The sunlight glimmered through the overhanging oak trees, making patterns of gold on the smooth green grass, and reflecting brightly off the edge of the skycar that came in for a landing.

As the doors swung open, Melara exited first. While the setting looked serene, she was taking no chances with her family. If the press had in any way caught wind that they were going to be here, there would be a mob.

Seeing only the gate guard and a handful of wandering tourists moving about the grounds, she stepped aside and gestured to the others, then headed over to the gate guard. While he spoke with her, Dae, Liara, Sam, Ashley, and Aleu climbed out of the car.

"You two stay with us at all times," Liara said to the children. The pair, excited by the outing, only half heard, Ash immediately climbing up onto Aleu's back as he hefted her. Mel headed back over.

"We're good to go in. Aleu, you be careful if you're carrying Ashley around. No leaping."

"I won't, Tatta," he said with mild irritation. She eyed him but nodded, taking Dae's hand as Liara took hold of Sam's. Following after the children- Aleu bouncing a bit to make Ashley laugh but taking notable care not to actually leap- they headed into the grounds.

The cemetery was one of the largest and best maintained in the entirety of the city. It had been there almost since New York's inception, and worn gravestones dating back to the 1800s could still be found in many areas. They were not looking for those, of course, and their goal was spotted by Aleu only moments after entering.

"There it is!" He said with another 'bounce-but-not-leap'. "Tama, can I run?"

"No, sweetheart. No running. Please stay by us."

He made an irritated sound, clearly frustrated. While he didn't run, he did walk more quickly, edging ahead of them. Ashley spotted a little old woman a few dozen yards away and waved brightly. The woman stared, then waved tentatively back.

The Memorial was impossible to miss. It was the tallest thing in the cemetery, and an entire garden and seating area had been constructed around it. Four Alliance soldiers were always on duty around it, standing at their stations with dress uniforms and gazes fixed into the distance. A small group of tourists were nearby, taking pictures while a few kids skipped around the hedgerows and flowers, playing soldiers with toy pistols.

Seeing the children, Aleu got even more animated. Careful not to run ahead he started to skip and bounce a bit in place, moving as if he had to physically reign himself in from darting away. Ashley loved it, waving one hand enthusiastically as she clung to her 'Naphoo' with the other, laughing.

As they got closer, one of the Alliance guardsmen suddenly strode forward from his post three paces, and snapped a sharp salute in time with his other three companions. Mel picked up a little speed, dropping Dae's hand to catch Aleu by the shoulder and halting him, before she herself returned the salute.

"Why are they saluting, Tatta?" Aleu asked.

"They always salute when we come, Aleu. It is to show respect to Bába's family."

Shifting a little, he helped Ashley off his back and then took her by the hand. "Can we go and see?"

"Yes, we can. Come with me, and do not harass the guards. They have work to do."

Taking her son's free hand, she started forward. The guards kept up the salute until the entire party had passed them, then returned to their positions. The sudden motion of the guards had, of course, drawn the attention of the tourists and cavorting children. All were now staring at them, one or two whispering together. One of the kids ran to one of the adults and tugged at his shirt, pointing over toward them as he excitedly realized who they were.

The memorial statue itself stood at the center of a wide circle of iron-wrought fencing. Crushed white stone covered the ground between the fence and the statue's base, littered with a few flowers and cards. As Melara drew closer to the fence, she could see a Del Shepard action figure also lying among the rock, arm cocked up in its own tiny salute.

The statue stood on a wide base made of both stone and metal, and in the front of it was a large plaque. Most people, even today, truly believed Del was buried here- her coffin sealed into the base of the statue, behind that plaque. The funeral had been the largest media event in human history, it was true- but the casket that had been put into the memorial had contained nothing more than an empty set of dress-blues and a single blue rose.

The security was, of course, to keep people from vandalizing the statue or trying to steal her nonexistent remains. As well as the guards and the fence- which was fairly useless and just for show- there were tiny monitor cameras and sensors that could put up a barrier instantly, or even fire deterrents were someone to try and get past the iron.

