Citadel
Having no desire to linger and watch Feron walked away when every line of his frame was stamped with misery, Liara set off to look for Delenn and her minders, a silent Hiaras besider her. They found the group by a pond, the baby engrossed with the flight of several brightly hue insects that flitted across the water. Taking Delenn from Hilia, Liara headed for the exit with the commandos grouped protectively around them. Sensing disquiet from her mother, the baby did not evince any interest in the passing scenery when they were in the skycar, cuddling against Liara instead.
They headed for the military docking bays. A tight little knot that drew curious glances as they made their way to where the Normandy was docked. The Alliance sentries to the docking tube didn't bat an eye at the group though they ran a keen assessing eye over each person. The request to see the captain was granted. A final visual check of credentials, a twinkle at the sight of the baby and they were allowed to proceed.
Araki was at the airlock to welcome the party, discreetly drawing away the rest who, except for Hillia, had never been on the frigate, on a tour of the ship and refreshments. This left Liara and Hiaras free to head for the lift. They smiled at familiar faces, acknowledging the greetings but did not stop to chat.
In the loft, Shepard was deep in dispatches from ANI, catching up on recent developments. Topmost was that Home Fleet had scaled down from battle status to watch status. That spoke volumes of the level the Admiralty Board currently regarded the threat status of Terra Firma. Next was the rotation and reassignments of numerous divisions from local security and enforcement. Handing autonomy back to the local enclaves had freed up numbers to plumb shrunken services that were operating on spit and tape. Having seen some of the less complimentary and vocal defamatory criticisms from the citizenry over Pubnews, she could only imagine they must be holding celebrations at getting one back at the "Overlords".
Near the bottom of the personnel and unit disposition was the surprising listing of Normandy on temporary attachment to the Citadel Defense Fleet. She blinked in consternation when she saw that. Oh lovely, did someone drop the ball in updating assignments?
When are they going to flip an official notification my way? The last thing I need is a brass head hauling me over the rocks for failing to report in.
Irked, she went on to the next despatch. It was from Captain Celdon, Admiral Danivic's Chief of Staff, of the Citadel Defense, Systems Alliance Division. She was to report to the SSV Berne for a conference at 0800 the next day. Well, that's not too bad, she wasn't in anybody's bad books yet. On the other hand. She stared unseeingly at the screen. What with one situation coming up after another, she hadn't had much time to consider the implications of getting back into the seat. It fitted very comfortably like a glove. None of the difficulties she feared in assuming command again appeared. Not once did she give thought to the plans she made with Liara. Thinking about it now was giving her misgivings. Were those decisions sound when they made them under lingering duress and influences from the war?
Unless Liara intends to form up a small flotilla of ships and have me command them like a mercenary force which is nigh on improbable, can I make it out as a loose agent?
A partner of the Shadow Broker. Granted, Liara wasn't anything like the malevolent Yahg. They would be working on an equal footing but she couldn't imagine herself sitting back, pulling strings and passively watching events unfold like a spider in a web. More likely, she could be acting like an enforcer or was it bouncer.
She rubbed her face as she whimsically visualised herself in a flashy loud hardsuit, telling bad people to be nice or else. They would fall over themselves to obey because she was Shepard. As if people would roll over for her. Ugh. No. She sighed. They definitely needed another discussion on where they intended to go. If she stayed in, the Normandy would likely remain under her command. She would have to make a decision on which career track she would take in a few years time.
She rubbed her nose irritably as her thoughts squirreled around, refusing to settle. It was too soon to jump, she decided and dismissed the problem from her mind to look at the next dispatch. As if it was a sign of which way she should be taking, it was a brief on the ATC facilities currently under construction at Yukon Academy with an estimated inauguration date. She stared at it for a moment before moving to the last of the despatches. A scheduled overhaul of a number of supply depots.
