Chapter Fifty: Give It A Try
"What's happening?" Liara turned on Shepard the second the doors closed into her room. She was done going in circles with Colt. There was something up with him, and she was going to find out what it was.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Colt said these words defiantly, but he felt uneasy. Liara was close to something.
"You never wanted to break up with me. I can tell," she knocked on her head.
"I told you, I don't have those feelings for you anymore," he was lying. This was too easy with their connection.
"Cut the crap! I know you're lying, but...why?" Liara looked at him closely. Something in his eyes told her that something was very wrong.
"I'm gonna die," Colt whispered the words.
"What?!" Liara's breathe caught in her throat. Dread started coursing through her.
"Nothing is wrong right now," he said this very quickly (too quickly?), "but eventually something will do it. If I somehow magically live through the Reaper War, I'll still die hundreds of years before you," Shepard didn't make eye contact once.
Liara absolutely hated when Colt talked about himself dying. She didn't want to think about that, but it seemed like he tried to bring it up at every chance he got. She took a moment to curse whoever decided humans would live only a fraction of an asari's lifetime.
"That's not fair. Thinking that way hurts both of us. Just because something like that will eventually happen, doesn't mean that loving someone on the way is wrong. We've got to enjoy the time we have," Liara's voice cracked a little. She moved a bit closer to Colt.
"I found that recording of you," he wouldn't make eye contact, and his voice was more strained than she had ever heard it. However, she had no idea what he was talking about. Her silence must have told him as much. "It was while I was dead. You had looked, and sounded so... broken," Colt was still looking at the ground. He drew in a ragged breath. "You said you had tried to commit suicide. That was my fault, and I'm only going to do it again. It's not fair to make you feel like that again," Colt's long winded speech ended without so much as a glance towards Liara.
"What do you mean that you're going to do it again?" Liara narrowed her eyes at Shepard. This was the second time Shepard had alluded to the fact that something was wrong.
"I'll die a long time before you do. Then you'll do something like... well something drastic," he said these words so quietly that Liara barely caught them.
"It's worth it. We have right now. We're both okay at this moment. Wouldn't it be better to enjoy the time we have?" The words fell onto the silent room like a blanket. It seemed that everything was processing, and waiting for Colt's reply.
"No...Yes...I don't know. I never want you to feel that horrible again. On the other hand, I just don't think I can let you go," Colt glanced up, and looked her straight in the eye. His eyes were dark with concern, and uncertainty.
"Let's just enjoy the time that we have," Liara said simply.
"Okay," Colt said such a meager word with such meaning. She could tell that he still felt conflicted, but she could also feel the hope he had for them. The love (dare she say the L word?) he possessed for her was also apparent.
Liara stepped forward, and pulled Colt into a kiss. Seconds before their lips met, Joker's voice interrupted, "Commander, it looks like you're needed on the Citadel."
Colt's colorful word choice sent her blushing. Joker was getting really good at interrupting the important stuff. Shepard went off with a hug, and the promise of a better reunion later.
...
"He said to be back on the Normandy at 17:00, right?" Tali asked the assembled crew. She checked her omni-tool again. The entire twenty six man crew of the Normandy waited in the CIC.
"Yes, I don't think I remember Shepard ever getting on the Normandy late from shore leave," Dr. Chakwas spoke up. Interestingly enough, she seemed to be the most concerned out of everyone. That didn't come as a surprise to Liara, though. The two were always close. Colt and Liara were closer, but she knew how capable he was. Still, her concern rose with every passing minute.
"Uh... guys. Someone's at the airlock, but it isn't Shepard," Joker called back. A moment later the airlock opened and Rosebud walked in...alone.
The Varren trotted over to Liara and whined. The pink leash that Shepard always used was still tied to her pink collar (Shepard always took the time to make sure everything on the Varren matched). The orange C-Sec vest was still on her, and not a hair on her head seemed to be harmed. Something was seriously wrong though.
Shepard loved Rosebud to death, and wouldn't be caught dead without her. The only way that the two would be separated was if something had happened. Liara hadn't been overly concerned before. Everyone was late to the Normandy every once in awhile, but this was too unusual. Shepard was always on time, something that was probably drilled into him in the Alliance.
"We have to look for him," Liara spoke up for the first time. She saw some surprised looks; it wasn't well known that she and Shepard had started dating again.
"I agree, Shepard is never late," Garrus had been quite calm until Rosebud had showed up alone.
"Looks like you won't have to," Joker called back into the CIC.
"Shepard is at the airlock. Opening it now. Doctor Chakwas you might be needed," EDI's voice, and words startled Liara. A moment later Shepard stumbled into the Normandy.
It was immediately apparent that something was very wrong. Shepard was dripping blood, and was having trouble walking. He looked up for a second, allowing everyone to see a very badly bruised face. "I was jumped," he moaned, "But they got it ten times worse." he smiled at his own words, revealing bloody teeth. Chakwas had been over at Shepard the moment he stepped in. She tried to help him along, but it was clear he would need more help.
Liara, and Garrus were the first to him, and gently took a hold of his shoulders. Shepard half walked and was half dragged to the elevator. Chakwas followed closely. The slow ride to the Crew Deck was made worse by the steady noise of dripping blood from Shepard.
Garrus and Liara helped him into the med bay. Liara started after him, but was headed off by a stern Chakwas. "I'm sure C-Sec has a recording of what happened. Check it out," Shepard said as he passed by Liara into the good doctor's domain.
He looked bad, but not horrible. His injuries would heal quickly. Liara had enough medical training to know as much. She tried not to think about all the complications that could happen. So instead she watched the tapes of what happened.
…
Shepard wasn't lying when he said his attackers got it ten times worse. He had been walking in a narrow alley reading a data pad, while Rosebud trotted by his side. Two guys followed behind him, and then four. Another four started walking towards him, and when he tried to pass, they remained still.
That was the point when Shepard had realized he was in trouble. She could read it on his face. The group was mixed. Two were turians, three were human, two vorcha, and one asari. They carried what looked like pieces of wood. It was obvious that they weren't professional, and were probably only interested in the hefty reward offered for Shepard.
The picture got blurry when Shepard made a clearing of biotics for Rosebud to get through. After she was away, Shepard dampened his biotics. The eight attackers were on him in an instant. For about ten seconds it was nothing but bits of wood smashing and impacting Shepard. Then an impressive biotic wave erupted and sent the attackers sprawling.
All eight were seriously injured; Liara could see blood coming out of their ears. She wouldn't tell Shepard about it, unless he asked. He would feel guilty about the situation, even though he had a right to defend himself. Shepard limped away from his moaning attackers, and started on the long journey back to the Normandy.
The attack itself was bad. The implications behind it were worse. If a couple people short on money, with no previous military training, were being made to believe that they could take Commander Shepard down, there was no limit to the enemies Colt faced.