Thessia
"... number of local and military casualties at 835. Most of the civilian casualties transpired after the assault on the Kelice medical centre by TI forces. There is still no official statement on the approach the TI used to enter the city, only that the attack was successfully repelled. With this latest assault, the fiercest to date on Kelice and Sharzis..."
The voice and vid vanished abruptly when a finger hit a key. Without looking up from her datapad, Aethyta lifted the cup beside her to her lips. Cool and bitter, the tea slide down her throat. A most suitable accompaniment to the fury searing through her when the final body count came in. It was unacceptable. She was going to tear that cloak of hebetude the Assembly had garbed themselves in even if she had to go right up to the incumbents and knocked them flat. She wouldn't be doing it alone either. There were others of the same conviction and they were armed with more than justified outrage.
She stared down at the datapad in her hands. The Passage of Athame used to be her vessel of comfort and inspiration. Knowing who Athame really was did not change the message behind the scriptures. Now, more than ever, the failure of those in power who had steadily failed to heed the principles over the course of time was sharply embodied. Abandoning attempts to read, she flicked the datapad to the seat next to hers and looked out of the window. Thessia shone in space. It looked peaceful to the naked eye until one stepped foot on the ground and find that tranquility was but a fool's vision.
The overhead screen lit up. "Isheirae, matriarch Trisio T'Enaire is on comm two," said the pilot. Her face was replaced with a hard-eyed asari.
"You should not have come back," were the first words out of her mouth.
Short and to the point. That's how Aethyta liked it.
"I was afraid there isn't enough wine to go with the roasted servings, that's why I came back," Aethyta said, returning her gaze to the window but not before she saw Tricio's face darkened. She went on before the other could make any retort. "I apologise for the empty cellar at home. If I had known you were so thirsty, I would have left some vintage for you."
"I should have known you wouldn't have any in that hole you call a cellar," Trisio returned frostily. "I'm sure you are very well informed on where I can find some."
"So eager," Aethyta tsked. Trisio's glare looked cold enough to freeze the air, if that was possible. "Come to the Hall of Voices with your partisans if you wish to view the vintage. I suggest you get there as soon as possible before it's too late."
Trisio looked as though she had been dealt a death blow. "No," she whispered in horror and fear, "you can't-"
"I will not issue the invitation again. You better get moving," said Aethyta before looking at one of the commandos who thumbed off the screen.
If Trisio knew what was good for her, she would leave Thessia and take all her supporters with her. Unfortunately, she knew her too well. Trisio would stay and fight. It was going to be ugly and grow even worse if the Assembly remained at a deadlock.
"Isheirae, we're coming up to the spaceport," the pilot announced over the intercom.
Taking a deep breath, Aethyta forced herself not to turn away as the shuttle descended lower. It skirted the spaceport. The pilot was carrying out her orders to the letter. Her breath caught at the destruction spread out below. It was as bad as the devastation she had seen of the Reaper War. All were in shades of burning red, grey and black. Nothing was recognizable. The sight was almost too much to bear.
Along the defense perimeter, she could see the piles of skycar wreckage. Fighting had been the heaviest at the breached zones. Debris was heaped high below the heavily damaged towers and breached barriers. Tears rose to her eyes when she saw the charred and broken corpses outside the barrier. She cursed the Reapers.
The shuttle banked and crossed the bulk of the spaceport. Overturned skycars, burnt out frames of gunships, cargocarriers, freight containers still lay about the cargo slips. Groups of clean up crews were hard at work, hauling wreckage away. The destruction would be removed but the memory of it would never be expunged. Hovering over it all were geth dropships, a visible warning and deterrent. The spaceport glided by beneath. She was glad to see most of the city remained relatively untouched despite the scatter of debris along the streets.
As gardens, parks and the commercial zone came into view, she could see a normal flow of activity. Traffic was running, people were out and about. Public speakers were out in force. Unusually large groups were congregated around them. She doubted they were singing praises of the Assembly. The tempest was gathering.
