Loyalties:
Mass Effect Trilogy is a Bioware game. For any reference to the Official Game All rights are owned by Bioware. The Fan Fiction "Mass Effect At Dawn Again" is fruit of my imagination and my work, it is a free tribute, passionate and personal to a great video game. It is not allowed any use partial or total for profit and not.
Chapter 6
One dirty cheating
… It's dawn, Aethyta wakes up, she feels move beside her. Karin is looking for her, while sleeping, so her heart began shooting all of its strikes, like a gun totally crazed. She didn't even remember how nice that feeling is. Smiles as she rolls on the side, finding herself intimately lying on top of Karin's body. Karin opens her still half asleep eyes, sensing the same pleasant feeling. She smiles back, caressing the lips of Aethyta while saying ...
K: Hi, Sweetie. 'morning, did you sleep well?
Aethyta smiles again, fondling Karin's hair, she touches her lips with a kiss, then says …
A: Sure, my Sugary! They were millions of years, I wasn't so well! Oh Honey, you perfectly know how handling with old mummies like me! Me neither can believe it! You make me feel like I was back matron!
Karin tightens stronger, gently stroking Aethyta's back, with gaze very sly while she answers ...
K: Hmm you know, it's strange that you say that ... And here I thought you liked ice lollies!
Aethyta bursts out laughing while caressing Karin's hair, then she says ...
A: Sorry Sugar, I was wrong about you! You're not at all an ice lolly! Hmm, or maybe ... you're the hottest specimen of popsicle in this side of the Universe!
Karin laughs, rolling on the bed, finding herself lying on Aethyta's belly, while she adds ...
K: Hey Sweetie, can I find out, where did your Krogan fifty per cent ends up, this morning?
A: Eh, eh, you see, my sweet Doctor ... you should never forget that ... I also have an Asari fifty per cent!
As they kiss, Karin's comm starts playing. Liara's worried voice puts immediately Karin into anxiety. She does not want risking that Liara can suspect something. Thankfully she knows how to control her reactions, while responding with an affectionate tone …
K: hello Liara, can I do something for you?
L: Karin ... finally! Where were you over? I attempt to see you since days, but you're not there! I was starting worry!
K: oh it's nothing, don't worry! It's just a common flu ... It will soon pass, you'll see. I'm closed in my office as a precaution. You know, I had a high fever and wouldn't infect Shepard. Better be careful, until I get better ...
L: Oh, I'm sorry! If by any chance you need something ...
K: No, thank you! I don't need anything for the moment, don't worry. But, tell me about yourself ... What's up with Shepard? A few days ago, judging by her mad beats and your desperate cry, you shared some very painful moments, and you were both very badly ...
L: Oh yeah! It 'was hard, but it is true, it is worth it. I finally managed to speak Shepard about her death, and how much I suffered, while I thought, losing her forever. In any case, I suppose, we both went out stronger, and more close too! I am going to Shepard, after sharing our memories of the clash with the Shadow Broker, and what happened next, between Two of Us. I hope there will be a radical improvement in her condition because events of those days were, an emotional bomb. Oh, a really incredible bomb!
K: Oh, I'm sure, to remember those days will do very well at both of you ... Let me know how it went along!
L: you bet! And I plead with you ... get well soon!
… Liara enters the Shepard's room, and sits down close to her. She greets her tenderly, trying as always to seem happy, and in good mood ...
L: So Commander, are you ready to continue our mission?
... Back on Illium, as usual you offered to me your help, remember? And, as usual I couldn't refuse it! Oh, you helped me, you bet! It was just, thanks to you, if I could unmask Nyxeris. Do you remember my Asari assistant, who worked undercover for Broker? You also handed me some important information obtained by Cerberus, around Shadow Broker, even if you couldn't understand why of my great anger towards him ...
L: as soon as I find the Broker I'll strike him with such a powerful biotic warp, which you will have to look for his remains with a microscope!
S: What you said doesn't justify the anger is in your blood ... What else happened between the Broker and you?
