Chapter 10

Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect or any of its characters.
Those belong to Bioware and EA.

Thanks everyone :D

I stared out the window of the cab as the city flew by at an amazing speed. I was gripping the handle of the door so hard my hand was hurting. Liara seemed to notice my tension.

"Are you ok Eric?" She asked. "Yeah... I'm just afraid of heights." I said.

She let out a small laugh. "That's strange coming from someone who Captains a starship." She said with a smile. "Well.. In a starship your not this cramped up." I reply.

She nods and turns her face back forward.

Things are quiet for awhile. "Eric. Do not worry we will find her!" Liara said. I turned to look at her and I could see the fierce determination in her eyes. "I know" I reply. "This is our stop. Hold On Tight!" She said. "Wa..." I didn't get a chance to finish as the air car took a sharp turn to the right before turning and landing on a rooftop port. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. It was then I realized that I looked ridiculous with my hands pressed against the ceiling and my feet up in the air. I heard Liara giggle and I quickly corrected my situation.

I let out whistle as we stepped through the door to the apartment. Penthouse was more like it. This thing was friggin huge. I looked around at all the paintings and artifacts. I was impressed. I had been staying in a tiny tin can compared to this since I arrived here.

"I take it you like the place?" Liara asked. I looked at her to see her smiling. I returned it "Yeah.. I its bigger than anything I've ever lived in. Even compared to back home." I said.

"Let me show you to your room." She said gesturing towards the stairs. I followed her up to the stairs.

"This is it." She said as a door slid open. I gasped in amazement. It was huge. It even had a balcony... wait I see a hot tub I think. "You seem over joyed." She says. "Hell Yeah... A hot tub. I never even got to use one of those back home." I said. A thought popped into my head. "Liara.. What happened... what you saw I want to keep between us ok." I asked looking at her. She nodded "Oh course." "Great. Now lets get started on information about the broker." I said. "No" She said. "What.. why not?" I asked. "We do not want to rush this. If were fast and careless the broker will know were close and disappear." She said. I look at her thinking it over. She was right being careless could lead to Alena and the baby getting hurt. I sigh "Fine.. so what do we do for now?" I ask.

"I have to check my messages and see if anything has come to light on the tracers I put out a few days ago." She reply's.

After unpacking my things I make my way out onto the upper level. I see Liara working at a desk and I make my way over to her.

"Anything?" I ask. "I'm afraid not. Just a few cold leads but nothing solid." She said.

I frown and start looking around the small office. My attention lands on a small concrete tablet under some glass. I walk over to it any notice something peculiar. It has strange markings carved onto the surface of it. Prothean.. WAIT where did that name come from. I look at the tablet closer and the words start to glow.

"May our fathers guide us through the road of life. May our mothers give us life in the essence of love. May our friends stand along side us in our final days before we end. We will cherish the time we have with our loved ones.

I turn to my right to see Liara staring at me "How... How could you read that?" She asks.

"I don't know.. I.. who are the Protheans?" I ask.

She looks at me "They were an advanced race 50,000 years ago until a race of sentient machines called the Reapers wiped them out." She continued on but I was no longer listening to her.

REAPERS!

I grabbed my head as I felt pain again. I fell to the floor clutching my head. I started seeing images again. Some of the same ones before some different.

I saw the light in my bedroom.. but this time I saw a face that resembled a human.

I saw myself laying on a operating table of some kind. I turned my head to see to strange creatures talking to one another. I'm not sure how but I could understand them.

"Are you sure he's the one?." One asked. "He has to be. His markers show the prof of it." The other says. They both turn to look at me and gasp. One grabs a needle of some kind and jabs it in my arm. I struggle a little but soon everything fades again.

**************** 5 hours later**********

I gasp and sit up. I look around and notice its night time. I'm in a bed I'm guessing its my room. I sigh and move to get up when I notice my clothes are gone. I pull the sheet around me and go towards the closet. I get dressed and go out into the walkway. I see Liara asleep at her desk. I walk over to her. I look at the screen indicating no new messages. I Sigh. My life has changed so much in so little time. I look at Liara and she looks peaceful. I smile as I look at her. She reminds me of Alena when she's sleeping. I lean down and pick her up and carry her to her bedroom. I look at her face as I walk. She's smiling... must be a good dream. I place her in the bed and pull the covers up on her. I start heading toward the door "Than you." She says. "No problem." I said without turning around.

