Hi everyone!
New chapter here and a little longer than what I normally do. I got a little stuck writing this one but I think it came out okay in the end. I have put in POV markers like some of you requested! Hope it will make it easier for you! =D
Thank you all for your support and reviews! It really helps me out a lot! And especially when I get stuck!
Those that wonders about my grandparents, they're back in the hospital again unfortunately, but at least they're getting the help they need to get better and all I can do is hope for the best.
But now I will let you read!
Escape the Fate
Chapter 14: Try to Make an Effort to Try
Quinn's POV
Rocks was falling on top of their heads, yet all Quinn could focus on at the moment was the intense pressure against her chest which was preventing her from breathing properly. The dust that fell wasn't helping either and only small, quick and shallow breaths, were the lungs able to drag in which left her quite disoriented and growing dizzy. For the first time in years she hung tightly to her brother, who her life depended on.
There were a few times she felt like she was about to black out. However the adrenaline kicked back in and she was suddenly very aware of what was going on around her. This time John had just entered the tunnel leading them to the outside world and was dragging the two of them through it. Behind them the entrance to the ruins was quickly caving in and with just a few more steps the access to the ruins was completely gone. Wind of dust blew past them, almost knocking them off of their feet and if wasn't for John then Quinn would be lying flat on her face right now.
It was then realization hit and Quinn knew they wouldn't make it out of the tunnel before it was completely destroyed. Even if John left her there and ran in with a full sprint, not even he would be able to get out. The roof of the tunnel was cracking and long veins spread along its tall interior.
Turning a quick eye at John, he too knew there was no way they would make it out in time and for a brief moment, he hesitated and the phase slowed down like he was accepting their inevitable demise. But there was no way Quinn would accept defeat and death so easily. With as a deep breath she could possible master with a metal plate crushing down on her lungs, she ignored the protesting pain and let the blue glow of her biotic spread throughout her. Instead of clinging to John, she took a firm hold on to his armor and her brother didn't have time to react before she released the charge.
She had never charged while carrying anyone before and it indeed slowed her down. But not only that, the distance they had to cross was further than she had ever charged through before in one go. A hundred feet was already pushing the limit of her abilities but this pipe was about a hundred and thirty feet. Even if she could breathe normally it would still be a huge challenge, one she wasn't sure she could master. She vowed that if they made it out alive, then she would try to make an effort in trying to not always give John a hard time every chance she got.
In a flash they had crossed about eighty feet of the tunnel and she felt her energy declining. Dark spots had filled her vision and the lack of breath was getting to her. But she be damned if she let herself be crushed by some rocks. She was Quinn Shepard, pirate warlord, ruthless and cunning and she was not going to be killed without a fight. Channeling her ruthless determination, the energy grew and shot them through the rest of the tunnel and threw then out into the open air. Flying for a brief moment before they both fell flat down onto the ramp, nearly falling on top of the asari archaeologist who had stopped to catch her breath.
...
There were sounds around her. It was like she was under water and couldn't distinguish one sound from another. It was only when Quinn heard a rapid thumping sound that broke the surface and the sounds around her became clearer and she knew that thumping was her own heart beating. A wheezing noise followed as she tried to breathe, except it was harder now and along with the pressure, her throat also felt dry and dusty. Her brain was telling her not to breath in the sandy air but her lungs screamed for it. Her vision was dark and she felt numb, disoriented. Her other senses was trying to kick in and one after another was letting her know she wasn't dead.
Slowly she became aware of screaming and shouting over her head and an alarming male voice she recognized yelled; "More Geth on the inbound, Commander."
Recognizing the danger she was in while lying half-conscious, her eyes shot open and was met with a dust cloud evaporating and a dark gray sky. Though the panic she felt was keeping her mind alerted and somewhat clear, her body had run out of energy and pushing herself off of the ramp floor was impossible. But her mind did not stay on the danger for long as it quickly averted its' attention to a more urgent self-preservation matter; her breathing.
Lying on her back, her hands shot to the chest plate and in desperation tried to find the hatchs to remove it from the rest of the armor. But for some reason she just couldn't locate them. Desperation was quickly growing into panic as the small breaths she was able to take did nothing to give her body the oxygen it needed. She needed help and was moving her eyes around to locate anything or anyone who could help. It was only when her eyes landed on a face above her, did she notice that John had been sitting there the whole time. Though his face turned away and looking at something in the distance, he did not see the panic she was in.
It was then the Normandy few into her line of vision and slowly prepared to land.
John turned his face down to her and their eyes met. There was no way he could miss the distress she was in and though she tried to beg for his help, no sound came out of her mouth. He was looking at her with sympathetic eyes and for a second she wondered why he didn't do anything to help her. Was he really going to let her slowly suffocate to death?
Suddenly he grabbed a hold of her arm and pushed her up into a sitting position before putting it behind his neck, all the while as he said; "Kaidan! Help me take her."
"Of course!" There was no hesitation or delay. Kaidan quickly got up to her right side and took a similar hold.
No sooner than Kaidan had grabbed her arm, did John continue to bark out orders; "You two, run to the ship as fast as you can!"
Quinn guessed he was talking to the two other women, who she had no idea where they were as she had apparently blacked out again for a second or two. When her eyes opened again the quarian was off in a sprint towards the ship all the while the asari was hesitating.
"But the Geth..?"
"Just go!" John spoke with more force in his tone to the asari. A tone Quinn knew very well by now as he frequently used it to order her around. But unlike Quinn, the asari listened and it looked more like she ran from John than the Geth. "Ready?" John spoke, a bit closer to her ear but it was not to her whom he had spoken to.
"Yeah," Kaidan replied and the two of them brought her up on her feet and her chest shifted some and she was able to breathe in completely.
The lungs screamed in relief and the air got to her brain, clearing away the dark which was threatening to take a hold of her once again. Her body savored the air for as long as it could before it inevitable had to exhale it. Back on her feet again it was back to the small amount of air again and she began coughing out the dust that had entered her throat earlier. Though her arms was trapped in firm holds, it didn't stop her frightful mind to try to remove the obstacle keeping her from living. She struggled against the hold of her arms, even though she knew they had to get to the ship before they got shot in the back by the Geth. All her self-control was gone as her mind was in stress and survival mode.
The two almost dropped her a couple of time as they dragged her towards the ship. All of her focus was on breathing and nothing but breathing, so her legs was just dragged along, but the two kept a firm grip. During the run to the ship, she got in and out of consciousness a few times. Shooting was going on over her head and at some point she felt the vibration of her kinetic field reflect some shots. How long they ran, she couldn't say. The distance felt like forever but she did notice when they first stepped on the ship. The sound underneath the two men's feet was different and there was an echo inside.
"Joker, we're on the ship. Go. Go!" John called out as soon as they were on the ship.
"Roger that, Commander."
The engine powered up, the door to the cargo hold was closing and soon all the gunfire had died down. All that was left was people panicking and her heart beating loudly in her chest. Or maybe it was just her who was panicking?
