Interlude - While You were Sleeping

The Crew of the Normandy

The beacon has been replied to immediately. At least three ships were sent in response to the mayday. When they arrived, they found no sign of the Normandy nor of the ship that had apparently destroyed it. What they did find was a number of lifepods, frantic messages for help being communicated.

Six ships in total arrived in the orbit of Alchera, a cruiser in the lead with five frigates patrolling around it. The lifepods were taken straight back to the cruiser, the SSV London. The number of survivors was more than expected, but no-one believed that the SSV Normandy could have been destroyed, but worse was that Commander Shepard was confirmed as lost. His crew demanded they try and find his body, but the search was paltry at best. Not knowing the situation around them, whether the ship that had destroyed the Normandy was still present, the captain of the London ordered their retreat to safety.

Shepard was confirmed as Killed in Action.

Back on the Citadel, Ambassador Udina (as elected by the Alliance Parliament) and Admiral Hackett spoke with the survivors. Though they were thanked for their bravery and assistance, without Commander Shepard in the lead, it was time for everyone to make their own way. Alliance staff was reassigned. The non-Alliance personnel were told their services were no longer required. There was plenty of anger and resentment at how quickly everything was ended, but those at the heart of everything were not surprised.

"They never believed," Liara muttered, "And we will all pay the price."

Without Shepard, the glue that held them all together, though they were friends, and had forged bonds in fire, each of them now had to head their own way, take destiny into their own hands. All of them had changed though. Returning to their old lives was out of the question. What they had learned during their time with Shepard meant that was simply impossible. But without Shepard leading them, all of them would admit to feeling a little… lost.

*****

Tali'Zorah nar Rayya

Feeling the skin of her human lover under her fingertips, she took a deep shuddering breath. No doubt Ashley knew what was coming, feeling her arm wrap around her a little tighter, closing her eyes, unable to meet hers.

"I have to go home," she whispered.

"I know," Ashley whispered in return. Tali took a deep breath to control her emotions. She wanted to cry, hold her human lover, never let her go. She'd never felt anything like this for anyone except the man who had disappeared. But she was a quarian at heart, and though she loved the connection she had made, she knew returning was the best thing for her.

"Should I leave quickly or…"

She felt Ashley pull her closer, kissing her forehead. "I'd love for you to stay forever, but I know leaving will be hard for both of us."

"Quicker the better?" She heard Ashley take a deep breath, finally looking up to meet her eyes. When they looked at hers, seeing the shimmer in her eyes… It nearly broke her completely.

She sat up and leaned against the headboard, keying her omni-tool, immediately looking for transportation away from the Citadel. Once that was booked, which was surprisingly easy, though getting all the way back to the Fleet would take some organisation, she switched it off and leaned into Ashley. "Don't want to go," she murmured.

"Feeling is mutual, Tali. But I have my orders too. I'll be off to the other end of the galaxy soon enough."

"Is this it?" she asked, blinking rapidly at the thought of losing her.

She felt a finger under her chin, meeting the eyes of her again. The tears were a surprise. Ashley Williams never cried. But right now, the tears flowed easily. Leaning down, she kissed her softly, putting all the feeling they had for each other in quite a simple gesture. Feeling her hand run down her cheek, resting her forehead against hers, Ashley managed to say, "Maybe… I don't know… You're going home now and…"

"I love you," Tali managed to choke out.

"Feeling is more than mutual, my little quarian lover," Ashley managed to reply, a smirk forming before their lips met. Any idea of perhaps leaving the hotel room ended then and there. The love making that followed was something else entirely. They'd enjoyed a lot of sex since returning to the Citadel, almost as a way of getting over their grief. But she knew both of them felt this was something different. Perhaps the last time…

She ended up on her back, Ashley kissing her hard, feeling her fingers inside her, searching for that special spot. "Cum for me, Tali," her human lover breathed. Tali would have laughed. Ashley always made her cum. She made her cum constantly, and she liked to believe she returned the favour. Ashley didn't relent, their lips never parting until Tali came hard, wrapping her arms around Ashley as she squeezed her fingers, wrapping her legs around her thighs as she cried out. She didn't just cry out, she cried, feeling hot tears streak down her cheeks, Ashley immediately kissing her face to clear them away.

Then they held each other in silence, fingertips gently stroking each other. They'd enjoy a shower later, dress, and then they would have to leave. But, for now, they would enjoy the presence, the scent, of the other.

They fell asleep for at least a couple of hours before waking up. Heading to the shower, they washed each other, enjoying plenty of cuddling and kissing, before heading back to the bedroom, where they needed to dress. She sat on the bed, watching Ashley get ready, before her human lover helped her get back into her suit. The last act was the mask, closing her eyes as Ashley cupped her face. "I won't forget you, Tali'Zorah," she whispered. Tali could only open her eyes and smile. It was probably the best way to say goodbye.

"I won't forget you either, Ashley."

They kissed a final time before Tali found herself sealed away. Heading out into the Citadel, they headed towards a restaurant that catered to both human and quarian needs, which were few and far between. But they managed to find a place that allowed them a few more hours together. Looking around the Ward, the signs of the battle were still obvious. Fires still raged in certain sections, left wondering when they would be put out and the damage restored. The Presidium was obviously the focus for now. Until that was fixed, the Wards would simply have to cope.

Tali told Ashley that her ship would be departing soon, so the pair walked hand in hand towards the dock she would be departing from. No doubt the fact a human walked hand in hand with a quarian caused some stares, but Ashley didn't seem to care one bit, which only made her smile behind the mask. At the docks, they sat and waited for the departure call, unable to really find any words to share. Everything they needed had already been shared back in the room.

Before boarding, they shared a final hug. Tali wanted to say something like she'd call and message her constantly but the realist in her knew they may not see each other again. Their lives were so different. The Normandy had brought them together, and without it, they would now be on separate sides of the galaxy. Ashley caressed the side of her mask. "Goodbye, Tali."

Tali knew what goodbye meant. Ashley had said it with good reason. She was a realist as well. She hugged her tightly a final time, feeling Ashley squeeze her in return. She wanted to tell her how much she loved her, but while she would always feel that way about her, she knew it was already time to move on. Hide away those feelings and simply… try and forget. Letting go of the taller human, she grabbed her small bag, turned and walked towards the docking bay. She looked back a final time to see Ashley wipe her cheeks with the back of her hand. Part of her wanted to run back and hug her. But she steeled herself, took a deep breath. Meeting her eyes one last time, she smiled behind the mask, hoping Ashley recognised it, before she turned and strode down the docking arm towards the shuttle that would eventually carry her home.

