2185
Illium
Liara resisted the urge to stand up and pace as she waited for Careena to call back. She wished she had access to the Nos Astra security feeds, but since becoming an information broker she'd learned there were some lines that it was better not to cross. Her information said that Shepard was alive, but she wouldn't really believe it until she saw Shepard's face herself.
Her console beeped. She put it on speaker so that the Doctor could hear.
"Careena. Thank you for returning my call."
It was part of the game she played with the asari administration of Illium, pretending that they were doing favors for each other, instead of trafficking in Illium's official currency.
"Liara," the concierge said. "Commander Shepard was accompanied by a turian and a quarian. The turian was carrying a sniper rifle, and the right side of his face was scarred."
"Garrus and Tali," Liara said, letting out a long breath. "Thank you, Careena. That will be all."
"I seem to recognize those names," the Doctor said.
"They were with us on the first Normandy," Liara said with a nod. "Which means they can be trusted, and Shepard can trust them. The quarians have no love for Cerberus right now, and Garrus … isn't particularly fond of organizations in general."
The Doctor rubbed his forehead. "I seem to recall that turians are a rather hierarchical and regimented species."
"Garrus claims he isn't a very good turian," Liara replied.
The Doctor's mouth quirked in a smile. "I've been accused of being a bad Time Lord. I think I may like this Garrus."
"It's quite the uneven exchange we had," Liara said. "You learned a lot from me, but I only got a little from you."
"Well. That's probably for the best, Liara." He wasn't going to say anything more than that, she knew. She wondered if she'd continue to get these little flashes of insight from his behavior - and if he was receiving the same sort of insights from her.
Liara tapped another button. "Nyxeris. As soon as Commander Shepard arrives, send her in."
"Yes, Liara."
"You don't think she'll come straight here to see her old friend?" the Doctor asked.
"It's Shepard. Things tend to happen to her on the way to other things."
The door to Liara's office opened, and a human in armor walked in, flanked by a bird-like alien and a person in a suit.
A moment later, the Doctor's brain caught up with the new information Liara had given him. Andrea Shepard, Council Spectre walked in, flanked by Garrus Vakarian, former C-Sec officer and Tali'Zorah nar Rayya vas Neema, quarian engineer.
"Shepard! Nyxeris, hold my calls," Liara said, rising from behind her desk and walking over to embrace the human.
The Doctor took a minute to study Shepard and her … companions. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to view them with an unbiased eye, but it was worth trying.
It was easy to tell that Shepard had been through a lot. She carried herself like a woman who expected a fight any moment and was willing to meet the challenge straight on. His gaze passed to Tali'Zorah and he reluctantly acknowledged he wouldn't get anything there - there were no facial expressions to read. Body language wouldn't be enough, and he wasn't sure how much emotion he'd get from her voice.
Garrus Vakarian, however, was easy to pin down. Even in a room where they had been greeted enthusiastically by an old friend, he was looking around for possible signs of trouble, going back and forth between the surroundings and Shepard. The scarring that Careena had mentioned looked fairly recent. His mandibles flared out when he saw the TARDIS, and he walked over to inspect it. The Doctor tensed, watching, but Garrus simply walked around it, then returned to Shepard's side. It seemed as though he had written it off as an odd office decoration. It spoke volumes about what the turian had seen since joining Shepard two years ago.
"My sources said you were alive, but I never believed … It's very good to see you," Liara said, letting go of Shepard.
"You have sources now?" Shepard asked, sounding amused.
"A few. Sources, contacts, even a little hired muscle. I've been working as an information broker."
"Is this one of your contacts?" Garrus asked, gesturing to the Doctor. His voice was slightly rumbled and echoed, an interesting mix that the Doctor hadn't heard often.
Liara turned to look at Garrus. "He's a … colleague. This is-"
"Doctor John Smith," the Doctor said, putting on his brightest smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you all. Liara's told me so much about you."
Shepard exchanged a quick glance with the other two, clearly skeptical of the stranger, but willing to accept him for now.
"Being an information broker has paid the bills since you … well, for the past two years," Liara said. "And now you're back, gunning for the Collectors with Cerberus." She took a seat behind her desk, and Shepard took the seat in front of it.
"If you know that, then you know that I could use your help," Shepard said.
"I can't, Shepard," Liara said firmly. "I'm sorry, I have commitments here. Things I need to take care of." She looked over at the Doctor. "But my colleague might be able to come with you."
"What's his area of expertise?" Shepard asked, turning her gaze on the Doctor, assessing him. "Is he a biotic? Hacker?" She looked as though she wanted to add something like clearly not a soldier.
"I'm clever," the Doctor replied. "I don't possess biotic skills like Liara does, but I can solve any problem, and I've been known to hack a computer or two."
