From Ashes
Chapter Nineteen: A Tale of Two Matriarchs
A/N: Well, time for a bit of fun and advertising another story plot, lads. This chapter features the two lead characters in a side story that is compliant with this one. (Still a real WIP because my work on this takes priority) I'm including this little side plot because they're in the fic anyway :) Happy reading, all!
There was another conversation going on away from prying ears. The embassies were abuzz with people checking on specific loved ones, but there wasn't a full account of the dead or missing just yet; there wouldn't be for several days. The human embassy had been no different except for at this moment. The door to Udina's office was locked to outsiders, and the two people inside had no intention of publicizing their conversation. One was a captain who had been asked to step down before this mission. He had a military history and an N7 rank dating back to the First Contact War. The other was an admiral; his military history was shrouded and his story was left to the imagination. Both stood in dress uniform and were speaking in low voices, although the office itself was empty.
"I need to know that was the right call out there, David."
"Was there anything to indicate that it wasn't?" David Anderson turned to face the admiral that had spoken to him. "This is bigger than humanity, and she realized that."
"I know." Steven Hackett frowned as he looked the captain over and then lowered his head in thought. "Saving the council made it easier for public relations." He said quietly. "But you know how they'll spin this. The committee has already questioned it due to our losing five ships to save one dreadnought."
"That one dreadnought could have outgunned any of ou ships." Anderson pointed out. "And it wasn't just about the firepower. There were more people aboard that one ship compared to ours."
"I read the report." Steven nodded. "Ten thousand at least; not including the council themselves."
"It's not just about the numbers, the guns, or the ships, is it?" Anderson guessed as he sat down at one of the tables in the office. "What's this really about?"
"I've heard rumors that the disciplinary committee is getting involved;" Hackett sat opposite of Anderson and folded his hands in his lap. "They are stating that Shepard did not act in humanity's best interests."
"Of course, she didn't." Anderson agreed. "People seem to forget that although she is still under the employ of the Systems Alliance Military, she is also a spectre. We pushed for this, and now they complain about it."
"It seems that's all they tend to do now." Hackett nodded. "Then there's the matter of Admiral Kahoku."
"You know she didn't have anything to do with that." Anderson stopped the admiral right there. "The report mentioned Cerberus as the reason behind his death." Pausing for a moment, Anderson frowned. "Come to think of it, the news suggested he died of natural causes. Pardon my bluntness, but what the hell was that about?"
"I wasn't in control of that." Steven said in defense. "The press release wasn't even cleared with the family. They know something is going on. Puncture marks all over his body…"
"And the disciplinary committee wants to involve Shepard in this mess?"
"I don't like it anymore than you do." Hackett offered. "More than likely, she'll present evidence, the committee will have no choice but to agree, and Shepard won't have to worry about it." After a moment or two of silence, the admiral changed topics slightly. "Along those lines, I thought of something when they brought this up: Kahoku's men were the ones who found Armistan Banes' body on that derelict ship; that was what got them, and eventually, their commanding officer killed."
"I remember when he was found, yes." The captain nodded. "Bit of a scandal, really."
"It was." Steven agreed. "Didn't know who he worked for; I didn't, anyway. He had previous working relations with a doctor that is here on the Citadel."
"I read something in Shepard's report about that." Anderson used a terminal that was on the table to pull up his archived reports. Finding the one he wanted, he read it quickly. "Yes, Doctor Chloe Michel, down in the wards near C-Sec academy. She runs a clinic."
"According to Shepard's activities, Cerberus is getting hit. Operations are being shut down; ones that Banes may have been involved in. Kahoku's last communication suggested that Banes had been working for or alongside of Cerberus." Hackett paused for a few seconds before continuing. "They had knowledge of his previous associates. Some of them have disappeared. What's to stop them from coming after her?"
"That's a good point." Anderson nodded gravely. "I can see if C-Sec will keep an eye on her. I've got an officer who owes me a favor."
"See if you can make that happen until we can get her relocated." Hackett stood finally. "The wards aren't the safest place."
"The entire station isn't as safe as it used to be." Anderson reminded. "I'll do what I can."
"I assume you've talked to Shepard about the committee."
"I mentioned it to her yesterday and sent a message about the possibilities this morning."
"Good." Checking his timepiece before looking toward the door for a moment, Hackett finished. "Brass will be arriving over the next few days. She'll need to be ready."
"She will be."
"So, how was that?" Wiks crossed his arms. "Formal, informal, a happy medium between the two?"
