Chapter 17 - Chapter 17, Where do we stand?

Be warned that this chapter contains sex.

This is the last bit before Virmire.

Chapter 17

Where do we stand?

Having returned back to the Normandy, the team had once again assembled back in the comm room to go over the mission.

"What's our next move, Commander? Head for the Mu Relay?" Ashley asked.

"No. The Mu Relay links to dozens of systems. Unless we know exactly where Saren's going we'd just be wasting our time." Austin answered.

"The Commander is right. We cannot rush off blind. We still need to learn more about Saren." Said Liara.

Austin was still worried about her. She'd been very quiet ever since they'd left Noveria. Benezia's body had been cleaned up and Austin had put her body in a stasis coffin so it wouldn't decompose before a proper funeral.

"Exactly. I'm beginning to think that that's what the Prothean visions are for. If we can find the missing information that Saren has, maybe then we'll know where he's heading. But for now we don't have any more leads. Until then everyone has earned some rest. It's been one hell of a tough mission." Said Austin.

The crew disbanded. Austin wanted to follow Liara but Joker's voice stopped him.

"Noveria report is away, Commander. You want me to patch you through to the Council?" he asked.

Austin knew that this time wouldn't go well at all. The Council would no doubt be angry at him for cutting them off again, and they'd lecture him on his choice to free the Queen.

"Don't bother this time, Joker. I've had a tough enough day as it is. I don't want the Council to make it worse." He said.

"Yes sir." Said Joker.

Austin instantly headed for Liara's quarters. He knew she was probably still grieving for Benezia and he had to know where their relationship stood. He couldn't bear the thought of her ending his love for her.

As he proceeded through the Med bay and into Liara's room however, it was empty. He then saw a small note on the table. He picked it up and read it.

"Austin. We need to talk in private. I'm in your quarters. Come and meet me there. Liara." Said the note. There were also three kisses under her name.

Austin's face lit up ever so slightly. Perhaps he'd been wrong all this time. Without hesitating he left the med bay and headed into his quarters. Sure enough, Liara was in there. She was currently admiring his Helldiver armour which had been reassembled in the room and was now on display. She quickly took notice of him. She walked up to him.

"Austin… If you wish to talk about my mother's death, you need not bother. She brought it on herself." She said.

"Don't pretend it doesn't bother you. She was your mother." Said Austin.

Liara then hugged him tightly. She didn't seem to cry but Austin still hugged her back tightly nonetheless.

"She was… but at the same time she was not. I prefer to remember Benezia as she used to be, before she was corrupted by Sovereign's power." Said Liara.

"The best of your mother lives on in you; her determination, her intelligence, her strength." Said Austin. He had considered mentioning some of the more sexy function, but he resisted the urge. He still didn't know where their relationship stood.

"Your too kind, Austin. I appreciate your concern, but I am fine now. Benezia chose her path, just as I have chosen mine. I will never leave you, my love. I will fight at your side until the end." Said Liara.

"So, where do we stand? We're good?" Austin asked. From what Liara had said, it sounded as though their relationship was fine. But he had to be sure.

"Of course we are. Even my mother's death wouldn't make me love you any less. I love you, Austin. And nothing in my life is ever going to change that." Said Liara as she stroked his face.

"Good. I was getting worried for a minute." Said Austin as he breathed a sigh of relief.

"I feel I should apologize for making you worried about us. I am very sorry for what I said back on Noveria. But I was just so angry and full of sorrow. I had to let it out." Said Liara.

"It's alright, love. You have nothing to apologise for. We all try to blame others for the deaths of people we love. I would've done the same sort of thing in your place, even if it had been a bit extreme." Austin reassured her.

"But I still should've controlled my anger better. I shouldn't have let all my anger out on you. I shouldn't have cracked." Said Liara.

"If you don't crack sometimes, how do you know how far you can go?" Austin pointed out.

Liara considered that for a minute. He was right. Plus he was far more reassuring than anyone else she'd met in her life. She then smiled up at her boyfriend.

"Once again you keep proving that you share the wisdom of the Matriarchs, Austin." She said.

"Thank you. Arkanes are rather wise creatures, and don't forget that I was trained by one." Said Austin.

The two lovebirds smiled at one another and kissed.

"So what happens now?" Austin asked.

Liara's mouth then curled into a very seductive smile.

