Blue: Cerulean

by Mad-Hamlet

This is the first part of Blue. This is Cerulean. There was no Catalyst-AI, there was no answer to what or why The Reapers were. There was only Shepard, The Crucible and Harbinger. Afterwards there was only Shepard- marked forever by the ancient machines. And for that reason she will be betrayed and hunted down. For that reason she will fight the oldest of enemies.

5. Blue: Cerulean: Four

Drain Bramged Inc. Proudly Presents.

A Mad-Hamlet Production

Blue:Cerulean:Four

"Go!" Shepard bellowed. "Go, go,gogog. GO!"

She reached down, grabbed Liara by one wrist and hauled her to her feet; with other hand she grabbed the Miranda's collar and shoved her toward the newly blasted whole in the wall, the former agent stumbled over some debris but did not fall, Shepard's grip was holding her upright. Shepard began to run, one hand pulling Liara behind her, the other pushed Miranda in front. Garrus continued to fire, short bursts of fire meant to keep an enemy pinned rather than kill shots.

"They really want that extra spicy pepperoni!" the turian shouted, he slapped in a fresh heat clip. "More of them coming in, better get a move on ladies!"

Their long strides carried them closer to the gangplank of the hovering Normandy not fifty meters away.

They were not going to make it.

And Shepard knew. She knew exactly where the marines were coming from. Her back was still to the doorway and it was obvious that they had to come from there and she knew their tactics so that helped but somehow she had an exact idea of their positions at that very second. She knew what they were going to do and where they were going to be when they acted- so she acted first.

Without breaking stride she shouted over her shoulder, "Liara, singularity my six o'clock on my mark."

A quick two-count hissed from under her breath and she called out, "Mark!"

At the word Liara spun on one heel and blindly fired off a singularity field just as an entire squad of marines came through the door and ran head long into the mass effect field. Their own personal gravity canceled by the biotic storm sent them adrift, flailing helplessly in mid-air.

"It's your lucky day, boys!" Garrus roared over the heavy thrum of the ship's engines. He lined up his shots with the ease of experience and pulled the trigger exactly six times. Six helmets snapped back as the concussions rounds smashed into them, the kinetic energy diffused by the armor but still retaining enough of a kick to blast the soldiers into unconsciousness. If any did manage to stay awake, the resulting push in their temporary zero-g situation and the subsequent ricocheting off various walls, the floor and in one poor marines case, the ceiling, knocked any remaining fight out of them.

Miranda reached the gangplank first and leaped aboard, Liara second as Shepard had pulled the asari in front of her after she had let fly with the singularity. Shepard braced herself to leap and never saw it coming. A flying body tackly hit her from the right, directly under her ribs punching the air out of her lungs. The armored form of Ashley Williams straddled her, fist raised, teeth flashing in a rictus of hate and fury.

"I knew it!" the second spectre snarled. "You're a traitor!"

Shepard weezed, trying to suck in air and at the same time ask her friend, 'are you kidding me?' but she couldn't focus. Flashing dots danced in front of her eyes, she could barely make out the fist coming down at her face and raised one arm feebly in her defense, one that she knew wouldn't work. So both women were surprised when Shepard's hand flashed out to catch Ashley's fist in a grip of steel.

The other spectre blinked, then whispered. "Nice catch, skipper."

Shepard also blinked, less in surprise and more in an effort to clear her vision. She almost missed Ashley's next words.

"Hit me!"

"Wha-?" Shepard slurred.

"Hit me, dammit!"

"Yur...you're wearing armor," Shepard's tongue felt heavy in her mouth.

"Your omniblade!" Shepard saw Ashley roll her eyes behind her visor. "Duh! My shields are maxxed, I can take it."

Shepard was a warrior. Her mind was attempting to process far too much with too little information but trained instincts are not botherd by such trivial matters. At a command her omnitool flash-manufactured a micro blade and she slashed at the marine before the short-term weapon disintegrated. The attack was clumsy, the angle making it nearly impossible to put any real force behind the blow yet the blade still shattered the armor's shields, slashing across the visor and front of the helmet, sliding into the heavy plating like butter.

Ashley screamed and pitched sideways, rolling off of Shepard's body. Shepard scrambled to her feet, fighting off the impulse to go to the fallen marine, check the damage, get her out of there, to protect her fellow soldier. Ashley's hand was clasped to her helmet and Shepard could see bright red blood oozing from under her fingers but Ashley's blue eyes blazed from behind the vizor, clear steady and obviously imparting the message, 'Get the fuck out of here.'

