"Each Drop" from Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker

LXXXII. The Successor

(Liara)

Early the next morning, I started getting ready for the day, accompanied by the ongoing mood outside my bedroom windows. This rain persisted from yesterday. Though not nearly as stubborn or relentless as before. That gray hovered into my room nonetheless, coating this Christmas Eve with a brooding coziness today. I showered and dressed with these surroundings, finding everything oddly fitting for this day of mutual celebration and mourning. Celebration for my new, official relationship with Shepard, hard-fought after so long. Mourning, as well, for Shiala's memorial service starting in a few more hours.

Humans found it customary to wear black for these occasions. So Shepard and I decided to coordinate our outfits for the day. She had returned to her bedroom downstairs, showering and dressing herself on her own. I remained up here in my room, settling into my dress and heels. As I looked myself over in the mirror in my bathroom, I noticed myself breathing a little harder. These errant anxieties. Just because I knew: this would be my first real date with Shepard on Thessia, on my homeworld. The memorial service, and then visiting Labyrinthos afterward. Along with whatever else we made up our minds on for the day. Nothing and no one else in our way. Not anymore. We had this freedom to live together as partners.

I would forever treasure our memories from earlier outside the Temple of Athame. When Shepard asked me to be hers. No matter what happened in the future, those sights and sentiments would stay with me.

Right on time, I heard that knock at my bedroom door.

Punctual as ever, I couldn't imagine her being late. She always arrived exactly when I needed her to.

Not that Shepard needed to knock. She had full permissions to enter my room whenever she liked. She only did this as a courtesy to me. Meeting Shepard as she entered, I found this standout of her movements. How she walked into my bedroom at one side, leaving her back to me. The back of her long, fashionable military coat, and her trousers, freshly-steamed and pressed. The thickness of her folded collar, Shepard had set beneath the flowing scarf of black, gray, and white she'd wrapped around her neck. The flow of those fabrics matched the flow of her long hair, shifting as she turned to face me.

Stepping along with the freshness of her pointed dress boots, that dull shine caught my expression.

My confusion, somewhat, as Shepard held something behind her back.

Nevertheless, she used her free arm to reach out to me, easing me into her embrace. This allure of her cologne, and the strength of her presence: Shepard pulled me in with all the comforts I needed from her. She settled her lips along the crown of my scalp, murmuring the smoothest of compliments for me.

This awe and sparkle showed in my eyes once Shepard presented me with these gifts, so unexpected:

Blooming from this backdrop of Shepard's all-black attire, the fresh blue of these colors stood out. She revealed what she'd had hidden behind her back—another bouquet of everlasting roses in her hands. Meant for me again. A second batch, not long after the ones she'd gifted me just days ago. I took this bouquet in my arms with all the same wonder as the first time. She had spoiled me so much. I kept the first set of flowers in my room aboard the ship, and now I could keep these in my room here at home.

"Shepard, these are beautiful… What is the occasion?"

"It's my way of thanking you for taking care of me."

Moving to set the flowers on my nightstand, I told her, "It's such a natural thing for me to do."

"I know, babe. What you've done means a lot. I've had to learn to lean on you, but I don't regret it."

Then Shepard reached into her coat pocket, pulling out yet another surprise for me.

Such a small, soft-looking plush of an animal. A canine. Was that…a little wolf?

When Shepard handed the toy to me, I couldn't help taking it in my arms, hugging it so.

"Oh, this is so adorable," I fawned. "Is the meaning what I think it is?"

"Yes," said Shepard. "It's exactly that."

"Then I promise I'll take good care of it. Thank you for these gifts. I wasn't expecting them at all!"

Shepard just smiled at me. I smiled back at her, noticing the weight behind her expression. I worried as I set this wolf plush on my bed. I worried about the future. I worried about far too much, really. Because I felt Shepard's energy change in these brief seconds. These precious moments as I turned around to my bed, giving her this fuller view of my dress. The tight fit around my top, my waist, my legs—yet still appropriate enough for the occasion today. I had managed to catch her eye anyway.

By the time I turned back around, facing her again, Shepard had closed this slight distance between us. She stepped in front of me. Directly in front: my legs pressed against hers, this skin of mine against the creased shapes of her sharp dress pants. Limited and limited in this space, I pressed my hands to Shepard's chest, this enclosing. She held my waist, the small of my back in her hands, guiding me to sit down for a moment. No more worrying at all. The clothed cargo weight of Shepard's military coat leaned down to me—the design, the style of it. Shepard adored me some more, draping her hair down my shoulders, all in this brief restraint of hers. The hammering of her pulse along her neck, more as I smiled from her gestures. We couldn't possibly take advantage of this moment. We had our schedule.

"Shepard," I murmured over the heat of her neck, her skin. "Is there…something on your mind?"

Smirking, not-smirking. Shy and not-shy, Shepard couldn't quite look at me. Enclosed as she had made us, she darted her eyes from mine. She did her best to not gawk at me. Smooth as ever, she did what she could. Kissing one side of my face, molding her lips over my bone structure, she breathed me in.

These unexpected obsessions from her made me shiver in her tight hold.

"Sorry, babe," she offered. "I got a little distracted."

Distracting me, too, Shepard bent down more, kissing down more, down to my neck, my shoulder. These inhalations flexing out from my neck, Shepard made sure to adore. She tasted this pressured ballooning beneath my skin. She smiled there, kissing this tip of her tongue right against my veins. Heavier and more frequent. She couldn't keep doing this. Our schedule. We couldn't lose any time.

Blanking off and on, spacing out and out and farther out, I couldn't remember myself anymore.

Shepard was kind enough to not overwhelm me completely.

Just before she dipped me down to my back over the bed, she paused. She paused, holding me here.

Holding my gaze in the power of her own, Shepard asked me in seeming innocence, "Why don't you wear any jewelry? Like a necklace. A bracelet. Something."

Catching my breath with the freshness of her exhales, supplementing mine, my mind went blank again.

"I…I'm not sure," I managed to say. "My professions have always been rather humble. The thought of wearing fancy jewelry never crossed my mind. They would've gotten in the way before. At dig sites. Even now…they still would—on a battlefield in the middle of the war. I wouldn't want to lose them."

Shepard reminded me, "You could take them off for work, you know. Wear them for special occasions."

"Maybe you're right. Why do you ask?"

