Shepard had only taken two steps past me when we heard Liara speak, and as we did, the women immediately whipped around in surprise, brandishing her pistol.
"Woah! I'm pretty sure that's just Dr. T'Soni," I almost shrieked back in terror.
In return, she gave me the dirtiest look I've ever seen before quickly pivoting back around, and hopping down to the level below. Shutting my eyes and taking a deep breath (after additionally waiting a couple seconds), I followed her down onto the platform. The platform where we would finally meet Liara T'Soni, ace archaeologist, the squad mate one could basically categorize as a Lara Croft Lite.
"Uh...hi there," we found Vakarian saying, trying to start a conversation with the trapped Asari.
"Hello? Can you hear me out there? I am trapped, I need help!"
"Quit shouting! This place is full of Geth!" Shepard snapped at the both of them as she walked up. She then turned to Wrex, and then to where he was staring, out into the empty cavern below.
"Sorry, I am a little-Look. My name is Dr. Liara T'Soni. I am an archaeologist."
Peeling myself away from the cavern, I turned my attention back to Liara. Or to what I thought was her. Actually looking at it, I found that the bright blue Prothean force field really distorted your view of her. I couldn't see Liara at all. And if I hadn't known any better, I would've thought the barrier was hiding a Hanar on the other side. It was completely opaque. Really hampering my excitement to the meet the final member of the team.
"This thing I am in is a Prothean security device. I cannot move so I need you to get me out of it all right?"
"Quit your posturing, we know who you are. How did you end up in there?" Shepard questioned turning back around.
"I was exploring the ruins when the Geth showed up, so I hid in here. Can you believe that? Geth! Beyond the Veil!"
"Shocking I'm sure," I butted in.
"Wha-How many of you are there?"
Shepard answered before anyone else could tell her. "Doesn't matter. And just give me the short version."
"...Well, I came into this chamber to activate the barrier, hoping it would keep the Geth out. Only I think I hit something I wasn't supposed to. After they left, I found myself trapped. You must get me out. Please!"
As the two conversed, a wave of paranoia overtook me, and once again, I turned around towards the cavern below. And after surveying the cavern floor littered with light fixtures and knocked over crates, I eventually found what I was looking for. I almost mistook the giant laser for a large boulder. It was left perched in the middle of a bunch of debris, and seemed utterly defunct. But I knew better. Finding what I had wanted and done admiring the view, I looked back up to my left, where I now found Ashley observing me out of the corner of her eye.
Uh...
I jerked my head away and inconspicuously felt my face to see if there was something on it from lunch. She had just stared at me pretty weird then.
"-it seems to me you shouldn't have been messing with things you didn't understand," Shepard replied callously behind me.
Not finding anything too unusual on my countenance, I decided to turn back to the Gossip Girls.
"I wasn't going to let the Geth just capture me! Besides, I know how it works! Mostly."
"Uh-huh," Kaidan said skeptical.
"I do! There is a control in here that should deactivate this thing. You'll just have to find some way past this barrier curtain."
"The control that turns off the impenetrable barrier is inside the impenetrable barrier?" Ashley asked in disbelief.
"Yes, that's the tricky part. The defenses cannot be shut off from the outside. I don't know how you'll get in here-"
"We'll find a way," Shepard cut her off.
Then Wrex got the ball rolling again. "Looks like we have visitors!" he clamored while jumping down into the cavern beneath us.
Shepard whipped around, just in time to see his descent. And then she turned to me. I shrugged back, and made a beeline after Ashley and Kaidan as they ran down the ramp.
Here we go-
"I'll cover you!" Garrus shouted as the rest of us descended.
We found that the Geth didn't give us as nearly as much trouble as the ones had above ground. As spread out as they were, the synthetics weren't nearly putting up as much resistance. Not that I was really aware of that though as my attention was more focused on the giant laser towering above me. I didn't really think we had time to wait for Shepard to fumble around for the proper move here, wondering what to do after the battle was over.
So I clicked a couple buttons on its console and luckily, it began to light up. Then, four buttons came up on its screen.
Well...at least THIS is like the game.
I clacked away at the buttons until stumbling upon the right combination on the fourth try.
And Jackpot!
As it started lighting up, Shepard seemed to have finally noticed my shenanigans.
