Chapter 8.
Liara opened her eyes, she was in the med bay, she could tell right away as it always smelled of the antiseptics in it. She stood up from the bed she was laying in and left the lab portion of the med bay, she was greeted by Doctor Chakwas. She was busy examining one of the crew members, however, so Liara decided not to bother her and left the med bay quickly. The mess hall was empty, everyone already must have eaten, Liara walked up to the food dispenser and grabbed a tray, she picked out her favorite cereal and got some milk to go with it, the Earth dairy was always her favorite. She sat down and poured the milk into the cereal, she let it stand there for a bit, and just as she grabbed a spoonful she heard a voice behind her.
"Wouldn't you rather have breakfast with me Liara?" she turned around and saw John Shepard walk up to her. He bent down and they shared a passionate kiss, "You know it is almost launch time now, stayed all night with your Prothean research again?"
Liara smiled, "You know me!" she blushed a bit, "Obsessed with the Protheans."
John let out a chuckle and headed over to the dispenser to grab some food for himself. He came back with a tray full of bacon, "French" toasts and a yogurt. He set the tray down and sat next to Liara, the two enjoyed their food for a bit before they started to chat.
"How much longer will the Council have us fly here John? You and I both know that there is nothing here."
"I know Liara, but it's out of my power to do anything about it, after all I am a Spectre and I answer to the council. Besides the Citadel is still in the state of chaos right now, it will take a while to rebuild all the damage after Sovereign's attack."
"Still even this meaningless cruise has it's... benefits." Liara giggled, turning into a light shade of purple.
"Doctor T'Soni!" Shepard, faked shock, paused for a minute, then the two started laughing.
Liara was truly happy at that moment...
A sudden impact caught both of them off guard, the trays flew to the floor as the Normandy started taking evasive action against an unknown attacker. Joker's voice boomed in the com, "We are under attack by an unknown vessel! Everyone brace for impact!"
Another impact shook the Normandy, causing multiple fires in the sides of the hull of the ship. Shepard quickly stood up and helped Liara up, "Liara go to the med bay, and equip your hard suit. Help everyone evacuate to the escape pods, I am going to go get everyone out of the cargo bay. Liara nodded and rushed to the med bay, when she ran in, doctor Chakwas was ready to head out, helping a couple crew members who were hurt during the initial impact.
"Doctor Chakwas, under Shepard's orders we are to evacuate the Normandy, please head over to the escape pods." Doctor Chakwas nodded and started moving out of the med bay, Liara rushed into the med lab. She quickly saved all the files from her console on a backup disk and put on her personal hard suit. When she ran out of the med bay Shepard was already there, wearing his own N7 armor.
"The med bay is empty Shepard. What do we..." She was interrupted by another impact, this time a piece of the hull got torn off, quickly resealing itself with a mass effect field.
"Help anyone who is left evacuate, I'm going to go get Joker, he wouldn't leave the Normandy and I don't want him to go down with the ship."
"But Shepard!" Liara was about to object but John would have none of it.
"Liara, that's an order." he turned around and looked her in the eyes, "Don't worry, I'll be fine." he turned and ran upstairs towards the cockpit. Liara stood there for a moment, watching Shepard leave, she had a strange feeling that would not leave her be. She shook her head and quickly ran towards the escape pods, collecting anyone who was alive and guiding them through smoke and fire into the pods. She loaded all of them and got into the last one with the last of the crew, she took one last glance outside the pod, but there was no one there. She quickly sealed the pod and launched off the Normandy.
Through the small window she watch as Normandy took one more hit and was split in half by the enemy's beam weapon, seconds later the ship exploded. Emotions overwhelmed Liara, she was frozen with horror, shock, sorrow, confusion. Her world went crashing down...
"Liara?" Miranda was staring right at Liara. "Are you listening?"
