Chapter 48: Requiem
All was silent.
There always solace when looking out at the Great Void. Tonight there was none. Samara was well aware that Shepard had gone back to Omega, to the den of the ardat-yakshi to collect the body of Mirala. Now that she was free in the Embrace of the Goddess, Samara could look at the one she had lost and say daughter once more. The Spectre had gone back not out of some morbid curiosity that Cerberus might have held over the corpse of a deviant asari, but as a friend.
As a woman who had lost her own daughter she would not allow the desecration of another's child - a friend's child - when it was entirely avoidable. Shepard had returned to the apartment to pay respects not to the woman she never knew but to Samara. Mirala was taken, wrapped not in a traditional silken burial shroud but in the blanket that was taken from her bed only hours before.
Samara knew her daughter lay in a stasis chamber in the shuttle bay waiting only for the matron's word whether or not the 'coffin' should be sent to Thessia for funeral rites or to be sent off into the Void for burial at 'sea' as it were. It was Samara's choice. She allowed the young ghost-the ghost of thirty-nine year old Mirala to decide for her. Thessia had long since been abandoned by her eldest child. For four hundred years she sailed the Void, running the stars and seeking shelter amongst them. So it was there along with Shepard's own child where Mirala would be buried. The Void would claim the body as the soul was already free by the Grace of the Goddess.
In the casket Samara also knew her friend had placed a small vial of sea water, a fraxon shark's tooth (the tooth had been taken during Shepard's Great Hunt) and a sarn-rín...the stone of memory. In this instance the ancient custom had not been done for the departed but rather for Samara's sake.
Such observations of funeral rites were carried of from the faith of Athame to the more modern-day Siari. Even as life advances and faith adapts and grows some of the old customs still had a hold because it was unfathomable to let go. Asari have long memories after all.
Ever since the asari took to the stars, if the body of daughter of Thessia could not be returned home, tokens of homeworld were placed with the deceased so that her soul may always remember where she came from. Even when they become one with the All, Thessia was always there in their hearts.
While Siarists don't specifically believe in reincarnation: they believe in spiritual energy returning to the universal consciousness upon death which will eventually be used to fill new mortal vessels. Samara however was an Athameian. All Justicars tended to be. 'Embrace the will of the Goddess.'
Regardless of observations of burial practises for Mirala it would be the same outcome. There would be no shrouds, no incense, nor requiem for a life lost, or a dirge for a life remembered or songs of a life celebrated. The time of mourning truncated by the necessity of the mission, the time of revival not observed save for this moment now.
Perhaps it was also apt that Mirala's body be given to Sahrabarik, the sun of the Omega Nebula. It was after all where she was found once more under the skin of the monster Morinth.
In the requiem of silence of the Portside Observation room the old broken warrior lost herself in the memories of when her child was so much younger.
A maid little more than twenty, to human eyes she might be half that age. The twins were only three years younger but they followed their elder sister, tried to copy all that she did with varying success.
The younger girls were not as daring as Mirala, nor as confident in themselves and their abilities. Like their adar they were far more cautious. Falere especially, she was more studious preferring to read about asari heroes than becoming one. She was very quiet, shyer than even her twin.
Rila was between always protective of Falere but a near rival of Mirala. Perhaps even jealous of the attention her older sister gained from Samara. It wasn't the three years that separated them in how successful Mirala was, it was simply she was always that much smarter than Rila. That touch more talented. Her biotics that tad bit more refined. Rila was always playing catch up.
Samara knew that Mirala was going to something special, something glorious. She was the bravest and the smartest of the three. A powerful biotic and a keen sharp mind. Mirala had aspirations to becoming a Justicar. Well every asari youngling does at this age. But Mirala could make it in those elite ranks, she need only apply herself. She already outstripped her school peers in biotic training. She rose in the ranks of skyball and became the coach said go pro or so said the coach. And she was by far exceptional within the mind-having advanced two grad levels of beyond her age grouping At twenty, Mirala was already solving quantum physics theorems and base twelve mathematics. She was in Samara's opinion quite extraordinary. A maiden she more than proud to call daughter.
Samara was so very proud of Mirala. Of the three she was the one she was closest to. Mirala would never hesitate to share anything with her mother, they were as the best of friends. Indeed they were so very much alike. Mirala would tease her Naneth by mimicking her voice and mannerisms. Mirala idolized her mother so much so she even asked and received miniaturized fully functional combat leathers on her name-day.
The child spun around in a circle admiring her reflection in the three-way mirror. Now she looked like the proper huntress. The leathers were dark red of sunset—the colors of the Order of Justicars. She felt like one. She stood a little taller, her chin pointing outwards her small fists balled up and resting upon her hips. She loved how the leathers made her feel stronger, bolder—indomitable. She was the scion of the asari people!
ME~ ME~ ME~ ME~ ME~ ME~ ME~ ME
"Samara, you okay?" came a soft very hesitant question.
"I am... adequate, Kasumi. Why the question?" the glass in the Justicars hand glimmered dully in the overhead illumination of the bar as she poured from a bottle a translucent teal liquid into a tumbler. The contents created incongruous rainbow upon the flat surface, which the asari traced with her eyes then the very tip of her right index finger. The colors caused the matron's mind to drift to another time and a question given to her by Mirala when she was but three and Samara was very heavy with the twins.
"Nan, where do rainbows come from? Why do they like water so much? Are they bondmates?"
