Chapter 11
Liara had been sitting at a make-shift desk in her room with one of the data pads Shepard had given her. She had been reading through some of the lengthier research papers. She realized that Shepard seemed to have found some interesting material. Some of it Liara had never read through, some of it she had. But she re-read some of the ones she had read before to refresh her memory of them.
She stood from her seat, still reading what was on the small screen as she made her way out of her room, feeling a bit thirsty. It was early evening now, and Liara had been feeling much better as the day went on. As she read through the research on her data pad she had wondered if perhaps there would be a hint in the text regarding her visions. Perhaps something it had tried to show her would be hidden in the research. So far she had no luck.
As she left the med bay she put the data pad on stand by. She had honestly begun to wonder how the mission was fairing on Feros. She had not heard word from anyone on how the team was doing. Her mind had often wandered to Shepard through out the day. She had honestly begun to miss the human's company a bit. Part of her wondered why Shepard had been on her mind so much, but she didn't want to think too hard on it either.
Liara grabbed a cup of water and began to head back to her room, not feeling particularly social to sit at the tables with the others who were sitting down for their evening meal. She did wave to Tali and Garrus however as they had joined the Normandy crew, sitting next to each other. They waved back to her. She smiled some as she went back into the med bay, thinking of heading for her room once more.
"How are you feeling, any better?" Chakwas asked from her desk, putting things away in the drawers and shutting down her terminal. Perhaps she was getting ready to call it an evening herself.
Liara nodded as she smiled lightly. "Yes, thank you. I have felt much better." Liara replied as she stopped at her door. She then turned and faced the physician once more. "May I ask...? Would it be possible for a sedative tonight?" Liara asked a bit shyly. Chakwas smiled however as she stood, walking to her medicine cabinet.
"Of course." She said as she went to unlock the cabinet and began to sort through the contents within, searching for a mild sedative. Once she found what she was after she opened the pill bottle, carefully shaking it for two small pills.
Once she re-locked her cabinet she went up to Liara, offering her the medication. "This should help you sleep." She said as Liara accepted the two pills. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to contact me. I hope you have a better night's rest." She said.
Liara nodded in agreement. "I hope so too." She said. "Thank you, Dr. Chakwas." She then said as Chakwas gave her a warm smile before turning to leave the med bay for the evening. Liara sighed as she went back into her room, looking around it. She normally did not mind being alone, but somehow she felt lonely this evening.
As she sat back her desk, turning on a borrowed terminal to see if she could find anything about the conduit her mind wandered back on Shepard. She had hoped all was well for what seemed like the hundredth time. She shook her head, chastising herself internally. Shepard knew what she was doing, and had been through this sort of situation before off on one of her adventures with her crew.
Well, Liara supposed her past adventures did not include the geth. Liara sighed once more as she leaned back in her chair, suddenly feeling too distracted for her work.
It had been a long day. She was kind of glad she had talked Anderson into helping the colonists however. They now had water, they would be able to rest easier knowing geth wouldn't be pouring out of the tunnels, and they even had planned to organize a varren hunt for food supply.
Anderson didn't really express it, but he also seemed satisfied in helping the colonists. He was in good spirits despite their trip to Exo-Geni being put off until morning.
Anderson and Ashley were sleeping now, however. They were camped out in the garage by the mako and Shepard had offered to take the first watch, just in case the geth did decide to come crash their little slumber party. Shepard had managed to get a fire going to keep them all warm, having decided back tracking to the Normandy now would be more of a waste of time.
Shepard was sitting on the ground, leaning against one of the large tires of the mako. All seemed silent for the moment and Shepard's mind wandered a bit. She had regretted leaving her book on the Normandy but had shrugged it off in the same motion. She had wondered how Liara had been doing. She also wondered if Kaidan was feeling better after Chakwas had given him some medication.
But honestly she was more concerned for Liara. The poor archaeologist had not gotten much sleep last night. Shepard decided to pester the young prothean expert, hoping that perhaps she was even still awake. It was nightfall, and honestly Shepard had no idea how late it was. She activated her omni-tool anyway and brought up Liara's contact info before typing in a message.