"Shield! What are you-"
Her voice was subsequently drowned out as the laser sputtered on, which now attracted the attention of the rest of the team. I glanced over my shoulder to reply to her...before I quickly found myself yelling, as the thing was pretty damn loud.
"Thought this would be our ticket in-"
The thing let out a giant roar as it fired, utterly drowning out my voice. In fact, I cringed at the racket and looked back to the thing to find a stream of what seemed to be molten lava streaming out of it. And as soon as the beam made contact with the cavern wall, a large explosion erupted forth, sending out huge amounts of debris and dust with gale force winds. I was immediately blinded by its sudden onslaught, and soon started gasping for air. But regardless of all this, the laser just continued for all of a second before letting out another whine and powering down. And I was still gagging from the smoke when it did.
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO!?" Shepard yelled somewhere behind me. The density of the dust clouds around us however made it really hard to tell where anything was, let alone her. I could barely even see my own feet on ground.
"I found us a way in!" I decided to shout back while stumbling to where I thought my handiwork was. And apparently, I had forgotten the laser formed a hole in the ground. A second after I had responded to Shepard I fell into the newly-made pit and hit the ground below with a solid thud. By the time I got myself to my feet, Shepard and Kaidan were already hopping down after me. And after looking around at my success, the Commander ended up just shooting me a glare. Kaidan continued onward toward to a Prothean computer ahead of us.
"Wrex, Ashley, meet us back upstairs at the barrier!" Shepard shouted back up towards the hole.
"Roger that Commander!" Ashley replied back from the top.
As the platform began to rise, a silly grin plastered my face. Shepard was noticeably annoyed by my smile, so much so that she was actually gripping her gun pret-ty tight. But I couldn't give a damn with how giddy I was. We had almost completed our first mission now. And without any hitches! Drove through rivers of lava, busted down the Geth gatehouses with ease, and all of us made it past the armature alive. I mean...Fredericks and Emerson had been...wounded...but from the way Chakwas was talking, they didn't seem to have any life-threatening conditions! Slap some medi-gel on them and they'd be good as new! I mean, I would have to be pretty morose to not be elated with just getting off this rock alive, let alone with everyone else.
The elevator gave one final lurch as it stopped itself at T'Soni's chamber.
While Kaidan and Shepard took a gander at the Asari levitating before us, I made a straight beeline for the Prothean prison's control panel.
"How...how did you get in here? I didn't think there was any way past the barrier!"
"You're welcome" I said suavely, continuing my strut up to the console. I really made sure to milk the moment. Not everyday you get to rescue a damsel in distress. And once my feet were planted in front of it, the thing lit up like a Christmas tree. And then I bit my lip at the sight.
Huh. What the hell do I do.
The holographic display contained a dozen different buttons. Or what looked like some. There was a circular ring comprised of four rhomboids and a bunch of various shapes and button sizes around them. At this point I started sweating. I could feel everyone's eyes on me, waiting for me to release her. Or in Shepard's case, probably just waiting for me to fuck up. With one eye closed, I timidly tapped the bright yellow button in the middle of it all.
IIIIIII should have let Kaidan do this-
The "OOf!" behind me immediately made me sigh in relief.
Hahaaa. Marauder Shield, you son of a bitch. You did it again.
"Doctor, any idea how we get out of this place?" Kaidan decided to ask.
"I'm guessing the way we came in is out of the option?" Wrex cut in walking past the now defunct barrier alongside Ashley and Garrus.
I turned around to face our newest guest and I admit my jaw dropped a little. Despite the finger-like tendrils coming out the back of her head and the blue tint of her scaly skin, the girl had it goin' on.
Well, I mean, she is cute and all but-
"There is an elevator at the back in the center of the tower. At least, I think it's an elevator."
"...did you actually even study anything here," Ashley rudely remarked.
"It should take us up! I'm sure of it. Come on!"
Once we were all situated on it, I let Kaidan take the reins this time. He tapped a few buttons on the tower's console and with a groan and a KCHUNK, it started moving.
"I-I still cannot believe all this. Why would the Geth come after me?"
"Good question Doctor. It's probably because they were sent here to retrieve Benezia's daughter."
"Wh-what? What does this have to do with my mother?" Liara innocently sputtered.
"The Geth are working with a Turian named Saren. And your mother is helping them. They're after something called the Conduit. As an expert on Protheans, we thought he might contact you," Garrus said catching her up to speed. "Do you know anything about it?"
