A/N Yay! Another favorite and follower. So another capter
Chey
Miranda and I had switched to a private channel we didn't really want to hear their conversation. "Well, at least we know how to give you control of your Biotics now, at least one way. I wonder if that is how your Mom did it?" She asks. "I'm not sure we have never asked about it. We never thought to. I wish we had now." I remark. "Why are you on a separate channel?" Shea asks. "We didn't want to intrude on yours and Liara's discussion." Miranda replies. "Get back on the right channel, there's a fight coming and I need to be able to issue orders if necessary." Shea orders. "Yes ma'am." I reply. The chaos is instant as soon as we switch over. "Miranda overload the rocket drone on your left, Chey concussive shot on the right. " We follow her orders to the letter, during a low in the battle she gives us new orders. " Miranda use warp ammo and switch to the locust. Chey switch to your Mattock and your disruptor ammo .
Shea rarely needed to issue orders during confrontations, not because she doesn't care but because all squads are attuned with Shea. At first throwing Liara in the mix with Miranda back on Ilium took some adjusting, but now we were a well oiled machine. Well enough for Shea and Liara to banter a bit over the radio during the fight. Once the door is opened, we take a breather. "So bantering is indeed very normal, during fights." Miranda says. "Yep, the bantering helps us cope and not feel overwhelmed." I said. "Good to know. Speaking of bantering when Ash was with you, what were her and Shea like. Were they like us and highly sexual?" she asks. I laugh. "Oh God no, they didn't even flirt, at least not if they were off the ship and others were around. They didn't get together until the night before Ilos. They had talked about it after we went to Feros, but at first they thought it could interfere with the mission. So they agreed to give it a go after Saren was stopped." I explain.
"Before Ashley, my sister was innocent and naïve when it came to matters of the heart. It was hilarious. Ash actually had to teach Shea how to flirt." I said. Miranda chuckles. "I find that so hard to believe or picture, she seemed adept at flirting with Kelly." She says. "What can I say Ash was an excellent teacher." Shea comments. "Oops." We said. "No worries. Chey was terrible at flirting. How she managed to woo Liana, I still don't know." Shea says. "Honesty. Complete and total honesty. That and I pretty much shouted at her to tell her I was interested in her. She turned three shades of red that day. But still she gave me a chance." I answer though I'm sure the question is rhetorical. "For the record, she is still terrible at flirting." Miranda adds. We all chuckle. "Well, looks like the break is over. Everyone good?" Shea asks. "All good here Commander." We all say.
The rest of our trek through the shadow broker's lair is BAU. Business as usual. "In no way was there less soldiers inside." I comment. ''Told you to keep dreaming T'Soni." Shea adds. "Yes, yes you were right as usual Shepard. Shut it." She says. Maybe it's me, but I can start to see a warmer Liara coming out. She is different but, I am sure I can grow to care for this new Liara. We find Feron strapped to chair being tortured by electric shocks. It was heartbreaking, for two years he had been enduring this torture. The only way we can free him is to temporarily cut the power, which unfortunately we would have to go through the shadow broker himself to do so. We enter the main room and a creature I have never seen before sits in a desk. I think he looks bigger then a the biggest Krogan I have ever met. Which was Wrex. Even Wrex would at least be a foot shorter. I did not like the feeling I was getting, trouble, big time.
Miranda
''Dear Lord that thing is bloody huge.'' I think. I can see both Shea and Chey are thinking along the same lines. Instinctively, I back up. I didn't want to be anywhere close to him. I needed a generous amount of space between it and me. Chey seems rooted to the ground, she is enthralled by whatever thoughts are moving through her head. I see her look around, studying the lay out, and formulating a plan of attack. She already senses this volatile situation. "You travel with interesting company Dr. T'Soni, Henry Lawson is offering a substantial reward for information on his lost daughters." He says. I tense and I see Chey tense far but not too far away from me. ''You won't touch them." Liara says confidently and I almost believe her. If Chey or Shea would have said that, I definitely would have believed them. So I cock my locust as a precaution. In an instant I know I can surround myself in biotics, so I feel a little less unsure.