She palmed my neck, and my collar bone, admiring this part of my body as pure craftsmanship.

Even the gleam of her eyes reflected her touch, pulling me into this fantasy I couldn't resist.

"You have…a nice structure, Liara. It's very delicate. Gentle. The jewelry could help draw the eye right here. Same goes for your wrists. There's something about this shape of you I can't stop obsessing over."

This tone of hers. The hardness in her meaning. Carnal, raw. Her sharpest teeth looked much sharper.

She could've made me pass out from her intentions alone—if she didn't step away from me just then.

Shepard held both of my hands, helping me up from my bed. I gave her this look of incredulity. Wide eyes barely disguising my lust. She only smiled at me. We had to get going, after all. Our schedule…

Preparing to leave the house now, we settled on using an umbrella today. As much as I'd enjoyed our adventures last night out in the rain, the mood today called for a different approach. So Shepard held our umbrella in her free hand; and I kept my arm linked through hers as we left downstairs. Walking down these steps, Shepard would need to pause on occasion. I would bolster my support for her, wrapping both of my arms around this bend of hers nearest to me. An outsider might not have noticed.

I noticed the smallest things about her. Shepard would bite down on her back teeth each time we needed to do this. She didn't enjoy this supposed weakness of hers. I didn't see it that way. Not at all.

Arriving to the living room downstairs, we found the team here, watching vids together. I heard most of the chatter coming from the kitchen—EDI and Legion had joined Traynor, Garrus, and Cortez in there, enjoying a hands-on cooking lesson as they made breakfast for everyone. I didn't see Jack, Wrex, or Samara anywhere. Tali was also conspicuously absent, exhausted from the guys giving her an unusual amount of attention these days. Meanwhile, Kaidan and Joker sat on the couch together, looking unusually depressed. They stared at the vid screen more so than actually watching the sports program.

We still had some time, so I decided to bring Shepard over with me.

"Kaidan, Joker?" I asked. "What is going on? Why do you look so out of it?"

Kaidan pointed to the sliding glass door, complaining, "We can't go anywhere with the weather like this. It's still raining cats and dogs out there. I mean, it's Christmas Eve! We should be outside somewhere."

Alarmed, I checked to make sure I wasn't seeing things. "I do not see any cats or dogs falling from the sky out there…"

Joker laughed over the language barrier. "No, no, it's a human saying! You know, for when it's raining super hard out. You're not supposed to take it literally, Liara."

What a bizarre expression. Where did it originate from?

Then I noticed Joker and Kaidan both had on a pair of…colorful, handmade sweaters. Festive-looking in red, green, and white. They certainly looked warm, if a bit uncomfortable in their strange fit. They did not look quite right to me. The designs looked unseemly. Were they like that on purpose? Was this another human tradition I didn't quite understand? Because the sweaters were certainly…something.

"Anyway, the rain should stop eventually!" declared Joker. "Hopefully by tomorrow. Oh yeah, did you notice the extra presents under the tree?! I didn't see them there yesterday. They must be new."

"Definitely," agreed Kaidan. "Santa must've put them there ahead of time. Once you and Shepard head out, we'll probably make some gingerbread cookies. With extra cinnamon, I think. You know, as a way to say thanks to Santa for the presents. It was really nice of him to do this for us."

Now that he mentioned it, I did notice the extra gifts beneath the tree.

Smiling to myself, I didn't have to wonder where they'd come from. I could already guess for myself.

Then Shepard asked, "What's with those sweaters you're wearing?"

"Oh, yeah, we made these by hand last night on the ship! Traditional Christmas sweaters. What do you think, Commander? You like them? I can make you one if you want."

"They're…hideous."

"Aww…"

Knowing I was not supposed to laugh over Kaidan's disappointment, I did my best to stay quiet.

Then Wrex entered the room, trying and failing to fit a sweater over his head.

"Alenko, I want a refund," groused Wrex, his voice muffled behind the fluffy fabric. "This thing doesn't fit. You forget I have a huge hump over my back? Now it's stuck on me. I can't take it back off."

"Crap, sorry!"

While Kaidan hurried to assist Wrex, Joker smiled over the absurdity of it all.

Now seemed like the best time for Shepard to leave with me. We quietly made our way to the front door, leaving behind this warm sense of fun from everyone else. Less cynical than the holiday spirit Shepard had described to me before. I would always treasure these memories, too, learning more about her peoples' traditions. Just before we left, Shepard was kind enough to help me with my raincoat. She held it out for me, letting me slip my arms through the sleeves. Gentle and considerate, she ensured everything fit me properly before we set off together.

Walking to the nearest train station, Shepard held the umbrella over our heads, shielding us from the pattering of rain outside. This insulation of ours smelled of her cologne, my body wash, and the spirit of the cloudy, stormy day today, chilled in a hazy relaxation. We passed by a few other couples out for a walk together, enjoying the same closeness beneath their shields. As we reached the train station, the crowds grew denser and more focused, with everyone heading in our same direction. They all had places to go and people to see. I had to wonder if anyone attending the service would be on our train.

Shepard and I boarded this bullet train together, en route to Serrice.

We had taken this transport before.

I still remembered how, even then, Shepard had given me her consideration. She had led the way to our seats, reaching behind to take my hand in hers. Ensuring we hadn't wound up separated in the crowd. Shepard did the same now, though she'd never let go of my hand in the first place. She kept me with her as she ambled down the aisle—shifting and shuffling, rather impatiently, as the passengers in front of her veered into their seats one at a time. She seemed to keep one eye behind her as well, to me, making sure no one encroached on my blind spots. Shepard eventually found a suitable pair of seats for us, allowing me to shuffle past her to the window seat. Again, she kept an eye around us the whole time.

Not even when she sat down did she lower her vigilance. I observed Shepard some more, wondering what this was all for. Surely she understood our fellow passengers—mostly asari—meant us no harm. But then I paid closer attention to the other signs. How Shepard kept glancing around in alertness, making sure everything looked prepared. Trying to gauge if our train would run smoothly for the journey. As she did this, she gripped her other armrest, opposite me—her knuckles shining in white.

Then I glanced out this window at this sprawling view of Armali, and I suddenly remembered:

Shepard's last encounter with public transportation. Back on Earth during the invasion…

I held her hand nearest to me. Tighter in support. Signaling that I remembered.

