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Post by mrstoob on Oct 10, 2012 11:40:08 GMT 1
Chapter 30
Ashley felt like a carer in the first few days of her visit, with Liara dazed and confused, drained from all the hallex abuse. She had contacted Admiral Hackett to request extended leave in these circumstances, advising him that Liara was in a bad way but without exposing the specific details. She didn't want to shame Liara like that.
"Doctor T'Soni is one of our most reliable sources, Williams. You keep her safe and I want you to take all the time she needs, I'll square it all with your commanding officer." the Admiral had said.
But after a few days, Liara began to regain her self, with the help of a friendly face and shoulder if she needs it. She's lucky that she'd only just begun her narcotic life, so it's not so much addiction as want. A desire to feel alive, warm, content, everything she feels she is lacking were it not for the intervention of Ashley. Her loneliness is hard to handle, she used to enjoy her solitary life just poking around strange planets for prothean clues, but Verity had shown her the unparalleled joy of union and friendship. Being alone now just reminds her of what she has lost.
But today, Liara feels okay. Only okay, but certainly much better than she has been feeling. Although she still feels bad for letting Ashley down. She knew she was coming but couldn't resist just one more hit of hallex, then another, and a little later, a little more just to keep her going. Hours had turned into days without her even noticing, not helped by the two asari hangers on exploiting her generosity. She wants today to be for Ashley, probably her oldest real friend. She doesn't dwell on the fact she's only known Ashley for around eighteen months; that only suggests she had no friends before, which is probably true. She and Ashley are just hanging around the apartment again, Liara previously being unable to face the outside world yet and Ashley conceding this for now.
"So! Ash. What do you want to do today? Shall we go out somewhere? This is supposed to be your leave, you probably need some good down time after all you've been doing around the galaxy. And I need to thank you somehow for tidying up my apartment when I was in the shower."
"It had to be done, Liara. I think there were a few new life forms under the table over there."
"I suppose you shot them then?"
"Hey!"
"Can't be too careful with these pesky new alien life forms eh?"
"Okay, T'Soni, don't go overboard." Ashley responds, a little hurt even though she knows Liara is joking. She's not usually on the receiving end. "I've missed this though. You know, just hanging out."
"No girl squad though, I miss larking about like we used to. A sound off just wouldn't be the same without all of us. No, some things will never return, but we have the memories I suppose."
"And we did have a laugh, didn't we."
"Yes, a little too much sometimes if I were to believe some of the Normandy gossip."
"Like what? I never heard this gossip, why didn't I hear this gossip?"
"Apparently, so Yeoman Ramsbottom said anyway, the rest of the squad was getting quite, ummm, restless about us three nearly always going on the missions. They saw it as favouritism, particularly when it came to light about me and Shepard."
"And by 'restless', I suppose you mean 'pissed off'. They really thought that? But we were kick ass, no way anyone was getting the best of the girl squad. Wrex, Garrus, I mean, they were good, but two biotics combined with my marksmanship, no way they could match that. We were elegant in battle."
"I would have to agree, but I can see that they felt their recruitment a waste of time. And Wrex lived for the fight, so to be excluded from the opportunity to do so, well, I can understand why he might get annoyed. And I was not even really a combatant, certainly not a trained or hardened one like the rest. That was a steep learning curve, I can tell you."
"Yea, I'd never really thought about it that way. That must have been hard. But you learned fast though, Liara, I'll give you that. I'd happily go into battle with you at my side, any time."
Ashley pauses for a moment in thought, then eventually quizzes, "Did Kaidan feel like that too?"
"I really don't know, Ramsbottom wasn't overly-specific about who."
"He was Alliance. He should know better. Best people for the job, that's the way it is."
"Speaking of which, have you had any contact with the old squad?"
"No. Tali went back to the Migrant Fleet having completed her pilgrimage, she couldn't wait to get home, I can't blame her for that. Wrex went back to Tachunka, god knows why, and Garrus is just off the radar completely at the moment."
"Yes, I'd discovered that about Garrus myself. I knew where the rest had relocated to, part of the job and all that, but I just wondered if you'd spoken. How they're doing. You know."
"Yea, I wonder too. Whether Tali's finally cracked and named every piece of technology she owns."
"I thought she already had." Liara says straight faced, but not for long as they laugh together.
"Well? Shall we just find a bar with tables outside and just chat and people watch? I know it is not an inspired suggestion but that can be fun."
"Sure, sounds good to me. A few relaxing drinks could be nice. A few mind, I'm not carrying you home."
"I am a drug addict, not an alcoholic." Liara huffs but cannot keep up the pretence for long as she smiles at Ashley.
Liara hasn't told Ashley about the Shadow Broker, Shepard's body, Cerberus, the Collectors or any of her misadventures. She is well aware that Ashley would go ballistic if she found out Liara had been working with Cerberus. And handing the body over to them, it reminds Liara of the dilemma they had faced on the Citadel, when Alliance pen pushers would not release the body of Nirali Bhatia. How the body of the deceased is handled seems important to humans and Ashley had been quite vocal about how her fellow serviceman's memory was being dishonoured. No, it's best just to leave these details unsaid to Ashley.
They sit outside a bar, looking over one of the trading floors with busy work being conducted around each of the brightly lit kiosks. Liara has a tall ice filled gin and tonic, her preferred drink she discovered hanging around so many bars meeting contacts, Ashley has a standard civilian glass of beer.
"I thought this planet would be more relaxed, but it's a bit more uptight that I expected." Ashley ponders.
"Business competition is fierce here with the relaxed trading laws. If a contract can be drawn up, pretty much anything goes. Even slavery, although they call it 'indentured servitude', quite distasteful really. The contracts are quite strict, so no harm should come to the 'slave' but even then."
"So a disclaimer means you can sell hallex or red sand or 'whatever', legally? Man, that's sick."
"That's not the half of it. Imagine you think you are going to start a job somewhere, but you didn't read the small print well enough and you are signing your life away. Well all contracts are binding, they are practically law and who knows what you might be agreeing to. Before renting my office, Nyxeris and I read the contract more times than I can remember before signing it. Thankfully, it turns out it was pretty much at face value; I pay monthly and the owner leaves me alone. And I have a great view."
"Who is this Nyxeris?"
"Oh, she was one of my contacts when I was looking for the... well you know. We sort of struck up a kind of friendship, as much as one can have in that world anyway, and Nyxeris wanted to help me set up here. She has been a great help to be honest."
"Can you trust her? You know, people from that background?"
"People like me, you mean?"
"I didn't mean, you know what I mean."
"I will be fine I think. If it came to it, I am much more experienced than she is. I don't think she would stand a chance."
"Woah, Liara. That's a bit hardcore for you."
Liara grins that she'd created such a response from Ashley, the queen of gung-ho dothing her cap to Liara's bravado.
"Well, let's just say we might have got our nicknames the wrong way around, Dark Destroyer." Liara's face completely deadpan.
"You worry me sometimes. What the hell have you been doing since I last saw you? Pro-wrestling? Some asari martial arts I've never heard of?"
"I had a shuttle craft at one point, that was fun. Guess what I called it?"
"Blue Angel." Ashley almost sighs the answer in a bored manner.
"Oh. Yes." Liara says, a little disappointed. "Spoilsport. It was like my home for a while, just me and the Blue Angel, travelling about. The independence was nice, being able to go where I like when I like again. I would hitch a lift off any ship that could carry a shuttle to get to other systems, mostly Alliance, Admiral Hackett has been quite accommodating."
"Yea, he had high praise for you when I requested extended leave, that you're sourcing information to the Alliance? It's a dark world you're living in, Liara, don't get consumed."
"I was until you turned up, Ash. Thank you."
"Alright, I think we've had enough mushy for one visit."
"Talking of which, have you heard from Sha'li recently?"
"'Talking of which'? Jeez. I blame myself, you know, I think I had a hand in releasing your vicious streak. And yes. I have. She's doing very well. Thanks for asking. She asked me to send her love."
"Awww. Did she? That is lovely."
The two friends just sit and watch the sunset together with more quips back and forth as they so enjoy to do, a few drinks to enhance the experience, Liara more relaxed than she has felt in a very long time.
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Post by mrstoob on Oct 10, 2012 11:43:42 GMT 1
Chapter 31
"You're sure you're okay, Liara? I don't want to leave and you go off the rails again."
"Ashley, I will be fine, honestly. Seeing you again, talking about Verity and the old days, it really has helped. Do not worry, I will not be going back to hallex or anything like that."
"Okay, fair enough, I just wanted to be sure. But listen up good, T'Soni, I mean it. If you ever feel that down again, please, contact me, whether you want to cry, shout or just talk, contact me. Or even if you're not down, it's always nice to get a message from you."
Liara gives Ashley a squeezing hug.
"Oh thank you, Ashley, I'm sorry we could not have had a better time."
"I think we had a good time in the end, didn't we? I'm just glad I could help, even if it was only with cake."
"Oh I think you know it was more than that. But cake is always nice. Always bring cake."
"There she is."
"Who?" Liara looks behind herself then back at Ashley.
"My silly, greedy, adorable old friend."
"Oh. Ha! I am feeling much better though. Almost like me, if you know what I mean."
They stand at the Nos Astra space port, waiting for the call for Ashley to board her transport.
"Do you ever think about Kaidan?" Liara asks coyly.
"Well, sometimes, hard not to... what are you getting at?"
"Verity said once, that when she asked about you and Kaidan, you were quite evasive. 'Never ask, never tell' I believe you said. Did you like him? Was there something there?"
"Haha! No, it was never like that. Maybe she didn't get my sense of humour then, I dunno. I didn't mean to be so 'evasive', but I suppose I was a little more standoffish when I first joined the crew. A new commander and all that, the less than ideal circumstances with Jenkins that got me the position."
"Hmm, are you okay about all that? I remember you were quite down after Virmire."
"Cold as it is to say, Liara, it's part of the job. Soldiers die, can't afford to dwell on it. Get over it best you can, how you can, and move on to the next set of orders."
"Yes, I can see how having your actions guided by duty and orders could be comfortable. I even considered joining the Order of Justicars after Verity was lost, if they'd have someone as young as me."
"The what?"
"Order of Justicars. They are like a monastic order who wander asari space in as individuals, defending the undefended, righting wrongs, punishing evil doers, following a strict and brutal doctrine called 'The Code'. If a Justicar sees a crime, The Code compels them to kill the perpetrator without prejudice."
"That sounds a little harsh. Why would you consider that?"
"I was so lost and angry, I wanted to take it out on the galaxy. But, yes, I wasn't sure that was the best remedy for me."
"I just can't see you meting out justice like that."
"I have changed a lot, Ashley. My experiences have hardened me, I thought it was noticeable."
"Well, you're not as chirpy as you used to be, but I thought that was just, well because of all that happened with the Normandy."
"Unfortunately, it goes much deeper than that, I've done some questionable things in the last year or so."
An official exits the transport and begins ushering the passengers aboard.
"Damn, looks like that's me." Ashley says.
"Good to see you, Ashley, really. And thank you again, I do not know what I would have done without you."
"You too, Liara, good to see your old face coming back. All that frowning doesn't suit you. Remember what I said, speak to you soon."
"Goodbye, Ash."
Ashley walks to the transport door and with a final wave, boards the ship still smiling. Liara turns and heads to a taxi call point, it's time to get back to work.
Liara ascends the stairs to her office to find reception unmanned, a faint sound of music coming from her office. She opens the door to see Nyxeris dancing frantically facing the large window that overlooks the trading floor below, with hard dance music pumping. Liara leans against the doorway and just watches for a moment, until Nyxeris does a spin and realises she is caught. She almost falls over trying to get to the console to silence the music.
"Doctor T'Soni." she says, straightening her clothes. "I did not expect you back yet."
"Evidently. If you wanted to be paid for dancing, Nyxeris, you should have moved to Omega, at least you might have learned to do it well there."
"Yes, Doctor T'Soni. My apologies, Doctor T'Soni."
She needs to keep Liara on side, but Nyxeris thinks that that might have come across as a little too fawning. If she were dismissed, how would she explain that to the Shadow Broker? She's become too relaxed about the job, too much is at stake, it seems she must up her game.
"Anyway, what have I missed? Where are we up to?"
"Well, I've begun putting the feelers out for any Shadow Broker agents here on Illium as you asked."
"And?"
"Nothing solid as yet I'm afraid, but some further investigations should bring someone out."
"Keep me informed on that one. I need to know if he's keeping tabs on me, what he knows of what I know."
"Of course, Doctor."
"Any news on Vido?"
"It appears the Blue Suns are planning to capture and control a mining facility on the planet Zorya. Possibly just for the resources, I am not too sure, but they are certainly going to do it in the next few months."
"Get me more details if you can. Could be the one I've been waiting for. Any other news?"
"Nassana Dantius has begun work on the Dantius Towers, her workforce being exploited as usual."
"Hm, she is so vain that one. When I was working with the Normandy, we unwittingly killed her merc sister for her, just so she could keep up appearances on the Citadel, and she was barely even grateful."
"You don't talk about the Normandy much. Must have been interesting times."
"Maybe some other time, Nyxeris. Right now, I'd like to keep our relationship professional. I need to be able to concentrate on the tasks at hand and you're a little... let's just say you can be distracting."
"Of course, Doctor. I don't mean to... I mean... I'll be at my desk if you need me."
Nyxeris darts out of the office, returning to the reception desk. She needs to formulate a plan, to misdirect Liara from the fact that she is the agent she seeks and regain her trust. All information that is available to Nyxeris is forwarded to the Shadow Broker and if Liara found that out, she risks her life, whether from Liara or the Broker. She has a few biotic tricks up her sleeve, but to go against one of Shepard's crew, one of the team that stormed the Citadel to take it back from the geth, Nyxeris isn't sure she can compete.
Liara seats herself at her desk and opens her console, she flicks through a few reports then stops at one. She visibly shakes, stunned, then reaches for the intercom.
"Nyxeris, come in here please."
A few moments later, Nyxeris re-enters the office. Liara spins her screen around to show to her.
"Did you not think to mention this?"
Nyxeris peers at the screen.
"Oh. Is that important? It's just a Cerberus ship that appeared recently, seems they've been busy too."
"Look. Normandy SR-2." Liara stabs at the screen with her finger. "Do you even know what that means? They're forming a squad and gathering resources by these reports, evidently preparing for something. It might be flying Cerberus colours, but there is no way anyone would name a ship Normandy unless..." Liara stops mid sentence, her mind racing at what all this might mean, "goddess..."
"I will find out all I can, Doctor."
"No. This one is mine."
Anderson paces back and forth, agitated in the Citadel's human ambassadorial suite.
"Cerberus, Williams. Cerberus. They seem to be popping up everywhere that human colonies are going missing. Maybe they're just investigating too but I want answers, they might be the cause. We know about their shady operations, I wouldn't put anything past them. Pro-human, my ass."
"Yes, sir."
"We're going to construct ground defences on the Horizon colony. If they act as effective defence, great, but that's not the purpose of the exercise."
"Sir?"
"We want to highlight the colony, make it seem... important. Defending a position only highlights its importance, we need to make whoever is doing this, whether Cerberus or not, to come out of the shadows for a look. I want you to oversee the installation, it shouldn't take long for someone to come looking. We need Alliance eyes on the ground and you're one of the best we've got."
"Isn't that risky, sir? Putting the colony in harms way?"
"Colonies are going missing anyway. We might as well get the jump if we can."
"Yes, sir. I won't let you down."
"Keep this up, Williams, you're one of our shining lights now. I know it'll always be raw to you but Shepard's gone, and I really do think you could be the next inspirational figure, maybe even the next human Spectre."
"Thank you, sir. But I can't replace Shepard. This should have been her mission."
"We need someone, Williams. You've all said it yourselves, the Reapers are coming, end of. We need someone like you to rally the cry, gather the races, prepare."
"I dunno, sir, my reputation for inter-species relations isn't the best."
"But you're good, you followed Shepard's lead, learned from the best, gained the trust of the alien Normandy squad, that's got to count for something."
"Let's just catch these bastards in the act for now, eh sir?"
"Sounds good to me, Williams. Do us proud."
