Shepard Stories III
Ch 14 – Truth Unveiled
Xa'lorcean 2315CE
Shepard was walking through town late into the evening as thoughts rolled through his mind. He looked up at the starlit sky for a moment as he thought about his late wife. He stopped when he noticed his wife on the nearby glowing image wall as she was constantly being displayed around town. He walked up to her and placed his hand on the imaging wall then closed his eyes as he softly said, "I miss you terribly, and I will never forget you, but I think it's time I let you go. I've met someone, and I've been unfair to her with you so close to my heart and on my mind." He looked away when the image changed, and he stuck his hands in his pockets. Before he walked back to his apartment, he looked to the stars and softly said, "Goodbye, my blue goddess, wherever you are."
He walked back to his apartment and took a breath before he walked in and was greeted by his friends and Katarina, his Elemental lover. Kirre walked through the living room toward her quarters as she said, "Good, you're back." She thumbed her thumb at the Elemental "What's her face got here about ten minutes ago."
Shepard gave a lopsided grin, then replied, "It's Katarina, and you don't like her."
She rolled her eyes then replied with irritation, "Shep, I don't know her, and I don't speak her language to get a chance to know her. So, yea, I don't like her and won't until I do." She waved her hand quickly at Ty and said, "And it's not just me, Ty feels the same way. This Elemental comes here, and I'm trying to be nice, but it's like talking to a deaf-mute. So, I say to myself, why bother? On top of that, I have to keep my guard up because, for all I know, she could kill us. It's been months like that around here when she comes over, and I don't like having to be cautious in our own home."
He raised his hands and said, "Ok, I get it."
She shook her head then said, "I get that you're trying to move on, but she's NO Liara. Hell, she's no Miranda either. Why not just wake Miranda and be with her? At least I know what she's saying, and I trust Miranda." She pointed to Katarina, "I don't trust her or the other ones."
Shepard was taken back by his friend's irritation as she had never spoken to him like this before. He then looked over at Ty, who was nodding to everything Kirre was saying. He took a deep breath as he dropped his head, then said, "No one can replace Liara. I, of all people, know that, and maybe when we get back, I will wake Miri. I understand the caution and the language barrier but trust me when I say that she can be trusted."
"Shep, I came here as your friend, and in the beginning, we were here to do something for Liara. We started with that, but now it's all about searching for Noxrul." She shook her head slightly then said, "I don't want to sound like an asshole here, but this isn't our war. We fought our war and barely won. It wasn't right to give them hope by saying that Benezia would help them. You know damn well that Mili would have never agreed to it, or did you forget about her?" She pointed toward the window, "Our people out there don't want to be a part of this war either. We need to tell them what's coming, and we need to go home." She pointed to Katarina, "And they don't need to know where we live because you don't know a damn thing about them."
Shepard crossed his arms as he grit his teeth then said, "A lot of what you said is true, and I don't know their squad leader Danica's intentions. But right now, we're here, and there's a threat on our borders that could happen at any moment. That threat puts Liara's project on the back burner." He uncrossed his arms as he walked toward his friend, "You miss her as do I. This is a new world, a world Liara would have wanted to explore, and we can't continue until the threat is gone."
Kirre scrunched her face as she wiped her tears away and sniffled. "I'm sorry for being so straight forward. I feel like what's her face is trying to remove the memory of my late friend." She paused, then continued, "I just miss her and our family. We may not have been official family members, but Liara made us all feel like we were a part of hers. She did so much for us, and we were beyond grateful." She sobbed then said, "We failed her miserably, and it bothers me to this day that she died the way she did."
He pinched his brows as he frowned then walked up to his friend and wrapped his arms around her. As he pulled her closer and comforted her, he softly said, "Liara will always be with us. She had such a big heart, and she cared for all of you." He looked over at Katarina when she spoke cautiously.
"They don't like me, do they?"
Shepard took a breath and gently pulled away from his friend then spoke in Eroquin. A language that was bestowed upon him when Danica read his mind. "They don't know you. They also think you're trying to remove the memory of my late wife. They were close friends with her, and they're upset."
She gasped softly as she placed her hand on her chest and shook her head. "No, and I'm not trying to do that." She let out a breath then continue, "Jon, I love you, and I know you don't love me, but I know you care for me." She looked over at the picture of Liara on the nearby table. "Your wife was gorgeous, and I know I don't compare to her. I understand that you need time, and I won't rush you."
He smiled as he walked over to her, then caressed her cheek as he said, "I know, and I thank you for understanding and allowing me to grieve." He looked into her eyes and said, "I haven't been fair to you with Liara on my mind." He took a ragged breath as tears gathered in his eyes. "I'm sorry. I just loved her so much, and she was taken from me unexpectantly."
She placed her hands on his face and kissed his lips, then said, "I'm so sorry that she died." She put her hand on his chest, "I hope one day, your heart will heal."
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. "It will one day, and you're helping me with that."
-/
Shepard woke the next morning with Katarina naked in bed next to him. He smiled as he looked her over, then slid closer to her and kissed her shoulder. He gently shimmered his fingers down her side then over her hip, and he could feel her stirring in her sleep.
She smiled then said, "Hey, I'm beginning to enjoy staying here and waking up next to you."
"Yea? Why's that?"
She turned to him and said, "Because I love you and because your rugged, sexy, and you've become more intimate." She gently ran her fingers over the scars on his chest as she said, "Even with these, you're still sexy."
He laughed then said, "Oh yea? Is that why? I thought maybe it was the sex."
