This place was a damned disaster. A vehicle sat outside with the engine still cooling off while everything beyond that looked like a bloody tornado had hit. Well only if said tornado could shoot bullets leaving blood splatter all over. Disquiet washed over Shepard rather quickly. And she hadn't even stepped into the building. More like she had jumped into it due to lack of elevator.
No sooner had they gotten here were they relying on flashlights for the first time in a long while. Last time had been..what Tuchanka? Sounded about right. Chills ran down her spine as the thought of a Thresher Maw crept into her mind. Now was defiantly not good for that. Being in the dark with a wild imagination was a sure fire way to get killed. Dying was not going to be added to her list of things to do any time soon.
So her imagination was reeled in and tucked away. After she took a deep breath her searching for answers continued. Only a few spare parts and a voice recording dotted the main room. Shepard had to guess perhaps this was where they gathered to talk or maybe have a meal. Without seeing the entire room at once all she had to go were the clues she uncovered with her flashlight. The worry she had grew and grew until it became a ball of ice and nestled itself in her stomach.
Just what in the Gods name had happened here?
An answer was presented to her moments later. The body of a Ravager and an Asari Commando. Both had passed some time ago. As Shepard bent down to investigate the belongings on the Asari echos of more screams filled her ears. This time she could not stop the chill which skittered down her spine. She deserved a far better resting place than where the Reapers could paw at her corpse.
With a shake of her head she scooped up the data pad near the body. Perhaps there could be some helpful information on this thing.
"What do you make of it Shepard?" Garrus kept his voice low.
"I don't know what the Reapers would want from here. But we'll find out won't we? All I can say is this woman shouldn't have died here. She should have at least been some place comfortable."
The Turian offered a reassuring pat of her shoulder. Helped to calm her jittery nerves that was for sure. Never once stopped her looking at the Datapad however.
"Anything of use?"
"Yeah. A map to a bombs location. Guess they'd already started to purge this place. C'mon it's in the Great Hall."
"This does not explain why the Reapers are here." Javik grumbled in slight annoyance.
"Hey when have the Reapers ever needed a reason to be anywhere Javik? Sometimes just no pleasing you is there. Sorry I'm not a mind reader so I've got no clue what they want. But I've a feeling we'll know soon enough." A split second was used to rub her eyes. "I don't care if these Asari were Ardat-Yakshi. Killing them all is pointless, evacuation would have saved all of these lives."
"Not much we can do now."
"I know. C'mon let's see if we can save anyone before we blow this place to hell."
Travel would have been done in silence had it not been for the commotion of battle. To Shepard it meant a survivor and this meant she could try to save them from this hell. Her steps were loud and hurried but with her gun at the ready she dared whatever creature to make itself known to her. She'd blow it's face off.
"I would say that I almost didn't hear you. But you were making so much noise. It's good to see you again my friend."
"Samara," Shepard felt a wave of happiness settle in her gut. "Gods it's been a while. Wait not that I don't love the idea of pleasantries. But what are you doing here?"
"Two of my daughters call this home. I have come for them."
"Samara...please tell me you're not going to kill them."
The moment of hesitation boded ill for Shepard. Even more so since the Justicar lowered her gaze to the floor.
"They are my responsibility. One which cannot be abandoned even as our galaxy crumbles."
It wasn't the answer she had hoped for. But then again she couldn't pretend to understand the ways of this woman. She hardly knew much about Asari culture as it was. Not a chance in hell she'd ever be able to argue against a woman who followed a code she knew nothing of. But there was one thing she could do. Help her at least safely secure her daughters.
"Why don't we look together Samara? Perhaps your daughters can fill us in on what's happening here."
"I've no doubt they will have much to tell us. It has been centuries since I last saw them." Before Shepard could dare question why it'd been so long another unearthly scream shook the air. "We're out of time. I'll draw these creatures off."
"She's joking right? Please tell me she's joking." Shepard whispered to Garrus.
"My experience has been Samara doesn't joke about battles."
"Point. Hey Samara...hey where'd she go?"
"To do as she said she would."
"Javik. Why didn't you tell me she was leaving?"
"That woman is a warrior on a quest. It would be dishonorable of me to stop her."
"Gods give me strength." Shepard heaved a sigh. "Alright let's move out."
Minimal resistance was seen upon entering what Shepard would consider the courtyard. She doubted they had very much warning or time to have a resistance build against the Reapers. Still didn't answer what had happened here however. Though she was careful with each step now. Didn't want to set off a trap somewhere along the way. They really didn't need that right now.
But it seemed they'd get it anyways.
"Concussive shot and cover your six?"
"You know me so well Garrus. Javik?" he cast a disapproving glance at her. "We never did settle the score as to who could kill more Reapers."
"As you wish Commander." A smirk slithered over his lips.
"Glyph do you have those reports I asked for?"
"Yes Doctor T'Soni. I have forwarded them to your personal computer."
"Thank you."
Not being down there was eating away at her. Though Shepard had the best of intentions she didn't enjoy being cooped up like this. Not when she could help down there. Granted there was always more work she could do on the information Javik had given her. Well that Shepard had managed to pull from him with a bit of sweet talking. Either way it was a possibility.
Perhaps she would in a moment. Right now however she wanted to over look these reports. They were of the utmost importance. Not only for herself but Shepard. Once opened the Asari took her time in reading over every words. It took a while for the situation to sink in but after it did Liara could not help but smile.
She had expected some decent results back. Something to give her more information to work with in order to fine tune everything. But this had gone far better than ever planned. In fact according to the Salarian who had worked on it before finalizing everything had made the perfect adjustments. Liara only regretted not having Mordin around to take a look. Goddess knows he would have loved something like this.
