A gentle, cool breeze on my face. I could've sworn I'd forgotten the sensation. The smell of foreign flowers. Sunlight leaking through my eyelids. I opened them.

I felt contentment as I glanced around the familiar expansive gardens of House T'Soni's estate, the aelids conducting their never ending dance of transferring the element zero-tinged pollen from one flower to another, demonstrating the path of siari so beautifully, as Mother had always taught, the being becoming our family crest.

Mother?

Mother. It was the first time in ten cycles around the sun to see her face-to-face. Although there was some trepidation present, most was overcome by a sense of longing, and eagerness to show the fruits of the past decade – the culmination of many a grueling hour seeking to show her path in siari was truly worth what she said she'd desired all that time ago.

"Little Wing."

I stood, feeling warmth course through me at hearing the name I'd come to hold close, never uttered by anyone except the one chosen to deliver me from the Goddess's bosom, to the living world.

I turned to see her, Matriarch Benezia.

No, I never called her that. She was Mother, my protector, my advocator. She had been…amused at the path decided to be taken in my life, but not adverse. Until several cycles before. She'd….changed her tone, began to chastise in that voice of ice that was abruptly present that cut so deep. Harmony, grace, and acceptance were no longer on her lips near as much, but more of a derisiveness for the establishment of the universe.

But, today was meant to be a day of celebration. It was the Festival of Athame's Blessing, meaning she'd been given leave from her new post at the university to return home and meet her at long last. Any hurt from their past conversation was cast off in a delightful anticipation.

I closed one of the books I had taken from the vast gallery of House T'Soni's library, collected over two and a half millenia, as I took her in.

Expectation to find her in a shimmering dress laced with element zero sparkling veins and aqua blue mixed extravagantly with other colors was stunted in the moment as I noticed the stiff and prim all-black dress she wore, as well as a head-dress of the same blunt color, its shape aggressive and sharp, reminding me of my endless readings on the Demon Ardat-Yakshi Queens of old, who were the catalyst for the asari as a people to unite as one, yet many. But why had she taken on such a horrid reminder for herself? Why was her personality now seemingly encapsulated in this bleak look of somberness?

It was the same dress she wore on Noveria as she subjected the rachni queen, and confronted Shepard.

Rachni? Shepard? Shepard….

I blinked away this seemingly random thought and refocused on Mother. Her hands were clasped stiffly in front of her, no usual hand gesture of siari acceptance she and her acolytes propagated, nor even a generous smile as she regarded me.

"Mother. May Athame protect you. I'm so happy I could have this time to come and be with you-,"

"I was not expecting this, Liara. Have the ones that came before lost your attention for once?"

I was at a brief loss of words. The ice was still present in her voice, cold as the moon Silestra above, even as her composure stayed still, and her eyes examined me with calculation. Taking advantage of my silence, she continued.

"I am sorry, my daughter. I've become very occupied with matters of great importance. It pains me to see in your eyes that you still have yet to decide to forget the past of this galaxy, and push forward with me to attain what wonders lie ahead of us. If you will not let me help you along this path…then I must take my leave."

The form of my mother without further care turned in the opposite direction as I reeled inside, not quite grasping her indifference to my simple existence outside her realm of living, and in a sudden swell of emotion I cried out, "Mother!"

She turned, but only slightly, casting a frown towards me, hands still clasped in front of her.

"What has become of…us? Why are you this way? What unforgivable sin before the Goddess and you have I committed to make you so cold? I…wanted to be with you today, to show you how I have devoted my life to the pursuit of knowledge and unity that you taught me to try to grasp. Have I strayed off this path so much you'd rather see me to the door than even simply consider me?" I choked out, the sight unbearable of one of my only supporters not bothering to hear me any longer.

This time, she was slow to speak, looking down in thought, her eyes even looking troubled for a moment, before she looked to me once more.

"My perception….has changed, my daughter. No longer do I see siari as the right, gentle path forward. No, no….this was never correct. I've been exposed to what is the only harmonious way forward – through the subjugation of ourselves to that which knows everything….at whatever the cost."

I blinked away sudden tears, not understanding these harsh words coming from my benevolent mother, who'd always ministered the tenets of oneness, harmony, and love. Her grating words now flew in the face of it all, and I couldn't understand.

