Chapter 114 - Secondary Objective: Survival
"I would feel a great deal better if Tim was on that station," Commander Morgan 'Blossom' Shepard remarks, standing on the Normandy bridge and watching the dreadnaughts of the Fifth and Sixth fleet slowly reducing Cronos Station to a small field of space debris.
"I know exactly what you mean," Dr. Liara 'Bubbles' T'Soni nods in agreement, standing next to her lover. "It seems as all our missions as of late have been like that, mixed successes, never securing all objectives at once. Even now, the Illusive Man remains at large and the Reapers are congregating in the Sol System... severely impacting our chances."
"Well, we have only one objective for the next mission. Save the galaxy," Morgan says grimly. "If we do that, it will mean that we have been successful. Everything else is inconsequential."
"I would prefer that we manage to complete the secondary objective," Liara adds quietly. "Survival."
"Yeah, we'll certainly try to survive," Shepard nods, then turning towards EDI, the synthetic having claimed her rightful place in the co-pilot's chair from Garrus. "Any new messages coming in from the command?"
"We are to return to the Pax System and await further instruction at the mass relay near Noveria," EDI replies. "It appears that the Normandy has been assigned to the Fifth Fleet for the reminder of the upcoming battle."
"The welcome messages from the other Fifth Fleet captains are overwhelming the comms," Lia'Vael chuckles in the pilot's seat. "Commander, it looks like our presence is a big morale boost for the whole fleet."
"That's good to hear," Shepard smiles, looking at the young quarian. "I imagine it must be strange for you to be here at a time like this. You must be wishing to be with your people right now."
"...only a little, Commander. I lack the words to describe the honor that I feel from being here and being able to help and contribute to the cause," Lia'Vael replies. "Though I understand that you must deeply regret not having your old pilot here with you in the final battle."
"Joker's going to hate me until the end of time, that's for sure," Shepard nods sourly. "But I can't risk his health, he's simply not nearly well enough to be here."
"I quite agree with you, Commander," EDI cuts in. "I received the latest updates on his condition just this morning. They were surprisingly flattering, giving him a near clean bill of health."
"What? That's impossible, with the types of injuries that he suffered!" Liara shakes her head in disbelief.
"Exactly. It is impossible. He had tampered with those reports," EDI explains, managing to sound exasperated. "The real picture that I got from his doctors is far less encouraging. The fractures are taking a long time heal properly."
Shepard sighs deeply. "Yeah, that sounds like Joker, alright. Anyway... I guess we have a little bit of time to kill until we arrive at the relay." She turns to her lover standing next to her. "Any plans for the next few hours, Doctor?"
"I was thinking of checking the Broker feeds one last time," Liara replies quietly just so that Morgan can hear it. "Then, some rest might be useful, though I do not believe I will be able to sleep. Just a little break to let the biotics recharge properly."
"Sounds good, I'll spend a bit of time chatting with the crew, then meet you up at the loft, alright?" Morgan asks, receiving a nod in return. Liara briefly squeezes her hand and departs, while Shepard lingers a little at the bridge, engaging in some small-talk with Lia'Vael and EDI, even if her own thoughts are clearly elsewhere. The brief exchange they had with Hackett while getting off the Cronos Station had rocked the admiral a little bit, but his reaction had been the same as Morgan's. It didn't matter if Sol was now swarming with ten times more Reapers than before, it changed nothing in what they needed to do. They would have to accomplish the nigh impossible to gain access to the Citadel and combine it with the Crucible, and then, hopefully, the ancient super-weapon would live up to their expectations.
How is one supposed to feel when an impossible task has suddenly become hundred times more difficult? I guess you just stop thinking about the odds. You do what you can and pray that it will be enough, Morgan ponders quietly as she excuses herself from the bridge, starting to walk towards the elevator, stopping briefly at the CIC, watching Specialist Samantha Traynor monitoring the news feeds like a hawk, ready to pounce on anything remotely interesting and useful.
Traynor finally realizes that someone is standing behind her, swirling around and snapping a salute, blushing when she realizes that it is Shepard. "Ready to hit Earth when you are, Commander!" she utters quickly.
"At ease, Sam," Morgan smiles. "Just wanted to thank you for your service and all the hard work you've put in."
"It was nothing, ma'am. I had a very compelling example to follow," she beams back at Shepard. They fall silent for a while, Samantha turning back to the constantly updating news feeds. "Coordinating such a fleet, nearly sixteen thousand ships, it must be overwhelming... I can barely keep up. And yet... I must not allow myself to stop and think that... she's probably on one of those ships, together with her students... gods, I'm just so worried, they will be deployed on Earth and the reports from the surface..."
