A/N: Warning! Shmexy in the middle!
It's like…no shmexy, and then shmexy, and then no shmexy again. Like a sandwich. An awesome shmexy sandwich.
Shepard switched off the squealer with a grunt, flopping back on the bed. Impenetrable black fell over her vision again but it was more a blanket of relief than alarm.
Miranda had warned her it might be annoying, but that wasn't even approaching the truth of it. Once the initial wonder had worn off (which had taken about five minutes), Shepard found herself first irritated, then completely disgruntled with the whole mess.
Forget the fact the image was only black and white. Forget that it flashed repeatedly like a hyperactive camera, very swiftly giving her a headache. All that, she could handle. What was the most discombobulating was that the image was not really directional. As it relied on ultrasonic echoes instead of the aim of her eyes, each flash gave her a unique three hundred and sixty degree view. She could literally see in every direction…in front, behind, up, down, left right, sideways.
Liara had ended up helping her to walk just to the lift and back to her room. It was amazing how hard walking was when you were seeing both in front and behind at the same time. It was nearly impossible for her to maintain her balance and closing her eyes, of course, didn't help in the slightest.
Flopped back on her bed, once more submerged in the now comforting dark of sightlessness, Shepard felt a tug at her boot.
"Taking advantage of an invalid?" she joked.
Liara said nothing, casting the boot to the floor, and then drawing off the second one. It landed beside the first with a thump. A moment later the bed creaked faintly as Liara climbed upon it. The asari settled at her side, wrapping Del in a hug even as she rest her head on her shoulder.
Shepard wound her own arm around the asari, holding her close. Liara didn't have to speak. Shepard knew what was on her mind. She had nearly died again…actually had died, for a few moments. If not for Tali's quick thinking…
How much more pain will you end up putting Liara through? One mission, and you end up dead, remote-controlled, and then blind.
"I'm sorry," she murmured after a moment. Liara snuggled in a little more. As Shepard knew her so well, so, too, did Liara know the human woman. She did not need to ask what the apology was for.
"You would think I would be used to this by now," Liara whispered instead. "This will…it will never end, will it?"
"Yes, it will," Shepard insisted. "I gotta hope for that, Tianlán. I gotta hope for something."
"You will always fight. It is what you do, who you are," Liara told her. "I need to accept that if we are going to make this work."
Brows knitting, Shepard shifted a little onto her side. She could not see the asari's face of course, but she faced her nonetheless. Almost unconsciously the two women twined their legs together as had become their habit.
"I will do anything you ask of me," Shepard whispered to her. "Li, I'd go to the edges of the galaxy and hog-tie a Reaper, drag it back to you if you asked me for one."
The asari chuckled faintly, her fingers lightly tracing Del's cheek. "And if I asked you to forget the Reapers? To leave everything behind, to run away with me to the edges of the galaxy…?"
"Would you ask me that?" Shepard replied, knowing better.
"No," Liara admitted. "There would be no peace then, either. The Reapers would eventually find us just as they would find everyone else. Goddess…the thought of losing you frightens me to death, Shepard. I cannot imagine how I was ever complete without you in my life. However, I know what you said earlier is correct. Even if there were no threat of Collectors or Reapers…this galaxy simply is not safe, and neither of us can predict the future."
"We make our own future," Shepard told her. "If this galaxy has taught me nothing else, it's that. I want this to be a safe place for us…for our family. I know it'll never be perfect and there will always be dangers but…I want to give them a chance to be, give them a chance to grow up."
"Shepard," Liara sounded mildly surprised. "I thought you were unsure about having daughters."
"I was…I-I still am," Shepard admitted. "I still think having me as a parent will scar any of them for life, probably in horribly unimaginable ways-"
"Pah!" Liara lightly pinched her arm, and Shepard smiled.
"If it does happen, though…I may be the worst parent to have ever existed so…I want to give them something. If all I can give them is a safer galaxy and hope for the future then…that's what I'll do."
