Disclaimer: I own nothing I say! I dont own Mass Effect or anything within it. Nor do I own Bioware.
A/N: I'm so rusty... I havent written too much in the past five or so years, maybe shorter then that. Hopefully the rust will come off as I go.
Chapter Three
Lightning flashed and the rain pattered against the windows of Liara T'soni's apparment. The place was ransacked now that Shepard had calmed herself enough to notice. She had released the police officer from her near iron grip as Tela Vasir approached her. Garrus and Grunt had finally caught up to their commander as they looked around. "You're woman's not very tidy is she, Shepard?" Grunt muttered.
Garrus jabbed the large Krogan in the side. Grunt grumbled and glowered down at the turian. Shepard ignored him altogether. On a quick examination one could see papers and data pads strewn about. Someone had been here, someone other then Liara. They were looking for something. "Where is she?" Shepard asked as she spotted a tipped over office chair in the office area.
"She fled the scene, but there's no sign of her being hurt." She said with a shrug. She watched Shepard closely, trying to read her and what she may be thinking. Another flash of lightning, and shortly after the rumbling of thunder. Shepard began to walk over to the office area, kneeling over and picking up papers and data pads giving them quick looks.
"She would have left me a message, I was suppose to meet her here." The Spectre muttered before rising to her full height again as she began to make a search of the apartment already. She could only hope Liara was alright. "Garrus you know Liara pretty well, look for anything that could be a message." Shepard then commanded.
Garrus nodded his head as he made for the upper floor of the apartment. Grunt followed close behind mumbling in discontent. "Does she think I'm a search dog?" the krogan complained. Garrus just gave him a look before searching what appeared to be a lofty bedroom. A large bed, neatly made. Some Prothean artifacts in cases decorated her room.
Shepard looked around before spotting a large painting on the wall close to her kitchen. She recognized it almost immediately. She walked over to it, Vasir joining her at her side. "I've never seen a painting like this before." She said curiously. "It's Ilos." Shepard said simply.
Her mind took the moment to remember the mission on Ilos. She remembered being determined to put an end to Saren and Sovereign. He may have been a victim ultimately but he chose to take the first few steps. Whatever the reasons before, he chose to get on that ship.
Then in a flash she remembered the night before they landed on Ilos. She was in her quarters, looking over some strategies. She knew her mind wandered on top of it. She couldnt help but find herself curious as to why Liara confessed to an interest in her. She knew she herself was fond of the asari woman. She never had been interested in someone before.. Not like that anyways.
She quickly shook her head as she turned to face the kitchen a moment. Nothing interesting to be seen there. A couple dirty dishes, otherwise clean and untouched.
She then made her way for the living room noting a few Prothean artifacts along the way. She smiled to herself slightly. So Dr. T'soni Prothean Expert existed under that cold exterior Liara made for herself. She could only hope after this was all over Liara would feel... relaxed enough again to shine light on who she really was again.
She then spotted another glass case. But in it was no Prothean artifact or relic. She made her way for the case as she eyed the old battered hard suit chest plate. It was charred, scratched, and dented to hell. She could barely make out the N7 on it. It was so faded and scratched up. "This is part of my old armor.." she then said as she reached up touching the glass.
Now she really felt guilty. She wished she never had to leave Liara behind. Damn the Reapers. "Looks like someone didn't like you much either." Tela Vasir tried to joke. She didn't get a laugh though, instead she got a heavy glare. She held her gloved hands up in defense. "Sorry."
"Shepard, I found something." Garrus called from the top of the stair case. Shepard looked up at the turian and krogan pair. She then marched across the apartment, moving with determination. She walked past one prothean case and began to ascend the stairs with a confident stride.
She regarded her turian.. friend if she would, and fellow comrade with the nod of her head. Her way of saying thank you, he supposed. She then laid her hand once on Grunt's shoulder to settle his growing impatience. He grunted once in turn as she followed Garrus towards what he found. "This stood out from the rest." the former c-sec officer said as he pointed towards a single picture on a bed stand.
Shepard approached it carefully. She recognized it instantly. It was the old SR1 SSV Normandy. Orbiting some planet she couldn't remember the name of at the moment. She bent over slightly reaching out for it. Her gloved hand carefully picked it up as she examined it a moment.
Vasir had followed her fellow Spectre and spotted the picture. "What is it?" She asked curiously, eyeing the ship in the picture. "It's my old ship.. The Normandy." Katelyn said quietly, as if lost in thought. "Ashley Williams, a former member of my team took the picture for her sisters back home." she added, as if lost in a memory.