"I feel that a simple apology to you isn't enough, my love. I need to show how sorry I am in a more… physical way." She said as she placed her hands on his strong chest. She then winked at him and indicated towards the bed. Austin knew fully well what she meant.

"Liara. You don't need to have sex with me to prove how sorry you are. I've already forgiven you." Said Austin.

"I know that. But I need cheering up, and so do you. Come on, Austin. Don't tell me that you don't want to see me naked again and then fuck me nice and hard again. You haven't made love to me ever since our swimming date." Liara pleaded.

At the sight of her puppy do eyes, Austin couldn't resist.

"You are such a little minx, Liara. Come here!" he said.

Austin scooped Liara up in his arms and carried her over to the bed, arms entangled around each other, articles of clothing suddenly appearing on the floor; creating a path toward the bed.

"I've been a naughty little Asari." Said Liara.

"Indeed you have." Austin replied as he started to unzip Liara's science uniform.

Within minutes, both Austin and Liara where now in wearing nothing but their underwear. Austin rubbed his hands up and down her back, to his surprise, but also delight; she was wearing black, lacy lingerie.

"Hot!" Austin smirked as Liara pulled down his boxers, exposing his eager manhood.

"Not as hot as you, Austin." Said Liara as she started to stroke him. He hummed his approval as he unclasped her bra. The large breasts that her mother had passed down to her sprang free. Her nipples where already erect. Austin started to massage one of them with his thumb.

"I missed out something else of your mother that clearly lives on in you. She did have an amazing rack, but yours is way better." Austin said as he kissed her breasts.

"I was beginning to wonder if you'd bring up the fact that my mother's dress showed a lot cleavage." Liara chuckled.

Austin leant down and began sucking and biting furiously on her moist boobs. All the while Liara ruffled his hair with her free hand, her other still continued to gently squeeze and stroke his cock. She moaned and gasped loudly as he sucked her nipple. Austin sucked and spat and licked and chewed her beautiful boobs for a good 2 minutes before he felt a little more reinvigorated.

"Wanna move onwards?" he asked as he finally let her breast go with a little pop.

Liara nodded. "Take my panties off." She said.

Austin started to kiss his way down her body. Liara moaned in approval as Austin stopped briefly at her belly button and he planted a very heavy kiss there.

"Is it just me, or you getting a bit more muscular?" Austin asked.

"With all the combat we've been facing, I'd be surprised if my fitness hadn't increased. There's nothing wrong with that is there?" Liara asked slightly nervously.

"Not at all, Liara. You'd look even sexier like that." Said Austin. He then tried to see if his girlfriend was ticklish. To his delight, she was.

Liara giggled and laughed as she tried to stop her boyfriend.

"Stop it. That tickles." She giggled.

Austin smiled at her and finally stopped. He then resumed his slow kissing down her body until he reached her black panties.

"Take them off!" Liara ordered.

Austin decided to be very naughty. He took the top half of her panties in between his teeth and gently pulled them off.

"Oh, Austin! You are so naughty!" she moaned.

"Austin growled in agreement and finally yanked her panties fully off. Her dripping Azure came into view. Austin licked his lips as he saw them glisten from the dark lights in his quarters. Liara then spread her pussy lips with her hand to show him how wet she really was.

Austin smiled and slid two of his fingers inside the Asari's moistness. The mix of pain and pleasure caused Liara to cry out and she began to rock desperately against the Helldiver's fingers. The both of them found rhythm, Austin thrusting into Liara as she slammed down onto his fingers. As he thrust into her he then started to lick at her dripping Azure. She tasted even sweeter than Sha'ira had.

"You taste nice." He said.

"Oh goddess! Lick me there! I didn't even know you where into this sort of thing." Liara moaned.

In an instinctual decision, Austin added a third finger to his thrusting.

"Come for me, Liara." He said, his voice husky and rich with desire.

Austin then felt Liara's vaginal walls contract sharply around his fingers as Liara stopped in mid motion, her body shaking and writhing as the orgasm swept over her body. Austin held her there, not daring to move until she relaxed, which was a good minute or so after she initially came.

"Goddess! That was so good!" Liara panted. She then looked directly as Austin. A new lust in her eyes. "My turn!"