Liara nuzzled in and kissed her lightly, hand brushing over her hair. "Shepard…you are amazing and you do not even see it. Any daughter would be so proud to call you her parent, and I…could not imagine sharing a child with anyone else."
Shepard could not see, but she knew for certain that Liara had blushed at that. She leaned forward a little, kissing her again. "What did I do to deserve you?" she murmured.
"That is a very good question," Liara teased with a faint giggle, and Shepard grinned. As she kissed her again, she could feel the asari's fingers slide into the fringe of her hair…and then pause.
"Shepard…what is this?" Liara asked, having felt a tiny smooth patch. Shepard blinked, reaching her own hand up before she remembered.
"Oh, that's nothing…just a little green."
"A…a what?" Liara asked.
"It's a medication patch," Shepard told her. "A lot of marines wear them. It prevents flashbacks."
"Flashbacks?" Liara sat up on her elbow, leaning over as she parted the hair to peer at the tiny green patch. "You have been having flashbacks?"
"I had a couple…wasn't any big deal," she shrugged. "Like I said, most marines wear them. They're perfectly safe and it's a hell of a lot better than suddenly losing your mind in the middle of a firefight."
Liara made a faint, weary, lamenting sound, and Shepard drew her back down again, winding her arms around her. "It's fine," she insisted again. "I've had PTSD a very long time. It's practically a requirement in the Alliance military."
Liara sighed. "It is official. I simply cannot let you out of my sight, ever again."
"Aww," Shepard grinned. "Promise?"
Barley had the kiss rejoined then suddenly the com chimed. Shepard groaned faintly, reluctantly drawing back a little as she called out, "Yes?"
{Commander, sorry to bother you,} Kelly stated. {You have a message from Admiral Hackett, ma'am…I really think you should see it.}
"Hackett?" Shepard murmured in puzzlement. The two women sat up as Shepard fumbled for her squealer, switching it back on. The room suddenly flashed into her vision again, as disconcertingly panoramic as before. Liara rose as well, swiftly catching hold of Shepard's arm as she weaved her way over to her console, logging in.
Grimacing at the holographic screen she sighed in frustration as she realized she could not actually read it…the whole image was static white, since holographs did not bounce sound waves back. Reaching up she snapped off her squealer with an irritated flick of her finger.
"This goddamn thing is useless. Tianlán, can you read it to me?"
Liara shifted closer as she leaned over to read.
"Commander Shepard," she began, "I received this communication address from Councilor Anderson. He was able to fill me in on your unique…situation, and that you were reinstated to your Spectre status by the Citadel Council."
She paused a moment, then her voice softened a little. "It is good to know you are still alive, and I wanted to affirm that you still have friends in the Alliance. That being said, I would like to extend an invitation. Shortly after the Normandy went down, we located her wreckage on Alchera. At the time the planet's territorial rights were being disputed and we could not obtain permission for a salvage operation. Now, I am happy to say, the volus have secured their water and carbon extraction rights to the planet and will allow us access. They have also, rather unexpectedly, requested that the remains stay undisturbed as a memorial of the incident. It seems, Shepard, that you're rather popular among the volus in the Terminus. As always, you make allies in the strangest of places. We have agreed to their request, and a small ceremony will be held on Alchera the day after tomorrow. We would like your attendance if possible. The volus have granted you permission to tour the wreckage, and a memorial plaque will be put into place."
Shepard lowered her head, unseeing eyes even more distant as Liara concluded. "I hope you are able to attend. I know your work is important but…if nothing else, it will be good to see you again. Keep safe out there, and we look forward to having you back home. Best regards, Admiral Steven Hackett."
The Normandy. Shepard felt…she wasn't entirely sure what it was she felt. Hackett's expression of support meant everything to her. Like Anderson, she had always looked up to the man, respected him and his ideals. He had become something of a mentor and confidante over the years.
However visiting the Normandy's wreck meant returning to the place where she had died…the place where her world and life had been completely torn apart.
"What will you do?" Liara asked softly, her hand resting on Shepard's upper arm. The commander lowered her head slightly, then raked her hair back from her face.
"Will you stay?" she asked quietly.
