A/R (Author's Rant): So, the Citadel DLC comes out later today, and while I'm really hyped about the last adventure with the beloved Mass Effect characters, Bioware managed to annoy me with the released DLC trailer. FemShep has what, a single two second snippet while dancing with Garrus, while the rest of the time we have to stare at the slack-jawed Sheploo? Urgh. Seriously. :P

Chapter 126 - Crumbling Hopes

"Where, did you say? Northeastern perimeter? Can you narrow it down for us?" Garrus speaks on the comms hastily, standing next to a large, ruined column. Tali is busy brushing the dirt and mud away from the plaque at the base of the column, revealing that it had once supported a statue to someone called Admiral Nelson. As she briefly wonders whether the human in question was anything like the admirals of her people, her turian boyfriend continues to speak urgently into the open comm link, trying to find someone who has recently seen the ex-Cerberus agent Miranda Lawson.

"Nine-Seven-Four? Gah, that's... quite a distance from where we are now. Are you sure it was her?" Garrus continues his inquiries. "Okay, okay, I didn't ask for a candid description of her generous buttocks! Yeah... sure does sound like her, though. Well, if anyone can get to her before we do, link her in with Coats... she came in with Blue Suns, probably doesn't have full comm access as a result. I know... alright, Garrus out."

"They've seen her?" Tali asks quickly after the turian has switched off the comms.

"Yeah, almost at the other end of the city!" Garrus sighs in reply. "She was limping behind us when we started our charge towards the relay, barely managing to stand on her feet... how the hell did she get to the other side of the city?"

"Maybe she found an intact skycar or shuttle..." Tali muses. "Wouldn't mind having access to one of those myself."

"Tired?" Garrus' eyes soften with concern as he looks at his lover.

Tali nods wordlessly. "Two packs of stims are starting to catch up with me, Garrus. Thirty six hours straight... after we find Miranda..."

"We're going back to the Normandy, I promise," Garrus nods. "Damn, there's so much to do, though... I need to get in contact with whoever is left in charge of my people... still don't know if Victus made out alright. At least I have heard that Councilor Sparatus is still alive on the Citadel. And you will want to check in on your people, I'm sure."

"I can't stop shaking every time I think back on Auntie Raan and our fleets," Tali confesses. "But at the same time, I'm terrified about the possibility of losing Shepard... damn it, Garrus, enough is enough... Javik, James, EDI... Shepard can't join that list! We must not allow it to happen!"

"Still can't believe what's happening..." Garrus says quietly, his shoulders slumping. "Liara must be going mad."

"I don't think I will be able to return to the Normandy after we find Miranda, no matter how tired I am. I need to stand by Liara and Shepard through this, or at least until I collapse from exhaustion."

"I know what you mean," Garrus nods. "And I feel the same way. But come on, let's hurry up. We need to start walking."

Feeling slightly refreshed after the brief respite, Tali and Garrus resume their path through the rubble, time from time again checking the map on their omni-tools to make sure they are on the right track. "Did they... tell you any details about Shepard? Exactly what's wrong with her?"

"They have been operating on her for eight hours straight, Tali. With those Cerberus implants, she should have been able to pull through, but..."

"Same thing as with EDI..." Tali sighs sadly. "All Reaper based tech failed... that's why Liara wants us to find Miranda, isn't it... in hopes that she can do something to repair Shepard's implants. Garrus... do I need to tell you how-"

"How unlikely it is?" Garrus cuts her off dryly. "No. You don't need to tell me that. This just shows how... desperate Liara is. Damn... I really feel for her, having to go through Alchera all over again."

"...don't remind me. I hated those days, the way she kept herself together... it was more depressing than if she would have just vented her grief. And now this... I can't imagine looking her in the eyes, trying to offer some consolation... everything will feel so... horribly inadequate."

"I have never been good at this comforting someone thing," Garrus grumbles unhappily. "Always just feel awkward and horrib-" there he cuts himself off, sharply turning around to see a banged up skycar slowly approaching them from the way they have just traversed. The vehicle's state is incredibly shoddy, all paint peeled off and parts of it blackened by fire, but amazingly it is somehow holding itself together and up in the air, even if its pilot is keeping it as low as possible, not feeling very confident about the state of the skycar.

"Is that someone looking for us?" Tali asks hopefully, sensing an opportunity to rest her badly aching legs.

"I'm not sure I'd dare to climb into that..." Garrus looks at the hobbling skycar, emitting the occasional puff of black smoke.

