Author's Note: Thank you to those who added my story to their follow and favorites list. It is appreciated and motivating. Please enjoy, and leave me a message and let me know what you thought. - TLC
Chapter Ten
"I thought Palaven was hot," Garrus mumbled over the helmet comms as they followed Shepard towards the dig site on Therum. The planet's sun was bearing down on them and their dark armor only made it worse.
"At least it's a dry heat," Kaidan responded with a light chuckle. He could feel the sweat beading on his back and forehead inside his suit. Therum was roughly 140º Fahrenheit with no foliage just large rock formations scattered over the relatively flat landscape. Unfortunately, because of the obstructions, they had to abandon the Mako and head the rest of the way on foot.
"Use your suits to stay hydrated and let's make this quick. I want off this fuckin rock," Shepard answered before signaling them to stop and dropping to cover. There were geth ahead who had yet to see them coming. With a mix of Garrus's sniper rifle, Kaidan's tech and Shepard's biotics they took out the grouping quickly and were able to move forward.
The geth dropship had passed overhead mere moments before while they were still in the Mako putting them on high alert. They didn't know just how many more had been dropped. Apparently, they weren't the only ones looking for Dr. T'Soni. They rounded the corner and spotted the entrance to the dig. There was a rumbling like thunder over head. Above them, the geth ship passed again dropping rocket troopers and snipers, along with a larger machine they hadn't come across before.
"What the fuck is that?" Shepard shouted as the dove behind crates as the larger machine unfolded and stood on four legs. Kaidan was on the opposite side of the path from Shepard and Garrus. He stayed in cover and looked over to Shepard. The missiles the geth shot barely missed and exploded as they hit the ground behind them. Kaidan watched as Shepard leaned out to survey the opposition. "Garrus! Get up high!" She shouted and pointed to the top of some scaffolding nearby, the vantage point would make it easy for him to pick off targets with his sniper rifle. Garrus gave a nod and moved to climb the scaffolding.
The large machine was powering up as Kaidan leaned out with his pistol and took out a rocket trooper with a few shots in quick succession. It dropped just as the four-legged machine released a pulse of blue energy. It missed but Kaidan's suit alerted him that his shields had been depleted. "Watch that pulse! Just killed my shields!" He gave the warning over the comm as he waited for his shields to power up again. They could hear the crack of Garrus's sniper rifle, and the clashing of the collapsing geth.
"Just that big guy left," Garrus's voice announced over the helmet comms. Kaidan and Shepard looked to each other as another shot of energy hit the crate Shepard was behind.
"Alenko, can you Lift it?" Shepard challenged him, and his jaw clenched. "If you Lift it, Garrus and I can hit it while it's immobile," She explained and he hesitated for just a second.
"Aye, aye, Commander. On your order," He confirmed his obedience. They waited while the geth powered up again. Garrus gave the word when he had his shot lined up. Just as soon as Kaidan and Shepard's shields failed, she gave the order for them to move. With a quick hand gesture, Kaidan enveloped the geth with his cerulean biotic energy and it lifted as he felt the nodes respond to him. His entire body thrummed with the energy. It was exhilarating. Garrus and Shepard opened fire, and rendered the machine useless within moments. When Kaidan released the lift, it fell with a satisfying thud.
They stayed at the ready and moved towards it. Kaidan dropped to a squat and pulled up his omni'tool running a scan to gather as much information on this type of machine as he could while they waited for Garrus to climb down. "These things are enough to make my fuckin skin crawl. Let's find this doctor A-SAP and get the hell out of here," Shepard ordered as Garrus reached them. They made their way up the ramp to descend into the dig.
The ruins were littered with geth as they delved deeper into the planet. They reached an elevator that appeared operational and entered cautiously. Shepard activated it and it descended. "This is first Prothean ruin I've ever visited," Garrus commented casually, "Well, aside from the Citadel that is." Shepard snorted as the elevator stopped and the door opened. A bullet struck the wall just in front of her and she cursed and dropped to cover while they took out a few more geth.
"Goddamn it," Shepard muttered as she led them down further. "Why does there always have to be so many?" They entered another elevator, this one looked more decrepit than the last. The elevator descended, but as it reached the bottom it started to spark and Shepard kicked open the door and the trio jumped down the rest of the way, allowing the elevator to continue without them to avoid a collapse.
