Entropy 2: Homeward

by RelayJumper

Commander John Shepard has survived the hell of Tuchanka, but the story is far from over! He has saved the Citadel only to fly right into another war. The Geth vs. The Quarians! But before he can get back to the Galactic war against the Reapers, he must defeat his own maelstrom brewing within the elegant hull of the Normandy before pressing onward, and Homeward...

26. Chapter 26: Biotic Bells

A/N

Welcome back, This is the first chapter I have actually written since posting again. the previous two were from almost two years ago. I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 26: Biotic Bells

Kyson's POV

Much like binary code, the human brain chooses to either recognize the sensation of fear as an input to act upon, or against. Proceed or stop. Every emotion or thought after the initial perception causing the fear is merely the mind following through on the two choices. The mind makes the decision so fast, the consciousness has yet to catch up with how it should proceed. But the choice has been made.

Many people in the galaxy have written for and against such a basic view of fear and it's attributes on human evolution. It is mainly seen as an evolutionary trick to keep the individual alive in harmful situations. If you get burnt once, you learn not to touch it again. But that is not fear, that is wisdom. Or, a healthy fear.

Irrational fear is the true monster. The beast that causes one to do the exact opposite of what is needed to survive. Throw logic aside for a desperate mental beach in a storm of madness. Fear of bugs, spiders, tight places are all common but fit the parameters of this. It is good to know that the spider could cause you harm, but to break down and cease to function even on a primal level is a high price to pay for the simple 'yes' or 'no' question.

Do you simply avoid the spider? Or look away and pretend it is no longer in existence while it gets ever closer? Fear is a choice.

To make the waters even muddier, there are a number of other sentient species in the galaxy. Humanity is not alone by any means in the countless stars of the milky way. Do they feel or execute upon fear in similar ways as humans do?

"Kyson, you have been out there for over an hour now. EDI is showing a spike in your vitals. Everything alright?" asked the calm voice of Liara. If you listened closely you could hear the smallest hint of annoyance from having to break away from her work.

"I'm fine, thank you. I'm just watching the star rise over Rannoch." said Kyson. He was sitting on the hull of the Normandy in a maintenance suit where the port wing attached forming a massive chair. The Normandy had taken advantage of the still quiet Homeworld of the Geth and Quarians for repairs on the inner thruster. The silence had begun to crush him as he finished replacing the outer cover that Ashley had clung to. Despite his orbital hoverboard drop, he still had a long way to go in conquering his own fears of the void.

"I would imagine it is beautiful." said Liara. Kyson just stayed silent as the stars around the edges of the planet began to fade into the more powerful light of the star Tikkun making its slow appearance. He let his mind wander back to the musings of earlier. Could the Geth ever get to a point where they could also be plagued by such intense lapses in logic? Let their math based life and society be overrun by errant impulses? Kyson had begun to think that even before the sacrifice of Legion, the Geth collective had shown that yes, fear could rule them.

More stars began to get eaten by Tikkun. This was a good time to get back on the ship. The maintenance suits had two settings for dealing with light, crystal clear for none. Or, welders mask to deal with the dangerous conditions of unshielded rays from nearby stars. Most still had to rely on specialized cameras to compensate for the intensity if you wanted any theatrical views.

Another disadvantage to the utilitarian suit was the bulk. It reminded him of the old documentaries of when man first hit Mars. There were no battle suits. No super advanced eezo cores for compact energy sources. He was tethered to the ship directly. The suit was made for the harsh extreme of near perfect zero in the black of space between stars. Or, the equally dicey crash on a hot house planet. He clunked along slowly to the Normady's air lock as the lights from his suit abruptly stopped being of use. Star rise.

The auto tint of his bubble like helmet went active instantly. He was grateful his back was to the star. He was on top of the Normandy casting a stark shadow, like black out paint on the letter N. The stars he had just been looking at seemed to be switched off in similar fashion to christmas lights on a timer. Here he was alone with all perception depth and sense of substance robbed in an instant. Sweat was forming on his brow while concentrating on another step and trusting his position to the mag-boots.

"Just another ten steps." he muttered to no one.

"You sure you are okay? I can call Adams if you need assistance." said Liara over the com. Kyson, upon reaching the dark side of the ship found the open airlock fully lit, inviting. Comforting.

Fear was a choice.

"I'm in the air lock, gathering the teather and I'm done." he replied after a few tense seconds. He hated the transition from standing on the side of the ship to the new axis of the airlock floor. There was that brief second of weightlessness despite using your hands and arms to push the boots to the new metal surface.

That was the funny thing about it. You felt weightless when walking about as well. Instead of pressing on the soles of your boots, you stress the top of your feet and ankles as you pry each step from the metal hull. It was always unexpectedly tiring. You were also forced to think about pushing your next step down if you moved at more than a casual walking pace. Running could get risky.

"Kyson, your vitals are still above average for a repair walk. Can you meet me in my office when you are finished stowing the suit?" asked the asari. Kyson frowned at the request. He had been doing so much better since Noveria. Sure, he got a bit shaky when it got to space walks but that had only showed up on the walk from last cycle. He believed Chakwas was overreacting by asking Liara to monitor him on this last walk. Hopefully for a while.

"Can do." he agreed. It was probably for the best to not to ask why when it was so obvious. The crew of the Normandy were feeling the pressure of the war, it was showing on their bodies, minds, mannerisms even. Kyson proceeded to come aboard the Normandy into the cockpit. The tether had been spooled up, then attached to his hip like an one inch thick lasso reaching one hundred and fifty yards. He began the slow walk to the elevator clanging with each step.

Kyson thought about the past month on the Normandy since the events on Noveria. Garrus was still running the Normandy at large for the time being causing him to close his eyes with another wave of frustration. But not his usual anger. He climbed out of the suit once in engineering and stored it with four others just like it in a floor panel. Combat suits couldn't provide the power needed for the comfort of the maintenance suits.

"Hey, Adams. That thruster is a go for final diagnostics. I didn't see any scarring of the particle coils. Just the cosmetic scuffing and some left over organic residue." said Kyson as chief Adams rounded the corner from Tali's station. Adam nodded as he went to the master terminal. He brought up the coils and began to run a resistance check for possible damage that would escape the eye. This was hardly the first test but one always checked after any new work.

Kyson leaned against the railing and watched numbers flash by. Charts opened and closed as answers were asked and given by the test algorithms and pre-set tolerances.

The corner of the screen flashed green. Ashley's demise had only tripped the obstruction sensor causing an abrupt emergency shutdown.

"Thank you, Kyson. That will be all for today." said the chief.

"Works for me. That puts us back on track then. I might take more than my usual nine hours off if you can spare the time?" asked Kyson. He needed a small break after the grim task of fixing the ship from Kerris' attack on the ship, The crew quarters and the observation window had been what finally caused the waylay to Rannoch. They needed materials and the Geth had provided.

No one could sleep in the crew quarters since the attack, the twisted metal floor was too haunting. Even if it was missing the coating of blood.

"Take the next cycle, I might even try to do the same if Kenneth will let me." said Adams. And with that, he turned away from Kyson leaving him alone in engineering during the middle of the night cycle. Red running lights gave him a strange feeling of comfort as he went to the elevator.

Closing his eyes, he found himself still very rattled at how still his mind had become. The background grating of stress on tectonic plates in the shapes of fear and anxiety had settled. Leaving just his passing thoughts or what he chose to focus on. No wave of noise propelling him forward. It was so damn quiet. It was amazing.

"Liara, you still up?" he asked over his comm. He had arrived outsider her door.

How to Destroy Angels: The Wake Up

The door opened to the Lair of the Shadow Broker.

Liara was sitting on her bed with a stack of five data pads at her side. Glyph, the data drone, hovered over her like a lamp, illuminating a small piece of glass. Her shoulders were slumped slightly showing just how slight her figure was once you took away the armor everyone seemed to have on permanently now. A borrowed BDU from Traynor had become a norm for the Asari. She had spent almost every waking moment in this room and had come to the conclusion that if she was gonna be stuck, might as well get close to comfortable.

"Hello again Mr. Sorley." said Glyph. The drone never wavered from his task though. Liara looked up with bleary eyes. Another hallmark of the war. She motioned a hand toward the small sofa on the left of the bed. There was a cooler there with some drinks. An empty beer bottle was on the table. Coors. Liara noticed his gaze while he sat.

"Have one, John has been asleep for over three hours now. He was keeping me company while I kept up with reports from my contacts." she said. Kyson cracked a cold one and tilted back the bottle. Tasted like home.

"I am sorry if I was bothering you out there. I bet you had an amazing view, only for me to ruin it." Liara said while continuing to look at the glass fragment. She didn't exactly seem fascinated by the object. Maybe it was a momento, like a shard that Chakwas had pulled out from a battle or something. Contemplative was the word that fit. He must have been silent long enough for Liara to break her concentration away and catch his eye.

"This is a piece of glass form a high level biohazard containment unit. I haven't looked at it since the first Normandy. Our recent visit to Noveria made me think about it." was the explanation given by his blue friend. Kyson took another swig of beer.

"Embedded in skin, or armor?" he asked.

"I picked it up off the floor of the hot lab containing the rachni queen. It was a reminder of what we needed to do in order to stop Saren." she replied. Kyson watched as Liara closed her eyes and seemed to go into a trance. Or she could be falling asleep in front of him. His own eyes had instantly started to struggle since the first sip of beer. Not wanting to disturb Liara, he gently put the beer down.

"You are right. Rest would be good about now." Liara said without opening her eyes.

"Thank you for checking on me. I was getting a bit lost out there." he admitted. Liara opened her eyes and gave a small nod.

"I had something I wanted to say, but I need sleep myself apparently. So I have an idea. Since we are both creatures of the night do you want to have breakfast after the crew has evening mess?" she asked. Kyson had seldom any time to talk with anyone in person the past few cycles, hell maybe a week. He had been hard at it with the repairs or more repairs.

"That sounds like a winner." Kyson said as he yawned.

"In the mornin'. I'm sleeping in for a change." he continued. He gave a small wave as he turned away. He caught Liara trying to stifle a yawn of her own as she waved back. The time on his tool read 03:45. It was almost time for the main crew to wake up.

Tali had decided to be an early bird today. Upon getting into his room, Tali was up and going through daily messages behind the workbench. She waved a hand as he rolled into his hammock. If he fell asleep now, it would be the third night in a row doing so in his boots.

