As always all rights to Bioware.

Confirmation

Vermire. Unlike many of the planets found when one of the races first started exploring for a world to colonize this one for almost all points was perfect. Good air, good water, shame about the terrible neighborhood. Many times the Council had tried to negotiated with the nearby Terminus system Merc leaders to no avail. Because of this the planet had been written off as a loss until some sort of political change happened in the region. It was to bad, the place was an island paradise.

This is where they were supposed to find him, the council had sent out a Salarian intelligence team to look into a lead and they had stopped responding. While it could have been something else sure, but more than likely the reason they were not responding was because they had found their target and run into some trouble, things just ended up that way most times. Evidently only a small team of about fifteen men had been sent out for the mission led by a Captain Kirrahe. At the mission briefing it had been decided that Tali and Garrus were going to go down land side in the Mako with Jane, something Matt was more than happy to pass on anyway. They needed to go down first to knock out a few AA towers so that they could bring in the Normandy and try to pull the team out.

With the Mako and Tali's tech abilities even a few patches of Geth had posed little threat to keeping the small team from taking out the towers. After only a couple of hours they were able to bring the Normandy in close enough to land near the Salarian's rescue signal. Only one problem, turns out they were not the only guns pointed at the sky. Not only that Wrex had nearly stormed off towards the compound when he found out that Saren had found a way to breed Krogan, something thought impossible after the introduction of the genophage.

Now they only had one option, storm the castle, eliminate another set of towers, and kick Saren's ass. A mission that Matt could get behind if there ever was one.

"Do you like the ocean?" the soft toned Liara asked after finding Matt standing somewhat off alone near the shore where the water lapped up near the small encampment the Salarians had set up.

Snapped out of his thoughts and a little embarrassed being caught in his day dreaming Matt scratched the back of his head and shrugged his shoulders, "Ah...well I never really thought about it. I was just thinking that I had not really had many chances to see the ocean. Just this time and one other time back on Earth after I went through basic. Still the place feels...familiar..." Matt stated looking back at the Asari who stood a few paces behind him, dressed completely in her white and blue combat armor watching the water like he was currently, "Does feel like something is off though."

Liara frowned and stepped up beside Shepard crossing her arms over her chest and taking a better look at the coast, even up the beach so she might understand what it was he was talking about, "How do you mean off?"

Matt exhaled and crouched down so that he could cup some of the water being brought up by the waves around his ankles. Holding it in his hand he stood back up and just looked at it for the longest time with Liara eyeing the small pool of water he had created. Really he did not know why he was bothered by it, but it just seemed wrong. Should he tell her? Liara was going to laugh for sure.

"Its the wrong color," he stated releasing the water from his cupped palm so it fell back down into another oncoming wave.

He was right, she was confused, but she did not laugh at him. It seemed instead she was humoring him, "The wrong color? What color should it be?"

Again Matt hesitated to give a real answer, it just seemed so wrong of a color to think it should be, "Bright blue...like neon blue...so much so that it would glow at night. Does that sound crazy?"

He sounded frustrated and it showed in his face after the answer, but Liara was trying her very best not to show the surprise in her expression.

"Forgive me, but I was under the impression that the ocean on Earth was a blue or a blue green color? Why neon blue?" hard as it was she tried to keep her voice even and not give anything away as to what she was thinking. Why did Matt think of that color of all things?!

The biotic soldier rolled his shoulders and shook his head not understanding much himself, "yeah that's right and like I said this is only the second beach I have ever seen in my lifetime. Yet I still feel it should be that color. Any idea why I might think that?"

Quickly Liara looked back out at the water and shook her head getting off a short comment, "No...can not think of one."

Beside her Matt noticed Jane trying to flag down the two of them to come over for some sort of meeting so he gently bumped Liara in the side with his hand to get her attention.

"Come on, it looks like they got some sort of plan cooked up."

Liara nodded and watched him go, like Matt had she crouched down and pulled some of the blue green water into her hand just before turning on her heel to get to the meeting.

Neon blue water only existed on one planet to her one hundred and five year knowledge

Matt had been to Thessia, her home world, and he did not completely remember it for some reason.

