recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Chapter 140: Decisions, Decisions

### Summary

The doctors have conferred, and have decided to bring Shepard home to their apartment, rather than keep her in the hospital. Garrus and Dr. Chakwas desperately try to tell themselves that it is for healing not hospice care, but it is a struggle.

While Garrus helps direct the large amount of medical equipment needed for Shepard to stay there, he receives a message from Balak: “*Compromised. Last meeting spot. Name time.*” Garrus realizes that he has no choice but to answer with the trap being set for so soon and agrees to meet in one hour.

Once in as safe a spot as can be managed under such short notice, Balak tells Archangel that his partner Khonine was taken and hands over the card. Garrus takes a leap of faith and reveals his identity to Balak.

Garrus reaches out to Aelianus with the news, who then contacts Solana and her team to tell them that their priority target now has a hostage, and that they would be receiving actionable intel soon. Just over an hour later, The Shadow Broker passes along a dossier on Khonine- and that they were able to trace a personalized implant from her, and that the Marquis left the Citadel on a private spacecraft. Solana and her Blackwatch Team mobilize immediately, determined to rescue Khonine as soon as possible.

Khonine is indeed in the Marquis’ custody. While she is a clever hostage and trying to make him mad enough to make a mistake, the Marquis is in no mood for subtlety.

### Easter Eggs

#### Discord Highlights

Tentacles with plenty of reach (but no flexibility), killing people with your mind, whether tachyon field disturbances occur in the Mass Effect universe, and turning well-written emotional rollercoasters into fully immersive simulated fanfiction. You're welcome!
Chapter 65: Where the Love Light Gleams

### Major Characters

Captain "Commander" Shepard Garrus Vakarain Viatrix Ismena Vakaraian Jack Miranda Lawson

## Chapters

### Next Chapter

Chapter 66: I’ll Be Home for Christmas

Garrus searches for cookie sheets and promises coffee to Shepard when she gets home. After the Council meeting, an exhausted Shepard returns home to discover not just coffee, but also the Normandy crew and friends there to surprise her. Garrus declares “there’s no party like a Normandy party” and that he’s arranged for Vi to be baby-sat for the evening after Christmas dinner so that Shepard can unwind and enjoy their friends. Dinner is fabulous, Christmas crackers are popped,many drinks are had, and a drunk gingerbread house decorating contest is judged (but not before Jack covers Mirand in icing and the two of them end up under the mistletoe). Jack challenges Garrus and Shepard to outdo them in the kissing department. Garrus suggests they “blow these small-timers away” and Shepard agrees. They end up Entangling- and Jack is really glad she didn’t bet anything.
Chapter 143: An Eye for An Eye

### Summary

Garrus arrives on Invictus to back up the Androktasiai Squad. They spot their target and are forced to split up to track Khonine’s implant in one location, the Marquis’ ship in another, and the Marquis heading to a safe house at a third. The sub-dermal implant has been removed and left in a dead *šeros*. Solana is forced to confront the Marquis alone in his safehouse or risk losing him, and his hostage, entirely. Solana takes the chance, only to discover the Marquis waiting for her. The two struggle in violent close-quarters combat as he draws Solana deeper into his den. She chases him through his underground lair into a hidden ship as the airlock slides shut behind her. Solana is hard pressed, and doesn’t hesitate when the Marquis stumbles to gut-check him and gouges out his eye. The Marquis escapes her grip and locks her in the room, and proceeds to vent the atmosphere. As Solana loses consciousness, she gasps out as best a description as she can to her frantic brother and team.

Unfortunately, the description is too vague and the Marquis escapes with his new hostage.

### Title Meaning

"An Eye for An Eye" is a commandment found in Exodus 21: 23-27, setting up a number of laws the Hebrews were to live under. A similar idea existed in the Code of Hammurabi, and later the Roman law of retaliation, all expressing reciprocal justice. It is important to note that these laws do not require the exact harm be done to the perpetrators- rather than it should equal the harm done, either by injury, by fine, or imprisonment. This was likely to prevent excessive punishment, and also set for the president that the eye of a slave would be the same as the eye of a free person- if a slave received such an injury, they were to go free as payment for the lost eye.

The Marquis has long escaped justice, and the balance he owes is great. His eye is a down payment on the harm he has done.

### Easter Eggs

#### Discord Highlights

Doing everything in dark mode (-eyebrow waggle-), the best food for a food fight, and cats doing calibrations.
Davot Finnarem

*In his opinion, this part of the coup was the most important, and he’d be damned if missing a nap fucked it up.*

## Every One That Asketh

Davot Finnarem is a STG *coup d'état* member put in charge of pirating copies of every single genealogy map in salarian space. Detail oriented, he was critical in ensuring that not a single link was missed. When the coup happened at the stroke of midnight, all the original copies were erased, leaving the only remaining ones in their possession. Given the importance of genealogy to salarian society, this gave the conspirators incredible leverage over the entire species.
Chapter 87: Air Electric; Fearless Heart

Garrus struggles with experiencing Shepard dying in space in vivid detail. As Shepard comforts him, the two of them realize that they need to figure out what is causing the Entanglement and how to handle it, because doing it on accident during the upcoming gala would be disastrous. That night they enlist Kasumi’s help for keeping both an ear on Vi and them. What follows in the privacy of their bedroom is an incredibly intense experience as the two of them experience each other's lives in close detail leading up to just a whisper of what happened at the Crucible.
Chapter 148: An Unexpected Party, or, Picking Up the Pieces

It is Vi’s birthday, and Garrus is getting ready for the party while Hannah Shepard looks after her daughter and granddaughter. Shepard confirms that she is getting better slowly, and Anderson tells Shepard that he is proud of her.