"It was formal but not too formal." Shepard gave him that much. "Easy to follow, and it should give them a pretty good idea."
"Exactly what I was oping for." The salarian relaxed a bit. "Didn't want to sound like I was quoting a medical journal at them. I personally hate doctors that do that."
"When will you break the news to them?"
"I suppose when her replacement arrives." Padok thought for a moment. "With all the traffic, I knew that wouldn't be yesterday; later today, perhaps."
"Her replacement?"
"Ah yes." Wiks nodded. "Every council species has a… council elect, if you will, that stands ready to assume the role when needed; temporary, in her case, I'm sure." Remembering something, Wiks raised a finger in the air before preparing to leave. "Just remembered a few tests I ran. I'll need to get those results." Looking over his shoulder, he finished by saying: "She did want to see you, by the way; just there." He indicated one of the procedure rooms off the corridor they were in.
"Thanks." She responded while pausing to send a quick message to the turian embassy.
Crossing the corridor and stepping over the threshold, Shepard entered to find a vast window with the artificial sunlight gleaming through it. The actual bed was empty; its previous occupant was sitting upright in a chair nearby. From what Shepard could see of her, there was no trace of the councilor in this woman. Her posture was wrong: shoulders slightly down, head inclined slightly. When the door closed however, that posture changed to one of someone on medium to high alert.
"Who is there?" The question was spoken in a flat tone that didn't match her sudden change in posture. "I can still hear you."
"You wanted to see me, Councilor?" Shepard spoke without thinking; it had been on her mind since Wiks had mentioned it.
"Commander?" That had Shepard raising her eyebrows. There was a slight instinctive twitch of the head, as if to turn and look, but immediately the movement stopped. "Shepard, is that you?"
"Yes, it is." Shepard took a few steps closer. Tevos' posture seemed to ease off again, but there was still a slight uncertainty about it. As she got closer, she could see the tension still slightly present; she soon found out why.
"Where are you?"
She had an idea from what Wiks said earlier, but the truth of the matter hit when that question was asked. He had said that there was no way her eyes would work naturally again, and they didn't. That explained everything; the alertness, tension, and what had been said so far. Shepard realized she had paused in her step when the councilor had asked that question, and so she resumed in her moving across the room a second later. "I'm right behind you." Resting a hand on the other woman's uninjured shoulder, Shepard saw Tevos' left hand rise from its position on the arm of the chair and cover her own. Whether it was a means of making sure that was true, Shepard didn't know or really care. "How are you feeling?"
"I wish I knew how best to answer that." The words were almost empty. There was no volume, no emotion, no nothing behind them; the only notable thing was that her voice was still slightly strained. "The doctors will be frustrated that-" She paused for a second to take in a somewhat shaky breath. "I am not lying there like an invalid, but…" She trailed off; considering her words before speaing again. "I couldn't just lie there…" Her speech was slightly off; as if she were out of breath too easily. Shepard frowned slightly in concern, but said nothing. Instead, she simply listened. "I don't know what is going on out there: where people are, if they're alive, or if this is all a terrible nightmare…"
For the first time in a not so long while, Shepard didn't know what to say. There was always the blunt approach; it did happen, many were dead, others were missing, and the Citadel was in chaos at the moment. Unfortunately, that would easily do more harm than good. Really, there was no easy way to describe the situation other than that. According to a snippit from a Westerlund News reporter that she had dealt with before, Shepard heard that people were being found both dead and alive after pieces of Sovereign and other destroyed ships had rained all over the station. Sadly, the only news that was coming around was bad at the moment. Not many people were broadcasting what good was going on. There was one turian reporter that seemed to be giving out some news of people being found and reunited with their children. That had been on the large display in the atrium when Shepard had entered this place. Gently squeezing the asari's shoulder, she spoke quietly. "I can tell you anything I know," She started, but then a thought passed through her mind. "But first, what do you remember?"
"The last thing I remember…" There was a second's hesitation before Tevos continued. "Is being arrested."
"I stil owe you for that one." Shepard couldn't suppress a slight laugh. It was no funny matter, but the way the councilor had said it made it so.
"There will be time to deal with that." It only lasted for a few seconds; a flicker of amusement, a slight amount of the woman Shepard had come to be slightly familiar with returned, but it was gone just as quickly as it came. "That is the last thing I remember. Your ship left the dock,and I wa arrested."
"We reached Ilos." Shepard began. "Saren and his geth were already there when we landed." And she proceeded to explain the entire mission on Ilos; making a point to go over Vigil's information and exactly what the conduit was in detail. After ending it with how she and the others returned to the station, Shepard paused to let that sink in.
