"What do you think we should do next?" Miranda asked Samael. Although she and the other galaxy leaders had a somewhat decent plan, Samael's opinion mattered since he had led them for some time.
"Before I say anything, how are things holding up elsewhere?" While Samael planned to retire, he didn't mind sharing his thoughts on the cleanup efforts.
"As mentioned before, Tuchanka could not be recovered, and we decided to let the planet rest. All surviving Krogans have been relocated to their new planet or were helping around the galaxy. Palaven is in better condition, but the destruction was immense. Currently, most of the surviving Turians are on the planet, reconstructing things, however, it will take time and money. Thessia is similar, but the devastation isn't limited to just the capital this time. Restoring it will require both time and resources, and the Asari are scattered across the galaxy, helping wherever they can. However, many of them are aiding in the reconstruction of their home planet."
''Sur'kesh was hit hard, and the specialists aren't sure if the planet can be saved. We are discussing what to do with the Salarians and many have offered them asylum, including humans.''
Although the Salarians did try to ambush Samael during the Citadel Reunion years ago, they were ultimately allies. So, when they are in crisis, everyone should help—just like what the galaxy is doing now.
'' How much is this going to cost us then?'' Samael asked though he knew it would be a lot of money.
While the Asari, Turians, and Salarians were wealthy, their riches felt insignificant compared to the devastation on their planets and across the galaxy.
Miranda hesitated, not only because of the cost but also because she knew it was merely a small estimate. In the end, the total might double or even triple.
"We are looking at 1 trillion credits per planet."
Everyone in the room gasped when they heard that number. It was shocking to anyone.
"And you have to take into account that it wasn't just those four planets that were affected, but many more, like the Dekuuna and Irune, the Elcor and Volus homeworld. To restore everything, we are looking at a minimum of 50 trillion credits."
To put this into perspective, this was what LD, the largest company in the entire galaxy, was worth. And just as Miranda suspected, the costs would likely be much higher. Even if they liquidated all of LD's assets, it would not be enough.
However, to Samael, money was merely a number, and he wasn't concerned about that amount. After all, he could always make more, and with thousands of years of memories and interesting gadgets he and the others had made in different cycles, and not in this one, he could do so easily.
Samael turned to Miranda and said, "I don't know if you should follow my advice, but here's what I would do."
Miranda and the others eagerly awaited what he had to say.
"First, as we discussed in the Citadel Reunion years ago, LD should be dismantled or sold, though I'm more inclined to do the latter."
This was something Samael didn't mind and honestly, he was tired of it all. Even though he didn't participate in the war, he was forced to watch thousands of years of his choices, being manipulated many times, without the chance of looking away. All he wanted now was to rest his mind, and LD was in the way of that.
Before Miranda and the others could respond, Samael continued, "Cerberus will take the majority of the company and its research plus the scientists, while the rest can be sold to other buyers. The money will be used solely for the reconstruction of the galaxy."
Everything came full circle when Miranda heard that. 'So that's why he gave Cerberus to me and let me be the LD CEO… he had this in mind from the beginning.'
Miranda was one of the smartest people in the office, so she immediately realized that up until now, everything had almost gone according to Samael's plan. Of course, he probably didn't expect to be out of commission for two years or to miss the war, but no plan is perfect.
''What about us, the crew?'' Veronica asked hesitantly. After all, almost all of those present were connected to LD and Samael specifically. If he retired, many of them would be jobless.
Samael smiled as he realized what she was worried about. ''The crew will be maintained, though we might not go on many missions in the future. We will be relocated to Cerberus and work under them. After all, at the end of the day, Cerberus is Miranda's company, and she is our family, so we won't lose much in the end.''
'Only you will lose.' Veronica wanted to say but held back. She knew how Samael calculated things, and based on his attitude, he knew this was the outcome of his many choices. However, that didn't mean she thought it was fair, as he had basically armed, warmed, and prepared everyone in the galaxy for the Reaper threat, only to lose everything in the end.
The pilot couldn't help but resent the Salarians a bit, as it was thanks to them that Samael was forced to dismantle LD.
''Will I continue to receive a salary?'' Wrex asked.
