Chapter 72 - Aftereffects
In the War Room, they shake hands with Primarch Adrien Victus, one last time. "Our transport ships have begun picking up the promised krogan troops from Tuchanka," he says, looking grateful and relieved. "Urdnot Wrex has kept his end of the bargain, and so I will keep mine. The turian hierarchy will stand with humanity against the Reapers."
"You have seen for yourself that our only chance is to stand together," Shepard replies, feeling a tiny bit of encouragement from this formal offer of support.
"Agreed, Commander. To that end, several dry-dock ships stand ready to help build the Crucible," the Primarch continues. "I have already discussed it with Vakarian. He will be responsible for coordinating these resources."
"Having him here will make logistics easier, that is an excellent idea," Morgan nods.
"And when the time comes to deploy the Prothean weapon, the full measure of our fleet will be there for Earth," the Primarch says.
Or what's left of our homeworld, Shepard realizes, seeing the same thought in Primarch's eyes. "The Systems Alliance is grateful for your support, Primarch Victus," she speaks, nodding as the turian turns around and leaves, heading for the shuttle to take him back down to the surface of Menae, where the battle is still going on as fierce as on Shepard's previous visit to turian space.
As Shepard watches the Primarch leave, wondering if she will ever see the turian again, Matriarch Aethyta saunters up to her noiselessly, the usually enigmatic expression on her face. "The summit appears to have concluded," she says. "The pretext for my presence on the Normandy is no longer valid, and the matriarchs expect me to report back to them. An asari transport will be picking me up at the first opportunity, I have passed the coordinates for rendezvous spot to your pilot."
"You must be pleased with what you achieved here," Morgan remarks. "Did Liara tell you what Wrex said?"
"She did. Wrex is such a softie for a krogan. Not a grumpy old bastard like my dad was," Aethyta chuckles, but then her smile fades. "What I'm hearing from Thessia... we might need his aid sooner than I anticipated. The reports paint a brutal picture."
"And you're going back to Thessia?" Morgan asks.
"I must," Aethyta replies. "At this rate the matriarchs will give in to panic soon, unless someone like me is there to sort things out and keep everything orderly."
"I trust you will be careful," Morgan says, feeling deeply worried. "I want the three of us to sit down after this war is over and have a few drinks, mixed by my favorite matriarch."
"That's sweet, babe. I'll hold you to that," the asari smiles. "And I'll be fine, worry not for me. And promise to keep my kid safe, alright?"
"Yes, ma'am!" Shepard snaps off a salute.
"Now I need to find her and tell her that I'm leaving... screw this, I hate these kind of talks," the matriarch curses, before turning to depart. "Take care of yourself too, babe, and don't get stepped on by a Reaper, alright? Liara would be upset, and I won't have that, is that clear?"
"Aye, aye, ma'am!" Shepard salutes again, smiling, as Aethyta leaves her alone in the War Room.
"I understand you are leaving," Liara's voice is barely a whisper as she slides into the Normandy's lounge, looking at Aethyta's packed belongings.
"And I am sure you understand my reasons for it," Aethyta replies, standing at the bar and mixing herself one last drink on the Normandy. "Heh, I thought you would be relieved, with me always poking my nose into your affairs!"
"I don't want you to go, dad," Liara sighs. "But I've learned that what I want is not always what I can get."
"They need me back on the homeworld, kid," Aethyta smiles serenely. "Things are a bit rough right now..."
"I've heard..." Liara swiftly moves up to her father, embracing her. "Please, dad... be careful. I can't lose you now, after I've just found you..."
"You're making a suicide run at a Reaper, and you're telling me to be careful?" Aethyta shakes her head, incredulous. "Seriously, you kids these days have a lot of nerve..."
Liara chuckles weakly in her father's shoulder. "Okay, I will promise to be careful, if you will," she says, pulling back.
"Fine, fine," Aethyta manages, awkwardly patting her on the back. "By the way, kid... I, uh... called a few friends. Commandos. Eclipse girls who owe me some favors. They're all yours. Just... tell them where to go."
"You... you're giving me... asari commandos?" Liara blinks, looking at Aethyta in disbelief.
"Well, I figured you're too old for me to buy you a damned pony," Aethyta manages a grin, suddenly finding herself squeezed tight in a ferocious embrace.
"Oh dad..." Liara says, overwhelmed to the brink of tears. "You're the best father a girl could wish for..."
"All right, my turn," Garrus says, standing next to Joker's seat on the bridge. "What's the first order an Alliance commander gives at the start of the combat?"
"Uh..." Joker pauses for a moment, thinking. "I give up."
"Correct!" the turian exclaims.
"Right... my turn," Joker says, chuckling. "What's the hardest part about treating a turian who took a rocket to one side of his face?"
"Figuring out which side took the rocket," Garrus sighs in reply.
"Yeah, I could never tell with Garrus, not to this very day," Shepard chooses to reveal herself then, stepping up to the others, laughing. "Shouldn't you be in the medbay, anyway?" she gives the turian a long stare.
"Probably," Garrus shrugs. "But you know how Dr. Chakwas can get. Besides, what she doesn't know, won't hurt me..."
