Chapter 18

Shepard stepped into the comm room with a smile that had persisted since they had left Thessia. Even an incoming call from Admiral Hackett wasn't enough to subdue his elation. He stopped at the console and straightened his posture before tapping the blinking "Receive Call" button. After a few seconds a flash of blue static erupted and formed the shape of the admiral as he stood with his hands crossed behind his back. Shepard snapped an instinctive salute.

"At ease, Commander," Hackett ordered as he returned the salute. "It's good to see you."

Shepard smiled with a nod. "You too, sir."

"How's your mission progressing?" Hackett's signal blinked slightly.

"Good. We're preparing to leave Thessia now."

"Thessia?" Hackett raised a brow.

The commander chuckled. "We've made a few stops."

"Then I'm glad I caught you at a good time. I thought you might want an update on the situation back on the home front."

"Absolutely, sir," Shepard replied, still smiling.

Hackett paused briefly. "You seem rather chipper today, Commander."

Shepard nodded. "Well I feel chipper, sir. Today was the best day I've had in a long time."

Admiral Hackett nodded with a small smile. "If anyone deserves a good day it's you. Now, I've got a few items I'd like to fill you in on. First and foremost is that fleet amalgamation we discussed."

"Any news?" Shepard inquired hopefully.

"We pushed it through. The first ships are going to be transferred to Citadel Command in just a few hours," Hackett stated proudly.

Shepard let out a massive sigh of relief. "Good... I wasn't looking forward to the political backlash if that had failed."

"You and me both, Commander."

Shepard crossed his arms behind his back. "How's the situation on Earth?"

Hackett raised a hand to his chin. "It depends on what part of the situation you're interested in. The fight is nearly over. We're only finding pockets of resistance scattered around; it's nothing that we can't handle easily. The hard is just beginning, though. Reconstruction will take a long time."

"Is it that bad?" Shepard's smile lowered slightly.

"I don't need to tell you the amount of destruction we faced. It'll be years before Earth can call itself rebuilt. But it will happen," Hackett declared. "And, by the way, a burial ceremony for Admiral Anderson will be held in a few weeks. Just thought you'd like to know."

Shepard gave a bittersweet smile. "Thank you, sir. I'll be there."

Hackett adjusted his posture. "That's all I've got, Commander. If you have any questions I'd be more than happy to answer what I can."

The commander shook his head. "No, sir. But thanks for giving me the call."

Hackett snapped a tight salute. "Of course, Commander. Good luck on the rest of your assignment."

Shepard saluted in return. "Thank you, sir."

The admiral nodded. "Hackett out."

Hackett's image blurred and snapped out of sight as he turned and walked out of his own comm room. Shepard reached for the panel and terminated the call before turning and making his way into the war room. He glanced to the galaxy map briefly, but continued on toward the CIC. He nodded a hello to Specialist Traynor before stopping at the elevator. As he stepped in he reached for the button that would take him up to his cabin, only to change his mind and order the elevator down to the engineering deck. There was a certain prothean that he needed to speak to before he could retire for the evening.

Commander Shepard waited as the door to Javik's chamber slid apart. It was unlocked, as always. As he stepped into the room he saw the prothean standing at a workbench on the opposite wall. His back faced the door as he leaned over a holopad and tapped the scroll bar on the side of the screen. Shepard stopped only a few steps in and crossed his arms.

"Commander."

Javik did not look up as he acknowledged Shepard's presence.

"Javik."

The commander stood in place as he responded to the acknowledgment without another word. He waited as the prothean continued cycling through whatever he was reading on the datapad. After nearly a minute Javik finally powered off the screen and turned to face Shepard. He stood straight and into Shepard's eyes expectantly, waiting for the commander to speak.

"Why are you here," Javik asked in his demanding tone.

Shepard smirked slightly. "You really don't care for the formalities, do you?"

"I do not see the point. And you did not answer my question."

The commander nodded softly. "I have a question for you, actually. If that's alright." The prothean nodded for him to continue. "What happened back there on Thessia?"

Javik narrowed his eyes slightly. "Elaborate. We fought efficiently and effectively, yet your choice of words indicates dissatisfaction."

"Exactly. We found a battle, but you followed us to a park. You went off and sat alone for hours. Why?" The commander eyed him curiously.

The prothean gave a grunt and crossed his arms. He stayed silent as his gaze slowly drifted toward the floor. "Because... you were right."

"About what?"

"The Reapers are gone. We have defeated them." He paused briefly. "Has my purpose been fulfilled?"

Shepard blinked in surprise at the honesty in his voice. "I don't think I can answer that, Javik. If you're the Avatar of Vengeance, you should be asking yourself that question. Have you avenged your people?"