"Hey, your... thing with Jack turned into something more serious?" Morgan blinks, pleasantly surprised when Traynor nods, blushing. "Well, congratulations! I understand that Jack's with 103rd Marine Division? They're a good bunch, they will take good care of her and the kids."
"Yeah, I know... I know," Samantha nods. "It's not like we're going to be much safer up in the skies, hundreds and hundreds of Reaper destroyers trying to annihilate our ships... but it's something we must do. You taught us as much, Commander. It has been a privilege," she salutes to Shepard again, Morgan answering with the same gesture before turning around and stepping into the elevator.
It is only after she has made the small mistake, Morgan realizes that she has selected her quarters as destination, instead of the crew deck as was her original intention. She is about to swiftly correct this oversight, but then a quiet noise coming from her quarters makes her hesitate. Surprised that Liara has come up already, she opens the doors to her quarters and walks in, only to catch Javik standing in front of her aquarium, tail of a koi-fish sticking out of his mouth as the Prothean suddenly notices her, his four eyes widening in surprise.
"Spit it out!" Morgan growls, ordering him to release the poor fish.
Javik grabs the fish by the tail and pulls it out of his throat, coughing as he does so, eventually throwing it back into the aquarium where the poor, traumatized creature immediately swims to the furthest corner of its cage and hides in the plants at the bottom of the aquarium. "It was not what it looked like," Javik states defensively.
"Oh, I'm sure of it," Morgan rolls her eyes. "You just decided to show it where its brothers and sisters have gone to, right?"
"Could we forget that, Commander?" Javik asks, appearing a little embarrassed. "I was actually hoping we could talk."
"I shouldn't even be speaking to you until you have apologized to Liara," Shepard gives him another stern look. "But very well... we are nearing the end of our journey and this might be the last time we have the opportunity to talk. So, speak your mind, Javik."
"I have learned that there was a Normandy before this one," Javik starts. "It was destroyed in an attack. You died." Morgan nods, wincing inwardly, still urging him to go on. "But then you were resurrected to fight the Reapers."
"Yeah, I guess in a way we have something in common, Prothy. Your recovery on Eden Prime was almost like a resurrection too."
"Yes, but that is where the similarities end. You may have come back from the dead, Commander, but the reasons why you fight never died. Your friendships survived through your death. More than that... I understand that you and the as-... Liara T'Soni are joined?" Javik asks.
"Just don't tell me that you used your sensory touch abilities to feel around the sheets in our bed and come to that conclusion..." Shepard starts, but the slight twitch in Javik's face makes her groan in frustration and embarrassment. "Oh gods... figures that we'd be stuck with a voyeur Prothean... GAH!"
"It was certainly educational," Javik remarks, now looking smug at her unease as she stands there red-faced and clenching her fists. "But it was not my intent to embarrass you, Commander. I merely wished to understand. Such attachments have always been viewed as weakness and distraction in my cycle. But you... you seem to draw strength from friendship, from the one you are bonded to."
"I can't imagine doing this if there wasn't someone worth doing it for. Simply to save the galaxy because it's the right thing to do?" Morgan asks, shaking her head. "Sorry, we humans aren't wired to work that way. We need to be emotionally invested. If not for Liara, Garrus, Tali and the others... hell, I would have taken this ship to some quiet corner of the galaxy and lived out the rest of my life as a nomadic hunter on some remote jungle planet."
"I see. Perhaps I have been mistaken," Javik nods, thanking her for the explanation. "I used to have attachments similar to yours, Commander, once, long time ago. The memory of them is still preserved in my Echo shard."
"That thing we found in your cryo pod, yes?" Morgan asks.
"Correct. It is passed down from a soldier to soldier, Prothean to Prothean. Each adds their memories to it," Javik explains. "I have been thinking of touching it, drinking in these memories of the people that once mattered to me. I wonder if reliving all those emotions would give me the strength that your attachments lend you. But... should I remember the pain by having to watch everyone I care about die again? What would you do, Commander?"
"Hmm..." Shepard rubs her brow thoughtfully. "That's a little different. I'm not sure such memories would give you strength and resolve, because victory would not bring them back to life. You would merely reopen old wounds. And that does not give you strength. That leaves you bleeding and distracted. Let old ghosts rest, Javik."