"Release Feron and we'll walk out of here." Shea says. "You won't be leaving at all.'' He says. "I know your every move while you fumble in the dark." He says. "Is that so you're a Yahg, this base is older then you so I'm thinking you were brought here as a trophy.. or a pet. How am I doing." Liara says and the whole time while she's saying it I keep thinking. "Please do not piss off the giant beast." He stands and I think. "Fuck, I am going to die." Which I further think is close to the truth as I see in slow motion it's giant desk fly towards me. I feel fear because I cannot get my biotics up fast enough. Then I see a blue blur fly towards me. The desk hits the blur it stumbles to reveal Chey. She rolls with me in her arms but she can't control our trajectory I feel a wall impact my head and then I see Chey kneeling in front of me a barrier over both of us. Then I see nothing for a time.
I go in and out of consciousness. Just catching snippets of the battle before darkness again and every time I do I see Chey there holding up a barrier. I feel a flood of love and safety each time, but fear as well. If they don't end this fight soon, Chey will die. Her body and mind are not used to biotic energy. Each time I manage to maintain consciousness a little longer, but I still can't help. All I can do is pray for either the battle to end or for me to be able to take over the barrier, which is getting weaker as time progresses. Each and every moment I have to watch my love suffer, I grow angrier at Liara for not helping her. There is some anger towards Shea for not finding Samara first. I want to be angry at Chey for putting herself at risk for me. I can't though, because if our places been switched, I would do the same for her. I would willingly allow my biotics to burn me up from the inside just to keep her safe.
The last time I regain awareness a stray bullet breaks through her barrier and into chest and out her back over my head. She doesn't fall, but I can see the lines of pain and strain etched into her face. I somehow manage to gain enough balance and strength to get to her and push the medigel dispenser button on her armor. I whisper, "I'm sorry my love." She hisses as the small whole in her chest and back smoke, cauterizing the wound. She collapses then, I pull her closer to me and will my biotics to wrap around us and create a small but very powerful barrier. I focus on Chey's body against mine, on protecting us. I feel myself grow weaker, I am nearing my limits. I finally lose consciousness again just as I see them kill the Yahg. I send a prayer of thanks to whatever deity may be listening, for being able to hold on and for the fight ending.
Shea
Liara is panting for breath, I am still trying to stand. Normally I find that kind of breathing very arousing, but right now my anger and fear for my sister and Miranda is dwarfing it by far. At first I am angry at Liara for not being aware enough to realize my sister could be in danger. Then all my anger I direct at myself. "If I had only listened to Aunt Karin and got Samara first, Chey would not be in the critical condition she is. Liara helps me up, I ignore her at first and check on Miranda and Chey. Miranda is aware again and she is cradling Chey. "She's alright. Exhausted and weak, but all right. She may have one hell of a headache when she wakes up and she'll feel like she got hit by truck. But she'll live. I got her, go deal with her." She looks towards Liara. She speaks her last words venomously and follows the words with an equally venomous look.
My anger fades, lost in the din of voices from every screen. Liara's eyes flick from screen to screen, then she pushes a button and speaks to the agents in a distorted voice. I don't quite understand what is transpiring until Feron comes in to the room his gun drawn. "Goddess of Oceans, how?" he says. "Well, anyone who has ever seen the shadow broker is dead." She says her tone is sad like she just signed her life away, and now I get it. Feron voices it. "You are the new shadow broker." I can't hold my anger any longer at least not right now. Her voice wavered. "After two years.. it's finally over. With this network I can.." she covers her eyes her shoulders begin to shake. I reach out to her and grab her into a hug. ''It's alright. It's going to be okay." I reassure and comfort her Feron wisely leaves with Miranda, Chey in her arms.
"Are you sure you want this. We could still crash the systems?" I ask as she leaves my embrace. "It's a lot to take on, but is it wrong to feel like I was meant for this. Go get Chey to med bay, I still need to sort this out, hopefully I can find something to help you against the collectors." She says. "I'll be back in a couple hours okay?" she nods and I walk away and back to the ship and straight to med bay. "How is she Dr.?" I ask. "Chey is stable right now, she is still unconscious, but we can move her to her bed. I am worried there might be some neural damage, but I am unsure. Scans seem normal. I have done all I can for her. It's up to her now." She says.
