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herpronuonsarefemslash · 2 years

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That Won’t Do - Chapter 3 - Teaser

The next installment of the one where the stars of the biopic of the Reaper War are going to do the sex scenes right, goddessdamnit. https://www.patreon.com/posts/67018933

=====

Miranda hates this. If it weren't for Jack, she wouldn't be out here. Watching kids who've always been other, been too weird and too much flex their biotics without restraint for the first time and give a nigh-manic grin worthy of Jack herself...it changed the math for Miranda. It's changed her, watching Jack thrive as an instructor.

Those kids deserve a chance. Earthborn thugs-in-waiting, born in ruins and refugee camps, brains sizzling with the eezo thrown into the sky from the carcasses of machine gods. Bratty colonists who grew up with money because their idyllic little farming colony got skipped in the apocalypse. The spacers who grew up on warships: The new knights, with generations of soldiering to live up to, who think their birthright is to be the pride of the Alliance. Acolytes of the cult of Shepard. All too keen to remind others that Kate was one of theirs, born in a medbay with fuel in her veins. All too keen to boast that when the monsters came, a Navy brat looked them in eye and they flinched. Miranda finds some of the spacer kids maddening, and she's well aware of her own 'perfection'.

Jack's kids matter. All of them. So do these clones.

Getting the information wasn't pleasant; torture has never been her favorite task, but she is Miranda fucking Lawson, and whatever skill she needs, she can master. The Lazarus Project's accounting told her that at last inventory there were 187 organ-complete clones with actual gray matter. Via her little sweeps, she's connected the dots. She estimates that two-thirds of the maybe-Shepards died in the war or in the Alliance's purge afterward that saw every station, shuttle and ground installation with a Cerberus emblem shelled or scuttled. Another nineteen she found dead in their cryo tubes after the Reaperized staff caring for them went mad.

=====

Jenna gulps in a lungful of achingly cold, wet air. Her eyes dart around the inside of her cryo pod. The wake-up drugs are like lightning up the ass, every time. She grabs her left wrist with two fingers on her right hand and counts her pulse. "Never trust the machines," her instructor told her. "We selected you for your minds, so trust your damned instincts. Gadgets only save our asses in the old vids."

Sure enough, the Cerberus-built pod is reporting her heart rate at least fifteen beats per minute too slow. Got to love megacorporations: Can't have the CEO thinking the employees are stressed or anything like that.

With a hiss, the lid lifts off her pod. She looks around. Red light bathes Jameson's pod--good, the short-circuit fried it--and Rahul's is flickering a dark yellow.

"Fuck!"

She scrambles to her feet and immediately crumples. The drugs and the stimulation filaments keep her muscles from atrophying, but it's like her brain knows she hasn't used them in years. Crawling it shall be.

She peels her face off of the deck and rolls onto her back. "Sound off," she croaks.

The people who are awake and alert enough to answer her are the die-hards: The bitches and sons- of-bitches who joined Cerberus because they were top dog back home, and so obviously humanity was going to be top dog out here.

Fan-fucking-tastic.

"Sorben, on me. Rahul's pod is stuck. We need to crack it manually."

Chuck Sorben's just a kid: Nineteen tops, blue eyed and blonde, farm-fresh, with the personality of a cocker spaniel. How he had ended up in an organization this hateful, she does not know.

When she finally gets the signal from Alliance Command to burn this place, killing him is going to hurt.

======

Tevos leans into the kiss that the ambassador places on her cheek.

"Be well. Don't work too late. And call your mother."

"Yes, Kolni."

Her desk computer chimes to report that someone's at the door. Williams. Curious. She usually doesn't need handling.

A long, gentle finger taps the root of her crests.

"And whoever's making you blush, you put a bond-bracelet on her and bring her home, understand?"

"It's..." Tevos stammers. The changes that Ashley has gone through give her hope for the universe. For Tevos, it wasn't so long ago that she was the marine with hard eyes and a nasty sneer at being told what to do by aliens--but that Ashley is gone, and for her, it might as well be a lifetime ago. Ashley the xenophobe had been fading for three years, since the day she'd met Shepard. The bitter woman taunted by her fellow marines died the moment that Ashley turned her weapon on Udina on the word of her old commander. The human patriot--a loyalist if ever there was one--shot the first human Councilor to save Tevos' life.

The idea of fucking Ashley...skin the color of kaffe before it's cut with sweetener...salt of human sweat, like drawing the ocean out with her lips...a body cleft and carved, mapped out by where sinew meets sinew...no biotics, just brute strength pushing her up against the door, the wall, Goddess, the window overlooking the Presidium, she wouldn't care...the sheer ferocity of the way humans fuck...trapped breath and shaking limbs...thundering pulse and trickling sweat...the blush and the downcast eyes the next morning, pulling a stammering soldier back into her arms.

"-ing her home. We would all love to meet her. Understand?"

Tevos snaps back to alertness at Kolni's words.

"It's not like that."

"You can lie to the entire galaxy, fast-fish. But not to me."

Her mother's oldest friend reaches past Tevos and pushes the button to open the door before sauntering out, giving Ashley a single long look from head to toe. She flashes Tevos a smirk over her shoulder.

Kolni gives her a brief nod. "Spectre. Councilor. Good day."

Tevos lets shoulders slump, and she lets the mask fall--if she can't trust Shepard's people, she can't trust anyone--and waves her hand in the general direction of the sofa.

Ashley chuckles.

"That bad, huh, ma'am?"

=====

"You're comfortable showing us your first time?" Iyllini asks. "Are you sure, fast-fish?"

Liara nods. Kate shrugs--the whole thing is outside of her comfort zone--and Liara reminds herself to spoil her bondmate when this is done. But finally, she nods.

Emilia taps the tip of her datapad's stylus against her glossed lips. Long arms, sharp jawline, quick fingers--control yourself, Liara--before lowering the tip to the screen once more. The effort that Emilia has put into mimicking Kate's ways of moving has heightened the resemblance of their bodies to an uncanny degree. Even that idiotic shirt--Ryders put them away wet--is not far from Shepard's sense of humor on the topic.

