Chapter 27: The B of Mindoir

"You maggots move slower than dung beetles!" Commander Shepard shouted in the gym, arms crossed, chest puffed, watching over her exhausted crew toil away in their class again.

Liara was utterly mortified, shrinking in her seat on the bench where Tali had joined her out of curiosity.

"What's that human saying? Curiosity killed the cat?"

"She's... Very crude today," Tali whispered hesitantly, as if afraid she would be heard and punished. "Is she frustrated or is this how they really train marines in the human military?"

Right, this was Tali's first time observing such a class - and Liara was deeply regretting asking for the quarian to join her now. It was meant to be fun and games, teases and pokes, whilst offering support for their fellow marines that they'd shared quarters with, even if Tali didn't spend much time with them. It was supposed to be a good idea, a great way for her to see that even the rough-around-the-edges human Talitha was surprisingly a kind soul, no matter how hard she tried to hide it.

"You ticks need to stop dragging your feet, worthless scum! Listen up, you lowest life forms of the universe, I take pleasure in watching your faces as you suffer!"

Tali's head slowly panned to Liara, and though it was hard to see the details of the quarian's expression, she could hear the question in the silent stare.

"Her classes have never been like this," Liara rushed to defend, "She's been hard on them but... But not hard like this..." She watched on in horror, where Lucy hailed expletive after expletive and yelled at marines who no longer had the strength to push themselves off the floor.

"You're a disgrace! Panting like old people fucking!"

"I trust you Liara, I really do, but I'm worried you're being delusional here," Tali muttered. "Has she threatened you? Do you need help? I can talk to Garrus-"

"I swear she isn't like this, ever," Liara lamented. "She hates being disrespectful, thinks the smallest things no one cares for is extremely disrespectful. She'd never be like this." A beat. Time to ponder and come up with a more logical conclusion. "Does she even know what she's saying?"

"I think you're just being hopeful here now," the quarian laid a worried hand on Liara's knee.

Tension boiled at an all time high, Helen had let out a valiant roar as she went to tackle her sparring partner. Curses flew in the air, like her, when she had been deflected and thrown, her own momentum used against her. The vulgar Commander stopped the session and barked orders for them to surround her in a circle, where she took up the middle, her terrifying glare making even the most hardened marines shrink where they stood.

"Spineless, no talent or courage, each and every single one of you. Do you know why you are limited to the rank you are at? Do any of you know why Sergeant Lowe has been promoted the way she had?"

For a moment, Helen's face brightened with a mixture of pride, and it surprised Liara to hear about the promotion. She couldn't quite remember what rank Helen was at before, but she recognized that haunted look in the eyes just as well, thanks to how well Lucy wore it during her own haunting episodes. But the proud marine shrunk again when Lucy's glare settled back on her.

"I'm disappointed, Lowe. I've found not a single trace of what you displayed that day. Do you still believe you deserve to be Sergeant? You aren't leading your comrades at all."

"Why is she so..." Liara's hopelessness was beginning to spill into frustration. She clutched the pillow against her more firmly, biting on her lip as Tali squeezed on her knee.

"Do you want to leave?" Tali asked quietly. "I can help you."

Liara shook her head. "I need to see this through. Demand an explanation from her when she's done. This is unacceptable - this isn't her."

"If you are tired of this class, if you all truly believe you have learned everything you can learn, then demonstrate it here." Lucy pulled her uniform shirt off, the majority of her scars on display with only a sports bra to protect her modesty. Liara grimaced and cast her gaze to the floor. "If you can make me surrender, then you can safely say you've learned everything I have to teach you, and you are no longer obliged to come to this session anymore. Who is up first?"

There was hesitance, for a moment, then some of the larger marines that had stepped forward to volunteer, determination etched on their tired faces. They took turns, one by one, each brutally struck out - some even losing consciousness from the force of throws.

"This isn't training anymore," Liara murmured, her heart sinking. "This is abuse."

How in the universe did Lucy truly believe that this kind of teaching style would be beneficial in any way? She certainly regressed if she thought she wasn't getting anywhere before - and Liara would debate that the marines have been learning. Was this Lucy's own frustrations overwhelming her? Her guilt manifesting, anxiety settling in that perhaps the marines weren't learning as quickly as they needed to?

"Shattering their spirits and destroying their confidence isn't doing any good."

Each marine that had tapped out, some even in tears from the agony inflicted on them, made it more and more difficult for Liara to sit and watch. She lurched in her seat as she helplessly watched Talitha nearly have her shoulder pulled out her socket when she refused to tap out and surrender, but at the very least, Lucy hadn't gone that far and instead rendered the stubborn marine unconscious with a choke hold. Addison Chase reluctantly followed her peer, her confidence shaken, her spirit devoid in her eyes. She already knew she was defeated and surrendered before the fight really began.

All marines that had gone were instructed to sit back in their circle when they had their turn. Not one made it through Lucy's gauntlet. The last soldier standing was Helen herself, her eyes bright with unshed tears, clearly affected by the Commander's words. Liara was about to burst into standing, no matter the pain, and demand an end to it. Another voice bellowed in the ring instead.

"I'm gonna fucking beat you," Helen hissed as she wearily settled in her stance, bruises consuming the majority of her skin. "I'm gonna make you eat your words, you fucking maggot."

Gasps collected, some muttering that she wasn't allowed to speak to the Commander that way. Liara's eyes widened, though she couldn't quite say she was entirely surprised. Lowe wasn't always a by-the-book rule follower to begin with. She was more shocked that Lucy had actually smirked, though stood infuriatingly as she always had, waiting for the first move.

Uncharacteristically enough, however, Helen refused to make the first move too. She stood, waiting, contrary to her brash hot-headed ways. She dished out as much crudeness as the Commander had, earlier.

"Think you're so fucking special just because you're a Spectre? What, cause you got some shiny limbs, shiny medals? Doesn't mean jack shit, Commander."