"Hey there, don't fall asleep yet. I got a question." announced Tali. he grunted. The dry eyes from being awake for too long bagan to burn as he tried to open them again.

"If we were to go to the citadel again, could we get an actual bed?" she asked. He gave a thumbs up. He figured this would come up eventually. He even guessed that the request had been forming since she had slowly helped him organize and clean the room he had made.

"Okay, good. Did you finish the repairs today as you had hoped?" came another question from his lifemate. Kyson was now seriously fading. He thought he was still asleep when a gentle nudge made him start up in the hammock.

"Huh?" he gasped. Tali was standing over him.

"Shhh, I'll see you tonight. Rest well." was all he heard before sleep took him. If he had been awake, he would have seen beautiful monotony.

14:00 hours that day.

"Kyson, get up." came a distant voice. Kyson looked around the woods along the creek he was resting by. No one was there.

"Up." came the voice again. This time it was from the water in the fast moving creek. Kyson stood on his bare feet and padded on the moss covered bank. His reflection stared back at him.

"Boy, last time." said the reflection. Kyson hated that moment when you were still dreaming but realized that it was just that, a dream. The mind felt split in two as it woke up. You were seeing the dream world, yet hearing actual events. And before his eyes were all the way open he knew it was Luke.

"There you go, so much for outgrowing sleeping in." said Luke Sorley. Kyson stared at his father from the hammock.

"I earned this one." he mumbled as a lame rebuttal.

"Yeah, you did. The crew is thankful for the work you and Greg have done. But that ain't why I'm here. I wanted to know if you had heard from Justin at all?" asked Luke.

"Not a word." admitted Kyson.

"To be honest, ever since I saw Tali again I never even thought to check in." he added. He felt like a selfish prick. He had not checked on anyone or anything for ages. A side effect of hiding he figured.

"This is war. You are not the only one going through that. You begin to lose touch with the things that aren't in direct sight. It sucks but, inevitably. '' said the elder Sorley, almost reading his mind.

"What made you ask?" said Kyson. Luke shrugged.

"Was telling Tali about some of the things the family did when we did have time together. When we tried at least." said Luke. Kyson didn't pounce on the small form of admission from his dad. That moment had come and gone two weeks ago at the funeral.

"I'll check on him. And how is Tali doing? I have had almost no time to talk with her. Our messages are so backlogged with tasks or in her case, fleet traffic I feel like this whole hot bunk thing is some serious bullshit." said Kyson as he began to get up. He stumbled a bit. His right knee was giving him some negative feedback.

"Yeah, that gets worse." said Luke who watched Kyson favor the leg for a few steps.

"Anyways, she seems in good spirits. Han is pestering her with trying to lobby the council for more munitions so he can convert more of his bathtub cruisers into almost passable war ships. It is getting under her skin that she has to be the one to do it. Han has that charm." laughed the old marine.

"I can see where he picked it up from. What fucking time is it?" asked Kyson. At some point, his Omni-tools and boots had been removed. And he would be damned, no shirt.

"14:10. John also wanted to see you in his cabin after I got you up." was the answer from the old man. This was the moment the engineer had been trying to avoid. He had not seen a trace of Shepard since the funeral. He knew that once things settled down, there was going to be a reckoning.

"Will do." he replied to his dad. Luke got up and left without so much as a goodbye. Some habits die hard.

Kyson was sure that he wasn't in trouble per say, yet, he had known the moment he had woken up in the Oomari city that he was in for a prolonged debrief. And likely a demotion or two. All of which he would gladly accept. He wanted to be a part in winning the war, not another obstacle. Time to pull his share.

All of this was what he was telling himself as he walked into the cabin, clean shaven, in uniform.

John met him at the door and shook his hand firmly before offering him a seat next to his in the small office. John sat with his arms crossed and a stern look that seemed to fuel Kyson's assumptions. He tried to stay neutral in his posture. He was trying to reign in his reactivity to situations.

"You and Adams have done some fine work. Thank you." said John as an opener. Kyson nodded. Shepard's tone was even, with what seemed like stressed reservation. Kyson couldn't tell what was going on here.

"Doing the job." was the elaborate response from Kyson. He wasn't sure if Shepard was mad, frustrated or just as lost at what to do next. But it seemed something needed airing out. Kyson figured he would rip the bandaid off. Hell, it was him caving to the pressure Shepard knew exactly how to apply. A living truth ray weaponized on a human platform. Fine.

"I am fully open to being reassigned." said Kyson. Blatantly fishing. John only stared back at him. Fuck.

"I am also prepared for any repercussions from my actions over the past few months." he added looking for what Shepard was seeking. John shook his head slowly from side to side. Now, Kyson was getting tense.

"I'm sorry." he began to say before John held up a hand silencing him. The commander reached under the desk, pulled out two beers almost like magic and handed him one. More Coors.

"Forgiven." was all he said before raising the beer for a toast. Not a word was said until both beers were gone. Kyson figured this was the next step before the shoe dropped. John had asked him to sit there while he answered a few messages. This felt like being in trouble and forced to sit with the principal in elementary school. The beer was an improvement though.

"I can't believe that people on the citadel are still bickering about helping out with the war." muttered the commander. Kyson had taken to looking at the latest ship model being worked on. A Kodiak replica. It was half way together and the paints needed were laid out neatly in a small rack.

"Could just give them a new number to call. It has a message about how you only give out I.O.U.'s due to increased demand."suggested Kyson as he tried to remain patient. John powered down his terminal and went back to staring at him. Something was way off.

Shepard reached over to the desk and picked up an old school manilla envelope that had what seemed like a draft novel in it. He flipped it around and it had the good ole 'Top Secret'' slapped on it. It also had Only N7 as a recipient. Kyson had never seen such a thing. While he may be part of the ranks with John, and Reily, he still had yet to be on his own or have a command. Except being Liara's bodyguard for a while on Mars.

"Let me guess, back to paper to limit breeches? Bout time." said Kyson as John opened the packet.

"This comes directly from Hackett. For you mostly. I am to brief you on your new mission." said John with that same calm, even tone. Kyson reached out and took the fifty some pages and began to skim. Security warnings and status, no heading. His name along with 'Quarian Scenario' came up several times. It was a report on the Rannoch base and the reaper.

"Am I to be grounded here in the Tikkun system?" he asked. He was getting the boot from the Normandy after all.

"For a short duration. Then, Palaven." said John. Kyson looked up from the recent geth fleet support movements to meet John's eyes. The eye of the storm? It was time then. Now he knew why John seemed so damn tense.

"You are going to help with a mass evacuation effort that the Quarians have devised with the Krogan. Primarch Victus has requested any N7 support that we could lend." continued Shepard. Kyson continued to read. Snippets of reports from a failed attempt at a double decoy ship form Menae.

"So back to Menae to be exact." said Kyson.

"Yup. The Turians seem to think that with a big enough distraction, a large push could be made and a lot of lives could be saved. They want the distraction to be a mock fleet, quickly constructed shells of frigates and cruisers with weapons slapped inside. All automated." said John who had pulled out two more beers. Kyson nodded and took the next drink.

"Why am I needed?" he asked.

"Human representation. Quarian and Geth forces will be under you to help coordinate with the Turians." said John.

"I have a headache already." he replied knowing this would be clusterfuck. Already was.

"Yeah. don't worry. You have the ability to choose who goes with you. Well, I can't. Nor Garrus. You know that much." said John stating the obvious. It was a sport around here now. Kyson tried to read John's features as he looked up from the mission brief.

"No, I don't want you gone from the ship. Right now I think dividing my crew to be disastrous. But we knew this day would come when we would be spread thin." said John causing Kyson to take a sip of more beer.

"Yeah. I hear ya." he said. John may feel that way but that didn't mean command felt it was high time to put the boot down. They needed the Normandy working, trying to find more about this catalyst thing.

"I'll take Tali, no surprises from me." said Kyson as he went back to the paper. He saw Kal'Reegar's name on there. This would get interesting then. John gave the barest hint of a smile.

"Good, I'll let you handle this from here then. You have two days to prepare. The Geth and Quarians are making the decoys here in the system while we still have a safe harbor. I imagine that you are going to be there as a watchdog for this new alliance more than anything. But Kyson, be on your toes. This is going to be front line ops." said Shepard with concern.

"I am plenty worried about this." admitted the younger marine.

"This isn't just profesional, it is a personal concern. I am about to send you in the thick of the worst fighting in the galaxy. Not long after what has happened down on Noveria. I am not doing this lightly. And you are the right man." added Shepard. Kyson frowned a bit.

"What makes me special for this?" he had to ask.

"You don't have an ulterior motive. You are just in it for survival, so the politics that might pop up won't mean shit." said John. Kyson nodded.

"Ah." was all he could muster.

"Kyson, I would have pushed back if I thought you couldn't do it. I know you have learned from all of this shit with Kerris. Despite your own misgivings of the program, you did go through N7 and survived. You know how I operate. You know what we need to do." said John with such conviction Kyson felt himself nod slightly.

"You cheap bastard. Using beer to dull my resolve of self degradation. Smart." he said.

"One last thing. I want the two of you back here in one piece. Just because you have your own Reaper under your belt doesn't mean you ignore the basics. Right?" asked John as he stood up from his chair. Kyson took the hint.

"Right. To be honest, my main concern...I'll watch my ass and not just Tali's" he said with finality. John finally smiled.

"At attention." said John. Kyson immediately did as told.

"You have your orders, LC. You depart in two days for Rannoch to meet with the decoy team. Good luck, get as many out as you can." said Sheard. Kyson saluted with a firm 'yes sir' before being dismissed. His life just got busy again.

Once in the vertical movement box, he wondered if he should tell Tali right away or wait untill she got off shift. His clock told him it was nearly time to meet up with Liara so he tucked the envelope under his arm and hit the button for the third floor.

"So much for sleep. And I had just gotten into a rhythm." he lamented aloud. The Mission was only supposed to take a week. The faux ships were already nearing completion so it was a matter of forward communications being set up. Final plans were to be reviewed. Kyson sat at the mess table and began to read more. There was a final issue he had to read a few times over.

Team lead needs to determine where the Refugees are to be sent.

"How the fuck should I know?" he asked aloud.

"I think I know where you are in that outline." said Liara as she sat down opposite from him.