She then grabbed Austin and pulled him towards her until he was sitting on her chest. His cock rested between her tits. She squeezed both of them together and began to pump him hard. Austin quickly caught on and started to thrust in time with her as she grinded up and down his shaft.

"Jeez! What kind of research have you been doing?" he groaned.

"More than just standard human sex. You wouldn't believe what information Asari have on having sex with humans. Especially males." Said Liara as she continued to pump his cock with her tits.

"So soft." Austin moaned. "So warm."

Liara then began to lick at the head of his dick. She could already taste his pre cum. She then impressively took the whole of his shaft into her mouth. Her throat instinctively contracting in an attempt to swallow and digest his massive rod. She could sense he was close and so she let him pop out of her mouth.

"Are you about to unload?" she asked.

"Yep!" Austin groaned.

Liara pumped her boyfriend's cock even more until he finally erupted. 3 Large spurts set out to coat her breasts and neck as his balls twitched and tightened. 2 more massive spurts then drenched her face. She licked them off. For a few seconds she savoured the taste.

"And you said that I taste good." Said Liara, quite surprised by how much he had just given her.

"Time for the grand finale, I think." Said Austin.

He lowered himself so that he was now lined up properly with Liara. She still stroked him to keep his cock from softening.

"Just before you fuck my brains out again, Austin. What did my mother whisper to you?" Liara asked.

Austin hesitated for a moment. He then took Liara's still beautiful young face in his hands and kissed her.

"She said… Give my daughter a family. Make her the mother I should've been." He said.

Liara was surprised by this.

"You mean? She wanted us to be married and have children?" she asked. "I don't know if we're ready for that. We haven't even had union yet."

"Don't worry, Liara. I agree with you. I wouldn't mind having babies with you one day. But I don't think we need to rush things. I think we should at least be married first before we try that. That is if you'd be willing to go that far in our relationship." Said Austin.

Liara smiled at him. "Of course I would. I love you, and one day I want to be your wife and bond mate. But we should at least stop Saren first. In the meantime though I think you should at least finish what you and I have started." She said as he indicated to his still hard beef stick.

Austin didn't need to be asked twice. He grabbed hold of her waist and pulled her forward, impaling her on his cock, he moved his hands to the underside of her knees and held there, as he thrust into her.

"Oh, yes! Get it in further!" Liara moaned as he pushed particularly deep into her, the man leaned forward and stared at her perky breasts for a moment, the nipples were a darker shade than the rest of her skin, much the same as humans, he kissed the valley between her bust, before taking one of her hard nipples into his mouth, biting and licking around it, teasing her areola with his skilled tongue. Liara grabbed tightly onto his back as she continued to scream his name loudly. She then flipped him over so that she was on top.

"Ahh!" Liara panted loudly, she was close already, the familiar tightening of her muscles increasing the pleasure for her partner, and thus for her. This was the point of no return, unless they both completely stomped their ministrations there was no way to prolong sex, orgasm was coming whether they liked it or not.

The sight of seeing her riding him drove Austin over the edge and he couldn't hold on any longer.

"Cum with me my love!" Liara screamed. She felt her vaginal walls clamp down hard on Austin, just before she heard him grunt unusually and felt his cock attempt to jerk inside of her. All of a sudden Austin shot his thick human cum deep into her, she gasped loudly at the sensation of feeling his warm cum painting her walls and womb. It hit them like a mass accelerated slug to the chest; Liara threw her bust out as her back arched uncontrollably, her pelvic muscles spasmed to the point of pleasure turning into pain, every nerve in her body felt as if it was to explode as the orgasm rocked her.

She collapsed onto him, panting loudly, raggedly gasping for air, with cum still actively gushing into her.

"You never cease to amaze me." She breathed deeply, regaining her breath.

"I love you, Liara." Said Austin as he slowly felt himself begin to fall asleep.

"I love you too, Austin." Said Liara. She too felt herself beginning to drift off.

The two both kissed each other deeply just as sleep claimed them. Liara's head rested on her boyfriend's strong chest while he just managed to put his arm around her and hug her tightly to him. The two drifted off into a long pleasurable sleep.

"Commander, we've got a message from Admiral Hackett." Said Joker's voice.

"Commander. We've found something that we thought you'd be interested in. We recently found reports of a Geth outpost located somewhere on the planet Solcrum in the Grissom system." Came Hackett's voice.

"Just Geth units?" Austin asked.

