Shepard awoke slowly. Feeling a slight crick in his neck from sleeping at an awkward angle. Bending his head to the left slowly before back to the right, trying to loosen the muscle. He was thankful to have a sleep undisturbed by dreams. Eventually he dragged himself from the bed, going to the bathroom to clean himself up.
While exiting the bathroom, a blinking green light caught his eye. His head quickly turned to look at it. His legs automatically pulled him towards the computer, sitting in the chair.
He hesitated for a moment as he saw it was from Tali. Opening it up quickly. Reading through it quickly at first. Then once again, much slower the second time. She would be able to leave the hospital by the time he reached the Citadel. She was also restricted to minimal physical work for the next week minimum.
She wants to come back.
He sat back, letting out a slow exhale as he looked at her message. A faint smile on the edges of his lips. He wanted her to return, but he didn't want her to come into harm's way again. Closing his eyes for a few minutes as he contemplated what to send back.
Deciding to wait till later to send it. He was feeling hungry and couldn't quite focus. Deciding to fix the problem with breakfast. He was quiet as he ate. Happy that Tali was alright, but worried about Liara. He needed to speak with her, to try and help her. It wasn't something that would be easy to approach in any case though.
His mind, inevitably, circled around to similar experiences with such events. How he may draw upon the knowledge from those experiences to help Liara. Returning to his room after finishing his breakfast and cleaning his tray. Returning to his room afterwards.
His eyes focused onto the footlocker that sat at the end of his bed. Walking over and taking a seat on the rather cush bedding. Turning the metal box around and flicking open the latch.
Everything inside was neatly organized. On the left side, two books that looked rather aged were in the corner. On top of those, two boxes. One was made out of wood, the other was metal. Both were about five inches long and wide, less than two inches tall.
On the right side was a pistol that was a match to Iromaks. A photo pad pressed between the weapon and the wall of the locker. In the middle of the crate was four packs of medigel.
He stared at the items for a minute. Reaching down and picking up the small wooden box off the top of the stack. He ran his fingers over the lid. He slowly pulled it open to reveal a pocket watch made from silver.
He looked over it for a few moments before closing the box and standing up. Giving the footlocker a tap with his foot to close it. Leaving his room and heading to the mess hall. Fixing a tray of food for Liara before he walked back to her nook behind the med bay.
Carrying the box under his arm and the tray in his hand. He knocked upon the door with his free hand. Three light knocks rattled upon the door. Silence for a few moments. Then a few more. Shepard began thinking she wasn't up to talking, about to turn away before he heard her.
"Come in." The door slid open as he pressed the button. Liara was sitting at a desk to the left of the door. A small cardboard box tucked underneath it, containing what meager belongings she had in one spot.
He slowly stepped in, his footsteps barely audible. "Liara." She only gave a short nod. Her head turning ever so slightly in Shepards direction.
"Shepard…" Her voice was quiet, and almost hollow sounding. He didn't know Liara very well, that wasn't going to stop him from trying to help though.
"I was wondering if you were hungry." He stepped over to her, standing on her right side. His eyebrow was raised slightly, a slight tilt to his head. Setting the plate down gently upon the table.
"Thank you…" She spoke rather meekly. Looking blankly at the desk in front of her. He wondered how long she had been sitting here.
Shepard slowly placed his open hand onto her shoulder. It took a moment before she even reacted. Slowly looking up at Shepard and making eye contact.
Her trembling lower lip and tears that had welled up in her eyes. She looked exhausted, making him wonder how long she had been up already. It was only a single blink that caused the tears to flood down her cheeks.
"I… She. My mother…" Liara tried to speak through the tears and her cracking voice. She could only manage to stumble over her own words though. His heart felt notably heavier at the sight of her crying.
Shepard started to set the wooden box onto the desk. Feeling surprised for a moment as he felt Liara grabbing onto his shirt. He looked down to see her crying into the black cloth. Trying to stifle her sobs unsuccessfully. He slowly kneeled down to her level.
"Hey there…" He patted her back softly with one hand. He wasn't great at comforting people. He would try though, as he felt that he had a responsibility as Commander of the ship to take care of his crew.