"You would know. This is not what I had expected today." he admitted as he put the docs away.

"Remember, with these kinds of missions with many variables to be patient. It may seem like the exact opposite thing to be doing when live fire is all around you but take the time to see what is really happening." said Liara.

"Thank you. I guess a little long term asari planning will pay dividends. Am I making breakfast? Yeah I am. French toast?" he asked

"The bread with the overly sweet syrup? I would love some." she confirmed. The two moved over to the small galley. He was going to have two eggs on the side.

"Eggs scrambled or fried?" he asked. John had to have done this for her before. Liara watched as he began to collect ingredients and dishes.

"I have only had your powdered eggs here on the Normandy. I think I'll pass." she said politely.

"But, while you prepare I need to grab something. I'll be right back." she said and went back to her room. Kyson began to pull out real eggs from the fridge. He had slipped Vega some creds in order to get them last time he was on the Citadel. Some of the refugee ships had chickens. Fucking smart.

Liara was back with a small box of some kind which she placed on the closest table returning.

"So, how does one make french toast?" she asked with genuine curiosity. He looked at his gathered stuff and had to try and remember. It was damn near muscle memory now. It was a family staple.

"Well, first you have to make the batter. I think that is what you call it. You take three eggs and scramble them." he said. He pulled out a casserole dish, and cracked three of the sixty eggs he had bought. Liara looked excited. That was not a familiar expression he was used to from her. Then again, he could be obtuse on command. He whisked the eggs with a fork before moving on.

"Next, add cinnamon powder and vanilla extract." he said. This was the part where he did the age old trick of winging it. He shook the powder till enough floated on top of the eggs. Then, he opened the small extract bottle and poured in slightly more than a dash.

"Wait, you aren't going to measure the amounts?" she asked. Kyson began to whisk in the added ingredients.

"This is something made around campfires, camper stoves, apartments and fine restaurants. This has been around so long just about every family on Earth has their own version. You watch your parents, then repeat. This can be made as long as you have a flat stone in a fire and a bowl." he said. Next, he turned the stove top on and began to count out six pieces of bread.

"I always prefer this over pancakes or waffles. Sure there are eggs in the batter for those, sure they have protein in them technically. But something about coating the bread with it and letting it soak in the flavors is just amazing." he added.

Liara just watched as he continued, taking in every little detail. From the butter added to the pan, to the first soaking of the bread. The hot potato passes from dipping dish to the pan. He had gotten to the last part, the four eggs over hard.

"I have never seen anyone not scramble the eggs. Is this something from your hometown?" she asked.

"Huh? No. It is a personal preference. Many people don't like the taste of the yolk by itself. Some only cook the egg until the white is cooked and the yolk is still gooey and runs like thick water. Then they dip their bread in it." he replied.

"Then, how do you like it?" she asked.

"All of them. Just depends on the day. Liara, it takes many years to master the many possibilities of the humble egg. It has been an essential food for us since the dawn of humanity." he said with a small smile.

Kyson put the food together and motioned to the table. He laid out syrup, and two glasses of orange juice.

"This has gotten pretty elaborate for just breakfast." said Liara not sure of what this meal meant. Kyson then remembered how she was not just an archeologist, but an anthropologist for her people in a way. She was likely reading way too far into this moment.

"I'm bored of the stock food supply. The powdered eggs are bullshit, the coffee bags suck, and the meat is always of the mystery variety. I hate cold cuts. When I have a day off this is my go to morning meal. That, and sausage gravy. But that will kill you if you don't watch it." said Kyson as he poured syrup over his eggs. Liara looked at her plate with apprehension.

"The gravy is just very unhealthy, like too much sugar kinda thing." he reassured.

Liara eyed him as she ate her first bite of breakfast. As he expected, the look of suspicion turned into joy. She dug in. They ate quietly, enjoying the silence that was broken only by the occasional crew member walking past, busy with the end of their day.

"That was an amazing dish, Kyson. I had no idea you had a way with food." she complimented. Kyson shrugged.

"It's a shame I avoid doing it so much. Never could I bring myself to keep up with the dishes." he said. Liara glanced at the small mess at the galley.

"I will clean it in a few I promise. So, you had something you wanted to ask me?" he said. He had ignored the box on the table knowing that she would explain in time.

"Yes, but you need to promise you won't make fun of me." she said. Kyson smirked showing that he promised nothing.

"I had an idea the other day about the VI John and I found on Ilos. How, it was the only truly available warning we had against the Reapers." she said. The small box was moved between them.

"I figured we needed to do the same." she said. Kyson watched as she seemed to get lost staring at what must be a time capsule, or beacon of her own.

"The Protheans set up the beacons." said Kyson, voicing his thoughts. Liara shook her head.

"And look how ineffective they were. Not until we were on the very edge of the invasion did Shepard interact with one successfully. Sure there were the archives on Mars, but not a beacon. The protheans focused on what life they believed would evolve, while excluding key context for any other race that could not communicate with a sophisticated sensory system like Javik." said Liara. Kyson shrugged.

"So you think we will lose?" he asked. He saw where this was going.

"I don't know." she replied without hesitation. This caught him off balance.

"We have so little information on just how the crucible will work. We are losing entire fleets on an almost weekly basis. It seems to be a hard prospect to find hope in all of this." she admitted.

"I bet being the Shadow Broker is the worst possible position for good news. Might as well put seedlings in a desert." he remarked. Liara nodded.

"But, just in case something does happen. I wanted your help with this beacon of our own." she said as the device was turned on.

"Greetings Mr. Sorley" came the voice of Glyph. A mini version of the drone was projected above the device. Kyson looked at his friend with uncertainty.

"With what?" he asked. What could he possibly do for this that Liara hadn't already thought of.

"With you. I am going to interview the entire crew. I was going to do just John, but…" she tapered off. She seemed unsure of her motivations.

"I know that Shepard is the driving force. I even easily admit that humanity is the catalyst, if you will, that has caused old galactic lines of thinking to shift greatly in a short time. It is also likely what will save us. Or get us damn close. But, the Normandy as a whole is just as important. I wanted to start with you." she said. Kyson looked at the box with a frown. He wasn't sure if he should be in that box for any good reason.

"I am flattered, Liara. But I highly doubt that anything I have to say would be of service for a possible future civilization. I think you are doing a great thing and are on the right track but, how about you skip to Garrus or something?" he asked, trying to be polite.

"Why? She asked. He was getting uncomfortable quickly. He didn't even know what she wanted him to say.

"I'm not sure of what to say. I'm not exactly a motivating example of my species." he said.

"Kyson. I want to show the next cycle what humanity did in such a short time. I want to show how John was able to be the leader he is. I also want to know more about humans as a whole. I Just figured I would start with the crewmember that grew up in the same exact town as him." she said. Kyson did see how that logic worked.

"I thought you were all about the protheans?" he asked, coming back around. Liara did the closest thing to a 'sulk' he had ever seen from her.

"Look, every new detail I learn from Javik has completely destroyed what I had expected from the prothean species. I am still fascinated by them. I am ever grateful for the insight he has given me. It has made me realize that the best chance the galaxy has ever had, is now. Here on this ship. Because of a man from Front Royal, Virginia decided to leave his life in a slum to fight for every life in the known universe. That Kyson, is why I want to know about humanity. Not the protheans." she said. It was quite the speech.

"You putting in the important stuff or is the actual person dictating what goes in?" he asked.

"That is a good question. What would you like? She asked. Kyson shrugged.

"Um, I still think you need to skip me. I am an extreme outlier of the human experience. I don't get along with my own very well." he pressed. Liara began to laugh at him. He even turned a bit red. He could feel it in his cheeks. What was he? Fucking twelve?"

"Who here gets along with their own, Kyson?" I may be a shut in, but that doesn't mean I can't grasp the fact that those of us here tend to be, unique." said Liara while still smiling.

"Unique is another way of saying odd." he retorted.

"Or, special and rare." she countered with a wave of sudden positivity.

"Oh, hell." he muttered. Liara just kept pressing.

"How about this. Tell me of life on Earth. Help me understand the right questions to ask, then?" she offered. He saw he had juice left and took a drink. He didn't want to be a complete ass. If he protested any more she would take his advice and possibly abandon the project if he wasn't careful. He was being obstinant for the sake of it.

"That, I can do. Any specifics?" he asked.

"What made the area you were from so difficult to leave?" she asked, getting right to it. He thought back on the neighborhood he had played in. His family home stood at the top of a rise connected to a low mountain. But after the quarter mile down hill, there was the neighborhood of Royal Park. A planned community way past its prime. The surrounding areas were also nothing but shut down shuttle docks or derelict repair hangers.

"The place where we grew up was in another economic downturn. Despite our proximity to Washington D.C, investors put all of their money into new facilities after the conclusion of the First Contact War. The new facilities built with the intention of flinging our asses into the stars went jointly to Vancouver and Seattle. Almost twenty five hundred miles away on an opposite coast of a continent. Then, when a modern space port was built again over the old bones of what we already had, the tech was so advanced that no one bothered to train the old workforce. All imported work, while the locals become increasingly isolated from the new order of things." he replied . It was much more than he thought he had to say on the subject.

"So, poverty became a real problem?" asked Liara.

"Very much so. The neighboring state of West Virginia had always been a rural and rugged retreat from the major city life. Now, with sky cars, eezo power generators, and the tech of the wider galaxy, the rich and elite turned the area into a massive haven. The demand for a modern space port was pushed yet again. All that new tech hadn't filtered down to the locals yet. But, with new money came a new support structure. A job boom. When John was a kid the first bubble had busted. He had no access to a career outside being a port worker. Maybe a mechanic if he had fought like hell for it. Or he would have to leave. There was no other way to make a decent living except hocking shit on the extranet or crime." he said. He remembered his dad saying he joined for honor and duty. Kyson also knew that it was horseshit.

"That is very reminiscent of many megalopoli across the galaxy." said Liara. Kyson nodded. He felt uncomfortable talking about home.

"Mind if I clean and talk?" he asked. With no objections he began to clear the table.

"I have thought about how there was never anything truly stopping people from leaving the area. I guess we just get attached to those small moments in our childhood that you want it to last forever. It can reflect in how you lead your life. Or how you do or don't give back to the community you grew up in. I don't know. Seems like everytime humanity makes any kind of leap, the carnage left in our wake is always staggering. I have always been resentful of how we don't kill people quickly anymore at home. Better to bleed them their entire lives. Sell them the very things that kill them. But this is an old story that isn't unique to just humans." he lamented as he started washing a plate.

