BAMS: Yep. Let's hope it stays that way.
Hound Akragth: It's alright, I'm fine. And yeah, I hated how her and Jacob automatically got buddy-buddy with each other and flirted like horny teenagers. I almost gagged. You'll just have to see how much ME3 stuff I put in here, now won't you? We've got a ways to go before this is done.
Hopelessly Blue: Yes, I should have had Raegas bake cupcakes for no reason. It would have fixed everything (sarcasm). And why, may I ask, are you staring at Miranda's chest? *narrows eyes to hide slight jealousy* I suppose you'd better just love her instead, eh? I see how it is. (Cries on the inside) Goddammit Jake, stop writing that shit in parentheses! (Strangles little brother in rage) Raagh! (Gets so mad she forgets to respond to rest of message) Come here! No! You can't write any more! (Struggles to- gggkkgh)
Liege Lord: Well. *takes breath to calm down from last response* Now that that's taken care of, I can write once more. *ignores little brother's crying in the background* He'll get over it. And good idea on that, Lordy; I ought to fuck with Miranda just to see how far I can go before she attacks Raegas. Now, to convince Raegas to play along…
Kachie Takahashi: Well, you see, I may have donated some blood before updating the chapter. The thing is, they took too much and then looked over my paper work. The idiot then realized I was born in Scotland and lived there for more than three months so I may be a carrier for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) (mad-cow disease), meaning my blood is too dangerous to use or I could kill people or something. Asshole. Anyway, I'm glad you liked the chapter and all. ;)
A/N: I can't think of anything witty to say right now so let's just get to the chapter.
"So…" I muttered, sitting on a crate across from Shepard's position. She looked like she was really thinking on something deeply.
"Before that vortex took you…" she started, rubbing her jaw. She finally looked to me and studied my eyes for a few moments, seemingly looking for something. "You tried to tell me what would happen." She finished, causing me to look to the ground.
"Yeah, I… In the beginning, I was a bitch to you because I thought it would keep me from getting too attached to you. But you and your damned stubbornness got through to me anyway. I swear I wanted to tell you, but…" I explained, looking back into her eyes almost pleadingly. I still felt guilty over how I treated her and how I had kept from saying anything earlier. Still though, Shepard shook her head.
"What's done is done. I'm just glad you at least tried…" she said, putting me at ease. In the end, I was glad I had at least tried- otherwise, Shepard may have been pissed at me.
"And I'm sorry I couldn't get to you earlier. A lot happened." I said, knowing she'd ask.
"That so?" she asked.
"Long story." I drawled, looking back down.
"We've got some time." She urged, taking a step toward me and crossing her arms. I sighed, figuring I may as well tell her a few things.
"When I woke up after getting sucked through that damned vortex, I found myself getting dragged from a burning wreck of what used to be a ship. Turns out we weren't the only ones to get sucked through the warp field." I began.
"Who saved you?" Shepard inquired, taking another step toward me as if in concern.
"Adel. She had told me, after we managed to get everyone to safety, that she and my team had disobeyed my father to come looking for me. It was there we met Herga, if you were wondering how we picked him up. After getting onto the ship Adel stole from the Grey Star's hangar, we had to get treated for the wounds we sustained- especially Liara." Shepard put her hand up, stopping me.
"What happened to her? And your siblings?" she asked, brows drawn together.
"I'm getting there." I said, getting a frown. "Anyway, we all got stuck in the clinic for at least a week. Liara and the others all healed back to full health, along with our Ulaeviel. In fact, Ciria's missed you quite a bit." I said, smirking. Shepard raised a brow.
"Really?" she asked, drawling this out skeptically. In response, I whistled, telling the visitor at the lift she was welcome to come over. Shepard looked back just in time to get tackled to the ground by a large Ulaeviel who wasted no time in licking the Commander's face. Shepard eventually managed to get the Ulaeviel to back up enough to see it was Ciria herself, practically grinning down at her. I smiled as well at seeing Shepard's own smirk.
"Told you." I muttered, watching the reunion happily.
Eventually, Shepard and Ciria settled down and the Commander looked back to me as I settled onto the ground, leaning on the crate I had been sitting on. Ciria settled her head in Shepard's lap then, finally happy to have an official reunion with the commander. Sure, they saw each other at the first meeting, but it hadn't granted them any real time to get reacquainted with one another since we were all in such a rush. And after the meeting, Garugha had forced Ciria to accompany him to another one of their training sessions.
"Moving on…" I smirked, seeing Shepard was more relaxed. "After we got to our homeworld, where the Grey Star and my father were waiting, we made a beeline for his office. Since Adel and my team actually found us they weren't punished. But the reunion was a little…" I trailed off, getting a headache.
"What?" Shepard asked quietly, sensing my inner turmoil. I looked up and began to recount what happened.
"And so the Blackblood Princess returns…" Rissara, a visiting noble muttered, eying me with her obsidian gaze. Father said nothing, instead choosing to look upon me from the height of his dais.
