Chapter 21

Shepard had been leading the ground team through the training facilities, eliminating rogue drones almost the instant they reached Luna. Even the turrets on the buildings had opened fire on the mako as they approached. But Shepard was confident they could shut down the VI core.

Her team had worked fairly well together. Even Liara seemed to be doing well, though her reflexes were slower than the rest of them. It was to be expected though. Liara was new to this. While Shepard was impressed with Liara's abilities to adapt quickly, she still had kept a closer eye on the asari than the rest of her team. Her protective streak had been in overdrive with Liara. She did try to suppress it to the best of her abilities however.

They were in the last room of the second training facility when they had disposed of the last VI conduit, watching it go up in sparks and smoke. "I assume we should expect more of the same in the last building?" Shepard asked Ashley.

Ashley shrugged but grinned. "Most likely." She replied as Shepard chuckled and shook her head.

Wrex pounded his fist into the open palm of his other hand. "Just means more stuff to destroy." He said as Shepard firmly patted the old krogan on the back. She probably loved that krogan more than she should have. His infinity for destruction was perhaps a little too endearing for Shepard.

She began to head for a control panel to make sure all the VI systems were down in this building. She waved Liara over as she began to work on the panel. "How you holding up?" Shepard asked as she worked. She wanted to make sure Liara was still doing alright. She couldn't keep her worry at bay to save her life.

Liara smiled lightly, but looked tired. "I am holding." She replied as Shepard snorted. She continued to run a systems check as Liara turned and walked back to the rest of the group, helping to keep an eye out for any missed drones.

As Shepard began to sever whatever connections remained she heard her name get shouted by Ashley as she spun around. "Rogue drones!" Ashley hollered, the drones catching all of them off guard.

The drones flew around the corner sharply, opening fire before anyone could find any cover. Liara's shields and barriers went out quickly as she yelped in pain, trying to find cover. Shepard panicked as she raised her assault rifle shooting wildly at the drones, though her expression was a strange sense of calm despite how she was yelling at herself internally. Her eyes flickered to Liara who was trying to crawl for cover. "Wrex!" Shepard shouted as the krogan merely grinned, knowing exactly what Shepard wanted.

Wrex let out a roar as he charged at one drone, catching it with his hands before smashing it onto the floor, stomping on it heavily and repeatedly. Ashley tried to lay some cover fire as well. While the drones were distracted by the others Shepard quickly approached Liara, grabbing her arm a bit roughly as she yanked the asari behind a broken VI conduit for cover.

"Liara, you alright, where are you hit?" Shepard asked, her voice full of concern and panic as Liara clutched onto Shepard's shoulders for support, finding herself frozen in a state of her own panic. Shepard quickly looked Liara over, finding that the drones had tore into an unprotected area of her leg and side, purple blood oozing from the wounds.

"Shit." Shepard cursed as she quickly grabbed a tube of medigel, tearing it open with her teeth before she wrapped an arm around Liara's waist to keep her in place. She looked the asari in the eyes, who looked back at her. "I'm sorry, this is going to hurt." Shepard said a bit more calmly. Liara nodded her head in understanding as she gripped Shepard's shoulders tighter, bracing herself.

Shepard gave Liara an apologetic look as she forced the tube down on the injury, squeezing it hard to get all of the contents into Liara's wound. It was a decent size, perhaps the size of a baseball, so when the tube emptied Shepard roughly tossed it aside and reached for another. Liara bit back a cry of pain, her fingers digging into the mercenary's armor instead, her eyes squeezing shut.

"It's alright." Shepard whispered against Liara's ear before she tore the second tube open with her teeth. She pressed the tube against Liara's wound effectively sealing off the rest of the injury as Liara let out a quiet whimper, arms hugging around Shepard's shoulders a bit tightly. Shepard wasn't thinking in the moment as she kissed the asari's temple, as if trying to assure her, tossing the empty tube aside.

