Chapter 12: I Thought You Were Dead!
Shepard paced in front of the tank holding the collector in the tech labs. Mordin assured her that it wasn't conscious, but she could swear that the black orbs were tracking her movements. It made her skin crawl.
"Are you sure it can't get out of there?" Shepard asked.
"Shepard, will tranquilize you if asked again," Mordin said.
Shepard turned to look at the salarian as he worked at his table. He felt her eyes on her and met her gaze. Shepard squinted her eyes and although she saw the faint hint of a smile around the corners of his mouth she knew at once that he was completely serious.
"Fine, call me as soon as you have something," Shepard said walking towards the door.
Shepard stepped out into the CIC and took the elevator up to her cabin. She stopped in front of her desk and stared down at her closed laptop, lost in thought. Shepard let out a sigh and rubbed her hand up and down her arm trying to chase away the bad feeling the collector left her with. She pulled out her chair and sat down; opening the laptop she checked her messages.
Shepard: I'm sorry it's taken me so long to write. Keelah, things have been… terrible. I tried to talk to Father. I tried to convince him that what he was doing was wrong. At first he tried to deny everything, but when he realized I wasn't going to accept that he simply refused to listen to reason. Keelah… I reported him to the Admiralty Board, Shepard. His trial will start tomorrow. My father will probably be exiled and I'm the one who reported him. At least he'll be alive.
Shepard could almost hear the sorrow dripping from Tali's written words. Her heart ached for her friend, but she knew telling her was the right call. If Tali knew that she had a chance to save her father's life and Shepard hadn't given it to her, Tali would never have forgiven Shepard. Shepard hit reply and started typing.
Tali: I'm sorry to hear that he wouldn't listen. Hell, I'm sorry that any of this is happening at all. If there is anything that I can do, just say the words. I mean that, Tali. Please let me know what the Admiral's decide.
Shepard opened another message from Councilor Anderson.
Shepard: I'd like to speak with you in person about the events on Fehl Prime. Please come to the Citadel at your earliest convenience.
Anderson: We're on our way to Illium now. The Citadel will be our next stop. I'll message you again when we're on our way.
EDI's blue hologram popped up next to the door as soon as Shepard hit the send button.
"ETA to Illium, thirty minutes," EDI said.
"Thanks EDI. Please tell Miranda and Garrus to be ready," Shepard said.
"Certainly, Shepard," EDI said and disappeared.
Miranda had found Shepard minutes after she had boarded the Normandy after leaving Fehl Prime. She was agitated, telling Shepard that she had received an update regarding Oriana. Niket had contacted Lanteia and was offering to move Oriana for Miranda. Shepard had grabbed Miranda's shoulders, much to Miranda's surprise and told Miranda to calm down. Shepard reminded Miranda that this was expected and assured her that they were going to Illium right away. Miranda had stared at Shepard with wide eyes and mumbled something about Niket before breaking away from Shepard and heading to the elevator.
She seemed far more collected when Shepard saw her again a few hours later. She handed Shepard a datapad with confirmation of the docking fees having been paid by Cerberus as well as a detailed report of her sister's itinerary and background information on Niket, Lanteia, Oriana, Oriana's adoptive family, and her father Henry Lawson. Shepard was dumbfounded; Miranda had always held information like this close unless it was strictly necessary. The reports told her everything, including the fact that Oriana was significantly younger than Miranda and still a child when Miranda took her from their father. Miranda had never offered her this information until Niket and Enyala put her in a position where she had to explain herself.
Shepard took her time donning her armor and checking her guns before heading to the cockpit to watch the decent. Shepard rested a hand on Joker's shoulder as she stared at Illium laid out before them. He glanced up at her briefly before turning his attention back to the holographic screens in front of him.
"What's on Illium?" Joker asked.
"A favor for Miranda and two additions for the team," Shepard said.
"Oh yeah? Who are we picking up?" Joker asked.
"Asari Justicar and a drell assassin," Shepard said.
Joker turned to look at her and said, "An assassin? Really? Because we don't have enough deranged people on board."
"Just because he's an assassin doesn't mean he's deranged," Shepard said.
"He kills people for money," Joker said.
"It's just a better skilled, more selective mercenary," Shepard said.
"That makes him deadlier, not less deranged. I mean, have you actually talked to that Zaeed?" Joker said.
"Technically I kill people for money," Shepard said.
"You're making my point for me, Shepard," Joker said swiveling back towards his console.
"Ouch," Shepard said.
"So what's a Justicar?" Joker asked.
"Mmmm. I think the easiest way to explain it is like the religious police," Shepard said.
"Gods, don't tell her that," Jane said.
"That is not completely accurate, Shepard," EDI said.
"I know, EDI. I was trying to keep it simple but why don't you go ahead and tell Joker all about the Justicars? I'm headed to the airlock," Shepard said.
"That really isn't necessary, EDI," Joker said.
"Yes it is, EDI!" Shepard hollered back over her shoulder.
Miranda and Garrus were waiting at the airlock for Shepard. They made their way off the ship and out into the entry way of Illium. Shepard glanced out over the Illium skyline, taking in the towering buildings and the crowded airspace filled with skycars coming and going. She took a deep breath as painful memories of finding Liara on Illium raced through her mind. She wouldn't find Liara on Illium this time. Shepard would never see Liara again.
