Serpent Nebula, Widow
Citadel
The weapons team stood at ease. Their eyes looked straight ahead but Shepard knew they were watching every move she made. She also knew they were hoping, with bated breath, that they would not disappoint her. She was tempted to cough, frown fiercely, glare at their boots in search of some nonexistent infraction just to see how they would react. She did none of that. Instead, she looked into every panel, every joint, scrutinised the extremely clean and shining weapons boards and ran a finger along the surface. Not the slightest dark speck was left on her skin. There wouldn't be. Not when EDI quietly let dropped in the lift the crew was very meticulous with their charge and had gone the extra mile to polish up their stations ever since she assumed command.
"Very good, Chief." She let a faint note of satisfaction into her voice. "Carry on."
"Yes, sir." The warrant officer came to attention, barely hiding his relief and pleasure.
Stepping through the hatch, Shepard gave silent thanks that some of the old crew were around to shake off some of the unease at commanding the Normandy again. No doubt they remembered the bewildering tension in the weeks after the defeat of the Reapers. A period she recalled clearly now. EDI, Liara, Chakwas. They were right to be concerned; she hadn't been herself.
There was none of that anxiety and empathetic sympathy in their eyes now when she had words with the crew during her inspection of the messhall. There was only eager anticipation and respect. Overawe from the newer and younger crew members, especially one young pfc who seemed to have two left feet whenever he saw her. It didn't endear him to his table companions when he managed to upset a large carafe of ice cold juice all over them in his rush to brace to attention.
He's lucky there're auto-cleaners to wash the stains out.
She released the grin she was holding back after the door of the lift closed. The reactions around the table was priceless. If she wasn't there, she was certain the young fellow would be food pelted into an inglorious mess. He reminded her of a squadmate in boot camp. So horribly clumsy that everyone thought he would be booted out. Somehow, he managed to get everything right when it mattered the most. When she met him again a few years later, he had turned into a fine steady officer. From what she heard, the pfc was following the same trend. All he needed was time to shake off that puppy clumsiness.
"Sir, we're cleared to approach the Citadel," Araki reported when she saw Shepard stepping out of the lift.
"Are there any messages?"
"No, sir."
Leaning against the edge of the bridge rail, Shepard gazed at the spinning galaxy map. Almost sixteen hours since EDI handed in her report to Langdon. Still no word on where they were to go next. Since EDI was held to silence under security protocols, she couldn't ask the gynoid for the results. That left her in a bit of a stew. Restlessly, she made her way to the cockpit. She stood quietly as Joker confirmed their flight path with Citadel Control. EDI was as usual in her co-pilot's chair.
Memories assailed her as she looked out the cockpit windows, recalling that moment when she had her first look of the Citadel. The awe and excitement in Ashley's voice when she caught sight of the Destiny Ascension seemed to echo in her ears. As if conjured by her thoughts, the dreadnought glided into view as they rapidly approached the space station.
"Seems like only yesterday we were shaking in our boots at the size of that thing, huh, skipper?" said Joker. He always seemed to know when she was there. Her reflection on the console displays perhaps? "Before we found out that thing's got the lives of nine cats."
"You can say that again."
"Thanks to us," he said laconically. "They ought to weigh us down with medals for saving their asses from those heretical flashlights and the reapers."
"You sure you want that Joker? How far can you walk?"
"You forget I've my own banner bearer. Guy like me need to flash the salad sometimes." He smirked and turned his head in time to catch her reaction. "Aw, skipper. Don't just shake your head, the least you can do is endorse my jacket, get me a pay rise. I sure could use one."
Shepard doubted Joker ever had the chance to spend much of the salary accrued for the last several years. Neither had she for that matter. "What're you going to do with all that money?"
"I've got plans." His hands flashed across the console. "I'm not going to sit in this cockpit for the rest of my life. Earth is shitty right now but give it a few more years, I'm going be looking for more permanent digs."
That bit of news took Shepard by surprise. "You're going to give up flying?" She glanced at EDI, wondering what was Joker's plan. The gynoid only smiled at her.
"Nah, I'm just going to change this leather seat for a real posh stuffed chair with all the bells and whistles and watch the kids sweat at the joystick."
