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MASS EFFECT 3 EP.: CODA Ch. 20, FADE AWAY

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"MASS EFFECT 3 EPILOG:  CODA" by Charles Spencer

Chapter 20:

"FADE AWAY"


1

The day Mary and Liara Shepard returned from their honeymoon, a communication was sent to the high command of the Earth Systems Alliance.


  Admiral Steven Hackett answered, and was happy to see who called him on the vidscreen.  "Commander Shepard!  I see, ah, the new Mrs. Shepard is with you, too!"

  Liara Shepard smiled with her husband Mary and nodded gently in response.  "Good evening, Admiral!"

  Mary Shepard said, "Admiral, I need to apologize for being...well, indisposed for a while."

  "No apologies are necessary, Shepard.  The war is long over, and you more than anyone deserves a furlough.  By the way, one of your crew recorded your wedding and Kahlee sent it to me.  You both have my deepest congratulations and best wishes for the future."

  Liara said, "Thank you, Admiral.  That means more than you know."

  Mary's smile began to falter...her expression became more serious as she spoke.  "Admiral Hackett...I needed to talk to you about the future, because you have a huge part in deciding what our future will be."

  Hackett frowned.  "What do you mean, Shepard?  If you want to talk about a promotion in rank, that's a foregone conclusion.  After you come back to Earth space, I'd intended to -- !"

  "Sir."  Mary Shepard's interruption was gentle, but it was the expression in her eyes that made Hackett pause.  The savior also was silent, but only for a fleeting moment.  She was gathering the strength to say what she did next:  "It's my intention to request I be discharged from the Alliance Navy.  I want -- I need to stay here.  To help my wife raise our family."

2

  For a moment, Hackett had trouble absorbing Mary's request.  In fact, he needed to be sure...  "Shepard...you want to leave the Navy...?"

  The savior of the galaxy nodded deeply, her beautiful face solemn.  "Yes, sir.  This is so much more difficult for me to ask than you know.  The Navy has been all I've known my entire adult life.  But for my wife and our unborn child, that has to change.  I need to devote myself to them...but I can't do that and serve the Alliance.  I'd be asked to put my duty before my family's needs all the time, and that's unacceptable to me.  I know many officers have successfully built families in spite of their obligations, but that doesn't matter.  I need more than that, and I don't have to explain why."

  Hackett considered Mary and the weight of her words for a moment.  Then:  "For argument's sake, Shepard, perhaps you should explain.  If anyone can have a family and serve the Alliance, I know you have the drive and ability to make it happen -- "

  "I'm not so sure I have that drive anymore, Admiral.  If I did, if I was sure, we wouldn't even be asking what I am of you.  But I'm not.  I told you not long ago that I was tired, and I meant it.  You asked so much of me, and I gave...at one point, I honestly had to give my life.  I never had any difficulty with that because my duty was all I had to define me, but that's changed."  Mary glanced at her loving wife as they held hands.  "I'm about to be a parent...my wife is going to give us a daughter, sir.  If I'm going to give anything more, it'll be for the sake of my family."

  "Shepard..."

  "Admiral, you know I never had parents.  I have never known what it means to truly have a family, and that's going to change.  Finally, that's going to change.  For my wife and daughter, I need to ask for this discharge to devote myself to them for the forseeable future."

  Hackett arched an eyebrow.  "The 'forseeable' future...?"

  "I don't intend to divorce myself from the Alliance and the rest of the galaxy entirely.  I am still a warrior, sir...I'm a soldier in my heart and soul and if I'm needed again, if another threat like the Reapers plagues us again, I will answer to my responsibilities.  I'm simply asking for the chance, however long or short it may be, to answer to my duty to my wife and to the children we'll bear.  I'm asking this so I have the chance to do my part as a parent right."

  The Admiral looked at Shepard thoughtfully.  "And you intend to retire to the world the Normandy found in order to do that?"

  Mary nodded.  "Yes, sir.  And not just because Tranquility is far enough removed physically from galactic civilization, so we can have the solitude we need."

  "Tranquility?"

  Liara said, "The rest of my husband's crew left it to her to name this virgin world, Admiral, and she has named it Tranquility."

  Mary offered, "Enough scans and surveys were done to determine Tranquility is as stable and ideal a garden world as can be imagined, sir.  In fact, a low-impact colonization of this world can proceed at any time."

  Hackett said, "I didn't know you had knowledge of colonization procedures and standards to make that kind of call, Shepard."

  Mary said, "No, but I know someone else who does, Admiral."  She looked off-screen for a moment, and then two more women entered the frame.

  They were Miranda and Oriana Lawson.  Miranda said, "Hello again, Admiral Hackett."

  Oriana nodded deeply.  "Admiral."

  Hackett smiled.  "Miranda.  Oriana.  I do know that one of you has been studying colony management and procedures."

  He referred to Oriana, who said, "Yes, sir, I have.  Everything Commander Shepard said about this world is true, sir, and with your permission, I'm more than ready to begin overseeing development of a colony on Tranquility.  The fact Mary, Liara and their family will call it home as well can be...ah, incidental, sir."

  Mary added, "And I have the fullest confidence in Oriana's knowledge and abilities, Admiral."

  Hackett thought for a moment, and said, "As much as I'd like to accomodate your ideas, the Alliance and most every civilization in the galaxy is being pulled in a hundred different directions already simply to healing and rebuilding.  We can't spare a lot of resources to building a new colony right now."

  Mary said, "Actually, the resources are already on hand with us, sir.  Remember what the Yosemite was already carrying before it was reassigned to my command?"

  "Fifty colony modules, if I remember correctly."

  Oriana Lawson quickly said, "That would be more than enough to establish the minimum requirements for a viable colony.  And I know enough to point out that colonies have been established on less hospitable planets, sir."

  Liara offered, her expression hopeful, "This colony would be perfect for a young family that needs peace and time to grow as well, Admiral.  It's our hope you agree...?"

  Hackett couldn't help but smile again.  "I understand, Liara...and I do agree."  His eyes fixed on Mary Shepard.  "You seem to have things thought out well, Commander.  Considering everything I owe you, and more than that what the galaxy owes you, I'm ready to help you make anything you'd ever want a reality.  However.  It's the rest of the galaxy and how they feel about you that must be factored into this."

