Some fluff and some downtime. I really needed some chill out time away from the action so god knows how these guys must feel. Thanks as always to Planetar for being awesome. Thanks again to my followers and reviewers, it's been a long year with this story so thanks for sticking with it and supporting it. I hope you've all had the best holiday period possible, and I'd just like to wish you all the best for the New Year.
Two things struck Liara as she was escorted from the back off the shuttle. The first was how small the forward operating base was, the second was how chaotic everything seemed. The last great bastion of the galaxy was a writhing mess of noise and bodies. Commanders screamed instructions at their troops, groups of technicians worked around dismembered vehicles and civilians distributed food and rations.
Amidst all the activity, the smoke and the noise, Liara could pick out two Alliance shuttles, one crashed into the side of the other in the middle of the central defence. They'd been brought down by a harvester only moments ago. A crowd of people had gathered around the scene, as two medics rushed past her, a bloodied, unconscious casualty strapped to a stretcher between them. Yet despite all this, she noticed a sudden silence and the combined stare of almost every soldier on the ground as they focused on one, distinctive, red haired solider as she left the shuttle.
Whispers started all around her.
"Is that Commander Shepard?"
"There are krogan troops in the FOB, and turians, together!"
"Geth are landing and assisting with repairs, their primes are shoring up the barriers."
"I can't believe It, I thought she was dead."
"That means the Normandy is here. The fucking Normandy is here!"
Of course, Shepard was completely oblivious the crowd, with her head bent as she listened to something Major Coats was saying, she didn't even notice the stares or the silence.
Suddenly, a stray incendiary shattered against the inner most rim of the wall, spitting flames in all directions. A young looking soldier leapt from his firing point and sprinted towards the flames with an extinguisher, but was stopped short by three rounds peppering the road in front of him.
"Vega!" Shepard's distinctive tones cut through the tense atmosphere as she stalked up to where Liara and the rest of her squad were stood waiting, major Coats in tow.
"Commander?" Vega looked from Shepard to the major.
"I need you to take squadrons 3 and 6 onto that wall, use the turrets to put some fire down on the Reapers and clear us a buffer" She ran her fingers through her hair. "We can't have them lobbing grenades and taking pot shots at us.
"Yes ma'am" Vega nodded.
"Garrus" She bought something up on her omni tool. "We have turian and krogan reinforcements coming in, liaise with them to get these defences bolstered."
"Krogan?" Garrus gave her a look.
"Yeah," Shepard gave him a half smile, "Wrex is in command, try to get him to refrain from killing any of our troops."
"Tall order."
"I have faith."
"Will do Shepard."
"Tali, EDI." Shepard beckoned them over. "The Alliance is having massive problems with power fluctuations to the primary and secondary weapons defence grids, anything you can look into?"
Tali glanced at EDI and then back to Shepard, "I could look into it Shepard." She pointed at one of the long, snake like power cables than ran along the ground, just off to their left. "I'm sure it will just be one faulty section of the grid that's effecting all the rest, I'll just need to determine which section and either reroute or repair."
"Good." Now Shepard focused on EDI. "Can you look into the long range communications for me EDI? Major Coats here will direct you, but they've been having some issues with interference."
"Of course Shepard." EDI nodded.
"Liara," Shepard took a breath, "I'm not exactly sure how, but we've ended up with quite a talented squad of asari commandos at our disposal." She almost smiled, as one the asari's eyebrows lifted slightly and she shrugged. Garrus looked away and Tali made a sound that might have been a cough. "I'm thinking you might be the best person to..." Shepard smirked, "Direct them? There are some biotic troopers from the Alliance already on the ground here, they could probably work as a unit."
"Of course Shepard."
Shepard paused and looked at each of them, "We have some time now, while we wait for what's left of Hammer to land. Use it." she frowned. "Get some food on board, warm up, square your kit away and do what you can here. I'll send the call out for you all when we're ready to move. Any issues, you come find me or Major Coats, understood?" A chorus of 'yes ma'am' greeted her and her squad dispersed.
"Good team you got there, Commander." Coats commented, as he rubbed at his stubble.
"The best," Shepard corrected.
"That's not good." Tali said.
