Past Continued: 15 Years Post War

Shepard lingered in the doorway to her youngest daughter's room, watching Melara, who had finally fallen to sleep.

In many ways, the galaxy was a far different place than it had been before the war. In all but name, the former Council had been done away with. Now, the Council consisted of twelve members, each representing their species- human, turian, asari, salarian, volus, elcor, hanar, drell, krogan, quarian, rachni, geth. The only two missing were the batarians and the vorcha.

The batarians were few in number, and tended to be scattered. With the coming of the Reapers their people had been incredibly decimated, their Hegemony destroyed, and all but the most remote of their worlds rendered nearly uninhabitable. Less than a million of their number were now spread galaxy-wide, and they not only showed no interest in joining the Council- they sternly refused the offer when it was extended.

The vorcha were not a political or even truly a space-faring race. While they could use technology created by others, they had made no advancements beyond the bronze age on their own. They were capable of an astonishing amount of personal physical evolution- adapting to nearly any environment, including some extremely hostile- but evolution on a species-wide scale had halted a very long time ago. They had no interest in or aptitude for government or politics. Being fairly short lived, they bore no long term vision. Most vorcha you met today- even just a decade and a half away from the war- had no memory of it. It was before their time.

In rebuilding after the war, the spirit of cooperation that had drawn all their forces in to the fray had lingered. Humans were not expected to rebuild Earth alone. Asari were not left to heal the ravaged Thessia. Palaven wasn't remanded simply to the turians' own devices. Instead, everyone lent aid across the board, helping where help was needed, regardless of biology, history, or appearance.

That non-humans were beginning to nudge their way in to the Alliance painted a picture that was reflected all across Council space. It was no longer 'us' versus 'them'…but just us.

For the most part, anyway. No society was perfect. There were still mercs and slavers and those who would do anything to profit on the misery of others. Rumors were still heard of Reapers that had escaped V-Day, though the last one to be found and destroyed had fallen over nine years ago.

When she'd hear about a slaver attack on some re-establishing colony or some misery inflicted on a merchant ship by roving pirates, Del grew angry. After everything that she had fought for, such occurrences felt like a slap in the face.

That's why she'd done it, though. To save the galaxy...however screwed up it was. You couldn't save the good without saving the bad. All you could do was hope that this second chance would provide the opportunity for the bad to slowly fade away as civilization continued to mature.

This particular bad, however, had struck far too close to home. Del's head spun with everything that had happened, her chest aching with the hot anger that had so characterized her, once upon a time. Her children were good, smart, and innocent. They deserved to have their chance, their life. To threaten that, to threaten Shepard's own flesh and blood…

She realized she was clenching her hand tight enough that her short nails were digging into skin, and forced herself to relax it. Softly closing Mel's door, she headed downstairs.

Irie was still awake, sitting with Liara on the sofa and sipping slowly at some hot tea. Even as she regarded her eldest gently, Del could see the knit of Liara's brows, the tension at the corners of her mouth. Her own furious retribution would not pale in comparison to Del's. Whatever drove this 'Orthrus' gang, they had made an incredibly foolish mistake…one they would not live to regret.

Walking over to the sofa, Del sat down and looked earnestly at Irie. "You ok, kiddo?"

"I am just tired, Bába."

"I know you are," she said, then lightly touched her shoulder. "Hey, I want you to listen to me a moment, ok?"

Irie looked at her with that same solemn, wide-eyed gaze she'd had as an infant. Del met it seriously. "You were extremely brave tonight. You did everything exactly right. I know it seems that Eír came to help- and I'm grateful to her for that- but you didn't know that when she appeared. Doing what you did was clever, and it kept you safe."

Irie nodded slightly, looking pensive a moment before she asked, "Was that what it was like? Fighting in the war?"

"How was it like?" Liara asked cautiously.

"Hearing the bullets come…so close you can hear the hiss as they go past. Just…thinking from moment to moment, heart pounding…w-watching death…"

"It is hard to see someone die," Liara said, taking her daughter's hand and nodding. "I remember the first time I saw someone die violently. It is never an easy thing."

