When Fates Collide

Chapter 12

~ ~ Feros – ExoGeni ~ ~

Feros was considered a poor prospect for colonization, as little open ground remained for agriculture. The only sizable fresh water sources were the poles, which were tapped by the decaying Prothean aqueduct system. The dead cities, while in good condition considering their antiquity, were still of uncertain stability. It was amongst the ruins of this former prothean megalopolis that resided the struggling colony of Feros.

Leading the team Shepard stopped and ordered everyone to check their weapons. The gunny soldier characteristically questioned the leader's new authority. "We haven't even left the dock yet." Watching the others check their weapons, Shepard stood right in front of Williams smelling the coffee on redhead's breath, "Williams, a successful soldier is a living soldier, who is ready for anything at anytime. Now check that weapon or you can take your ass back to the ship." Grunting at being ordered around by the former enemy of the Alliance, Williams dramatically locked and loaded her weapon as she disobediently sounded, "Check!"

Without acknowledging the marine's reaction, the woman wearing the N-7 uniform lead the team down the loading dock when they were met by a colonist from Zhu's Hope. Shepard felt he was acting a little twitchy and was comforted to see that the Krogan on her right never removed his finger from the trigger of his weapon. Barely finishing their conversation, the dock was suddenly overcome with Geth, but it didn't take very long for the talented team to dispose of their opposition. Shepard felt a tinge of pride. She had never led such a skillful group before. Observing the last Geth fall between Liara's biotics and Wrex's brut strength, Shepard hummed, "A girl could get used to this."

Knowing that Wrex finally got to shoot something, Shepard chuckled, "So Wrex, we didn't even make it off the loading dock before you got to kill a couple of Geth. How's that working for you?" As best as a krogan could, the large battlemaster laughed and replied, "Shepard, you're my kind of soldier!"

The squad cleared a path through the Geth infested passageways as Shepard recounted the mission's debriefing in her mind. The Geth have attacked Feros on Saren's orders. Primary objective: Find out what Saren is after and stop it. Secondary objective: Secure Zhu's Hope.

Snaking their way through the crumbling Prothean halls, the makeshift squad were swiftly met by an unwelcoming group of colonists. Shepard chalked up their unusual behavior to being untrained soldiers and suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, after being attacked for an unknown reason. Taking in her surroundings it did look like a battle zone. Speaking with the man in charge and diplomatically ignoring several insults about the Alliance taking their time to get there, Shepard quickly learned what needed to be done in order to earn their trust. A nagging thought chewed at Shepard's soul, Their trust isn't the only one I need to earn.

After conversing with Fai Dan, the leader of the Zhu's Hope outpost; Shepard ordered Wrex and Ash to stay behind and help the colonists with their needs. She and the other two went to ExoGeni to find out what the Geth were after. Discussing the list of items needed for the colony with Chief Williams on her Omni-tool, Shepard reported, "Locate and return the power cells, locate and switch on the water couplings, disable the Geth transmitter and kill the varren leader."

Sounding a little more enthusiastic than Williams thought she ought to, Shepard announced, "Sounds like we all have a full day ahead of us." The squad members exchanged a series of odd looks between them and the mock commander.

"Is she serious?" the gunny asked.

The blue squad member massaged her temple in her own disbelief and answered, "I'm afraid so."

The young marine gasped, "It's going to take us a week to get all that stuff for these people."

Taking in the settlement around them Liara offered, "Shepard knows what's she's doing. If anyone can do it all in a day, I believe it to be her."

% % % % % % %

Shepard marveled at how pathetic the varren looked floating in the air submerged in blue as Tali took her time killing the glowing beast. It almost felt like target practice. The men guarding the entrance to the building and watching over the only working vehicle left, didn't care how the trio wiped out the varren that had been harassing them for days. All they cared is that they were dead.

As the last creature fell to the ground Liara and Tali celebrated their small victory. Shepard couldn't help but wonder, Why doesn't Ash like aliens? Look how cute they are killing these ferocious varren. The relieved guards were all too happy to hand over the keys to the transport unit to the women when the last of the varren was cast down. Shepard shifted anxiously in her armor. She was ok with killing people but felt very uncomfortable to be thanked and patted on the back as the men repeatedly did. Even with Shepard's eyes pleading for help, Liara left her to suffer through it alone.

Barely surviving a heavily armored Colossus attack, they blasted their way down the Prothean Skyway on their way to ExoGeni headquarters. Liara whimsically informed Shepard, "Did you know this Prothean planet has two moons; Orcan being the furthest and Vardet being the closest?"

