Private T'Soni
Thessia, Athame City, University of Athame
August 7, 2156: 0400 Hours
Liara had never felt more nervous before in her short life of 106 years. The atmosphere in the building was tense. Human soldiers ran around the building moving sandbags, desks, chairs, anything that could be used for cover into positions. Other soldiers attended to the wounded, those who could not be saved died in the arms of their comrades. Many of the soldiers manned their combat stations and prepared for the coming assault. An assault that she would have to defend against. This wasn't her fight and It never should be. But she had little choice, she was in Ryders words 'conscripted' into the UNSC Armed Forces.
So, here she was walking through a crammed basement hallway towards the command room to meet the General. Ryder and the other two Rangers whom she had already forgotten their names were ahead of her leading the way. Soon the four of them stopped at a metal door and showed their ID's to the two guards.
"Just stay calm and don't speak unless spoken to and you'll be ok" said Ryder trying to calm her nerves. He then handed his ID to the security guard and was let inside.
She was the last person to go up to the guards. They both moved in front of the doorway and blocked her from entering. When she tried to walk through them she was shoved back and two rifles were aimed at her.
"Stand back! You do not have proper authorization to enter this room!" said one of the guards who had a bloody bandage around his head.
Liara froze and stuttered over her words "I…I…I was invite-" before she could finish a voice from the door intercom came calling out.
"Let the dear lady inside, Patrick" said an old sweet voice.
The two guards looked at each other rolling their eyes and then stood out of the way allowing Liara to pass and she walked into the command room. The room was a frantic mess of noisy chaos. There was a shouting match across the table between two officers and everyone was yelling or arguing about something. Liara looked around to see if she could find Ryder and the others. After looking around the crowded room she finally found them on the other side of the room lined up against a wall in an at ease position. She made eye contact with Ryder who proceeded to roll his eyes at the whole spectacle before them. Suddenly a series of three loud taps overcame all the noise. Everyone stopped what they were doing and remained silent. All eyes focused on source of the tapping at the end of the table. Liara followed their eyes towards an elderly man with a cane sitting at the end of the table. The man was old for human standards. His hair was white as snow and a white mustache covered his upper lip. The man wore an old brownish red military dress uniform. Three silver stars adorned each shoulder and a mass of medals hanged from his right-side chest pocket. What stood out most was the man's brown and red stripped fedora that matched his uniform but seemed almost personal to the man. However, the most spectacular thing was the man's eyes. They held great wisdom and age, they also held the respect of all those in the room. To Liara this was no doubt the general she had heard so much about. But he looked very familiar to her like she had seen his face before.
"Ahh how I missed this…" said the General with a smile thinking back. After a moment, he left his thoughts and looked around the room.
"Now I assume we are all in attendance?" He looked around the room "Good that makes things easier. Now Lieutenant Raimi would you kindly give a status report." Said the General in a calm soft voice.
Raimi stepped forward giving the General a salute "Yes, sir". She then walked over to a holo projector and a blue map of the campus came up. In the campus, proper were a few dozen green icons of varying shape. Those were friendly forces. However, it was all the red icons that made everyone groan in frustration. There were three times as many red icons and they were all converging and surrounding the University.
"Well in short sir, we are surrounded. We number around a hundred or so soldiers while they number over six hundred."
The room erupted into arguing and planning. Until the General raised his voice again.
"Now, now let us not fret over this I expect more from my officers. We do have a guest after all." Said the General turning his focus towards Liara.
Liara froze as all eyes descended upon her. She tried to leave the room only for a soldier to step in and block her way. Liara gulped and turned around to face the piercing eyes of everyone in the room. Many of their faces furrowed frowns as if to remind her that she was not welcome among them.
One officer spoke up what many were thinking. "Why the Hell is a filthy Xeno-!" the officer never finished his sentence as the General interrupted him.
"That is enough Captain! I recommend that you not say another word to my guest and that goes to all of you." Said the General in a strong voice that got everyone to shut up. The General then turned his attention back towards Liara.
"Now my dear please forgive them they do not appreciate you like I do." Said the General eying her in a non-sexual way.
"Thank you, General, that is very kind of you." Said Liara bowing her head.
The General smirked and gave her a questioning look. "Do you know who I am?" he asked her.
