THESSIA
Valya is flying against her better judgment. Once the Justicar left Valya decided she had to do something and Dara was not around so once again things are up to her. She swerves the sky car to the left when she hears someone honking at her. She cannot see the gesture they give, in fact she cannot see very well at all. Thankfully her destination is close. She is able to land without incident.
Getting out of the sky car Valya uses it to keep her upright.
"Valya? My Goddess Valya what are you doing flying? You should be in bed. Does Dara know where you are?"
"She wasn't around. You have to help me Akira."
"The first thing I am going to do is take your keys. My Goddess. You could have hit someone Valya what were you thinking? What could be so important?"
"My daughter, is that important enough for you?"
"Here sit down over here." Akira helps Valya to a nearby bench. Valya called the medical examiner to meet her at the park closest to her home. She needs her help. "Now what is going on?"
"The Justicar is after Dava."
"How do you know that?"
"Because she just left my house Akira. I have to find a way to get Dava out of that jail cell."
"How do you propose to do that exactly?"
"Look. Last I heard the T'Soni kids are not filing charges. So technically Dava can only be detained for another few hours. Then she should be released into our care."
"Well there you go then. Problem solved."
"Not exactly." Valya wipes the sweat away on her forehead. Her heart is racing again.
"What does that mean?"
"Well, I don't know if I want my daughter home." She cannot believe she can say the words so easily. "She is a danger to herself and to others, obviously."
"So what are you planning?"
Valya looks at Akira. She can see that the medical examiner is thinking. When her eyes get as wide as saucers she knows she is on to something.
"No way Valya. I can't watch her. I mean, I'm sorry but she put you in the hospital. I cannot take that kind of responsibility. I won't do it, I'm sorry."
"Well it's nice to know where you stand Akira."
"That's not fair Valya, you ask too much."
"And you don't?" Valya winces and cradles her head between her hands.
They sit in silence for a while.
"You really should be in bed Valya. You are pushing yourself too hard. You are making yourself worse." Akira touches her back. "I'm sorry Valya I really am."
Valya is rubbing her temples. "You're right, I am not thinking clearly."
"There has to be something else we can do."
Valya lifts her head to look at her, "We?"
"Well I would like to help if I can."
Valya looks past Akira at a couple walking hand in hand. She wishes Dara was here. She knows her bondmate would be very upset if she knew what she was thinking right now. Valya looks at Akira. "I can't believe I didn't think of this sooner."
"What?"
"What about your cure?"
"What about it?"
"Use it on Dava."
"What?" Akira stands. She is shocked. "You can't be serious."
"Why not?"
"We don't even know if Dava is infected."
"Don't give me that. Everyone thinks she is an Ardat-Yakshi, that it is only a matter of time before she kills someone."
Akira sits down and takes Valya's hand between her own. "Thinking and knowing are two different things Valya. It's too risky."
"What would happen if you injected her and she wasn't an Ardat-Yakshi? What would happen?"
"That's just it, I have no idea. I have no idea what would happen if she was an Ardat-Yakshi."
Valya squeezes Akira's hand. "She is going to kill her Akira."
"You don't know that."
"Yes I do. It's their damn code. She is going to talk to my daughter and she is going to kill her. I can't let that happen."
"But you could be killing her if you give her this injection."
"We have to do something!"
"Wh-what does Dara say?"
Valya looks away, "She doesn't know I'm here. She doesn't know about a possible cure. Hell she just found out that I think our daughter is an Ardat-Yakshi. She is not exactly speaking to me right now."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry, help me."
"I can't Valya." Akira cups the former commando's cheek with her hand. "I don't think you are thinking things through. You need rest."
Valya swats away her hand. "Fine! I will do this myself." Valya stands too quickly. She sways heavily on her feet. Akira quickly catches her and guides her back to the bench. Valya can feel her hands on her forehead and cheek.
"What are you doing? I don't have a fever."
"Shut up. Sit still." Akira runs a scan. "Shit." The medical examiner punches a few buttons on her omni-tool then runs another scan.
"I need to get my daughter Akira."
"You need to recover from your concussion." The scan completes. "I want you stand up for me."
"I don't have time for this."
"Do. It. Valya."
The former commando slowly stands. "Okay I'm standing."
"Stay standing."
