When she knocked on Liara's door, Shepard actually waited for Liara to open it instead of just walking in. "Oh, hello, Commander, please, come in." Liara looked concerned for a brief moment, then pulled herself up and spoke. "I hope our previous conversations have not given you cause to not want to speak to me."

That caught Shepard by surprise. "Why would you think that?"

Liara was wringing her hands as she spoke, obviously nervous for some reason. "Well, you... uh, you normally just come in... so there must be some reason for your hesitation?"

And there it is, the blunt sincerity I find so refreshing. "Ah, well. After I startled you so badly, blasting in here like I did this morning, I got to thinking about it. I've actually been pretty rude, just walking in like I have been. I mean, it is your room after all; I shouldn't just barge in on you. It's not polite. Forgive me." Shepard looked at her with a shrug of her shoulders as she finished.

Liara blushed a little, "Thank you, Shepard... it is very considerate of you, but really, it is alright. I...look forward to your visits." She smiled and sat down on her cot, pointing to the desk chair. "Will you sit?"

Shepard took the offered chair. "Thanks, but it's not alright...at least you didn't think so this morning when it happened...Matter of fact, if I remember correctly, you were downright irritated." Shepard flashed a grin before continuing. "I normally try to give my crew the same consideration I expect them to give me. It's only right... Anyway, I'd like to talk to you about tomorrow's mission. I'd like you to come along again, in case we find any Prothean tech."

Liara seemed relieved, "Absolutely, Commander. I was not sure you would want me to, after today." For a change, Liara did not look bashful at all. She looked straight at Shepard, almost as if in challenge. She's ready for the fight... ready to defend her actions. Good!

"From that statement, I can only surmise you are referring to your disregard of my request that you not be a combatant today." Liara shifted uncomfortably in her chair but said nothing, so the commander continued, "Yes, I noticed you were assisting Alenko today. He can't throw warp and singularity combos that fast, that frequently, and since Wrex was up front head bashing Geth with his boomstick... I certainly didn't do it, so that only left you." Shepard looked pointedly at her, and was impressed; the Asari flushed a little but folded her hands calmly in her lap and awaited judgment. Shepard took her silence as agreement and pressed on. "I'll admit, at first I was mad, but I looked back to find you, and you were nowhere to be seen. You did a great job staying in cover and kept out of the enemy's sights. More importantly, you kept a cool head under fire, especially when that damn Prime snuck in behind us. You showed good instincts today. I was...proud for you, Liara. You did well."

Liara blushed furiously at the praise, but smiled and sat up a little straighter on the cot. "Thank you, Shepard. That means a lot coming from you."

The commander suddenly scowled and looked very serious. "However, do not, even for one second, think that gives you carte blanche to ever disobey another field order I give you." Liara's smile faltered and she looked away, but said nothing. Shepard paused only slightly, considered the point made, and then continued. "So, about tomorrow. If you're going, first thing in the morning I need you down in the armory. I've already talked to Ash. She's going to get you set up with some light armor, and get you something with a little more bang for the buck than that pistol. How's that sound?"

Liara had a huge grin on her face and her eyes sparkled. "Well, I am not sure exactly what you mean by 'bang for the buck' but I would assume it means something stronger, or more efficient. I appreciate the opportunity, and if that is what you desire, I will happily comply."

"It's not about desire, Blue, it's about protection. If that Prime had hit you today from that range, I just don't want to think about what the results would have been. Tali got lucky, she was wearing light armor, but her suit still got breeched and she's going to be in the med bay for a week. I don't want that to happen to you, Liara. We've got too much ahead of us..." Shepard smiled wistfully. So, are you going to interpret that as looming mission or personal dreams? I'm not really sure how I meant it, both, I guess.

Liara blinked. Shepard could tell she was puzzling over the same question of interpretation, but her follow on comments provided mixed signals as Liara replied, "As you wish, Commander. I will visit Chief Williams immediately after breakfast. Let's not spend every free minute talking about mission performance. It's bad enough we spend every day chasing Saren across the galaxy."

"Doesn't matter what the subject is, I like talking with you, Liara. By the way, have you eaten?"