The dispatches dealt with, she glanced through Pubnews. Most of the news articles was focusing on the prothean scrambler but two specific subjects caught her eye. One was about the increased activities of raiders and smugglers at several out flung sectors. Colonies that survived the war and struggling to restore their economy, industrial and agrarian infrastructures were being hit. It was inevitable that those in the outer reaches were vulnerable to depredation when the principal focus in the past six years was reclaiming the core worlds from the TI. The absence of any navy presence left the way clear for riffraff to band and do as they wont. She wondered how deeply these criminal groups had entrenched themselves in those areas and how much trouble they would rack up once attention was turned back to them.
The second article was the discovery of hundreds of bodies of people in the unsafe zone south of Euro Callisto Enclave and east of Sanvar Enclave. They had apparently refused to heed warnings of environmental contamination from the Reaper War and attempted to stake their claims on abandoned lands. She shook her head at the stupidity and foolhardiness. The level of cogent incompetence was beyond belief. Was it out of greed, stubborn refusal to believe what they were told, determination to strike out on their own or just plain revolt at being put under the thumb of the Alliance? Perhaps it was all of them.
On another thought, she checked appended subcategories of the article and found the collated report of the eradication of battle debris. Nearly eighty percent of the Reaper wreckage was cleared by the geth. However, the estimated schedule for land reclamation was going to take decades. That wouldn't sit too well on those chafing at the congested condition of the enclaves, resettlement and local travel restrictions. She understood their discontent and sympathise with their sufferings.
The enclaves were nothing more than existent old structures that were not pounded to dust in moderately safe areas. It would have been akin to the living conditions of the quarians on their Migrant Fleet before they finally reclaimed Rannoch. How ironic that the quarians were now enjoying the freedom and extensive construction of their homeworld while most of the galactic community were huddling behind high walls for the last six years.
She scrolled through the articles. One positive outcome for urban planning, if the local state administrations didn't just sit there doing nothing, was that they could start planning the foundations of cities that conformed with galactic standards. With enough impetus and creativity, the era of rebuilding could mark an epoch in design and innovation for Earth metropolises. Once territories deemed safe for settlement become available, they ought to have those plans ready to launch.
Of course, they could just stew in impotence, political brickbats and simply fall back on old urban blueprints. Would they be so incompetent and unromantic?
She snorted. It wasn't her problem. She turned her attention to her emails. The anticipated replies had turned up. She smiled as she ticked off the names. A few had yet to answer but she was sure they wouldn't be tardy. Her eyes widened in amazement and appreciation at the images Tali sent of her home and the cities springing up on Rannoch. There was a snapshot of her standing arm in arm, a group of geth all hued in bright colours ranged behind her, with an unknown male quarian beside her. Should she read more into that posture? Wrex had also sent a load of images, all of him with his children, Bakara and unknown krogan females. At the rate he was making his contribution, an entire generation could claim first degree blood ties with clan Urdnot.
Dorrin also dropped in his share. He had fully recovered from his injuries. With no hull to command, he was assigned to paper chasing in the Alliance Ships Division, Logistics Command. Not that he was complaining at the sudden influx of spare time. It was just that he had no idea how to spend them. She smiled at the prickly tone of the email, understanding his befuddlement and uneasiness very well. If he felt that restless, well, she had a remedy for it.
"Shepard, Liara and Hiaras are on their way to the loft."
Engrossed in her reply message, she didn't hear the announcement from the gynoid until she repeated the statement. It took another several seconds for what she said to percolate into her mind. The stiffness when she got up from her chair made her winced. How long had she been sitting there? She took a quick glance at the time display and was astonished to see that she had spent the entire morning and afternoon in her office. Small wonder her back was complaining.
She had the door opened just as Liara and Hiaras exited the lift. Liara's thoughts were tightly closed but her distress was clear as a bell through their link.
Uh oh, what's got her tied up in knots? Oh wait, didn't she have a meeting with Feron?
"Hey imp." Shepard smiled, held up her hands to the baby who leaned in her direction, clearly wanting her. Liara handed her over distractedly and paced slowly to the aquarium. Hiaras only shook her head glumly when Shepard gave her a querying look and indicated she would remain outside.