"Yes. But it's highly possible that you could find some more information on Saren in the databanks that they have." Said Hackett.

"I'll set a course wright away, Admiral." Said Austin.

"Good luck, Commander. Hackett out."

Solcrum was certainly what Austin would call a very lonely and dark planet. On the plus side though, it had a most spectacular view of the massive gas giant Notanban. For tackling the Geth, Tali was Austin's first choice without hesitation for the mission. He then decided to just go with Liara as well.

The entrance to the Geth base wasn't guarded so they were able to take the drop ship for this mission. When the Hellhound touched down however, Austin got the feeling that it probably meant that they'd find all the Geth inside. That would make their job a lot harder.

The whole interior of the base was designed completely different to any other that Austin had seen. Austin could already detect the Geth inside the room.

"Ready everyone?" he asked.

Both his companions nodded. They took up their positions for the door breach maneuver and Austin readied the detonator. Tali had her omni tool ready for disabling the Geth's shields and Liara charged up her biotics.

"Placing detonator." Said Austin as he placed the detonator on the door and armed it. "Clear!"

All three of the team turned their heads away from the explosion. The detonator exploded and the door opened. Tali threw an EMP grenade through the door way and allowed it detonate. Three of the Geth where caught in the blast. The team filed into the room and opened fire on the Geth.

Two Geth Juggernauts entered the fray with a new host of Troopers, opening fire with their rockets, which impacted solidly on the team's shields. Liara's biotic field shattered with the second strike and most of the destructive energies expended themselves against Tali's personal shields, their original target. Austin however threw a stun grenade at the Juggernauts, causing them to slow down considerably while the troopers went to cover. Tali and Liara hit the Juggernauts with everything they had. Austin meanwhile, chased a lone Geth soldier up to the higher levels. The soldier took cover behind several large crates and laid down suppressing fire on the Helldiver, forcing him to take cover behind a nearby box.

The soldier then seemed to stop firing and then disappeared behind the crates. Austin then heard the sound of heavy machinery and something massive powering up.

"What are you playing at?" Austin asked as he looked out of cover.

Out from the behind the boxes, a massive Geth spider with a cannon on its back walked out from behind the boxes. The soldier was at the controls. Austin's eyes widened in surprise.

"That's not fair!" he said. He instantly ran out of cover and bolted for the balcony.

The cannon fired a massive nuke but it barely missed Austin as he jumped over the edge. The whole upper balcony exploded. Austin's suit would've absorbed the fall for him, but fortunately, it didn't need to. He landed on two Geth soldiers and the sheer weight of his armour, coupled with the force of gravity pulling him to the ground, crushed them.

The spider cannon peaked over the edge and prepared to fire again. But this time, Austin was ready for it.

"Liara!" he yelled.

Liara immediately looked in the direction of her name. Seeing the massive cannon, she immediately used her biotics to pull the whole of the upper floor that it was stood on. Without proper footing, the cannon fell to the ground with a loud crash followed by a massive explosion sending dust and debris flying everywhere. In the process it also took both the Geth Juggernauts and some more of the troopers with it.

Once the last Geth fell to the ground motionless, silence descended upon the field.

"Well… Looks like the Geth have had a smashing time." Austin joked, slightly out of breath from the explosion.

Both Liara and Tali laughed at this.

"That sense of humour of yours is gonna get you anywhere." Liara laughed.

"Even…" Austin asked suggestively as he used his head to indicate to Liara's lower regions.

Liara smiled from behind her helmet. Her boyfriend was such a flirter.

"If I recall, it already has." She said.

As the team began searching for anything useful, Austin came across a terminal. He found something very, very interesting…

"Tali… you'd better come take a look at this." He said

"Yes, Shepard? Something to decrypt?" The slightly synthesized quality of Tali's voice was particularly prominent in the confined space.

"We've got a console filled with Geth data over here; can you make two copies of it?" the Helldiver asked.

"Remember who you're talking to." Tali said happily. If Austin could've seen Tali's face he would've certain she was smiling. After a few moments of keying away at the console though, it turned from happiness to amazement.

"Shepard. Look at this. All the files from this console have information that explains how the Geth have evolved over the years ever since the drove my people from our home world." Said Tali. "I know that you'll probably want to upload this data to your superiors, but I want a copy of it as well." She said.