"What is this? What do you mean? Who…." I managed to say before trailing off, searching her cold eyes for some explanation as I lost the ability to aptly ask what I needed from her.

"I cannot tell you at the moment, my child. One day….I will send for you to be apart of what is prepared for. Just know that a certain turian was the adjudicator to open my eyes. And one day, he'll show you too…"

-

-

Saren. IT WAS SAREN.

My vision blurred, Benezia's form fading behind a wall of rage, as realization dawned.

SAREN ARTERIUS.

Genocider of Eden Prime.

He took my mother.

Harbinger of the Reapers.

The Aelid of T'Soni – he took her. He twisted her. Betrayed her.

He betrayed Anderson too. Betrayed millions, BILLIONS.

She…must be rescued….from him…

Shepard must stop him.

Shepard. Shepard!

My…sister. Hannah Grace….

The world snapped into two, blinking out of existence, as I fell into blackness. I landed on something solid, though it was undefined to my eyes. Much like as when I transitioned from my own world to this dimension. That of Mass Effect. A fictional universe. At least to those of my old home.

I was myself again. Derek Masterson.

I was still in this blackness though. But it wasn't just that. There was depth to it – a feeling. A cluster of feelings that at the moment were faint and nearing abstract – but during the…episode, had been my own. I was she.

She….

A presence. There was a presence near me. I could feel it, as if we were conjoined at the hip – as if we were one being, the feeling in the back of my head. As if…

"Who are you?"

The soft, but insistent voice echoed audibly through this area, and also in my head. It was curious, but also wary. I turned, and saw her.

Liara. Liara T'Soni.

Her body was covered in white dressed wrap – silk maybe, or a variant of it – blue that matched her skin color running thin veins across the cloth. She looked…pure, unfettered. And I was at a loss.

"I-," I tried, but found my eyes unwilling to meet her suddenly piercing stare. "My name is -,"

"I know your name. Somehow. It's Derek. We – we're – connected. I can feel your consciousness, the edge of your mind. Some of your undulating emotions. Not all of it, though. Oh Goddess…."

Her sudden realization was accompanied by a wave of panicked emotions that I simply felt in overwhelming proportions, drawing a shaky exhale from both our lips as my eyes shot up to see her own crystal blue eyes layered with shock.

"What have I done?" she breathed after a moment, hugging herself as what had occurred smashed me in the face as well.

"We're….bonded – or melded, I guess," I said quietly with a sheepish tone, though this did nothing to keep her from hearing me as her eyes shot up and met mine. She said nothing though, staying speechless, as did I, but then her face frowned as she examined me and spoke hesitantly.

"You…were the voice…in my memory…"

No, I was her. I had seen her last meeting with Matriarch Benezia as if I had been there, and said the words myself. Yet, part of me had remained, and connected subconsciously to things I had myself experienced, and the end realization that her mother was now in Saren's grasp had been the trigger – the explosion of emotion, from both Liara and I, had ripped the memory apart, and deposited us – here, in this location – wherever this was.

"How…how is that possible? What were all those things that you said? Saren? Reapers? Rachni, and Noveria? How could you know any of this? Who are you?" the asari asked once more, her voice rising as her emotions that I could feel did as well, demanding an answer I couldn't come even close to enunciating in its entirety.

At least, I couldn't. But the aspect of my mind that was locked away – that I couldn't aptly project – all my memories, the collective consciousness that was me – might have a chance.

That was terrifying though. This whole space was terrifying. All the things I'd struggled with before reaching this dimension, even as far as being diassociated from myself, screamed that this place was unsafe – that it wasn't real. It was almost a nightmare, out of my control. I was not my own. I began to breathe faster, and she did too. I collapsed to the transparent floor as my mind gave in to those thoughts of abstract horror as my identity could barely grasp the thin strings of reality.

That's when I felt it. Her consciousness – so vivid, so real, so foreign, yet intent. It wrapped me in its embrace, and that moment, I realized I wasn't alone. This was another being. And, in that moment, the communication I felt in my mind was I understand.

I understand you, but do not. The feelings you have, I have had as well. Please do not fret. ALLOW me to understand. I need to…see what you are, see how you have this knowledge that you believe so ardently in, as I do in the Protheans. You are confident, yet not. Please…I do not how this has happened, but let me see. I must see, for both our sanities. Otherwise, I have no idea what will happen to us both.