"Don't say it," Shepard thought.
"Say what?" Jane asked.
"That it's my fault," Shepard thought.
"I wasn't going to, you're thinking it enough for the both of us," Jane said.
"Shepard, what's wrong?" Garrus asked taking a tentative sniff of the air around her.
"Just thinking about Liara," Shepard said.
"She was supposed to be here, on Illium, wasn't she?" Miranda asked.
Shepard nodded her head and swallowed against the thick knot in her throat.
"But something you did before changed things and now Liara is dead," Miranda said.
A low growl rose from Garrus' throat and Miranda shook her head. Shepard took a sharp, deep breath in through her nose and put her hands behind her back, clasping one wrist with the other hand. It gave her a collected look, but really it was the best way that she could keep from punching Miranda in the nose.
"I'm sorry, Commander. That was terribly insensitive. I didn't mean for that to sound so harsh. I'm just trying to understand… everything," Miranda said glancing up as an asari flanked by two LOKI mechs headed their way.
"You mean you're trying to see if there is any chance that things will go wrong for you and your sister," Garrus said.
"Maybe," Miranda said.
"Welcome to Nos Astra," the asari said looking down at a datapad. "My records for your ship indicate that all docking and administrative fees have been paid… by Cerberus."
The asari took a closer look at the three of them before glancing back down at her datapad.
"I see. Interesting. My name is Careena. If you have any questions or need any information about the area, please do not hesitate to ask," Careena said.
"Well that was a lot less friendly than when Liara's here," Jane said.
"Thank you, but I believe I have all of the information that I need," Shepard said.
"Very well, if you find that you do need something you can find me here," Careena said.
"Thanks, Careena," Shepard said moving past the asari and her mech guards.
"Lanteia said she would meet us in a bar called Eternity," Miranda said as Careena walked back towards the door.
"I know where it's at," Shepard said.
Shepard led Garrus and Miranda through the door that Careena stood next to, watching Shepard and her crew with obvious disdain. They made their way past the customs desk and through another door where she paused once more looking out over the balcony.
"It's all still the same. Liara's dead and it's all still the same. Nothing should be the same here, not without her," Jane said. "How can it all be the same?"
Shepard swallowed again and gently shook her head before turning to her right and down the stairs. She moved slowly towards an asari standing next to a wall knowing that she would call out to Shepard.
"Excuse me! Excuse me, are you Commander Shepard?" the asari said.
"Yeah, I'm Shepard," she said.
"I thought so, I saw your… I guess you would say aura. I'd recognize you anywhere," the asari said before looking around.
"It can't be the same," Jane said.
"I was asked to give you a message if I saw you. It's from a friend you made on Noveria," the asari said.
"Of course," Shepard said.
The asari took a step closer to Shepard and her eyes rolled back in her head. Her mouth began to move with a sub-harmonic, musical voice that was not wholly her own.
"Shepard. We hide. We burrow. We build. But we know that you seek those who soured the songs of our mothers. When the time comes, our voice will join with yours, and our crescendo will burn the darkness clean. Thank you, Shepard. The rachni will sing again, because of you," the asari said.
"What does that mean?" Miranda asked.
"It means the rachni will join us in the war," Shepard said.
"Not before the queen gets taken by the reapers," Jane said.
When the asari's eyes returned to their proper position Shepard spoke, wishing to cut the conversation short. She couldn't bear to hear the asari's story again, not right now, not when she was in a place that somehow felt like it shouldn't even exist without Liara. Shepard didn't know how much of that was Jane, but it didn't matter, it felt just as real.
"Thank you, when you see her again please tell her… tell her that she needs to be careful. That those who soured the voices of their mothers will come for them again. Tell her if that happens, if she's taken, I'll set her free again," Shepard said turning away.
"Wait! What do you mean? Commander Shepard, are they in trouble? Please, you have to tell me," the asari said.
"I can't tell you anything more," Shepard said rubbing her forehead. "Just please don't forget what I said."
Shepard walked away with the asari calling after her, begging her to explain herself. She moved Miranda and Garrus between her and the table that Gianna Parasini was sitting at, trying to block herself from the woman's view.
"Holy crap. Shepard? I thought you were dead!" Gianna said.
"Damn it," Shepard whispered before forcing a smile on her face and turning to Gianna's table.
"Hello, Ms. Parasini. I get that a lot these days," Shepard said.
"Please, call me Gianna. I'd ask you what happened but it's probably classified. You, I remember you. You were on Noveria, too," Gianna said to Garrus.
"That I was," Garrus said.
"Well listen, Gianna, it's nice to see you but we're in a bit of a hurry. We have to meet someone about an urgent matter," Shepard said.
"Oh that's alright. I'm working a job so I'll be around for a while. Find me later, Shepard, I still owe you a beer," Gianna said.
"I'll do that, Gianna. Thanks," Shepard said.
Shepard stopped to stare at the staircase around the corner from Gianna's table. Stairs that led up to the office Liara always occupied in Jane's memories. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She wondered if Nyxeris would still be up those stairs if Shepard walked up them. Would the Shadow Broker's agent know who she was? Did she already know Shepard was on Illium?
"Commander?" Miranda said snapping Shepard back to the present.
"Yeah, sorry," Shepard said.
"Commander forgive me but you seem incredibly distracted and if this is going to work, you are going to have to focus," Miranda said.