"Well, you can walk the rest of the way, I'll risk just about anything to catch a break!" the quarian exclaims, starting to wave her arms frantically to attract the pilot's attention.

"Hmm, good point," Garrus finally admits, feeling his own feet burning and feeling sore, beginning to signal to the incoming skycar and it appears to have noticed them, slowly starting to descend.

Once the rickety thing has landed, its side doors gingerly open and they are both surprised to see the figure of another quarian emerging from the skycar. "About time I found you two," Kal'Reegar speaks, letting out a brief chuckle at how Garrus and Tali have both frozen from surprise. "So, do you want a lift or not?"

"...yes! Keelah, yes!" Tali exclaims, momentarily forgetting her tiredness and bouncing happily. "How did you know to look for us, Kal?"

"I was listening in on the comms while working on getting this thing airborne," Kal'Reegar explains. "I gather you're doing something that might save Commander Shepard's life, so I figured that I'll see if I can help you two out. Now... hop on in, and tell me where exactly do you want me to take this flying pile of scrap metal."

"Good old quarian engineering ingenuity," Garrus chuckles as he gets into the back of the skycar, admiring some of the frighteningly creative repairs Kal'Reegar has managed on the vehicle.

Tali quickly uploads the coordinates of their location to the skycar's onboard computer, and after a few little hiccups, Kal'Reegar finally gets the stubborn vehicle back up in the air, and away they go, slowly floating above the ruined landscape of London, not a single building left untouched in the city. "Do you think it's even possible to rebuild from something like this?" Tali asks, feeling depressed from the morbid sights. "I'm starting to think it might be easier to just begin anew somewhere else..."

"I'm not sure this is salvageable," Garrus shrugs his shoulders. "The industry is completely destroyed. The economy... there's no economy to speak of, really. I'm not sure where to begin... but I think that other places on Earth might have fared better. London was the theater for the worst fighting on the planet, I believe."

"Reminds me how our people just started everything anew on Rannoch. But there was hope everywhere you looked... while here, I just don't know," Kal'Reegar also doesn't sound very optimistic. "Perhaps the geth might help out on Earth as well, if they decide to stick around, and we have no idea what their plans might be..."

"And then there are the broken relays... damn, it will be a while before I can let my family know that I'm alright," Garrus sighs. "I feel terrible for Sol, mom and dad."

"Your councilor must have QEC access to Palaven up on the Citadel, I'm sure. Maybe he will allow you to use it?" Tali asks.

"Oh... of course..." Garrus slaps his forehead as he realizes that Tali is correct, brightening up with this realization. "Yeah, I think I have earned a few favors from Sparatus, surely."

"Have you been in contact with our fleet, Kal?" Tali then asks worriedly. "I still know very little... they weren't even sure if auntie... uh, Admiral Raan had survived..."

"Admiral Raan is fine, however, I believe she is quite busy, trying to contain the situation on the Rayya," Kal'Reegar replies, then quickly elaborating after Tali turns towards him, her entire shape radiating nervousness. "Our sole liveship is badly damaged, Tali. It will be repaired, but it's capacity to provide supplies for us apparently will be crippled. Captain Kar'Danna is a good friend of mine... and he was forced to speak the unpleasant truth that if two thirds of our people hadn't perished in the fighting, they would probably starve while waiting for the relays to be repaired..."

"Err... there might be a problem here..." Garrus begins to speak uncomfortably. "I'm pretty sure that the turian plan of how not to starve while stranded in Sol System hinged on the whole 'oh, the quarians will have dextro supplies to share, no need to worry' angle. With the state of our fleets and available supplies, FTL flight back to Palaven is not an option."

"I... damn, of course, you would not have brought enough supplies with you for that," Tali sighs. "Perhaps the Citadel reserves will help... but Zakera had most of the warehouses, didn't it? This... is not good. Not good at all."

"Let's just concentrate on saving Commander Shepard first, shall we?" Kal'Reegar suggests. "We are coming up on our coordinates."

At this reminder, Tali and Garrus begin to stare in the distance, trying to spot something amongst the ruined landscape that might provide a clue why Miranda Lawson might have retreated to this remote corner of the city. The answer appears before their eyes soon, a large camp of hastily set up tents, and even more simple cots spread on the ground, most occupied by the injured patients of this emergency field hospital.

