Citadel
1930. The first thing that Shiala saw when she opened her eyes were those glowing numbers. She stared at them blankly, wondering where she was before turning her head to look around her. Darkness. Where was she? Memories returned in a flash. What had happened to Liara and the rest? Was she captured? The softness beneath her and the rustle of sheets as she moved was somewhat reassuring but she still had no idea where she was though she could sense she was not alone in the room. There was the perceptible feel of other presence. The air was fresh, cool but with an unfamiliar tinge.
She pushed herself upright, on the alert and saw the aura of people lying on pallets in the same room as she. Asari. She reached over to tap the area below the glowing numbers, certain there was a night stand below the display and if so, the light panel was there. The immediate brightening of her surroundings proved her right. Blinking rapidly to adjust to the light, she saw she was in a unfamiliar bedroom. Spread around her bed, sleeping on several pallets were the assistants from the T'Soni estate. The sight set her at ease.
They must have transferred her to Shepard's apartment on the Citadel when she was unconscious. She frowned. What had happened? The last thing she remembered was trying to get Liara to the safe room with the others while someone was attacking them, then nothing. Feeling herself all over, she found the slightly sore spot on her leg. Had she been shot? She didn't feel the impact. How strange.
She took in her surroundings more carefully. What was that large black bag hanging from a curved bar jutting from the wall? A decorative piece of furniture? There was a walk-in closet and next to her bed was a large wall shelf lined with books and ornaments. She shifted restlessly, feeling a familiar pressure in her belly. Her mouth and throat felt dry. She longed for a drink. How long was she unconscious? Would they have put her clothes in the closet?
Pulling away the blanket, she was about to get down from the bed she saw the robe draped across the foot of the bed. Pulling it on, she quickly made her way to the bathroom to relieve the pressure. Rinsing her mouth at the washbasin took away the dryness in her mouth but not her throat. She really needed a drink. Going to the bedroom door, she palmed it open.
The large open area outside was lit by several nightlights, highlighting a small flora plot to the left under a flight of stairs. She could hear low voices from the right. Rounding the small section of wall, she saw Effia, Liara and Chakwas seated at one end of a long table. Spikey ceiling lights shone down on them. A model of the Normandy stood in the middle of the table. From the bowls and dishes on the table, the three were in the midst of dinner. The aroma tickled her nostrils. She realised she was feeling hungry as well. Effia saw her at once and stood up. Liara looked up as Chakwas turned around to see who it was.
"How're you feeling?" Effia asked as she went up to Shiala, noting that the young asari looked alert.
"I feel as if I've slept for days. What has happened?" asked Shiala.
"You were shot with a sleep drug that kept you unconscious for more than two days. Sit, I'll get some food for you, you must be hungry." Effia gestured towards the table before bustling off to the nearby kitchen island.
"Two days?" Shiala repeated in amazement as she sat down next to Liara. She touched the slightly sore spot on her leg. "I didn't feel anything."
"Adrenaline," said Chakwas. "I've seen marines walking into the medbay, all afire by the demanding circumstances they were through, bleeding bucketfuls of blood, shot full of holes or even missing little bits of their limbs. They never seemed to feel any pain or realised they're injured until they began to cool down."
Thinking back to the stress and anxiety she felt, Shiala nodded. "I believe you're right."
"I am sorry Shiala," said Liara. "You were caught in the line of fire."
"There's nothing to be sorry about," said Shiala, puzzled by the way Liara was clutching something to herself. She took a closer look. "Is that-," she breathed in surprise, eyes wide when she realised that Liara was holding the baby they were all anticipating.
"Yes." Liara smiled down at the sleeping baby. "Her name is Delenn."
"She has a marvellous shade of blue," Shiala said in wonder for the baby seemed to glow in the light. She reached out to touch her and paused, looking to Liara for permission.
Liara smiled and held out the baby. "Would you like to hold her?"
A faint wrinkle appeared between Chakwas's brow but she said nothing. Appraised of Shiala's deeds by Aethyta, she wasn't sure Liara should trust her that much with the child.
"Thank you." With great care, Shiala cradled the baby in her arms. "She's lovely."
Chakwas watched Shiala keenly but could find nothing untoward in her appreciation which seemed genuine. When Effia brought over a bowl of soup and a dish of greens, she glanced at her but the matriarch only looked on serenely at the scene. If she wasn't worried, perhaps there wasn't any need to get wound up. After all, the mental disciplines practised by the asari wasn't her natural forte. Far better to leave it to those who were.