"It seems that these lost areas of society find a way to become immortal in the end. Look at Omega." added Liara.

"I guess. As a kid, I remember wanting to make systems of machines to help improve our world. You see all of the infrastructure falling apart, wasted ideas that were political projects, not actual assistance, and you get frustrated. Why design a multi billion dollar public transport system when running clean water was becoming impossible. Shit like that." he finished. Liara nodded.

"But, that isn't why you left. If it was feelings of civic responsibility alone we all would be at peace long before the reapers. At least, that is what I believe." said Liara. Kyson laughed softly.

"There would be a cost though, but you are right. I left mostly due to fear. I was working on a way out long before Kevin. I have good memories of where I grew up. Then, ever since I was a kid I knew there was more out there than the ground under my feet. For my dad, he always remarked on how amazing it was that there are now three generations alive that will never have the concept of being alone in the universe. Not having limits." Kyson said. He was nearly done cleaning the frying pan.

"That is a concept almost completely forgotten by my people. To have such a time where we looked up at the stars and had to wonder what could be out there." said Liara. She seemed to smile a little more easily for a change.

"We Asari seem stuck in that infrastructure you speak of. Maintaining society; glacatic civic duty. It is taught early. We are taught that we are the apex, the voice of reason. A guiding light in a dark galaxy if you want to be a bit missionary about it." Liara elaborated. Kyson shrugged.

"To be honest, Liara. I have always been a bit bitter towards your people as well." he said. Liara raised an eyebrow.

"This should be good." she said. Kyson looked Liara in the eyes and saw himself being studied.

"The basic stuff we learn in school is all condensed, doctored, and short. It gives the highlights. Especially that 'voice of reason' bit. The elegant super species of the galaxy that has all of the answers. They left out the bits where much of the advice was given with a large amount of reluctance." said Kyson.

"I understand, actually. The constant thousand year view of life makes many of my people very cold towards everyday concerns. It permeates every area of our culture. We can put plans into motion that can span five hundred years and still see it completed." she said.

"And be ruthless about quashing any opposition to it for the same amount of time." Kyson added. Liara seemed saddened by his response.

"Our dictators are no less ruthless than those of any other species. We try and pretty it up for the rest of the galaxy. We even tell ourselves that we no longer have them. But look at Nassana Dantius. There are many more like her. So I can see animosity towards a group of old ladies placating you with 'it is the way of things'." Liara added with bitterness of her own.

"Wow. Sounds like you got that line a lot." said Kyson as he leaned against the gally. He was done with his cleaning. This was proving to be just as interesting for Kyson now. Seeing Liara confronted with these things. He knew she didn't see eye to eye with her people.

"Oh yes. Benezia always had some line on her lips to quote. A wise word. A calming passage. When I was born, both of my mothers were matrons. You know about my dad leaving. But mother seemed to be annoyed by youthfulness. My borderline obsessive pursuit of lost things be it bones in the dirt of small forgotten facts of an overly wordy textbook." she said with a small smile.

"I liked to build bridges from scrap wood over creeks." said Kyson in understanding.

"I can easily see that." she said. Liara once again looked off in the distance lost in another memory. At first she looked relaxed, as if she had gone back to her childhood digging. Then she grimaced and her hands gripped the mess island. A tear began to form in one of her eyes.

"Hey, you alright?" he asked. The Asari looked at him with a pained expression. She began to breath heavily. She was panicking over something.

"Whoa, hold on there. Let's grab this box of yours and head to your room." he said calmly. She didn't say a word until the door was closed behind them.

"I'm sorry. I just was thinking of the last mission. Talking about Benezia just made me think of Samara. And how she spared her last daughter." said a shaky sounding Liara. Kyson was lost. He sat down on the same sofa as last night while she sat on the bed.

"What mission?" he asked. He wasn't aware of any major activity since the funeral. Or even since Noveria. Well, he had been totally absorbed in the ship. And time had gotten very weird for him since Khoshekh had been ripped from him.

"You have been focused like I have been. Shepard and I along with Javik and Teagann helped Samara with a besieged Asari Monastery.

"No shit." Kyson said as he leaned back into the couch. It showed just how much he had let work carry him since getting back.

Liara's POV

Liara wiped a tear away. She was trying to focus on the memory of John confusing her for a monster. She had even wondered if he had seen something in her that only he could see because of the beacons. Was she beginning to become indoctrinated and he could sense it? It had been bothering her for weeks.

"What happened?" he asked as Liara could see the young man looked to be in a similar place as her. She took a deep breath and tried distancing herself from the emotion and gathered herself.

Looking at Kyson again, she could see just how similar he was to her in many ways. The natural curiosity for the world around them was a driving force that fueled them both. Neither needed a cause or logical reason to pursue anything. It made a kind of sense that he would end up with Tali. A woman who was so singularly devoted to a people. A responsibility. She could see the same thing happening with herself and John.

"What do you know of Ardat'Yakshi?" she asked him. From the blank look on his face it must be very little.

"Did you ever hear about Samara's daughter, Morinth?" she probed further.

"Wait, the vampire?" asked Kyson. Now she was the one lost.

"A monster, and undead human who sucks blood from their victims to live." he added.

"That is a bit crude, and the Ardat'Yakshi are very much alive but I can see why you would use the analogy." She said. Liara had little idea how much time Kyson had spent around Samara.

"Ardat'Yakshi means 'demon of the night wind'. They are creatures told of since the beginning of our people. We were still cooking meat around fires and whispering about them to our young in fear, that is how old they are." she began. Kyson had a dark look on his face.

"Wait, I think I remember. They don't commune with the nervous system like normal asari, right? They kinda strip it bare and kill you." said Kyson. So, he had some information on it from his previous stay.

"You have it. The basics at least. Not long after Noveria, Shepard was contacted by the asari high command. He went to see the counselor on the citadel." she began, this was going to be a long story. Kyson just shook his head.

"Man, I really am shaken up by my little experience. Had no Idea that we had been back to the citadel.'' he said. Liara listened as he tried to laugh at himself. She could appreciate the human need to lighten an otherwise traumatic experience. It was another trait that was shared across species, yet humans seemed to hold onto even when facing death.

"I would be as well. You had an alien entity ripped from your mind. That is not an everyday thing." she said. Kyson shrugged but looked away from her and at the floor.

"So, as you were saying." he prodded. She took the hint. Liara rubbed at the back of her neck and closed her eyes. She had been trying so hard to distract herself from what had happened. She even had tried to explain to Tali but avoided the key points of the mission.

She had even lied about how John had mistaken...

The Planet Lessus, approximately two weeks ago.

The shuttle was moving into orbit smoothly for the first time in what felt like ages. The more they fought the reapers, the more common it was to be landing into an active war zone. Fast descents made for heavy turbulence, or AA guns making near hits that would rock the Kodiak. Liara didn't know if this was a good thing or not. It could be the calm before the ture horror began. It had been the same before they hit Saren's base on Virmire. The night before Ilos. This seemed to feel just the same.

Liara looked at the three others with her in the small shuttle. John sat across from her with his eyes closed and arms crossed. He was meditating like she had shown him years ago. If only she had the calm necessary to do the same for once.

Then there was Javik. He had volunteered. Something about needing to support a failing flank. She watched as the prothean looked over his strange rifle for the tenth time. He would say something besides 'help'. She looked back at the floor for the twentieth time it seemed. She looked into the gray heavy armor she had stashed away just for when she thought things would get tight. John had even asked if she was having second thoughts about going down when he saw her.

Lastly, but by no means the least was an obligatory Sorley. Teagann. She had taken to reading up on the planet they were about to land on. She was bouncing a leg in anticipation of a possible fight.

"So, why all of the hush-hush with this place?" asked Teagann.

"This planet looks like hell to live on. The temperature is crap. The soil won't grow anything but weeds and its gravity would make any scale I stand on down there a liar. But, the asari government has known and used it for a long time. No population records though." added the woman.

"That is how you make curious outsiders think twice about visiting. If you have infrastructure on a barely livable planet, even they don't want to go there." said John with a calm voice. Liara smiled slightly despite being anxious. For a man who in his private life liked to call himself a no-nothing grunt, he was very well versed in what he called 'galactic bullshit'.

"The asari have good reason to be quiet about this place. It is the home of the Ardat'Yakshi." said Liara. Teagann inhaled sharply.

"You know of them? Most asari don't speak of them and believe them to be a legend." asked Liara.

"I talked with Samara several times. They sound awful, Liara." said Teagann. Liara watched as the young woman tried to stop bouncing her leg.

"High command sees the Ardat'Yakshi as an embarrassment to our species. A taboo if you will. They will probably throw more commandos at this place until they know why the monastery went silent." she replied.

"What were their orders?" asked John who had opened his eyes.

"Purge." was all she said. She didn't like the idea. If they, the asari, were so advanced why would they so easily try to wipe out the lives of others. Hadn't they moved past that?

"I helped Samara kill Morinth. I still remember the look in her eyes as she resisted the bitter end. Commendable will to survive. But I also remember her getting into my mind, how vastly different it was from you, Liara. I could feel a strain on my senses. I could feel parts of my mind fade ever so slightly." he said with a grim look. She could tell it had profoundly shaped his views on the asari as a whole. She found herself unsure what that might be at the moment.

"Yes, the urge to feed is powerful. It is an urge that never goes away, a thirst you can never quench." said Liara.

"Wanna bet the commandos brought a big ass bomb to deal with it?" asked Teagann.

"That seems standard for us now, doesn't it?" asked Liara as she looked back to John. He was studying her closely.

"What makes these Ardat'Yakshi different?" he asked.

"Well, Morinth was just hitting her stride. These asari can rack up astronomical body counts. This is why the Asari government doesn't want a single one to get loose." she added. John waved her off.

"Yeah, but how do you keep all of them there? If I am correct, Samara said they are there by choice. Morinth, when given this choice ran instead of being captive." said John. He was right as usual.

"I am not destroying anything, or anyone until I know why it is so necessary." said John as he stood up.

