Requiem of the Goddess Chapter 48: Insomnia - Eden Prime, a mass effect fanfic

"Forced Vision" by Saltillo

XLVIII. Insomnia – Eden Prime

(Liara T'Soni)

"Ashley only waited five years for you. I will wait for a thousand, if that's what it takes—until I die."

Still waiting.

Even after death.

Even with our immortality imminent.

Waking up alongside the captain's internal alarm at 7:00am, the tranquil comfort of my bedroom surrounded me. Dark indigo of the ambiance, so similar to the original Normandy. Lying down with my body completely bare, beneath what appeared to be the same, soft white comforter from my room aboard the ship. My comfort there had transferred here. Here to this wide space, this high ceiling, this calm quiet everywhere. Just like my bedroom back on Thessia, in Armali, within my childhood home.

Several bookshelves along the walls, filled to the brim with centuries-old texts on the Protheans. My desk along the wall, stacked with various datapads containing my notes and other research. The windows shining in the perpetual light of the seawater outside. Those windows should have shattered from the pressure. Absurdity, surrealism; no logic needed. Appropriately, these reminders of the SR-1 linked once more to a ship underwater, instead of outside among the eternity of the stars. This perennial undersea blue added to the indigo mood. And my adjacent bathroom nearby, door open; tempting me with reminders to take a warm shower. Or perhaps a cold one, after the night I'd had…

Comforted in my own chaos, I felt the crumpled bundle of my messy sheets beneath me, around me. Messy, in disarray. Holding this slight sheen of sweat that had coated my body as I'd slept. Even now, I felt myself breathing harder. Red tinting somewhere beneath my face, knowing I wasn't alone in this moment—at last, I had other eyes upon me once more. Judging me. My choices, who I was. Everything.

I wiped this chilled sweat from the crown of my head. Catching my breath. Feeling the same uninhibited lust from last night. Nearly overwhelming me. Until I remembered my obligations. My specific schedule.

I had to return to work soon.

No exceptions.

In my profession and area of expertise, I had no days off. No vacation time. Not within Insomnia.

Doing what I loved—even with my conflicting feelings—was enough to get me out of bed each morning.

Sitting up now, I found my oversized, black N7 T-shirt, strewn haphazardly over the nightstand. Putting my shirt on, I remembered how long I'd had this. I remembered the captain giving it to me before. As a gift in one of her dreams she'd long-since forgotten by now. But I remembered. I always remembered.

Covering down just past my thighs, I adored this shirt as my makeshift robe. This tighter fit around my legs helped to conceal the rest of me. Along with the mess from last night, fully dried between my legs. Despite everything, I enjoyed this exact feeling. Knowing that the captain had claimed me yet again. Knowing that I belonged to her, even in this clandestine way. But I obviously needed to wash this away in the shower. I couldn't go into the office like this, or my lab, let alone focus on the critically important agenda for today. And so I went to my bathroom, stepping over the heated floor, warming my bare steps in kindness. Turning on the shower, water warming in-tandem, I had one other thing to check on.

Returning to my bedroom, I went over the large, open space I'd sectioned off, practically as a room within my room. Within that space, I found Tali's companion here with me. Pure white fur. Gray-tipped, floppy ears. And such a round form. Tali's pet rabbit had just woken up. Munching on his leafy vegetables for breakfast, dispensed automatically at this hour, along with plenty of water for him. Noticing my approach, Tali's rabbit gently hopped over to me, wishing for pets as his way of saying hello.

Of course, Tali had wanted several more pet rabbits. But I had cautioned against this, as it would have been unsustainable. And so she'd settled for this one, along with many more stuffed plush ones instead.

"Good morning," I said to him, kneeling down. Stroking his soft fur with a smile. "I'll have to bring you with me for a while, to see Tali again. It's going to be a long day for us. Her father volunteered to watch you this time. Tali will want to give you a hug before we head off for work. I know you've missed her."

Tali had been putting in much longer hours lately. As was natural, during this transition period while she and the captain made up. Setting their previous disagreements aside. Finding their mutual trust again.

Though it wasn't really Tali in Insomnia with me.

More like the captain's memory of her, and Tali's unconscious self, arrived here through our shared bonds together. The same was true for everyone else.

Everyone except me. My existence was the only 'real' one within Insomnia. Living and breathing, as this living dead.

The only actual links to the others occurred during their real-life dreams. All for the captain to spectate.

Eventually, she would learn why she couldn't discover my home location before. When she was first here weeks ago.

I refused to tell her myself. The truth of it burned me with a quiet rage. One I didn't need right now.

Returning to my bathroom, taking off my shirt, I immersed myself in the warmth of the shower. Washing away my unnecessary anger. Washing away the physical remnants of last night. Dousing myself with my soaps and body wash—this breezy smell of the winds along an ocean's shore. The same scent I had used for years. The exact same aroma that had initially attracted the captain to me. So many heated wants misted in the shower, playing out in the mirages of this steam. The captain's unconscious desires finding me, coming to me—coming inside of me for hours on-end—far more often, and more powerfully than before. I knew it was nearly time. I knew she would bring me back with her. Back home.

After my return, I had no idea as to what might happen. How I would feel. How she would feel. We were both different people now. We lived in such different circumstances. We had no guarantees together.

So many unknowns.

Leaving the shower, drying myself off, I put on my clothes for work. A variant of the fitted, white and blue lab coat I'd worn before, on Thessia, for the captain's birthday. She seemed to like it on me. This one glowed in a dull shine, all-black instead. Violet tints. Per company dress code. Directly from the top.

Wearing this makeshift uniform, I stared at myself in the mirror.

Mists from the shower lingered around the surface. Toward the edges. Leaving this center mostly free.

I found a near-stranger staring back at me.

Certainly, I still looked the same. Nothing had changed about my appearance. I had not physically aged a single day, even if I was technically older now—one hundred and nine years old. But only now did I see this glimmer, this sheen of my blue eyes returning. Now that the captain was aware of me. Now that she knew I was here waiting for her. Just as well, the blue of my skin seemed brighter somehow. Even with this black of my lab coat darkening my disposition. Adding an almost uncharacteristic intimidation.

Almost.

More than that, I recognized who I'd become. Who I'd tried and failed to be before. If only my lab coat bore a Cerberus logo over my chest, then my transformation would be complete. It wasn't meant to be.

Still finding myself after all this time.

After making my bed—and changing my sheets, especially—I sat down next to the nightstand. Picking up my datapads along the surface, I went over the agenda for today. Eden Prime. The Collectors. This curious Prothean artifact from a dig site. The company boss had also scheduled a board meeting with the rest of the executives, lining up with the team's briefing aboard the Normandy. Each of the company executives managed their own sections of Insomnia; and therefore, we were each in charge of managing the captain's ego, moderating her personality and priorities. Ensuring she remained as her own person.

We did the painstaking, behind-the-scenes work in Insomnia, within the captain's unconscious mind.

The same thing I had always done for her. Well beyond her perception, her understanding.

Ever since the boss took over, things had been much smoother than before. Far more efficient.

Leaving his enclosed space, Tali's pet rabbit found his way over to me. He jumped up onto my bed. Keeping me company while I continued to go over my datapads, stroking his fur with my free hand. I kept a smile on my face the whole time. Glad that he was here. Adoring Tali's own gentleness in relating to such a docile animal. Once upon a time, I could have also related in the same ways. Not anymore.

Preparing to leave downstairs, I reached over to the foot of my bed. There I kept a blue blanket. One that looked just like the blanket from the captain's room. That blue one she kept, keeping me in such a way. I folded this one in my arms. Knowing it smelled of me. Needing it to hold my scent for the days ahead. I then picked up Tali's rabbit, blanketing him in this blue. Keeping him calm and safe with me.

Soon I left my bedroom, bracing myself for the day ahead.

Arriving in the hallway, I felt this presence. An Alliance marine sentry remained posted by my door. Decorated in such a stately uniform. Shadowed face. No real identity. The same as the sentries posted within Insomnia's headquarters—guarding the captain's many secrets there—sent here specifically to protect me at all times. Or at least my room. As far as I knew, they never left this spot. Not for anything.

That other duty was reserved for someone else.

Across the way stood my lone security agent. Waiting for me.

Shades of sunlit browns and highlights of sunny blondes—she had her hair tied back in a long, tight tail.

Black of her fine suit and tie. Pale blue of her shirt underneath. And her endless intensity, attractiveness.

Her voice sounded from my agent, perfunctory and professional: "Good morning, Dr. T'Soni."

Even knowing what she was, my heart still pounded up to my throat. Trembling this whisper I let out—

"Shepard…"

My agent didn't respond.

She was just my security. Due to my rank in Insomnia, she was just here to protect me. To serve me. To lay down her life if necessary, given the threats I'd suffered in the past. Given the reasons why I had submerged myself underwater in the first place. To hide. To protect myself; to protect Tali as well. To escape Insomnia's ex-boss who still wanted me gone. This was my agent's sole purpose. Nothing more.

I swallowed this bitter truth, and left down the hall. My agent's soundless footsteps shadowed behind.

Still carrying Tali's pet in my arms, I thought ahead to seeing her soon. I would go pick her up from home. We would then commute to work together at Insomnia's headquarters. Hopefully she hadn't slept in.

But first, breakfast. My daily routine with another.

Downstairs, through this next hall, I saw the water's reflections everywhere, through the windows. Bluing the hues of the walls. Deepening the space all around. Widening the height of the ceiling, the expanse around me. At the largest living room, I stared out at the sliding glass doors. How that glass withstood the pressure from this submersion. Holding against the shifting sea waters, acting as this view for the aquamarine outside. Outside where the grass should have been. That park where I'd spent my years as a child, living out my fantasy as an archaeologist. The fantasy my mother had only humored for some time.

Adjacent to this living room was the kitchen.

And in that kitchen, sitting at the dining room table, was my mother herself. Benezia wore such a beautiful yellow dress. Sipping a cup of lemon tea; reading over her own datapads for work. Waiting for me. I smelled the wonderful breakfast she'd made for us. Warm cinnamon bread. Fresh slices of fruit.

I no longer had to ask my mother to make this for me. She had since stopped fighting against it.

Turning to my agent, I handed Tali's pet rabbit to her, and this blanket. Accepting both into her arms, she retreated to a corner. Standing vigil there.

"Good morning, Mother," I said, nearing her side.

Benezia gave me a look. She continued to observe me as I sat at the table, helping myself to breakfast.

"Liara," she replied, rather annoyed. "I take it you enjoyed yourself last night. You're simply glowing."

Pouring my cup, my face heated as much as this tea steamed and steamed.

Benezia cast a glare at my agent, lecturing me: "I don't know why you're still preoccupied with her. These look-alikes, these copies run amok in our home, day in and day out. You must know your obsessions with the captain border on insanity. She'll never leave that Cerberus woman for you. Not to mention, she practically killed you with her bare hands. Why do you continue to pine over her?"

Some anger continued to burn at me. As it always would, with these hurt feelings yet unresolved.

I couldn't really explain the rest. So I settled for eating my meal in silence.

My mother seemed to understand:

"I will concede that the captain is an extraordinary woman. A remarkable leader. Despite her efforts, she's not been able to forget you. It took some time. But she's beginning to come back around. She has already forgiven you for the past. As you knew she would. Her manner of loyalty to you is…reassuring."

Savoring this warm cinnamon, I asked, "Reassuring? In what way?"

"No matter what happens," said Mother, "The two of you will persevere. Your bond will forever remain true. You both have endured a lifetime of hardships. The captain should have resented you enough to discard you more permanently. You should have hated her enough to abandon your post, leaving your duties in Insomnia behind. And now she will find you again in a matter of days. You refuse to move on."

I had no real response to that.

So we remained in silence for a while.

I ate my breakfast. Nearly finishing. Thinking of work. Of other things.

My mother continued watching me, studying me. As did my agent from the shadows.

Benezia noticed how troubled I was. "You don't seem convinced. I thought you would be more certain."

Drinking the last of my tea now, I tried to think of a response. I didn't want to be rude.

"In that case," strained Benezia. "I must offer my well wishes to you, Liara. Despite her mistakes with you in the past…I hope your relationship with the captain will improve. Once you return to the living."

"We will see what happens with her," I replied, taking my dishes to the dishwasher. "I understand this hasn't been easy for you. Your resentments for her have been great indeed, considering what she has done not only to me, but to you as well. She put you out of your misery on Noveria. In a way, she also put me out of mine. Everything that has happened since—it needed to occur. This was all meant to be."

"If that is what you believe, then I will try to accept it. You still love her. I will care for her as my own."

Looking to her one last time, I bowed my head. "I appreciate your support, Mother. Thank you. I must be off now. Tali is expecting me. You know this will be a long day for us. Perhaps we will see you later on."

Benezia watched me as I left. "Perhaps so. Have a wonderful day at work, then. Be well, my little wing."

With my back facing her, leaving the kitchen, I felt the way her words affected me. That pet name.

I flinched as a nervous tic.

All those repressions and painful memories had yet to leave me.

Mindful of my emotions, my agent followed behind. Saying nothing on purpose.

Back down the hallway, I entered the first of the guest bedrooms.

Through the door, I passed through to Tali's home. The very same appearance from the Flotilla, aboard the Rayya. The modest home she shared with her father, Chief Admiral Rael'Zorah. Perhaps not so modest, when compared to the shantytowns across the rest of the Migrant Fleet. But still quite small.

I found Rael'Zorah in the sitting room, at the table. Much like my mother did outside, he read over his datapads as well, for his own work. Sipping a small meal for breakfast through his straw, his helmet.

Noticing me, he gave his gruff greetings, "Ah, there you are, Liara. Good morning to you."

"Good morning to you, too, Admiral," I responded. "Is Tali awake?"

Rael'Zorah gave an uncomfortable pause. "I wouldn't say she is…"

"Hmm, I see," I said, knowing what he meant. "I'll just give her a moment, then. What are you up to?"

"Going over the agenda for today—for my research. These weapons tests have been grueling. Finding sufficient geth parts for this is no small feat. But I am no less determined to make this work. I must."

"I admire your determination, Admiral. I am certain Tali will appreciate your hard work. Whenever it pays off. If I didn't know any better, it seems you've dedicated your entire life to this single task."

"That's because I have, Liara," asserted Rael'Zorah. "Speaking to you this way, I know that you are merely a dream. I am asleep. And I will wake without my daughter at home. Her absence continues to inspire me nonetheless. Our people will retake Rannoch from those wretched geth. And I will build Tali a home on the homeworld. She deserves no less from me. After everything…I must do this for her."

If only he knew this was no mere dream.

I asked instead, "Is this truly your way of making up for the past?"

"It is the only way I know how. I made my promises to Tali years ago. I will keep my word."

"Well, I encourage you to keep your promises. I only hope you'll be careful with this. Mainly how far you're willing to go to achieve your goals. One day, you may find that you've sacrificed too much."