Liara's head fell a little and she barely suppressed her groan. "Fantastic. This is just what's needed right now."

"You're doing a whole lot of talking, Sergeant Lowe," Lucy replied calmly. "But can you walk the talk?"

"Think I'm fuckin' stupid? I-"

"Yes."

"I'm not! I watched. I learned. I make the first move, I lose."

"Admitting your strategy isn't smart, Sergeant Lowe."

Helen shrugged. She smirked with determination, her words growing colder, more callous. "Failing your comrades wasn't smart either, Commander. Where were you when Liara-"

"I'm going to stop you there before you take it too far," Lucy warned.

"And what, you don't think you have? Taste of your own medicine. Don't dish out what you can't handle yourself."

This didn't seem like a tactic anymore, but lashing out in pain. Liara inched forward on the bench, her heart crying out in empathy for the pain that burned in Helen's eyes now.

"Sergeant Lowe, I remind you that you're speaking to your superior," Gunnery Chief Williams announced from the corner of the gym, though it seemed more out of worry that the marine was about to cross a line.

"She's a human being just like any of us," Helen scoffed. "Sergeant? That means fucking nothing to me, Commander. What good is a stupid rank if I couldn't save O'Connell in the end? You're just doing what the military always does, handing out shit to try and fill the holes in us, give meaning to it all. Have you found any meaning in your holes, Commander? Or do you only find meaning in the holes you put in batarian heads?"

Within seconds, Helen's cry cut out in the gym, where Lucy had finally reacted and went to subdue. It all happened too quickly to process, and pain shot through Liara's ribs when she had shot up into standing without thought. She didn't think this was going to end peacefully, her concerns justified when Helen had countered and slammed her fist against the most recent wound - that Liara had known of, anyways - that had torn through the Commander back at the citadel, when she was talking down the other survivor of Mindoir.

However much time has passed since then, it seemed, was enough for the wound to heal. At least, Lucy didn't seem like she was in pain anymore. For a fleeting second, Helen had the upper hand and had Lucy in a choke hold, but the synthetic hand reached behind, grabbed her, and thrown her over as if she weighed as light as a feather. A single hand, the bandaged hand, wrapped around Helen's throat, a knee slung across her thighs to pin her legs down, her flailing arms subdued and captured with wrists crushed together in the synthetic hand.

Tension was at its breaking point, and Liara tried to raise her voice to put an end to this. A lump in her throat constricted and cut it off, falling apart for Helen when the woman's face bleated red, incomprehensible yells bellowing out as she struggled to break free.

Instead of being reprimanded though, Lucy smiled.

"Very good, Sergeant Lowe." In one swift movement, the Commander let go and rose up on her feet. "Just as expected. You did very well - you're exempt from future classes."

"What?" Tali whispered in disbelief. The asari shared confused looks with her, before back at the circle of marines. Everyone was equally dumbfounded, especially Helen.

"That's all for today." Lucy marched for the exit. "You all did better than I had expected, you're permitted a bonus ration and I will let the kitchen know to begin preparing your meals immediately. We will continue our next session at 0600. Dismissed."

Salutes were disjointed, slothful, as marines tried to get a grip over what had just happened. Liara hugged her pillow to herself and took off with Tali close on her heels, rushing to go check up on Helen. The asari sucked up the pain as she knelt a little too hastily than what she was ready for, grabbing the marine's shoulder with her free hand.

"What were you thinking?" Liara hissed in worry, that lump surging back and wrapping around her throat. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Helen slumped as if she was a puddle, her exhaustion as evident as the wide triumphant grin she wore now. "Only time I get to tell her how I feel and live, what better time?"

"But..." Liara's brow pinched, unable to understand how someone could be so proud with their borderline self-destructive death wish. "She could've... With the batarians..."

"I know."

"So why?"

"Because I lived when I asked her about you." Helen weakly pushed herself up into sitting, rubbing away at her throat where an imprint still faintly lingered. "And I've survived catching her on her worst days, waiting on you." She shrugged meekly as she beamed again. "I never said it was a good idea, what I did."

Liara rolled her eyes, standing up with Tali's help. She heard an express clear of the throat at the doorway, glancing over at her shoulder to see that there was another stubborn soldier waiting on her. Liara narrowed her eyes at Helen first. "Never do that again, do you hear me?"

"Won't have to," Helen's grin grew. "No more classes for me. Guess the Commander appreciates a little back talk every now and then, huh?"

"Don't get anymore ideas," Liara huffed. She left Lowe with Tali and marched briskly towards Lucy, who's expression was already concocting all sorts of do not's with the way the asari was moving. No more. "I do not want to hear it," Liara grumbled in disapproval, thoroughly displeased. "I don't appreciate what you did." She marched past Lucy, just barely catching the stunned and puzzled look in the stoic soldier's eyes. Liara had to stifle her own proud smile that she was giving a brisk walker a run for their credits.

"What? What did I do?" Lucy asked innocently, as if she truly had no clue. Liara wanted to whirl around and throw her whole body into it, but bravado was slowly melting away with the lingering pains that were growing stronger with each rash movement. She simply kept to her path up - and her cold shoulder - up until they reached the Commander's quarters, helping herself inside without permission. She turned, albeit with more caution, and her resolve wavered when she was smacked with those beady pyjak eyes.

"You don't get to make those eyes," Liara blurted, grasping and groping for the last vestiges of her strength. She hugged the pillow firmly against her and sighed in frustration as she made it over to sit on the bed. "How could you say those things to them? I have never seen you like that, and nothing could possibly justify why you would be so cruel to your own team. Are you even aware of the hurt you caused? Do you understand the weight of your words, when you hurt Helen the way you did?"

Nothing. No explanations. Just beadier eyes. Lucy stood and stared, her expression now utterly devoid of emotion, though her shoulders were hunched forward. The only time she wavered was when her gaze fell and she played with the bandages on her hand.

