Chapter 15
The next morning, Anderson had been allowed to rest in his room, though he was basically grounded to his room for the time being. Despite medical advances there were some injuries that still required good old fashioned bed rest. He had called for Shepard and Pressly to his room for an update on what happened after Exo-Geni.
Pressly had arrived first, his uniform neat and straight, back straight, arms behind his back. Shepard came in second, perhaps a few minutes after Pressly, looking disheveled and perhaps looking like she had just rolled out of bed. Which wasn't too far from the truth for Shepard. Only wearing a plain black t-shirt and cargo shorts, she hadn't even bothered with shoes, apparently opting to pad around the ship barefoot. Her red hair was also a bit messy, not like her usual brushed and swept to one side appearance.
Pressly eyed her almost unbelieving as Anderson was sitting up in his bed, but looking concerned. "Shepard?" He asked as she yawned and waved a hand as if dismissing his concern.
She cleared her throat. "Sorry, I didn't exactly sleep well." She said with a bit of a sheepish grin. Pressly shook his head, looking away. Shepard looked around and whistled though. "Damn, you got nice digs though, Captain. Better than the rooms on my old Rust Bucket." she said jokingly.
Anderson shook his head as he tried to adjust in his bed, grunting a bit. "First of all I wanted to thank you, Shepard. If you hadn't patched me up on the field and dragged my ass back to the mako I'd be dead right now." He said but looking sincere in his appreciation. If she hadn't been there he knew he may have bit the dust this time.
She shrugged at the man but gave him a small smile. "No problem." She said simply. "Actually, I was hoping, if you're up for it later, if we could talk privately? I have some questions." Shepard then said. Anderson gave her a quick nod, feeling that it was only fair to answer whatever questions she had.
"Now, give me the update, what happened after I was injured?" He questioned both Pressly and Shepard, getting down to business. It took a bit of explaining on both parties. Between the Thorian creature, answering Anderson's questions, and Pressly explaining how the colonists banged on the ship for what seemed like hours. They both even explained Shiala, who was still probably camped out in the conference room. The ship didn't exactly have a brig though.
It was all a lot of information as the Captain began to digest what he had learned. Between the Thorian, the information Shiala had on Saren... And this cipher? He looked to Shepard. "If this will help in our investigation, and Liara is willing, go ahead and set the two up so Shiala can give her this cipher." Anderson said as Pressly and Shepard both nodded.
"Would it be possible for Dr. Chakwas to watch over this process?" Shepard then asked. "I know it will involve an asari mind meld sort of thing. Liara explained to me last night this was probably how Shiala shared it with Saren."
Anderson regarded her and nodded. "Perhaps that's not a bad idea." He concurred. Shepard nodded as she tried to find a standing position that felt more comfortable. God her back hurt. She had been trying to keep herself appearing capable, if only for her crew's sake, and because she knew so many eyes were on her and her crew for being mercs. She couldn't allow herself to falter.
"I will gather Shiala and meet you in the med bay." Pressly said tightly, about to leave the room. Shepard nodded at the man, figuring she could wait a little while longer before getting treatment. He exited the room as Shepard turned to look at Anderson before pointing to the seat at his small round table, as if asking if she could sit. Anything to relieve some pressure from her back.
Anderson nodded his approval and she slowly made her way to the seat, pulling it out and slowly sitting herself into it. He noticed the slight grimace Shepard had, but the look of relief that quickly replaced it. He didn't press on the matter. "So... I wish I could give you more time to recover before asking, but my crew is going stir crazy in your cargo bay." Shepard started with.
Anderson only chuckled as he nodded some. "What did you have in mind?" He questioned. After Shepard had saved his skin, and successfully finished their mission, he felt that perhaps giving them a real chance would be safe. Shepard probably could have left him to die, or taken Shiala and took off if she wanted. But she was still here, and so was he.