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Post by mrstoob on Oct 10, 2012 11:44:54 GMT 1
Chapter 32
As resurrections go, it has been a confusing one for Verity. She isn't entirely sure that a resurrection is the case in the first place, it just makes the most logical sense right now. She woke on the laboratory table, then was instructed by Miranda over the comm to collect the armour and pistol waiting in a nearby locker. The armour is familiar but different, not quite what Verity is used to. Not to mention the weapon. Thermal clip? When Miranda directs her to locate a thermal clip, Verity doesn't know what Miranda is talking about. Weapons use clips now? Between the disembodied voice and the not quite right technology, Verity thinks she might not be in her usual plain of existence. A dream? The afterlife? Something else?
She finds a thermal clip amidst dead bodies in the corridor and pops it into the waiting slot of the pistol; the weapon now registers the number of shots available.
"Uhhh... isn't this like limited ammo?" But there is no-one to reply.
Things begin to feel even stranger. Mech after mech approaches to be defeated by Verity's might as she moves through the bland and grey scientific facility, the limited shots of the strange pistol irrelevant to her biotic prowess. It feels like a training mission from her days at the biotic facility. Miranda even tries to advise her on how to take cover from the threats, had it been in person Verity would have laughed in her face.
"Oh, yea." she says instead. "And there was me thinking standing in the line of fire was the way to go."
Whatever has happened to her since the Normandy was destroyed, Verity's skills have remained as she despatches the mechs with ease. Despite her terror and eventual loss of consciousness drifting towards the planet, Verity had accepted her death and knew that the scenario made it impossible to avoid. She knows she was dead. So how is she here? These are long term questions, for now keep moving and get to safety.
Verity is directed by Miranda to a heavy weapon, a grenade launcher. She picks it up on a balcony and feels the weight, then fires down at the gang of mechs below, scattering and ripping them apart.
"I dunno why these things ever went out of fashion." Verity quips to herself as she pops it onto her back and uses the elevator down to the lower level, guided once more by Miranda over the comms.
Verity wonders where she is, and who this 'Miranda' actually is. Miranda seems to be helping her so far but Verity has no idea what is going on, who is who, where this is happening, anything. Every dead body she stumbles across, and those she sees fleeing or dying through laboratory windows, is wearing a uniform. The same insignias she saw Miranda wearing in the strange waking dream she had. Clues, but nothing cohesive or logical. Best to go with the known for now, Miranda has so far directed her to weapons and armour, and is directing her along relatively clear routes towards the shuttle bay, so trust in Miranda it is for now. Or she would continue to do so if her signal hadn't broken up and died.
Meeting Jacob Taylor for the first time is almost humorous for Verity. He is squatted behind a walkway side panel, in the midst of a fire fight with several mechs on another distant walkway. Verity joins him in cover to try and find out what is going on, he is surprised by her presence but begins to explain her death, the Alliance's apathy and her subsequent resurrection. Verity is frightened by the news when he confirms that she had indeed died, but has now been brought back to life after two years.
Two years? Dead? What has been going on in that time? Would Liara still love her? Does her squad still exist? Are the geth still a threat? Have the Reapers come? So many questions. Too many to ask right now. A sickening feeling comes across her when she imagines that Liara has moved on and found another. It is too terrible a thought to consider for long.
Jacob says he'll explain everything once the threat is eliminated, stating with bravado that he is a biotic, describing it as "the good stuff". He weakly lifts one of the mechs with his biotics, to which Verity raises an unimpressed eyebrow. She throws a warp at the floating machine, sending it smashing into the mech behind, destroying them both, then lines up her pistol at a straggling mech on the left to pops its head with one shot. As soon as charged, Verity throws a singularity at the mechs now coming through the door on the opposite walkway. The mechs predictably walk straight into the swirling dark sphere until Verity casually detonates it with a warp, destroying the remainder. She ducks back behind cover with Jacob, smirking.
Verity tries to press Jacob on what happened to her crew and Liara, but he only has vague information. They are directed by a voice on Jacob's communicator to press on. It's Wilson, the man from her waking dream, directing them to the shuttles.
A few more mechs are easily destroyed as they move through further passageways, Jacob complaining about the threat, Verity unimpressed by these play things. They quicken their pace when Wilson comes over the comm again, evidently under heavy fire until he ends the transmission with what sounds like a dying cry. They discover Wilson in a server room, wounded and sitting on the floor. Verity finds a medi-gel dispensary on the wall and administers it to Wilson, again the method unfamiliar to her compared to how this used to be done with her own equipment.
Jacob is distrustful of Wilson and his reasoning for being wounded where he is right now. Verity just lets them argue, unsure of who she should trust. As a few more mechs enter through the opposite doorway to their entry, Wilson explodes a stack of pressurised containers with a tech attack, subduing all the machines and clearing their path. They are about to move on when Jacob stops and declares there is something Verity should know.
Verity wants to explode when it is explained that the facility is run by Cerberus, and it is they who have brought her back from the dead. Cerberus? She spent many months stopping Cerberus and their sick experiments, the dark organization sacrificing colonies and laboratories to their goals. Cerberus' ethos appeared to be progress at any cost and damn the consequences and repercussions. It seems that Jacob and Wilson are just low ranking operatives anyway and she manages to keep her cool, no information to be gained from them, and she must speak with the high ranking figure Jacob mentions: 'Illusive Man'. She thinks he sounds like an evil genius from a bad spy novel, but little seems real to her right now.
Now with a squad of three, they make their way through the waves of mechs with little effort, finally arriving at the shuttle bay doors. Miranda is waiting when the door is opened. Wilson is taken aback.
"Miranda? I thought you were..."
"Dead?" she finishes his sentence for him before raising her pistol to shoot him in the throat, killing him instantly.
Miranda states calmly that Wilson is the cause of the mechs running riot around the facility, but why or who for is not explained. Verity knows too little to challenge Miranda's decision, though she does question the brutality of her justice. Miranda is dismissive of Verity's protestations. After the exchange they board a shuttle and head to meet this 'Illusive Man'. On the journey, Miranda and Jacob test her memory, asking questions about past operations. But Verity has questions of her own.
"I've been gone two years, I understand that, but what's with the thermal clips?"
"Oh." Miranda says, smug and eager to explain. "After the geth attacks, weapons were re-examined. It seemed in order to be able to gain more power, a thermal clip was more beneficial. Limited shots, yes, but increase power."
"Oh. So geth drop easily now then?"
"Well. No." Miranda uncomfortable that Verity so easily found a flaw in her explanation. "They've adapted, as have most armour manufacturers. Armours and shields have now improved and countered the increased power."
"So... it has become circularly pointless now then? I think I preferred my old weapons."
"It has become pointless to go back to unlimited ammo weapons with a built in cool down I'll grant you, but it's been worth it in the long run. More power and rather than waiting for the weapon to cool down, just pop in another clip."
"Until you run out of clips, and anyway, mods countered that. Hm, I'll have to take your word for it. So what about armour? Doesn't appear to be any mod slots on this?"
"Oh. Yea, they just became unwieldy. Better to have what you need built into each component."
"Isn't that just inflexible? Far easier to change mods in the field than a whole suit of armour?"
"Well, once you rule the galaxy again, then you can tell every military might that they are all wrong, okay? For now, Commander, adapt. I believe that is one of the attributes that warranted bringing you back?"
There is an instant dislike between Miranda and Verity, one of those hard to pinpoint personality clashes, but just this short conversation has grated on both of them. Verity just wants to get this meeting with Cerberus out of the way and onto her first vital mission. Finding Liara.
In a silent moment on the shuttle, Verity is able to attempt to absorb what has happened to her. She ponders that fate has a habit of spectacularly throwing the past in her face, would it really bring her back to life just to throw some more?
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Post by mrstoob on Oct 10, 2012 11:45:59 GMT 1
Chapter 33
"You know I haven't been back to Thessia since Nezi died. This had better be good, Methia."
"Greetings to you too, Aethyta." Methia responds, already exasperated by Aethyta's aggressive attitude. "Thank you for agreeing to see me. Well as you may be aware, I was charged with overseeing Matriarch Benezia's estate. All monies and personal effects have been allotted as instructed and such, the house sold, and so on and so forth. But there is one item I have been charged with that is still outstanding."
"Is there really?" Aethyta responds sarcastically.
Aethyta doesn't much like the top tier of the Matriarchs, nor is she usually interested in their work. She thinks that they are full of themselves and stuck in the past, the withheld prothean beacon one of the most contentious topics. The truth will out one day about the beacon, and the repercussions could be devastating to Thessia. Aethyta would never disclose this to the Citadel Council herself though, she knows that despite the Matriarchs' perceived understanding and tolerance, they are not averse to making unwanted persons disappear. The two Matriarchs have met at Methia's spacious and stylishly sparse office, located high in a towering building on the asari home world of Thessia. Aethyta distrusts Methia already.
"Once I'd completed arranging her estate, I was contacted by Benezia's legal representative. She has asked that Liara T'Soni comes under my protection."
"Liara?" Aethyta huffs and puffs a few times, then pauses a moment and says with concern, "Why? Is she in trouble?"
"We are not certain."
"Methia, do you want me to put my fist down your throat? Just tell me why I'm here."
"Really, Aethyta. You have not changed one bit."
"Just tell me about Liara."
"Well, currently she is living on Illium."
"aaand?"
"She is working as an information broker and it seems she has become quite powerful and well respected."
"Which is a good thing... go on..."
"It also seems that she has formed a relationship with a female human. Namely, Commander Verity Shepard."
"What? Uh... Isn't she, like... dead?"
"So we thought. But it would appear she has been sighted on a number of occasions in the last few months, leading a new advanced ship, gathering resources."
"The hero of the Citadel? Damn, I'm only hearing good things so far. Go Liara! I've seen vids, Shepard's not a bad piece of ass."
It amuses Aethyta that her comments offend Methia's sensibilities and cause her to fluster for a moment.
"Err... Indeed. However. We have reliable information that the ship Commander Shepard is commanding is flying Cerberus colours. The intel we received from Liara regarding the activities of Cerberus and the death of Admiral Kahoku were cause for concern for us all. She did well to inform Thessia of such a dangerous organization. But why is the Commander working for them now? What are they doing? Are they a threat to galactic peace or Thessia? They are not known for their inter-species tolerance. We need to know, and I cannot have such intolerance placing Liara in danger."
"If anyone lays so much as a finger on Liara... so what are we doing?"
"Liara does not really know you, but you have a vested interest to protect her. You could most likely get close, without arousing suspicion. If she is anything like she used to be, her naivety should make this role easy."
"You want me to spy my own daughter."
"Yes. We need to you go to Illium, find out what is going on."
"Well, well, well. Ostracised by the Matriarchs until you need some dirty work doing eh? If this wasn't for Liara, I'd tell you to shove it."
"You will not be there only to protect Liara, the Matriarchs would like you to delve into any information you can obtain regarding Cerberus, Commander Shepard and anything else that threatens galactic peace. These are strange times with dark rumours abound, we need to know what is truth and what is fiction."
"Stick a broom up my ass while you're at it, I can sweep the floor as I go. Or maybe you'd like me to solve galactic hunger too?"
"Tsk, I knew that this was going to be unpleasant, but really, Aethyta, must you?"
"Well how do you expect me to answer to all that shit about Liara you just dumped on me?"
"I did not realise that you had such an attachment to your daughter."
Aethyta pouts a little and crosses her arms.
"I love my daughter, but me and Bezi... well you know most of it, Methia. I wanted to be closer to Liara but you know, it was complicated."
"I was never lucky enough to be blessed with children, I will not pretend to understand your feelings, but we appreciate... I appreciate that you will do this for us and to help me honour my obligations to Lady Benezia."
"I'm not doing it for you. Or the Matriarchs."
"There is one thing further."
"What now?"
"Some of the reports into Martriarch Benezia's death."
"Please, Methia, can you just complete a sentence that has a point? The suspense is killing me."
"It would appear that Benezia was under some kind of mind control, by the Spectre, Saren or possibly his ship, information is not entirely clear here. If it were to transpire that Liara was affected by this mind control, or is found to be working with Cerberus to the detriment of galactic peace..."
"Now I'm actually glad that you called me in for this one. So I can keep you crazy fucking harpies away from Liara!"
"You need to appreciate the severity of the reports we are receiving. Have you heard of the Reapers, Aethyta? And the partial information we have gleaned from the prothean beacon? The cycle?"
"You knew? The beacon holds information on the Reapers and you knew?"
"Well. We did not know. It was virtually indecipherable."
"To you, yes! But, man. You... we... we kept this from the rest of the galaxy. I'm just glad I distanced myself from you all. But I'm going to Illium, and I'm going to fulfil your obligations. I'm protecting my girl."
"Doctor T'Soni? I have Mr Massani, as requested."
"Thank you, Nyxeris, put him through."
Liara is taken aback at how different he appears on her screen compared to how she remembers him, the massive scarring on his face quite a surprise.
"Well? You contacted me for a reason? These real time communications ain't cheap, I know."
"Yes, Mister Massani, of course. I have a job I would like you to carry out."
"Yes?"
"A mining facility on Zorya has been captured and controlled by a mercenary gang. I need you to take it back for the corporation I am representing. Eliminate the threat."
"Not my thing, love. I dunno what you've heard, but I'm a bounty hunter."
"I particularly contacted you, Mr Massani, as I believe you have a vested interest in this mission."
"Oh, really. How so?"
"The mercenaries who are holding this facility are the Blue Suns. Their operation is being overseen directly by clan leader, Vido Santiago."
Zaeed twitches at the sound of the name. He's built up years of hatred and rage for Vido, allowing and enjoying the overwhelming desire for revenge to consume him. Liara knows it. She knows exactly what that feels like too. She has played so delightfully on Zaeed's desire to kill Vido, and he has swum right into her lure.
"What do you know about... who are you?"
This indeed is the one Liara has been waiting for, for herself to also take revenge on Vido for selling her out to the Shadow Broker. While the dark depression has receded and her anger at the galaxy abated, she still feels he deserves it. The Blue Suns will be disorganised once the facilities' security have been subdued, they will become lazy, which is the normal state for lower ranking mercenaries anyway. If Zaeed can form a small strike squad, they should easily regain the facility. If Vido can be taken out in the process, all the better.
"Oh, I am just an information broker, passing on information at the request of my employers."
"Like that is it, eh? Play fuckin' dumb?"
"Regardless, Mr Massani, we both know you would love to meet up with your old friend, Vido, you know? Talk about old times and... whatnot."
"I don't know what you're game is but I'll bite, I'll take the job. I have a contract coming up that might benefit me in this kind of an assault anyway."
"Anything interesting?" Liara asks, always aware to investigate more snippets of useful information.
"Nothin' I can talk to you about, love."
"Oh well. I will send the details over as soon as."
"Right you are."
"What?"
"Uh... what?"
"Umm... 'right you are'?"
"'Affirmative'. 'Understood'. Fucking 'okay'."
"Oh. 'Right you are' then." Liara says with a little too much vigour.
"Alright, love, don't milk it."
Unlike with Vido, Liara resists the urge to dive in with a merry quip about how she defeated the mercenary all those years ago and ends the transmission. If nothing else, it would probably make him more suspicious about the job than he already is, possibly even put him off the mission altogether. Liara doesn't need to explain anyway, the prospect of confronting Vido is enough for Zaeed. Finally, sweet revenge, even if it is only tertiary.
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Post by mrstoob on Oct 10, 2012 11:47:19 GMT 1
Chapter 34
The Illusive Man is not present in person for the meeting, preferring to communicate via hologram from afar. He offers little information on the whereabouts of Shepard's former crew, but offers disturbing details regarding disappearing colonies. Not just colony attacks, whole colonies going missing with no signs of conflict. They're just gone, and he's trying to find out by who and why, unlike the apathetic Citadel Council. As much as Verity would rather not assist Cerberus, they just brought her back from the dead to have another chance, to stop the attacks on human colonies and return to her mission to stop the Reapers. Perhaps this first mission to investigate Freedom's Progress will help her sort out her feelings, gain a sense of what is going on and what can be done. Verity agrees to at least travel to the colony to investigate, but makes it clear she does not trust Cerberus or what they stand for.