"Everything makes sense now," Garrus says. "She's got to be here. Feel free to set us down, Kal, my friend." Kal'Reegar does as he is told and together with Tali they are the first to leave the skycar, Garrus following them, electing to stay a little behind and send a quick report on the comms again. "Yeah, we've got her," he speaks into the comm link. "Coordinates are away, send in shuttle, quick. Okay, got it. Appreciate the assist. Garrus out."

"We haven't even found her and you're calling in the shuttle?" Tali asks in disbelief, as they approach the field hospital.

"She's got to be here, you know it," Garrus replies confidently, then pointing ahead. "Look, there! I'll recognize that ass... -ertive stature anywhere," the turian quickly adds, as Tali gives him a stern look.

But soon enough Tali is forced to bow to the superiority of Garrus' keen observation skills, also recognizing Miranda Lawson, sitting on her knees next to an unconscious salarian patient, scanning the unfortunate war victim's chest with her omni-tool and scowling deeply at the readings. "Miranda?" the quarian doesn't mince any words once they get closer. "Miranda, we need to speak with you, it is urgent."

Miranda turns around slowly, not looking very pleased about getting interrupted. "More urgent than figuring out just what's wrong with this unlucky sod?" she asks, pointing at the salarian. "Well, let's hear it, you two," she crosses her arms on her chest challengingly.

"That Crucible beam which fried Reapers and all their tech?" Garrus speaks up. "It messed up with Shepard's implants. She's on the Citadel, dying. We need you to come with us and see if you can figure out if there's a way to get her implants working again."

Lawson's scowl only deepens from hearing the news. "That is a load of nonsense. I have been telling you countless times, Shepard has no Reaper tech inside her. The implants are based on Reaper tech, but they're not Reaper tech as such! We built everything exclusively from the scratch."

"Maybe... I don't know, the Crucible beam mistook them for Reaper tech, they were so similar?" Garrus shrugs, annoyed at Miranda's resistance.

"Impossible," Miranda shakes her head. "It shouldn't have had any effect on Shepard's implants."

"Won't you at least come with us and see if there's anything that can be done?" Tali asks desperately. "Shuttle is already on its way... please? We owe it to the Commander... don't you agree?"

Miranda gives one final look at her salarian patient, shaking her head sadly before rising from the ground. "Yes, I suppose I do agree," she finally says. "I will go with you. If Shepard can still be saved, then I will do all I can to do just that..."

"My fellow admirals, I'll get right down to business," Steven Hackett opens the first of what will undoubtedly be many vid conferences with what' remains of the Alliance military leadership. Aside from Singh, he is joined by six other admirals, Chen and Mayorov of the First Fleet, Kormilko of the Third, LeClerc from Fifth and McIllis and Willoughby from the Sixth Fleet. "We have the preliminary assessments of the damage done to the mass relays. Research teams are already on their way to the Mars Archives to look for additional information that might hasten the process of the repairs, and the scientists already have some ideas on just what needs to be done. But their estimates vary somewhere between six months and a year, so we better get used to having neighbors in the Sol System, and possibly on Earth."

"The turians have been pushing about the krogan issue again?" Singh asks.

"I'd rather give them our sedative supplies to keep the krogan calm than see those monsters released to roam Earth," Admiral Mayorov, a thin, gangly man with pale blue eyes and straw colored hair, speaks.

"That's not going to work for long," Hackett replies. "Besides, those 'monsters' helped us save the galaxy as much as anyone else here. As long as they are stuck in the Sol System, they might also be willing to help us rebuild... and there is much to do."

"The turians and the krogan aren't the only ones with demands if I understand correctly, though?" Singh asks. "I gather that they are all asking to have some space allocated for their needs... something like enclaves. Except the quarians, they seem content with staying on their ships, thank god."

"If we're going to give in to their demands, it would be better to keep them all together somewhere," Admiral Chen, small and in Hackett's opinion, poisonous and unpleasant man, speaks. "When the inevitable violence breaks out, at least they'll be killing each other."

"We just need to speed up the rate at which we're sending our own marines back down to Earth," Admiral Sarah Willoughby, square-jawed blonde with listless look in her grey eyes, joins the conversation. "We need to put down more and more prefab shelters and get our troops down there to restore some order. I have reports coming in from Chicago, New York, Los Angeles... the situation is utter chaos. There is looting going on everywhere, people are panicking and trying to hoard what little precious supplies have not been destroyed by the Reapers."

