Loyalties:

Mass Effect Trilogy is a Bioware game. For any reference to the Official Game All rights are owned by Bioware. The Fan Fiction "Mass Effect At Dawn Again" is fruit of my imagination and my work, it is a free tribute, passionate and personal to a great video game. It is not allowed any use partial or total for profit and not.

Chapter 53

Awakening

"The Neural Activator initialization process started..." Miranda's voice rings out, efficient and focused. The still eyes of hers scan some interminable columns of data, which chase each other, on the large holographic screen, compiling seemingly incomprehensible sequences. "Control parameters set up. Done..." She says, after a few seconds of silent waiting. "Brain helmets ready and checked." Karin echoes, conveying as much efficiency and concentration. Aethyta is observing the scene, in silence. Standing next to Liara. A comforting hand laid on her daughter's shoulder, ready to give her all possible help. Liara does not say a word. She inhales the air, full of expectation, with deep and regular breaths. She is not thinking about anything. The personal plan of hers is to stay focused on the rhythmic chimes of her heart, which beats in her ears, neck and chest, to mark time, like seconds on a watch. The face of the young Asari is determined, her jaw tensed, while staring at the bed, in front of her, with an intense and decisive gaze.

Shepard is still, wrapped in sheets, eyes closed, the peaceful face, as if she were asleep. Probably, totally unaware of the fervent activity of the last days, and its reason. Everything is finally ready in the white-walled room. Dr Chakwas carefully places the Catalyst helmet on Shepard's head, and enters its unlocking code. Five green lights turn on sequentially, from left to right, along the entire front area of the device. "Neural reading in progress. Brain monitoring started." Karin confirms the procedure, smoothly. "Received and online data. AVI check enabled." Miranda confirms back, with an equally confident attitude. The two women exchange a quick, satisfied look. Everything is progressing as planned.

The time for Liara has come. She knows exactly what to do. She affectionately squeezes her father's hand, still resting on her shoulder, as a sign of conscious greeting. She approaches the bed, with a firm step, sits next to Shepard, and takes her hand, gently. Karin grabs the Conductive helmet with both hands, looking for Liara's gaze. "Do you feel ready?" She asks, in a reassuring and supportive tone. The young Asari looks intensely at her father, at Miranda, then Karin. "Yes, I do!" She nods once, deeply convinced of what she is saying. Karin proceeds to place the helmet on Liara's head, without adding more. Again her fingers enter a new unlocking code. Again five green lights turn on sequentially, from left to right. Again Karin confirms neural reading and brain monitoring. "Received and online data. AVI checking confirmed and activated. Okay, let's do this!" Again Miranda suggests, with a nod of agreement.

"Come on kiddo, bring her home!" Aethyta's encouraging tone tickles the room air, and stimulates Liara's senses. She closes her eyes and draws on her inner energy. The biotic cloak wraps softly around her body, and around Shepard's, in an iridescent embrace. Liara feels the warmth of her mate's fingers, motionless in her hand, and holds them tighter. She opens huge obsidian eyes, and waits for the mind-meld to dilate.

The contact with Shepard's mind takes place in a protected and controlled scenario. Liara perceives her senses widening, expanding, reaching out. She directs all of her conscious awareness to the unconscious electrical signals mechanically sent from Shepard's mind to her mind. She follows them, recognizes them, welcomes them and slowly begins to mirror their neural flows, to share them. She must not think, but separate intentionality from involuntary function, descend below awareness, to merge with Shepard's mind in the domain of sub-cognitive responses of her brain, where synthetic neural nano electrolytes are causing a cognitive block.