  Mary nodded wearily.  "I know.  They're calling me The Shepard, because they see me as their savior and leader.  They'll look to me for strength, for guidance, and so much more.  More than that, they believe in me.  I'd never be left alone."

  Hackett considered all of that, and mused, "A very long time ago in Earth's history, there was another who was called a shepard of the people.  Unfortunately, he had to get put on a cross and die for our sins.  If you stayed with the Alliance, Shepard, I'd help make sure you'd have a buffer of a thousand bureaucrats to shield you in one way or another from any would-be acolytes and worse, any opportunists.  But even if you retire from the Earth Systems Alliance Navy, it wouldn't matter where you went to give yourself and your family any peace.  As you said, you'd never be left alone."  He reflexively frowned as he added, "Unless, of course, you died again..."

  But what Hackett had meant to be an offhand comment was latched onto instantly by Mary Shepard the moment she heard it.  She looked excited as she smiled and declared, "That's a great idea, Admiral!"

  Hackett blinked.  "I beg your pardon -- ?!"

  Mary looked at Liara again, and her wife also visibly liked the idea.  "It's the only way we'd be truly left alone...if you reported I was killed in action, sir.  Maybe a few days from now, you can report I died in an accident during a shuttle flight -- !"

  Hackett suddenly said loudly, "Slow down, Commander!  You do realize what you're asking...?"

  Mary nodded deeply.  "Absolutely, sir."

  "I-I can't just -- !"

  Mary asked simply, "Why not, Admiral?"

  "But..."  And then, really thinking about it, he had to look within himself to find an answer!  Hackett finally said, "Well, didn't you say you'd return to duty if you were needed again...?"

  Mary said, "And I will, sir.  I'd return covertly, clandestinely, to help the Alliance and our allies on the frontlines, where I'd be needed the most.  The galaxy doesn't need to know I'm alive.  And if they do find out...well..."

  Miranda Lawson said, with a small smile, "Mary did die once before.  It will not surprise anyone to hear The Shepard came back from the dead again, Admiral."

  Hackett nodded.  "You have a point, Miranda."

  Mary Shepard looked at Hackett, her eyes entreating.  "I'm not asking for a goodbye, sir, not one that would be permanent.  I'm just asking for the time to rest and give myself to my family.  Please, Admiral."

  A long moment passed...and Admiral Steven Hackett finally said, "You're asking for the chance to find your own happiness, Shepard.  If this galaxy owes you anything, it's the chance to do just that...and I'll give you what you want.  I hope for your family, for all of our sakes, the next crisis will never ever happen."

3

  Mary Shepard thought it strange that in a few days, she'd die...at least, as far as the rest of the galaxy knew.  It would take some time to get used to the fact, even though it was necessary to have her peace with Liara and their family on Tranquility.  Later that day on the Yosemite, given a quiet moment, she made another very important call.

  When Shepard saw the image of the woman she wanted to talk to, she couldn't help but smile.  "Hello, Kate.  It's been too long."

  Kate Bowman, citizen of the Human colony on Terra Nova, smiled brightly back.  "Commander Shepard!  I-it's so good to see you!"

  "It's great to see you too, Kate.  How are you?"

  Full of gratitude, Kate couldn't help but answer, "I'm okay.  The galaxy is okay because of you!  I know none of us can ever thank you enough for all you've done...!"

  Mary then gently interrupted, "Kate...I called you to let you know something important.  I owed you so much, and I can finally tell you it's over."

  Kate's smile faltered a little.  "Commander...?"

  The savior said quietly, "Less than a week ago, I fought Balak.  He's dead, Kate.  Your brother can rest easy now."

  Just like that, Kate Bowman remembered the chaos and pain she suffered when Balak's forces attempted to use the asteroid X-57 to annihilate the Terra Nova colony of Scott.  Shepard saved the colony and most of those on the asteroid, but too many innocents died in spite of her efforts.  Kate's brother was one of them.  The loss still weighed on Kate heavily as her expression conveyed the elemental loss that would never truly fade away.  At first, the woman managed, "You...you got Balak..."  Shepard could only nod, and Kate Bowman broke into grateful tears.  "Oh Commander, thank you...oh, thank you...!"

  Mary felt sudden sadness, as well...this was the last time she would ever talk to Kate.

4

  It didn't take long to assemble the crew of the Normandy and all of her loved ones in the wrecked ship's CIC, and she told them she was staying on Tranquility with Liara, to help begin a new colony.  She also told them of how Hackett would soon declare her dead, at least officially.  Most were stunned by the news, but they also understood the savior's need to know some peace of her own with her family.  Mary also made the offer that any who wished to stay and help build the colony could...but such an offer couldn't be answered immediately, or lightly.  They had about a month to think it over before the local space was open to the relay network again.

5

  The next day, Mary went to find Jack, who had been very quiet since her announcement.  The soldier found the young Biotic sitting back against the trunk of a great tree, her lithe form blanketed by gentle shade.  Jack had a soft frown on her face.  Mary approached her slowly and said, "Jack?  Are you all right?"

  As she looked into space, Jack said, "I'm okay, Shepard."  Then the tattooed beauty looked at Mary with a smirk.  "Worrying about me again?"

  Mary stopped and smiled at the girl.  "Nope...just asking."

  Jack's eyes shifted...they became serious.  "So you're gonna stay here, huh?"

  "Yeah.  I have to, for my family."

  "You already told us why, Shepard.  I know you're gonna make a great parent."  Jack laughed softly as she said, "I know you tried to be my mom enough times."

  "Do you still have a problem with that?  All I ever wanted was for you to be better, Jack."

  Jack's smile was soft yet honest when she said, "I am.  I'm all right, really."

  They were silent for a beat.  Then Mary asked, "What will you do?"

  Jack thought about it, and looked away from Mary.  "I...I've got no idea what to do next.  Honestly...I..."

  Mary sat on her knees on the cool jade grass as she looked at Jack softly.  "Go on.  Tell me how you feel."

  Jack suddenly said defensively, "I've done that enough times, thanks!"  But then, her expression softened again.  "It's just...without you, I wouldn't know what to do next.  I can't go back to being what I was.  You honestly changed me."

  Mary shook her head.  "No, Jack.  You changed because you wanted to change.  I just wanted to help you find some peace."