She chuckled as she slid closer to him, "nMm, the sex is out of this world." She kissed his chest as her hand slid down and rubbed his softness "and even better in bed instead of that dingy storage closet."
He moaned as she continued her rhythmic motion, then straddled him and rubbed herself on him. He looked at her beauty, and he couldn't help but think of his wife. The many times she looked down on him during sex. Her eyes as she focused on him, her touch, her taste, her moans, her breathy voice, and her kiss. He closed his eyes when she slid him into her wetness, and she began to rock back and forth. He laid there as he thought more and more about his wife and moaned as her breasts touched his chest and her lips kissed down his neck. He shimmered his hands up her back as he pushed into her, then kissed her shoulder. When he opened his eyes, it wasn't Katarina that he saw but his beautiful wife. He smiled when she leaned back, and her breasts bounced as she rocked. He leaned in as he placed his mouth on her breast, then sucked and licked her nipple then softly said, "I've missed you." Then moaned as he said, "Mmm, you feel so good."
Shepard gently laid her back and began to make love to his wife. Their moans filled the air, and when they released, his wife faded away. He closed his eyes in shame of what he did, but he couldn't help it. Why is he thinking about her more now? It's because I'm trying to let you go, and my heart won't let me.
He turned and looked at the glowing woman next to him, and he gave her a faint smile.
Katarina returned the smile and said, "I love you too."
He pinched his brow briefly at her words, and she said, "Why that look?"
Shepard looked away for a second, then said, "I'm sorry." then sat at the end of the bed.
She jerked her head back as she pinched her brows at him, distancing himself, "I don't understand. You just called me baby and told me you loved me, and now you pull away?"
His eyes flashed, then he ran his hand over his face because he knew he didn't say that to her but his wife. He knew he couldn't tell her that. "I'm sorry, Rina. I was in the moment… I guess." After he said those words, he closed his eyes as he knew that was a dick thing to say.
She scoffed as she got out of bed and grabbed her clothes then angrily said, "So, you love me when you have sex with me and come inside of me? Is that it?"
He dropped his head as he ran his hands over his short stubbled hair and said, "That's not it at all. I'm sorry."
She jerked her clothes on, then shook her head. "I'm just going to leave," she said, then stormed out..
-/
A few days passed, then Danica and several of her crew arrived at Shepard's apartment for a meeting.
Shepard sat at the table in his small dining room and spoke to the leader of the Elementals in Armalian, and she instantly relayed the information to her crew in Eroquin. He could have spoken in Eroquin, but his friends wouldn't have understood, and it was their home, and he felt it would be unfair to leave them out. When Danica, the leader of the Elementals, read his mind several months ago, she also gained any language he knew.
"So Danica, when should we head through, or are we going to continue to search for Noxrul?"
"I think we should head through, and the best time would be at night when most are asleep."
Shepard nodded, "Ok." He paused, then looked at her left wrist and saw no unit. "How do you plan on getting us through with no wrist unit that you supposedly have?"
She smirked as she lifted her wrist. "My unit is cloaked." She said, then tapped at the unit, then it's lights illuminated. "See."
Shepard pinched his brows, then said, "That's different than the one I have. Yours looks more digital, and mine is more analog looking."
Her brow rose as she said, "Yours? May I see the one that you have?"
"Of course." He said, then reached in his side leg compartment and pulled out his unit.
She gently picked up the ancient unit and said, "This is very, very old, and it's an elder's unit. Only they have access beyond our galaxy." She placed the unit down and tapped at her unit. "See, there's no inner circle on mine as I am restricted within this galaxy. The ones that have units are also restricted to this galaxy or worse their system."
"Wait, if you're restricted here, then how do we get back to my galaxy?" asked Shepard
She gently jerked her head back as she said, "Wait. You're not from here?"
He shook his head and said, "No, we're from what we call the Milky Way galaxy, and we call this galaxy Andromeda." He looked at his friends then back at her and said, "We'll we think this is Andromeda."
She smiled briefly then said, "How do you not know your coordinates of where you reside? But we've seen people come and go."
He let out a breath as he pointed to the unit on the table and said, "Our galaxy is not accustomed to these units as some of you seem to be. My son and daughter re-opened the portals on our side as they have been closed, for I don't know for how long. I acquired this unit…" He cleared his throat then continue "…for my wife not long before I came through. She was an archeologist." He looked around at the confused looks on the Elementals faces then said, "A person who studies history through the excavations of places, old artifacts, and remnants." He pointed to the unit, "My daughter Gwyn was studying these." he smirked then said, "Knowing her, she's probably replicated this by now."
Danica arched her brow and leaned forward. "She knows how to make more and of this particular kind?" She waved her hand once in the air. "Has she mapped the skies?"
He shrugged and said, "My daughter is unique with the knowledge and skill of technology. She's very good at what she does is all I can say." He pointed to his armor, his weapons, his arm terminal, and a few other things. "She created all these items, and she's always trying to improve our tech." He pointed to his eyes, "She gave me these ocular enhancements not long before I left, but they weren't activated until recently with the help of my friends here."
She nodded and looked at his weapon. "Your blast pistols are impressive, and I would like to meet her as well."
"All my children have their own unique set of skills, not just the two you inquire about." He thought of his children then of Benezia. "But when it comes to power and biotic skill, my Nezzie ranks above us all, then it would be her bondmate Milizkia then my late wife, Liara."
"Yes, I saw that in your mind." She paused then carefully said, "These annulets can be difficult to use, but with the help of your Gwyn, it could be much easier to travel."