Somber, Rael'Zorah noted, "You speak from experience. Don't you?"

"Of course… With that in mind, please take care with your ambitions. Tali can't lose you."

"Even so, I would have you to count on. You and Captain Shepard. You would take care of my little girl."

Such disregard for his own life. "Admiral, we will always take care of her. You have my promise."

Rael'Zorah accepted my promise. Even as he contemplated his next moves. He needed my reassurance.

"I should go find Tali now," I told him. "Are you still able to babysit today?"

"Yes, I will care for her young one. I am happy to do so."

My agent went over to him, handing Rael'Zorah his daughter's pet rabbit. Holding him in his arms. Disarmed by such tenderness, Tali's father sat with this contemplation. Observing Tali's love and affection bundled up as this animal. Giving off such a quiet joy, as if he held Tali as a small child instead.

That stoic awe sounded in Rael'Zorah's whisper, "Gentle creature…"

Smiling over his care, I made my way down the hall to Tali's bedroom.

My agent stayed behind me. Still carrying my blue blanket.

Posted outside of Tali's room was an Alliance marine sentry. Nearly indistinguishable from the others.

As I entered the room, my agent knew to wait here outside. We both understood that this was best.

And I entered to darkness. Not a single light on. Only the aquamarine filtering in from outside Tali's window, next to her bed. That breathtaking view of the entire Migrant Fleet submerged underwater.

Tali lay in bed. Seemingly still asleep. Mask off, hood down. The unhidden beauty of her face, graced by the blues of the sea outside. Those movements of her hands beneath her sheets. Those quiet sounds she made. She existed somewhere between a deep sleep and lucid dreaming, touching herself like this.

Staying near the door, I activated my omni-tool.

I saw for myself that Tali was still asleep in real life, in her clean room aboard the Normandy.

But she needed to wake soon. To prepare for the mission on Eden Prime with the team. The briefing would begin at 9:00am as always. And here, with us, the board meeting would start some time before.

As long as we hurried along soon, Tali had some leeway to enjoy these last moments.

Staying quiet, staying still, I watched her enjoyment, waiting for the inevitable escalation.

That escalation soon entered: the captain's similar height and features. Wearing only a white sleeveless undershirt, and violet boxer briefs. Those long legs of hers crossed the room in this sea-shining dark.

And I struggled not to follow her—this other clone, this other copy—allowing everything to play out as it needed to. Breathing harder nonetheless, I watched as the captain's simulacrum went over to Tali in bed. Setting those sheets aside. Getting on top of her instead of me. Touching Tali right between her legs, the fabric of her suit moved aside just so, for perfect access. Kissing her—long, slow, and deep. Earning more reactions. Complete vulnerability from Tali in her whines, her soft moans. Needing more.

Begging as a whisper—"Shepard, take me… Please, Shepard. I need you inside me." Spurring, goading, Tali earned this clone's hardness against her. She spread her legs more to accommodate. "I need you to please me, right now. Use me. Fill me. I'm desperate for you. So desperate… I can't wait any longer."

This copy grunted out, "Just what I like to hear from you, baby."

Doing as Tali wanted, the captain's image took her right away.

Hiking Tali's legs up, drilling into her—she fucked her, hard, with such disregard. Complete disregard for any gentleness or care. Pulling these weaker, higher-pitched sounds from Tali; reveling in them. Growling in a deep satisfaction over Tali's helplessness. Nearly monstrous, this clone hammered between Tali's legs, all in a measured frenzy. Calculating enough to keep at this spot, this perfect spot. Determined enough to keep going, knowing how loudly she made Tali whimper and whine and scream, gripping around her back, her shoulder blades. Superior physicality. Stronger strength. And that wicked curl of the captain's grin, teeth bared as she fucked my best friend in front of me. Knowing I was here, watching.

Screaming the captain's name, sweating hard, Tali took this near-beating between her, needing this so.

Corrupting her, corrupting and corrupting—this clone delighted in taking Tali's innocence over and over.

Yet for all her corruption, Tali sounded as pure and sweet and frightened as ever, just as their first time.

Frightened by this ride, this emotional roller coaster. Addicted, obsessed. Unable, unwilling to let her go.

Gripping this copy, still, Tali rode this breaking and breaking and breaking, her voice shattering as glass; riding this high; needing more and more, refusing to let this ride end. Refusing to let this clone stop—

The captain's suppressed desires collided directly with Tali's dreams at this impossible force and speed.

"You need more, Tali?" goaded the duplicate, kissing her again. "Or are you satisfied?"

Losing her mind, Tali moaned, "I need more… So much more. I need you! Please don't stop, Shepard…"

"You want more of me? Is that it?"

Moaning even more. "Of course I do… I can't get enough of you."

"And what if I refuse? What'll you do then? Tell me the truth. Unfiltered."

Tali sniffled, filled with sudden emotion. "Shepard, don't… Don't go. You'll make me cry again."

"I don't wanna make you cry," soothed this clone, kissing more and more. "Don't cry, Tali. Please."

Breaths hitching, voice pitching—"You always leave in the mornings. You always leave me like this… It makes me want to drown from my wrists."

Soothing stronger, again and again—"You know what we have to take care of. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"Then give me what I want! Give me what I need if you're so sorry!"

"Okay, baby," said the captain's image, scrambling to please her. "Okay! Just tell me what you need."

Tali made herself perfectly clear:

"Give me what you hold back—what you restrain every day you see me. Every time you look at me on the ship. On our missions. On shore leave. At the Citadel. Each time you hear my voice, and I arouse you. Whenever I say your name. How you crave me. I make you feel guilty over it. Give it to me, Shepard."

Impelled by her, this duplicate again scrambled to meet Tali's demands.

Two more copies entered the room. Wearing the same thing. Holding their hard length in their hands.

Completely ignoring me, they want to Tali in her bed. Standing at either side of her head, of the bed. Encouraging her: Tali reached out to both of them, both throbbing for her, badly. Taking both in her hands, she took her mouth to one at a time. Opening, taking. Devouring what she could, the very air in her throat fucked and fucked, those sounds laced with the soft desperation of her moans. Desperation for the captain's duplicates to do this to her. Desperation to throw herself at them like this, so craven.

The original one, fucking between her again, gave this twisted praise: "You're such a good girl, Tali…"

Praise igniting, Tali broke free from the incessancy pointing at her, twice over.

Breathing harder, filling her lungs, she looked up at this dream with eyes slanted in submission.

Quietly, Tali whined her sugary sweet fulfillment—"Daddy…"

This clone grinned in her own fulfillment, drilling harder. "You need Daddy to fuck you right? Is that it?"

Gripping the base of those girths, for leverage—"Yes… Yes!" Breathing louder, needing louder; the duplicates kept going. "Fuck me, Daddy, please—oh, please, Shepard—Daddy, fuck me, fuck me…!"

So sinister: "My sweet little girl needs me. You're my princess. I can't say no to you. Fucking take it."

Losing her mind all over again, Tali loudened her cries. Screaming for her Daddy at the top of her lungs, at the height of her pleasure. Knowing for certain—and not caring at all—that her own father overheard her down the hall. The copies continued to use her. The copies continued to take her, to fill her. The captain's likeness continued to break her again and again. And still she couldn't get enough. Insatiable.

Only when Tali's alarm went off in real life did these clones vanish from sight.

And only when they disappeared could I finally breathe. Resenting this soaked feeling between my legs.

Through my omni-tool, I watched as the real Tali shot up from bed. She cursed in protest. Throwing her pillow over her head. Hiding away as she had a near-anxiety attack, controlled. Stunned, emotional, she sniffled and heaved for breath. Barely holding onto these last remnants of her dream. Desperately so.

I spoke to this version of her lying in the dark—"Tali, it's time to get up now. We have to leave soon."

Barely hearing my voice in real life, Tali removed her pillow. Such a surreal, out-of-body experience.

As this dream fully dissolved from her perception, she wondered aloud: "Why did she say 'we'…?"

She then left her bed. Left to prepare for the day. Left in a haze of restrained tears and budding arousal.

Leaving her to her privacy, I turned my omni-tool off.

Here in front of me, Tali sat up in her bed. Outlined by the sea's blue just outside the window. Caught in the near-headlights of her own eyes. Staring at me in this soft surprise. Though not for obvious reasons.

Timid, she asked me, "I did it again…didn't I?"

"Yes, Tali," I replied, stern. Nearly seeing her face redden in the dark. "You did in fact do it again."

"…I'm sorry, Liara. I know this isn't easy for you. I'm being selfish. I just—can't seem to quit her."

"And you don't have to. But we can't be late for work. We have a board meeting. The boss will be there. You know how this goes. How she is. We'll suffer the consequences if we're not in the room before her."

"Right, the meeting… I promise I'll get ready now. I won't take long at all."

"Of course," I allowed, leaving her room. Leaving her to silence. Leaving her to think all of this through.

After a terribly awkward wait with Tali's father, the sex fiend herself finally emerged from her room.

Tali wore her suit as usual. A darker violet than her one in real life, and with far more metallic surfaces and shades. A harder look, as the captain seemed to prefer for her. Again without her mask or her hood. Her gorgeous, vibrant face free, smiling at me. With her long, dark hair flowing down past her shoulders.

As Insomnia could pose no health hazards to the quarians, or to anyone, Tali continued to wear her enviro-suit for convenience. Like the other quarians among the Flotilla. Yet the captain only had a visual understanding of Tali's face. No one else among the quarians. And so her father appeared as the captain remembered him. Admiral Rael'Zorah still sat in his chair, holding Tali's rabbit; accepting this quick hug from his daughter, for him and her pet both, along with her promises to spend time together after work.

Linking our arms together, still affectionate despite everything, Tali and I left her home.

We reappeared in my same house, through the same guest room. We then exited the front door.

Somewhat counterintuitive, this exit from my home led to the Rayya proper. As an extra layer of security, I had sheltered Tali's house mostly within my own. These waters visible outside the Rayya's windows were all my doing, as this manifestation of my innate element. Walking past these amiable crowds of other quarians, Tali and I made our way to the public transport area. We had to take quite a ways around to reach the surface to the captain's headquartered ego, on purpose. Unless we magically transformed into either the captain or the boss, no one in Insomnia was allowed to walk up to HQ directly. The captain funneled that allowance through the city's transportation systems, recognizing who was authorized to work within her mechanisms, and who was not. Rather complicated—by design.

Only after taking the appropriate transit systems were we allowed to enter the building.

As the captain was such a private woman, this made the most sense for her.

Once Tali and I reached the public transport area, we found the place filled with other quarians. Most of them waiting to get onto the submarine-shuttles. Filing into the rather long lines, I took in the general chatter everywhere, still focused on Tali's arm linked through mine. She seemed rather distracted.

And I knew why. "You are a fiend, Tali. I hope you're aware of this."

Tali giggled with her nerves. "Please, Liara," she tried. "They're only copies. Nothing for the boss to feel threatened over. Besides, this just means the captain wants me in real life, and she's holding herself back. I'm allowed to find my enjoyment from this. It's almost the same with you. Don't you think?"

That may have been true, but I didn't want the reminders right now.

Not so soon before work.

Not on this important day.

Arriving to the ticketing area, Tali and I finally escaped these long lines. We took the side entrance, swiping the sleek black of our executive cards for free passage. Thanks to our allowances, we had no need to pay those high fare prices. Everything in Insomnia was overpriced due to the captain's high expectations, in all things. Tackling the inflation problem with treasury specialists and other economists wasn't feasible. Just like with everything else around us, this mind-over-matter economy was by-design. So everyone had simply learned to live with the inconveniences, adapting as best as they could.

On the underwater shuttle, Tali sat with me nearest a window. During the ride to the surface, we stared out at the deep indigo together, the entire Migrant Fleet below water. I recalled the captain's first reaction to witnessing this marvel, not too far from the entrance to HQ. The captain had assumed the water had been a mere byproduct of Tali's anger toward her in real life. Blocking off access. It hadn't occurred to her that I was the reason for this impossible phenomenon. Even though I'd been at HQ at the time, she and the boss had merely passed by the Flotilla in the main car. Off on their adventures.

Really, these waters were for my own protection. Tali's as well, especially.

Protecting us from our ex-boss. Always from our ex-boss. That murderous, Satanic maniac.

And now that I was due to return to the living, the risks only increased. If our ex-boss somehow managed to find me, she could have inflicted true horrors. She would have burned me in her eternal hellfire. Killing me in Insomnia would have left me dead in real life as well. Leaving me 'mysteriously' dead in my sleep. And the captain would not have been able to simply find me again, bringing me back once more. Anyone else who died in Insomnia—Tali included, our new boss included—would have also permanently died in real life.

I would never be able to come back. I would be gone, lost forever to the void.

If Tali died instead—if I failed in my duty to protect my best friend—then she would be gone forever.

Anyone who died here would be gone forever. Never of natural causes. Only cold-blooded murder. And so my security agent followed me, as always. Always and forever protecting me from that catastrophe; protecting Tali by my side as well. The boss of course had her own agent, protecting her from the same.

Despite the permanent risks to my life, I hoped the captain would indeed bring me back soon.

Then again, if not for the technical difficulties, she would have recorded my home's location last time.

I wasn't entirely sure if she would have been able to reach me back then. If the transportation system would have brought her here. If my other plans and allowances would have manifested themselves by then, facilitating the captain's ease of getting around, to find me. Possibly, maybe. Maybe, maybe not…

No sense dwelling on it now.

Besides, I had my solution. Glancing at my agent just nearby, she continued to hold that folded blue blanket in her arms. As silly as it sounded, this was my solution. Or at least it would be soon enough.

Reaching dry ground, Tali and I arrived to Grand Central Terminal, Insomnia's main transportation hub.

Styled exactly as the same landmark on the captain's homeworld, within Manhattan in New York City, the shopping, dining, and cultural destination held several thousand commuters. Built as beaux-arts, just like the classic Parisian architecture—the soft, golden atmosphere of these historic forms held such rich decorative detail. Even after having passed through several times over the years, this monumental conception continued to astound me. Thousands upon thousands of organics of all species traveled through here, chatter and laughter and rushing footsteps all echoing up to the tall lights hanging from the ceiling. So many of them exited their shuttle lines, transferring to metro rail lines and bullet trains, taking them farther across Insomnia, already the size of a large continent on Earth.

And I knew precisely why this terminal had taken its inspirations from New York City. I knew what the captain intended to do—at least subconsciously—in eventually bringing the boss to the actual city on Earth. Perhaps she wasn't aware of her intentions. She would become aware down the line. One day.

Passing through the Main Concourse, Tali and I made our way to the metro rail lines downstairs. Vermillion reds of the early morning light shone in through the lofty crystalline windows, that light passing around Insomnia's loftier, brooding skyscrapers outside. And the ever-present reminders of time, of my waiting, sat in the center of the area. The four-faced opal clock endured among this space, acting as a hub of its own—a meeting place for friends, families, and coworkers commuting together.