"Cortez, are we close?" he asked. Liara went back to her thoughts. She had heard rumors of these asari as a kid. She even had tabs on one undiscovered Ardat'Yakshi working for the Shadow Broker. Contract work only. She had struggled to ignore that fact for she seemed very adept at taking out very hard to manipulate targets. But she was now confronted with the knowledge that many innocent bystanders were probably being consumed by the urges and rush of killing these asrai craved. It was about to stop being a bulleted fact on a dossier.

"Giving these creatures a choice is a vast luxury you can no longer afford." said Javik, giving no doubts to his thoughts on the fate of the Ardat'Yakshi. Liara was finding Javik to be less of an insight into ancients and more of the lamentations of ghosts. She had long ago become tired of being nice out of ignorance. Javik was bitter beyond his ordeal.

She told herself this in order not to be completely devastated each time he seemed to speak around her. She needed to keep some kind of self preservation alive.

"Okay everyone. I have you at the main shuttle landing site." said Steve. Liara took a deep breath before standing. It was time to focus.

As the team stepped down onto the landing pad, Liara instantly picked up on the unnatural quiet. This was the same aura before every tragic discovery. It reminded her of the mines filled with husks, or the cerberus labs where they found Admiral Kahoku. The doors to an elevator shaft were open and dark directly in front of her.

"The shuttle is still warm, recently used." said Javik from her right. John moved up to the elevator shaft and turned on his light. The shaft was empty. That was never a good sign.

"Elevator is disabled. To prevent entry or escape I wonder?" She pondered aloud. Shepard looked back at her with a shrug. He seemed to be relaxed for some odd reason. She looked at him more intently. He seemed to be almost happy. A flicker of a smile flashed across his face.

"We have service catwalks. Take your time" he said before jumping into the air. Liara checked her Tempest one last time before following the crew. She knew what was happening. John was ready to be back in the action.

"There really is no stopping you, is there?" Liara said softly as she made her own descent. Once she had made it down the first ladder, a pressure began to press on her. It felt like a hand was gently holding the back of her neck. Then, the screams began. A wail from below the team scraped its way through the depths.

"That is new." said Teagann from below Liara. The young woman only spoke in a whisper and had turned her light out to remove herself from being a target. Then a lounder, closer wail of the most pure agony issued from torn vocal chords just a level below them. Liara shuddered with the sound as the pressure on her neck increased. It felt like she was being grabbed this time. Her breath quickened.

"That sound, there is more than one out there" She observed. She found herself looking down at the team below. No one was moving. Shepard was looking at her, the faint smile gone. He seemed to steal something within himself as he looked away and jumped into a room below.

Liara knew what the Ardat-Yakshi could do. This place, it was a monastery but a prison first. The asari in it while here by choice were also some of the most dangerous creatures to ever exist. Pure predators. Could she resist the calls of such a person? A smiling face with warm words asking for help, only to have her body drained of strength and mind ripped apart?

Back on the Normandy

She had paused in her story. She needed to calm down for the next part overwhelmed her still.

"You can stop if you want too, Liara." said Kyson. Liara looked at him and saw what she took as a look of concern.

"No, I need to get this out. Kyson, when you had Khoshekh in you, did you ever feel it guide you or push you in any way?" she asked. The feeling of being pushed was actually wrong. She knew she had been lured in her case.

"No, I couldn't tell the difference the entire time. I believe it is because I had no idea that it was another 'thing' in me. I thought I was plumb crazy." he said with a small smirk. She saw the disarming easiness of his posture while he lounged on the seat. He was willing to hear anything. Kyson was also trying to be calm for her.

Lessus

She jumped across the gap of the shaft and into a large foyer that was pitch black. The wails had gone silent while Shepard moved off to the right. Teagann and Javik went left, leaving her alone. The feeling on her neck began to press on her shoulders. It had to be nerves.

She panned the room slowly as she moved towards John. Tables with overturned chairs could be seen on the far side. Papers were scattered in loose heapes on the ground. She even saw the faint outline of a broken door. Then, in the crack of the busted door panels something moved. It was almost the same color as the surrounding darkness but she knew she had seen it.

Taking a step forward, she brought her gun up at the ready, and found a chair leg with her shin.

The chair scraped loudly in the empty black space. Metal on metal causing her ears to ache.

"The Hell?" came the sharp rasp of Teagann. Damn. That could cost them. Lights fell on her as the team responded to the noise, blinding her.

"Sorry, that was me." said Liara. She had to push down her panic and embarrassment as she went to the door slowly. Nothing was moving now. Once there she even turned her gun sideways in the crack. Letting light and the barrel have a clean line. A corridor with several doors lay beyond. She carefully planned the beam of light side to side.

There, on the left laying on the floor was an asari. She was face down and motionless in black commando armor. Liara tried to find what may have caused the movement she had seen. Nothing. She almost turned away when the asari she assumed was dead slowly began to look up. She could hear the sticky crackle of dried blood separate from flesh and the floor.

"Welcome" said a faint whisper. Liara watched as the asari looked right at her.

"Welcome, sister." came the whisper again. The asari had not moved her mouth, only stared at Liara. The same weight on her began to press down hard. She blinked and then asari was once again face down and very much dead. This was what it must be like! Becoming indoctrinated! Liara got up as cold fear filled her. What were they walking into?

Another distant wail caused her to stagger slightly as she tried to focus again. She brought her gun up and found Shepard watching.

"I have a dead commando on the other side." whispered Liara. John only nodded as he motioned for her to follow. The other members had stopped by an open door on the far side of the room. Several dead cannibals surrounded another dead commando.

"It appears the asari commandos fell silent. The Reapers were here to greet them." said Javik as he took a ready stance once again. Liara had to give the prothean credit. Nothing rattled him.

"Anything?" asked Shepard as he began to calmly check around the open door in front of them. Liara accessed the omni-tool of the dead soldier. Orders and mission briefs were all there.

"She has a schematic with a highlight on a greathall where a bomb has been planted." she said.

"The commandos decided to purge this place." said Javik. Liara could feel herself glare at the prothean. At every turn since they woke him up, he seemed bent on killing just as much as the Reapers themselves.

"Ardat-Yakshi or not, evacuating this place could have saved a lot of lives." lamented Shepard. A small sigh came from behind Liara.

"Life sadly is not viewed equally." said Teagann in a somber voice. Silence fell again.

"That is why we are here now." replied John as he motioned for the team to move up.

"Sister." came a distant whisper once again. Liara looked around trying to find the source. Fear was coming back as the thought of the reapers gaining entrance into her mind began to flood back.

"Be at peace, we are close." came the whisper on her right. Liara had her gun up and charged into the darkness. A small study room had another dead commando sitting in a chair in the middle. She had died with a hand over a gunshot hole in her stomach. Her pistol was still clutched in her limp right arm dangling in the air.

The eyes were rolled back in her head, the jaw was moving up and down slowly making no noise.

"Jesus." came the voice of Teagann. Liara felt something moving within her. The asari just kept listlessly moving it's jaw up and down making no sound as it began to sightlessly look at Liara.

"We are moving" came the disembodied voice. Liara couldn't take the strange intrusion any longer. She pistol whipped the commando with a loud crack. The body was knocked from the chair and stayed motionless.

"What is going on here?" asked Teagann as she tapped Liara on the shoulder. Liara spun around and saw that Teagann had taken her helmet off. She seemed stressed herself.

"We need to find out." was all Liara could say. She was terrified to ask aloud if anyone else could hear the voice. But that is exactly what indoctrination would make you think, isn't it? The two girls caught up with Shepard and Javik in a beautiful atrium overlooking a courtyard highlighting a moon and the intense mountain range.

"All of this." said John cryptically as his team formed up again. He was looking at the door to their right.

"Come on." he ordered. Liara missed out on any possible tranquility this place tried to emote as she kept feeling the pressure in her neck ebb and flow. She had to say something. She wouldn't be taken by them. Not now, not ever. But why would she feel the effects now? She was beginning to form a terrible thought as she dwelt on the ardat-yakshi. Could they be on the hunt? Could she be hearing the one stalking her now that rules were gone? She had never dealt with such a force in person.

Sheprad opened the door in front of them and checked the hall with Teagann. Gunfire erupted causing the team to bring their aim below the walkway.

The familiar deep sound of warp field could be heard while a form of reaper troop screamed in pain. Liara was charging a singularity when she saw her. Samara, the Justicar was killing reaper troops in droves. No less than a dozen cannibals lay around her, shattered and broken.

This was bad if the Justicar was here and not out in the war.

"Very good, I almost didn't hear you. The corruption runs deep here." said Samara.

"Justicar, I assume you are here for your own reasons?" asked Liara. She stole a glance at Shepard who was looking at the scene. She could see his mind working.

"You are correct. Two of my daughters are here. Unfortunately the Reapers had already infested this place by the time I arrived" said Samara.

"Daughters? Just like Morinth? Are they just as dangerous?" asked John, getting right to the point.

"Rila and Falere have followed the monastery rules ever since they got here." said Samara. Liara found this non answer strange for a person who had such rigid views of the ancient code of the Justicars. She had tracked down Morinth for centuries only to abruptly kill her. That was the likely outcome here as well. Cleaning up a personal responsibility perhaps? Was it Rila or maybe Falere the one whipsering to Liara?

"And you're here to save them?" asked Shepard, voicing Liara's thoughts.

"They are my responsibility, and it's one that cannot be abandoned even as our galaxy crumbles." said Samara. As Liara looked into the eyes of the Justicar, she could now pick out the sadness in her words. Novaria came back along with that same sad look on her mother's face. Samara already knew the outcome, reapers or not.

"Let's go together. They may be able to tell us why the Reapers are so interested in this place." said Shepard as he tried looking for a way down.

"They should have much to tell us, It has been centuries since we have last seen each other." said the Justicar.

Such a long time, only to come back to kill them. My people can surely do better than this was all she could think. Liara was about to say such out loud when a burst of gunfire narrowly missed Samara.

"I will draw them off. Meet me when you can, Shepard." said Samara as she confidently strode under them and into the courtyard they had seen.

"I feel sick for Samara." said Teagann. Liara could only nod her agreement as she saw the young woman kneeling over another commando. She picked up a datapad.

"Teagann, let's move." said John. Teagann hopped up and stashed the pad in a large pocket on her suit.

Their path led outside to a large, sloping ramp. The wind could be heard moaning as it passed through the graceful curves of the asari building.

