Chapter 50
A Lead Hidden In The Past
"Being but men, we walked into the trees
Afraid, letting our syllables be soft
For fear of waking the rooks,
For fear of coming
Noiselessly into a world of wings and cries.
If we were children we might climb,
Catch the rooks sleeping, and break no twig,
And, after the soft ascent,
Thrust out our heads above the branches
To wonder at the unfailing stars.
Out of confusion, as the way is,
And the wonder, that man knows,
Out of the chaos would come bliss.
That, then, is loveliness, we said,
Children in wonder watching the stars,
Is the aim and the end.
Being but men, we walked into the trees."
Being But Men,
Dylan Thomas
Tib and Gaius sat comfortably on the rock pile in silence.
Explosions still rumbled and shook the ground as the fleet pounded the earth.
"Nice view..." Tiberius commented idly before taking a deep drag of his cigar.
"You know me and fireworks, Tib. Could stay here all day and watch this."
"Ha! It's nice to know that you are as unchangeable as it gets."
Gaius grinned before he let out a sigh and leaned back, stretching himself out over the rubble. He clasped his hands behind his head as he lay back to rest. Tib joined him.
The pair stared up at the blue sky and the vague outline of the lower orbiting ships of the fleet.
"It's really good to see you again, brother. I have to admit I was a bit worried about ever seeing you again."
Tiberius's voice was low and almost trembling. Gaius rolled on to his side and dragged Tib into a hug. He let out a chuckle as his friend hugged him back.
"In no way would anyone think this is weird," came Tib's muffled comment. Gaius let him go and turned his gaze once more skyward.
"Hahaha! Oh please. You would love to be known as my bitch!"
Tiberius burst out laughing. "You know my secret! Fiddlesticks!"
The two chuckled together happily as they gazed up at the blue skies. Gaius narrowed his eyes as a stray ray of sunlight seem to hit them in particular.
The light grew brighter until it consumed their vision.
The ship rattled and shook before it finally stilled. The shuttle had docked to the occupants relief.
Gaius let out a sigh and stepped out in the 11th battalion's command ship. They were in the early stages of the push. It was hard to imagine that in a couple of weeks – if everything went to plan - they would be on Haestrom fighting what would hopefully be their last fight.
As he set foot in to the docking bay, he immediately spotted Tiberius in a debate with someone. He narrowed his eyes to make out who it was. It was Emilie Kynes. Gaius grimaced before he went over to break it up.
"You promised me a damn favor, Victus! I thought you were a man of your word!"
"I am but you are asking me to spy on a member of my squad!"
Emillie snarled, "I am asking you to look into suspicious activities that could endanger us all! Or is this hesitation of yours because it is her that you don't want to upset."
Tiberius's form visibly slumped.
"Emi... will you never forgive me? I mean, spirits damn it..."
The female glared at him.
"You and me are done, Tiberius. There is no going back. I came here because I - for some stupid reason - thought you were a turian of your word like your father. But clearly I was wrong because you are nothing like Adrien Victus. Although I should have figured that out when I walked in on you and Mira fucking like varren," Emi spat out with venom.
"Emi, please! I just... it was a damn mistake!"
Emilie just shook her head at him and tried to leave. Tiberius grabbed her arm and turned her around to face him.
"Please! Don't do this! Just give me a chance to make amends," he pleaded.
Emi glared at him before she dug her talons in to the hand that held her captive. Tib retracted it swiftly and rubbed the injured appendage while Emi turned on her heel and stormed out.
Tiberius watched her leave with mournful eyes. Gaius put his hand carefully on his friend's shoulder.
"You okay? What was that about exactly? I mean she has avoided you since... well, you know."
"She just asked me to look into some signal discrepancies coming from the ship. From Mira Simons communication logs to be precise."
"And why don't you?"
Tib brushed off his friend's hand. "I rather not come in contact with Mira if possible. I don't think it's that bad either. From the sounds of it, its more random static than anything serious. Emi is letting her anger and resentment blind her. Its making her paranoid."
Gaius hummed, "Perhaps. But... I am gonna be honest here. Emi has never been one to over exaggerate."
Tiberius stared at the door that Emi had exited through.
"How did you get Amata to forgive you?" his friend asked meekly.
Gaius frowned a little at that. "I don't know. I am grateful, eternally so, that she did but I really don't have an answer for you."
Tiberius nodded ruefully before he rubbed the back of his neck.
"I guess I just need to be persistent but, spirits, Emi is not making this easy. She really... I really hurt her bad."
"You broke her heart and Emilie Kynes is not like Amata. She won't try to see the best in you, Tib. You will need to give her no choice but to see it. And..."
Gaius coughed. "...Actually - while we are talking about the situation on the Emilie front - I might have some news."
Tib turned to his friend. "News? What are you talking about?"
"I was kinda waiting for the right moment to bring it up. Amata has told me that Emi is... ahem..."
"Just spit it out, Gaius."
"Amata told me that Emi has been offered a permanent post off Omega and she has accepted. She is leaving once the war is over."
Tib blinked. "Excuse me?"
"I am so sorry, Tiberius."
"Where -" Tib stopped and rubbed his eyes. He swallowed before finally speaking once more.
"Where is she going?" he croaked out.