"The...Conduit? But I don't-" she paused mid-sentence like she had just been slapped by Shepard. "What? What do you mean my mother is helping the Ge-"
What I was pretty sure to be an earthquake interrupted her as it shook the foundation of the ruins around us. An "Oh Fuck" escaped my mouth.
"What the hell was that," Ashley said whipping her head around.
"Shield's bright idea must've caused the ruins to become unstable!" Shepard said angrily, pointing the hand with her gun at me.
Her stabbing motions while speaking were actually making me quite nervous. To be completely frank, with the way Shepard was holding her gun, you'd think she was about to put a slug in me.
"We have to hurry then! It seems that the whole place is caving in!" the Doctor agreed panicked.
Shepard started muttering angrily and brought a finger to her earpiece. "Joker! Get the Normandy prepped and ready for takeoff! Tali, finish what you're doing and get aboard!"
"Aye, aye Commander!" both replied in unison over the radio comm.
"Not much margin for error," Kaidan added looking at Shepard.
"If we die in here, I'llll kill him," Wrex deadpanned behind us.
Several more seconds, and by the mercy of god, we reached the top. The elevator indicated this particular fact by coming to a sudden stop, causing us all to lose our balance. Kaidan was the first to recover from the spill and first to indicate we had more trouble coming our way besides the coming cave-in.
"We've got company. Big company."
Looking up from where I lay, I was able to watch a Krogan saunter into view with a full squadron of Geth behind him from our only exit out.
I really need to plan ahead for these missions. I totally forgot about you.
The Krogan looked a sickly green and had a malicious smile on his leathery face as he stopped in front of us. "Surrender. Or don't. That would be more fun."
Getting back up to our feet, Wrex was surprisingly the first one to respond to the Krogan's challenge. "Tanok. I'm not surprised to see you working for Saren you son of a Varren," Wrex growled.
"HA! Wrex! Of all the people I'd have thought to find here, you would be the last. Have you fallen so low that you've had to resort to having Humans for a Krantt?"
"You know each other?" Shepard said from behind me. I glanced back to find her already brandishing a shotgun.
"Unfortunately," Wrex said not breaking eye contact with Manok.
"I should say the same," the Krogan remarked.
...what the hell is going on.
"Of course only you would oppose the salvation Saren offered all Krogan. The coward who killed his own kin in the Hollows. He who spat on the place of our anc -"
"YOU KNOW DAMN WELL IT WASN'T ME WHO SPIT ON THE ANCESTORS THAT DAY!" Wrex raged, shaking the room almost as much as the cave-in was. Apparently it was a touchy subject.
"Oh? Then how did he die that day then? I suppose Jarrod stabbed himself," Ranok remarked sarcastically.
I don't know for SURE if I ever took Wrex to Therum but I know for a FACT that this conversation is not in the game-
The walls shook around us again and caused me to fall to my knee.
Oh JESUS.
I glanced up to find Wrex now pointing his scimitar toward Sanok's face.
We're really living on a prayer here guys. We don't have time-
I noticed my Omni-tool flash over my hand, and soon became confused as I heard a synthetic voice come on over my earpiece.
(Continuing Playtrack 21...Music by Artist Bon Jovi. Livin' On A Prayer. (C) 1986 The Island Def Jam Music Group.)
Bon Jovi - Livin' On A Prayer (Turn to 2:40 if you feel like singing along)
I shook my head.
Wait wha-
I then made the next mistake of blinking for all of a second and then...chaos.
Wrex had attacked Kanok with all his might and now a massive amount of weapons fire broke out across the exposed lift.
(Whoooooaaaa)
The kinetic barrier around me immediately dropped.
(We're Halfway theeeere)
I jumped backwards and found myself roll behind the Prothean console of the elevator, which was the only safe spot amidst the ongoing maelstrom.
(Whooooaa)
A Geth peeked around a column on my left.
Fuck.
(Liiiiiivin' on a Prayer)
I quickly pulled the trigger of my gun at it. Then, I made eye-contact with Liara who was taking cover with Kaidan behind a pillar further back.
(Take My Hand-)
Following my instincts, I jumped up to my feet and made a mad dash toward them.
I decided to never trust them again when I suddenly felt a bullet fly through my shoulder.
