- Chapter 5: Moving Up -
A/N: Oh wow I've acquired some followers and a few favourites!
Thank you so much!
I'm trying my best here.. haha.. I dunno what else to say.
The movement of the elevator platform causes the tired Dr. T'Soni to momentarily lose her footing. The floor below her moved quickly for its age, carrying her and her odd rescue team upwards while the walls around them blurred. Gripping onto the panel for support, Liara stares at the elevator's controls in an effort to reduce her nausea (no doubt heightened by the motion of the platform below her).
Behind her and slightly to the left, Dr. T'Soni felt the human's eyes - the commander's eyes - boring into the back of her head. She won't turn around; she can't. She feels ill, but she maintains her composure as best as she can. Her main focus is to just get out of there.
The sounds of ruble crashing down echoed in the large elevator chamber. The earth beneath them shook, and the walls around them rumbled soon after.
"Can't this thing go any faster?", the quarian spoke out alarmed and impatiently as she whipped her arms out instinctively to regain her footing.
Liara hears the commander make a half step towards the center of the platform, which placed the commander in between the krogan and quarian and directly behind her.
Liara tightens her grip onto the elevator's controls.
"We're gonna be fine Tali," she heard the human shout out over the sound of the ruins collapsing around them.
"How can she be so sure...?", Liara caught herself thinking in a bit of a haze. The commander sounded firm, almost certain. It's almost like she's been through worse.
Then again, Liara knew that she didn't know much about humans. She's met a few krogan before, and a few less quarians, but this commander is the first human she's had the chance to meet for more than a brief cordial nod as they pass by. Her time working and researching in relative solitude and her time spent predominantly around people of her own species meant that - when it came to understanding the commander's mannerisms and everything - Liara only really had humanity's reputation to work with. As a scholar and researcher, she knew that the reputation of a species is a good starting point in order to better understand where they are coming from as a whole. But, to understand one individual, it is best not to place too much importance on the overall actions of their species in determining what kind of a person they are.
Liara knew that, unlike most other species recognized in Citadel council space, humans have always had a tendency to be bold, brash, and rather aggressive when it came to pursuing their goals. Liara also knew that humans have always had a reputation to continuously seek out ways in improving their quality of life and understanding of the universe around them. Sure it's caused some conflicts over the course of human history, but it has also proven to help the lives of other species as well over time... When they cooperated of course.
The way the human commander carries herself demonstrates - from Liara's perspective - that she is just as courageous as she is compassionate. Dr. T'Soni could respect that.
The structure around them began to rumble once more, this time more violently than the last.
Liara felt a strong hand touch down on her left shoulder, which released almost as quickly as it came down.
"Sorry about that," the commander utters out somewhat sheepishly at her own clumsiness, "are you alright?"
Liara peels her gaze away from the elevator controls and turns her body towards the commander standing slightly over her. The commander's gaze appearing slightly worried about the sudden touch - even though they both knew it was accidental. It's hard to maintain your footing when the ground below you is, quite literally, collapsing.
"Y-Y-Yes," the asari doctor stutters out quietly, looking up to the commander then immediately deciding against making eye contact.
"It shouldn't be that much higher..." she continues, glancing upward at the fast approaching ceiling.
"Look alive people!" the commander yells out, "we're almost there!"
The large circular elevator platform below them begins to slow down as they nearly reach the top. The sound of the brakes and skidding broken metal pierced the air, causing Liara to wince uncomfortably.
The outer ring of the platform folds outwards as the elevator comes to a stop. Liara and company turn their attention towards the main exit tunnel right next to the circular platform.
All of a sudden, the outline of the krogan battlemaster and a small squadron of armed geth come charging towards the edge of the elevator platform. A barrier curtain flickers on directly behind them, effectively blocking their exit.
"Goddess... This can't be good...", Liara thought to herself as she glared up towards the yellow krogan and his squad.
The commander signals to hold their position, before returning her gaze towards the krogan battlemaster.
"Is she... Is she just...", Liara panicked to herself as her thoughts raced in all different directions, "Is she going to just hand me over to him? What's the plan here?"
Kicking herself for not considering the possibility that the brutish krogan, his geth, and the stern commander might all cooperate against her, Liara musters up as much strength as she could in preparation to flee or defend herself from everyone else in the room.
The krogan battlemaster smirks at the sight of the four of them in the center of the elevator chamber.
"Surrender,", he demanded in authoritative voice, "Or don't."
He shrugs, "That would be more fun."
"In case you didn't notice," the human commander shot back impatiently, "this place is falling apart!"
The battlemaster flashed a toothy grin.
"Exhilarating, isn't it?" he chimed - indifferent at their crumbling surroundings - as he marched forward.
"Thanks for getting rid of those energy fields for us," he continued sternly, "Hand the doctor over."
The frightened and exhausted doctor holds her ground, putting on a brave face.
"Whatever it is you want," Liara states as firmly as she could, "you're not getting it from me."
Liara prepared herself for the possibility of betrayal from the very team that rescued her moments prior. She's not sure whose side anyone is on. However, she still holds some faith in the commander and her crew; hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst. The asari turns her attention over towards the commander beside her, watching her stare down the krogan battlemaster. She takes some hope from the way the human's face beamed with a look of determination. Liara listens closely to the commanders words.
The commander grins a little and lets off a farewell wave towards the yellow krogan.
"She'll stay with us, thanks.", she says to the krogan. Her tone sounds almost as final as the tone of voice one would use to dismiss a panhandler in the street.
Pleasantly surprised by the commander's willingness to defend her from her would-be captors, Liara turns her attention back towards the brutish krogan blocking the exit.
The krogan's shit-eating grin falls flat at the commander's words.
"Not an option", he says while shaking his head, "Saren wants her. And he always gets what he wants."
Liara looks back over towards the human in anticipation. She's beginning to feel light-headed again. She takes note of the commander's face, as it remained focused on the krogan in front of them.
"Kill them.", she hears the krogan command in a level-headed tone, "Spare the asari if you can."
Liara gulps audibly at the words.
"If not," the krogan shrugs in indifference, "doesn't matter."