Right until a biotic bolt sent her tumbling across the room. Shepard snapped her head around to see Liara standing at the edge of the gangplank, one arm outstretched in the direction of the still rolling marine. "Shepard, are you alright?" the asari called out.

"Yeah," Shepard bit back on the hostility gathered in her throat instead getting her feet under her and jogging toward the Normandy. She hopped up on the edge of the gangplank. "I'm okay."

"Was that Ashley?" Liara asked. "I had much difficulty making out words through the noise but I'm positive I heard someone call you traitor."

Shepard only shook her head slightly; her head started to slump but with a surge of will she stayed ramrod straight.

'Anderson?" she hears no response. "Sir?"

She was empty.

She kept going.

Trying to smile convincingly Shepard answered Liara, "You'll know when I know."

Liara narrowed her eyes slightly, "Very well, Shepard."

They stood in the entrance to the ship proper looking out at the smoking hole in the Alliance Headquarters; scores of marines came pouring out, like angry ants, getting smaller and smaller as the frigate climbed high into the sky. Some raised their weapons, wasting fire on the ships shields. Others were attending to the fallen. Shepard could see two medics tending to Ashley where the other woman lay sprawled at the base of the wall.

Nodding to herself she turned away and headed into the ship, calling out behind her, "Close it up, EDI."

The AI's voice responded, "Acknowledged Commander. You are recognized as the captain of this vessel."

"Hey Commander," Joker's voice now came through the speakers. "Here's where the normal situations would have the part of the conversation involving 'welcome back' and 'good to see you' but we'll just skip right to the good stuff: You might want to get up here."

Shepard broke into a run, ignoring the nausea churning in her gut, she glanced over her shoulder to confirm Liara, Miranda and Garrus were moving up behind her. They sprinted across the cargo hold toward the elevator.

The elevator doors slip open and the quartet stepped inside.

"Why does Joker always make that suggestion?" Liara asked between breaths. "He's the pilot. There is not much we can do to assist in flight operations."

Joker's voice rang through the elevator. "The view is really pretty."

Garrus snorted quietly, stifling a snicker and said nothing.

The elevator doors opened, Shepard took the lead stepping around the galaxy map. She did not look left or right as she moved at a brisk walk down the central corridor leading to cockpit. She stoically ignored the crew manning their posts and more so she ignored her now crystal clear memories. She ignored the whisper in her mind that was filling her in on every fact that she had known and forgotten.

At the heat recycling center, Ensign Mathers. Two tours, five years good service. Father of two; brother a marine KIA. The last time they had spoken he had told her of his son's fifth birthday for exactly six minutes and ten seconds.

Power distribution, Ensign Tuttle. Third tour. Seven years good service. Permanent black mark for striking a superior officer during training. Single. No family. He never spoke to Shepard outside of duties but she remembered every book she had seen him reading in the mess hall. During the Reaper War he had been reading Of Mice and Men.

Secondary Weapons Control. Manders. Former Cerberus specialist.

That made Shepard take a mental pause. All the original crew of the SR2 had vanished per her suggestions at the Citadel right before the return to earth so long ago. Now here was one, she glanced around, no...there were at least six other crew members from the original crew. She could remember, with perfect clarity she could remember, their faces when she had saved them. The twitching, sweating pale faces looking at her. Begging her without say anything- pleading with her to fix everything and let them get back to their lives...

Shepard gave her head a mild shake, snapping herself back to the now. She processed what she had quickly- members of both the alliance and Cerberus crews were mixed together and on the Normandy right now.

If Miranda, Liara or Garrus had noticed anything while she had been lost in memories, they didn't say anything. A moment later they had entered the cockpit.

"Commander," Joker began; Shepard's fist clenched convulsively . "We got Alliance cap-ships breaking orbit on decent vectors. We have a plan?"

"Shepard! Nothing's happening, The Crucible has docked but nothing's happening!" Hackett's voice, demanding a plan.

"Uh..." Inside, part of her sunk deeper into despair. Again, for reasons she could not understand, everything hinged on her. She controlled her breathing, attempting to retain the appearance of normality. She stood at attention, feet spread, hands behind her back. "I'm guessing the Alliance will be wanting to talk with us," she began. "I didn't care for where the conversation was going a moment ago so let's not let it continue. Get us to the relay Joker."

"For what location shall we plot a course, Commander?" EDI asked. Shepard clenched the hand behind her back into a fist.

