With a mischievous smirk, Faith glanced up from her datapad to her chrono, noting she had just five minutes until her self-imposed deadline was reached.

As usual, she had woken long before Liara and had spent the past three hours studying the state of galactic readiness for the war, sitting awkwardly on an outrageously extravagant couch across the room from the enormous, richly decorated bed.

For once, she came away from the reports feeling quite pleased with the way things were going. It was hardly the full-scale preparation she wished for, but Garrus noted that several of their long-term plans were beginning to come to fruition. Most militaries had begun expanding their fleets: whether this was a response to the Reaper data pack Faith had sent out, or the effect of what had become something of an unspoken arms race because of the leaked weapons technology, she did not especially care... the fact was it was being done. Trying to keep the peace between massive fleets was preferable to her than forcing small, peaceful, fleets to expand.

Not only that, but there had been a huge uptake from nearly every races' colonies, for another of their plans: to use Liara's resources to hire experienced, retired, military officers to form and train civilian militias, and eventually supply them with gear. Garrus was practically inundated with such requests, and Faith was eager to get back to the Normandy to help facilitate the process: the turian was doing an excellent job in fielding the response but getting things moving ultimately required the Shadow Broker's command.

To that end, Faith was also pleased to note that the matriarchs would see them in two days. The delay was... frustrating... but it not only gave her, Liara and Shiala time to discuss the finer points of what their defence would involve, it also gave Liara a little time to relax. The asari had, understandably, been on edge since landing on Thessia, and Faith planned to spend most of the coming day simply enjoying the beautiful estate, and each other's company.

Between Benezia, Shiala, Aethyta, as well as being home for the first time in decades, and the ever-present mantle of the Shadow Broker, Shepard knew Liara had a huge amount of stress heaped on her shoulders. But while she was happier with problems she could shoot, Faith still had a fair idea of how to help Liara relax for a while.

With a sigh and a fond smile, she regarded the sleeping asari.

She's stronger than anybody gives her credit for.

So many people only saw the polite, measured speech, the shy demeanor, the moderate dress... and underestimated her. But there was true strength in Liara, not just in her astoundingly powerful biotics or great depths of intelligence, but in her unblinking determination and emotional endurance. She had been Faith's rock more than once, standing strong when all Shepard wanted to do was stop.

Today, I will be your rock.

With another smile, Faith stood and silently crossed the room to the sleeping Liara, delighting in her tiny snores. She would be waking soon, and Faith had a surprise planned.

Slipping off the asari styled, cloak-like robe she had found in the bathroom and enjoying the cool air of the room on her body for a second, Shepard carefully climbed into bed beside her delightfully nude asari.

At the movement, Liara instinctively shuffled back into her human's warmth, washing a wave of affection over her.

As tempting as it was to simply envelop Liara in her arms and drift back to sleep until both woke naturally, she had other plans. As gently as she could, Faith began to manoeuvre Liara onto her back. She'd never done this before, but had woken up earlier with a deep urge between her legs that gave her the wicked idea.

Softly, careful not to wake Liara, Faith ran a hand across the wondrous curve of the asari's hip, up to brush against her breast, desiring nothing more than to cup that perfect weight, and feel it mould against her touch. She loved the texture of Liara's pebbled skin beneath her fingers; like the softest leather, just a couple of degrees cooler than her own body temperature but enough to send pleasant tingles through her senses.

At the contact Liara let out a long, slow breath, but did not wake as Faith continued to gently stroke down the appealing expanse of blue skin, eventually sliding the sheet away from their bodies and marvelling at the beauty before her. The room was gently lit by a single, massive, window that occupied most of a wall - the glass heavily tinted to allow only the faintest light in, casting the whole room in a beautiful violet hue.

The human smiled, drawing her hand back down to the slope of her asari's waist, leaning in to plant a light kiss on a sensitive neck... then brushed her mouth down to gently graze her teeth around Liara's collarbone. She did not want to wake the asari yet, but had no idea how long she could continue before her ministrations roused the asari's slumber.

With an involuntary carnal groan that jolted through Faith's senses, Liara rolled her chest up into the warmth of the human's mouth, the movement drawing apart her legs just enough so-

Yes...

Even as she began to massage the full breast with her warm mouth, Faith drew her hand down to the sensitive azure flesh between Liara's legs, a light pressure dipping into the dampness gathering there.

Still apparently asleep, Liara quietly groaned again at the touch, hips slowly shifting into the human's hand. For several languid minutes Faith continued to softly tease the sleeping asari, reveling in every tiny shift of Liara's body, every sensual noise dragged from her lips, until she felt confident enough to move to the next stage of her plan.

Reluctantly releasing Liara's breast with a quiet pop, Faith began to slowly manoeuvre down the bed, positioning herself so her head was gently resting between Liara's legs. The asari, seeming to miss the pressure across her body, began to stir, until Faith slowly locked her lips around the dark flesh before her, eyes flickering into the back of her head at the wonderful, alien taste.

It took just seconds for Liara to wake. Even as Faith continued her ministrations, she noticed Liara's toes begin to curl, her legs stretching drowsily... and delighted in the sounds Liara made as she came to her senses.

'Hmm... wha... Fa-ith?'

The asari's voice hitched on Faith's name as she flicked a particularly sensitive spot with her tongue, smiling at the pleasure dripping from Liara's voice. Ignoring the questioning tone, Faith took the offensive and pressed in further, drawing another wordless gasp from Liara's lips.

Shepard lost herself in the moment. Every sense lit up her body: the sounds of her lover's pleasure escaping her lips. The alien taste on her tongue, delicate and intriguing. Liara's legs clasping against her head, trembling. That amazing, not-quite-cinnamon scent, all the stronger with Liara's arousal. The view of her lover as she glanced up, head rolling backwards, back arching, breasts displayed proud to the ceiling.

It was perfect.

'F...Faith...?'

Liara's gasped out the questioning tone, still tinged with the remnants of her sleep and more than a little lust, and Faith looked up with a glistening mouth as she smiled coyly, humming directly where she knew it would drive Liara wild to hum. 'Hm?'

'What...'

Shepard's eyes flashed as she spoke directly into Liara's arousal, voice muffled as the asari squirmed. 'Do you want me to answer... or continue?'

'I... oh Goddess...' the cry escaped Liara's lips as Faith brushed against a particularly sensitive nub, and her smile widened as she lowered her eyes again.

'I thought so. Now, hold still...'


