Hello, Hello, Hello!
So sorry this chapter has been so long, I had some trouble writing it...mainly because I had no idea where this story was going, but now I do and the updates will be faster.
I hope you like the chapter, the next few chapters are going to be a lot more exiting. I just needed to add Aethyta in here somewhere, she is such an awesome character and she is voiced by Claudia black, so that's a huge bonus!
Anyway, please read and tell me what you think, feedback is always welcome.
There were voices around her. Muffled, distorted, robotic. They spoke in harsh tones as she opened her eyes, squinting against the bright lights that burned bright above her. Hazy silhouettes floated in and out of her vision, pain screaming in her head as she tried in vain to move her arms and legs. They seemed heavy and numb, as she pulled against the weight that held them down hands forced her arms back to the cold surface she lay on.
Her mouth was dry and her lips were sore and chapped, her throat itched and she frowned as she tasted blood. She opened and closed her eyes, trying to focus, but her attempts only caused black spots to cloud her vision. Opening her mouth to speak, all she could muster was a rasping groan.
She felt hands on her arms, blurry silhouettes suddenly appearing above her like black ghosts. She moved her head timidly to stare at each of them, the lights above her seeming to get brighter with every passing second. There was a ringing in her ears and suddenly, the pain in her head intensified.
"She's waking up again." One of the strangers above her spoke, her voice muffled as she held a vial to the light, something long and sharp in her hands.
"I told you to keep her sedated." Another voice, male, accented. The man held himself with a certain unnerving authority, unnatural eyes glowing through the darkness.
"I did sir. We keep upping the dosage but she still keeps waking up."
"That's not good enough."
"Sir we have given her enough to sedate a Krogan. If we give her any more she could-"
"-I don't care what you do. Just keep her sedated. I don't want her waking up and escaping."
"Why do we not just begin the process now sir?"
"She is not ready yet. Do not question me again."
"Yes sir. Sorry sir."
The voices seemed to echo in her ears, becoming more and more unintelligible and resounded. Breathing had become harder, a tight clamping on her lungs that made breathing almost imposable. Her heart pounded in her chest, beating in rhythm with the drowned out beeping beside her.
Blue eyes stared down at her with an unsettling coldness, making her shiver. She stared up at him, unable to place his voice, unable to see through her ever darkening vision. She tried to reach out to him, her arm unable to move from its uncomfortable position by her side. She felt a sharp pain in the crook of her arm, felt a strange tingling sensation move up her bicep, then the lights above her began to dim, until she fell into a restless sleep.
James was amazed at how quickly the Citadel had been rebuilt. It was almost as if the war had never happened. He gazed around at the high reaching walls of the Presidium, large open windows looking out over the meticulously well-kept gardens and pastel blue holographic skies. The young solider watched as people hurried about on the streets below, going about their busy lives without a care in the world.
His eyes moved to the larger than life statue of his Commander, a towering figure that stood in the middle of the Presidium Commons, one hand holding a rifle, the other holding the dangling dog tags of fallen comrades. Shepard had hated the statue the very first time she had seen it. She had always said that she was just one solider, if she got a stature, why didn't everyone else? She was not a fan of the fame that came with being the three time savour of the galaxy, she had always said that she 'just wanted to blow stuff up'.
James could feel a smile tugging at his lips as he remembered that conversation, Liara had rolled her eyes, Garrus had raised his drink in agreement and Shepard had smiled goofily at the Asari and kissed her cheek.
He could remember when she first started appearing in the vids all those years ago, the first human spectre. He had idolised her, like many others in the galaxy, watched her save the Citadel the first time, defended her decision to sacrifice the council, mourned her when she died, then hated her when she started working for Cerberus.
He was there when she turned herself in, watched as the Alliance stripped her of everything she had worked for, he watched as she took all the accusations, the threats, the humiliation with a stoic expression, then witnessed her breakdown through the cameras in her room. It was then, he finally saw the solider she was, the solider, who was forced to make the tough decisions of killing a thousand, so she could save a million.
It was then he saw the woman under the armour.
The human, behind all the fame and glory.
The grunt behind the officer.
His respect for her returned like a punch to the gut.
Whenever she said she didn't deserve a statue, he would always say no one deserved it more.
Lifting his drink to his lips he drank hungrily, letting the burning green liquid in his glass slide down his throat and warm his stomach, he made a face at the foul taste of the Asari version of Tequila.
"Non me jodas!" he said, making a face as if he had just eaten an entire lemon. "That's disgusting!"
The Asari behind the bar shook her head, snatching the glass from the bar to clean.
"You're not supposed to drink it all in one go you idiot." She said, her husky voice filled with humour. James looked up at the Matriarch and smirked. He still couldn't believe it was Liara's father. He knew the Asari species were mono-gendered, but every time he thought about it, it hurt his brain.