"Hello?" They heard a gentle voice call out, "Is someone there? I need help!" They followed the voice to find the Asari doctor enclosed in a blue energy field. She was being held off the ground and was quite helpless. Shepard sighed as she stepped forward, Garrus and Kaidan kept watch for more geth while the Commander and the Asari spoke. Dr. T'Soni explained that while exploring the ruins she had encountered the geth, so she activated the towers defenses to keep the geth out effectively trapping herself in the Prothean barrier.
"Alright, we'll get you out of there just..." Shepard started. Kaidan watched as her eyes moved over the Asari as she was suspended in air, she smirked, "Stay put." Dr. T'Soni let out an inelegant splutter as they moved to find a way around the barrier.
The Doctor had already told them the controls were on the other side, with her. Kaidan moved a little further into the room. He found a large laser and called out to Shepard over the comm. "There's a mining laser," Kaidan suggested, and Shepard turned towards him. She moved to stand next to him as he spoke, "I bet I could hack the controls and we could get around it that way." Shepard looked at him, then at the laser and back over where Dr. T'Soni was as she assessed the risk.
"Do it," She said before cursing as a bullet bounced off her shields. She turned around and took out the geth with a biotic throw. She and Garrus kept Kaidan under cover while he hacked into the controls and set off the laser. "Nice work, Alenko." She offered as they turned to head over to retrieve the Doctor. Once they released her, she warned them that there was a Krogan with the geth trying to get to her. The whole complex trembled. "Well, let's get out of here," She said and they activated the elevator to lift them out of the ruins. She reached out to Joker over the comm, ordering him to bring the Normandy around. When the reached the top they were stopped by the Krogan who demanded they turn over the Asari. The whole complex shuddered again as they drew their weapons.
"The laser must have weakened the structure," Garrus stated, anxiety tinting his voice.
"I don't have time for this," She muttered. Kaidan could feel her gathering her biotic energy and he did the same. They released at the same time and Dr. T'Soni dropped and hid behind some nearby crates. Kaidan knocked back the Krogan with a throw while Shepard hit the nearby geth with a lift and Garrus turned his rifle on the geth to the opposite side of them. The whole confrontation took less than three minutes, but the building support was failing. Shepard shouted an order to evacuate. Kaidan went over to Dr. T'Soni who was still crouched behind the crates. He placed his hand on her shoulder and she looked up at him as the floor shook again.
"Let's go!" He shouted and she stood slowly. He ushered her towards the exit, maybe a little rougher than he needed to be. He couldn't understand why she was moving so slow as the walls crumbled around them. They passed Shepard who was waiting to make sure they all made it out. They just cleared the exit when it collapsed behind them. Thankfully, Joker was there with the Normandy waiting and the airlock open. They made the jump easily and as soon as the door sealed the decontamination cycle started. Dr. T'Soni offered her thanks.
"Listen, your mother is working with Saren, a rogue Spectre, I need to know if I can trust you. I need to know whose side you are on." Shepard asked after removing her helmet.
"I am not on anyone's side! I have not spoken to Benezia in years. I may be her daughter but I am nothing like her," She promised. Shepard stared at Liara and Kaidan could sense the tension building. The decontamination cycle ended and Shepard sighed, looking over to Kaidan.
"Alright, everyone. Get cleaned up and meet in the comm room. You've got fifteen minutes," She ordered and thundered out of the airlock.
Kaidan looked to the doctor. "Right this way, Dr. T'Soni. I'll show you where you can wait," Kaidan offered and she gave him a timid smile. "Garrus, would you mind asking Joker to get on the comm and ask Williams, Wrex and Tali to join us for the debriefing?" Kaidan was under the impression Shepard would want the Alliance officers and the crew she picked up as a Spectre to be kept informed. Garrus agreed and they left the airlock.
"I appreciate your assistance…" Dr. T'Soni paused, "I'm sorry I didn't catch your name." Kaidan introduced himself. "Lt. Alenko, thank you for your kindness."
"It's not a problem, Doctor. Wait here, we'll be back shortly," He said after depositing the Asari in the comm room and heading down to the cargo bay to clean up and change out of his armor.
It was fifteen minutes later when they were gathered in the comm room. All were seated, except Shepard who was standing near the communication controls. She looked to each individual in the room, her eyes finally landing on the Asari. "Commander?" Dr. T'Soni spoke softly. "None of this makes sense to me. Why would the geth be after me? Why do you believe Benezia is involved?" She asked, her eyes pleading for Shepard to put her at ease. Shepard let out a breath and asked Tali to play the recording she had for Dr. T'Soni. "That… that is certainly Benezia," She confirmed. "But I am sorry I do not know what the Conduit is."