"You want to be a flight instructor?!"
"As much as I hate to admit it, skipper, I do grow old." Joker threw her a wink. "There will come a time to pass the baton to the new kids on the block. Besides, I can use the vacation."
"That's a great plan," she said softly, musing over Joker's astonishing revelation as she stared at the Citadel looming larger.
Well why not? It was a good retirement plan as any. The only problem was EDI whose main core rest in the Normandy. The alternative was to take the frigate off active service and use it as a training vessel. That wasn't going to happen any time soon when its keel had not reached the maximum mileage yet. She doubted Joker's posh comfy chair would be realised that quickly. A ship glided by. Its odd shape immediately caught her attention.
"What is that?"
"That is this," said EDI, throwing up a holographic image of the ship. "The configuration does not match any allied ships, military or civilian."
Shepard stared at the schematics EDI put up. It was longer than the Normandy. The shape, however, was unusual. The image was enlarged and the markings at the prow highlighted. "A new race? I don't recognise that insignia."
"No one would, Shepard, except the krogans, the asari, the turians and salarians." EDI elucidated further at Shepard's puzzled stare. "From the data I retrieved from Citadel Archives, it's Rachni. It's similar to the destroyer class ships they deployed in the Rachni War."
"Rachni?!" Joker's surprised exclamation came a few seconds later than Shepard's. "What are they doing here?"
"Didn't you say you didn't know who they were?" Joker interjected.
"It was not important then, Jeff, we had other priorities," EDI reminded. "They are instrumental in moving the Citadel."
"That's one mystery solved." Moving to the side window, Shepard tried to get a better look. "There wasn't any mention of them on the news-," she trailed off and looked over her shoulder. "Classified?"
"Other than the Council, the Conclave and the High Admiral of the Citadel Fleet."
"Damn, that's right." Joker snapped his fingers. "They never said anything to the Alliance fleet either. If the brass know, they didn't let on either."
"Keep it under wraps, you two." Shepard glanced down the corridor to CIC. No one seemed to have noticed anything amiss.
"Sure thing, lips zipped, skipper," muttered Joker as he dealt with a incoming call. "Roger, Citadel Control, proceeding to docking bay IR1-3A," he acknowledged.
Moving beside EDI, Shepard hunkered down. "How many ships do you estimate they would have by now?" she asked softly.
"Perhaps three hundred, including the two hundred destroyers they sent. This is a conservative estimation, assuming they have been concentrating on ship building since the war ended. They do have the numbers," she reminded at Shepard's incredulous gaze. "The Rachni Queen can lay..."
"Right, she can throw them out like the krogans but the latter are slower in their rate of maturity." Shepard frowned. "How far along are the krogans with their fleet?"
"The latest update put them at two operational frigates. They currently have another two frigates and one cruiser under construction."
"Unless the Council are sleeping, they're going to have to do something about the Rachni."
"I believe you are right."
"What, you know something?" Shepard wondered if the gynoid had been tapping into Council conferences.
"It is the logical defensive measure. The Rachni have demonstrated fleet capabilities, the Citadel Fleet need to replace the gap left by the System Alliance ships." EDI waved at the holographic image.
"That's going to make some people real uncomfortable," Shepard muttered as she stood up. She could well imagine the krogans' reaction if the Council were going in the direction EDI suggested.
Would the Council offer concessions to sugar the pill? If Conclave voted for it, they wouldn't have to. That didn't change the fact the krogans would try to stir up trouble. With Wrex and Bakara at the helm, perhaps they could keep the backlash under control. Perhaps she could even hope the krogans had mellowed enough to resist grinding the axe. She snorted at that optimistic idea and decided to switch to another subject.
"How far off the mark am I in my theory?" She did not bother to elaborate, EDI would know what she was talking about.
"Not very far."
"What's that?" asked Joker, concentrating on the approach to the docking bay. "Far from what?"
"You'll know soon enough."
"Great, we're going to do something dumb again, are we?" he muttered.
To that, she made no answer and watched silently as he brought the Normandy into the assigned berth. Perhaps it was just her imagination but there was that familiar feeling when the frigate passed through the shield barrier. The ship seemed to feel different, heavier now that there was atmosphere surrounding it. She wondered what EDI 'felt' through the sensors. With smooth precision, Joker aligned the ship parallel to the the docking clamps, killing all momentum at the right moment.