"I'll be fine, Miranda," Shepard said moving on.
"We're always fine. We have to be," Jane said.
They walked past all of the merchants and consoles scattered across floor, dodging asari, salarians, and volus as they went. The floor ended at a staircase leading up, the red letters scrawled across the advertisement banner proclaimed that this was the way to Eternity. Shepard climbed the stairs and rounded another corner. A door slid open revealing steps leading down to a foyer.
"I'm going to have that asshole arrested," an asari said as they walked by.
"Conrad Verner," Shepard said.
"Verner? That guy from the Citadel who had that obsession with you? What about him?" Garrus asked.
"The asshole she's talking about," Shepard said.
"Verner? Here on Illium? How has that idiot not been scooped up as an 'indentured servant'?" Garrus asked making air quotes.
Shepard shrugged, walking up the next flight of stairs she entered Eternity. Shepard stopped inside and looked towards the actual bar where Conrad stood. Shepard let her eyes glide to the side to the asari behind the bar.
"Of course it isn't Aethyta. Why would she be here? No Liara to watch over, no Aethyta," Jane said.
"I know," Shepard said aloud.
"You know what?" Garrus asked.
"Nothing. There's Conrad. I'll deal with him later. Come on, Miranda, Lanteia should be right inside there," Shepard said pointing to the side room.
"So not everything is the same," Shepard thought.
Miranda crossed the floor and entered the room ahead of Shepard and Garrus. An asari Shepard recognized as Miranda's contact pushed herself away from the wall.
"Ms. Lawson, good you're here. I don't know who your source was but they were right. Niket got in touch with me and said he was a friend of yours, a friend of Oriana's. He said that your father has sent Eclipse mercenaries to make a sweep hoping to find her and that they'd be looking for you. Said he wanted to help move Oriana and her family to the terminal," Lanteia said. "I told him I'd have to check with you first, I wasn't sure how you wanted me to handle him. I did some asking around though, and I've found out he's working with the Eclipse on this."
"Agree to it, Miranda," Shepard said.
"What?! No! You have to be kidding, Shepard," Miranda said.
"Would you excuse us for a moment?" Shepard said to Lanteia.
The asari shrugged and Shepard held on to Miranda's arm leading her back out of the side room.
"Miranda, listen to me, I don't know what happens if you don't let Niket escort Oriana. I'll be operating blind. I only know how things will work out if you agree to let Niket be her escort," Shepard said. "Hell, you might have already changed things enough to cause a problem by warning Lanteia. I don't know. It's your call, and we'll see this thing through no matter your choice but the more things change the fewer guarantees I can make."
"You're right, things have already changed. Who knows if you'll be able to save her sister?" Jane said.
"That's not helping, Jane," Shepard thought.
Miranda looked towards the bar, her brow furrowed in thought. After a moment she looked back to Shepard and crossed her arms.
"What happens in this prophecy of yours?" Miranda asked.
Shepard frowned but answered anyway, "Usually you aren't aware of Niket's ulterior motives and you agree to allow him to transport Oriana. We take a skycar to cut off and distract the Eclipse. We fight our way through the cargo terminals, taking down a ton of mercs until we finally get to the dock. When we get there, we find Niket and a merc named Enyala talking with a dock official who won't let anyone through because of the scene we're causing in the terminal. That's when you realize Niket is helping your father and we… take care of things there before going to make sure your sister is safe."
"We take care of things? You mean we kill Niket?" Miranda asked.
"I've seen it go two different ways, Miranda. If you don't shoot him, Enyala will," Shepard said.
Miranda ran her hand through her hair and asked, "Why is he doing this, Shepard? I thought Niket was my friend."
"Because you kidnapped your kid sister and your dad's an egomaniacal ass with far too much money to throw around," Jane said.
"Not helping," Shepard thought.
"You know, maybe I don't feel like being helpful," Jane said.
"Then do us both a favor and just stay quiet," Shepard thought.
"He's doing it because he honestly thinks that Oriana will have a better life with her father. You didn't tell him that you took her and when your father told him about it he told didn't believe it… until the day you told him. He didn't think that it was right for you to take Oriana when she was so young. You made a choice to leave, she didn't. He contacted your father that night and said he would help get Oriana back," Shepard said.
Miranda glanced towards Lanteia and said, "Either way Niket dies."
"Niket doesn't have to die. If we know you're not going to shoot him, and we know that Enyala will it just means we have to keep her from getting the chance," Garrus said.
"I'm sorry, no. I can't feel right about any of this knowing that Niket is working with my father. I want to be with Oriana in person, to protect her," Miranda said.
"Isn't that sweet. You know that this isn't a good idea, right?" Jane asked.
"Are you sure about this, Miranda?" Shepard asked.
"I am. Don't worry Shepard, if this goes bad I won't be blaming you. You can rest easy tonight either way," Miranda said.
"Why are we even bothering to help her? She knows what's going to happen, if she's going to be such a bitch, why don't you make her deal with this on her own?" Jane asked.
"That's not fair, Miranda," Shepard said.
"Isn't it? I know you don't think very highly of me, Shepard. I know you're here now because you want me focused for the mission ahead, and I doubt you would be so opinionated on the matter if it weren't for our little secret," Miranda said.
Miranda turned her back to Shepard and started to walk back to Lanteia.
