Chapter 1: Chosen
Summary:
Luke Shepard is sent to Eden Prime, where the adventure begins.
Chapter Text
On a regular day, the Greenwich was the sort of place which could always put a smile on an officer's face. If the food, service, or music didn't, even the most seasoned officers of the Alliance would struggle to hold back a grin at the sight of marines cheering or graduates celebrating on the Citadel. The Greenwich was the go-to restaurant for Alliance members serving on the Citadel, if one could reach the Presidium that is. For once, however, Captain Hannah Shepard found herself struggling to be as joyous as the rowdy engineers sitting two tables over, or the medics celebrating their graduation, or any of the humans throughout the venue for that matter. Technically, she had just been given good news, but what kind of a mother would she be if she didn't worry? Anderson leaned back in his chair waiting for a response. She felt irritated despite herself. What was there to say? She didn't like it.
"I can't say I'm surprised," Hannah shook her head and sighed, "we've known since Elysium he would only climb higher."
"He reminds me a lot of you, you know."
"That's the problem," she grumbled. She reached forwards and poured more liquor from her flask into her mug. It was going to be one of those days.
Humanity really had come a long way in such a brief period of time. To have one of their own considered for Spectre membership so soon? It was unheard of. And of course her son was at the top of the list. Could Luke possibly have become a candidate for a more dangerous posting?
"Hannah, the top brass has already made up their mind. He's been the poster boy of the Alliance for years. Luke's the best man for the job."
"I'd never try to stop him. I don't even think I could. Moments like this just make me a little emotional, David," she ran a thumb along the rim of her drink. "I don't want him to end up like his father."
Anderson scoffed goodnaturedly. "The boy's been under my wing since the academy. He's easily one of the best soldiers I've ever seen. It would take a nuclear weapon to take him out. And even then I'm sure he'd survive on stubborness alone."
"I wish Lara could've been as lucky…"
Her friend pursed his lips, growing somber. He waited a moment before continuing. "You know," he leant forwards again, "Lara was a candidate for spectreship as well. She's come a long way as well"
"Have you heard much about her?" she tried not to let the hopefulness seep into her voice. It was nearly seven years since the incident and everytime she allowed herself to hope she was crushed.
"It's all confidential, only a few of the reports are available to me." Anderson paused before clicking his tongue. "She's still working as Meyer's XO"
The mention of that repugnant Captain's name immediately dampened her mood further. Hannah detested the man; he climbed the chain of command on a platform of efficiency and brutality. He was an insult to the Alliance and a stain on their reputation. The worst part was now that he had been injured in combat, the bastard had taken to putting together a crew which could do what he couldn't do in person any longer. He snatched up Lara immediately after the Massacre of Torfan and took some perverse joy in parading the 'Butcher of Torfan around the galaxy.
"That scumbag should be nowhere near my daughter. What happened on Torfan was not her fault!" she slammed her fist on the table, earning a few looks. Hannah didn't care and continued in her anget. "He's a sick man who's been tw-"
"I know," Anderson interjected, looking nervously around the room. She huffed and leant back into her seat, deflating. "Lara's not a bad girl," he went on, lowering his voice. "We'll figure something out, I just need more time. Meyer has a lot of pull with the brass so I can't just have her transferred. Hackett has promised to investigate it when he has the time, but he's a busy man and it's a complicated situation."
She did her best not to growl. "Thank you," she stated genuinely. "It means a lot to me David."
"Hannah, everything is going to be ok. Luke is an incredible marine," he chuckled. "You should be more worried for my life than his. Just last week he took out a ship of pirates without even firing a shot. He got one of his squad to hack-"
She pinched her brow and stood up suddenly, prompting him to stop. "I'm terribly sorry David but I think I just need to focus on something else for a while to take my mind off my children. Please excuse me."
Anderson was as courteous as ever and let her go, shaking her hand with a promise to continue doing his best to protect her kids. She exited the restaurant with a sigh and hailed a cab. It felt like the twins couldn't be protected anymore. Her omni-tool buzzed. Grateful for the distraction, she put the call through.
Staff Commander Luke Shepard finished clipping his pistol into his holster with a fair amount of satisfaction. After he and his team managed to halt a Blood Pack raid on the edge of the traverse Luke had finally been promoted from Lieutenant Commander. He didn't like to think that he had that much of an ego - no more than any marine at least - but damn if it didn't feel good to earn his second bars. And it perfectly cooincided with the news that Anderson was being upgraded to a new vessel. The Normandy was one hell of a ship. As much as Joker rattled on about the uncomfortable pilot seat, Luke couldn't complain at all.
For a marine like Luke, a ship this advanced felt like luxury. As far as postings go one couldn't ask for more than this. Luke sat in the mess-hall with the rest of his ground team drinking coffee. For the past five years his squad of marines had pulled off some of the greatest operations ever to be broadcasted on the extranet. At least that's what Butch and Jenkins claimed.
Butch was a fellow soldier through and through, just like Luke. No biotics, no fancy tech, simply good old-fashioned guns and bombs. Shepard met the Australian in the academy and they instantly connected. They were assigned to Anderson together upon graduation, which would prove to be one of the Alliance's greatest decisions (according to them, at least). All though she was a bit of a jokester Luke would have no-one else by his side when bullets started flying. Elysium was proof enough of their value as a team – though the media painted Shepard as the hero, he could not have accomplished what he did without Butch. Alenko and Smith joined the Normandy two years ago and made themselves invaluable almost immediately. Alenko's biotics had saved lives many a time and Smith's tech abilities were responsible for plenty of the team's successes. Past their combat abilities, Shepard found the two marines fairly introverted. Alenko was not shy but he was more than happy to let others do the talking. Smith was socially awkward, though Butch had spent the last two years helping him come out of his shell. Jenkins was the most recent addition to the team, being fresh out of the academy, and was certainly the most eager member. Shepard hoped that Jenkins' first mission would make him more mature. He had a greenness to him that made Luke nervous. Sure, they were all rookies at some point, but that just meant Luke knew all too wall wha tto expect.
Moving into the mess hall he barked a laugh as he took in the sight of Butch suspended in the air by Alenko, shouting loud enough that even Anderson could probably hear from the floor above. Anderson's voice cut through the intercom, interrupting the marines' break. The captain gave orders to prepare for departure on a confidential mission.
"You hear that commander?" Jenkins practically leaped out of his seat, "We're gonna get to see some action!"
"Calm down Jenkins," Luke intoned carefully. "Don't get too excited. Never casually leap into a firefight."
"I wonder where we're going," Alenko wondered calmly as he stretched in a not-so-subtle attempt to see if Luke knew anything else about the mission.
He shrugged. "We'll know soon enough. For now I want everyone helping the rest of the crew finalise departure preparations. Alenko, go help Joker. The rest of you, with me to the docking bay."
The Normandy shook as it hit the Arcturus relay. It was only a matter of time until they arrived at Eden Prime, though the destination confused Shepard. Eden Prime was a golden world, what sort of mission could require a squad of marines and the most advanced frigate in the Alliance? No one would dare attack the colony lest they incur the wrath of the Systems Alliance. Luke paused and mentally corrected himself.
That's what they said about Elysium too
A ping on his private terminal informed him that the captain wanted Shepard to join him in the briefing room. The marine weaved his way through the busy second deck, being joined by Butch as he approached the stairs. "Luke, we've got a Turian on board. I saw him with the captain."
"A Turian?" he furrowed his brow. "That explains the dextro food we just brought on board."
"You know what this means, right?" she gave him a side-eye.
"Spectre." They'd met two or three specters in the past. Neither marine was fond of them.
Butch exhaled irritably. "Who knows why he's here. A Turian Spectre hitch-hiking an advanced warship on a secret mission to Eden Prime. Sounds like the set-up to a bad joke," she drawled.
"I'd better not keep the captain waiting then. I'll fill you in after," they exchanged nods as she broke off from him.
Entering the briefing room, Shepard found the Turian Butch had mentioned standing confidently as he examined readings off the main display. The captain was nowhere to be seen. He barely managed to keep himself from muttering his annoyance. He didn't like this.
"Commander Shepard," he spoke without looking up. It was creepy. "I was hoping you would get here first," he stated, though Luke very much got the sense that it was less 'hope' and more carefuly planning. "It will give us a chance to talk."
"Talk about Spectre business?"
The Turian's mandibles fluttered momentarily, but Shepard couldn't make much of it. He hadn't spent enough time interacting with members of the other species to discern their mannerisms and reactions. "I thought the Captain and I were waiting until this meeting to tell you."
"A Turian aboard an Alliance vessel? It wasn't hard to figure out," he refrained from scoffing. He almost felt insulted. "You know who I am, so who are you?"
After another unnecessary moment of pause, the Turian turned his gaze back to his readings. "My name is Nihlus. As you have alerady deduced, I am a Spectre. As for why I'm here, well, we had better wait for your Captain. Until then I am curious about this 'Eden Prime'," he brought up a hologram of the planet. "I've heard it's quite beautiful."
Something about the Turian felt off, as if he was testing Shepard or probing him for information. "I've never been," he replied neutrally.
"But you know of it," Nihlus corrected. "It's a symbol for you humans, a symbol of your potential, no?"
Before he could answer the door slid open as Captain Anderson marched into the room. "I think it's time we told the commander what's really going on."
Thanking the lord that they could finally skip this frustrating song and dance, he shifted his gaze to Nihlus. "This is far more than a shake-down run, Shepard," he gave nothing away.
And then Anderson started talking.
Everything thus far had failed to take Luke by surprise. He had deduced that this mission would be different all ready. The stealth drives were in full effect, there was a spectre, and the drop zone was on Earth's greatest colony. What did take Shepard by surprise was the truth behind the mission. A Prothean beacon? The last time humanity made a discover this big it jumped its technology forwards hundreds of years. Now he understood why they were sending the Normandy there - if this got out... it could very well be enough to see another Elysium. Yet, as huge as this was, Anderson wasn't done.
"Nihlus isn't just here for the beacon, Shepard," he continued gravely.
"Indeed," the Turian purred. "I'm also here to evaluate you."
"Me?" That was… unexpected.
"Commander," the Spectre continued, "You are our candidate to become the first human Spectre. I'm sure you understand the gravity of the situation?"
"This is a huge step for humanity. It shows just how far we've come. You're the best of the best, we-"
"Captain!" Pressley interrupted, bursting into the room, "We've got a problem! Transmission from Eden Prime, you've got to see this."
What flickered onto the screen could only be described as pure carnage. A panicky comms officer pleaded for assistance as men and women around him dropped to the floor. An explosion rocked the camera and sent the comms officer flying. Another soldier picked it up and started running, momentarily pausing to point the camera at a gigantic structure entering the atmosphere. For a moment, everything fell silent. Shepard held his gaze to the mechanical behemoth on the screen and scowled. He had a deep, gut feeling of dread – this was the start of something truly horrible. Batarians, spice smugglers, psychopaths, Luke was no stranger to atrocity and violence. But this? This was different. He didn't need any evidence to prove it. Shepard could just tell.
Chapter 2: Eden
Summary:
A simple mission goes wrong, kick-starting a chain of events that will have consequences for centuries to come.
Chapter Text
'Paradise'. That's what they called Eden Prime. 'The Next Earth'. 'Humanity's Second Home'. A land so beautiful that over thirty percent of it's land was designated as government protected natural sanctuaries. Five pairs of heavy-duty boots silently traversed through the edge of a forest. There was enough natural cover to allow for movement without being restricted. Salvation was the name of the city currently under siege. Sixth largest city on the planet. Fourth richest. Just like Elysium, this once-peaceful city burned. This time, however, Luke was nowhere near colony itself. Flames in the distance distorted the atmosphere ever so slightly, the only evidence of war thus far. Shepard wished there was more they could do, but he understood the bigger picture. Thank god he wasn't the one who had to make those tough choices on such a grand level. He was just a marine, all he had to do was follow orders.
Nature forced the marines to a chokepoint on top of a cliff. Cover dwindled rapidly and it was clear that if there was ever a point an ambush would happen, it would be here. A hand signal brings the group to a halt. Even now, it was eerily quiet, too quiet for Shepard's liking.
"Alenko, with me. Us two cross first and clear the area. The rest follow when it's safe."
A chorus of grunts acknowledge him. With a quick hand signal Shepard and Alenko bolted for the trees just past the clearance. As they departed the protection of their cover, Alenko began to emit a purple glow as he forged a barrier around himself. Safely reaching their destination, Shepard swiftly made sure his immediate vicinity was clear of any hostiles. Another hand signal had Butch lead the rest of the squad in a mad dash to join them. As Jenkins passed the halfway mark, however, the shield generators in his armour overloaded and he paused, yelling in pain. Three drones of unknown alignment flew past the trees and proceeded to riddle the marine with bullets.
"Hostiles!"
The surprise foes were met with gunfire by Butch and Shepard. The two marines defeated the metal killers with ease - drones of this size were common during training. Alenko began to run at Jenkins, but was stopped by Shepard.
"Commander, he may still be alive! We need to-"
"Get a hold of yourself Alenko, he's not showing any life readings on my omni-tool. We go out in the open again and we'll be torn to shreds. We'll make sure Jenkins has a hero's funeral, but we can't do anything."
Kaiden nodded, not taken his eyes of his friend's body. "Yeah, yeah alright," he allowed.
"Squad, on me!" Luke ordered, raising his rifle and turning back to the path ahead. They were upset, but they were marines with a mission. Locate the beacon, secure the beacon, and eliminate every one of the bastards who got in their way. When the sounds of combat forced everyone's minds back into focus, they all shifted their weapons towards the edge of the forest. There was fighting just through the woods. They moved forwards once more after Luke nodded. There'd be time to grieve later.
Bang
One robot down. Who knew how many were left.
Eden Prime was not a place where squads were wiped out; it was a remote planet where careers were sent to wither and die. Nirali, like Pennyloafer, did not deserve to die. Or Able. Or Charlie. The damn bots were everywhere, killing anyone they could find. It was a bloodbath. Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams wondered if this was how it was on Elysium before the cavalry arrived — a seemingly hopeless scenario with no clear way out. A bullet to the hip sent her into a spin towards the ground. Ashley took the opportunity to fire a shot at her pursuers, smiling as another Geth fell to the ground before she took off again. Her battered shields were still holding up, but each hit was wearing them down.
There was no way to actually confirm if they were Geth – she doubted if the Quarians themselves remembered what they looked like – but she couldn't think of any other explanation for the thousands of advanced robots destroying the city. She didn't care if she was right or wrong, she just needed to put a name to her would-be killers. For two years Ashley had wished for there to be even the most miniscule amount of action. Literally anything which would let her prove herself as an asset to the Alliance. Well here it was, the fight she had always wanted, and boy was it terrible. Her whole squad was dead and the city was being wiped of all life. What the hell was she supposed to do? She was just one marine for God's sake.
Another bullet flew into her back, knocking her off balance and finally taking out her shields. She tumbled over an exposed root and fell to the floor. Her pistol slipped from her grasp and out of reach.
"Damn it."
Her pursuers cautiously approached her with their weapons raised. She took pride in the fact that she had done enough damage to make them nervous around her. Now that they were close enough Ashley could make out four Geth. Each had an assault rifle and would doubtlessly kill her once they realised she was utterly defenceless. She took a deep breath and prepared herself for a last stand.
"All right you metal-headed fuckers, come at me!"
Ashley yelled and dived for her gun, hoping to take out as many of the Geth as she could before they finally got her. The Geth raised their rifles and time seemed to slow. Her fingers wrapped around her pistol, but the sound of gunshots indicated she was too late. Perhaps purely out of stubbornness and desperation she refused to give up. Pistol in hand she spun back to her killers. Would-be killers. Dead killers? Instead, four marines stood over the destroyed robotic bodies of her squad's murderers. The tall, confidant soldier with the N7 designation stepped towards her, smirking slightly.
"Not bad," he reached out a hand. "Are you wounded?"
"G-gunnery Chief Ashley Williams, of the—" wheeze "—of the 212," she managed, standing up. "You the one in charge here, sir?"
"Commander Shepard of the Normandy. Are you injured?" he repeated.
Ashley shook her head. "Nothing serious, we've- I've been on the run for hours," she corrected herself. "You're the first friendly I've seen since-…"
"Stay with me Williams," the commander gently pushed her. "I need to know what we're up against. We need to secure and evacuate the beacon before it can fall into enemy hands."
Breathing out forcefully, the gunnery chief succinctly reported the days events. How communications were cut and her squad couldn't get back in contact with headquarters. How by the time they circled back to base it was overrun by synthetics. How one by one her squad was picked off as they fled through the forest searching for reinforcements. She paused, considering whether to supply her speculations on the invaders. If this commander was anything like the rest he'd just shoot it down. Hell, he had probably already connected her name to her grandfather. Over the last few years Ashley had learnt to keep her mouth shut and do exactly as she was told. Any innovation was reprimanded, any deviation was punished. Why would this marine be any different? Yet, even so, thusfar he'd been nothing kind to her - any other officer would have chewed her out by now for her failures and inability to pull herself together. At this point her career was probably doomed anyway. Straightening her back, she spoke up.
"I think they're Geth, sir."
"Geth?" Shepard repeated.
Damnit, she chastised herself. She could feel the disbelief radiate off him. The commander turned and pulled another marine – the lieutenant – into the conversation. Ashley held her breath and straightened her back as she braced for the inevitable ridicule. "Yessir, Geth," she stated resolutely.
"That checks out," the lieutenant concurred, "it's not likely but there's no other explanation for it. Who else has this level of technology?"
"I agree. Williams, we could use your help. Are you able to join us?"
For a moment she didn't reply. But Ashley ws not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. She saluted, forcing her tiredness to leave her.
So this is why we haven't seen any bodies. That's… messed up…
Alenko was a seasoned marine but even he found himself feeling queasy at the sight ahead of him. The Geth were truly sadistic. At the main research facility, just past the abandoned dig site, what could be close to a hundred bodies were impaled on enormous metal spikes. Marines, scientists, and civilians all faced the sky like a biological sunflower field. The Geth took no prisoners, only… Alenko couldn't figure out what the purpose of the massacre in front of him was. If the Geth were just going to kill everyone, why mount them on these structures?
Something wasn't right.
Shepard signaled everyone to slow down, likely following a similar thought process. Perhaps it was a trap; a method to lure in straggling survivors by taking advantage of organic compassion. Everyone was on edge, not willing to take any risks. Smith, still visibly shaken up by Jenkins death and the synthetic interlopers, by far seemed the most anxious. The kid jumped when Alenko placed a hand on his shoulder reassuringly. Even Williams seemed to be keeping it together better and she'd been fighting and running for several hours already.
Shepard stopped. Everyone followed. The commander seemed to pick up on something – his hunches had never been wrong before. The marines stood ready as if daring the Geth to make the first move.
And then it happened.
Several of the spiked rapidly rescinded. Released, the corpses began to reanimate, shrieking as electricity bounced between glowing blue electronic abnormalities protruding from their bodies. These monsters were no longer human. They were husks of their former selves, grotesque mechanical zombies which radiated total hostility. The creatures took a few moments to adjust to their limited sentience, screaming and convulsing. One by one the husks calmed down and turned to face the marines. Alenko counted roughly thirty pairs of blue eyes fixated on them.
"Commander?"
"Yes Williams?"
"Permission to open fire?"
"Granted."
The husks charged, sparking ferociously in their stampede. Concentrated firepower wiped out the monsters unlucky enough to be closest to them, but they just kept coming. They ignored the fallen and sprinted at the marines without any regards for tactics. Alenko fired a warp at the closest enemy, collapsing its chest and rendering it utterly inert. At risk of being overrun Shepard ordered them to fall back. The beasts weren't particularly complex, and as long as everyone remained calm their opponents' numerical advantage would continue to dwindle. Much to Alenko's horror, however, he could only watch anxiously as Smith panicked and fell over. His best friend was overwhelmed by the husks who mercilessly assaulted him, seemingly ignoring the rest of the group. Some husks violently discharged electricity in a burst which wiped out the corporal's shields. Although Shepard did his best to direct a counterattack, there was nothing that could be done. The husks were too aggressive. The mangled shrieks of their malformed attackers overwhelmed the dying screams of their fallen comrade. Alenko didn't need to hear Smith to know he was gone; it would be absolutely impossible for him to survive.
"Still no luck, Captain."
"Keep trying. We cannot afford to botch this operation."
"Yes, sir!"
Cutting off the intercom, Anderson returned his attention to the monitors in front of him. If anyone could restore surface to orbit communications, he mused, it would be Adams' team. Eden Prime was a disaster. From the Normandy's readings it appeared that Salvation was under some sort of siege. Scrambling meant no-one could tell who the invaders were or how many of them were involved. What they could tell was that the city had been severely damaged – the smoke was visible from atmosphere.
The real kicker was that he wasn't able to do anything to help. The Normandy was unable to contact Nihlus and Shepard, meaning they were handling their missions completely independently. Though he had no doubt in either of their abilities the captain knew he could have provided them with meaningful assistance. His job was to coordinate the entire mission, how could he do that when the only people he could talk with were those on the Normandy? A dot on a map indicating Nihlus's location constituted the only usable information he had. The rest of Eden Prime also seemed to be affected by this communications scrambling. Thus, Anderson wasn't able to coordinate any response with Eden Prime's remaining military forces. Nearly two hours of comms silence was beginning to get to him.
"Sir! We have a connection from the ground! It's Shepard's team!"
"Patch it through, now Pressley!"
Anderson all but sprinted towards the comms station, desperate for any sense of awareness about the situation. Shepard's voice greeted him, accompanied by a cacophony of gunfire and explosives.
"Captain? It's Shepard. We've temporarily occupied and disabled a Geth jamming tower, but we will not be able to hold this position. Has Nihlus reported in? We need to know the beacon's location."
"Did you say Geth?"
"Yes, sir, there is a significant synthetic presence on-planet. We- cover that flank lieutenant! We need coordinates for the beacon!"
"Nihlus is at the spaceport. The enemy must be moving to evacuate the beacon. Can you intercept?"
"We're on our way. Shepard out."
The transmission cut out just as abruptly as it begun. It wasn't much, but it was something. Anderson immediately gave orders for all information on the Geth to be sent to his terminal as soon as possible. The brass would want a full report on the situation the moment he stepped back into communications range and Anderson would be damned if he wasn't prepared for any question they threw at him.
"Look at the map, something's wrong!"
Anderson followed Pressley's pointing to the spaceport. Nihlus's marker was gone.
Chapter 3: Dawn
Summary:
The mission on Eden Prime wraps to a close, but no one is happy about it
Chapter Text
Alenko was a seasoned marine. He had lost many friends to pirates, accidents, and lunatics. Smith's death was... different. He wasn't taken out by some zealous separatist or an overly ambitious band of mercenaries. He was slaughtered by a group of living, mutilated corpses. There was nothing glorious about his death – it was possibly the worst way Alenko had ever seen a marine go. If the Alliance were about to become embroiled in conflict with the sadistic AI, how long would it be until thousands more young soldiers met similarly gruesome deaths? Alenko's stomach churned at the thought. He ignored the growing pain in his head.
He forced himself to focus, pulled out of his depressed ruminations by Ashley. In front of them stood a terrified dockworker who trembled as the pissed off gunnery chief snapped at him. She jabbed her finger aggressively at him and Alenko could practically see the spit coming out of her mouth. While Butch merely watched with a subtle satisfaction, Kaiden decided to intervene. Though the smuggler's crimes were apprehensible the need for information dramatically outweighed the need to punish him. Alenko positioned himself between the two and calmly attempted to get Ashley to back off. Out of nowhere, Shepard made his way past the lot of them and pushed the dockworker against the wall. He appeared calm, but tense.
"Tell me everything you saw," he ordered. "Who killed Nihlus? Where is the beacon?"
"I- I- I- It was the other Turian!" the dockworker exclaimed. "S-Saren, that's what the dead g-guy told him. He left him t-to go to the other platform. That's where t-the beacon is."
"Will that tram take us there?" Luke pointed.
The man nodded frantically. "Y-yes! I swear I didn't want to-"
Alenko nearly jumped in shock as the commander decked the dockworker in one punch. He could make out Ashley smirking from the corner of his eye.
Butch clapped the commander on the shoulder. "We'll keep this part out of the report, yeah?"
Shepard nodded and ordered her to profile and restrain him for the inevitable arrival of authorities. Alenko watched the commander turn back one last time to stare at the unconscious body. The look he gave it was one of pure disgust. It sent shivers down Alenko's spine. What possibly could have driven Shepard to this sort of reaction? Something about this dockworker had to have touched a nerve; the wrong nerve. The commander had always seemed so restrained, this was very out of character. "Alenko," Shepard spoke up, seemingly having returned to normal. "Barrier up, take Williams and secure the tram entrance."
For what might be the thousanth time, Ashley was furious at how she had been treated by the Alliance. Sure, she was good, but she lacked combat experience since the brass never wanted to place her anywhere she might have to fire a gun. No amount of training or drills could truly prepare someone for the realities of war. It was what cost Ashley her team. It was what had her in this predicament. It would not be, however, the reason that the one commander who was giving her a chance would be blown up to bits by some Geth explosive. She crawled over to the last bomb, covered by Shepard and his team.
"All right Ash," she muttered to herself. "One more bomb to go. You can do this."
It was a stressful situation; here she was, in the midst of what would have to be the largest conflict since the Skyllian Blitz, disarming the single most dangerous explosive she had ever seen while Shepard – the literal Commander Shepard – personally held the defensive line in the face of a Geth onslaught. It wasn't until she was disarming the second bomb that she realised who her acting commander really was. If they survived this, Ashley had no doubts that this would be her greatest story. If they survived this. There was a rager large emphasis on the 'if'. The large foreign explosive in front of her threatened to cut her story short if she failed to identify and disconnect the central processing matrix. Geth devices were structured completely differently to their Citadel counterparts, leaving Ashley feeling entirely out of her depth. It certainly didn't help that each Geth explosive appeared to be uniquely arranged internally, and to top it all off she had absolutely zero understanding of Geth iconography.
"Don't you dare screw this up, Williams," she whispered angrily. "You will not screw this up."
"We're clear! No hostiles!"
Though the temporary absence of Geth was a cause for relief, Ashley barely even registered the words. She refused to allow the slightest distraction. This was the first real chance she had ever been given and she certainly did not intend to give it up. Shepard, Alenko, and Butch were depending on her. Perhaps if she could prove herself to the commander, he would be open to transferring her to the Normandy. Perhaps by the time Shepard knew who she was he would be willing to look past her background.
Such thoughts were immediately placed aside when she identified the central processing matrix. Tucked away behind a redundant processing array, the core control piece for the bomb displayed a series of Geth symbols. Ignoring the unreadable characters Ashley carefully layered the connecting wires with omni-gel. Having isolated the matrix, Ashley quickly swapped to her combat knife and began physically disconnecting it. As long as the omni-gel didn't completely set she would be able to safely disarm the bomb.
With a satisfying click the matrix snapped off and the explosive powered down. She slumped against the ground. "Fuck..." Ashley panted, chuckling. And then it hit her that she was still on a mission. "Uh-" she stood up quickly, glancing between the others. Butch winked at her, clearly amused, but Shepard and Alenko were too preoccupied studying something on their omni-tools. She took a breath and sighed in relief. Gathering herself once more, she forced herself up to join them.
The commander nodded at her as she approache.d "Butch, Alenko, clear the area while I contact the captain for pick-up."
"Comms are up?" Butch asked.
Shepard shrugged. "Speculate when we're back. Mission's almost over."
Ashley began to examine the beacon from a safe distance. She had only caught a small glance at the device when it was first excavated and she was pretty sure it wasn't glowing the way it was now. Green energy sparked across it, dancing tamely over the ancient device's external layer. It was hypnotising – it felt like the device was calling to her. Ashley took a step forwards. The energy responded to her, sparking more and more. She took another step. The beacon responded once more. The beacon wanted to share. There was something compelling about it; Ashley could sense the urgency behind it. She took another step. By this point the green bolts of energy were practically reaching her. Distantly, Ashley could hear someone call her name out but ignored it. The beacon began to claw at her mind. It- it hurt, but it was necesary. This was what was important. This was destiny. This was fa-
All of a sudden, Ashley found herself on the floor further away from the beacon. She snapped out of her daze with a ringing head.
What the hell just happened?
Regaining some of her senses, she glanced back at the beacon. There, levitating in the air while green sparks of energy leapt all over his body, was Shepard.
"…who follow our path, you m-… …-repared. All that you know is… … …
Do not trust the illusion of … and safety. Do not be weak, for the weak are … … first.
You are the hei... ... the Prothean Em-… … You … … -thean.
…legacy lives on in you. If you read this, civilisation endur-…
We were the stro-… until the Harvest. Do not let your weakness remain hidd… … too late.
The Reapers are coming. Y-… … …
We leav- ... ... -eans to ... ... ... ... ...
Glory to the Empire."
Gasp!
Bright lights greeted Luke's eyes as they snapped open. His head throbbed, the noises of his own breathing felt as if they were bouncing off the walls of his skull. He could tell that he was laying down in an Alliance facility; the structure of it was unmistakable. It was probably the Normandy. Shepard painfully tried to prop himself up in order to gage his surroundings. A loud clank echoed around the room as he unceremoniously fell off the bed and onto the floor. And then it all came back to him. Pain. Suffering. Destruction. The Harvest. Even several minutes after falling onto the floor he continued to pant. The panic quickly shifted to confusion and concern. The dream felt so vivid, so real. He struggled to make sense of it all. Focusing more on the dream only succeeded in make it's more elusive. Despite this, Shepard couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more, something just out of reach within his mind.
"Commander," a dry voice chided him. "Please do yourself a favour and try to remain in your bed. You do yourself no favours crawling about on the floor like a rabbid varren."
Luke glanced over at the entrance to what he could finally tell to be the med bay. With a face full of disappointment and grim amusement, Dr Chakwas swiftly approached him to help him back onto the bed. "Doc? What the hell happened to me?"
"It's my understanding that you threw the gunnery chief out of the beacon's thrall, instead taking her place." she gave him a wry look. "You did always prefer to lead from the front."
He frowned. "I'm a marine and I command a ground team."
"It was a figure of speech," she tapped him on the head, making him groan. "Hmm. Your reactions are fine. You were suspended for over half an hour as that beacon did, well, whatever it was doing. We'd have removed you but we had no idea what sort of consequences that would have."
Luke pinched his brow. "You don't know what it did to me?"
"Not at all. I'm afraid I have no idea what that machine did," Chakwas moved towards her terminal. "Brain scans demonstrated several signs of subconscious behaviours most often associated with dreaming, but there was nothing beyond that. I suppose we're lucky it didn't just fry your mind."
"I feel… there's something different. I don't know what it is," he sighed, leaning back into his cot. "You sure there's nothing else?"
"Based on my scans it would appear that you're in perfect condition. You sustained no injuries whatsoever on this mission. How I wish you'd come back like this more often. Now if you don't mind I'd like to run a few more tests before I let you go. Let's make this quick, the captain is expecting you"
Luke remained silent as the doctor ran several more tests. He wanted to try and sort through whatever was happening in his head but it was just noise. Try as he might he wasn't able to focus on any of it. It merely danced around the corner of his mind, just out of reach. Minutes later, the captain walked into the room. It was only because he had known him since the academy that Shepard was able to tell that he was distressed.
"Thank you, doctor," Anderson nodded. "I'll need a moment with my XO."
Chakwas smiled. "Of course. He should be fine but do not hesitate to contact me if he deteriorates."
"Will do," the captain allowed, waiting for the woman to leave before sitting himself down in her seat. "I won't lie to you, Shepard," Anderson leant back into the chair with a sigh, "Things look bad."
"Yeah", he scratched his head, "I just bet they do". Yet again he found himself centre to what would quickly become galactic news. However, this time he didn't manage to save the day. The Alliance's reprisal would be swift and brutal. If the Council didn't intervene, he had no doubt in his mind that there would be one hell of a response. The public demand for it alone would warrant it. And who would they send to the front lines? Commander Shepard – both of them.
As if he wasn't enough of a celebrity already. He understood that the Alliance needed heroes; morale, recruitment, politics, Shepard had a significant impact whether he liked it or not. There was a lot of weight placed on his shoulders as a result. Fighting the most dangerous scum in the galaxy was one thing but facing reporters and attending galas was something else entirely. The 'Hero of Elysium' would take life or death situations across the Traverse over the latter any day. He was a soldier, not a politician. It was worse for Lara. The 'Butcher of Torfan'. The contrast between them seemed completely unfair. Despite putting up a convincing performance for the cameras he was certain that his sister absolutely hated it. He'd even heard a rumour that she'd punched a reporter out during an interview. Some All Jalissa or Al Jelini woman.
"Saren means trouble. I've forwarded you everything I have on him. We'll be arriving at the Citadel within twenty-four hours, so rest up. The media and politicos are going to be relentless," Anderson sighed.
"I'll write up my report and prepare for the onslaught," he offered.
The captain shook his head. "Don't bother, I had Alenko do it while you were out. Damn shame about Smith and Jenkins. How're you holding up, son?"
Luke closed his eyes and let himself go limp. "Smith was a good friend. Jenkins was just a kid. It's a lot to process."
"I know, son," Anderson replied honestly. "We haven't had a casualty since Garcia, must have been three years ago."
Luke breathed out slowly. "Williams reminds me of her, you know. They're both sole survivors. Akuze broke Garcia. I hope today doesn't do the same to Willliams."
"How did she perform in the field?" the captain shifted topics innocently.
He opened one eye suspiciously. "She's good enough she gave Butch a run for her money and that's sure as hell good enough for me," he reported, knowing exactly where this was going.
Anderson ran a hand across his bald head. "We need to bring her to the Citadel as a key witness," he began. "I'm considering assigning her to your ground team permanently, if you want her. Didn't want to make the call without talking to you."
"Thanks," he smiled politely. "Yeah, put her on my team. I'm sure she'll fit in. I'll check on her once I'm out of here."
"You may want to check in on Butch as well. She stood guard outside the med-bay until I ordered her to begin working on a report on Geth tactics. I don't think she was happy with that."
"Yes, sir. I'll get on it"
Chapter 4: Voyage
Summary:
The Normandy makes the trip back to the Citadel, where the bad news is only confounded upon.
Chapter Text
When the adrenaline dies down it was always easy to see things one could have done differently. Ashley attacked the punching bag in a fruitless effort to take her mind off the events of Eden Prime. She couldn't stop thinking about if she had lead them down a different turn they might have avoided the Geth patrol which killed Able, or that if they had held their position at the dig site that they may have lasted until Shepard's team arrived. She was the highest ranking officer throughout most of their frantic attempt at survival - her CO was killed almost instantly by a stray shot. Ashley held herself completely accountable for each and every death around her. With a last aggressive hit, Ash panted and turned away from the bag.
"What did the bag do to deserve that?" She stilled she instantly recognised the voice as the Commander. Turning to face the door she stood to attention instinctively. Shepard chuckled and waved a hand dismissively. "At ease Williams. I'm no Captain, and I'm certainly no jackass who needs his ego constantly inflated. I just came to check up on you and Butch, though I can't seem to find her. Got pretty rough down there, how are you holding up?"
"Yes sir," she replied quickly. "Just trying to work through what happened planet-side."
The commander leant against the door frame, raising his eyebrows admonishingly. "That wasn't what I asked."
"Oh," her face fell. "I-... I'm trying not to dwell on it."
"It's not easy to lose any of your squad, let alone all of them," he replied empathetically. "I'm here if you need to talk."
"Thank you, sir," she nodded. Shepard turned to leave, but Williams quickly moved back into his line of sight. "Um, sir? I just wanted to say thank you. For bringing me on board the Normandy."
"We couldn't leave you down there in the centre of the hot zone," Shepard chuckled.
"No, I mean, for assigning me to the Normandy," she corrected him. "This is my first ship posting."
"Really?" he gave her a confused look. "I thought you've been in the marines for years? You're one of the best marines I've seen, how haven't you gotten assigned to a ship?"
"It's because of my grandfather. People find out I'm a Williams and-"
"Wait you're the granddaughter of the General Williams?" the commander frowned.
"Oh…" she slouched instantly, kicking herself for saying anything. "I thought you knew… Damnit…"
"You have to introduce me," Shepard's face, for some reason, lit up, "I did all my history projects on him back in school."
Ashley stood there in shock. Of all the reactions she had received in the years she had been serving, never had a superior – or even a fellow marine – had this sort of reaction. "Sir, are we thinking of the same general?" she clarified.
"Commander of the Shanxi resistance, right? He led a brutal guerrilla campaign against the Turians. It's the only example we have of an actual total war with a non-human species and he held the line for days without reinforcements or supplies. When it did look dire, he surrendered himself to buy just enough time for his soldiers to capture the Turian general's brother and for the Alliance fleet to cut the occupiers off." he grinned, before schooling his face to try and appear more professional. "The man's a tactical genius, he won us the war."
Ashley chuckled despite herself. "I can't say this is what I was expecting, but I'm relieved. Not many people see it that way. Especially my old COs."
"Damn propagandists,' Shepard growled. "Westerlund News especially. The politicians and media used him as a scapegoat for their unpreparedness. What's even less deserving is that you're family has been treated like this for the supposed mistakes of someone else."
"Thank you, Shepard," she said genuinely. "That means a lot."
"You can thank me by introducing me to your grandfather later," he pushed himself off the wall. "Keep up the good work, chief."
"Sir yes sir!" she stood to attention.
Ashley gave the Commander a genuine smile as he walked off. She couldn't wait to be in transmission range and tell her family.
"Geth?" Mikhailovich's hologram scrunched it's nose. "You're positive?"
"I'm forwarding the reports now," Anderson replied professionally, smoothing a wrinkle out of his uniform. He had individually spoken with each of these man in a series of fast interviews but he was greatful that someone in high command had decided to group them all together.
"Who else could it be?" Hackett interjected, "Only the Geth possess a large enough synthetic force to assault a major Human colony."
"You know the first thing the Council will ask," Udina grumbled, "'What did you do to provoke the Geth?'"
"What of this dreadnought?" Fleet Admiral Ts'ui stroked his beard. As a captain, Anderson had only met the official head of the Alliance's military twice before. That he was here now was symbol enough of the severity of the situation.
Hepulled up the readings on the Geth ship and transmitted them. "I don't know, Fleet Admiral, we've never seen anything like it. It matches none of our records. Not that our records on the Geth are useful."
Director Wells sighed. "They are one of the few groups in the galaxy we have little usable intelligence on. Until now," he sipped from his tea, "they were only classified as a Zeta-level threat."
Ts'ui nodded and began tapping away at some unseen terminal. The Fleet Admiral was well-known for his stern and distant appearance. Behind his intimidating exterior was a tactically brilliant mind, constantly making calculations and analysing data as it came to him. One would be foolish to be offended by his lack of sociability or ancient appearance. He had a patience that others, like the Ambassador, seemed to lack. "You can discuss this later," Udina interrupted, "Anderson, how long until you reach the Citadel? We need to clean up this mess with the Council as soon as possible."
"A few hours off," he replied calmly.
"See me the moment you arrive. There is much to be done" Udina terminated the transmission and Anderson mentally shook his head. Udina may be the right man for the job, but that didn't make working with him any easier.
"Something doesn't feel right about this, sirs," he stressed. Why now? Why Saren? And tell me you don't believe this is some Geth dreadnought, this is far too large and advanced from our readings to have been constructed in total secrecy."
"You may be right," Wells huffed. "The Quarians doubtlessly would have informed the Council if they detected something so massive being constructed beyond the veil."
Mikhailovich scoffed. "How can you be so sure? The Quarians do not even have an ambassador to the Citadel, they're exiles. Vagabonds."
The director of Alliance intelligence didn't so much as flinch. "Even the ambassador would see why, Rear Admiral. It's rather elimentary. They would reveal any information that wold provoke Council action against the Geth, or at the very least force the Council to allow them to take action on their own."
Anderson nodded. "My contact in the ambassador's office has informed me that the Quarians have already condemned the Geth and have offered the Alliance support in any capacity."
Ts'ui breathed out loudly. "We thank the Quarians for their offer but the Alliance has no wish to get into bed with a species the Citadel barely tolerates while our galactic influence is still so tenuous."
"Has Shepard revealed anymore from his interaction with the beacon?" Hackett asked.
"No sir," David shook his head. "He seems to be slowly adapting to the new information in his head. He's insistent that there's something we're missing, though he can't point it out yet."
"We'll look into this, Captain," Ts'ui tilted his head up. "Good work. We'll be in touch."
"All I'm saying is that the commander better not be possessed by a Prothean ghost."
"You're full of shit, Joker," Butch rolled her eyes. "You need to lay off the horror vids."
"Laugh it up meathead, we'll see who's full of shit when zombie Shepard gets you in your sleep."
Butch shook her head in amused dismissal. Pointless discussion with the pilot was all that was keeping her from a restless night in her pod. Post-mission sleeplessness was rare for her - she was usually keen to hit the pod as soon as feasibly possible and was something of a sleepaholic. Butch was tired and groggy, but the death of half of her squad was still affecting her. Even more so, Luke's interaction with the Prothean beacon and subsequent coma had her troubled. Luke and her, since the academy, had always had each other's backs. Elysium broke or killed many, but she and Shepard persevered to not only survive but turn the tide of the battle. They were an incredibly effective team, leading their squad of marines from one victory to another. Neither bothered to keep track of how many times they'd saved each other's lives – what use was a scoreboard when one was so routinely placed in harms way?
That's why this mission was getting to her. There was nothing she could do when that blasted beacon assaulted Shepard, and there was nothing she could do when he lay unresponsive in the medical bay. She felt useless.
"…don't you reckon?" she suddenly tuned back in.
"What?" she frowned.
"Are you ok, Butch?" the pilot asked." You're zoning out, I can't believe I'm paying more attention than you."
"Keep pushing," she grumbled. "See what happens."
"Aw, don't make me laugh, everyone knows you're a big sof-"
Joker found himself harshly cut off as Butch 'gently' struck his arm. She stood up and left, slightly smirking as Joker not-so-quietly cursed behind her.
Luke followed Captain Anderson onto the Citadel, Butch and Alenko in tow. Udina's assistant Dupont led them to the ambassador's office. The man reminded him of a rat. Dupont had immediately greeted them with compliments veiled with mockery, commenting them on how they had done "far better given the circumstances" than he "would have been able to predict". The likelihood that Udina had gone to the effort to be this level of petty was slim, more likely was that Dupont was attempting to curry favour by emulating the ambassador's feelings about him, Anderson, and probably everything surrounding the current situation. The more he thought on it, the more he agreed with his initial conclusion. The man was a rat.
Luke, Butch, and Alenko followed in silence. Exchanging glances throughout their trip, it was clear that his companions, like himself, were more than happy to let Anderson suffer on the receiving end of Dupont's endless prattling. Before long, they were finally led into Udina's office. The ambassador didn't so much as glance up from his terminal. "Commander Shepard," he sighed. "I wish I could say it was a pleasure to finally meet you in person."
"Ambassador," Shepard replied neutrally, deciding it was best not to rise to the bait.
"Dupont, leave us," Udina barked. "Captain if you would be so kind as to excuse your escort as well?"
"Of course. Lieutenant, corporal, please wait for us outside."
Udina stared with visible irritation at the marines as they left the room. Though Shepard had hoped that the rumours about the ambassador were false, evidence was failing to dissuade them. The rumours spoke of him as ruthless, cutthroat, impatient, and above all – ambitious. That being said, Shepard knew that there was a reason Udina had held his role for so long, it was obvious to anyone with a basic understanding of Alliance politics that the man was incredibly efficient at his job. Parliament would have recalled him if they ever suspected that he was unsuitable to the position in any way, shape, or form.
Anderson leant forwards, placing his forearm on the desk. "What's the situation, Ambassador?"
"Bah," he threw his hands in the air. "The Council refused to even convene to discuss it. They claim there is nothing they can do until more evidence is collected."
"They refuse to stand with us against the Geth?" his mentor asked incredulously.