(-we'll make it I sweeeear)
The excruciating pain caused me to trip over myself onto the ground.
ffffffFUCK.
(Whooooooaaa)
I lay there writhing on the ground when I saw Shepard violently fly into another column several feet away next. She collapsed to the floor limply.
(LIVIN ON A PRAYER)
Oh FUCK.
(LIIIVIN ON A PRAYEEER)
With all the grace of a newborn giraffe, I forced myself up and sprinted towards her, only noticing that Lanok was now doing the exact same. Only with his head down. Actually, he wasn't really sprinting per se. He was in fact, charging.
(Oh, we've gotta hoooold on)
I was already leaping off the ground as I noticed however, too late to make a difference as always, and slammed headlong into Yanok.
(Ready or not-)
Noticing me out of the corner of his eye too, the Krogan swung his arm back, sending me careening back towards the center of platform. However, he ended up staggering backwards with the action too. Which stopped his charge. Lucky me. He then turned his attention my way in response. Not lucky me.
(You live for the fight-)
He raised his claymore.
Shit-how do I do that Adrenaline Rush thing-
My vision widened and narrowed at the same time while everything else turned sepia.
Ok.
(When it's-)
I watched as the Krogan's fingers tightened around his gun. Only at an extremely slow rate.
Woah.
(it's)
I raised my Predator toward his head plate.
(all)
His eyes widened with the speed of my draw.
(that)
I pulled the trigger three times. And he still hadn't finished pulling the one he had started.
(you've)
Then steam started slowly streaming from my gun. The Krogan's bewildered face started to slowly turn into a devilish grin at that exact moment.
Roll away! Cover your eyes! Go-
(-ot!)
Out of nowhere Wrex hit him like a freight train and Panok's shot gun was sent spinning out of his hands, shooting into the air.
(*beat*)
As I lay on the floor frozen, my vision returned to normal.
(-whoooooooaaaaa)
Get up.
(We're halfway theeeere)
I obliged and rose to my feet. I saw Shepard doing the same thing while holding her head.
(Whoooooa)
Then Ashley came running toward us, simultaneously returning fire at the remaining Geth in front of the exit.
(Liviiiiiing on a Prayer)
I popped my thermal sink out and the next one in the magazine loaded.
(Liiiiivin)
I emptied as many rounds as I could at the Geth from where I was standing.
(Oooooon)
Garrus rolled out from where Kaidan and Liara were taking cover and got a head shot on the last Geth standing.
(Aaaaaaaaaa)
One of the giant metal columns collapsed onto our platform causing the whole thing to tilt.
(Praaaaayeeeeer!)
(*wicked guitar solo*)
"TIME TO GO!" Wrex yelled coming out from where he had tackled Zanok.
"Song off Please" I cried as I ran after everyone out of the room. Boulders and stalactites were falling like rain drops. Like large, heavy, lethal rain drops. The whole cavern was definitely coming down around us now.
"I don't think we're going to make it!" Ashley shouted sprinting ahead of me, swiftly dodging the falling rubble.
"Then run faster!" Wrex shouted back, barreling ahead of us all.
As the caboose of our escape train, I was the only one who noticed Shepard was not running at her usual pace. Ashley actually overtook her as we got to the floor of the tunnel's entrance. And it was at this point I realized Shepard was still out of it from getting thrashed by that Krogan. My eyes widened further than they already were as I spotted a boulder now falling where the teetering Commander was.
OH GOD WHY-
I kicked myself into overdrive. Summoning the little strength I had left, I charged towards her and gave a mighty leap off the ground, simultaneously pulling my legs back. Then, orienting my legs mid-air toward her direction, I launched them as hard as I could at her back. Which sent her flying forward. Out from under the rock and preventing her from becoming a pancake. I landed unceremoniously back on the ground with my butt in the air, barely retracting my extremities in time to avoid being crushed by the same said falling rock.
Of course, Shepard got up first and whipped around to me in a fury. But when the realization hit that I had just saved her life though, her face showed...a little less of it. Which was enough for me. While she just stood there, I quickly got up and hurtled the debris between us, deciding to cooly add "JESUS CHRIST RUN!" as I flew by.
I had never sprinted so hard in my life as I ran down that final stretch of the cave.