He scratched his stubbled chin then glanced over at his friends who gave him a look; then he looked back at Danica and said, "None of this matters if we can't get back through and I've never used it, and I don't even know how it works. We came through when someone else opened the portal, and only he knows how to get back."
She gently picked up the unit and carefully looked at it. She smiled as she rotated it then said, "Your unit is in good condition for its age." She pressed a few buttons, and the unit came to life for a brief moment. "Well, it works. So, that's good." She placed the unit down on the table then cautiously said "I can hang on to it if for you if you like."
He arched his brow then said "Nah, that's ok. I'll hang on to it but thanks."
She looked at the unit then at Shepard then back down at the unit and slid it to him "Well, hmm it ummm needs a handler and won't work without one."
Shepard picked up the unit and slid it on his wrist. The moment he clamped it to his wrist, the unit flatten then formed to his wrist then lengthen down the mid of his forearm. "What the fuck?" He looked over at Kirre and Teyr and said, "The other one didn't do that."
"Different versions do different things." Replied the Elemental
"Great, so now what?" asked Kirre
Shepard replied, "I guess we go have a little chat with Cameron."
Teyr was leaning on the wall as she looked out the window toward the portal. "He's not going to just give up the information easily. Why would he help us?"
"If I ask for it instead of demanding it, then he probably will. I'm not here to take this from him. We just want to go back." Replied Shepard
Teyr quickly grabbed for her binoculars when she saw several people come through the portal.
Shepard looked over, then asked, "Is someone coming through?"
"Looks like a whole crew, but I need a better look to see who they are." She placed the binoculars to her eyes and saw several people head to toe in black armor. She knew that armor very well then smirked, "Sir, I think Anna and Benezia have finally arrived. They have about fifteen to twenty people with them. Maybe more."
He laughed then said, "Your kidding? Shit took them long enough."
"Well, I'm sure Gwyn was the one that figured it out."
"I don't doubt that one bit." He said
"Sir, you know what this means, right?" said Kirre
He dropped his head as he let out a breath "Cam…"
"If she's here, then Benezia will kill him, and you can't stop her."
Danica stood and said, "What is going on?"
Shepard turned and said, "My family and their crew have just come through the portal. They are here for two things. One to kill my son and the other for me."
The Elemental smiled. "She's here? Your daughter Benezia?" she said then gave a quick glance at a few of her comrades, who gave a slight smile.
He nodded, "Yes." He looked over at his friends and smiled, "We should probably head their way before Nez tears through town."
Ty and Kirre nodded, then Teyr said, "By the time we get over there, they'll probably already be heading toward Cam."
"True. Let's grab our things and go." Replied Shepard.
Katarina looked over at her lover, then stood quickly and said, "Jon, we need to talk."
He looked back at her and said, "We can later. Right now, we need to get to my daughter."
Danica stepped toward Katarine and whispered, "Fix the issue and don't screw this up."
She closed her eyes as she placed her hands on the mid of her stomach then replied in a tone, "This isn't about you, and I know what you're trying to do. You want glory for being the savior of our people. You don't even know if they're going to help us."
"He'll help you and, therefore, us. It's in his nature to do good." She looked down at Katarina's stomach. "When he knows about that, then he'll have no choice."
—/
Sanves, Milky Way Galaxy
Liara stood near the white tree portal and fiddled with her gloves as she waited for a few others to arrive. She turned when Jess spoke to her, "Umm..Auntie?"
"Yes?" replied Liara
Jess looked down for a brief moment, then back up as she said, "Everyone will need some sort of antinausea. A couple because one just doesn't cut it."
Liara arched a brow marking "Antinausea? Why?"
Mil curled her lip as she turned to her sister and snarled, "You're full of shit!" She turned to Liara and said, "She's stalling."
Jessie snapped back, "Fuck you! I'm trying to help."
"Oh, now you're trying to help. Why? Because you couldn't have said this hours ago? You say it right before we go through. All of a sudden, your fucking heart is weighing on you. What's waiting for us on the other side?" Replied Mili
She shook her head, "Nothing is waiting. Well, there is always a crew at the portal."
Mili's hand fell against her leg as she scoffed. "See what I mean. Information you could have said earlier." She walked to Liara and leaned in. "We need to be ready the moment we arrive."
Liara nodded as she squinted her eyes at Jessie. "Why, antinausea?"
Before Jess could speak, Vilio did, "She's right, and I can't believe I didn't say something sooner. The fast teleporting it ummm severely upsets the stomach and mind. When you arrive, you're dizzy and nauseous. You're out of it, and it will put everyone at a disadvantage until it passes. And yes, a crew is at the portal."
Liara sucked her teeth then let out a breath as her nostrils flared. She hit her com unit and said, "Everyone the passing through is delayed until further notice." She quickly tapped at her arm terminal to call her daughter Riley and smiled gently when she answered, "Hey honey. I need your help."
"Of course! What do you need?" asked Riley
"It has just come to my attention that we need something for dizziness and nausea. What can we take?"
Riley pinched her brows as she replied, "Well, it depends. What is causing the issue?"
Liara shrugged, "We've gained entrance to the portal to find your father."
She smiled as she excitedly said, "Oh my gosh, have you? That's excellent news, mother."
"Yes, it is. I've been told that you experience dizziness and nausea upon passing through. I don't want to be at a disadvantage upon arrival. So, what can you recommend?"