'Yes! You are doing it!'

Shepard grit her teeth in response to Liara's words, sweat breaking out across her forehead.

Her body ached in the most unusual places, unused to such exertion, but she was determined to see this through, and she narrowed her eyes, deep brown turning almost black in the shadow of her scowl.

'Yes Faith, just a little more, you have almost...' Liara's voice faded to a distant echo as she focused, until nothing else mattered other than-

'Gah!' Shepard gasped as a deep, painful twinge shot through her temple, jarring her concentration. Instantly the tiny singularity she had been generating a couple of metres above the ground collapsed into itself and drew the snow she had managed to lift into its centre, before it all fell to the ground.

Clasping a hand to her face, Faith grimaced as a sticky trickle of blood from her nose seeped into her glove. Instantly, Liara was there tenderly caressing Shepard's face and dabbing her with a tissue spotted with red, but there was a smile on the her face as she spoke excitedly. 'You almost did it that time! Just a little more and you could have-'

'Used it to tickle a husk?' Shepard interceded, frustrated but not hugely bothered by her failure. She was having too much fun to be truly agitated. 'Even if I could get the thing self-sustaining it was tiny, Liara.'

'We all started out small,' Liara replied patiently, repeating the same thing she had done several times before already. At the words Faith was pleasantly reminded of their trip to Mindoir, where Liara had real trouble in learning the rhythms of riding a horse... though the roles this time were very definitely reversed. 'Though it does amaze me how poorly suited human physiology is for biotics... are you feeling well?'

Liara gave a knowing smile as the finished cleaning up the minor nosebleed, and planted a soft kiss on Faith's temple.

'I'm fine. We can't all be superpowered, eezo laced beauties,' Faith said with a grin, feeling truly at ease in Liara's company despite the gentle throbbing. She drew in a deep breath and looked around, the deserted, snow-covered grounds of the T'Soni estate stretching as far as she could see in all directions. They had walked deep into one of the wooded areas for some privacy, having bundled up in warm clothes after several very enjoyable hours in bed. They were currently in a small clearing, alone save for the trees and what little wildlife there was willing to brave the cold. 'Ask me to wrestle though, then we'll talk about superior physiology.'

'I would rather leave that to the krogan... I am certain Wrex or Grunt would happily oblige if you asked them,' Liara replied, gazing out as well. Even asari trees seemed alien, Faith noticed - the leaf structures were similar enough that from a distance somebody might mistake them for those that grew on Earth or other human systems, but up close she could see they had developed into graceful spirals and patterns unlike any she had seen before. Like much of Thessia, they were all assorted shades of blue, purple and the occasional turquoise hinting at green, all glimmering with eezo... and all were beautiful. The air was silent around them other than the rustle of cool wind through the leaves, occasionally jostling some settled snow to the ground. 'Though,' Liara continued, 'my fath... sire... insisted on me knowing that she is half-krogan, so perhaps your antics yesterday count?'

'Antics?' Faith replied with mock outrage, trying to keep the grin from her lips. 'I was defending your home! Anyway, if she's half krogan, doesn't that make you quarter krogan?'

Liara shook her head, smiling. 'Goddess, I wish she had not said anything! It... does not work that way. '

'I bet she'd say it does. Didn't she say something about a half-hanar sister you have?'

Again the asari shook her head. 'For asari, family is traditionally only counted from the mother's side, though that changed when we made contact with other species. Some might argue even Aethyta is no relation to me... but...'

'She's not what I was expecting,' Faith said quietly. Aethyta's words with Liara the night before had eased some of her suspicions, but the soldier still felt a little uncomfortable with the way she had just shown up, as if expecting Liara to welcome her into her life without question. It was not her choice to make, though - in truth Shepard had no idea how she would respond if placed in a similar situation. As far as she knew she didn't have any family to show up on the doorstep.

Liara shook her head again. 'No, she is not. Mother had many partners as I was growing up, though none of them were around for more than two or three years. They were all aliens, all very... serious. Political allies, I believe, possibly used for advantage in her work. None were anything like Aethyta.'

With a nod, the Spectre's voice turned wistful. 'Aethyta gave the impression that they were together for love, not anything else. Seems strange to imagine the two of them together...'

'Any stranger than a heroic soldier and the sheltered archaeologist she rescued from her own foolish curiosity?' Liara sounded amused as she leaned in to rest her head on Faith's shoulder, the memories drawing smiles from both as she continued. 'It is... good... to imagine mother with somebody she truly loved. She always seemed so lonely when I was growing up.'

Hearing Liara talk like sent a wonderful, deep warmth through Faith's heart, and she gave her lover a squeeze around the waist at the words. She knew well the pain that Liara was going through - being back here, feeling that loss all too acutely in the place she knew her mother should be... but to hear her speak such things, softly, happily...

'Do you think they ever came out here, in the snow, like this?' Faith ventured, resting her own head on top of Liara's.

'They may have. But knowing Aethyta, it is more likely they... ah... stayed indoors, rather than ventured into the cold.'

Faith grimaced at the inflection. 'That you willingly imagine your parents doing that is kinda creepy, Liara.'

Straightening her head, Liara looked innocently, wide eyed, at Shepard. 'Having sex? Why should that be "creepy"? Asari do not even need to engage in the physical act to conceive, humans on the other hand do. Why, your parents must have done so at least three times...'

Faith began to splutter, before she caught the glint in Liara's eye, when she broke into an outraged smile. 'You're awful! And it's still creepy!' She jogged away a few steps, eager to change the topic. 'Anyway, being out in the snow is fun too!'

She ducked down and picked up a handful of the stuff, enjoying the way the traces of eezo glittered in the sun.

'Does your home planet get snow?' Liara called after her.

'Not where the colony was. Or is, I suppose,' Faith replied, glancing up at Liara to see the asari was looking away to the trees. Another wicked thought passed her mind, and she began to ball up the snow in her hand, speaking all the while. 'All we got in the winter was less heat, and more rain. I used to look at pictures and vids of Earth covered in snow, I always thought it was really romantic.'

Liara began to turn at Faith's words, smiling. 'Romantic? That does not sound very much like youuuuaaaghh!'

The lightly packed ball of snow struck Liara's shoulder - exactly where Shepard had aimed it - exploding in a spray of white mist that dusted across Liara's face, forcing the asari to crumple her features in cute outrage. 'Goddess, what was that!?'

'I've always wanted to do that!'

'You are so cruel!'