"Of course," Liara replied. Shepard nodded once, then lifted her head.
"Open com. Joker, set a course for Alchera and give me a trip-time ETA."
{Aye Commander…we're looking at…about thirty hours.}
"Do it. Shepard out."
{Aye ma'am.}
As the com switched off, Shepard turned and wrapped her arms around Liara, hugging her tightly.
Blue fingers lightly traced the outline of a hibiscus flower drawn in colorful pigmentation over the slope of a shoulder blade. Half asleep, Sydney peered blearily up at the asari from under a lock of honey blonde hair.
"You like the new one?" she mumbled, face half-buried in a pillow.
"It is very delicate," Navis approved. "And it blends in well with the others. What is this flower called?"
"Hibiscus," Sydney mumbled. "It's native to Earth."
"Remind me some day to show you a bloom of asari yellow death."
"You have a flower called 'yellow death?'" Sydney asked.
"Oh yes," Navis purred, continuing to trace along the lines of her tattoos. "It is the most beautiful of blooms…blue along the edges, deepening to black at the center. It is said to catch sight of the flower at the same time as another causes the pair to fall eternally in love."
Sydney grunted a laugh. "If it's pretty and blue, why is it called the 'yellow death?'"
Navis smiled, leaning over a little and planting a gentle kiss in the center of the hibiscus marking. "Its thorns are poisonous," she murmured, tracing her teeth and lips lightly over the skin until she could see Sydney's flesh prickling. "If you attempt to pick one without protection, you will be pricked and become very ill. The bloom itself, when dried and crushed, mixes invisibly and tastelessly into drink and causes swift death. Very shortly after the victim succumbs to it, the whites of her eyes turn a vibrant and startling yellow…and so its name."
Sydney's eyes closed as Navis traced her lips over her tattoo, uttering a happy little sigh. "You know, you are the only person I know who tries to romance by talking about poisons and death."
"Is that what I'm doing?" Navis teased. "Romancing? I thought this was just another tumble, my dear. I'm afraid I've even already forgotten your name-"
Sydney uttered a squawk of pretend indignation, rolling and pushing the asari onto her back. "Is that so? I-"
She was cut off as her omni-tool suddenly beeped. With a faint eye-roll she noted the caller. A flower appeared hovering over the display.
"Conroy," Sydney chuckled. Grinning evilly, Navis half sat up and began biting lightly at the side of the human woman's neck.
"A flower? Should I be jealous? Is Joseph vying to take my place?"
"Joseph flirts with everyone, you know that," Sydney told her, then activated the connection -audio only- as Navis continued to try and distract her.
"What is it, Conroy?" Sydney asked with a smirk. "I'm in the middle of having wild sex with Navis, you know."
"And you didn't invite me?" Joseph faked sounding wounded, then laughed. "Hello, Deirdre."
"Hello, Joseph," Deeds called back.
"Hurry it up would you? I have an asari to conquer," Sydney giggled.
"Just wanted to pass on that the first of the supplies are arriving and we should be ready to start on that new gun within the next couple of hours."
"Understood. We'll be out…uh…eventually."
"Don't hurry on my account," he laughed. "Now I'm off to check on the inventory list and take about four cold showers. My heart is forever broken, Syd, I just want you to know that!"
"Uh huh, how tragic, enjoy your shower," Sydney replied quickly, then switched off the omni-tool, pushing Navis back on the bed with a switchblade grin. "Now…where were we?"
Liara sat in the mess, stirring a cup of tea and occasionally glancing toward the infirmary door. Chakwas and Mordin had worked for several hours the previous day on poor David, delicately removing the implants and repairing the damage caused by his brother's hubris. He was still unconscious as far as she knew…and another surgery was going to be performed this evening to continue the work after he'd had a chance to stabilize a bit.
Right now, Chakwas was taking a much needed nap while Mordin and Miranda replaced Shepard's damaged eyes with the newly-calibrated cybernetic ones.