Samael looked at him with disdain and some playfulness. ''You don't work for LD, my guy. Besides, you are the Krogan emperor, a few thousand credits a month is nothing to you.''
To be honest, at the beginning, Wrex was hired as a mercenary for Samael's crew, working under LD. However, Samael honestly didn't remember if he 'fired' the Krogan or not.
Wrex got angry. ''Who said that?! I'm penniless right now, and LD has been paying me diligently for the past two years.''
Samael looked at Miranda, who nodded. He sighed and addressed Wrex. ''All right, if Miranda allows it, we will maintain you and those who were not affiliated with LD—now Cerberus—on the payroll.''
Wrex nodded, pleased with himself, only to realize that he was the only one not affiliated with LD in any way. Shocked, he looked at Samara. ''Hey, are you working under LD?''
Samara nodded, clearly pleased with Wrex's dumbfounded reaction. ''Yes. Perhaps I forgot to tell you?''
Blood rushed through Wrex's head as he tried—and failed—to keep calm. ''You didn't.''
Samara replied in her normal tone, though to Wrex, it sounded more like a taunt, ''Oops.''
Before Wrex could say a few not-so-nice things to the Asari, the conversation continued.
'' Anything else of importance that you need to tell me?'' Samael asked.
Miranda smiled slightly and shook her head. "There's a lot more to discuss, but honestly, we can handle the rest. You don't need to involve yourself."
She was honest about it. The galaxy had many more problems that needed addressing, such as the increasing number of Rachni and the reactions of other species to it, as well as the Geth's sudden disappearance. However, that was something Samael could stay out of.
Although he had been out of commission for two years, based on what she knew of him- that he was sort of a time traveler—he needed more rest than anyone else in the galaxy.
From his expression, everyone could see that Samael appreciated her concern. With nothing more to discuss about the galaxy, he said, "Ever since I was a kid, I did my best to prepare for this galaxy. Our job—or rather, mine—is done. I have done my best for the galaxy, we won the war, and now it's time for me to rest my mind." He then looked specifically at Miranda. "From now on, it's in your hands and the rest of the team's. I'll follow the retirement plan I shared with you years ago, so if you need my help with anything, don't hesitate to come find me."
Miranda snorted a bit at the memory of his retirement plan. "Are you really going to become a farmer?"
Yes, Samael's retirement plan was to farm and rest. To be honest, it was every man's biggest dream.
"Yes, and all of you are welcome to visit me anytime you want," Samael said, addressing the rest of the family. He then looked at Tali, RR, Veronica, and Liara. "Are you going to accompany me? I don't plan on asking you to stay there forever—you can still have your own lives—but I would appreciate the company sometimes."
RR immediately said, '' I'll be with you to the end.''
Samael nodded at the machine with a complicated gaze and soon, Tali said, "Of course I will go. Sure, I have some responsibilities here and there, but I can stay with you for weeks at a time."
The Quarian knew that she had increasing responsibilities after the war—thanks to her father's council position and her own skills—but she could make time for her lover.
Liara nodded and said, "Just like Tali said, I can make time for you. Though, I will continue my hobby."
After she found Javik and learned much more about Prothean society from him and the other survivors, her focus shifted to studying even older species. This would require her to travel constantly and research many more rumors. However, just like Tali, she could still find time for Samael and the other girls.
"I would never take that from you," Samael said, then looked at Veronica, who had been quiet. He could understand her hesitation, as at the end of the day, her passion was piloting and a farm didn't exactly have many piloting options. '' What about you?''
Veronica took a breath and said with conviction, "We started this whole thing together, and we will end it together. I'm with you to the end."
Samael knew he had neglected the pilot a lot, but honestly, you couldn't blame him too much. He was aware of the consequences of not being able to reciprocate her feelings. At least, in this last cycle, he was honest with himself, and they ended up together.
"Well then, that's it for us," Samael addressed the rest of the room. "Our run was amazing, we accomplished things that few could even imagine. Be proud of yourselves and never forget: we are family, no matter which company we are affiliated with. I'm sure I say this for everyone, don't hesitate to call for help if you need to. We all are one call away from you and each other."
