THESSIA

Raina is the first to wake in the household; at least she thinks she is. Entering the kitchen Raina sees a light on under the door to the secure room. She walks to her parent's bedroom door and softly knocks. "Mother?" When there is no reply she slowly opens the door. She finds the bed empty.

The asari makes her way back to the kitchen to make some breakfast and some tea. She knows her mother well and she doesn't need to be perceptive to know that most likely Liara has been awake all night. Once breakfast is made Raina softly knocks on the secure door. It takes a few attempts before the door finally opens.

"What is it?"

Raina ignores the shortness in her mother's tone. "Thought you might be hungry."

Liara's eyes snap to the tray Raina is holding. Her eyes well up. "I …I" Liara covers her mouth with her trembling hand.

Concerned for her, Raina quickly moves inside the secure room to set down the tray. She returns to Liara. "Mother?" Raina puts her arm around her and feels her mother shaking. "Here sit down." Raina guides her to one of the chairs in the room. Raina kneels down in front of her to look at her mother. Liara is exhausted. Her eyes look glassed over as if she doesn't really know what is happening right now. Raina looks at the multiple monitors that don one wall of the room; they are all displaying different images. Raina turns her attention back to her mom. "Mom, Mom can you hear me?"

Liara just stares ahead.

Raina gets up and grabs the cup of tea she brought on the tray. She kneels down again in front of Liara and holds the cup up under her nose. "Drink some of this."

Liara's eyes slowly meet her daughter's, "Raina?"

"Drink this." Raina holds up the cup closer to Liara's mouth. Raina can tell her mother is a little confused. It seems like the asari does not remember opening the door to her. Raina keeps a hand on the trembling cup as Liara raises it to her lips. "How long have you been awake?"

After the cup is drained Liara slumps back into the chair letting out a long sigh while closing her eyes.

Raina slowly stands and places the empty cup back on the tray. She starts to lift the tray when her mother says, "I have to get back to work. Thank you Raina but I do not have time."

Liara starts punching away on a keyboard then moves down to another keyboard and tap, tap, taps away.

"You need to eat Mother."

"I will."

"Now mother."

"I said…"

Raina touches Liara's shoulder. "Please. You can take five minutes to eat then return to your work."

Liara finally looks at the tray of food. "It looks delicious." Without another word Liara sits and starts to eat forgetting her daughter is in the room.

Raina smiles and then leaves the secure room to make breakfast for the rest of the family. While the eggs cook Raina quickly goes upstairs to wake her sister Mia.

"Wake up Mia, I need you to wake up."

Mia just groans.

"Please Mia I need your help."

"What?" Mia does not lift her head or open her eyes.

"Mom has been working all night and I don't know why. She is exhausted but won't sleep. I need you to make sure Eva and Little A are fed okay? Can you do that for me?"

Mia opens her eyes and blinks a few times. "Why can't they feed themselves, we are not kids ya know."

"Are you going to help me or not?" Raina is more firm.

"Okay okay."

"I need to get downstairs Mia to help Mom. Are you awake?"

"Mm Hmm."

Raina rolls her eyes and moves to the doorway. She turns to face Mia. Blue light shoots from her hands. Mia is thrown out of bed to the floor.

"Hey!"

"Thank you Mia." Raina smiles then makes her way back downstairs. When she enters the secure room she finds her mother slumped over a keyboard sleeping.

Well at least she ate. Raina gently lifts Liara with her biotics and moves her mother into her bedroom. When she sets her down Liara opens her eyes. "Elly?"

Raina bends down and kisses her cheek, "Sleep now Mom."

"Have to help your father…" Liara drifts off to sleep.

Raina grabs the tray of food and dishes herself a helping then enters the secure room to try to make sense of what her mother has been working on.


"How about you and I go workout at the facility this morning Dava, then we can go to the range. It's been awhile since I have taken you shooting." Valya and her bondmate Dara along with their daughter Dava are having breakfast. Dava is not doing well. She is extremely distant and Valya and Dara are at their wits end. They don't know what more to do. Both of them visited Malin, the psychiatrist that tried to help Dava a long time ago. She told them what they already knew; she needs to want to get help. Malin provided another option, an option that would in fact be forcing help on their daughter. It is something neither one of them want.

"So? How about it? We can have lunch afterwards, then maybe your Mom can join us and we can see that new vid that came out last night."

Dava does not look up at her father.

Valya and Dara exchange looks. "Dava?" asks Valya.

The asari looks up. "What?"

"Do you want to come with me?"

"No."

"Honey it will be fun just your father and you…"

"I said no!" Dava stands up quickly which causes her chair to topple over.

Valya stands. "You show some respect!" Valya sees her bondmate sink down and look away. Her coping mechanism is to disappear in the chaos.

"Or what?" says Dava.

Valya was not expecting the question, was not expecting the absolute fury in her daughter's eyes. "We did not raise you to speak to us this way."

"Huh, and yet I am speaking to you this way so I guess you're a liar." Dava takes a step toward her father.

