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Post by ddraigcoch123 on Aug 7, 2012 23:35:18 GMT 1
A/N This is an edgy and very dark at times relationship focused Fem/Shep Liara romance, with action, and sexystuff. It takes place across all three ME stories but won't always follow the linear timeline. Very left of cannon at times and with some themes. It will also offer an alternate end point for ME3, there will be no multi coloured multiple choice questions posed by a ghost. I really do welcome you feedback on how its going. Thanks for reading along.
A/N working on how to embed music at various points in story until then here is youtube for some music and visuals www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ahNXo7wDmM&feature=youtu.beChapter 1 ‘Shit shit shit’ her first thoughts followed by the kind of pain that snatches your breath away…. And it would have if she had any breath… She tested breathing, she had to think about the mechanics of it, and as the fire like pain burned more intensely in her lungs she knew that every breath would be shallow and hard fought for. Next was movement. ‘No no no no, don’t move stupid’ Did she say that out load or just in her head, she couldn’t hear, well that wasn’t strictly true, there was noise, of sorts. Like being underwater or in a decompressing suit with no comms chattering in her ear. That thought brought back the edge of a memory but as fast as it moved into her mind it drifted away again. Her attempted movement of an arm, though she couldn’t remember now which one, had sent even higher waves of burning, searing, crushing pain to her brain. She was completely immobilised but right now she couldn’t tell whether it was from the weight of whatever it was pressing on her or her own broken body. And it was dark, was it impenetrable dark, the black of space, the dark of shut eyes, the black of being buried… she couldn’t work out if her eyes were open or closed or if she could open them. And she felt herself drifting, her brutal awareness of her physical situation beginning to fade, like she was falling up and away from it. ‘No don’t pass out, stay awake, focus, what just happened, where the fuck am I… shit Shepard stay with me’. But the noise that escaped her lips was more of a low, growling moan, the sound of a trapped, dying, struggling animal holding fast to life through sheer will. Was this it then, would her life flash through her mind, well if it was she was going to make damn sure she choose the highlights. She reached out in her mind to the one part of it that wasn’t screaming with fear and pain and confusion, the one part of her mind that felt like an anchor to existence, warm and safe. But something else was in that place, a demand, a drill sergeant of a voice that was shouting at her to get it together, she wasn’t done yet, she had one thing left to do.. just one more thing to do then she could let go. And she wanted to let go, she was so tired, tired to her very soul. Shepard was drifting up and away and she grabbed the most powerful memory she could to take with her, those blue eyes, the sound of her voice, the touch of her mind… Liara. ________________________________________ Shepard looked up at the sky, it was really hot, and her armors micro climate was struggling to maintain comfortable levels because she had taken her helmet off. Given the choice she would rather have her head in the environment groundside, and her shields gave a decent level of protection. It had been a hard fight to get this far. Not only meeting resistance from Geth snipers and troopers but also few heavies. They had had to leave the Mako further back as even Shepard’s crazy driving couldn’t get them around a huge rock fall. ‘Not much further now Commander’ Kaiden was checking the map on his OT ‘Just the top of this drive, we should see the buildings soon’ ‘Skipper if you don’t mind me saying, you really stink at driving the Mako, I don’t think I caught so many bruises on a ride along since my troop transport took a wrong turn and we drove off a 50 foot cliff’ Ashley was smiling and knew she was only repeating what was a commonly held opinion of their Commanders driving style. ‘Well hell Ash I’m a space marine I don’t do so well in two dimensions, but I haven’t found a Mako or a crew that I could break so far, you gonna be the exception?’ ‘Hell no skip, just thinking we could take it in turns is all’ As they approached the final bend Shepard held up a fist as instinct told her they had company waiting for them. Hard hats back on and weapons at the ready they moved forward from cover to cover and were rewarded with the getting the drop on a small group of Geth troopers and a couple of snipers. They agreed with hand signals how they would carve up the targets, repositioned themselves and on cue opened fire taking down all targets within 30 seconds. Shepard began walking forward towards the mine entrance when she felt a rumbling that came up through her boots following a mili second later with the sound of a Geth drop ship. ‘Find cover’ she yelled over the noise and from behind a huge cargo bin she watched as a Colossus and two rocket troopers hit the ground and unfolded themselves less than 30 feet away. In her peripheral vision she also saw quick movement on the side of the building to the left and knew instantly they had been joined by at least one hopper. ‘Fall back the trench’, She knew they needed a minute to sort out a tactical response to the new threat and the trench they had used previously was another 50 feet back, ‘Shield boost and run for it’ She added. Shepard was aware her team mates had begun the run to the trench as she began trotting backwards to both lay down covering fire and provide a focus of attention for their new threat and drawing it from Kaiden and Ash. Seconds later Kaiden called through the comms that they were in the trench and covering both with a biotic shield and covering fire, she turned and ran for it. Once she hit the trench she gave out the commands she had already sorted in her mind. ‘Ash, focus on taking down those Rocket troopers once that’s done focus fire on that Colossus’ she turned to face KaIden ‘You use your biotics to catch that hopper and any friends he brought and take them out. Before we start I want us all to focus full AI jamming on that Colossus and keep re-jamming or use damping if they manage to override our tech. I’m going to move forward and make a run up the left through the cover there is to flank the big guy, I figure by the time I get there you will be ready to focus fire on it so I won’t have my ass hanging out,’ she finished with a grin. Apart from getting hit by a hopper a couple of times and a rocket hitting the side of some cover she was using taking down her shield temporarily it went as planned. Though the final take down of the Colossus took the combined efforts of Kaidens biotics, Ash and Shepards tech work and a steady stream of accurate firepower. The sound of their boots on the metal walkway, as quiet as they were, sounded like thunder in her ears. Dammit they needed the element of surprise if they met anything on the way down and they sounded like a herd of stampeding Krel’da. They probably weren’t making that much noise but her nerves were on edge, it had been a hard fight to get this far, the heat inside the mine wasn’t helping the fatigue that came with hours of constant fighting either. With her helmet off again her environmental controls were not coping with the heat and humidity. They had taken out a couple of groups of Geth troopers on the way down but nothing bigger and as they exited the lift that had brought them down into the heart of the mine it seemed eerily quiet and still. A feeling added to by the shimmering blue tinted light coming from their left which Shepard decided needed investigation. As she stood in front of the stasis field, as that is what it appeared to be, she lowered her weapon and couldn’t help allowing a broad grin to form as the sight before her was not only amusing but entirely beautiful. ‘Dr T’Soni I presume?’ Shepard was sure the reference to an old Earth history story would be lost on all present, especially the Asari, but she noticed Ash smile out of the corner of her eye. ‘Thank the Goddess I did not think anyone would come looking for me, but you are human, I…, well anyway this thing I am in is a Prothean security device so I need you to get me out of it. Alright?’ ‘So how did you manage to get stuck in there?’ Shepard asked not able to keep the smile out of her voice. ‘I was exploring the ruins when the Geth showed up; can you believe that, Geth beyond the Veil? So I hid in here. I activated the towers defences I knew the barrier curtains would keep them out. But when I turned it on I must have hit something I was not supposed to. I was trapped in here. You must get me out. Please.’ ‘How long have you been in there?’ Kaiden asked concern showing on his face ‘Almost two Galactic Mean Time cycles and the barrier itself is also having an effect on me. I feel very weak and a little light headed’ ‘So that’s about 36 Alliance standard hours’ Ash chipped in ‘Ok Dr T’Soni just stay calm a little longer we will get you out’ Shepard nodded all trace of amusement now gone. ‘There is a control in here that should de-activate the thing. You will have to find some way past the barrier curtain. That’s the tricky part the barrier curtains can not be shut off from outside. I do not know how you will get in here. Be careful there is a Krogan with the Geth and they have been trying different way to get past the barrier.’ Concern and fear clearly showing on the Asari’s face. ‘Well your lucky it was a team of Alliance Marines who came to your rescue Dr. we will get you out, just sit tight’ Shepard gave the Asari what she hoped was more of a reassuring smile than an amused one. After dealing with a couple of Geth Troopers that walked in on their recce of the area they used a mining laser to break under the space that the Dr. was trapped in rode the lift up a floor. ‘How did you get in here, I did not think there was any way past the barrier’ Dr T’Soni said trying to look over her shoulder to where Shepard and the others were now standing. ‘We need to get you out of there and off this planet as quickly as we can Dr. before more Geth arrive’ ‘Yes your right I have seen enough of them to last a lifetime and I really do feel very tired. There is a control on the console behind you which should shut down the containment field’ ‘Hang on skipper her mother is working for Seren are we sure she can be trusted outside that field?’ Ash spoke but Shepard could see the same concern on Kaiden’s face, but before Shepard could answer Dr T’Soni spoke with a venom and hardness that hadn't been present in their previous exchanges. ‘I am not my mother! I do not even.. I do not know why Benezia joined Saren. I do not want anything to do with that Turian bastard.’ ‘If she was with Seren the Geth wouldn’t be trying to kill her or capture her and she wouldn’t have trapped herself in that barrier. Kaiden use the console and get this barrier down.’ ‘Aye aye Commander’ As Kaiden moved towards the console Shepard moved close in behind the Dr. to catch her as the barrier came down. The instant the barrier disappeared Dr T’Soni fell but Shepard caught her and lowered her so that the Dr’s feet were on the ground. Although able to stand she was very unstable on her feet and Shepard stayed close an acted as a support for her. ‘So how do we get out from here’ Kaiden asked ‘I believe the platform in the centre of the tower is a lift that will take us up to the top level’ Dr T’Soni said and as they walked to the platform and activated the lift she said ‘I still can not believe this, why would the Geth come after me? Do you think Benezia is involved?’ ‘Saren is looking for something called the Conduit, a Prothean device, you’re a Prothean expert so he probably thinks you can help him to find it’ Kaiden replied ‘The Conduit… I do not know…’ but the Dr’s comment was interrupted as the sound of cracking and falling rocks filled their ears and the platform shuddered. ‘What the hell was that’ Ash’s voice was steady but she looked edgy ‘These ruins are unstable I believe the mining laser may have triggered a seismic event’ the Dr. replied ‘Well we, I, do like blowing stuff up… though we usually like to be at a safe distance when we hear the bang’ Shepard said smiling trying to relieve the obvious tension that was present in the lift ‘That you do ma’am’ Kaiden smiled at her. ‘Joker! Get the Normandy airborne and lock in on my signal, at the double mister we are coming out hot’ ‘Aye aye Commander, secure and aweigh. ETA 8 minutes.’ Joker’s voice crackled over the comms. ‘Prepare for a quick and dirty evac people’ Shepard pulled her assault rifle to ready position, locked her helmet, and waited for the lift to complete its journey to the surface. ‘Not much margin for error from the sounds of things’ Kaiden voiced what they were all thinking As the lift reached the final level they were confronted with the Krogan battlemaster that the Dr had warned them about who had a rocket trooper and a couple of ordinary troopers with him. ‘Surrender or fight, choose fight I am looking forward to ripping you apart’ the Krogan smiled showing his sharp teeth. Like a well oiled machine the three marines instantly took positions and started to take down the Geth troopers then turning their combined firepower on the Krogan. Shepard placed herself in front of the Asari pushing her down behind the console in the centre of the lift. It was over in less than a minute. The combination of tech, biotics and firepower gave the marines the edge against higher troop strength and higher numbers. It was the combination that made the Alliance military a force to be reckoned with even if their overall numbers were not as high as other military forces. Shepard turned to the Asari and helped her up and they moved forward from the lift onto the metal walkway, as they emerged and began to run for the exit huge chunks of rock began cascading from higher up and surrounding walls, some hitting the walkway sending shudders up through their boots. Shepard also noticed the Asari was having trouble keeping up in her weakened state. ‘Come on Dr. let me help’ Shepard turned to the Asari, lifted her easily and put her over her shoulders and began running for the exit carrying the Dr. with Kaiden and Ash in front. She could only vaguely hear, because of the noise from the rock falls and quakes, what sounded like apologetic protestations from the Dr. but Shepard also felt the Asari holding onto her. They emerged from the mouth of this higher level of the mine followed by rushing air carrying dust and the sounds of the destruction they had left behind. The Normandy was waiting with storage bay ramp dropped and it was only when they were safely inside did Shepard put Dr T’Soni back on her feet. ‘Straight to the med bay for you Dr T’Soni, let me escort you. Kaiden, Ash debriefing with the rest of the team in 30’ Shepard removed her helmet and looked for the first time properly into the eyes of the woman in front of her. ‘I need to tell you how grateful I am Commander for saving me and trusting me, I…. I… am not used to… I have never met… oh Goddess I think I am just feeling overwhelmed by my experience. Please Commander call me Liara, if you feel that is appropriate of course’ her hand went to her forehead and she looked somewhere above Shepards head. ‘Yes we really didn’t have time for proper introductions did we? Please call me Shepard, only my mother gets to call my by my first name which I hate,’ she smiled at Liara and her smile was returned. Something happened in that moment, something between them connected, Shepard didn’t quite know what it was… but it felt right… natural… like coming home… ________________________________________ ‘Mgah’ another breath… and the pain… and she was back here… in the dark, every pain receptor in her brain screaming and at the point of overload. But that was the problem where the fuck was she, what in the name of all things holy had put her here… she still couldn’t think… just pain, fear, the next breath. Saren, she had been chasing Saren… fought him on the Citidel… then Sovereign came crashing down on their heads… was that it… was that here? ‘Feel into the pain, don’t try to block it or avoid it, feel into it, concentrate on it and then you can take control, try it now Lidie’… that was her father’s voice… she had fallen from the climbing wall in the ship’s recreation bay. She’d banged herself hard when she hit the floor and was close to tears, but kept fighting them back; even at 7 she wanted to be tough. ‘Dad… Mum… help me… shit things must be really bad if your crying for your mummy Shepard’ the words spoken, or perhaps only thought, were said without sarcasm… the confusion, the pain, the fear, the certainty that she was dying were taking a toll. She was drifting away again, up and away from her physical body, this time she didn’t get the chance to grab for a memory… this time she would have no control over where her mind took her.
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Post by ddraigcoch123 on Aug 8, 2012 6:35:21 GMT 1
A/N this chapter may be a bit slow and rambling but hey we are inside Shepard's head and she's in a bad situation... so...anyway let me know what you think of this Chapter as well as the first one.
Chapter 2
Shepard looked up into the face of her father, his green eyes a mirror of her own, and was reassured and comforted despite the piercing pain in her shoulder.
‘That’s it Liddie, feel into the pain and turn down the volume, like we practised… though you know the real trick is not to get hurt in the first place’ he smiled at her and helped her up and continued ‘I think that’s probably enough for today your mother will have my guts if we’re late to the mess deck for dinner’
Her father was a marine, a lieutenant commander, though he started off heading for an academic life as a history scholar. That’s how she got one of her Christian names, Lydia, for some Greek or Minoan state which was the home of the double headed axe, Labrys…which is what he wanted to name her but her mother had put the brakes on it feeling that was a bit to much to lumber a child with.
It was from him she learned her love of history, books, reading and also of weapons. She was stripping down and putting back together rifles, pistol and shotguns by the time she was six. She would ask endless questions and sit in on training session about all things technical and combat related, even though she didn’t always understand everything she tried hard to.
She would always get a blow by blow account of his missions, he didn’t glorify it, told her the hard stuff as well as the exciting adrenaline rush stuff. He sometimes lost marines on missions and those were the times she saw how much responsibility came with command.
Her mother was a navy officer and from her she learned a love of ships and space itself. The dark art of mass effect fields, quantum mechanics, FTL drives, navigation… all things space vehicle related. One of her earliest memories was sitting on her mothers lap in the co-pilot seat of a frigate and having a front seat view of a mass relay jump.
From both of them she learned her iron sense of duty and honour, that you protect the weak, that to remain true to yourself and your moral compass was the only way to know right from wrong and the only way to make decisions when to do what was right would not be easy, that life was complicated and messy and the greatest gift the universe could give.
She wasn’t unique in this ‘educational’ experience. It wasn’t unusual for alliance ‘spacer’ kids to spend most of their time onboard ship with their parents, the alliance would ensure that parents were posted together and on larger ships that had facilities for babies and children. She did have to spend some time at alliance boarding schools when either she reached a critical point in her education or her parent’s ship was assigned to a mission unsuited to having children on board. But for the most part she grew up on board her mothers ship’s in the company of her father’s marines and there was never any doubt what she would do when she was old enough.
The darkest day of her life came when she was 15 years old. The ship had answered the distress call from Mindoir and her father was leading one of the teams of marines fighting on the ground. He was killed in action and the effect on Shepard was brutal, she found it hard ever to say anything other than ‘fucking Batarians’ if they ever came up in conversation after that day. Later she would work with and be civil to Batarians when the situation required it or duty commanded it, but there was no love lost between Human and Batarian on the whole and she was fine with that state of affairs.
The memories flashing in and out of view were of her time growing up on board those beautiful ships with her brilliant, loving and honourable parents. Of shore leave and trips to ruins or development labs; playing arguing learning laughing.
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She could hear the music through the open windows; they still used a marching band, such an old, old tradition. But tradition was one of the things she really valued in the Alliance Navy, that feeling of history, continuity; it reinforced the feeling of being part of something much bigger than her.
Looking in the mirror she did a final check of her dress blues. Completing her preparations she put on her dress cap and pulled its black peak down over her eyebrows so she could only just see straight ahead. She looked into her face, into her eyes, her father’s eyes and missed him deeply. He would have been so proud of her.
There had always been friendly rivalry between her parents about which arm of the service she would enter when she was 18, but in honesty no one had any doubt that she would join the marines. And here she was at her passing out parade; her mother, now the XO on the newest dreadnought the alliance had, sitting proudly in the stands waiting for her daughter to march past at the head of a troop of marines who were also moving from recruit to fully fledged member of the service.
It seemed to be over to soon, she wanted to relish the moment, to overlay it onto her father’s recollection of his passing out parade. After the ceremony she was able to meet again some of her father’s old squad and his commanding officer who had attended as a mark of the respect he had for her father.
She walked much taller than her 5’ 8” not only because of her own achievement but because she knew she was standing here thanks to both her parents and what they had given her; those character lessons that would steel her enough to face what was in her path and survive experiences that would have broken most people.
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‘Well I may be on shore leave but it doesn’t mean I have to do things I don’t enjoy does it’ she smiled at the young woman standing next to her ‘I mean would it be so bad if we just took an hour or two to check out the weapons mods this market has to offer, I’ll make it up to you later, promise’ she reached out and pulled the woman close and kissed her gently but firmly.
‘Aw Shep when you put it like that how can I refuse’ Anna was a little shorter than Shepard and was a local Elysium girl with black hair and blue eyes and a truly devilish smile.
But before they got much further air raid sirens started to wail out and loud speakers that Shepard hadn’t even noticed before began to repeat two messages:
‘All civilians to fortified shelters immediately. All military personnel report to the garrison office at the main gate’
Shepard looked at Anna and could see the fear in her eyes, they had heard the news of mercenary and Batarian raids on human colonies but this was Earth’s ‘capital’ in the Traverse and the population here had never contemplated any kind of attack.
‘Hey it’s ok, it may even just be a drill, but I need you to go to the shelter and stay there till I come find you, promise me?’
‘Ok but I should go home and check to make sure the rest of the family is ok’ Anna’s response was exactly the reply Shepard didn’t want to hear, if this was for real then wandering around looking for relatives was not the safe thing to do, and she cared for this woman.
‘No Anna promise me you go straight to the shelter and wait for them, you could end up missing each other if you try to find them, and take this, just in case’ Shepard handed Anna her hand cannon.
She pulled Anna to her and gave her a long kiss and a held her firmly in her arms.
‘Now go and I’ll see you on the other side’ Shepard watched for a few moments as Anna hurried away in the direction of the nearest shelter. Shepard turned to head toward the garrison office calculating on the way how many troops were likely to be stationed here, how many may be on shore leave like herself and what kind of notice they had received about the incoming attack.
The news was bad. They had less than 30 minutes, the incoming force looked like it could be overwhelming given the size and number of ships entering orbit, the focus of the attack would be Elysium itself and from the signatures of the ships they were Batarian.
The ‘garrison’ was little more than local MP/Security levels and by far the largest number of troops where those who were on shore leave.
They had enough time to grab armor, thankfully there was enough to go around, and the armoury was well stocked. The ranking officer was a Captain but he had no combat experience and she was told to take command even though she was only a first lieutenant.
The settlement itself was fairly well fortified but there were to many entry points to be able to defend it completely. She asked that a message be sent to all the shelters that doors were locked on her command, she would leave it as long as possible but they had no way of protecting all the safety shelters with troops they just had to hold the settlement till reinforcements came and stop the Batarians getting heavy weapons or vehicles into the settlement and the only way to do that was to hold the main gate with the only road access. The rest of the settlement would have to be on lock down. And once the attackers got through the ‘holes’ in the settlement defences by foot the defenders at the gates would be surrounded.
They were receiving telemetry from satellites which the Batarians hadn’t bothered taking down, a tactical mistake that may have stemmed from their arrogance. They had to think they could walk in with the numbers they had against a lightly defended civilian settlement. With that information available and their own local beacons which would start tracking the activity once the Batarians hit the ground they had a pretty good idea to within minutes of when they would be hit.
She stationed two small teams to man the two turrets on the walls either side of the gate with orders to spike the guns if they were in any danger of being taken by the enemy; and positioned both the grenade and rocket launchers with fire support on the walls as well. She deployed the only other heavy turrets on top of two cargo containers they had hauled in and dumped for cover in the area behind the main gates. They would be more exposed up there but would have a devastating effect and provide a killing zone both to the front and rear of their position. That is until the ammo ran out.
The rest of the troops dug in and found cover as best they could back to back ready for the attack from inside the settlement when the Batarians broke through and the main attacked headed at the gates. Ammo, including grenades, were distributed evenly and by the time they had finished their preparations the intel officer warned troops would be at the gate in under five minutes. She gave the order to lock the shelters. They had had slightly more time than first estimated, it had been forty one minutes since she kissed Anna goodbye. Shortly after that thought all hell broke lose.
Shepard tried to be everywhere supporting all the ground positions as they came under increased fire or attack. They had some luck early on, the Batarians decided to lead with their heavy weapons and carefully placed rockets and turret fire took out the two lead vehicles in the first exchange of fire. The mistake the enemy made then was for the next couple of vehicles to just go around the two that were disabled and they to were taken out thus blocking any further access to vehicles until the first line was clear. But that would be difficult and the vehicles were on fire and exploding, their magazines full of unused ordinance.
There was nothing more luck could do for them. They were completely outnumbered. Only the preparations they had made, their Alliance training and discipline and Shepards active and ongoing leadership and tactical adjustments kept their heads above water. But they steadily lost troops, one after another, sometime two or three at a time, men and women were killed or severely wounded.
Time had no meaning, Shepard had no idea how long they had been fighting. The Batarians had taken three or four breaks to try to regroup. Shepard used that time to move ammo around reposition remaining troops to fill gaps and rally confidence. She told them there would be no surrender, she told them they were all that stood between these Batarian slavers and what they would do to the innocent men women and children they were protecting. She told them there was no choice; they held on till help came, they were the last and only line of defence.
She could feel the blood from a head wound sustained in hand to hand combat when a wave of Batarians had overwhelmed their left flank and she and a couple of others had gone to reinforce and repel the attackers. Her left arm hung useless at her side a bullet wound in her shoulder. And a slice of shrapnel from a grenade blast had lodged itself in her side. But anger, adrenaline, force of will kept her rallying her troops and killing the wave after wave of the enemy that seemed to be neverending.
And then it stopped. All the noise of gunfire and shouting and screaming and explosions, just stopped. The silence was almost painful on her ears. She sank to her knees.
‘Sit rep, sound out, status and ammo’ she shouted but very few shouts came back. They had lost the turrets and troops on the wall…. when… a long time ago, she thought.
‘Intel do you have Alliance contact yet’ they had sent out all the distress calls required and for as long as they were able to transmit they sent out situation updates including Batarian troop numbers and their losses.
‘Lieutenant we have Alliance ships in fleet numbers in orbit’ a very weak and faint voice came to her from what was left of their comms station further along the cargo container they were using for cover.
‘Ok, stay sharp people, not safe till… reinforcements… need to just keep…’ Shepard was losing the fight to stay conscious, but only finally let go when she heard and then saw alliance gun ships overhead and she knew they would put boots on the ground in seconds.
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‘Medic…over here’ why hadn’t they got to her yet, they were here reinforcements, they… no…not Elysium.. this is not Elysium she thought.
‘Dammit Anna why didn’t you go to the shelter like I told you’ the image of Anna’s body, shot through the chest and the head crashed into her mind. She had been one of the few, significant few, who had not made it to the shelter before they were locked down. The brass had said if that order hadn’t been given the Batarians would have overrun the shelters and the civilian casualties would have been horrendous. But she still had to live with the knowledge she locked out people from a place of safety because she couldn’t find a way to protect them. She didn’t protect Anna, did she protect Liara…
‘You have to get it together Shepard where the fuck are you’ but the pain in her body and in her head crowded out her attempts at focussed thought.
She had started thinking about her father who was dead and then thoughts of her mother, both of whom she called on for help.
‘So do you want dad to help you into whatever passes for the afterlife or do you want mum to miraculously come find you the way she always could when you needed her before you got to big accept help even when it was offered…huh… which one Shepard…’ and there it was again the almost overwhelming need to let go, to stop fighting, to be done. She had done enough; seen enough, been through enough…she wanted to rest… she wanted it to stop.
‘One last thing, just one last thing to do… if only I could remember what it is…’ her head hurt, everything hurt and she was getting pretty fucking fed up of it and not knowing where she was and now she was wondering why nobody had come looking for her. And this fucking itch that she couldn’t reach to scratch… what the hell was it she still had to do… for fucks sake give me peace… let me find peace…
‘Find peace in the arms of the Goddess’ she whispered and then with a jolt she heard Liara whisper ‘Embrace eternity’… but she was alone so that had to be in her head.
Here it comes again she thought, that drifting away from the next breath, falling up away from the pain… take me with you Liara, come and find me.
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Post by ddraigcoch123 on Aug 11, 2012 13:08:54 GMT 1
Chapter 3
‘Not gonna happen soldier’ Shepard growled. Shepard, Kaiden, Ash, Liara and Garrus had weapons drawn and were facing down a squad of eight private security troopers who had met them as they disembarked the Normandy dockside.
‘For one,’ Shepard said her voice dangerously calm and quiet
‘I am a Council Spectre and I will enter this port and question who I damn well please’ and as she spoke again she leaned forward a little and pointed her Pinnacle pistol directly between the eyes of the Captain of the guard saying,
‘And second, you will not take our weapons and I can guarantee you that I will drop your entire squad before you finish giving them the order to try, you I will leave for last so that you know I am a woman of my word’.
Silence… Shepard’s team rock steady and all taking a bead on their chosen targets… Shepard saw in the eyes of the guards that they were not getting paid enough to die… Shepard was not bluffing and everyone on that dock knew it.
‘Yeah well…. Spectre, that’s different… you… you need to see they suits in the office… this is above my pay grade…’ The Captain didn’t exactly stammer but all her bluff and bravado was gone as she holstered her pistol and indicated her team do the same.
All the corporate garbage and double talk and… well… just crap, she had to work through to get the information about Benezia and Saren and to get them access to a vehicle to take them to Peak 15 had left her feeling murderous.
Peak 15… it sounded like a really difficult climb she had thought to herself, remembering her intensive climbing phase.
It was after her father died and she felt close to him when she was climbing, it was something he had taught her and that they had done together. She did the usual Earth high peaks and although challenging, with her now very enhanced physique and musculature due to her genetic enhancements and synthetic implants (preparation for her career in the military), they didn’t offer the same dangers or achievement as they did when her ancestors had started to climb them centuries earlier. She found climbs on new world and moons. She visited recommended mountain ranges so most had been climbed as they were ‘on the climbing circuit’. But others she had conquered for the first time. She got to name them, well number, there were too many open to humanity now to name every mountain and ridge they wanted to scale. She sometimes wondered what it must have been like to only have Earth before her ancestors took to the stars. She wondered if she would have felt claustrophobic.
Shepard had given the driving honours to Garrus, much to everyone’s relief, as the mountain road was treacherous with the snow, ice and a blizzard with occasional bouts of deadly Geth heavies and rocket troopers in the way. Given the choice between driving and shooting at things she would always choose to ‘blow shit up’.
But she was apprehensive, not of the fight, but that they were fighting their way to confront Liara’s mother. They had spent quite a few late nights in the mess talking about everything and nothing and Shepard felt they were getting close. But she had no idea what would happen, how Liara would feel confronted with her mother who would end up in a fire fight with Shepard… the outcome would be inevitable… Benezia was going to die, and Liara would be there to see it.
She had almost ordered the Asari to return to the Normandy when they found out Benezia was still on Noveria and within reach. But Liara needed to be there and knew how the confrontation would play out. Shepard wished she could shield Liara from all of it… but what was coming would come… it would happen if Liara was in attendance or not.
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‘You have got to be kidding me’ Ash’s voice at a yell over the gunfire as they were attacked by what looked like Rachni. Shepard could sympathise with Ash, this was… unexpected and didn’t bode well for the rest of their journey through the facility.
It was hard and messy and at times tedious. Particularly when they were killing the Rachni who appeared not even to have ‘the sense they were born with!’ It was an old Earth saying that she remembered from somewhere, but it seemed to describe the Rachni behaviour perfectly. They just kept coming at them almost in a straight line, the only tactic they had was numbers, if they had worked together more they would have caused many more problems for Shepard’s team, but it wasn’t without its danger and lack of concentration at any point would have left anyone of them vulnerable and the Rachni were ‘poisonous little bastards’ as Garrus put it more than once.
At one point she was really annoyed at herself for leaving Wrex on the Normandy, he would have loved this… the old enemy.
They got to the AI core and had to do some fancy re-booting and while Ash and Kaiden worked on it Shepard and Garrus kept watch shooting the odd Rachni that wandered in through a side corridor and chatted in their usual easy bantering way. Shepard was aware of Liara trying to look interested and involved with what Ash and Kaiden were working on, but Shepard knew her well enough already to notice the signs of distraction and worry. The tilt of her head the way she touched her forehead or her throat. But there was nothing to be done, not yet, not until… after. Shepard was pulled back from her train of thought by the question Garrus was asking.
‘So with all your fancy upgrades and tech why do you still have those scars on your face Shepard, you know you need all the help you can get with women given you don’t have such a sunny disposition,’ he smiled at her waiting for her to rise to the bait.
‘Hell Garrus some women find battle scars… hum what’s the word… exciting… and my disposition is just fine thank you very much. You trying to pump me for tips coz I’d be happy to give you some, noticed your not getting so many calls from that nice Doctor Michel as you used to.’ She finished and flashed him a big grin. Garrus was a little touchy on the subject of Dr Michel who seemed to have pursued him quite persistently after he had saved her from a gang of thugs in her clinic. Shepard had helped a little but she was happy for Garrus to take all the glory in the good Doctors eyes.
‘Did you ever get around to…?’ Garrus cut off her question with a forced clearing of his throat and a question to Kaiden along the lines of ‘would it be much longer’.
With key systems now back online they were able to travel to the labs and when they made their way up in the elevator they were confronted with a security team who asked for help to purge the breeding labs which was where all the Rachni were escaping from; although they got zero ‘help’ from the security team.
Shepard and her team headed down and had to fight their way through high numbers of the hairy poisonous beasts and she was glad to have Kaiden and Liara’s biotics to help with the sheer numbers. The made it to the control station and found the console they needed. They set the plasma pulse that would purge the main breeding lab and the rearing areas which were on the same floor. The console was damaged which meant they couldn’t adjust the delay to the pulse and it was going to be pretty tight to get out of its way as it would kill any organic it hit. They had to double time back to the elevator carving a path once again through the Rachni that seeping out of the breeding and rearing rooms. They were only two floors up when they heard the pulse explode, but it was far enough to keep them out of danger.
The lift door opened and immediately Shepard sensed trouble, ‘Break and cover’ she shouted and dragged Liara, who had proven handy in a fight but was no soldier, sideways to cover on the left.
Ash and Kaiden took up positions left and right of the elevator entrance and Garrus moved forward and took cover behind some benches. ‘Do we have a problem Captain’ Shepard shouted at the security guards leader ‘seems you were planning on giving us a hot welcome this time’
She could see now why her instinct had cut in, as where before there had been a clear area in front of the lift it now held a set of barriers forming a defensive position in an arc around fifteen feet away. She could see some of the guards nervously aiming weapons, but they had left it too late, they should have fired as soon as the lift door opened. Inexperience and nerves she thought.
‘I don’t suppose there’s any chance you would just leave and go back to the main facility is there, I would rather not fight you Commander,’ came the reply from behind the barrier, ‘I’m sorry but we received orders from Benezia to kill you all… and… well… she’s the boss’ he finished.
‘Why does everyone want to point guns at me today’ Shepard asked to no one in particular
‘Must be your sunny disposition’ Garrus answered with a smile
Shepard whispered into her comms so that only her team could hear and they agreed a fight plan. This would involve the two biotics, simultaneously, throwing a huge biotic hit at the barrier followed by some lifts. Ash, Garrus and Shepard would kill anything they could see, carving the defence line in front of them into three zones. If necessary the biotics would provide defensive shields against grenades or heavier weapons.
Shepard counted them in and didn’t even bother replying to the question the guards captain had asked; this would be her reply, this was almost always her reply to people threatening her or her team or her crew. As usual when the fighting started she dropped into that zone that was almost automatic but at the same time hyper aware of everything that was going on. It was over in less than two minutes.
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‘That’s the lab door at the end of this corridor Commander’ Kaiden said after checking the internal schematics of the complex on his OT.
‘Ok final check everyone,’ Shepard said and pulled Liara gently aside so they were standing a little away from the group. Shepard looked down into the Asari’s blue eyes and began to feel herself sink into them and shook off the feeling remembering where they were and what was about to happen.
