Liara's Pov
"Is everyone here trying to kill us or have us killed? For that matter is everything trying to kill us?!", exclaimed Sercy. "Just be on your guard. I know they aren't telling us something", said Shepard. We had torn througj a wave of creatures that resembled the Rachini. I didn't think that was possible...the Krogan had destroyed them all in the Rachini Wars. "Well it just means there are more things to kill. My kind of mission", said Wrex. At least one of us was happy about being here. I hate the cold and hate that my mother...Benezia is still here. We still don't know what it is Saren wants here but we are about to find out. "Some crazy Asari attacks us...the Geth attacked us..and then just for shits and giggles, the damn Rachini emerge! They sure know how to treat people here", said Sercy. "If you stop crying, I'll give you a binky and tuck you in later", said Shepard. "That sounds great. Is that before or after Liara tucks you in?", said Sercy. Shepard frowned slightly. Wrex just shook his head. I still had no idea what they were talking about or how I was involved. "I beg your pardon?", I said. "It's nothing T'Soni. I think Shepard needed a dose of her own medicine for once", said Sercy, smiling.
"There is nothing back here but ice and snow...are we sure that doctor didn't...wait...did you hear that?", I said. "Shepard...one of those creatures...", said Sercy. "I hear it", came Shepard's short reply. We move forward cautiously with weapons drawn when one of the creatures turns and fires acid in my direction. "T'soni look out!", screamed Sercy. She jumped in front of me taking two hits from the acid. I quickly use Lift to dispatch the creature and Wrex charges toward the other with his shotgun drawn. Shepard finishes that one off with Throw. "All clear", said Wrex. Sercy laid on the ground...motionless. "Sercy? Sercy can you hear me?", I pleaded while hovering over her limp body. "Got damn it Daniels! Get up!", barked Shepard. What if she...I could not bear the thought of something happening to her because of me. Cough, cough. "Oww! What the hell was I thinking? My shoulder's are on fire!", said Sercy. "Let me see...yes...you are okay", I said relieved. "Daniels don't ever pull a stunt like that again!", exclaimed Shepard. "Nice to see Liara and yourself so concerned. Say your two names together sounds gre-owww!", said Sercy. Shepard punched her in the shoulder. "Yeah you think about that before you speak again", said Shepard while smirking. "Whatever! Let's just get out of here.", said Sercy.
We walked the wide area to a doorway that eventually led to the one place I wasn't ready to be...the area where my mother was. She stood proud above the platform. No doubt convinced that she could beat us. But when she turned toward us, I knew my mother was not herself. Her eyes had dark circles around them...her once vibrant blue skin long faded away. She looked...beaten down...a term I'd heard Ashley use on many occasions.I cannot recognize this person...nor would I recognize her voice. "You do not know what it is like to rear a child. There is power in creation...", said Benezia. This was not my mother. This was the effects of indoctrination that Shiala spoke about. I...am afraid of her...of what she has seemingly become. She didn't even register my presence. This is...terrible. "I won't be moved by sympathy. No matter who you bring with you", said Benezia , coldly. "Liara's here because she wants to be...not because I asked", stated Shepard. "Indeed. What have you told her about me, Liara?", asked Benezia. What kind of question is that? It implied betrayal. I've had enough of this. "What could I say mother? That you're insane? That you lost your mind? Should I explain how to kill you? What could I say?!", I screamed. "Have you ever faced an Asari commando unit before? Few humans have.", said Benezia. "I can't believe you'd kill your own daughter", said Shepard. "Fight it...I beg you, Benezia. I do not wish to kill you. Don't...don't make us do this", pleaded Sercy. "I now realize I should have been stricter on her!", said Benezia. This is not good.
Shepard's POV
I felt the crackle in the air as soon as she threw out Stasis. I was trapped. I watched the doors open and three Asari commandos filtered in quickly with shotguns drawn. "Grab cover! She's trying to use Stasis again!" screamed Daniels. I felt the impact of a shotgun blast above my head on the crate I was flying behind. I saw Daniels send out Singularity and Liara used lift on the three commandos. Wrex simply charged the last one and shot her in the face. A gory move but necessary. They were trying to overwhelm us. Not happening. As Benezia called on more soldiers, I loaded polonium rounds into my Assault rifle. This should at least slow her down and she already looked drained from my vantage point. "Liara, stay with me here. Sercy...Wrex...find cover on the other side. If they want to flank us, they'll have nowhere to hide", I said.