The huge dome that was the Hall of Voices came into sight. Broad spires swirled around the edifice before tapering and spreading outward in all directions. It was built to replace the ancient seat of authority leveled to dust in the war and consecrated four years ago with much optimism. How they had hoped the new edifice would infuse the survivors to greater heights. Now, it was regarded more with loathing than respect for nothing good had come forth of it.
As a rule, no transport of any kind was allowed near the building that was the only visible seat of authority on Thessia. Assembly members and the public had to arrive early, park their vehicles hundreds of metres out. The perimeter barrier, no more than a token ring of lights, was then removed at the appointed time and everyone would walk to the building. Such form was going to be abandoned today. There was no convocation. She was not going to have her commandos lugging their baggage in full view. In truth, it didn't matter if there were witnesses. The more suspicion and talk there was, the more difficult it would be for Trisio and her ilk to hide.
No one was near the building when the shuttle set down by one of the entrances. Far off in the distance, as Aethyta exited the shuttle, she could see heads turning in her direction. It was doubtful they could see past the huddle of commandos that helped their burden into the building but they would wonder at the incongruous sight of the shuttle. Rumours would spread like fire in the next few minutes. People would be heading towards the dome. She spoke briefly into her omni-tool as she passed through the entrance. The doors sealed shut behind her. They could congregate outside. It was not part of her plan to have an audience to the coming battle. Once the truth was out, she did not want a bloodbath of innocents.
Many familiar faces were waiting for her in the lobby. "Zelenia." She reached out for the hands of her old friend. "How fare you?"
She looked searchingly at her friend's weary face. Zelenia didn't look like she had rested at all since the assault. There was grime on her face and uniform. Had she gone out to help with the search and recovery? Aethyta would not be surprised.
Zelenia managed a smile. "I am thankful we still stand. The injured are going to recover. Telienos sent her blessings."
"And Gallia?"
"She will walk again."
Aethyta squeezed Zelenia's hands in empathy when she heard the catch in her voice. A final squeeze before she stepped away and looked at the rest of her friends and compatriots. Grim, solemn, anxious. Their aura blaze with it. Their resolve was also clear. That heartened her.
"We will see an end," she said. It was not a question but a statement.
"We are ready," the crowd murmured softly.
They parted to let her take the lead. Behind them, two of the commandos guided a hooded figure in their wake. They walked in silence to the hall. Their footsteps echoed in the vastness of space. Tiers upon tiers of benches that would have seated thousands rolled up against the walls, encircling the crescent shape forum in the center. Looking at those seats, Aethyta wondered if the following months to come would see them vacant.
The middle of the forum was already filled. Fence-sitters. The most frustrating segment of the Assembly that Aethyta would love to toss out. They were comprised of subclans with so many affiliations that they could no longer claim to be a single dominion. More often than not, they vacillated on critical issues, hampering resolution. The deficiency of their adjudication had never been more keenly felt than it did now.
Ignoring the rising murmurs when they saw her and the crowd, Aethyta took her customary seat. Behind her, the rest settled into their own silently. The murmurs grew louder when the commandos appeared. The figure between them walked jerkily as they made their way to the center of the forum where an empty chair awaited. The figure sat without resistance on the seat of contention. The commandos retreated a pace back with watchful attention. Aethyta and her group waited in silence, ruminating on the future.
Half an hour went by. The murmur around the forum died away at the sign of movement at the far end entrance. Aethyta didn't rise as the new mass of people approached. Neither did those behind her though the subclans did. The tall thin asari leading the group had her eyes first fixed on Aethyta before turning on the hooded figure. Fear or was it greed flashed briefly across her face before settling into impassiveness. Her gaze turned to meet Aethyta's when she stood up to meet her. The crowd following Trisio sat down, completing the crescent of the forum.
"You shouldn't have done this," Trisio said with a castigating tone and a look of contempt at her opposition. A parvenu who should have founded some bar in some backwater hole and stayed there said that look.
"Shouldn't?" Aethyta shook her head. "I must."
As if drawn by a magnet, Trisio's gaze returned to the hooded figure, snapping back when Aethyta said in a voice that reached every one in the forum. "The one before us is indoctrinated."
