In the Shepard family home, Maeru'Zorah was sitting on the couch in the living room, smiling like a bosh'tet, as she watched little John play with her sweet Tali. Gently, the human boy was holding her E-ball in his lap, playing the human game of 'peek-a-boo' with her, trying to make her laugh.
And Keelah was he succeeding.
Her daughter giggled every time John made a silly face, and she relished the sweet, warm sensation that bloomed within her every time.
"Let me hold her now," Luke said, sitting next to John. "Come on, it's my turn!"
John laughed, then carefully handed over Tali to his brother. "Be gentle with her."
Luke cradled her daughter's E-ball in his arms. Her daughter cooed softly in his embrace. Looking up at him with her big, luminous eyes, she gurgled happily.
"She's so cute," Luke said, smiling. The human boy looked at her. "Miss Zorah why does she always have to be in a bubble?"
"It's because she'll get sick and die," John said. "The bubble keeps her safe from germs. Isn't that right Miss Zorah? My daddy said so."
She laughed. Keelah, after all, her time amongst humans, human and quarian children were hardly different at all. "That's correct, Yahn. Quarians get sick very easily without their suits."
"Have you ever gotten sick?" Luke asked.
Briefly, she looked back to when she'd suffered the worst suit breach of her life during her pilgrimage to the capital world of the Urdnot Khanate, Khalros.
There, she had served as a diplomat and technological consultant to the Khan, Urdnot Wrex, himself, helping to negotiate trade deals and to modernize their warships with cutting-edge drive cores.
Until she had almost died during an attempt on the Khan's life.
"Oh, yes, little ones. I have gotten very, very sick before." She opened up her omni-tool, then displayed a hologram of Khalros, a blue-brown jewel of a world, covered in the Krogan's signature sprawling megacities.
"On a planet far, far away from here, I was helping a..." Momentarily, she looked back to when she met the Khan himself. Keelah, unlike most Krogan rulers, Urdnot Wrex was so unconventional, so open to the ways of different species. "A great Krogan ruler with making his warships stronger and more powerful." Her mind went back to when the STG assassin detonated the nano-explosive that nearly blew her to pieces, to how high-velocity shrapnel tore straight through her suit, and to how she was lying on the ground, in a pool of her own blood.
"It was so scary," she continued. "Without my suit to protect me, I got so sick. I was sure I was going to die."
The two human boys seemed enthralled in her story.
"But theeeen?" John asked, smiling.
Briefly, she looked away. She could remember it clearly as yesterday, the moment that had changed her perception of Krogan forever. "The Khan himself found me under some rubble..." She took a deep breath, then smiled. "He saved me, had his best doctors bring me back to great health."
"WOW!" John said. "That's amazing, Miss Zorah!"
"Have you been on other adventures?" Luke asked
She chuckled. Briefly, she recalled all of her greatest adventures, from spacewalks on asteroids, to encounters the fleet had with mercs, pirates, and slavers. "Oh, many, little ones. Many. Perhaps, I-"
Her omni-tool beeped. "Oh, one moment."
She checked the notification, and it was an incoming comm-request from Captain Zaal'Korris. Keelah, what could he possibly need right now? Days ago, they had already finalized the treaty with the humans of this colony. There was little else to do. She sighed. "If you will excuse me little ones, I have to go now."
"Aaaw, really?" John whined.
Luke pouted.
"Yes..." she said. With a sigh, she stood up. "But no need to worry." Just then, she spotted Mark in the khit'shen - as humans called it - looking at something on his new omni-tool. He looked troubled. Keelah, he's been so stressed lately. What's happening with him? "Your Ahba will be right here with you."
She approached Mark. Finally, she could see what he was looking at on his omni-tool, and it was images of his wyfe, Khanah. Oh, Keelah..."Mark?"
Slowly, he turned his head to look at her. In his eyes, she found an all too familiar longing, a gnawing pain spawned from separation. "Yeah?"
"Are you well?" she asked. "You've seemed very troubled lately. Is this about Khanah?"
Mark paused, as though struggling to articulate a response. "It's just..." Mark sighed. "It's been so long, and we haven't heard even a single word."
Her thoughts drifted to her lifemate, to all the times she had dreamed of him, only to wake up and find him not there. She put a hand on Mark's shoulder. "I understand all too well." She sighed. "Anyways, I have some business i must attend to, a comm-request from Captain Zaal'Korris."
"Zaal?" he asked. "What does he want?"
"I guess soon we'll find out," she said. She turned, and was about to head out the side door. But then she paused and glanced back at Mark. "And oh, Mark?"
"Yes?"
"From one parent to another," she said. "You and Khanah have raised two wonderful boys. Keep up the incredible work."
Mark smiled. In his eyes, she could see his spirit looking far more renewed. "Thanks. That means a lot."
She nodded, then stepped outside. As she stepped into the open air, she couldn't but marvel at how far the colony had come, since her people made first contact with the humans of this world.
Indeed, what was once a crude settlement now stood as a beacon of progress, of what could be possible should humans and quarians solidify their alliance.
