Chapter 5: Face-Off with the Shadow Broker

So this was the Shadow Broker. One of the most infamous beings in the entire known galaxy. He was definitely big, but from what Shepard could make out regarding his physical appearance, he was definitely not a Krogan. He was…something else. What exactly, Shepard couldn't say, but his head looked vaguely similar to certain sea-life from Earth.

The Shadow Broker spoke up again, asking a simple but accurate question: "Here for the Drell?"

Before Shepard could even consider answering, the Shadow Broker continued: "Reckless, even for you commander"

"That bombing on Illium wasn't exactly subtle" Shepard retorted

"Extreme, but necessary"

Spoken like a man after the Illusive Man's own black heart Shepard thought darkly.

"No it wasn't!" Liara roared, showing more anger then Shepard had ever seen her show before. "Neither was caging Feron for two years!"

"Dr. T'soni, it was your interference that caused all this. Feron betrayed me when he handed you Shepard's body. The Drell is simply paying the price. That two years of torture has not broken him or even taken away his tongue is somewhat amazing"

The Shadow Broker said it all with the same dark monotone, a voice that couldn't be natural, suggesting that he was still artificially masking it. A secret keeper to the bitter end it would seem.

"Someone was bound to come after you for working with the Collectors" Shepard pointed out.

"It was a mutually beneficial partnership" the Shadow Broker said simply. "Not unlike your own temporary alliance with Cerberus to destroy the Collectors"

Shepard groaned inwardly. He had grown sick and tired of being constantly reminded of, and vilified for, his temporary partnership with Cerberus. He hadn't exactly enjoyed it himself, but it was necessary to stop the greater threat, and he hadn't had to commit any atrocities along the way, so as far as he was concerned, he could live with it. It was just too bad that no one else seemed able to.

"As it is, I am pleased to say that though the Collectors have been destroyed, the Normandy's IFF will allow me to salvage the remains of the Collector's base"

Shepard shook his head. The Shadow Broker had just proven himself to be as hopelessly deluded and supremely arrogant as many of Shepard's other foes, from Saren Arterius all the way up to the Illusive Man.

"All I know is that it will be pretty hard to run a ship this size when most of your crew's dead" Shepard retorted

"They're replaceable" the Shadow Broker said simply. "As it is I must remember to have the two agents you spared hunted down and killed after I am done with you. I do not tolerate desertion. Now enough talk. My operations are far too crucial to be compromised by a traitor" The Shadow Broker directed that last part to Liara, who responded acidly: "You're quite confident for someone with nowhere left to hide"

If the Shadow Broker was at all affected by Liara's defiance one way or the other, he didn't show it. Instead, he turned to face Miranda and Shepard and said: "You travel with fascinating companions doctor. At least you brought me both Shepard and Ms. Lawson T'soni. Their deaths will cripple Cerberus. I also thank you for bringing that Geth to me as well. Cerberus undervalued its selling price"

"You're not putting a hand on anyone" Liara growled.

"It is useless to challenge me asari. I know your every secret while you fumble in the dark"

"Is that right?" Liara asked sarcastically before then saying matter-of-factly: "You're a yahg. A pre-spaceflight species quarantined to their homeworld for massacring the Council's first contact teams."

The Yahg. Shepard had heard about them before. He mentally kicked himself for not realizing from the get-go that that was what the Shadow Broker was. From what he knew of the Yahg, they were like the Krogan, but with less advanced technology and seemingly no good members or any redeeming qualities whatsoever. So in effect, worse.

In any event, Liara's revealing this information had clearly caught the Shadow Broker's attention. Liara continued: "This base is older then your planet's discovery, which probably means you killed the original Shadow Broker sixty years ago, then took over. I'm guessing you were taken from your world by a trophy hunter who wanted a slave…or a pet. How am I doing?"

Much like how Shepard previously sending Vasir into a rage via taunting might not have been the best idea in hindsight, Liara's exposing the Shadow Broker's secrets and "humble" beginnings proved to have some dire consequences.

The Shadow Broker got up out of his chair, where his full height became apparent. He easily dwarfed Grunt in size. Then, without warning, he smashed his table in two and hurled one of the halves.

