The days of glory are over for the neuralgic center of galactic civilization. It's old overflowing with life areas are now silenced, excepting the creaking of the severely damaged supports which had been violently ejected from their anchorages after the explosion. Death is evident in the corridors, where mountains of corpses are rotting with each minute that passed.
Liara: Just thinking Shepard is here… So close…
Tali: We will find him. Don't doubt it.
Garrus: I've worked a long time in the C-sec, but I don't recognize this part of the station…
Tali: Maybe the reapers could change the Citadel as they please…
Liara: Do you detect anything?
Garrus: No, nothing… Let's continue.
Somewhere in the middle of this crumbled and bloody landscape a sound was heard, like a breathing interrupted for centuries that now wanted to wake up again. It's Commander Shepard, buried under debris, debris that by irony or luck not only hadn't crushed or curtailed any limb, they were stopping the bleeding he was suffering since before reaching the station. The Commander, knower of his condition, realizes he has not much time left. His wounds wouldn't be the cause of his death, what really would kill him was the grave that the rests had erected so capriciously around him. "So everything ends like this", he thought. He has nothing left but wait for the inevitable. He begins to remember each moment alongside Liara, each sensation, so that his last minutes are not so dark, so lonely. The eternal love with which she had rewarded him filled his heart as nothing else could. He wants to return to her, be with his true love, but it's just an illusion. He can't go back…
Garrus: I detect vital signs down there!
Tali: Fast! Give me the rope!
Liara: There's no time! -with biotic she falls twenty meters down to the floor- Hurry up! -She tries to clear the heavy debris that prevent the passage to the origin of the signal, but her efforts are useless-.
Seeing her impotence, Liara focuses while Garrus and Tali begin to descend, and halfway a wave thrashes them violently, which nearly makes them fall. Liara, with a biotic blast, has managed to clear the rests, and her eyes can't believe what they see: Shepard's N7 armor.
Liara: Shepard! -Garrus and Tali have already finished their descent- I can't find his pulse. No! Don't do this to me now!
Garrus: -Scanning Shepard with his visor- He's still alive! He is very weak, but lives…
Liara: Come on! We have to get him out of here! -Garrus remains immobile- Garrus?
Garrus: Liara, Shepard's still alive, but…
Liara: -Astonished- But what? Help me!
Tali: Look at his side, Liara. -She sees the deep wound he has- He won't survive all the way back. He will bleed out long before we reach the shuttle.
Liara: -She stands up- No! There must be way! I told him no matter what happened, he would survive, and I would be with him. I'm not leaving him! -Garrus put his hand on Liara's shoulder, and she looks at him, but her look turns sad-.
Tali: He's regaining consciousness!
Liara: -She crouches beside the Commander and caresses his forehead- Shepard.
Shepard: -Surprised- Liara… It's good to see you again… Even if it's the last time…
Liara: Don't say that! You have to hold on, okay? You'll be fine, I will be with you, I won't let anything happen to you.
Shepard: -He feels weaker and weaker- We both know that's not going to happen. -Shepard gasps for air to say goodbye, aware that she's trying to comfort him in his last breath- Did we make it?
Liara: Yes, we've won. And that's why you can't convince me to let you die.
Shepard: I think my time is over… I'm sorry for having to go. And for not being with you the rest -Shepard looks at her teary eyes- of my life.
Liara: No! Don't give up! I don't want to lose you again! I can't…
Shepard: You'll never lose me. While the memories live on you, I will be with you -he takes Liara's hand and puts it over the asari's heart-. You won't be alone. I've always loved you, Liara, and I always will. -With his last strength Shepard passionately kisses her, and when Liara looks at his eyes again he loses consciousness in her arms. When she sees him lying on her she knows what she has to do. Liara generates a stasis field on the Commander, because even though his life is getting away there may be an opportunity to save him. And she won't leave him-.
Garrus: Liara! What are you doing?!
Liara: I can save him! And this is the only way.
Tali: But, you won't hold on all the way! You could die!
Liara: I will keep him alive, and you will carry him. Now!
Garrus: -Realizing she won't desist in her efforts- Okay. Tali, help me! -after taking Shepard he calls the Normandy- Joker, tell the others to abandon the search! We've found him! Shepard needs immediate medical attention. Get ready for when we reach! We are on our way!
As they advance, exhaustion begins to be visible on the asari's face, and she looks for strength reliving the most intimate moments she has lived with Shepard…
Liara knows Shepard counts on her.