'I didn't mean to- ah- Liara?' The asari had lit up with biotics, and with a gesture much too small for its effect, a massive patch of snow dislodged itself from the ground with a heavy whump, hovering just a few feet away from Faith, orbiting a small singularity in a manner that would be both fascinating and beautiful... if she did not know exactly what was about to happen. 'That's not-'

Ignoring her, Liara gave the tiniest flick of her wrist, and the enormous floating field of snow slammed into Faith.

The world turned white, even through clamped shut eyes.

The impact was light - it was not packed - but it took Faith's breath away in surprise, just as existence turned cold, chilling her to the bone as the snow buffeted her face.

The whirling blizzard was over just a few seconds after it started, snow drifting peacefully to the ground.

Faith stood, arms by her sides, stunned. Her exposed skin was tingling, damp as the frigid snow melted uncomfortably down her back and neck, and her clothes - previously an assortment of dark shades - were all coated in a layer of soft white.

And Liara stood, head tilted, much too pleased with herself. 'I believe this superpowered, eezo laced beauty just demonstrated the superiority of biotics to physical power. Would you like to continue your lessons?'

Glancing up, Faith shook her body, dislodging a fairly massive amount of snow. With a sudden wolfish grin, she narrowed her eyes. 'Game on, T'Soni.'


This is nice...

Faith shifts her body slightly, and I move my head into a more comfortable position, too content to notice the slight dampness against my face from her jacket, or the biting cold air. It felt so good, so freeing, to simply run and laugh across the clearing, bombarding Faith with snow whenever I could, falling, shrieking, to the ground whenever she caught and tackled me. Several minutes ago we collapsed in pleasant tiredness to the ground in one of the patches I cleared of snow, tangled in each other's arms, enjoying the contact even through the layers worn to keep out the cold.

I know we should probably be doing something else, preparing for the trial, or the Reapers, but Faith insisted that whatever we could achieve in a day sitting in front of a computer could not match the release of tension and stress in preparation of what is to come, and though the guilt is there... I can see she was right.

Everything had become such an unpleasant pressure, and in simply losing myself in the work I lost sight of why we are doing it, and this...

This is why we fight, why we do what we do.

So one day we can live this life without that horrific knowledge that in just months every world could be burning, that we can spend hours making love without care, that we can play in the snow like children without guilt... it almost seems unreal to imagine...

'Huh... looks like things are going well over here.'

My eyes jolt open, to see Aethyta looming over us, wrapped up in a heavy coat not dissimilar to Faith's military style jacket. Sitting up - too quickly - I instantly clasp a hand to my head in a futile attempt to block the rush of blood, to rub the glare of the sun from my eyes.

Faith, of course, is more sensible, slowly rising, then helping me to my feet.

How long were we lying like that?

The sun does not appear to have moved, but I feel well rested... and hungry, after such a biotic exercise. No doubt Faith is feeling it more than I, her body unused to such a workout.

Aethyta glances around the field, then breaks into a wide smile. 'Looks like you two've been having fun. Can't recommend screwing in the snow, though. Sure, it looks kinda fun, but you just end up freezing your tits off. On a hot day though? Nothing better than an ice cube you run along your-'

Faith slashes a hand before her face hurriedly. 'We get the point!'

With a frown and shake of her head, Aethyta gestures wildly to the sky. 'I don't get you humans! I've not once met one who isn't some sort of perverted, sexual... deviant in the sack, but the second someone talks about it you get tighter than Tevos' ass when Aria's in the room.'

Goddess... that rumour has been around since before I was born - apparently the "Queen of Omega" has long wanted to seduce our Citadel Councillor to her bed... and of course the more outrageous tales even claim the pair are secret lovers... which is nonsense of course, the Shadow Broker would surely have known about such a thing...

I flush, embarrassed that I even want to know if there is any truth to it. I think I will ask one of my agents in Tevos' employ to dig deeper, if not for my curiosity then because it could be good blackmail material...

Faith apparently has not heard that one, blurting out 'Wait, wha-' before Aethyta continues, unstoppable.

'I mean, it makes no sense! Maybe if you talked about it more you'd have less hang-ups about the whole thing. You should take a look at the turians, they're happy to blow off steam and just about anything else, and they've got sticks jammed so far up their collective scaly asses they can taste them. Don't even get me started on salarians, though, Goddess, all that fertilisation talk is kinky until you realise just what they're on about, I've never needed a shower after sex so desperately. Hanar, they're interesting with their... I... ah...' she finally stops talking, eyes glazed over in memories I am not sure I want to know about.

The thought of her with so many aliens is... I must admit slightly disturbing. I am aware of the reputation of the asari, and in general we are more promiscuous than most other species who harbour such strange taboos, but I have personally never seen the appeal - is it not more natural to feel attraction to our own species? Humans are similar enough in physiology to remain at once familiar and intriguingly alien, and of course I am attracted to Faith... does such taste come from experience? Though maidens are better known for their experimentation than matrons or matriarchs, there must be something else to it, so perhaps it is just me...

'Ah... anyway.' Aethyta breaks the awkward silence, eyes snapping back to the present.

It is so strange, to think she is my sire. She knows so much, and is open about her life and experiences in a way not even mother was, insightful and intelligent as she showed in our conversation about our government despite her coarse language and blunt manner. She is perhaps a little too keen to talk about her assorted sexual conquests, though I have begun to suspect she does that as least partially to wind Faith up, as she grows clearly uncomfortable at the topic. A strange reaction... but one of the many quirks I love about her.

The thought brings a smile to my face, and I ask, 'It is good to see you, Aethyta... was there something you needed?'

'Huh?' She again breaks into that wide, open smile. 'Oh, no, not me. I was just bringing you crazy kids some food, I heard the din you've been making from the house so figured you could do with some recharging.'

Excellent!

Faith's voice sounds at my side, uncertain. 'You... brought us a packed lunch?'

I look at her, and suddenly feel a whisper of a dozen affectionate memories wash over me, making me blink in surprise.

Goddess, what was that?

The feeling dissipates before I can even fully understand or absorb it, but catches my breath nonetheless. This... this gesture is familiar to her, I know it! When she would be out working on her farm on Mindoir, her father would bring her one of these "packed lunches", forcing her to stop working for a short break, to pace herself and know her limits... lessons she carried with her to this day, avoiding a common downfall of soldiers who think they are invincible-

How do I know that?

A... a memory I picked up during a meld?

Or... something else?