And each of these people were similar to Tali, to Rael'Zorah, or even to my mother. People living and dead whom the captain had inspired in some way—all across the galaxy—through her heroic efforts. People who looked up to her, regardless of whether or not she knew they existed. They had all linked together here, with the captain, through this collective unconscious she and I had created for ourselves years ago, during our mission against Saren and the geth. During those long, arduous months I had spent waiting for her, longing for her to return to me.

I had never intended for others to find their way here. Or for Legion's expertise to recreate such a space, virtually, for the captain and boss to explore at their leisure. Yet everything had worked out quite well.

Sitting by my side within this immaculate, all-black luster of the metro car, Tali discussed her plans for work today. As ever, my agent kept her hawk-like eyes on me, on Tali; on everyone and everything. Though plenty of other commuters recognized me. The underground lights from outside the windows flashed across my face as we sped by, lighting my eyes in-kind, my identity. Who I was. My supposed importance as one of Insomnia's top executives. No one sat close enough to overhear our conversation.

Rather overwhelmed, Tali shared with me: "I forgot to mention. While I was still at home, I received word about some damages to HQ. There's apparently severe flooding in the basement areas. From yesterday, with the captain's emotional breakdown. It seems our safeguards weren't enough after all."

"I worried they might not be," I expressed, frowning as much. "I ran as many simulations as I could. Attempting to prepare for her eventual flood of emotions. Had we made the captain's fortifications too powerful, this would have diverted resources from elsewhere. We couldn't shelter her completely."

"This was the best we could do. Really, it's fine. The flooding could have spread to the rest of HQ. Or to the city itself. Luckily, I haven't gotten any such reports. No severe rain or flooding in other areas of Insomnia, either. Just this large area in the basement. Honestly, it's more than we could've hoped for."

"Yes, but you and your teams still need to deal with the damage."

"That's true," agreed Tali. "We'll have to drain the water, then make the necessary repairs everywhere. All on top of our other project: repairing the main car. The captain will want it the next time she visits."

I wondered, "Do you think the car will be ready in time?"

"I seriously doubt it… It's totaled. I have my best automotive experts on it. They're doing what they can. If the captain intends on exploring the city as well, she won't be able to. Then again, the car won't matter if her only objective is to bring you back home. Will your other travel method be ready for her?"

"More than likely, yes… I'm not entirely sure if she'll manage to learn it. We'll have to wait and see."

Tali worried, "But Liara, can't you leave her some instructions? Or a few clues. Something tangible."

I shook my head. "Unfortunately, she needs to discover the idea on her own. Otherwise it won't work."

"Hmm, that makes sense. But I think the sheer size of Insomnia creates false expectations. The captain may feel pressured to explore everything all at once. She and the boss left HQ so quickly that night. Do you feel we're losing out by focusing so much on expansion? Expanding Insomnia's land mass, I mean."

"I've wondered about this myself. I'm not sure if now is the right time for public expansion. This is why we brought on our newest board executive, after all… Though I strongly disagree with her being here."

Tali shrugged. "This is what the boss wants to do. I suppose we can't complain. Overall efficiency has gone through the roof now that she's grown into her role. She's much better than our last leader."

"Yes, I thought as much," I said. "The mutiny couldn't have come sooner. She needed to be dealt with."

"Absolutely. It's only too bad the ex-boss is essentially a vagrant these days. Wandering around on the run. Creating all those fire hazards for my teams to deal with. Maybe the new urban development head will be able to help us with these hazards as well. Unless she's only here to throw her weight around…"

I checked Insomnia's crew manifest on my omni-tool, finding our newest executive listed at the bottom:

Captain of Insomnia – Commander Sol Shepard

President and Chief Executive Officer of Insomnia – Miranda Lawson

Vice President of Insomnia and Head of Science & Research Division – Dr. Liara T'Soni

Head of Metaphysical Engineering – Tali'Zorah vas Neema nar Rayya

Head of Public and Mental Health Safety – Staff Commander Kaidan Alenko

Head of Weapons and Defense Mechanism Development – Garrus Vakarian

Head of Normandy Fight or Flight Program – Flight Lieutenant Jeff "Joker" Moreau

Head of Egotism and Urban Development – Aria T'Loak

Longing after this orange light, Tali mused, "I wish I had access to my omni-tool. Living without one is jarring. Especially because of how much I rely on mine in real life. Another reason to be jealous of you."

"You don't need to be jealous of me, Tali," I insisted, checking for something else now. "Though I do hope the board meeting will be productive. I've heard enough about this Aria to be wary of her. Beyond the captain's understanding. But, having her on the crew manifest now gives me a few permissions."

Tali leaned closer to me—"Going to spy on her?"

"Not necessarily… I only want to see what she's up to. This should help us pass the time until we arrive."

Opening this next real-life feed, I found the actual Aria T'Loak on Omega. She lounged in her large bed, hiding away from the world within her dark, violet-tinted room raised above the Afterlife club. The faint booming of the music's bass from below seemed to give Aria some sort of comfort. She stretched out her body, lying in the nude beneath her sheets. Knowing that her operations continued, and would continue during her upcoming absence to Eden Prime with the team.

With her comforts and pleasure, Aria had her own omni-tool open. Staring at these photos of the captain. Indulging in the captain's old modeling career. Running her free hand down her thighs; sighing in this pure hedonism of hers. She only stopped to check another tab on her omni-tool's browser. This tab…with what appeared to be a series of reports. Reports from Aria's professional agents—separate from her brutish thugs on Omega. Human agents she'd had shadowing the captain and the rest of the team on Earth, during their shore leave. She'd even had an agent watching the captain having sex with the boss in her car. All to fill in the pieces of how and where the captain lived and survived throughout her youth.

Aria had learned all the ways the captain should have died in the streets. Abandoned as an orphan as she had been.

And I remembered Aria was a mother herself. She had a daughter of her own.

I could only wonder what went through her mind, having learned this information now.

With this knowledge, Aria switched to another tab. Looking at the footage of Omega, her own station. Watching her own citizens. Sick and poor. Rotting away in the streets. Starving and dying, often through no fault of their own. Perhaps their weakness, in lacking the strength to claw their way to more power.

Watching over the sickly citizens, Omega's militia guards looked on at the desolation. They frowned, upset. Yet Aria scoffed over this, muttering about their true identities as undercover Talon mercenaries.

Cursing in annoyance, she discovered a timely email from the leader of the Talon gang herself:

From: Nyreen – How are you?

Aria,

You've been on my mind lately. Well, you always are. I suppose this is the first time I'm actually telling you about it. Though I'm sure you still think I'm too sensitive. Sentimental. Bet that hasn't changed over the years. What can I say? After all this time, you have this special place in my heart. You exist in this space where nothing and no one else can ever reach. It's such a transcendent thing for me. It really is.

Have you thought any more about my ideas? About taking care of Omega's citizens. Your people. They need you, Aria. Even if you don't want the responsibility, it's still with you. I hope you'll do the right thing.

-Nyreen

Groaning in revulsion, Aria rolled her eyes. She closed the email with no intention of ever writing back.

Next, she took a moment to think about something. Considering, quietly. Weighing the pros and cons.

She then opened her omni-tool's speech recorder.

Unfiltered, Aria gave this monologue as her voice log:

"I've made up my mind. I'm going to deal with this so-called problem, sooner rather than later. It seems I can't keep putting it off. Or at least that's what my intuition's telling me. And my intuition has yet to lead me astray. So I'll go ahead with this. Anyone who's out on Omega's streets can stay in my emergency shelter bunkers beneath Afterlife. I'll provide room and board for them, along with a stipend if they agree to work for me. Start with the basics. Simple training from my people. Teaching them how to act as security guards in neutral areas, to help me keep an eye on what's what over there. And if anyone gets caught with bribe money from my enemies, they're out. That's the most benevolent thing I can do.

"I'm putting Jarral in charge of logistics. She's another runaway from Thessia. We served as commandos together back in the day. Her life went one way, and mine went another, yet we somehow ended up on this station. Jarral claims I put her back together after whatever hell she went through when we parted ways before. Just in giving her this chance to work for me. I'm sure she'll be inspired by the new plans. Maybe she'll even suggest leading this new group as their captain, growing them into some real troops. To keep under the radar, of course. As an ace up my sleeve. Anyone who fucks with me will severely underestimate my numbers. They'll be in for a rude awakening. I'll make a nice example out of them.

"On another note: I'm still rather…disturbed by something else. I don't say this lightly. It's that report Shepard's girlfriend sent me the other day. Not the helpful, more practical one about the Collectors, their tactics. I mean her other report. The longer one. About the drama that happened before, with the team. With Shepard's exes. Despite everything—I suppose I have a newfound respect for Lawson these days. For what she managed to pull off under that hotheaded little girl's nose. I also have a broader perspective on what's going on with Shepard herself. The whole indoctrination immunity thing sounds…romantic. Romantic, yet limiting. Extremely limiting. I can't make my move on her. The consequences would be insane. I feel shackled after learning how important her damned relationship is. Trapped in a cage. Imprisoned with my flesh and feelings for her! My wants. My needs. My urges for her.

"I'll think on this some more soon. I'm getting ready to leave to my ship. The plan is to meet Shepard on her frigate, just outside Eden Prime's orbit. I'll join everyone for the pre-mission briefing. Then we'll touch down on the colony and get to work. After preparing with the intel Lawson sent me, I have no idea how this mission will actually go. It's not a matter of plans or tactics. I'll be following Commander Shepard's orders. I've made the calculation that Shepard is more trustworthy than Nyreen. A calculation that's apparently cost me more than I bargained for. I despise having to deal with these fucking emotions. From seeing her again. Having these near-constant thoughts of her stuck in my head. These pervasive fantasies about how much I need her to just take me already! She's the only person in this entire galaxy I've needed to fuck me up this badly. To do a lot more than that. And not just with lust. But, this is the price I have to pay. I'm repaying my debts. Even if it means losing this part of myself to her… End log."

Closing her omni-tool, Aria emerged from her bed. With some difficulty. Subtle, emotional difficulties.

Whether she sensed me or not, whether she knew I watched her or not—she soon found her pride.

She crossed her bedroom to the bathroom nearby. Preparing for the day. Forcing her persona back up.

Leaving Aria to her privacy, I closed my own omni-tool. Tali and I sat in a dazed silence. Processing what we had witnessed. Thinking over Aria's private pains and regrets as we arrived to our stop at HQ Plaza.

Heading down this long, decorated underground walkway, Tali kept her arm in mine. Lit up as we were, as everyone was by the digital art displays along the walls—shifting liquids of golds, shining this light along the pristine black surfaces everywhere else. Graceful golds shaped as water: these sights forever reminded me of the captain. Her essence blended with mine, taking up this physical space around us.

At the end of this walkway, we would find the underground entrance to HQ itself. Other commuters had come down from the actual plaza above ground, or were otherwise on their way up there. Some other Alliance and Cerberus employees also made their way to HQ, hurrying along. Everyone seemed acutely aware of what we had to do today. The seriousness of our duties. I trusted operations to run smoothly for the mission. But we of course had to work hard to ensure everything turned out well.

That sense of fulfillment had sustained me all this time. All throughout my waiting. My endless patience.

Perhaps as patient as I was, Tali and I found an old friend waiting for us.

Sitting near the railing of the moving walkway was Major, her gentle eyes firmly fixed on me. Those tall, pointed ears, and the smooth sable appearance of her coat stood out among the dark, the digital displays everywhere. Tail gently moving up and down over the ground, she seemed happy to see Tali and me both. But there was a bit of sadness mixed in her joy. Repentance. Her regrets. I hadn't seen her since she'd attacked me long ago, attempting to bite at my omni-tool arm. Yet it was difficult to blame her for the past. Major was only an animal. Following her owner's orders. I couldn't hold it against her.

I went over to her, with Tali following right with me.

"Hello again, Major," I greeted, smiling at her. Such a handsome pup.

Beaming as well, Tali asked, "Were you waiting for us?"

Major gave one bark with her affirmative.

Leaning down a bit, I made sure to pet her. Despite not enjoying this with others, Major found her enjoyment with me, her ears lowering and knifing at a peaceful, contented slant. All the while, I felt Major re-familiarizing herself with me. The breezy scent of my body wash. Along with everything else she could pick up on about me. I wished we could bring her to work with us, but after the previous incidents we'd had, Major sadly wasn't allowed inside the building again. Not without the captain's permission, anyway. Though I suspected Major would have her permissions renewed soon enough.

"Thank you for coming to visit us," I told her. "I know you have to get to work as well. Don't you?"

Major gave a low whine, not wanting to leave.

Tali reminded her, "You can't skip work again, you know. Your job is important. Though I can't imagine working the long hours you do. Your shifts seem rather intense. Working in the mornings and evenings."

"That gives me an idea. If my plans are going to work, Major, you'll need to have your hours changed. It would be best if you weren't expected at the hospital. Not while the captain and the boss visit Insomnia. They're going to need your guidance next time. Do you think you could find a way to change your shift?"

Tail wagging in joy, Major translated her promise to me.

"I appreciate this. Perhaps you should get going now. You don't want to be late. We'll see you later."

"Bye, Major!" said Tali, waving goodbye to her.

Major barked again, once, before scampering off, the sounds of her chain-collar chiming with her movements. She ran in the direction of the metro trains. Ideally getting back to her shift at the hospital by public transit. These sapient animals such as Major didn't have to pay the transportation fares. She and her kind could freely roam Insomnia as they pleased, per the captain's permissions. Or per the captain's quiet fondness for animals, really. She had her affinities with them as the lone wolf she was.

As we continued on to HQ just ahead, Tali expressed her dismay:

"Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm not too excited for the board meeting. Having to see the boss again. Especially after the crazy night and morning I had. Keeping this secret from her might be killing me…"

"Well, you didn't attend the company party," I noted. "From a few weeks ago, after the boss officially became our new president. I have a feeling she knows you're avoiding her. Even if she can't know why."

Tali groaned, recalling, "I wasn't in the mood for attending any sort of parties at the time… Besides, the captain was there in her version of the game. I didn't want to risk actually bumping into her. Not after the way my real self reacted to the captain's confession at the time—about you, and her involvement."

"I suppose so… Though I'm not clear if she would have been aware of you. She didn't even sense me there, after all. She and the boss merely assumed everyone in the building was transparent to them."

"Why didn't you go up to her, then?"

I sighed. "Tali, you know she wasn't alone."

Teasing me: "Not the perfect time for your romantic reunion together?"

"Oh, stop it," I tried, elbowing her. Tali giggled anyway. "As I've said, I'm not expecting anything elaborate once she does find me. She and I will have a talk. One that's long-overdue. And that will be it."