"That's not what a Commander is like," the words continued to tumble out, but the seething heat was slowly dissipating as concern and curiosity over this abnormal behaviour began to overpower. "That's not what you as a Commander is like."

"It's not," Lucy quietly said, nodding. "I was... I know you said I can't justify it but... I was just trying out a manual I'd found on the ethernet and downloaded it on my omni-tool. Memorized it..."

It was Liara's turn to stare, simple words taking an exceedingly long time to be processed and absorbed. It almost felt as though she'd lost control of her jaw, breathing incredulously. "A manual? What manual?"

"I've never personally trained recruits before." Lucy fidgeted a little more with her bandages. "I've been trained to lead a unit, sure, but it's different than imprinting knowledge and skills. My marines... Well, I remember what close-quarters combat training was like before I went into more specialized training myself. It's basic, it's limited. I wanted to teach the recruits what I know but in a safe and controlled setting than the training that I had to go through to attain the rank of N7, but... I..." She sighed, raking her dishevelled bangs out of her face. She engaged her omni-tool and gestured to it. "May I show you the manual?"

Dumbfounded, Liara could only think to nod. She'd softened somewhat, though was still boiling with righteous anger that now all of this was due to an awful manual. The marine reluctantly sat beside her, tentative and hesitant in closing the vast distance between them, and Liara sighed as she scooted over until they pressed shoulders. She leaned to read what was on Lucy's screen and deadpanned as she read the title.

"Unofficial Edition of Marine Corps-Style Cursing: How to Train [Censored] Maggots."

Liara had to re-read the title over and over again within her mind, and still, there was no enlightening response that came to her, ever. She sucked in a slow breath, felt the way that the soldier's body would tense and hunch a bit more for each minute spent in silence. She helped herself and reached over, promptly pressing the discard button to delete the entire treacherous 'guide'. She looked up at Lucy, who was averting her eyes, stealing helpless little side-glances.

"You were rude and crude, Commander, and your team did not deserve that behaviour, no matter how well your intentions are. Knowing what I know of you, I know the real Commander would take responsibility for that. Helen was right about one thing: you are a human being. That means you're all humans before your ranks."

"I'll apologize tomorrow and reconsider my teaching strategy, as well as be open to their feedback on what I can do that would help facilitate their learning process." Lucy resolved resolutely, no time wasted. Her gaze was a little bit more steady, meeting the asari's. "I'm sorry that I have caused you this much distress, when I should be helping you recover faster."

"It's..." Liara suppressed a sigh, trying to shake free of her emotions still gripping her. She tried to focus on the positives and strained a small smile. "It's fine. I know you meant well. If you feel as though you are struggling to train your recruits, perhaps you can seek out more... Legitimate sources to draw from. Perhaps send a message and communicate with recruiters at Alliance academies? Or maybe there is someone on your crew who has taught something in the past, even if they were recreational skills. Martial arts isn't always pursued for violent intentions, and it would still benefit you as you are teaching defensive maneuvers instead."

Solemnly, Lucy nodded. Her eyes fell to the floor again, her shoulders hunching far more, her voice dropping to a shell of a whisper. "Yes, those are good ideas. I will explore different alternatives. Thank you, Dr. T'Soni."

Every time they were alone, Liara was beginning to feel like the soldier was distancing herself, drawing away - but it conflicted itself and would be another confusing mess to sort through when Lucy would suddenly be the very opposite. She'd be extra nice, extra thoughtful, going extremely out of her way to do the smallest things. She used to organize things methodically when it would be efficient to conclude and complete everything on her agenda. Now she was sacrificing her agenda and her own life was becoming disorderly as a result, rushing to complete things last minute before she was to begin her next mission for the Alliance.

That they were doing things unrelated to Saren again was not a promising sign, especially with the knowledge that her mother was still alive, somewhere.

"I feel as though Lucy would have already told me what happened, if she could. So I don't think she will now, even if I press, and insist it's classified. Perhaps mother escaped?"

Right now, she had a pyjak to console - and a pyjak she had to go back to her own quarters to retrieve so that Lucky would not be alone for much longer. She reluctantly slid her hand over the bandaged one, and though she was extremely gentle, it caused the soldier to grimace.

"But not of pain."

Liara was at a loss of what to do this time, what would be the right path to take. She shifted a little closer until their hips touched, and the edge of the pillow had poked at Lucy. The asari cocked her head to the side and rested it against the synthetic shoulder. She closed her eyes and licked her lips, forcing the words past that ominous lump growing in her throat.

"Talk to me, Luce. There's something troubling you."

"No, no, I'm fine. I promise. I'm just, well... Well I'm not used to you being this upset with me. I'm... Admittedly... I don't know what to do right now. To make it right." A beat. "Shepard, please."

Liara blew a small laugh at that. "I'm not going to be upset forever, I'll be fine too, in time. I do appreciate that you're taking me seriously, at least, and willing to do what you can to make it right. That's a very good start." She turned her head in and kissed the black skull stamped on the cybernetic limb, even if Lucy couldn't feel it. "I'd love for these emotions to be gone on command, but I have not quite yet learned how to forget so easily."

Amber lit up in the corner of her eye, where a small circle from the omni-tool had popped up on the back of Lucy's hand to ping her. Disappointment dragged Liara down over their conversation cut short, as always, with duty in the way - but she understood. She lifted her head and scooted away so that the soldier could answer the call, connecting her to a 'Navigator Pressly'.

"Something to report, Pressly?"

≤Yes, Commander. I've intercepted some communications of concern. Lieutenant Moreau is investigating the signals as we speak. What we know so far is that an FTL comm-buoy has been shot down and-≥

"Where, Pressly? What cluster, what colony?"

There was hesitation, for a moment, and then Liara's heart plummeted with why.

≤Attican Traverse. The signals are coming from Mindoir, Commander.≥

This wasn't a surprise, that Liara was locked up in the infirmary. Tali was instructed to guard her and there was no doubt that Dr. Chakwas had some orders of her own.