We flashback to the moment Shepard decided she wasn’t ready to die and woke up with Garrus; who frantically calls for Chakwas. Chakwas relays her discoveries about what and who poisoned Shepard and quickly creates a treatment plan. The doctor says that while the damage is reversible, it is extensive- and that Shepard should be put in a medically-induced coma to give her the best chance to heal well. Shepard expresses that she doesn’t want to miss Vi’s birthday or her wedding. Over at Huerta Memorial, Solana briefs Khonine on her death, the Marquis’ death, her resurrection by Shepard’s hands, and Shepard’s death. The two of them then quietly discuss if Khonine should ask Ka’hairal to marry her; Khonine says she doesn’t want him to feel obligated or pressured, but in light of what had happened, the two of them might wish to take the opportunity they wouldn’t have had if not for Shepard. Shepard immediately begins treatment while Garrus and Chakwas talk about what to do with Verity’s body (*to the disposal chute! The keepers will take it from there*) and who to reach out to make this problem go away and re-secure the apartment. Game plan made, Garrus gets Vi and the whole family snuggles together for some much needed rest. Khonine asks Ka’hairal to marry her and he accepts. Garrus comes down to check on the group in the hospital and tells the group that Shepard isn’t dead.

The next day, Garrus and Khalisah meet with the Council to try to figure out what they can do to help. Mostly the plan is to stick to one story until Shepard is well again to be seen by the public and help choosing new individuals for their security detail. Sparatus floats the idea of Garrus becoming a Spectre. One week after that, three days before Vi’s birthday party, Shepard wakes up from her coma. She is happy that she didn’t miss it, but is extremely upset and feeling guilty about her perceived “stupidity”.

At the birthday party in present day Solana and Aelianus arrive and admire Garrus’ icing artistry of the two sets of markings (the Vakarians and the ones Shepard has created for herself) interwoven. They briefly talk about the reconstruction of the manor, keeping Akantha busy with art collecting, and inheritance. Garrus gets nowhere on discovering whom Solana has a romantic interest with. Ka’hairal and Khonine arrive and invite Shepard, Garrus, and Vi to their wedding. Hackett gives Shepard a short briefing on the rachni stepping up during her illness, the number of assination attempts, and Minos in general.

After cake, it’s time for gifts. Many of them are memorable, and a few come with cultural weight. Sasha and Aeran’Celet play dress up with Vi, and when they bring her back down Vi takes her first steps on her own to Mama.

### Easter Eggs

#### Discord Highlights

istie's written three books what, the Dance of the Sugar Plum Tuba, and EOTA: The Next Generation
Chapter 147: Unravelled

### Summary

Garrus gathers Shepard’s body to him, and brings her home. First to the *Normandy* where he shuts the whole crew out, then to the apartment they had shared. Dr. Chakwas leaps up, having finally found the poison that was killing Shepard, and stops in her tracks at the sight of Garrus holding his fiancée in his arms, his face a stone mask. Chakwas does an examination, and confirms Shepard’s death. Then she quietly leaves, allowing Garrus some privacy in his grief.

Shepard floats, and remembers floating, until she finally becomes aware that she is dead. The Illusive Man appears to her, commenting that “one of these times (death) is going to stick.” The two talk briefly about death and this strange, floating place Shepard keeps finding herself in. Before leaving, The Illusive man tells her she has a choice to make: “Is Vakarian at your wake, or is he keeping watch?”

Garrus speaks to Shepard’s body, telling her that he doesn’t want her to go. But he doesn’t want to hold her back. So if she was lingering on and wanted to leave, go with his love.

Shepard opens her eyes, having made her choice.

### Title Meaning

"All she knew was the floating, the feeling of being adrift in eternity, unmoored and unanchored and unravelled." Unravelled, in this case, appears to be the divorce of Shepard's spirit from her body, feeling un-whole.

### Easter Eggs

Shepard is likely feeling stiff due to the effects of the early stages of rigor mortis.

#### Discord Highlights

Adorably awkward MShenko, Garrus infiltrating non-Mass Effect Discord servers, and serious discussion about just how much of a troll istie is.
HMWCS Complex Melody in Rushing Wind

*Complex Melody in Rushing Wind* is a rachni ship that appears to be in charge of the Earth Blockade, just inside the orbit of Mars. Her captain is Sharp Stones in Still Waters.

### Description

*Complex Melody in Rushing Wind's* core is a long, thin, tapered cylinder, hanging in the center of a double helix that loops over itself like a Möbius strip. The helices appear to undulate around the cylinder.

### Mission

As Councilor Shepard became more and more ill, fellow Councilor Reflections-in-Deep-Waters and her mother Free-Flickering-Flame discussed how best to assist the other species- especially the humans as Shepard was becoming more and more unable to help them. One of the decisions made was to create a blockade to prevent Minos from leaving the Solar system and to assist any refugees in escaping.

On September 5th, 2188 *Complex Melody in Rushing Wind* made it's first engagement against Minos. They told the TCSV *Sparta* they were charged with the protection of all humans fleeing Minos' influence, and the *Sparta* was to return to Terra's orbit or be destroyed. The Sparta obeyed after a short delay.

On November 26th, the ship played host to Shepard, Garrus, and Major Nimue Wynn as they discussed the logistics of Shepard visiting Earth.
Chapter 99: Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better

### Summary

While feeding Viatrix her breakfast, Shepard and Garrus discover they have one  last simulated mission: a head to head infiltration challenge against each other. Same course, same mission, run at the same time with handicaps for mistakes, fastest time wins.