-

-

….I will.

Liara's form walked over to me as I opened my eyes, her words ringing in my mind, her own eyes staring into mine, communicating through our bond her emotions, adding to the melting pot of our emotions that swirled nigh uncontrollably as I stood, confidence flowing from my end as I realized how this could be resolved.

"Liara….there's…so much I want to tell you, so much….that's beyond what you'd expect…I can't possibly explain it. There's…I should stop speaking. What should we do?" I asked, hesitance tinging my voice even with her assurance coming across the connection.

She chuckled nervously, but I was busy marveling at how – open she was here. There was no barriers here – no miscommunication between two people, as they were tied together – ourselves separate, but one, a sort of synergy that exceeded the wildest imaginations of mine as I had brushed over the notion in my old world.

"I – don't quite know. I believe I created all of this in a panic. My people are different than yours as we can – retreat, into the inner processes of our mind, similar to the drell. At least, that is what my….mother taught me. This…is my first time."

A whole calvacade of feelings drifted across to me with this statement, from feelings of anger and betrayal at the mention of Benezia, to true uncertainty, and…was that shyness? Knowing….well, knowing the pseudo-Liara, that made sense. But….all of this, cast her completely in a new light.

But, we could ponder these questions later, as we had more pressing matters. As in, how long did this last? Were we stuck? If Liara's presence hadn't felt so independent and firm, I would've wondered as well if this was all in my head, a result of trauma, post-tramatic stress. But…there was also her desire to establish a greater understanding between us. I'd unintentionally let it slip that I knew more or less what her memory had been over, that had been in the deep recesses of her mind – that she'd intentionally, or maybe unintentionally retreated to in the face of recent events. It was treading new ground for both of us, and I wanted to make it count.

"Okay. We can figure it out as we go. But, you said you wanted to know about me, first. That's fair, since I saw a memory of yours."

Liara, sweet Liara, blushed at this, despite it being nothing too embarrassing. But, judging by my broiling emotions, I felt more or less the same. I continued, with uneasy, stunted language.

"I'm from Earth…but not the Earth you know. I…can't explain, maybe you need to make a deeper…meld, or something. But, there will be things that you see, I think, that will not make sense. I mean, it made no sense to me either."

I gave a nervous laugh at this as I rubbed my arms, looking away, until suddenly she was there, reaching for my hands, which I instinctually grabbed, taking comfort in the physical contact, which I'd initially given to her, which had begun this whole experience. Her eyes, as I looked up, were shining with that innocent curiosity, a certain naivete that I shared, and cherished. Our emotions rolled over eachother's, assurity and common ground being found, which brought a certain measure of joy to me.

"…The asari, my people, have a mantra. Your soul does not tell lies. We…believe that the soul is evident when you bond with another. Only the most skilled of my people have the ability to mask their entire beings if they do bond with another sentient. Your character is evident, and communicated through the soul, and then through the bond. We call this process embracing eternity, because this is who you are made to be, and will always be, from now, and then beyond into whatever is beyond this plane of existence. So, despite not knowing you in the outside world, what I have…felt from you is assuring. I am willing to attempt it, if you are."

Her sheer faith was staggering in that moment, and was enough for me to simply nod in acquiescence, her smile becoming larger as she closed her eyes, my smooth hands clasped with her scaled ones, giving me a passing thought of a certain drell biotic that had done the same before. Her voice whispered in my mind two words.

"Embrace eternity…"

I felt like I was being wrenched, thrust forward, and then…

Visions of my childhood flitted by with rapid abandon, things I had forgotten rising, then flitting by just as I grasped them and their emotions, some lingering longer than others, Liara's vague presence in the back of it all, my teenage years coming to the fore way too quickly as I tried to hold onto things that had been cherished - my father's smile, his wittiness, the love only he had given. And then, there was a long pause as a vision of me – and my sister, together, trading jabs and – laughing. God, I'd forgotten what that was like. And then, we were listening to songs, sharing a pair of headphones, browsing the vast gallery I had on my newly-gifted mp3 player – going off to where our mother, and my stepdad couldn't call me out on so-called "corrupting" their daughter with the "ways of the world". As if I of all people could -