Sophie LeClerc draws herself up proudly, the deep scar across her left cheek marring her otherwise pleasant face. "I'm getting the same reports from the major cities in Canada," she says grimly. "Local gangs are on the rise and doomsday cults are spreading like mushrooms after the rain. The regional law enforcement structures have collapsed almost entirely, and the local resistance is not numerous enough to now effectively deal with gangs and rising crime."

"It seems as if even during the time when we should all stand together, too many people out there are still thinking only for themselves," Hackett sighs, his more cynical, bitter side already having expected something like this. "The Systems Alliance will get involved, obviously, but we will need to encourage civilians to form their own local militia and work with us."

"We have been discussing a few more steps we might want to take," Singh states, remaining composed as Hackett faces him with a firm stare. "There's nothing left of the industry and we will need to rebuild our factories to help with the relay repairs. The last thing we need is some greedy pig claiming ownership rights to these factories and seeking to make a tidy profit from our desperation. The Alliance should simply nationalize all industrial sites that could have military or other strategic importance."

"You have really thought it over, haven't you?" Hackett asks, looking at the admirals one by one, wondering just who are in with Singh in this little agreement made behind his back. That said, it's not like what they suggest is without merit. If we don't stomp our foot down firmly, the situation will deteriorate, and humanity will find itself spiraling back into the stone age.

"Consider it carefully, Steven," Willoughby says. "I suggest we do the same with the food supply chains and processing plants, what little still exists. Furthermore, the northern hemisphere has been left without any harvests this summer, meaning that we could face food shortages during winter, unless the Alliance seizes control of storage and distribution of the goods. That includes confiscating unreasonably large supplies gathered by civilians... we cannot allow some greedy individuals to go around hoarding precious resources while innocents starve."

"Earth is currently still under martial law and I suggest that it remains so, until we can restore a semblance of order," Chen nods, agreeing with the other admirals. "We have not shed our blood just to allow Earth be taken from us by the dregs of our society and the darker side of humanity's own nature. If certain civil liberties must be curtailed to ensure this, then so be it."

"As long as we remember to restore these basic rights to our people once the situation is back under control," Hackett says, still feeling a little uncomfortable, the vid conference has not gone nearly how he imagined it would go. "I will agree with everything proposed here, if we resolve to also do everything to strengthen the civilian agencies and any surviving local governments, so that once the Alliance has restored order, they are ready to take things back under control from the military."

"Of course," Admiral Mayorov speaks, smiling, but to Hackett his expression feels a little off-putting. "Steven, you've known us all for many years. Don't make it sound as if we're trying to create some kind of military dictatorship here. You're a shrewd man, you must realize that this is all done for the greater good of our people."

"I know, Alexei. We all have only the best intentions for humanity. And with that, I would like to call an end to this conference. I expect to hear from you all again in exactly forty-eight hours," Hackett says, nodding curtly before disconnecting the call. I know that it might be what you believe, my old friend... but too often the road to hell is paved with good intentions...

"Liara? Liara, can you hear me?" the asari shakes herself awake at the sound of Dr. Michel's voice. Even if she remains absolutely terrified about her bondmate's fate, she still feels weak after the surgeries, the meds having overpowered her for a minute or two, causing her to fall into a slight slumber. "Liara, I just got the news. Our friends have found Dr. Lawson and they are bringing her to the Citadel. They will arrive in less than an hour."

"...thank the goddess," Liara breathes, feeling tears rolling down her cheeks, barely able to raise her hand to brush them off, feeling foolishly weak as Dr. Michel brings up a piece of cloth to wipe the wetness away.

"That's not all I wanted to tell you, Liara," Chloe Michel continues. "Commander Shepard has regained consciousness. We are going to sedate her again to limit the pain she is exposed to, but... I can delay it for a minute or two, if you wish to speak with her..."

"Morgan... oh goddess, yes... yes, please," Liara begins to frantically struggle in order to get up and Chloe is forced to restrain her from hurting herself or the baby.

"Allow me to help you, Liara," Dr. Michel smiles serenely, waving to a nearby nurse and between the two of them they manage to settle Liara into a wheelchair. Chloe waves the nurse away again before beginning to push Liara towards Shepard's operating room. "Before I bring you to Shepard, however, you must promise me that you will do everything you can to avoid upsetting her. Her life is hanging in a thread, and any emotional distress could worsen her condition. Do not speak of the war, or the casualties we have suffered, or-"

"-or my pregnancy?" Liara asks, her voice barely a whisper. "Chloe... I must tell her! I... don't think I would be able to live with myself if she... if she... oh goddess, what have I done..."