"That's not true, Miranda," Shepard said. "You don't always make it easy to like you, but I think beneath all that icy bullshit you're actually a good person. And you're resilient as all hell. I admire that."
Miranda stopped in her tracks and dropped her head, studying the ground in front of her. Shepard watched the other woman's back as she slowly turned around. Something flickered across Miranda's eyes before her mask of confident aloofness slid back into place. Shepard wished she knew what it meant.
"Thank you, Commander," Miranda said before making her way back to Lanteia.
"This isn't going to end well," Garrus said.
"Yes it will. I'm going to make sure of it," Shepard said following Miranda.
"I guess we'll see," Jane said.
"Tell Niket I'll be handling Oriana's escort," Miranda said.
Lanteia looked at Shepard before nodding her head and saying, "I'll tell him. I've got a car waiting if you're ready to go."
"The sooner we go, the sooner I can know my sister is safe," Miranda said.
"Good. Follow me," Lanteia said leaving the side room.
Lanteia led Shepard and the others to her skycar. Miranda took the passenger seat while Shepard and Garrus climbed in the back. Normally she would snicker at Garrus' struggle to get his long, gangly legs tucked into the back seat but she wasn't feeling very humorous. The car took off and merged with the air traffic of Illium as Shepard stared out of the window. Garrus slipped her hand into his and gave it a gentle squeeze. She turned to look at him, doing her best to give him a smile but it only caused his brow plating to furrow. She settled for squeezing his hand in return before absently stroking her thumb back and forth across the top of his hand.
A few minutes later Lanteia lowered the skycar next to a busy terminal. The doors opened and Shepard climbed out after Miranda. Lanteia checked something on her omni-tool before pointing down a corridor.
"Oriana and her family should be coming in from down there," Lanteia said. "How do you want to do this?"
"Garrus and I can check out the area, look for any sign of Niket or the Eclipse while you and Lanteia wait for Oriana," Shepard suggested.
"Alright. Thank you, Commander," Miranda said.
"Sure," Shepard said as she and Garrus started to walk away.
"And Shepard?" Miranda called after her.
Shepard turned back around a few feet away, Miranda moved closer to her.
"I'm sorry. What I said earlier, you're right, it wasn't fair of me," Miranda said.
"It's OK, Miranda. I get it, you're worried about your sister," said Shepard.
"I am, but that isn't an excuse. I've never been very good at… being a good person. All my life people have only seen me for what I can do for them. None of them really cared about me, not really. I guess I learned to expect the worst from others," Miranda said.
"Don't worry about it, Miranda. I've got tougher skin than that. Let's just focus on getting your sister out of here safely and we can talk more later if you still feel like you need to explain yourself. Deal?" Shepard asked.
"Need I remind you that she had control chips put in our skull?" Jane asked.
"I haven't forgotten," Shepard thought.
Miranda smiled and said, "Deal."
Miranda and Lanteia made their way down the corridor while Shepard and Garrus began scoping out the place. Garrus glanced around the ceiling and pointed up. Shepard followed his finger and saw he was pointing at the catwalks.
"Good idea, I'll stay down here," Shepard said.
"I'll keep you on the radio," Garrus said as he jogged off in the opposite direction from Miranda and Lanteia.
Shepard checked her radio to make sure her mic was opened and began moving through the crowded terminal. Eclipse was primarily composed of asari, humans, and salarians. Nearly everyone in the damn terminal was either asari, human, or salarian but she saw none wearing the gaudy yellow armor marking them as Eclipse mercs. Garrus checked in to let her know that he was on the catwalks and hadn't yet seen any mercs either.
Shepard continued to weave her way through the crowd heading towards Miranda's location. A man bumped into Shepard causing him to drop the briefcase he had been carrying, spilling the contents across the floor.
"Crap! I'm so sorry," he said bending down to gather up lost datapads and file folders.
Shepard knelt down to help the man collect his belongings when the first echo of gunfire hit her ears. She stayed low and scanned the area, seeing people running from the corridor Miranda and Lanteia had walked down.
"Fuck," Shepard said before shoving the datapad in her hand at the man.
"Of course," Jane said.
Shepard rose to her feet and drew her pistol before making her way towards the corridor, pushing frantic people out of her way as they raced past her.
"Garrus, where are you?" Shepard asked.
"I'm about three yards behind you moving in your direction," Garrus replied.
"Miranda what's happening?" Shepard asked.
Miranda didn't respond. Shepard heard more gunshots along with more panicked screaming as people ran from the corridor.
"Miranda?" Shepard said again.
Shepard was half way down the corridor when she caught her first glimpse of the action. A figure in yellow armor flew across the terminal before disappearing from her sight. Shepard continued to run down the corridor towards the terminal, the fleeing crowd thinning out as she went. A sound overhead caught her attention and she glanced up to see Garrus passing her on the catwalks before disappearing in the shadows.
Shepard reached the end of the corridor and pressed her back against the wall; to her left everything was clear. She leaned around the edge of the wall and looked to her right. Lanteia sat on the floor with her back against a raised planter. Her hand pressed against a wound in her side as deep purple blood pooled on the floor around her, staining her hand and clothes. Miranda was a few feet ahead of her ducking behind another planter. Oriana stood in the middle of the room with Enyala's arm wrapped around her chest. Enyala held a gun pointed at Miranda's location, her arm stretching out past Oriana's shoulder.
