When Fates Collide

Chapter 3

~ ~ ~ Onboard the Mighty Ship ~ ~ ~

As soon as they exited the cargo bay, the asari professor was unexpectedly taken from Shepard's grasp by Matriarch Benezia's commandos. Enjoying taking away the human's spoils of war, one of the senior commandos strolled up to the heavily breathing soldier and sneered, "Saren wants to see you on the bridge immediately."

Unpleasantly surprised, Shepard grumbled, "Why doesn't that sound like a good thing?"

Pacing the bridge like a caged animal, the turian man chastised the former Alliance soldier for destroying so many geth back on Therum while rescuing the prothean professor. His long flanges flared with each step he took. Blasting the gray armored human seemed to have become the rogue spectre's favorite hobby as of late.

"Well they were in the way!" Arrogantly protested the redheaded soldier. "Not to mention they were firing at me first! Besides, I don't want a geth shooting me in the back when I least expect it!"

The rogue leader angrily barked at her, "Damn it Shepard! The geth barely trust us organics as it is!"

Shepard continued to retaliate without pause, "Stupid robots can't conceive a single original thought to save their lives. If the geth are 'so smart', then why couldn't they figure out how to free the professor?"

When avian man had no immediate reply, the redhead kept going. "They are just heaps of worthless metal. Firing trash cans is what I call them!"

Visibly annoyed, the turian spectre warned, "Shepard, you are treading on thin ice!"

Realizing the conversation was going no where. The rogue soldier turned to leave without permission. Angry about being so unappreciated, she exhaled her discontent under her breath, "You're welcome by the way!"

Snapping around to face the disobedient human, Saren belted, "What was that?!"

Inches from the door leading out of the bridge, the gray clad soldier flipped her wrist and blurted with great defiance, "Nothing! Nothing at all!"

% % % % % % %

Later that evening, the former Alliance officer overheard two of Matriarch Benezia's followers talking about the newly acquired prothean expert. Tucked away in the nook of a winding passageway, the two disciples conversed. With great concern an asari acolyte asked, "How is it going?"

"Not well, at least not for Liara" Answered the asari commando in full battle gear.

"Why is that?"

Frustrated the commando replied, "She's not cooperating."

The younger acolyte was surprised, "Why not?"

"She is refusing to meld with Saren or with the matriarch."

Stunned the acolyte stated, "Oh that's not good!"

"No it isn't. I heard that Matriarch Benezia can take the information from her even if she's unwilling to give it up. It's called Mind Rape"

"Oh no!"

Placing her hand on her hip in frustration, the asari commando replied, "Oh no is right! In my opinion it is the worst thing you can do to an asari. That bastard Saren has given Liara until morning to interpret his visions or he will instruct Matriarch Benezia to start the intrusion."

The conversation sharply halted when the two asari realized that Saren's pet, was ease dropping on their discussion. Throwing disgusted looks at the redhead, the two swiftly left the room together huffing insults under their breaths.

Shepard pondered the idea for a moment, I can't believe that the matriarch would take the information from her own daughter in such a way. Mind Rape? God that sounded horrific! I don't envy the professor. Rubbing the back of her neck at the idea, the rogue soldier sympathetically felt, "Poor girl"