Liara closed her eyes for a moment, suppressing the pain of the terrible memories, sorrow can wait, Shepard's body can't. "I'm sorry Miranda, I just spaced out for a minute." She opened her eyes, and looked back at Miranda. "You were saying?" said Liara getting out of the cab that they arrived in.
Miranda gave Liara a disproving look, "I was saying, if you want to find Shepard's body, the mercenaries who attacked you are the key. The Blue Suns."
"Didn't your men gun them down earlier?"
"That was just one small squad, and the merc leader was not in charge of the operation. From what you and your friend here told us, the mercs were trying to keep you from finding Shepard, which means his body is here on Omega after all and the Blue Suns have it." Miranda sat back into the cab.
"But I'm not familiar with Omega, I am not even sure where to start looking."
"You're not, but he is." Miranda nodded towards Feron, "He should know where Shepard's body is, find it, bring it to us, we will pay all the expenses." Miranda closed the door and the cab took off.
Feron finally spoke up, "She's a bigger fool than I thought if she thinks I'd help them, besides, you saw what happened the last time I tried to lead you anywhere." He was still bitter about the deal with Cerberus. "What do they think I can give you?"
Liara was not in the greatest mood so she decided to go for broke. "Quite a lot. I think you're an agent for the broker, and Cerberus knows it."
"What?" Feron was caught off guard by such a statement. Liara quickly powered up a weak biotic field and slammed Feron with it, knocking him down. He sat up wiping off the blood from his lips, "You could have killed me!"
But Liara would have none of it, "And those mercs could have killed me, Feron! You were the only person who knew I was coming to look for Shepard's body, yet those mercs found me. So either they knew exactly what you were up to, or you sold me out!"
Feron got up, rubbing the right side of his face, "I didn't sell you out Liara." he started to dust himself off, "I've been taking various assignments from the shadow broker for a while now, he pays for eyes and ears everywhere. The broker knew that Shepard's friends would be searching for him. I was simply supposed to lead you away. The money's good, I don't get my hands dirty and nobody gets hurt."
"I guess nobody told that to the people trying to break my neck." Liara quipped.
"Nobody told me about them either, I don't know why the broker sent them. Maybe it was insurance, maybe he's more nervous about us getting to Shepard's body than I thought."
"He should be if he's working with the collectors. Did you know about that?"
"Only rumors, nothing solid. The collectors are pretty rare, and very deadly." Feron paused for a second, "Listen maybe you'd be better off doing this on your own."
But Liara was adamant about Feron helping her, "Oh, no. I paid you to help me find Shepard, and it doesn't matter who's money it is, mine or Miranda's, you're going to do it."
Liara sighed as her anger subsided, "I watched Shepard die from my escape pod, Feron. This is my chance to redeem myself, to do one last thing for him... It can be your chance too."
Feron nodded and the two started walking away from the transport hub, soon they ended up in the Afterlife.
"This… This is where we started." Liara said in confusion.
"I was supposed to lead you away from the body Liara."
Liara raised an eyebrow, "Shepard is here?"
Feron chuckled, "I don't think your friend is any condition to dance. No, we're here to speak to Aria."
"Who's Aria?"
"Aria T'Loak, she's one of your people, an asari. And she knows everything that goes down in this station."
The two moved through the club, towards the room overseeing the club, Aria's place. Feron walked up to an intimidating batarian bodyguard and spoke to him.
"Anto, we're here to see Aria."
The bodyguard scanned Feron from head to toes, seemingly unimpressed, before he started talking, "She's busy. Too busy to deal with a snitch-for-hire like you."
Feron smiled, "I guess I'll just have to find another way to let her know about the business you and I usually do, but then, she probably wouldn't mind knowing someone on her payroll has been selling information on who she sees and when." Feron paused, enjoying the batarian's change in expression, "Would she?"
The bodyguard grumbled something and left the two waiting outside before he came back and waved them over to come in.