She was about to lose consciousness again, when she was carefully lowered to the floor. For a brief moment, she was able to breathe in a deeper breath again, but was quickly deprived of that small relief and back as before to gasping as soon as she was on her back. Quinn's eyes shot open with a little energy recovered from that one small breath and her hands went for the chest plate once again. But she was quickly joined by another pair of hands who too seemed to find what her own was looking for. But her brain couldn't comprehend that they were actually trying to help and instead her hands began to fight them off.
"Lay still," Kaidan spoke above her and apparently it was his hands she was fighting off.
It was easier said than done. Although she had heard him and her brain knew she should listen, her body was to frantic to comply. It knew there was a way for it to get more air into the body and apparently her body had begun to twist and turn to find that small pose which would provide access to it.
"Chakwas!" John then called out. "I need you in the cargo hold, pronto!"
Quinn's eyes was open and she could see the people around her beginning to panic as well, but not for the reason she had thought. They were not panicking because of her distress, no, for some reason they had trouble standing and things in the cargo hold was thrown to the walls. Confusion came into the mix in her distressed mind and as her panic grew, she realized why everyone was acting so strange.
Her biotic had gone berserk and was flaring out the energy freely throughout the hold. Heavy crates was thrown almost like they weight nothing. Even the Mako, which apparently had been picked up was showing signs of lifting some off of the floor. The pulsing wave of her flare was intensifying as her distress grew and her body fighting to get some air.
"Grab a hold of her!" Someone yelled.
Suddenly another pair of hands joined in the struggle and tried to grab a hold of any limb they could get. As they fought to get her still, they also had to fight the biotic flares which intensified by each and every pulse. She was trashing around where John and Kaidan had dropped her. She knew the two of them were still trying to get a hold of her, but who the third pair of hands belonged to, she had no idea. The three of them managed to say close and not be thrown across the cargo hold like some of the other things in the hold had been.
The amount of power her body was producing was something she had never felt before. It was overwhelming, euphoric even and if she wasn't panicking and feared for her life, then she would have relished in it. The last time she had felt something similar, it wasn't as over-powering, but still strong and much more enjoyable. Killing those child-molesting-rapist-drug-addict-son-of-a-bitches who were her foster parents had been her first murder. They had been crushed to death by her biotic powers and it was then she realized how powerful she could be. Fourteen years of age and she already knew then that those with the most power would be the ones who was feared.
But as powerful as she was, it was not saving her at the moment. It wasn't until at least four pair of hands was in the run that they managed to pin her down. The last pair being bigger and stronger was almost enough to keep her from moving. Though she could see the faces above her, her mind didn't register who they were. Only the colors of blue, brown and black. With her hands now out of the way, someone managed to release one of the hatches to her armor plate and with that single action, some of the pressure was reduce from her chest. Soon the other one was also opened and the chest plate completely removed, almost thrown off.
Immediately she gasped for air and it flowed into her lungs with full force, expanding the chest fully and ignoring the aching pain that came with it. But it only lasted until she needed to exhale and a couching fit erupted. She had been too greedy with the air and that had been the result of it. However she was soon breathing relatively normal again.
The people around her relaxed and the hands on her was removed. That was all her mind could comprehend for the moment that had to do with anyone other than herself. At the moment all she could do was lie there in her darkness and just breathe. Each breath filled the lungs as deep as it could go and she was listening to her heart slowing down to a normal beat. Though the pressure was removed from her chest, some of it lingered and pain was still there, but not as bad as when the plate had been there.
People was talking and moving around her. She felt the presence of someone or some ones near her. They may even have asked her a question but she wasn't so sure. She drew her leg closer to her, bending it to show them she was still conscious. It was only when she heard footsteps getting closer, that she did open her eyes.
John and Kaidan was still in her line of vision, but the two men was looking away. Tilting her head down a little, she spotted Wrex and Garrus not far away, who was also not looking her way. Her own gaze shifted then to the metal roof of the cargo hold, confirming that they were indeed back on the Normandy. She had never thought she would be so pleased to be back on an Alliance ship after everything that had happened to her. She wasn't so sure that she disliked the feeling. She would always hate the Alliance for what they did to her, but being part of a team that was loyal and committed to each other... it was different. Maybe that wouldn't be so bad after all?
"Nothing appears to be broken," a female voice she recognized spoke suddenly. Quinn turned her head to the voice and found the grey haired doctor sitting on her knees by her side. Chakwas had her omni-tool up and was scanning her chest area. "But the rib cartilage and a few ribs appeared to be bruised," the doctor continued as she kept her eyes on the screen.
Not fully listening to what the doctor was saying, Quinn let her eyes wander around the hold. John was sitting on her other side, while Kaidan had disappeared somewhere, but soon found him along with Tali over by the lockers to store their weapons and their armor. The rest of the people in the hold was picking up things from the floor and restoring everything back to where they had been before her berserk. Some of them shot her looks from time to time. Some with anger, maybe even fear? While others had a sympathetic look in their eyes. She found herself not liking either of them.
"She'll need to rest and take it easy for a few days. I'll give her something for the pain back in the Med-Bay. Can you sit up?" Chakwas asked just as Quinn decided she needed to get out of everyone's bothersome stares and was pushing herself off of the floor and stood up.
"Let me take your weapons," John said and grabbed a hold of her shotgun before she could answer him. Her biotic flared up as a reflex and she abruptly grabbed a hold on John's throat with a murderous look in her eyes. It took her a second to realize what she was doing and she released the grip she had. John, who had been taken by surprise, kept calm and raised his hands up in the air as he said; "Woah, easy there, sis. I'm just going to store them in your locker for you."
Quinn let her eyes linger on her brother for a moment more, searching his eyes for any ill intentions or deception. She was tired and had not much energy to fight him if he was indeed going to remove her weapons from her again. But he seemed to be sincere.
"Yeah..." She removed her weapons and offered them to him. "Thanks..."
John took the weapons from her and walked over to the lockers. Her eyes lingered on his back a little longer to make sure they indeed went into the lockers before she turned around to the doctor who seemed to be waiting for her.
"Shall we go to the med-bay?" the doctor asked kindly.
"Yeah..."
About two hours later, John had requested that the aliens, Ashley and Kaidan should have a meeting in the com-room for a debrief. After Quinn had gotten her pain killers, she had remained in the med-bay up to the time for the meeting. During those two hours they had tidied up the cargo hold, John, Kaidan, Tali and Liara had been to the med-bay for a quick check-up and anyone else who had been in the cargo hold who needed a patch up or a bruise check. The other ground team had had no major injuries. A few cuts, bruises, bumps and some minor burns at most. Though Tali, with her poor immune system had gotten some antibiotic, was the one who had gotten out of the ruins with the least damage, if any at all. But the doctor wouldn't want to take any risks with the quarian's health.