  Jack smiled.  "You did, Shepard...and somebody else helped me with that, too."

  "Who?"

  The young Biotic suddenly declared, "Uh-uh!  Let a girl keep a few secrets, huh?"

  "Okay."

   Jack's eyes shifted in tone again...to something needful.  She said quietly, "I was just fine teaching kids at Grissom Academy with Kahlee, you know?  But ever since you dropped back into my life...I didn't realize how much I missed you."  She added with a quiet tone, "I have gotten so used to being with you, Shepard."

  Mary offered, "You know you can stay here, Jack.  Until you figure out what you want, nothing says you can't stay here.  It's a truly peaceful place."

  Jack looked at the savior.  "You want me to be here...?"

  Mary nodded.  "And you can do anything you want here, you know?  If you still want to teach Biotics, there's nothing that says you can't teach them here...!"  She suddenly stopped herself, and they both looked at each other for a very quiet moment.  Mary smiled and said, "What matters is what you want, Jack.  That will never change.  I promise."  Mary then stood and said, "It's going to be weeks before this part of the galaxy is open to the Relay network again.  You have plenty of time to think about it."

  Then, a bit awkwardly, Mary walked away.

  Jack looked in the direction the savior left for a long time.

6

  Private moments...not much longer afterward.

  Under the low, intimate lights of a bedroom, he felt her fear.  His voice sought to soothe her.  "I swear I won't hurt you.  I'd die before I hurt you."

  She spoke with a soft tremor in her voice:  "I know.  I'm not afraid...I mean, I'm scared out of my mind, but not because of you."

  "What's wrong?"

  Her posture shifted defensively as she wrapped her arms around herself.  "This isn't just my first time taking this suit off.  It's the first time I...I..."

  She didn't have to say anymore.  He realized and said quietly, "Oh."

  "For the longest time, my people had to follow the strictest procedures just replacing our suits' waste storage pods!  Humans say they're taught 'the birds and the bees' when they're kids.  What the hell made them call sex something like that?"

  He shrugged.  "I'm not Human, so don't ask me."

  Her voice became quieter, yet still full of nervousness, as she spoke.  "When I was taught about sex at a younger age...well, it's embarrassing how many precautions I had to memorize.  So I thought, why run the risk of having sex if one slip-up can get me infected and kill me?  It helps I never met anyone who made me want to have sex...until recently..."

  He smiled gently, truly honored by her sentiment, and he offered, "You don't have to worry about such a thing anymore...you know that, right?"

  She said quickly, "I know!  I know.  It's just so...new."

  "I'll be gentle.  I promise."

  "Thank you."  He had taken off his clothes just before, and she couldn't help but stare as her defenses lowered.  "You do look so delicious without your battle armor."

  "I'm eager to see what you look like, darling."  A quiet beat, as he was elementally patient.  For her.  "Are you sure I'm not scaring you?"

  A silent moment, and she finally said, "You couldn't scare me.  But...I am scared of being...truly naked.  I may disappoint you."

  He looked at her and said, with perfect certainty, "No.  You won't."  He regarded her with a primal longing and said, "I love you, Tali."

  Her bright eyes softened behind the glass that covered her face.  "Oh, Garrus...and I love you."

  Slowly, tentatively, the young Quarian took her suit off...he watched, entranced.

  Then she was before him, naked, and to him her beauty was perfect.  He managed to breathe, "Spirits..."

  All that happened next would only be between them...and it was amazing.

7

  One of those who finally told Mary she couldn't stay was Justicar Samara.  They walked together, not far from the wreckage of the Normandy, a few days after the announcement was made by the high command of the Earth Systems Alliance that Commander Shepard had passed away.  But Samara considered the savior, still very much alive, and she said, "The galaxy will truly lose so much of its brightness without you, Shepard."

  Mary grinned.  "Oh, the galaxy will get along just fine without me.  It did before the Reapers arrived, and it will now that they're gone."

  "Until new monsters rise to threaten the innocent.  I pray for you and your wife's happiness you shall only know peace."

  "Thank you.  Samara..."

  "You wish to speak to me again about what I will do next.  Or, to be more precise, what you believe I should do next."

  Mary said, "I wasn't trying to tell you what you ought to do with your life from here, my friend.  I sure as hell wasn't trying to tell you to stop being a Justicar, I promise you."

  "I know."  Samara stopped, and Mary quickly did, as well.  The Justicar looked at the savior and said, "However...?"

  Mary frowned.  "However...I can't help but think there's someone out there who needs you so much more than your people need order and justice.  I'm about to become a parent, and that just makes what I want to say -- what I tried to say to you before -- even more relevant."

  Samara looked at the Human with sudden, uncharacteristic unease.  "Mary..."

  Mary drew closer to the Asari.  "Samara.  You have been a dear friend to me, and I love you too much not to tell you what I feel.  If you don't want me to tell you these things, just say 'stop', and I swear I will.  But I feel you need to hear this.  Please."

  Quietly, almost reluctantly, Samara finally said, "Very well."

  Mary crossed her arms under her breasts as she regarded Samara.  Then she began...  "My people believe, when you scrape away everything else about our society, the one elemental thing that matters to us above everything is family.  Being here for my wife and daughter means more than I could ever, ever put into words.  It means more than even the life I chose for myself as a soldier."

  "Mary..."

  "I know the Asari hold family just as precious, dear friend.  One of your peoples' philosophers once said, 'A living being's soul may be elusive, but their heart can be found with those bonded to them in blood.'  Being a Justicar is what you want to be, Samara, but I've always felt your sadness.  I can imagine you've never been happy since you -- "

  Samara suddenly turned away from Mary...her posture was rigid.  The Human's words were already causing her so much pain, bringing back the wounds of her memories.  Of her three daughters.  Rila, Falere and Morinth.  All had been born Ardat-Yakshi.

  The Justicar's lips trembled as she remembered.  Once, Ardat-Yakshi were pure mythology, known as 'demons of the night winds'.  But...Samara illuminated for Shepard during their hunt for the Collectors that the Ardat-Yakshi were very real, victims of 'a unique genetic condition rare among Asari', in the Justicar's words.  Such Asari, during the act of sex, overpower and burn out the nervous system of their mate, whether that mate is Asari or not.  The Ardat-Yakshi experiences an ecstacy far beyond even the phenomenon of Heaven's Haze...as the mate dies.