She continued to fumble over her words as she cried. He stayed with her till she seemed to run out of tears. Quiet sniffling replacing her mumbling. There wasn't much he could say, so he stayed quiet for the most part.
Just over a hundred and she's already lost her mother.
It would sound strange to most humans. To the Asari, that was a rather young point to lose your parent. He dwelled on the thought for a moment. In his mind, something finally connected. He didn't stop Benezia.
Liara...
He could see the picture as clearly as the crying Asari in front of him. Like he was still being held up by Benezias biotics. Both Kaidan and Williams had been busy with the Geth. He had been disarmed. Leaving only the good Doctor left to act. His head had been battered around too much to notice before.
He slowly wrapped his left arm around Liara's back. Looking down at the doctor who seemed too sad to let go, but too embarrassed to look at him. "Liara…" He started to speak, but wasn't even sure where to continue.
She took a deep breath, clearing her throat before finally saying something with enough clarity for him to understand. Still looking down at the shirt of his that was now stained with her tears. Wiping the water away from her eyes with the back of her hand. "I'm… sorry. I shouldn't be-"
She fell silent as she felt his right hand land gently onto her shoulder. "There is nothing to apologize for Liara." He looked at the wall, grasping for the right words. It helped that this situation wasn't completely foreign to him. It didn't help to tread on old memories. "Take your time. I'll be here for you if you need someone to talk to."
She was quiet for a minute before clearing her voice again. Slowly letting go of his shirt. Liara finally brought her gaze up to Shepards. Her bloodshot eyes looked tired. "Thank you…"
"You're part of the Normandys crew. I look out for my crew." He gestured to the food on the tray with his right hand. Slowly standing up. "Now you should eat something." He patted her back gently with his right hand, about to leave before she grabbed his wrist.
"Wait. What's this?" She gestured to the wooden box he had left upon her desk. Soon using that hand to wipe away the remnants of the tears that had gone down her face. Trying her best to distract from the subject of her mother.
He had been half hoping to leave the subject for later. He knew it was too late for that though. "Oh… well." He cleared his throat, stepping back to her side. He reached over and slowly opened it up.
Her head tilted slightly to the side as she looked at it. Leaning forward to examine it. He slowly picked it up, letting the chain drag along the desk as he lifted it up. "It once was a gift to me. Now it is yours."
He clicked the button on the top, the ticking watch flicking open to show the twenty-four hour markings. On the inside of the cover was a laser engraving. "Hinc itur ad astra." She turned her head to look at him, confusion was evident in her weary, bloodshot eyes. "From here the way leads to the stars."
"Why…?" Her throat was dry and cracking. Taking a drink from the water he had brought her to fix it. Continuing afterwards. "Why are you giving this to me?"
"It's an offer, and a gift." He closed it back over, setting the watch back into the box. "As long as I command the Normandy, you will always be welcome aboard."
She was now looking at the watch. A somber smile shadowed the corners of her lips. "Who gave it to you?" She turned her head to look up at him.
He could once again see her eyelids weighing heavy. Her eyes were dulled over and seemed to be focused more on the middle distance than Shepard. "A story for another time." He gave her a warm smile, moving towards the door. "Get some rest. We'll be stopping at the Citadel next. If you need anything from there, just let me know."
She gave him a short nod, turning her head back to the desk in front of her. Starting to eat as Shepard left the room.
He hoped that she was feeling at least somewhat better. He wasn't completely certain though. Going to get a fresh shirt that was dry instead of sticking with the tear stricken one.
Still not sure of what to send to send Tali. He decided to have a chat with the pilot instead. Giving a short nod to Pressly who was already aboard the CIC as he passed. Entering the Cockpit, Joker gave a short wave of his hand as a greeting when he heard footsteps.
"How's it going-" He turned to see Shepard, quickly straightening up and saluting. "Oh. Commander." Shepard just waved his hand casually and shook his head.
He took a seat in the chair on the right side. Looking at the controls. He knew the basics of flying a ship. The Normandy was anything but a basic ship though. "You don't have to be formal with me Joker. I always hated saluting anytime someone walked into the room."