"I have not, but I am not really very hungry. I have too much on my mind to eat right now." Liara paused, contemplating where to start. "You have been very understanding with me, Shepard. Very patient...and I appreciate that. I am aware there are some very strange beliefs about my people. I am familiar with the legend of Asari promiscuity, but those rumors have little basis in fact. When one of my people joins with an individual from another species, it is a very deep and spiritual exchange. We do not enter lightly into a union."

"I understand some of the Asari culture, and I understand your hesitation, maybe better than you realize. I am not casual about sexual relationships either, so I can relate." Shepard smiled, encouraging Liara to continue.

"A true union goes far beyond an ordinary melding. It is a connection that transcends the physical universe. Two become one. Thoughts and senses merge. Identities intertwine. Memories and emotions weave themselves together, becoming entangled in a single, rapturous whole. It is unlike any other experience. In some cases, it can be a truly life-changing event."

"I know some Asari, I've run across some commandos, but I've never melded with any, for any purpose... It sounds almost...mystical. Um, based on our previous conversation, you're not saying..." Shepard just faded out, not really wanting the answer she knew was coming.

"What? Oh! No! Uh, I am not very good at this, am I? I am sorry, Shepard. I am just trying to explain why I have been so...reserved. The union is more than just sex. It is the life blood of my species, the way we Asari evolve and grow as a society. That is why I have never...uh, I mean, that is why we must chose our partners with great care."

Shepard was surprised. "Wait... never? I figured you'd never been with a human before, but are you saying in 106 years you've never been... with anybody?"

Liara was very uncomfortable with the discussion and was staring at the floor at this point. "Shepard, 106 is barely an adult by Asari standards. And I have spent most of my time absorbed in my research. I never really thought about it...Not until I met you."

Shepard stood up and stepped away, creating more...physical space... between them, trying to make Liara a bit more comfortable. "Wait...but you have thought about it? Holy crap! I like you, Liara... a lot. Somehow, you make me feel...amazing. And I know you think humans move too fast and bully our way into things, but a real relationship is not something to be rushed. It's something to be savored. I don't do ... uh, I don't have casual sex. I don't expect you...us...to jump right into a mating meld, certainly not into a full union, especially if it would be your first time. I'm certainly not going to push you into something you're not ready for. I just..." Samantha felt like there was a hole in her chest; like she was losing her grip on something very precious. "I don't want you to think I'm not interested, I just want you to be comfortable...with 'us.' I want to give us the chance to get to know one another first."

Liara looked up, "I think I would like that. You are very special to me, Shepard. But with all that is happening; Saren, the Geth, the Reapers...I do not know if we are ready for this."

Shepard sat back down in the chair, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees, and made direct eye contact with Liara. "Oh, no you don't, Blue. No second guessing us. I want to spend time with you. Humans call it dating. We're definitely ready for that, it's not really much different than what we are already doing. As I told you last night, we'll take the time we need, Liara, and we'll be ready, for whatever comes."

"I truly hope you understand, Shepard. There is too much at stake. I wish it did not have to be this way, but I need to put aside my personal feelings and focus on stopping Saren. It is too...distracting, to me. Maybe... after... " Liara blushed furiously and then stuttered out, "Let's... let's talk about something else."

The commander sat back in the chair, a look of melancholy on her face. Distracting? Really? How about inspiring? Something to make the fight worthwhile...? The thoughts ran through her mind, but she voiced none of them. Instead, she just stood up and sighed, "Actually, Liara, I'm not feeling very well, so I'm gonna go. Try to get some rest before the mission tomorrow." Shepard gave Liara a half-baked smile and returned to her own room. She didn't even bother removing her uniform before just flopping down onto the bed. Between the end of the conversation with Liara and that damn pounding headache, she almost felt nauseous.

Sam woke just after midnight, once again in the throes of that ever present nightmare. She stripped out of her uniform and took a quick shower to wash off the sweat, before returning to bed. Echoes of the nightmare still in her head notwithstanding, she was still exhausted, so it wasn't long before she drifted back into a restless sleep.

As promised, Liara was up bright and early, standing in the mess hall looking at her breakfast options when Ashley walked in. "Hey, Doc. I hear we've got an appointment this morning. Join me for chow, and we'll head to the armory together?"

