Epilogue:

The download had completed a few hours ago, now it was just a matter of waiting for the clock to strike eight and the file to unlock. Samara had made popcorn; another Earth import that the Asari couldn't get enough of. Honestly, Shepard could take it or leave it, especially with all of the butter that Sam and her mother liked to put on it. Malted milk balls were more her speed.

Cynthia Wright had sent them a free download voucher for the series, it was the least she could do. Apparently a physical copy, complete with signatures from the entire cast, was also in the offing. Shepard figured that'd show up in the post eventually. But, in the meantime, extranet download was what they had. Shepard and her family would watch the series as it was released, one episode per week. I doubt I'd be able to handle watching any more than that in one shot, she thought.

Truth be told, Shepard was a bit anxious; and not just because she was voluntarily going to relive some painful memories. It's just a television series about the Reaper War, Shepard reminded herself, it's not the Reaper War. Mainly she was anxious because she hadn't seen an all-up version of the series, Cynthia and Khalisah had been insistent on that point. Personnel from the Alliance Navy Public Affairs Office had seen it, of course, and they'd bought off on it. The Navy didn't consider itself besmirched, but what about her and Liara? She consoled herself that she and Liara had both comported themselves well during the war.

Samara entered the media room with both arms wrapped around a large popcorn bowl. She smiled warmly at Victoria, padded up to her, and gave her a peck on the cheek. Sam had been looking forward to the release for the past few weeks. She was happy she'd have a chance to watch with her parents. Samara offered Shepard a handful of popcorn; she smiled and shook her head.

Samara's potential reaction to the series also made Shepard nervous. Victoria and Liara had devoted a substantial amount of time in the bond sharing their thoughts on the matter. They wanted to balance educating Samara in history and what her parents did with not over exposing her to the sheer magnitude of horror that was the Reaper War. According to Cynthia and the reviews they'd seen, the series was extremely graphic. In the end, they had decided to watch it as a family. Perhaps being there for Sam, explaining things as they unfolded would get the message across without too much trauma. I don't want my baby to have nightmares, Victoria had said to Liara in the joining, I know I certainly do.

Shepard returned to the present. "It's almost show time Sam, ready?"

"All set," she replied with a shake of the popcorn bowl.

Shepard chuckled. The Asari really like their popcorn, don't they.

Samara flopped onto the couch as Liara glided into the room, "I just received a message from Kelly. They missed the last shuttle from the spaceport. They're going to stay in Armali tonight."

"Sure they did," Shepard said out of the side of her mouth. She smirked.

"It doesn't look like they'll be joining us. They'll be here for brunch tomorrow morning."

"Grandma's not coming?" asked Samara.

"Guess not sweetie," responded Shepard. Victoria's omni-tool chirped. It was time.

Shepard sat on the couch next to Samara. Liara took a position on the other side of their daughter within easy reach of the popcorn bowl. Victoria tapped out a couple of commands on her omni-tool and the lights dimmed. Shepard reached her arm around Sam's shoulders and tickled Liara's neck. A wide smile spread across her face as the film began to roll.

The screen was black. Shepard appeared sitting in a wooden chair. She wore a modest suit, her only jewelry an iridium wedding band and the rosette of the Star of Terra. Her expression was even. She wore her hair down. She looked towards the camera, but not directly into it. Here we go, thought Shepard.

"We didn't set out to save the world," Shepard said. She spoke evenly, matter-of-factly. "I wasn't even briefed on the mission until we entered the Utopia System." The Shepard on the screen paused for a moment, "Captain Anderson said we were heading to Eden Prime to recover a Prothean artifact, and that I was being evaluated as a potential Spectre." Shepard paused again in what seemed to be a moment of quiet reflection. She remained silent for a few seconds while her gaze seemed to drift away from the camera. She re-centered herself, "Then we received a distress call from the colony. They were under attack from some massive alien ship of unknown origin. They needed help. Captain Anderson ordered Lieutenant Moreau to increase speed, we were going in." She paused. "That was the first time any of us saw a Reaper."

The screen faded to black. Ashley Williams appeared sitting in the same chair. She wore a conservative white blouse and a black business skirt. A small Spectre Corps lapel pin adorned her breast pocket. She interlaced her fingers on her lap. Ash looked agitated. She wouldn't look directly into the camera.

"It happened quickly, suddenly. One moment I was patrolling the outskirts of the colony, the next," she paused. Ash seemed to be on the edge of composure. "The next," she continued, "it was like the sky had ripped open and this thing appeared; this enormous, black, tentacle, thing. My team was killed almost immediately. There were Geth everywhere." Ash paused again to collect herself. "I bunkered down, fired off the war-warning beacon, and transmitted a distress call. Then I prayed that help would come." Ash looked at nothing in particular for a moment, "Then it did." She half smiled.

The screen faded to black. Shepard had no idea that Ashley had been interviewed as well. She was also somewhat surprised to see so much emotion out of her. Liara squeezed her hand, she had noticed it too.

The series' title appeared in plain white text: Normandy. As the title sequence played, short clips of scenes from the series accompanied by a melancholy orchestral piece, Shepard turned to look at her beloved. Liara looked back. She smiled. She nodded. Her expression said, good job my love. Shepard brushed her hand across Liara's cheek. She closed her eyes and smiled.

