Sure Thane and I served on the SR2 together, and while I was one of the few that new about him and Shepard. I admit I had advised against it, after all he was dying. Regardless even though we served together I was always Shepard's friend first and foremost, I've helped her take down Sovereign, I've seen her at lows and highs. Her lows have been nothing to scoff a. I thought I saw her at her lowest when she had to face her old squad mates that survived that thresher maw attack. Or maybe after she tried to desperately warn the Batarian colonists, she beat herself up for their deaths for weeks.

But I was wrong. When Thane jumped down to the assassin and the duel started I saw a swell of pride in that human Specter. But the second the fight started turning ugly that pride deflated and worry took over her features. I could see her keeping her weapon ready trying to get a good shot but those two were moving way to fast. When Thane fell panic threw her eyes wide. Shepard was off like a shot toward the assassin. I'd never seen so much emotion on Shepard's face when Thane slumped to the ground. Things were happening so fast I had no time to hear the two of them before we were off after the assassin.

In the car Shepard was, vicious trying everything possible to get this bastard. But he got away. When we found Thane in the hospital Shepard didn't waste a second and just ran, her biotics must have taken a lot out of her during the fight but she pushed through. I let her deal with Thane, I was expecting tears at least that's how humans seemed to react with sad things in the vids. Instead the face I saw on here wasn't angry or sad,it was just... void. But then again I should know by now not to expect Shepard to be a normal human. I was going to ask about Thane, but in that face I knew he was gone. I was going to ask about his son but that kid pulled me aside before I could ask Shepard. I did the only thing I could do, listen. Listening to that kid when he said a warning of 'Battle Sleep' whatever that means. I wanted to express my condolences but Shepard was already leaving and I had to get back to the ship.

Normally Shepard would bark orders, but now she was silent. As we were waiting in the decontamination chamber I swear I heard her say "He lied." I wanted to ask but she was gone. While I didn't understand the words Kolyat used I knew something was wrong. I'll speak to Liara about all of this, maybe the Shadow Broker can make sense of this.

When I entered Liara's office that weird VI was right in my face, good thing I didn't have my gun with me. "Greetings Garrus Vakarian, Dr. Tsoni is hard at work on the prothean device and has requested to not be disturbed. Please come back another time." I just stared at the little ball of light, yeah a ball of light will stop me sure. Thankfully I didn't have to destroy the VI as Liara spoke up. "Thank you Glyph that will be all. Allow Mr. Vakarian into my office." She said in a distant and clipped manner. As I entered the office and the VI drifted away I realized it was odd hearing that clipped manner of speaking from sweet little Liara. Sure I know she's the Shadow Broker hell I helped her become the shadow broker but to me she's still that insanely curious Asari scientist that was so naive it was rather adorable. I guess I need to stop thinking about her like that now. I was pulled out of my thoughts when she spoke to me. "How can I help you Garrus?" She asked without taking her eyes away from the screen before her. Deciding that it would be easier to just ease into everything I leaned against the wall behind her and began to talk.

"Do you remember that Drell-" However I wasn't able to finish as I was interrupted.

"Yes Thane Krios, he assisted in my mission to get Feron back. How is he?" Liara said in that same distant tone so fine, easing into this be damned.

"He's dead." That seemed to pull her away from her damn screens. Maybe a little too well because she froze, her back stiffened and she lifted her head breathing out the word "Goddess." It was almost like a whisper. In that whisper it was quite obvious that she understood the implications of Thane's death. In her next words it proves that she understands the implication. "How is she?"

I honestly had no idea how to answer that question so I shifted awkwardly and admitted all I did know. "She's in her cabin." I couldn't help but watch as Liara turned to finally face me and in those eyes were sympathy, sadness, and pity? "Yes I imagine Shepard would want some privacy." There was an uneasy solemn silence between us for a short while before Liara spoke again. "I can't imagine that you came here to only inform me about Thane." Ah, there was that business clipped tone that she had perfected in the last few years.

"Yeah, you caught me." I said and shuffled before continuing "Kolyat, Thane's son spoke with me before we left the Citadel. He said something, a warning of sorts."

"What warning Garrus? Liara asked me in a worried tone.

"A warning about Shepard, he told me to watch out for her soul, He said that Shepard might be entering a 'Battle Sleep'. Thing is I have no idea what that means. So I was hoping you would."

Liara gave a sigh and moved to a chair, more like slumped into a chair. "Yes. I know what that means. It's a religious term used by the Drell. To understand it you need to understand their philosophy."

"Well I have to admit that I came here for an answer not a history lesson but then I guess I shouldn't have gone to an archeologist then huh?" I cross my arms and the faintest smile appears on Liara's face before it goes away again.