Her return was triumphant thanks to the information Shepard had given her. But she felt nothing but empty back on the fleet. Her lover now a galaxy away and her hero dead. The only thing she could do was focus on her new life, her new job, and simply try and forget…

*****

Urdnot Wrex

The landscape out the window of the shuttle was a barren wasteland, a testament to the futility of nuclear war. The technological advances made by the krogan were, in the end, a monumental disaster. The technology gave them entirely new ways of killing each other. At one stage, the krogan had been the saviours of the galaxy, their century's long war against the rachni proving their prowess in battle. But then there were the Rebellions, in response to those was the unleashing of the genophage, and the near destruction of the krogan race.

Tuchanka was nothing but piles of rubble, an absolute battered land, barely worth fighting over. The once garden world was something only talked about in whispers, barely remembered by those krogan who still lived, a past consigned to the history books. No-one thought the world would ever flourish once more. Tuchanka was now considered one of the deadliest planets in the galaxy. Apart from the krogan inhabitants, any flora and fauna that had survived the nuclear fallout was deadly to any potential visitors. Then there was the atmosphere, the ozone layer that once covered the planet completely destroyed, and the Shroud, the giant tower built by the salarians, the only thing keeping the planet liveable.

Wrex sat alone in the shuttle as it started its descent. It had been centuries since he last set foot on the homeworld. He had washed his hands of his people for years, simply focusing on his own life and gave an air of being uncaring about the plight of his people. But, deep in his heart, he had always cared greatly about his people. About their plight. Their standing in the pantheon of galactic races. It had been during his conversations with Shepard that he had realised that perhaps, just perhaps, he should return home. And help lead his people out of the plight they suffered. Wrex remembered the promise Shepard had made on Virmire, of helping the krogan find a cure for the genophage.

Krogan rarely felt great sadness, but the thought of Shepard gave Wrex pause. It had been a few months since Shepard had been lost, the unknown ship blasting the Normandy apart, Shepard blown clear of the wreckage. He had attended the funeral, out of respect for his fellow warrior, though his body had never been found. Once the funeral was finished, the rest of the crew had been split up by the Alliance. He was aware the Council was already ignoring his warnings. As for the Alliance, they had simply lost their poster boy, their first Spectre. Whether there were plans for a replacement, he certainly didn't know.

During his time on the Normandy, and in the months since the funeral, Wrex had quietly established contacts on Tuchanka, trying to find like-minded individuals and clans, who would support his drive and ideas. Wrex had an ambitious plan. End the clan feuds. Unite Tuchanka as one, under the flag of Clan Urdnot. And finally bring an end to the genophage and the end of krogan isolation from the rest of the galactic races.

Establishing dominance of his clan would be difficult enough. His brood-brother, Wreav, had been left in charge since Wrex had left, and Clan Urdnot had become an embarrassing shell of what it once was. Wrex thought his brother was an idiot, always had, and it was the one regret he had about originally leaving Tuchanka, knowing that his brother could one day lay claim to leadership. Wrex was prepared to fight and kill his brother, if necessary, but from news he had already been told, Wrex would have the support of the clan on his return. It appeared becoming an infamous bounty hunter, and also a member of the crew that saved the Citadel, and quite possibly the galaxy, may help him re-establish control. It also helped that most were unhappy with the ineffectiveness of Wreav's leadership.

The shuttle finally landed on his homeworld, Wrex opening the door and setting foot on Tuchankan soil for the first time in hundreds of years. He bent down to one knee and grabbed a handful of dirt, letting it run through his fingers, before he rubbed his hands together and stood up, looking around at the wasteland that greeted his eyes.

'It's a fucking hell-hole. But it's home.

Our home.

My home.'

Two krogan walked up the pile of rubble to where Wrex stood in front of the shuttle. Arms were crossed diagonally across their chests in salute, a slight bow as they spoke. "Urdnot Wrex, welcome home to Tuchanka."

Wrex returned the gesture before he walked forward, arms spread wide. "I am pleased to return home, brothers."

The two krogan fell in alongside Wrex as the trio walked down the rubble mound. In front of them on an open square were lines of krogan. There must have been hundreds of them. Proud warriors, one and all. Wrex's proclamations had apparently reached all corners of Tuchanka. Perhaps even to those krogan who no longer called Tuchanka home. The krogan lined up in front of him were but a fraction of those in support of Wrex and his ideas.

"These are the leaders and members of the clans who wish to pursue peace? Who truly want an end to the genophage? To end the cycle of violence? That wish to see the krogan re-integrate themselves within the galaxy?" asked Wrex.

"Indeed they are, Urdnot Wrex. There are still many clans who would oppose your ideas, but the clans represented here are aware of your history and the fall-out with your father. Many of the krogan in front of you now have always supported your ideals, but have simply had to await your return. Most clans are not strong enough to go alone."

Wrex grumbled slightly. He had always resented the way he had retreated from Tuchanka. But when most of his finest warriors were murdered by his father and those loyal to him, Wrex had been left with little choice but to leave in desperation. But not without getting revenge on his father first, leaving him dead on the ground, a knife buried deep in his heart.

Wrex came to a stop in front of the rows of krogan, stood on a small mound as he overlooked them. They all gave the same gesture, arm across the chest, a slight bow. "You honour us, Urdnot Wrex," they said as one. Wrex gave a slight bow in return. He was surprised at the respect. Then again, news of Virmire, his role in defeating Saren, of his promise to end the genophage, had reached Tuchanka. It was one of many reasons why so many clans had been willing to join. There was one word at the back of all their minds. Of his mind. He was promising to give the krogan the one thing they had lacked for over a thousand years.

Hope.

"The krogan were once a proud people. A people that the galaxy once relied on, to fight on their behalf. We once lived by ideals of courage, strength and honour. But for the last thousand years, we have done nothing but kill ourselves, and waste our lives. Today, we begin our rebirth. Today, we start the rise of the krogan once again. But no longer will be a species to be feared. We will be a species to be respected. We will once again earn our place in the galaxy. We will lead the krogan into a new future. Today, starts a new dawn for the krogan!"

The assembled krogan roared their approval. Wrex allowed himself a slight grin. He figured Shepard would have been proud of that one. Wrex looked up into the sky, the sun beating down on the battered landscape of Tuchanka. He let another small grin cross his face.

'Shepard would be proud.

And I will make you proud, my brother.'