I lift Chey up and gently carry her to Miranda's room and set her on the bed. Miranda immediately sits in a chair beside the bed. "Thank you Shepard." She quietly replies. Just by her calling me Shepard, I know she is not happy with me and blames me for Chey's condition. I blame myself too. I don't really know what to say. A part of me wants to stay by her side too, but I know right now I can't. "We'll head back to Ilium in a few hours. Rest up. As much as you can." She nods but doesn't look at me. I keep up my stoic face until I get to my room and in the shower, then I break down and cry and hit the walls until my knuckles bleed. After I clean up my new damages, I change clothes and bandage up my knuckles. If only to avoid questioning glances.
I return to the shadow brokers base. A drone that very much looks like Tali's Chiktika greets me at the door. "Welcome back shadow broker." It says. The monitor turns on and I see Liara. "Shepard. Come in." she says. She explains about the vi interface, it guides me around the ship to the various monitors like a tour. Liara and I talk about what she found out, about Feron's health and their relationship. "Just friends." She informs me of said relationship. "Never saw him that way. Shea, I could use a friend though. I invite her onto the ship.
Miranda
I begin to watch the monitors as soon as I learn Liara is coming onboard for a bit. "How dare she, after everything, and Shepard I can't believe her. She forgives her so easily and decides to dilly dally about, letting Liara explore the ship as her sister lies here in critical condition instead of going to get Samara to help Chey." I am pissed, a part of me wants to declare Shepard incompetent and take over the mission, but I know it would be pointless. The ship's crew are loyal to Shepard, even though I'm pissed, I'm still loyal to her. After all she took time out of the mission to help Oriana and I personally. "Maybe I should storm up to Liara and then Shepard and give them a good biotics punch." I say to the room.
"I'd prefer you didn't my heart. I rather love my sisters dearly." I spin around and all I feel is pure joy she's awake. I have to stop myself from jumping on to her and smothering her with kisses. "It's okay baby. I'm right here, are you hurt at all?" She asks. "No. I'm fine physically. I was afraid I'd lost you for a bit there." I say she holds out her arms. I settle into the embrace. "Nah it'll take more then that to get rid of me. I'm afraid you're stuck with me babe." She teases. I kiss her cheek. "I wouldn't have it any other way." I respond. She kisses my lips. "How are you feeling?" I ask. She groans. "Like I have been hit by three semi trucks, and my head hurts like hell." She replies.
I hear a knock on the door, I don't know who it is nor do I care to look. "Come in." I say loudly. When I see who enters, I immediately ready myself to attack. "Miri." Chey says warningly. "Let her speak." She orders. I reluctantly agree. "What do you want T'Soni?" I do not censor my tone. "I came to check on Chey and see if there is any neural damage. I can help her, please." Her tone is so sweet that it sets me on edge. "Oh now you want to help her." I said. "I'm sorry I didn't know about your condition. If someone had told me. I would have helped sooner." She says. "So what now you are blaming us. You should have been able to sense it. Vasir did, as she mind raped Chey." I was fuming. I feel a hand on my arm, and look to see Chey attempting to stand. My rage melts. "You shouldn't get up baby, you need to rest." I help her to lay back down.
"Miri, please let her help, my head feels like it's going to explode." She pleads with me. "I'm sorry Dr. T'Soni please help Chey.'' I move to the other side of the bed. "Did Vasir really force a meld on her, I need to know, so I don't make things worse." She says. "No, no meld her eyes didn't turn black, but she kept probing Chey with subtle biotic waves." I answer. "I need to initiate a mind meld, to check for damages and transfer knowledge. May I have both your permissions to do so?" she ask. "Yes. Please whatever helps." We say. It was strange to see in person an Asari melding with someone. The black eyes were a bit disconcerting. I still wasn't sure how that would not freak anyone out during sex, but to each his own.
