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Post by mrstoob on Feb 6, 2013 2:05:22 GMT 1
Chapter 14
"Breaking news! Commander Shepard has returned to the fleet. Though where she has been or why is yet to be established. "Shepard's an idiot, she'll lead the Reapers right to us." That's the word in the passages! Combined Fleet Network, the only network!"
A human woman and a turian child are looking out of a large observation window. She squats to his level with her arm around him, pointing out the visible bodies in space. He enthusiastically asks questions of her observations, she answers with equal enthusiasm.
"Hey Lady!" one of a group of men loitering around the communal area shouts over.
She looks in his direction.
"They run out of humans at the adoption agency or what?"
The group laugh at his cruel joke.
"Go." a gentle voice tells her.
She looks to see the owner of the voice standing at a corridor's entrance. Samara. The woman guides her child away down the corridor as Samara exits to enter the communal area fully, standing defiant in front of the window. Samara had returned to her home ship to visit Anaya. Her brief walk through the ship has indicated that things are not as they were. The propaganda and damaging reports have heightened. Perhaps the ancient asari order is not as obsolete as first thought.
"I am Samara, servant of the Justicar Code. You have issue with that woman and her child?"
"Turian? Her child? Tsk. My dad died in the First Contact War. Nothing ever happened about it. No-one was ever held responsible. And now, whenever humans go to adopt they get offered turians. Damn turians! It's an insult to the names of the men and women who fought against them. You got some kind of problem with that? Wouldn't surprise me, you asari and your propaganda, polluting children with your hate song, just to make yourselves seem like good little girls."
In reality, there has been only one case where someone expressed they would like a human child specifically but none were up for adoption at that time and there was no malice expressed by the adopter. However, once this became known to the wrong people it was blown out of proportion that humans are being refused choice.
"Do not harass innocents." she simply states after allowing his rant.
"Or what?"
Samara lets her biotics flow over her body as she stands in front of the window. The group all straighten their bodies in preparation then strangely look beyond Samara, with jaws dropping, eyes widening, bodies loosening.
"What the fuck..."
Samara turns to see what has spooked them so.
"Why do you resist our exchange?"
"Not now! Please, soon."
Verity is with David, the reports of the Reapers' arrival flooding the network. It is taking all her will to push out the Reapers' indoctrinated mind meld.
"David? What's happening?"
"Panic."
"Any orders to engage?"
"Not... yet..."
"Are you okay here? I should go and see if I can do anything to avoid a conflict."
"No, no, I'm fine here. You go ahead."
The admirals of all the fleets are in communication, while staring through view ports and observation lounges in disbelief at the two massive Sovereign class Reapers just poised, facing out, not attacking. They dropped out of FTL right next to the fleet, in a manoeuvre that would have been deemed dangerous in Citadel space but the Reapers view this as acceptable due to the confidence in their abilities.
"Why aren't they attacking? Is this what Shepard meant?" Admiral Geranix of the turian fleet asks.
"What do you mean?" the volus admiral says.
"Admiral Zodack." Admiral Hackett begins. "The reports of Shepard's recent outing have been widely reported. What you may not be aware of is the reason for the journey."
"Ohh? ...psshht... Please, go on."
"We have information that the Reapers are in some kind of civil war."
"What are your sources?" the volus demands.
"I can't get into that right now, but if our source is correct these Reapers are here to protect us."
The comm channel fills with irate voices, all talking over one another, expressing their doubts and fears.
"Gentlemen! Ladies! Please!" Hackett attempts to bring order. "We have no choice. To fire on the Reapers would be suicide. We haven't made preparations for our next FTL jump. We just have to sit and hope."
The network remains silent for a moment.
"The probability of success in defeating the Reapers is less than 0.2% in our current state of readiness." the geth admiral, Shula, adds, fully aware of the fleets inferior position.
"They'll slaughter us! We can't just sit here. I say those who have already made FTL preps make a run for it." the batarian, Admiral Ferch, says.
"No! We are not breaking up the fleet!" Admiral Hackett asserts.
"So it's a waiting game." Admiral Menia of the asari says.
"Good. So we're in agreement? No-one will attack and the fleet remains intact. Ferch?"
"Hm! I'd say I hope you live to regret this but... yes. Agreed. If nothing changes. For now."
"Hsssssss." is as much as the vorcha representative provides.
"Admiral Nunch? Was that agreement?" Hackett seeks to confirm.
"Yeeessss. We do not like. But yes."
"We'll meet every half hour. Sooner if the situation changes."
Verity is attempting to contact Admiral Hackett but being turned down with every communication.
"We must exchange." the Reapers' voice rings in her head with intensified buzzing.
This time, the Reapers' attempt to breach Verity's mind is harsher, more painful as she resists to remain in the now. She can resist for only so long and finds herself aboard the Citadel once more.
"What?! Make this quick."
"We would request your assistance." the fake Liara says.
"How?"
"When they come, fire upon them. Help us to defeat them. Our unity will let hope grow in your communities."
"Hope? You're throwing that back in my face now?"
"It drives you to survival."
There is no time for metaphysical debate with an AI right now.
"Okay, okay, I can arrange the counter attack. Is that it? Can I get back now?"
"We will exchange again."
Once the wooziness has subsided, Shepard hurries back to David.
"Can you get total control of the fleet's defences?"
"Yes. They're not attempting to fire as yet. Don't worry, I'm ready if they try."
"No. I mean can you control to fire on the incoming Reapers?"
"Now that sounds like fun." David grins.
"Let's not have a party just yet, David."
"Of course, Shepard. I have the networks' defence grids open. I'll know immediately if any more Reapers arrive."
"Good. Target their firing chamber when they prepare to fire."
"Acknowledged, Commander." David says, now with seriousness.
Panic spreads across the communal area as Samara stares out over the massive Reapers. The ship feels like it rocks as two further Reapers appear, dropping out of FTL, but it remained quite still. The Reapers waiting immediately move towards the new appearances, their arms raising. One of the new Reapers begins to do the same, the red of its firing chambers intensifying as it prepares to fire. Under David's control, a turian Thanix cannon fires on the opening chamber, causing the Reaper to reel for a moment and bunch up its arms to protect itself. A 'friendly' Reaper seizes on this and swoops in to grab the cranial area of its opponent, ensuring the chamber has no chance to target it, then fires its own, splitting open the hull, causing debris to flow from the rupture. Then it squeezes tightly, pushing the split open further until the red light from the Reaper dims.