What – this is Shepard, a familiar voice questioned, as the memory lingered, my sister's dorky nature being evident as she danced to the music, strawberry blonde hair waving, holding the mp3 player in her hand. But, before I knew it, the memory shard vanished, being replaced with a thousand memories that brought up old wounds, and…happiness, coming way too quickly to recent years – my father's disorder, then passing suddenly, far too suddenly….and then just me. I was crying, tears like never before streaming down my face, as my grandparents tried to comfort me as much as they could, but they simply didn't UNDERSTAND. He'd been my savior. I'd started to get better, after all that John, Hannah's father, had done to me. I'd only told my father all that had occurred. He'd been enraged. If me and my mother hadn't stopped him for the sake of my brothers and sisters, he would caved in that man's head on their front lawn.

I didn't hold it against him that he hadn't been there for me early on. It wasn't his fault after their separation my mother had gone on to a hate-filled man that would domineer her life. He was there for me – and then was not. He'd gone on to God, where he belonged.

At least that's what I told myself. I'd always held on to some vague representation of said divine being based off my upbringing, but I didn't know. It was just a vague hope. It was…comforting.

I was thrust along again, coming to the pivotal moment. My crash.

Death.

Cleander.

The realization.

God.

The directive.

Be a teacher. Harmonizer.

Mass Effect.

The Citadel.

The Hendersons….Oriana.

The Adepts.

The evidence from Kasumi.

The Citadel Chambers….where my sister stood. As Shepard. Blood red hair, but still her. Impossible. But it was her.

The Normandy, a dream come true…but Penelope always watching….

Arcturus, and now….Therum. Barely anything staying according to canon, what I'd played, was what I knew worth anythi –

The rapid timeline suddenly snapped, and I once more collapsed into the space in-between, falling to my knees, but she was there, our arms wrapped around each other's in a hard-gripped embrace as we both breathed heavily, then she spoke.

"This…cannot be….you can't…you both cannot be from beyond this plane…it's simply impossible. None of that is remotely achievable by –,"

"Normal means?" I answered softly, our eyes drifting up to the other's. We both let go of our embrace, falling back a few feet into a lackluster criss-cross, our energy drained, but she kept her look of pure surprised shock as I fixed her with my most honest stare, trusting our bond would communicate the right emotions.

"Liara. From the world I'm from – my sister's from – none of this is normal," I said, gesturing to the space, and casting the thought of Mass Effect in general her way, her composure flinching for a second as I was correct in assuming she would get it.

"Aliens, faster-than-light travel, Element Zero, Protheans were just a figment in our imaginations – nothing more. Even when I was transported here, I could barely grasp it, and I had….experience. God, I don't know how Hannah has processed it, knowing nothing. It's….all fantastically outside what I understand, but whoever 'God' is – sent me here. Please see it as the whole truth – and know there's no way I could possibly conjure it up on my own."

A dead silence reigned in the space – which seemed hard to accomplish considering what this was. The asari across from me stared blankly at the proverbial floor, lost I guess in confused thought. God, I hoped she would understand. But, to go from the day before, studying archaelogy of a (mostly) dead race, to being mercilessly attacked by geth and krogan sent by her very own mother and her psychopathic liege, then to almost dying, and finally finding out your savior, and her biotic brother weren't even from her realm of existence? I just hoped she didn't succumb to a mental breakdown.

When she still didn't speak, I combed my thoughts for something, anything to say that would assure her, and settled on something.

"Liara. I…think, that me and my sister were sent here, because this…dimension, what have you, is in peril. What Hannah told you is true. A group of AIs called Reapers wiped out the Protheans, and are intent on wiping out all this latest cycle's intelligence. She's seen it – not from my beforehand knowledge – but from a Prothean beacon. They will kill us all, without hesitation. We need to stop them, because they won't stop. Their reach - I don't even know if my dimension is safe from them."

I honestly didn't know if that was even possible, if dimension-hopping existed beyond a divine being to orchestrate it, but it sent chills down my spine with just the thought, which Liara felt, and looked up at me finally.

There is a realm of existence so far beyond your own, you cannot even imagine it. I am beyond your comprehension. I…am SOVEREIGN.

The line I had memorized from the first encounter you had with the vanguard of the Reapers echoed in my mind, as I began to go off the deep end with new horrible thoughts. Did the Reapers truly live up to their grandiose statements? Were they from the…beyond? Did they tap into the same "realm of existence" as the God who'd sent me here? Were the Leviathans as well, if they even existed, and weren't a fabricated story?