Through the highly-secured, underground entrance to HQ, Tali directed me to the basement. Returning here, I felt enveloped in this sense of nostalgia and productivity. Mornings or evenings, headquarters forever looked the same, with these sleek marble floors of black, the walls and ceilings of the same color. All lit up by these smaller floor lights of renegade reds, of paragon blues, joining together as the captain's blend of morality. Such a confident air of professionalism everywhere. Corporate competence.

Still, the basement was in bad shape. Tali and I couldn't fully go downstairs.

Stopped at this halfway point, we saw the damage for ourselves. Like going down to the lower decks of a flooding ship out at sea. Several of Tali's engineers swam through the waters, their heads nearly reaching the ceiling; shouting over the occasional sounds of crackling electricity sources all around.

To think this was my doing…

"Goddess," I breathed out. "This is the result of the captain's reactions to me? Her sorrows?"

Tali lamented, "Unfortunately, yes… I'll need to guide my teams on their preliminary fixes—before the board meeting, that is. I promise I'll be in the room on time. I'll see you later?"

"Of course, Tali," I accepted, embracing her. "Good luck with your work. I'm sorry we couldn't do more."

"Don't worry about it, Liara. It's all part of the job. I'm happy to serve at the pleasure of our captain."

As I tried making my way back upstairs, I noticed the steps were rather wet. Glistening from this overflow, as my doing, I barely felt the boots of my lab coat sliding over these marble surfaces. Not enough for me to fall. But just enough to drive home the reality of how I'd affected the captain this way.

Authoritative in her care, my agent held the bend of my arm in her hand.

Standing on the step just above me, I looked up at her. That unyielding sense of calm. Her security.

"Watch your step, Dr. T'Soni," she cautioned. Still holding my blue blanket folded in her other arm.

Lowering my head in a sudden shyness, I murmured to her, "Thank you, Shepard…"

Continuing her care, my agent guided me back upstairs. I held onto her arm instead of Tali's, now. And what a difference it was. Almost as a whirlwind, being linked to the captain's likeness in this way. In the middle of this quiet storm, my face wouldn't stop heating, reddening for all to see. The other employees passing us by certainly noticed. They even watched as my agent guided me into the nearest women's restroom, to the continuation of the black marble here, the softer lighting spread out before the sinks, the mirrors there. Vague chatter from the female employees around, their speculations about the damage to the basement; they watched as my agent gathered a handful of paper towels. They stared as she lowered herself before me, down on her knees. Kneeling before me to dry off my boots. Dutiful.

This abundance of her caution, her meticulous sense of protectiveness over me:

Pressing my palms against the smooth, cold wall, I lifted my legs, one at a time, for my agent to dry off my boots, thoroughly. Even with so many eyes on us, she paid them no mind. She remained mindful of this shallowness of my breaths. How I couldn't help reacting to her after all this time. Yet she made no comment on it. She changed nothing about her focus. Focused on this task. Focused on serving me.

Serving at my pleasure, just as I did for her likeness.

Finished with her task, my agent disposed of the paper towels, to be recycled and reused anew. She then went to the sinks. Washing her hands. Keeping her eyes to mine through the dazzle of the lit mirror. Keeping this intensity of her focus on me, even as I couldn't, wouldn't look away from her.

My agent soon returned to my side. Waiting. Prompting me to carry on, and she would follow me anew.

Wordless in my gratitude this time, I touched her face. This softness of her skin. The luster of her complexion. The gentleness of her gaze upon me, even with her enduring professionalism. Yet we could do no more than this. I never could. Not with her. Not with this version of her. In my desperations, I had attempted before. Yet my agent had merely remained then as she did now. Perfectly still. Statuesque.

Betraying nothing in her heart.

And so I carried on, as she wished me to do, leaving this women's restroom. Leaving to the central elevator down the hallway. Walking onward as she followed behind me, protecting me as my sentinel.

Within this cylindrical space of the elevator, I found a brief solace away from HQ's many other employees. Traveling up to the 60th floor, the clean glass around me opened up to the majesty of Insomnia beyond. Raising higher, I stood nearer to my agent for the ride. I stared out at this interminable view of the city, seeing my reflection there in the glass. Seeing doubles, triples, of my reflection reflected through the light of my eyes, of my agent's eyes upon me. So many skyscrapers. So many lines and connections from the public transportation systems throughout. So many traffic lines from the ground vehicles below. Yet everything moved smoothly, efficiently at this dawn. That perpetual golden mist from HQ's halo—it traveled and extended outward, as always, forever replacing the regular white of the clouds and the blue of the sky.

Vermillion rays from the morning continued to shine through. This illumination brightened Insomnia's enlightened morning, and all its citizens across this grand space. And I felt such a sense of pride, staring out at these sights. Witnessing my creation with the captain. This manifestation of our bond together.

The collective unconscious I had created for us—out of pure love—reimagined into this grand allegory.

Checking my omni-tool, I saw that I still had some free time. The real-life briefing aboard the Normandy would begin at 9:00am, just like always. I decided I would go say hello to everyone at our executive rest area, before checking up on things in the lab. By then, it would soon be time for the board meeting.

Arriving to the 60th floor, I exited the elevator with my agent.

Passing by this large, life-sized version of the Normandy, I took in the sense of ambiance everywhere. Despite the black all around, this supposed brooding, the windows brought in the perfect amount of light over the shining surfaces. That everlasting touch glimmered in from the giant picture windows along the far wall, playing out the city's view as a cinematic vid for us. Various employees sat along the couches nearest that view, socializing with one another. Sharing their breakfast they had procured from the general dining hall nearby, or brought along from home. Going over their own agendas for the day.

Through the Normandy's central hangar awaited our executive rest area. Styled just like the rest of headquarters, this open kitchen and mess hall remained as our privilege. Unlimited meals and snacks and other conveniences. Plenty of places to sit, to admire the view from this side of the building. A large vid screen hanging from the wall, showing this morning's Alliance News Network broadcast. The newscasters currently went over real-life events the captain had consumed during her routine. This particular segment discussed Mordin's seeker swarm countermeasure: the Council's ongoing efforts to distribute these protections to the citizens across Earth. In case the Collectors ever attacked the humans' homeworld.

They would have been utterly foolish to do so. But I supposed anything was possible with the Collectors.

I made my way over to the table where everyone congregated together. Kaidan, Joker, and Garrus were already here with Wrex and Dr. Chakwas, eating breakfast and sharing conversation. They all wore black variants of their usual, real-life outfits, lined only with violet, per our dress code as executives. Approaching them, I heard their speculations about our newest executive that had just joined the board. They viewed Aria's speedy promotion as a sure sign of trust from the captain. Or perhaps something more.

"Hey, Liara!" called Joker, waving to me. "Get over here! We were just wondering where you were."

"Ah, good morning, Liara," greeted Dr. Chakwas. "I figured you and Tali were preoccupied downstairs."

Kaidan noticed Tali wasn't by my side, for once. "She's not with you?"

"Not this time," I shared, standing near the table. "She and her engineers are repairing the damage."

Wrex chuckled. "Think Tali's got her work cut out for her. You sure did a number on the captain, Liara."

"Well, I didn't do it on purpose…"

Garrus reasoned, "It was bound to happen eventually. The captain did her best to set it all aside. Trying to move on. The boss kept expecting this to go down. And then it did. This could've ended badly."

Kaidan questioned him, "Wasn't that on you, though? You're the head of her defense mechanisms."

"I had to follow orders, Kaidan. You know that. The captain didn't want to show weakness. If she'd behaved like this before finding her own stability, it wouldn't have gone over well. Timing is everything."

"You mean stability from the boss," said Wrex. "Or the alpha female, I should say. The superior woman."

Joker insisted, "Nah, I keep telling you—the boss is the captain's queen. Like the Queen-Empress of Insomnia instead of just President! I'm dead serious. If you could see how the captain's stuck on her, you'd say the same thing. I swear, it's like some courtly, princely, Renaissance-era romance stuff!"

Dr. Chakwas noted in amusement, "As it should be. The captain is downright old-fashioned with her habits and predispositions. Her loyalties are nigh-impenetrable. And yet there's always an exception."

Everyone looked to me.

Putting me on the spot like this, they expected me to say something. To comment on my situation.

Really, what could I say? I had yet to explain my truest feelings about this. Not to mention, Tali and I both kept our secrets from them. This matter of our own private obsessions. Our visits from the captain.

The others couldn't know.

They could never know what I suffered. With my regrets over the past. My frustrations with the present.

My abject agonies over what I had missed out on—in being the captain's one and only, now and forever.

"Liara, hey," spoke Kaidan, gentle. "What do you think'll happen once you're back? In real life, I mean."

"Yeah, what's it gonna be?" worried Joker. "You can't go back to ignoring us again. Keeping that same distance you did before. You have any idea how much we missed you back in those days? Back when you'd stay holed up in your room on the ship? Like, I'm saying this! That's how you know it's bad."

"I feel the same way," shared Garrus. "Pretty sure it's why your death hit me so hard. Couldn't help feeling like we missed out on so much. You've always been there for us. Looking out for the team, for the captain. Doing your best to protect her—even from the one closest to her heart at the time. It wasn't easy for you…and you kept it all inside. I wish you had trusted us more. Enough to share this."

Dr. Chakwas entreated, "Won't you consider being more present with us? Please, Liara. We miss you."

"Always have," grieved Wrex. "Always will."

Quieting with more regrets, I considered their words. Recognizing where their worries had come from.

I felt as if I had left Insomnia already, sooner. Speaking to everyone in this frank way. Learning of their own raw emotions. What they fretted over in missing me. How I refused them this access to me. But really, it was never about ignoring them. It was only my shame. Just my shame with my many failures.

So I told them what little I could: "I appreciate your concerns, everyone. And I promise I will think this over. For now, I should get going. I need to check on the lab before our meeting. Please forgive me…"

Asking for my friends' forgiveness in this moment—

This was about far more than needing to leave. They knew as much. They saw the truth in my eyes.

Yet they easily gave me their forgiveness. Giving me their smiles as I retreated to the lab. Forever extending their clemency for my sins. Forgiving me as the captain had done, after my long wait for her.

At last I escaped into the dark, quiet sanctuary of Insomnia's main laboratory.

Yet another Alliance marine sentry remained posted by the entrance. That same decorated, stately uniform. The sentry monitored me as I went through the automatic doors, through to this impossibly large space. And this space was the place. This space sectioned off as stark shadows vaguely tinted of violet. This space filled with various systems and equipment running smoothly, each lit up as a paragon blue, siphoning their primary influences from me. This place with a floor of metal I passed along, shifting between those starker shadows, and the brighter lights from the lab's equipment. All while walking over the floor itself, occasionally opened up to grafts shining up a renegade red light instead, as the captain's dominant self. And the many Alliance and Cerberus scientists shared in this dynamism with me, working in unity and harmony at their stations. Many nodded to me in greeting, recognizing me as their boss.

This lab contained all the processes I had used before. Before the captain's death. Knowing her, feeling her in those otherworldly ways. Running those simulations. Seeing her. I had been here, in this place, using the equipment all around—without realizing it. Much like playing the keys of a piano, and having the music play as a consequence, while having no perception or understanding of the instrument itself.

Now I shared this space with the scientists who worked under me, here within Insomnia's Science & Research Division. At my direction, we maintained the captain's Machiavellian balance with her personality. Her priorities. Her pride, her ego. The exact formulae of our work added up to the essence of her. The essence of what it meant to be Commander Shepard—both the woman and her personas.

I reached my own section of the lab, far-removed from everyone else at their stations upstairs. Down here I could work in peace, yet still remain surrounded by the general productivity everywhere. Only my agent remained nearby. She stayed in her own corner, choosing to stand there. Maintaining her vigil over me as I logged into my work computer. Standing at my work computer, next to this free space. This tall leather chair. This single comfortable seat. Forever reserved for one person, and one person only.

Soundless in those footsteps, I sensed her approach. Right as I had hoped. Right as I had wished for.

Right on time.

This visual manifestation of the captain reached my side. Keeping her hair down, relaxed as she was within the space of her own mind. Wearing her formal Alliance officer's uniform. Those blues fitting her perfectly so. The pristine details of her trousers, the steamed creases there. The dark polish and shine of her dress shoes. The strong piping of golds over her shoulders, down her torso. The chains of decoration over her chest. Decorated in awards, ribbons, medals. A marine of distinction—she found me with pride.

The captain's mental presence here spoke of her real-life preoccupations.

She actively thought of me. Whatever she was busy doing before the briefing, I was on her mind.

She couldn't see this lab. She couldn't perceive this unconscious location, or my actual presence here.

Yet this closeness signaled enough. The captain saw me in her thoughts. She kept me at the forefront.

As I attempted to work, maintaining my professionalism, this version of the captain surprised me. She moved much closer to my side. Looming over me. Hovering over me in her height well past my own. She breathed against the crests over my head. I smelled this unique cologne of hers—the one she'd never worn around me before, so long ago. Scowling in that stoicism of hers, I caught her fixations out of her corner of my eye. And that attractive gap of skin over her furrowed brow, of her scar that had healed there. The one she hadn't had during our time together in real life:

These reminders reminded me of my own obligations.

"Good morning, Captain," I greeted, still typing away at my computer. Checking over her diagnostics. "It looks like you are doing well today. Much better than the last week or so. I'm glad you've recovered from last night, especially. Tali and her engineers are repairing the damage as we speak. So long as you continue on this path, we shouldn't have any repeats. Not any time soon at least." The captain stayed by my side. Tempting me all over again. "Captain…if you could please take your seat. It's waiting for you."

Doing as I asked, she sat down in the leather chair. This intensity of her stare was not new, yet the severity of it was. The handsome length and sharpness of her face continued to entice me, pointlessly so. Because there was so much more to her. Far more behind her stare. Past her thoughts. Well beyond this realm around us. Some parts of her forever remained locked past my understanding, past my reach.

Despite my privileges, I could not see everything about her.

"Thank you, Captain," I said. "Now, I'll need to get to the board meeting soon. You have an important day. Before I do that, I wanted to ask you a few questions. If you wouldn't mind. This won't take long."

Nearly drilling through me with her stare, the captain replied, "Ask away, Liara."

"During the meeting today, the boss expects a brief report from me. About these automated processes. How I help maintain your emotions, your personality. According to every measurable metric, this project is a success. But you must be aware of the limitations with my work. What I cannot see. Aren't you?"

The captain leaned back in her seat. "And what can't you see about me?"

"If you recall before," I prompted, "I wasn't able to interpret everything about you. Sometimes, I would search and search, and yet I could not find all the answers. And so I would ask you for clarification. There were times when you would know. Pulling from your own perception to fill in the gaps I had back then."

"Mmm, I remember. What are you looking for this time?"