"One more." Shepard then said as soothingly as possible, hugging the asari with her one arm. She then took one more tube to seal the smaller wound on her side, as Liara let out a strained noise, still hugging Shepard tightly. "It's over." Shepard assured Liara rubbing the other's back soothingly. Liara nodded roughly as she tried to loosen her grip on Shepard. She shook slightly, feeling the sting of the medigel as it went to work on her injuries, releasing it's antibiotic components into her wounds.

"Clear!" Ashley hollered out as Shepard looked over the still smoking conduit, seeing Wrex looking pleased with himself having torn a couple drones apart with his hands. Shepard nodded as she looked back to Liara who looked a bit paled by her experience.

Shepard grabbed the asari by the waist, trying to help her to her feet. Liara yelped slightly having put too much pressure on her leg. Liara practically fell into Shepard, he held onto her tightly. "I need to get you back to the ship." Shepard said a bit firmly. She helped Liara readjust, putting one of Liara's arms over her shoulders, her other arm going around her waist to give her extra support.

Liara shook her head in refusal, even as she didn't put any weight on her injured leg. "I can keep going." She assured as Shepard tried to give the asari a small smile. She had to commend Liara for wanting to go further, despite the injuries. But reality was if Shepard allowed it Liara would slow them down.

"Li, not to be an ass, but with that bummed leg you're only going to slow us down. Or worse, get yourself killed. This is an order, you're going back to the ship, and letting the good doctor patch you up." Shepard said both calmly yet firmly. Liara looked away from Shepard, looking upset with herself. But she finally nodded her acknowledgment.

Truth was Shepard had so much adrenaline pumping through her system that it only hit her just now that Liara could have been in far worse shape. It made Shepard's stomach sink thinking Liara could have been severely injured, if not killed just now. Those drones picked her out of the whole group, possibly for being an asari who were usually powerful biotic users and commandos at a young age. It was strategic. But Liara was new to this, and the drones could not know. Not that the drones even cared, or had feelings.

Shepard felt a slight rage build within her as she waved the Chief over to help her with Liara. "Wrex, take point, and call the Normandy. Tell them Liara needs extraction." Shepard said, the edge of anger lacing her tone as Wrex nodded, gripping his shot gun, trotting ahead.

Ashley carefully put Liara's other arm over her shoulders as well as both humans helped Liara walk out of the room. Shepard's tone did not go unnoticed and Liara wondered if the mercenary was angry with Liara for being too slow. She tried to shake the thought from her mind. Shepard was a very understanding and caring person. Liara doubted that Nicole would be angry with her. Perhaps she was more angry with herself.

"Once we get Liara back on the Normandy we go deal with the last facility." Shepard said to Ashley who nodded, as the three women slowly made their way to the exit. Once they reached the door Shepard grabbed Liara's helmet, Liara leaning against Ashley.

Shepard gave Liara an assuring smile, putting Liara's previous worries to rest. "Chakwas will get you patched up. I'll come see you in a bit." Shepard said as Liara gave Shepard a pained smile. Her leg was throbbing and it was giving her a great deal of pain. More so than the graze on her side. Shepard knew that this had to be hurting her, but Shepard couldn't help but feel a great deal of respect that the asari was trying to hide her pain despite how much it had to of been hurting.

Shepard finally secured Liara's helmet to her armor, making sure the latches were on properly before getting her own helmet on. She took Liara from Ash so she could do the same. "Wrex, what's the Normandy's ETA?" Shepard asked through the comms.

She could hear Wrex grunt. "Two minutes." He said. There was a short pause. "Are we still going to the last facility?" He asked sounding hopeful. Ash and Shepard both supported Liara once more as she snorted. Leave it to Wrex to worry more about smashing drones or butting heads than the fact someone was injured. Shepard was alright with it though. She knew how the krogan were. They preferred a good fight rather than brooding over fallen or injured comrades. It was never anything personal.

"Don't worry, Wrex. You'll get your chance to smash more drones to pieces." Shepard quipped as they exited the facility, spotting the Normandy flying in low. His grunt of approval could be heard over the comms as she spotted him already heading for the next facility.


Shepard had never felt so satisfied in destroying a bunch of drones. She considered it revenge for them trying to hurt Liara. She also found it weird to think that way, but she couldn't help herself.