  That ecstacy is narcotic to Ardat-Yakshi, and if they are strong they can resist becoming addicted to such...if they are not, they become predators, chasing after the next ecstatic experience by killing another victim during sex, and they repeat the process for as long as the hunger burns in them.  And if an Ardat-Yakshi does not wish to be cured, the addiction stays with them for their millenium-long lifespan.  The worst part of it all was that, strictly speaking, there was no such thing as a cure for such a condition.

  Samara's three daughters became Ardat-Yakshi...two of them, Rila and Falere, voluntarily isolated themselves in a remote Asari monastery to know peace and divorce themselves from society, reduce the chances to nil they could ever threaten anyone.  But Morinth was very different:  she became a fugitive, a predator, a serial murderer who hunted her prey in answer to her addiction to the ecstacy of killing her mates.  Samara became a Justicar in the first place to hunt down and stop Morinth, one way or the other.  Four centuries after she began her hunt, Samara and Shepard tracked Morinth to Omega and lured her into a trap...and because of Shepard's help, Samara killed her dark daughter for the sake of justice for her victims, and so she would never prey upon anyone else.

  The pain of murdering one of her own daughters had to be horrible enough for Samara, no matter how necessary it was.  But during the galaxy-wide war against the Reapers, the Asari were deliberately targeted for conversion into Husk-type creatures called Banshees that would answer to their artificially-created masters.  Indeed, the enemy targeted a certain monastery in Asari space.  Shepard's squad met up with Samara again to save her surviving daughters...but while they could save her youngest child, Falere, Rila sacrificed herself to destroy the enemy in a last, brave act of independence.  The scars of losing two of her children, one by her own hand and another to monsters, was a burden that weighed terribly on Samara as she remembered...her voice shook as she tried to speak.  "Shepard, I...I-I cannot -- !"

  "You need to hear this, Samara.  I'm not saying these things to hurt you, and I'm not telling you what to do.  You know that.  If you felt differently, you would have said stop before now!"  Mary drew close to Samara as she looked away.  "Will you?"  For a long moment, only silence was her answer.  "I don't have to guess I'm telling you things you've already thought of a thousand times...hell, a million times since you became a Justicar."

  "I..."  Samara couldn't look at Mary as her shoulders began to tremble.

  Mary regarded the Justicar sadly.  "It must have felt like your heart got torn out when you found out your daughters were Ardat-Yakshi...when they were taken away from you.  That was terrible enough, but I can only imagine other things.  I can imagine...you blamed yourself for what happened."

  Samara slowly spoke then...and her voice was desolate as she looked away from Mary, full of pain.  "When...when my mate and I were told that...our daughters were Ardat-Yakshi...  We both blamed ourselves.  Wh-who else could we blame, Shepard?  But their father...couldn't live with the guilt."  Her voice broke as she said at last, "She killed herself..."

  Tears welled in Mary's eyes.  "Samara..."

  The Justicar finally turned to look at Mary, and she was crying openly.  Her very being began to tremble...  "And so...I-I sought to atone in a different way after Morinth escaped.  I devoted my life to the code of the Justicars.  I had to pay penance for the curse our children were born with...I-I-I had to pay for not being there...f-for my mate..."  Samara issued a short cry and broke down completely, unable to look at Mary as she wept.

  Mary slowly closed the distance between them and gently took Samara's hands in hers.  The savior cried as well as she looked upon this brave yet broken warrior.  "Samara...dear friend...haven't you paid enough of a penance?"

  The Justicar's expression became one of someone...lost.  "I...I do not know.  I truly don't."

  The Human's touch never stopped being anything less than gentle, loving, as she looked into the Asari's eyes.  "I never asked you to stop being a Justicar, Samara.  I won't ask that now.  But it isn't too late for you to find happiness again.  And you can find it with your family...with your daughter.  I know you can.  I've met Falere, remember?  I know how much she loves you.  It isn't too late for you to be a mother.  And make no mistake, you are worthy of being a mother."

  Samara's eyes were wide, unsure.  "You...you truly think so?"

  "I believe that with all my heart, dear friend.  I swear."

  A long, quiet moment later, Samara nodded.  Her voice was hopeful:  "Then...then perhaps I can believe that, as well."

  Mary Shepard and Samara held one another then, feeling each other's warmth in the quiet of the wilderness.

  Then...Samara almost whispered, "I...I must confess something to you, dear friend.  I lied to you before."

  Mary heard those words, and she smiled a little as she held the Justicar.  "If you lied to me about anything, it doesn't matter.  It can't be anything important, can it?  I mean, it can't be important now...?"

  Samara pulled back a little so they could look at one another.  "I lied to you, and I hated to do so.  You are the best friend I have ever known, and I did you wrong to be dishonest.  You deserve the respect of my telling you the truth."

  Mary's eyes became troubled...there was such an ominous tone in Samara's words.  "What do you mean?  Tell me the truth about what?"

  Samara's eyes were full of shame as she looked upon Mary...and then she found the strength to speak:

  "On Omega, when we confronted Morinth...you must remember she claimed to be 'the genetic destiny of the Asari'.  I know I need not remind you of that, or that I dismissed her words afterwards as an attempt to preserve her own life."  Mary nodded.  Samara's voice deepened with sadness as she continued.  "But Morinth was telling the truth.  In the most elemental of respects, she did represent what all Asari will one day become."

  As she held Samara, Mary suddenly knew dread.  She said softly, "To be Ardat-Yakshi isn't some abberation...it's the next stage of your race's evolution.  Isn't it?"

  Slowly, regretfully, Samara nodded.  "It was a discovery made a few thousand years ago, and only the Justicars and the Matriarchs have been entrusted to not simply keep that information, but keep it hidden from our own people.  If our race procreated exclusively with our own kind for four generations or more, the next generation to be born would be Ardat-Yakshi.  As time has passed, the passage of pure Asari generations to becoming Ardat-Yakshi has reduced, which is testament alone that all Asari are destined to become so.  Now it can sometimes take only two generations of such breeding, and in rare cases...only one."  She sighed deeply as she confessed, "My mate and I were both from families of three generations of pure Asari genes.  Even if I had known the truth then, hundreds of years ago, I would have thought it safe for us to have children.  But I would have been wrong."

