Disclaimer: I don't own Mass Effect or Bioware
A/N: Thank you guys for the reviews. I really truly appreciate them. I'm also relieved that you all are enjoying it so much. I was honestly afraid I was rushing stuff lol.
Anywho, without making you all wait too long, here is chapter 5.
Chapter 5
Katelyn's head had taken to resting against Liara's as they slept. They had slept for the majority of the trip. They never moved from their spot on the crates. They slept rather heavily at that. Almost nothing could disturb them. Well not easily anyhow.
But before much longer Liara had slowly awoken, her eyes blinking a good few times. She felt Kate's warmth next to her own as she slowly pulled herself away from the strong arms of the human. Kate's hold on her was loose, but she could feel the muscle tone under the other's long jacket sleeves.
Liara rubbed her eyes as they still felt heavy from the silent crying she had done before she fell asleep. She then looked at Kate's still sleeping form. She starred at her in silence for half a minute before she slowly got to her feet. She felt grateful that Kate had just been there for her. It was a comfort she had not felt in what seemed like a life time.
"Commander?" suddenly came Joker's voice over the intercom. Kate snapped awake in a near instant, though still groggy. Joker had yet to say anything more as Kate looked around trying to figure out where she was. "What?" She asked just as groggy. Her normally strong, yet soothing voice was currently tainted with a hoarse sound.
"ETA to Hagalaz 30 minutes." Joker then said. Shepard looked up to Liara who looked back at the human Spectre with a nod. Katelyn finally rose to her own feet straightening out her uniform. "Thanks, Joker." The intercom cut off as Shepard rubbed the back of her neck working out the kinks.
"I suppose.. we had better get ready." Liara said quietly as she turned to face the shuttle. She was ready to get this over with. Two years hunting someone was a long time. She was ready for this, ready to end it.
"I suppose so.." Shepard replied, the sleep she had just came out of still weighing on her voice and mind. She turned away from Liara and the shuttle how ever, facing the elevator. "I'll be back in a few." She then said as she began to walk away. She didn't get very far however.
Liara turned around to face Kate once more, "Shepard... Kate.. I find myself thanking you again for everything." Liara said quietly. She sounded a bit depressed in the way she said it. It was hard for her to describe. Shepard turned to face Liara, a small smile on her face. It was kind and gentle. She didn't show a gentle side very often.
"No matter what, I'll always be here, Liara." Katelyn said as she backed into the elevator, the door swiftly closing seconds after she entered. Liara just stood there a moment, starring at the spot Katelyn had just been standing in.
VWVWVW
Getting the Broker's base was one thing. Getting inside was another all together. Currently they sat outside the base, lighting crashing around them, as high winds threatened to toss them off the hall at any given moment. Hagalaz was a dangerous environment. Perfect for hiding the galaxy's secrets.
"How much longer, T'soni?" Questioned shepard as she ducked behind cover next to the asari. Liara had stuck some hacking device onto the entrance door what seemed like hours ago. Time could slow down when you faced a small army of angry mercs. Especially when those angry mercs were shooting at you.
"I don't know, Commander!" Liara shouted over a loud clash of thunder. Grunt covered their six from atop the ramp that led to the door. Shepard quickly peeked over the ramp's rail, if you could call it that, checking the numbers. It seemed like for every merc they killed three more would show up.
Shepard quickly shot off a few rounds from her submachine gun before her thermal ran out. She ducked again as she popped the clip and dug for another one in her utility belt. "Look!" Liara called out as she pointed towards the door. The last holo mechanism was showing signs that it was almost through the locking code. "About time." Shepard muttered as she slid the new clip in place.
"Maybe this will mean there wont be as many guards inside." Liara tried to suggest. Shepard glowered at the thought. Wishful thinking, she knew it. Though it would be a nice change. Anything was better then being shot at constantly by this point. "Keep dreaming, T'soni." she then replied.
The door finally opened. "Go go!" She called out to her team. Grunt once more covered the rear as Liara took point. Shepard shot a few more rounds as she backed towards the door. Once inside she slammed her fist on the consol, making the door close behind Grunt. Shepard then pealed off her helm as to get a better look around.
So far it was quiet. Too quiet.
"That was fun." Grunt said sounding pleased with himself as he too took his helmet off. "Don't get too cozy. Keep your eyes open." Shepard ordered. The other two nodded as they began to walk down a corridor. Shepard then pressed herself against a wall and quickly stole a glimpse around the corner.
Another long hall way, but not as vacant as the one they were in. "There they are!" called out a merc as he drew his rocket launcher. "Get down!" Shepard yelled as she pushed Liara away from the corner as she dove away herself. There was a loud explosion as Shepard and Liara hit the ground hard.
