Act I : XII

Eden Prime Colony, fifteen years ago

Slade Jordan hated seeing his mother cry, mainly because it was usually his fault. His life was absolutely terrible, and had only gotten worse after the playground incident a few years ago. He had no friends, as nobody wanted to talk to him anymore; in fact, everybody seemed to hate him and wanted nothing to do with him. His mother was the only one left who did not resent him for being a biotic. Slade had managed not to bend anymore playground items, but the damage was already done. With all the hardships already present, watching his mother cry was absolutely unbearable. Slade's mother was sitting on the living room couch, hunched over and bawling uncontrollably. In her hands was a small wood carving which was attached to a thin necklace. Her husband had given it to her the day after they were engaged to be married, and he had another one exactly like it which he wore around his neck in the form of a chain necklace. Both of them were a small carving of a teddybear, chiselled out of authentic mahogany from Earth; however, Slade's father had taken his with him when he stormed out of the house a month ago and vowed never to return.

Slade's mother had tried her best to convince Slade it was not his fault, but was unsuccessful because Slade knew without a doubt that it was indeed his fault. Slade's father had not said a word to him since the playground incident, and also rarely talked to his wife. The only times the married couple had talked to each other was when they argued at the top of their lungs, almost always fighting over something that concerned Slade. Eventually, the man had enough and simply decided leaving was the best outcome. His wife disagreed, but apparently her opinion carried very little weight when he made his decision to abandon the family. Slade's mother cried almost everyday, she tried to do so when Slade was at school, but was sometimes unable. Although she constantly assured him that she would never stop loving him, Slade always felt an overwhelming sense of guilt whenever she cried, which was made even worse when he learned there was nothing he could do except watch and hope she would eventually cheer up. She never did.

It was a cold, dreary day when Slade returned home from school to find his mother collapsed in a puddle of her own blood. She had gashed open her own throat and bled to death in the middle of the kitchen, causing a pool of blood to accumulate on the kitchen floor. Slade was completely silent and did not move, or utter a single sound when he found her. He simply just gazed with an empty expression as the only person in the galaxy who still loved him was taken away from him. There was no point crying for help, as there was nobody to listen or even care. Slade slept on the cold, wet kitchen floor that night next to his mother. He was thoroughly drenched in her blood in the morning, but could not bring himself to leave her. Nobody cared if he did not attend school on some days, they were probably happier when he was absent. He stayed home the next day as well, and spent the entire day lying next to his mother's body. The stench of blood had become odourless to Slade, as he no longer managed to distinguish the scent. On the third day of his mother's death, nature had taken its course and her body had started to waft a decomposing haze. Slade cried for the first time since his mother died as he stood in front of his home and watched as it burned to the ground. He knew nobody in the colony would give his loving mother a proper funeral, so he gave her a proper service himself. Slade's only regret was not being able to give his mother more. She had cared for him and loved him when no one else would. She deserved more than this, and Slade was heartbroken he was unable to do enough for her.

Slade was scolded and chastised as the other colonists had arrived to extinguish the flames before the fire spread. By the time the fire was under control, the home was barely recognizable as it was nothing more than smouldering ruins. Slade was yelled at for what felt like hours as he just blankly stared at the remains of his home. When everyone had left and Slade was finally alone again, he picked up a backpack he had filled with everything in the house he had wanted to keep and slung it onto his back. He walked for a few hours to the spaceport and found an old hangar bay that was certainly unused. This would be his home for the next fifteen years, furnished with nothing except his backpack and sorrow.

/

SSV Normandy, present day

Slade Jordan sat in Liara's office in silence as he looked down to the floor and observed every tiny detail of his boots. When he looked back up at the Asari who was sitting at her desk in front of him, he saw she had fresh tears streaming down from her extravagant blue eyes, to her beautiful, soft face.

