Chapter 14
Shepard and Ashley escorted Shiala onto the Normandy. There were guards already ready to take her off their hands. Pressly was present as well, ordering them to take the asari to the conference room for questioning. "Hold it, Pressly." Shepard said, sounding and looking exhausted. He stopped and turned on his heel to face the merc, glaring at her. He did not like the fact she was trying to order him around, and was about to put her in her place. She held up her hand as he opened his mouth however.
"I want to be there when you question her." Shepard said as Ashley simply excused herself, wanting to avoid whatever mess was about to unfold. Pressly frowned.
He stood tall, clasping his hands behind his back. "What makes you think that's acceptable?" he questioned, clearly agitated. Shepard looked at him with tired, but still piercing green eyes. She had little patience herself, but she also needed to stay in the loop if Tevos expected some sort of update on her end.
"I was hired by the council. Do you know what that gives me?" She questioned, sounding firm and ready to stand her ground. If she felt it necessary she would go straight to Tevos to be involved in this. Whatever info Shiala had could possibly help Liara know what was going on with her mother. Help Shepard plan how best to handle this situation if Anderson continued to involve her or her team on ground missions.
When Pressly perked a brow, but never said anything, Shepard took that as a sign to go on. "Wiggle room. My job is to protect Liara. If Shiala has information that helps me with my job I need to know. If I must I will go straight to the council to gain your cooperation." Shepard continued.
Pressly's face grew even more agitated. It took him a moment to form a response. "I will inform you when we are ready to question her." Pressly said sounding none to happy about the way Shepard invoked her ability to get the council involved. He turned on his heel once more, marching away, his body language practically shouting how unhappy he was.
"Nice." Joker said from his chair, smirk on his face. "Awesome way to abuse your employer's power, Shepard." He continued, sounding amused. Shepard returned his smirk but also turned to head for the cargo bay.
She stopped short however as she spun back around. "Hey, any word on your Captain?" Shepard questioned, genuinely curious.
Joker looked over his shoulder. "Yeah, he's in emergency surgery. I overheard them saying that he should make it through his injuries. Thanks, for that. The Captain and I butt heads some times but he's a good man. If it weren't for you he might not have made it back." Joker said, his sarcasm set aside, looking serious.
Shepard smiled. "Well, couldn't just leave him there to bleed out. Not my style." She said, trying to lighten the mood. Joker smiled as Shepard waved to the pilot turning around once again to make her way to the cargo bay. It took her a bit, feeling her body's aches finally catching on to her from the past two days. Especially after having been biotically hurled into a wall not that long ago.
When Shepard entered the cargo bay she was ready to get her gear off. She couldn't help but also fantasize about a hot shower. "Shepard, hey, what's going on now?" Kaidan asked the moment he saw her. This meant her entire crew all but surrounded her. She couldn't help but smile, noting Liara's presence as well. She turned back around as she walked towards Ashley's station, handing the other woman her weapons.
The two women regarded a each other. "Your Captain should pull through, your pilot let me know." Shepard said to the woman who smiled and nodded her thanks, moving to stow Shepard's weapons away.
Shepard finally turned to regard her crew. "I dunno what's going on at the moment. Anderson is in surgery, and we have some asari named Shiala in custody. I'll have more info before long." She said to the others. But no one had a chance to say anything, Liara's eyes widened at the name.
"Shiala?" Liara questioned as she suddenly stood before Shepard, her eyes still wide, the questions already visible on her face. "Does she know what is happening with my mother? Why she is aiding a rogue Spectre? Why she is assisting in the harm and slaughter of all these people?" Liara questioned rapidly. Shepard reached out with both hands, gently grabbing the sides of Liara's shoulders to slow her down.
Liara took a deep breath, trying to calm herself as Shepard looked to the others. "I need you guys to sit tight. I'll try to get you all something to do soon, I promise." She said as they all groaned but nodded, heading back to the other end of the cargo bay, complaining about their boredom. Shepard looked to Liara with tired eyes. "I'm gonna need your help." Shepard said sheepishly as Liara nodded her head.
Shepard released the prothean expert as she motioned for Liara to follow her back to the crew deck, feeling like her back was on fire now. When they stepped into the elevator Shepard's shoulders slumped, finally showing just how sore and tired she was. "I will get answers for you, Li, I promise. But right now I just need you to hang tight... I know it's not ideal." Shepard said gently as Liara nodded, but taking note at how Shepard seemed a little more slumped than usual.
When the elevator doors opened on the next level Shepard stepped out, taking a sharp left and towards the women's crew bathroom/shower room. "I need your help getting this chest plate off... My back is killing me." Shepard admitted with a nervous chuckle. Liara blinked her eyes as she followed the mercenary into the multi-stall bathroom.