Shepard felt my intentions. She forced a deep breath, managing to calm herself. Too often I forgot that she was not immune to the perils of fear and anxiety. But she knew she had me. I leaned on her shoulder as the bullet train took off. She turned her head closer to mine, settling her lips along my crests. My relaxation helped to secure her own. We enjoyed the sights outside instead of fearing them.

Instead of leaving directly for the University of Serrice as we had done before, we waited for the next stop after that. The Fountainhead Palace—the locale for the memorial service, often reserved for honoring influential figures in Thessian society. Not so much a palace as it was a site of natural history, the area symbolized the elements of the heavens. With water being the most prominent of them all.

We soon arrived to the entrance to the so-called palace. This area sectioned off within Serrice called the Kind Traveler's Gate—the beginning of this Empyreum, far-removed from the regular city life and sprawling metropolises across our world. As this sanctuary from the normal bustle of civilization, Shepard and I entered to the opposite of what we knew from outside. Within the Fountainhead Palace, we found these sprawling gardens of cherry blossoms—of such large, ancient trees webbing up through the landscape, their size comparable to mountains crossing along the horizon. The cherry blossoms decorated the branches in an old, stern, sickly weight, most refusing to flutter from their tree's hold. Each one remained interspersed with constant flows of water from the waterfalls in the distance. The joining of those fountains of waterfalls formed a still surface as our level area to walk upon.

Delicately asking permission to exist here: these more modern buildings scattered through the area, each colored a specific ivory white or chrome silver. Lobbies and other mezzanines for guests to speak and congregate. Bureaucratic locations for the officials who worked and lived here from day to day. Up above, the cloudless sky of a muted, grayish-blue overlooked the trees, the buildings, the water, and all the lands around us. These lands existing as stilled spaces atop these riverbeds and lakes for walking.

Shepard had stopped to stare at this place in wonder. As if we had stepped into another dimension.

The other guests around us—colleagues of mine, and seasoned asari politicians—did not share her reverence. They merely treated the palace as something familiar to them, having been to this location many times before. Yet they each afforded us passing smiles as they walked by, noting Shepard's manners as she let me link my arm through hers. They all headed to the nearest mezzanine before us.

Enamored by Shepard's amazement, I explained for her, "This is the Fountainhead Palace, Thessia's oldest form of beauty. It's been preserved here for the dead to continue passing on. It is a place of stillness, reflection. We believe it represents a deeper meaning of finding peace in the quiet. No conflict, no worries. The dead can pass on without any hardships. This is the end of all suffering and desire."

"That last part sounds familiar. Humans have something like that, too. The concept of Nirvana."

"Nirvana?" I repeated. "What is that from, exactly? I have heard of it before."

"Hinduism and a branch of Buddhism. Two of our Eastern religions back on Earth. It's about reuniting with the universal God."

Continuing on, we made our way to the nearest building. We walked across these rounded bridges of ivory, taking the path over the water's surface. Everything seemed to blend into one another. The indistinguishable ivory and the clear waters. The pale pink and white of the handful of cherry blossoms that had fluttered down along our path. All the same stillness. All the same calm, the same stagnation.

This beauty would forever remain unchallenged. An eternal status quo where nothing ever changed.

Inside this mezzanine, I witnessed the flow of these cycles. Life and death and possibly rebirth. And the exceptions where the dead's energies could not return to this flow of the universe. Shiala had been murdered as such, sent off to the unknowable beyond. Yet her energy instead lived on as these memories around us. As my colleagues discussed the findings of her research; the suddenness of her passing. As these politicians mentioned potential drafts for new policies, or official artworks to create in her memory. Some of the asari around us found Shepard with me, together with me as my date today.

They engaged me in small-talk, as I had expected. I found I didn't mind it at all. I spoke with my academic colleagues about our past work together, casually glossing over the fact that most of these people had never taken me seriously before these recent times. They offered what platitudes they could, knowing Shiala had been a disciple to my mother Benezia for many years. These memories of my own remained fresh in my mind: the choice insults about my work on the Protheans, uttered by these same lips now singing my praises; now congratulating me for my relationship with Shepard. Shepard knew the same, careful to not linger her laser-like stares on anyone for too long. She saw through their façades. And I enjoyed her support.

Beyond the conversations, Shepard and I enjoyed something more. This quiet, broiling intimacy between us. Far more than a mere spark in the water—and everyone saw it. This energy had inspired them to offer their congratulations, complimenting us on our union. Wherever we went, Shepard and I seemed to attract an unusual amount of attention. Even though they knew our names, I had a different view. We did nothing to draw attention to ourselves. We had joined together in being idle—walking along, gazing outside the windows—as this time passed. We'd been blessed to spend this passage of time with one another. Just existing with Shepard in this passage: she somehow made me more unique and attractive and interesting by association. Far more than what I normally thought of myself as.

Somewhere across the room, the asari councilor spotted us. She had already engaged someone else in what looked like a light discussion. The asari next to her looked to be her bondmate. A near-stranger to politics. Tevos only brought her partner along for these special events. Otherwise, her beloved stayed out of the spotlight. Not knowing either of them on a personal level, I could only speculate as to why.

Soon we all congregated outside.

Outside among this decayed beauty. Ancient and full of wisdom, we listened to the spirits around us.

They spoke of these cycles, the trinity and the triumvirate of our gods. Creation, preservation, and destruction. The initial creation of life; the long-term preservation of that life; and then the destruction as death, sending those energies off to a new form of creation. The apex of creation would forever remain a mystery to us. Yet the preservation and the destruction, we both held within our grasp.

"We cannot create until something is destroyed. Death is natural, but a forced death is not. As we remember who we've lost, we must also remember our limitations. Unchecked destruction will only lead to nihilism. Such nihilism poses the danger of destroying us all—unwanted and forced. This is a dark path. One we must not tread. Consider the consequences of your actions. Of anyone's actions. These causes and effects will ripple outward, forever, for all eternity. Let us preserve the eternal, together, even at the risk of stagnation in the gentle peace that follows."

A general silence blanketed over the guests.

Many of them wandered around the water, deep in reflection.

As I'd expected, the asari councilor came to visit. She found Shepard with me outside along a bridge.

Hoping to give them some space, I ambled off a short distance away. Enough to keep them in my sights. Maybe enough to overhear plenty of their conversation. I heard some of those beginnings, those platitudes about Shepard with me. How Tevos spoke encouragingly about the two of us. Not one for dallying around, Shepard encouraged the councilor, in-turn, to speak her mind. What did she want?