  Mary immediately understood so many things then, prominent among them...  "That's why your culture frowns upon Asari mating with one another.  Liara told me there was such a social stigma regarding 'purebloods' like her..."

  "Yes.  While the truth could not be made known to our society, those in power who did know could at least...incline our people against mating with one another.  The randomizing of our genetic code with those of non-Asari races, in fact, is the one proven way to eliminate any chance that any new Asari born would be Ardat-Yakshi, as well."

  Mary was silent for only a beat before she thought of something else.  "You said it wouldn't be a destiny for your people at all if Morinth was right.  But she was.  Tell me this.  Can Ardat-Yakshi...prey upon each other?  Would it be possible for your race to procreate, even if...?"

  Samara looked down and almost whispered, "Yes.  If our race took such a dark path, we would have nothing to fear from one another.  Sex would not be fatal to one mate or the other if both were Ardat-Yakshi.  We could even continue to have children.  We would continue to thrive, but undoubtedly at the possible cost of non-Asari who might be preyed upon by...by us."

  Mary could only ask, "Samara, why can't Thessia's leaders trust their own society to know and accept what you're telling me...?"

  Samara mournfully said, "Mary, I am telling you that my sisters are destined one day to evolve into predators!  Monsters like the vampires of your world's mythology!  You saw how twisted and amoral Morinth was -- !"

  Mary quietly countered, "I also saw how courageous and strong Falere and Rila were, Samara."

  The Justicar relaxed slightly in Mary's arms.  "Regardless.  As your people say, Mary, ignorance is bliss.  If our leaders divulged the truth, the upheaval it would cause our society would change everything."

  "That's what the Matriarchs and those among your order believe, Samara.  What do you think?"

  "I..."  Samara was at a loss.  "I truly do not know."

  Mary was silent for a moment before she spoke.  "I don't know what to think either, Samara.  I can't tell you what should or shouldn't be done.  I sure as hell can't look into the future and tell you whether telling all Asari the truth about themselves would be a mistake or not.  You fear all Asari will one day become like Morinth, predators compelled by their need to prey upon others, right?"  Samara nodded...and Mary smiled a little.  "And you can't have any faith that instead they will become disciplined enough to rise above their hunger, live their lives in respect for all life, like Falere and Rila?"

  Samara was silent for a long moment before she said softly, "I want to have faith they will, Mary."

  Mary Shepard said, "Me, too.  Samara...if you want me to keep this secret, I will.  If it means that much, I promise this will only be between us.  But I also have to tell you this:  one way or the other, sooner or later, all secrets have to come into the light.  The Matriarchs kept their hidden Prothean beacon secret for the sake of technological advantage, and we all saw how that nearly led to disaster.  What the Asari will become one day is being kept secret because you and the Matriarchs fear what could happen.  I can't help but ask, what good will come keeping the truth from your society?  Nothing will stop evolution, Samara, and it won't stay secret forever.  You have to know that."  The savior smiled softly and said, "The Asari are a much, much nobler and advanced race than mine, but there's one thing your people and Humans have in common:  nobody's perfect.  For every Rial there must eventually be a Morinth, just as there is good and evil among my people.  One day, you need to find the strength to trust your sisters...trust that they will take the truth of where they are going and that they will reach that destination with wisdom and honor."

  Samara smiled a little, as well.  "You are presuming that the Matriarchs can one day muster such strength, you know?"

  Mary shrugged.  "Hey, a girl can hope."  After a beat, the Human added gently, "I promise I won't share this with anyone else, on my honor.  But you had better at least try to be a mother to Falere.  Okay?"

  Samara truly smiled then, and warmly.  "You need not make such an oath, dear friend.  I will trust in you forever, just as you can trust me to keep your secret, always."  Samara kissed Mary and promised, "And I will try...for my daughter."

8

  Another point of time.  Many had decided to stay to establish the colony, among them Samantha Traynor and the love of her life, Gabby Daniels.  Samantha spoke to two more comrades who had decided to stay.  She asked one of them, "Are you sure you want to stay too, Jeff?  I know how much you love to fly..."

  Jeff 'Joker' Moreau was there with EDI, holding her hand, as he shook his head and smiled.  "I've had two great ships torn out from under me in spite of myself, Samantha.  Chances are if that happens a third time, I won't be so lucky to live through it!  And I've pushed my luck enough...for now, anyway!"  He looked at his lover and said, heartfelt, "It means everything you want to stay with me, EDI."

  EDI nodded deeply.  "I love you, Jeff.  My place is and shall always be with you, no matter what you do.  Also, I must stay for practical reasons."

  Samantha gave her a curious look.  "Practical...?"

  But Joker knew exactly what the synthetic being meant, and he tried to reassure, "EDI, they're changing the laws against unshackled A.I.'s across the galaxy, remember?  You wouldn't get in trouble going back to Earth space!"

  "I doubt the changes being made includes retroactively forgiving rogue A.I. like myself who existed for years.  And then there is my unusual history with the Alliance military."


  Joker said, "Darlin', Shepard said she could straighten all of that out if you wanted -- !"

  EDI gently squeezed his hand.  "But I do not want that.  Jeff, it means everything for me to be with you, as well."  She gave him a knowing smile then.  "Consider what I said before an excellent excuse to do so."

9

  Another random moment.  The door opened, and Miranda Lawson looked inside.  "Oriana?"

  As Oriana Lawson sat on the bed she and Miranda shared in their quarters, working on a datapad, she looked up and smiled brightly.  "Hi!  Don't mind me, I'm still finalizing what the colony will need in terms of outside resources.  Along with how often we'll need those resources shipped, how much, and so on and so on."

  Miranda entered, and the door softly closed.  She said flatly, "Sounds terribly exciting."

  Oriana almost laughed.  "Honestly, it is.  It's a big challenge to administrate a new colony and get it going.  I know I'm ready for it."

  "I know it too, dear sister."  She sat next to Oriana and looked upon her lovingly.  "I'll stay with you for as long as you need me, as well.  Or for as long as you want me."