The two quickly ascended the stairs and were greeted by a few more bodyguards and Aria herself. The purple asari with markings on her face seemed not so different from Liara, she was in her matron years but it was clear she had no intention in settling down anywhere. As the two approached her she spoke up.
"Your friend is better-looking than your usual company Feron." she said, inspecting Liara, "Which means she can't be your friend. I like how she handled herself upon arrival here, and not so far from the club too." She made a faint smile, "But you should really leave poor Anto alone. In so many years he still hasn't learned that nothing is a secret from me." Her facial features changed from calm to almost sadistic, "Especially in my own establishment. He is lucky that I am fond of him. It's a good survival trait."
Aria turned around and walked to the few couches behind her and settled herself down, "The broker rarely sends his minions to me for help, Whatever it is it must be big." She waved her bodyguards to leave the three alone.
Feron quickly whispered in Liara's ear "I'll handle this, just keep quiet." he then spoke up to Aria, "Just checking on some merchandise Aria." he paused, "The body of Commander Shepard."
Aria raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything.
"I know that the Blue Suns are set to deliver it to the broker, I just need to know where."
"And you don't know yourself?" Aria laughed, "I knew the broker liked secrecy, but from his own man not to know what he's up to..." She switched her gaze to Liara, "And you... You're one of Shepard's crew." She smiled, "Were you Shepard's love toy? Are you only allowed to speak when your master tells you?"
Liara clutched her fists, but held her composure.
"Deadly when you need to be and obedient when asked, I like you." Aria's expression and tone changed to a serious one. "Keep doing what you're doing T'Soni and one day you might make something out of yourself, just remember to always watch your back." Aria switched her attention back to Feron, "The Broker is powerful, but Omega is my domain, I know everything that happens here. So naturally, I know of the transfer. However I need something in return, Feron, why is the broker so interested in Shepard."
Feron's face showed confusion for a moment, "I... I don't know, that's what we are trying to find out."
"That is bullshit. Of course you know, and if you want to find Shepard, you will tell me."
Liara couldn't hold herself, "Because the shadow broker is working with the collectors!" she blurted out.
"What?" Aria was surprised by that statement. "No one said anything about the collectors."
"I thought you knew everything that happened on..." Feron added his two cents.
"You two, get out of here! Anto, get them out, now!" Aria's patience ended.
Liara gave Feron an angry look before trying to salvage the situation, "Wait! I told you what you wanted to know. Please, tell us where are they taking Shepard?"
Aria stopped her bodyguards who have enclosed the two to be escorted out, she looked right into Liara's eyes for a couple of seconds, as if looking for something, she sighed and spoke, "The lower levels of omega, the old mining processing plant, the Blue Suns were taking your friend there." She turned around, "Now get out. This meeting is over."
The two didn't waste any time, they grabbed a shuttle and traveled into the processing plant. Once there, they took a few detours, thanks to Aria's information, and avoided the Blue Suns patrols to get the place of transfer. They hid on top of one of the many platforms, overlooking the hangar where the meeting is supposed to be.
Feron looked below the platform, "Looks like we got here first, the meeting hasn't started yet." he turned to Liara, "Got to hand it to Aria she knows her station. It was nice of her to provide us with the info. This will be easy."
"She seems to know the popular places anyway..." Liara smiled, after a month she was finally making some progress.
The two waited a few minutes before they spotted a ship arriving. As it landed a few mercenaries walked out, wearing predominantly red uniforms. Among them was one that was standing out, it was a salarian of an unusually large size.
Feron spotted the salarian and by the look on his face, he recognized him, "Damn! Did I say easy? Forget it, that's Tazzik!"
"What's the matter? Who is that?" Liara asked, surprised by Feron's reaction.
"Tazzik is the shadow broker's one and only hit man, for rare times when he wants something or someone taken care of. The mercs are just hired muscle, but he calls Tazzik for results. Results he usually gets."