Though Quinn had been excused from the meeting and had been ordered to rest by the good doctor and Commander, she still insisted on being there. No sooner than they had stepped into the com-room, did Joker's voice go through the intercom.
"That was too close, Commander. Ten more seconds and we would've been swimming in molted sulphur." His tone grew lighter as sarcasm took a hold. "The Normandy isn't equipped to land in exploding volcanoes. They tend to fry our sensors and melt our hull." He turned informative. "Just for future reference."
They all took a seat, except John who stood closest to the screens on the wall, straight opposite to the door, where Quinn had taken a seat. Ashley was quick to take the seat closest to John and Quinn couldn't help but notice the soldier's admiring eyes on her brother. It was like watching a school girl crushing on the new young teacher. It was repulsing to see and Quinn was tempted to fake a choke.
"We almost died out there and your pilot is making jokes?" The asari responded to Joker's non-ill intended sarcasm and looked at John with an offended expression. It was clear she did not know human sarcasm.
John turned to her, his arms already crossed over his chest and he responded with a straightforward tone; "Joker pulled our asses out of there. I think he's earned the right to a few bad jokes."
Quite puzzled by that answer, Liara leaned back into her seat with her face looking down as she tried to comprehend what he had said. "I see. It must be a human thing," she said then, but it sounded like she said it more to herself. "I don't have a lot of experience dealing with your species, Commander." She looked back up at John. "But I am grateful to you. You saved my life back there. And not just from the volcano. Those Geth would have killed me. Or dragged me off to Saren."
Though the woman claimed she wasn't loyal to her mother or Saren, Quinn still didn't trust her. To turn away from your own family wasn't something you did easily. Although Quinn wasn't very knowledgeable on asari culture, she knew enough to know that family was important. The mother must have done something grave to her to have her own daughter accepting her capture. Until she was certain that was the case, Quinn would keep an eye on the asari.
"What did Saren want with you?" Kaidan asked, curiosity was evident in his voice. "Do you know something about the Conduit?"
Everyone turned their eyes to the asari. Even Wrex who had seemed to be just as uninterested as Quinn, wanted to know the answer to the question.
Feeling everyone's attention on her, the asari cringed back a little nervously before getting her courage back. "Only that it was somehow connected to the Prothean extinction," she answered. "That is my real area of expertise. I have spent the past fifty years trying to figure out what happened to them."
Puzzled by that, John asked a really irrelevant question when it came to this discussion; "How old are you, exactly?"
"I hate to admit it, but I am only a hundred and six," the asari answered, just like any woman would when asked about their age. Though for her it wasn't because she was old, no she was ashamed of being too young.
Finally understanding what had bothered Quinn so much about this asari, she said with a scoff; "That explains a lot."
This asari wasn't a woman, though she looked the part, no she was a child, a teenager at most. The girl was naive and therefore stupid. She still saw the galaxy with eyes of an innocent kid which was something that bugged the pirate. Though she had dealt with many young asari before, they were always the ones who felt like they had to prove themselves and therefore had been the first to get killed.
"Damn!" Ashley exclaimed with much delight the same time Quinn had spoken. "I hope I look that good when I'm your age."
"A century may seem like a long time to a short-lived species like yours," Liara said to Ashley, completely ignoring Quinn's remark. "But among asari, I am barely considered more than a child. That is why my research has not received the attention it deserves. Because of my youth, other asari scholars tend to dismiss my theories on what happened to the Protheans."
"I've got my own theory about why the Protheans disappeared," John said.
Rolling her eyes, Quinn leaned back into her chair, a leg bent up on the seat and an arm resting on her knee and she just listened half heartily to what was being said. She did not care what had happened to the Protheans nor the Reapers. Well, the last one was a lie. She did care about the Reapers and their inevitable return to wipe out all life, but she couldn't care less of their history and the theories surrounding them.
"With all due respect, Commander, I have heard every theory out there," Liara said and was careful to choose her words to not offend, but that she was talking down to John was evident. So typical asari behavior. "The problem is finding evidence to support them. The Protheans left remarkably little behind. It is almost as if someone did not want the mystery solved. It's like someone came along after the Protheans were gone and cleansed the galaxy of clues. But here is the incredible part. According to my findings, the Protheans were not the first galactic civilization to mysteriously vanish. This cycle began long before them."
"Where'd you come up with this theory?" John asked and kept this pointless discussion going which was quickly growing on Quinn's nerves. She was tired and though having taken painkillers, her chest was still aching by each and every breath. "I though there wasn't any evidence?"
"I have been working on this for fifty years. I have tracked down every scrap and shred of evidence. Eventually, subtle patterns start to emerge. Patterns that hint at the truth. It is difficult to someone else. I cannot point to one specific thing to prove my case. It is more a feeling derived from a half-century of dedicated research. But I know I'm right. And eventually, I will be able to prove it. There were other civilizations before the Protheans. This cycle has repeated itself many times over."
The interest in this conversation was equal to zero, the same as in the point of it all. And by previous experience when it came to this asari, when her mouth begun to gap, there would be no end to it. At first she thought that maybe it was just a stress thing, but the asari has no such excuse at the moment and still her mouth kept going. And what was even worse, John let it go on with his pointless questions.
Finally having enough, Quinn snapped and stomped her resting foot on the floor as she roared out; "Get to the damn point."
Only half of the people in the room jumped and was startled by her outburst, while the rest just looked at her calmly. But Quinn had her intimidating eyes on the asari, daring her to speak another word of gibberish. In the corner of her eyes, she was both Wrex and Garrus, who the asari was sitting in between, turn to her to see how she would react. Wrex had a slight amused smile, while Garrus kept his expression neutral.
The asari turned towards John, her expression worried and seeking help.
"You'll learn to ignore her," her brother said and her eyes shifted to him, who was looking at her sternly. An expression she scoffed at and leaned back into her chair with her foot back up on it. Her brother turned his attention back to the asari, his expression softer. "Please, continue."
But the asari seemed a bit uncertain to continued. She had understood that it was John who was in charge but also that he didn't or rather couldn't control everyone on board. After what had happened in the cargo hold, Liara had been weary around the pirate.
"Th-the galaxy is built on a cy-cycle of extinction," Liara stammered as she continued. "Ea-Each time a great civilization rises up, it is suddenly and violently cast down. Only ruins survive." But as she continued to talk about the Protheans, she quickly forgot her uneasiness and went deeper into her explanation. "The Protheans rose up from a single world until their empire spanned the galaxy- Yet even they climbed to the top on the remains of those who came before. Their greatest achievements - the mass relays and the Citadel - are based on the technology of those who came before. And then, like all the other forgotten civilizations throughout the galactic history, the Protheans disappeared. I have dedicated my life to figuring out why."
"Then you're not much of an expert, are you?" Quinn said rather nonchalantly, but with the intension of offending her. The asari met her eyes and it was clear she got to her, but then the girl's eyes grew puzzled. "The answer's been standing right in front of you the whole time. The Reapers."