"Yes well, The Drell are like humans in their belief that each individual has a soul. However the Drell believe that the soul is much more separated than humans believe. For example, when a Drell is told by his superiors to do something unethical his soul is untarnished, even if he committed the unethical act. Where as humans believe that regardless of if you or your superiors tell you to do something unethical if you commit the act your soul is hurt." Liara paused I think to make sure I understood what she was saying, I just nodded for her to continue. "The Drell believe that if you decide to do an unethical act by yourself then your soul is hurt. So as long as you don't consciously decide to do something unethical your soul is fine so to speak." Taking a break Liara leaned back against the chair before continuing. "Now the Drell also believe that if a person is severely injured or traumatized they believe the person is no longer Whole. This is where the term 'Battle Sleep' is linked to." That got my attention

"So pretty much the person's just sad?" I asked in a slightly confused voice, I was never one for philosophy.

Liara simply shook her head "Battle Sleep is also closely associated with Revenge. But not any Revenge, more of the 'I will hunt you down and destroy you piece by piece variety.' Many Drell who have entered Battle Sleep have taken years to exact their vengeance, which is carefully thought out most of the time. They don't care how long it takes or what it takes they will abandon everything for revenge. And Goddess help whoever receives it." It was after speaking that Liara covered her face and shook her head lightly.

"Sounds like your speaking from experience Liara, care to share?" I asked curiously, granted while it wasn't just curiosity I needed to know if Shepard would do something more insane than usual. I more than anyone get revenge but if it was going to jeopardize the mission revenge would have to be put aside.

Liara simply nodded. "Before I was the Shadow Broker I made some unsavory allies, and one was a Drell's victim." Her hand moves to cover her face for a moment before continuing with her story. With her continuation her hand moved from her face. "Garrus it was awful, that Asari didn't just die. She was tortured within an inch of her life. Then she was treated, healed if you will. Only for it all to happen again. He kept her like that for months before killing her." Liara simply shook her head, maybe trying to get the image out of her head? "I was called in for questioning, it was no secret that she was not liked so they questioned her business associates first. I came first. Garrus when I saw her body, she didn't even look like an Asari. It was unimaginable." She trailed off there

The room filled with an uneasy silence for the both of us. I was sure Liara was re-living the moment, whereas I was simply imaging it all. My imagination ceased when Liara began to speak again.

Taking a steadying breath Liara began again. "A few months later I was informed that the individual responsible had been caught. He was a Drell, named Krilon. I was able to speak with him briefly. And he told me his reasons. Krilon had been searching for this Asari for fifty years. He explained that this Asari had once been an Eclipse member, and in a raid of a transport vessel she had killed his daughter. Krilon had been on the Hanar home world at the time and when he found out what had happened to his daughter he entered 'Battle Sleep'. He told me that the incident had caused his soul to break, he was so traumatized that he was no longer whole" She paused for a moment and then explained the ending to the tale. "He died a month after we spoke, the doctors say he simply lost his will to live."

Liara's room had become silent with the story and the implications that the story brought with it. I couldn't stay I had to leave, I had to think. Leaving my crew mate and returning to the main gun I began to think about everything that had transpired. Listening to Liara's tale I finally understood what 'Battle Sleep' meant. I thought about Shepard's face again, it wasn't sad. Thinking about it now I remember that face.

When we were on our way to the Omega 4 relay there was this determination in Shepard's face that I'd seen before a few times, she was so determined to get her missions done. But that face changed when we landed and that poor girl turned to sludge. Shepard's face wasn't just determination anymore it was determination mixed with pure rage. It was after the mission was over that I got a chance to speak with Shepard. Shepard and I having a drink a day later. We were talking and I asked her why she had blown up the collector home world. I remember those green eyes locking onto me from over her glass. Setting down the glass Shepard clasped her hands together and leaned against them before speaking. I remember her speaking in a soft tone. "A lot of reasons, but the biggest one was because they tried to kill my own."

Needless to say I was shocked, sure Shepard had the idea of leaving no one behind but she'd done it for the sake of the mission. Like leaving Ashley behind on Virmie. So I knew while it killed her to do it that Shepard would leave people behind if it meant a successful mission. So Naturally I asked her. "So you're telling me that even if saving it would be beneficial for the universe you would still destroy it?" After this Shepard moved closer and her tone took on a cold, cruel, and quiet tone. "Even if saving it would have killed every single Reaper that ever was or will be, I would still destroy it. Because no one and nothing goes after one of my own. Without being totally destroyed."

In those words I saw the Vengeful Shepard.

Though thinking about it now I saw her evil twin today.