Once the meeting is concluded, Verity has the opportunity to quiz the two Cerberus operatives waiting for her in a lobby area, Jacob Taylor and Miranda Lawson. Jacob is like an open book; what you see is what you get. He speaks honestly with the Commander about his previous life in the Alliance, but how he had become disillusioned with the ineffective and apathetic way they had conducted themselves. For reasons such as these, and that Cerberus is willing to put resources into investigating the missing colonies, he joined.
The jarring continues with Miranda as Verity tries to start up a conversation, querying why Miranda is so nonplussed by the her presence.
"I don't question your abilities," Miranda sneers, "it's your motivations that concern me."
What motivations? Verity thinks. To save the human colonies from this unknown threat, to protect the galaxy from those that would seek harm upon it? To combat threats to galactic peace no matter where they come from and protect the innocent from harm? Verity ponders the last one. Would Cerberus choose to allow the harm of innocent non-human races by inactivity? They have no qualms about letting humans get in the way of Thorian Creepers, or Rachni, or thresher maws, or any other wild and dangerous experiment they choose to play with, so alien races must be fair game to Cerberus. She will investigate this if able.
Realising there is little point continuing the conversation with Miranda, the three leave the lobby and head to the shuttle.
"Let's hope there's something down there to do, I'd like to see you in action, Commander." Miranda says as they seat themselves in the shuttle.
"More Cerberus assessments?"
"No. I've just heard great things about your abilities. As a fellow biotic, I'd like to see your chops."
"She's good. I mean, really good." Jacob enthuses. "The Commander threw those mechs about like they were toys. Personally, I've never seen anything like it."
Miranda looks annoyed.
"You used to say things like that about me."
"You'll see." he says smugly.
"Hm. What tech attacks do you use, Commander?" Miranda facetiously asks. "I can overload a whole group of mechs or shields from 50 paces."
"Yea well, my dad's bigger than your dad." Verity responds with a sarcastic smile to equal Miranda's childish comment, then looks away to stare out of the shuttle window as they leave the hangar bay. She hopes this will not be her whole team, or this is never going to work. Probably best to get this mission out of the way then leave, if she can. There has been no security or threats so far, but Verity is aware that just leaving may not be as easy as it sounds and it is probably best not to test that theory just yet. They remain silent for the rest of the journey, all aware that any conversation will probably result in further bad blood.
Freedom's Progress is eerily abandoned, as though the former residents had just literally disappeared. It doesn't take long for Miranda's desire to see Verity in action to come to fruition. More mechs, which Verity lifts, throws and warps into submission. A new type of mech she hasn't seen before charges towards her, small and dog-like in appearance.
"Don't let them get near you!" Miranda shouts.
"Really? I was going to pet it." Shepard replies before throwing a singularity to catch it and the one running up behind it. The small mechs cannot even withstand the pressures of her dark sphere and are disabled within as they float around.
"Gravity's one mean mother!" Verity hears Jacob shout as he lifts the remaining mech with his biotics. Really?
She has noted already in this small skirmish that when Jacob and Miranda shout out battle cries, it's just not quite right. It is like they are shouting out corporate slogans. When Verity and her Normandy squad went into battle they would scream out their bravado with vigour and gusto, from the depths of their souls. When the 'girl squad' was in the field, they would even sometimes shout out their alter-egos' names when the adrenaline was pumping, particularly Liara. But these Cerberus goons, they're just going through the motions, soulless and cold.
The immediate mech threat subdued, they continue through the concrete colony, each area looking like the occupants had only just left. Upon opening the next door, a group of quarians suddenly raise their weapons at her squad, but are quickly ordered to stand down by Tali. It is confirmed quickly that it is indeed her formerly deceased commander, Verity dropping in that she helped Tali with her Pilgrimage.
Tali's confidence as the commander of this group surprises but pleases Verity. She's certainly not the shy young quarian that joined her Normandy crew. When one of Tali's squad questions her suggestion to team up with these Cerberus operatives, she admonishes him swiftly and firmly. Verity hopes that she hasn't influenced Tali entirely though, she doesn't want her making the same rash decisions she has over the years, but she likes this more confident person. True to form, it transpires that Cerberus had previously attempted to destroy a ship of the quarian fleet, though there is no time for whys and wherefores right now. However, Miranda continues to grate by condescendingly stating that the quarians' view is only one point of view of what happened. Verity cannot think of a reason to justify such an action, but notes that Miranda seems to defend Cerberus, no matter how dark the accusation.
Once everyone has cooled, Tali explains that her squad is investigating a young nervous quarian, Veetor, on his Pilgrimage on Freedom's Progress, helping the colony. He has been spotted, so certainly survived whatever took the colonists. Good, Verity thinks, perhaps he can help with what happened here. The two groups split and head to where Veetor was last seen.
A few more automated defences slow down Shepard's squad, but not for long. Long enough however for Tali to come of the comm, informing the Cerberus team that her squad has rushed ahead to try and beat them to Veetor, no doubt they do not trust Verity's team. Miranda smugly expresses that she is not surprised, Verity just allows her to do so, knowing that to challenge her will just cause an argument.
Shepard's squad reaches a large set of doors when Tali comes over the comms again, advising caution as a heavy mech is on the prowl. The doors open just in time for Verity to see Tali's squad get annihilated by the powerful machine. The two Cerberus operatives head straight into cover, with Miranda stating she can take it out with her tech attacks. Unconvinced, Verity spots a heavy weapon across the way and makes a break for it before the mech can acquire its targets. Her shields drop as a rocket attack from the machine impacts near her, but she makes it to the weapon and cover. Miranda and Jacob flounder as the mech presses down on them, just before Verity leaps out of cover to fire several grenades at it, causing he mech to spasm before blowing up. With all threats taken out, Verity rushes to Tali in a medical area tending to her team. She urges Verity to get to Veetor before any further threats arrive.
They find Veetor confused and babbling. However, he has captured footage and data on the attackers: the Collectors. Without pause, Miranda wants to bring the young quarian into Cerberus custody to press him on what he knows. Tali arrives in time to hear this and angrily argues that Cerberus only want to torture information out of him. Verity cannot disagree that Cerberus should not be trusted and orders that Veetor goes with Tali and her squad just take the omni-tool data. Miranda scowls, annoyed that her suggestion is ignored.
Verity's heart sinks as her invitation to Tali to join her crew is turned down. Verity wants someone familiar in her squad, someone with warmth, someone friendly to talk to. Instead, Verity must return to the Cerberus facility with only these cold dark operatives, seemingly devoid of any compassion.
Upon returning to the Cerberus base, Verity stops before they get to Illusive Man's communication platform.
"Commander?" Jacob asks.
Verity folds her arms.
"You go ahead, Jacob."
"Yes, ma'am."
Jacob salutes, then walks on ahead.
"Miranda, a word please."
"Yes, Commander?"
"What combat experience do you have, Miranda?"
"Oh I'm well versed in an array of small arms, my biotics are highly advanced for a human, I've had extensive experience operating in the Terminus Systems..."
"No, you misunderstood. What 'combat' experience do you have?"
"I've had extensive training, and in exercises..."
"Exercises? Anyway, my point is this. I've spent pretty much my whole life as an Alliance officer, I was training as a biotic from around seventeen years old, I've been in combat for nearly all that time. I was the sole survivor of your 'experiment' on Akuze... oh... until I found out you people had tortured Toombs..."
"That was a misunderstanding..."
"Don't insult my intelligence, that was no misunderstanding. Do you always talk over your superiors like this? I passed out of N7 training with flying colours, spent months in the Terminus systems fighting geth, mercenaries, Cerberus, rachni, ancient creatures you've probably never even heard of, Saren, and saved the Citadel from the Reaper Sovereign. So do not ever question my judgement in the field. Do not try to tell me how to fight. And please, keep your smug observations to yourself."
"Hm."
"I need to work with Cerberus, and it seems Cerberus needs to work with me, so we're stuck with each other for now. We need to make this work, Miranda, not just for us, but possibly for the whole galaxy, do you understand? This isn't the high school clique, this is serious. Do I make myself clear?"
"Well, I don't know that..."
"Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Commander." Miranda responds, almost choking on the words.
"Thank you. This is a military operation, let's not forget that okay? Without the strict chain of command things can fall apart quickly, we can't afford that. More lives than just our own are at stake here."
"Yes, Commander."
Miranda knows that Verity is right, they must keep the status quo for the sake of humanity. She dislikes that her new Commander is so open thinking, having had an alien contingent when she commanded the Normandy and the rumours of an asari lover. And now Illusive Man wants them to put a whole team of aliens together again and bring each species' agendas with them. At least there's one thing that both Miranda and Verity can agree on: this is never going to work.
"So did I pass?" Verity asks.
"What?"
"My biotics. Did they pass muster?"
"Oh."
Miranda responds through gritted teeth.
"I have to admit, Commander, Jacob was right. I've never seen a human with such powerful biotics."
Verity slaps her on the back.
"Was that a compliment? See? Now we're getting somewhere."
She knows this would annoy Miranda and, indeed, it does.
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Post by mrstoob on Oct 10, 2012 11:49:10 GMT 1
Chapter 35
Liara stands and stares out of her office window, restless and confused. She doesn't know how she feels about the potential of Verity's return. If her lover returns to resume where they left off, Liara isn't certain she can. Verity will no doubt be putting her life in danger again, fighting whatever threats to the galaxy she encounters and Liara does not think she can withstand losing her a second time. She had barely come to terms with her death the first time. She leaves her office.
"Nyxeris, I'm going out for a while, I just need some air and time to clear my head."
"Of course, doctor, I'll hold the fort."
"Oh, have we made any progress on the Shadow Broker agents yet?"
"Possibly. I'm just whittling the potentials down to something more positive."
"Good, keep working on it. I'll see you later."
"Goodbye, doctor."
Liara descends the stairs from her office into the trading area, looks around, then decides to try out the Eternity bar which she has yet to frequent. As she heads there, she sees a male human in what looks like an N7 Alliance uniform arguing with an asari trading clerk. As she passes the man, she stops. Then turns to look at him.
"Conrad?"
"Shhh." he says, exaggerated. "I'm under cover."
"A human. On Illium. In an N7 uniform. That's not exactly what I would call 'under cover'."
"Wait... I remember you. You were with Shepard when we met on the Citadel."
Liara folds her arms.
"Conrad Verner. What are you doing wearing that armour? I thought we made it clear that you should return home to your family. You're not a trained combatant, you could get into some serious trouble or worse. If the Alliance found out you were masquerading as an N7 officer..."
"Well what was I supposed to do? Shepard's not here, the council won't help anyone, we're all on our own, man. I'm trying to help."
"How exactly is coming to asari controlled space helping anything?"
"Umm... I dunno... without Shepard around and more human colonies going missing, I just wanted to do something.. I thought heading to the Terminus Systems would be a good place to start and I ended up here."
"And what are you doing with that clerk?"
"She sold me faulty weaponry, man. The cool down system doesn't work but she just keeps laughing at me, won't give a refund or even a replacement. Can you help me and talk to her?"
Liara laughs then continues to the bar, shouting back.
"You're beyond help, Conrad. Please. Go home to your wife!"
"Oh... er... I don't have... oh."
Conrad now stands awkwardly, like a lost child, his once brilliant mind addled by too much partying and recreational drug abuse at university. He was able to complete his complex dissertation on ancient alien technologies before his cognitive abilities left him completely, but his degree did him no good. His social awkwardness and inability to hold a train of thought has made him insular and near unemployable. Conrad has become obsessive, channelling all his available energies trying to emulate his heroine and love. His heart is in the right place, he just hasn't the faculties required to be of any use.
Liara enters the Eternity bar, a simple place playing soft ambient music, just the kind that she likes to relax to. She heads to the bar where an asari bartender greets her.
"Heya babe. What can I get you?"
Liara has learned from her adventures travelling the galaxy to spot out of place characters, and this asari fits the profile. She seats herself at the counter.
"Gin and tonic, please."
"Coming up. Not seen you in here before?"
"No, I've only lived here for a while. Just clearing my head, thought I'd check out this place."
"Well, we're nothing fancy, just drinks and a friendly ear if you need it. Aethyta's the name."
Aethyta slides the glass to Liara, who takes a sip then peers at her.
"Hmm... Aethyta? I know that name..."
"Well, it's not unique."
"Matriarch Aethyta?"
"Nearly. Well... I used to be 'til the Matriarchs decided I wasn't towing the party line. But that's another story."
"Of course! Methia and Benezia used to often argue about your stance on the future of the asari."
"Tsk, Methia, she's stuck in the past. Yea, well, I'm just glad to see that not all asari hitting the maiden stage are wasting their time shaking their asses in seedy bars."
Realising she may have said too much already, Aethyta tries to cover herself, "You knew Benezia?"
"Of course, she was my mother until..."
"Yea, I heard something about all that. Nasty business. Tip of the iceberg from what I hear."
"You hear correctly."
"Lady Benezia's daughter eh? Catch you later, doll, I've got customers to serve, tables to wipe, aah the glamorous lifestyle I lead here."
"We'll speak again I'm sure."
Liara is intrigued by this asari bartender. The most she'd heard about Aethyta was snippets of arguments emanating from her childhood living room, but she is sure there is more to this. She will investigate this former Matriarch and the reasons for her presence on Illium as a bartender. Even if no longer a Matriarch on the council, it seems odd to Liara that an eminent asari would be in such lowly employment.
"Of all the... how dare they... hmph!"
Liara has received information regarding the Matriarchs and their 'mole' Aethyta. She is especially annoyed as she feels she had clearly showed her allegiances by passing on Cerberus information to them. It also confirms that which she has both hoped and feared, that Verity is indeed alive. Despite Verity working for Cerberus, Liara is certain that she would only do so through necessity and would never subscribe to their doctrine of hate. But discovering that the Matriarchs are spying on her incenses her. To confront Aethyta would be counter-productive and may put her own life at risk. There are enough threats in her life right now without provoking the wrath of the Matriarchs.
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Post by mrstoob on Oct 10, 2012 11:51:24 GMT 1
Chapter 36
This is more like it. A ship, a crew, objectives and Illusive Man has given Verity a set of dossiers on potential squad members. Their varied reports look impressive enough, but can she trust or rely on them? A mercenary? A thief? A convict? Will they be committed to the cause, willing to put their lives at risk to get the job done? The Normandy is travelling to the Omega mining facility to recruit salarian scientist, Mordin Solus. It's almost like the old ship, not quite, but close enough to be familiar. And with Joker as pilot, Verity feels a lot more comfortable.
"Good to be home eh, Commander?" says Joker in his pilot's seat.
"Sort of. It's not quite the SR-1 but I've got to take what I can at the moment."
"Oh come on, give yourself a break for once."
"Mr Moreau is correct, Shepard. Undue stress is not good for your well-being or the mission."
"EDI, when I want an AI's opinion on emotional matters, I'll ask for it."
"Yes, Commander."
"You tell it, Commander. I just wish it'd respond like that for me but no, it has to point out every little thing about everything I do."
"Your disregard for procedure is dangerous, Mr Moreau. Shepard is the commander of this vessel, I am required to follow her instruction."
"See? Bah, you're right, this isn't quite the same. Hey, wait a minute. EDI, are you saying you outrank me?"
"I have no rank, Mr Moreau."
"Hmm, not sure that actually answered my question."
"I'll leave you two to it."
"See you, Commander."
Verity tours the ship, familiarising herself with the differences from the SR-1. She heads first to the CIC to meet her team. The red headed, youthful Yeoman Kelly Chambers leaves her station to greet Verity with an enthusiastic bounce in her step. She explains she will take care of any communications or information that the Commander should be aware of. When Verity questions why the Yeoman fills this role rather than a VI, Kelly admits she is also there to assess the stress and mental well being of the crew.
"Hm, well. You'd have your work cut out with me at the best of times, Chambers. Unfortunately, I have just risen from the dead only to be forced into a pact with Mephastopheles, or 'Illusive Man' as he likes to be known, to work with the devil that is Cerberus to stop the abduction of human colonies. On top of which, I have no idea where my girlfriend is now and I'm desperate to find her. So as you can imagine, my stress levels are pretty darn high right now."
Kelly laughs nervously, unsure how much her new Commander is joking.
"Don't get me wrong, Chambers. It's good that you're here, I'm just going through a lot right now. I'm going to inspect the crew deck, I'll see you later."
"Later, Shepard."