"The- The Reapers?" The shock was evident on the young asari's face. "But I have never heard of- How do you know this? What evidence do you have?" Her tone grew serious and darker, if not somewhat accusing.
But it wasn't Quinn that would give her that explanation. The pirate liked that look on the asari doctor who had proudly dedicated her life to find out pointless things about a dead species and how the galaxy came to be only to have the answer being given to her by a species she though lesser than herself.
But of course that fun was cut short as John answered the question when Quin wouldn't. "There was a damaged Prothean beacon on Eden Prime," he answered and got Liara's attention instantaneously. "It burned an image into my brain and gave Quinn a vision of it."
"That's putting it mildly," Quinn said and rubbed the side of her temple by just remembering it.
"The thing is, we're still trying to sort out what it all means," John continued.
"Visions? Yes.. that makes sense," Liara said with a thoughtful look upon her. "The beacons were designed to transmit information directly into the mind of the user. Finding one that still works is extremely rare. No wonder the geth attacked Eden Prime." She turned her gaze over to John. "The chance to acquire a working beacon - even a badly damaged one - is worth almost any risk. But the beacons were only programmed to interact with Prothean physiology. Whatever information you received would have been confused, unclear." She turned to look at Quinn, her eyes filled with empathy. "I am amazed you were able to make sense of it at all. A lesser mind would have been utterly destroyed by the process. You must be remarkably strong-willed, Quinn."
The look she was given by the asari was enough to make her growl with disgust. If this girl thought she was that easily flattered, she was dead wrong.
"This isn't helping us find Saren. Or the Conduit," Ashley said and turned to look at John.
"Thank you! That's what I've been saying!" Quinn exclaimed while over dramatize it and turned to the soldier. "You're not as brainless as you give yourself out to be, Girly Scout."
"Oh you son of a-" Ashley was cut short by John who put an hand to her shoulder to keep her from jumping the pirate. She complied but wasn't happy with it.
"Of course. You are right. I am sorry," Liara said to the female soldier, probably trying to keep her calm. "My scientific curiosity got the better of me. Unfortunately, I do not have any information that could help you find the Conduit. Or Saren."
"Then what good are you for?" Quinn said, her tone gone venomous and turning her attention from the female soldier to the asari doctor. "What use are you?"
There was a threat in her tone which was evident to everyone in the room. She had nearly died because of this asari and that was something she didn't take lightly. And now to find out it had all been a waste of time wasn't helping this asari to keep herself from having her head crushed against the floor.
"Quinn, if you're not going to play nice, then you can leave," John spoke through his teeth, warning her from making a move.
She did not reply him and just leaned back into her seat, her eyes still lingering on the asari. Fine, she was going to play nice. For now.
John turned to the asari once again, but he kept a watchful eye on the pirate. "I don't know why Saren wanted you out of the picture. But I think we'll be a lot better off if we bring you along."
Without moving her head, Quinn turner her gaze towards John, who met hers for a brief moment before he turned back to the asari. Was he kidding? Why would he bring this naive child to the mix? What could she do? Did she even know how to hold a gun?
"Thanks you, Commander. Saren might come after me again. I cannot think of anywhere safer than here on your ship," Liara said with relief.
"Are you sure about that?" Wrex said and turned an eye to the pirate who was visually grinning her teeth with displeasure and her heated eyes firmly on the asari.
Feeling the stare on her, Liara continued a little bit more discourage; "And my knowledge of the Protheans might be useful later on."
"It better be," Quinn growled.
"And her biotics will come in handy when the fighting starts," Tali spoke, which earned her a dirty look from the pirate.
"Good to have you on the team, Liara," John said welcoming and kindly and walked up to the asari and shook her hand, a human gesture she actually knew about.
"Thank you, Commander. I am very greatf - whoa," she suddenly stumbled a little and if it wasn't for John to take a hold of her, she would've fallen to the floor.
"You okay?" He asked as he helped steadied her.
With her fingers rubbing her temple, Liara mumbled; "I am afraid I am feeling a bit light-headed."
"When was the last time you ate? Or slept?" Kaidan asked worried. "Dr. Chakwas should take another look at you."
Seeing all this unfold, Quinn couldn't care less what was wrong with the asari. Instead she found her finger nails much more interesting.
"It is probably just mental exhaustion, coupled with the shock of discovering the Protheans' true fate," Liara said, her tone sounding weaker than before. "I need some time to process all this. Still, it could not hurt to be examined by a medical professional. It will give me the chance to think things over. Are we finished here, Commander?"
"We can talk again after you've seen the doctor," John replied. "The rest of you... dismissed!"
Everyone began to clear out and as on cue Joker's voice broke through the inter-com. "Mission reports are filed, Commander. You want me to patch you through to the Council?"
"Patch them through, Joker."
"Setting up the link now, Commander."
John turned to the screens behind him, not noticing that Quinn had remained seated. She wasn't happy about the asari and she wasn't going to let it go that easily. But not only that, she wanted to know what was being spoken between her brother and the Council.
The holograms of the three Council members appeared and it almost looked like they were standing in front of John. Neither of them had noticed the uninvited spectator behind them and began their meeting.
"We've received your report, Commander," the asari Councilor Tevos spoke with the same calm and annoying know-it-all tone she always used. "I understand Dr. T'Soni is on the Normandy."
"I assume you're taking the necessary security precautions?" The turian Councilor Sparatus was quick to chip in which made Quinn slightly lessen her dislike for the turian.
With an easy and reassuring tone, John declared his naive stupidity as he said; "Liara's on our side. The geth were trying to kill her."
Quinn couldn't help but scoff loudly at that, which had every ones attention drawn to her. John turned around and by the look on his face, he wasn't surprised to found her there, only visually bothered and a sigh escaped him.
"The geth was trying to kill me too and I still wouldn't hesitate to kill anyone on this ship if I saw that necessary," Quinn said as she stood up and walked closer to John and the holograms of the Council. "Who says we can tryst her?"
"I do," John said firmly, hoping it would be enough to end this conversation.
Her hip had popped and her arms crossed underneath her breasts as she looked at her brother with a incredulous look. "Oh, so just because you say something then that automatically makes it so?"
"Well Benezia would never allow Saren to kill her daughter," Tevos said, somewhat proving her point.
"Maybe she doesn't know," the salarian Councilor Valern said, though his tone was cold.
Sparatus turned to his colleague and growled; "Or maybe we don't know her. We never expected she could become a traitor."
Quinn knew there was a reason why the turian race was at the top of her most-liked-galactic-species- list. They knew that people shouldn't be easily trusted just because they had a happy goody two-shoe facade and a flashing bright smile.
"At least the mission was a success," Valern said, like that would've been a silver lining in everything that had happened.
"Apart from the utter destruction of a major Prothean ruin," Sparatus voiced her thoughts with an extremely judgmental tone. He turned to John. "Was that really necessary, Shepard?"