The thief bit her lower lip. "Well it's sorta this is the first time I've seen you in the Starboard side Lounge. I thought maybe you might be overtired, took a wrong turn and ended up here instead of Port." she blinked feeling rather stupid for the offered explanation. Kasumi restarted: "I mean not that I'm bothered, the bar is on this side after all. It's just well frankly; I've never seen you use it in the whole time we've been here. Always thought maybe it was your Code that stopped you from ...indulging." the last word carefully chosen.
"While it is not against the Code to partake in libations, it is against it to become inebriated. I used to be very fond of spirits, thus I tend to eschew imbibing since I've become a Justicar. Tonight I however I wish only to taste something of home. I was surprised to find Erasa here. It is not a common alcohol for humans to consume."
"Well Normandy isn't your typical human vessel. Even for a military one" Kasumi said without the usual snarkieness in her general teasing tones. "Shep has a yen for all things asari. Maybe it's all the eezo in the food; you know being a biotic and all. Or she just likes the taste of it." she smirked softly, "your wines, foods, music, art, literature...a particular Prothean Expert."
Kasumi watched as the Justicar poured herself a second glass of the slightly bitter wine known commonly as 'Sorrows Companion'. She kept quiet as to why, but knew it had to do with the body on ice down in the shuttle bay. "There's some Red Janey vodka down there and I know Shep bought Dr, Chakwas a bottle of Serrice Ice and our good Commander has a few more of it in her cabin. She's been saving a bottle of Illium Gold for Janiris Eve so no luck in cracking that one open.
"If you're jonesing for a taste of home I know Shep has some great cheeses in her private stash. There's one made with some kind of lotus flowers. It's smooth and gorgeous and there's another that is a strange aquamarine color and is super hot and this is coming from a woman that likes spicy and hot!"
"Green Calishite. It is made from ground curry," came a corrective answer.
"Yeah that's the stuff. I had a bit of it, couldn't feel my taste buds for days!"
Despite her grief, Samara chuckled gently. Her youngest Falere had the same reaction to the stronger of the two cheeses the thief spoke of. Admittedly Samara too preferred the Chessetan lotus cheese that was made from cherry blossoms, and the petals of the lotus and honeysuckle flowers. It went ever so well with Erasa
"If you ask her I bettcha' Shep will share her goodies with you."
"This will suffice, thank you Kasumi." her tone soft and rather distant.
The thief knew that tone. It was the tone she herself held just after she had Kaji's graybox back in her hands and was on the shuttle heading for Normandy. She wanted to be left alone to settle into the immersion of her lover's memories. Samara wanted to be alone—needed to be alone to settle the memories of the dead.
"She was my daughter." Samara said taking a sip of her wine.
Kasumi remained very silent not certain if the asari was only voicing aloud her inner thoughts to the glass in her hand or to the thief. Wisdom directed that the thief keep her teeth together and allow the Justicar to speak.
"I will never be able to convey just what it means to have had the Commander's help in apprehending Morinth. I've been hunting her for so long. Longer than she lived as my daughter." she took another sip.
It couldn't have been easy to hunt your child for years knowing she was a serial killer, facing time and again those left in the wake of daughter's crimes. Stalking a killer, it leaves its scars on you; Kasumi knew that better than most. She had been hunting Hock ever since he had murdered her lover. Kasumi had felt nothing but rage for the man and rejoiced when he died. The young Asian didn't even know where to begin on how to relate to a woman who just killed...no executed...her own daughter.
She felt like an absolute idiot for saying it, but Kasumi felt maybe something should be said in the growing awkward silence. "Yeah, Shep's good that way. Always willing to do what needs to be done, no matter how hard it is." Kasumi felt a little twinge in her gut knowing maybe that wasn't what Samara needed to hear. "I am good at reading people. I got good vibes off of Shep moment I laid eyes. Bet you did too. She's more discrete about a lot of things more than I am and I'm a shadow." they shared a knowing smile as that was what Shep had called Kasumi had the thief actually been given and passed N7 training. And of course Goto was the best thief in the business and she took great pains not to be the best known that was as they say very bad for business.
In a very rare moment of frankness Samara said. "I believe that young human maiden is truest and closest friend I have ever had or will ever have. I believe many on this ship feel the same." the drink was finished and with it Kasumi knew so was the conversation.
Samara rose from the stool and strode towards the door in the same silence she had come in with. After the asari had gone Kasumi moved towards the bar picked up the glass and for a lack of anything else to do or say she cleaned it and replaced it back upon the shelf from whence it came.
The thief couldn't help but speculate if Shep knew just what sort of influence she wielded in the people around her. Probably not. Yeah sure she was a military commander and had the confidence of one. But under the uniform there was the woman that people like Kasumi, Samara and even Jack followed and it had nothing to do at all with the clothing she wore on her back.
Hell Shep made you believe in the dumb idea of Heroes. Yeah Hero complete with the whole capital 'H'. And it sure as hell was going to get the woman killed. Selfishly Kas hoped it would be after they beat back the big-bad of the Reapers. Because if Shep died anytime before then they were totally and seriously fragged.
ME~ ME~ ME~ ME~ ME~ ME~ ME~ ME
Several emotions rippled through Liara. Anger, frustration, fear, pride and back to anger again. Of all the bloody foolish things to do! Her bondmate went after the ardat-yakshi the Justicar had been hunting before she joined the Normandy. But of course she did, morally right heroic daring and risky and above all and foolish! A mission with all the hallmarks that attracted Sam to take it on.
