Chapter 2: Vengeance of an Archangelor The Foul-Mouthed Stowaway

"Mother? Will you tell me another story? One about the Ancients?"

"Just one more, Little Wing. It's getting well past your bed time. Now come on, under the covers. Settle down! *laughs* The story isn't going anywhere! Now, there. Comfortable? Good, I think you'll like this one. But after this one, right to bed, understand?"

"Yes momma!"

"Alright. Now, as I am sure you know, we were not the first space-faring race. Oh, don't give me that look! It doesn't seem right to begin a story without some introduction or a back ground of sorts. As I was saying, a long, long time before the asari ever built the first space ship, the galaxy was ruled by the Ancients. Now, the Ancients were many, many different races of all shapes, sizes and colors – "

"And blue!"

"Not necessarily Little Wing. Are you going to let me tell the story, or do want to? No? Okay now hush, Liara. The Ancients were many different races, some of which were blue," *giggle* "but the most two notable of the Ancients were the Protheans and the Humans. Two very proud and old races, both trying to outdo the other, always competing. Now, the Protheans obviously had the upper hand in this competition because they had ruled the galaxy since before the Humans arrived. But that did not stop the Humans. Do you know why, Little Wing?

"Yes!"

"And why is that?"

"Because the Humans were unique! And smart! And they were deter- determi- would never give up!" *laugh*

"Yes, they were determined. And because of their determination, the Protheans began to see them as potential allies. And soon friends."

"Like you and Shiria? Or me and Arxis?"

"No, more like rivals. Or friendly enemies. They worked together, much like I work with the turians and salarians."

"And the krogan?"

"Not quite, but yes similar. Now back to the story. Why, if I didn't know better I'd say you're trying to drag this out so you could stay up longer, Liara. No? Okay. Now, the Protheans and the Humans worked together and slowly began to trust each other. However, just as peace was brokered between the two Ancient races, a great darkness swept over the galaxy."

"The Reapers!"

"Yes, the Reapers. The Reapers slowly began to steal individuals from each race by the thousands. Then, they began to steal entire worlds!"

"No!"

"Yes! The Ancients were very afraid. But the Protheans and Humans devised a plan!"

"Devised?"

"Yes, devised. It means to make or build. The Ancients were very scared but they put aside their differences and made a plan to save themselves."

"But they didn't!"

"No, they didn't. Unfortunately, all the Ancients were too busy arguing and fighting to save themselves. By the time they had a plan in motion, it was too late to save their races. So the plan was not to be put into place. It was too late to save themselves, and the Ancients were very scared. Not just for themselves but us too."

"Us?"

"Yes, you and me and Arxis and the turains, salarians, and even the krogan. You see they were scared that the Reapers would come back and steal us too! Oh, yes, so they decided to sacrifice themselves to save us. They built a great technology, a weapon. The Shepard."

"The Shepard."

"Yes, the Ancients used the Shepard to banish the Reapers back into the darkness! Then they hid it away for us, leaving hints to find it, should the Reapers ever come back. The Shepard is still hidden today, waiting for one lucky archeologist to find it. And what a find it will be! Now, to bed Little Wing like you promised."

"Momma?"

"Yes Liara?"

"Will the Reapers come back?"

"No dear one, the Reapers is just a story."

"But then the Shepard is a story then?"

"No, no the Shepard is real. See an archeologist named Tyerias Noble found proof of the Shepard, but nobody has found the Shepard yet."

"Momma? Do you think I could find the Shepard?"

"If you work hard enough and are determined, nothing could stand in your way, Little Wing. Any more questions?"

"Just one," *yawn* "Arxis said the Shepard was a weapon, but if it sent the Reapers away and protected us, wouldn't that make it a shield?"

"Hm… I suppose it would. The Protector Shepard. It does sound very nice, doesn't it? The Protector Shepard and Liara T'soni the Shepard's finder!"

*giggles* "Now, goodnight Little Wing."

"Momma, will you be here tomorrow?"

"Liara…?"

"You always leave for a long time. Will you be here tomorrow?"

"Oh, my child, even though I am far away I am always here with you."

"But will you be here tomorrow?"

*sad sigh* "Yes my dear, I will be here tomorrow."

A steaming cup of yingjing (asari equivalent of coffee) was placed in front of her. Liara looked up at the waiter and smiled her thanks, taking a sip of the hot drink. She swirled the liquid in her mouth, tasting its sweet, almost cinnamon-y flavor. It traveled down her throat and warmed the pit of her stomach, relaxing her muscles. After the drink had cooled in her stomach, a short burst of energy followed. She took another sip, studying the data pad in her hand.

"This is not what I was expecting." Liara glanced up from her data pad and hid a smirk behind her yingjing. Before her stood a scarred turian, dressed in a battle worn black and blue hard suit. A sniper rifle was clipped to his back and a pistol to his hip.

"Clearly." His dress was outlandish in the little diner Liara had chosen for their meeting. She gestured with her hand towards the chair across her. The turian hesitated for half a second, than sat down with purpose. He leaned forward and clasped his talons together.

"I must say I am curious. Are you an Eclipse merc or something? Because don't look like someone who would be taking on the Shadow Broker." Liara snorted and examined her data pad again.

"Don't insult me. The Eclipse band is comprised of idiots and fools."

"Than an asari commando with a grudge? Or perhaps a Justicar? Wait, no, you're not aloof enough to be a Justicar. So a commando?"

"Try a doctor, Mr. Vakarian."

"Ah." The turian leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed. Silence pervaded the air between them, only broken when the waiter returned for their orders.

