Days after…
Cortez: Traynor, I thought you were going to help me with the preparations, and until today I haven't seen you doing anything.
Traynor: Sure, you haven't had to be after Allers. She has filled with cameras nearly the whole place! And I didn't let her put even half of which she had thought…
Diana Allers: -In the distance they see how she gives orders to his assistants- Come on! Hurry up! This is going to be a great event, and I want to record to the last detail. Put that camera there!
Cortez: Shepard let her handle with… audiovisual matter. Fortunately we only have to make some final retouching. And everything will be ready.
Traynor: The place is great. Awesome.
Cortez: I didn't expect that something like this would withstand the war. Asari must appreciate this site a lot.
Traynor: -Joking- You won't be able to understand it. Only women can…
Cortez: Of course, whatever you say…
In a few hours the first of many guests began to arrive. The couple chose Armali's Gardens for the ceremony. The splendid beauty of the place and the sensations it evoked were what captivated them. The scent of the plants that there was breathed and the murmur of the fountains remembered them that small balcony of the Citadel where Shepard told Liara that whatever happened it was her with whom he wanted to be the rest of his life. And she too felt the same. There was no better place, such a magical spot like that, to take the final step. Shepard stands before the altar, accompanied by Tali. In that moment Liara appears, with Garrus, and everyone stands up. As she gets closer there can be heard a song, that one she played in the Citadel, and it made the night even more special for her. When the most awaited by all moment came, Admiral Hackett, who had been chosen to preside over the ceremony, asks them the question. First, to her, and before her lips pronounce the yes I do her look enlightens. Then, to him, whose look meets now with Liara's, in a romantic moment in which none of those who were present lost a single detail. But what most excited everyone was that great kiss, with such passion, a kiss that had to wait for too long because of war.
One by one all their friends congratulated them. The banquet was held right there, in the Gardens, where each one ate its own species' delights. Of happiness was the day, but there was a man that even being glad for the couple, a still not closed wound doesn't stop bleeding in his heart. Joker can't forget the loss of EDI. It has been 34 days since that, since that day the galaxy was saved and he lost EDI at the same time. Shepard approaches him, and Joker paid no attention to Liara wasn't with him. Shepard put his hand in his shoulder and makes him look at a fountain, behind which he tells him he has to go. Joker, intrigued by such improper secrecy of the Commander, stands up, and when he reaches the fountain he sees that... there is nothing! For what has he made him stand up then? When Joker begins to go back, quite irritated for the tease, Liara and Shepard are together, but they aren't looking at him, in fact, they turn their back on him. What was going on? When he advances enough, they both turn around and separate, allowing him see what so eagerly they are hiding. It can't be true! How that is possible! A loved one is occupying the seat where he was sitting before.
Joker: -Pleasantly astonished- EDI?
EDI: -Standing up- Hi Jeff. I thought you would have already forgotten me.
Joker: Forget you? No! -He doesn't get out of his astonishment- Shepard, how…?
Shepard: The truth is it wasn't me. You should thank Liara.
Joker: But, is she the real EDI?
Liara: Yes.
EDI: -Folding her arms- Don't I look like?
Joker:-Smiles- Yeah, but, it's not possible! The Crucible's wave hit us!
EDI: Correct, but when it fired I began to fragment all my software in simple codes, and carefully inputted them into onboard computers databases.
Joker: But, how did you know synthetics would disappear with the reapers?
EDI: Since we began to build the Crucible everyone was worried about if it would be able to distinguish organics from reapers. But what about synthetics? Would we all be a target?
Joker: I hadn't thought that… And how did you know computers would survive?
EDI: I didn't, but I thought it would be worth a try. Even though everything is software, maybe the Crucible's energy was focused on destroying the most advanced computer systems, only the most complex and developed codes. AIs and VIs. In that case, computers wouldn't be destroyed. I supposed that "disassembling" myself I could be preserved. However, all of this would have been in vain without Liara and her numerous contacts. They managed to rearrange my data. And they reactivated me. If she wasn't who you know I wouldn't be here. We have very good friends, Jeff.
Joker: -The emotion of the moment takes possession of him- Thank you… Thank you very much. To both. I believed I would never see you again, EDI.
EDI: You're not going to get rid of me that easily. Now that I've come back I can keep indoctrinating you…
Joker: -With a worried face- …
EDI: That was a joke. I had to show you I haven't lost my sense of humor, but perhaps you lost yours…
Later everybody demonstrated their dancing skills. Liara and Shepard began, and they were in the limelight for not long, because once the others joined the dancing, it was EDI who attracted all the looks. The newly-wed couple, now that everyone was looking at EDI and her spectacular movements, had an intimate dancing. Nevertheless, the Commander's dancing skills still left a lot to be desired, and therefore Liara led him. After dancing with her wife, Shepard went to see how Joker was doing, who was at the bar, while Liara was dancing with Garrus and EDI keep monopolizing all looks.