Looking back at her, I see in her eyes that this one simple gesture has... swayed her opinion about Aethyta. There is still a suspicion there, as is only natural, but in reminding her of her own father, Aethyta has given Faith a hope that the matriarch might give me such happiness and love, that she wants to give me that...

That... that would be... nice...

Aethyta continues, oblivious to what just passed between us. 'A what? I suppose it's technically a lunch in a pack, but you need to drop those human terms, soldier girl.' She gestures up at me without looking. 'Come here kiddo, see what I brought.'

Shooting Faith a secret smile, and seeing her grin in return with a slight shake of her head, I kneel down by the open pack. As Aethyta rummages through the bag, pulling out a wide range of snacks, suddenly she glances up... and I feel at home, with my human at my side, and this strange asari who loved my mother, looking at me with a fond affection only a parent could show.


'So, what exactly were you doing out here?'

Liara glanced up as she finished packing away some of the remnants of their lunch, then nodded in Shepard's direction. 'I was helping Faith with her biotics. She has considerable potential, but never received full training.'

'Yeah?' The matriarch's gaze shifted to the soldier. 'I thought humans were all over any biotics they had.'

With a shrug, Faith grimaced at the memory of some of Kaidan's horror stories... not to mention what she had seen at Teltin. 'Most of the time. But I was one of the weakest on record and was too good in the field to waste as a bad biotic. Once they realised my throw could barely push somebody off balance they re-assigned me to special forces training. But...'

She hesitated, not quite ready to tell Aethyta the full extent of what happened with her resurrection. 'A while back I got some experimental biotic tech put in me. Now I can uproot small trees with that same throw, but since I never learned how to do anything else, Liara was teaching me.'

The maiden smiled happily. 'We just about managed to generate a singularity, but got... distracted.'

Aethyta snorted at that. 'Distracted, huh? Well, you want any help? I've done a bit of biotic teaching in my time.'

Liara shot Faith a questioning glance... and the soldier was sure she could see... or feel... something else in it, a desire to spend a little more time with the matriarch. Unsure how she knew, Faith nevertheless knew with a certainty Liara would be more than happy to accept Aethyta's company and assistance.

The human nodded. 'Sounds good. I don't know if I should keep trying to get my flimsy singularity right, or...' A thought occurred to her. 'Do you know how to do a charge? I've managed a bastardised version a couple of times now, but can't seem to do it properly.'

Aethyta cracked into a wicked grin. 'Kid, I practically invented it!'

'Goddess, I should have known...' Liara shook her head, but was smiling beneath her hand.

'Ok,' Faith began, eager, 'so, I can do the launch off thing but I need to know... how do you stop without breaking your body on whatever you hit?'


'Anyone ever tell you you drink too mm-much?'

Matriarch Aethyta glanced up from her cocktail shaker to see Shiala staring at her, the whisper of a smile on her face. Rolling her eyes, the bartender resumed her attention to the drink she was making as she replied. 'Somebody tried to tell me that once. It didn't work out too well for them. Anyway, this ain't for me. I'm trying to design a new cocktail, dedicated to the kid.'

She had the base down: naturally she had used the sweet tasting, spiced blue liqueur that gave just about every asari-themed cocktail its colour. But while the colour was right, she had avoided most of the other usual ingredients. Liara was something special, and it wouldn't do to have any old crap in there. She'd already balanced the sweetness with a splash of dry martini, and was scouring the stocks for the next addition.

Can't believe Nezzy never got the bar taken out.

Finding that the installation she had insisted on nearly two hundred years ago was still there in the main building of the estate had been one hell of a pleasant surprise. Aethyta had slipped behind it as if she'd never left, marvelling that not only were all of her favourite liqueurs still kept in stock, but whoever managed it had even done a damned fine job in keeping the stock modern, with a healthy selection of the human alcohols that had taken the drinking world by storm.

The bar was otherwise empty though, the room showing signs of disuse: a thin layer of dust across the tables, and the pumps in need of a good clean.

Aethyta had no good justification as to why she had spent the last couple of hours bringing the place back up to the quality one expected from a good bar, but it felt right. After their biotic lessons, the human finally learning how to do a passable charge, the lovers had retreated back to their quarters, and Liara had said Aethyta could go anywhere she wanted... where else was there but her old haunt?

All she needed were some of Nezzy's stuffy friends to come seeking refreshment, and it would be just like the old days... save the woman herself was gone, never coming back...

Don't... not now...

Biting back the sorrow, she looked around. Once the place had been cleaned up she'd set herself to work trying to design the perfect cocktail for Liara. There wasn't much she felt she was really good at that involved making rather than breaking things, but this was one of them, and Aethyta was feeling stupidly happy after spending most of the afternoon in her kid's company.

'I take it you had a good afternoon out on the est-t-tate?' Shiala prompted, sitting down at the bar, groaning in pleasure as the weight was taken from her leg. Aethyta's heart went out to the commando - hearing her stutter like that was rough, not to mention her limp... but Shiala was a fighter, and wouldn't want any sympathy.

Instead she simply nodded, hand dancing along the row of spirits before finally resting on a small bottle of amber liqueur: a human whiskey most asari weren't especially fond of. But they were fools: it had a rich, earthy flavour that took a little while to get used to, and once you did... there wasn't anything quite like it. It would be an unexpected twist to the cocktail, like Liara's own career as an archaeologist when most kids were out getting shot or leered at. It was also a respectful nod to Liara's choice in partners: while Shepard and Aethyta didn't see eye to eye on everything and probably never would, the human had nearly beaten her to a pulp just because she suspected Aethyta was there to hurt Liara... and she could get behind that kind of attitude. Even if her still aching face disagreed.

Pulling the whiskey down, she set to deciding the best way to incorporate it into the mixture since the stuff was usually best enjoyed on its own. 'Yeah. Spent half the time teaching Shepard how not to cave in her skull when doing a biotic charge. Even had to reset her shoulder after a bad one. Humans are damned idiots, I'll tell you that, it's as if she liked getting herself hurt.' Glancing up, she added, 'You're on water with your... thing... right?'

Shiala shook her head with a sardonic smile. 'I sh-should be, but it's hardly like I'm going to get any worse. Let's see if you've still got your touch, Thyta, what do you think I want?'

Aethyta grinned, and took a good look at the green-skinned asari. If she'd been off alcohol for so long she'd not want anything too strong, but was obviously in the mood for something to tickle her tastebuds. From what Aethyta could remember Shiala had never been a fan of the fruity stuff - probably some commando bravado thing - but didn't have a favourite otherwise.