"But he wanted to hurt me, right? I-It's a good thing that he is dead. Should I not be happy?"

"Nub," Del spoke carefully, "He did want to hurt you, it's true. Had Eír not stopped him as she did, then your mother or I would have been the one to kill him, because neither of us would ever have allowed him to take you. He created that situation, sweetheart…not you. I would be far more worried about you if you were happy he was dead, if seeing such a thing didn't trouble you so deeply. You are good, and kind, and I pray with every ounce of my being that such things always upset you. So yes…it is good that he is dead, but no…you should not be happy about it. You should feel exactly as you feel."

Irie nodded faintly, then met Del's eyes again. "But that is what it was like…fighting in the war?"

"Worse," Del said softly. "At times…so much worse, Irie."

"H-How did you do it? I mean…how did you get through it?"

"Plain truth? Your Mama," Del told her. "I thought about your Mama with every bullet that went past and every soldier that fell. I knew I couldn't give up, not if I wanted to see her again. I got through it because…well, to put it simply, I didn't have a choice."

Liara had colored ever so slightly on her cheeks, her faint freckles growing a little darker. Squeezing Irie's hand she asked, "How did you get through it, sweetheart?"

Irie blinked. "Me?"

"Yes," Liara said. "You survived it, you got through. I know you were frightened but you did not let that fear consume you, did not let it stop you from acting. Why?"

Irie thought a moment, then shrugged a little. "Because I knew that you and Bába would come for me. I knew that, even if he got me to whatever shuttle or ship was waiting for us, you and Bába would never give up and you would come for me. I wanted to see you again. I…even wanted to see Mel again- but please do not tell her that."

Del smiled. "My lips are sealed, Nub. And you are right. No matter what happens, I want you to never doubt that, ok? Liara and I will always come for you."

They finally got Irie to sleep just after midnight. Del checked the complex security systems four times before Liara found her in the study, unlocking her small, reinforced armory. As she slung her machine pistols around her hips and prepped her rifle, Liara watched her.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm going to walk the perimeter, keep an eye on the house," Del said. "Eír is probably right in that they won't try anything again so soon, but I'll be fucked if so much as a rose frog comes hopping past our walls unknown tonight."

She paused and looked at her wife. "You should try getting some sleep."

"Del, you know well enough that neither you nor I will be getting any sleep tonight. I have already put out feelers on my network for any information regarding Orthrus and their motivations. I will find out who they are and what they want."

Shepard nodded, slapping a thermal clip into place on the rifle and then slinging it over her shoulder. As she neared the door Liara straightened, then reached out and gently caught her shoulder. "I think this has made up my mind, however…about Earth. I think the sooner it happens the better. I would far rather have my children in a secure Alliance military community than here. There are far too many opportunities here for this 'Orthrus' to try again, with little risk to them. At least in Sao Paolo, they will not be able to reach the children with anything less than a full battle fleet."

"We'll discuss it in depth tomorrow," Shepard said softly, then leaned in slightly and kissed her. "I've got my omni-tool and it's linked to the house alarm. I'll be watching, ok?"

"Yes," Liara replied just as softly, watching as her bondmate strode off down the hall, before she headed to her own office.

When they'd moved to Thessia, she had repurposed Osco's old lab, thoroughly gutting and then rebuilding it into the hub of her Broker network. While the majority of the equipment remained there, however, she usually accessed it from her small office. It felt far less clinical, and truth be told…less spooky. Even after the renovations, she had never felt truly comfortable in the space that Osco had once occupied. It was as if the malignant ghost of the woman continued to lurk there, watching Liara with weary malfeasance whenever her back was turned.

It was all just imagination and fancy, of course. Liara believed in a spirit, a part that went on after death, but she did not believe that they lingered on in a way most would refer to as 'ghosts'.

Reaching her consoles, she immediately began her in-depth research into Orthrus. As far as she was concerned, there was not a single corner of this galaxy where they could hide. She'd overturn every single stone if she had to, and put an end to anyone who threatened her family.