He returned his attention to the assembled ranks of krogan in front of him. His new band of brothers. Krogan who were willing to fight and die for Wrex and his ideals.

"Come, my brothers. Let us begin."

The Fourth Tuchankan Civil War was about to begin. And, this time, Clan Urdnot would be the victor.

*****

Garrus Vakarian

"I'm going," he muttered.

"Where?" she asked.

"I don't know. Just… anywhere not here. There are too many reminders. The Spectres…" He scoffed. "I would have tried to join them if he was still here. Now they besmirch his name like he's some sort of… embarrassment."

"What about me?"

He turned towards her, cupped her face with his talons. "I love you, Chloe. Always will. But it's…" He sighed, trailing off. He wasn't good at sharing feelings. Few turians were. He usually wore his heart on his sleeve, but when it came to matters like this, and with her, he could rarely find the words. He felt too many things that he simply couldn't express them.

"You'll come back?" He nodded immediately. He loved her more than anyone. Anything. He didn't want to go. But he also had to go to find… himself again. "I'll wait for you, Garrus."

"Chloe…"

She leaned forward, the bedsheet dropping to reveal her soft body. Kissing him on his cheek, he pulled her right. "I understand, Garrus. Do what you need to do. No matter how long, I'll be here when you return."

"Chloe…"

He felt her squeeze him even tighter. "I understand," she whispered.

"It's not fair," he muttered.

"You had a lot of love for him. I know that."

"He was my brother in arms. I would have died for him."

Just saying that… He felt his voice catch. He missed him terribly. The only thing that made him feel better since their return to the Citadel had been her. But it wasn't enough. He was upset. Heartbroken. Stricken with grief… And angry. More than angry. Furious. He burned with vengeance. Geth. Krogan. Even human or turian. Whoever was responsible. He was going to hunt whoever was responsible to the edge of the galaxy and watch them burn. He would gain retribution for his death. He would fight and die in his name going forward.

"Does anyone else know?"

"I think it's best I just disappear for a while, Chloe. I might let my father know I'm alive, at least."

"Before you go…" He met her eyes, noticing her cheeks colour.

They made love a final time. She knew he'd leave soon after, so she seemed to make sure it would last for as long as possible. Watching her ride his cock, he couldn't help marvel at her body, watching her slowly bounce up and down on his length. When he finally came inside her, she couldn't move for a little while because of what happened when he ejaculated. She loved the extra connection that arrived when he climaxed, simply using it as an excuse to rest herself on his chest, running a hand up and down her back, enjoying the feeling of her smooth skin.

Once they could disconnect, she got up and dragged him into the shower, where she handed him soap and a washcloth so he could wash her down. Spirits, he loved her body. No, not just her body. He loved her. Always would. He'd already thought about a future together, though that had been before the destruction of the Normandy. Leading her back to the bedroom later, she sat down naked and watched him start to dress himself. She smiled whenever his eyes met hers. Escorting him to the door, they hugged for what felt like hours. He told her he loved her. He told her he would be back. He told her…

"When you're ready, come back to me, Garrus," she whispered. And, with a final kiss on the cheek, she closed the door, leaving him alone.

Taking a deep breath, he grabbed his bag and walked towards the dock, already thinking about which festering shithole to go to first.

He didn't have to search long and hard for his first target. A planet that was ripe for the taking. It was called Omega. Run by Aria T'Loak. The perfect place to begin his path of vengeance. Fight in his name and cleanse the galaxy of the scum that infested it.

*****

The dozen men were gathered around the small table, on which sat only a map of the area. The leader of these men looked upon his followers, almost like a proud father. They were men of many race and creed – turian, human, salarian, even a batarian had joined the ranks. The dozen men were dressed in combat armour. But on each man was no official insignia. They shared only the same colour. Some would have considered them mercenaries, as they fought with no army, representing no race or people. However, these men fought for no pay or personal glory. They fought to protect the innocent, and served justice to the guilty. They considered themselves just in their cause.

They were the protectors of Omega.

Garrus cleared his throat, the eyes of the other eleven men on him, falling silent as he started to speak. Like usual, the instructions would be short, sharp and precise. He trusted his men implicitly.

"The mercenaries are located in a warehouse here," stated Garrus, pointing at the map, "Butler and Krul, you will take up a sniping position, here. Weaver and Erash, you will take up a sniping position here. You'll provide us with cover and can eliminate any resistance not located within the building. The other eight of us will infiltrate the warehouse. The main door is located here. There are side doors located here, here and here, where we can enter. We will split into two teams of four. I assume you have all learned the lay-out of the warehouse?"

Eleven heads nodded.

"Expected resistance?" asked Sensat, the lone batarian. Garrus was surprised when he offered his services. But he'd proven his worth. He was a skilled fighter and worthy of being part of his team.

"Up to twenty to thirty mercenaries will be within the warehouse. They have no heavy weaponry. Expect only light opposition. Our objective is but one: We will enter, kill and exit as quickly and as quietly as possible. However, we will leave fireworks once we've departed. Mierin, that's where you come in. You have the package?"

The salarian nodded. An original recruit. One that Garrus trusted most. Ex-STG. And a tough son of a bitch.

"Good."

"Are we taking prisoners for interrogation?" asked Monteague, a human mercenary who had joined their cause not many weeks before, having lost everything he owned and loved to a band of mercs. One of many looked for their own sort of revenge.

"No," replied Garrus.

Eleven nodded their heads in agreement. It was the standard mission then.

"Any other questions?"

All remained silent.

"Good. Everyone clear regarding our objective?"

Eleven heads nodded.

"Grab your armour and gear. We leave in five minutes."

Garrus and his team were as silent as the wind as they made their way to the warehouse, using the shadows to their advantage. It was the same tactical plan. No-one would see them come or go. There would be the sound of gunfire, but that was not usual on Omega. Barely a day went by when there were not bodies found in the streets and avenues, all over the station. Omega was completely and utterly lawless. The only person Garrus knew who could even begin to bring a semblance of law and order was Aria T'Loak, and Garrus had no time for her either, considering she was the designated 'Pirate Queen' and undisputed ruler of Omega. Therefore, groups, such as those Garrus continuously fought, thrived on the misery of others. There was slavery, drug dealing, and murder. Utter corruption and debasement of the population. Garrus took pleasure in cleaning up the place.

With the snipers in position, Garrus and his team waited at the side of the warehouse. The crack of rifles soon echoed in the air. There were no cries for help. The men he had chosen were expert shots. They never missed. Silence soon descended again.