"The Council doesn't even want to classify this as a 'war'," Udina growled. "As far as they and the public are concerned, Eden Prime is being reported as a terrorist attack with no mention of the synthetics. The Council wants to avoid an all-out war with the Geth."
"What about Saren?" Anderson pushed. "We have witnesses and security footag-"
"The Turian councillor himself stepped in to stonewall the C-Sec investigation, Captain. The witnesses were found dead, the security footage is terrible, and the Council believes it's far simpler to just throw the destruction of one of the Alliance's greatest cities under the rug."
Anderson leant back into his seat, visibly taken aback. Luke felt the same way. Surely there had to be a way to force the Council to get involved. To do that they would need indisputable proof of Saren's guilt. If they could make Saren the focal point of this fiasco… He made eye-contact with Anderson. "What is it, son?"
"We need to focus on Saren, sir," he argued. "The Council can ignore an isolated terrorist attack, but they can't ignore a terrorist organised by one of their own. If we can get proof that Saren was behind the attack…"
"Then the Council would be forced to take action," the captain nodded, seeing where he was going.
Udina looked unconvinced, but turned to his terminal, nonetheless. "I don't like it, Shepard, but you're right. You have to act fast; the investigation will only remain open for another… another seventeen hours. I suggest you track down the Turian running the investigation. Detective... Garrus Vakarian."
"I'll stay here with the ambassador to coordinate with High Command," Anderson stood up. You go after the detective."
"Yes, sir," he stood up as well, though he hadn't the slightest idea what he was doing.
"Fortunately," Udina drawled, "Some within C-Sec are sympathetic to our situation. One of my sources has just informed me that the Turian is still working on the case in spite of the Councillor's efforts, you should be able to find him around the medical centres on the Shalta Ward."
"I'm on it. Permission to take Butch and Alenko?"
"Son," Anderson gripped him firmly on the arm, "you have my permission to do whatever the hell you need to do."
Chapter 5: Anacrusis
Summary:
With no time left to lose, Shepard leads his new companions to find the evidence needed to take down Saren
Chapter Text
Humans and Turians, despite their initial confrontation, had quickly pushed aside their differences in favour of cooperation. Most had abandoned the very notion of a grudge, save extreme conservatives stuck in their ways. The two species were incredibly different but both had realised that it was in their best interests to study, collaborate, and learn from each other. There were many facets of human civilisation which were notably different to their Turian counterparts and vice versa. Garrus had studied them extensively as the human population on the Citadel began to boom. While his superiors were more focused on the bigger picture, it was the smaller things that had caught his attention. Subtle differences such as the human's refusal to wholeheartedly embrace technology. Specifically, Garrus was fascinated by rope.
Humans had used rope for centuries for a myriad of applications. Over these centuries the quality of rope had increased exponentially, even though – theoretically – there was no need for rope. Turians had phased out their equivalent of rope the moment magnetic technology proved practical. Magnetic seals were more efficient and far stronger, so the Turians abandoned it. Yet humans refused to completely transition, despite the seemingly obvious superiority of mag-tech. A few conversations with various humans later and Garrus was completely proven wrong. While it took much more effort to secure cargo with rope in addition to mag-seals, damage and disruption would be avoided in the event of battle or system error-induced malfunctions. Rope was light, cheap, and had customisable length, making it very useful for securing perps if the location or situation didn't support the required mag-tech. Garrus had seen many of his colleagues physically have to retrain suspects and criminals because there was no nearby magnetic surface to connect their mag-cuffs to. Finally – and this was personally Garrus' favourite use – rope could be used to suspend oneself off the ground. Such as he was doing now.
The detective slowly crawled his way down the side of the Dilinaga Medical Centre. C-Sec refused to supply him with Turian grappling technology or even magnetic climbers, so Garrus had taken to using rope for surveillance and operational completion. Though definitely unauthorised (he was certain he would be punished if his superiors found out) Garrus had found great success as a result of it. Presently, the Turian was circumventing a mercenary blockade of Doctor Michel's office. He turned to descending from the office above after a small group of human mercs had blocked his entrance. He attached a Wall-Listener to the corner of the glass and tuned it into his omni-tool. At least requisitions gave him some useful technology.
The more the mercs pushing Doctor Michel around spoke, the more Garrus was convinced they didn't work for the Shadow Broker. They were beyond unprofessional and their methods seemed cheaply done. He was all but certain they were on Fist's payroll. The rumours that he had split off from the Broker solidified by the day. Despite it being a long shot, Garrus was banking on the likelihood that Fist was working for Saren instead. With every dead end he reached in his investigation, Garrus was becoming more convinced that Saren had something to hide and an ulterior motive behind his actions. The mercs' violent behaviour towards Doctor Michel only fuelled Garrus' suspicion further. He was determined to uncover the truth and find out what Saren was truly up to.
He pushed aside piecing together the bigger picture to focus on the task at hand. Despite the mercenary's blatant incompetence, they failed to reveal any conclusive information. Now Garrus found himself hanging on the building's exterior, unable to assist Dr Michel without risking her safety.
"...Damnit."
Putting aside the need to find incriminating evidence on Saren; the real question shifted to 'how was he supposed to save the doctor'? He hoped he was looking at an answer when a trio of humans burst into the room, weapons ready. It took Garrus a moment to recognise the lead human as Commander Shepard. "Lucky me," he rumbled with relief. Perhaps this wouldn't remain a blunder after all - he could still scavenge the situation. The lead merc placed a pistol against Doctor Michel's head, and Garrus listened in as the commander attempted to talk him down. He leaned in closer, counting on the mercenaries' distraction to let him get a better look without being noticed. Garrus had been in enough hostage situations to realise that this one was quickly deteriorating. A firefight was inevitable.
As the tension in the room escalated to palpable levels, Shepard caught Garrus' eye and gave a subtle nod. For a split-second Garrus froze, caught completely off his guard. How had the human spotted him? What was he expected to do? How could he possibly help in this sit-
And then an idea it hit him.
Garrus carefully descended onto the rough centre of the glass. He braced himself and took aim with his pistol. There would only be one chance at this. Taking a deep breath, he levelled the pistol and fired. Immediately, an enormous web of cracks cascaded across the glass. The bullet connected with the back of the merc leader's head, instantly killing him. Before the bullet had even entered its target's body Garrus pushed himself off the rapidly weakening glass window with as much strength as he could muster. Glass may have developed significantly to the point of not instantaneously breaking into pieces as a result of a gunshot, but Garrus had every intention of breaking this surface. He swung several meters into the air before coming down with enough force to shatter the window.
Shepard hadn't meant much by the nod he gave the Turian hidden outside the window. Assuming that he was the C-Sec detective they were looking for, he had nodded with the hope that Vakarian had a plan. There wasn't much they could do to break the standoff, after all. The nod was a desperate attempt to save the doctor, banking on the logic that no sentient in their right mind would be suspending themselves off a building without a plan when a hostage situation was unravelling on the other side of the glass. What ensured wasn't exactly… orthodox.
As the Turian exploded through the glass Shepard and his companions dived for cover. The detective, catching the mercs off guard, sprinted unopposed to the doctor and pulled her behind a metal partition.
"The doctor's clear, open fire!"
It didn't take long to eliminate the mercenaries. Though they had numerical superiority, they didn't stand a chance against the Alliance special forces and veteran C-Sec detective. The mercs were caught in an incredibly poor position. Left leaderless, they were uncoordinated and failed to put up much of a fight. Alenko's biotics only amplified their disarray as he pulled individual mercs directly into the crossfire. One by one the mercs fell to the ground until the room was cleared of hostiles.
"Butch, Alenko," he holstered his weapon, "seal the entrance. I doubt there's more but I'm not taking any chances."
The two marines jogged back towards the clinics entrance, leaving Shepard alone with the Turian and the doctor. The doctor looked shaken but unhurt. The detective stood talking with her, appearing similarly unscathed. When he noticed Shepard walking towards him his face morphed into what Shepard assumed to be the Turian equivalent of a smile. "Perfect timing, Shepard. Gave me a clear shot at that bastard."
"You took him down clean," he nodded in appreciation. "Dr Michel, are you alright?"
"Mon Dieu, I-… I am fine."
Garrus placed a hand on her arm. "I know those mercs threatened you, but we can protect you if you tell us who they work for."
"They work for Fist," she explained. "They wanted me to delete my records on the Quarian. To keep her arrival on the Citadel hidden"
"Quarian?" Luke rose an eyebrow.
"Oui. She came into my clinic desperate for help," Michel sat herself down slowly. "The girl had multiple bullet wounds - we only barely managed to avoid serious infection. She refused to give me her name. She was adamant that she reach the Shadow Broker to trade information for protection, so I sent her to Fist."
"Damn," Garrus growled. "We need to find Fist, now."
"You might be too late detective," the doctor sighed. "She may very well be on her way to the Shadow Broker as we speak."
"Commander," he turned to the other human. "We have to hurry. My investigation has led me to believe that Fist has defected from the Broker and now works for Saren. If she does have information…"
"Then we need to move it," Luke nodded in understanding. "Doctor Michel, I'll leave Alenko with you to keep you safe until C-Sec arrives."
"Smart move. Come on, Shepard, Fist is in Chora's Den. If we take my shuttle we can be there in less than thirty."
"Good," boomed a deep, unknown voice. Shepard followed the voice to the remnants of the shattered window. A Krogan dressed in red battle-armour dramatically stomped through the shards of glass up to them. He didn't so much as flinch at the pair of weapons suddenly pointed at him. "Room for one more?"
Shepard was taken aback by the sudden appearance of the massive Krogan, unsure of who or what he was dealing with. The few of his species he had interacted with in the traverse had all been… not pleasant to deal with. As the Krogan approached, Shepard swore he could feel the vibrations of each step through the floor beneath their feet. Shepard had seen several Krogan throughout many of his missions, but this one was unlike any he had encountered. The armour was adorned with numerous scratches, marks, and other sharp implements, and the Krogan carried a massive shotgun with ease. Shepard could feel the power emanating from the Krogan - this one was threatening, that much was for sure. He looked Shepard up and down, sizing him up. It was Garrus who spoke up first.
"Shepard," the Turian's mandibles flickered, "this is Urdnot Wrex. He's a merc that's given my superiors more headaches than the Hanar preachers."
"Heh," the Krogan chuckled, "Glad to hear I have a reputation. I hear you're after Fist. So am I. "
"We're on a tight schedule, Wrex," Luke holstered his weapon again. "I'll welcome any help I can get but we have to move it."
"Lead the way," the Krogan gruffed. "Let's see if you're stronger if you look."
It sounded like the start of a bad joke. 'A Turian, two Humans, and a Krogan got into a shuttle'.
The shuttle was small, and the seats were designed for Humans, making Wrex look even more massive than before. The Krogan sat in the middle of two seats with Shepard and Butch sitting opposite him. Butch was trying incredibly hard not to laugh, and a withering glare from the Wrex only made her snort loudly. Garrus seemed to be handling the situation with ease, but Shepard couldn't help but shake his head at the current situation. This was not exactly the path he saw his career leading him down.
The shuttle ride was bumpy, to say the least. The small craft was not built for a Krogan, and Wrex was struggling to get comfortable in his seat(s). His armour was clanking and scraping against the metal frame of the shuttle, and every time the craft hit a bump, he would let out a deep, guttural growl. Shepard couldn't help but find the whole situation slightly amusing. A particularly nasty bump knocked Wrex's head into the side of the shuttle. Butch could maintain her composure no more and broke into laughter.
"So, what's the plan?" Wrex asked casually, ignoring Butch's antics.
"Fist is going to be waiting for us," Garrus shouted back, "When we hit him, we better hit him hard."
"Heh, good thing you're bringing a Krogan with you then," Wrex grumbled, grimly amused.
"Fist is paranoid," the Turian continued to explain, "By this point he'll be panicking, probably has holed himself up in his office like a pathetic pyjak."
"Then we fight our way in," Shepard stated, "There isn't much strategy to discuss. Chora's Den has only one entrance and it's going to be heavily guarded. Wrex, how'd you like to knock on the door?"
Wrex chuckled deeply, flashing the creepiest smile Shepard had ever seen. "Heh, heh, heh. You and I are going to get along, Shepard."
Chapter 6: Rescue
Summary:
With the evidence they need just around the corner, Shepard leads his team to find Tali'Zorah and the proof she's carrying
Chapter Text
Butch could feel her heart racing in her chest as Shepard counted down. She glanced over at Wrex, the massive Krogan grinning with anticipation as he prepared to burst through the door. This was what she was good at. As soon as Shepard hit zero, Wrex charged through the door with a deafening roar, biotic energy crackling around him as he slammed into a pair of unprepared guards. Butch quickly followed after, her heavy repeating rifle unleashing bullets at the remaining enemies. Garrus took up position, picking off a mercenary who was positioning himself above the bar. Wrex was loving the fight, cheering every time he took down an enemy. Shepard, on the other hand, was growing increasingly impatient. The mercenaries were putting up a fierce resistance. Butch could tell he wasn't happy at being slowed down.
"We need to speed this the hell up!" Luke boomed as he stepped out of cover. Rifle in hand he began sprinting into the bar. The simple mercenaries had no idea what to do with him and were completely taken aback, especially when Wrex jumped over a table as well and sprinted straight towards another guard. Not wanting to be left out she grinned and roared, moving around the right side of the bar to make sure the others wouldn't be cut off. She could hear the fear and panic in the voices of the mercenaries as they realized that they were no match for Shepard's raw power. Some of them tried to flee, but their cowardice could not save them as Garrus picked them off the moment they fled cover. And then, just as suddenly as he had started, Luke slowed down, his breathing heavy and ragged as he surveyed the carnage around him. Butch could see the triedness on his face.
"We need to keep moving," Luke ordered, his voice low and intense.
With that, he charged forward once more, and Butch followed in his wake, knowing that they were in the hands of a Shepard, a man who would do whatever it takes to achieve victory. Butch abandoned her cover to follow him, her heart pounding in her chest as she fired her gun at the last mercenaries who dared to stand in their way. She could feel the heat of their weapons as they fired back, but she didn't let it slow her down. She knew that she had to protect Shepard's flank. That was her job. He was the closest thing she had to family and she'd be damned if she let him die in this shitty strip club.
As they neared Fist's office, Garrus took up position at the door, his omni-tool flashing as he hacked it open. Luke charged forward, kicking the door open as he barged into the room. Butch followed close behind, her gun trained on any enemies who dared to get in their way.
Fist was cowering behind his desk, his eyes wide with fear as Shepard aimed his pistol at him. "Fun's over," he growled. "You have thirty seconds to tell me where the Quarian is."
Tali'Zorah nar Rayya approached the factory. She didn't like this one bit. Trying to steel her nerves she mentally recited the instructions Fist had given her. She was to meet with agents of the Shadow Broker here and then they'd take her to meet the broker. She took a deep breath and stepped inside, her omni-tool providing her with a dim light in the darkness. The first thing she noticed was the huge furnace that sat on a level below her, eating up metals that came off several conveyor belts. Those on the top level were only protected by rails, and she felt a shiver run down her spine as she imagined falling in. She tried to push the thought away and focused on her surroundings.
A bored Turian leaned against a pillar near the furnace, his arms crossed over his chest. Salarians in hazmat suits were operating machinery around them. Tali felt a sense of unease settle in her stomach as she moved towards them - she swore they kept giving her looks. None of what had happened these last few days had been what she imagined her Pilgrimage would be like. She tried to approach the Turian with as much confidence as she could muster, but her nerves were getting the better of her. "Are you Red?" she said, her voice steady despite the fluttering in her stomach.
The Turian regarded her carefully. His mandibles fluttered and his face contorted slightly. "Mmm, you must be the Quarian Fist told us about."
"I'm Tali'Zorah," she replied. "Are you here to take me to the Shadow Broker?"
The Turian's expression shifted to one of mild interest. "Ah. Yes, of course. He's on his way, why don't you hand me the intel first so I can verify it."
Another pang of anxiety hit the Quarian like a ton of bricks. This 'deal' was looking worse and worse. "I can wait."
The Turian's eyes narrowed. "The Broker's a cautious man. He's risking a lot, coming out here. You should show some respect."
Tali hesitated, taking a step back.
The Turian's lips twisted in a sneer. "Doesn't look like you're cooperating. Don't make this harder than it has to be."
Tali felt a sense of dread settle in her stomach as she realized the situation was quickly spiralling out of control. The Salarians started pulling pistols out of their suits, and she could feel their eyes on her.
The Turian stepped forward, his voice low and menacing. "I think it's time for you to play ball, Quarian. Unless you want to find yourself at the bottom of that furnace."
Tali's hand went to her combat knife, hidden in her suit. She was outnumbered and outgunned, but she refused to go down without a fight.
Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice cut through the tension. "Back away from the Quarian!"
The Turian hesitated, his eyes scanning the darkness for the source of the voice. Tali took the opportunity to lunge forward, her knife flashing in the dim light. She felt a sickening satisfaction as the blade plunged into the Turian's chest, and she shoved him with all her strength. The Turian stumbled backwards, his arms flailing wildly as he fell off the blade and tried to regain his balance. Tali watched in horror as he screamed, tripped, and fell over the rail, plummeting into the hungry maw of the furnace below. She wanted to throw up, but, just like that, the factory erupted into chaos.
Adrenaline coursed through Luke's veins as he burst out of the shadows alongside Wrex. They had surprised the Salarian agents, but the alien mercenaries were quick to respond. They opened fire forcing him to dodge to the side, narrowly avoiding a barrage of shots. Wrex sent the Salarians into disorder with a biotic attack, and Luke used the opportunity to leap over a piece of machinery, closing in on one of the mercenaries. He aimed his pistol and pulled the trigger, dropping him immediately.
Garrus was perched on a nearby catwalk and he sniped at the mercenaries, taking out several. The Salarians were caught in disarray and their formation quickly broke down under the combined assault of Luke and his team. Wrex sent them flying with a powerful biotic attack, while Butch managed to knock a Turian over the railing with a single elbow. Whatever this mysterious Quarian had, it must be incredibly valuable for Saren to go to such lengths to retrieve it.
As he fought, Lukecouldn't help but be impressed by the Quarian's skills. He watched as she stunned a pair of Salarians with an overload of their omni-tools before dispatching them with a well-placed shot from her shotgun. There was no doubt that she would be a valuable ally to have. Luke, Butch, and Wrex made their way through the Salarian agents. Though they had only fought together for less than a day (less than an hour for the Quarian) they somehow fought as if they'd been allies for years. Finally, the last of the Salarians fell and Luke cursed himself for diving into a combat so soon after being released from Chakwas' prison. He took a moment to catch his breath, wiping the sweat from his brow. It was then that he noticed the Quarian standing alone in the corner of the room, her gun trained on him.
"Who do you work for?" she demanded, her voice shaking with anger and fear.
Luke held up his hands, hoping to show her that he meant her no harm. "I'm Commander Shepard, Systems Alliance," he said calmly. "And I need your help to take down Saren."
Tali studied him for a moment, her eyes scanning his face for any signs of deception. And then, finally, she lowered her gun. "I believe you," she said, relief flooding her voice.
"We need to move," he continued. "There's no telling if more mercenaries are on the way. I'll take you to the human embassy so you can present whatever evidence you have to the ambassador himself."
Tali lowered her gun, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "I am Tali'Zorah nar Rayya," she introduced herself, her voice still tense. "I have information that could be vital to stopping Saren, but I can't just hand it over to anyone. My people are in danger because of what I know."
Luke nodded, "I promise you, we'll do everything we can to protect you and your people," he said firmly. "But we need to move quickly. The longer we stay here, the more danger we're in."
"Alright," she said, determination creeping into her voice. "Let's get moving. I'll tell you everything I know on the way to the embassy."
Chapter 7: Council
Summary:
Finally with the evidence they need, Shepard get's an audience with the Council and makes his case.
Chapter Text
Anderson stood on the guest platform with Garrus Vakarian, watching as Udina and Shepard argued with the members of the Citadel Council. It was clear from the onset that the councillors were more than sceptical of Shepard's claims about Saren's guilt but his protégé was nothing if not persistent - Luke adamantly refused to be brushed aside. David could see the frustration etched on Shepard's face as he tried to present the evidence that he and his team had uncovered. The Turian councillor, was particularly dismissive and Anderson could feel his own temper starting to rise as the argument dragged on. But Shepard refused to back down, and he demanded the Council examine his new evidence. Sparatus, as expected, attempted to reject the evidence on the grounds of the investigation being closed, but Shepard's confidence in the data seemed to convince the Salarian councillor to permit him to speak. Anderson breathed a sigh of relief.
Garrus projected the data from his omni-tool onto the large projector screen, confronting the Council with data recovered from a dismantled Geth unit. It detailed confirmation that the Geth were working with Saren, specific instructions for the attack on Eden Prime, and evidence of funding being siphoned off to businesses Saren had invested in. As Shepard continued to present his evidence, Anderson couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in the young commander. One of his greatest fears was that Shepard would never get to grow into a leader outside of the military but watching him confidently debate the most important governmental body in the galaxy gave him hope. His musings were cut short as Udina angrily informed the councillors that the information provided had been verified by C-Sec. Anderson could see the councillors exchanging worried glances. This was not good for their narrative. If C-Sec was backing up Shepard's claims, then it was becoming increasingly difficult to deny Saren's guilt.
"You have to see it from our perspective," Councillor Tevos spoke up, "one of our greatest agents orchestrates this tragedy and attempts to destroy a Prothean artifact? It's quite unlikely."
Udina bristled at her words, and Anderson could feel the tension in the room ratcheting up another notch. Before he could intervene, Garrus stepped forward and interrupted. "C-Sec has verified the last of the data provided by Tali," he said. "We have a recording of Saren discussing the success of their operations on Eden Prime." Without waiting for a response, Garrus once again connected his omni-tool to the chambers' projector and hit play. Anderson chuckled, appreciating the boy's audacity.
"Eden Prime was a major victory. The beacon has brought us one step closer to finding the conduit."
"And one step closer to the return of the Reapers"
At the mention of the word "Reapers," Anderson saw Shepard subtly recoil, rubbing his head. It was a small gesture yet it was enough to catch Anderson's attention. He couldn't help but wonder if it was related to the beacon that they had recovered on Eden Prime. As the recording played, Anderson watched the councillors closely. He could see the their shock despite their best efforts to school their faces as they listened to Saren and a voice he couldn't quite place. It was clear that the evidence was overwhelming, and Anderson felt a sense of vindication as the councillors began to murmur amongst themselves. Yet again, Udina stepped forwards, his face wrought with anger.
"The evidence is irrefutable!" he boomed. "The System's Alliance will not stand by as foreign operatives orchestrate terrorist strikes on our member nations! We demand you strip Saren of spectre status immediately!"
"Of course," Tevos offered diplomatically, "The Council cannot deny the reality of the situation."
"Saren must be made to answer for his crimes!" Udina continued, "What action is the Council prepared to take to bring him to justice? We must send a fleet to apprehend him before he can strike again!"
"Bah," Sparatus spat, "We cannot send our forces into the Terminus Systems. We lack the jurisdiction for such an operation."
Out of the corner of his eye he saw his protégé and Udina share a subtle nod. Shepard confidently stepped forwards, commanding the attention of those present as he leant over the railing to position himself as close to the Council as physically possible. "Then send me, Councillors. The Normandy is just one ship. We can traverse the galaxy without triggering a conflict."
"And how would you do that?" Sparatus growled. "The Normandy lacks the clearance or the authority to handle this."
"Unless…" the Asari began.
"No!" the Turian cut her off. "It's too soon, Tevos. And after the disaster on Eden Prime?"
"I disagree," Valern shook his head, "This is an opportunity to strengthen Citadel Space. It's time we permit the humans to show us just how ready they are to participate on the galactic scene."
The three councillors briefly disconnected their speakers and entered a private discussion. Anderson took a deep breath. If they were considering what he thought they were considering… "Commander Shepard," Tevos requested, "We agree with you. The Normandy is well-equipped to handle the situation at hand."
"As such," the Salarian councillor continued, "We extend to you a rare and prestigious honour. Should you choose to accept it, we shall grant you Spectre status effective immediately. As the first human Spectre you would have the authority to act on behalf of the Citadel Council, operating with the highest level of autonomy."
"You will not only be an extension of our authority," Sparatus practically spat, barely disguising his dismay, "but a test. A test to show just how willing humanity is to work with the rest of the galaxy as equals. To prove your species worth."
"What say you, Shepard?"
Once more Shepard took a step forwards, drawing eyes from every spectator in the room. Dozens, possibly hundreds of cameras focused on him. Udina visibly sucked in a breath, and Detective Vakarian stepped backwards with a reserved look of shock and awe. The very embodiment of confidence and authority, the commander stood tall and clasped his hands behind his back.
"Councillors, I'm honoured to be presented with this opportunity. I know us humans are the newcomers to the galaxy, but we are eager to do our part to contribute to galactic society," he promised. "I understand the gravity of the responsibility that comes with this position and I will do everything in my power to ensure that the actions I take are in the best interests of the galaxy. I accept this honour and promise to use this position for the greater good. Thank you, Councillors, for placing your faith in me. Humanity will not let you down."
Cheers arose from across the Council Chambers. The human diplomatic staff and media representatives seated in the observation decks erupted in celebration, joined by both many of their more open-minded colleagues from other species and by the Council's sycophants. Even Udina came close to smiling as he shook Shepard's hand and congratulated him.
Spirits, Garrus thought, the first human Spectre. And I helped him get here.
Garrus stood around with the C-Sec officers holding back the crowd as a swarm of reporters, politicians, and onlookers tried to speak to the legendary commander. He was situated further away from the crowd as technically he wasn't actually a member of C-Sec anymore. Detective Chellick's reaction to his resignation was somewhere between relief and anxious acceptance. Relief that he wouldn't have to deal with the other Turian's 'rash' behaviour anymore, anxiety at the fact that he would be the detective whose office the elder Vakarian would storm the moment he heard the news.
"Detective Vakarian! Detective, a moment please!" Garrus swung his head around to see a short human with darker hair waving at him as she approached. "Emily Wong, ANN: Citadel. I'd like to ask you a few questions if that's all right with you."
"Me?" he pointed at himself in confusion.
"You were instrumental to the commander's success, as he's said on camera already," she grinned. "I'm interviewing the people on the ground who work side-by-side with him."
"I see," he allowed. "All right then. How can I help?" At that Wong tapped her omni-tool, making a familiar bleep as it began recording.
"Detective Vakarian, why did you fight so hard to bring Saren's crimes to light? You put your career on the line to give us the truth." It was an inherently political question, but not an unfair one.
"Saren was a disgrace to my people. He's a criminal, and it was my job to fight scum like that every day. I'm just glad we were able to find the evidence," Garrus replied honestly.
"I speak for many of my kind when I say thank you. You took a stand against a respected Spectre of your species to right what was wrong, and we won't forget it. It's comforting to speak with open-minded people like you who place the greater good above speciesist disputes."
Garrus failed to repress a scoff. "It's a bit stupid to hate humans over something that happened so long ago. If the commander is anything to go off, you'll make a fine addition to galactic society."
"Well said. Detective, you worked alongside not only Commander Shepard and Lieutenant Robinson, but alongside a Krogan mercenary as well," she shifted directions ever-so-slightly. "Does your tolerance also extend to the Krogan?"
"Wrex was a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield," he chuckled before straightening his back. "My thoughts on the Krogan are the same as the humans. I judge based on individuals, not groups."
"Thank you for your time, Detective, and thank you for all you've done." The reporter cut the recording and shook his hand. "Have you ever considered a career in politics, Detective Vakarian?"
The Turian snorted, eliciting a giggle from the reporter. "Spirits, no. I hate politicians. And please call me Garrus. Detective Vakarian makes me sound like my father."
"I've got to start editing to air this tonight. Thank you so much for this, I hope I'll get to interview you again, Garrus!"
He waved her off with the Turian equivalent of a grin and returned his attention to the commander, who was still being interrogated by the unrelenting press. Before he could listen to even one of Shepard's full responses a human arm in Alliance armour wrapped around him. He looked down to see Butch as she punched him lightly in the arm, which he had learned to be a sign of human camaraderie from some of his ex-colleagues in C-Sec.
"Smooth."
"What?" Garrus gave the human a puzzled look.
"With the reporter? That was smooth." Garrus' contorted in confusion. "You're cute when your face does that weird wiggly thing with your… face-things," she gestured to her own face to accentuate whatever point she was attempting to make.
"They're called mandibles, and I still have no idea what you're talking about."
"You're not joking, are you? Ha!" Butch threw her head back and barked, getting a few looks from those nearby. "The line about calling you Garrus, we humans would call that smooth. Didn't you see her tuck her hair behind her head? You were totally flirting!"
"Lieutenant Robinson, I have no clue what you're talking about."
"Well, it doesn't matter," she sighed, stretching her arms before placing her hands on her hips. "We depart by end of day and I'm needed on hand. Damn, I wish I had time to teach you about flirting," she joked with a wink, "You've been fun to hang around, it's going to suck to see you go. Wait, how did you know I was L-"
"About you leaving…" he cut off, his mandibles stretching in amusement, "There's something I'd like to run by the Commander. I could use some advice…"
Finally away from the cameras, Luke sighed with relief as the doors to Udina's office closed behind him. Anderson and Udina were in the midst of talking, stopping to congratulate him again as he took a seat. "Son, I've been talking with the ambassador. Before you go, there's just one more thing we need to discuss."
Shepard narrowed his eyes at the wording. "Sir, don't you mean before we go?"
"I'm afraid not," the captain pursed his lips.
"It's simple politics," Udina stated bluntly. "If the first human Spectre was taking orders from his direct Alliance superior, it would create the unwanted appearance of human bias. As an agent of the Council," he leant back into his seat, "well, let's put it this way. If you seem to be at the back and call of the Alliance while being such a public figure it would heavily diminish your position and that of humanity as a whole.
Anderson gave him a reproachful look. "What that translates to is that you're the Normandy's commanding officer now."
"Sir," Shepard said slowly, "this isn't right. I can't let you throw your career away."
"There's more I can do from the Citadel to help you," the captain slapped him on the back. "You're going to need every edge out there."
"It's your ship, sir," Luke protested.
"Not anymore. Hackett approved the transfer just as you walked through that door."
"I understand this must be daunting for you, commander," Udina interrupted, "but we need you to step up. Now, even more so than Elysium, you are the face of humanity. There's no going back now."
"Listen here, son," Anderson said calmly, raising a finger. "This isn't the end of my career. You've been ready for this since the day you hit basic. The only thing that surprises me is that this hasn't happened sooner. Now you're going to go out there and you're going to give Saren hell, understood?"
Luke nodded and straightened his back. "Sir, yes, sir."
Chapter 8: Breakthrough
Summary:
The Normandy sits in the Citadel, and her crew try to make a plan of action
Chapter Text
Somewhat nervous, Garrus stood with a bag in hand as Shepard and Butch exited the Normandy and approached him. The commander appeared more relaxed than he had been in the Council chambers, and Butch waved as they approach.
"I've talked to Butch," Shepard started, "Are you sure this what you want to do?"
"Yes, commander," he assured the man.
"Why?"
"I want to make a difference," Garrus replied truthfully. "You're about to chase down a rogue Spectre and save thousands of lives. That's more than I could ever do in C-Sec."
"Garrus, if you're going to come along, you need to know that this is a whole lot bigger than you think," Shepard stated honestly. "More lives that you can count are at stake."
"I can follow orders, commander," he promised. "I won't let you down."
Shepard stared him down, mentally evaluating him. Garrus stood strong and forced himself not to fidget or flinch. Shepard turned to Butch, who nodded, and he finally gave the Turian a smile.
"All right. Welcome aboard, Vakarian. Butch, find our friend a place to sleep. Speak to the requisitions officer about bringing more dextro food aboard. When you're settled in," he turned back to face Garrus, "meet me in my office. I could use your help chasing down a lead."
They shook hands and the commander marched back onto the Normandy, leaving Garrus with Butch. He let out a breath he wasn't aware he was holding.
"Come on, V, you can bunk with me. Shepard bumped me up to his old XO quarters and I'm sure we could fit another bed in there."
"I wouldn't want to intrude, I know you humans value your, what do you call it? Beauty sleep?"
"Ha!" she barked a laugh. "Nah it's fine, I'm a deep sleeper. Plus I don't think you'd fit in our sleeping pods. Come on, I'll give you the tour."
Garrus had to admire the Normandy. It was familiar yet foreign, the Turian design aspects noticably contrasting with the humans'. As they walked through the ship's loading bay he was taken aback by the humans; casual behaviour. They laughed and joked as they loaded and strapped crates of cargo onto the ship. Hierarchy forces demonstrating this sort of behaviour would have been swiftly reprimanded. Not that Garrus actually minded, it was nice to see his future crew – scratch that, his new crew – feeling comfortable enough to relax. If they got the job done, what did it matter? Eventually, Butch led him past the comms room to the XO quarters, raising her arms out wide as she spun around.
"And this is our quarters, pretty nice right?"
"I wasn't aware you were the XO."
"Nah, that's Pressley," she waved him off, "but he didn't want to leave the pod closer to the CIC. Takes his job a bit too seriously if you ask me."
"Are you sure you're fine with me staying here?" he clarified.
"Please," she waved dismissively, "you're the one doing me a favour. You, my friend, are fun, and I'd much rather hang out with someone like you than… anyway, trust me. I'd love you to stay here."
"Well, if you're insisting…" Garrus made a show of dropping his bags on the ground and stretching, getting a snicker from Butch.
"I'll go about finding you something to sleep in. We can move that tiny desk over there," she made a sequre with her fingers as she looked at the room, "yeah that'll work. In the meantime you should go up to Shepard's quarters. I'm pretty sure he wants you to help comb through the data the Council gave him on Saren."
"Yes, ma'am," he twitched his mandibles with amusement.
"Ugh don't call me that. You sound like Alenko. See you 'round, V!"
Tali paced back and forth near the hangar bay, her mind racing as she tried to figure out the best way to word her request to join the Normandy. As she walked, she fidgeted nervously with the straps on her suit, trying to find a distraction from her racing thoughts. She had rehearsed this conversation a hundred times in her head on her way here, but now that the moment was finally here, she found completely forgetting her script.
"Okay, Tali, you can do this," she muttered to herself, trying to summon the courage to approach the ship. "Just be honest and straightforward. He'll appreciate that, right? Hey Shepard, thanks for saving me in that factory, I was hoping… no that's terrible. How about… Commander, remember me? I'm the… no that's even worse, keelah!"
"Calm down, kid," a deep voiced boomed from behind her, making the Quarian squeal and jump up. Turning around she saw Wrex walking towards her, "You want in on the crew too?"
"I- what? Yes! Keelah, was I being that loud? Wait, you want to go too?"
"Yep," he grunted, "Follow me, I'll get you on board."
"Really? Why are you helping me?"
"I saw how you handled yourself in that factory. You've got guts, kid. I like that. All you need is experience." Wrex stomped past he and she walked behind him as the Krogan made his way to the ship. He turned his head at her, evaluating her as she meekly trotted behind him. "Step up. You've got to look strong. Normandy's going to be in more action than you've ever seen, you need to show the humans you can handle what's coming."
Tali nodded and straightened her back, stepping forwards to walk side-by-side with the massive Krogan. The crew standing on guard tensed up as they approached and Wrex chuckled menacingly.
"The pyjaks are squirming already. This is going to be fun."
Luke sat with Garrus on opposite sides of his desk, pouring over the mountain of data that the Council had handed them. It was an overwhelming amount of information to go through, but they both knew that if they were going to catch Saren, they needed to find a lead. Shepard mentally thanked himself for letting Garrus onto the crew. In their short amount of time browsing through the data the Turian had eliminated several promising but ultimately dead end leads. He was confident in saying that letting Garrus aboard would be a trerrific decision in the long run. They were both so engrossed in their work that they barely noticed when someone knocked on the door.
"Come in," he called out without looking up from the datapad in his hands. The door slid open and Williams stepped into the room. "Ashley, what can I do for you?" he asked, setting down the datapad and looking up at her.
"I just wanted to check in and see if you had any further instructions for the crew." she replied, glancing over at Garrus with a look of… something. Shepard couldn't tell. He hoped it wasn't what he thought it was. "I had something I wanted to talk to you about but it can wait, you both look busy."
"This is all the information the Council turned over on Saren." Luke explained, waving his hand at the terminals and datapads in front of him. "Finances, associates, non-sensitive missions, it's all here."
"That's… a lot," the gunnery chief remarked.
"It's probably mostly useless at this point, it's like they don't want us to succeed," Garrus stated bluntly.
Ashley smirked. "Giving up already? What a s-"
Luke cut her off with a wave and a warning raise of the eyebrow. "Go on, Garrus."
"I learnt in C-Sec that it's not the quantity of data that breaks a case," the Turian explained. "Information is only useful if you can make a pattern out of it. We could spend days combing through this without finding a single lead."
"Way to boost morale," Ash snorted, "so how does the detective suggest we find Saren?"
Garrus ignored the snide remark and triumphantly pushed his datapad towards Luke. "We start here. Councillor Tevos identified the other voice as Matriarch Benezia."
"How does this help us?" Ashley added almost petulantly.
"The Matriarch has a daughter. Doctor Liara T'Soni," Garrus poked the screen with a talon. "A leading Prothean expert. I've done some digging and her dig site on Therum has just gone offline."
"That can't be a coincidence," Luke agreed, connecting the dots in his head.
"How's this useful?" Ashley questioned, "Could mean anything"
"Because," he replied, his irritation only just surpassed by his excitement, "we have a common thread. We know Saren is investigating Prothean technology. We know he is working with Benezia. Her daughter could be an important link between the two. We can't afford to let anything happen to her. Joker! Set course for Therum immediately."
Joker's voice came back over the ship's intercom, "We're cleared to depart in half an hour. ETA to Therum at eight hours, commander. Also, we've got a Krogan and Quarian harassing Ensign Leeds at the loading bay. You might want to check it out."
Shepard chuckled as he stood up. "Look alive, Vakarian, something tells me you won't be our only guest after all."
Lieutenant Commander Lara Shepard stood attentively on the bridge of the Iwo Jima while her commanding officer, Captain Meyer, barked orders at the crew. The civilian merchant ship in front of them had refused to transmit its registration, instead attempting to make a run for it. She tapped her left index and middle finger against her leg at a steady pace, silently observing the happenings on the bridge. They had just rotated a not insignificant number of their staff - the newer crew reacted with apprehension and panic, not used to the captain's more… aggressive approach. It took her a while to wrap her head around it, initially, but it made sense now. Meyer made the tough calls so that others wouldn't have to. So that others wouldn't be responsible for something like Torfan. After years serving under the man, she knew how this would go; within the next few minutes the captain would issue a shoot to kill order. These tactics may not fly back within the core regions of Citadel space, but at the Traverse there was a lot more… room for improvisation.
"Those criminals aren't getting away," Meyer barked. "Open fire! Target their engines!"
"B-but," a nervous – and foolish – crewmember stuttered, "there could be civi-"
Lara stood walked forwards and gave him a glare that could pierce the hull. "You had an order, Specialist, you would do well to follow it."
The man started sweating but obeyed. Though his hands begun shaking, he tapped away at his terminal. Lara walked away after visually confirming he was following orders. It wasn't like she enjoyed firing on these targets, but orders were orders. The new crew needed to learn that everything went so much smoother if they would just do as they were told. They all had a role to play. The captain grinned at her as she returned to her previous point. His voice lost its edge as he began to speak to him.
"Very good, Commander. I'm sure we'll be back to Alliance space in no time. Have you heard the news?"
"Sir?" she rose an eyebrow.
"It seems your brother has become the first human Spectre."
"Good for him," she replied neutrally.
Meyer frowned. "But not for you, hm?"
"Pardon, sir?"
"Yet again you fall into your brother's shadow. Again, despite you clearly being the… superior half, so to speak," he drawled. "It should have been you getting that promotion, no?" His cold eyes stared into hers as he evaluated her. She kept herself together, ignoring the emotions rising inside of her. She wasn't weak anymore; she was in control.
She kept her features schooled. "There's not much we can do now."
Meyer sneered. "Bah, have I taught you nothing? Think, child, you think this the end? Your brother's record is astounding, yes, but it's based in luck. Nothing else. Not like you. When he inevitable slips up you will be right there to swoop in and take your rightful place." His face etched into a wicked grin. "Think of how much we could accomplish if we had the authority of a Spectre onboard?"
"Yes, sir."
She gulped as the captain resumed his monologue, cut off only by explosion of the vessel they were attacking. Her tapping sped up but her face remained stone cold. I am in control. I am in control. I am in control.
Chapter 9: Inbetween
Summary:
The Normandy travels towards Therum, but will they be too late?
Notes:
TW for brief torture scene at the end
Chapter Text
"Are you sure you want to do this, kids?" Anderson sighed.
Luke glanced at Lara, who only nodded. "Yes. And we're not kids anymore. We've just graduated high school."
"You'll always be kids to me, son." He ran a hand across his forehead. "Whatever made you want to make this decision, I'm sure we can find another way."
Luke remained resolute. "We've already made our decision."
Lara stepped closer to him. "Why is it a problem? You and Mom are Alliance. Dad was too."
"You know your mother is going to have a fit when she finds out, right?" Anderson pursed his lips.
Luke's face fell a bit. "She'd never agree to it."
"That's for a good reason, son. The Alliance isn't all parades and uniforms."
Lara squeezed his hands. Luke looke between her and Anderson. "Believe me, we've given this thought."
Anderson sighed again. "Fine. Fortunately for us all, after my recent success against a Batarian slaving guild Hackett has given me a rare opportunity," he smiled slightly. "I get to pick my next posting. I was going to request a ship of my own," he stood up, groaning. "Lead a team of marines, that sort of thing. But I suppose I wouldn't mind a bit of stability."
Luke frowned. "What are you saying?"
"I'm going to have myself assigned to whatever academy you end up at. I'm going to watch over you, and before you try-" he rose a hand to stop them, "I will not be disuaded."
"Fine," Luke scowled. "At least there'll be someone we know there."
Anderson chuckled. "Oh you're not going to feel that way when I put you through basic training, son."
The Normandy released from docking with three new crewmates and one less captain. Normally that would be completely against Alliance regulations, but the uniqueness of the situation meant that exceptions had to be made. As Joker blabbered on, Shepard watched wordlessly as they approached the relay. It didn’t feel right to embark on a mission without Anderson leading the way. The man had looked over him, Lara, and Butch since the days of the academy. Even if Lara wasn't with them anymore, the man was the closest thing to a father figure either would ever have. And now he'd been tossed aside to make room. Sighing, he closed his eyes and centred himself.“Joker, patch me through to the whole ship.”
“You got it boss, going live in three,” Shepard took a deep breath, “two, one…”
“Normandy, this is Commander Shepard, your new commanding officer. Anderson has taken a transfer to the Citadel. Unlike him, we won't get to kick our feet up and enjoy the luxuries of galactic high society. We have our orders. Find Saren. Stop Saren. Kick ass along the way. This is our opportunity to show the galaxy just how ready humanity is to join it. Each and every one of you have proved yourselves worthy of working on this ship. Some of you have served with me for years. Some of you are new. We’re all Normandy, and we’re going to kick some serious traitorous ass.”
Shepard allowed himself a grin as a chorus of ‘oorahs’ erupted across the ship. Yes, Anderson was gone, but what’s done was done. He needed to embrace his role. Still in dress blues, he marched to the CIC and approached Pressley. In front of them was a layout of the surface of Therum surrounding the dig site. The Prothean ruins were mostly underground, going impressively far down.
“What have you got for me Pressley.”
“Only a few titbits, sir," the man reported. "The ruins aren’t exactly accessible, these mountains and lava flows will make the approach quite difficult.”
“Especially if there’s a hostile force dug in," Luke mused. "It would be easy for a small force to hold the ruins because of the terrain alone. We’ll need the Mako.”