Outside of the ruins, I could now see our ticket out. The Normandy's ramp was already lowered for us, but now unfortunately had a considerable distance from the mine's scaffolding, having drifted too far away for us to simply walk onto. But of course. Didn't want to make this too easy.
Having exited the mine shaft without slowing, I leaped with all the grace of a gazelle onto the garage's ramp. I personally believe I made an Olympic record with the distance I cleared. I mean, it was at least a good yard. Shepard quickly did the same behind me, except with not as much style. Obviously. I'm sure no one on the ship had my unique flair for such a thing. In any case, once we were safely aboard the Normandy, Kaidan yelled "Now!" into his radio and the Normandy lurched forward. And I stumbled backwards onto my butt as it made to leave.
And I now felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest, lungs about to burst. Heaving, I purveyed the garage, drinking in the relief that everyone else had made it back safe and sound. Ashley was slapping Kaidan on the back who was doubled over in exhaustion; Liara was holding her hands over her chest looking like she was about to keel over and die; and Tali and Wrex were supporting Garrus as he had apparently taken some injuries of his own in the skirmish.
Well. At least it looks like we all made it.
I let out a nervous laugh with how close we had just come to death and turned to my side to see how Shepard was doing. Only she wasn't there.
I snapped back around to see a hand hanging onto the ramp now lifting shut.
I dived forward as it disappeared over the edge. Half my body was dangling off the ramp when my hand caught Shepard's arm.
This was the first time I had ever visibly seen fear on her face. And it scared me. When Commander Shepard fears for their life, you better damn well too. Although, to be honest, it was probably just due to the fact that her life was now lying in my hands.
Oh.
I lay there grunting, trying to pull her up to no avail. A millisecond passed and the ramp had already become halfway closed. And with the rate it was closing, I was quickly sliding back into the garage, barely being able to keep my grip onto Shepard still on the other side. If she didn't get inside the ship by the time it shut, worst case scenario was that I would probably lose my left hand. And that Shepard would fall to her death. Which I guess would be pretty bad too.
"Shepard! Kick off!"
"What?!" she yelled back.
"USE YOUR BIOTICS and KICK!" I shouted as the ramp was now almost two-thirds of the way closed. As I tried to pull with my right arm too, it suddenly started acting like a bitch again, sending a fresh wave of pain to my brain. It was acting like it had been shot or something. Oh wait.
I almost let her go due to the agony.
FUCKING BULLETS SHIT-
"JOKER LOWER THE RAMP!" I heard Kaidan shout into the radio below us.
OH NOW THEY WANT TO HELP-
"What? What's Wrong!? I can't stop it once it's started!" his voice sounded over the comm.
That's a horrible design oversight! Fuck fuck fuck-
There was now a gap barely wide enough for a Krogan to fit through. But at that moment, I suddenly felt Shepard become peculiarly light. I also felt her give a push off the other side of the ramp. In response, I decided to yank her hand toward me as hard as I could, and propelled myself back off the giant sheet of metal in between her and me. Getting enough inertia...momentum...or enough whatever, I'm not a physicist here, Shepard was miraculously pulled through whatever remaining space there was back into the Normandy's cargo space. And we both fell at least eight feet back to the floor beneath us. I hit the ground hard and my head followed a second later with a sickening crack.
OW.
I was afraid I had just died. I lay there dazed for a good while before even trying to open my eyes.
And deigning to take another few seconds for them to adjust, I finally decided to pry them open.
Only I didn't find the ceiling of the Normandy's garage above me.
Everything above, and in fact, around me, was black.
Actually, you know what, scratch that.
I think I had just died.
The pain in my shoulder and shortness of breath were gone. I also felt weightless.
Not good signs.
I looked down to my feet only to find I was floating. Again. And on cue, a blue glimmer started to shine behind me.
Oh thank god.
Although it took some effort, I was eventually able to maneuver myself around to fully face the talent window.
Skill Rank (0-7)
Pistol - 2
Shotguns - 0
Assault Rifles - 0
Sniper Rifles - 0
Adrenaline Rush - 1
First Aid - 0
Electronics - 0
Decryption - 0
Fitness - 0
Combat Mastery - 0
Persuasion - 3 (*Locked*)
*Locked*
Available Points: 3
"So..."
The window flickered.
"Do you show up after every mission I go on?...Or just the ones I perform well in?"
The light emanating from it wavered.