"All clear," came the call through his earpiece.

With only two hand movements, Garrus and his team split up as planned. They would flank the opposition, forcing them back into the main floor of the warehouse, where Garrus hoped to then mop up any resistance that remained.

He walked quickly, in a slightly crouching position, to the door, gesturing to the man behind him to the other side. Garrus grabbed the doorknob and looked at Sidonis. He looked back and nodded. Garrus flung the door open inwards and moved in, rifle raised, searching for targets. The hallway was dark and empty.

Garrus gestured to the doors to his side, two by two as the men searched for the enemy. He opened one door to see two men sat watching a vid-screen. They hadn't heard them enter. He gestured to Lorethis for quiet, the two creeping up behind the men, taking out the knife that sat at their hips. Garrus grabbed one of the men by the mouth, preventing him screaming out, while plunging the knife into his neck. The struggle didn't last long.

The quiet didn't last, though, as soon gunfire echoed around the warehouse.

"Go loud," ordered Garrus as they started walking quicker through the hallways. Doors were kicked in, rifles fired at anyone who moved. Anyone who ran towards them was mown down by rifle fire. He tried keeping count of the bodies but it was pointless. He knew they were approaching the planned killing field. He guessed that that the opposition would fall back for one last stand.

Garrus approached a closed door. He peered through the small glass pane. It was the main warehouse floor. Just as planned. He could see the remnants of the mercenary force trying to dig in. He could hear shouts of concern. He heard the one question that was always asked.

"Who the fuck is attacking us?" someone would ask.

"It must be Archangel," would be the reply.

Garrus looked back at his men and nodded. He opened the door and ran onto the floor, taking cover behind a crate. He waited until he knew his three colleagues were near him, and then they opened fire.

"Team two in position," came the call over the radio.

The mercenaries would now be pinned.

"Team three in position," came another call.

Those were the snipers, now taking position outside the warehouse door, preventing any escape.

Garrus would consider cease-fire as an option, giving the mercenaries a chance. But he remembered what happened on Nepheron and the morons from Cerberus, the olive branch Shepard offered, thrown back in his face. Garrus would offer no olive branch. These mercenaries deserved what was coming to them.

"Maintain pressure," he ordered.

The gunfire was incessant. Grenades exploded. He could hear the tell-tale noises of tech bursts. Of sniper fire. Of shotguns. The cries of the injured, soon to be dead, would drown out the sounds of everything else for a moment. The ground ran red and blue, orange and green with blood, the various colours mixing together, almost a kaleidoscope of blood on the floor.

Soon the fire started to peter out. Garrus called out to cease-fire. Carefully his team moved out of cover. Garrus checked for injuries. One or two of his men were wounded, but no-one had been killed. It was another successful operation, the bodies of the opposition littering the ground. The occasional shot rang out as a survivor was put down. There would be no prisoners.

"Mierin, prepare the package," Garrus ordered.

With the package prepared in moments, Garrus ordered his squad to move out. Again in the shadows they departed, the sounds of a massive explosion ringing in their ears, as they made their way back to their base, where they would unwind and quietly celebrate another success. It was another battle of a war that would never end. But it was a fight that Garrus would continue until his dying breath.

That was his solemn promise to the people of Omega. And to his dead friend.

*****

Ashley Williams

Ashley had said goodbye to Tali within a couple of weeks after the Normandy had been destroyed. It had… It had torn her heart out. She'd loved the little quarian, more than she'd ever imagined. She'd never thought she'd ever fall in love with another woman. Let alone another woman and an alien as well. But, somehow, they'd forged a bond, and Ashley knew she'd never forget her. But after Shepard was lost, they were forced apart, both knowing the forces of the galaxy were stronger than the love they may have shared.

It wasn't just losing Tali, though. Losing Shepard was just as tough. She loved Tali. Still loved her even after the quarian had returned home. But, in her heart, she'd loved Shepard. Perhaps differently to her quarian lover, but she had believed. More than anything, she had believed in Commander Shepard. Her friend, lover, confidant… The man who had believed in her as much in return.

She'd been promoted to Operations Chief and had started the road towards becoming an officer. She knew that was due to the recommendations of Shepard, plus the fact Anderson had also been in the ear of Alliance brass, and there was no doubt Admiral Hackett was now an admirer. She had more than one meeting with both men, as though she had earned promotion, they admitted to being unsure where to place her.

To her disappointment, she didn't find herself placed on another starship, though part of her didn't want to be on any other ship than the Normandy. She worked on Earth for a few months, keeping an eye and ear on the news over time as she watched everything they'd learned about the Reapers swept under the carpet, the Council denying their existence. They didn't call Shepard delusional but the insinuation was clear. As for the Alliance, Anderson was a believer, as was Hackett, but even the latter, even though he was Admiral of the Fleet, earning a promotion after the Citadel, only had so much power.

She kept in touch was Tali for a time but communication eventually dropped between them. Keeping a long distance relationship going, with little chance of seeing each other, was always going to be difficult. It was at least nine months after they parted when they simply agreed that they should both move on. She was upset to end it with her but, considering their circumstances, it was the best thing to do. Problem for Ashley was that moving on was just too difficult. Any man she looked at would be compared to Shepard, and no-one could possibly compare to him. And she didn't find herself attracted to another woman, figuring perhaps it had just been Tali who had interested her…

As for the rest of the Normandy crew, she eventually fell out of touch with them too. She would email Doctor Chakwas every so often, surprised to hear the good doctor had been shunted onto some facility on Mars. Joker had basically been grounded, and from whispers she'd heard, he'd taken to drink and blamed himself for Shepard's death. All other surviving Alliance personnel had been sent to other ships or postings, and the likes of Wrex and Garrus had simply moved on.

The one person she did keep in contact with was Liara. She would admit the two hadn't exactly always been warm to each other, at least to start with, but over time, the two had become friendly enough, each aware they were both intimate with Shepard, not that they'd discuss it. But Liara seemed to make sure she stayed in contact with her, sending her an email at least once a month. She didn't say much about what she was doing, but she definitely seemed to have plenty of information to share, particularly in regards to investigating the destruction of the Normandy. That just made Ashley scratch her head, wondering what an archaeologist was doing investigating it…

Still, at least someone was looking into it, as the Alliance had quickly written it off as a geth attack and closed the file. Ashley wasn't stupid. She knew Sovereign wasn't a geth ship, Saren was indoctrinated, and there was no way any geth ship could have ripped apart the Normandy as easily as it had happened. No, she knew there was another enemy out there. If it wasn't the Reapers, then who was responsible for the destruction of the Normandy and the death of Commander Shepard? She couldn't ask too many questions too loudly. She'd only just earned her stripes, finally rising to a station she believed she should have been at years before. If she rocked the boat now, they'd demote her just as quickly to prove a point.