"That's what happened to my parents", Slade finished. "My father is still out there somewhere - dead or alive - while my mother lies in an unmarked, scorched grave which is the best I could give her. From what you've told me, Liara, your mother sounds like she's a very nice lady and I think Saren is holding her with him against her will. I hope we can find her soon and reunite the two of you. I think there are enough dead mothers in the galaxy." Liara did not say anything, she just continued to pitifully stare at Slade with tears falling down her cheeks. Slade looked back down to the floor.

Shit, what could she say? What would I say if I was in her seat? Maybe it's better if we just don't say anything.

Slade continued to stare at the ground, listening to an occasional sniffle from Liara. When she stood up, he looked up to see her walk towards him and kneel in front of him, fresh tears still streaming down her face.

"Slade", Liara sobbed. "No ten year old should ever have to experience such an ordeal. I am so sorry I asked. Had I known the story you were going to spin for me, I would never have asked. Please forgive me."

"There's nothing to forgive, Liara", Slade replied. "After all, we did have an agreement. I would answer all your questions. I'm just fulfilling my end of the bargain. Is there anything else you want to ask me?" Liara vigorously shook her head and stood up to walk over to her desk. She returned and knelt back down in front of Slade, pressing a small pebble into his hands.

"It's time to fulfill my half of the deal", Liara sniffled. "This is a small stone from my very first excavation site. I always keep it with me to remind me that regardless of how successful I become, I must never forget my humble beginning. I want you to hold it in the palm of your hand."

"Liara", Slade started. "What's this supposed-

Slade was interrupted as Liara quickly hushed him by placing her hands on his and moving the pebble into his open palm. He felt his hand tremble from the sudden physical contact but was too emotionally exhausted to feel a meltdown starting, so he looked down at the pebble and ignored his racing mind.

"Now", Liara began. "I want you to try and lift the stone with your biotics. It will not be easy, and I do not expect anything to happen right at this moment, but please try your best." Slade obediently attempted to try and lift the pebble. He tried picturing it hovering upwards in his mind, he tried to use his palm to propel the stone upwards, he even attempted forcefully straining his brain to hurl the stone to the ceiling: nothing worked.

"I can't", Slade admitted. Liara placed a hand on his shoulder this time and he felt a warm pulse surge through his body. He thought he was experiencing another meltdown, but the sensation in his body was like nothing he had ever felt before. He felt an invisible force inside his body on the verge of bursting through his veins. It felt like every single fibre in his body was pulsing in unison and he was about to explode. Slade looked at Liara's hand on his shoulder and finally noticed that her hand was emanating a blue, biotic aura.

Wait a minute…

Slade froze and felt his jaw drop as he realized the blue aura was not coming from Liara, it was coming from HIM. His entire body was radiating with invisible energy and a blue miasma surrounded him.

"You CAN, Slade", Liara hummed. "You just need to stop holding yourself back. Now, please lift the stone." Slade tried again, but the pebble refused to budge. He rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the Asari.

"I told you", Slade quipped. "I can't."

"And I told you", Liara retorted. "You can. But you must stop holding back. I can feel your potential, Slade, and I know you are stopping yourself. Do not hold back. Please. Lift. The. Stone." Slade sighed in defeat and tried again.

Am I holding back? I've never done this before… how could I be holding back? I don't know HOW to hold back.

Again, the pebble lay on his palm refusing to move. Liara picked up the pebble and stood up.

"Very well, Slade", she announced. "We'll do this your way." Liara took a few steps backwards until she was standing at the other end of the room. She then lifted the pebble with her biotics and beckoned Slade to stand up, which he curiously did.

"Catch", Liara hummed. She then hurled the pebble towards him in the form of an intimidating biotic torpedo. Slade did not expect her to do such a thing; therefore, he had no time to react and did the only thing his brain gave him time to do: he closed his eyes and flung his arms out in front of himself to protect his face. Slade felt the same warm pulse surge through his arms as he shielded himself from Liara's attack.

"Very good, Slade." Liara complimented. Slade opened his eyes and felt his jaw drop once more. He had caught the pebble with his biotics and it was hovering in front of his arms in a blue miasma. Slade could not help but smile.