Settling the child securely in her arm, she joined Liara who seemed very interested in a solitary fish that parked itself in the farthest corner, away from the antics of one of the Illum Skeld fish that seemed bend on chasing the tails off a member of the Thessian Sunfish flock. It looked rather nervous to Shepard, its eyes turning constantly within its limited scope on its immediate surroundings. To her surprise, it was a goldfish. It wasn't in her original purchase nor in the lot returned to her by Kelly Chambers. Maybe Votik?
She lifted Delenn higher so she could see the flurry of colourful activity while she waited for Liara to say something. The child's eyes were bright as the watery row swirled furiously, curiosity and amusement sparkled in her rapt attention and chuckles.
After several long minutes, a sigh escaped Liara. "I had a talk with Feron," she said, eyes on the goldfish.
"Skittish or dismal?" Shepard nodded at the fish when Liara turned a puzzled gaze at her. "Look anything like that poor fellow over there?"
"What?" Liara looked back at the fish in confusion before she realised what her bondmate was referring to. "That is all too apt," she said sadly.
"That's what I was afraid of," said Shepard. "Up to their tricks again I take it." It wasn't a guess but more of an acceptance that anything amiss in the last few years had more to do with Cerberus and Terra Firma. "What did they do?"
"Goddess, Shepard," Liara tried not to sound distraught as she leaned against the cool glass of the aquarium. "I know no one could have guessed Cerberus were still around or that someone took over their operations but I am still responsible for sending Feron out there."
"You didn't arbitrarily sent him out there. You asked. He didn't refuse. He's the best agent to find out the hidden reserves the Ilium consortium were hoarding. Would you have done it differently if there was someone else to send?"
"It would have made no difference." Even with that admission, it didn't make Liara feel any better. "They know all about me."
"Even if you were aware, it still had to be done," Shepard comforted gently. "His success saved lives."
If only she could ease the heavy ache within her with such argument. Many of the original Shadow Broker's operatives served in shady enterprises. Some of which were dubious and destructive. It didn't matter in the long run when she turned their operations to better purpose. Most had died, spent in the reaper conflict to gather information, to fight and to help those in need. She regretted their deaths but they were names and faces of strangers. Feron was her friend. The one who made it possible for her to retrieve Shepard. He deserved better.
"Dear heart, I know. Be one with his pain but don't let it take hold. He needs you to be there for him."
Wordlessly, Liara embraced her bondmate, needing her comforting touch. "I know. I must not let myself fall into that mire again." When Delenn protested at her amusement blocked by her mother, Shepard shifted so she could have a clear view of the fish. "He has something for you."
So much for shoring up the fort, considering how easy it was to wiggle something past the most stringent security. She should have considered living in a sealed bubble. "Does he now."
"You know?" Liara straightened to stare at her.
"I don't but I can guess. I did say if he is determined, he would find a way to have the last word," Shepard reminded her. It was one of the first things she brought up after the mission to the galactic core. Her bondmate was understandably spooked by the stalking of an old flame or rather the passion Lance kept aflame for her.
"Feron said a crystal was left in his quarters when he was held for questioning by the Alliance. He tried to tell someone about it but he was conditioned not to carry out any action."
"Did he say what it is?"
"Only that it is for you. There is apparently no urgency in handing it over to you," Liara said before she corrected herself. "At the moment. What do you want to do?"
A part of her wanted Shepard to have nothing to do with this Lance, now in control of Terra Firma and everything that once belonged to Cerberus, yet she knew the quagmire with this man from her bondmate's past must be resolved. But could it be settled?
Smoothing a hand down Liara's back, Shepard stared musingly at the fishy fracas that was dying down.
"Wherever it leads, I have to follow. There isn't much choice if I want to end this dance of shadows. As for the crystal. It may blow up, scramble my brains but I don't think that's how Lance wants it. It has to be another of his messages." She looked at Liara soberly. "I'm afraid Feron is going to be a problem."
"You want him questioned?"
"I'm sorry Liara but he could turn out to be a liability if he has been adjusted."
Shepard regarded her bondmate closely. Would she throw a fit over an unpleasant truth? Liara stared in mute rejection of that suggestion, the feeling spiked sharply through their link before it ebbed away into resigned acceptance.