Finally, the grav rail system was complete. The humans were enjoying more modern amenities, like omni-tools and smart buildings made of programmable matter. And everywhere she looked, she saw the beginnings of a beautiful tomorrow: of some humans and quarians walking together, talking together, with no barriers between them.
She let out a contented sigh. Anscestors, all they had to do was secure an alliance with the rest of humanity.
Finally, she opened up her omni-tool, and then input the necessary commands to set up a comm-link with Captain Zaal'Korris. And soon enough, he answered.
"Maeru'Zorah..." Zaal began. "Greetings. Thank you for accepting this request for a meeting on such short notice."
"Of course, Captain," she said. "But what does this concern? We've already finalized the last few clauses of the treaty. There is little else for us to do except wait."
"All true," Zaal said. "Except this meeting concerns none of that. I come with news I believe you will be thrilled to hear."
Her eyes went wide. What could the news possibly be? "What news?"
"I just finished speaking with Rael'Zorah mere moments ago..." he said.
She gasped. Her eyes went wide. And as Zaal continued to speak, she zoned out. He's alive...
A warm, sublime sensation washed through her, and she let out a joyous sob. Her limbs felt lighter and brimmed with vigor. And she could not contain the tears of joy that began rolling down her cheeks.
Oh, praise the Anscestors, her lifemate was still alive!
"He is very eager to speak with you," Zaal continued, "and wanted me to use the local comm-buoy to relay his connection to your omni-tool."
"Do it!" she said. She sniffled, then let out another sob of joy. "Do it now!"
Zaal chuckled. "Transferring you now."
A window popped up on her omni-tool, displaying a progress bar that seemed to take an eternity to fill. As it did, her heart raced. Come on! MOVE! FILL YOU FRE'EG EATING BOSH'TET.
Finally, the progress bar filled, and her lifemate's voice broke the silence.
"Maeru?" Rael asked. "Is that you, saera?"
She sobbed, hardly able to speak through her tears of joy. "It...It's me, my love." She let out more happy sobs. "It...It feels so great to hear your voice. Did the evacuation go well? Why haven't you-"
"Ssshhh," Rael said. "I'm here. May your soul rest easy now."
She took a deep breath. Keelah, as soon as he returned, she was going to book a clean room and ride her beloved until he saw stars. She smiled. "Yes. You're here now." She sniffled. "But please...explain. Tell me all that's happened."
"First," Rael said. "I must apologize for not contacting you earlier. Ancestors, this campaign...the evacuation..."
"What happened?" she asked. The smile on her face died. Her pulse climbed. Was her lifemate well? Were his efforts not going according to plan? "Are things not going as planned?"
"The evacuation went as well as we could hope," he said. "Around ninety percent of Mindoir's population made it safely aboard the evacuation ships, and all but one are currently in the Alfa Centaari system just four light years away from Earth."
"But?"
"The Silent Ones have been absolutely relentless," he said, his voice etched with rage. "On the ground, and in space, we have made them bleed. For every ship we have lost, we destroyed three of there's. Captain Zhoru and his Company of Malukors turned the colony into a fortress even the greatest siege masters in the galaxy would need months to break through, and slaughtered armies of worth of Constructs."
"But nonetheless the Silent Ones are pressing onward?" she said.
"Yes..."
A heavy silence ensued. Keelah, all of this must had taken such a toll on him.
"Rael..." she said. "I know you must be under immense pressure. But know that if there's anyone in the galaxy who can handle it, it is you, saera. You are nearing the end of this campaign, so if needed, draw strength from the fact, that Tali and I are waiting for you - and we do not care how long it takes!"
Rael let out a joyful sob. "Thank you. Anscestors...if only I could hold you right now."
She also let out a joyful sob. "Soon, you will. Don't you ever doubt that." She laughed, then sniffled. "Anyways, what happens once you reach the Alfa Centaari system?"
"Once we reach the Alfa Centaari system," Rael said. "I will have to attend a short meeting with some of our other allies, like the Remnants, and representatives from various powers from the Terminus Systems."
"Keelah..." she said. From where could those representatives be coming from? "Like the Urdnot Khanate? The Omegan Freehold? And the Free Colonies Alliance?"
"Precisely," Rael said. "There..." For a moment, Rael hesitated. "There have been some developments. The humans, their First One Archive, it..."
"It's what?"
"It is unlike any in the galaxy," Rael said. "It is the grandest one of them all, a place of myth and legend the Ascendant has been searching for for centuries. And when word eventually spreads that is not only real, but practically only a short trip away from the human homeworld, then..."
"Our people will be at the center of the worst galactic conflict since the Silent War itself?" she asked.
"Yes..."
A heavy, dreadful silence descended, broken only intermittently by the sound of drones whirring overhead.
She clenched her jaw. Ancestors, would her people never be left in peace on their new homeworld? Would someone or something always be trying to take it away from them?
"Then it will be a war worth fighting," she said, with grim determination. "A war that will define our people's future for eons to come."
Rael laughed. "I couldn't agree any more."
She laughed along with him. Yes, no matter the odds, her people would never return to being nomadic outcasts amongst the stars, lamenting a past they would never experience again. Either they would secure their new home, a future worth dying for, or they would go extinct in the process.