When Irie and Mel woke the next morning, the sun was well up. Del was in the kitchen…a sight that paused both the moment they saw her.

Turning her head from a pan, Del smiled. "Morning. Sit. Food will be along soon."

"What are you doing?" Mel asked.

"Making breakfast," Shepard replied. "What do you want?"

The younger T'Soni folded her arms and looked at her Bába dryly. "Mama to make breakfast."

"Ha ha. I'll have you know I cook just fine, you little pest. I just don't do it very often."

"Yes, because the rest of us know that you do not 'cook just fine', and stop you from doing so," Irie said.

"Oh, from both of you now? Keep up the attitude to the one handling your food, Precious. That's wise. Sit your butts down."

Despite the banter, it was clear that they were all exhausted and tense, remnants from the previous evening. That the two could still joke with her made Del feel a little better. It was a good sign.

She filled their plates, pausing as she put Irie's in front of her, letting her hand rest on her daughter's shoulder a moment before she drew back and returned to the counter. A moment later, Liara appeared in the door, kissing both young asari on the top of their heads, then lifting her brows.

"Who cooked?"

"Bába," Melara replied, poking at her food with a fork. "I'm not sure it's dead yet-"

"Hush, Pest…before I make you go hungry," Del said. At Liara's look she wiped her hands off on a towel. "You two eat up. Your Mama and I have to talk, and then we all need to talk, dong ma?"

"Shi a," they said simultaneously, still unenthusiastic about actually eating. Following her wife out of the kitchen, Del said nothing until they were out of ear shot.

"You found something?"

"Yes, though not nearly as much as I would have liked," Liara told her as they entered the living room. "It seems several of my agents have heard the whispered rumors of Orthrus but, much like Aria, have been unable to verify any of them conclusively. However, one bit of information that I found immediately gave me some disquiet."

"Oh?"

"Yes. Orthrus was an obscure figure in Earth-based mythology, a monster. He was a two-headed dog. More famous is his three-headed brother…Cerberus."

"Cerberus," Del echoed, her look going dark.

"Yes. I do not think that is coincidence, Shepard. The remnants of Cerberus's forces-few as they were- scattered after the Battle for Earth. Some have been tracked down and incarcerated but it is impossible to tell how many might remain, or where they might be. Those who had been…altered… by Harper's Shiva indoctrination project, have more than one reason to remain in very good hiding. Just exposing their faces would be like lighting a beacon as to their identity, thanks to the implants and biomechanical threads."

"What's left of Cerberus would definitely have motivation against me," Del said. "We might want to bring Miranda in on this."

"I have already sent her a message, and am awaiting her response," Liara replied. "It is also possible that whoever is behind this new organization deliberately named it so, in order to create a false connection with Cerberus…to mask their true trail. The link between names is obscure, but hardly impossible to make. As I said, I found it almost immediately, simply by typing the name Orthrus into the extranet search database."

"We have nothing more than this?"

"Nothing, yet…nothing verifiable or actionable, at least. I am following up on every rumor, trying to piece the matter together. Trust me, Shepard. They cannot hide from me."

Enfolding her wife in a hug, Del held to her tightly. "I do trust you, Tianlán. We'll find the fuckers and erase them, I swear."

"If anything had happened to Irie," Liara whispered against her shoulder. "To either of our babies…I do not know what I would do."

"I do. We'd tear the goddamn galaxy apart and make whoever hurt them pay."

Irie and Mel took the news that they were moving to Earth better than Liara had expected. Melara was enthusiastic from the get-go, as it meant she could attend the Alliance's Junior Academy. Irie was a bit more hesitant about leaving her school and her friends behind, but the shake-up of the previous night prevented her from being more obstinate about it than she otherwise might have been. Reassured she could still maintain contact with her friends via the extranet, and that they would return for frequent visits, her few protests quickly died- even if they weren't replaced by the same infections enthusiasm that Mel displayed.