Samantha was extremely strong willed but not even that strength would save her from the tainted touch of an ardat-yakshi. The young Prothean Expert tried to keep her face as neutral as possible, her mind as open, but it was difficult. But she really couldn't blame Sam; it was who she was after all. And it was best the criminal was apprehended, better that she was no more.
Liara must have had a look in her eyes for Sam looked down, *I know, I know how dangerous it was. The closest she got was to try and use her domination trick on me. I managed to block and that's when Samara came in. Morinth set her sights on her mother and that was that. Their battle was intense but over quickly.*
There was silence between bondmates. Both thinking of mother and daughter locked in battle one destined to kill the other. Omega. Noveria. Such were the tragedies of Thessia. There was one more place, one more daughter that met the end...because of a mother.
"NO!" Liara suddenly shouted both in voice and mind. "Secura's death is not your demon Samantha. The gestalt made her heart weak; it was the assassins that took her life not our soul bond. Not you. I mourn her everyday but I won't carry the demons of her death nor will you Melethril. You carry too many of them as it is, for Elysium, the losses on the Citadel, Kaiden. It's time to put them to bed my love. Guilt is a very powerful emotion. There is a lot of energy in that pain. It has a lot of power. Deny it." Liara reached up and touched the holographic projection wishing for the hundredth time that it was the true flesh of her wife's face.
In death Benezia was truly free of Sovereign. In death the child of Samara was free of her torment. What peace was left for two mothers and a child stolen from them?
Sam closed her eyes and for a moment she felt sweet touch of warm blue fingers on her cheek. Oh to have that touch, that closeness, to take in her sweet Angel Eyes' scent, to kiss those tender plump lilac lips. To hold her in her arms and feel the graceful touch of beloved's mind meld with hers. It had been too long. Far too long.
"I know." Liara whispered. "I know. I want that more than anything too. Ah... Samantha..." She shook her head. "I loathe this distance between us."
*Me too.* there was a heavy sign *But I no matter how much I want you with me, fighting at my side. I want you and our daughters safe. Out of danger. What we're up against...no it's better you're on Illium. Talk about demons...these things-the Collectors made are exactly that. Demons, not from hell definitely from nightmares. Dreamt up in the darkest reaches of imagination.* the hologram of Sam shook her head. * I don't want our girls anywhere near that. Or you. I have nightmares enough and as you say demons enough.*
Liara sighed sadly. "Nightmares. They have always plagued you since the first beacon."
*Yeah.* Sam rubbed the back of her neck *Maybe there is something to what Ash said. Me being indoctrinated. We both know there's a lot of Prothean crap running around in this old noggin of mine. I know not everything is right. Too many headaches. Oily nightmares, whispers, memories that aren't mine. Ilos...Ilos had too many voices, too many whispers, too many ghosts. I know you loved it but I hated it. The Prothean touch there was stronger than ever.* the hologram sat down. * I'm worried.*
Liara knew that 'worried' was Sam-speak for 'terrified.' She also knew her bondmate needed this time to speak.
*Ash wasn't far off the mark. Neither was your Naneth, Shiala or any of the others trapped in Sovereign. * she tapped her head. * I don't think it's all just me in here or you.* A half coy self-defacing smile at her last two words of the sentence. * But something so much darker. What if it's not the Protheans...but the Reapers?*
Liara now shared the troubled look that was so very apparent on Sam's photonic face.
"Samantha...we both know your beta waves were altered after the explosion from the beacon on Eden Prime. The gestalt, the Crypt of the Beings of Light, the Vinculum. Each one left is mark on you. It doesn't mean you are tainted by the Reapers."
*Doesn't mean I'm not.*
"Samantha, Melethril...it is the Protheans that touched you. They marked you. You were never within Sovereign! His taint could not take you. You spoke to his hologram briefly. Even if you were exposed to a signal through the hologram it could not have been long enough to take a foothold. Tali and I would have been equally targeted and at risk."
*But Shiala was tainted by Sovereign and the Thorian both. She gave me the Cipher—the taint was passed along. Like the flu. You've only touched the images of it but you don't have the Cipher. Not really.*
Liara was about to correct her bondmate that whatever touched Sam touched her. It was something they both knew but right now that reminder was severely downplayed. She kept it from her deepest thoughts lest they touch Samantha on some incandescent levels of the subconscious.
"What do you want me to say my love? What will reassure you? Talk to Professor Solus, I know he has done studies on the effects of indoctrination. Perhaps he can clear things up where conventional medicine has not. Whatever vexes thee my heart the professor and Dr. Chakwas can figure it out."
Sam nodded. *Funny that phrase is brought up. Figuring things out, remember me talking about Grunt?*
"That tank born-teenaged Krogan?"
*The same. Something's hinky about him. Got him smashing windows in the cargo bay. Which is something considering that glass is shatter-proof. Hell on the battlefield he was so engrossed in battle he stomped the enemy's head in until it turned to jelly. It isn't blood-rage either, or not the sort we saw in Wrex or any other krogan battlemaster we came across chasing after Saren.
*Might be something to do with Grunt being tank born, or something in the programming Okeer implanted into his head. Like me, he has memories that aren't his. Knowledge that he didn't learn but was zapped into his brain from outside forces. It's enough to make someone go spare. In this case it's my krogan.*
"In a confined space that is a very dangerous combination."
*Tell me about it. It's why I'm taking him to Tuchanka. Maybe Wrex can shed some light on what going on with my boy. And if he can't I may have to leave him there. Not my first choice but ... it's an option.