"Confirmed all moorings secured, docking complete," he said several seconds later. "Do we get shore leave?"
"Sure, but the taps are dry, none of the populace made it back yet." She grinned at Joker's disappointed expletive and exited the cockpit to find Hiaras waiting at the airlock with Araki.
"Shall I arrange shore leave, sir?" asked Araki. "None of the civilian sectors are operating but the dock canteens should be opened."
"Arrange it with C-Sec and see what's available," said Shepard. Taps might be dry but the crew would welcome the opportunity to stretch their legs and get some chow that's not shipboard fare. "You have command, XO."
"Yes, sir, I have command," Araki acknowledged.
Shepard stepped through the airlock with Hiaras, cycling through with minimum fuss to find an almost empty docking lounge. There were a few C-Sec officers at the entry gate. These came to attention when they approached. Her eyes fell on a armored figure leaning lazily against the guard rails beyond the security scanner.
"Garrus!" she exclaimed, her pace quickening.
"Shepard." Garrus grinned as he straightened, reaching out to grasp her proffered hand. "Spirits, you look good."
He looked critically at her. She hardly seemed any different from the first time he met her. There was that same intense blue eyes in a lean face, straight nose, that engaging smile, the firm chin. The red hair was longer and neatly braided. Still those same unruly strands springing from the widow's peak.
"You're looking tip top yourself." She punched him heartily on the arm, giving him a similar inspection. It was hard to tell age on a turian but he didn't look any different since she last saw him. "You're here for the conference."
"Arranged it. When I heard who the Alliance is sending, I thought I'd surprised you." He gave her hand another careful squeeze before releasing it. "You have a keeper now?"
He eyed the competent looking uniformed asari behind her. Since the Alliance did not employ foreign troops on their ships, except for that one off instance of Shepard's, he had a good idea who sent the asari.
"Let me introduce you to Major Ronoh." Shepard turned to Hiaras. "Major, this is General Vakarian."
"General." Hiaras saluted. "I heard much about you."
"All my best points, I hope, major." Garrus returned the salute.
"Definitely the best." Hiaras assured him.
"Liara's idea?" He grinned, jaw flaps fluttering, at Shepard.
"Something like that. Where's your own keeper?" Shepard glanced around but there were no other turians except those among the C-Sec officers.
"Oh I lost him somewhere." Garrus gestured vaguely below him. "He'll turn up again."
"Bending your fringe over much?" Shepard said teasingly as they headed for the lifts.
"He's worse than old Pallin," Garrus snorted, hitting the button that would take the lift down. "Honestly Shepard, if they weren't in such dire need for figure heads, I'd prefer to have claws out, feet in the dirt and ground the TI to dust."
That reminder about the TI dried some of the pleasant mood. "How bad is it?" Shepard said softly.
"So bad I want to march right in to Sur'Kesh and get that prothean device. Ready or not, I'm going to stick it into the gullets of the TI," Garrus said grimly. "I don't give a damn about soothing them into surrendering. I want them dead. Our people want them dead. All this talk about testing the device, it's just time wasting. The TI problem has dragged on long enough to bleed everyone dry into the next world. It's time to end it."
"Your own scientific faculty must have some positive feedback on the device."
"They're just as hedgy as the salarians," he growled. "Putting up as many excuses. It's as if they're afraid of the device itself."
"Or the architects."
Fear the Protheans? He stared at her. "You went out there, what did you find?"
"The Council is right to fear the effects of the device but I think they are allowing themselves to be unduly influenced by it."
"What do they fear?"
"Technological shortcomings." She returned his startled stare gravely. "That's just a guess. Their concern is groundless. Deployed in the midst of the heaviest TI concentration, the device should only affect the intended targets."
That was what she had recommended in her report. Knowing the Council's quirks, she waited to see what they would do with it.
His eyes narrowed. He didn't get to read the complete report on the Ilos expedition but there was a note on the origin of the devastation of the planet. The protheans themselves had created it. Additionally, there were concerns of insufficient proficiency to construct the devices. He could understand why the Council was wary but Shepard sounded certain the duplicates would work. He was more inclined to believe her.