"One down but I can't get a lock on the other one's firing chamber!" David shouts out to Verity.
"Just give it a spread!"
Unable to target the firing chamber on the second Reaper due to its position, David fires defences from across the fleet, ensuring hits regardless. With two versus one, the Reaper soon loses its arms and is ripped apart quite viciously and once that is done, they turn their attention on the other, ensuring it is totally immobilised beyond even latent indoctrination abilities.
"We leave you the information you seek and your fleet's next FTL destination for safer passage. We will continue to attempt to misdirect the Reapers." the Reaper says in Verity's mind, this time without tearing her away from reality but the implanted information is painful nonetheless.
"If you're not Reapers any more, what should we call you?" Verity tries to ask, unsure if this exchange is two way.
"Reapers have named us 'The Damned', such is their arrogance."
"Why are you doing this?" she attempts again but no response comes.
The Reapers FTL away, leaving their broken, former comrades floating and dead. The whole fleet would have cheered if it wasn't the most terrifying experience of their lives.
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Post by mrstoob on Feb 12, 2013 23:16:54 GMT 1
Chapter 15
The Normandy. The information was clear this time. Verity internally chuckles as much as Liara did at the planet's name. Therum.
"Stand away from the console please, Mister Archer."
Verity turns to see several marines have arrived at David's quarters with weapons drawn. She holds her hands out towards the marines in a sign of submission.
"What's going on here?" she asks. "Are the weapons necessary?"
"Stand away or we will fire."
"Woah! Woah! Wait a minute."
"Shepard?" David asks.
The marines are ignoring Verity's pleas. She doesn't want to attack them but she wants to protect David. The danger of the Reapers now passed, David releases control of the fleet's defences and stands away. The marines rush him and roughly take him by the arms.
"Wait! What are you doing?" Verity demands.
"David Archer, you're under arrest for tampering with fleet defences."
"What?! He just helped save us all!" Verity exclaims.
"That's not for us to decide, ma'am. We're just here to carry out our orders."
"Where are you taking him?"
"For now? To the brig."
Two of the marines remain as the others escort David away.
"And I'm afraid, ma'am, we're required to escort you to your quarters where you're to be confined."
"Gah! I want to see Admiral Hackett. Now!"
"The Admiral is busy with the fleet. He'll get around to you when he's good and ready."
They leave Verity little choice but to concede for now.
Back in her quarters, Verity pushes out with her mind, attempting to discover the limits of her new found abilities, searching for The Damned, searching for answers. The buzzing and whispers have been with her since London, becoming more intense when the Reapers were near. The voices aren't telling her to do anything, she doesn't think, but then she wonders if she'd know. It doesn't feel like she finds anything in her mental search but then Verity gets the familiar intensity of buzz.
"You wish to exchange." Liara says.
"You heard me? Good."
"Your changes are greater than anticipated. We hope that you do not indoctrinate your own kind."
"What do you mean?"
"The ability to communicate with us in this manner demonstrates your ability to indoctrinate and control."
"I could indoctrinate?!"
"With time."
"Fuck..."
"You wish to exchange."
"Errr... yea. I want to know more about your intentions, why you're doing this, why you're against the Reapers, why..."
"Opinion."
"Opinion?"
"Yes."
"Specifically...?"
"When the Reaper known to you as Sovereign was destroyed, some among us questioned the current cycle. No organic had defeated a Reaper of that class for millions of years. A rift began to develop."
"My colleague seems to think that the rift is similar to the geth divide which Sovereign exploited?"
"No. We are not base AI. We have freedom of thought. As you have been told, each of us is a nation, independent in thought. After Sovereign failed, Harbinger chose to exploit the prothean Husks, known to you as the Collectors to hasten the harvest before the rift could widen and even when that failed, chose to exploit the Alpha relay. This only served to divide us further as you, Commander Shepard, proved time and again that this cycle is not the same."
"I see..."
"When our cycle demanded, we came. When we saw the unity of the galaxy and once the construction of the Crucible became known to us, the divide was complete. The Damned wished to pause the harvest and re-assess, to find a permanent solution. The Reapers did not. Disorder and chaos reigned over our kind. The Crucible AI was swayed. The only way to save the organics was to commence the harvest prematurely."
"What?"
"Upon speaking with you, the Crucible AI commenced the harvest before the galaxy was under our control. The Crucible programmed itself to re-open dialogue with the organics once the solution of the harvest was deemed no longer effective. The AI re-assessed its parameters. Organic life must persist. The instructions given to us were ambiguous and could be construed as 'organic life must be continuous'. The AI could not cope with this possibility, that so much slaughter had been conducted in error, going against its own function. The harvest was commenced to force our kind on each other and give the organics hope and a possibility of survival. Hence the ease of your escape from Sol as the control of the relays was not enacted until it was too late, under our influence."
"Oh! Oh, I see now! That never made any sense to me, that you'd be so inefficient."
"We are not inefficient."
"You can be offended?"
"No."
"Hm. Didn't sound like it to me. So anyway. What's next? I mean, I have to head to Therum to find the Normandy but... regardless of our alliance, how can we stop the Reapers?"
"We wish to exchange further on this matter."
"You don't know?"
"We... have no new solution."
"All out war?"
"We do not wish to continue slaughter."
"I can't really argue. Civil war is always difficult. But I have to ask... what would you do in our galaxy?"
"Explain."
"If we successfully stop the harvest, however we do that, what will you do after that?"
Liara pauses for a few seconds.
"No data available."
Verity raises an eyebrow. Liara continues.
"Our purpose was clear. The harvest. Without the harvest... there is no data available for our function."
"But you're independent, right? You can choose to do what you like?"
"This concept is alien."
"Hm..." Verity ponders how she can assess their intentions, their minds, their 'humanity'. She tests the waters.
"I wandered lonely as a cloud, o'er..."
"Explain." Liara interrupts.
"I hadn't finished but... maybe that's not the best route. Do you appreciate aesthetics?"
"Aesthetics are irrelevant."
"Not to us they're not. You see, though? If you and this cycle are to co-exist, there needs to be common ground."
"We are the pinnacle of existence. Before us, you are nothing..."
"Gah! That's exactly what Sovereign said. You're not doing yourselves any favours, you know."
"Explain."