"Yes. Was that really necessary, John?" She repeated with mockery as she turned to her brother, waiting for his reply.
With everything going on down on that planet, especially the ruins, Quinn was surprised that not more had been destroyed. To her, it had gone better than expected, despite the fact that she nearly had her chest crushed in. But of course the Council didn't see it that way and had ignored the parts in the report mentioning the geth force who were doing everything to kill them. The important part wasn't that they had gotten out of there alive, killed a few geth and saved the daughter of a traitor who may or may not be a traitor herself. No, all they saw was the destruction they had left in their wake. And Quinn wasn't fooled by that slimy salarian either, he felt the same as the turian Councilor, he just didn't voice it for some unknown reason.
"The geth were crawling all over those ruins," John defended.
After everything that went down on that planet, and especially the ruins, Quinn turned to her brother to see what his response to that would be. If they had spoken to her like that, she would have told them to go fuck themselves before having them disconnected. However John would not. Though she could see the frustration getting to him as his jaw clenched some.
"The geth were crawling all over those ruins," he explained and let a little of that frustration get through. "We were lucky to make it out alive."
"Of course, Commander, " Valern said like it had been no big deal. "The mission must always take priority."
"Good luck, Commander. Remember: we're all counting on you," Tevos said, signaling the end of the call and it wasn't long after as the link was disconnected.
The siblings stood there in silence for a moment, still looking at where the holograms had been only seconds ago.
"Well, you handled that rather- poorly," Quinn criticized before turning to leave. Suddenly she had grown uninterested of the matter of the asari doctor and would just kill her once she did something suspicious instead. It would be quite amusing to see the Baby-Doctor squirm for a little while longer.
Although she didn't get far before John called out; "Wait."
The tone he used wasn't John the big brother, but the Commander who was about to discipline his subordinate. A new tactic to make her listen, she was sure. Not that that would change anything but she would amuse him for a moment. She stopped, but kept her back to him.
"What was that today?" He had a slightly monotonic, but fierce voice as he turned around to face her. "And you better give me a fucking good excuse or so help me God!"
The threat did not go unnoticed and she turned a dark eye at him over her shoulder. He was looking at her with a grim expression, jaw clenched shut, body rigid and his hands clenched to tight fists. If she didn't know any better she would think he was doing everything in his power to keep himself from striking her. His boiling point was just a few careful words away and then he would snap. If it came down to it, they both knew Quinn would have no energy to fight him off. Yet she wouldn't let herself be so easily intimidated. After all, she was the killer between the two.
Her eye lingered on him with her cold stare, waiting for him to elaborate. She wasn't so sure what he was referring to, but she had a few guesses. However, if he wanted an explanation he had to be more specific to what because there was no way she was about to excuse anything she did while going in blind.
It was clear her silence was angering John even further. A growl escaped him and there was resentment flickering in his eyes, something which was so unlike him. "Your behavior on the battle field is inexcusable. Reckless. Impulsive. And dangerous! If that is how you fight then-"
"Then what?!" She abruptly turned to face him fully as she cut him off and matched his severe tone with her own like it was her normal tone when speaking. "You're going to bench me? Chain me to a freaking chair?" She was growing tired of this second-rate threats he kept throwing at her, which he wouldn't act on either way. And besides, hadn't they already had this conversation? "You know what I am, John! A killer! I don't excuse that behavior. Nor am I going to change it."
At moments like this she really wondered what he had expected to find when he saw her again. A criminal who didn't do anything bad? Who didn't kill and murder people? That all the talk about her was only rumors? It was a well known fact that she would kill anyone, friend and foe, if they got in her way. The only thing that mattered was her and her alone. Everyone else was just pawns to serve her agenda or be disposed of. The reputation of her being a vicious pirate warlord was something she had established on purpose.
Although it seemed he had indeed hoped for something else than the killer he had before him. His tone had grown accusing, almost lecturing even. "And killing your own team doesn't bother you at all? Are you really that freaking screw up? Do you kill your friends when they're not useful to you anymore? What the fuck happened to you to make you this broken, sad piece of a human?!"
Her eyes almost grew black of pure fury. Hearing him even ask that question was enough to have the hatred for him boil into the killing-blind rage. After everything that had happened to her, what gave him the right to ask her that question? To judge and condemn her? Did he really think that that high and mighty golden pedestal he saw himself standing on, was giving him the right to look down on the life she had had to live because of him? What kept her from actually giving in to that justified rage was beyond any kind of galactic understanding and John should thank his lucky freaking star for it because he had never been closer to death than at that given moment.
Although he had seen the murderous expression on her face, John kept his stand firmly. He would not step away from this argument until he had his answers and if he had to beat it out of her, it looked like he would actually do it. If that was what he really wanted, then she would give it.
"Broken?! You want to know what made me this way?" She spoke through nearly breaking clenched teeth by the force she put into it. Her venomous hatred for him was exploding in the words, leaving no doubt for what she felt. "You! You made me this way when you fucking abandoned me to go and play a mother-fucking space-hero! What shithead leaves his only sister in the hands of freaks?! People may see you as a honorable, self-righteous prick who can do nothing wrong. But in my eyes you'll always be the fucking dickhead who destroyed my life! Everything I've done is because of you, John! Every. Single. Bad. Thing!" Her eyes was burning as she stared him right in the face, imagine it burning and melting away by the intensity.
At first he hadn't seemed fazed at all, only looking at her with that stupid grim expression of his, but as she had pressed on, that face had cracked and had gotten devastated, hurt, when he realized what she had said was the truth. The pain which was across his face was enough to tell her that she could hurt him even further if she let him know the full extent of him abandoning her had done. The amount of pain and suffering she had gone through during her short life would have anyone questioning why she had endured it, survived it and how she had managed to carry on after it. Death had been her only constant companion since then and as much as she feared it, she rather feed others to it than with her own flesh. For a second there she considered telling him. Maybe it was time? Maybe he should break and crumble and shatter underneath the knowledge of what that one single decision he was so proud of had resulted into. That everything she was, was because that was the only way of surviving.
He spoke before she could make a decision. Though clearly hurt, his tone was still strong as he growled; "I know you think I abandoned you. And I know you hate me for it. I don't blame y-"
"Oh good. That makes it all so much batter. You don't blame me. Geez, thanks."
"-But you can't blame others for your own actions, you're not a child anymore! Own up to your own shit and take fucking responsibility for once!"
If her eyes could shot lasers, then she would do exactly that. With a single step forward, she laid it on him. "I take responsibility for my shit! I own up to my kills. I know exactly whose head I crush and whose I don't and I make no excuses for it! What I don't do, is taking responsibility for others shit! When and how people die, it's on them. It's their responsibility. Not mine," she roared and then pushed her finger into his chest as she continued; "But when are you going to take responsibility for your own shit? Own up to what you have done, huh?! 'Cause don't you dare say you have nothing to take responsibility for!"