Aleu stood, looking upward at the statue of Del in silence. Ashley looked at it, but seemed far more interested in the flowers and cards scattered about. She started trying to retrieve some, thrusting her arm between the bars and managing to grab a slightly wilted rose just before her father came up and crouched down, taking gentle hold of her.

"Ash, leave them be," she said kindly.

"But they're pretty."

"Yes, they are, but they're gifts for Shepard. People put them there to thank her for what she did. You cannot take other people's thank yous. How would you feel if someone took your Tama's thank you?"

Ashley looked over at Liara, who was herself holding a trio of blue roses. Looking at the withered rose she had managed to grab, she nodded and almost gingerly put it back. "There. All better."

Sam gave her a hug, looking upward at the statue herself. She and Liara had both been here previously, of course- though this was Ashley and Aleu's very first visit. As Liara moved closer, Sam straightened, holding her daughter's hand as Liara carefully placed the three roses.

A rustle drew Mel's attention, and she turned around just in time to see one of the tourist children snap a picture through the entrance of the hedgerow, before ducking back. She shook her head, looking at her mother.

"They're not going to leave us alone very much longer. You should have let me have the park closed for our visit."

"I would not deprive others the chance to see their fallen loved ones if they desire, not even for half an hour," Liara said, taking Sam's hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "My loved one is not truly here. This is just metal and stone. Beautiful though it is, she would have hated every inch of it."

"I think it's beautiful," Ashley piped up. "Why would she hate it, Tama?"

"She helped people because she liked doing it, sweetheart. And she fought as hard as she did because it was the right thing to do. She did not want big statues and parades."

"Oh. Well, it's pretty."

"That it is, darling."

Nearby, Aleu was still looking silently upward at the statue, standing next to his parents. Dae moved closer to Mel, gently resting a hand on her shoulder and speaking softly. As she did, Aleu cocked his head a bit, then looked down at the gathered gifts, his eyes landing on the little action figure. Eyeing both his distracted parents through the corner of his eye, he quickly crouched, sneaking a hand through the bars. Grasping it, he swiftly straightened and tucked it away in his pocket.

The chirp of an omni-tool almost coincided with the drop of the figure into hiding, and he let out a startled little jump, quickly looking at the others. No one had noticed what he'd done, it seemed, Sam and Liara distracted with Ashley and his parents with each other. Letting out a thin breath, he watched as Melara looked at her omni-tool, then excused herself, walking several feet away to view whatever message she had received.

It was clearly not a good one, because almost immediately her scent changed. Aleu felt his shoulders slump a bit. It looked like they would be leaving soon after all.


Closing out her omni-tool after sending a quick message to Vina, Melara headed back over to her family. "I'm sorry, we're going to have to go," she said, drawing their immediate attention.

"You have news?" Liara asked.

"I can fill you in on the skycar, on the way back to the base. Vina's already sending a shuttle down, it'll meet us there. Come on."

They headed out of the Memorial area, Sam picking Ashley up to carry her. Most of the tourists hovering just outside of it reacted like a flock of startled birds as they came striding out, quickly moving to distance while exclaiming excitedly. One or two snapped pictures again, someone even shouting at them to wave. Of course, the entire family ignored them, walking for the path that would lead out of the cemetery.

A few more civilians who had gotten word that the 'Shepards' were in the cemetery, had congregated in loose knots along the way out. While they looked to be merely gawkers and kept a respectful distance, Melara kept her eye on them warily. As they neared the front gate, the same little old lady that Ashley had waved to when they'd entered was lingering near the path, clutching a threadbare overcoat around her shoulders as she stared.

She was still several dozen yards away when Aleu suddenly balked a little, catching Melara's hand. She took instant notice.

"What is it, son?" she asked.

"That lady smells bad," he said. "And she doesn't like us."

Her brows knit, and she looked at the distant woman again. She looked frail and harmless- but looks could be incredibly deceptive.

"Do you smell weapons?" she asked.

"No," he replied. "She just…smells funny. She smells bad."

"All right. Stay close to me and keep walking. On this side."

