Mass Effect: Reaper Dreams

Apple Tarts and Asari Sharks

"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal."

An old headstone in
Ireland

July 2nd, 2187

Ashley Williams

The room she slept in was old fashioned, with a wall of double-square latticed windows overhung by a beautiful cameo portal, a spider web of seams channeling into a single eye. The seams and trim were painted in a brilliant aqua gloss, the walls and furniture in the room were white with aqua trim, and the covers on her bed were light blue. Ashley remembered this place, not from her own memory but from a description.

There was a hall just outside her room, and a bathroom right around the corner. She'd spent some time in and out of it the past few days, vomiting into the toilet basin while Liara held her hair aside. She vaguely recalled being bathed by the Asari as well, and being forced to drink water and tea, as well as receive an IV drip. An older woman was present to assist Liara. Ashley recalled a friendly face, kind eyes, and again, something familiar, something she should know.

She sat up in the bed and stretched. How many days had passed? It was all a blur. She made her way once more to the bathroom. Once she finished, she stared into the mirror. Someone had put her hair in a ponytail, fortunately, and she looked only slightly worse than her usual self. Ashley pulled at the old t-shirt she was wearing, another familiar token. Where had she seen these style shirts before?

"Kaidan," she said aloud. "Kaidan used to wear these."

Someone knocked on the door. A woman's voice called. "Ashley, dear, are you feeling better?"

She opened the door to greet the woman. "Yes, Ma'am," she said. "If I may ask?"

The woman extended her hand. "Jean," she said. "Jean Alenko, but no Mrs. Alenko here, just call me Jean, or Jeanie, either will do fine."

The older woman's smile was Kaidan's smile, her mouth his mouth, but the eyes were different. Hers were crystal blue, fringed with sadness, and shadowed with hardship. Ashley felt awash in emotions.

"Thank you Mrs. Al... I mean, Jean. I apologize if I was a burden. I... lost myself for a while," confessed Ashley.

"There is no need to apologize. A broken heart can tear down the best of us, especially if it is shattered into so many pieces," said Jean. "Now, come, there's coffee, still, and an apple tart for breakfast. Always was my son's favorite."

"I remember," said Ashley. "He used to talk about them endlessly, and your pies."

Jean laughed. "Yes, never a day went by that he didn't brag about my apple pie to someone. Oh, and dear, please put on some britches. I just got my husband back, and if you walk downstairs wearing only that, he'll die of a heart attack for sure."

Ashley looked down and realized the t-shirt she was wearing wasn't quite long enough. This was compounded by the fact that she had no underpants on. She quickly scampered back to the bedroom, passing through the door about the same time the blood arrived to her cheeks. She hoped like hell she hadn't gotten up and wandered too far in the middle of the night.

Jean called to her from the hall. "There's sweat pants in the drawer, more t-shirts, and a few pairs of shorts. Liara sent for your things yesterday. Hopefully they'll arrive this afternoon."

"Where are the things I arrived with?" asked Ashley.

"You weren't well dear. I believe Liara chose to incinerate them rather than wash them," said Jean.