At a gesture from Aethyta, one of the commandos gently pulled back the hood. A soft gasp ran around the forum at the sight of that ancient countenance. The old matriarch was oblivious, her manner indicating withdrawal, her gaze fixed at nothing.
"Indoctrinated?" scoffed Trisio. "I see no signs of it."
"I brought her to Sur'Kesh to be examined," said Aethyta. "You needn't take my word for it, you are free to consult them or run tests of your own."
"Did you drug her?!" demanded Trisio.
"She was destructive."
The speaker for the subclan body, Vershia, stood up. "Who is she, speaker T'Deynor?"
"This is unconventional-," Trisio began to object when Aethyta moved.
With a sweeping gesture at the forum, Aethyta said, "She is here and cannot be withdrawn. She is a question that must be answered, explained." She looked at the faces turned toward her. "She is part of our history and the key to our future. The key to the TI."
"You speak of things you do not know. Therefore you have no justified stance to throw doubt on this revere matriarch," Trisio snapped, wishing she could shut Aethyta up. Whatever the idiot thought she was doing, she didn't have the clout to pull it off. With the subclan held fast to their position, there was not enough to gain a majority. "We only have your word, what proof can you present that she is indoctrinated? This is nothing but a silly bluster to get what you want."
"The geth can provide security footage. A Systems Alliance officer was also a witness. She-," Aethyta pointed to the old matriarch, "was found with the TI at Armali, commanding them."
Shocked gasps and exclamations erupted from the subclan body. Vershia opened her mouth but Aethyta was still talking. Her cold gaze bore into Trisio who looked away.
"I did not know of her existence until she was discovered. I made inquiries and discovered a secret that has been kept from many of us since the formation of the Assembly. Only the privileged few know who and what she is."
More rumblings broke out.
"Speak now or lose the right to add your voice," she warned when Trisio remained silent. "Tolerance is at breaking point. The people have lost faith and patience in the Assembly. The situation is untenable."
Aethyta turned to face Trisio's supporters. "You cannot expect compliance. No more. The voices of the people will take precedence. No one can stop it."
"To speak of her is sacrilege," declared Trisio. "It is not our place to..."
Aethyta regarded her as she would a maggot. Did Trisio think the whole matter would just die away by stubbornly insisting on her own way? Was she so intractable and blind not to realise that she and those with her would rend the Assembly apart if she continued on her course?
"I see dishonesty. Ambition held more precious than the imminent annihilation of an entire race," she said. "We will not have it any longer." There was a stir of movement, the soft rustle of clothing and feet as the entire body of Assembly members behind her stood. "We declare .."
Vershia interrupted unexpectedly. "A question has been presented, speaker T'Enaire. You have revealed to all that you know the answer. Speak."
Trisio whirled, a reprimand on her lips. It died when she realised that most of the subclan body was standing. Her eyes widened in shock. Were they declaring their support of Aethyta and her little clique? How dare they? The satisfaction in that upstart's eyes made her boiled.
"My fellow compatriots and I asked for this meeting. Our intention is to avert disaster but it seems you are bent to bring it about," Aethyta accused.
One of those behind Trisio murmured something to her. That shook her out of her shock. She turned, muttering something angry in return but a few more spoke up, silencing her for a moment. When she turned back, her face was flushed.
"What I have to say is for the Assembly," she said icily.
Aethyta nodded to the two commandos who immediately headed through the nearest entrance, sealing the doors behind them. Two of her friends left their own forum seats and took up positions behind the oblivious matriarch. Returning to her seat, Aethyta sat down. Damn if she would wore herself out listening to what might possibly be a long tale. She'd rather do that comfortably, resting her posterior. Besides, Trisio never liked sharing centre stage with anyone, she loved her own voice too much.
"No one but us," she said.
The fence-sitters' intervention was no surprise to her. Unless they were deaf and blind, they would have realised what was going to happen when she and her group called for this meeting. If they were ready to support her, all the good. If they were merely buying time, it would not last.