"You want to bring it back to the fleet, don't you?" Austin asked.

"These files have information that could be vital to our efforts to understand the Geth. It could even be the key to reclaiming Rannoch." Said Tali.

"Hold on though. If we give this to you, then you'll leave us. We won't have as much of an advantage against Saren without you." Said Austin. He'd hate to lose such a valuable member of his team.

"I won't leave you right away, Shepard. I'll stay with you as long as it takes to stop Saren. But my people need this!" said Tali.

"You sure though, Tali. The data's heavily encrypted. Even the best information Brokers in the galaxy could take years to decipher and analyse it." Said Austin.

"Maybe even decades. But it'll be worth the wait." Said Tali.

"Go ahead then, Tali. I already need two copies of the data to send to the Arkanes and the Alliance. They'll benefit from this as much as you. Make a private third copy for yourself." Said Austin.

To his surprise, the young Quarian threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

"My people—I—owe you a great debt. One I can never repay. All I can offer is my sworn word that I will remain part of your crew until the end." Said Tali happily.

"I couldn't ask for anything else." Said Austin.

"Thank you… Austin." Said Tali.

Since they were still out of leads Austin had given everyone a very long break on the Citadel. He was currently walking through a part of the Wards, considered arranging another date with Liara.

"Maybe take her out for dinner this time? I know she'd love it." As he was still thinking however he heard a man mention his name.

"Hey. Been a long time, huh?" said the man.

"I'm sorry. Do we know each other?" Austin asked. There was something familiar about the man.

"I guess you don't remember me. Lieutenant Zabaleta? I worked with your mother once." Said the man. "We served on the carrier Einstein. That was 12, 13 years back. You were just a kid then."

"I didn't really see her much that tour. I was in high school back on Earth and the ship was on patrol most of the time." Said Austin.

"Hey, call your mom up and ask. She'd remember old Zabaleta. She'd vouch for me." Said Zabaleta. 2Liste, I need a favour. I'm kind of short on money these days. I hate hitting you up for money, but a man's gotta eat, right? Could you spare something? Maybe 20 credits?"

"I see no harm in it. It's not a problem at all. Here you go." Said Austin as he handed over 20 credits.

"Your mother always did say you were a good kid, just like your father. She's right, you know that? Thanks." Said Zabaleta.

Austin headed back to the Normandy which was still in dry dock. He didn't bother getting out of his armour. He'd only be a minute after all. Just contact his mother, ask him about Zabaleta and then hopefully get back to thinking of a way to pass the time.

"Computer, give me a real-time connection to the dreadnought Kilimanjaro. I want to speak to my mother, Captain Shepard." He said.

There was a brief pause and then the familiar hologram of Captain Hannah Shepard appeared in front of her son.

"Shepard spe— Oh, hi sweetie. I'm afraid I don't have time for a personal chat right now. I'm on duty." Said Hannah. She looked very pleased to see her son again. She didn't often speak to him when he had his Helldiver armour on, but she still felt he looked very proud in it.

"Don't worry Mom. I won't take up much of your time. Do you remember a Lieutenant Zabaleta from the Einstein?" Austin asked.

"Ernesto? Have you heard from him? He was one of the marines who guarded the CIC. We shared a watch. He was a good friend of me and your Father's/ I lost track of him after- there was an incident." Said Hannah.

"I've seen him here on the Citadel. Looks like he's had some hard times." Said Austin.

"I don't doubt it. You remember the Batarian raid on Mindoir, in 2170? The Helldivers stopped that. Actually, no you wouldn't. You were still in high school then and hadn't joined them. The Einstein's' task group responded to the mayday. The Batarians were still retreating from the Helldiver armies when the marines hit groundside. Zabaleta was one of the first down. He… He was never quite the same after."

"What happened down there exactly? The Helldivers hardly speak of Mindoir anymore." Austin asked.

"About every abomination that a sentient being can do to another. As you know, to a slaver, a person is just an animal. And humans aren't always like out here. We heard about corralling, Culling. They'd shoot those they couldn't use. Implant control devices in the skulls of those they could. Without anaesthetic." Said Hannah.

"Oh yes. Thanks to us though, the Batarians haven't been able to get the technology to do that for a very long time." Said Austin as he remembered some of the barbaric things he'd seen slaves do under Batarian control. "I'm guessing Zabaleta has post-traumatic stress because of what he saw?"