‘Liara are you absolutely sure you want to come in with us?’ Shepard asked gently ‘I will do everything I can to take your mother alive but you know if I have to kill her I will’
‘Thank you Shepard I know you are trying to protect me, but I must be there to confront her, to see for myself what has happened to her…. I can not believe she would be doing this unless… if there is a way we can help her I know you will try’ Liara was returning Shepards gaze and a small sad smile flickered across her lips as she said ‘you can not always protect people from the things that will hurt them Shepard no matter how hard you try, I must do this’
Shepard gave a small nod and said ‘Ok then, be careful in there’. Shepard walked back to the team and they moved towards the door and whatever fate lay behind it both for Liara and Shepard.
They entered the room which was dimly lit, it had at its centre a huge tank containing a creature that looked similar in some ways to the Rachni they had seen but was clearly not the same. They saw Benezia almost immediately. She was standing on a platform and looked foreboding, forbidding would have put fear in the hearts of less seasoned soldiers.
Instinctively, smoothly, almost imperceptibly Ash, Kaiden and Garrus moved away from the door into better combat positions while Shepard and Liara moved forward and stopped at the bottom of the steps that lead to Benezia’s platform.
‘You do not know the privilege of being a mother, there is power in creation’ Benzia spoke in a matter of fact tone and turned away from Shepard and Liara and looking into the tank containing the creature continued ‘to shape a life, turn it towards happiness or despair. Her children were to be ours raised to hunt and slay Seren’s enemies.’ Benezia walked back towards the top of the steps.
‘So that’s the Rachni queen’ Kaiden said quietly from where he was standing a little off to the right
‘I would have thought a good mother would always try to point their children towards happiness, let them make their own path and be proud of who they became?’ Shepard asked wondering how much the ‘real’ Benezia was actually speaking.
‘I will not be swayed by sentiment no matter who you bring into this confrontation’ Benezia stared straight at Shepard as she spoke and her tone had a harsher edge and just for a moment Shepard thought she saw something behind Benezia’s eyes.
‘Liara is here because she wants to be not because I asked her, but she is also a member of my team and my crew in her own right and not just because she is your daughter’ Shepard jabbed a finger in Benezia’s direction to emphasise the point
‘Indeed, what have you told her about me Liara’ Benezia was now staring at her daughter.
‘What could I say mother that you have gone mad, that I don’t understand who you have become… how to kill you… what could I say’ Liara’s voice was steady but Shepard could hear the emotion.
‘Have you ever faced an Asari commando unit, few humans have’ Benezia said speaking to Shepard again in the mechanical voice her eyes ‘hard’ once more.
‘I can’t believe you would try to kill your own daughter’ Shepard could see they were going to have to fight; they were not making any kind of connection with Benezia.
‘I now realise I should have been stricter’ Benezia said as she also moved to through a biotic pulse at Shepard which hit her and caught her in a stasis field.
Liara put a protective barrier around Shepard until the field had faded and on release Shepard and Liara moved out of Benezia’s eye line and ran to the other end of the room where Ash, Kaiden and Garrus had already created a defensive position on the platform at the other end of the room. They were protected on that platform from Benezia by the tank containing the Rachni queen.
With Liara and Garrus at one end of the platform, Ash and Kaiden at the other Shepard supported whichever side was dealing with the most incoming at any time they fought off and killed the four Asari commandos and three waves of geth troopers.
Ash was wounded in her side, Garrus had been taken hits to his leg as a geth trooper got in to close and Shepard had be banged pretty hard into the wall, a biotic smash from one of the Asari commandos, and was bleeding from the side of her head.
Seamlessly with hand gestures Shepard split the team and moved down the aisles to confront Benezia. She sent Kaiden and Garrus down the left side while Ash and Liara joined her moving down the right aisle. Liara was to provide protective barriers and not take any part in actually attacking her mother herself.
Benezia was a powerful and skilled biotic but they had the force and the tactics and she seemed to have been already weakened by the fighting that had already taken place. After five minutes of an intensive fire and biotic fight Benezia slumped to the ground obviously hurt badly. Shepard ordered a halt to the attack and Liara rushed forward to kneel by her mother, Shepard joined her.
‘This is not over Saren is unstoppable, my mind is full of his light’ Benezia got to her feet and Shepard watched her warily but she moved towards a console and appeared to be retrieving a data on an OSD.
‘Mother what happened?’ Liara asked sounding as if she would break into tears at any moment.
‘I thought I could fight it LIara, I thought if I could work with Saren I could temper his plans… but… you must listen Saren still whispers in my ear, I cannot fight him for long’
‘Why are you able to fight him now’ Shepard asked, Liara had moved next to her mother but Shepard kept a little distance away.
‘I kept a small part of my mind locked away from him so that I could use it when the chance to finish him off came… the indoctrination is strong… it is his ship Sovereign, it is not like other ships that I have ever seen it is more advanced than anything in the galaxy and the geth did not build it’ Benezia said looking at her daughter but speaking to Shepard
‘Goddess where did come from mother’
‘I don’t know and there is little time, I will not be able to fight him for long, listen Shepard I was sent here to get the information about the Mu relay from the Rachni queen, I was not gentle with her. Here I made a copy of the information take it’ she handed it to Liara and continued ‘you must move away now Liara I am losing control, you have to stop me, I can feel Saren teeth at my ears’ Benezia turned around to face the console. ‘You must find him and destroy him Shepard he did not give me access to his plans or where he is going but he believes the Mu relay will help him find the Conduit’
Shepard moved forward quickly and pulled Liara back and behind her and gestured for Garrus and Ash to move next to her weapons drawn.
‘Let us help you Benezia’ Shepard said but knowing there was really little they could do.
‘Mother… don’t leave… fight it… please’ Liara’s pleading voice came from behind her .
‘You always made me proud Liara, I am sorry’ Benezia said, and then turned around her biotics sparking up as a blue haze around her body ‘you must die’ she said in the same mechanical voice she had used during the fighting.
They opened fire and Benezia slumped to the floor this time fading fast, Liara rushed forward and knelt by her dying mother.
‘Please do not leave me mother’ Liara pleaded with her.
‘It is too late, my mind is gone, you have to let me go… goodnight little wing I will see you in the dawn…’ Benezia’s eyes closed and she murmured ‘where is the light, there should be…’
Liara fell onto her mothers shoulders and began sobbing quietly. Shepard indicated to Ash to sit with her while she left the platform to talk to Garrus and Kaidan.
‘Kaiden get comms up with the Normandy, and get them to pick us up from here, and tell them we need to transport a body to Thessia’ Shepard then moved a little further away to talk to Garrus when one of the ‘dead’ Asari commandos stood up, walked over to the side of the Rachni queens tank and started talking for the queen.
At the end of their conversation Shepard let the Rachni queen go knowing she was taking a huge risk, but she wouldn’t be responsible for the extinction of an entire species especially if they had been under the same kind of influence that Benezia was talking about.
‘Can I sell tickets for when you tell Wrex you just let a fertile Rachni queen lose’ Garrus almost chuckled.
‘Hell Garrus I’ll just convince him he should have a chance to fight them just like his ancestors did, if it all goes south that is’ she smiled but knew it would be an interesting conversation with Wrex.
The Normandy was heading for Thessia with Benzia’s body in the storage hold. Shepard didn’t know what to say or do and wondered whether Liara would hate her so much for killing her mother that she wouldn’t even want her anywhere near.
Liara was standing next to the container bearing her mothers body with one hand on it and staring into space, unfocussed, tears running slowly down her face. As Shepard approached her she couldn’t help thinking how beautiful Liara looked and even as the thought entered her head, she pushed it away and braced herself for the young Asari’s reaction which she fully expected to be negative in the extreme.
‘Liara’ Shepard said softly when she had stopped next to her ‘I think you should come and rest, I want you to use my cabin. I… understand if you don’t want to see me or speak to me right now (or ever she thought to herself) but I am here for you and if you need anything I will make sure you get it’ Shepard stopped talking and for a moment wondered if Liara had heard her. In one movement Liara turned and leaned into Shepard holding on to her and sobbing quietly ‘Shepard… please… I do not blame you… I need… would you stay with me… until…’ Liara broke off unable to continue as her body shuddered with her silent sobs.
‘Shssss Liara, its ok, everything will be ok. I’m here, come on lets get you somewhere more comfortable’ and Shepard drew Liara next to her and with her arm around her shoulders led her to the elevator and on to her cabin.
Shepard stayed with Liara all through that first terrible night, holding her as they both lay on the bed, rocking her gently at times. At one point Liara drifted into a fitful sleep but then woke up with a start clinging even more firmly to Shepard as if she was the only thing keeping her afloat in a terrible storm.
‘There there…. Its all going to be ok… you’ll see… your strong Liara and you have all of us on the Normandy… and you have me… we’ll get you through this…’ Shepard was stroking the Asari’s face as she spoke and holding her close.
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Shepard could feel the warmth of LIara’s body next to her, could smell the scent from her neck she could almost feel Liara’s breath on her neck… and as she began to move her head to look down at her love the pain came crashing into her consciousness and she dropped back into that black, crushing, pain ridden place of fear which demanded she fight for every breath.
And here it comes… taking the next breath…
‘Fuck no don’t… not cough… no..’ but she had to, it was a reflex that once it started it was as painful hovering on the edge as it was to let it happen.
It was a shallow cough, barely moving her chest but the pain was unendurable…yet she endured it…then she tasted blood in her mouth and felt it trickle out of the side of her lips.
Perhaps that was it…she passed out…or did that drifting away thing in between every breath…so she may not have been here all that long… or she could have been there an eternity…she couldn’t tell and she didn’t care.
It was so hard here, she tried to focus, to focus on Liara, on the pain, on how she got here…but it was impossible to hold a thought let alone strong them together into ‘thinking’…she was just existing…her only relief when she passed out.
‘Shit…what the fuck was that’ she seemed to feel movement, a shudder perhaps, or a vibration of some sort passing through whatever was encasing her.
She tried to concentrate forming words and saying them out loud… she wasn’t sure if she managed it or how loud it was… or even if anyone was there making the vibrations she could feel… maybe whatever it was she was lying on was about to collapse completely… ________________________________________
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Post by ddraigcoch123 on Aug 15, 2012 8:45:04 GMT 1
Chapter 4
The ground shook under her feet and she felt the shockwave pulse through her body. They had just blow out the front doors of the Cerberus facility and at the same time blown access through the rear wall.
She had answered a request from Admiral Hackett and a call from her mother to try to find Admiral Kahoku who had fallen off the radar after getting information from the Shadow Broker as to the whereabouts of the Cerberus team that had lured his marines to their death in an ambush with a Thresher Maw.
Shepard found Admiral Kahoku’s tortured body at a science facility which they then destroyed but not before Shepard had ‘extracted’ the whereabouts of the main Cerberus headquarters responsible for both the marine’s deaths and the torture and death of someone who she had always called uncle. That was ten hours ago and Shepard’s rage had only intensified on the journey here. Her team and her crew had left her to her thoughts as she stood white knuckled and stony faced in the CIC.
Uncle Udale and his wife were very old friends of Shepard’s parents and his three children were like cousins to her. Shepard was not looking forward to breaking the news to her mother but she would at least be able to tell her that everyone that had anything to do with his death have been killed or captured and all the Cerberus facilities that they could find had been destroyed.
‘Access acquired’ shouted Kaidan over the comms, he was leading the second team into the rear of the building. Shepard had split her team and her marine squad in two putting Kaidan in command of one with Garrus, Tali and Wrex while she led the other in the front door with Ash, Liara and her marines.
Cerberus was ready and waiting as the strike team had already taken out heavy guns and troops protecting the building itself. But the double entry had caused a lot of confusion and Cerberus had set up their defences for a direct assault through the front doors. Caught in the crossfire the defenders were soon so reduced in numbers that the remaining ten or so made a break for it and headed for the elevator to the lower level.
Shepard’s team set after them but took the stairs. Kaidan’s team took a second elevator down with the exception of two of the marines, Garrus and Tali whose job it was to get into the information systems and pull out all the intel they could find. They would move down through the building at a slower pace than the fire team and search all available data sources as they went.
In the end there were three underground levels and they killed the remaining troops from the first Cerberus platoon shortly after they exited the elevator and a further platoon strength of troops who were trying to defend the lower floors. When Shepard was finally at the heart of the facility in its main command centre they had managed to take what looked like a high ranking officer, and probably the commanding officer, and a handful of Cerberus scientist’s alive.
‘Tali what is the status of intel gathering?’ she asked as Tali and Garrus joined them in the command area.
‘We did well Commander, they had tried to wipe their hard drives but don’t appear to have used the proper protocols and I was able to recover most of the data including the locations of two other Cerberus facilities in this system’ Tali replied checking her OT as she answered Shepard.
‘Good’ Shepard answered but she never took her eyes of the Cerberus officer who despite the situation and the wound to his arm had a sneer on his face. Shepard was leaning against the edge of a desk and was tossing her pistol the short distance between her left and right hands; it was almost hypnotic; her eyes were cold as steel.
‘Kaidan would you take the… scientists’ she spat out the word conveying as much contempt for them as possible. The disgusting and terrible experimentation that they had seen when fighting through the science facility, where they found the Admiral, had appalled the whole team, ‘up top to await the shuttle… take the marine squad with you, and Kaidan’ she paused
‘Yes commander’
‘If they attempt to escape or cause you any kind of trouble at all I want you to use lethal force’ Shepard flicked her eyes over the prisoners and then to Kaidan who gave a short nod.
‘If you think I will tell you anything you can forget it’ the Cerberus officer snarled ‘and I know the Alliance wouldn’t use anything so… unsavoury as torture’ he gave a greasy smirk ‘so why don’t you just take me upstairs so that I can be taken to a nice comfortable Alliance prison. Where I won’t stay for long… Cerberus takes care of its own and will have me out before you finish your current mission’ again the greasy smile.
Shepard heard Wrex give what was best described as a low growl, Garrus and the rest of the team stiffened and the tension in the room went through the ceiling.
‘Yes I think that’s a pretty good and accurate description of what would happen if I put you on a shuttle back to the Alliance’ Shepard spoke in a calm, emotionless tone but at the same time the menace in her voice was apparent to those in the room who knew her. ‘Tell me’ she continued ‘Why torture him?’ she asked almost matter of factly.
‘Why not’ he gave a shrug of his shoulders as he answered and then continued ‘now can we get a move on this wound is uncomfortable and I require treatment’ he stood up as if to move things along.
‘You were correct when you said that the Alliance does not condone torture, neither do I, but I am also a Council Spectre’ Shepard said, ‘everyone up top and ready for shuttle evac’ still not taking her eyes from the Cerberus officer but now the pistol was firmly in her right hand.
They all looked first at Shepard and then at her prisoner, Wrex smiled and began leaving the room, the others followed him, only Garrus hung back for a moment and looked at Shepard.
‘Are you sure about this’ he asked quietly.
‘You heard him Garrus, this piece of shit didn’t even have the decency to die with his men, and he gets to live when a decent man and a fine soldier is tortured to death on his orders’ she looked at Garrus and he saw the pain as well as the rage in her eyes.
Garrus put a hand on her shoulder for a moment and said ‘I’ll be waiting for you by the elevator’ then he walked out of the room.
‘You don’t scare me, Alliance; with this little charade’ the Cerberus officer sneered ‘I have no intention of answering your questions’ he finished.
‘I know you don’t’ she said as she raised the pistol and fired. The shot hit him in the centre of his forehead and he fell to the floor as if he had been a puppet and someone had cut his strings. ‘And that is exactly what I will do to your boss when I hunt him down’ she said as she left the room.
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Once back on the Normandy she went straight to the comms room and made her call to Admiral Hackett updating him on the situation, letting him know that she had destroyed the command centre setting explosives within the facility and striking it from the Normandy. She also asked if he wanted her to take out the other Cerberus facilities they had found out about, but the Admiral said he would send teams to take care of them as she had a new priority mission to go and help a Salarian reconnaissance team on Virmire who had a strong lead on Saren. Although the Council had little other information as communication with the team had stopped it sounded as if they were in trouble.
With arrangements made to rendezvous with an Alliance vessel to transfer her prisoners the only thing that remained was for her to tell him that she had executed the Cerberus officer responsible for Admiral Kahoku’s death. If Hackett was surprised he didn’t show it.
‘You are in a slightly different position Commander being both an Alliance officer and a Council Spectre and we understand that you may need to do things a little differently. Shall we agree that he died under interrogation?’
‘I know what I did Admiral’ Shepard replied standing to attention the whole time she gave her report.
‘I know you do Commander and that is why I trust your judgement and your actions’.
She saluted and receive one in return which marked the end of the connection.
‘Joker set a course for Virmire’ she said over the internal comm to her pilot.
‘Aye aye Commander’, Joker replied and continued after a few moments ‘ETA twenty hours’.
She put in a call for her team to join her in the comm room immediately and while she was waiting booked a personal call to the SSV Kilimanjaro which she scheduled for one hours’ time. She would take it in her cabin.
When the team assembled she updated them on their new mission to Virmire, with little information to go on she advised them they needed to be ready for anything. Her orders were food, sleep and weapons prep. Everyone was quiet not least because they had spent the last thirty six hours fighting two Cerberus bases to a standstill but they also didn’t quite know whether they should say anything about what had happened at the end of the mission. Shepard dismissed the briefing and left the room straight away to allow her team to have time to talk amongst themselves.
She went to the CIC briefed Pressley on the new mission and asked that he brief the crew. Then she went to her cabin. She had enough time to have a shower and change into her sweats before the call came in.
‘It’s ok Lydia I have already spoken to Admiral Hackett’ her mother said when the connection was made. Hannah Shepard looked upset and saddened but there was also concern for her daughter, she continued ‘he also told me that you…. killed the Cerberus officer responsible for Udale’s death. I need you to know that your father would have done the same thing. I also know you, and this will play on your thoughts but you have to move on from it.’
‘Did Admiral Hackett tell you what they did to him?’ Shepard asked her mother.
‘Yes he did, we won’t be telling Effie it will be enough that she has lost her husband’ Hannah Shepard replied and continued ‘you look tired you need to get some rest’ . They chatted for a short while longer and then finished the call with a promise to meet up as soon as Shepard’s mission was over and her mother could get leave from her duties. She thought about how tough and strong her mother was, a real Alliance officer to the core, she thought about how her father had named her Lydia to honour the past and her mother had given her middle name of Vega to point her towards the stars and the future. Personally Shepard wasn’t keen on either of her first names and had trained family, with the exception of her mother, and friends alike to call her LV.
She sat on the edge of the bed only now feeling the events of the past thirty six hours, accentuated by the adrenaline that was still coursing through her system. Uncle Udale had been part of the same mission that her father had been on when he was killed and somehow all that had happened to her Uncle had brought up the memories of losing her father and her emotions felt like they were in FTL drive.
She heard a soft knock on her cabin door and although feeling like she would rather not see anyone she called out for whoever it was to come in.
‘Liara’ Shepard was surprised but not. They had been spending more time together since Liara came back from Thessia where she had buried her mother. Shepard felt they were getting closer and was convinced the Asari felt the same although they hadn’t yet spoken about how they felt.
‘Shepard I just wanted to see if you were alright… if you would rather be left alone I will leave’. Liara was still standing just inside the closed door and looked unsure of herself.
Shepard stood ‘well to be honest a minute ago I thought I did want to be left alone but now you’re standing there I can’t imagine wanting to be on my own although if I’m honest it’s more that I don’t want you to leave’ she smiled at Liara and gestured for her to sit in the chair at the desk and Shepard was intending to sit on the edge of the bed.
In one fluid movement Liara almost ran across the room, put her arms around Shepard and pulled her into an embrace, Shepard took a moment to realise what was happening and just got her arms around Liara as the Asari began to let Shepard go probably thinking that her embrace was not going to be reciprocated.
They stood for what seemed like a long time, just holding each other, Liara’s cheek against Shepard’s neck. She felt a fire burn inside her an intense longing to kiss this woman whose body felt so right against her and whose scent was filling her senses. Shepard looked down at Liara and at the same time put her fingers under Liara’s chin and gently lifted her face so that they were looking into each other’s eyes. Those beautiful, deep, fascinating blue eyes, Shepard was lost in them, lost in this moment and she moved closer to Liara so close she could feel her breath on her own face.
But in the final instant it was Liara who brought her lips to meet Shepard’s. The kiss was at first gentle full of tenderness but then it was as if the fires of desire took hold of them both at the same time and they kissed intensely, passionately, longingly. Shepard wanted to rip Liara’s clothes off her and throw her onto the bed but she would not do anything to jeopardise what was already happening.
They did fall back onto the bed and carried on kissing, arms holding and then hands exploring and all the time both their breath coming in shorter and shorter gasps. Shepard felt that she could explode with the need to be with Liara, she wanted to fuck her to be inside her, take her, and be taken.
With a struggle Shepard stopped kissing Liara and looked into her eyes.
‘I want you’ Shepard said ‘this isn’t a casual thing Liara, I feel so drawn to you, there is something between us isn’t there?’
‘Yes Shepard I feel it too’ Liara looked hesitant and went on ‘I do want to be with you, but I am not sure I am ready…. I have not… this is… oh Goddess… I do not know…’ Liara broke off and focussed on something just over Shepard’s right shoulder.
‘Hey Liara its ok we can take this at your pace’ Shepard smiled at her drawing her face back so that they were looking at each other again ‘are you saying what I think your saying… um… you haven’t been with anyone in this way… before’ Shepard trailed off realising that having read stuff on the extranet was probably not the best way to understand Asari personal or sexual relationships and that she probably ought to wait and have that conversation with Liara.
‘No Shepard I have not melded with anyone before. I have not even been interested in anyone. I lived my life away from people, I am not good in groups I am never sure what to do or what to say, my stay on the Normandy with you and the others has been very different to how I have spent most of my time.’ Liara was on her side supporting her head with a hand and resting on her elbow.
‘You are so beautiful’ Shepard was laying on her back looking up at the Asari and actually didn’t mean to say anything out loud but Liara smiled and Shepard felt the tension lighten and felt it lighten even more as Liara leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the lips.
‘I do feel we have a strong connection Shepard and I want to be with you but I think I need a little more time before taking the next step’ Liara looked serious ‘although there are rumours about Asari promiscuity they are not true and I would not want you to think that I was not serious about this… you’ she finished still looking both serious and worried.
‘Really I get it Liara we can take it slow… make sure your ready… but… we can carry on kissing and stuff huh?’ Shepard gave Liara a huge grin and realised for the first time in a long time she actually felt happy despite also feeling the loss and pain associated with the past couple of day’s events.
Liara smiled down at Shepard and leaned in for another kiss ‘Oh yes Shepard I think we should definitely carry on with the kissing but you will have to explain the ‘stuff’ part to me as I am not sure I understand’.
‘Ah well I think it might be easier if I demonstrate the ‘stuff’ bit, but don’t worry it’s what we humans used to call heavy petting... yeah don’t ask I have no idea why… but let’s try some and then make our own name up for it’.
Through the laughter forming on both their lips they began kissing again this time more slowly and Shepard felt Liara’s hands on the back of her head and felt the Asari pull her into a tighter kiss, felt Liara’s hands rubbing gently against Shepard’s short hair. They eventually fell asleep in each other’s arms exhausted by the last mission and the giant step they had taken towards each other.
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Post by ddraigcoch123 on Aug 19, 2012 12:49:28 GMT 1
A/N Sorry this chapter was a little delayed will definitely get two more out before next Sunday. Thank you for sticking with the story.
Chapter 5
Shepard felt consciousness closing in on her and the, now, familiar feeling of helplessness and constraint brought her back to ‘the darkness’. She strained to hear if there were any noises of approaching rescue, but she still couldn’t make anything out and having her helmet on was not helping with the sensation of being under water. It was cracked, however, she could tell from the way it felt on the back of her head, and the visor had come right off as she could feel her face exposed to wherever she was; that told her what level of force had hit her. It was heavy armour.
She began to notice something else… she felt the edge being taken off the pain she was feeling. It had to be medi gel from the micro infusers inside her suit; well at least her life signs were still strong enough to trigger her suits system. Again she thought briefly that she couldn’t have been laying here that long as medi gel infusers kick in almost immediately on any sign of injury.
‘Tell me about these scars Shepard’ Liara’s voice, soft, gentle, close. Shepard was somehow both here and laying on the bed in her cabin feeling Liara’s fingers trace first the deep scar that ran from her forehead down across her eye and continuing halfway down the right side of her face; then to the cluster of scars that ran along her jawline and across the bottom of her left cheek which looked as if she had been mauled by a varren’s paw.
‘I have more you could be tracing on other parts of my body’ Shepard smiled up lazily at Liara and pulled her down into a kiss.
‘What the fuck happened Liara… where am I… why can’t I remember’ Shepard was pretty sure she managed to say that out loud and she noticed she was drifting off in a different way this time and it made her want to hold on tight to this reality, even if it was only full of pain and confusion.
‘Dammit… don’t… stay with me marine’ she was taking full advantage of that drill sergeant in her head to try to keep conscious.
‘You have another concussion Commander, you know although you are enhanced you are not immune to injury and you are most definitely not a Krogan’ Dr Chakwas was smiling at her from across the other side of the medbay.
‘Doc is that you… is that what this is… where are you… fuck, fuck, stay in one place Shepard’. But the combination of the medi gel, her stress, injuries and exhaustion were sending her into a deeper unconscious state.
‘Don’t make me go back there… not back there’ she mumbled as she felt herself drifting away, but somewhere in her mind she knew that she had already condemned herself to exactly that memory.
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Shepard led her team from the Mako and walked up the beach towards what looked like a command post where a group of Salarian’s were standing watching them. They heard a very familiar sound and turned to look out across a truly beautiful bay in time to see the Normandy touching down in the shallows. She could feel the sun on her head and face, the water was azure blue and she was about to bring death and destruction to this paradise; although she knew that Saren was responsible for the coming fight, she still felt the weight of always being the ‘destroyer of worlds’ as she was beginning to think of herself in her darker moments. They had established proper communication with the STG team when they had destroyed the defence communication and jamming tower.
Once fully apprised of the situation Shepard agreed with the Salarian Captain that it was critical to destroy what was a Krogan breeding facility designed to supply Saren with an army of controllable Krogan warriors. Despite Shepard and her team having taken out the heavy AA guns, radar and communications array outside the complex they still had AA guns to take down inside the complex if they were going to use the Normandy in the attack.
The leader of the Salarian commandos, Captain Kirrahe, outlined the situation and plan but at the point he talked about destroying the whole facility, including the Krogan breeding facility and its manufactured genophage cure, Wrex absolutely blew his stack and stormed out onto the beach. Shepard followed him out, Wrex was a friend, she was strangely fond of the big Krogan and she was not going to lose him over Saren and his torture based bad science.
‘You all want to destroy the future of my people, this is a chance for us to undo the punishment of the genophage and even you who I thought I could count as a friend, you want to destroy the Krogan future’ Wrex was more angry than she had ever seen him outside battle ‘I will not walk away from this even if you all turn on me, I don’t want to fight you Shepard but I won’t just walk away’ he brought his shotgun up and pointed it directly at Shepard ‘tell me you won’t let them do this, tell me you won’t let them destroy my future or are you now my enemy’.
His eyes were locked with Shepard’s and she did not flinch or waver, she didn’t reach for a weapon, in fact she walked forward and pushed her chest against the business end of the shotgun.
‘Wrex, you’ve seen how Saren works, how he experiments, how he makes monsters of the beings he wants to use for his own purpose. Tell me, from all you know of what Saren wants to do and all we’ve seen him do tell me Wrex if you think he will create Krogan with their own minds and will. Tell me if you really trust that however he has managed to work around the genophage that it is a true cure that frees the Krogan people and doesn’t damn them to slavery and who knows what kind of physical or mental side effects. And answer me this Wrex… do you believe that I am not only your friend but also a friend to the Krogan people… and that I will not just do everything I can to help you find a cure for the genophage but I won’t rest until I have. If you can’t call me friend Wrex pull the trigger because I won’t raise a weapon against you’.
She was calm and steady and had no idea why she felt so certain that Wrex would not shoot her. She was also aware out of the corner of her eye that they were being watched and she suspected nervously watched by the rest of her team.
‘Aw hell Shepard you know I trust you and what you say makes sense…. It just feels like again the Krogan have to lose more than anyone else’ as he spoke he lowered his shotgun and looked across at the small group who were still studying them from the other end of the beach ‘I knew I liked you Shepard you have quads’ he finished with a bark of laughter.
Shepard gave him a broad grin and they walked back towards the meeting to resume planning, ‘I meant what I said Wrex, I will help you find a cure for the genophoge’, Wrex nodded in reply.
Once back inside the command tent they stood once again around the large table across which were spread the schematics of the compound. It wasn’t a full picture and the information had been gathered at the cost of over twenty members of the STG reconnaissance team.
‘As I said Commander’ Kirrahe spoke in that quick fashion that marked Salarian speech ‘we will need to get the explosive device into the heart of the complex, here’, he pointed at the plan and also showed a vid clip of the proposed site. It was surrounded by low buildings on two sides and a taller block on the third. It appeared to be some form of large open water run-off and it was at its lowest point where the buildings intersected that they would plant the drive core from the Salarian ship that would be rigged to melt down and cause a nuclear blast.
‘We will need to carry out a frontal attack to achieve two objectives. First, will be to take out the heavy AA guns so that Normandy can drop off the bomb. Second… to fight our way into the complex to try to secure the bomb site. I will split my remaining forces into three teams, one of which will make for the bomb site to secure it’ he finished and fixed her with a meaningful stare as he had just described a near suicide mission for the frontal assault fire team. Shepard stared down at the schematics and knew that this plan was their best option and she also knew that she would need to help out the now depleted Salarian special forces team in order for them to achieve their shared objectives.
‘We need to have time to find wherever Saren may be storing information and pick up information from the research labs on our way through’ she stood up straight and moved her eyes from the schematics to address the whole room but particularly Kaidan and Ash.
‘Kaidan you will lead half of our marine squad and support the STG team taking out the AA guns, Ash you take the other half of the squad, with Garrus, and fight your way to the bomb site. Secure and hold the bomb site, await Normandy drop.’ Shepard’s directions were met with nods and sounds of agreement.
‘Tali you go back to the Normandy and work with the Salarian engineer to rig the bomb. I will lead a stealth team in through this weak point that should take us almost straight into the labs and access to the main tower which is the most likely location of any information that might be useful. My team will then work down to the bomb site and support that position until we are ready to leave.’
‘Liara and Wrex you are with me’ she looked now at the Salarian Captain ‘we will synchronise timing and maintain comms through our omni tools on a secure channel.’
‘Agreed Commander, and thank you for the support at the front door, I will go and prepared my team.’ He left the tent and Shepard’s team were left to begin doing some detailed planning. There was a little discussion about just taking out the complex with the Normandy but this had already been dismissed because of the nature of the buildings and defences.
Shepard, Ash and Kaidan assembled the marine squad who formed two ranks, she told them to stand easy. Shepard outlined the mission and was blunt about the fight they were walking into.
‘What is the deadliest weapon in the galaxy?’ she shouted in her best gunney voice.
‘A marine and his rifle’ around two thirds of the squad shouted back with the rest shouting ‘A marine and her rifle’ in one loud voice and a smile on most faces. ‘Who’s like us…’ she shouted as she paced up and down in front of the ranks.
‘Dammed few and they’re all dead’ came the loud reply.
‘Make me proud… Semper Fi’ Shepard finished and she saluted her marines.
‘Ooorah’ and the squad stood as one to attention her salute returned.
Shepard dismissed them and the two fire teams formed up, with Garrus joining Ash, and they began final preparations. The Salarian Captain was still giving his ‘pep’ talk so Shepard, Wrex and Liara moved off to the edge of the beach which was closest to their route towards the complex.
‘Nice speech Shepard but we tend to get more blood boiling started before battle,’ Wrex smiled as he spoke and slapped her on the back, she smiled back. ‘How long have you been with your squad, or perhaps I mean how well do you know them?’ Liara asked.
‘Only since we all started serving on the Normandy, but I brought five of them with me from my lasts posting and I’ve served with them for around two years. But how long doesn’t make a difference LIara, they are all marines, my marines, so I know them as well as I know myself.’ She smiled at Liara but knew that the Asari wouldn’t understand what she was trying to say. Shepard thought about the last time she had ordered marines into a battle with such bad odds against them.
‘You are proud of them Shepard, are you not?’ Liara spoke softly moving slightly closer to Shepard so that their shoulders touched as they walked slowly up the beach.
Shepard looked at Liara and smiled, ‘yes I am very proud of them and I know they will do everything that’s is asked and needed of them’, maybe Liara understood a little she thought . xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Shepard and her team reached their entry point after hacking though some serious jungle growth. They had to disable security alarms once they reached clear ground and had the warehouse buildings in sight. Unfortunately they had to cross a single walkway which had no cover and on the other side were around ten Geth troopers. The attack on the front of the facility would be triggered once Shepard was inside or immediately if her team were discovered.
They positioned themselves as close as they could and agreed that Liara would lift and hold in stasis as large a group as she could on the right while Wrex used his biotics to blast as big a group as he could on the left, whatever was left in the middle Shepard would take out as quickly as possible with her sniper. They would all finish of the group Liara had in stasis. The team would not leave any ‘wounded’ Geth behind them. It worked like a charm and they were running over the walkway and approaching the entrance without the Geth even getting one shot off.
Shepard hacked the entrance door and once inside found access to the security system and disabled all internal alarms and sensors. The Geth would know they were being attacked once the frontal assault started but they had an advantage once inside the complex. She hoped the Geth would be too busy to spend too much time trying to undo the virus she had used to kill the security systems.
‘We’re in, and internal alarms and sensors disabled but I don’t know for how long’ Shepard’s message would trigger the attack on the complex and she received affirmatives from Kirrahe, Ash and Kaidan.
As Shepard and her team worked their way through the facility they saw the horrors, one again, of Sarens laboratory work. By the time they had cleared through two areas with Krogan ‘drones’ being ‘created’ alongside husks by indoctrinated Salarian scientists Wrex was in no doubt it all had to be destroyed.
They had some fighting to do but from the updates they were receiving from the fire teams that was where the action was and it was at its most intense fighting to secure and then destroy the AA guns.