"Ready, Shepard?"

The human women exchange a look, and Kate shrugs again.

"Sure. Remember, this was a week after the Battle of the Citadel, and I'd had half of the turian Councilor's podium land on me. Shrapnel from Reaper hull fragments. I had bandages all over..."

She takes her forefinger and draws a line around her right bicep, then outlines a circular space on her thigh, and another her calf.

"Damn. My stuntwoman's going to want a raise."

"Couldn't wait, T'Soni?" Iyllini teases. "Savaging this poor, broken human..."

"I could not, Matriarch."

=====

"I'd made you a hangover breakfast, and I hadn't even gotten you drunk yet!"

Liara's sniffle is met with a thumb brushing the tear away and that smirk of hers.

"Rookie mistake. Couldn't have that. Remember?"

Liara laughs, wet and messy.

"Yes, Kate. I remember."

Emilia clears her throat, and gestures at the setup.

"Are you still alright to go on?"

Liara focuses on her Art, honing her mind. She feels the way the static crawls in the air, the way the eezo in the station's power grid hums against her senses, the way that dark energy pulls at their feet to enhance the not-quite-enough gravity of the Presidium. Her world slows like it would in mid-charge. In a huntress' trance like this, no flinch or flicker or frown of Kate's would be quick enough to pass her notice.

"I'm fine, Matriarch. Are you willing, my love?"

"Yes."

Satisfied with Shepard's relaxation, Liara loosens her trance. Iyllini nods approvingly, as if to say that's how you take care of your bondmate and there could be no higher praise for her skills as a partner than from an iconic beauty so often and so happily married over eight centuries.

"Well, then, Commander." Iyllini leans back and her own robe splays across her curves. Emilia's eyes flick to the slopes of her lover's breasts, then back to Liara and Kate. "Show us how you taught her to fuck."

=====

Kate nods at the spot where the bulkhead would be.

"On the deck, or in the dirt, to them, I'm the Commander. To you..." She shakes her head. "To you, like this, or when we're alone..." She gulps in a nervous breath and it's not faked. Just like that day, it still hits her hard to think of herself as Kate, not Shepard or Commander or Goddess damn it, The Shepard. But that's love: Doing the hard things if it makes her partner happy.

"...I'm Kate."

Liara wraps her hand around Kate's hip and pulls her in with a single jerk. Bit bolder than you were back then.

I know, Kate. But I can't be timid about wanting you.

Kate's eyes snap open and she glances down at the hand anchoring Liara to her. Three slim fingers intrude under her shirt. Enough for a siame meld. The meld loosens before Liara's eyes go black. Eyes of blue, pale as summer lightning, meet Kate's. For a tender and fleeting forever, they just stare at each other.

“You've done this before?" Liara asks, no, she all but mewls.

Kate's breath catches, her pulse dropping to beat like war drums between her legs. "With asari?"

"Nothing like this. No one like you," Kate croaks, and it's as true now as it was then. Tipsy tumbles in club bathrooms couldn't compare and even the idiot she was back then knew that. Told Liara that. Made Liara feel special.

"This is new for you, so I don't want to do anything you're not comfortable with. I don't want to put pressure on you, Liara."

A smirk curls violet lips, Liara leans close and the warm rush of Liara's laugh dances across Kate's cheek.

"I have fond memories of you putting pressure on me," she teases, damp breath and loose crackles of biotics skating along her cheek. "Remember?"

Fifty years ago, Kate leaned in first.

Now, as always, Liara takes what she wants. Delicate fingers backed by uncanny strength curl around the back of her neck and draw her in while a sharp squeeze on her hip makes Kate moan. Exactly the opening she wanted, Kate realizes when Liara licks into her mouth.

"Embrace eternity."

=====

Her omni-tool's comm flickers on and Tyea'Sirel's contact pops up.

"Lawson-Operative, we have a problem."

It's bad, if she's breaking radio silence. It's bad enough to risk Miranda's cover. Back when these crew members were stranded here under radio silence, the idea of a non-hostile geth was ludicrous.

Miranda looks the Cerberus personnel over: A star-struck kid who feels safe with the famous Operative Lawson and probably won't get to his weapon in time. The station's second-in-command who's way too fucking suspicious and scary alert for someone on post-cryo painkillers. Two bog-standard security guards in outdated armor. She could smash them like glass with her biotics before their armor's countermeasures kicked in.

"Report, Operative."

"The VI operating the cryo tanks is not responding."

"Override it, then. Use authorization of the Lazarus Project Director. Foxtrot. Begin preliminary thawing and prep for transit off-station."

"Ma'am?" the kid mumbles. "Did...did something happen to the Commander? I thought...I mean..."

"Our clones were for emergency use only," the second-in-command adds. What the bloody hell was her name? "In case of the total failure of Lazarus. The best clones we have are at thirty-eight percent indoctrination and memory replay. They're not combat-ready."

"Your cryo inventory said you had one at a hundred percent."

The XO's fingers twitch, like she wishes it was protocol for officers to be armed, rather than just the security.

"She's not ready, ma'am. There were complications with Memory Block 471. Significant complications. We had to freeze the original and restart the line."

A clone remembered killing Florez's mad scientists and finding out what Cerberus did on Akuze. Waking up with tubes in her arm and a med-tech with a Cerberus insignia, so she splattered them on the walls. Took an egg cell from her and tried again.

Miranda led this project, and now she realizes that she can't listen to a debrief--even a sanitized one--without her gut turning. Clenching a fist behind her back, she tightens her barriers and draws deep.

=====

Miranda loosens another deck plate with her biotics, popping the rivets rather than bending it outright and hoping that it's quiet enough to go unnoticed.

"Are we going to keep shooting at each other, or are we going to use our words like big girls? You should know, the geth I'm working with gets antsy when people shoot at me."

