A week having past since we first landed on Feros, it was now time to find the Thorian. Now, as the idea of sacrificing a member of my crew to satiate a perverted plant certainly disgusted me, I had to think of a way to safely extract the cipher without putting any member of our crew in danger. Debate during the prior included everything from killing the Thorian and dissecting it to freezing it in a stasis field. My choice had been to use a stasis field to trap the Thorian while Shiala melded with it.
The Tevura's Asari crew was full of biotics who were powerful in their own right, but few compared to Aria and Shiala. While Matriarch Benezia was still considered the most powerful biotic in the galaxy, Aria and Shiala were not far behind. There are many amongst the Asari that feel Aria's raw power and control over her biotics may even rival Benezia's, we're it not for her temper and tendency to disregard galactic law.
Having served under the Matriarch for centuries as a dedicated acolyte, Shiala possessed unique abilities seen in few commandos. Her ability to control melds placed her amongst the most respected biotics in Asari space. And while the majority of her time had been dedicated to following the spiritual teachings Benezia, Shiala was also formidable commando.
With this in mind, I approached Aria several days ago, proposing that she and Shiala lead a team of ten crew members who showed the strongest biotic potential to 'confront' the Thorian. When I presented the idea to Lenea, she agreed. However, this morning as we began to prepare, she was extremely vocal in expressing her displeasure of being required to remain on the Tevura.
"Goddess Shea! I am not a child. I do not see why I must remain onboard while the rest of you go and 'prune the bush' as you say."
"This isn't a bush Lenea." I said, standing as I finished putting on my armor. Aria and Shiala continued to put on their armor across the room as they spoke to Dr. T'Lanin. "We don't know what this things spores can do to you. What they will do to our girls. I won't risk something happening to the three of you." Moving closer to Lenea, I pulled her into an embrace. "I want you to be safe, and right now the safest place for you to be is on the ship."
"She is not the only one who feels that way Lenea." Dr T'Lanin spoke as she approached us. "While your pregnancy has been uneventful and very healthy so far, we do not want to risk potential complications to you are your daughters by exposing you to an unknown allergen. It was my recommendation that you remain on the ship, Shea merely agreed."
Learning it was doctors orders and not me simply being overprotective didn't seem to lessen Lenea's displeasure, but she conceded nonetheless. "Do not do anything stupid my love.."
"I'll be fine babe, it's just a plant. Besides, I'll have Aria and Shiala with me. We'll be back before dinner." I said, tilting her chin to look into her beautiful blue eyes.
"I will hold you to that." She smiled, unable to resist the devilish grin I flashed her "Aria, bring my bondmate back in one piece."
"Don't worry Lenea, we won't let anything happen to the kid. She'll be safe." Aria replied, patting me on the shoulder.
Turning from Lenea, I approached Shiala. "Are you ready for this?" I asked the violet hued Asari.
"As ready as one can be for such an undertaking. Let us get this over with." She spoke with determination.
"Alright, let's do this." The three of us walked toward the elevator, I shouted back to Lenea "If we get back soon enough I'm making pot roast." My only answer was a concerned smile as the elevator doors closed.
Down in the cargo bay, I stood on the steps of the rover as the ground crew assembled.
"Today when we leave the ship we will be searching for a ancient sentient lifeform known as the Thorian. This plant is over 50,000 years old, having survived the Prothean extinction. We are here to obtain information from the Thorian that will aid us in preventing the Asari from falling victim to a similar fate. The exact nature of this information is classified, but rest assured that this is done with the crews safety in mind." I spoke with a thundering voice, easily projecting to the back of the crowd. Who knew my radio days would have lead me to addressing a squad of Asari commandos before a mission. I shook my head in disbelief at the idea, then smiled. This was real, not a fantasy. " We do not know the exact nature of the spores the Thorian excretes, nor the potential damage they may due to the Asari nervous system. As a precaution, all members of the ground crew are required to wear specialized environmental armor coating and respirators. When we return to the ship, everyone will need to first be processed through the decontamination tent in order to prevent any spores getting onto the Tevura."