Shepard leaned forward onto the three sink counter barely pointing to the clasps on the sides of her armor. Liara flushed but moved to gently unclasp the armor as she pulled the back part off once it was loose. "Goddess, Nicole." Liara said as she caught an eyefull of the bruising on the human's shoulders under her tank top.
Shepard chuckled and grunted as Liara carefully unclasped the straps that kept her chest plate in place around her back. "That bad, huh?" Shepard strained, grinding her teeth as the aches only grew.
Liara gently guided Shepard to turn around, facing her before she motioned to the mirror. Shepard looked behind herself noticing the visible bruising as she grimaced. They were dark purple, blue and yellow. She lifted the bottom of her tank top only seeing more blotches of bruising along her lower back. Liara just looked on with concern. "What happened?" Liara questioned as Shepard carefully sat her armor pieces aside for now, figuring she could take it all back down to the cargo hold later.
Shepard dared to poke at one rather angry blotch on her back and immediately hissed, regretting her action. "There was this... Plant, it had the ability to control the colonists. It could also make clones of Shiala. Well I apparently pissed off the first clone we encountered and she biotically threw me across the room and into a wall." Shepard said, sounding sheepish once more, trying to give Liara a lopsided grin. Liara did not seem impressed, nor pleased. Shepard shrugged gently, trying not to agitate her back any more than it already was. "I thought my armor took most of the blow, but apparently not." Shepard then said.
Liara gave Shepard a suddenly serious look, and it was almost unreadable. Shepard looked at her a little confused, but it didn't take long before Shepard understood what the look was about. "I wish to join your crew." She said, her tone quite serious. If it weren't for the gravity in that tone Shepard may have thought it was a joke.
Shepard blinked her eyes but couldn't help but feel more confused than before. "Wait, what?" She asked as she looked at Liara like she had just heard the asari say the worse slang imaginable. Liara did not falter in her serious gaze however.
"I wish to join your crew." She repeated. When Shepard did not seem to catch on she went to further explain. "If only until we defeat Saren. I want to help you in your efforts on ground missions." Liara said as she relaxed a little. Shepard's brows furrowed in concern and shook her head.
"Liara, it's not safe." Shepard tried to say as she moved to remove the rest of her armor. "I mean I know biotically you're capable but... Do you have any combat experience?" She went on to ask.
Liara looked down a moment, as if trying to think of how to state her intentions. "I know the risks..." But she fell short on why she wanted to join the ground team, if the Captain even permitted it. But she didn't even have an explanation for herself. She just felt the need to take part in what was happening. Her mother was involved, and perhaps some of her acolytes.
She also felt at fault for why Shepard and her crew were even involved in the first place. And now Shepard was fighting her battles on her behalf. Perhaps it was a matter of pride? But no, that did not seem entirely accurate either. "Do you really know why I never asked you to join my crew before, Liara?" Shepard then asked as she sat the rest of her armor on the corner of the counter, finding some relief in her back as she sat herself atop the counter, legs dangling over, hands gripping the edge.
Liara looked up at Shepard and shook her head. Shepard could barely look the asari in the face. In fact, in the end, she couldn't. She looked away, staring at the furthest shower stall away from them. "Because I knew you would eventually leave." Shepard stated, the human's face almost solemn. "It's dangerous work, being a hired gun. And I knew you would eventually miss digging for lost artifacts and ruins. Miss your research and studies on protheans. That you would get bored, and realize that being a merc is no way to live. And you would leave." Shepard further explained.
She looked to Liara finally, looking serious, but a hint of sadness. Liara felt her heart ache at that look, and at Shepard's words. "And one wrong job... One wrong move... I don't think I could forgive myself if something happened to you." Shepard said, her tone almost giving away her feelings in this situation. "Don't make me watch you get hurt, Li. I couldn't... I wouldn't be able to handle it." Shepard almost pleaded.
Liara was unsure how to respond. She looked down at the counter Nicole sat on, trying to think of anything to say. So many things flew through her mind as Shepard perhaps confessed something personal of herself. Liara started to see that Nicole really was a protective person. And that she truly cared for her. But to what end, Liara wondered. "Shepard, we are ready to question Shiala." Pressly said tightly over her comms. Liara looked up to Shepard who carefully hopped of the counter, grimacing as she landed with a light thump on the floor, feeling it ripple through her tender back.