With the Normandy crew watching with great interest Shepard and Garrus work their way toward their unknown target. Orinia Phrixus has a twist for the mission: the captains are each other’s target.

### Title Meaning

"Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better)" is a show tune from the musical "*Annie Get Your Gun*". In the duet, a man and women compete against each other in increasingly complex tasks. Similarly, both Garrus and Shepard are Infiltrators by trade, and now must out-do each other in what they do best.

### Easter Eggs

#### Discord Hightlights

Giving istie too many ideas, what even is this fic about, and teensy little podfic teasers.
Nilbog

The Nilbog are ancient and may once have been a very intelligent goblinoid species. But now they are short, ugly and feral. Though they are just as tenacious as ever. They live amidst the ruins of what was once their empire, around the mysterious and deadly Brass Orbs and the just as mysterious Fortune Station.
Chapter 3: Lost in Translation

Warning! **Here there be spoilers**

### Summary

Exhausted, Garrus listens to Tali swear and finds it funny until they discover that she is swearing due to the mass relay being dark.

### Title Meaning

The title refers to Garrus' broken translator software in his omnitool, and also the few minutes gap between Tali realizing the Relay is offline and the rest of the *Normandy* crew seeing that reality.
List of Councillors

Current as of October 2188

* ao: Sygan
* asari: Tevos S'Celit
* batarian: Ka'hairal Balak
* elcor: Bekkam
* hanar/drell: Irdryllyn
* human: Shepard
* krogan: Urdnot Bakara
* quarian: Zaal'Koris vas Qwib-Qwib
* rachni: Reflections-in-Deep-Waters
* raloi: Ari'ka
* salarian: Valern
* turian: Sparatus Calidian Lexios
* volus: Din Korlack
* vorcha: Koshek
EOTA Universe

This is a list of the stories that take place in the same universe as the main story of Every One That Asketh, placed in approximate chronological order:

* Five Times Kasumi Snuck up on Garrus, and One Time She Didn't
* Sunset Eyes Are Smiling
* Cuddles, Because Science
* What Are You Talking About
* In Beta
* Still Not Covered in the Training Manuals
* Every One That Asketh and it's podfic
* The Icing on the Cake (Mid-EOTA)
* The Tiebreaker Round (Mid-EOTA)
* Howling Commandos: 2188 (Mid-EOTA)
* This Here Be Thresher Maw Country
* Zakuna, Kawidna, and Medvedi, Oh My!

And the EOTA AU:

* Special Tactics and Reconnaissance
Chapter 56: Research and Engineering

### Locations

Shepard-Vakarian Apartment, Citadel Council Chambers, Citadel Dark Star Lounge, Citadel

### Major Characters

Commander Shepard Dr. Liara T’soni Garrus Vakarian Tali’Zora vas Normandy Aria T’loak

## Chapters

### Next Chapter

Chapter 57: You Keep Using That Word

Shepard panics when she realizes she doesn’t have the wardrobe to do business professional and Liara comes to the rescue. The Citadel Council convenes for the first time post war. Liara makes a deal with Aria to split Illium.Tali tells Shepard that the Admiralty Board wants to commission her to the *Alarei*, Garrus asks Aria for help in tracking down the Marquis d’Apien.
Chapter 107: Like Unto Gods

### Summary

Shepard, Garrus, and Viatrix participate in the asari kariya, a child-blessing ritual, on Thessia with Liara, Samara, and Tevos along with twenty-one more asari.

That afternoon, Liara speaks with her father about the ceremony. Aethyta comments that it must have been like “joining with the whole goddess-damned universe”. Liara confirms the feeling, and when Aethyta goes on to say that there are a lot of dark things out there Liara says that is what she is there for.

The next morning, Javik and Shepard arrive at the University of Thessia per Liara’s request. Liara believes that Shepard will be able to use more prothean data storage devices and beacon technology given her new ability to send and receive information. Javik confirms that something about Shepard has changed, he describes it as her becoming more prothean. He tells her that when he named her the Avatar of Victory, she assumed the mantle in truth- like a prothean would. Javik admits with some discomfort that the protheans always had Avatars, and that they had a deeper connection with the *iborihe* than most other protheans, but they didn’t understand why. To handle the glut of information, the Avatars used the memory shards to store the data outside their own minds- technology they received from the inusannon. Javik hands Shepard an empty memory shard, and although Shepard asks what to do with it, she instinctively places information in it with no help or direction. Liara goes on to say that the inusannon had come to a different conclusion than the protheans of the nature of the Catalyst: That the Catalyst may have been Harbinger, and it would survive the firing of the Crucible using the *iborihe*.

### Easter Eggs

#### Discord Highlights

Pointed self-care Looks, Vi asking *pa'ai* to fix the sun, and Prothean dating practices.
Chapter 67: The Captain and His Crew

Garrus is sworn in to the Alliance and is made Co-Captain (and currently the only active CO) of the Normandy. Hackett tells him to prepare a report of the current crew and state of the ship, and then to select new personnel and prepare for a shake-down cruise. Shepard and Garrus look over their shortlist of possible new crew members and how to shuffle the current set. Joker threatens death if Garrus tries to take the Normandy from him (and EDI) and then asks if Shepard put him up to it; Shepard giggles. Unsurprisingly, everyone wants to stay. New crew are selected and brought on board. Shepard communicates without words to Garrus again, but seems unaware of it. Garrus welcomes the new crew to the Normandy.
Chapter 104: Aurorae

### Summary

After the rachni queen tells her that she is always welcome in Whispered Memory, Shepard returns to the Austerlitz. She holds her daughter close and recommits to being the best mother she can be for her.

