A/N: So I won't be using Miranda's new name in narration, but I will when someone talks about her (that doesn't know her real name). I also decided to skip a lot of the wandering around on Citadel to get the spectre status. It doesn't have a lot of impact on the story, and I don't want to focus on what you already know happens. Nothing changes in that first mission despite Miranda being present (Though I did write it out and add some little comments by Miranda, but it wasn't substantial or important enough to the story.
Now if you read Eternal love and this one you'll probably be annoyed by how I present the two Shepards. (Male Shepard has things more together then Female Shepard) This is because Male Shepard is normal age for Shepard in the games (29) while FemShep is six years younger (23). Also for FemShep Elysium was around a week ago. So while she's off being the first human Spectre there's the whole revenge trip going on (Torfan hasn't happened).
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Chapter 4:Therum
Michelle stepped into her new quarters with trepidation. It didn't feel right by her to take the Captain's quarters. She had just joined the crew, had killed one of their crewmates, and now was taking the captain's place. It was just a situation ripe for mistrust within the crew. She wouldn't be surprised if the human crew was most likely to disregard her orders. She was pretty sure the entire human crew hated her, well except Joker. Michelle's fingers brushed gently over the boxes that had her stuff in them, she didn't have much really, some clothes, books and essentials. The only things she had from her old life were her bloody jacket and a small picture in a frame. The picture was of her family; it was on her sixteenth birthday. Moments after that picture was taken she had gone on her hunt, moments later her parents where missing or dead. Her fingers traced the picture on her desk. Her fingers gently touching her mother's cheeks, a desire to kiss her mother's cheek once more filled her. She wanted to hear her dad offer his council on the situation, wanted to hear him quote some old poet stating that the words of our ancestors still translate to today's day and age. She ignored the boxes for now and opted to use her private shower. She had already set the course to Therum and would be arriving in twelve hours. For now she'd just enjoy the gentle water on her body and get some sleep before she met this Dr. T'Soni.
-Therum Excavation Site-
The mission was rather simple get in go find a archaeologist and see if she knew any information on the Matriarch in Saren's pocket. Of course when Michelle noticed the large amounts of Geth she was certain that they were protecting the archaeologist and that they were being led to one of Saren's accomplices. She had her team of Garrus and Ashley be prepared to take the Doctor down if it came to that. After clearing a colossus at the excavation site the trio entered the small tunnel that served as the entrance to the tunnel. The passage was a little rickety as the catwalks creaked under their feet and the Geth filled the caverns. Finally the elevator had managed to break down with them inside it, they managed to get out before it plummeted farther down and broke apart below them.
"Hello out there?" A panicked voice rang out in the cavern. Michelle looked around unable to find the source of the voice. She shouldered her sniper rifle and made her way down the stairs to her left. As soon as her foot touched the ground the voice called out again.
"Hello? Human? I'm over here. Help me." Michelle's voice turned to the right where an Asari stood floating in a blue bubble. The bubble cast a glow on the woman's skin making her appear to be a very dark blue.
"Dr. T'Soni?" Michelle said
"Yes? Look I don't know who you are but can you please get me out before those Geth return. Yes there's Geth here I saw them. I know you might not believe that, but it's true. Geth beyond the veil."
"Slow down doctor, we know there are Geth here. They were most likely sent here by Saren and his accomplice Matriarch Benezia." Michelle said raising her left hand up
"My mother? Why would she send Geth after me?"
"We were hoping you'd tell us."
"I haven't spoken to my mother in decades. I have no idea why she would send Geth after me." Liara said. Michelle stared at the Asari before her. There was a strength in the woman's eyes that made Michelle want to believe her. She could see the emotions rumbling beneath the Asari's skin, but the woman before her kept them bottled. For a moment Michelle wasn't staring at the Prothean enthusiast but was instead staring at Jamie. She felt her heart ache and she had to turn away, her attention turned to a console next to T'Soni.
"That the control to the bubble you're in?"
"Yes, you'll have to get around to this side to get me out. Please hurry there was a Krogan here earlier. He made it clear he'd get to me, some of his suggestions were not pleasant."
"Hang tight, we'll get you out of there." Michelle said turning away so that she could smirk without being noticed. Her attention turned to rather large mining laser just in front of her.
"Tali, get us access to the laser." Michelle said and Tali ran forward. Suddenly she screamed in pain as a bullet ripped through her shields and tore at her shoulder. She fell to the ground, and Garrus sprung into action. He rose his sniper rifle to his eye and clocked the Geth that had shot Tali in the optics. Michelle opted to activate her cloak before running forward. She ran until she was directly behind the sniper Geth. She placed a hand on the wires in the back of its head before placing a leg on the Geth's back. She then pulled on it roughly until the wire broke out of the Geth and it collapsed to the ground. She stumbled back to her feet and shot the Geth before returning to Tali.
Tali was on the ground bleeding profusely, Garrus had covered the wound with his hands attempting to stem the bleeding as best he could. He looked up to Michelle as she neared him.
"Tali won't bleed out Commander, but we are going to have to make a run to the Citadel as soon as we can. Dr. Chakwas won't have enough amino-dextro antibiotics to deal with an infection from this wound." Garrus rattled off as Tali screamed in pain as Garrus put more pressure on the wound.
"I know it hurts Tali, but we need to stop the bleeding." Garrus whispered lifting one hand and placing it on the side of Tali's mask. He then returned to the wound. Michelle's hands curled to fists as she turned to the laser. She should have checked the area again, Amanda would have had her ass for that mistake. Her mistake cost Tali, her mistake cost Jenkin's his life, how many more would die because of her mistakes. She shook her head before turning to the console. It was fairly easy to get the laser working once more, and it made quick work of the ground beneath the structure Liara was in. Michelle walked past Garrus and down the hole in the ground.