When the mission was accomplished and she was back on the Normandy she had only one thing in mind. She quickly took off her armor and handed her weapons to Ash to have stowed away and marched for the elevator with a sense of purpose.

She had almost ran over Garrus in the process who was coming out of the elevator. He looked at her with confusion as she muttered a quick apology before the elevator doors closed. She wanted to check on Liara, make sure she was truly alright. And she had unfinished business to attend to. Something she started and should have finished a while ago.

She quickly made way for the med bay, unsure of what to expect. When she arrived Chakwas was sitting at her desk, going over her data pad. She turned to see Shepard entering, unsure of what the look on her face meant. "Ah, Shepard." She said as Shepard stopped, scanning the room. No signs of Liara which gave her some relief.

"Is she ok?" Shepard asked, her eyes finally resting on Dr. Chakwas. The elder woman smiled back at Shepard which alleviated any of her concerns. Chakwas stood, bringing up Liara's file on her data pad.

She looked back at the mercenary finally. "Normally I do not share patient info. But given the circumstances." Chakwas started. "She will make a full recovery. She was very brave actually. I had to pull some shrapnel from her leg, and put her on some anti-biotics to make sure she doesn't get an infection. She should be fine." Chakwas stated as Shepard nodded some, letting out a pent up breath. With modern medicine it was very easy to have people with more minor injuries to be back on their feet within a day. Something Shepard was grateful for at this point.

She looked to Liara's door as she began to head in that direction. "If you'll excuse me Doctor... I have something I need to do." Shepard said as Chakwas grinned slightly. She sat back at her desk as she watched Shepard step into Liara's room. She was confident she knew what that something was.

Shepard knew she should have swallowed her insecurities long ago. She should have never hesitated. The more she had thought about it the more foolish she had felt. She could have lost Liara today, and Chakwas would have been right. Shepard would have regretted not giving them a chance. When Liara saw Shepard enter the room she stood from her makeshift desk. "Nicole." Liara said, perhaps only slightly surprised.

Liara studied Shepard's face for a moment, unable to read whatever it was she was expressing. "I... I am sorry-" Liara started, but Shepard would not give her a chance to finish. Shepard took quick strides, closing the gap between them as she grabbed the asari's face, suddenly pressing her lips against Liara's.

Liara was taken aback at first. Her body tensed as she could feel Shepard's lips upon her own. Her eyes were wide at first, but she didn't hold back for long. Her arms were around Shepard after her moment of shock wore off, hands gripping Shepard's shirt where her shoulder blades were.

In that moment the kiss grew more intense, both of them losing all hesitance. It was passionate, and took both of their breaths away. There was a spark behind that kiss, one that neither of them fully expected. Almost as if it were electric. And Shepard couldn't help but revel at the way Liara tasted. It made her stomach do back flips.

After a moment of this Shepard finally parted from Liara, their foreheads touching. Shepard wrapped her arms around Liara's waist, holding her close. She just wanted to feel Liara against herself. Make sure this moment was real. Liara was a bit dizzy by the intensity of the moment and she only clutched onto Shepard a bit tighter. "Hey." Shepard said, perhaps a bit jokingly, but her tone was a little on the low side. Liara flushed deeply as she looked at the human with bashful eyes.

"Hello." Liara said, sounding a little breathless. Shepard couldn't help but give her a lopsided grin.

But just as quickly Shepard gave Liara a straighter face. "After today... I could have lost you, Li. I decided I can't beat around the bush anymore. I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I would regret it if I didn't give us a chance." Shepard said, quite seriously. Liara flushed and rested her head on Shepard's shoulder. If she were to be honest the situation was a little overwhelming, but she wouldn't give it up for anything.

Liara felt a sense of desire building within her, but she tried to calm the emotion the kiss had sparked. Shepard only held Liara a bit tighter, burying her face into the asari's neck, still trying to shake off her own nerves. The fear of losing the asari still rushing through her, but also how Shepard had basically sealed her own fate. She couldn't deny either of them this chance any longer. It almost felt like it wasn't an option anymore.