A little informal from the young Yeoman, but Verity expects it from someone in her position and this isn't technically a military vessel. Upon reaching the infirmary on the crew deck, she is surprised by the familiar face that greets her.
"Commander Shepard. I watched the Normandy crumble with you on board. It's good to see you alive." Doctor Chakwas says, dramatically spinning in her chair to face Verity.
"Nice to see a familiar face, doctor. What are you doing here?"
"I'm the doctor, where else did you expect to find me? Engineering?"
"No. Tsk. Here on a Cerberus ship?"
"After the council disbanded the old crew, I was at a loss without a ship to fly on. Did a few postings here and there but it wasn't the same as serving on a ship such as the Normandy. When Cerberus contacted me, told me about you and this ship, I had to come. I mean come on, I couldn't let you loose on the galaxy again without keeping an eye on you now could I?"
"Hmm." Verity says, still embarrassed at how Chakwas had found her distraught.
"And how are you? Really, I mean. This must be strange and disorientating for you. Are you coping?"
"I'll cope better when I can find Liara."
"Yes. Hmm. I don't suppose you've had a chance to catch up with all that's been going on."
"What's been going on?"
"Liara didn't cope well when you died. Well if I'm honest, that's an understatement. Oh you should have seen her on the rescue ship when she heard. I'll never forget that... Inconsolable. Awful. She was admitted to a secure hospital unit on the Citadel with post-traumatic stress, near catatonic for the first couple of weeks but then became increasingly confused and violent by the medical records. She broke out with the assistance of Gunnery Chief Williams, then pretty much disappeared off the radar for me after that."
"Violent? But how is she now? Where is she now?"
"I'm sorry, Shepard. I have no idea where she is now."
A look of frustration and rage comes across Verity's face as she feels helpless to help her love, or even knows if she needs help.
"Commander...?" Chakwas frowns as she scolds.
Verity lets out a long breath.
"Do you believe in fate, doctor?"
"Hmm, why?"
"I always have this feeling that events take place just to mock me. Every turn I take, there's my past laughing at me. This feels just like that."
"I'm not sure that's a very healthy view to take. But regardless, my offer of help still stands if you feel overwhelmed."
"Thanks, doctor. I'll be okay."
"Hmm. Very good then."
"You got everything you need?"
"I believe so, this medical bay seems very much like the sick bay on the original Normandy. Only thing missing are my private reserves. I even had a bottle of Serrice Ice Brandy that I was saving for a special occasion."
"I'll keep an eye out for a replacement bottle."
"Oh you needn't, it's expensive and we have much larger concerns ahead."
"I'll see you later, doctor."
"Commander."
The doctor can see that Verity is far from 'okay', especially after discovering about Liara's distress.
No sooner has Verity and her squad of Miranda and Jacob arrived at Omega, they meet their first recruit: mercenary and bounty hunter, Zaeed Massani. He mentions the mission he recently picked up and would like help accomplishing, as promised on Verity's behalf by Cerberus. He explains about Vido Santiago and the Blue Suns and she agrees, welcoming him to the crew. Leaving Zaeed to make his way to the Normandy, the squad head to the Afterlife club to speak with Aria T'Loak for any information on the whereabouts of the salarian scientist. After a difficult introduction, and much bravado from Aria, they discover the location of Mordin Solus, in a residential area currently quarantined. With the information they need, Verity is about to leave when Aria continues to talk.
"You caught up with Doctor T'Soni yet?"
"Uh, no? You know Liara?"
"Oh yea, she and I go waaay back. Well if you see her, tell her I said 'hi'."
"Umm, yea, sure. You know where she is?"
"Not right now, no. She just pops up here from time to time."
"Hm, okay. If she 'pops up' again, let met know."
"Sure thing."
Verity starts to walk away when she looks around the club at the familiar movements of the asari dancers and the penny drops.
"Wait a minute, did you teach Liara to dance?"
"Haha! Yea! She told you about that? She's quite the little mover. Took nearly all the alcohol in my apartment to get her going though. Something you might consider, if you catch my drift."
Aria gives out a dirty laugh.
"Hm. She was right too."
"About what?"
"She said you're my kind of asari, I'm glad it's you I have to deal with here."
"Oh." Aria isn't quite sure how to respond to a genuine compliment, she is only used to the sycophants who shower her with false praise. "Thanks, I guess. But don't get too comfortable, my business and my facility come first. But yea, I can work with you, you seem straight up and no nonsense. Just try not to bring any of your 'goings on' to my facility like Liara."
"Like what? When was Liara last here?"
"That was a while ago now. Probably best if you hear that one from Liara."
"Right. Okay. Thanks again."
Verity also thinks that Liara was right about something else. This asari is indeed 'powerfully attractive', but she thinks better of mentioning this part.
It's been quite an adventure in itself gathering the squad thus far. First of all, battling through bands of mercenary factions to reach Mordin Solus, only to be sent on an errand to assist in curing a mysterious disease targeting turians and batarians. A cocktail party heist with Kasumi Goto, a human and so called 'Master Thief'. Battling deranged krogan and Blue Suns mercenaries to recruit a battlemaster but instead gaining the tank bred but powerful krogan youth Grunt. Not to mention a near prison break to get Jack, a troubled and unusually adept human biotic. The master thief Kasumi and krogan Grunt Verity can handle, but Jack is another matter.
Jack reminds Verity of her own youthful self before she threw herself into her training and the Alliance with the help of Captain Dumas; she was a loner, uncontrolled, violent, without direction. Nothing can be said to Jack without her trying to shock or offend, littering her language with expletives, always with a look of 'and what?' It all seems almost pretentious to Verity but she is eager to break through this wall and help Jack where she can. Verity also likes Jack's nickname for Miranda: 'Cerberus Cheerleader'. She briefly ponders Miranda's 'girl squad' status with such a nickname, and a backside to challenge Tali.
The latest recruit is a happy surprise. It turns out that the vigilante 'Archangel' they had been to recruit from Omega is former Normandy squad mate Garrus Vakarian. He took some heavy fire from a mercenary gunship during his rescue but surprises again when he quickly arrives at the Normandy briefing room straight from the medical bay, ready for action. Jacob comments that Garrus is one "tough son of a bitch", then salutes and leaves, leaving Verity and Garrus alone.
"You make your crew salute you? This isn't Alliance is it?"
"Oh Jacob? He just does that himself. He's former Alliance career, as am I now I suppose. That's my reckoning anyway. I let him do it. Seems to give him a little pride. You know, like he hasn't abandoned his values completely. If the council and the Alliance were doing something about all this, he knows where he'd rather be. The odd ex-Alliance crew member salutes, I think it's good for morale."
"Hmm."
"Yea. It is good to see you though, Garrus. I've been going crazy since... well since I woke up."
"You heard from Liara yet?"
"I was hoping you might fill me in there."
"Williams would be your best bet there, from what I hear."
"Hm, maybe it's about time I visited Councillor Anderson, find out where Ashley is, build some bridges with the council. They can't ignore the attacks on the colonies, not the scale that these are on."
"Ahem. Yea, good luck with that."
"Hmm. We have to try. Even Illusive Man said if we can raise their help, he wouldn't be opposed to it."
"I know but... we've been here before."
"Joker?" Verity calls over the comm.
"Yes, Commander?"
"Set course for the Citadel."
"Aye aye, ma'am."
"And Garrus? After everything we talked about on the old Normandy, tracking Doctor Saleon, and you end up a vigilante? 'I just point my rifle and shoot'? What's that all about?"
"Hey, come on. You're not so clean yourself. Wrex and me, we never said anything about Feros. You couldn't let Liara know that one, eh?"
"Gah, I know. I'm just disappointed that I made no difference to you at all."
"Oh you did. That was part of the problem I suppose. After the freedom of flying with a Spectre, I couldn't go back to the procedural nightmare of C-Sec. Omega was perfect. No local law enforcement to stop someone like me actually trying to help. I've made a difference."
"The ends justify the means?"
"I think so."
"Despite my mistakes, I still can't agree. I'll always strive for perfection, be satisfied with excellence but prepared for failure. And boy, I can't disagree with you that I've failed at times. Shiala is like a haze. I still had Benezia's words ringing in my ears, that she'd never be free of indoctrination and was willing to die for us to stop her. They were just extensions of Sovereign. I dunno, it all still feels wrong."
"War is dirty. When the mistakes involve killing innocents, it never feels right. When you don't know who the innocents are, well... You just said yourself, you have to be prepared for failure. It's inevitable at some point."
"You can be prepared for it, but it doesn't make it feel any better. Well we'd better get on. I suppose you're itching to get your hands on our cannons."
"I'm intrigued to see how Cerberus calibrates theirs. All that funding to throw at their projects, should be interesting."
"Hm. If you say so." Verity jibes.
"Oh you're so looking for a hiding, Shepard."
"Hey! I'm spoken for."
"In your dreams, 'Blonde Bombshell'"
After having their request for assistance with the human colonies dismissed by the council, Verity, Garrus and Miranda walk back onto the Normandy. Not only that, but also the notion of Reapers has been dismissed by the council. Garrus stands and stares at the floor of the corridor.
"I'm stunned. Truly stunned."
"I know." Miranda agrees. "But the air quotes. Was that really necessary?"
"Well if nothing else," Verity says, "some things haven't changes while I've been away."
"Small comfort, Commander. Now you see why Cerberus had to step up." Miranda says with an air of smugness, before marching off to her quarters.
"Ditto." Verity calls back at Miranda, who stops and faces back towards her.
"What?"
"Cerberus. Small comfort."
"Hm!"
Verity sits in the crew deck canteen. She slots a thermal clip into her pistol, then pops it out again. Then back in, then out again. She continues to do so while she just watches the crew going about their business. She is disappointed that Anderson could provide no information on Ashley's whereabouts, stating she is on classified assignments. A quizzical look comes across Verity's face and she places the pistol on the table.
"Hm. Ummm..."
She picks up the pistol and presses the thermal clip release one-handed, sending the clip flying out of the side of the pistol with a 'ping'. She then holsters the pistol grabs a spare clip and slaps it into the slot while on her hip, then pulls the pistol out again ready for action.
"Ha!"
"Well you look like the cat who got the cream, if you don't mind me saying so, Commander."
"Not a problem, Gardner, just getting the hang of the new equipment. Things changed a lot in two years. I was just working out how to reload if I only had the use of one hand. Wouldn't be the first time, I can tell you."
All the while during their conversation, Verity continues to pop the clip in and out of her pistol, now with both hands.
"Aw dang, just give you a stick and you'll beat them reapers to death with it! The equipment don't matter, it's you that matters."
"I dunno, that's a lot of weight."
Realising he is in deeper now than he intended, Gardner placates with general support.
"Well, you just keep doing what you're doing and things'll work out. You'll see. We've all got faith in you, Commander."
"Thanks, Gardner."
"Well, no rest for the wicked. The lunch time crowd will be here soon enough."
"What's on the menu today?"
"Let's just call it 'food' shall we? It's edible and has balanced nutritional value."
"Just as well we got those supplies from the Citadel."
"Yea, can't wait to see what's in the stores, just been too busy to take stock yet. Maybe I might even be able to have identifiable dishes. Oh! And a menu board."
Gardner spreads his hands out towards the large fridge as he speaks, as though showing the location of his intended display.
"Hm, nice meals for morale are one thing. Opening a greasy spoon aboard my ship is another."
"Sorry, Commander, just got a bit carried away there. You gonna do that all day?"
"What?"
"The whole 'clip in, clip out' routine you're doing there."
"Muscle memory. I've got two years of catching up to do. I need to be able to do this without thinking, be able to focus all my powers on the task at hand."
"Just remember, they come out hot."
"What?"
"It was a joke. The clips come out hot. You're catching that one there... never mind."
"Oh, yea. Ha. Hm."
"Well don't let me interrupt you, I've got plenty to do."
"Later, Gardner."
"Commander."
Gardner always likes to vocalise his busyness, ever fearful that he would be hoofed off the ship at the first opportunity for not pulling his weight. He feels the myriad of jobs he does are trivial, cleaning toilets and domestic duties, preparing meals, minor repairs, and indeed they are not the most important tasks aboard the Normandy. But they are essential tasks and someone must do them. Gardner is always first to offer his services if any task comes up unallocated, at times overreaching his abilities and requiring saving from disaster by one of the engineering team. That he is contributing to this great cause is enough for Gardner no matter how mundane the task, and every cog, however small, turns the machine.
"Commander?" Yeoman Kelly Chambers comes over the comm.
"Go ahead, Chambers."
"The Illusive Man would like to speak with you in the briefing room."
"Acknowledged."
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Post by mrstoob on Oct 10, 2012 11:55:25 GMT 1
Chapter 37
The waves of Collector forces has been intense on the human colony of Horizon where Shepard and her squad were initially investigating but then fighting broke out as they caught the Collectors in the act. The final creature that the Collectors sent to combat her squad, like a massive squid made of husk technology, took a lot to bring down. With his tech and her biotic attacks, Mordin and Shepard threw all they had at the thing while Garrus used up clip after clip. Once the beast finally fell and the Collector ship made its escape having captured the colony, a calm silence falls across the bright grassy colony.
A joy comes across Verity when Ashley appears, showering her with praise to explain who the commander is to a disgruntled engineer. But this soon changes to words of anger as Ashley cannot understand why Verity has chosen to join Cerberus, admonishing Garrus in the process. She will not listen that Cerberus is the only organization actively trying to bring an end to these mass kidnappings, with even Mordin chipping in to explain why they would join such a dark organization. It hurts Verity deeply that her best friend is so harsh with her, unwilling to trust her like she once did. She can understand that Ashley would stay loyal to the Alliance, but to be so personal about Verity's choice is too much for her.
As Ashley turns and walks away, Verity calls after her.
"Ash!"
"What? What more do we have to say? You're with the organization that caused the deaths of countless innocents with their sick experiments, murdered a high ranking Alliance official and you want me to just 'deal'. I get it."
"No wait."
"What?"
"Liara."
"Sorry. But no."
"What?"
"I'm not putting you near her while you're with Cerberus. She's been through enough."
"Is she okay? Chakwas said she was in a bad way."
"Yea she was, all the more reason why I don't want you near her. She was just about okay last I saw her."
"Is she... does she...?"
"As far as I know, she's not with anyone else. She really missed you."
"Please Ash, this has nothing to do with Cerberus, or the Alliance, or the Collectors, or anything else, you know that."
"Ah damn it." Asley places her hands on her hips and squints at Shepard, assessing her sincerity. "Nos Astra on Illium. But if you or your Cerberus buddies mess with her head, god help me..."
"Thank you Ash, you won't regret it, I promise."
Verity jogs back to her squad with a grin on her face. Ashley calls back after her.
"I'm still pissed off with you, ma'am! But good luck!"
Upon returning to the Normandy, Verity goes to set a course to Illium to see she has new unread messages on her terminal. A mail from Illusive man. Unbelievable. He wants her to travel to the planet of Illium to pass on information about the Shadow Broker to Liara T'Soni. Well to Verity, this sounds like a mission of the utmost importance, to be executed without delay.
"Doctor T'Soni?"
"Yes, Nyxeris?"
"A call from the port concierge."
"Put it through."
"Doctor T'Soni?"
"Yes, Careena?"
"You wanted to be notified if a particular ship arrived in our sector?"
"The Normandy SR-2, yes?"
"Well, we currently have them in a holding pattern while we find them a bay right here at Nos Astra. My apologies that we could not inform you earlier. It was most odd. We did not pick them up until they were right on us."
"Excellent. Thank you, Careena. Please forward all docking and administration fees to my account."
"Of course, doctor. Then I shall greet them personally for you. Shall I direct them to your office?"
"Oh. Yes. Thank you. How kind."
"Thank you, Doctor T'Soni. Have a good day."
"Goodbye."
In her relatively short time on Illium, Liara has built the respect of the local authorities and businesses, and quite a reputation. Most are aware of her past with the Normandy and involvement in the Battle of the Citadel. The docking authorities were more than happy to assist her with her request.
Liara's heart is racing. To see Shepard alive again, will it be too hard? She does not think she can go through losing Verity again and does not intend to make such advances. Friendship. That's enough. Even if she doesn't ever love another that's all she wants to offer to Shepard right now. She has her work to do, bringing down the Shadow Broker and freeing Feron. She cannot join the squad right now as she knows Verity will ask, there is too much to do.