"An isolated fortress. The Ardat-Yakshi must have thought they could hide from the war." observed Javik as he swept the courtyard below with his rifle.

"If they knew about the war at all." said Shepard.

"They learned." said Javik with what sounded like the very first hint of emotion.

"It is likely they would have kept the students in the dark." added Liara as she began to walk down the ramp. She found the open air air despite its heat. The pressure that had been bearing down on her had begun to subside. It had to be nerves. Thank the goddess.

The courtyard was filled with beautiful, sweeping structures for shade. Covered planters and benches formed a small garden leading back into the facility. Liara watched the room with the giant windows they had come from. Looking for any hint of a tail. Nothing.

Just the moaning of the wind.

"Clear." she said as the team moved up behind her.

"Wait, I have something. Get down." said Shepard. Liara didn't hesitate as she ducked behind a planter with Javik. The two squadmates looked at each other. Javik stayed as stoic as ever; focused on the next move.

Loud metallic thuds could be heard from up high. Something was on the roof. It was moving very fast. Then the screams began again. Liara began to feel sick to her stomach as she tried to steal a glance.

A dark figure jumped down from the roof of the facility before activating small thrusters to slow it's descent. Liara didn't recognize the figure through the screams of the creatures the team had yet to see. But, those noises were not coming from this new figure. It looked back sharply before running towards them with blinding speed. Liara had her gun up but founderself shocked.

"Stand down." snapped John as he stayed low. It was Kerris. The mad cyborg had not noticed them as he bolted down the main path through the courtyard. Liara saw Teagann begin to rise. Shepard pulled her down with a strong jerk.

"Not like this…" was barely discerned by the fleeing Quarian in his gravelly voice as he jumped off of the balcony and into the mountains. More screams. The pressure had returned on her mind tenfold. Now, it began to hurt as she forced herself to look forward once again.

All she could see from the roof was the purplish glow of someone using biotics to slow their descent to the courtyard. It was tall, and began to walk very slowly. The creature came into full view searching for its prey. It had long sharp fingers strangely stretched looking like it's limbs. The skin was all mottled and sickly grey with a large flange on it's head. Liara sighted down her gun and was about to pull the trigger. It turned to them and her heart stopped.

It was an asari. The reapers had found them finally.

On the Normandy

Liara stood up from her bed and began to pace. The image still made her sick.

"Kerris? We're lucky he got spooked and ran." said Kyson. Liara spun on him with wide eyes.

"I nearly did as well. Kyson, you can't imagine just how terrifying these perversions are." she said, trying to put as much gravity behind what she had seen as possible. Kyson frowned while putting his hands up.

"Just making an observation." he said as he waited for her to elaborate. She wasn't sure what he was looking for.

"Got an image of one of these things?" he asked.

"Teagann did. Here." said Liara as she had the wall of screens rotate towards them. The short clip was from a small camera on Tegann's shoulder. Kyson watched silently as Kerris ran by, then he stood up abruptly as the creature came into view.

"I have seen them." he said with wide eyes. Liara couldn't believe it. It must have shown in her expression.

"Under Tuchanka. When Kerris and I got seperated in the crypts. We were chased by these creatures, I swear. It is why I tossed that bomb down the shaft." he added. Liara had to quickly recall the scene.

"Before we summoned the thresher maw?" she asked . She vaguely remembered Kyson being picked up by John from the sandy surface. She was too busy being dismayed by the reaper they were about to charge.

"Yes. Liara, why were they there?" he asked aloud as if she had all the answers. She found this to become a problem more and more as she had become more entrenched as the Shadow Broker. It was assumed she knew 'everything'.

"I don't know Kyson. What worries me more is the fact that it was only Ardat-Yakshi that had been turned into those monsters. The bigger question is, are there more? How many were down there with you?" she asked. She hoped it was a small number. The tragic possibilities otherwise were horrific.

"Three, I think." he said. Liara let out a sigh of relief.

"Good, because that means the reapers found only a few Ardat-Yakshi not yet in the monastery." she said. Kyson sat down with a worried look.

"Well, that is bad isn't it? I thought you guys had a hold on thier number. That Morinth was an outlier." he asked. Liara nodded.

"The testing to detect it is given early in age. About seventy years or so. But this also makes me wonder if the ones you encountered were children, less than sixty even. Maybe it was a fluke that the reapers knew what was at the monastery." she wondered aloud. Kyson looked between her and the frozen image on the screen and a dark grimace formed.

"Most likey is the scenario that they found one by accident, an older asari who knew to be on the run and was hunting." he said grimly.

"That is also likely." said Liara giving credence to his deductions.

"Liara, I'm sorry they are doing this to your people as well. It must have been one hell of a shock." said Kyson as motioned to the screen. The banshee was frozen on the screen right as it caught sight of Liara in the courtyard.

Lessus

Liara froze, the monster that was once a living, thinking person. Now, as she looked in horror, the creature aimed it's gaze on her.

"Sister." came the voice in her head as it took a slow step her way. Liara could feel it trying to reach out to her with its nervous system. She could sense the tendrils of corrupted asari bonding physiology trying to snare her. This was why the Reapers were here.

Liara wouldn't go down this way. Nor her people. With a loud yell, she dug in deep into her resolve and opened fire on the beast. The proceeding shriek of anger filled the courtyard as the monster threw up a barrier.

"Take it down!" she barked while continuing her barrage. The wall of bullets crushed the creature's barrier causing it to scream in anger. The shriek was gut wrenching. Javik's beam rifle began to carve a path down the chest of the abomination yet the creature still tried to summon it's biotics. With a tremor that convulsed down the length of the monster's spine, it disappeared.

A click could be heard as Liara's tempest had gone through another heat sink.

"Where did it go?" asked Teagann. Liara didn't even have time to eject the clip from her gun. The monster had charged right into her. The impact knocked her back twenty feet and onto her stomach. How she had regained consciousness she would never know.

"Goddess, help me." was all she could cough out as the monster smiled at her before reaching down as if to help her up.

"Hey!" came a loud voice. The creature turned its ugly head before it exploded from the neck up. Gore and brains showered over Liara causing her to feel her last meal come up in her throat. John kneeled down next to her with his recently reclaimed widowmaker rifle.

She waved him off as she found a way to keep the food down. When she had finally gotten back under control, she glared at the mangled asari corpse.

"That used to be a person. An Asari. What have the reapers done?" she asked aloud. There was no hiding her fear now. She didn't want to become a damn monster. It had taken all of the past few years of taking down corrupted humans and rachni for it to finally sink in. She was no longer immune. Now, it has hit. There really was no exception from the reapers.

"Liara." came the firm voice of John. Liara looked up and saw the team moving towards the doorway ahead of them.

"Let's go." she said. Sweat had begun to make it hard to blink without getting salt in her eyes in the high heat. She hadn't been this nervous since she had first joined the Normandy. No, she wouldn't fold now. She had been on the brink too many times now to slip. The team made it back into the monastery. Liara was last as she saw yet another cannibal get tossed like a toy across the entry.

"Mother, you came?" said a young sounding woman.

"As soon as I was able. Shepard, this is my daughter Falere. She and her sister…" Samara began to explain. She was cut off by the young asari. Falere began to gesture towards the level below them animatedly.

"Mother, they have Rila. I saw some of those creatures take her into the great hall. I have been trying to get there." said Falere. Liara watched as Teagann moved up cautiously to the railing. The young woman moved fluidly, despite Liara's investigations, she couldn't find any formal training in her record.

"What are they doing here?" asked John.

"Harvesting us. Turning us into those things. Please don't let that happen to Rila!" Falere had been working herself into a frenzy. It was now that Liara stole the courage to walk up to another body of a turned asari. So little of what made a person's life remained. The twisted fringe, the strange pot belly, even the removal of sexual organs made the fate of this person more gruesome than she could ever imagine. All of the things that made a person a person was stripped.

"The asari thought the Ardat-Yakshi were responsible for the attack." John started, looking for answers in his usual way. By brutally voicing his thoughts.

"This is our home. Most of us are grateful to be here! This is a place for us Ardat-Yakshi to live in peace." snapped Falere. The true sadness of this situation then permeated the air. It was safer and more convenient to assume that it was the Ardat-Yakshi were to blame than to treat them like people. Safer to kill them and any reapers than try and help those who banished themselves to protect the galaxy, from themselves. And this was their payment for such sacrifice. Sanctioned execution.

"I can vouch for her words, Shepard" said Samara.

"Then we have to find Rila, fast. That bomb that was dropped off is bound to be on a timer. Teagann, any chance that device has a connection to broadcast a countdown?" he asked. Teagann shook her head.

"Negative. Already tried." said Teagann.

"A bomb? You sound like the commandos. They wouldn't stop to help anyone!" shouted Falere at the end as she ran past Teagann and jumped over the rail. Liara could only close her eyes in shame as Samara ran after her daughter.

"Shit, find a way down." said John as he ran towards the only available door in sight. Liara stepped over the body that had once been one of her people.

The next room had two large tiers. Many study areas had been laid out and it appeared to be the rooms of the inhabitants as well. It was quiet. At the back of the great room was the stairs heading down. Liara knew an ambush when she saw one. And the cosmos proved her right once again.

"Teagann, Javik. Take the left corridor below. Liara!" shouted John. Liara was ready. She had unleashed a biotic singularity into the ranks of some cannibals. The creatures screamed as they were pulled in, their bodies being torn apart on a molecular level bit by bit before the collapse of the mini black hole caused a violent explosion.

"My side is clear!" she shouted as she began to fire in support of the team.

"Behind you!" shouted John as he pointed his rifle back up the steps behind them.

"Sister, you have arrived." said the same voice from before. Liara almost dropped to her knees as that damn wail pierced the air behind her. She feebly turned around with her gun raised. There was another asari monster. Grinning at her as it slapped the gun from her hands.

"Come with us. It is time for the future." said that same soothing voice. Liara would have gone to her knees if it wasn't for the creature. It picked her up in it's right hand. It was so gentle the way it held her, as if she was a beloved pet.

Then the monster clenched down with such force it made Liara gasp as her armor groaned in protest. The reality of her situation came back into focus. She had been snared by the demon of the night wind. She could feel it's mind and corrupted soul try to reach into her. Images that made no sense flooded her thoughts.

Boom.

Liara found herself on the floor looking up at the ceiling. Screams from the creature sent waves of empathetic energy through Liara causing her to almost black out. Then, silence.

