A/N: Made a minor boo boo in the last chapter. Ashley shouldn't have come back from the ID scan as 'FM Ashley Williams' but rather 'FM Ashley Tepper'- or at least, 'FM Ashley Williams-Tepper'. By the time she was made FM she would have been long married and it would have been registered under her married name.
"We are facing a dark area, there," Liara said, squinting a little as she looked at the display in front of her. Nearby, Pio's chassis sat blank-faced and motionless, its 'inhabitant' currently interfacing with thousands of its brethren that had reawakened in Goruba's systems. Close by, Joker was similarly still and blank-faced, doing much the same.
"That's where EDI and Vina went investigating," Joker said, his voice coming through her display and not through his chassis. "EDI believes it's the pilot chamber."
"The ark had a pilot?" Sam said, confused. "I thought they stole it and just used its Pio to program it."
"A pilot would have been necessary the moment the mission parameters exceeded basic programmed flight paths," Pio said. "Goruba would have been required to make higher function decisions independent of the Iovino escort."
{Liara, you might want to join us,} Vina said just then over the com. {You might find this interesting.}
Rising, Liara nodded toward Sam. "We are on our way."
Moving through the massive ark was eerie at best. Every line reminded her so much of the reapers that at times she could feel her breath shortening, her anxiety rising. Doing it alone would have been unthinkable.
There was no indoctrination technology here, of course. Goruba, even if she were to wake up completely, would likely not hold them with any hostility. This ark had been bred, born, and utilized on a mission to save lives, not devastate them.
Still, telling oneself that and feeling it are two different beasts, she thought as she and Sam worked their way through the cruiser sized vessel to where EDI and Vina were located.
The turian woman was standing in the door, watching them as they approached and giving a polite nod.
"We found something," she said. "A…body, I guess."
"Body?" Liara lifted her brows, then stepped past and into the chamber.
The room was not huge but it was also not small-a relatively open space about the size of their home back on Blustein. Some kind of structure was in the middle of the chamber-an organic, almost pyramid shape that looked as if it had split open, large doors or flaps hanging open.
EDI stood in front of this opening, not glancing around even as the others approached. Reaching her side, Liara looked within.
Cables, wires, and odd structures she had no name for emerged from the walls and floor of this 'pyramid'. They merged into and even seemed to form part of the ancient, emaciated corpse tangled within them. The body was in a position as if it had been seated and had slumped forward. A yawning skull was still covered by paper-thin mummified skin and patches of dusty fur.
"This was the pilot," EDI said, breaking the silence.
"Yes…it must be. It appears to be a rakir female- or rather, one of the Iovino."
"She should have gone into stasis when Goruba shut down and went dormant," EDI said, looking at her. "Apparently, those systems were part of the ones damaged in the attacks this ship endured. It is impossible to say when her organic components perished. The atmosphere here is very sterile and contained. It could be she passed away immediately upon initiating the power-down and dormancy cycle. It could be she died later, perhaps centuries later, when that cycle finally failed."
"We should…do something," Sam said softly. "I mean, she integrated herself into this ship, and then died trying desperately to save her people. She deserves something a bit better than just falling to dust trussed up like that."
"Her organic remains could be carefully removed if the integration systems are activated by the Pio," EDI said. "However we are quite literally looking at the source of Goruba's higher cognitive functions. This is Goruba's brain. Without a pilot, the ship could still be considered a living creature, but only in the same way a micro-organism is. Non-sentient, living only by reflex and the rudimentaries of instinct."
"Whether or not a new pilot takes her place is a decision out of our hands," Liara said. "For now, we need to complete our data acquisition. All systems save her higher cognition are not online, or will be within the next hour. That task still takes precedence."
"I concur," EDI said, and looked at her. "All other decisions can-"
She suddenly broke off, cocking her head. When she spoke next, her voice was full of urgency. "I am getting a report from Alliance command. There has been an incursion by exo-galactic forces. A strike fleet entered asari space and engaged hostilities."
