(Sam Shepard)

"…Please be careful when you go into the headquarters! We don't want any unnecessary damage to the facility." Ethan Jeong sounded less haughty and more worried when the Shepards turned to leave. His bickering with Juliana Baynham was irritating, but the two ExoGeni personnel were certainly more helpful than the colonists at Zhu's Hope. After Fai Dan proved little help in explaining what was wrong with Ian Newstead, it was a pleasant surprise when they Baynham and Jeong's people gave them directions to the ExoGeni headquarters. But Sam wasn't willing to trust Jeong. He seemed too focused on the company's interest to understand how much danger they were all in.

As they filed into the Mako, Sam watched dejectedly as Ben took the driver's seat. Liara noticed his sad look and asked, "Is something wrong, Commander?" Garrus shook his head, not letting Sam answer, "Shepard's just a little putt off that his brother won't let him drive." Ben called back as the vehicle started back on the road. "With good reason. I'm not letting him behind the wheel on this thing agai…" The Mako bumped and Sam shot Ben a triumphant look. "It's not too late to hand it back. I promise I'll be more careful this time." Ben's face scrunched in concentration as he turned his attention to the road again and said, "Nope." Liara sat back and visibly tried to stay still. "I'm having trouble understanding your fondness for this vehicle. None of the asari transports back home were so unsteady"

After a minute of trudging along Ben shouted, "Hold on. There's a little obstruction on the road." Sam heard the Mako's guns fire off. The obstruction was likely a geth squadron, nothing Ben couldn't handle. With luck, the rest of the trip would be easy.

...

The inside of ExoGeni HQ was just as disturbingly quiet as Zhu's Hope. An enormous, dark cavern greeted the squad upon entering and Sam lit up his hand with biotics. He whispered, "You think the geth have already been here?" Ben had his sniper rifle drawn and he answered in an even more hushed voice. "I wouldn't be surprised. Keep an eye out…"

A loud BANG caused the group to raise their weapons, and Sam saw his brother's shields deflect a single shot. He readied a biotic lift but stopped short when he saw the source of the gunshot. It was a human girl, dressed in a doctor's uniform and crouching almost out of sight with a pistol. Sam and the rest lowered their weapons. The girl recognized them and her face grew alarmed. "I'm so sorry. I thought you were geth, or varren, please don't shoot!" Sam kept his hand lit up so that he could see the girl clearly, but he holstered his shotgun. "It's okay. We won't hurt you," Ben said calmly. He signaled for Sam to look out for any oncoming hostiles. Taking Garrus with him, he left Ben to speak with the survivor.

(Ben Shepard)

Ben beckoned the girl to come closer, but she stayed a good six feet from him. He didn't blame her after everything they had seen today. "Who are you, and how did you get down here?" The survivor glanced off to the side where Sam on the lookout. "I'm Lizbeth. Lizbeth Baynham. It's stupid, when the geth attacked everybody else left but I stayed behind to keep some of our data running. By the time I plucked up the courage to leave, the power went out and I was stuck here."

Ben wanted to believe her but it didn't make sense why anyone would stay behind during a geth attack. But it didn't matter; Lizbeth had reminded him why he was here. "Your mother sent me to this place to make sure you're safe. We'll find a way to get out, but I need you to tell me what the geth are after." Lizbeth stayed silent, as if debating with herself whether to say anything. But a look of determination crossed her face briefly and she replied, "It's likely that they're trying to find the Thorian." Ben stared blankly. Thorian? "Do you know what that is?"

Seeming more invigorated Lizbeth started to pace back and forth while she explained, "The Thorian is an indigenous life-form. We were observing it, trying to find out more about it when the attack started." Garrus' mandibles twitched in confusion. "Can you tell us any more? I've never heard of any creature called a Thorian. What about you, Liara?" The asari shrugged. "Neither have I. Most of my research was on Protheans," she said. Lizbeth looked like she was expecting this response. "That makes sense. ExoGeni only discovered the Thorian recently. I know it's some kind of plant, but we're still figuring out the rest of the details.

Look, I'd take you to it but the geth are everywhere. They erected a field, and unless you can find a way past it then we're trapped." Ben grimaced. Of course it wasn't going to be that easy. "How do you suggest we start?" In answer to that, Lizbeth produced an ID card. "The geth ship is powering the field, probably through a bunch of power cables I saw them laying around. Here, use this card of mine to get through any doors you can." Taking the card, Ben offered her his pistol in return. "This gun's in better shape than the one you have. You need it more than I do." She accepted it, seeming relieved. "Thanks. I'll just stay put for now."