Advanced Virtual Intelligence manages the operation of both brain helmets every step of the way. It examines Shepard and Liara's vital signs, and displays a graphical representation of the default tolerance curve. Miranda constantly checks the screen, her senses on alert are dilated to maximum tension. Everything in her is ready for an immediate reaction. The perfect reaction. Karin keeps an eye on the lights of the brain helmets, continually. At the same time, she performs periodic medical scans of the couple joined in mind meld. Aethyta forgets to breathe, mesmerized by the clove of infinity, which shines in Liara's eyes. Absorbed by the tension of the moment, the matriarch hopes, with all her heart, that the plan is working. In any case, she is absolutely aware, that neither her daughter, nor Shepard could be in better hands.

When the melting depth is total, the green lights on Liara's helmet start flashing, one at a time. The biotic impulse, sent by her mind, is collected and then transmitted. Soon after, the green lights on Shepard's helmet start flashing too. "Controlled neural stimulation in progress. Active catalyst function." Miranda reports, promptly. Her voice dissolves the silence of the room, like the morning sun warms the mist in an autumn dawn. The lights on Shepard's helmet stop blinking, one after another, from left to right, in regular intervals. "Micrometrical irradiation phase started." Karin detects. Only a slight tremor in her voice signals how decisive the moment is. From here on, it will be the exclusive responsibility of the AVI to determine the location, intensity and duration of the irradiation. The minute that follows floats in time. Nobody moves, nobody breathes, nobody even blinks, for the irrational fear of compromising the result of the ongoing process with any gesture.

Karin and Miranda are praying internally that Daro'Xen really knew what she was doing. Doubt creeps into each of them, for the duration of the wait, short but endless. Aethyta starts cursing herself for letting Liara follow her damn plan. All three feel in their own way responsible, helpless and frightened, as hostages, in the hands of their destiny. Time flows slowly, yet unstoppable. Karin stares at the lights of Shepard's helmet, with a desperate look. "C'mon! C'mon! C'mon!" She thinks to herself, not daring to utter any sound. Without any warning, the first light turns blue beneath her wide and staring eyes. One after the other all the lights take on the same color, from left to right, in the now familiar sequence. "H-Here we are...!" Aethyta stutters, joyfully welcoming the small but significant variation. Miranda is the first to regain control of herself and continues to follow the procedure, showing the usual confidence. "Micrometrical irradiation phase successfully completed." She confirms, by glancing at the myriad of new data displayed on the screen, as she speaks. Karin turns her attention to Liara's helmet, as if responding to a silent signal. The green lights turn blue, one after the other, according to a predetermined order. "Biotic stimulation completed!" The doctor observes, with a soft sigh of relief. "Neural helmets deactivation procedure started." Miranda echoes as she watches the lights of Shepard's helmet turn off, one after the other. "Vitals stable and within normal range." She concludes, a second later. The woman squints and rotates her neck first on one side, then on the other, to relax the contracted muscles. Only now she gives herself a slight smile of satisfaction.

Karin's close attention is paid to the helmet of Liara. When all the lights on the device turn off, the young Asari's eyes slowly regain their original color. She stares at her doctor friend, still confused. Without speaking, Karin turns on her medical-tool and begins to meticulously check the state of health of Liara and the baby, under the strained gaze of Aethyta, who does not dare to interrupt. Miranda removes the helmet from Shepard's head and puts it back on the table. She approaches Liara, peering into Karin's omni-tool screen to make sure that both Liara and the baby are okay. After three consecutive scans, Karin turns her medical-tool off, and gives herself a broad smile of satisfaction. She glances at Aethyta and reassures her with a nod. Reaches out a hand to the matriarch, who grabs it while giving herself a bright smile of relief. They all sit down on Shepard's bed, in an exhilarating silence. Their hearts are galloping, their faces are weary, their minds inebriate with sensations, their bodies light and heavy at the same time, as under the influence of too many drinks. None of them want to talk for a while.