"What's not?" Garrus asked.
"Harvesters, here and here." They were sitting at a desk in one of the central buildings, looking over a real time map of the area.
"No, it's not." Garrus frowned at the console.
"This is going to be tough."
"I know, but we don't have a choice."
"We never do."
"Good point." Tali sighed and looked across at the human officer opposite. The woman looked old, well, old compared to Shepard and that really was her only frame of reference. Until now, she'd never really had that much interaction with humans, but she found them quite fascinating.
"So," Garrus cleared his throat and looked away from the screen, "What are you going to do after all this?"
"After?" Tali mumbled, distracted suddenly, as an old clock tower on the far side of the FOB struck the hour, its chimes battering the silence. She watched as some of the humans outside started eating from ration bags, sitting on heaps of fallen bricks and soiled furniture. "Go home, now I have a home. Rebuild. You?" She gave the big turian a sideways glance.
"The same, I suppose." he drummed his fingers on the console edge, "That's if we don't all commit military suicide in the next few hours." His voice was gruff with a raw, dark humour.
"We stand a chance." Tali said lightly, ignoring him. "Better than average, I'd say."
"You reckon?" Garrus looked at her, "Any chance I can come visit this home of yours when it's built?"
Tali laughed, a sweet pearl of genuine mirth, "Of course." She smiled as Garrus made a happy sounding murmur. Out of the window she could see the clouds thinning, no more rain, that would make things easier. She took a deep breath into lungs that seemed dry and cold and suddenly constricted with fear.
The roar of flames echoed along the wall, as blue and yellow fire spread in a ripple across the stone surface, the viscous gel from the incendiary grenade burning unhindered. Vega waved off the two soldiers who were attempting to put it out and instead took a seat on an upturned supply crate, close enough to the flames to get the benefit from the heat.
"There's nothing here that can burn," he said to the two burly marines. "Might as well enjoy it."
The two of them saluted, a little cautiously, and made their way back to their posts.
With a groan, he stretched his feet out and removed his gloves, warming his fingers slightly.
"Sir?" A tight voice made him look up and he frowned as a bedraggled marine, dripping water and shivering in the chill wind, looked down at him.
"Yeah?"
"Mind if I join you?" He indicated one of the other supply crates and then gestured to the flames.
"Oh hell, go for it" Vega reached around for his canteen. "Here," he extended it to the marine, "Try that, might warm you up."
"Sir?" He looked down at the insulated container and then back to Vega.
"Don't worry about it," Vega smiled, "It's just soup."
"Ah." He threw himself down on the crate and folded his legs up. "Damn, that's warm" His grin was brilliant enough to shine through the twilight, and he inhaled sharply as he removed the lid from the canteen.
"Smells good, yeah?" Vega laughed, as he linked his fingers together behind his head and relaxed.
"Tastes good too." He said gravely, soup spilling down his unshaven chin. "You're part of Commander Shepard's crew, aren't you?" he asked around a mouthful.
"Yeah."
"What's it like?"
"Unusual."
"Ha. I bet" The marine finished his soup and crossed his arms, hugging himself. "Can't believe you guys are really here, it's a miracle."
"You could call the Commander that." Vega grinned, "I just call her Shepard."
The marine laughed and then coughed, his eyes going wide as he jerked to his feet, finger pointing behind Vega.
"What?" Vega frowned, twisting to see what was behind him. Admiral Anderson. "Shit" He stood up as Anderson approached. "Admiral." he exclaimed, coming to attention and throwing the man a salute.
"Lieutenant Vega," he said pleasantly, "Loose the salute or its going to be a really long night."
"Yes sir" He said, standing a little easier.
Anderson stood quietly, his dark eyes thoughtful. "I've heard a lot about you, lieutenant."
"Sir?" Vega was momentarily taken aback.
"Shepard speaks highly of you," Ha gave an approving nod. "And from what I've seen so far, I'd have to say the praise is well deserved." He grunted, "Christ" and scratched at his stubble as he paced. "I've known Shepard since she was a rookie leading troops round in circles" he smiled.
"I can't believe Shepard was ever a rookie, Sir" Vega shook his head.
