A/N: A part of this chapter focuses heavily on Ashley. I ended up cutting a lot from this chapter. I had a lot of little details about the mission to where Benezia is in ME1. But it was superfluous in the end. I didn't end up changing much except for a few scenes. I actually got so sad in this chapter. Honestly writing some of these chapters tears at me and hurts. I don't like the sadness in this story, but it works for what my Shepard. Now I'm going to state that it won't be this sad for long. (There'll be a lot of happiness soon) I won't do a lot of the side missions, but instead you'll get a lot of shore leave chapters with Liara and FemShep fluff. For the end scene in this I suggest listening to Careful by Michelle Featherstone. It's what I used to write the scene, and I think it defines Liara and Michelle's relationships in this story.
Chapter 10: Noveria
The Elevator trip was short and silent as Michelle's thoughts raged in her mind. She stepped onto the crew deck. She nodded to the medical staff that was trading shifts as they continued their work on the injured Tali. As she neared the firing rangeshe could hear the shots. The door opened and she was met with Liara holding a single pistol in her hands. Liara turned to look at her as the sound of the door opening was loud enough that the average person could hear it over the sound of gun fire.
"Coming to check on me Commander? There is no need. I'm fine."
"Liara you just said you wanted to kill your mother. That is not fine."
"Commander. You saw me after what happened with the Asari Councilor, it should be obvious that I hold no love for my mother. She may have birthed me, but it was the head Commando that raised me. Shiala deserves the title of my mother not Benezia." Liara said firmly before turning back to the firing range. Michelle stared in shock and wanted to speak up, and say how it can't be that simple, but she found herself struggling to do so. With a shake of her head Michelle settled herself beside Liara and pulled one of the practice pistols from its holster. She may be unable to voice her concerns, but she could at the very least make sure Liara was not alone.
-Ten hours later Female crew chambers-
Ashley sighed as she slid the tight crew pants down her waist. It had been a less then desirable day on the Normandy as several crew members were up in arms about the Turian's strike against the mess chief. It wasn't until the Commander had come up from whatever she was doing with the Asari to settle the problem that the crew finally let up. As it was Ashley's day had rightly gone to hell in a hand basket as that Mercenary bitch had spent a good portion of her day talking with her. In the end Ashley had acquiesced to the presence of the mercenary and had even carried a conversation. Surprisingly she didn't find it to be the worst thing ever. She groaned in relief as she stripped the white bra and panties off of her and slipped into the warm water of the shower. Beside her she could see the dark hair of Natasha Romanov.
"Hey Tasha?" Ashley said not fully realizing the shortening of the name.
"Tasha? That's new." The beauty behind her turned to her opening an eye to look at her.
"Shut up. You really think the Asari is being honest about hating her mother? I mean you said it yourself the Asari tend to put a lot of blind faith in their Matriarchs. Benezia is a Matriarch, and is the Doctor's mother what's to say she isn't stringing the Commander along with fanciful tales about how mean her mommy was. What if she really is working for her?"
"She truly hates her mother."
"How can you be sure?"
"It's in her eyes. She looks so haunted when she speaks of her mother. Look I'm sure your mother was an absolute sweetheart and your father was your superman. I'm sure you've heard about parents who beat their kids, abuse them, and I'm sure you can't even fathom why someone could do that."
"It's just I can't see someone wanting to kill their parent."
"I'd kill my father if I had the chance." She responded turning the water off on her shower.
"Not what you were expecting? Face it girlie. You need to wake up." She continued before wrapping a towel around her frame and leaving. Ashley stared for a moment at her retreating frame before she too turned the water off and prepared for sleep. She stepped into the Female crew chamber only to see the asari stepping into the room. Their eyes met and for a moment Ashley thought of her little sister standing before her. With a shake of her head Ashley made her way to her bunk and tried to sleep, but she was plagued by the thought of her mother hurting her little sisters and what she'd do if that was the case.
-Comm room orbit of Noveria-
The ground crew sat as Michelle spoke about the plans for the assault, their eyes scouring the mission parameters and the layout of the planet. Michelle had used her influence as a Spectre to get a detailed layout. Michelle's eyes shot to Liara before she spoke once more.
"The only unknown is exactly what Matriarch Benezia may be capable of. We know her to be a strong biotic, but that's it. Liara? Perhaps you could enlighten us?" Michelle said and all eyes shot to Liara. For a moment Liara stared in shock before she stood. She clenched her hands before speaking.
"Matriarch Benezia never trained my in biotics so I can not say just how strong she is, but from what my trainer said she is immensely powerful. All T'Soni's are taught how to use a Statis, and Benezia's statis may be one of the most powerful. From what my Trainer told me Benezia is capable of locking down multiple targets with it. Now she is not able to enjoy those captured by this, but it can still be devastating. In the end the only hope we have with her is that she can't hold Wrex down for to long. If he and whoever remains not captured by her statis can distract her long enough her statis will shatter and the rest of us can take her down."