Shepard chuckles, dropping her stare. "Well, go on with your jokes then, don't let me ruin your fun!"
"As you wish," Garrus mock-bows to her, before continuing. "Let's see... how many humans does it take to activate a dormant mass relay?"
"602. 600 to vote on it, one to ask asari for technical help, and one to request a seat on the Council afterwards..." Joker replies with a deep sigh.
"That last guy sounds like Udina to me," Shepard adds once she has finished laughing. She turns to the uncharacteristically silent EDI, sitting in the co-pilot's seat. "You usually enjoy good jokes, EDI, is something the matter?"
"I am analyzing recent reports from Admiral Anderson," EDI replies after a small delay. "It appears that the Reapers on Earth are broadcasting orders. They are demanding human leaders enter their superstructures to 'negotiate peace'."
The cheerful and humorous atmosphere on the bridge evaporates instantly. "Negotiate peaceful indoctrination, more like," Shepard growls angrily.
"This is a ruse to pacify the population during the indoctrination and harvesting process," EDI elaborates. "Citizens who are busy waiting, are not busy fighting. It is likely that the governments of Earth will soon enact laws punishing those who attack the Reaper occupiers. All done in the name of peace."
"I don't think even the most moronic leaders would be so trusting, so they're either completely stupid or utterly desperate to go along with this... probably the latter," Shepard sighs, looking at Garrus. "Wonder if they are using this tactic on Palaven as well?"
"They might try, but it will never work, not with turians," Garrus shakes his head. "Our leaders would never consider 'negotiating' with the Reapers, as long as there is at least a single turian left standing. See, Shepard, that's the difference between our people. You humans are always trying to save as many as you can. We are willing to accept the losses of the others, and we don't think that there can ever be too high cost for victory."
"Can't believe I'm saying this, but the turians have the right of it this time," Joker says, sounding angry and upset. "Fighting to the last sure beats indoctrination and harvesting."
"Yeah... we really need to finish building that Crucible and get this over with," Shepard grumbles unhappily. "Unfortunately, we still have no clue what that Catalyst is. We don't even know where to find out more about it. Liara says that the Crucible plans themselves offer little hint."
"I will send a reply to Admiral Anderson, stating that we are doing all we can to help Earth. They will rejoice in hearing about the krogan-turian alliance that we have secured," EDI says, Shepard nodding to her in approval.
"Yeah," Joker says, lowering his head. "Shame about Mordin, though. Got so used to him always being in the lab, running his strange tests, wanting to stick his probes into everyone and everything... offering to cure my Vrolik's Syndrome and nearly killing me... good times!"
"Always thought he was a bit crazy," Garrus nods. "Useful, but crazy. Then he goes and gives up his life..."
"Speaking of that... I remember a certain offer made while staring down the Reaper in the Shroud arena," Shepard gives Garrus a hard stare, but her friend avoids her eyes and turns away to hobble off from the bridge. "Don't ever make suggestions like that, Garrus," she says, continuing after him. "We've lost too many friends already... I can't lose any more, at some point it just needs to stop, because I can feel it is getting..."
"Getting too much already, Shepard?" Garrus turns towards her sharply. "I doubt we're even halfway there with our preparations. Face it, there will be more losses, whether you want it or not."
"Exactly," Morgan nods. "That's why I don't need sacrifices where they are not absolutely required. We don't need more than what we will already be forced to give up. I... I promised myself that we won't lose any squadmates on Tuchanka... that's why Mordin's loss hurts so much."
"Even if he was the sacrifice that was required," Garrus remarks. "But at least the krogan will be singing songs about you until the end of time. That has to count for something."
"It does," she admits. "Not as much as Wrex crushing me into one of his krogan-hugs and calling me his sister." She feels her chest becoming painfully tight again, shaking her head as if to prevent tears from escaping her eyes, feeling embarrassed for displaying such vulnerability in front of Garrus. "I'm proud of what we did down there. So very proud. Sure, there was stopping Saren and Sovereign. Then the Collector base, too. But this was... I don't know, this was a... moral victory over a terrible injustice."
"Yeah. I know exactly what you mean," Garrus agrees. "This one felt so very right." He pauses for a moment before continuing. "Tell me, Shepard... how tempting was that salarian deal? I must say, if it wasn't my own world that needed the aid... I might have considered taking it."
"Seriously?" Shepard appears genuinely surprised. "After all that you have put them through, the genophage, the bomb strapped to their planet, you'd do it to them again? I... couldn't even consider it for a moment."
"Mhm, yes... I agree," Garrus admits eventually. "You're right. This feeling of having done the right thing... just beats everything."
"So let's just stick to doing the right thing, Garrus," Morgan manages a smile. "And let's see how much more history we can create along the way..."
"Prothy, did you see the specs of the Reaper that Shepard took down?" James Vega, his head still heavily bandaged, tells his fellow occupant of the medbay, an irritated looking Prothean. "They say it's one of the small ones! Damn... I don't see anything small about it!"