The two continued to watch the new arrivals as they and the blue suns were having a discussion. Two blue suns mercs opened a nearby crate and pulled out a metal stasis pod. Tazzik and the blue suns leader exchanged some data pads, Tazzik nodded and the mercs started pulling the pod towards Tazzik's ship.
Liara's biotics heated up, there was no doubt left, "That's it! It's Shepard!" she said as she stood up with Feron trying to pull her down.
"Wait! What are you doing? It's too risky, Liara! There has to be another way!" he said grabbing her by her shoulders.
But Liara won't settle down that easily, "I've crossed the Galaxy for this, Feron! I'm not going to give you time to change your mind!"
Feron looked at Liara puzzled, "You're afraid I'm going to run?"
Liara freed herself out of Feron's grip, "I'm more afraid you'll switch sides again. I've been keeping you in my sight just for that reason."
"Don't worry, I won't. I have a better idea though." he turned to his right, "You see that old defense turret? It still looks operational, one blast from that thing will disable Tazzik's ship before he can fly off."
Liara sighed and nodded, "Do it, I'm going in for a closer look."
Liara snuck down from the platform and quietly moved behind the crates near the mercs, she prepared herself for an attack, raising her barrier and powering up her biotics. Suddenly, the stacks of crates on her left exploded, sending Liara back a few feet, nearly knocking her out.
"He missed! Why that little..." Liara got up, but there was no time for thinking, Feron's failure worked as a great distraction. While all the mercs were preoccupied blasting the turret, Liara jumped out from her cover, sending the two nearby mercs flying across the room.
Liara continued to blast every merc in her sight with biotics, it wasn't too long before Tazzik decided to end this fight. He pulled out his grenade launched and shot a shell towards Liara and the mercs she was fighting. Before Liara could react she was tackled by Feron, knocking her down, away from the blast.
Liara staggered to her feet, and as she got up she watched with horror, as Tazzik's ship took off with Shepard on it.
"Shepard!" Liara cried out in desperation. She was so close to her goal and now it was ruined because of one person. She turned around furious, "You!"
Feron was still on the floor from the blast earlier, "Liara, no!" he yelled out as he saw the asari with the full power of her biotics approach him.
"How could you! How could you do this! Tazzik got away because of you! You're still working for the broker, aren't you!"
"I never stopped working for him, as far as he knows" Feron covered his face with his arm, preparing for a blast, "But I didn't do that on purpose I swear it!" Liara stopped, waiting for him to continue, "My ship is nearby, now you can blast me, or we can follow Tazzik before he gets away!"
Liara's powered down her biotics, "You better be right this time Feron, this is your last chance."
Several minutes later the two boarded Feron's ship and left Omega, trailing Tazzik's ship to the nearby mass relay.
"Ok, my scanners pick up Tazzik's ship leaving through Omega 2 relay." said Feron, setting a course to the relay.
"That relay can lead anywhere Feron, how do you know where he's going to go?" Liara quipped.
"The shadow broker has only one base through that mass relay, Liara. It's on Alingon, we shouldn't have any problem tailing Tazzik. You can't ask for more than that."
"Another chair would be nice." said Liara, standing behind Feron's acceleration chair. She looked around her, various pieces of gear, hard suits, weaponry and ammunition were scattered all around the ship, it was a mess. "Do you live in this ship?"
"Hey, I'm a solo act here... usually. The old plain dealer has made me a wealthy man."
Liara smiled, "Just not wealthy enough to afford another chair."
Feron chuckled, "Well, some deals go wrong." a signal came up on the holographic interface of the ship. "We're coming up to the relay... you'd better hold onto something. I could offer you to sit on my lap, but I don't want to get punched again." Feron laughed as the ship hit the relay's accelerator.
Liara stumbled back and nearly fell, but managed to grab on to the edge of Feron's chair. The trip was short, the ship decelerated almost as suddenly as it took off, "Welcome to the Faryar system. Alingon is pretty close, you are lucky to be with somebody who knows his way around..."