She would simply have to keep her head down, grit her teeth, put up with the lies, and hope Liara or whoever else would find the truth.

*****

Liara T'Soni

No-one else knew how busy Liara T'Soni had been since the destruction of the Normandy. She was desperate to tell those who knew her best the truth, but telling the truth about what she'd done would likely cause… problems…

Liara was a true believer in the Reaper threat. Having melded with Shepard numerous times, particularly once their physical relationship finally started, she knew everything he did. She knew what loomed on the horizon. They may have stopped Sovereign, but the Reapers would not be stopped forever. They'd find a way to arrive and begin the harvest. That's what made losing Shepard such a bitter blow.

But unlike the Alliance, she didn't give up on him so easily. She wanted to ask some of the others to help. She didn't think they gave up on him. They were just… heartbroken. She did wonder about approaching perhaps Garrus or Ashley, but the former spoke of joining the Spectres, while Ashley was quickly shuffled off to her next posting. That left Liara alone to go search.

Two months after the loss of Shepard and the Normandy, Liara turned her back on the world of science and archaeology in attempt to find him to begin with the… she wasn't sure what. Burial? Probably. Revival? Unlikely, but she could live in hope. All she wanted was Shepard back, as much as anyone else she'd been alongside. After searching Alchera, where most of the Normandy had ended up crashing upon, she found no sign of the Commander and put out feelers across the galaxy. That led her to Omega…

Arriving on Omega eventually led to a meeting with Aria T'Loak, the 'Pirate Queen', who proved of little help. That didn't surprise her in the slightest, but she did end up meeting her contact, a drell by the name of Feron. After finding herself ambushed by Blue Suns mercenaries, she ended up meeting a woman by the name of Miranda Lawson, who represented an organisation called Cerberus. She knew of Cerberus quite well. Shepard had spent months dismantling many of their operations across the galaxy, and she was well aware of their pro-human, anti-alien agenda. She was eventually introduced to the 'Illusive Man', who claimed he had the technology to bring Shepard back to life, but that couldn't be done without his body, and the Collectors, a race unknown to most of the galaxy, were willing to pay for it. He further insinuated, though couldn't provide evidence for now, that the Collectors were agents for the Reapers. That definitely grabbed her attention.

Further investigation led her again to the Blue Suns, who she discovered had been the group to find Shepard's body on Alchera, put it into stasis, and brought it to Omega to sell to the Shadow Broker, who would than move it for the Collectors. Feron and herself attempted an ambush of the handover of Shepard's body to Shadow Broker agents, but the operation quickly went wrong, a salarian agent by the name of Tazzik escaping with Shepard's body.

She gave chase alongside Feron, eventually ending up in the orbit of Alingon. There were no redeeming features about the planet, but they figured out it was a base for the Shadow Broker. Needing to infiltrate quickly, the pair established a simple plan to get planet-side and deal with whatever was necessary.

The whole thing nearly went wrong more than once. In fact, looking back, Liara couldn't believe she got away with it. It was only after events played out, escaping on Tazzik's ship with Shepard's body on board, Feron having sacrificed himself to ensure her success, that she could sit back, take a breath, and take stock of events. She was no longer the innocent archaeologist Shepard had found on Therum. She had taken on the Shadow Broker and won. But handing over Shepard was only the start. She knew the Reapers were out there…

Given co-ordinates for the meet, she flew the shuttle towards Minuteman Station. Meeting Miranda Lawson in person again, she asked if the Illusive Man would make an appearance. Miranda simply smirked, suggesting he was probably watching but would not make a personal appearance.

"Do you want to check?" Miranda wondered.

"It's him," she whispered, "I don't need…" She looked at the brunette woman. "Wouldn't it best to let dead men rest?"

"You don't believe we can bring him back?"

"It's not that. Hasn't he already done enough?"

"The Illusive Man believes in the threat, and also believes we have the technology and capabilities to bring him back. If he believes, why can't you?"

Liara found she didn't have an answer to that. With a last sigh, all she could do was hand over the body and ask Miranda to bring Shepard exactly as he was. Miranda said that Cerberus would, though Liara didn't know if she should believe her entirely. Surely they would be aware of Shepard's history with them?

That done, Liara was left with a dilemma. What to do next? She'd certainly made some enemies during her fight to retrieve Shepard, including the Shadow Broker. In fact, she was left rather pissed off regarding the enigmatic figure. No-one knew who the Shadow Broker was. A lone individual? A group of people? An A.I? She was left thinking and feeling that, whoever they were, they were dangerous. And she was left believing she was now in their cross-hairs.

For the first time in decades, she approached her mother for help. Not directly, but after her mother had been found guilty of treason, Liara had been left with the estate. One thing her mother had made sure to leave was credits. Lots and lots of credits. The one thing Liara needed was information. Information regarding the Reapers, the Collectors, Cerberus, the Shadow Broker, anything and everything that would help in regards to the upcoming war. She knew it was coming. When, she couldn't be sure. Not yet…

She eventually ended up on Illium, an asari colony world near the very edge of Citadel space. Using all the credits at her disposal, she put together her own little firm of information brokers. Information was everything, and Liara found she was quite good at analysing data. Recruiting numerous asari, turians, humans, even quarians, her firm soon grew, attracting the attention of governments and organisations, who soon grew to appreciate all the information she could gather and send out.

Life wasn't easy on Illium. Everyone had a price, and more than once, she was sure the Shadow Broker sent agents to find and eliminate her. She ended up with a solid protection detail, bodyguards who watched her twenty-four hours a day, or so it seemed. Her apartment in one of the finest suburbs of Nos Astra was the best money could buy, with all the protection needed for an aspiring information broker. Her name was soon opening doors across the galaxy. Even the Council seemed to take notice of who she was, though whether it was because of herself, or simply her name, she could never be sure.

Through it all, she stayed single. Sure, asari, humans and turians showed an interest, but in the back of her mind, she believed Shepard would return one day, and when he did, well… The thought of what they might do certainly made her blush when she thought about it. She missed him every day, and the only thing that got her through was the belief that perhaps, just perhaps, Cerberus could deliver on their promise and return him alive.

Until that day, she had work to do. The Shadow Broker was out there, and he had made an enemy out of Liara T'Soni.