Shepard felt; happy, honored, relieved. When Cynthia Wright had asked her to answer a few questions, provide some background information and insights on camera, Victoria had nearly balked. Shepard had come to respect what Cynthia Wright was trying to do, to tell the story of the Reaper War so future generations would never forget. Frankly, she was worried that she would screw it up. She was scared it'd carry the wrong tone, or that she'd over-emphasize some aspects of her experiences at the expense of others. She desperately didn't want to dilute the message; or worse, send the wrong one.

With that particular fear retired, Shepard now turned her attention to her main trepidation; Samara. How would she react? Would she cry at the utter brutality of combat? Would she have nightmares about the gore? Worse still, would she decide then and there that she wanted to follow in her parents' footsteps and take on a life of terror and violence? There's only one way to know for sure, Shepard thought to herself. Then Liara and I can guide our baby girl down the right path.

The title sequence ended. The screen faded to black. The title of the first episode appeared on the screen in plain white text: Eden Prime.

The room's lights came back up slowly so their eyes could adjust. That went better than I'd have hoped, Shepard thought to herself. There had been no screaming or crying, from any of them. Shepard's heart had raced through most of the combat scenes, but she maintained an outer calm. Liara could feel her distress, she was sure, but not Samara she hoped. Now to discuss it with Sam. Shepard turned to look at her daughter. She looked lost in thought. Shepard didn't say anything; instead she looked to her wife. Liara looked back, there was an unspoken understanding. Eventually, Samara spoke.

"Was it really that bad mom?" she asked. She almost sounded timid. As the film had progressed Samara seemed to become withdrawn. She stopped eating the popcorn. She pulled in her legs and sat on them. It was almost as if she was assuming a fetal position.

"No Sam," Shepard said evenly. She looked at Liara, her wife nodded. "Sam, it was much worse. I can't really describe how horrible it was," she paused, "and Eden Prime was almost tame compared to the war itself."

An unbelieving look was the only response Shepard received.

"Sam, your mother and I wanted you to see this. We wanted you to know, to see, what happened during the war."

"Wow." Samara couldn't muster anything more complex than wow.

"Indeed," Liara said flatly.

"You really did those things? Fought those things?"

"Yes sweetie."

"And they didn't believe you? You kept doing it even though no one wanted to believe you?"

"Yes sweetie."

"Why?"

"Because it was my job. Then, after I met your mother, I did it because I wanted her to be safe." Liara leaned over and kissed Shepard on the cheek. "And I did it for you. I wanted you to be safe, years before you were even conceived." Shepard kissed Samara on the top of her head, she giggled. Shocked by the film or not, she was still ticklish.

"You volunteered to serve. You wanted to do this for a living? Even before the Reapers, those scenes about the Blitz?"

That gave Shepard pause. Of course, it was true, she had volunteered. She really didn't know what she was getting herself into. Her parents, of course, had told her how awful war was. They had said that they served so that she wouldn't have to. Then they would say how proud they would be of her if she followed in their footsteps. And there it was; the thing that was conflicting her.

Part of Shepard didn't want Samara to have anything to do with war, ever. The idea that she could grow up in a universe free of the Reapers gave her solace when the nightmares woke her from her sleep. Every sleepless night, every cold sweat, every crying fit, even the chronic depression that had haunted her for nearly 20 years, it was all worth it if Samara never needed to know a day of war. Yet. Yet, deep down, she knew how proud she would be of Samara if she took on the same burden for the next generation. Indeed, the other part of her wanted Samara to follow in her footsteps. This caused no small amount of angst for Victoria and, through the bond, Liara.

Shepard didn't see an easy way out of this. Her hope that the series' gore might turn Samara off to the entire thing was probably misplaced. Samara took after her parents too much to be squeamish. The truth, it would have to be the truth. "Sam, sweetie, I didn't know what I was getting into. If I had it all to do over again," she paused, "I don't know that I would." That was a lie, a small one, but still a lie. So much for the truth. "Your mother and I will be proud of you, whatever path you choose to follow in life. But, please, leave the Reaper War as part of your heritage, and chart your own course in peace."

Samara looked at her parents for some time; she seemed to ponder her father's words. "I will mom. Thanks for," she paused, "everything really." Shepard sighed, she looked somewhat relieved. "Will you still watch the rest with me, tell me what was happening? I want to know, I want to see it."

Shepard looked at her wife, Liara nodded. "Sure Sam." She felt relieved. Her heart began to slow; she hadn't even realized it was racing. It seemed that she and Liara might just be diverting Samara's course away from Shepard's path. Samara was still interested in her parents' lives, obviously, but as a way of understanding them as people, not with the intent of emulating them. As to how Shepard felt about Samara not following in her footsteps? That was acceptable; preferable, actually.

Shepard felt at peace. The Reaper scourge was dead and gone, it would never harm Shepard's daughter; especially not by using Victoria as a proxy. Shepard would never let her past come back to haunt her beloved family. Samara would live a long happy life. She would enjoy the peace her parents earned for her, of that Shepard was sure.

Unfortunately, she was wrong.

-End

IMPORTANT NOTE (Repeated):

This work takes place (chronologically) between Chapters 4 and 5 of Part 2 in my other work "Transitions".