Disclaimer - I don't own anything in here relating to Mass Effect, Bioware gets to claim that. I do own the the things that aren't mentioned in the game however.

A/N - This is my first Fan Fiction so please feel free to give me any hints.

I am trapped. In a security device. One made by the people who I have devoted my whole life to studying. The Protheans. What. An. Idiot. How could I have been so stupid? I should have been more careful when I activated it. Engaged in a careful process of pressing buttons that I had a decent idea of what they did, rather than a frantic pressing of every button in reach. I suppose it did have the intended effect though, even if I could have been better off. Suspended in a blue bubble behind a blue barrier curtain that seals off the tiled cell of the tower I am in is better than being dragged off by the geth and that krogan. I still have to put up with their attempts to get me out of here every hour or so. Which they have been doing for around two days. But it could be worse.

Goddess help me. Please forgive my stupidity and get me out of here. Preferably not into the krogan's hands, but I'll take what I can get.

Just get me out.

Please.

Something shakes the bubble, destroying my attempts at sleep. I don't bother moving around. I can't move anything but my head anyway. I just listen. Hopefully.

Is that...gunfire? It's faint...but it's definitely there. The krogan releasing some pent up tension or rescuers? I'm hoping it's the latter.

The gunfire stops and soon after the elevator starts up. I really hope it's not backup for the krogan. That would be bad. There might be someone who actually has a brain.

The elevator suddenly starts screeching on its descent, the piercing noise echoing through the underground cavern. I wish I could put my hands over my ears. Anything to block out that hideous noise. I don't get to lament my situation long before the elevator lands heavily on the broken platform above me. From the sounds of their footsteps, I would say there were three people in it. Too light to be the krogan or the geth. Maybe it could be someone here to rescue me. They probably aren't here for the krogan. Do they know I'm down here? I should call out to them. But they could be here for something else. Maybe they're here for the same reason the krogan is. An unpleasant proposition. I suppose I won't know unless I try.

"Uh...hello? Could somebody help me? Please?"

The footsteps pause momentarily and then continue. Did they hear me? I hope they did. Three figures drop onto the ground in front of the barrier curtain through a hole punched into the platform by a large geth beforehand. They shouldn't have expected the thin metal to be able to hold its weight. The three walk up to the curtain, the blue light allowing me to look them over. Wow. They're humans. Haven't seen many of them before. Well, just on the extranet really, but I've seen enough to guess that the one on the right is male and the other two are female. That's curious. I thought they were a patriarchal society. And yet the woman in the middle seems to be the leader. Interesting. They don't seem to be here to harm me, but I've been wrong before. Oh well. It's worth trying. The krogan can't get in, so they probably won't be able to anyway.

"Can you hear me out there? I'm trapped! I need help!"

The leader takes off her helmet, revealing dark red hair. "Are you okay? What happened?" she sounds stressed, which is understandable. She was probably expecting Therum to be reasonably quiet. It's supposed to be anyway. That's why I didn't bring anyone here with me. It was just a simple dig site. I'm just an archaeologist. I don't expect people to come after me. She must have encountered people outside of here though. Her left arm seems crooked, as though it is broken. Unless she broke it in the lift, which I doubt, something must have happened on the surface. I look at her face. Green eyes stare back at me somewhat impatiently. Oh yeah, she asked me a question.

"Listen," I say, trying to sound calm. "This thing I am in is a Prothean security device. I cannot move, so I need you to get me out of it, alright?"

She just keeps staring at me. Did I do something wrong? Maybe I've offended her. I don't know how though. I should have done more research into their species when they emerged. It would have been really helpful now.

"Your mother is working with Saren. Whose side are you on?"

"What?" I say reproachfully. What side? What are we doing, fighting a war or something? Saren was that rogue Spectre, wasn't he? I read it on the extranet. Why would my mother be working with him? And why are you asking me anyway? I haven't seen her for ages. We are completely different. I just want to be left alone. Preferably out of here, but I'll take what I can get. "I'm not on anybody's side! I may be Benezia's daughter, but I'm nothing like her! I have not spoken to her in years. Please. Just get me out of here."

That seems to satisfy her and her tone softens. "How did you end up in there?"

That's much nicer. I'll try to calm down a bit. Stop sounding like a raving madwoman. "I was exploring the ruins when the geth showed up, so I hid in here. Can you believe that? Geth? Beyond the Veil!" Calm down, Liara. You're getting worked up again. "I activated the tower's defences. I knew the barrier curtains would keep them out. When I turned it on, I must have hit something I wasn't supposed to. I was trapped in here. You must get me out. Please."

The woman smiles, revealing pearl-white teeth. "We'll find some way to help you." She sounds so sure that she'll get me out. I don't share her optimism, but I may as well try to help her.

"There is a control in here that should deactivate this thing. You'll have to find some way past the barrier curtain. That's the tricky part; the defences cannot be shut off from the outside. I don't know how you'll get in here." I should probably tell her about the krogan. She may not have encountered him yet, the blubbering idiot probably not even having noticed her presence. "Be careful. There is a krogan with the geth. They have been trying different ways to get past the barrier." None that have worked, obviously. But mentionable none the less.

I think I hear the leader mumble a thanks, but she turns around and the three of them walk off before I can ask. Soon they are out of sight, searching for a way to get me out of this mess. In the process leaving me here, alone.

Goddess, what have I got myself into?

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