Shepard tried to mess with her hair, to at least make it somewhat decent, despite being in some military Captain's quarters barefoot and probably looking half way on death's doorstep. "I know this is an Alliance ship, and if you say no... I can figure something out for my crew. Even if that means they need to go their separate ways for the time being, or just get stuck doing something else. I will stay, for Liara's sake. But I'd like to keep them on with me." Shepard started. Anderson nodded, willing to hear her out before he jumped to conclusions. Part of him was too tired and too sore for that anyway.
Shepard sighed some. "Tali would be most useful in your engine room. I know she's young, but she's smart as hell. Trust me if she could keep my rusty old ship from falling apart, imagine what she could do with a ship like this." Shepard said. Anderson gave her a look of thought, but motioned for her to continue. "Garrus is a decent mechanic when he needs to be. If that mako needs patching up he could probably help with that. Or he could help Ash with the weapons and armor, give her a hand from time to time." Shepard continued.
"And what of Wrex and Kaidan?" Anderson asked. Shepard nodded as she gave them thought. Kaidan could pilot a ship decently enough, but she wouldn't ask Anderson to give her that much trust. She could understand the fear of people you barely know running off with your ship and locking down the systems far too well.
"Wrex is the easy one, actually." Shepard said with a chuckle and knowing grin. "Let him tag along on ground missions, give him something to shoot, he'll be happy." Shepard went on as Anderson laughed a bit but nodded. That was the easy one to swallow. "Granted he'll still complain about being bored between those, but he does that on my ship too." Shepard went on with a grin.
Shepard sighed as she tried to think of Kaidan. He was always comfortable doing whatever was needed around her ship, but she never gave him much of a role. He had helped her with inventory from time to time and he was better as support when they found themselves in combat situations. "Kaidan, I'll have to talk to, see if there's anything he would want to do in particular." Shepard then said. "He's good as support on ground missions, but on my ship he did a lot of little things for us."
Anderson perked a brow as he watched Shepard. "If I may, you said he's a biotic." Anderson started. Shepard nodded. "How good is he on the field?" Anderson then asked, honestly curious.
Shepard adjusted slightly in her seat. "I mean, he does fine as support. He could use a little more seasoning." Shepard admitted. She gave the Captain a small smile. "He's a decent biotic... While I've got the biotic potential of a box, even I can tell he'd benefit if he could hone his skills a bit more." She said, perhaps feeling bad on her assessment of the man.
Anderson smiled some. "Well, if you want I could give him access to some Alliance training videos, see if it helps." Anderson suggested.
Shepard snorted some as she nodded. "I'll see if he'll be interested." Shepard said. She then gave a look of thought. "Anyway, far as myself... I get the impression your XO doesn't care for me much. I'm too used to being the one giving the orders. If you let me keep doing some ground missions, I'll be happy enough." Shepard said.
Anderson chuckled, but then grimaced, deciding chuckling was a bad idea. "Mm.. Actually I'll be out of commission for a little while... What if I... tested you as leading the ground team? I've seen your skills, and you got my Gunnery Chief out unharmed." he said as Shepard gave him a questioning look. He raised a brow, as if waiting for her answer.
She shrugged slightly. "I mean wouldn't that be against your regs or whatever?" She asked.
Anderson shrugged though. "Admittedly this whole mission is unorthodox by Alliance standards. I have no one else on this ship that has your abilities, and I have a feeling you'd take care of my crew out there." He said which made Shepard actually feel... Well if she had to admit it, honored. Part of her wondered if her outlook on the Alliance was the wrong one. Or maybe this Captain was the exception. She couldn't be sure.
Shepard had managed to wake Liara without bothering a majority of the rest of her crew, who were all spread out sleeping on various bed rolls. They were now in the med bay, Liara looking at Shiala, her eyes so full of questions. "I will just be here to make sure everything goes smoothly." Chakwas said as she hooked monitors up between the two asari, Pressly and Shepard standing to the side. "We don't need another incident like on Eden Prime." Chakwas said more firmly, looking to Liara who flushed but nodded her understanding.