"C'mon, it's time to take a look!" Karin suggests, waving her fingers on the omni-tool, without a real intention to wait for an answer. The priority of checking the condition of her patient, as well as a dear friend, ends up crumbling any hesitation. So, doctor Chakwas begins a meticulous checking on Shepard's new biometric measurements. Data flow under Liara's impatient eyes, and under Aethyta's protective gaze. A few steps further, Miranda is now observing the same clinical data, with intense blue eyes, on the intense blue screen of the AVI, and processing any new data with the usual dedication and maniacal care. As always, an aura of austere and professional charm spreads around her. Every second spent seems, in Liara's eyes, like a small pearl of eternity, slipping into the necklace of infinity. When the doctor, finally, turns off her medical tool, the agitation curls up in the stomach of the young Asari, waiting. "Don't leave me hanging, Karin. How's she doing?" She asks, in a low voice, constantly scanning the eyes of her doctor friend. Deep in her heart, she knows she has nothing left but praying at this point.

"I'm detecting significant biometric changes!" Karin replies, more excited than she would like to show. Liara frowns, not completely sure about the meaning of that statement. However, her friend's voice trembles slightly with emotion, revealing a positive hint of disbelief. "Changes I've never seen before..." The doctor adds, eyes glued on the omni-tool, totally focused. Before continuing, she needs to keep her heart rate at bay with a couple of deep regular breaths. "An intense activity of the cerebral cortex and synapses is energizing Shepard's entire neural network, both centrally and peripherally. The brain functions seem to be involved in an intense stimulation process!" Finally, she announces in one breath. She pauses for a moment to give Miranda an intense look. The woman nods back, widening her smile. "Nano electrolytes are reconfiguring themselves." She explains in turn, brushing Liara's gaze, proudly. "No doubt it's working, Doc! Shepard's cognitive system has started to react!" Miranda emphasizes, with the usual self-confidence.

"That means that... you're telling me that... she's... waking up?" Liara stammers, staring sequentially at Karin, Aethyta and Miranda, eager for further confirmation. Dr Chakwas smiles back, as gently puts a hand on the young friend's shoulder, and glances at the former Cerberus First Officer, who nods again. Slowly, Liara begins to decipher reality, pervaded by a sense of pleasant lightness, and Aethyta with her. "Absolutely. She's fine! Don't worry, she's just sleeping, very, very deeply. It's part of the process." Miranda reassures, with broad smiles, and eyes shining with joy. Liara can't stand still, and starts walking. She takes two steps forward, turns on herself and comes back. She stops, then starts, then stops again. She hugs Miranda tight, and together they naturally attract even Karin and Aethyta in a long collective embrace. "We did it! Thank you so much! Oh, thanks you all... I love you!" Liara whispers. The four women hug each other, in silence, not to detract the precious moment with other words.

Liara is still smiling, dazed face, as big tears make her eyes shining. She approaches Shepard's bed, fighting the shaking of her legs, which make her stagger, as completely drunk. Emily's motionless hand still lies between the sheets. Liara grabs and puts it on her heart, which beats in the middle of her chest like the wings of a hummingbird. "Oh, Shepard!" She whispers, caught in the whirlwind of thoughts, emotions, memories. Karin and Aethyta approach the bed, worried. "You Angel ain't gonna pass out, are you?" Karin asks, with a professional look, noticing Liara's forehead beaded with dozens of sweat droplets. Miranda quickly hands Liara a chair, and helps her sit next to Shepard. Then, she pours some water into a glass and hands it to her friend. "C'mon, kiddo, take a sip, you'll feel better!" Aethyta urges, with a worried fatherly smile. The young Asari nods obediently, then drinks, greedily. "Thanks, don't worry, I'm fine. I... I'm not leaving her alone tonight. I wanna be here, if... when... Oh, Goddess! ... I want to be here, with her, when she opens her eyes!" She can barely say, but with unshakable determination in her eyes.

Karin nods, condescending. "Sure! I'm about to disconnect all the sensors, remove the tube feeding, catheter, and prepare her for the awakening. It won't take long. Meanwhile, why don't you three go get some food? Especially you and the baby are in dire need of sugar." She states, raising a stern eyebrow at Liara, as she gives Miranda and Aethyta an exhorting look. "Go with her. I'll catch up with you when I'm done."

