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Chapter 43: What We are Fighting For

Year: 2185CE

Location: Nos Astra, Illium, Liara's Office

No ship docked in the city without her notice. And when the name 'Normandy' showed up on the ever-updating list, Liara almost couldn't believe her eyes.

Shepard was back from the Omega-4 relay; she was alive.

How long had it been since she had last seen Shepard? Weeks? Months? Time seemed to blur when she had to process thousands of new information every day. Extortion, death threats, even assassination – everything she hated were now part of the job. Liara shut her tired eyes for a precious few seconds.

This isn't who you really are, Little Wing, her mother's voice whispered gently inside her head.

No. No, it wasn't. But it was who she had to be if she wanted her revenge. Information was her business, and without it, she could never find the Shadow Broker.

I'm sorry, Mother. I-

A knock on the door signaled the end of her break.

"Come in."

As expected, her assistant peeked in. "Dr. T'Soni. Commander Shepard is here to see you."

Aerin. So soon? Liara stood up all too quickly, her usual poise slipped. "Send her in."

Then, through the doorway stepped in a tall figure wearing the jacket Liara had special ordered. Even without her armor, the commander looked striking. Healing scars and bruises on her cheeks told a silent story of her recent battles.

"Liara," Shepard greeted with half a smile.

"Commander." Liara kept her distance until her assistant had retreated and the door was sealed. "It's good to see you again, Aerin."

"Same here. Brought you some souvenir," said Shepard, who then put a strange looking pistol on the desk. The gun looked as if it was half organic, almost like a hive. "Didn't have time to drag a dead Collector off the base for you to dissect, but here is one of their weapons."

"Thank you, Aerin. That's very thoughtful." Liara held the pistol for a closer look.

In her research days, she would have immediately performed a dozen tests on the strange surface. The instinct was still there, yet she couldn't afford to be sidetracked by a hobby.

Perhaps when this is all over...

"How was the mission?" asked Liara, putting down the rare artifact.

A shadow cast across Shepard's features. "The Reapers were behind it. They were using the Collectors to build a human Reaper."

"Goddess."

The commander nodded, her lips pressed thin for a second. "They took human victims and... processed them into some sort of liquid fuel."

Liara shook her head and had to lean against the desk for support. Of all the secrets she had heard, this one made her sick to her stomach. "The base and this human Reaper..."

"Destroyed," Shepard told her. "Along with thousands of dying victims."

Those blue eyes looked haunted. The victims... Liara put a gentle hand on her friend's arm, offering her unwavering support. "You did what you had to."

"Sometimes we can't save everyone, no matter how hard we try." The commander then recovered in the blink of an eye. "I have some good news. It's about the Shadow Broker."

Liara felt a jolt through her spin; her heart skipped a beat.

"Miranda gave me data on where to find him. Interested?"

"Absolutely!" she couldn't answer it fast enough. "I had no idea... Let me see what you've got!"

Shepard handed her a data disk which she almost fumbled and dropped when connecting it to her terminal.

"It looks like a leaked transmission between Shadow Broker operatives," said Liara as she reviewed the details. "Some hints as to the location, and..." A picture of a drell popped up. "It's about Feron," she gasped. "He's still alive."

A weight that had dragged her down for two years had been lifted. Liara leaned back on her chair and stared at the screen.

"Feron." Shepard tilted her head slightly to recall, "He's your friend who helped you recovered my body from the Shadow Broker."

"Yes," said Liara, letting out a long, tired breath. "After two years, I hadn't even dreamed..."

"Sounds like you and Feron were close."

"It's funny. He betrayed me more than once. He was double-dealing for Cerberus, for the Shadow Broker... But in the end, he sacrificed himself for me. I owe him."

"We'll get him back."

"Thank you, Aerin."

"It's your operation. What do you want to do next?"

For the first time in two years, her mind was utterly blank. "I... I don't know," Liara uttered, shaking her head as if the action itself could clear her thoughts. "I need to prepare, to think."

No, not here. There was only one safe place in the entire Nos Astra.

She pressed the comm and spoke to her assistant, "Clear my schedule for the next two days."

"But the meetings-"

"They can wait. And you may take the rest of the day off after you are done. I'm going home." Liara ended the call before her assistant could question her sanity. How much money was she going to lose for taking off like this? Liara didn't care. Nothing was more important than to find the friend whom she owed her life to.

"You okay?" Shepard asked.

Yes. No.

"I've spent two years plotting revenge. Now I have the chance to make it a rescue." Liara pocketed the data disk as though it was the most precious artifact. "Come by my apartment tomorrow evening. Hopefully I'll have a plan by then."


Location: Normandy SR-2, XO office

Their exchange was brief and to the point. No small talks, no pleasantries, just the way Miranda preferred.

"All set?" Miranda asked.

"Yes," Kaidan replied, handing a datapad back to her.