"So it was active…" Still wrapping her head around what she had just heard, Tevos put two and two together. "The monument was the silent end of the conduit's path; it was a means to board the station."
"I couldn't believe it when Vigil explained it." Shepard admitted. "There I made that comment about a proverbial backdoor onto the Citadel, and that's what it was."
"A very bold move if I remember correctly." Tevos nodded slightly, but the sudden minute cringe of pain wasn't missed. "Mentioning something like that in a meeting with the council without corroboration…"
"It got their attention." Shepard commented idly. "And yours."
"Where are they?" By they, Shepard assumed she meant her colleagues.
"Not sure on their specific locations just now, but I know they're alright; dealing with their own business, I expect."
"My embassy must be an absolute wreck." Tevos muttered. "Something like this happens, and everyone flocks to it for some sense of safety, and where am I?" The tone she used grew more and more bitter as she continued. "Here; not addressing issues or concerns, not doing what I can to keep my people feeling secure. I am sitting here wasting time…" She had to stop speaking. Her frustration was getting the better of her, and tension was building again. Shepard could see her right hand gripping the arm of the chair; muscles slightly flexed in her arm and burned shoulder. She was wrong; the tension and frustration hadn't silenced her. The pain had.
"You and I both know that there is really nothing that you can do for them at the moment." Shepard countered not unkindly. "The other two are just doing something to make themselves useful and keep busy at the moment. Nothing will really reassure anyone until this place starts looking and feeling like it used to; not after what happened."
"That's just it." Tevos said sharply. "I barely remember what happened. I know they came here, attacked the station, but the rest…" It seemed that anger, frustration, and even sorrow were all battling for control at once. "I just don't know…"
"Give yourself time." Shepard said while keeping the stern edge out of her tone. "Believe me, if you don't, no one else will."
"I really wish you would tone it down, Commander."
"And do what? Wait around whie my ship and crew are in disarray?"
Padok Wiks stood over an asari commando who was confined to a chair near where the councilor and Shepard were having their conversation. He knew she was in no real state to get up and walk away suddenly; not without her muscles locking down in the process. Reluctantly, he used his omni tool to transfer something to a datapad that was nearby before speaking in a slightly sharper tone but with lower volume.
"Need I remind you that you are in no fit condition to simply get up and go about your business? Your entire body took in enough electricity to cripple someone. You're damned lucky your reflexes were as good as they are."
"What?"
"Your barrier was the only thing that will leave you standing." Wiks explained as he handed the datapad over. "This is the amount of damage that would have occurred had you not put your barrier up when you did." An image was displayed that revealed permanent nerve and tissue damage as well as significant brain cell atrophy. "The electricity would have impacted and traveled to the brain; rendering you nothing more than a vegetable for the rest of your would-be short life." He then moved on to something else; the initial intake scans from the day previous. "This was damage sustained. You'll be abe to return to duty within a few weeks with restrictions." With her looking over the possible and actual results, he continued. "You lost consciousness after the initial-"
"No." The commando raised her hand to stop him; cringing slightly as she did so. "I didn't lose consciousness. I was awake the whole time."
"Impossible-"
"No." Setting the datapad aside, the asari looked Wiks in the eye. "I was awake. I couldn't move, but I heard everything. I can't just sit here and do nothing."
"At the moment, you really have no choice." Wiks countered. "I don't think you can stand for more than ten minutes." He realized what he had just said before adding: "And please don't try to prove me wrong, Commander."
"I appreciate the concern, but I've at least got to get out of this sterile environment." Rising shakily from the chair, the commando waited a moment to test herself before walking away; Wiks remaining where he was, shaking his head.
"Let it not be said that your commanding officer isn't stubborn." He turned to an approaching asari with teal skin and dark markings as he said this. "She's lucky she can do this under her own power."
"I know." It was the flight lieutenant from the Ascension that glanced over her shoulder toward her retreating CO. "Unfortunately, no one can convince her otherwise. I will say this though; she really can't stand hospitals."
"Any particular reason why?"
"Something that happened just shy of three centuries ago."
From then on, Wiks didn't question it. He simply let the matriarch go on about her business; knowing that sometime soon, she would probably crash from the strain. Checking in on various patients fromtime to time, he noticed that one seemed to be doing a bit better. While he was only in there for moments at a time during rounds, he saw a slight improvement in the councilor's demeanor. She still wasn't fully herself, but there were improvements to her mood and her willingness to talk while Shepard was there. Just before his shift ended however, he was met with the issue ha had slightly dreaded earlier. Three people approached, and they all seemed intent on speaking with him. He waved them all into his makeshift office; the corner of a long room designed for doctors to keep records of their patients. His work was stacked neatly on a desk in the corner.