*And of course Mordin has his missing protégée and of all places it's on Tuchanka. I have a feeling that this one is going to be more of a bitch to solve than Grunt's issues.*
"Indeed. A salarian on the krogan homeworld is not an ideal situation. I doubt he is still alive if he was caught. Not even Wrex is that beneficent. Any idea what he was doing there?"
Sam nodded. *Yeah and it's not good.* she gave the details of how Mordin and his group were altering the genophage because the krogan were somehow having greater birth ratios than the 'disease' allowed. Shepard thought the idea of genophage was atrocious, abominable. The fact the salarians full-heartily decided to alter the genophage rankled Sam to no end. It was a war crime beyond compare.
Liara listened to the tale and there was a part of her that agreed whatever happed to this salarian scientist was his comeuppance for the crimes of Mordin's STG team. Still like Garrus going after Dr. Saleon, Mordin needed answers. Even if it was just to bury a corpse or whatever rites the salarians did for their dead. Beyond knowing they believed in reincarnation, Sam had no idea what salarians did for their departed—if they cremated bodies or buried them.
Sam knew the drell gave their dead to the ocean—to the Inscrutable Depths as did their masters the hanar. Wrex told her the graveyards of his people were sacrosanct and any peace talks were held there. Of course Wrex's father betrayed him in such a place '...came out of the bones of our ancestors like raging ghosts.' Wrex spoke of how his people beheaded their dead out of respect and left the skulls to bleach white under the hot Aralakhin sun. Of the bodies of dead krogan Sam didn't know. She assumed given the minimal details of Wrex's background story that the body was buried under the skull as if it were some macabre tombstone.
Ash once said leaving the body for the birds and rats to eat was revolting until Sam pointed out that the Salish did much the same before they took the cleaned bones, wrapped them in leather and then placed them in a cairn. Many Earthen cultures not of the mainstream religions had similar beliefs of beheading their beloved dead out of respect to their gods as much as the departed.
Rites of the dead were critical to most cultures in one form or another. Even now Samara was carrying out the asarian rites for the deceased for her daughter. Sam's reverence for family made it possible, just as it was possible for Benezia to return home to Thessia, to the mother ocean.
Of course it was only due to Sam's influences that Benezia was even allowed to return to receive the great rites of a High Priestess. Of course Sam's greatest power was to make people believe she has everything under control. It was her magic...and her curse. Was it any wonder her crew flew to her begging, needing her help because they believed. They believed without doubt or reservation she would pull through for them. So now she was off to Tuchanka to discover why a 'teenaged' krogan was on the cusp of constant bloodrage. And why Mordin trusted the first human Spectre to find his lost apprentice, in a fallout world filled with warriors that wanted only to crush salarians into dust for what they had done to them.
"Be mindful on Tuchanka. Wrex maybe the strongest Clan leader there but the krogan are no friends to outsiders. And not even his friendship will help you if his people are too gravely insulted. It may behove you to study up on krogan traditions and culture however much of it exists." Liara warned.
Sam nodded. *Way ahead of you babe. After our call I'll be perusing the data bases for anthropological files on our oh so very large and grumpy friends.*
"I can do you one better." Liara smiled a bit smugly. "If you recall my adar is half krogan. I'll ask her to send you things that an outsider will not know. Things that will help you negotiate when it comes to dealing with their politics. Wrex is our friend but if he wants to maintain his hold he can't be seen yielding to aliens and especially to a Council Spectre."
*Great idea lover!* Sam's smile was full of bright teeth. *There's a reason I fell in love with you.*
The asari giggled. "So it wasn't just for the shy bookish blue alien?"
*Oh definably that. You have that in spades. Also you're cute, especially when you get all coy. Cute when you go into babble-mode about archaeology stuff, all of it. *
"And you Melethril are a terrible flirt."
*Oh I don't know, I've done pretty well with you.* the toothy smile turned into a lopsided grin.
"Or maybe as you humans say I am a sucker for a woman in uniform."
*Lucky for you I was born wearing it. Or so they say.* a flippant teasing shrug of the shoulders.
"Lucky indeed." a coquettish grin. "Unfortunately I am not onboard so neither one of us are getting 'lucky' tonight."
*Yeah don't remind me. Self medication is not so fun anymore once the love of your life enters your world.* a pout on ruby lips. A holographic hand raised up which Liara met with her own. A heavy sigh. *I have to go. We'll be slipping through the Sahrabarik relay to hit Tuchanka soon.*
Liara nodded not trusting her voice.
*I love you Angel Eyes. You and the girls.*
"And I you. I will send your love to our daughters. You might not be able to meld with them but they know your touch through me, our memories." Liara touched the swell in her abdomen where the twins lay growing. "Be safe Melethril. Come back to me...to us."
*Always.*
There was a moment of silence. For several moments after the call had ended Liara did not move from her desk in her home office. As always the weekly visits with her bondmate was exhilarating, wonderful and wearing. And all too brief.
As soon as she spoke with her sire about krogan customs and taboos Liara planned on shipping the data files in one lump sum to the Normandy. For the moment however she sat in the stillness of the night and the quiet memory of her beloved Samantha's touches.
As promised Liara linked with the growing lives within her-known collectively and affectionately as the Squirrels. The twins would recognize Samantha as their Mamma, their Ada when they finally came into the world. For now they felt via the deep link of their mother's mind, their mamma's pride in them and her devotion to them. They were surrounded with the memories of their sire's undying love. It would be something they were never deprived of.
"Not all mothers and daughters of Thessia end so tragically, my love." Liara said to the framed picture of her bondmate which sat on the corner of her desk. "What we share with the Squirrels will be different. I promise you."