It was the most sensible ending for the Phoenix crew. The majority, like Thane, Kasumi, Keiji, Grunt, and others, would continue working under Miranda—and now Cerberus. However, they might not work together as they did while working in the Phoenix.
A few, like Javik and Wrex, had responsibilities elsewhere, so their presence in the Phoenix wasn't constant, but the point remained.
The room became emotional quickly, with Grunt almost crying but holding himself back, saying, "Warriors don't cry easily!"
The young Krogan felt a heavy hand patting his shoulder, followed by a rough voice. "Well said, kiddo!"
When Grunt turned to face Wrex, he was dumbfounded to see the old Krogan with tears in his eyes. "... Didn't you just—"
"It's raining, kid. It's raining."
Grunt looked around the office, situated on top of a building, covered enough to keep out even acid rain. Even stranger was that it was sunny outside, with not a single cloud visible.
Still, Grunt nodded as tears began to form in his eyes. "It's really raining."
Wrex patted Grunt's shoulder once more, proud of the young Krogan.
Javik and the rest could only watch the duo and their antics, but it was enough to lighten the somewhat heavy atmosphere.
Then, once again, it was hugs all around. The whole crew knew this was one of the last times they would all be gathered together like this, so they were more affectionate than usual.
Even the normally stoic Samara seemed more "free" than normal, as she cried a bit.
HOURS LATER
The reunion had concluded, but the day was far from over. Once Samael left the building and entered a Skycar driven by RR, he said, "Take me to where Garus is. I want to see him."
RR remained silent and drove the car without speaking.
Meanwhile, Samael made some calls, starting with the Shadow Broker. Years ago, he had saved the Yahg and placed it in command of the largest 'shadowy' organization in the galaxy, allowing destiny to take its course. He was aware that he had altered the timeline significantly, so he wasn't entirely sure how the creature was, but he was confident things would turn out well. After all, in the original timeline, the Yahg was the Shadow Broker and was later killed by Liara and Shepard.
After appointing the Yahg as leader, Samael had 'kindly' requested the creature to work under him, a situation that has continued until now. He didn't check the creature well-being, as he had just woken up and wanted to reunite with his family first. However, now that he has reunited with everyone, the time has come for that to change.
Too much had happened in the galaxy, and Samael knew that what Miranda had told him was just the tip of the iceberg - the overall situation in the galaxy was much more complex than it appeared. Now, he was determined to get some answers from the Shadow Broker regarding that and other matters concerning the future.
Soon after Samael called, someone answered, "Hello?"
There was some hesitation in the voice—it was the normal Yagh voice, without the voice changer—because he knew Samael had recently awakened. For him to call almost immediately could only mean trouble.
Samael could clearly hear the concern in the Yahg's voice, but he simply smiled at it. "I know that by now you must have realized I have returned... I just wanted to check on you. Are you alright? Has the war with the Reapers taken a toll on you?"
Samael understood that having control over the information sphere in the galaxy is crucial for maintaining its status quo, and the Shadow Broker plays a vital role in that. Therefore, he felt it was important to check in on him from time to time, something he hadn't done in quite a while.
The Shadow Broker was quite confused by the question, but nevertheless, he would answer. After all, in more ways than one, Samael was above him. "I'm okay, the war ended without reaching my domain."
He wasn't lying, as the Reapers had largely ignored him- or somehow, someway, could not find his location -, which was something that had cost them dearly. He contributed significantly to the war efforts, even though he remained a dubious individual at the end of the day.
"Can I ask why you are calling?" While his information gathering was close to none, the Shadow Broker did not know everything that was happening in the galaxy, especially the content of the meeting Samael had with his family, as it just ended. Perhaps, if he had more time, he would know, but at least for now, he was clueless about what was discussed.
Samael hesitated for a moment before saying, "LD is disbanding, as was mentioned in the reunion years ago."
The Shadow Broker was shocked, to say the least. LD was literally at the top of the food chain, even the Council was at their feet. For it to be disbanded just like that was shocking, even for him.
But Samael's next words cleared up some of his doubts. "Cerberus, a company close to LD, will inherit almost all important areas of the company, and the rest can be sold to those unruly souls."
"I see." That was enough for the Shadow Broker to understand the situation. LD would be disbanded, but at the same time, it would still remain, only under another name. The idiots who caused trouble all those years ago would get what they wanted, while at the same time, they wouldn't.