"I assumed this would happen sooner rather than later." He started off. "You're here about your colleague, I assume."
"Yes, I understand she is recovering." Councilor Sparatus spoke first.
"As much as possible; given the short amount of time."
"What is her current condition?" Valern inquired Wiks proceded to tell them exactly what he had spoken with Shepard about earlier. Every detail, every possibility, and lastly, the progress that had been made. Both turian and salarian councilors looked at one another before turning to their silent third; Valern addressing her finally. "Thoughts?"
"It is best that I do not form an opinion based on this alone." Her tone was neutral, but not as that of the subject of her comment. She seemed colder; indifferent. "Regardless of situation, I am here for the interim to assist in any way that I can."
"Then it would seem that we have a great deal of work to get done." Valern finished. "We will need to discuss steps that need to be taken from here to benefit those both on the station and those that are not."
"Based on what has happened, it is right to assume that there is a great deal of uncertainty." Sparatus added.
"So there is." The asari commented in that same indifferent tone. "However, a simple show of progress for the sake of unity and a show of strength will do nothing but mislead." She paused for onlya second before adding: "We barely know what has just happened or what is to come. We need to be able to fully comprehend these events before we consider taking a step forward; otherwise, we will be on unstable ground." Others nodding in understanding and agreement, she turned to the salarian next. "I will need to speak with my predecessor, albiet temporary, to get a grasp of the situation from her perspective."
"Of course." Wiks indicated the same door he had to Sheprd hours earlier. "She's just there."
"We will be in our respective embassies if needed." Valern said as he turned on his heel and left. Sparatus however, hung back.
"She is improving, then." He said after Valern had left.
"Yes, very much so." Wiks nodded. "Still doesn't seem to remember much in the way of details during the assault, but she istalking more, and seems to be in better spirits than earlier." That did it. Sparatus nodded and turned to follow Valern out of the ward.
"Didn't expect you to arrive so soon." Wiks commented casually. "What sped up the process?"
"Well, aside from the obvious," The asari started. "The councilor getting arrested beforehand didn't help matters."
"There is truth in that."
"Shepard?"
"Hmm?" Shepard hummed her response as she read a few news reports on her omni tool. She had moved from standing behind the councilor to sitting in the chair adjacent to the front left. Some survivors had been found on Tayseri ward; one of the arms that had taken some of the most damage.
"I want your honest opinion." That had Shepard slightly amused. Looking up from the news feed, she saw the councilor looking in her direction. "How bad does it actually look?"
"Like a plasma jet went off in your face."
"Perfect timing." Tevos said without looking back toward the door. It would have been pointless. Shepard however, had. An asari with lighter facial markings and dark blue eyes stood leaning against a table with a slightly amused expression in her features. "Commander Shepard, may I introduce my successor; Matriarch Irissa."
"Please…" The newly introduced matriarch waved a hand in dismissal. "I hope that you will allow me a bit of casual lack of professionalism, Commander." She addressed Shepard then. At the human spectre's nod, Irissa turned her attention back to Tevos. "As if I would care to have your position on a permanent basis."
"Why else are you here?" Tevos questioned; her lips upturned ever so slightly in amusement. "Surely not for a social call."
"Ha." Irissa moved around and took the last chair that was available; adjacent to the upper right of the councilor, so that she and Shepard wee technically across from one another. She did direct her words to the one between them after that short sarcastic laugh. "No, they wanted me here as soon as they got wind of your arrest."
"I will never live that down."
"Whether you do or not, I approve." Irissa said casually. "You know that I don't care for their shallow behavior anymore than most of the citizens around here. It's high time someone stood up and broke the mold of the calm, diplomatic, and always agreeable councilor." She said this in a more or less bitter tone. "Honestly, every race is stereotyped…"
"Let this be a lesson to you, Shepard." Tevos interjected; this time with clear amusement. "Do not get her started. You will be here a while."
"I actually think it is refreshing." Shepard admitted. "She's right. Everyone has the council pegged to three personalities: The turian is the militaristic hard-ass, the asari is the ever patient diplomat, and the salarian sticks with logic and facts."