A sudden shock of impact interrupted Feron as the ship shook violently. "What was that? Did we hit something or somebody is firing at us?"
"Not just somebody, it's the shadow broker's sentries!" Feron replied, steering the ship sharply to the left to take evasive action.
Liara raised an eyebrow, "This is just like the Blue Suns on Omega. Does the broker attack everyone who works for him?"
"The broker doesn't like unannounced arrivals, Liara, regardless of who it is." said Feron, sending the ship into a curve.
"Aren't you going to shoot them?" Liara asked.
"I'd love to, but this isn't a fighter, it doesn't have any weapons." Feron paused for a second, then turned the ship sharply to the left again, "Hang on, I have an idea."
Liara looked through the ship's visor and saw a large asteroid field that they were quickly heading towards. "I hope your idea doesn't get us killed Feron."
"Don't worry!" Feron smiled, "Like I said, I know my way around!"
Liara tried to hold on to something as the ship dove into a narrow hole in one of the asteroids. Feron knew his ship and knew what he was flying through, unlike their pursuers. One by one Liara felt the shock waves from the explosions behind their ship until there were no hostiles left on the scanner.
Feron piloted the ship out of the asteroid field and flew it towards Alingon. They landed just outside the field of vision of the base. The two got suited up and left the ship towards the entrance to the base. As they approached the entrance, Feron stopped Liara and both hid behind the rocky ledge.
"How are we going to get in, the entrance is guarded."
"I have an idea..." Feron smiled, and turned towards Liara.
"What? Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Liara frowned.
"I know these two guards, they aren't the smartest bunch, this will work, trust me."
"That is exactly what I am afraid of." Liara rolled her eyes, "What do I do?"
"Pretend to be a hostage." Feron smiled putting his handcuffs on Liara. He took out his gun, helped Liara get up and the two started walking towards the entrance, with Feron holding Liara at gunpoint. As they were about to reach the guards, Feron whispered Liara, "I'll do all the talking, you stay quiet."
As the two approached two armed turian guards Feron spoke up, "Morning gentlemen, I've got a delivery." Feron poked Liara with his gun, making her grunt and giving Feron an angry look. "Someone the broker wants to see."
One of the guards spoke up, "Hey, Feron, good to see you." He lowered his gun and pulled out a data pad, "Hmm, you're not on our list for today."
Feron smiled, "Your list, no. And since when does the broker tell you everything that's on his list?"
The other guard also took out his data pad and looked at it, "No, but we're supposed to know everyone who's coming. The list..."
Feron interrupted, "The list. The list! If your list was his list, you'd be the broker, are you the broker Delwian?"
The guards looked at Feron with a smile, "No, of course not, but..." the guard tried to argue, but Feron was on a roll.
"Didn't think so. How about you, Joppa? Are you the broker?" he said smiling looking at the other guard.
The guard chuckled, "Naw. What business are you running today, Feron?"
Feron walked up and nudged the guard, still smiling, "Well, it obviously involves shapely asari escorts, maybe I can find one for you on my next run, eh?"
Both guards laughed, stepping aside and letting them pass. As Feron passed he waved to the guards, "It was good seeing you guys."
As the doors closed Liara spoke up, "You are a con artist Feron." she smiled, "Shapely asari huh?"
Feron smiled raising one of his hands in front of him, "I meant no disrespect Liara, it was all part of the act." he walked up and released Liara's arms.
Liara chuckled, "Don't worry, I'll take it as a compliment." she looked around, they walked through several corridors and passed multiple rooms, but met almost nobody. "I think the broker takes this shadow thing a little too seriously. Where are all the people?"
Feron replied, "This place is only used for special business the broker needs to conduct." The two entered another room, when they spotted one of broker's agents leading a guest. Feron stopped, "Look! That's..."