"I do not need babysitters," Liara grumbled inwardly, fidgeting uncomfortably on her plinth.

At the very least they could listen in through the communications on Dr. Chakwas' terminal, in case the doctor would be needed for any emergency aid. Just as the slave raids in the past, Lucy was calm in her orders, organizing the units, getting ready to parachute in to disable the AA guns. It was another routine raid.

"But the article I read... It stated that Mindoir upgraded their defences. Lucy said they have extra security. Why would the batarians risk attacking the same colony?"

No doubt there would be disconcert among the crew, especially with the latest class. It didn't exactly foster a cooperative team atmosphere. The marines had little time to recuperate from their bruises. Communications back and forth were lackluster, more emotionless than Lucy herself, and that served as an amp for Liara's anxieties to gradually spin out of control.

Tali, bless her heart, had good intentions and was proving to be a fast friend herself with how helpful and thoughtful she's been. Peak 15 brought them far closer than Liara would have ever imagined before, and she did not think she would find such a companion even after Tali's assistance in shutting down all the cameras in the apartment. The quarian solemnly sat on the plinth beside Liara, squeezing her knee reassuringly.

"I'm sure everything will be okay. We would just be placed in the same duties as last time even if we were part of the operation."

Right. Stand by.

"And then hugging duty," Liara mentally sighed. "I'm going to be coddled all my life, aren't I? Even more so now, with what happened." She hugged her pillow firmly, more so for comfort rather than stability. "I want to be out there, helping her." She caught Dr. Chakwas' eye, and the human doctor smiled sympathetically. "We all already know that even without this injury, she wouldn't let me."

"Unless you were a trained Alliance marine," Dr. Chakwas began, but was cut off.

"Even if I was trained, she wouldn't let me," Liara groaned.

"It's a good sign, isn't it?" Tali asked hopefully. "I mean, from what I've seen, the Commander cares about you."

"I care about her too," the asari grumbled.

Communications on the radio cut silence into the atmosphere, and Liara had gone so far as to hold her breath even if she could hear perfectly fine. There was a dreadful feeling gripping her, but it had every time she heard the operations commence. Dr. Chakwas rolled over to the side with her stool, gesturing with her head for the two to grab chairs of their own if they'd like to monitor by the terminal. Liara refused to let her wince show on her face when she'd gotten a little hasty with her movements, determined to prove that she was just fine.

Paratroopers landed. Units were moving in, as ordered. AA guns were soon to be disabled. But there was one piece of information that made that dreadful feeling grow exponentially.

≤Intel dropped the ball, Commander. Hostages aren't here. Looks like the batarians moved them.≥

≤Understood, Delta. Proceed with caution and clear the next sector on your route.≥

≤Roger that, Commander.≥

"They haven't done anything that would have alerted the batarians yet," Liara murmured, perturbed. "Why would the colonists be moved rather than begin their... Implants?"

"Not sure..." Tali said, uncertain and disturbed herself. Dr. Chakwas remained silent and alert.

This wasn't going to be a fast operation, it seemed, where the batarians would surrender once they realized they were surrounded, defences disabled. Liara struggled not to let her legs bounce in anxiety, mostly because of the pain that would diffuse all the way up her ribs, and instead hugged her thumbs into her palms to squeeze and rub.

Gunfire suddenly rang out.

≤Contact!≥ Lucy's voice reverberated over the radio. ≤Double back, go!≥

All they could hear was the sounds of incomprehensible yells, batarian and humans alike, among the gunfire. Liara chewed her lip nervously, anxiously waiting for that calm and collected voice to announce that the worst was over. But the worst continued, and Liara flinched when she heard a marine cry out that he'd been hit. Lucy was shouting for the other marines to drag him back, drag him out, and Dr. Chakwas had left her stool in order to begin preparing supplies, listening to the nature of the injury. She returned and connected to the communications, giving advice to the marines on how to provide first aid.

And then another marine was down.

Liara shook, began to take more and more looks at the door. There was nothing she could do. None of the AA guns haven't been disabled yet. It wasn't like she could just steal a parachute and start flying down there, not when she didn't even know how to work one. The Commander was ordering for a tactical retreat, requesting reinforcements, for all units to abandon their routes and come to their coordinates.

No one else encountered anything, then, all at once, all units were engaged in battle, cutting reinforcements off. Tali was the first to lurch off her chair, bringing despair down in the room.

"It's a trap. This whole thing has been a trap!"

Dr. Chakwas looked up at the quarian, then at Liara, when they had one final piece of information, before the radio was cut off from the Normandy.

≤Requesting reinforcements, anyone! The Commander's been captured, I repeat, the Commander's been captured!≥

Lights flickered in the darkness, a darkness not of Shepard's own volition. There was something wrapped over her eyes. She was suspended in air, gave a slight kick with her legs, swinging about uselessly. Her wrists seemed to be cuffed to some kind of metal overhead.

"A pipe, maybe?"

Agony exploded when something slammed against her stomach, sending her flying back and forth on her chains. She suppressed her groans and kept her tongue safely away from her teeth. Another couple of blows, accompanied by low and guttural laughs. Her blindfold was relinquished, her captors unafraid to mask their faces. A batarian sauntered up to her, and she spat him in the face. Her chin was gripped harshly, the batarian snarling with a maddening grin.

"It's over, Butcher. You fell for our trap. Stupid human. So easy to trick you."

Admittedly, this wasn't exactly a volunteer hostage situation this time. Shepard should have figured this out. She elected not to speak, indulge, wait and gather information instead. She was sent swinging on her chains when the batarian launched a series of blows on her stomach again, but this time with fists. She glanced over at the tables surrounding her, the other batarians that waited with various weapons.

Lights were turned on in front of her, blinding her, but she spotted a red light beeping away just before it.