"You said we would do this my way!" a man's voice rang out.
Shepard followed the sound until she found the source. Niket stood in a similar position as Oriana, an Eclipse merc holding a gun to his head.
"The boss wants the girl, it doesn't matter how he gets her. I get paid either way, Niket," Enyala said. "Now tell your whore to throw down her gun before things really get ugly."
"Daddy, oh god, Daddy," Oriana sobbed.
Shepard glanced around until she saw Oriana's father laying in a pool of his own blood, her mother kneeling beside him holding his head in her lap. She whipped her head back and forth between her dying husband and her captured daughter.
"Miranda, please. Just do what she says," Niket yelled across the room.
"Screw you Niket! This is your fault!" Miranda yelled.
A few more Eclipse mercs lined the area behind Niket watching and waiting for orders. Aside from Oriana's father, three civilians lay dead spread across the terminal.
"I'm in position, I have a shot," Garrus said.
"Take it," Shepard said.
Enyala's head jerked back as blood exploded from the back of her skull. Her eyes widened as her arms slowly dropped, her pistol clattered to the floor. Oriana's mother screamed. The merc holding Niket pulled the trigger, shooting Niket through the temple. Enyala's body crumpled to the floor. Shepard stepped out of cover and fired three rounds at the merc who killed Niket. Oriana fell to her knees before scrambling towards her mother.
The echo of Garrus' sniper rifle tore through the air as he hit another merc, the shot went through the side of the mercs helmet, ripping chunks off and revealing half of the man's bloodied face. It wasn't enough to kill him though, the merc kept moving but instead of trying to head off Oriana he dove for cover. Miranda rose to her feet and broke into a full run, heading straight across the terminal to Oriana.
"Miranda! No, stay in cover!" Shepard yelled.
"She's going to get herself killed," Jane said.
Oriana reached her parents just as a bullet ripped through Miranda's shoulder. Miranda screamed in pain but kept moving. Shepard fired at the mercs to the right of Miranda, unwilling to risk shooting across Miranda's trajectory. Another shot from Garrus' sniper rifle kept the mercs on Miranda's left ducking for cover. Miranda made it to her sister and dropped to the floor next to them. A heartbeat later Miranda extended a domed biotic field around her sister and her family. It wouldn't stop bullets but it would slow them down, deflect them maybe just enough to save a life. It was foolish, desperate attempt to save her sister's life when in all likelihood it would only result in Miranda's death. The mercs wouldn't have shot Oriana, she was their meal ticket.
Shepard raced for the planter Lanteia was sitting against and crouched next to the asari. She fired four more shots over the top of the planter before crouching back down again. She opened her omni-tool and pulled up the medi-gel dispense application before firing over the top of the planter once more. She set her pistol on the ground long enough to rip open Lanteia's shirt, and the asari screamed in pain. Shepard picked the pistol up again and fired off a couple more rounds, keeping the mercs attention on her and off of Miranda the best she could.
"It's still in there… no exit wound," Lanteia said through panting breaths.
"Shit. This will stop the bleeding for now, but it's still going to hurt like a motherfucker," Shepard said.
Lanteia nodded and Shepard applied the medi-gel. A merc got ballsy or just stupid and decided to try to make a run for Oriana. He got five feet out of cover before Garrus' shot him in the knee. Shepard heard Garrus chuckle through her radio as the man fell to the ground screaming in agony. Shepard wrapped a second merc up in a biotic Reave while Lanteia rolled over and pulled herself to a crouched position.
"Stay down, or you'll only cause more damage," Shepard said.
"I don't think so, those assholes shot me," Lanteia said before throwing out a singularity just above a planter where two mercs where hiding.
The mercs were pulled up into the air to move slowly around the spinning ball of dark energy. Shepard and Garrus shot at them until they were dead mercs spinning around. The merc Garrus shot in the knee pulled himself up on his one good knee and started trying to crawl for cover. Garrus chuckled and shot him in the arm making him collapse back to the ground again.
"Garrus!" Shepard said.
"I'm here, Shepard," Garrus said.
"Stop toying with him and kill him damn it, I need to get Miranda out of there," Shepard said.
"Right, you got it," Garrus said.
Shepard heard the sounds of Garrus reloading his sniper rifle before another shot rang out taking the merc in the head. Shepard ran out of cover and raced for a row of benches backed against a low wall. A bullet tore through Miranda's barrier and lodged itself in her thigh. She screamed in agony as her barrier flickered. Miranda closed her eyes and clenched her jaw, focusing she pushed the barrier back into place. Oriana screamed in her mother's arms. Movement to the side caught Shepard's attention and she turned, pulling up her pistol. A salarian lay cowering beneath another set of benches, his knees pulled up to his chest. Shepard duck-walked her way over to the end of her row of benches before rolling forward to the next set.
"Are you hurt?" Shepard asked.
The salarian shook his head, his eyes wide with terror.
"OK, stay down. Don't move from this spot, OK?" Shepard asked.
He nodded his head fervently.
A merc stepped out of cover and Latenia hit him with a Warp. Shepard vaulted over the benches and the low wall and raced for a planter putting her about even with Miranda.
"Police headed our way," Garrus said.
"Good," Shepard said.