Liara pulled back slightly as she gave Shepard a look of thought, her cheeks a lighter shade of violate than a few moments ago. "I wish to speak with you on something before we go any further, Nicole." Liara said. Shepard tilted her head questioningly. Liara smiled though, her stomach running a mile a minute as she just realized she and the human had just shared a level of intimacy just now. "Something you should know about my species, if you do not know already." She said.

Shepard smiled and nodded. Liara carefully removed herself from Shepard as she moved to sit on her cot, her leg making her feel a little uncomfortable. Shepard quickly moved to sit by Liara as well. Liara flushed some as she reached for Shepard's hand, their fingers intertwining. "My species do not enter into a union lightly." She started, but stopped as she thought for a moment.

Shepard waited patiently, figuring whatever Liara had to tell her was important. "When an asari finds a partner it is not uncommon for them to... Join with them. A sharing of minds, if you will. A union." Liara continued. Shepard continued to listen, as Liara tried to think.

Liara looked at their hands, feeling Shepard's thumb running along her own. "I am not unfamiliar with the legend of asari promiscuity, but I assure you, Nicole, that I want to be with you. More than just for pleasure. You mean a great deal to me, you are very special." Liara continued as Shepard flushed but gave the asari a lopsided smile.

That smile was always able to disarm Liara, but it also made her feel relaxed. "When one of my kind enters in a true union with another, we have the ability to join minds. It is a far deeper connection than an ordinary meld. It transcends anything you would ever experience. It can be a very deep and spiritual exchange." Liara went on.

Shepard considered this a moment. Shepard knew a bit about what Liara was speaking about. But she didn't know too much about it at the same time. Liara looked to Shepard, their eyes meeting. Shepard could tell Liara was very serious about this. "You make this sound kinda mystical." Shepard tried to tease a little. Liara just gave her a shy smile, and nudged her lightly.

"Do not tease." She said, but the words didn't hold any weight. Shepard chuckled and apologized. Liara only smiled. "When a true union occurs, minds will intertwine. Two become one, and thoughts and identities weave together in a single rapturous whole. It is a very special connection." Liara continued. Shepard flushed some but nodded. "If we are to try this, if we are to go any further than as we are, I felt it was important that you knew this. That it is a very important part of my species. For us it is very natural. To someone outside of our species it could be considered very daunting." Liara continued.

Liara then hesitated as she flushed and looked away. "I admit I have never experienced this before. I have spent most of my life involved in my research. I have never thought about it until recently. You are very special to me. But I do not want to rush things. I just felt it was important that you should know." Liara concluded.

Shepard leaned over and kissed the asari's cheek once. "I appreciate you telling me this, Liara. And I won't rush you into anything you're not ready for." Shepard assured Liara. Liara smiled more brightly as she leaned into the mercenary. "You've been pretty patient with me, for which I have been grateful for." Shepard said as she put her arm around the asari. "I can be patient for you too." She added.

"Thank you, Nicole. You have no idea how much that means to me." Liara said, resting her head on Shepard's shoulder. Shepard hummed her response, resting her chin lightly atop of Liara's head, feeling the asari's arms wrap around her waist.

They both sat there, content in the moment. It was the first real step in their relationship. Shepard could only hope she didn't screw things up between them.


Shepards crew, plus Ashley were gathered in the communication room that doubled as a conference room. Anderson had called for a debrief of Luna, and to discuss something else, but no one really knew what. Everyone had slowly gathered, but once everyone was there Anderson had finally allowed himself the chance to sit, still feeling very tender after his injuries from Feros. "I hope you all don't mind me sitting." He tried to joke. "Alright, lets get this started." He then said as he looked to Shepard. "How did the mission on Luna go?" He asked. She was the only one standing, but took to leaning against Garrus's seat having been speaking with him moments before.

She cleared her throat. "Went well for the most part. Liara took some minor injuries, but the doc says she'll be fine." Shepard started. She then shrugged. "VI core was pretty well destroyed, you guys should be able to get your facilities back no problem. Thing didn't leave us much choice." Shepard concluded.