"I don't think anyone would question you," said Miranda. "But in case your shore leave is somehow mentioned during small talks."

To that, Kaidan nodded. "I know what to say."

"Good." Miranda leaned back on her chair. "The shuttle leaves tomorrow, 1800 hour."

"I know." The man's stoic face broke into a thoughtful frown.

She knew what was on his mind. Twenty-four hours left.

"Thanks for the arrangement, Miss Lawson."

"Thank you, Major, for your assistance on our mission."

Kaidan nodded again, then turned to leave.

That was the end of their debriefing. And probably the last time they would ever interact. While they might never see eye-to-eye, Alenko had proven to be profession to the core. Miranda had to respect that.

"I've to say," Miranda added after a brief yet throughout consideration, which ended with the conclusion: Why the hell not? "You surprised me."

He raised an eyebrow at her statement, but otherwise said nothing.

"Your power is stronger than I thought."

"It comes with a price."

Perhaps it was a good place to stop. Yet Miranda found herself continued, "Ever considered upgrading your implant?"

"Yes," Kaidan replied, surprisingly candid. "But not with the risk and the downtime."

Paralysis, brain damage, or even death. In the hands of an average doctor, the risk would be high. But in her hands, if she could bring a charred body back to life...

You don't have unlimited funds from the Illusive Man anymore, Lawson.

Miranda nodded understandingly. "Try acupuncture. Heard it's effective against migraines."

If Kaidan was surprised she knew about his side effect, he certainly didn't show. "Well, thanks." There was a brief pause, long enough for thousands of thoughts to be processed in a mind like Alenko's. "And for what it's worth, you surprised me as well."

"Oh?"

"I was expecting you to betray us."

His blunt honesty was refreshing. Miranda laughed. "Sorry to disappoint you. Aerin is a good friend; I'd never betray her."

Miranda didn't expect him to take her words for it, nor was she about to explain her ties with Shepard.

Still, the man studied her as though he could read her mind. "She helped you, didn't she?" Kaidan asked, although it sounded more like a statement.

"My sister," Miranda revealed quietly after a moment. "Aerin helped me save my sister. I'll never forget that."

A hint of a smile surfaced on Alenko's face, a gentle but proud smile. "Aerin is the best friend a person could ask for."

"If you could overlook the stubbornness and the innate destructive power."

A corner of his mouth twisted further up ever-so slightly.

Suddenly, a movement on the security camera just outside captured Miranda's attention. "Speak of the devil..."

Then came a soft knock before the door opened and revealed the commander, not in her usual hoodie but in the black dress Miranda had bought her. The way Alenko lit up when Shepard stepped into the room was not lost to Miranda.

"I'm surprised you have the sense to change into proper outfit this time," Miranda teased, giving the commander the once-over.

"What can I say? You taught me well." Shepard then turned to Kaidan and asked, "You ready to go?"

"Yeah," Alenko replied, his eyes never left the commander once.

If this isn't love... Miranda had to shake her head. But then, she remembered the harsh reality. Twenty-four hours left.

"Off you go," Miranda shooed them away. "And don't come back tonight."

The commander gave her a casual smirk before they both exited her office. Yet, she was not truly alone.

When Miranda opened up a window to resume a vid chat, a younger version of herself appeared on screen, busy typing some chat replies while giggling to some silent jokes.

For a moment, Miranda watched as the oblivious girl continued to talk to her friends. A gentle smile played on her lips, melting the icy mask. Her sister was free and happy, living a normal life, walking on paths of her own choices. A life Miranda had always wanted but could never have.

"Sorry about the wait," said Miranda eventually to announce her return.

The girl turned to the camera and beamed at her. "Oh, hey, you're back."

Miranda couldn't remember if she had ever smiled like that before. Probably never. In the end, though, it didn't matter, as long as Oriana could forever keep that smile. Whatever the price she had to pay for her sister's freedom, it was worth it.

"Now, where were we?"


Location: Nos Astra, Illium

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Shepard breathed. Her attention was on the skyline of the city, on the sunset sky. His was on her profile.

"Very."

"Last time I was here, I wanted to show you the sunset. But..." she trailed off, then shook her head. "I'm glad you're here."

"There's nowhere I'd rather be."

"I don't know about that. Heard the weather in Vancouver is nice this time of the year."

"It'll start to rain soon enough." And tomorrow, he would have to head back.

"Yeah. A storm is coming."

Kaidan knew what she meant. "Whatever it is, we will get through this."

She turned and looked at him, bright blue eyes searching. "Tell me," Shepard started after a brief pause, "Do you really think we can win this?"

Kaidan couldn't answer.

Shepard continued, "It took the entire Fifth Fleet to take down Sovereign. That's just one Reaper."

He shared her concern. When an army of Reapers came through the veil... "I don't know. But I know we have to try."

Slowly, she nodded. "We have to try and protect what we love."

You. "It won't be easy. But nothing worth having comes easy."