Hey, it's Nicole. How are you feeling, get any sleep since last night?
Shepard hit the send button before she reached for a long stick, poking at the fire a few feet away from her, shifting the fire wood about making sure it stayed lit. It didn't take long before she felt a slight vibration on her arm, indicating a message. Shepard smiled as she looked at the response.
I was not feeling well this morning. But I am doing better now. No I have not slept since this morning.
Shepard was about to respond, but another message came through before she could even think of what to say.
How is your mission?
Shepard smiled to herself as she went to work typing out a reply.
I'm sorry you weren't feeling good. She started to type out. She then stopped and wondered just how much detail she should give of her mission. It had been a long and tedious day of shooting geth, destroying transmitters and fixing water lines. She opted for the short version.
Oh you know, saving the day one geth at a time. She added to her message before sending it snickering to herself.
She leaned back against the truck, letting out a yawn having felt exhausted herself. She had spent most of the night awake with Liara, trying to help the asari. They hadn't said much honestly, Shepard had spent the time trying to assure Liara some sleep would do her well. Liara was restless after her nightmares though. Shepard couldn't really blame her.
A new message alert popped up as Shepard opened it.
I am too afraid to go to sleep... The message admitted. Shepard frowned, suddenly wishing she were back on the Normandy. She wasn't sure what she could do for Liara, but she wanted to soothe the fears of her visions away.
Shepard began to type again. You need rest, Li. She said. She hit the send button but then thought of something else to say.
I wish I could do something to help you. she said and sent it before she could back out of her response.
There was a long silence, no new messages. Shepard frowned again as she rested her head back on the dirty tire. She didn't even care if it messed up her hair, she had already been filthy. Suddenly she wanted a shower as she thought about it. Covered in her own sweat, some dirt and grime, she felt a bit gross.
Anderson stirred from his sleep, sitting up from his bed roll, looking over to the mercenary. "Mm, what time is it..?" he asked, the sleep still evident in his voice. Shepard smirked at the man before looking at the clock on her omni-tool.
"Late." she quipped. He chuckled some. "It's half past 1 in the morning." she finally said. He nodded his head, getting up and stretching his limbs.
He then motioned with his thumb towards Shepard's empty bedroll. "Hit the sack. I'll take watch." He said as she nodded some. She couldn't help but realize just how tired she had felt. Not that she was really complaining though.
She went to her bedroll, pealing off her armor and down to her civvies. A tank-top and her cargo pants. She finally felt her omni-tool vibrate again as she settled into her roll.
Li? The message asked. Shepard chuckled to herself as she smirked some. She hadn't realized she had shortened Liara's name. She began to type out a response.
Ya, I guess you could say Li is a nickname for Liara. Humans do it frequently, giving each other nicknames. I guess it's kind of a way to show someone's a close friend. Or more in some cases. Shepard wrote out. She then eyed her message and shook her head, wondering if she should keep the or more in the messaged or not...
She shrugged to herself, deciding to keep it but began to type out a bit more.
Anyway, get some rest... If not for your sake than for mine? Please? She sent those small block of text as she pulled up her blanket half way, feeling pretty cosy by the fire.
Shepard waited for a response, feeling a little anxiety perhaps. She wondered if she was starting to cross an invisible line, having incidentally calling Liara Li, and asking her to get some sleep for Shepard's sake. It took a few minutes, but finally a new text bubble popped up, as Shepard had been staring at her omni-tool the whole time.
You consider me a close friend? Liara asked. Shepard couldn't help but chuckle. Part of her pictured Liara's cheeks turning that cute shade of violate while asking this question. The mercenary did note that Liara avoided her plea for sleep. Shepard didn't know how to respond to it though, not entirely.
Her fingers hesitated over the little holographic keyboard, her red hair kind of falling in her face as she tried to blow it out of her eyes.
Well, duh =P Shepard sent back. She then quickly typed out a second message.
Now get some sleep, I should be back some time tomorrow. Shepard then typed out, sending it off as quick as she could, hoping Liara would actually try to sleep.