"Your mission is to report to the base hospital. There you will undergo surgery to have your implants removed for study and reverse engineering. We have...employed the best experts in the field and they have assured us there is a ...reasonable risk factor and even, perhaps, the possibility of full physical and mental recovery," Hackett's voice.

"Away, EDI. Away."

Shepard felt soft fingers touch her fist, she looked over her shoulder at Liara; the asari just stared at her pointedly. The spectre gave a small shake of her head which Liara accepted with a quiet nod of her own.

"Coming up on the interceptors, Commander," Joker reported. "Exiting orbit in five..."

The Normandy gave a sudden lurch, flashes of light illuminated the consoles.

"That was definetly not a warning shot," Garrus shouted. He took the rightmost console and slipped into the seat. "Weapons control online," he said. "The target it painted."

"Hold fire!" Shepard snapped. "We are not shooting at our own ships."

Garrus seemed ready to protest but shrugged with a nod, "Alright Shepard. Target dropped."

Shepard turned to the robotic woman sitting in the co-pilot's seat, "EDI?"

"I have infiltrated the enemies-"

"No," Shepard interrupted. "Not enemies. Those are alliance ships!"

"Misguided people accidentally attempting to deliberately murder us then," Joker supplied. "Under orders of course."

EDI started over, "Cyber Warfare attacks are completely successful. The-" she paused. "alliance ships are now blind to our exact location. At our current speed we will be out detection range in seventeen seconds."

"Joker, get us behind the moon and prep for stealth," Shepard ordered.

"Aye aye, Commander," Again Shepard flinched, Liara's grip over her fist tightened and Shepard more felt, than heard, the asari's quiet whisper. "I'm here."

And Shepard couldn't see clearly. A blur covered her eyes, she tore her hands from Liara, leaned toward a console opposite the direction the rest of the group were faces, as if inspecting some datafeed and frantically rubbed at her eyes with one hand.

"Aaaannnnd," Joker drew the word out. "We're clear."

"Course plotted for the relay," EDI added. "The alliance will be waiting for us."

"Please," Joker interjected. "We're running quiet, we're fast, I know what they'll be doing and best of all, I'm flying This'll be cake."

And out of nowhere, sounding very Scottish, Garrus said, "Our navy is not the worry, it's the Americans that are the worry."

"Okay," Joker nodded with a laugh. "Now that actually was a good movie which means we have to wonder why it was part of Shepard's collection."

Shepard wanted to laugh with them, she could feel a tug inside- the familiarly, the camaraderie. Movie nights, the talks afterward, the drinking games: all these had gotten them all through more than one time or another during the darkest of moments.

A trio of turian Frigates dive beneath an oncoming Reaper vessel; with casual, arrogant, grace the living machine flicks out a massive arm, neatly bisecting one before orienting its killing beam at the other two.

She felt outside looking in; she grit her teeth to bite back something crawling up her throat.

Shepard swallowed, "ETA on the relay"?

"Forty-five minutes," EDI supplied.

Shepard nodded, "Good work people," she took a breath to continue but Miranda spoke up.

"Commander, we really should talk about what's just happened. There are some thing you ought to know. Also the crew should be briefed as well-"

"In...uh..." Shepard swallowed. "In a bit, Miranda. There's some-" again she faltered. "There's some things I have- I have to go."

And she spun on her heel and walked toward the rear of the command deck and she didn't look back. When the elevator doors shut behind her, she didn't look back once.

Joker whistled low and said, "That is not good."

Garrus nodded in agreement. "Not even a little."

Without a word Liara moved to follow but Miranda's gripped her by her upper arm. "Are you sure that's wise?"

Liara looked at the former Cerberus operative coolly. After a moment the other woman glanced away and let go. Liara headed for the elevator.

When the doors opened at the top floor the short hallway leading to the captain's cabin blazed with light. The cabin doors themselves were open and Liara stepped through without hesitation. Shepard was sitting on the sofa in the corner of the room. Her feet were up on the small table, arms behind her head; she was staring up through a small window through which the streaming effect of FTL speeds blazed colors between the stars. For all intents and purposes Shepard looked like a person taking a quiet moment to themselves, totally at peace with themselves.

Liara strode down the few steps to the main area and took a seat next to her human. Shepard glanced at her then returned to looking up and out into space. The silence lay all around them, gentle but bearing down- necessity was warring with demand and they could both feel the tension.