"You are not to leave the house today Dava do you hear me? Or tomorrow for that matter. You will spend the weekend in your room. You can come out for meals and that's it. I want you to think about how you should speak to your mother and me. When you are ready to apologize then we will listen to you."

Dava takes another step closer to her father. "Or what?"

Valya points in the direction of her daughter's bedroom. "Your room now!"

Dava smiles but it is a smile that sends a shiver down Valya's spine. Dava turns her back on her father. As she walks toward her bedroom she says, "You two are pathetic."

"What did you say?" Valya walks toward her daughter.

"Valya just leave it," says Dara.

Valya reaches for her daughter. Dava turns fast and throws Valya across the room into the wall with her biotics. Blue and red light dance around the young asari sparking here and there.

"Valya!" Dara stands then quickly looks at her daughter who is glowing. She freezes in place hoping she is not her next target.

Dava lets out a carnal scream then slams her biotics into the kitchen table causing it to split in half. "Leave me alone!" The young asari grabs at her head and claws at her skin as if trying to dig something out of her head.

Dara is scared. She does not know what to do. She swallows and tries her voice. "D-D-Dava?"

Dava screams again. It is a sound Dara has never heard from her daughter. It sounds like it should be coming from a wounded animal. "Leave me alone!" Dava, still glowing red and blue, runs out of the house.

Dara snaps out of her fear. Her body finally moves. She forgets about her daughter and rushes to her bondmate. "Valya, Goddess Valya can you hear me?"

Valya is lying on her back with her head up against the wall.

Dara moves her hands to her face. "Valya baby? Open your eyes." Dara moves her hands behind her head and they come away wet with blood. "Oh oh Goddess."


"Real nice trick there Sis," says Mia as she enters the secure room. Raina is working at a console.

"Sorry. I had to help Mom."

Mia looks at the various monitors. "What is all this stuff?"

"That is what I am trying to figure out."

"Well that looks like Tuchanka."

Raina lets out a sigh. "Yes that is Tuchanka, thank you Mia everything is now solved."

"Geez sorry, just trying to help."

Raina looks at her sister. She places her hand on her shoulder. "Then help me."

"Can we help too?" asks Eva as she and Little A poke their heads in the room. It is not very often they are allowed in the secure room.

Raina looks at them. "I thought you had a date with Kaya today?"

"She understands," says Little A, "besides Mom and Dad need our help."

"Eva? Are you sure?"

"I am yes. I hope you don't mind but I called Grandpa. She said she could be here within the hour."

"Thank you," says Raina.

"So what do you got?" asks Little A.

"I am not really sure. There is so much data. As far as I can tell something is happening on Tuchanka, but what it is I don't know."

Little A approaches a console. She gets rid of one of the images and starts typing away.

Mia takes another station. She types in a few key strokes. "Hmm, now that is odd."

"What is?" asks Eva as the other sisters look at the monitor.

"It's like the planet is blacked out," says Mia.

"What does that mean?" asks Raina.

"Hang on," Mia types in a few commands. She waits. "Wow."

"What wow, what?" asks Little A.

"All incoming and outgoing communication is being monitored. See that string there?" Mia points to a string of code on the monitor.

"It's code Mia, they don't read code and I can only read a little," says Little A.

"Well as best I can tell all communication is being monitored."

"But why?" asks Eva.

"Can you get a message to Dad?" asks Raina.

Mia looks at her sisters. "Remember when Mom and Dad told us about Aunt Oriana curing RUST?"

"What does that have to do with this?"

"Oriana sent Abby that stuffed animal when she visited remember?"

"Yes I remember, but again what does this have to do with any…" Raina stops talking Mia raises her hand.

"There was a device in the stuffed animal. It was a way to communicate with each other undetected. We need to ask Miranda and Oriana what they did in order to talk without detection. Then I bet we can get a message to Dad."

"Sounds like a plan," says Little A.

Mia moves to another console and dials Miranda's omni-tool.


"I can't tell you how wonderful it is to see you up and around Ori," says Miranda. She hugs her sister for the third time.

"Miri," Ori laughs, "if you keep hugging me I won't be able to finish making breakfast."

"Sorry I just can't help it. I…For a time there I never thought..." Miranda wipes at her eyes, "I thought I lost you."

Oriana hugs her sister. "I'm sorry I worried you Miri. I just needed to work through some things."

Miranda sits at the breakfast bar, "But you feel better?"

"Miri I am still going to get sad from time to time. I miss Mark terribly. I never had the chance to mourn his death; I mean I never really took the time to mourn him until I got here."

"But back on Earth?"

"I was falling apart, but I wasn't letting myself go if that makes sense. I guess I just take my time with things." Oriana smiles a little at her sister.

"Well I am just happy you finally took a shower."

Oriana places the main dish into the oven. She looks at her sister. "What is going on between you and Arelia?"

Miranda breaks eye contact, "I don't know what you are talking about."

"Yes you do. Let me guess," Oriana crosses her arms, "you were getting upset with how long I was mourning. I wasn't bouncing back fast enough right? So you complain to Arelia who probably tells you I need time which you hate. Miranda?"