Shiala and Liara stood half a foot apart as Shiala tried to give the young maidan a gentle smile. Shiala's eyes suddenly faded to black before she spoke, "Embrace eternity." Liara's eyes also turned black as the two now stood, silence falling in the room.
Meanwhile Liara's world faded around her, being greeted by a new one. A Thessian field surrounded her, and Shiala, who stood before her, their minds touching one another gently, the meld already fully connected. "Before I give you this cipher, Lady T'Soni I must ask you a question. While we have some privacy." Shiala spoke with her mind, the words echoing in Liara's.
Liara nodded her permission as Shiala's hesitance flickered through their shared link. Liara had picked up on it, but waited patiently. "What does this human mean to you?" she asked, as though treading carefully. Her caution would be like her concern for crushing the flowers and tall grass that surrounded the two in their link.
Liara felt herself hesitate, as did Shiala. "I do not know, honestly." Liara admitted. "She is my friend, but I must admit I sometimes feel..." Liara was unsure how to describe it. She had never felt such emotions before.
Shiala nodded her head, both in their link and physically. "Show me." Shiala said, still trying to be gentle on the subject. Liara again felt hesitant, but after a moment of debating she shared how she felt through their link, along with memories over the past few years with Shepard, allowing it to flow freely, her eyes closing. She perhaps knew she was infatuated with the mercenary at the least, but recognition flowed through their shared consciousness from Shiala.
"Oh, Lady T'Soni... You are developing feelings for the human?" Shiala questioned, as if to confirm what she already knew. Liara flushed, both in the physical realm and the mental, but she nodded some.
Liara hesitated a moment. "Though I do not know how to proceed with such things. I have no experience. I have wrapped my life up in my work, I have never had time for things such as..." She trailed off as Shiala already knew what she would say. She never allowed herself the chance to be attracted to someone.
Shiala smiled gently. "I understand. But I feel she has developed these feelings for you as well." She dared to say. Liara's surprise filled their link next. Shiala may have laughed, but bit back on her amusement. "I will show you." Shiala then said as she recalled her memory from yesterday. Shepard's statement about Shiala being on the 'up and up'. Also how Shepard had seemed determined to keep Liara safe, even if it was from her own mother. Shiala further shared the look Shepard had on her face, the body language that had quickly shifted at the idea of harm to Liara.
Again surprise came from Liara. But she had no real words, only random thoughts and questions flooded their shared mind. "I must share the cipher with you, Lady T'Soni. Before the humans wonder if I mean you harm." Shiala tried to tease, but Liara nodded.
Shepard watched the monitors Chakwas had hooked to Shiala and Liara. Shiala's heart rate had remained calm. But there were split moments when Liara's heart rate increased. Shepard started to feel anxious, wondering if this cipher was causing the random increases.
After a few minutes Shiala's and Liara's eyes returned to normal. "The cipher may take some time before it can translate the message from the beacon." Shiala warned. Liara's cheeks had flushed as she nodded, but looked over to Shepard, as if examining her much more closely than before.
Shepard's concerned expression faded into one of confusion by the way Liara had looked at her. Liara's cheek colors deepened even more as she snapped her head away. Liara looked back to Shiala, knowing she had also shared memories of what had lead Benezia to being part of Saren's plans. It had given her some comfort, but new concerns.
"Are you alright, Miss T'Soni?" Chakwas questioned, all professionalism as she unhooked the machines. Liara nodded her head, but felt she had a lot to process at the same time.
Shiala circled around Liara, looking to Pressly. "If I may, I would like to return to Zhu's Hope. Help the colonists... Try to make amends for my part in their suffering, even if it were not by my own will." She said. Pressly regarded her for a moment. Technically he was in charge, as the Captain was off duty, he would have to make a decision.
But Liara turned, facing the older man. "If I may..." She said quietly, Pressly looking to Liara. "I believe Shiala would do well in helping the colonists rebuild. I do not think she is of further harm if she is free from this... Indoctrination." she said looking confident in her suggestion.
Pressly sighed, but nodded. "One of the security personnel will escort you back to the colony." He said.