"Now, we will take the shuttle to the Thorian's location, which we obtained from scans earlier this week. Once at location, we will divide into two teams. The first team, lead by Aria, will contain the Thorian in a stasis field, which will allow the second team, lead by myself and Shiala, to cautiously approach the Thorian. While in stasis, which Aria has assured me will be held for approximately ten minutes, Shiala will meld with the plant to extract the information. After Shiala finishes the meld, the second team will then begin trap the Thorian in a second stasis, allowing the entire ground team to escape unharmed. Does anyone have any questions before we head out?"
Antayla spoke up, "Why is this information so classified."
Looking directly at Antalya, I attempted to address her concerns as best I could without divulging too much "This information that has been classified, to only be disclosed to myself and Aria by the request of Matriarch Lidanya. The information is extremely volatile in nature, and would be very dangerous if it were to fall into the wrong hands. Having it remain classified is done more to protect the crew than anything else, as you cannot be exploited or blackmailed for information you simply do not have."
"Sounds fair." Antayla replied. "What about this plant? Why do we have to wear this specialized armor" the crew grumbled
"I know the bug suits are ugly, but we only have to wear them for a few hours." I replied "You'll have kegs and roast varren tonight after we pull this off." That was met with cheers "Any further questions. No, so let's roll people."
Aria and Shiala each sat on either side of me as the shuttle doors closed. "Sure you weren't military Shea?" Aria asked as she examined her helmet.
"No, I'm just loud. Sorry about that."
"You need not apologize Shea. You may not a formal military training, but you certainly take charge in an effective manager." Shiala replied. "It is rather impressive."
"Yea well, I've got the voice, but you and Aria are really in charge. You guys know what you're doing, I'm just winging it." Looking between the two, despite the months I have been with the Asari, even bonded to one. Little did I know that my actions that fateful night in December would lead me to not only the opportunity to enter a universe I had only imagined, part of a game, but also to get to know powerful individuals, who are now not only friends, but also my family. With this mind set I express my gratitude. "Thank you, Aria, Shiala, for helping, for everything. Don't know how I'd do it without you guys, without Lenea."
Staring at me as I played with my omnitool selecting music to play in my helmet through the mission, Shiala leaned over and asked "Do you need to have music with everything?"
"Helps me focus." Having selected to desired playlist, I sat back, pleased with the music now playing. I've worked with it as a distraction so long I can't 'work' without it." I added. "MP3 players, and in this case omnitools, are a beautiful thing. Otherwise you'd have to listen to me sing."
"You say it like it's a bad thing. You don't sound half bad. Better than alot of folks I've heard."
Over the comm, our shuttle pilot Vilna spoke as the shuttle doors opened "We're approaching the LZ, get ready for departure."
"Thanks Vilna, see you when were done. Alright everyone, helmets on." I shouted, activating the respirator in my own sealed helmet.
"Nervous?" Aria asked.
"A little, but it's just a fucking plant. As long as we stay on our game everything will be fine." I nodded as we stood to exit the shuttle.
Approaching the area that would later be known as Zhu's Hope in the future, we were not met by the same deterrents we would have seen were we here in the centuries to come. The entrance to underground corridor which lead to the Thorian was not blocked by a habitat, and as such we quickly descended the stairs. Cautiously, we approached the chamber containing the immense plant.
"What. The. Fuck. Is. That!" Aria shouted in disbelief as the enormous fichus came into view.
"That my dear Aria is the Thorian. I think it's still hibernating, so I don't suspect it even notices we're here yet." I said as I noticed the lack of creepers in the area. Clearly no other sentient beings had seen this creature for centuries, a blessing our small expedition.
"Shiala follow me. Aria, you and your team stay here and activate the stasis once we're in position on the next level." I said as I readied my assault rifle, just in case.
"Though you said you wouldn't need guns on this one." Aria joked.
"Better safe than sorry." I said as my group headed to the second level, the main chamber containing the 'brain' of the Thorian.
Walking the corridors, Shiala spoke with amazement "How does such a creature sustain itself for such a long period of time. To live for 50,000 is quiet unheard of."
"That is a mystery. My best guess is dormancy or hibernation. Maybe it puts itself is a kind of suspended animation, to come alive only when it needs to?"
"Can you imagine the things something that has lived over 50,000 years would have seen in its lifetime. To call it fascinating would not do it justice."