Del called Hackett to make arrangements as Liara returned to her research into Orthrus. It didn't escape either of their children that both of their parents were now walking around the house armed, and that Del repeatedly paused to check the security system and outside cameras.

Navis came over just about noon with Dae in tow, making the three lunch before she headed up to Liara's office to help with her research. Left alone to their meal, the three young asari discussed the goings-on quietly.

"I cannot believe that you are moving because of those creeps last night," Daenys said.

"It is not because of them…not fully," Irie said. "Bába got an offer for a training position on Earth, and the Pest wants to go to the Academy there. Last night just…kind of made up their minds."

Daenys picked at her food, nodding solemnly. "It will be harder on Earth," she said. Mel looked at her.

"What do you mean?"

"Everyone will know who you are."

"Everyone knows who we are here."

"No, or else Guff would not have thought you were lying about your name," Dae said. "A lot of people here might know you, but you will be on a military base on Earth, where V-Day happened. There, everyone will. You will not be able to walk ten feet without someone recognizing you or commenting about it. And it will be even harder for you, Mel. If you go by your Bába's last name…go to classes instructed by people that fought in London with her…it is going to be every second. They will not leave you alone."

"Well, I want to go anyway," Melara told her matter-of-factly. "I want to be in the Alliance, to be a soldier like Bába. One day I'll have my own ship and I can fight to keep other people safe."

"What about your music then, Irie?" Dae asked. Irie looked at her evenly.

"You just do not want us to go," she said.

Dae scowled, an expression that Liara or Del would have noted instantly was pure Sydney…if they had been present to see it.

"Of course I do not want you to go."

"You know you will be able to see us all the time," Irie said. "It is not that long a trip from here to Earth."

"Yeah, and you can still stay with us whenever your Mama is off on work," Melara said. "It will be all right."

"Maybe," Daenys said softly, poking at her food. All she could think of was that she would be losing her two best friends…friends who were as close as sisters to her. Daenys had no sisters of her own. Navis had never shown any inclination to find another bondmate. She still looked so sad when she talked about Sydney, Dae had started to wonder if she would ever find another bondmate.

That made her sad as well. The idea that her mother would be alone for the rest of her life- an impossibly long time to any asari, let alone a fourteen year old one-was heart wrenching for Dae. She herself had never known Sydney, outside of photos and occasional recordings or stories. Still, from what she understood, her late father would not have wanted Navis to be alone, either. Not like this.

Not forever.

She had been hoping to conspire with the two T'Sonis on finding a suitable mate for Navis and prodding her that direction, but those plans were dashed with the news that they were leaving.

"I have heard some of this Orthrus," the tiny digital projection of Miranda Lawson was saying. Pardoned after V-Day for her years with Cerberus, she now headed up one of the Alliance's most prestigious think-tanks, working on advancements both in genetics and in cyberbiology. "Not much…nothing concrete. You have the list of the Cerberus operatives still unaccounted for after the war?"

"Yes, I have it here. There are only twenty or so names on this list, and I have already verified four of them are deceased."

"The real number is a bit more than that, probably closer to a hundred," Miranda said. "The Illusive Man was absorbing as many people as he could into his ranks after Shepard flipped him the proverbial finger on the Collector base, and most of those records were destroyed along with Cronos. If you can get me any samples from the remains of the mercs killed last night- especially that one your sister turned into an organic slushy- I can tell you if there are any traces of genetic enhancements or Shiva's particular brand of biomechanic threading. It won't conclusively prove that Orthrus is definitely linked to Cerberus, but it would be a very strong indicator."

"Thank you, Miranda. I appreciate that. I have feelers out all across the galaxy. It is only a matter of time before we track down the truth of this matter and what their agenda entails. In the meantime, we will be relocating to Sao Paolo on Earth. We would love to see you again."

"Consider that a guarantee, Liara. It's only a short shuttle ride from here in Newport. Let me know the moment you're groundside and I'll come calling, make a day of it. For now, I've got a thousand and one things that need doing. I'll keep you informed if I find anything else."

"Thank you, Miranda. We will see you soon."