. "I can take you when you are ready," says the Quarian.
"Well I am not going to say no to a proper bed," says Chakwas.
"Me neither. Liara we will see you in the morning."
"Thank you again Ashley. Mia you go with your Aunts."
Mia starts to pout, it is not a very good pout, it reminds Liara of Shepard. "Listen to your mother honey. You will be back tomorrow okay."
"Kay." Mia kisses her mother and gives her big sister a hug before extending her arms to Tali.
Liara holds Raina close as her eyes slowly shut. She cannot get the image of Shepard on the floor out of her mind, but right now she is happy to have her daughter back.