"I wouldn't say I am looking for them… These particular answers. Only that the boss expects me to know what they are. She leans on me to know you, so that she might also see you completely. No alarms and no surprises. None."

"Well, that's too bad," dismissed the captain. "The two of you are always in my head. I'm allowed some information to myself. Things you can't know about me. Things you can never know. It's only fair."

"Then what am I to tell her when she asks?"

"You can tell her there's a tradeoff. Everything's automated, but you won't catch everything. It's fine."

I purposely did not log her answer. Any of these answers. This needed to stay between us.

"Captain, how are you so comfortable keeping these secrets from her?"

"It's only natural," she claimed, shrugging. "Yeah, I demand complete honesty from her. There's always a loophole involved. I know she hasn't told me every single thing on her mind, in her heart. Some degree of separation between us is pretty healthy. I don't want the two of us to become the same person."

I pointed out, "You say this, knowing the boss is obsessed with you. Your details. Knowing everything."

"Miranda's free to chase after that fantasy all she wants. I'm not giving it to her. Or you. I never will. I'll let you two wander around everywhere else in my mind. Just not here. Besides, you should get going now."

"Very well, then… I will return after the briefing. You are free to wait for me here. Or you may go to the boss in her office. Whatever you decide, please remember your focus for the mission. It will make my job easier."

"All right, Liara. I'll see you again soon."

"Goodbye, Captain," I said, leaving the area.

The captain sat back down in her leather chair. Watching me as I went. Watching my agent, this duplicate of her, following behind me—as this extension of her. This extension of her desires. Her wishes to protect me herself. To make up for the past; to make up for losing me. For leaving me behind.

This modern classicism of the board room welcomed me, blended as both. The long length of the central table shined on in this lighting, the dark wood showing off an impeccably clean polish. That wood reflected the lights spread along the space, against the walls, just bright enough to keep the area well-lit, yet subtle enough to not stand out any more than necessary. Rising columns separated the sections of the walls, holding slabs of blue-black marble, each hanging there in the likeness of a painting. And the far wall remained free, the wide display there turned off for the time being. Soon enough, the vid screen would show us the goings-on inside the Normandy's comm room. Only at the boss' behest.

Arranged in order of seniority around the table, these leather chairs held each of Insomnia's executives. I arrived somewhat late, yet still on time, with almost everyone else having gotten here before me. Joker, Garrus, and Kaidan carried on their conversation with Tali, each of them smiling at me as I entered the room. I returned their smiles, taking my seat near the head of the table, and across from Tali. She gestured with her head toward the empty chair farther down. The one for our newest executive.

Aria T'Loak soon arrived, snapping everyone's attention to her. Including mine.

Like the others, she wore a variant of her usual outfit. The white of her leather jacket replaced by violet; the reds over her long sleeves replaced by the same. All-black everywhere else, all around her, with those teases of violet skin showing down her hips. Those teases: this tall, limber, fit shape of her. A dancer's body. Telling of Aria's history working those poles at Afterlife before taking over as the Queen of Omega.

Fashionably late as expected.

Yet she'd arrived before the boss, taking her seat now, which was what mattered. Anything later would've been a disaster.

"Hey there, Aria," welcomed Kaidan. "Good to see you on your first day. Getting used to the changes?"

"Changes?" sneered Aria. "What changes are you talking about, Alenko?"

Garrus cleared his throat. "Think he means the, err, added benefits. Special treatment. VIP?"

"Oh, please. I can assure you this is nothing new. I've had my own executive keycard since day one. The only difference between then and now is I actually get to sit here with you. Nothing's changed at all."

Full of contempt, Tali muttered under her breath, "I knew it."

Joker blurted out, "What?! How the heck did you have your own keycard already? Did you steal it!?"

Aria waved her hand at him. "As if I'd ever have to resort to stealing to get what I want. If you must know, it was already waiting for me when I got here. To Insomnia. The second I woke up in my room at Afterlife, there it was, sitting on my nightstand. The keycard even had my name on it. So I used it to travel around the city as I pleased. Never got in trouble. No one ever told me I wasn't allowed to use it."

Kaidan seemed at a loss. "Well that's—surprising."

Joker coughed. "Not really, dude."

"Oh… It's not, huh?"

Garrus shrugged. "Guess not."

Aria questioned them, "Just what are you boys on about? Don't keep me in suspense now." Too tongue-tied to answer her properly, Joker, Kaidan, and Garrus said nothing further. "Figures. Well, this seems like a wonderful start to our working relationship. I ask you basic questions, and you can't even give me a straight answer! It makes me wonder what's really going on around here." She then looked to me. Leering in superiority. "And if it isn't Little Liara, sitting in the big VP's chair. I have to say, it suits you."

"Hello to you, too, Aria," I said, dreading this conversation already. "Your sarcasm is also duly noted."

Chuckling in amusement, Aria gave me a false smile.

"That wasn't sarcasm," she claimed. "I meant what I said, Madam Vice President."

"I don't believe you at all."

"Thankfully, you don't have to. You can take my praise in stride. Or you can be difficult. It's your call."

Buying me some time, I noticed the vid screen along the wall had turned on.

This display showed the current, real-time events within the Normandy's comm room. Legion had arrived first, taking its place near the head of the table. The others began to file in as well—Samara, Mordin, Thane, EDI, Zaeed. Jack and Kasumi entered the room together, not saying anything, yet giving off the air that they'd had quite the involved conversation before arriving. James shuffled in after them, attempting not to draw attention to himself, yet failing miserably. Given his sheer size, it was difficult not to notice him. Jack glared at him accordingly, causing James to shift around in his standing location.

Kaidan, Garrus, and Tali entered the comm room next—stifling yawns, attempting to find more alertness. They'd apparently stayed out at the 94 with Joker all night. Grumbling over their lack of sleep, they continued talking to one another. Hoping the conversation would wake them up for the mission.

Fully awake in the board room with me, this Tali glared at Aria across the table.

"Just so you know, Aria," she began, venomous. "We're taking a risk in bringing you aboard. Allowing you the privilege of serving our captain this way. I disagree with your sweeping plans to strengthen her ego. And yet the boss has decided you're going to be an asset. The least you could do is respect Liara."

Aria knew better than to argue the point.

Yet she regarded Tali anyway, getting a better look at her. Seeing her actual face unmasked like this.

"Cute," she said, amusement dripping with disdain.

Tali huffed over the dismissal. Aria chuckled again. Entertained by Tali's attitude toward her.

Through the vid screen, Miranda entered the comm room. Inspiring the team to lower their voices.

At the same time, here with us, the boss arrived to the board room. She had her own security agent—another version of the captain—dressed in a similar suit, yet with a shirt underneath of a Cerberus orange instead. The boss herself wore the same all-black, domineering outfit that Miranda had during her first visit to Insomnia: that tight boot-and-dress combo, as the variation of her Cerberus uniform.

Out of pure respect, we all stood up upon her arrival.

Everyone except for Aria. She remained sitting in her seat. Purposefully choosing not to follow protocol.

Garrus, Joker, and Kaidan began to sweat over the snub. Over what this could have devolved into. Tali scoffed in disapproval.

I merely observed as the boss approached Aria in her chair. Glaring down at her.

Superior in status and stature, the boss spoke with her authority: "How wonderful to see you, Aria. I would've commended you for being on time. Yet it seems you're determined not to earn any praise from me. It doesn't matter. I'll just ask you plainly. Would you mind following everyone's lead and standing up when I enter the room? Or would you rather I fire you on your first day of the job? Should I decide to terminate you, your executive keycard will be useless, effective immediately. As would any other special permissions from the captain you no doubt enjoy on your free time. The choice is yours."

Aria stared at the boss, her eyes hollowed and vined by hatred and envy.

She slammed her hands over the polish of the wooden table. Standing up appropriately. Digging her nails there over the surface, her fingerless gloves all but burning from the friction.

The boss sneered, "That wasn't so difficult, now was it? Be a good girl and remember this for next time."

Ignoring Aria's growing ire—that controlled flex of her biotics—the boss crossed the room to the head of the table. Tali snorted back her laughter, maintaining a modicum of respect as the boss walked behind her. Joker, Kaidan, and Garrus looked absolutely stunned, floored by the boss' implications. I felt some amount of shock over the exchange. Yet I was not surprised to learn of Aria's extracurricular activities with the captain's copies. I wondered just how deep their made-up relationship went. But I knew better not to ask, nor to spy on her any further than I already had. I couldn't keep doing that. Not anymore.

As the boss took her seat, the rest of us sat down in unison. Aria was…delayed, yet she still followed.

During this time before Shepard arrived to the comm room, the boss led our board meeting:

"Let me be perfectly clear—I'm disappointed with how few of you are present in this space. Yes, I'm the one who makes the hires. Yet it's also up to the captain to make each of you available for me to do so. Certainly, Wrex and Dr. Chakwas have their place among us. But they won't be joining us for the actual suicide mission itself. Wrex will be busy on Tuchanka, and Dr. Chakwas is a non-combatant. We'll see what happens with our newest hire for Egotism and Urban Development. In short, anyone not in this room, here in Insomnia, is in danger of dying during the suicide mission…possibly even Shepard herself."

I looked to everyone looking at one another—except for Aria—taking stock of our situation.

No doubt the strength of the captain's bonds would determine our success on the suicide mission.

Yet she still seemed rather averse to making much progress. The captain continued to treat most of the newest team members as her employees, her subordinates. And it would have been fine, if this were a routine military mission. She lacked the finesse required to reach that deeper level with the whole team.

The boss continued on: "We need to keep working hard with this. All to ensure the suicide mission goes as smoothly as possible. Once our current objective is complete, the entirety of our ongoing progress will carry over to the Reaper invasion. To that end, I'm interested in hearing relevant updates from each of you. We'll start with your current projects, going around the table as usual. Liara, you're up first."

"Thank you, Boss," I accepted. "We're able to maintain the captain's emotions and personality entirely via automation now. I'd had to do everything by hand before, leading to various errors affecting her overall stability. Tali helped me create these systems once you hired her to the board. Along with your orders for areas to focus on, we've greatly improved productivity… At the cost of some personal touches, yet these are within the captain's control now, as they should be. She is fully her own person."

"That's what I like to hear," commended the boss. "Thank you, Liara. Tali, what about you?"

Tali responded, "Thanks, Boss. Aside from the repairs you're aware of, I've started on my latest long-term project. I'm working on establishing a link from Insomnia to the geth consensus, and the Normandy's AI blue box. I'm perfectly aware of your concerns with the size of the board, and of our crew. Legion and EDI ought to be here with us. These synthetic separations are the main barriers."

The boss agreed, "Yes, that sounds like an excellent solution to our current problem. I encourage you to continue on. Thank you, Tali. Please keep me updated with your progress. Kaidan, you're next."

"Thank you as well, Boss," said Kaidan. "I'm handling all security concerns as necessary. Though I'm also worried about our progress with the board. The captain's treating most new team members as hostiles. No way to establish a clear bond with them. Don't even get me started on Thane! It's a real nightmare."

"I've noticed the same. You'll just have to keep working on this. By my own estimations, certain members of the team should have their promotions to the board. Eventually, Jack and Samara will make enough progress with the captain. Other than Legion and EDI, I'm not confident about anyone else. But this is something we'll simply have to keep an eye on. Thank you, Kaidan. Garrus, any updates for us?"

"Thank you, Boss," replied Garrus. "Just keeping on with my usual duties. Insomnia remains a no-flight zone for the Reapers. We're still seeing success with disabling their weapons. They won't be able to touch the city at all, thanks to the captain's immunity to indoctrination. We've got them under control."

"Very good," declared the boss. "We're still seeing some troubling reports about Harbinger's presence somewhere within the city. I'm concerned Sovereign may have found its way here as well. If so, Shepard will want to interact with them during her visits. It shouldn't be a problem. Thank you, Garrus. Joker?"

Joker took his turn: "Thanks, Boss. The captain's instincts aboard the Normandy are still pretty sharp. She hasn't been as paranoid—like, say, when she first joined up after Freedom's Progress. Whenever she feels like something's off, she takes the time to think things through. Just like always. I've been waiting for her to use those other surveillance cameras around the ship. You know, from EDI's special permissions. The captain hasn't touched them since she spied on you and Ash that night in your office."

"How curious… I expected her to perhaps start using them again. Especially now that she's treating certain team members as hostiles, like Thane. God knows the captain's capable of using those cameras for other things. Spying on the crew in their rooms. I remain intrigued that she's yet to even entertain the idea. Let's continue observing the situation. Thank you, Joker. Aria, have you anything to share?"

Setting her very visible grievances aside, Aria spoke freely, "Well, as you know, this is my first official day on the job. I have plans to keep expanding Insomnia's land mass past the current city lines. I know you'd like for me to make more room. For all the people throughout the galaxy that the captain will make an impression upon. This collective unconscious the VP created will grow to rival anything else out there."

"I'm glad we see eye-to-eye on this," said the boss, smiling as much. "Continue matching my ambitions with Insomnia's size and scope. We need to rival any and all networks in existence. It's imperative that we keep the entire galaxy in our hands, so to speak. I won't settle for anything less. Thank you, Aria."

Turning to glance at the vid screen behind her, the boss knew the briefing was just moments away.

She wrapped up our current minutes: "As a brief update from me, not much has changed. I will continue monitoring and enhancing the captain's logic and instincts, per my own expected duties. This also includes her combat systems, such as the captain's special concentration and focus while sniping. I'll be working much more closely with Liara today, given the captain's lingering emotions from the previous night. As our VP is in charge of this emotional realm, I assume we'll both have our work cut out for us."

Right on time, everyone in the Normandy's comm room fell silent.

Shepard and Aria entered the room together. Interestingly so, Shepard had allowed Aria inside first.

As ever, Shepard wore her stealth suit and combat boots. Professional in her stoic poise. And Aria wore her typical outfit from Omega. That confident sway of her hips, and her heeled footsteps held such power. Her heavy-duty shotgun stayed holstered behind her, riding that sway to the front of the room. Everyone stared at her.

Our board room went equally silent. The boss turned around in her chair; we all watched the briefing.

Legion shifted over somewhat, moving from its place near the head of the table. Making room. Without needing to say a word, Shepard directed Aria to take this place. Right next to her. Right across from Miranda, staring at Aria with a thinly-veiled suspicion and jealousy. Aria smirked back at her, unaffected for the sake of appearances. Appearing not to notice the conflict, Shepard took her place ahead of everyone. She actually allowed a few moments of levity, seeing the way Aria looked around the room at the team; seeing how the team all looked at Aria as well. Shepard saw nothing wrong with letting them interact.

Aria regarded Garrus in particular. "Why hello there, Archangel. I see you're doing well for dead."

Garrus' mandibles twitched in anxiety. "…Aria. It's—good to see you, too. You…know who I am?"