"Do I just get points for every priority mission we do? Do I even get XP? Is this actually even a 'level-up'?"
It flickered again.
I took a deep breath.
"Sigh."
She paced back and forth waiting for the rest of the shore party to enter the room. It had been several hours since they had exited the planet's orbit.
Garrus was the next to enter after Wrex. She hadn't expected him to attend.
"Shouldn't you still be nursing those bug bites in the Med bay?" Wrex asked in her stead.
"Who me? Naaah. Back on my beat in the Wards, I've been shot at more times than I can count. This? This is nothing," he replied pointing to his hip. "Although the recent missions we've been going on have been giving my time in the Wards, as you Humans say ,'a run for its money'."
Garrus' bravado wasn't as convincing as he would like since he had winced throughout the entirety of the exchange. She respected that he grinned and bore the pain though. The Turian had actually come off the luckiest of those who had been injured.
Emerson had similar injuries to Shield but had been hit in a vital artery. He had lost a lot of blood by the time they had gotten him back on the Normandy. They weren't able to get him Medi-gel as most of it had been already used on Fredricks.
Fredricks.
And Fredricks had stupidly left cover and gotten hit badly, having to be placed in ICU although Chakwas claimed his condition had now stabilized. Third-degree burns and exposed muscles could be easily spotted around the area that had been hit by the Geth Artillery's mass accelerator.
Now Kaidan walked in, escorting the Asari Doctor to her seat as he did.
And then...there's what had happened to Shield.
Nothing she expected or planned for had happened during the mission. The Doctor had been there like they were told. There was no indication that Wrex or Shield ever conspired against them. No hint that they or the Broker was working with Saren. No betrayal in the ruins. No nothing.
Shield had instead saved her life-
Twice.
-and now lied with a cracked skull in Chakwas' care, most likely brain dead. While they weren't life threatening, several tears in his armor's right shoulder and arm were caked with blood, not helping his case either.
The loss of soldiers during an operation was inevitable-
People die. Soldiers need to be ready to.
-but no matter how often she repeated it, their deaths still weighed heavy on her conscious. She hated to admit it. And she wouldn't if asked.
She always made sure to put on a fake face and project that she didn't in front of her troops. Never had with any of her units. And she couldn't.
As a commanding officer, she couldn't show any sign of weakness.
But despite everything...she couldn't lie to herself.
The Quarian walked into the room next with a data pad.
She thought after Torfan that she would have become indifferent to losing men. That hopeful thinking was proven wrong with the Corporal's death on Prime. She hadn't lost anyone since the siege and his death hit her harder than she would have thought. Even after all her years after enlistment, as an officer, even after Torfan...she couldn't ignore the feeling of guilt she got when the people under her command were lost. When they died because of her.
And after this mission, Fredricks and Shield would be lucky if they made it through the next hour...
She stopped pacing as Chief Williams entered. She was the last one needed for the brief. Shepard slowly began to open her mouth to speak before Joker's voice boomed across the room.
"Hey Commander?" Shepard turned her head towards the Normandy's intercom, not that it was particularly visible to anyone in the room. "Just wanted to say sorry again for the whole almost causing you to fall to your death thing. Glad to hear you're alright. Killing my CO probably wouldn't look too great on my record."
She sighed. "Just don't try it again."
"Weeeell, pick your poison. Ten more seconds and we would have been swimming in molten sulfur. The Normandy isn't quite equipped to land in exploding volcanoes. Tell me which you'd prefer though. Just for future reference."
Cheeky bastard.
"We almost died today and your pilot is making jokes?"
She turned her head down towards their newest guest. "Joker pulled our asses out of there. Bad decision-making aside, I think he's earned the right to a few bad jokes."
"I see...it must be a Human thing. I don't have a lot of experience dealing with your species Commander. 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 that Spectre...Saren."
"What did Saren want with you? Do you know something about the Conduit?" Kaidan asked with urgency.
"What Saren might have wanted? No, I don't-"
"Of course she doesn't," Ashley facetiously cut her off.
Shepard gave a sharp look at the Marine. Williams decided to keep the rest of her opinion to herself and simply turned her head away.
"Doctor T'soni. Are you sure you don't know anything about the Conduit?"
Shepard turned back around to find the Asari peering into her eyes.