"So let me get this straight, "Matt said with Jane and Ashley standing there beside him, the others sent off to get ready for the mission and for their assigned tasks, "You want to assault a heavily fortified compound full of geth and biologically engineered Krogan, that Wrex wanted to save a minute ago before you somehow calmed him. You want to do this with the fifteen Salarians running a diversion so that our team can sneak in the back, find Saren, shut down the AA tower, and take their, again the Salarians, retrofitted drive core turned into a bomb to waste this place?"

Jane rubbed her forehead at the explaination her brother rambled out, it did seem a bit far fetched for the numbers they had, but it was the best idea they had come up with thus far. The bomb idea was as good as it was going to get.

She shrugged her head and glanced first at Ashley then back at Matt, "You got a better idea?"

An exchanged look flashed between the other two there then Matt spoke up again.

"Oh no, its a grand plan," Matt said sarcastically, "I like the part where we all walk away without a scratch at the end there. Perfect really."

His sister broke out in a wide smile and poked his armor right on the chest shoving him back a step, "Good you just volunteered to go with the Salarians. Their asking for one more."

Matt grumbled something inaudible and Ashley hefted her battle rifle a little higher right along with that straight spine of hers.

"With respect ma'am I would like that chance if you may," Ashley said speaking up glancing over a Matt that did not seem all to happy at the idea of his sister throwing him to the wolves so to speak.

Jane shook her head though, there was an actual reason for this, "No Williams, its got to be Matt."

Confused Ashley waited for the rest of the explanation, but it seemed Commander Shepard was not going to do it herself. It was not simply that either of them thought she could not handle the job.

"Relax Ash...I got this," Matt said with a half smile while reaching to his side to check his pistol over once more, he could give her that answer, "Wrex wouldnt go with the Salarians because he hates them, Tali needs to go with the shadow team because no one knows Geth like she does. Garrus would be of little use for the Salarians because we will be constantly pushing. He works better as cover over top for a group like Jane wants. Liara had to go in case you run across something prothean again and you Ash. You have to go because Jane wants at least one other Alliance military member along with her."

His redheaded sister just nodded and pressed a hand down on Matt's shoulder. They exchanged a look, nothing was said, but they had done this many time before a mission so both knew what was really being exchanged. Fingers released and Jane just walked away, heading for the Normandy group leaving Ash and Matt behind near the Salarians.

"You be careful out there Ash," Matt said with an offered hand towards the Alliance woman.

The Military woman's expression hardly changed showing her zeal, but the hand was taken with a strong grip, "See you on the other side Shepard."

Grasp loosened Ashley headed back for her group wondering just how Matt Shepard remained at his rank if he was able to break down field conditions in that manner. Surely there was a story there. He sounded for a second like he should be the commander.

After going over his gun that last time Matt set it back at his hip in the hostler and turned back to the group of Salarians that were gathered. He shook the hand of the Captain and let him know that he would follow any command given. Kirrahe was easy enough to get along with, the speech he had given to his men to pump them up for the assault minutes ago was the stuff of legend. Matt off to the side when he was speaking could not help, but be pulled into it as well. The motion was given to put on helmets to go mission ready.

Right after he sealed his suit the HUD for his helmet came up showing all his readouts. There he noticed a private line waiting to be opened up. They all agreed to used one line for the mission to come, this was a suit to suit communication that no one else would be able to hear, but you needed line of sight to use. Not understanding Matt looked back at the group from the Normandy and found that only Liara was looking his way while the rest finished sealing their suits. Not understanding he reached up and tapped the com system button to open the line on the bottom left side of his helmet.

"Liara?"

"Matt can you promise me something?" She sounded worried, he could hear that in her voice if he couldn't see her face because of the distance and it being obscured by the helmet.

This just made the gears in his head turn faster trying to understand, "Probably," he answered in a partially joking tone.

The sand felt miles between them when it was only about twenty feet. Liara turned back to the group, someone had said something over their squad com probably because the suit to suit line cut off for an instant, but it did come back.

"Trust your first instincts. Do not second guess yourself. Promise me."

She had never turned back from the Normandy group when she responded so it was impossible to read her body language this time, but she sounded deathly serious. So he gave her that promise simple as it was.

"I always do Doctor," he said with a smirk hidden in his tone and behind his faceplate, "But I do promise."

"Be safe"

"You to."