Shepard couldn’t help the feeling of guilt for not being with her team but she also knew that they were also carrying out an extremely important and dangerous element of the mission; they could be over run at any moment and they were on their own.
They managed to release a couple of the captured Salarian’s who hadn’t already been indoctrinated who hurried off to join the fight but they also had to kill a few who when released just went crazy and tried to kill them. Shepard made a decision in that moment that she would never let any of her team or crew be taken prisoner by Saren and if she had to she would kill them herself. It was an unlikely scenario as she knew that everyone she served with would fight to the death unless ordered otherwise and they would never get that order from Shepard, not with this enemy.
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Shepard finally found what had to be Sarens ‘office’, but when they hacked their way in they found another Prothean beacon. Shepard knew she would have to engage with it to find out what Saren knew, but the prospect of yet again having her mind overloaded with not only images but emotions that were a blur at best but nevertheless managed to imprint the impact of an entire civilisation being wiped out by these ‘Reapers’ was something she could happily live without. She moved close enough to be caught in its field and felt the now familiar jolt as she was captured, the feeling that her head was on fire and the sensation of having information, events, memories ‘uploaded’ to her mind.
When the beacon had done with her she felt her feet hit the floor and felt woozy but was glad that unlike the first time she did not pass out. Liara and Wrex moved to her side to help steady her.
‘Was there anything different Shepard’ Liara asked with concern but also interest showing on her face and in her voice.
‘Not sure, all the usual nightmare stuff but it did feel towards the end as if… hard to describe… but almost like a different ‘story’ maybe… that’s the only way to describe it’ Shepard replied.
‘When we get back to the Normandy I can help you with another meld…’ Liara’s words were but off as a huge hologram appeared at the top of the stairs they had just come down.
Shepard led the others to stand in front of the projection that looked exactly like the Reapers in the Prothean visions she now contained within her mind.
‘Shepard is that.... from the beacon… it’s a Reaper’ Liara sounded almost awe struck but her fear was clear in her voice and Shepard made sure she and Wrex were standing a little in front of her just in case.
‘You are not Seren’ the voice was deep, rumbling with an edge of echo and it sounded digitally created ‘rudimentary creatures of blood and flesh you touch my mind fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding’.
‘Did that thing just call us dumb Shepard’ Wrex growled.
‘There is a realm of existence so far beyond your own you cannot imagine it, I am beyond your comprehension, I am Sovereign’.
‘I think it just did it again Wrex,’ Shepard said with a no trace of amusement ‘so Saren didn’t just find a Reaper ship you are an actual Reaper’ it was a statement not a question and Shepard felt some pieces of information slip into place in her mind.
‘Reaper is a name given to us by the Prothean’s to give voice to their destruction, in the end what they choose to call us is irrelevant. We simply are.’
‘The Prothean’s vanished fifty thousand years ago and how come we don’t know anything about you’ Wrex seemed itching to hit the thing and all his frustration sounded in his voice.
‘Organic life is nothing but a genetic mutation. Your lives are measured in decades and centuries, you wither and die. We are eternal the pinnacle of evolution and existence. Before us you are nothing your extinction is inevitable, we are the end of everything.’
‘You certainly are a buzz kill and this is no way to get a second date…. Listen big fucking machine voice whatever plans you got, they’re going to fail, you have my word on that’ Shepard leaned forward and emphasised her last words by jabbing her finger at the centre of the Reapers ‘head’.
Shepard just caught Liara standing up a little taller out the corner of her eye and Wrex rumbled a low growl echoing Shepard’s defiance.
‘Confidence born of ignorance, the cycle cannot be broken.’
‘What cycle’ Liara asked.
‘The pattern has repeated itself more times than you can fathom. Organic civilisations rise, evolve, advance and at the apex of the glory they are extinguished. The Prothean’s were not the first they did not build the citadel they did not forge the mass relays. They were created by my kind.’
‘So you want us to develop and you give us a head start then destroy us’ Shepard looked briefly at Wrex and Liara and continued ‘anyone else seeing this as more than a little fucked up…’
‘By using our technology your society develops along paths that we desire, we impose order on the chaos of organic evolution. You exist because we allow it and you will end because we demand it.’
‘Oh Goddess they are harvesting us’ Liara sounded shocked and fearful.
‘Yeah well you and your little almighty god complex is getting kinda old motor mouth, what do you want?’ Shepard’s tone was hard and she let none of the knowledge that was now bleeding into her conscious mind show in her demeanor, but she didn’t need the Reaper to answer her question, she had the answer in her head from the Prothean’s.
‘My kind transcends your very understanding, we are each a nation, free of weakness, you cannot even grasp the nature of our existence. We have no beginning we have no end, millions of years after your race has been eradicated and forgotten we will endure.’
‘So have you got your friends with you or are they giving you a wide berth due to your sparkling personality?’ but Shepard knew if the full Reaper forces were here they would be left in no doubt, she had seen them, in the sky’s and she saw what they were capable of.
‘We are legion, the time of our return draws near, our numbers will darken the sky above every world, you cannot escape your doom.’
‘You’re not really alive, you’re just a machine and machines can be broken…’ Shepard’s words were cut off by the Reaper.
‘Your words are as empty as your future, I am the vanguard of your destruction, this exchange is over.’
The holographic interface seemed to break into shards and disappear shaking the room and rocking the platform they were standing on.
‘Yeah fuck you’ Shepard said to the empty space. She turned around and saw how shaken Liara was but before she could do anything to try to comfort her Joker broke in over her comms.
‘Commander we got trouble,’
‘Hell Joker hit me with it… not sure we have enough going on down here already’ Shepard’s reply was accompanied with a few small shakes of the head and she started back towards the exit.
‘I don’t know what you did down there Commander but that ship Sovereign just pulled a turn that would sheer any of our ships in two… its coming right at you and its coming hard… you maybe want to wrap things up down there.’
‘Joker we’re headed for the bomb site meet us there, time to blow this place the hell up.’
‘Aye, aye Commander.’
‘Give me a progress report Ash we are headed your way and so is the Normandy with the device’ Shepard, Wrex and Liara were moving fast and now heading for the main breeding facility where the bomb was to be set.
‘This is Garrus Shepard we have secured the bomb site and are awaiting your arrival, we have taken heavy casualties, Ash and a couple of the other marines are very badly wounded’ Garrus continued ‘I am pulling in any members of the Salarian fire teams that are still operational to our position to hold while the bomb is set and for extraction.’
‘Good, Garrus remain in command of that position and secure our objective if anything happens to me’ Shepard was effectively giving command of the mission to Garrus and the authority to blow up the facility whether she was going to make it out or not… just in case… but she had no intention of dying here… she had a bigger enemy to fight.
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When they got to the bomb site the Normandy was in situ and the bomb had been off loaded, Garrus had defensive positions set further up the run using both marine and Salarian forces. Shepard went to Garrus’s side and asked for an update.
‘Loaded the wounded onto the Normandy, Ash was protesting like hell but she passed out as the Normandy arrived so that made it easier, Kirrahe and the remains of his team are due here in the next minute they are cleaning out Geth and Krogan on their way. As you can see we still have a lively fire fight going on here, but…’ Garrus looked straight at Shepard ‘the fire team that took out the AA guns are completely cut off and facing heavy numbers we just couldn’t get to them.’
Shepard nodded and spoke into her comms ‘Kaidan sit rep’.
There was the sound of gunfire and explosions through the comms, ‘Commander we will hold her for as long as we can but there is no way we can get back for extraction’ Kaidan’s voice was firm and steady, Shepard would expect nothing less.
‘Hold on I am going to come up and break you out’ Shepard started to look around to see who she could take with her, Garrus was still looking at her and he was shaking his head slowly..
‘Shepard we need all the help we can get to hold this position while they prepare the bomb… and… it’s too late for them…’ he spoke quietly concern clear in in eyes.
‘Negative Commander’ Kaidan’s voice came through the noise and the static ‘we can’t hold for longer than a few minutes and you need to make sure that bomb does its job… been an honour serving with you Commander…’
‘Semper fi marine’ Shepard said into her comms just before the static told her she had lost the link and the whole team, her shoulders sagged a little, then her attention was drawn back to the situation with a shout from Tali that the bomb was ready.
‘Fall back to the Normandy’ Shepard shouted ‘Garrus, Wrex your with me , we’ll lay down covering fire until everyone in on-board… get a couple of heavy weapons set up on the edge of the ramp…’ Shepard shouted to the marines now moving back to the Normandy. Liara came to join them but Shepard told her to evac now, there was just a slight hesitation before Liara moved off firing biotic slams over her shoulder at the advancing Geth as she went.
When everyone else was on board they began moving back to the ramp, over their heads the sound of heavy canon and machine gun started to rip the air and rip up the advancing Geth.
‘Get us out of her Joker… fast… and try to avoid that big fucking Reaper ship on the way’ Shepard called over her comms to her pilot the minute they were on board. They cleared the blast zone quickly and with only a minute to spare, they had to set the shortest delay so that they would give the Geth no chance of neutralising the bomb.
She made sure the wounded were being taken care of and the rest of her team and the Salarian’s had access to whatever they needed including access to the bar in the observation lounge. Then scheduled calls to Admiral Hackett and the Citadel, to update the Council.
Shepard would need Liara’s help to ‘decode’ any useful information about the conduit that had come from the last beacon. But first she went to her cabin and would have an hour to herself; she dropped onto the bed still in full armour and stared at the ceiling.
Now she would have time to count the cost, now she would have to let the meaning of all the horrors in her head wash over her, now she knew the nightmares she had been having were not nightmares at all but a forewarning of what was crashing down on them all from dark space at the hands of monsters.
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Post by ddraigcoch123 on Aug 20, 2012 17:25:46 GMT 1
Chapter 6
Shepard felt her back aching or was it pain, what was she lying on… an edge of that tormented trapped place and then she was staring up at the ceiling of her cabin. There was a soft knock on her door and she hauled herself into a sitting position ‘come in’ she said and her voice sounded weary.
‘I really do not mean to disturb you Shepard but I have some idea of what you may be dealing with… and ‘Liara was hesitant and looked uncertain but determined ‘well if we are to be more to each other then perhaps you could be more unguarded with me and let me support you...’ she trailed off a little still not having moved far from the doorway.
Shepard smiled and a little of what she had been feeling overwhelmed by lifted ‘I think you meant that I could ‘let my guard down’… you are a sight for sore eyes Liara and you’ll just have to look that one up on the extranet if you aren’t aware of its meaning’ Shepard stood up and began taking off her armour.
Liara smiled and looked less apprehensive than she had done. The Commander’s reputation for privacy, being professional but also not showing anything she was feeling that would have a negative affect on her team or her crew was well known; and LIara wasn’t sure yet how far she could cross those boundaries.
‘Please let me help you with that’ and she began to help unbuckle Shepard’s shoulder guards. In the process their cheeks brushed together and without a word they turned into each other and kissed, it was long slow and tender. Shepard began to explore Liara’s lips with her tongue and met the tip of Asari’s as they mirrored each others actions.
The kiss became more passionate and their desire for each other was clear in the response of their bodies… breath coming in shorter gasps, quickened hearts beating with excitement, the throbbing need that started between Shepard’s legs and radiated out until every inch of her needed release, needed Liara. She heard Liara’s breathless words in her ear ‘Shepard I need you… I want to join with you…’
‘Liara are you sure’ Shepard spoke in between kissing the Asari’s neck and trying to rid herself of the armour that felt like it was keeping them apart ‘this has not been an ordinary day… you know I want you… to be with you…’ she broke of and brought Liara’s face up so that they were looking into each other’s eyes.
‘I have never been so sure of anything in my life Shepard’ Liara had tears and desire in her eyes, and there was something else that Shepard didn’t want to dare to hope that she had seen.
‘Fucking armour… shit… sorry Liara just let me get out of this…’ Shepard smiled but quickly started to rip at the fastenings to shed the remaining barrier between her and her desire.
‘Commander’ Joker’s voice came over the comm.
‘What’ Shepard shouted and all her frustration and exhaustion fired the word like a bullet into the air.
‘Sorry ma’am… but… your call to Admiral Hackett is coming in early’ Joker sounded wary and apologetic and Shepard immediately felt guilty for yelling at him.
‘All right thank you Joker’ she said sounding more like her usual calm, in control self.
‘Sorry Liara… for yelling… I… I have to take this in the comm room’ Shepard’s shoulders sagged as she sat on the edge of the bed and pulled on a pair of work boots.
‘You have no need to apologise Shepard’ Liara was picking up Shepard’s hoodie and as she handed it to the human she cupped Shepard’s face in her hand and continued ‘I will wait for you here and when you have completed all your duties we can pick up where we left off…. If you still want to’ Liara had been confident until the last moment but then her old nervous shyness reasserted itself. Shepard reached out and pulled Liara into a hug ‘I’ll find it difficult to think about anything else, thank you’ and with a final brief kiss Shepard left the room.
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Shepard had just signed off from her call with Admiral Hackett. She took her position as a Spectre seriously and her loyalty to the Council as representatives of the Galaxy would never be in doubt. But she was an Alliance marine to her very bones and she saw no conflict with that and her duties as a Spectre, what was good for the Galaxy was also protection for the Human Systems Alliance. To protect was a cornerstone of her service within the Alliance.
She had lost marines and some were still seriously wounded, but they got the job done and they had gathered vital intel on Saren’s intentions, his research and the plan’s of the bigger threat, the Reapers.
The were heading for the Citadel so that their wounded could be taken care of properly but it was almost a three day run as they were on the other side of the Galaxy.
She was waiting for the call to come in from the Council when Joker came on the comm.
‘Commander you’re not going to believe this but I have a hail from that bastard Saren, he wants to talk to you’ Joker sounded angry and worried.
‘Are our comms systems secure, get Tali up there with you to check it out, this could be a trick to hack the ship or find our location’ Shepard replied.
‘On it Commander, I can stall him for a few until Tali has had a chance to check things out, she’s here now’ Joker said.
‘Do that, Tali can you try to find out where he is and also what ship he is travelling in?’
‘I will do my best commander’ Tali’s voice was steady despite the huge responsibility that had just been put on her shoulders.
Shepard called up Liara on her comms ‘Liara, can you come and join me in the comms room please, Saren apparently wants a chat’ Shepard said and then in a lighter tone ‘you are still decent aren’t you?’
‘Of course Commander I will be with you in a few minutes.’ Shepard could hear the smile in her voice and she sighed to herself knowing this night was shaping up to be a long one and probably not in a good way.
Tali had made all the preparations she could and was ready for Joker to accept the call from Saren; both Liara and Garrus had joined her in the comms room and were sitting out of sight.
‘Let’s see what the murdering bastard wants then shall we’ Shepard almost growled into the comms to Joker.
Saren’s holographic image came up almost immediately and even though Shepard knew he was light years away she still had to hold herself back from punching him in the face.’
‘Commander Shepard for a human you have proved to be very troublesome’ Saren managed to make he entire sentence an insult whilst at the same time making her sound like some insignificant irritant.
‘I had a nice chat with your boss on Virmire, now he knows how to put a species down, your going to have to do a lot better than that if you want to insult me you lying, traitorous son of a bitch’ Shepard made sure the disgust and hatred she felt towards the ex-Spectre was present in every word.
‘Don’t you hold back now Shepard’ Garrus said quietly from where he was sitting to her left and she could hear the smile in his voice.
‘This is exactly why I never went to the Council with this, you don’t understand, I’m doing this to save lives, I could save millions of lives by working with the Reapers.’
‘Just how the fuck do you manage to make yourself believe that Saren, please, explain this should be good’ Shepard leaned back a little and crossed her arms in front of her chest and kept her eyes fixed on him.
‘You’ve seen the same as I have, the warnings on from the beacons, you know what the Reapers are capable of, we can’t defeat them, the only way some of us can survive is by working with them. If we are useful to them, as I am to Sovereign, it needs me to find the conduit and when I find it I will be rewarded, my people, the Turian’s will be rewarded and so can yours if you join me now before its too late.’
As Saren was talking Shepard could feel Garrus bristle and guessed that he was disgusted that Saren would think the Turian people would ever make a deal and become slaves to the Reapers just to survive.
‘I think if you were in your right mind you’d know that neither the Turian or the Human race… hell none of the races in the Galaxy (except perhaps the Batarian’s she thought) would choose slavery over fighting for their freedom… even you Saren’ she changed tack quickly to try to catch him off guard ‘I’ve seen some of the research that you were carrying out on Virmire. It wasn’t all Krogan army breeding. You’re afraid of being indoctrinated and your trying to find something to protect you… but you can’t fight it Saren can you, you saw what it did the Benezia as powerful as she was’ Shepard left the question hanging.
‘No, Sovereign needs me… all I have to do is find the conduit… the more indoctrinated the subject becomes the less they are useful and… I am useful to Sovereign, but I must find the conduit Shepard and you are interfering with my task’ Saren didn’t sound as confident as Shepard had heard him in the past.
‘Where is it Saren, we could find it together, if we could work together we could defeat them?’ She would try this once but in her heart she knew he was already to far gone to listen to reason.
‘You cannot fight them, you are damming us all to the same fate, I am trying to save millions and you want us all to die.’
‘You took an oath Saren, an oath as a Spectre to protect the Council and the Galaxy and here you are helping the Reapers just to save your own skin, your pathetic, a scared pathetic piece of shit coward’ she just wanted to get her hands on him to tear him apart for helping to bring the darkness to the Galaxy and for the lives he had already taken.
‘You will never understand Shepard and that is why you must die, the next time we meet I will kill you, and the next time I stand on the Citadel it will not be to answer to the Council’ he finished as he had started with a sneer in his voice; the hologram disappeared and for a moment it was as if a blanket of silence had fallen over the room.
‘Joker, Tali did we get anything?’ Shepard asked.
‘Only a rough indication of where he is Shepard, in the Terminus System, and he is on a Geth ship, that is why I was able to hack his comms feed’ Tali said ‘I am sorry I could not get a more exact position.’
‘That’s good enough Tali thank you, Joker did they try to hack us?’
‘No Commander or if they tried they didn’t get far enough to trigger any alerts.’
Shepard turned to Garrus and Liara ‘I’m going to call Tali, Wrex and Kirrahe down for a meeting; we need to review the situation before I speak to the Council.
Once they were all gathered Shepard told them all of the conversation with Saren.
‘Liara, Tali how is your work progressing on plotting the new position of the Mu relay from the information we had from Benezia’ Shepard hoped the second mention of her mothers name would be a little less painful as it highlighted the fact that despite being highly indoctrinated Liara’s mother had fought back enough to share all the information she had.
‘The algorithms I am using to calculate its position still have some time to run, but we could expect an answer within the next thirty six hours’ Liara replied, she had been working on a computer model that would plot the most likely position of the relay.
‘I am using a slightly different set of computer simulations which are more likely to be along the same lines that Saren’s Geth are using for their calculations, so we have it covered Commander, we just have to wait for the answer to spit out’ Tali finished with a smile.
‘Ok, but I hate just waiting, is there no way we can speed this up’ Shepard was impatient but she knew Saren had to carry out the same process.
‘We will find the Mu relay Commander and as quickly as Saren does,’ Liara looked at Shepard and continued ‘but it is as important to know where to head for once we find the relay and for that you will need to work on what the beacon told you, I can help with that later if you wish.’
‘Yes your right Liara, but we have one other problem’ Shepard stood up and looked around them all.
‘I believe that whatever else Saren is planning or whatever the conduit is, I’m sure they plan to attack the Citadel. I don’t think Saren realised just how much he let slip with his final dig at the Council.’
‘I agree Shepard,’ said Garrus ‘you know the whole time he was talking it was as if… oh well we all know he’s as mad as a box of space hamsters… but it was as if he was drifting in and out of being in control of himself. And whenever you got him pissed he seemed to lose control and let things slip. It’s how we know he hasn’t found the coordinates to the Mu relay yet’ Garrus finished.
Kirrahe spoke for the first time ‘It will not be easy convincing the Council of any of this, they have a tendency to minimise risk, they are politicians after all.’
Shepard had taken to the Salarian as they were planning the assault on the complex, he was a soldier and despite having taken several bullets to various parts of his body he had insisted in getting out of the med bay as soon as he could stand and was keen to offer any further assistance he could to Shepard’s mission.
‘Yeah Shepard it’s a pity we couldn’t take a piece of that Reaper to show them what we’re up against’ Wrex added ‘they won’t believe it until one of them drops out of the sky on their heads’ he finished with a dry bark of a laugh.
‘Ok well I think we all need to rest up on the journey back to the Citadel, pray to whatever works that the calculations we are using pay off and we can pinpoint the Mu relay; work out where to go once we find the relay and convince the Council that the Citadel is in danger; and that we need to hunt Sovereign down as Saren is just its tool’ she knew what an impossible set of problems she had set out.
‘Well that takes care of the next few days, what shall we plan for next week… ending poverty, slavery and bringing the Terminus System under Council control’ Garrus spoke with a glint in his eyes, his mandibles twitching and huge smile on his face.
‘Sounds good to me’ laughed Shepard and taking advantage of the mood having been lightened she dismissed the team and waited alone for her last call, the one from the Council.
The call came in not long after and it was bad tempered, mainly between her and the Turian Councillor who always spoke down to her and was condescending in the extreme. Without proof they were not willing to accept the Reaper threat believing instead it was a ploy of Saren’s to distract Shepard and the rest of the Galaxy from his real plans, whatever they were. But they did seem to take the threat to the Citadel seriously and the Asari Councillor told Shepard that although the Council races could not act directly that is what the Spectres were for, so perhaps Shepard could continue to gather evidence. They agreed that Shepard would meet with the Council on her return to the Citadel and that defences and a fleet would be pulled together to thwart Saren.
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As Shepard emerged from the elevator and began to head towards her cabin Doctor Chakwas appeared at the MedBay door and began to walk towards her.
‘What’s the matter Doc?’ Shepard asked in concern worried that perhaps one of the wounded had taken a turn for the worse.
‘I thought you may want to know Commander that Chief Williams is awake and I thought you would want to tell her about Alenko yourself.
She did but would have preferred to do it after a night’s sleep, but she said ‘yes of course I’ll come now. Is she completely alert?’
‘Yes but she won’t be awake long and she is having high infusions of medi-gel for the pain’ Dr Chakwas sat back down at her desk as they entered the MedBay and Shepard walked up to the bed that was bathed in a soft light further up the room.
‘Commander I’m sorry I didn’t want to be evacuated till we had finished the mission, I feel like I let you down and I know I lost half my squad at least’ Ash’s face was deathly pale and she had tubes in both her arms. She had taken a couple of hits but by far the worse was a bullet wound to her side which did some internal damage and cost her a lot of blood.
‘That’s enough Ash, its ok; it was a hell of a mission… I got a full report from Garrus on your actions and I will be recommending you for a commendation and medal for bravery’ Shepard had heard how Williams had showed extreme courage in leading her squad into overwhelming odds and had also gone back for a wounded marine and carried him to cover under fire.
‘I… not sure… I just did my job ma’am… and we lost…’ Ash was having trouble with the concept of being acknowledged as a hero and perhaps wiping the family slate clean.
‘You did more than your job a couple of times so I hear it.’
‘How did the lieutenant do, they were under a lot of fire taking those guns out’ she asked and Shepard could avoid it no longer.
‘He didn’t make it, he and his squad were overrun and I couldn’t spare any troops to go and help, we had to leave them behind’ there it was, her own personal nightmare, not only dead troops but they left them behind. Her only consolation, if it could ever be a consolation, was that even if they were captured they would have been killed in the blast.
‘But… that should have been me… I didn’t understand at the time why you choose me to cut a path to the bomb site and you send Alenko to the…. to…’ she didn’t finish but they both knew what taking the AA guns as an objective had been.
‘Complete a suicide mission, yes’ Shepard said. It had been clear from the beginning that whichever team headed for the AA guns they were not getting out unless they could be reinforced or actively extracted, neither of which was a real possibility.
‘You knew… you knew when you sent Kaidan… why did I get to live…’ she was upset but also angry.
‘We all know that there may be a mission or a fight that we won’t come back from… I didn’t pick you to live and I didn’t pick Kaidan to die… I had to choose on the basis of which objective would play to strengths…’ Shepard was cut off as Ash almost leapt up from the bed.
‘You didn’t trust me to take the guns and hold them to the last marine… you thought I was a coward…’ Shepard cut across her as she saw Dr Chakwas stand up from her desk.
‘That’s enough Williams, I told you I made my decision based on experience and skills… there was a real chance that the whole mission would be a bust and none of us would get out… but yes I choose Kaidan knowing that neither he nor his team would be coming back and I did it cold… that’s what command is’ Shepard realised she had raised her voice and was feeling the edge of anger, but it wasn’t that Ash had challenged her but more that Ash had force her to face what Shepard had been dodging until she had enough strength to deal with it.
Shepard once again had had to choose who would have a fighting chance and who would go to their certain death; she had to choose a friend and fellow marines and order them to fight to their death.
Dr Chakwas was now standing by the bed and said ‘I think that’s enough for tonight Commander, Chief Williams you need to get some rest I am going to give you a light sedative to help you relax.
But Ash hadn’t quite finished twisting the knife Shepard had plunged into her own gut.
‘You didn’t need to volunteer us for that part of the mission we could have left it to the Salarian’s… we could have stuck together… not lost as many…’ this time it was the Doctor who cut off the end of Ash’s comments.
‘That is quite enough Williams you have no right to question your commanding officers decisions, now get some sleep.’
Shepard turned and walked away from the bed without another word and headed straight for her cabin, Ash could go to hell, they could all go to hell, none of them were living with the nightmares she had in her head… they were all going to hell if she couldn’t convince the Council the threat was real. Like to see you deal with that command decision Williams she thought bitterly.
Liara was as good as her word and was waiting for her, working at Shepard’s console.
‘I hope you don’t mind Shepard I thought I would do some more work on tracking the Mu relay until you got here,’ she looked around as she finished speaking and only then saw Shepard who was still standing just inside the door ‘Goddess Shepard you look terrible what has happened’ Liara moved immediately to Shepard’s side and guided her to sit down on the bed.
‘Ah it’s ok Liara… I just need to sit down… bit of a difficult day…’ Shepard tried to pull off a grin but she knew she wasn’t fooling Liara. Shepard usually didn’t let anyone see her with her ‘guard down’, exhausted, feeling the emotional impact of her decisions, her doubt, and after meeting Sovereign she could add dread to that list.
‘You need more than a sit down... I am torn Shepard I think you need to get a good night’s sleep, but I would also like to remain with you…’ Liara once again showing her shyness and uncertainty but she also kept her arm around Shepard’s shoulder.
‘Please…yes Liara… I… I would like you to stay, for us to share sleep together… I know we wanted more but with everything…’ it was Shepard’s turn to let her words trail off.
‘Hush now, it’s my turn to look after you and I suspect this will be a new and difficult experience for you’ Liara smiled as she began to help Shepard out of her uniform.
By the time Liara joined Shepard in bed after getting undressed her human was already fading fast into exhaustion. Liara put her arms around Shepard and held her while they both drifted into sleep marking another step change in their relationship.
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Post by ddraigcoch123 on Aug 24, 2012 21:43:07 GMT 1
A/N sorry for the delay posting this, for some reason it was hard to write, but the next chapter is already well advanced so will be coming up soon... thank you for following the story.
Chapter 7
Shepard blinked her eyes open as consciousness began to reassert itself. She was not alone and the memories of the previous day and night caused her to close her eyes and take a slightly deeper measured breath before turning to the still sleeping Asari next to her.
Shepard propped herself on an elbow, rested her face in her hand and took the opportunity to study Liara’s face, neck and the sweep of her shoulders. They hadn’t stripped naked and both remained clad in underwear but she could feel the warmth of her companions’ skin and when she could resist it no more Shepard reached out her hand and let her fingers brush lightly across the Liara’s cheek and then traced the line of her neck to her shoulder.
Before Shepard’s fingers had even drifted down to her Asari’s neck Liara’s eyes flickered open and a soft smile traced itself on those full blue lips.
‘Sorry but I always wake up ridiculously early, even when I’m on leave… you are more beautiful than the omega nebula viewed through a multispectral window’ Shepard finished her words by leaning down and gently kissing the Asari’s lips.
‘Mmm,’ Liara responded to the kiss, ‘you will never need to say sorry whatever time you awaken me if it is accompanied by such actions and words Commander’ she said with another smile.
‘So tell me Doctor, would you like to get up and join me on my usual early inspection tour around the ship with a mug of mess coffee… or perhaps…’ Shepard leaned down and this time kissed the top of Liara’s shoulder and continued tracing kisses until she reached the Asari’s neck where Shepard’s kiss was altogether harder allowing her teeth to make contact.
Liara’s response was immediate and physical as she sought out and met Shepard’s mouth with a fury of kisses that sent shockwaves through both their bodies arousing the desire, need and excitement of the previous evening.
Shepard began removing Liara’s loose fitting undershirt as Liara was trying to pull off Shepard’s tee… still kissing and running hands across skin and breasts they then removed the rest of their clothing, finally no physical barriers separated their two bodies.
Shepard looked down at the Asari’s body and her breath caught in her throat at the sight of such perfection, she began to trace the lines of the prominent collar bones that were never exposed by Liara’s conservative choice of dressing.
Leaning on her elbow Shepard allowed her fingers to run around the edge of Liara’s breasts and then lifted her hand so that it lay a hair’s breadth above one of the Asari’s breasts, she could feel the heat, as she lowered her hand she felt the hard nipple contact her palm.
Their physical need and desire for each other took them over completely and Shepard gave herself up to exploring and pleasing this amazing, sexy, sensual and irresistible woman who had captured her from practically the first moment they had properly laid eyes on each other.
They fitted together, their bodies were a perfect match, they found many different ways to ensure they kept as much of each other in physical contact, there was no awkwardness.
There were moments when Shepard thought her head would actually explode… like the first time she felt the heat and wetness as her fingers responded to Liara’s need to feel Shepard inside her… teasing the Asari by delaying the moment until both their bodies were shaking with the pent up tension… when Shepard finally pushed her fingers into Liara they both moaned out loud experiencing even higher levels of passion coursing through their bodies… the lovemaking was not one sided as Liara surprised herself by knowing instinctively how to meet Shepard’s needs.
But it was the joining that made this a very, very different experience from any Shepard had had before.
There was the physical dimension that seemed to enhance and amplify all their lovemaking and particularly orgasm. But the joining was more, much more than just physically enhancing. Shepard tried to explain to Liara later how different it was yet how it met a deep need that must sit within all human’s and perhaps all sentient beings. Shepard explained of fleeting moments when, during intensely emotional love making, two people are so close, so connected, so focused and attuned they briefly achieve a form of one ness. The pinnacle some would say of human connection, complete immersion in each other, where the rest of the universe fades away and they are truly one… but it lasts so briefly. This was a powerful strand of the joining, that immersion in each other, the connection, achieving a state of complete unity, truly no longer being able to tell where one ended and the other began was effortless and once established the echo of it remained. To somehow be in each other’s mind’s to be each other’s bodies had to be experienced rather than spoken of. And through that connection the ability to share emotions… instead of having to use words they were able to experience the others feelings, share them, reflect them back. A new door had been created in Shepard’s consciousness that could be accessed easily and smoothly and that would take her back to that place of completeness whenever she and Liara joined. The deepest aspect of the full joining was something that Shepard had no experience of and no language that could really convey how it felt. The only way she could come close to explaining was by saying it was as if they met each others souls, it was as Liara had said it would be, a spiritual joining.
With their passion and desire sated, at least for now, and the meld fading away, they sat close to each other in bed as Shepard carefully sipped at her hot coffee and Liara nursed her Asari tea while she explained to Shepard that what they had just shared was not an ordinary Asari sexual joining or meld, that they had experienced a deep joining that usually only bondmates achieved.
‘I… well… we… um… oh Goddess, this is not going to come out right’ Liara had lost a little of the confidence and assurance she had found in herself during their lovemaking.
Shepard turned and looked at Liara with an amused smile on her face ‘spit it out T’Soni it can’t be that bad’, Shepard reached out her hand and gave Liara’s cheek a reassuring stroke.
‘Well as I was trying to explain, we seem to have bypassed all preambles and our first joining is one that usually only comes when the couple… I mean the two… well after they have been with each other for some time and made a… some… commitment…’ she trailed off and began to study her hands though she continued ‘and this state can not be achieved through only one of the partners, it must be a joint…’ Liara came to a full stop, still studying her hands which were clasped around the mug containing her now cold tea.
Shepard put down her own mug and took Liara’s off her; she then took hold of the Asari’s hands and looked steadily at Liara until the other raised her eyes to meet Shepard’s.
‘So if I understand you right… we skipped the whole courtship thing… the finding out whether we really liked each other… the deciding to take things to the next stage and skipped straight for… making a big connection… falling for each other? Was that about the gist of it?’ Shepard’s voice held more than a hint of amusement and a smile played around the edges of her mouth as she waited for Liara to respond.
‘I… well I would agree with your analysis… I mean… I can not deny I have strong feelings for you Shepard, nothing was hidden during our… when we were joined’ Liara was searching Shepard’s face so intently Shepard could almost feel it physically.
‘Ok, well the thing is… I have never had a serious relationship before Liara… I’m a soldier, I’ve never had the time and it didn’t seem fair when I might not be a good long term bet given my line of work… but you just got right in, straight through my defences… we have something between us we both know it and we both felt it… feel it. ‘Maybe its mad to even be thinking about relationships with what we are facing, we could all be killed trying to take down Saren and you’ve seen the warnings from the Prothean Beacons as I have… but maybe that’s what is also helping us to cut to the chase… all I know is I have never felt like this before and its both amazing and awesome and as frightening as hell’ Shepard finished by kissing Liara’s hands which she was still holding.
‘Oh Shepard you are truly wonderful’ Liara reached out for her human and pulled them together into a hug that placed their hearts together, they stayed in that embrace for what seemed like an eternity.
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The Normandy made good time on its trip to the Citadel, but it was far from uneventful.
After Shepard and Liara had joined the team for breakfast the discussion turned to what next, what would their role be in the ongoing fight against Saren. The whole team agreed with Shepard that they, and the Normandy, were best placed to chase Saren down in the Terminus System to try to stop him claiming the conduit.