A shriek from Tali alerted Michelle that Garrus was moving her along with them. She turned her head to see Garrus carrying Tali in his arms, he had placed one of her hands over the wound and was whispering to her. His voice was coming through the comms, and it broke Michelle's heart to hear him telling her that things were going to be ok. He wouldn't have to do that if she hadn't screwed up. Soon they were standing behind the Asari they had come to find.
"Dr. T'Soni, do you know how to get out of this?"
"I believe so, I think it's the lit up green button, but that might not be the case. I can't read prothean perfectly yet, and the words for release and explosion have similar styles. So the green is either release or sets off a self destruct system." Liara spoke quickly.
"Alright, well then. Here goes nothing." Michelle said pressing the switch and the bubble surrounding Liara shuttered before shattering and dropping her onto the ground. She staggered to her feet. Michelle reached down grabbing the Asari's hand and pulling her up.
"Thank you. May I ask my rescuer's name?" Liara said a grin on her face at the blush that set upon Michelle's face.
"Oh uh right, I'm Commander Michelle Shepard of the Normandy and first human Spectre. This is Garrus Vakarian, and Tali'zorah Nar Rayya." Michelle said pointing to the pair behind her.
"Uh Shepard, not to rush you but Tali needs medical attention badly." Garrus spoke his voice tinted with concern, at least that's what Michelle believed it to be.
"Right, do you know the way out of here Dr. T'Soni?"
"Please just call me Liara, and yeah I know the way, this whole center platform is an elevator. It can take us to the main floor quite quickly." Liara said and she stepped to the console in the center of the room. Garrus placed Tali down on the floor behind the console. He then bent down placing his hand on the Tali's back.
"No exit wound, the bullet is still in her." Garrus said somberly. He then reached into his suit before pulling out a flask. He popped the top open before splashing the liquid over his hands.
"This isn't going to be perfectly sanitary, but we need to get that bullet out." Garrus mumbled before he pushed a long claw into the bullet wound. Tali screamed in pain as Garrus' claws extended the wound in her shoulder. He then put two claws in and began to twist slightly. Tali stopped screaming in pain as her head drooped to the right. The cavern shook loudly.
"What was that?" Garrus called as his hands shook in the wound.
"The laser must have aggravated the lava pit beneath the cavern." Liara said
"Shit we need an exit plan, and I can't work on Tali with this shaking." Garrus said pulling his claws out, they were drenched in dark red blood, there was a slight sparkle in his fingers. He dropped the object onto the ground and it clanged loudly against the metal. The elevator came to a stop. Michelle switched her comms to the Normandy's channel before speaking.
"Joker we need an evac at our location now! We have wounded, tell Chakwas to prepare a sanitation room." Michelle shouted.
"Aye, aye Commander. Evac en route, eight minutes." Joker said his voice stern.
Liara gasped before ducking under the controls as a shot rang out. Michelle's attention turned to the Krogan standing at the exit tunnel.
"Hand over the Asari, and maybe I'll let you out with your lives." The Krogan said
"How about no?" Michelle said before her cloak activated and her omniblade extended from her arm.
She ran forward as Liara erected a barrier around Garrus and Tali. Liara had then stepped out of the barrier, her biotics flaring. Michelle ran forwards at the Krogan who had turned his attention the barrier. His shotgun rocking the barrier and making it fluctuate wildly. Michelle ran behind him before jumping onto his back. Her cloak dissipated as she dug her omniblade deep into the Krogan's brain. He still had the strength in his system to grab the human off his back before tossing her. No sooner had the Krogan grabbed her had she reached for her pistol with her nondominant hand. She smiled as he threw her over his shoulder. She waited until her gun was level with the Krogan's left eye before firing again. The Krogan fell to the floor dead. Michelle turned her attention back to the room and was shocked to find that the Geth had been dealt with by Liara.
"Come on we need to move now." Michelle shouted and Garrus bent down once more lifting the unconscious Tali into his arms.
They ran as fast as they could. The cavern shook and parts of the catwalk broke apart, once or twice Michelle stumbled as she took up the back of the run. As soon as they managed to get out of the tunnel the Normandy made it's presence known on the volatile ground. Lava streamed out of the pits around them burning at their armor as they ran. They climbed the small hill beside them and ran into the Normandy's opened drop-hatch. Garrus took the longest time to do so as he slid slightly on the blood that was dripping from Tali's wound. As soon as Garrus had touched onto the Normandy Dr. Chakwas and several medical team came running forward. They laid Tali out on a stretcher and took her off into the Med-Bay. Liara stepped next to Michelle and bowed her head slightly.
"I am sorry Commander Shepard. It was not my intention for a member of your crew to become injured on my account." Liara spoke quietly
"You aren't to blame." Michelle said her hands clenching and unclenching at her waist.
"Forgive me if I am being presumptious Commander Shepard, but neither are you." Liara said before placing a hand on Michelle's and uncurling the fist she had made. Heat flooded Michelle's cheeks at the Asari's touch. Michelle shook her head before stepping forward to where Garrus was. He was stripping the outer layer of his armor off.
"Garrus when you are done come up to the comm room." Michelle said before turning to Liara.
"Come on you're coming to the comm room to Dr. T'Soni. We need to know exactly why your mother would be coming after you."
"I do-"
"I'm sure you have no idea why Doctor, but you need to say it infront of the crew." Michelle stated. She hoped Liara would understand, she needed the crew to question and to harass the Asari so that she could prove her innocence. Michelle truly believed Liara had no idea, but she couldn't just give her free reign without inviting unrest with in the crew. Given the current situation she needed her crew to trust that she could take care of things. She turned away from Liara and she walked to the elevator. Liara slipped in beside her and they began their silent trek to the comm room.