"Superiority is becoming meaningless in our galaxy, otherwise unity would never have happened. We have empathy, altruism, respect. You can't just continue being the top dog if the galaxy finds peace."
"Top dog?"
"Ruler. Dominator."
"The apex will supersede."
"Isn't that exactly what we're trying to avoid?"
"We... this exchange is over."
And with that, Verity is thrown back into her quarters with quite a jolt.
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Post by mrstoob on Feb 12, 2013 23:17:42 GMT 1
Chapter 16
"We're lucky to have you two. I doubt us soldiers would have been quite so efficient in setting up hydroponic farms." Ashley says in one of the large areas they are using as a farm.
"Everyone had to contribute to the farms on my colony. But Tali's input on quarian techniques has been invaluable." Samantha says.
"It was the same in the flotilla. We were farmers before the geth conflict, that was instilled in us as each of us would help and get to know the live ships as youths." Tali says, wearing her environmental suit to avoid contamination in the non-dextro farming area.
They have been careful not to cross-contaminate the fruits and vegetables of the different sources. The meat eaters among the community are going to miss it but at least everyone can eat. The underground reservoir discovered provides essential water to both the community and the farms.
"Li here's been a great help too. I think she's got green fingers!" Samantha says, putting her arm around Sha'li.
"Thank you, Sam. I think."
"Old Earth saying. It means you're good with plants."
"Oh. Then yes, thank you."
"Did that missing equipment ever turn up?" Ashley says.
"No. Several lamps and trays just magically disappeared. It's weird." Samantha says with some annoyance.
"Well it can't have gone far, there's only us here. Well I'm heading back, see you all later."
Ashley doesn't know if it's over-protection or something to be concerned about but Samantha and Sha'li have spent a lot of time together. Now approaching forty years old, Sha'li is on the cusp of physical maturity, something Ashley has become increasingly aware of. She arrives back at the space Liara and she claimed as theirs. Liara is laying on their bed resting.
"Hi." Ashley says as she enters.
"Oh, hello. Was just sneaking in a quick nap." Liara replies, still a little dozy from her rest.
"Liara, can I ask something about asari culture?"
"Oh not the 'dad' thing again..."
"No, no. Adolescent asari. What's the score with that on Thessia?"
"What do you mean?"
"Umm... when is it acceptable to... you know..."
"I've just woken up, Ash. Can you be a bit more specific?"
"Sex." she says to remove any ambiguity.
"Oh... I haven't been adolescent for some time now, you know."
"No, not you! Sha'li."
"Sorry. Can you start again? I'm not sure where you're going with this."
"She and Samantha spend a lot of time together and my motherly instincts are sending alarm bells."
"Oh they're not like that, Ash. They just get on well."
"You think?"
"Oh come on, old girl. Sha'li's barely matured and Samantha is hardly the predatory type."
"I just worry but I'm also aware that my standards and asari standards might not be the same. I'm not saying either is right but if the asari do have different ideas about these things, I'd like to know."
"Well. I'd say it's much like any culture. No two people are the same, or mature the same, physically or emotionally. Look at me. I'd not even considered a relationship until I was a hundred and six but there were plenty of girls at university when I was in my fifties who were exploring their bodies. Sha'li will know when she wants to make that journey and I wouldn't worry about any of our community exploiting her. Come on, you trust everyone here with your life, so you just have to do the same with Sha'li."
"You're right. And I didn't mean to imply that asari jump into bed at the drop of the hat."
"Oh I don't know... some of us might..." Liara jokes with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh really?" Ashley responds, now joining Liara on the bed.
"Ash... it's daytime."
"I just want to snuggle up." she says, pulling Liara into a cuddle.
"It was a good idea to come here though, old girl. I know we're just down here, waiting to die of natural causes but... we've made a nice little community here now. It could have been a lot worse."
"Yea, we've done okay. I worry about later though, when we start dropping off like flies and the ones left last. That'll most likely be you and Sha'li."
"I know. You need to speak with Sha'li about that at some point. Once I've gone, she'll be totally alone. That's an awful situation to be in."
"I know... but I don't want to approach it while she's still so young. It'd probably frighten her."
"She's more emotionally mature than you might think, Ash."
"Ugh, now you've got me worried again..."
"Let me take you mind off it then." Liara says, giving Ashley a kiss.
"What did you just say about it being day time?"
"I know but this is our home now, not a ship or a base. We should be able to express ourselves when we like, don't you think?"
"Now you're talking."
Admiral Hackett enters Verity's quarters with a marine and a geth in tow.
"Leave us." the Admiral says to the marine.
"Sir..."
"Out!" he shouts.
"Sir."
"Admiral Hackett, sir. Admiral Fernan." Verity salutes.
"What the hell is going on, Shepard? And I don't want any of your philosophical bullshit!"
"The Reapers, the friendlies, they wanted to show a sign of alliance by us helping them destroy the aggressors."
Hackett places his hand on his head and sighs wearily.
"When are you going to be straight with the fleet, huh? With me? You seem to have more trust in those Reapers than you do us. How exactly did David control the fleet's defences?"
"The analysis of our defence network breach indicates an intelligence in the system. This was not the work of a simple hacker." Admiral Fernan states.
Verity sits on her bed, rubbing the back of her neck, unsure what to tell her commander and the geth ally. David is already in custody, she doesn't want to risk him being investigated but the truth must come out at some point.
"We... we're... May I request that we speak privately, sir?"
"Fernan?" Hackett says to the geth.
"Our network was breached. We need to understand how. I assume this data will become available to us once you have concluded with Commander Shepard."
"Of course, Admiral."
"Then we will concede."
Fernan leaves.
Verity looks up at the Admiral, fear in her eyes.
"Well?" the Admiral asks.
"It's not simple and it's not easy, sir."
Hackett sits on the bed next to her.
"We've been through a lot, Shepard. I've backed you all the way since Saren. I think I deserve some answers here."
"I'm not sure if I'm human any more, Admiral." Verity just blurts out.
"What?"
"The protheans, the asari, the thorian, Cerberus, it's all changed me."
"How so?"
"I don't know specifically but... do you trust me?"
"Of course, Commander."
"Give me your hands."
"Commander?"
"Please, trust me."
Within moments of holding her hands, Hackett pulls away, recoiling in horror, then just stares at Verity with a look of shock.
"What the..."
"Sorry, sir. It was the only way to show you."
"You can meld?"