On Earth, Alexander Trechenkov watches his face change before his eyes as his deep-cover implants break down. He still believes in his mission, but he is starting to confront he may not be who he thought he was.

Four days after Shepard’s trip to Suen, Garrus discovers a data disc hidden in the lining of the crate containing her outfit for the evening’s stop. Inside is a threat from the Marquis, with blackmail regarding Shepard. Both CORI and EDI refuse to show him the file given it’s distressing nature, and EDI promises darkly that they are going to find Calix and “make him wish he had never been born”.

We briefly flashback to the Marquis blackmailing Aeran’Celet into placing the disc. The Marquis reminds Aeran to keep her silence, lest their business suddenly get audited and subsequently ruined. After he leaves, Aeran weeps with guilt and shame.

On board the space station Kaaf An orbiting Irune, Shepard and Garrus politely intermingle as guests of honor at the First Bank of Irune’s Winter Gala. Drelo Tul finds and apologizes to Shepard, revealing that he was the one to up the difficulty of the reaper troops during the Armax match on Palaven, thinking that it would be a glorious moment of triumph only to have Shepard injured. As an apology, Drelo gifts them controlling shares in Cyclone Engineering Systems, Solar Summit Expeditions, and Astral Research, a major stake in Armax Arsenal, and sole proprietorship of a handful of smaller corporations. Obviously, neither Garrus nor Shepard have the time to run these sorts of assets, and Barla Von is there almost immediately to offer his expertise- allow him to be their financial advisor. There are many, many companies clamoring to work with them.

A couple of days after the Gala, Garrus returns to Palaven. While waiting for his father to be available, Nyrius comments on how humble and hardworking both of them are. Garrus talks about how Aelianus believes in the meritocracy, the way he sees the Hierarchy has changed, and he probably brings Nyrius her rylke because of how much he misses Evadne.

Shortly afterward, Garrus takes his father down to the coastline and far away from prying eyes. There, with all their electronics off and stored away, he tells his father about his tracking of the Marquis d’Apien, and that now the Marquis knows who he is, Garrus needs help. Aelianus reveals that he knows his son is the vigilante Archangel and promises to help.

### Easter Eggs

#### Discord Highlights

The keys to the kingdom, Anderson's history of punching Udina, and why we all love Wrex.
Chapter 136: Memory and Touch

### Summary

Shepard is shocked when Balak allows Shepard to touch him when he hands her a stylus. In batarian culture, this signifies considerable respect. Balak also is carefully trying to ensure Shepard’s comfort through her persistent migraines as her condition worsens.

When Garrus calls Shepard, having resolved to finally tell her he is hunting the Marquis, he is horrified by her physical state. He is wracked by guilt for leaving her alone for so long, and thus missing her deterioration. Garris assures her that he will be home in a couple of weeks, but asks if she needs him to come home now. She declines, and assures him that she is okay. Though Garrus can clearly see that she is not alright, he is stuck with the mission and unable to return to her.

After disconnecting, Shepard finds herself too exhausted to move. She feels a heavy hand on her and hears the Marquis speak to her- but despite her every effort to move, she cannot. She lets out an anguished cry as she hears him leave, fearing Vi to be in danger, but Verity assures her that no one is home but the two of them and Vi. Verity puts Shepard to bed and assures her that she will stay downstairs to keep an eye on the two of them.

Garrus wakes, seeing a mischievous and well Shepard leaning over him. As he relaxes into her loving embraces, he suddenly remembers that he is on the *Normandy-* and Shepard is on the Citadel. Despite the impossibility, and the vision being gone when he opens his eyes, he can feel her still. After a shower, he returns to bed- feeling desperately lonely.

### Easter Eggs

#### Discord Highlights

Sharing cookies, how much it would cost to do a full-cast audiobook of EOTA with the original VAs, and great mom advice.
Chapter 5: Signal

Warning! **Here there be spoilers**

### Summary

Lieutenant Skyler’s team searches the fallen Reaper for the source of the signal, Skyler and Anderson discuss how to handle any possible indoctrination signs, and a regular spike in the signal is identified and located.

### Title Meaning

The Signal in this chapter is the KIA message going off within the crashed Reaper detected by Douglas Einarson.
Game Choices

## Mass Effect

* Chorban aided.
* Sha'ira aided.
* Jenna assisted.
* Confronted rouge VI on Luna.
* Colonists on Feros spared.
* Gianna Parasini aided.
* Matriarch Dilinaga's writings recovered.
* Collected all available rare earths/minerals/gases.
* Collected all Turian insignias.
* Collected all Prothean data disks.
* Collected all Salarian dog tags/Leauge of ONE medallions.
* Rachni Queen spared.
* Tali aided on her pilgimage with geth data.
* Helped Urdnot Wrex recover his family armor.
* Helped Garrus Vakarian track down Dr. Saleon.
* Hostages saved on asteroid X57; Balak escapes.
* No one romanced.
* Urdnot Wrex survived Virmire.
* Kaidan Alenko saved.
* Ashley Williams sacrificed.
* Captain Kirrahee and men saved.
* Citadel Council saved.