"Ah yes, the diplomat who goes rogue, sides with the "underdog" spectre, attacks and holds off C-Sec reinforcements while letting said spectre escape, and then is arrested." Irissa ticked off one by one. "No, I just find it amusing, but seeing as I was sent here to solve crises, I suppose I should get down to business." Straightening up slightly, a serious tone, much like the one she had used earlier, returned to the matriarch's voice. "Firstly, what do you remember?"
"Everything leading up to the attack, but nothing in detail after." Tevos admitted. "I know the general result, but I haven''t heard anything in regard to casualties or anything."
At that point, Shepard had to leave; a call came through on her omni tool, and upon seeing the one responsible, she had to leave to take it. Standing, she opted for audio only and muted it for the moment. She touched the councilor's shoulder before leaving. "I'll be here for a bit, so I'll check in on you later and relieve your assumed guard."
"If you see her out there, attempt to convince her to get some rest." Tevos nodded in regard to the previous statement. "I am sure she needs it more than I."
"I hear Wiks has had no luck, but I'll do my best." Shepard let go and addressed Irissa before leaving. "A pleasure to have met you."
"Likewise."
Heading out into the corridor and out of the ward, Shepard made for the lift that would get her to the rooftop lounge. It was open, and from what she had heard, mostly empty around this time of day. Unmuting her comm, she spoke once on the lift platform. "Shepard here."
"Shepard." It was Anderson. "I hoped this would go through. I found out all that I could in regard to the brass' interest."
"And?"
"And, they're probably going to bring up Kahoku as well."
"Don't tell me…" Shepard muttered as the lift climbed the last bit to get to the roof. "They're going to try and pin that on me as well."
"That's the rumor, yes." Anderson confirmed. "I know that you merely found the body."
"I didn't give up the information he got to the Shadow Broker, either."
"You what?" That was news. Shepard remembered that she had meant to add that as an addendum to her report, but she hadn't done it with all that had been going on.
"That was something I meant to add to that report." Shepard clarified. "After finding and retrieving the admiral's body, I was contacted by someone claiming to work for the Shadow Broker. They said that Kahoku had paid them for information on Cerberus, and that all they wanted in return was data he had gathered."
"Cerberus was mentioned in your report, I remember." Anderson said. When Shepard emerged out onto the roof, she allowed the video stream to go through and his pondering face met her. "They are a shady organization, Shepard."
"I know. I heard rumors that Armistan Banes worked with them."
"About that," Anderson said quietly. "Did that doctor, Chloe Michel, say anything about it?"
"No; just that she had worked with Banes and knew he was involved with some shady people." Shepard remembered the conversation. "Captain, about Cerberus, there were more operations that I came across."
"Go on."
"There was a colony that had been transformed into husks that we think Cerberus was involved with." She thought back. "There was also a ship that had rachni aboard. They had been deployed to two systems in the Styx-Theta cluster. You'll remember my report on Lieutenant Marie Durand and her team from the listening post?" Anderson's image nodded. "The freighter that deployed them knew about Noveria and they had beenin contact with Cerberus. There was a log from some woman about it that I attached."
"Looking at that now."
"I think there was one more, but I can't be sure…"
"Regardless, was there anything useful in that data Kahoku had on him?"
"The men killed on Edolus were led there by a distress beacon purposefully planted right on top of a thresher maw nest." Shepard said flatly. Then, something hit her. "Wait, the corporal we found, Toombs, he mentioned Cerberus. He claims that they were responsible for the attack on Akuze."
"The Thresher massacre?"
"The Thresher massacre." Shepard confirmed. "I was one of the first ones to hit the ground with the rest of the reinforcements. Still have a few scars from it myself when we encountered one of the last maws. Sir, if they were behind that,"
"Then they need to be looked into, yes." Anderson finished. "If they were behind Kahoku's death, then that adds to their head count. Any other data there that you can think of?"
"Nothing of real significance. I'll forward it to you when I get back to the ship. I think I'll speak to Barla Von about it when I'm in the financial district next."
"Good." Anderson prepared to end the call but stopped. "Shepard, they will want to see you within the next few days. Be prepared."
"I will be."
While Shepard was having the conversation with Anderson, a pair of asari were talking in low voices at a table on the opposite side; one Lieutenant Lorena, and the other, her CO, Matriarch Lidanya. Both were engaged in their own slight argument,and paid no mind to the human spectre speaking with her former captain.
"You know he's right." The lieutenant said simply.
"About my needing to lay off," Lidanya frowned deeply; eyes closing momentarily in defeat. "I know. It's just…" She thought for a moment. "With all that happened, I keep thinking there has to be something I could have done differently."