In the end she settled for ducking down to the fridge beneath the bar, rattling through bottles to find what she was sure she had seen earlier, eventually...

Ha!

She brandished a brown bottle, pleased it had a cap that would allow her to perform a little stunt that always went down well.

With Shiala as her enraptured audience, Aethyta gave a graceful flourish, before nonchalantly adjusting her breasts. Ignoring Shiala's raised brow, she raised the bottle to her chest... then jabbed the top into her right breast and twisted, dislodging the cap as the other asari began to chuckle.

Aethyta grinned as she handed it over. 'The day I can't do that any more is the day I call it quits.'

'Only you could find a way to combine breasts and dr...drinking, Thyta,' Shiala said as she cautiously sniffed the bottle.

Aethyta simply nodded proudly in return. A human had taught her that... and the night had ended with her doing shots off Aethyta's chest. But Shiala didn't need to know that; maybe she'd tell Shepard later though, the human was just too easy to wind up that way.

'Smells... pungent. Do I just drink it like this?' Shiala then turned the bottle around, and inspected the printed label. 'Is this h-human? I recognise the letters from my colony, I think the dialect is different though.'

Aethyta nodded, grinning. 'Yeah. Give it a try!'

The commando took a sip, and her eyes widened as she poked her tongue out. 'Ugh, it's quite bitter.'

'Yeah, everyone says that at first. Keep going!'

With a sceptical raised brow, Shiala took a second, slightly longer draw. 'I suppose it is quite... refreshing? What is it?'

'They call it "beer". Alcohol brewed from grains rather than fruit, if you can believe it!' Aethyta's grin widened as Shiala took another drink - she knew the commando would come around. 'The only other species who does that are the krogan, the rest of us are all too busy using it for food like sane people.'

Shiala set the bottle down with a smile. 'They're so unusual. I've lived with them for over two years now, and am still surprised at some of the things they do. Th... they can be t-terrifying in their drive, sometimes, but there's such potential for kindness and love also... it gives me hope they will be a force for good, with the right guidance.'

Aethyta snorted. She was too old for big mystical dilemmas - she'd lived long enough to know that talks of forces for good never went any further than talking about the damned genophage, or how only the asari were suitable to lead. The galaxy went on as always... and she just wanted the juicy details. 'You bang any of them yet?'

'Ha! Should have kno...kno...' the green-skinned asari's smile faded as she shook her head with a resigned scowl, before taking a breath and trying again, 'known you'd ask.'

'That a yes, then?' Aethyta prompted with an eager smile, leaning forwards over the bar.

With a nod, Shiala smiled wistfully. 'Yeah. His name's Michael. The man's so sweet, he practically worships the ground I stand on.'

'Ugh, I hope he isn't-' began the bartender, knowing that kind of lover could be all manner of frustrating.

Shiala interceded with a grin. 'Oh no, hhh-he gives me exactly what I need. So vigorous, and creative... but tender when he needs to be...'

Aethyta wiggled her hips in pleasant discomfort. Damn, now I need to get laid!

'Dammit, I shouldn't have asked! Reckon there's anyone around here'd be up for a romp?'

The commando replied quickly, in a deadpan tone. 'I thought you were making a drink for Liara?'

The matriarch was about to protest, but there was a smug glint in Shiala's eye that Aethyta couldn't help but laugh at. It wasn't often anybody got one over her when it came to sex talk, and so accepting defeat, she turned back to the lines of spirits.

'Yeah, yeah, get the old lady turned on then put her to work, I know how you kids do things,' she muttered to herself, still smiling.

Damn, it feels good to be back here, it really does.

Suddenly, the perfect addition caught her eye. 'You know what, I think I've got it.'

She pulled down a clear bottle of salarian fortified wine, flavoured with all sorts of strange herbs and spices from the Sur'Kesh jungles. By itself the stuff was odd but not great... but it was perfect for mixing into cocktails, giving them an exotic edge that invariably left the drinker intrigued. Happy with what she had, she carefully mixed the ingredients, then poured the result into a tall, rounded glass. It sparkled a pleasant blue from the base liqueur, though she could still see wisps of the amber whiskey, dancing around as if like fire in the liquid.

Slowly, she took a sip.

... I'm good.

It took an experienced hand to mix such strong flavours as that whiskey and fortified wine without the end product coming out tasting like a vorcha's ass, but rather than fighting for prominence the flavours seemed to enhance each other, blending into something that was almost sweet and unassuming at first... before the true range came through, surprising her with their complexity and leaving her wanting more.

Aethyta grinned, proud of her achievement. If a drink could be a person, this one would be... nearly... Liara. It just needed one extra touch, and she knew exactly what.

'H...how is it?' Shiala prompted, beer already half-finished.

Aethyta ducked back down beneath the bar. 'Keep your tits on, it's nearly done, just needs...'

She pulled a personal bottle from her bag. Benezia had put her foot down at her keeping the stuff stocked full time, but that had never stopped her.

'Goddess, is that...' The commando's amused question hung in the air, but both knew the answer.

'Yup.' She gestured to the cocktail she had already poured. 'This is good, but not strong enough. Damn, Shi, you should have seen my girl earlier. I was curious and asked her to do a singularity... and she just about tore the ground up with it. Then Shepard said that was a weak one for her...'

Aethyta shook her head, smiling proudly. 'That's the krogan in her, I know it. So, ryncol!'

She carefully tilted the bottle over the prepared cocktail, and allowed a couple of drops to fall. That would be enough - the krogan liqueur was deadly to any other flavour if used in quantity.

'I think this is starting to taste bet...better the more I drink,' Aethyta looked up to see Shiala gazing suspiciously at the beer bottle as if it was deceiving her, before looking up with a smile. 'And you know breeding doesn't work like that, r-right?'

The matriarch broke into a wide, knowing grin. 'What'd I tell you! And you come to me when you've had a kid with your human who acts like she's got a dick and wants to swing it around, then we'll talk about breeding.'

Before the outraged commando could dignify that with a response, Aethyta stirred the ryncol into her cocktail, and took another sip.

'Aw shit... this is perfect.'


'So, here's to settling down to your matron stage, and your sex god of a human!'