"A collector!" Liara gasped, emotions stirring in her, she powered up her biotics, but Feron grabbed her before she could rush after the collector. "Let me go! This is our chance!"
"Wait Liara! I know where they're headed. It'll take them a while to reach the landing bay. We need to find out more about why they're doing the deal first." said Feron still holding Liara down.
Liara sighed and powered down her biotics, "Did you see that... that thing? How could the shadow broker deal with them? How could anyone?"
Feron nodded, "I always trusted the shadow broker before, he seemed neutral in all things, but this..." they started walking down another corridor, "I don't understand, maybe it's why I'm helping you. I want to know more, and if there's one thing I've learned as an information trader, it's that if you need to know something..." they reached the door, Feron punched in the code and it opened, "You go to the source."
A large roomed opened up in front of them, there was a conference table in the middle of it, and a person was sitting at the end of it, it was hard to tell what race he was, as his figure was covered in shadows. The figure spoke, "Reporting for work, Feron? People only come to see the shadow broker when called, trader. I didn't call."
The two walked into the room, Liara spoke, "Is he serious?"
Feron replied, "This is how he addresses everyone who comes here. I've never been this close before."
The figure spoke again, sounding noticeably irritated, "I'm waiting for an answer Feron. Since when do you think you can come here uninvited?"
Liara has enough of this, "Since you started working for the collectors, broker. Is that simple enough for you?"
"Interesting. I see that sending the Blue Suns after you both was a wise precaution. You're a businessman Feron, you should understand that when I say their offer was too good to pass up."
Liara started walking towards the figure, "I don't understand! I don't understand anyone selling my friend's remains! What could they have offered you that would be worth doing that?"
Feron quickly caught up to Liara, "Liara wait, I know you don't trust me, but give me a minute with these systems." he pointed at the nearby terminals, "They handle everything. I can find out everything the broker ordered here. With the collectors and Shepard!" Liara nodded.
Meanwhile, the figure took attention to Liara, "The compensation is my business doctor T'Soni, but it was significant enough. I know who you are and what you want, asari. I have nothing personal against Shepard, or anyone associated with him. It was just sound business."
Liara reached the table looking directly at the figure, "You don't know what you're dealing with. Shepard died looking for evidence of the Reapers, the ones who attacked the Citadel!" Her biotics began to flare, "Did you ever consider the collectors' interest might be related to that? What would possibly be worth that risk?"
The figure seemed unimpressed however, "You make too much of this Liara. It's a corpse. What could they possibly gain from it?"
Liara have had enough, "If they're looking for a corpse, I might find an alternative for them!" She approached the figure, however it turned out to be a manikin, with a built in microphone. "You're not here. Where are you?"
The manikin replied, "Where I need to be. The deal is done, Liara. Tazzik is about to make the exchange, product for payment. Right now, the only people who aren't where they need to be are you two. This room connects me to my permanent staff on Alingon. As soon as I give the word, they will come. If you're working for someone else, they will get it out of you. It is not my usual way to gain information, but it is effective." Liara could barely contain herself, biotic energies flowing wildly around her body.
Finally Feron yelled across the room, "Liara, I've got it!" quickly taking cover afterwards, and not a moment too soon.
Liara unleashed her full biotic potential on the whole room, blasting every single piece of equipment she could find, crushing it with gravity and pulverizing it with kinetic force. After several seconds it was over, and the room was completely destroyed beyond repair.
Liara let out a large sigh, "That felt good."
Feron walked up to Liara, "He won't be ordering anyone from this room anymore. And I downloaded a lot about the broker's dealing."
"Yes, but we've lost Shepard. The broker said it was a done deal. The collectors have the body." Liara frowned.
Feron smiled, "Not yet. Before the display shut down, it said they've just arrived, at the north portal."
Liara was overwhelmed by the news, "Then what are we waiting for? Lets go!"
Liara started walking out of the room, but Feron held her by her arm, "We will. But first, while we still have the chance, I'd better tell you who I'm really working for." he paused, "I work for Cerberus."