"Liara. Liara look at me. We need to be moving." said John as he pulled her up with a single arm. She threw up. Her head pounded with the adrenalin of nearly meeting death.

"What are these things doing to her, I wonder." said Javik. Liara found her gun once again before leaning on a table for support. She met the gaze of the prothean, now she was being studied. She smiled weakly at him.

"Why, being the image of grace." she said trying to laugh off the brush with death. John patted her on the shoulder before taking a point. Looking back on the creature that had attacked her, she saw a massive hole where it used to have a left arm. The right leg had also been cleaved above the knee. Add another scorch mark and it showed that it had taken the entire team to save her.

Two for two favoring the Reapers, not Liara. She was starting to see high commands point of view suddenly.

The next room was a break room of sorts. Tables surrounded a beautiful water fountain that fed a small lagoon. And in the middle of it was the bomb. Looking just as peaceful as its surroundings.

"Another dead commando the asari should have killed the Ardat-Yakshi off years ago." said Javik as he looked at the situation. Liara, who still was in a form of shock could hold back any longer.

"Why?" she asked, finding her voice again.

"The empire would never have allowed such monsters to walk among them" said Javik. The bastard was stepping too far.

"What? They didn't want the competition?" snipped Liara. She knew she was being a bitch to a man who had just saved her life. But to be so self righteous about this tragedy was too much for her. He didn't have a clue what his people would or would not do. He was born after their war with the reapers had started.

"Ugh." scoffed the prothean with irritation.

"Hey, Liara. What is this thing?" asked Teagann from the back of the room. Liara left the prothean to his thoughts as she joined Teagann and Shepard. It was a floating collection of hollow metal and plastic cylinders.

"That, is a biotic bell." said Liara. Such instruments dated back to the days when her people had just mastered making hand weapons.

"My people used to have a whole team of people suspend differently tuned cylinders in the air while another team or individual would make them vibrate with her biotics. It takes a deft touch though." said Liara.

"Wait, doesn't Vaenya use these on one of her albums?" asked Teagann in awe.

"I believe so." said Liara before turning away. They were running out of time still. Javik had found the elevator leading to the great hall below them and was waiting. The team climbed in.

"They had a good place here. It is a shame that they decided to purge this place. I wonder how much stuff may be out there that was made by these asari? If you are here for almost a thousand years living in peace, then I imagine you would need to find productive outlets somehow." lamented Teagan as she slowly traced lines in the floor with her sword.

"So much for my people holding onto their ideals in the face of adversity." added Liara. The men stayed silent as the elevator slowed and weapons were readied again. With a soft whir, the door opened to the great hall at last. Liara could see three figures by an exact duplicate of the bomb above them.

"We found our bomb" said Liara softly. As the team moved up she could see Shepard motion for her to take the right side of the room. She did as promoted while the three asari ahead could be heard.

"We found her! Rila, wake up." said Falere as she crouched over the slumped form of what must be Rila. She had not gotten to her sister in time.

"Falere, she cannot hear us." said Samara. The Justicar almost sounded relieved that it was so.

"She is still alive, all she needs to do is wake up!" said Falere. Her voice raised again in desperation. Liara lowered her weapon and stole a glance from Samara. The Justicar shook her head slowly, almost imperceptibly that there was no use. This was her own daughter yet she held no illusions of their situation.

"Rila, can you hear me?" pleaded Falere. Liara saw a twitch of a muscle under the eye causing her gun to instantly be brought up and trained on Rila. The older sister slowly climbed to her feet with a pained expression. Falere went to her sister's side and helped her up. When Rila finally opened her eyes, she had the dark, far away look that always seemed to come over the asari when they are in a trance or reaching out with their minds.

Rila slapped her sister away before lunging at Falere with renewed strength. With hands wrapping around Falere's throat, Rila managed to block off every good angle anyone had to stop her. Yet, Falere proved more resourceful than thought. With a mighty shove and a growl she ripped her sister away and knocked her to the ground.

"Why did she do that?" asked a now angry Falere.

"Because she has begun to turn into one the reapers creatures." answered Samara. John had stepped up to Falere but glanced at Liara. She could see the remorse on his face. It was in these small moments that she could see what John really felt. The man who had to fight the most also had the biggest heart. Would there be any left after this war?

Rila began to move again and the team surrounded her. This time, she made no move to attack.

"Falere. Listen to me. We have no time. These damn monsters have their claws in my mind. You need to go before they get you and mother as well." said Rila with a strong abruptness that was so very reminiscent of Samara. Liara could feel a lump in her chest as she watched a similar scene of her mother played out again. She could feel the water in her eyes.

"We can stop them, take you from this place…" began Falere. Rila just shook her head as she looked past her sister and at Samara.

"Mother, take care of her." said Rila. Samara stood stock still and her eldest living daughter brought out a manual detonator. She must have taken it from a commando who had fallen.

"Reapers!" shouted Teagann who had happened to glance back towards the elevator. The whole team took up positions. Liara had the left side of the room with John while the others had the right.

"Goddess, They just keep coming." she breathed as the number of cannibles climbed past ten. They were trapped.

"Falere go, take the elevator." said Rila hastily. A flash of light flew over the team. A new asari monster had joined the fight. Then another. Liara tried using her own forces on them with a warp field but the creatures just dispelled it with their barrier. All it did was single her out.

John on the other hand had been taking out cannibals left and right. He had run out of spare clips for his widow and was back to the mattock. The team scrambled to keep pace as the two tall monsters slowly advanced.

"Concentrate on the right hand creature first!" shouted John. Liara did as told. Putting round after round into the creature. Samara had joined in by giving the entire team a protective field.

The right hand creature wailed as it went down hard in a hail of gunfire.

"Rila what are you doing?" shouted Falere over the gunfire. Liara looked back and saw Rila with a determined look on her face as she stared down the remaining monster. The distraction cost the team. A grunt from Liara's left caused her to jump. The remaining monster had taken John by surprise and had him in it's grasp in the air.

"No!" screamed Liara as she dropped her gun. The monster had raised Shepard into the air and formed a needle with it's sharp fingers. It was going to disembowel him. John was staring wide eyed into the face of the monster.

She didn't even feel the strain as her mind reached out with all the force she could muster. A floor plate was ripped from under the monster's feet causing it to topple to the ground. Shepard was dropped instantly.

(Tubular Bells Part I: by Mike Oldfield)

Liara held the metal plate above the monster. She could no longer feel the great weight of the object. It had to be well over three thousand pounds. The monster glared at her before using a startling burst of speed to rake out at Shepard. Liara brought down the metal plate with everything she had. The creature burst like a full tick. John cried out.

"Shepard!" Liara shoutedt, fearing she had crushed him as well. She ran over and found the arm of the monster still in one piece, and a hand dug into the back of Shepard's armor. Three oozing trenches of blood had been cut from his armor and down to flesh.

"It's just a scratch. Good work." said John as he stood up. As the appendage fell away blood began to trickle down to the floor. Liara wasted no time in turning him around and applying medigel.

"We need to get you back to the Normandy. That went deep." she said almost in a panic. As if spurred by the scent of the wound, more screams began to echo from the side halls. They were out of luck.

"It's too late for me. There are hundreds coming." breathed Rila quickly.

"Move, Shepard." ordered Samara. John nodded before taking three steps. Then he almost staggered to the ground. Liara and Javik were both there in an instant.

"No, Rila!" was shouted behind the team before a grunt could be heard. Samara must be dragging her daughter.

Liara looked to her left and saw to her horror what must be fifteen of the creatures coming down the side entrance as they ran. More screams fought to enter her mind. The pain in her head was so strong she could feel her heartbeat in her temple.

"No, not today." she groaned as she helped Shepard shuffle into the elevator. Falere had been yelling for her sister the entire time. Liara set John down and ran out to cover Samara.

A monster had reached Rila. It screeched at her causing the woman to stagger to the ground. Samara was still trying to drag Falere along but the creatures had turned their entire focus on Rila. She had been lifted off of the ground just like John had. With a sad smile she turned to her begging sister.

"Falere, I love you." said Rila before the monster impaled her on its arm.

Falere just kept screaming as they made it into the elevator. The last words that could be heard before Javik hit the elevator control was an ultimate defiance.

"We're not your slaves." came the strong voice of Rila. And with that the elevator began to rocket upward. Liara was still staring through the door in shock and the multitude of creatures she had seen before a loud explosion made the lights flicker and elevator jolt.

A high ringing noise could be heard over the silence before slowly dying off. Then deeper notes remained. The explosion had struck the bells. A final song for Rila. Liara let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding and looked back. John was leaning heavily against a wall while Falere had buried herself into her mother's arms. Teagann gave her a stranded look before the door opened at a safe level. They were back at the landing pad.

The hot night air washed over her and she noticed that the oppressive weight was gone. The headaches, the nausea, gone. She closed her eyes in relief. It was the Ardat-Yakshi and not the reapers directly influencing her.

"Rila, there wasn't even time to say goodbye." sobbed Falere. The two asari had walked out onto the landing.

"Rila was brave." said Samara. Liara could hear the unsure words from a long distant mother.

"We left her to die." snapped Falere. Liara could only silently sympathize as she helped John gingerly walk towards the Kodiak.

"Are you doing okay?" asked Liara quietly. John gave her a quick, pained smile.

"Rila made her choice," said a now very remorseful sounding Samara. Falere only glared at her mother. The justicar gave a single glance back at the team and the destroyed monastery. Liara saw something that looked like peace come over the regal asari before she pulled out her pistol.

"Falere. By the Justicar's code, there cannot be an Ardat-Yakshi existing outside a monastery." said Samara calmly as she stood before her daughter. Liara knew where this was going to go.

"Shepard." she murmured. John simply let his arm fall from Liara's shoulder before stepping into the unfolding tragedy.

"Mother?" asked a now frightened Falere as she eyed the pistol at her mother's side. Then, the gun was against Samara's temple. Liara closed her eyes as she saw her own mother's last words. They said there would be a light.

"Let go…" came the angry voice of Samara. Liara opened her eyes and saw John had taken the Justicar by surprise. He had pinned her arm with the gun behind her back.

"The hell are you doing?" Shepard grunted as Samara tried to free herself.

"I will not kill my last daughter! If there is no monastery, then she cannot be allowed to live. This is the only way I can save her." siad Samara in an out welling of emotion. She had stopped struggling though.