"We should inform Citadel security," Liara said reluctantly, "but I thought we could delay it until we know what the crystal is. For now, some of our people are keeping an eye on him."
Shepard could find no fault with that reasoning. There wasn't many options to choose. C-Sec might take Feron in and impound the crystal. Such an action could trigger something worse. With Lance, she suspected he would have considered such a probability. She'd rather not find out what was the backup plan.
"Any suggestions on the crystal?
"If you believe it is a message then we need someone who has a tactile feel for such things. Telienos is on the Citadel," Liara said slowly as she thought of the people they could ask. "She has taken up residence in one of the apartments in Tiberius Tower."
Shepard was surprised to hear that. The matriarch did not try to contact her when she was clearly concerned that they should resume their dialogue when she returned. After their last discussion, she hadn't been eager to sit through another reaming dialogue. That had been what. Five months ago? The simmering turmoil since the end of the war had all but died down to a low murmuring barely felt. She had no idea whether it should be attributed to the shield Telienos said she used to block off the Cipher or if she herself was shaking off the clinging vestiges of battle scars.
"I will contact her and arrange a meeting," said Liara.
Shepard had another idea. "Dinner at your office. We can order takeouts. Blowing off some steam will do everyone some good."
"It is short notice," Liara said doubtfully, "but I think she will come once she knows how urgent it is. May I use the comm channels?"
"Go ahead."
Liara really didn't need to ask but then, she was not on a passenger ship and she was no longer a member of the crew. Certain protocols had to be met. Turning back to the aquarium, Shepard wished heartily that Lance would get whatever itch he had out of his system. Get it down, a showdown, anything. The past between them was dead, it should remain that way. Having to spend a lifetime looking over her shoulder was not a prospect she had in mind.
Liara's Apartment
Shepard sat back in her chair, sipping her coffee as she surveyed the wreckage. Empty plates, dishes and rinds of fruit stood around the table. The food ordered from the restaurant recommended by Tevos surpassed expectations and satiated her curiosity. She could safely introduce her mother to the menu with no qualms. Unless Hannah's sensory buds were disconnected, she shouldn't have anything to complain about.
From the gratified air around the table, the other guests thought the same too. As usual, Delenn was the focus of doting asari. Aethyta was regaling Liara, Telienos and Hiaras with another anecdote of her children while they fuss over the baby. The stories were rolling on like a boulder, one after another, since dinner ended more than an hour ago with Telienos contributing a fair share. She was surprised to learn the matriarch had two surviving children of her own.
She looked at the silent figure next to her. Javik met her gaze with an air of one who found the conversation as mystifying as the world he woke to. She smiled in commiseration for she too, felt out of her depth in such enthusiastic engagement of a subject matter she had no experience in. She could only listen with both amusement and bemusement while at the same time, pleased that the cloud of mourning was dispelled.
"I haven't seen you for months. How's that project of yours coming along?" she said, choosing to touch on a more comfortable subject.
"It only needs the right moment to be unveiled," he said in a practical tone.
"Can I have a preview?"
He gave her a look she couldn't interpret. "I will arrange it when I can."
"Why?" she asked curiously for he seemed reluctant. "Is there a criteria I've to fulfill?"
Another unfathomable look. "You may be more than proficient."
Her brows shot up in astonishment. "More than proficient? Are you saying I'm over qualified to proofread?" Her brows dropped. "In Prothean history and culture? Which madhatter's hat did you pull that one from?"
"I did not pull anything from any mad person's hat. I made a factual observation that you are not alone," he said.
She frowned at him in perplexity before it hit her. "Eh Javik, the Cipher is not a conscious entity. . ."
"It is a repository of data spanning many generations."
"Wait, you're not afraid of criticisms are you?" She stared hard at him. Did he look discomfited? She chuckled softly. "Honestly Javik, I'm not interested in judging nor am I competent in that department when all I get are bits and pieces from that bubble in my mind. It's like looking through a pinhole."
