Hi everyone!

This is my second story, about an imagined return to Feros. Still with FemShep and Liara (of course!), but a slightly different look at different repercussions of them having a relationship on the Normandy. Please let me know what you think! Part II coming soon, hopefully! :D

-WallFlower4124

Distress Signal - Part I

Shepard prepared to dive into the Galaxy Map. She loved looking through it, at all the planets and stars, all the places she could go, each one further away from the politics of the Citadel then the last.

"You'd think that when Ambassador Unduin and the Council said that I didn't answer to them, they meant it," Shepard mused. She didn't like their snooty attitude and they didn't enjoy her expressing her dislike so openly.

There were no missions that needed urgent attention, and her mind was filled with thoughts of Liara.

"Maybe we could go to the Artemis Tau Cluster… Tell Joker I need to survey a… nice picnic spot. It is where I found her. Could make some positive memories around the place… Yeah, I think that'd be-" Her thoughts were cut off by Joker's voice over the intercom: "I've picked up an emergency distress signal, Commander… But you're not going to like where it's coming from."

"Where, Joker?" Shepard asked, her brow furrowing.

"Feros. From the remnants of the colony, looks like maybe someone survived."

A flicker of pain passed through Shepard's eyes. Feros. The one rescue, the one place, the one time she had truly failed humanity. And now there was a signal there? It was impossible… Almost. She's seen the ruins. She'd caused them. But this could be her second chance, her only chance left and she wasn't going to fail that colony again.

"Let's go, Joker. Get us there fast."

As Joker copied and turned off the intercom, Shepard pulled out of the Galaxy Map, focusing on the next question: Who would she take? She thought deeply as she walked to her quarters.

"The real issue is that I don't know what'll be down there. If we're going to be fighting through ruins, I'll need someone who can shoot long-range, but be good in close-combat as well… Unlikely to be anything too technological that I can't deal with, so I'll leave Tali. Ergh, I wish Ash wasn't on rec leave; I really could've used her on something like this. But it's good she sees her sisters every now and again." The sly voice that lived in the back of mind and only emerged in a dark time quietly spoke up, uttering words Shepard never wanted to hear: "You'll need biotics. You know you will. You can't use brute force for everything, some things require more tact. And your biotics aren't powerful enough…" Shepard shook her head. No. She'd never take her into something like this. Not to Feros. It's too dangerous. "I'll take Wrex and Garrus," Shepard decided as she punched in the pass-code to her door. "Between Wrex and I, out biotics'll be up to scratch. Garrus can deal with anything else, that way Liara's safe on the Normandy." The door to Shepard's quarters beeped softly as they opened and slid shut as she stepped inside. She turned to lock them when a voice from behind her said "You have to take me, Commander." Shepard yelped and twisted around, her hand flying to where her holster would be if she was wearing her armour. "If you send Garrus and Wrex in, your biotics will be too low and if any thing happened, you would be overpowered immediately."

Shepard glared at the Asari sitting on her bed. "No. We'll be fine and you're not coming." There was a pause. "How did you get in here, anyway?" Liara arched her perfectly-shaped eyebrow. "As soon as Joker got that signal, he knew what you'd do, and what you'd decide. He contacted me as soon as you walked away, and here I am."

Shepard ignored the fact that Joker knew her as well as Liara did and stored it in her pay-back list for things she owed Joker later.

"Well, you're both correct. I have made up my mind. I'm taking Garrus and Wrex, and that's final." Shepard tried to look away from Liara's deep blue eyes, but she couldn't find the willpower.

Liara sighed and stood up. "Ok, then."

Shepard stared at her. "Ok, then?" She repeated slowly.

"Ok then," replied Liara coolly. "You got to Feros with Wrex and Garrus. But after you're done there, you'll need to drop me off in the next galaxy."

"What?"

"I'm not selective as to where, just somewhere that has been colonised."

Liara started to walk around Shepard towards the door.

"No, Liara, wait! I don't understand-"

Liara turned around sharply, her words filled with fury and her biotics making her body glow ominously. "You will kill him! You know that if you go down there, there is almost no chance that Garrus would come back alive! And yet you will not send me! Yes, I am a scientist, but you know that I am the best biotic on this ship, you know that I can fight! And you still will not send me! I care for you, Shepard, deeply. But if that is going to get in the way of saving someone who has sent out a distress signal, then I would rather go and be with someone else who knows my talents and uses them appropriately!" And with a last look, Liara walked out and the door closed behind her. Shepard glared after her. Slowly she undressed and changed into her armour. When she walked up to Joker she glowered at him, openly. "Tell Wrex and… Dr T'Soni to suit up." Joker looked at her and opened his mouth, but Shepard cut him off before he could say anything.

""Now, Joker."

"Ma'am."