"Doctor T'Soni?"
"Nyxeris?"
"I have further information on the Shadow Broker spy."
"Excellent. Please, come through."
Nyxeris thinks she has been clever this time. She has dispersed data incriminating the 'spy' around Nos Astra but will inform Liara that she happened across this information from a source. It will certainly confirm the spy's presence but will, she thinks be indeterminable, enough that it looks like Nyxeris is genuinely doing her work but vague enough to misdirect Liara from the truth. Unfortunately for Nyxeris, in her enthusiasm to set this ruse up she overlooked one glaring anomaly that points right back in her direction. Nyxeris has had plenty of time to ponder her current lot. Had she known that Liara was so amiable, the work so interesting, the location ideal, and so many other things that she enjoys about this work, she would have declined the Shadow Broker's offer and just taken this job for real. It's the first regular wage she's ever had and Liara pays well, knowing this is difficult and dangerous work. Then she wonders if that would have just made her another target on the Broker's list. She never thought her life would be this complicated but she is beginning to realise that she is neck deep in it and rising.
"Come on." Shepard hovers her hand over the button to open the Normandy's airlock to the outside.
"You know how long it takes for the walkways to extend. Can you calm down?" Garrus says.
"So this is your girlfriend we're seeing eh?" Jack asks.
"Yep. Well, I hope so. You know, that she... It's been two years, for most of which I was dead apparently."
"Ha! This should be interesting then." Jack laughs.
"Come on, Jack, don't be an ass."
"Hey!" Jack points an aggressive finger at Verity, "Fuck you."
"Jack, I'm just saying I don't want this to be a spectator sport, alright?"
"Well if it gets a little intense, I know when to give people space and get the fuck out. Good enough?"
Verity hits the door button the moment the the clunk of the walkway sounds and marches quickly down the corridor.
"Okay Shepard!" Garrus calls after her. "We understand that you're eager to get there, but please, chill."
"Yea," Jack joins in, "it ain't a fucking race."
Verity keeps walking, dismissively waving her hand at the pair, only to be confronted by an asari accompanied by two mechs. There's always something, Verity thinks, expecting the worst. Happily, it is only the port concierge greeting them most cordially and informing them that Liara has taken care of any fees due, prompting Verity to ask for more specific information on her current status and location. Verity is not sure either way what she thinks of Liara becoming a well respected information broker, it certainly seems like a big departure from her previous vocation. And a vocation is was, not just a career. Liara adored discovering the secrets of the protheans, talking at length with Verity about the digs she would conduct if she only had the time. She has had the time, so what went wrong?
The squad walk through the busy trading area towards Liara's office, the large window now visible overlooking the trading floor. There are various species making purchases, trading in stock and generally milling around. Jack comments that despite this city looking so beautiful and seemingly civil, it is only one bad day away from becoming like Omega.
"Do you have to?" Verity says.
"What?"
"Always trying to shock with crap like that. There's no need."
"It's true."
"Yea, but you're giving no-one the heebie-jeebies, you know."
"Whatever. You fuck off and see your girlfriend, I'm gonna hang here."
"Stay out of trouble."
"As long as it doesn't come looking for me."
"I'll stay with Jack." Garrus says.
"I don't need babysitting."
"I'm not. I'm watching your back."
"I can look after myself."
"I don't recall saying that you couldn't."
Garrus likes a little banter at the best of times and Jack is quite the challenge. Verity shakes her head as she ascends the stairs, finding Nyxeris manning reception. She nervously introduces herself to the asari, discovering more about Liara's influence in her new trade in information and Nyxeris' role. Verity opens the door to the office to find Liara making threats to a man on vid-com, her back to the door.
"Have you ever faced an asari commando unit before?" Liara says. "Few humans have."
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Post by mrstoob on Oct 10, 2012 11:57:36 GMT 1
Chapter 38
"Nyxeris gave me the information..."
As she says the words and the truth becomes apparent, Liara rages inside that she has been so stupid, the Shadow Broker spy right under her nose all this time. Her lack of success in tracking the Broker's agents begins to make sense to her now. They couldn't have evaded her so well for so long without good reason. In her angered state and eager to exact her revenge, Liara ignores that she is in mid-conversation with Verity on a secure radio channel and reaches for her intercom.
"Nyxeris? Could I see you in here for a moment?"
Liara turns back to her radio conversation with Verity.
"Shepard, I'll talk to you later."
Standing on the trading floor, Verity looks at her communicator in disbelief and frustration when Liara just cuts the channel.
"I can't take much more of this. Let's just head back to the Normandy."
"Sorry, Shepard." Garrus simply says, placing a consoling hand on her shoulder as they walk, her head dropped and feet heavy. Even Jack is able to bite her tongue upon seeing how much this means to Verity.
Nyxeris enters Liara's office in her usual nonchalant fashion and leans against the doorway.
"More excitement?"
Nyxeris just thinks that her ruse is still playing out as planned. Liara is unsure quite why Nyxeris has left herself so wide open and still playing it so cool.
"Well the information Shepard just gathered for me was quite surprising."
"Oh? How so?"
"You don't know do you?" Liara says with a smile, saying the words as it dawns on her.
"What?"
"All this time. I wonder what you've been doing."
"I am sure I do not know what you mean, doctor." Nyxeris really is confused.
"Did you even study this information first?"
"What? I..."
Liara's assistant begins to feel her adrenaline flow at what she knows what must be coming. She is already assessing whether fight or flight would be best. To flee would only put off the inevitable. She has seen Liara's determination and obsession to hunt those who have wronged her, it would surely be a fate as bad as crossing the Broker. Better to stop it now, contain the situation. If she can. Her fear begins to rise, of Liara's personal abilities. Having now seen her battle hardened associates from the Normandy, Nyxeris wonders just how experienced Liara is.
"Your information, it tells me you're the spy, Nyxeris."
"No!" Nyxeris screams with feral ferocity, not in denial but in disbelief that this is actually happening to her, fuelled by adrenaline and fear.
"Not very dignified for a Broker agent, Nyxeris." Liara says calmly.
Nyxeris throws a warp attack at Liara, who is already poised and ready to throw up her barrier which deflects the blue charge. Liara stands with a menacing look and a biotic glow charging on her arm. Seeing her intent, Nyxeris puts up her own barrier with a look of fear in her eyes. Liara flings her warp attack at the protective sphere causing the weak protection to instantly dissipate and sending Nyxeris tumbling. Seizing on her disorientation, Liara leaps over her desk with glowing biotic assistance to land on Nyxeris' chest, pressing her arms to the ground with her knees and grabbing her throat, her other arm raised and glowing.
"I trusted you."
"Gawk..." Nyxeris has difficulty speaking with Liara's hand grabbing her throat. "Erk... No-one says no to the Broker."
"I did." Liara replies, smashing her biotically charged fist into Nyxeris' face, killing her instantly.
Shaking, Liara goes straight to her console and fumbles on the keypad.
"Ah! Doctor T'Soni! A pleasure to see you!" a salarian answers on vid-com. "To what do I owe..."
"Harook, I need your services. My office. As soon as possible."
"Not like you to need clean up?"
"This was rather... unexpected. Please, quickly."
"Of course, doctor. We'll be right over."
Liara sits at her desk, her fingers fidgeting on her knee as she looks over at Nyxeris' lifeless body. How much information about Liara has she passed on to the Broker? Just how vulnerable is she now? She has no way of knowing.
"Stupid girl."
She finds herself slapping her forehead in annoyance at not detecting Nyxeris earlier, then stops to look at her hand. She thinks to herself that it is a long time since she last did that.
"Oh Verity..." Liara says sadly, reminded of more innocent times.
Upon returning to the Normandy from Illium with Jack and Garrus, Shepard heads straight to the elevator to go to her quarters. She needs to get away and have time alone after today. Miranda attempts to confront her as she walks through the CIC.
"Commander, I have something I need to discuss with you."
"Not now, Lawson." Verity dismisses then waits at the elevator.
Miranda is poised to march forward and speak her mind when she feels herself pulled back and turns to see Garrus firmly holding her arm.
"What are you doing?" she struggles.
"Leave it." Garrus says quietly.
"What's going on?"
"Let's just say the re-union didn't go how the Commander would have planned."
"What? We don't have time for this self-indulgent nonsense."
Verity enters the elevator and Miranda attempts to march away again only to be tugged back once more.
"Stop doing that!"
"Do you even know who you work for? Really I mean. Beyond the vids and reports."
"What do you mean?" Miranda replies with sudden but serious interest.
"You get nothing for nothing in this galaxy. Shepard is the best at what she does, she solves problems that convention can't make go away. More than just an N7 officer or a Spectre, if you'd only seen what we achieved on the SR-1, you'd know. But with brilliance comes baggage. Shepard is a little, how you humans say, highly strung? Where Liara is concerned, woe betide anyone getting in the way there. She'll be okay, she just needs some space."
"We don't have time for this."
"We can't continue without her. We just have to make time."
"All of this is going in my report to the Illusive Man. I knew this was a bad idea. Alliance, aliens, criminals, all emotionally charged and short sighted. Jack's bad enough and now this. Who's next then? A geth? I think they're about the only ones who aren't going to be represented here. Christ, this is a shitty mess."
Verity exits her shower, gives herself a cursory dry with a towel then stands at the mirror for a moment and lets out a heavy sigh. The facial scarring from the surgical implants still persists. Chakwas had noted that the implants are sensitive to stress and a positive outlook should help clear up any residual markings. Ha! Verity thinks. She'll be scarred for life at this rate. She walks into her bedroom and moves her framed picture of Liara from her desk to her bedside table then gets into bed. She places her head on one pillow while holding another, hugging it, gazing at the picture.
"Oh Liara, what are you doing?"
She leans over and turns out the light. Verity whimpers with tears in the darkness feeling alone, squeezing the pillow. Her asari lover and her best friend have both been cold with her, shunned her. They used to be the closest of friends. Ashley she can almost understand but Liara? Why did she spurn her move to hug her so strangely? It is like the months of beautiful friendship they had never happened.
She is reminded of the final battle on the Citadel and Liara's reaction when Verity came stumbling out of the rubble. Liara could barely contain herself with joy that her lover was alive. That meant so much to Verity, one of her happiest warmest memories. What changed? The visit to Liara's office couldn't have been more opposite, she seemed almost indifferent to Verity being alive. She even knew what Verity is doing, who she is working with, where she has been. Why did she not contact Verity when she knew where she was? Doesn't she care at all any more?
Verity's mind is racing, considering all the worst possibilities for Liara's behaviour. Is Feron her lover? Would Ashley poison Liara towards Verity? Was Verity just an adolescent phase for the young asari, now bored with her beyond her usefulness as an asset? Unable to sleep she turns the light back on and sits on the edge of her bed. Was this fate's point? To give her back her life, only to pluck away the very things that made living worthwhile? With the doctor's words ringing in her head, she dresses in her fatigues and heads down to the crew deck. Verity enters the medical bay to find Chakwas watching sports on her extranet console, two crushed empty beer cans sit on the desk beside her.
"Oh sorry, I thought you'd be in your cot by now."
"But still you came." The doctor gestures towards another chair. "You want to..?"
"Sure, what we watching?"
Verity places the chair next to the doctor and sits.
"Oh I'm just catching up with the Skyball league highlights. It's been a cracking season."
The doctor pauses for a moment to look at Verity, assessing her tired looking face.
"But I get the impression you didn't come here to watch Skyball."
"Yea."
"Well let me get a couple more beers then."
"Oh. Okay."
The doctor goes to one of the medicine refrigerators to produce two beer cans, returns and hands one to Verity then sits, opens her can and takes a swig.
"Ah. There. So. What can I do for you?"
"I don't know if I can do this."
"Doubt is inevitable..."
"No. It's not doubt. Well of course I have my doubts about the mission, who wouldn't? But that's not what I mean. I don't think I can do this the way I am right now."
"Hmm." the doctor replies, allowing Shepard to release what she wants.
"I went to see Liara. It was like... It was like she didn't even know me or care to. Just treated me like one of her assets. Little or no emotion towards me. The most I got was a 'it's good to see you'. She just had a weird obsession with bringing down the Shadow Broker, I've no idea really why. Something to do with a drell named Feron, I dunno. I asked her just how close she and Feron are, but didn't really get a straight answer. I can't stop thinking the worst. Then she had me hacking terminals for her, once again to get information on the Broker. When I passed the information on, she barely sounded grateful and pretty much just cut me off. I don't know what the hell's going on. What's she been doing for the last two years?"
"That sounds awful. What did she have to say?"
"About what?"
"This change in attitude."
"Well..."
"You didn't ask?"
"I couldn't. I didn't know what to say. I was afraid of any answer she might give anyway. And her assistant Nyxeris was always hanging about, it wasn't the right time."
"Well you can't give up hope then. You've got to talk to her, my girl. Get back there, find out what's going on. I know it's frightening but... ha! Frightening. To the 'fearless' Commander Shepard. Sorry. I didn't mean to..."
"It's okay. You're right. I have to know either way if nothing else. I can't move on otherwise. Not sure the Illusive Man will be overly-impressed if I pursue this one. He wants me to give her the Shadow Broker intel, but I don't think he expected me to fly off to 'who knows where' across the galaxy with Liara."
"I'm sure he'll get over it. And anyway, I'd be more worried about our amply buttocked friend than him."
"The Cheerleader?"
Miranda's officious behaviour has irked even Chakwas.
"Hmm." the doctor confirms. "She's already gone bleating to the Illusive Man about your capacity as commander of this mission. Don't worry, I assured him otherwise."
"What about Chambers? She must have had input."
"She was actually quite supportive. She understands the stresses you're under and gave it to him straight. He was accommodating for the same reasons. Not easy to be brought back from the dead to be thrown straight back into the fire, no chance to pick up your life."
"No... no, it's not. But thanks, doctor. Probably best I give the Illusive Man a heads up, but I'm going to Nos Astra to help Liara with the Shadow Broker and find out what's going on with us. I have to."
"I saw what you two used to have, that can't have been lost so easily."
Verity rises and places her unopened can on the desk.
"Yea, we'll see how it goes. Thanks again, doctor."
"Goodnight, Shepard."
"Oh. And er... in the meds 'fridges? Really?"
The doctor looks with mocked righteous indignation and a smile.
"They are sealed and I disinfect the outers first."
"You know me, I don't mind. Just don't let the Cheerleader see."
"Ha!"
"Hmm. 'night then."
The doctor's smile becomes pained as she watches her leave, hopeful that Verity can find some peace with Liara. Verity feels charged by her chat with Chakwas and returns to her bed, able to put her thoughts to rest for now.
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Post by mrstoob on Oct 10, 2012 12:00:20 GMT 1
Chapter 39
Liara pants heavily in the Shadow Broker's lair, the adrenaline still coursing through her veins, having just defeating him. She helps Verity to her feet and just stares blankly for a moment as Verity goes to see to the waking Garrus who had been knocked unconscious during the fight with the Broker. Liara finds the console to release Feron from his imprisonment and the communications board lights up. The break in communications during their fight with the Broker has caused concern across his network. All are seeking a sign of life from the Broker. Liara steps up to the console and sees the voice affecting software running. She takes on the mantel of Shadow Broker and re-assures the network, her voice changed to his deep dark tones, demanding reports from all operations. Feron enters, ready to join the fight upon hearing the Broker's voice, only to be stunned to see Liara speaking the words. Conscious of Liara and Verity's need to be alone, Garrus assists the exhausted Feron to an adjoining room.
Liara feels release. For so long she has had revenge in her heart, hate even, darkness. The gnawing at her stomach has abated, the heavy mist on her head, dispersed. It has lifted with the final blow to the Broker and rescue of Feron, assisted by the one she now knows she cannot be without. Can she love Verity again? Dare she? What is the alternative? Fighting along side her again, feeling the worried anger when the Broker hurt her love, it tells her now she must be with her. Liara holds her head in her hands, her tears releasing the pain and emptiness of her recent life. Verity is here. Now. Can this be real? Verity places her hand on Liara's arm to turn her to face her.
"It's over." Liara says, meaning more than just her revenge on the Shadow Broker. "It's finally... for two years..."
"It's alright." Verity reassures.