They moved their discussion to the comm room and Liara carried out a meld with Shepard to try to help decipher the information from the Beacon on Virmire. The vision contained more of the same nightmare but this time Shepard had already been able to understand and experience the memories in much more detail. So that individual acts of destruction and killing were etched into her own memories along with the feelings that accompanied them. Fear, loss, terror, disbelief and grief… or at least the Prothean equivalent that she could only understand in her own terms.
Shepard had been right when she identified the final part of the message to be different and with Liara’s mind helping it became clear that it was an address, well a memory of a planet set within a solar system which was as good as the same thing. When Liara broke the connection she once again appeared to be dizzy both Shepard and Garrus moved to guide her to her seat.
‘Are you OK Liara, I thought it would have been easier this time?’ Shepard asked anxiously believing that as they had now joined these information melds would not have affected her.
‘I’m afraid it is the nature of the memories… the imprint from the Beacon that is draining and overwhelming Commander. You really do have a remarkably strong mind to carry them as you do… and you mind seems clearer since receiving the cipher, it felt more natural than it did the last time… as if you were assimilating them… the memories no longer feel… well… alien to your mind’ Liara was recovering but she still looked pale, pale for an Asari.
‘You mean the imprint is taking over my mind?’ Shepard said sounding worried and glancing quickly around to see if the others were looking at her differently.
‘No, no that is not what I meant. I am sorry Shepard I put it badly, no it is as if your mind was taming the memories, or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that your mind feels even more strong and powerful than it did the first time I melded with you.’ Liara continued, ‘but Commander I know where Saren is heading, I recognised the planet that was at the end of your vision. It is Ilos, I recognised it immediately from my study of Prothean literature.’
Shepard looked relieved that nothing was trying to control her mind and change it from the inside; she loved sharing her mind with Liara but two’s company she thought.
‘So how quickly do you think Saren will recognise where he needs to go’ Garrus asked what was on all their lips.
‘It really will depend on how much information he already possesses about the Protheans,’ Liara answered.
‘Yeah or how much information his big friend has from when they were here last time and wiped out the Protheans’ Shepard’s words were laced with disgust and anger, ‘but even if we have beaten him to the punch Saren will know very shortly after I tell the Council where we are headed,’ Shepard walked over to the edge of the room and leaned against the comm console and crossed her arms across her chest, a pose that everyone in the room recognised.
‘Do you believe one of the Council members is working with Saren,’ Tali asked the shock sounding in her voice.
‘No,’ it was Garrus who spoke and he looked troubled ‘Shepard knows that even highly classified intelligence is available to a Spectre’s, even an ex-Spectre, and I suspect that Saren has already strategically placed spies throughout Council space and particularly on the Citadel.’
Shepard nodded as Garrus spoke and said ‘exactly and lets not forget Sovereigns ability to indoctrinate that Saren may well also be using to his advantage.’
‘Do we need to tell them where Saren is headed, where we are going?’ This time Liara voiced what some in the room were thinking.
‘I’m afraid we do as we are going to need Council authority to put together a small task force of ships because we will be confronting Saren and his Geth fleet, or at least part of it. And it’ll be a balancing act as we’ll also need to increase the fleet defending the Citadel. No, we have no choice, but we can leave it until the very last minute when I am face to face with the Council’ Shepard finished.
They carried out some further planning mainly around getting the Normandy reequipped and ready to set off after Saren as quickly as possible once they had gotten their wounded to the hospital and Shepard had met with the Council.
Before the day was finished they had the last piece of the puzzle, the location of the Mu Relay, they were ready and it only remained for Shepard to brief the Council and begin the end game of the mission.
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‘What the fuck do you mean, no!’ Shepard was standing in front of the Council with Udina and Anderson on either side and was completely astounded at the orders she had just received.
‘I don’t think it is helpful to take that tone with us Shepard’ the Turian councillor’s sneer reminded her too keenly of Saren in that moment and she was about to say something that even she would regret when Captain Anderson spoke out.
‘But if we know where Saren is headed why won’t you let Shepard complete her mission?’ he asked, his anger was clear in both voice and body language.
‘It is not your place to question the Council Anderson’ Udina barked and in that moment Shepard would cheerfully have smacked the man in the mouth.
‘I believe we will get more accomplished if we remain calm and civil,’ it was Councillor Tevos who spoke, ‘Shepard we can not send Council vessels into the Terminus System as it would probably cause war which we can ill afford if your predictions about Saren’s attack on the Citadel are correct. We have set ships to guard the relay and have increased the number protecting the Citadel itself. We believe that Saren is now a spent force and that chasing him around the Terminus System will only cause more trouble, if what you say is true he will come to us and we will defeat his attack,’ she finished.
‘But Saren isn’t the real threat, its Sovereign and the Reapers, we can’t let Saren get whatever the conduit is and it may well be sitting on Ilos so…’ Shepard was cut off by the Turian Councillor once again.
‘I have heard enough of these tales of Reapers designed to frighten children and the weak willed; you have no proof other than your dreams and your willingness to accept all that Saren tells you as truth.’
Shepard was actually too angry to form words and before she could deliver the string of Turian insults and swear words that Garrus had taught her the Salarian Councillor cut in.
‘Commander Shepard no one here doubts that you are sincere in your belief but Salarian intelligence have not uncovered anything to support the information that Saren is feeding you.’
‘Well if you won’t give me any help I’ll just have to go it alone and stop Saren on Ilos with my team and the Normandy’ she said.
‘This is precisely why you, your crew and the Normandy are grounded. I have initiated a lock down on the Normandy until you see fit to respect the will of the Council’ Udina couldn’t hide his delight at finally getting the better of Shepard and it took all the willpower and self restraint she had not to head butt him in his stupid face.
‘I take it I am dismissed?’ she said curtly to the Council realising that there was no point in continuing the argument and she really needed to get away from Udina before her self control snapped.
‘Yes Commander and perhaps we will have a more satisfactory discussion in a few days once we have more information’ Councillor Tevos was being her usual diplomatic self.
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Bad news travels fast and the news that the Normandy was grounded seemed to have reached the ship even before Shepard arrived.
Shepard went straight to her cabin and decided she felt to low even to sit on the bed so slumped onto the floor, elbows resting on her knees and head firmly in her hands.. the very picture of dejection.
Liara no longer knocked to enter the cabin which had become their shared space and when she entered she only paused a moment before sitting next to Shepard on the floor and leaning sideways so that their shoulders touched.
‘I can not believe they did that to you Shepard, after all you have proved to them’ Liara spoke quietly but Shepard could here anger, perhaps even fury in her voice.
‘Well to be fair we haven’t exactly given them any concrete proof… but what the hell do they think Saren is doing, how they hell do they think he has managed to get Geth to follow him… I don’t know if they are just incredibly stupid or if they have their heads buried in the sand for a reason I cant work out’ Shepard was angry but she was also tired and was at a complete loss as to how to work around this roadblock.
‘You are not going to allow them to stop you; you are not going to give up are you?’ Liara’s tone was now challenging.
‘No Liara I am not going to just sit here on my arse feeling sorry for myself although I reckon I should be allowed a little pissed off time... but what would you like me to do?’ Shepard was angrier than she had intended and continued turning her head to face Liara, ‘I’m sorry I don’t mean to be angry at you, your right to ask. We need a plan but we also need to be ready, the plan bit is feeling kinda hard at the moment so lets go with making sure we are ready to go if… when we can get away.’ She smiled and was pleased to receive not only a smile but also a kiss in return.
Liara got to her feet and offered her hand to Shepard who took it and in one movement rose to her feet and pulled Liara into an embrace and as they moved slowly but deliberately together for what Shepard hoped would be a long and passionate kiss Joker voice broke the quiet of the room.
‘Um sorry Commander but I have a message from Captain Anderson’ Joker sounded a little wary but continued ‘he would like to meet you in Flux in 30 minutes.’
‘Thank you Joker’ Shepard responded never once moving her eyes from her Asari’s face, ‘do you think he has cameras in her or does he just have lousy timing.’ She smiled and they carried on where they had been interrupted, the kiss was indeed all that Shepard had hoped for.
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Before leaving for Flux Shepard gave out a flurry of orders.
All crew to return to the Normandy for some dockside drills and cleaning duties. All supplies and particularly armaments to be re-stocked ready to help with the defence of the Citadel if called upon, well that was the cover story anyway. Her team were to work on how to get them out from under lockdown and through the relay without any damage to Alliance, Citadel or Council forces. Joker was to be ready with a direct route to the Mu Relay and then on to Ilos but one that would not bring them into contact with Council or Alliance forces while still in Council space.
When she arrived at Flux with Liara she found Anderson easily and sat down next to him as the noise would make having a conversation at any bigger distance impossible.
‘Shepard this all stinks and I’m sorry you have been caught up in the politics, particularly between me and Udina. I’m pretty sure his dislike of you is because you remind him of me a little,’ Anderson was clearly still angry.
‘Well I take that as a compliment sir, but I really need to find a way of getting after Saren, the clock is ticking on the head start he has’ she was worried about Anderson and hoped he hadn’t called her here to drown their joint sorrows.
‘I have a plan, but, you will be acting against direct orders from the Ambassador and against the wishes of the Council. If this doesn’t come out right you could end up in front of a courts martial, and you crew, we would effectively be stealing the Normandy’ he watched her face and she knew he was giving her a chance to back away from what was a huge decision for an Alliance officer.
‘Sir, I will give my crew the opportunity to step off the Normandy if it doesn’t sit well with them, but my duty to protect the Alliance, the Council and the Galaxy all press me to take whatever action I can to try to stop Saren and Sovereign who are a clear and present danger,’ she sat up straight in her chair and continued ‘besides if this thing goes sideways we wont be coming back for a parade or a courts martial’ she grinned and the plan was set.
Walking back to the Normandy Shepard asked Liara how she would feel about being with a disgraced Alliance officer and a rogue Spectre, Liara’s answer came immediately.
‘I will feel exactly as I do now Shepard, honoured and blessed’ and with that the Asari reached out for Shepard’s hand and that is how they entered the Normandy docking bay.
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The countdown to Anderson breaking into Udina’s office and releasing the Normandy was T minus 15.
Shepard had already told her team which included the two able bodied marines she had left from her squad. They all understood the decision they were making, and Shepard made it clear particularly to her marines that this was not an order, but they were solidly with her.
Unfortunately and much to both her and Kirrahe’s disappointment he had been called back to the STG to give a full report and receive further medical attention, she could have used him.
Shepard had decided to speak to the crew before they broke free of their shackles and headed for Saren, disgrace and quite possibly death.
‘Attention Normandy crew the Commander has an announcement to make’ Joker set up the comms and turned to look at Shepard who was standing next to him in the cockpit. She had already told her pilot the plan and he was staying.
‘You are all aware that Ambassador Udina has grounded the Normandy and her crew. I need to tell you that with Captain Anderson’s help I will be taking the Normandy to complete our mission to stop Saren, Sovereign and the Geth. You all need to know that we may well be classed as Alliance deserters and pirates. I trust and respect each and every one of you and as such I must give you the choice to stay with me and embark on a mission against an enemy of overwhelming strength and risk your careers and reputations or leave the ship now. Know that I will think no less of you if that is your choice and I will be honoured to serve with any of you in the future. We have not completed our mission and we owe Saren and little friends some payback, make no mistake we are in this on our own and we will not stop until we prevail.’ Shepard checked her watch it was now T minus 10 minutes.
‘Nice Commander, especially the part where we were all screwed and not likely to get a hero’s welcome even if we make it’ Joker smirked as he spoke.
‘Just wanted to say Joker that despite your backchat, bad jokes, lack of respect and did I mention really bad jokes… oh and your really, really bad timing,’ Shepard put a hand on his shoulder briefly and continued ‘you’re a hell of a pilot and I’m proud to have you on my crew.’
They waited in silence as the minutes clicked away, and she wondered how many crew she had lost, if it would affect the handling of the ship, and what the hell her mother would think of her… shit this was the first moment she had given her mother a thought. This would be really hard for a Captain in the Alliance, the XO on a ship of the line… ‘shit Shepard you have to either win and make this all good or die in the attempt coz there is no way I am facing my mother from inside the brig’ she thought to herself.
There it was a green light, they were clear to leave.
‘Take her away Joker get us through the relay ASAP’ Shepard said. She waited next to her pilot until they had indeed jumped through the relay and they were free and clear.
She made her way to the CIC to get a status report and was surprised to see Pressley still at his post, she didn’t know why but she thought he would have taken the opportunity to leave, they hadn’t always seen eye to eye.
‘Commander,’ he said as she approached ‘all crew members at their posts and ready to do their duty,‘ he snapped a salute that was echoed by all crew members who were in the CIC.
She returned it and told him to carry on; she had to admit she was touched by this obvious show of support for her and her command.
It was the same throughout the ship; every crew member she passed snapped to attention and gave her a salute.
She gave orders for the crew to get as much rest as they could on the journey to the Mu Relay, which would take around 16 hours, and she ordered her fire team to rest up as she anticipated they would have a long hard fight in front of them.
There was nothing left to do but wait.
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Post by ddraigcoch123 on Aug 30, 2012 10:34:32 GMT 1
A/N Sorry guys wrote this chapter in two halves in two different places ooops… so posted an incomplete chapter twice… arrrgh… this is now complete and as it should be... many thanks for your continued story following.
A/N2 Did a small proof edit there were a few things that were a bit off… sorted now.
Chapter 8
Her teeth were chattering, as if she had just been dropped into an ice bath, her jaw was clenched and she wondered if you could grind your teeth and have them chatter at the same time.
Shepard felt the reflex to cough begin to gain traction in her lungs, not her chest this time, the attempt to clear whatever was flooding her lungs was going to require a much deeper cough… it was going to hurt.
Bright side she seemed to be able to think for a little longer at a time… hold the thoughts running through her mind and begin to string them together, down side all her thoughts were about dying, being trapped and the many different varieties of pain she was feeling across her body.
Nothing that she was thinking was good. She had no idea how long she had been ‘out’ or ‘dreaming’, so no idea how long she could reasonably expect to wait until rescue… but she still couldn’t remember where she was or what had happened before.
She thought maybe she was re-building her memory, she knew that her head had taken a beating, not just the crack in her helmet but the continuing searing pain… more likely her life was ‘flashing before her eyes’ though it didn’t seem to be running through on fast forward and her eyes were not seeing anything in their current state.
‘Shock’ she thought ‘this shivering its shock setting in… dammit on top of everything else… that’s just fuckin dandy.’
Shepard was indeed shivering although she had no sensation of cold; not really, there was numbness and hot shards of agony flowing through every inch of her nervous system… but the sensation of cold was not present.
‘Nnngah no no..’ the reflex she couldn’t stop gained momentum and as her lungs tried in vain to clear themselves the pain brought tears to her eyes, but they weren’t only tears of pain, they were tears of frustration, loss, grief.
When the cough came it felt as if she was breathing and coughing glass, she felt warm liquid in her mouth, bubbles forming on her lips as a small rivulet found escape at the corners of her mouth.
‘Not long now Shepard… not long’ she thought and as she began to settle her mind to stop fighting for each breath, but that call… a siren’s call, welled up from deep within her… she had to hold on, she hadn’t finished… one more thing to do… but how could she do it here... how would she finish whatever it was she had started… and why was she still alone.
Despair and loneliness threatened to dislodge even the primacy of the pain that filled her consciousness… but as she began drifting down into the abyss she felt the touch of something in her mind. It was almost imperceptible, like a small breath of warm scented air on a still day… but it was there and it just gave her a moment’s relief… and in that moment she felt herself drift up and away again; away from her prison and her torture.
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Shepard had been surprised to see Chief Williams waiting to speak to her outside her cabin after the Normandy was set on course for the Mu Relay.
‘Commander I really need to speak with you’ Williams was doing her best to stand ramrod straight to attention but Shepard could see the physical strain.
‘What the hell are you doing here Ash did you get stranded on board, I thought you went to Huerta with the others,’ Shepard stared to guide the marine towards the MedBay.
‘No ma’am, well yes… I mean I did go to the hospital but I wanted to get back ASAP and once I heard that bastard Udina had put us on lockdown I just knew you would find a way out of it and I wanted to be here’ by the time Ash had finished talking they were at the MedBay and Shepard called over Dr Chakwas.
‘Doc what the hell is Ash doing her?’ Shepard asked with more concern than anger.
‘She is a marine and as stubborn as her Commander and there was absolutely nothing I could do, she is on the mend and I can allow her to do light duties but combat in any form is out. Do you hear me Chief?’ Dr Chakwas address her final comments to Chief Williams who appeared to grudgingly nod.
‘Commander I had to speak to you, to apologise… I was so out of order when I spoke to you after Virmire… in my defence I was pretty high and not really myself…’ she broke off as Dr Chakwas chimed in from her desk.
‘I can vouch for that Commander, I had to treat her for an infection which also caused some fever and slight delirium.’
‘Skipper I was upset of course I was… and I stand by saying you probably got the rough end of the deal losing the LT and keeping me… but ma’am I would, will follow you into hell itself and I just want the chance to prove to you how much I regret… well everything,’ she stopped and stood up once more.
‘Ash, you choose to come back to the Normandy even though you were still not well enough for duty. When you found out that I was going to risk being declared a deserter and a pirate by the Alliance and the Council you stayed on board, despite what that may do to your family and your attempts to re-instate your family’s good name. I think I can forgive a wounded soldier some feverish back chat,’ Shepard finished and a huge wave of relief seemed to flow through the Chief and settle on her face, ‘but if you ever speak to your commanding officer in those terms again you won’t find me so accommodating, are we clear,’ Shepard gave Ash a withering look and the Chief snapped a salute and gave a full throated aye, aye ma’am.
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Shepard spent a couple of hours with Liara in her cabin, talking, laughing, even allowing themselves to do a little ‘after Saren’ planning and, as Shepard put it a little ‘fooling around’. But Shepard insisted that Liara get some sleep.
‘I have a couple of things to sort out then I’ll come back and slip quietly in next to you, I promise’ she kissed Liara and left the room before her lover could mount an argument. Shepard called Lt Pressley and Chief Williams to the comm room and when they both arrived she got straight to the point.
‘Pressley you’re an outstanding navigator and good administrative officer but you’re not made for combat command’ it wasn’t a question but she gave space for Pressley to respond. ‘Thank you Commander and I agree completely.’
‘Good, I will be making another officer my XO and I expect you to support and work with them in the spirit you have always exhibited towards me.’
‘Yes ma’am… but we don’t… you’re not suggesting Lt Moreau’ Pressley stammered and looked concerned. Shepard allowed herself a small chuckle ‘No indeed, Joker is a great pilot and trust him with the lives of all on board but…’ she turned to Chief Williams and continued ‘I am making a battlefield promotion and you will take the rank of first lieutenant Williams, you will also assume the position as my XO,’ as she expected the expression on Ash’s face flashed from denial, to shock, to awe and back to shock.
‘But Commander…’ Shepard cut her off before she could go any further.
‘Can it Lieutenant you have to get up to speed double time so instead of veering towards challenging another of my command decisions’ she flashed a grin at Ash to put her at ease ‘you and Pressley need to put your heads together, but I need you to lead on combat command of the Normandy you will not be joining us groundside. Dismissed.’
Both officers snapped salutes which Shepard returned and she was left alone in the comm room. Shepard wanted more than anything to put a call through to her mother at that moment but it would be reckless and unfair to drag the Captain into a mess that was of Shepard’s own making. ‘I really hope I get a chance to make all this right mum’ she said to herself and then went back to her cabin to get at least a couple of hours rest before they hit the Mu Relay.
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Shepard asked Ash to join her in the cockpit in time for the approach to the Mu Relay, they were few minutes out.
‘Joker you are going to need to be on your toes when we jump out the other end, I fully expect Saren to have left a little welcome party and I would really rather not alert them to our presence… oh and not run straight into them either,’ she finished.
‘Understood Commander… just so we’re clear... I probably would have tried to keep stealthy and not crash the ship anyway… just saying’ Joker smirked up at Shepard and she returned his grin. Shepard’s prediction had been correct there were two Geth ships waiting at the Relay and she was glad once again to have a pilot who was as skilful as his boast.
‘ETA Ilos fifteen minutes Commander’ he said looking fully pleased with himself.
‘OK, now I have something I need both of you to do and this is an order. There will be no discussion on this; I want an affirmative from you both when you know what it is.’ Shepard paused for them to take in what she had said and then continued.
‘If I don’t make it back from the surface or you have confirmation I have been killed,’ Shepard raised her hand as both appeared to be on the point of challenging her, ‘I have no intention of dying, I have every intention of killing that tormented son of a bitch with my bare hands, but that’s beside the point.
‘You are to head straight for the fifth fleet and report to Admiral Hackett. I’ve left a full signed statement in my quarter in which I take complete and absolute responsibility for the actions of all Alliance personnel on the Normandy. I state clearly that I gave the crew no choice in following my orders; but that I am a skilled persuader and everyone may have thought I was offering them a choice. You will both support that statement and do everything you can to help Admiral Hackett to keep this incident off everyone’s jacket. Do I make myself clear?’ she was steely and fully in command, no one would disagree with her.
‘I have never used all that nonsense about my being hero and I think you all know I hate it as I did not at any time accomplish anything on my own. My orders and actions cost the lives of many good women and men of the Alliance and not a few civilians who were in my care. But on this occasion I have, for the first time, explicitly asked that my record be taken into account to protect my crew. I need your confirmation that we will not have any Spartacus moments?’ Shepard was once again surprised to see that Ash understood her reference; they both saw the blank look on Joker’s face and Ash said she would explain later.
They both nodded in agreement and Shepard headed for the CIC and to check on the final preparations.
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The Normandy was approaching Ilos and Shepard was once again in the cockpit standing next to Joker, Ash was sitting in the co-pilot seat, Tali at a console off to one side with Liara and Garrus standing by the entrance.
As expected Saren had beaten them to the plant and his Geth fleet were in attendance, but no sign of Sovereign. Shepard didn’t know whether she was disappointed or relieved.
The Normandy’s stealth systems guaranteed they would not be spotted, but they still approached slowly, moving through the Geth to get into low altitude so they could run some scans.
‘Looks like a lot of activity centred on a cluster of ruins Commander’ Tali said ‘and we have two Geth drop ships returning from the surface. My guess is we are not very far behind the landing,’ she finished.
‘Scans just completed and we have a topographical map Commander, looks as if the main landing party are heading for one place, an underground entrance of some sort’ Pressley came through on the comms from the CIC.
‘OK then that’s where we need to be, Joker how close can you get the Mako’ Shepard asked.
‘The other side of the taller building, wouldn’t be too far, but its right in the middle of a group of Geth that seem to be digging in Commander’ Joker answered.
‘Well drop us on this side of the building that will give us a few moments of cover to get our bearings,’ she said and continued ‘fire team with me lets head for the Mako. She’s all yours Lieutenant take good care of her.’
‘Aye, aye Commander’ Ash responded with a nod.
Once they were all secured in the Mako they didn’t have long to wait, Joker dropped them with pin point accuracy and as soon as the Mako had pulled up to a stop their agreed combat plan was put into action.
Shepard had ensured all weapons had enhanced scanning mods as the Geth would be jamming all frequencies.
For heavy weapons she had also equipped Garrus and Wrex with heat seeking missile launchers, they were limited to ten missiles each but that would take down quite a few heavies with a bit of coordination. She and Liara were equipped with rapid fire grenade launchers.
The plan on hitting groundside was for her two remaining marines, Stevens and Brewster to stay in the Mako making use of the heavy turret and cannon; Tali would remain in the Mako and carry out hacking and damping.
The rest of them would fan out from the armoured vehicle and work as a team to take down larger Geth targets, dropping any troopers, hoppers and rocket troopers with their assault rifles and shotguns equipped with disrupter ammo.
With their enhanced scanning mods and Tali’s damping field they could at least ‘see’ Geth targets that were within the immediate vicinity and honed in on two Armatures that appeared to be sitting guard on their route to the underground entrance that was their destination.
The Mako had to keep moving as it was vulnerable to the Armatures but Shepard’s team found cover and sent three waves of missiles at each of the Geth heavies before they could get more than one round off at the Mako from their pulse cannons.
Shepard and Liara focussed on the foot soldiers that accompanied the Armatures using both grenades and biotics to take down nearly half a platoon with the Mako doing its fair share of damage.
Once the Armatures were destroyed and the rest of the ground troops supporting them taken out the Mako moved forward with Shepard and her team walking in its wake using it for cover while Tali was working hard to clean up the continued jamming to give them early ‘eyes’ on nearby hostiles.
‘Commander’ Tali’s voice came over the comm in Shepard’s helmet ‘I don’t believe this is Geth jamming, the signature is different and it is interfering not only with our comms to the Normandy but also Geth comms to their ships.’
‘So chances are the Geth are as blind as we are and they won’t be calling in reinforcements?’ Shepard asked hoping the answer would come in the affirmative.
‘They are certainly as jammed as we are’ Tali replied.
‘No guarantee they won’t drop more shit on our heads though’ Wrex’s deep rumbling voice held a hint of a laugh, he was hoping for more action.
They made steady progress at walking pace and dispatched another group of Geth troopers but then ran into some serious trouble as Tali raised the warning of a Geth prime and two Geth destroyers standing guard on the doors to the underground entrance.
Shepard stopped the Mako and moved her squad forward on foot, Tali now joining them. She deployed her team to the right and left of the entrance with Wrex, Tali and Liara making up one team, Shepard and Garrus the other. They found high ground on the ruined and overgrown buildings which meant they could get fairly close and had the advantage of both crossfire and cover.
On the given signal Tali would hack on of the destroyers while Wrex and Garrus would use their remaining missiles on the prime, Liara would also focus on the prime with biotics and Shepard concentrating fire on the un-hacked destroyer. They would switch firepower to another target once their own was taken out. The Mako would begin a run in once they had engaged the deathly trio and hopefully get in close enough to hit the prime with the cannon while it was distracted.
Shepard counted them in over the comms and on the ‘go’ all hell broke loose with the earth and ear shattering sound of missile explosions, pulse cannon and shotgun from the Geth and the fire team, the sound of the assault rifle lost amongst the louder weapons.. Tali did a semi successful hack of one of the destroyers which didn’t exactly attack the prime but was so disoriented that it just stumbled around not firing at anything, which was a result as far as Shepard was concerned.
Both destroyers were down and only the prime remained, the Mako had just made it within range and the prime was going down fast but its last cannon shot found its mark and hit the ruins where Wrex, Tali and Liara were located bringing it crashing down.
Shepard was so enraged that it had hit half her squad not to mention Liara that she moved out from her cover and stood like a sentinel on the top of the ruin that had previously been her shelter and sent a hail of ordnance at the now very damaged Geth she didn’t stop and Garrus also stood and joined in the stream of non-stop assault rifle fire. A final shot from the Mako finished it off and once it was down Shepard and Garrus rushed to where the rest of their team had been thrown by the blast.
Wrex was already on his feet and moving debris off the body of a very crumpled looking Quarian, Liara was sitting up with her helmeted head in hands clearly shaken. But it was Tali that Shepard moved towards first while saying ‘Liara sitrep, are you injured?
‘No Commander… I do not think so… just winded… see to Tali,’ Liara said also looking across at Tali who was still laying lifeless on the ground.
‘Wrex are you OK?’ Shepard asked as she helped him to clear the remaining stones and began checking life signs with her OT.
‘Ha,’ he barked ‘did I ever tell you about the time an entire building fell on me?’
‘Try the Normandy again Garrus, she’s out cold and it doesn’t look good, looks like she has damage to her armour and her enviro suit has been breached… let’s get her into the Mako… Liara get as much medigel as you can into her and then try to seal up the armour… secure her at the rear of the Mako... we are…’ Shepard’s words were cut short by a comm call from the Mako which was now parked close to the doors that they still had to open.
‘Commander we have more incoming, slow moving but coming our way, looks like Geth troopers but also at least two heavies of some description.’
‘Still can’t get through to the Normandy Shepard’ Garrus updated her.
‘Right, Brewster on the Mako guns, but keep the vehicle facing towards the door… Wrex up to the position that Garrus and I had… Garrus take cover down here if it gets too hot fall back behind the Mako… Liara you’re with me’ as Shepard was speaking they were carrying Tali into the Mako and taking up positions as allocated.
Shepard and Liara moved towards the doors to the underground complex and saw the security station on the left that Saren had obviously used to access their controls. The exterior doors had been blown off, no easy task and it must have held him up for some time.
As they moved into the even deeper darkness of the interior Shepard and Liara took positions mirroring each other, hugging the side wall of the corridor, in a slight crouch and scanning left, right, up and down with their weapons, Shepard using her trusty Mattock and Liara her Pinnacle pistol (a present from Shepard).
Shepard allowed her mind the split seconds to smile to herself that Liara was becoming quite the soldier and that her basic Asari commando training, that had obviously kept her safe on those lone dig’s, was melding with the marine way of doing things and creating an effective and deadly mix.
At the end of the corridor the room opened up and they could see that the far end of the room was the most likely place for consoles and controls, but they had to get there. Again Saren had cleared out what looked like two rows of security turrets that had obviously activated, even after all this time, given the scorch marks and destroyed Geth.
However, in their place he had left a couple of troopers and a destroyer.
Shepard moved across and joined Liara, signalling that she stay behind her. They didn’t have enough firepower to make creating cross fire worth the risk. Much better they stick together and take the enemy down one at a time.
They quietly hugged the left hand wall and moved so that they were just parallel with the Geth squad, who seemed to be in ‘off’ mode. But Shepard wasn’t going to have them between her and the exit if they decided not to remain ‘off’ she communicated her plan to Liara.
Shepard would hack the destroyer to confuse and slow it, she was not a patch of Tali but Alliance hacking and damping tech was a major asset and all marines could do the basics. Shepard was much more expert as she had, after all, started taking training from before she understood what everyone was talking about. Liara would target first one trooper and then the next as would Shepard; they would use a combination of biotics and Shepard’s assault rifle and disruptor ammo. Then they would then change their position and focus on the destroyer.
Counting them in Shepard allowed herself a moment to lock her eyes with Liara’s and felt the familiar jolt in her body as a smile flashed across both their mouths almost in unison.
The troopers went down fairly quickly but the destroyer was more of a pain. The hack worked but the destroyer was still fast enough to fire shots that came very close to taking Shepard’s head off. She ordered Liara to move slowly to the top of the room and start working on finding a way to unlock the access door while Shepard drew the thing towards her and by using cover managed to get another hack in to drop its shields dealing more damage with her rifle and in the end allowing her to get in close enough to use a sticky grenade.
Shepard could stand it no longer and removed her helmet, and she made her way to join Liara, who had also removed her helmet, at the consoles.
Once she knew Shepard was safe and immediate danger dispatched Liara was giving herself a chance to marvel at the ruins which had only been ravaged by time. When Shepard joined her she couldn’t help dropping into archaeologist speech and tell her human companion how unique and amazing the design within the room its construction and talked about returning with a full team to fully explore the whole of this fascinating Prothean site.
‘Ah you used to find me fascinating and worthy of study, now I’m replaced by a bunch of old ruins’ Shepard said in mock sad tones.
Liara playfully pushed Shepard in the shoulder and moved in close so that they could feel each other’s breath on their faces and said ‘you will never lose your fascination for me Shepard I will study you for eternity’ Liara cupped Shepard’s face and kissed her deeply on the lips. Shepard used the hand not holding her rifle to pull the Asari to her.
When they broke apart they moved straight back to business and as Shepard walked past an interface set into the consoles it jumped to life and a broken, patchy, glitchy miniature body that was very difficult to make out was speaking.
It was difficult to make out whole sentences but she could pick out words and short phrases like ‘ our time ending’ ‘devastation’ ‘hide’ ‘keep secure’ ‘reapers’ ‘then end of civilisation’.
‘It sounds like a warning signal’ Shepard said turning to Liara who then stared back at her almost open mouthed.
‘You… you can understand… Shepard that was not a modern galactic language, my guess is that it was Prothean’ she said her look changing to puzzled.
‘What… how could I… Liara are you sure… I’m even struggling to learn Asari how the fuck can I just suddenly know Prothean’ and Shepard stared at the still speaking VI.
‘Perhaps the effects of the Beacons and the Cipher… it’ but Liara’s words were cut by Garrus’s voice over the comms.
‘Shepard are you two OK in there we heard some explosions and knew it had to be you?’ Garrus was trying to keep it light but he sounded worried.
‘Yep all good Garrus, what’s your situation?’ Shepard replied lightly.
‘We have company but we are taking them out, dropped the two Armatures and now dealing with troopers’ he finished.
‘Copy that’ Shepard looked at Liara who was working deftly at one of the consoles and a smile flashed across her face.
‘That is it Commander, it should now be open.’
‘Garrus is the door the underground complex open’ she asked over the comm.
‘Affirmative Shepard we are good to go.’
‘Outstanding, Wrex, Garrus hit the Mako… Garrus you drive, Wrex on the guns’ Shepard said as she and Liara ran towards the exit and the Mako.
Once inside Shepard ordered them to make all speed and smash through anything in their way, she moved to the back of the vehicle where Tali was still lifeless and spoke to Stevens who was the closest thing they had to a medic and who was tending to Tali as best he could.
‘I have sedated her Commander, we pumped in medigel and sealed the breach in the armour but the infection will already be in there and I think she had either broken or crushed bones in her leg. I don’t believe she took a direct hit from the plasma cannon, that would have taken half her body off, but some kind of ricochet maybe. Hard to tell,’ he finished looking down at his charge.
‘Well we can’t call the Normandy for a pick up… but even if we could… we have to prioritise the mission,’ Shepard said with an edge of sadness but with her full command commitment sounding through. ‘So we have a really good reason to finish that bastard in double quick time… actually we have a galaxy full but let’s just focus on the one in front of us for now.’
Everyone in the Mako gave a quick look at their fallen comrade and a renewed resolve settled on all inside the vehicle as Garrus gunned the engine into life and headed straight into the underground complex and whatever little surprised Saren had left in their way.
