Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect or anything related to it or the company owners. Fan based story only.
A/N: My shepard is female, renegade, vanguard, earth born, and ruthless. LiaraxFemshep pairing.
Chapter 2
Liara lazily checked through her personal messages. Nothing seemed to stand out until she found a message from one K. Shepard. Her face became burdened with upset and concern. They hadn't spoken since Katelyn was last on Illium. After the Commander had found an Asari woman named Samara, and a drell named Thane Krios they ended up in an arguement.
Since then they never spoke. From her job as an Information Broker she knew Katelyn had recently engaged against the Collectors, and came out victorious, no casualties. She knew only Katelyn could pull such a thing off. Though impatient for the most, Katelyn still took care of her people. She even helped them solving some of their personal issues before they had set out to put an end to the human abductions and take away one less tool for the Reapers to use when the finally came.
Katelyn was respected and at the same time feared by her comrads. They knew very little of her, and her past. Liara was the only person Katelyn ever let into her heart, let alone close enough to learn of her true side. The woman, and not the leader. Though a natural leader, and despite her aggressive behaviors and personality she was admired, and held up as a symbol for humanity.
She was loved, admired, feared, and respected. These things could make one very powerful. But Katelyn never strayed. She never made anyone suffer if it wasnt needed. She was a better person then even she herself realized. Liara saw it in her, believed in her for it.
She sighed lightly as she opened the message.
Liara:
I know we havent spoken since... Since the last time I was on Illium. I'm sorry I yelled at you, fought with you. You have been the only person to ever understand me, and I regret having pointed my anger at you. It wasn't your fault, and you were only doing what you felt was right.
By now I'm sure you know what I've been up to so I wont take up your time with it. But I am heading to Illium as I speak. I have something you may be interested in. Something important. I should be there within a week's time.
Kate
Liara puzzled over what the Spectre was talking about. Oh yes, she was a Spectre again. Though not publicly announced and very few knew of it. The Council had given the status and rank back to her after a lengthy discussion. She was still bound by the Spectre Code, and she assured the Council that she was not truly working for Cerberus. She only used them as a means to get the job against the Collectors done.
But what did Katelyn have that Liara would find important? She had long since forgiven the woman for what happened six months back. She knew Katelyn was distraught at the time. At first, though, she wondered if she had hated her.
Liara closed her terminal's messages and went back to researching some leads for her clients. She sat in her office on Illium. Her mind wandered even though she focused on the task at hand. She had missed Katelyn dearly. They had shared a brief moment in time with each other. However brief they were, Liara never regretted it. She loved the woman with all her heart.
But circumstances had torn the two apart. Kate's death, and Liara's mission. Though she was doing it for a few different reasons. She owed Feron a great deal for helping her in recovering Kate's body... without him Kate wouldn't be here today... He also helped her get into her new career.
She also was doing this for vengeance. For herself, for Kate, for Feron. For everything wronged against her. She also knew that... if she succeeded in her mission she could better help Kate. With the galaxy's information in her hands she could point Kate in the right direction, help her stop anything before it happened.
Liara leaned back in her chair, folding her hands together into her lap as she stared to her right side. She could see the busy city outside her office. Once more she wondered what made Katelyn decide to come back to Illium. It must of been something important, or she wouldn't take the time of day to come out all this way.
VWVWVW
The SR2 Normandy was beginning the approach it's docking position on Nos Astras, Illium. After having been cleared to land Joker steered the ship in smoothly, slowing her down until it came to a complete stop. The docking hanger stretched out as large magnetic clamps attached themselves to the ship to keep it in place.
"Docking completed, Commander, you're clear for departure." Joker said over the intercom. Shepard looked over to Garrus and Grunt who had suited up and carried an assorted arsenal of guns. She herself was in her N7 hard suit, carrying her own array of weapons. "Lets move out." She said taking in her neutral commanding tone.
Katelyn Shepard checked for a fifth time to make sure she had the data pad that held the important information she came to give Liara. Satisfied it was still there she took point and lead her team out of the ship and into the space port.
VWVWVW
Liara looked up from her desk, having heard the slight click and hiss of the door as it began to open up. She smiled slightly as stood up to greet the party of three that entered her office. "Ka-... Commander Shepard, it's good to see you again, please have a seat." She greeted. She had almost called the woman by her first name, but had stopped herself. She wasn't sure if they were really on friendly terms again or not.
She held her hand out offering a chair in front of her desk to the 31 year old woman who nodded in return before taking her seat. Liara mirrored the woman as she sat back down in her own chair. "How's the hunt going, Liara?" Katelyn asked knowing Liara probably had no leads. Liara herself knew to what Katelyn was referring to as well.