Liara enjoys the noise of the door closing behind her. The sound waves tickle the air all around for a few pleasant seconds before Shepard's room is enveloped in absolute silence. It is a good silence that, for the first time after almost seven months, seems to heal everything. The evening is consumed fast, spreading around the objects lying in the half-light. It dims them, confuses them and prepares to hide them, under the black blanket of the night. Liara sits down next to Shepard, with careful, measured movements, without making a sound. She does not want to risk waking her up from that fundamental sleep. She is very tired herself, worn out, but filled with a sweet and exhilarating euphoria.

A thousand emotions pervade her, penetrate deeply, and make her eyelids heavy, as carved in stone. The contracted muscles of the shoulders send periodic painful pangs along the neck and arms, as a consequence of all the tension accumulated throughout the day. The weight of her womb burdens on her tired back, but the little one is quiet, probably asleep. Liara also needs to sleep, to find some refreshment. She gets close to Shepard, gently leans her head on Emily's pillow, dips into the strands of her hair, honey-colored, her face sunk in her perfume. She breathes it, deeply and feels the tension slip away, magically. She gently brushes Shepard's neck with her lips, resting halfway between her shoulder and her breast. Curled up in the comfortable warmth of her skin. Liara lovingly surrounds Emily with one arm and hugs tenderly to her, caressing her other shoulder with her fingers.

Easy to get synchronized to the rhythm of her breath, calm and deep, which ebbs and flows, to measure time, pleasantly punctuated in the impetuous beating of her untamable heart. Liara feels as safe as she has not felt in a long time, and soon falls asleep. At first, she does not even realize she had dreamed. The emotions were so vivid, the sensations so real that opening her eyes is not enough to bring her back to reality. But then, she recognizes the room, feels the warmth of the body lying next to her in the bed. Liara looks at Shepard's pretty face, still motionless, between the sheets. Closed eyes, peaceful face, as if asleep. Everything has changed, but nothing has really changed yet. Liara cannot hold back a deep sigh of barely disguised impatience.

"Emy, love! You know, I just had a beautiful dream! You held me in your arms and... ah, you kissed me for hours! It was so emotional and amazing, so real!" She whispers softly into Shepard's ear, without expecting any answer. The warmth of Liara's breath, the soft touch of her lips, gently caress Shepard's awareness. "Hmm... maybe it wasn't a dream. More some kind of... premonition!" The unmistakable, warm and sensual voice fills the room, traveling through Liara's senses and awakening a storm of inner joy. "Shepard!" She can barely gurgle. However, Liara's voice sounds beautiful in Shepard's ear. It awakens her senses, unfurls them to life, like a warm caress. "Hmm, yeah! I mean... that's exactly my plan... when we get out of here!" She murmurs, sweetly.

Liara has been waiting for this moment for so long! Over the long past months, she saw it happen hundreds of times, in her mind's eye, often sitting in that same chair. She wondered a thousand times what it would be like to hear again the voice of the human woman she loves, to see the bright blue of her eyes, her warm and sensual smile. She used to think she would jump out of her chair and throw herself into Shepard's arms at light speed, by showering her with kisses, caresses, and yet... And yet, there she was, just staring at her, like a goof. Completely paralyzed, in a stupid grimace, the half-open mouth and the soul soaked by a cascade of emotions. She is suddenly overwhelmed by such intense joy that is afraid to pass out.

Before that happens, Liara feels Shepard's fingers move in her hand, looking for her fingers, and gently intertwining them together. She cannot give up the euphoria of the sweet contact, so strong is her longing, so deep is the nostalgia. Emily's eyes are still closed, her lips, however, are shaped into a captivating smile. Liara feels an immeasurable emotion. The weak and faint voice, coming out of her throat, resembles a deep and vibrant sigh of excitement. "Oh, Emy! Do you... do you think you can open your eyes?" She is finally able to ask. Shepard does not answer. Not immediately, not with her voice. She slowly lifts her eyelids, as in a slow motion action, and gently plunges into Liara's gaze, while all around, the darkness is colored with light, the light with blue, and the blue with joy!