Suddenly, though, the picture changed. Shepard recognized this new scene, none of the others did. "I don't recognize this." Garrus said, sounding a bit confused. Katelyn smirked to herself. "It's a message. This is some Prothean ruins on Eden Prime. Before I met you Garrus." she said as she tossed the picture back onto the bed as she turned around. "Search these Prothean items, there must be another clue." she then ordered as she quickly made her way back down the stairs.
VWVWVW
The Dracon Trade Center. Liara pulled up to the tall building in her hover car and quickly stepped out of it. She then walked quickly for the front door of the building. She glimpsed around herself, seeing pedestrians grouped up here and there holding idle chit chat from the looks of it. She only hoped to the Goddess that the Shadow Broker's mercs wouldn't stage a fight here amongst them.
Though she doubted he had enough morals for such a thing.
She made her way into the building, nodding to the front desk's person as she made her way to a stair case. In the back of her mind she worried about Shepard. She knew Vasir was after her. A Spectre agent working for the Shadow Broker. She knew Katelyn wouldn't take to that so well when she found out.
She just hoped Kate was able to get her message.
She had to focus on the present though. She was here to meet up with Sekat, someone who had information she desperately needed. Her heart pounded as she went through hall ways and passed more people. Baria Frontiers was quite crowded tonight. She looked at the people as she passed them by, wondering if they even know how much danger they were in just being near her.
She shook her head as she walked with determination and tried to clear her thoughts. She was getting closer to her destination, and still no sign of Shepard. She wondered briefly if she was alright. She knew the Commander was a strong woman. She wouldn't go down easily. But she died once... Again she shook her head.
"Have to focus." She muttered to herself. She didn't need to break down here and now wondering if Katelyn was alright. She was sure she was. No she was positive she was alright. She had to be. She wouldn't let the Spectre get hurt because of her own reckless mission.
As she came through a door she stopped at a small desk. An Asari woman sat behind it, and greeted her kindly. "How can I help you this evening?" She questioned. Liara came to a stop in front of the desk and smiled down at the woman. She wasn't going to betray herself to emotions now, she had to keep calm. "Sekat is expecting me, Liara T'Soni." she said kindly.
"Oh! Yes he is, he's in his office through that door." the Asari directed as she held out a data pad. "If you could just sign in before you go through." She then said courteously. Liara nodded as she took the data pad and filled in her e signature before handing it back. The unnamed Asari smiled warmly once more and bowed her head. "Have a good evening, Miss T'soni." she then said as Liara walked passed her desk.
Just as the door opened there was a loud explosion, and the building groaned and rumbled. Liara lost her balance as she caught herself against the door frame catching herself. The floor shook violently under her feet as she could hear screams filling the building. "Stop right there!" she then heard.
She turned her head just in time to see the Asari woman get shot in the head. She didn't even have a chance to react she was so thrown off guard. Now she sat dead in her seat. "Damnit!" Liara yelled in anger as she threw a warp singularity towards the two armored mercs on the other side of the room.
She then dashed through the door. She could not afford to fight off what was no doubt a small army of mercs now. Not by herself. She ducked into a storage room and locked herself in, hoping that they wouldn't see her for now. She'd have to find Sekat when the coast was clear. She was a capable fighter, but she couldn't afford to be found alive right now. As long as they thought she was dead it would work to her advantage. She knew it would.
VWVWVW
"Liara is in there!" Katelyn yelled in a panic. Just as they showed up to the building there was a loud explosion. Chunks of the building flew off the side of said building, shards of glass glistened as they shattered to the ground. People flew out of the now broken windows just to land on the ground three stories bellow. Most did not survive the fall.
Shepard hurtled towards the building, Garrus and Grunt hot on her heals. "I'll go to the roof and work my way down!" Tela Vasir called after the fleeting figure of Commander Katelyn Shepard. She then got into her car and began to rise up along the building.
Katelyn drew her sub machine gun and ran through the doors. She had to find Liara. She would not lose her now. Liara didn't deserve the fate Shepard had. She couldn't just die, there was no way. She was a strong woman, despite her outer appearance. For an Asari of barely adult age she was far wiser and stronger then any other young maiden of 108 years.
VWVWVW
After battling through waves of the Shadow Broker's "personal army" as Vasir put it, they finally reached an office area. Katelyn noted a dead Asari woman in her chair as they stepped past her. Guns at the ready Shepard nodded at Garrus and Grunt who took positions next tot he door as she tapped the opening mechanism.