And if they tried to complain, who would listen? To be honest, the Shadow Broker still didn't understand why they were going through the disbandment of LD, only for it to continue under Samael's people. If he wanted, he could simply opt not to do that, and the figure was sure the Salarians, who were more vocal about the situation, wouldn't be able to say anything.
After all, LD had been helping everyone with credits across the galaxy regarding reconstruction and such—including Sur'kesh, the home planet of the Salarians.
Samael could see through the poker face of the Yahg. "I'm tired. I want to rest, and LD is on the way, so I put it aside—in the hands of those I trust. The galaxy will still benefit from this."
"This brings me to the next topic... Do you still want to work under me, or would you prefer to work under Cerberus instead?"
"...What?" The Shadow Broker was bewildered by what he was hearing. For Samael to say such shocking things with such a normal tone was something he couldn't comprehend. After all, the power in the Shadow Broker's hands could easily place him third in the galaxy's power scale, with LD being first, followed by the Council.
For someone who had it all under their control to simply make such an offer was mind-boggling. Ever since the Yahg was rescued by LD and Samael, he had been under their protection, which honestly helped him many times, as he knew they would not betray him if he stayed in line, something he had managed over the past few years.
Anything related to LD, he would pass on right away, and they would inform the others. He helped the company a lot and could be considered it's benefactor, but yes, he was controlled by them.
Now, a chance to truly be free was upon him. He knew Samael well, and if he said he would let him go, it was true. There was no double meaning, no assassination attempt under Samael's order... he would be free if he wanted.
But—
"I'm okay with being under Cerberus."
"Oh?" Samael had a small smile on his face, almost as if he expected that. To be honest, it was the best choice for the Yagh, as he would still have the protection of Cerberus—the best in the galaxy—so he would never have to worry about attacks from other sources. All he had to do was pass on information to the company.
"You already know why I chose that, so let me ask you something else. LD—the company—will go to Cerberus, but what about the Mercenary group?" The Shadow Broker knew that while LD— the company—was important to the galaxy, so was the mercenary group with the same name.
They were the best the galaxy had to offer, with a mission failure rate of only 5%, a record that would stand for a long time. If it was going to anyone else besides Cerberus, he needed to know.
"Same as the company—it will go to Cerberus."
The Shadow Broker sighed in relief. One less situation he had to worry about in the future. His hands were already full with the current state of the galaxy, adding another variable wasn't good at all.
"And... do you know something about what really happened with the Reapers?" This was a mystery that not even the Shadow Broker was aware of, and it was something he didn't like.
So, he asked the only other person who might know.
Samael smiled at him. "I do know, but it's not time to reveal it yet—if at all, may I add. Just know that we are safe for now, at least. And if they decide to attack, I can handle them."
It was true. While the Leviathans helped in some ways, their numbers were too small to pose a threat to the galaxy. The only reason they had won against the Reapers was because of the Crucible.
" ... Thanks for telling me." The Shadow Broker really wanted to know more but held back. He would try to find out anyway, as he had just received confirmation from Samael that something—or someone—had helped the galaxy. His curiosity was piqued, and he would not let it go.
"No problem. Now, it's my turn to ask a few questions," Samael said after he saw the Yagh gather his thoughts.
"Shoot away."
"Tell me everything that has happened while I was gone—important things, may I add."
The Shadow Broker then began to talk. It was the same as Miranda had said, with a few more details. For instance, the Geth under Legion were divided, with one part having passed through the Perseus Veil while the other continued under Legion, helping around the galaxy, and no one knows why that happened or what it meant. Then there was the alarmingly increasing number of Rachni soldiers—something many feared.
"I see..." Samael now understood why Miranda hadn't mentioned it, as he had relayed his willingness to get involved in the galaxy's affairs. But the Shadow Broker didn't have that problem and shared everything. "Thanks for telling me."
"No problem."
"The conversation was pleasant, but it's time for me to say goodbye. I have many people to call and talk to."
"I know... and thank you for everything."
Samael nodded at the figure. "Don't mention it. See you later."
"See you later."
