Ch 1 The Promise

The sun shone against the crystal clear lake of the Citadel that reflected above it the bustling hover cars flying over. Shepard and Liara were sat at their usual table at Apollo's Cafe. The Commander finally feeling a sense of victory at getting the Asari to take a momentary break from digging through data pads. His feelings shown through his smile as he looked at the beautiful Asari sitting across from him.

"This is nice." The Asari shyly commented as she started to take a sip from her drink.

"It is." Shepard replied then took a swig of his own drink. "And I'm glad that you're taking a bit of time for yourself. You've been working yourself to the bone Liara."

"I know, and I appreciate your concern Shepard. It's just that there's so much at stake right now. And with the Reapers breathing down our necks, I can't-"

"I understand Liara. Believe me, I do. But you'll work yourself to death like this." The Commander pointed out.

"And if I don't, the Reapers will kill us all." Liara replied bluntly.

"Hey…" He took her hands in his as she tried to look away. "Liara, we will stop them. Now's not the time for doubt."

She looked back at him realizing he was right and gave a slight smile.

"You're right. Doubting and second guessing won't help anything." Liara paused for a moment. "It's funny, we're finally getting some time alone and all we can seem to talk about is everyone but ourselves."

The two chuckled for a moment before Liara spoke in a serious tone.

"Shepard, whatever happens, may I ask you to promise me one thing?"

"Sure." Shepard replied nonchalantly, taking another sip from his drink.

"Promise that if something were to happen to me…" Liara paused. Looking down and fiddling with her thumbs on the table. "…you would move on."

Shepard was taken aback by what he just heard. The Commander took a moment to compose himself before forming a response.

"Liara…" He still couldn't believe what she had just asked him. "I- I don't know if…" For once in their relationship, he was the speechless one.

"I don't know if I could promise that…" He continued in a more somber, sensitive tone. "Could you?"

"…I-"

BOOM

Before Liara could finish her sentence, the Presidium Commons were set a blaze in panic and confusion. The apartments above them rained glass and debris into the café. Shepard's N7 instincts kicked in as he flipped the table on its side and grabbed Liara attempting to shield her from the oncoming chunks of glass.

"Get down!" He yelled as they crouched behind the table, Shepard holding onto Liara as tight as he could and her returning a solid embrace.

Around a minute and a half passed before the two peeked out from behind the table, and what they saw shook them to their core.

"By the Goddess…" Liara put her hand over her mouth as the two looked towards a massive pile of rubble and scattered bodies where the apartments had been. Many people were dispersed along the crumbling walkway checking on the injured and others were in a state of shock and panic. Shepard made a quick scan of the area and turned back to Liara.

"Are you alright?" He asked surveying her face for any cuts.

"I'm fine." Liara reassured him as she dusted herself off. "Shepard, you've been hit." She ran her hand across the cut that showed itself on Shepard's left cheek causing him to slightly flinch. No matter how many years of service or how much training you had pain was still pain, and Shepard was no exception to that.

"I'll be alright." Shepard stated. "We have more pressing matters right now like getting these people to safety."

"Right."

"See what you can do for these people. I'll try to get in contact with the Normandy."

Liara nodded and went to help the survivors as Shepard turned to face the lake. He meddled with his omni-tool trying to establish a connection to EDI or Joker.

"Normandy, do you copy? This is Shepard. We need immediate evacuation at the-"

BWOOM

Shepard was cut off by the deafening roar of something that haunted his every waking moment: the sound of a Reaper. Shepard immediately turned around with biotics already flaring, but there was nothing there. Shepard found himself in the vast void of darkness and nothingness. Confused, the Commander looked around trying to make sense of it all.

"Shepard!" A call from the distance caught his attention. A figure wearing white and blue frantically waving its arms. It was Liara.

"Liara?" His voice echoed as he called out. Shepard started to make his way over when another technological roar boomed overhead.

BWOOM

Shepard's mild jog turned into a desperate sprint towards Liara who was about fifty meters away. A red beam coming from the darkness overhead showed itself behind Liara. It was now a race to see who would get to her first: the Reaper or Shepard.

"Liara, hang on!"

I won't lose her like this! He thought to himself as he pushed beyond his limits. There was so much more at stake now as he saw his world, his future, his love about to crumble in front of him. Shepard's body was now engulfed in a biotic hue as he closed the distance. Despite his efforts, it was no use. The red death was much faster than he was, and Shepard watched helplessly as Liara was devoured by the beam.