Liara:I know you took a chance bringing me aboard this ship. I have seen the way your crew looks at me, they do not trust me. But I'm not like Benezia. I will do whatever I can to help you stop Saren. I promise
Shepard:Don't worry, Liara. I trust you. I know you won't let me down.
Liara:It means a lot to hear you say that, Commander. Thank you.
He has done that from the beginning, and he gave her signs that what he felt for her was more than trust.
Liara:I hope we can keep this civilized. I do not want things to become… unpleasant.
Ashley:-Sarcastically- Because it's been so pleasant between us lately.
Liara:This is exactly what I was trying to avoid. I never should have told you of my feelings, Shepard. I have put you in a terrible position. I am sorry.
Shepard:You were right to tell me, Liara. I feel the same way.
And in Liara's heart the feeling was mutual.
Liara:It is time to be completely honest with each other. These could be our last moments together. Our last chance to show each other how we feel. I want this to be special.
Shepard:We don't have to do this. Not unless you're sure.
Liara:I have never been more sure of anything in my life.
She no longer imagined life without him, and she couldn't lose him.
Shepard:So you rescued me? Then how did I end up with Cerberus?
Liara:Well, they gave me intel to help recover you. They actually put Feron with me in the first place. After I got out, I gave you to them. They said they could bring you back.
Shepard:You kept me out of the Collectors' hands. Without you, I couldn't have come back. Thank you.
Liara:I didn't know how you'd feel when Cerberus restored you. If you'd feel betrayed, or… They brought you back.
She loved him with all her soul, but she couldn't withstand he may never return, she wanted undertaking.
Liara:I spent two years mourning you. So if we're going to try this… I need to know you're always coming back.
Shepard: -He has to be asked twice- I don't know. That's a pretty big promise to make.
Liara:Oh, is it?
Shepard:I'd have to have something special to come back to.
And both found in the other the reason to keep fighting.
Liara:What if these are our last days and we spend them scurrying around trying to solve a problem we can't fix?
Shepard:Liara…
Liara:I know. I shouldn't think that way. I don't know how you do it. You've always stayed focused, even in the worst situations.
Shepard:When there's so much at stake, I think about my friends, loved ones…-he caresses her face- what I'd lose if I failed.
Pressure and responsibility of being the only one capable of saving the galaxy undermine Shepard, he began to doubt about himself, possibilities were dwindling, but she never doubted about him.
Shepard:I don't remember anything. Maybe they really just fixed me, or maybe I'm just a high-tech VI that thinks it's Commander Shepard. But I don't know. I…
Liara:I wish you'd told me, Shepard. I knew it was really you the first time I touched you again.
And when passion seized them, they were completely honest the one with the other about what they felt.
Liara:It would be easy for a single ship to get lost up there, wouldn't it?
Shepard:Yeah. It would.
Liara:To find someplace very far away, where you could spend the rest of your life… in peace. -She pauses- And happiness -he kisses her, and she feels it with all her soul-.
Shepard:Right now, there's no place I'd rather be.
Liara:Neither would I. -Looking at his eyes and after kissing him- I love you, Shepard.
Shepard:I love you too, Liara.
The shuttle trip was being eternal to Liara. Time seemed to stop before them…
Cortez: Five minutes more!
Garrus: Hold on, Liara. We're almost there! You're doing it very well.
Once in the shuttle bay several alliance marines are waiting for them with a stretcher, beside Doctor Chakwas.
Doctor Chakwas: -To the marines- Come on! We have no time to lose! -Voices begin to distort for the asari-
Liara accompanied them in the elevator, and once in the med bay, everything turned black for her, and not knowing how she found herself lying on the floor. Neither her arms nor her legs responded. Her eyes began to close while she was hearing her partners calling her from far away, farther and farther… But that didn't avoid her from seeing the last time she was with Shepard…
When duty calls, a true hero has to do what he has to do, even face his destiny alone to save those he loves.
Shepard: Here. Take her…
Liara: Shepard…
Shepard:You gotta get out of here.
Liara:I'm all right, Shepard…
Shepard:Don't argue with me, Liara.
Liara:You're not leaving me behind…
Shepard:No matter what happens… you mean everything to me, Liara. You always will -Shepard tenderly caresses her-.
Liara: Shepard, I… I am yours -She stretches out her hand, so that he goes with her, and thus she doesn't lose him. But he has a mission to accomplish, it's his duty, and continues to the beam, while she sadly sees him walking away, and she probably won't see him again-.
Make a final sacrifice.