The Bio of Commander Alecia Shepard

Colonist

War Hero

Vanguard

Ebony hair pulled back in a ponytail with strands hanging down in her face. Icey blue eyes and tan skin.

AU: Both Kaiden and Ashley survive Virmire, but Ashley is injured and unable to continue serving in the Alliance.

Shepard chose Synthesis


Liara's blue eyes bounced around her Shadow Broker screen until she couldn't stand it any longer. She pinched the bridge of her nose and turned her head away from the screen, tightly closing her eyes.

"Have the asari evolved the ability to function without sleep?" Javik asked as he stepped into her office.

It had been nearly eight months since the end of the war with the Reapers. Javik, having no other place to go, decided to take Liara's invitation to stay with her on Thessia. She was able to set up her broker command center there, while also being there to help with the rebuilding of her home world. And he was tucked away in the most private and heavily secured building in the universe. It was quiet there and he liked that.

She had to chuckle at his words, "No, though I wish we'd had. I have taken on two tasks that require much of my attention. Even with a thousand-year lifespan, I'm afraid I could still use more time."

Javik's eyes moved over the screen as he slowly approached the terminal, "You believe all this to be necessary? Has the war not ended most of the criminal activity you were watching before?"

"You would think so, but I am afraid that the recovery efforts seem to be bringing out the worst in some. Stealing, trading of essential goods, though…that isn't really what I'm looking at. I'm helping to coordinate trade, assign personnel, generally making sure everyone has exactly what they need. Sometimes even before they know they need it."

"Dr. T'Soni noticed a mild change in the properties of some of Earth's soils that would make the growth of food nearly impossible," Glyph floated in, "She dispatched a team of salarian scientists to Earth and they discovered a solution in enough time to save the crops that had already been planted."

Liara had to smirk a little, "They found a solution and distributed it before I was able to get in touch with the human government to let them know they were coming. I spent forty minutes explaining what happened and convincing them that the salarians hadn't released a genophage on them."

"That would have been the most opportune time to have done it," Javik nodded, watching the screen, having missed the humor in the story.

"They are not enemies Javik. We've talked about this," Liara sighed heavily, "We are all working together, as our own separate species, not under a single regime and we are not fighting each other for power."

"Right, though there are those clearly stronger than others who could use this tactical advantage to…"

"No," Liara interrupted, "Those who are stronger are using that strength to help those who are weaker."

She looked into his eyes and after a moment he appeared to grow uneasy, looking back to the screen again. "It…it will take a lot of getting used to. Living without war. I've never done this before."

Liara reached over and placed her hand over his, "I will be with you to teach you, every step of the way."

Javik didn't turn his head to look at her, just kept his eyes focused on the screen in front of him. This woman, with eyes as blue as the sky over Thessia, had taken him in and taught him so much, yet he couldn't bring himself out of the mindset he had since the moment they opened his pod. He had only ever seen war.

Peace was alien to him.

"I am not an easy student to have. Perhaps you should get some rest," he said sternly, pulling his hand out of hers, "Being my mentor might prove the hardest task of all."

Liara nodded and looked back up at the screen, "A couple more hours maybe. The salarian egg incubator on their home world has been malfunctioning. I have a team on the way to see what they can do. I want to see if they're successful."

Javik shook his head, "You will know if they are successful in the morning, there is no need to stay awake and wait for an answer." He began pushing buttons on the console and the screen started shaking as Liara grabbed his arm and pulled it away from the controls.

"What are you doing? Do you know what would happen if I lost all of this? Millions of people are…" she stopped, a low beeping sound alerted them, and they turned to the screen. A yellow light flashed, and Liara took over the console again, using her body to shove Javik's aside. "What did you do? What did you touch?" She worked desperately a moment, trying to find the source of the flashing light.

"Dr. T'Soni, it seems to be some sort of tracking device that has come online," Glyph flew over past Javik, causing him to take a few steps back still.

"A tracking device?" Liara pulled up the galaxy map, "It's coming from the Argos Rho galaxy. Glyph, can you get any information on exactly where it might have come from or who it belongs to?"

