Mali awoke to the steady beat of a heart monitor, for a while she did nothing but listen. She was defiantly in a hospital, the smell and the constant commotion outside her door was testament enough. All of what had just happened flashed through her brain, making her wince as she remembered. She could remember very little after she had passed out, but she knew she had woken partially up a couple of times. Flashes of Liara's and Shepard's worried faces bent over her convinced her that she had. Mali sighed and settled further down into her bed; at least for now the world wasn't ending.
"You're awake." Mali opened her eyes to see Yane sitting tiredly in an armchair not far from her be.
"Barely." She grimaced. Her whole body was stiff and sore, she could hardly move anything. "How long have I been out?"
"Four days." Yane answered, scooting his chair closer. "Liara and Shepard wanted to be here when you woke up, but Dickens had to call them in to help with the campus clean-up. A lot of people will be needing therapy from what just happened." Mali chuckled.
"What happened? It's still so foggy." Mali asked.
"You killed the reaper!" Yane exclaimed.
"Well, I know that, but how, and what happened after?" Mali shot up out of bed, "What about Udina, and Alenko? And Alex and Niles?"
"Whoa, whoa! Calm down tiger!" Yane chuckled, pushing her back down onto her pillows with his hand. "Alex and Niles, as well as Miranda, are receiving medical attention. Niles and Alex are fine, just a little malnourished, however Miranda is still in emergency care. They said that if you hadn't gotten her to them when you did, she probably would be dead by now."
"And Udina and Alenko?" Yane frowned.
"About that, Mali, I need to apologize."
"No need to." Mali said. Yane shook his head.
"No, I really do. Even with my mother held captive, I still shouldn't have given in to my father. I should have fought him from the very beginning, with you. I tried to keep his interest off of you for as long as I could, making up lies about you and stuff, but I should have done more, I should have confronted him." He bent his head down until his forehead leaned against the edge of the bed. "I'm so sorry Mali, for causing you pain."
"I forgive you." Mali answered, smiling. "So…"
"My father is dead. He died shortly after Alenko took you from the room. He was sucked out the window and into space. Your father beat up Alenko, and I was to watch him, but he took me by surprise and got away."
"Is that how you got your black eye?" Mali asked.
"Yah." Yane laughed. "I know we will be seeing him again in the future." He grimaced. "Hey! I forgot to mention, while you were out we paid a visit to the citadel!" Mali gasped.
"The citadel? Really?"
"Yah, it's huge! And so beautiful! Shepard exposed the indoctrinated council while we were there. They have resigned and reelections for a new council are being formed."
"Wow, I wish I could have been there to see it." Mali shook her head. "Look at us Yane, two street kids, visiting the citadel, saving the world, who would have known? We still have many adventures ahead of us!"
"About that…" Yane looked up. "Look at this." He activated his omni-tool (which was forest green) and showed her a short clip from what looked like a security camera. The image was grainy and some parts were hard to make out, but it looked like a woman, maybe in her early forties, pacing a room with her arms crossed. "Your dad found this file on the reaper husk hard-drive when they took it over—oh you should have seen that battle—anyway, it was in my dad's personal stuff."
"It's your mother." Mali responded, realization dawning on her.
"Look at the date," Yane said excitedly, "only two months ago. They couldn't trace it, but I know a guy who could help." He shut off his omni-tool. "Mali, I have to find her. I wish I could stay, but I need my mother." Mali nodded, saddend, but understanding.
"I know Yane." He stood up.
"I'll keep in touch." He smiled "you know, all those video transmissions I made you? I made them so that I could still be a part of your life and try and help you navigate what was going on as best I could, without giving everything away. I thought they would help you deal with my "death". I did those because I care about you."
"Thanks." Hesitating, he leaned over and quickly kissed her forehead. "Ok, now I'm going to go."
"Don't die this time." Mali chuckled as he went to the door.
"No promises." He smiled, and walked out. Mali settled back into her bed, content. For the first time in a long time, she felt peace.
5 months later
"Yes!" Mali pumped her fist in the air from her hospital bed. "How soon?" Doctor Taylor smiled.
"Well, we need to run a few tests, but if you clear all of them today, you won't need any more checkups for a long while." Mali did a little wiggle in her bed. She had been in the hospital in and out once a week for the last couple of months as her body slowly healed from the reaper's attack. The whole world was recovering, as a matter of fact. The campus had been desolated by the reaper, and the staff had been working hard to get it up and running again. Lessons had been sporadic, at best, as most of the staff were working too hard to plan.
The last five months had been chaotic, at best. Mali had been in the hospital a month before being released, and then restricted to bed for another month before she had been well enough to finally get up. Her trial had been postponed until then, and when it did finally happen, Mali was cleared without a hitch with all the evidence from Shepard's recording and evidence gathered by their own searching.