"With population centers far removed from the affected zones, the concerns are ridiculous," he said.
"If the Council approved the device, I'm sure the Primarch would be interested to hear of a new battle plan."
He nodded slowly, mentally shifting gears as he wondered what she wasn't saying. With everything monitored on the Citadel, there wasn't a place private enough for candid conversation.
"You know, we still haven't caught up on that drink we planned years ago."
"I'm afraid I didn't have time to pack."
"They just threw you into the driver's seat, eh?" he grinned. "I have a vintage you might like. How about we meet up on the Normandy after the conference?"
"Sounds like a plan."
The lift halted, the doors slide open. They stepped out to an empty corridor that echoed with their footsteps. They emerged into the concourse of the Presidium, close to the Citadel Tower. There was no one except a few maintenance crew and C-Sec officers scattered around. Without the crowds, the Presidium seemed larger. Overhead, birds flew across a sunny 'sky', their calls faint but clear.
"Who have we got in this conference?" she asked as they made their way to the tower.
"Everyone turned up. No absentees."
"What about the krogans?"
"With most of their populace scattered all over before the war, they might have useful information so we asked them to send someone. Just," he touched her arm, "how critical do you think these decrepit ships might be?"
"If they mount SHDs, very. They may be old but they can still bite rather hard." She stepped into the lift that would bring them to council chambers.
"That's assuring," he said dryly as he followed her.
Thessia
The bed was soft and plaint, supporting her weight easily. Yet as Liara turned this way and that, she could find no comfortable position. Pushing herself upright with some difficulty, she rubbed her eyes irritably, wishing the unsettled feelings would go away. A tiny flicker of gold peeped through her fingers. She opened them to see the last rays of the sun drawing down below the horizon.
Getting to her feet, she wandered aimlessly around the room. Pausing before the display case, she fingered the model of the Normandy, wondering what Shepard was doing and wishing she was with her. A rush of pique rose in her. She turned away, struggling to control it. In her distraction, she brushed against the nightstand. For no reason she could fathom, anger took hold. She grabbed the empty mug standing on it and flung it against the door. It bounced off and tumbled on the floor.
By the goddess, what was she doing? Taking deep breaths to calm herself, she sat down on the bed and tried to remember the meditative mantra. The door chimed. She lost grip of the thread. Taking deep breaths, she tried to pull back the lost thread. The door chimed again. A growl rumbled in her throat.
"Come."
The first thing that Aethyta saw when the door opened was the enraged flare on Liara's face. The second was the dented mug on the floor. Following behind, Shiala picked up the mug as the matriarch sat sat down beside Liara. She put it back on the nightstand before standing quietly to one side.
"What did the assembly decide?" asked Liara, forcing herself to stay still despite her desire to keep her distance from Aethyta.
Aethyta examined Liara minutely. The fury she felt when she entered the room was palpable even though Liara tried to hide it. The lines of strain around her eyes were more pronounced.
"As Shepard and I surmised," said Aethyta, "the vote was unanimous once the device is verified as operational. Deployment of the prothean scrambler will take place tomorrow."
"That is good news." Liara tried to feel happy but she couldn't seem to get herself out of her doldrums. "What about the rest of the colonies?"
"Replication is under way. A month for maximum diffusion." Aethyta reached to grasp hold of Liara's chin and saw the turmoil in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Liara." She kept a firm grasp when Liara tried to pull away. The threads of disturbance was alarmingly distinct. Shepard was right in her suspicion.
"For what?" Liara was bewildered, her anger momentarily forgotten. What was Aethyta apologising for?
"For not giving you the care and attention that you need." Aethyta subtly touched Liara's barriers. What she saw shocked her. "Foolish child, how long are you going to keep it to yourself?"
"I am not doing anything," Liara denied, pulling away hastily.
"This is not the time for dissembling. Child, talk to me."
When Liara remained silent, Shiala moved closer. "Liara, you need help."
The plea struck fear in Liara. "You...told her?"
"As she should," said Aethyta. "You are a walking cask of fermenting disaster that's going to explode. Why do you think maidens are discouraged from bearing?"