Oriana pulled away from her mother and after a moment of studying Miranda intently a resolute look came over Oriana's face and she pushed her own less stable biotic field out around their small group. Miranda's eyes snapped open when she felt the brush of a biotic field against hers. Oriana knelt in front of Miranda and the two women held each other's gaze. Oriana's field stretched out further, the strain was apparent on her face as her barrier met Miranda's and merged into one.
"Shepard, mercs are landing at your six," Garrus said before he fired a shot.
Shepard glanced behind her to see shuttles stopping above the docks and mercs dropping from them to the ground. Shepard was too far away from their location to effectively use her biotics to knock them off the platform and she was exposed at her current location. Shepard crept slowly around the edge of the planter trying not to draw attention to herself until she was on the other side. It opened her up to the mercs still in hiding at the back of the terminal but it gave her protection from the bigger threat building on the docks.
A bullet slammed into the planter next to Shepard's shoulder. She flinched away from the shot and scanned the area. She saw an Eclipse standing behind a partition preparing to take another shot at her. Shepard activated her biotic Charge halfway to her feet and slammed into the merc knocking him back against the door to the women's restroom. She recovered from the charge and a bullet slammed into her back, dropping her shields and denting her armor. Shepard grabbed the man she just hit with her Charge and spun him around acting as a shield. She fired her pistol at the two mercs directly opposite of her as they filled their friend full of holes. She cursed as she felt one of the bullets slam into her shoulder, piercing her armor. Pain blossomed and hot blood began to drip down her arm.
She dropped the body when it went limp in her grasp and threw a Shockwave at the two mercs, knocking them backwards into the men's restroom door. She emptied her clip into one of them before he could get back to his feet. She hit the second man with a Reave and switched to her assault rifle. He dropped dead from her Reave before she could fire a shot. Shepard pressed her back to the partition hiding the bathroom door and glanced around the corner.
Miranda and Oriana were still fighting to keep a barrier up. Mercs where involved in a full blown shoot out with the asari commandos on the Illium Police force at the other end of the terminal. Garrus was providing sniper fire for the commandos as they pushed the mercs back with their biotics and the less frequent gunshot. Shepard ran for Miranda pushing herself through the two women's barrier. She took one glance at Oriana's father and realized it was far too late for him. Miranda's focus shifted to Shepard and Shepard shook her head. Shepard put her hand under Oriana's mother's arm and started to pull the woman away. The woman struggled and tried to fight Shepard off.
"Stop it, he's gone. I'm sorry, but there's nothing we can do for him now. I've got to get you out of here," Shepard said making the woman look at her.
"Mom go. Listen to her and go, please," Oriana said.
"She's keeping it together well. I suppose she would, being Miranda's genetic twin," Jane said.
The woman sniffled and nodded her head. Shepard stayed low, keeping the woman down as close to the ground as she could as she led her to crouch behind a planter. They moved from cover to cover until Shepard got back to the corridor that led back to the skycar Lanteia brought them in. She pulled the woman a few feet into the corridor and stopped when she saw four asari commandos waiting at the other end. The commandos raised their pistols at Shepard and ordered her to stop.
"I'm Council Spectre Commander Shepard. I have a civilian here and I'm trying to get her to safety. There are others inside I need to go back for," Shepard yelled down the hall.
One of the commandos broke line as the others lowered their weapons. The police officer rand down the corridor to Shepard and took a hold of the woman's other arm, guiding her down the hall and away from Shepard. Shepard went back towards the sound of gunfire and checked that her path was clear before running back inside, moving from cover to cover she got back to Miranda and Oriana.
"Alright, Oriana come on let's get you out of here," Shepard said.
"What about her?" Oriana asked nodding at the wounded Miranda.
"What, Miranda? Nah, Miranda's tough she'll be alright let's just get you out of here," Shepard said.
"Go, Ori. Go with Shepard, she'll keep you safe," Miranda said.
Oriana nodded and pulled herself into a crouching position ready to move with Shepard. As soon as Shepard had Oriana safely behind cover, Miranda rose to her feet. Blood dripped down her arm and thigh but she walked with her head held high and a fire burning in her eyes straight towards the ongoing battle at the other end of the terminal.
"Garrus, Miranda is injured and headed to the fight. I'm getting her sister to safety –," Shepard said.
"Sister?" Oriana stopped to look at Shepard, forcing Shepard to tug her arm until she was moving again.
"Oops," Jane said.
"Garrus, Miranda isn't being rational right now," Shepard said.
"I got her, Shepard, don't worry about it," Garrus said.
"Thank you," Shepard said.
"What do you mean her sister?" Oriana asked again as they ducked behind a planter.
"I'll let her explain it to you once this is over. For now, your mother is waiting for me to bring you back to her alive so keep quiet and follow me," Shepard said.
A commando waited in the corridor a few feet from the opening ready to relieve Oriana from Shepard. Shepard handed Oriana off and ducked back inside. The mercs had pushed forward into the terminal, Miranda had at least been coolheaded enough to take cover as she joined the commandos in flinging biotics around the terminal but she was still losing blood and after holding that barrier for so long she was getting weaker.
Lanteia was still in the fight, doing what she could to provide support to the police and Shepard's team but Shepard could see that she was bleeding again. Shepard moved to the asari's side and pulled her into cover motioning for her to get to the corridor. Lanteia nodded and stayed low; an officer met her a few feet from the corridor's opening and helped her inside.