They stay that way, in the brief eternity of a perfect moment and infinite. They look at each other, both immersed in a vibrant silence, both motionless and beaming. Liara's eyes are little by little embroidered with tears. They begin to fall from her lashes, and draw on her cheeks long strands of light. They are tears of joy. Emily tries to move. Raising her arm is difficult. Everything seems damn hard in her life sometimes. She is not used to giving up though. With her hand, she reaches Liara's face, caresses it with fingertips, wiping every tear with slow dedication. She ignores the pain, as breathes in the intense wave of love. Shepard looks at Liara, lovingly. She feels carried away, like a castaway, adrift in the ocean of those enchanting light eyes. Liara is beautiful, just as Emily remembered her. She too has been waiting for this moment just as long. The woman realizes all of the sudden how unbearable and overwhelming the wait has been. How terrifying was the thought of never seeing the creature she loves again. Shepard feels the energy flowing through her body. The toes, the hands, the air coming in and out of her lungs, and the beating of her heart, punching against the breastbone, like a whole orchestra of drums. An irrepressible, exultant, explosive happiness grows in her stomach and fills every single particle of her being with love. Shepard still cannot believe she is really back! She looks at Liara's face still lined with tears and feels alive, so fallen in love and happy, like never before.

"Hey, my little Baby Girl! Please don't cry... I'm here to stay, love!" She murmurs shyly, from behind a reassuring smile. Liara cannot take her eyes off Shepard's face. She is irresistibly drawn deep into her eyes... those beautiful eyes that cannot lie. A storm of emotions spreads through their souls, pouring and revitalizing, like desert rain. Liara's fingers gently seek out Emily's hair, caress it, revitalize it. Incredulous fingers linger on Emily's face, on her cheeks and nose, lovingly. Their lips touch briefly, savor each other, increasing their thirst. Liara rests her forehead against Emily's. Both indulge in the seductive contact. They close their eyes. Their mouths craving each other, in the sensual dance of breaths. Liara tries her best not to faint, as indulges in the thrilling caress of the lips of Shepard, who draws her into her arms, passionately, and takes her breath away. They kiss for a long time, holding tight, wrapped in sweetness, in a deep embrace of souls tied together! "Oh, Emy, you did it, my life! You kept your promise and... and now you're here... you're finally here! I love you so much!" Liara whispers her feelings on Shepard's lips, with a faint sensual voice.

Shepard answers with another kiss, long and deep, and with sweet words capable of touching the innermost chords of Liara's soul, and make them vibrate with warm emotions. "Yeah, I did it! And you were there to show me the way. Oh, Sweetheart... I love you so much!" They embrace again, in a rattling of souls, intimately, without speaking. The contact is intense, profound, inseparable. Shepard feels Liara's belly press firmly against her stomach, and gets completely overtaken by the emotion. It is so swollen! She touches it with one hand, caresses it, incredulously, as white tears crawl out of her lashes, quiver and overflow. They are tears of joy. "Oh, little heart! So, I wasn't dreaming! You... Oh, Jesus! You're... actually pregnant!" She realizes the truth, with fragments of stunned voice of sheer emotion. Liara picks up both hands of Emily, who stares at her, stunned, and kisses them on the fingertips, silently. She lays both the backs of Emily's hands on her cheeks, and softly caresses herself. Finally, she gently lays her mate's hands on her belly, tenderly guiding them, to discover the wonderful evidence, while she smiles, her heart swelled with the same sheer emotion.