Matriarch Aethyta leaned back against the bar, raising a second glass of her creation in a toast. She hadn't figured out a name for it yet: she'd never been especially good at that kind of thing, and wasn't exactly what people called "subtle". The Liara or maybe the Kiddo was a stupid name for a drink.

She'd just drink the stuff, and let somebody else figure it out.

Shiala had been knocking back the beers since her revelation, and was currently on her fifth, bearing one of those stupid, stealthy grins that crept up on the cusp of drunkenness. At Aethyta's words, she raised her own bottle with a smile. 'M... may you find one of your own.'

'Ha! I might just do that, hit up one of their colonies when we're done here. And who says I want just one?'

'... Dare I ask what you're talking about?'

Both asari turned to look at the words, to see Liara and Shepard standing in the doorway to the bar.

Shepard, the speaker, cut a fine figure in a smart, unmarked black uniform trimmed in white,the jacket buttoned up to the neck. Her dark hair was just long enough to cover her ears but not enough to tie back... and looked quite shoddily styled. Aethyta guessed Liara had been the one to do it: human hair fascinated most asari endlessly but they simply could not understand the mechanics behind it, being so alien. Humour rang through the human's voice, though Aethyta couldn't help but roll her eyes as the soldier quickly assessed the room as if there were slavers hiding under the tables.

To her side, clutching tightly onto the human's arm, Liara looked radiant in a clean white dress, trimmed with black as if to complement Shepard's own clothes. Acting without the human's caution she simply smiled, nodding to Aethyta and Shiala as she pulled the pair further into the room.

Shiala turned a slightly darker shade of green in embarrassment at what they might have overheard, but Aethyta had no such qualms as she gave a wide, teasing grin. 'Shiala's new... what do you call 'em... boy toy. What about you, Shepard, you ever swing that way, or you a "tits for life" kinda girl?'

The human predictably flushed red, shaking her head as she muttered, 'Wh... I don't even...'

Liara seemed unphased, ignoring the question as they reached the bar. 'Rania said I might find you here. I...' she looked around with a smile. 'I always wondered what the room was for. Mother never seemed to use it, but I would occasionally find her alone in here when I was young.'

Aethyta raised a brow, truly surprised. 'You don't say? She hated the place, but got a pretty good deal out of it. I buttered up more than one of her partners - and a lot more of her rivals - for whatever she had planned for 'em.' Lost in memory, the bartender continued, 'She stopped complaining about the bar tab the first time it happened, and by the end, she was practically throwing the suckers at me.'

'That... does not sound like her,' Liara replied hesitantly, carefully seating herself between Shiala and her human with perfect posture. With a blink, Aethyta was again reminded of that frustratingly proper asari with whom she had shared over a century of life and love... and with whom she'd created this beautiful girl.

'She...' Aethyta shook her head. 'She changed, Kiddo. We barely spoke after we split, but whenever we did...'

She took a gulp of her drink, mostly as a prop to allow a moment to gather herself. 'I dunno if she was more into her work, or whatever, but it was like she was taking the whole matriarch deal to mean she wasn't allowed to enjoy her life.'

With a deep breath, Aethyta looked up to see three pairs of eyes trained on her. Nezzy had been one hell of a woman, something different to each of them: mother, guardian and foe... and there was no way she'd done anything over than left a lasting impression on each.

Over a hundred years had passed but Aethyta had not found anybody who even came close. Conversations were like talking to pyjaks in comparison. Sex was like rubbing a quick one out in the bathroom. Melding... melding with Benezia was like touching the damned galactic core itself; so much knowledge, intelligence, strength and wisdom in one person's mind... how could anything compare to that?

Aethyta forced a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, and waved her glass in the direction of the unlikely trio. 'You guys want something to drink?' Locking eyes with her daughter... damn... she winked. 'Brewed this up just for you.'

There were subdued nods all around, and in no time all four had a fresh glass, each sparkling blue.

Aethyta awkwardly scoured her brain for something to drink to, coming up short. It wasn't like her to be stuck for words, and she was about to just get started with the drinking when Shiala quietly offered, 'Benezia T'Soni. The galaxy is a lesser place for her loss.'

Aethyta had, of course, had lovers die before. It was part and parcel of being asari, and a damned old one at that: whether it was short lived aliens, or the lifestyle, or accident or illness or any other misfortune, Aethyta had lost hundreds of friends, family and partners over her lifetime.

She knew how to deal with it. For all the mystical crap her people preached, this was one thing they had right... and oddly enough, it was one they shared with the long-lived krogan, probably because however fancy they phrased it, it boiled down to pure practicality. Sure, mourning was necessary, but after that, you move on, keeping the best of them in your heart.

But Nezzy was... different. Aethyta had honestly believed that they would face the coming untold centuries together. They would raise their beautiful little kid together, be the wise... ha... matriarch pair, and maybe eventually, choose to end their lives together rather than succomb to the ravages of extreme age.

Aethyta had never quite gotten past the loss of that, if not perfect, then happy future. A future she sure as hell didn't deserve, but had, one year at a time with Benezia, slowly let herself believe she might have anyway.

Gone.

How could she honour that, honour her, with a stupid drink and empty words? Her voice cracked as she tried anyway. 'She was... the greatest person I've ever known.' The words sounded pitiful compared to the woman herself, but Aethyta didn't trust herself to say anything more without choking up.

Silence drew out again, before Shepard hesitantly spoke up, adding her thoughts and memories. 'She...' the human began slowly, looking to Liara for reassurance. With glistening eyes, the maiden nodded. 'She was lost doing what she thought right to make the galaxy a better place. I only saw a shell, but will remember her through the love of those close to her.'

More nods, then eventually all eyes turned to Liara, who gazed solemnly into her drink. Time drew out... Say something kid... until she finally looked up with a dazzling smile, though her words were thick with sorrow. 'I... thank you all for being here. My relationship with mother was... by no means perfect. W... we argued, I thought she was too distant, she thought I was too defiant.'

Liara brought a hand up to her face, brushing away a dampness in her eye. 'But I thought that she would live forever. That maybe we would have reconciled one day, or... or talked to each other as... as equals, just once.'

The maiden sniffed, and Shepard placed a soft hand on her thigh in reassurance as Liara continued, eyes glistening. 'But we cannot do that now. I cannot tell her h-how much she inspired me, or... or how sorry I am that I never listened...'

She took a deep breath, and looked up at Aethyta. 'But I do not believe she would want me living with such regrets. While I was obsessed with looking to the past, she believed in working for a better future.'