"On my way." Shepard said, trying to mask her pain as she spoke. She looked to Liara who could only watch her silently. "Think about this, Liara. Really hard. There are risks involved when you find yourself waving guns around, both to yourself and whoever might be with you." Shepard said, trying to be gentile, but firm at the same time. Shepard tried to give her a small smile though. "If this is really, truly, what you want... I'll try to teach you how to handle a gun, and what to expect in combat. But I need you to be absolutely sure this is what you want." Shepard said as Liara could only nod.
Shepard eyed her armor, wondering if it would be safe to just leave there. "Give me about five minutes, Pressly, I need to get my gear stowed away." Shepard then said as she went to gather the pieces of her armor. Liara quickly stepped next to Shepard, gathering some of it herself, looking sheepish, but wishing to help the mercenary. Shepard smiled at Liara and had her follow her out of the bathroom and back to the cargo bay.
After getting her stuff stored in her locker Shepard had joined Pressly back on the CIC. "Before we go in there making threats, try to remember she came with us willingly. She said she had info for us, she might just spill the beans without any Alliance bravado." Shepard said as the XO stared down at her and simply motioned for her to go in first, as he and two guards followed behind.
Shiala stopped her pacing seeing the group enter the room. "Please, have a seat." Pressly said as Shepard decided to lower herself into a chair, trying to take it slow. She would have to get Chakwas to look at her back when she was able to. Shepard started to wonder if that biotic throw did more damage than even she thought.
Shiala sat herself, watching the humans before her. "Shepard said you had information pertaining to Matrairch Benezia." Pressly said, actually following Shepard's suggestion. He didn't necessarily wish to rough handle anyone, but he did not like how the mercenary felt like she could just throw out what felt like orders. Something he felt he'd have to speak to the Captain about when he was able to speak with him.
Shiala nodded her head, thinking the information she had was better suited for the Council than the human military. But perhaps they were investigating the matter as well, considering they found her on a human colony. "Yes, I am... Or rather was one of Matriarch Benezia's acolytes. I served as one of her bodyguards." Shiala began to explain. "When she allied herself with Saren so did I..." She said, now sounding almost ashamed of herself for it.
Shiala looked saddened suddenly. "She saw him as a powerful influence. She wanted to guide Saren down a gentler path. But she lost her way... He is... a little too persuasive. You sit at his feet and he fills you with his words, and you become convinced that he is right, that his goals are the correct path for all." she tried to explain. "His influence is troubling." she said.
Pressly cocked his head. "How do you mean? Can he control minds somehow?" He questioned.
Shiala shook her head. "Not Saren... His ship. It is enormous, and unlike any other warship I have ever seen. He calls it Sovereign. It bends minds, dominates them. I suppose you could call it indoctrination." Shiala tried to explain. Pressly nodded. "This process is subtle. It is like you do not know it is happening until it is too late. It could take days, weeks, but in the end it happens to anyone who stays aboard the ship for too long." Shiala continued.
She shifted in her chair, uncomfortable at the idea she was also under it's influence at one time. Anything Saren wanted, the ship made sure she and the others would do. "Even Benezia has fallen victim. She is no longer who she once was." Shiala noted. Shepard took interest in that fact. Perhaps there was hope in saving Benezia. Perhaps she could be helped, brought back home, for Liara's sake.
Shepard cleared her throat, trying to get everyone's attention as their backs were facing her. Pressly looked to her as she leaned forward in her seat, avoiding resting her back against the chair. "May I?" She asked as Pressly eyed her for a moment but nodded. "Shiala, what did Saren want with the Thorian?" Shepard asked, trying to come off as friendly, trying to assure Shiala it was safe enough to tell them.
Shiala nodded her head. "The Thorian is an old creature, dating back to the time of the Protheans, at the very least." she started. "It was here when they built the city on Feros. It watched them, studied them. It consumed them when they died. When it did that, the protheans became part of it. It gave the Thorian a cipher. An ability to understand the protheans. It is hard to understand. It knows them on a deeper level than you or I could normally comprehend without the cipher." Shiala tried to explain. She paused a moment, gathering her thoughts, to explain the situation further. "Saren knew he would need the cipher, so he might understand the knowledge from the beacon found on Eden Prime. But once he had what he needed, he sought to destroy the Thorian." Shiala concluded.
Shepard looked to Pressly, standing from her seat ushering the man over to her so she could speak with him somewhat privately. "Liara will need this cipher." Shepard said as he looked at her like she was crazy. But she held up her hand, signaling she wasn't finished. "If you guys want to know what Saren is after, what he's doing, what these Reapers are, Liara will need this cipher so she can understand the message from the beacon." Shepard continued. Pressly's brows furrowed as he gained a look of thought.
He nodded his head. "I hate to admit it, but you're right." He concluded. Shepard gave him an easy grin. He turned to the asari as he took over from here again, Shepard moving to sit back in her seat, watching Shiala closely, trying to gauge if this woman would be a threat to Liara or not. Either way she knew she would be there if Shiala thought to try something stupid.