Joker relaxed, looking at Shepard for a moment before turning back to the console in front of him. Tapping away at a few things. "Yeah, I bet meetings are a pain for you. Arm must get tired."
Shepard was about to speak before Joker continued. Changing the subject quite suddenly. "So, the Citadel huh? You seem to enjoy stopping there when we can."
Shepard looked at the pilot, an eyebrow raised in curiosity. "Well, I don't want us running low on fuel or water. You never know when we might get called out for an emergency."
Joker gave him an unbelieving look. His lids were half closed and his lips in a tight line. That may have fooled other people, but the pilot of the Normandy was more aware of the ship's total reserves. "Right. We hold at least three or four weeks of water and fuel without restraining our use of it."
Joker looked back at the console in front of him. Shepard spoke now, looking out the window at the stars. "It's not a fun feeling to run out of water or fuel. I plan to stay away from the chances of it happening at all costs. We are also picking up the requisitions from there, your seat cushions included."
Joker looked over, giving out a feigned laugh. "Keep pulling on my leg and you might break it." His tone was thick with sarcasm, turning back to the console in front of him.
"No, they actually got approved. I was surprised, I doubted that they'd get through." Shepard shrugged, sliding his hand along part of the panel that lacked controls.
Joker's head raised, his eyebrow lifting up slightly as he thought about it for a moment. "Well… Thank you. I didn't actually expect you'd sign the form."
"Yeah, well, I figured it's a pain in the ass to be sitting around all day." He smirked slightly as his eyes searched the stars. Looking over to Joker to see an all too serious face.
"Do you know why I requested them?" Shepard only shook his head. Leaning towards Joker as he started to explain the reason behind his uncomfortable stance when walking and why he wanted the cushions.
They were cut off by Pressly walking up and addressing Shepard. "Commander. Admiral Hackett would like to talk with you in the communications room." He turned and returned to the CIC
It made Shepard pause. His eyebrows raised slightly as he processed the news. Blinking a couple times as he looked at the wall.
Hackett?
He knew of the man. He was well respected by damn near every person who served in the alliance. He had seen the man in person a few times, and was addressed by him once. The idea that he was requesting Shepards presence put him in a slight state of uneasiness.
Why?
Giving Joker a short nod and walking back down the hall, through the CIC and into the comms room. Taking a slow breath to calm his nerves and walking forward and flicking on the visual feed.
The Admiral appeared, fuzzy at first before the picture cleared up seconds later. The Admiral looked up from something he had been attending to. Shepard saluting automatically.
Hackett only gave a short nod. The man had such a stone cold face. Shepard wondered for a moment if the Admiral played poker. "Commander. At ease."
He complied, his body visibly relaxing. There was still a tense feeling in his mind. "How may I be of service, Sir?"
After a thoughtful pause. Admiral Hackett began to speak. "I'm sending a file to brief you on a situation happening on our Lunar outpost.
Earth's moon?
It had notably caught his attention, he gave a short nod to the Admiral. "We need you to resolve the situation at hand within the next week. Hackett out."
As soon as the Admiral had appeared, he was gone. Shepard let out a slow exhale as he slouched slightly. Just the presence of that man felt like a weight in the room.
A week.
He had enough time to pick up Tali and Iromak from the Citadel before going to the mission. He read through the file a few times. A V.I. for weapons testing had started ignoring commands to shut down. He and his team would be there to force a shut down.
Shepard disliked V.I's as much as he disliked the geth. For similar reasons as well. He didn't even like using the Avina guide on the Citadel. Pushing yet another thought out of mind, he went to his room.
Finally deciding to respond to Tali. He gave her the estimation of another day or so till they arrived at the Citadel. Gave her a few vague updates on what had happened while she was aboard the Citadel. Finally sending it after a few rewriting it a couple times.
It had only been a couple minutes since he had finished and sent the message. His eyes were closed as he was sitting back in his preferred position. His boots kicked up onto his desk. His hands folded together, laying neatly in his lap. Turned slightly away from the entrance.