"Oh believe me, she was," His smile widened. "And she was always a trouble maker. She asked me to speak to you, as a personal favour." he paused and waited for his words to sink in. "And I don't need to tell you that Commander Shepard isn't usually in the market for asking favours."
"I can believe that, Sir." Vega's stomach flipped at the thought of what the admiral was about to say.
"She wants me to convince you to join the N7 program." Stunned silence hung between them. "Lieutenant?" Anderson prompted.
"Me?" A million things had run through Vega's mind, but this hadn't been one of them. "N7? Fucking hell!" he didn't realise he'd spoken aloud until he saw the Admiral's eyebrows shoot up "Ah shit, sorry sir"
Anderson laughed as he moved past him, a breeze ruffled against his face, welcome after spending so long in the command buildings, "I suggest you give it some serious thought lieutenant and get back to me after all this has finished."
Vega looked out, away from the wall and up at the moon. He fisted his hands and stretched his arms. "There isn't anything to think about Sir." he waited for Anderson to look at him, "I want in; I only hope I can live up to the rank."
"Oh, you will" Anderson said with abrupt, complete confidence. "Well then, good night lieutenant, no doubt you'll be seeing my face again a lot sooner than you wanted to."
Vega almost laughed. He choked it back, shot a glance at the admiral and licked his lips. "Thank you admiral."
"Lieutenant, I can guarantee you that once you're in the middle of the N7 program," Anderson waved his hand as he turned, "you won't be thanking me."
Vega just watched as the admiral walked away, his brain trying to process what had just happened and to just what he had agreed.
"N7?" The marine next to him brought his focus back and Vega glanced at the look of surprise on his face. "That is amazing."
"No shit" Vega grinned, throwing himself back down on the supply crate, before his legs gave way. Hell Lola, he thought as he laid his head back and closed his eyes, that was a bolt out of the blue.
Shepard was standing on one of the balconies of the central buildings, looking out at the night. The rain had passed, the clouds thinned and separated, and now the light of the stars and the lowering moon cast a silvery sheen on the passing clouds, as the crumbling remains of the city rolled out ahead of her. The wind was still cool, but it brought with it a vague smell of burning and everything she touched seemed to be covered with a thin film of grey ash. The landscape below was battered, nothing but a shadow of its former glory. Most of the buildings, apartments and office blocks had fallen in on themselves, their flame-scarred windows showing nothing but emptiness behind. Vega had been right, it was hard to keep focus of what they were fighting for, when it all looked like rubble and debris.
She took a deep breath and rested both hands on the thin metal railings, aware for the first time in hours of all the muscle deep aches and pains she'd accumulated. Usually the fatigue didn't bother her, she could push it aside, but for some reason tonight, as she looked out at the columns of smoke rising lazily in the distance -swamped by the stuttering pulses of silent fire and explosions- she found it hard to keep her focus.
"Commander?" A soft, melodic voice drew her attention and she rolled her eyes as the asari approached.
"Commander?" Shepard repeated, smiling as she turned her head and glimpsed the quick flicker of moonlight playing over Liara's face. The silence of the moment and the beauty of her pulled at Shepard's heart.
"Force of habit," Liara replied, moving next to Shepard and mimicking her pose. "Everyone is exceptionally formal within the FOB."
"Yeah," Shepard replied eventually. "But I'm pretty sure me and you are past formal."
"I suppose there is that." Liara was standing close enough to touch her, but she was careful not too. There was a terrible sense of foreboding hanging over her and she knew if she touched Shepard now, she wouldn't let go, but the night was soon to disappear and right now they were here, together, and tomorrow they might not be. With a sigh she looked down at the square below where a few soldiers were patrolling in vehicles. She watched the headlights trace patterns on the tarmac.
"Are you ready?" Shepard asked, sounding as tired as she looked.
The simplest of questions, but with so many layers, are you ready? She knew the real question wasn't whether or not she was ready to fight, but whether she was ready to die. Had she made her peace with this world? Had she left her affairs in order for whatever, and who ever might have to take care of them? She looked down at her hands and then across at Shepard.
"No." Liara shook her head. "You?"
"Not even close."