"Delenn." Shiala touched the child's soft cheek gently. "It's a beautiful name. Your idea?"
Liara shook her had. "No, it is Shepard's. What with one thing and another happening so quickly, we did not get to decide on a name. Rather than drag it any longer, I asked her to name the baby."
Surprise and disappointment that she missed an important event and Shepard flashed through Shiala. "Shepard? She made it back to Thessia on time then."
"Ran off the thugs, brought everyone up to the Normandy, kicked the TI in their teeth, took part in the awakening and went off again." Effia placed the food on the table. "Eat up."
"She did all that." Shiala was half bemused as she handed Delenn back to Liara. Taking up the spoon she began to eat.
"That's Shepard all right," Chakwas chuckled as she took a sip from her cup of coffee. "I can't see anything stopping her once she's on the roll."
"She stopped the TI attacks? How?" Shiala asked curiously, more than a little amazed that Shepard found a way. Given Shepard's record of accomplishing the seemingly impossible, she shouldn't be surprised.
"I'm not too clear about the details," said Chakwas, "but she managed to find some of those SHD missiles and used them to collapse the tunnel entrances in both cities. With the entries closed, the TI were forced to fall back."
"I also heard a large number of them were trapped in the tunnels," Liara said sadly as she looked down at Delenn.
Shiala touched Liara's hand briefly, empathising with her sorrow. "Did we lose many of our soldiers?" she asked.
"No figures was released for casualties but there are many injured, civilians and soldiers. None of them are showing any signs of TI infection," said Chakwas. The yet hovered unsaid.
"It has been nearly three days." Effia sat down. "If there is no mistake about the new TI conversion rate, I think we have been fortunate. Still, the authorities are proceeding cautiously. Those who have been cleared and released will be monitored closely."
A reasonable precaution.
"I supposed we would have to wait a period of time before we can return to Thessia," Shiala said optimistically. When Effia and Liara only looked at each other instead of answering, she wondered what else had developed. "What is it?"
"We may not be returning to Thessia that soon," said Liara, a troubled air about her. "The northern confederates have filed a referendum with the Assembly to abandon Kelice and Sharzis."
Shock held Shiala speechless for long minutes. "What do you mean? They want to throw away the foothold we have fought so hard to gain? Give up the fight?" she said disbelievingly after recovering her voice.
Liara nodded "They proposed that we wait until the TI reached the end of their approximate capability to function. If it goes through, most of the populace will take up residence on the Citadel. The rest will go to the colonies."
"That is a proposal that will wrought unacceptable consequences," Shiala said angrily.
"The northern confederates suffered the greatest number of casualties during the war. This campaign to take back Thessia is cutting further into their numbers," Effia said quietly. "There is no official memorandum but out of the thousand two hundred sub clans, it's estimated eight hundred are left. Of the principal clans, only half have made it this far. At this moment, the survivors are more concern with preserving the integrity of their clans. If this proposal will save their people and soldiers, they will vote for it.
Liara hugged Delenn to her as a frisson of cold swept through her. Since the war ended, she tried not to think of the enormity of the losses. To hear it stated so baldly now that the clans that had survived for thousands of years were gone brought back that sense of deep lost. Silently, she mourned the disappearance of rich traditions, history and accomplishments of the lost clans. Effia lightly touched her on the shoulder with a chiding look that shook her out of the momentary doldrums.
"There are but a handful of T'Kelivis left," Effia continued. "In the old days, you could hardy turn about without running into one. Bar their Assembly member, there's hardly any of them to be seen nowadays."
Both Liara and Shiala stared at her before the latter shook her head, finding it hard to believe that the ancient lineage was in danger of extinction.
"The referendum will address and arrest the decline among the clans but are we prepare to lose faith not only from our allies, but in ourselves? Do the people really want to abandon Thessia?" Shialai said in disbelief.
"The forums are frenetic ever since the referendum became public. Support and opposition numbers to each new assertions and discussions fluctuate each day. It is hard to gauge an outcome if the referendum is put to the vote," said Liara.
"I don't believe the Assembly will stake their heads on this one," Effia said dryly. "More than half of them are ready to agitate for the people's vote but it's not going to happen soon. Not when most of our forces are under quarantine and the device in question is still pending on a result."
"The interim would not foment a favourable direction," Shiala said with certainty.