Shepard made her way over to the salarian still hiding under the bench.
"Come on, let's get you out of here," Shepard said holding out a hand.
The salarian shook his head.
"Come on, it's alright there are police waiting to keep you safe just over there," Shepard said.
"No, no I still hear gunshots. I'm safe here, I want to stay here," the salarian said.
"Oh for the love of…," Shepard grabbed the salarian and drug him out from underneath the bench.
He kicked and scrambled trying to get back under the bench so she punched him in the temple and knocked him out. She pulled his limp form up onto her shoulders and made her way back towards the corridor. The same asari was waiting for Shepard again when she got to the corridor.
"Where is he wounded?" the officer asked.
"He's not. I had to knock him out to get him to safety," Shepard said.
"Ah," the officer said pulling the salarian from Shepard's shoulders to her own.
"I haven't seen any other civilians still alive. I'm going back in to help the fight," Shepard said.
"Thank you, Spectre," the asari said making her way back down the corridor.
Shepard lifted her assault rifle and made her way towards the action. She fought her way to Miranda's side, shooting mercs as she went. More than one officer glanced her way in surprise before focusing back on the people who were shooting at them. Once at Miranda's side, Shepard grabbed a hold of the biotic and pulled her back into cover. Miranda glared at Shepard as Shepard opened her omni-tool and applied medi-gel to her own and Miranda's wounds.
With Miranda regaining her strength and Shepard back in the fight, the tables quickly turned. Mercs began piling up on the docs as they were pushed further and further back. Finally, they did the smart thing and began retreating to the shuttles. When the last merc alive was in the last shuttle, the doors closed and the shuttle took off.
Shepard moved through the terminal checking fallen civilians for signs of life. She reached Niket's body and shook her head. Miranda walked up behind her and the two women stood looking down at Niket in silence.
"I'm sorry, Miranda," Shepard said.
"I'm not. Maybe I should be, but I'm not. I get it, Shepard. I get what he was trying to do but he made the wrong choice and now all of these people are dead because of it," Miranda said looking around the terminal. "Oriana's father is dead because of Niket's choices."
"Your sister is safe now, why don't you go see her?" Shepard said.
"I'm not sure that's wise, Shepard," Miranda said.
"Well, she knows you're her sister and she's waiting for an explanation. Best it comes from you," Shepard said.
"You told her?!" Miranda screeched.
"I didn't mean to, but yeah it slipped while I was on the comm with Garrus," Shepard said.
"God, what do I even say to her?" Miranda asked.
Shepard shrugged and said, "Tell her that you're her sister and that you love her. The other details aren't so important."
"The other details aren't important? Being a genetically engineered human, grown from the same DNA as her sister and then kidnapped when she was a child by that same sister isn't important? Having a crazy biological father hell bent on getting her back so that she can be his legacy isn't important?" Jane asked.
"Yeah… you're right. Where is she?" Miranda asked.
"She's with her mother and the police back through the corridor," Shepard said.
Miranda turned to look at the corridor. She glanced back at Shepard and gave her a soft smile before walking away. Shepard glanced up to see Garrus headed her way, his sniper rifle slung across his shoulder. He stopped and looked down at a merc that had started to move. Garrus put his foot on the merc's throat and twisted his leg sharply to the side snapping the merc's neck. Shepard flinched before Garrus turned his attention back to her and continued his stride. She moved to meet him.
"The detective would like to take your statement," Garrus said nodding back towards the cluster of Illium Police.
"Fantastic," Shepard said making her way over.
"Shepard?" the asari said when Shepard approached.
"Yeah," Shepard said.
"My officers say that you identified yourself as Council Spectre Commander Shepard, is that correct?" she asked.
"Yes ma'am," Shepard said.
"Oh sorry, I'm Detective Trisa. If you wouldn't mind, Spectre, I'd like to take your statement on what happened here today," Trisa said.
"If you use Oriana or Miranda's names, that will leave a paper trail for Henry Lawson to follow," Jane said.
Shepard rubbed at the back of her neck and said, "Sure. I'll need some names stricken from your official report, however."
"Of course, Spectre," Trisa said.
"I was down that corridor when I heard the sounds of gunfire. I made my way to this terminal where I found the Eclipse holding two people hostage. One of them is now dead over there on the floor," Shepard said pointing towards Niket. "There were dead civilians already. One of my crew who was present when this began was engaging the mercs, attempting to rescue the young woman from the Eclipse' attempted kidnapping."
"How do you know they were attempting to kidnap the young woman?" Trisa asked.
"She is the biological daughter of an influential man. She was adopted at a young age by her new family and is now legally an adult. The woman on my crew is her biological sister. She got word that their biological father had learned of her sister's location and was sending in the Eclipse to bring her back to him. We came here today to provide escort for the young woman and her adoptive family to a safe location," Shepard said.
"Why was she adopted out?" Trisa asked.
Shepard raised an eyebrow not seeing how the question was really relevant at the moment.
"I don't think she believes you," Jane said.
"I'm just trying to understand why this 'influential man' was going to so much trouble to abduct the woman," Trisa said.
"I'm sorry, Detective, but that would be a matter for the family to discuss if they choose," Shepard said.
"Of course, please continue," Trisa said.