"A camera? Why record this? Do they really think they'll get away with what they're doing here?"

"Do you have anything to say, Butcher?"

"Anything in particular you want me to say for your little stunt here?" Shepard strained between breaths, trying to control them and empty her mind of the pain. She grimaced when the lights glowed brighter, finding it harder to look at her batarian captor in his four-eyes.

"How about sorry for all the batarians you've murdered? Did you really think you were never going to pay for them?"

Shepard rolled her eyes. "I'm sorry, was I supposed to let you slavers just go ahead and murder people in peace?"

"Not all of them were slavers!"

"They were working with slavers. Makes them just as guilty. Or do you enslave your own people too?"

A snarl, a hand wrapping around her throat. The batarian growled. "This is your trial, Butcher. The Hegemony is watching. Your precious Alliance is watching. Nobody's coming to save you from the sentence you've brought upon yourself. You are going to suffer just like every single batarian you've made suffer."

"The Hegemony?" Shepard barked a sardonic laugh. "You honestly think that they'll actually publicly acknowledge and associate themselves with pirates who believe themselves to be, what, heroic vigilantes? The fact of the matter is that you're still breaking laws, and now you're basically confessing to provoking a galactic war. You've kidnapped colonists, murdered Alliance soldiers, and are now torturing an Alliance officer. The Alliance has all the proof they need right here, now, and best of all? You're handing it to them on a platter. The Batarian Hegemony will do everything in their power to sweep this under the rug and discredit you all as simple-minded terrorists. You've just condemned your entire race just to earn a few credits, a few slaves."

"We're not here for slaves, we're here for you. For the true criminal that has provoked this galactic war."

"Right," Shepard nodded, sarcasm dripping from every word. "So I was supposed to just let slavers go and murder and rape and enslave. Understood. Hoo-fucking-ah. I'll just look the other way and ignore your crimes next time."

"Silence! None of this would have ever happened if you humans didn't invade us!"

Before Shepard could correct him on his history, a batarian from behind struck her. Something bit and sliced and tore away pieces of flesh in her back, and she barely had time to suffocate the pained groans searing in her throat.

"No matter what, I won't give them the satisfaction." Her head rose, eyes narrowing, glaring at her batarian captor. She spat at him again and smirked, even when he recoiled with a weapon of his own. She inhaled sharply, seething, trying to reign in her emotions. She had enough of this child's play, but she needed more information first.

"The others," she hissed, "No slaves? The colonists are free? My men are free?"

Nothing, at first. The batarian walked up close to her with a smirk. "Your men have already been returned to your doctor."

"Alive?"

"What's it to you? You'll be dead soon anyways." The batarian nodded to someone from behind, before he took a few steps back.

Something hissed, and Shepard tried to glance over her shoulder. She gritted her teeth and rolled her tongue as far back when she saw a crude knife being heated up. The red light that beeped ahead was a horrible reminder, or perhaps the reminder that she needed to zone out in her mantras as soon as she could. But she couldn't. As soon as the blade cut through her thermal suit, licking flesh, her groans chiselled out of her throat and she swung her head up at the ceiling, trying to renew her focus by studying the pipe overhead.

"Someone's watching. They can be lying for all I know, but the Alliance is watching. What does that entail? They wouldn't have been able to get just anybody on the Council, or the Alliance. They'd be broadcasting this to the Normandy." Shepard cried out as the blade dragged further down her back, then lifted, returning to carve some kind of curve in her. "I'm not a fucking painting, you sick fucks!"

Her composure threatened to break when the batarians laughed, and the hissing burst back to life. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to remind herself who was watching, repressing every scream as she felt the curves glide along her flesh. They meant to scald her, brand her, toy with her until they killed her - if they planned to kill her.

"What if Liara is watching? I can't break. She shouldn't be watching. Dr. Chakwas better send her away somewhere, have someone monitor and-"

Another hiss, another drag, another curve. When the blade reached the bottom of her back again, she could feel the way it all burned.

B.

B for butcher, perhaps - or worse yet, B for batarian.

"The colonists," Shepard seethed through clenched teeth, "I want to know they're safe, that you've released them."

"You'll just have to take my word for it that they are. I'm not a criminal. I'm an enforcer, a warden, if you will. You're the criminal here. And-"

"I don't give a fuck about your self-righteous speech! I want proof of life!"

"You're in no position to be making demands anymore, Butcher. You have been sentenced to death here." The captor nodded to another batarian again. "Gag her. She knows she's guilty if she isn't saying anything to defend herself."

"Let me hear something to know they're alright," Shepard rushed out, her curses soon muffled when a gag was stuffed in her mouth. She threw her head back and studied the pipe again when she felt a blade tease it's way down the side of her leg. Chains were thrown on her ankles and attached to makeshift hooks installed on the floor. She closed her eyes and did her best not to scream when it was nicking her hamstring, one patient little slice after another patient little slice.

Then, finally, a miracle, a proof of life bursting inside her head. A headache exploded with it, the voice buried directly in her ears. Tali's voice.

≤Commander, can you hear me? Nod if you can.≥

"My... How is she doing this? Did she hack into my audio implants?" Shepard nodded exaggeratedly, groaning into the gag when she felt the knife glide under and take a piece of her flesh. "They are watching then, the Normandy. The batarians have hackers here too. Tali is going to jeopardize-"

≤The colonists are safe. Mostly from the farms. The cities haven't been touched, their security is aware and on guard. The Normandy's marines have set up a barricade to protect the colonists released to us here. Kaidan sent out a unit to scout out the AA guns and he reported that the batarians left the sites after disabling them. Alliance has sent word to Pressly that they've sent reinforcements and are en route, I think they said 2 hours until they're here. That was half an hour ago. We don't... We don't know what to do here. I've hacked into the bunker system and they have cameras everywhere, they'll see us enter the compound and kill you if we try to come for you. But... But reinforcements are on the way. Alliance will know what to do when they get here, right?≥

There wasn't a way to talk, with this stupid gag. Shepard threw her head down and tried to spit it out. She shook her head furiously, trying anything she could. The captor pulled it out.