"Here, did you feel her? Not a dream, no... it wasn't. You and I... will have our little blue baby, Shepard!" Liara finally states, eyes sparkling with love. Emily gently strokes Liara's belly with both hands, entranced face. "Oh, Sweetheart, that's totally awesome! I wanted this so damn badly!" Shepard confesses, with the same sparkle in her still wet eyes. "Hell! But... how long was I asleep for?" She wants to know, as realizes how advanced Liara's pregnancy looks. "About seven months! Sometimes, it wasn't easy, but our little one gave me strength. She seemed to know, better than I did that her daddy was coming back!" She confesses as continues to cling to Shepard's hands, who stares at her in amazement. "Seven months? Jesus Christ! We're so close then! But tell me, little thing... how are you really feeling? Is everything alright?" Shepard cannot stop asking, eager to know even the smallest detail. Liara smiles, and nods reassuringly. "Sure, I'm fine, don't worry, it's just a little heavy going around. Sometimes, I feel like I'm wearing Vega's armor..." The mom-to-be jokes, traveling with her hands on her big baby bump. "Besides, she never stands still! You know, sometimes kicks so hard she can wake me up at night! Anyway, if the baby's on time, she should be born in six weeks..." Liara says, spreading her contagious enthusiasm all around.

"Six weeks! My God! I can't wait to see her and hold her in my arms! Besides, I'll finally know what you looked like as a baby!" Shepard begins to fantasize, approaching Liara's belly with her face, and gently laying a cheek on it. Liara welcomes Emily in her lap, tenderly caressing her hair. "Oh, Emy! The baby is a beauty that's for sure, but doesn't look like me that much. She looks like an exact miniature version of you! You know, my father, with her amazing biotic powers, showed me our little one!" The young Asari begins to tell, in a low, thrilled voice, with an abundance of details. "I mean, she put her hand right here on my tummy, and showed me our baby, in a special kind of mind-meld. I could see her, just like I'm looking at you now! It was a totally awesome and overwhelming emotion! Aethyta can probably show you!" Liara speculates, nodding confidently to herself. Shepard runs her cheek over her mate's big belly, before kissing it lovingly. "Ah, that would be great! What would I give to see her now, and... just me and you?" She whispers, looking up a loving gaze at Liara's glittering eyes. Young Asari's face becomes thoughtful. "Wait a minute... maybe, I can show you the memory in my mind... Sure! It may not be quite the same, but you'll see our baby now, and much better than in a medical scan." She suggests, excited face. That is all Shepard needs to know. "Hell yeah, do it now!" She urges, as sits on the bed, enthusiastically.

"Close your eyes, Love!" Liara begins, wrinkling her brow in concentration. Emily does it, meekly. Liara's fingers on her face convey a thrill of seduction. The familiar blue halo flutters around, and wraps them both like an embrace. When Liara's eyes take on the color of eternity, everything becomes very quiet, muffled, relaxed. The darkness fades slowly, until the image of a tiny creature appears clearly in Shepard's mind. She sleeps serenely, suspended in a transparent pond. In the fetal position, the knees gathered on the chest. With a lovely little hand, she squeezes a little foot. Her tiny fingers are perfect, a masterpiece of nature. The other hand is slightly leaning against the cheek. Her eyes are closed, and her thumb is in her mouth. She eagerly sucks it, as rests, calmly. Liara was right, the baby really looks like her father! Her nose, cheeks, forehead and even her expression are the same, but not her smile, which looks undoubtedly Liara's! Being back here, right now, at the height of joy, looking at a beautiful little blue creature, and realizing that you are her father, on the first day of your future, in peace and happiness, seems to Emily a beautiful dream, yet this will be her reality from now on. Faced with the sweetest thing she has ever seen and with this deep awareness, the woman observes the enchanted image, which becomes slighter and gradually fades away. When she slowly opens her eyes, she is staring at Liara's smiling gaze.