*****

Matriarch Benezia

Benezia would admit she was glad the Asari Republics no longer carried out capital punishment. But, still, being exiled from asari space was embarrassing. Well, it would have been had she not accepted the punishment without question. At least everything taken from her had been given to her daughter, Liara. Benezia may have been called a traitor, not only to her own kind but every Council species, but at least none of it would rub off on her daughter, or at least she hoped it would in the long run.

With only a few possessions and no acolytes, she had little idea of what to do with her life. For centuries, she'd cultivated a following on Thessia. She'd had hundreds of asari devoted to her cause. When she'd approached Saren, hoping to turn him away from his foolhardy plan, she hadn't believed she'd so easily fall into his clutches. So many of her acolytes had fallen victim to him… It was all her own fault.

She had expected to be arrested by the Council or the Alliance after the Normandy had been destroyed. The Alliance wanted nothing to do with her, while the Council made it clear that, although she had somewhat assisted Shepard, she had still be an ally of Saren for a period of time. Returning to Thessia had always been her plan, and the reception she received was as she expected. Arrest. Incarceration. Interrogation. Trial. Judgement.

Exile.

She wasn't going to join her daughter. She was doing whatever she wanted with her life. Benezia certainly wasn't going to stand in her way. Shiala had also headed off to do her own thing. With Shepard now dead, the Council swung around, eventually denying the existence of the Reapers. She knew the horrible truth but knew she couldn't speak openly about it. No-one would believe her. No-one would probably listen to her. Again, it was all her own fault.

But she needed to do something. She needed to help. She felt guilty about the lives ruined, the lives taken. Though exiled from asari space, she had not been banned from travelling the rest of Council space. She remembered Shepard being fond of a Captain Anderson, so she sent him a message, asking to meet on the Citadel. The man was clearly sceptical but agreed to a meeting.

She managed to arrive on a passenger ship incognito, though she was sure the C-Sec guards recognised her at once, but they let her pass without too many questions. Heading to the Wards, she found the human waiting for her in a coffee shop. She despised the drink the humans loved and had introduced to the galaxy, though had grown to enjoy tea, similar to beverages found on asari worlds.

Sitting across from the dark-skinned human, she briefly explained her predicament. To her surprise, he appeared at least a little understanding. "I didn't think you'd care," she admitted.

"To be honest, I don't." Her face no doubt spoke volumes as he smiled. "Just being honest. But Shepard had good things to say despite some of the things you were responsible for, and if Shepard had good things to say, then he must have thought you were worth helping. So I'll help you because it's what he would have wanted."

"You miss him?" she asked, her voice soft. She missed him too.

"Every day, Lady Benezia. And what the Council…" He stopped abruptly, obviously not wanting to share his own thoughts with her. "Anyway, I'm aware that you're an exile from your own space and the Council don't particularly want your presence on the Citadel. So what do you want?"

"I want to help. Make right some of the wrongs."

"Are you still indoctrinated?"

She nodded. "I still hear the voices from time to time. It's a constant battle. But that part of my mind I kept free has fought against it, and with each passing day, the whispers grow quieter. I am regaining control of my thoughts and subsequently my actions."

"None of us really know much about indoctrination. Do you know anything?"

She shook her head. "No, and nor did Saren. He insisted the entire time he was not indoctrinated though it was blatantly obvious he was."

"I would suggest tests but…"

"I would be hesitant regarding meddling with anything to do with the Reapers, Captain."

He nodded. "Okay. So, you want to help, right the wrongs, as you said. Where would you like to go?"

She gave it a few seconds thought. "Eden Prime." She noticed the raised eyebrows. "That is where this all began, is it not? I have read the colony was nearly destroyed. I wish to help rebuild it."

"You're sure about this?"

"It's perhaps best if I return incognito."

"Give me a few hours and I can certainly provide a different identity." He looked her up and down. "And you'll probably need to change your clothes. You'll stand out anyway because you're asari, but if you at least dress like a colonist, you might fit in a little better." He paused again, before smirking. "Long way from being an all-powerful matriarch, Lady Benezia."

"My fate is deserved, Captain. I have lived with centuries of privilege. Guess it's just time I got my hands dirty, at least for a little while. Do you mind if I at least let my daughter know?"

"I don't see that being a problem. We'll organise a place for you to stay until your departure."

"If it's comfortable, I'll just remain there until then. My face is too well-known now."

Three days later, under an assumed identity, wearing clothes she would never have considered beforehand, with only a duffel bag full of similar clothing, and one or two things for comfort, she boarded a shuttle heading to the human colony world of Eden Prime. The local Alliance garrison knew she was coming and were prepared for her arrival.

Being an asari did have some advantages. They were incredibly friendly though surprised she had headed there to help. After time to settle in, nothing more than a simple pre-fab, she was shown around the colony and couldn't help but feel guilty at the destruction. Her guides explained the destruction that took place, the number of deaths, but they also regaled her with the story of Shepard. She felt the corners of her mouth twitch at how they spoke of the man.

Life was certainly different on Eden Prime compared to Thessia. But after all that had happened, Matriarch Benezia knew she had to do the right thing.

*****

Shiala

After the destruction of the Normandy, Shiala was one of those who did have a plan for what would happen after the mission was completed. Sure, she'd never planned for her life to change so suddenly. Like nearly everyone else who'd fought along his side against Saren, she had remained on the ship even after the destruction of Sovereign, though Shepard knew of her promise to eventually return to Feros. With thanks for the assistance but it was no longer required, she said her goodbyes to her colleagues on the Citadel and, with a little money as a gift from Benezia and Liara, she bought a used ship and headed to Feros.

By the time she arrived back on the planet, news of Shepard's loss had even made it there. Everyone remembered her, at least, or at they remembered her promise, glad for the additional help though most did admit surprise she had returned at all.

Her contacts with humans as an acolyte for Lady Benezia had been few. She had seen and dealt with more salarians and turians over the years. Now surrounded by humans as the only asari on the colony, she thought they'd be suspicious of her, particularly how she had ended up there in the first place. But they proved nothing but welcoming, making sure deliveries of food included some asari delicacies, and made sure she had enough reminders of home in her small room in one of the many pre-fabs.

After settling in, she sat down with the colony leaders. Their request wasn't a surprise. "We'd like you to be in charge of security," Fai Dan requested, "You are or were an asari commando, correct?" She nodded. "To be honest, those of us left here are not fighters. Even the security guards can admit they were out-matched by geth."

"I'm only one asari."