"So, anyway, Garrus was already on the catwalks," Shepard said and Garrus raised his hand. "Scouting the area back that way for any sign of the Eclipse. So when the gunfire started he moved to this terminal on the catwalks. One of them had the young woman and was attempting to escape with her. Garrus informed me that he had a shot and I ordered him to take it. He shot the merc and young woman moved to her mother and wounded father. And then all hell broke loose. You guys showed up just about the same time as the Eclipse reinforcements."
"And you're Garrus?" Trisa asked.
"Garrus Vakarian, former C-Sec. You can use my name in your reports," Garrus said with a nod.
"Former?" Trisa asked.
"I left C-Sec to join Shepard during the whole Saren fiasco a couple of years ago," Garrus said.
"Saren… shit. You're that Commander Shepard. I thought you were dead!" Trisa said looking back at Shepard.
Garrus chuckled. Shepard glared at him but it only made him laugh harder.
"Yes, Detective. I'm that Commander Shepard. It's complicated, I was reported dead when they couldn't find me after the Normandy went down. I was recovered, however, by a private organization that spent two years and far more credits than I want to think about putting me back together again," Shepard said.
"And by 'private organization' you mean 'Cerberus'. Why bother to hide it, all she has to do is check out what ship you're on and she'll know," Jane said.
"Wow. OK, well, you know what, I think that I have everything that I need here," Trisa said.
"You do?" Shepard asked, her eyebrow twitching.
"Yes, I mean obviously the Eclipse were responsible for today's events. Their reasons are irrelevant. My officers tell me that not only did your team help to rescues civilians but aided them in dealing with the mercenary forces. I don't really see a need to tear this one apart," Trisa said.
"I see. Thank you, Detective," Shepard said.
"Not a problem," Trisa said.
Shepard and Garrus left the detective in search of Miranda. They found her sitting on a bench in the next terminal with Oriana. Oriana's mother was a few feet away talking to one of the officers. Shepard leaned against the wall next to Garrus while they waited, giving Miranda and Oriana space to talk privately.
"The girl is alive," Garrus said.
"And other innocent people are dead," Shepard said.
"Could have gone a lot worse," Garrus said.
"Could have gone a lot better," Shepard said.
"Hmmm," said Garrus.
"Why were you toying with that merc?" Shepard asked.
"Leave it alone, Dawn," Jane warned.
Garrus turned his head to look at Shepard so she met his gaze. That ice had seeped back in around the edges of his eyes. She hadn't seen that so much since they started to repair their relationship. She thought things were getting better for him.
"Because he asked me to when he decided to be a moron and made a run for the girl," Garrus said.
Shepard looked away from Garrus' cold eyes and focused on the two women sitting on the bench. She could feel Garrus still watching her, waiting for her to challenge his rationale. She kept silent. Garrus pushed away from the wall and started walking towards the skycar.
"I told you, Shepard. I'm not the same turian you fell in love with," Garrus said turning around to walk backwards while he spoke.
Detective Trisa walked past Shepard and went to the officer talking to Oriana's mother. She pulled the officer aside and a moment later the officer looked over towards Shepard. Shepard watched as her expression shifted to doubt and then shock before she turned back to the detective. Shepard pinched the bridge of her nose. Trisa walked back over to Oriana's mother and the officer walked away, back towards the corridor. Shepard watched as Oriana's mother shook the detectives hand and nodded her head fervently before going to stand by her daughter. Miranda smiled and stood up, shaking the woman's hand before bending to give her sister a hug.
Shepard pushed away from the wall and walked over to Miranda. Oriana stood up when she saw Shepard coming towards them. Miranda turned to see what Oriana was looking at and Shepard saw tears in her eyes.
"Commander Shepard, I didn't get the chance to say it back there but thank you," Oriana said holding her hand out to Shepard.
Shepard shook her hand and said, "I'm glad I was able to help. And uh, I'm sorry about your father."
Oriana nodded and said, "I don't think it's really registered with me yet that he's actually gone. With everything else happening… I think it's going to catch up with me later, though."
Oriana looked at her mother who had taken a seat on the bench and was crying quietly into a handkerchief.
"We should get going, the detective said that one of the officers is waiting to take us to a safe location. Miranda, I… thank you, for helping us today and for telling me the truth. I hope that you'll keep in touch with me, I'd really like to get to know you," Oriana said.
"Of course, and if you need anything you'll let me know?" Miranda asked.
"I will, I promise," Oriana said.
Oriana wrapped her arm around her mother's shoulder and whispered quietly. The older woman nodded her head and allowed her daughter to lead her away to the police skycar that was waiting for them.
"Lanteia was taken to the hospital. We can take her skycar back, she won't mind. Where's Garrus?" Miranda asked.
Shepard nodded towards Garrus who was leaning against Lanteia's skycar with his arms crossed, looking out over the docks. Miranda gave Shepard an inquisitive look and Shepard shook her head. They made their way to the skycar and Miranda opened the passenger side door, climbing into the back seat she closed the door behind her.
Garrus turned his head to watch Shepard when she stopped in front of him. His eyes had softened a little and Shepard thought she saw a question waiting to be asked in them. He didn't ask her anything, though. He didn't speak at all. Shepard took three more steps forward and leaned against Garrus, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her forehead into his. Garrus closed his eyes and pulled Shepard closer.