He forcefully pushed her finger away. "I did what I thought was right to get you off of the streets. I left you with a social worker who assured me that you would be well taken care of. She found you a foster home, they took you in, took care of you and then you up and burned their fucking house down! With people still inside, Quinn! There were kids inside!" He practically screamed. "Then you disappeared for years and you started killing people and making a name from it! You see nothing wrong with that?"
"You know nothing of that fucking family you left me with. Nor that social worker you so blindly trusted. Not that you cared to find out as long as you could keep that precious dream of yours alive. I did what I had to, to survive! "
"I did that for you. For us!" John screamed in defense. "We needed money to survive and enlisting was the only way of getting it. No one was going to hire a kid from the streets with nearly no education and a record! I was going to come back when I had enough credits to support the both of us. But by then you were long gone! You would've known that if you had just talked to me!"
"I was thirteen years old, John." Her tone was low, but still as spiteful and dangerous as she growled under her breath. "I needed my brother and you abandoned me. I hated you for it. I still hate you for it. So much that I want your head on a spike." She literally spat in his face as she spoke. "If I didn't need you with this shit, I would kill you right here. So be damned grateful that is the case and when this is all over you better pray you have the guts to shot my brains out or I will plunge my fist right through your ribcage and leave you dead right next to Saren!" She then turned and marched for the door, which opened as she neared it, otherwise she would make real of that promise here and now. So much for trying in making an effort.
Although before she stepped out of the room completely, ignoring the eyes on her from beyond the door, she turned back to her brother to add one last thing before disappearing through it; "Don't you fucking dare judge the way I've lived my life. Not when you're the one who's responsible for how it turned out in the first place."
John's POV
John stepped out of the Mako and into the cargo hold, with Ashley and Garrus following shortly behind. They had just returned from the planet Chohe in the Hades Gamma cluster where they had dealt with some biotic fanatics who had taken over a medical station and taken hostages. They hadn't been able to talk the fanatics down, so they had been forced to eliminate every single one of them. It was unfortunate and he hadn't been happy doing it, but to save the innocent researchers it had to be done. He just hoped Admiral Hackett would see that too when he sent him the report.
Their arrival to Feros had been delayed until further notice as they had stayed in the Artemis Tau cluster a few more days because of a distress call they had picked up, which had then taken them to the Sparta System. There they had found a battered M29 Grizzly, several dead marines, a transmitter and an Thresher Maw. They had no idea where the transmitter came from, but they had at least found Admiral Kahoku's missing team.
After that they been on their way to the colony pestered by the geth, but stopped in the Hades Gamma cluster where they had been doing some assignments for the Alliance, which had delayed them even further. Although he was a Spectre and worked for the Citade Council, he was still human and an Alliance soldier. If they needed him to help with something, he would jump at that as the true soldier he was.
He was about to head over to the lockers to store his weapons away and remove his armor when he spotted the pirate standing just next to the lockers talking to Wrex. As soon as he saw his sister, her last words from their latest fight came back to him. Her words had hurt him, in fact, everything she had said to him then had made an impact and to be honest, he had no idea how to deal with it. He was sure there was much more about the foster home she hadn't told him. Though he had never meet the couple, he had been assured by the social worker that it was a good family who frequently took in troubled kids and helped them become good and honest citizens. He had tried to contact her by sending messages, but everyone kept telling him that she didn't want to talk to him. He had respected that.
It wasn't until he had gotten the news of her burning down the home with both parents inside and another child, that he was able to return to earth. He had talked to the authorities and the people at social service, but no one could tell him where his sister had gone. Of course he had tried to find her, but she had already moved on and probably left the city. There was nothing else he could do and he had returned to continue his service.
If he had explained more clearly to Quinn his reasons for leaving in the first place, then maybe things would've been different. But he was eighteen when all that happened. He was a kid too. He really though he did the right thing! There was no doubt in John's mind that he had done it for her and to get them both out of the slums and the petty crimes they had indulged in to survive the streets. He had already seen what that kind of life that would bring and how it would all end. After all, that was how they had lost their parents. Quinn had been too small to remember, but he hadn't.
The image of their mother and father being killed because they hadn't gotten the money for the drugs they were supposed to deal, but instead had shot up their arms instead, was still clear in his mind. Both him and Quinn had been just a few feet away, sitting on the couch, when it had happened. He had taken his younger sister in his arms and ran out of there before the thugs could kill them too.
Back then he had promised that they would not live the same life as their parents. It broke his heart to see that he had failed. John looked back up at his sister, his face expressionless, but inside he was distraught.
After their fight he had left her pretty much alone. Because of her bruised ribs, the pirate had retreated and stayed cooped up somewhere in the ship. He knew they had to continue that discussion and finally lay everything on the table if they ever wanted to get past what had happened. She may never forgive him for abandoning her and never trust him, but she had to put that aside until this was all over.
It was obvious he didn't know how to talk to his own sister, but to be fair, there wasn't many who did. Although she kept her distance from most of the crew, there seemed to be only a few she actually spoke to. There was no surprise that she and Wrex got along, they were practically from the same world and from what he had overheard, they seemed to share a lot of battle and war stories. They often talked in great detail how they had haunted and killed their targets. Something which hadn't sat well with some of the crew. John himself hadn't spoken much with the krogan so he couldn't say he knew the guy. But as long as the two of them didn't do anything other than talk, he didn't mind.
The second one he had found his sister talking to on occasions was Garrus. Despite the fact that she wasn't too keen about authority figures, she didn't seem to mind the C-Sec officer. John admitted that the young turian wasn't like most administrator and law enforcers out there, but he still had a keen sense of justice. A little guidance and encouragement would set him on the right path again.
The last one he had seen Quinn talk to like a normal person was with Tali. Though only a couple of times which had only lasted a minute or two. Tali had a tendency to ramble on when she got into a subject she liked or was knowledgeable about, similar to Liara, which seemed to bother the pirate. But the fact that they were only two years apart seemed to give the quarian the benefit of a doubt. That and- or- that she could hold her own in a battle.
What he did know, was that Quinn seemed to prefer the company of aliens. She was more comfortable around them than the human crew. He had to guess it was because of them being Alliance and she didn't trust them. Nonetheless Kaidan was trying to form some kind of bond with her, but the pirate seemed uninterested. Something which calmed John. It was quite obvious that the Staff Lieutenant had caught a liking to her. If Quinn knew about it, she hadn't let it show. John had no problem with them becoming friends, but more than that, he didn't approve of and would step in if that were to happen. After all, the Alliance didn't allow fraternization between crew members, which Kaidan was well aware of.
Having stashed his weapons and armor away in his locker, he turned to Ashley and Garrus to say; "You two go ahead up to Dr. Chakwas for a post mission check-up first, I will be there shortly."
"Aye, aye, Commander," Ashley responded with a chimed tone before heading to the elevator.