"Aren't Asari meant to be kind?" James joked, leaning forward. Aethyta scowled. At her look, James shrunk back into his chair.
"Forget I said anything."
A sudden presence beside him made James turn in his chair, Liara now sat beside him, a small smile on her face.
"Is it done?" James asked. Liara nodded
"Yes. My agents tell me that Daral is on his way to meet the buyer." Liara explained. "All you have to do, is keep him talking and I will download the data from his omni-tool. That way, I can sift through the information and find the location of the base."
Aethyta watched the two from her place behind the bar, a curious expression on her face.
"So tell me again why your here. Not that I don't like the company, but normally when Shepard's around…stuff breaks."
James chuckled slightly.
"Father, Shepard's been taken by Cerberus. We need to get the location of the base she has been taken to from the slaver that's been supplying Cerberus with humans to experiment on."
"I am here posing as the buyer Daral is going to meet. I get him talking to distract him from Liara and so it's easier to go through the info. We find out where Cerberus are hiding, we go in, get Shepard and save the day!" James lifted his hands in the air, a triumphant smile on his face. Aethyta looked unimpressed.
"Right. So what happened when the actual buyer shows up? Aethyta asked. Liara answered quickly.
"He has been dealt with."
Both James and Aethyta turned to look at her, shock and worry on their faces.
"You didn't kill the guy did you?"
"Of course not father. I may have just let some information slip that he was a criminal. Now C-SEC has him in their custody ready to go to jail for the rest of his miserable life."
James shifted uncomfortably beside the young Maiden.
"Remind me never to piss you off." He said, Aethyta chuckled from her place behind the bar.
"At least you didn't threaten to flay the guy alive."
Liara sighed, her eyes narrowing angry at her father's jab.
"That was one time. You're never going to let that go are you?" she asked, her voice raising slightly, attracting the attention of a human couple the other side of the bar. Aethyta raised her arms defensively, a cheeky smirk parting her lips.
"Alright, calm down. You don't have to go all blood rage on me."
Liara's hand went to her face, rubbing her eyes in frustration. Aethyta chuckled to herself as she wiped down the bar.
"Well, time to put your little plan in to motion kid. Here comes the guy now."
James peered over his shoulder, watching as a dark skinned Baterian approached him. The alien was tall, taller than any Baterian he had seen, with a large protruding belly that hung over a tight waste band. He wore expensive clothes, royal red with a white trim. The vibrant colours covering his body contrasting well with the dark, almost black markings on his face.
He sat next to James without saying a word, ordering a drink from the bar. The bright yellow liquid was placed in front of him and he drank it in one gulp. James waited for him to speak.
"I am a very busy human. "He finally said, turning his black eyes to face the marine. "The only reason I am here, is because you offered a substantial about of credits to meet you. Make it quick."
James shifted his body to face Daral. One eye watching as Liara attempted to decrypt the slavers Omni-tool "I want to buy a slave from you. But not just any slave."
Daral's eyes narrowed at the humans words.
"Get to the point."
"I want a female…human…to keep me warm at night."
"Go on." Darla continued.
"Rumour has it. You have one in-particular human in stock." James hated himself for talking about the slaves like cattle, but he had to stay in character. "A particular female Commander…Savour of the Galaxy."
"What are you talking about?" Daral asked, his voice raising suddenly as he leaned in closer to the hulking marine. James watched over the Baterian's shoulder as Liara made a face. The decryption was taking longer than usual. Vega continued.
"My contacts tell me that one of your slaver vessels attacked a small colony out in the traverse. Shepard appeared to save the day but never came back."
Daral snarled, showing his needle like teeth.
"I don't know what you are talking about human."
"Ah come on buddy. Don't hold out on me."
"You contacts are wrong!" He said. "And even if I did have that murderer, the only place for her would be in my trophy case!"
Suddenly, Daral's Omni-tool beeped, a high pitched alarm causing him to look down at his arm. Liara withdrew quickly, but not quick enough. Daral growled, shooting from his chair. Glaring between James and the Asari beside him.
"What is this!?" He shouted, his hand moving to his side. "I should have known never to have trusted a human!"
Before Daral could pull his pistol from its holster, a bright blue bolt hit him square in the chest, sending him flying across the bar. The alien's body hit the far wall with a sickening crack. His body slumping to the floor with a dull thud. James and Liara looked towards the bar, open mouthed, Aethyta's long slender body still glowing with a cloud of blue.
"What ever happened to doing things the old fashioned way?"
Well there you have the next chapter. Hope you enjoyed it and the next chapter will be up soon. Very soon! Please leave a review!