Liara shook her head "I'm afraid not sir, should I?".
To that the General laughed and stood up out of his chair using his cane to support himself waving off anyone trying to help him up. He then stood up straight and gave her a bow before introducing himself. "I am Lieutenant General Réamann Óskar Falkenrath of the Harvest Colonial Guard, commanding officer of all CDF personal on Thessia. But I am also known by another name one that is all too familiar to Asari. I am The Falcon."
Liara held her breath for she knew the man who stood before her. This was The Falcon, the Human General responsible for the conquest of four Asari worlds and the leader of the invasion of Thessia. Falkenrath won every battle he ever fought and no one ever came close to defeating him in the field. That is until he was taken out of the field by an Asari Spectre in a daring last ditch attack during the closing days of the war. The Falcon was both respected and feared by Asari. But unlike many other UNSC officers showed honor and respect towards the Asari.
After a long moment of silence the General spoke up again. "Do you know why you are here?" he asked her.
"No I do not." She said with her head still bowed in respect and fear.
Falkenrath gave a grunt and answered her "Did you know that Humans cannot become biotics?"
"I heard rumors but I don't know what to make of them" she replied intrigued on where he was going with this.
"Well those rumors are true. We Humans do not react well to Eezo exposure with most dying when they encounter it. But that does not prevent me from being interested by it. During the war, you Asari showed great skill in their use of biotics in battle. I lost many good soldiers during my first battle to biotics. In fact, we have never been able to come up with a counter measure to biotics. ONI has tried many times to create the first Human biotic, but many times have they failed." The General began walking towards her. "It was then that I realized that we did not need Biotics for we would never understand it. What we needed was someone like you." He said pointing his cane in front of Liara.
"Me? I'm sorry General but I don't understand."
The General looked Liara in the eyes and made her shudder in fear. She knew he wasn't going to hurt her but he was still an intimidating figure.
"Did you know that under our conscription laws aliens such as yourself are actually qualified for military service."
Liara shook her head frantically she did not like where this was going. "But I'm an Asari not Human I can't join the UNSC."
The General gave a hearty laugh at her response. "Ha-ha! No not the UNSC military you cannot, but the CDF is different. Under CDF military law any citizen no matter what race or species they are as long as they are humanoid can join the CDF. In other words, you Ms. T'Soni can be conscripted into a newly formed Thessian Colonial Guard. Welcome to the CDF" Said the General with a smile.
Liara was shocked she had just been conscripted into the CDF. What was she going to do she didn't know how to fight? What if other Asari found out she would be considered a collaborator and put on the Justicar kill list.
"But I, I don't know how to fight?!" she said in a loud voice.
"Oh, don't worry about that the Rangers will teach you what you need to know." Said the General. If anyone was looking they could almost see the Rangers banging their heads against the wall. "Sergeant Stacker please go out and find Private T'Soni here proper attire that befits a soldier of the Colonial Defense Force."
Stacker came forward and shouted "Like Hell will I allow that Asari to desecrate our proud uniform and CDF. General this is way out of line." Said an angry Stacker backed up by many other soldiers and officers in the room.
The room lit up with accusations of treason and insults towards the General and Liara. This went on for no more than a few seconds.
"THAT IS ENOUGH!" shouted the General with anger in his eyes. "I will not tolerate any insubordination from anyone! Sergeant I am ordering you to equip this Private T'Soni or so help me ill have you court martialed! Am I Understood?"
Stacker backed down but faced the General with his own fierce eyes. "Sir, yes sir". Stacker gave the General a salute and elbowed his way past Liara. But before he could leave the room the General spoke up again.
"Oh, and Sergeant one more thing, Private T'Soni will be attached to your Ranger unit until further notice."
Stacker halted all movement and clenched both fists to the point where one could see bone. "Understood sir." He then left the room.
The General turned his attention back towards Liara.
"As of this moment Private T'Soni your orders are to provide biotic support to your assigned Arcadian Ranger team. Everyone but my command staff are dismissed." The General then waved her off and walked back to the table to sit down.
Soldiers brushed past her in a rough manner and one even spat on her face. Liara wiped it off and then felt a hand shove her back towards the exit. It was Sergeant O'Bryan the same man she helped Ryder rescue. He gave her a harsh glare and pushed her again back towards the exit.