When he still looked uneasy, she said earnestly, "As you said, the Cipher is a repository of non sequential information. It's impersonal data. I don't get any emotional dynamism from those memories. There's not another person sitting in there telling me things. I'd gone mad if that happens. What you're offering is an invaluable insight of an era no one knows except in hypothesis and their imaginations. Hardly any one has a platform to stand on to throw rocks and say it's drivel or flawed."
"No, but there will be objectionable disclosures."
"Isn't that a good thing than to continue to embellish a legend?"
"Perspectives will change," he said, flicking his eyes down to his glass as he reached for it, his fingers clenched tightly around it betrayed his tension.
In a flash she understood what he feared. She said lightly, "So it will but it can't be as bad as what the reapers wrought for themselves, can it?"
He looked up. "When I first awoke, vengeance and hatred gripped me. I see only darkness. I was dismissive, angry with my people's failure. It was right we should be forgotten. But now, it is gratifying to find that my people, our civilization were revered, even worshiped. We were proud of our successes but our deeds and footsteps became shadows. Nothing of what we really were survived. I am the last of my kind. It is my duty and my desire to reveal my people. In so doing, I know I will have stripped away the myth."
"But you have already decided to go ahead to publish the book."
"Yes." Releasing the glass, he straightened in his chair. "I have gained much since I awoke. . ."
"What makes you think you're losing anything?" she interrupted. "None of us are suddenly going to toss you off the building just because your people are less than angels. Granted, some of the ancient enterprises are not going to sit well but the past is the past. I think what most people would appreciate is a frank chronicle from a real prothean."
He nodded. "I hope it is as you said."
"Is there distance between us when we have shared so much?" Shepard wondered where that came from; it sounded rather archaic. "You're my friend. I think of you as family too."
His sharp fangs flashed as he smiled slightly. In the years she had known him, a smile was hard to elicit from him, near impossible. That he could do it now was a marked improvement.
"Of course, if you suddenly decided to hanker after some delicacy from those forays into the past, like the salarians, I'm going to have to shoot you," she added. His laugh was loud enough to bounce off the walls of the room.
A hissing shush cut short the laughter. They looked across the table to see the asari gesturing at them to silence. Delenn hardly stirred when Telienos transferred her to Aethyta who left quietly with Hiaras and the commandos. With that exit, they set to clear and clean up. Javik also lent a hand, collecting the detritus and tossing them into the recycler. Shepard offered a round of refreshments from the bar at the sitting room as the others ranged themselves opposite her at the counterbar top.
Both Liara and Telienos opted for a light wine while Javik stayed with his juice. Pouring herself a light mead, Shepard leaned on the counter top and looked to the windows. Under the warm glow of lights, the spartan furnishings of the secured apartment didn't look too stark. Varied colours from holosigns, street lights and passing vehicles thrown through the wall windows that look out to the Strip cast interesting kaleidoscopic patterns into the rooms.
"What would you like to start with?" asked Telienos, pulling her away from her observation of the play of lights.
"How about hitting on the outer territories?"
If she was aware of Shepard's desire to hedge in dealing with her personal questions, the matriarch gave no sign of it.
"Until Miona T'Reist indicates she accepts the sanctuary offered by the Assembly and consents to receiving supportive assistance, there is nothing I can do."
Not an unexpected outcome. Without agreement and acceptance, positive reception to any venture from Telienos was not possible. When would the young asari make her decision, Shepard had no idea. She wasn't about to pressure her.
"There is one other new development we need to discuss," Shepard put in quickly before the matriarch could continue and gave a concise account of Feron's problem, including a brief history of her past relationship with Lance and everything else without giving away too much classified data.
"What do you think?" asked Liara. "Is he conditioned as he suspected?" She wasn't harboring false hopes that Feron was mistaken but rather how difficult it would be to remove that conditioning.
"The duration he was held in their hold is not a good sign. With that much time, the conditioning is deeply entrenched. It is akin to the indoctrination process of the reaper devices but without their malignant degeneration."
Liara quelled the anguish in her heart. "Can anything be done for him?" she asked hopefully.