"You are right, of course," after a brief moment of thought Javik nods, agreeing with her words. "Apparently there is still some wisdom left in this cycle. But I should leave you to your preparations, Commander," the Prothean says, moving past her towards the exit. "There was no final battle against the Reapers in my cycle. A great moment awaits us all."
Shepard merely nods as Javik leaves her alone and she spends the next few moments staring at the inviting looking bed, her body urging Morgan to grab the last few hours of rest, but she brushes the needs of her body aside, stepping back outside of her cabin and taking the elevator down to the crew deck. Once there, she first visits the medbay, catching Dr. Michel up and awake, compiling some reports, her only company being James Vega, still snoring on one of the medbay beds.
"Hey, Chloe," Shepard smiles, alerting the doctor to her presence."Is the big lug still on course to recover in time? I'm sure he'd hate to miss all the fighting."
"I will wake him up before we reach the mass relay, Commander," Dr. Michel replies. "He will be alright, do not worry, Shepard."
"I planned to catch up with Tali and Garrus, but it seems like you kicked them out of the medbay?" Shepard asks.
"Yes, Tali has been cleared for duty. I would recommend only light action, but somehow... I don't think that is what we will face in the upcoming battle," Michel sighs deeply, looking worried and unhappy, but then shaking the dark thoughts away and smiling. "I saw Tali sneaking towards Garrus' hidey-hole at the forward battery, thinking that she has managed to remain completely unnoticed. I would advise against intruding upon them..."
Morgan chuckles. "Yes, I suppose you are right," she says, parting with the doctor. "I think I will check in briefly with Aria."
The sight that greets her in the starboard observation is a very strange one. Aria's commando leathers are currently undergoing some heavy duty cleaning, covered in thick layers of Kai Leng's remains, and the Pirate Queen is instead wearing a simple form fitting robe, making her appear almost like a young maiden. As Shepard enters, Aria is pacing around her quarters like a caged lioness, her fingers crackling with the glow of biotics and there are signs of small scale destruction around the room, results of Aria's poorly contained outbreak of anger.
"Aria... everything alright?" Shepard asks, aware that her question is a little stupid because everything about Aria's appearance suggests that she is definitely not alright.
"I hate feeling like this, Shepard," Aria exclaims, throwing a small biotic throw at a nearby shelf, shattering an old datapad. "The mere idea that I would care about them is preposterous, and yet... I can't stop feeling that way! It makes me weak, pathetic and miserable, not being able to help them... fuck, I hate this so much!"
"Well, you're not used to such feelings," Shepard tries. "But if you try to remember all the joy that they have brought to your life, it will fill you with strength. Strength that you need to fight for them."
"Hmm..." Aria pauses, thinking about Morgan's words as she rubs her chin. "You might be on to something there, Shepard. Still... damn, worrying about them makes me feel so useless. Reapers have taken the Citadel... who knows if anyone there is still alive? Tevos is just so utterly helpless in situations like these, and the girls aren't much better, they have not trained their biotics at all."
"We'll need to take the Citadel back from the Reapers, and if there's a chance to save them, we will do so," Morgan promises. "You should try to rest a little, recharge your biotics before we throw ourselves against the Reapers."
"Not a chance of that, Shepard," Aria shakes her head, stepping a little closer. "I'm still feeling... incredibly aroused, having seen that Cerberus base blowing up to small bits..." Shepard takes an involuntary step back, pressing with her back against the wall as Aria approaches her, tantalizing sway in her hips. "Usually, after a mission like this, I would find someone reasonably good looking and fuck them the whole night or longer, until the tensions have ran out completely. No shortage of attractive targets on this ship... could even be you, Shepard..." she says huskily, leaning closer.
Morgan feels her breath catching in her throat as she squirms against the wall, closing her eyes and feeling Aria's lips less than an inch from hers, she can practically taste the asari's spicy scented warm breath, it is almost intoxicating as her lips briefly brush against Morgan's... before pulling away, letting her finally exhale. "But no, you're not her..." Aria then says, her shoulders slumping as she steps away from Shepard. "And it shouldn't matter, I just want a good, hard fuck... and yet, now it feels like it does matter, and fucking someone else suddenly doesn't feel so right... shit, why does it have to be so complicated?"
"Aria, you know you can always leave and go back to what you were on Omega, lonely, bitter and distrustful," Morgan says softly. "And yet you are here, willing to follow me and risk your own life for those few that you do care about. So, there is a large part of you that wants this. And I for one hope that you do not run back to hide, but stay and face this, together with us."