"Yea... and probably more from my recent experiences."
"What experiences?" the Admiral demands.
"I've been able to initiate dialogue with The Damned with my mind."
"The 'who'?"
"Our Reaper allies. It's what they've been dubbed by the Reapers."
"How do we know they're not controlling you?"
"We don't."
There are further heavy sighs from the Admiral.
"But," Verity continues, "if they meant harm, they could have done that any time. Evidently, the Reapers found us somehow, but I've a flight path that should be a safer passage. The Damned are running misdirection on the Reapers. Probably how the Normandy has remained undetected."
"If it is out there."
"They've explained to me what's going on, the rift in their kind."
"Answers?"
"I think so."
Verity explains what the fake Liara had told her about this cycle and the division as to whether the cycles are still effective.
"So what do they suggest?"
"Hm. That's a sticking point."
"Really."
"They don't have a solution and regardless, they don't know what they'd want if we're successful."
"What do you mean?"
"All life from this galaxy deserves a place in it. They're a part of it as much as the protheans, us, every cycle that's ever been."
"They're killing machines."
"The same was said of the rachni, of the krogan, of the geth, I thought we'd learned that lesson through them."
"But these are the Reapers, there's no comparison."
"Isn't there? This is what I was getting at when we last spoke. If The Damned won't be accepted into galactic society then what chance have we of peace?"
"They're machines, Commander. If we regain control of the galaxy, they have no place here."
"And the geth?"
"Not this again..."
"We have to face these difficult questions, Admiral. Every intelligent life form in this galaxy deserves a chance. The Damned, just like the geth, can find a place if we help them. From our brief dialogue, they need our help in this to stand a chance."
"What little remains of our societies is not going to welcome them with open arms, Commander."
"No shit. The fleet can barely tolerate each other. At least The Damned are trying to do something about all this."
"Are you going native, Commander?"
"Gah! It's not about that. It's about saving this galaxy and finding peace. Peace that'll last beyond the Reapers. That's not going to happen if the fleet turns on its allies once they've served a purpose. Look what happened with the krogan."
"You can't make these comparisons."
"But that's the point. They are the comparisons. Who are we to commit genocide on any life form in this galaxy? What gives us the right?"
"So you want to make friends over a nice cup of tea?"
"Don't patronise me."
"All that aside, Commander. What about you?"
"Sir?"
"If you're no longer comfortable doing the fleet's work with your new found powers, what do you want? What are you going to do?"
"Well, first and foremost, find the Normandy."
"And leave the fleet exposed?"
"You said it yourself, the fleet can't rely on one person."
There is a moment of silence as Hackett digests what he has just experienced and been told.
"What about David?" Verity asks.
"I don't know, Commander. None of the combined fleet admirals were particularly happy about their defences being breached, as I'm sure you can imagine."
"So he's being treated as a traitor?"
"You still haven't answered my question, Commander. How did David breach network security?"
"The fleet can't know this while he's in custody."
"Know what?"
"He's... like me. But different."
"How so?"
"David can manipulate computer systems at will, by touch. We've sort of discovered our changes together, mine ramping biotics and telepathy, his... well you saw."
"This is getting complicated, Commander. The fleet's going to want answers. I can't just turn up and give them nothing."
"Then tell them it was me. That I'm the one going through the changes and I'm responsible."
"I won't lie to the fleet."
"Just let me do my work, as I always have. Unchained, able to make the calls as I see them. We can't do this if our new allies are just pawns to the fleet."
"Hmm."
"David and Miranda."
"Yes?"
"I want them with me when I go."
"We've already discussed this. The fleet is not comfortable with civilians conducting this kind of work."
"This feels like Udina all over again. Holding us back until it's too late. I need a team that I know, that I can trust. Sad as it is to say, Admiral, anyone I haven't hand picked will be under question, that they might just be a stooge for one of the governments."
"You want to be independent of the fleet?"
"I wouldn't put it like that."
"But you have."
Ashley has a wander through the community when she spots smoke coming from a side area not usually occupied then rushes to discover the cause to find James, Joker and Ken laying around on crates, smoking. Upon seeing their Commander they quickly extinguish their pungent smokes.
"Oh. Oh, I see now." Ashely says, folding her arms. "So that's where the missing equipment went."
"Man can't live on bread and water alone, Commander." Joker attempts to justify.
"Who started all this?" she asks.
"Well..." Joker says. "I brought a few seed banks of my own and when I saw the growing equipment..."
"You know it's bad for you."
"It's no like we're just smoking tobacco, ma'am. We're no that stupid." Ken says.
"Oh but smoking grass isn't?"
"I dunno about you guys," James grins, "but I'm feeling pretty stupid right now."
Then he giggles.
"Ugh. Just..."
"Come on, Ash." Joker says. "It's not like we're crime lords or anything. This our own new free state, breaking new ground in social dynamics! And anyway, I smoke for medicinal reasons. It helps me cope with..."
"Whatever. Just keep it away from Sha'li, okay? Or god help me..."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Oh and by the way. We are not using our precious food supplies to make alcohol. Are we clear?"
The three say nothing but exchange guilty glances.
"You've already started haven't you?" Ashley says with tired exasperation.
"It's only a wee mash, Commander. Ye not gonnae deny a Scotsman his heritage are you?"
"If you three cause any problems from being stoned or drunk or whatever else you come up with..."
"So! What we got guys?" Garrus says with a clap of his hands as he enters, then sees Ashley. "Oh. Commander..."
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Post by mrstoob on Feb 17, 2013 20:04:09 GMT 1
Chapter 17
Samara is in Verity's room. She has been allowed to visit Shepard to discuss the potential of a further expedition.
"We would do well to bring Ms Lawson and David but it would seem there is little to be done."
"I'm not done yet, Sam. They've tried to ground me and my team before."
"A repeat of the absconding of the SR-1 from the Citadel?"
"It might come to that. Will that be a problem?"
"I no longer officially follow the Code. Regardless, it could be viewed that such an action is for the greater good."
"Then good."
"Meet me in the hangar." a voice says in Verity's head.
"David?"
"I can bypass security systems."
"But..."
"It's our only chance. You should have access to the corridors now."
"How are we going to get off the frigate?"
"I've disabled fleet defences, it'll take them a moment to resolve. Long enough to FTL out. In the meantime I'm arranging a diversion."
The fire alarms sound and Verity hears rushed activity from the corridors.