"Who you were, yes," she corrected. "Garrus Vakarian. Savior of the Council, Shepard's old teammate; a former C-Sec officer. You caused quite the ruckus on Omega. I was never fooled by your little moniker."

"That makes sense. Sorry for all the trouble. Someone I spoke to—someone close to your thinking—said you wouldn't have any idea who I was. Remembering it now, I'm not exactly sure why I believed her."

"Oh, Garrus. You poor thing. Nyreen was never close to my thinking. She likes to pretend she is. Sadly, she's delusional. She duped you, plain and simple. Next time you stumble on a beautiful woman like her, make sure she's legit. Though I can't blame you for falling under her spell. I did the same once. But I'm sure you already knew that. Take it from me: you're much better off without her. You should move on."

Accepting that wisdom, Garrus lowered his head in shame. He said nothing more.

Moving on indeed, Aria cast a glare at Zaeed this time.

"And you, Massani. Don't think I didn't recognize you over there. Keep staring at my tits and see where it gets you. Your ex-girlfriend Tristana wouldn't want to hear about you lusting after me. I hear she's still got a nasty temper. One you happen to be on the receiving end of. You don't want to make this worse."

"Jesus Christ, Aria!" raged Zaeed. "You throwing the book at me for peeking a glance at your rack?!"

"Hardly. I'm sending out a warning, room-wide. Because you're certainly not the only one staring."

James unstuck the collar of his tight Alliance shirt from his chest.

Aria ignored him.

She recognized Mordin and Kasumi from Omega, as well, who offered her their unreturned smiles.

Everyone else, Aria knew by association or reputation. Especially Samara. Thane. Kaidan. Least of all Miranda herself. Aria smirked in intrigue over EDI, her synthetic body. She of course remembered Legion from Omega. And then she pondered over Jack's many tattoos. Wondering about the stories there.

Yet for some reason, Aria outright lingered over Tali. And Tali stared right back at her, rather confused.

This feeling pervaded—as if Aria had seen Tali's face before, behind her mask, and she couldn't quite remember when or where. Tali also seemed to have the same thought, as if she knew Aria from beyond the Normandy's comm room. Upon this feeling, Kaidan and Garrus also felt the same sensation. The same thoughts crossed their minds, their stares. They all shared this understanding, quiet and unspoken.

I found it unusual that Miranda didn't share the same feeling. Or if she did, she simply kept it private.

Shepard took their silence as her cue to begin the briefing:

"We're currently in Eden Prime's orbit. The Council's sent us here to deal with the Collectors. As a reminder, the colonists stumbled upon a Prothean artifact at one of their dig sites. The Collectors are trying to get their hands on it. Our objective is simple: drive the enemy away from the colony, and secure the artifact. All of the colonists have been evacuated from the dig site's location. Once we get the Collectors out of here and handle the artifact, the Alliance will come in after us and fortify the area.

"After Horizon, I know many of you are nervous for this mission. Long story short, we were unprepared last time. We didn't have the right people for the job. I've gone out of my way to ensure we won't run into the same issues. You already know Aria T'Loak from Omega. She'll be our guest during these operations against the Collectors. We're relying on her to provide the raw firepower we lacked before. Along with our newest members of the team, I expect this operation to run—differently."

Shepard's emphasis caught most of the team off-guard.

Even with their new recruits, she still expected chaos, plain and simple. A different sort of chaos.

"The plan is to get in and hunker down at the dig site. The site itself isn't defensible, but the nearby houses are. We'll hold our location and fend off attacks from the enemy—until they retreat. To that end, we're splitting up into teams. Two teams will take shifts defending our location. When the main team needs a break, I'll cycle in the reserve team to take over. A separate, third team will handle more covert operations against the enemy, to help us stay informed on their numbers and what they're up to. Finally, I'll move around as needed, breaking enemy flanks from a distance. I'll keep the worst away from you.

"Miranda, I want you as our leader for the first fire team. As soon as we touch down, your team is responsible for securing the dig site. The second team will move in after you and remain on standby. I'll give the orders to cycle your teams as needed. I'm counting on you to hold out for as long as possible."

Miranda saluted her. "Understood, Commander. I'll lead us to victory."

"Legion, Zaeed, Jack, and Mordin will be with Miranda on team one. Follow her orders. Mordin, hang back as our medic whenever necessary. Prioritize aiding the injured over heading into combat."

"Acknowledged," said Legion.

Zaeed smirked in a bit of levity. "Yeah, all right. Got it, Shepard."

Jack grinned. "Yep, hear you loud and clear."

"Yes, of course," replied Mordin. "Necessary medical attention will supersede combat."

Shepard continued, "Kaidan, you're in charge of the second fire team. Garrus, Tali, Samara, and James will be with you. After we've secured the dig site, hang back in a defensible location. You'll switch places with Miranda's team on my orders. Tali, prioritize scavenging for Collector materials when you can."

Kaidan gave a salute as well. "Aye, aye, Ma'am! I won't let you down."

"Roger that, Shepard," said Garrus.

Tali replied, "Okay, will do. I'll scavenge as many materials as I can."

"Understood," added Samara.

James acquiesced, "Aye, aye, Commander."

Shepard carried on, "EDI, you're the leader for our third team. Your people will scout around, keeping track of the enemy's movements. Find any weak points in their ranks and exploit them. If they're in retreat, hit them harder, and make them think twice about coming back. The goal is to demoralize them; to lessen the burden on the two main teams at the dig site. I'm sending Kasumi and Thane with you."

EDI also saluted her. "I will do my best as team leader."

"Got it, Shep," said Kasumi.

"Yes, that is sound," agreed Thane.

Frowning in confusion, Aria seemed baffled that Shepard had not assigned her to a team.

But it appeared our leader had other plans in mind for her.

"Shepard," prompted Aria. "Am I…missing something here?"

"No, Aria," said Shepard. "You're coming with me. We're handling the worst enemy groups elsewhere."

Miranda let out a low hum, at once amused and enlightened.

Everyone else appeared to understand Shepard's intentions by now.

Yet Aria still failed to comprehend:

"Okay, and just how am I supposed to keep up with you? You're an infiltrator. I used to be a commando, not an asari huntress. Last time I checked—"

Shepard set her hand over Aria's shoulder, that smooth white leather jacket. From their touch, so unexpected, even platonic, Aria barely steeled back her reaction. She shut her mouth, restricting the urge to question this, too. Even more so once Shepard activated her tactical cloak between them.

Glimmering invisibility enshrouded Shepard and Aria both, together.

Aria staggered back. Barely, just barely keeping her composure. More so when Shepard's cloak persisted past their physical touch and proximity. Her eyes went wide; she looked around, making certain this was real. By the team's smiling reactions—Miranda included—she had her answers. After all, Aria had read Miranda's report, which had also detailed this phenomenon. And so she knew exactly what this meant.

This stark silence about her spoke such volumes.

Deactivating their invisibility, Shepard reminded her, "Aria, I need your acknowledgment. Focus up and follow me. All right?"

Aria forced her focus, droning as monotone, "Understood."

"Mordin, do you have those seeker swarm protections ready for her?"

"Yes!" said Mordin, going over to Aria's side. "Here. Protections from Collector swarms. No immobilization. No capture. Though not sure of Collectors' interest in asari. Either way, will be safe."

Aria eyed his omni-tool. "I…appreciate it, Mordin."

Shepard concluded the briefing: "This is it, people. Get to the armory and suit up. Then we'll head down to the cargo hold and take the shuttle to the colony. It'll be cramped with all of us. We're taking two trips instead. Miranda's team will go first with Aria and me, then Kaidan and EDI's teams second. We'll be coming in hot, so be prepared. Let's move!"

As the team exited the comm room, our team of executives made to leave the board room. We already knew: during the time it took the team to gear up, then touch down on the colony, we all needed to be at our posts. Doing our jobs to ensure the captain led everyone to a mission success. As we always did.

Before leaving, the boss requested of me: "Liara, after the mission is over, please meet me in my office. Since you'll be rejoining the captain in real life soon, there are a few things I'd like to go over with you."

"Of course, Boss," I replied. "I'll make my way to you once the team leaves Eden Prime."

"Wonderful. Thank you. We'll talk then."

Returning to the lab, I thought over my previous conversation with the captain. This matter of her many secrets, her mysteries. I considered the possibilities—of how deep this went. Wondering if she could have possibly obfuscated the information I received about her. Concealing the truth that way. Not quite lying, yet not allowing herself to be entirely honest and open. She seemed to thrive off the separation.

Then again, I supposed I couldn't blame the captain for her secrecy.

As it was, I had no respect for her privacy. I never really did in the first place.

After all, this was the only way I could have her. The only way I could own her; lay any claim to her.

My sickening desperations continued to fuel this research into her mind. Even after all these years.

Back at my computer, I found the captain waiting for me. Out of respect for me, she stood up from her seat upon my arrival. Face heating, I thanked her, asking the captain to return to her seat. She did so, finding her quiet. Her focus. Leaning forward in her chair, she disappeared into a meditative state. In tandem, my agent resumed her own place nearby. Still standing with my blanket. Still watching over me.

Along the nearest wall, I turned on my larger vid screen. Watching as Eden Prime played out through Shepard's eyes, her perception. On my computer, I worked to modulate and manage everything for her.

Even so, I had to contain my own awe over the mission. Eden Prime:

Where the Prothean beacon had given Shepard the vision that warned us about the Reapers. And where Saren had launched his first major attack with the geth. And now with the Collectors here, Eden Prime's colonists were under attack again. The Collectors had hit Eden Prime hard. Whatever this Prothean artifact was, it was worth a major offensive. I hoped Shepard's team would recover it in-tact soon.

The usual idyllic peace of the colony's agrarian life—the Collectors had cut straight through, terrorizing the lands. One of their large cruisers had landed a fair distance away, sending out the near-endless forces across the colony, nearest the dig site. Much like on Horizon, the skies bled a crimson red, burning in pure insanity. Through those crimsons, several Collectors descended upon the land, their wings carrying them along. And they landed with their particle rifles drawn, light-gold biotics flaring.

The first team touched down on Eden Prime through the shuttle. Miranda led the charge, with Legion, Zaeed, Jack, and Mordin right behind her. They rushed toward the dig site, taking out any Collectors in their way. Already cloaked, Shepard and Aria exited the shuttle after them, following to the dig site.

Jack and Miranda worked together, detonating their biotic explosions to great effect, sending several Collector corpses flying. They made short work of the troopers nearest the dig site. Zaeed, Legion, and Mordin held the group's flanks, keeping any other hostiles from reaching the area. Shepard monitored the situation, instructing Aria to lay low for now and not expend her energy, as she would need it soon.

Yet I found myself growing distracted: noticing the sheer size of the dig site. Several pieces of Prothean technology stuck out from the ground, like an old bone according to Shepard's perception. I could just imagine Garrus teasing me about it, trying to make a joke about dinosaurs and paleontology. And me needing to correct him, reminding Garrus that I was an archaeologist—not a paleontologist—only to realize that he was merely joking. Though perhaps we wouldn't have had the freedom to joke around at a time like this. Not with so many hostiles around. Not with so much destruction left in the team's wake.

Raised above the dig site was a long platform, extending outward over the area. Just nearby were a series of abandoned homes—Kaidan's team hurried into the homes as their secure location, standing by for now. EDI's team rushed past the houses instead, en route to their first objective to sabotage the Collectors. Shepard and Aria made their way to this platform, finding an elevator that led down into the dig site. Still cloaked, Shepard activated the elevator controls, summoning the artifact up from below.

Rising up to their level, a stasis pod arrived. Closed and sealed off from the colony.

A stasis pod…with a Prothean inside.

"This can't be right," said Shepard.

Aria wondered, "What can't be right? You know what's in there?"

"It's not a Prothean artifact. It's…an actual Prothean. It's alive."

"…okay, you have a point. That doesn't sound possible."

Shepard remembered me so much more, walking over to the pod. Scanning it with her omni-tool. "We saw a bunch of these Prothean stasis chambers before. In the archives on Ilos. They tried to hide away during the Reaper invasion. The only reason their pods failed was a lack of power. But this one still has power. This Prothean's been in stasis for the past 50,000 years. Waiting for someone to find them…"

Aria seemed a little hazy with her history lessons. "Right, sure. Sounds fascinating. And just what do you know about these Protheans? You'll have to fill me in here. This isn't exactly my field of expertise."

"From what I know, the Prothean Empire spanned across the galaxy. They uplifted other species, like yours. Helped them join the galactic community. They seemed pretty similar to the ancient asari. Then again, I'm not too convinced they were the friendliest people around. If they had an empire, then they must've been ruthless. But maybe our Prothean expert would've disagreed with me on that."

I smiled to myself, as I actually did disagree with her. I had my own views, my own perceptions.

"They uplifted my species, hm?" pondered Aria. "Interesting. These Protheans must be biotics, then."

Shepard noticed a vague link between the Protheans and the Collectors. Yet she quickly dismissed it.

She continued with her omni-tool's scans. "Someone damaged the lifepod when they excavated it. This Prothean's life signs aren't stable. If we try to open the pod now, it would kill whoever's inside. We have to find the command that ends the stasis mode first. Then we'll have to actually open the pod without causing any more damage. It won't be a simple, straightforward thing. We should take a look around."

Aria pointed to the labs nearby, currently swarmed by Collector troops. "The colonists probably kept their research in there. They might've left something useful behind. Something we can use for the pod."

"Good idea. Let's head over now."

"Sure. And what about all the Collectors in our way? You plan on making us just sneak past them?"

Shepard made the assessment: "Those troops will be over here soon. Swarming our people instead. I want you to help me take them out. We'll take the load off while our teams defend the stasis pod."

Aria paused.

The sheer amount of Collectors in their path was nothing to scoff at.

"What's the plan with this? I run in, get shot at, blow everything up—while you snipe on your own?"

Shepard briefly uncloaked them.

"Yes, Aria. That's what I need from you."

Staring into Shepard's eyes like this, unfiltered, Aria found her reasons. That fire from our leader inspired her own. Flames building, burning. Blazing through Aria's stare; reflecting the vitality from Shepard herself, her authority. Vigor, vivacity and all. Those fires stimulated Aria's resolve. Her competitive spirit, vying for Shepard's affections in this way. Strengthening her will to follow our commander's orders. Being the best for her. Proving herself to someone else—for once in her life.

Drawing her shotgun, biotics at-the-ready, Aria complied once more:

"Understood, Commander."

Shepard had only to gesture toward the chaos awaiting them.

Aria charged ahead.

Primary biotic hand drawn, her shotgun in the other, she raged forward. Releasing her Reaves for the extra damage protection, she gained her invincibility, violet effects swirling around her. Firing off her Flares, she set off detonation after detonation. Rising explosions of violet hues, biotics misting in the aftermath; liquidating every Collector across a wide radius, leaving no trace of them behind. Collector troopers, captains; abominations, normal and not, the possessed ones exploding upon death. Fighting freely with her emotions, Aria held nothing back. Her biotics shouted to the skies of her frustrations.