"To be frank, Commander, I hoped to speak my mind with you today. Will you hear me out?"

"Of course, Councilor. What's this about?"

Modest and humble, Tevos kept enough emotion in her words. Enough to land her point. Enough to emphasize the sincerity, and the desperation of her pleas:

"I understand that now is not the time to discuss the war. But I'm afraid we must do so anyway. Thessia enjoys a great deal of normalcy these days. Living here within asari space, one would think the Reapers were mere fairy tales. Except…you and I both know this is not true. Our people are preparing for war."

Shepard wished to know, "How are you preparing? Has anyone been able to replicate Liara and Samara's defenses against the enemy? With their biotic fields."

"I'm afraid not," admitted Tevos. "Our specialists have tried their hardest. We have borrowed the simulation your teammates created for the Armax Arena, attempting to recreate your victories. It would seem we lack that final, special element that ensures your team's success."

"What element do you mean?"

"You, Commander. Your leadership. The sheer magnitude you inspire in your people as a military officer."

I worried Tevos would ask Shepard for the impossible.

I worried her request would be for our captain to lead Thessia's forces. This seemed imminent.

Then again, the asari councilor also realized the futility of such an ask. Shepard would've had no choice but to decline. She could not abandon her mission with the Normandy. Not even to save my homeworld.

Instead, Tevos provided more context, however dire it sounded: "Asari civilization will not survive this invasion. Not without humanity. Not without your assistance—as you have provided to other worlds thus far in disabling the Reapers."

Shepard didn't want to believe that. "Why are you so convinced your people would fail without us?"

"The answer is simple, Shepard. Our military specializes in hit-and-run tactics. This has forever been our truth. At least since the inception of our asari commandos and huntresses, dating back millennia ago. To be blunt, we are ineffective against an overwhelming force like the Reapers. We are not built for this type of onslaught. Now faced with the same reality as my people, I look to the salarians. They are—or were famed for their counterintelligence tactics. They tried and failed to protect themselves with their best skills. Even at the risk of betraying the galactic community. I sympathize with the salarian dalatrass. I cannot condone her decisions, yet I understand her frame of mind. I share her exact fears."

The same sympathies. The same absence of condoning. Shepard understood as well.

"As you know, we asari specialize in diplomacy. Yet we cannot simply talk the Reapers to death—or peacefully convince them to change their course. Without you, without your assistance, we will lose Thessia. The crown jewel of the galaxy. The apex of democracy in the Milky Way. No matter our wisdom, our accomplishments, our preservations…this war could end us all."

Much to my surprise, Tevos held one of Shepard's hands in both of hers. All for this emphasis.

"Commander, please… Should the enemy arrive to Thessia, we will need you. We cannot survive without you. That is why I am asking for your immediate response. The moment they show up, will you drop everything for us? For Thessia who has always welcomed you home. For the asari who have always loved you. For the home you have today, and will have more of in eternity. Will you help us?" Taken aback, Shepard could not respond right away. Entrenched in the councilor's emotions, in her pleas, she wanted to speak. So Tevos added to the silence, clarifying: "In return, Thessia will do everything it can for humanity. As I promised you before, the asari fleets will help you retake Earth. But we will also do more. Upon the end of this war, we will work to strengthen relations between our people. If your human biotics are in need of resources or assistance, we will provide it. If any of your people are in need, we will assist, just as we have done for your refugees. We will end all poverty, hunger, and inequalities on your homeworld. We will support your vulnerable communities ravaged by climate disasters. I have never overpromised anything in my career. And I am not about to start now. I mean this. Every word."

Knowing the attention they had attracted, and knowing her obligations, Shepard could not tell her no.

She never would have dreamed of declining.

Something of Councilor Tevos' heartfelt appeal reached through her anyway, pulling out this promise:

"I'll do whatever I can for your people, Tevos. If the Reapers invade Thessia, I'll push them back. I promise."

Such a genuine smile from my councilor.

Tevos kept Shepard's hand in hers, thanking and thanking. If she had to have gotten down on her knees, dousing the lower half of her dress in this water, she would have. Even in front of these onlookers, gazing fondly at this clear diplomatic exchange. She would have done it.

Shepard would have accepted regardless. I felt the weight of her promise: to do anything for us.

Anything to save our people.

Anything to save and protect Thessia. Our home. Our future.

Anything to save me—perhaps as her way of making up for the past, and for our lost time together.

After the memorial service, I guided Shepard to the heart of Armali, here within the city's main plaza. We had visited this general area before. A long time ago now, back during our first visit. We had gone to the mall on Shepard's birthday. That night, Kaidan had joined Ashley at a sports bar to watch an American football game over drinks and dinner; Wrex, Joker, and Garrus had gone to play laser tag together. And Tali and I had spent the evening following Shepard around, speculating madly about this and that… Now, Shepard and I passed by that same shopping center on the way to our next destination. Now I wondered if she remembered the same things. Recalled the same memories as I did. Objectively.

Subjectively, I couldn't stand thinking back on those days. The memories pricked at my mind, gnawing and clawing and scarring the very tissue and matter deep in my head. Even as Shepard held my hand in the here and now, my face burned in this persistent shame. From the forced patience, the false confidence, the flimsy excuses I had made. The agonizing months of watching myself turn into someone I didn't recognize, losing it all as I spiraled into a never-ending void. It all seemed unavoidable, being back on Thessia like this, even after so much had changed. I wished the past would stop following us around like this. Or that we somehow had a better past to look back on. Yet I wouldn't allow myself to dwell on these problems. I had promised Shepard we would make new memories together. So we did.

Past the modern shopping center, we walked up a set of stairs. Stairs I used to believe led to nowhere in particular. Sometimes my people would pass by this area—the ivory white landscaped with gardens and fountains—as an escape from the rest of the town. Such a beautiful aesthetic, so peaceful. The flowing waters, the scenic view from these heights of the rest of Armali towering in the distance; the abundance of colors from the flowers and fauna carefully decorating these surroundings. But now I couldn't help feeling as if I had been here before. Walking up these stairs with Shepard, I felt a sense of déjà vu. We seemed to have done this at some point in the past. None of this made sense until we reached the top.