Finally Shepard said. "I love all these old movies but the trouble with them is that the film makers made so many different versions of dramatic cliches."

Liara leaned back in her seat, getting more comfortable."I don't understand," she rested her clasped hands across her stomach, attempting to appear relaxed, casual even.

"Some of the trashier movies were about as subtle as a hammer," replied Shepard shrugging.

"Involving?"

"Trying to get the audience to feel, to empathize with the characters in the most ham-fisted way," Shepard chuckled quietly, a dry thing that had no humor in it. "The overwhelmed hero runs off to a dark room and drinks themselves stupid. Or mindless sex."

The spectre shifted slightly, a sneering half smile on her face. "That was a good one, they did that a lot. Both of them sometimes."

Again the dry, empty laugh. "Pathetic."

Liara pursed her lips, before she said quietly. "Mindful sex is a better alternative."

Shepard appeared to have not heard. "It's just, I had my little breakdown already, Liara. Last night."

"Shepard, you don't have a limited number. You can react to-"

"That's just it, though," Shepard sat bolt upright, her eyes narrowed dangerously. "I am really, really angry right now. Fucking enraged. The idea of smashing something, anything- " she broke off, took a deep breath and started over.

"I'm also scared out of my mind," she continued started rubbing the palms of her hands together as if they were cold. "Let's throw in an acid-stomach full of betrayal and grief. Confusion as well."

Liara shook her head in sympathy, "I cannot imagine-"

"Don't finish that sentence!" The sharp near shout of command caused the asari to jump in her seat. Shepard's arm was outstretched, finger pointing at Liara face, like an arrow. Through gritted teeth Shepard growled, "Don't you dare finished that sentence."

Liara swallowed, held both hands up palms out and ducking her heard replied, "I apologize if I offended-"

Shepard blinked, her eyes flickered down for a moment than back up, "That's not it. Sorry. It's...uh...The last time you said something like that to me Liara," the human stopped."When we picked up up on Mars you said pretty much the same thing about Earth being lost to The Reapers. You could not imagine how it felt but you found out. When Thessia fell, you found out and it killed me watching you hurt. I wouldn't wish this, what I'm feeling right now, on anyone, much less you." she reached out and took one of Liara's hands in her own.

Now it was Liara's turn to need a moment to process.

"I...thank you Shepard."

"Yeah," Shepard leaned back against the sofa again, not letting go of her asari's hand, fingers intertwined. Liara casually slide a two fingers along Shepard's wrist and over the other woman's pulse for a moment. Shepard's heart was racing despite her outwardly calm appearance. Attempting to appear equally at ease Liara squeezed Shepard's hand tight.

Shepard smiled to herself and muttered, "I can't be the commander anymore. They took that away from me."

"That's why you're reacting whenever anyone calls you that," Liara replied.

"Liara?" asked Shepard, ignoring her asari's response.

"Yes?"

"I think I want to quit."

And the world dropped out from under Liara.

"I'm all used up," Shepard shrugged. She shrugged! As if her words were just a casual nothing and not the absolute paradigm shattering series of syllables they were."Just all empty inside. I think."

"Shepard-" Liara tried to rally, scrambling in her own head to find some way to have the words to put all this right. Her fingers slackened and her hand fell out of Shepard's. The spectre herself stood up and walked casually toward the bed, hands behind her back; after a moment Shepard looked over her shoulder at Liara.

"I don't want to feel this way," she turned to face her asari. "I just- I'm tired," she held her hands out palms up. "That's the best way I can put it. Empty and I'm just so tired!"

Liara's mouth stuttered, "It- It's been a very bad-"

Shepard screamed,"It's almost only been bad Liara!"

Anything casual in her how she held herself was gone. Her shoulder's were hunched, arms bent, fists clenched so tightly the knuckles popped. "That's all it's been; for years now! Yes, there have been good moments, one spectacular one and I've done everything I could to make them all worth it and make sure the one paying had to be me!"

Shepard ran clawed fingernails through her hair causing Liara to wince.

"I thought I was dead. Again I mean," her human fumed. "There was no way I could survive- I believed that, in The Citadel. I let go, do you understand? I. Let. Go! You have no idea how good it was to wake up and see you. To know so many of those I love so much had survived. That we, as a galaxy, had survived. I … God damnit Liara. I was ready to rest. I was ready, so very ready to stop being 'the commander!'

Shepard blinked, ran a hand over her eyes and started at her fingertips her eyes widening, "Shit, tears again.