"I'm assuming that the quick movements on the body are causing some sort of vertigo or just plain motion sickness. I'm not sure where you are, but any pharmacy will carry what you need, and you don't need a prescription. It'll be over the counter; just take fifty milligrams of Dimenhydrinate or twenty-five milligrams of Meclizine."
Liara arched a brow marking then said, "What would that be in layman's terms not medical, dear?"
She chuckled softly then said, "Umm… Dramamine is one of the names you should see on the shelf at the store. Just know that regular is Dimenhydrinate, and that can cause drowsiness in some, but it's very effective. OR you can go with Meclizine, which would be a less drowsy formula, but It may take a bit longer to be effective or not because it depends on the person."
Liara nodded. "Ok, thank you, dear. I'll call you back if I need you. Love you."
"Love you too. Be careful." Replied her daughter.
Before her daughter was about to hang up, she quickly said, "Oh, before I go. Umm, We could be gone for a few years, and I don't know how long this will take. Miranda, Anna, Mili, several of my top crew and I are going through. Gwynne is staying behind, and she has been informed of everything." She took a breath then said, "If anything happens…"
She shook her head slightly as she said, "It won't. I know you'll come back, all of you. You have to, especially you, because your our mother, and you hold this family together."
She smiled as tears gathered in her eyes as she nodded. "I'll see you when I get back. I must go. I love you."
-/
As everyone came through the portal, the sickness still hit several but not others. Liara leaned on Shandri as she groaned, "Goddess, she wasn't kidding about that nausea. Ugh, I feel like I'm pregnant again."
Shandri held on to Liara as she held back her own sickness. "I've got you."
"I need air." Replied Liara.
Shandri looked at the environment hazard level and air quality on her visor then said, "The air is clean if you must take off your helmet."
Liara nodded, then quickly removed her helmet and took a few breaths of fresh air. "That's better." She looked up and over when a tall red-headed soldier and several others walked over.
"Ugh, this is an unexpected visit. Who are you all?" Asked Stephen. "Wait." He looked back at one of the imagining walls with Liara's face on it then back at her "You're Liara T'Soni."
Liara pulled herself together and stood up straight and said, "I am, but it's Dr. Liara T'Soni-Shepard, and this is my crew."
"Hmm, you've never corrected me on that before, and you didn't come alone this time." Replied Stephen
Liara cocked her head as she pinched her brow markings and she said, "Before...alone? What?" She shook her head. "No, you must have me mistaken for someone else."
The man turned and waved his hand at the closest imaging wall with her on it. "No, I'm pretty sure that's you. It took me a second at first, but I know who you are."
Liara followed his hand and looked at herself on the imaging wall. "What in Goddess name?" She stepped towards it and listened to it, then turned toward Miranda and said, "What the hell is going on here?"
Miranda shook her head, "I'm not sure, but I'm sure we'll find out."
Liara stepped toward the red-headed soldier and said, "We are on a mission to find someone." She tapped at her arm terminal and pulled up a picture of her husband. "I'm looking for this man."
"Ahh, that's Spectre Shepard. He's not here."
Liara gave an eye roll as she let out a breath then said, "He's changed his appearance." She tapped at her arm terminal and pulled up a modification of her bondmate. "How about this? He might look something like this."
He cocked his head as he pointed to the picture. "Wait, wait, wait, that's Spectre Shepard? Wow. Umm yea yea, he's here we call him Handsome Jon." He waved his hand near his face as he said, "You know because of the nasty claw marks." He chuckled then continued, "They're actually pretty gnarly. If I say so myself."
Liara gave a faint smile at the name Handsome Jon then said, "Do you know where he maybe?"
He nodded then said, "Yea, he hangs out at the local bar with his crew. I would check there first. If not, then his crew lives in the nicer residential apartments on the southeast side of town."
She looked toward the town then back at Stephen and said, "Ok, and that bar would be where?"
He turned slightly towards the town and pointed as he said, "Oh, head down this main road can't miss it, it'll be on the right side."
"Fabulous, thank you." She tapped at her arm terminal and pulled up a picture of Kol Blackstone. "And this man?"
Stephen scrunched his forehead and said, "What about him?"
"His mother is looking for him." Replied Liara
Stephen laughed, then looked back at his crew and said, "His mother? That's a first." His laugh tapered off when he saw the serious look on Liara's face, "Oh, you're serious."
Miranda stepped forward and grabbed him by the top of his chest plate then said firmly, "You tell him…" she paused as she looked into his eyes then at his face. "Wait… I know you." She thought for a moment then said, "Stephen, what the hell are you doing here?"
He looked around at the armor covered soldiers then back at the person with the tinted visor in his face and said, "How do you know my name?"
"You were young when I went away, and I didn't visit often, but I remember my grandchildren." She paused as she removed her helmet, then continued, "How about now? Do you recognize me?"
He gasped then looked down as he mumbled, "Gigi..." He chuckled softly as he said, "You haven't aged one bit since the last time I saw you, and I was eight. They said you died..."
She looked at him as she smiled, then lifted his chin so she could see him. "It's been some time since I saw you last."
"Yea, thirty years." He replied
She nodded then said, "Sounds about right. Does he know who you are or that you're here? Hmm?"
He shrugged then replied, "I don't know if he knows, but I realized who he was a few years after I joined his crew. I could tell from his voice."