I am glad that she is still having another pair of her own cloned, she thought to herself, staring into the depths of her tea. She loved Shepard's eyes. The way they remained unwavering when she issued an order, the way they narrowed when she decided a course of action and set her stubbornness to the fore. Most of all, Liara loved the way they softened and seemed to melt when Shepard looked at her. So many unspoken words were in that deep brown gaze. They were a window to a world that most people would never be honored enough to see.
Mordin had assured them both that he was nearly finished with a counter-measure that would not only adjust the nanites in a way so as not to cause Shepard debilitating pain when confronted with the mysterious Harbinger's voice, but also to prevent any sort of AI or hacking attempt from ever occurring again, no matter how sophisticated the technology.
Liara tried not to see the memory of Shepard's brightly glowing emerald eyes in her mind, taking a sip of her tea before someone suddenly sat down in front of her. The motion was not casual or gentle, but was rather pointed with a sharp scoot of a chair, the drop of weight into it.
She glanced up to see an unfamiliar human woman straddling the now backward chair. Her head was shaved, and the arms draping over the back of the seat she had claimed were thickly tattooed. Liara could see similar tattoos on the side of her neck, and even one or two on her bare head.
She was small, but lovely enough. She smelled of cigarettes and engine grease, but unlike the pleasant autumnal tinge of Del's cigars, the woman clearly indulged in cheap tobacco smokes that left a darker, more bitter aroma.
After a single blink, she realized who this must be. Jack…the biotic Shepard had taken from that hell of a prison. She had mentioned her a few times but the woman rarely ventured outside of her sub-deck hidey hole, and as a result they had not met.
Before Liara could speak, the ex-con jerked her chin a little. "You're that asari," she stated. "The commander's girl."
"I am Liara T'Soni," she replied politely. "The…commander and I are involved, yes. You are…Jack?"
The woman gave another jerk of her chin, uttering a faint grunt that Liara took to mean an affirmative. Feeling a little awkward, Liara cleared her throat a bit.
"Are you…enjoying your time on the Normandy?" she asked.
The biotic snorted. "Beats fucking jail," she replied. "And I get to hit shit, so…yeah. I like it well enough."
Liara couldn't help the faint smile. Jack sounded like Shepard. "She has told me some about you," she admitted. Jack's eyebrow arched and her jaw tensed as she sat back a little. Liara immediately recognized the posture as being defensive.
"Oh yeah?" Jack asked.
"Yes," Liara replied. "She likes you a great deal, I think. I could hear admiration when she spoke of you."
Jack looked wary. "The fuck you did."
There was a time when a woman like Jack would have intimidated her completely. However Liara had faced far more frightening things in the last couple of years than a bitter human biotic.
"I did," Liara repeated. "I suppose she identifies with you. I can see why. You both have the same…inner fire, I suppose. You are both fighters."
Jack gave her that wary look again, but said nothing for a few moments. Liara quietly sipped her tea, her eyes lifting toward her companion again when Jack cleared her throat.
"You known her a long time, then?" the ex-con ventured.
"Two and a half years…give or take," Liara replied.
"She surprised me," Jack told her. "I can't figure her out."
"There are few like her," Liara agreed. "Though sadly I must say, I have ceased being surprised by her…no. No, that is not quite it. I have become accustomed to being surprised by her, is more what I mean."
"Really?" Jack grunted. "So nothing I tell you about her will surprise you?"
"I highly doubt it."
"I kissed her," Jack answered as if tossing down a challenge. Liara looked at her, then lifted her tea again, taking another calm sip before lowering it.
"I am guessing about four seconds passed before she put you on the ground," she stated. Jack blinked.
"What makes you think she did that?"
"I know her," Liara replied simply. When Jack said nothing she lifted a brow. "So…four seconds?"
"More like two," Jack admitted. "I thought that's what she fucking wanted, you know? Everyone in this goddamn galaxy wants something. No one's 'nice'. There's always a price, sooner or later. I like knowing what it is up front. Gives me the advantage. I thought I finally had her figured…but it just pissed her off."
"If Del wants something from you, Jack, she will tell you. She does not play games."