For as relaxed as he looked, his mind was dwelling on larger matters. The vision from Eden Prime and Talis recording dwelled in his mind.
What is the conduit? What the hell is a reaper?
Wishing for a moment that Tali was around, he enjoyed listening to her speculate on things. Three taps at the door that were rather light, felt sudden and disturbing to Shepard. Abruptly ending his line of thought. His eyes blinked a couple times as they opened. "Come in." The door slid open to show Kaidan.
"Is this a bad time to talk?" Kaidan took a couple steps in. Looking at Shepard for a moment before looking around the room.
Shepard knew what this was about, he knew the subject wouldn't stay quiet for long. "No. Just… thinking." He pulled his legs off the desk, setting them under his desk. Finally looking at Kaidan. "So. I'm guessing this is about Iromak?" Shepard gestured to the chair next to the desk.
Kaidan took the seat. He watched Shepard with a hint of uncertainty. "If… you're open to the subject. Then I would like to know… something. Anything." Kaidan shrugged, not knowing what more to say.
Shepard sighed lightly as he scratched his cheek. His eyes started dulling slightly as he tried to figure out where to start. His mind trailing back to the drink stuffed behind his bed for a few moments. "Then I guess I'll start from the beginning."
Shepard went on to go through the same explanation he gave to Tali. Once again, he wasn't pleased to tread on old memories, but it was a better choice than leaving Kaidan in the dark for his own comfort.
After some idle conversation afterwards, Kaidan left. Shepard was somewhat relieved. Kaidan didn't really seem to care. Shepard calling a Batarian 'brother' had been like a smack of surprise. He had gotten past the initial shock though as it had been quite a while since he was clued in.
Aboard the Citadel, Iromak and Tali had taken their leave of the presidium. Tali sat in a wheelchair to avoid straining her wound. It definitely was not her preferred way of movement, but the nurse had made it clear that the wound could reopen if she walked too much. Iromak pushed the chair from behind, Tali had argued against it. Iromak had been more than insistent about it though.
Once off the presidium, Tali returned Iromaks weapon to him. She had tried to before, he had denied though, not giving any reason to his decision other than. "You keep it on the presidium."
The two were searching for a spot in the wards that may have a suit for Tali. The Avina terminals proved less useful this time around. They weren't carried in many places, so it would take some work.
Tali had her omni tool open, scouring the extranet for somewhere that would carry them. "I might be able to send a message to the fleet. I don't think Shepard would want to go out of his way for that though."
"I'm sure that he would." The comment halted her line of thought. Causing another to emerge.
Was he certain of that?
She looked up from her omni tool, soon realizing she had no idea where they were. Tali had found it much easier to speak with the Batarian after the two talked for a while. "Iromak?" He only gave a quiet, questioning grunt. She finally gave voice to a question that had bugged her since she had awoken. "If Shepard didn't like the Alliance, why did he go back?"
He pushed her along still. Tali noted that he seemed to be taking her to a store that bore no markings, and that she assumed from the outward appearance it was closed. "You would have to ask John. I…" He cleared his throat, looking around for a moment. "I have my beliefs on why, but it is a long story."
"Well, I'm sure we have time before Shepard comes back." Talis suspicions were correct as he rolled her through the front entrance of the store. Tali was more than confused by the items inside.
The collection of items was peculiar to say the least. Some wooden boxes, crates, kitchenware, a few chairs, a shelf with a variety of books and knickknacks. A few model ships and shiny baubles with no real purpose. A few sets of armor laid across a table. The entire place seemed more like a storage rather than a shop. A hallway leading to what she suspected was even more clutter. "It's a story John should tell you. Not me."
The one she presumed was the shop owner, was a turian standing near the far wall to the left of the hallway, his back facing the door. Typing something out on a computer. "We're not open. Thank you."
He hadn't even looked up from what he was doing. When Iromak cleared his throat, he finally brought his attention over. Once he saw Iromak, he straightened up a bit. "Ah."
Tali looked back and up at Iromak for a moment before turning to the Turian. She couldn't tell what either of the two thought. Silence filled the room for a moment. Tali noticed the turian looking between her and Iromak.