Liara glanced nervously around the mess. Not too many people here... I guess that would be ok. "Chief, I think I would like that, thank you."

"Please, it's Ashley, or just Ash, whichever." Ash and Liara chatted amicably through breakfast, playing twenty questions. Ash asked mostly about the University of Serrice and Liara's home planet of Thessia, in general, while Liara asked about life in the Marines and being aboard a ship like the Normandy. Ash was quiet for a minute when asked about life aboard ship, and then, deciding to be candid, she confessed to Liara about her grandfather, and how the Normandy was her first ship assignment, even though she had been in long enough to make Chief. That act of trust was all it took to cement their budding friendship, and Liara told her story in turn, of what it was like to grow up as a Matriarch's daughter, the solitary life, all the expectations, and disappointments when Liara had decided to become an archeologist. Before they knew it, an hour had passed. Ash looked at her chrono and blurted out, "Holy crap! Liara, we've got to get you to the armory and get you set up! The Skipper's gonna skin me alive if you're not ready!"

As they got up to leave, Chief Williams and Dr T'Soni both saw and overheard the snippet of conversation at the same time; a leering "Boy, I'd like to get me a piece of that blue ass!"

Ash saw Liara's reaction, her blue face actually... paled. Ash didn't know it could do that, and it caught her a bit by surprise that Asari seemed to have the same type of physiological responses as humans. But it also made her very angry. She wheeled around like a raging bull.

"Petty Officer! Front and center, mister! I don't know who you think you are, but if you like your tour on the most elite ship in the Alliance Navy, you'll cage those comments. This is Doctor T'Soni, an esteemed member of this crew, not some damn sex toy. Pass the word. If I hear any such comments again, from any member of this crew, I'll see to it you're put groundside faster than you can pack your toothbrush. Am. I. Understood?"

Not like he really needed to pass the word, because Chief Williams' volume was such that the entire mess heard it. Even Liara stood up ramrod straight at the tone of Ashley's voice, very glad she was not the target of Chief William's wrath. Ashley's eyes continued to rivet the Petty Officer to his spot, until he finally coughed out a "Yes, Chief!" at which point, she turned back to Liara.

"Come on Doc, let's get your armor and weapons issue completed before the Commander has my ass." Every eye in the mess watched them all the way until the elevator doors closed.

The elevator was deathly silent until Ash spoke. "Geez, sorry Liara. It's no wonder you don't want to eat in the mess, with morons like that! I didn't think when I invited you to breakfast..."

Liara's words said, "It's quite alright, Ashley, I'm well aware of the misconceptions held about the sexual habits of Asari," but the expression on her face and the glistening tears in her eyes told a different story.

Ashley gently laid a hand on Liara's arm. "No, it's not 'alright.' You've pulled our asses out of the fire a couple times, and you don't deserve that kind of treatment. I'll tell you now...if I have to personally eat everyone on this boat for breakfast to correct that 'misconception,' I will gladly take that on as a personal mission." After what she had just witnessed, Liara had no reason to doubt the veracity of that statement.

It was lunchtime before Commander Shepard emerged from her room and wandered down to the mess. When she saw Ash and Liara eating together at a table, she headed in their direction. She looked aggravated and her words were short. "T'Soni. Chief Williams get you all set up this morning?"

Liara wondered if she had heard about the morning altercation as she responded. "Yes, Ashley was very helpful, thank you. I now have a perfectly fitted suit of Predator light armor and an ultralight M-4 Shuriken with a high-caliber barrel. She also gave me a few lessons and pointers; I actually feel quite comfortable with it."

"Great. Thanks, Chief, appreciate the assist. Doc, I'll see you, geared up, at the airlock at 1300 hrs, it's you, me and Wrex." With that, Shepard hit the lunch counter, grabbed some energy drinks and some energy bars, and returned to her room. Liara and Ashley just looked at each other over the table with questioning looks on both faces. Ashley was thinking, What the hell?

