Chapter 14 - Liara

"Hey, Commander, glad you're back," Joker said in a mocking tone. "Thanks for cutting it close, too. 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 for future reference."

Shepard shook her head, trying to hide her smirk.

"We almost died out there and…your pilot is making jokes?" Liara said, sitting uncomfortably between Garrus and Wrex.

"Joker got our asses out of there. He has the right to a few bad jokes," Shepard said.

"I see," Liara muttered. "It must be a human thing. I don't have a lot of experience dealing with your species, Commander. But I am grateful to you. You saved my life back there. And not just from the volcano. Those geth would have killed me or dragged me off to Saren."

"What did Saren want with you? Do you know something about the Conduit?" Alenko asked.

"Only that it was somehow connected to the Prothean extinction. That is my real area of expertise. I have spent the past fifty years trying to figure out what happened to them," Liara said.

"Fifty years? How old are you?" Shepard asked. Asari looked similar to humans, human females specifically. Though they were blue and instead of hair they had rows of flesh that stuck out, like turian fringe. It was impossible to tell their age, however most young Asari weren't career minded individuals.

"I hate to admit it, but I am merely a hundred and six," Liara said.

"Damn! I hope I look that good when I'm your age," Ashley laughed.

"I don't care how I look, I'd just like to see a hundred and six," Shepard smiled. While humans on average lived to 150 years due to advances in medicine and technology, she knew her line of work brought her life expectancy down considerably.

"A century may seem like a long time to a short-lived species like yours. But among the asari I am barely considered more than a child," Liara said, sounding frustrated over the fact. It made sense, though, seeing as the asari lived for a thousand years. "That is why my research has not received the attention it deserves. Because of my youth, other asari scholars tend to dismiss my theories on what happened to the Protheans."

Shepard looked around the room, and then focused on Liara, "I've got my own theory about why the Prothean's disappeared."

Liara looked at Shepard with almost amusement, "With all due respect, Commander, I have heard every theory out there. The problem is finding evidence to support them. The Protheans left remarkably little behind. It is almost as if someone did not want the mystery solved. It's like someone came along after the Protheans were gone and cleansed the galaxy of clues." Liara looked around the room, the group watching her and listening her. She got a little excited to show off her research so far. "Here is the incredible part. According to my findings, the Protheans were not the first galactic civilization to mysteriously vanish. This cycle began long before them."

"Where did you come up with that?" Shepard asked.

"I have been working on this for fifty years. I have tracked down every scrap and shred of evidence. Eventually, subtle patterns start to emerge. Patterns that hint at the truth. It is difficult to explain to someone else. I cannot point to one specific thing to prove my case. It is more a feeling derived from a half-century of dedicated research. But I know I'm right. And eventually, I will be able to prove it. There were other civilizations before the Protheans. This cycle has repeated itself many times over."

Shepard hung on every word. Liara didn't know half of what was going on, she was just happy to have someone hear about her research. "If the Protheans weren't the first, then who was?" Shepard asked quietly, trying not to sound too eager.

"I don't know. There is barely any evidence on the Protheans. Even less on those who came before them. I cannot prove my theory, yet. The galaxy is built on a cycle of extinction. Each time a great civilization rises up, it is suddenly and violently cast down. Only ruins survive. The Protheans rose up from a single world until their empire spanned the entire galaxy. Yet, even they climbed to the top on the remains of those who came before. There greatest achievements, the Mass Relays and the Citadel, are based on the technology of those who came before them. And then, like all the other forgotten civilizations throughout galactic history, the Protheans disappeared. I have dedicated my life to figuring out why."

Shepard paced the circular room once, and Liara looked around. All eyes went from her to Shepard.

"Doctor, I'm…"

"Liara, is fine," Liara interrupted, smiling and looking fairly pleased after giving them the quick version of her research.

Shepard locked eyes with Liara, "Liara. The Protheans were wiped out by a race of sentient machines. The Reapers."