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Post by ddraigcoch123 on Sept 3, 2012 2:36:52 GMT 1
Chapter 9
They didn’t have to wait long to run into some Geth interference, but Shepard’s orders were clear, take as many out with the guns and run over or skirt around the rest. The Mako was also maxing out its shield’s and getting a little help when taking fire from Liara and Wrex’s biotics.
Liara marvelled at the facility and they all wondered about the now dormant stasis pods that lined the upper levels, ‘there are hundreds of them,’ Liara said leaving the question of how they came to be there and why they had failed.
‘Never get me in one of those I’d rather die fighting’ Wrex grumbled.
‘What in the name of all things holy is that?’ Shepard was looking intently at the console display and its analysis of what looked like a biotic barrier across their path.
‘That is not like any Geth tech I’ve seen before,’ said Garrus and now they were joined by Liara and Brewster who both looked through the Mako front windscreen and down to the scanner to see what it was made of.
‘Whoever it belongs to it is a strong biotic barrier so perhaps we should not drive straight into it,’ Liara’s concerned voice seemed to break the almost hypnotic fascination both Shepard and Garrus had developed for the fast approaching barrier.
‘Yeah good idea, but Wrex throw a few cannon shots at it and lets see what happens,’ Shepard called over her shoulder.
‘Ha,’ Wrex barked one of his laughs ‘are you sure you’re not part Krogan Shepard, if in doubt shoot a big gun at it’ he carried on with a deep rumbling laugh as he fired the cannon several times but to no effect.
‘No Wrex from what I’ve heard it’s also a very human trait to shoot first and ask questions later,’ Garrus said with a twitch of his mandibles and a smile in his voice.
They had come to a full stop just in front of the barrier and at the same moment another barrier dropped behind them.
‘Liara, Wrex, Brewster your with me,’ Shepard said as she was already making her way to the side door of the vehicle, ‘Garrus if the barriers lift and you have incoming, keep out of their way and come back for us when its clear, unless you can take them out.’
They circled around the Mako and saw the only option for exploration, a lift door set into the wall.
‘Looks like someone wants us to visit,’ Wrex said as they walked over to the door and Shepard got it open.
‘Well they better have a very good reason for holding us up… or they’re gonna regret inviting us to tea’ Shepard growled.
The lift seemed to drop them a couple of levels and when the doors opened it was onto a fairly narrow walkway with rock face either side. Set at the end of the walkway they could see a console and a virtual interface that was projecting something that looked like an abstract screensaver.
‘You are not Prothean but you are not machine either, this eventuality was one of many that was anticipated. This is why we sent our warnings through the beacons.’
‘Sounds like some kind of VI but badly degraded’ Wrex said.
‘I do not sense the taint of indoctrination upon any of you unlike the one who passed recently,’ the programme continued ‘perhaps there is still hope.’
‘Shepard I can understand the programme I do not believe it is speaking Prothean’ Liara said and Wrex added a grunt of agreement.
‘I have been monitoring your communications since you entered this facility and I have translated my output into a format you will comprehend. My name is Vigil you are safe here for the moment but that is likely to change. Soon nowhere will be safe.’
‘Yeah well that isn’t exactly news to us,’ Shepard sounded a little pissed and continued ‘but lets get one thing cleared up. When you talked about another passing by who was indoctrinated did you invite them down here?’
‘No I would not make myself known to an indoctrinated traitor. I am an advanced non organic analysis system with personality imprints from Ksad Ishan chief overseer of the Ilos research facility.’
‘Well could you get to the part where you give me something useful ASAP coz the bad guy has a bit of a head start on us,’ Shepard was trying to keep a lid on her anger but she wasn’t in the mood to play diplomat right now.
‘You must stop a cycle that has continued for millions of years. But to stop it you must understand or you will make the same mistakes we did. The Citadel is the seat of government, as it was with us and every civilisation that came before us. But the Citadel is a trap; the station is actually an enormous mass relay, one that links to dark space the empty void beyond the Galaxy’s horizon. When the Citadel relay is activated the Reapers will pour through and all you know will be destroyed.’
‘So how come all those clever scientists on the Citadel never noticed it was a mass relay,’ Wrex almost spat the words out.
‘The Reapers are careful to keep the greatest secret of the Citadel hidden. That is why they created a species of seemingly benign organic caretakers. The keepers maintain the most basic functions. They enable any species to use the Citadel without fully understanding the technology. This reliance on the keepers ensures that no species will ever discover the Citadels true nature, not until the relay is activated and the Reapers invade.’
‘How do the Reapers survive out in dark space?’ Shepard needed to know as much as possible about her enemy, knowledge could lead to weak points, and they needed any advantage they could get.
‘We have only theories, but our researchers believe they enter prolonged states of inactivity to conserve energy this allows them to survive the thousands and thousands of years it takes for organic civilisations to rebuild itself. But in this state they are vulnerable and so by retreating beyond the edges of the Galaxy they ensure no one will accidentally discover them. This way they keep their existence hidden.’
‘Goddess the Reapers will be able to wipe out the Council and the Citadel fleet in a single surprise attack,’ the shock in LIara’s voice was palpable.
‘That was our fate, our leaders were dead before we even realised we were under attack. They seized control of the mass relay network, communications and transportation crippled. Each star system was cut off, isolated and easy prey for the Reaper fleets. Over the next decades the Reapers systematically obliterated our people, world by world, system by system they methodically wiped us out.’
‘Yes well thanks to coming into contact with a couple of your beacons I don’t have to imagine what happened I already have the memories in my head,’ Shepard’s voice gave no indication of just how much it cost her to keep her head straight carrying the knowledge and the weight of it.
Vigil went on to tell them how the Reapers had access, through the Citadel, to all Prothean records, maps, census data which they used to progress across the Galaxy; destroying some worlds and harvesting others to use the indoctrinated slaves as weapons or to infiltrate still fighting or resisting worlds as refugees. After a few centuries it was over and all resources, technology, anything of value had been stripped. Once they were certain all advanced organic life had been extinguished they retreated back into dark space. All evidence of the Reapers, only the indoctrinated slaves remained mindless husks incapable of independent thought.
When Liara asked as to why the Reapers had started and continued this cycle Vigil answered that the Protheans had not given much thought as to why the Reapers carried out the cycle every 50,000 years and Shepard agreed completely with Vigil that it didn’t matter what their motivation was they just had to be destroyed.
‘Interesting though this is I need to know why you brought us here,’ Shepard once again allowing her impatience to show in her tone.
‘The Conduit is the key, before the Reapers attacked we Protheans were on the cusp of unlocking the secrets of mass relay technology. Ilos was a top secret facility and the researchers worked to create a small scale version of a mass relay linked directly to the Citadel, the hub of the relay network.’
‘Conduit is not a weapon it is a back door onto the Citadel this is bad Shepard,’ Liara voiced the fears that were gripping them all.
‘Look we have to stop Saren so could we cut to the chase here,’ Shepard was finally losing her patience she could almost feel the seconds slipping away.
‘The one you call Saren has not reached the Conduit yet, but you need the information that I have and the data programme you will find in my console to enable you to regain control of the Citadel. I will initiate my beacon transmission protocol to facilitate the knowledge transfer.’
And before anyone had time to register what Vigil had said or what was happening the VI interface re-configured into something that looked like a miniature version of the beacon on Eden Prime and as it flashed into life so it pulled Shepard into its grabbed her off her feet and held her and she felt the familiar pain in her head.
Weapons drawn and angry demands for Vigil to stop what it was doing from the rest of her team had no effect; she was only released once the transfer was complete, once again Shepard found herself crashing to her knees in front of a Prothean beacon.
‘I am getting pretty fucking pissed off at that happening,’ she said as she was helped to her feet by Liara and Brewster, ‘grab that OSD from the VI console and lets get the fuck going… and Vigil stop jamming our comms I need to contact my ship.’
‘If that is what you require,’ Vigil answered.
‘You bet your Prothean programmed arse that’s what I require’ she threw the comment over her shoulder and she led her team at a pace back to the door of the elevator.
‘Are you alright Shepard?’ Liara asked concern clear on her face but also unable to keep the angry edge from her voice.
‘Yeah I’m ok… arrogant lot you’re Protheans,’ she smiled at Liara and then spoke into her OT ‘Joker, Normandy do you copy?’
‘Loud and clear Commander, don’t know what’s happening down there but up here we are all alone, the Geth ships hauled out around 10 minutes ago,’ Joker’s voice was businesslike but his relief was clear, they had been out of comms connection since dropping onto the planet.
‘OK, put me through to Ash,’ Shepard and the team were now exiting the lift and moving quickly towards the Mako.
‘Here skipper.’
‘The Conduit is a mass relay that will take Saren and the Geth he has with him directly into the Citadel, his intention is to seize control and hand it over to Sovereign who will then activate it. Once that happens the massed army of Reapers will pour through from dark space and it will be goodnight to everything,’ Shepard paused as they settled back into the Mako and headed off at full speed.
‘Sovereign and the Geth fleet are headed for the Citadel,’ Shepard was filling in the blanks from her own analysis and the information that Vigil had ‘uploaded’, ‘your orders are to make all haste to Admiral Hackett and the fifth fleet and impress upon him the need to immediately redeploy to the Citadel to support the Citadel fleet against the Geth and Sovereign.’
‘Aye, aye Commander,’ Ash continued, ‘but what if he doesn’t feel inclined to believe a rogue officer?’
‘Tell him the request is coming from an Alliance officer doing her sworn duty to protect the Alliance and a Council Spectre, who is making an official request on behalf of the Council,’ Shepard answered ‘you will do what it takes to convince the Admiral marine that is an order.’
‘Consider it done ma’am’ Shepard could almost feel the salute and jump to attention in Ash’s voice.
‘Good luck Lieutenant, Shepard out’ she then turned her attention to the problems that were on the ground and that may impede their dash to the Conduit.
It wasn’t long before they started to hit bigger and more coordinated Geth ‘roadblocks’ and despite the nausea and crippling pain in her head Shepard took control of the cannon via the targeting interface and left the co-axial machine gun to Wrex.
Garrus was also pulling some fine driving moves at times running the Mako along the lower edges of the walls to skirt around heavies and to avoid plasma cannon fire, he tried to use the lift jets more sparingly as they did slow momentum and all in the Mako wanted to be moving as fast as possible.
‘How’s Tali?’ Shepard called over her shoulder during one of the lulls in fighting.
‘Not doing too well Commander, her pulse is weak and thready, she has a temperature and although she is not losing any more blood she lost a lot during the first few minutes’ Stevens sounded worried and had not left Tali’s side throughout the journey.
‘How long is this dammed road’ Garrus hit the steering wheel his frustration also clear in his tone of voice.
‘Looks like the relay up ahead’ Wrex shouted down and all eyes looked through the front windscreen or the viewing console.
‘Buckle up people… that thing is off the ground and shit knows where we are going to drop out,’ Shepard shouted ‘foot down Garrus go around those two heavies we don’t want them slowing us down… hold tight.’
The Mako made its run up the final stretch of roadway towards what looked like an exact miniature replica of a mass relay; it was still lit so Saren couldn’t be too far ahead. They shot up one of the Armatures on the way through and a handful of Geth but Garrus ran the Mako across the ground to cut the last corner’s dodging the ordinance coming at them from several Geth heavies.
Then they were caught in the relay’s field and it was a very different experience than they were used to in a ship. The Mako was thrown around and buffeted by the powerful mass effect and its passengers rattled around like dried beans in a tin can, their harnesses straining as strong forces pulled in every direction.
Just when Shepard thought that her head could stand the increased pain any longer they flew out the other end of the conduit. The Mako ended its short flight through the air by nose diving into the ground and only came to stop after bouncing on its side a few times ending up completely on its roof. The bonus to its dramatic arrival was that it managed to crush a handful of Geth who were obviously meant to be guarding the relay.
‘Sound out,’ Shepard shouted even before the Mako had finished its final slide and as she unstrapped herself careful not to ‘fall’ onto the roof.
She received a variety of ‘good to go’ ‘charlie mike’ and ‘ten four’. As everyone was unlocking themselves from harnesses and finding their feet Shepard was doing a quick external check, then turned to her team.
‘Brewster and Stevens you will get Tali to Huerta Hospital if that location is unsecure find another medical facility keep me updated on your progress, you will stay with her to ensure her safety until relived by my orders do you hear me marines?’ Shepard had no doubt they would carry out her orders by the letter and in the spirit, Tali was as much a squad member as any other jarhead had been on the mission.
‘Five by boss’ Brewster said quickly followed by Stevens ‘loud and clear.’
‘Garrus you will exit the vehicle with me first we will sweep and take cover, Wrex and Liara next; we will secure the immediate area’ Shepard flashed a look at her team and then to her two marines ‘you cover from the door until I clear you to charlie mike. Everyone stay frosty.’
On her command they opened the door of the Mako and both she and Garrus exited quick and low, broking left and right scoping around and checking HUD displays. Once they had moved some way from the vehicle Shepard called the rest of her team out who again broke left and right but this time circled around to the either end of the Mako to sweep and check to the rear of their position giving full 360 eyes on.
‘We have hostiles coming in front and centre, look like husks’ Shepard called ‘Wrex and Liara check further behind we’ll take care of the incoming.’
Between Shepard, Garrus and the two marines in the doorway of the Mako they took down the ten or so husks in under ten seconds. When they were clear Shepard gave the marines the go and they moved quickly and efficiently with Tali strapped to field stretcher. Shepard noticed Garrus’s look linger as the marines made good speed away from the Mako towards the stairs that would take them in the most direct route to the hospital.
Shepard would have liked to give them a free pair of hands for protection but she couldn’t spare anyone and she was confident they would either deal with or avoid anything that would compromise their primary mission, to get Tali medical aid.
Liara moved towards one of the Avina information points that was flickering and distorted but still making emergency evacuation announcements.
‘What is the status of the station’ she asked the team including Shepard took defensive positions around Liara while she tried to gain them some intel.
‘We have lost all primary power to the level, environmental controls are not responding. Class three fires are burning in sectors 2, 3, 6 and 7. Civilian casualties are high.’ Avina replied ‘I am also detecting numerous unauthorised synthetic forms throughout the station. They are believed to be hostile. Please approach with caution.’
‘Nice to know the emergency messages of dire destruction are delivered in the usual understated Council way’ Shepard didn’t mean for her comment to sound quite as terse as it had but her head was still on fire and the day was unlikely to be getting better anytime soon. Liara placed a comforting hand on the human’s shoulder and Shepard leaned her head in to touch the arm as a show of thanks for the comfort.
‘What happened to the Council?’ Shepard asked from her position shielding Liara’s back.
‘In accordance with standard emergency procedures the Council has been evacuated to the Destiny Ascension’ came the answer with the holographic interface still carrying out random body, head and hand movements. ‘Where is Saren?’ This time Garrus asked the question that was next on Shepard’s lips.
‘Former Spectre agent Saren Arterius is nearing the vicinity of the Council Chamber. A warrant has been issued for his arrest, although Citadel Security is unable to respond at this time.’
‘Do you think I should execute the warrant before or after we send his miserable ass to whatever hell has been reserved for that murdering son of a bitch.’ This time Shepard did not try to disguise the anger and venom that she was feeling nor was she concerned that she had just told her team that they would not be trying to take Saren alive… but that wouldn’t come as a surprise.
‘Let’s move out, looks like we are heading to the Presidium tower and the Council Chamber’ Shepard began to move swiftly towards the tower elevator. The others followed and they formed up into two sticks, with Shepard in front and Garrus on her six, Wrex in front and Liara on his. Once in the elevator they were dumfounded to hear the muzak still playing despite the emergency siren’s wailing. Before they had travelled more than a couple of floors the machine stopped.
‘Shit looks like Saren has gained access to the controls it has to be him that’s stopped the elevator’ Garrus spoke but it was already clear to Shepard that was indeed the situation.
‘Buckle up we are going outside for a walk people’ Shepard said as she put on and locked her helmet and set the suit’s VI to auto for environmental control.
They were all wearing hard/heavy armour which had the functionality of pressurising to protect against any ‘external’ situation including space exposure and emergency oxygen supplies with on-board re-breathers which would give them at least two hours of breathable air before they would be in trouble. Having started the mission heading for a green planet they had not equipped their suits with full oxygen/air equipment but Shepard knew they only needed to get to the top of the tower at which point they would re-enter the Citadel itself.
Wrex fired a couple of shotgun blasts to break the glass and they moved out onto the exterior of the elevator the magloks on their boots securing their footholds. It took a few moments for Shepard to regain control over the nausea and vertigo which was only present because of her head pain, the change of perspective from sticking out at right angles to ‘standing’ on their new ‘floor’ took only a fraction of a second.
‘Arms are shut we better get a move on Shepard’ Wrex’s gravelly voice sounded over the suit comms.
They moved off at a trot alongside the exterior of the elevator, the shaft of which was encased in clear thermoplastic, but what caught all their eyes far away in the distance high above the presidium tower itself was a dark and ominous shape… Sovereign had already docked with the Citadel… they were running out of time.
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Post by ddraigcoch123 on Sept 9, 2012 16:25:02 GMT 1
Chapter 10
They had hardly moved a dozen paces before a crashing sound further in front alerted them to Geth smashing into their path. The gangway they were walking on was narrow allowing Shepard’s team to stand only two abreast and in that moment she thanked the hours of training they had done to integrate her multi military (and none) team. In a fire fight or times of high battle stress there was no time to think, orders given needed to be reacted to using muscle memory, sometimes mi li seconds made the difference between living and dying.
‘Box’ Shepard shouted almost before the first Geth had found their feet in front of them. On cue Liara and Shepard dropped to their knees where they had been in front of Wrex and Garrus to give a line of sight for the ‘back row’. Liara immediately put up a defensive bubble to offer some protection as there was no other cover.
The Geth squad was made up of four shock troops and three rocket troopers and these were the first target of the wall of fire emanating from Shepard, Wrex and Garrus. Once the rocket troopers were dealt with they started on the remaining troops, a couple had already taken damage, and as the machine chatter and digital squeaks faded, the final head torch dimmed Shepard and the team began moving forward again.
Shepard looked to her left and caught Liara’s eye and through the face plates of their helmets exchanged a short but intense look and for a brief moment there was nothing else in the universe but Liara’s deep, soulful, playful blue eyes. The thought of anything happening to Liara, or losing her Asari flashed through her like a cold shockwave, it wasn’t a new thought or feeling but its intensity in that moment actually did shock Shepard.
Shepard shook it off and brought her full concentration to the moment; in combat a passing thought that dimmed your concentration was as dangerous as a stray ribbon of plasma.
They soon emerged onto the outer exposed surface of the tower which gave a much clearer view of the now enclosed Citadel.
‘Geth drop ship coming down the tube’ Garrus pointed his gun towards a shape that was very familiar and growing ever larger as it approached down what now looked like some glittering tunnel.
Shepard gave a quick check around to the team and was struck by the reflection in all their face plates, which she realised, would be reflected in her own. The lights of the Citadel, still shimmering on the now closed arms, and the flashing electric lightening flickering across the dark brooding bulk that was Sovereign.
‘There are some AA guns just further along but the HUD is showing multiple Geth on the ground, lets move it and get those guns targeting the dropship, we could do without any more interference’ Shepard said. Somewhere in the back of her mind she wondered how she knew about the AA guns.
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Once fully in combat mode Shepard operated on a different level and she was fully in combat mode. They were pinned down by Geth, the dropship was getting closer and they still hadn’t reached the AA guns to carry out a manual override. And their path to Saren was through the Geth there was no alternative route.
‘Garrus we have to get those guns online’ she shouted across ‘can you take out that fucking rocket head with a long range shot?’ It was terrain as much as anything that was causing problems and one rocket trooper had managed to get itself in a position that was all but unassailable and it was pretty much holding them were they were all by itself.
Shepard was just to far to the right in her ‘compartment’, deep square indentations that afforded great cover but great cover to the enemy as well, to be able to make the shot.
Liara was somewhere behind them, and too far back to help with biotics, and Wrex was with Shepard. It was fucked up, they were at a full tactical disadvantage, once that rocket trooper was down they were just going to have to make a break for it and get to the guns.
‘Once Garrus has taken out the target everyone move to the left and move forward at pace, keep low keep covering fire to the right as you go but keep moving, we will be exposed and we can’t afford the time to fight compartment to compartment, we have to get to Saren’ she said into their comms ‘are we clear?’ Shepard received affirmatives from her team and braced herself.
They increased the rate of fire to try to give Garrus just a little more cover to take the shot but he would have to keep his head in the line of fire long enough to be ready when the target popped out of cover and be steady enough to take the shot in the time he had. Not an easy task or an easy shot even from where he was.
Over her comms she heard Garrus grunt and cough but she also heard the call ‘target down Shepard’.
‘Move’ she yelled and made straight for Garrus’s position.
She could feel her shields taking hits and the heat of fire flashing past her, the alarm on her barriers was beginning to bleep ominously but they would hold they had to; she had a job to finish.
On reaching Garrus she confirmed what she thought had happened; he had taken two shots and was not doing well, no time to check they had to move.
‘Do they really not train you guys to duck’ she said trying to lighten the tension as she hauled him to his feet and out of the compartment he had been slumped in. Wrex had reached her side and now took position in front of her and the still doubled over Garrus throwing all he had in terms of firepower and biotics at the nearest Geth.
Liara had reached them and was able to throw a defensive bubble around them and with that Shepard lifted Garrus over her shoulder and shouted to the others to move forward to the guns.
Once at the gun emplacement they finally had decent cover and a height drop on the Geth who were now behind them but still approaching.
‘Wrex get those guns up and targeting that ship’ her eyes focussed on the now eye wateringly close monster that was about to unleash more shit on their heads.
‘Garrus sit rep?’ she said as she was checking to see what the damage was and it looked as if he had taken a hit to the head and shoulder.
‘Oh just winded Shepard, but I may be leaking air so if we could get inside soon… lovely though this walk has been…’ she saw the slight twitch of his mandibles and knew he was seriously hurt.
‘Well you just sit there and catch your breath you lazy bastard and let us finish the job for you’ she kept it light but they both knew it was battlefield humour.
The AA guns sparked to life as Wrex turned back and looked down at Garrus then to her, she shook her head and mouthed ‘not good’ at him, she didn’t need to say anything to Liara who was making adjustments to Garrus’s auto medigel infusers.
‘Right lets finish off this little group of Geth I really don’t want them dogging our footsteps then we can get back inside the tower from that entrance way’ she pointed off to the left, ‘Liara I need as much firepower and biotics to clear this lot out double quick.’
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Shepard once more lifted Garrus across her shoulders and with Wrex taking the lead LIara watching their six, her own assault rifle ready in her right hand, they moved forward and finally gained interior access to the tower. The Geth dropship had crashed causing multiple damage and some of the ground Geth had also been caught in the blast. Shepard hoped that they had lost their actual pursuers and now it would be dumb luck to ‘bump’ into any more trouble.
They came to a stop in a corridor that would lead them to the main square that held the Council chamber and where at that moment Saren was working to unleash the nightmare monsters from their realm of dark space.
She laid Garrus down just inside the door of a room off the corridor. Helmets off they could see he had taken a hell of a hit to the side of his head and blood had been pouring from the wound, stemmed now with the medigel, but he was still in need of urgent attention.
‘Brewster, Stevens do you copy?’ Shepard spoke into her OT and turning to Garrus said ‘you’re going to have some fine scars there Vakarian, Krogan females gonna be all over your ass’ she smiled and saw the flicker of response on his face.
‘Ha, even with the scars he’s too scrawny, but I know one or two who don’t mind something a little exotic’ Wrex joined in the teasing but Shepard could see the worry in his eyes.
‘Always… wondered… how you… saw me… Wrex… exotic hum… maybe… we need to… talk later…’ Garrus struggled to get the words out but was determined to join in the banter.
‘We copy Commander, we got Tali to Huerta it’s a bit of a mess here but CSec have deployed forces to protect the hospital and she has received treatment. We are supporting CSec to defend the hospital any further orders ma’am’ Brewster’s voice came loud and clear.
‘I need you to bring a medical team to this location, Garrus is down and badly hurt, Geth all over the place so keep frosty’ she moved away slightly so that she was out of earshot of Garrus ‘Beth we are going to have to leave him here and will be moving in to deal with Saren so not sure when we will be able to get back for him, do your dammedest to get to him and save his sorry ass’ Shepard finished.
‘Copy that Commander we’ll get it done’ Brewster sounded as if she was already organising the extraction team ‘no marine left behind, Oscar Mike to your location.’
Damn right no marine left behind, certainly not on my watch Shepard thought, and they were all her marines.
‘Right your taxi has been ordered and will be here shortly sir, try not to get into any more trouble we’ll just clear up this mess and meet you in the bar.’
Shepard was kneeling down in front of Garrus and smiling at him, she tapped him on his leg and was about to stand up when he reached out and tried to grip her arm but he had no strength.
‘Honour… friend… kick ass,’ she could hardly hear him and much of what he was trying to say was just breathing.
She knelt in close and locked eyes with her Turian friend and comrade ‘Now here me mister, this is a direct order, you will hold on for extraction and you will remain alive at all times, am I making myself clear soldier?’ her voice was strong and commanding, the voice she used to give orders that she expected to be carried out without question, this was Shepard in full Commander mode.
His eyes cleared a little and she thought she saw him try to sit up a bit straighter ‘Yes Shepard… understood.’
‘Good and don’t think if you do disobey that order I will not come and drag your scrawny backside back into this fight even if I have to come into whatever passes for Turian hell to find you… are we clear?’
‘Crystal’ and this time she could see his mandibles twitch with a smile and he seemed a little stronger.
She stood up and left the room with a final nod.
‘He will be alright Shepard,’ Liara said in an effort to comfort her.
‘No he probably won’t, but he definitely won’t if he gives up… and we can say the same for this fight we’re in’ she turned and gave Liara a sad and very tired smile, realising that she still had the head splitting pain she had acquired on Ilos and knew she had to dig deep to get them all to the end of this.
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There he was, standing at a large holographic control panel on the platform where the Councillors usually stood dispensing their ‘wisdom’. As Shepard and her team ran into the main area they dealt with a handful of Geth and continued on making their way swiftly towards Saren.
They got to the beginning of the walkway that would take them to the platform when Saren suddenly turned and rose in the air on his hover platform and targeting them with an explosive charge. They scattered for cover.
‘I was afraid you wouldn’t make it in time Shepard’ Saren said from his platform.
‘In time to see you die your miserable bastard’ she shouted back at him from cover.
‘We meet at the final confrontation and we both expected it would end like this. You’ve lost you know that, don’t you? In a few minutes Sovereign will have full control of the Citadel’s systems. The relay will open and the Reapers will return.’
‘Yeah well I’m not done yet so don’t get all carried away with planning your victory party just yet,’ as she was speaking to him her mind was already working out her final move on him, trying to gauge the moment where he was distracted enough to give her just a split second to get out of cover and get a shot or two in. She was signalling to Wrex and Liara to stay down, but be ready to move at a moments notice.
‘You have survived this far Shepard but I’ve been improved, Sovereign has… upgraded me’
‘So you really are insane… you let Sovereign implant you and take away any chance you had of keeping some control, you are so fucked Saren and you don’t even see it’ she was trying to needle him to get an emotional response to give just a little distraction.
‘I suppose I should thank you, Shepard. After Virmire and our conversation, I couldn’t stop thinking about what you said. About Sovereign manipulating me, about indoctrination. The doubts began to eat away at me, Sovereign sensed my hesitation and I was implanted to strengthen my resolve. Now my doubts are gone. I believe in Sovereign completely. I understand that the Reapers need organics. Join us and Sovereign will find a place for you too.’
‘Listen to yourself Saren, you are being completely controlled through your implants… you’re finished, you’re just a tool. I still have a my own mind and free will and I like it that way… so no I won’t be joining the Sovereign slave club.’
‘The relationship is symbiotic. Organic and machine intertwined a union of flesh and steel. The strength of both the weakness of neither. I am a vision of the future, Shepard. The evolution of all organic life. This is our destiny. Join Sovereign and experience a true rebirth.’
‘Yeah well I’m happy with the way I was birthed first time round thanks… your solution looks on the ugly side with someone else pulling all the strings… this isn’t over, they haven’t won yet. Stand aside now and give me control of the station we can beat them.’
‘We can’t stop it! Not forever. You saw the visions. You saw what happened to the Protheans. The Reapers are too powerful.’ Shepard began to hear some emotion and an edge of something… was that fear, panic… but she had to up the stakes time was running out.
‘Saren you thought you were so fucking clever, stronger, better than Benezia, better than me… shit you think your better than all of us… but you still failed, you lost, they have more control over you than you did over Benezia, at least she had enough strength in the end to screw you over. Somewhere inside you there must be a part of you that knows this is wrong that you can still fight… or are you just as weak as you think the rest of us are?’
‘Maybe you’re right… maybe there’s still a change for… ungrrah’ she could see Saren physically being rocked by something, his hands went to his head and she saw her chance, leaping from cover and taking aim at Saren but he was still struggling to regain control and continued saying ‘the implants… Sovereign is too strong…. I’m sorry it’s too late for me.’
‘You could still end this on your terms Saren, cheat Sovereign, end it and give me the controls’ but before she could finish what she was saying or pull the trigger on her weapon to finish him he said,
‘Goodbye Shepard, thank you.’ With that Saren shot himself in the head and toppled like a puppet whose strings had been cut, off his platform, smashing through the glass floor and onto the grass below.’
Shepard rushed to the control panel and rammed in the OSD with the control overrides from Ilos, turning to Wrex she said ‘Go make sure that traitorous bastard is dead.’
Wrex jumped down onto the grass and put another two shots into Saren’s head.
‘He is about as dead as it’s possible to be Shepard,’ Wrex gave the body a kick then turned and walked away a determined set to his shoulders.
‘Ok that worked, I’ve got control of all the systems’ Shepard said over her shoulder to Liara.
‘Thank the Goddess, can you open the arms, we still need to deal with Sovereign,’ she replied.
‘On it… comms should be coming back online any…’ but before Shepard could finish a communication interrupted her.
‘This is the Destiny Ascention, mass drives offline, kinetic barriers down 40%. The Council is onboard repeat the Council is onboard.’ The connection was clear enough although it broke up a little and there was static in the background.
‘This is the SSV Normandy to the Citadel. Normandy to the Citadel. Do you copy… is that you Commander’ Ash’s voice broke through the static with another incoming message.
‘Read you loud and clear this is Shepard’ she replied.
‘We caught that distress call, Commander. We are sitting here in the Andura sector with the entire Arcturus fleet. If you unlock the relays around the Citadel we can send in the cavalry.’
Wrex had just joined them on the platform ‘You would sacrifice human lives for the Council, what have they ever done for your kind? Hell look at the way they treated you Shepard.’
‘But this is bigger than any of us Wrex, Sovereign is a threat to every organic species in the galaxy,’ Liara’s eyes were wide with concern and she looked determinedly at Shepard waiting for the response.
‘Exactly why you can’t afford to throw away reinforcements trying to save the Council… you have to hold them back till the arms open up fully so the human fleet can take down Sovereign’ Wrex made a good argument and tactically, militarily it was the best decision.
Shepard felt the weight of yet another huge decision sitting on her shoulders… of course any decision she made could be overturned by Hackett, but in this moment people she knew, who had trust and faith in her were looking to her to make a decision that would cost thousands of lives. Could impact on galactic politics… and she still had the mother of all headaches. She squared her shoulders tapped a few more commands into the panel and moved personal doubt and concern out of her mind.
‘Commander Admiral Hackett has asked that I forward on a request for your recommendation given you are the ranking officer on the ground,’ Joker’s voice this time ‘are your order’s to come in immediately to save the Ascension or hold back?’ Joker sounded as if he was relaying word for word what he was receiving from Admiral Hackett.
So there would be no overturning her orders and no opportunity to brief the Admiral so he could make the decision, she was only able to speak to the Normandy because of their ship to fire team comms system.
‘Relays should now be operational. Please pass this recommendation to Admiral Hackett Joker. We need to save the Ascension, no matter what the cost, Shepard out.’
‘Sure hope the Council appreciate it Shepard’ Wrex rumbled.
Liara gave Shepard a faint smile and touched her briefly on the arm; relief was palpable on her face and in her body language.
All they could do was stand and listen to the comms chatter, as the fleet entered Citadel space they were able to pick up commands from Admiral Hackett. Shepard relaxed just a little when they heard,
‘Destiny Ascension you are clear, you are clear, we have deployed ships to cover you,’ from an alliance call sign dreadnaught.
‘This is Admiral Hackett all ships not assigned to guard the Ascension move to target Sovereign.’
As they looked out of the windows up towards where Sovereign was still sitting with its finger like extensions holding firm to the top of the tower they could see the arms now open enough to let in the fleet and beyond they could see the carnage of the battle between the Citadel and Arcturus fleet and the Geth.
They all felt it at the same time, looked at each other and then for the source of the quaking, the noise of static, the energy surge that seemed to fly through the room. The platform was shaking so badly all three were having trouble keeping upright and then it gave way throwing them the twenty feet or so to the grass below.
Shepard caught her breath and quickly got to her feet and looked at the source of the disturbance. Saren’s body was being held off the ground and was infused with a red burning energy, energy she could feel burning hot on her face. It was as if something was possessing it, but not like the husks they had come across, this was something much more substantial.
She looked around and saw LIara and Wrex both transfixed by the show in front of them… ‘Find cover now, stick close together’ she shouted loudly to get them moving.
They moved as one, further away from the Saren husk and took position behind some concrete blocks.
Then the thing was on its feet, they could see all the way through its chest, its body… only the bone structure remained containing a red burning fire of pure energy. Shepard thought it was a thing straight out of old Earth hell myth’s… maybe the myths were real after all, they just had to travel into space to find them.
‘I am Sovereign and this station is mine’ it used Saren’s voice but it was so loud it seemed to penetrate inside her head, she felt it through her body.
Then all hell broke lose, the body Sovereign seemed to be able to call on all Geth forms of attack and weaponry including jamming and damping weapons. It was also able to jump around like a hopper.
Shepard decided that the best plan was to keep mobile from cover to cover as a group as that way they could concentrate fire when they had a shot, take advantage of Liara’s barrier when they were in a tight spot, and have full 360 cover when the thing decided to move fast to try to get the drop on them.