"There is nothing wrong with me."
"Continue as you are and your bondmate will return to find an empty husk of a mate and a household devoid of the blessed homecoming she is expecting." Seeing the terror in Liara's eyes, Aethyta wished she was more alert and less concerned with her work. "Why did you stop seeing the counselor?"
"When did you..."
"Telienos noticed something is off with you and spoke to counselor T'Veis. You are by no means completely healed from the trauma of the war, child. When you succeeded in persuading Shepard to talk to her, you failed to follow up. She counseled against a child but you persisted in your course, didn't you? You took matters into your own hands and jeopardise all you hold dear."
Liara's shoulders drooped at the accusation. She couldn't deny it. A purple hue hand took her own. She looked up into Shiala's sympathetic eyes.
"You were also desolated by Shepard's pain, weren't you?" Shiala said softly and squeezed Liara's hands in empathy when she nodded.
"I could not bear it." Liara closed her eyes. "We were worlds apart for so long despite everything I tried. She closed herself away. When she finally agreed to see the counselor, it was a ray of hope."
"And you wanted to enlarge that, using the merging gestalt to force a return to what was," Aethyta said flatly. "In the process, you destabilised yourself even further and never realised it."
"Dad-," Liara pleaded, struggling to protect herself from the overwhelming waves of guilt. A soothing warmth hovered close, offering itself.
Take my strength, Liara.
Gratefully, she grasped it, feeling some of her anxieties ebbing away.
"The fundamental drive of a maiden has always been to wander, to learn, to pit herself against the difficulties in her way. Through such a process, she develops the mental psyche and strength that forms the core of her essence. You, and thousands of others, have undergone the fires of war that nearly destroyed Thessia. Such an experience can only leave mental scars. Being bonded, it follows your mate would provide the support to aid you through the healing duration."
Aethyta heaved a sigh and stood up. "But that is not to be, the extensive war left no one untouched. Shepard is wounded, not only physically but mentally. The latter the most insidious."
Shiala paled at that reminder. Over the trickle of their empathetic link, Liara could hear her regret for her impulsive actions before it vanished.
"Child, you should have waited," Aethyta said as she gazed at the night sky. "However long it takes, Shepard will eventually heal. By consenting to see counselor T'Veis, that was the first step to recovery. You would have followed the same path but you allowed your desires, your fear, your doubts and discontent to move you. In the end, neither of you were able to assist the other when need became critical."
"You are saying...the Ilos incident would not have happened?" Liara almost whimpered, shrinking in on herself. Was everything that happened her fault? The word rang too loudly in her mind.
Aethyta whipped around and pinned her with a glacial stare. "Look at yourself now. Every question increases your doubts, your guilt. How can you ever possibly be allowed to participate in the awakening?" Liara blanched. "That's why you secretly contacted Shiala, didn't you?"
"It must be done, Liara," said Shiala when Liara stared at her with growing anger. "Covering up will only undermine you."
"If you think you will not survive, then you will not. Shepard will not thank you for trying to shove a substitute at her."
"Liara, don't." Shiala grasped the young asari's hands firmly when she began to cry. "You're letting yourself slide, get out of it."
"I..cannot..," Liara sobbed, trying to control herself and failing. "I ...cannot.. it is all my fault, all my fault." Like water out of a burst dam, a riot of images exploded into her mind. She gasped for breath. They were choking her, strangling her, she couldn't breathe.
Shepard, help me.
Unexpectedly, everything stopped. She sank gratefully into the darkness.
Removing the injector from Liara's neck, Aethyta touched her brow lightly. "Let's get her more comfortable," she said to Shiala. Together, they lay Liara flat on the bed, slightly canted to one side with cushions.
"I'm sorry Isheirae, I should have spoken up sooner," Shiala said regretfully as she stepped back from the bed.
"Is my fault less heavy for moving equally slow?" Aethyta pulled a blanket over Liara. "She hid it too well from us. Chance has seen fit to derive her of her bondmate in her time of need. If Shepard had not been incapacitated at Ilos, she would have sensed the confusion and disruption."
"We are not too late, are we?"