"I hate this," Liara sighed, rubbing at a smudge of dirt on her knuckles. "I hate that it has to be us."
"I know," Shepard agreed, "Me too."
And Liara believed her. She caught her breath then, as Shepard reached over and captured her fingers, caressing them gently. The slight pressure of their palms sliding together was achingly sweet and as she stood there, buffeted by the chill wind, she dared not move for fear of ruining the last moment of peace she could ever have.
"Shepard," Liara waited for green eyes to track to hers. "I..." she floundered under the heat of that gaze, "There is something I want to give you, a gift."
"A gift?" Shepard tilted her head, her brows pulling together.
"Yes, it is an asari tradition, a joining of the consciousness that allows me to share my memories with you." She reached up and traced the line of Shepard's hair with her fingertips, drew her thumb over the edge of her ear and down the side of her neck. "It is normally something shared by close friends," blue eyes focussed on green, "Or bond mates." There was a liquid heat behind Shepard's gaze that the asari had never seen before and for the first time since she'd met her, Liara could see that she was close to losing her composure.
"Alright," Her voice cracked. "Show me."
"Close your eyes." Liara said. She took Shepard's face in her hands now, ran her thumbs across strong cheek bones, and gently pulled her head down, placing a single kiss on her forehead.
Shepard couldn't tell where her memory ended and Liara's began, at first it was disturbing, and then it was something amazing. Not so much a replay of a memory -which is what she'd been expecting- but more the fragments of a moment in time, replayed like a broken dream and infused with not just her remembered emotions, but Liara's as well.
Hints of sunshine were streaking through the overhead windows. Shepard was laying curled against her, her head on her chest, one arm and a leg thrown possessively across her body. She sighed, content, and stared at the ceiling, listening to soft breathing and getting lost in the heat of another body.
She awoke alone and turned on her side, towards the empty space beside her, imagining she could still smell her - rich and wild and powerfully enticing. Her stomach tightened and she lingered for a moment, replaying the feel of strong fingertips along her thigh when suddenly warm lips brushed against her cheek.
"You awake?" Rich tones rumbled, laced with laughter.
"No." She smiled, stretching under the sheet that was still twisted from their night's passion.
Laughter. "I'm going to get breakfast." Rich red hair brushed over blue skin as she leant close and kissed the sensitive spot at the base of the asari's neck.
"What you call breakfast is not breakfast." Turning on her back she was struck, as she always was, when she saw Shepard, by a strong surge of pure physical need. Naked, hair framing her face, pale skin flushed pink, mouth curved in smile of raw affection. She rose and grasped a handful of hair, tugged her down for a kiss. She wasn't used to the feel of those lips yet, hot and responsive, she feared she would never get enough. "Go," she moaned, when she finally broke the kiss and dropped back into the pillows. Her fingers still traced the warm forearm next to hers. "I am quite hungry."
Shepard was breathing hard and green eyes smouldered, as she looked down at her, mouth curving into a bigger smile. She ran a finger along the curve of a delicate shoulder. "I'm tempted to stay. I'm sure I can order someone to bring us breakfast." her voice was heavy and smooth.
"Really?" She ran her fingers through tousled red hair again, laughing as she pulled the human down for another kiss.
In a flash of blinding light the memory was over. Too soon, and to her absolute horror, Shepard felt her eyes welling with tears. She fought not to blink. "That's a good memory." her voice was just a whisper.
"My best." Liara lifted Shepard's chin slowly and ran her fingers over her face, drawing a sharp breath as they came away damp. Stunned, she pulled Shepard against her, holding her in a grip so tight it might have been painful.
"Why that memory?" Shepard mumbled into her shoulder, her arms clasping loosely around the asari, allowing herself to take this last final act of comfort.
Liara held her for a few moments more, before slowly pushing her away. She kept hold of the human's hands as she spoke. "Because it is the only one I have of us where you had no care."
"What?" Shepard wasn't sure she understood.
"After Saren, when we had that night on the Citadel," she paused, her breath tight in her throat, "Was the only time I remember you without the cloud of the Reapers hanging over you." She squeezed the chilled fingers in her own. "You were happy," now she gave the barest hint of a smile "And you slept for so long. "
"Not like now." Shepard frowned, looking down at their joined hands.