"FUCK!" The gun slides out into view from behind the console, gripped tight in the agent's hand, but the holo-indicator for the safety is on. "Jenna Elhone, Systems Alliance Intelligence."

Miranda clicks her tongue.

"A Saint embedded in my program? I had you tagged as having an issue when I hired you, but I didn't think it was as bad as that. Most double agents don't get past me."

"Lawson-Operative."

"WHAT?" Miranda demands.

"Mission failure imminent. Subjec-" The twang of fast-use biotics rings over the comm channel, followed by an unhappy electronic warble--geth in pain, Miranda's learned--distortion from an electrical discharge, and another blow. A pull-throw-warp combo, by the sound of it. Would've vaporized a standard geth platform, but an EDI-type chassis can take that kind of hit. Once.

"What the fuck is a geth doing here?" The clone growls over the comm. "Pl-uma-fe-e, desi-we m-no har-"

Wait.

The voice is too high to be Shepard, at least as Miranda knew her.

"Jenna, how old is that recalcitrant subject you mentioned?"

"She's biologically thirteen." she replies.

=====

Ashley stares at the glass in front of her, wishing she could use it as a lens to sort out these memories.

“You wouldn't ravish a helpless drunk, would you?”

Dim office. Strong spiced wine she could enjoy the smell of, even if she didn't dare drink it. Dried wildflowers and pine needles from Thessia hanging in a basket by the air vent, citrus-smoky sweetness washing away the ozone burn of biotic use, and a wastebasket full of the wrappers of eezo-infused snack bars and energy drinks.

A couch meant for laying back, for sprawling, for dangling your bare feet off the edge and waving your hands lazily as you talk.

Tevos pausing mid-sentence. Something about how it's a shame more humans can't enjoy asari liquor, or fresh food from Thessia.

The rustle of silk.

"Try these. They're safe. You trust me, right?"

Berries green as grass cradled in a delicate, midnight-blue palm with scales smooth as butter. Wanting to protest but forgetting how as a single berry was pressed to her lips, past her lips. An explosion of sugar on her tongue, chased by something sharp, like ginger.

"Meihr berries."

Whining about the cold, muttering that her omni was too far away, and joining Ashley on her couch instead.

Ashley remembers it all, but she doesn't know what it means or how how to figure this out and if she asks the one person she is sure would know, she'd die o-

"You pick at that cocktail napkin any more, I'm going to have to assume Virgin Margaritas hit you like the regular kind and cut you off," the bartender teases, crouching down to look her in the eye and tapping his finger on the pile of scraps.

Ashley grunts her frustration at being distracted from her wallowing, lowers her forehead to the bartop and flips both birds.

"Funny lady," he quips. "Want to tell me what's wrong, already?"

"No."

#teasers #my fics #Mass Effect #shiara #liara x femshep #female shepard #Liara T'Soni #femshep x liara #councilor tevos #ashley williams

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sxypigeon · 3 years

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Shepard is done with everyone's bullshit

Chapter 2 of An Extra Extended Ending

Summary: Because I hated the ending of the third Mass Effect game so much, I made my own with black jack and hookers. FemShep x Liara with damn near every character is the third game making an appearance.

Chapter 1

***

“How long until communications can reach beyond Sol?”

“It’s unclear,” the asari comm technician said hesitantly; the hum of the ship's electronics seemed to grow in the silence. “Quantum communication seems to be unsalvageable. That just leaves the Sol relay, but our latest reports indicate it sustained damage from the firing of the crucible.”

Sparatus sighed heavily and closed his eyes; this was a hollow victory until he knew the fate of Palaven. “Is there anyone working on it now?”

“No, sir. Those reports only came in minutes ago.”

“What about the team working on the crucible?” Tevos asked. “The brightest minds in the galaxy would have the best chance of fixing it – the sooner the better.” The asari councilor paced around a circular display in the middle of the CIC of the Destiny Ascension looking every bit as impatient as her turian colleague.

“They may be able to, but there is another group we would be foolish to ignore,” Valern muttered quietly, staring at the three dimensional screen, watching the number of surviving ships increase slowly as communication was reestablished ship-by-ship.

“What are you . . .” A look of alarm crossed Sparatus’ face. “No,” the turian said stiffly as he pushed himself away from the display.

“Is it really that terrifying of an idea? It’s only a matter of time before the geth come back online. If we act soon, we may be able to keep our alliance with them intact, maybe even strengthen it.” The salarian folded his arms across his chest and eyed Sparatus intently.

He narrowed his eyes. “Or they may turn on us the moment they realize they have nothing more to gain from our alliance. It’s one thing to cooperate when there is no choice, but what would be their incentive now?”

Valern shook his head condescendingly. “The geth are not as shortsighted as you think.” He brought up the pre-fight fleet numbers. “If even a fraction of their troops survived, it would be in their best interest to repair the relays,” he stated firmly, pointing at the image. “They value knowledge above all else and what better source is there than the relays?”

“This isn’t the first time we’ve come in contact with an AI species. There is too much at risk,” Tevos said quietly from across the room. “If we act quickly-”

“We’ll what? Destroy all of the units in Sol?” Valern shouted over the asari councilor. “How many more do you think are out there? We’d be risking another war - one we are ill prepared for.”

“And you want to send them to work on the relay?! What happens when they acquire the knowledge they seek? What’s to stop them from using it against the rest of the galaxy?” Sparatus marched back to the display and brought up images of the Citadel attack nearly four years earlier. “This is what will happen. They have no use for organics. They made that abundantly clear!”

The salarian councilor shook his head in frustration. “We know how persuasive the Reapers can be and yet even after being attacked by the quarians and being on the verge of annihilating them, they agreed to a truce. These are not simple machines, Sparatus!”

“Why are you so convinced?” Tevos asked suspiciously. She walked slowly around the display toward him. “You were vocally against curing the genophage, why is this different?” She fixed on him with a penetrating stare. “What aren’t you telling us?”