"Her sense of self and shields are almost eroded but there is still time to get her psych in balance. From now onward, you will monitor her during the day. Effia will cover the night. I've already spoken to Telienos, Liara's assignment will be handled by another. Other than the gynecologist, Telienos and counselor T'Veis, allow no other outsiders to approach."
"Yes, Isheirae. I will do all I can to help her to return to herself."
"We have to," Aethyta said gravely. "If she fail, then this child will be born an outlander to her own kin."
Normandy
"This is bad," Garrus muttered as he looked all around the loft. The walls, the cabinet, the desk, the coffee table were totally bare. "This is bad," he said more loudly. His eyes fell on the wide bed. He sat down on it. His butt hardly made a dent in it. Whatever happened to the soft mattress?
"Really bad!" he directed the last bellow towards the office area.
"You don't have to rub it in, you pin head," Shepard returned with exasperation when she emerged from the bathroom. He had been grumbling and growling the minute he stepped into the loft.
"I don't know why but these are the only ones I can find in there." She blandished two glasses. "I cleaned them," she said in response to his skeptical gaze, the fringe on his head seeming to flatten. "A few bugs are not going to worry a mighty turian like you, are they?"
"Spirits, I think the only thing in this room that's of excellent standard is this." He wagged the wine bottle as he took the glasses from her and poured out the wine. "Look at this." He put the bottle on the bed and slapped the mattress. The bottle hardly moved. "Did they take all the stuffing out of it and put in metal boards?"
"What can I say? This is not a cruise ship." Shepard shrugged, sat down on the bed and held out her glass for a toast. "To hard times."
"Apt," Garrus returned dryly. "Hard times indeed." He touched his glass lightly to hers. The glasses gave off a crystal ring.
The blue coloured wine went down smoothly, leaving behind a light fiery trail down Shepard's throat. "That's good but it can be better," she criticised mockingly.
"Tell me where I can get a vintage that's ten years old and older, I'll do everything in my power to get it." He took another sip.
"Try Omega."
"And the pirate queen will deliver, eh?"
"She does owe you for clearing out some of the mess on her turf."
"That was before the war, Shepard, you think she'll care? I was just another hoodlum conveniently cleaning house for her."
"She'll care when she hears what we have in mind." Kicking off her boots, Shepard sat on the bed cross-legged.
Garrus laughed. "In that case, I'll see if I could wrangle something out of her." He poured himself another shot. "They're really not happy."
He was referring to the allied war council representatives' displeasure when they realised who was stealing ships from under their noses. There was nothing she could do about it.
"Clear as water." She shrugged. "No one could have predicted such a development. In hindsight, the Alliance should have realised the Illusive Man wouldn't have deployed his entire fleet at Cronos Station. That there would be reserves but there were other major concerns. If our luck holds, we would root out the remnants before they do anything else."
"Did you see their reaction when you suggested most of the ships are at the galactic core?"
Garrus chuckled as he recalled the dumbfounded shock on everyone's faces. The demise of the Collectors wasn't publicly disclosed but rumours had floated about.
"I would have taken a picture if I could," Shepard said wistfully.
Of all the representatives, the geth was the only individual that was aware of her mission through the relay. Its curiosity was almost palpable as it cocked its head left and right, observing the myriad reactions of its fellows.
"You think this Lance Greenacres is going to hang around for a final showdown?
Shepard shrugged. "Maybe. He could easily mine the safe zone and post a few ships as a secondary back up. The bulk of the fleet have to be somewhere else."
Garrus sighed and shifted his feet. "I don't want to sound like I don't believe you but why do I get the feeling you're shading the the real reason?"
Of course he'd sensed something was off. Garrus had been with her long enough to figure out her moods.
"Greenacres was a friend of mine." She nodded in affirmation when his eyes widened. "Back when I was young, before I joined up with the Alliance. We were close. He wasn't happy with Alliance policies and left after graduation. I never heard from him after that. The next thing I know, he dropped a message for me."
"The ciphers you mentioned earlier?"
Shepard nodded. "I'm pretty sure it's the IFF for the Omega 4 Relay."
"Why not somewhere else? Why you in particular?"
"With only one gateway into the core, there's no reason why Cerberus would throw away such an advantage. Why me? Lance could be interested in the Lazarus Project. There're some new developments that could be beneficial to my people."