"Only if the supporters are allowed to hold sway in the forums. It will be a delicate time when most of the populace are evacuated to the Citadel. It may not be Thessia but it has much to offer." Effia waved at the large plasglass wall at the far end. Glancing towards them, Shiala realised it was dark outside with only a few lights gleaming along the concourse. "If they get too comfortable, they may begin to see the station as a more permanent abode."
"The station is an attractive alternative," Shiala agreed, "but it is not Thessia. I suppose Aethyta has a plan?"
"Only that we have to put forth the most compelling argument in the forums and hope most are astute to choose the sensible course. It is the best that any of us can do," said Effia.
That was all there was to it then. The fate of Thessia now rest on the cognizance of people already tired of the struggle to take back their home. What kind of argument could convince the skeptics that they should continue to fight? Looking at Delenn, Liara wondered how her child's future would turn out. The prospect of the child growing up on the Citadel was not one she looked forward to but it might happen.
"I would be most tempted to cite the recent successes of the humans," Shiala said slowly, "except that with the present discordant climate, it would be perceived as an affront to be held up against an example some stubborn patricians considered as backward and unrefined."
"It is not only that. After so many years of struggle that does not bring about the outcome everyone is expecting, I think many have forgotten what we are fighting for," said Liara. "It is not just to remove the TI and take back our home. Nor is it just about survival. We fight to take back the visions and passions we have lost."
"Humans are a small part of the argument," Effia said solemnly, leaning forward to tap the table. "Liara is right. Many have forgotten that in our early history, we were once as frenetic as the humans. This is an opportunity to remind our people of how we once were, the dreams we once had that fired imaginations. The desire to explore, the passions that fueled the development of our civilization. We lost all that in the last thousand years, too content to preen and soak in what we have achieved and our long years. The war and the present conflict is a wake up call that we cannot remain static. The amendment to the campaign and the status of the younglings is a nudge in the right direction but more is needed to kick the people into drive."
"This will stir up some of the autocratic matriarchs," Shiala observed, smiling crookedly as she thought of the voices that avocated change, silenced for so long rising to overwhelm the incumbents over their ineffectiveness.
"Long overdue," said Effia.
"So now we wait. What was the other reason we couldn't return to Thessia?"
"That will be-," Liara hesitated, glancing at Chakwas who remained silent.
"Does it have something to do with that attack on us?" Shiala saw the flash of anxiety in Liara's eyes when she nodded. "Were any of the attackers apprehended?"
"With the TI offensive in progress, there was hardly any time to chase the attackers. The survivors fled when Shepard arrived with her squads. Those who died were left behind. The commandos said they were asari. Aethyta is looking into it. Shepard arrival was timely because of a warning sent to her by a colleague of mine," said Liara. "She overheard a suspicious conversation concerning an arrangement that didn't sound legitimate to her, more so when I was the target."
"Who would want to kidnap you?" Shiala was outraged. Kidnapped a mother with child? What was the world coming to? "Aethyta's political competitors?" she hazarded a guess.
"It is a strong possibility," Effia interjected before Liara could answer. "The deposed members of the Assembly are still waiting trial for their clandestine deal with the TI. The latest TI offensive will put more heavy emphasis on their actions. A sentence of guilt is a foregone conclusion. They have little to lose."
"No one has been named yet," Liara said carefully, "but if any of the former assembly members are involved, they may be providing the force. The prime mover behind the attack could possibly originate with the humans."
"They are involved," Effia insisted. "They could clandestinely bargain with Aethyta if they have you as hostage."
"Why would the humans have a quarrel with you?" asked Shiala.
Liara shook her head unhappily. "Not me."
Shiala's eyes widened when she realised who Liara was referring to. "Shepard? They want you as leverage against her, is that it?" she said angrily.
"That is what we surmised. The drug you were shot with was primed for two." Effia nodded towards Liara and Delenn. "That's why you were unconscious for so long."
Reining in her anger with the reminder to herself that Liara and Delenn were safe, Shiala said anxiously instead, "Do you know what they intended? If they blatantly launched an attack on Thessia, what is to stop them from trying again here?"
"Not when the T'Soni clan are settled in this district," said Effia. "It would take a really big head crest to try something of that sort here. As to what they intended-," she trailed off and looked hard at Chakwas placidly sipping her cup of coffee.
Putting down the cup, Chakwas said reluctantly, "I've already gone over this with Liara. Whatever I know is Shepard's personal business. I'll only reveal what it is in her presence and with her permission."
"Does it have anything to do with Cerberus?" Shiala asked shrewdly.