Alexandra and Niles had evidently become close during their time being held captive and had started to go out. Wedding bells were in the air. The cop had gone back to New Chicago after a few months and Niles had followed. Over all everything had turned out ok. The best part was that Shepard and Mali were now thick as thieves, having spent a lot of time together at Liara's house (much to her annoyance) during her bed-rest period. Now, if she cleared these tests, she would no longer have to come in for her preliminary check-ups. The doctor started the analysis, while Mali sat impatiently.
"Alright, let me just go review a few things, then I'll be back to give you the news." He smiled and walked out, just as Liara walked through the door, wiping sweat off her brow.
"Been lifting concrete again?" Mali asked.
"You know it." The asari plopped down in the armchair. "How are you feeling?"
"Right as rain!" Mali exclaimed. "I could take on the world!"
"What's happened that has made you so happy?" Liara asked, leaning her chin in one hand.
"The doctor says that I could finally be done today!" Mali answered.
"Well that's good." Liara replied tiredly, "hey! You know graduation is tomorrow!" Mali's bunk had been picked to be the early graduating class, on account of their actions that day five months ago. At least some people could see the bravery in what they had done, unlike Shepard and Liara who just told them they were stupid. "You won't have to deal with Finch anymore!" Ms. Finch had been less mean to Mali since the reaper, but a few days ago, had uncharacteristically quit her job.
Mali smiled, but then frowned. "Except, now, I won't have a place to live. If I think about it...I don't know where I would go…"
"What do you mean?" Liara asked.
"Well, would I live with you, or would I live with Dad?" Mali stroked her chin playfully, a gleam in her eye. "Oh how I wish we all just lived together…one big happy family." She stressed the word, wiggling her eyebrows. Liara rolled her eyes.
"We will cross that bridge when it gets here. But I imagine we would share you, you know, a week at my place, a week with Shepard…" Liara looked up at Mali's gleaming eyes. "Stop trying to get us together! Honestly!" Liara exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air, "by the goddess, you are the most persistent little girl I know!"
"You gotta admit there's something there..." Mali slyly replied.
"What's where?" Shepard came in, also sweaty.
"Man, they are working you guys like pigs." Mali exclaimed, tactically changing the subject. Liara threw her grateful look.
"Well, we gotta make it look pretty for the ceremony tomorrow."
"That is true." Mali nodded. Shepard smiled.
"What were you guys taking about?"
"Oh, nothing…" Liara started.
"Living arrangements." Mali interrupted, she just couldn't resist. Liara slouched in defeat on her chair, lifting her eyes to heaven like she was praying the oh-help-me-God-so-I-don't-strangle-her prayer that she used a lot when Mali was around.
"Oh…" Shepard replied, a sparkle in his eye. He had been trying to get closer to Liara over the past months, but he knew she took things slow. However, a little good teasing never hurt anyone. "You mean like, we all live together?" He smiled slyly, just like his daughter.
"Well, now that you guys are a dating couple…" Mali left the comment open ended for suggestiveness. Shepard and her shared a smirk as they saw Liara blush.
"We are not a dating couple!" Liara looked at both of them. "Look at you two, ganging up on me!" Shepard stood.
"Well, my breaks over, back to work." He walked to the door. "However, you should consider living with us Liara, all just one, big, happy family."
"Oh no—you weren't—you didn't—," Liara spluttered.
"I soooo was." He wiggled his eyebrows, just like Mali had. "Well, got to go." He left, sweeping the doors closed.
"That man! You!" Liara clenched her fists.
"Like father like daughter." Mali shrugged smugly, slithering down into her sheets. "Hey, can I talk to Vic?" Liara glanced down at the sliver square on her wrist.
"Um, no. You're still grounded." Mali let out an exasperated sigh.
"Only till tomorrow!" Mali argued.
"You should have thought of the consequences before you jumped onto that reaper." Liara shook her head. "And you kept her a secret from me. You were harboring an illegal piece of technology. Besides, she's a really big help with my research."
"But she's mine!" Mali exclaimed. Liara gave her a pointed look.
"Don't fight this Mali; or do you want another five months? You can't win." Mali rolled her eyes.
"Ugh, parents." She sighed.
"Hey," the asari shrugged, "it's what you wanted." The doctor came back in, holding a data pad.
"Sorry for the long wait." He smiled apologetically. "I have the results here, and I'm glad to say that Mali, you are cleared."
"Yes!" She pupped her fist in the air again. "No more doctor visits!"
"Until the next threat to the galaxy." Liara murmured under her breath, rolling her eyes.
I
Mali stood at attention on the huge stage in front of a huge crowd, standing in a straight line shoulder to shoulder with her peers from bunk five. They were on a stage, wearing their crisp whites, in the at-ease position at the graduation ceremony. A few rows of chairs also sat in front of the stage in the arena grounds, for family and officers. The arena was crammed with people from all over the galaxy. Mali was pretty sure the council had come, but she couldn't find them. Many people had come to see what the media where calling the "Sentinel Six", the heroes that helped save the galaxy. Their faces were all over public media and news all the time, even five months later. There were even whispers about making a movie out of what had happened. The hired orchestra played quietly as people found their seats, waiting for the ceremonies to begin.