"What are you doing here? Why would you join a gang? I left you money." She said sharply
"My mother burned through it or kept it for herself. I don't know, but I never really saw any of it, and she definitely didn't spend it on me. She sent me away the moment she could to go live with my grandparent in Ireland." He let out a sharp breath then continued, "They didn't have much, but they did what they could, and I know she didn't help them. Then they died, and the bank took their home, and their land or who knows, maybe my mother took it for herself as well because they left it to me. Then one day, I received about ten thousand credits. I decided to leave Ireland and go to Alcazar because I figured there would be more work there, plus it was affordable for me, but even then, it was barely enough to live day to day. I found work where I could; I learned how to defend myself and tried to live life. When it ugh got bad, I joined mostly because I was hungry."
Her eyes flashed as her nostrils flared. "Are you telling me that your mother took the millions that I left for you and left you with nothing? With that money, she didn't provide you an education or shelter? She just left you to rot?" She scoffed then said, "That bitch. She'll hear from me, and I will guarantee you that!"
He looked off to the side and said, "I may look like her, but I'm my father's son. She didn't want anything to do with me, mostly because of him. So, yea, she left me to rot."
"You are a Shepard, and you sure as shit aren't an O'Donnell. Why didn't you seek out your grandfather Shepard?" She waved her hand at Liara as she said, "Or Liara. They would have helped you."
He shrugged, "I thought about it, but my mother always told me you all wanted nothing to do with me, and that's why you never came around. Besides, they're famous, and you can't just contact them out blue."
Miranda gave a quick side nod. "That is true."
He nodded, "Yea, and on top of that, I don't look like him or carry the Shepard or Lawson traits, so I didn't think you all would believe me anyway."
Miranda closed her eyes as she shook her head, then said, "I'm sorry." She looked at his towering height then said, "Well, you have the Shepard height. I'll say that much."
He smiled then laughed, "That's true."
Liara leaned into Miranda and said, "He'd have something else if it's true."
Miranda nodded, then turned to her grandson and said, "Whenever we leave here, you will leave with us, and you will have a life other than this."
He nodded, "Yes, ma'am."
She pointed to his arm terminal and said, "I want you to get on the line and tell him to get his ass down here because I'm NOT going to go look for him."
His eyes widen as she jerked him forward. "Now!"
He rose his hands as he laughed softly, then pulled away. He cleared his throat, then hit his com unit, "Sir? There's a woman here that says she's your mother." He paused as he listened to his response "Well—"
Miranda grabbed the man's arm terminal and tapped at the live audio speaker, "Get your ass down here! Right now!"
Kol jerked his head back when he heard her voice then stared at his mother on the screen. At first, he just blinked several times, and he opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
She looked back at her grandson and said, "Is this thing working?" She looked back at the screen and sternly said, "Did you hear what I said. Get down here!"
"I heard you. I just...umm I" he looked back toward where he had his mother's pod then lowered his head as he shook it as he thought, Of course, they wouldn't have let me take you so easily.
"It's just what? Is this some kind of bloody joke? I thought I taught you better than this, or are you just out of your fucking mind?"
"Mom, I."
"Just get your ass down here. Double time."
"I'm coming!" He Replied, then ended the call.
—/
Kol drove up to the portal in his dune buggy and looked at his parent's crew standing there. His eyes came upon his lovely mother, and he was happy to see her but dreading the moment to see her again. The explanation he knew she would want was why he never woke her, or whatever it was he had. He didn't want to see the disappointment in her eyes when he told her what he's done. He took several breaths and exited his vehicle when she walked over to him.
Miranda stood in front of her son and said, "Take that shit off your face. I want to look at you, not some mask."
Kol swallowed hard, then tapped the side of his temple, and his mask dissipated. He didn't know what she was going to do but what he got wasn't what expected. He held back his tears when she immediately embraced him.
Her words came out breathless, "What are you doing?"
He closed his eyes when he heard the hurt in her words. He gently pulled away and took a step back then sat down in his buggy. "I don't really know anymore." He clenched his teeth a few times then continued, "You left me, and I was angry and hurt. I went down a road I knew you'd never approve of. I never expected to actually do the harm that I did. The theft that was just things, and I knew that it would irritate them."
"I understand you being hurt, and I get you were angry." She looked down, then said, "That anger is in your blood, and I'm sorry that I didn't think of the consequences of my actions." She took a breath. "Explain to me why you did what you did to your sister, your father, and." Her heart skipped a beat of the thought of Liara being killed then said, "...Liara."
He shook his head as tears drizzled down his face. "I have no explanation other than it got out of control. Anna pisses me off, and she always has. They don't know how to just fucking stay down. They just keep coming."
Miranda smirked. "That's how they are. You already knew that."
"I did what I did to them, and I can't take that back. I'm sorry."
"And Liara? You can never take that back."
He covered his face as he cried, "Mom, I loved Liara, and I didn't want that. I swear to you. I would have never purposely done that, and my heart broke when it did." He waved his hand at his town. "I remind myself every day for what happened."
Miranda turned and looked at the images of Liara in his town, "Baby, that's not going to make up for what you did."
He sniffled as tears drizzled down his face. "I know that you think I don't know that?"
She placed her hands on her hips as she looked at him, then said, "So why don't you explain it to her."
He immediately looked up and said, "What?"
"I said explain it to her." She said, then waved her hand at Liara. "She's there."
Kol stood up and looked over as his aunt. He let out a ragged breath as she walked over to him, "You love me so much that you wanted me dead?" Asked Liara
He shook his head as he met her halfway. "Oh my god! If you weren't in armor, I'd squeezed you very uncomfortably right now." He rubbed his chest, then looked around. "That asshole! He said you were dead."
Liara patted his chest. "Easy, he thought I was dead, still does actually. Everyone did."