Valern scoffed at the accusation. “I see I’m alone in my conviction. What more can I say to either of you?” With a last impatient glare at his colleagues, the salarian turned and strode from the room. “If not as an act of the Council, then as an act of the salarian people, the geth will be brought back online!” he called back as the door closed behind him.

A tense silence followed Valern and lingered long after he left. “Do we even know if any of the science team is still in Sol?” Sparatus asked quietly while bracing himself on the terminal in front of him.

“No, but we will know soon enough,” she said before sending out the call for help.

***

Spirits, it’s a miracle she survived, the head nurse thought as he wheeled the patient out of surgery. At least it’s a bit of good news . . . Sure could use a bit more, though.

A sea of medics split to allow the turian and human through the bustling ward. Endless lines of beds on either side of the walkway were filled with too many injured, too many that would not last the next twenty-four hours. That’s not- No, I can’t think like that. There’s too much to do to focus on something so trivial. You’re in charge of this ward, damn it! You have lives to save. . .

He squeezed the gurney between two others and began setting up IVs and monitoring equipment. I need to make my rounds soon. We should be getting another shipment of refugees from the Citadel soon- He froze and stared at the patient. She’s not supposed to be waking up yet! “Ma’am, can you hear me?” he asked, staring down at her.

The woman drowsily blinked for a moment before lifting her eyes and focusing on the turian . . . and letting out a sudden, terrified scream. “AHHHH!!!”

Damn it, not again. “Ma’am, it’s okay. You’re aboard the Destiny Ascension.” Another blood-curdling scream. “Ma’am, you’re safe! You were injured-”

“Hey! That’s enough!” Both quickly looked over to the next bed and saw the occupant giving them a stern glare. “I know turians are ugly, but you’re going to make the guy self-conscious if you keep up the screaming.”

The woman stared, gaping at the other patient, long enough for the nurse to inject a sedative into her IV. “There you go, ma’am. Just relax.” They watched tensely as the woman quickly sank bonelessly back into her pillow. Finally. I’m not going to live this down any time soon, he thought as other orderlies snickered as they passed.

“So, who do I need to talk to to get out of here?” the other patient asked after a moment.

“Myself,” he said as he finished setting up the sleeping woman’s monitoring equipment. “Is there somewhere you need to be?”

“I figured you could use another empty bed.”

“What I need is for my patients to recover sufficiently, regardless of how much they think otherwise.” He walked over to the patient and looked at her chart. Human female, numerous serious burns, deep puncture wound to the right side, three fractured ribs – well this just goes on and on. “How are you feeling, ma’am?”

“Fantastic,” she said dryly inspecting the bandages on her hands and arms. “The pain meds wore off a while ago – No! No, I’m not asking for more.”

“If you need them-”

The patient shook her head. “I’m okay. I just,” she paused for a moment and chose her words carefully, “I need to be doing something. I can’t just lay here and – and think. Just give me a once over before you make me stay . . . please.”

He recognized the quiet desperation in her voice and the pleading in her eyes. “Fine.” With a healthy amount of skepticism, the turian gently unwrapped the bandages on her left arm. That can’t be right- He checked the chart again. How the hell? Humans aren’t supposed to heal this quickly. This is more in line with a krogan . . . maybe even faster.

“It’s not pretty, but it’s still better than it was before,” she said quietly, examining the slightly inflamed skin.

“Remarkable is what it is.” He unbandaged the other arm and stared in numb disbelief. “There has to be some sort of mistake in your chart-”

“I think you’ll find my side is sufficiently healed as well.”

The nurse met her piercing stare before pulling back the blanket and lifting her hospital gown. Spirits . . . this is incredible, he thought after removing the gauze. “How is this possible? Even if you spent the last six hours in a vat of medi-gel, you wouldn’t be able to heal this quickly.”

“I’m not exactly a normal human.” The ward around them moved on, unaware of the medical anomaly the head nurse was observing. “So what do you think?” she asked hesitantly.

I think the galaxy needs to study you, but . . . you don’t belong in the ICU. “I can see no justification for keeping you here, but we’re going to need to get you fed and cleaned up before you can go anywhere.” He noted the change in her status in her chart, shaking his head in disbelief as he did. “I’ll send someone over with a meal.”

“Thank you.”

He turned to leave but stopped, hesitating a moment. “Ma’am . . . everything you’ve done – everyone you’ve saved . . . there aren’t words strong enough to convey the gratitude we – I feel toward you. Thank you, Commander.”

The soldier nodded numbly, not meeting his eyes.

But it never feels like enough, he thought sadly. Stay strong, Shepard. I fear we may need you now more than ever.

***

“-he’s going-”

“No, it’s-”

“Where-”

A sharp radiating pain drilled between the exhausted asari’s eyes as distant voices became clear. “It all looks fine, no permanent damage. You are cleared for duty.”

Dr. Chakwas, the med bay. . . the crash. . . Shepard. . .

“Liara? Can you hear me?”

With an enormous effort, she opened her eyes. “Yes,” she rasped out. Her throat was so dry.

“How are you feeling?”

“Not at all well.” She rolled onto her side trying to lessen the pain.

“This should help.”

Something wonderful flowed through her veins, dulling the agony. “Where are we?” she asked tentatively.

“Armstrong nebula, but beyond that no one is sure. They say the planet is habitable though, with a breathable atmosphere and a comfortable gravity.” She helped Liara sit up and handed her a bottle of water. “Finish this and then get some rest.”

She gulped it down gratefully as worry began to sink in. “Do you know what happened to us?”

“Not really,” the doctor admitted. “Whatever that energy field was, it left no physical trace other than several cases of acute epistaxis – nosebleed.” She handed Liara another bottle of water. “Your case was a bit worse, likely due to trying to help the engineers restart the core for over an hour with your biotics.”

Liara sighed tiredly, staring at the bottle, “Not that it did any good. Have we been able to reach anyone back in Sol?”