Liara was convinced that Shepard was the worst driver in the galaxy as the Mako bobbed and weaved its way across the Skyway, headed toward the ExoGeni HQs. Wrex was firing the main gun and the coaxial cannon, while Liara was operating the radio and targeting systems. It didn't take them long to get into a battle rhythm, and the going was relatively easy, though slow and tedious. The tedium was broken when Liara suddenly piped up, "Commander, I think there are humans holding out in that building ahead of us!"

She flipped the radio to general broadcast and the entire team heard the call out. "This is Juliana Baynham of Feros Colony. Is there anyone on this channel? Damn it, I'm showing movement on the Skyway, and it's not Geth! Who's out there?" Liara attempted to contact them, but got no response, evidently either their radio or the equipment in the Mako was fault; didn't really matter which it was. Two-way communication was not possible. The Mako entered the first building and started climbing via a series of ramps, and eventually came upon what appeared to be a fortified entrance. The team exited the vehicle, snuck toward the entrance, and quickly realized this stronghold was the temporary home of the survivors heard on the radio.

"Stop right there!" shouted a harsh male voice. The speaker pushed himself to the front, confronting Shepard.

"Take it easy, Jeong, they're obviously not Geth." This one was an older female, her voice recognizable as the one we had heard over the radio.

Shepard raised both hands in a calming gesture. "I'm Commander Shepard of the Alliance military."

"I'm Juliana Baynham," said the woman. "I'm probably the senior remaining scientist from the ExoGeni installation. This is Ethan Jeong, the last surviving corporate representative."

"I'm in charge here, Juliana!" snapped Jeong. "What are you doing here, soldier?"

"Can the attitude, Jeong. I'm here to investigate the Geth attack. Have any ideas on that?"

Jeong shook his head. "No. This is a small colony. We don't have anything the Geth could want."

Baynham interrupted. "Commander, you would have come through the spaceport facility?"

"Yes, we did. The colonists at Zhu's Hope came under heavy attack too, but most of them have survived. We were able to help them keep the colony operational."

She frowned at Jeong. "I thought you said the colonists were all dead."

"I said they were probably dead," said Jeong.

Baynham pleased, "Well, now maybe we could join them?"

Jeong was adamant, "No, it's too dangerous! The Geth could attack again at any time."

Shepard nodded in agreement. "We did just clear the skyway, Ms. Baynham, but who knows how fast the Geth will send reinforcements. If you haven't been attacked yet here, I'd recommend you to stay put until we investigate the main ExoGeni facility and can escort you over."

"Why do you need to investigate there?" demanded Jeong sharply.

"Sir, my mission requires me to find out why the Geth are here in the first place. We found nothing at Zhu's Hope, so they must be after something at your main facility."

"That facility is corporate property, soldier. I can't authorize you to trespass on it."

Shepard frowned. "Mr. Jeong, I told you, can the attitude. I don't need your authorization. I'm not just Alliance; I'm also a Council Spectre. I go where my mission dictates."

"A Spectre?"

Shepard glared, and impatiently thrust her Council identification into Jeong's face.

"No. No. It has to be a forgery."

"Come off it, Jeong. That's no forgery and you know it." Baynham turned to us. "Commander, if you're going to the main facility, would you keep an eye open for my daughter? Her name is Lizbeth; she's a scientist in the main research office."

Looking at Baynham, seeing a worried mother, Shepard's disposition softened, "I'll see what we can do, if you think she could have survived the Geth."

"Sure, there are some places she could have hidden," Jeong muttered. "For a short time."

Once back in the Mako, the team continued up the ramps to the next Skyway entrance and proceeded onward, with their now familiar battle strategy. Things changed when they got to the third building. It was much more strongly defended, with a greater variety of Geth, including big Juggernauts and frog-like, hopping sniper platforms that proved particularly irritating. The fight was long, and Shepard called a break to make sure everyone had a chance to grab some drinks and energy bars, before moving past the foyer of the facility. Shepard looked unusually fatigued, and Liara was concerned. "Shepard, are you all right? You seem a bit...out of sorts...?"