Anderson nodded some as he looked over to Liara, seeing her sitting not far away from Shepard. He could see her wrapped leg as she was borrowing some Alliance issued gym shorts. Probably to give herself better access to keep an eye on her leg and change the wrap as often as was needed. "Glad you came out better than I did." He tried to joke, which caused Liara to flush and fret.

Everyone in the room chuckled some. "Alright, the Council has given me information that

there's trouble brewing on a planet called Virmire. There's a salarian Special Tasks group that has contacted the Council, but the transmission was garbled. The Alliance has also said that there's reports of geth activity and perhaps something more going on." Anderson stated.

Ashley adjusted in her seat. "Is it possible this has something to do with Saren?" She asked. Shepard looked to Liara, who looked back at her. They both thought the same thing. Would Benezia be there? Liara frowned as Shepard worried.

"We don't know. But I would say it's a pretty good guess." Anderson said as he cringed some, adjusting in his seat. He cleared his throat before looking at Shepard, who managed to look away from Liara. "If he is, I want him captured. Alive if given the choice." He said firmly. They needed to question him. But being an ex-spectre Saren was dangerous. He might not give them the chance to take him alive.

"Got it." Shepard said simply. He nodded some as he looked over the group. He may not have known them well, but he knew they had done well so far.

He slowly began to stand. "Alright, dismissed. Shepard I'll send you more intel as I get it." He then said as he slowly hobbled towards the exit.

Shepard looked over her crew, plus Ashley. "I'll figure out who's going for sure once I get more info." She said as everyone else stood up and began to walk towards the exit as well. Only Shepard and Liara remained for the moment.

Shepard looked to Liara who looked back at her. "I wish to volunteer." Liara said. Shepard gave her a curious look as she moved to sit by the asari. Shepard hadn't thought Liara would be so quick to jump back into the fray. But Liara looked determined.

Shepard looked down at her bandaged leg before looking back up. "You sure? Your leg is going to be hurting for a little while." Shepard said. Liara nodded her head however, looking certain in her decision for wanting to go.

Liara thought for a moment. "I should be fine." She began. She then looked a little more serious. "You will likely need biotic support. And if my mo-... If Benezia is there I wish to see her. I want to try and talk sense into her." Liara said. Shepard reached over, resting a hand on Liara's knee, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Shepard simply nodded. She could understand Liara's need to try and reach out to her mother. "Alright. We'll try to bring her home, Li I promise. But if she's there and yourr mother doesn't cooperate... If she doesn't give you or me a chance... Are you sure about this?" Shepard asked. She didn't want to go as far as say she might have to kill Liara's mother. The way it rested in her mind was unsettling as it were. She did not want to make Liara witness it either.

Liara frowned, looking rather fearful as she got the idea. "I..." She started but stopped. Shepard frowned as she stood, pulling Liara from her seat. She quickly drew the asari into an embrace, her hold on the asari firm. She tried to bring comfort to Liara, who wrapped her own arms around Shepard.

"I don't want to hurt you, Liara. I don't know what's going to happen, but if your mother doesn't give us a choice... If she becomes hostile we will have to take force..." Shepard said, the words tasting bitter in her mouth. Liara nodded her head slightly against Shepard's shoulder, letting out a heavy breath.

Liara was unsure of how she felt about the idea, if she were to be honest. But she knew that Shepard was right too. "I understand." She said quietly. Shepard only hugged her tighter, placing a kiss on the asari's temple. "I just hope it does not come to that. But I am with you, Nicole. I will do what must be done if necessary." Liara said, sounding conflicted.

Shepard sighed lightly as she could only hold Liara. She also hoped it didn't end with Benezia's death. But the reality of the situation... If Benezia couldn't be convinced, and if she tried to hurt anyone on the squad, she knew action would have to be taken.


Honestly this chapter had been done for a couple days. But life being life... I had to pretend I was a responsible adult and deal with some errands on top of work, and lack of sleep lol. But here we are, finally had the chance to post this.

I was excited to work on this chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it. I will try to update on Tuesday, which is my day off, but I still have a lot of adulting to do on that day. Fingers crossed!

Until Virmire.