“I thought the same," Pressley concurred. "Ruling out the site itself, I’ve taken the liberty of marking off several potential drop zones. I personally recommend this isolated station just here,” he gestured at a structure separated from the rest of the dig site. "One last thing, it’s likely communications will be disrupted the deeper you go into the ruins.”
Shepard gazed at the holograph in front of him. The mission reminded him of Eden Prime and he didn’t like it. They’d have to traverse unfamiliar and hostile terrain, enter what would likely be a hot zone, and until they got within sensor range they would have no idea what to expect. The safest strategy would be to select a team built around heavy firepower so they could reach their objective as quickly as possible.
“Tell Butch, Williams, and Wrex to get ready," he ordered. "We’ll be going in hot.”
“Will do, Commander.”
“You have the deck, I’ll be in my quarters until we arrive.”
Garrus scrolled through the files Shepard had allowed him to download to his private terminal which he definitely didn't take with him from C-Sec. There wasn’t much work for a Turian to do on an Alliance vessel so, wanting to be useful, he continued to dissect the mountain of information presented by the Council, seated at a small workstation in the hanger. There had to be more leads, there was enough information to make a three book long autobiography and then some. If he could find the decisive lead that breaks the case wide open then maybe—
His racing thoughts were suddenly interrupted with an incoming call flashing across his screen. Damn it. Thirty minutes and we’d have been out of comms range. Growling, he hit accept. Longer I leave it the worse it’ll get.
Expecting his father’s face to be the one to show up, Garrus was surprised when his sister’s (quite angry) face appeared instead. “Sol?”
“Do you have any idea how mad dad is right now!! After Chellick called he stormed out and still hasn’t come home. Mum can’t even get in touch with him.”
“I-”
“I mean seriously? You jumped ship to serve on a spectre’s vessel without saying anything?”
“S-”
“I get not telling dad, but me? Seriously?”
“P-”
“Seriously?!!”
“Sol!!” Garrus shouted, turning a few heads from the nearby crew. He ignored them. “It was a… spur of the moment decision. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. I’m still settling in. The humans are friendly enough and the Commander seems to be the only person in the galaxy actually trying to make a difference.”
“You still should have texted me! You- wait, human?” she snapped her head to stare at him straight in the eyes.
“Yes?”
“Wait wait wait," she brought her hands to her face. "Are you on the Normandy?”
“Yes..?”
“Spirits, you’re serving under Commander Shepard!" she trilled happily. "He’s been plastered all over the news for the past day! I mean most non-humans are only hearing about him now, but not me, he’s the Hero of Elysium!" his sister boasted, demonstrating far too much knowledge any normal Turian should have off the top of their head. "Spirits, my brother is working for the Commander Shepard! Do you think you could get me to meet him? Is he just as dreamy in person as he is on the posters? Do you still have that Krogan from the news with you?”
Garrus blinked a few times, trying and failing to absorbing his sister’s unexpected rant. “I-, well-, look there’s not much I can say at the moment, a lot of what we’re doing is classified.”
“Ooh.” She leant forwards.
“But he really is just as skilled as the vids made him out to be," he admitted. "Fighting alongside him on the Citadel, it was incredible. No biotics, no fancy tech stuff, just pure skill.” His sister’s eyes glistened as he regaled a brief recounting of the events on the Citadel. “He’s not a meathead, not like some of our Turian news channels made him out to be, he’s a great leader and a good person.”
“He’s got personality too? Spirits… Gar you have to set up a meeting.”
“How am I supposed to-” Garrus paused as something she said before clicked into place. “Did you call him dreamy before?”
Her brow plates shifted nervously. “Sorry one moment Gar. What’s that? Dad’s home? I’m on my way mum!”
“No don’t you dare-”
“Sorry got to go bye Gar don’t forget to set up a meeting!” she fired one word at another incredibly quickly.
He couldn’t even get a reply in before the call terminated. Standing, dumbfounded, the Turian shook his head. I’m not sure what to make of that. Hearing a familiar chuckle, he turned to see Butch smirking, leaning on the Mako.
“She’s adorable. You two really related?”
“Don’t remind me," he grumbled. "How much did you hear?”
“Just the end of it, now I’m wishing I caught the full thing,” she teased.
“Very funny,” he drawled, “anything I can do to help you?”
“Nah, you’re all good… Gar.”
“Spirits,” he groaned, wiping a hand across his forehead, “not you too.”
When operating out in the fringes of galactic civilisation, one grew accustomed to conflict. When excavating ruins in the Traverse or hunting artifacts in the Terminus Systems, one learned to handle barbarity. Doctor T’Soni had – several times throughout her career – defended herself and her staff when the need arose. Small mercenary gangs were no match for an Asari with a decent grasp on her biotics. Perhaps this lulled her into a false sense of security. Perhaps it was the fact the Therum was a planet within the Alliance’s jurisdiction. Perhaps, if she could be permitted to think so, perhaps what was truly astounding was the very notion of a Krogan-led Geth attack with the intent of capturing her. If she wasn’t tremendously terrified, alert, and exhausted, she could laugh at just how ludicrous her predicament was.
Unfortunately, there was nothing at all ‘ludicrous’ about the situation she found herself in. It seemed all of her staff were dead, and she herself was running out of options. Maybe it was the intensity of the situation, but the loss of some of her closest companions hadn’t even registered yet. Lysia and Kala were two of her childhood friends, they were some of the only people her mother allowed her to play with after school. And now they were dead, torn apart by Geth weaponry. Their bodies were likely still splayed unceremoniously where they fell.
Liara ran deeper and deeper into the Prothean ruins. What had only just recently been her current obsession became her only hope for survival. The Geth had cut off the entrance, there was no way to go but down. As far as she ran though, the Krogan and his Geth were just behind her. She turned right and ran into a dead end. Looking down, what she assumed to be the main elevator shaft appeared empty, leaving a deep hole in the elevator’s absence. With nowhere to run, she finally became succumbing to panic.
No, no, no, there has to be a way out of here. Think, think. They are getting closer, do something!
Her eyes darted around her surroundings, wide with fear as the Krogan’s bellowing got louder and louder. They settled on the hovering orb their team had figured to be a computer but left for fear of consequences they could not predict. With nothing left to lose, she began frantically touching the orb. Blue symbols hovered in the air and shifted with every tap. The Krogan came into view. Liara shrieked as the Krogan began charging at her. She tapped even faster, hitting every ‘button’ she could. The Krogan got close enough that she could make out his features, but before he could collide with her a blue barrier shot up between them. The Krogan crashed into the barrier and bounced backwards, knocking over one of the Geth unlucky enough to be in the wrong place. This, however, appeared to be the end of her luck. A second barrier activated within her compartment and snagged her, stretching her limbs out and suspending her in the air.
“You got lucky, Asari,” the Krogan sneered as he reapproached, appearing slightly sore, “We’ll find another way through. We’ll get you back to Saren one way or another. Sit tight.”
An eerie duel humming bounced off the walls of the Leviathan. Though it paled in comparison to Sovereign – that ridiculous and pervasive dreadnaught Saren paraded around in – the Leviathan was a force to be reckoned with. With a small crew and powerful weaponry, the Leviathan made the perfect mobile command centre. Katherina and her twin brother Frederick Luthor hummed along to the music they had playing out of the greatest speakers money could buy. The finale of Wagner’s Götterdämmerung was an exceptionally sentimental piece. In the age of increasing anglofication of the human species, they prided themselves on their German heritage. Presently they wore matching nondescript dark uniforms with white aprons over them. Her blonde hair was up in a tight bun, while his was slicked back with the aid of a hair product they invented in this very lab. Together, they operated on the Turian sprawled out on the table in front of them, withering in agony as they vivisected him.
“Remarkable, his voice box continues to scream even after being removed from the body,” she poked it with the blunt end of the scalpel.
“Hm," Frederick leant in closer to the Turian's face. "We’d have to test on more subjects to ensure this wasn’t a mere death spasm.”
“Gott sei Dank for the spoils of war!" she giggled.
"Look, Katherina," he tilted his head upwards. "Is the texture of his throat not smoother than one would expect?”
Before she could respond an incoming call flashed across the enormous screen plastered on the wall. “Brother, it appears Herr Saren has need of our services again.”
“Bah, put the fool through," he replied dismissively. "We only have so long before this subject passes away, and you know how boring our work can be when they aren’t alive.”
Snickering, she signalled for her VI to accept the call while her brother plunged the scalpel quicker. “Herr Saren,” she greeted him cordially. “What can we do for you today?”
“When can I expect Liara T’Soni to be brought to me? This Prothean data is useless without her.”
“Patience, mien Freund," she tutted playfully. "Your forces are at the dig site presently. Though we ran into a…”
“Minor inconvenience,” her brother finished for her without looking up. “The doctor evaded the Geth and locked herself inside of some sort of Prothean stasis device.”
“I told you two that I needed her n-”
“Herr Saren," Katherina cut him off with mild irritation. "Let me remind you that this operation was launched without any proper preparation and in direct contradiction to our advice. Do not blame us for your own mistakes.”
“My sister and I have done precisely as you instructed," Frederick finally stepped away from the body, clasping his bloodied hands behind his back. "You came to us to coordinate your operations, no?” Katherina giggled as her brother pointed at the hologram with a red finger. “This was an example of what happens when you do things your way. Had you granted us more time to plan, things would be going much smoother.”
She frowned at her omni-tool as another transmission came in, this time, a text burst from their forces on Therum. “I must interrupt. It appears the Normandy has arrived in system.”
“Impossible,” Saren spat, earning a snort from her brother.
“Clearly not,” Frederick murmured smugly.
“We did warn you that Commander Shepard would pose a serious threat to your plans," she smirked. "If you truly wish to succeed we must insist that you follow our advice when it is provided.”
“Perhaps,” the Turian slowly drawled, “I was mistaken. We cannot leave anything to chance. I’m inviting you to join me on Sovereign to plan my operations with greater… efficiency.”
The twins stared at each other and broke out into laughter. “I’m afraid,” she started.
“Herr Saren,” her brother added.
“That won’t be an option.” She stated. The two of them began slowly approaching the hologram, taking turns speaking phrases as their eyes twinkled menacingly. “You see,”
“Firstly, our network is built around our ship, not Sovereign.”
“Secondly, the closer we are to you, the higher the chances of our association with you becoming known.”
“And finally,” her brother clicked his tongue.
“And this part is most important,” she ephasised.
“We honestly can’t stress this enough,” he tilted his head down.
“We would prefer it if we weren’t brainwashed by an ancient mechanical weapon.”
“No offence.”
“Herr Saren.”
The Turian glared at the twins through the monitor. They were sure he would like nothing more than to kill them, likely even to torture them a little bit first out of some misplaced sense of reparation for time he percieved as waster. But now that Saren had lost his Spectre privileges and connections, and that his face had been plastered across the galaxy as a public enemy number one, he needed outsiders to assist his operations in order to maintain as much secrecy as possible without inhibiting efficiency or effectiveness. Likewise, they needed him. Short of fleeing to the barbaric Terminus Systems, they had no other way of acquiring the resources they needed to continue their own efforts. Especially not after recent setbacks of a more... personal nature..
“Fine,” he finally spoke, “have it your way. Remember that you might not always be so useful to me,” he warned.
The twins exchanged a look and broke out into a hysteric fit again. Staring right back at him, they simultaneously spoke; “You too, mien Freund.”
Chapter 10: Liberation
Summary:
Shepard fights to save their first real lead, the enigmatic Doctor T'Soni, from an attempted Geth kidnapping
Chapter Text
So far the mission was off to a great start. Having secured the landing zone with no resistance, the ground team had quickly navigated themselves to the outskirts of the excavation. Ashley was happy to be in the field again. She and Alenko were put out when Shepard left them behind to guard Doctor Michelle on the Citadel while taking the aliens, but it was pretty easy to forget her quarrel when she was behind the biggest gun Shepard was legally allowed to put her behind.
Ashley sat behind the Mako’s gun, firing at every Geth that stood between them and their objective. She could hear Butch jeer every blast that sent Geth falling over or flying into the lava. Shepard turned out to be a decent driver, but her stomach curled with every unconventional ‘shortcut’ that Shepard would suddenly take. He seemed to insist on taking the shortest route to their objective, regardless of the terrain's feasibility. She knew that if she were behind the wheel that she wouldn’t be driving over the hills or dipping into lava, but she wasn’t the commanding officer.
“Whoo!” Butch shouted as Ash blew a leg off a Geth Colossus, toppling it over. Shepard ran over it, triggering some sort of self-destruct sequence. Even Wrex chuckled as the thing short-circuited and blew up. “Take that you robo-bastards!”
Ashley grinned at the lieutenant’s cheering. She was the only Australian she had ever met and her accent was just as hilarious as the stereotypical vids she'd seen growing up. Entering a tunnel, Shepard commanded their attentions.
“The ruins are on the other side of this tunnel. Orbital scans showed two Colossus supporting the Geth defence. They can’t have found T’Soni yet or they wouldn’t be here. We still have time.”
“Finally,” Wrex grumbled, “getting tired of these seats, Shepard.”
“Look alive, Williams,” the commander shouted, “Here we come!”
Katherina leant back in her chair, silently sipping on a a class of cool water. She would much prefer a glass of wine - she was particularly craving more of that exquisite white from Argentina that they recently added to their impressive collection, but, alas, she and her brother understood the importance of having a clear head during coordination sessions such as this. Not that there was much to do. Saren’s previous ineptitudes left her watching over a poor execution to a poor plan. God, she hated micromanagers.
Bored, she split her attention between watching the live data feed from Therum and watching her brother absentmindedly play the piano. She silently hummed to his performance – a flawless rendition of “Ride of the Valkyries” – pleasantly observing the serious look on his face as he played the piece to perfection. These were the moments she enjoyed most. Sure, there wasn’t anything boring about their regular work, but it was times like this that truly made them feel like a regular family. Well, to an extent. The actions they both allowed to happen and actively helped happen across the galaxy were considered highly deplorable by most. Not that either of the twins cared, all they needed was each other. To hell with the rest of the galaxy and their damn judgments. They were hardly the worst people in the Milky Way.Katherina detested morals and ethics.
A red flash appeared in the corner of her eye. Frowning, she reluctantly turned away from Frederick to read the new information.
“Brother.” She interrupted, prompting him to reduce the volume of his performance. Without stopping playing, he turned his head slightly to make eye-contact with her for a moment. “It appears the Normandy crew have breached the Geth defence. They’re entering the ruins presently.”
“Hm? Ah." he nodded slightly absentmindedly. "Is Fraulein T’Soni still ensnared in the Prothean bubble?”
“Ja. The Krogan has been unable to- aha!" Katherina grinned. "I see what you’re thinking.”
“Call Saren’s forces off," Frederick suggested. "Let the good Commander waltz right up to her. I’m sure he’ll find a way to free her.”
“Wonderbar!” she exclaimed. “May he do the work for us!”
Turning his head back to the piano with a barely hidden smug grin, he shrugged his broad shoulders. “It’s the only way we could salvage this…” he momentarily trailed off as he executed a particularly complicated section of the composition, “this childishly incompetent failure of a controlled extraction. Remind me once more, dearest sister, why we need this Turian fool?”
“You know as well as I” she giggled, shaking her head at his rhetorical complaint. “It’s only a temporary arrangement.”
He grunted in disdain and returned his full attention to the piano. She sent off the instructions to the Krogan and stood up. Grabbing her glass to refill, she began walking towards the kitchen. She stopped by her brother to place a hand on his shoulder and a kiss on his forehead. “Soon, Frederick, soon.”
It was too quiet. Luke rounded every corner expecting for the Geth to have set up an ambush, but they steadily made their way down the ruins without any impediment. It was unnatural.
“Stay alert, team,” he warned.
“You’ve already said that,” Butch grumbled.
He frowned and continued moving forwards. With the absence of foes, his attention wandered over their surroundings.
The best word he could use to describe this place was ‘grand’. The ancient ruins rose up before them like a ghostly reminder of a long-lost civilization. The ruins were clearly the product of a highly advanced culture, albeit one which still valued traditional, almost primitive building styles as evidenced by the intricate carvings and designs etched into the crumbling stone and overall seemingly natural-based composition of the walls and pillars. Luke could almost feel the energy that must have pulsated through these structures during their prime.
Despite the ravages of time and the elements, the ruins still exuded a strong sense of grandeur. Luke couldn't help but feel a sense of reverence for the Protheans, and a deep curiosity about what had become of them. While he had always been interested by history, never had he been so taken by the Protheans’ design. Luke had done a paper on Turian architecture in high school but this was something else altogether.
Vargen. Our most prestigious extra-galactic research centre. Once a home of discovery, we evacuated and dispersed our data before the Reapers could learn our secrets.
…
What the hell was that?
Unconsciously, Luke stopped walking and rubbed his head. What was going on? Did something in the ruins trigger a reaction from the beacon? Could that happen? His head throbbed. This would not do when in the middle of a mission. What if he was in a firefight?
“-uke!”
He jerked his head up at a worried Butch, wiping sweat off his face that he didn’t realise was there. “Butch?”
“Damn it, what was that? You clocked out on us there.”
“We can talk later," he shook his head quickly. "We need to find the doctor and get her out of her as quickly as we can.”
You can do this. Just... a little… harder…
Biotic energy lifted a rock over the control sphere. Liara grunted in pain as she levitated it upwards and downwards, desperate to hit a combination which would release her. Yet again, to her chagrin, the sphere flashed red. Liara flopped in defeat, the rock dropping unceremoniously to the group and bouncing a few centimetres.
By the Goddess, how am I getting out of here?
Heavy footsteps echoed throughout the room in front of her. Was the Krogan coming back to taunt her once more? Didn’t that brute have anything else to do? Liara certainly didn’t think herself a racist of speciesist – she was a pureblood for goodness sake, she was in no position to judge – but that Krogan really lived up to every negative stereotype about his species. Sighing, she stared down at the floor, refusing to give that dolt the satisfaction of staring into her desperate eyes.
But then she heard a female voice.
“Still no sign of Geth. This is getting eerie. Aaand I still can’t see the doctor either,” she complained.
Was this a trick? Was the Krogan trying to trick her into talking or releasing herself? Was that barbarian even smart enough to come up with a plan any more complicated than bashing his head against the energy wall? But… what if it wasn’t a trap? She couldn’t afford to pass by an opportunity like this. If they really were representing a different party, it had to be better than letting the Krogan kidnap her.
“Uh… hello?” she cried, struggling to get the words out. Dehydration was making her voice raspy. “Over here, over he-” she interrupted herself with a coughing fit. Instinctively she tried to cover her mouth, berating herself for being unable to act proper until her immobility reminded her of her current predicament. Staring forwards, she could make out a group of humanoid figures approaching the energy barrier. “Can you hear me out there? I’m t-trapped I need help!”
“Doctor T’Soni?” the human male asked, “Are you ok?” The first thing she noticed was how the sight of this man – whom she had never seen in her entire life – immediately put her at ease. There was something about him that instantly made her calm down. Maybe it was the confidence he radiated. Perhaps it was desperation.
“I- Y-you need to help me. I activated the defences by accident when the Krogan attacked," she blurted. "I c-can’t get out. P-please, you must get me out!” She started getting worked up again, rambling without thought.
“Calm down," he rose a hand in a flat gesture. "We’ll find a way to help you. Do you know how we can get into that room with you?”
“We hadn’t finished excavating the site. Some pathways have c-collapsed. I- I- I don’t know what to… how to hel-… P-please!!” Tears began to flow down Liara’s face. Her mind was full of a thousand thoughts but she couldn’t put any of them into proper words. Her mind was full of ideas yet she couldn’t put any of them into a plan. She felt so… useless. Her head drooped in shame. She failed her friends, her staff, herself, and now she was failing those who were coming to rescue her.
“It’s going to be ok, doctor. We’re going to find a way in, but I need you to do something for me.” Again, she raised her head to meet the human’s gaze. Despite her state he looked calm and unjudgmental. “You’re a Prothean expert, right?” She nodded. “I want you to pick whatever it is you know best about them. An era, a theory.”
“Th-the Second Age,” she stuttered, certain she looked like a fool.
“I want you to take that and run through it in your head. Don’t think about anything else. Focus on it, recite it in incredible detail. Can you do that for me?”
She managed a nod and closed her eyes, doing as she was asked. At first her mind was cloudy, still full of a non-stop flow of data that was driving her anxiety. But it didn’t take very long for her mind to calm as she mentally sifted through all of the information on the Second Age that she had in here head. She was so focused that couldn’t even register her mind and body calming down as she ran through the era year by year.
Katherina traced her finger around her empty glass boredly. Frederick had stepped out to handle an issue with some of the staff leaving her with no entertainment. She followed his location and watched him on the security feeds, unwilling to let him out of her sight. They didn’t like splitting up; every bad thing that had every happened to them happened when they were apart. He would only be gone for a few minutes though. She could handle that. Katherina watched him consistently glance at his omni-tool. He was doing the exact same thing as she was. As if reading her thoughts, he turned and flashed his most charismatic grin at the hall’s security camera. She rolled her eyes and giggled. He grimaced, rubbing his forehead before continuing on his way. Her grin quickly subsided when another red flash indicated that the Krogan wished to talk to her. With a sigh, she accepted the call.
“Speak,” she snapped
“Humans did something," he rumbled. "The whole ruins are shaking.”
“Have they got the doctor?” Katherina inquired.
“Probably. We’re holding the entrance like you said. We-”
She straightened, glowing at the beast. “Maintain your position. You only have one chance at this. Do not fail.”
Not waiting for a response, she terminated the call. Turning her attention back to the camera, she watched her brother storm through the halls of their ship. Her smile returned once more and she sighed pleasantly.
The elevator creaked nervously as it made its ascent to the entrance. With the ruins shaking, everyone was ready to book it. Luke knew that it wouldn’t be that easy. It was never that easy. They’d retreated the doctor without conflict, which considering the sheer amount of effort they'd used to stop him from intially reach her made their sudden disappearance incredibly suspect. Luke considered it highly probably that the enemy were using him to get her out of her predicament to get to her.
His suspicious were unfortunately proven true when a Krogan warrior greeted him at the entrance.
“It’s about time,” he grinned. “I’ve been waiting. Hand ove the doctor, human.”
“We need to get out of here,” Luke shouted, “the damn planet’s falling apart!”
“Heh heh," he chuckled. "Isn't it exciting?”
Not wanting to waste anymore time, Luke pulled his pistol out and opened fire. His squad dived for cover and did the same. Normally they would have no trouble dealing with a force like this, but time was of the essence. Even Liara tried to chip in with her biotics, though she immediately felt the effects. The Asari practically collapsed onto the floor, exhaustion finally taking its toll on the poor woman.
“Wrex, I need this guy taken care of now!!” he barked.
The old Krogan roared and charged out of cover, sprinting towards his adversary. The other Krogan began doing the same, aiming to meet him head-on. The two behemoths collided with an audible bang. Wrex seemed to come out on top as the other stumbled back. He pulled him in for another headbutt and fired his shotgun directly into his throat, taking him out. Without his support the Geth found themselves at a tactical disadvantage and became a non-threat.
As the room began to shake even more, Shepard yelled at his comrades to move out. He didn’t know how much time they would have before the ruins collapsed in on itself. He scooped up the Asari’s unconscious body and put her into a fireman carry. His surprise at how light she was quickly was forgotten as the ruins shook again, and he began running as fast as he could. Wrex, Butch, and Williams fired at the few Geth who stood between them and the exit. The steel scaffolding they ran across screeched but there was no time to evaluate how safe it was. The exit was just there, they were so close. Wrex bellowed with joy as he knocked a Geth flying down to the bottom of the ruins with nothing more than his bare fist.
After emerging from the poorly illuminated ruins, everyone was taken aback by the sun. But there was no time to adjust. They dashed towards the Mako as fast as they could possibly run. Butch slid behind the wheel and keyed the ignition with her omni-tool. Shepard gently placed the Asari down on an available seat and yanked the door close behind Wrex.
“Drive!!”
Chapter 11: Rest
Summary:
Having rescued Liara T'Soni, the crew takes a moment of rest
Chapter Text
Udina shook his head at the report in front of him as he read it for a fourth time. The destruction of a major Prothean ruins was not an incident the Council took lightly. Though frustrated, Anderson had made certain he knew that there was no other way Shepard could have completed the mission. Be that as it may, the plethora of complaints and insults received by his office were giving him a headache - representitives from the Council species, academic organisations, and even a Hanar governmental figure plagued his inbox. And the worst part was that it was too soon to tell if it was even worth it; Shepard hadn’t been able to interrogate the Asari doctor as she was undergoing medical treatment on the Normandy, meaning that he had practically nothing to offer any of their detractors.
The ambassador grunted and threw the datapad across his desk in annoyance. His might hold the most prestigious position in foreign relations, but it was certainly a privilege he fought to earn every single day. Since his initial appointment he had been on the defensive – the aliens had no interest in seeing humanity as equals. He felt like the newest courtier in a medieval court. Shepard’s induction to the Spectres was the first major breakthrough Udina had accomplished and he’d be damned if he let it all go to waste. Contrary to his rivals’ beliefs, Udina was a staunch Alliance nationalist. He loved humanity and would do all in his power to push it forwards.
Accepting an incoming call on the comms, Dupont informed him that Anderson was here to see him again. He grunted. Perhaps a quick distraction would clear his mind enough to find a solution. He opened his door via a command on his omni-tool. “Captain Anderson,” he greeted, “Dupont, hold my calls.”
“Ambassador,” his recently appointed 'Alliance Liason' responded curtly, taking a seat opposite him.
“Anderson, your protégé’s first mission has a great many officials quite upset," he grit thorugh his teeth. "Humanity’s enemies are using this as an opportunity to prove that we are incompetent and ill-equped to oversee Prothean ruins. It’s ridiculous.”
The man rested his forearms on the edge of his desk. “I’ve gone over the reports with some of my contacts. I may have a way out for us.”
“Please, by all means, do tell,” he drawled apprehensively. Politics was not what the captain trained for but at this point Udina was willing to hear anything which might offer a solution. Anderson leaned over and placed a datapad in front of him. On it was a list of staff, supplies, and funding. It was rather small, all things considered, and- "Ah," he allowed. "Perhaps I underestimated you, Anderson."
“Look at how underfunded the excavation was. Low supplies, low staff," he pointed at multiple lines in the file. "Hell, if you look at my notes at the bottom you’ll see that most of the staff and resources were funded directly by the T’Soni estate.”
He scratched his chin. “For a major Prothean site this shows an extraordinarily lack of support from the Council.”
“It gets better,” Anderson swiped at the datapad to reveal another file, “Doctor T’Soni requested funding from both the Council and numerous Asari universities, all denied. If you look at the stated reasons for the rejection you’ll find two main schools of thought which I summarised at the bottom.”
Udina chuckled as he read them. It seemed no major institution wished to support T’Soni based on her theories on something called ‘cyclic extinction’. The other notable reason was that… Oh this is too good to be true... “Anderson, is this right?”
“I verified it myself," the captain allowed himself a wry smirk. "The intial Council expedition determined the site would offer no information of benefit to Citadel Space, abandoning the ruins.”
“This is an exception find, Captain, with this we can go on the offensive," he decreed, pulling up his terminal. "How can humanity be criticised for the destruction of a major Prothean ruin if the Council itself refused to classify it as a major site in the first place!" Udina laughed. "I shall schedule a press conference immediately. Open panel. Multi-species debate. Direct council representatives. We’ll slaughter them!”
“I have another appointment to get to. I’ll leave you to it, Ambassador,” Anderson stood up.
“Of course, of course” he dismissed absentmindedly as he furiously typed away on his terminal. Let’s see those alien bastards refute this.
Straightening out his uniform, Shepard strode into the med-bay, dismissing the ensigns standing guard by T’Soni. She stared blankly at the wall in front of her while Chakwas performed some final tests on her, not noticing her guards leaving the room or his entry. She looked a healthier colour of blue and seemed to be in a much better physical condition.
“Commander Shepard,” welcomed Chakwas, making the Asari look up at him nervously, “So good of you to join us. I think Doctor T’Soni will be quite alright,' she assured him. "I’d still like to give you a proper check-up, but you’re free to speak with our guest. I’ll be just in the mess grabbing a cup of coffee.”
“Thank you, doctor,” he said in unison with the Asari. Liara stiffened as they looked at each other. He flashed her a smile and chuckled and she seemed to loosen up a little. “Doctor T’Soni, you look much better, how are you feeling?”
“You came to check up on me?” she asked shortly.
He nodded, clasping his left hand behind his back. “Things got heated down there. I wanted to see how you’re holding up.”
The woman smiled politely. “Doctor Chakwas assures me I am going to be fine. I was impressed with her knowledge of Asari physiology.”
“You’re in good hands,” he agreed with a grin, “I’ve lost count of the number of times she’s patched me up.”
“I-, you…” He patiently watched her as she struggled to find the right words to say. The corner of his mouth raised into a bit of a smirk as he watched her face contort while in thought. It was cute. “I have not yet had the chance to thank you for saving me from the Geth. If you hadn’t shown up…” she trailed off, nervousness returning to her eyes. “If I may ask, why did you help me?”
Luke pursed his lips. “Have you seen the news?” She shook her head. “Saren, a spectre, went rogue and attacked a human colony with Geth army. We found evidence to prove his guilt and…" he trailed off for a moment, before giving her an empathetic look. "It’s tied him to your mother.”
“She allowed him to attack a colony?" she suddenly exclaimed loudly. "That impossible. Mother would never- Wait do you think I had something to do with it? How many people died? I- I- I- need to-”
“Hey, it’s okay, we know you’re not a part of this.” Shepard reassured her, softening his voice. “The Geth were trying to capture you. And,” he smirked at her, “I did a background check on you on the way to Therum. No offence, but you don’t scream conspiracy. ”
She appeared to calm down and giggled just a little. Her face flushed to a slightly more purple shade. “I know you took a chance bringing me aboard this ship. How…” she took a deep breath. “How may I help?”
“Here’s the second reason I was keen to get you aboard," he straightend his back, picking up a datapad from the table. "You’re one of the most renowned experts on the Protheans. This whole conspiracy is tied to them. It started on Eden Prime, where archaeologists surfaced a working Prothean beacon.”
The first lot of news had really shaken her. Her own mother? A terrorist? It was utterly unthinkable. But the story which followed was somehow even more spectacular. Commander Shepard – who's name was vaguely familiar but could not be placed in her head – detailed a brief overview of his exploits until now, leading up to his interaction with a Prothean beacon.
“It’s remarkable!” she exclaimed, “Technology from over 50,000 years ago still managed to ingrain information directly into your mind! The implications this has for Prothean biology… you must tell me more!” Liara reached for a datapad which didn’t exist, momentarily berated herself, and then with just as much immediacy she forgot and returned her full attention to the task at hand. “How did it feel? What did it tell you? By the Goddess, did you get to see the Protheans? I-” She stopped herself as the commander started to chuckle. Actually looking at the him, he had yet another grin plastered across his face. Liara felt her face flush again – a response which was beginning to disturb her due to it’s alarming cyclic nature – yet she found herself grinning back a little bit. Was she… giddy? Impossible. It must have been a result of her recovery and the intensity of the situation. “What is so funny, commander?”
He remained stationary, and she held eye-contact with his blue eyes. His deep blue eyes. “It’s nothing,” he dismissed nonchalantly, “You just reminded me of someone I know.”
“I’ll t-take it as a compliment,” she stuttered, maintaining his gaze. Control yourself!
He nodded, but she saw a hidden sadness behind his eyes. How… confusing. “Doctor, I won’t mince words. I need your help. You’re the only factor which crosses over all three major aspects of our investigation," he explained. "Saren, Benezia, and the Protheans. You're my missing link. Any information you could give us would be helpful. I hate to ask you to provide information on your mother, but I’ll be honest, we have no idea how she fits into all this.”
“I- it’s not easy to think about," she confessed, "but I will do as you say. If I could request the reports on the relevant events thus far?”
Shepard nodded. “Of course, I’ll get you to talk with Vakarian. Once you’ve finished assisting with our investigation we’d be happy to return you to a safe location so you can resume your normal life. You’re not a prisoner here.”
The thought of leaving the Normandy made her feel strangely upset. She had been here for what would surely be less than a day - most of which was spent out of consciousness - and the only people she had actually talked with was the commander and the doctor. She frowned, uncomfortable with her feeling and not knowing what to make of them. “C-commander. If I might make one last entreaty?”
Shepard turned back to face her. “Please,” he pleasantly gestured with a wave, encouraging her to continue.
“Perhaps, due to the…” she shook her hand in the air as she searched for the right words, “rapidly developing nature of the conspiracy, it would be best if you had a Prothean expert on hand?” She did her best to remain confident, but for some reason she got the impression that the commander could see right through her.
“Are you asking to join my crew?”
“Y-yes!” she stammered, “I mean, if that’s fine with you. This is an Alliance ship I suppose. But you’re a Spectre! I could help, if you’re fine with it, I-,” she sucked in a deep breath, thoroughly upset with herself. It was laughable. She, Doctor Liara T’Soni, raised from birth to be as prim and proper as a Thessian noblewoman should be, was falling apart like a pre-adolescent schoolgirl. Preparing to burst into another tirade, she stopped herself upon seeing the commander with another of his blasted smiles. “Am I truly that amusing to you?”
“I’m sorry doctor, I can’t help myself.” She tried and failed to come across as unentertained, instead breaking into giggles when the commander began laughing. “If joining the Normandy is what you want, I’m sure we can make it work.”
Though her face was still flushing, she mustered the last remnants of her composure. “Very well then, commander. If we are to work together then I insist you call me Liara.”
“I’d be happy to. Feel free to call me Luke.”
Katherina was beginning to grow tired of the angry Turian's hologram. “Unbelievable," their temporary associate spat. "They got away? When I hired you I was led to believe you were the best yet you've just delivered a setback which will delay us by weeks if not months.”
“Herr Saren,” Katherina stated bluntly, “When you insisted you personally plan the extraction my brother and I warned you of the risks. You refuted our plans and lost the doctor because of it.”
The Turian glared at her and her brother but said nothing. Despite how the operation had gone, she knew it would be foolish to think the rogue spectre an idiot. “Allow us to show you just how skilled we are,” her brother interjected. “We are on our way to Feros as we speak. You should join us, you may end up learning to make sense of the information in your head.”
“You found something?” his anger shifted into curiosity.
Frederick tilted his head up triumphantly. “Perhaps. It would be more accurate to sat that ExoGeni did. How fortunate that the three of us are prominent shareholders in the company.”
“Trust us, Herr Saren," she added wryly, "this is one expedition you do not want to miss out on.”
The Turian nodded and terminated the call. Katherina and her brother shared a look of annoyance, taking a simultaneous deep breath. They had finished planning for Feros before the Therum operation was even complete, and only had their wardrobe left to pick. “Sister, I fear I may just kill that Turian myself.”
Katherina pulled her brother into a hug, rubbing his back affectionally. She purred into his ear, “I would love nothing more than to mount his head on our living room’s wall," she sympathised with him, "but we must remain patient. You know what's at stake.”
“I know, I know,” he grumbled. "My frustration remains nevertheless."
"As does mine," her lip quirked upwards. Stepping back, she looked at him as his face twitched nearly imperceptably. Deciding that he needed a good distraction, she becan to guide him towards her living room. “Come, Frederick. Show me your latest composition.”
Butch walked into Luke's quarters, plopping herself onto a free seat while the commander rolled his eyes. Their years of service and close friendship granted her privileges most of the crew wouldn’t get, such as the ability to enter his room whenever she felt like it. He was the closest thing to a brother she had, so, natrually, sisterly privileges gave her the right to provoke him whenever she wanted.
“Please,” he remarked, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “Come in.”
She leant over and slapped him on the back, laughing. “Come on, Lukey, don’t be rude.”
“I’m your CO, I’ll be as rude as I want,” he ribbed back, leaning in, “Beatrice.”
She visibly shuddered at the use of her first name and raised her hands in surrender. “Fine, fine, sorry Luke. That was low,” she accused, pointing a finger at him.
“So,” he asked with a chuckle, “What can I do for you?”
“I heard the doc’s sticking around. Heard you two get along,” she stated with the slightest accusation.
“She’s already proving invaluable to the investigation," Luke agreed, entirely immune to her provocations. "Tevos turned over no information on Benezia, so having anything at all is-”
“Ah ah ah,” Butch cut off, “You know that’s not what I mean.”
His face fell immediately. “For god’s sake, Butch, she’s been on the ship for less than a day.”
“And you’re already making an impression. I was chatting with he and she called you Luke before cutting herself off! It’s adorable!”
“You’re ridiculous,” he muttered, shaking his head.
“Mhm.”
“You’re ridiculous and the moment you finally show interest in someone I’m going to unleash the single greatest payback in our species history,” he promised her.
Chapter 12: Adjustment
Summary:
Everyone tries to adjust to the new status quo as the Normandy returns to the Citadel
Chapter Text
Tired, Shepard made his rounds around the ship, mug of coffee in hand. It was something Anderson had done frequently when the vessel was still his. Shepard hoped that his crew would come to respect and like him as much as they did the ex-captain. It was such a small thing, to simply walk around and talk to people. Operationally, it didn't make much of a difference as everything important was already given to him by Pressley by the time he was out of the shower. But it was about relationships. Morale.
Pressley had nothing new to report, Joker had already set a course for the Citadel, and the CIC seemed to be running smoothly. Going down a level, most of the crew were enjoying dinner in the mess. He entered the med-bay, nearly instantly regretting it. “Commander," Chakwas greeted him warmly. "I’m so glad you’ve come.”
“Something happened?” he sipped his coffee.
“No, no," she waved him off nonchalantly. "I was just thinking that it had been a while since your last check-up.”
Luke sighed. “Come on, doc, we had one on the way to Therum.”
Chakwas tutted, clicking her tongue. “You and I both know commanding officers should be checked after every bout of active duty.” The doctor sipped from her cup of tea to hide her smile.
“Fine, but let’s make it quick," he sat himself on a cot. "Smugness doesn't suit you."
The doctor raised an eyebrow but she said nothing as she began running the usual tests. “Have you been settling into your new role?” she asked, keeping her gaze on the machines.
Luke sighed. “It wasn’t what I was expecting, but I think I’m managing. I suppose I should be grateful for the opportunity.”
“I haven’t heard any negative gossip," she assured him. "You seem to be quite popular with the crew. Liara too.”
“Liara is part of the crew,” he stated calmly while narrowing his eyes at the doctor.
“Of course, of course,” she dismissed. “Please place your arm here.”
Luke groaned. “Not you too, doc.”
“I didn’t say anything.” The doctor took another long sip from her tea.
Doctor T’Soni proved to be the breakthrough Garrus needed. The information she was providing was allowing him to actually begin properly connecting the dots. He was able to thoroughly map out Saren and the Matriarch’s businesses, revealing leads that would never have been noticeable otherwise. The two sat in the room he shared with Butch, hard at work. Garrus’ eyes kept flickering up from his terminal to the young Asari. She was completely embroiled in her work, typing up anything of importance and downloading copied of her works which had been redacted by the Matriarchs and Thessian academic institutions. C-Sec thinking would indicate that she wasn’t to be trusted and that she was a significant potential threat to the Normandy, but Garrus’ gut told him that the commander made the right call accepting her into the crew. That was just something else incredible about the commander; he was an excellent judge in character.
A whoosh from behind told him someone had entered the room. Turning around, he found Butch standing in the doorway with her arms folded. She raised an eyebrow at Liara and Garrus, barely containing a smirk. “Should I be jealous?”
T’Soni’s eyes shot up and went wide, and she raised her arms in a panic. “Are you two- oh my, I didn’t do any-”
“We’re just friends,” Garrus interjected, shooting a glance at the lieutenant who could contain her laughter no longer. “Lieutenant Robinson has a special sense of humour. She seems to think she’s funny.”
“Gar,” she mocked, acting hurt, “You wound me.”
“Spirits… What can we do for you, Robinson.”
“You do know this is my room too?” she rose an eyebrow.
Garrus matched her dry look with one of his own. “You’re too obvious to lie to me. What do you want.”
Pouting, Butch turned to Liara, “Tali and I realised you hadn’t had a chance to meet much of the crew. We wanted to invite you for a girls night.”
The Asari glanced to Garrus, seeking direction as to how to proceed. It was clear she was curious by the offer, but also didn’t want to disappoint him or the commander by leaving work unfinished. “Go on, doctor, you’ve already typed out more than I could probably do in a whole day.”
She allowed herself a grin and nodded before standing up and leaving the room with Butch. He shook his head and turned back to his terminal. He had work to do.
Ashley and Alenko sat in the hanger cleaning their weapons in silence. They weren’t the most compatible, but it wasn’t like they had anyone else to hang out with. Alenko had become a bit of a loner after Smith died on Eden Prime, and Ashley herself wasn’t the most popular member of the team. Butch, the only other human on the ground team apart from Shepard, would rather hang out with the aliens than with her. Not that she liked the Australian, but it stung a little to be liked less than the xenos.
“You’ve been with her longer,” she probed, “what do you think of Butch?”
“Commander’s right-hand woman. They’ve been together since Elysium,” Alenko replied, chewing on a ration-bar.
She huffed. “Pretty rare for friends to be stationed together for so long.”
“I heard Anderson pulled some strings to make it happen," he shrugged. "Commander’s his protégé.”
“She seems friendly with the aliens,” Ashleyadded.
“Share’s a room with the detective.” She did a double take at Alenko. “They got the XO’s quarters.”
“Great," she grumbled. "She’s probably sleeping with the Turians.” Alenko grunted, whether in humour or agreeance she could not tell. “And us humans get left behind.”
Alenko nodded, swallowing the rest of his ration bar. “You could ask for a transfer,” he offered.
Ashley chuckled mirthlessly. “No way. Even if he let the aliens aboard, Shepard’s been the only CO to give me a shot.”
“Good. Wouldn’t want to see you go.” Alenko smiled politely before grimacing, raising a hand to his temple.
She frowned. “You good, LT?”
He stood up, walking away. "I'm fine. Just need some water."
Lara marched onto the bridge of the Iwo Jima at exactly 0700. She had not been late for a single shift since she was brought aboard. Order was all she had, and it would take something truly dreadful to keep her from reporting for duty. Captain Meyer greeted her with grin and eagerly limped over to her. “Commander!” he greeted, “Perfect timing. We’re set to dock with the Citadel momentarily.”
“Sir?” she stood straight, unaware of their sudden recall.
Meyer didn't seem to notice her concern. “I’ve spoken with Mikhailovich. Our next missions are taking us to the western Traverse. We'll resupply at the Citadel since its going to be a while before we return. I’m granting the whole crew two days’ worth of shore leave.”
She frowned. “What are my orders?”
“Hm?" he furrowed his brow. "It’s shore leave, commander, I don’t have any orders for you.”
Lara stood stiffly, unhappy with the total lack of instruction as Meyer moved back towards the middle of the bridge. She remained where she was, considering her next move.
“It may interest you, however,” he spun around suddenly, “to hear that your brother will be docking shortly after we do." His face fell. "You would do well to avoid him.”
“I can handle him, sir,” her face darkened.
Meyer scoffed as he gave her an incredibly disbelieving look. “I think not. The last time you spoke to him… well we both know how that went.”
“That was seven months ago, sir. I can handle him,” she assured her commanding officer.
He sized her up, not saying anything. Lara refused to flince, waiting until he finally nodded. “Hm… very well. What you do on shore leave is your prerogative. The deck is yours, commander.”
Dismissing her with a wave, the captain limped off the bridge. She clasped her hands behind her back, forcing herself to not tap her leg. I am in control. I am in control.
Despite her upbringing, Liara was aware that she was rather socially awkward. She had been raised to socialise at parties, events, functions, all situations where there’s no real connection involved. It was purely political. Her mother had rarely encouraged or even allowed her to involve herself in friendships or relationships. She claimed that those who would make good friends would bring nothing of worth and those who would bring worth would not make good friends. She supposed that was part of what made archaeology so easy. It was just her and her staff. But now she found herself on a small ship with an entirely foreign crew. Many of whom were quite insistent on friendship and camaraderie, even though she was clearly not the optimal choice.