"Too close Commander!" Joker's annoyed, disembodied voice interrupted them. "Ten more seconds and we would have been swimming in molten sulfur! The Normandy isn't equipped to land in exploding volcanoes! They tend to fry our sensors and melt our hull! Just, you know, for future reference." Shepard gave no response.
"We almost died out there and your pilot is making jokes?" Dr. T'Soni questioned her allowance of Joker's tone.
"Joker pulled our asses out of there. I think he's earned the right to a few bad jokes," She cocked an eyebrow at the alien and explained herself unnecessarily.
"I see," T'Soni responded, "I am sorry, I do not have a lot of experience working with humans. I do appreciate what you did for me, however. You saved my life back there. Not just from the explosion, either. Those geth would have killed me or surrendered me to Saren."
"Doctor, you really know nothing about the Conduit?" Kaidan spoke up, anxious to see if picking her up and risking their lives had really been worth it. Shepard looked to him as he spoke, seemingly thankful for his steering of the conversation.
"Please, call me Liara. All I know about the Conduit is that it is somehow connected to the extinction of the Protheans. That is my true area of expertise. I have spent the last fifty years searching for clues as to their true fate. There is surprisingly little left," Liara spoke, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.
"Fifty years?" Shepard asked, her tone disbelieving, "Just how old are you?"
"I am embarrassed to admit, I am only 106," Liara responded, a deep purple blush accentuating her high cheekbones.
"Damn!" Ashley reacted, "I hope I look that good when I'm your age." Shepard was unamused as she looked back to Liara who continued.
"Unfortunately, I am considered barely more than a child among the Asari. I fear this is why my research has not received the attention it deserves. Elder scholars tend to dismiss my theories regarding the Protheans," Kaidan thought she seemed genuine in her distaste towards the ageist discrimination she suffered.
"Lucky for us, I have my own theory on what happened to the Protheans," Shepard stated simply, locking eyes momentarily with Kaidan while Liara spoke up again.
"All due respect, Commander, I have heard every theory out there. As I said there was very little left. It was almost as if someone came through afterwards and cleaned up after them, in order to keep the mystery from being solved. Here is the remarkable part: according to my findings, the Protheans were not the first to mysteriously vanish. This cycle began long before them," Liara declared and with the declaration an uneasy feeling settled in Kaidan's core. He shifted in his seat, his eyes moving to each person in the room already privy to Shepard's theory on the Reapers. They all seemed to share in his general unease.
"Sorry, Doc, I thought you said there was no evidence?" Ashley spoke up, and then looked to Shepard who didn't seem annoyed that she had spoken out of turn. Kaidan was surprised at her laidback running of the debrief. This seemed more like a conversation among peers than superiors and subordinates. He appreciated the freedom she was allowing them.
"I have spent the last half century scouring the galaxy for every shred of information. Subtle patterns emerge, patterns that hint at the truth. There is no one piece of evidence that proves my claim. I have been submerged in this information for fifty years. It is a feeling I get, it is something I know to be true though I fail to be able to explain how I came to this conclusion to anyone else," Liara spoke sounding frustrated. Kaidan wasn't surprised her research wasn't taken seriously. Thankfully, Liara's theory fit into Shepard's vision from the beacon. The Reapers could have been around long before the Protheans. There was, apparently, no way to know for certain. Liara continued, "Hopefully, someday I will be able to prove it. There were other species before the Protheans. The galaxy is built on a cycle of extinction. Each civilization rising up on the foundation of the ones that came before. Whenever a species rises up, it is suddenly and violently cast down leaving behind only ruins. Their technology that we use today, the mass relays and the Citadel, are based on the technology of those that came before them. Then, like all the other forgotten civilizations throughout galactic history, they disappeared. I will not rest until I figure out why," Liara declared, the conviction in her voice was palpable.
"Take a rest, Liara," Shepard said, her tone dripping with irony.
"What do you mean?" Liara asked, her eyes and the inflection in her voice betraying her confusion.
"The Protheans, and if you are right every species before them, were wiped out by a race of sentient machines: The Reapers," Shepard spoke, the confidence firm and undeniable in her voice.