Shaking my head, "Let's just hope it doesn't have a thing for Asari." My expression was a conflict of disgust and joviality as I tried to maintain my cool exterior. Knowing what this thing did to Shiala in the game caused my blood to boil. Keeping a lid on my emotions was proving a challenge in itself.
"I don't see how a plant can have a thing for Asari. That makes no sense." Saba replied.
"Yea well, I'm ready to torch this thing if it tries anything funny."
"It won't come to that. The stasis will work. Trust Aria, trust Shiala. " Saba made her best attempt to reassure me. "This will be no more difficult than pruning bushes at the estate."
"Yea, let's get this shit over with." Hand to my ear as I activated the comm "Aria, we're in position, start the stasis." With that the monstrous plant was instantly engulfed in a blue biotic field.
"Ready" I asked Shiala.
"Yes, let us get the information we came here for." She replied, approaching the neural node.
The meld lasted only a few minutes before we heard the Thorian make a thunderous noise. Still trapped in stasis it was unable to react as Shiala ended the meld. "I have the cipher, but the Thorian is angry at being awakened. We must get out of here quickly." She shouted at the team as they threw up the second stasis.
"We're done here, everyone haul ass out here before Audrey Two wakes up. MOVE!" I screamed through the comm.
"You heard the woman" Aria said to her team. "Let's get the fuck out of here!"
Running as fast as our legs would carry us, we all ran toward the exit. Aria led the escape, leading the crew toward our original LZ. Flanking the group, I was the last to exit the corridor. As I approached the LZ, a huge vine came through the stone floor, throwing me into the air. Not expecting to be catapulted, I wasn't prepared for the landing either. I came down with a crunching thud, bones breaking as I hit the stone wall. The pain quickly knocked me out.
"Get Shea and get to the fucking shuttle, move!" Aria screamed at Saba as she and Shiala leveled a series of warps at the vine, shredding it into a unrecognizable mass. The quick action allowed the crew to escape, but the malicious vines were everywhere as the Thorian woke from it slumber.
After decontamination, Aria headed to the Tevura's bridge. "We're leaving. Damia get us the fuck of this planet, now!" Aria shouted before heading back to check on the injured human. Dr. T'Lanin was quickly getting the human out of her armor with Shiala assistance as Lenea looked on from the mess hall in shock.
"What happened Aria?" Lenea asked in a weak voice, unable to speak louder for fear of crying.
"She was thrown against the wall be that thing and knocked out. Our omni-scans didn't show any serious injuries. A few breaks, but she'll be okay Lenea. Don't worry." Aria said as she hugged her sister, consoling the young mother-to-be. "Come on, let's get you something to eat and let the doc do her thing."
"Thank you for taking care of her Aria."
"No problem. She's a tough nut Lenea, she'll be fine, you'll see."
Several hours later, I awoke in the medbay, my right arm wrapped in a cast. Sore didn't begin to describe the pain I felt as if I'd be hit by a truck. Everything hurt. "The fuck happened?" I asked, noticing Lenea and Aria sitting across from me.
"That thing threw you against the wall pretty hard. You have a broken arm, two broken ribs, and got a pretty nasty concussion, that's what knocked you out by the way." Aria spoke first.
"Guess that's what I get for sight-seeing" I joked. "Shit that hurt, I shouldn't laugh." I half smiled, half grimaced as the pain radiated through my torso.
"Dr. T'Lanin says you will need to remain in medbay for 48 hours, but you are fine otherwise." Lenea replied. "Goddess, I was so relieved that your injuries were not more severe. When I first saw you, you were so unresponsive I thought." her voice trailed off.
"Hey," I said, reaching an uninjured hand to caress her cheek "I'm here, its okay. I'll be okay. I told you Aria would watch my back."
"Damn right, but next time, run faster."
"I'll try to remember that." I said, as I smiled losing a battle to fatigue as I fell back to sleep, still grasping Lenea's hand.
AN: I feel honored that one of my favorite authors, T.A. Blackwell, added me as a favorite and gave such a pleasant review Thank you to everyone for the follows/favs/reviews. Not sure how many more chapters I'll have for this particular story, but fear not. Even if I end this one I've got 150+ years of preME1 timeline to cover, so I plan on writing at least one sequel, possibly more. I'm sure everyone would like to see where the family goes and what role Lenea and Shea's kids will have in future events.