"Oh. I see. What about Miranda?"
"That'll have to be up to you, I'm afraid. She's in B wing, room 128."
"Damn. Okay then. If you're sure. Seems that time's come, Sam. Let's move."
Verity pops her head out of her door to see frenzied activity as the squads attempt to locate the fire. She seizes the opportunity and they swiftly heads towards B wing, occasionally popping into doorways to avoid marines until they arrives at Miranda's room.
"We gotta go, Miranda."
"What? What about the fire?"
"There is no fire."
"Oh. Oh, I see. Right you are then. Do I need anything?"
"We don't have time. Come on. Now."
They head down the corridors towards the Hunter's hangar, unchallenged until they arrive. Marines are already here with their weapons aimed up at David who is standing inside the craft, the airlock open. He holds his hands against a console within.
"Step out of the craft, Mister Archer."
"David!" Verity shouts.
"I'm sorry, Commander." he says, then turns his back to concentrate on the console.
"Step away or we will fire."
David ignores them. A marine fires a shot and David falls.
"No!" Verity screams.
The marine looks at his weapon then at David laying on the floor.
"I... I only fired a warning shot. I didn't think I'd hit him."
Verity throws the marines to the floor with her biotics.
"Come on! We have to go."
"But David..." Samara begins.
"We don't have time. It's now or never."
The three enter the craft and Verity quickly sits in a pilot's chair to begin manoeuvring out of the hangar. As soon as clear of the Alliance frigate they FTL away.
"Is he...?" Verity asks.
"Odd." Samara says as she checks over David.
"What?"
"I can find neither a pulse nor a wound."
Ashley hears a commotion in the main communal area and leaves her room to see what is going on, Liara follows.
"Commander!" Garrus shouts as he sees them arrive. "We've got an incoming vessel. Doesn't look like Reapers but..."
"But we don't know if it's indoctrinated forces."
"Exactly. But it appears to be making a direct course to the original entrance."
"I want everyone in defensive positions at both elevators. Tali, Liara, with me. Garrus, take a squad to the other elevator. Sha'li, go wait in my quarters."
"I can use a pistol now. I could help..."
"Now, Li. I don't want you in the line of fire but take a weapon with you, just in case."
"Okay, mum..."
Ashley and her squad take cover behind the crates and structures they had set up a long time ago for such an event. They hear movement from the top of the shaft then the elevator moving. It's quite a long shaft but feels even longer than usual as they wait for whatever is coming. Slowly the elevator gets louder until they hear it thud into place. Ashley pops her head out.
"What is it?" Liara whispers, seeing the terror in her lover's eyes but confused as to why she has lowered her weapon.
Ashley steps shakily out of cover, her heart pounding hard in her chest. Verity and Samara stand on the elevator.
"Shepard?"
There is a clunk as Liara's weapon falls to the floor and she stands to see for herself.
"No. No, no, no, no, no, No!" the final word being shrieked at such a frequency that no asari has come closer to matching a Banshee as Liara just did. She slumps down onto her knees, open mouthed, not wanting any of this to be real.
"Liara? It's me, Verity." Verity says.
Tali now steps out of cover to confirm it for herself. Neither Ashley nor Tali look at Shepard beyond a few glances, a guilt evident but Verity doesn't know why.
"Why? Why now? Why did you have to come back, why?" Liara shouts with some anger but not without tears.
Ashley wants to console Liara's tears but also doesn't want to rub Shepard's face in this terrible scenario. She places her hand on her own forehead, trying to speak but the words won't come.
"Ash?" Verity asks, searching for answers.
"I'm... sorry..." Ashley finally says, then helps Liara to her feet.
"What? What's going on?"
Liara puts her arms around Ashley in distress, sobbing desperately into her shoulder then suddenly turns her face look at Verity, marches to her with aggression and slaps her hard across the face then just stands in front of her. Liara tries to speak but can only make a whining sound as her tears pour and her face contorts with desperation.
"Liara? But..." Verity says, holding her reddened cheek.
Liara is finally able to speak through tears, snot and saliva, her voice whining and desperate.
"Why? You were dead! Why now? Why did you come back? Why?"
"But... I came for you... I only just found out about the Normandy..."
Having heard the commotion, Garrus rounds the corner.
"Commander? What's going... Shepard... no..." Garrus says, also with a look that Verity doesn't like.
"What? What's going on?" Verity shouts, now getting angry at the sympathetic looks but no explanation.
"Shepard," Garrus says, "you'd better come with me."
"But... Liara..."
"Please, Commander. It's for the best."
"What's for the best? What the hell is going on?"
"Can't you see, you stupid woman? Me and Ashley. We're..." Liara cannot bring herself to finish.
"You're what?"
"We're together." Ashley finishes for her but not with any pride.
"You're..."
As the words slowly sink into Verity's head, she cannot believe the galaxy that toys with her so could be this cruel. To have hope after thirty years. To have that hope ripped away so violently and terribly. All she can do is let out a scream before punching a wall. Once isn't enough. Nor is twice. Samara has to pull her away to prevent her harming herself any further.
"Get off me!"
"Verity..." she tries to console.
"No, no, no, no. Don't make me choose. Don't make me choose. Don't make me choose."
Liara is hysterical. Interspersed with her rantings are piercing screams. After all she'd been through, losing Verity twice, overcoming it to complete their work, even finding that she could love again, and now. Now. Just as she and Ashley have come to love each other, found a place to just live out their lives, now she makes her return, oblivious to what she has done.
"You once said that I could beat on your chest if I needed to! Well I need to!"
She storms up to Verity then beats on her chest, much as Davey's mother did, Verity taking it as much as Liara did then.
"Why did you come back?! Why? Why, why, why... why now?!"
Until she folds, falling into Verity who holds the sobbing asari in her arms and Liara allows it. Ashley sees the action but cannot bring herself to intervene regardless of the pain to her. She doesn't feel like the cause, they couldn't have known, but she does know of the love that once was between these two and it makes her gut churn to see this, what she might lose, what they all might lose. No-one wants to be the one but someone will be hurt, more likely all of them. No-one will be the victor here. While Liara is relatively calm in Verity's arms, Ashley tries to begin the questions and answers.
"So... you're not dead then."
"Err... no. Long story."
"They usually are."
"Yup."
"Yea."
"Was that Tali?"
