Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect or it's characters. I do not own Bioware or any of it's products. Further more I do not own EA or any of THEIR products. This is a fan based story for entertainment purposes only, not for sale, or any other form of trade for currency.
Author Note: Hullo! This is not my first fanfic by far. It is, however, my first fanfic based on a video game so please bare with me if I make any mistakes. This story takes place during the Lair of the Shadow Broker, and slightly AU. It's a simple fanfic, and heavily laced on the side of romance.
This is a fem Shepard and Liara story. My Shepard is a renegade, vanguard earth born and fought on Torfan.
Also the random VWVWVW bits is to indicate the change of scene or to fast forward into future scenes. Just so it doesnt all run together and get confusing.
Long Forgotten Love
Chapter 1
Katelyn Shepard crossed her arms over her chest glowering at the Illusive Man. He sat on his chair, lit cigarette in hand as he flicked the ashes into a tray next to him. Her holographic form flickered for a moment as he gave her a look of regard. Her call was most unexpected, and she had claimed it of importance but he began to feel otherwise.
"That kind of intel isn't easy to come by, Shepard." He said after a long pause of silence. She had nearly demanded he give her information leading to a Drell by the name of Feron or the where abouts of the Shadow Broker. Oh he could get what she was asking for, in time. "I dont even see how this is all that important. It sounds more like a personal errand and side tracks from the true mission at hand." he then commented.
"You scratch my back, and I scratch yours. You want me to stop the Collectors, to prevent any more attacks, I'll do it, but these little... side missions to help Cerberus with unrelated tasks is no better or worse then what I'm asking for." Katelyn said firmly. She stood up straighter letting her arms fold behind her back. She gave him a look she'd give any of her crew. A look of command, impatience. What she wanted, she would get, no matter what the results.
"Remember who you work for now, Shepard. This isn't a merc job, this is an organization with human interests in mind. You of all people should be able to appreciate that." the Illusive Man stated before he inhaled a long drag from his cigarette, finishing it off. He stamped it out before letting it lay in the ash tray. He shifted positions in his chair, folding his left leg over his right, sitting a little straighter then before.
"I dont care about your concerns, I'm not you're play thing. Either give me the intel or I find it myself. If I have to do it myself, you know I'll leave a nice messy trail for you to clean up." Shepard said impatiently, still holding her commanding tone. Illusive Man couldn't help but let a smirk play across his lips, though in the shadows no one could notice it. In a manner he admired her style. If you could call it that.
She had a point, however. She was impatient, sometimes arrogant, and sometimes self centered. If she wanted to leave a new black list to Cerberus' name she'd do so easily. He shook his head. She was rather persistent. "Alright, I will allow you some time to deal with this... personal matter. I will contact you as soon as I have the information you seek. Until then continue to build your team, and search for clues on the Collectors." He said before he cut off the transmission.
VWVWVW
It had been a long six months. But finally, after many missions, and battles, and nearly getting killed a few times over, it was over. Back in friendly space, and ported at Omega until repairs could finish. They had been stationed here for about two weeks now. The crew was allowed some downtime between their duties in fixing the Normandy. It had taken some extensive damage in the Collector fight, but she held together.
The repairs were coming underway nicely. Nearly complete even. But what Katelyn Shepard had planned next was beyond her. The months leading up to the attack on the Collector base had been so time consuming. She didnt have a whole lot of time for anything else. Running missions, trying to stop abductions.
Currently she sat in her personal quarters. All she could hear was the fish tank running as the engines were off. She sat on the sofa as she looked up towards the ceiling above her bed seeing nothing but the Omega station outside her window. Her thoughts flooded heavily with everything that has happened as she looked back down at the table in front of her.
She had placed Liara's picture on it and starred at it for a while. She sighed heavily. She truly missed the Asari. Her whole life, she made one aggressive decision after another. Never cared for her own safety. She didn't like seeing her crew mates and members die but at the same time she wouldn't hesitate to make the call.
But after she had found the intelligent, yet clumsy archaeologist... Something changed within her. No longer was she on just another mission. This was becoming something far more personal. After having gotten to know the young Asari her perspective began to change. She began to actually care for someone. Though how Liara came to care for her, even admit to an attraction and attachment to the otherwise aggressive Commander Katelyn Shepard, was beyond her comprehension. But it felt nice for a change.