"Distract her? I don't do distractions Asari." Wrex growled out.
"When I say distract I mean either killing her outright or hitting her hard enough to knock her out." Liara said before sitting down
-Noveria Rachni Queen chamber-
The ground team stumbled into the room as the last of the Asari commandos was taken down. Their eyes shot to the sole Asari standing infront of a large glass tube. Inside the tube was the queen of the Rachni, an insect like species that once brought the galaxy to its knees until the Krogan were uplifted to take them down. The Asari standing there was dressed in black leather that covered all of its skin until it turned revealing a purple face and green eyes. For a moment Liara faltered before she stuttered out.
"Shiala?"
"I will not have you stop him. Saren's work can not be stopped. He shall herald in glory." Shiala said before her hand glowed with biotics as the ground team moved forward. Liara remained back and it was this act that saved her from being caught in the statis.
"Why are you doing this Shiala?" Liara asked as she raised her own pistol. Her hand faltered and Shiala capitalized on the inaction. Her biotics glowed once more and Liara was sent tumbling into the metal bannisters.
"My mind is filled with Saren's light. I-i-. Liara. Listen to me. I- don't have long. I can't fight him off for long."
"What are you talking about? Shiala what's wrong?"
"It's something on that ship of his. Saren. It makes you slowly come to want to please him, make him happy, do as he wishes. We fought against it for as long as we could but we fell. Benezia is the only one who managed to escape. We don't know where she went, but we know he looks for her. Look Liara Saren. He's looking for something, Some conduit. He thinks it is somewhere beyond the Mu Relay. I took the information of where that relay was from the Rachni Queen. I was not gentle. I inscribed the information on this." Shiala said reaching into a pocket on her suit and tossing a small pad to Liara who caught it and slipped it into her own pocket. Shiala groaned loudly before reaching to her head.
"Shiala?"
"I can feel his fingers on my back, his lips are at my ears. Liara. I'm sorry. Die." Shiala mumbled before her biotics flared and she sent the spiraling ball of energy out at Liara. Liara raised a barrier barely in time and it shielded much of the damage, but Liara was still sent back into the railing. Liara jumped forward her biotics glowing and grim resolution on her face. If Shiala was truly gone then it'd be a kindness to end her life. Her biotics glowed as she sent a small needle out at Shiala. Shiala swatted it away, but the small attack served its purpose as Liara entered into Shiala's arm reach. Her hand flashed out grabbing at her former trainer's throat. For a moment her hand found purchase before a bioticly enhanced fist collided with her stomach. Her barrier gave way and the fist broke through the thin layer of her armor. Luckily for her the armor did not puncture skin but it burst apart outwards allowing the cold to nip at Liara's exposed stomach. Liara spat spittle as she was sent tumbling backward from the punch. She stumbled down the steps and Shiala followed after her. Shiala's hand found her throat and Liara struggled. Tears welled in her eyes as she saw her end coming by the one she loved the most. IN the corner of her eye she saw Michelle Shepard staring at her in shock. She could see the muscles in the human flexing as she fought the statis holding her in place. Liara reached up finding her trainers face. She pushed past the darkness closing in and pushed to where the soft flesh of the Asari's eye lid was. She pulled on her biotics and sent a wave into one of the Asari's eyes. Purple blood sprayed down upon Liara and a shriek pierced the air. All at once the statis holding the ground team ended. As Liara struggled to breathe she heard gunfire and watched as the form of her friend, her trainer, her confidant rocked as bullets entered her skin. More blood poured down upon Liara and then everything stopped. Shiala collapsed on top of Liara.
"Shiala?"
"Your father would be so proud of you. –cough- She is still alive you know. –cough- Her name-." Shiala mumbled as eyes grew dark and death claimed her.
-Normandy-
No one spoke as they entered the ship. All eyes remained on the quietly crying Liara as she made her way through the ship. Michelle followed until they neared her chambers. She pulled Liara into her quarters and held her close as tears overcame her.
"Liara." Michelle said as the tears came to and end. Liara looked up and their eyes met.
"I've got you. It's going to be ok." Michelle continued. Liara just stared until she lunged forward. Lips met and Michelle's eyes widened. For a moment she thought about pushing Liara away before she found herself wrapping her arms around the Asari before her. She felt a wet appendage force itself into her mouth before she was assaulted with a sweet taste. Salt was also present in the kiss as Liara's tears had pooled into the kiss, but Michelle found herself uncaring. She wasn't fully aware of what was going on, but her heart beat faster. She felt something akin to how she felt around Amanda, but this feeling made what she felt for Amanda feel so small.