It was intense, hard, and the concentration needed to keep out of harms way and still nail the thing was almost unsustainable. Shepard caught a flash of fighting that was happening between Sovereign and the fleet and she could see it was taking damage. Shepard also took hope from the fact that the body Sovereign seemed to be slowing down and they were getting more and more direct hits including some damaging biotic work from both LIara and Wrex.
Shepard had no idea how long the fight had been going on but it felt like an eternity. She had worked out that what happened to the Sovereign ship and the Sovereign husk were somehow connected as it seemed their resistance and force was running out at the same rate, from what she could tell from the very brief glances at the battle through the window.
Sovereign was on its knees, they had hit it was a sustained barrage, but as they began to move forward to finish it off it pulsed with energy and red fire erupted once again into flames as it sent out a shockwave of energy that lifted all three of them off their feet and slammed them fifteen feet backwards into the end wall.
Head spinning, ears ringing, no breath, and feeling like she had no bones left in her body Shepard struggled to stand up. On your feet now marine, the drill sergeant in her head shouted, get up, stand up marine, not dying on your back. And with a monumental effort she found her feet and looked quickly for Liara and Wrex.
A few feet away she saw something that froze the blood in her veins and rushed to Liara’s side. She was crumpled, blood covering her face, her armour looked cracked, and she was hardly breathing. Wrex was only a foot away and he was only just coming too shaking his head, his right arm hanging down obviously broken badly. He was bleeding from his head and his left arm was badly gashed. She looked over to the Sovereign body, it was still kneeling on the ground and she could see the power was dimmed but it was not dead, it was still a danger and they hadn’t’ defeated the Sovereign ship, so this wasn’t over. But she couldn’t leave Liara, she had to find help she could be, probably was dying… Shepard was, for the first time in her life, frozen to the spot.
Wrex was trying to get up but he couldn’t it looked as if he had damage to his legs as well.
‘Shepard you have to finish it… Shepard’ he shouted her name the second time, breaking through the noise and static and nothingness in her head.
She looked at him as if just waking up and began to focus on his voice on his words.
‘Finish it Shepard… do what you do best… make it pay’ Wrex shouted knowing that her ringing ears, concussion or shock would make it difficult for her to hear him otherwise.
She nodded, squared her shoulders and stood up… picked up Wrex’s shotgun and walked at a steady pace directly for the Sovereign body.
She started firing as soon as she got within range and the thing actually started to stumble backwards, it fired shots at her but she didn’t notice and she didn’t care. Her mission was not finished until the thing was dead and she always completed her mission.
Another step another shot, she could feel the heat from its energy on her face, it fired at her again and she felt it hit her somewhere on her side, she didn’t even stumble. Shepard fired again and this time the thing seemed to lose its glow, the red dissipated, she stopped walking forward and fired again and it seemed to evaporate into wisps of dark mist.
It was her turn to sink to her knees, she knew that twenty feet behind her a good friend and her soul mate could possibly be dying or already dead. Garrus and Tali the same, she had taken quite a few hits, but they had stopped them. This time. This time the Reapers didn’t get to walk straight in the door when they wanted to.
She looked up; out through the window she could see that Sovereign was being destroyed by the combined efforts of the joint fleets, she fancied she even saw a flash that could have been her Normandy fighting in the thick of it. She watched the Reaper as its grip loosened and it began to break apart, the pieces began to rain down onto the Citadel, onto the tower.
Then it dawned on her that a huge chunk of Sovereign was making one last attempt to finish her off, it was falling towards her and would smash through the window within seconds.
‘Aw fucking crap… you have got to be joking me’ she said out loud and then everything went dark.
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Post by ddraigcoch123 on Sept 11, 2012 6:09:03 GMT 1
Chapter 11
Slipping back into consciousness to darkness, dust blocking her nose, jagged edges… that damned alarm Claxton howling and setting every nerve end on fire, she could feel the noise inside her head… someone turn that fucking noise off… her head still splitting in pain… then away again into the void of nothing.
Breathe, another breath jolting her back to consciousness, back here… so was this where she was? The Citadel, Sovereign… ‘Liara’ the thought cut through her worse than any of her physical pain any of her mental anguish…
She tried to shout to call out, Liara was hurt, she needed to…. She… Silence, it was all but silent, well as silent as she could make out with the still present underwater sensation around her hearing. Did someone turn that alarm off, was it quiet so they could listen for any signs of life… her life… Liara’s?
The breath came and went, shallow, fought for, painful. Just let go, into the arms of the universe, into the arms of the Goddess. The thought offered the only relief and comfort she could ever remember knowing in that moment, everything else was pain, frustration, anger and yes, fear, she would rather die on her feet facing an enemy, not bleeding out in some hole in the ground not knowing why or how or if she finished what she started.
Blue eyes, a familiar scent, comforting warmth in her mind… one last thing to do, one more time she had to do what seemed like the impossible… and she felt herself drifting up towards a blue sky, blue eyes.
Scraping, jostling, sounds… she thought they were sounds… she felt her body shift… then air on her face… voices…
‘Commander… Shepard… we are getting you out’ a strong voice, she tried to reply but nothing came out, just ragged breathing.
‘Is she conscious… how bad is it’ another voice, she thought she recognised him… Anderson… was it… ‘get some more help over here now’ that was louder he was shouting for more… more help to get her out… she tried again to speak, to move to help get herself out but still nothing happened.
She felt herself being carried, could feel something more soft cradling her body, felt the movement, she knew what it felt like to be stretchered off a battlefield… Elysium… carnage… now more carnage… ‘Liara…please… not Liara’ was all she could think.
‘We are taking her straight to the Kilimanjaro’ more shouting, a woman’s voice this time. Shepard could definitely feel the thrum of engines now and fresh air, doors slamming shut and the familiar lift in her stomach as a mass drive defied gravity just before the dampers kicked in.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The edge of awareness drifted into being and Shepard made the monumental effort to open her eyes, but instead, swallowed a thick tongued, dry mouthed swallow, and then tried again.
This time she became aware that she could see light even with her eyes still closed. Shepard concentrated hard on her eyes she got them to open into thin slits, her lids flickering rather than remaining steadily open, but she could still make out a white ceiling bulkhead, hazy, out of focus but that’s what it was.
Then the sound of a gentle bleep, regular, somehow soothing. The realisation that she was laying on a bed, clean, warm, comfortable, feeling no pain, and that completed her assessment… she was in a hospital probably on the… hang on she knew where this was… she heard someone shout… yes she must be in the hospital on the Kilimanjaro. Her mother’s ship and Hackett’s flag ship, why? Why was she not still on the Citadel?
The Citadel… Liara… with that thought she started to force her eyes open, tried to sit up but couldn’t only managing to move her arms an inch or so off the bed; and only when she tried to call out did she realise there was something obstructing her mouth, her throat.
‘Relax Commander your safe, let me just remove the tube, we needed to help your breathing’ that voice… the edge of face above her… familiar, Chakwas, her Doc from the Normandy.
The tube was out and she coughed and when she spoke her voice was quiet, raspy, barely more than a weak whisper.
‘Doc… Liara… need to…’ was as far as she got before Doctor Chakwas interrupted.
‘She is close by Shepard, just down the hall, doing well, better than you, please relax and you will be able to see her soon’ the Doc was doing something to Shepard’s arm, a tube, a drip in her arm, ‘you are still sedated so you will feel very disorientated, let yourself come round without forcing it. I am stopping the sedation. Do you understand Commander?’
‘Mmmgh’ was all she could manage and she felt totally exhausted but Liara was near, was not dead, she could rest a little more, just for a while… her awareness dimmed and she drifted away to nothing.
‘Thank you I am very comfortable here.’ The voice washed over Shepard, it was like music, like a beautiful colour, it spoke directly to her soul.
Opening her eyes she turned her head to where she knew she would see Liara and she had a moment to realise that her Asari had been talking to someone, an orderly, and her head was still slightly turned away finishing the exchange.
Shepard also felt Liara holding her hand gently in both of hers. As Liara turned back to face the bed Shepard caught her breath as their eyes locked and immediately the tears began to run down both their faces.
Liara leaned in close and they touched foreheads in silence for what seemed hours but it was more like a minute, and it was Shepard who spoke first.
‘I let you get hurt… I nearly got you killed’ Shepard’s voice was still weak but it was heavy with emotion and the confession ripped itself from deep within her.
‘No you must not say that Shepard’ Liara pulled back a little and began kissing Shepard’s face and brought one hand up to stroke her cheek ‘you did not force me there, it was were I was meant to be and you saved me, you saved us all.’ Liara’s tears were still falling on her face but her voice was soothing and her eyes were full of concern.
‘I honestly believed the safest place you could be was by my side… that I would never let anything harm you… that I could always protect… be your shield if I needed to be…’ Shepard’s voice trailed away her tears now stopped but deep emotions still playing through her like ice and fire.
Fear for what might have happened, anger at herself for not protecting LIara, for being so focussed on the mission, so convinced she was invincible that she had convinced herself she could share it with those around her. Guilt, concern, love, loss and grief all mixing together and flowing through her, Shepard had never felt so much all at once in her entire life.
‘We will have time to talk about this Shepard, but for now you need rest so that you can regain your strength, there will be time’ Liara kissed Shepard’s hand and looked at her lover with tenderness etched across her face.
Shepard seemed to snap out of where she was and realised she had no idea what injuries Liara had and with her quieter and huskier voice said, ‘Liara I’m such a tool... how are you feeling... what happened… where are you hurt… are you in pain?’
As she was speaking Shepard turned towards Liara and shifted her weight onto her elbow reached across with her other arm to Liara cupping her hand around the Asari’s cheek. Shepard’s face showed all her fear and concern, what didn’t show was her frustration that she couldn’t take whatever pain Liara was feeling away and into her own body.
‘I am afraid my head is not as strong as yours’ Liara said with a smile and continued ‘I gave myself quite a bad concussion, although we have shared that particular injury. I broke bones in both my legs and shattered by collar bone, and some minor bruising and cuts. And before you take the responsibility for this Shepard’ Liara continued in a firmer tone, ‘I am a full biotic and should have been quick enough to use a barrier. I was not… I did not have my brain…’
Shepard smiled weakly and interrupted ‘I think your trying to say you didn’t keep your head in the game… and I believe what you should have said is that I have a very thick head which you can look up on the extranet for its other meaning’ it was Shepard’s turn to kiss the Asari’s hands but having done so she needed to lay back down on the bed.
‘You’re sitting in a wheelchair Liara I’d say that was pretty serious.’
‘Only for another couple of days and only because Doctor Chakwas insists that I begin with proper strengthening and stretching exercises, I can walk on them perfectly well, shall I show you?’ Liara tilted her head to one side and made to stand up but Shepard reached and pulled her back into her seat.
‘No, you have to do what the Doc orders Liara, Alliance rules’ Shepard grinned ‘and don’t think I haven’t noticed you’re wearing a Kilimanjaro sweat shirt. Have to say it’s not a look I thought I would ever see you wearing and it certainly does suit you… but your ship is the Normandy,’ Shepard faked looking hurt and let down ‘these things are important.’
‘Your mother gave it to me actually’ Liara smiled but there was also a trace of something else that Shepard couldn’t read.
‘Ouch how did that go… sorry Liara I really should have been around for the first meeting… still that’s no excuse for wearing the badge of another ship.’
Shepard leaned over and kissed Liara on the lips, it was brief but the flash of passion and connection was a strong as ever.
‘Captain Shepard has been very kind and also very worried about you and concerned about me. I can see you reflected in her.’
‘I have been told I am my mother’s daughter, although I don’t really see it myself.’
Liara smiled down at her Human and they remained in comfortable silence, just being with each other, the initial shock and tension of Shepard’s reaction to the events making space for their connection, their friendship, their deep feelings for each other.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A hand was running through, what was now, her short hair. It had been so long since Shepard had found the time to get her usual marine cut that she was showing an inch or so of growth.
The touch was familiar but not Liara… ‘Mum’ Shepard said in a groggy not awake voice turning her head and forcing her eyes open.
‘Yes LV it’s me. Liara has just gone for a lie down,’ Hannah Shepard continued to stroke her daughters head allowing her fingers to ruffle the short hair as they moved.
‘Dry mouth… is there…’
‘Here you are darling, some water, can you sit up a little?’ her mother helped Shepard to sit up a little against her pillows and held a cup while she took some sips.
‘Thanks,’ Shepard was coming around now and could see the worry on her mothers face, ‘I must look like shit for you to be so worried considering all the scrapes I’ve gotten myself into over the years’ she gave one of her ‘winning’ smiles to her mother and then instantly regretted it. Her mother knew all her smiles and ways of deflecting from what she was really feeling.
‘Yes… well you do look like shit; you’ve been very badly banged about, much more than usual. So excuse me if I get a little concerned about you. Saviour of the Citadel you may be but your still my daughter and that will never change’ her sternness was more than tempered by the love in her voice and expression.
‘Why do I feel like I should say ‘sorry Mum’ like I was reckless playing a game of z ball’ Shepard gave her mother a real grin this time and her mother shook her head in mock exasperation and returned a smile.
They chatted for a while longer and Captain Shepard gave her daughter some of the detail of the battle with the Geth and Sovereign. She also told her how badly the Citadel had been damaged, civilians, military and CSec personnel killed and injured during the fighting.
‘I am so proud of you LV, it would have been so much worse without your intervention. And if you hadn’t stopped Saren we would all be dead from the invasion.’
‘You believe my intel about the Reapers?’ Shepard was touched by her mother’s words about her actions but if her mother believed her about the Reapers perhaps it wouldn’t be so hard to convince the Council.
‘Of course I do as does Admiral Hackett and Captain Anderson but we are likely to be in the minority. People don’t want to believe in the end of the world and if they can avoid thinking about it then they will. As the XO I am aware of a lot of secure and confidential comms traffic, which I will not share with you, but I will give you a heads up.
Firstly you are a galactic hero… don’t look like that you won’t be able to avoid a little fuss,’ she smiled at her reluctant hero daughter and saw her husband clearly present in his marine daughter. ‘And for a while you will have a lot of leeway with politicians don’t waste it. The public will love you for much longer.
Secondly, the Council will not accept the Reapers are any more real now than they did, the public will not want to know either. The only thing worse than a nightmare is finding out it isn’t.’
‘But we only delayed them… they will come… how the hell do I get anyone to take it seriously… I can’t prepare and fight them on my own’ Shepard was frustrated and angry and she looked at her mother searching for a way forward.
‘You’re not on your own, I’ve told you there are those in authority who do believe you, I’m not sure that you don’t even have some support on the Council. People will be doing everything they can to prepare quietly behind the scenes. Guarding against those working to support the Reapers like Saren, but you will have to be our lightening rod.
You will need to take the open overt action and be the voice of warning and you will appear to be a lone voice,’ her mother looked at her quizzically.
‘How the frak did you get so good at politics?’ and then the penny dropped ‘this is a conversation you’ve had with the Admiral isn’t it, these are his orders for me?
‘Glad to see you’re as sharp as ever, yes this is a conversation that would be very difficult for you two to have directly. And if you don’t think that an Admiral in the fleet has to be good at politics you really have not been paying attention and guess who is standing at his shoulder most of the time,’ Hannah Shepard smiled down at her daughter with love, pride and a little sadness.
Shepard sat up a little straighter in bed and squared her shoulders as best she could, her mother recognised the gesture immediately and what it meant.
Captain Shepard knew just what task was in front of Commander Shepard, saviour of the Citadel, hero of Elysium, first human spectre, and remarkable as her daughter was she was still just that, her daughter, a woman, a marine, not a super hero, but that was exactly what she was being asked, no, ordered to be; orders Captain Shepard had just passed on. And once her daughter had her orders she would see her mission through to the end, whatever the cost.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
‘Who did I lose Doc?’ Shepard now felt fully awake and out from whatever emotional hole she had dug for herself.
‘I would rather hear it from you, I don’t want Liara to have to tell me, please Doc.’ Shepard had seen the reluctance on Doctor Chakwas’s face and her attempts to deflect the question. Not because the Doctor felt she couldn’t or that she would find it difficult. She was used to breaking that kind of bad news, no she had been asked not too. Liara wanted to ‘break it’ to Shepard herself.
‘I am so terribly sorry Commander. Tali did not survive the infection from her wounds. We brought her up here with the rest of our Alliance wounded but there was nothing we could do. Her injuries were severe and serious but certainly treatable with a positive outcome given the speed you got her to Huerta, yes Commander you did everything you could for her.’
Doctor Chakwas had caught the dismissive look and hand wave and knew it was pointless trying to convince Shepard that it was not her fault, but Chakwas would try anyway. ‘It was the infection, you know how dangerous for a Quarian that is and it seems there were some particularly potent and difficult to identify sources on Ilos that entered her system.’ She left the rest unsaid.
‘Where is she?’ Shepard’s voice betrayed none of the emotion she was feeling.
‘The Admiralty Board asked that she be taken to a rendezvous point for transfer to a Quarian vessel so she would receive the proper death rights and a hero’s welcome home to the flotilla. The Normandy left with her around 12 hours ago.’
‘And Garrus… Wrex… my marines, crew?’ Shepard was bracing herself for further bad news.
‘Wrex has already made a full recovery, well once I set the breaks he had in his legs, he went with the Normandy to represent the rest of your team.’
Despite everything Shepard found space to feel touched by Wrex’s actions. She understood what he was trying to show, trying to do, by taking that role for his krant.
Chakwas continued ‘some damage to the Normandy but superficial and only a few cuts and bruises amongst the crew from some of the sharper turns that tested the inertial dampers beyond their ability to cope. Both marines back from the Citadel without injury and Garrus will make a full recovery. But to be honest none of the Doctors that saw him in Huerta for emergency treatment could work out why he was actually still alive,’ she looked knowingly down at Shepard having heard the ‘orders’ the Commander had given Garrus which probably had made all the difference.
Shepard took a deep breath and let it out slowly, almost steadying herself, and certainly shifting back into officer mode.
‘Thank you Doctor I appreciate your telling me, and also for everything you did for Tali. So how soon can I get out of this bed and start to get myself ready for duty?’ Shepard turned to look at the Doctor and both their expressions told the other they were ready for a battle of wills.
‘Commander you took extensive damage quite apart from the stunning head trauma, and I won’t even begin to tell you how dumb it was to put your head in another of those Prothean beacons. No Commander you will hear me out as you well know I have the authority but I sometimes hold on to the vain hope that if I could just get a marine to understand how much damage they had taken they would not fight me every inch of the way to recuperation. As I was saying, head trauma, crush injuries to the left side, fractured legs, collapsed lung, ribs, internal crush injuries,’ Shepard had not wavered or flinched but Chakwas caught a flash of worry that showed in the Commanders eyes.
‘Why don’t I get to the good part,’ Chakwas said taking pity on Shepard ‘it has all been repaired but we had to use some very cutting edge and advanced Alliance synthetic tech to rebuild your skeletal injuries, you have a replacement kidney and spleen, where your muscles were torn or otherwise damaged we have again used replacements and I had to balance you up so you also lost some undamaged muscles replaced by synthetics… and you will need to remain in bed on meds to stabilise the surgery and implants for another five days with further light exercise for a period after that.’
It took all the Doctors will not too actually laugh at the face Shepard had pulled hearing about her five day bed rest, in fact Shepard let out a very un-Commander like moan that would not have been amiss coming from a frustrated three year old.
‘Seems unfair I only got to kill that bastard Reaper once given the cost of doing it,’ Shepard sounded and looked murderous.
‘Well technically we did Commander if you count taking down the ship as well,’ she moved away to go and check on her other patients but she threw a parting comment over her shoulder, ‘but you need to concentrate on happy thoughts Commander, happy thoughts help the healing.’
If the Doctor had looked back at Shepard she would have seen the Commander now fully acting out her inner three year old by mimicking the Doctor to herself with exaggerated face and head movement and spitting out ‘happy thoughts… happy fucking thought’ in anything but a happy tone of voice.
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Post by ddraigcoch123 on Sept 12, 2012 5:54:47 GMT 1
A/N Hello lovely people thank you for joining this Shepard on this particular journey Oh and yes there is sexual content, quite explicit, but not gratuitous there is also mushy stuff… Edit: I am going to try to link a some music that I was thinking about when I wrote the scenes between Shep and Liara... ok working on it... coming soon... anyone with idiot proof instructions i'll happily be that idiot Chapter 12 By the time the Normandy had returned from its sad duty Liara was fully up and about and Shepard was being driven crazy by inactivity. Garrus was still flat on his back but they had chatted via comms and Shepard was struck by how deeply he had also been affected by Tali’s death. As the second week of her forced confinement dawned she was like a bear with a sore head, according to her mother. The analogy had to be explained to both Liara and Garrus who both said that it would be more fitting to say a Krogan with a sore tooth. Wrex had visited her in hospital before setting off for some recreation on Omega and Tuchanka. He would return to ‘duty’ as soon as she sent him the call. Shepard respected the Krogan enormously and they had made a strong bond, she was honoured he counted her as part of his krant, they were more than ‘just’ comrades in arms, they were kin. Despite the best efforts of both Doctor Chakwas and Doctor T’Soni, Shepard managed to retain command of her ship and her crew from her hospital bed. She had granted all crew and her team fourteen days leave, requisitioned a full repair and refit for the Normandy at the stations ‘dry’ dock and had Liara hunting down any tech that had been recovered from the Geth or Sovereign that they could incorporate into the Normandy. Know your enemy and use their tech against them, Shepard had said during one of their many conversations about improving their chances against the ‘next Reaper’ they met. As an Alliance officer it would have been beyond her influence or control to make the changes but as a Council Spectre and recent ‘Saviour of the Citadel’ all manner of people were happy to give her pretty much what she wanted to ‘clear up the remaining Geth’. Shepard also needed to get her crew up to full strength as they seemed never to have moved from their ‘shake down’ mode, there hadn’t been time, once they hit Eden Prime it was a non-stop ride to the confrontation with Sovereign. When Shepard finally got the OK to be discharged and authorised for more robust physical activity to get her back into shape she had actually only been on the Kilimanjaro for thirteen days but it felt like a lifetime. Shepard and Liara were going to have two weeks, fourteen glorious days to themselves, before the Spectre and Alliance Commander would have to step back into her life, into the politics, into her mission. Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Before the door had even completely closed behind them Shepard and Liara crashed into each other’s arms and their mouths found each other in a fury of deep kisses; their tongues flashing between them tracing lips, teeth and reaching deep into each other’s mouths in turn. As they kissed Shepard was slowly walking forward in the vague direction of the bedroom and Liara was allowing herself to be guided backwards, but their hands were ripping away the clothes that kept them from feeling each other’s rising heat, skin to skin. Shepard reached around behind Liara and undid the fasteners on her long Asari dress and they stopped for a moment as it fell to the ground, Shepard opened her eyes a little wider and noticed they were not far from the small dining table. With a huge grin she picked up the Asari who wrapped her now exposed thighs around Shepard’s hips, still kissing and biting each other’s lips they reached the table and Liara found herself sitting on it with Shepard standing between her legs. ‘Let me…’ Shepard’s words were interspersed with kissing whichever part of Liara’s body her mouth was closest to as she removed Liara’s underwear, ‘introduce you… to the… hotel… room… fuck… Dr T’Soni.’ They were both becoming breathless from their passion but also from laughing. ‘Should I be taking… mmm… ooh… notes… Commander’ Liara was leaning back her hands planted firmly on the table behind her and Shepard now had free reign over the Asari’s body. Shepard, with Liara’s help, had stripped her upper body of clothing and as she stood between the Asari’s thighs she pressed their breasts together and gently moved against her lover in a small circle never losing contact between them but allowing their nipples to brush past each other. At the same time she began tracing the sensitive folds of Liara’s crest with her tongue allowing her teeth to graze gently along the edges. She was rewarded by Liara’s quickened breathing, the moans of sheer pleasure that were escaping the Asari’s mouth and the shudders of desire were also flashing through both their bodies. With her left hand holding Liara around the lower back Shepard began to move her right hand slowly down the side of the Asari’s body, fingers trailing and moving across the gentle curve off the belly, down further to find the top of the perfectly shaped blue thigh. Shepard’s mouth found the folds on the side of the regal neck and again traced them with her tongue in between kissing and gently biting, she also moved her body slightly to one side to allow her hand access to Liara’s hot and very wet cunt. Shepard had felt the wetness soaking through her trousers as she pressed herself against her lover. Liara gave a small murmur of loss as Shepard broke contact along one side but it was replaced almost immediately with a gasp and her head snapped forward as Shepard found the sensitive bud that was akin to a human clitoris. Shepard began to move two fingers against it in a slow elliptical motion and on the downward pass trailed the tips of her fingers into the wetness and drew it up across the bud to lubricate the movement. The movement also teased the promise of pleasure to come as the finger tips penetrated between the Asari’s outer lips. As she turned her face to look as Liara she saw the familiar blackness in the eyes, they had joined pretty much as soon as they entered the room, she also saw the flushed appearance of exertion on her lovers face and knew it would be reflected in her own. Shepard knew how much Liara was aroused, how much desire was coursing through her, how the building tension laced with an edge of satisfaction was pulling them closer and closer to release because it echoed in Shepard’s body ‘you gotta love the Asari’ she thought briefly ‘double the pleasure….,’ but the absolute need to be inside LIara was now wiping anything else away. Liara was moving against Shepard’s fingers and moans of delight came faster and faster from her lover until finally an explosion of sensation reaching every nerve ending in both their bodies, wave upon wave of pulsing joy, release, gratification and while the pulses were still fresh and strong Shepard moved her hand lower and plunged her fingers into the Asari making them both gasp and moan with renewed and inflamed need. Shepard moved her hand and her fingers in a way that she had learned would give them both the most pleasure, dropping into a rhythm that was steadily increasing in speed and strength. Liara moved her left hand down and held Shepard’s forearm loosely so that she could feel the muscles and sinews move to and fro, feel the strength and the power that was pulsing into her. They found each other’s lips and kissed again and again and also whispered to each other words of sexual arousal, of encouragement, and almost of love. ‘Oh Shepard, yes… harder… oh yes… more… there… yes… oh Goddess… deeper… all of you… inside me… need all of you…’ ‘Fuck Liara you are…. fuck…. yeah… always…. all of me… you… mine…’ When the climax came it exploded through their bodies, their minds their very being. Shepard stayed inside Liara until the pulsing and involuntary twitching of muscles and nerves had quietened. Liara was leaning her head on Shepard’s shoulders one arm around her while the other lay against the hand that was still inside her. Shepard let out one of her body shaking laughs and looked as LIara with a huge smile on her face Liara raised her head to look at her lover and mirrored the smile and the laugh. ‘Fuck Liara you know I love you right… so let’s just say it and get it out of the way…’ she said through the laughter ‘the number of times we both nearly said the ‘L’ word it was getting painful,’ she finished by planting a kiss on her lovers lips. Liara playfully cuffed Shepard around the head and beaming said ‘Oh Shepard yes we have both experienced the others feelings during our joining but thank you for allowing us to say the words… it was becoming… problematic.’ ‘Yeah well I was kinda hoping you would break the log jam babe you’re the one with all the experience of the feelings stuff’ Shepard knew they had been as bad as each other given Liara’s shyness and inexperience, even with ordinary social interactions, and Shepard’s lack of experience in any kind of serious emotional relationship and therefore her fear, but she could never resist teasing her beautiful, shy, sexy Asari. ‘I think you may want to get out of those trousers Shepard I think they are rather wet’ and as Shepard withdrew her hand, accompanied by a small moan of pleasure from them both, Liara stood up and began removing her human’s trousers. ‘Ah I see you are moving to stage two… phaooor… of the hotel room fuck... Dr…. T’Soni… aahhh,’ the words were said through short rumbles of laughter. It was Shepard’s turn to struggle to speak given that Liara had not only removed all Shepard’s remaining clothes but had found that her lover was quite as wet as she had been and she was determined to take full advantage of it. ‘Any instructions Commander,’ Liara said playfully ‘up against the wall or….’ ‘Ooooh bedroom’ Shepard laughed ‘definitely bedroom T’Soni.’ As they headed to the bedroom anyone who may have been passing their door would have heard happy, playful laughing and may even have been able to feel the edges of a bubble of blissful contentment and joy. Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx They had travelled to Illium using an alliance scout ship, it was about four times the size of the Normandy’s shuttle, but was only built for a crew of four so there was decent accommodation and comfort. The scout ship was used for deep cover missions and its occupants could be on listening duty for months at a time. All in all it was a very comfortable run around and mobile hotel suite but they wanted to taste luxury, anonymity and indulgence for the first half of their trip so they booked in at the Azure Hotel. This had been Liara’s choice, not one that Shepard would have predicted once they arrived and realised it was a hotel for well ‘lovers’ and considered quite outrageous. The hotel suites were excellent and food was as good as they would find in any high end restaurant and it came as room service any time night or day. They didn’t go further than their balcony for two days. It wasn’t all sex and lovemaking, they talked, they laughed, they watched vids, even attempted to cook but other hungers got in the way. Without realising it they tried to cram months or ‘living’ together, getting to know each other, enjoying each other’s company into those short forty eight hours. One the last day and night of their stay they ventured out to wander the around shops, finding parks to sit in and ending up having dinner in a small romantic restaurant. Liara insisted they completed their ‘dirty weekend’ as Shepard had joked about it, at the nightclub and bar called Eternity. It seemed all Asari were born to move to music in a way that most other species could only dream off, and quite a lot of members of other species dreamed a lot about Asari dancers in one way or another. The standing joke about Shepard’s dancing was not without its merit, but that didn’t stop her, she would let the music take her over and just ‘be’. But not tonight, not with this most amazingly, liquidly, sensually, sexily moving exquisite woman dancing next to her, with her. Shepard was not going to miss one mili second of being on a dance floor with the most beautiful woman in the galaxy who, almost unbelievably, loved her. Shepard could just feel an echo of their joining, feel Liara’s body moving with her, through her, their connection strong, their desire unquenched, heightened and sharpened by the delay they were playing with staying here, flirting, teasing, inflaming their lust for each other. They could both feel the throbbing need flashing out across their bodies from their hard clits; it was exciting, bad… very bad… and very, very good. Closer and closer they danced until they fitted together and moved against each other to the music and their own desperate rhythm. Shepard’s arms holding Liara tightly around her waist while her lover ran fingers up and down the back of her humans head. Thigh’s between thighs pushing, grinding. They allowed a small climax claim them before they left and headed for their last night in the penthouse suite of the Azure resort hotel. Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The next phase of their holiday was Shepard’s choice, they were headed for a small and remote garden world that was slowly being settled and developed but was off the relay network at the very edge of the known parts of the galaxy. There were still huge amounts of the galaxy that was unknown, only accessible by long FTL journeys. Exploration was going on but it was mainly a one way trip and not made by many other than science teams. There was enough of the accessible galaxy unsettled and unexplored to satisfy even most adventurous and curious of human’s natural need to break new ground. The system contained two garden planets and the larger, Eos, was much more developed with four decent sized urban areas boasting a population of around 150,000 settlers across the planet. Their destination, Hasperos was still developing along the lines of small villages and towns. Both planets had decent geological deposits, eezo, fresh water in abundance and various configurations of salt ocean. It also provided food for all known diets which made life a lot easier for the Turians and very occasional Quarian who visited. Eos had climate regions similar to Earth and Thessia but no frozen poles while Hasperos had a narrower range and could be described as similar to the Earth Mediterranean with Alpine regions. The system had something else going for it as well. It was far enough away from both the Terminus System and the Traverse as to be too far off the map to interest slavers and raiders. The individuals, family groups, social groups, communities and businesses who sought out this jewel in the galaxy all wanted to come to settle and live in a quieter, more peaceful, in touch, and in balance with the groundside environment lifestyle. And they came from all Council races, it was more a state of mind that a specific species thing, making this system almost unique in the galaxy for that reason alone. ‘Welcome to the Phosphorus system’ Shepard said as they dropped out of FTL and began a smooth glide towards the inner system. She put the ship in orbit around Eos for a couple of spins so Liara could have a look. They were sitting in pilot and co-pilot seats in the cockpit where they had spent a fair amount of the journey from Illium. Shepard had insisted they detoured to take in cosmic views that would offer stunning light shows through the multispectral windows of the scout ship, which meant they could see sights like PIA 14872, in the Circinus constellation in all its glory in real time. Shepard particularly wanted to share the moment with Liara as the supernova that was contributing to the stunning view had been seen on Earth nearly 2500 years ago. As soon as the words came out of her mouth Shepard realised how short a time that would be for an Asari and they both started howling with laughter at the realisation. ‘They called it a guest star’ she smiled across at Liara ‘showed in Earth’s sky for almost a whole year according to the records.’ It felt odd but satisfying to finally be able to share knowledge with Liara for a change. Shepard loved the fact that her lover was a very, very, intelligent and clever women and was only too happy to increase her own learning and understanding through conversation and discussion with Liara. Although sometimes Shepard wondered if Liara was ‘entertained’ enough by her more practical and soldierly mind and its chatter she need not have worried. Liara really did feel exactly the same way about her Human as Shepard did about her Asari. Shepard hadn’t told Liara where they were going, why, or what they would be doing. She wanted to surprise her and Shepard was aware that Liara probably hadn’t allowed anyone close enough to make this kind of fuss of her. She also wanted to share something really precious with her soul mate and it was a bonus that they needed to come here for it to work as Shepard wanted. They landed a few clicks away from the largest settlement on the continent at the designated ‘space port’ which was really more like an old twentieth century Earth ‘air strip’. There were only two short haul shuttles and no buildings at all. Shepard drove their RTV Kat off the ship, it was a very cut down Tomkah, with a soft top that was currently rolled down so they could enjoy the glorious sunshine and endless blue skies. The vehicle was already loaded with all the supplies and kit they would need for their five day stay so once they locked down their ship they were free to head into the small town that was probably the capital of an entire planet. Shepard and Liara both felt a little strange not being in their respective ‘uniforms’ opting for very casual and relaxed ‘holiday wear’. Shepard’s gun rack was in the back of the Kat, she was determined to be a civilian for a least a few days and with no large or even medium sized predators on the planet there was no excuse to carry anything. She had been before she knew how peaceful, friendly and laid back the place was. Like any good neighbour or fellow pioneer, even a temporary one, Shepard had called ahead to the local area and asked if she could bring in any supplies from Illium as a show of support for the endeavour. And so their first stop was at the central community facility to drop off their cargo. Electronics, tech, machine parts, medikits and less practical items like rugs, small pieces of art, clothing, and personal crates of belonging shipped forward to new homes. They spent some time chatting to the locals that were around and shared a bite to eat at a small open air café with the Turian logistics lead, a Human who seemed to fulfil the role of quartermaster and a couple of Salarian’s who were talking excitedly about a plant discovery they had made that could have health properties. It was so relaxing, Liara was holding her own in the Salarian discussion and Shepard was happily chatting about the plans the colony had to link its main population areas without making too much of an impact on the ground. She was pleased to find out that the system was under the protection of the Council and it would be the local populations who would decide about what or how much development and resource harvesting would happen within their system. By the time they finally said their goodbyes it was late in the planets afternoon but Shepard was determined to sleep under the stars with her soul mate, so they set of in no great rush, they would stop in a couple of hours when they found somewhere they liked the look of. They had nowhere to be, nothing to do and no one to please but themselves. As far as Shepard was concerned this was the closest she would get to ‘heaven’ before or after death. The first night when they laid on their big soft bedding, in the lee of a small rise that offered them a view out across a shimmering lake, Liara looked up to the stars and said, ‘It would be very easy for a small ship to get lost up there and never be found’ she sounded wistful and Shepard understood where that feeling was coming from, she felt it herself. Shepard rolled onto her elbow and leaned in to kiss her lover and answered, ‘oh I think we’re already lost, and I’m not sure we would find anywhere better for a journeys end then here,’ she smiled and began to lose herself in Liara’s eyes. ‘And I lose myself in you every time we make love, there is a part of my soul that will never be found again Liara, you have it and I have a part of yours.’ Liara could only nod she was so full of love and tenderness, and with small tears of joy falling down the Asari’s cheeks they folded into each other’s arms. Shepard had never known such peace, contentment, joy, there was only now this moment these few days but they were more than some people had in a lifetime. They had followed the same loose daily routine for the past three days and three nights. Cooking together in the open air, walking in the stunning pristine natural beauty, swimming in warm blue pools or slow moving rivers, exploring, even reading in a companionable silence, or rather long breaks in conversation. And the sleeping in the warm, soft nights under the stars wrapped in each other’s arms, sometimes falling asleep holding hands just staring up into the star dusted deep lilac sky. It didn’t even get completely dark; dark enough to make sleeping easy but with enough ambient reflection from the planets two moons to make it easy enough to get around. On the morning of the fourth day they packed up camp and this time Shepard had a clear destination in mind. She had told Liara how she knew of this place through a single visit with her father. He had brought her for a short leave that her mother couldn’t share because of her duties. They had camped but their trip had been climbing focussed and it was one of her clearest, fondest and most happy memories. Shepard had a plan to give Liara something she would be able to keep with her forever, that would stay fresh and real, long after the vids they had been taken had faded, long after Shepard herself had faded away. Liara was sitting on the ground with a clear view of the huge rock face rising about twelve hundred feet toward the blue sky that was to be Shepard’s climb. Liara was looking… concerned… Shepard was going to free climb and was aiming to make it to the top in around two hours. As Shepard sat down close she gave Liara a huge grin, ‘will you meld with me so that I can share a memory with you,’ ‘Of course Shepard’ and Liara gave a smile that would could melt even the hardest heart. The memory was of Shepard and her father making this same climb, she was fourteen and it was the last time they had really spent together before he was killed in the operation on Mindoir. It had taken closer to four hours to do the climb then and they had used safety equipment. But the unique thing about that climb was the journey back down. They were both wearing shutes and after they had admired the view from the top for the first time in her life she threw herself against gravity with nothing more protecting her that a microthin piece of fabric. It was the most exhilarating thing she had ever done in her life to that point. After they broke apart Shepard saw that Liara had tears in her eyes and was obviously deeply moved, ‘oh Shepard thank you, you were so young and he loved you so much… such a gift… I don’t know what to say’ she broke off and Shepard pulled her into a hug. ‘Hey darling, it’s one of my best and strongest memories and I wanted to share it with you here where it happened and I’m going to share my memory of the climb that I’m about to do now… so… well it seemed like a good idea at the time…’ Shepard suddenly wondered if it was that great an idea after all she had only managed so far to make Liara very worried and now very upset. ‘No one has ever done anything like this for me before Shepard, you planned this whole trip for me, this very precious memory… and the risks you take to give me another… and perhaps also to show me how brave and fearless you are…’ as she spoke the last words Liara looked up into Shepard’s eyes and smiled a look of amused questioning on her face. Shepard gave her a big grin and a small chuckle ‘aw well maybe just a little… can’t have you thinking I’ve gone soft with all this soppy stuff’ Shepard leaned in and kissed Liara deeply, stood up and over her shoulder said ‘now relax, have a nap in the lovely sunshine, you won’t miss anything… you get to do it with me when I get back down.’ Shepard made it to the top in just over two hours and she sat down not quite exhausted but almost. It had been harder than is should have been as she was still recovering from her injuries. She drank some water and stared out at the view savouring the power she could feel in her body from the exertion despite having pushed herself to a limit. Before she made her dive of the edge she prepared to make only the third vow she had ever made in her life. The first was to do all in her power to find a cure for the genophage, the second was to do all in her power to help the Quarians take back their home world, and now she would make her third that Liara would know through her memory when they melded. ‘I will never let any harm come to you and I will always come back to you, Liara,‘ then Shepard threw herself off the edge and enjoyed the following twenty seconds hurtling towards the ground as only someone withher particular disposition could. Liara practically threw herself into Shepard’s arms and held her so tight but she was laughing and couldn’t wait to experience the climb and the parajump. Shepard succeeded in making Liara cry again when she heard her vow at the top of the mountain, but from acute emotional overload and not sadness… well at least that’s what it sounded as if Liara said. They both felt incredibly sad leaving the at the end of their time on Hasperos and agreed they would return, if Shepard was another kind of woman she might even have been tempted to think about building a house close to the lake and the mountains that had been their favourite spot. But even if she was that kind of woman she wouldn’t be able to do that… not until… because even remote, peaceful Hasperos would feel the cold, emotionless obliteration of the Reapers if they couldn’t stop it happening, if she couldn’t stop it happening. They ended their leave at the Prothean Archives on Mars… of course Shepard had said… where else would Liara have chosen Shepard had thought laughing to herself… and being a Spectre and a ‘hero’ she could arrange exclusive and privileged access for her Prothean expert. Which made Liara very happy and what made Liara happy made Shepard happy to. All too soon they were heading the little scout ship, that had come to feel like home to them both, back towards the Arcturus Station, back to duty, back to her life.