"But what good would it do now, Ma'am?" Lorena tilted her head sideways. "What possible good would it do; even if you did find something, is it worth torturing yourself over?"
"Ten thousand people aboard that ship depended on my leadership." The matriarch countered. "I don't like looking at it that way, but there it is. Nevermind the council; that's not even counting that responsibility."
"I know." Lorena nodded slowly. "I thought of that a few times." Getting around to the reason for her being up here, the lieutenant looked her CO in the eye. "You weren't kidding about being aware of everything, were you?" It really wasn't a question, and they both knew it.
"During the last distress call, we were hit." Lidanya explained. "Spray took out half of our remaining barriers leaving us right at ten percent remaining." She spoke in a strangely flat tone; one that her helmsman hadn't heard in years. "The Fifth fleet was coming through the relay, but they closed the channel."
"You couldn't say anything…"
"I couldn't move." The matriarch corrected. "Couldn't even open my eyes to see what the hell was going on… Couldn't stop her from pulling me out of the way."
"Permission to speak frankly, Ma'am?"
"Idon't want an officer afraid to speak their mind, Lieutenant."
"When are you going to give yourself a break?" Lorena straightened up and gave her CO a hard look. "I've seen this before, and hated it then just as much as I do now. There's nothing that can be done; you did all that was possible to do at that point. Hell, if it hadn't been for your actions, barriers wouldn't have come back up at all, and we wouldn't have made it that long." Getting a message suddenly, she looked it over and stood. "I'm sorry for the suddenness, but I'm needed for diagnostics."
"Go." Lorena stood and looked at her CO carefully before turning on her heel. Lidanya's words stopped her for a moment however. "Kid," Lorena turned her head; looking over her shoulder. "Thanks. Sometimes it's good to have someone knock some sense into you."
"Anytime, Ma'am."
"And Lieutenant, one more thing." Seeing her helmsman nod, Lidanya continued in a more relaxed tone. "Don't even think about letting the salarian know I'm sitting up here."
"Just out of curiosity, why not, Ma'am?" Lorena asked this with all the seriousness she could muster.
"Idon't want to give Wiks the satisfaction of saying "I told you so.""
Lorena, thankfully having her back turned, smirked and walked away. She saw Shepard, the human spectre, heading in the same direction. They were both going for the lift that was apparently on its way up to meet them. When the door opened, two people in medical uniforms stepped out. Both were human and one seemed to be in an overly foul mood. They went past and found a table near the one she had just left; their conversation had already started. Lorena and Shepard heard the first question and part of the response before the lift doors closed and they began their descent to the next floor down.
"How's your family? Have you heard from them?"
"Yeah. Got the notice this morning." Doctors Greg Norton and Tom Post had known one another since meeting in the military a few years ago. They had both gone in for careers as combat medics, and so far, they had done well. Greg, the former speaking, frowned in concern.
"Notice? You don't mean…"
"Yeah." Tom muttered. Ben's dead."
"Was he on the station, or…"
"No, my brother decided that he wanted to be a combat pilot. He was aboard the Warsaw." Tom ground out. "First ship in besides the Normandy when they went to save that asari ship."
"I'm sorry." Greg said in earnest. "Parents know?"
"They're here. They were aboard the Cape Town, one of the ships that made it out." Tom continued. "First thing Mom said was that she wished it had been her and not Ben."
"Well, I guess we all feel that way." Greg tried. "I mean, if it were a choice between me and my wife, I'd gladly go in her place." He admitted but spoke again shortly after. "Don't tell her that, though; she'll think I'm going all soft."
"Not the point." Tom cut him off. "Point is, none of us had to lose anyone if they hadn't gone after that one ship."
"Hey, I'm bummed about losing friends in that fight as well, but-"
"It's not the same!" Tom cut his colleague off again; this time throwing his hands up to emphasize. "I lost family, not friends." He took a sip of water from the bottle he had brought up with him. "You know, I had to keep an eye on the CO of that ship, the Ascension, and I heard her dismiss the salarian doctor down there; like it didn't matter-"
"Hey, ease off, man." Greg warned. "You're not the only one who lost people, alright?" Taking a quick look around, he jerked his head back toward the other doctor. "Seriously, that patient," He emphasized the word. "That you were talking about," Greg pointed his thumb over his shoulder. "Right over there."
"I know that, and don't give half a shit either." Tom ground out. "They think so highly of themselves; wrapped up in their tranquility. I wonder if she ever lost family to a war." Turning slightly, he addressed his target directly. "Have you?"