She guided Aleu to her opposite flank, keeping him between her and Dae, and herself between him and where they would pass the old woman. The woman kept her position and stayed silent as they neared, just watching them as she had before. Aleu tugged on her again a little as they passed, and Mel gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze, figuring he was just nervous.

They passed her without comment, but as they neared the gate, Mel heard a voice call out from behind her.

"Shame on you."

Aleu started to turn. Mel hand her hand on his back and prevented the motion with a gentle push and a shake of her head. "No, just keep walking. Ignore her."

"But Tatta-"

"It's bad enough you cavort with demons," the woman called out again. "To bring one to desecrate this sacred ground is beyond forgivable."

Melara scowled, but it was Dae that suddenly stopped and turned. "What?"

"Daenys-"

The old woman grimaced at them, clasping her hand still to the front of her coat as if they had threatened to tear it off of her. "Go on. Leave," she said. "Get away from here. Delilah Shepard was a valiant hero, and you make a mockery of everything she stood for. Get that Beast creature out of here."

"That is my son you are talking about!" Dae said angrily, turning more to address the woman. Liara caught gentle hold of her arm, shaking her head.

"She is not worth it, Daenys."

"Tatta, she smells really bad," Aleu said worriedly, giving Melara's tunic a sharp tug. Mel, her own temper sparking, gripped hold of Aleu's shoulder. Her intent was to step in front of the boy, guide him with a gentle push back toward Sam and Ashley, head forward, and give the lady a piece of her mind. Instead, almost the moment she gripped hold of him, he made a strange sound- almost a whine- and tore aware from her, bounding toward the old woman.

Stunned as she was by his action, her reflexes didn't fail her. Almost immediately she snagged the young rakir in a biotic field, halting him mid-leap. The old woman, eyes wide, took a step back.

"Tatta!" Aleu was instantly struggling as Melara strode to his side, letting her biotics die as she took hold of him.

"Aleu, what-?"

"No, you gotta catch her!" He said frantically. She looked at the woman again just in time to see her wobble abruptly on her feet, then collapse in a heap. Releasing her son, Melara ran toward her.

"Get medics!"

She reached the woman's side, already activating her omni-tool. Daenys was there a breath later, tearing off her own coat and folding it, tucking it under the lady's head. From this close, they could see she did not look well, her color pale and her skin clammy. She was unconscious.

"What happened?" Daenys asked breathlessly as Melara began to scan the unconscious stranger.

"She has had a sudden cardiac arrest," Melara said. "She already has implanted shunts and a cloned aorta- this is apparently not an unknown condition. Her vitals are weak but her heart is still beating."

Shutting off the tool she pulled off her own coat, draping it over her to help keep her body temperature up. She looked around as Liara and the gate guard got to her side.

"Medics are on the way," Liara said breathlessly. "What happened?"

"She had a heart attack. She has a cloned aorta and some shunts-"

"She must have some medical reason they could not clone her heart itself and replace it," Liara said. "Perhaps her age is greater than she appears."

"It may be she simply didn't want the full procedure," Dae said. "If she is liberationalist-"

"Here come the medics," Liara said as a shadow fell over them. The medical shuttle quickly guided in and landed, followed by a police skycar. As the medics ran over and took charge, Melara and her family stepped back to give them room.

"Aleu knew it was going to happen," Melara said to Dae.

"What did he say?"

"He said 'she smells bad, and she doesn't like us'," Melara told her. "I didn't register the 'and'. I thought he just meant he could tell she didn't like us by the way she smells."

Turning, she went over to where her son was standing with Sam and Ashley. The little asari was clinging to her father, looking alarmed at the goings on. Aleu just looked worried.

"Is she going to be ok?" he asked as his father drew near.

"That is up to the medics now," Melara said. "Aleu, I am sorry I grabbed you. I misunderstood what you had said. You knew she was sick?"

"She smelled bad," he said. "Sour kind of. Like you smelled when you were in the infirmary."

Melara smiled a little at him. "You were trying to help her, weren't you? Even though she was saying those mean things about you, you were just trying to help her."