Deep in the inner-self it is easy to lose all perspective of time. It was like the dream state, two –three minutes of REM sleep and you can dream the whole length of days. Minutes become hours. Hours can become days. Dreams within dreams layers upon layers. Coming out of the inner-self to the now is like waking from a dream only to find yourself in yet another dream. Then you wake to the true world and you have a feeling of lingering disorientation but only for a moment. Soon clarity descends within seconds and the world is solid once more.
The doorbell buzzed perhaps for the third time. The sound of reality. Liara had been expecting this call for nearly a day now. Dr. Abigail Williams had come across something critical, her eyes only. Liara thanked Naga'sadow for escorting her guest to her home, and then asked the huntress to stay.
Outside the apartment were three of Liara's most trusted commandos: Saphyria S'Tharin, Te'Kari Etain and Shoiri Tau. They were there to set a picket and patrol whilst Williams was there, ensuring security. Nothing was taken to chance, especially if what Abigail said she had was legit.
"Wowww, Doc, you have a beautiful home." Abby said looking around the apartment.
"Thank you." Liara inclined her head slightly.
Abby turned back to see Naga'sadow's eyes on her, following her every move watching, she was a veran ready to pounce. This was not the commando that was on the Victory. Her eyes were colder, mistrusting. Williams got the distinct feeling the asari wouldn't hesitate to take her life if she made one questionable move against T'Soni.
"Things have gotten serious around here, if you have a bodyguard lingering around."
"'Things' have always been serious Abigail." Liara said keeping her voice formal. "You have travelled with Commander Shepard and her crew long enough to see it for yourself."
The young academic nodded. "Yeah but back on the ship you didn't have personal guards."
"What was necessary aboard the Victory is irrelevant." Naga'sadow said crisply answering for her mistress, her arms crossed across her chest. "My single priority is to the welfare of Dr. T'Soni." Blue eyes narrowed. "Any dangers to her will be eliminated. Immediately."
Abby shivered despite herself. She looked to T'Soni but there was only reserve in those cerulean eyes. She had seen that look a thousand times over just because her family name was Williams. Yet she never once thought to see that expression on Dr. Liara T'Soni's face. Of course this time it had to deal with the falling out between big sis and Shepard.
Abby placed most of the blame squarely on Shepard and T'soni's shoulders. If wasn't for their screwed up Trinity thingy, things would never have been so fracked up. Of course she heard the Shadow Broker had it out for Shepard and was an adversary of T'soni's. No wonder the doc was so paranoid. Then of course there was Cerberus. The reason Abby came to Illium in the first place, the reason she did what she did, even to her own family.
Abby might be pissed at Shepard on behalf of her sister, but the Spectre made her believe in things that shouldn't be possible, like taking down the Cerberus scum. For what that organization did or tried to do to her colony they deserved to be burnt down to the very last goose-stepping peon
"Yeah...I can see you take your job seriously. Well so do I. It's why I'm here." Abby lifted the durasteel briefcase she was carrying in her left hand. It had been scanned via omni-tool as well as physically inspected by Naga'sadow earlier. Precautions, was all the explanation the lieutenant gave Dr. Williams before she was even permitted off the transport docked in the Nos Austra space port.
She set the case down on the kitchen table. "Remember when we were back on Ilos and we found that old storage facility we dubbed 'The Prothean Attic'?"
"Of course." Liara said in a voice of a pure erudite. "What is the correlation between that location and the 'artefact' you discovered?"
"I'm getting to that. And it's not so much as an artefact or relic as a family antique or heirloom...um...sorta. Look it's my Granddad's old journal. That whole Ilos attic thing made me recall something Dad had locked away in our attic. Granddad's journals."
She withdrew an old tattered dog-eared leather bound journal from the case. "Regs had Granddad log everything in data logs and triple encrypted on his computer and sent to Alliance Brass. But he always kept a personal journal-the old fashioned way. Fountain pen, hand-stitched paper and leather bound. And yeah he encrypted it, just not the way you think.
"You probably know my big sis prattles on and on about poetry, quoting them and crap? She got that from Dad, he got it from Gramps. It's sorta a tradition with the eldest and all that. Me, I sorta found it annoying. Thing is it's more than just quoting dead guys because you don't have the words in mushy situations.
"These poets had meaning to the Williams clan, especially Ulysses. That's the cipher, well so is most things from Tennyson. I got you copies of those books. The same edition of Ulysses used by my family. If you have those books you can read this." Abby patted the journal and quipped an arrogant smile. "If you don't have them and the correct edition then this book is just a collection of favoured quotes-a study of poetry. Gobble-de-gook that won't attract attention.
"But you don't have to translate it. In the interests of expediency I translated them for you." From the case Abigail withdrew a newer leather journal as well as data pads—copies of Ulysses as well as Tennyson's collective works "I marked in the translation and the ordinal passages you'll want to read. It's about Shanxi. More specifically the First Contact War.
"You're going to love the read. My Granddad worked with a handful of guerrillas along side his regulars. They captured a very high level general. A turian named Desolas."
"Desolas..." Liara frowned. The names trigged something, something Abby was only too happy to let her figure it out. "That is ...was Saren's elder brother."
Abby nodded eagerly. "That team... they are the ones you want to read about and what they found. Doc...You'll recognize their names."
Liara flipped through some of the entries, and some of the names Abby had the forethought to highlight. They did indeed jump out at her. Ben Hislop, Eva Coré...
"Are these names correct?" Liara looked back up in astonishment.