"Come again?" Lidanya, who had heard everything played it off as if she hadn't when the human addressed her.
"Ever lost family to a war?" He stood up and crossed his arms. "Know what it feels like to get that call?"
"War?"
"Yeah, war." Tom nodded sharply. "That thing that tears whole civilizations apart."
"Don't patronize me kid." The matriarch snapped. Her tone had gone from casual to deadly with his last remark.
"Come on, Tom, lay off." Greg stood as well and moved to pull his colleague back. "You'll have to excuse him; he lost his baby brother in the battle with Sovereign."
"I heard." Lidanya replied evenly; tone still hardened. "I shouldn't' dignify your question with a thought; let alone a response, human."
"Why?" Tom nearly shouted. "Too good for that?"
"You don't even know what war is." Lidanya remained where she was; eyes narrowed slightly on the young man who seemed to be pulsing with anger now. "You didn't really see a battle. Yes, Sovereign was about to take over this station, and yes, it would have ended everything, but you don't know war."
"Oh, like you do-"
"Stand down, Corporal." Greg tried another approach. Being a lieutenant himself, he out-ranked Post easily. "Walk it off-"
"You're what, thirty, kid?" Lidanya addressed Corporal Post. "give or take a few years."
"Twenty-four."
"I've lived nearly five and a half times your average lifetime." Lidanya said just as sharply as he had answered. "I heard about your "First Contact" war with the turians. It must have been something."
"Ma'am." Lieutenant Greg Norton said in a warning tone.
"Don't talk about that!" Tom Post spat. "I lost a grandfather to that… what did you all call it… the "Relay 314 Incident!"
"It lasted three months." Lidanya stated. "Like I said, it must have been something… Your people coming in contact with "aliens" for the first time." Her tone changed to one a bit more serious; still keeping its edge. "Tell me, how would you have liked that to last nearly three centuries?"
"What?" This time, both men questioned what she had just said.
"Think about it; What if that war hadn't been about turians thinking of you as inferior. What if they had seen you as workers, and they wanted you under their control." Finally, two and two made sense between the two men, but before they could protest and ask what that had to do with it, Lidanya went on. "That was the conflict I lost my bondmate to." She said darkly. "Because of that, my family was destroyed; my own children are somewhere out there, and I have no idea if they're safe or not."
"Now that business has been dealt with," Irissa leaned back in her chair with a curious gaze. "What was that about a personal guard?"
"Someone you would be familiar with." Tevos answered somewhat cryptically.
"Oh really?" Irissa rolled her shoulders casually in an attempt to loosen them after they had been stiff. She was always a bit tense aboard starhips; although she had served aboard them for several years in her youth. "How so?"
"A certain stubborn matriarch, not unlike present company, that you were seriously involved with at one point."
"Really?" That had gotten her attention. Irissa glanced back toward the slightly translucent metal and glass door that she had entered a while ago. "I didn't see her out there when I arrived. Where is she?"
"I would probably be the last to know." Tevos remarked dryly. "Last I heard, she was outside; not too far from that door." When Irissa offered no response, she continued. "You two still haven't spoken."
"Not for twenty years." Irissa confirmed.
"What was the reasoning behind that?" Tevos questioned. "You two were always so close."
"That was the problem." Irissa remarked. "Everything was alright; getting back to a semi-normal state after Tarquin passed away." She shivered involuntarily. "I cared for him; not nearly as much as I did for her, but…" Shaking her head and moving back to the correct topic, she went on. "It came on so suddenly; she was monitoring activity beyond the Veil again, and I don't know… All of that progress just dissolved. There wasn't a time we spoke that we didn't argue."
"What was the breaking point?"
"It got to the point where it was just better not to speak, but one day I chanced it." Irissa explained. "It was the anniversary of Alana's death, and looking back now, I was an idiot. I had to make a choice, and I chose to walk away; rather than see her through it."
"It still affects her."
"Still does." Irissa nodded slowly. Silence, though comfortable fell between them for a few moments before Tevos spoke again.
"Padok Wiks made a point to confine her to the building for the time being. I assume you heard what happened."
"No. They didn't tell me anything upon arrival. I was already on my way here when the Citadel came under attack and the relays were locked down." Irissa explained. "What happened?"
"She was injured during the battle; electricity came through one of the terminals."
"You say she has to be here somewhere?"
"She is." Tevos nodded stiffly; the minute pain was something she was getting used to, despite the painkillers that she was on. "Go; I'm not going anywhere. It's time those decades of silence came to an end."