The call then ended, and Samael asked RR, "How many minutes until we arrive?"
"Soon."
Samael nodded at her and decided to call someone else, as it seemed he had time to do so, so he called Tevos. The Councilor picked up right away, her face showing surprise. "I heard you came back, but I didn't expect a call so soon."
The Asari knew that Samael put family above anything else, so she expected a call at the very least by tomorrow.
"I have already talked to them and decided to call you next. Let it be known, you are the second person I called."
"Why, thank you for that," Tevos smiled and said sincerely. "It's nice to see you okay. We thought something might have happened to you."
The Asari knew that for Samael, the most vocal individual about the Reapers, missing the war was something he never planned on doing. So, something must have happened outside his control that made it impossible for that to happen.
"Thanks for the concern, but I'm alive and well. I plan on staying like that for a long, long time." Samael then commented on what he was seeing at the other end of the call. "I see you are busy... I can call you later."
Tevos looked relieved at what he said. While she was more than happy to see Samael, there was still a lot on her hands. "I would appreciate that, but don't forget to call me later. There's a lot we need to talk about."
Thanks to their small talk just now, Samael knew she had no idea he planned on stepping away from the power struggle in the galaxy. But at the end of the day, he was her friend and didn't mind helping her sometimes, even if he decided to retire. "See you later."
The call ended, and just as Samael was about to relax, someone called him—someone he wanted to speak with only personally: Shepard.
For some people, conversations had to be in person, and Shepard was at the top of that list. So, he turned off the video call, opting for a voice-only call instead.
Shepard picked up right away, her voice filled with emotion. "Samael?"
Samael felt guilty for letting her and the galaxy down, but he replied with feeling in his voice, "Long time no hear, Shepard. I missed you a lot."
Shepard began to cry a little, her voice shaking. "I—we thought you were dead... what has happened?"
"A lot, but I really, really want to have this talk in person. Can you wait until then?"
Shepard agreed but added, "Sure, but for now, all I want to do is hear your voice. You don't need to talk about the time you went missing, just... talk."
"That I can do." Samael smiled, even though Shepard could not see him. "Have I told you that I love you? Because I do."
Shepard was quiet, trying to remember if he had ever said that before, but ultimately, it didn't matter much. Still, it was nice to hear that—even though their relationship was more complicated than just a simple statement.
"Oh? Tell me more about it."
Samael then spent the next 5 to 10 minutes expressing his feelings for Shepard—though not as strong as his feelings for Tali, they still existed—only stopping when he heard RR say, "We have arrived."
Sure enough, when Samael looked outside the Sky Car, he was at the best hospital in San Francisco, or perhaps even the best on Earth. It was, of course, managed by LD.
Samael knew he had to end the call. "... I have to go. I'll talk to Garrus."
From the brief silence on Shepard's end, she knew the Turian condition. The silence broke when she said, "I'm on my way to Earth. We will continue this conversation then."
"I see no problem in that... Love you."
Shepard replied, "I love you too."
The call then ended and Samael exited the car. Before going to see Garrus, he said to RR, '' I'll go alone. After I'm done with the visit, we will have a small talk.''
RR's facial expression didn't change, and she simply nodded in response.
With that, Samael entered the hospital and went directly to the reception desk. He inquired about Garrus and his room, only to be informed that someone was already there.
"Can I go in too? I just woke up from an injury I suffered in the war, and he's my—my family. It would mean a lot to me." Samael didn't mention his identity as the owner of LD to visit Garrus. It was honestly a move he wanted to avoid, as he trusted people's judgment in this situation. Compassion almost always prevailed.
Sure enough, with just a bit of hesitation, the receptionist said, "I can do that for you, but you have to give me your name along with some information."
Samael didn't mind that, and after a bit of bureaucracy, he was allowed to visit Garrus. It helped the fact the receptionist recognized him but didn't make a scene about it.
It didn't take long to reach the room where Garrus was located: just a short trip in the elevator and a few steps to the left.He paused at the door, hesitating a bit, knowing that someone would be inside: Solana, Garrus' sister.
Samael had recruited both of them just before leaving to see the Leviathans, so their interaction, at least in this cycle, wasn't that extensive. Still, he was prepared to face her, no matter what mood she was in.