Garrus nodded in acknowledgement before following the Gunnery Chief. The mission had been pretty successful with no serious injuries or damage, but John still made sure the checkups was done after every mission. He wanted his team to be in top shape and having or hiding an injury could be crucial not only for the team, but for civilians too. Though he was sure no one would be so stupid to hide an injury, he still was insistence on this checkups and having to be cleared from both Dr. Chakwas and himself before going on a mission.
Having that on his mind, he knew Quinn would feel better any day now, but not necessary completely healed and would demand to come along with the team. From what he remembered from when they were small, she hated hospitals and doctors and had never really listened. From what he had seen so far, he doubted that had changed. Which made him not so eager to have that upcoming conversation about her having to be checked over before being cleared.
Releasing a small breath of a sigh, John decided to try mending some fences and walked up to the pirate and the krogan standing only a few feet away, talking in low voices. As soon as he neared, the two of them shot their attention to him and grew quiet immediately. It made him wonder what they had talked about and if they were up to something.
The one to acknowledge his arrival first, was Wrex. "Shepard. What can I do for you?" The annoyance in the krogan's tone was clearly there, even if he had tried to stash it away.
Though the krogan tried to mask his annoyance, both with face and tone, his sister on the other hand only highlighted it with crossing her arms and drumming her fingers over her upper arm, expression matching what she was feeling. It was clear she didn't want him near.
"What's your story, Wrex?" he asked, ignoring the daggers his sister was shooting him.
"There's no story," he growled as a reply. "Go ask the quarian if you want stories."
Amused by his answer, Quinn couldn't help but snort a laugh.
John turned an eye to her before returning it to Wrex again. He tried to bait the mercenary by saying rather skeptical; "You krogan live for centuries. Don't tell me you haven't had a few interesting adventures."
Wrex eyed him for a second and John could see the annoyance clear in those big red eyes. He was sure there was also a quiet snarl on the krogan's lips, but before he could confirm it, Wrex turned his head to the pirate.
"You might as well tell him something. Otherwise he won't go away," she said frustrated to whatever face he was giving her.
Turning back to John, he had the same tone on his voice as her. "Well, there was this one time the turians almost wiped out our entire race. That was fun."
The dry humor had been purposely placed there, but it didn't discourage John. The chosen topic was well known and he could relate. Turians and krogans didn't really get along, but neither did most humans and turians. Though personally he had no problem with either species.
"I heard about that. You know, they almost did the same to us," he said.
An eyebrow was raised on Quinn's face as she commented rather disbelieving; "Really? You went there?"
The krogan's gaze darkened and the growl got even deeper as he snorted; "It's not the same."
"It seems pretty much the same to me." Somehow, John got the feeling he was about to dig his own grave.
Apparently that was the wrong thing to say, cause anger flashed over the krogan's face. He took a step closer to John and got up right in his face. With a head that was nearly three times as big as his own, John understood why the krogan was so feared and intimidating and that was even before Wrex flashed his teeth before his eyes. If he wanted to, he could put John's whole head into his mouth and bite it clean off like a shark. It all seemed to amuse the pirate as he heard her breathe out with a small snicker.
To get some space between them, he took a step back as the krogan snarled; "So your people were infected with a genetic mutation?" It was clear that Wrex tried to restrain himself. "An infection that makes only a few in a thousand children survive birth? And I suppose it's destroying your entire species?"
Seeing that their situation hadn't been exactly the same, he could only answer in one way; "I suppose it isn't all the same."
The krogan before him just kept his intense stare at him and it wasn't until Wrex's shoulder relaxed a little, that he didn't look as intimidating and angry, he took a step back and said; "I don't expect you to understand, but don't compare humanity's fate with the krogan."
John hadn't meant to offend, yet it was clear he had. Not the best way of getting along with a team member and he silently cursed at himself. "I was just making conversation. I wasn't trying to upset you."
"Well, then you clearly vent for the wrong topic," Quinn said. "Have you never spoken to a krogan before? They tend to be a bit touchy about this particular subject."
"With good reason," Wrex defended, but didn't seem to have the same bite with her as when he spoke to John. "Your ignorance doesn't upset me, Shepard. As for the krogan, I gave up on them long ago. The genophage infected us, but it's not what's killing us."
Curious, John asked; "What can you tell me about the genophage?"
"Ask the salarians if you want details. They made it," Wrex said with spite. There was no need to guess what he thought about the salarians. "All I know: it makes breeding nearly impossible. Thousands die in stillbirth, and most never get that far. Every krogan is infected. Every one." There was a small pause before the krogan continued. "And no one's rushing to find a cure."
"Why don't the krogan try to find a cure?" John asked, thinking that would be the most obvious choice.
"When was the last time you saw a krogan scientist?" Wrex almost sounded like it was the most ridicules thing he had ever heard. "You ask a krogan: would he rather find a cure for the genophage or fight for credits?" Another small pause. "He'll choose fighting every time. It's just how we are, Shepard. I can't change that. Nobody can."
"Well, fighting is much more fun," Quinn said with a wicked smile upon her. "Of course, standing in a lab and being all geeky doesn't sound appealing at all. You do what feels natural to you." With the last bit, she turned an eye to John, letting him know she was hinting to their previous conversation.
Nothing about killing people with no hint of remorse or doubt was normal. You only killed if that was the very last option. All life mattered and he had no idea where she had lost that.
Ignoring her stare, John turned back to Wrex and asked with sympathy in his tone; "Are your people really dying?"
"We're sure not getting any stronger," he answered with some slight resentment. "We're too spread out. None of us are interested in staying in our own system."
With a slight shrug; John said; "Lots of species have left their homes and prospered."
"But they go to colonize new worlds. We're not settlers," he said and spat at the word and though. "We're warriors. We want to fight. So we leave. Hire ourselves out. And most of us never go back."
"That's unfortunate," John said.
"That's life."
John could almost see the door to this conversation, or any conversation with the krogan at the moment, slam shut in his face. It was almost like the krogan had amused him with answers to John's pestering questions and letting him think he was actually getting anywhere. When in fact, it was doomed from the start.
Since Wrex had joined the team, John had felt like the krogan mercenary didn't really like him, nor trust him. And though they had been on Edolus and taken down a Thresher Maw without any problem between their teamwork, it had not helped with breaking the ice.
Not feeling wanted, he decided it was time he took his leave and head up to Dr Chakwas "Thanks for the chat. So long, Wrex," John give him a respectful nod before turning to the elevator to leave.
"Shepard," was all Wrex replied to that.
After having been checked over by the good doctor Chakwas, John decided it was time he had a chat with their newest recruit. He hadn't had a chance to talk to the asari yet and though Chakwas had reassured him she was fine, he still wanted to make sure and also make her feel welcomed.
As he walked through the door to the lab, he found Liara sitting by the desk, her head shooting up from whatever she was doing and looking at him. She immediately stood up, almost knocking her legs into the desk and having the chair fall over.
