Chapter 19: Hazel Shepard
It's been one week since the destruction of Omega in the terminus systems. The human systems alliance and the council are being blamed for the deaths of civilians on the station, several races have spoken out against the councils invasion of the Terminus systems. Commander Hazel Shepard has used this in the form of a mass recruitment drive all over the terminus systems and has gained an ally in the asari. She has not told them about the return of the Reapers.
"I understand Admiral and I'll have my forces moved to Lusia in the next day or two." Shepard responded to the holo of an asari.
"All right and I don't know how you did it but you've got the 63rd Alliance scout flotilla and the 2nd fleet docked here." the asari said.
"Just make sure you asari are ready." Shepard told the asari admiral before cutting the comm.
"So we're really invading the Citadel?" Liara asked.
"Yes." Shepard answered, turning to Liara.
"Can we pay those mercenaries so they can stop having their god damned hands out?" Shepard asked.
"The anonymous donations and the funds we're getting from the Asari Republic came through and now we can pay them a years salary." Liara answered. "And Hazel..."
"What Liara!" Shepard snapped.
"When are you going to talk about what happened at Omega?" Liara asked, not hiding the agitation in her voice.
"Nothing to talk about!" She angrily dismissed. "Everyone who died was a casualty in the war!" She yelled.
"How can you say that?" Liara yelled. "Kolyatt and millions of others died on Omega!" Liara marched over to Shepard, grabbing her shoulder. "And you don't even care!"
Hazel slapped the blue hand away from her shoulder. "Should I feel sorry that a haven for criminals and the corrupt is rubble?"
"What about Kolyatt?" Liara shouted. "And Ashley she was your friend!" she continued, getting her Hazel's face.
"I failed Kolyatt I wish I could have gotten him off the station and I couldn't!" Shepard yelled shoving the asari. " Ashley is another friend I'm responsible for killing!" she shouted, shoving Liara once more.
Shepard walked away from Liara and sat on her bed."Kaiden on Virmire,Joker dying with the Normandy, Garrus and Tali and my not being able to save Thane from his disease." She mumbled. "And now my best friend is dead and once again it's my fault."
"Those weren't your fault Zel." Liara said remorsefully. "You had no idea that the Reapers would return." She said trying to comfort her lover.
"Yes I did." Shepard grunted, clinching her fists together, looking away from Liara. "I didn't know when but I knew they would."
"What do you mean?" Liara asked, puzzled by what Shepard was saying.
"The year 2190 before I got arrested I found a damaged Reaper and I boarded it." Shepard explained. "I found a beacon on it and it had data that told me the rest of the Reaper fleet retreated beyond the Omega 4 relay."
"What did you do?" Liara asked.
"I went to the only person I thought that would be able to help." Shepard sighed. " I went to Miranda Lawson."
"What happened?" Liara asked growing more curious.
"She asked me to lead Cerberus in the fight against the Reapers and I told her no, so we had a falling out...shots were fired." Shepard continued. "And after I visited mom, I was one my way to kill Aria and then I got arrested."
"Why didn't you put up a fight?" Liara asked.
"I was tired Liara." Shepard said. "Tired of all the fighting and death...I was stupid." she grunted, walking away from Liara. "I'm the butcher of Torfan, I kill for nothing and the murderer of the council!" She shouted.
"No your not!" Liara yelled, standing back up and pulling Shepard to her."There's more to you than what the vids and politicians say!"
Shepard scoffed at Liara's defense" Your right I kill my friends to."
"Ashley's death was not you're fault!" Liara shouted. "You couldn't save her, you..."
"Liara I blew up Omega." Shepard cut in, the tone in her voice devoid of emotion. "I when I saw the Reapers coming through the relay I blew up the station to take out as many as I could in the asteroid field."
Liara had a horrified expression on her face. She couldn't believe Shepard did what she's saying she did. "You didn't...you wouldn't"
"Blow up a space station full of mercenaries and other criminals...yes I would!" Hazel screamed." And you aren't in the least bit a saint either Shadow broker!" she yelled, jabbing a finger into the asari's chest.
"That was a long time ago!" Liara shot back giving Hazel an angry shove. " And your the one who got me away from that life and nothing I did as the Shadow broker doesn't even compare to what your saying you did!"
Before the couple could continue their argument Shepard's computer started chiming. Not saying anything Shepard walked past Liara and went to her computer. She stat down at her desk and began reading her message, seeming to forget Liara was in the room. Liara becoming more and more aggravated at Shepard's ignoring her moves in front of Shepard and began to read the message. "What the hell... is...so..."
The message read:
Subject: undisclosed location.
To: Shepard
Civilians have arrived at the location you specified, unloading procedures are underway and civilians have been cooperative in their relocation. The Live ships are being returned to the quarians.
Awaiting further orders.
"Do you know how expensive it is to rent a quarian live ship?" Shepard joked.
Liara shot a angry glare at Shepard. "Why did you let me think you let all the civilians die and when did you move civilians?" She questioned.
"I rented a quarian live ship and after the attack on Omega, I had every one moved to a colony I've hidden over the two years." Shepard answered smiling at the confused asari. "You are so sexy when your mad blue bird, I couldn't help my self."
Liara rolled her eyes and got closer to Shepard, standing over her seductively. "There are easier ways to get my attention." she whispered leaning towards Shepard suggestively.
Shepard smiles and pulls her in for a long and passionate kiss. Standing back up taking off her shirt and undoing her belt. Shepard and Liara stumble onto the bed with Shepard landing on top of the asari. "Liara I might not be the best person." Shepard said giving the asari another kiss.
"But I wont ever become something that you'll be ashamed of." she whispered, giving her a longer kiss.
"I could never be ashamed of you Zel." Liara said, kissing her back. "Just promise that when this is all over you'll be here."
Shepard gave a deep sigh and placed her forehead on top of Liara's. "As long as I have something to comeback to I'll be back." she whispered, lifting her head up. "I can promise that."
After about an hour Shepard came out of her room exhausted, but feeling better than she had been in the last few days. She was walking down the hallway buttoning her shirt when she looked down the hall to see Jack who had called for her earlier waiting for her."Someone got laid!" Jack teased.
"Non of your business." Shepard answered.
"Does Liara know about Omega?"
"She'll believe what she wants to!" Shepard shouted, cutting the biotic off. "You got some thing for me?"
"I got this off the body of that pilot you killed." Jack answered, handing her a data pad.
"This better be worth getting me out of bed." Shepard grunted.
"I think this is worth cutting a mind fuck session with blue a little short." Jack said.
Shepard snatched the data pad from Jacks hands and began reading the message. As she continued to read her once pleasant mode was changed to a much angrier one at seeing who the message was signed by. It was signed Illusive man.
End.