"All she's told me is she wants my help with the mission, that's it. That's bullshit. She doesn't need to be buddy buddy for that."
"What is it you wish me to say?" Liara asked.
"Fuck, I don't know," Jack huffed. "No one's just ever been…nice to me."
"Then you have been meeting a very poor selection of people," Liara replied. Jack actually blinked, then barked a laugh.
"Ain't that the fucking truth."
"Jack, I will not pretend to know everything about you. I know only that you have experienced a lot of pain, a lot of anger. You have become understandably suspicious of people, defensive. You have learned to protect yourself. I can, however, tell you this. Whether you like her or not, whether you trust her or not, you are part of Shepard's crew, and if it comes down to it, she will put her life on the line to protect yours."
"Why?" Jack wanted to know, a scowl on her face.
Liara looked down into her tea, resigned. "You may as well ask a star why it burns, or the wind why it blows. It is who she is, and nothing will ever change it."
"All right, Shepard, how does that feel?" Miranda asked, a finger lightly drifting over the edge of the other woman's eyelid.
"A…little tender," she answered. "Like they're bruised, but not too bad."
"That tenderness should go away in a few hours," Miranda told her. "All right. Brace yourself. I'm going to activate the implants now. You'll hear a momentary buzz, and might get a sensation of vertigo. Let me know instantly if there is any pain whatsoever."
"Ok," Shepard replied. She heard Miranda pick up some kind of tool, then the faintest buzz sounded before the dark suddenly vanished, leaping into full color around her.
She blinked, then blinked again, the sudden rush disorienting for a split second. Miranda set aside the tool in her hand and peered intently into Shepard's face. "Can you see me?"
"Yeah," Shepard grinned. "Full color and everything."
"You'll notice everything has a bit of an…effect to it. Unfortunately, even the most advanced cybernetic eyes can't compete perfectly with the real thing."
Shepard nodded, looking around. She did indeed notice a faint effect, as Miranda had called it. It was as if she were in the midst of an incredibly life-like 3D projection instead of actual reality. For a moment she thought if she looked closely enough at an object she'd be able to see its pixels, and nearly chuckled at the idea.
"No pain?" Miranda asked.
"None," Shepard told her. "Can…I see them?"
"Of course."
Miranda straightened and accepted a mirror as Mordin offered it, clearly having anticipated the request. Shepard accepted it, then peered curiously at her own image within.
The lids of her eyes were slightly reddened. To be expected, of course, after having major surgery to remove her own eyes. She looked like she'd been crying for a while, or had a bit of an allergy attack.
It was strange, however, to see her own face and not see the familiar dark, brooding brown gazing back at her.
The implants were notably different than normal human eyes. The 'whites' had a silvery sheen to them, faint but obviously artificial. The irises of the implants were dark gold and marred by four pupils on each eye. The center pupil shifted and narrowed almost like a camera's lens, and it was surrounded by three tinier pupils in a triangular shape, which helped with depth perception and color balance. Each pupil was ringed with dark crimson, the apertures of the pupils themselves faintly luminescent with blood red.
"I look demonic," she noted, then smirked at the idea, watching the way the iris and pupils shifted and moved, sometimes even completely rotating to one side or the other as the electronics altered focus.
"Your cloned replacements should be ready in a few weeks," Miranda told her. "Unless you'd like to just keep these and continue looking…demonic."
Shepard laughed. "Tempting…but no. My baby browns are my best feature."
"Unlikely," Mordin replied. "Human females, best feature tends to be hair, followed closely by shape of gluteal muscle groups and mammary-"
"Mordin!" Miranda snapped, making the salarian blink.
"What? Incorrect? Doubtful. Did years of research, different species find different traits desirable. Humans almost galactically prefer-"
"I know what humans 'galactically' prefer, Mordin," Miranda interrupted again.
"Simply stating facts. Shepard's gluteal muscles nicely formed and-"
"Please stop talking about my ass," Shepard told him sternly as Miranda gaped at him.