"Commander, are you coming to check up on me?" She asked hasty and curious as she stood up straight.
A small smile crawled up on his lips at her nervous behavior. It seemed like she didn't really know how to act around him or where she should have her hands, which she nervously fiddled with. You look much better. How are you feeling?"
Her hands stopped fiddling as she replied; "Dr. Chakwas assures me I am going to be fine. "I was impressed with her knowledge of asari physiology."
Please with the answer, he nodded in approval. "You're in good hands. Dr. Chakwas knows what she's doing."
Her smile got wider, but then she seemed uncomfortable again. She grew quiet and it seemed she was contemplating something in her head. "I never properly thanked you for saving me from the geth, Commander," Liara said, but dread crossed her as she continued her thoughts. "If you hadn't shown up..."
He had no idea what she was imagining, but he guessed it wasn't anything good. Though they had no idea what the geth wanted with her, he was happy for her she didn't need to found out. Although guilt struck him as he thought about it. If they had gone to Feros as he had first intended, then there was no telling what could've happened. For once, he was glad Quinn butted in and it was her Liara should really be thankful to.
"I'm just glad we got there in time," he said honestly.
"So am I," she said grateful and relieved. "I know you took a chance bringing me aboard this ship. I have seen the way your... crew looks at me." Both of them knew who she was referring to, yet Liara refrained from pointing anyone out. "They do not trust me." Her tone was sincere and even desperate as she spoke. "But I am not like Benezia. I will do whatever I can to help you stop Saren. I promise."
John couldn't tell why he felt like he could trust her. He just did. It was true they had just met a few days ago and he barely knew her. Yet there was something in her eyes and the way she was speaking, that made him believe she was speaking the truth.
"Don't worry, Liara. I trust you. I know you won't let me down."
Her blue eyes softened and a genuine smile appeared on her blue lips. "It means a lot to hear you say that, Commander. Thank you."
"Tell me about yourself, Liara."
"Me?" She asked, a little panic crossed over her face. "I am afraid I am not very interesting, Commander. I spend most of my time on remote digs, unearthing mundane items buried in long-forgotten Prothean ruins."
"Sounds dangerous. And lonely," he said. He couldn't imagine himself being on a far off planet, away from people and civilization. But Liara wasn't discouraged.
"Sometimes I would run afoul of indigenous life-forms, or stumble across a small band of mercenaries of privateers. But I was always careful," she tried to reassure. "Until the geth followed me to Artemis Tau, I never found myself in any situation my biotics could not handle." She began to sound a little bit distant as she continued; "As for the solitude, well, that is one aspect that most appealed to me. Sometimes, I just need to get away from other people."
Curious, John had to ask; "You don't like other people?"
"I suppose it comes from being a Matriarch's daughter," she explained, but then her tone grew to something that was similar to when a child was opposed to the idea of doing what their parents wanted. "People expected me to follow in Benezia's footsteps. They wanted me to become a leader of our people." Her tone got back to explaining. "Matriarchs guide their followers into the future; they seek the truth of what is yet to come. Maybe that's why I became so interested in the secrets of the past." With a lighter tone, she said; "It sounds so foolish when I say it out loud. It sounds like I became an archeologist simply to spite Benezia."
"All children rebel against their parents. It's part of growing up," he said and thinking of his own choice of never becoming like his parents.
"Ha-ha. You share the wisdom of the Matriarch, Shepard," Liara said, her tone light and intrigued. "That is exactly what Benezia said when I told her of my decision. But there was more to it than that. I felt drawn to the past. The Protheans were these wondrous, mystery figures. I wanted to know everything about them," she explained. "That is why I found you so fascinating. You and Quinn. The both of you were marked by the beacon on Eden Prime; you were touched by working Prothean technology!"
"Sounds like you want to dissect us in a lab somewhere," he joked.
Her eyes grew wide in shock and she shook her head fiercely. "What? No! I did not mean to insinuate- Ah, I never meant to offend you, Shepard," she said hastily, which had John a hard time catching what she was saying. "I only meant that you would be an interesting specimen for in-depth study. No- that's even worse!" She was really about to panic.
"Calm down, Liara," he said with his hands up slightly. "I was only joking," he tried to reassure.
"Joking?" she asked, not really getting it at first, but eventually it sank in and she realized her mistake. "Oh, by the Goddess! How could I be so dense?" She asked in disbelief and hit her head slightly. "You must think I am a complete an utter fool."
A small smile crossed his lips at that. But no, he didn't think that at all. He though she was a bit rusty with her social skills, but that could be fixed with some practice.
"Now you know why I prefer to spend my time in the field with data disks and computers. I always seem to say something embarrassing around other people," she explained embarrassed. "Please... just pretend this conversation never happened," she begged.
"Sure," he said with a smile. "But I should warn you-" he began and her eyes grew wide like she was expecting he would say something dangerous. In a way, he was. "-don't have a similar conversation with Quinn. She might not take it that well and then it could be..." He didn't really want to go there for the asari's sake. She already seemed a bit nervous by the mentioning of the pirate and he didn't want her to become scared of his sister. That would only give Quinn more power over Liara.
"Oh! Yes, yes of course. I won't," Liara assured, nodding her head a couple of times to show him she understood.
"Good," he said with a smile again, which seemed to have a calming effect on her. He decided he should change the subject and the only thing that popped into his mind, was her mother. "I was wondering- Do you know why Benezia joined up with Saren?"
"I don't understand it," she replied, her tone serious. "She was always outspoken about the need for the asari to become more involved in shaping galactic events. Maybe she though allying herself with Saren would somehow be for the greater good in the long run." Her eyes lowered to the floor and her tone dropped. "At least, I hope so."
He could see the pained expression on her face for a second. But as soon as it came, it was gone again and Liara had tucked it away. But he understood it had to be hard for her. It was her mother, it was only natural to feel hurt, betrayed and sad.
"This hurts you, doesn't it?" He asked to let her know that he understood.
"None of this makes any sense to me." She shook her head a little. "I have not spoken to Benezia in many years, but I know her! And this was not like her." She sounded desperate, but not to excuse her mother's behavior, it was more like she wanted answers. "Something changed."
"Don't worry, we'll find her and get you some answers," he said and put an reassuring hand on her shoulder.
Grateful, Liara said; "Thank you, Commander."
He removed his hand as he said; "I should go. Talk to you later, Liara." And then he turned and walked out of the lab.
Thank you for reading!
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I haven't written much on the next chapter to give you a teaser... I'm too unpatient to wait to upload this chapter.. I'm sorry.
But here are the choices:
1: Ashley or Liara for John?
2: Save the Rachnai queen?
3: Save or Kill Wrex?
4: Ashley or Kaidan dies on Virmira
5: Save or Sacrifie Council?
6: Anderson or Udina as Councilor?
What were your choices when you played the game?
And which would you like to see happen?