Glyph was silent for only a moment as it calculated and searched for Liara's answers. "The tracker is attacked to the omni tool of Commander Alecia Shepard of the Alliance Navy."

Then just as quickly as it showed up, the tracker shut off and was gone.

Liara's blue eyes slowly widened as she stared at her digital assistant. She could hardly believe her ears, "How…how certain are you Glyph?"

Glyph was again silent as he searched for her answer, "Ninety-seven-point thirteen percent certain." There was another silence, "There is a point zero five percent chance that this is a glitch caused by gas originating from the healthy bowels of a volus, presumably leaking out of a hole in its suit."

"Can you find the location?" Liara asked quickly as she again desperately pecked at her console, trying to ping the device herself.

"It would appear it comes from somewhere in the Gorgon cluster, though I am unable to pinpoint an exact location."

Liara growled as she tried frantically to reactivate and locate the omni tool, "There must be something Glyph. Some clue to where she is. There are five planets in that cluster."

Glyph was quiet again a moment, "The omni tool registered a very cold temperature when it was activated."

Liara's eyes bounced over the screen again and her fingers worked tirelessly at her keyboard. Finally, she threw her hands up and backed away from the console as a planet appeared on screen. "There, the planet Wuo," she pointed at it, "A ship passing through that system a few weeks ago reported seeing activity in that area. That must be it."

"What do you plan to do with this information?" Javik asked, bringing the excited asari down from her high. "Shepard is dead. Her omni tool could have been picked up by anyone and they are just using it now. She may not even be there."

"Or she might be," Liara spoke firmly, looking to Javik, "I know there is no way she could have survived that, and I have made peace with her death." She walked toward him now, "But if there is a chance that we can recover her body. That we could finally lay her to rest and say our goodbyes, then it is worth a look."

Javik pondered this a moment before speaking again, "You said there is activity in that area as if it is unusual."

"Because it is," the asari spoke as she tossed a datapad into a bag along with a few other essentials.

"Then there is a good chance that whoever is out there, is not going to be welcoming strangers."

Javik was right, and Liara knew it. "Alright, then I will bring some help with me." She turned to Glyph, "Glyph, send a message to everyone. Let them know what we found here and if they want to join me, tell them to meet me here in three days."

With that, she threw her bag over her shoulder and headed for the door.

"Where will you go Dr. T'Soni?" Glyph asked as he started to follow her.

"There is someone who needs to hear this in person. You send those messages…I need to get to Palaven."


"This is the third time in two weeks Victus," Garrus groaned as he shook the datapad in his hand at the pile of rubble that had been a newly rebuilt shelter just hours before. "What are we doing about this?"

"The best we can," Victus's answer and was simple and truthful, even if it wasn't what his turian companion wanted to hear.

"It seems every time we take a step toward recovery, these bastards show up and take us three steps back," he threw his datapad down and ran a hand over the fringe on his head. "Do we know who they are yet?"

Without a word, Victus bent over and retrieved the datapad from the ground, shaking off the dirt before pulling up his messages, "Maybe check your messages from time to time," he suggested, handing the datapad to his friend.

Garrus took the pad and read the message, "The Third Coming? Really?" he glanced at Victus in disgust.

"It's a group that firmly believes the Reapers should have been successful the first two times. They think that Shepard's interference was against the laws of nature. They intend to finish what was started."

"No points for such an awful name," Garrus looked up at the rubble again, "And for people who want to destroy all life they are doing a miserable job."

Victus chuckled, "Three explosions so far and not a single injury or fatality. Just some property damage."

"Has anyone else reported a similar problem?"

Victus rolled his eyes and pulled up the messages on Garrus's pad again, "Urdnot Wrex messaged about a week ago. Said they've lost four buildings in the last month. They thought it was someone on the inside, someone who is opposing the new world Bakara, and Wrex are building, but then there was an attempt on the maternity ward."

"No way a Krogan would attack the maternity ward. No matter how much they may disagree with Wrex and Bakara's plans." Garrus touched his earpiece, "Schedule a meeting with Urdnot Wrex for next week if he isn't busy. Thank you Be'ala."

"Secretary?" Victus asked with some skepticism.