Instinct taking over, Shepard rushed forward and pushed Miranda out of the way, tackling her to the ground and falling down with her as the table half sailed over their heads far too close for comfort before smashing to pieces. Shepard urged Miranda to get up as a few feet away Liara struggled to do the same.

The Shadow Broker stepped forward and unleashed a piercing roar of blind fury that gave further credence to the idea that at heart the Yahg were just even bigger and nastier Krogan, and also managed to completely destroy any notions one would have that the Shadow Broker was even remotely civil.

The Shadow Broker drew a Revenant machine gun in one hand. Shepard immediately rushed for cover alongside Miranda as the Shadow Broker unleashed a merciless torrent of fire from his Revenant at them. By now Liara had gotten up fully and was desperately attempting to drain his shields of their power. She was successful, and the second his energy shields fell, Shepard popped out from behind cover and unleashed the full power of his own Revenant, tearing apart the Shadow Broker's armor barrier in seconds, two bullets managing to pierce the behemoth's flesh.

Now looking even more enraged then before, the Shadow Broker charged forward in a complete blood-lust and for a moment Shepard thought that he was going to be in for something ugly. But then, the Broker planted his feet into the ground and conjured up a personal field reminiscent of a biotic barrier but looking almost like white balls and an invisible field rather then a blue or indigo-colored glow. But the effect seemed to be the same. Shepard could see Liara's shots bounce off harmlessly.

"The shield's kinetically sensitive. Energy and projectiles are bouncing off!"

Shepard shouldered his gun and prepared his fists for some punching. "Then we do this the hard way"

In an act of pure audacity but also one that seemed wholly necessary, Shepard ran up and kneed the Shadow Broker, then punched him across his jaw as he reeled upwards from the knee attack. The Shadow Broker roared in pain, but Shepard punched him backwards before he could retaliate. Ignoring the tingling pain in his hand that came from punching such a creature, Shepard ran at the Broker again, but this time his enemy was ready for him.

As Shepard came at him, the Shadow Broker conjured up some kind of orange energy shield and used it to knock Shepard into the air. Liara and Miranda raced to Shepard's side and the Shadow Broker held his orange energy shield at the ready, the look on his face almost looking to Shepard like he was daring them to take their best shot.

Shepard decided to take him up on his offer, pouring his Revenant's ammunition into the Shadow Broker, whose orange energy shield deflected the projectiles with ease.

An omni-shield perhaps? Shepard thought, desperately trying to keep his cool in the face of a massive, enraged, alien whose species he had never fought before who had now just gained a means of shrugging off whatever he could throw at him.

"How come I don't have one of those?" Shepard asked, trying to ease some of the tension.

"This is not the time for jokes!" Miranda snapped, her Tesmpest's spray of bullets having a similar level of success, or lack thereof, at piercing the Broker's "omni-shield".

"Duly noted" Shepard deadpanned before giving out a new order: "Miranda, Liara, Overload on that omni-shield, or whatever the hell it is, NOW!"

Miranda and Liara nodded in acknowledgment and put their biotics to good use on the shield. To Shepard's happiness and relief, the omni-shield temporarily disappeared, and Shepard seized on the opportunity to hit the Shadow Broker with as many bullets as he could squeeze off. The torrent of bullets shredded through the Shadow Broker's defenses, several bullets also managing to ruin his suit, which elicited another howl of fury from him. He then kneeled and re-conjured his personal energy field. Knowing what to do, Shepard charged him and whacked him with the butt-end of his Revenant. The Shadow Broker rolled with the hit and held his Omni-Shield at the ready. Shepard charged forward, crashing right into the orange barrier with the full force of his body. The Shadow Broker tried to shake him off but amazingly, Shepard held his ground.

So began a fierce struggle between the two that the Shadow Broker ultimately won, knocking Shepard into the air and right into Liara. Drawing his pistol quickly, Shepard fired blindly, and managed to shoot the Shadow Broker in one of his eight eyes. The Broker howled in rage in response as he staggered back from the pain. As he did, Shepard and Liara could both see that the glowing bluish-white dome on the ceiling was beginning to emit a fair bit of electricity, sputtering and letting lightning loose in various directions.