The plan called for the remainder of the Salarians along with Matt to press the front of the compound, keep them busy with what they would hopefully think was the main force so that the smaller Normandy team could get in the back. That however was easier said than done between the endless swarm of Geth coming out of the compound like ants and the random Krogan that tried to charge their line.

They split the small group up into two so that they could rotate the pressure they wanted to assert. The Salarian Captain was in one group while Matt had been appointed to lead the other. Twice Matt's group had ventured close enough to the front door of the compound for a Krogan to get within charging distance. After having to fight the last one off with pure biotic throws it was agreed to hold both groups back a better distance.

"Hows it on your end Matt?" the Captain called across the expanse of beach riddled with large boulders that led up to the mouth of the compound.

Distracted by a nearby flying rocket drone Matt had to raise a hand in defense, but it turned out to be not needed with the drone suddenly falling lifeless into the sand. A call had been put out by the Captain over open channel about the possibility of knocking them out. Of course this had been for "Shadow" team, but since it was open channel he had to be vague. it looked like Jane was looking out for them somewhere. A good thing, the drones were a pain to deal with.

"A lot better now," Matt said between panting breaths while checking his gun and giving a glance to the four Salarians in tow with him, "We are still good here, but we need to actually hit the building sooner rather than later."

The distance to the door was short, only about a few seconds of flat out sprinting to get there, only problem was there was a large imposing Krogan flanked by Geth standing in the way. Short of getting right up in his face none of the Salarians really had anything good enough to dent his shields.

"I could just charge him?" Matt suggested half heartedly not really liking the plan.

Suddenly a cracking sound rang out along with the guttural sound of flesh rending against a wall and the Krogan dropped soulless. Beside the biotic a familiar Turian slid into cover behind the rock his rifle finding a home so that he could reach for an assault variant.

"Surely you could have thought of something better than that Matty," Garrus grinned behind his faceplate while cycling up his new weapon.

After only looking back once Matt laughed and rolled his shoulders, "It probably would have worked. Damn good to see you though this is a shit storm. What are you doing here?"

The precise Turian leaned up just enough to see over the rock eyeing the situation while responding, "Jane sent me to back up your team, they made it inside and I suggested I would be of better use here. We should be just about ready to mov-," right then an alarm started to ring out across the compound and the Geth, after a moments hesitation split and a half headed for the back of the building.

This was their chance, whatever Jane was doing it had drawn off a good portion of the defending forces. They needed to get inside. Hoisting his pistol Matt shot a look across the beach to the hidden Salarian Captain and motioned with the metal muzzle of his weapon towards the door. After receiving the 'Go' hand signal both teams came out from behind the rock fring. Garrus at Matts right had an automatic rifle now, but his aim was still impeccable, short bursts for each target while Matt only fired when he really had to instead focusing on a small biotic bubble around his team until they got to the door.

The Captain and Matt were first through the door, weapons raised, with Garrus and what was left of the Salarian squad, now combined, right behind. The place was a maze. They had a general idea of where they needed to be going and with whatever Jane had done to piss off the guards their resistance was minimal at best.

A couple times they stopped, caught their breath, and the Captain checked his map to make sure they were going in the right direction. They had to keep going up, the AA gun was on the highest point of the compound and without it knocked out the Normandy was not going to be landing to pick them up anytime soon. At one such stop the Captain brought up his map and called for a rally call to his men, checking their status, many of them were wounded and tired, but all called back ready to go. Matt on the other hand was staring at a doorway that had stairs that led down into the debts of the compound with some interest. Interest enough for Garrus to grab him by the shoulder to try and pull him from it.

"Whoa there, those go down. We are going up here, the Captain is about ready to move again," Garrus said pulling his hand away and motioning towards the hallway that had another flight of stairs up at the end, "You ok Matt?"

Right of course, they had to keep going up, but Matt was certain for some reason the stairs were important. He just could not put his finger on it. They didn't have any real advanced knowledge of the facility before they went in so he could not be sure why he felt that way.

The image of a certain Asari flashed past his mind and he remembered the promise he made, a promise that did not make sense before, but damn if his gut was not kicking in now.

"Captain I need a moment," Matt called looking back over his shoulder where the Salarians were leaning around the corner to what would hopefully be the last set of stairs.

Kirrahe couldn't understand, or rather did not have time for it, "No time Shepard we need to get to the tower or all of this is for nothing. This is the last break. What is it?"