Frustrations, shackling, limitations.

She broke past them all in these frenzied moments, ripping those chains apart.

Shepard stayed behind her, cloaked once again. Sniping at any enemies who could've come close to breaking Aria's flank. Watching that rage blow out before her; following Aria through to the labs; protecting at a distance. In the meantime, she spoke to the others via radio, catching them up to speed:

"Everyone, we're making progress with the artifact. Aria and I are heading to the labs. We're looking for the stasis deactivation signal. Keep protecting the dig site. Miranda, I want your team to switch places with Kaidan now. Head inside the buildings and stand by."

"Affirmative," replied Miranda. "Switching now. We expected to be overwhelmed, Commander. Our team still has enough energy to continue on. But we'll move inside and catch our breath."

"Roger," said Kaidan. "Heading over to Miranda's team. We're good to go. Definitely agree on expecting a bigger ambush. We should be okay to hold out for quite a while. I'm surprised we're doing this well."

Shepard informed them, "Aria's taking care of your flank by the labs. I'm assisting her."

James laughed with his nerves. "Yeah, we noticed! She's lighting up the whole colony back there!"

EDI chimed in, "Our team is currently harassing their retreating troops. The unrelenting force of Aria's assault appears beyond the Collectors' initial calculations. At this rate, they are unable to fight back."

Miranda seemed rather astounded. "Oh… I see her now. Well, no wonder."

Kaidan let Shepard know, "Commander, that gives me an idea. I'll send Samara to do the same across the way. We can hold the dig site just fine."

"Sounds good," answered Shepard. "Samara, you up for the job?"

"Of course, Commander," said Samara. "I will follow Kaidan's orders and intercept the Collectors closer to their ship. Shall I switch places with Jack once it is time?"

"That's fine. Jack, get some rest for now. You'll be up once your team's back in action."

"I hear ya, Shepard," accepted Jack. "I'll be ready to go, no problem."

"Good. I'll check in with all of you later. Shepard out."

Having pushed indoors to the lab, Shepard stayed behind Aria, her wake of destruction. Bursts of Flare explosions seared through the abandoned buildings. Collector troops caught in the collateral blasts flew across the space. Corpses sagging over desks, beds, lab equipment. The loudness from the explosions reverberated through the area. And that loudness discouraged Shepard from sniping any further, especially in these close quarters. She merely followed after Aria as they reached another location, deeper within this section of the labs. Arriving to a smaller room, they found a large computer console along the wall.

Shepard sealed the door behind them, saying, "Looks like this is the place."

Aria breathed harder. Forcing herself to remain standing. "So it would seem."

Knowing all was not well, Shepard ordered, "Aria, have a seat. I'll see what's on this console."

"I'm fine, Shepard," insisted Aria, prideful. "Do what you need to do."

Unconvinced, Shepard went over to her. She procured a familiar-looking canteen she'd had secured along the waist of her stealth suit. Removing the top, Shepard handed the canteen to Aria directly.

"Sit down and drink this. No one else is here. It's not like I'm going to tell the team you needed to rest."

Wary, Aria accepted the canteen.

She brought it to her nose. Smelling the contents, the fruit juice. For replenishing her biotic reserves.

Shepard had packed this specifically for her. She would've had no reason to have the juice otherwise.

Just as the commander had done for me when we'd met on Therum that day…

Realizing the extent of Shepard's kindness for her, Aria sat down over the floor. She drank her juice in silence. She never once moved her eyes from Shepard, who had begun typing at the console now.

Yet for some reason, I couldn't make sense of whatever Shepard saw. At least—not completely.

All around us, the captain's Cipher kicked in. Her Cipher from the Protheans, separate from my own, as this indirect exposure to Prothean technology. Her allowances helped me understand just enough of what I saw:

Vague images reached me, of the Reapers attacking a location—perhaps Eden Prime in the past. Those colossal capital-class ships touching down on the planet's surface. The stubbornness of their laser beams firing down below, ravaging the lands and the people there. Shepard's Cipher worked overtime to compensate for this strangeness, translating the remaining images for me. A Prothean green surrounded these visions, transporting my perception to what looked like a bunker. A secure bunker, ideally for housing several stasis pods at once. Other people walked freely throughout this bunker, armored in stylized red; the shapes of their heads, their forms sharing a distinct resemblance to the Collectors…

Were these people—actual Protheans?

"I never thought our empire would fall," lamented a civilian.

"It won't," insisted the soldier with them. "We will sleep here until the Reapers return to dark space. Then we will rise, a million strong."

"For the Empire."

"For the Empire. Get to your stasis pod."

As the civilian departed, the soldier carried on his duties, speaking with a VI program at his side:

"Victory, broadcast the stasis readiness signal to all lifepods."

The VI questioned, "And the refugees who have yet to reach the bunker?"

Regretful, the soldier replied, "Their sacrifice will be honored in the coming empire."

A sudden blast sounded from the bunker's entrance. Several Collectors sprinted through the opening they created. Mirroring them, still, the soldier readied his own particle rifle. Defending his people to the last from the Collectors. From these…husks of the Protheans. Warped and twisted by the Reapers.

Shepard found what she needed. "I have the signal."

Standing anew, Aria asked her, "You understood that?"

"You didn't?"

"Not at all. I only saw static on the screen. Was this from that…Cipher you found, way back when?"

"Yes," said Shepard. "It lets me see these images as a Prothean would. I can understand their language."

Aria shrugged. "Well, if you have the signal, I suppose I can't complain. How do we open the pod, then?"

"Let's keep looking through the labs. I'm sure we'll find something else. Take point. I'll follow you."

"All right."

Much like before, Aria pressed onward. Shepard stayed behind her.

They dealt with the Collectors in their way, tag-teaming in this unorthodox manner. Aria blasted through anything in her path; Shepard sniped down anything past her periphery. Despite the growing threat from the Collectors, nothing seemed to faze them. Even Harbinger possessing those troops—"ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL"—did little to thwart Aria and Shepard's progress together. Moreover, Shepard found her own, stronger focus, as soothed as she was. Soothed by the sounds of Aria's biotics.

This soothing. A reaction I hadn't detected from her in a long while. Not since Freedom's Progress.

Still keeping an eye on Shepard and Aria, I logged this development, the importance of this change.

I also took more notes on this other troubling news, about the Protheans' fate in turning into Collector husks.

Soon the pair reached another enclosed lab space, another computer console.

Shepard didn't need to repeat herself: Aria accepted her canteen, sitting down to drink the juice.

Once again, Shepard accessed the computer, witnessing the calamitous memories within:

Outside, the Protheans fell to the Reapers, collapsing beneath those gargantuan forms of power.

Inside, within the bunker, that same soldier fought to keep the Collectors at bay. Firing his particle rifle, those green beams melted the Collectors before him. Yet his allies quickly fell around him. The soldier activated his green biotics, throwing those husks about. Blasting them back. But they kept coming.

The soldier retreated, ordering, "Victory, seal the bulkheads!"

"Acknowledged," said the VI.

Pulling his fallen allies along, the soldier made it behind the closing doors. Yet he quickly realized the extent of the destruction around him. Fires blazed on elsewhere, burning away the other stasis pods.

"How many have we lost?"

"Reaper forces have destroyed approximately 300,000 lifepods."

Kneeling down to open another lifepod, the soldier grimly noted, "A third of our people."

And the Prothean within this pod was no more.

The VI issued a warning: "Alert! North-side bulkhead cannot be sealed. Hostiles detected."

"Then all forces to the north!"

The soldier and his remaining comrades hurried off, determined to secure the area.

When the memory ended, Shepard once again spotted Aria beside her.

"You understood that one, too?"

"Yes. I have what we need to open the pod. Let's get back to the dig site."

Miranda reached them via radio: "Commander…something strange is happening. The Collectors are in full retreat. Their ship is leaving the colony."

"What? Already?"

Shepard and Aria hurried back outside.

Staring up to the clouds, they found the truth of Miranda's words. Thrusters lighting up, firing—the Collector cruiser took off, leaving Eden Prime. Premature, the Collectors had either retreated to the ship, or fallen elsewhere across the colony. The emergency-red bleeding through the skies dissipated; the cloudy blue day returned, as if it had never left in the first place.

Miranda speculated: "This can't bode well for our next encounter. The Collectors will remember this. Perhaps they underestimated us this time. We made them pay. They won't make the same mistake twice. But I can confirm that all hostiles have left the colony. The dig site and stasis pod are secure."

"Understood," replied Shepard. "Aria and I are on our way back. Stay there and wait for us."

"Of course. We'll see you soon."

Ending the call, Shepard noticed Aria, this state about her. Deflated. Or maybe—

"You seem disappointed," observed Shepard.

Aria stared out to the faraway mountains, claiming, "I was just starting to enjoy myself, that's all."

"That's not the only reason. Is it?" When Aria wouldn't respond, Shepard glossed over the issue—"In any case, you scared off the Collectors. Just as I wanted. You've proven yourself to me. That's what matters."

"And yet you're surprised it happened this quickly."

The romantic suggestiveness of Aria's tone forced Shepard's silence.

Aria smiled in satisfaction anyway.

"You and I will talk more on this soon, Shepard. For now, we shouldn't keep your people waiting."

Conflicting energies ricocheting between them, Aria and Shepard returned to the dig site.

They found everyone waiting for them, as ordered, congregating around the stasis pod. EDI, Kasumi, and Thane stayed nearest to one another, as did Kaidan, James, Samara, and Garrus. Jack and Zaeed exchanged conversation, getting along together just fine again. Legion had its focus set on Aria, observing more, given her proven success on this day. Miranda and Tali both cast a curious glance in Shepard's direction, wondering as to her well-being. Approaching the lifepod, Shepard nodded to them as reassurance. Reassured indeed, Miranda lightened her gaze. Satisfied, Tali returned her nod. The team watched as the commander interacted with the pod, using her omni-tool to unseal it at last.

"I forgot to mention," said Shepard, as the team tried to observe who was inside. "This is a Prothean. The Collectors are their husks. Created by the Reapers."

Kaidan sputtered, "Seriously, Commander?! The Collectors used to be Protheans!? And there's a real Prothean in this pod in front of us?"

Tali gasped in emotion, setting her hands over the mouth-light of her helmet. She remembered me.

Garrus stared down at the Prothean, the fumes misting out from the pod. He remembered me as well.

Miranda did the same. Everyone did—even the members of the team I technically hadn't met yet.

And I smiled over their remembrance. As bittersweet as it was…

Even more bittersweet, Miranda spoke my next thoughts: "It may take him some time to fully regain consciousness… Once he's alert, be prepared for his reaction. Whatever it might be."

Speaking that truth into existence, the Prothean opened his eyes, then went into a panic. Fighting instincts still in-tact, the green of his biotics glowed over his form. He sent out a minor shockwave, knocking back almost everyone around him. Shepard staggered back into Aria behind her, holding their ground. Miranda stayed rooted to the spot on her own. Limbs shaking and unsteady, the Prothean forced his way out from the pod. Trying to stand anew, he quickly fell to his knees. Confused, he looked around, jogging off a short distance. He fell again, and stood up again, before finally taking in the sights everywhere. How different this all looked compared to his last memories, to the Protheans' final days.

After helping Tali to her feet, Miranda approached the Prothean, the soldier.

She spoke for me again—"Remember, it's been 50,000 years for us. But for him, it's only been…"

Vengeful, the soldier turned around. Intent on communicating something or another, he brought his hands to Miranda's shoulder. Learning her through touch. Learning about far more than Miranda's mere physical qualities. As he found his understanding, he calmed down. Returning his hands to himself.

Miranda stared at him in awe. "…a few minutes."

Reserved, the soldier asked, "How many others?"

Shepard approached them. "Just you."

The Prothean mourned over this troubling information, though he did not seem surprised.

"You can understand me?"

"Yes," replied the Prothean. "Now that I have read your teammate's physiology, her nervous system. Enough to understand your language. Enough to understand who you are, what you are. All of you."

Shepard surmised, "So you read me, too, while I saw those visions."

"Our last moments. Our failure."

"Your people did everything they could. They never gave up. And I could use some of that commitment."

The Prothean turned to look at everyone around, at Shepard's entire team.

"Asari. Human," he grunted in prejudice, sneering at Miranda in particular. "Quarian. Turian. Drell. Salarian. Synthetics. I am surrounded by primitives."

Protectiveness flaring, Shepard glared at him. "What did you call her?"

"A primitive, Commander. That is what she is. That is what you are. It matters not at all that your race is among the dominant ones in this cycle. The Prothean Empire eclipsed the humans in their infancy."

Shepard disagreed, ordering, "Don't call Miranda that. Or me."

Standoffish, the soldier sneered more. "And what will happen if I continue?"

"Fuck around and find out."

Completely stunned and disarmed, the Prothean merely gave her a blank look.

Jack cracked up laughing. Miranda covered her hand with her mouth, attempting not to laugh. Aria hummed in amusement, impressed. Tali sighed in a contented way, not surprised by Shepard's reaction.

Shepard continued, "Now if you're done insulting my team, I'm happy to move on. We're fighting against those husks you saw before. The Collectors. The Reapers are on their way—and we'll destroy them once they get here. We could use you on our team. Unless you'd rather stay here with no way out."

The Prothean noted in grim defeat, "I suppose I have no choice but to join you, Commander."

"Yeah, I suppose you don't. We'll talk more on my ship."

Tali reminisced, "It's a shame Liara couldn't be here. I know she'd be excited to meet a live Prothean."

"Too true," lamented Kaidan. "Wish I could've seen the look on her face. Liara would've had a thousand questions for the guy, I bet."

Garrus agreed—"I can see it now. Firing off dozens of questions before he's even aboard. It's too bad…"

Surprisingly pleasant, Aria recalled: "Little Liara? Benezia's girl. My daughter was quite fond of her. Liselle would find the resident scientist somewhere on Thessia. Usually with her nose stuck in a textbook about the Protheans. They seemed to be agreeable acquaintances, at least. I'm sorry for your loss."

Yes, now that I thought of it, I did remember Aria's daughter, Liselle. An asari commando back home. She was one of the few people outside my network of colleagues who'd never judged me for my work.

James joked around, "Hey, Aria, I'm surprised you're being so nice. Never thought I'd hear those kinda condolences from you of all people. I guess if your daughter knew Liara, then that's different."

Scowling at him, Aria bit back, "Would you rather I be a bitch about this instead?"

"Well, no…"

Shepard wrapped things up, "All right, let's get back to the shuttle. We'll head to Palaven after we give our new Prothean teammate some time to settle in. Garrus has some business to take care of on his homeworld. Everyone else can treat the trip as some more shore leave."