Liara turned to Shepard: "If you can get him to bring up that shield again, I've got an idea"

Shepard nodded and got back to his feet, re-drawing his Revenant. He opened fire on the Broker, unloading more bullets into both the shield and its wielder. Not content to stand around and be shot at, the Shadow Broker charged forward, shield in front, no doubt intending to ram into Shepard with the full force of both it and his body. Moving out of the way, Shepard continued firing, only for the Shadow Broker to turn around and knock him into the air with another strike from his omni-shield.

Shepard went slamming right into the wall, and by the time he got back on his feet, the Shadow Broker struck him with his shield again, this time knocking his Death Mask off and bringing Shepard to the ground.

Marching forward like an unstoppable force of nature, the Shadow Broker stepped on Shepard's Death Mask and crushed it with nothing short of impunity.

"Fuck. I liked that helmet…" Shepard mumbled.

Forcing himself up, Shepard drew his Collector Particle Beam and let loose with it before the Shadow Broker could react. The thin but intense beam of colorless energy struck at the Shadow Broker's omni-shield with unrelenting force, causing the Shadow Broker to stagger back as he continued to hold his shield up. Then the omni-shield finally dispelled completely under the assault.

"NOOO!" The Shadow Broker roared. Shepard tossed his now juice-less weapon to the ground and charged the Shadow Broker again, firing off shot after shot from his Scimitar, each blast further tearing up the Shadow Broker's suit and drawing blood as he kept forcing him back.

Finally though, the Shadow Broker grabbed the Scimitar and hoisted Shepard aloft. One close-up look of the Shadow Broker's ugly face, complete with one missing eye and an utterly enraged expression told Shepard everything he needed to know.

This is going to hurt

Not planning to give the Shadow Broker the chance to punch his stomach right out from under him, Shepard let go of the Scimitar and rolled to one side as he landed on the ground so the Shadow Broker couldn't kick him or step on him. The Shadow Broker tossed Shepard's Scimitar to the side and resumed shooting at Shepard with his Revenant. Shepard re-drew his and replied in kind. Seemingly not slowing down in spite of being shot repeatedly by a Revenant machine gun, as well as multiple blasts from a Scimitar, the Broker advanced unrelentingly towards Shepard. Before he could move out of the way, the Shadow Broker knocked Shepard's Revenant out of his hands and kicked him back. Rolling out of the way of the Shadow Broker's large feet, Shepard punched him back, a blow that no doubt left Shepard's hand badly bruised but also seemed to have knocked the wind out of the Broker, who fell to his knees.

Wasting no time, Shepard punched the Shadow Broker again. Shepard attempted to land another punch but the Shadow Broker moved his head out of the way and knocked Shepard into the air with a swing of his arm. As Shepard collapsed onto the cold hard floor he could taste some blood in his mouth. The Shadow Broker grabbed Shepard's leg and swung him overhead, slamming him into the floor again on the other side. Shepard drew his pistol and shot out another one of the Shadow Broker's eyes, enraging him further but also forcing him to let go. Shepard scrambled to his feet as the Shadow Broker charged him again. Shepard tried to move out of the way but the Broker grabbed him and hurled him onto the ground again. Shepard tried to force himself back up as the Shadow Broker lumbered towards him.

"Is that all?" The Shadow Broker bellowed. It wasn't. Shepard still had a good bit of fight left in him, but the Broker didn't need to know that.

The Shadow Broker closed in on him. Miranda began unloading her Tempest's entire clip into the Shadow Broker.

"Stay away from him!" Miranda shouted at him, a display completely uncharacteristic of the former Cerberus Lieutenant. But then again, Shepard's relationship with her was hardly par for the course.

"IS THAT ALL?" the Shadow Broker repeated, this time louder then before and something in his voice suggesting to Shepard that he was reveling in his apparent victory over him. He came in even closer. And right into Shepard's trap.

"IS THAT A—"

Shepard spun around unexpectedly, conjured up his omni-blade, and with one slash across the Shadow Broker's throat cut him off. For a moment the Shadow Broker just stood there, clutching his throat as blood began to seep out of it. Shepard punched him again, once more knocking him to the ground. The Shadow Broker let out a fierce growl in response and with one hand still clutching his bleeding neck charged Shepard like a Krogan berserker.