Liara looked confused, "The…Reapers? But I have never heard of...How do you know this? What evidence do you have?" She asked, suddenly a little upset. Half her life's work and a human knew something she didn't?

"There was a damaged Prothean beacon on Eden Prime. It burned a vision into my brain. I'm still trying to sort out what it all means," Shepard muttered, walking to the only empty chair next to Kaidan and falling into it.

Liara was suddenly excited again, "Visions? Yes! That makes sense! The beacons were designed to transmit information directly into the mind of the user. Finding one that still works is extremely rare. No wonder the geth attacked Eden Prime. The chance to acquire a working beacon, even a badly damaged one, is worth almost any risk. But…the beacons were only programmed to interact with Prothean physiology. Whatever information you received would have been confused…unclear."

Shepard nodded, "Yeah, that would be an understatement."

Liara took in a deep breath, looking over Shepard with new eyes. "I am amazed you were able to make sense of it at all. A lesser mind would have been utterly destroyed by the process. You must be remarkably strong-willed, Commander."

Kaidan shifted uncomfortably in his chair, watching Liara look at Shepard with a look he knew…he looked at Shepard like that sometimes. "This isn't helping us find Saren. Or the Conduit," he said.

Liara looked at him, her face becoming serious, "Of course. You are right. I am sorry. My scientific curiosity got the better of me. Unfortunately, I do not have any information that could help you find the Conduit. Or Saren."

Shepard nodded, "That's alright. At least whatever Saren had planned for you, he won't get. We'll set a course to the Citadel, from there you may want to look into getting yourself back to Asari space, somewhere safe."

"Wait, Commander," Liara said. "I would feel safer if you let me stay on your ship. Besides, my knowledge of the Protheans might prove useful if more information comes up." Shepard looked at her, thinking it over. "I am a powerful biotic, you saw me help you take down the geth and krogan. I may not be able to protect myself against an army alone, but I can certainly hold my own with others at my side."

Shepard stood up, "Alright, Liara. Welcome to the team."

Liara stood up, "Thank you, Commander! I am very grateful!" Liara swayed a bit, "Oh…whoa, I am afraid I am feeling a bit light-headed."

Shepard put a hand on Liara's elbow to steady her, "Alright, go to the med bay. Chakwas will check you out. Everyone, dismissed."

Shepard set a course for the Citadel, even with Liara staying they needed to pick up provisions for the dextro DNA crewmembers before they ran out. The flight back she would finish her mission report, file it to Alliance and Council, maybe catch a few hours of sleep, if she was lucky.

"Commander? I was hoping that I could have a chance to speak with you," Liara said.

Shepard was sitting at the mess table, a data pad on her right and a cup of coffee on her left, "Sure, Liara."

"I never properly thanked you for saving me from the geth, Commander. If you hadn't shown up…" she looked down, her brow furrowed.

"I'm just glad we got there in time," Shepard said. "We spent a couple days traveling between systems looking for you."

"I know you took a chance, bringing me onboard this ship. I have seen the way your crew looks at me. They do not trust me. But I am not like Benezia. I will do whatever I can to take down Saren. I promise."

Shepard nodded, "I believe you."

"That means a lot to hear you say that, Commander. Thank you."

Shepard looked at Liara, but she didn't walk away or make a move to talk further. "You've spent most of your life working, haven't you?" Shepard guessed.

Liara nodded, "Yes. Mostly on remote digs, unearthing mundane items in long-forgotten ruins."

Shepard nodded, she could relate to that, in a way. While Liara was socially awkward because she was always alone, Shepard was only socially awkward with civilians. She decided to change that to human civilians, seeing as she was getting along with aliens just fine. "I suppose that can be dangerous. And lonely, too."

Liara sat down, eager for the chance to talk further. "Sometimes I do run afoul indigenous life-forms, or stumble across a small band of mercenaries or pirates. But I was always careful. Until the geth I never found myself in any situation that my biotics could not handle. As for the solitude…well, that was on aspect that always appealed to me. Sometimes I just need to get away from other people."