"Yeah. They are. Recognized them too. Cord-Hislop Aerospace. One of Cerberus's front companies. Their first baby. Guess the last surviving member of that threesome wanted some kind of memorial, a requiem."
"Then this other name…. Jack Harper…By the Goddess…!" Liara blinked several times as realization dawned on her.
"Sorta my reaction too." Abby grinned. "The bastard's got a name. We've got TIM by the short hairs, Doc."
Liara turned to the younger Williams sister. "What do you want for this information?" her tone now more calculating.
"Easy. I want to be one of your agents. "
Liara studied the human yet remained very silent.
"Look you and Shepard vetted me for the mission against the Reapers. And I know Ash and the two of you have had a falling out and I know why. I know about the whole CS thing and ...well everything. Ash didn't say much on account of orders of what happened on Horizon but I know she was torn up about it. Got piss drunk on a weekend bender. Her heads fucked up about it all...so's her heart even if she won't say it or why.
"I should be ticked-off on her behalf. And I am, but that's not this and it's not why I came here, and it's not why I want to work as an agent for you. It's about what's coming. I'm not military, Ash will go on and on ad nauseam about how much it's in the blood. Yadda yadda yadda well I am as much as a Williams as she is. She let's the name and its history define her. Like that's all she is or can be. Me? Not so much. I'm as much as a Brooks as I am a Williams. Something Ash forgets...that she's only half Williams.
"And just because I don't make the Williams name be all I am doesn't mean I don't want to fight. "I'm more at home with test tubes and beakers in my hand than an assault rifle and I'm very good at digging through old tombs." she pointed with her chin towards the briefcase and the journal still in Liara's hand. "You have the proof in your hands. Read it. Then decide if my asking price is fair. I'll be staying..." Abby stopped mid-sentence and smirked knowingly "Hell you know where I'm staying. Bet it's bugged by now by your people."
Liara nodded. "This is Illium. Someone is always watching. Always listening."
"Pft and they say I'm as safe here as I am on the Citadel. More like Omega with a better style sense "
"Indeed." the assai agreed. "Let me read your grandfather's words. By the morning you will have your answer. But rest assured this is between you and I. Your sister and my bondmate do not contribute to the factors in my decision."
"Fair enough. Better actually. Nothing is worse then being judged for who you're not only because you're blood. Trust me I have three sisters; I know what I'm talking about. Sometimes it's 'why can't you be more like your sister?' Other times it's 'you are a role model for your sisters, act like it.' I love Ash to pieces and I'll stand up for her even if she's dead wrong against any that ain't family but I hate living in her shadow. I am no more Ash than you are your mother, Dr. T'Soni." Abby said firmly.
"Indeed you are not." Liara placed the journal back into the case from whence it came. "Naga'sadow please have Huntress Shoiri take Dr. Williams back to her hotel and inform the concierge that her bill for the duration of her stay is paid for. She will remain in an adjoining room for security purposes
The young commando tipped her fingertips to her forehead and dropped them palm side up. "As you command, Dr. T'Soni."
"So jailer or bodyguard?" Abby asked belligerently, sounding a little too much like her big sister despite her earlier defiance of being defined by Ashley's reputation.
"Bodyguard of course." Liara said in the same dismissive tone she had heard her mother use time and again with an underling that become a little less respectful than was acceptable. The effect was the same, the defiance leaked out leaving only the chastised soul behind.
Liara knew all too well the coldness of living in a shadow of another-her mother cast a very long one. However like now sometimes the shades of her mother essence channelling her as Sam once put it became quite useful when dealing with others, especially aliens.
Liara loved her bondmate with all her soul but sometimes Samantha's people were utterly without deference for other races, believing they should be the ones in charge. Fortunately that was not within Samantha's demeanour to play out the role of authoritarian. Ironic considering she was a highly decorated military officer, a Council Spectre and a woman whose very presence vibrated absolute control.
Liara kept staring at the journal she had been given. It wasn't until Naga'sadow returned did the Prothean Expert stir.
"Dr. Williams is away mistress." The young Lieutenant reported dutifully. "Shoiri will not leave her side until you give the order."
Liara gave a brief nod of acknowledgement.
The huntresses hesitated long enough for Liara to realize her guardian was still there. "You have questions." It was a statement of fact.
"Do you think it is true? That name Jack Harper, you think that's the actual name of the Illusive Man?"
"I have no reason to doubt it. But I have no way to confirm it. I can however verify if this is the genuine journal of General Williams. The events written about in its pages coincide with certain events that took place at an isolated temple on Palaven and something called the Arca Monolith."
That intrigued the huntress but she knew far better to pry into details she was not privy to. She had that drilled into during training at the T'Soni Bastion. You do not become a huntress within a High Priestess commando squad if you could not curtail your curiosity. If she was meant to know, Dr. T'Soni would inform her. Still the question was on her lips.
"I never heard of the Arca Monolith." Naga'sadow said slowly.
"Nor should you have. The turians kept the incident under tight security in the strictest of confidence." there was a smug look. "I am a very good information broker. I believe the Arca Monolith is indeed a relic of the Reapers. Until we discovered the truth of the Reapers, I fear many more relics once deemed Prothean will turn out to be Reaper in origin."
"Like the mass relays and the Citadel." Naga'sadow concluded
"Indeed." a frown slipped on to Liara's lips. She didn't like admitting that she had proclaimed several of those relics herself as being of Prothean design. The Reapers were insidiously clever—layers upon layers.
"Shepard is going to love this." the huntress grinned.