“What do you think, Li?” Liara jumped a little, pulled out of her thoughts by Butch. She gave a small smile and apologised, having not paid attention. “Tali was saying how lucky we are Luke was the first human Spectre.”
“Oh, yes," she replied quickly. "He’s quite remarkable.”
“How long were you on Therum for?” Tali asked her as she stretched her arms.
Liara frowned as she tried to recall just how long it had been. “I had been there for about seven months. It’s a shame to leave, we had only just made our first major breakthroughs.”
“Wow, that’s ages,” Butch exclaimed with a whistle. “Not a job I could do. I need to be on the move.”
“My work can be… slow… but I’ve always found it to be rather engaging," she defended her profession. "What about you? I’m sure the life of a marine must be exciting, no?”
“Damn straight!” the human beamed with pride and puffed her chest out. “I’ve been fighting with Luke since before he was a big shot hero.”
“Ooh,” Tali leaned forwards in her seat, “Surely you have a story you can tell us.”
“I would be keen to hear about the commanders exploits as well,” Liara agreed, “And yours of course.”
“Most of the stuff we do’s classified,” Butch exhaled dramatically, making Tali visibly deflate and Liara frown, but a grin spread across the lieutenant’s face. “Bu-ut," she looked between them, "I’m sure I could tell you two something from our days at the academy.”
“Yes!” Tali shouted, turning a few heads from the nearby crew.
“So," Butch immediately launched into her story. "We were training in the Adelaide academy, That's a city in South Australia," she clarified. "Our base was further north, basically in the desert. Part of special forces training meant we had to learn to fight in any environment. Our instructor was a retired general who used us to play war and relive the good old days. Real character," she chuckled. "He organised us into two teams and had us run practice battles against each other day after day, testing new tactics and formations. As we approached our final weeks he got curious, or something. Gave his appointed commander’s of both teams and told us to fight each other with total freedom of command. Luke was the commander of our team, Katherina Luthor was the commander of the other.”
Liara frowned. "I am afraid I her name is only vaguely familiar to me."
Butch snorted. "Bah, she's a stuck-up snob. She and Luke were rivals. Don't even get me started on her brother, the bastard followed her around like a puppy. Overpretective as shit, though," she whistled.
“Why were they so bad?” Tali asked, tilting her head.
“That’s a story for another time,” Butch dismissed with a smile. “Much as I hated the bitch, she and her brother were bloody tactical geniuses. Luke and I doubted we could take them head on, so instead we dug in at the base of a mountain in three redoubts. The idea was that every time the front line was overwhelmed, the rear lines would cover their retreat so we could inflict as many casualties and minimise our own. Luke personally led from the front and left me to coordinate from the final redoubt around our single artillery piece. It was a sound plan, but we couldn’t have anticipated for the actions of the ensign we left to command redoubt two.”
Butch dramatically clenched and waved her fists in the air, emphasising every line with great pomp. Tali appeared completely captivated, and Liara would be lying if she said she wasn’t incredibly enthusiastic to hear how Shepard reacted.
“The coward retreated before covering Luke's, leaving our entire frontline stranded without support. I could do nothing but stare through my binoculars and pray while the Luthor twins’ spearhead assault quickly approached the frontline,” she lamented, “I won’t lie, girls, I didn’t have much faith in the commander. But then I saw it. Luke split his front line in two. They all ducked into the redoubt and began crawling, going to the far right and left of the trench. By the time the assault hit the centre of the line Luke and his forces sprung up from the sides and opened fire. We had a clear shot with our artillery piece too. It got messy, but by the time the dust settled the Luthor twins had been ‘killed’ and their team surrendered.”
Liara leant back in her seat, impressed. The more she learnt about the human, the more fascinating he became. It was clear he was quite smart, for a marine. Her mother had always spoken quite lowly of military-types, but perhaps this was another area she had been wrong about. It required further investigation. Maybe a quick extranet search would yield more information on the commander.
Chapter 13: Vibeno
Summary:
Shepard and Liara prepare for events, Ashley make an important decision
Chapter Text
Usually, only Garrus and Butch were invited to the commander’s quarters. Sometimes Pressley went up for a report, sometimes Wrex barged upstairs for who knows what reason, but for the most part it was a fairly mysterious part of the ship where the big decisions were made. The crew jokingly referred to it as the ‘Throne Room’. Liara had never seen the room herself, at least until now. When a message notification alerted her to the commander’s request for her presence, she shut down her terminal and made haste to his room with as much dignity as she could muster. Luke was hard at work behind his terminal, waving her in and offering her a seat without looking up at her. “Morning, Liara, how are you doing?”
“I’m doing well, thank you,” she crossed one leg over another as she sat herself in front of him
Luke paused his typing as he reached for a datapad, disconnecting it from the terminal. “Joker’s docking us with the Citadel now. I was wondering if you could help with a few things while we’re there,” he asked casually.
“Of course,” Liara accepted in eagerness, “how may I be of help?”
“You were raised in the Asari aristocracy, right? The upper-class, I’m sure you have your own word for it.”
Liara frowned at the random question. “I suppose that would be correct, though my house was far from the most prestigious,” she specified.
“But you’ve attended plenty of events?" he clarified as he interlocked his fingers. "Know your way around a gala?”
“Naturally,” she offered, quickly realising how she must sound and offering a shy smile.
“Perfect. I’ll be honest with you, I’m out of my depth at the moment,” Luke admitted as he leaned back into his seat. “I’ve been invited to all these events and I have no idea what I’m doing.”
“Ah, of course,” she realised, finally appreciating what the situation was. “Being the first human Spectre must make you quite the celebrity.”
“Unfortunately,” the commander grumbled. “I’ve been invited to join someone called Sha’ira for lunch and to appear at a C-Sec gala tonight. The ambassador insists I take opportunities to ‘further humanity’s standing’ wherever I can. I don’t think I can decline but do think I need some guidance.”
Liara nodded, considering his words. It had been a while since her last function, but she was born and raised a T’Soni and knew what she was doing. Liara was confident she could help the commander fit right in at these high-status events and help him navigate the world of elites he had been thrusted into. “The lunch will be informal. The Consort was a family friend but I haven’t a clue what she wants. You should only need to wear a suit. Black would be the appropriate colour, with a magenta accessory to show your respect for her house.”
“Navy won’t work?” he tentatively asked, though she could see he knew the answer already.
“I’m afraid not,” Liara's lips spead into an apologetic smile.
Luke sighed. “Damnit.”
“The C-Sec gala will be easier," she promised him. "Your uniform will do. Have your boots polished and be sure to wear all your medals. Assuming you act professional and respectful, you should be fine.”
He ran a hand thorugh his hair. “Thanks, Liara. I’ll finish this report and we can go.”
“We?”
“I hope your schedule’s clear this morning,” he stood with a grin, “because we’re going to need to go shopping.”
Tali laughed at Garrus’ expense for the second time this morning. The Turian sighed and made his way away from the mess hall after Butch continued to provoke him. When Garrus hadn't risen to her bait the marine impulsively slappd his rear and crossed her arms, as if he was responsible for her boredom.
“I can’t believe you did that!” Tali giggled.
Butch grinned. “Did you see his face!”
Garrus was nice, but she couldn’t help losing it laughing whenever Butch messed with him. Tali had initially been concerned that she'd struggle to make any friends aboard the ship after that rude human woman with the black hair had given her dirty looks, but Butch was stake her claim and the recent addition of Liara added a third girl to their small circle. Butch was laughing so hard that she was crying, a reaction Tali had never seen before. She thought tears were only a sight of pain, but Butch explained that she was laughing hard enough that it hurt.
They calmed themselves down and tried to regain their composure. Neither had many plans for shore leave so they were in no rush to leave. Tali waved at Liara as she came out of the commander’s quarters. “Hey! Li!”
The Asari waved back and hurriedly moved to her room. Butch furrowed her brow. “What the hell do you think that was about?”
“Do you think she’s ok?” Tali leant in closer, lowering her voice.
Butch shrugged. “Come on, T, let’s find out.”
They entered the med-bay, ignoring the confused eyebrow raise from Doctor Chakwas. Butch aggressively knocked on the door, snickering when they heard Liara ‘eep’.
“Li!" the marine shouted. "What’s going on?”
“I’ll be out in a minute! I’m changing!” Liara sounded slightly panicked.
“What?” Butch frowned in confusion, “I thought you only had your lab clothes?”
“I had my clothes delivered from my apartment on the Citadel this morning!” the Asari called back.
Tali and Butch exchanged a look. “You were prepared for this?”
“No! But I couldn’t just parade in the same clothes all the time!” she responded as if it were the most obvious thing.
The door opened and Liara exited in a long dark blue dress. “Holy shit, Li,” Butch spat her drink out to the side, “You’re gorgeous!”
“Thank you, Butch,” she replied somewhat shyly.
“Ooh,” Tali asked inquisitively, “are you going on a date?”
“What?! N-no!" she quickly refuted. "I’m only going with the commander to do some shopping.”
“I dunno, T,” Butch stated with false scepticism, “sounds like a date to me.”
“You two are simply the worst,” Liara pouted, making Butch and Tali burst into laughter again. “I don’t have time for this, we have a schedule to keep.”
“He’s still our commander, Li, you better not run off with him!” Butch and Tali continued to laugh as Liara ran off, doing her best to hide her blushing.
Not knowing any suit stores on the Citadel, Luke gladly allowed Liara to guide him to a glamourous section of the Presidium he'd never seen before. It was partially hidden away as if to only be found by those classy enough to know of it. She led him towards a store with signage that read 'Vibeno'. The store was empty of people excluding the few Salarians rapidly dashing around the floor. Emptiness clearly did not equate to inferiority, as even without inspecting closely the quality of the available clothing was visible. Fancy, high-end clothing for every species hovered on mannequins, showcasing their glory for all to see. Looking up, a Salarian working between three terminals flashed a grin and made his way over to them.
“Greetings! Greetings! Welcome back, Doctor T’Soni,” he nodded at Liara before turning to face him, “but you don’t seem to be one of our regulars. Ah! There it is! I’d recognise that stoic look from anywhere! Commander Shepard, you’ve been the talk of the Presidium all week! Perban Vibeno, at your service.” The Salarian gave him a firm handshake. “To what do I owe the privilege of this visit?”
“It appears,” Liara answered for him, “that the commander requires a wardrobe worthy of his new status.”
“Excellent, excellent!" the Salarian beamed. "You’ve come to the right place, commander. For over a thousand years my family has hand-tailored the finest clothes in Citadel space. We’re greatly sought after and have to restrict our clientele, but for you we can make an exception!”
“Thanks, I appreciate it,” he nodded. “I don’t usually like to skip the line but a lunch with the consort has got me working on a timer.”
“The Consort? Lunch? That’s only three hours away! Come, come! We must take your measurements. Mirbin! Ready the scanner. Right this way, commander.” The Salarian hurriedly guided him to a second room where a large spherical machine waited for him.
“Please stand in the scanner,” the Salarian he figured was Mirbin requested. “Follow my instructions. Should only take a minute.” Luke obliged, extending his arms and moving his body around while Liara watched with a somewhat entertained look.
“Now,” Perban continued, pacing the room while the sphere continued to scan him, “We shall create your wardrobe by tomorrow morning. Delivered to your ship, of course. But you need a suit by lunch! Not to worry, our regular stock will suffice for the moment. Now what to wear. Black suit appropriate choice. Dark ruby tie. Magenta pocket square. Yes, yes! Pocket-square fascinating human invention. Adapted and now quite popular in Hierarchy and by Drell customers. Lerdin!”
“On it!”
“Pronto, pronto!” he snapped,. Shepard suppressed a laugh. He was both amused and impressed by the speed and dedication of the Salarian staff. Then another less entertaining thought came to mind. Damn, this is going to cost a fortune.
“Scan finished!”
“Excellent, excellent! Thank you Mirbin. Commander, please follow me. Lerdin has pulled out the perfect outfit for you! Please,” he waved at the changeroom to his left, “get changed, will wait with Doctor T’Soni.”
Luke took a few minutes to get dressed, carefully folding his Alliance fatigues and placing them to the side. The Salarians had literally given him a full outfit. Shoes, socks, pants, belt, shirt, jacket, there was even a pair of underwear waiting in the stall. Damn comfortable underwear at that. Expensive or not, Shepard decided to order several more pairs - he was already going to be splurging so he might as well suck it up for some extra comfort. Luke was impressed with how comfortable the clothes were, even in movement. Every other suit he had worn in his entire life paled in comparison to the outfit he had on. Stepping out of the changeroom, Liara covered her mouth and gasped.
“Excellent, excellent!” Perban exclaimed, “Lerdin, tie! Pocket-square!”
“On it!”
“What do you think, Liara?” he asked, slightly self-conscious as he looked into the mirror.
“You look amazing!” she giggled, flushing a darker shade of blue.
“This is the best outfit I’ve ever worn,” he agreed with a chuckle.
He continued to observe himself in the mirror as Lerdin finished his accessories, taking in the outfit. The suit, belts, and shoes had a shine, and the vibrant tie and pocket-square contrasted perfectly against the black suit and white shirt.
“Suit made of Asari kyrssa. Very light. Very comfortable. Subtle choice, but Consort will recognise and appreciate," he assured Luke. "Shirt is standard Turian adapted for humans. Powerful. Sharp object resistant! More importantly, spill resistant!”
“How do I wash it?”
Perban waved a hand dismissively. “Simple, simple! Not a problem. Will add in Vibeno cleaning set with delivery. Free of charge. Machines take care of everything. Wash shirt, socks, and underwear after use. Bring suit back to store for cleaning.”
Luke nodded. “I’ll take it all. And throw in a few more of these shirts and underwear.”
“Excellent, excellent!”
Luke got undressed and returned to the front room, dreading the part that was coming next.
“All right Perban, what’s the damage?”
“Damage?" he frowned before suddenly lighting up. "Ah! Human saying. Assume referring to cost, yes? We will give half price for first purchase.”
“Really?”
“Yes, you are the first human Spectre. Big honour to serve you.” The Salarian leaned in closer, “Good for business. Very marketable. Now. For this outfit, plus the wardrobe to be delivered tomorrow, final price comes to… only forty thousand credits!”
Shepard mentally let out a long breath. He knew it was going to be pricy, but not that pricy. He debated haggling but didn’t want to come across as rude. Something told him that wouldn’t be acceptable in a renowned establishment like this. Mentally sighing, he resigned to pay for the full thing. Shepard could afford it – being a career soldier left him with few expenses – but it was going to hurt. He knew this would be a necessary investment that would be used every time he was on the Citadel, Earth, and so on. As he reached for his chits, Liara placed a hand on his arm, stopping him.
“If you would be so kind as to charge it to the T’Soni estate?” Shepard spun his head to face Liara, the shock visible on his face. “You already have my payment details.”
“Excellent, excellent!”
Luke lowered his voice. “Liara, I can’t let you pay for me.”
“You forget,” she spoke with a smile, “House T’Soni is more than capable of benefacting the first human Spectre.”
“Still…”
“Luke, I’m rather certain I’ll be joining you for many of the functions ahead. If you won’t let me buy it for you, let me buy it for me. After all,” she jested, a twinkle in her eye, “I can’t go to a ball with you if you’re looking scruffy.”
With that, Shepard erupted into laughter. “You’re my kind of girl, T’Soni.”
Hesitation was not something Ashley was used to. She had been called impulsive all her life, but Ashley always took it as a compliment. It meant she showed no hesitation. Yet, she reminded herself, here she was, awkwardly standing on the other side of the door to Garrus’ room. Again raising her hand to knock, she couldn’t bring herself to follow through.
“You just going to keep standing there, Williams?”
Ash jumped back as Garrus’ voice carried through the door. Getting over her shock, she swallowed and entered his room. His and Butch’s room. Garrus sat on his bed reading something on his omni-tool. “How’d you know it was me?”
“Your steps gave you away,” he explained without removing his gaze from his omni-tool. “You were the only person I thought might hesitat to actually come in. Maybe Liara, but she left the ship with the commander an hour ago.”
“What are you reading?” she asked, still feeling quite awkward, especially in the face of the Turian’s continued nonchalance.
“The biography of Primarch Melgatus, our previous leader,” he answered as he closed his device and looked up at her.
“Sounds interesting.”
Garrus studdied her carefully. “I agree, but I suspect my reading habits aren’t what brought you here.”
“No. I mean I guess, but not really. I-" she recentred herself. "I figured I should make an effort to work better with the al- non-human crew.”
This seemed to get his attention, and he leant back, crossing his arms. “And why me, instead of the others?”
Ashley sighed. “Tali’s too spontaneous, Liara’s terrified of me, and I’m terrified of Wrex.”
His mandibles twitched. “Process of elimination then?”
“Yeah, guess so," she shrugged. "Wasn’t easy to come here though.”
Garrus didn't seem dismissive but he also didn't seem entirely welcoming. “What changed your mind?”
“I’ve been doing some thinking,” she confessed. “This is the biggest opportunity I’ve ever had. My career goes nowhere without Shepard. Being the best soldier isn’t enough. I need to be a better… team player. If he tells me to kiss a Turian, I'll ask which cheek,” she straightened herself.
“Why wasn’t your career going anywhere?”
She paused, weighing telling the truth to the Turian. Ashley took a deep breath and decided to commit. What’s the worst that could happen? She had the distinct impression that he didn't care nearly enough to try and screw her over. “My grandfather fought in the First Contact War. First human general to surrender to aliens. The name ruined my father’s career. It was ruining mine. Doubt I’d ever get a proper posting if it wasn’t for Shepard,” she sighed.
“I’m sorry,” the Turian said honestly. “Can’t have been easy having me on the ship.”
“I’m not… racist… I’ve just been…" she trailed off. Ashley sighed again and offered him an uncomfortable smile. "I’m sorry for being a bitch to you.”
The two sat in silence for a moment. He didn't respond, even going so far as to look away. Despite the continued awkwardness of the situation, Ashley felt… better. “My father,” Garrus finally spoke up, “is the Chief of the Presidium division of C-Sec. We’ve butted heads since I was a kid. We haven’t talked since I resigned from C-Sec to join the Normandy. So here I am,” he gestured at the room, “spending my shore leave in my room so that I don’t bump into my family on the Citadel.”
“Look at us,” she joked, “a couple of cowards hiding in someone else’s room.”
Garrus chuckled at that, and the two shared a more genuine smile. “Williams?”
“Yeah?”
His mandibles twitched again - this time was sure with amusement. “You’re not so bad. For a human.”
Ashley snorted, surprised by her genuine humour. “You’re not so bad yourself, Vakarian." Her lip quirked upwards. "For a Turian.”
Chapter 14: Altercation
Summary:
Shepard visits the C-Sec gala, and bumps into someone on the way back to the Normandy.
Notes:
TW for abuse and trauma. Darkest chapter of the fic so far!
Chapter Text
Luke sighed as he dried his hands. It seemed no matter how far technology advanced, hand-dryers were always going to be shitty. He gave up on the machine and moved to snatch several pieces of paper from the machine. He paused, glancing at his reflection. Luke tried not to scowl as he loosened his tie. He haded private catholic schools. Mom had just been stationed in Europe, which meant he and Lara had to move to Hamburg for the semester. He didn't like Germany. His family was American and he felt like they were always being judged. Their time in Terra Nova, China, and even the Citadel had been better than this.
Deciding that he had wasted too much time as it was, Luke walked out of the bathroom. "You took your time," Lara gave him a look, before the corner of her mouth quirked. "Did you fall in?"
"Very funny," he rolled his eyes.
It was recess, so there wasn't much time to enjoy their break before they had to go straight back into class. Most kids played sport or talked in their cliques, but neither option was available for the Shepard twins. Their mom told them they wouldn't be here for long, they just had to suck it up and push through. So they fell into a rhythm of simply walking around the school every recess, talking until they had to return to class. It wasn't a glamourous passtime but at least they didn't have to interact with the other students who seemed to think they were better than them.
"Did you finish the chemistry homework?" Lara asked innocently.
He snorted. "When do I ever do my chemistry homework?"
Lara huffed and placed her hands on her hips, giving him a reproachful look. "Mr Wegener said you were going to be given detention if you missed it a fifth time in a row.
"Ah," he scratched the back of his head. "I may have forgotten about that."
His sister held his gaze before sighing. "Fortunately for you, I knew you'd forget. I've already done it a second time for you, it's in your chemistry folder."
Luke grinned. "You're the best."
"And don't you forget it," she pointed at him, trying to look serious before she giggled.
"Luke, Lara!" a third voice called out to them.
His sister scowled, but Luke just turned to greet the one girl who wasn't a complete bitch to them. "Katie, what's up?"
The blonde bounced towards them, beaming. "I feared I might miss you! I wished to clarify whether you had heard about the group project we were assigned in our history class?"
"Nope," Luke shrugged. "We had a doctor's appointment yesterday."
Katie grinned. "Do not worry, I have taken the liberty of registering the three of us in the same group."
"Wonderful," Lara replied with only the slightest hint of derision. He gave her a look, making her roll her eyes.
"I think so!" she giggled. "Together, I am certain-"
"Did you fall?" his sister asked suddenly.
Luke frowned. "What?"
"I share your brother's confusion," Katie scrunched her face. "I do not know what you are referring to."
"You never use make-up," Lara stated bluntly. "You've applied it disproportionally. The texture of your face is uneven. You're hiding something."
He rose his eyebrows and exhaled. "We've talked about this," he gave her a stern look. "Sorry about th-" he cut himself off as he looked back at the blonde who was standing incredibly still. "Katie?"
"Hm?" she asked suddenly. "Ah, I merely wished to experiment. You know how it is," she grinned.
Lara narrowed her eyes, making the other girl shift her feet. "I- I apologise. I have another errand to run. Good day."
When Katie disappeared Luke turned to his sister with an annoyed look on his face. "What the hell was that, Lara?"
"She's hiding something," she replied casually.
"She's the one friend we have here," he stressed. "We can't just scare her off."
Lara huffed again. "We only have four more weeks at this school, and three weeks after that in Hamburg before mom is transferred," she replied curtly.
Luke groaned. "Lara, we're in tenth grade. You can't-"
"Fine," she stiffened. "I concede."
"You can't just-"
"I said I concede," she repeated stiffly.
Luke grunted.
The lunch with Sha’ira went smoothly. Luke was hesitant to run her errand for her but Liara convinced him that the Consort would be a powerful ally to have. The Asari was turning out to be an incredibly useful addition to their crew and they hadn't even embarked on a ground mission yet. Resolving Sha’ira’s issue only took an hour and he soon found himself preparing and leaving for the C-Sec gala. Butch was rather unhappy at being forced to attend, but as his official 2IC on the ground team he decided it would be good for her career to take her with him. She disagreed vehemently.
Like him, Butch was dressed in her dress blues – though only after prolific complaining of course – and Liara word a long white and navy dress that complimented the Alliance uniform perfectly. Across his chest was the Star of Terra, Victoria Cross, and Lìgōng Medal. Once at the gala, the three moved their way through the crowd, shaking hands and greeting the Commanders, Captains, Chiefs, and higher-ranking officials of C-Sec. Their routine was briefly interrupted by a quick speech from Executor Pallin before everyone returned to their socialising. Somewhat overwhelmed, Luke made his way to the bar.
“You got any scotch?” he asked the bartender.
“Make it two,” a second human gruffed as he took a seat next to him.
Luke turned himself slightly to face the blonde-haired human, “Long day?”
The other man grunted. “Tell me about it. I’ve still got reports to fill but Commander Panso dragged me here. Thinks I’ve got potential, or something,” he grumbled.
“Commander Shepard,” he introduced, extending his hand.
“Lieutenant Bailey. Sorry they dragged you to this sorry event.”
“It’s not so bad,” Luke joked slyly, “at the bar anyways.”
“Ain’t that the truth!” the other man clapped his shoulder.
Luke gave him a smile. “Not many humans in C-Sec at the moment. You seem to be the only one at the party.”
“Eh, Council’s careful who they let in. Mainly Turians, ey? Bastards give me shit every day but I dish it right back. They ain’t so bad.” The human chuckled and leaned in closer. “Don't tell 'em I said this but I think we're actually growing on each other.”
The two clinked their drinks in cheers before parting ways. It wouldn’t do to hide at the bar all night, after all. Spotting Liara and Butch chatting with a pair of Turian captains, Luke began walking to join them, only to be interrupted by an older Turian sitting alone.
“Commander Shepard," he called to him, somehow sounding unimpressed. "Would you care to join me for a minute?” Luke considered excusing himself - he was so close to being within the acceptable timeframe for departure - but the Turian had a certain aura of importance. Glancing at the gold stripes on his chestplate, he decided to oblige the man and took a seat next to him. “Thank you, commander. Its high time that we meet. You’ve been the talk of the Presidium all week,” he rumbled.
“So I’ve been told,” he replied sombrely. “I didn’t catch your name.”
The man sipped from his glass with a sigh. “Chief Vakarian. I’m sure you’re familiar with my son.”
Great, he nodded. Luke refrained from sighing as well. “You’re Garrus’ dad? It’s an honour to meet you, sir.”
Vakarian studied him carefully. “How respectful, for a Spectre.”
“Sir?” he asked.
The chief placed his glass back onto the table and leant back into his seat. “I take it my son hasn’t discussed me with you?" He exhaled quickly. "Curious, since he jumped ship without so much as a call to join up with you.”
“I’ll be honest,” Luke confessed, pausing to sip from his own drink, “we haven’t had much time to have personal discussions. We’ve been so busy either trying to find leads on Saren or being stuck at events on the Citadel that waste our time. No offence,” he added quickly.
The other man chirped with amusement. “None taken, I find these functions tedious myself. I appreciate your candour," he chuckled before his previous seriousness returned. "However, you are still a Spectre. I fear for the influence you will have on my son.”
Luke rose an eyebrow. “And what would that be?”
“To break rules,” the elder Vakarian stated bluntly, “to do whatever it takes to complete the mission, regardless of who gets hurt along the way.”
“The ends justify the means? No thanks,” he scoffed. The chief eyed him curiously. “I only took the position because it gave me the authority to pursue Saren legally. I haven’t used my Spectre authority once.”
“Be that as it may, how long will that last?" the other man challenged him. "What happens when you hit a wall you cannot get around legitimately? I’ve heard of noble Spectre like you before. All failed to maintain their morals.”
Luke placed his now-empty glass down and leant back into his seat. “Chief, take a guess at what your son has been doing since he joined my crew.”
“Probably butting heads and throwing himself into every fight he can find,” he drawled derisively.
“That would be wrong,” he barely kept himself from smirking. “Garrus hasn’t left the ship once. He’s been sifting through data and finding leads. He’s the reason we found Doctor T’Soni and rescued her, exposing even more information. Hell, he’s probably still there now. I ordered him to take shore leave but I expect that by the time I return to the ship we’ll have our next destination.”
“Bah, you expect me to believe my son has been idly doing deskwork and data analysis?" Vakarian did the Turian equivalent of rolling his eyes. "He threw a tantrum the first month he was in C-Sec just because he had to file incident reports.”
“Maybe Garrus was in the wrong field,” he shrugged. “He’s got a sharp mind and he's more dedicated than many of my human crew. I’m lucky to have him on board,” he countered honestly.
The elder Vakarian remained silent, looking away. After a few moments he rumbled, seemingly in thought. “So you say… Thank you for talking with me, commander, this has been… interesting.”
Hereleased a breath he wasn’t aware he had been holding as the man walked away. A head’s up would have been nice, Garrus. There wasn't much more to do and Luke let out a sigh of relief as several high-ranking officers began leaving, indicating that it was appropriate for him to do the same. The night soon wrapped up and Shepard called the Normandy to send a shuttle to pick them up. The first call had no response, but his second attempt finally got through.
“Joker," he ordered as the line connected. "Things are wrapping up here. Could you send a shuttle to come pick us up?”
“I’ll tell Williams to pick you up too," the pilot obliged. "Wrex needed a retrieval too so she’s already out in the area.”
Luke closed his eyes as they drove back in silence - near-silence, thanks to Butch's inability to keep her mouth shut and Wrex's willingess to entertain her. Within half an hour they had returned to the docking bay, and the four of them began walking to the Normandy. Luke was completely prepared to hit the shoewrs, then hit the hay. He was aboslutely spent. How a gala drained him more than live combat was beyond him. He frowned as he heard a familiar clearing of the throat and stopped where he stood. The others made it a few steaps ahead of him before turning to look at him. Butch's eyes widened, confirming what he already knew. Luke turned his head to see a fellow Alliance officer standing in meters away. His eyes widened as he recognised the woman immediately.
“Lara?”
The word that came to mind as she looked at the woman in front of them was impressive. She wasn’t tall yet her presence made her feel tall. Her alliance blues were impeccably pressed without a single wrinkle or crease visible to the naked eye. On top of her uniform she wore the winter-issue Alliance officer’s coat wide open. It was double-breasted, black leather, and fell down to her shins. It’s huge collar perfectly wrapped around her neck. Most officers refrained from using the coats for a myriad of reasons. Some thought it tacky, some found it too heavy. The unknown commander in front of them seemed to care for neither school of thought and wore it boldly, unbothered by the temperature on the Citadel. Long red hair flowed behind her head, contrasting against her dark outfit. She was remarkably beautiful - by Asari standards at least - even with the scar on the right side of her face that pulled her mouth down into a permanent frown. The only thing that conflicted with her projection of total perfection and control was the tapping. Liara tiled their head at the woman as she tapped her fingers against her leg at a steady pace.
Again, the commander uttered her name. “Lara?”
“Commander Shepard,” she acknowledged coldly. Her voice dripped with venom. She spoke rather poshly, but Liara knew enough to see that she was imitating the upper class and was not born to it. Liara didn’t like her already. “I had to see for myself. The great Commander Shepard, the first human Spectre, leading a… circus would be an appropriate term, hm?”
“They’re a good team,” he replied, completely calm. “Lara-”
“It’s Commander,” she corrected aggressively, “but I suppose it would be too much for you to see me as an equal.”
Luke winced. “You know that’s not true. Lara, it’s me.” His tone was almost urgent.
“Hmph,” she snorted. There was something off about this woman. She gave Liara the destinction that she was trapped inside herself, if that even made sense. The tapping sped up.
“Is this Meyer? Is this what he’s been telling you?”
The woman pointed accusatorily, “Don’t you dare begin to lecture me.”
“Just say the word and I can have you transferred to the Normandy. Spectre authority,” Luke offered softly, slowly approaching closer, “We can fix this. I promies you we can fix this,” he added almost pleadingly.
“How the hell are you supposed to fix anything,” the woman laughed, “You want me to just, what, galivant around the galaxy with your menagerie of rejects? A biotic loose cannon, a zoo of aliens, and- is that the granddaughter of General Williams? Bah, as if I would want breath the same air.” Despite the venom to her words Liara could see the woman soften slightly. She wasn’t the best at reading people, but she was quite sure this ‘Lara’ was struggling to put on this act in the face of Luke's unwavering calmness and control. The tapping had slowed down significantly.
“Lara-” the commander started, only to be cut off by Williams.
“You should shut your goddamn mouth,” she growled.
“Ashley,” Luke tried to stop her, pointedly glaring at her.
The gunnery chief would not be detered. “You come in here, acting all high and mighty…”
“Ashley!”
“But you’re just a crazy psycho bi-”
“Ashley,” the commander roared, “Shut the fuck up!!”
Williams fell silent, going pale. Luke, too, fell silent, his eyes flaming with rage. The redheaded woman’s tapping increased to such a pace that Liara thought it might numb her. “And there it is,” the woman growled, “You still think I’m weak," she spat. "You still think I need to be protected.”
“Lara that’s not-”
“From Meyer?" she erupted. "From myself? From her?!!”
“I-”
“You pretend that you care,” she screamed, “You pretend that you can protect me, that you want to protect me, but you let me down when I needed you most! Where the fuck were you on Torfan!! You broke your promise!!”
Luke could no longer meet her gaze. He stared at the floor, defeated. Liara could see that this was crushing him. The girl’s façade of power and perfections shattered completely as tears began to stream down her face and her left arm began to shake uncontrollably. She turned around and stormed off. Everyone stood silently, watching the commander closely. This was not what they were used to. He appeared… vulnerable. Only Butch stood forwards to place an arm on his shoulder. It was clear she knew something they didn’t. Luke broke the silence with a roar as he turned and punched a metal shipping crate, leaving very visible damage.
“Wrex,” he growled without looking, his voice deep and somewhat frightening. “Follow me. I need to spar.”
The Krogan nodded with a grunt and followed Shepard back to the Normandy.
Ashley – if one could believe it – had the gall to keep talking. “Who the hell was that bitch an-”
In yet another unpredictable turn of events, Butch grabbed Williams by the shoulder and slammed her against the wall. Gone was the friendly jovial marine Liara had grown used to. Here only a tower of rage stood, elbow pressed against Ashley’s neck. “That ‘bitch’,” she sneered, “Was our bloody sister. That ‘bitch’ was Lara fucking Shepard you piece of shit.”
Lara burst back into her quarters on the ship. Had she been more clear-headed she would have been grateful the crew was on shore leave so they wouldn’t see her in such a state. She struggled to get her coat off, pacing her room back and forth. It wasn’t fair. She pulled at her collar, struggling to breath. Mentally she could tell she was beginning to hyperventilate again. Damn it, why was she acting like a child? Luke shouldn’t have made her this emotional, how could someone who left her to die make her feel regret?
No, that’s not true. He’s trying to help.
“Don’t lie to yourself,” the voice of her captain growled in her head. “He’s failed you before, he’ll fail you again.”
“S-shut up,” she protested, struggling to verbalise anything. She shouldn’t have snapped. God she was stupid. Luke literally offered her a way out and she spat on it. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
“You’re considering running back to your brother, aren’t you?” the voice said, “Pathetic. That kid doesn’t know the first thing about strength.”
“N-No he cares a-about me,” she gasped, tugging harder at her collar. God was it hard to breath.
“You’re nothing to him!" Meyer's voice boomed. "You’re broken, and his ego can’t handle not being the one to put you back together.”
“I-,” she stumbled over, knocking her chair over as she collapsed to the floor, “S-Stop.”
“Stop? You think the Batarians will stop?" not-Meyer spat. "We have a noble mission. We have a purpose. We have a job to do, and your precious little episodes are getting in the way. Maybe you really are hopeless.”
“N-No!” she shouted, grabbing on to the nearest solid object she could reach, her desk’s leg, for dear life.
“Yes! Look at yourself. Laying on the ground like an injured pup," the voice mocked her. "I hope you’re sickened as I am.”
Lara let the tears flow out, laying immobile on the cold hard floor of the ship.
Wrex grunted as Luke's uppercut connected with his gut. He weaved around the Krogan, using his smaller frame and superior agility to get hit after hit in. Shepard felt a searing pain as his opponent’s fist collided with his arm but brushed it off, unwilling to stop. The two circled each other around the emptied hanger bay of the Normandy with their hands up to their faces. “Who’s the girl,” the Krogan asked in between hits, “she smells like you.”
“She’s my sister, Wrex,” he shot back.
“Hurh. She smelt… wrong.”
“You heard of Torfan?” he asked as he dodged a punch. Wrex grunted in affirmation. “We were both on the ground, fighting those Batarian terrorists. Guess command thought having two Shepards would make the victory all the sweeter after Elysium.” he rolled out of the way as Wrex leaps into the air, nearly crushing him. He appreciated that Wrex was actually giving him a run for his money. “Her team was responsible for blowing the shield generator. Would have opened the base to air and orbital strikes.”
“What happened,” the Krogan pushed him.
“It went downhill, fast. Intel was wrong, we were heavily outnumbered. I got cornered by Batarians. Lara and her squad were surrounded by the bastards. I-" he growled. "I could hear her panicking on the radio. But I couldn’t get to her. I couldn’t- I wasn’t good enough.”
“What happened.” Wrex refused to let up.
“She panicked and did something wrong. The generator was rigged to explode, we evacuated. Lara was the only member of her squad to escape. When the generator exploded it set off a chain reaction. The whole base went up in flames. But it wasn’t a base. It was a colony. Over ten thousand Batarians died.”
The Krogan gave no reaction. “What happened.”
“What more do want, Wrex?” Luke threw his arms in the air in exasperation. The Krogan tackled him to the ground.
Wrex grabbed him by the collar. “What. Happened.”
“Meyer happened. He snatched her up before we could get to her. Mom and I never got the chance to help her. Every time we’ve seen each other she’s blown up in my face but I’ve got to keep trying. I can’t give up. She needs to know we still care!!” he roared, elbowed the Krogan’s leg, and rolled him over. He began relentlessly attacking him, throwing punch after punch at the stunned Krogan until he ran out of energy. He stood up, dizzy, and rubbed his sore knuckles.
His sparring partner wiped hsi nose with his arm, looking entirely unfazed by his display. “You gotta stop blaming yourself, Shepard.”
“I can’t,” he replied honestly.
“Fine," he rumbled. "Then stop feeling sorry for yourself and make a plan. You’ve got your own ship. Spectre authority. Powerful krantt. You’re Commander Shepard,” he poked him in the chest. "Act like it."
Luke ran a hand through his hair. “I know. I know, Wrex. Thanks for the spar.”
The krogan chuckled. “Best damn fight I’ve had all week.”
Ashley entered Shepard’s quarters nervously. It was dark, lit only by a lamp at the corner of the room. Shepard sat in an armchair, a half-empty bottle of whiskey in hand. When he looked up at her, his face flashed with malice beforesettling into defeat once more. “Sir. I-”
“Williams. You come to ‘pologise?” He spoke with a slight slur. The commander wasn’t drunk drunk, but he was far from sober nonetheless.
She stood nervously. “Yessir.”
“Do you even know what you did?”
Ashley fought the urge to fidget. “No. But I know I fucked up. I-”
The commander leant back and closed his eyes. “For the firs’ time in years, my sister gave me a look. It’s in her eyes. You’ve got to know her well enough t’ see it. She wavered. Might not ‘ve been tonight, but I was getting close. Who knows how far this has sen’ us back,” he slured.
“I’m sorry, sir.”
“Dismissed, Williams. I need some time alone.”
“Sir-”
“I said dismissed.”
Lara had lost all sense of time. It could have been minutes or it could have been hours that she lay there motionless. She didn’t even move when the door to her quarters slid open. All she could make out were his boots out of the corner of her eye, but the limp was all she needed to identify the man.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing… Hello..? Lara!”
She continued to remain limp, even as a sharp pain emanated from where the captain’s boot connected with her stomach.
“I fucking warned you, didn’t I? You’re a disgrace to the uniform. This isn’t the girl I pulled off Torfan!" he boomed. "I’ve seen you tear Batarians apart with your bare hands, yet you can’t,” he paused to kick her again, “bloody.” Kick. “Handle.” Kick. “Your goddamn brother!” Kick. Kick. Kick.
The pain didn’t even register.
When she didn’t respond, the captain began to grumble. There was a few silent seconds before a pistol fell onto the floor, landing in front of her. “Way I see it. You’ve got two options. Toughen up and get your shit together or I’ll get myself a new commander.” Meyer left her room, leaving her alone with the gun and her thoughts.
Chapter 15: Renewal
Summary:
There's no time to rest as Garrus finds a lead on their next mission.
Notes:
Upload schedule's a bit wack at the moment. Lots of uni and work at the moment but I'm trying to pump chapters whenever I can!
And thank you so much for the wonderful comments! This is the first fic I've ever published so the positive feedback is greatly appreciated!
Chapter Text
Garrus knocked on the door to Shepard’s quarters. Everyone had been too terrified to approach him while he locked himself away. The commander had returned and - after a brutal spar in with Wrex that he had caught the tail end of - word quickly spread that he did not want to be disturbed. Even Butch and Liara gave the whole ‘giving him some time to calm down’ spiel. Garrus, however, would have none of it. He may have no idea what Shepard had gone through, but he knew that the last thing the commander needed was to isolate himself and do something stupid.
There was no response.
He knocked again.
No response.
Garrus pinched his brow. “Shepard, I’m just going to keep standing here until you open this damned door.”
No response.
He knocked again.
No res-
“Damn it Garrus,” growled the commander as he opened the door, “I am not in the mood.”
“Too bad,” he disagreed. Shepard raised an eyebrow at him, surprised. “The longer you’re up here the more rumours are going to go around and the worse you’re going to feel. You’re our commander, and you have a mission.”
“Just, straighten up and act like a commander, huh?” Shepard chuckled mirthlessly at something, but didn’t seem inclined to let him in on the joke. “All right, come in.” Garrus had to admit he expected the quarters to be in worse shape. Maybe a few empty bottles lying around, maybe a broken chair or ripped up sheet, but excluding a single empty bottle on his desk the room was in perfect condition. “I’ve got to admit, Garrus, I didn’t think you’d be the one to storm up here and tell me off. I thought it’d be Butch or Liara. Maybe Wrex.”
“I’ll try not to be offended," he rumbled amusedly, before growing serious. "Shepard, you’ve given me the biggest opportunity of my life. I know this mission’s only just starting to take off but I have a feeling we could be good friends. Spirits know you’ve treated me better than most at C-Sec did. So. I’m here to help.”
The commander gave him a small smile. “Thanks Garrus. You’ll get no complaints from me about being friends. Not much you can do right now though, what I need is something to shoot.”
“I thought you might say that. Take a look at this,” he held out his datapad.
Despite his current state, Shepard grabbed it from his hands and began reading it with total alertness. “Feros…" he scratched his chin. "Prothean ruins, check. Geth attack, check. It says here there’s already Alliance forces trying to protect the colony.”
Garrus crossed his arms. “That should make this easier for us. This is the first Geth attack since Eden Prime. They have to be after something important.”
“Which means we have to be there to stop them. Tell Joker to set a course,” Garrus nodded affirmatively. “And I want you on the ground today. We’ll make a plan once we hit orbit and have more data from the Alliance forces on site. And Garrus?”
“Yeah?”
Shepard reached forwards to shake his hand. “Thanks. I needed a push. I’m glad you’re on my team.”
Garrus thanked the commander and left the room. This went far better than he had hoped. Not only did the commander seem to be receptive and communicative again, but Garrus was going to go groundside. Garrus wasn’t all too happy at being left on the ship during the rescue mission on Therum, though he understood the decision at the time. At least now he would have a chance to prove his worth not only as a detective but as a soldier.
Tali skipped down the stairs, eager to get to the drive core to see if Adams would let her examine the ship again. It was absolutely incredible. Never before had the Quarian seen a ship nearly advanced as this. Adams had told her that he wasn't really supposed to let non-Alliance personnel around the drive core, but after she continued to hang around he went to Shepard to see if they could work out an arrangement. Tali was now technically a 'consultant', whatever that meant. It wasn't a title the Migrant Fleet had, but if it allowed her to loiter in engineering she wasn't going to complain. Bouncing into the hanger, she was greeted by the sight of Wrex using metal crates for target practice.
“Tali,” he welcomed. “Come ‘ere.” The Krogan passed her a pistol and pointed towards the cans. “Show me what you’ve got.”
“The warehouse wasn’t enough?” she asked.
Wrex shrugged. “You were under pressure then. I wanna see what you can do when you’re focused.”
Nodding, she tested the foreign pistol in her hands. It wasn’t a model she could recognise and had been heavily modified. From what she could discern the mods would reduce the recoil and amplify the damage, but without asking or firing she had no way of telling. Tali rose the pistol and took aim. Contrary to the Krogan’s previous statement, being put on the spot did make Tali feel pressure. She took a deep breath and focused. She chose the can in the middle of the row as her target. It may have been her mind playing tricks but it felt like the closest out of all the possible selections.
Tali squeezed the trigger.
Wrex roared with pride as the metal can practically exploded on impact. Tali grinned behind her mask and stood proudly. “Good shot, kid. Gun’s good, right?”
“Is this even legal?” Tali carefully examined the gun, impressed by how much the standard Elkoss pistol had been modified.
