AUTHOR'S NOTE: There are romantic pairings in this fanfic but I cannot state what they are — or who they involve — without spoiling the fanfic. Not only that but there are more than four characters who play an incredibly large role than the ones stated. So please keep that in mind when reading this fanfic please and thank you.

TWO YEARS AGO

So much, yet so little, had happened in the past year or two — some good, some not — that affected not only all of humanity, but every other race associated with the Citadel. For example, Athena Shepard became the first Human Spectre. Unfortunately, it cost the life of a dear Turian ally, Nihlus Kryik. Ironically, it was he who submitted the woman's name to the Council, not only because he saw incredible potential in her, but also because, unlike many Turians, he did not detest the human race in the least.

Over time, she met a wide variety of people, including Ashley Williams (a human soldier), Garrus Vakarian (a Turian C-Sec officer), Urdnot Wrex (a Krogan mercenary), Tali'Zorah (a Quarian mechanic), and Liara T'Soni (an Asari scientist). The human Spectre knew Kaidan (a human Sentinel), Joker (the Norman pilot), and Zariya Gormon (an Erothynean acolyte-turned-Consort) long before she met the other five on the harrowing journey to fight not only Saren Arterius (a rogue Turian Spectre) and Matriarch Benezia (Liara's rogue mother), but also Sovereign and their Geth followers. Kaidan had been on the Normandy since shortly before Athena became Commander and was assigned to Captain Anderson, so she knew him. Joker, who suffered from brittle bone disease throughout his body, had been the Normandy's pilot from the beginning.

And Zariya? Well, she was legally adopted by Captain David Anderson shortly after the tragic deaths of her biological parents. Needless to say, she quickly bonded with him. Dr. Karin Chakwas more or less took over the motherly role for her when she went on the Normandy with her father. Oh, how Dr. Chakwas adored Zariya's loving, caring, and kind-hearted nature. It's no wonder she was loved by many and hated by few. But her kindness should never be seen as a weakness, considering how strong she was not only in hand-to-hand combat, but also in biotic prowess and persuasion.

Athena also grew quite fond of Zariya and felt the need to protect her, even though she did not need the protection. She thought of the other as a kind of younger sister. Not only that, but Zariya was undoubtedly the voice of reason and rationality whenever the human Spectre became a little too reckless. A little too reckless and merciless. Zariya was, in fact, the Paragon to Athena's Renegade — the Blue Oni to her Red Oni — and she loved that about the Erothynean woman. They truly had a bond like no other, which eventually led to the rest of the crew becoming openly fond of her as well. What wasn't to like about the ray of sunshine who could kill you with a biotic snap? Needless to say, that was a win in Wrex's book, no doubt about it.

And then…

… it all went downhill …

… a few months later …

… when the Collectors attacked the Normandy.

Everyone should have made it out alive, but it did not work out that way. While Zariya and Liara helped Ashley and Kaidan get everyone into their escape pods, Athena went to help Joker leave the cockpit. Of course, the pilot refused to leave because the Normandy was his baby. Oh, how he loved her like a man loves his own dick. But after a little convincing, she would get him out and into an escape pod. Unfortunately for both of them, Athena didn't have much time to get to her own escape pod and was blown out of the gaping hole several dozen feet from the emergency exit. And who knows if she would have survived if her suit had not malfunctioned and caused one Athena Jane Shepard to suffocate.

"It wasn't your fault, Jeff," Zariya said, her voice soft as always, as she placed a gentle, loving hand on his knee. She felt his pain, for she, too, blamed herself for not noticing Athena pressing the emergency locks on the escape pods she and Joker were in. "It … " she hesitated, " … wasn't mine either."

"No, but you were thinking it," he said quietly, avoiding all eye contact. Oh, how she heard the excruciating frown that crept across cracked, dry lips as he furrowed his dark brown brows before looking up at her. "I should've grabbed her, but I didn't."

"I was about to before the explosion separated us from her, ironically enough." Zariya tried to laugh as she looked at him in return. "We both know she would have come with us if the ship hadn't collapsed from the explosion."

"Yeah, yeah," he sighed, annoyed. "I know. I just … hate feeling so damn useless all the time."

"Jeff." The tone in Zariya's voice was stern, but not too stern, as she called out his name. "You are anything but useless. Who was it who piloted the Normandy to save Liara?"

"I did."

"And to deal with the Rachni on Noveria?"

"I did."

"And the risky situation we will forever remember as Virmire?"

"Me."

"Now, what about getting to Ilos and having to land in a rather tricky position to deal with Saren and his troop of Geth along with Sovereign?"

"Me."

"Okay, then," Zariya said, making her point. "You knew the ship better than almost anyone else. The only other people who knew as much about the ship were Navigator Pressly and Lieutenant Adams. So don't you ever — ever — call yourself useless again. Do I make myself clear?"

Joker hesitated for a few seconds before answering. The last thing he wanted was to see her upset, or worse, crying. Besides … Zariya was right. She always was. The female knew what to say and when. No wonder people came to her for help when they were desperate. With a faint smile, he nodded, "Yes. You do."

"Okay, good." Before she stood up, she held her arms out in his general direction and asked, "Hug?"

Looking at her, he chuckled slightly and hugged her, "Hug."

