Act I : X

SSV Normandy

Slade Jordan was happy to be invited to the debriefing in the comm room. The entire team was seated in a circle facing the centre so any one person could see everyone else and speak without needing to shout. Slade was seated next to Ashley and Garrus, while Wrex was on the opposite side of the room sitting next to the Commander. It was Shepard's idea and Slade was more than happy to oblige, he would much rather receive angry glares than sit next to the towering giant: his track record with biotic krogan was not exactly stellar.

"Welcome to the team, Liara!" Shepard beamed. "We're glad to have you! I know you didn't really have time to grab your things since we had to outrun a volcano, so we'll get you settled in and requisition some stuff for you! I just need you to see Doctor Chakwas for a brief examination before you do anything else. Specialist Jordan will walk you there. Unless there is anything else, the rest of the team is dismissed! Liara and Slade can stay with me while we discuss a few things." Everybody else stood up to leave and Shepard beckoned Slade and Liara over to her as she was standing in the centre of the room.

"Slade!" Shepard bubbled. "Please show Liara to our favourite doctor and get her settled in! I still need to brief the council and finish a few reports. I'll find you two later!" Shepard waved goodbye and walked over to the comm console while Slade led Liara into the bridge area.

"Is she always so…energetic?" Liara remarked. "She's a very nice woman but I feel as if she is abnormally elevated."

"Actually", Slade teased. "She's quite exhausted today. You should see her when she's excited…" Liara's blue eyes widened in shock and she seemed embarrassed for asking.

"Hey, relax", Slade reassured. "I was joking. She is very nice and she is usually a bit more on the energetic side. You'll get used to it but I think you'll like the Commander."

"I think I already do", Liara said quietly in her mystifying voice.

Slade waited outside while Liara was in the medbay with Doctor Chakwas, he did not need to be told the importance of confidentiality. While playing around with his omnitool, his heart stopped as he felt heavy footsteps moving towards him.

Oh shit. Only one thing on this ship is heavy enough to do that.

Wrex was walking towards him and Slade was far too afraid to look up, so he continued to mind his own business. By the time Wrex stopped in front of him and Slade could see his large feet a few paces in front of his own, he had stopped breathing. The krogan had a very particular scent - almost like moist concrete in the rain on a humid afternoon, except the concrete was covered in rotten seaweed and wafted a sour odour - and Slade would have held his breath anyway, regardless of his paralyzing fear. Slade continued to focus all his attention on his omnitool and ignored Wrex.

Maybe he'll leave if I pretend he's not there for long enough. Maybe. If I'm lucky. Ugh who the hell am I kidding?

"I was right about you, human", Wrex growled in a deep, threatening voice. Slade's bones seemed to tremble in response to the krogan's rumbling speech. "You are worthless, and I should kill you right now, but you're not worth the ammo or the effort. You are just not worth killing." Slade could feel himself shaking now, but he was still too frozen to call for help.

"I listened to the entire debrief", Wrex rumbled. "And all I understood was that Shepard was the only one fighting that krogan. The quarian and the other human are excused, after all they are not biotics. But you? You just stood there and did nothing. Nothing. She brought another biotic, but you just stood and watched as she fought the krogan alone. If the Commander was killed by that krogan, it would have been entirely your fault. Do not even dare try to take credit for putting down that krogan, you essentially finished off wounded prey: stole a kill from someone else. Back on my planet, people who stand around and do nothing are worthless. If you cannot hunt, you build. If you cannot build, you repair. If you cannot repair, you guard. If you cannot guard, then why would we keep you around? You, human, are worse than nothing. You are merely a burden on those around you. If we were on Tuchanka, you would be exiled from the clan and doomed to wander a wasteland as a clanless waste of life. I do not know why the Commander keeps you around, but she is making a mistake. It is only a matter of time before you get someone killed, and for your sake, you better hope it's me: or I'll kill you myself." Wrex stormed away towards the elevator leaving Slade alone to recover from his encounter.

I can't even be angry or upset. Everything he said was true. I did nothing to help the Commander. If she died it would have been my fault for not helping her. I am worse than nothing.

Slade slumped to the floor and just leaned on the wall for a moment. He was upset that Wrex had done nothing except tell the truth. Slade knew there was nothing to debate or argue, he was simply correct.

That's why he doesn't like me. I'm useless.

"Specialist Jordan?"

Slade jumped back to his feet and his heart exploded out of his chest as Doctor T'soni entered his vision.

"I am very sorry", she apologized. "I did not intend to startle you. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine", Slade lied. "You just caught me off guard. By the way, it's just Slade to you. You really don't need to refer to me as Specialist, I'm not even technically in the Alliance." Liara gave him a tender smile.

"Alright, Slade", she replied. "But only on the condition that you refer to me as Liara, and not Doctor T'soni." Slade returned her smile.