"The … Reapers? I have never heard – how do you know this?" Liara demanded. Kaidan felt a rush of sympathy for the Asari. She may be older than all the humans in the room combined but she still seemed so naïve. Her naivety most likely a result of her work forcing her to be alone most of the time, still she seemed so young, almost childlike. "What evidence do you have?"
"There was a damaged Prothean beacon on Eden Prime. It burned a vision into my brain," She dropped her eyes to the floor and her hands went to her forehead. Her voice was low when she continued, "I am still trying to sort out what it all means."
"Then I can see why the geth would have attacked Eden Prime. The chance to obtain a working Prothean beacon, even a badly damaged one, would be worth any price. The beacons worked by broadcasting information directly into the mind of the user, but they were only programmed to interact with Prothean physiology. Any information you received would have been confused, unclear," She paused, and her voice was softer and wonder seemed to color her words when she continued, couple that with the way her eyes were following the Commander as she paced the front of the room, and Kaidan felt a sudden rush of annoyed anger, "I am amazed you were able to make sense of it at all. A lesser mind would have been utterly destroyed by the process," Kaidan noticed Shepard's eyes flicker to him before falling back to the floor, he sighed as Liara continued, "You must be remarkably strong-willed Commander," Liara finished without removing her gaze from Shepard.
Kaidan's guilt and his eagerness to remind Liara there were more people in the room caused him to speak up, "This isn't helping us find Saren, or the Conduit." He had felt the need to get the conversation back on the topic at hand instead of how amazing the Commander was. He ignored the smirk on Ashley's face, and kept his eyes away from Shepard though he could feel her looking at him.
"You are right, I am sorry. My scientific curiosity got the better of me. Unfortunately, I do not have any information that may help you find the Conduit or Saren," Liara declined, her tone defeated.
The room was silent for a moment as they let that declaration sink in and Shepard processed it with the rest of the events of the day, "Well, I don't know what Saren wanted with you but it's making me think we may be better off bringing you along."
"Thank you, Commander. I fear Saren may come after me again, and I cannot think of any place safer than here on your ship. Plus, my knowledge of the Protheans may be useful later in your investigation," Liara stood and moved to stand in front of Shepard. Kaidan cleared his throat and sat slightly straighter in his seat. Shepard welcomed Liara to the team, and Liara thanked her before swaying slightly on her feet. "Whoa, my apologies. I am feeling a bit lightheaded."
Ever the medic, Kaidan spoke up, "When was the last time you ate? Or slept? Dr. Chakwas should take a look at you," He declared and Shepard nodded in agreement.
"It is probably mental exhaustion," Liara insisted, "Though I suppose it would not hurt to be examined by a medical professional." Shepard nodded and dismissed them. Kaidan stood and took Liara's arm gently to lead her down to the med bay. "Thank you again, Lieutenant." Liara offered him as he helped her down the stairs. He promised it was not a problem. "Commander Shepard is quite surprising for a human female," Liara declared.
"What do you mean?" He asked as they reached the bottom of the stairs. Liara paused in her steps for a moment and Kaidan turned to look at her.
"Well, she appears so delicate but she is quite formidable in battle. She speaks to her subordinates as if they are equals and not beneath her. She allows them to offer insight into her command. I may not have a lot of experience with humans, but I know no Asari Commander who would allow such a relaxed atmosphere when speaking with their crew. Also, she is quite attractive. At least, I think so, I am not sure if she is considered attractive by human standards," Liara spoke gently as they continued towards the med bay. Kaidan's jaw was clenched tight.
Kaidan didn't respond as, thankfully, they had reached the med bay. "Dr. Chakwas, meet Liara T'Soni," He introduced Liara to the Doctor. "She will be joining us for the duration."
"Thank you, Lieutenant. I'll run a full work up," Dr. Chakwas promised ushering Liara into the room and to one of the cots as Kaidan turned on a heel and left the med bay. He went to his station to write up his report and to download the information on the new geth they had encountered. Hopefully, there would be information available in the Alliance database. If not, he figured he could take it to Tali. She might have information not previously available to the Alliance.
Shepard rounded the corner from the level above and for a moment, Kaidan hoped she would stop over to speak with him about the events of the day. He bit back the disappointment as she went straight to her quarters, the door sighing closed behind her. It was just as well. He had plenty of work to do to keep himself occupied for the rest of his shift.
It had been a long day, and surprisingly enough, it wasn't over yet. He grabbed some energy bars from beneath his station and bit into one. It would have to be enough to hold off his biotic appetite until chow, at least it wasn't that far off.