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Thane was with the other long-term care patients in the common room of the hospital when Emily Wong broke into the Blasto movie they were watching.
"Special bulletin: Earth under attack! Forces of unknown origin have attacked the major cities of Earth, including the Alliance base in Vancouver. Transmissions have been intermittent, but it appears the damage is extensive. Some claim the attackers are the Reapers. Commander Shepard has gone on record estimating a Reaper attack within the next five years, but Shepard's whereabouts are currently unknown. Sources say she was in Vancouver for the batarian tribunal when the attack occurred." Wong looked up into the camera, and Thane had the sense that her remarks were her own, deeply felt, and not scripted. "If these are the Reapers, coming for humanity, and I see no reason to believe otherwise, the rest of us need to prepare. They will come for us, for each and every race in the galaxy. Be ready."
The camera moved away from her abruptly, and then the screen cut back to the vid in progress, not that anyone in the room was watching it any longer. Thane got to his feet and went back to his room, firing up his private terminal. Earth under attack by the Reapers? Shepard under attack? The nightmare they had been dreading had begun.
"Arashu, she is your angel," he whispered. "Please tell me you have protected her and brought her safely through the attack." He reached out to a few old contacts whom he knew to have ties to Earth, but they knew no more than anyone else.
A sharp knock sounded at his door, followed by Kolyat coming in. He took the chair next to Thane's. "Father, I came as soon as I heard. Have you been able to find out anything?"
"No." He was tormented by visions of Shepard lying dead, or worse, captured by the Reapers. They would want her more than anyone else, he knew.
"Do you want me to check in with Bailey, see what he knows?"
"I don't imagine C-Sec has any more information than my contacts—but I thank you for the offer, and for being here." He stared at the screen, willing someone, anyone, to get back to him.
There was a silence, and he looked up to see Kolyat watching him intently. "You care for her very much."
"I do. She is … extraordinary. As was your mother," he hastened to assure his son, "although in different ways."
"It's all right, Father. I think—I think maybe she would have wanted you to be happy."
Even given somewhat grudgingly, it was a tremendous admission, and Thane felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for this chance to be close to his son again. "Is there anyone who makes you happy, Kolyat?"
"No. Not at the moment. I thought once, but—" He shrugged. "It wasn't right."
"Someday someone will, and you will understand …" Flashes of memory pushed insistently at him, and Thane used all his control to keep from being drawn into the images of both women that hovered so near the back of his vision. "I thought—it never occurred to me that Shepard would be the first to cross the sea."
"You believe that? The sea, and the gods?"
"Yes." Thane shrugged. "I am aware that my beliefs are considered old-fashioned, but when I pray to the gods, I feel their strength and love flowing through me. When I consider what is to come when this life is past, I believe that the analogy of changing from a land creature to a sea creature makes sense. It comforts me. And what is the point of turning away something that comforts you just because it also happened to comfort your ancestors?"
Kolyat nodded. "I suppose I can understand that."
Before Thane could continue, his terminal beeped with an incoming message. The Normandy! His heart leaped and thudded, his breath coming fast, and he struggled to get his breathing under control even as he tapped the message to open it. Joker's face appeared on the screen, and Thane's heart sank. He gasped for breath.
"Thane! Thane, that you?" The picture was rippling and crackling, Joker's voice cutting in and out.
"I'm here! Joker, what is your situation?"
"She's alive! Thane, Shepard's here, on the Normandy. Do you hear me? I repeat, Shepard is on the Normandy."
"Yes, I hear you. Is she—all right?"
"Fine. We're stopping off on the way, then we'll be there. She said to tell you she's coming."
"Arashu's mercy." Thane's breath was coming short with the excitement, the edges of his vision blackening. He could feel Kolyat's hand at his elbow, holding him. "Joker."
"Yeah?"
"It is good to see you."
"Same."
"Tell her—I will wait for her."
"Understood. Joker out."
The screen went black, and Thane gripped the desk, breathing in and out slowly until his heart stopped pounding. "She is alive."
"I'm glad, Father."
"Be glad for more than just me, son. Shepard is the only person who has ever defeated a Reaper. If we are to win this war, and make no mistake, we will all be drawn into it, she is the one who will lead us to victory." Closing his eyes, Thane breathed a heartfelt prayer to Amonkira, to sharpen Shepard's aim and give her safety in her upcoming battles; to Arashu, to enfold her angel and protect her; and to Kalahira, to allow him the time to see her once more.