  Oriana's expression became softer as she sat her datapad on her lap and focused on her twin.  "Good...because I won't be doing this forever.  In fact, in a few years, I want to move on to something else even more important to me.  When the time comes, Doctor Chakwas, Samantha Traynor or Gabby Daniels would be excellent candidates to fill my role as administrator."

  Miranda gave her a look.  "What could be more important to you, Ori?"

  "Who, actually."  She reached out and took her twin's hand.  "Miranda...I love you so much.  I love you more than life itself."

  Miranda's feelings for her twin were mutual and elemental.  "I love you, too.  You're everything to me, dear sister."

  "I know you want to get back to what you do best one day.  And I don't mean your scientific pursuits."

  Miranda frowned a little.  "What do you mean?"

  "You know what, dear sister.  I'm talking about what you learned working for Cerberus.  Your skills in military combat and both gathering intelligence and counterintelligence.  You told me more than once how exciting it was, Miranda, and I can sense how restless you already are."

  Miranda visibly flinched and looked down.  "I...tried not to be obvious, blast it.  I'm sorry."

  Oriana gave her a perfect smile.  "Why are you apologizing?  It's part of who you are."

  "Oriana, I do want to stay with you.  I was serious about that -- !"

  "I know."

  They gazed at each other solemnly...Miranda said, "You're all the family I have left, as well.  But...I do want to get back to such things one day.  Use those skills for positive ends instead of for Cerberus."

  Oriana nodded.  "You'd do so much good for the Alliance and the other Council worlds.  I know it."

  Miranda shook her head.  "But Ori, what do I have to do with what you want to do next?"

  Oriana answered simply, "I want to join you, Miranda.  I want to work with you."

  "What...?  You have no idea how dangerous that kind of work can be!"

  Steadfast, her twin said, "I want to know.  I want you to teach me everything you know."

  Miranda didn't quite expect this.  For so long, she had sought to keep Oriana and her adopted family (when they were alive) safe from any threat...especially, unfortunately, from their father.  And now her twin wanted to follow her into activities that were, to say the least, incredibly high-risk.  Taken aback, Miranda asked, "W-why?"

  Ori answered, "Because you're my hero, dear sister.  You're a great woman in all of the ways I always wanted to be."

  Miranda glanced away, self-conscious.  She thought she didn't deserve such words.  "You'd call me a great woman...?"

  Oriana said softly but earnestly, "I wouldn't call you that if it wasn't true."

  "But what about what you want, Ori -- ?"

  "This is what I want, Miranda.  The more I think about it, the more it feels so right.  I want to be exactly like you in every way possible.  We are twins, remember?"

  "I remember, but -- !"

  "'But' what?"

  For a long moment, Miranda was silent.  Then she suddenly burst out in sunny laughter, struck by the irony of it all.  Miranda looked at her twin lovingly and said, "It's funny...for the longest time, a part of me has always wanted to be like you."

  Oriana Lawson smiled back, but her eyes were serious.  "Miranda, I know what you want to do is dangerous...but I meant it when I said I wanted to be protective of you one day.  How else can I do that but to work with you, be there for you when you need someone?  Please.  Tell me I can be like you, dear sister."

  There was a sad note to Miranda's smile then, but she couldn't deny her twin anything.  She said quietly, "You can be anything you want to be, dear sister."  The sisters looked at each other with love for a silent moment.  Miranda finally asked, "In every way, huh?"

  "Yes.  I know I have some work to do to look exactly like you, since we each led very different lives.  I need to let my hair grow to match yours, for instance, but things like that will be simple.  And dressing like you do..."  Oriana flushed a little in her cheeks, but there was an excitement in her expression, too.  "...it's so daring, but it fascinates me, as well."

  Miranda grinned.  "You're as...ah, well-built as I am, Ori.  That won't be a worry!  You'll still need time to learn everything I know.  And I'm going to make sure you learn for your survival and mine if we'll work together.  It'll take a few years to teach you, at least.  By the time we leave Tranquility, you'll be ready."

  Oriana nodded.  "You know I'm a fast learner, Miranda."  Her lips turned into a smirk as she said lightly, "Although, you're a lot older than I am.  Just because of that alone, I know it'll take me some time to catch up -- !"

  Miranda's look of shock made Oriana burst out in laughter...she defensively said, "Listen to you!  I'm not that much older!"

10

  Less than two weeks before the new relay in Earth space was finished.  Ashley Williams and Mary Shepard walked alone in the wilderness, holding hands.  Ash said thoughtfully, "It won't be much longer before the Alliance is able to reach us.  God, time passes so fast..."

  Mary said quietly, "Yeah."

  "I'm so sorry I can't stay, Shepard."

  "You're Alliance for life, Ash.  You don't have to explain.  A part of me wants to go with you, but..."

  "I've never told you enough how happy I am for you and Liara.  Seriously."

  "What about you and James?  I never saw that coming, but...are you both going to make it work?"

  A thoughtful moment later, Ash answered, "Yes.  I honestly love that big lunk, he loves me, and...we're gonna take it one day at a time.  I hope we can keep working together, though."

  Mary smiled.  "Fight for it, Ash, just as strongly as we fought the Reapers.  You'll make it work."

  They both stopped, and Ash looked at Mary fully.  "Shepard.  I can't stay, but I want to come back here when it's time for Liara to give birth.  I want to be there for you both when she brings your daughter into the world."

  Mary felt blessed as she nodded.  "I want you here, too.  Thank you."

  Then...Ash looked down, unsure.  "Shepard.  There's one thing I've always wanted to ask you."

  "Yeah?"

  With each moment that passed, Ash got increasingly uncomfortable.  "It...it isn't an easy thing to ask, though.  I don't even know if you can answer -- "

  "Hey."  Mary looked into her eyes, giving her strength.  "There's one way for you to find out if you'll get an answer or not.  Just ask!"

  Ash smiled and nodded.  "Okay.  I'm a little scared to ask this, too.  It might be...well..."  She braced herself, and then asked what she needed to:  "Shepard...what happened to you when you died?  I mean...um...did you go somewhere when you died, after the Collectors killed you?"

  Mary looked back at Ashley with a deliberately neutral expression.  "You're not just asking that out of curiosity...are you?"

  "No.  B-but I'm not asking to validate my faith in God and the afterlife, either!  I...I just want to know.  If you want to tell me."