I will try. Be safe. Was the simple response as Shepard pushed her hair behind her ear and smiled a little. She deactivated her omni-tool as she finally let her eyes close.
Morning had come quickly. Shepard groaned as she felt someone shaking at her shoulder, before taking the chance to step right over her, moving to Ashley who was only a few feet away. Shepard blinked her sleep filled eyes, rubbing at them before realizing it had been Anderson waking them up.
Ashley had awoken in a similar way, groaning and rolling onto her back. "Just five more minutes." She muttered. Shepard slowly sat up, feeling like not even one minute had passed since she had closed her eyes. As she looked around though, she could see the early signs of sunrise through the garage door's bullet holes. Perhaps from the geth at some point before they had arrived here.
Anderson moved about their little camp, picking up anything he deemed important, tossing his bedroll into the mako before putting out the barely lit campfire. "We need to move, Williams." he said as Shepard rolled onto her knees before hoisting herself up.
She began to pick up her own bedroll, still feeling groggy. But she moved quickly, tossing her bedroll into the mako before trying to get her armor back on, recollecting her rifle while she was at it. Ashley had finally begun to do similar.
"We move out in five." Anderson then said as he climbed into the mako.
Shepard took the moment to check her omni-tool. Five in the morning. She then opened her and Liara's messages from only four hours ago before typing out something quick.
We're heading out. I hope you managed to get some sleep this time. She wrote out before sending it. She then moved over to help Ashley get her stuff together, tossing the bedroll into the mako before climbing in herself, taking the vehicle's weapon controls. Ashley moved into the mako not even ten second later, securing the door. "We're in." She said, still shaking off her sleep as the engine roared to life.
The garage door opened automatically once Anderson drove the mako close enough. "Be ready for anything on the bridge, Shepard." He called out from the driver seat. Shepard put the view screen on for the gun as he began to drive onto the bridge, already spotting some geth ahead of them. She began to fire the weapon, easily mowing anything down in their way.
"Damn, I like this gun." Shepard said with an easy smirk. Anderson shook his head, smiling to himself as he continued to drive the vehicle.
The bridge ahead of them was long, and almost looked like it was about to give way any moment. It looked ancient and beaten, perhaps from the geth, Shepard couldn't be sure. She couldn't help but wish she had some coffee on hand though as she continued to fire the main gun on the mako, picking off geth here and there, Anderson trying avoid any rocket blasts best he was able on the narrow bridge.
They then came across a few armatures even, which were a bit harder to deal with. But after a short drive they seemed to be in the clear for a moment. That was until the radio in the mako crackled to life, picking up a distress call. Shepard looked over to Anderson who regarded her for a brief second, not taking his eyes off the road for too long.
"There's more people out here?" Ashley questioned as the mako drove into what seemed like an enclosed building.
Shepard once more began to pick off more geth just before the door they passed through slid shut. "It would seem so." Nicole said.
The radio transmission grew stronger as Anderson drove more slower, trying to figure out what was being said. "Hello? Is anyone out there, can anyone hear me?" The radio finally cleared up, woman's voice coming through. Anderson looked at the video feeds from outside the mako, trying to pinpoint if there was someone nearby, or maybe somewhere they could be hiding.
"I see something." Anderson said as Shepard was keeping a watch for any potential geth. She looked over towards Anderson who looked between her and Ashley.
Ashley moved close to the driver's seat as the Captain pointed out what looked like a ramp going down. She shrugged. "Worth a look, maybe they'll have some info for us?" She suggested. Anderson made a small noise, as if agreeing with the Chief.
"Come on, lets go." He said as he shut off the mako, all three of them moving to exit the vehicle. Shepard felt a vibration on her arm, frowning to herself as she let the other two out first, activating her omni-tool. It was only a twenty after five in the morning now. And as she had guessed, it was Liara.
I had the dreams again...
Gonna stop it right there for now. I hope everyone's still enjoying this, I know I just keep updating and updating, but my creativity has been denied for almost two years now. Apparently it has unleashed itself and all my brain is allowed to think about is this story lol.
Until next time.