“I’m afraid not. Specialist Traynor thinks the quantum communication network is beyond repair. We will have to rely on the relays and hope someone is out there to hear us.” The doctor let her cheery façade slip for a moment, long enough to hint at the extent of the worry she was trying to hide. It slid back into place as Chakwas laid a hand on Liara’s shoulder. “Get some rest, I’ll wake you if anything changes.”

But will it ever? she thought as she stared up at the ceiling, feeling the numbing darkness pull her back under.

***

“This has got to be the most confusing hell-hole I’ve ever been to.”

“What’s so confusing about it, Mr. Vega?” Steve Cortez asked as he finished his lukewarm MRE.

“It’s not the layout or anything like that – it’s the people.” Vega pushed himself gingerly off the cot on the floor of a mostly intact office building and pulled the bottle of water from the shuttle pilot’s hands. “Thanks, Estaban. It’s like no one can tell what they’re supposed to be feeling,” he muttered, flexing his injured leg.

Cortez took back his water and scanned the area. Roughly five miles from where the beam had been in central London, a small outpost had been hastily established to tend to the injured. Understaffed and undersupplied, it was not a place of miraculous medical operations, but a last-ditch effort to save as many survivors as possible – including James Vega. “After months of hopelessness, there is plenty to be thankful for . . . and just as much to mourn for.”

“It just feels – shit, I don’t know. Maybe it’s all of that blood I lost on the trek over here, but this just feels wrong. Javik, what’s your read on the situation?”

The prothean did not move from his meditative stance across the room. “Your species celebrates prematurely and mourns before the heaviest of losses are counted.” He paused for a moment before bowing his head slightly, “But even with these flaws, it is your cycle that stopped the Reapers – whether for good or just temporarily. That is more than what can be said of my cycle.”

“Yeah, that sounds about right,” Vega said tiredly. “Do you think – what set off the crucible?”

A sad smile pulled at Cortez’s lips, “Until I hear otherwise, I’m going to believe Shepard did.”

“I’m okay with that,” the lieutenant said as he laid back down. He was out within minutes.

“How is the human krogan?” Javik asked without moving.

Cortez rubbed his face roughly as he tried to shake the melancholy brought on by the thought of Shepard. “The medics think he’ll make it.”

“Good, our efforts dragging him here were not in vain,” the prothean said sternly. “Do not lose your determination – the fight may be over, but your people will need you and Vega.”

“That goes for you too, Javik. You’re one of us now. We aren’t about to forget what you’ve done to help us.”

Javik bowed his head in acknowledgement, but remained silent.

We’re going to need everyone, Cortez thought as he stared around the room at the other cots filled with injured soldiers. I just hope there’s enough of a galaxy left worth rebuilding.

***

“So what you’re saying is we’re screwed.”

“Not entirely,” Tali said hesitantly as Garrus and Williams stared up at the motionless mass effect core in despair. “What we’re saying is that it will take a while, a few weeks at least.”

“Assuming it’s fixable at all,” Williams said skeptically.

“I’m not saying it will be easy, Commander,” Adams said calmly, “but I think we’ll be able to get it up and running again.”

“That’s better than nothing,” Garrus offered.

Williams took a breath and nodded. “Okay, I’ll inform the crew,” she said before heading to the elevator.

“How is she doing?” Daniels asked as they all stared back at the core.

“She’s managing,” Garrus said quietly. “She still doesn’t know if she can fill the void Shepard left, but she knows she has to.”

“No one can replace Shepard, but that wasn’t ever the plan was it?” Tali asked.

“No, but it’s going to feel that way for a while – at least until we get a rhythm going,” Donnelly said. “Any luck with EDI?”

“Not yet.” Garrus headed toward the elevator. “I’ll let you know if we make contact with anyone. Let us know if there’s anything we can do topside.”

***

“Watch the right flank!” Grunt roared over the gunfire. He and his men were deep in the wards flushing out and dispatching Cerberus troops. “Take out that engineer!”

It was slow, grueling work. Street by street, building by building, the enemy was steadily falling back. They’d even managed to save a few civilians. It wasn’t their primary goal, but it did give him a sense of pride knowing he prevented someone’s death by causing another’s.

“Move up!” They were meeting fewer and fewer troops until recently, not that it bothered him. What worried him was the number of engineers they’d come across in this neighborhood. Something was brewing.

“Keep an eye out for explosives and turrets,” he growled as the last enemy fell. “Something doesn’t feel right.”

The squad moved carefully from the courtyard to the building interior. No resistance, no one at all. What are we missing? Cowards, where are you hiding?

“Let’s get out of here,” he ordered before they’d finished securing the building. “Double-time it!” This smells like a trap.

“What was that?!” one of his men yelled as the building shook violently.

Shooting out a window, Grunt bellowed, “Get out of the building NOW!” His men leaped from the window three stories up. The krogan commander followed and landed hard on the walkway below just as the building collapsed. “Those damn cowards,” he growled. “They’ll have to do better than that!”

***

I can’t wait to get off of this fucking ship. At least the food is decent – I am beyond sick of MREs. Jack checked her omni-tool for the fourth time in five minutes. What the hell is taking so long?

After arriving with an unconscious Shepard, she watched uneasily as her friend was wheeled away to surgery. The next hour was a blur of confusion, exhaustion, and anxiety. At some point she’d managed to sleep for a few hours. Now she was an irritable and short tempered ball of energy, desperate to get back to Earth and her kids.

“Keep that up and people will think you’re unbalanced,” a soft voice said behind her.

“Fuck you,” Jack said with a hint of relief. “I can’t believe they let you out. I mean – you still look like shit.”

“Thank you, Jack. You always know how to cheer me up.” Shepard sat next to the biotic with her protein bar and electrolyte drink. “What’s going on?”

“Who the fuck knows?” She stared at the table in front of her. “No communication outside of the system, Grunt is still securing the Citadel, still no word on my kids or the Normandy.”

“Earth?”

“Bits and pieces. Nothing yet on your boys in London.” She watched Shepard eat mechanically, stoic to the lack of information.

“I have to meet with the council and then after that, hopefully we can catch a shuttle back to London.”