"I won't run, Shepard. Don't worry about it. I'll figure this out," Aria says, clenching her fists tightly before flashing a toothy grin at Morgan. "Thanks for saying the things I needed to hear, Shepard. Damn, but you better run to your quarters and fuck T'Soni while there is still time, because I'm not sure for how long I can contain the urge of throwing you down on this sofa and finding out whether... what is that the humans say... the carpet matches the curtains?"
Morgan almost manages to choke from the very thought of what Aria's words imply, but still she fights the burning desire to just turn around and flee, knowing that she must retain what dignity of hers that still remains. "I believe I will do just that, Aria," she adds, managing a weak smile and then swiftly heading for the doors, steadying herself against the wall after she has left, wiping her brow and finding it soaking with perspiration. Damn, Aria is completely crazy... but, by the gods... there's just something intoxicatingly powerful about the way she carries herself, as if she is entitled to whatever she desires. She suddenly blushes guiltily, feeling a surge of tingly warmth spreading through her. Shit, I just wanted some relaxing cuddling with Liara, and now it's going to be hard to not want more... damn that Aria and her wicked asari space magic!
"Commander Shepard?" Traynor's voice suddenly reaches her on the comms. "Admiral Anderson wishes to speak with you in the comm room."
"I'll be right there," Shepard replies, immediately hurrying over to the elevator, the very mention of Anderson immediately returning her thoughts to the task at hand.
"Shepard! Do you read me?" Anderson's image is very broken up and she can barely hear his voice through the static, likely some kind of Reaper interference now that they have moved most of their forces to Sol. "What the hell is going on? The Citadel just showed up above Earth a few hours ago! What are those bastards up to?"
"Turns out that the Catalyst we have been trying to chase down over several months is nothing else but the Citadel!" Morgan replies, raising her voice to make sure that Anderson hears her. From the way he winces and raises his hand to rub his ear, she realizes that the effort was uncalled for. "The Illusive Man has kindly informed the Reapers of this fact. He eluded us at the Cronos Station, though I am happy to report that Clown Leng and the rest of Cerberus are pushing up the daisies."
"Hmm, that is good, though the Illusive Man still worries me," Anderson shakes his head. "He must have some kind of a plan. And the Reapers, I assume they have brought the Citadel here to protect it? Damn... we will need to wrestle it back from them to deploy the Crucible..." his gaunt, sunken face pales even more. "Shepard... this is bad."
"Tell me about it," Shepard sighs. "I'll speak with Hackett about just how he plans to play this. One thing is certain, though, I don't care to even know the odds of our success."
Anderson barks a short laugh. "No kidding. Listen, Shepard... our forces have amassed in London. I told you that something big was going on here, and now we have the intel to explain just what. By our reckoning, the Reapers are about to finish building a small mass relay."
"A mass relay?" Shepard asks, surprised. "Hmm... interesting. Not quite what I expected, but... maybe it does make sense..."
"We'll continue scouting it out, Shepard, give you as much intel as we can when you get here," Anderson says. "Looks like we're going to see each other sooner than we expected."
"At least one thing to be glad about," Morgan manages a small smile. "Be careful, Anderson."
"You too, Shepard," the admiral nods. "Anderson out."
Hmm, a mass relay... the obvious reason would be that they plan to transport something... from or to the planet? Probably from. But what, and why? This is... rather peculiar, Shepard muses, but her thoughts just as before are interrupted by the comm chatter. "Shepard?" this time it is EDI. "Dr. T'Soni is looking for you. I believe she expects you to join her in your quarters."
"Yes, yes, everyone wants a piece of me these days," Shepard sighs theatrically. "Tell Bubbles that I'm on my way. And EDI, what's the ETA to Noveria?"
"Five hours, Commander."
"Alright, I want no interruptions for the next four hours, unless it's Hackett or some other emergency that cannot be handled without my presence. Understood?"
"Very well, Commander," EDI says. "I should remind you not to exhaust yourselves too m-"
"La-la-la, can't hear you, EDI, switching the comms off NOW," Shepard replies, shaking her head as she ducks into the elevator before someone else has dragged her away to handle some kind of super important issue, breathing out a sigh of relief when she finally arrives in her quarters, stepping inside to see Liara lounging on the bed fully dressed, looking up and smiling at Morgan as she enters. I'm not sure what our life will be like if we survive the war, but I'm going to miss this sight. I'm going to miss this ship and these people.