"Partly." Liara held up her hand to forestall any argument when a frown crossed Chakwas's face, clearly not pleased that she chose to reveal it. "Dr Chakwas has not told me everything. I must wait for Shepard to return. What I do know is that Shepard recently had an encounter with a representative whose company is financing an Alliance research base. This person exhibit an interest that is clearly something other than appreciation for Shepard's accomplishments."
"Why do you think this person and his company have anything to do with the attack?"
"His company have recently come under investigation for secretly hacking into Alliance R&D files on Earth. Dr Chakwas has been keeping a constant update on Shepard's medical profile ever since she signed up to work with her during her time with Cerberus. It's possible her vigilance caught his attention. Since Shepard's revival is classified, they probably suspect there is useful information to be found. There was an attempt to get Shepard's files but they were not successful."
Shiala turned to Chakwas. "I don't suppose you are going to shed any light on why you've keeping an eye on her or which company it is?"
Chakwas shook her head.
"I can guess why," said Liara. "It has to do with the Cerberus implants and whatever it was that they did to bring her back."
Shiala waited expectantly but Chakwas only shrugged. "Like I said, I will only speak of the matter with Shepard's permission."
There was no point in pursuing the subject when the human plainly had no desire to talk about it. Moreover, Chakwas was right. She had no right prying into Shepard's private affairs.
"I suppose this company or representative made an offer this assembly member could not refuse," said Shiala.
"A high probability," Effia nodded. "We have to dig up the evidence connecting them and see what can be done. In the meantime-," she frowned severely at Shiala and got up, "your food have gone cold." Grabbing the bowl and plate, she bustled off to the kitchen again.
Stifling a yawn, Chakwas picked up her cup and got up. "I'll see you all later," she said.
Shiala watched the human head up the stairs before turning to Liara. "Shady dealings are the life blood of politicians," she said. "There have to be some crumbs scattered around."
Liara chuckled but there was no humor in her tone. A steely glint gleamed in her eyes. "A sticky affliction. Aethyta will find something. When she does, whoever is responsible will not escape."
Hades Nexus, Hekate System
GSC Capela
Ten hours, twenty-three minutes, thirty seconds. The tiny notification flashed. A footnote among thousands of on-running programs in Prime Kappa's internal network as it stood in the command centre of the geth cruiser GSC Capela. The countdown roused no anxiety but it was aware that it meant a great deal for two groups of humans. One was on the Capela, awaiting news of the search. The other, if alive, would be keeping close watch for it meant their deaths if they were not found when the countdown reached zero.
Another inflow of data. The probes were at the last stage of their search parameters. Kappa did a quick calculation that took mere seconds and prepared to send a new set of instructions that would kick in automatically. It paused when a probe established a link and chattered. It had found an object travelling at velocity. Shape and size matching that of a lifepod. There was more chatter when it managed to catch up to the pod and began to send images. Kappa cocked its head, enlarging one of the images that showed the decals above the hatch. It opened the intercom to the humans' living quarters.
"Commander Carter, the admiral's lifepod has been located. Please report to CIC."
The reply was fast. "On my way."
Kappa's eye lens widened a little when another new image appeared, clearly showing a hull breach midway down the lifepod. Perhaps time did not matter after all.
Omega
Normandy
Shepard forgot what it was like to have apples and oranges to handle. "Maybe it isn't such a great idea to get everyone on board," she muttered under her breath once the door of the conference room closed behind the representatives of the allied taskforce.
"It could be worse." Garrus's fangs parted in a grin. "They could have insisted that your people foot the bill for any stupidity on their part."
"That might be better than dumping three restless squads on me," she returned sourly.
"We can trust Kirrahe to keep his people in line." He leaned against the table. "All bets are off on the krogan party."
"I wish they sent Grunt." An edge of regret crept into Shepard. "I should have put in a word with Wrex. This Thax Wrag is a boiler. I wouldn't put it past him not to blast every single thing he sees or cart off the entire vault contents."
"Wrex shouldn't even need a word-," Garrus wagged a talon at her, "he should have sent Grunt straight off."
"He didn't so that's got to mean something." She began to pace. "Maybe he's too busy."
She tried to recall when was the last time Wrex called or sent an email. Most of his emails had waxed enthusiastically about the glut of development on Tuchanka and the size of his growing family. There hadn't been an email for over a year but she hadn't tried to follow up on what he was about, figuring he was busy with his numerous projects.
Garrus crossed his arms. "Maybe we're jumping off the wrong point on Thax Wrag but I don't think so. Krogans have never developed circumspection."