We arrived to an old, unmarked government building. The place looked purposely unremarkable from the outside. Just any other unused place of politics for our democracy. Knowing that this place led to Labyrinthos, I finally knew what the purpose was. The intentional discretion of this location. The forced change to the building's façade to keep it from being recognizable from our history books.

Hidden in plain sight was the Rostra from Old Armali. The large centerpiece of my hometown from the past. The area where the Forum, or our old Senate composed of asari matriarchs, would meet and debate policy matters. The decisions they had made in those days had carried on throughout these many centuries. And now this relic of the past held the entrance to yet another one of Thessia's secrets.

Shepard and I entered the front doors, finding this aged stone of the interior. The endurance of this material—how it had lasted for so many years—held together the entire foundation. This rotunda echoed with our footsteps, reverberating more with these ghosts of a democracy past time. Old paintings of even older times decorated the grayed walls, embellishing this ancient disuse with colors that had somehow survived to this era. We passed by the largest set of double doors of gold and blue, leading to the Senate floor. Locked and barred, we could not enter, directed instead down the hallway.

The few lights in the building grew even dimmer here. Several sets of short steps led us farther downward, steadily winding beneath the Rostra. Mindful and considerate as ever, Shepard held my wrist up as we walked down each set of steps, supporting me in these heels I so rarely chose to wear. Such a small thing from her filled me with so much joy. I wanted to smile at her each time she did this. I stopped myself, not wanting to seem silly. Shepard had internalized these manners of hers; she probably didn't have to think about them anymore. Conscious or not, I appreciated her appreciation for me.

The round path led us to the Hall of the Artifice, where we found a large lobby space. Gilded contraptions preserved and maintained well over the years: this lift would take us down to Labyrinthos. Shepard and I took the lift farther and farther down through Thessia itself. Earth's refugees had another method of reaching the dome city, directly through the transports they arrived in. I could only wonder why we hadn't noticed them by now. Something on this scale should not have been terribly subtle.

Leaving the lift, we found the artificial environment of this once-secret dome city. In a broader sense, we had arrived to the Northern Empty—the northernmost area of the series of interconnected, subterranean dome worlds buried deep within Thessia's earth. Simulating the outside world, the first thing Shepard and I saw was the top of Labyrinthos' sky: a caged globe of a sun glowing out radiant rays of golden, artificial sunlight. The light remained there at the top as a chandelier of sorts, hanging from what appeared to be a natural sky. Except we could see the foundations of the dome itself there, stretching outward in a large circumference, all in a series of metallic panels colored as a mosaic of a partly cloudy blue. That foundation existed right up against Thessia's earth, carving out this space for Labyrinthos' inhabitants to live within.

Down from the skybox, an abundance of nature and vegetation spread out across the entire city. The trees in the distance, the mountains, the valleys. Tall water towers and windmills stretched on along the horizon, doubling as lighthouses whenever it grew darkest in the night. Old-fashioned water mills churned on in a charming, yet ancient style of manufacturing and industry. And so many waterfalls cascaded from place to place, running down from the mountaintops as rivers winding through the entirety of the Northern Empty. The water itself came from the Fountainhead Palace, flowing down here in a natural continuation of my homeworld's ecosystem, invisible to me until now.

The architecture of these buildings appeared far more modest than on the surface, limited to the actual confines of the so-called sky above our heads. I recognized some of these as bureaucratic locations, or ancient libraries containing forbidden tomes of knowledge. Out in the fields, I spotted a number of farmlands where the human refugees had started settling in, working alongside their asari helpers.

Glancing at the many cargo boxes nearby, Shepard asked me, "Babe, do you know what this place is?"

"I believe it is called Upper Ancrinthos," I replied. "This is a storage facility for everything that arrives from above the surface, through the lift we just took. This is more of a service entrance where they check the items and send them where they need to go. Ancient scriptures, artifacts, rare specimens—anything you can think of. My people wished to use these dome cities to preserve Thessia's civilization…in the event of some galaxy-ending catastrophe. Their predictions were oddly accurate."

"Yeah, they were."

Heading outside the storage area, we reached an open plaza overlooking most of Labyrinthos. Staring out at this place, everything seemed so simple and quiet compared to what I knew. Refugees and asari meandered along the pathways. Others sat along the benches, sitting for a moment as they watched the flow of the rivers, or the gentle churning of the large wooden wheels of the mills. This all felt more like the slower-paced lifestyle of the old days, mixed with the sheer size of this place, giving away a clear technological and industrial slant. Down in the Central Circuit—the heart of Labyrinthos—sat a massive dome-shaped building, much larger than the other ones around. Our scientists and engineers conducted deeper experiments there with mass effect technology. And dotting the entire landscape of Labyrinthos, we had these modern comforts: various antennae had lodged into the ground, scattered across several points. They each glowed with deep blue 'breaths', blowing up foggy air as the Pneuma for Labyrinthos, or the temperature regulators keeping everything comfortable as necessary.

Down and around this beaten path of dirt, we found a nice little farm area. Outside the regular buildings made of the same stone as everywhere else, a fenced field of grass spread out along the property. Shepard and I spotted a few horses and sheep grazing together, and an Australian shepherd resting nearby, keeping watch over them. As we passed by, we overheard the farmers speaking about the most recent refugees arriving from Earth. How most of them had to wait to evacuate because they couldn't abandon their pets and animals. They appeared to recognize us as well, offering smiles to us both.

Past the main hamlet and community area, and farther down even more stairs, we found the Central Circuit. This massive arena felt more like a sporting stadium than a docking bay. A sporting arena filled with the usual technicians and equipment anyone would find in a docking bay, at least. Just with endless places to fill and places to be. The largest gathering space we found at the latest transport's arrival. Several asari from across Armali and other cities had stopped by, welcoming our newest refugees aboard the Ragnarok. The workers and other volunteers had also set out a number of donations around:

They had lined several tables together. Atop the tables, my people had placed plates with free food and snacks to take. Bowls of essentials: toothbrushes, mouthwash, and other toiletries and hygiene products for anyone who needed them. Immigration officials awaited on standby, waiting to guide the refugees to their housing areas here within Labyrinthos. A good deal of politicians—some of them from the memorial service—had stopped by to overlook everything.