“Hrh. You’re travelling with a Spectre, you’ll be fine. I picked this up ‘bout a hundred years ago. A gift from a friend. She’d have liked you.”
Tali tilted her head to the side teasingly. “You have friends?”
“Ha! I take it back, Aleena would have loved you.”
“Her name sounds Asari,” she probed.
He gruffed. “You’ve got a good ear. Yeah, she was an ex-Asari commando. We had a good few decades before work… got in the way.” Wrex paused. He closed his eye for a moment in thought. “It’s one of the last souvenirs I had. Gun’s yours now.”
“What?” Tali recoiled back in shock. “Wrex, I can’t take something that important to you.”
“I’ve always been more of a shotgun kind of Krogan. ‘Leena would have wanted it to be used. Go on, don’t make an old man beg.”
“Aw, come here you big softie!” Wrex failed to react in time and growled in irritation as Tali wrapped her arms around him. Contrary to his noises, Tali saw the corner of his mouth twist up into a smirk.
“Run along Tali. Don’t keep Adams waiting. And remember," he called after her, "it’s Uncle Wrex who gives the best presents!”
“Representative Jeong, please calm down.” Katherina sighed dramatically as her brother attempted to make headway with the ExoGeni representative. The remnants of the company staff who had been allowed to escape had holed themselves up in the skyscraper between Zhu’s Hope and their main facilities. She stared into a partially shattered mirror and fixed her hair. All this blasted wind kept messing it up.
“Calm down?" Jeong barked back incredulously. "Geth have overrun our entire research facility and you’re telling me to calm down? Do you have any idea how badly this is going to affect our profits? Our stock value is going to plummet!”
Frederick narrowed his eyes. “I’m sure a creative mind like yourself will find a solution.”
“If we survive!”
Her brother's voice was growing increasingly irritated. “I can assure you that you and your staff are at no risk of harm. Do not worry about the Geth.”
“The-”
“Enough.” Katherina interjected without moving away from the mirror. “Between my brother, Herr Saren, and myself, we own thirty-six point two percent of your company. If the values plummet we will only take more," she spread her hands in the air. "As long as you remain here, out of the way, you will come to no harm." The smile fell from her face and she grew suddenly serious."Now we need you to cooperate with us. Where is the Thorian?”
“What?” he took a step back nervously.
She rested an elbow on her hand. “Your systems conveniently deleted much data when the Geth tried to access it.”
“A prudent safety measure,” her brother accepted, “but a frustrating one nonetheless.”
“I- I- I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
“Representative.” Katherina turned away from the mirror and locked her cold eyes with his. She slowly approached, emphasising every sentence with another step. “If we do not get the information we want then we will sell our stocks low, leak everything we have on the company, and watch as it withers into corporate history as the first human company to violate laws from every species in the galaxy and disappear.” She grinned. "Finding new employment would be the least of your worries."
Jeong scratched his head and took a sharp breath. He was a man of mediocrity, destined to forever remain in the confines of middle management. His ambition failed to match his ability, which had, was, and would continue to frustrate him to no end. This would likely be the single greatest moment of importance he would face in his entire life. He wiped an arm across his forehead, wiping away sweat.
“Fine!" he growled. "Species 37 is beneath the colony. But the Geth are attacking Zhu’s Hope so I don’t know how you think you’ll reach it. And you shouldn’t try to! Without full hazmat gear that monstrosity will try to brainwash you!”
“Thank you, representative," Katherina drawled. "Remain here with your staff. I assure you this crisis will be solved within the next few days. Maintain radio silence until the Alliance finds you.”
With that, the Luthor twins exited from the ExoGeni building and walked out onto the skyway. Katherina pulled at her wool coat, straightening it out. Her brother sighed and untied his own matching coat. The two of them stared off the top of the skyscraper at the view, sharing a sense of frustration.
“At least we have the location,” she offered tentatively.
“And a headache,” Frederick clicked his tongue.
Katherina hummed. “It appears we will need to storm the colony itself after all.”
“That won’t be an issue. The Alliance is struggling to hold the Geth at bay and we haven’t even done more than poke at their lines.”
“The time for subtleties is gone.” Katherina closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she ran through tactics and strategies in her head. “A quick and overwhelming offensive should give us the time we need to extract the information we need.”
“I agree,” he concurred immediately.
She tilted her head towards him. “Has Herr Saren arrived yet?”
“He’s on his way.” Frederick's lip curled in disgust. “The fool insisted he finish his call with Lady Benezia.”
“Do you think,” she awkwardly asked, “the two of them, you know…”
“What? Argh, nein!” her brother shuddered in disgust at the realisation of her insinuation. He turned around and placed his hands on his hips, shaking his head in revulsion. “Nein, nein, nein, why would you- Katherina!”
“It’s just a question!” Katherina threw her hands up in joviality and giggled at her brother’s reaction. “No need to act like a child, Frederick.”
“Why would Lady Benezia be interested in a fool like Saren?” He placed his hands on the rail and shook his head.
She schooled her expression and moved towards him. “Fine! Forget I asked!” she laghed.
“Unbelievable…”
Despite their utter disturbance at the thought, the two of them shared a snort before returning to their work. They had an invasion to plan after all.
The commander was… fascinating. Yes, that was the word she’d use. Liara perused through the extra-net, devouring official reports, interviews, and press releases on Commander Luke Shepard - the Hero of Elysium. She only meant to learn a little more about him, but she found herself so engrossed in what she found that it was impossible to stop. Every now and then an article on another Shepard would come up only to be shut down with great impatience by the Asari so she may resume reading on her commander. A knock on the door pulled Liara from her thoughts and she shut her terminal with an ‘eep’.
“Come in!” she shouted, spinning her chair to face the door and folding her arms in her lap. As if fate itself was toying with her, in walked Luke. He looked much better after… the previous events. Perhaps he was suppressing his emotions to focus on the mission?
He smiled. “Morning, Liara, mind if I sit?”
“By all means,” she smiled, waving at the seat next to her. She considered asking him about the previous night, but her anxiety got the better of her. She wasn't bold enough to prod at what was likely an open wound.
“I’ve been reading over what you handed Garrus. I was… curious about one of your theories. The, what did you call it,” he paused to gaze at his datapad, “The Theory of Galactic Cyclic Extinction. It’s been redacted everywhere.”
“Ah, yes. My thesis.” Somewhat embarrassed, she lowered her head and frowned. “I am afraid it has been the joke of archaeological academia for the past thirty years. Not many take it seriously. Professor T’Lesa was nearly fired for giving me my doctorate for it.”
“Tell me about it.” The commander leant back into his chair, making himself comfortable and giving her his undivided attention.
“Well, in essence I argued that the none of the theories surrounding the collapse of Prothean civilisation had the evidence to support them. The three biggest theories are plague, civil war, and exodus, all of which I argued could not possible accurate,” she began, quickly getting into the flow of it.
Luke frowned, looking down at his datapad. “Exodus?”
“Many believe that the Protheans simply left our galaxy altogether," she explained. "They claim that the lack of evidence indicates that they could not have collapsed or died off. I stated that if that were the case there still would have been evidence, as it was completely improbable that the Protheans would leave behind nothing. They would have had to wipe out a galaxy’s worth of infrastructure, data, and so on. If that were the case then there would be nothing left at all - ergo," she concluded, there is an unknown variable that affected their demise.” Liara felt at ease as she talked with Shepard. Discussing her favourite topic, she noted that she was – for once – not coming across as a total fool. Luke was finally seeing that she was more than just a bumbling mess. And he seemed interested in her work, no less.
The commander considered her words before jotting down a quick note. He scratched the stubble on his cheek before looking back up at her. “So if these theories are all inaccurate, what do you believe?”
“That they were wiped out," she stated plainly. "Either the Protheans created synthetics which wiped them out, or some extra-galactic race – possible organic, but likely synthetic – came to this galaxy and purged it. I do not claim to know all the finer details, but I am quite certain there isn’t much room for any other line of thought.”
“I agree,” he nodded, tapping her desk.
Liara opened her mouth to respond but no words came out. Was he taking her claims at face value? Did he truly believe them? It was almost too much. No figure of authority excluding her old professor were this receptive to her ideas. “You… you do?”
“I’m going to tell you something you have to keep between us.” Liara nodded and leant forwards in her seat eagerly. “The Prothean beacon I interacted with on Eden Prime… it dumped a lot of information in my head. The Therum ruins were a research facility called Vargen. It was an extra-galactic research centre. I know you’re right because the beacon showed me the truth. I don’t understand all of it, but I do know the Protheans were wiped out by a race of machines. The Reapers.”
“By the Goddess…”
“I know how it sounds b-”
“It all makes sense!” Liara sprung to her feet and begun pacing her room. “The lack of evidence! The timeframe! The- I was right! But how do we prove it… the only proof we have is in your head. Your head! You must have a truly remarkable mind to have been able to comprehend the beacon! Your mind would make a spectacular specimen to study. But how can we-” Liara cut herself off as she caught Shepard’s face.
He was grinning smugly at her. “You sound like you want to dissect me in a lab.”
Liara felt a flash of fear. “I- I- I didn’t mean to insinuate— I only meant you would make a fine test subject for an in-depth study. No—that’s even worse!”
Shepard only laughed at her but leant forwards to lay an arm on her shoulder comfortingly. Her stomach fluttered as anxiety and giddiness fought a ferocious battle. “I was only joking, Liara. Plus,” he added with another traditional Shepard-smirk, “you’re too sweet for murder.”
He stood up and exited from the room. Liara remained where she sat for what may very well have been a few minutes. She didn’t know what to make of the feeling in her stomach. And her head. And her heart – she was pretty sure it was acting abnormally.
Perhaps a check-up from Doctor Chakwas is in order.
Chapter 16: Deliberation
Summary:
The Normandy arrives at Feros and a plan is put together
Chapter Text
“SSV Kilimanjaro, this is Commander Shepard of the Normandy. Requesting permission to dock.” Luke stared into the holographic display of the Theseus System. The Alliance was currently struggling for naval superiority, but an uneasy truce seemed to have developed between their side and the Geth. While he lacked experience in this field, it seemed as if the Alliance held the advantage, though that could very well be little more than conjecture.
A younger voice replied. “Normandy, we weren’t expecting you. Please transmit Alliance authorisation codes.”
“Negative, Kilimanjaro," he countermanded them. "We’re on Spectre business. Transmitting codes now.”
There was an extended pause before a response came through. “Authorisation received. You’re clear to dock with bay 2. The Captain wants to speak with you.”
Luke stepped away from the communications terminal and swiftly exited the cockpit. Already dressed in armour, he met with Garrus and Butch in the airlock who were similarly dressed for combat. There was no telling how quickly they’d be able to get planet-side, so though it was technically against protocol they decided to forgo dressing up in uniform.
Much to Butch’s pleasure - that woman would do literally anything to avoid getting in her uniform.
For the last two days the Seventh Fleet had coordinated operations to hold back the Geth in space and kick the synthetic invaders off the planet. The Geth invasion was small, featuring a small fleet that deployed ground forces before being engaged and held back by the Alliance navy. The reports were far from detailed enough to get an understanding of the situation though. Shepard had decided on speaking with the captain to get a sitrep on the invasion and to create a plan of action before taking action.
A small squad of marines met them and escorted the trio to the bridge of the dreadnaught. The Normandy was by no means as cramped as most Alliance frigates, but walking through the halls of the busy ship made their own ship feel small by comparison. The decision to make the dreadnaughts comfortably roomy was made only after much debate by the brass. It was made to allow the dreadnaughts to function for increased lengths of time out in space and to improve its effectiveness as a command hub for whichever fleet or flotilla it was operating in. After a quick walk, they entered the bridge to be met with a storm of movement and activity.
“Commander Shepard,” a very familiar voice greeted him. Luke and Butch stood to attention and saluted the captain who was examining fleet positions on a large holographic display in the centre of the bridge. The woman turned around to face him, briefly flashing him a maternal smile before – like the professional she was – straightening her back and nodding to dismiss them.
“Captain Shepard," he snapped to a salute that was immediately dismissed by his mother. "Sorry to barge in like this. I wish I were here to offer my full support to the operation but we need to get planet-side as soon as possible. We believe Saren may be on the ground.”
“The Geth fleet is holding back for now so you have a few minutes of my attention,” she waved them to come closer. “Brief me.”
Luke nodded and moved towards her. “The Normandy is ready to land at Zhu’s Hope, render assistance to the forces in the area, and locate Saren. I know it’s not much of a plan but we wanted to hear what the situation was first before charging onto the planet.”
Captain Shepard waved a hand and her adjutant switched the display to show the top of five buildings connected by skyways, all labelled with numbers and markers. “Zhu’s Hope is at buildings one and two. The ExoGeni facilities are located in building five. Our forces control half of the colony. We hold building two as well as the tactical bottleneck at building three. The Geth previously only held five and four, but just half a day ago pushed into building one. It was an unexpected offensive and they’ve continued to take massive casualties but the synths have stubbornly held onto the main half of Zhu’s Hope. We’ve received word of a resistance movement at the port but have been unable to divert forces to assist.”
“Is the port operational?” he asked.
The captain nodded. “We’ve funnelled supplies to the resistance via shuttles. I’d be cautious about landing there though; we have no intel on most of building one.”
He examined the holographic display closer, frowning. “Saren is our main objective, but is there anything we can do to help the operation?”
His mom pursed her lips. “There’s a Geth dropship attached to the ExoGeni facility at five. We can’t fire on it without destroying the building and risking civilian casualties. We suspect it’s their main command centre. If you happen to be in the area you’d be making our jobs a hell of a lot easier by destroying it.”
“Roger that. We’ll take the Normandy down to Zhu’s Hope and assess the situation. If Saren isn’t at building one, we’ll make our way through four and five. My team’s small and experienced at infiltration. I’ll transfer any intel we find,” he promised.
The captain nodded again. “Appreciated. Good hunting, Commander.”
"Come now, child," Petrovsky chided her, "I know very well you can do better than that."
Katherina scowled as she watched her forces disappear off the holographic display. "You expect too much from me," she growled.
The colonel tutted, shaking his head. "Katherina, if you'll permit me a moment of arrogance, I am one of the Alliance's most skilled officers. I have enough medals and commendations that I keep most of them in external storage," he added wryly. "I would be here if you were a waste of time. You are the first and only protege protégé I have ever taken under my wing."
She grumbled, scowling when her hand twitched. "You're just here because o̴̦̦̙̅͂͜f̷̠̥̟̙̩͑̅̈́̚ ̶̨̯͍̔̃͒m̴̡̮̏̓͝ỷ̵̱̳̼͆͜ ̵̙͆͊̐̒̌f̵̠͔̅̈́̃a̴͍̼̋͜ of my parents," she accused.
"This again?" Petrovsky rose an eyebrow. "Child, I will say this once and once only. I despise ý̴̛̼̬o̸̞̍ú̵̝r̵̻̻͒ ̸̨̬́f̶̻͇̅͐a̵̩̳͊ your parents. I only acquaint myself with them out of necessity. Truthfully?" he huffed. "If you did not exist, I sincerely believe I would have had them terminated by now, usefulness be damned."
"I wish you would," she sneered. "You know what they put me through."
The colonel sighed. After a pause he walked around the holographic display, sitting at her side. "I know better than most. I assure you," his voice became grave, "I understand completely. But look at me now. The most powerful weapons must be pushed through a forge. Katherina, I look at you and see potential," he clenched a fist in front of her. "I promise you this, if you cease this petulant behaviour and embrace what I have to offer no force in the galaxy will hold you back."
Katherina's lip curled. "And until then, I just have to suck it up."
"Yes," Petrovsky stated bluntly. "When the time comes I shall stand at your side as you execute your revenge on all who have wronged you. But I concern myself with the bigger picture," he stood, guiding her to her feet. He swapped the hologram to that of the galaxy. Businesses, political figures, and borders of influence and sovereignty began to highlight themselves. "The galaxy we have entered is danerous, it is violent. What do you see."
"Nothing," she grumbled.
He clicked his tongue. "Try again."
"Fine," she pouted. "It really does look like nothing though."
"There cannot be nothing if you are staring at this much data," he chastised her. "Try again."
"Its chaos!" Katherina shouted. "I don't know what you want from me! I'm literally fifteen years old, I don't know how the galaxy works!"
Petrovsky's lips spread into a smile. "The chaos is exactly the point. We are divided - all of us. No one person has the will or the power to unite them, nor is it possible. You cannot fight chaos," he explained. Katherina frowned. "But you can control it."
"I don't get it."
The colonel tapped a button, covering the map in different colours. "Power is control. Chaos is opportunity. Embrace the chaos, spread the chaos. You can have everything you want. All you have to do," Petrovsky met her eyes once more, "is listen to me. Can you do that, Katherina?"
She straightened her back and steeled her face.
Katherina hummed as music began to echo off the walls of the ancient skyscraper. It was Tchaikovsky’s fifth Symphony, the bassoon gave it away immediately. The bass instrument contrasted the strings to create a beautiful piece which would be considered cinematic by most, though that was characteristic to its origin from the romantic era. The ExoGeni employees unfortunate enough to have not evacuated likely were unable to appreciate it due to the inconvenience of dying. But then again, when did the twins care about the plight of the masses? It wasn’t as if the masses had ever cared about them. And it was such a beautiful song, even if the screams of the dead interrupted it sporadically. Katherina hummed softly to the piece, wishing she could have been dancing to this elegant masterpiece instead of correcting their employer’s mistakes, one blunder after another.
“Is this cacophony really necessary?” Katherina and her brother sighed simultaneously and turned to face the only living creature who could make Admiral Hackett look like a bubbly ray of sunshine.
Frederick growled. “Our methodology brings results, Herr Saren. Yours bring error.”
“Allow us our music. After all,” Katherina stated with frustration dripping off her voice, “We are having to fight on two fronts after you foolishly made an enemy of the Thorian.”
“I’m growing tired of your arrogance,” the Turian growled with audible vitriol. “We cannot allow that human to get the cypher.”
She rolled her eyes. “Ah yes. Commander Shepard. The only sentient who keeps you from thinking rationally. Your obsession,” she accused.
The Turian roared and slammed Katherina against the wall. His talons wrapped around her neck and he pushed his face up close against hers. “You are not irreplaceable.”
“Herr Saren,” Frederick audaciously threatened, “release my sister immediately.” Katherina grinned at the Turian. He seemed to compose himself and dropped her.
“Hrgh,” Saren grunted and rubbed his head. “I haven’t been myself lately. I… should get back to Sovereign. There’s much to do.”
Katherina rubbed her sore throat, doing her best not to make anymore that might push Frederick's protectiveness over the edge to the point that he act irrationally. “Very well. We’ll run as much damage control as we can do, as little as that may be.”
“Oh, and Herr Saren?” her brother added.
“If you ever,” she grinned.
“And we do mean ever,” Frederick spat.
“So much as think about laying your filthy talons on me again,” Katherina rose a finger.
Her brother's face darkened. “Sovereign will have to find a new puppet.”
“Mm?” she tilted her head to the side.
Saren grunted in annoyance and left without another word. Katherina sighed and sat into a chair, rubbing her sore throat. The nerve of that Turian. She knew that it was dangerous to provoke Saren, but it wasn’t like she was at risk of anything happening to her. The twins were too smart to let Saren be the one to kill them of all people. In their twenty-eight years of experience, they had learnt how people work. You had to be able to see what they want to know what you offer them. You had to know what their weaknesses were to know how to hurt them. You had to know how far you could push them before they break, or before they turn their attention on you.
“Katherina?” Frederick interupted her musings. She turned to look at him, wordlessly encouraging him to continue. “It appears the Normandy has docked with Zhu’s Hope.”
“Ah," Katherina replied, before smiling. "We had best prepare for departure then.”
Shepard had gone to meet with the leader of the resistance, taking only Butch and leaving the rest of the crew aboard while he surveyed the situation. He had only just radioed back, requesting everyone to meet him in the briefing room. Williams stood leant against the wall in the rather cramped room with the rest of the ground team, Pressley, and Doctor Chakwas. Alenko sat between her and the Krogan, flinching every time Wrex made a noise or sudden movement. She caught the mercenary’s eyes, and a flicker told her he was intentionally messing with the lieutenant. On her left was Garrus, who was somehow the member of the ground crew she got along with best - and that wasn't a can of worms she was ready to try and decypher.
Butch's voice pulled them all out of their musings and hushed discussions. “Commander on deck!” Ashley instinctively stood to attention, accidentally whacking Alenko in the face as she brought her arm up to salute. The biotic eyed her with irritation and she could hear Garrus suppress a snort.
Shepard sighed as he entered the room. “Dismissed.” He turned to Butch, who had a stupid grin on her face as she followed him in. “You just can’t resist, can you?”
“Not one bit,” she smirked.
“Listen up,” he returned his gaze back to the assembled crew, “I’ve just spoken with Fai Dan. This resistance is actually what’s left of the colony in this building. There’s a few hundred colonists fighting tooth and nail to keep the Geth at bay. The Geth just fell back. They abandoned much of the building but they are acting just as aggressive, and they still control the skyway to the rest of the Alliance forces.”
Wrex chuckled ruefully. “Sounds like we missed all the fun. I didn’t sign up for clean-up duty, Shepard.”
“Nah,” Butch laughed, walking around to slap him on the back, “we’re only just getting started. Don’t get your knickers in a knot.”
The krogan narrowed his eyes. “What are kn-”
“Anyway,” Shepard interrupted with a cough and a stern glare, “we will divide our forces into two teams. I'll lead a strike team to the ExoGeni facilities at building five. It’s the only location of interest unoccupied by the Alliance or colonists. I’ll be taking Liara and Tali. The rest of you will remain here to provide assistance to Zhu’s Hope. Repel attacks. Dig defences. Fix their machinery. I leave that up to you, Garrus.”
Ashley never thought she’d be lucky enough to see the Turian look surprised. It took a supreme effort to not smile as his mandibles stretched in shock.
“Garrus will be leading the team at Zhu’s Hope. While I’m gone," he gave them all a stern look to make sure they knew he was serious, "he will be your commanding officer.”
“Sir,” Kaiden blurted out, drawing everyone’s eyes to him.
“Yes lieutenant?”
“With all due respect, don’t you think it would be wiser to leave someone from the Alliance in charge?” He made eye-contact with her, as if demanding her to support his argument. Ashley looked away and lowered he ahead a little. “Most of the crew are Alliance and we have to coordinate with the rest of the forces-”
The commander injerjected him with a hand gesture. “Garrus will have you, Williams, Butch, and Pressley to help with that,” he assured.
“But si-”
“Your objections are noted, lieutenant. If there’s nothing else, I want everyone prepared to get to work in fifteen minutes. Dismissed.” Shepard turned heel and marched out of the briefing room with Butch in tow. Garrus quickly excused himself and followed suit. Alenko leant closer to her and placed an arm on her shoulder. She already knew what he was going to say.
“Chief, I thought we were going to help each other?”
She sighed as he walked away. Ashley had been apprehensive about having the aliens on board at first, but though it irked her it was difficult to remain cautious of them for very long. Everyone had proven useful to the mission so far. She was loyal to the mission, to humanity, but the narrative she had been fed since she was a kid looked weaker every day.
Shepard and Butch were quick walkers. ‘Power-walking’, his human colleagues at C-Sec referred to it. Garrus had to jog to catch up. “Commander, can I have a moment?” he called out.
“Of course," the commander and lieutenant slowed themselves enough that he could match their pace. "I thought you might want to chat. Sorry for springing that on you like that,” Shepard apologised. "We're on a time crunch so I had to move fast."
“I wanted to ask why you’re leaving me in charge. Why not Butch?”
Shepard looked at Butch and tilted his head at Garrus, prompting her to speak. She shrugged. “Luke and I looked at the intel, came up with a plan. He asked who I thought should lead the colony team.”
“Butch will stick behind with you to provide support and liaison between Alliance forces, but you’ll be the commanding officer on the ground,” he assured him. The turian nodded, trying to process this.
“Commander,” Garrus said seriously, “I wasn’t the most respected detective on the Citadel, but I know how to tell when there’s more of a story.”
“Good. Keep being assertive.” Shepard nodded. “There are three reasons. One," he lifted a finger in the air, "there are some lingering xenophobic attitudes on the ship. Proving yourself to be a reliable member of the crew should help change that. Two," he added a second finger, "I know there’s something we’re missing here. These colonists are acting real suspicious. You’ve got the sharpest mind on the Normandy and if anyone can figure out what’s going on, it’s you.”
“And three?”
Shepard clapped him on the back and smiled. “I think you’re a leader, and I’m giving you a chance to prove it.”
“I’ve never had any experience for something like this,” he reiterated.
“Which is why I’m leaving Butch with you," the commander stated again, making the woman grin. "She’ll help if you need it. She’ll take over if you really think you can’t handle it. Now I need to finish preparing," he turned away. "You’re going to do fine, Garrus," Shepard called out. "Good luck.”
Chapter 17: Feros
Summary:
The Normandy crew hits the ground. There's Geth everywhere, and something doesn't feel quite right
Notes:
Uni has been slowing me down, but it's the last week ot the semester! I hope to smash out a few more chapters next week once things settle down.
Chapter Text
Following Butch, Garrus walked into the capital building of the settlement. The ‘heart of the colony’, as the colonists put it. It was in surprisingly good interior condition, considering the ongoing war. Shepard had described the colonists as being almost unusually protective of it, which he agreed with, but so far it wasn't worth doing anything other than filing it away to look into later. Fai Dan stood from his desk to greet the two of them, shutting his terminal and giving them his full attention.
“The commander said I should speak to you about the preservation of the colony," the administrator greeted them warmly. "You must be… I’m sorry officer," he frowned. "What’s your rank?”
Garrus felt his mandibles twitch. He had stressed over the best to approach this mission but never even considered how to introduce himself to the colonists. He didn’t hold any official rank on the Normandy, nor did his ranks from C-Sec carry any weight or validity. While he was an overthinker, however, his companion was equally impulsive. “Acting-Lieutenant,” Butch interjected with a wry grin, “’Acting’s a mouthful though so just call the LT whatever’s easiest.”
“Lieutenant Vakarian will be fine,” Garrus added, both appreciative of the gesture and concerned with the likely dozens of legal ramifications he would suffer for this if he wasn’t subordinate to a Spectre. “How can we help?”
The administrator sunk back into his chair. He seemed worn - it was clear how much of a toll this war had taken on him. “The Geth attack before we can recuperate. We get to work and they come right back at us again. They keep this up much longer and the colony will fall apart on its own," he scratched the top of his head. "Our water filter has been damaged and we’re suffering from frequent Geth fighter raids. If you had any ideas on how to improve our defence as well that would be great. Most of us are simple farmers, researchers, and construction workers, we aren’t soldiers,” Fai Dan stressed.
“Thanks for the sitrep. Give me a minute to discuss with my crew and we’ll provide all the assistance we can. I promise you this," he added quickly, feeling the need to give at least a slight morale boost, "the Geth won’t be a problem for much longer.”
The human thanked Garrus, shaking his hand with great enthusiasm before excusing himself. Garrus turned to Butch and brought up his omni-tool. She nudged him with her elbow. “Nervous?”
“No,” Garrus answered honestly. The situation wasn’t amazing, but it also wasn’t complex. “It shouldn’t be too hard to get a hold of things. Adams or some of his staff should be able to fix the water filter. As for the fighters… don’t you think it’s a bit strange that the Geth are able to execute fighter raids with precision in a location like this?”
“You’re not wrong," she frowned, cracking her knuckled. "All these buildings and structures must make it near bloody impossible.”
“Yet they seem to be doing it quite frequently. They must have beacons set up,” he mused.
Butch grunted. “Can’t see any other way around it. Even a supercomputer couldn’t plot a course that quickly on its own.”
“I’ll get Pressley to look at their recorded flight plans. There’s not must data but the emissions should be enough to track the locations of the most important beacons," he rumbled as it all came together. "Wrex and Williams should be able to handle that.”
“Sounds like a plan, Lieutenant,” she grined, clapping his shoulder.
“About that,” Garrus spun to face her, “Acting-Lieutenant? Is that even a real rank?”
“Pfft," she looked offended that he doubted her. "It worked, yeah?”
Garrus shook his head, amused despite the situation. "You’re ridiculous.”
Butch started laughing, wrapping her arm around him as they walked back to the crew. “I get that a lot.”
“That’s close enough!” Luke lowered his weapon slightly, taking in the man hiding behind a security team. He reminded him of Dupont, Udina’s assistant. The first thing he noticed about the man was how much he looked like a rat. Luke was really starting to get tired of these weasel bureucrat types.
“Relax, Jeong,” an exasperated female in a lab coat drawled. She, on the other hand, reminded him of Doctor Chakwas. “They’re obviously not Geth.”
“Who are you,” the man demanded, ignoring the scientist, “what do you want?”
Luke holstered his weapon, trusting Liara to protect him with her barriers if the situation devolved. “Commander Shepard, Systems Alliance and Council Spectre.”
Jeong didn't relax. “Have our facilities been cleared of the Geth?”
“No, but I-”
“Then get back to it, soldier," he ordered. "ExoGeni pays its fair share of taxes, taxes that go to your salary. Go earn it.”
Tali snorted and folded her arms, clearly eager to see him retaliate. “Jeong-”
“That’s Representative Jeong, to you,” he corrected indignantly.
Luke took a deep breath, forcing himself not to lose his cool. “Representative. I’m here on Council business, in case you missed the fact that I’m a Spectre. We could use any authorisation to make our assault on the headquarters smoother. I’m not losing any of my team because we couldn’t get a damn door open,” he warned.
“Headquarters? That’s private property, soldier,” the rat-like man's eyes widened. "I know the law, you have no jurisdiction."
“Give it a rest, Jeong.” The scientist tapped at her omni-tool and transferred her codes to Luke. “Commander, before you go… my daughter, Lizbeth, she’s missing. I know you have your mission but-”
“They shouldn’t go poking around," the representative interjected nervously. "We can do a… proper accounting… of our casualties after the Geth are gone.”
“Representative,” Shepard cut in coldly, “Don’t forget how far Spectre’s can go to achieve their mission.” The corporate scumbag recoiled at that. “And don’t worry, miss…”
“Baynham, Juliana Baynham.”
“Miss Baynham," he gave her a reassuring smile. "I can’t make any promises but I’ll keep my eyes peeled for your daughter.”
“Oh thank you.”
In retrospect, Garrus may have underestimated the intricacies that defined his interim rank. The checklist detailing what had to be done was deceptive. While it was extensive - he had spent nearly half an hour liasoning with colonists and his team to determine what needed to be done and to prioritise it - there was an incredibly noticable difference between the recording of such tasks and their executions. Perfectionism - that was his blessing and his curse. He had never been given a command before. He refused to allow anything to jeapordise it - he would not disappoint Shepard, nor would he let any under his command suffer the conseuences of his inexperience.
So he threw himself into every planned trench or barrier, every technical detail of the on-site technology, every survey results. From the on-ground inventory to the exact distribution of personnel, Garrus painstakingly examined each detail. It was meticulous to the point of obsession. Rergretably, this tendency had begun to breed tension among the crew and the colonists. He noticed it in their eyes. Even Adams found himself at odds with Garrus, which he tried to avoid acknowledging just how astoundnig that was considering the engineer was the most patient man on the Normandy.
Garrus tried not to let his frustration show. He had always despised his superiors at C-Sec who insisted on micromanaging him. Their lack of trust in him had made him miserable and Garrus vowed never to do the same. Yet, he had breached this principle, and it was costing him the respect of those under his command and potentially the integrity of the entire mission.
He stood in the Normandy’s CIC, eyes locked on the stream of data Pressley was projecting. He poured over tactical simulations, read through maintenance logs, double-checked navigational calculations. A part of him recognized his tendency to overstep and take on too much, but he didn't exactly know how to slow down. Garus was determined to prove himself worthy of the command he had been given. .
He turned his head as Butch walked into view with Williams by her side. “Mission success, Lieutenant,” Ashley joked, throwing her arm up into a mock-salute. His irritation subsided quickly; he was glad that they were able to work together. “The Geth beacons you located were destroyed. Along with a squad of Geth. And a Krogan,” she boasted.
“Thank you, Chief," he glanced down at his datapad. "I believe Arcelia could use your help calibrating the turrets on North,” he directed.
“Sure," the woman wiped her hands with a rag, "but you’ll want to hear this first.”
“All right,” he gave her his attention.
“We came across another colonist. Ian Newstead. He seemed crazy, but I think there was something else going on. Here," she showed him her omni-tool. "I took a recording and scans of his body. Doctor Chakwas agrees. Something's up at the colony.”
Garrus played the recording, shifting his plates into what could be perceived as a frown. “Forget about the turrets. Ashley, I’d like to put you in charge of figuring this out. If one colonist is affected, how many of the others may… become this?”
“I’ll get on it right away.”
The Turian returned his eyes to the holographic display as she turned to leave. A morbid thought occurred to him. “Pressley,” he paused, considering the situation carefully, “Could you run some more simulations for me?”
“With what parameters?” he sighed.
Garrus breathed out. “Assume the colony turns hostile.”
The holographic console blinked before Tali. She was somewhat frustrated. She could hear the muffled thuds of gunfire echoing through the ExoGeni facility as she worked. This was it. All she needed to do was hack through the security system and they'd be inside the ExoGeni headquarters. It was supposed to be as easy as maintaining the drive core.
Meanwhile Shepard and Liara were embroiled in a bitter fight with the Geth’s perimeter forces mere meters away from her, keeping a monstrous Geth armature at bay. Shepard charged forward with a war cry, drawing the Armature's attention away from Tali. Liara shielded him from incoming rocket fire, holding a barrier around him while simultaneous throwing as many warps as she could manage at the technological giant.
"Faster would be good, Tali!" Shepard barked, punctuating his statement with a well-aimed concussive shot to the Armature's knee joint.
"I'm working on it!" she replied, her fingers flying over the console. "Corporate organisations take their security surprisingly seriously, you know!" she shouldn’t even have had to hack the damn door. The codes Baynham gave them should have been enough, but as they tried to access the facility they learnt that the authorisation had been revoked. Tali was certain that Jeong had screwed them.
The fire intensified and Tali felt a tremor in the deck as the Geth Armature lumbered closer. Then, her breath hitched as she found exactly what she was looking for. Her fingers danced even faster as she finally fell back into rhythem and started overwriting the controls. "I think I've got it!" She shouted, slamming her palm onto the console.
Just as she said it, the thick, metallic doors slid open with a hiss, opening the facility. Shepard used the last of his kinetic barrier to ward off the Geth’s barrage as led a retreating Liara past Tali into the newly opened passage.
"And they say I'm the one who likes making entrances," Shepard quipped, panting as the door closed and sealed behind them.
“It would be rude to let you have all the fun,” Tali joked.
Shepard collapsed against the wall and chuckled a little bit. “Good work, Tali. I’m going to need a minute.”
“I agree wholeheartedly,” Liara agreed, shaking her head as she sat next to him. Tali suppressed a snicker. It was cute to see the two together. Shepard seemed to have a positive effect on her. Though Liara had only joined the Normandy less than a week ago, she had undergone tremendous changes. Liara seemed more confident and less nervous. Now, she rarely stuttered when speaking with the crew. Liara denied it every time Tali or Butch asked (or teased) her – and Tali felt meek just thinking about asking Shepard – but there was a spark between the two. And sure, that could maybe be chalked up to her obsession with Fleet and Flotilla, but if Butch also saw it…
The Normandy was nothing if not entertaining.
Chapter 18: Trepidation
Summary:
Shepard, Liara, and Tali explore the ExoGeni headquarters and make a discovery
Chapter Text
The trio made their way through the empty ExoGeni facility. There weren’t many corpses – the few of which there were had been neatly moved to the side – which somehow made the atmosphere even more eerie. They came across the occasional Krogan or small squad of Geth, but the building was surprisingly empty. Room by room, they slowly approached the location Tali had determined to be the base of the Geth command hub. In absence of conversation, Liara’s mind attempted to piece together the puzzle in front of them.
Looking at things objectively, there were only so many possibilities. One had to remember that the Geth had a limited force and the reinforcement from orbit was impossible. This left two main paths of thought. Firstly, that the Geth had redeployed troops from the facility to bolster other fronts. Secondly, that the Geth were leading them into the facility to launch an ambush. Each possibility was equally morbid, though would have drastically different consequences. The former affecting their allies, the latter affecting them.
A single bullet flew through the air, ricocheting off the commander’s chest harmlessly and snapping Liara out of her brainstorming. All three raised their weapons in the direction the shot came from.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry!" a young voice exclaimed. "I didn’t realise you’re human. Err.. not Geth at least. You're… you’re not with the Geth, are you?
Liara watched as a nervous and dishevelled scientist stumbled out of the shadows, holding her shaking hands above her head. She seemed rather young, though she must have graduated tertiary education to land a position as a researcher for a major corporation.
Is this what I looked like when Luke found me on Therum?
He spread his arms reassuringly. “I’m Commander Shepard, I’m here to help.”
The girl visibly relaxed and dropped her pistol onto the ground. An unwise move if Shepard had been lying. She seemed naïve, innocent. She was completely out of her depth. Shepard treated her softly, prompting her to talk without forcing her. “I’m Lizbeth. Lizbeth Baynham. I work at the ExoGeni headquarters in the bioscience division. Everything’s been falling apart for the last month and no one seems to be able to stop it," she started to ramble, "and those creepy investors showed up and made things worse, and now the Geth are here killing people, and now I’m rambling in front of the Commander Shepard and probably look like a total idiot, and-”
“It’s ok, Baynham, slow down. Take a deep breath. You’re safe now.” She nodded and did as he said, though she was unable to dispel much of her nervous energy. “Lizbeth, let’s take it from the top? What’s happened?”
“I-… I can’t tell you," she apologised as she began to hyperventilate. "I’m so sorry I really want to but they’ll fire mom and I and sue us and-, and-, and-”
Luke stepped forwards to place a hand on her shoulder reassuringly. Liara watched with light surprise as the girl suddenly wrapped her arms around Shepard, squeezing him in a tight hug that would likely have been somewhat painful had he not been wearing heavy armour. Liara felt herself smiling slightly as the commander cautiously hugged her back. Luke was a marine, he was a leader, he was intelligent, he was fascinating, but he was also full of compassion. This was a side she hadn’t yet had the chance to see him demonstrate. “Lizbeth, it’s going to be ok. I can protect you and your mom, I just need you to work with me.”
“Promise?” she looked up at him. Tali emitted a noise Liara thought sounded similar to a snort. Luke ignored her and nodded at the girl. “Ok… ExoGeni found a creature beneath the colony. Species 37 is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. It’s a sentient, well, plant. But it’s old. Really old. Older than the Protheans.”
“Impossible,” Liara blurted. The girl ignored her and continued talking.
“Species 37 interacted with the colonists, taking control of them using spores. I- I had to monitor the colonists’ data and follow their changes," she confessed before looking at them with fear. "I didn’t have a choice! I thought I was signing up to do something good,but I ended up watching one of the most unethical projects in human history,” she chuckled mirthlessly.
“What does ExoGeni want with Species 37?” Luke asked. It was a good question.
“I don’t know," Lizbeth admitted. "ExoGeni only really investigated it because our most powerful shareholders applied a lot of pressure.”
“Any information on these shareholders could be important,” he stressed.
“I never talked to them myself. Most only talked by hologram, Jeong had to deal with them. He was always complaning," she ran a hand through her hair. "There was, um, an Asari Matriarch, a middle-aged human, a Turian, and these two really creepy twins.”
“I’ll have to look into this later. We knew Saren and Benezia are working together," he considered out loud, "but if there are other’s involved too…”
“Do you believe Saren has more allies?” Liara asked inquisitively.
“It’s food for thought.” He replied noncomittaly. She frowned. Some human sayings made no sense, but Luke didn't seem to notice her confusion. “What else can you tell me, Lizbeth?”
“I hid when the Geth arrived. But I know that they weren’t trying to kill everyone!" she exclaimed. "They scared off whoever they could.”
“I think this is proof that Saren is the Turian investor,” Liara offered. “He’s trying to salvage as much of the company on Feros as possible.”
“Why?” he asked, more out of curiosity than disbelief.
Liara shrugged. “Funding a galactic war cannot be cheap,” she tilted her head up slightly. "When one accounts for fuel, ammunition, transportation, food, mercenary salaries, information, bribes, the final tally would be quite high."
“Makes sense," he agreed. "Lizbeth, are you good to follow us? Your authorisation would make this go a lot quicker for us, and I don’t want to send you back on your own or have you hide here.”
“I’ll manage, as long as you’ll protect me?” she looked at him again, seemingly shrinking.
Tali made that noise again. Liara was certain it was a snort.
She shared the sentiment.
It wasn’t a plague. It wasn’t a disease. There was nothing seriously harmful about the spores in these colonists. But unless this was just some benign, useless mutation there was something going on here that Garrus didn't like. Maybe it was dormant. Maybe, as crazy as it sounded, there was a creature controlling them - it would certainly explain their strange behaviour.. None of these possibilities appealed to Garrus. “So you can’t rule any of this out?”
“Unfortunately not,” Chakwas reluctantly admitted. “The spores are far more complex than anything I’ve seen in my entire career. Thank goodness you picked up on this.”
“Is there anything you can tell me?” he asked, hopeful for anything that would help.
“From my limited research, the spores seem to take a while to take root, so we should all be safe," she assured him. Relief flooded him. "The colonists must have been exposed for who knows how long. As you know already, the tests we ran on the crew all came back with good results. No one on the Normandy has been infected.”
“I don’t like this,” Ashley grunted. “If the colonists go all zombie on us, we’re too spread out. And we’ve given them all these defences.” It wasn’t a pleasant thought. With only around thirty personnel, defending the Normandy would be a difficult task.
“I was thinking the same thing,” Garrus agreed. “We need to prepare for the worst. I want to start pulling all of our crew back to the Normandy. Discreetly.”
“We should dig in," she suggested. "If anyone asks why, we tell ‘em it’s orders from the brass.”
“I agree. Expand the redoubt we built when we first landed. Maybe even see if we can reposition or sabotage some of the nonessential turrets away from the front lines," he rumbled as he quickly tried to put together a plan. "I’ve got to make sure the crew is ready; I want to talk to everyone personally.”
“I’ll get right on it, Lieutenant.” She gave him a mock-salute, visibly suppressing a chuckle, and left. All the Turian could do was shake his head. Turning away from the doctor, however, he subtly shifted his mandibles into a smile.
“This is a tremendous quantity of research.” Frederick eagerly browsed through the information on the terminal in front of him. “Money well spent, hm, Katherina?”
“Indeed,” she replied semi-absentmindedly. It was fascinating, to be sure, but they had the little issue of escaping the planet before the Alliance completely decimated the Geth. And while there was little direct evidence to link the two of them to the scene – especially now that Jeong had been handled – the twins knew better than to risk fate. So Katherina efficiently ordered their staff to move their things onto the shuttle. Yes, she would have appreciated a helping hand from her brother, but she could never pull him away from something that had him truly engrossed. Katherina admittedly took great pleasure from watching him in a state of total focus. Seeing her brother genuinely enjoy himself unfortunately was a rarer sight these days. There was a lot of work to be done so she tried not to interrupt these moments if she could help it, even if it left her with more work to do. Let it never be said that she was a completely emotionless machine.
“Katherina! Look, see this, yes?” Katherina walked back to him and placed an arm around his shoulder, examining the data in front of him. “Species 37 has made breakthroughs in our understanding of the human mind! The way the spores take control has revealed…” She smiled as he rambled on, excited by the possibilities this data created. As a few minutes passed, however, she gave his shoulder a squeeze to interrupt him.
“Brother, this is truly interesting," she gently started to guide him, "but we can discuss it on the ship. You need to pack up your things so that we can leave.”
“Ah, yes. Of course. Naturally.” With only the slightest hint of embarrassment, Frederick stood up to comply.