She did, she was always talking about how she wanted to make the galaxy a better place for those after her... damn Nezzy, what happened?

'So... so I think we should drink to a future that she would have wanted, and honour her memory by working to make it real.'

Aethyta nodded, finally allowing a century of loss to touch her heart, a century of longing and... the final, inevitable knowledge of Benezia's death gripped her voice and dampened her eyes, however hard she tried to blink it back. 'Well said, Ki...Liara.' She raised her glass, a single tear running down her face. 'To Benezia.'

Three voices replied, heavy with grief, memory, and hope for the future. 'To Benezia.'


'Bah, call that a story?'

Faith grinned as Aethyta scoffed at Shiala's tale of her team pulling a Thresher Maw from the ground with their biotics, leaving the galaxy's most terrifying predator helpless, writhing on the sand.

They had spent the last few hours at first talking about Benezia... but as more and more alcohol flowed, the group had begun sharing ridiculous tales of their lives to date, each one eliciting at first grins, then chuckles... and eventually roars of laughter that seemed to fill the room with such a positive feeling Shepard didn't think she could remove the smile from her face if she tried. That Liara was flushing prettily from the laughter, and alcohol, was no small bonus either, though the maiden had taken something of a back seat to the other three in sharing tales, simply enjoying the mood.

'You girls think you've seen a lot.' Aethyta leaned forward onto the bar, a gratuitous amount of cleavage pouring from her barely-buttoned shirt. 'Hell, between a commando with a few centuries experience and a Spectre, I bet you've seen more than most. But until you've seen a volus biotic bombardment regiment, you ain't seen shit.'

'Volus... biotics?' Faith asked incredulously.

'Every species has biotics, soldier girl,' Aethyta replied, standing again and leaning back against the wall, 'but I'm not just talking about one who can lift crates for their friends, or give a girl an extra special time. I'm talking about a unit of fully armed and armoured volus soldiers ready to kick some ass... rolling into battle!'

Aethyta's serious expression threw the group for a second, before Faith, Liara and Shiala all burst into laughter again.

'You aren't sss-serious!' Shiala managed to get out, between deep, sucking breaths and barking laughs.

'I shit you not! I've not seen anything like it to this day. I was on one of their colonies bunked up with a pretty open minded couple, when some slaving bastards attacked. The turian patrol was nowhere near, but one of the volus' own military ships was...' The matriarch shook her head. 'While I was tearing some of the slavers new ones... hard to do that in an envirosuit, by the way... this shuttle soared overhead, and dropped a ramp down to the ground. Next thing I see is a damned glowing comet launch off the shuttle, slamming into one of the bastards.'

'No way...' Faith began, for Aethyta to turn to her with a knowing smile.

'Best biotic charge I've ever seen,' the matriarch said with a wink. 'But even when that one was ripping shit up, the others rolled down that ramp, all of 'em chucking these biotic bombs at the slavers...' She shook her head again. 'Biotic bombardment. The slavers were all dead in less than five minutes. No. Volus. Casualties.'

Silence drew out for a second as the group imagined the spectacle... before Liara, brow arched in skepticism, asked what they were all thinking. 'They rolled?'

Aethyta nodded earnestly. 'Honest truth, kid. Rapid deployment technique, they said. Their armour's specially designed for it.'

'My training covered all species' special forces!' Faith exclaimed, more in jest than serious... though her curiosity had definitely been peaked. 'Are you saying the volus are harbouring a squad of rolling biotic powerhouses from the rest of the galaxy?'

Aethyta leaned forward to the trio, grinning wildly. 'Top secret project, ladies. Last thing you expect from a volus is to have one of them kick your ass!' She shook her head. 'One of the most impressive things I've ever seen. They could have had me, all twelve, right there if they wanted.'

'Father!' Liara blurted out in outrage, flushing a deep navy.

'What? Power's hot, kid! And you can't tell me otherwise when you're banging the First Human Spectre.'

Faith suddenly found her drink extremely interesting, taking a healthy sip as Liara's eyes popped wide. 'I... that is not the point!'

'Uh-huh? So you going to tell me when she's tearing shit up you're not thinking about getting that sweet ass back into the bedroom?'

Faith coughed, spraying some blue fluid directly back into her glass as Liara continued to stutter. 'N-no! I mean, I do, ah... that is not the only... Goddess...'

Setting down her spoiled glass, Faith shot Liara what she hoped was an encouraging smile, then turned to Aethyta, trying to derail the conversation. 'I'll take your word on the biotics, but rolling?.'

'Believe what you want, Shepard.' She tapped her temple. 'Still got the memory here, clear as the day I saw it. I'd offer to show you, but-'

'No!' Liara said quickly, eyes dancing with worry, before clasping a hand to her mouth.

'Yeeeah, figured you might've picked up Nezzy's possessive streak,' Aethyta drawled with a smile, voice still upbeat, but carrying a serious undertone. 'Don't worry Li, not I nor any asari worth knowing would do that without clearing it with you first.'

'I... I am sorry, I know that...' Liara turned to Faith, cerulean eyes glittering, 'I apologise, I did not mean to imply I had any right to decide what you-'

'Hey,' Faith cut in softly, smiling, 'you've got nothing to be sorry for. Besides...' The human softly shoulder bumped the asari, feeling surprisingly bold despite their company. 'I kinda like it when you get possessive.'

'Ha! Guess we know who wears the pants, huh?' Aethyta butted into the moment with a grin, pouring Faith a refill in a fresh glass from a huge pitcher she had mixed. ''Sides, I don't think Shep here is ready for some of the things I've... experienced. They might just slip in there, you know?'

Shepard shot Aethyta a dirty look as an oddly comfortable silence fell, both Liara and Shiala shaking their heads in amusement. Aethyta's tawdry tales and lewd suggestions - usually aimed at her - were endlessly embarrassing, but the mood of the room was so positive Faith couldn't hold it against her.

'You've been qu...quite quiet, Liara,' Shiala eventually said, waving away Aethyta's offer of a refill. The commando had already drunk quite a lot of what she'd taken to calling the "Digger" after Liara's old profession, and was clearly feeling the effects, cheeks flushed a deep green. 'Do you have annn...nny stories about your travels?'

The maiden sat quietly for a moment, looking thoughtful. 'My life was rather boring until Faith rescued me,' she began, affectionate eyes melting Faith's heart. 'Though there is one mission of ours I remember as particularly... interesting...'