She shook her head fiercely, "No. Not this time, not now. I'm not asking for fair, Liara. I know there's no such thing as fair. Hell, in combat I make sure there's as little as 'fair' as possible for the enemy. And yes, I've been betrayed by," Shepard rolled a wrist in an all encompassing gesture. "...them. By Earth. I know this should be playing ping-pong with my brains and I cannot even begin to think about how much I want to throw up, scream, fuck, drink myself blind and die all at the same time."

She took turned her back on Liara put her hands on her hips and said to the far wall, "I want to quit."

Slowly Liara stood up and extended her hands palm out. The biotics surged across the room without warning, plucked Shepard off the ground like a feather.

With a cry of "Liara!" as the air was forced from her lungs Shepard slammed into the wall. The smell of ozone seared her nostrils while the angry buzzing of energy rang in her ears. She couldn't move, one cheek forced flat against the unyielding surface.

"Surrender then, commander," Liara said.

"What? I don't-" she was interrupted as biotic energy swirled around her and she rolled, perpendicular to the floor, along the wall knocking off frames and into bulkheads until she was again pinned; this time facing outward. Liara stood in the middle of the room one finger pointing at her, guiding the energies that held the spectre to the wall. "It's very simple, commander."

"Stop calling me that!" Shepard shouted.

"Surrender," Liara leered at her human. "You cannot hope to win."

Languidly Liara strolled up the stairs to the desk behind the display of model ships. Looked directly into Shepard's eyes through the glass case the casually reached down and plucked a framed set of dog-tags off the surface.

"You want to quit," Liara nodded examining her prize. She ran a fingertip over the glass surface of the framed tags, crooked a fingernail and in a tiny flash of biotics shattered the protective covering. She hooked a finger through the chains of the tags and began to lazily pull them from the frame. "Surrender then."

"Stop it, Liara!" Shepard shouted. "I order you to let me go!"

Liara chuckled, a wet throat sound. "You're not the commander, commander," she pulled the dog-tags free and let them hand from two fingers. She started to twirl the tiny metal symbols around and around until they were a blur through the air.

"If you're going to quit, Shepard," the asari said. "You won't be needing these anymore."

"Stop it, Liara," Shepard said quietly. "I know what you're doing."

"Do you?" Liara cocked a half smile, hands on her hips the dog-tags dangling along one thigh. "Tell me."

"You're trying to get me angry."

"Is it working?"

"No," Shepard shook her head, she had that much freedom of movement.

Liara gathered the chained tags until the nestled in the palm of one hand and held it out to Shepard, "These do not define you."

Then the asari closed her eyes in concentration and raw biotic power surged between her clenched fingers.

"No!" Shepard's roar echoed through the cabin, muscles tensed, tendons flexed and she was seething off the wall arms outstretched, she landed catlike on the floor, came up, grabbed the startled asari by the wrist that held the dog-tags and forced her none-too-gently against the glass wall of the aquarium.

Liara stared into her human's face, Shepard returned the unblinking gaze.

"You cannot surrender," Liara whispered. "You don't know how."

Sheperd's gaze flickered between her asari's blue eyes and her clenched fist from which the tail ends of the dog-tags chains hung.

"I wish..." Shepard began but faltered.

"What do you wish?" Liara pressed.

"Wishes are pointless," Shepard barked. She ducked her head, looking down at the floor.

With her free hand Liara raised her fingertips under Shepard's chin and gently, almost forcing the spectre to meet her gaze once again.

"Everyone wishes, Shepard. The wishes that we know we can actually have are part of what drives us. So, answer me please," she paused. "Answer me, love. What is it you wish?"

Twisting away from Liara's fingertips beneath her chin Shepard looked into the water in the aquarium against which she still held the asari. "I wish to be selfish."

Liara laughed out loud, "If any sentient is entitled to a bit of selfishness it's you."

"Can I really?" Shepard replied, still looking away. "For just a little while?"

"Only you can give yourself permission."

"That would mean surrendering, Liara. You said it yourself- I don't know how to do that," Shepard turned her head so now she was staring at the fist Liara still held tightly shut over Shepard's old alliance dog-tags." Show me, Liara. Tell me what to want."

Liara swallowed. "Shepard, I-"

"Please!" Shepard's plea felt alien to the asari. "Liara, just...tell me what to do.'

"Let me go," Liara said quietly. Shepard did and stepped back, hugging herself.

