Data Log Entry: 21830616
- 0630 hours
The Citadel Council is sending us to the Artemis Tau Cluster looking for Matriarch Benezia's daughter; who is a Prothean Professor. She is supposed to be a leading expert in Prothean technology. Matriarch Benezia was a prominent asari figure who conspired with the rogue Spectre Saren on Eden Prime. Matriarch Benezia was identified on an audio recording that Tali retrieved, after tearing apart an active Geth. Whatever Saren was looking for on Eden Prime, had something to do with that Prothean Beacon. It makes sense why Saren wants a Prothean expert on his team. She would be able to interpret whatever information he found on Eden Prime. My mission: capture or kill the Prothean Professor.
- 2230 hours
Today turned out to be an interesting day. Saren must have really wanted the Prothean Professor because, the second we landed on Therum, we were constantly pounded on by two squadrons of Geth. They were everywhere. When it was over, I felt we gave them a good ass whipping although I'm not sure the Mako will ever be quite the same again.
I'm not sure what I was expecting when I'd find the Prothean Professor. Taking the elevator down into the ruins I remember thinking; this professor must be of great importance to Saren. I can think of no other reason he would dedicate such extreme resources into retrieving her. I briefly thought, being the daughter of his co-conspirator, she's going to put up a hell of a fight and I knew I had to be ready to put her down, if necessary. As we were stepping into the second elevator, I ordered my squad, "Lock 'n load people and stay frosty. It's about to get ugly."
We finally reached the bottom of the dig site after taking out a few Geth along the way. As I stepped off the elevator I spotted her off to the left; Professor Liara T'Soni. She was suspended in a bubble behind a Prothean barrier curtain. Somehow she had accidently trapped herself in there and was begging to be let out. My first impression was one of amusement, "This is what all the fuss was about?" She looked pathetic just hovering there; arms and legs stretched out. Once we freed her, I was able to ask a few questions about her mother and Saren. She seemed genuinely shocked; in fact, almost traumatized. She spoke with such frailty. It was hard to believe she could hurt a Hanarfly; much less joins sides with the most wanted villain alive. However, something about her made me trust her right away. I hope I'm not wrong.
During the mission's debrief, the Professor seemed emotionally weak. She had just learned the true fate of the Protheans; a race which she had studied for 50 years. In fact, it looked like she was going to faint. She thought she might have been hanging there in that bubble for a couple of days. Now that she has joined the Normandy, she informed me that the crew looked upon her with uneasiness. From what she relays, she has never had much interaction with others, much less humans. I can only imagine that she must feel like an insect in a glass jar. I almost feel sorry for her.
Several hours later, I spoke with Professor T'Soni to see how she was doing. She said Dr. Chakwas helped her re-hydrate, "efficiently enough". She commented how impressed she was with Dr. Chakwas' knowledge of asari physiology. When I asked her to tell me more about herself she spoke so eloquently and innocent; definitely not the mind of a criminal. She reported she had no idea her mother was working with Saren but it had been years since they had last spoke. I could hear some tension in her voice when she spoke of her relationship with her mother. She continued that Benezia was known to be a great leader of her people and was often outspoken about galactic peace. It baffled her that Benezia, of all people, would be working with Saren; a rogue Spectre. She couldn't comprehend why this was happening. After we talked for a while I told her to get some rest. She had a hell of a day.
As I was walking to my quarters I thought about how the young professor made me laugh, despite everything that happened today. She informed me how intrigued she was that I had been touched by the Prothean Beacon on Eden Prime. I jokingly told her that she sounded as if she wanted to dissect me in a lab for further inspection. She became very flustered and claimed that she only meant I would make for an interesting specimen for an in-depth study, which only embarrassed her further. I don't know much about Asari biology but I have to say, she blushed pretty hard. She was terribly worried she had offended me. It really made me chuckle; something I haven't done in a long time. Something about her intrigues me too. I look forward to discussing more about Matriarch Benezia and the Protheans when time allows. Again my gut is telling me she is on our side. But I will have to keep a close eye on her in case I'm wrong, which rarely happens.
- Commander Shepard Out
Oh Shit! I just realized I haven't told my mom about taking command of the Normandy. I've only been in for 10 years and already have command of my own ship. She's been serving her whole life and she's only the XO; second in command of the Kilimanjaro. What is she going to say? This is going to make my next shore leave home a little tricky. Well, at least her ship is a hell of a lot bigger then mine. Go Dreadnoughts! Love you mom!
Normandy – crew 57
Kilimanjaro – crew 15,000
(Just in case Captain Hannah Shepard ever reads this)
- Commander Shepard Out