All her life, Shepard has never felt so grateful, proud, lucky. As a soldier, she was trained to compartmentalize her emotions, staying focused on mission priorities. She is able to control herself in battle, perfectly well. She can master fear, horror, weakness, despair, even tears. Tonight, however, in Liara's arms, she just feels like a human being, deeply in love, who has experienced the separation, and long feared never to see again the creature she loves, to make her suffer again. She still cannot believe she is alive, and she is really holding Liara in her arms, that that amazing little girl is their incredible love wonder, and she is about to be born. Emily is not even trying to control her emotions. She does not need to hide them, but living them, to fully savour every wonderful heartbeat, and to let herself be overwhelmed. She hugs Liara tight, and surrenders to the emotion. She bursts into tears, shaken by moans, as she had never done before. They are tears of liberation, of joy, of consolation. These are tears of love! "She's... wonderful! I... Ah, I've never been so happy!" Emily whispers, kissing Liara, from the depth of her love. "Neither do I, my Love ... neither do I!" Liara whispers, kissing back, barely breathing.

After so much suffering, so much pain, it seems incredible to both of them to be back in each other's arms. They can indulge in their feelings and embrace all the joy. No threat can separate them anymore. They can live together from now on every single moment of their lives. Sharing every sensation, merge into one Soul, and love each other completely for the rest of their lives. Time seems frozen, in a single, incomparable instant, endlessly dilated and set on fire for both of them by the same extraordinary wonder. It is such an immense moment that it can be called Eternal!

Liara gasps as she realizes that Shepard is shaking, considerably. "Goddess, you're freezing! It's my fault! I didn't help you get dressed yet!" She jumps up, embarrassed, before she even finishes her sentence. "Sorry, wait... I picked up some of your clothes from the Normandy before I settled here." Liara repeats she was sorry, as hurries to grab the handles of the sturdy N7 military bag forgotten on the floor next to the bed. Shepard smiles, eyes still wet with tears, and does her best not to chatter her teeth. "Thanks! I'm fine, don't worry... more than the cold is... it's emotion!" She assures, wiping her eyes, with a flap of the sheet, while continuing to tremble. "That's nice of you to say. Anyway, your closet was full of interesting stuff that is worth wearing..." Liara says back, as the corners of her mouth lift upwards, and mold into a sort of enigmatic smile. "So let's see, tantalizing lingerie... comfortable uniforms... that lovely black sheath dress... However... no pajamas!" She lifts a languid look, enumerating on her fingertips, as helps Shepard wear her underclothing. The woman gives her mate a crooked smile, explaining. "Well, commanding a Ship doesn't give you time to play around in your pajamas and slippers. When I sleep alone, I never take my uniform off, you know... just in case. When you're there... well, as I recall, I don't need pajamas!"

Liara chuckles softly. "Indeed... you passed the memory test, brilliantly!" She jokes, handing Emily a sleek dark red pajama. "In any case, I brought you one of mine, it doesn't fit me anymore. Hope you like it. Besides... red suits you, hon!" Liara winks, innocently. Shepard wears the soft superior part, long-sleeved, and with an elegant shirt cut. "Looks perfect, thank you. To be honest, I've never seen you in pajamas either!" Emily winks back by testing the length of the sleeves, and the comfortable width of the cut. "You know, I'm afraid I need some help, 'cause can't move my legs... yet!" She adds, gnashing her teeth in pain, and looking away, as tries to put on the pants. "Of course! Karin warned me it could happen. She says don't worry, it's absolutely temporary. This annoyance will pass very quickly." Liara reassures, smiling sweetly, as she reaches over to help. "Thanks, I feel much better now!" Emily confirms with a smile. She no longer feels cold. She lays down on her bed so that Liara can lie down beside her. The woman wraps the Asari's shoulders and hugs her, tenderly. The silence is sweet. Shepard holds her breath for a long time before asking. "News of the Normandy?... The Crew... are everyone okay? And... what about EDI?"

To be Continued...