"Are you ready to confess your crimes, Butcher?"

Somehow, somewhere, a laugh burst out of Shepard's chest. "Are you serious right now?" She lifted her head, smirking sarcastically. "Oh, sure, yeah, I'm ready to confess. I'll even confess on camera. I'm about to be the Butcher, alright. This is for all you batarians to see why you shouldn't fuck with Mindoir ever again." She kicked back with her synthetic leg, hitting whoever was carving into her from behind. She wrapped as much of the chains as she could with her synthetic arm and pulled herself up, launching to grab as much of the pipe as she could with her cybernetic. She twisted and crushed it, jerking it swiftly to break the piece off and send it all flying down. It brought her no small amount of pleasure when it collided with her captor's head.

Muscles settled back into practice, reacting to the scrambling sounds surrounding her. She reached down and ripped out the hooks from the floor, then rolled underneath one of the tables. She got behind the tripod casting the blinding light and picked it up, wielding it like a bat as she smashed it into one of the batarian's heads. She unravelled her chains and ducked under a swing, choking out a batarian as she used his body like a shield and a flail to fend off the others.

One had a pistol, and she picked up a body to serve as armour when he fired. She threw the body at him and jumped over the table, sinking her fingers into his bottom two eyes, grabbing his face and crushing it in her synthetic palm. She pushed him down to the ground even as he screamed and clawed at her, shielding him from the camera's view.

"Liara could still be watching, if no one's taken her away."

When all the batarians were down, she rushed towards the camera and grabbed it. "Tali, if you have access to the cameras, I need your guidance to lead me out of here. Navigator Pressly, if you're watching this, then belay this order to the rest of the marines." She glanced behind her shoulder, trying to study what compound she was even in to gauge if she's been taken to a farm bunker or city bunker. It seemed to be one of the farm bunkers.

"Some security. Wonder what the bureau will have to say about this, this time."

She looked back at the camera, her righteous anger ignited. "No prisoners. Alenko, coordinate the safety of the colonists, the most vulnerable of the population are permitted to board the Normandy if need be. Williams and Vakarian, coordinate with Tali and find out where you can set up to give me suppressive fire. Wrex..."

Another look behind her, she heard rallying cries and panicked batarians coming her way. They were watching the footage still too, it seemed. She went over to grab the pistol and yelled over her shoulder as she prepared to rush out the exit.

"Add to the list, Wrex!"

Bodies flooded the hangar bay. Liara wasn't going to sit by and watch anymore, she couldn't listen anymore. She'd watched how Lucy was scrambling through the halls as Tali provided directions of which route didn't have batarians - yet - but there were so many, now knowing that the Commander was on the loose.

So much bloodshed, and for what?

Furious, Liara was determined to use the chaos to sneak out of her own predicament and so far was able to make it to the hangar bay. She watched the other marines intently in case if Dr. Chakwas was going to send out a message for them to keep an eye out and stop Liara. She endured the pain and ditched her pillow to be inconspicuous, ducking her head and stealing a spare helmet from the quarter master's table when she had spotted Garrus and Ashley march out. The asari stuffed the helmet on and snuck around the cargo containers, hiding in the darkness as she stalked towards the ramp.

Everything inside of her was shaking uncontrollably, nothing but adrenaline coursing through her. She cried her tears, and now it was time to support that stubborn soldier whether Lucy liked it or not. Liara knew she'd be scolded, perhaps even punished, but right now?

She needed to make sure Lucy even survived to do that.

Wrex's rambunctious laughter was the beacon for her to follow and figure out where to even go, with no clue how to connect her helmet to listen in on communications. She waited until she saw Ashley and Garrus rush down the ramp, sprinting across the barren farm field that was littered with dead cows. It was kindling for the fire that burned in Liara's veins, remembering of Shifty, of all the tales of mutated chickens that Lucy shared.

"This wasn't how I was supposed to see Mindoir, how she would show me it."

Every waking moment, every single blink, all Liara could see was the bloody B that was carved into Lucy's back, when she had turned to leave the makeshift torture chamber. She pressed on and tried to stay focused in the moment, but there was an ever-present nausea that lingered in the back of her throat. A dizzy spell briefly threatened her, and she held on to the cargo. She lumbered on towards the ramp, nearly out, nearly there.

"No one will think it's me if I get lost down in that sea of people. Almost-"

"Nope." A firm hand fell on Liara's shoulder. She froze, couldn't make herself look to see who it was. Her heart plummeted to her stomach when she was pulled back, and Addison Chase was all up in her face. "Now, I may not be fully debriefed here, but I'm pretty sure you're not allowed to be out there."

"Addison please, the Commander-"

"Has the full might of the Normandy behind her back. We're going to bring her home, Liara. You need to stay here before something happens to you."

"I need to be out there before more happens to her," Liara urged, "Please, let me-"

"No. You're in no shape." Chase's eyes softened sympathetically behind her helmet's visor. "Listen, I know it's hard, but the best thing that you can do right now is just wait for her. Be here for her. I dunno what kinda relationship you two have, but I would want my loved one to stay safe and sound."

"That is what I want. So let me help her be safe and sound."

"She will be. You have to be too." Chase glanced around, adjusting her grip around Liara's arm when the asari tried to nudge off. The marine's fingers tightened enough that was sure to warrant bruises and muttered dangerously low. "If you use biotics on me, I'll make sure I personally report that to the Commander."

"Addison ple-"

"Helen! Hey, Helen! Over here!"

Addison waved with her free hand, and Liara watched in horror as Helen's head bobbed up in the crowd when the marine jumped about. At first, her eyes lit up and she grinned, but then it seemed to sink in as to why she saw Liara there. The way her infectious energy could melt away into a terrifying disapproval made Liara's stomach churn just as hard as what she had forced herself to watch. Helen slammed her helmet on and came barrelling over as if she was about to choke the asari to death.