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Post by ddraigcoch123 on Sept 15, 2012 3:49:30 GMT 1
A/N bit of a long chapter probably could have done with an edit towards the end, ah well, feedback is always welcome so please do let me know what you think.
Chapter 13
Once back on at Arcturus Shepard was on a roller coaster of military and political protocol and public relations.
With the Citadel having taken so much damage the Council had moved to Arcturus to take advantage of the infrastructure available. It was home to the Systems Alliance Parliament and choosing to base the Council on Arcturus, while the Citadel was un-useable, was also a show of unity and thanks to Humanity for the sacrifices they had made saving the Citadel and the Council.
The Parliament hosted an unprecedented joint session with representatives from the Asari Republics, Salarian Union and Turian Hierarchy, all the other Council space races ambassadors and of course in pride of place the Council itself. The event was simulcast across the Galaxy to further reinforce the unity and strength of the Council races.
Shepard already knew what big political and public relations coup was to be announced, Humanity would have a seat on the Council, a huge change in galactic politics which would not be particularly universally welcome. Admiral Hackett had asked for her recommendation for Councillor, or rather he was looking to see what her opinion of Udina for the role was.
‘I’m not qualified to make any kind of comment sir, I know we need politicians and when we’ve worked out what for they may be of some use, but most of the time they just get in the way. And I have personal history with Udina who I think is a slimy, two faced, self-serving, untrustworthy son of a bitch. But as I said sir I couldn’t possibly comment.’ Shepard was standing at stiff ease in front of her Admiral in his office.
‘I understand Commander,’ Hackett was his usual poker face but she thought she saw a softening around the eyes ‘what would you say to Captain Anderson?’
‘An excellent choice, he is an outstanding human being and a fine officer. But he will hate it,’ her reply was accompanied by a couple of small nods of the head from Hackett.
‘I agree Commander and I know he will hate leaving active duty but we need him there. Now let’s discuss the military celebration that will follow the joint session and Council ceremony. You know you will be receiving a number of awards and I expect you to put on your best face. But I need your recommendations for your team and crew. This is a military decision, I won’t have them cheapened for the sake of politics, but your crew and your team did a hell of a thing Shepard and along with others engaged in the battle they deserve recognition.’
‘Thank you Admiral, I have given it some thought and I would like to recommend the Normandy and her crew receive the Galactic Unit Citation and my whole ground team receive individual awards of the Star of Terra.’ Shepard had snapped to attention to give her answer. Hackett thought for a moment and then said ‘it will need to be a Palladium Star each for your ground team, and yes that will include your non-human team members.’
‘Thank you, sir. May I take the opportunity to confirm one other matter?’ Hackett nodded and she continued, ‘I would ask that my field promotion of Chief Williams to Lieutenant be confirmed and that she remains XO on the Normandy.’
‘Agreed, and I hope it brings some peace and closure to the family. Judgements made by those who were not on the battlefield and who have never had to make those decisions themselves ruin reputations and lives. We both know as soldiers the decisions we make a rarely black and white, right or wrong.’
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Shepard always struggled with any kind of celebration or award aimed at her for what she saw was just doing her duty in the way she had been trained. She understood it was important to have positive role models but she didn’t understand why it should be her.
Her crew, friends, team and particularly her mother disagreed. They thought it was the least the galaxy could do. That didn’t stop Garrus and Wrex ‘ripping the piss’, as Ash put it, out of her.
Hate it all though she did, Shepard knew that the various governments were giving her their greatest military honour, as was her own. The Star of Terra from the Systems Alliance, Nova Cluster from the Turian Hierarchy and the Star of Sur’kesh from the Salarian Union were duly pinned or hung on Shepard who stood ramrod straight in full dress blues complete with her grandfather’s Marine Corps sword.
The Asari Matriarch’s awarded her the rank of Thessia Huntress; it was like getting the keys to the planet according to Garrus with a smirking twitch of his mandibles.
‘Oh no Garrus you have been misinformed it is a great and rare honour that places Shepard’s name amongst Asari Matriarch’s who have made a huge difference or contribution to the Asari race. It has been given for military, political, philosophy… well any area of…’ Liara seemed to run out of sentence and continued ‘ah, that was another example of humorous teasing was it not?’ She looked slightly embarrassed but everyone rallied around to smooth over the awkwardness.
‘Well yes I do seem to be the only sport around today,’ Shepard said giving a mock exasperated look at Garrus and Wrex, ‘but I’m glad you explained it Liara, and it does sound like a huge honour. But can we get out of here now I am really losing the will to live with all these stuffed shirts, we did our bit lets hit the bar.’
The rest of the celebrating was conducted in one of the mess halls that had been set aside for ‘Shepard’s party’ and she was really pleased it was invited guests only. That meant no rubber necking great and good but just her crew, friends, her mother and her Liara. Captain Anderson forgave her for supporting his appointment as a Councillor in a good natured conversation where they both agreed that the worse part of the ‘posting’ would be having to work alongside Udina who would remain as the human ambassador.
‘Yeah but you outrank him now… so I want to hear tales of just how unhappy Udina is getting all the crap assignments from his boss’ Shepard smiled.
‘Well that certainly put a bright side on the situation that I hadn’t noticed before’ and they both laughed, probably more than the joke was worth, but it just felt good to be able to laugh at ordinary, usual things without worrying about the monsters sitting biding their time in the dark.
It had been a really hard day for Shepard as she remembered the dead and the injured not just from the Citadel battle but from the start of what seemed like the most crazy ten months of her life, she wouldn’t be to sorry to say goodbye to 2183.
Shepard took the accolades and the bravery awards on behalf of all those who had died fighting Sovereign and its Geth and in particular for one very brave and very missed young Quarian by the name of Tali. Shepard was proud and touched that Tali’s father, who received her posthumous Palladium Star, had insisted that her name remain Tali’Zorah vas Normandy.
Two days later, fully equipped and resourced and with a handpicked, full, crew compliment Shepard ordered the Normandy to head out into the dark and towards Perseus Veil appearing to play their part in the continuing Eden Prime War chasing down rogue Geth. But the SSV Normandy and its Commander were hunting a very different prey and they would be on their own.
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After much discussion with her team, Captain, as he was, Anderson and Captain Hannah Shepard, Commander Shepard had made few significant changes both to the Normandy’s set up and infrastructure and its crew.
The biggest change was the installation technology and research laboratory, and a science and tech team to staff it made up of highly vetted and trusted Alliance scientists and specialists, two Salarian scientists, and Dr Warren who would pick up her work on the Prothean Beacon network that she started on Eden Prime. The chief science officer and team leader was to be the young, gifted but enigmatic tech genius Dr Kasumi Goto. Shepard had been warned that Dr Goto was unorthodox in the extreme and some would describe her more as an adventurer than a serious scientist, but the Commander was looking for unorthodox, business as usual was not going to do.
There had been a couple of changes to her Marine squad, she was back up to full strength, ten including Brewster and Stevens, and she had promoted Brewster to Gunnery Sergeant. Corporal Stevens had received further medical training to enhance their field medic, corpsman, abilities including trauma treatment for non-humans. But the most significant change was the addition of three Turaian’s who were ‘on loan’ from CSec. They had all volunteers and Garrus knew, trusted and vouched for them. They were experienced soldiers so would hold their own in the ground team but they were also skilled investigators which would bring an added strength to the mission. Garrus would head up this sub-unit on their investigation, or undercover, work.
Dr Chakwas had also ensured that her medical unit, equipment, supplies and personnel were ready to deal even more effectively with non-human health and injury.
One place that Shepard hated going was engineering, she missed the young Quarian who she had taken under her wing and for whom Shepard had had a real personal fondness and friendship. Shepard also felt completely and absolutely responsible for Tali’s death, not in the same way as she took responsibility for any death or injury for anyone under her command or acting on her orders. This was deeply personal, she couldn’t quite dig into why. With Liara’s help and support Shepard was learning to accept and live with it and not let it eat away at her, she would focus on honouring a vow and an un-payable debt.
Shepard called the first full briefing only a few hours out from Arcturus and present was her personal squad, Brewster as Marine team leader, the Science team, the Turian security team, Dr Chakwas and of course her XO, Lt Williams. Joker was hooked in through comms and as he pointed out ‘yeah it’s OK I can do two jobs at once, you know, not crash the Normandy, and just… listen…’
‘You are all here because you can be trusted and you all either believe that the real threat to the Galaxy is the Reapers or you have an open mind about it. We will be pursuing a particular path alongside, the Spectre duties I will continue perform as and when they come up, but our real mission is to uncover as much information and as many leads about the Reaper threat that we can. And this includes the methods that they used the last time they carried out their galactic genocide, most dangerously their unseen, subtle control through indoctrination. This allowed them to disrupt and hinder the response to their arrival; and prepare the way. You all have your own areas of expertise and existing knowledge, you will receive work to carry out in a primary role but we must share all information, theories and pieces of intelligence. We are hunting a very, very dangerous enemy and one that has perhaps millions of years to know how to cover their tracks. We have to find the patterns and for this we will be receiving help directly from a newly formed top secret intelligence gathering section on Arcturus Station. Their work will be monitoring the huge amount of comms traffic using both official and unofficial ‘channels’.’ They would also monitor the extranet, sifting through the ordinary, mundane; often outrageous content and the seemingly never ending number conspiracy theories. Often the best place to hide secrets is in plain sight but as a grain of sand on a beach. This intelligence team will work closely with you guys in the science and research team.’
Shepard also knew that the Admiral Hackett, now head of the Alliance Navy, had put Captain Shepard in charge of the work but she would remain aboard the Kilimanjaro and continue as it’s XO. Hannah Shepard would also continue to provide an unofficial direct link between the Admiral and Shepard.
The questions and discussion started and Shepard let it run until everyone felt they had a clear handle on what was expected of them, what their true mission was and how they would work together. Shepard stood up and walked to the edge of the QEC console turned and took a very typical pose, leaning against the rail, weight on one leg and arms crossed, the room fell silent.
‘Our course is set for the Perseus Veil which is where we have information from a Spectre report that Sovereign was hiding out before the hit on the Citadel. This is also the fault line between us and the Geth. There is another reason to head for the Veil. Dr T’Soni would you like to fill the team in please?’ Shepard remained where she was but focused her attention of Liara and all eyes followed. ‘Thank you Commander. In 2162 a Batarian aristocrat by the name of Edan Had’dah had scout and search teams working very close to the Perseus Veil and they found an artifact. He visited the site sometime after the 2163 and from what we now know of indoctrination, thanks to our experience with Saren,’ Liara stiffened just slightly mentioning his name, ‘we are confident that the artefact was Reaper in origin and that it began to affect him.’
‘We have no idea where this artifact is now, or what it was, but we have to follow up on all leads. Dr T’Soni please continue,’ Shepard moved back to sit at the table.
‘In 2163 the Alliance set up a secret research facility on Sidon to… well this is…’ Liara became suddenly troubled and unsure as to how to proceed.’
‘What Dr T’Soni is trying to be diplomatic about is that an element within the Systems Alliance thought it would be a good idea to break galactic law and start doing research into AI tech. And that is something we will just need to suck up, we know we have skeletons in our Alliance closets,’ Shepard realised she had used a very obscure old Earth idiom and as one Ash, Joker and Garrus said ‘look it up on the extranet’.
This brought some smiles around the table which helped relieve the tension for which Shepard was grateful. She nodded to Liara to continue.
‘Yes, well, where were we… the Sidon facility project leader was Dr Shu Qian and according to reports from the time he was working on a newly discovered artifact that could have pre-dated the Protheans. The facility was attacked and completely destroyed in 2165 but Dr Shu Qian faked his own death and joined Edan Had’dath to continue their work. Again it is clear that they were both, by then, highly indoctrinated. The artefact was never found and both died in 2165,’ Liara finished.
‘There is another lead that we are looking into and this work is being led by Dr Kirossa,’ she looked at one of the Salarian scientist and nodded again to indicate it was his turn to contribute.
‘Yes very interesting and fairly well documented is the incident that occurred around 2163 in the Dis System. A Batarian survey team, and at this point I am afraid we have nothing to link this incident with Edan Had’dath, a survey team on Jartar found the remains of some form of massive organic being or ship. Salarian intelligence managed to capture some vid evidence and we are certain it is a Reaper ‘corpse’. Before we could investigate further we had a report of a Batarian dreadnought in the system and the Reaper, as we know it now, disappeared.’ Dr Kirossa finished speaking but his head was still nodding slightly and he appeared to be in deep thought, when Shepard thanked him he visibly jumped.
‘So there we have it, at least two clear and confirmed leads on Reaper tech or an actual Reaper… you have your orders, we have our mission… thank you all.’ With that the assembled crew began to break up but conversations were starting between individuals and also small groups, they continued talking and discussing in various shades of excitement as they left the room.
The remaining occupants drew closer around Shepard, Liara, Garrus, Wrex and Ash, her team, her close team, who had seen first-hand what Reapers and their indoctrinated followers were capable of.
‘We have another complication that we need to look into,’ she said ‘Cerberus is interested in anything Reaper of that I am convinced and they have agents at all levels of Systems Alliance military and political structures. They need to be dealt with as a terrorist organisation but I am more concerned about whether they will get in our way or even, and it really goes against everything I hold honorable to say, whether they help.’ Shepard’s face looked murderous. The fact that realistically, and as any good military strategist, she had to consider all assets that could deliver her objectives, she had to give any head space to Cerberus being ‘helpful’ was causing her almost physical pain.
‘Agreed Shepard,’ Garrus spoke and looked troubled, eyes fixed on his hands on the table in front of him, ‘our problem is that they are so dispersed and in to so many things we are not going to have the resources to tackle them and our main mission.’
There were more nods around the table.
‘Nail on the head Garrus, so we need to tune out the shitty stuff that will drive me crazy so we can keep our focus.’ Shepard smiled around at her team, ‘Drinks in the observation lounge later and later I may be persuaded to play a little poker… if someone could teach me the rules,’ she finished the last comment with a wide grin, met with smiles and laughter from all around the table, Shepard was notorious for playing down her ability to play the game very well.
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Shepard looked across at Liara who was already in bed studying a data pad intensely and surrounded by at least another four drifting off the pile on her lap.
‘Hey sexy what you working on,’ she smiled across and felt a familiar tenderness sweep through her mind towards her lover.
Liara looked up and smiled lazily, ‘oh nothing that will not wait until tomorrow.’ She gathered up the pads and put them on the side, settled back against the pillows and let out a deep sigh.
‘You all relaxed over there Doctor,’ Shepard began stripping off and was aware that Liara was watching her.
‘Is it terrible of me to be so happy when such terrible things are going to happen… are happening,’ Liara had that look on her face that Shepard was now very familiar with, trying to puzzle out a confusing problem, it was such an endearing look… although Shepard couldn’t think of any look that crossed Liara’s face that could not be described as attractive, or sexy, or cute… Maybe I should just admit I am completely besotted by her, Shepard thought, and then remembered she had been asked a question.
‘The whole reason we are doing what we’re doing is because there is something worth fighting for, this is what we’re fighting for darling. The right for everyone of us in the galaxy to live the life we choose, or try to, to try to find love and happiness…,’ Shepard trailed off, it wasn’t the kind of thing she was used to saying and probably before she had met and fallen in love with Liara she would have deflected any such serious question with a joke.
‘You are right of course… and… time… is… I mean we never truly know how much time we have do we…,’ Liara reached an arm out as Shepard slid into bed next to her and they folded into a kiss but before they had a chance to deepen the kiss into anything else the comms sparked up and Ash’s tentative voice sounded in the room.
‘Really sorry skipper but we are just passing through the Exodus Cluster and we’re picking up some kind of distress call.’
‘On my way, meet me in the comms room Ash,’ Shepard gave Liara a kiss on the forehead and slid back out of bed.
As Liara made to do the same Shepard said, ‘no you don’t this won’t take long, keep my side warm for me.’ ‘I will keep everything warm for you,’ Liara said and then blushed violently at her own words. Shepard let out a small laugh she found it so cute that Liara could still be really shy at times, aw hell Shepard tell me something about her you don’t find cute, she thought to herself as she left the bedroom and headed for whatever trouble Ash had waiting for her.
It was over fifty minutes by the time they could piece together what was going on. The distress messages were being sent by someone on the asteroid that was being moved into place in orbit around Terra Nova, whoever it was couldn’t speak for long as they were hiding from the terrorists who had landed and started killing the science team and their support staff.
‘So best we can work out is Batarian terrorists have taken control of the asteroid and targeted it for a direct hit on Terra Nova using the guidance thrusters. From our calculations the changes they’ve made to the trajectory of that rock means we have less than two hours to get it turned away before it reaches a point of no return.’ Shepard was laying out the situation to the full ground team, including Liara who had joined Shepard and Ash as soon as they realised it would be a rescue mission.
‘Do we know what size force they have on the ground?’ Wrex asked managing to sound eager for there to be a decent force level to make it interesting.
‘No clear intel on that,’ Ash replied, ‘our contact in the complex can only say for certain they have control of the three thruster sites and a large force in the main facility.’
‘There is no time to wait for any help from the planet and no other Alliance ships will be able to get here in time,’ Liara said, she had worked on the calculations and so had a heightened awareness of the time pressure.
Shepard, Garrus and Brewster had been looking at the schematics of the facility and the thruster sites and had formulated a plan which would give them the best chance of success at speed.
‘Two teams, one will take the mako the other the shuttle. Garrus will lead the mako team and I will lead the shuttle team. We’ll hit thrusters one and two first then Garrus will move on to thruster three and I will move to the main facility.
We take back control of the rock and put it back on a safe course and take down anyone in our way… oh yeah and according to our mystery woman there are hostages in the main facility… so let’s move it.’ Shepard and the team moved quickly to the cargo bay. Shepard’s team was first away in the shuttle while the mako team had to wait for the Normandy to get to drop height.
Liara was going to stay on board and so that she could work on the revised calculations and pass through final instructions when they had regained control of the thrusters. Shepard’s team was Ash, Wrex and half the marine squad while Garrus would take the other half and the Turian security squad. Shepard’s team reached their target first and had to negotiate a sonic minefield while taking fire from what seemed to be highly trained and effective Batarian troops. These were no ragged merc band; this was a professional crew they were facing. Shepard was just glad they had taken out the defence turrets from the shuttle.
‘Fuckin love it when your own defences are used against you,’ she had said as they did a first fly by before taking the turrets out.
‘Garrus what is your ETA on target’, she called over their OT comms.
‘Just leaving the bay now, estimate three minute.,’
‘Defence turrets and sonic mines on site,’ she said, ‘when we’re done here we’ll take those out at your next target before we move on to the main facility.’
‘Copy that Shepard,’ Garrus replied ‘see you on the other side,’ and Shepard could hear the smile in his voice.
She had to admit it did feel good to be fighting something, someone she understood, she was, after all a marine, this is what she did. They were confronted with well organised resistance, not only Batarian troops but shock troops and engineers. But they worked their way through the facility by the numbers, clinically, like a well oiled machine. Time was not on their side.
Once the area was secured Shepard found the thruster control panel she hacked back control and secured it to her OT. They needed to set all three thrusters at the same time from the main facility, the timing would be critical and all thrusters needed to be set off in unison.
Garrus and his team were right behind them and already on their way to the third and final thruster site by the time the shuttle was airborne.
They dropped the shuttle down behind some buildings and made their way to one of the service entrances in an effort to get a least a small element of surprise, but their welcome party knew they were coming from monitoring the comms traffic between the Batarians.
Slipping silently in and making their way up a long access corridor they checked storage rooms as they went and as Shepard checked one that looked more like an office she could see someone was hiding behind the desk.
‘Come out slow,’ she said and as the figure stood he looked petrified and seemed to be waving a gun in his hand and before she could say anything else it went off and something slammed into her kinetic barriers.
‘Put that fucking thing down now,’ she shouted and this time levelled her weapon at the man.
He dropped the gun and at the same time said ‘I thought you were them… I thought… I’m sorry… did I…,’ Shepard cut him off.
‘Do I look like a fucking Batarian… never mind all that, I’m fine,’ she had been joined in the room by Ash and Wrex, ‘tell me what you know… how many Batarian’s how many hostages something helpful for nearly taking my head off… that’ll teach me not to shoot first,’ she mumbled the last bit more to herself but Wrex heard her and smiled.
But they got nothing from the scientist; he was too far gone in shock, worried about his kids and grandkids on the planet and his co-workers, some of whom he had already seen dead.
Shepard told him to hunker back down where he was and they’d come back for him, civilians with weapons were as dangerous as defences that fell into enemy hands, she thought as they set off again to find the main terrorist force.
‘So will you tell Liara you got shot by some old guy with a pop gun or are you going to let her find out when I tell Garrus,’ Wrex was chuckling to himself and even Ash was trying not to smile.
‘Yeah yeah go ahead… have fun… I can make your life difficult it you really piss me off though so…well…’ Shepard trailed off knowing she would just have to take the teasing. But next time, she thought, I’m not gonna give anyone the benefit of the doubt, bloody civilians.
They met the full force of Batarian’s in the main area of the facility. It was on two levels with a balcony around the second level and the Batarian’s had dug in pretty well, but Shepard didn’t think they wanted to go down with the rock so they had to be feeling some pressure, it would be interesting to see if that made them sloppy.
The fire fight had been raging for around ten minutes by the time they were joined by Garrus and his team. That turned the tide and they were able to start a flanking move which would also take them to the main control room which, rather than immediately clearing out the terrorists, was their primary target. They needed to get those thrusters online and the rock turned away from Terra Nova. When they got control of the room Shepard transferred command of her thruster to Garrus and left him to work with Liara to make the asteroid safe.
She led the rest of the ground team on an all out attack to neutralise the Batarian’s. After another ten minutes, by which time Garrus and Liara had put the asteroid back into a safe orbit; Shepard had the rump of the enemy pinned down.
‘I will make a deal with you Human scum,’ the shout came from the obvious leader of the terrorists.
‘Nice, start with an insult you murdering bastard… what could you possibly have to deal with,’ she shouted back from cover.
‘We have hostages and we have set explosive charges on a timer, if you let us walk out now you will have time to get to them and save them.. if you fight us you will not,’ he said and then added ‘you are Shepard the butcher of Elysium and Torfan.’
‘Well if you know me then you’ll know I don’t give up… and I won’t give in to blackmail. Tell me, not that I give a rats ass but why would you want to destroy a planet and kill hundreds of thousands of innocent people?’ as she was speaking she was directing Ash to take a small squad to work around to a position where they could snipe out the remaining resistance. ‘You ask why after all you Humans have done to us, stolen from us, you will feel the hatred and revenge of the Batarian people as long as you live, this is just the start; this is direct reprisal for what you did on Elysium and Torfan… now you pay the price’ Shepard heard the voice of an absolute fanatic, full of hatred who would indeed not stop here. Whatever the cost she would put him down or someone else would just have to deal with him next time.
‘You pissed at us because you couldn’t hold onto your own territory… you whiny little fuck… against my better judgement I am going to give you and your little friends one chance to give up, that offer will expire the next time you open your miserable mouth and say anything other than I surrender,’ she had confirmation that Ash and her team were in place, she checked with her team and they were all set on her mark.
She couldn’t actually make out what his reply was, it was a distorted raving rant, angry and vicious and didn’t sound anything like I surrender. Shepard didn’t wait to listen to more than a few seconds worth before giving the order.
‘Go, go, go’ at which point a hailstorm of assault rifle fire from the front and sniper shots from the guardian angel positions Ash’s team had taken up silenced the rant and very little gunfire came back.
Within a couple of minutes it was all over and the leader who she now recognised as Balak and a couple of his remaining troops threw out their weapons and surrendered.
As they made their way towards Shepard they all heard an explosion from somewhere behind the Batarian positions and Balak made the mistake of smiling at her.
‘You could not save them Shepard I can still kill you worthless cowards and you can do nothing,’ he didn’t seem to notice or he wasn’t bothered by the cold, emotionless calm that had fallen over Shepard that was reflected in her eyes.
‘You think I can’t do anything to you,’ she asked him quietly ‘you know I was on Torfan and you think I can do nothing?’
Shepard turned to Ash and said,’ take those two out to the shuttle we’ll hand them over to the local authorities on Terra Nova. The rest of you move out and begin a search and secure sweep of the facility, he stays with me,’ she finished pointing at Balak.
‘I’ll just wait over here,’ Garrus said and walked off to one side nursing his rifle while the rest of the ground team moved out.
When they were alone Shepard turned to Balak, unclipped her hand canon and threw it over at his feet, Garrus stiffened.
‘You do nothing Garrus, my orders, you do nothing,’ she said without taking her eyes of Balak.
‘Why don’t you just put a bullet in my head like you did on Torfan or have you gone soft like the rest of your miserable bastard race’ Balak spat out the words but was eyeing the gun trying to work out if he had a chance.
‘Pick it up or we fight hand to hand… choose which way you’re going to die,’ Shepard’s voice steady, cold, quiet.
‘I would not soil my hands on you,’ he shouted as he rolled in a smooth movement picking up the hand canon and finding his feet closer to her but Shepard had pulled out her shotgun and it was lined up with his head before he had a chance to pull his trigger.
The shot rang around the large space, echoing off the walls even after Balak’s body had dropped to the floor in a pool of blood and brains.
Without taking her eyes of his body she shipped her shotgun walked over and picked up her hand canon and only then did she turn and walk away, Garrus following a discreet distance behind his Commander.
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Post by ddraigcoch123 on Sept 21, 2012 3:44:47 GMT 1
A/N So sorry about the delay posting this chapter, I was writing two at the same time, events could have happened a different way, but in the end this is the way Shepard is reliving it, who am I to argue. Good news is the next chapter is written and only needs a revise and edit, so you won’t have long to wait
Chapter 14
A thrumming vibration pulsed through her body making Shepard aware of her surroundings through the medium of raw pain. It was so acute it had dragged her from wherever her mind had taken her… but as awareness settled like a thunderous black sky, her mind railed against accepting she was here… again…
‘No… no… I got out… I’m on the fucking Normandy’ Shepard was doing her best to shout angrily; ‘I got out…’ she ended quietly almost in a sob of defeat.
She tried to calm herself, using some mediation techniques, but that was problematic given her chosen technique was ‘following the breath’ and she had little to follow.
Then trying logic and reason… which ended in the frustration of still not being able to piece together where she was or how she had gotten here.
“Feel into in Livvie” her father’s voice from somewhere, strong, encouraging and like a safety blanket for her tortured mind, “don’t let it control you, it’s your pain, your fear, own it, embrace it, then you’re back in the driving set.” A brief glimpse of his eyes a light touch on her head and he was gone, back into the void of the dead.
Shepard noticed the memory had triggered a connection with that old place of pain and she was crying, or rather she was being shaken by harsh raking sobs, and the deep old wound of her loss took her as it had when she was fifteen.
It was the finality of death that struck Shepard hardest… never… never again, seeing them, hearing their voice, mostly never realising which would be their last conversation, no last word of love or regret…
And it was Liara she was thinking of, feeling the loss of… not knowing if she was alive or dead, if Shepard had let her down, got her killed, it was tearing her apart more than physical pain or the mental anguish at her own situation. Shepard felt a wave of exhaustion flood through her, accompanied by the familiar drifting away, upwards towards the escape she seemed to be able to still, just, craft for herself.
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She felt the sun on her back and sand between her toes, cliffs at the rear of the beach seemed to be occupied by thousands of white birds, a lot like Earth gulls, flying in and out, calling their harsh, guttural, shouts that Shepard always found endearing.