"Indeed." This time the monosyllabic response was followed by a very faint smile.
"Ma'am if I may ask what will be done with Dr. Williams. Will she be inducted into the ranks?"
Liara didn't even hesitate when she answered. "She will. It opens a door into the research the Council ordered on the artefacts and relics we recovered from Ilos Attic and the Quana repository as well as the bodies of the Collectors and their tech taken from Horizon."
There lay between them the heavy element. "After Horizon I doubt Lt. Williams will approve of her younger sister being in service to you, Mistress. She will not consent to this."
"Lt. Williams's approval is not my concern nor is her consent necessary for Abigail to become an agent. Unlike salarians humans by law are not led by the elder sibling. Ashley has no true dominion over Abigail. That doesn't mean I will allow my guard to be down, if necessary Abigail will be fed misinformation. For now she is on probation and once more she will be notified of this contingency. She is a highly capable individual and intelligent she will be expecting certain parameters placed upon her on hiring. The betrayals of one does not mean the betrayal of all."
"Yes Ma'am." Naga'sadow tipped her head. "As you say."
Liara looked down at the journals. "I do. The matter will be dropped, my lieutenant."
The huntress saluted in asari custom. She knew far better than to press the issue. Her Mistress had spoken and so was this was the end of it. Whether or not she admitted it Dr. T'Soni was very like her mother. Matriarch Benezia was a very decisive and powerful woman. The Matriarch drew people to her, commanding their loyalty without effort—a woman of demure candor and a fieriness belied by soft eloquence. Liara was a perfect reflection of these virtues.
ME~ ME~ ME~ ME~ ME~ ME~ ME~ ME
There was so much of Aria in the young maiden; it was not difficult to see she was the Pirate Queen's daughter. To a causal observer it would be mimicry born out of respect and the need to be like her Mistress. All the handmaidens did so in some respect or another. To one that knew the truth however it could not be clearer that Liselle was in-fact Aria T'Loak's daughter. The baby in fact.
Lei'cree Tevos the asari representative of the Citadel Council looked on to her daughter, and couldn't help but smile. Liselle was the best part of her bondmate and herself. She was also Tevos' only child. The matriarch never loved anyone as she loved Aria, never deep enough to want a child of then or with them. When Aria came in to her life more than five hundred years ago, their affair was fast, furious full of passion. Exhilarating. They were together for three hundred years, before they decided to have a child. Aria wanted to carry the child—her last. The only daughter born out of bonding.
When Liselle turned a century things changed. Aria decided to toss her cover as an 'exotic dancer' and take over Omega from the krogan warlord (she took to her bed often enough to make him blind to her actions) now known only as the Patriarch. All his men turned on him because Aria knew exactly how to manipulate his men with her women. Patriarch become a trophy, his men never survived the takeover. Everyone loyal to the krogan perished.
At the same time Tevos was named Councilor. Her machinations to rise to such power were no less manipulative, though they were far less bloody. Having Matriarch Benezia voice her as a perfect candidate almost assured her positioning with the rest of the Matriarchy. At first of course Lady Benezia had been offered the position unanimously, but the demure Most High Priestess declined the offer and offered Tevos in her stead.
Aria and Tevos's rise to power paralleled each other in almost every way. Where Aria challenged and ultimately killed her rival to gain the throne of Omega, Tevos politically outmaneuvered her rivals for the highly acclaimed seat on the Council. The only elected politician within the loose confederacies dotting Thessia's great republic city-states was the Councilor. Gaining that seat wasn't completely up to Matriarchy though theirs was the last voice on the matter. A consensus of the plebiscite must first be won in order to win the nomination for the position. High command and finally the Matriarchy gave their consent. After all the asari representative could not be the voice of her people if she did not have the voice of her people.
Tevos had held that voice for more than four centuries. Now their voices were calling out what is to be done about the warnings given by the human Spectre? Why have we started creating vaults to save our people if Shepard is locked in ancient memories of a dead people? Why are our colonies preparing for a long siege? Why deny Shepard's warnings if we are preparing for what they foretell?
Even Liselle asked the questions and she was closer to the answers. Tevos looked at the data streaming in through the Wizard's IUP address. It came from Omega…taken from the Collectors and the Blue Sun slavers. It was a list of every human colony in the Terminus Systems along with their populations. And it went beyond that, The Attican Traverse, Council Space, and Earth Systems Alliance. It was staggering evidence. Too much to ignore and pretend that it was purely an internal affair.
Yet the Council's hands were tied. They could not actively engage while the action was taking place in the Traverse. It was why Shepard was so vital in action. She had to act with only her crew to stop the Collectors before they left the Terminus.
The waiting can kill you. You make a decision and then the galaxy has to turn. The consequences unfold, out of your hands. There is only one thing that seems clear in those quiet moments while you wait. Whatever you chose was wrong.
Lei'cree looked at her child, her only daughter with wonder and puzzlement. She knew Liselle knew about the Wizard's true identity. Yet the information was given to the elusive conspiracy guru rather than her sire.
She looked at the data pad in her hands then back at her child. She wanted to know why Liselle trusted the Wizard more than she trusted the woman who was her adar. Trust was a great issue boiling to the surface; always there perhaps always in question but sometimes it was unflappable. Aria sent Liselle to Lei'cree for a reason. That reason centered around Shepard. Like it or not that young human huntress the indomitable Spectre—played an integral part in Lei'cree Tevos's life-professionally and much deeper in her personal life. Shepard didn't even know the effect she holds over others, that was the ironic part.