The ceremonies today was not only for the graduation, but was acting as a kind of tribute and memorial for the reaper attack. The stage was set up in the arena, but had almost been set where the reaper had landed. The ground, despite the staff and gardener's best efforts, was still scorched black, and would probably stay that way for a long time. There were lots of flowers, and ringing the edge near the arena wall were large pictures of all those that had been killed in the attack; their faces also were being shown on the huge game screen in a slideshow. One of those was Clint's. He had died protecting a group of students whom they were trying to get off the campus when the evac point had been breached—his sacrifice had saved their lives. Another was Ara's.
Her parents were recovering from her death, and had even taken Cadence under their wing after they had met the whole gang. With her brother dead and her parent's haywire, the Alliance had granted the custody of Cadence to the O'Conner's. If Ara had done anything, it had been to wake her parents up, and they had learned their lesson. They were really involved and had been making an effort to be involved in Cadence's, and all of the other's lives. Mali believed that that would have made Ara happy.
The theme of the Alliance started playing as Dickens marched down the middle isle, followed by the ranking officers and Shepard, all of them wearing their crisp military uniforms. Liara was sitting in the front row, not being officially a part of the Alliance, she wasn't in the brigade. But Ashely Williams was, and she smiled to Mali as she ascended to the stage with Shepard, her stomach wound nicely healed, thanks to Mali's medi-gel, which she had thanked her for about a thousand times. Dickens took the stage and stepped up to the podium.
"Today," He began, "we do not only honor those that fought for the galaxy, but those who died for it. Around you are the faces of all those that gave their lives for us, who sacrificed themselves so that we could be here today to love, and live. Let us take a moment of silence to honor all those that have passed away." Everyone was silent, except for the occasional sniffle. After a long pause, Dickens continued. "Thank you. Now, let us turn to those whom we owe our thanks, and our very lives. They protected us when we were at our very weakest, and rose to the challenge against impossible odds. And they brought me back my nephew. Thank you. In recognition of your brave acts of valor, the Alliance has commissioned that each of you receive the Distinguished Service Medal for your exceptional performance on the battlefield.
Dickens turned and Ashley handed him a brown oaken box, with six shiny medals nestled in purple velvet. He went to each of them in turn and pinned the medal onto their jacket, giving each of them a salute afterwards. People clapped as Dickens stepped back up to the podium. "Also, it is my great honor and private to distinguish one person from this extraordinary group. Somali Shepard, please step forward." Surprised, Mali shuffled forward a bit. "A little more, please." The crowd chuckled. Embarrassed, Mali strode to stand at his side.
"This young woman standing before you today, risked her life to protect the galaxy, just as the Shepard line requires." There where another few chuckles. "She put herself in the line of fire to destroy a huge threat that would have consumed us all, Sojourner, the last of the reapers. As a commemoration of her bravery and sacrifice, we present to her the Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor that we can give." A thrill of pride went through Mali's body as she listened to his speech. Dickens backed up and Ashley handed him a smaller box, the gold medal gleamed inside. Mali was surprised when Shepard took the medal from the box and stepped in front of her. Mali saluted him, and with all seriousness, he pinned the medal next to the other one. They gleamed like two stars on her breast, shimmering in the sunlight.
"Congratulations Shepard," Commander Shepard smiled, "don't make a habit out of this." He saluted her and stepping away, fatherly pride in his eyes. I definitely will, Mali thought, feeling as light as a cloud.
"I give you, the Sentinel Six, now fully graduated, with honors, from project NightWall!" The crowd stood from their chairs and clapped thunderously, a roar consumed Mali's ears. Thousands of flashes came from thousands of cameras, one being held by Liara T'soni. That photo of the six of them stretched in a line, with Mali at the front, would hang on the fridge of the Shepard home for years to come.
"So…what are we going to do now?" Shepard asked as Mali waved goodbye the O'Connell's and a glowing Cadence. Liara held her in a side hug.
"You know, you have all of that extra money in your account…" Liara began.
"How much do we have now?" Mali asked Vic, fondly staring down at her omni-tool who had been reinstated to her place of honor on the teen's wrist. Liara had been loath to give her up (even if she wouldn't admit it).
"You don't want to know." Vic replied wryly.
"Just give us a…rough estimate?" Shepard requested.
"Billions, almost a trillion. You are now the richest person on Earth, and sixty other planets. You are ranked thirteenth in the top fifty richest people in the universe."
"Wow, would you listen to that," Mali sighed contentedly, "music to my ears. Finally, a just reward."
"What, the Medal of Honor and galaxy celebrity status aren't enough?" Liara rolled her eyes. Mali became serious.
"Well, I know one thing I'm going to do with my money."
"And what would that be?"
"I'll show you." Mali answered, slyly. "But we have to go to Earth first. To tell you the truth, it's already built."