Garrus digested the startling information for a moment and eyed her sharply. "So you're just going to waltz in?"
"No, I'm going in and take him out before he can hurt the people around me," she returned evenly. "If we pull it off, if the bases are still intact, we get them and learn just what Cerberus, Terra Firma and all their friends have been up to."
"I'll do the same thing in your place." Garrus picked up the bottle to fill her and his own glass. "Is it going to be a complete burn or pick and clean?"
"We can't allow any of their dangerous research to survive."
He nodded in agreement. "It's going to be hard to keep the salarians and the krogans out but if you can manage it, we'll follow your lead." He twirled the wine in his glass contemplatively. "So, what was it that you didn't want to say out loud at the docking bay lounge?"
"The prothean device will be deployed on Thessia."
"What?!" He almost leaped to his feet. "How is that possible? The Council..."
"Will make no official acknowledgement at this time."
"What are you saying?" he demanded.
"For every ten people out there clamoring to use it to eradicate the TI, four oppose it out of misguided belief and personal sentiments that family and friends can be saved. There have been so many subversive incidents that news of the deployment would simply increase these activities."
"Then they have been waiting for the right moment," Garrus said with some relief and then stiffened. Why hadn't Victus say anything?
"The Cerberus strike on Earth and the TI offensive may have changed some in the opposition but that doesn't mean the remaining stalwarts won't take action. There was also another hindrance. The salarian councilor has been insisting more testing has to be done but the device has been replicated and deployed successfully on Sur'Kesh a month ago."
"How do you know that?"
"Major Kirrahe."
"Damn," he said in amusement. "So he's your mole."
"Valern's political maneuverings isn't his apple. He sent the specs of the finished device once he realised what the councilor was about."
He stared at her in disbelief. "Are you saying some idiot salarian is holding the rest of us hostage because he's more interested in power grubbing at home?!"
"Wouldn't hurt to have them tidying up their homeworld while the rest of us are still struggling to root out the weeds."
"I can't believe this!" Furious, Garrus jumped up and began to pace. "What is Sparatus doing up in the tower?" he stormed. "Surely he can't be in the dark!"
"Relax, Garrus, Victus should be making several new upgrades to his arsenal right now." She grinned when he stopped in his tracks. "The rest of the allied Conclave are doing the same thing, quietly. None of the councilors are going to tell Valern of the deployment. Oh he will learn of it once salarian operatives send word home but I doubt he will kick up a fuss."
"Of course he won't when we have the dirt on him but how can we let him get away with it?"
"I'm sure the councilors will think of something unpleasant for him. Relax, Garrus. Sit down before I get a crick in my neck." She patted the bed.
"That's a load off my mind," he muttered as he sat down again, setting his empty glass beside the bottle. "I feel so much better."
Companionable silence fell as they thought of the road ahead. Shepard wondered what Liara was doing. "With the TI question about to be settled, when are you going to have a little one?" she asked teasingly.
He stared at her for a moment before he realised what she was saying. "Well, eh," he mumbled, somewhat embarrassed. "Lemilia won't think of it when we have not reclaimed Palaven. Said she's going to be right there when we take down the last TI."
"Sounds like she has it all lined up," she teased. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to attend your wedding."
"No, I'm the one who's sorry," he said gravely. "I should have been there for you, not run off after the war."
"Garrus," she stared at him in surprise. "What're you talking about?"
"Liara said you were having some problems..."
She realised what he was referring to. "I appreciate the thought, Garrus but I think even if you were present, it wouldn't have made any difference."
"You have always been there for me. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have known what to do with myself or survived to this day.."
"Garrus..."
"It's true. You know it," he said earnestly. "I should have realised what's happening with you. But I didn't. I was too blind and preoccupied with my own concerns..."
"Garrus, stop." She grabbed his arm to halt him. "It's over. Stop beating yourself over it. I'm fine now," she continued when he made to speak. "It's the future that is our concern, not what we should have done or not done. When we go up against Cerberus, you will be there for me."
He gazed at her for a moment and nodded. "There's no Shepard without Vakarian." He filled his glass and raised it in a solemn toast. "I'll always have your back."