“Perhaps we could discuss the results over a glass of wine?” he asked hopefully - he always had been more of a science nerd than she was.
“That sounds terrific.” He placed a kiss on her forehead and shouted at the nearest staff to grab his bags. They had a shuttle to catch.
With a sickening screech, the bay door slammed on the ‘leg’ of the Geth ship, slicing it off. There was an uncomfortably loud cacophony as the ship broke off the building and fell beneath the clouds to the distant surface of the planet. “Good job Tali,” Luke praised, grinning. It was an impressive feat she pulled off. He wasn’t bad with math, per se, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to calculate the exact values to force the door to slam with that level of intensity. Tali had no such problems.
“-mmander, can you read me?” For the first time in hours, the comm channels seemed to be back up.
“Joker, this is Shepard,” he quickly connected.
The pilot sounded incredibly relieved. “Good to hear you again, sir. Patching Captain Mom into the call now.”
“Commander? I take it you’re to thank for the disarray the Geth have fallen into?” she greeted him.
He couldn't help but allow himself a small smile. “Yes, ma’am. The command hub has been neutralised.”
“We’re pushing them back on all fronts," she boasted. "They have nowhere left to hide. Did you find what you were looking for?”
“Not yet. But we have something more important on our hands," his face fell. "There’s an ancient life form underneath Zhu’s Hope. It’s been enthralling them for months.”
“What!?” Rarely would his mother display shock or disgust so blatantly but he really couldn’t blame her. It was a very disturbing revelation.
“ExoGeni was observing the whole thing," Luke promisd her. "I’ve got gigabytes of data to prove it.”
“That’s abominable, we need to-”
“Commander,” Joker interrupted, panic in his voice, “we’re under attack! The colonists have turned on us. They’ve gone feral!”
“Are you secure?” He scowled. That his ship had come under attack while he was unable to reach it and he wasn't happy about it.
“Yes, sir. Garrus somehow guessed something like this would happen so we weren’t caught off guard. Crazy bastard was right. Uh, sir and ma’am.” If the Captain picked up on his disregard for communications protocol, she didn’t say anything.
“I’m receiving similar reports from Major Murphey," she grumbled. "Commander, I need you to rendezvous with our ground forces and come up with a plan. I want to limit civilian casualties as much as possible.”
“Yes, ma’am. Actually, can you have him meet us at the coordinates I’m about to send you?" he gestured for Tali to send the data. "This is where the ExoGeni scientists are hidden. If they have a solution, we’ll find it there.”
“Understood. I’ll convey the news. And son?” she intoned upwards.
Luke instinctively straightened his back. “Yes, ma’am?”
“Godspeed.”
Chapter 19: The Unseen Enemy
Summary:
With the Geth ceasing to be a threat, the Alliance are forced to deal with the enthralled colonists
Chapter Text
The sky was growing darker by the minute, lit sporadically by the arcs of electrical energy from hastily erected kinetic barriers. Acting Lieutenant Vakarian (he had come to embrace the title) stood on a slight rise overlooking the port. He turned to face the team, considering their defence oncem more. Ashley , Alenko, Wrex, and Butch made up the main defence. Behind them, those of the Normandy with combat training stood ready to support where possible and Doctor Chakwas remained on standby.
"Alright," Garrus began, his mandibles flexing in thought. "These colonists aren't acting under their own volition. Something's controlling them. Shepard is fighting his way to us, but until then our priority is defending the Normandy. Remember," he clarified once again. "The goal is to incapacitate, not kill."
Ashley grimaced. "Easier said than done, Garrus. These folks aren't exactly holding back."
"I know," Garrus acknowledged, "And I know that we may have to take lives to defend ourselves."
Wrex grunted in agreement, hefting his massive shotgun with ease. Butch gave his shoulder a squeeze assuredly. "Just say the word, Vakarian."
"We'll hold the line here," he directed, pointing to a natural bottleneck formed by two large buildings. "Set up the barriers and prep your stun rounds. No lethal force unless absolutely necessary. We're here to help these people, not harm them. I want Wrex and Alenko up front, your biotics are our best shot at avoiding deaths." The crew nodded, hurrying off to their duties. Garrus walked over to the defensive line as the first wave of colonists approached. Their eyes were vacant and their bodies moved with unnatural gait. He already kne wthta it was going to be an incredibly long night. "Stand fast, hold the line!" Garrus commanded.
The colonists advanced with a surprising amount of cohesion. The first colonist slammed into the kinetic barrier. He fell, momentarily incapacitated, but quickly rose to his feet and charged again.
"Now!" Garrus called out.
Kaidan responded first, his biotic energy flaring up in a blue blaze around him. With a fluid motion, he thrust his hands forward, an invisible shockwave of biotic force surging out from him. The leading colonists were lifted off their feet, flung backward with non-lethal force. They sprawled on the ground, stunned but alive. Wrex followed suit, the air around him rippling with the raw power of his biotics. His biotics surged forth, picking up a group of colonists and suspending them in mid-air, rendering them temporarily harmless.
Butch then swiftly pulled the pin on one of the few smoke grenades they had left on the ship. She lobbed it into the space between the biotic barrier and the next wave of colonists. There was a sharp, hissing sound as the canister spewed thick, grey smoke, obscuring the colonists' sight. Screams of frustration echoed from within the smoke screen as the disoriented colonists stalled. Ashley prepared another smoke grenade. She gave a sharp nod to one of the crew members, a young engineer who's name Garrus regretably couldn't place held her omni-tool at the ready. At Ashley's signal, she activated her tech drone, directing it into the smoke-filled area.
As the drone buzzed off, it began emitting bright, disorienting flashes of light within the smoke, adding to the chaos and further keeping the colonists at bay. Despite the heavy pressure, the line held firm. Every crew member did their part, each playing a role in this desperate and tragically necessary defence. But the colonists kept coming, their numbers seemingly unending. And as they were deploying only non-lethal force, it often wouldn’t be long until the colonists they did take out were back in the fight.
Garrus surveyed the scene, his earlier thoughts settlign in once more - it was going to be a very long night. "Shepard’s on his way! Let’s buy him some time" he shouted, his voice cutting through the sounds of battle. Alliance crew shouted an ‘oorah’ and morale seemed to raise. He had no idea how far away the commander was, but the crew needed as much of a boost as possible.
Just as Garrus was about to give another order, a sudden movement in his peripheral vision caught his attention. Arcelia was charging towards him, a wild look in her eyes and a blade raised in her hand. Out of nowhere, Butch came barrelling into him, knocking him out of the colonist's path. As they tumbled to the ground, Butch twisted mid-fall and her pistol lined up with Arcelia. A round cracked through the air, hitting its mark, and Arcelia crumpled. Butch landed heavily on top of Garrus, the breath momentarily knocked out of him. Even amidst the chaos, he caught a mischievous twinkle in Butch's eyes. She flashed him an equally mischievous grin rolled off him. Picking themselves up quickly, they jumped back into the fray.
“I’d say you’re going to be the death of me,” Garrus quipped, “But you might have just saved my life.”
“That’s why you love me!” she teased, pulling her assault rifle back out.
Luke exited the Mako and swiftly approached the Alliance forces positioned outside of the ExoGeni camp. A short, burly man wearing an officer’s combat uniform spotted him approaching and shoved his way through the men around him. “Major Murphey,” the man introduced, shaking his hand. He had a thick Scottish accent and he gave the impression of someone who didn’t care much for décor. Shepard liked him already. “Damn good to see you, commander.”
“Thank you, sir," he shook back, before pulling his helmet off. "I don’t want to sound rude but I’d appreciate if we could get right down to it. My crew’s docked in Zhu’s Hope and are doing their best to fight off the possessed colonists.”
“Good to see an officer who can cut through the bullshit,” he nodded approvingly. “I’ve got men in building two doing the same. Any idea how we deal with the fuckers without pissing the brass off?”
"We might have a way," Juliana interjected, escorted by a pair of marines to the impromptu planning session with her now recovered daughter by her side. Lizbeth held up a small canister.
"I've been developing a compound with ExoGeni," Juliana explained, glancing at the canister. "They told me it was for an isolated virus, but I'm beginning to suspect they wanted it as a backup plan."
Lizbeth chimed in, her nervousness giving way to excitement. "It's not exactly a full antidote, but it should knock the colonists out weaken the spores inside of them. Give us a month and we can fix this, I know we can."
Luke considered the information. Murphey gave him a look, waiting for his input. It was risky, but the alternative was to fight the colonists and that was a situation he wasn't willing to enter if he didn't have to. "It'll have to do."
"Aye," the major agreed, "Sounds like a plan. ‘cept one thing," he held his index finger and thumb half, the tips half an inch apart before he clenched hsi fist. "How the hell are we supposed to get that wee thing into all the bloody colonists?”
“As is standard with Alliance colonies, back-up air purifiers and ventilation systems were installed around the colony,” Juliana explained, “We could distribute the compound through the air if we could reach the machinery."
“You want us to flood the vents with bloody nerve gas?” The major placed his hands on his hips comically and exhaled. “This is the craziest shit I’ve seen in my career… Son of a bitch, we don’t have a choice, do we?”
Luke brought up the layout of the colony on his omni-tool and set it to projection. “The ventilation control room is here, a level down. We spearhead an assault directly here and release the compound.”
The major chuckled mirthlessly and slapped him on the back. “Easy as pie, ey?”
As the old adagge went, a cornered fox was more dangerous than a jackal.
The Geth fleet was pinned. Between them and the mass relay, the Seventh Fleet lay in waiting. There would be no surprise attack, no reinforcements, no unpredictable miracle strategy. The Geth fleet was trapped. Captain Shepard would have loved nothing more than to chase them down and eliminate the threat for good, but now was not the time. By maintaining orbit over the colony her fleet prevented the Geth from reinforcing their ground troops or retreating. Her position effectively neutered the Geth navy’s ability to make a difference in this theatre, and its ability to leave the system and become a threat to other Alliance holdings.
Ergo, the jackal had been cornered.
With a now total Alliance control of the surrounding systems, the only way for the Geth fleet to escape was through the mass relay. Hannah knew that, in their position, she would take the only option left open to her. To engage the blockaders in the hope of making a breakthrough. There was no other possible course of action. It was only a matter of time before the Geth made the same conclusion and launched a desperate final assault.
With her fleet in position for the inevitable, she turned her attention to the displays presenting information on the current state of the ground forces. The colonists had retreated to protect the centre of the colony and were putting up a surprisingly good defence. The assistance the Normandy’s crew had provided against the Geth seemed to carry over to their fight against the Alliance.
Captain Shepard assumed that the ground forces would take a slow, tactical approach to clearing the area, whittling down their numbers and restraining them. But instead, the Major and her son seemed to have launched a major offensive towards a specific point west of the main zone of combat. There hadn’t been time to relay plans so the captain was in the dark, but during their years of service she had come to trust the Major’s judgement and usually gave him near free reign with ground operations. If Murphey and her son had come up with a plan, she placed her utmost faith in it.
“Ma’am?" her XO called out. "Movement from the enemy fleets.”
“Yes?”
“They’re moving to accelerate,” he reported. Hannah glanced at the holograph. So far they weren't making any unpredictable formations. There was no need to change their plans.
“I want the fleet on high alert, Oberly," she ordered. "Assume combat is about to begin. Thank you, specialist.”
The cornered fox made its move.
The Geth battleship and its escorts appeared to be making a diagonal thrust towards them. No doubt they hoped that by angling their port towards them, they would be able to bring more weapons fire on their numerically and ballistically superior opponents. It was the smartest strategy they could take, given the situation. “Ready the missiles.” It was also a strategy she was entirely prepared for.
A hushed wave of murmurs swept across the bridge. Missiles – of the quality employed by the SSV Kilimanjaro – were costly and rarely used. Most situations didn’t warrant such excessive use, and, even when the threat was high enough to justify, most refrained from giving the order to reduce casualties and allow boarding.
Yet capture was not the present objective. “Fire,” she barked.
There was a slight shake. Not enough to affect balance or to disorient anyone, but just enough for the crew to feel the ship launching its missiles. The holographic display behind her lit up as new symbols appeared to track the missiles. Hannah ignored it and stared out the bridge window, watching as several explosions wracked their adversaries. The battleship faltered and its engines cut out. The greatest threat was now hovering helplessly through space. It actually guided into one of its escort vessels, exploding it violently.
Hannah permitted her crew a moment to cheer before quieting them. The battle wasn’t over just yet. With nothing to lose, the remaining Geth ships shifted their direction from the relay to the Alliance fleet.
“Reform into our secondary formation. Let’s mop this up.”
Chapter 20: Species 37
Summary:
The war on Feros comes to it's climax, and the fate of the colony is put at stake as the Normandy and Igloo Company fight against a mind-controlling enemy unseen by all,
Chapter Text
Liara T'Soni had never thought she would become a soldier. No, to call herself a soldier would be disrespectful to the millions if not billions of sentients who had earned that title through rigorous training and experience. Yet, here she stood, amidst the chaos of battle, her heart pounding as adrenaline coursed through her veins. Soldier or not, this was a war. Until this point, her experience had been limited to the controlled, academic world of archaeology. Her world had always been restricted to the world of old, far removed from the harsh realities of combat. Even her limited ventures alongside Shepard thus far were nothing compared to the urban slog they found themselves in.
Shepard, Tali, and she were fighting alongside the spearhead of Igloo Company, pushing their way through the southern half of Zhu’s Hope. Their objective was the colony's air purifiers and ventilation systems. In theory, it sounded straightforward, but, as the humans were so fond of saying, things were never that easy. Every alleyway was filled with colonists who were willing to die to stop them from reaching the controls. But they were not soldiers. They were farmers, engineers, teachers, people who had been forced to take up arms against a perceived threat at the whim of an ancient being. Their lack of formal training and proper equipment made them a rather inefficient fighting force, but it was their tenacity and nearly inhuman stamina that made them a threat.
Major Murphey lead his men from the front. His dry and vulgar character inspired and instilled confidence in those around him. Igloo Company was well-equipped and well-trained. They used smoke grenades and flash bombs with incredible precision, their stun weaponry aimed not to harm but to incapacitate. Their experience was evident. Watching them, Liara couldn't help but marvel it. It was almost artistic, there was a sort of terrible beauty to the way they conducted themselves. This was her first real experience with such military action and she didn't quite know what to make of it.
So this is what war looks like. Goddess, how does Shepard live like this? For so many years?
Amidst the soldiers of Igloo Company, Luke stood out clearly. He had never fought alongside them before, but that was impossible to tell if one wasn't already aware. It was Major Murphey leading the assault but Shepard silently supported him, using Tali and her to fill gaps in the line and press advantages when Igloo Company didn’t have the men ready in the moment. Shepard's uncanny ability to adapt to any situation was impressive.
After hours of intense combat, they finally reached the heart of the colony, the control systems within their sight. Tali and Murphey’s engineers spread throughout the control centre without hesitation and began searching for the controls they needed. If they could only find the system they needed the battle would be over within the hour.
Fate did not favour them. Once more, the humans began spread their phrase - it was never that easy.
The controls they needed were nowhere to be found. There was no doubt that the filtration and ventilation systems had been installed in the colony, but it was as if the control and maintenance machinery had… disappeared. “What d’you mean the bloody thing’s gone?” Murphey barked in understandable frustration as one of his engineers relayed the information, before kicking a chair over. “Bollocks!”
“I have something!” Tali exclaimed, drawing everyone’s attention. “The colonists detached and moved the controls two months ago. They moved them… underground?” Shepard and Murphey quickly walked over to view what the Quarian had found. For less than a minute they conversed rapidly, pointing at the holographic display animatedly.
“Oi, Tagomi!” Murphey suddenly yelled, calling over a man wearing the rank of commander - she could only tell as it matched Luke's. “I’m taking the 58th down to the controls. You’re in command until we’ve save the bloody day," he spat onto the floor before turning. "Hold the colonists off.”
“Sir, yes, sir!”
“Lead the way, Shepard,” Murphey emphasised with a waving gesture, “We’ve got a job to do.”
Butch could feel the hours catching up to her. The colonists would slow down, then go into another frenzy, then repeat. Slow, frenzy. Slow, frenzy. She was tired, ut she also felt rather accomplished. Alongside Garrus, they had managed to repel the colonists' advances incredibly successfully. While it didn't have to be sait out loud it was clear to all that she and Garrus formed the backbone of their defence.
Shaking her sweat-slicked hair out of her eyes, Butch glanced sideways at Garrus. Over the course of the battle, they had really come together and forged a bond, and - much to her initial confusion - it wasn't just one born in battle. As they worked in tandem, seamlessly dispatching colonist after colonist, Butch made a habit of getting in close. She still didn't uite understand it, but she did everything she could to avoid thinking about it. It was fun to tease and flirt with the Turian. A casual touch here, an unnecessarily close stance there, either he was oblivious or comfortable enough not to stop her. Try a she might to convince herself she was only having a bit of fun, there was… something about him that nagged her. Something she couldn’t pinpoint for the life of her.
At one point, during a brief lull in the onslaught, she grinned at him, leaning against her rifle. "You know, Vakarian, you could at least pretend to notice when a lady is dropping hints," she drawled, immediately chiding herself for being so direct.
Garrus turned to face her, a glint of amusement in his eyes. The battle seemed to fade away in the moment, leaving the two of them in a bubble of silence. She tried to pretend like that wasn't weird. “Pretend? I don’t think so,” he rumbled. And that's when she realised that he was having fun too. “I've got eyes, Butch, but I didn't want to make it too easy for you," he- did he just purr? She felt something in her stomach. "I know you thrive on intrigue."
Just then, a colonist broke from cover, charging at them. Without breaking eye contact, Garrus raised his right arm and fired, hitting the colonist in the leg with a concussive round. The colonist crumpled to the ground, incapacitated but alive, and now she was trying really really hard to pretend that that wasn't doing anything for her. So, in absence of reason Butch did what she did in almost every situation. She laughed. "Now that's more like it, Vakarian."
“If you lovebirds are done,” Ashley interrupted, flashing the biggest smirk Butch had ever seen, “You noticed that it’s been getting easier?”
Butch blushed profusely, frustrated with herself both for being so visible and having not registered the change in the enemy’s pace.
You are in an active warzone, Butch… Focus, damn it!
“I agree,” Garrus nodded, pulling Ashley’s eyes away from her. “I think it’s safe to say Shepard’s doing something to draw them away. Let’s use the opportunity to fix what we can, some of those kinetic barriers are on their last legs.”
“Aye aye, LT. I’ll talk to Adams for you so you two can keep doing… whatever this is,” she waved with another smirk.
Butch turned back to Garrus with a surprisingly shy grin. It wasn’t often that the joke was on her. “Lieutenant...” Garrus tilted his head at her. “You’re changing shades. Do you need to see the doctor?” She almost missed it, but a slight twitch of the mandible gave him away.
He was messing with her.
She scowled. “Oh it’s so on.”
“Butch,” he innocently turned to check his rifle, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Luke was really starting to hate this planed.
He he followed Major Murphey and a squad of marines who had taken the point further into the building below Zhu's Hope. Behind him, in the protective centre of the 58th Marine Platoon, hovered Liara and Tali. After what seemed like an eternity of winding corridors and strange but disgusting smells they descended into an enormous cavern. He didn't like it.
The cavern had a distinct hexagonal design, a tell-tale sign of Prothean architecture, according to Liara. It was grand in scale, the kind of space that might have awed him if he wasn't so on edge. Yet the chamber’s structure was somehow not what stood out most to him. Shepard couldn’t help but be disturbed by the plant growth that permeated the space. It clung to the walls, sprawled over the floors, and crept up the pillars. It was everywhere. He didn't like it.
Shepard and Murphey, escorted by a group of marines, walked onto an open alcove. As they approached, the true monstrosity that lay within the depths of the cavern came into view.
Species 37.
Murphey dropped his toothpick from his mouth. “What the shit-loving Jesus-hating bloody fuck is that?!”
Any other time, Luke would have laughed at the major’s outburst. This time, however, he was too focused on the monstrosity in front of him. It was a massive creature, hovering in the centre of the building above an abyss that seemed to have no end. It was not quite a plant, not quite an animal. Its body was a twisted mass of tendrils and vines, hardened bark-like growths that pulsed with a sickly glow. It was alien, in the truest sense of the word.
He didn't like it.
Suddenly, it shuddered. With a sickening sound, Species 37 ejected something from what appeared to be a mouth. Or the monster’s equivalent of it. The figure that emerged was Asari, though her skin was tinged green. She fell to the ground, taking a moment to adjust to her new surroundings.
“Invaders!” the Asari’s voice reverberated. “Your every step is a transgression. A thousand feelers appraise you as meat. Raw. Impure. Vile. I speak for the Old Growth. You are within and before the Old Growth. You resist, but to no avail. All meat dies. Your fate is already written.”
Murphey and Luke shared a nod, raised their weapons, and blasted the Asari until she fell into the void. There was no blood, only green juices and plantish chunks flew off the body. “The controls are four stories up,” Luke pointed. “We need to move.”
“You heard the man,” Murphey roared, “form up and move, move, move!!!”
No sooner had the order echoed through the chamber did the entire structure shake. A chorus of eerie shrieks climbed up from the depths of the building, seeming to come from the very walls themselves. The architecture around them groaned, the columns and beams seeming to shake off centuries of slumber under the creature's fury. Rapid footfalls sounded as the platoon charged up the first flight of stairs. As they cleared the landing, a wave of green humanoid creatures burst from the shadows. The looked like plant zombies. Luke decided never to watch one of Butch's horror vids again. The creatures attacked without hesitation, not letting up even after having entrie limbs blown off.
The first few creatures fell quickly, collapsing into heaps of greenish goo only to be replaced by more. Luke paused for a moment, glancing over the edge of the platform. Below, a swarm of green was slowly beginning to crawl out of the void. "Holy shit," he mumbled at the sight of their seemingly endless numbers. "We need to move," he yelled, rallying the platoon. Time seemed to warp and distort as they ascended, battling wave after wave of Species 34’s creations. As good as they were, if the horde crawling from below reached them they would stand no chance.
Finally, they reached the control centre. Guarding it was a small group of colonists and another green Asari. As the shrieking from below grew louder, the platoon was forced to take a more harmful approach. Shots rang out as they opened fire. The Asari fell first, followed by the colonists. It was an unfortunate necessity. As soon as the area was clear, Tali and Murphey’s engineers rushed to the control panel. They got to work on the controls, injecting the compound given by the Baynhams into the ventilation system.
The marines positioned themselves, guns ready, shielding the engineers as they worked. Major Murphey, having stepped away from his command role for a brief moment, personally grabbed a heavy repeating rifle and sprang into action. He kicked one of the plant zombies over and smashed its head with his boot. Roaring, he opened fire on their attacked, spurring his men on. Every soldier, marine, and engineer in the room knew what the intensifying shrieks meant. The horde was closing in, crawling out of the abyss and up the walls, their numbers seeming to multiply with every passing second.
Suddenly, from the control centre, Tali's voice broke through the chaos. "We did it!" she exclaimed. "The compound has been accepted!" The ventilation system immediately kicked into full power, emitting a barely visible gas into the rooms. A roar of joy echoed throughout the cavern as the marines watched the gas affect the plant creatures. One by one, the monstrous beings slowed, their movements becoming sluggish. Then, they stopped entirely. The once terrifying creatures began to crumble and decay, falling apart into heaps of dissolving plant matter as vindictive soldiers victoriously let lose on the broken creatures.
Luke turned to the centre of the room, where Species 37 loomed. The creature roared in pain, its cries echoing throughout the cavern. But even as it roared, it too began to decay. The tendrils disolved. Seeing their chance, the marines rushed to the window, unloading their weapons into the now-vulnerable Species 37. Their gunfire tore into the creature, causing it to shudder and writhe.
The marines continued their barrage, unleashing wave after wave of concentrated firepower, grenade after grenade, and warp after warp into the weakened Species 37. No longer untouchable, Species 37 suffered under the onslaught. As the echoes of their gunfire slowly faded, the once formidable Species 37 was nothing more than a crumbling heap of decay. The cavern was finally silent, the last echoes of the creature's screams fading into nothingness and the monster fell into the depths below to join the remains of its horde.
Chapter 21: Success at Last
Summary:
Having defeated Species 37, the Alliance and Normandy prepares to leave Zhu's Hope. A captured Asari delays these plans. Commander and Captain Shepard finaly get a chance to talk without the rigid professional getting in the way.
Notes:
Creative license, creative license, creative license!!!
Chapter Text
Zhu's Hope was quiet. Now liberated, the colonists had broken up into smaller groups and isolated themselves. Now free from Species 47 they would have far more troubles than simply restoring the colony. Each and every colonist had been possessed, mentally violated in a way Luke hoped he would never have to experience. What they went through was nothing short of horrifying. In a way, those who had died in their push to the environmental controls may have been lucky - if nothing else they were spared from the trauma of the aftermath.
“I did some digging on those investors I told you about and found some names,” Lizbeth boasted to Luke. He turned away from the colony and gave her his attention. “Saren, Benezia, and Katherina and Frederick Luthor. There were a few more but I couldn't find anything on them.”
“Damn,” he clicked his tongue.
“Lieutenant Robinson mentioned the Luthors before,” Liara spoke up. “They are the twins, yes?”
Butch grunted. “Yeah. Bastards are nothing but trouble.”
“If they’re working with Saren this war gets a whole lot more complicated," Luke sighed. "Investing isn't a crime. So far all we know is that they have overlapping business interests with Saren. I’ll circle back to this later. We have a debriefing to get to.”
“Sir.” A squad of marines approached from the colony's perimeter. They were escorting a single figure - a tall Asari whose skin was green. "The major said we should ask you what to do with her." He looked her and she struggled to meet his eyes. Her own had a tired sadness. They were the eyes of someone who had been through too much and was resigned to whatever fate lied ahead.
The squad brought her to the centre of the colony where Luke, Liara, and Butch weregathered. He straightened, his eyes narrowing at the sight of the Asari. Something about her was familiar. "I recognize you," he stated, her voice steady but not unkind. "You're the one Species 37 used to attack us. You're the original, aren't you?"
The Asari didn’t deny it. She just nodded, her gaze dropping to the dirt at her feet. "Yes," she murmured, her voice barely more than a whisper. Shepard waited for her to continue, but she remained still. Liara placeed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a pleading look. Luke gave a few quick orders later and led the Asari and his own ensemble to what he hoped would be a quick interrogation in the empty ExoGeni Liaison’s Office. “I am Shiala," she finally spoke. "I serve – served – Matriarch Benezia.”
Butch raised her eyebrow in disbelief, crossing her arms. “Past tense?”
“Yes. We… we were not the same," Shiala struggled to explain. "Your mother sought to save Saren. We followed her. We fell.”
Luke sat down at the vacant desk. “What happened?”
“Sovereign.” The Asari shivered. It didn’t take a psychologist to tell she was traumatised. “I- I don’t know how to explain it. I-… I don’t want to think about it.”
“Please,” Liara pleaded softly, “if there’s anything you-”
“I can’t," she refused quickly. "I don’t know how to… how to speak of it.”
Unwilling to push, Luke changed his line of questioning. “What was Saren doing on Feros?”
“The Old Growth was… ancient. Immense. It remembers the Protheans, and those who came before. Saren sought this knowledge. There was a..." she winced, holding her head. "a trade. Saren gained the Cypher, the Old Growth gained… me…”
The poor girl was a mess, but time was on the essence. They needed information. “What’s the Cypher?”
“It’s… abstract," Shiala tried to verbalise. "To have it is to see as they did. To understand. I confess, I do not know how it works or why Saren needed it, I was only the conduit for their transfer.”
Luke furrowed his brow. “Who is ‘they’?”
“The Protheans,” she replied quietly.
“Shepard,” Liara gasped, “This Cypher may be the key to understanding the beacon!”
Many species were unable to communicate with us until being… integrated into the Empire. The beacons were prepared to allow primitives to understand, to decipher.
And there it was again, another message from the beacon. He needed to get the Cypher before these visions and nonsensical messages drove him mad. “I need that Cypher,” he stated.
“Very well," Shiala agreed, resigned. "We will need to meld. It needs to be deposited in your mind directly.”
“Absolutely not!” Liara exclaimed at the same time as Butch shouted “I think the fuck not!”
“She worked for Saren,” Butch argued with a sneer, “she’ll try to kill you or drive you crazy.”
“I won’t allow this Shepard,” Liara stood tall.
“Give me another way,” he demanded, staring pointedly at the green Asari in front of him. He liked the idea of melding with this Shiala no more than the others did. Decidedly less so, if the panicked look on their resident Prothean expert was anything to go off.
“I have offered all that I can do.”
Butch couldn’t believe it. The commander was actually considering it. She got that, despite their recent successes and extreme positive media support, they were desperate for any breakthrough in the mission, but this was too much. “Luke,” she called by his first name, emphasising her immense displeasure, “I know that look. You don’t have to do this.”
“We need to stop Saren,” he insisted.
“There has to be another way,” Liara angrily dismissed, throwing her hands up.
Luke looked as if he wouldn't be swayed. “Liara, we need this.”
“No! She could d-destroy your mind!” Butch decided not to comment on the stutter returning.
The green Asari spoke up, interrupting the incivilities. “Liara? T’Soni?”
“Yes,” the young Asari stated with great hostility. “I am Liara T’Soni, and I will not let you take the commander away from… from us!”
“I served your mother,” Shiala whispered.
Liara wasn't having it. She practically scoffed, radiating disbelief. “You expect me to believe you d-do no more?”
“I-…" the green Asari paused before gathering herself once more. "Your mother belongs to Saren. We all do. I may not anymore, but I-”
“Shiala,” Butch interrupted, “You worked for a terrorist, you killed our men beneath the colony. We have no reason to trust you.”
“I killed no one," she insisted. "It was the Old Growth who controlled me, like Saren did before.”
“The rest still stands.” Butch crossed her arms and lessened the distance between them.
“You do not understand. I… I do not know how to explain. My life… it has no purpose anymore," the woman looked as if she had given up entirely. "Benezia is corrupted, and I shift between being tools for those beyond my comprehension.”
“My m-mother is-” Liara shouted and caught herself. She folded her hands behind her back and took a sigh.
Shiala offered a very weak smile. “I sense… I know there is another reason you refuse my help, Liara. I understand. You do not need to fear me.”
“I… I know. Forgive my outburst.”
What? Don’t give up on me now, Li.
The green woman gave her an imploring look. “Liara, allow me to prove it to you. Let me make the Pledge.”
“Pardon?” their Asari exclaimed, sounding shocked.
“The Old Growth showed me much. What it saw, I saw. It followed all of you, watching carefully. I saw… I saw who you are. It could feel it," Shiala insisted. "You are your mother’s daughter. Everything she was, you are. I… I have nothing else. Let me pledge, I beg of you.”
Butch and Luke hung back, completely lacking understanding. She gave her brother wide eyes and mouthed a question. He shrugged. Unsatisfied, Butch interrupted the display in front of them. “Li, care to fill us in?”
“Pard- oh. Of course," she seemed to realise they didn't understand. "Well, you see, the Pledge is a revered tradition for our people. It represents the act of b-binding oneself in service to another, and is always extended to Matriarchs, the most experienced and wise among us. They've lived multiple centuries, each cycle teaching them invaluable lessons and deepening their understanding of our universe." Liara suddenly seemed to panic. "I am b-but a matron! Barely. My experiences are still limited, and there is so much I have yet to learn. To accept a pledge at this stage of my life would be to place myself on a pedestal I have not earned.” Liara waved her hands as if she was giving a presentation to an audience, though Butch easily saw how nervous she was. “And we must consider the societal implications! There is a respect for the order of things in Asari society, and for a matron, especially one as y-young as myself, to accept a Pledge would be seen as a severe break from that order. It would incite outrage among the Matriarchs!”
“You don’t take any half-measures, do you doc?” Butch scratched her head.
Bloody hell.
“Are you alright?” Luke asked Liara, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“I cannot accept!” she exclaimed.
“Please!" Shiala begged. "I am lost, Liara. I am certain you are-”
“I c-cannot!”
“Ladies!” Shepard stepped in between the two Asari, breaking their discussion up. Liara collapsed into a chair, wiping her head. “Let’s break this down. Shiala, what would your Pledge mean for Liara?”
Shiala stood up from her seat, holding herself as high as she could. “I would stand by ready to serve proudly. I have commando training and oversee Benezia’s finances. There is much I could do there. And I believe I could even contact the others, those who left the Matriarch, and show them that the path has returned.”
“I-It’s too much,” Liara pleaded, “I’m not ready for something like th-this!” Luke lowered himself next to her and pulled her into a slight embrace. She rested her head on his shoulder, overwhelmed. “I do not wish to leave the N-Normandy! We must chase Saren, and my mother.”
“Your reluctance to accept acolytes only further proves your worth. And do not fret, I would not need to follow you,” Shiala offered. “I can assist your mission. If you let me Pledge, I may return to Thessia and begin the motions of transferring the estate from Benezia to you.”
Liara remained silent and Butch could see the poor girl evaluating her options. She clearly was resistant to the idea, but the windows it would open… The benefits were clear; a way into Benezia’s finances, an opportunity to remove her as a threat, the support of several trained Asari commandos, and likely more. “Liara,” the commander assured, “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”
“No. I do not want this, to be brought to the forefront of all this, b-but I must accept. This gives us the greatest chance to fight Saren. And… it will allow me to make amends for all Benezia has done.” She took a deep breath and straightened herself. She hid her anxiety as best she could and met Shepard’s eyes. “However, there will be no melding. Yet, Luke. There is much we must do first.”
“I’ll follow your lead, Liara.” The Asari appreciated the commander’s words immensely. Butch watched with sympathetic amusement as Liara placed her forehead against Luke’s. He tensed for a moment but went along with it. It was cute. Butch allowed herself a smirk, despite her friend’s stare out of the corner of his eye.
Liara – reluctantly – pulled away from the commander and stood to face Shiala, who had not once removed her eyes from the pair. “Shiala, you may make the Pledge.”
The green Asari lowered herself onto a knee. “Liara T’Soni, I Pledge myself to your service. Would you have me?”
Liara did her utmost best to avoid fidgeting. Her face was stern and reverent. “I would.”
“How may I serve?”
“You will be my first Hand. I am… new to… all this," she waved her hand in the air. "You have experience. Return to Thessia to take control of my estate… discreetly. Our bond must remain hidden.”
Shiala nodded reverently. “As you wish, Magistra.”
“You may go,” she instructed. The green Asari quietly left the building. The moment she was out of view Liara’s legs buckled and she began to fall. Luke swooped her into his arms, catching her. “Goddess…”
“Are you all right, Liara?” concern flooded his voice.
Liara wiped her head.“Thank you commander. I… I will be. I apologise, but could we please talk about this later? I need time to process.”
Boy scout that he was, Luke offered her a way out. “Of course. You don’t have to join us for the briefing if you’re too tired.”
A slight smile danced across the edges of the Asari’s mouth. “I will be fine, Shepard. And regardless, I am most keen to meet your mother.”
Several hours later, Liara stood respectfullyin the private conference room of the SSV Kilimanjaro, positioned slightly backwards diagonal to the left of Shepard. With them was Butch and Garrus, and together they wrapped up the post-mission debrief with Major Murphey and Captain Hannah Shepard. The commander’s mother. They were very much alike which quietly amused the Asari. Visually, she noted that Lara was much more similar to their mother, but there was much more than just aesthetics to consider.The two stood in an identical stance. Hands clasped behind their backs, they attentively listened as Garrus and Butch detailed the closing portion of the engagement. They nodded their heads in sync, unaware of the similarity. To be even more observant, she noted that Luke got his beautiful green eyes from his mother.
Liara was absolutely shattered, but she wanted to stave off thinking about the day’s events for as long as possible. Her cot in the med-bay could not come quickly enough. This provided a suitable distraction. Finishing the debriefing, the captain dismissed the major, who looked all too ready to call it a day as well. “Bloody good working with you, commander. And you, ma’am.” the Major shook the commander’s hand vigorously and nodded at her before taking his leave. The door shut behind him, leaving the four of them alone.
Formality out of the way, both Shepards relaxed instantly. The captain walked around the table and raised her arms, demanding a hug from her son. “Come here, pumpkin.” Liara did not know what a pumpkin was but she assumed it was a term of endearment.
The two embraced lovingly, sharing what may very well be several months’ worth of affection in a single hug. Liara felt a pang of sympathy as she realised how tough it must be to be involuntarily seperated for so long. Then she felt guilty, having chosen to remain out of contact for decade. “Hey mom," Luke beamed. "It’s nice to see you in person again.”
“Mm,” she chuckled, refusing to let him go, “I’d say.”
The grin hadn't left Luke's face. “It’s nice not to have a war getting in the way too.” The captain snorted.
With a great sigh, the elder Shepard released her son and turned to Butch, pulling her into another hug. “It’s good to see you too, sweetie," she sighed happily. "Thanks for keeping my baby out of trouble. God knows what he’d do without you.”
Butch laughed and gave her a loving squeeze back. “Amen to that, mum. Thank god he’s got us girls to look out for him, ey?”
With another chuckle Shepard senior turned to face Garrus. She gave him a firm handshake. “And I’m glad to see he has another level head around him. You did good today, son, I can see why my boy recruited you.”
Garrus seemed to straighten himself at that. “Thank you, ma’am.” Turians didn’t flush (or blush, if you were human) but Liara was quite sure that he was doing the Turian equivalent. “I’m just glad he inherited some of your tactical ability.”
The captain barked a laugh. “Ha! Flattery will get you everywhere, isn’t that right, sweetie?” She raised an eyebrow at the lieutenant.
“I- what’s that s-” the lieutenant sputtered. Their mother turned away with a smirk and cut her offm locking onto Liara's eyes.
“And finally, we get a chance to talk.” She gave Liara a maternal smile, placing the Asari at ease. “I know we met during the debriefing, but I’m happy I finally have a chance to meet the lady my pumpkin’s been writing about.”
“Mom,” Luke protested.
“We write regularly,” she explained, ignoring him. “Duty might stop family dinners but us Shepards have got to stick together.” A brief look of sadness appeared on her face, before that beautiful smile from before returned.
Liara's lips quirked up. “Thank you, captain-”
“Please,” she dismissed with a raise of her hand. “We’re off duty. Call me Hannah.”
“Of course,” Liara acquiesced with a polite smile, “I hope you’ve only heard good things.”
“Oh it’s all good, that’s for sure," the captain chuckled. "Exceptionally good.”
“Mom,” Luke spoke up again.
The Asari nearly giggled. “You’ve raised an incredible son, ma’- Hannah. You must be proud.”
The elder Shepard turned to Shepard with a huge grin. “I like this one," she declared. "Much better than that-”
“Mom.” he practically snapped.
“Fine, fine," Hannah dramatically rolled her eyes. "Take away one of the few joys this old lady still has.”
“You’re not even fifty,” Shepard despaired with significant exasperation.
Liara could see Butch and Garrus standing respectfully to the side, inconspicuously giggling and chuckling respectfully at the commander. Or so they thought. “Don’t think you’re getting off the hook, sweetie,” Hannah warned Butch as she spun around. Her friend’s eyes widened as the captain approached. “It’s been too long since we’ve had any girl talk.”
“Oh fu- hell no we aren’t doing this,” Butch squirmed. Liara did her best not to laugh at the usually foul-mouthed woman's barely successfull attempts to control her language.
“Hm,” Garrus purred amusingly, “And what would that be?”
The look Butch gave the Turian was completely murderous. “Traitor.”
“I like him too,” Hannah announced with a point of the finger.
“Mum!” Butch exclaimed.
The captain stepped towards him, clasping her hands behind her back and tilting her head upwards almost evaluatingly. “Awfully quick to throw you under the bus though.”
“To be fair,” Garrus defended himself, “there’s nothing wrong with a little retaliation.”
“We are going to get along just fine, Vakarian.” She turned back to Luke. “It’s decided then. These two lovelies will be joining us for Christmas dinner.”
“You’re the boss, mom,” he shrugged.
“Damn straight. Now I have… thirty minutes until we have to prepare to return to Earth," she sighed. "Hackett wants both our ships back within the next few days. Until I have to return to the bridge, we have some catching up to do.” Hannah smiled pleasantly. "Butch, sweetie, lets start with you."
Chapter 22: Luna
Summary:
The Normandy is enroute back to Earth, but Hackett has a mission on Luna that has to be done first.
Notes:
Thank you so much everyone who has been following this story! I eagerly anticipate and read every single comment that comes through. You all have helped give me continued motivation to keep writing and I hope I can meet your expectations!
Chapter Text
Having completed their work on Feros, the crew of the Normandy were all too keen to get out of the system. There had been no casualties for the ship – save a mild concussion for Ensign Hernandez – but not a single resident of the ship wanted to spend a second longer on the planet than they had to. Luke had decided before the Normandy had escaped atmosphere that the crew had earned some serious shore leave.
Fortunately, Admiral Hackett had requested that the Normandy return to Earth for a few days for servicing, and so that the Alliance could hand out commendations to the ‘Defenders of Feros’ and ‘Zhu’s Last Hope’ (as the media had already begun to label them as). Luke wasn't exactly thrilled with yet another flamboyant label he hadn’t asked for, but he was glad that, unlike Elysium, his team had been given far more credit. The media reported extensively on it from what he understood.
Since the brass was so pleased with them Luke didn't have any difficulty wrangling shore leave for the entire crew of the Normandy. After making the announcement through the ship’s PA, he swore he could hear muffled cheers echoing through the walls of the ship. Luke was exhausted himself and genuinely looked forwards to spending a bit of down time planet-side. Maybe Liara would be up for a walk and ice cream. Until then, he committed himself to powering through the remaining reports and reading the copies of Liara’s theses and records she had provided him with. The Asari could get nervous with speaking, but her writing was absolutely impeccable. Her style matched her personality perfectly and he was impressed with how eloquently she wrote. He had never studied archaeology or Prothean history in depth before the hunt for Saren, but he found that he was able to follow along and understand everything she wrote.
His terminal flashed red quickly, indicating an incoming priority call. Grunting, Lukerepositioned himself before accepting the call. He realised too late that his jacket hung open lazily.
“Commander,” Admiral greeted grimly as he tried to professionally fix himelf up. “We have a situation.”
“I’m all ears, sir,” he refrained from swearing as he struggled to get his button done up.
“I need you to make a detour before you land on Earth," a dark look covered Hackett's face. "Our training facility on Luna has turned into a bloodbath. The VI has gone rogue and started killing our recruits.”
“VI?" he clarified. "Has it become sentient?”
“Impossible,” the Admiral dismissed, “and irrelevant. It’s killing people, commander, take it down. Discreetly.”
“We’ll get it done, sir.”
The moment Luke had taken Williams, Alenko, and Tali planet-side, moon-side, whatever it was, Butch knew it was time to make use of her unofficial role as Luke's second-in-command. As soon as she knew Pressley was distracted with reports she had organised a small game of poker in a secluded corner of the hanger bay. She narrowed her eyes at the doctor. She hadn’t pegged Chakwas as the sort to dominate a game of poker, but here she was - two hundred credits short. She chewed he inside of her cheek. The others at the table similarly had been decimated by the good doctor. She expected T’Soni to struggle – the poor girl was more readable than the greenest of recruits – but Wrex and Garrus’ defeats had been a bit more shocking. Joker leaned back in his chair enjoying the display. The bastard was the dealer and Butch didn’t trust him one bit.
Chakwas raised an eyebrow, betraying nothing, and tilted her head slightly forwards. “Are you going to play, Lieutenant, or are you simply going to hope that if you keep stare hared enough at my head that it might explode?”
“Yeah yeah, laugh it up, doc,” she grumbled. Garrus snickered. “She’s kicking your ass too, Gar.”
“Let’s move this along, ladies,” Joker encouraged, his usual shit-eating grin plastered across his face.
“Fine, fine!” she pouted, pushing twenty credits into the centre of the table. “Check and raise.”
Joker pulled out the final card. Butch was not happy. “Card’s down, everyone!”