Joker: Hey, Shepard. Have you seen EDI? I think she's stealing you the chief role…
Shepard: I believe it has been Liara's idea. She wanted an intimate dancing.
Joker: Yeah, and you haven't raised objections so that your legend doesn't include what a great dancer you are… Come on, you can't fool me, if it hadn't been for Liara you wouldn't have danced that well. Je, but it seems Garrus is doing better…
Shepard: One can't be the first in everything.
Joker: You're right… -Being honest- You know what? Today it's the first day I really feel we've won.
Shepard: Because of EDI?
Joker: Yes… -he turns to see her and smiles-.
Liara approaches and extends her hand to Joker.
Liara: Come on, I have to dance with the pilot who has brought us home safe and sound.
Joker: I don't think it's a good idea… I might break something…
Doctor Chakwas: -Sitting not far from the group with engineer Adams- Joker, don't duck out. If you have borne the last impact of the Normandy a dance can't do you any harm.
Engineer Adams: Joker refusing to dance with a beautiful girl? Now this is really new!
Doctor Chakwas: Well, will you take me to dance or will you have to be asked twice too?
Engineer Adams: Let's dance!
Joker: I can't refuse, can I?
Liara: No. But don't worry, I'll treat you with care.
EDI appears.
EDI: I couldn't have thank you adequately. The trust you have in me means a lot…
Shepard: You are one of the team, one of us. And we don't leave anyone behind.
EDI: I know. I'm also glad for Jeff. -Smiling- Without me he wouldn't know what to do…-She looks at him- A krogan dances much better…
Joker: -From a distance- I've heard that!
Javik comes, who was looking for EDI.
Javik: EDI, after having fought in the war as companions, I want… to apologize for not trusting you until the end. I was wrong.
EDI: Thank you, Javik.
James appears.
James: Shepard, you won't mind if I dance with EDI, will you? I want to impress some friends.
Shepard: Not at all, but don't do anything strange. Joker would be jealous.
James: You have to trust me a little more, Loco!
EDI: Don't worry, if necessary I will clarify any misunderstanding with Joker. -Tricking him- I hope you rise to the occasion…
James: Hey, girl! You don't know with whom you're talking!
EDI and James leaves.
Javik: In all this time I've thought a lot about what I would do. I believed I knew, but… Now I'm not so sure.
Shepard: What makes you doubt?
Javik: Our victory. Before my reason to keep going was vengeance, and when fulfilled I thought returning with my people. Now… I've always lived in times of war, but this is the first time I don't see the galaxy on the verge of its extinction.
Shepard: You still have a lot to live.
Javik: Yes… Commander, if anything happened to me, would you take my remains back to the place where my ancestors rest?
Shepard: You can count on it, but I hope it takes long to happen. What are you going to do?
Liara returns.
Liara: If I remember right, Javik agreed to write with me a book about the protheans…
Javik: I'll keep my word.
Liara: And I think nobody has danced with you yet, so you're coming with me.
While Shepard watches the first prothean dance in 50.000 years, EDI comes back, satisfied with having exhausted James.
EDI: While I was dancing I've been thinking about what you had to do in the Citadel. I asked Liara before the wedding. At first she was reticent, but later she said I needed to know… You did the right thing. You couldn't let the reapers survive.
Shepard: It wasn't easy, EDI. I'm sorry for… having killed you…
EDI: Rancor is not included in my programming. Besides, as I told you, I had anticipated that end, and I was prepared. Apart from fragmenting, I left Liara a message explaining all I had done, and how everything could be linked again. According to what she has told me, it took her best codebreakers experts more than fifteen days, and they had no idea if it would work. Liara said I was even worse than you when the first Normandy fell.
Shepard: -Joking- Worse than me? You haven't been absent even two months…
EDI: In organics terms, my reconstruction would have been like making a body cell by cell. And the fact that the information was dispersed complicated the job even more.
Shepard: Wait, if it was in the Normandy's databanks, how did the Shadow Broker's agents access? Did you send them all the information stored in the ship?!
EDI: I'm not so imprudent, Shepard. The information was stored in files which only have general data about the galaxy: maps, description of species… there was nothing that cannot be found on the Extranet. And in my message I specified the files where they had to look. At Thessia a Shadow Broker agent gave Liara a memory drive with me "inside", and yesterday night she reinstalled me. Nobody noticed anything.
Shepard: So that was what she was up to…
EDI: She didn't tell you because she wanted to surprise you.
Shepard: I see. Je, now you're back, Joker won't leave you alone at any time.
EDI: -Joking- Even if he wanted, he couldn't escape from me…
While EDI leaves, Shepard realizes that the glass next to him mysteriously loses its content.