She then helped him to his feet and walked with him down to where his therapist's room was for his weekly sessions, since the incident was only a few months ago. Zariya recommended one of the best at the Citadel. In fact, she recommended one of the acolytes from Sha'ira's chambers, because if anyone knew how reliable they were, it was Zariya. She worked there whenever she had the time. Well… at least she did before she became a permanent member of the Normandy crew. Sha'ira actually encouraged her, knowing that it was what Zariya not only needed, but deserved.

As she walked alongside Joker to his meeting, Zariya received a notification on her cell phone, which was linked to the Omni-Tool attached to her right forearm. She wanted to stop and take care of it, but was unable to do so at that moment, so she waited until Joker went into the office and hugged him goodbye before doing anything. Glancing around quickly, and using her ears to make sure no one could hear her, Zariya pressed a button to connect her Omni-Tool to the earpieces that rested so stealthily in her ears. With a soft tone in her voice, the Erothynean woman asked, "Liara, what's wrong? Are you all right?"

"I'm fine." Though her voice said otherwise.

"Liara," Zariya hummed in a singsong tone, her voice trailing off at the end. She might have been incredibly naive — and a little too optimistic — from time to time, but she was a born empath and could read people. It not only came with her job, it was a trait that came naturally to her race. Hell, her empathy was what helped her get the job with Sha'ira in the first place, along with her loving personality. With a small sigh escaping her soft lips, the light-skinned Erothynean continued to walk the halls of the Citadel, trying to keep her composure. "What's going on, sweetheart? You can tell me."

"Okay, but I need you to be in a secluded place before I tell you."

"I can do that," she said, smiling a genuine smile as she did a quick check of her surroundings before doing a few charges before stopping. Zariya went to David's office and did a quick lock on the automatic door to prevent anyone from entering — or being able to enter — uninvited. Her godfather was in a meeting with the other three members of the Council, so needless to say, she was not the least bit worried about him interrupting her conversation with the Asari. "What's going on, dear?"

"I found her body."

"You found … whose body, Liara? You have to be specific, dear."

"Shepard. I found Shepard's body … or what's left of it, anyway."

A pause, a pounding heartbeat, and breaths no one could hear were all that happened to Zariya as she heard what the poor girl thought was nothing more than a hallucination. Though she knew better than to make such an assumption, her hearing turned out to be nothing short of impeccable and superior to many races. But there was one thing in particular that puzzled her to no end: "What exactly do you mean by 'or what's left of her body'? Can you perhaps explain what you mean by that?"

The female heard what sounded like a heavy sigh from Liara. Obviously, the poor Asari did not want to explain the whole situation after all she had gone through to obtain the body of one Athena Jane Shepard. Not that she had much of a choice, though, considering that she had gone out of her way to tell Zariya the rather … unexpected news. Attempting to keep her composure, she explained that she had stumbled upon Cerberus operatives along with Aria T'Loak and the Blue Suns (among a handful or two of the Shadow Broker's people) while working with a dear friend and information tracker, Feron, who was a Drell. It took her a good month or two to get what she needed — Athena's body — as the man behind Cerberus explained how he could bring her back from the dead. Unfortunately for Liara, Feron was captured just to save the first human Spectre.

"And you agreed to give them her body?" Zariya asked, not particularly pleased.

"I … " she paused, " … did, yes." Oh, how disappointed Liara sounded with herself. Maybe she should have asked for more help from the others — like Anderson or Zariya — but she did not. Then again, Liara had been rather naive and stubborn in thinking she had what it took to do things on her own. With another sigh, the Asari's voice fell silent as she spoke again, "I am sorry, Zariya. I should have asked for your help sooner."

"It's … okay. Really," Zariya assured her, trying his best to keep his composure and not blow a gasket. It was rare for the Erothyne to explode, but it did happen from time to time, and when it did, it was a sight to behold. "All that matters is that you found her body and told me. Now let's see … "

Zariya's heart was still racing and pounding against her chest as she tried to process everything in her small head. She inhaled a big breath of air, only to exhale softly immediately after, and put both hands to her chin, " … have you spoken to this Illusive Man yet?"

"Not yet, no," she answered truthfully. "My gut, as the humans would say, told me to call you before I reached him."

"I see." Liara couldn't see it, but Zariya nodded, appreciating that the Asari had come to her first instead of last. "If it's … okay with you, I'd like to come with you to meet the man you negotiated with to bring Athena back from the dead."

"Of course," Liara said, agreeing to Zariya's suggestion and offer. "You know her better than anyone else."

Though not entirely true, Zariya knew what Liara meant and truly appreciated the kindness and sentiment behind the words. Liara just didn't know people like David, Kaidan, and Joker as well as Zariya did — not that she blamed her or anything. Liara joined the crew suddenly and without much warning, so she was a bit out of the loop. She also had to deal with her mother's involuntary betrayal, and was incredibly hyperfocused on Athena's connection to the Prothean beacons. On the other hand, she was seen by many Asari as nothing more than a teenager, which is why most — if not all — of her race never took her or her work seriously.

Trying her best to smile, Zariya let out a small sigh and asked, "Very well. What I recommend is that you contact him shortly after we hang up, but on a secure line, and tell him that you have found Athena's body and that you have someone you want him to meet. When you are done, let me know when you are on your way here so we can get things started. I need to get things ready because something tells me this is going to be a long trip."