A great sadness took my stomach, in my gasping breath, oppressed and crushed into my chest. The dumb heart, without no longer beat ... I had not yet dared to talk you about what happened back on Omega because ... my sense of guilt was so limitless that I couldn't even hold up the weight of your gaze. However, it was time to be completely honest with you, I couldn't live with that great dark tarnish just in the middle of my soul, no more ... You deserve to know, and I deserve to suffer all the consequences of my selfish decision!
L: Has Cerberus ever told you how your body was recovered? I gave it to them, Shepard! They said, they could bring you back ... That's why I had to tear off your corpse to the Shadow Broker, who intended selling it to Collectors!
S: So, you rescue me?! Why didn't you tell me before?!
L: Oh, Shepard because I got it all wrong! I survived by a miracle. When I delivered you to Cerberus, I thought to do it for your own good, to bring you back, but ... I knew they would use your body for their own purposes ... I let it happen because I ... I couldn't let you go ... I'm sorry!
You looked at me with such tenderness, I don't even know how I held back from bursting into tears! I felt so terribly guilty, not only I couldn't prevent your death, but I had place you helpless, in Cerberus' hands! Despite this your voice, was so reassuring ...
S: You kept me out of the Collectors' hands. Without you I couldn't have come back. My mission is important ... thank you!
The mission was important it's true, but your eyes showed an intimate gratitude, deep, bound in the heart ... We had joined our consciousness in that unique, and unforgettable ecstasy. I could sense your feelings, the deep connection, which still kept us together. I could feel your love, which was not at all different from mine ... the overwhelming craving to belong us together!
L: You don't know what that means to me, Shepard! I didn't know who, you'd be when you come back ... if you'd feel ... I was afraid that you'd hated me! That's why I must destroy the Broker! He must pay for what he did to my friend, to you, and to be in bed with Collectors!
S: if you are looking for the Shadow Broker, Cerberus has provided me with data to find it ... are you interested?
L: After two years ... I had never dreamed!
Your data were the most detailed and precise, I had ever analyzed. They reported coordinates, probably about a secret Broker's Base, and more importantly, for the first time there were reports of Feron! Something incredible reports: according to your data he was still alive! My friend was locked up for two years, but now, there was one chance fighting for him, and still a ray of hope for me! The material opportunity to transform my revenge in a rescue! I had coming back to my apartment, getting ready and developing a plan. You should join to me over there, but ... something went wrong! Before your coming, I took under a sneak attack, and I cheat death just to my maniacal training to use biotic barriers, get stronger by dozens of battles by your side. I couldn't waiting any longer. Just before running away, I hid a recording of my conversation with Sekat, my Salarians contact, who informed me that he got Intel. I had to meet him at Sirta Foundation Tower, in the Dragon Trade Centre. So, I concealed a message for you, leaving you some clues, hidden among my personal things that only you would have been able to decipher, then I fled ...When you came to my apartment some agents of C-Sec, were doing surveys, and a Spectre Asari, Tela Vasir said you she was on the traces of Shadow Broker, who sent someone to kill me. She offered helping you, finding myself, to protect me from murderers, and find out why they wanted me dead. I was sure you found my registration early, reaching me at the Dragon Centre. At your arrival, a terrible explosion destroyed the building, causing many innocent victims, succeeding as if to kill me. The elevators were locked, and all over the building was swarming with mech and Broker's agents, who were hunting for me and for Sekat ... I had to find him at any cost, before it was too late. I could hear shots and explosions as a raging battle, as I tried to save my skin. I guessed you were coming, and this thought comforted me, giving me the strength to continue. I just wanted to hold on, some more. I heard Broker's agents getting closer and closer, I was hunted down, and when I finally found an elevator working ... I saw the body of my Salarians contact, lying on the ground lifeless, and Asari Spectre who had tried to kill me in my apartment, she was saying to you, she came too late to save him. Instead, it was that damn who had dispatched him to hell. In any case she was alone, while we were four. When she felt herself back to the wall, she confessed. She got off with my data and she was on Broker's payroll ... As soon as she tried to hit you, I run up a Biotic protection barrier while you're jumping down her, like a tiger. Unfortunately, that damn she was really tough, on the other hand, she also was a Spectre ... She tried to escape, jumping and throwing beyond the railing toward the lower floor, but you got catching her on the fly, as she fell downstairs, falling with her, for at least thirty feet ... Fortunately, her Biotic powers slowed the fall, but in the impact she hit you, slipping away ... She was trying to slink off, but I could not afford it! I felt my blood boil for rage, she had tried to kill me, several innocent people were dead, and now she was stealing with my data ... Moreover, if I had not reached her, I would never know how to save Feron and this, I couldn't accept it. Right now that, I had come so close! So, I jumped out, full of sound and fury, trying to keep up, while you and your squad, you were taking care of Broker agents, who blocking up the way. I couldn't give her respite, but Vasir reached her skycar and just as you were coming, she took flight. You, Miranda and me, we chased her at breakneck speed, on board of a hovercar, risking crashing into several times. Finally, you managed on ramming her, and make her falling on the roof of the Hotel Azur ... She was injured, but dozens of Broker's agents were firing on us, getting our march slower, and she could to get away. However, she dripped a lot of blood, and it wasn't difficult to find her. The area was full of civilians, Tela Vasir didn't hesitate to take in hostage a poor terrified woman, threatening to kill her if you don't let her go! ... As usual, you never lose your cool blood, and you said me ...