"Then perhaps you should have told her the truth earlier, Liara," Dr. Michel say, shaking her head sadly. "But what is done, is done. Liara, I promise that I will give you a chance to tell Shepard the truth. But in turn, you must promise me not to tell Shepard anything just now, until Dr. Lawson has examined the Commander. Do we have an agreement, Liara?"

"I... very well... if you promise to give me the opportunity to tell her later..." Liara manages, struggling to hold her tears back and failing miserably.

"Like I said, I promise that, Liara. Trust me," Chloe says gently, bending down a little to wipe Liara's face clean again before finally bringing Liara through the doors, the two doctors standing next to Shepard's bed looking up to face the asari with glum stares that speak volumes. "Please, if we could have a few minutes of privacy," Chloe motions to her colleagues who immediately leave the room. Dr. Michel helps Liara get out of the wheelchair and steady herself against Shepard's operating table, allowing her to be closer to her beloved. Chloe takes another reading of Shepard's vitals, leaning lower and whispering something to the Commander, then following the other doctors out of the room, leaving Liara and Morgan alone.

The sight of her bondmate in such a state seems to have robbed Liara of any ability to speak. With eyes wide from horror she watches the countless tubes running under the sheets and disappearing somewhere into the Commander's body, IV drips and whatever else, replacing some of her systems that have already failed. Liara herself feels like part geth with her two braces, but Morgan is literally covered with them, beginning with an ugly neck brace to keep her head steady and immobile, that and the dreadful suffusion of her cheeks and all around her eyes not allowing Shepard to see just who her guest is.

The only thing that I recognize about her is the hair... that beautiful red mop of hair is the same as it used to be, Liara thinks desperately, pulling herself a little closer so that Morgan can see her through the narrow slits of her eyes. "Hey..." Shepard is the first to speak, but she does so in a voice that Liara fails to recognize, deep, broken and every word needing to be pushed through a shudder of pain.

The floodgates open immediately, Liara not even bothering to stop herself. "...hey, yourself..." she somehow manages through the tears.

For a while Shepard doesn't say anything, and Liara begins to fear that she has passed out again, quickly drying her tears, but then Morgan attempts to speak again. "We... got them. Didn't... we?"

Liara feels the overwhelming need to touch her bondmate, but every part of her body, hands included, are hidden under the sheets and she is afraid to reach down there, in case of disturbing the delicate pieces of equipment and thus making Morgan's condition worse. In the end, she tries to move even more closely to where Morgan's head rests, brushing her fingers gently across her bondmate's swollen cheeks. "Yes... we got them, alright," she speaks softly. "And we'll make you better too. Miranda is already on her way, she'll fix your implants, you'll see..."

"No... won't... work..." Shepard grinds out, clearly in agony as Liara feels heavy tremors accompanying every word. "Know... it. Implants... broken. Liara?"

"Yes? What is it, Morgan?" the asari bends slightly over her bondmate, her tears starting to fall on Shepard's cheeks.

"Michel won't... tell me... the truth. But... you will. You... must. I'm... not going to... make it, am I?"

Liara wants to scream, shout in anger, cry to the heavens, do anything but to give her bondmate the answer... but there is no way around it, she can not bring herself to lie to Morgan, not here, not now, not about this. "Without the implants? No..." she whispers, hating the unfairness of the universe. "No, the doctors say the damage is too severe..."

"How... how long?" a few tears now also escape Shepard's eyes.

"They... they can only promise twenty four hours... not more," Liara says quietly, feeling the life she has imagined them both building together after the war, fracturing and crumbling to pieces at her feet, making it difficult for her to remain standing.

"That's... not so bad..." Shepard manages, Liara shaking her head in disbelief that Morgan would try to remain flippant even in the face of death. "Sorry, babe... hate... making you... cry..."

"I can't just give up on you like that... I just can't..." Liara whispers, reaching out to touch Shepard's cheek again, her bondmate starting to slip away and the asari is completely powerless to stop her, to do anything about it. "Miranda will get here... we'll think of something!"

"Remember... your promise..." those are Morgan's last words, and then Michel and her squad of doctors rush in again, putting Liara back into the wheelchair and escorting her away as they resume their work to prolong the last hours in the life of the galaxy's savior...