The door was damaged and it took a few moments to respond. By this point Shepard was right next to Garrus as their guns were held fast. Before the door opened they could hear a gun shot. They glimpsed at each other as the door hissed open. They all quickly piled in, guns pointed. Shepard's eyes quickly scanned the source of the gun shot.
A merc lied dead on the floor as Vasir stepped up. "Damnit, if I'd of been a few seconds faster I could've stopped them." She said half heartedly." At first Shepard worried if it was Liara, but she quickly spotted the dead Salarian. She holstered her weapon, as did the rest of her team. She glimpsed at Vasir who shook her head at the dead body.
Katelyn kneeled down as she looked at the dead alien. "Is this Sekat?" she questioned as she reached out beginning to pat down the salarian. "Must've been." Vasir said as she faced the other direction. Shepard sighed as she stood back up.
She turned to face the Asari Spectre. "No sign of that data Liara talked about." She said rubbing her brow. Where WAS Liara she wondered briefly. In all this chaos she would've expected to have found her by now. Gods, she hoped she was ok.
The room around them was in shambles as Katelyn and the others scanned it. Flames licked at one corner of the room, water pooled at their feets on their end. Blood stained the wall and floor from the two dead bodies, a window was busted out. "Looks like a dead end." Shepard said with frustration.
"Speaking of which, did you find your friend's body?" Vasir asked, sounding all too hopeful as she turned around. Shepard eyed her for a moment feeling slightly suspicious. What was this Vasir after exactly? Now that it passed her thoughts in a flash what would a Spectre want with Liara?
"You mean this dead body?" came a familiar voice. One Shepard's heart pounded at hearing. She spun around to see Liara advancing, pistol in hand. Her eyes were narrowed, she was soaked with water from head to boot. "Liara!" she called out with relief. She then glimpsed at Liara to Vasir. Her suspicions grew when she found Liara pointing a gun at the other Spectre. "Something I should know?" She questioned looking towards Tela Vasir.
"This is the woman who tried to kill me." Liara said calmly as she stepped closer to Vasir, never lowering her weapon. Katelyn, a fire in her eyes, glared at the Spectre. Vasir herself backed herself towards a not so broken window as she held up one hand. Her face read that of irritation, perhaps a hint of disappointment.
"You've had a rough day, so I'll let that slide. Why don't you put that gun down?" she said hotly. Liara never wavered in her aggresive stance though. "I saw you break into my apartment, nice try though." Liara said cooly, but an anger hidden in her voice spelled it all. She was ready to strike at any moment.
"Now it all comes together." Shepard said angrily. She was used as a way to find Liara. She drew her pistol as the Turian and Krogan did the same. They all faced the Asari Spectre as Katelyn's eyes narrowed. She wouldn't let that pass without punishment that was certain.
Vasir backed up a bit more as she glared at the small group. She knew she couldn't handle them all, she had to think of a plan quickly. Two powerful biotics, a Krogan, and a former c-sec officer. Even for an Asari Spectre, they were too much to handle.
"She had Sekat killed, she probably took the disc." Liara commented as she glimpsed to her side where Katelyn had taken up her own aggressive stance. She could see the slight biotic flare on Shepard's form. She knew Kate didn't like being taken for a fool. For a brief moment she felt sorry for the other Spectre.
"Good guess, but you wont get to see it, you pureblood bitch!" Vasir said with malice and insult as she brought her hand up, showing the disc before she crushed it, shattering the window at the same time behind herself. She then used her own biotics to fling the shards of glass towards the group. It was meant more as a distraction.
Liara reacted quickly as she summoned up her own biotics, hearing Katelyn fire her weapon as she brought up a protective barrier. The group was encased inside the blue shield as they all fired at her. Vasir turned on her heal quickly and began to dash for her escape exit. She just reached the ledge as she was tackled hard from behind.
She turned herself around as she began to slow their decent with her biotics as she wrestled with Commander Shepard. She knew now that she was in a fight for her life. She almost regretted ever following the Shadow Broker's orders as she kicked the other woman off herself.
VWVWVW
Ok I'm gonna cut it off here. Next chapter I'm hoping I can just find a clever way to skip all the fighting and go for after the part Vasir dies. It'll be fun, but I want to go on to fill in the blank spot with the Normandy heading for the Shadow Broker's ship next. Later gaterz, and hope you all had a good Christmas (Or whatever winter festivity you all celebrated =3 )