Thane had decided the Normandy wasn't safe enough for Koylat, the Collector's end would be upon them all soon. Shepard was helping the last of the crew get their personal affairs in order for the most likely non-return of them all.
"Are you sure you don't want to take him back to the Citadel?" Shepard asks as she turns over in bed to face him. The night was late and the Normandy would soon be arriving at Kahje, he'd asked Shepard to take them there without the crew knowing.
"He needs to be with his uncle and aunt. I can't expect Bailey to watch him." Thane looked up at the exposed window above the bed, the void of space swallowed him up. "I believe being home would be better for him, he has become distracted with himself."
Shepard slowly traces her nails along his bare chest, feeling each scale as she catches the next. Shepard always expected his skin to be hard, but in fact, it was soft and very warm to the touch. She hums to herself, which catches his attention. "Something on your mind?" he asks turning back over to face her.
Shepard looked down at his neck, chewing the inside of her lip as she thought deeply. "Nothing really, just thinking about life, I guess." Thane furrows his brow.
"And what have you thought about life?" Shepard smiles, she always went into a deep thought about her life but never spoke much about it. She'd like to think about her future and even some parts of her past on what her life would be like if she chose a different path than the one she was currently on.
"I was just thinking about my life before joining the Alliance, would the long-awaited Repear war still be upon us? Would there be another person in my shoes?" Thane smirked at her. He also thought deep into life, but not just for himself, it was for those he cared for and missed. He sometimes missed his family and Irikah, he prayed for her soul to be safe in Kalahira's oceans.
"I do not wish to think of those matters regarding your life as if I did. It would be a life that I may not have met you on." Shepard placed her hand on his cheek, letting her fingers lightly glide over his red thrills.
"I know, I just get deep in thought sometimes. I can't imagine a life without you in it anymore, it makes me feel alone and lost." Thane closed his eyes, praying for his own shortened life to be extended somehow.
"Siha, you know my sickness could make this future we want together a short one." Shepard could instantly feel the tears well up in her eyes. Thane swapped with her by cupping her cheek, stroking the loose tear away. "Please don't be sad about this SIha," he whispers.
"Surely there is something we can do? I mean for crying out loud, Cerberus was able to bring me back from the dead." She turns over on her back to sit up, letting the covers fall from her legs.
"Somethings can't be helped about this. I am trying all I can to have more time with you. Mordin is doing what he can for me and Dr Chakwas is also consulting." He moved across the bed to wrap her arm around her waist. "I can only pray they will be able to help me in some way."
Shepard dropped her head into her hands, resting her arms on his knees. "I just hate how anything I try and have my way always leads to me losing it."
"Don't think that way, Shepard." Thane prayed daily that his sins were forgiven and he could go on to live a happy and long life, not the short and miserable one life gave him.
Shepard sighed deeply, thinking that way was all she knew. "Maybe," she hummed as she sat up and turned to stare at him. "I could ask the Illusive Man?" Thane raised a concerned brow to her. "Think about it, this man had the money and resources to bring me back and make a near copy of the Alliance's best-kept secret," she explains waving her hands around the Normandy as a point.
"Shepard, be realistic," Thane says. "If you go to the Illusive Man about this, a man whose whole point is to put humanity first, he'd shut the idea down before you got to the point of it." Shepard knew he was speaking the truth, the Illusive Man would just laugh in her face about it. Having no control over the things she wants isn't something she is used to, she likes to be able to have her way and usually gets it with her rank and Spectre authority.
"You're right," she sighs. She stands up to stretch, "come on, we are close to Kahje and I'm sure Koylat will want you to be there to see him off."
Khaje was definitely not what Shepard was expecting, the ship was too large to land on the planet of pure oceans with very little land. The shuttle was used to get down to the surface, the crew hadn't asked Shepard why they were there, Joker tried to get a good guess but Shepard told him to hush.
Koylat sat across from Shepard and Thane on the journey down, he didn't say anything nor look their way. "Son," Thane spoke breaking the long dragging silence.
"Father," Koylat shot back. Shepard didn't look toward them, not wanting to get into the middle of what would seem to lead to another argument.
"Son, this is for the best. The Normandy is not a safe place for you, and your uncle and auntie will be glad to have you home." Koylat crossed his arms over his chest, looking back out the window.
"So sending me away again is the best option for you? I was becoming settled on the ship, just like I was being home with just you, and it's being taken from me again." The words hurt Thane, even though, they were true.
"Please, Koylat. I wanted the best for you, but I could not sit back whilst your mother's killers stayed alive. I came back for you, but you were so happy and settled, I didn't want to ruin that for you." Thane tried to lean into his space, but it only made Koylat pull himself back further.
Koylat looked at him with daggers, "and now you're only back for me because you're dying." Shepard snapped her head towards him, finally hearing enough.
"Koylat! That's enough, you won't speak to your father like that," she shouted. The shuttle fell silent that same second, it was deafening. Koylat dropped his head, hiding the tears in his eyes, Thane looked at Shepard, understanding but slightly irritated by her outburst. Shepard didn't care, she was tired of Koylat being accepting of them and then changing his mood the next second. She looked back at him, only shrugging her shoulders at his angered gaze.
"Whatever, once I'm out of your way you can be happy without me." No one replied to that comment, the shuttle was coming into port. Shepard stood up, keeping her gun close by. She had never been to Kahje and didn't know much of other Drell or the Hanar, most she bumped into had something to say about enkindlers; their gods that were Protheans.