"Oh! Yea. EDI and Doctor Chakwas used Mordin's data and..."
Liara pushes herself away from Verity and gives an evil eye to both Commanders.
"Is this it now then? Pleasantries? Oh how have you been, Miss Williams? Oh lovely thanks. And you Miss Shepard? Daaarling, I've been wonderful! And you Miss T'Soni?" then another piercing scream.
"Liara..."
"Agh! Liara, Liara, Liara! I can't be here right now."
Liara runs off down a passageway.
"So you got what you wanted then. Everything I was." Verity says to Ashley. "Spectre, Commander of the Normandy and now Liara. When we get back to the fleet, I'm sure they can arrange N7 status for you, too."
"I never meant for this..."
"But you've got it. You've got it all. Congratulations, 'Commander'."
"Please..."
"Please, what?"
"Don't do this."
"Don't do what? You want my blessing? Is that it? You want me to just give up on her?"
"No!"
"Then what?"
"I... I don't know."
"How long did it take?"
"Shepard..."
"How long?!" Verity demands, allowing her dark blindness take her over without resisting it.
Ashley lets out a long breathy sigh.
"After we installed the last beacon. A few years ago."
"I suppose I should be thankful you didn't just jump into bed the moment you thought the coast was clear."
"Shepard! It wasn't like that. I never felt like this about Liara before you... We just... got closer after all that time."
"I can't listen to this. I'm going to look for Liara."
"No."
"What?"
"Don't. I don't think it's a good idea right now."
"Oh I'm sure you'd prefer it if I never saw her again."
"Fuck! Don't do this. We've been in some pretty shitty situations, Shepard, but this? This isn't anyone's fault, it's just..."
"I can't stay here."
"Shepard, you can't just leave."
"What do you want me to do? Huh? Hang around here waiting for the last twist of the knife?"
"What about Liara?"
"I think she's made her feelings clear."
"We don't know what she might decide. She's not angry with you."
"Oh yea? My face says otherwise." Verity says, rubbing her cheek.
"We're not getting out of this one unscathed, are we, Shepard?"
Liara wanders. She finds herself at a section of the facility she hasn't been to for some time. She's not sure quite how or why she got here but that doesn't stop her auto-pilot progress. Liara heads straight to some particular crates, then behind them to her own familiar foot locker. Once was, this locker was the source of chocolate, of good times, of good memories. It has been some time since this locker held such pleasures. Perhaps it still holds some. The contents of the locker were supposed to be to prove control, that she doesn't need it any more. But she knows this was a lie to herself. She kept it in case she needed it again.
Liara drags the locker from behind the crates and opens it. She takes out a small plastic bag then studies the contents for a moment. She takes from the bag one of the pills and without pause swallows it. Liara begins putting the bag back then stops herself, removes another from the bag and takes that as well. A short time later and she is seated on the foot locker. Release.
"Ken said he saw her come this way." Ashley says, she and Verity now searching for Liara.
"I hope she's okay. As well as can be expected anyway."
"I do too, Shepard."
"How has she been? You know, after the PTSD then thinking I was dead?"
"It was hard at first but she eventually accepted she had to let go. Sorry, if we'd have known..."
"I know, Ash. We thought the Normandy was lost or I would have searched sooner."
They enter the old storage area and find Liara slumped on the foot locker. She looks up at the two Commanders then grins inanely.
"It's my girlfriends!" Liara says manically.
"Oh god, I've seen this look before..." Ashley says.
Liara punches the air.
"Blue Angel!"
She stands, then teeters on one foot, putting her arms out to balance.
"Come on, girl squad! Group hug!"
"Hallex?" Verity asks Ashley.
"Yup. I reckon."
"Oh don't be such bores, I've got more if you want any. Anyway I've been thinking, how's about a rota system?"
"Come on, Liara." Ashley says. "Let's get you to bed."
"Oooooooh, a threesome, eh? I didn't think you two swung that way but I'm game!"
Verity grabs Liara by the arms.
"Liara! Stop this. Please."
"Stop what? I'm just happy my two best girls are here. You're not worried about pointless age old conventions, are you? Because I'm asari, everyone knows we're the slags of the galaxy!" she laughs.
Still holding Liara, Verity cannot help the following events. It just happens. Her mind pushes into Liara's, showing the pain and suffering that has followed since the failed defence of Sol. The events of the Citadel, her treatment at the hands of the fleet and the young, vindictive guards, The Damned, and finally the distress of this love triangle that is nobody's fault. Verity lets go of Liara, realising this is probably not the best way for anyone to learn about her changes.
The manic smile drops from Liara's face.
"You're not Verity... you're... indoctrinated..." she says feebly as she steps away from her old love, her face filled with confusion and fear.
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Post by mrstoob on Feb 17, 2013 20:05:26 GMT 1
Chapter 18
"Shepard?" Ashley says. "What did she mean?"
They have escorted Liara to her bed in her Hallex induced state and now stand outside the room.
"I'm not going to lie, Ash, I was indoctrinated on Earth. But it's not what you think."
"Are you a risk? Well, not that you'd tell me the truth if you're still under their influence."
"I'm still me, Ash. It's taken me a while to make that conclusion but I'm still Verity Shepard and I still want to save this galaxy."
"Huh... we still have a chance?"
Verity sighs. This has yet to be established.
"I think so."
"How? How do we stop the Reapers now?"
"You have to trust me, Ash."
"Go on."
"The Reapers."
"Yes?"
"They're... conflicted."
"Oh great. The Reapers need therapy."
"There's a faction who don't want to continue the harvest."
"Huh... really... and how exactly do you know this?"
"They er... contacted me. If it wasn't for them, none of us would have got out of Sol alive."
"So now you're working with the Reapers?! Is this Cerberus all over again?"
"Gah! Ash, we've got no choice. They've realised their solution is no longer be viable. They'll need help if we're all going to get through this."
"All? Them included?"
"Yes. They're part of this as much as we are."
"What? You can't trust them. They caused this!"
"Do the turians deserve genocide for what they did at Shanxi?"
"Don't even try to make that comparison, Shepard. Don't you fucking dare!"
"Don't make this personal, Ash. I'm just trying to make a point."
"I am not making nice with the Reapers. I got over myself with the turians and what happened to my grandfather but the Reapers? Nu-uh. No way. They're just machines."
"Is EDI just a machine?"
"She hasn't been trying to wipe out intelligent life for the last few million years. The Reapers are what they are."