Giving Lizbeth a reassuring clap on the back, Ben took Sam and the others across the cave and to the door on the other side. The ID card belonging to Lizbeth worked like a charm, and they were in. But no sooner did they start climbing the stairs when Ben heard a deep and gruff voice shouting, "Access encrypted files!" He signaled for Sam to halt and listened more closely. This time Ben could hear what sounded like a VI.

"I am unable to comply. Please contact your supervisor for a Level 4 security exemption or make an appointment." The other voice, which Ben recognized as a krogan's because of how deep it was, shouted again. "STUPID MACHINE!" Ben reached the top of the stairs and sure enough there was a krogan facing a VI console. Likely another agent of Saren. He pulled out a grenade but didn't throw it yet, something he would regret when the VI turned its head to look at him. "If there is nothing else, please step aside. There is a queue forming behind you for the use of this console."

Shit. The krogan wheeled around and Ben knew he had only a split second before the alien charged. Throwing the grenade at the floor near the krogan's feet Ben dashed backwards, nearly losing his balance on the stairs. His grenade detonated right beneath the krogan, who roared in pain. Firing wildly with his shotgun he nicked Ben, but the damage was already done. Two more shots from his rifle and the Spectre brought him down. Sam rushed up next to Ben just in time to see the krogan's death.

"What the hell? We were just in the other room, Ben. We could have helped." Ben holstered the rifle, remarking, "If we tried to charge him we might have damaged this VI. I have a few questions, so I wasn't going to let that happen." Not waiting for Sam to answer him Ben stood in front of the console where the krogan had been just a minute before. The VI flickered and registered him. "Welcome, Lizbeth Baynham." Ben thought about asking why it was calling him Lizbeth, but then he remembered the ID. "What was he after?" he asked while pointing at the dead krogan.

Without even glancing at the krogan, the VI replied cheerfully, "The previous user was attempting to access details on the study of Subject Species 37, the Thorian." Finally, some answers. "Wait outside," Ben ordered. Sam and Liara did so without question. This was going to take a while, and Ben wasn't going to be interrupted.

(Sam Shepard)

Once he and Liara were outside Sam tried not to seem too awkward. It was dead silent, and there wasn't much to do except pace back and forth while occasionally glancing over at Liara. After several minutes of shifting in place nervously, he decided to break the tension and talk. Sam hadn't gotten many chances to talk to her except for an occasional 'hello' or talking about anything but Protheans.

"So… What do you think we're going to find when the Thorian turns up?" Liara did a double take when she realized that Sam was speaking to her. "What? Oh, well I think that Fai Dan and those working with him will have some explaining to do. And I'm quite curious as to what this plant will really be." Making small talk wasn't really one of Sam's strengths but they had to do something to pass the time. So he asked, "Do you have any real plants where you come from?" To this Liara's brow furrowed. "What do you mean 'real' plants?"

You idiot, do you want to sound like Ashley? "Um, what I meant to say was… What kind of life is on Thessia? How different is it compared to something like Earth?" Given that her demeanor became more casual, Sam guessed that he did much better that time. "Life on Thessia is unique. Because of all the element zero, just about every species has adapted or is biotic. But aside from that there are trees, fields, and anything else you would expect. Why do you ask?"

That was a good question. He hadn't thought about it much, but the answer seemed obvious now. "I guess I just want to go to Thessia some day. Maybe when the mission's over. Earth is nice, but a guy like me could use some peace and quiet." This seemed to puzzle Liara more than anything. "A guy like you?"

"Well Liara, I'd had a couple of rough spots," he replied while pointing at the scar over his right eye. "I don't really want to go into it right now, all I mean is that somewhere as nice as Thessia sounds like the right place for me when all this is over." The asari looked like she wanted to know more, but whether out of respect or shyness Liara simply nodded. "I understand. I am not very good around humans, but maybe when I'm feeling more comfortable I may visit Mars or Earth." Sam grinned. "I could… maybe we could show you around." He couldn't tell, but Sam thought he saw Liara's blue cheek turn slightly purple. Was she blushing?