Nerve racking sweat dripped down Shepard's forehead from the intense battle as she and Tali exchanged a series of looks. They had both come to understand, the young Prothean Expert really couldn't help herself from expressing her love for the deceased race. Shepard had also come to know that the young engineer was just as bad when it came to techno talk. As the vehicle chugged down the skyway, the woman chuckled pondering,

The company I have chosen to surround myself with. If you had told me a few months ago that I would be driving on a dead planet with a quarian and Matriarch Benezia's only daughter, trying to stop a rogue Spectre in order to save the Universe, I would have probably shot you, after I quit laughing.

Finally coming to a stop the three women quickly exited the all terrain vehicle. Tali breathed, "Bosh'tet". Shepard was concerned even though she couldn't see past the tented visor. She had a feeling something was wrong with the young quarian as she had been acting odd every since they got into the transport unit. "Tali, you ok?"

Attempting to steady herself on solid ground Tali asked, "Shepard where did you learn to…um drive?" Liara chuckled as she said, "You called that driving?"

"Come on, it wasn't that bad was it?" Looking to the asari for backup, the former soldier only received a weak smirk before Tali continued to express her feelings. "Shepard, your driving isn't much better than a blind hanar." Adding to the stinging comment Tali said, "With no legs!" Liara's childish giggle captured Shepard's attention before she realized they were both on the same page regarding her driving. She huffed in an attempt to let it roll off her back, Shepard shoved past them as she grumbled, "We got here in one piece didn't we?" From behind her the squad leader heard snickering whispers, "Barely".

% % % % % % %

On the way to ExoGeni the trio discovered a band of survivors holding out in a large under ground storage facility. There they met the Director of ExoGeni Corporation; Ethan Jeong. Who on more than one occasion Shepard felt like putting a bullet between his eyes if he accused her one more time of stealing corporate secrets. He was plainly more concerned with ExoGeni's reputation rather the safety of his employees.

The only thing preventing her from pulling her rifle out was the woman at his side, Doctor Julian Baynham. She was a calm and concerned individual. However she was greatly worried for her daughter whom she believed was still in the main offices of ExoGeni. As Jeong repeated that Julian should give up hope of finding her missing daughter alive, she beseeched the visitors, "Please find her if you can. Bring my baby back to me."

Glancing back to Liara, Shepard said, "I know how hard it is for a daughter to be separated from her mother. If she's still alive, I promise, I'll do everything I can do bring her back in one piece." More than a thank you was conveyed by Liara's deep blue eyes.

% % % % % % %

Inside ExoGeni's headquarters the squad found that the only entrance into the building was blocked by some kind of energy field. Looking for another way in, Liara screamed out in terror, "Shepard!" as the soldier disappeared down a concrete gap. Landing hard on her shoulder, the soldier slowly got up, wiping the dirt off herself. Staring up at the worried asari, Shepard winced from the pain as she announced, "See, I'm ok". Rubbing her head at the inpatient human Liara informs her, "Goddess! Shepard, I'm an asari." Still determining how badly she hurt her left shoulder the human replied, "Yeah so?"

The asari turned to Tali and asked, "May I?" In complete confidence the quarian joyfully responded, "Absolutely." The engineer's body instantly became engulfed in blue matter and was gently lowered down the same hole and set next to squad leader. "Oh Shepard, you should have waited, this was fun." Liara drifted down gingerly a few moments later still eyeing the soldier hiding the injury to her shoulder as a result of her unwillingness to wait.

"I could have lowered you down without causing injury to yourself." Rolling her eyes knowing she was wrong but not anywhere close to admitting it, the soldier retorted, "My way was just fine." The asari poked the damaged shoulder making her wince as she pulled away. "Oh really?" Tali couldn't help notice the bond growing between the two species. She was sure they weren't even fully aware of how close they were becoming. Liara was able to read Shepard's mood by her body posture alone and Shepard had learned to behave more appropriately to keep from upsetting the Matriarch's daughter. The quarian could even swear sometimes they were on the same wave length when they sometimes finished each other's sentences.

% % % % % % %

Heading down a narrow corridor each of the aliens flanked the woman in the N-7 armor as they walked into a larger open bay. Kicking the body of a dead varren Shepard warned, "Stay alert. This varren wasn't killed very long ago. Look the blood is still oozing." Both Tali and Liara ewwwed just before they heard a shot. With lightening fast reflexes, Shepard dodged a bullet being fired at her before a woman's shaky voice called out. "I'm sorry! I thought you were Geth or another one of those varren." Annoyed at being shot at Shepard barked, "Who are you and how did you get in here?"

"I'm Lizbeth Baynham. I'm a research assistant for ExoGeni. It's my own fault. While everyone was running away I stayed behind to back up data. Then the Geth killed the power and now I'm trapped."

Securing her weapon, Shepard took to her normal bad ass stance, "Do you know why the Geth are here?"