But Shepard was ready for him.

He ran forward to meet the Shadow Broker's charge but then slid under his arm swing at the last moment. As he did he shouted out: "Liara now!"

Then, before the Shadow Broker could even realize what was happening, Liara and Miranda destroyed the dome on the ceiling with their biotics, dumping its contents on to the Shadow Broker. The Shadow Broker attempted to protect himself with his barrier but the liquid caused the barrier to malfunction, and by the time the Shadow Broker caught on to this it was too late. He glared darkly at Liara and unleashed one last roar before his shield suffered an extreme overload and his whole body was consumed by a bright white light.

The ensuing explosion was nothing short of spectacular. It was as if a biotic bomb had gone off, a torrent of blue and black energy surging outward and knocking Shepard, Miranda, and Liara flat on their backs.

Liara was the first one up and helped Shepard to his feet who then did the same for Miranda. Shepard turned to Liara: "Come on. Feron should be free now"

But before anyone could do anything, a voice came on on the nearby set of terminals: "Shadow Broker, this is operative Murat. We had a momentary connection failure. Can you confirm status?"

Another voice rang out, this one female: "Operative Shora requesting update. Are we still online?"

"Oh bloody hell…" Miranda muttered.

Another voice came on: "Shadow Broker, I've lost our feed. We are online and awaiting your instructions"

Shepard could see Liara just standing there, eyes jumping from screen to screen as she tried to absorb everything. For a minute, Shepard was afraid she would be overwhelmed, but then she calmly walked forward and accessed the Shadow Broker's terminals.

Assuming the Shadow Broker's deep voice, Liara addressed the various agents: "This is the Shadow Broker. The situation is under control. We experienced a power fluctuation while upgrading hardware. It disrupted communications momentarily."

Suddenly, the doors to the room opened and Feron came running in, pistol drawn, with Legion right behind him. He was all set to shoot when he saw that Liara and Shepard were alive and well.

Liara finished her little cover-story: "However, we are now back online. Resume standard procedures. I want a status report on all operations within the next solar day. Shadow Broker out."

"Goddess of oceans…" Feron said dumbstruck. "Its you…how?"

"Well…" Liara said. "…everyone who's ever seen him in person is dead, so…"

Feron finished her sentence for her, clearly completely floored by the revelation: "…you're the new Shadow Broker"

"Is taking over as the Shadow Broker really a good idea?" Shepard asked concerned.

"It was either that or lose everything. His contacts, his ships, his trading sources. Those will really help us. With the Shadow Broker's information network I can give you…I can…" Liara trailed off, seemingly unsure of how to finish. Feron tried desperately to break the tension, or at the least, remove himself from it.

"I'll, uh…I'll check the power systems…"

And with that, Feron left, Miranda and Legion deciding to leave as well, and their timing was perfect. No sooner did they all exit then Liara began to break down, tears streaming down her face as she said softly: "Its over. It's finally…for two years…"

Shepard stepped in at that moment and gave his old friend a hug of reassurance. "It's all right Liara"

"I spent two years mourning you and Feron. And now I've got you both back. I…" Liara trailed off before wiping away the tears on her face and recomposing herself. "Let's see what we've got"

Liara walked over to the terminal and examined it. "No safeguards, no restrictions. Its like he never anticipated anyone but himself being here…and now its all ours"

Shepard privately confessed to liking the sound of that. Knowledge was power, as the saying went, not that Shepard planned on becoming like the Shadow Broker or the Illusive Man. But a little additional knowledge would not necessarily be unwelcome.

"What kind of information are we talking about?"

"I'm not sure" Liara responded. "I'll need to go through his files. Come back later, and I'll try to have something useful for you"

Shepard nodded. He could wait. But then he wondered…

"Do you think that the Shadow Broker has files on me and my team?"

Liara nodded. "Oh I'm sure of it. Those I can probably get for you right now"

Liara set to work on the terminal for a moment before turning around and saying: "I dug up the Shadow Broker's dossiers on you and your crew, along with a few others you should be interested in. They'll be in a terminal in a nearby room"

Shepard nodded.