"What? Where in asari space? How many?" Liara asked. EDI looked at her.
"I am getting details now. The enemy entered asari space in solar orbit of the sanctioned world Kallini-"
"Kallini?" Liara's heart about stopped. "That is where the monastery is! That is where the Normandy was heading!"
"I have a voice report from Admiral Tonaki," EDI said softly. Her voice was replaced by another, a male speaking through her lips.
"This is Admiral Ohan Tonaki. Asari ships have arrived in the Kallini system and are undergoing S&R efforts and are securing the system from further threat. I have sent half the Alliance Second to respond to the emergency call as well- they should be arriving in just over eight hours. We have received verification from the commanders of the asari ships that exo-galactic forces did enter the Kallini system unexpectedly just after 19:00 local time and without warning or provocation engaged three of our Alliance vessels and two smaller, as yet unidentified vessels with full weapons. The William Young and the Edgewood, under command of the Alliance Third; and the SSV Normandy under command of Captain Melara Shepard, are reported lost."
Liara's hand shot out and gripped Sam's arm hard as her knees started to buckle. Sam caught her, holding her tight and bolstering her up.
The report continued.
"Our list of casualties is still compiling. We can note that several escape pods from all three ships jettisoned and there are survivors. Asari High Command is coordinating with their monastery located on the planet's surface where several injured have been taken. Medical teams are on their way to the planet's surface to treat the wounded and get a full count of casualties. The hostile forces themselves appear to have been eliminated or driven off- we have no report of continued hostilities in that system. More as we receive updates. Tonaki out."
Liara sagged again a moment, her spirit fighting a war between breaking down in horrified despair, and finding the strength of her determination.
Other than Sam and Eír, her entire family had been at Kallini- aboard the Normandy or Gerty's Lily Fire. All three of her children, all of her grandchildren, her daughter- and son-in-law, her niece. Melara would have done everything she could to bring them through but facing an unexpected, full strike force by advanced enemies they didn't even fully understand yet…
As she had so often in her past, Liara chose strength, gripping to it hard.
Del, please. Please be with our loved ones. Please protect them!
Steadying herself, she lifted her chin, eyes swimming. "I must go. I must go to Kallini immediately."
EDI did not protest, or argue. She did not point out there was little Liara could do there in terms of helping the recovery efforts, that she was still needed here with Goruba. Instead she reached out and rested her hand gently on Liara's arm.
"I will stay here with the Pio and continue the data feeds. If needed we can bring techs down from the research base. I have informed Joker what has happened. He will take you to Kallini on the Freedom. Go and find your family, Liara."
"Her vitals are dropping below the red line! We are going to lose her!"
Torn, broken, bloodied armor peeled off the limp form and clattered to the infirmary floor. Tubes and needles were run. Matron Damaska glanced worriedly at the computer readings as she administered medications, Lily running a line and starting to pump synthetic blood into the pale, still patient.
The infirmary door slid open, admitting a small crowd. A geth was in the lead along with several strange asari bearing the uniforms of the High Command, carrying medical cases. With them was Athena, another limp form in an N7 hard-suit hovering at her side with biotics. As she maneuvered the newest patient over to the next small bio-bed, one of the HC asari strode up to Damaska's side.
"I'm Dr. Lory," she said, already sterilizing her hands. "What do we have?"
"Pneumothorax, laceration on the lower anticular lobe; severe hepatic trauma with an abdominal bleed and pancreatic involvement. Blood pressure is below red line, heart rate irregular and bordering fib, and she seems to be having some sort of allergic reaction-"
"It is not an allergic reaction," Lily said, not glancing up from her work on her aunt. "The exo-aliens use a nanite substance on their claws to cut through armor and padding with ease. It reacts to hemocyanin to create what you are seeing. We need to push twelve ccs of diazo-orphedrin and three of noranopramadine immediately."
"Is that patient stable?" Lory said, glancing around at the others clustered near the human woman. "Can she be moved?"