"What? So, what the hell happened?" asked Cameron
Liara raised her finger. "Long story for another day. All I can say is Gwyn."
"Ahh. Ok, well...I was going to say it makes sense, but I'm still confused."
Liara looked back at the images of herself throughout the town. "You reminded yourself of the wrong, but you also gave hope to the others that came here. You used me as advertising?"
Cam closed his eyes as he dropped his head, then looked at his aunt. "I did, but I needed your help to get the professionals here, and they wouldn't come without your approval."
Liara jerked her head back, "My approval?" She looked back at the town then back at him. "These are my employees?"
Cam rubbed his foot into the ground as he cringed and said, "Yessss?" He sulked, even more, when he heard the disappointment in his mother's tone.
"Cam, what did you do?" said Miranda
He let out a breath then looked at his aunt. "We paid a significant amount of money to one of your board members, and she forged your signature for approval. She even comes here disguised as you to keep morale up."
Liara's eyes flashed as her face dropped then flared her nostrils. "We will talk about this more later, and I will get to the bottom of this. As for now, we are at a truce, and I need your full support on what comes next." Replied Liara.
He nodded, then said, "Of course." He quickly raised his hands as he stepped back when he saw Anna walking his way. "Hey, I know you're mad."
"Mad? Mad doesn't even fucking describe it!" hissed Anna
"I'm sorry!"
"Sorry? Your crew cut off my fucking hand! You almost beat me to death. You fucking asshole!"
Liara put her hand on her daughter's chest plate and gently said, "That's enough."
She pointed at him, "I owe you several hits, you fucking shit stain!"
"Fine, they're deserved but not here," he replied. He looked at both her intact hands and said, "Well, it looks like you paid top dollar on a replacement, and it seems to function quite well." He scrunched his fingers into a ball then flipped her off then into a ball then flipped her off again as he said, "Can you still do this? Yea? No?"
Anna's glared at him as she took a step toward him and snarled, "Keep talking shit and see if I don't shoot your fucking dick off! Then I'll ask you if you can still fucking get it up."
Liara waved her hands around as she said, "Ok, ok! Both of you knock it off."
Cameron laughed softly then stopped when he saw Milizkia remove her helmet then instantly scanned the area for Benezia. When he didn't see her, he turned then scanned the area again.
Anna noticed him freaking out a bit, and she smirked then said, "She's not here. So, you can stop pissing yourself."
He let out a breath and grabbed his chest. "Oh, thank god!"
—/
Liara and her crew walked through town covered head to toe in black armor looking for Shepard. Eyes were on them as no one knew who these people were. She walked into the local bar, and her crew scanned the building for Shepard but found nothing. They exited and made their way to the southeast side of town.
Liara stopped when her eyes got a glimpse of a man and a group of people walking down the next street over. Her heart told her that the man she caught a glimpse of was her bondmate. She hit her comm unit as she pointed down a path and said, "That way. I believe Shepard just passed by."
They quickly made their way back down the road they were on to head them off then turned down the path that lead toward him. When she made her way there, she instantly looked left, but she didn't him then looked right to see him standing off to the side of his crew, taking to a woman with light brown hair. She smiled when she knew it was him, but her smile faded when the unknown woman caressed his face then kissed him. She took a ragged breath as pain trickled through her heart at the thought of him moving on. She felt a hand on her shoulder then her friend spoke.
"Stay here and let me go talk to him. Just remember that he thought you were dead and it's been five years, ok?" said Miranda
She sniffled as tears trailed down her hidden face, then nodded "mhmm."
Miranda leaned in and softly said, "It'll be ok. I'll ease you in, and I bet you that whoever that woman is will be a lost memory when he sees you. Because she's not even on the same playing field as your beauty."
Liara let out a small chuckle then said, "Stop, and you're just saying that. She is pretty."
"Maybe so, but I can guarantee you that she doesn't give him an orgasm like you do."
She rumbled in laughter, "Will you just go." She said, then gently pushed her.
Miranda laughed as she walked toward Shepard. When she was about halfway there, she removed her helmet and yelled, "Hey there, Handsome Jon! What in the bloody hell have you done to my masterpiece that I worked so hard on?"
He quickly looked up and over at the familiar voice. His eyes widen when he saw her, then he smiled and gently pulled away from Katarina. He laughed then said, "Holy shit, they woke you; I can't believe it!" He walked up to her and lifted her as he hugged her the best he could in armor. "Damn babe, I missed you!"
She hugged him and quickly kissed his cheek then laughed softly, "I missed you too." She quickly glanced over at the unknown woman glaring at her. "Well, who's your friend?"
He looked back then set her down as he said, "Oh, uh Katarina, she is what the locals call an Elemental, but their species name is Eroquin."
Miranda nodded as she extended her hand, "Nice to meet you; I'm Miranda."
Katarina looked at Miranda's hand, and didn't reply to her, but instead turned to Shepard, "Who is she to you?"
Miranda pulled her hand back as she mumbled, "Rude."
Shepard looked at Katarina then at Miranda. "She doesn't understand you." He turned to Katarina and said, "I'll explain in a minute."
Miranda scoffed as she placed her hands on her hip. "Oh please, Shep, that's a universal sign."
Shepard gave a quick side nod, then looked beyond her and smiled when he saw the rest of the crew. "I knew she would come."
Miranda glanced back at the crew then at Liara, waiting patiently. "Of course she came. She's been looking for you for years. When has she never come for you?"