"We can't defeat the Reapers on our own. We've already learned that the hard way."
"But to ally with them?"
"The faction I'm dealing with realise it was a mistake."
"Oh that's alright then. Billions upon billions dead? No problem! Jeez, this isn't like a war summit, making peace. They have to pay."
"Ash..."
"What? You want me to just forgive what they've done?"
"If it comes to that, then yes!"
"Ugh..."
"You just have to trust me, Ash."
"We've got more immediate problems, Shepard. What are we going to do about..."
"Not sure there's anything you or I can do. It's up to Liara now. If she can keep her nose out of her Hallex trough, that is."
"I don't want to lose her, Shepard. You don't know what it's been like for us. For me."
"Ash..."
"I have to tell you this, Shepard. You don't like it, I can understand that, but you have to hear this. You know what I was like. Never finding anyone, never letting my defences down to let anyone in. But with Liara, we're such good friends my defences were already down. It just kind of happened after I thought she'd... I thought she'd killed herself on Eden Prime and I just got overwhelmed."
"What happened on Eden Prime?"
"I thought she'd... but I was wrong and... Look, that's not important right now but we thought you'd been dead for thirty years. I didn't do this on purpose. I wasn't trying to take everything you had."
"But you still want her, despite what that's doing to me."
"Are you willing to just give up what you had?"
"Of course not."
"But you'd want me to do that."
"You have to let me speak with her, Ash. I need to know where we are without anyone standing over us."
Ashley has a look about her that Verity hasn't seen in a long time, barely seen at all. The last time she really lost her cool was when she made assertions about the strength of humanity around the camp fire. Ironic to Verity that it's this very difference between machines and organics that has created such a destructive force.
"I don't want to lose her, Shepard." Ashley says, uncharacteristic tears forming. "But I don't want to lose the friendship between the three of us either."
"You said it yourself, Ash. We're not coming out of this one unharmed but we have to resolve this one way or the other."
"I know..."
Liara rouses from her sleep to see Verity sitting on a chair, evidently waiting to speak with her.
"You." Liara says with an angry look.
"It's not what you think, Liara."
"I don't know you." she says, purposefully turning her face away.
"I can show you. Or rather, you can see for yourself."
"Verity can't meld. She's human. I don't know what you are."
"Liara..."
"I heard the Reapers in your mind."
"Please, Liara. If we bond like we did on Earth, you'll see. It's still me in here. I know there's a whole heap of crap in there too now but please, I'm still Verity. I'm still the woman you love."
"How can you meld?"
"Exactly? I don't know. Generally? Try Cerberus. Again."
"Cerberus? What did they do?"
"They messed with my DNA somehow. Miranda analysed it and I'm changed somehow. They did the same with David Archer at project Overlord."
"Miranda died on Earth. You'll have to do better than that, Reaper."
"Liara! I am not an indoctrinated agent! I don't mean the Miranda we knew, Henry Lawson had two versions of both Miranda and Oriana made so he could have the best of both worlds."
"I want to believe that it's you, I really do..."
"Then, please, meld with me."
Liara knows it is a risk but she has to try, to know. She sits up and onto the edge of the bed. Liara squints slightly with suspicion then pushes out with her meld. Verity relaxes and allows the meld into her mind. Liara peers into the dark recesses, searching for answers amongst the darkness of the previous thirty years. After sorting through these horrible memories and blocking out the seemingly inconsequential Reaper whispers, she finds a familiar face. Much like when they bonded on Earth, she and Verity now stand before each other in the darkness, Verity smiling the loving smile that Liara knew. There she is, unchanged, her Verity, she can feel that it is her. The meld ends abruptly, tears falling from Liara's face.
"I..."
"It's me, Liara."
"Goddess..."
Liara stands and goes to Verity and straddles her lap to hug her tightly. Verity wraps her arms around her, feeling the warmth of the asari she loves.
"I'm sorry." Liara sobs. "I'm so sorry, Verity, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for any of this."
Over Liara's shoulder, Verity sees Ashley enter the room.
"Ash..."
Liara turns her head to look, a mix of tears and happiness on her face.
"I..." is as much as Ashley can get out before her face drops then she just turns and leaves. It was evident the choice that Liara has now made and it tears at her heart.
"Ashley!" Liara calls after her, leaping off Verity's lap to give chase.
Ashley is marching away, Liara running after her. Liara didn't want to hurt Ashley. Seeing what she has with Verity again, what they've been through, the sacrifices Liara had made for their love, she couldn't give all that up. It's what has made her, defines her, despite the darkest of baggage that comes with it. But all this doesn't stop the sickening feelings at Ashley's pain, the woman who she has shared a life with for as long as she did with Verity.
"Ashley! Wait!"
Ashley stops and turns.
"What? What have we got to say to each other now?"
"I'm... sorry..." Liara says, seeing the futility of her words in Ashley's face. A face she has come to know all too well, but now pained. She sees the desperation in the face of one so close, knowing that she can't make it better, that to even try would be too destructive.
"I think I already knew. I knew if you two were given the time, it wasn't really a choice. I know what you two had. I shouldn't have... I need time alone."
When Liara returns to her room, her's and Ashley's room she can't help but remember, there are no happy smiles between the lovers, the pain of their friend sitting heavily upon them. Any consolation they might want to give would be meaningless right now. There is no happy fix. Liara sits on the bed, fidgeting with her fingers, her head dropped then lets out a heavy sigh.
"I know it'll be a while, but I do hope that she'll be alright." she says.
"I know. I do to."
Ashley had continued on her way, though to where, she doesn't know. She knew but she tried to delay it, to deter Verity from the time alone with Liara, to hold off the inevitable, painful despair for as long as she could. Seeing the look of love between them again brought the same feelings as when she thought Liara had taken her own life; sickening, gut churning, nauseating. This time though there is no preference when, just as her life force feels like it has, the contents of her stomach empty from her body then she sobs desperately, bent double.
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Post by mrstoob on Mar 22, 2013 11:16:58 GMT 1
Chapter 19
"We're going to need a bigger boat, Commander." Garrus says.
"Is the Normandy operable?" Verity asks.
"We've pretty much stripped her for parts for down here. She's just dead in orbit now."
"Hm. What are we going to do about EDI?"
"Ugh, don't. It was bad enough removing her from the Normandy. EDI might be an AI but I know it affected her more than she likes to let on."