When the meld started I felt Chey tense for a moment, I stroke Chey's hair and she relaxes. Her breathing steadies as if the pain is gone. I sat there holding her for at least an hour, before Liara came back to herself. Chey relaxed into a peaceful sleep. I look at Liara. "She's fine. No neural damage. After a meal and a goodnights sleep she'll be back to her old self and will know her biotics, that's why the meld took so long. I had to share several different classes with her. She is every class of biotic all rolled up into one. She can develop any one as she see's fit." She responds. I help her up. "Thank you and I'm sorry." I said. "No I am the one who is sorry, I should have stopped to listen. Your apologies are not needed, but I accept them." She says. I nod. "Thank You again. Chey is my world." I tell her she smiles sadly. She probably misses the one she loves too.
Shea
I am pouring the Thessian red wine I had purchased at Eternity when Liara walked through the door. "Did you enjoy the tour?" I ask. "I did, and I ran into Joker he seemed happy to see me. Though he did ask if I had 'embraced eternity' lately." She said. "Of course he did." I replied. "I noticed you were retrofitting a storage room with a clean room, but I didn't see any Quarians on your crew." She says. "Not yet. We ran into Tali on Freedom's progress she expressed and interest in the mission. So TIM sent us intel on where she was, we are heading there to get her after we recruit Samara." I reply. "Tali is coming back?" I can almost see her heart race. "Still have a thing for her huh? We are going to meet up with her, but it's still up to her whether she joins or not she might be of the same mindset as Ash and can't look past the fact that I am working with Cerberus to save the colonists. We figured we should probably get her a room set up if she joins. If not we have a clean room available just in case it's needed." I said.
"It's not a thing for her. I love her as much as you love Ashley and apparently as much as Chey loves Ms. Lawson. However I am not sure if she'll even be my friend after I gave your body to Cerberus." She says worried. "I am sure she'd understand." I reply. "I honestly don't know if Tali would forgive either of us." She nods, catching my meaning. "I also went and saw Dr. Chakwas, I'm happy she is with you. I went and checked on Chey too. She was conscious when I saw her. She even was aware enough to stop Ms. Lawson from tearing me apart. I helped her by melding with her. You'll be pleased to know that she has no neural damage and she'll be 100 percent in a day. With full control of her Biotics. She is unique in that she has knowledge on every class of biotic and can master any of them or use them all." She says.
I hug her. "Thank you so much Liara." She hugs a bit harder. "I'm sorry about Ashley, we lost touch too. So I brought you something it won't fix your relationship with Ashley, but perhaps it will bring you some happiness. It took some digging but we found your tags. Do you remember Hackett he asked that I give them to you." She hands me the familiar looking frame that was on her desk on Ilium. "Thank you, I never thought I'd see them again." I reply. She walks past me and looks at my fish tank. I sit on the corner of my desk. "So how are you doing really? Not what you tell your crew to keep morale up.'' She asks. "Honestly, I'm worried. Everyone looks at me like I should know what to do. I'm doing everything I can to stop the collectors and save the colonies, but I don't know if it will be enough." I said.
"You've done more then most. Not a man, woman, or child would be left on Horizon if it hadn't been for you." She says. " I saved some of them, but not enough and the collectors will keep hitting colonies until I stop them." I share my doubts. "So you'll stop them. And here I thought it'd be difficult." I reply. "You'll get the job done. So tell me what you want, what are you fighting for?" she asks. "I'm fighting for the future of everyone, I'm fighting for Chey and Miranda's future. I'm fighting the possibility of a future for Tali and you, for Ash's future whether she allows me to be a part of it or not." I tell her. "Then you will succeed. If it's one thing I've noticed, Shepards fight harder when they are fighting for there loved ones." She says. "Thank you Liara. I needed to hear that and reestablish my drive." I said hugging her.
"That's what friends are for." She says. "You know you are more then a friend to me right. You are my sister." I tell her she sniffles. "I know, I just needed to hear it to remind me. I should probably get back to my feeds and you should probably get back to your mission. Thanks for this and everything.'' She says. "I'll miss you Li, we'll come visit you as soon as we can. If you need anything you know you can call us and we'll help if we can." I tell her. "Thank you Shea, and good luck out there." She says and with one final hug she exits my cabin and heads back to her ship.