"Shiala, we have another asari on board. Liara T'Soni. She was accidentally affected by this beacon." Pressly began. Shepard noted the surprised expression on Shiala's face. "We are investigating Saren on both the Alliance and Council's behalf. She will need this cipher, if it is possible." he went on.
Shiala stood, pacing, looking a bit off guard. "Benezia's daughter is here? How did she become involved?" Shiala asked. "This is dangerous, she should not have touched the beacon, her mother is not herself... Her mother would harm her own daughter if she knew of this." Shiala said, sounding concerned.
Shepard spoke up again, without permission this time. Her body, her expression, the very tone in her voice conveyed a dire warning. "I will not let that happen." Shepard said. "She may not be herself, however I will not allow even one inch of Liara to be harmed." she went on, confident she could carry out that very threat. Shiala was taken aback. How could a mere human think she would have any chance against a Matriarch? Especially one as powerful as Benezia?
But looking into Shepard's eyes she somehow believed the human meant what she said. She believed she would die trying if it came to that. She wondered why the human even put herself in such danger for Liara. What was the Matriarch's daughter to her?
Pressly felt the tension in the air, at the very least on Shepard's part. He cleared his throat, trying to regain control of the situation. "For now you are confined to the ship, under Alliance custody. We will be here for another night, our Captain is currently indisposed. I will have to confer with him in the morning and we will go from there." Pressly said as he motioned for the guards to stand post at the door. "Thank you for sharing this information with us, we will continue this in the morning." He said as Shepard stood, leaving the room behind Pressly.
Hours later Anderson had come out of surgery, and the crew now knew he was in stable condition, but resting. Shepard's crew were all camped out in the cargo hold for the night, Liara included since the med bay was currently off limits unless a new dire situation arose. It would give Anderson time to rest and recover without interruption.
Shepard had managed to climb on top of the mako sitting on the roof of the vehicle, legs dangling over the side, leaning back on her hands. She had been thinking over everything. From Saren's threat to the galaxy, the possibility that these Reapers were in fact real, to Liara stating how she wanted to join the crew.
Shepard sighed, unsure if Liara joining her crew was even a good idea, even if temporary. She was afraid of how it would affect Liara. Would it do more harm than good? Shepard had no answers. She wanted to protect Liara from the horrors the battlefield could have. How it could scar a person.
Shepard even spoke to Garrus about how Liara asked to join their band. Expressed her concerns over it. What made her really stop and think was how Garrus suggested teaching the asari to defend herself would not be a bad idea, given the circumstances. And if these Reapers did come back, would everyone not be involved? Wouldn't everyone need to find a way to fight back? Or at least if only to survive?
And as if reading Shepard's mind Liara had carefully climbed onto the mako, coming into view before she sat herself by Shepard, neither saying a word for a few minutes. Both just sitting and contemplating. "I have made up my mind, Nicole." Liara said, but not quite as serious sounding as earlier in the evening. Shepard looked to the asari, her heart pounding. "I wish for you to teach me how to fight. I cannot sit by while innocent people are harmed because of my mother."
Of course Shepard had also told Liara everything Shiala had told Shepard and Pressly. She could not rightly sit on that information and keep it from Liara. No matter how heart breaking it may have been for the young asari to hear. She also informed Liara on the cipher. Liara agreed that this cipher would be important in understanding the message and was willing to accept it from Shiala. "Next time we're on the Citadel I will start teaching you." Shepard said reluctantly.
Liara nodded her own head. Shepard debated on saying what had been on her mind all evening. Was it just time to come clean? Explain to Liara that she had feelings for her? The way she had reacted to Shiala earlier, practically threatened to fight against Benezia should she try to harm her daughter... Was it better to hear this from Shepard than someone else?
But the words she spoke to Liara rang in her head, loud and clear. I knew you would eventually leave. She knew this was true. Nothing could ever happen between them, because their paths were so different. Nicole Shepard was a mercenary. A hired gun. Violence had become part of her life. Liara was a scientist mixed up in something she should have never had to deal with.
She would still eventually leave. Shepard closed her eyes, trying to sort out her head. But she knew it was true. Liara would eventually go back to digging in the dirt, getting excited over her discoveries, and Shepard would be left heart broken. Yet she felt an ache in her chest anyway, knowing that nothing could happen between them.
So I start my new job as of tomorrow. But it's orientation, so I may be able to pump out a couple extra chapters before on the job training really begins. I do not know how tired I will be... If my updates slow down from here out, I apologize. I will keep with this story though, I promise.
