Ch. 16

"If I was in Hollywood and I got bitten by a zombie, I would want to stay a zombie and then take down as many people as I could,"

John Leguizamo

A short while later we get our first experience with a thorian creeper, "Man this thing is ugly," I say. The game shows how disgusting they are all green and mottled. So after a we push our way through the creepers we come upon a group of colonists behind cover, "Tali, Liana," I say to get their attention. "We shouldn't kill them," I say.

"I know your against it but what do you suggest," Liana asks.

"I'll handle the colonists," I say, "you keep the creepers off me." I sprint off and start picking up rocks. I begin throwing them, taking down colonists, oh man I hope they're going to be all right. I see green clouds start poofing up from the direction of the Skylines elevators. "Shepard's here," I say through my comm.

Eventually our pincer meets up by the freight controls, "Shepard," I say. I'm tossing a rock up and down. "Gas grenades," I ask.

"Yes," Shepard says, "I see your solution was a little more low tech."

I grin, "I think I got more," I say.

"I tried to fight it," Fai Dan who somehow we had missed said, "but it gets into your head." "You can't imagine the pain," he continues, "I was supposed to be a lead-," his little speech is interrupted by a well thrown rock from yours truly. He collapses to the ground.

Liana heads over to check him, "he's still alive, but he's gonna have a major head ache when he wakes up."

"He was a danger to himself and others," I say to Shepard's look.

"I didn't say anything," Shepard says with a slight smile.

"Will, get these colonists together," Shepard says, "and keep them from hurting anyone."

Shepard works on the console, she shifts the container and heads inside.

"Yes ma'am," I say. Man I wanted to go into the creepy underground area, where an army of zombies and a giant plant lived... ok maybe not.

"Joker any chance I'll get some help with this," I say over my comm.

"Sorry you're on your own," Joker says. Great.

I get Fai Dan first, "You should be happy," I say to the unconscious Fai Dan, "you shoot yourself in the game."

I strip off anything that can be used as a weapon and put it out of the way. Liana and Tali do the same, soon we have a good pile of armaments, and unconscious bodies. Luckily my rock throwing didn't kill anyone. After all the colonists are accounted for I sit down and wait. It's not like there's much action guarding people who are already unconscious. Tali and Liana come to sit by me, I look to them, "So come here often..."

A short while later the bodies start moving, "Ugggh, what happened," Fai Dan says. I cautiously move towards him.

"Are you, well you," I ask.

"The thorians gone," he says, "I can't feel it's influence any more."

"Guess that means Shepard took care of whatever's down there," I say, "finally we can get off this rock."

Shepard arrives a short while later from the underground lair of the thorian. I notice the asari walking with her, I guess that means she didn't kill the asari down there. Shepard and me meet up, "Shepard," I say, "can we go now."

Shepard get's her round of thank yous as the commander, I get a few but mostly from people with bandaged heads. We head back to the Normandy, I have to ask, "So what happened down there Shepard."

"A big plant, a lot of creepers and a big headache," She says, "the visions are becoming clearer and clearer."

"Well I wouldn't want you to repeat yourself," I say, "let's get to the Normandy."

A hop, skip and a jump later we are sitting in the briefing room in the same seats as the first time, which meant Liana was on my leg.

"I can't believe ExoGeni would perform experiments on their own people," Tali says.

"They'd have to perform them on someone," Liana says back.

"That's no excuse for doing it to those people," I say.

"None of this has anything to do with the mission," Garrus interrupts.

"Sorry we got off topic," I say, "Commander you don't look so good."

"The Cipher shook me up a bit," Shepard says.

"Do you need to see the doctor," I say. I'm actually getting good at playing along.

"No I think I just need time to get it all together," Shepard says.

"Commander, I might be able to help you," Liara says, "I am an expert on the protheans." "Perhaps if I join my consciousness with yours I will be able to make some sense of it."

"We don't have much time," Shepard says, "do it."

"Watch this," Liana whispers to me.

They stand up and walk to a few feet from each other. Looking into each other's eyes, "Relax commander," Liara says, she closes her eyes and when they re-open I can see black where the whites should be, "Embrace eternity." And nothing they just stand there... Shepard begins twitching with a sort of pained expression on her face. Then as quickly as it began it was over.

"That was incredible," Liara exclaims, "all this time, all my research." "Yet, I never dreamed..." "I'm sorry, the images were so vivid," she says, "I never imagined the experience would be so... intense." "You are remarkably..."

"Please Dr. T'soni," I say interrupting her, "what did you learn."

"The beacon on Eden Prim must have been badly damaged," Liara says, "large parts of the vision are missing." "The data transferred into the commander's mind is incomplete," She says.

"You must have seen something," Shepard asks.

"I was able to interpret the data relayed through your vision," Liara answers, "what was there, at least, but something was missing." "Saren must have the missing information," Liara continues, "maybe he found another beacon, if we con find the missing data from your vision, I can..." She clutches her head and seems to be woozy. "I'm sorry, the joining is exhausting," Liara says sounding tired, "I should go to the medical bay, and lie down for a moment."

"Maybe you should have the doc take a look at you," I say.

"That will not be necessary, I just need some rest," Liara says, "somewhere quiet."

"We're done here, dismissed," Shepard says.

I exit the room with Liana, "So things are getting exciting."