"What?" Liara's eyes widened.
Just as Feron finished telling that to Liara, armed guards broke through the door, but Liara was not in the mood to fool around. She and Feron quickly dispatched the guards, including the two turian guards they met at the entrance.
As the rest of the guards fell, Liara and Feron started to head towards the north portal, "Feeling better, Liara?"
Liara looked at Feron angrily, "Not in the slightest."
Feron smiled, "It wasn't a bad lie... as my lies go anyway."
But Liara was in no mood for jokes, "Spare me. You're a double, no, a triple agent?"
"I am just Feron, and yes, I work for Cerberus too. I can explain."
"Well explain then!" Liara said, starting to move down one of the corridors.
"It wasn't always like this for me. I worked for myself until the shadow broker came along. Or rather until his people contacted me. It was just small jobs, at first. Information gathering, surveillance, the broker needed someone with my connections and I needed someone with his bank account. Say what you want about the broker but he pats his people well." The two turned a corner down another corridor, "Cerberus learned I was working for the broker and tried to recruit me a few times to turn on him, figuring that I was a highest-bidder kind of trader. But that's not me at all, If I take a job for a customer, I finish it. Whatever it is." Feron paused, "Liara, I never once screwed over a client or cared what they were really up to, until the collectors appeared. I was ready to walk, when I learned they were interested in Shepard's remains. That was beyond perverse, I had to stop it. I couldn't do it alone, however, and there was only one alternative, Cerberus. For a pro-human group to approach me for help, they had to be as concerned about the collectors as I was. Through Miranda I got to the Illusive man and we came up with a plan for me to grab Shepard's body. But the broker started getting suspicious of me, he began to cut me out of information, I had to find another way in." Feron stopped and looked at Liara, "And that only way, was you. When my contact told me that you were coming to Omega to look for Shepard, I knew you would be my ticket inside. So I volunteered to distract you for the broker while the deal was going down."
"I don't guess it worked, if he sent those mercenaries after me anyway. Didn't he think he could trust you?" Liara asked.
"Well, he really couldn't trust me, could he? And neither could you. My original plan was just to lead you away and then find Shepard myself. I guess the Illusive man decided we would be better as a team. But I wasn't supposed to tell you who I really worked for." Feron sighed, "You were right Liara, I let Tazzik get away on purpose, so I could get here and confirm the deal was with the collectors and I wanted one last chance to download whatever I could about his dealings. After this, I am probably done for as an info trader, the broker will make sure of it." Feron pulled out his data disk, "But I am sorry that you couldn't trust me, maybe this will change things. Get this back to Cerberus, whatever happens."
Feron started walking again, with Liara quickly catching up to him, "Feron, I know it may be a strange concept for your line of work, but nobody ever said an information trader just had to work for money. I am still unsure if I can trust you or not, but you've helped me get this close. Words aren't the only things that speak the truth." Feron nodded.
The two stopped in front of the door, "This is it, then. Whatever happens, you get Shepard's body and that data out of here."
Liara nodded, "Don't worry, Feron, we will." she smiled. The two quietly entered the hangar, hiding behind some crates, Feron looked out of the cover, taking a look at all of the participants of the deal. Tazzik, the collector and several other mercenaries were standing there. Feron ducked back, thinking for a moment, "I think I still have one last play left in me." he said getting up.
"Wait, what are you..." Liara asked puzzled.
"Remember the data and the body, that's all that matters." Feron left his firearm to Liara and headed towards Tazzik.
Liara couldn't believe Feron would pull a stunt like that, he reminded her a bit of Shepard. She snuck a little closer, overhearing parts of the argument going on near the ship. It seems Feron's ruse worked, the collector and Tazzik were at a disagreement, the mercenaries started to move Shepard's stasis pod back into his ship. Liara prepared herself for attack, and just as she was ready, she got her opportunity. The collector said something that caught Tazzik's attention, he and the mercenaries turned to face Feron, pointing their weapons at him.