Valya starts to lean and sway a little to her right. She is off balance. Akira helps her sit down again.
"So standing is overrated," says Valya with a smile that turns into a wince.
"You still have a headache?"
"Yes."
"Your thinking is impaired at the moment Valya due to your concussion. I am taking you home and putting you to bed."
Akira starts to stand up but Valya catches her wrist. "Please. Please help me. It's my daughter we are talking about."
Valya sees the inner conflict in the medical examiner's face. Akira looks away, Valya figures it is easier to say no if you don't have to look at the person.
"On one condition."
Valya sees Akira make eye contact. "Name it."
"We call your bondmate."
Eva is outside reading. She is the first of the T'Soni kids to be home from final exams. She thinks she did well. She is excited to have a break. Her omni-tool rings.
"Mother?"
"Eva hello."
Eva runs inside then displays the vid option. "How are you? Have you found Dad yet?"
"No honey not yet. We should be there soon. How are you?"
"I'm good. My exams are done for this term. I am looking forward to the break."
Liara looks at the monitor. "Are you alone Eva?"
"Yes. Mia was planning on going out with her friends from the team today and I am not sure where Raina and Little A are. Is everything okay?"
"Yes. I am so sorry for not contacting you earlier. I knew you all had exams and I wasn't sure if my calling would be a distraction or not, so I waited."
"That's okay Mom. Are…are you alright?"
Liara brushes her cheek with her hand. Her throat feels tight. She clears it then says, "I am just missing all of you that's all. Has your grandfather been behaving herself?"
Eva laughs. "Well kind of. We are going to throw a party at the end of the week." Eva's hand quickly covers her mouth. Oh no!
"What? What is it Eva?"
"Umm…nothing."
Liara narrows her eyes at her daughter. "It does not sound like nothing. Why are you having a party?"
Eva does not want to give away Mia's good news. She has to think quickly. "To celebrate the ending of the term and Raina is getting closer to finishing her dissertation."
"I see. And just what sort of party are we talking about?"
"Well I am going to invite Shayna and Rose over, Little A will bring Kaya of course. Raina is inviting Lacy because it is been a while since she has seen her. And Mia is bringing a new of her teammates."
Liara stares at the monitor. She wonders if her daughter is telling her the whole truth. "And what about your grandpa?"
"Oh she will be here. We are not going to do anything out of hand Mom."
"I thought perhaps you might be celebrating something else."
"Oh. Well..um…no I didn't win." Eva looks away from the camera.
"I'm sorry honey. There will be other contests."
"I know. I actually wanted to talk to you about something, but you probably have to go."
"Not at all. What is it?" Liara checks the time. She has a few more minutes and then she will need to go over the plans with Miranda and Arelia.
"Well there is a writing conference I would like to go to next month."
"That sounds nice."
"I'm glad you think so." Eva swallows. She is suddenly nervous. "I was hoping I could attend. It is a four day event. There will be time to socialize and meet authors and other aspiring authors. I really would like to go."
"Well I don't see why not. It sounds wonderful."
"It's on Earth."
Liara hesitates. "Earth?"
"Yes. There are a few of my classmates that are thinking of going. We could go as a group. I wouldn't be travelling alone Mom, so you wouldn't have to worry."
Liara is quiet. She does not reply.
"My classmates are really cool Mom, you would like them. And I know it would be really good for me to attend. I already know what classes I want to take at the conference." Eva cannot help but show her excitement, she is talking a mile a minute.
Liara clears her throat. "When do you need an answer?"
Eva's heart flutters. Please say yes, please say yes! "I should give them my answer in a week at the latest. We need to make arrangements for the hotel and everything."
"Let me think about it."
Eva wants to say please Mom please or oh come on! But she also wants to keep her cool to prove to her mother that she is old enough to go to Earth without a parent. "Okay."
"I am not sure how long your father and I will be Eva. I will let you know soon."
"Okay mother."
"Please tell the girls I say hello. I love you. I really must be going Eva."
"Okay, I love you too Mom."
"If your grandfather there?"
"Yes. I think she is napping though. Do you want me to wake her?"
"And she has been doing all right?"
Eva wonders what she means. "Yeah, I mean yes. She has been fine. Why do you ask?"