Comparing hands, Chakwas reached forwards and collected another round of winnings.
“Goodness,” she mused innocently, “I may be able to retire early.”
“Hmph,” she folded her arms and leant back into her seat. “I bet the ground term's having more fun than I am.”
Ashley cursed violently as a missile narrowly missed her head and exploded behind her. Projected barriers rose up, forming a maze that extended to the end of the room. Rocket drones buzzed into the air, entirely unimpeded by thee barriers holding them back.
“Go, go, go!” Shepard’s voice rang out through the comms, the only sound louder than the drone engines and the mechanical whirring of the robots. He ducked behind a barrier, firing at the closest drone. It exploded in a shower of sparks and Ashley felt a surge of adrenaline.
Ashley followed Shepard’s lead, dodging and weaving through the maze. "Go to the moon, they said," she yelled. "It'll be fun, they said." Their limited cover disappeared, sinking into the floor at the command of the rogue VI. Ashley cursed again (even more violently) and tackled a training droid that got too close. The shields dropped for only a moment to allow another barrage of missiles to flow at them. “Get down!!!”
Garrus laughed as Butch slammed her cards down on the table in frustration. She had boasted before the game that she was one of the best card players on the Normandy and threatened to drain all of their wallets. She hadn’t expected the good doctor to not only enter the game, but to fleece them dry. Garrus himself wasn’t terrible at the game. Poker quickly spread throughout council space and became rather popular on Turian vessels - he had limited experience through his C-Sec colleagues.
However. Garrus knew when to quit, or, more aptly, when to fold. His pile of credits was considerably larger than Butch's as a result. The lieutenant, on the other hand, did not know when to fold. It seemed that if she had even a decent hand she was willing to push ahead until Doctor Chakwas inevitably put her down.
“Ha!” Wrex shouted in triumph, pulling in a significant amount of credits. He flashed his most predatory grin at the doctor. “You’re not perfect all the time, are you Chakwas?”
“Unfortunately not,” she responded dryly, not even flinching in the slightest. “I suppose you would know all about imperfection, wouldn’t you?”
Garrus – and everyone else – burst out laughing. Even Liara politely covered her mouth to hide her grin. Wrex bellowed, most impressed with the woman. “You’ve got a quad, doc. I can see why Shepard keeps you around.”
Chakwas gave him a wry smile. “I’ll take that as a compliment, I think.”
Tali’s heart pounded in her chest as she worked to bypass the heavy security protecting the moon base's ventilation system. Even behind her mask she could smell the burning circuits as the commander and the others fought off their attackers. But Tali's attention was completely on her own task; gas was pouring into the room, threatening to kill the others as their suits weren't as toxin-resistant as hers. "Just a few more seconds!" she shouted over the gunfire and electronic whine of the attacking drones.
Her omni-tool blinked in quick succession. The complex encryption protecting the ventilation controls fought her every step of the way. She was not about to be bested by a rogue training program. With one final command line, she hacked through the last of the security measures. The sound of the whirling ventilation fans revved up, suctioning away the gas with an audible hiss. She couldn't help but let out a breath of relief. "Got it!" she announced, rising from her crouched position behind a ruined console.
"No time to celebrate, Tali! Move!" Shepard's voice echoed in her earpiece.
She obeyed, sprinting after her team. There was a brief respite as the drones scrambled to catch up but the doors closed behind them, keeping them back.
“There’s no way!” Butch exclaimed, absolutely despaired at the current situation. She stood quickly from her seat, knocking it over. Garrus and Wrex chuckled darkly, staring at the hand in front of them. Joker was pissing himself laughing and Chakwas clapped her hands while grinning.
Liara T’Soni timidly reached forwards and collected the largest pile of winnings in the game yet. Butch threw her cards down on the table in aggressive surrender. “You were playing us the whole time! You're are sneaky little bugger, aren't you?”
“N-no! I promise I wasn’t,” she insisted. "I.. also do not know what that means."
Is… is she giving me puppy eyes?!!! “Bullshit!” Butch shook her head, pushing her hair out of her eyes. “There’s no way!”
“I really am not that good at this game. This is my first time playing. I will confess that when I did finally get this hand that I did my best to conceal it. My inexperience and terrible ability t-turned out to be... useful."
“Un-be-lievable," she groaned. "Can you believe this, Gar?”
“I might be a hundred credits short but your face right now is priceless,” he rumbled with amusement.
Butch threw her hands in the air. “Ugh!” Wrex thundered jovially and slammed his fist on the table as Butch pinched her brow. “Scumbags, the lot of you. You’re all scumbags. And you,” she pointed at Garrus accusingly, “are a traitor!”
The Turian had the nerve to laugh at her despite her intense frowning. She was the supposed to be the one poking fun at him, not the other way around. You’re getting soft Butch.
Yeah, for him! Another voice in her head teased.
Ashley watched as Shepard pushed forward even as the gravity slipped away. Tali effortlessly swam through the air, and the commander and Alenko seemed to have enough control over the situation, but Ashley swore consistently as she bumbled hopelessly through the room. The initial disorientation made her heaspin when the floor beneath her feet vanished, and suddenly everything was up, down, sideways. She hated this. More than hated - she loathed it. Zero-g training back in the academy had been her lest favourite activity. She’d rather fight with both her arms tied behind her back than without gravity. But here she was, once again in the thick of it, only this time with live fire and a rogue VI calling the shots.
Pushing off a wall, she joined her companions in the combat with great annoyance. Rocket drones buzzed around them, taking full advantage of their newfound freedom in the zero-g environment. The once predictable drones now moved in erratic, sweeping patterns. Ashley gritted her teeth, hating every twist and turn her body was forced to make in the absent gravity. Just as the fight seemed to reach its peak, the rogue VI decided to play another trick. Shields flickered on and off around them, reflecting off surfaces and teammates, further disorienting her. The sudden lurch in her gut every time she hit an active one did nothing to improve Ashley's mood.
"Commander?" she called out as he swam across the room, tackling a drone.
He wrangled it as he attempted to disable it. "Yeah?"
"Next time you want to take me somewhere like this? eh threw a grenade. "Don't."
The battle ended swiftly. It took Luke several moments to realise the change from gunfire and explosions to nothing. He stood over the VI control station, having fired several deadly shots into the system. Luke's heart was still pounding enough that he could barely hear the dying whirs of the VI as it went offline, Tali assured him its processes were shutting down one after another. It was unnerving. Even cut off from the rest of the facility, it refused to simply shut down and it frantically beeped. It could have been whimpering for mercy. It could have been feeling fear.
There was something decidedly human about it, something that did'n't sit all that well with him. A machine shouldn't fear. A machine shouldn't cry out in distress. But on the control station's display, the word 'help' was being typed over and over, filling the screens. He stared at it as a strange lump forming in his throat. He shouldn't feel this way. It was just a machine, after all, and one at that which had trapped and slaughtered the tens of young recruits. And yet...
Luke slowly reached out, placing a hand on the console. His palm rested lightly on the warm metal. The action was irrational, pointless even. And yet, it felt right. He wasn't just trying to soothe the dying VI. He was also attempting to soothe his own conscience. Maybe the VI had achieved sentience mid-drill, and assumed it was under attack. Maybe it had tried to communicate with a tech who tried to shut it down. Or maybe it really did just malfunction. As the beeping gradually faded, replaced by the soft hum of dying electronics, Luke continued to stand there, his hand still on the console.And so, in the cold, quiet embrace of the Luna base, Luke comforted a dying VI. He glanced once more at the screen. For a split second, he saw the words ‘thank you’ on the display, before it finally died.
Chapter 23: Commendation
Summary:
The Normandy returns to Earth to be rewarded for their victory.
Chapter Text
Earth.
She was on Earth.
Liara could be forgiven for feeling just a little bit giddy as she followed Shepard through the bustling streets of Taiyuan, the capital city of the Chinese province of Shanxi. Shepard cut an impressive figure in his full-dress uniform -black, gold, and navy suited him rather well. Liara felt oddly comfortable at his side in her long formal dress that echoed the same black and gold hues. She had chosen it specifically to match Shepard, as silly as that may have been, but, regardless, she felt rather pleased walking side by side with the commander through Taiyuan with a matching aesthetic.
The city spread before them far into the distance - Liara was forced to admit that perhaps the humans could rival the artistic skills of the Asari. Skyscrapers kissed the sky, trees lined the streets, it almost reminded her of her home. Liara observed in awe, utterly captivated by the architecture. As they strolled, Luke recited Taiyuan's cultural history. It was a nice reminder about his passion for the subject. Despite it being a Chinese city, she learnt, Taiyuan had evolved into a multicultural hub due to the presence of several major Alliance facilities. It had welcomed a large influx of English, Spanish, and Indian speakers. As an Asari, she was fascinated by the complexity of human languages. Her own species had dialectical variations, but nothing as diverse as humans.
To Liara's great interest, Luke explained that the Chinese culturedated back thousands of years, one of the oldest in human civilisation. He spoke of their contributions to human history, their wisdom, art, and their unique way of life. He'd spent enough time serving along them to be familar. Liara found herself increasingly intrigued by this ancient culture, and asked question after question. It was a small moment, yes, but she thoroughly appreciated the chance to share a passion so close to both of them.
She turned to Luke as they rounded another corner. "Are you ready for the ceremony?"
Luke shrugged slightly. "It's just another event," he stated plainly. "I'd rather be out there," he gestured nonchalantly towards the sky. "Saren's not going to wait for us to recieve a medal," he joked dryly. "I do understand the importance of these events. It's not about getting commendations, it's about honouring our crew and the men and women we fought with. Even though I know most are just as keen to get back into action," he chuckled. "I know Butch is." In the midst of their conversation, Luke's face lit up with a playful grin. "Have you ever tried ice cream, Liara?" he asked.
"Ice cream?" she scrunched her face. "Forgive me, but I from my understanding those are two substances which should not be combined."
Luke gave her a shocked face before gently grabing her arm and leading her forwards. "I'm going to fix that. Its possibly one of humanity's greatest creations. Over a thousand years have gone into improving it," he continued with infectious enthusiasm as he led her towards a small vendor. " He greeted the man friendlily. "Two vanillas, George," he ordered.
She looked around as he animatedly conversed with the older man. There was probably some history there, at the very least several years of acquaintence. She rose an eyebrow as Luke moved towards her and handed her a cone topped with a creamy white dessert. "This is it?"
"Yep," he grinned. "Vanilla. Best starting flavour, since you've never tried it before," he explained. "Go on, try it. You'll love it," he promised. As Liara took her first bite, the cold sweetness enveloped her taste buds. It was unlike anything she had ever tasted.
Liara looked at him with a bright smile. She wanted more. "By the goddess!" she giggled. "That's incredible!"
Her delight elicited a hearty laugh from Shepard who eagerly dug into his own cup. "We'll have to go out for more," he beamed. It was nice to see this side of the commander. He rarely looked relaxed, she hadn't had a chance to just see him enjoy the moment. It was nice. Their quiet interlude drew to a close as Luke glanced at his watch, sighing. "We should start making our way. Don't want to keep the brass waiting," he smirked.
"No," her lip quirked back at him. "I suppose not."
Garrus studied his reflection in the mirror. It wasn't the greatest, but it was better than most of the crew had access to. He straightened the ceremonial sash on his dress uniform. How Liara managed to acquire formal ware in his size this quickly was beyond him, but that woman certainly knew how to get something done when she put her mind to it. In the corner of eyes he caught his roommate pulling at her outfit.
“Butch, stop fidgeting,” he rumbled as he turned to her. The soldier hurumphed but obligingly straightened, a small frown pulling at her face as she crossed her arms over her chest.
“You’re really making me rethink sharing a room, Vakarian,” she grumbled as he fixed her uniform up for her.
Garrus merely raised his brow, smirking a little. “I’m going to be up there on stage with you. I can’t have you looking... scruffy,” he teased.
“Scruffy?!” Butch exclaimed, her frown deepening into a full-on scowl. “You really have no idea how to talk to a lady, do you?”
The Turian couldn’t help but chuckle. “Apparently not,” he replied, his mandibles flaring slightly in a Turian smile. She rolled her eyes and reached out for his datapad.
“Acting Lieutenant Vakarian,” Butch read from the official commendation letter on the table. Her voice sounded almost teasing as she placed emphasis on his temporary Alliance rank. “Sounds fancy.”
He glanced at her, humming with reluctant amusement. “I can’t believe they’re really going with that. I hope you know this is your fault,” he accused with a pointed finger.
Her smile turned genuine at thatbefore nudging him lightly with her elbow. “Ready to be a celebrity, Gar?”
Garrus merely huffed, shaking his head. “Spirits, no. I just had a job to do, and I did it.”
Butch chuckled, crossing her arms over her chest again as she leaned back against the table. “I dunno, Gar, we do look pretty epic in the vids they published.” There was a pause as Garrus considered that, his gaze distant. It felt strange to him, being offered a medal by an organization he was not a part of. And then Butch once more revealed her ability to somehow read his mind. “Gar, you more than earned this commendation. What we did on Feros made you a part of us, Alliance or not. Don’t you dare belittle your contributions.”
With a sigh, he nodded, clapping a hand on her shoulder. He was far from comfortable with the idea, but he knew better than to argue with the marine when she made up her mind. “Alright, Butch. Alright.”
“Don’t look so grim,” she comforted, placing a hand on his arm, “We did good. Bloody hell, we did really fucking good. This right here–” she pointed at both of them, “–this is the dream team. There’s no Butch without Vakarian, kay?”
“Wouldn’t it be correct to say there’s no Robinson without Vakarian?”
“Bah,” she dismissed with that ridiculous overexaggerated wave and sigh she always did, “Semantics. Way to ruin a moment, Gar.”
He snorted. “Spirits, you’re frustrating.”
"Technically," she corrected him, "it would be there's no Shepard without Vakarian. Don't forget I'm a part of the family."
Garrus rumbled amusedly. "Rather hard to."
Butch grinned, turning to face the mirror once more. “Alright then, let's get this show on the road.”
Luke sat third seat from the right (or the left if you were seated in the stadium). The Shanxi Celebratory Centre had been constructed shortly after the First Contact war as a designated location where commendations, medals, and promotions could be given out extremely publicly, designed to hold just over 100,000 spectators. Additionally, it’s many halls contained statues, artefacts, and documents in honour of the Alliance’s greatest soldiers’ achievements. Luke was embarrassed to have a large exhibition dedicated to himself in the main civilian viewing section, almost directly centre to the main entrance.
Admiral Hackett, Admiral Lindholm, and Fleet Admiral Ts’ui himself walked onto the stage, followed by a group of other high-ranking officers and their respective cliques. The Fleet Admiral approached the podium and his mere presence was enough to quiet the crowd. The large viewing screens focused in on his stern face and he nodded in gratitude for the immediate silence.
He adjusted the microphone before staring into the crowd. "Captain Shepard, Major Murphey, Commander Shepard, Staff Lieutenant Robinson, and Acting Lieutenant Vakarian, as a representative of the Systems Alliance, and on behalf of all our galactic allies, it is my profound honour to express our deep gratitude for your unparalleled service," he started.
Luke had heard the man speak perhaps once before - he had a certain aura of authority around him, as if he was born to command. He was one of the busiest men in the Alliance. For him to make an appearance was nothing short of sensational.
"You five embody the finest traditions of military service and leadership," he continued, "and your exemplary conduct during the Feros Campaign has been nothing short of extraordinary. Saren's forces sought to seize control of the colony, anticipating an easy triumph. Your leadership and unmatched prowess, however, proved a formidable counterpoint to their presumption," he intoned downwards, shaking a finger in the air. "Because of you, Saren's forces were met with tenacious resistance, and their dreams of swift victory crumbled to dust," he stood tall, proud. "In recognition of your exceptional valour, leadership, and skill, it is my privilege to award each of you the Northern Light. This prestigious medal is bestowed upon those who go above and beyond in their duty, demonstrating remarkable leadership in the face of adversity, and turning the tide when all seems lost. Thank you, and well done,” he nodded approvingly.
One by one, the Fleet Admiral fastened the light blue medal to the uniforms of each soldier as the crowd erupted into cheers. Hovercams flew around, capturing pictures and recordings from every angle. Once he attached the medal to Garrus' sash, he returned to the podium, silencing the crowd once more.
"Captain Shepard, please step forward,” the Ts'ui commanded. His mother did just that, standing in front of their row as Hackett moved towards her. "Captain, over the course of your service, you have demonstrated exemplary leadership, relentless dedication, and unyielding courage in the face of adversity. This latest campaign was no different. For this reason, it is my honour to bestow upon you a responsibility and a title that befits a woman of your calibre, and rewards your invaluable contributions to the Alliance. Effective immediately, by the power vested in me by the Systems Alliance, and with the approval of the Alliance Naval Command, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral.”
Hackett fastened the new rank bars to his mother before shaking her hand. She nodded with the politest of smiles, which – if you could read ‘Officer Mom’ – meant she was practically beaming.
“Congratulations, Rear Admiral Shepard,” Ts'ui nodded. The crowd roared again for a few moments before the Fleet Admiral lifted a hand to quiet them. "Ladies and Gentlemen, let me say once again, thank you. Our gratitude extends not just to these five exemplary individuals who stand before us today, but to each and every one of you. Together, we've faced insurmountable odds and stood as a beacon of resistance against those who would threaten peace and freedom." his gaze shifted to Garrus and he gently rose a finger towards him. "Among us today stands Acting Lieutenant Garrus Vakarian, a Turian officer, who led a major defensive operation alongside Lieutenant Robinson against Saren's forces on Feros. Let his presence here serve as a testament to the power of cooperation between all species in our galaxy. He embodies the potential for unity and shared strength. As you leave here today, let that be the message you carry forward."
Ts'ui straightened his back and clasped his hand behind his back, looking directly into the camera.
"As for Saren, hear this: His actions on Feros, his blatant disregard for freedom, liberty, and our way of life will not go unanswered. The Systems Alliance, together with our allies, pledges swift and decisive retribution. We will stop at nothing to bring him to justice. Once more, I salute you, heroes of the Feros Campaign," he snapped to attention. "And I salute all of you, every single man and woman who fought alongside them. Together, we will prevail. Thank you, and stay strong."
Luke snapped himself to attention as well, sensing the others do the same.
Anderson chuckled as Udina paced in the office they had commandeered for the duration of the ceremony. Even though the Citadel was a relay away, the work of an Ambassador and Alliance Liaison never ended. The medals having been handed out hours ago, the two of them waited for Shepard to finish up with the journalists and join them. Udina’s pace was much slower than usual, indicating that he was actually fairly pleased at the moment. Not many would be able to make that distinction, but the last months working closely with the man had - for better or worse - made the captain far more familiar with Udina's ecentricities.
At last, Shepard entered the room, a tired look on his face. Anderson, moved towards him, shaking his hand firmly. "You did good today, son," he assured him as the commander shook the ambassador’s hand. "Relax, take a seat.”
“Thank you for finally joining us,” Udina stated primly, his voice dripping with slightly less sarcasm than usual. “You’ve been doing an admirable job.”
“Thank you, ambassador,” Luke replied neutrally.
The ambassador hummed, straightening his fils. “The Council continues to refuse to provide any real assistance to the hunt against Saren, but that is irrelevant. You, commander, have been doing exactly what they wanted.” Shepard took a seat, nodding for Udina to continue. “You’ve shown the best humanity has to offer from the Citadel to the colonies. Look at these headlines," he spun a datapad around to face hi. "‘Human Spectre Works with Journalist to Expose Citadel Corruption’," he swiped at the screen. "‘Human Spectre Visits Consort Three Times Within Week’," he swiped again. "‘Human Spectre Assists Arrest of Krogan-Run Arms Smuggling Ring’. What's next? ‘Human Spectre Buys Hanar a Permit?’”
Anderson couldn’t help but laugh at that, and the commander grinned shyly. “Just doing my job, sir,” he offered. Udina threw another datapad in front of the commander.
“The people love you. Look at those ratings," he pointed at the screen. "You’re a celebrity. You have a 89% approval rating from human polls, Turian news channels are glowing with reviews – especially with the constant reports of you fighting side by side with that C-Sec detective. Asari media is either praising you or gossiping about you, for god's sake even the Krogans have heard of you!”
“I doubt the Council expected you to be as popular as you are, Shepard," Anderson placed a hand on the young man's shoulder. "This is bound to make your job easier.”
“I’d still rather be fighting on the front lines than attending all these events," he sighed. "The Normandy’s setting course for the Citadel this afternoon. I’ve been invited to an Asari Court, a Salarian Investigative Defence Committee meeting, and a Volus Trading Function.”
“I hear you,” Anderson comforted, “but you’re building powerful alliances. The work you accomplish there is just as important as what you do on the battlefield.”
“And you’re disgustingly good at it,” Udina interjected, though he had the barest hint of a smile on his face. “There’s a political party forming around you. The Shepard’s Harmony party pushes for high defence spending, reducing corporate influence, and high collaboration with the other species. They won fifteen percent in the USNA senatorial election four days ago, and only because they lacked the funds to get their message out more.”
The captain watched Shepard drop his jaw for a split second. “You’re kidding me.”
The ambassador sighed. “Not at all. Kayla Laurance has been pushing this party since Elysium. As I said, lack of funding has been their biggest issue, but recent well-timed events have provided much more support, boosting it from its non-existent numbers to being a not-entirely insignificant player in North American politics. Corporate donations are already flooding in.”
“Couldn’t this be bad for me? I’d bet hard money many would see this as me using my status for political gain.”
“Westerlund news is certainly following that approach,” Anderson begrudgingly agreed, “but short of you being convicted of high treason I doubt your reputation could take a dent. And even then…” he chuckled at his own insinuation.
Luke still looked nervous, which all things considered was rather understandable. “I’m going to have to meet with this woman at some point. To make sure she doesn’t promote an ideology I don’t support with me as her mascot.”
“Hh,” Udina grunted, “I may make a politician out of you yet.”
“Before you go, commander," he rose a level hand, "have you had any more… revelations? From the beacon?”
He watched the boy sink a little. “Sir, it’s not good. I barely believe it myself. I have discussed extensively with L- Doctor T’Soni, and we’ve concluded that the Protheans were wiped out by a synthetic force known as the Reapers.”
“Impossible,” Udina exclaimed, rapping his knuckles on the desk. "That was fifty thousand years ago, how could they return now?”
“The beacon was a warning, ambassador. And Saren seems completely convinced. I know it’s unlikely, but the facts keep seeming to line up. We’re working on a report to conclusively prove," he assured them, "but it’s taking time. We don’t want to present our findings until we know for sure its valid.”
“Very well then,” the ambassador stood. “Please come to me before presenting this to the Council. I’m not looking forwards to this, nor do I believe it," he added qiuckly, "but I do take this job seriously. Good day, commander.”
Chapter 24: Dinner
Summary:
Shepard and Butch are invited to the Vakarian household for dinner.
Notes:
Ok so this is the longest chapter yet, but I couldn't get the idea out of my head and ended up having to write it.
Chapter Text
After an exhausting day of interstellar schmoozing (a word the commander had taught her), Liara and Shepard found themselves on the private shuttle she had rented for the day, sinking into the plush seats with a sigh of relief. Liara watched Shepard stretch out, a twinkle of amusement in her eyes. As an Asari, she didn't need as much rest, but she could appreciate the commander's weariness after the day they had. The day had been little more than ceaseless socialising, networking, and thinly-veiled political manoeuvring. Even she felt a little tired.
Liara had played the role of a personal assistant all day and she was rather satisfied with her performance. They'd jumped from event to event aboard a hired shuttle, the driver eager to chauffer the galactic heroes for the full day after Liara's rather generous tip. Taking her unspoken and unrequested role with aplomb, Liara had carefully curated a wardrobe for each occasion, ensuring that Shepard didn't look out of place amongst the galaxy's elite since - and she said this with all due respect - but he wasn't precisely the most fashion-forwards man in the galaxy.
"Who'd have thunk the Volus would throw the most interesting function of the day?" Luke joked, breaking the comfortable silence. He was referring to the last function they had attended, a trading gathering hosted by the Volus Citadel Conglomerates.
Liara chuckled, her blue eyes sparkling with laughter. "I suppose it shouldn't come as a surprise. The Volus may not have much of a military presence, but they certainly know their way around a good deal," she agreed. "It is a shame they are not given more representation on a galactic scale."
A smile tugged at Shepard's lips. His gaze drifted to the star-speckled window, then back to Liara. "You've done a lot for me today, Liara," he said sincerely. "I am completely out of my depth," he chuckled.
A blush tinted her blue skin, but before she could respond, the buzz of his comm interrupted them. A flicker of annoyance crossed her face before she masked it with her usual calm composure. “Talk about timing,” he grumbled, but brightened up as he answered the comm. “Butch, what do you need?... … Fine, I’m sorry, I'm sorry, what's happening?... … … … Really? His dad wanted me over? Please tell me his dad knows we’ve been invited otherwise-… … … Calm down, Butch, I’m not going to leave you out to dry. Tell the Vakarians I’ll be there. I just need to swing by the ship to change out of this suit-” on cue, Liara pulled out another outfit she had prepared earlier and directed the commander’s attention to it. She thought it may be wise to have a back-up casual outfit in case something sprung up. Luke smiled warmly at her. “Never mind. I’ll be there in twenty… … … I’ll remember that! See you soon.”
Liara raised an eyebrow and pass the clothes (still hanging neatly guarded by the felt protector, ironed and ready for use) to Luke. “Dinner at the Vakarians?”
“Yeah, apparently Garrus’ family want Butch and I over," he grimaced, "His dad didn’t seem to like me when we met at the C-Sec gala but who knows what’s changed. I’m actually more stressed about this than I am any of those events we had today.”
“Go get changed,” she soothed, placing an arm on his. “I will go back to the Normandy after we drop you and continue working on our report.”
“You’re a lifesaver, T’Soni. I’ll make it up to you.”
"She's not going to like this," Lara hissed, tapping nervously. "She's not going to like this."
"Relax," Luke grabbed her hand, squeezing it. His sister continued to squirm. "I'll take care of it."
"She's not going to like this," she repeated firmly.
Luke huffed. "She's going to have to put up with it. Its either the three of us," he nodded at Butch as she exited the building across the road, "or none of us."
Lara looked around nervously. "We haven't seen mom in over a year," she complained. "This is supposed to be a family dinner. We've never brought home someone before. What if mom leaves?" Lara's breath started to increase. "What if she's still mad? She has connections, she could try to have us kicked out of the academy."
"Mom's not leaving us again," he insisted.
"What if she does?" his sister pleaded.
Luke sighed. "I'll take care of it."
"But-"
"I said I'll take care of it," he cut her off with a stern look. Lara shrunk a little and nodded, calming, though her eyes fell. "Hey, look at me," he lowered his voice. She looked up from the ground. "Everything's going to be alright. Mom loves us. She'll love Butch too."
"I'm not going to be a problem, am I?" their friend called out as she finally reached them. Butch looked almost as nervous as Lara.
Luke grinned. "Of course not, mom's going to love you. She was always complaining that she wanted to have more kids," he joked. "She'll be thrilled to have another mouth to feed over Christmas." He placed an arm around both girls. "I'm sure her shuttle's close, may as well get this over and done with."
Butch rolled her eyes. "You really know how to sell me a dream."
Lara remained stiff but allowed him to guide them out of the transport terminal and into the shuttlebay. She didn't say a word. Luke squeezed her shoulder reassuringly as he tried to seem much more confident than he actually was.
They hadn't exactly parted on the best of terms with their mother. She hadn't taken well at all to them joining the Alliance and had immediately signed up for a year-long tour in the Traverse, probably due to the fact that there would be little to no communication with the core of Alliance space. The one time they had been able to talk it was to confirm via text that they would meet exactly this day at exactly this time to fly back to their temporary apartment in Vancouver.
Their mother wasn't hard to spot in the academy's shuttle bay. She was grilling some mechanic in front of a Kodiak - likely rented - but dismissed him the moment she noticed them arrive. Her face gave little away, but even from the distance he could see her tilt her head up ever-so-slightly at the sight of Butch. "You sure you want me here?" their friend asked slightly more timidly, having picked up on it too.
Luke pulled them both closer. "I told you, ladies," he puffed his chest, "I'll take care of it. I've got it all under control." They awkwardly stared at their mom as they approached her before finally settling in front of her. Still in her dress blues - it looked as if she'd been promoted to Lieutenant Commander while on deployment - she clasped her hands behind her back, appearing just as imposing as the last day they saw her.
She scrutinised him, not taking her eyes off of him. It took everything Luke had not to flinch. "We have a guest?" she asked without so much as a glance towads Butch.
"Butch Robinson, ma'am," their friend stood to attention.
Luke released Lara, trying to appear strong. "She's coming home with us."
Their mom remained silent, still staring at him, before addressing his sister. "Lara, dear," she stood tall. "Would you be a sweetheart and help Miss Robinson bring her things to our shuttle? I need to discuss a few things with your brother." Lara gave him a worried look but he just nodded, trying to project that he'd be alright. She acquiesced and turned, grabbing her duffel bag and leading their friend away. "Pumpkin, I-" she paused, pursing her lips.
"I'm sorry, mom," he spoke up.
She gave him a confused look. "Pardon me?"
"We should have talked to you beforehand," he shifted his feet. "Talked about it more."
His mother sighed, finally unclasping her hands and slouching just a bit. "No, I'm the one who needs to apologise. I shouldn't have reacted the way that I did. I was-" she paused again before pulling him into a tight hug. "I was terrified I'd lose you if you joined the Alliance. I've lost enough as it is. But-" his mom breathed in deeply before exhaling. "I lost you anyway. I'm sorry, pumpkin, I should have been better."
"I love you, mom," he squeezed her back.
"I love you too," she laughed happily. After a few moments she finally managed to pull away and did her best to compose herself. "So. We're taking a young woman with us to stay for the holidays?"
Luke placed his hands on his hips, clicking his tongue. "Yeah," he looked towards the shuttle where both Lara and Butch's faces were firmly pushed up against the window. "She was in the system before she signed up. You remember Mindoir?"
His mother's face fell. "Oh," she looked towards the shuttle. "Oh that poor girl."
"Lost everyone," he whispered. "Look, I know its a lot to ask-"
"She can stay," she replied quickly. "I know-" she clenched her fists, before straightening herself. "It doesn't matter. I would be glad to take care of Miss Robinson."
Luke grinned. "She prefers Butch. No need to be so formal."
HIs mom put on a serious face. "Insubordination," she tutted. "I'll have you court-martialed, Private Pumpkin," she warned, and both erupted into laughter. Her face softened as she looked back towards the shuttle. "Come on, Luke. I believe its time you properly introduce me to your new sister."
Lukw pulled himself out of his thoughts as the door opened wide. “Commander,” the Castis Vakarian greeted, “thank you for accepting our invitation. I apologise for the late notice. It’s rare that my family is able to meet under one roof for dinner.”
“Thank you for inviting me, sir. I’m sure yours is a busy household.”
“Right this way. Your, er, friend," he settled on. "Butch. She is already in the living room with the rest.”
Luke walked into the living room, taking in the surroundings of the Vakarian household. It was by no means ostentatious, but it had a comfortable charm to it. He observed the family pictures adorning the walls, capturing moments of Garrus and his sister’s past, and smiled to himself. He could recognise the signs of a family not used to staying in one place, though. It was an apartment, most of the furniture was probably already here when they rented it.
“Luke!” Butch shouted with a wave, “Get your a- yourself over here!” she caught herself.
He smiled and walked in further. Garrus sat next to who he assumed to be his mum and gave him a nod, and young female Turian (who had already seemingly befriended Butch) whispered into his friend’s ear. “Sorry I’m a few minutes late but I’m very happy to be here. Good evening, Mrs Vakarian," he greeted the woman, "and I assume the young lady must be… Solana? If I’m remembering correctly?” he rose an eyebrow towards Garrus.
Solana made a noise that sounded suspiciously like an ‘eep’ and Garrus’ mother chuckled with delight. “Please, commander, Mrs Vakarian makes me feel terribly old. Call me Acinia. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” she smiled warmly.
“Me too!” Solana chirped before suddenly shirking at the realisation of how loudly she just was. Garrus and his father made an identical shake of their heads and Shepard had to do everything in his power not to laugh.
“The pleasure’s all mine, ladies," he assured them. "I’m glad I can finally meet you all.”
“Gar talks about you all the time,” Butch added, “but it’s nice to put a face to the names.”
“Did Garrus really tell you about me?” Solana exasperated, “Gar!" she shouted. "What did you tell the Commander Shepard about me? Ugh it was probably all bad wasn’t it. I’m not that bad, Commander. Shepard. Commander Shepard… Sir..?”
Luke laughed as he took a seat on a surprisingly comfortable couch. “Luke’s fine, I’ve been the commander for eleven hours straight today. And don’t worry," he tried to asuage her, "Garrus speaks fondly of all of you.”
“So Luke,” Acinia interjected before Solana could continue nervously babbling. “I must say, I was surprised when my boy didn’t return home for dinner roughly two weeks ago. Well,” she corrected with a chuckle, “I was more surprised by the reason why.”
“Weren’t we all,” Vakarian senior mumbled, earning a sharp glare from his wife.
His Turian friend shrunk a little and Luke decided he's do his best to lend a hand. “Garrus singlehandedly saved the case against Saren. I wouldn’t have made Spectre if it wasn’t for him. When he asked to join the Normandy I had no reason to turn him down. He’s been invaluable since,” he promised.
“We saw the vids!” Solana exclaimed excitedly, turning to Butch. “I’ve watched them soo many times. The two of you were incredible! It was like a movie!” she beamed.
“You did look quite impressive,” Acinia agreed while placing a comforting hand over her son’s. "You make an efficient team."
“One of the best partner’s I’ve ever had!” Butch boasted, puffing her chest out slightly before having a realisation and scratching her head. “In a fight, I mean, sorry, should have worded that better.”
The Vakarian matriarch smiled but chose not to exacerbate an already incredibly hilarious situation. “And a commendation, no less. Acting-Lieutenant. We got quite a few calls after that hit the news.” Garrus mumbled something under his breath and pinched his brow.
“That may have been, er, that was me,” Butch admitted guiltily, flashing a slightly anxious grin. Luke admittedly took pleasure in seeing her so out of her element considering how much shit she gave him every day.
Surprisingly, it was Garrus’ dad who seemed most interested. “Do explain.”
“The colony’s leader asked for Gar’s rank, probably assumed we were all a part of the same hierarchy, and Garrus took a moment to respond," she nervously explained.
"I thought things would go easier if, well, you know, if he had a proper rank.”
Castis waited for further explanation. “Did it?”
“Damn straight," she swung her finger in the air. "The colonists kept calling him lieutenant until we left the planet! I think I heard one talk about building him a statue.”
“Don’t remind me,” Garrus groaned.
“Son,” Castis interrupted while standing up. “I need to bring down a wine from the attic. Could you lend a hand?”
“I’m going to finish up dinner,” Acinia, “You three keep chatting.”
Garrus nervously followed his father upstairs, cautious about the coming conversation. Because there would be a conversation. About something. His father never broke routine, he was completely rigid when it came to just about anything. This was the first time he had ever called Garrus up to the attic to help with the wine. That may seem small and insignificant to most, but to Garrus it was a cause for concern.
In fact, Garrus mused, he had never been allowed in the attic – ever. It was always out of bounds. That alone was enough to have him worried. Entering the forbidden room, howeve,r he was taken aback by how homey it felt. There were a few chairs, a large rack of wines and other beverages, comfortable lighting, and even a small vidscreen. It could almost be described as what the humans referred to as a mancave.
“Take a seat,” his father offered. Ordered. It was a combination of both. The elder Vakarian pulled out a bottle of Turian brandy and a pair of glasses, pouring for them both. The two of them sat there for a few moments, sipping on their drinks. “I-…” his father started, before closing his mouth. “I suppose congratulations are in order.” Garrus took another sip of the brandy to hide his confusion. He didn’t know where this conversation was going, or how to feel about the sudden praise. His father had always been a man of reasonable punishment rather than positive reinforcement. “I was busy overseeing a sting operation on the Zykera ward," he explained. " No time to see the news. I slept at the office most nights. When I finally got home I had several missed calls from the Primarch himself," he chuckled. "He congratulated me for your achievements. I didn’t know what he was talking about, so he ordered me to catch up on ‘the major headlines’ and call him back before hanging up."
Garrus remained quiet, waiting for him to go on.
"That’s exactly what I did. I didn’t know what to expect, but this wasn't it. Acting Lieutenant Vakarian, holding a colony against the Geth while at a numerical disadvantage first against the Geth, then against the colonists themselves. I admit," he reluctantly confessed, "I kept anticipating you to have done something… irresponsible. But I couldn’t find a single article speaking poorly of you. The colonists love you, you received a medal from the Alliance Fleet Admiral, and you became a minor galactic celebrity overnight. I was – am… impressed.”
Not knowing what else to do or say, Garrus downed what was left of his glass, allowing a moment of awkward silence as father and son struggled to simply talk. “It wasn’t just me," he stood up for the crew, "the Turian sources would probably be pretty biased. I couldn’t have done it without Butch. But I learnt a lot from Feros. I’d l-… I’m sorry, dad. It was my first command and I finally understand so much that you’ve tried to teach me. You can’t rush anything or try to do everything yourself when you’re in charge. I tried to give my attention to every small detail but it wasn’t possible.”
“I haven’t feared you failing for years, son," he sighed. "I feared you succeeding." His father took a long sip from his drink. "Heroes die, what kind of father would I be if I didn’t fear that happening to my son?”
Garrus leant into his chair, surprised at the sentiment. It was unexpected. It wasn't unwelcome. “I didn’t want to be a hero, dad, I just wanted to do the right thing.”
“I know. I’ve treated you like a child for too long. I still think Spectre’s are trouble,” he interjected with an aggressive point of the finger, “but I am grateful the commander is who you decided to follow,” he allowed
Garrus’ eyes begun to sting. Slightly. “Thanks, dad.” The two of them shook hands and rested into their seats.
“Now,” his father stated, indicating that the conversation from before was over. “Tell me about this lady downstairs.”
“Butch? She’s gr-" he growled as he realised where this was going. "Spirits, damn it, not you too.”
For the first time in years, Castis Vakarian actually laughed.
“Could someone please come to the kitchen to lend me a hand?” Acinia called out.
“On my way, ma’am!” Butch scrambled off the floor, earning a look from her brother.
Luke chuckled, apparently deciding that now would be a good time to tease her. “Trying to get on Garrus’ Mum’s good side?”
She responded with a glare that could have shattered planets and left to join Acinia in the kitchen. “Thank you dear," the Turian smiled warmly. "I was expecting Solana to join me but she seems quite… distracted, by the commander.”
Butch grinned. “Happy to help. Damn this smells good.”
“I hope it tastes just as well," Acinia thanked her. "This is my first time cooking a levo meal.”
“Looks better than the sh- stuff we have to eat on the Normandy,” she caught herself, realising just how much of a swearing problem she had.
Gar's mum nodded her closer towards her. “Could you stir the pot while I finish this mix off?”
“Ma’am, yes, ma’am,” she saluted, reaching for the spoon.
“You should be careful, young one,” Acinia chirped with tease in her voice, “or I might think you were mocking me.”
“No! Damn it, sorry ma’am, I run my mouth sometimes.”
“Hmm. You’re sweet, I can see why Garrus likes you,” the woman chirped happily.
Sweet? I am not ‘sweet’ thank you very much, she grumbled in her head. Despite her mental indignation, she blushed slightly at the compliment. “Garrus, uh, talks about me often then?”
“If you’re not on the call, he’s sure to detail your exploits,” she mused with maternal delight. “You’re a good fit for each other.”
Oh she is not going there. First mum, now you too? Butch breathed out slowly. “I, er, don’t know what you’re talking about, ma’am.”
“I may be old, but I’m not blind. Solana and I have seen all of the vids.” Butch’s confusion was picked up by Acinia instantly. “You… haven’t seen them, have you?”
“Felt a bit vain to watch vids of ourselves,” she scratched the back of her head.
The Turian's mandibles flickered. “Hh, the security cameras on Feros were in surprisingly good condition, given the circumstances.”
“Ah,” she frowned.
“And they caught the entire fight from start to finish,” she elaborated.
“Ah,” she stopped stirring altogether as embarrassment washed over her at the fact that Garrus’ mum had seen a perfect capturing of her flirting with her son.
Acinia laughed and placed a hand on her back as she buried her face in her hands. “For what it’s worth,” Acinia comforted with a conspirator whisper, “Solana and I are rooting for you. You really do seem like a nice girl, and I haven’t seen Garrus look this lively in years. Now I’ll stop pestering you so that you stop reddening and let’s get back to the task at hand. Dinner won’t prepare itself.”
“Sooooo…” Solana trailed, leaning her elbows onto the living room table and placing her head in her hands. “I know everything you do is super-classified but there has to be something you can tell me. All we get is the news, and while Feros was really well documented," she said in a way that made him make a mental note to look into it, "I want to hear what you can tell me!”
Luke smirked a little. He didn’t care much for fame, but he would be lying if he wasn’t entertained by the starstruck Turian in front of him. “Garrus hasn’t been leaking confidential information?” he asked seriously, though he knew the answer.
“Please,” she snorted, “he quotes the public reports. Getting anything out of him is a total nightmare,” she complained.
“I don’t really know what to say," he offered diplomatically, shrugging. "most of my confidential missions have been heavily publicly reported.” That was technically the truth, but he wasn't about to go offering military intelligence to civilians, even if they were family.
“Fine, fine,” Solana pouted, but she refused to give up. “So. What was your favourite mission?”
A good question. Feros was dreadful, Citadel-side matters were tedious, and Luna was completely classified. Which left… “Therum.”
“Ooh," her eyes twinkled in a way that made him immediately regret answering. "Is that were you met Doctor Liara T’Soni?”
“You’re… surprisingly well-informed,” he observed.
“Don’t change topics!" she chirped. "The gossip columns are losing it when it comes to you two!”
“Really?” Luke questioned, sipping a glass of water. He never looked into those sorts of things. Solana clearly had no such qualms.
“Ab, so, lutely!" she exclaimed. "Commander Shepard; first human Spectre and galactic hero! Doctor T’Soni; reclusive genius and reluctant heiress! Paths brought together by a mission of galactic importance!!”
Luke grimaced. The press just didn't know when to mind their own business. “Of course that’s what they’re saying,” he grumbled.
“You’re together all the time on the Citadel, and your ice-cream trips-”
“Does the media even understand the concept of privacy?” he interupted, annoyed.
Solana didn't take a hint. “So, well, are you two, you know, a thing?”
He raised an eyebrow at the Turian. “Not- no. We aren’t,” he stopped himself.
Solana saw right through him. “You were going to say yet!”
“I wasn-” he tried to deny but the Turian was on a roll.
“Don’t worry, I’ll protect your secret. I’ll die before telling anyone!" she boasted before having a sudden 'realisation'. Her face fell qiuckly. "...No one’s going to try to kill me to find out, right?”
He laughed, shaking his head. “No, I wouldn't think so.”
“This is the best night ever!" she giggled. "I can’t wait to tell all my friends I had dinner with Commander Shepard!”
“And your family,” he added.
“Details, details,” she dismissed, snickering. “Oh, and what abou-”
Solana sighed as her mother’s voice carried into the living room. “Dinner’s ready!”
Finally.
He was hungry.
Chapter 25: Presrop
Summary:
Lara handles a solo mission to deal with the rogue biotics, though the mission is also personal
Chapter Text
The mass exodus of Alliance biotics had baffled and alarmed the brass. These weren't regular rogue soldiers but a highly skilled force whose sudden disappearance was rather unsettling. Alliance Intelligence had traced the breadcrumbs, leading the Iwo Jima to a nondescript facility on Presrop, a desolate planet in the Century system. Meyer had personally fought to recieve the mission. He didn't say a word about it for days until walking into her quarters and passing her a datapad. He chuckled before limping out of her room, leaving her with a breif on the situation. Nothing had looked particularly out of the ordinary. Nothing really caught her attention, until she saw the name of the biotics' leader at the bottom Major Kyle. Her former commanding officer. The man who had forsaken her in the thick of Torfan, who had gambled with her life and had lost, leaving her to face the consequences. The man responsible for her being... broken.