"Nothing new, I'm afraid." Liara said with a downcast look. She was still feeling the sting on their past fight. Katelyn suddenly felt guilty having sensed it from Liara's expressions. The young asari leaned forward folding her hands together in front of her on the desk. "That's why I came, actually..." Katelyn began.
Liara looked back up at the woman curiously. Katelyn then pulled the data pad out, looking at it once. In a split second she wondered if she should really encourage Liara to do this. Liara had changed so much in the last two years, it was obvious. She was colder, more aggressive. It was uncomforting in a way. Katelyn didn't like it, but she could understand it. Still, she missed the old shy clumsy scientist.
She then handed the pad over to Liara who took it curiously. She turned it on, tapping a few keys before the information came up on the tiny view screen. Liara examined it closely as Katelyn adjusted in her seat leaning forward. "It looks like a leaked transmission between Shadow Broker's operatives. Some hints to the location and-" She paused a moment as the screen showed the picture of a Drell male. "It's about Feron, he's still alive."
Liara suddenly rose from her seat as she looked relieved yet suddenly angry. Katelyn too rose from her seat. "Liara.. What will you do now?" Katelyn swallowed the sudden tensed feeling in the air. It all came from Liara who sat the data pad aside. Liara shook her head. "I-I dont know.. I need to prepare, to think.." She said quietly as she began to round her desk.
"I'm going home... If you need anything you can access my terminal Shepard.." Liara continued walking pass Kate, and Garrus and Grunt nodding to the both of them as they nodded back. Kate turned on her heals. "Liara, you ok?" She asked. She never sounded as concerned for anyone else. Garrus could attest to that. He admired the human, but he knew well enough to keep his distance. Though he would take a bullet for the human at the same time.
"I don't know. I've spent the last two years plotting revenge..." Liara started before she stopped. She then looked at Katelyn, her Katelyn, over her shoulder. "But now I can make this a rescue. I owe Feron so much." she said quietly, perhaps even a hint of her formal self surfacing, though shoved back down forcefully.
Katelyn thought quickly. "I can help you Liara... Let me help you, you wont be able to do this on your own." Katelyn said this quickly. Almost frantically. In truth she knew Liara could handle her own... but against something like the Shadow Broker... She wouldn't forgive herself if she left Liara to die. She knew that she wouldn't make it alone.
Liara smiled breifly. "Thank you Kate... I will meet you at my apartment, I have some things to attend to before we head out." she then said before she exited her office quickly. Shepard looked to her two companions and comrads. "Keep your eyes open. Anything suspicious don't hesitate, use force if needed." Shepard ordered.
They both looked to each other then back at their Commander. "You got it, Shepard." Garrus said with a smile. Or as much as a Turian could smile anyways. "Finally some action!" Grunt said excitedly as he smashed one large Krogan fist in the palm of his other hand. "Move out!"
VWVWVWVW
After having gotten to Liara's apartment building they made their way to the elevator and filed in. Once inside Shepard pushed the button to Liara's floor and the doors closed, and the elevator hummed to life as it began to ascend the floors. "So have you two made up for that fight last time?" Garrus questioned curiously.
He knew that Liara was good for the Commander. She was like the center to her eternal raging storm within her soul. How Shepard had gotten that way he didn't know, and he knew well enough not to pry. He was concerned over it however. Shepard shrugged, her hard suit moving with her motions making her look bulkier then she really was.
She didn't say a word about it and Garrus shook his head behind the woman. "What is it with you squishy types and drama?" Grunt questioned rhetorically. Shepard looked over her shoulder at the large Krogan and glared a moment. Grunt just shrugged at her. He would never understand humans fully.
Finally the doors opened but the hall was filled with cops and detectives. At first Shepard shrugged it off as nothing but as they neared Liara's door. "Liara!" she yelled out as she suddenly bolted across the door's threshold and into the larger apartment. A crime scene holotape "blocked" the entrance but she ignored it as she ran into the apartment, her eyes looking around frantically for the asari.
"You can't come in here!" Shepard turned and spotted an Asari she had never seen before. She was in a police hard suit and she was marching towards Shepard to remove her from the scene. Instead Shepard stepped up and grabbed the woman's collar and her face thrusted into the other's in close proximity. "Where is she?" She demanded.
The cop cringed once. "I-I don't know." She said quietly suddenly very intimidated by this intruder. "Put her down, Spectre Shepard." Came another voice. Kate had yet to do so but she looked over her shoulder to find a new Asari as she descended a stair case casually. She was also in a hard suit, one outside of any other police uniform, and heavily armed. "I am Spectre Vasire, I will explain what has happened here."
VWVWVW
Mkay, end of this chapter. Not totally sure how I will proceed just yet. I do not want to go through the entire DLC, we all already know what has happened, though I will follow it's.. guideline if you will, with my own twists and differences. The juicy parts will come after the Shadow Broker's fall. So stay tuned!