"I'll stay here." said Falere as she got close to her mother. Samara gave her a hard stare.

"I could have left at any time. I don't need a building to honor my own code." said Falere with finality. A few tense moments went past.

"The code, it permits this." said Samara.

"So, if I let you go, no one else is dying?" asked Shepard. Liara could see he was starting to shake under the strain of holding the asari.

"Yes, Shepard. Thank you." said Samara and she was freed. John fell to his knees.

"John. Teagann, give me hand." said Liara as Shepard struggled to get up. Falere took the initiative and opened the door to the Kodiak.

"Thank you, all of you for coming here to help. I promise to help in any way I can. And if the Reapers come back, they won't take me alive." said Falere. Liara nodded to her before looking back at Samara.

"What are your plans now?" she asked.

"I am going to help Falere here, make sure it is safe. Then I am going to join your war. It is the least I can do." said Samara.

Present day, The Normandy

Liara found herself sitting on her bed again with hands clasped in front of her as she stared at the table in front of her. The story of the mission was over after going through two bottles of water and a light sandwich. Kyson had stayed nearly silent through the second half of the story.

"Liara, that is some horrific shit. I'm glad to hear Samara got to get some closure though. But damn. I don't know if my parents would do such a thing for me." said Kyson. He seemed a bit dazed at the end.

"My mother did." said Liara with a deep breath. Kyson looked shocked.

"I'm sorry. I know that Noveria was hard for you." he said reproachfully. Liara smiled at him.

"My mother, she had tried to kill Shepard and the team on the first Normandy. She was trying to indoctrinate the rachni queen we had found. In the end, she broke free just long enough to tell me she loved me. She stalled and gave us time to fight back against her." said Liara.

"That piece of glass." said Kyson as he understood last night.

"Exactly." she said. Kyson leaned back into the sofa and tilted his head back. He was looking into the stars as he began to speak again.

"What is really bothering you? You still seem distracted despite the story." said Kyson. Liara was still unsure if she wanted to share what had happened two weeks ago.

"It has to do with John and it ain't the nasty back scratch he got." said Kyson who began to push her. Liara recoiled from the table a bit as if the room suddenly had a foul smell. She looked at her friend, he just sat there, staring at the stars.

"He got confused." she said. She decided that she needed to say it out loud and not in generalities like she did with Tali. If Tali had been told she had been hit, Shepard might not be alive right now.

"Confused? Shepard?" asked Kyson as he brought his focus back to Liara. He had that concerned look again. Now, Liara didn't want to talk about it at all.

"Those monsters." she began.

"Banshees." added Kyson.

"Those Banshees. They got to us. Not just me, but to John." said Liara as she struggled how to tell Kyson what had happened with a gentle touch.

"Something finally rattled him. And I'm not surprised that those creatures did it." said Kyson.

"Really? John has seen some of the most horrifying things ever to exist." said Liara.

"It got close this time. He saw something worse than his death. That's how it worked with me getting spaced." he said with conviction. Liara felt the horror of his words. The look on John's face as he looked into the eyes of the monster asari.

"You may be right." she said as she began to try and block out the memory.

"Hey, he is by no means shattered. Not that I can tell. He seemed stressed though when I got my briefing. Distracted. That is new." said Kyson as he probed again.

"Promise me you won't be mad before I tell you what is weighing on his mind." she said. Kyson looked around the room to make sure they were alone. She could see him get tense with worry as she asked him for a red flare of promise. He calmed down and nodded once.

"One night, not long ago we had gone to bed in his cabin. It was his first night back in his bed since the wounds had started to close up. He has been having bad dreams, possibly night terrors ever since the Alpha Relay. Then Earth happened." She said but had to pause for Kyson started to slowly nod his head. She raised an eyebrow but he just pointed at her to continue.

"He had fallen asleep, the lights were off and I had just put down my data pad. He started screaming out. He seemed lost, like he didn't know where he was. At first, I figured it would pass like it usually does after an incoherent sentence or two. But he just got louder. Then he called my name. I couldn't stand him being in pain over me so I tried to wake him." she said before falling silent. Kyson groaned, which she was not expecting.

"I think I know where this is going." said Kyson as his gaze became very intense. Liara didn't know if she should feel relieved that it was so obvious or not.

"When he saw me, he screamed in terror. Then he hit me, in the left eye." she said with a tear forming.

"He had no idea who I was. Where we were. Kyson, I frightened him. Me." she said as she began to feel her resolve not to cry again begin to crumble.

"It's not your fault." said Kyson who had gone riged. Liara nodded as she sniffed her now running nose. She wiped a tear away and was met with Kyson who had a box of disposable towels at the ready.

"Thank you. Please tell me you won't be mad. I know what John has come to represent for so many. I worry that this…" Liara was stopped by Kyson laying a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"PTSD. If any of us don't have it by now, I'm fucking shocked." said Kyson with the faintest smile she had ever seen him have. He was right. Everything Shepard had gone through over the years, he had been the immovable object the reapers were throwing themselves against. Before that, it was gangs, rival military, thresher maws. The entire galaxy had been wearing John. Now, it was hitting at his core.

"I know." she said. Kyson leaned back and took a deep breath again. She watched as he studied her. He didn't seem uncomfortable like she thought he would.

"Did he apologize?" he asked.

"Every day. I had to tell him to stop. He has felt so bad about it he made himself throw up twice now." she said. Kyson nodded before he smiled warmly at her. It was strange coming from him. After all of the drama and pain Kyson always seemed to be in, being on the other side was utterly surreal.

"He will always love you. He got scared shitless, and that will take time. You guys have it handled, but, have you gone to Chakwas about this?" he asked.

"John went down to her that day. That is what led to Garrus being made CO of the Normandy for now. John is still responsible for his N7 duties, but the pressure of the day to day on the ship has been lifted." she elaborated. It had also been a huge blessing. No sooner had a full cycle gone by did John seem to walk a bit easier. She hadn't realized he had been hunching his shoulders.

"Is it helping?" asked Kyson.

"Greatly" she replied.

"Liara, you and John are the strongest people I have ever known. I owe everything to you two. I know that he will shake this off and be back in the fight. So will you. I'm just happy he has you, Liara. I don't think a simple, easy, breazey, cover girl would be able to truly love that hard headed bastard." said Kyson with a growing smile. Liara knew this was some kind of joke. She began to laugh as she began to cry again, but this time it felt good to let the tension flow away.

"I have know idea what that means." she laughed as she got up and got another bottle of water.

"He needs a smart woman, not a damn bimbo." he added. Liara laughed some more.

"I think you are right. When he first expressed interest in me, I was shocked that he wasn't going for all the much prettier or smarter women." she admitted. She stayed standing to stretch out her numb legs. Kyson rolled his eyes.

"Well, you got the book smarts, sure." said Kyson. Liara could see the jab and decided to play. She was starting to understand why so many people held onto the humor to the end. It wasn't a species thing. It was an individual decision. To let fear win, or not.

"Book smarts, this is in comparison to what?" she asked, forcing him into a corner.

"You may have a bunch of fancy degrees and shit…" he began. This was when she decided to strike.

"Do remember, that whatever lecture you are about to give me is coming from a man who intentionally dropped out of engineering school and has yet to go back." said Liara. She knew that it was always uncouth no matter where in the galaxy to beat people with college degrees. No one liked to be belittled. But Kyson knew that he had intentionally provoked her. Now here was the moment Garrus loved the most. The rebuttal.

Kyson placed a hand over his heart and gave a pained expression on.

"Oh, you wound me so. But, haven't you heard? I have sold out." he said with that crazy grin coming back. Liara just placed a hand out as if looking for payment.

"I'm going to become an architect!" he shouted. Liara sat down as Kyson began to laugh at his own crappy joke. She couldn't help but laugh along.

"I had it all wrong. Why be the guy languishing to make crazy ideas safe and sound? Fuck that noise. I need to be that asshole who makes a living telling people that it's not the motor, but the 50,000 credits of black paint that makes the car go!" said Kyson now shouting as he got himself worked up. Liara could only laugh at his antics. Spinning cynicism into a type of mirthful positivity.

"I think you are onto something. Do you really think every ubiquitous asari arch needs to be the same formula?" she asked. Kyson didn't even ask before he began to whoop with laughter again.

After a few minutes went by and a small rant about turian bulkhead designs later, both had calmed down. Liara felt so much better getting the truth off of her chest.

"Hey, Liara." said Kyson.

"Hmm?" she mumbled through a sip of water.

"Thank you again. I would not have made it if you hadn't helped me on Mars." said Kyson. There was no panic or stress in his features. Just a warm, friendly smile that had to have been buried for many years.

"Am I seeing a Kyson from before Khoshekh?" asked Liara with curiosity. Kyson shook his head side to side.

"Much farther back likely. But, you and John both have saved me and Tali from so much. If you need any help from us, even if it's just to give you a day off somehow let us know." said Kyson as he stood up. He opened his omni-tool.

"Any time, Kyson. It is what friends are for. And I may take you up on that offer. I can see you having fun with this network of mine." said Liara. Kyson looked back at her, then at the wall.

"I'll stick to my world of nuts and bolts. Then, I may go for something more elegant for a second degree after the war. Might start painting like Teagann. She knows how to hock binary colors." chuckled Kyson. Liara smiled at the jab. She began to clean up her table when the large stack of papers with N7 on them distracted her.

"Hey, don't forget this. Is this the decoy fleet?" she asked. Kyson nodded.

"Yeah. Figured you might have a hand in this as well." he said as he took the papers. Now, for the first time that day, Kyson did seem to get tense.

"John mentioned the possibility of such a plan and that he would likely need your help." she said honestly.

"I'm going back to Menae." said Kyson with a wry grin. He was trying to play off that he was not worried. He was going to the front.

"Kyson." said Liara before she realized she wasn't sure what to say.

"Just, thank you. And take care of him, yeah?" was all he asked as he walked away and waved.

"Goddess, the separation begins." she said as she looked out the window and into the stars. They didn't seem to hold the same comfort as before. But she glanced one more time as Kyson rounded the bulkhead and to the elevator.

"But, we will make it work." she said with a soft smile.

"Someone needs to make shitty jokes besides Jeff." she said quietly.

A/N

I am trying some new things. Review as you will, and thank you for reading.

~RJ