Shiala looked to Liara, grateful to the young maidan. But then Shiala walked up to Shepard, putting on a firm and serious look, drawing a look of confusion from the mercenary. "You had better not hurt Lady T'soni, Shepard. In any manner. Or Matriarch Benezia will be the least of your worries." She said almost coldly, as if her own protective streek for House T'Soni came into the open. She then quickly left the med bay, followed by one of the guards posted outside.
Shepard blinked a few times trying to process what was just said as she looked to Liara, as if searching for answers. Liara merely flushed and looked away, unwilling to say what had been shared privately between her and Shiala just yet.
Pressly shook his head. "I will find out what our next step is." He just said as he turned and left the med bay himself.
Liara suddenly started walking quickly for the back room. "I will be in my room." She said hurriedly as she barely waited for the door to open, disappearing inside. Shepard's eyes went wide, already on the move.
"Liara, wait!" Shepard called out as she quickly made her way for the room as well. She wondered if she had angered Liara somehow, she was acting funny after the meld with Shiala. But she didn't get very hard as an arm shot out in front of her.
She looked to her left, seeing a bit of a grin on Dr. Chakwas' face. "Ah-ah, where do you think you're going? From what I've been told you have some injuries that need looking at." She said teasingly. Shepard gave her a confused look. Chakwas simply pointed to the med bed, as if silently ordering the mercenary to head in that direction instead. Chakwas also knew Liara probably needed some time to herself.
"Wait, who told you?" Shepard asked. But the moment she asked she felt stupid. She looked back at the door leading to Liara's room.
Chakwas chuckled. "She cares about you. She messaged me last night letting me know you got hurt with a biotic attack." She said as Shepard couldn't even feel mad as she turned to the bed, making her way for it. "Shirt off, please." Chakwas then said as she went to grab her scanning equipment.
Shepard flushed as she turned to face Chakwas. "Don't I get dinner first?" She asked, not sounding too happy. Chakwas only chuckled as she turned back to face the mercenary.
She waved her medical device about. "Don't be such a grouch." She said sounding all too amused. Shepard just let out an exasperated sigh, pulling her shirt off over her head, wearing a sports bra beneath. She winced in the process however, hearing the doctor make tsking noises behind her. "Dear Lord, Shepard. Your back is practically all bruise." Chakwas said as Shepard carefully moved to the bed, getting onto it, laying on her stomach.
She folded her arms under her chin, staring at the wall. Chakwas approached the younger woman, setting her equipment aside for the moment. "This might hurt, but I need to feel for any broken bones." Chakwas said as Shepard nodded her approval.
Shepard hissed and bit her bottom lip as she felt Chakwas' hands pressing about her back and the back side of her ribs. "Well, nothing feels broken, but let's make sure nothing is cracked." She said as she brought out her omni-tool and took a scan to double check her assessment.
She hummed to herself as Shepard perked a brow, still looking at the wall. "What?" Shepard asked as Chakwas shut off her omni-tool before picking up her device, turning it on.
"You, my dear, are very lucky." Chakwas said with a smile. "Nothing broken, nothing cracked. Just some severe bruising, but we can fix that." She said as began to slowly sweep her medical item along Shepard's back, from lower to upper. Shepard's dark and angry bruises began to vanish as the device worked it's magic, repairing damaged tissues from outer to lower layers of the woman's back.
Chakwas carefully scooted the woman's bra around as well, making sure the bruisings beneath that were able to be repaired through the article of clothing. "All done. You're free." Chakwas said cheerfully as she shut off her device and went to her desk, making sure to file the simple report under Shepard's medical file. Shepard sat up, pulling her shirt back on, feeling so much better now. "Thanks." She said as she scooted off the bed and began to make her way for Liara's room.
She dared to knock, but she heard Liara's voice on the other side, giving her permission to enter. Once Shepard was inside she made sure the door shut behind her, giving them some privacy. "Liara, you ok?" Shepard asked carefully.