He looked uncertain, his snout wrinkling a little as he looked off toward the now distant statue, then back at her. "People said mean things about yéyé too."

Mel's eyes went soft. "Yes, they did."

"And she still helped them."

Melara reached out, hugging him tightly. "Yes, Aleu. Yes, she did. You are absolutely right."


Once they were safely in the skycar and back on their way to the base, Melara tried to take her mind off the rude old lady, and told them about the message she had received. "It was from the Council. They want the Normandy to return to Nakira immediately. Matron Neska contacted them."

Aleu sat up immediately at the name of the planet, ears pricking eagerly, even as the adults around him grew concerned.

"Has something happened?" Liara asked.

"Well, apparently the Ubuuta made arrangements with the research team to do a full geological and geographical scan of Nakira."

"That makes sense," Liara said. "The team would already have extensive maps of Nakira geography- they would simply have to provide her those records. However a full geological survey of the planet to pinpoint mineral resources and deep tectonic activity would take ground teams- something they could not do before the rakir were uplifted."

"I cannot blame the Ubuuta for wanting to be able to get a better idea of their world and what it has to offer them," Melara said. "Better they get a jump on any mineral deposits or valuable resources, than risk some other group possibly coming in and taking advantage of their ignorance."

"I am betting the geological survey found something unexpected," Dae said.

"Yes," Melara told her. "They are getting readings that match Red's static signature scan."

"They have found alien tech?" Liara asked, surprised.

"They're not entirely sure," Mel told her. "They're getting the readings but they seem to be coming from the bottom of a deep glacial lake- nearly a thousand feet down. The lake is fresh water but apparently dead-they're not entirely sure why. The rakir consider the whole area poisoned, taboo. When they requested to send a team into the lake to find out where the signature was coming from, the Ubuuta absolutely forbade it. It took Matron Neska some negotiating to get us permission- but that is the condition that Sokka insisted upon; it has to be us. We are the only ones she will trust to do this, or allow to even touch that lake."

"Is the area poisoned?" Liara asked. "Radiation, perhaps?"

Melara shook her head. "Other than that static signature, the radiation levels of the area are comparable with any other part of Nakira. There is no toxin, no noxious gases- nothing that would indicate why the rakir believe it is poison. One of the scientists was able to sneak a water sample before they were called out of the area, and analysis shows that- other than being devoid of any life other than normal microorganisms- it is just plain water."

"Sounds like the normal course of myth to me," Sam said thoughtfully. "Ancient rakir see the lake, note there's no fish in it, no vegetation around it. Maybe someone drank out of it or waded in it and later suffered some kind of illness or accident- likely completely unrelated to the lake but they would have no way to know that. Wariness turns into superstition, turns into taboo. Or it is possible at one time thousands of years ago the waters were toxic - geothermal activity leaking sulfur or hard metals into the lake-bed, something of that nature. Something that has since stopped and dissipated from the waters, but the taboo was already set."

"Or, perhaps the rakir discovered what was in the bottom of the lake and wanted nothing to do with it," Liara said.

Mel glanced back at her skeptically. "A thousand feet down?"

"It was not necessarily always a thousand feet down," Liara said. "It is possible that whatever is causing this signature fell to Nakira in the form of a meteor, or a crashing ship. If it was witnessed, that event alone may have been sufficient to spook the developing natives, inspire them to declare it a sign of evil."

"Whatever the reason, we need to check it out," Mel said.

"I believe you need us with you," Liara said.

"I'd love to have you along, Mama, but what about Ashley?"

"We will bring her. She will be safe enough aboard the Normandy with us for a few days."

"Oh, can she?" Aleu asked, piping up for the first time. Ashley had fallen asleep in her father's lap, undisturbed by the conversation. "Can she, Tatta?"

Melara nodded. "All right, so long as you promise to be on your best behavior. We'll be landing at the base in five minutes, Mama. Pack up your things quickly. Vina will have a shuttle waiting and I want to get pointed toward Nakira as quickly as possible."