"So," Vakarian said after the waiter had left again. "How did a doctor discover who I am, and how was that doctor able to contact me, anonymously?" Liara placed her data pad on the table before her and took a sip of her drink.

"Garrus Vakarian, ex C-Sec officer, disgraced and dishonorably discharged from duty after being framed for the death of the eleven officers under your command. With no favorable evidence, you were unable to prove your innocence and took up the title Archangel to stop underworld crime without the restrictions of the law and to find the Shadow Broker to extract your revenge." Liara took another sip of her warm beverage.

The turian, Garrus, seemed stunned for a moment, before collecting himself. The air vibrated for a moment and his mandibles clicked rapidly for a moment, which Liara recognized as a chuckle. She felt herself relax and pried her fingers away from the handle of her pistol.

"I see you did your research, doctor." Garrus rested his arms on the table. "Now, humor me as a spout my theory about you." Liara tilted her head towards him and Garrus took that as an invitation.

"I think that you are much more than a doctor. I think that you are the Doctor. A notable figure in the information trade who has it out for the Shadow Broker and is willing to do anything to catch him." Her fingers tightened around her cup as she took another sip, preparing to grab her gun should he make the slightest twitch in the wrong direction.

"Which is why you contacted me." She raised an eyebrow.

"And how do you figure that?"

"Oh come on," Garrus leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs, his ankle resting on top his knee. He casually examined his talons. "I'm the best damn shot in the galaxy who just happens to be devilishly handsome," he shot her a wink and she had to stifle a snort. "and just so happens to have helluva grudge."

"For all you know I could just be hiring you for a hit."

"Too bad I'm not for hire." He looked concerned for a moment, and leaned forward whispering; "Wait, you didn't just contact me for hit, did you?" Liara shot him an amused glance and took another sip of her yingjing as the waiter returned with their meals.

Liara picked up her utensils, preparing to eat, but stopped and stared at Garrus when he hesitated.

"You're uh – you're paying right? Because I don't exactly have a salary or anything." Liara chuckled and took a bite of the favorable fish.

"Oh good. 'Cause when you set the reservations under my name, I kinda got a bit worried and all." He rubbed the back of his head before taking a bite of his own meal.

"Speaking of names, I never caught yours, Doctor."

Liara was pacing in her cabin aboard the Vanguard when she got the call. She was trying to reason why the Shadow Broker would be searching Prothean and Human ruins. Maybe the Broker is looking for political leverage? No, he has more leverage than any other political figure. She mused. Maybe he's discovered new information or a weapon of sorts? But what would have he found for such an effort? A voice over the intercom interrupted her thought process.

"Dr. T'soni? We've got an issue on the bridge. You're going to want to get down there quickly."

When Liara arrived on the bridge, she wasn't sure what to expect, but what she saw was not something she could've ever expected. A purple suited quarian was struggling in the grasp of a female turian while shouting angrily at Garrus.

"Captain Tinara, Garrus, would someone be so kind as to explain what exactly is going on here?" The three figures fell silent, even the mouthy quarian who was spewing out profanities at Garrus like there was no tomorrow. The female turain, Tinara glared at Garrus and jerked her chin towards Liara. Garrus glared at Tinara and crossed his arms. Liara turned to him.

"Garrus…" that was all the warning he needed.

"Oh alright!" the turian threw his hands up in exasperation. "I found this quarian rat hiding in the main battery while I was making some calibrations. Speaking of which your ship-"

"Garrus." Tinara interrupted sharply. Garrus shook rolled his eyes shaking his hands.

"Anyways, Captain," he put as much mockery as her could in the title "Tinara got all pissy with me when I threatened to pry this quarian's helmet off if she didn't tell me why she was here."

"Tinara?" The woman in question merely shrugged. "I suggested that we throw her out the air lock like we do with other stowaways. Much less painful and messy that way. And less paper work."

Liara hissed in a breath and pinched the bridge of her nose. "That still does not explain how she got onto my ship. I thought you did a sweep before we left the Citadel."

Tinara stiffened defensively. "I did. I think she had a cloak or something."

"She did. And she is standing right here." Liara looked at the petite quarian with slight surprise. The only thing she could make out of the girl's face was the outline of a nose and two glowing eyes.

"Did she now?" Tinara asked mockingly. The quarian yanked her arm free of the captain's grip and glared at her.

"Yes and she has a name and a reason for being here. And if you'd just stop fighting for a second you'd find that reason out!"

"So what is her name?" Liara interrupted before Tinara could try to kill her. Garrus did nothing to hide the amusement on his face. The quarian looked at the asari in surprise, before pulling herself up to her full height. She was taller than Liara, something that Liara did not allow to unnerve her.

"My name is Tali'Zorah nar Rayya and I have information I believe you may be interested in, Archangel." Tali'Zorah turned to Garrus and Liara felt her brow rise in surprise.

"Well, I'm most definitely interested. "

A/N: So just a heads up, but there are going to be quite a few OCs in this story to fill in the places that humans would normally occupy in the ME series because the humans are, obviously, dead. All of them. Except Shepard. But yeah. So thanks for all the reviews and I hope you're all enjoying this, even if this chapter was a bit slow, but hey! Garrus and Tali have joined the crew! Things should be a bit interesting (and headache inducing for Liara now!)

Let me know what you think of the beginning sections of the chapters please! I'm trying to give a bit of a background for the Prothean/Human Era through the ships logs of the Normandy, stories (like the one in this chapter) and files and such. I'm trying to do it without giving too much away. So let me know if it's a yay or nay please. Have a good day/night!

-Namelessgal