"One of Jack's old research buddies has been given a lucrative contract out in the far reaches of the Attican Traverse. She won't be back on Omega for quite a few years according to Amata. The expedition is going further out to the fringes of galactic space then previously explored."
Tiberius entire body sagged. "Damn... I gotta try to make her stay! I have to get her to see how sorry I am."
Gaius hated seeing Tib like this. He reached out and put his hand on his friend's shoulder.
"You might convince her to stay. Just give it time."
A bright light suddenly flashed.
Both Gaius and Tib sat upright.
"Damn it," Gaius mumbled while he rubbed his eyes. Tib looked around. They were still on the rubble pile in what remained of Cipritine.
"Man... this is messed up."
Tib looked over at Gaius. "You saw the same thing?"
"Yeah."
"What is going on..." Tib mumbled.
"I am more interested in what Emi found," Gaius said lowly.
Tib turned wide-eyed to Gaius.
The other hybrid dragged himself up off the rubble.
"She found something, Tib. I had forgotten all of that. Oh spirits..."
"Gaius?"
"Amata... she... she had refused to believe that Emi's death was an accident! Her and Jack looked into it. I asked her to stop but she never gave me an answer to if she did..."
He turned around and stared at Tiberius.
"Whatever Mira's plan is, I think we can find it in what Emi found back then."
Tib swallowed carefully and nodded.
"We need her files. Tristan might have copies."
Gaius immediately opened his omnitool.
"We need immediate pick up. Get Tristan to retrieve to all files belonging to Emilie Kynes and those of Mira Simons. I mean everything – dating back decades. I want them all ready for when we get to the Ad Astra."
After hearing the affirmative back, Gaius shut his omnitool and stared at Tiberius.
"For whatever reason we have relived events in our lives, I am grateful. We have a lead."
Shepard woke up nauseous and immediately leapt out of the bed to the bathroom.
Garrus had sleepily followed her only to find her with her head resting on the toilet seat.
She had tried to weakly push him away - her embarrassment flushing her skin bright pink - but eventually let him help her. Garrus held her hair back while she retched in to the toilet bowl.
"It must have been something you ate," he hummed while stroking the soft red strands he kept from falling.
"Ugh... I have no idea..." Shepard suddenly grimaced and hissed down to her stomach, "Oh stop it, little one! You are not helping the situation!"
Garrus looked down to where Shepard had one hand on her belly. His concern heightened.
"Is he okay?! What's..."
Shepard went into another fit of vomiting, the rest of the contents of her stomach emptying out in to the toilet. Once that wave had passed, she sat back on her haunches while Garrus grabbed a tissue and wiped her mouth.
"Not my most attractive moment," she whispered.
"I dunno. I could get used to you depending on me."
She laughed. "You would swear that I didn't already."
Garrus sat down with his back against the wall and tugged Shepard to lean against him. She let out a sigh as he wrapped his arms around her and her belly.
"He is moving a lot," Garrus said softly.
"Yeah. Not helping with my nausea."
"We should get you back to the Ad Astra."
She started to argue but was silenced as Garrus hummed, "You have less than two months left, Jane. Just a few weeks before he will be here. I know you want him to be perfectly healthy as much as I do so lets just see the medics and get the all clear."
Jane grumbled a little but nodded. Garrus kissed her brow.
"My father and Atilius should be returning soon. While you were sleeping I got a message to say they were returning."
Shepard looked up at Garrus.
"So... General Marius?"
"I imagine he is dead. Dad didn't mention anything and I haven't received anything official yet but I won't be surprised if I do."
"You know... I never imagined your father..."
Garrus nuzzled her hair and let out a deep breath that ruffled the fine red strands.
"Neither did I. My father... I think he is very different to the man I remember."
"Or the one you constructed in your mind."
Garrus rested his chin on top of her head. "You might be right on that. He and I need to talk."
He felt her nod in agreement. "I think so too but only when you are ready."
"Hey... do you want to know a secret?" he said softly with a slight smile on his face.
"Yeah? What is it?"
He whispered in her ear, "I think I might love you."
Shepard started laughing before she desperately reached for the toilet and started heaving in to it. Garrus sighed and gently pulled her hair back.
He planted a kiss on the back of her neck before gently rubbing her back as she continued to vomit.
Atilius leaned back in the pilot's seat.
The ship was now firmly parked on the snowy plateau they had left some hours before. Avitus squeezed his friend's shoulder before popping out back.
Atilius finally shut down the ship and followed him. The two quickly put on their snow gear and opened to the door only to find a lone turian in heavy robes waiting.
Avitus barked out a laugh and enveloped the figure in crushing hug.
"I didn't think you would be able to make it!"
"Dione got in touch. There was no way I was going to miss meeting my nephew. She told me about Marius and Sol. Has the task been completed? I rushed here to offer my help if you need it!"
"It is done. I did have some help with it," he chuckled as he directed the turian's attention to the General.
Atilius nervously stepped out on to the snows. He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.
"Hey Sabia. Been awhile."
The robed turian laughed before removing the heavy hood. A pair of bright blue eyes in a pretty young turian female's face gazed at him. She grinned at Atilius with mandibles flickering gently with amusement.
"Marcus! It has been too long! How have you been?"
He coughed. "Good. You?"
"The same. It's really good to see you well."
Sabia turned her gaze back to Avitus.
"Come on then, big brother! The rest of the clan is on their way. I hope your boy is prepared for a big reunion."