"We've read about asari commando's," Lisbeth retorted gently, "One of you is worth ten soldiers."

"I can also help otherwise."

"Of course," Fai Dan stated with a smile, "But we need protection too."

"We'll need more than just boots on the ground. We'll need air defences."

The humans around her shared glances. "Not sure how we can afford that."

That made her smile. "Oh, I'm sure I can call in at least a few favours."

Those favours led to another four asari commandos arriving within three months, and a mysterious benefactor ensuring the colony was well supplied with provisions, in addition to defensive weapons, including rocket and machine gun turrets, while the Alliance also helped place orbital defences. That left the rest asking if Shiala had friends in high places. She could only shrug, admitting she'd only asked Liara for help, not exactly aware of what Liara was trying to achieve as their communication was limited.

But that wasn't the amazing discovery made. It took time for it to develop, but one day as she was on routine patrol, she swore that she started to… feel, if not even hear what others were thinking. A pair of humans near a power conduit were discussing the needs of the colony, and in addition to their voices, she could almost hear what they were thinking. She passed another couple of humans on patrol, both smiling at her, and while they didn't talk, she could hear what they were thinking, or so she thought. Part of her thought that maybe she was cracking up.

That wasn't all, though. She had noticed a slight discolouration of her pigment. She had one been a healthy bluish-purple. But after a few months back at the colony, she started to notice her skin start to turn… green. She knew why immediately. It had to be the contact with the Thorian. And that no doubt explained why she could hear other people's thoughts.

She sat down with Fai Dan and he smiled as she explained. "You're not the only one, Shiala. We just wondered if you were going to experience what we all have."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"We wanted it to happen naturally, if it happened at all. But don't you feel… connected to all of us now?"

Shiala would admit she did. Her asari colleagues were not present during the raid to capture or at least meld with the Thorian. But the spores had clearly infected those who had remained in the colony, and she now felt connected to the rest. It was an unusual feeling. In some ways similar to melding, but that was through a conscious decision. She could hear any thoughts around her simply through the shared connection.

Life fell into some sort of routine surprisingly quickly but it wasn't long before she noticed small problems start to arise. Not around the colony. She was told that was soon even better than what it was before the geth attacked. No, it was the fact the colonists started to suffer medical problems, no doubt to do with exposure to the Thorian. After a few months, they were left with no option but to seek help from outside the colony. The only place she could think of to help was Illium, as it was the closest major world.

That would prove to be a mistake that could cost them all.

*****

Emily Wong

She liked to consider herself the consummate professional, but after Shepard left to go hunt down geth, more than once she would find herself smiling away without realising, remembering the last few days they had spent together. Well, not days. He was far too busy for that, but they managed to snatch an hour or two together, and even an evening at least once. Emily Wong wasn't stupid. She knew there were others, but for him, she was willing to put up with it for now.

Hard at work as always, she didn't even hear the breaking news announcement until her manager placed a datapad in front of her without a word. She picked it up and felt ice down her spine as she read the words. She was a professional though, and immediately rose to her feet. "Sources?" she asked.

"Straight from the Alliance, Emily. The attack happened three days ago. The survivors are being transported here."

"When do they arrive?"

"Within the hour. I've used up plenty of favours to get the information for you. I know…"

"That's personal, Chief. But this is…" She now met his eyes and her face must have reflected a million emotions. "Is this reliable?" He nodded with a sag of his shoulders. "Are they sure he wasn't on one of the pods?"

"I have the list of names, Emily. His isn't listed."

She couldn't help sigh. But she wasn't going to burst into tears in front of her colleagues. "You should head down to the docks. D-29. That's where the ship will arrive with the survivors. Guess you'll want to head down…" She nodded. "I have one other favour, if you're up to it?"

"Name it."

"Would you feel comfortable… writing his obituary? You knew him better than nearly anyone, particularly on the Citadel."

"I will but I won't go into personal…"

He held up a hand. "Wouldn't ask you to."

"I'll get started once I'm back from the docks."

She grabbed her coat, handbag and portable terminal before heading out of the office, hailing a cab and directing it towards the docks. She stared out the window, sucking in a few deep breaths, almost wishing the news was wrong. He couldn't really be dead. Not after having taken down a Reaper and survived the Geth War.

The docks were packed with reporters from nearly every species jostling for position. She noticed a few rivals hanging around, some with cameras ready to interview. She had a voice recorder but, being honest with herself, she was there for purely selfish reasons.

The ship docked three-quarters of an hour later. Alliance brass had arrived by then, quickly ushering most of the survivors off and past the assembled journalists, everyone yelling out plenty of questions about what happened. Emily remained silent, meeting the eyes of a few. One she knew at least better than most, remembering her name as Ashley. The brunette noticed her standing within the crowd, whispering something to the soldier escorting her. Before she knew it, the marine walked over and pulled her into a hug, Emily sensing camera's now focusing on her.

"I'm sorry," Ashley whispered.

Emily closed her eyes and nodded without saying a word, simply closing the embrace. It was true…

"Ma'am…"

"Give me a few minutes, will you?" Ashley replied, rather harshly. The soldier escorting her, no doubt taken aback, nodded his agreement as Ashley turned back to her. "I'll talk to you later, Emily. Off the record. I don't want…" She glanced around, jaw firming. "Vultures, the lot of them."

"Including me?"

"Shepard liked you, Emily. No, he didn't think that."

Emily wiped her eyes. "I'd ask what happened but…"

"Later. Trust me, there are a lot of unhappy people. Not only about losing Shepard, but the entire mission was bullshit." Ashley sighed. "But I'd better shut up before I get in trouble." She hugged her again. "I'll keep in touch, okay?" Emily nodded again before the marine let her go and headed off quickly with the others. She recognised a few of them, some looking her way and nodding, at least.

She received a few questions in her direction but waved people away, quickly escaping into a nearby cab. Not wanting to return to the office, she headed back to her apartment, leaning back against the door once it was closed and locked, sinking to the ground and that's when the emotion hit her. She ignored the beep of her omni-tool and the constant ding of her portable workstation. The only thing she did was drag herself to bed, where she mixed sleeping with crying in the darkness.

Still feeling awful the next day, she contacted her boss and told him she'd have something written by the end of the day. It was the hardest piece she'd ever written in her life, trying hard to keep it entirely objective. One or two personal feelings no doubt crept in the longer she typed, but she certainly didn't let anyone know the fact she… loved him. She stopped typing when that emotion rolled through her body, but she managed to blink away the tears, keeping her mind focused on the task at hand. As promised, she had the piece written and sent off by the close of play, receiving a warm response from the editor for an emotional yet thought provoking piece. It would be the lead story the next morning.