The prothean continued to stare downward as he thought to himself. "Have I? We have defeated the Reapers. I do not know what else is required of me."

"Maybe that's it. It might be time for you to find a new purpose."

Javik looked up to the commander. "I have known nothing but war for my entire existence, but you... you were born free from conflict and chose this life. Is it possible to return?"

"There was never a time when conflict was the sole aspect of my life. The world and people outside of the battlefield are just as important as the fight to save them. More so, in my opinion." Shepard shrugged. "The empire you fought for is gone. Maybe it's time to find something new to fight for."

"But what is there to fight for in this cycle? I know little of it."

"Then find out about it. Maybe that's your answer," Shepard suggested.

The prothean stood in silence as he collected his thoughts. Shepard watched him, waiting for a response. After a minute or so had passed the commander nodded and turned back to the door.

"Thank you, Commander," Javik finally spoke as Shepard opened the door. "I will think this over."

Shepard glanced back over his shoulder and gave him a nod before heading onward to the elevator. As he stepped into the car EDI's voice rang out.

"That was very altruistic of you, Shepard."

He glanced up. "How so?"

"Javik has never been the most pleasant member of the crew and yet you still help him when he is need. Many would not have the tolerance to do so."

"Pleasant or not, Javik's a member of the crew. If he needs help he gets it," the commander reached forward and ordered the car to ascend to his cabin.

"I hope he finds what he is looking for."

"Yeah. Me too."

Shepard waited as the elevator arrived at the top of the ship as the door slowly slid apart. He stepped out and to the door of his cabin, waiting once again as the security quickly checked his ID. Once the doors had opened he stepped into his cabin with a long, tired sigh while making his way to the stairs. As he stepped down into the living area he looked to the couch to see Liara holding a holopad at her side while she smiled up to him. Seeing her smile brought one back to his face as he crossed the room and dropped onto the couch. He leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.

"So are you working on Broker intel or making a list of baby names?" Shepard asked with a grin.

Liara smiled softly. "Neither... I'm looking at some old photos."

Shepard raised a brow. "Oh? Well you've gotta show me."

She set the datapad on her lap and turned the screen on. The holopad showed the picture of a breathtaking mountaintop vista. Shepard quickly recognized the flora from their trip to Palaven just a few days either. In the center of the picture was a much younger Liara, smiling as she stood next to Matriarch Benezia. As he gazed down at the photo he realized that he had never seen a picture of Benezia before she had been indoctrinated. The smile on her face as she stood with Liara was touching, to say the least.

"Vacation picture?" Shepard inquired.

Liara smiled. "Something like that. Goddess, I look so young! I mustn't have been a day over forty."

Shepard smirked. "I don't think you realize how bizarre that sounds to a human."

She laughed softly. "I suppose not." She continued gazing at the picture with a soft smile.

"What brought on the desire for old pictures?" The commander looked to her, watching her eyes as they slowly scanned the photo.

"It might sound cliche, but I've been thinking a lot about motherhood recently. I hope... I can be as good of a mother as mine was to me." Her voice softened as she finished.

"Already worried about that?" Shepard grinned and rubbed her back encouragingly. "We've still got months to prepare for the kid. Then we worry about being good parents."

Liara finally tore her gaze from the photo and looked to Shepard with a smirk. "Months? Asari gestation lasts for nearly two years, you know."

Shepard blinked and nodded slowly. "Oh... of course."

Liara grinned. "Don't worry, it'll be done before you know it." The asari turned off the datapad and planted a kiss on his cheek.

Shepard shook his head with a smile. "Yeah. Sure it will."

"So," Liara began. "Where are we headed now?"

The commander stood and walked to his dresser, talking as he did so. "Omega. Got an "invitation" for drinks from Aria T'Loak."

Liara raised a brow. "Oh?"

Shepard chuckled as he pulled off his casual fatigues shirt. "She says she owes me. I'm hoping it's just for the whole Reaper thing."

Liara grinned as she watched him remove his shoes and return to the couch. "Aria T'Loak, Justicar Samara, the Shadow Broker... you must have a thing for powerful asari, Shepard."

He laughed and sat himself next to her once again. "I think Councilor Tevos is fond of my work as well, if you can count that."

Liara slapped his arm softly with a smile. "Alright, alright. Mine was joke. Now you're just making me jealous."

Shepard smiled and took her hand in his. "You shouldn't be. You're everything I could ever want, and more. I love you, Liara."

She smiled and gave his hand a soft squeeze. "I love you, too."

Author's Note

I've got a lot of time for writing this week so I might have a new chapter for both Moments of Rest and Contingent Absolution up by the weekend.

(Don't hold me to that.)

Hope you enjoyed the read!