"Liara, now!" Feron yelled out, he didn't have to repeat himself, Liara's sneak attack with biotics has sent all of the mercenaries, Tazzik included, flying away, knocking several of them out. Tazzik quickly got up aiming his pistol at Liara, but was tackled by Feron. Liara was now face to face with a collector, she did not hold back, gunning it down. Liara pushed Shepard's stasis pod into the cargo bay of Tazzik's ship and turned around, "Feron, come on! We got to go!" she yelled out, but Feron could not follow her, Tazzik overpowered him and was now mercilessly beating him.
"Liara, go! Save Shepard!" he cried out.
"Feron!" Liara wanted to go back but then she saw the mercenaries waking up, the wounded collector crawled into the cargo bay of the ship. A few more pistol rounds have stopped its movements, Liara had no choice, she used the cargo bay terminal for remote launch of the ship. Liara ran into the cockpit and sat down taking over the control of the ship. She flew out of the rapidly closing bays of the north portal and took off, flying the ship out of the planet's orbit and towards the mass relay.
As the ship was flying away, Liara pulled out Feron's data disk and held it in front of her, "We did it, Feron, you did it." Liara drove the ship into the mass relay, sending it through, she engaged the autopilot, there was still some time before she arrived to the system specified by Cerberus. She walked down back into the cargo bay, she stopped in front of the stasis pod, the metal coffin that contained her bond mate, the love of her life, Shepard. Liara's feelings were to much to hold back, and she didn't try to hold back. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she mourned the death of Shepard, one of the galaxy's greatest heroes.
Liara arrived at the Cerberus facility. As soon as she landed, she was escorted to the waiting room, a few minutes later she was met by Miranda.
"You did well, Liara. We were right to put our faith in you, Shepard obviously made some very good friends. I just wish I had better news for you." the two stopped in front of a glass window overlooking an operating room, where several human doctors were working over Shepard's body. "We may not be able to restore Shepard after all. The body is in worse shape than we expected. The stasis pod had some preservation systems in it, but they were hardly optimal."
Liara didn't take the news hard, in fact, she expected an answer like this, "Then I don't see the point Miranda. Maybe I don't know what human traditions are, but I really think you should let the dead rest. Shepard deserves at least that much, and this isn't what I brought him for. This is almost like..."
Miranda interrupted, "Like something the collectors would have done? We don't know what they would have done, Liara, thought hopefully the information you brought back may suggest something. And it might not be as bad as you think. The Illusive man is more hopeful about Shepard's prospects. We're willing to spend everything we're got but it will still take a very long time if it works at all. I wouldn't sit around waiting here if I were you."
"Is Illusive man going to do anything about Feron?"
"He knew the risks when he offered to help, we won't be going after him. If that is something you are willing to do, then that's your business, but I think you should focus on something that you want to do."
Liara nodded, and left towards the hangar, Cerberus was kind enough to give her a ship to use. As Liara was flying towards the mass relay she stopped the ship. She had to decide what she will do next. She knew she wanted to rescue Feron, but that question was how? Shadow broker is impossible to find, or at least everyone thinks he is. She just needs information. Liara reached into her pocket and pulled out her backup disk, it contained a copy of the files that Feron took from the broker as well as a list of all of Feron's contacts. "Everybody needs information, who says the shadow broker is the only one who can provide it?" An information broker, that would be her goal, to find out where the shadow broker is hiding. She needed a place to start, however. Liara opened the list of contacts and sorted them out by location, the vast majority of them were settled on Illium. "Illium huh? I've always wanted to visit that asari colony." It was settled then, Liara punched in the coordinates in her navigational computer and headed for a mass relay. The broker has made a great enemy and Liara won't rest until she brings her friend back and makes the broker pay for everything he has done.