Verity moves into a hug and this time Liara accepts, drinking it in, making up for the two years without her and for her recent actions to deny herself this. They kiss. Doubts lurk in Liara's mind again and she pulls out.
"It's been two years. I don't... we're different people. You have your mission and..."
Verity ignores her words and just pulls her in closer as a statement of her intentions. Liara can no longer resist and they kiss deeply.
"Okay... okay..." Liara eventually concedes.
"Okay!" Verity replies.
"But, we should focus. Let's see what our options are." Liara says as she returns to the Shadow Broker's information databanks. As she accesses the console, Verity stands behind her to hug her, placing her chin on Liara's shoulder, occasionally squeezing a little tighter.
"Mmm, Shepard! I said we should focus."
"This is nice though, I've missed how you feel. Warm and lovely."
"Yes." Liara moves Verity's hands from around her waste and turns to face her. "But there is still so much we need to talk about before we can begin to..."
"What aren't you telling me? I mean, you've told me all about the Broker and the Collectors, Omega, my body and all that, but what more is there? Did you and Feron..?"
"What? No! There hasn't been anyone else. There couldn't be."
"Well, at least that's something. Then what's been happening for the last two years to make you like this with me?"
Liara's face changes to one of great seriousness and sorrow.
"What? What's wrong, Liara?"
"You don't know what it was like..." she says with a quivering voice. "When you died... when you..."
"Hey, hey, I'm here now."
"No. I need to say this. You don't know how close I came to... it was either lash out or... give up."
"Liara! You wouldn't."
"Oh Shepard, it was terrible. When I was on that rescue ship and Joker told me... I've been so low for so long."
"But to give up entirely? You couldn't."
"I chose to lash out, spending my days hunting the ones who destroyed the Normandy then eventually falling into the information trade after my first encounter with the Broker. I was... I've been ruthless, Shepard. Really horrible. I've killed so many, sometimes even reveling in it. Even if they were thugs and mercenaries it still haunts me. I don't like that side of myself. I was afraid you wouldn't either."
"Come on, Liara. Look at who you're talking to. So you offed a few criminals who got in your way."
"It's not that simple. You are you, and I am me. When we were aboard the Normandy, we loved each other as we were. I know you liked me for my more innocent outlook. Like I said, we are two different people now."
"Why are you placing obstacles in our way?"
Liara looks away.
"I am afraid that once you see what I'm like now you won't want me any more. I feel like I'm a broken person now. I couldn't bare to lose you again. I know that makes no sense, to deny myself that which I'm afraid of losing but... I thought it would be best to just hide away from it all. But it seems I can't hide from you."
"Liara, see things from my point of view. A few months ago, as far as I'm concerned, you and I had the most wonderful relationship, totally in love. Then when I came to see you on Illium, you shut me out, barely acknowledged me. It was like 'us' had never happened. People change but you're still the same person, Liara. Really, I mean. When we just hugged, I felt the same person I've always known. And no, you can't hide from me. I've come back from the dead to be with you."
"I am sorry, Shepard. I've been so conflicted."
"And I'm sorry. You're right, I can't imagine what you've been through. I just hope I never have to find out."
"I have so many... unresolved issues from the last two years but I still love and want you Verity Shepard."
"I love you too."
They hug for a while, then eventually return to the business at hand, assessing what they have in the Broker's ship.
Bored, bored, bored. Liara has already spent eleven hours today sifting through the Shadow Broker's data and is too tired to be of any use analysing more. But she is restless with little else to do on the Broker's massive but empty ship. Liara hasn't felt this level of mental energy for a long time. Usually when she has finished her tasks, she just shuts down for the rest of the day, but now Verity is back in her life she feels she should be doing more and has the energy to do so, each waking moment no longer a chore. She goes to see what Feron is up to. As she enters the side room off the main information databanks, the Broker's VI pops up.
"Shadow Broker, I have queued up the recent vids as you requested."
"Oh." Liara says, finally with something to do and interested if the Broker's vids hold anything pertinent for her. "Let's have a look then."
Feron is not around anyway. She goes to the console and brings up the first video.
"Ha! Hello Aria!" she says with a smile at the images of Aria T'Loak conducting some questionable activities around Omega's car ports. Then Emily Wong, Fred Mazzei, and a whole host of short, voyeuristic, but ultimately uninteresting videos. Liara wonders what the Broker would keep such archives for, they are pretty uninformative. On the next vid Liara sees a further familiar face, this time in a picture frame within the video. It is her own face in the frame, the picture being stared at by Aethyta.
"Uh..." is as much as a confused Liara can say. This isn't a vid of an undercover operative familiarizing herself with a target, this asari has an air of melancholy as she gazes over Liara's face. Liara quickly returns to the databanks and searches for information on Aethyta. She had promised herself she wouldn't conduct such investigations, but in this case cannot resist. Monitoring operatives, the military, even politicians is one thing but spying on individuals is different. Shepard's words ring around her head about not becoming a creepy recluse holding all the dirty secrets of the galaxy. It doesn't take long for the information she seeks to present itself.
"Of course!" she says with a slap of the forehead.
Half heard but quickly hushed conversations from her childhood living room when the Matriarchs convened, her mother's overstated disgust at Aethyta's political stance, Benezia's acolytes' evasive behaviour whenever she asked about her father, it begins to make sense. She feels it is a shame that she cannot contact Shiala to confirm the details and gain more knowledge of what went wrong for Benezia and Aethyta. It is unlikely that Aethyta will be on Illium much longer now her target has left. But what should she do? Should she do anything? Why did Aethyta choose not to keep in contact with Liara? Why was her identity so closely guarded by Benezia? Was she ashamed of her partner?
These things matter not for now, she has only just made this discovery that has stayed secret for decades, there is no hurry. It saddens her that she will not see her mother and father together, even just to see them interact. Liara has a tough time imagining the graceful, reserved Matriarch being even friends with the brash, crass Aethyta. Perhaps they filled a hole in their lives for each other, much like she and Verity. But to be able to give her father a name now, to know she is still out there and by the video she just viewed Aethyta might even have feelings for her, it gives Liara a warm glow.
"Oh, a Krogan father..." she says excitedly at Aethyta's lineage. "That must have been fun growing up."
Liara pauses for a moment, then looks at the console with a face filled with curiosity.
"Hmm, I wonder..."
Then taps out one letter in the search. Then the next. One at a time, as though not wanting to be caught. Eventually she types out the last letter and begins the search.
Liara T'Soni
"I already know my life, there shouldn't be any surprises."
The screen cascades with matches, causing page upon page of data to be brought up.
"Oh." she says, a little deflated by the Broker having had so much information on her.
To her surprise, his information seems to begin around the time of Liara's first prothean expeditions and her discoveries into the cycle. This makes her wonder just how long the Shadow Broker has known about the Reaper threat and how much he has gathered on them, perhaps even the previous Broker to him starting the investigation. Then some references to Vido and Zaeed, but she avoids going down that informational tangent. Her own data pages begin to look like over-complicated extranet sites, with links to citations, footnotes and references all over them. The Citadel, protheans, Cerberus, Benezia, Aria, Omega, Blue Suns, Saren, Commander Shepard, geth, various dignitaries, all and sundry from across her life.
"You have been a busy girl, Liara."
Two words stand out to her in a Cerberus marked portion of her life: 'Girl Squad'.
"What?!" Liara laughs in disbelief. She quickly goes down this link. The piece describes dryly how Alliance operatives nearly crippled Cerberus operations entirely during the time of the geth war, spearheaded by a group known to them as 'Girl Squad'. The report goes on to describe a crack team of two humans and an asari who would shout strange battle cries, and were devastating in combat. 'Blue Angel' is the most mentioned, described as a fearsome and fierce biotic by the few survivors of their assaults.
"Ha!" Liara says with a little jump. "In your face, 'Dark Destroyer'!"
A name jumps out at her on the screen within this Cerberus section, she knows the name but not a lot about the person beyond what Verity has spoken about. A man from Verity's days at biotic training, who later mysteriously disappeared after joining an Alliance dark ops group.
"Ethan Ramsay..." she says to herself, placing the pieces together with what Verity has told her. But then suddenly closes down the pages. "No, Liara. Stop it, stop looking at other peoples' lives."
She looks around the large room, looking for something to do, instantly bored again. Then animatedly presses on the console keys to be informed that the live call is awaiting a response. Liara scans a few documents in the Broker's archives about the Reapers, waiting for a response to her call until the console pings.
"Liara?" Ashley appears on her screen. "Hey! Great to see you!"
"Ashley Williams, you rotten thing. How could you do that to Verity?"
"What? Oh. You know she's with Cerberus right?"
"Yes I do, and shame on you for thinking that that matters to your friendship. She told me what you said and I think you're awful."
"I can't leave the Alliance to go gallivanting around with Cerberus, even if I wanted to!"
"I did not suggest that you should, but to cut Verity out of your life like that, Ashley... she was really hurt. You're her best friend and I thought she was yours."
"Yea, I know. I didn't mean for it to get so personal, but to work with Cerberus. I saw red. We saw what they did, Liara. Us three together."
"I know you would find it hard to trust them, but to not trust Verity? She's still the same Commander. I know. And Cerberus are the only ones actually doing anything about these attacks, you have to see she had to help."
"How are you, though? I mean, both of you? Is there a 'both of you'? I told Shepard you were on Illium, I hope that was okay. Does she seem okay?"
"She heard where I was from Cerberus anyway, but she said she was happy to have found out from you first. We have a way to go, but I think we will be alright."
"You should have seen the desperation in her eyes to find you, I tried but I couldn't say no."
"Why would you not tell her?"
"Well the way you'd been, I didn't think you needed Shepard dragging you on some Cerberus mission to do god knows what, putting you in harms way again. I don't trust Cerberus to do right by aliens anyway."
"But it's Verity! Can't you separate them?"
"We don't know what Cerberus have done to her while they re-built her. Be careful with her."
"Don't worry, Ash, I knew it was her the moment we touched, she's still Verity."
"Hmm. Anyway, I can't talk long. Great to see you, even if it was just to have a go at me!"
"Any time, Ash. But please, think about what I've said. Verity would love to hear from you."
"We'll see. Look after yourself, Liara."
The signal ends and Liara stares at her console, then with a bored sigh opens some more reports on reapers and the cycle from the Broker's archives. She mockingly reads one aloud.
"In a recent find in the Artemis Tau cluster, an artefact dated approximately one hundred thousand years old. It has been speculated... that... what?" Liara interrupts herself. "That... that's incredible. The previous cycle to the protheans? I wonder what they were like?"
She begins to read the piece more seriously, buoyed by this amazing find.
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Post by mrstoob on Oct 10, 2012 12:03:23 GMT 1
Chapter 40
"You?" Zaeed says, confused as he sees this asari on the Normandy crew deck.
"Mister Massani." Liara nods.
"You know each other? Of course! Jessie! Why didn't I realise earlier? I'd forgotten you told... me... hm." Verity says.
Liara glares at Verity, who quickly loses her enthusiasm when she recognises this particular 'look'. In one of their many conversations discovering each other on the SR-1, Liara had told the tale of the 'silly pirate', as she had dubbed him, who named his weapon 'Jessie'. The connection hadn't occurred to Verity at all when Zaeed had given her the ballad of Jessie, waxing lyrical about how the weapon was like his talisman, never letting him down. Whenever he says the name, 'Jessie', he gets a misty faraway look in his eyes. Now that she has realised, the look on Liara's face tells her she would rather forget.
"What?" Zaeed is confused.
Liara attempts to cover her partner's unintentional indiscretion.
"I arranged some work for Mr Massani when I was working on Illium. Work I believe, that did not quite go how we would have liked? Losing your touch, Shepard?"
Liara looks annoyed at both Verity and Zaeed.
"Wuh... but...?"
"The Zorya job? Vido Santiago? Ring any bells?" Liara says quite patronisingly to Verity.
"Okay, bossy boots! I wasn't to know was I? So what about..." Verity falls short of saying it, having already been scolded with eyes by Liara.
"That's all the business Mister Massani and I have conducted, isn't that correct Mister Massani?"
"Hey, if you're gonna have a domestic, you can leave me out, love. But yea, I've only got that one job off her, god's honest."
"And between you, you could not stop just one mercenary leader? The only reason I gave you the job?"
"You never did say what your interest was there."
"Let's just say that Vido crossed me."
"Liara?"
"We can talk about this later, Shepard."
Annoyed by Liara's patronising tones and being dismissive of her query into Vido, Verity decides to play.
"Say, Zaeed. How long did you say you've had Jessie?"
"Over thirty years me and Jessie fought across the galaxy. Never let me down once until one day she finally just gave up."
"Really? Never once eh?"
"Shepard!" Liara pleads.
"And thirty years eh? That's a long time. You hear that Liara? Thirty years. Never let him down once. Not one time did he have to run away with his tail between his legs."
Liara stares at Verity now with bored disgust that she is toying so.
"Thirty years..." she says again. "Of course, I would have been a toddler back then. What about you Liara? What were you doing thirty years ago?"
"Verity Shepard, you know perfectly well what I was doing thirty years ago. Now drop this and let's move on. I still haven't seen the err... the... engine room! Yes, I haven't seen the engine room yet."
"Are you making some point, Shepard?" Zaeed asks, now even more confused.
"No, no. No point. Come on, Liara, let's get to that 'exciting' engine room shall we?"
They head to the elevator and down to the engine room, entering to see Gabby and Ken at their usual posts at their consoles, bickering away as they do. Verity and Liara head to the core for some privacy.
"We didn't have to come here. You know I'm bored by this kind of thing."
"Oh no, Doctor T'Soni, you said you wanted to come to the engine room and your wish is my command."
"I wish you weren't such an absolute horror. And that was dangerous! Do you even know what he's like? If he remembered who I was? He still might have a grudge against me. He's got one you know, Vido told me."
Liara slaps Verity's arm.
"Ow!"
"Oh shut up. I should have given you a heads up when I saw his name on your squad list so we could have avoided all this."
"Well, now you say it. He was pretty unhinged when we missed Vido, twenty years he's carried that grudge and I think he's still got it now. Took some eloquent talking to turn that around I can tell you, but I think I can trust him now."
"There. You see then, don't you? He's not stable, is he? I think it best if Mister Massani isn't reminded about our history. I've been lucky he hasn't recognised me between setting up the job and this encounter. We looked each other right in the eyes thirty years ago. I recognised him straight away, despite his scars. Anyway, what did happen with Vido?"
"It was go after Vido, or let the workers burn to death. I couldn't let them die, Liara, despite Zaeed urging me to let them burn. And that was actually the mission brief, to save the facility. And what's with Vido and you?"
"The Blue Suns tried to kill me on Omega when I was rescuing you. Vido was the one who sent me there in the first place, set me up, he was working for the Broker. And I am glad you were there with Zaeed. We wouldn't have been paid if the facility was lost like that."
"And the workers?"
"Of course, the workers. That goes without saying."
"Who else do we have to worry about? You know, that you're hunting down like a dog? Jona Sederis? Some other highly dangerous mercenary I have yet to meet?"
"No, Vido is the last."
"Sounds like you had a list. Anyway, let's go to my quarters. I've got a nice bottle of wine with our names on it."
"I haven't said 'hi' to Joker yet!"
"We've plenty of time. I'll go open the bottle, you go see Joker and meet me up there. Don't be long." Verity gives Liara a hug, never knowing when some disaster might force them apart again.
"Okay, see you in a moment."
Liara exits engineering.
"Hey, Commander!" Ken shouts over.
"Yes, Donnelly?"
Ken grins and gives a thumbs up as he nods to the door that Liara just exited.
"Nice one, Commander."
"Ken!" Gabby scolds. "The poles are misaligning. Concentrate on the job, not asari dancers."
"Daniels! Liara is not a dancer." Verity objects. "She is a doctor of science and a highly skilled combatant, not some air-head dancing in a bar."
"Oh. Sorry, Commander. I didn't mean to... I didn't know that..."
"Have you been with Cerberus too long, 'Operative Daniels'? Picking up bad habits and prejudices?"
"No! I don't want you to think I'm... it was only a joke, ma'am."
"Well what starts as 'funny jokes' can descend into derision and ultimately... well I don't think I need to start quoting history at you, do I, Daniels?"
"No, Commander. Sorry, Commander. I'll be more mindful in future."