Mordin blinked again. "Oh. Right. Forgot. Humans touchy on subject of secondary sex characteristics and specifics of biological imperative to mate. Fascinating. Wonder if there is a similar aversion to other biological functions? Urination, defecation-"
"Mordin, I will surgically remove your tongue!" Miranda threatened as Shepard started laughing. The salarian blinked again.
"Ah. Answers that. Well. Have other work to do. Can discuss oddity of human foibles at a later time."
As Mordin left, Shepard grinned at Miranda, still chuckling. The brunette scowled a bit, before cracking a smile in response. "Sometimes I can't tell if that man is actually joking or completely serious," she admitted.
"I vote joking," Shepard told her. "I think Mordin's just got a unique sense of humor. I find that more comforting an idea than him staring at my ass as part of a study on the 'secondary sex characteristics of alien species'."
Miranda chuckled again, shaking her head. "Well, if you're feeling steady enough you're free to go. We should be in orbit of Alchera in about an hour."
Shepard nodded, but as she got to her feet, her XO's expression turned to one of concern. "Shepard…are you sure you want to do this? See the old Normandy, I mean? That can't be an easy thing to face."
"Nothing about life is easy," Shepard replied. "Or death. A part of me needs to see it, I think. Get some closure, clear my head. That's what I'm hoping, anyway."
Miranda nodded, then put her hand on her commander's shoulder a moment, before letting it drop away again. "Just…let me know if you have any problem with the implants, all right?"
"I will," Shepard smiled, then headed for the infirmary door.
If nothing else, it was a relief not to be seeing in flashes or with that strange disorienting panoramic view.
As she left the infirmary she immediately spotted Liara in the mess…and she was talking to Jack? A bit surprised, she headed that direction, the asari swiftly catching sight of her. Immediately Liara rose to her feet and strode over, peering at her curiously.
"Well, what do you think?" Shepard asked with a smile.
"I…they are…interesting," Liara commented, looking unsure. "I think I much prefer your natural eyes, however."
"Yeah, me too," Shepard agreed, then shrugged. "Still. They beat that awful fucking squealer, that's for damn sure."
"Hey, Shepard. Looking wicked," Jack noted from where she was sitting.
"Not all of us are awesome enough for tattoos, Jack…I had to compete somehow," Shepard replied. Jack gave her an odd look, then surprisingly, smiled. It was a bit sarcastic, but a smile nonetheless.
"Ain't that fucking right," Jack agreed. Shepard smirked, then looked at Liara.
"You two having a good talk?"
"Yes," Liara said honestly. "She was telling me about kissing you."
Shepard suddenly coughed, taken by surprise, her newly implanted eyes widening. "She did?"
"Yes," Liara repeated, then smiled. "And I correctly surmised that you knocked her down seconds later."
Shepard rubbed the back of her neck, then gestured helplessly. "Well, since you didn't tie each other into biotic knots I take it you're not mad."
"Why would I be angry?" Liara asked. "I know where your heart lies and…who can blame her?"
"Uh, yeah," Shepard replied, then blinked and smirked. "You're teasing me again."
Liara only laughed. Hugging her tightly, Shepard kissed her cheek, then reluctantly loosened her hold. "I have to get up to the CIC. We should be at Alchera within the hour and I'm sure there's a thousand and one things that need my attention. I've been lazy the last couple of days."
"I think nearly dying and losing your eyesight earns you a day or two of rest, Shepard," Liara pointed out.
"Yeah, well…I keep it up and I'm going to lose my girlish figure. You two have a good talk, ok? I'll see you before we go groundside."
"We will," Liara replied, then closed her eyes as Shepard leaned in again and gently kissed her cheek.
"Jesus fuck, get a room or something before I vomit," Jack snorted. Shepard lifted a brow, then grinned. Dramatically flinging her arms around Liara she dipped her low and kissed her deeply. As she swept the surprised asari back upright, Jack huffed.
"God, Shepard! If I get a cavity I'm going to fuck you up."
The achingly blue sky was as chill and sharp as ice, and seemed to crystallize where it joined the horizon. Hackett drew the collar of his thick pea coat closer around his ears as he turned his head, the sound of engines cutting the crisp air.