"Just curious. I really must be going. I hope to call again soon but if I don't, please do not worry."
"What? Wait! What do you mean?"
"Right now Tuchanka is blocking all communication to the planet. I hope to see your father soon. Once we are on the planet I do not know how long it will be until I can get a message out. So please do not worry."
"O-Okay. Please be careful Mom."
"I will honey. I love you."
"Love you too."
The call disconnects.
This was not how Dara wanted to spend her day. First she was waiting for her bondmate to finally wake up this morning so she could yell at her. Then the Justicar stops by and she is asked to leave her own home and now, well now she is working with Akira to get her daughter out of jail.
She has yet to talk to her bondmate Valya. The medical examiner took over the talking the minute Valya said hello on her omni-tool. Valya needs to recover Akira said, she needs to sleep she said. She can't go home she said. So Dara as usual stepped into line and went to Akira's house. It was not what she was expecting.
Dara knows that Akira and Atalia are an item. She was expecting a two story home with room for children. I mean doesn't every couple want children? Instead she found a one story home tucked away on some acreage. A modest home where there are only three bedrooms and two bathrooms. There is room for expansion sure, but not a lot unless of course they add on to the house. Dara wonders how they found the off yellow home with white trim.
"You okay?" asks Akira snapping Dara from her reverie.
"Where did you find your home?"
Akira is thrown by the question. "Uh, Dara do you think you could concentrate on the task at hand?"
"I have always wanted a home like that, two stories though. I would like to have a larger master bedroom with adjacent bath and the woods by your home, is there a path behind it?"
"Dara?"
"Yes?"
"Do you see where we are?"
"Yes Akira. I see the building. I know what I am supposed to do. I am nervous. And when I am nervous I talk about different things."
"Like houses?"
"Exactly." Dara can tell from the medical examiner's expression that she thinks Dara is nuts. "I'll be fine. I know what to do. Besides, I called like you said. Dava should be ready to be released into my care."
"I will be here if you need me."
Dara starts to walk toward the building. She stops then turns to look at Akira. "Is she going to be alright?"
"If Valya stops over doing it yes, she should be fine."
Dara nods then walks into the building.
Akira waits.
Dara emerges with her daughter twenty minutes later. She sees Akira and hears the sky car start. "Come on Dava we need to hurry."
"I don't know why you didn't just leave me in there. I still can't believe I hurt Dad and I almost hurt Mia."
Dara cannot believe how slow her daughter is walking. She wants to scream at her to hurry the hell up but she doesn't want to make her nervous. "We will talk about it in the car."
Dava stops. "I don't think I should go with you."
"What?" Dara turns to look at her daughter who has tears in her eyes.
"I don't think I should go with you. What if it happens again? I don't want to hurt anyone."
"Honey." Dara approaches her daughter and takes her arm. "You are not going to hurt anyone." She starts leading her daughter toward the sky car.
Dava pulls away, "You don't know that!"
"Dava honey please listen to me." She sees a little bit of fear in her daughter's eyes due to her serious tone. "We need to get in the sky car and we need to get in it right now. Come on."
As they approach the sky car a familiar voice is heard.
"Dara?"
Dara quickens her steps. Dava looks back to see who is talking. It is an asari she has never seen before.
"Excuse me Dara?"
"Mom who is that?"
"Get in the car now." Dara squeezes Dava at the elbow. The young asari quickly gets in the sky car.
"Akira? What are you doing here?"
"Go go go," says Dara when she gets in the sky car.
Akira quickly takes off. "Was that her, I couldn't really see?"
"Who?" asks Dava.
"Yes it was."
"Shit."
"Who?"
"Dava honey, please be quiet. We need to think."
"What is going on Mom?"
"She is going to find us," says Akira. "We are going to need to use the safe house after all."
"What is going on?"
Dara turns in her chair to look at her daughter. "Dava stop! You are going to have to trust me right now. I will explain everything to you soon, but not right now. Okay?"
"Okay geez." She crosses her arms over her chest and hangs her head.
Dara faces front.
"Did you hear what I said?" asks Akira. "About the safehouse?"
"Yes. Do you have the keys?"
"In the glove box. I think I should take you now."
"What about Valya?"
"She needs to rest. I can bring her by tomorrow and we can figure out what to do."