Liara fiddled with a data pad at her desk, as if intentionally avoiding eye contact with Shepard. Something she had never done before. "I do not know." She admitted before she finally put the data pad aside, turning her chair to face the human. "I feel comfort knowing mother did not willingly hurt people... But I feel discomfort knowing this has been against her will." Liara went on as Shepard nodded. "I do not know how to feel..." Liara confessed as she looked at her lap. "Perhaps I need time to think." She said.
Shepard frowned some but nodded again. "I can leave you alone." She said as she turned, as if ready to leave.
Liara spoke up, halting Shepard's progress. "Is there a connection between us?" Liara questioned, feeling her heart fluttering in her chest. But she had so much on her mind, she did not know where to start.
Shepard turned and looked to Liara. Part of her felt confused, but part of her feared Liara was asking what she thought she was too. Liara looked up at Shepard, blue eyes searching green. Liara just looked kind of vulnerable in the moment and Shepard felt her own heart sinking. She did not how to proceed with this. "A connection...?" Shepard asked, not wanting to make a fool of herself either.
Liara nodded. "Is there something between us? I cannot help but feel that maybe there is. But then I do not know. I sometimes think it is just my imagination or... That maybe because I have felt attracted to you that it is me letting my hopes get away with me." Liara almost rambled, but Shepard could see that she was serious. See that Liara was trying to calm her own nerves.
Shepard sighed lightly, unable to really look away from those eyes. They were so honest, and searching for answers. "Li..." Shepard said, looking frustrated and yet lost. Liara watched Shepard who turned away for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts, needing those eyes to stop looking at her.
"Was I wrong?" Liara asked, sounding a bit embarrassed.
Shepard spun around, not wanting Liara to feel like she was about to make an idiot of herself. "No. You're not wrong." Shepard finally answered. There was no more beating around the bush, Shepard didn't even think she could lie about this. "I do care about you, Liara. A lot. More than I should, because we are so different." Shepard said, sounding defeated.
Shepard began to pace the small room, her nerves running away with her. Liara only sat and watched, waiting to hear what Shepard had to say. Liara knew that whenever Shepard paced, she had more to say. "Nicole." Liara tried to say, as if to snap her out of her thoughts.
Shepard stopped in her tracks eyes closing. "The truth." Shepard said, more to herself than Liara. She turned and faced the asari, reaching out and pulling Liara to her feet gently, looking eye to eye with her now. "I didn't ask you to join my crew because it would break my heart when you'd finally leave. I've lost so many people in my life, Liara, I didn't know how I would handle losing you. I still don't know how I would handle it, but the life I lead... Is not one you should have to deal with." Shepard said before looking down, letting go of Liara's hands.
Liara reached out, gently resting a hand on the side of Shepard's cheek, bringing her face to look at her again. "Perhaps you are right." Liara said, drawing a confused look from the human. "We have very different lives, but I cannot help but feel close to you." Liara said. Shepard brought her hand over Liara's on her face, giving it a light squeeze, but looking so conflicted.
"I feel the same, Liara, but we shouldn't... I mean, how would we work?" Shepard asked as she carefully removed Liara's hand from her face as she went back to pacing, trying to think. "You're intelligent, beautiful, and just so kind, and full of an innocence I have not known since I was a kid. And I'm just some hired gun from the Terminus." Shepard rambled.
Liara sighed, as she could see this troubled Shepard. "I just need time to think, Li... I don't know what to do." Shepard confessed as she stopped, looking to Liara.
Liara only smiled. Which perhaps brought some relief to Shepard. "We do not have to pursue this right now, Nicole. But perhaps when this is over? We could talk." Liara suggested. Shepard gave her a small lopsided smile and nodded her head to that.
"You're more patient with me than you should be." Shepard tried to tease. But she knew that she had just dared to hope. And she couldn't help but wonder how dangerous that was. Shepard blew out a pent up breath. "Taking it slow is something I can do." she then said.
Cat's out of the bag now. Oh boy. What is in store next? We'll find out lol.
As always, until next time.