****************2 weeks later****************

After about a week of having me mopping around the house and driving her nuts. Liara made me get a job so I would not be constantly nagging her at home and at work. Luckily she had a friend that ran a bar near her office. An Asari named Aethyta who after talking with her turned out was an Asari Matriarch. I was surprised at first but after talking with her from time to time I understood her reasons for being on Illium. She didn't really have much in the way of work but I settled for a Stocker and Bust Boy. It wasn't much but at least I was earning some credits. It was Friday night near closing and things had pretty much gone quiet. It was 3 in the morning and most people had retreated to their homes by now.

"So Aethyta.. How did we do tonight?" I asked. "We did good as always. I'm sure the waitress's are glad your helping bust all the tables. It's really let them focus on their tables." She said. I give her a smirk before adding "Yeah.. without me busting the tables what ever would they do." I said chuckling a little. She joins me in my attempt at a joke.

I was about to say something else when I heard shouting.

"Leave me alone you Bosh'tet!" A Quarian sitting in the back by herself jumped to her feeting shouting at 5 humans that were gathered around her.

"Look trash. We don't want your kind around here. Your nothing but garbage. Your race is no more useful than a stain on the wall. One that needs to be removed Permanently!" One of the humans said cracking his knuckles.

"Why don't you guys leave the woman alone and go home. It's obvious your all drunk." I said walking up.

The one who had spoke looks at me with bloodshot eyes. "Well look here boys We got ourselves a Quarian Lover. These Quarians are useful for shit!. You can't even get a good lay from them. In fact me and my boys were just about to find out what Quarian females look like under those suits." He said with a cold glint in his eyes.

I stare at the man. What an idiot. I look around at his friends and sigh. I promised Liara I wouldn't use my Biotic's because she didn't want anyone to know how unique I was when It came to that aspect.

"Why don't you go back and Fuck that Asari bartender over there." The guy said jabbing a finger at me.

I had enough of this. I walked right up to the guy and got in his face.

"I'll ask you one last time to leave peacefully." I state.

He looks at his friends and laughs.

I knew what was coming next as he throws a punch at me. I dodge it and headbutt him in the head. He groans in pain before hitting the floor. I look to my right as one of his friends swings a punch. I duck and strike a punch hard into his gut. As he doubles over I launch a left hook to the side of his head knocking him out. I turn to see one of his friends aim a drunken kick at me which I grab and spin it causing him to slam face first onto the floor. A guy behind launches a fist at my head which I sidestep and bring my elbow to his face causing him to stumble back screaming as blood starts pouring from his nose. I look to the last person standing. "Well you want to play to?" I ask smiling. He shakes his head vigorously from side to side. "Very well get your friends and get the hell out of this place." I said. He grabs and his friends and starts dragging them out the door.

I turn to the Quarian. "Are you ok miss?" I ask. "It's Arisa nar Strasia I was..."She started to say but I cut her off "On your Pilgrimage.. I know I have a Quarian friend." I say amused at the surprised body expression she was giving off. "So what brought you here to this bar if you don't mind me asking." I said. "Well I've been trying for over a month now to find work on Illum. But no body want's to hire a Quarian. I figured I might be able to get some freelance work from listening to some of the Merc's that pass through these places." She said gesturing to the bar around us. I smile as an idea comes through my head. "Wait right here." I said.

************Arisa*************

I was extremely grateful to the human for helping me. No one has stood up for me the way this human had. She watched him after the bar talking to the Asari bartender while pointing and gesturing at her. She was curious as to why he asked her to wait. She snapped out of thought as he made his way over to her.

"Well good news. I got you a job. It's not much but you'll be helping me with the stocking and busting." He said smiling. I jump slightly surprised "Really.. That's... GREAT!" I jump and hug him tight before I realize what I'm doing and step back blushing furiously. Keelah I'm so glad he can't see my face right now.

"No problem. Be here at 6 tomorrow night ok." He said. I look at him and smile. "Sure. Well I guess I'll be heading back to the Shelter. I don't want to lose a good spot to some drunken Turian again." I said turning to leave. "Wait you've been living in a shelter?" He asks. "Well I don't have a lot of credits and I can't afford a place without a job." I said hanging my head down. What he does next totally surprises me.

He grabs the bottom of my visor and tilts my head up to look at my face. "Tell you what. I'm staying with a friend who has a huge place. It's more than enough room for another person. So If you want your welcome to stay with me and my room mate... well at least until you get enough money for a place of your own if you want." He said.

"Oh Keelah... I.. I don't know what to say or how to thank you!" I stammer.

"Relax.. Come on I'll take you there. Aethyta Catch you later." He said gesturing toward the bartender.

I look at the Asari who is chuckling a little.

As we get into a cab and the door closes I turn to him.

"What Is your Room mate going to say?" I ask.

He simply shrugs. " I really have no clue."

A/N: thank you everyone for your support.