"Appreciate it, Shepard," replied Garrus. "I'll have everything I need not long after we touch down."

Kaidan smiled at Aria. "Thanks for all your help today. You made sure we didn't have another crazy repeat of Horizon. Really appreciate it. You're a hell of a fighter. Looking forward to next time."

Aloof, Aria merely folded her arms. She offered Kaidan a vague acknowledgment and nothing more.

While everyone returned to the Normandy, Shepard offered to walk Aria back to her ship.

Together they headed over to where Aria's vessel had landed.

But first, they took this time to speak alone. Debriefing in their own way.

"Well, I guess this is it," settled Aria. "I won't see you again until your next mission with the Collectors. Even though I was exhausted, I actually did enjoy myself. I expected you to lump me in with your teammates. Make me get along with them. But you didn't. I never thought I'd enjoy having a partner."

Shepard declared, "I play everyone on my team to their strengths. Sending you with a group would've limited your potential. I knew you'd be stronger this way. We'll try to keep this setup from now on. I just can't make any promises. We have to adapt to whatever the Collectors send at us next time. As always."

"Mmm, I'm sure. I trust you to do what's necessary. And you can trust me to follow your orders. Whether I like them or not. I've learned with you that my wants and preferences don't quite matter. Not entirely."

"What do you mean by that?"

"You know exactly what I mean, Shepard. Don't play coy with me."

There was nothing Shepard could say to that. Thus she kept her stoic silence.

Aria reached out to touch that stoicism. Stroking the smoothness of Shepard's face. Her striking beauty.

"I'm still surprised, you know," she murmured. "From earlier. You used your tactical cloak with me. In front of everyone. They all know what it means. Your girlfriend knows. Why would you be that open?"

"For the mission's sake, it makes sense for my team to know this. Tactical reasons. Strategies."

"And does this phenomenon only work with me for strategic reasons? If that were the case, you could use it with anyone. Whoever. Whenever. That isn't the case. So tell me what this really means, Shepard."

Once again, Shepard couldn't give her a real answer.

Charmed anyway, Aria let out a low laugh. She continued studying the stoicism before her. Wondering about it. Wanting it. Needing it—and so much more. Yet she restrained herself for the obvious reasons.

The same height, the two of them—Aria leaned forward to Shepard's ear, level with her. Breathing there. Listening to the sounds of Shepard's normal breathing. Pressing her hand to Shepard's shoulder, her other hand to Shepard's chest. Pressing her weight into the commander's professionalism, her stout stature. She smelled Shepard like this: her hair, her neck holding those vestiges of sweat from the mission. That shape about Aria, this violet of her: the sharp, attractive markings of her face edged these angles between them, their bodies. The white and red of her leather jacket, the dark of her personal logo over her back, branding her bravado, her ego there. And the black of her leather below, rounded over her hips, her curves, blending with Shepard's stealth suit. They hid in this shadowed camouflage.

Shepard gave Aria this allowance as a reward for the mission.

Aria inflicted this pain on herself, also as her reward. Taking her reward. Giving her own reward.

She whispered in Shepard's ear, the usual calculating menace of her voice softened for this. Just for this:

"I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. I planned on making my move on you. If not today, then it would've happened at some point. Eventually. I don't really care about your girlfriend. That's certainly no secret of mine. Still, she was instrumental enough to send me that report. She waited until recently. And now I'm shackled. I can't make my move. In case you're wondering, this absolutely isn't it. I had more planned for us. So much more. The little show you put on with your tactical cloak… It makes this harder."

"Why are you telling me this, Aria?"

"Because you deserve to know. From now on, you're my partner in this special way. Even if you aren't completely mine, I'll take what I can get. You should know how territorial I am. This still applies to us."

Shepard had more questions. More confusions. Yet she held these back, seeing no point in voicing them.

Out of her own sense of care, unspoken, Shepard at least embraced Aria in her arms.

Up above, Aria canted her eyes to the skies. Leaning against Shepard like this, held by her in this way, she found the commander's reflections within the day's blue. Aria pressed her face to Shepard's warmth, staring up behind her: the Alliance ships landing on Eden Prime. The marines there who would soon continue securing the colony, helping any civilians in-need. Returning life to normal for everyone.

This reminder of normalcy excavated the usual attitude from Aria's gaze.

This mirage of normalcy, with Shepard holding her close, drained more of her anger away.

Another type of normalcy found her eyes. Just this simple blue of her irises. A hardened purity there.

Knowing their time was up, Aria was slow to move. Moving her lips to Shepard's face. The corner of her mouth. Settling her lips there; finding this minor taste. Savoring this half-kiss as much as she could.

Subtly adoring, Aria laced her intentions through her words—"I'm heading back to Omega now. Give me a call once you have the next mission lined up. Until then, you'll be on my mind. I'll see you around, babe."

She then removed herself from Shepard's arms, her embrace. Shepard's care, her security.

Scowling once more—facing the realities of her life—Aria boarded her ship without looking back.

Shepard watched as the vessel departed the colony. Leaving Eden Prime behind. Leaving her behind.

Here in the lab, with me, the captain stood up from her seat. She left without a word, looking rather baffled. Confused. I let her wander off as she needed to. Right as Shepard returned to the Normandy.

I turned off my vid screen, leaving the lab for the boss' office as promised.

I only had one stop to make along the way.

My agent followed me, knowing what I had planned.

Still on the 60th floor, I passed through this specific hallway. This series of rooms. All filled with the captain's unconscious thoughts and desires. The same rooms Shepard and Miranda had explored on their own that night. The contents of these rooms continued to change by the day. The interiors shifted around with the captain, with her preoccupations, with her own changes. Even I could never know the full extent of what waited behind these doors. Yet there was one room that forever remained the same.

The captain's old cabin on the SR-1. The original Normandy. This deep indigo blue reminded me of her.

Untouched from the last time she was here, her quarters appeared as they were before. Right before the Collector attack. Right before our argument with one another. And our subsequent forgiveness.

I retrieved that blue blanket from my agent.

Setting this down over the couch, I remembered our time here. How short it was. Bittersweet, again.

Taking this moment, I sat next to this memento. This memory of me. Folded at these perfect angles. Delicate. I reflected on just how much had changed with the captain, since she was last here. How so many possibilities had now closed themselves off. Locked away from me, from us both. The captain could defy existence itself and bring me back with her, through Insomnia. And yet there was nothing I could do to change our fate. Feeling the obvious presence of another, of the captain's bond with her, I began to understand far more. More of why things hadn't worked out between the two of us. More of why the captain's destiny had forever kept her on this path. This path away from me; toward another.

I had resolved to serve my captain regardless. Regardless of my own feelings. My own regrets. My own sorrows in knowing so much of her, all for seemingly no personal gain to me. My wants couldn't matter anymore. Exactly as Aria had said, her intentions. And how strange it felt to share in this misery with her.

Marking the occasion, I searched through the captain's storage drawers.

Searching for an item I had meant to find a long time ago. Only now was it safe to take away for myself.

I located this other blanket. This symbolic opposite of my blue one. The red one. From that lesser tool.

Taking the blanket in my arms, I gripped at it. I kept gripping as I left the captain's old room. I gripped it more, returning to these hallways, these many rooms. Rooms mostly emptied of any remnants of her.

Past the halls, I found the appropriate chute I needed.

I threw this red blanket into the chute, sending this wretched thing down to the building incinerator.

Satisfied enough with that, I made my way to the boss' office.

I found these stairs, leading upward. The central aquarium as the focal point of the steps. Winding up to that large space—the same space where we'd held the last company party. Our celebration together, welcoming our current boss in an official capacity. Raised high over these views, Insomnia's sunny skyline shined over me. That brightness watched as I reached the central controls. These strange controls, appearing just like any console on any ship. I couldn't imagine that Insomnia itself was a ship of its own. Unless this was all a giant allegory for the captain's sense of control. Controlling herself.

Yet something told me there was far more to this mechanism. I could only hope I would learn someday.

Using my executive keycard over the console, the platform beneath me raised upward.

Up to this partial dark of another open area, shining in chromes. Lit only by the faint lights from the computer consoles around. Each computer filled with logs. Video logs. Audio logs. Logs and logs of the boss herself, her time as a Cerberus employee. Logs of her conversations with the Illusive Man. Only Cerberus logos remained over these walls. The same logos greeted me along the door, taking me to the next area. This partial hallway, pitch black in appearance. Hidden security systems from the captain, verifying that I was indeed allowed to be here. Verifying her trust in me; our shared trust as genuine.

Through this darkened tunnel of a hall, I arrived at a raised walkway. Shining in pure black, styled and intimidating, the minimalist overhead lights aided this sheen. I crossed the sheen, up this ramp, with such long, unending drops threatening at either side. Ignoring those depths, I continued walking upward. Raising up to this importance.

To the President of Insomnia herself, her domain. Her office. Guarded by two Alliance marine sentries.

The sentries allowed me entry.

This final door opened to the landscape beyond:

Pure black floors shining more, reflective. Reflecting the gentle twinkling of the surrounding stars. The stars surrounding this office, the open view out to space. That space of this spectacular sight: of the bright, blazing sun from the Sol System. And it should have been difficult—if not impossible—to stare straight into this light from so close. Yet the windows had ample protections from those realities.

In-line with those protections, the boss' office held a number of other essentials. Aid during emergencies: access to life support and escape pods. Along with those other crucial, mysterious systems only the boss knew of. Only the President's keycard could reach the systems in any way. No one else's.

Waiting for me was the President herself. The boss herself. Sitting in her lone chair. Facing me directly.

Blazing of the Sol System's might behind her, the boss smiled upon seeing me. She had her long legs crossed, black leather shining faintly from the sun's light. Her heeled boots sloped down, curved in a sexy confidence. Raising a wine glass to her smile, the boss sipped her red delight. Pinot Noir as always.

All those systems showed themselves only as minimalist monitors just behind her. Nearly holographic.

Miranda's likeness did not stand up for me.

I approached her directly. Not too close. Just as she expected me to do.

"Hello again, Boss," I greeted, bowing my head, slight. "You wished to see me."

"Hello to you as well, Liara," she replied in-kind. "Thank you for meeting with me. Please, sit."

The boss pressed a button on the armrest of her chair.

Over the floor where, perhaps, a QEC platform would have been—another chair raised up to meet me.

I took my seat, identical to hers. Directly across. My front lit by the light at her back.

The boss praised me: "You did an excellent job handling Eden Prime. The mission was a success. Shepard's made her way safely back to the ship. Debriefing with the team. Due to security concerns, the Normandy's marine detachment has the Prothean in partial custody. Standard protocol for first contact with a new species. Shepard will speak with the Prothean when she's ready. I'm sure their talk will be intriguing."

"Yes, I'm sure," I agreed. "Do you think you'll be there with her?"

"I'd like to be in the room, certainly. Hopefully Shepard will bring me along. It's you who should be there, really. Not me. You once dedicated your life to studying the Protheans. This must be bittersweet."

"It is… Though of course, I will see everyone soon. This Prothean included. I'm looking forward to it."

The boss teased, "You're looking forward to seeing everyone? Are you sure about that, Liara?"

I caught her meaning—"Now that you mention this, I was surprised earlier. During the board meeting. How swiftly you shut Aria down when she tried to disobey you. Your threats were oddly effective."

"Mmm, there's nothing odd about it at all," she revealed, highly amused. "You must know the truth."

"I only know what I can see, Boss. And I don't believe our newest executive will accept your authority."

"We're not on Omega. That One Rule of hers—'Don't fuck with Aria'—simply doesn't apply here. Not in Insomnia. Not under my domain. Not for as long as I am Shepard's queen and property both. Aria will just have to deal with it. And if she tries anything again, I have no problems humiliating her once more."

"You aren't worried about Aria at all? With the captain, I mean. You and I both saw Aria's interactions with her on the colony. After the mission. Do you feel this will turn into a problem?"

Indifferent, the boss said, "Not remotely. Though I'll keep an eye on her regardless. It wouldn't hurt."

"Understood, Boss."

"So, about your return," she segued. "Or rather, your upcoming trip back home, to the living. Once you're there, you'll be able to return to Insomnia during your sleep. Will you have any issues managing your expected duties here with us? Because I couldn't dream of replacing you. You're invaluable to me."

"I will carry out my duties just fine. You won't need to replace me. Please, don't worry yourself over it."

"That's a relief," accepted the boss, with a smile. "Then I hope you'll forgive me for asking. Asking the obvious. If your return will be a problem in any other ways. I'm certain you already know what I mean."

"Miranda," I stressed, earning her welcome surprise. "We will not have any repeats of the past. You and I got along just fine before. During that single day of our meeting. And even afterward, whenever I would come here to monitor your dreams. I have every expectation that our friendship will continue."

"Then I need your continued reassurance, Liara. Please don't tempt Shepard into an affair… I'm asking you—woman to woman—to not go behind my back with this. I'm trusting you to stay true to me."

"And I won't break your trust. The captain's well-being is my top priority. As is yours. Not my personal wishes. It is far too late for any of that. I've since learned to accept it. You can breathe easy about this."

The boss smiled again. "Good instincts." Taking this pause, she took a long, thoughtful sip of her wine. "Well, the wait shouldn't be much longer now. Shepard will finish assisting Garrus with his personal mission sometime soon. Then she'll re-enter Insomnia. I hope you're prepared for this. Emotionally."

"Yes, of course," I replied. "I will continue preparing for the inevitable."

"I'm glad to hear it. Though I'll miss having you with us more often. You're my Vice President. You are my eyes and ears within Insomnia. And perhaps my only friend in this dark galaxy. Forever and always."

I returned her persistent smile, glad to share in this bond of our own.

The boss sat back in her chair, sounding satisfied:

"You are the throne, after all. This throne Shepard has given me. Steadiness and reliability are part of the job. As ever, you're up to the task. You are what I could have been, and vice-versa. Shepard will need both of us throughout this long journey. We'll land this ship safely, Liara. You and I with her, together. With the team. With everyone. Our bonds together, however obscured at times, will see us through."

Miranda seemed to reach me more in this moment. As herself. Not the boss, that simulacrum of her.

Staring back at me as a mirror, Miranda represented so much of who I was. Who I had wished to be.

Who I'd tried and failed to be.

Living in that world of flames and chaos; climbing and fighting my way to some sort of growth. Change. Miranda's ruthlessness, I had aspired to earn. Miranda's cunning, skill, and darkness were all traits that I had once admired to learn. And yet that wasn't me. I had branded myself as the one who got away.

I had nearly lost myself in my love for our captain. Fighting for her in the only way I knew how.

All to fail in the end. Reset to this new place. This thought-place. Thinking and seeing this as real.

Still, here I was.

Risking my life all over again by waiting for her.

Waiting to see her again.

Waiting to live with her again—as lonely and alone as I was—as this throne for another woman's glory.