"What I have to say is privy only to those who are chosen," said Trisio, pausing briefly to let that fact sank in. "In face of the current crisis, that we may all reach consensus, I will share what I know. When the people first rose from the sea, they knew nothing of the land. Survival of the fittest was the creed. Many died in the struggle. They were saved when Athame appeared to share her wisdom. The people learned to till the land, gather, build better shelters, make better weapons to hunt, to trade, build affiliations. The people progressed but slowly for the written word was not theirs to grasp yet. Through memory and spoken words, knowledge was passed on from generation to generation."
Licking her lips, Trisio paused to survey the faces before her. All were listening attentively. Good. There was still a chance she could salvage the situation. Aethyta knew what she was thinking but she only presented a bland face when Trisio glanced at her.
"But it was not perfect. Deaths, accidents left gaping holes in those who guide. To prevent such losses, Athame chose from the people those who were capable and skilled to share the greatest gift bestowed. A way to preserve precious wisdom, experience. Aiahcra-," she bowed slightly in the direction of the old matriarch, "guardians of memories. With the aid of each generation of these guardians, the people advanced rapidly and evolved to take their place in the stars. To stand as leaders of the galactic community. As it should be."
Aethyta thought that was a nice little touch at the end of the recitation. Nothing like appealing to the ego. Oh yes, the asari were such great leaders were they?
"How were they chosen?" someone asked behind her.
"As she approaches the resolution of her last cycle, each guardian chooses the successor who has the best mental competency because of the vast amount of memories she must hold. Each-," Trisio held up a hand when the questioner made to voice another, "guardian adds her own unique experience to the whole so that the next can call upon her wisdom as well when she needs it. All of you would have at some point in your third stage of the matron cycle, been called up and tested by your mentors or Elders."
"That was to find suitable candidates?" another said behind Aethyta, a note of wonder in her voice. Likely recalling such an event in her life.
"They are the ones who dictate policies," another observed shrewdly, stilling the beginnings of soft discussion among the Assembly. Heads turned towards Trisio who didn't look happy at that observation.
"Who else is more qualified?" she retorted. "They have knowledge spanning thousands of years!"
"Are you forgetting the core principles of the Republics?" someone returned coldly.
"They exemplified those principles. They are the essence of those principles," Trisio countered. "We would not have risen to where we are if it were not for them. They do not dictate, they suggested, advised. Two different interpretations.."
"How many are there?" Aethyta cut in when Trisio seemed ready to launch into another spiel, earning herself a harsh reprimanding glare which was completely wasted on her. She was no youngling in her first cycle to be cowed by facial exercises.
"Six..."
Aethyta cut in again. "Where are the other five?"
"I do not know," Trisio admitted reluctantly.
"You do not know," Aethyta repeated softly. "But you do know about the one present in this hall. How long have you known?"
"Without her, we couldn't have established Kelice or Sharzis," Trision said evasively.
"How is that possible?" a voice chimed in incredulously.
"The will and self-determination of the TI were directed to serve their masters. You may all think kinship and affiliations no longer matter to the TI but they still do and value it." Trisio gestured at the old matriarch. "By drawing on those ties, she diverted the TI's attention to other matters, she bought time for us to gain a foothold-."
"And then what?" Aethyta stood up, eyes fixed on Trisio. "You are suggesting she resisted indoctrination for a time. If she did so and retained her sanity, her first consideration will be for those who survived the war. I do not think I am wrong to say she would have wanted us to reclaim Thessia. She would not have objected to an effective campaign against the TI."
"We have to retrieve all six guardians. If we allowed the geth to carry out wide scale cleansing, if we went on the strong offensive, we may lose them." Trisio raise her hands in appeal to her audience. "To prevent such a thing from happening, we would have to reveal their existence to outsiders. The guardians are sacred, they protected us with their lives. We must answer in equal fervor or we risk losing the foundations of ourselves. They are our ancestors, our mentors. Are we to abandon them after all they have done for the people?"
Frowns creased many brows of the gathering. Before they could turn to their neighbours to discuss further, Aethyta said aloud, "You know so much because you have been communicating with the TI." How would you answer, I wonder, she thought grimly.
"It was necessary." Trisio glanced around. Except for a few in her own cohort, the rest was shocked. "To determine the location of the guardians, we made contact with the TI. Armali was the first place I tried in the search. I was successful in making contact."