"Several broken bones, severe concussion, minor internal bleed. We can hold her stable enough for transport."
"Then get her out of here and up to the Qai'tira's medical bay. Make sure all further patients are taken to ship board medical bays. Set up triage in that room out there if you need to. You, you, and you, stay. Everyone else clear out with that patient and seal this room."
She looked over at Damaska, as the others started to bustle out. "Can this room be fully sterilized?"
"Yes, but we are only equipped for minor surgeries-nothing like this."
"It will have to do," Lily said, glancing up at her. "She will not survive moving to one of the ships. The blood I am pumping into her right now is pouring right through into her abdomen. These bleeds need to be closed immediately."
"Then let's get to work," Damaska said, going over to seal and sterilize the room. "I have not lost a patient in this infirmary yet, and I do not plan to start now."
Daenys, Ashley on her hip, Aleu close behind her, and Chiktikka a silent shadow, had entered the infirmary anteroom only moments after the HC medical teams and Athena had gone inside. The HC commandos were now all throughout the building- making sure the monastery had been properly sealed down, and coordinating with the geth to secure it and retrieve the downed escape pods. Dae had just finished confirming her identity with a young private who then allowed her to enter. The first thing her eyes landed on were Irie and Gerty, who stood in the anteroom, hugging one another tightly.
"Irie! Gerty! Thank you, Goddess- are you injured?"
The pair turned and Irie exclaimed with relief, rushing forward and hugging Daenys and Ashley together. "You made it! We were so afraid!"
"So was I," Dae said in a low voice, clinging to her best friend and sister-in-law. "We saw nothing of what happened to the Lily Fire after the initial attack."
"Ship was lost but we managed to get out with just a few bumps and scrapes," Gerty said. "Mostly thanks to Athena. Moment the attack hit she put herself between us and the hostiles to cover our retreat."
"Did she and Red-"
"Haven't seen Red yet," he said, as Irie released Dae and fussed over Aleu, making sure he was ok. "Athena just went in the infirmary with the others. She had someone injured with her but it wasn't Red-"
"Dae, we found Melara," Irie said, straightening as she took Ashley into her arms, her sister-in-law relinquishing her almost unconsciously. As Dae's eyes widened, Irie shook her head. "Joker got her out of the Normandy. She is…she is very badly hurt, Daenys."
"She lives?" she asked in a trembling voice.
"Tatta's alive?" Aleu asked before Irie could answer. "Where is she? Can I see her? How badly is she hurt-?"
The infirmary door suddenly opened, a tangle of activity hurrying through. Several medics clustered around a hover stretcher, a few more as well as Athena on their heels as they emerged. Dae caught a glimpse of the patient…only enough to see the N7 stripe, and rushed forward.
"Melara!"
Athena turned at the call and hurried to intercept. "It's not her," she said, then caught Dae's shoulder firmly when she tried to step around her anyway. "Dae, I mean it. It's not her."
"What are you talking about? She was the only N7-"
"I know, trust me-it's a bit of a weird story, but I promise you…that is not Melara."
"Th-then who…" she shook her head. "Wh-what about Mel, is she all right?"
Her eyes went automatically to the infirmary door, which had closed and gone red as it sealed.
"She's in there right now," Athena said. "They've sealed it off for surgery. She's in there with the monastery doctor, Lily, and a few doctors from High Command. I didn't see much but what I did, and what I overheard…it's not good. She's been shredded."
"Shredded?" Dae said, her voice almost inaudible.
"Guess she must have gotten into a tussle with those exo-aliens. Lily was talking about that weird chemical blood reaction again, the kind that made her sick last time. I heard lacerated liver, collapsed lung, internal bleeding- they didn't even want to move her out somewhere more equipped for surgery. Said she wouldn't survive the moving. She looked like shit. I doubt she'll live out the hour, even with surgery-"
Dae covered her mouth, her eyes wet as her gaze dropped and she unsteadily stepped back a pace. Gerty automatically took gentle hold of her, then glared at Athena. "Did you have to say it like that? There are children-"
Athena looked at him. "One of which would know if I lied anyway," she said in irritation. "Me candy-coating the facts will not change them. Melara's badly hurt and dying. It didn't sound like they had much hope she'd pull through, but they're doing what they can with what they've got."