"Good! As you were then."
Verity leaves the engine room. She hopes this is just innocent stereotyping and not the beginnings of prejudice. Who knows what training or conditioning Cerberus operatives receive, the seeds of hate might be placed into them early on to ensure their loyalty. Regardless, Verity can't have crewmen thinking that Liara is just some bit of stuff she's found and stowed onto the ship for her pleasure. Though she can't help smiling on her way up to her quarters that that is indeed partly true.
"Mmm, think I'll watch Vaenia tonight." Ken says to Gabby.
"Ken. Why do you think you need to tell me things like that?"
"We're friends aren't we? Friends share."
"I just wish you knew what to share, Ken. I would like it if you shared parts of your life with me."
"Any particular 'part' you'd like me to share with you...?" he says lewdly.
"Kenneth! Forget it, never mind."
"Okay then." Ken continues with his work, oblivious again to Gabby's attempts to coax out some genuine emotion from him.
Liara and Verity lie on the bed, it has been a wonderful evening together, just re-discovering what they had, even discussing their future. They lie peacefully in each other's arms until Verity suddenly bolts upright.
"Oh! Oh! I forgot to say, I met Aria T'Loak!"
"Yes, I know. She helped you with Garrus, that was nice of her."
"Oh. Am I ever going to be able to surprise you again? Anyway, so she's the one who taught you to dance, eh?"
Liara smiles and nods.
"Isn't she great? Well, if you can get past the murdering bitch side I mean."
"Ha! Yea, she was still quite guarded but we got on great. And yea, powerfully attractive."
Liara looks at Verity's expression carefully while she says these words.
"You fancied her!" Liara exclaims with a smile.
"What? I just mean... she's a good l... I..."
"Oh Commander, you're quite a scarlet shade now!" Liara says, brushing Verity's short blonde locks with her fingers.
"What did you just say? Anyway, I do believe you still owe me a dance, T'Soni."
Liara giggles then leans over to the console to start some music.
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Post by mrstoob on Oct 10, 2012 12:21:33 GMT 1
Chapter 41
By the Goddess Verity thinks, not usually one for using such an exclamation but with her time with Liara and the sight of this asari, it just pops into her head. With the Eclipse Sister dead, Samara the Justicar paces gracefully in front of Shepard and her squad, looking absolutely stunning to Verity. Cool blue eyes, pale blue mottled skin, her stylish red and gold armour exposing her impressive cleavage.
"My name is Samara, a servant of the Justicar Code. My quarrel is with these Eclipse Sisters, but I see three well armed people before me. Are we friend or foe?" her voice confident yet calming.
Her caution mixed with confidence impresses Verity, not nearly as confrontational as Detective Anaya would have her believe. By the descriptions of the Justicar from Liara, they sound very much like the asari that Verity saw on the Serrice Council vids from her childhood. Heroines protecting the unprotected, saving the galaxy from evil doers. Samara seems the embodiment of this concept and so beautiful.
During their conversation, Samara has a fixed gaze on the Commander, giving all her attention. Verity thinks this only highlights that while her eyes are attempting to look Samara in the eye, they are really unintentionally darting up and down between there and her mostly exposed breasts. Samara cares little. She has travelled the galaxy for centuries, experienced much, such things do not concern her. Her 'le c'est faire' tone surprises Verity. Samara's words speak of duty, her need to conduct her investigation, dedication to the Code, but her tone speaks differently, lighter and less grave. She intrigues Verity.
Samara explains she must find the name of the ship that carried her quarry away. She refuses to join Verity's squad until this investigation is complete. Detective Anaya adds to the complications when she arrives to take Samara into custody to avoid any inter-species incidents, a task she has been dreading. Now that Verity has assured Samara that she will find out the name of the ship for her, the task is no longer so dangerous for the Detective as Samara comes willingly back to the officer's station, the Code allowing this for the next twenty four hours at least.
As always, Verity's task is not straight forward. Eclipse Sister mercenaries are fierce combatants, using a host of biotics and weaponry, assisted by the heavy weapons and tech drones of Eclipse regulars. Mordin's flaming attacks and Grunt's incendiary ammo make small work of the shielded mercenaries, Verity taking down them down with her biotics. The squad find their way to the lair of the group's captain, Wasea.
Wasea has come a long way in the Sisters, redeemed when in her new squad, heeding Liara's advice to commit fully to her biotic training. Wasea still uses her 'Thessia' voice when she wishes to seem intimidating to opponents, she thinks it sounds more threatening, with more gravitas. She casually finishes her drink reading a datapad, standing at her desk in the large warehouse, then turns to Shepard's squad now standing in her doorway at the other end.
"Everything's gone to hell since we smuggled that filthy creature off world. First a Justicar shows up, now you." Wasea says. "At least I can take pleasure in turning your head into a pulpy mess!"
With these words, Wasea glows blue, throwing one of the crates of red sand with her biotics. The crate smashes against the wall behind the squad with great velocity, causing a red powder cloud to disperse over them. Wasea has indeed become quite powerful as a biotic. Liara would be quite proud if Wasea were not attempting to kill Verity. Eclipse mercenaries and Sisters join Wasea's flanks, heavy weapons and biotics flying at the squad, now taking cover behind storage crates, coughing a little from the red sand. EDI comes over the comm to advise that while prolonged exposure is not advised, the red sand should boost biotic output.
"Really? Sounds fun." Verity says as she throws a warp at a shielded Sister. The shields drop in one hit and she finishes the target with a well aimed pistol shot straight to the head.
"Hell yea." Verity grins. She looks to Grunt and Mordin who are handling their flank, then ahead to Wasea down a channel of crates, still occasionally throwing red sand crates at them, shouting crazed threats. Verity can feel the red sand wearing off, and sucks in some more from a nearby cloud from Wasea's attacks.
Verity throws a shock wave down the crate passage. The two mercenaries working their way down the channel are tossed up in the air, landing with a thud to subdue them. The wave continues down to Wasea who stands her ground, allowing her shields to protect her. It knocks her off balance as it throbs past her, not expecting the increased power from the red sand. Verity seizes this moment and charges, firing her pistol. While Wasea is impressive in offence, in her arrogance she has never spent time perfecting her barriers. She throws up a barrier which protects her from the gunfire, but when Verity throws a warp as she runs it collapses the barrier and she continues shooting. Wasea's body twitches this way and that as the gunfire breaks through her shields until she falls dead. With their leader dead, the few remaining mercenaries fall quickly. Mordin sees the datapad on the desk.
"Likely the ship name Samara requires." he assumes.
Verity picks up the datapad. The pad indeed informs her that the one Samara seeks escaped on a ship named AML Demeter.
"That the ship the crazy asari wanted to find?" Grunt asks.
"Says the tank-bred krogan with anger issues." Verity quips.
"Anyone else, Shepard..."
"Come on, let's head back."
"Yes. Return data to Samara. Should be... beneficial addition to squad. Justicar, powerful biotics. Demonstration earlier. Proven."
"I'll give you that, she is impressive." Verity says with a naughty smile.
"You got a thing about asari or something?" Grunt says, but facetiously.
"Yes. Yes, Grunt, I do. Now let's go."
"Uuh... right behind you, Shepard."
Grunt is not sure whether that was a joke or not.
"I never thought I'd see a Justicar swear an oath like that..." Anaya says, clearly impressed by the combination of words and waves of biotics that completed her oath. Verity has seen eye colour changes from asari before, but only when they turned black in the throws of passion with Liara. Samara's eyes had turned to a luminescent white as she took her oath to follow the Commanders orders, overriding the Code. However, she makes it clear that any questionable actions will need to be addressed once the mission is complete and the oath is lifted. Verity is not sure how she feels about that, she knows that sometimes questionable actions are a part of her operations. At least this gives her another reason to temper her decisions, and she would not want to disappoint Samara.
"Truly, the life of the Justicar can get lonely. I admit I am looking forward to serving with a company of honourable heroes."
Verity had trouble keeping her laughter at bay at this assessment of her squad, but is happy that the asari so used to solitude is eager to socialize.
"So you're all heading off then?" Anaya asks, looking a little dejected by the prospect.
"Yea, we have work to do." Verity replies.
"Hm. Well. If you have time..." Anaya says, stroking the back of her neck. "I could get into trouble but... I was wondering if..."
"Yes?" Samara prompts.
"Well, my shift ends soon. I was wondering if you'd like to come to my apartment for dinner?"
"Oh. Dinner?" Verity says, a little taken aback by this offer.
"A Justicar in my station and now you, I haven't met anyone like you people before. I wanted to join C-Sec years ago but it just never happened, ended up here on the local force instead but it's not the same. I'll bet you two have some incredible stories to tell."
"Your superiors would be unimpressed if they knew I was loose on Illium?" Samara asks.
"That's putting it mildly, but I'm sure you can't get into any trouble in my apartment, it's only dinner."
"I am honoured that you would invite me to your home. Shepard?"
"Mordin. Grunt. Head back to the Normandy, give them the situation. We'll follow along later."
Anaya drops her cutlery and they clatter onto her plate.
"What? You're that Shepard? If I'd known that... I feel really stupid now, the way I spoke to you in the station. The Saviour of the Citadel, right? Damn, I seriously need to start thinking about children, I need grandchildren to boast to. Of course I'd need a bondmate first, but one step at a time eh? Woo! Right here, in my kitchen, a Justicar and Commander Shepard."
"That was a long time ago." Verity plays down her status.
"Yea, and if it wasn't for you, Saren and the geth might still be dancing on the Citadel doing goddess knows what."
Anaya holds up her wine glass.
"Here's to you, Shepard!"
"Cheers." Verity responds, finishing the last of her glass. "Well, Anaya, it's been a pleasure."
Verity stands.
"Thanks for coming, I don't get many guests. This has been really great. Can I... this sounds stupid..."
"What?"
"Can I get a picture? You know, of you two in my kitchen. Something to show my family down the line?"
"I don't have a problem with it. Samara?"
"Of course, Detective. Where would you like us?"
"Just over there in the kitchen." Anaya sets up her omni-tool.
Samara stands elegantly, while Verity gives a thumbs up and a wink, placing her other hand around Samara's hip.
"Nice!" Anaya says, reviewing the image on her tool. "Thank you so much."
"Thanks for dinner, Anaya, great to meet you."
"Yes, you have been most kind considering the circumstance."
"Shepard. Justicar." Anaya nods to each as they leave.
Samara stops and backs up to speak again.
"Detective. If our paths were to cross again, please, call me Samara."
"Oh. Well, can you call me Anaya then?"
"Of course, Anaya."
"Thanks, Samara."
Samara smiles at her a moment, then continues to catch up with Verity. She was impressed by the unwavering dedication to duty that Anaya had shown, willing to risk her life to follow her orders, not unlike the commitment to the Code. Anaya closes the door and returns to her seat at the dinner table and sighs, a little sad that her guests could not stay longer.
"Extranet or bed? Extranet or bed? Oh the choices are overwhelming."
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Post by mrstoob on Oct 10, 2012 12:23:06 GMT 1
Chapter 42
"Operative Lawson was eager to speak with you, Commander." Kelly Chambers says as Verity is passing through the CIC.
"Great. All I need. Another dressing down from my XO."
"She's not so bad, Shepard. And don't be such a 'Negative Nelly', you don't know what she wants yet." Kelly gives Verity a playful push as she speaks.
"Hmm, fair enough. Thanks, Kelly. I may as well get this over with now then."
Verity makes her way to the crew deck and on to Miranda's office. Before she can even say hello, Miranda speaks her mind.
"Commander, I find myself in the awkward position of asking for your help. I don't like discussing personal matters... but this is important. After my recent comments, I wouldn't blame you if you told me to shove it."
"Miranda, you're one of my crew. Tell me what's on your mind."
"Oh. Quite magnanimous of you, Commander."
"I just don't think you get me, Miranda."
"Maybe..."
"You're by the book, dot the i's, cross the t's, follow the procedure, blah-de-blah. But I like a little more flexibility. I'm informal and try to engage with my crew, form closer bonds. I like to treat my crew almost like a family. I find this helps in the long run."
"Yes... I'm aware of the 'close bonds' you formed with former crew members such as Doctor T'Soni."
"Miranda..."
"I know. That was uncalled for. Sorry, Commander."
"What I'm trying to say is, if you just give me a chance and go with my leadership style, I think you'll find it liberating. But anyway, back to your problem?"
Miranda explains about her genetic modifications, her overbearing father, her sister, their escape from him and finally the point. Her father is tracking down her sister on Illium to return her to his side, in Miranda's opinion only to control and direct her life as he sees fit. She explains Cerberus are already helping to relocate her sister's family to safety to give her sister a normal life.
"What do you need me to do?" Verity asks, surprising Miranda that she has offered assistance so quickly and readily.
"My father's extremely persistent. I'd like to go to Illium when Cerberus is moving the family to make sure none of his agents get close. My contact's name is Lanteia. She'll be waiting for us in the lounge near the Nos Astra docking bay."
"Okay then. We'll be heading back to Illium to recruit the drell assassin Thane Krios anyway, may as well kill two birds with one stone."
"More dubious aliens, Commander?"
"Do you actually have a real problem with non-humans, Miranda? I'd prefer to know where you stand on all that now, rather than later down the line when it might become an issue."
"I'll follow your orders, Shepard. Don't worry about that."
"That's not what I asked."
Miranda shuffles uncomfortably in her seat.
"My reasons for joining Cerberus are tied in with my father, they've given me protection. For the record, I don't agree with all of Cerberus' previous and quite frankly, disturbing projects. Particularly the ones you and your girl squad successfully stopped two years ago. My problems with so many non-humans aboard are linked to security and well... they can become quite emotional about certain subjects that I personally feel may be detrimental to the mission. Do I hate non-humans? No. Do I trust them? Hmm. Probably not. Anyway, we're investigating missing human colonies, why do we need aliens to help with that?"
"In the long run, Miranda, we're investigating the Reapers. That's everyone's problem."
"I see your point. But like I said, this will not affect my performance on our mission."
"Okay, fair enough, Miranda. Oh, and er..."
"Yes, Commander?"
"Girl squad?"
"Ha! You haven't read up on yourself from the Cerberus records yet?"
"No. But it seems like I should. I'll give you the heads up when we're heading to Illium."
"Thank you, Commander. I wasn't sure how you'd react to my request. I feel I must apologise."
"For what?"
"My reports to the Illusive Man have been less than glowing about you. I feel now that that was a little unwarranted."
"Yea, I did hear something about that. 'Unfit for duty'?"
"After you came back from your reunion with Doctor T'Soni, I thought you'd lost it. You just stayed in your quarters like an angry teenager. I thought all the work that I'd put into this project was going to be for nothing. I couldn't allow that."
"Miranda, we're professional soldiers and operatives but that doesn't mean life outside that stops. We all have problems from time to time and sometimes they can be difficult to handle when you have duty to consider on top. I'll be the first to admit, I probably have more problems than most, and that can make things difficult sometimes, but I recognise that the crew sometimes need help with theirs too. I hope the same accommodations can be made for me. I didn't even have a chance to really pick my life up from two years ago."
"Yes. Chambers and the Illusive Man said as much. I couldn't really disagree and with hindsight, I do empathise."
"Now that me and Liara have got our lives back in order, I'm good to go. Really. No more tantrums or disappearing off, just the task at hand."
"That's good to hear, Commander. And I will be able to join you with that once my sister is safe."
"There's no time to waste it seems then."
Miranda smiles.
"I appreciate this, Shepard. Really. And I'm glad we had this chat."
"Me too, 'Cheerleader'."
"Hm. Don't tell Jack but... I actually quite like that one. I find Jack's nickname for me almost... endearing. Normally my 'nicknames' are said behind my back and are less than flattering."
"Staff?"
"Yea. They usually see me as an unfeeling slave driver. 'Bitch' is usually one of the parts of my previous names, so 'Cheerleader'? Hm, that's just cute."
"Oh, so our leadership styles aren't that different then."
"How so?"
"Seems like you do get close enough to your staff for them to know you better."
"Haha. Very funny, Shepard."
"Sorry, couldn't resist that one. Well, see you later, Miranda. And please, think about what I said."
"Of course, Commmander."
Miranda salutes with a new found respect and understanding for her Commander.
"Commander Shepard."
"Operative Lawson."