  Mary Shepard looked down at the forest ground of Tranquility for a beat, thoughtful.  "You know, you're the first to ask me that, Ash?  I know some have wanted to ask me, and they almost did...but like you, I think they were scared to ask.  Or maybe they were more afraid of what my answer would be."  The savior looked back into Ash's eyes.  "You want to know what happened to me when I died.  You may not like this, but...I don't have much of an answer to give to you."

  "What do you mean?"

  Mary shrugged helplessly.  "I mean I can't say that anything happened, or that I went anywhere.  I didn't see a bright light at the end of a tunnel, and bang!  I was at the Pearly Gates waiting to see Saint Peter, or something like that.  I just lost consciousness when I suffocated, everything went black, and...and then the next real memory I can recall, I woke up in a Cerberus lab two years later.  And...that was it."  And yet...Mary's expression became a troubled one.  "But..."

  Ash nodded quietly.  "Go on...?"

  As she spoke, Mary Shepard was honestly making an effort to think back.  To remember.  "I feel like...there was something else.  When I woke up, I had this feeling...a sense that...that a long wait was over.  It didn't feel like I had been dead, just...asleep.  If anything else did happen, I honestly don't remember, Ash.  You're not the only one to believe in an afterlife, and it kind of bothers me at times!"

  Ashley Williams smiled warmly.  "Everything you said doesn't bother me, Shepard.  You said you felt like you had been waiting when you woke up.  Maybe you were waiting to live again because it wasn't your time to leave us.  You're not meant to remember where you were."

  Mary looked annoyed.  "Well, I know I've been dead.  It couldn't hurt any more to remember if I'd been in the afterlife or not!"

  Ashley said, "Like I said, it wasn't your time.  Maybe God didn't want to spoil the surprise for you!"

11

  The time came at last.  Those who couldn't stay had finished their preparations to leave.  Mary Shepard, with Liara close by, was there to say goodbye to them as they stood at attention in the field, the Kodiak shuttles not far away ready to take them to the Yosemite.  Those who stayed gathered to see them off, as well.

  Mary walked up to the first of those loved ones who couldn't stay.  And dammit, she could barely keep from crying already.  She looked at her sister and said thickly, "Dismissed, Lieutenant-Commander."

  Ashley Williams snapped off a brisk salute as she said, "Ma'am."  But...her expression broke too, and she couldn't help but damn ceremony and rushed forward to hug Mary.  Ash held the woman she loved as much as her sisters as she said through her tears, "I know I'll be back soon, but I miss you already."

  Mary clutched Ash tight as she cried.  "I already miss you too, Ash."  After a long moment, they reluctantly broke the embrace.  But when Mary stepped away from Ash, Liara was there.

  The beautiful Asari's belly had visibly begun to swell a little over two months into her pregnancy.  At this moment, though, her thoughts were fully for her Human friend.  She began awkwardly, "Ashley..."

  Just like that, Ash found it even harder to contain her tears.  Still, she managed a soft laugh.  "Ha...I still wish I could look as good as you when I hit a hundred, Liara.  God, I'll miss you both so much..."

  Liara Shepard had begun to cry, as well, and she gently moved close and held Ash in her arms.  The women held each other needfully as the Asari said softly, "You are truly dear to me as well, Ashley.  When you are not here...a part of me will always be with you.  I swear."

  Mary Shepard had moved Wrex...the gruff, battle-scarred Krogan's red eyes stared at her, and then he nodded and rumbled, "Shepard."

  Mary simply stood there and looked at him, as well...but that could only last for a moment.  With a sharp sob, she looked down and she cried as she knew she couldn't do this as easily as she had hoped.  Mary finally managed, "Wrex..."  And suddenly, uncaring that he might not like it, she rushed forward and hugged the big warrior.  Wrex's eyes widened for a brief moment of pure shock...and then he relaxed, his hardened features softening as he held the Human savior for a long time.

  Finally, Mary found the strength to let Wrex go...but he couldn't.  They looked into each other's eyes, and the leader of Tuchanka growled with sadness, "I understand the crying thing a little more, Shepard.  I wish I could do that.  I...I wish I could show you..."

  Mary sweetly kissed Wrex's cheek.  "You're already showing me, brother.  You'll always be in my heart.  Always."

  Time passed for these farewells with an understabable slowness.

  Liara held Garrus' hands as she said through her tears, "May the Goddess grant you and Tali every happiness, Garrus."

  Garrus Vakarian nodded uneasily, barely keeping hold of his stoicism.  "Thank you.  We may be making our home on Rannoch...but here is where our hearts will always be.  With you and Mary."

  Tali and Mary, meanwhile, were so full of emotion as they said their goodbyes.  They had begun to embrace tightly before even saying a word to one another.  Mary looked into the young Quarian's face -- her uncovered face that held an incredible, exotic beauty that mirrored the beauty of Tali's heart and soul.  The girl looked into the savior's eyes and she could barely form the words...  "I...I-I guess this is where you stop looking out for me."

  Mary nodded gently as tears flowed down her cheeks.  "Yeah.  If you or Garrus ever need anything, I'll be there."

  Tali Zorah vas Normandy smiled through her own tears.  "I know.  I love you, my sister."

  Mary kissed Tali's lips softly...and she answered the sister of her heart:  "I love you, too..."

  It was only slightly less difficult to say goodbye to the rest, who hadn't been with Mary and Liara on their journey for so long.  Very, very slightly.  They included James Vega, Steve Cortez, Kahlee Sanders and Marie Durand, who like Ash felt the obligation to stay with the Alliance Navy.  The computer savant David Archer wanted to stay with Kahlee, no matter where she went.  Jacob and Brynn Taylor wanted to make a life for themselves on Earth.  Urdnot Grunt desired to return to Tuchanka to help proceed with the renewal of his race, and Major Kirrahe longed to return to his homeworld.  Justicar Samara would keep her word to return to the monastery where her surviving daughter still lived.  Zaeed Massani and Kasumi Goto, meanwhile, kept their future plans close to the vest...mostly because those plans might not entirely be legal.  The Prothean Javik, meanwhile, was ready to return with Juliana and Lizbeth Baynham to help them investigate some unexplainable anomalies on Feros, what Javik called a 'capitol world' of his long-dead empire.