"We had thought you and your blood-kin died, princess." A Judge Magister said quietly, only offering a bow of the head in greeting. Other murmurs ran through the onlookers as well, adding pressure to the atmosphere. My siblings were kneeling down behind me in respect, keeping silent. Liara was allowed to stand by them but she knew better than to speak. As the eldest, it was my duty to stand 'welcome'.
"I had assumed you died on the control station my corrupted daughter. After all, it was you who destroyed those relays and pulled us into this new reality. Tell me: how are you standing here?" father finally said, grinding my nerves down with his unfeeling voice. From the corner of my eye, I could see Vetrali walk into the room and stop dead at seeing me.
"I was found in a ruin of our creation by a human- a species you don't know of yet. She took me in, and soon, my siblings. After we destroyed a Reaper that attacked the Citadel, a vortex sucked us through to a remote planet on the edge of our galaxy. Obviously, Adel soon found us." Whispers washed through the chamber at the news of Sovereign. Father sat back down in his throne and drew his brows together as a frown scrunched his features.
"And so it begins…" he muttered, before looking back to me. "Tell me more."
"I told him everything I could about everything I knew. In the end, we were all in that chamber for two hours, asking questions, answering them, starting plans. Not soon after, my father took me to the war room and we deliberated more." I said. "My brothers were confined to quarters and Liara was, luckily, spoken for by Jasin. My boneheaded sister wouldn't take no for an answer- even from father." I smiled, remembering the proverbial standoff they got into.
"When Jasin claimer Liara as her Soulmate, I thought father would go into a rage." I added, running a hand through my hair. Shepard was quiet for a moment, taking it in.
"I'm sorry." She said, taking my hand in hers. She had scooted to my side a few moments before and Ciria had taken up residence on both of our laps.
"My father changed after I let mom die in that hellhole. I got used to it." I replied, sobering up. Shepard slid her palm on my cheek and forced me to look at her.
"Hey. You didn't kill your mom. None of that was your fault." She said softly, trapping me in her gaze. Her expression was so intense that I thought I'd burst out crying for moment. Taking her hand, I pulled it from my face and forced myself to look away once more.
"Anyway, my father and I eventually came up with a plan. He may have changed, but he still wanted nothing more than to help. Even though I told him about us, he forbade me from seeing you in person. He thought I would disrupt what would happen and save you from the Collector ship. And he was right." I said, smiling ruefully at the memory.
"I didn't get any say in anything until you-… Well you know." I said haltingly, swallowing hard. Shepard was quiet for a while before squeezing my hand in hers to try and comfort.
"It's not your fault." She whispered, nuzzling the side of my face. My eyes fluttered closed in pain as I remembered getting dragged down to a dark, horrible place.
Yes it is… I thought, lacking the strength to say it aloud.
After long moments, I was ready to continue speaking.
"After a few weeks father allowed me to regain my name and status by leading my team to set up future plans. Unfortunately, my siblings had different roles to play- including Liara. A lot happened, but basically, I went around with my team in this galaxy and helped out people or set up contacts- we even visited a few people I knew you would recruit soon. Speaking of, did Miranda ever tell you anything about Lazarus?" I asked.
"Whenever I ask, she either says something but tells me nothing or just changes the subject." She answered. I frowned, irritated at the Cerberus officer's behavior. It was understandable, knowing Miranda, but even so…
"The first thing I did when father set me free was to look for you. We got to-"
"Raega, I need you for something important. Get up here soon." My father's voice grumbled through my comm, interrupting what I was saying. I let out a frustrated sigh and forced myself to stand, seeing Adel walking up as well.
"I'll be right back…" I grumbled, kissing the back of Shepard's hand before rushing to the lift before it rose back up. Adel only locked eyes with me momentarily as she continued walking toward Shepard. I had a feeling she'd talk to her about certain things I wished she wouldn't…
…
"She's only telling you the half-story, Commander Shepard." Adel's sudden comment took the commander by surprise and she shifted on the ground before standing, disrupting Ciria's resting place.
"What do you mean? How would you know?" Shepard asked, slightly irritated over Raegas being called away.
"We've known each other since we were children. She may tell the truth but she always hides as much as she can to keep others from getting hurt. Am I not correct?" Adel replied, crossing her arms. "I simply came to tell you a few details she wouldn't."
"Is that so? Then regal me." Shepard said, leaning against a tall crate and crossing her arms.
"Her father not only confined her, but he chained her in raw Solinium in the bowels of a prison below the surface. She was there for more than two weeks before I managed to force the Emperor into releasing her." she began, the woman's face slightly scrunched in disgust as she recounted the events.
"Christ…" Shepard ground, glaring at the ground and clenching her fists.
"Indeed. I once again disobeyed his orders and took the princess to the planet she foretold as your resting place. We got there just in time to see the Collector ship warp to the Normandy's location as well. Raega was not yet healed but she managed to knock out the doctors seeing to her to get to the armory. She pulled on her suit of armor and limped to the airlock just in time to see your ship being torn to shreds by the Collector cannons." Adel paused, looking to the ground.