Rael let out a contented sigh. "Anyways, now that we've talked about all the serious matters, I must ask...how is Tali faring? Is she well?"
"Oh, she is doing wonderful," she said. "She's growing bigger and smarter every day, and is already quite fond of Mark and Khanah's little ones." Ancestors, now that she had the chance, perhaps she should ask about Khanah? Surely, Mark and his little ones would greatly appreciate it. "Oh, now that I've mentioned it, is Khanah..."
"Still alive?" Rael asked. "Yes. She survived the evacuation campaign, along with just over half of the volunteers who came along with her."
Her jaw dropped, and her eyes went wide. Just over half? When this nightmare was over, so many were undoubtedly going to mourn their lost loved ones. For them, things might never be the same. She let out a sorrowful sigh. "Keelah...so many lost."
"Yes..." Rael agreed. "But their sacrifice was not in vain. When we return, the humans will undoubtedly remember them as heroes." Rael sighed. "But anyways, before I go...let me hear my daughter's voice. Let me hear her sweet laugh."
He smiled, and her heart swelled with joy. "Nothing would make me happier."
She stepped back into the house, and through the khit'shen, only to find Mark and his sons, watching something on the holo screen. As always, John was holding Tali's E-ball, gently in his lap.
"Mark," she called out.
And then Mark looked behind him, directly at her. "Yes?"
"You are not going to believe this," she said. "But Rael...I am talking to him right now through my omni-tool."
Instantly, Mark's face lit up, his eyes wide, his mouth agape. "Rael?" He scrambled off the couch, and then approached her.
"Daddy?" John asked.
"What's going on?" Luke asked.
Tali cooed and gurgled, then let out a delightful squeal.
"Rael?" Mark asked, his voice laced with anticipation. "Rael is that you?"
"Yes, it is I, Mark'Shepard," Rael asked. Rael laughed. "Before you ask, yes - the evacuation went as well as we could have hoped. And your wyfe is still alive."
Mark's eyes welled with tears. He let out a relieved sigh, then started laughing, as though a crushing burden had finally lifted off of his shoulders. "Oh, god...That...that's good to know?"
"Mommy is alive?!" John shouted.
Without hesitation, John bolted toward her, with Tali still in his arms. And Luke did the same, his eyes brimming with tears.
"Mr. Rael, Mr. Rael," John said. "Where is my mommy? Where is she?"
"Is she okay?" Luke asked. "Did she kill lots of the bad aliens?"
"She is alive and well, little ones," Rael said. "And she was very brave. She served with great courage and honor and helped save thousands of lives. You should be immensely proud of her."
"That's amazing!" John said, bouncing on his toes. John giggled. "Mommy is a hero, daddy! She's a hero!"
Luke giggled, along with his brother. "She's so amazing, daddy! So amazing!"
Mark and his boys radiated sheer joy that seeped into her very core, and she couldn't help but smile. They're so much like us. Indeed, like her own kind, humans were capable of feeling such love, and it was absolutely beautiful to behold.
But Keelah, it was time for her lifemate to speak to their daughter. "Yahn?"
Yahn looked at her.
"I think Rael would like to speak to Tali, right now," she said. "Can you hand her to me?"
Yahn's eyes went wide. "Oh, of course, Mayroo." Gently, Yahn handed over Tali's E-ball.
"Thank you," she said, taking Tali into her arms, and cradling her tenderly. "Rael, there is someone here who wants to say hello."
Tali cooed and burbled happily.
"My sweet little girl..." Rael said, his voice catching with emotion. "Oh, how I've missed you."
Tali babbled and gurgled happily in response.
Rael laughed, then sniffled. And her heart melted. Was her lifemate crying behind his mask? Ancestors, she was so fortunate to have such an incredible lifemate.
"You're still too young to understand me," Rael said. "But nonetheless, know that you and your Ahvi are the greatest things to have ever come into my life. When I return, raising you will become the greatest honor - and I do not care what I must endure or face to hold you again! Any pain will be worth it a thousand times over!"
Tali giggled and reached out for her omni-tool, as though trying to grasp the sound of her Ahba's voice.
"We will never doubt that even for one second," she said, smiling. "Now go my love, and secure the Alliance with the humans. May the Ancestors be with you."
"Goodbye, Mr. Rael," John said.
"Goodbye," "Luke said.
"Tell my wife..." Mark said, wiping away his tears. "That we are so proud of her, and that as soon she's home..." He laughed. "We're going to throw her the biggest family dinner in her honor." He looked at his sons. "Isn't that right boys?"
"YEAH!" John and Luke said together.
"I will Mark'Shepard," Rael said. "Rest assured." Rael took a deep breath. "Anyways, it is time for me to go. May the Ancestors bless and watch over you all."
"Goodbye," she said, along with Mark and his sons.
And then her lifemate cut the comm link, leaving them all in silence. Amidst it, a sublime sensation washed through her, making her limbs feel lighter, and her head less cloudy. And for the first time in so long...
She felt hope.