"Keep moving! You damn Asari or I'll make you move!" He threatened.
Liara walked outside the room and stood by the door waiting for Ryder and the others to follow.
"You just had to bring her along didn't you Ryder!" Spat Pike shoving a finger into Liara's face while his angry face was directed towards Ryder.
"Hey! This wasn't my fault Pike so why don't you shut the fuck up!" yelled Ryder putting his face right up to Pikes and looking down on him. After all Ryder was slightly taller than Pike.
"Why you son of a bitch!"
Pike and Ryder grabbed each other by the collar and were about to slug it out if it weren't for a very angry O'Bryan coming in between them and separating them.
"That's enough you two or ill have you both on latrine duty for the next year!"
That got Pike and Ryder to both calm down and face away from each other. OB turned his attention towards a sulking Liara trying to hide away from everyone.
"Listen up Xeno! I don't like you, no one on this team likes you. Your life is nothing compared to the rest of us and I will gladly let you die if it means saving a Human life even if that Human life is an enemy soldier. You will follow every order I give to you, you will not speak unless spoken to, you will not argue or complain, if you so much as threaten or endanger my men than I will put your worthless life down myself, and most importantly you will stay out of our way. Am I understood?" Said OB in a tense and very threating voice.
Liara looked like she was almost going to cry but stuttered out a yes sir that could hardly be heard.
"What was that? I couldn't hear you. SPEAK UP!" shouted OB right in her face.
"I understand Sir!" Liara frantically shouted out with her eyes closed and her hands shaking out of fear.
"Good. Now listen hear scum do you know how to fire a gun?" said OB asking her one of the most important questions they all had on their minds.
"No, I've never even held a gun before." Said Liara.
"Well I didn't expect you to Asari are forbidden from possessing firearms after all. Ryder!"
"Yes Sarge?" Replied Ryder
"Since it was you who brought us this no-good piece of Xeno shit it will be you who teaches her how to fire a gun." Ordered OB.
"But Sarge!"
"I don't want to hear your shit ass complaints Ryder this is an order now fulfill it." Said OB who turned towards an arriving Stacker who carried a box filled with basic equipment.
"Staff Sergeant I already gave our tag along the proper orientation that she deserves" Said OB towards Stacker taking the box out of Stackers hands.
"Good work O'Bryan. Ryder inside that box is some of our Ranger gear and equipment for the Xeno. Show her how to put the stuff on and get yourself re-equipped with Ranger gear. Give your CDF gear to the Asari."
"Yes Sir" said Ryder in a frustrated voice.
OB walked up to Liara and practically threw the heavy box at her. Liara struggled to keep it from falling and keep it off the ground. With that Ryder walked past her motioning her into a closed of room to act as a changing room and a firing range. Ryder closed the door behind them and froze staring at the door with his back towards Liara.
"Listen Ryder I'm sor-"Ryder held up a hand and interrupted her.
"Just shut up. Let's get something straight I'm not your friend, I will never be your friend so shut up and get dressed." Said Ryder throwing a gray CDF uniform at Liara.
For the next several minutes they both did their own thing. Ryder replaced his CDF body armor with the standard green Arcadian Ranger plate armor. The armor was like ODST armor in protection but the helmet was more open covering less of the face. Arcadian Ranger armor was unique within the UNSC for it could host an AI chip and came with a grappling hook launcher on the left arm. The grappling hook was designed for use in the mountainous regions of Arcadia but was also useful in most urban environments. Overall the armor was capable of being heavily customized and different armor systems such as helmets could be used without any difficulty.
Ryder had just finished tightening the last piece of his thigh armor when he heard Liara growl in frustration.
"This damn armor, how do I?"
Ryder sighed "What's wrong this time?" He said turning to face her. If Ryder was in a better mood than he would have found the scene before him quite entertaining. Liara had most of her armor on backwards and the pauldrons and leg greaves were not even properly strapped in correctly.
"You realize you have most of your armor on, backwards don't you?" said Ryder.
"No, shit" swore Liara looking broke down due to frustration.
Ryder couldn't help but hold in a chuckle and smile.
"What?" asked Liara with a raised eyebrow.
"It's just I've never heard you swear before much less say a Human swear word."