"How long?" Aethyta asked as the gathering muttered uneasily.
"What does it matter?" Trisio said evasively. "That I-."
"How long have the TI been given free rein of the cities?" Aethyta bit off each word with clenched teeth. The desire to commit violence was strong. A deathly silence filled the forum.
"I do not believe for one instance that the information you gained flow as easily as water," she drove on, giving Trisio no opportunity to speak. "The TI took as they fed you what you wanted. That is how they have the local transponders for their transports, isn't it? They've been making supply runs under our very noses. You let them in here. You let them in to study the strengths and weakness of our fortifications, our troop deployments. You let them in here so they could study the layout of the cities and make plans for their invasion."
Trisio stood her ground as Aethyta stood up and approached menacingly. "No, they were monitored closely, they did not-," she said. She did not realise she had admitted to something she had resolved to try to keep a lid on and stiffened when it dawned on her the next minute.
"Trisio!" The shout startled them all. Zelenia surged out of her seat and would have gone for Trisio had Aethyta not grabbed hold of her arm. She didn't try to shake off the restraining hand and hissed at Trisio instead. "It's not the TI. It's you. You and your advocates who are responsible for the deaths of the troops, the recruits, the civilians, the people in the outlying villages!"
"How dare you!" Trisio shouted in return. "The TI would have attacked whether or not I allowed them access..."
"You are a fool!" Zelenia bellowed, the volume astounding everyone. It made the hall rang and shook up the rafters.
"Our defenses are weaken when they would have withstood the storms. We lost people needlessly. For Thessia to have a future, we need to eradicate the TI. What is power when the next generation is dead? What is wisdom when there is no one to share it with and pass it on? We need the next generation of our young! We should be nurturing them, not throwing them away in battles before they are ready!" She pointed at the old matriarch. "Why are we looking to her? Look at her. She is one of them. She is indoctrinated. One of the TI who seek our end and you trusted her words. You have been played, T'Enaire!"
"No, she is not part of them," Trisio clenched her jaw stubbornly. "You are the fool for you see nothing but war and death."
"Let me speak," Aethyta whispered, gripping Zelenia's arm harder when she felt that warming field of gathering biotic energies. "You, of them all, cannot break the laws laid within this hall. Zel, we need you to guide the troops, not sitting in a cell," she added urgently, hoping her old friend would heed her words.
She breathed a sigh of relief when Zelenia's skin cooled. Without a word, Zelenia returned to her seat. Was that disappointment in Trisio's eyes? Having Zelenia lose control would play to her advantage. A good excuse to divert the entire proceedings and buy her the delay she was clearly looking for. But even if Zelenia was imprisoned, should the dissolution come to pass, all judicial edicts were nulled. Her old friend would be released without question.
"Let me repeat, she is not part of them." Trisio picked up where she had left off, ignoring the palpable waves of anger from the forum.
Aethyta wondered she could brush off the growling stares from the subclan body and her own people. Most of Trisio's supporters were also displaying signs of the same outrage.
"For two years, we were able to rebuild, revived shattered infrastructures, restored trade. In that time, we were vulnerable yet the TI did not attack us with their overwhelming numbers. Why? Where were they? What were they doing? I say to you, the guardians are the reason for their restraint. We must find the others. When the guardians return to guide us, how can we fail to recover our home?"
Incredible. After all that had happened, Trisio still expect support in her ruinous venture?
"Do you really think they are capable of resisting the Reapers for so long?" Aethyta asked.
"The guardians are not like us. They have abilities none of us can understand because we are not trained in them. Knowledge and wisdom from ages past. We have lost so many of our elders, we mustn't lost any more," Trisio implored, hands held out in supplication to the gathering. "With their aid, Thessia can rise once more to glory."
Aethyta wanted to walk out there and then, she had no stomach to listen to any more of Trisio's delusions but forced herself to stay fixed to her spot. She suspected her cohort was of the same mind and so were a few of Trisio's if she was not mistaken, judging from their stony expressions. But not just yet. If a consensus could not be reached, they would all have to witness the unbinding of the Assembly. Was it still possible to avert it?