"I'm not going to turn away help," Shepard said, "but you should realize that the stakes are very high. There's a chance none of us are coming back from this. You'll have to be able to hold your own in a fight."
"That's not really where he could help you," Liara said.
Shepard shrugged. "Well, if you vouch for him, that's good enough," she said. "I'd trust your word before the Illusive Man's."
"Not a bad thing to have more non-Cerberus folk on board," Garrus agreed.
"We can discuss it later," Shepard said, nodding to the Doctor before turning back to Liara. "You said you had things to take care of. What kind of things? Are you in trouble?"
"No, no trouble," Liara said. "But it's been a long two years. I had things to do while you were gone. I have debts to repay." She paused. "Listen, if you want to help, I need someone with hacking expertise, someone I can trust. If you could disable security at key points around Ilium, you could get me information I need. That would help me a great deal."
"What's this all about, Liara? Can't you just talk to me?" Shepard asked.
"Don't you think I want to, Shepard?" Liara asked. "This isn't because I don't trust you. This is Illium. Anything I say is probably being recorded."
"Hacking a terminal is pretty easy. Why do you need me?" Shepard asked.
"Couldn't your … colleague do it?" Tali asked.
"He'd be spotted," Liara said. "Discovered too easily. You … know how to hide. Be cautious. And, as I said, I trust you."
Shepard smirked at that. "Funny. People usually think that when I show up, it means they should start running because something's about to explode."
"Hacking the security node won't get you the data. It just creates a minor glitch in the system," Liara continued. "You'll have a short time to find a local server left vulnerable by that glitch and upload the data to my system. I'm leaving my own system vulnerable so that the data can be imported during that short time."
"If it will help you, I'll take care of it," Shepard said.
Liara nodded. "Thank you, Shepard. This may help me pay a great debt."
"On another subject, there's an asari named Samara here on Illium," Shepard said. "Do you know where I could find her?"
"Samara … Yes. She arrived recently and registered with Tracking Officer Dara," Liara replied. "You can find Dara at the transportation hub."
"Why would Samara have to register with a tracking official? Is she a criminal?" Shepard asked.
"No, in fact she's quite the opposite," Liara said. "Samara is a justicar, one of an ancient sect of asari warriors. Dara can tell you more."
Shepard nodded. "I'm also looking for Thane Krios. He's supposed to be here on Illium."
"The assassin," Liara said, nodding. "Yes. He arrived here a few days ago. My sources tell me he may be targeting a corporate executive, Nassana Dantius. He contacted a woman named Seryna. Seryna has an office in the cargo transfer levels. Perhaps she can tell you where Krios is."
"That was all just off the top of your head?"
"I'm a very good information broker, Shepard," Liara replied, smiling proudly. "The world of intrigue isn't that different from a dig site. Except that the dead bodies still smell."
"Hah! I wish more archaeologists were like you," the Doctor said.
"Thanks for the help," Shepard replied, rising from her chair.
"Of course. May I ask what you plan to do first? It sounds like you've got much to accomplish on Illium," Liara said.
Shepard looked over at Garrus and Tali. "Well, I think we can take care of your little hacking request first. After that, I think I'll try and find Samara."
"Come back to my office when you're done with the hacking," Liara said.
Shepard nodded. "Of course. Shouldn't take too long. I'll talk to you later, Liara."
When they had left, the Doctor took the seat that Shepard had vacated. "You have a plan," he said, making it a statement and not a question.
"You heard Shepard. She'll take all the help she can get," Liara said. "It's clear to me that you're actually the tougher customer. You need to see that it's worthwhile working with Shepard. I'm going to ask her to let you come when she goes to find Samara."
"One of your people," the Doctor said. "A … justicar. Is that some sort of space police? No, wait, let me see if I can get it." He shut his eyes and concentrated. "Justicars … give up everything and live by the Code. The Justicar Code. They use to Code to determine what's right and what's wrong, and act on that. And… that means she's justified in killing anyone who doesn't follow the Code. Oh. Bit harsh, isn't that?"
"Many would agree with you," Liara said.
"So why do you want me to go with Shepard for that?"
"Because I think - I hope - that it will give you a chance to see Shepard operate without necessarily having to shoot first," Liara said. "Based on what I have heard about Samara's reasons for being here." She hesitated. "You're really… nine hundred years old?"
"Nine hundred and sixty," the Doctor said. "Give or take fifty years."
"Samara is approximately that age."
"Ahh," the Doctor said, looking thoughtful.
"I said that I only got a little from you, compared to what you got from me," Liara said, rising to walk around the desk again. "I think it would be … helpful … for you to speak to someone who has had as long a life as you. I am only one hundred and eight, after all."
"I'm starting to think you got more from me than you're letting on, Liara T'Soni," the Doctor said. "I'm not sure whether I like it or not."