## Mass Effect 2

* Paid for Ken's ticket off Omega
* Garrus Vakarian romanced.
* Shut down Project Overlord, saved David Archer.
* Maelon's genophage research data saved.
* Sided with Samara on her loyalty mission.
* Woke Grunt.
* Saved and assisted Legion.
* Prevented Tali's Exile.
* Helped Liara overthrow the Shadow Broker.
* All squad members' loyalty achieved.
* Normandy SR-2 crew saved.
* Returned from the Omega 4 Relay with all hands.
* Attempted to recover dr. Amanda Kenson, Alpha Relay destroyed.

## Mass Effect 3

* Romance with Garrus rekindled.
* Bomb on Tuchanka disabled.
* Genophage cured, Mordin killed.
* Kaidan Alenko reassured about Shepard, loyalty retained.
* Rachni Queen saved, Grunt survived.
* Salarian Councilor Valern saved, Thane dies.
* Miranda warned about Kai Leng.
* Samara's death prevented.
* Aria T'Loak assisted in both retaking Omega and gang leadership.
* David Anderson gifts Shepard his apartment: her clone defeated, Shepard throws one hell of a party.
* The Crucible Choice: ?????????*?????**???????***
Chapter 158: Dereliction of Duty

Sisters Elana and Ana return to their home to find Carlos (brother of Manuel from Eden Prime) hosting a gathering of people, who have come to hear about his visions of “the shepherd”. When the two of them react poorly to this news, the crowd begins to turn ugly before Carlos redirects them towards “following the shepherd’s path”- a chant the congregation takes up.

In the Stockholm Government Hall, Clara argues with Dr. Rossi and Lieutenant Senzke about what their current goals should be: Running a struggling planet or Preparing for the Reaper’s return. Clara is convinced they are dead, the other two believe they are trapped- and either Shepard or Viatrix are the key to releasing them and ascending humanity. They also note that there are groups that are worshiping Shepard, as a savior or a god.

Miranda and Jack express their rage at trying (and sometimes failing) to keep civilians safe from the landmines the locals no longer possess the power to sweep for. Intel says that Minos is going to attack one of the local orphanages for taking in some biotic children. Jack and Miranda say the attackers are going to be paste if they have something to say about it.

Shepard gives Hackett an update on her condition (she’s a huge work in progress- physically, cybernetically, and mentally), and tells him that she does not want to leave the force. That being said, she doesn’t know how to juggle being the Citadel Councilor of humanity, Co-Captian of the *Normandy*, and mother to Vitarix- so she’s hoping Hackett has some advice for her. Hackett’s response? She should be an admiral- leading an exploratory fleet. In fact, he’s already planned the pinning ceremony.

### Easter Eggs

#### Discord Highlights

The Reapers going galaxy-hopping, Russian fic combat challenges, and jumping the spike traps which istie may or may not have set. I'll never tell.
Dr. Matilda “Tilly” Foster

Dr. Matilda Foster (known as "Tilly" to most of the people she worked with) was a Doctor of Xenolinguistics.

### Reaper War

Tilly had been the top Prothean scholar at Macquarie University, and had been in the midst of revamping their curriculum to include the languages of the more minor "client races" of the Prothean Empire instead of only studying the Imperial variant.

The young doctor had been trapped on the university when the Reapers hit, and took refuge in the campus' sub-basements. To drown out the screams and other sounds of battle, she spent her time reciting conjugation tables and morphological theoretics under her breath, and re-reading the Prothean literature on her omni-tool. Though she survived the war, she quite understandably struggles with profound PTSD.

### Every One That Asketh

Though her therapist had suggested that she discontinue studying language (at least until she could get her flashbacks under control), when the resistance began looking for anyone who could assist in translating information in the Mars Prothean Archives Tilly immediately volunteered. On September 23, 2188 she and one of her research partners received a shocking visitor- Javik, Avatar of Vengeance. Tilly's fluency in Imperial Prothean and understanding of his culture impressed the prothean general- and perhaps her gumption in demanding some kind of respect. He agreed that a discussion of what they found would be far less tiresome than simply translating.
Chapter 169: We Could Be Heroes, Just for One Day

### Summmary

Clara Goyle finds herself paralyzed with indecision due to her carefully laid plans for a united Earth on fire- (figuratively and literally} and Alexander Trechenkov’s absence. Lieutenant Sentzke insists that the time for action is now- and time for Clara to become someone to rally around.

Garrus takes Shepard to their Honeymoon destination: A highly advanced holo-sim of a beach on the Citadel, unknown to anyone. Garrus’ best guess: a wedding gift from the Keepers. There they spend a week together, alone save the Keepers, relaxing and enjoying each other. One the last day Garrus and Shepard find themselves abused in their bathing suits by Minos operatives, including a man with glowing green eyes whom Shepard recognizes with something deep in her soul and who speaks to her the same way Garrus can. Garrus and Shepard survive thanks to the Keeper’s intervention, but the man with the glowing eyes escapes.

### Title Meaning

We conclude our duo of ***Moulin Rouge!*** song "Elephant Love Medley" inspired titles. The wedding is over, now we start Act III in earnest.

### Easter Eggs

#### Discord Highlights

Babies, puppies who aren't puppies anymore, and aliens.
Chapter 78: Tomorrow We’ll See

Archangel prowls the Black Hole among streetwalkers, seeking information and gaining directions. After casing the club, Garrus takes a break from planning to discover that someone has leaked the news of Vi’s birth to the press- ALL of it. He makes a call to Shepard to check on her, and she is not doing well. Less than four hours later, Minos releases a manifesto. Almost 8 hours after that, Shepard calls Garrus, who is still on stakeout, with the news that they (including Vi)  are getting death threats. Garrus throws the stakeout in the bin and tells Shepard that he is coming home. When he reaches the apartment, Shepard informs him that Parliament is convening a grand jury to indict her for high treason.
Dex Stalker

Dex Stalker was never clear exactly where he came from, but he might hail from one of the smaller towns in the Mobe system, such as Alacamo, Springvale or Port Faith. Many say he used the Force, although no one believes the Jedi still exist.