"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't mean to offend" Before Liara could start another rant of apology's Ryder walked up to her.
"Just shut up and take off your armor I'll show you how to put it on the proper way."
After a few more moments, they were able to get Liara armored up correctly. Liara looked around at herself.
"How do I look?" she asked with an almost flirtatious smile one that made Ryder very uneasy.
"Like you don't belong." Said a glaring Ryder reminding her where their relationship stood.
Liara's smile faded and she rubbed her arm. "What next" she asked.
Ryder walked over to the box and pulled out a pistol and several magazines. He then walked back towards her.
"Weapons training" He said showing her the pistol in his hands.
"Now listen closely cause I'm only going to say this once." Ryder than took Liara through a crash course on how to operate a pistol.
"You got all that?" asked Ryder.
"Yes, I think so."
"Good cause now you're going to shoot it" said Ryder handing her a magazine.
"Step one insert the magazine into the pistol" said Liara doing what she described.
"Step two pull the um… barrel back to load the pistol"
"Good" said Ryder nodding his head.
"Step three take off the safety" with a click Liara pressed on the safety button and kept her finger off the trigger.
Ryder than pointed towards an overturned desk at the corner of the room with paper taped to it that acted as targets.
"Now get into a firing position"
Liara presented her full body forward and held the pistol down towards the target. Her hands shook and she could not get a good aim at the target. As she was about to pull the trigger she closed her eyes and then felt a hand hold her gun steady.
"Stop you're doing it wrong. Stand sideways towards your target that way you're a thinner target yourself. Also, take deep calm breaths and aim down the sights." Instructed Ryder who then helped moved her body into the right position.
Liara gave him an appreciative nod and then took a deep breath and aimed down at the target. Her hands were still shaking and Ryders words steeled her nerves and her hands stopped shaking.
"Good now remember not to close both your eyes only the eye you are not aiming with."
Liara kept her right eye open and took aim down the sights. Her grip on the pistol tightened and pulled the trigger.
"Did I…?" Asked Liara wondering if she hit the target only to look herself.
"Well I'll be damned you're a natural. Bulls eye on your first time." Said Ryder with a bit of laughter giving Liara a slap on the back to which Liara smiled than rubbed her back in pain.
"Come on that should be all you need to know. Grab the rest of your gear and follow me" said Ryder donning his helmet and walking towards the door.
Liara took a moment to reflect as she thought back on everything up to this moment. 'What are you doing Liara? This isn't your fight. Why are you trying to fit in with these Humans they've done nothing but hurt our fellow Asari? Why do all this? What's the point? If Mother or other Asari ever find out you'll be considered a traitor, a collaborator. Your name will be put on a hit list by the Justicars. None of this is worth it even if your goal is noble'. Liara couldn't answer herself for she knew deep down she was about to embark on a path that would likely end in her own death. But her goal, her mission reminded her that this needed to be done. She could not fail.
END
Ok I'm am very sorry for the long wait I was busy with finals and then found it difficult to write then I got back home and family distracted me. There is no update schedule for Origins and I don't plan for there to ever be one. I write a new chapter whenever I have time and am in the mood for it. Anyways I wanted to thank you all for your support and criticism. Origins has just received over 16,000 views and 49 Reviews. Please Review this story as I am very interested on other people's thoughts on this Fanfic. You guys sometimes give me ideas worth implementing into this story even though I have most of it planned already. Anyways please REVIEW. Also Rogue One was awesome.
Reader Response
Deez Nuts2020: Ryders relationship to Liara is complex. Ryder and many other Humans were raised to be xenophobic and so they have a hostile view towards aliens. However prolonged contact with Liara has allowed Ryder to tone down on his view on aliens. However, he is still a Human Supremacist and that's not likely to change. As for shipping between the two you'll just have to wait and see how events unfold.
aDarkOne: She is an unwilling one and her future is all but uncertain.
Commissar Critical: There is more to this coup than meets the eye. Someone is giving out these stupid orders for a purpose one that will be revealed in due time.
SpacePotato117: Yes, there will be many other Earth based factions as well. History will repeat itself and not even the mighty UNSC can stand the test of time.
Ok as of this moment I am looking for a Beta reader. I really need one as you all can probably tell by now. Please message me if your available to Beta for me.