The military Captain was kert with his answer, but the stress of the combat could be heard in his voice. They really did not have time for this.

Matt took one more look towards the doorway that had stairs leading down into the compound and ground his teeth together. Beside him Garrus looked on darting his eyes between the former Alliance military member and the door.

"Captain give me two of your men and I will check out whatever is at the bottom of those stairs for Shepard. We can be in and out quick," The Turian offered trying to appeal for his friend, "Resistance should be even less down there, its obvious they are shifted to protect the tower now."

Now it was Matt's turn to look confused catching Garrus out of the corner of his eye while still watching the Salarian Captain with his other. He did not say anything, he couldn't, he knew there was something important here Matt could feel it. How he knew? Right now it didn't matter they could sort that out after.

It only took a fraction of a second, the captain pointed at two members of his team and they kicked the stairwell door in themselves heading down the stairs without hesitation, "You have your two members Vakarian, catch up with us as soon as you can."

Right before the blue armored comrade made it through the door Matt caught him by the gauntlet covering his forearm and got his attention.

"Why Garrus?"

The Turian turned and look at the Human, though neither could see the others faces they understood the mutual respect exchanged. .

"I wouldn't have been much of a C-sec officer if I never went with a hunch. Back before you know it Shep."

Matt wanted to explain the feeling he had that was now sending his Turian friend down a dark stairwell, but there was not time and he was certain he would not have had an answer anyway. No the biotic just turned and tore apart the next Geth platform he saw in a fiery display of azure glow hoping against hope that he had not just sent three soldiers on a fools errand. The team still had to make the tower.

Liara was tired, between the running, the fighting, and the constant use of her biotics she was nearing her limit when they got to the center of the compound where they would set the bomb. The bomb was the last thing on her mind though, the revelation that the ship Saren used was anything but was shocking. The ship itself was a Reaper, a living thing bent on destruction. The level of which was obviously unimaginable. She had been to many...MANY…prothean dig sites on many worlds and she better than anyone knew how powerful the race had been, but these…these "Reapers" wiped them out without much consequence nearly from all record unless someone went digging for them like she had

They only knew this because they found another beacon, like the one that had been on Eden Prime that Matthew interacted with, but not only that Saren's ship Sovern they came to find out was its name, spoke to them directly through an interface link up in the compound. .Jane had been the one, Liara might say lucky enough to endure the treatment of the beacon if it had not appeared to be so painful. Had Matt undergone the same painful experience as well? The Asari would probably not have to ever ask to know her answer.

"Liara you ok?" Jane asked after making sure the area they were going to try and bring the Normandy into was clear.

Without realising it Liara had increased the hold she had on her pistol to what could be called a "death" grip and the Asari guessed the Commander had noticed. After taking a deep breath Liara nodded and set her pistol back at her hip out of the way waving off a concerned hand.

"I will be fine. You might have taken me along on some combat before, but I suppose I was not ready for such sustained firefights I am sorry," Liara did her best to sound apologetic, but really she was just disappointed in herself.

Around her the rest of the team was experienced in combat, even Tail had seen more firefights then the hundred year old Asari ever had and it just frustrated her. A canteen thrust into her line of sight Liara took it without looking at who had outstretched it and sat down against that wall to drain some of the life giving fluid.

Jane looked at each of them to make sure they were alright more or less. When those eyes fell to Liara. The Asari parted her lips to say something only to have Jane lift her hand and press the com button on the side of her helmet to call to her brother.

"Shadow to strike, is the tower down?" Jane called out across the line.

Because it was a secure line only Jane would be one hearing any sort of answer. The rest of the squad had to get by with the sudden appearance of the Normandy coming in over head for theirs. Once it set down and opened it's main door there was flurry of movement, action Liara tried her best to stay out of the way off. One Salarian soldier, the only one not to go with the strike team, because of injury, helped to arm the bomb.

Right when things started to settle, right when things started to calm, they all tore apart again. Suddenly Geth started pouring in from all directions and a Turian they had only seen in pictures of appeared on a floating Normandy burned out of there and they were left to handle the situation. Liara went to get up, but Wrex sprinted for the cover she was behind and with a hand on her shoulder urged her to stay down. Rough as the Krogan might always be he was a warrior and Wrex knew that the scientist they had brought along was exhausted. Better to stay down out of the way then cause another problem.