He was a man of few words but many deeds. Around Mobe, it's said that he sacrificed his life to destroy one of the Brass Orbs in a blaze of glory, saving millions of lives.
Chapter 110: In Absentia

### Summary

Aelianus wakes up in the evening after his crash, and Garrus rushes to his side. A little while later, both Shepard and Garrus confide to Admiral Hackett that they believe the assassination attempt was related to them, rather than any policy decisions the Primarch might have made. Shepard suspects Minos, but Garrus confides privately to Hackett that the Marquis might be involved. Hackett has his own theory, given the skill required to make the shot described.

Early the next morning Solana Vakarian arrives, having come as quickly as she could and still dirty from the classified mission she’d been forced to wrap up quickly. Solana tells Garrus how she broke her leg during the Reaper war, and that their father refused to abandon her.

Garrus asks Nyrius who is going to be interim Primarch while his father recovers, and she explains that his father had named Duarch Damien Arterius- Saren’s son born out of bonding. Garrus is extremely surprised by this news, and Nyrius explains that Aelianus had been politically grooming Damien for years, given Garrus’ wayward ways.

Official word of Aelianus’s accident and Damien being named interim Primarch is announced shortly afterward. That evening, when Aelianus is more lucid he asks his children though subvocals to stay with him while they can- even if he hurts. He explains that while he lay there after the crash, he was filled with regret at the idea of leaving them so soon after losing their mother, and that he had wasted too much time trying to shape them into what was expected instead of enjoying his children. Both Garrus and Solana tell him that they understand, forgive, and love him. Aelianus tells them that he loves them also- and he’ll never again take that for granted.

### Easter Eggs

#### Discord Highlights

Putting up curtains just for the aesthetic, the real meaning of slow burn, and Vi getting into trouble with Din and Mor.
List of Locations in EOTA

Aethon Cluster

* Aru System
	+ Irune

Annos Basin

* Pranas System
	+ Sur'Kesh

Apien Crest

* Trebia System
	+ Palaven
* Castellus System
	+ Digeris

Arcturus Stream

* Arcturus System
	+ Arcturus Station

Argos Rho Cluster

* Phoenix System
	+ Pinnacle Station

Athena Nebula

* Parnitha System
	+ Thessia

Castor Stream

* Psi Velorum System
	+ Lehen Bitxia

Crescent Nebula

* Tasale System
	+ Illium

Eagle Nebula

* Amun System
	+ Anhur

Exodus Cluster

* Asgard System
	+ Terra Nova
* Otava System
	+ Amaterasu
* Utopia System
	+ Eden Prime

Far Rim

* Dholen System
	+ Haestrom

Krogan DMZ

* Aralakh System
	+ Tuchanka

Local Cluster

* Sol System
	+ Earth
	+ Mars

Ninmah Cluster

* Maskim Xul System
	+ Suen

Nubian Expanse

* Kalabsha System
	+ Yamm

Perseus Veil

* Tikkun System
	+ Rannoch

Petra Nebula

* Vetus System
	+ Elysium

Radak Cluster

* Peshara System
	+ Rannadril

Rosette Nebula

* Caldwell System
	+ Tiptree

Serpent Nebula

* Widow System
	+ The Citadel

Shadow Sea

* Iera System
	+ Horizon

Silean Nebula

* Phontes System
	+ Dekuuna

Valhallan Threshold

* Raheel-Leyya System

Xìngyùn Cluster

* Dà Líng Sān System
	+ Shanxi

System Unknown:

* Turvess
* Kahje
* Rakhana
Chapter 46: Nothing’s Never Not Going Sideways

Shepard slides completely into a flashback and holds Garrus at gunpoint. Dr. Chakwas, Liara, Tali, and Garrus work together to subdue her. Afterward, Liara shares information the previous Shadow Broker had collected on the mission Shepard had flashbacked into, involving a powerful slaving group on Illium with connections to Torfan. Shepard wakes up in the here-and-now and after finding out what happened, relieves herself of command only to find out that Garrus had already done so the night before.
Chapter 40: White Picket Fences

Shepard reports to Anderson regarding her conversation regarding terraforming Tuchanka, and opines that the Council needs to start making some decisions. On their way down to the surface of Rannoch, Shepard has a flashback to fighting the Reaper on foot there. After the Admiralty Board meeting, the group retires for some drinking and dancing. Shepard wonders if mass relays are capable of moving themselves, since the Reapers moved the Citadel. While staying in a guest house groundside of Rannoch, Garrus whispers words of love and dreams to Shepard. The two of them talk regarding what they want for the future, and how Garrus is far more than the washed-up cop-turned-vigilante he thinks he is. When Garrus doesn’t believe Shepard, she asks EDI to pull up just some of the glowing reports that have been written regarding him.
Greg Adams

### Early Career

Prior to serving on the first *Normandy*, Lieutenant Gregory Adams had severed on every class of Alliance starships. His last posting before the events of Mass Effect had been the SSV *Tokyo*, though in his own words the *Tokyo* "couldn't hold a candle to the *Normandy*".