Dara is silent for a while. She is thinking. "Is there food in the house?"
"We can stop for some."
"Okay," says Dara. This is not how she wanted to spend her day.
TUCHANKA
Shepard is with Liara. They are sitting in the backyard holding hands watching a sunset in the Adirondack chairs. She loves nights like this where you can see every star in the sky. There is a slight breeze. It is cool which is why they both have blankets over their laps.
"We should turn in," says Liara.
Shepard looks at her. She wants to freeze this moment. Liara's brilliant blue eyes sparkle like the stars. Shepard doesn't want to stop looking at her. Something catches her eye in the distance. Furrowing her brow Shepard sits up to get a better look. There is something in the sky.
"What is it Elly?"
Shepard shakes her head. She slowly stands. Whatever it is it is getting bigger and it seems to be on fire. Shepard watches. It looks like a large fireball and it is heading right at her. She looks toward Liara to get her to move but the asari is not there. Shocked, Shepard stands there looking for her. "Liara?" She hears it now as it whistles through the air. She looks up to see a large red-orange fireball….
"Liara!" Shepard bolts upright. Her bed is shaking. She looks around. She is in a small room. She is naked. Why is she naked? She hears an explosion and she bolts out of bed so quickly that she loses her footing and lands awkwardly on her knees. The building feels as if it is coming down.
Quickly Shepard gets dressed and puts on her armor. Another explosion rattles the walls. She knows where she is now, Tuchanka. She is at the compound where the Krogan women were being held. They are under attack.
Shepard throws open the door and runs down the hallway. She has her sidearm holstered and her sniper rifle on her back. She is carrying her shotgun. She brings up her omni-tool. Another blast hits the building. Shepard is thrown from her feet. She slams against the wall and lands in an oomph. Her ears are ringing. She coughs as she slowly stands. "Eli report!"
She quickly leaves the hallway in search of Wrex.
"We….under…attack."
"Say again Eli? Where are you?" Shepard was so tired last night when Eli led her to her room. She is not sure where Wrex is. She starts opening doors and quickly looking in.
Another blast hits the compound that shakes the building Shepard wonders if the roof will soon collapse. She runs to each door. Finally she reaches Wrex's room. "Wrex!"
"What are you doing here Shepard?"
"We need to get you out of here!"
"You need to fight. We are under attack."
"Ya think? I hadn't noticed." Shepard places Wrex's arm around her shoulder. "Can you walk?"
Wrex growls.
She takes that as a yes and they move.
"I can't get through to Eli. I don't know where he is," says Shepard.
"Get me outside."
Another blast rocks the building's foundation. Shepard has to stop to keep her balance. She manages to get Wrex outside. What she sees is nothing short of spectacular. It reminds her of a fireworks show, but they are not on blankets saying ohh and ahhh, they are the targets and the sky is lit up with destruction.
"There," Wrex coughs.
Shepard sees where he is pointing and takes him to a ramp that leads down to an entrance underground. She stops at the half wall of concrete to see if she can see any other Krogan. "Eli? Eli do you copy?"
Nothing.
"Wrex, you need to stay here."
Wrex growls.
"I need to get up high so I can see what's what. Are you going to be all right?"
"Give me your shotgun Shepard. Don't worry about me."
Shepard hands him her shotgun, slaps him on the shoulder and runs around to the side of the building. She finds a ladder and climbs it. She feels the building sway when an explosion hits a little too close for comfort.
On the roof now, Shepard runs to the corner of the building. She lies down and looks through her scope. She sees vehicles lined up in a row all firing at the compound. They look to be like old fashioned catapults. Balls of fire are flying through the air and landing on the building or near it. They are not balls per say more like concrete doused in oil then set aflame. An old tactic but a good one. Perhaps Jurdon Gran is not so stupid after all.
"Eli come in?" Shepard fires her weapon. She takes out a Krogan who was reloading a catapult.
A bullet wizzes by her head. Shepard rolls quickly and moves along the roof crouching. Another sniper is somewhere out here.
"Shepard?"
"Eli? What's your status?"
"Taking heavy fire. The women are safe. Some of them are armed and helping. We are at the northeast corner. What's your situation?"