"I had to hold her back from going out there and dying herself. She screamed at me to let go…" Adel closed her eyes, gritting her teeth. Shepard held back tears as she remembered seeing a strange ship in the corner of her vision as she fell toward the planet's atmosphere before the armor's VI injected sedatives in her body to make her sleep. She never realized that was Raegas on that ship…
"Our ship fired on the Collectors and did as much damage as we could to protect the escape pods. They soon warped away, leaving the pods and us alone, but you… Raega never gave up. She fought all she could and screamed at me to let her save you but I knew I couldn't. It's my fault that you died." Adel's confession sent shockwaves through Shepard as the Commander slumped to the ground, realizing just what happened. No wonder the others survived in those escape pods. No wonder Raegas didn't let go when Shepard finally took her in her arms for the first time after coming back.
"What happened next?" she asked, finding her own voice to be thick with emotion. Adel was quiet for a moment as if processing everything, and then let out a sad sigh.
"When I finally let go of her, Raega went down to the planet and retrieved your body. She soon contacted the human called the Illusive Man and told him she knew he could bring you back. Once they reached an agreement as we left the planet, she told me she was afraid you would never forgive her for her inability to save you. And for allowing such humans to force you from a place she called 'Heaven' if only to stop a war once more." Adel continued, frowning to herself.
"It was my fault and yet she still blamed herself for everything that happened." She muttered, mostly to herself, before taking another breath. "Once to the Cerberus facility, Raega set to healing you in daily sessions, ignoring what the humans told her. It was because of her that you were able to come back so quickly."
"I see…" Shepard didn't know what to say. What could she say? Raegas was so vague in telling her what happened that Shepard felt like she was almost lied to- to protect her feelings. Raegas was, sometimes, just too protective and caring. Somewhere deep inside, a part of her appreciated Adel's stark explanation of detail. But mostly, Shepard just wanted to take her in her arms again and comfort both her and herself.
"Days before you would awaken, Raega took us from the facility. She went to various people and either saved their lives or gave them information. An example of this would be the Holo-Sphere she gave to the one named Garrus. In any case, we soon had to return to our own galaxy to liberate a small border colony from Spawn. That was the time she recorded the message for you to view once you acquired Ko." Shepard only nodded at Adel's words, finding herself out of words to say.
"Ayldrik, once given freedom from his quarters, chose to travel to this galaxy with Jasin and Liara. They stormed a place called 'Hagalaz' and overthrew someone called the Shadow Broker. They are the contacts Raega no doubt mentioned. Kareck, as the youngest, decided to act as a messenger and guide to many people, keeping up tight communications." Adel paused, seemingly waiting to see if Shepard had something to say. At the Commander's silence, the woman straightened and clasped her hands behind her.
"That is all I have to tell you right now. If you need anything more, I am available." She said, before leaving Shepard to her thoughts.
The Commander's mind was so jumbled and her heart so heavy that she wasn't sure what she wanted to do at that very moment. Other than to talk to Raegas again. It was getting to be late as well, so they'd have to sleep soon. But what would Raegas do if Shepard told her that Adel confronted her with the very information she found too painful to share? Shepard couldn't even imagine what Raegas went through as she watched the Normandy rip apart let alone how she felt at seeing her dead body every day for six months.
But what would Shepard do when Raegas came back?
…
I sighed, walking through the corridors of the Grey Star as if in a trance. I was drained of energy seeing as how it was so late but after having to talk with father for all of an hour, I felt like a zombie. Making my way into the hangar, I looked up to see it was empty. Sure, everyone had retired for the night but not even Shepard waited up. I supposed it made sense since Adel probably said something to her or dragged her off somewhere.
"Ko, where's Shepard?" I asked through my comm, knowing the little robot would make sure to stay by Shepard's side whenever possible.
"In her quarters; I believe she is waiting for you to return. I am outside at the moment." He answered, sounding sober. I raised a brow at it but said nothing more and left, heading toward her quarters.
…
Once I was finally there, I saw Ko was indeed outside. He said nothing as I passed and walked into Shepard's room quietly. The lights were dimmed a little, similar to her quarters on the Normandy, telling me she was either sleeping or waiting up. I was afraid to talk to her after what Adel probably told her, but at the same time, I didn't want her to be sleeping yet.
Stepping down the small set of steps, I looked over to see Shepard sitting silently in the chair by the couch with her elbows resting on her knees. She looked up from the ground, noticing me in the room, immediately startling me at what I saw. Shepard herself had a single tear tracking down her solemn face. In that instant I knew Adel had told her everything I tried not to.
"She told you huh?" I asked, my voice unreasonably shaky. In a flash, Shepard stood and came over to me, scooping me up in her arms in a tight embrace. I didn't have any reason to, but I found my eyes misting over, tears welling up to the surface spontaneously.
"I'm sorry." She whispered, holding me to her tightly, gently, refusing to let go. "I'm so sorry." She repeated, making my tears spill over and fall down my cheeks. I sniffed and clung to her, trying to forget what happened those days after the vortex took me. I sniffed strongly, thanking the gods that Shepard was alright. That I could be in her arms again and hold her in my own.
The tears persisted for a long while into the night, but eventually… eventually, we fell asleep in each other's arms.
A/N: Sniff. Poor Raegas and Shepard. I hope they'll feel better soon. And, you know, get to their mission of stopping the Collectors.