## Mass Effect

### Mass Effect

Adams was hand picked by then-Captain David Anderson to serve as the Chief Engineer for the SSV *Normandy* SR-1. As such, he was very familiar with the state-of-the-art IES stealth systems and the experimental Tantalus Drive Core.

When Commander Shepard assumed command of the Normandy during the hunt for Saren, Adams took the newly-recruited Tali'Zorah under his wing. He complimented Shepard on her eye for talent, speculating that if Tali stayed with them for more than a month, she'd know more than he does about the engines. The two of them would often work together to salvage technology.

### Post Mass Effect

Engineer Adams survived the attack that destroyed the *Normandy*. Afterwards, he was reassigned like most of the rest of the surviving crew. Dr. Chakwas extended the offer from Cerberus to join her on the newly built *Normandy* SR-2, but he declined due to their earlier run-ins with Cerberus, and the impossibility of them bringing Shepard back from the dead. He would later regret not joining the crew.

### Mass Effect 3

When the Alliance confiscated the SR-2 when Commander Shepard turned herself into their custody, the Alliance tapped Adams as the obvious choice to investigate the ship and bring her up to the Alliance rules and regulations. Over time, Adams grew suspicious that the on-board VI was in fact an AI- and went about trying to deactivate it, while EDI tried to thwart him without appearing to do so.

When the Reaper's attacked Earth, the *Normandy* left with the crew that had been on board at the time. During the war, Adams would devise an improvement to the *Normandy's* drive core thermals by not allowing the core to vent into engineering. After Shepard pardoned and re-recruited Kenneth Donnelly and Gabriella Daniels, Daniels made a breakthrough that was helpful to the Crucible project. Adams also acted as a proponent of synthetic life, despite trying to deactivate EDI earlier.
Chapter 145: Tell Me

### Summary

Shepard finds herself on the Crucible, speaking to The Illusive Man. When Shepard tells him how unhelpful he is, The Illusive Man replies that she hates just being handed answers unless she has first asked a question. She realizes as they talk that she suddenly knows his name- his real name, but she’s not sure how. The Illusive Man tells her that he doesn’t believe in human supremacy per se- rather that humanity is better placed to utilize the potential between synthetic and organic, and that he was successful. Finally, Shepard asks him to tell her what is going on.

Viatrix is missing her mama, and Hanna is trying to soothe her. Shepard “calls” her mother and Viatrix over to her before having a seizure. Dr. Chakwas is called, and manages to stop the seizing before calling Garrus to tell him to return immediately. She is interrupted by Shepard herself, raspingly calling for Garrus.

As Garrus tries to address her, time seems to stop- no, time DOES stop. Shepard is standing in front of him, looking far more healthy than she has in a long time, and the timestamp on the video is paused. She tells him that she has come to say goodbye, but he seems to be in trouble. Garrus breaks down, and finally tells her about his hunt for the Marquis, and that he has taken Solana and Khonine hostage. She is angry that he kept this from her; she reminds him that she could have helped him and that if she had known he was alive she wouldn’t have had to wonder. When Garrus tells Shepard about the Marquis’ demands, she tells him that he can’t hurt her any more than she is already hurting- let her do this one last thing for him. Liara calls Garrus with the news that she has the Marquis’ address on Bekenstein, and a plan starts to form.

Early in the morning Solana and Khonine are ready to implement their plan- Solana has almost gotten the pipe she is attached to loose. Khonine will draw their captor’s ire and Solana will attack him once distracted. They must implement their plan now- waiting any long and Khonine might not have the strength to hold out long enough to do what must be done.

### Title Meaning

"Tell Me" is Shepard's demand. Garrus must finally confess all of what he has been hiding.

### Easter Eggs

#### Discord Highlights

Inspiration from French chanteuses, the deep and abiding desire to do a Ctrl+F in real life, and stomping around waving the art flag.
Chapter 139: Mama

### Summary

Reflections-in-Deep-Waters consults with Free-Flickering-Flame on the Council’s agenda- but most especially on Shepard’s collapse and the human refugee crisis. Reflections-in-Deep-Waters is extremely distressed that she could not convince Shepard to allow her to help, and is unsure how to assist the humans. Free-Flickering-Flame gently guides Reflections into realizing the rachni could learn how the other species build settlements, and that they can assist by transporting refugees and supplies, and offering protection. Free-Flickering-Flame reminds Reflections that the mark of a true ally is to take on the responsibility of defending, assisting, and speaking for others when they cannot.

When Shepard finally awakes, Garrus is there. He asks her what is going on, and she admits that she has no idea. Chakwas demands that Shepard talk to her, and confronts her about doctoring her medical results in July. Shepard admits that she couldn’t let the Alliance and Hackett take the *Normandy* from her, and points out how everyone is watching her. Shepard vocalizes her paranoia and Garrus realizes things are much worse than they thought.

A couple of hours later, Balak arrives with a get well soon plant originally gown on Khar’shan. Shepard is extremely touched by the gift, as Balak explains its significance. Garrus arrives with Vi in tow, who cires “Mama!” in delight at seeing her ma’ai awake. Although Balak is uncomfortable, Shepard and Garrus convince him to stay. Balak admits that the Hegemony executed his family due to failed operations- and this is why he attempted to crash the asteroid into Terra Nova. Moved by the story, Garrus explains that in turian culture, if a child dies often their community offers an opportunity to act as a secondary guardian to another child. He and Shepard offer this to Balak on behalf of Viatrix, and Balak accepts.

When Balak returns home, he discovers the house empty. The Marquis has left him a note- and has Khonine.