Shepard grimaced. "I'm fine, T'Soni. Just tired of everyone lying to us. Someone knows something about why the Geth are here, yet we've been stonewalled at every turn. I'm getting sick of it." There was no further explanation, and no additional offered conversation. Liara was convinced it was not the whole of the story, but based on Shepard's demeanor, did not press the issue. It was not the time. Maybe later, in private... Shepard got up and walked away, scouting, after her last statement to Liara, not wanting to talk about the nagging headache that was slowly driving her crazy. Her short walk actually paid dividends when she located a section of collapsed floor that provided access to the basement and a way around the barrier blocking entrance to the main building. Given no alternative, the team dropped into the hole.

The basement was wet, with standing water and rubble laying everywhere, but there was a door on the far side that seemed easy enough to get to...until someone shot Shepard. It was just a pistol shot that hardly even rippled her barrier. "You're not Geth!" The shooter was a young woman, looking scared to death.

Shepard roared, "God damn it! Good way to get yourself killed! What the hell you doing?"

The woman trembled, dropping her pistol, squeaking, "Hiding from the Geth?"

"Of all the stupid things..." Shepard grabbed up the pistol and handed it Liara. "You are so not getting that back. Ever! So don't ask. Now, who the hell are you?

"Lizbeth Baynham," said the woman, rather contritely.

"You're Juliana Baynham's daughter?"

"That's right. You talked to her? Mom's alive?" Lizbeth noticeably brightened.

Shepard frowned. "She and some of the others made it to the midpoint of the skyway. They're hiding out there, safe from the Geth for the moment."

"Are you here to rescue me?"

"No, we're here to kill Geth, and to figure out why they're attacking this hell hole in the first place."

She hesitated, and then resolutely continued. "I think I know. They're after the Thorian."

"The what?"

"The Thorian," Baynham repeated. "It's a native plant life-form. I don't know much, other than the front office has been excited about it for weeks, ever since it was discovered."

"What's special about it?" demanded Shepard.

"I'm not sure, but rumor in the labs was that it has some kind of mind-controlling properties."

"Of course," Liara interrupted. "Shepard, that could explain the entire colony's odd behavior!"

Shepard nodded. "Ms. Baynham, what else can you tell us about the Thorian? Where is it?"

"I never saw it, or any of the lab reports. I only know what I heard through the rumor mill."

Shepard squeezed her eyes closed and shook her head. "Something still doesn't make sense. Saren's gone, but the Geth are still here. Why is that if his only goal was to obtain this Thorian life-form?"

Liara agreed, "You're right. We need to press forward if we are going to solve this mystery. Ms. Baynham, can you stay safe until we get the barrier curtains down?"

The girl looked haunted. "I suppose. I lasted this long. You will come back for me, right?"

Shepard glared, but said nothing, so Liara ignored her and promised Lizbeth they would return.

"Oh, here! It's my pass. It should open any doors and info terminals you come across!"

Shepard grudgingly thanked her and went through the next door, finding a stairwell that climbed back into the main facility, on the far side of the barrier curtain. Near the top of the stairs, Shepard stopped suddenly and held up her fist. The team could hear a voice, an irritated Krogan, somewhere above. "Stupid machine!"

Shepard glanced at Wrex, jerked her thumb up the steps and quietly said, "Show's on, big man!"

Wrex grinned. "About time, Shepard. I was starting to get bored." He pulled out his shotgun and literally charged up the steps, with Shepard and Liara quickly falling in behind. As Wrex crested the top of the steps, a warp screamed by his head and collided with the wall. "That's your only freebie, you worthless pyjak!" The battle began in earnest, and ended very quickly with Liara flipping out a singularity, suspending the Krogan helplessly in the air. Wrex blasted him at close range with his shotgun, and the battle over almost before it began. "Hrrummf. Weak. That thing shouldn't call himself Krogan."

As Shepard approached, the terminal started speaking. "Hello, Dr Baynham." After a brief question and answer period about the Thorian, also referred to as Species 37, the story was out. Species 37 was a sentient plant that released spores with mind-control properties, which infected anyone who came in contact with them. Over an estimated week-long period, there was sufficient exposure for the compromised colonist to come under the Thorian's control. Species 37 then used the colonist as a thrall, doing its bidding; providing whatever service the Thorian desired. Worse yet, Lizbeth Baynham and Ethan Jeong both knew about the experiments, and willingly let every single colonist become unwittingly exposed.