Beta read by Andrigno
I could feel my body moving, though not on its own. I was being carried... probably. A memory of trying to save Shepard from the krogan flashed back. I opened my eyes slowly, still feeling dizzy, trying to clear my foggy vision.
The first sight that greeted me was somebody's magnificent, well sculpted... bottom in armour plating. Walking upside down. I started thinking as my mind started to clear. Am I on somebody's shoulder? And she's rushing somewhere. Rocks are falling from the ceiling everywhere around us. Oh man, where're still in the cave aren't we?
She was slowing down, probably too exhausted to keep sprinting with my weight on her shoulder. I could hear her breathing hard. Meanwhile I was totally up and fresh.
`Hey, put me down, I'm fine.` I said as I slapped her bottom. It was the wrong thing to do probably, as she shrieked and dropped me down. On my head.
`Oh man... that's hurt.` I moaned as I tried to get up a little bit of dizziness came back. I looked at my right, where Shepard was breathing hard, leaning on her knees.
`You scared the... hell out of me. Don't do that again.` she wheezed between deep breaths. `Come on, we don't have much time. This whole place is going down in any minute.` She grabbed my arm and started pulling me after her. Soon we were running at full speed, or as fast as her exhausted body allowed it.
`Where are the others?` I shouted over the rumble of the falling debris, dreading the answer since there was no trace of them. Who knows what happened after I blacked out... that krogan seemed really angry after I stabbed him.
`Don't worry, they are up ahead` she replied and I spotted the exit just as we turned the next corner. `Ashley took point, Wrex carried Liara and I was left with you.` she continued as we neared the exit. It was a different one, on a mountain, above the camp, not where we entered. Maybe the same as in the game... maybe not. I didn't really remember.
The Normandy was hovering just outside, Garrus and Kaidan waiting for us at the airlock. Just before we jumped over, the ground gave a gigantic shake, taking us off balance. I reached out, trying to grab the ship, but my fingers slipped and for a moment I could see my end on the rocks beneath us a hundred meters away.
`Gotcha!` I heard Garrus as he caught my arm and lifted me up, while Kaidan helped Shepard to get on board.
`Thanks` I exhaled and shook my head after getting in the airlock and the door closed behind us. `What a day...`
`I'm sure you can tell some interesting stories, but first let's get the hell out of here.` Said the turian as he helped me on my feet.
`Good idea,` added Shepard when the airlock's inner door opened. `Joker, get us out of here.`
`Already on it Commander` snorted the pilot. `I'm not exactly comfortable sitting on an exploding volcano, you know.`
`Good.` She replied, letting the other part of his answer slip, then turned to me. `Peter go to the medbay, I'll speak with the council, then check on the team.`
`It's fine Shepard, I'm alright.` I tried to shrug it off. I'd rather not go to the medbay. I had nothing against Chakwas, but it would have brought up some question I wasn't not sure I could answer.
`Look, I'm sure you're a tough guy,` she said with a wink and patted my cheek. Oh, that was really low... like talking to a kid. `but since you took a nasty hit, I want you to be a hundred percent. No concussion, or anything.`
`But there's no need...` I started again, but she cut me off almost immediately.
`I insist!` she said with a glare that promised no good if I disobeyed. Sorry Shep, but you can't frighten me, I thought first, but then... I didn't know why, but I just wanted to mess with her. Like I usually did with my good friends, even though I didn't know her that long. Our little staring contest was interrupted by Garrus' cough and we immediately turned our attentions on him, making him gulp.
`Look kid, instead of comparing your penis size to Shepard's, just go to the medbay, it'll be easier for everybody.` he said finally.
`I second it.` Added Kaidan, not making eye contact with anyone.
`Guys... why are you against me?`
`Well, look at it this way... we're not against you... we're just not against her?` The ex C-Sec nodded towards Shepard, who were still standing there, her arms folded over her breasts still glaring at me.
`Alright, alright... I'm on my way... vaaah` I sighed and turned away from them, going towards the lift.
`Let me guess... a few broken ribs and concussion.` said Shepard from the doorway of the medbay, then stepped in and closed the door behind her, making her way to lean at the end of the bed that the currently sleeping Liara occupied.
Oh yeah, the doctor was doing many kind of tests on me with the scanners, after telling me that Shepard directly requested a full checkup on me. Sooo nice of her... Anyway, it took about an hour to do everything - including a full body-scan and blood test (for what reason was that for, I didn't know), and as soon as the results were ready, Chakwas called the commander to report.
`Wrong guess Commander.` Replied Doctor Chakwas as she just appeared from the back room. `Actually he's completely healthy. No sign of any injury.` Shepard stood up straight immediately.
`You're kidding, right!?` she said disbelieving. `There's no way... I saw that blow with my own eyes... he flew about five meters, hit the wall and went unconscious.`
`I'm only saying what the scans showed me.` replied Chakwas and went to the terminal to bring up the mentioned data. `See it for yourself.`
`Hey, isn't there some kind of laws or something about this...` I protested finally and Shepard gave me a glare.
`Stay silent! I had enough of this secrecy already, and now there's this...` she said and turned beck towards the screen.
`Excuse me miss Oh-Great-Spectre, but cut this tone, please... I just saved your pretty ass, don't make me spank it again...` OK... I had no idea where did that came from. She turned around slowly, eyes wide, jaw hanging. A typical disbelieving expression on her face.