Over the next few weeks, she kept an eye on the news outlets, particularly in regards to either Shepard, the Alliance or the Council. What happened incensed her. His name was practically dragged through the mud. Everything he had discovered considered a delusion, the Reaper, Sovereign, claimed to be a geth ship. Emily knew bullshit when she heard it. The Alliance proved nothing to be a disappointment, almost disavowing the first human Spectre.

Emily knew it wasn't the geth that killed Shepard, as much as it wasn't the geth that led the attack on the Citadel. After a meeting with her editor, who simply warned her to be careful but giving her leeway to pursue what she wanted, she opened her list of contacts and got to work. She would ensure Shepard and his warnings would not be forgotten.

*****

Gianna Parasini

"I quit."

Her boss looked up in surprise. "What?"

"I quit. I want out of here. I want off Noveria. I've had enough. I quit."

"But… You can't! You're my best case officer. What you did regarding Anoleis will lead to a promotion soon enough."

She shook her head. "I don't care. I don't want to remain on this planet one minute longer."

Her boss leaned back, stroking his bear for a moment. "This is about Shepard." She opened her mouth to retort but words failed her. "Word spread, Gianna. Everyone is aware you were intimate."

"It was more than that," she whispered. She looked up and noticed the surprised look returned. She almost smiled. "I loved him."

"Oh…."

"And now I'm just left with reminders wherever I go, whether at home, at the office, or just walking along the street. And I just can't do this job anymore. It's time for a fresh start somewhere."

"Where will you go?"

She shrugged, almost helpless. She hadn't thought that far ahead. "I don't know. Maybe I'll head back to Earth. See what opportunities are there. Look, I'm sorry if this leaves you in the lurch. I'll see out the cooling off period then…"

"Sure you won't change your mind?"

She shook her head again. "No. I'd leave tomorrow if I could, but I'll make sure everything is tied off before I go."

"Damn shame to lose you, Gianna."

She returned a weak smile before she turned and headed back to her office, where she sat staring at her screen, no doubt a blank look in her eyes, before someone wandered in to give her a heads up on what was going on otherwise.

A month later, she finished her last day and headed back to her apartment, where nearly everything was packed up. She had no idea what she was going to do regarding work, but figured heading back to Earth to see her family would be nice, at least.

Time on Earth helped clear her mind. Her parents figured out quickly that she was grieving, and were surprised when she told them the truth. Sitting down with them made everything tumble out, and that's when the tears really started to fall, admitting she was in love with him completely, and sure that he'd felt the same way about her. She could never thank her parents enough for the consoling they gave her over the next couple of weeks, helping mend her broken heart, at least a little bit.

Though she would have liked to stay on Earth, she was very much her own woman, and after allowing herself a little time to wallow in self-pity, she needed to get her mind and body back into something to get her mind off the thought of him. Her resumé was glowing, so finding a job shouldn't prove too difficult, it was just a case of what and where. She was a cop, or at least an investigator, she knew that much. Find something that appealed to her strengths, something to keep her busy, her mind occupied, and perhaps not living alone would help as well.

She was in the process of casting her eyes over a few offers when she received a phone call.

"Miss Parasini?"

"Yes, who is this?"

"Liara T'Soni. You may remember me from the Normandy. Not sure if we ever exchanged pleasantries, but I do remember you."

"No, we did speak briefly, Miss T'Soni. I am surprised by your call though. What is it in regards to?"

"I've been informed you are no longer on Noveria and that you are currently pursuing new career opportunities."

"How did… How do you know this?"

"I will be honest, Miss Para…"

"Gianna."

"Okay, Gianna. I'm Liara. And I will be honest. I am an information broker, but more importantly, I am keeping an eye on the activities of those closest to Shepard. I am more than aware of the… affection you held for the Commander, as much as he had for you. When I read that you had departed Noveria, I was curious as to why. I've since learned you are looking for a new job."

"Shit, and here I thought…" She heard Liara giggle as she trailed off. "You offering me a job?"

"No, not with my company, but I have many associates who could do with the services of a keen investigator such as yourself. Have you heard of Illium?"

"I have, not all of it good, to be honest."

"And you would have reason to be cautious, but if I put in a good word for you, I will ensure you are… Well, let's just say I look after those Shepard cared for."

"And what have I done to earn this… generosity?"

"Nothing, Gianna. But I lived, worked and fought alongside Shepard. I remember our time on Noveria. I know he remembered it fondly, as I'm sure you do too."

"Understatement of the century," she whispered, before clearing her throat, "What are my options?"

"I can send through job specs once we close this call and we can correspond via messaging if you wish. More importantly, I figured you could perhaps do with… a friend."

"Part of me just wants to forget it all."

"And do you think you will?" She couldn't help scoff. She heard a sigh through the connection. "Those of us who served alongside him felt the same way, Gianna."

"Send me what you have, Liara. I'll have an answer by tomorrow evening at the latest."

Closing the call a few seconds later, she soon had a flood of offers from Illium. Liara prefaced them all by making sure she read the fine-print, asking Gianna to send it to her first to give it a once over before agreeing to sign. The jobs Liara sent were fantastic, far better than what she'd been doing on Noveria, and certainly far better paid. Two eventually took her fancy over the others, so she sent those to Liara. The asari replied quickly, stating both contracts were above board, and it was simply her decision as to which one she wanted. She chose the one with more responsibility and money, thinking that should keep her busy, her mind occupied, so she didn't have time to think…

Arriving on Illium a week later, she was greeted by Liara herself. Gianna was just going to bunk in a hotel until she could sort things out, but Liara proved to be incredibly generous, leading her to what appeared to be an upmarket part of Nos Astra, where an apartment had already been purchased in her name. Only a rental, and not too large, but it came furnished, with some terrific sights provided.

Gianna could only gaze out the window before stating, "I'm not sure what I've done to deserve all this."

Liara stood beside her, gazing out as well. "Shepard looked after his friends, Gianna. I intend to carry that forward."

"Thank you."

The asari looked at her and smiled. "You're welcome. Come on, we should head out and grab something to eat, if you're hungry?"

"Ravenous. Food on ships hasn't improved in centuries, it seems."

That made the asari laugh as they headed out. Gianna may have lost Shepard, and she knew it would take a long time to get over that, but perhaps making a friend in Liara would help them both get over the loss.