Shepard pinched his brows at her words, then said, "Nezzie? Where is she, and why are your helmets still on?"
He looked back when Katarina touched his shoulder and spoke in her language, "What is this? Who are they?"
"Umm, these people are my family and crew, as I mentioned before. They came looking for me." He froze when he heard her voice. He shook his head as tears gathered in his eyes then turned slowly as he said, "It can't be." His eyes darted from one concealed crew member to the next, then he saw her standing there in her black armor and helmet under her arm. All she said was one simple word, and that was Lovie.
He took a ragged breath, and everything around him disappeared except for her. His voice cracked when he spoke, "Liara?"
She smiled as she nodded then ran to him as he ran for her. He hugged her as best he could then kissed her passionately. He placed his hands on her face as he looked at her. "Oh my god! How? You were dead. I saw you."
Liara touched his face. "It wasn't me, my love but a clone."
He jerked his head back, "What? A clone? How? Zen said it wasn't possible because I thought of that." He looked at the rest of the crew then back at his wife, "Why didn't anyone tell me?"
"No one knew. Not even me. It was all Gwyn, and her plan fell apart." She shook her head then said, "It doesn't matter; I'm here now, my love."
Tears trailed down his face. "I would have never left. I'm sorry. I'm so stupid. I knew something was wrong, and you tried to tell me, but I just didn't listen hard enough."
She gently wiped his tears away as she sniffled, "It's ok. It's ok." She scrunched her brows marking when she instantly felt cold. She looked down at her chest plate as her armor began to crystallize.
Shepard quickly turned to Katarina and said, "Stop!" then noticed she was in a fierce blue stasis then instantly looked back, but it wasn't his wife. His eyes darted over to the one asari holding Katarina and waiting on direction. He knew instantly that it was Mili and all his wife had to say was Kill her, and Mili would do it. After what happened to his cloned wife, her crew would kill them all at the drop of her command. They had their biotics flared and others weapons ready.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his wife walk toward the Elementals, but her focus was on one in particular, and that was Katarina. She turned specifically to Mili for a brief second, and all he saw Mili do was nod. He knew his wife gave her direction mentally. He didn't say anything, but he hoped his wife wouldn't do anything rash, but he was wrong. The moment Mil released Katarina, Liara struck quick as a snake. First, it was Katarina, and it was quick as she ripped through her mind for information. She dropped her when she was finished then went straight for Danica.
Shepard's eyes flashed at how fast she moved then noticed his wife rippling in anger as she gripped Danica. There are a few things he knew that would infuriate his wife to the point that would put her in a rage. What Danica did to him was one of those things. He hurried over to his wife and said, "Lia, stop."
Liara looked back at him with rage-filled eyes, and she fumed, "She invaded your mind and stole EVERYTHING! I want one good reason why I shouldn't kill her now."
He opened his mouth then closed it then said, "I don't have one that you would consider acceptable for what's she's done, but she does know a lot about these wrist units. Information that you would want."
Liara looked back at Danica then back at her bondmate and plainly said, "I don't need her alive for that."
He dropped his head as he knew she could just take the information she wanted. "You're right, but let's try and be civilized."
She huffed then said, "I won't kill her, but I will do the same to her that she did to you." When she was done with her, she released her then sent an angry biotic blast at all of them that threw them back.
He looked over at the Elementals bodies lighting up as they began to get up. He stood between them and his crew and said, "Enough." He turned to the Elementals and said, "Don't, or she will kill all of you. Please." He looked back at his crew standing ready to fight, but he noticed someone was missing, and that was Benezia. He knew she would be blazing red and would have been the first to react to protect her mother, and it wouldn't have been a stasis either. An attack toward her family, even with a simple freeze that happened to his wife, would have meant death for that person, but there was no sign of his daughter.
The Elementals stood cautiously, then Danica said in Eroquin, "You bitch. You'll pay for that."
Shepard looked her way but didn't say anything, but his wife was quick to respond, and in Eroquin, "Do you think your memories are the only thing I took? I like to call myself a linguist, but I can learn by taking just as you have." She engulfed herself in a fierce blue, and her body elevated off the ground. She flicked her wrist at Danica and lifted her into the air as she squeezed her then growled, "You dare to threaten me when you know of my power. You forcefully read my bondmate, and you stole his memories…our precious memories. What you clearly failed to read in just over a century's worth of our time together was…well… ME. I can and will remove your head from your body at any point that I see fit!"
Shepard's mouth dropped open at his wife's increased biotic power and sheer anger then quickly said, "Lia, let's not start a war between the Eroquin and us. Calm down."
She glared at Danica as she squeezed tighter "You are damn lucky that he's here instead of my instigator because if she were, then I'd kill you now! Or worse, I'd let her kill you in the vilest possible way she could think of." She held her in a tight squeeze as she lowered herself to the ground then tossed her into her crew like a rag doll.
Shepard's brows shot up then said, "Lia?"
She took several heavy breaths then glared at him, "Jon, I know everything."
His lips flapped as he let out a breath then said, "Lia, we need to talk about that. Ok? Katarina has been my lover for a while."
"I know. I saw," she said coldly
He grabbed her arm gently "Stop. You were dead, ok. I'm not at fault here, and neither is she. Let it go."
Liara looked away then said, "Let it go? It's not that simple. She hasn't told you, and her situation makes this much more complicated."
He looked back at Katarina then back at his wife. "What?"
Liara sternly replied, "I'm not sharing you with her regardless of your child that she carries. Your sexual relationship with her ends now."