“When’s the meeting?”

“Whenever I feel like it.”

About damn time you started telling those spineless fuckers where they can shove it. She stared at the softly glowing scars on her face and neck. Someone hasn’t been thinking happy thoughts. “So are we going to dick around here for a while to piss them off?”

She shook her head after she finished the last of the meal. “There are a few things I need to say before they start another victory tour. I’m going to need you there to keep me in check.”

A small snort of laughter escaped Jack, “You’re shitting me, right?”

Shepard stood and gave her a tight smile. “Let’s just say I’m a little short on patience at the moment.”

“Well, shit. I might have to film this.” She followed the commander with a sinister grin. “Let’s go make some councilors cry.”

***

“I don’t know what else there is to try,” Traynor said tiredly. “My expertise is on a smaller scale. I don’t know how to fix a comm problem on a galactic scale!”

Williams leaned on the terminal that had been Shepard’s in the CIC. “A galactic scale? What does that mean?”

The comms specialist ran her hands through her hair. “There are a couple of possibilities. First, we are the only survivors and that is why we haven’t reached anyone-”

“Let’s not go with that possibility.”

“Okay. Second, something is actively blocking our communications – natural or otherwise.”

“Reapers blocking communication,” the lieutenant commander said stoically.

“Or third, the mass relays are not functioning properly, due to damage or complete destruction.”

“From the crucible firing.” The CIC was silent as Williams contemplated the scenarios. “And none of these can be fixed while we’re stuck here.”

“No, ma’am.”

What are we supposed to do? What am I supposed to do?! Damn you, Shepard. It should be you here not me. “Let’s focus on the small scale then. What can we do to get the Normandy space worthy again?”

Traynor stared at the nonfunctional galaxy map as she bit her lip. “There are still several systems that haven’t come online that should have by now. There’s the exterior damage and then there’s EDI.”

“What’s the status of EDI?”

“Completely unresponsive.”

“Shit,” Williams muttered. “Do we have any idea how to get her back up?”

Traynor was silent for a moment. “I have a few ideas, but I’m not sure if they’d do any good. When Dr. T’Soni feels up to it, I’d like to get her input.”

“She was still passed out in the med bay last I checked.” She closed her eyes and let out a long breath. “Do what you can to bring up the other systems – keep me updated.”

***

“How are you holding up?”

Joker looked away from the foliage surrounding the cockpit and saw Garrus approaching. “Great,” he said sarcastically. “Crashed the ship, cracked four ribs, and my girlfriend might be dead. How about you?”

“I’m alive, that’s more than I expected to be honest.” He dropped into the seat next to the pilot. “In large part thanks to you.”

The pilot looked away. “Yeah don’t get too gushy yet. We may have to start calling this place home even if we can get the Normandy off the ground.”

“If that’s the case,” Williams said as she approached, “then I think our first priority should be finding something growing out there that can be distilled before we run out of liquor.”

“Good to know we’re on the same page,” Garrus chuckled. “I don’t suppose we know if what’s growing out there is levo- or dextro-amino based.”

“If we distill it enough it shouldn’t matter,” Joker said, staring back out at the jungle. “No protein in pure ethanol.”

Williams shared a concerned look with Garrus before speaking behind the pilot’s chair. “I’ve been talking to Traynor – she has some ideas on how to bring EDI back. Once Liara is up and about she and Traynor can start working on her.”

Joker continued staring out of the window as if he didn’t hear her. “Okay,” he finally said quietly.

***

Finally, Tevos thought as Shepard stepped through the open door. She looks much better, but are her scars glowing? “Shepard, we were beginning to worry. Who is your companion?”

The Spectre stood at parade rest in front of the asari while her comrade remained near the door. “Jack, this is the council. Councilors Tevos and Sparatus, meet Jack – a teacher at Grissom Academy. She’s here to . . . keep an eye on me while I’m recovering.”

A snort of laughter escaped the other human as she folded her arms across her chest. Shepard always did keep strange company.

“May I inquire where the salarian councilor is?” Shepard asked soberly.

“Valern has decided he would be more comfortable aboard a salarian ship,” Sparatus said stiffly. “That is part of why we needed to speak with you.”

Tevos activated the display at the center of the room showing an image of the Sol relay, it’s rings fractured and stationary. “It would seem the relays were damaged when the crucible fired. We have many of the crucible scientists working to repair it, but there’s been discussion about whether other groups should be recruited to help.”

“Why would we not ask everyone to fix it?” Shepard asked with a slight edge to her voice.

“This is the most advanced technology in the galaxy,” the turian said briskly. “In the wrong hands, this knowledge could endanger all of us.”

“So who hasn’t been invited to the party, the salarians?”

“No, the geth.”

Shepard frowned as she mauled over the information. “The geth are still alive?”

“They were never alive to begin with, Shepard. At the moment all units are offline,” Sparatus said, staring at the display. “Valern thinks they can be activated and recruited to help with repairs.”

Shepard fought to keep her face neutral. “Why not ask for their help? From where I’m standing, it looks like we could use all the help we can get. Don’t forget the rachni, they’ve also been proven to be very capable and intelligent.”

How does she not see the risks associated with her ideas? “Are you listening to a word you’re saying, Shepard? With the galaxy weakened as it is, it would take very little to change the balance of power and throw us all into another war.” Tevos turned and began to pace. “Caution is needed now more than ever,” she said as she stopped in front of the Spectre.

Shepard closed her eyes and let out a slow breath – her scars seeming to brighten as she did. “Are you suggesting we sever the alliances that we – no, what am I saying? – that I forged to win this war-”

“There’s a difference between having an alliance and handing out loaded weapons that could be pointed back at us,” Sparatus interrupted.

Despite remaining still, the marine radiated anger, enough to make the armed guards perk up. “If you intend on backstabbing your allies, then yes you will have something to worry about.”