"A Reaper is dead, and I was not there to take part in it," Javik sounds displeased. "Unacceptable. All the fault of your reckless driving. If you hadn't pushed ahead to be at the front of the convoy, we would have been able to continue."
"Cheer up Prothy, there will be more Reapers, I'm sure," James chuckles. "Though I'm not sure the Commander is likely to include you, with your sunny disposition and everything."
"The only thing that should matter is my willingness and ability to kill the Reapers," Javik growls back. "The species of this cycle are foolish and irritating beyond all hope. How you have survived this far without eradicating each other I will never understand."
"Well, we must be doing something right. I understand that your cycle did pretty damn poorly against the Reapers compared to us," James smirks.
"Mere luck," Javik shakes his head dismissively.
"Whatever comforts you, Prothy," Vega laughs back.
"You will suffer. You will all suffer!" Javik snarls dangerously, apparently having had enough of Vega's taunting.
"Hey Doc?" James shouts as he hears the medbay doors open. "I think Prothy needs his sedatives!"
"Well, I can only switch to the stick up my ass and knock him out cold," it is Garrus, returning from his brief and illegal excursion outside the medbay. "Also, I would appreciate it if you didn't shout so loud to alert Chakwas."
"Did you meet the Commander?" James asks urgently. "Did she mention anything about what is planned next? Dying of boredom here!"
"Apparently we won't be taking any new missions until you two weaklings get better," Garrus chuckles, lying down on his bed, suddenly feeling very tired, but obviously not showing it to the others.
"I am perfectly fine to continue fighting!" Javik protests, despite the sharp pain coursing through his left arm, almost separated under the shoulder.
"Yeah, what Prothy said," James echoes, trying to ignore the ringing sensation in his heavily bandaged head.
"Sure, sure," Garrus grins knowingly. "Besides, Shepard is waiting for a message from Wrex, apparently he also has some errand for us to run. Beyond that, there are the usual 'kick Cerberus where it hurts' tasks from Hackett. But I understand Shepard was going to forward those to Aria."
"Really?" James asks, suddenly very curious. "Did she hear back from Aria already?"
"I don't think so," Garrus looks at Vega inquiringly. "What's got you so interested?"
"Oh, nothing... nothing at all," James replies, appearing incredibly smug, but not saying anything more. After a while of waiting for Vega to elaborate, Garrus gives up, and rare silence takes over the crowded medbay...
"Hey," Shepard says, coming up to Liara and placing her hands on the backrest of the asari's chair, watching her lover stare intently at complicated equations beyond Morgan's comprehension. "What are you up to?"
"Working on decoding some of the Crucible's designs... or at least trying to," Liara replies without looking up. "Theoretical particle physics based on specialized base-twelve mathematics aren't exactly my specialty."
"I have no idea what you just said," Morgan admits. "But whatever it is, I want to shoot it in the face."
Liara laughs, saving her decoded data and switching the terminal off. "I am glad you stopped by, I have been staring at those equations for forty-five minutes without getting anywhere," she admits, then facing Shepard with a guilty look. "I also wanted to apologize for this morning, I was... harsh beyond what was required."
"It's okay, Liara. We were all under stress because of what happened with Mordin," Shepard manages a smile.
"Yes, but I should take your turmoil away instead of keep adding to it," Liara says. "I should have handled that situation differently."
"Don't worry about it so much. You said what I needed to hear, it was required," Shepard shrugs. "But I don't really want to talk about it anymore, okay? Case closed, no hard feelings, let's move onwards."
"If you're sure..." Liara looks skeptical, but Morgan's smile is infectious, finally convincing the asari that the matter is settled.
"Anything interesting on the Broker network?" Morgan asks then.
"Same old, only worse with every day that we allow this war to continue," Liara remarks bitterly. "And... first casualty reports coming in from Thessia. I can't bear to watch the vids, but I can just about manage to read the messages. At least my people are not throwing themselves at the Reapers in a frontline war, so the numbers aren't as bad as for Earth, but... we are losing territory a lot faster."
"I'm... sorry," Morgan says, putting her hands on Liara's shoulders, gently rubbing them. "With Aethyta going back there, this must feel like hell..."
"At least I know where my dad is... my agents can't find a trace of the SSV Orizaba either," Liara replies quietly.
"Annoying how all conversations these days converge to something depressing," Morgan says, giving her lover a sad smile. "There must be something else on the Broker network, something uplifting and positive."
"Well..." Liara starts, looking thoughtful. "I'm not sure if these are good news, but... apparently Wrex has already petitioned the Council about opening a krogan embassy and giving them a new colony planet. The Citadel seems to be in utter turmoil over these news."
Morgan can't stop herself from laughing. "Good old Wrex... well, I think he's doing the right thing in not losing any time," she says. "And I don't think it is so unreasonable, really. Poor councilors, they are probably panicking over all this. I don't see how Sparatus can accept the krogan aid on Palaven and deny them this."
"Same will go for Tevos, if we end up requesting krogan aid on Thessia..." Liara remarks, but then she is interrupted by the new message announcement on Shepard's private terminal.
"Well, well..." Shepard speaks, walking up to the terminal to check the message. "Speak of the devil..."