He blinked several times then looked back at Katarina then back at his wife. Before he could say anything, she raised her finger and harshly said, "Also, their war is NOT our problem."
Shepard just looked at his wife then said, "Who are you? My wife used to have a heart. She would want to help these people, but instead, you refuse out of jealousy and anger."
She scoffed as she crossed her arms. "Out of jealousy and anger? No, and the main reason I refuse is that I don't want to put our family in danger. Lovie, it's not just this planet with Noxrul but several planets. There's thousands upon thousands of them and only thirty of us. None of these species really want to fight them, but instead, they'd rather cower and wait for it to pass. They have built underground and above ground fortresses in preparations for this. So don't think that they're at a complete disadvantage." She looked over at Danica then back at her bondmate. "She didn't disclose everything, did she? What they want is an escape from this…" She snapped her fingers as she said, "…constant feeding after feeding after feeding after feeding."
"The Noxrul used to awaken every couple thousand years or so when the population was smaller and more primitive. At the time, the Noxrul took fewer people because there were fewer of them to feed. As time went on and the populations grew and became more advance, then the Noxrul awoken sooner and sooner. As the galaxy's population grew, so did the Noxrul's to account for it. Some species caught on and adjusted their population by making the rule of one child per family, but it wasn't enough as not everyone listened. Others accounted for the growth and eliminated the elders that reached a specific age; again, not everyone listened. Now, most just offer up the sick and the elderly to the Noxrul first. The problem is that it's too late to stop the trend that the Noxrul have already accounted for. You see, now they awaken every hundred years, but the difference between the Reapers and Noxrul is that the Noxrul seem to be an actual species. Who are we to make them extinct?"
"The Eroquin have recently been traveling from planet to planet, hoping it's outside the range of the Noxrul, but they have no clue where the Noxrul are, and their ships can only go so far without a Mass Relay. What she failed to tell you was that they are about as clueless as we are on how these wrist units work entirely. She was honestly hoping you knew, but you didn't. Most of the species that have them were because they were handed down from their ancient ancestors. Some were lucky to have a guide on how the unit functions but none of them know how you get from one location to the next or the addresses of the portals." She pointed toward the portal. "She couldn't wait for you to give her the coordinates on where you came from. Especially when you were clueless about what Noxrul were."
"Her mission is to locate the queens, find a way out, or to find the mythical flaming one which they now believe is Benezia. She hit the jackpot when she found this place, our people, and you. What she doesn't know is that every galaxy has its own Reapers or Noxrul. We were fortunate enough to defeat our galactic enemy when the many before us couldn't. The difference here was our galaxy had more time in between to grow and develop but with a greater chance of complete annihilation. Their cycle is more frequent, and they're constantly focusing on how to prepare for the next feeding. The constant interfering cripples them on faster technological growth. Also, why she is so interested in Gwyn." She chuckled then said, "She was going to attempt to capture Benezia and use her whenever they needed her." She looked around at her crew when they started laughing, "Which we all know that would have never happened. When you told her of what Gwyn could do, then she was going to take her as well." She turned and looked at Danica and said, "Again, that would have never happened."
Liara pointed to Katarina. "Her mission was you, but she fell in love with you. She was to keep you occupied, to gain your trust, so on and so forth. Oh, she fooled you, lovie, with her innocent I don't know his language, but she does, and she was a spy. Their leader here has read most species in this part of the galaxy and has gained the knowledge of numerous languages. She acquired your language from others in this town before you even arrived then bestowed it to her crew. They stand back, and they listen to acquire information because people think that they can't understand them when, in fact, they can."
She turned and looked at her bondmate then said, "So, out of jealousy and anger? No, that's not it at all." She pointed to the Elementals "Instead of being forthright, they chose to be deceitful. So, I ask you with what you know now, would you still help them?"
He furrowed his brows as he looked back at Katarina then looked away. He shook his head, then said, "I was a fool in befriending them when they weren't honest with me." He let out a breath then continued, "Is it our right to kill off a species? No, but it is our duty to help where we can."
"My heart is always my family, and they will come first before any outsider. I know you want to help them, and I would like to despite their deceit, but there's not enough of us." She pointed to Mili then herself, "Could we kill a large chunk of them? Yes? A significate amount more if we had Nezzie."
He looked around at his crew then said, "IF? Where is Benezia?"
She closed her eyes as she lowered her head and took a ragged breath, "Lovie, Nezzie's gone."
His breath instantly got stuck in his throat as he shook his head. Liara quickly replied, "No, she's not dead. I mean, she umm fell through the portal when she was testing a wrist unit, and I don't know where she is."
"Good lord, Liara! She could be anywhere. When did this happen?"
"I know and umm, about a month ago. Gwynne is desperately trying to find her. We have a crew working on it night and day with calculations and possibilities." She looked toward Mili then back at Shepard. "Mili is losing her mind about the whole situation."
He let out a breath, "I told them that Benezia would possibly help them."
"Why would you agree to something like this?" Replied Liara
"I didn't agree to it! I said I would help if she agreed to it. Knowing Nez, I knew she would probably want to, but I didn't think of Mili at the time or anyone else."
"Jon, we can't be the ones to make this decision. Everyone needs to agree, but without Nezzie, I don't know what are chances are. During our war, we had an entire galaxy to help fight, but most of these people don't want to. So why should we risk it?"
He gently touched her arm and said, "Because you know it's the right thing to do." He smiled then said, "Besides, I know you're dying to explore this galaxy, and we can't with the current threat."
She gave a lopsided grin, then replied, "Very true."