Chapter 35

Liara sighed in exasperation. "I miss Glyph."

"I'm working on him, but it will take a while." Samantha said. "He has some pretty sophisticated technology."

Liara looked over at the young specialist and smiled, "I know. Thank you for taking the time to work on him. I'm just frustrated over this data. I can't decrypt it and none of my available resources help."

"I have also been searching the available data and have found nothing that is similar." Edi said. "Perhaps when more systems come back on line, a solution will be found."

"I hope so." Liara said. "Samantha, I'm taking a break. Don't forget to take one too."

Samantha nodded her head but didn't look up from the circuit panel she was working on. Liara smiled and walked out of her room. She admired the young woman's dedication.

"We will be landing in London in fifteen minutes. Anyone not currently working on repairs to the Normandy are to report to the dock for assignment." Ashley announced over the intercom.

Liara entered med bay and walked over to the bed where Shepard lay. Garrus was sitting on a stool next to her, holding her hand. Dr. Chakwas approached Liara.

"How is she?" Liara asked in a hushed voice.

"She's stable and her body is healing, but she's in a coma and I don't know when or even if she'll wake up." Chakwas looked sadly at Shepard. "I can't do anything else for her."

"I need you to prepare the med bay to receive the most critically injured in London." Ashley said, approaching the two women. "The hospitals are only running at bare minimum and we can offer better facilities for surgery and treatment."

Liara looked at Shepard. "If you can't do anything else here for Shepard, maybe we should move her to her own quarters to prevent prying eyes and to free up room."

"Good idea." Ashley said. "The last thing we need is the circus her survival is going to create." Ashley sighed and looked at Garrus. "Garrus, can you take care of moving her?"

Garrus looked up at them. "Of course." Liara smiled encouragingly at him, then turned back to Ashley. "Have we heard from the rest of our team?"

Ashley nodded. "All accounted for and alive. We were lucky in that respect. Admiral Hackett will be waiting for us when we land. One of his aides has the information on where everyone is."

"I'm hoping Javik will be able to help me decode that information Miranda received." Liara said.

...

Liara waited while Javik looked at the screen. "This is from the old ones." He stated and stepped away. "Remember, Dr. T'Soni, I am a warrior, not a scientist."

Liara slumped into the chair. "I was hoping it was just a different dialect or something." She sighed. "Now what do we do? I am sure this is the key to helping Shepard."

"She is in a healing trance. I do not know how to wake her." Javik stated looking around Liara's room. "The Keepers may be able to help."

Liara shook her head. "Admiral Hackett said that the Keepers are ignoring everyone and concentrating on repairing the Citadel."

Javik looked back at the screen. "There is one possibility." He said. "Our leaders established a knowledge warehouse when the war started. They stored a vast array of information there."

Liara jumped up. "Where is it? I wonder why we haven't found it? Do you think we'll find a way to translate the disc there?"

Javik watched the asari in amusement. "I need a star chart."

Liara rushed to the computer and brought up the galaxy map. She watched, breathless, as Javik studied it.

"If I remember correctly..." He hesitated and zoomed the map in on one system. "Yes. I believe the knowledge warehouse is here."

Liara looked in amazement at where he was pointing. "That's Mindoir!"

...

Doc looked around at the other survivors and sighed. The news that had trickled in was a mix of good and bad. The war was over, but the city was in ruins. Many areas were uninhabitable and it would take a long time to regain normalcy. The casualties were high and it might take months if not years to identify all of the dead. Little was known regarding the team that fired the Crucible except that they were true heroes. Doc suspected Alexis was in the middle of it all and worried about her fate.

As he tried to relax on his cot, an Alliance soldier approached. "Doctor Benjamin Hoskings?"

"Yes?" He responded, curiously.

"My name is Lieutenant James Vega and I've been looking for you." Vega said.

"Well, you found me." He said, smiling at the young man.

"Would you please gather your things and come with me?" Vega requested.

Hoskings looked closer at this soldier and seeing the nervousness in the man's eyes, nodded and began packing the few belongings he had brought to the shelter with him. He followed Vega toward a shuttle and climbed on board.

"Ok, Esteban, let's go." Vega said, settling into one of the seats.

"Can you tell me where you are taking me?" Hoskings asked.

"To the Normandy." Vega answered.

Hoskings felt hope rising and he swallowed the lump in his throat as he asked, "Did they find Alexis?"

Vega looked at him quizzically, "All I know was that I'm to bring you to the Normandy, Doctor."

Hoskings nodded, then turned to look out the window. The devastation they flew over was unbelievable. Now he understood why the military was so strict about people coming into the city. He grew up in London and right now he couldn't recognize anything. The shuttle swung toward the airfield and Hoskings looked at the beautiful ship scarred from the fighting.

Vega stood as the shuttle settled in the bay of the ship and opened the door. Hoskins leaned heavily on his cane as he stood up. Vega offered him a hand and helped him step out of the shuttle.

"This way Doctor." Vega led him to an elevator and they rode in silence.

The elevator door opened into a small alcove. A guard stood at a door and saluted. "Let Scars know I'm here with the doctor." Vega replied after returning the salute. The guard nodded and spoke into his comm.

In short order the door opened and Hoskings walked into a room he recognized from Alexis' pictures. Garrus approached and held out his hand. "Doctor Hoskings. I'm so glad you're safe."

Hoskings smiled broadly. "Garrus. It is a pleasure seeing you again. You have good news for me, I hope."

Vega nodded and left, shutting the door behind him. Garrus turned and pointed toward the large bed. "She's alive and healing, but she's in a coma that the doctor isn't sure when or if she'll awaken from." Hoskings hesitated and Garrus said, "Go ahead. You can go talk to her." He flicked his mandibles into a smile. "You can say stuff to her without worrying about her arguing with you."

Hoskings smiled at Garrus, patted him on the arm. "Thank you." He hobbled over to the bed and sat in the chair that was alongside. He was shocked at the yellowing bruises that seemed to cover her face and he took her hand carefully. Her hands and arms were covered with healing burns and bruises. "Oh, Alexis," he sighed. "What happened to you?"

Garrus said. "We won't know until she tells us. I'm going down to the mess hall. Did you want anything?"

"No, thank you." Doc watched Garrus leave and turned back to Shepard. "I'm glad you survived. Now we just have to wake you up."

...