Most of the people around seemed to be regular asari from across Thessia. They held up signs with positive messages, welcoming the humans from Earth to our homeworld. I noticed Shepard looking at them the most. It seemed to me like she couldn't quite believe her eyes. We had both paused here among the crowd, standing out with the usual attention we received whenever we went anywhere. But Shepard didn't mind any of that. She couldn't help focusing on the energy of this place. Unrelenting joy and sense of community everywhere. How my people could not wait to help her own. We wanted to.

"Shepard," I whispered, touching the sleeve of her coat. "Why do you seem surprised by all of this?"

"I… I don't know. I had no idea what to expect. I just thought it would be a regular thing, you know?"

"Regular in what way? That the refugees would just arrive like they do at the Citadel? Normally?"

"Well, yeah. I didn't expect all this—fanfare."

Adding to the fanfare, in her eyes, the immigration officials beckoned to the both of us. They wanted Shepard and me to come closer to the docking bay. They wanted us to be among the first faces the refugees saw once they departed their vessel. Everyone else around us encouraged the idea all the same. Eyes darting about in a slight of anxiety, Shepard considered, hesitated. I felt her desire to shrink herself in invisibility and shirk away from all this attention. Yet her sense of duty to Earth emerged far stronger.

Holding my hand a little tighter, Shepard brought me along to where the officials wanted us to go.

We waited and watched as the Ragnarok pulled into dock. From the signs hanging above, this ship held refugees hailing from Egypt, Brazil, Thailand, El Salvador, Lithuania, and Kazakhstan. The initial ships from their individual countries had gone to the Citadel first, before transferring everyone aboard Thessia's vessel. And now they began filing out from our ship, taking their first shaky steps onto another world. Many of them physically carried their pets in their arms: cats, rabbits, and other smaller animals looking terrified and exhausted from the journey, from the resettlement. Their smaller containers held lizards and other reptilian companions. I even spotted a man carrying a staggeringly large and fluffy Alaskan malamute: more than likely a weary senior dog who couldn't quite make it on foot. The visible pain in the humans' faces—the fear and agony of having to escape all they knew—faded away somewhat from this environment. The welcoming, the cheers, the gestures of acceptance from my people around us.

Every single person recognized Shepard first—even without her Alliance uniform on. Many of them smiled and began tearing up. Just from the sight of her alone. Shepard showed not an ounce of her discomfort. Instead, she remained strong, remembering her consideration for others. She offered her hand to the women and elderly departing the Ragnarok, making sure they watched their step. The simplest of hand-to-hand contact. That direct connection. This one thing meant everything to them.

"Thank you so much, Commander Shepard."

"You're a sight for sore eyes! If you're here, then this must be real."

"Bless you, Commander. Bless you."

"Good to see Dr. T'Soni with you. Thanks for being here for us."

Shepard couldn't make herself say a word in response. Yet she nodded and made eye contact with everyone all the same, making sure they knew she heard them; that she acknowledged their feelings.

As the humans each filed in, the immigration officers directed them to the free items waiting atop those tables. This orderly sense continued on and on: of more and more refugees greeting Shepard as she greeted them, and then heading off to collect their share in pure gratitude. They then followed the next officials who would lead them to their designated housing area. From what I knew, Labyrinthos still had plenty of room. Whenever we did happen to run out of space here, we would simply have any remaining refugees arrive to another dome city somewhere beneath Thessia. We had the resources to support our guests for however long they needed us. Even until after the war, and the rebuilding that would follow.

After everyone disembarked from the Ragnarok, Shepard and I took another look around. Aside from the asari spectating the event and welcoming everyone, a few of Labyrinthos' human residents had dropped by as well. We spotted a blonde woman in an Alliance uniform, flanked by a number of teens and young adults in uniforms. School uniforms? They looked familiar to me. Especially the bald student smiling broadly at Shepard and at me. Weren't these the Grissom Academy students with their director?

"Kahlee Sanders?" asked Shepard. "Is that you?"

"It sure is, Commander," she replied with a smile. "I heard you and Dr. T'Soni were in town for the holidays. We hoped to find you. Ever since you dropped off David at the academy, the students wanted to see you again."

"Hello there," said David, looking quite well for himself after Project Overlord. "We didn't think you would be out here with all the people arriving. You are not much of a people-person, are you, Commander?"

"No, I'm not. I just wanted to check on how everything was going. I didn't expect to find any of you. It's good to see you again, David. When did you get here?"

Kahlee explained, "We arrived about a week ago. Our school didn't seem to be in danger. The students were reluctant to evacuate. But with the Reapers out there, it seemed better to seek shelter someplace else. The Alliance told us about this place, about Labyrinthos. Dr. T'Soni, your people have been incredibly kind to us. We can't thank you enough for all Thessia has done for humanity. We probably would have died out there if not for the asari."

"We want to do anything we can to help," I told her. "After everything, Earth is one of our closest allies. Opening our borders to humanity was the least we could do."

"Well, it's still very kind of you. Even though we haven't been on the frontlines, we've all been affected by this war. Too many of us have lost loved ones already…"

Something in Kahlee's tone prompted her students to give us some space.

As if they knew what this was about.

Shepard knew as well:

"If this is about Anderson, I understand. I heard… Well, I'm sorry about what happened."

Bright even through her grief, Kahlee chose this positivity. "I'm sorry, too, Commander. The two of you were close as well. He was a good man." Quickly checking through her omni-tool, she prepared a transfer. "Not long after you came back to fight the Collectors, he mentioned something to me. In case anything happened to him, he wanted you to have these. They're the keys to his apartment on the Citadel."

Accepting the transfer, Shepard stared down at her omni-tool in disbelief.

"His apartment on the Citadel? But why…?"

"He spent a lot of time there while you were gone. Mostly brooding alone, drinking at the bar. I stopped by to visit him whenever I could. We would chat about you. His memories. No matter how much we talked, it always seemed like he had more to say, more to reminisce about. So he created a bunch of recordings. Left them around the apartment in the hopes you would see them someday. Maybe, whenever you get the chance, you could stop by and listen to his old musings. For his sake."

Shepard again did not know what to say.

Not blaming her at all, Kahlee merely smiled at her once more.

"You'll find the apartment lobby at the Silversun Strip, not too far from the Armax Arena. The place has a nice view of all the stores and restaurants out there. If you ever need another home on the Citadel, it'll be there waiting for you. Your old captain wouldn't have wanted anything less for you as our galaxy's hero."