So she stayed down, behind that cover, shadowed by the large form of the Krogan squad mate while Jane spoke with the rogue specter. Saren tried to make her understand why he was doing all this, why he chose the side he did, but in the end it ended how it had to. With a fight. While the bullets grazed the cover she hid behind she tried to picture one of her digs, a comfortable safe place, this Asari was not supposed to be here! Not supposed to be fighting anyone! Yet here she was next to helpless hiding while others fought the battle for her.

It felt like an eternity, but in the end the bullets had to stop. Luckily their side was still standing and Saren was long gone when they finally did.

After the fight died down the Normandy was able to circle back around and Liara set her pistol down on the top of a cargo container on deck, then herself a tired mess. Hands deftly moved to her neck where the opening on her armor once slid open to the space between her collar bones in the front afforded her a bit more breathing room.

The bomb was in place and ticking. Liara sighed then caught her breath, ticking?! No that should not be right they still had to go pick up the strike team. More importantly they still had to go pick up Matt.

Marines hurried aboard dragging equipment behind them, quickly the shadow team followed behind. Wrex, Ash, Tali, then finally like she was reluctant to do so Jane took the last step from Vermire soil and onto the metal deck of the Normandy gaze locking instantly on her new Asari friend from behind her faceplate.

"Where are we going Jane?" Liara asked in a hush when the Commander neared, but when it looked like Jane was going to brush past Liara spoke up, " This is not the plan!"

Those armored hands of the Commanders flew up to the hardseal helmet she wore and it found a new place slamming against the bulkhead a few feet away. Those usually calm and controlled eyes of the Specters were clouded with something Liara had never seen in them before.

Without looking directly at Liara Jane reached for her com again, "Joker get us as far away from here as you can as fast as you can."

The ship's intercom was quick to answer, "Running, got it. What about Strike team?"

"Matt's team was overwhelmed while we were skirmishing with Saren, it was protect the bomb or the tower. Matthew told me to stay put."

There was rock where Liara's stomach used to be, or at least it felt like that was the case. Left behind? A clenched fist that wanted to come up the side of the Specter's head was the first thing that came to mind, but shortly after it was replaced, replaced with a knowing.

Right after the cargo bay was filled with the sound of the mass effect engine kicking up dulling most of the outside noise letting them know Joker was taking to the task Jane finally made a point to look at the blue skinned woman..

"Liara I…" what she found in her expression would not be sorrow or surprise or even rage.

With her fingers Liara loosened one of the straps on the waist of her armor to allow her more comfort until she could get it all off. Despite trying to give herself a distraction to keep her from giving anything away those soft lips of her's could not hide the tentative smile that for some reason graced her lips.

"Do not give up on your brother just yet Shepard," Liara said evenly, "he made me a promise."

"Promise?"

Cerulean hues studied a woman about to come apart by the loss of her brother trying to hold onto anything one might give her to hope.

Liara broke her silent expression and let her small smile fill into something of reassuring warmth, "Mhm...I told him to do what he always does and to not hesitate to do so."

The main deck of the Normandy was quiet, not even Joker was up to his usual banter. They had just left behind a Salarian squad, Garrus, and the Commanders own brother to be blown sky high by an improvised bomb because there was not enough time to save both the bomb site and the squad at the AA tower. It had been an impossible choice. One that evidently Matt had taken out of his sister's hands. That little solace seemed minor now that the act was finished though.

The deck was quiet and most were either finding something to busy themselves with or simply finding somewhere else to be. Jane stood at the Galaxy map just staring at the bright section that signified Vermire. She had been there for the better part of two hours. After returning from the mission planetside the Specter had been convinced to gear down and return to her regulation ship clothing, but after that. No one had gone near her.

Beside her off to the side where an absent Pressly usually stood, gone down to engineering to speak to Adams, or just to get away from Shepard one could not be sure, Liara stood. Unlike the Shepard family the Asari knew something...knew something...that they did not about Matt. It was the only thing keeping her from breaking because up until this point after finding that memory she had driven herself by it. Unlike Jane Liara still wore her gear, loosened and partially unzipped, but it had not come off. This was it, the ultimate test of what she had seen. If Matt somehow walked on board again it meant that it was beyond a shadow of a doubt the truth and she would need to face that.