Shepard recovered quickly as she got back to her feet. "Damn it." Liara cursed as she got back onto her own feet. Grunt grabbed a grenade from his belt as he chucked it down the hall at the new set of mercs. There was a smaller explosion vs the rocket just shot at them, but it did the job taking down two Shadow Broker agents.
"Told you so." Shepard commented dryly towards Liara. Liara just gave her a look of annoyance as they took defensive postures before rounding the corner. A biotic glow surrounded the Spectre as she summed her powers from within before hurling the energy down the hall in a shock wave.
The biotic wave flung two freshly spotted mercs back into a wall, knocking them out cold as the threesome advanced down the hall. This was going to be a fun day, Shepard decided. Nothing like storming into a place well guarded by heavily armed mercs with just three people.
After a while of slow advancement and fighting off more mercs, which seemed like an endless supply of, they finally reached the holding room for Feron. The Drell Shepard knew very little about but the reason they were all here to begin with. All she knew was he had helped Liara in recovering her dead body two years ago. And the poor bastard had been paying for it ever since.
"Grunt!" Shepard called out over the gun fire as he dared a glimpse at his Commander and Battlemaster. She signaled with two fingers to take point as she looked at Liara signaling her to cover. They both nodded as Grunt raised his shotgun quickly making his way towards the entrance before taking cover to the right of the door way.
Liara took cover just behind a convenient crate as Shepard quickly ducked behind the left side of the doorway. She nodded at Grunt as they both rounded the corner firing their weapons as Liara covered them from behind. They dispatched the few guards quickly, and after doing so Shepard motioned for Liara to join them in the small room.
The room itself was just a post, to guard the door leading to the prisoner within. Liara quickly ran for the window as Shepard checked the terminal. "It's Feron!" Liara cried out in relief. Shepard tapped a few keys as she shook her head. "It's coded, I'll have to hack it." she said as she holstered her weapon and made for the door.
Grunt stood watch at the door way with his gun at the ready as Shepard removed a panel over a control unit. She quickly began to rewire the power grid. Some days it was handy being a hacker. "Come on Shepard, hurry it up before more of them show up." Grunt pressured the Spectre. Shepard glared at the Krogan though not looking at him directly. "Almost there... Got it." She then declared as she readied her weapon again.
The door hissed as it slid open for the small group. Liara was the first one in the room. Shepard noted this as she seemed to suddenly drop the cold demeanor she had been carrying this whole time. "Feron!" She called to the drell.
Feron looked up from his chair shocked to see who he did. "Liara?" he asked as if he were seeing things. Shepard checked the situation as Liara took to examining a consol. The drell was strapped down tight to a chair, which was surrounded by more consols. Liara began to press buttons when Shepard realized what he was strapped to. "Liara wait!" She tried to grab for the asari but was too late.
The chair quickly gave the poor man a shock of electricity as he cried out in pain. "Oh Goddess.." Liara muttered as she backed away from the computer system. Shepard glanced once from the drell to Liara who looked mortified by what she had done. Accident or not she blamed herself for his pain, it was obvious in her expression.
"You ok?" Katelyn asked the asari before her. Liara shook her head in reply as she helplessly starred at Feron. Shepard patted Liara once on the shoulder as she turned to regard the man strapped in a chair. "It's.. connected to the Broker's info network.. It's rigged to cook me alive if you try anything." he said as his head fell back against the headrest of his chair.
"Nothing's ever easy." Shepard said dryly as she glimpsed to Grunt who was still playing look out. "If you shut the power down it'll give him a chance to escape." Liara then said, finding her inner strength again. Or at least part of it. Shepard looked back at the other as she nodded in acknowledgement. "Where can we shut this thing down?" Shepard the asked Feron.
He gave a look of thought. "Central Operations.." he then said weakly. Shepard nodded once more as she readied herself again. It probably wouldn't be an easy fight, unless they picked off most of the agents. God she hoped so, they were starting to run low on thermal clips.
"The Shadow Broker is just down the hall way.. Can't miss him." Feron tried in humor. It was probably lost on the others given the situation. "Just sit tight, we'll get you out of here." Shepard replied as she began for the door. "I'll try not to go anywhere." he then said. This time Shepard did let out a small amused smirk. Even after all this time, the guy had humor.
"Move out." She then said regaining her composure.
VWVWVW
Ok another chapter down. I hope I'm still doing alright. I don't usually write alot of fighting scenes, so I tried my best. Not as character based this time as my previous chapter, but I assure you there'll be more of that in the future. Probably near future. Thanks again for the amazing comments, and I hope I didn't make you all wait too long =P
Until next time