The ex-Cerberus operative looks at her.

"I'm right aren't I?"

Miranda lets out a sigh.

"You need to talk to her and apologize Miri."

"I have apologized Ori, plenty of times."

"That bad huh?" Oriana smiles.

"It's not funny. I really hurt her Ori. I don't know how to make it up to her."

Oriana leans on the breakfast bar counter and reaches out her hand and waits for her sister to give up her hand. Miranda complies. "You are going to hate what I have to say."

"Give her time right?" Miranda lets out a sigh.

"You got it." Oriana gives her sister's hand a squeeze then lets it go.

"I kind of lose myself when it comes to you Ori."

"Gee thanks."

"I take full responsibility for it but there is something in me that just switches on when I feel you are in danger or when you are hurting. It has always been that way since we got away from Father. I have always felt responsible for you."

Oriana gives her sister a sad smile.

"What?"

"You are not responsible for me Miri don't you get that? I am my own woman. You cannot carry that burden anymore. Do you hear me? I am not your responsibility."

"Who else is going to look after you?"

"I am fully capable of looking after myself Miri, I am not a child."

Miranda opens her mouth then closes it. She decides not to say what she is thinking. Her omni-tool beeps and she is happy for the interruption.

"Liara?"

"Hi Aunt Miranda it's Mia."

"Mia are you alright? Where is Liara, isn't this her line?"

"Aunt Miranda we need your help."


Slowly opening her eyes Valya notices one thing, her head is pounding.

"Valya? Oh thank the Goddess," says Dara. "Do you want some water honey?"

Valya moves her head slightly which makes her wince. She feels something at her lips, a straw. She takes it in and slowly sucks in some water.

"Careful now, nice and slow."

"Where…"

"You are in the hospital. Atalia is just outside."

"Why?"

"Don't you remember honey?"

Valya slowly raises her hand to touch her head. "Hurts."

"I know honey. You have a severe concussion. You have been out for a few hours. I…I didn't know what to do Valya I am so sorry."

Valya feels her hand being held by her bondmate. "I…I don't understand."

"Something happened Valya. Dava…she…."

"She awake?" asks Atalia.

Dara wipes her eyes. "Yes, she is a little out of it." She squeezes her hand, " Atalia is here."

"Hi there partner." She takes Valya's other hand. "I have seen you looking better." Atalia smiles.

"Dava?"

"We are looking for her. Meryl has everyone on it looking for her."

"Why?"

Dara and Atalia exchange looks.

"Atalia do you think you could find the Doctor please?"

"Of course. Valya you rest now."

Dara feels her hand being squeezed. "What is it? Are you in pain?"

"What happened?"

"You…uh…you ….there was an accident." Dara is relieved when the Doctor enters the room with Atalia.

"How are you feeling Detective?" The Doctor runs a scan.

"I hurt."

"Well you took quite a spill."

"She doesn't remember Doctor, uh she doesn't remember what happened," says Dara.

"Nothing to be concerned about. With trauma like this your memory will come back on its own, it just may take a while. I will have the nurse up your pain medication. We will see how you do on that okay?"

Valya's eyes slowly close.

"Thank you Doctor," says Dara. She accompanies the Doctor outside the room. "Is she going to be okay?"

"She will be yes."

"And her memory? Will it really come back?"

"Memories can be a tricky thing. She may or may not remember what happened."

"Do..do I tell her what happened?"

"If she asks I think you can talk about what she remembers and see if it helps."

"I'm sorry Doctor but Valya can be very stubborn. She will want to know what happened to her. I can't not tell her."

"If you feel not telling her will cause her more stress then tell her. The harm has been done."

Dara lets out a long sigh. "Okay thank you Doctor."

"Once the nurse gives Valya her medication your bondmate will be out until tomorrow. You should go home and get some rest."

"I'm staying, I mean if that is alright."

The Doctor gives her fellow asari a smile. "Of course. I will see you tomorrow."

"Thank you Doctor."

Dara is about to return to the room when Atalia lightly grabs her arm.

"Do you need anything Dara?"

Dara tries to smile but it turns into a soft sob. She covers her nose and mouth to try to hide her emotion.

Atalia pulls her into a hug. "It's okay, she is going to be okay. They will both be fine. We will find her."

There was a time when Dara knew nothing of Atalia, just that she was a beautiful asari that her bondmate worked with every day. She and Akira, the Medical Examiner, are still together though not bonded. She is relieved to have a friend right now. Dara steps out of the hug. She wipes her face with her hands. "I have to go to her."

"Of course. I am here if you need me okay? You have my number."

"Thank you, I do."

Dara enters the hospital room again and sits next to Valya who is still sleeping. She takes her hand between her own and kisses her soft skin. "I am so sorry this happened to you. I …I am so ashamed. I am afraid of her Valya. What does that say about me? A mother who is afraid of her own daughter? I …I don't understand what is happening with her or to her." Dara leans down and rests her head on the bed so her cheek is touching Valya's hand. "She will be okay, she has to be, you both have to be okay." It doesn't take long for Dara's eyes to close.