Shepard had to think about that before questioning her further, "You…don't like other people?"

"I suppose it comes from being a Matriarch's daughter. People expected me to follow in Benezia's footsteps. They wanted me to become a leader of our people. Matriarch's guide their followers into the future, they seek the truth of what is yet to come. Maybe that is why I became so interested in the secrets of the past. It sounds foolish when I say it out loud. It sounds like I became an archeologist just in spite of my mother."

"Rebellion is a normal enough thing, I think," Shepard said.

Liara smiled, her blue eyes looking over Shepard with admiration, "You share the wisdom of the Matriarch, Shepard. Was joining the Alliance a way for you to rebel against your parents?"

Shepard shook her head, "No. I actually wasn't much of a rebel. A bit of a slacker, but not a rebel. I didn't have parents to rebel against."

Liara's mouth opened, "Oh…I am sorry…"

"Don't be," Shepard said. "I may be a…third your age, but that's plenty of time for a human to get over being an orphan. Never really had an issue with it to begin with."

"Still…I…apologize for the assumption and any…"

"Liara," Shepard said firmly. "Relax."

"Apologies, Commander," she said again. "But what you said, about rebelling, is almost exactly what Benezia said when I told her of my decision. But it wasn't just rebelling. I was drawn to the past. The Protheans were these wondrous, mysterious figures. I wanted to know everything about them. That is also why I find you so fascinating." Shepard cocked an eyebrow. "You were touched by the beacon on Eden Prime. You were touched by working Prothean technology."

"Sounds like you want to dissect me in a lab, Liara," Shepard said.

"What?! No!" Liara said quickly, looking horrified. She had been trying, hopelessly, to get to know Shepard, to show her that she was fascinated with her, and she had screwed it up! "I did not mean to insinuate…ah, I never meant to offend you! I only meant that you would be an interesting specimen for in-depth study." Liara looked more horrified. "Oh, no, that's even worse."

"Liara! Liara!" Shepard laughed. "Relax, it was a joke. Calm down."

Liara looked immediately relieved, "Joking?! Oh, by the Goddess! How could I be so dense? You must think I am a complete and utter fool! Now you know why I prefer to spend my time in the field with data disks and computers. I always seem to say something embarrassing around other people. Please…just pretend this conversation never happened."

Shepard quieted her laughter, "I'm sorry, Liara. I didn't mean any hard feelings by it. Just some good-natured teasing…that was lost."

"Do you ever get embarrassed, Shepard?"

Shepard thought about it, and shook her head, "No, not really. I've learned to be able to laugh at myself. I stumble on words sometimes, or miss the punch line of a joke. Just share a laugh and put it behind me."

"You make it sound easy," Liara said.

Shepard did some math in her head. If Liara was a little over a century, and asari's lived a thousand years, she'd only gone through ten percent of her life so far. While humans, maxing out around 150, ten percent would be like a fifteen year-old. When Shepard was that age, she hadn't been nearly as confident as she was now. "I had to work on it. In the military things are often pretty strict. Sometimes to ease the tension…we played pranks on each other. I did a few, had some pulled on me. You learn to give and take."

"Again, very wise, Commander," Liara said, her blue eyes wide as she looked at Shepard.

Shepard set her data pad aside, leaning forward slightly, "Liara, do you have any idea why Benezia would join up with Saren?"

Liara's face fell a bit, she would much rather talk about Shepard some more than go back to Benezia, but she answered. "I don't understand it. She was always outspoken about the need for the asari to become more involved in shaping galactic events. Maybe she thought allying herself with Saren would somehow be for the greater good in the long run. At least…I hope so. I have not spoken to Benezia in many years, but I know her! This is not like her. Something changed."

"I'm glad you asked to join us, Liara," Shepard said. "Maybe when we find Benezia you can talk some sense into her."