"All I wanted was to rescue Feron…" Liara said with a sigh. Then she added: "But…is it wrong that part of me wants this? With the Shadow Broker's network, I can help you. Maybe I can turn this operation into something better"

"Don't be a stranger this time." Shepard warned. "And please don't make me think that I traded one mobster for another"

Liara nodded. "Of course Shepard. I won't betray your trust in me. Come by sometime…when you have a chance…the doors are always open"

Shepard nodded in response and then turned and left. As he did though, Liara called out to him: "And Shepard…"

Shepard stopped in his tracks and turned around to face her.

"Yes?"

"I just want to know…what are you fighting for?"

Shepard raised an eyebrow. He wasn't exactly sure how to answer that question. "Excuse me?"

"What are you fighting for besides the lives of the galaxy Shepard?" Liara pressed. "This whole adventure, I've been fighting for Feron, and before that, I was fighting for you. So tell me what you want. What are you fighting for? The future of humanity? As evidenced by the perfect miss Lawson?"

Shepard found himself just a little taken aback by how much Liara knew. He wasn't entirely sure that he liked it either, but figured that if anyone had to know, then an old friend might as well be the one.

Deciding not to beat around the bush or feign confusion or denial, Shepard answered truthfully: "She's got her issues…but she trusts me. And I care about her"

"She was so cold when I first met her…" Liara mused, the revelation that she knew Miranda catching Shepard's attention and piquing his curiosity somewhat.

"…Completely focused on her duty"

Shepard chuckled humorlessly. "Miranda's changed a bit, but I don't know that she's lightened up that much."

"She has" Liara said simply before adding, with more emotion: "Believe me, you have no idea how much you've changed her. I hope the two of you find happiness together"

Shepard nodded. Liara was right when he thought about it. He had changed her, and it was more than just getting her to leave Cerberus. He had melted the thick layer of ice she had encased herself in, broken through the shell of cynicism, professionalism, and distrust that she showed to everyone else. He had helped turn her into a warmer, more pleasant person, at least to him.

"You and me both" he finally said in response, before adding: "Thanks Liara."

And with that, Shepard left the Shadow Broker's office. As he did, he found himself getting the growing suspicion that Liara had grown attracted to him, or had been attracted to him once. He could almost see it in her eyes. Her smile too. And yet if true she hadn't confronted him about it. Either because she felt that it couldn't work now given her current position, knowledge of his relationship with Miranda, or maybe even an attraction to Feron, Shepard didn't know.

He exited and saw Miranda and Legion waiting for him. Miranda had her arms crossed and looked at him with an inquisitive expression.

"Well?"

"Almost done. I just want to see what the Shadow Broker had on us and then we'll go"

Upon hearing this, Miranda's expression changed immediately, becoming what looked to Shepard's eyes as a fear attempting to be masked.

"Do you mean files on us?"

Shepard nodded. "Yes, I do. It shouldn't take too long. I'll view the files, Legion here can…download copies of them, and then we'll be going"

"Acknowledged. We can download Shadow Broker file copies onto our matrix, and will also be able to re-upload them onto the Normandy's computers.

Shepard nodded. "That's what I was counting on"

Miranda raised an eyebrow. "You want to take the Shadow Broker's files on us? Isn't Liara T'soni the new Shadow Broker?"

"Yes, and I do trust her, but they are files on us. If anyone has a right to view them, shouldn't it be us?"

Miranda's expression was not one Shepard expected out of her, least of all in regards to the question he posed. She looked nervous almost, unsure also. It was as if there was some kind of inner dilemma tearing her apart from the inside-out, and she was doing her damndest to suppress it.

"I…I suppose that if you think they will be of an asset to us commander then I see no good reason why we shouldn't…"

"Well then what's wrong? Afraid I might find out something about you won't like?"

Miranda sighed deeply. "Something like that."

"This is about this secret of yours that you haven't been able to tell me isn't it"

Miranda's eyes fell to the floor but she nevertheless answered Shepard's question: "Yes, it is. And I suppose now there's no use putting it off any longer. Shepard, I…" Miranda trailed off. For a moment Shepard thought that he could see tears forming in her eyes before she blinked them back.

"Maybe I should just show you what the file says."