"What took you so long?" Liara asks, grinning as Morgan plops down on the bed next to her.
"Oh, you know, motivating the crew and all that bollocks," Morgan smiles back at Liara, feeling the asari cuddling closer towards her and she happily accepts the embrace. "And I had a very interesting encounter with Aria, where she wanted to throw me down on the sofa and do unspeakable, depraved things to me."
Liara sighs, shaking her head, but also unable to hide a small smile. "Aria is so... wild and unrestrained about these things. But, Morgan... please know that despite what you have heard of my people, I definitely would not consent to sharing you with Aria T'Loak," she adds with a teasing warning. "Even if as a young maiden I am expected to display proper respect and obedience to an older matron such as Aria... it is simply not going to happen."
"However will I cope with this disappointment of not having two asari lovers all to myself?" Shepard chuckles, rolling her eyes, then breathing out a sigh of relief. "But I feel all safe now, knowing that you will protect me from Aria's evil and corrupting ways! Liara T'Soni... you know damn well that you are everything I want, everything I need."
"Yes, I do know that," Liara smiles with the kind of gentle confidence that causes shivers of desire to run through Morgan's body. "I was completely taken by surprise when Aria grabbed me back on Cronos Station," the asari then admits. "I should have expected something like that from her, really. Though I fully expected you to come to the defense of my honor!"
"Sorry, I was too busy laughing about the look you had on your face," Morgan grins wickedly at her bondmate.
"Not even a flicker of the famous human possessiveness and jealousy?" Liara laughs, then giving Morgan a slightly curious stare. "My, my, Commander, you are full of surprises..."
"Uh... after the meld we shared last night... the way we took down the barriers and allowed ourselves to sense all the feelings we have for each other... I don't think I'll ever have to think of anyone as serious competition for your affections, Liara," Morgan speaks quietly, bringing up her hand to cup Liara's cheek. "That said... if Aria ever does something that you find upsetting or hurtful... the two of us are going to have a very serious talk."
"I do not think that will happen, love. I am content to let Aria play her little games if it makes her happy. It does not truly bother me, because I know where we stand," Liara replies with an amused smile. "But, Morgan... these are our last hours before the final battle... why are we spending them talking about Aria T'Loak?"
"Well, you started it," Morgan grins petulantly.
"Did not," Liara offers a deeply intellectual rebuttal.
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"You did too!"
"No, I did not!"
"Okay, okay... you so did, but let's ignore that, and speak no more of Aria and her wicked, hedonistic ways," Morgan chuckles, continuing to gently stroke her bondmate's soft cheek. "In which case, perhaps you should find us another topic of conversation?"
"Very well... let's see. Imagine that the war is over, we have won and the Reapers are no more. What is the one thing that you would want to do the most?"
"Oh, that is easy," Morgan chuckles. "I would like to spirit you away to some secluded place where we could be together, just the two of us, finally without any pressure at the back of our minds, no reminders of the war, our duties and responsibilities... complete freedom and peace surrounding us..."
"That does sound good," Liara agrees eagerly.
"Though I imagine there will be so much rebuilding to do," Shepard sighs. "And believe you me, I have not forgotten about those beautiful blue babies, Liara. Damn, it has been so difficult to stop myself from coming up with a suggestion to start working on that already...
"Umm... so... why didn't you suggest it?" Liara asks, some previously unseen emotions briefly reflecting in her eyes.
"Babe... look around us," Morgan smiles softly, leaning closer and gently kissing the tip of Liara's nose. "I believe that we can win this war, we must win it, but... I could never ask you to conceive while we're still in the middle of all this madness. It would have been the most foolishly irresponsible thing imaginable!"
"Foolishly irresponsible... yes, I see, of course," Liara says in a low voice, but before Morgan can ask whether everything is alright, the asari darts forward and begins to kiss her deeply and passionately, her hands sneaking around Shepard to tighten the embrace.
"Babe..." Morgan breathes out heavily, reluctantly pulling away from Liara's lips. "You can't kiss me like that and expect me not to reciprocate, and we're supposed to be taking things easy! Let's work on those blue babies after the war, alright?"
"I'm sorry... you are right, as always," Liara nods with a guilty smile, adding one more swift peck on Morgan's cheek before lowering her head to rest it against her bondmate's chest, the two of them continuing to hold each other in a comforting, supportive embrace. "Beautiful blue babies after the war, you say..." Liara purrs, drifting off to a peaceful slumber in Morgan's arms. "Yes... I think I should be able to accommodate..."