Thread: Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end [1x1 with Javorcek]

Jack's confessions would have been something that Shepard would have cherished, if she were awake to hear it. But alas, she was dead to the world. Her body too broken for her mind, her soul tethered to this realm through sheer will. Shepard had promised Liara to return to her. A promise to make a home, to have children, to settle down. That was her promise. Hopefully, she wouldn't break her word. If she were to fall in battle-- Liara would be safe. She would live and grieve. Shepard had forced Liara to leave, to get to safety in the Normandy. She could not let her die, not before her time. Shepard had killed so many people, given their family grief, all their accomplishments washed away. She'd killed asari who would have lived for a thousand years. She always thought it was a waste. All that potential. Lost. She would not accept Liara's death. Even if the universe were to fall, the sky were to fill with fire and bodies to fall to Earth. Yes, she was being selfish. Yes, she was willing to sacrifice millions. Yes, she loved Liara. And that is why, despite all the yearnings in her heart she could not follow through with her intentions. It was the call of duty. Shepard was a soldier, a Spectre, a hero. And she would sacrifice everything that he was, everything that she would become, to save millions. She didn't intend to die, no one ever does. But fate catches up with a person. She'd been living on borrowed time. How much of her was human? She could be an AI for all she knew. The truths she discovered at Cerberus were distractions and she choose not to dwell on them. But now that she lingered in this dream state, her mind began to reorganize hings that were deemed not important. Love? Not important. The truth of her existence? Not important. Her brain played the devil's advocate, and made her focus on the things that should matter to her now. Shepard gagged as she began breathing on her own, her throat restricting around the plastic tube. She struggled, hands pawing the air. Hands gripped hers. Calm down Shepard. Someone get an orderly, right now! Miranda had returned to watch Shepard, catching Jack in a vulnerable position. The ex-operative hid her smile behind her hand before covering Jack in a thin hospital blanket. It was good that Jack was resting as well, no matter where she choose to take a nap. There weren't any structures higher than two stories, anything taller was razed to the ground. The refugee camps littered empty ruin, the military was the only governing body. They were essentially under martial law. She just had to explain herself to some nervous private whose only exposure to the Reapers was from a ship. He was cocksure of himself and she put him into his place with a few choice words. Then she brushed by and continued to her place of work. She stepped past a few nurses, past the halls filled with wounded. She had stepped out to give Jack a blanket, putting it around her thin frame just in time to catch Shepard struggling with the breathing machine. Miranda nearly sprinted forward, stopping Shepard's weak movements. She turned the machine off and pulled the tube out, not too gently. She couldn't be delicate, not with Shepard gagging. It would be a shame for Shepard to die of asphyxiation just after Miranda spent so much time keeping her alive. There was no way Shepard dying on her watch. Once the breathing tube was removed, Shepard stopped struggling. Miranda upped the dosage on the sedative, sending Shepard spiraling back into her dreams and her delusions. Miranda sighed. Good, Shepard was awake. That meant her recovery was going well. By her calculations, she'd be able to wean Shepard off the drugs. Once she gets Shepard off the drugs, then the rest of the healing could be done. Shepard's time spent in a coma kept her from experiencing the pain of reconstruction. But now that she was awake. Well. Despite all of her worries, Miranda was relieved. Shepard would be coming back to them as the hero that she is. With her friends surrounding her, supporting her. If only the Normandy was here, then that would be the best reunion. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tali watched as Liara used her biotics, hoping beyond hope that this would work. And as the engine roared into life, she jumped up and cheered. Yes! She turned and hugged Garrus. Yes! The Normandy was always too quiet, she was used to the sound of ship engines. Seeing the Normandy downed, grounded had made her heart clench. And for the drive core to be working, for its familiar hum to reach her ears. Since the crash she found it difficult to sleep and worked instead to fill the void. Garrus hugged her back. Time to get the Normandy moving. Tali, see if you could get her in the air. I don't know what you do, and I cannot pretend that I understand. But I trust that you will accomplish any tasks put before you. He, like Shepard, knew the strengths of his team and the weaknesses. But this wasn't his team. This was Shepard's team. He was just holding it for her until she came back. His past history had already taught him that he could not have his own team, that it would end in sadness and betrayal. Sidionis was his lesson. One he took to his heart. I know Garrus. Said Tali her eyes shining brightly. I got this. She turned and walked off, writing commands in her omnitool. Garrus turned to Liara and walked up to her. He gave her his arm to help her into a sitting position on a crate. You okay? From another table he found a canister of water for her, opening it so she could drink from it. I've never seen anyone do that. Spirits. He wouldn't tell her that he didn't have high hopes for Tali's crazy idea. But then he wasn't an engineer. But he had faith in Tali, in Shepard. And it was this faith that kept him going even when the stars have gone out.