Chapter 2: Bounty Hunters Stink, No Matter Which Universe You're In
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Liara awoke to find herself restrained to a chair in some dark room. Dried blood streaked her head and face, and she had a splitting headache.
Delirious, she wondered briefly if this was what it felt like to be head-butted continuously by a very pissed off krogan.
An unnecessarily bright light flickered on overhead, and Liara was finally able to confront her alleged attacker.
"Good afternoon, Dr. T'Soni, how are you feeling?" Nyxeris smiled malevolently down at her.
"Nyxeris…what is going on? Why did you bring me here? And what did you hit me with?"
"Just that hideous potted plant you always kept in your office. Really, I would think the daughter of a matriarch would have better taste. As to your other questions, just think on it for a moment, maybe it will come to you."
"… You, it was you. You are the Observer!"
"Well then, I guess you're not as dumb as I make you look. I mean, with all the snooping you've been doing on the Shadow Broker, one would think you would thoroughly pat attention to the assistants you hire. I can't believe you didn't see this coming! Commander Shepard must be a formidable distraction."
"Shepard… this is about her, isn't it? You expect her to rescue me."
"I have to say, I'm impressed. Very astute of you, doctor. Yes, since Shepard's successful resurrection, the Collectors' bounty on her has increased ten-fold. You've been looking for information on the Broker's operations; it's only fair he does the same to you. We know about your past relationship with Shepard. We know that she would do anything to save her poor, innocent, asari paramour. And I think you know that, too. Well, it was nice chatting with you, Liara. I'll be sure to come and check on you soon."
With that, Nyxeris left, extinguishing the lights, leaving Liara alone and miserable in the dark.
She knew Shepard; she knew that Nyxeris was right. Shepard would rush in recklessly to save her, and then the Broker and the Collectors would succeed in doing what Feron sacrificed himself to stop.
If only I had been more careful, checked into Nyxeris's past ordeals. Or maybe, if had never gotten involved with Shepard in the first place… But it's much too late. Shepard loves me, and that will be her undoing. And it's also too late, because I love her too.
As if the blood and headache weren't enough, now she had tears, running fresh and hot down her cheeks.