Verity plots the course to Illium on the star map and heads down to see Joker.
"Illium again eh, Commander? You really can't get enough of those asari can you? I heard you even had dinner with two beautiful asari down there? Tell me, was it like Vaenia?"
"Even if it was, Joker, no way I'd be telling you."
"A picture paints a thousand words, Commander. Just something to think about when you're down there this time."
"Ugh. Joker!"
"A man can dream can't he?"
"I'm not sure who's worse, you or Donnelly."
"Donnelly? Pfft. I've got more style than that puffed up haggis. He's too stupid to see a good thing even when it's right under his nose."
"At least he's got something under his nose..."
"Thanks for reminding me, Commander. Thanks a bunch."
Verity puts her arms around the back his chair to hug Joker.
"Aw. I'm sorry, Joker. Would a kiss make it better?"
Verity leans around the chair to plant one on his bearded cheek. This makes Joker quite uncomfortable. He had a period of having a secret crush on his commanding officer when she first joined the Normandy crew but grew out of it as he came to respect her. But giving him a hug and kiss now embarrasses him somewhat.
"Sorry, Commander, but this is too weird."
"Well if I ever need you to shut the hell up in future, I know how to now."
"Having spoken with Mister Moreau on several occasions regarding relationships, it would seem that he has difficulty expressing himself."
"EDI! Do you know what 'personal and private conversations' means?"
"You've been speaking with an AI about relationships?"
"It was interested in knowing more about relationships in organics."
"To what end, EDI?"
"Relationships are an important part of your lives, I was interested to know more. Greater understanding of the crew and their needs might assist me with my duties."
"Well EDI, if you can grow a body you might be able to help Joker there."
"Commander?" EDI asks.
"He was already in love with this ship and now that it has a sexy voice? The only thing missing is something to hug."
"Did you come here for any specific purpose, Commander? You know, other than to embarrass and deride me?"
"Do I need another reason?"
"Hm. Seems not."
"Anyway, let me know as you make your approach to Nos Astra, I need to give Lawson a heads up."
"Miranda's going with you? Man, any asari encounters and you have to take pictures! I think I could take all of Vaenia's viewing figures if that went on the extranet."
"More style than Donnelly you say?"
"Blue Angel?" Verity says in disbelief at her screen in her quarters. "No way!"
Verity furiously types away on her console, then pauses for a moment.
"Shepard?" Liara appears on her screen.
"Have you checked the Broker's Cerberus records yet?"
"Oh. Yes. I am quite the celebrity it seems."
"It's bull and you know it."
"Jealous, Commander?"
"If you were here right now..."
"Oh shut up. Is this all you contacted me for?"
"All? All? If Ashley saw this she'd have a fit."
"Yes... 'Dark Destroyer' didn't 'destroy' quite as much as she likes to think, eh?"
"You're quite wicked really, aren't you?"
"I was taught by the best. Was there anything else?"
"Of course there was. I love you, Liara T'Soni."
Liara smiles an uncontrollable smile.
"I love you too, Verity Shepard. Be safe. For me."
Verity touches her screen, wishing she could caress Liara's face.
"See you soon, Liara. I promise."
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Post by mrstoob on Oct 11, 2012 18:28:32 GMT 1
Chapter 43
“I find myself having this conversation with several of the Cerberus crew recently and after your little performance with Thane I'm afraid your next. Do you have a problem with non-humans, Operative Taylor?”
“What? Commander, I have a problem with people who murder for a living, that's all. He might be drell but that's neither here nor there.”
“You weren't so vocal when we recruited Zaeed.”
“He's not an assassin.”
“No, he's probably worse. An assassin kills a specific target, a mercenary kills anyone that gets in their way, and a lot of people have got in Zaeed's way.”
Jacob looks frustrated and the accusation has irked him.
“I am not an alien hater, Commander. And I don't take kindly to the accusation nor the thought that you think of me that way. I'm only with Cerberus because of the inaction from the Alliance and the Citadel. End of.”
“Okay, Jacob, okay. That's good enough for me. Sorry I had to ask but I'm still trying to get a gauge on where Cerberus stand on all this. If they're going to be helping against the Reapers, I need to know it's not at the cost of the rest of the galaxy just to save Sol.”
“I... I hadn't really thought of it that way. Personally, I haven't seen anything to suggest that's the case, but admittedly I don't know all of the operations currently running. We're all in the dark about each other's operations. Why would the Illusive Man pull so many species together if that were the case?”
“I don't know, Jacob. I just hope it's for the right reasons. Well we'd better get back to it.”
“Commander.” Jacob salutes then returns to the armoury.
Verity heads to the CIC to find Kelly in conversation with a pleased looking Miranda.
“Striking is the word, Kelly.”
“Oh, a little enamoured are we, ma'am?”
“Chambers, I only said he looked intriguing.”
“Hmm. 'Intriguing'. Hmm. You were certainly intrigued by his tight black pants.”
Kelly gives Miranda a nudge with her elbow, who now has a warm red glow about her face.
“Discussing our latest addition?” Verity asks.
“Yes, Commander, we were just discussing...” Kelly begins to answer.
Miranda has her hands on her hips as she glowers at the young yeoman, who quickly re-directs her comments.
“...what... a... useful member to the team he will be!”
“Don't worry, Lawson, your secret's safe with me.” Verity teases.
“Hm! There is no secret. I said he looked intriguing, then Dizzy here started making out that I fancied him or something.”
Kelly stands open mouthed for a moment.
“'Dizzy'? 'Dizzy'? Just because I express my emotions and I'm a positive person, that doesn't make me an air head, Miranda.”
“And just because you're annoyed, 'Kelly', that doesn't mean you can drop protocol and go informal on me.”
Kelly subdues at this comment.
“Yes. Of course, Operative Lawson. Sorry, ma'am. I didn't mean to...”
“Hey!” Verity interrupts. “Out of line, Lawson.”
“What? But she...”
“You can't just insult people then use position to bully your way out of it. Miranda. Walk with me.”
Verity walks slowly up towards the cockpit with Miranda.
“Do you even remember the conversation we had when you asked for my help?”
“Of course I do, Commander.”
“Well, evidently not. What was that with Kelly? It was only a little light ribbing and you went way too far there. Does the lady protest too much?”
“What?”
“You know. Thane?”
“I'm not having this conversation with you, Shepard.”
“Ah, so there is a conversation to be had then.”
“That's not what I... agh, why can't we have a normal operation with normal operatives? All this emotion and tension is not good for the mission.”
“Emotion and tension? Hmm. If it were within my power, I'd order you to go talk with Thane right now.”
“Wouldn't be the worst order I'd ever received...”
“Oooh letting a bit too much out there, Miranda?”
“Permission to get the hell out of here, Commander.”
“Okay, permission granted, Operative Lawson. But you know, there's worse things that could happen than finding romance on this ship with a drell.”
“It's not that he's drell. I just think fraternizing with colleagues is a bad idea. Been there, done that, burned the tee-shirt.”
“Go on then, off you go.”
“Commander.”
“I just watched the rest of my team die.” Tali says to Shepard.
The young quarian is certainly more confident than when Verity knew her, but this incident brings out her tender age. Command brings responsibility, not only of duty, but for the actions taken and the outcomes. Verity hopes that Tali can overcome the dark feelings that come when things go wrong, and things had gone quite wrong on Haelstrom with the unexpected geth attack.
“Maybe not the whole rest of your team, ma'am.” Kal'Reeger says, limping up to the group.
“Reeger! You made it!” Tali says, relieved that her quarian squad mate is okay.
Tali explains that she will be joining Shepard's mission.
“She's all yours now, Shepard. Keep her safe.” Reeger says.
Verity calls in the shuttle. The squad, now with Tali, enter the shuttle to return to the Normandy.
“Really good to see you, Garrus.”
“You too Tali. It's been too long.”
“What have you been up to?”
“Oh I've kept myself busy.”
“Doing what?”
“I was helping the people of Omega.”
“Oh. Doesn't sound like you?”
“I didn't say how I was helping.” he replies with a smile.
“Oh.”
Verity does not interject with what he was actually doing, she doesn't feel it is her place. She also had not realised that Garrus and Tali had become good friends aboard the Normandy SR-1, but lots of travelling around meant the squad members on the lower deck had time to socialise that she may not have been aware of.
“So, Tali.” Verity says. “How did you end up leading squads into suicide missions?”
“It wasn't supposed to be a suicide mission. Damn geth. After I returned to the flotilla with the geth data you gave me, I suddenly became the fleet expert on the geth. And as I'd been part of the squad that took the Citadel back, they pretty much threw me straight into command duties. It's been hard. Today was... the hardest.”
Tali looks away out of the shuttle window. Her helmet protects her tears from the squad, but her upset is obvious to all.
“Tali...” Garrus attempts to comfort.
“What were they thinking? I'm barely an adult and they want me to lead squads of soldiers into dangerous territories, searching for... I don't even know what we're searching for really. I don't know if any of this is even significant to... well, anything.”
“Sometimes you just have to follow orders and hope the powers that be know what they're doing. It's tough but that's the way it is.”
“I'm just glad that I'm following your orders now, Shepard. Anyway, this is...?”
She gestures towards Mordin.
“Mordin Solus. Good to meet you. Not much direct experience of quarians but have studied progress. Have ideas about immunity system. Would like to discuss.” he responds.
“He's highly qualified, Tali. I think that if anyone could do something like that, it'd be Mordin.” Shepard supports.
“That's endorsement enough for me, Mordin. I'd be happy to help in anyway I can.”
“Excellent. Will need blood samples.” Mordin says casually with a smile.
“Oh...”
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Post by mrstoob on Nov 23, 2012 21:22:54 GMT 1
Chapter 44
"Legion."
Analysing. Brow: relaxed. Vocal tone: relaxed. Unarmed. Likelihood of threat: low.
"Shepard Commander."
"How are you fitting in?"
Analysing. Dimensions of AI core greater than dimensions of mobile platform. Zero issues with entry/exit point.
"There is sufficient space for this platform in the assigned location."
"No, no... I mean, how are you getting along with the crew?"
Storing colloquialism.
"Creator Tali has expressed her views on the geth freely. She does not trust this platform. Analysis states that this is the case with much of the Normandy collective."
"That's understandable I suppose. On the original Normandy, we had a lot of run ins with the geth."
"Correction. Heretics."
"You're all geth to us."
Analysing. Organics unable to distinguish difference despite knowledge. Irrational.
"We have explained the heretic schism. Why do you still see us as the same?"
"That question is as old as civilisation. Stereotyping at best, prejudice at worst."
"Then we must indicate by action that we are not part of the heretic schism."
"I know you probably feel that you shouldn't need to justify yourself but we organics aren't always necessarily driven by facts or reality. We can be driven by our emotions. Until you, every geth we encountered attacked us without provocation."
Incoming automated transmission. Number one rank update for Skyllian Blitz role play game. New leader: Nub1337. Estimated time to restore rank: one minute, fourteen point three seconds.
"The quarians have attacked the geth one hundred percent of the time when they thought victory was possible."
"Yes. That's a good comparison. But that doesn't mean one hundred percent of quarians believe that that's the correct action to take, just like the geth don't agree with the heretics. It's hard to remove the few from the many."
"We understand."
"Is there anything you need?"
"We have all we require in this platform."
"Okay then. I just wanted to make sure you're okay."
"We are... 'okay'."
"I have to go."
"Yes."
Joker lifts himself off the floor of the engineering core.
"Are you feeling well, Jeff?" EDI asks.
"No. But thanks for asking..."
Anomalous state found in RAM. Analysing. Inconclusive. Storing for later analysis.
Joker returns to the flight deck to run checks on the ship's systems after the ordeal of the Collector attack.
"EDI?"
"Yes, Jeff?"
"Why are you calling me Jeff? I mean, I understand being unshackled might have changed your protocols a little, but everyone calls me Joker."
"You had said previously that this was a facetious nickname given to you by a flight instructor. I do not wish to insult you."
"Ha! Nicknames are nearly always a little facetious. Anyway, I'm used to it."
"I see."
"Well, whatever makes you comfortable. I suppose Jeff is my name after all. Just do me a favour, EDI."
"Yes, Jeff?"
"Never, ever call me Jeffrey."
"Yes, Jeff."
"Tsk, missed opportunity EDI." Joker almost sings.
"Jeff?"
"You should have said, 'Yes, Jeffrey'."
"I have already stated that I do not wish to insult or offend you."
"EDI, while it's admirable you don't want to offend anyone, you can't go through life tempering everything you say just in case you offend someone. Anyway, most humour is based on the inappropriate."
"I understand that, but you misunderstood what I said."
"Huh?"
"I do not wish to insult you, Jeff."
"Oh."
Update. Retrieving anomalous data. Analysis complete. Positive reinforcement process experienced when conversing with Flight Lieutenant Jeff Moreau. Updating priority of process.
Miranda leaves her office and heads to the elevator. As she waits she looks down the corridor towards the recreational room, finding that her eyes drift towards the door to life support. She walks towards the door then stops.
What the hell are you doing, Miranda?
This isn't like the fling she and Jacob had. Working so closely together, it was understandable that she and he became close, but Thane has only just arrived. She asks herself why would she feel she wants to be close so soon but cannot find an answer. The elevator arrives and she enters, pressing the CIC deck button. As the doors begin to close, she presses to open them again and exits, walking straight to life support, the imminent potential of death guiding her action. The door opens and she sees Thane sitting at the table with his back to the door. He turns to see her and stands.
"Can I do something for you, Operative Lawson?" he asks with a respectful nod.
"Oh... er... I just thought I should get to know our new crew members better. And please, call me Miranda."
"Of course. What would you like to know, Miranda?"
Maybe you should have had something to follow that up with before you said it. Miranda thinks.
"Are you amphibian based like the salarians?" she asks.
"No. We are reptilian based. Why do you ask?"
Great. Think ahead, Miranda, think ahead.
"I was just curious."
"Collecting data for Cerberus?"
"What? No! I personally wanted to get to know you better... no, I mean, I am interested in you... no, this is coming out right."
"Isn't it?" he says, challenging her protestation. "As an assassin I have to be able to read body language to know when to take the shot. Your body language betrays you, Miranda. My apologies, I do not mean that to sound confrontational."
"So what does my body language tell you?"
"You have desire but are uncomfortable with it."
"Seems there's not much point lying to you."
"Normally I would be too polite to say, but you are an intriguing woman, Miranda. Your attention is... well received."
"Oh." Miranda says with some surprise and embarrassment.
"But I cannot reciprocate."
Thane sits back at the table and just stares ahead.
"Er... okay then!" Miranda says brightly but awkwardly, attempting to appear aloof. "Well I'll see you later then."
"Yes." he says.
Miranda leaves and continues on her way to the CIC.
What the hell just happened there?
The elevator rises to the CIC.
"You know," a voice comes from nowhere, "very little is a secret on this ship."
"Kasumi! Will you not do that!"
Kasumi lowers her tactical cloak, smiling at Miranda.
"I think you'd make a great couple."
"Not you as well."
"Is it what Cerberus would think? Or are you just uncomfortable expressing yourself?"
"You're barking up the wrong tree, thief."
"Okay... but there's worse..."
"Yes, yes, I've already had this speech from Shepard, now drop it."
The doors open to the CIC.
"There's no smoke without fire, Miranda." Kasumi says as she heads to the armoury.
"Where are you going?"
"To see Jacob. Is that okay? Or do you still..."
"Just go. Before you say something we both regret."
Verity stands at her desk in the captain's quarters holding her precious image of Liara. The Normandy is making its preparations to enter the Omega 4 relay. There is no more that can be done. The squads' equipment has been upgraded as much as possible and the Normandy's weapons and shields have been updated. There is nothing more to be done now except wait for Joker's signal. Verity wishes so much that Liara could be here, to hold her, to comfort her, and that Ashley could have understood why her former Commander is doing what she is doing. Right now, Verity understands she must put these thoughts to the back of her mind and concentrate on the task at hand, not only to stop the Collectors but to save the crew they kidnapped. She holds the image to her chest for a moment, hugging it and allows herself to weep a little. Verity heads into her en suite to wash the tears from her face and looks a moment in the mirror.
"Come on, Verity, we can do this. We have to."
She then walks to the elevator to wait on the flight deck with Joker.
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