The Asari then took a breath before continuing. "Only that it was somehow linked with the Prothean extinction. That is my real area of expertise. I have spent the past fifty years trying to figure out what happened to them."
"...I'm sorry...fifty years?"
"Um, yes. That is correct."
"...How old are you exactly?"
"I hate to admit it but I am only a hundred and six-"
"Damn! I hope I look that good when I'm your age," the Chief burst out of turn again.
"A century might seem like a long time to a short-lived species as yours. But to the Asari, I am barely considered more than a child."
"Must suck when you don't live longer than a Varren."
Shepard glared at the Krogan from the corner of her eye as the Asari prattled on.
"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 the Protheans."
Yeah...that's why.
Shepard didn't fail to reflect on her minute understanding of the Prothean ruins back on Therum.
"We already have a pretty solid idea of how the Protheans died."
"Really? With all due respect Commander, I have heard every theory out there. The problem is finding evidence to support them. The Protheans left remarkably little behind. It's almost as if someone did not want the mystery to be solved. It's like someone came along after the Protheans were gone and cleansed the Galaxy of clues!"
Her observation heavily supported the vision she received from the beacon. The vision that haunted her ever time she slept.
The Reapers.
"-ble part. According to my findings, the Protheans were not the first galactic civilization to mysteriously vanish! This act of suddenly 'disappearing' had begun long before them."
"And how did you come up with this theory? I thought you just said there wasn't any evidence?" Shepard decided to point out.
"I have been working on this for fifty years. I have tracked down every scrap and shred of evidence. Eventually, subtle patterns emerge. Patterns that hint at this!" If she hadn't come into contact with the Beacon back on Prime, she'd probably have suspected the Asari insane, some kind of fringe scientist or conspiratorial nut job. "It's hard to explain. I cannot point to one specific thing. It is more of a feeling derived from half a century of dedicated research." Scratch that, she still did. Shepard could easily see why her findings had been dismissed by her peers. The Asari was finding imaginary conspiracies easier than a candidate for Terra Firma would. Although in the end...the Asari still happened to be right.
"-I know I'm right! And eventually, I'll be able to prove it. There were other civilizations before the Protheans. This cycle of vanishing has repeated for many times over!"
Shepard was getting tired of her egotism real fast. "Get to the point."
"Uh...the Galaxy is built on what I've termed 'A Cycle of Extinction'. Each time a great civilization rises up, it is suddenly and violently cast down. Only ruins survive. The Protheans rose from a single world until their influence spanned the Galaxy. Yet even they climbed atop of the remains of those who came before. I believe...that their greatest achievements, the Citadel and Mass Relays...are based on the technology of those who came before them."
"You've got quite a theory there Dr. T'soni," Shield suddenly spoke as he shambled through the door.
"You're alive?" the Krogan asked with blatant indifference.
"Last I checked?...Ayup," he replied taking a seat next to Williams.
"Huh."
"Dr. Chakwas told me your skull was caved in. You shouldn't be conscious," she found herself saying in disbelief.
"Just decided to take a quick nap," he said back, waving a hand like the fracture to his skull had been nothing. "Thought I should probably get myself up though for this debrief. Thought you'd probably kick my ass if I missed it."
Shepard found herself uncharacteristically smirking. "Right."
Shield's eyes grew wide with fear in response. Shepard was quickly reminded that her smile was said to be a tad off-putting.
Shield then quickly turned towards the Asari. "Please, don't stop on my account."
"...Well. As I was saying...after they reached the height of their civilization...the Protheans vanished too. I've dedicated my work to finding out why."
At that point, she decided to tell the Asari what she was searching for.
"Well Doctor, I have the answer for you. I don't know about the rest of your theory, but we know the Protheans were wiped out by a race of machines. The Reapers."
"Th-The Reapers? But their just- How do you know this? What evidence do you have?"
She frowned at the Asari's incredulity. "There was a damaged beacon on Eden Prime that engraved a vision into my head. I'm still trying to sort out what it means."
"The Geth seem to believe in the story of these Reapers too," Tali added quietly beside her.
"It's interesting that the Geth-wait...You said a...vision?...Yes, that makes sense. The beacons were designed to transmit information into the mind of the user. Finding one that works though is unheard of!"
"Lucky us Commander," Shield quipped.
"I heard the Geth attacked Eden Prime...and that must've been the reason why! The chance to acquire a working beacon, even a damaged one, is worth almost any risk!"