"Friend," Garrus corrected him. "We uh…worked together a long time ago. She showed up to help rebuild and I added her to my team. She's tough and she's smart."

"Asset?" there was a hint of teasing in Victus' voice.

"And only that. A friend…and an asset." Garrus's voice was stern, and it did not go unnoticed by his friend.

"I see. I just thought perhaps you have decided to move on after…"

Garrus touched his earpiece, "What is that now?" he spoke quickly, sounding excited. Victus sighed. Just like with every other time he'd told Garrus he should move on, he was 'distracted' and unable to speak about it. "Liara?" Garrus grinned. He hadn't seen her since Shepard's memorial service. "Yes, yes. Tell her to wait for me in my office."


"You'll excuse the mess," Garrus spoke as he stepped over the rubble that littered his office floor and made his way to embrace his asari friend, "There was a war here recently."

Liara chuckled, "Oh? I hadn't heard," she smirked and took a seat in the chair Garrus motioned her to. "How is the rebuilding going?"

Garrus groaned and undid a button the bottom of his jacket before taking a seat behind his desk. "We've had some trouble recently. A new group calling themselves The Third Coming have blown up a few of our rebuilds."

"That's terrible," Liara gasped.

Garrus tossed his datapad with Wrex's message to the front of the desk and Liara picked it up, reading it. "Wrex is having some trouble too. He managed to get a few good shots on the men who tried to sabotage the maternity ward on Tuchanka, but they didn't survive long enough to answer questions."

"Hmm, typical Wrex I suppose." The asari placed the datapad back on the desk after reading through the message, "Though, with the genophage cured and their population growing again, I cannot say that I blame him for killing on site." She leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs, "So what are they after? This…Third Coming?"

"To finish what the Reapers started. To destroy all life and let a new cycle begin," Garrus answered simply, leaning back now as well. "But I have too much on my plate to worry about a few incapable terrorists. They'll either die doing something stupid or fizzle out." He smiled at her now, "So what brings you here? It's been a long time. How is everything going on Thessia?"

Liara nodded and shifted in her sit, wondering now if she'd made the right choice in coming here. "Thessia's rebuild is going smoothly, though I will forward the message to keep an eye out for this Third Coming. We've not had any trouble from them." She glanced out the shattered window behind Garrus and saw the devastation and the people who worked tirelessly to rebuild, "I must admit I feel a bit foolish now. I came here hoping you would come with me and help me with…something…but you have your hands full here."

Garrus watched her eyes a moment as she stared outside and turned slowly in his chair to look out the window himself, "We have been with each other since the start of this Liara. We've had to carry the burden of knowing what was coming and the ridicule from those who didn't believe us. I owe more to you and the others on the Normandy then I do anyone else. If something is important enough to you that you came all the way here to ask for help, I'm with you." He turned back to her now.

She smiled at that. What he said to her was exactly how she felt about him. They were in this together, always. "Last night my console pinged…" she hesitated as he leaned forward on his desk, listening intently, and she looked into his eyes. No hesitation to help her, onboard with wherever she was taking him, and she worried her discovery might hurt him more than anything else.

"Liara?" Garrus was concerned now, "What is it? What happened?"

The asari took a deep breath, "Last night my console pinged…Shepard's omni tool." The plates above Garrus' eyes raised and his mandible dropped slightly as he slowly sat up again. "Someone…or something maybe…activated it in Argos Rho Galaxy…in the Gorgon Cluster. It shut off before we were able to pinpoint its exact location, but I believe it might have come from the planet Wuo."

Garrus tightened up now as he sat up in his chair, "When do we leave?"

Laira was a bit anxious now, "I am not saying she is there, for all we know scavengers found her omni tool and are using it."

"When do we leave?" his voice didn't change.

"Garrus," Liara leaned forward now and placed her hand on his desk, hoping to reach him so he knew what they were getting themselves into. "I don't know who is hiding out there or what they are doing with that omni tool…"

"If there is even a small chance they have or know where to find Shepard's body so we can finally lay her to rest properly…I am coming with you."

Liara stared at him for a moment, "You are sure?"

Garrus' leaned forward now, face to face with the asari, "When…do…we…leave?"