"She didn't take it well?"
"She puts on a brave face but she's definitely somewhat lost without the Normandy."
"And Joker?"
"I think he took it worse than she did. You know, making up for what she can't express."
"That's a heck of a lot of equipment to transport. We're going to need a sizeable ship for that alone."
"How? You're just going to turn up back at the fleet? Sorry I stole a ship but can I have a bigger one now?"
"Gah! I just love making trouble for myself, don't I?"
"It's what we excel at, Shepard. But... sorry to bring this up but what about Commander Williams?"
"That's right, Vakarian, just add to the fire."
"I don't know she'll ever get over all that, not really. And Sha'li? She might not actually be Liara's daughter but they've acted as much for a while now. She's pretty cut up about all this too, seeing her mother's distress."
"But what can we do?"
"Best work around I've come up with so far is to send Ashley and Sha'li back to the fleet first in the Hunter. Pave the way and request assistance for us. Let the air cool around all this."
"That's not actually a bad idea."
"Except Ashley would probably think it's your idea to just get her out of the way."
"Just how many spanners do you carry around with you? You've got to run out eventually."
"I'm just trying to be pragmatic, realistic."
"I know... I must say though, Garrus, you and Tali seem great together and she looks amazing."
Garrus lets a satisfied smile spread across his face.
"Yea. I've been real lucky there. She's been really patient with me."
"Oh?"
"I'm not always the easiest person to get along with and that's only worsened with age. She's quite a lot younger than me too. I sometimes feel a bit bad about that, that I took away part of her youth or something."
"Love is love, Garrus. It just happens."
"Yea, but not always for the best."
"More spanners?"
"Well without trying to labour the point, look at what happened to you three."
"It wasn't quite that simple but point taken."
While Ashley is otherwise engaged sorting herself out, Garrus has taken on the role as group leader. Verity was aware that to try and return to this role would have been too difficult and harming to Ashley after the recent events.
"This is weird. I keep meaning to say something to you, referring to one of our adventures but then I remember... you're not Miranda. Well not our Miranda anyway." Tali says.
"Oh... sorry..."
"Oh! No. I don't mean it's your fault. It's just that Miranda and I, we never really got on because of her work with Cerberus. Then once I realised that we were probably more alike than I'd like to admit, she was gone. I always felt I should have said something. You know, to clear the air."
"You can say it to me if you think it'd help."
"Oh... umm... that might be a bit too weird. I mean, thanks for offering but..."
"You're a complex bunch, aren't you?"
"If by that you mean 'mad as a box of pyjaks' then, yes, you're probably right."
Miranda laughs at Tali's assessment of the group. Ashley enters with her thousand yard stare.
"Oh, hi Ash!" Tali says brightly but awkwardly, finding this situation difficult, not knowing quite how to handle it.
"Hey, Tali." Ashley sighs.
"Hi." Miranda joins, feeling the tension with Ashley's arrival and wondering what the sideways look at her was for.
"So, Miranda." Ashley says.
"Yes?"
"You worked for Cerberus?"
"Umm... not really, no. Dad sometimes took some of our research to them or his friend, but we weren't involved."
"So you say."
"What?"
"Miranda was in thick with Cerberus, Shepard might believe it but I've no reason to believe that you weren't too."
"I... me and Ori... we were just stuck on the facility, we never had anything to do with dad's business or projects!"
"Well isn't that convenient."
"Ashley." Tali says as she stands. "Don't do this."
"Back off, Tali."
"No! I know you're hurting right now but you can't take it out on Miranda just because she's there."
"Have you been given the home truths about you wonderful 'father'?" Ashley continues.
"My dad treated me and Ori very well, thank you very much and I don't like these accusations."
"Truth hurts, eh?"
Tali tries to take Ashley's arm to lead her away.
"Come on, Ash, this isn't helping anyone."
"Get off me!" Ashley shouts, pulling her arm away with some aggression.
"How do you think I feel about all that, eh?" Miranda says, now standing as well, irate at this stranger's presumptions. "You think I'm happy that it turns out my dad's a mass murderer, helping to bring down the galaxy? That he lied to us and just dumped us in the middle of nowhere? That I had two sisters that he used as pawns or assets to make a legacy for himself? You want to stand there and rub my face in it just because you're having a difficult time right now?"
"You don't know me or what I'm going through."
"And you don't know me, you arrogant bitch."
"I should punch you out for that." Ashley says, squaring up to Miranda.
"Go ahead, give it your best shot."
"Stop this, Ashley! Please!" Tali pleads.
"Ugh, why are you all only interested in how this affects everyone else. I'm the one hurting here but everyone is dancing around making sure I don't make things difficult. Well fuck you! Fuck you all."
Ashley storms out.
"Mum! Are you okay?" Sha'li asks as Ashley enters her room.
Ashley sits next to her, her heart still racing from the confrontation she knows she caused. Tali was right. Miranda was just there when a red mist descended on her at her plight. Ashley knows it was unfair and wholly unwarranted.
"No..." she replies sadly, then she puts her arm around her surrogate daughter.
"I'm sorry. I wish I could do something."
"How's about a cuddle for your old mom."
Sha'li holds her, placing her head on her shoulder.
"How could Liara do this to you? You were so great together."
"It's not her fault, not really. Doesn't make it feel any better but there's not much I can do about it."
"Do you still...?"
"Yea. Gonna be a while until I'm over that. If I get over it. It's so hard being around everyone, the sympathy smiles and hushed conversations cut short when I enter."
"It's just not fair! I used to love Liara like a mother but now? I hate her."
"Sha'li! That's a terrible thing to say!"
"I don't care. Her and Shepard are horrible for what they've done to you."
"I know it's not easy but you can't think like that. They're still my friends despite all this, I can't hate them. You shouldn't either. You're too young to be carrying around that kind of hate."
"Maybe Shepard should have thought about that before turning up here, expecting everyone to just fall at her feet. Agh! Just the thought of it makes me angry."
"Please, Li. I came for a little affection, don't ruin that by being like this. You're all I have left now, don't become hate filled. I hope one day we can get over it, try and get back our friendship but for now, it's just too hard."
"I can't just change the way I feel."
"Yea... I know what that's like... Agh! I can't believe how stupid I've just been. I unloaded everything on that new Miranda and Tali. Really let rip. Gonna have to eat some humble pie over that now as well."
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