Shepard rolls when another bullet hits her shields. "Trying not to get shot at the moment. I left Wrex near the south west entrance to the tunnel." Shepard runs and jumps to a lower roof. She rolls and gets to her feet quickly then lies down to check her scope once more.
"I'll send some men to get him," says Eli.
"I see you. Can you do anything about those damn vehicles?"
"Was going to ask you the same thing Shepard."
Looking through her scope Shepard sees movement. She moves her scope toward the movement.
"Shepard?"
"I'm a little busy." The sniper is in her sights. She slowly squeezes the trigger. The Krogan ducks out of sight. "Shit." She moves her scope left to right then right to left.
"Shepard?"
Damn it! Shepard moves. "What?"
"Take out the far left vehicle! We are pinned down."
"I got a sniper on my ass Eli. He is south of you."
"On my way."
"Be careful Eli he's good."
Shepard runs and jumps down to a lower roof. She takes position at the corner. Looking through her sights she sees two Krogan by the far left vehicle. She takes in a deep breath and lets it out. Finger on the trigger. She stops her breath. She pulls the trigger once, twice, breathes, fires two more times. Both Krogan are down. She moves her scope to the vehicle. She fires at the tires and deflates the front two. She cannot see the back two from her vantage point.
"Your sniper is down," says Eli.
"Your left vehicle is down."
"We are outnumbered Shepard."
Shepard moves her position again. She checks the front lines. She sees lines and lines of Clan Jurdon Krogan slowly approaching. He's right. We are horribly outnumbered.
"We need to retreat Shepard," says Eli.
She knows he is right.
"Take the tunnel. It leads a mile south that should buy us some time."
"You know what this means Shepard?"
She does.
"I'm sorry," says Eli. Then Shepard hears him giving the retreat order. Looking through her scope she tries not to think about how she will never be able to leave Tuchanka. She is stuck and she cannot even contact her bondmate. She blinks rapidly trying not to worry about it as Krogan forces continue to advance on the compound. She figures they have about five minutes before they are inside the perimeter.
Shepard gets up to move to another position when her omni-tool suddenly rings. It hasn't happened in so long it makes her jump. She takes cover then punches the buttons to open the line. "Hello?"
"Elly!"
"Liara?"
"Activate your beacon."
"What? Why? Where are you?"
"Just do it Shepard."
Shepard activates her beacon.
"Where are your troops?"
Shepard is a bit shocked.
"Shepard? Are you there? Where are your troops?"
"We are at a compound. It is a small structure with four buildings outside the main city. We are retreating to the southwest corner."
"How long before they are in your perimeter?"
"Four minutes."
"It will be close. Get to safety."
"Have I told you lately how much I love you Liara?"
"I love you too Elly, now move your ass!"
Shepard does not have to be told twice. She runs to the side of the building to find a ladder. "Eli get everyone to the southwest corner. Help is on its way!"
"What? Who?"
"Move Eli move!" Shepard finds where the ladder should be. There is a hole in the building. Flaring her biotics Shepard leaps off the building. She lands, though not gracefully and starts to run toward the southwest corner.
She feels a punch at her back that pushes her off her feet. Her shields are blaring a warning. They only have 10% left. Shepard quickly takes cover. "Eli?"
"Yeah?"
"I thought you got that sniper?"
"I did!"
"Are you in the southwest corner?"
"Yes we are all here, where are you?"
A bullet slaps the wall next to her causing smoke to poof by her face. "On my way." Shepard waits. She quickly stands, counts to two then crouches again. The bullet nearly hits her head. Shepard runs the opposite direction of the sniper. She counts in her head. She hopes he has to reload. They should give her about four or five seconds to get to cover, but if he doesn't have to reload she could get hit.
Shepard's right leg suddenly kicks in front of her then she hears the shot. Her shields are down. Shepard dives for cover.
"Shepard are you clear?" it's Liara.
Shepard is two building lengths away from the southwest corner. She does not know where the attack is coming from. Her position could be safe but she is not sure.
"Shepard come in."
"Safe! We are all safe!" From her cover position Shepard looks up to the sky to see if she can see the attack. It is coming from the southwest which means she is in the line of fire. Her heart sinks when she sees the sky light up from the numerous ships in the sky raining down hellfire. "I love you Liara." Is all she can think to say when the explosions hit.
"Shepard?"
"Shepard!"