"I don't suppose Wrex sees this as an opportunity to remove a trouble maker."
"I wouldn't put it past him." Garrus eyed Shepard keenly as she ran a hand through her hair. It usually meant she was feeling crabby. "The quarians are just as edgy, better make a note to check their suit pockets before letting them home."
She snorted. "What's the point of getting them on when you can't trust most of them?"
"They make good fire shields," he suggested with a wicked gleam in his eye.
"That's very tempting." She shrugged. "It's all moot anyway, we have to wait for the results of the geth probe but if we're getting a green light, it's divide and control."
"How are you going to do that?"
"Stir and mix the squads, sprinkle geth troopers for taste and hope for the best."
"That's a fruity salad I can do without," he grinned. "I'll stick with the main course."
"Always glad to have you taking point, Garrus," she said as she made for the door, feeling that she could do with a walk than chase her own tail in the room.
"Who said I'm taking point?" he protested as he followed her, hardly noticing the marine sentry outside who braced to attention. "I'm getting a little too old for that kind of attention."
"Garrus, seriously? You're citing age now? Maybe you ought to sit this one out and let your lieutenant gather some glory."
"Tempting," he pretended to consider. A crew member side step the duo as they made their way to CIC. "It's very tempting but it's hardly noble of me to leave an old friend to face a mangy dog alone. Not mention it's not good to bring bad tidings to the newest addition of the family who I've yet to meet."
"Considering she's hardly a month old, she wouldn't understand what you're about."
"Shepard, it's a bad start if uncle Garrus gets off on the wrong foot," he chided.
She chuckled softly, coming to a halt beside the lift. "I've something to settle before we enter the fray. Araki may have some updates." She nodded towards the control centre.
He lowered his voice. "Is this about the asari party? I'm not sure you should be meddling around with that one down at engineering."
"She's hardly worse than Jack."
He eyed her skeptically. "Jack was a badass reactive pretending to be a heathen. That one down below is a ticking bomb."
"She did rather well with Aria."
He blinked at that reminder. "That pirate queen's cracking the whip long before you and I were born. If she had to let her go, I'm not that certain of our chances."
"Our goals are common."
"At the moment," he countered. "Anything from Aria has less benefits for us than for her, even a kiss." He didn't notice the fleeting look of discomfort on her face and went on. "Jack's loud but you know where you stood with her. It's either getting your face smeared on the wall or turned into a puddle on the deck. With that quiet one down below, I'm not sure if I'm going to turn into a killing monster when she lifts a finger."
"Jack turned out fine, didn't she?" she pointed out. "I took her on not knowing who or what she was."
"And you do with this one?"
"I don't."
He stared at Shepard as if she had gone mad. "Love getting your kicks eh?," he asked dryly.
"It'll be fine, Garrus-," she waved at him as she stepped into the lift. "Lighten up."
She winked at him as the doors closed on his worried face. In the minute it took the lift to reach the engineering deck, she composed and discarded half a dozen arguments. Faced with a murky personality, she wasn't sure what would work or if anything she said would reach Miona. The asari had ensconced herself in what used to be Jack's hidey-hole when she came onboard. Hiaras took it upon herself to deliver the meals and whatever she needed since the crew were uncomfortable around her. Other than that, she was quiet.
The corridor to engineering was empty except for two crewmen at the workconsole overlooking the flight deck. A feeling of dejavu came over Shepard as she walked down the stairwell to the lowest deck and turned the corner at the bottom. It was dimly lit but she could make out the still form of Miona on the bare pallet, seated in meditative repose. It reassured her somewhat. Half wondering if she should disturbed the asari, she paused for a moment, studying the fascinating glowing streaks running along the asari's crest and neck.
"Are we there?"
It was too dark to see if Miona's eyes were open but Shepard did not doubt that they too would glow if they were.
"No. We have to send a special geth probe through the relay. If it's not destroyed, we'll see what's on the other side. The last thing we need are hard defenses lined up to blow up anything that goes through."
"Wouldn't the IFF take care of that?"
"Not in this case. The person who gave us the IFF have other motives."
"I see. Irregardless, the core of Cerberus is through the relay. Sooner or later, it will be taken down."
"Yes it will." Shepard was sure of it. If the probe failed to send back any data, presumably destroyed, the mission would never be dropped but postponed.
"I can wait. However long it takes."
"What will you do in the meantime? What if it takes a year or more?"
"Remain with Aria."
