Ch. 14

The time to stop talking is when the other person nods his head affirmatively but says nothing.

Henry S. Haskins

I walk with Tali to, the conference room. We enter and Shepard notices us, "How is she," Shepard asks.

"Fine," Tali says sitting down.

I notice there's a shortage of chairs, I go to stand to the side, "Sit here," Liana says standing from hers.

"No that's..." I begin to say.

"Now," she interrupts firmly.

I go over and sit in the chair, Liana sits on my leg and puts her arm around me. The others stare at us. "Now that we are all seated," Shepard says, "do you know anything about the conduit."

"Only that is was somehow connected to the prothean extinction," Liara says, "that is my real area of expertise." "I have spent the past fifty years of my life trying to figure out what happened to them."

"Wait," Shepard says, "fifty years just how old are you."

"I hate to admit it I am only a hundred and six," she says.

"Damn I hope I look that good when I'm your age," Ashley says.

"A century may seem like a long time to your short lived species, but it's really not much more than a child to us asari," Liana says.

"That is why my research has not received the attention it deserves," Liara says, "because of my youth, other asari tend to dismiss my theories on what happened to the protheans."

"We already know," I say to her.

"With all due respect, I have heard every theory out there, the problem is finding evidence to support them," Liara says, "the Protheans left remarkably little behind." "It's almost as if someone did not want the mystery solved," Liara says, yeah the reapers, "it is as if someone came along after the protheans were gone and cleansed the galaxy of clues." "But here is the incredible part, according to my findings, the protheans were not the first galactic civilization to mysteriously vanish," She continues, "the cycle actually began long before them."

"Where'd you come up with this theory," Shepard asks, "I thought there wasn't any evidence."

"I have been working on this for fifty years," Liara answers, "I have tracked down every scrap and shred of evidence." "Eventually, subtle patterns began to emerge," She explains, "patterns that hint at the truth." "It is difficult to explain to someone else, I cannot point to one specific thing to prove my case," Liara continues, " it is more a feeling derived from half a century of dedicated research."

"Shepard looks like I'm not the only one who follows their gut," I say to her.

Liara looks taken aback, "Excuse me," she asks.

"It's a human thing," I say with a grin.

"I see it is a human thing," Liara says, continuing on what she was saying before, "but I know I am right and I'll be able to prove it eventually." "There were other civilizations before the protheans, this cycle has repeated itself many times over."

"If the protheans weren't the first then who was," Shepard asks.

"I don't know," Liara says, "there is barely any evidence on the protheans." "Even less on those who came before them, I cannot prove my theory but I know I am right," Liara continues. "The galxy is built on a cycle of extinction," She says, "each time a great civilization rises up, it is suddenly and violently cast down." Only ruins survive," She says. "The protheans rose up from a single world until their empire spanned the entire galaxy," She continues, "Yet even they climbed to the top on the works of those who came before." "Their greatest achievements – the mass relays and the Citadel – are based on the technology of those who came before them," She says, "and then, like all the other forgotten civilizations throughout galactic history, the Protheans disappeared." "I have dedicated my life to figuring out why."

"They were wiped out by a race of sentient machines," Shepard says, "The Reapers."

"The– The Reapers," Liara asks, "but I have never heard of– how do you know this." "What evidence do you have," She asks.

"There was a damaged Prothean beacon on Eden Prime," Shepard answers, "it burned a vision into my brain, I'm still trying to sort out what it all means."

"Visions, yes... that makes sense," Liara says, "the beacons were designed to transmit information directly into the mind of the user." "Finding one that still works is extremely rare," Liara says, "no wonder the geth attacked Eden Prime." "The chance to aquire a working beacon– even a badly damaged one– is worth almost any risk," She explains. "But the beacons were only programmed to interact with Prothean physiology," She says, "Whatever information you revieved would have been confused, unclear." "I am amazed you were able to make sense of it at all," she continues, "a lesser mind would have been utterly destroyed by the process." "You must be remarkably strong-willed, Commander," She says.

"This isn't helping us find Saren," Kaiden says, "or the Conduit."

"Of course, you are right," Liara says, "I am sorry, my scientific got the better of me." "Unfortunately I do not have any information that could help you find the Conduit," She says, "or Saren."

"Looks like we wasted our time here," Shepard says.

"Wait, Commander, Saren might try another attempt on my life," Liara says, "I'd feel safer if you let me stay on your ship." "Besides, my knowledge of the Protheans might prove useful later," She says.

"And her biotics will come in handy when the fighting starts," Garrus points out.

"Good to have you on the team, Liara," Shepard says.

"Thank you, Commander," Liara says, "I am very gratef- whoa," she reaches a hand to her head "I am afraid I am feeling a bit light-headed."

"When was the last time you ate, or slept," Kaiden says, "Dr. Chakwas should take a look at you."

"It is probably just mental exhaustion," Liara says, "with the shock of discovering the Protheans' true fate, I need some time to process all this." "Still, it could not hurt to be examined by a medical professional," Liara concedes, "it will give me the chance to think things over, are we finished here, Commander."

"We can talk again after you've seen the doctor," Shepard says, "the rest of you... dismissed." We all get up to leave Liara never letting me go.

"Mission reports are filed, Commander," Joker's voice says over the intercom, "you want me to patch you through to the Council."

I hear Shepard say, "Patch them through Joker," as the door shuts.

After Liara is out of earshot I say, "Man archaeologists talk a lot."