Once everything calmed down in Labyrinthos, I brought Shepard with me back to Thessia's surface, this time to the shopping center. The same mall we had passed by earlier, and the one we had visited those years ago. Instead of retreading old memories, I had us visit another side of the mall. Bustling with even more activity thanks to the casino installed as the centerpiece: this interior illuminated the shoppers and gamblers alike, enticing them with the glitz and glam of the many designer stores around. The spectacle of the casino glittered out to this indoor mall as a whole, the sounds of Quasar slot machines and other digital games in abundance. A ballroom of a commerce center, the elegance of this place had elevated itself above the masses, with the mall's skyrise height overlooking Armali's still-rainy, still-cloudy afternoon.

I could have taken Shepard shopping with me. Not for anything in particular. Just to have a look around.

But after our social calls, both expected and not, I could tell this day had drained and exhausted her.

To escape for a bit, I guided Shepard to a bar on the far side of the mall. Somewhere I knew we could have a drink together in peace and quiet. On the way there, I delighted in this feeling as always. Simply being with her. Shepard holding my hand as she projected this image of hers. This strength, this confidence she gave off without realizing. Our matching outfits—or colors, at least—brought even more attention to us as well. More attention, more eyes on us from these shoppers carrying their fancy shopping bags along, and the more effort Shepard placed into keeping this armor on. This irresistible armor of hers that she used to deflect attention, only to draw more of it to herself in her calm allure.

By the time we reached the bar, Shepard found every reason to settle down.

Here on this other side of the mall, we had passed over a transparent bridge of near-glass overlooking the shoppers downstairs. We then reached this sequestered area. Off the beaten path and hard-to-find.

This lounge held several separate seating areas. Comfortable couches and chairs instead of the usual seats at tables, we could enjoy a drink as if relaxing at home. The quiet, muted conversations from the other patrons barely registered as more than a whisper. So I brought Shepard with me closer to the tall windows, dripping with condensation from the stormy weather outside. As far away from everyone as we could be—already spread-out as they were. With no chairs to pull out, Shepard allowed herself to settle on this couch with me, right at my side. She at least removed my coat for me, politely and gently so, before removing her own. Our table here held the convenient kiosk we needed to order our drinks ourselves.

Sensing my reasons for bringing us here, the tension in Shepard's expression had already fallen away.

"This is nice," she said, letting out a much-needed breath. "How'd you find out about this place?"

"It was always on my list to visit," I replied. "Someday. With someone. Never by myself."

Shepard smiled over the meaning. "You have good taste. Should we get our usual to drink?"

"Yes, of course. That's what I had in mind."

Ordering for the both of us, Shepard selected a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. Soon the bottle appeared at the center of the table, along with two wine glasses for us. I watched her movements as she poured the light-colored alcohol into each glass. The slight flex of her shoulders beneath the black of her sleeves, her fine button-down shirt. The slight glaze that had coated her eyes, gleaming from the reflection of that liquid light in her sight. The slighter subtleties of her manners. How she never let a single drop spill where it didn't need to; how she didn't let the bottle make a sound as she set it back onto the table.

Once Shepard handed me my glass, I spotted something else about her.

Mixed with her gratitude for this rest, this reset, a spot of trouble passed through her eyes.

She avoided contact with mine, hiding behind her glass a bit as she said, "Sorry."

"Sorry?" I repeated. "What are you apologizing for?"

Wringing her other hand in her lap, she explained, "I'm…kind of awkward, I guess."

"Socially awkward?" I asked, not meaning to smile.

A dark cloud of confusion seemed to churn and agitate above Shepard's head.

This vulnerability about her might have seemed unusual. If I didn't know her as well as I did.

I reminded her, "Maybe you are forgetting that I can relate."

"It's not that, Liara. I just feel like I shouldn't be. Like I'm not allowed to."

"Well, I don't want you to feel that way. But I understand what you mean. I also apologize for not warning you beforehand about Labyrinthos. Or at least bringing up the possibility of welcoming the refugees more personally. I hadn't known they would ask you to play such an active role with the arrivals. I am sure no one saw the harm in it."

"Probably. I guess it means my façade is working."

"I noticed that as well. It is quite easy to take you at face-value."

Shepard asked, "What do you mean by that?"

"You look naturally intimidating. Anyone would assume that is all you are. Obviously, you are not."

"It would be easier if I was."

"If you were, we wouldn't be here now."

Taking my words to heart, Shepard sipped on her drink some more. Keeping my eyes to hers, I did the same, mirroring her without meaning to. We enjoyed this quiet. We enjoyed this ambiance. We enjoyed one another, remembering each other—the good and the bad—with this specific wine of ours. Having this one taste of lightness, and this one smell of the same, remind me so strongly of one person… I almost couldn't believe the simple trajectory of it all. The off-hand selection Shepard had made from her mini-refrigerator that day years ago. Until now with this constant reminder. She looked at me, she tasted me, she drank me. All with this veneer of normalcy, sitting in a bar together on our little date.

White wine did make Shepard sleepy sometimes.

Like now, after a glass or two and a bite to eat, coupled with her emotional exhaustion from earlier.

Lying down over the couch, I sat with my back against the armrest. I somehow managed to settle Shepard in my arms, with her needing to curl her long legs in to fit with me. The rain outside the window next to us had misted in a bit of a chill by now. I draped Shepard's coat over her body as a blanket, holding her close to me in warmth. The warmth of our bodies like this. The smell of her cologne; the faint scent of alcohol in her breaths over my breasts, and in mine along the top of her hair, her scalp.

Everything about this had quickened my pulse; heated my body temperature.

I nearly felt my heart beating out of my chest: pounding and pounding in this excess excitement in rest.

Shepard noticed, mumbling against me, "Babe, your heartbeats… Are you nervous?"

"Not nervous," I promised. "I'm just—glad you're here. This means so much to me."

Eyes closed, comforted by my hand stroking her hair, Shepard nodded in a quieted daze. She shivered a bit, too. From the cold, from the general state of things. These changes she had gone through lately. This shifting of her armor from invulnerability to something else. Something softer for me to feel through, holding her closer like this. As if I could feel the heat of her helplessness, normally unseen and tucked away. She trusted me to be this way. She let me shield her from anything and everything I could now.

This bravery through her weaknesses inspired my sincerity:

"You know, Shepard. After all you have been through, I've begun to see you as my little spark."