It wasn't long before there was a steaming marine dragging her by the elbow, then finding and shoving the abandoned pillow back against the ribs. That Helen wasn't hailing expletives left and right as they rode a full elevator back up was more than enough to make Liara shrink in her skin, dreading what the marine was going to be like once they were alone.

"Where are we going?" Liara asked tentatively.

"Not the infirmary. Not yet. Our quarters," Helen grumbled. "Where you're going to sit and talk to me and so help me god, Liara, do not make me cuff you to the bed. It's my turn to ask: are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"I-"

Wasn't even given the chance to speak.

"I did not suffer through all those dance lessons just so that I could be back in the infirmary, suffering through them again!" Helen seethed through clenched teeth. As soon as they entered the quarters, Lucky beamed in excitement and hopped on Liara's bed. She changed soon enough too. "No, Lucky! Not happy! Liara's trying to kill herself again!"

"I-I'm not-"

Oh, the disapproval from a pyjak was positively heart-wrenching. Liara winced and grimaced when Helen wasn't gentle, pushing her down on the chair. The marine's eyes warped to that of one that screamed-

"See? I told you so. Everybody told you so, I bet. Do you really think you're ready to go out there?"

"But Lucy-"

"But nothing!" Helen slammed down on the other chair with a heavy sigh, wrestling her helmet off. Her mouth opened, but no words came out, and her face softened. She leaned forward and grabbed the asari's knee. "I get you wanna be out there, everybody gets that. We all want to fuck up those batarians after watching that bullshit, and I can't imagine there's anyone who wants to fuck 'em up harder than you. I get that, Li. That was pretty fucked up shit to see, hardened soldier or gooey civilian."

Liara's gaze fell to the ground, her eyes burning. She blinked swiftly, trying to stall the water that swelled in the world. She closed them when Helen breathed shakily.

"But you can't. It's not just for your safety, but to protect you from seeing more fucked up shit, believe me. You think the Commander would've offed those batarians the way she had, if she hadn't already suspected that you were on the other end of the camera? I've seen some shit from missions in the past. The Commander was being nice to them there."

A tear was promptly wiped away. Liara wanted to show she was strong, that she could handle it - but Helen was the self-proclaimed 'bullshit detector' in these parts. Lucky whined worriedly and hopped up on the asari's shoulder, her tail wrapping protectively around the eyes for the fur to soak everything up. It made Liara choke on her own tears instead, shrinking in a ball until the pain forced her to sit upright. It fuelled the agonizing cycle that was drowning her.

"I can't do anything. I'm always in the way. I don't want to be coddled but I need to be, right now. It's just so... It's not fair. I want to be there for her. Someone needs to be there for her, for once. She shouldn't be alone here - especially not on Mindoir. And still, that... Stubborn human... She went through all of that until she finally found out that the colonists were safe. How much longer would she have kept going, if she hadn't heard?"

Helen sucked in a small breath. She squeezed the knee. "Until she would have heard."

Liara slipped her hand over Lucky's tail, pressing it harder against her eyes. "She always has to be the hero."

"Hey, you are one too, y'know? You saved all of us from that crazy monster in the gym. 2 minutes insteada 5, remember?"

A half-hearted chuckle tumbled out of the asari. "Yes, apparently that's all I'm capable of."

"Don't you dare sell yourself short, doc. Do you really think that somebody like the Commander would fall for some girl that's just a... I dunno, talent-less princess? I'm willing to bet this entire year's paystub that in the Commander's eyes, you're her hero. You both have your strengths and weaknesses, just like anybody on this ship. Yeah, sure, the Commander knows how to like, punch and kick and shoot and stuff... But what I saw sitting beside you in the infirmary, waiting for you to wake up, wasn't no super soldier blasting shit away. She's human just like any of us, feeling emotions just like any of us. She's just scared, like you, of you gettin' hurt." Helen squeezed more reassuringly this time. "She's coming home, Li. She's gonna need your super civilian mode to help her be better, blast shit away. And look on the bright side? Now you get to nag her about recovering too."

"Mm," Liara nodded somewhat sarcastically, "That is one positive, indeed." She reluctantly pulled Lucky's tail down so that she could look at Helen, smiling at her. "Thank you, Helen, for talking some sense into me. I'm sorry if I've worried you and-"

"Ah, don't worry about it! Everyone needs some sense knocked into 'em, lord knows I get it on a daily basis from Chase just so that I don't get all, you know, power-trippy now that I'm a higher rank than her and shit."

"I've... Been wondering about that, what happened?"

For a second, Helen's eyes mirrored the exact same look that Lucy would get, the haunted thousand-yard look. The marine was pitifully bad at her attempt to cover it up with a grin and pat on the knee. "Just your ordinary hero bullshit, is all. A story for another day, yeah? Lemme put my helmet on and I'll relay what they're chattin' about on the radio, see how much longer we gotta wait 'til you nag the Commander about not straining herself and walking a certain way and whatever other crap you gotta listen to every minute."

Without another second wasted, the helmet was promptly stuffed on, shielding Helen's expressions from what she had likely wanted to do. She closed her eyes, as if it was only to listen intently, but Liara knew. She suppressed her sigh and scooted her chair forward, collecting the marine's hand in her lap in silent solidarity. Then Helen's eyes opened, aimed at the ceiling, and she looked kind of confused. Then surprised. She looked at Liara.

"Uh, well, shit, Li. She's already in the infirmary."

"What?!"

"Yeah, and-"

She didn't need to hear any more. Liara was already up against her better judgment, her feet far ahead of her brain. Helen's voice bled out in the hazy background, and quickly, high-pitched noise rang in the asari's aurals as her heart clamoured up to her throat. It grew louder, dizzier, the closer she got to the infirmary.