The doors opened and Shepard instantly pulled her arm over her eyes, the sun was blazing. It was white, compared to the yellow she was used to back on Earth. Thane nor Koylat flinched to the sunlight, their eyes had adjusted basically at birth for the sun. They walked down the ramp from the shuttle port, two Hanar waited for them.
Their bodies were still odd to look at for Shepard, they stood around seven feet tall, with long slimy slender legs, six of them all together. They almost wobbled like they were made of jelly, Shepard watched as one made its way over to them.
"This one welcomes you, Commander Shepard of the Normandy, and honored Drell Thane Krios. We have expected your arrival, please follow this one to processing." Thane and Shepard followed whilst Koylat lumbered behind them, looking down at just his feet as they walked.
Shepard looked around, the buildings were domes, and it was very cloudy as well, dark angry clouds hung above them. "Does it rain a lot?" she asks.
The Hanar didn't turn to look at her as it answered her question, "yes, Commander. These all experience large amounts of rain daily, and building structures help keep the water absorption low." Thane looked around, there was nothing much to see past oceans and more domes that were all separated by small ports, travelling on Kahje was difficult for Drell, they couldn't just jump in the ocean and swim as Hanar could.
"And how do Drell deal with the constant rain?" Thane looked over at her, pulling her close to hold her hand.
"We wear protective clothing where needed and do our best to keep our homes dry, the planet can be quite good in tracking the rains, so we try to travel when we have spells of dryness like now," he explains as he waves his free hand over them.
The Hanar took them through the automatic doors, it was bright and pristine white, and nothing cluttered the main walkway past a desk, some seats, and a water foundation. They kept going further into the building until they made it to the main processing. The hanar moved to the side to show a small locker. "If the great Commander Shepard would please place all firearms in the locker, this one would appreciate it very much."
Shepard looked at Thane, he gave her a small nod to do as she was told. Shepard hated being apart from her guns, she gave them in without question but left her concealed pistol in place. "This one thanks you," the hanar says. She nods in response and stands to the side when Thane pulls Koylat into her place.
"I wish to return my son to the care of his aunts and uncles. They should be awaiting our arrival." The hanar looked down at Koylat, he didn't meet its eyes.
"Why does this small one wish to be apart from his father, Thane Krios? Do he not wish to follow the footsteps placed out for him?" Thane quickly shakes his head.
"I made my choice for that life, I do not wish it on my son. He has been led astray from his life and needs to be set back on the right track." Koylat shook his head but didn't say a word, he was scared of the hanar, even though he grew up around them.
"As one wishes. Departure is allowed for all, please return for leave before the new moon," it says before leaving without another word.
"The new moon?" Shepard questioned. Thane looked at her.
"The hanar believe each moon we have is a new moon provided by the Enkindlers." Shepard took that as it basically meant before the sunset and the moon came into view. "Koylat, come. We are expected." Shepard followed them to another door that came back out to the main lobby and back to the port, there they got onto a smaller passenger shuttle and went to a small colony of domes.
"Wow," she whispered as she saw the bustling life around her. There were hundreds of Drell around her, all different colours and patterns, it fascinated her. "This is where we live," Thane explained as he took her hand once more to lead her. These trees provide us with the rich oxygen we need and the oceans are vast enough to be a rich water source for us." Shepard could see some hanar swimming in the ocean, they were light-weight in the waves, gliding like a ballerina doing a live shoe. The trees reminded her of palm trees on Earth, they were much taller and seemed to glisten in the bright sun. There were playgrounds for children, it really showed species worlds apart were somewhat similar in many ways. The ground was hard, but coloured like sand. Shepard took a deep breath, the air was pure, with the hint of thunderstorms and heavy rain soon approaching, she missed Earth in that moment.
"How many live here?" she asks. The Drell around her looked at her, some with curiosity and others in pure shock when they realised who she was.
"Each colony can house just under three thousand Drell." Thane led her to one small dome not far from the port, it was bone dry to the touch, compared to the hanar buildings. He didn't knock, only opening the door and walking straight in. Koylat pushed past them both and ran straight through to what was the welcome room. Thane removed his shoes, motioning Shepard to do the same for her boots, she felt out of place in her N7 armor.
"I should have dressed better," she whispered. Thane chuckles as he strokes a stray hair behind her ear.
"Do not worry, Siha. You would be welcomed all the same." Thane let her go, moving ahead to let her follow him through, the home looked just like any other. Couch, table, chairs, decor. Nothing stood out to her except the wall decor had many pictures of oceans, deserts, and what looked like goddesses.
"Auntie, Uncle," Koylat called as he ran over and hugged a couple of Drell. Shepard looked at them, the female she guessed for a slightly shorter height and smaller body build smiled at him, she had dark red textures and black frills. The male was a shade lighter in green compared to Thane and had more pink tones to his neck. Thane stopped in front of them both, slightly bowing his head.
"Brother, sister," he greets them. The female hugged him, and the male stood back slightly, looking him up and down.
"Brother," he coldly said. Shepard looked at him, he only glared at her for a split second going straight back to his brother.
Thane stared at him, he always had a troubled relationship with his brother, his wife was easier to deal with most of the time. He decided to ignore the blunt rudeness and pulled Shepard in by her waist. "Siha," he began as he waved a hand toward each of them. "This is my brother Thutne and his wife Inunu."
Shepard put her hand out to his brother first, "It's a pleasure to meet you." The hand was left hanging dry as Thutne glared at Thane.
"I was expecting the reports of this to be exaggerated." Thane just knew this wasn't going to go as he hoped.
-End of part one