Shepard: Kasumi, we invited you. You don't need to hide.
Kasumi: Damn it. Anyone else wouldn't have noticed my presence. Well, except Javik… Now that I will have free time, I may have a date. The last was long ago… Do you know someone interesting?
Shepard: I think you'll have to deal with it on your own.
Kasumi: I'll see what I can find. See you soon, Shep.
Three krogan approach to the Commander: Wrex, Bakara and Grunt. EDI comes back and takes Grunt to dance almost by force.
Grunt: -On the way to the dance floor- Ok, EDI, you win! But release my arm!
Shepard: Wrex, the suit looks good on you. You should wear it more often…
Wrex: I feel more comfortable with armor.
Bakara: Commander, I believe that the human custom is dancing with other ladies after having done with the bride…
Wrex: If you don't want, I can dance with you, je, je, je.
Shepard: I think I prefer with Bakara. No offense, Wrex.
Wrex: So much the better, then I take care of Liara…
Bakara: You better do.
Wrex: What little sense of humor…
While they were dancing, Samara was watching the scene.
Zaeed: Do you concede me this ball?
Samara: Zaeed, if your intentions go beyond dancing in the wedding of a friend, you ask the wrong person.
Zaeed: Don't believe you're so irresistible, justicar. I asked you just because no one has dared to take you out to the dance floor. So, do we dance?
Samara: I appreciate the detail. I will dance with pleasure.
At the other end of the floor…
Gabriella: Kenneth, where are you supposed to be looking at? You've treaded me twice.
Kenneth: Have you noticed how Ashley and Garrus dance? What footwork, how they move…
Gabriella: I thought you only had eyes for my legs…
Kenneth: Of course, Gabbi. But I meant Garrus'…
Gabriella: -Sarcastically- Sure, Ken. Do you think I don't know you?
In the observed couple.
Ashley: -As a joke- Garrus, to be so unattractive, you dance very well.
Garrus: And what does that have to do with?
Ashley: That with few girls you've danced…
Garrus: Among my species, I'm quite attractive. By the way, you neither do it wrong, for being human…
James: -Sent by Tali- Ok, Scars, my turn.
Garrus: Fine, now I have no partner…
Tali: Would you like to dance with me again? I love this song.
Garrus: -Making himself interesting- You're lucky that now I can. I'm highly sought.
Tali: -Sarcastically- Sure…
With all the people who were there, few noticed that Hackett was also in the dance floor.
Jack: Sir, eh…, I don't think I'm appropriate to dance with you… I'm not known for my… delicacy. I'm afraid I could hurt you. At your… age…
Hackett: Nonsense. This old man is still fit. I don't accept no for an answer.
Jack: Okay, sir, but putting on record I've warned you. At least this will earn me a promotion, won't it?
Hackett: Nice try, but that depends on if you can keep up with me.
Not far away…
Jacob: Well, I thought Hackett couldn't handle that. I wish I can move like him when I reach his age.
Miranda: -Joking- Maybe I do, because I'm perfect, but you…
Jacob: You really like to mess with me…
After having danced with practically everyone, Liara was exhausted. She had sat down with her father, who had hardly been seen.
Aethyta: I never believed I'd see you married so soon. Before Therum you had never thought about joining anyone. And look at you now…
Liara: When you meet the right person, you simply know it, and you can't miss the opportunity. I had never had that feeling towards anyone, until he appeared…
Aethyta: I know what you mean. I felt the same towards Benezia.
Liara: -She sighs- It saddens me that she couldn't have seen her daughter's wedding…
Aethyta: I'm sure wherever she is, she can see you, Little Wing, and she's glad you found someone so special. -Liara hugs her- Come on, today you can't be sad. -She sees Shepard comes- I'll leave you alone -she goes out-.
Shepard: What a night. Are you having a good time?
Liara: Excepting the day I met you, it's the best of my life…
Shepard: -On purpose- Really? Were you better trapped in the excavation? Ah, you say for having met me…
Liara:-She looks at him reproaching- You are only too aware of it… A little while ago I've been talking with your mother. She likes me. She told me to take care of you for her. As if that was easy…
Shepard: Mmm…
Liara: And she has laughed. She is very nice.
Shepard: I'm glad you've liked each other.
Liara: -He sits next to his wife- Well, I told you that you'd see it through.
Shepard: Yeah. And that you'd be right there with me. You're never wrong.
Liara: Did you doubt it? -They smile- And, while we were dancing, Garrus has asked me how I know you're not a clone.
Shepard: Good question. Well?
Liara: Not even a clone could imitate your peculiar way of dancing.
Shepard: Je, you have to tell that to Joker.
By the end of the day Lieutenant Cortez took the couple back to the ship in a shuttle decorated for the occasion.