S: Don't worry, Liara we will! In usual way!
She certainly couldn't know that "In usual way" for us it meant "Together" ... So at your command, while you sidetrack Vasir, I used my biotic powers, to lift a table, throwing it on her at full blast. Vasir ends up in the nearby pond, leaving the hostage. But ... it was not over yet! I had never seen such imposing of biotic powers. Her barrier, was almost unbeatable, and beyond, she dashed against us devastating shockwaves. She could make incredible leaps with which, she moved very quickly from place to place, becoming unreachable ... To make matters worse, mech and agents of the Shadow Broker, they were continually coming to keep us busy, while she recharged. The battle was really hard, but Two of Us, we were still a very close-knit team, and Miranda turned out to be extremely skilled and lethal, her precious help it was really essential. So, in the end, we succeeded in prevail, on that Council's Spectrum, ruthless and pitiless, recovering my data. My soul couldn't rest easy, I had to reach Feron and we needed the best plan to bring him back ... I was so blinded by my revenge, as I didn't think of anything else ... Indeed, to be honest I couldn't let you out of my head! To see you, bring me off any concentration. I could not control my legs, my stomach, and those damned beats! If you only could sneak in my eyes for a moment, I was on the skids! If I just realized that you were staring at me, looking greedily at the bottom of my eyes for any small clue, any lovely confirms that just vaguely say to you that between two of us, it was not over. Therefore, I could no longer think of anything else! However, it was not the time to be distracted, exactly when we found the location. We had to organize the attack in great level of detail. There was no margin of error, we couldn't afford to improvise... So, I followed up talking to you of planning, as gripped by a fever, but actually that attitude, it was indispensable to distract me by you! Everything went well until I felt myself grabbing by an arm. You were drawing me closer and closer, demanding my attention, and you had no intention let me running away ...
S: Liara ... calm down for a moment! The journey on the Normandy will last several hours ... We have all the time to plan, there are other things to talk about ...
L: and ... what would you talk about?
S: I want to talk ... about Us! I miss you, Liara! I see you here in front of me, and yet you seem light-years away! I think, we really need to talk!
Deep inside me, I felt sure even you were not able to forget me! You came back and now, you needed me ... I too, had desperately ... but you! Finding you again in battle, with death in the rhythm of each step, dark threat thrown in our face, or hidden like an insidious enemy around every corner, it did nothing but feed my fear of losing you again … Oh Emily! Do you remember when we faced Saren and Sovereign? Fighting by your side in all those battles, to see you in action, coming with you, it was extraordinary! You were so damn awesome on the field that you always seemed to me invincible! You were an amazing soldier, so skilled and brave. Oh, no one is more valiant than you! You never give up, you're stubborn, you are willpower of iron, and Ah, "fundament" of steel! You are loyal, and generous, and with your great soul, you constantly keep the line, no matter if come hell or high water. All qualities that in my eyes, making of you as ... an immortal! Oh, by the Goddess! You perfectly know how dancing with a rifle in your hands! I always esteemed deeply your way of being a soldier Shepard, and as you are in battle, it had an important influence when I fallen in love with you. Besides, I was well aware of the risks you were running. However, you made me feel peaceful, I trusted that in one way or another you always knew how getting yourself out of trouble! Then, one day ... I had to watch you die, and ... realize that no matter how much you are gifted, or strong or brave. If you keep all your life, walking on a wire, sooner or later you're going to fall! You had fallen, Shepard! This was the reality, and you could falling again! I ... I did not believe that we could start again, to really. That you, were coming back to me for ... oh, to remain! As if the situation had been not complicated enough, we ended up arguing ... It was the first time that happened, we had never done before, and ... it was hurt!