She studied him, thinking on what he had just said. Kaidan held her gaze and offered a reassuring smile.

"...Like us?" Shepard asked eventually.

"Yeah. Remember two years ago, after we took down Sovereign, we... made a deal."

A tiny smile began to surface on her face. "That we'll spend the rest of our lives together."

He was naïve then, thinking his happily-ever-after was right in front of him. Until she was taken from him one week after, without warning.

"Still valid?" she asked.

"Of course. And that's what I'm fighting for – our future."

"Our future?" She repeated, amused. "And what exactly is that?"

"Hm..." He paused as if to think, even though he already knew the answer. "A nice apartment, marriage, kids."

The corners of her soft lips curled up further. "How many?"

That was a question he had never considered. "I don't know, two?"

Shepard arched an eyebrow at him. "Two?"

It was a random number, but it felt right. "Why not? I've always wondered what it's like to have a brother or a sister. Don't you?"

"Well, yes, sometimes," she admitted. "Wish I had someone to get in trouble with when I was a kid."

"See? Besides, you'll be a good mom."

To that, she laughed. "Don't know about that. But I know you'll be a good father."

"Don't sell yourself short. If you can keep your ragtag crew in line, you can handle two kids."

"Maybe..." Shepard considered, her lovely smile grew. "But let's start with one first."

"Sure. That's usually how it goes," said Kaidan, trying not to grin like an idiot. "Unless they're twins."

"Oh god. Double the trouble."

"Don't worry. Two of us versus the two of them. You chase after one, I'll take care of the other."

"Sounds like a plan," said Shepard, chuckling.

For a moment, they merely looked at each other as the image of their future played in their respective minds. There was a soft, longing look in her eyes before her gaze sharpened to a determined one.

"So this is what we are fighting for," Shepard broke the silence softly. "Not just something in grand-scale, but something personal."

"Something very personal." He took her hand and pressed his lips on where a ring would be someday. "Our future."

Smiling, Shepard turned back to the horizon and rested her head on his shoulder. "Then I'll fight tooth and nail. Tear the Reapers limb from limb if they stand in my way." She laced her fingers with his, forever intertwined. "Whatever it takes."

"Whatever it takes."


Location: Nos Astra, Illium, Eternity

"So, you arranged the whole thing for Kaidan."

Garrus never thought he would share a drink with Miranda, both willingly and peacefully. And yet, here they were, at a bar, with a beer bottle in his hand and a glass of wine in hers.

Miranda nodded. "That's what Aerin wanted."

"Ah. Whatever Shepard wants, Shepard gets," he mumbled with half a smirk. "Still, all these just to fool the Alliance?"

"Aerin is not wrong to be careful. With his history with Shepard, the IA has their eyes on Alenko. One wrong move..."

"And you know this, how?"

Miranda shot him a knowing look. "I have my sources."

Of course she did. "So their Internal Affairs department is after Aerin? For what? Dissertation?"

"Officially. The real reason is damage control. They're afraid their perfect soldier has gone rogue."

"Shepard does have a history of going rogue..."

"And she wouldn't the first officer to switch side."

Still, it didn't make sense to Garrus. "Say, if Shepard did switch side, why would she even go back to the Alliance?"

"On the contrary," said Miranda after a sip of her wine. "She'd be a perfect double agent. And she wouldn't be the first, either."

"Hm." Garrus glanced at the woman, somewhat intrigued, but mostly worried. "So, either way, Aerin is in trouble if she goes back-"

"You mean 'when,'" Miranda corrected him. "I've a feeling our commander has made up her mind. She's going back to do the 'right' thing."

"She doesn't have to. We have a ship and a crew. We could set things right by ourselves."

"I agree. But you know how she is."

"Stubborn to the core." Garrus shook his head with a quiet sigh, then took a drink from his bottle.

"There she is," said Miranda suddenly, nodding toward the door.

The subject of their discussion arrived at last.

Curious, Garrus glanced at the clock. 18:21. Shepard had remained at the dock long after the shuttle had taken off.

Wordlessly, Shepard took the remaining chair by the bar.

Words had never been his strong suit. So, instead, Garrus waved at the bartender for a drink for his best friend.

Shepard downed the shot in one gulp then stepped away from the bar. "Come on, we've got work to do." The commander was back. "Let's go meet Liara."


A/N: At the end part one, Shepard and Kaidan (kind of) talked about getting married. And now, they're talking about having kids. What are they going to talk about at the end of part three? Retirement? I don't know.

It's been two years since I first posted chapter one of part one. And we're coming to the end of part two. Took me way longer than I thought. Whether you've joined me when the story was still in its infancy, or a new reader who has just caught up with everything, thank you for reading. And I appreciate every bit of support from you guys; it keeps me going. It's a marathon, and Shepard's story is far from over.

Contact info: gmail – pinoko19, tumblr – pinoko-k.