`Last time I checked` she replied finally as she straightened up and put her hands on her hips. `I returned the favour by carrying your sleeping ass out of that exploding volcano.` She stepped in front of me, quite into my private zone and jabbed a finger in my chest. `So don't hold that over me!`
`And... if you keep up this tone with ME...` she pointed her thumb towards her for emphasize `on MY ship...` then she pointed down `WE...` pointed between us `are gonna say good bye pretty soon. You may not be under my command officially, but I demand some respect if you tagging along. Got that, mister?` I felt the sudden urge to grab her, pull her close to me and kiss her. She was just damn sexy when she was angry, telling me off. There was definitely something wrong with me.
`Commander, I'd like to ask you to continue your fight outside the med bay, please.` Said the doctor gently as she stepped next to us, making Shepard take a step back. `Miss T'soni needs her rest.`
`I just finished, Karin.` She said and took an other step back, turning to the doctor.`Call me please when she's awake.` She turned back towards me. `Then I'll get you here, and get some answers. Now out!` I nodded at the doctor and left them there.
`OK, now it's my turn. How do you call a legless dog?` I asked our favourite pilot, already grinning, while sitting next to him on the bridge. We were trading jokes between us in the last hour, he trying to live up to his nickname.
`Seriously man, cripple jokes!?` asked Joker, acting hurt.
`Oh come on, I know you want to hear it.` I replied still grinning and he rolled his eyes.
`Alright,` he sighed with a smile `give it to me hard...` he said, leaning back comfortably in his chair.
`Well, you just don't call it... 'cause it will never come to you.` I replied with a poker face, waiting for his reaction trying really hard not to laugh out loud. He remained in his position, motionless, only his eyes turned towards me.
`That was horrible.`
`I know.` I chuckled and couldn't stop grinning at him. `Alright, next one. What did the ancient Hungarians used their horse skin for?`
`Sorry to interrupt gentlemen, but I have to borrow Peter. Liara's awake.` Said Shepard with a meaningful look as she stood behind me.
`It's time to get some answers, isn't it?` I asked smiling as I got up from the copilot's seat.
`Indeed it is.` She replied simply and started towards the lift to the second floor.
When we got to the medbay I saw Liara sitting on the bed and munching on an MRE bar or whatever, while drinking a glass of water. She looked less pale than before. The rest helped her a great deal probably.
`Hey, are you okay?` I couldn't help but smile at her.
`Yes, thank you, much better.` She replied smiling back at me.
`Mr. Cold here told me earlier that you could help us get to the bottom of this... Saren case.` The commander started as she leant against the other bed and crossed her arms.
`Of course Commander, I'll help any way I can, though I'm not sure what did he mean.` said Liara confused. `As I said earlier, I don't know anything about the Conduit or whatever's my mother's goal... allying with Saren.`
`What I meant is a meld.` I explained. `There are some things that need to be known by the Commander.`
`Oh, I see... in that case I'll be happy to help.` she started to get off the bed, but I pushed her back, making her confused .
`It will be better if you stay, believe me.` I tried to force a smile on my face, though I was already thinking about the horrors and terrible destruction of the Reaper war that I wanted her... no, I didn't want to, but I needed her to see.
`Alright then.` she reached up and gently touched my face, looking in my eyes, waiting. I nodded in reassurance and forced a smile as her eyes turned black. `Embrace Eternity.
It was calm. Silent and calm. I could feel the soothing presence of her mind. It was a warm and cool feeling at the same time. She was curious but gentle, waiting for me to start whatever I wanted with her. Nothing like Aria... I can still remember the first time she wanted to break into my mind. That wasn't pleasant. And that's an understatement. But this... I could get used to this really quickly. I liked the way how her shy but curious mind embraced mine.
`I'm flattered Mister Cold,` I heard her soft, slightly embarrassed voice in my mind `but why did you wanted to meld? How can I help?`
`Call me Peter, please.` I replied trying to lighten the situation before the big show. `There are some... memories, some very unpleasant and horrible ones, that need to be seen by you and Shepard. I was hoping you could relay this to her.`
`I see... I can do that. I'm ready when you are.`
`I'm sorry you have to see this...` I said and started sharing my memories with her about the events in the past, present and future, but avoiding their source. I was showing them to her like if I lived through them. I started with Shepard on Eden Prime, touching the beacon, getting her visions. Then went to the Council meeting, Therum, Feros, Noveria. I could feel her emotions. Confusion, disappointment, sadness, guilt when she saw her mother. Then Virmire, losing a squad mate, a friend. The Normandy confiscated.
Then I tried to lighten the mood by showing her their night with Shepard before Ilos. She got really embarrassed. But then I had to go back to the bad stuff. The mission to Ilos, then the Citadel...
I showed her almost everything I knew about the future events. What's going to happen and how.
Showed her the Collectors, Cerberus and the Reapers, their monstrous creations and the destruction they caused. But I left out how it ended, the stupid choices in the end. By the time I finished we both felt drained and defeated.
`Goddess... You were right. I need to lie down after this...` said Liara as her eyes switched back to their natural colour and she laid down on the bed, wiping the tears that escaped her eyes with the back of her hand.
*They kept their horses in them :)