Two more Geth troopers showed up after Benezia recharged her biotics. I saw her falter and Daniels took that opportunity to lock the troopers in another Singularity. Wrex shot them quickly before they had a chance to feel the air swirling around them. Three Asari commandos filtered in from the same door. Jesus is there a truck out there somewhere? "Your orders, Commander?", said Liara. Her facial expression...was heartbreaking. This wasn't her world. This shouldn't happen to any child. Being tasked with killing your mother...I can't imagine what is happening in her mind now. "Use Lift", I simply stated and she obliged with a fierceness I never saw before this moment. That was all it took to take the rest of the squad out. "Shepard...", I heard Daniels say. She was standing near Benezia...weapon drawn and ready. Benezia lay slumped against some sort of containment unit...seemingly helpless and exhausted. "Is she...", Liara said. "She is still breathing", responded Daniels. "I wil not betray Saren. My mind is still filled with his light...", said Benezia between breaths. "Start talking, Benezia", I said sternly. She was indoctrinated...if we can just get insight on what the hell is going on...maybe there's a chance to help her. "You will...you will...you will listen. Saren has control of my mind. I can fight him off momentarily but it will not last", said Benezia.
"So you could turn on us again?", asked Wrex. "Yes...but it would not be my will. Shepard you must listen so that you can stop him", she said. She began to tell of why she joined him. She was hoping to lead him down a less violent and dark path. The indoctrination won out. She also told us of a relay that the Rachini found after it'd been dispelled by a star going supernova. "So that's why that creature is here. But...how did you get this information ?", quizzed Daniels. "I...had to take it...by force...from her mind. I...was not gentle", stated Benezia. I could see the regret in her eyes...and Liara's. What she spoke of...according to my research of the Asari, was reprehensible. It was mind rape. "Where is Saren headed and what does he want with that relay?", I asked. "I do not know. He didn't share with me. I managed to copy the relay's coördinates to this OSD", said Benezia. "You can still make it right. Give me those coördinates", I said. "I was not entirely myself but I should have been stronger. Here take this", she said, passing along the OSD.
"Knowing the relay's coördinates is not enough. We'll need to find out what he is after", said Liara. "I'm sorry this is the only information I have and you...you have to stop me...I can't...I can-fingers on my spine...teeth at my ear...you should...you should...ahh...you should", rambled Benezia. "Mother! I...don't leave! Fight him!", pleaded Liara. In that moment she seemed like a child...human even. Just wanted her mother back. I know that feeling...it is painful to witness...and experience. "Benezia...fight it...please. I don't...we don't want to kill you", begged Daniels. "I cannot. Thank you for trying, stranger" and she turned to Liara to say "you've always made me proud".
Her visage changed and this is when I knew there was no saving her. I had hoped that we would be able to talk to her...reason with her but indoctrination is too powerful. There is no real antidote. "DIE!", she said before summoning more troopers and two Asari commandos. Wrex fired carnage toward the coming horde. I sent out Throw to knock down one of the Asari. Liara used Lift to take care of the troopers again. When the fight was finally done, I saw Daniels holding Benezia...eyes glowing. She reached her hand back to Liara silently. "We thought we could save her. She is lost to us. We are sorry", said a voice from Daniels. The Ancestors. They'd made an appearance before. "Why the hell are her eyes glowing?", asked Wrex cautiously. "I'll explain later", came my simple reply. "You carry the warmth of a mother's love in your spirit, stranger. It is comforting in my last moments to feel...love", said Benezia. "Mother...", said Liara while cradling her. "Goodnight, Little Wing. I will see you with dawn. No light...they always said there would be a...", said Benezia. And then she was gone. Liara hugged her body tightly...sobbing to the point that her body shook. I reacted without thinking...taking her in my arms and comforting her as much as I could. Wrex stood silently watching. Daniels, having now regained control of herself, let silent tears stream down her face. As difficult as this was...we still had to get out of here. "Shepard...I am ready to leave this place", whispered Liara. Heartbreaking. "What about the Rachini? We can't just leave them here", said Wrex.
Liara stood up and I walked toward the tank holding the Rachini. It was unclear to me if this particular Rachini had any consciousness. I pressed my face to the glass of the containment unit and was nearly shook out of my boots when the same Asari commando Liara killed moments before bumped into me. What the hell is going on?!
