With the ever-present night surrounding the traveling ship, it could always be poker night. It was a good time to get out the curses, to poke fun at new gossip, and to trudge out the stories among old friends. A good time, among many times, for Vega to take everyone to the cleaner's.
Kaidan walked around the now-empty table and nudged a few chairs back into their places with a booted foot before leaving the half-room to settle against a support beam in the observation deck. It afforded him a great view.
"Approaching the relay now, Major."
As the Normandy decreased speed, the unending lines of iridescent stars separated and blinked, becoming white points of light with streaming ribbons trailing behind.
Still they slowed, and as the stars shortened their tails, it came into view. Large and looming, a sigil that was lost in space, scratched out in violence. With no light shining, the broken relay was a shadow against the starlight.
Brown eyes watched it pass. Where the points of light had passed by so quickly this wandered through space as a massive hulk. The sword was cracked in places, and shattered remnants rotated silently, lacking the momentum for a true vector. Despite its meaning, the darkness of the relay gave Kaidan a sense of serenity, of certainty, even if not of the most encouraging sort.
He stood, lost in thought, and didn't move when he felt a light hand on his shoulder. A quick glance, and he readjusted slightly to accommodate Liara's head on his shoulder. They stood together in silence, watching the relay and watching the stars beyond.
"It doesn't end well for us, does it?" came the whisper.
Careful not to jostle her, Kaidan shifted an arm to circle her shoulders. His answer did not come quickly. He thought, and tried to put context and hope into words that would fill the void the shadow caused, but the sight beyond the layers of polymer was too immense to grasp.
In the end, no answer came at all. So they stood in silence, watching the relay and watching the stars beyond.
Shadow Broker Console: Access
Biometrics Recognized
Welcome, Dr. T'Soni. Establishing connection now.
Input command: Search "Active Reapers"
No reaper activity reported in your area.
Repeat: Search "Mass Relay System"
Searching
Searching
Information on current status of the Mass Relay System is unreliable. Travel advisories for this sector proscribe use of any functioning relays found as connections may be severed. [CANCEL]
Repeat: Search "Agent Status"
No agents reporting in from this sector. Still seeking connection.
Shadow Broker Console: Logout