Stammering the scared woman replied, "I think they've come for the Thorian."

Curiously Tali asked, "What is that?"

"It's an indigenous life form; thousands of years old. It dates back further than even the Protheans."

The Prothean Expert let out a gasp of shock causing the heads of all three women to drift towards her as Liara innocently repeated, "Older than the Protheans? Dear Goddess!"

"Yes, ExoGeni was studying it but I don't believe they found anything of interest. I don't understand why the Geth would even care. It's just a plant." Explained the young Baynham.

Beginning to feel the ExoGeni was hiding something deeper Shepard demanded, "How do you know so much about the Thorian?"

Attempting to comply with the stern soldier, Lizbeth answered, "Like I said, I'm a simple research assistant. I came here with my mother. Oh dear, I don't even know if she made it out alive."

Breaking her tough guy act for a moment, Shepard reported, "Lizbeth, your mother is alive. I met her. She's with the other survivors hiding out in a storage facility. I'll take you there once I find out why the Geth are here."

Fighting to hold back the tears of joy, the research assistant responded, "Thank God! I thought I was the only one left on the whole planet."

In a synthesized voice, Tali informed the young woman, "There were also several survivors at Zhu's Hope."

The hopeful face went blank as Lizbeth's gazed dropped to the floor.

Shaking the woman from her thoughts, Shepard explained to her, "Well I'm going in there to find out what the Geth want with the Thorian."

Happy to be rescued, the research assistant handed Shepard something. "Here, take my ID card. It should get you through any locked doors." Taking the card, Shepard said, "Thanks that might come in handy." As the trio readied themselves to leave, Lizbeth warned them, "Be careful, this place is crawling with Geth activity."

Pleased with the information and the security card Shepard said, "We will Lizbeth. Now go back to where ever you were hiding. It's a lot safer than running around here. I'll call for you when we're done and I'll take you back to your mom. She'll be happy to hear that you're ok."

Another flood of gratitude swept Shepard as the young woman hugged the hardened marine and topped it off by placing a chaste kiss on her cheek. "Thank you so much Commander." Before Shepard was about to explain that she wasn't an Alliance Commander and was only borrowing the armor, Liara silently shook her head, conveying that it wasn't worth explaining to the already frazzled woman. Anxiously rubbing the back of her neck, Shepard tried not to frown as she asked herself, Is it always going to be like this?

% % % % % % %

After putting down another batch of wild varren, Shepard asked her companions, "Did either of you see the look on her face when Tali mentioned that there were survivor's at Zhu's Hope?"

"Yes I thought that was relatively strange." Answered the quarian.

Wrenching her neck the experienced soldier stated, "Keep your guard up. I have a feeling Miss Baynham isn't exactly telling us everything."

In her best military voice Liara reaffirmed, "Copy that Shepard".

Reaching the top of a flight of stairs, the trio squad heard a male's voice shouting. He seemed to be arguing with the company's virtual intelligence unit. Shepard tried to hear what he was asking for before the VI so inappropriately announced to the Krogan Commander that a queue was forming behind him, therefore informing him of their presence way sooner than Shepard would have liked.

The large krogan carrying a shotgun went straight for Tali. With little effort as she didn't have time to play games, Shepard snuffed out his life force with a few well placed shots from her assault rifle.

Tali all but screeched. "Shepard, you saved my life! That was a Krogan Commander! They are extremely dangerous at close range. I should have been killed." Unphased by the statement, Shepard reloaded a new thermo clip in her weapon and secured the room. "Well you weren't." The quarian's octave increased, "He was probably in charge of killing that Thorian plant thing!" Surveying the room and the adjacent rooms, the soldier absentmindedly continued with the conversation, "And?" Looking back to the dead krogan on the floor Shepard joked, "He won't be doing anymore killing today."

As the quarian also readied her gun for the next room, it flustered her that it completely escaped the former marine how good she really was in battle. "Shepard, you saved my life. I am forever grateful. I take back everything I ever said about your driving." Finally feeling the area was secure the soldier unemotionally replied, "You're welcome, I guess." A moment ticked before Shepard choked, "You really think my driving is that bad?"

Liara hid a small blush being the last to enter the new room. She was secretly proud of the way Shepard had so effortlessly put down the Krogan Commander. She beamed with pride as she uttered, "Mother would be pleased".

Shepard walked over the dead body, towards the console and the VI flickered on. "Warning company policy strictly forbids the discharging weapons on ExoGeni property. Please see your supervisor for appropriate disciplinary action." Looking amusingly at each other Shepard quipped, "Dually noted" as she chambered her assault rifle pointed it at the VI. Ready to fire, Liara gently lowered the muzzle of Shepard's assault riffle before she suggested, "Perhaps we should ask questions first, then shoot." Chuckling that Liara had gotten to know her so well; Shepard lowered her weapon completely and inserted the woman's ID badge as she was instructed. The VI sprang to life again. "Welcome Professor Lizbeth Baynham. How can I help you?"