Iromak waved his right hand to the side. "She's fine, she's with John." His statement made Tali once again look up at Iromak. He could almost see her questioning look through her visor. Ignoring her and focusing on the turian.
With?
"Are you here for the shipment?" He started walking towards one of the larger wooden crates. Stopping as Iromak shook his head.
"Lightweight handgun." The Turian turned and started to walk to the far side of the room. "And I need to know if you have an environmental suit for her."
The Turian looked at Tali for a moment. Pulling open a box in the corner. "No." He shook his head. Starting to dig through the opened box. "I heard there was some hanar on the Presidium who bought a load of them from the quarian fleet, try him."
"I thought you didn't work with the presidium group." Iromak spoke to the Turian. Looking behind him for a moment, peeking through the doorway. Tali felt quite aired out of the conversation. Looking around quietly instead as she waited for the two to finish.
"I usually don't, but getting so much titanium will be much faster this way." The turian walked up to Tali, handing the weapon to her, the grip facing her. It rested in what appeared to be a leather holster.
Her head snapped to attention as she looked at the nameless turian, then the weapon he offered her. Reaching up and taking it. "Thank you."
Iromak brought his head back around to look at the Turian. "How much faster?" Iromaks tone had a notable change at the news. Tali wasn't sure but she thought he was happy at it.
"I could get you all the materials you need in a few months if you need it." Tali was busy looking over the weapon. Not removing it from. Its holster though.
Iromak nodded at the news, stepping back before turning Tali around. "Get them. I'll be around to pick up what you have when I can." Tali looked up as she felt Iromak pushing her out of the cluttered room.
"So… was that the Turian you guys flew around with?" She could hear Iromaks throaty chuckle. Wondering what she said to amuse him.
"Yes, you're more observant than I thought you'd be." He pushed Tali along, checking the area as he walked. Giving her his own question. "Why did you join John?"
The question that had prodded her mind before, once again found its way into her mind. "Well…" She didn't say anything for a few moments as she tried to pull something reasonable out of her head.
"Well…?" He had slowed his pace, still walking along steadily though. His bottom pair of eyes watching her curiously. The others watching the area around them.
She wasn't certain on what to say. Her hands starting to fumble with themselves. "I don't know really…" Out of all her responses she could have provided, this surprised him. Iromak took note of the sudden decline in her tone.
"You don't know? Or you don't want to say?" Iromaks tone had a clear strain of curiosity in it.
She looked up from her hands. Her eyes starting to flick around, like they searched for the answer elsewhere. "I don't know…" She shook her head lightly. Soon resting her head in her hand.
"I thought it was for food, but I can get that almost anywhere. I thought it was for a bed, but I don't need one to sleep." She had started to feel like she was choking up. Quickly clearing her throat to void it. It only delayed the feeling though.
Continuing before Iromak could interject. "I thought it was to hide from Saren, but he doesn't care about me since he's not a spectre anymore." She started to wish she hadn't gotten onto this topic. She felt guilty for taking advantage of Shepards generosity.
"I'm not finding anything for my pilgrimage by following Shepard around. I just…" Her sentence hung in the air, replaced only by a shrug.
The chair slowly came to a stop. Iromaks full attention now on Tali. "Maybe you are thinking about this in the wrong way." His sentence only managed to confuse Tali, who turned her head slightly to look back and up at him. "Perhaps you aren't there because of what's on the Normandy. But because of who's on the Normandy?"
Shepard?
Her head snapped to attention. Facing straight forward as she tried to ignore the warm feeling of blood rushing to her cheeks. Staying quite silent as Iromak started pushing her chair along again. Her omni tool made a quiet beeping sound. Glad to have something to distract her, only to realize it was him returning her message.
Shepard.
"Now then, let's go see if we can find you a new suit." Iromak continued on to return to the presidium with hopes that there would be a suit available to purchase.
I was hoping to have this chapter much longer than it is. I have been increasingly busy as of late though. I wasn't even sure about having it out on time. Thank you for reading.