Finally...things were starting to look up.
Everything was going to be alright now. Time would no longer work against them. And it wasn't some invisible clock counting down until doomsday. No more. Now there was nothing but time. As well as a bright future ahead of them both.
The only thing that hurt was that she hadn't been the one chosen. She had hoped for some time that perhaps that heart would be hers. But she supposed that's why they called it crushes and why love hurt. All that mattered now was seeing the woman she cared for happy. And this was only the start of it. He was showing amazing results in recovery.
"...Take care of her Thane..." Hot tears trickled down her cheeks.
And just like that the file was deleted. It would be her little secret.
"THIS IS BULLSHIT!" Shepard screamed.
"Don't be angry because I took your kill Shepard. No one likes a sore looser."
"Not that Garrus! Finding the damn detonator in the middle of a bloody battle!"
"Oh. Well then in that case you're right." A pause. "SHEPARD!"
"Huh?" Her blue gaze cast upwards. "Shit."
Her heart stopped for a split second at the realization of a Banshee being right there. Frozen on the spot meant the damn thing had enough time to strike at her. At such close range the Nova attack was utterly devastating. She felt her back smash into a pillar before she could attempt to save herself. No shields, her gun had gone flying in the chaos and her head was spinning to hard to use any biotic powers. This was just not her day.
An explosion of green and gore came from the head of the Banshee. Not that she was going to gripe about it. But damn that'd been really spooky and too close for her own personal comfort. Javik, of all people, hoisted her up onto her feet.
"In my time my people would have considered that a marriage proposal."
Alright that got her back to her senses. She flubbed with her words as her hands quickly pushed away from the Prothean. No way. Not a chance in hell would she ever consider being with Javik. Besides she had Thane waiting for her back at the Citadel. Garrus however seemed to find this utterly hilarious.
"Oh Spirits Shepard. Now what have you gotten yourself into?"
"Nothing! I hope Javik is joking with me. I mean I'm with Thane after all."
"For the moment." Javik snorted.
She felt her hand clench in a fist. God she wanted to sock him in the face. But it just wasn't worth it in the slightest. Shaking her head Shepard moved back over to the bomb. And the sisters who were apparently going for attempt the second in talking to each other. Thankfully this went much better. Just not by much...
"Falere go! Take the elevator." She sounded rushed, nearly panicked.
"Rila what are you doing?" They held hands for a moment.
"It's too late for me. Just go there are hundreds coming."
There was a moment where Shepard's stomach churned violently. The child was up to something. But she didn't want to be right. This day just kept on getting worse, as was proven when Rila pulled out the trigger for the bomb from behind her back. Quickly Shepard took in a breath this was so damn wrong. But she understood the Asari and her desire to not become one of those monsters.
How she wished with all her might there was another way. Samara looked as emotionless as always but nodded her head. A silent understanding that the mother knew what her child would do. Falere however just didn't want it to be true. The Asari fought against Shepard's grasp, called to her sister begging her to stop. Gods how Shepard wished this was all over. Enough people had suffered enough as it was.
With a hasty shove Falere was given to Samara and Garrus. A few lingering Reapers were closing in and Shepard would be damned before she allowed them to harm her crew. Her second gun was a pistol, not much ammo but it would have to do.
"Shepard?"
"Get in there! I'll be just a second!"
"Do you think I am a fool?"
"No I think you are a soldier molded by war and want to live so you can kill the Reapers. So follow my damn order. GET ON THE DAMN ELEVATOR."
When the Prothean refused to move it was clear what had to happen. A pulse of biotic power send him stumbling back into the small room. At the same moment a Banshee struck against the woman. All she could do was feel. And all that she could feel was blistering heat, something akin to countless stabs going off at once and then the ground against her skull. Today was just REALLY not her day.
It hadn't been what she'd planned but given where she landed Samara quickly yanked Shepard into the elevator as Garrus closed the door. When the explosion went off it rattled the small metal box they were in. Made Shepard rather queasy frankly. Though she dare not complain given the loss Samara and Falere had just suffered. She hoped that Rila would find peace in her Goddess' embrace. Now if everything would stop spinning that'd be just peachy.
Garrus helped the young woman out of the elevator when it finally stopped. Snips of what Samara and her daughter were talking about wafted through the air. But as it was Shepard really wasn't all too focused. Though she did lift her gaze to catch the end of the confrontation. Eyes widened at the sight of the gun with barrel pointed at the Justicar's head. Quick, what was the reasoning for this?
Screw it most likely had to do with that damn code again. Grunting in discomfort she flung herself at the older Asari. Caught her off guard for a tackle which meant the gun went clattering to the ground well out of her reach. Though this also meant she was forcefully shoved off Samara a moment later.
"Don't you DARE leave this child alone in the world." Shepard seethed.
"I must abide by my code."
"Your code needs to soak its head sometimes Samara. Why don't you consider her feelings rather than yours? I mean if you feel bad how do you think she feels? Loosing her sister, her friend and then her mother all at once? God are people turning their brains off because there is a War going on? That's not an excuse." She stood on shaking legs, a gush of fresh crimson splattered her side. "You have so much to live for. And your daughter too. She can still manage to live here. Reapers are gone they sure as hell won't come back for one person. Besides she's smart enough that she'd whoop 'em. That sound about right Falere?"
The younger Asari nodded around her sniffles and wiped her eyes.
"I can't loose Rila and you mother. Please...don't do this."
"There. See? Problem...sol..."
Why did everything just go black all of the sudden?