She had no idea the weight wielded. How Aria was very protective over her, how much her words carried weight with the Pirate Queen. There was no other reason Liselle was here but for Shepard's warning, Aria dug out of deep recesses the Spectre's mind. The only reason Aria even considered melding with Shepard was because she respected the maiden. The only reason her bondmate dove as deeply as she did with Shepard was because Aria considered the human a very good friend. Though Shepard was never to know such a thing. Ever.
"Ada, what do you see when you look at this?" Liselle asked her sire. She pulled up the map of the inner chambers of the Council Tower on to a large monitor in the den.
"I suspect you are asking me this question for reasons other than the obvious." Tevos answered.
The maiden brought up the image of Sovereign, she then typed in a few commands and the ship became a pure silhouette, she then overlapped the image upon the map. "Now what do you see?"
Tevos stared. Why hadn't she seen it before? The outline of the Council Chambers was the perfect image of Sovereign's silhouette. It could not have been a coincidence. Everything Shepard said about the Reapers building the Citadel, the Mass Relays were true.
"Bet you my mother's throne that Shepard already figured this out. Maybe from that crazy stuff running around in her head Nan dug out, or she just pieced it together herself. She's surpassingly brilliant for a human. Of course Nan nearly took my head off when I said that; she said 'don't you dare pull a Wasea.' Underestimating Shepard is a mistake."
Tevos knew Arai's eldest died by Shepard's hand, or rather by former C-Sec operative Garrus Vakarian who gained the nickname as Archangel. Though he was the trigger man, it was under Shepard's command. Aria let it go. That act spoke volumes in Shepard's favour. It was why Aria had deliberately instructed Liselle to show Tevos the camera feed of the battle in the warehouse. It was a profound declaration one Tevos could not ignore any more than she could ignore what was on the monitor.
Only you have seen the Reapers and then only in dreams. We cannot act based solely on dreams, Commander. Tevos continued to stare at the overlapping images. Only Aria did act solely upon the dreams. We believe that you believe it.-I melded with her, I was not gentle…what Shepard saw in those fucking beacons and the Cipher is fucking real. Our people die, that's on you, because you have the information and you and the other tight-asses did shit when you could have. So do something.
"Yes. It is." Tevos answered her daughter. "I must ask you, what made you look at the Council Chamber map and the silhouette of Sovereign?"
"Serendipity." the answer came so fast it was almost flippant. "Nan always had me study the maps of Omega. Each district, each major hub. The ins and outs as much as that as it possible on Omega. Exit strategies, optimal attack positions, fortifications-holding and breaking them. It's become routine. I started studying the maps of the Citadel. I know the Wards, the Districts pretty well.
"The whole time I was doing the mapping something was nagging at me. Like a memory half-recalled over something you did while drunk. Then I figured it out. It's that damned ship chasing after Shepard. Its shape is the same as the inner Council chamber. Nan said never ignore the oddities, the coincidences, things that run strange or stick out. She's really big on two things: one - information is more valuable then credits and two - never let a debt go unpaid."
Liselle pointed to the wall-monitor. "That has all the hallmarks of what Nan warned against. A blind pyjack can see this is a full blown disaster just waiting to explode. The Collectors came to Omega to get human slaves. Nan and everyone that witnessed it eliminated. Things is after the Collectors were pretty much all killed by Nan-alone, those that did escape left behind a pack of vorcha with a killer plague that took out all but those cockroaches and humans. It wasn't a coincidence; it's strange and stuck out. Ignoring that sort of thing was a good way to lose control over your dominion. At least that's what my mother has always instructed."
"She is quite right to do so." Tevos agreed. "Aria has always been an incredible woman. When we were maidens going though our training she once said to 'act like a woman of thought and think like a woman of action.' She has lived her entire life in that philosophy."
There begged the question why was she doing so with Shepard's dire warnings? Had Shepard been an asari, a Spectre with reputation like Tala Vasir, the words—the warnings would have been enough, platinum.
We believe that you believe it.-I melded with her, I was not gentle…what Shepard saw in those fucking beacons and the Cipher is fucking real.
"Ada, with all of that power, her intelligence and her abilities why isn't Nan part of the Matriarchy or High Command?"
"That was never her life, Liselle. It belonged to her mother, but never Aria."
"Can you tell me about her? My grandmother?"
"No." there wasn't even any hesitation in the answer.
"Can't or won't?"
Tevos turned away from her only child. "If you were meant to know, you would know."
"That's what mother always says."
"For good reason."
"Apparently so. I know why, but now I resent it. Not that it actually matters anymore does it?" came a disgruntled retort. "All of a sudden I have relatives falling out of the stars. An aunt whom my mother raised since her sister was in her double digits. I have a sister Shepard kills-well in fair combat- but Nan treats this woman like she was….well one of her own get or a favored lover and not someone to warm the sheets like the pole dancers or handmaidens she takes to her bed.
"What makes this Shepard so special anyway? What draws people to her? Bend for her. Mother practically dotes on her as much as she does me. If she were an asari, I would wager she was a sister. But she's human or mostly human. I don't think mother's so sure. She said it was like touching my mind when I was young. Wild. Chaotic. Untrained but asari. But she's very human too.
"Then there is you. You treat her like she's handicapped daughter that needs special attention to her face, behind you practically idolize her. And both of you go to great lengths to make sure Shepard knows just how much she means to either of you.. But you're not going to explain that are you."
"No. As for Spectre Shepard, she knows as much as she needs to."
"Apparently so."