He fought a grimace as he caught sight of the Cerberus logo on the side of the shuttle. He'd had more than one bad dealing with Cerberus before, up to and including the so called 'mysterious' disappearance of Kahoku.
Shepard's got a cast-iron gut, being able to stomach working with them, even temporarily, he thought. Even if Anderson hadn't told him the truth of the matter, Hackett would never have believed for a second that Shepard had defected to Cerberus, willingly or not. Taking advantage of them for their resources in order to help human colonies…that he could easily buy, and if he knew Shepard at all, he knew that when this was said and done with Shepard would do her utmost to hand the Alliance the Illusive Man on a gilt platter.
As the shuttle moved in and settled, the wind from the engines blasted fine snow and ice crystals over the ground, sending them whispering over his boots as he strode forward. When the door lifted, he squinted his eyes, then drew up straight.
Shepard was the first one out, stepping down to the frozen ground with a light hop, gathering her own pea coat around her as the chill struck. Hackett was surprised at the depth of feeling that moved through his chest for a moment at seeing her again.
Hackett wasn't normally an emotional man. He had family…an ex-wife he was still on amicable terms with, a grown son. However like most military men and women it was the people he served with that somehow became his true family, and of them all Shepard was something special.
He still remembered the first time he saw the young recruit, and how she had sacrificed getting the high score on a timed combat run in order to carry a slower team-mate to over the finish line, refusing to let him scrub out because of a broken ankle.
That's a soldier, he had thought then, and he thought it again now as she stepped down from shuttle to tundra. She wasn't wearing a uniform, and her standing in the Alliance was in limbo at the moment, but the woman was a soldier through and through. Seeing her again was like seeing a long-lost daughter returning home.
Almost the moment her boots landed on the frozen ground she straightened and snapped a salute. He returned it, then smiled, holding his hand out as he strode forward. She took it and slapped his back lightly as he hugged her.
"It's good to see you again, sir."
"It's good to see you, too," he replied, then nodded politely to the asari that stepped down as well. "Dr. T'Soni."
"Admiral Hackett," she greeted warmly, her breath billowing faintly in the cold air.
"I was under the impression it was summer in this hemisphere of Alchera," Shepard smirked, tucking her hands into the pockets of the coat. "It's a good thing we took Miranda's suggestion and brought winter coats."
"This is summer," Hackett smirked. "If it were winter it'd be a hundred degrees colder and the wind would blow you clear off your feet."
Turning, he gestured to the few Alliance soldiers gathered nearby, interspersed with a handful of volus, squat and round in their environmental suits. "The wreckage is about a mile from here. It's in the shelter of a cliff-side which is why those winds haven't scattered it to all the four corners of this godforsaken place. It's half-frozen into the tundra now and nothing save a major disaster, or major explosives, is ever going to move it again. I was surprised when the volus expressed interest in preserving it and turning it into a memorial."
"I'm a bit surprised myself," Shepard answered. "I don't recall what I could have done to make such an impression with the volus."
"Well, you do intend to leave an impression wherever you go," Hackett said. "The mining company that has resource rights to this planet is headed by that fellow there. He and his son made the trip down just to meet you and attend the ceremony."
Hackett pointed out a pair of volus standing near a crawler, even as they headed that direction. As they approached, the two caught sight of them and started their direction as well.
"Commander Shepard," the first greeted, offering his hand up. His voice was deep, dignified…but unfamiliar. "It is my honor to finally meet you."
"The honor is mine," Shepard replied, taking the hand and shaking it. "I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage…?"
"I am sorry, I have heard so much about you I felt as if we were old friends already. My name is Merv Etat. I believe you are acquainted with my son, Yoh."
He gestured to the second volus, who bobbed a sketchy bow as Shepard looked at him in surprise.
"Yoh…yes, I remember you!"
"It's good to see you again, Commander," Yoh chirped, then sighed heavily. "The lovely Ms. Williams did not come, I see…more's the pity."