"He tried to keep working, but it rode him. He showed up drunk on duty more and more. We couldn't always cover for me. Your Father disapproved heavily of him after that." Said Hannah. "The Alliance discharged him. Everyone knew he drank because of what he'd seen down there. Even if he never talked about it. Especially because he never talked about it."

"For it to have affected him that deeply, he must have been a very sensitive man." Said Austin sadly.

"He was. Always in laughter and tears. He had the same sort of sense of humour you and your father do. Only he was way more fragile than you both are. If you see him, tell him we still worry about him. Tell him to go to the Veteran's Affairs Office." Said Hannah.

"I'll make that first priority, Mum." Said Austin as he saluted to the Captain.

"Always like your Father, Austin. I have to go. But take care of yourself out there." Said Hannah.

"I will. Say hello to Sarah for me." Said Austin.

"I'll make sure I do, son. You're making us all proud. By the way, I heard recently you got a girlfriend. I don't have the time to go into the specifics, but treat her well. I hope one day to meet her. Kilimanjaro out." Said Hannah as her hologram vanished.

Austin headed back to the Citadel and found Zabaleta.

"Hey, back again, eh? Don't suppose you got any credits to spare?" Zabaleta asked.

"I spoke to my mother. She told me about what happened on Mindoir." Said Austin.

"Did she? I wonder. People tied like prize hogs. Locked in cages, clawing and screaming as they're loaded into cargo pods." Said Zabaleta as he remembered some of the things he'd seen on Mindoir.

"I know how you feel. I've seen the same things many times as a Helldiver. You're not the only one who's suffered from those sights. Many Helldivers can't always handle it either." Said Austin calmly.

"And we couldn't reach them. The Batarian defences had us pinned. Dozens trying to advance. All we could was watch as they hauled people away. Your Helldivers eventually arrived to help us but they arrived just too late. I've been looking for 13 years for something to make that sight go away. What have you got? Huh?" Zabaleta asked.

"I've not giving you money to drink yourself to death. You need to stop this." Said Austin.

"If you don't have a better option, just give me 20 credits. A good bottle of whisky. Enough to stop the dreams." Zabaleta begged.

"My mother said to go to the Veteran's Affairs Office. You're not the only one who's seen that brand of hell. They can help you." Said Austin.

"The VAO-? God. If she wants me to go talk to someone, fine. I'll do it. For her. Your parents always used stick up for me. Heh. She always was naïve. All the VAO does is pump you full of chemicals. If she wants to talk, tell her she can reach me through the Citadel VAO." Said Zabaleta as he left.

"Commander. I hope you plan to be civil this time. I don't enjoy getting cut off mid conversation or being ignored." Said the Asari Councillor.

The Citadel Council had contacted Austin saying that they had a new lead on Saren. At the moment though they were still cross with the Helldiver for cutting them off last time and ignoring them after Noveria.

"Don't piss me off again and I won't cut you off." Austin retaliated.

"You don't make demands of us, Shepard. Spectres answer to the Council, not the other way around!" said the Turian Councillor.

"You need to back off and let me do my job! I never wanted to be a Spectre so I can easily just quit and find Saren on my own!" said Austin.

"Enough!" said the Asari Councillor. "We've received information that may be critical to your mission against Saren."

"Go ahead then. I'm listening." Said Austin as he crossed his arms.

"We've received an urgent message from one of our infiltration units in the Traverse." Said the Salarian Councillor.

"You mean spies?" Austin asked suspiciously.

"Spectres tend to attract a lot of attention, Commander. But they are only one arm of the Council. Special tasks groups are often a better option. A bit like your Helldivers as well." said the Asari Councillor.

"We currently have several infiltration units stationed on Virmire." Said the Salarian Councillor.

"Did they find anything useful?" Austin asked.

"Unfortunately the message we received was little more than static. Considering your mission involving Saren. We felt you should be notified of this mission. The signal was sent on a channel reserved for critical missions." the Salarian Councillor replied.

"I'll look into it." Said Austin.

"Good luck, Commander. We will keep you informed if we learn anything else." said the Asari Councillor.

The Council vanished and Austin went into the CIC. He plotted a course for Virmire. With any luck, Saren was probably there right now.

Next chapter will be Virmire.