"No," Liara shook her head. "Not like now." she took a deep breath. "Shepard, before we go anywhere I just wanted to say..."
"What?" Shepard cut her off, her green eyes suddenly sharp. "Please don't tell me this was all some elaborate goodbye?"
A regretful sigh. "Maybe it was."
For a moment they stared at one another in tense silence, until finally Shepard nodded once. "I deserve better than that." she muttered.
"And I need to know that I can go into this with no regrets." Liara's voice was firm, her expression resolute.
Shepard hesitated. "All right." She relented slightly, slipping her palm to the back of the asari's neck and drawing her close. "You," she said, a breath away, "Are my best memory." And then she kissed her.
Anderson had summoned Shepard first, before requesting the rest of the command squad and as she entered the room he eyed her studiously, for the first time in a long time. She was thinner than the last time he'd seen her, but despite looking more tired than he could ever remember, her eyes were clear. He glanced across at Coats and gestured for him to take a seat. If Shepard had noticed the major, she didn't show it.
"You know what I'm looking forward to Shepard?" Anderson asked as she reached his side and bent her head to look at the map in front of them. "A beer and a curry."
Shepard blinked and then laughed, as she dragged her fingers through her hair. "I want ice cream," she paused for dramatic effect and shaped a big bowl in the air with her hands, "A big bowl of ice cream, and I want to eat it laying in the sun on the grass, real grass. Not that fake shit they have on the Citadel."
Anderson grinned, noticing now the fresh scar that dissected Shepard's top lip and the one than ran along her eyebrow. "Looks like you've been in the wars." he indicated the scar on her lip, charmed for a moment when she self-consciously licked it with her tongue.
"That's an understatement." Shepard replied, shaking her head.
"What's going on in there?" Anderson gestured at her head.
"God only knows anymore." She shrugged, a hint of a smile playing around her mouth, when she looked at Anderson, he was smiling at her, his eyes warm.
"I'm coming out with you," He jerked his head at the map, "On the field. I'm not going to sit by and see you plough into this suicidal, stupid idea and not be there."
"So now it's a stupid idea?" Shepard was still smiling. "Are you going to be able to keep up, old man?"
"Enough of the old." Anderson grumbled.
"So," Shepard sucked her teeth, her arms folded, fingers drumming on her hard suit, "I get to stand here with you and make it look like we know this is going to work?"
"Yeah," He glanced at her. "And you get to lead them, knowing they wouldn't do this for anyone else."
Shepard nodded slowly, acknowledging the weight of her own personal responsibility. The Alliance troops could be ordered to make the charge for the beam, but the krogan, the asari, the turians? They were here because of her and would only follow her. Before this was over, she was going to have sent even more soldiers to their deaths.
"Don't," Anderson stopped her in her tracks, fixing her with eyes that had aged years in the last few weeks. "Don't go down that route Shepard; don't let your mind play those games"
"I'm all right," Shepard said, her smile gone as she looked down at the last strip of land before the Reapers beam, "They'll underestimate us." She glanced up now. "Because their single biggest strength is the fact that they are machines, and that's also their biggest weakness."
"How so?" Coats piped up for the first time. His fingers were linked as he leant forward, genuinely intrigued.
"Because they don't know what it is to have the will to survive," she chewed her lip, "And we're desperate, which is something else they don't understand."
"They will soon enough," Anderson said with confidence. "Get your team ready Shepard, we'll do the brief and load out."
She looked up at him, her gaze seemingly focused behind his head. "Yes sir"
"Commander," Major Coats stood up as she walked past him. "Some news came in for you, a pilot, one Lieutenant Cortez was picked up about an hour ago, he was under your command?"
"He still is," Shepard nodded, "What's his condition?"
"They've evacuated him to the rear lines, minor injuries, a broken leg and concussion." The major smiled. "But he was awake and responsive when they got him, he'll be fine."
Shepard closed her eyes and took a deep breath, glad to finally have some good news. "Thank you major, it's a weight off my shoulders knowing that."
"I thought it would be commander." His smile dropped. "God knows we have to savour any good news we get right about now."
"You got that right."