"I would not know. I'm not sure if a mild examination would not trigger a programmed response," said Telienos. "He could turn aggressive or suicidal."
"Nothing?" Liara's shoulders drooped as she slowly rotated her glass with her fingers.
"Perhaps the answer can be found in this crystal he holds," suggested Javik. "If you truly believe it is not an item of destructive capabilities but a message holder, what do you think it is capable of?" He directed the question at Shepard.
"You think it's more than a simple playback device," she said. "So did I. I ran a search through databases for any reference to crystalline devices. I found one in the Alliance archives." Telienos's eyes sharpened with interest. "A planetary world designated DC1938 exploded in 2185 when its uranium core collapsed. The race that lived on the planet employed crystalline technology. Unfortunately, no samples of that technology was saved so there is no determination of how their devices work."
"Can it be like the memory shard?" said Liara.
"It is possible. There were references to such crystal devices in my time," said Javik. "The Thoi'han were said to use them. I have not seen an actual specimen but records indicated that these devices contained intellects of various purposes."
"Like an artificial intelligence?" Shepard said in astonishment. "How big did you say the crystal was?" she queried her bondmate.
"An elongated octahedron as long as my palm." Liara measured it out on her hand.
"He wouldn't have sent something with pretty pictures," Shepard muttered, sipping her mead. "It'll be interesting to examine and find out how it functions but I've a feeling it may not be a good idea."
"If it is as Javik said, where do you think he got it?" Liara said worriedly.
"The shape was described in the Thoi'han reference. It could be the same," said Javik. Silence fell.
"Is it possible?" Shepard said quietly. "He found Thoi'han artifacts? Learned how to use them? Make them?"
"It is a cycle is it not? Advancing and innovating on lost knowledge and technology?" Telienos pointed out reasonably."Why is it not be plausible for him to have discovered the artifacts with the resources he had?"
What she said was true but hardly comforting to those around her for it was a foreshadowing of a building storm.
"I only pointed out the shape is thus described in the archives. It may or may not be Thoi'han but it could be an attempt at dialogue," said Javik. "He knows you will have many questions. Feron is friend to you. Would he not satisfy your curiosity out of pride of his accomplishments?"
"I know he likely wants to show me what I'm missing by not throwing my lot with him but I'm still missing the part of his intentions after," sighed Shepard. "That troubles me."
"If he said his people are leaving, he would join them but if he stays-." Deep in thought, Liara swirled the wine in her glass. "He could be lying. His people never left, he may decide to stay on our backs."
"Not something I'm looking forward to," Shepard said gloomily.
Telienos cut in. "The immediate question right now is the crystal. What should be done," she said, tightening the human's focus before she began to fret too much.
"The drell said he has to give it to you. That means it is activated by touch. Let me handle it first," said Javik. "I am after all, a touch sensitive," he cut across their protests. "It is the fastest and only possible way to find out what it truly is. There is no one else."
"What if it destroys you, destroys your mind?" said Shepard.
"I was trained to protect myslef, sap minds, destroy them. Can you suggest anyone of this present era who has the same skills and training as I?" When Shepard shook her head again, he shrugged and said with finality. "Then it has to be me."
Thessia
"Soup?"
Pulchia started to shake her head but the mug was thrust into her hands.
"You're hungry whether you know it or not," Gallia said brusquely before jerking her chin in Nervia's direction. "At least she has her head screwed on right."
Ignoring the sharp tone, Pulchia blew across the mug and sipped slowly. Huddled in her corner of the couch, Nervia held her cup like a shield. Gallia regarded them worriedly. Neither of them looked very good. They had that wan air that hovered around every asari she saw.
Stifling a sigh, Gallia dropped onto the window seat beside Pulchia who was turned away from her, staring out of the window. Until the cleanup was over and done with, they were going to look that way for a while. More time for her to figure out exactly what she was going to do with Pulchia. Or not? Frankly, she herself had no idea what she wanted. She looked at Pulchia's back.
Once they're over their mourning, I'll have to sit down with her and really talk.