Her posture grew confident and she asked, "My turn to ask you something Shepard. How did you end up becoming a biotic, and your brother did not? Do biotics develop differently in humans?" If Sam had a credit for every time he was asked that question… He remarked, "Humans aren't biotic by nature. People tell me I must have been exposed to element zero when my mom was carrying me. That's how it works. When I joined the military I was fitted with L3 implants, and well; here I am." Sam lit his left hand to punctuate his story. "I never knew my mom. I wonder what she'd say now… what she was like. What she'd have to say about this."

Liara was in the middle of saying something when Ben and Garrus came out. The turian was silent, while the commander was pale and looked like he could get sick at any moment. "Are you alright, Commander?" Ben silenced them with a wave of his hand. His voice was hoarse when he said, "Next time you guys have this crazy theory you all share, don't hesitate. Let me know." Sam answered, hoping that Ben wasn't saying what he thought. "What are you talking about? What did you learn about the Thorian, and ExoGeni?"

"Everything."

(Ben Shepard)

Taking down a geth dropship didn't seem like much of a chore after hearing such a horror story from the VI. So by the time Ben and the squad tampered with the doors at the ExoGeni shuttle bay, he was almost afraid of what would happen when he next confronted the people at Zhu's Hope.

A screech of metal and deafening explosions signaled the dropship falling away. "You think that's it?" Ben shushed Sam and listened closely. Off in the distance, somewhere beneath them, he heard a massive boom. "Yep, that's it. The field should be down, now let's have another chat with Lizbeth." Sam noticed his apprehension from the sound of things, as he tapped him asking. "Hey, you're not scared of facing a few corporate stooges are you?" As admirable as Ben found his brother's enthusiasm, he knew that stopping the Thorian wasn't going to be that simple. He was proven right when Joker came in on the com-link. "Normandy to shore party. Is anybody listening?" Ben pressed the earpiece and smiled.

"Good to hear you again, Joker. What's happening out there?" The pilot sounded uncharacteristically nervous. "The ship's on lockdown," Joker said. "The colonists are all over the hull, trying to claw their way into the ship!" Ben swore under his breath. The Thorian had decided to take matters into its own hands. It wasn't going to let anyone leave, let alone stop it. "Just stay put, Joker. The colonists can't do any real damage to the ship. We'll be there as soon as we can."

Ben observed Sam and the others. They were all staring at him, waiting for orders. "Sure thing, Commander. I'll just wait here. Try to keep the zombies out," Joker muttered. Ben cut the link and took a deep breath. "Let's move." They raced out of the docking bay to the exit, going past burning wreckage and rubble. Before they could make it outside and enter the Mako, however, they found their path blocked by a familiar face.

"There you are! We need to get out of here, this place isn't safe!" Lizbeth sounded deliriously happy, but Ben wasn't in the mood. He pulled his gun out and pointed it straight into Lizbeth's face. "You lied to me, Doctor. You knew exactly what the Thorian was, and was it was doing. But you covered it up. Why?" The woman's eyes bugged and she seemed to shrink. "I was scared. I wanted to stop the tests but they threatened me, told me I'd be next if I tried." Ben wanted to believe her. But after everything he had seen, Ben's gut told him not to trust her.

"If that's true, why didn't tell somebody sooner?" Lizbeth's voice was shrill and she wrung her hands. "I tried! I sent a message to Colonial Affairs but the power was cut before I could finish. And I wanted to be sure that you could get me out of here before told you about the Thorian." Out of the corner of his eye Ben saw Sam heading for the Mako. At this point, Ben had little choice but to let him start the vehicle up and wait for him. He kept his gun trained on Lizbeth and said, "I'd like to think you're telling the truth. But you're going to have to help us find this plant and take it out for good."

Lizbeth nodded. "Of course, Commander."

Author's Note: If Ellen Ripley can handle Xenomorphs I guess the Shepards can handle a Thorian, right?

In all seriousness, I guessed the parallels to Aliens right away when I was playing the Thorian level. A creepy corporate body investigating a dangerous alien, using their own people as bait, etc. It's just as sick in Mass Effect as it is in Aliens. In this chapter, I took a chance not only to further the Thorian storyline but devote a little time to our crewmates, ahem, 'bonding'. Remember this conversation between Sam Shepard and Liara T'soni, because the scars and and talk about 'mothers' will come up again.

Leave a review below, and stay tuned for next time!