The VI switched off after answering all of Shepard's questions that it possibly could without breaking company protocol. Slightly annoyed Shepard scratched her head and stated, "Apparently Lizbeth knows a lot more than she let on especially about what ExoGeni was doing." Facing her squad mates, a disgusted Shepard said, "They knew the Thorian used its spores to control people's minds. It took over the colony at Zhu's Hope and they were studying the results." Shepard thoughts instantly raced, Sounds like a Matriarch on steroids that's older than time itself. Shaking off the mental imagine in her head, the human sarcastically remarked, "Great! Another fun filled day!"

The trio of women successful unattached the Geth ship from the ExoGeni building which consequently sent the unsuspecting ship crashing to the planet's surface. The barrier was deactivated and they were returning Doctor's Baynham's daughter to her. But the most important task had been accomplished. Shepard found out what the Geth were after. All she had to learn now was why they were after the Thorian.

"Mom!" cried out a woman who suddenly became a little girl again in her mother's arms as a returned "Lizbeth!" echoed inside the great room. Letting the tears flow from her face, Julian Baynham squeezed her daughter. "Oh Commander Shepard thank you!" The soldier once again bit her tongue at the mistaken identity as she turned her focus to the asari on how she was responding to the mother / daughter 's happy reunion.

Striving to be coy, Shepard whispered, "Hey Liara, you can wait in the ATV if you want." A soft smile tugged at the asari's lips as she duplicated Shepard's compassionate words. "No, I'll be fine. I am happy for them." Looking into Shepard's deep green eyes the asari offered, "Truly."

Interrupting the touching moment shared between the two, Joker blasted in Shepard's earpiece. "Commander! Commander Shepard do you read me?" Agitated by the pilot's relentless name calling, the woman answered, "Go ahead Joker, this is Shepard. I read you loud and clear."

Static hissed in her ear before an alarmed Joker came back. "Commander, the Normandy is under attack. It's those damn colonist. They are pounding on the outside of the ship." Undaunted Shepard returned, "Keep the doors shut and you should be alright. I'm on my way Joker. Shepard Out!" A static voice shot back, "Aye Aye Commander!" Shepard's eyes rolled at her pilot.

Without warning the greatly annoying director Ethan Jeong sneered, "You know, I looked you up while you were gone. There is no Commander Shepard in the Alliance Fleet; especially an N-7." Whipping around Shepard stared him down suppressing a deep throated growl. Liara's biotics flared anticipating a full on attack from the humans. Tali quickly surveyed the room looking for the best place to take cover for an offense attack.

The man squeaked as the woman's gaze pressed down on him. "You're an imposter." Watching the man gulp hard, Shepard felt the presence of a hand wrap around her arm. Instantly she thought, someone was either really stupid or didn't know her that well. Turning to see who had the audacity to grab her, the redhead instantly froze in place. Releasing a frustrating sigh Shepard heard Julian beg, "He's an ass. Ignore him." Motioning to the other people in the room, Doctor Julian Baynham went on. "We don't care who you are. We are just thankful you saved us."

Suspecting that his authority was slipping, Ethan started to whine when Julian cut him off, "Shut up you asshole! Wait until ExoGeni hears how you ran and hid like the coward you are. You didn't even try to save anyone else except your own worthless hide." The inconsequential man slumped his shoulders and pouted to the other side of the room. Shepard shifted her weight, "I..ah…" Feeling as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, the senior executive informed Shepard, "Don't worry. I've wanted to say that to him for years."

"Here take these special gas grenades. They will put the colonist to sleep so you won't have to hurt them. You won't hurt them will you?"

Suddenly feeling as if she were standing in front of her own mother again, Shepard smiled sheepishly, "No ma'am we won't."

"Good! Thank you again for saving my daughter and the rest of us. I really appreciate it. Now take care of yourselves and try not to get killed, dear!"

Looking at her squad mates the redhead answered, "That's the plan."

Exiting the large storage space the other employees joined in offering their thanks and gratitude. Shepard was thankful for walking away from the crowd as her cheeks flushed into to a bright red from embarrassment. I knew it! It's always going to be like this. No one warned me that being good was gonna feel this… Her thoughts stopped when she saw Liara cracking a smile at her blushing. Stealing a peek at the quarian told her that they both knew that being good was getting to the mock commander. Attempting to change the silent conversation, Shepard stated, "Ok girls, we're not done yet. We have a plant that's overdue for a trimming."