"What you said, all your wants," the asari murmured, tossing the dog-tags onto the table and stepping directly into Shepard's personal space. "All whirling around in your head."

Her human nodded.

"Fight, quit, rage, desire, despair, yes?"

Again the nod.

Liara reached up and caressed one of her human's cheeks, running her fingers up along the jawline, through the thick hair over one ear until her hand gently cupped Shepard's head. "And the only thing you feel clearly, amongst this storm of wants in your mind, is you want me to tell you what you want?"

A third nod.

Liara leaned close, her lips sliding through the air between them and she breathed into Shepard's ear, "You want me."

The snarl ripped out of Shepard's throat like a beast slipping a chain; Liara reciprocated by yanking Shepard's face toward hers. Their lips met but with characteristic impatience Shepard practically forced her tongue into Liara's mouth only to find a similar instance on the asari's part. The spectre relished in the flavor and textures or her lover; in her minds eye she could imagine the dark blue flesh, hot and sweet, burning and soothing at the same time, in her mouth, twining, twirling, dancing with her own.

Shepard shifted her weight, grinding her hips upward so Liara was pressed again against the aquarium, the asari's upper-back braced; Liara lifted her legs off the floor, twining them around her human's waist and pulled the other woman closer. Shepard's mouth fell open at the contact; her body pressed against Liara's, her asari's demands of her. Still braced against the glass Liara clasped Shepard's face between her palms forcing the other woman to look into her eyes.

"You want me," she said again. Shepard nodded, an involuntary but completely welcome response.

Her lips formed the words, "So much," without any conscious thought on her part. She leaned against Liara's hands eager to continue, needing to taste her asari. Liara shifted slightly so Shepard's hungry lips sealed against her neck, muttered sound of approval vibrated through her skin and she welcomed the sigh of pleasure that slipped out between her lips. One hand moved behind Shepard's head, urging her on, encouraging her to continue.

Shepard's nipped at her asari's flesh, savored the slightly rougher texture of her skin, felt herself growing heady at the scent of her lover sparkling in her mind as reality and memory of other times collided behind her eyes. Shepard eased her hand under Liara's shirt, fingernails tracking delicate lines across the flat belly underneath and up higher, slowly higher.

Liara's head fell back against the cool glass of the aquarium, she closed her eyes in anticipation-

"Please don't space me," Joker's voice in every way but the literal shattered the moment around them. "We're approaching the relay and we have a bit of a situation."

"God damn it!" Shepard sword loudly. Liara's head fell forward resting on Shepard's shoulder.

"You're dead," Garrus' voice came through the intercom.

"Fine Joker," Shepard growled into Liara's shirt. "We'll be right there."

"Very dead," Garrus said.

"They had nearly a whole hour!" Joker protested. "I put it off as long as- they should be done- I mean I would-"

"Nice," Garrus drew the word out. "Way to broadcast your staying power over an open com."

"I hate you," Joker grumbled and killed the com.

Shepard stepped back, the tug inside her chest screamed as she felt the heat from Liara's body fade away. They stood before each other; Shepard's hands on Liara's waist, the asari's once again holding Shepard's face between her palms.

"You don't surrender," Liara whispered. She traced Shepard's lips with her forefinger.

"I want to," Shepard whispered back.

"No you don't," Liara replied. "You want me."

"But-"

"You," Liara kissed her human. "Want," another kiss, this one lingering just long enough for Shepard to begin leaning into it. "Me," and the third kiss curled Shepard's toes in her boots.

"Any more arguments?" Liara gasped.

"What else do I want?" Shepard whispered, her eyes were huge.

Liara stepped away, turned and began walking to the entrance of the cabin. With one hand she hooked Shepard's fingers and pulled the commander along after her.

"You want to have the rest of us beside you, where we've always been," the door hissed open and the two of them walked down the short hallway to the elevator. When the car arrived they both entered. Liara waited a moment before looking at Shepard pointedly. Her human pushed the button for the command deck.

"We're going to beat this Shepard, not you. We. The crew that rescued you, rescued us, your friends, your family," Liara paused and an old feeling of slight embarrassment caused her to blush just a bit. "Your love."

Shepard squeezed Liara's hand, "My love," she said in agreement.

"Are you ready, Shepard?" Liara asked.

"I'm still feeling very messed up, Liara."

"But are you ready, commander?"

Shepard stood, the elevator doors opened.

"Yes, yes I am," and the two of them exited the elevator.

But Shepard didn't let go of Liara's hand.

END- Cerulean: Four