Taking a deep breath, Samael entered the room. Immediately, he saw Garrus in a coma and Solana awake beside him. The female Turian lifted her head, puzzled to see someone enter the room when it was clearly only allowed for one visitor at a time.
The surprise faded when she recognized Samael, replaced by a mix of relief that he was alive and some resentment.
'' Hello, Samael.''
'' Solana.'' Samael greeted her as he pulled a chair to get close to Garrus, '' How is he?''
''He took a hit no other Turian would survive,'' Solana said with melancholy in her voice. ''I think it was the Chimera Serum that saved him.''
Samael didn't hold back when it came to arming his family, so if anyone in the crew wanted to take the Serum, they just needed to ask and survive the process. It seemed that while he was out, Garrus took it, and it most likely saved his life.
''Did the doctors say anything about when he might wake up?''
''No. The body is all healed, but his mind is... more troublesome. We are exploring our options at the moment, but all we can do now is wait and see.''
Samael stayed quiet for a bit before saying, ''I'm sorry I wasn't there to help. I should—''
''You don't need to say anything about that, not to me,'' Solana interrupted Samael. ''Garrus always talked about how you prepared to face the Reapers, almost ever since you guys met up. So I know that for you to have missed the war, it must have been something important, or you were in a pretty precarious situation.''
Samael winced. He really didn't want to think about the damage an indoctrinated him would cause in this last cycle. He had memories from that one particular cycle, and they weren't pretty then, so imagine now.
''It was something like that.''
''Then that topic ends here. Now, I only want one thing from you.''
''Say it.''
''Save my brother.'' There was conviction in Solana's voice. She knew Samael was trustworthy, and it was worth a shot.
''I... I'll do my best.'' Samael got up from his chair and moved closer. ''Can you leave the room while I try it?''
Solana looked surprised at how ready Samael was to help but nodded excitedly. ''Sure! Will it take long? Will it work? What will you do?''
'There it is.' Samael smiled internally as he heard Solana. This was the normal her, so it was nice to see it, even if just a glimpse.
''It should work, and it shouldn't take long. You can stay outside the door.''
Solana immediately exited the room, and Samael looked over at Garrus, regret filling his face.
''One of the only things I regret in this cycle is you... I should have put you on the crew earlier, even if by force or if it changed things too much. You are too much of an addition to just leave on the side. You are my brother and I neglected you.''
Samael still has a good relationship with Garrus, but not at the same level as Wrex or Javik. But it wasn't enough for him.
This was one of the influences Samael 'received' from his Reaper counterpart: leave Garrus alone.
It was weird to think about, but the Turian was an important war asset, and the other him deemed him too dangerous to include too soon. Of course, Samael still managed to befriend the Turian, but he joined the crew much later than would normally be expected.
This, along with the fact the other him managed to prevent him from gaining biotic powers—thanks to him being too dangerous with them—was the counterpart's biggest achievement.
In the cycles where Samael did gain biotic powers, he dealt with the Reapers much more simply, so the counterpart changed that, influencing him to believe it was too dangerous to have them, or that he would die is he got them.
It worked, but he still persevered against them, time after time.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Samael said to Garrus, as he prepared to hop into the Turian's mind to help him, ''I know, or better yet, I think I know what the situation I'm in is, but this will not stop me from doing what I believe is right.''
''Besides, this should also count as a vacation for me. Now, let's save you, my friend.''
AN HOUR LATER
Samael exited the room and said to Solana, ''Garrus will wake up in a few minutes. There will be no side effects on him.''
Solana looked at Samael, dumbfounded. ''Really?''
''Really.''
She hesitated only for a moment before hugging Samael. ''Thank you for this.''
''I only did what is right. Please do tell the rest of the crew about it. I need to deal with a few things now, so I should go.''
''Will you not wait for him to wake up?''
Samael patted Solana's shoulder. ''We will have all the time in the world to do that later. You should be the first one he sees when he wakes up.''
Solana nodded, said nothing more, and entered the room to stay with Garrus.
Samael smiled at the scene, then got serious. He now had one more hurdle in this situation: RR.
Their confrontation was inevitable, and he would face it now. He could only hope things would go his way.