Thane Krios looks out of the window of the lobby of Huerta Memorial Hospital, meditating and contemplating all that has happened after the reapers had begun their assault. He notices in the reflection of the window a stretcher being brought in with a dark haired human woman on it unconscious in need of urgent medical attention.
(Later)
Thane was pleased to see Shepard and hopeful that he was leading the charge against the reapers. Also knowing that Lieutenant Commander Ashley Williams was a good friend of the commander, he vowed to keep an eye while she recovered. Once the doctors had finished with her he went in to pay her a visit.
"Who are you?" Ashley enquired as Thane entered her hospital room.
"Be at ease, my name is Thane Krios, we have a mutual friend," Thane explained
"Shepard," Ashley replied.
"Yes, I helped him fight the Collectors," Thane replied.
"What are you doing here?" Ashley asked; still seemingly weary of aliens even with the Reapers bearing down on the galaxy.
"I am a regular patient; you'll be in my class next week when you start your therapy, I gave Shepard my vow to look after you while you recover." Thane answered methodically.
"You look healthy enough, if you don't mind me asking what are you here for?" Ashley enquired.
"I am slowly dying of Kerpal's syndrome; it's a disease that affects my body's ability to regulate my blood. The human equivalent would be haemoglobin. It is manageable but I require constant medical attention."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Ashley replied with sincerity.
"I'm not, I have done many bad things but I have atoned for my sins. I know my life is at an end. According to some doctors I shouldn't be alive today but I will continue to live out my final days contented in the fact I have accounted for my sins and I appreciate all that is good in my life." Thane replied.
"It seems you have faith in something, I can relate to that as I cannot look out on the galaxy and not believe there is something greater than us."
"After my wife's passing I had anger in my soul but now I feel none of it and I simply choose to remember the good influence she was in my life."
"Did you have any kids?"
"A son Kolyat, he visits me regularly, have you any family?"
"My mom and three sisters, I haven't heard from them yet, I am worried and being stuck in this bed isn't helping either."
"I understand your pain; I hope you see them soon."
"You know when my squad was killed back on Eden Prime, by the Geth; I found it hard to trust aliens even after Sovereign's attack on the Citadel."
"Humanity's contact with aliens has been short in comparison but aliens need to work together to combat the reapers."
"I know, you're right, I was upset with Shepard after his liaison with Miranda Lawson."
"Miranda is more than she seems, after working Shepard she saw Cerberus' error in their ways and then left, I feel Shepard's influence lead to her change from when the mission began and I was recruited. The thing Miranda cared about most was her sister and protecting her from her mad father."
"She wasn't just Cerberus' puppet?"
"No, she wanted to protect her sister and risked her life on more than one occasion to save her."
"I didn't know, I guess I jumped to a conclusion
about Miranda Lawson."
"The Drell are thankful for other species, if weren't for the efforts of the Hanar I probably wouldn't be here talking to you."
"What happened?"
"Overpopulation left my race dying, and we had not even invented fusion power and my people were murdering one another for crumbs of food and drop of water. When the Hanar found us the sent ships and transported thousands of us to safety."
"I didn't know about the history between the Hanar and the Drell."
"It is a long history but if the Reapers are not dealt with then none of it will matter. If anyone can put a stop to them Shepard can."
"I'm certain of that as well."
"I should let you get your rest then; I'll come in and check on you tomorrow."
After Thane's departure Ashley felt a new perspective forming in her mind. She could not help but feel a change of heart towards aliens after hearing Thane's story and the conviction with which he lived his life proved compelling for Ashley.
Ashley turned her head to the ceiling of her hospital room and closed her eyes getting some well-deserved rest but still uneasy knowing her family were not accounted for yet and Shepard was out fighting for trillions of innocents and the very survival of every advanced organic civilisation.
Ashley awoke later in the middle of the presidium's night cycle and looking out of the window on the quiet and empty presidium as most of the station's inhabitants were asleep. The hospital was quiet apart from the regular night staff doing their rounds.
Ashley couldn't help but think about what Thane had told her earlier, her bias against aliens seemed to be slowly fading. She began to realise that the Reapers were not just targeting humans but every species and working against them would be a stupid thing.
She also thought about how the Alliance had treated her and her family after her grandfather's surrender at Shanxi. She began to realise that Turians and Humans seemed to be getting along it had been almost thirty years since the First Contact War and with the Reapers bearing down on the galaxy organics could no longer allow themselves to be consumed by their differences anymore.
After all it seemed to have occurred to her that the Alliance gave her and her father constant shit because of her grandfather's surrender to save the lives of his soldiers. Ashley seemed to be forming a new perspective about everything she had come to know in her life.
She remembered the irony of her grandfather fighting the Turians and then her herself fighting alongside Garrus. She knew her mind was full of thoughts and her outlook on life was beginning to change, and it may have something to do with the reticent words Thane had uttered earlier.
(The following week)
Ashley had just completed her first class of therapy and was recovering rather quickly eager to get back into the fight against the reapers. Ashley's motivations remained as strong as ever, it was her who said "Human or Alien we are all just animals."
Thane came to check in on her, she was a little more awake than before and as such as most certainly on the path to recovery. She was back in the bed and sitting up.
"Ashley, how are you feeling?"
"Much better, thank you Thane."
"You're most welcome Ashley; I can see why Shepard cares for you."
"Evidently not as much as Ms Lawson."
"Still upset about her?"
"I know what you said last week makes sense but it seems Miranda still leaves a bitter after taste."
"Maybe getting to know her a little better might make a difference."
"I don't know, it might."
As the words left Ashley's mouth the door to her hospital room slid open. In walked the infamous, in Ashley's case, Miranda Lawson in the flesh.
"Lieutenant Commander," Miranda said in a rather neutral tone.
"Miranda Lawson," Ashley said in a state of disbelief.
"I heard you were here, thought I'd pay you a visit."
"Why?"
"I am concerned; everyone needs to work together, including me and you."
Ashley wanted to retort but quickly composed herself as she realised that Miranda was right.
"I think I'll leave the two of you alone," Thane said breaking up the quickly building tension.
Thane stood up and headed to the door leaving the two ladies to themselves.