"Leave her be," Daenys said, her voice thick but steady. "I do not expect compassion from Athena. I do not need it from her."
"There are more shuttles out there. Red's gone with the recovery crews to help them out. As I'm accomplishing exactly nothing here I think I will join her," Athena said tensely.
She strode out. After she'd gone, Dae stepped away from Gerty and walked over, putting her hand gently on the infirmary door as silent tears painted her cheeks.
The first thing she was aware of was muffled pain throbbing dully behind her eyes. Feeling heavy, thick, and confused, she forced her eyes open and blinked, trying to focus on the looming colored blurs over her.
"Take it easy, you are in a medical facility," a gentle, female voice said. She blinked again, knitting her brows weakly. The smears of white, green, black, and blue slowly drew into focus.
Two asari doctors were standing over her. One had a datapad in her hand, the other a small light. Just as she started to focus, the one with the light bent closer and shone it right into her eyes.
She winced back, grimacing. "Hey now…"
"Sorry about that, but you sustained a rather serious concussion."
"That must be why there's a marching band running drills in my skull," she said, then looked at them again. Asari doctors were unexpected. She should be seeing Alliance doctors, or Chakwas, not asari. "Where am I? Who are you?"
"I am Dr. Leota. This is Dr. T'sior. You are aboard an asari cruiser, the Qai'tira. Can you tell us your name? Do you remember what happened to you?"
How the hell did I get on an asari cruiser? Man, how hard did I hit my head?
Shifting a little, she lifted her hand, pressing the heel against her forehead. "Can I get something for this headache? It's wicked…"
"Shortly, I promise," Leota said. "I am sorry for the pain but we wanted you as coherent as possible to finish…our evaluation. I need you to answer my questions if you can. What is your name?"
"Ashley."
"Full name and rank please?"
She rolled her eyes, dropping her hand. "Williams, Ashley Madeline- Commander, N7 special forces, Systems Alliance. 6378-LK-9821."
T'sior, the one holding the datapad, noted something, then nodded to Leota.
"Do you remember what happened to you?" Leota asked.
Trying to focus, Ashley worked through the throb in her head. "I was on…on Ixis. Horsehead Nebula."
Another note. "What were you doing there?"
Ashley glared. "That's classified."
"What was your mission?"
"That's classified too."
"Commander Williams, you sustained a heavy concussion. We are only trying to establish that your cognitive-"
"Bullshit. I've had concussions before. If you wanted to make sure my cognitive functions and memory were intact, you'd be asking me things like where I grew up, what year it is, the names of my parents or my first commanding officer. I know the difference between a neurologic cognition test and an interrogation. Am I a prisoner?"
"Not at this time, no."
"'Not at this time?'" She asked, then shook her head. "Look, where is Liara T'Soni? I'll talk to her if you don't mind."
The two 'doctors' exchanged odd glances, then Leota looked back at her.
"You know Liara T'Soni?"
"Oh come on! Are you telling me you didn't even bother doing an ID check? It's got my current command in there, including who I was reporting to. Of course I know Liara T'Soni! I was just with her!"
"You were just with her?"
"Yes, just before I woke up here."
Leota lifted her brows with a surprised expression. "Well…we have gotten confirmation that Liara T'Soni will be arriving in this system within the next few hours. If she is willing to speak to you I do not see why that would not be allowed-"
"What? In this system?" Ashley blinked, growing angry. "What system are we in, exactly? Why isn't she already here? What's going on?"
"I am afraid that is currently classified-"
"Of course it is. Look, you want me to say anything more, you get me Liara T'Soni. Until I hear from her or Alliance fucking Command, I'm not saying another goddamn word."