“Commander, your vision of the galaxy is naïve,” Tevos stated impatiently. “You of all people should know what the risks associated with-”

Shepard barked out a laugh, breaking her immobile stance. She shook her head in exasperation. “I’m sorry, Councilor, but I can’t buy into the idea that I’m the naïve one. How long do you think it will take for the galaxy to find out your people have been hiding the best preserved prothean beacon in existence? Do you honestly think you will be able to remain the superior race? If it’s any comfort, I don’t think you will have to worry about the rest of the galaxy, I think your own people will be the ones to tear down your species. How many thousands of years have the asari been lied to, Councilor? Was that a risk worth taking?”

Tevos clenched her jaw as she fought her own anger. “And do you honestly think the galaxy will be better off without our guidance? Will the geth lead the way to the future or will it be the humans?” she asked acidly.

“I’d like to see what the galaxy can do together,” she said evenly. “But we can’t do that if we start severing alliances without just cause.”

Sparatus leaned over the galaxy map. “Shepard, what you’re saying is inspiring, but you can’t protect the galaxy with idealism,” he said standing beside Tevos. “The asari government will have to answer for their crimes, but what the galaxy needs now is stability . . . and someone they can stand behind-”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Shepard spat. Behind her, Jack was muttering loudly about spineless politicians. “I’m not about to smile and assure the galaxy everything is fine,” she explained as she also leaned over the map, “while you screw them over when they’re not looking.” Shepard glared at Sparatus. “If that’s what’s expected of me as a Spectre then you’ll have to accept my resignation.”

“This isn’t a matter of right or wrong, Shepard!” he said with fire in his eyes. “This is about saving our galaxy and preventing a complete collapse of the community!”

Shepard took a step back and shook her head again. “A little honesty and accountability could go a long way, Councilor. We are all vulnerable, but we have an opportunity to make all of us stronger than we were before this war!” Shepard turned back to Tevos, “The galaxy will stand behind me regardless of if you want them to or not. The question is whether you’ll be standing with us or on your own.”

The drone of the ventilation system filled the room as Shepard turned and headed to the door. “How many billions died because of the decisions you’ve made?” she asked as she paused at the door. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to-” She turned to face them. “You had four years to prepare, but none of you did a damn thing. But this guilt doesn’t just belong to either of you, though. It’s just as much mine for not doing more, for not – for not-”

“Shepard, let’s go,” Jack said quietly.

“For the sake of the galaxy, I do hope there will be a change in the balance of power.” She followed Jack out of the room without a second glance.

“That went well,” the turian muttered tiredly. “If there’s nothing else, I too would like to be with my people.” He left without waiting for a reply.

The asari councilor remained unmoving long after they left, contemplating Shepard’s words and the fate of her race. Things will never be the same again . . .

***

“They have hundreds of civilians in the buildings ahead,” the krogan scout reported to Grunt.

The commander and his men were camped out in a maintenance tunnel roughly fifteen blocks away from the Cerberus stronghold. “What defenses will we face?”

“Portable barriers and too many turrets to count. A direct approach will be nearly impossible.”

Grunt narrowed his eyes and contemplated his next move. “It looks like we’ll be needing stealth then.” Several of his men shook their heads and growled impatiently. “Complain all you want, but I can promise you we’ll kill more of them this way. These tunnels run right under them. They’ll be dead before they know we’re there. Pack it up and move out!”

The tunnels, unfortunately, were never meant to fit a krogan. Crawling on their bellies single file, the soldiers pushed the lifeless bodies of keepers from their path. The tight space was making his men agitated, something Grunt struggled with just as much. Damn those Cerberus cowards. . .

As they progressed further, voices could be heard above them. “Get those turrets up now! We’ve lost sight of the Krogans and spotted a turian cruiser near the shopping center. Where are those mechs?!”

I’m going to enjoy this. Soon voices multiplied and words became blurred – the sound of dozens of footsteps echoed down the tunnel. We must be getting close. . .

The scout signaled and the squad branched off down the numerous side passages and waited. Time to finish this.

With an angry roar the krogans sprang from the tunnels. Cerberus troops too stunned to move were quickly cut down. “No more hiding!” Grunt followed after those fleeing from the chaos.

Thick clouds of smoke flooded the building he entered, blinding him. I can still hear you, still smell your fear. Staying low, he let out an angry growl and sprinted through the fog into the nearest shooting enemy, crushing him against the wall behind him. “Who’s next?!”

As he cleared the lobby of the building more gunfire was heard outside. Those aren’t my men . . .

Turians, and lots of them, were flooding the walkways, pushing Cerberus forces back faster. Grunt growled in annoyance as he moved to the next floor. Bastards are going to have this fight finished before it gets good!

***

“That is out of the question.”

“But, Dr. Chakwas-”

“Absolutely not.”

Traynor and Liara sighed in defeat under the doctor’s stern gaze. “Can we at least inspect Glyph to see if he can be brought online?” Liara asked impatiently.

“Only if you plan on doing it here in the med bay so I can keep an eye on you,” she said shortly. “I am completely serious about not using your biotics. Twenty-four hours and not a minute less.”

“Okay then,” Traynor said hesitantly, “we can at least brainstorm about what that energy wave was.”

Chakwas shook her head tiredly, “All of the symptoms were very mild and nearly identical: loss of consciousness, headaches, and nosebleeds.”

“All electronics were rendered useless, but chemical and biological systems remained mostly unaffected,” Liara muttered thinking of the glow stick Donnelly lit in engineering before the crash landing.

“It would have to have been something mostly inert to have passed through the entire ship, but leave little damage,” the comms specialist said thoughtfully as she pulled up a chair opposite Chakwas and T’Soni.

“But everything affected by it seems to be salvageable,” Chakwas said as she examined the crew’s medical logs since the crash.

“If it is inert, then there would have to have been a lot of it.” Liara shared a look with Traynor. “You’re thinking about a wave of dark matter, aren’t you? Like a dark matter EMP?”

“Neutrinos to be specific. Dark matter alone can account for ninety-five percent of a system’s mass. Neutrinos are only formed when something expending a lot of energy happens like a supernova or a nuclear reaction-”

“Or a relay firing?”