Taking a deep breath, Aethyta launched into the argument she had prepared.
"Knowledge, the potential of inherent abilities. As Trisio has said-," she turned in her spot to eye everyone, "many gifts were passed down from the goddess Athame. A mythical being who entered the lives of our ancestors and guided them. We all know that being is not one, but many. They have a name-," she paused. "Protheans."
"That is not relevant," Trisio interrupted. "We..."
"In all aspects, they are relevant. They came to Thessia, saw our potential and chose to meddle in our evolution, guiding us onto a path they wanted-."
"No, that is not-," Trisio cut in again, anger in her eyes.
"I have the right to voice." That shut Trisio up.
"The history and nature of the Protheans," Aethyta continued, "is not so pretty or shiny as we imagined them to be. They knew about the Reapers, they needed and wanted to build an enormous force to fight the invaders. In so doing, they unleashed their ambitions and secured themselves a galactic empire. Where they could, they looked for potential warriors with the ability akin to theirs to swell their ranks. If I were them, to see such plumb ripe fruits to pluck on Thessia, would I hesitate? With control of a vast empire, with so much power, confidence in technological supremacy, who would demur? We were one of many primitive races but they saw in us, a potential they wanted to nurture. They taught us many things, for which I am grateful because I am standing here today, civilised."
Many grinned wryly at that remark.
"Civilised instead of grubbing around in the dirt. I will not touch on the other aspects of the Protheans, their callous policies towards those who would not bend to their will. I will reiterate that they wanted to advance us to their level. But they did not complete their work with us for the Reapers arrived. So they did the one wise thing they could do to protect us. They removed all signs of their presence and buried the Prothean archives they had set up on Thessia. These we discovered later and used to propel ourselves further. Where were the guardians in all these events? I would presume as we progressed along, they gathered and stored knowledge, to fulfill the purpose for which they were created. To guide, to protect. But somewhere along the flow of time, a third purpose was added. The place of the guardians were manipulated."
"What do you mean?" someone asked behind Trisio who whirled around to mutter something to the speaker who answered sharply, "You are not Athame."
"Selection of the guardians became exclusive-."
"You have no evidence that-," Trisio began to say and stopped abruptly. Her colour darkened.
"One of your own supplied the evidence. Special markings on names dating many centuries. When the commandos returned with the matriarch, I had genetic tests run. She is of your own clan," Aethyta gestured to the old matriarch, "Leria T'Enaire, born 691 CE."
Absolute shocked silence ruled the hall. "But that's impossible," someone burst out. "That would make her-."
"Yes, she out lives the normal lifespan of an asari." Aethyta understood their incredulity. "Which lends weight to the claim that the abilities of the guardians transcend the rest of the populace. My point is, I believe the function of the guardians was originally meant to be shared, not held fast in the grip of a few clans."
"You are insane," Trisio said angrily.
"Am I? Shenar T'Dris, would you like to share your clan records with the Assembly? No? Illa T'Wyria? You don't think so either?"
The two asari she named pretended they didn't hear her. Aethyta wished the ground would swallow them up. That would save them and every one of their advocates the shame of their political machinations.
"For all their faults, the Protheans had noble purpose. We are meant to inherit their legacy should they fail. To be the vanguard against the Reapers. But a few among us chose to see that we dance to tunes of their own desires and in so doing, we strayed. Instead of heeding the warning they sent to the hidden archives here once the Protheans knew there was no hope for them, those in power did nothing."
"You are wrong, we only seek to guide..."
"Once before, I made several suggestions." Aethyta stared at Trisio. "I spoke of mass relays, I spoke of the younglings. What did I get?" Trisio was one of those who was most viperish, ridiculing her ideas, she remembered.
"I spoke of advancement, to go beyond what we have already achieved!" Her sudden thunder frightened everyone for a moment. "What did the Protheans intend? Why did they create the guardians? What was the point to them? They are supposed to help us continue along the path of evolution, not hold us back! Not to rest satisfied in arrogance that we have done and learned all we could. Not to float along the currents thinking we would make it to shore with no effort. They are not some almighty resources we can always fall back on to dig us out of trouble. We are suppose to be able to stand on our own! If this is how we are suppose to regard the guardians, then they have failed the fundamental direction of their creation!"