Panic seized her when she heard occasional aural-piercing cries. She hugged her pillow firmly, apologized as she shooed Lucky off her head, and broke out into a run. She pushed through the marines that guarded the door, ignoring whatever orders they were barking at her. Something grabbed her wrist and warranted a swift rebuke from her biotics as she pushed them off her. She slammed the button to open the door, and her eyes widened at what she saw. Lucy's back was turned towards her, but the soldier - however bloodied - seemed as okay as she could be, all things considered. Liara tried not to stare at the large grotesque B carved in Lucy's back.

And when she turned around, Liara tried not to stare too much what was protectively cradled in the synthetic arm, as Dr. Chakwas listened in with a stethoscope.

A batarian baby.

Beady eyes were locked on Liara. Shepard's mouth moved and ordered the marines behind the asari to back off, and she lumbered in, disoriented, confused, allowing the doors to slide shut.

"I... Don't understand..."

Lucy smiled pathetically. "Help?"

She winced when the baby let out a sharp cry, and Dr. Chakwas immediately yanked the stethoscope out her ears with a cringe.

Panic had reached it's fullest potential. Liara meandered over, uncaring that Lucky had crawled up on her head again, curious hands reaching towards the baby until they were protectively warded away by Lucy. The two had their brief and familiar hissing spittle match. Liara tentatively reached and placed her finger on the baby's swaying hand, anxiety in full bloom when tiny fingers wrapped around her own.

"Luce," Liara's head shot up. Her eyes swelled with tears again, her throat tightening at the sight of all the wounds and cuts all over Lucy's face and frayed suit.

All Lucy did was smile on, pathetically. "Uh huh. I know. Help?"

"What on Thessia are you going to do? What are you planning with this baby?"

"...Yes."

Liara groaned.

Here be the Survivor of Mindoir, the first baby of Mindoir born under the Whole Foods Consortium project, brought back by a sadistic twist of fate to be branded the Butcher of Mindoir.

Holding the batarian baby of Mindoir.

"How did this... Even...?"

"They, uh... I guess it's not only slavers here, I don't know. I took cover in a room when Tali warned me of a unit rushing my way and... Th-there was..." Lucy looked down at the baby, her stoic face screwing up for a moment. Dr. Chakwas took a step back and seemed to observe just as intently. "I killed the mom before... Before I realized and the baby, uh, she, or he, or thing I don't know, uh... This behemoth started crying. Wasn't hiding. I should've seen it, should've inspected the room but, but the mom she..." Lucy's eyebrows pinched. "She didn't try to protect the baby. Or I guess she was, trying to gain the upper hand by striking me first." Her bandaged hand - now missing the bandages, revealing bruised knuckles - quivered ever so slightly as it reached into the batarian's little hand. "I don't know what to do." She looked up pleadingly at Dr. Chakwas. "I can't give this thing back to the Batarian Hedgmony, it's gonna become a slaver like the rest of them."

Dr. Chakwas' face grew stern, but her eyes softened. She gestured to the plinth instead. "Commander, it's imperative that we start treating your wounds."

"I need to figure out what I'm gonna do with this behemoth first."

"Not a behemoth," Liara blurted in protest.

"It's a batarian baby, Liara, I can't think of anything better to call it."

Liara rolled her eyes. "Exactly that: a batarian baby."

"That's too long, I need to make it concise for my report and-"

"You're going to write 'behemoth' in your reports?"

"This isn't the core issue right now, I need help here." Lucy reluctantly sat on the plinth, but was extra difficult in working with Dr. Chakwas to peel her out of the thermal suit and treat wounds. She was over-protective with the baby in her arm even without realizing it, and she prattled on, making her anxiety the most obvious thing Liara had ever witnessed before. She gently shooed Lucky down to the ground and took a stool, wheeling towards Lucy. She cradled the soldier's bruised cheek and suddenly, the entire planning process shifted into something else entirely.

"Would my parents be disappointed in me, right now?" Lucy whispered frailly as she looked down at the baby, her brow knitted in conflict as her finger bounced in the tiny hand that gripped it. "I just... I just saved a batarian." Her optic implants glowed abruptly, her eyes glossing sheen. "I'm spitting on their sacrifice, aren't I? On all the victims of Mindoir. I need to kill this thing before it becomes a slaver."

Dr. Chakwas and Liara exchanged panicked looks, and Liara wheeled in close as she eschewed her pillow to frame Lucy's jaw, raising her head.

"Shepard. Look at me." Liara pushed past the pain as she leaned forward, resting her forehead against Lucy's. "This baby... She, he-"

"It. Demon. Behemoth."

"Whatever we call this baby, there is one thing that she or he isn't right now, and that's a slaver. And there's one thing that I know with absolute certainty: your parents would be so proud of you right now."

Lucy's eyes glowed brighter, but with pain. The thick water glossed, and the dam cracked open as soon as a little trail leaked out. The war-torn soldier broke down in a silent sob from the pain buried within instead of the pain that was carved into her. Dr. Chakwas solemnly resumed her work as Liara shielded Lucy from the world, rising from her stool to hug the soldier's head to her stomach, repeating the words over and over again to remind this tortured soul that she was not 'the Butcher' whatsoever.

"They would be so proud of you. I'm so proud of you, Luce. You saved a batarian today." Liara leaned down as much as she could, swallowing her hisses and groans of pain as she pressed a gentle kiss to the blood-soaked hair. "Told you you'd be hugging one someday."

She smiled with pride when it goaded a small choked laugh.

"We gotta-" Lucy hiccuped slightly. "We gotta name this thing before we surrender it to the Alliance."

Liara hummed in thought. She smiled and closed her eyes, hugging Lucy's head a little firmer.

"I think you already know."

"...Behemoth?"

"Absolutely not. Try again."

Dr. Chakwas' chuckles broke them out of their own little world with a reminder of her own. "No arguing, you two. Doctor's orders."

They both groaned.