"Too right you are." Irissa stood slowly. "Thank you for letting me know." She was at the door and about to cross its threshold when she added: "I'll keep you informed of my work in the embassy; that way you will not be in the dark; proverbially speaking."
"If I return." Tevos remarked.
"Not a question of if." Irissa said as she left. "It's a matter of when. She passed through the ward, not seeing any sign of the previously mentioned other matriarch, but Padok Wiks was nearby. Approaching him, she spoke quickly. "The other matriarch who was confined here, where is she?"
"Ah, the stubborn one." Wiks smirked. "I am not sure where, but she's here somewhere." They were at the edge of the ward, and the lift doors had just opened to reveal Shepard and another asari. Someone had called it so that they could go down to the atrium. The commando on the lift platform had heard what was said, and she answered.
"You're looking for my CO. She's on the roof. I just left her a few minutes ago."
"Thank you." Waiting for the lift doors to close, Irissa took to the stairs nearby. It was only a few floors up, and that would be quicker than waiting on the lift to come back up from the atrium. Climbing the first flight, she felt a mixture of anticipation and slight apprehension. Yes, it would be good to actually talk again, but what would they say to one another? Was there anything that could be said that would just erase the last two silent decades? Did they need to be forgotten? All of these questions filled her mind, and they were endlessly circling. She did have more important matters to attend to, or so others would have thought, but thi took priority; the commando on the roof had been a part of her life since she was a wee one, and these last twenty years had been agonizing. Finally reaching the roof's access, she heard raised voices and stepped over the threshold. What she walked into made her blood boil.
"…That was the conflict I lost my bondmate to." She said darkly. "Because of that, my family was destroyed; my own children are somewhere out there, and I have no idea if they're safe or not."
"Sounds like they're better off." The medic that looked to be the more aggressive said quickly. "Hope their mother wasn't just as much a self-assured bitch as you seem to be." Irissa risked a glance toward the target of his comment. Her scarred hand gripped the arm of the chair she sat in; knuckles clearly visible. "If so-" But he didn't get the opportunity to finish his insult.
Tom Post suddenly rose into the air; his muscles rigid as he was enveloped in a tightly controlled lift. There was a subtle flashing and uneven sparking in the field that surrounded him. The field didn't flow evenly over and around him as it should have; it was unstable. Irissa darted out from the stairwell and made for the one responsible for the corporal's sudden liftoff. Lidanya had stood suddenly; the natural barrier around her just as unstable as her efforts in lifting the medic off of the ground. She had her right arm extended out in front of her. Palm open, fingers evenly spaced, they slowly began to close. That put pressure on the medic's body, and he wasn't the only one to notice. The other human was looking between them; his mouth agape.
"Drop him." Irissa said coldly.
"Stay out of this." The venom dripping in her tone did not do Lidanya's fury any justice.
"Let him go, or you'll force my hand." Irissa had now raised her barrier and was letting her biotics charge very slowly. "You know I'll do it; even if it means I regret it later. Now drop him."
"Not only a bitch," The lifted medic snarled through gritted teeth. "She's crazy-"
"If you value your own health, I suggest you keep your mouth shut." Irissa snapped. "Don't give her more of an excuse." Turning back to the commando, she spoke again. "Let him go, Lidanya. He's not worth it."
The biotic field dropped, Corporal Post fell to the ground with a clatter, and his colleague moved to get him up and out of there; shooting a thankful but wary look in Irissa's direction as he went. She, in turn, watched them go; only when they had cleared the stairwell's threshold did she turn her attention back to the other matriarch. Her contempt quickly vanished and was replaced by panic at what she saw next. The field hadn't been dropped voluntarily as she had hoped. Lidanya'sbody had gone uncommonly rigid, her eyes were glazed over, and her jaw was clenched tightly. There was a split second of hesitation in which Irissa moved to close the distance between them before the commando's muscles began to contract, sending her crashing to the ground. Irissa acted quickly and managed to keep her head from slamming against the steel supports of the table she had just abandoned.
A/N 2: Hate the fact that my space bar wants to work sometimes and sometimes not. Spiris know I've been absolutely thrashing these keys as of late. Anyway, if there are any typeos or lack of spaces, I'll be working on revising the chapters so far later today. Getting the spare keyboard out for that. The plot I'm advertising here toward the end is for the "A Jagged Whole" series that I've started posting. I've been very vague on the details in this chapter so as not to spoil it :)
Cheers!