  Only some of the Normandy's crew elected to leave Tranquility.  Most of them wanted to stay with Commander Shepard and build the colony, like her wife Liara, Karin Chakwas, Jeff Moreau and EDI, Miranda and Oriana Lawson, Matriarch Aethyta, Gabby Daniels and Samantha Traynor, Armando-Owen Bailey and Chloe Michel.  It took a long time to say goodbye to those who couldn't stay...so long, in fact, it was approaching sunset when all was said and done.  Almost.

  Then Mary and Liara were before Jack, the young Biotic who had been turned into a living weapon by Cerberus...but because of Mary, she found the power and the hope to take hold of her own destiny.  Jack's eyes were full of emotion as she looked at the savior.  Mary looked at her with so much feeling in her eyes and gently asked, "Jack...have you decided whether to stay or not?"

  Ever since Mary first asked Jack if she wanted to stay weeks before, the girl was very quiet on the subject.  She didn't want to talk about it, and she never opened the subject up since.  But Jack knew, now, this was the moment of truth...and she finally answered, almost defensively, "No...no, I can't stay.  I mean, are you kidding?  This place is too damn quiet."  Jack tried to smile, but it felt so damn phony.  She added, "Definitely not my style, you know?"

  Mary nodded and smiled...inside, though, she felt her heart break gently, like dropped crystal.  But Mary understood, even though she wanted to tell Jack how much she had gotten used to her, as well.  "I hear you."  Still...the savior couldn't help but kiss the girl's cheek quickly, a move that almost surprised them both.  Mary nodded deeply again and said, "Take the best of care, no matter what you do."

  Inside, Jack's emotions were like a maelstrom as she said shortly, "Whatever!"  Her frown became softer, though, as she quickly said, "You and Liara take care, too."

  Liara nodded, her caring expression bringing elemental warmth.  "We shall, Jack.  May the Goddess always watch over you."

  A few minutes later...the two shuttles were boarded, and they began to lift high into the deepening sky.

  On one of them, Jack sat quietly...but she was so full of emotion, it was like an aura around her.  The further the shuttle lifted, the others with her actually felt it.  Kahlee Sanders looked at Jack carefully...the girl was doing her damndest to keep it bottled in, but Kahlee saw the increasing weight of sadness in Jack's face.

  Kahlee wasn't the only one to see it.

  Standing close by, Zaeed Massani turned to the door to the cockpit and rapped on it with a heavy fist.  He shouted, "Steve!  Keep this crate in hover for a minute!"

  Behind the wheel, Steve Cortez shrugged and said, "Uh, sure!"

  Jack felt the ascent stop, and her sadness became mixed with confusion.  Then she looked at Kahlee, who smiled at the girl.  The older woman nodded and said, "Jack...what are you waiting for?"

  "Go on, honey."  Those words came from Kasumi Goto, who opened the loading doors for the Kodiak only feet away.  They opened to the beginning of the sunset on Tranquility.  To where Jack yearned to go...to the one Jack yearned to be with, yet felt unworthy of being with.  But Kasumi smiled, as well, knowing better...she said, "Go to her!"

  Then...Jack felt her heart swell as she truly smiled, and she gave Kahlee Sanders a heartfelt embrace for a tender moment.

  And then the girl rushed past Kasumi Goto and jumped from the shuttle as it hovered over 200 meters in the air!

  Those on the ground were stunned by the sight, especially Mary...but then the falling figure glowed as her descent visibly slowed.  Jack's fall slowed to virtually nothing before her boots gently touched upon the grass.  Mary parted from Liara to move to the tattooed girl.

  Jack had begun to cry, not from sadness but happiness, as she saw Mary approach.  But she felt so damn awkward as she tried to talk.  "Shepard, I-I'm sorry...I..."

  Then Mary was there, and she held out her hands, offering once and for all.  She said in a choked voice, "Just shut up and come here."  Jack laughed, she cried, and she rushed to Mary and they embraced needfully.  The savior gave the girl warmth and more as she whispered, "Shhh...shhh.  I'm so happy you're here, Jack."

  Jack sobbed loudly into Mary's shoulder, full of gratitude...she tried to answer:  "Whatever.  Whuh...whatever..."

  Mary ignored her own tears as she pulled back only a little to look into Jack's eyes as they held one another.  Even Liara couldn't help but weep from happiness close by as she heard her husband tell the girl, "I know what you really wanted to say to me before, and what you want to say now.  You don't have to say it."  Mary's flesh and blood right hand lifted and gently touched one of Jack's wet cheeks.  "I love you too, Jack."

  Jack suddenly felt a joy that couldn't be described in words.  She looked into Mary's eyes and said the truth.  "I-I never had a mom.  I never even wanted one...u-until I met you...!"

  The girl was finally home as she held the mother of her soul for a long time.


TO BE CONCLUDED...
Again, I'm truly sorry for not getting this next chapter here sooner, sigh! :(

And just so you know, there's one chapter left...the end is literally near, for better or worse!

This chapter will have a LOT to sink your teeth into if you've followed the story from the start...in fact, I've given very small hints more than once that this is where Shepard's story and her destiny would ultimately lead!

Ask yourself this: if you saved the galaxy, that means you've got a lot of bad to deal with. You're more famous than Justin Bieber, dammit! (Sorry, I usually try not to talk about that overrated guy.) So would you suck it up and deal with the MONUMENTAL crap that goes with being The Shepard, or would you want to quietly leave the pages of history with your beloved?

That's why the title of this chapter is called "Fade Away"!

But you'll see a lot happen besides that, including a shocker of a secret coming to light about the Asari. It's just something I thought of putting two and two together; even if you don't agree, I hope you'll see the logic. Every plot point is reaching its end, if not already there. Again, I hope you all enjoy it! :)
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Very good! I really enjoy your writing and this story is excellent and well thought out. I like the 'mom-daughter' aspect of the Shep-Jack relationship. And you reached WAYYYY back to ME1 to tie up the Terra Nova story too. I never played that dlc or pinnacle station so I don't know the character you referenced but now I think Imagonna have to find it and play again. All the other characters, their interactions and plans for the future and such were very well written. I hope to read the last chapter soon.

I agree with Knight-101 that the last scene with Jack was the best.