While the scientist in her did not want to believe in the possibility at the same time if what she thought was going to happen came to pass, no, what she hoped happened. It would mean explaining things to Matt because the two of them would need to figure out just what was going on. He could be as angry as he wanted to be with her for going somewhere during the meld that she was not supposed to during that conversation.

Those deep eyes off her lifted away from the galaxy map the two women had been staring at for the better part of two hours and she held her breath. As long as he came back Liara was ready to take whatever anger was due her way.

"Commander we just passed three hours without contact from Strike team and the residual interference from the blast on our sensors has long cleared up. What do you want to do?" Joker asked over the com, but only on the speaker beside the redheads station as to not broadcast across the crew. For once the sarcastic tone in his voice was absent.

A long lingering pause was broken by Jane responding in a tired, but even tone, "The sensors still show nothing near the compound?"

Cutting back in across the speaker, "Nothing Commander and I have them all trained scanning every grain of sand on that island. Just nothing left….sorry."

The last bit almost sounded forced, not that he did not mean it, but that he was not sure Jane was ready to start considering what had really happened.

Every sensor? Liara shot up away from the bar and quickly made her a way around to the platform Jane was standing on. Without warning she nearly broke her thumb, something the Flight Lieutenant would understand trying to get the talk button pressed.

"Joker! Check the space around the planet. Have you checked anywhere, but Vermire yet!?"

The line went dead and the pilot was gone, maybe he really had not? The action happened on the ground. They really would not have any reason to check anywhere else.

"Liara what are you talking about?" Jane asked wide eyed showing more expression than she had in the past two hours standing there, "They have to be on the planet."

Energetic eyes tore from the galaxy map and over to the red head beside her, "What if they are not on Virmire?"

Shaking her head Jane went to reach for Liara's hand, but never get there. Instead it slammed down on the com, but after Joker announced ship wide.

"I got a shuttle in low orbit, no power, only life support."

"Joker get your ass over there right now!" Jane shouted more up the deck towards the seat holding the pilot then into the mic, "Liara with me."

She did not need to be told, the Asari was already at the lift having pressed the button waiting for it to come. The two nearly tore the doors open when they finally started to shift. In the frenzy Jane called for the doctor to join them in the cargo bay once the shuttle was brought aboard. Since the shuttle was not fit to connect to the normal port they had to bring the whole thing in. That meant clearing the deck, making sure everyone was out and that everything was locked down .Really it just meant time, time neither woman wanted to spend.

The second they were off the deck Jane barked orders all around and everyone within earshot regardless of rank or position aboard ship jumped to any task given. Once everything was stowed and they were ready Joker brought the shuttle aboard with some fancy flying. All with only minor structural damage to the hull of the thing, something he was sure to bring up later.

White had been the shuttles normal paint job, but half the thing was scorched black and burned where it sustained damage from something. Any guess would have put whatever caused the damage was what knocked out their propulsion. A couple of engineers had to help get the main door on the side open, but that only took a minute more.

Liara waited, wrung her gloved hands together, and watched from the back of the Alliance marines pack working for the first sign that she might be right.

Some sort of gas piled out from the inside of the shuttle then a few Salarians stepped out still wearing their full capped hard suits. Garrus came out after that toting his normal rifle, gear marred up from the fight, but looking no worse for wear. Jane motioned him over and the Turian quickly got the message.

"Chakwas we need you up here," A familiar voice called out from within the ruined shuttle, Matt's voice.

The Doctor, the medical one anyway, brushed passed a few marines and headed into the shuttle. Minutes passed and Liara took her eyes away from the small ship long enough to see that Garrus had his helmet off and Jane was riddling him with questions now. Liara was sure that the Commander was asking many of the same question that she would want to ask if given the chance. That attention could not be stolen for very long though, a group cheer and wallop shot up from the group of crewmen gathered when Matt came out of the shuttle finally with the Salarian Captain leaning on him and the Doctor in tow.

"Miss me?" he said to the small crowd, probably grinning behind his faceplate having like the rest kept it on to help with running out of air from the looks of it.