Liara's mind brushed up against mine, pulling me out of the terrifying prospect. Her hand went in mine again, and she gave a small, hesitant smile.

"I – don't know what to make of this, but your memories ring true. It is evident you are not lying, but…I must speak with Shepard – about everything. I just -,"

She trailed off as something shifted in the bond-space, and suddenly I could feel another presence with us, my eyes darting around, a bodily form coalescing behind me.

"Derek Masterson. Lady T'Soni. It's time to wake up," the foolhardy voice belonging to a slightly familiar asari declared as I fully perceived the person now.

It was Kasara Manis, the huntress from the dig, gold and white facial markings that decorated her visage complimenting the similarly colored casual battle dress garb that looked multi-faceted in the sense that it appeared to act as both a uniform, and effective protection. A High Huntress's uniform, I realized, to which she only shook her head at.

"For a student of Teirla C'den, I'm not surprised. She lacked subtlety. And so do you," she sniffed, keeping that look as she must've felt my incredulity.

"You two have been causing a bunch of stir. Two young vantha, not realizing what the other was doing in the moment. Your commanding officer is none too pleased right now with your actions, young one," she said with a frown and nod my way.

"And you," she continued, looking at my now abashed companion, "are in a medically-induced coma they cannot wake you from till you release the bond. I told them it was unsafe. Goddess, I shouldn't even have to be here right now, as I am not in the best condition for something of this level, and with all that happened…."

She looked suddenly distressed and morose for a second, before she snapped back.

"….but, I am the only in any sort of working order to do it. T'Soni, I assume you've never done the dance of eternity before, as this bond has gone much too deep for what it appropriate for your age. You are the anchor, and so must lift it, so you rise above the tides once more. And you, human. I want you to imagine yourself detaching from her, and returning to the physical world. Both of you, join hands with me, I will assist."

Liara and I both glanced at each other, the thought of, this is not over, being communicated, which Kasara once more snorted at, muttering about "children" underneath her breath, before we both walked over to her avatar, and grasped her firm hands.

"Both of you. Think about the waking world, what you left there, what awaits you. Focus on that. Push for it. It is the place you must return to. It is the carrier of us all. In so doing….embrace eternity…."

I closed my eyes, focused, as I felt once more a disembodied feeling, and then my very being lifted, light appearing….and….

…the voice of my sister.

"Welcome back."

A/N: *Gasp* What's this? Another chapter already? Indeed. It is my aim to please in this new year, hehe. Thanks for sticking around.

I wanted to write up this pea-sized (at least for me) chapter to establish a sort of intermission and bridge for things to come. What is to come though? I didn't want to leave a note for the last chapter because of how abrupt the ending was - it just felt wrong. But, now with Derek and Liara returning to the land of the living, I wanted to expound on at least one of my decisions to include an extra member to the Normandy's team. Or, rather, hold onto him.

I always scratched my head at the fact that a straight-up greenie was inserted onto the Normandy for no explained reason. This is the pride of the Alliance, the spear of humanity's Navy as it were - and Jenkins is taken out without a second thought. Wouldn't everyone on the Normandy be the top of their class, the best of the best? Joker's the top of his school. Anderson's a former N7/Spectre candidate, Adams has done numerous tours on several different classifications of ships, Pressly received commendation during the Skyllian Blitz, etc.

I think BioWare's intention more or less was to show the "unknown" factor of the geth, by showing them cut through Jenkins like he was paper - strike a tone about the brutal calculus of war - "no plan survives contact with the enemy" possibly.

But no sir, not here. We're all well - acquainted with this story, it's time to inject some realism. So yes, Jenkins was still almost cut down still by the geth with their technological edge here, but that was partly due to his connection with his homeland - seeing it being torn to shreds, the PEOPLE torn to shreds, causing him to break all forms of military precaution to take out these "VIs", not realizing who his enemy was. How could he? The geth haven't been seen in 300 years. He thought it'd be easy.

But that's the kick. DON'T underestimate any enemy. Sun Tzu 101.

We'll be hearing more from Jenkins, and other introduced characters who deserve more limelight. Get ready guys, it's going to be an interesting ride. See ya later.