Shepard eyed Liara curiously, wondering to which she was referring. Feros, Virmire and Noveria had all been full of horror... not exactly the best topics for their easygoing evening.

'Yeah?' Aethyta asked, looking interested. 'What was it? Krogan warlords? Geth? Vorchan orgy?'

The moment ground to a halt as Liara let out a meek protest. 'What?'

'Ah...' Aethyta blinked 'Nevermind, go on kid!'

Liara looked bemused for a second, before shaking her head with a smile. 'Ah... no, nothing so dramatic. But the Commander had received a call from the Alliance that a probe used to monitor geth activity had gone dark.'

Faith's eyes widened. No...

'She, myself and Urdnot Wrex armoured up, suspecting the worst. We deployed to the planet Eletania in the Mako, and swiftly located the probe by its emergency beacon.'

Faith groaned, head in her hands, as the other two asari leaned in to Liara's story.

'Only, the data module inside was missing! It not only contained potentially useful geth intelligence, but if the geth themselves managed to find it, they could use it to uncover sensitive Alliance encryption algorithms, and so on. We readied our weapons, expecting combat.'

The human dropped her head to the bar.

'Our scanners showed that we were not alone,' Liara said mysteriously. 'There were eyes on us, all around. It was then we noticed that the probe had landed... in the centre of a pyjak colony!'

After a second of stunned silence, Aethyta and Shiala burst into laughter, as Faith ground her head into the bar in shame.

Liara's voice cracked with tipsy amusement as she tried to continue. 'S... so, Faith ordered us to begin searching the pyjaks!'

'No way!' Aethyta exclaimed, between roars of laughter. 'Haha! The great human Spectre, patting down monkeys!'

'They had important data!' Faith claimed, trying to regain some semblance of dignity. I can't believe Liara's telling them this...

'They were space monkeys!'

'They stole Alliance intel!' A furious blush worked its way across the soldier's face as she glared at the matriarch.

'And... and that was not even the best part,' Liara continued, smiling widely. 'The pyjaks in the first colony did not have it, so we spent the next five hours traversing the planet, travelling from colony to colony, searching all of the inhabitants at each!'

'Fff... five hours!' Shiala gasped out in laughter, forcing the blush across Faith's cheeks to deepen, even as Aethyta slapped the bar in glee.

'And with that old bastard Wrex? I bet he wasn't happy!'

'He said we should just kill them!' Faith growled, wondering how much worse this could get.

'But Faith would not let him,' Liara replied, voice full of warmth. 'She insisted they had done nothing other than act according to their nature, and did not deserve to die when they had not actually hurt anybody.'

'Aww, that's sweet!' Shiala cooed, which, Faith decided, was quite possibly the worst thing she could have done in the situation. Because Commander Shepard, Hero of the Citadel, Butcher of Torfan and assorted other impressive titles, had never felt less impressive in her entire life.

'Just so you know, that mission ended up with us killing about twenty geth,' she grumbled unhappily, taking a sip of her drink. 'I pummelled one of them to death with my shotgun when it overheated. Nobody remembers that.'

'I remember,' Liara said affectionately, placing a hand on Faith's thigh. The human looked up and smiled, feeling a little better. 'I remember your kindness to those little creatures, and how gentle you were when searching them. You even protected the one that was carrying the module from geth fire by hiding him before joining the fight.'

Screw it.

'They were cute!' She finally insisted, deciding it was better to just go with it, much to the delight of her asari companions. 'I wouldn't have been so nice if they were batarians or something.'

'Commander Shepard, saviour of the space monkeys!' Aethyta laughed gleefully. 'Girl, you're never going to live this one down!'

'Nor would I want her to.' Liara reached over and took Faith's hand, leaning in to press her body against the human's as she spoke happily. 'Power might be, as you say, hot, but power tempered with such compassion? That is positively scorching.'


Faith smiled as she drew in a breath of crisp winter air, reveling in the scent of the night, in the sight of the snow glittering in the moonlight, and most of all in the asari whose shoulder her arm was wrapped around.

Liara had requested they walked back to their living quarters, to help clear her, as she phrased it, pleasantly drunk head, and Faith was simply delighting in the smile that still graced her lovely face as they strolled slowly through the deserted night, sharing a comfortable silence.

Liara, clad just in her beautiful white dress and soft shawl, shivered as her breath steamed in the frigid air. Before she could object, Faith slipped off her jacket, leaving her torso clad in just a short-sleeved black shirt, and draped it across the Liara's shoulders.

The cold night bit at her bare arms, but she ignored it as Liara gave a grateful smile, asking softly, 'Are you sure?'

Shepard nodded with a smile, again wrapping an arm around Liara's shoulder. 'I'm sure.'

The pair quietly walked through the estate for close to ten minutes, and were approaching their house when a quiet voice sounded at Faith's side.

'I love you.'

Faith's heart stopped.

Just three little words... so simple, but the way Liara said them, with such absolute devotion and conviction as if striking them into existence itself, sucked the breath from her lungs and sent her head spinning.

'I... I know you know that, but I feel I do not say it enough. I love you, Faith Shepard. More than anything.'

They stopped walking, and Faith looked into Liara's glimmering blue eyes, swimming with unfathomable depth and tenderness.

Shepard opened her mouth, unsure of how to respond. Liara blushed, and smiled shyly.

Say something!

A million things flashed through her mind. Long, eloquent reasons she loved Liara in return. Other feelings she often had so much trouble putting into words. A gratitude she could never even come close to being able to express in words, for all Liara had given to her.

But...

Words seemed insufficient.

Instead, Faith leaned down and took Liara's sapphire lips, eliciting a small gasp before the kiss deepened, long, passionate, obliterating the universe outside of that one moment.

An eternity passed as they finally broke, both a little out of breath.

A tiny snowflake dropped onto Liara's nose, causing her face to crumple prettily.

Faith reached up to brush it away, and planted a delicate kiss in its place.

'I love you too, Liara T'Soni.'


A/N: Thank you Jay8008 and Vector 71 for the help with this monster chapter - as always your work is hugely appreciated. I did say I would try to keep chapter length down... from next time, I promise :-p

This was a fun one to write - but sadly the last "fluff" for quite some time - drama and action from here on out! Next chapter will see Benezia's trial, and after that events which will drag the plot into a rough interpretation of the ME3 as the Reapers make their moves towards completing their Cycle. Some of the key moments will be the same, but the order and settings will be different from in-game to account for the story to this point.

Thank you all for reading!