### Easter Eggs

#### Discord Highlights

Shepard's death counter, istie's finely honed slow-burn abilities, and assault and battery with a lamp.
Chapter 137: Shepard?

### Summary

Shepard awakes feeling far more well than she has in months. She has no idea why this is so, but goes about her day with enormous enthusiasm, eating normally, kissing Vi goodbye and driving herself to work for the first time in quite a while. Shepard talks wedding arrangements with Khalisah, while Sasha and Aeran’Celet work on her wedding dress fitting, has lunch with human Ambassador Freni, and strides into the afternoon Council meeting, ready to tackle anything and everything. Unfortunately, she ends up collapsing in the middle of the meeting and is rushed to Huerta Memorial.

### Easter Eggs

#### Discord Highlights

Exercising one's schadenfreude muscles, the joys and wonders of canning, and playing hot-and-cold with istie.
Z'thrini

Found on Tatooine by Glinyyurboth Trur, the leader of a Hutt crime family. Z'thrini was trained to be the best weapons dealer possible, but his training was cut short at age 19 by Glinyyurboth's sudden death. He moved to Coruscant and started an "honest" living as a weapons dealer, what he was trained to do. He started selling weapons to whoever had the biggest pockets and got a cybernetic appraiser's eye, a tool of the trade.

After a close call with the police, a 32 year old Z'thrini moved back to Tatooine and started doing business with anyone with the right amount of credits.

Once again, a now 44 Z'thrini found himself face to face with the law in a crime bust while in the middle of a deal with an unknown gang. Unable to convince the police that he was not a part of the gang, he was sent to The Trinity. There, he met new associates including Rroz' Alos' Rongerk.
The Maw Rift

The Maw Rift, a small bar in a large space station, Fortune Station, has long been owned by The Corporation.

Rumor has it, it was once owned by the Chagrian bartender known as Les. But there is no digital record of this. People don't give it any more credence than when Les says his real name is Mas Amedda, even though he always insists he is not THE Mas Amedda. Besides, he'd be too young.

A droid staffs the bar when Les is off-duty.

Notable patrons of the bar are the crew of the Star Empress and the crew of the Knight Errant.
Chapter 9: Can't See Me

Warning! **Here there be spoilers**

### Summary

While on watch duty, Private Einarson accidentally brushes against the back of Commander Shepard’s head in his exhaustion and receives a vision: first of pain and death then of peace, hope, and life. After falling off the crate, he sleeps for several hours and wakes well rested. When Anderson relieves him, he tells the Admiral that he feels ‘zen’.
Chapter 22: Father

Aelianus and Garrus are reunited, and Aelianus is forced to confront the fact that his son is a full adult, worn from experience, battle, and struggle . . . and that he had struggled to see it. The two of them embrace, allowing their subvocals to speak the truth of their feelings and begin to repair their fractured relationship.

### Title Meaning

In this moment, for the first time in quite a while, Garrus and Aelianus are content to express their love for one another: Father to Son and vice versa.
Chapter 11: Search

### Summary

A trio of admirals discuss how to safely disconnect Shepard from the Reaper before Lieutenant Skyler hits on the idea of trying to somehow contact Shepard. Admiral Xen utilizes a sheepdog program salvaged out of a geth prime to “herd” Shepard’s consciousness back into her body. Shepard floats in a dimming space, feeling stretched beyond her normal boundaries and protecting another presence as the light shrinks.

### Title Meaning

The "Search" this this chapter is two-fold, both for a solution to the problem of safely disconnecting Shepard from the Reaper and also looking for the geth platform with the program Daro'Xen needs.
Dr. Conrad Verner

## Mass Effect

### Mass Effect

Commander Shepard met Conrad on the Citadel during her hunt for Saren. At first, he only asked for an autograph, and then a photograph, before he suggested that Shepard "sign him up" to be another Spectre. Shepard was eventually able to convince Conrad to return home to 'take care of the home front'. He reluctantly left, thanking Shepard for setting him straight.

### Mass Effect 2

Shepard ran into Conrad again during her investigation into the Collectors kidnapping human colonies on Illium. After Shepard's death he had become despondent, and had decided to try to improve the galaxy the way Shepard would have. Unfortunately, Conrad's naiveite ended up with him being duped into harassing a bar owner by a con-artist. Shepard handled the problem and redirected Conrad's attention to helping others in a less violent way. Conrad then founded a charity organization for refugees and orphans. He named it "Shepards" in honor of Commander Shepard.

### Mass Effect 3

Shepard met Conrad for the third time during the Reaper War and discovered he was actively recruiting for Cerberus. His reasoning was that if Shepard had worked with them, then they had been vetted by her. Shepard told Conrad that what he was doing was wrong, leading to him realizing he had messed up again. He begged Shepard to tell him what he could do to make things right- and that's when she discovered Conrad actually has a doctorate- and did his dissertation on " xenotechnology and dark energy integration". Conrad's dissertation turned out to be helpful in the Crucible project, especially combined with the Matriarch Dilinaga writings the Normandy SR-1 had recovered back in 2183.

When Shepard asked about his charity, he told her that it was doing really well until the Reapers attacked. He spent most of what he had left to get his charges off-world.

Conrad identified his Cerberus contact to Shepard. When the agent attempted to shoot Shepard, Conrad jumped in the way to take the bullet for her. Fortunately, Jenna (a waitress Shepard met in 2183) sabotaged the gun.

## Every One That Asketh

As Tali directed her crew to continue to study the effects of Dholen, she shared her opinion with Commander Shepard that the the cause must be dark energy. Shepard told her that she needed to speak with Conrad Verner.