“It would seem like a logical jump,” Traynor said with some hesitation. “It’s been observed in very low levels after a ship has used a relay.”

“So, if that’s what it was then how did it drain nearly everything of potential energy?” Liara asked, letting her head fall into her hands.

“Liara?”

“I’m fine, it’s just a headache.”

“We’re stepping well past my area of expertise.”

The bay was silent for a moment as the women thought. “I do have one rather unsettling question,” Chakwas said calmly as she put down her notes. “If we can restore function to our omni-tools and maybe even EDI, could the Reapers also be restored – assuming of course that they were affected at all? Are they simply in a state of inactivation?”

The room fell silent.

“That would also be a logical leap,” Traynor said quietly.

***

Jack glared as their shuttle veered away from their intended destination. “Shepard, this doesn’t look like Earth.”

“No, it does not. Apparently we’re having a layover at the dreadnought up ahead.” Shepard felt a chill run down her spine as the small shuttle entered the cavernous hanger. I don’t think we’ll be leaving any time soon.

“That’s one hell of a welcoming party,” Jack muttered, eying the scores of armed soldiers assembling at the landing zone. “This normal procedure or are we just special?”

“We are special,” she sighed. The shuttle door opened with a hiss as Shepard exited. Immediately the soldiers came to attention and held a salute. I am not ready to be back to this.

A lone soldier marched briskly through the ranks of the others and stopped in front of Shepard with a crisp salute. “Welcome aboard, Staff Commander Shepard.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant.” Shepard tried not to think about how much she didn’t want to be there as she returned the salute. “I asked to be taken back down to Earth. I’m a bit confused why I’m here.”

“If you’ll follow me, ma’am, Admiral Ahern will be able to answer all of your questions.”

Shepard came to a sudden stop. “Wait, wait, wait. Are you referring to Admiral Tadius Ahern of Pinnacle Station?”

“Yes, ma’am, I believe that was his previous assignment,” he said stoically as he turned and led them across the hanger.

“You want to fill me in on who this guy is?” Jack asked quietly as they neared the elevator.

“I may have . . . won the admiral’s apartment on Intai’sei in a bet a few years back.”

Jack shook her head a few times before finally saying, “Queen of the fucking girl scouts . . . Have you even set foot in the place?”

“Once,” she admitted as they entered the spacious lift. “I was a bit preoccupied with stopping a rogue spectre and his army of geth from wiping out the galaxy.” Shepard found herself syncing back up with the strict protocols usually practiced on larger ships, a long way from the casual atmosphere of the Normandy. What I wouldn’t give to be back there. . .

“Commander Shepard, it’s been a while,” the gruff admiral said as the group entered the combat information center.

“Yes it has, sir,” she said, saluting. “I see you still haven’t retired.”

“Can’t do that without a retirement home, now can I?” Ahern waited for his men to disembark before continuing. “This your protégé?”

Jack frowned, looking mildly insulted. “Hell, no.”

“She’s a friend,” Shepard said with a grin. “I don’t mean to sound rude, Ahern, but why the hell am I here?”

The older man chuckled and motioned them to follow him. “With Admiral Hackett beyond Sol and Admiral Anderson deceased – a great man, the galaxy is a worse place without him – I am the highest ranking officer. It’s my job to make the big decisions.”

Shepard nodded silently, her throat suddenly unbearably tight.

“I’ve been contacted by the salarian councilor,” he continued. “It seems he wants our help with a project.”

“I’m guessing it has to do with the geth,” Jack said dryly.

“That it does. Not long after the crucible fired and we restarted the systems on the ship, we began sending ships out to retrieve as many alliance fighters as we could before the poor bastards suffocated. Some of our ships also brought back geth fighters. I’m thinking we must have over a hundred of them in the hangar wherever we could find room.”

“Are any of them online?” Shepard asked. They came to a platform overlooking the entire CIC as well as one hell of a view of Earth from the enormous widows ahead of them.

“They weren’t initially,” he said leaning on the railing. “I had some of our techs try to jump start them, but it’s a slow process. We are able to bring up basic processes, though.” He paused, rubbing the stubble on his jaw. “The problem is what happens if we can’t bring them back online completely. And now I’ve got the salarians breathing down my neck demanding access to them, but I’m not entirely sure if their interest in them is honorable.”

Shepard stared out the windows at Earth, feeling a wave of grief washing over her. “You want to help them, but don’t trust the salarians.”

“Organic or not, they came to our aid. Hell, I’m thinking of commissioning a memorial for them in London,” he said wearily with a bit of humor.

“And that’s why I always liked you, sir.”

“That’s touching, but I was hoping for a bit more feedback than that.”

She closed her eyes and took a long breath before answering. “What I know is that the turians and asari would rather leave the geth as they are.” Shepard shook her head sadly. “I haven’t spoken with the salarian councilor since shortly after firing the crucible, but I think you have good reason to hesitate.”

“I should have kicked his ass while I had the chance,” Jack muttered. “The prick wouldn’t stop going on about how saving Shepard’s life was a waste of time.”

“What stopped you?” Ahern asked, grinning.

“I was too busy fixing his and everyone else’s fucking omni-tools.”

“Shame. So what is your official recommendation, Commander?”

“For now,” she said after a moment, “allow them hands-off access. Be open to consultations, but have your men continue to take the lead on this. I’ve never known Councilor Valern to offer assistance out of the kindness of his heart.”

“That is as good of a plan as any.” He signaled one of his men to meet them. “Lieutenant Riley will show you to the armory and also get you fitted for a set of armor. There’s no telling what the situation down there is like with most of the comms down. It was good seeing you, Shepard, and meeting your protégé. Stay safe.”

Jack flipped him off before following Shepard.

***

Notes: Thanks for reading! I planned on adding more, but I forgot this existed for a few years and then lost the second half of this chapter. I'll see if I can track it down. :P

#mass effect #commander shepard #femshep x liara #liara t'soni #femshep

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