"Deal", he confirmed. "Now, let's show you around."

The tour was uneventful, but Slade did the same thing that Pressly had done for him. He introduced Liara to anyone who had a spare moment, and showed her everywhere Pressly had shown him. Liara was a very quiet person, but also very polite and warm. She seemed like a person who was not capable of being rude or formulating an insult. By the end of the tour, Slade was comfortable around her enough to ask her a few questions.

"When did you find out you were a biotic?" Slade inquired. Liara gave him a very puzzled look.

"Excuse me?" She questioned. "I do not understand the question, Slade. Could you please clarify?" Slade was slightly taken back and did not know how to make himself more clear.

"Ummm…" Slade began. "I guess I'm asking when did your powers first manifest?" Liara's puzzled expression did not dissipate; in fact, she may have been more confused than before.

"That is a strange question, is it not?" Liara asked. "But I shall answer regardless. I was not old enough to remember exactly when my biotics first flared to life, but it must have been sometime before I turned four years old, because I remember my fourth birthday fairly well."

You were that young?!

"Oh, wow", Slade commented. "That's really young. If you don't mind me asking another question, do you have biotic implants?" Liara's confused look turned into an expression of understanding and realization.

"Ah, I see", she stated. "You are not familiar with Asari culture, allow me to clarify a few things for you, Slade. Asari are all naturally biotic; in fact, to the best of my knowledge, we are the only species in existence where biotic potential is not a random occurrence in individuals of our species. All Asari possess some manner of biotic potential, however the level of inherent potential varies from person to person as everyone is unique. Some Asari boast powerful biotic power while some Asari may only be able to perform very basic tasks. Due to our inherent biotic potential, biotic implants are not necessary for most Asari and it is very uncommon for an Asari to be implanted with such things. From what I understand, biotic implants in most species enhance and amplify biotic potential, allowing the individual to be more powerful and effective. Asari on the other hand, use implants in rare circumstances to actually suppress our biotic potential as some individuals cannot control vast amounts of power without injuring themselves, or others. So, to answer your question, Slade, no I do not have any biotic implants. As with most Asari, I learned how to control my biotics through our education system, which includes biotic training in the curriculum."

Is she serious? Of course she is. Liara probably doesn't even know how to lie and make it convincing. Holy shit. Being a biotic is NORMAL for an Asari, they even teach it in schools!

"Am I safe to conclude that you did not receive biotic training through your schooling, Slade?" Liara inquired.

What? How did you know?

"You know I'm a biotic?" Slade asked as politely as he could.

"Am I correct in that regard?" Liara replied. "When I used my biotics to lift you and the Commander onto the ship, I felt the both of you slightly resist my powers. The only way that could happen is if you were both biotics. I know the Commander is indeed a biotic, but was I correct in assuming you are also a biotic?"

"I am a biotic" Slade confirmed.

Wow. I said that very casually. Almost TOO casually. I guess it's okay with Liara, but I should definitely be careful when I say it. I don't need the wrong people finding out, that's for sure.

"You're right", Slade continued. "And no, my school definitely did not teach me anything about it. Let's just say everyone was happier if the whole 'biotic' thing was never brought up in conversation."

"I am sorry to hear that, Slade", Liara soothed. "It is unfortunate that people are still very ignorant about things that are not fully understood. I hope you were not treated unfairly because you were considered different."

Oh, if you only knew…

"May I ask when your biotic potential first became apparent?" Liara asked.

Damn it. I really don't want to answer that, but I don't think I have a choice. Liara is too nice for me to ignore the question and she's answered all of mine. I guess answering is the least I could do.

"Ummm…" Slade cautiously started. "I was eight." Liara kept her intently focused blue eyes on his and she did not say anything, she was obviously expecting him to elaborate.

"I was at school when it happened." Slade grudgingly continued. "It didn't really end well." Again, Liara was silent and waiting for him to continue his story. Slade sighed and conceded.

"Tell you what" Slade bargained. "If you are seriously interested in my life's story, I'll tell you everything you want to know. In return, would you be willing to train me in biotics?" The Asari gave him a quizzical flash of blue eyes before closing her eyelids in thought.

"Well", Liara said without opening her eyes. "I will admit, I know next to nothing about humans. Not only is my curiosity as a researcher peaked, but you are the first human I've met to willingly offer to quench my thirst for questions." She opened her mystical blue eyes again before continuing. "Here is my offer: I will train you in biotics to the best of my ability, if you answer all my questions in return to the best of your ability. Would that satisfy you, Slade?" Slade thought for a moment, then surprised himself by giving the Doctor a mischievous smile.

"Deal", Slade quipped. "Tell you what, Liara. I'll also throw in a few lessons on how to handle a pistol properly, if you think you'd benefit from such knowledge." It was Liara's turn to flash a mischievous smile that was so uncharacteristic of her, Slade almost felt worried.