Daniels' POV
Benezia was dead. Our ancestors tried to intervene saying they may be able to save her. Now all things I have read about indoctrination state there is no cure. Just who ARE my Ancestors? And how advanced were they whenever they died? That is definitely a conversation I'll have with them as soon as I get back to my room. I feel like it is something that they're not telling me. Perhaps I have been a fool this entire time blindly trusting them but they've never led us wrong. I know how to handle the situation but in the meantime, let me half listen to this conversation with the Rachini queen. "...your musics are colorless", she said speaking through the Asari. "Musics? What?", asked Shepard. How very tactful of her. The queen explained how the Rachini communicated with one another. Amazing how I always looked forward to talking to her in the game and now I am bored.
She also explained how she was only an egg when she was captured. She also said the war with the Krogan wasn't their fault. She said a tone from space hushed their singing and painted music the color of oily shadows. Wrex folded his arms at that. I think I understand why. The Rachini War basically validates the Krogans existence...at least from a galactic perspective. "They cannot exist as they are. They will only cause harm", said the Rachini queen. "If you're certain there is no way to save them...", trailed off Shepard. "It is lamentable. But necessary", the queen conceded. "We should head out", said Shepard. "Before you do, we stand before you. Our life is your decision. What will you sing?", asked the Rachini queen. "That tank she's in has trigger to fill it with acid. One wrong move and we can use it on her", said Wrex. "She has done nothing to us. She deserves a chance for atonement", said Liara. "If I let you go, will you start another war?", quizzed Shepard. "No! I...WE do not remember the war. We were but an egg hearing mother cry. If given the chance, we would raise our young and teach them to sing anew. If they could learn, perhaps we would return", she answered. Shepard thought for a moment before saying "I won't wipe out your race". "You will give us the chance to compose anew?, asked the Rachini queen. "Are you crazy?! We fought these things away for a reason!", barked Wrex. "I'm not killing off an entire species", said Shepard calmly."Fine. We'll clean this mess up later", said Wrex. Touchy, touchy.
"We will sing of your mercy forever", said the Rachini queen. Shepard punched in a number sequence freeing the Rachini queen. The Asari fell to the ground and the queen paused momentarily, as if acknowledging Shepard, and left. The alarms begin blaring as we exited out of the area. We hopped on the elevator and headed to the hot labs to finish off the remaining Rachini. I saw the one guy with the keycard we needed. His breathing was laboured and his eyes were barely open. I don't remember him being in this bad of shape when I played the game. Shepard asked him about the remaining critters. He suggested the neutron purge and was about to tell us exactly how to execute it when splash! Bits of his desiccated flesh landed on my suit. Nasty does not begin to describe that. The Rachni tossed his body aside like a feather and charged toward us. Shepard shot at it while Liara's Lift took care of it for good. "Shepard that keycard is around his neck and since he decided to leave bits of his bone and skin on my suit, I am not touching him", I said. Shepard smiled and jogged over to him, yanking the keycard from around his neck. "That guy must've wanted to talk", said Shepard while studying the keycard. "Why do you say that? ", I asked. "Because the instructions are right here on the back", said Shepard. We all laughed. We headed into the room to talk to Mira and gave her the authorization code. As soon as we did, I heard those little critters scurrying toward the door. "Shepard look out! ", I screamed. The Rachini were pissed and many. Bad combination. Luckily we were all biotics and using them saved us a lot of time and ammo. As we shot the last Rachini, I completely forgot about the timer. "Daniels move it!", barked Shepard at me. We scrambled into the elevator as the purge was successfully used. Night, night Rachini.
The ride up was quiet. Everyone looked utterly exhausted. I can tell you there is a huge difference in playing the game and breezing through a mission versus actually doing the mission. I watched Liara...she was quiet. She looked like she was somewhere else mentally. I reached out to touch her shoulder and she smiled at that but never turned to face me. I'm going to do something to help her. After all, I'm partly responsible for her mother's death now. How do Asari grieve? I know how Liara eventually does. The elevator stopped and we head to the tram. Time to leave Noveria. I've had enough of this place to last a lifetime.
End Chapter 37
A/N: Merry New Year! I know I know...I've been gone awhile. Well I told you guys sometimes life happens and it happened. So I wrapped up Noveria quicker by skipping some of the parts of the mission that I deemed unnecessary to elaborate on in my story. Benezia's death was always a tear-jerker for me. And if you bring Liara with you it just...right in the feels, man. Next chapter, we'll have a little Tevos and Sercy goodness. How do you think Ashley will handle that? To my readers, new and old, you are appreciated. What up, Switzerland. Shout out to Faith Fangs for the pm. Much appreciated!
Obligatory disclaimer: Bioware owns Mass Effect. Sercy and Chagoya? Their mine. This is the remix. The internets still bump this remix.