Bemused in her quiet laughter, she asked me, "Why that? Makes me sound like a kid."

"Well, yes. It's what Athame would call her beloved followers."

"The goddess Athame?"

"Yes. They were Her light, Her hope. How they seemed to wander without Her for so long. Wandering the galaxy and their worlds, sometimes in confusion. In exhaustion. Yet always keeping onward, burning bright as a star. Athame would wait patiently to find them, to welcome them back home at long last…after so much wandering. So much suffering and strife. In the end, it is worth it to be able to welcome Her brave little spark back into Her embrace. No matter how much we suffer, or come close to failing, the winds will rise again. Everything will continue. We will all carry on together. This determination we have will never end. There is always the promise of tomorrow. That is how I feel about us."

Quieting in contemplation, Shepard took my words to heart.

Once the sun had fully set, and the cold by the window became too much to bear normally, we walked around the mall some more. Aside from Kaidan's Secret Santa gift, I had already taken care of the separate presents I planned on giving to others. Shepard included. Looking at each of the stores we passed by, I thought instead to the future. How we could have returned here again someday, after the war, without all of this looming over our heads. Although, I felt some relief about Shepard's mood now, having improved from earlier. She seemed a little lighter as she held my hand, subconsciously leading the way as we went along.

As we passed by an upscale costume shop, Shepard remembered:

"Hey, about that Christmas party tomorrow night. The 'adult party' you mentioned. You said we would get to wear masks. Disguises. Are you going to tell me which one you picked out for me?"

"I am still not telling you," I teased. "It is supposed to be a surprise."

"Hmm. You must've put a lot of thought into this."

"Maybe."

Shepard flashed her whites at me, too charming at a time like this. "No hints at all?"

"None at all," I decided, amused by her mood now. "Even if I wanted to give you a hint, I would not do it so easily. You would have to try much harder than this. Just asking me nicely wouldn't be enough."

"Then how about I take you on a shopping spree? Right here, right now."

"Shepard…"

We had stopped in place without realizing it. Attracting attention as usual as people walked around us. Not caring about that, and making her point, Shepard stepped in front of me, gesturing to the stores.

"I'll buy you anything, you know. And not as a bribe. Because I want to. I want to spoil you."

I shouldn't have been smiling this much. "Since when did you take me as the materialistic type?"

"Never. But that's the point. You wouldn't take it for granted. So you're perfect to shop for."

We then went on an hours-long quest of Shepard's charming choosing, whisking me from store to store.

Unable to help myself, and unable to resist her, I let her sweep me away like this.

She started off practical at first. Picking out certain necessities I had forgotten I needed for the Normandy, like extra datapads and a new part for my computer. Then the bags in her hands from my shopping grew in abundance: Shepard suggested the most interesting outfits I had never come across on my own, blessed with her eye for fashion and detail. And I had never thought about these things all that much. Too focused on my work in the past, I hadn't had the luxury of treating myself like this, let alone caring about these material things. Yet Shepard managed to make this experience so magical for me. The way she complimented me, promising this and that would look wonderful on my body. I lost track of how much she ended up spending on me. I lost track of how many times my face heated from her attention on me like this. I lost track of time itself, enchanted by her enchantment; lifted away.

As our final trip for the night, Shepard brought me to a jewelry store. Endless opulence, well-dressed and well-off customers, and the perfect lighting around to make each jewel glimmer in attractiveness. How out of place I felt, walking through this shop with her. Every single ring and necklace and bracelet and pair of earrings glowed as price tags all their own, well-above anything I had ever coveted in the past. I felt myself drawn to them, if only because of Shepard's enthusiasm. Her insatiable wish to spoil me, as she had said.

Sensing the same, a clerk soon came over to us. Practically floating to us from the other side of the store, she had spotted us with ease, intent on making a sale. Knowing for a fact that Shepard and I had money, the credit signs from the inevitable commission sparkled in her eyes, just as these jewels did.

Shepard had something specific in mind for me.

She explained all to the clerk, who retreated behind the counter, unlocking the safe way back there.

Not allowing me to see anything yet, Shepard brought me over to the nearest mirror. Standing behind me, she accepted the jewelry she had asked for, wishing for me to try it on.

She practically melted her eyes into mine through this mirror.

All as she set the luxurious weight and sublime chill of this necklace over me.

A pure blue diamond necklace the same color as my eyes.

Transfixed by this whole experience, I couldn't think of anything to say. Because if they had taken this out of the safe, then it must've cost hundreds of thousands, if not millions of credits.

Holding the clasp of the chain along the nape of my neck, Shepard had all the words I did not.

"This is what I meant earlier," she murmured, just along the side of my heated face. "When I said you would look nice with a necklace on. The shape of your neck. Everything about you. You're gorgeous."

"Shepard, I love this." I resisted the urge to touch this diamond. "But you know I can't accept it."

"Why not?"

"You know why."

Pausing for a moment, removed from the fantasy, Shepard remembered what I meant.

That destruction of mine had brought us full-circle.

Back when I had destroyed those rings from around her neck, just hours before our mission to Palaven, leading us to our current path today.

As the clerk took the necklace back from us, I wondered what Shepard would do now. If she would retreat into herself—or if she would make the promises I wanted. The only ones I wanted for us.

I asked her, "Have you thought about it?"

Glancing at the promise rings secured behind the nearest glass, Shepard said, "Not like that."

"What do you mean, 'not like that'?"

"I don't—want to get ahead of myself."

As long as the answer wasn't no, I could live with that.

"I understand, Shepard," I soothed. "And I am not pressuring you. This is my way of asking you to ask me—someday. When it's right." Of course, she needed more time. Time to decouple and detangle from the past; to couple and tangle with me properly, restructuring these reminders. "Since we are doing this, I figured I would make myself clear. I have already hinted about it enough. This is more than a hint now."

Seeing what I did there, Shepard at least managed to smile at me again.

This smile of hers sealed the promise, the assurance for me:

She had chosen me as the successor.

No one could take this away from me. Never again.

That alone meant more to me than any jewel, anything else she could have bought. The flow of this arpeggio from strife to contentment, I would never forget. Securing this security with her: we could love to the moon and back. One small step leading us forward with one another, every single day from now on. Forward and onward to our eclipse of the past, turning a new page for our brightest sunlight together, everlasting.