She reflected back to her mission on Virmire. She had gotten the Salarian captain Kirahee killed, and many others. She also got Kaiden Alenko killed. She didn't think much of it at the time, but now that she did...
Another heavy sigh filled her personal space as she leaned back against the couch. Her eyes closed as she tried to relax herself.
Now that she had cut off her ties with Cerberus, even gained Miranda's loyalty which lead to her resignation by destroying the Collector ship. Even Jacob remained in Katelyn's crew. Everyone survived, against all odds, they all made it out alive. They defeated the Collectors and further more shoved an explosive down their throats, so to speak.
She wasn't sure as to what direction to take now. Now all the contacts she once had at her disposal gone. the Council still ignored her about the Reapers, and she could no longer trust Cerberus enough to get the job done. Before she viewed them as a necessary evil, and a means to fund her mission... but no longer. She may be a ruthless bitch herself, but she wouldn't put the entire galaxy at stakes by handing over advanced alien tech to a bunch of xenophobes. She would have been no better then the Reapers then.
She was exhausted. Physically, mentally. She was still a bit sore from the fight on that Collector base. She was bruised and a bit battered. And now she was second guessing everything she had ever done. What a fine way to add to the already existing problems. Her relationship with Liara, if there was one, was at stake, she didn't even know how she'd pull off stopping an ancient evil of sentient machines that made a habit of galactic genocide every 50 thousand years, let alone what she would do with herself after.
"You did this to me!" the words echoed in her mind like poisonous venom, eating away at her insides, her very soul. She had spat this out in pent up anger over her whole situation. She was dead, as dead as dead could be. Or so Jacob told her when this whole thing started. She was nothing but charred meat and bones. Not even recognizable. Then she was brought back to life to be used as a puppet, a tool. It had more emotional impact then she had let on.
She cringed at herself as she thought of how Liara must have felt hearing these words. And they werent delivered nicely either. They held a sting of anger, even hate. They fought over it. Liara was nearly in tears. How could Katelyn have been so stupid? Liara wanted her back... she had missed her, mourned her the whole time, and mourned her still.
"Commander?" came Joker's familiar voice over her room's intercom. "What is it?" she spat out in self irritation. At first there was silence. Joker didn't know whether or not he should even continue. "Yeoman Chambers said you have an important message on your private terminal." he said. The usual confidence was gone. Replaced by a weary tone. Joker usually didn't sound this way.
Katelyn Shepard shook her head slightly as she began to stand up. "Who from?" she questioned. Had to be something somewhat important if Joker felt the need to give her the message. "Eh.. It's the Illusive Man, ma'am." he said even quieter. The famous Commander Shepard was a bit stumped right then and there. She had told him to shove it up his ass, more or less... What was he doing contacting her now?
"Thank you, Joker." she then said before the intercom went dead. She wandered up to her "office" area before tapping a few buttons on her terminal. She was curious enough to take a look. It didn't take long for the computer to pull up her message either. Though what she would read would surprise her.
Shepard:
I know I am the last person you wish to hear from. Believe me when I say you are the last person I wish to speak to at this time. However, I did once tell you I would give you any information regarding Liara's personal matter concerning the Shadow Broker.
I have that information. As a way of amending bridges, and perhaps even a "reward" for your efforts against the Collectors I decided to pass along this information. Inside the attachment will be a planet location we have uncovered from intercepted messages. I believe the Shadow Broker resides on this planet inside of a massive ship. As far as my intel knows, the Drell, Feron may very well still be alive.
I wish you luck on this errand of yours, and if you survive it, perhaps we can have a meeting and discuss a reconnection, though you wont be apart of Cerberus personnel any longer.
Illusive Man.
Katelyn closed the message before turning on her heals in an instant. As she quickly made her way to the elevator she tapped her ear piece communicator. "Joke recall the crew to the ship, and set a course for Illium." She said. She almost sounded excited, but sharp and in command. "Aye aye, Commander." Joker replied a bit puzzled and curious.
VWVWVW
Ya sorry, short chapters. Next chapter will be surrounding mostly Liara. This was just a set up to get into the Shadow Broker business. They never really showed you as to how or why the Illusive Man got his hands on the information before, it's kind of left to the imagination. This would be my take. Maybe Shepard asked for the intel, if not then the other likely hood of it would be the Illusive Man was just doing her a favor. But that would seem unlikely since he seems focused on his own gains. Even with the Collectors it seemed like in the end he was doing it for his own benefits.
Anyways, onto the next chapter!