Her throat felt dreadfully dry but Aethyta pushed on, directing her words at Trisio.
"Has it not occurred to you that Leria might possibly have done what you said, resisted indoctrination, redirect the TI to no purpose. That she intended for us to prepare an offensive against the TI? Reclaim Thessia, not to save her so she could be used as a political card. Not to immobilise ourselves, wheeling, dealing, planning, using desperate resources we can ill afford to lose to throw back the TI attacks? The TI should be retreating before us, we should not be cowering behind our fortifications. We built two cities when we could have have built more. You chose to make policies of your own vaunted desires. How much further would you go before it finally hit that the demise of the people is in your hands?"
"You are wrong," Trisio said but her voice was faint. There was none of that stubborn light in her eyes, only uncertainty and guilt.
A deep voice answered her. "She is right."
Startled, Aethyta stepped back when the old matriarch stood. The two Assembly members jumped. Engrossed in the argument, they had not noticed her stirring. Aethyta waved them back when they reached out to stop her. Looking more than a little afraid, Trisio retreated. A tiny smile lifted Leria's lips. She took the few paces needed to reach the space at the centre of the forum.
"It has been a long time since I last stood here." She raised her head to gaze at the vaulted ceiling of the dome. "But no, this is not the original hall."
"What are you?" Aethyta asked cautiously. The old matriarch's behaviour was so unlike what she had displayed before.
"A moment of sanity, held fast in the storms of darkness. I have very little time." Leria wavered unsteadily and waved Aethyta's hand away. "My sisters are gone, taken and used. I am the only one left. There will be no more as of today. It is better that way-," she shook her head at the sound of protest that escaped Trisio.
"Our vast knowledge have proven to be useless and detrimental to our own. Listen. I do not know why but we, the asari, presented a danger to the Reapers. We and our ancient mentors, the Protheans. This I sensed in the flow of their communications. That is why they seek only to use us, not absorbed and made into the form of their own image. That is why they tried to ground Thessia into dust-," a cough escaped her. "I used a part of myself to contact Trisio after the war. To have the survivors rebuilt and to retake Thessia but intentions fell to the depths, I did not convey clearly. In the days that followed, madness communicated itself, I could not stop it and I despaired. But now I can."
"It is as you said-," she touched Aethyta on the arm lightly. "The guardians' purpose is to share all knowledge and to encourage the fires of curiosity, imagination and courage to raise the people to greater heights. But our pride, our ambition blinded us. We forget we are not meant to be tools of political power. We did not serve, instead we sought to impose our desires and convictions. As such, my sisters and I have failed our ancestors and our duty to the people. It is well we are ended. At the turn of the sun, you must forge new meanings to your endeavors. Build a better Thessia."
Aethyta hastily caught hold of Leria as she sank down, her voice growing faint. Was her flesh getting colder? She was dying, Aethyta realised. Behind her, the rest of the forum rose to their feet hurriedly and gathered around. The sight of her pain drew murmurs of sympathy and yet they could feel she was at peace. They knelt and those nearest to her reached out to touch her.
"Do this," Leria whispered, looking at the faces around her. "You are the guardians now. You are all the very essence of what it is to be asari. No one is above the other. To do so is to stand apart, never to be whole. Learn from mistakes. Know as you surpass each crest of success, that plucking the fruits of wisdom is an unending process till you draw last breath. Revive Thessia and the people," she implored, her gaze resting on Aethyta. "We are not the completed form of the Asari. Far from it. It is for you to find it. Cherish and guide the younglings. Create new paths, the future you would see."
"It will be done," Aethyta promised, feeling Leria's limbs stiffening as her eyes closed. "Leria T'Enaire, Aiahcra. You have not failed in your duty. Rest. Be one with the sea, sister. May you find comfort within its heart. One day, we shall see you again."
"It is well." A sigh passed Leria's lips and she spoke no more.