"Yes yes...very exciting...get my patient on the gurney then you can start exaggerating the tale Shepard," Chakwas said scolding him urging the man to set the Salarian down. Which he was more than happy to do. It was just her way of letting Matt know that she was glad he was alright. After a short exchange between the two of them to see if there was anything wrong with him Matt promised to come by later to be look over after he got out of his gear. That promise solidified the Doctor, along with some of the Marines headed on her way back up to the med bay.

Still the scientist held back, leaned against a cargo container, possibly still the same one from just after they came back aboard not sure if she should approach. On the one hand she was overjoyed to see him, Matt had effectively just come back from the dead. Not something one usually pulled off. Of course on the other hand this meant that what she had seen was one hundred percent true and the part that scared her the most about it was that the Reapers were no idle threat, no shadow in a corner. They were the real deal and in the memory she felt the desperation of the conflict with them. What could she do about it?

The chatter died down and Liara lost in her thoughts eyes to the deck while tormented missed Matt crossing to stand feet from her.

"You know I thought you might be a bit happier to see me?" Matt said after unlocking his helmet letting himself for the first time since the start of the mission actually breathe.

The human before her was matted with sweat, his hair short as it was in a mess, and his skin was drained of color from exertion. It was the most exhausted she had ever seen Matt, the most he had ever pushed himself for a mission, but still his eyes were sharp. Better than that those hazel orbs watched her with nothing, but concern for only her well being in that exchange. He had just escaped a blast strong enough to ruin a continent for a hundred years and his first thought was unequivocally her own emotional state. This was it, this was the reason the 'future' her had looked at Shepard the way she had. She loved him. Damned be the memory, Liara loved him now.

"You are not allowed to do that again you hear me?" she stated without anger or sadness somehow behind her lips, "Are you alright?"

Shepard kept the same tired smile he showed her right after he took off his helmet and gave a small nod, "Yeah I will be alright, just tired."

Almost taking this as invitation Liara pushed herself off of the box and kissed the biotic brother of the Shepard siblings. Fingers gripped onto his combat gear tight enough to be felt through the flexible kevlar like fabric. She clung until someone on the deck cleared their throat and the shy scientist realised just where she was. Bright color filled her cheeks and she rolled back down onto the heel of her feet, eyes looking anywhere, but at the interest of her affections.

Did Matt care where they were? Of course not, no one clearing their throat or shouting at the two of them to break it up would have been enough for him to clear the space, but Liara had and he understood why. Better yet he still understood and it made his smile only widen.

"I could eat though, come with me to the mess?" he offered because truthfully he was starving.

Liara covered her lips with her hand when she laughed shaking her head at the bluntness of his question, "Yes well I think i can understand why you might be a little hungry. I already had one of those dreadful bars when I came back aboard."

The two of them headed for the lift, this left not many people standing beside the smoldering shuttle. In fact only two still stood there, Garrus and Jane.

Of the two Jane had been watching the exchange between her brother and the Asari. When her brother came out of the shuttle she had been ready to greet him with open arms. The fact that he went straight to Liara told her a great deal. The two caught each other's attention when Matt made for the lift though, they could talk later.

"I am not sure how you guys did it, but I am just glad you did," Jane said with true thankfulness showing through, she still could not get over the fact they had been found just floating along, "Who found the shuttle?"

Garrus gave a small nod to the first part then looked back over at the wreckage himself. Reaching out he pressed a gloved hand against one of the cleaner sections and responded, "Well I found it."

"I am glad you did."

The Turian looked bothered about something and shook his head never taking his eyes off it, "It was not me...not really...We came to a stop inside the compound and Matt was bothered by another option. A set of stairs that led down, the opposite direction of where we were trying to go, but it bothered him so much I took it upon myself with a pair of salarians to check it out."

Jane remembered how Liara said she told Matt to do what he always did and it suddenly bothered her for some reason, "Sounds like a pretty lucky break…"

Nodding again Garrus turned from the shuttle and shrugged in agreement, "Yeah, make no mistake though. If Matt had not been hung up on those stairs enough for us to check them out no way we would be standing here talking and you really would have lost a brother. Now if you'll excuse me I need to gear down, this stuff is really starting to chafe."

Wordlessly Jane thought about what Garrus said and motioned for him to do just that. Why had her brother's instincts kicked into such high gear and could they really blame this narrow escape on luck?

Hope you enjoyed it.