"How is that productive? Simmering in the poison of your despair?" When Miona remained silent, Shepard wondered if she would refuse to engage in dialogue. "Wouldn't it consume you long before you can slake your thirst?"
Miona wished the human would leave it alone. "What do you know about despair?" she rasped.
"You know I was missing for two years after the battle of the Citadel." Moving slowly, Shepard approached the wall near the pallet and leaned against it, never taking her eyes off the figure.
"I heard that you died but since you're standing here..."
"I did die." Shepard held herself still when Miona stirred and opened her eyes. She was right about them, they did glow. "The Collectors cut and blew up the ship to pieces around me," she continued softly. "My suit was damaged, sprang a leak. The last thing I knew, I was trying to stop the leak. When I woke up, the base I was on was under attack. In the process of escaping, I learned that I was rescued by Cerberus. I managed to get away from the base with some help."
"Why did they rescue you?" Miona asked curiously.
"Because they needed me to stop Reaper thralls from abducting humans before the Illusive Man became corrupted by the very ones he attempted to fight against. I learned a few things along the way. One of it was that I died and essentially not alive for two years."
Miona's mind seized on the last. Her eyes dimmed slightly when she remembered that Syrios's body was cremated. "How did they do that? Bring you back?" she asked dully.
"A secret project. Using Reaper technology, cybernetic implants and biotechnology, they rebuilt me. As far as I know."
Miona stared at her. "They experimented on you to bring you back alive?"
"That's the question. Bring me back alive. Who's me?" Shepard waved at the light panel, her eyes adjusting quickly to the light and saw the frown on Miona's brow.
"You're Shepard."
"That's the thing. I wasn't sure." Shepard hunkered down next to her. "When the Illusive Man laid out exactly why he chose to search for my body and spent an ungodly sum to bring me back, I accepted his offer because the situation was dire. Nobody heeded the warning I was trying to give about the Reapers, except him. He was the only one trying to stop the invasion. I accepted because my mission was not completed. I knew I had to finish it. I could do it with the resources he was offering. But in the days that followed, I could hardly look at myself in the mirror. When I did, I asked myself many questions."
Miona nodded. "Who am I? What am I?"
"Exactly. Did the real Shepard died when the Normandy was destroyed? Was I a clone? Was I recreated as a Cerberus tool?" Shepard said bleakly. "There were no answers. No one to answer them. I was angry. I was extremely afraid and in despair. I didn't know where to turn or who to turn to. Who to trust. Even though there were former Alliance crew who signed on with Cerberus. I didn't dare to trust them too much. Torn from the world, from friends and crew I once knew, I was no longer sure of my place."
It was a feeling Miona empathised with easily. "How..?"
Why did she chose to live? Shepard understood what Miona did not say.
"The mission. It was what that kept me sane. It was what the real Shepard would focus on. Finding an answer to fight against the Reapers. Stop them from destroying all life as we know it. To prove to myself that I wasn't under Cerberus control, I was defiant at times when the Illusive Man wanted me to do something. Inevitably, his assignments were important tasks that had to be done. Defiance had no meaning. I knew I had to find myself elsewhere."
"Where did you find yourself?"
"In the journey that brought me here. A journey wrought with bitterness and sweetness." Shepard reached out to touch Miona's hand. "It is how I find myself, my place."
Miona wanted to shake off her hand but didn't. "You think I should go on," she said bitterly.
"You're a maiden, aren't you?"
"What of it?"
Shepard ignored the sharp rebuke.
"The tradition of maidens leaving Thessia is not so unlike the quarians' pilgrimage," she gestured towards the hull. "Maidens leave to see and taste the worlds out there, to take on the trials the great consciousness throw on them. It is only through these trials would they know themselves and decide on the path to follow. By the time they returned to the sea, they bring with them their experiences to enrich the whole."
That was true. Miona remembered the quivering excitement when she received permission to leave Thessia. The plans she had made, the dreams she had, her visions of her future and beyond. Bitter laughter escaped her. Her future. How naive she was. Stupid silly fool that she was. Tears began to roll down her cheeks. It was some time before she realised Shepard was gently calling her.
"What?"
"You have gone through a difficult trial and survived. You have gained and you have lost. The great consciousness has opened a path for you. Whatever it is that you decide, Miona, however it pains you, remember your companions as they once were. What they hoped for. What they had wanted."
What they had wanted. Such dreams, such hopes. They were all gone now. The tears flow faster. Miona held on tightly to Shepard as the bottled up pain and sorrow could not be held back any longer. She cried.