L: You were dead Shepard! Two years have passed ... You can't come back suddenly, pretending that nothing has happened!
It was immediately clear how much my attitude would set alight your frustration. Your tone was harsh, dry and inflamed, and it was not familiar to me because, you never used it with me before ... it was hurt!
S: Oh Fuck, I am inexcusable, I know! But I'm here now, Liara! Thank you very much! And I wonder why, I thought that the thing could import to you!
I couldn't help but answered you in the same tone, and ... it was hurt even more!
L: Well, … maybe! But you cannot die, and come back, then die, and come again, whenever you please, Commander! Oh shit! What do you expect me doing, Shepard?! I should jump on your neck, waiting for you deciding to go away, once again?! Do you realize that you are not yet arrived, and yet you're ready to ... to go off?!
S: Look T'Soni, I assure you that dying cannot enjoyed me a damn fuck, and I have none damn plans of shit to repeat this experience but ... I am a soldier, curse! If I don't try stopping the Collectors, they'll bring off other Colonies, and in the miserable event that they work for the Reapers, we will end everyone completely drowned inside a shit ocean! Is it seems clear enough, for you?!
L: Aye, aye Commander, loud and clear!
S: Well, in that case you won't have to worry if I die because, the whole damn galaxy will go in hell with me!
You screamed at me all your distress, and I only wanted to cry. I felt the tears press my throat, veiling secretly my eyes, tormenting my voice, shaking my breath. I didn't want to give you the satisfaction to realize that you could make me cry. So, I resisted with all my strength, I didn't give up. In front of my silence, maybe you had noticed it, or you simply thought having exaggerated, but immediately your tone changed ... becoming so sweet. Since long time you didn't talk to me in this way, anymore, and ... it was hurt!
S: Oh, Liara! Hey ... my little baby girl ... I am sorry!
L: Oh, I know ... Emily!
S: You know, I had not fallen in fight, it was just a damn accident! Fight the Collectors it won't be as a promenade deck, but I promise that I'll check thoroughly the life support of my suit from now and on, before each mission, and ... I would like to do it, for you ... okay?!
My tension suddenly was melting, your sweetness caressed my heart, I wished to hug you, feel your embrace hold me stronger to you, let myself be lulled by the mighty beating of your heart, finding a bit of security and peace for my mind, but I couldn't let myself go. Then, I also spoke you softly, as it not happened since long time, and ... it was hurt even more!
L: Hmm ... Shepard, I am … sorry! I'm trying, but seriously, I ... I cannot ... I need more time! Please, for the moment let's focus on the mission!
Your voice was still gentle, though you couldn't hide your disappointment, and ... it was more and more hurt!
S: Oh, okay!
I felt completely paralyzed by fearing! I couldn't act cause an over boundless panic invaded every cell, sucked even the last breath, every thought, every fiber. It pinned me into an incontestable apathy. Only the thought you had another suicide mission to get through, mixed with suffocating sense of guilt for having left you die, they were generating a terrible pain in my heart that paralyzed me, making me in slave of my terror! You've never able to back down, Shepard. You always have must go all the way down, all costs. I knew that you would never surrender, until the end, without worrying about the price. But now that you had come back, I felt how it might be very easy to lose you again! Oh Emy! My upsetting was so vivid and real that I seemed to have a claw full of sharp nails, stuck in the middle of my heart!
To be Continue …