"I'm glad You think so," Ashley growled.
The Asari was obviously not tactful. Talking about Eden Prime like the destruction and death there was warranted-
"I didn't- I'm sorry. It's just that...this discovery is incredible! The beacon was only programmed for Prothean physiology. No wonder what you received was so confused, so unclear." The Asari flitted her eyes. "I am amazed you were able to make sense of it at all! A lesser mind would have totally been destroyed by the process-"
Shepard looked at Shield and doubted that assumption.
"-you must be remarkably strong-willed Commander!"
"This isn't helping us find the Conduit, or Saren," Garrus interjected.
"Of course, you're right," she said turning to the Turian next to her. "My scientific curiosity got the better of me. Unfortunately, I do not have any information that could help you find this Conduit...or Saren."
"If she was working with her mother or Saren, of course she'd say that," Ashley said, finally voicing her concerns.
Shepard disagreed with her.
The Asari's posture and tone hadn't indicated she was hiding anything when they first met. And as soon as she had first opened her mouth, Shepard could tell she didn't even have the skills necessary to lie. Her poor social skills were apparent with that comment made moments earlier. In fact, the Doctor seemed taxed with just trying to keep up a regular conversation.
"I-I haven't seen my mother in years! I-"
"Doctor." The Asari closed her mouth as Shepard turned to the Chief. "Williams, cool it."
"Sorry Commander," the marine quietly responded.
She let out a sigh before continuing. "Well...it looks like we wasted our time here. Thank you for your cooperation Doctor."
Before she was dismissed, the Asari popped out of her seat and started talking a mile a minute. "Wait Commander! Saren might try to make another attempt on my life! I'd feel safer if you'd let me stay on your ship! Besides, my knowledge on the Protheans could come quite in handy later!"
Shepard furrowed her brows.
This is coming out of thin air. The Doctor showed no signs she wanted anything to do with us until just now. If she really is working for her mother and Saren then...
"And her biotics will come in handy during the fight. Her barrier saved me from getting blown to bits back in those ruins," Garrus added.
"It'll be the right move Shepard," Shield also affirmed.
The fact that Shield was also advocating that the scientist join them-...no.
Garrus had suggested she would be a good addition first. Unless he was also in on this conspiracy, they were just voicing their opinions.
And Shield could have killed her. But he didn't. He wasn't their enemy.
But what if you're wrong?
The decision could jeopardize the safety of her crew and the entire mission. But so did her current paranoia.
Let her prove herself like the rest.
"We practically have every citadel race aboard. Might as well add an Asari to the team," Shepard decided to concede nonchalantly.
"Oh...well, thank you Commander! I am very grate-" The Asari suddenly teetered a bit.
Shield hopped out of his chair to catch her.
"Woah, you alright?" he asked.
"I'm sorry...I...I'm afraid I'm feeling a little light-headed."
"When was the last time you ate or slept?" Kaidan babied her. Shepard slowly turned to face him with disdain. He seemed unaware of it "Dr. Chakwas should take a look at you."
"It's probably just mental exhaustion, coupled with discovering the Prothean's true fate. I just need a moment to process all this."
"Go see the Doctor," Shepard gruffly replied.
"I'll take you to her," Shield offered. Shepard let them leave together.
If they really are working together...
"Anyone else have something they'd like to add?" she said cutting into her line of thought.
"Yes Commander!" Tali piped up.
She turned to the Quarian in surprise. "Find something?"
"Yes! Something I think you'll really want to see Commander," the Quarian said excitedly.
"Give it to me."
Author's Notes:
The Good News being that I finally published the chapter and with this, Therum Part 2 comes to a close! The Bad News is that it would've been out sooner if it wasn't for that darn wedding this weekend. More Good News though is that I also got a brand new computer. SWAG. Bad News is that I lost the entirety of the next chapter I had written. Was about 3/4 done too :( ...so might be awhile before the next one comes out. Weekly updates might have to be a thing I guess. If I had the time, I'm tellin' ya, we would be on Virmire right now...or I can wish at least.
And with regards to the actual story, one might ask: "Are random song lyrics in the story going to actually be a thing?"
Maybe.
Yes.
In the Next Chapter: Lots and lots of free time. Or not.
Tune in next time on Mass Effective: A Hero Made!