Swirling in elegant circles up into the blue Shepard allowed her eyes to follow and tried to feel what it would be like to be riding the thermals with them. Shepard’s attention was drawn to the groups of people on the beach, all enjoying a perfect day, some swimming in the clear blue waters which were now lapping around her ankles.
She started to look, search the beach for her friends, her team… Shepard became distraught; franticly searching for Liara… she was on the beach somewhere… Shepard knew it in her bones and it terrified her… the gulls screeched louder and louder as her efforts became more desperate running up to and then passing groups of all species, young, old, babies, searching, searching… behind her black shadows closed in over the sky, turning the golden sand she had just walked over black and the people she passed desiccated into shrivelled, long dead mummified remains as the darkness flowed across them.
Shepard felt fear and panic grip, cold, vicelike, both running away from the gathering darkness chasing her and trailing it in her wake… she was the focus of this destruction and also focused it on all she touched.
As the beach and the gulls cries faded to mist in front of her she began to run, stumbling, heavy armour weighing down, slowing her down, pistol in hand but when she tried to fire behind her it just let out a screech… and she was so frightened now she didn’t want to look behind… every pore of her body was sweating fear… the sense of something, someone, the darkness closing in on her, chasing her down… closer until she felt it about to engulf her… wrapping her in its void… ending all hope of saving anyone… anything…
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Shepard jerked awake and sat straight up, unfocussed eyes picking out the gentle safety lighting around the door of the cabin, the soft glow from her desk and the holographic interface. She put her face in her hands and steadied her breathing, feeling the warmth of Liara’s body next to her. When she had steadied herself she looked over at Liara’s peaceful, sleeping form. Shepard gently touched the blue shoulder with the back of one of her hands then carefully slipped out of bed.
Pulling on black vest that showed off her trap’s, pec’s and deltoids perfectly, Shepard allowed herself a smile at the thought Liara would have enjoyed the sight as she often did at times of dress and undress. She zipped up her hoodie and stepped out of her cabin straight to the galley to find some coffee.
The ship was on the night quarter shift which delivered only basic, essential, crewing, and the equivalent of a night watch. Time was… well always time… but once Humanity joined the galactic community it was all Galactic Mean Time and atomic clocks. All time across the Galaxy was measured in GMT and the ‘day’ length bore no resemblance to any particular planet or species cycle. It had been taken as an average of all known data at the time of setting. It worked, it was essential, and after all on ships there was no night and day, just the everlasting black and passing light show.
There was local time of course but very much like the old Earth time zones, all local time was superseded by Galactic. Local ‘days’ were much more likely to be recognised as the typical light and dark event planet side but the date was also proscribed using the Galactic Common Era.
The Earth based Circadian Rhythms, still present on her blue home, gave way to Free-running Rhythm amongst the spacer community, and the rhythms of other stars on colonies across Alliance Space. Adjustment for some who joined the Navy was occasionally very difficult but the transition was eased with meds.
Mug in hand she began her ‘tour’. The Normandy had had some internal space remodelling to prepare them for their unique mission but they were still constrained by the overall size of the ship. It was a tight fit, with fifty crew rather than the usual forty, the decision to leave the mess hall, which included a lounge area as big as possible had been a good one.
Sleeper pods and racks (like those the ground fire team used) were only for actual sleep, all other off duty time and relaxation took place in the mess. It worked well to ensure the different teams had a chance to mix to together, they all had their own roles but they were one crew and it felt like that anytime she walked through the mess almost anytime apart from this most quiet of all shifts.
The comms/conference room, now housing QEC rather than FTLC, doubled as a base for the information, research and analysis team led by Liara, who spent most of her working time in the room with her two comms/scientist/tech specialists. Shepard still also used it for the confidential mission briefings.
In the hold they had installed a much expanded armoury; it still had the Mako but also a Kodiak; this area also accommodated the marine team, security team and Wrex.
Shepard walked into engineering and for a fleeting second saw the ghost of Tali’Zorah vas Normandy standing at her console, then it was gone and Shepard’s eyes were drawn to the truly beautiful Tantalus Drive. She walked over and spoke to the young engineer on babysitting duty; Carter was a new addition and hadn’t met the young Quarian but knew of her skill and bravery.
Heavy shouldered Shepard made her way to the command centre and on up to the cockpit. Sitting in the co-pilot seat she let her eyes relax and let the sight of the galaxy passing faster than light past the windows soothe her as it always did.
If the comms control room was Liara’s ‘office’ then this was Shepard’s. She spent most of her time up here when not in meetings or engaged in other duties. She ran the ship from here and took a few of the pilot shifts when Joker was off duty. Shepard felt more at peace here than anywhere else on the ship, it was as if she could drop into some other level of consciousness where her duties were clear and she was fully able to deliver them.
Doubts, constant questions about intel, patterns, where, what, who… why… could be tamed, her mind clear, with all the chaos happening unconsciously, like a background programme.
Back in the cabin Liara had gotten out of bed as soon as Shepard left the room, she knew that sometimes her troubled lover needed space to herself. Liara started working at the console but would make sure she was back in bed in time for Shepard to ‘wake’ her with a breakfast Asari tea.
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The Normandy, still in stealth mode, settled into an orbit above Lorek. The Kodiak had undergone a ‘paint job’ with all alliance markings removed and a well-worn, shabby appearance applied.
Garrus and his security team made up of the Turian CSec officers climbed aboard wearing second hand armour, procured for the mission, and having made whatever adjustments they could to their physical appearance. They would pick up a shuttle on the surface and head for Omega. They were going to operate undercover and try to find out about rumours (from intercepted extranet comms) of a disturbance that had involved human slaves.
But the real interest lay in the fact that Aria T’Loak herself had become involved, personally, and there had been no further information about the incident. This triggered the flag on the intel, the silence was highly unusual as when the Queen of Omega got personally involved she was always sending a message about her power and influence.
Shepard would give Garrus and his team a couple of weeks and then head for Omega herself, in the meantime the Normandy would be working its way along the edge of the Perseus Veil scanning for any trace, looking for any indications as to what happened to the Reaper corpse and the artefact. Then the Normandy would head back into the Omega Nebula and work its way through the six systems contained within it ending with Sahrabarik, home to the Omega station.
Their routine on hitting a new system was the same, a full fly through and multiple scans of the system space and every planet. Next was a visit groundside to every facility, there was a lot of mining activity, every settlement, no matter how large or small, or any permanent orbiting platform. Shepard’s team were posing as a group of merc’s who had been hired to find out information, unusual activity, was looking for someone (who always remained un-named), trying to buy or track down strange or advanced tech, the ‘job’ they were on would depend on how well it would play locally.
Like Garrus and his team they had second hand, dumbed down armour, and Shepard kept her helmet on as much as possible, there were a lot of Batarian’s around who would have queued up to take down the ‘hero’ of Elysium and the ‘butcher’ or Torfan.
Shepard was not used to hiding from her reputation or her deeds, and it did not sit well with her, she was in a foul temper most of the time they were groundside, but she knew they would learn nothing if everyone they met knew she was not only a Spectre but also ‘that’ Alliance officer.
She also found it torture to be around so many obvious slavers and pirates and not be able to do anything about it… to them… Shepard had to walk away more than once in the process of listening to ‘the last raid’ or ‘the next job’ to stop herself from instinctively pulling her shotgun and ‘taking their fukin smiling bastard heads off’ as she had said to Brewster later when they were back on the shuttle.
Wrex ‘led’ the team and only Dr Goto regularly joined them, Liara would have drawn too much attention and they were already looking a bit out of place as it was. Shepard also needed Ash on the Normandy just in case anything went wrong or they, somehow, despite their stealth, ran into trouble topside.
Dr Kasumi Goto was not only a tech and science genius but was very handy in a tight fix. She had spent time ‘living in the real world on her wits’ when asked around the mess table how she came to be so useful in a fight, after a particularly close call when her hacking and stealth kill ability made the difference between amusing story and serious injury.
They worked their way through the systems and results were mixed but the initial reception was always hostile. From hostile and aggressive it would go one of two ways. Wrex would be able to persuade the local’s that they could benefit from the transaction or he would unleash hell on their heads and beat the answers out of them, cheaper for him and more fun for his Krantt.
Wrex was a reasonably well know merc so they had credibility, and his reputation assured them respect once the ‘ground rules’ had been established. By far the most interesting information that they had picked up was related to increased activity of a mysterious race that lived on the other side of the Omega 4 relay. And their interest seemed to be focussed on Human’s.
They had been named the Collectors because of their bizarre, even for the Terminus System, trading requests which always involved live specimens in exchange for advanced tech.
Appearing and then disappearing back through the Omega 4 relay their visits were rare but certainly stories of their trading dated back at least two hundred years. Kasumi got a particularly old and ravaged looking Batarian pirate, after a considerable amount of drink, to talk about the contact he had with them over sixty years ago.
“We heard they wanted twenty left handed Salarian’s… everyone knew the reward would be good, I had family who worked with them the last time they showed up… we got them their Salarian’s but a merc gang had already turned up with ten…” all four of his bleary eyes looked wistful and he was swaying slightly in his seat, he smiled and continued “so we agreed to share the reward… ha stupid Krogan’s, didn’t see it coming… good day… we got all the tech, sold it for big creds, ten valuable Salarian slaves left over from trade… only wanted twenty… and got to kill stupid Krogan mercs… ha.”
The grinding of teeth and low growls were coming from both Shepard and Wrex, the Batarian didn’t notice and Kasumi was pumping him for a description of the tech they had received for the trade, trying to work out how advanced, for the time, it would have been.
On the way back to the Normandy they decided to do a very quick run through the Amada system and then head for the Batarian planet of Lorek and its capital Jalnor. The planet had a population of around four and a half million and the capital was a proper city so they would spend a couple of days following up on the increased Collector activity.
Back on the Normandy Shepard set a course for the Amada system and scheduled a review conference for a the next morning, also sending a request for any and all information relating to unexplained Human disappearances, patters in similarities of people who may have gone missing over the last three months, that was when the Collectors had most recently re-appeared.
Something was stirring in the back of Shepard’s mind, something just on the edge of her awareness was triggered from the descriptions of the Collectors… something that had fear attached to it… Shepard didn’t like that, she didn’t ‘do’ fear.
She headed for her cabin to take a long shower which she hoped would relieve some of the tension that had built up over the two weeks they had been searching the Veil and latterly the Omega Nebula.
Standing bent forward so that her hands were on the back wall of the shower and the hot spray was hitting the back of her neck Shepard felt a familiar pair of hands and then arms wrap themselves around her waist. Liara pressed her body tight against her lover and Shepard straightened up to make full contact with the Asari’s breasts.
Liara’s hands moved expertly across her lover’s body, caressing, teasing, exploring… Shepard felt her desire and need burn through her body and take her breath away, and just as she began to turn around Liara drifted her fingers down… down… tracing outer lips… gently drifting between inner lips and slowly back up to where a hard, burning, throbbing clit was sending pulses of pleasure through Shepard’s body…
Lying on the bed, bodies intertwined, still damp from the shower, Shepard allowed herself a deep, relaxed and satisfied sigh. Liara kissed Shepard’s neck and ran her fingers through still slightly wet hair.
“I would like for us to join in the sea when we visit my home on Thessia,” Liara said quietly, almost shyly and Shepard was reminded again that her Asari was still, most of the time the shy, awkward, unsure young woman she had met in a mine not very long ago.
“That sounds lovely… hey why didn’t we think of that when we had our leave,” Shepard said and leaned down to kiss Liara’s forehead, ‘but I do love it when you come and find me in the shower,‘ she said tenderly with a smile.
They moved into each other, breast to breast and thighs against each other’s heat, they began kissing, deep, long, searching kisses drifting them into another joining.
“Commander you have a priority emergency message call from Admiral Hackett” Ash’s voice rang around the cabin.
Shepard pulled herself back from Liara with a small sigh of regret, and smiling down at Liara said, “Copy that Ash, join me in the comms room, I’ll be there in ten.”
“Aye, aye skipper.”
Shepard rolled off the bed and stood looking down at the smiling Asari who was doing her best to look as tempting as possible, at least in Shepard’s head Liara was trying to look tempting, and succeeding… Shepard inwardly shook herself to bring her mind back to the task in hand.
“Come on you, might as well find out what particular shit we will have to deal with, priority calls from Hackett rarely bring anything but trouble for me,” Shepard ended with a small laugh but they both knew she wasn’t joking.
Ten minutes later she was standing in front of the QEC as Hackett’s holographic image sparked to life in front of her.
After snapping a precision salute to the Admiral, Shepard stood stiffly at ease. Ash stood ramrod straight at attention to Shepard’s left and Liara was sitting down on the side of the conference table looking concerned.
“Commander we have uncovered intelligence that indicates an attempt to assassinate the Batarian ambassador, Jath’Amon, is planned and will be carried out while he is on the Citadel negotiating with the Council. I need you to start looking into any connections within the Terminus System, see what you can uncover.”
“Do you need me back at the Citadel?” she asked and was already calculating how long it would take to get across, three possibly four days with maxed out speeds, hardly a lightening response.
“No Commander you’re too far away but you are in the right place to see if you can get a lead on the terrorist group that comprise the threat. The Council has pulled all Spectres onto the Citadel who are within a day’s travel, CSec has deployed special teams and we have a special ops undercover team that will be landing in a few minutes.” Hackett said and then in a gruffer tone of voice, ”I don’t like it Commander, the Batarian’s suddenly want to talk peace with the Council, something isn’t right.”
“Agreed Admiral, what do they have to gain for a start, and can you really see the Batarian Hegemony making nice with us, which is what they’d have to do to get back in with the Council. Sir, with all due respect,” Shepard felt Ash shift slightly next to her; they both knew that ‘with all due respect’ from a marine usually meant the opposite.
“Let me guess what your about to ask,” Hackett cut in, he was so hard to read but she didn’t detect any annoyance, “why am I so concerned about a threat to the Batarian Ambassadors life?”
“Well, yes sir, given the… our current relationship with the Batarian’s,” she replied slightly uncomfortably suddenly realising her response had been all Alliance and not a thought for her Spectre role.
“My concern is the protection of the Council, if this is to be carried out on the Citadel then it may well put the Council in danger as they are meeting fairly consistently both in private and in public throughout the Ambassadors stay,” Hackett finished.
“That does put a different completion on it,” Shepard was annoyed with herself that she hadn’t caught this as a possibility earlier, “I’ll make straight for Lorek and then on to Omega, Garrus is already operating on Omega I will put him on this immediately.”
“Thank you Commander, we will keep you updated, let me know if you manage to shake anything loose, Hackett out.”
Shepard and Ash joined Liara at the table, it was late evening and by the time they reached Lorek it would be morning but they could start revisiting the information they had gathered to analyse it for these new circumstances.
It was agreed Liara would call her team together and start working with Arcturus on intelligence, Liara would also ask Kasumi to join them. Ash would go and brief the ground team and Shepard would brief Garrus.
“Joker set a course for Lorek and get me Garrus on comms,” Shepard said to her almost ever present pilot.
“Aye, aye Commander.”
And as Ash went out to prepare the ground and ask Wrex to join them in the comms room, Shepard and Liara waited for the link to Garrus to go live for a briefing and any update on what he had uncovered over the last couple of days on Omega.’
As the Normandy turned away from the Amada system, a new and very dangerous enemy was looking for Shepard, silently, patiently waiting in the dark, waiting to bring the darkness to Shepard…
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Post by ddraigcoch123 on Sept 23, 2012 3:04:25 GMT 1
Chapter 15
They deployed to Jalnor with the full team but only Wrex, Shepard and Brewster left the shuttle and made their way into the City, they wanted to be as invisible as possible. They found the bar they were looking for which was right in the centre of the City, located on one side of a fairly large open square. They went inside and waited for their contact to show up. Alliance special operations ran operatives in the Terminus Systems although the focus of their intelligence was slavers and piracy, trying to gather early warnings of major raids and any organised Batarian military activity. Alliance intelligence was determined never to be caught out by another Elysium.
“I wonder what ordinary Batarian’s are really like," Shepard mused into the drink in her hand that she had no intention of consuming.
She noticed the puzzled looks on her companion’s faces. ‘Well we only ever see the ones who are allowed off or who get away from Batarian systems or their home world. Their government are real jerks, controlling, no freedoms, and no comms in or out of their system for the general population. So maybe we only get to see the worst of them."
“Shepard you worry me sometimes, you think way too much for someone so handy with a shotgun,” Wrex barked a laugh that was echoed around the table and Shepard gave him a sheepish grin.
“Yeah well, understanding they have a crap government and shitty lives on in their home system won’t stop me killing the fuckwits if they piss me off,” Shepard finished with a smile and a couple of nods of the head.
Still, the thought stayed with her, the Batarian Hegemony was a truly brutal and oppressive government and she wondered if it would be better if the Batarian’s made peace and the Council had some influence. She was brought back from her thoughts by the unmistakable sound of a re-breather and heavy steps heading in their direction.
“I believe we have an appointment Earth clan” he said his words punctuated by the rhythm of his air pump.
“Yes we do,” Shepard responded as the Volus sat himself down at the table “I believe we have some business to transact?”
“I am not happy about this, if we are seen, but what am I to do, I am told, ordered,” he trailed off and then rallied and in a much more confident and business like voice said, “where are my manners, I am Vert Plunes, financial advisor and banker to some of the most dangerous and powerful groups within the Blue Suns and a Batarian corporation specialising in, hum, should we say, workforce provision.” He sat back seemingly satisfied that he would now receive his due respect.
Shepard narrowed her eyes at him, she knew he was on the Alliance payroll but that would probably be due to some leverage over him rather than a noble sense of public duty. And as far as Shepard was concerned if you helped murdering slaving bastards in any way, and especially if you accepted their blood money for pay, you were as guilty as they were.
“Let’s just cut the crap and get to the point shall we,’ Shepard’s voice was quiet and calm but the first flashes of fiery anger were warming her chest, “give me what you have on terrorists who may be linked to the plot to kill the Batarian Ambassador.”
The Volus said nothing and Shepard had the feeling he was trying to weigh up whether he could get away with being indignant at his treatment, he appeared to come to a decision and sat further forward leaning into the table.
“I have not had a lot of time but I have, through careful record keeping, we must all keep our accounts in order, we never know when we are to be audited…’ he caught Shepard’s inpatient eye and continued quickly, “yes well as I say, careful… yes… there is one group who have worked for a particular Batarian political group who are most likely to be behind the terrorist threat.”
Shepard waited… “And,” she said still quietly but with an exasperated edge.
“Well, the Omega Blue Suns, you will need to find out what you know from Tarak himself,” the Volus put his head to one side, the silence filled with the regular shoosh of the air pump “I have nothing more Earth clan.”
“Then you gave us nothing but wind” Wrex barked in an angry undertone and sat back no longer willing to pay the banker any attention.
“I think you probably have a lot more than you think you do, but we don’t have time” Shepard said “I assume you can access your records wherever you are?”
The Volus tilted his head to the right as if he didn’t quite hear what she said, “yes, of course, but I have told you all that I found in my records.”
Wrex sat forward looked at Shepard with understanding dawning, she nodded back at him.
“We can’t have a fuss or draw any attention, I’ll drop you scoop” they smiled at each other recognising one of Garrus’s sayings.
Wrex moved around behind the Volus who hadn’t moved and was still looking at Shepard and despite the suit giving every impression of being very confused and trying to work out what everyone was talking about.
Shepard had taken a small vial from her emergency med kit and in one movement stood up and moved around behind the Volus as if to talk to Wrex at the same time saying.
“Just sit still and pretend you’re talking to my sergeant, we are about to leave and you will be free…” while Shepard had been talking and distracting the Volus she had injected the contents of the vial, a powerful sedative, into the Volus’s air unit on the back of his suit.
The effect was immediate but before he fell off his chair Wrex had gathered him up and held him under his arm. They headed for the exit at a steady pace, no need to rush and risk nosy patrons.
Back on the Normandy Shepard gave the Volus over to the care of Dr Chakwas with the profound hope that she hadn’t killed him; she still needed him and his information.
“Joker fast as you can to Omega,” she said “and get me Garrus on comms as soon as possible.” “Aye, Commander.”
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It was her first visit to Omega, she’d seen the vids, heard the stories and read the intel reports… but there was nothing that could set a scene and give you a feel for a place, particularly a space station, no, nothing that came anywhere near watching it get closer from the cockpit of your ship on approach.
Imposing, it was certainly that, and quite the feat of original engineering and continuing ingenuity, adding the spikes and lumps that comprised its swelling ‘suburbs’. Could you have suburbs hanging in space?
Moody, dangerous, or was that because what she knew about the station’s inhabitants… no, moody was definitely her impression, and dangerous was her informed threat assessment. If the Citadel was a shining example of the greatest aspirations of those who called the galaxy home then Omega was its brutal, dark and twisted shadow self.
Liara was standing at her shoulder and was in full ‘Prof Mode’ and gave them running commentary on its history dating back to when the Prothean’s failed to get through the asteroids thick crust at the rich eezo reserves in its core.
She continued for a good ten minutes about Prothean exploration and mining techniques before Ash asked ‘yeah Doc but who did the mining if the Prothean’s gave up?’ LIara seemed to realise she had gone off at a bit of a Prothean tangent, and apologising carried with Omega back as the subject.
That for thousands of years it remained unchanged until smashing into another asteroid it was broken in two allowing access to its riches. The mass effect field generators that now surround Omega now protecting it from any such collision’s in the future.
“It was in fact mined out and then used as a space station by the lawless eezo smugglers and criminals who seem to always have operated in the Terminus System. Quite extraordinary amounts of cooperation to create this was necessary given there has never been a recognised government on Omega,” Liara finished just as they were maneuvering slowly towards the entrance to one of the huge docking areas.
The Normandy passed through the blue shimmering field, that kept empty space out and the atmosphere of the station in the large dock in, Shepard and her team made their way to the ships docking exit.
She would not be ‘under the radar’ here, apart from anything Aria T’Loak knew she was here and would already know what she had been up to so far, and probably knew about her undercover team as well.
Shepard was heading straight for Omega’s pirate queen, she needed information and a favour, neither of which would be forthcoming without giving T’Loak her due respect, and even then it was still a long shot.
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Shepard had opted for her light N7 armour, she fully expected to get into some serious trouble later and would dress accordingly but for now she wanted to appear as relaxed as possible to any prying eyes that found her.
The team she finally settled on was Liara, Wrex, Ash, Brewster and one of the comms tech Salarian scientists. It was hot in Afterlife, noisy… well there was loud music, and it wasn’t bad, some Shepard even recognised… but as she wasn’t there to enjoy the club for what it was, so it was just noisy, busy and hot.
Liara looked as if she wanted the ground to open beneath her feet and swallow her, this was most definitely not her kind of place or somewhere she felt the least bit comfortable. Shepard gave her an almost imperceptible shoulder to shoulder ‘bump’ and smiled, hopefully more supportive than amused, and was rewarded by a brilliant smile and flash of blue eyes in return.
They walked past the bar and towards the stairs leading to Aria’s ‘office’, which was a private balcony overlooking the dance floors and the platforms providing a stage for lithe Asari dancers.
The body guard at the bottom of the stairs stood to one side when they reached him and the grizzled Turian said, “go on up Aria is expecting you.”
Once at the top of the stairs her team took positions, casually, to secure Shepard’s six. Shepard alone walked up the final flight of steps and onto the balcony proper where she was confronted with a big Batarian holding a holo scanner.
“Stand there I need to scan you” he said with hardly disguised contempt.
“Well even you can see we are carrying full weapon racks, so that’s not what your scanning for… but as I’m not a piece of fucking cargo if you do try to scan me you’re going to hearing its little bleeps from inside your ass which is where I’ll shove it” Shepard said standing toe to toe with the now furious Batarian body guard.
She hadn’t needed to be quite so aggressive or insulting and she certainly didn’t actually feel it, but this was all about posturing and positioning against the Omega pecking order.
Arai T’Loak who was standing with her back to the balcony looking across at one of the platforms let out a laugh. “I might pay to see that,” she said over her shoulder “but no scan, no talk.”
“Hell all you had to do was ask” and she gave the Batarian a huge, and very sarcastic looking grin, held her arms out. When the scan was finished the Batarian gave it to Aria.
“I don’t ask” she turned around and looked at Shepard, then at her team, spending just a fraction longer looking at Liara.
“I’ve come to you because you run Omega” Shepard said in an even voice.
Aria laughed and turned her back on Shepard again and as she spoke held her arms in the style of a great diva at the end of a performance acknowledging the admiration of the audience.
“I am Omega,” turning around to face Shepard again she continued, “And you want something, everyone always does, and they all come to me.” Aria sat down on the long bench that circled the balcony.
“I am the boss, CEO... Queen, if you’re feeling dramatic. It doesn’t matter, Omega has no titled ruler and only one rule,” Aria was watching Shepard who hadn’t moved from her position at the top of the steps but who had settled into a familiar pose, arms crossing her chest and leaning back slightly on one leg.
Their eyes locked together Aria continued “Don’t fuck with Aria.”
Shepard was weighing up how to play this, she knew she needed to earn this woman’s respect and quickly, and at the same time not piss Aria off. The back and forth in Shepard’s head made her worry the delay in her response was already running at an insulting rate… but in fact it was mili seconds that she worked through the options and decided to go with her gut and just be Shepard.
“Works for me, I have the same rule.”
Aria nodded her head to indicate Shepard could sit down and said “which would matter on your ship, here we entertain… my preferences.” Shepard was aware of Aria watching her, felt as if she was being scrutinised, weighed up, then the Queen’s eyes drifted away to the other side of the room and continued.
“So, what are you looking for?” Aria’s tone was neutral but it was a clear question and one that expected an answer. Shepard didn’t like being the one to move first in this game of three dimensional chess but she had little choice, as Aria held all the ground and the need for information was a decidedly one way street currently.
Shepard was suddenly aware that although she could still feel the thump and vibration of the music rippling under feet and across her body it was significantly reduced in volume, she smiled at Aria.
“Some sort of privacy, dampening field?” Aria smiled back, Shepard continued “perhaps we could speak in private.” Shepard made it very much a request and if acceded to it would reduce the amount of posturing Aria would have to do in front of her men.
The big Batarian who had scanned her, immediately stiffened and stepped forward, he obviously had some rank in the organisation, maybe this was the second in command that Shepard was aware Aria had.
“No one see’s Aria on their own, you try anything soldier and I’ll put you out an air lock myself.”
“Leave us,” this time Aria spoke it was in a deadly, chilled voice that expected immediate obedience.
When the four men had left the balcony and were on the other side of the privacy barrier, which Shepard could now just see its presence as a slight shimmer.
“There is a threat to the galaxy, to all of us, including Omega, that is coming and we can’t stop them. But we can prepare. To do that we need to find out everything we can about the Reapers and their organic slaves, and then we have to figure out how to kill them when they get here.
The lies being peddled that pretend Sovereign was only an advanced Geth ship and that Saren was a rogue agent after political power may help people sleep at night, but if we do nothing we all die.” Shepard paused just a beat and then said, “that’s my mission, my only focus and I will find a way to destroy them.”
Shepard waited, she was sure that Aria T’Loak was well connected enough and had a wide reach gathering information and other peoples secrets to know all about the two opposing views about the Sovereign and Saren, this conversation would go one way or the other based on the very experienced and calculating Asari Matriarch own evaluation of the evidence.
“Your… theory… doesn’t have wide support Shepard, you are seen in some circles as a…” before Aria could finish Shepard cut in with a smile.
“Take your pick… glory hunting, self-promoting, cracked ever since the beacon fried my brain… so riddled with guilt and or combat stress disorder I am on a loop of one fight or another…” she stood up and walked slowly back and fore in front of Aria and continued.
“Look I don’t expect you to believe this straight up and down, but there are a small number of us, and some of those in places of influence, who are convinced this is true. But think of it in these terms, this is the mother of all business threats Aria, wouldn’t you at least want to know if it could happen?” Shepard sat back down and leaned forward with her forearms resting across her knees and waited to find out which way Aria would jump.
“You do have some support its true, and you have support from one place whose judgement I trust. What do you want from me and what do I get in return?” Aria gave her a small calculating smile; it would always be business as usual even if the terms were to be generous for any particular agreement between them.
“There was some kind of incident on Omega a few weeks ago, and you seem to have taken a personal interest, it involved humans, probably taken by slavers but they were all biotics…” Shepard left it hanging, if Aria wanted to tell her she would, if the Asari didn’t then a direct question would take them to a dead end.
Aria’s eyes went cold but Shepard didn’t feel whatever was causing it coming in her direction.
“You’ve been looking for information about the Collectors on your trip through the Terminus.” It wasn’t a question, Aria stood up and faced out towards the dance floor her eyes seeing something far beyond.
“No one knows what is at the other end of the Omega 4 relay, whatever it is I don’t want it thinking it can walk into Omega anytime they want.” Aria looked at Shepard and continued “No Collectors on Omega and No dealing with them from Omega, what happens anywhere else is not my concern.”
“But someone tried?” Shepard asked.
“Some Blue Suns fronted up the deal but I know it was a Quarian exile who set the thing up,” she sat back down, arms across the top of the bench looking for all the world as if she was actually sitting on a throne, at least to Shepard. “I killed everyone in the docking bay; the people who needed to get the message will have… received it.”
“And the Quarian?” Shepard didn’t miss the fact that Aria had killed the humans, who were the ‘trade’, but having a fight with Aria that she couldn’t win was just dumb, and she stored it away, for the future.
“He seems to have gone to ground, and not because I’m looking for him. Golo has something else going on, it may be of interest to you, but he will cross my path again soon and I will deal with him then.”
“You probably have a great deal of information about the Collectors that would be helpful to me…” again Shepard left it hanging.
Aria gave another small laugh “I’m not in the habit of giving away information, I wouldn’t want to feel used.” There was just an imperceptible edge to her voice and Shepard knew she needed to even the balance a little.
“Well I happen to have in my possession the financial records and dealings of a number of the bigger Blue Suns merc groups and a Batarian Corporation that’s in the slave trade with ties to the Hegemony.” Shepard paused just a little and finished, “look I know on the scale of things this is probably not worth the help you’re giving me, but, it’s everything I have that may be of any interest to you.” Shepard knew that the information was very valuable to someone like Aria; it would also be worth something to the Information Broker.
“It may have entertainment value,” Aria said but she had relaxed again, “where did you get it?”
“I picked it up along with the financial advisor himself, he’s… helping me with something… and well my mother taught me it was good to share,” Shepard grinned.
Aria returned a smile but also had an appraising look on her face, “I thought I might have been disappointed with the real Shepard, people often don’t live up to their reputations, but you are… unconventional. What favours can I expect in our little relationship?” Aria finished.
“If I can assist you or provide unclassified information that doesn’t get in the way of my mission or compromise my duty as a Spectre or an Alliance officer I will.”
Shepard had been prepared for that question, and thought she had pretty much covered her ass, she would be happy to cultivate a business relationship with Aria, but would not be in her pocket.
“I would expect nothing less from the great Commander Shepard” Aria nodded her head in Shepard’s direction and her voice had a sarcastic edge but no annoyance, it was what the pirate Queen had expected the Spectre to say.
Meeting the woman in person had turned into the most interesting conversation Aria had had in a too many years. No, Aria thought to herself, not a conversation, more than that; they had tested each other and Shepard had negotiated a beneficial arrangement with nothing, well nothing Aria had been looking for, it amused her greatly.
“Thank you Aria. I have probably taken up too much of your time.” Shepard stood up and waited to be dismissed.
“Yes perhaps we’ll talk again” and Aria nodded a goodbye.
Shepard walked to the edge of the barrier, half turned back and said in a casual way “what was the scan for?”
“There are some nasty viruses around; I don’t want them in my Club.”
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They had found the quieter bar on the third level and had a corner booth. Shepard wanted to mull over what she had learned from Aria and talk to the others before heading off to meet up with Garus.
Shepard had ordered the financial data transfer as soon as they left the top bar and had just received a report back from the Normandy that a return package of data had arrived encrypted for her eyes only.
Hard on the heels of the message from the Normandy, Shepard got an emergency call from Garrus.
“Shepard we just got ambushed seems Tarak didn’t like our asking questions and they have us pinned down in a warehouse, sending you the nav point.” Shepard could hear a lot of firepower and some explosions but before she could say anything Garrus came back on the line. “We don’t like it here anymore Shepard, can we come home?” She could hear the smile in his voice.
“Better come pick you up since you can’t seem to keep yourself out of trouble... Oscar Mike your location” Shepard closed the comms and stood up; the team around the table in front of her had done the same.
“Looks as if we may need to take a shuttle, there is a station not far from the entrance to the club.” Liara was working her OT as they were walking quickly out of the bar and finding the main concourse at the front of Afterlife.
“Ash, get the rest of the team to meet us there,” she turned to look at her Salarian scientist and said, “Ish I think you should head back for the ship.”
“Ah thank you Commander, I fear I would be a hindrance rather than a help,” and he headed for the docking bay. Shepard was not a little worried. They weren’t prepared for the fire fight with the Blue Suns, they had no idea of the territory they would be fighting on and the bulk of the team would be at least thirty minutes behind them. ‘Ah well it’ll get the blood flowing’ she thought to herself.
As they exited the shuttle, now only a street away from the nav point, they could hear the weapons fire coming from directly in front. Weapons drawn they moved quickly, quietly and keeping to cover towards all the noise. They got within scope distance and got eyes on the situation.
Garrus and his team were hold up at the far end of the warehouse, and had set up guardian angel positions on the first floor giving them command of the only frontal way in down a wide aisle blocked in on both sides by containers.
The Blue Suns were between Shepard and Garrus, they were there in heavy numbers, there was no way Shepard’s team could just fight their way through from their current strategically weak position. They needed to figure a smart way to get to Garrus and they might have to start out immediately and let the others catch them up.
“This is a total cluster fuck,” the voice was Ash’s but it was what had been going through Shepard’s mind. And they had no time to lose, with the amount of firepower being thrown against her security team Shepard knew they were unlikely to survive longer than an hour and probably less.
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