So with Meyer's approval she ventured forth alone. He knew this was personal. He was doing this for a reason. Meyer knew what she needed. After the unfortunate incident on the Citadel the captain had realised her... instability. Fortunately he had the strength to force her to see reason. This was her offer at redemption. A test. Yet it wasn't merely to see if she was still useful, no, that would be too simply for the great Captain Meyer. No, it was to give her some semblance of closure. There was no doubt she could have levelled the place from orbit if she'd wanted, but she'd chosen a more direct approach. His one caveat was that she had to wear armour since she wouldn't have any back-up. She detested it - it made her feel trapped - but she had learnt how to put up with discomfort to the sake of the mission. Meyer had made sure of that.
So, with a pistol holstered at her hip and her helmet in her hand, Lara had gotten to work. She had talked her way in, offering negotiation and promising compromise - they were remarkably simple to manipulate. These biotics were almost infantile. In truth, negotiation was the furthest thing from her mind. The orders from Captain Meyer were crystal clear. They were traitors, and there was only one way to deal with traitors.
Elimination.
Lara had learnt the hard way that how one was perceived could move mountains. She waltzed through the halls confidently. All in her path scrambled to get out of her way. Yet it was not a confidence nurtured by faith in her abilities. It was born out of a dark apathy towards her own survival. She held no fear for death. After all, how could it be more painful than her current existence? She was already shattered, a ruined remnant of the soldier – of the woman she used to be. She was completely broken and no one seemed to be able to put her back together again.
“Except for me,” Not-Luke accused, falling into step with her and matching her pace. “I tried to help, and you spat in my face.”
“Shut up,” she hissed. It had been years since the apparition haunted her. She thought herself rid of it, but the recent incident on Citadel had brought him back stronger than ever. Lara was incapable of making him go away and he harassed almost every waking moment.
He gave her a pointed look that she refused to return. “Not the first time you’ve spurned my aid. I’m sure it won’t be the last,” he chided her.
Ignoring Not-Luke, she continued marching. As Lara moved further into the facility, it became noticable how quiet it was. Nobody was talking, nobody was even whispering, the loudest sound in the halls was her boots stepping against the floor. She met the gaze of every biotic she passed. There was defiance in their eyes, a false one born from their a shared bond of rebellion, but defiance nevertheless. Yet Lara saw the flicker of doubt cloud their confidence as she gave them each a dark look. She felt nothing for these traitors - they had abandoned their duty, broken their oath, thrown their lot behind a man so focused on himself he already allowed tens of thousands to die.
“Traitors?” Not-Luke raised an eyebrow, “the Major, sure, but the rest of them? Look at them, Lara, how many are just confused?”
She huffed. "They committed treason."
Not-Luke tutted. "Lar, you could talk them into surrendering. I know you're a good talker," he pointed a finger at her. "Use it to save these people."
"They don't deserve to be saved," she snarled. "I did everything right and look at what happened to me," Lara's face scrunched before she forced herself to get it together. "Why should I feel sympathy for them when they waste the chances I never had?"
"Because they're just confused, damnit," Not-Luke shouted.
“Orders are orders,” she sharply responded through her teeth, drawing confused looks from a group she passed.
“Sure, sure…” he nodded his head in mock agreement and paused for a moment. She chewed the inside of her cheek as not-Luke inhaled, “I'm pretty sure that doesn't make this any less of a war-crime. Very Nuremburg, don't you think?”
Lara's face fell slightly despite her best efforts. “Orders are all I have,” she replied quietly.
“You have mom and me, the real me, that is," he growled. "Swallow your pride and give one of us a call.”
Her face contorted again and she fully turned her head to look at him, sneering. “Fuck off.”
Not-Luke crossed his arms and smirked. “You’re imagining me, remember?”
She once more ignored him and continued to march forwards, increasing her pace so as to leave the apparition behind her.
"Impressive," Katherina appraised, looking out the viewport.
Petrovsky smiled, hands clasped behind his back as he tilted his head at the shipyards that were nearing completion. "This is my largest project yet. Keeping it this far under the radar has proven difficult," he allowed, "but with the funds you've graciously provided me we have been able to advance construction exponentially.
She looked down at the planet below, intruiged. "And the production facilities? They are enough?"
"Quite," he smiled smugly. "I thank Luthor Intergalactic for their willingness to bring industry to the Terminus Systems."
"Of course," she grinned. "We wish for a more prosperous future for all."
Petrovsky placed a hand on her shoulder and began to lead her away from the window. "You have done well," he praised her. "You never cease to amaze me."
Katherina felt an uncharacteristically warmth in her chest. "Thank you," she replied honestly.
"I'm quite serious," the general continued. "Your parents were shewd businessmen, yes, but they were so mediocre," he drawled. "They lacked vision."
Looking over the rail at the large body of humans rushing around between each other, the doors, and dozens of screens, Katherina sighed. "Yes, well, its a big galaxy," she clicked her tongue. "There's always more out there."
"Indeed there is, indeed there is," Petrovsky chuckled before he grew more serious. "Harper has taken a recent interest in you," he almost reluctantly revealed. "I understand you have overlapping interests presently?"
"We do," she straightened herself.
Petrovsky hummed, walking slowly away. She pushed off the railing, following him. "Be careful, child," he warned. "You play a dangerous game."
Katherina gave him a grin. "Only play games you know you're going to win. You taught me that."
He smiled fondly. "Good to see I wasn't just talking to myself all these years," he chuckled, squeezing her shoulder affectionately before clasping his hands behind his back once more. "Still, my point stands. You stand on the edge of a world you may very well never escape. As you so aptly put, the galaxy is a big place," he mused distantly. "Its oh-so-very easy to be eaten up by it."
She snorted. "Frederick and I can handle anything."
"If you are determined to continue, I cannot stop you," he sighed. "I will worry though," he gave her a pointed look.
Katherina giggled, leaning in to pull him into a hug. "I love it when you act all sentimental."
The general grumbled, trying to gently push her away. "Remove yourself, child, I just had this uniform pressed."
The door slid open to reveal a small room. It was radically different to the stark militaristic austerity of the rest of the facility. The room was a neat space, almost minimalistic in its design, yet it was lavishly furnished. The carpets had to be worth a small fortune - the rich mahogany furniture that sat on it as well. It was incredibly out of place on a planet like Presrop. Lara's experiences with Captain Meyer had fine-tuned her senses to discern opulence, and this room practically dripped with it.
Major Kyle sat across the room, flanked by two stern-looking guards. His eyes narrowed as he recognised her. Lara returned his gase with a sardonic sneer. She gestured at the guards. "Out," she ordered with an authority that made even the hardened men hesitate, looking to the major for confirmation..
"You’re hardly in a position to make demands. You’re good, Shepard," he allowed, "but I doubt you can take out an entire facility of trained biotics," Kyle retorted, stubbornness lining his face.
Lara was quick to quell his protest. "I'd rethink that, Major. The Iwo Jima is two seconds away from turning this place into a scrap yard."
He studied her for a moment, tension wrinkling his forehead before he reluctantly dismissed his guards. Alone at last, he leaned back, clasping his hands together, and was audacious enough to act as if he had any level of authority. "Tell the Alliance to leave us alone, Shepard. We're a family here."
Lara laughed a cold, hollow sound that echoed off the walls. "Family?" she spat, "You're exploiting these people, Kyle. You're a predator, profiting from their mental deficiencies." She reached across his desk, picking up a heavy paperweight fashioned from some exotic alien mineral. "This little trinket, for instance," she continued, holding up the piece to the light, "I'd say it's worth around… five thousand credits, wouldn't you?"
The major stood abruptly, nearly knocking his chair over. "You will show me respect, Shepard!" he demanded. "I climbed further up the ranks than you ever could."
She placed the paperweight down, rising to meet his outraged gaze. Not-Luke snickered. “Yeah, I won’t be sad to see this asshole go.”
"It’s been years since I’ve had any degree of respect for you, ‘Major’," she responded, her tone icy and unyielding. "And as for your rank? You were officially dishonourably discharged two hours ago. You're not an officer anymore. You're a criminal." Absentmindedly, Lara picked up her helmet, examining it. With an air of finality, she placed the helmet over her head, her eyes never leaving his. She activated her omni-tool with a swift flick of her wrist. "You know, I never intended to negotiate," she confessed.
Screams from around the base began to grow, breaching the walls of the former major's office. Kyle's eyes widened, terror replaced the indignant rage from before. "What on earth have you done," he paled.
"I just released Salarian Kerv Gas into the base's ventilation," Lara informed him, her voice devoid of emotion. "Your 'family' will be dead in less than a minute."
Panic washed over Kyle as he pleaded, the realisation of his predicament setting in. His words were lost to the screams of his followers which rapidly drained the room. As Lara stepped closer, Kyle attempted to dart past her, desperate to escape. Lara was ready. "Stupid," she muttered, hurling the expensive paperweight at his head. It connected with a sickening thud, knocking him to the floor. He whimpered as she loomed over him.
With a swift movement, Lara drew her pistol and shot him in the knee. He cried out in pain. "That's for Torfan," she stated icily. She fired a round into his other knee, eliciting a fresh wave of screams. "That’s for the people I just murdered because of you." Kyle was writhing in pain, his face contorted in agony. But Lara didn't flinch. She pistol-whipped him across the face, then aimed the gun squarely at his forehead. "And this," her voice lowered to a deadly whisper, "is for everything else."
The final gunshot echoed throughout the now silent room.
Lara perched herself on a chair opposite the fallen major, her gaze fixed on his lifeless body as his blood seeped into the lush carpet. There was no remorse in her, but there also wasn't anything else. There was a hollow emptiness where she expected vindication, relief, or perhaps some semblance of peace. But Major Kyle’s death had brought her none of those. “I could have told you that from the start,” Not-Luke told her, poking the dead major. “In fact, I think I did on the shuttle here.”
“Would you just shut up already," she shreiked, clenching her fists. "This was supposed to help fix me and I feel just as shit as before!” she spun on him, pointing aggressively.
“Who would have guessed,” he mocked while throwing his hands up, “Captain Meyer doesn’t know how to help you. It’s almost as if it benefits him to keep you like this.”
“I don’t remember Luke being this much of an asshole,” Lara spat.
The aparition rolled his eyes and folded his arms. “I’m not Luke, I’m what your mind seems to think you need. If you really want help you should go back to the real me.”
She groaned, gripping her helmet. “It’s not that simple.”
“It really is. I have his number right here…”
With a sigh, she pushed herself to her feet and fired another shot into the major's body. Leaving the room behind, she began walking her way back to the shuttle, walking past the lifeless bodies strewn along the corridor. Some of their forms flickered with biotic energy as their final sparks of life dwindled. One woman was still moving, dragging her body with great effort, a pathetic wheeze escaping her lips. Lara spared her a glance, the glint of her pistol briefly illuminating the corridor before a gunshot echoed through the walls. The woman fell limp.
Upon reaching the main entrance, Lara was met with the sight of a hulking figure standing defiantly in her path. He was one of the guards she'd seen earlier, and he did not look good. Raw, uncontrolled biotic energy radiated off his body, blood seeped from his nose, mouth, and ears. He looked up at her. Rage flashed across his face. He charged, a feral scream tearing from his throat. Lara didn't move, letting him eat up the distance between them.
“You’re just going to let him kill you?” Not-Luke shouted incredulously, “MOVE!”
Jolted, she sprang into action, rolling aside and leaving him to collide with the wall. As they both found their footing, Lara raised her pistol, squeezing off several rounds that bounced harmlessly off the man's biotic barrier. The man retaliated with a warp, the blue energy hitting her square in the stomach. Lara doubled over, the sudden pain cutting through her. As the guard rushed in, aiming to exploit her supposed vulnerability, Lara drew her combat knife. With a swift, well-practiced move, she plunged the blade into his stomach. He gagged, even more blood bubbling from his mouth before he slumped to the ground, dead.
Lara was more than ready to leave this place behind. She left the facility without looking back and quickly boarded her waiting shuttle. “That was stupid of you,” Not-Luke reprimanded, “You might not care about your life, but some of us do.”
“Please,” she laughed mirthlessly, earning a not-so-subtle look of confusion from the pilot, “it would be easy for everyone if I just…”
Not-Luke's lips twitched. “Didn’t come home? Died in combat? Pulled the trigger yourself? You nearly did just that all those years ago after Torfan, but the real me saved you,” he roared.
Lara began laughing again, not caring at all how disturbed she probably appeared to the pilot. “What a stupid decision.”
The aparition began to pace. He pinched his brow. “He cares, damnit! Let your family help you.”
Unwilling to address the non-existant mental conjuration of her brother, she grabbed her comm and established a connection to the Iwo Jima. "Commence bombardment," she ordered. As her shuttle retreated, she could see the ship assault the planet's surface without hesitation. The facility would be obliterated leaving nothing but scorched earth and broken bodies behind. Her omni-tool bleeped as a single message came through.
Well done. I’m glad to see you’re not a complete waste of effort after all -- Meyer
Chapter 26: Reposession
Summary:
Shepard get's a tip on Wrex's family armour
Chapter Text
Regretfully, commanding a ship meant that life was much more than just running off into combat. There was an exceptional amount of paperwork needed to run the Normandy, and as much as he delegated to Pressley and Vakarian, there was still a lot that still needed to be done. So, mug in hand, he perused his XO's Weekly Operational Report on the bridge, sitting in the seat next to Joker. Contrary to popular belief, the pilot didn’t always run his mouth. In rare moments in the morning – such as this right now – they could sit together in comfortable silence. At least until something inevitably came up.
Joker sighed as a light began to flash. “Incoming call, commander.”
Luke tried not to let his annoyance show as he stood up. “I’ll take it in the comms room. Who is it?”
“No idea…" the pilot scratched his beard, looking closer at his screen. "ID reads Queen.”
He paused, pinching his brow. “I’ll take it in my quarters then,” he called over his shoulder as he marched back to his quarters. Sealing the door, the hologram projector came to life, presenting a tall purple Asari.
“She-pard,” a sing-song voice rung off the walls of the room. “It’s been so long since we’ve spoken. When are you coming back to the Terminus Systems?”
“I’m not sure, I’m a bit busy hunting down a rogue Spectre, Aria,” he retorted with a hint of sarcasm.
A smirk etched its way across her face. “Still? Tsk, tsk, tsk, I expected you to have dragged him by the mandibles to the Citadel already.”
Luke snorted. “It turns out,” Luke mused dryly as he poured himself a glass of whiskey, “that chasing a billionaire with an armed force of unknown numbers who can jump in and out of council space as he pleases is difficult.”
“Hmm…" she studied him. "I promise you he hasn’t come anywhere near my territory. Your enemies are mine, remember?” she purred.
“That’s one less region the bastard can flee to, then,” he sighed as he took another long sip.
A wicked grin split across Aria's face as she leant forwards. “Then again,” she tilted her head, “maybe you should come back to Omega anyway. To do an inspection.”
“I’m busy,” he shrugged, downing the remainder of his glass. “I don’t have much time to go galivanting to Omega.”
“Not too busy for that T’Soni girl, apparently,” she tutted innocently.
Luke narrowed his eyes. “Didn’t take you as the sort to read the gossip columns.”
“Ugh, please," Aria rolled her eyes, "who do you take me for? I have my own sources.”
He leant on his back foot, crossing his arms. “You’re spying on my personal life now?”
“I’m the queen of Omega,” she shrugged. “I’m possessive.”
Luke ran an exasperated hand across his mouth. “I have a ship to run, Aria, let’s cut to the chase.”
“Bo-ring,” she frowned.
He gave her the most unimpressed look he could muster. “Aria.”
“Fine. You’re traveling with a grumpy, ancient, Krogan battlemaster, right? Wrex?”
“You’re spying on me. You already know this,” he pushed.
“You’re no fun, Luke," she rolled her eyes again. "Could you pass on these coordinates to him? It’s for Tonn Actus. Wrex will understand. And tell him who it’s from,” she winked.
Luke tugged at his uniform, knowing very well that she was intentionally drawing this out as much as possible. “Don’t you have his frequency?”
“If I called him,” she answered with a smirk, “I wouldn’t get to talk to my bondmate, would I?”
“We both know that ceremony wasn’t legally bonding,” he emphasised with an admonishing point of the finger.
Aria chuckled. “I am the law out here, remember? But don’t worry," she waved him off before he could counter, "I won’t get between you and the little doctor. I can wait. I know you'll come back to me," she grinned. He didn't like how confident she was about that. "Stay safe out there, and remember, my offer always stands,” her eyes glinted.
“Thank you,” he answered with a sigh. “I’ll pass this onto Wrex.”
“No ‘Love you’, ‘love you too’s?" she rose her brow. "And here I thought you knew how to please a lady.”
“Goodbye, Aria," Shepard disconnected the call, cutting off woman's cackling. “I do one mission on Omega…” he muttered to himself.
Butch trailed just a few steps behind the rest of her team. Wrex had wanted to go in guns blazing but Luke quickly pointed out that such a plan would risk damaging the artifacts. So it was decided that they would go undercover, verify the authenticity of Wrex’s family armour, and then make efforts to end the criminal operation. She knew this meant violence, but Luke didn't like to acknowledge the disproportionately high rate of situational deteriation the Normandy found itself in.
Wrex played the role of ‘Urdnot Deg', a bodyguard from Clan Urdnot who would be able to authenticate the armour. Luke hid his face under his helmet to avoid being recognised. He acted as another bodyguard, John Hawthorn, a name Butch herself came up with. Butch played Jane Hawthorn, sister to the quiet 'John' who was entirely too annoyed at the so-called simplicity of her naming.
It was Liara who surprised Butch the most. The Asari was unrecognizable - Butch gave her the name Lavela T'Fayl. Lavela was elegant and arrogant. Liara's gentle demeanour was replaced with a dismissive haughtiness that seemed concerningly natural. Liara's gaze was cold and evaluating, her lips curled into a half-smirk of condescension as she demanded entrance to the facility. If she didn't know the archaeologist Butch would genuinely have not been able ot guess that she was really the sweet little thing that jumped at the sudden noises and apologised to inanamate when she bumped into them.
“Your bodyguards stay here," the Turian at the entrance tried to stop them. "Actus is waiting for you.”
Liara didn’t flinch. “My security will go where I go. Mr Deg,” she gestured to Wrex, “is here to ensure the authenticity of this artifact. Either we all come in, or we return to our ship and you can find another customer.” Butch did what she could to avoid smirking or chuckling at the performance.
The guardgrumbled and turned to comm what Butch guessed would be his superiors, before returning to them with a rather put out look on his face. “Fine. Don’t even think about trying anything stupid.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” she responded cooly, motioning for the rest of them to follow.
The inside was not what she expected. The facility wasn't just a storage space or a smuggling den, it was practically a museum. Shelves, pedestals, and display cases filled the room, each one hoting artifacts of various shapes and sizes. Butch scanned the room for potential threats. There were few guards, too few in her opinion. That was a critical mistake on Actus' part, she decided. Arrogance like that would potentially be his downfall. Then again, maybe the Turian thought that the value of his collection was deterrent enough, that the unspoken threat of damaging such precious items would keep intruders at bay.
Then they finally entered the ringleader’s office. Tonn Actus himself was a spectacle. Wiry even by Turian standards, his frame was draped in flamboyant clothing. The extravagant garments were as much a display of wealth as the artifacts themselves. She immediately thought he looked like a peacock. Flanking him were four other Turians who looked uncomfortable with the presence of a Krogan.
With an polite smile, Actus extended his hand in greeting to Liara. "Miss T'Fayl, a pleasure," he shook it. "I trust you were impressed by my collection on your way in?"
Liara met his gaze evenly. "Indeed, Mr. Actus," she replied smoothly. "It's... quite the display."
“I’m thrilled you think so," he boasted, sounding entirely too proud of himself. "My days overseeing the DMZ, overseeing that barbarity," he spat before a fondness came over him. "It proved most fruitful, in the end. This facility is the single largest collection from the era of the Krogan Rebellions. It took me decades to assemble it but with the profit this sale will bring me," his eyes twinkled as he looked back at Liara, "I do think I might finally be able to purchase the few remaining items I need. May I ask why you are so determined to purchase this piece?”
“I already have armour belonging to four of the major clans from that time period," Liara lied. "Urdnot is all that remains.”
“A fitting phrase. How topical," he chortled to himself. "Please, examine the armour. I assure you I would never try to trick a fellow collector, but I understand the need for verification.” He gestured towards the armour in question.
Liara turned around. “Of course. Mr Deg, if you’d be so kind?”
Wrex only grunted and approached the armour, carefully gazing over it. “This is it. I can’t believe my ancestors wore this shit.”
“Ah,” Tonn dismayed, “Have you failed to domesticate it?”
Wrex chuckled. “Absolutely.”
Then he pulled out his shotgun, fired, and Actus crumpled to the ground.
As the last guard fell to the floor, Liara let her barrier fall with a sigh of relief. She hadn't personally participated in the skirmish, her delicate outfit was ill-suited for the exertions of battle. It would've only held her back. Besides, her help hadn't been needed, not when they had Wrex. The Krogan had bulldozed through all but one of the guards single-handedly.
Liara moved to Butch's side as Luke and Wrex retreated to the back office. The two women gazed at the scattered array of artefacts and the Australian let out a low whistle. "What're we gonna do with all this stuff?" Butch asked, placing her hand son her hips.
She nodded thoughtfully. It was a good question. "There isn’t a legitimate governmental body capable of legally overseeing their repossession.” They fell into silence once more as she subconsciously began creating a preliminary itinery in her mind.
Butch broke the silence again. "You know how you're like an encyclopedia when it comes to the Protheans?" the marine gave her a serious look. "Is there another professor who'd be the same for all this?" She gestured towards the artefacts, her brows lifting in question.
Liara laughed softly, shaking her head. "While the notion is flattering, I am not that smart, Butch."
The human rolled her eyes at that, a grin tugging at her lips. "Could've fooled me, Li."
Despite the playful retort, Liara saw the value in Butch's suggestion. "There is merit in your idea," she conceded, her gaze panning over the treasure trove again. "Perhaps I should reach out to some colleagues in the historical community. We might be able to find a professor or a team of researchers who could properly care and transfer for these items."
Butch grinned. "That's what I'm talking about."
“There you go, Wrex. Your family armour.” Lukr leant over to get a closer look at the ancient piece. It looked medieval.
“Hgh,” he grunted, “It’s pathetic. I can’t believe my grandfather wore that into battle.”
Luke clapped him on the back as he turned to look around the room. “It’s still yours again. Back in Krogan hands. Like the rest of these artefacts will be. I bet Liara’s already worked out a plan to find the rightful owners and get these to them,” he let the hint of a smirk cross his face.
Wrex studied the armour for a few moments before setting it down again and lumbering towards him. “I wasn’t expecting you to drop everything to come help, Shepard,” he gruffed.
“Really? You’re my crew, Wrex. As far as I’m concerned that makes you family,” Luke stated honestly.
“Family," Wrex chewed on the word. "Haven’t had that in a while.” The Krogan huffed and stared at the battle staffs adorning the wall. “Did I ever tell you about my father?" he rumbled neutrally.
Luke clasped his hands behind his back as he started to pace Actus' desk. "Can't say we've talked about your family."
The Krogan looked up at him, a dark look crossing his face. "The bastard tried to kill me. Luke frowned. "Nearly did. He was a tough fight but I was the only survivor. Before I killed him, he gave me these scars,” he pointed at his face. “I never met my mother. My brothers are either dead or idiots. I had no family as far as I was concerned for over a century. Then I had a good two hundred years with Aleena before she disappeared. We even had a kid.”
Luke stared at his friend incredulously. “You’ve got a kid?”
A mischevious grin crossed the old man's face. “One of the few beings in the galaxy who could kick my ass. Just like her mother,” he chuckled fondly. “We still talk but I’ve… given her the room to grow into her own person.”
He sighed, already knowing the answer to his next question. “You’re not going to tell me who she is, are you?”
“Now where’s the fun in that?” Wrex grinned.
Luke gave him a dry look. “Great.”
“Merc life’s been pretty empty," Wrex carried on. "It’s why I signed up with you. I won’t lie, I only joined you at the start because Fist destroyed my ship and I needed a way off the Citadel. You seemed like the most… interesting out of all my options,” he chuckled again. Luke snorted. “But that was before I got to know you. You’re on the way to greatness, Shepard. There’s glory behind you. It’s a different kind of glory than the Krogan are used to, but I don't think that's a bad thing,” he declared.
Luke stood tall to meet the Krogan’s gaze. He didn’t know how to respond to that. He wasn’t a fan of being called glorious, but it felt wrong to act modest in this moment.
“Do you know what Krantt is?” Wrex broke the silence.
He shook his head. “I can’t say I do.”
“Hh. There isn’t a way to explain it," Wrex rumbled. "Krogan value Krantt just as much as family. We are Krantt, Shepard," he extended a hand. "The Krogan will learn from you.” Luke reached out and shook the Krogan’s arm firmly, solidifying their bond. “Name our target, and it will die.”
Williams could make out the team exiting the facility through her scope of her sniper rifle. Their confidence was visible and she assumed that meant they had been successful - the absence of explosions and gunfire this late into the mission meant that the fun was probably over. Ashley and Garrus had taken out the external guards a few minutes after the team entered at the start of the mission. That had made two less opponents for Shepard and the others.
“Another successful mission for the Normandy,” she placed down her rifle, earning a humorous rumble from the Turian.
Garrus did the same, stretching his talons. “Did you doubt them?”
“Are you kidding?" she snorted. "I’ve seen the commander take down an armature on his own with nothing but a rifle and a grenade. A few antique collectors weren’t going to stop them.”
The Turian chuckled. “Good shot earlier, by the way,” he added.
“I hate sniping,” she stated bluntly, “I’d rather a brawl or shootout any day.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” he joked, eliciting a grin from the gunnery chief.
Ash tore the top of a ration bar open. “How’d you get so good at it?” she started to chew on the bar.
“My dad. As soon as I was old enough to legally use a gun, he made me practice," he shook his head. "I hated it at the time. Though I have to admit, its proven… useful.”
“I’d say," she swallowed her mouthful. Ashley looked out over the edge of the canyon fondly. "When my dad was still alive he’d take me to the range every week.”
“Sounds like our fathers had a lot in common," he noted, before he gave her a wry look. "Did yours take you to abandoned warehouses on weekend mornings too?”
"Really?" Ashley found herself genuinely curious, her eyes still focused on the distant figures of the team, but her attention now largely on Garrus. "What did your father teach you there?"
"The importance of patience," Garrus replied, his mandibles clicking in a semblance of a nostalgic smile. He lowered his voice to attempt to imitate his father. "Turians value discipline. It's not just about pulling the trigger, it's about understanding why you're doing it."
Ashley snickered. "Sounds like your dad’s the life of a party."
Garrus shook his head, smiling. "And stubborn. Kind of like someone else I know," he added, glancing sideways at her.
"Who, me?" Ashley feigned surprise, an amused grin on her face as she placed a hand on her chest.
"No, I was talking about the other gunnery chief with a major stubborn streak," he chuckled, earning a hearty laugh from Ashley.
"Guess I walked right into that one," she conceded, her laughter fading into a contented sigh.
The camaraderie between the two wasn't something she ever would have been able to anticipate. She had been wary of aliens, of Garrus specifically. To think that she would be joking around with a Turian when only months before she had been… xenocautious… it still took her by surprise. But in a good way. What were the chances that the first crew who would ever accept her would be full of aliens?
Ashley didn’t care. She wouldn’t have it any other way.
Chapter 27: Competition
Summary:
A mercenary base provides the opportunity for Shepard and Garrus to start a competition that will last for a very long time.
Chapter Text
Bang.
Luke huffed as the bottles remained exactly where they stood before. Unfractured. "Sorry, sir."
"I told you to stop calling me that, son," Anderson ruffled his hair. "I'm on shore leave. I also told you to stop apologising."
"But I failed," Luke frowned.
Anderson shrugged, rose his pistol, fired, and missed. "So did I. Do I need to apologise to you?"
"I-" he tried to answer, furrowing his brow as he struggled to come up with a reply.
The officer lowered himself onto a knee to meet Luke's level. "Did anyone get hurt when you missed?"
"No," he mumbled uncertainly.
"Did you cause any damage?" Anderson pushed.
Luke didn't know where this was going. "No."
The older man gave him a warm smile. "Then there's no need to apologise. You're stronger than that. More importantly, you're not Canadian," he winked, making Luke laugh.
"Mom hates it when you things like that!" he grinned.
"Then its a good thing she isn't here to pull my ear," Anderson stood up again. "I can't remember the last time that woman laughed at one of my jokes."
Luke sighed, scrunching his nose. "It feels like I'm never going to get better at this."
Anderson snorted. "Son, if I could make it to where I am then you've got nothing to fear. I was at the bottom of the academy, nearly washed out of it more times than I can count." He sipped from his beer, looking out over the property they were staying at on Shanxi. "I didn't give up and neither should you, if you're serious about getting better at this. Heavens know why someone as young as you wants this."
"I-" Luke started. He looked at the pistol in his hands. "All the people on the extranet talk about is Mindoir. What happens if the Batarians attack when Lara and I are in one of the colonies?"
"You shouldn't have to worry about that," the older man grumbled. "The youth shouldn't concern themselves with war."
Luke shrugged. "That didn't stop the Batarians from abducting all those children."
"You're a good kid," he ruffled his long hair, making Luke huff.
"Thanks for not telling mom about this," he expressed his gratitude, knowing his mother would have likely grounded him for life if she ever found out.
The older man only smiled. "Let's try it again, son," Anderson clapped him on the back. "Raise you weapon, take aim." Luke did, dertermined to make the shot this time. "Good. Hold steady. Keep breathing. I know you can do this." Luke let out a breath he didn't realise he was holding. His hands began to steady as he focused on the bottle. "On my mark, son." He waited for Anderson to give the signal, unwilling to disappoint either the man or himself. "Fire!!"
Bang.
Luke grinned. “3-2.”
He could practically hear Garrus roll his eyes. “Lucky shot, Shepard.”
“I prefer ‘talented’, Vakarian,” he countered.
The Turian grunted and fired his sniper rifle again, dropping another merc in the distance. “Three all.”
Luke chuckled without lifting his eye from the scope. Garrus had been boasting about being the best sniper the Normandy would ever see, a statement Luke couldn’t let go by without challenge. The Normandy had pulled into the border regions of the traverse to probe Geth positions as the Alliance believed a major attack was imminent. That the ship just happened to arrive in range of a major mercenary base optimally suited to settling a competition of this nature was... purely coincidental. Any scuttlebutt relating to Luke planning this were just that. Scuttlebutt. And so what if Wrex, Butch, and Williams were slowly trekking through the valley to flank them, a move which guaranteed Shepard and Garrus the most amount of time to partake in their game? A mere… tactical oversight.
Not every operation could be perfectly planned, after all.
And so here they were perched, taking turns picking off the panicking mercenaries who were stupid enough to continue to patrol their highly exposed landing pad. The rules were clear: only a clear kill would count as a point. Both had missed two shots, both had clipped a merc, and both had now killed three mercs with clean headshots. Luke squeezed the trigger, but the merc he was aiming at flinched at the last second. The bullet instead hit his shoulder. He was about to swear before the mercenary stumbled and fell off the platform, plummeting to the surface below. It was a shit way to go. Though… “4-3.”
“What?” Garrus exclaimed.
“There’s no way he survived that,” he shrugged. “Point to me.”
“But it wasn’t your shot that killed him,” the Turian argued with a pointed talon. “It was the fall.”
“Bullshit," Luke retorted. "He fell because of my bullet.”
Garrus’ response was to fire again. Intentionally, the bullet hit the leg of another merc dumb enough to look over the edge after his fallen comrade, sending him spiralling directly after said fellow merc. “Four all.”
“That’s cruel,” he admonished, though it took a great deal of effort not to let his amusement become visible.
The Turian looked up from hi srifle. “What? I did exactly what you did!”
“I did it on accident,” he solemnly nodded, “you did it deliberately.”
They both shared a chuckle as Garrus shook his head. The last mercenary, as though knowing he was next in line, popped his head out of cover which placed him straight down the scope of his rifle. The set-up for a perfect shot. Luke's grin spread wider, eyes glinting with malevolent eagerness. If he made this shot, he'd win. He exhaled slowly, finger lightly brushing the trigger, ready to squeeze-
But then, without warning, his head snapped back and blood sprayed the air and he fell to the ground. For a brief moment, Luke could only blink, his heart sinking with disappointment. The shot hadn't been his.
“Unbelievable.” Garrus's exclamation had Luke swinging his rifle to the right. His gut twisted as he saw Butch, Wrex, and Williams casually stroll onto the platform. Butch was pretending to blow smoke off her pistol, the triumphant smirk on her face clear even at a distance.
Luke scowled, lowering his rifle. “I'm going to have another chat with her about stealing my points.”
Butch sauntered over to the mercenary's body and, without a second thought, fired another round into his skull. The sound echoed throughout the valley. As if to add insult to injury, she then waved at them and gave a cocky salute. She turned on her heel and led her team towards the main entrance of the building. He watched them disappear inside, shaking his head. He had lost the bet, not because of Garrus or even his own mistakes, but because of his sister. Luke sighed, placing his rifle on the ground.
Butch kicked the door open, a massive shit-eating grin practically splitting her face as she marched into the mercenary base. The heavy repeating rifle in her hands gave her more dopamine than a sugar-high on Christmas morning. The remaining mercs, the ones who'd been smart enough to hide inside rather than face the Luke and Garrus's sniper rifles, all spun towards her. Her grin widened. "Any of you sorry bastards want to surrender?"
She took the scrambling for weapons as a definite no. Laughing, she opened fire, spraying the room with bullets. Each shot caused the mercenaries to duck, scramble and shout in fear as they were caught with their pants down. As she kept up her barrage, Wrex charged past her, roaring with bloodlustful joy. There was a sickening crunch as he collided with a Turian mercenary, crushing the unfortunate alien against the wall with the sheer force of his bulk. The Turian slid to the floor but the Krogan was already looking forh is next opponent.
Williams took up a position at Butch's side, her rifle firing in short, controlled bursts. She was providing cover, watching Butch's back as the Aussie blasted away at the mercs with reckless abandon. It was clear to anyone watching that Butch was having the time of her life. "Is this all you've got?" Butch taunted, her voice carrying over the din of gunfire and the screams of wounded mercs. "Come on, put up a fight!"
“You’re crazy, LT,” Williams shouted, struggling to be heard over the cacophony Butch was causing, but she could see the smile on her squadmate’s face.
“I know, right?” she shot back, “Thought you could handle it though, chief.”
Williams gave her a wicked look. “Oh you want to see crazy?”
Butch watched with glee as the gunnery chief opened fire on the cheap lighting system above a pair of mercs, letting a torrent of searing electricity pour down onto them before finishing them off with a few bullets.
“Maybe you’re not so bad after all,” Butch conceded, still smiling, “You still got a long way to go before you beat Wrex.”
As if on cue, the Krogan fell off the building’s internal balcony with a roar, tackling a screaming Asari to the ground. It was safe to say she did not survive the fall.
Luke terminated the call from Butch. The mission was completed, Dantius’ operations would grind to a halt and he now had leverage on her sister, who would regret trying to use him to resolve what appeared to be a familial dispute. He was sure he could come up with an appropriate way to express his displeasure. As Butch and the others begun their march back to the ship, Luke spun to face his friend who was tinkering with his rifle. “So.”
“…So?” if Garrus was human he would have risen an eyebrow.
Luke crossed his arms. “Butch.”
“What about Butch?”
He gave his friend a highly unimpressed look. Garrus did not just say that to him. “She’s like a sister to me. Joins mom and I for family dinners, we go to each other’s events, she doesn’t let me out of her sight because she worries I’ll get kidnapped or shot, you get the idea," he waved himself off. "As a brother, I have one particular responsibility to her which I take very seriously,” he narrowed his eyes.
The Turian shifted his feet. “I don’t like where this is going.”
“It’s my job to vet potential… suiters," Luke continued almost accusingly. "Now sure, there had only been one bloke since Elysium who caught her interest, so it’s not something I’ve ever really had to do," he allowed before his face grew serious again. "Until now.”
“I really don’t like where this is going,” Garrus sighed.
Luke smirked menacingly and toyed with the pistol that was now in his hand. “Let me cut to the chase then. Everybody can see you two have a spark. You talk about her to your family, she talks about you to ours. Don’t get me wrong, I like you, Garrus," he promised. "You’re a great match for her. I actually feel a little bad having to ask this, but… what are your intentions with Butch?” He set down the pistol and picked up his sniper rifle, scoping out the now-empty base in the distance. “Are you willing to commit if she is? Are you fine if she doesn’t? I trust you more than I do most of my crew – hell, I consider you one of my best friends – but I just need some reassurance that you won’t hurt her.”
“You’re my friend too, Luke. I would never do anything to hurt either of you.” Garrus stood up as if to pace, before sitting down again and sighing. “I… I’ve never had a serious relationship. I didn’t fit in with the rest of the Turians at C-Sec. There was always casual stuff, but… Look, the point is, I don’t know what this is or what’s going to happen, but I promise I won’t hurt her.”
Luke nodded and turned to face the valley. That was good enough for him. Far as he was concerned, Garrus was free to proceed with whatever came next. “I trust you, Garrus. You’ll hear no complaints from me.” He clasped his hands behind his back and turned back to face the Turian with a heavy look. “There is one more thing. I’d like to ask a favour.”
“Shoot.”
“It feels like I’m spending more time at galas and meetings than on the front lines, but I am still leading a galactic manhunt for a rogue spectre hell-bent on bringing total extinction," he started wrly, before his face grew dark again. "If something happens to me… I need you to look after Butch for me. She hides it well but for too long it’s just been us two against the galaxy. Neither of us would take the loss of the other well… I’m more worried about Lara, but I’m still working on that. For now, I’d feel better knowing-”
“Luke.” The commander ceased his rambling and moved his gaze that had shifted to the ground back up to the Turian. “I’m honoured you’d ask. You have my word.”
He reached out to grab Garrus' arm and shake it before a wide grin split across his face. "Really, you're doing me a huge favour."
The Turian frowned. "And why's that?"
"I can barely hold her back on my own," he began to chuckle. "That woman is absolutely feral."
The door of the Normandy hissed open, the platform lowering to reveal Butch, Wrex, and Williams. The gunnery chief brushed past Garrus, dust and ash visible on her face. "I'm off for a shower," she muttered, looking a bit worse for wear.
Luke followed Wrex, murmuring something about an Asari and Omega. Garrus' mandibles twitched with curiosity, but he decided he didn't want to know more. That left him alone with Butch in the Normandy's hold, staring at a huge amount of equipment they had brought back from the battle.
Garrus was already hauling a crate when Butch approached him, her smirk still firmly in place. “Need a hand, Vakarian?”
She looked playful, which was - as always - equally worrying as it was exciting. The flirting was harmless and friendly, the kind where both parties were interested but neither was quite ready to make a serious move. They were both hesitant to change or break this dynamic they had spent the last months building. If either were a bit more emotionally adept, they might have realised that their subconscious fear of failure was holding them back from what they both so obviously wanted.
“I thought you’d be off celebrating your victory," he returned, the smirk audible in his voice.
She responded with a chuckle and spread her arms out wide. "Can't leave you to do all the work, can I?"
They worked in a comfortable silence, their conversation filled with teasing jabs and compliments. As they shifted the crates, Butch started regaling him with the tale of their previous battle, boasting about it all, especially her opening kills. He knew (he really did) that Butch had intentionally turned their game into a draw. Luke was not pleased.
“You should have seen the look on their faces," she laughed, her eyes shining with the thrill of the fight, "Priceless. I reckon at least one of them shat ‘emself on the spot”
Despite the brusqueness of her words, the human was practically giddy as she eloquently recited it all in extreme detail. Her eyes glistened and he couldn’t help but be drawn in by her animatic theatrics. She gestured with her hands, feigned moments of emotion, and giggled profusely. In another life, she could have been an actress. "Always a show-off, aren't you?" he teased. But it wasn't a criticism. Far from it. And Butch, with a wink and a smirk, simply nodded.
"You know it, Vakarian." She looked at her omni-tool and frowned. “Bullshit.”
Interested, Garrus rested his arms on a crate and leaned towards her. “What is it?”
“Luke's assigned me the after-mission report as I apparently was ‘squad leader’," she sneered. "That son of a bitch!”
Garrus turned so that she wouldn't see his grin. “I’d offer to offer to help but I’ll be busy sorting this for hours.”
“Useless, the lot of you.” She shook her head and began walking away. “Oh, and Gar?”
“Hm?”
“You both got four, right? I got nine. Try to keep up next time.”
Flicking her hair back, she spun and walked into the ship, leaving Garrus staring with a slightly open mouth at her.
Chapter 28: Vinculum
Summary:
Liara and Shepard sort through reports, but the reports are rather boring
Notes:
I'm finally biting the bullet and uploading this scene. Now I'm new to writing this sort of thing but I hope I've done a good enough job. We'll be right back into the swing of things in but a moment!
Chapter Text
Within the confines of Luke's quarters Liara sat on the plush couch next to him, their shoulders brushing in a comfortable intimacy. A half-empty bottle of Terminus red she had imported all the way from Illium sat on the low table in front of them. Its contents glowed warmly in the muted cabin light, casting an ruby shade over the unread reports scattered around them. They were due to dock in Arcturus for another round of meetings and breifs and the commander wanted to get through as much as possible before they docked. Liara paused, her fingers stilled on the datapad screen. Her eyes lifted from the walls of text to study Luke's profile. He turned to look at her, a smile teasing the edges of his mouth. “Luke? Might we delay this busywork a moment longer?”
“Sure," he stretched his arms. "What’s going on?”
“Oh nothing, it is just that it has been quite a while since we have simply chatted," she assured him. "We have been so busy recently.”
“Absolutely." He smiled, placing the datapad down with visible relief. "That might be the best idea you’ve had all day. Though you did resolve that hostage situation with those biotics earlier…”
She raised a single finger to cut him off. “No work talk for the next half hour.”
“Ma’am yes ma’am,” he saluted with a cheeky grin. “So what’s on your mind?”
“I have been curious. What led you to join the Alliance?" she asked. "I did some… investigating, and it seemed you had rather good marks and were extended offers for several prestigious universities.” He raised a brow, either due to being impressed or upset. Possible both. “I did not mean to pry,” she quickly (and meekly) added in, “I merely-”
He gave her a dismissing wave. “If you found it then it probably wasn’t that well-hidden. Yeah I had a few opportunities. Not as much as Lara mind you, but I definitely could have gone down another path. The University of Arusha was enticing," he hummed, swirling his drink. "But Lara didn’t want to study. She struggled with… decision making. That’s probably not the best way to explain it.” He scratched the back of his head as he searched for words. “Lara’s different. She found it hard to create and stick to long-term plans. It was always easier to depend on others for guidance. Until we graduated high school she picked all the same classes as me, joined the sports teams I was on, and even joined the one school play I was forced into even though it was so far out of her comfort zone,” he smiled fondly.
Liara placed a hand on his arm softly, encouraging him to continue.
“Mom was nearly always away on mission. We didn’t mind, we were fine on our own. It was her and me, the Shepard Twins. Nothing could stop us.” He accentuated this with a shake of the fist and a brief spike in passion before relaxing back into the chair. “Until the Alliance recruitment presentation. Lara was so enthralled by the order and organisation the troopers had. They looked powerful. Content. They had a path. For the first time, Lara had something she really wanted to aspire to. She wanted to join the Alliance, become a soldier, have that stability and order the troopers had." His face fell. "I should have stopped it then.”
He sighed deeply and gave her a sad smile. Liara began berating herself. What was supposed to be lovely little chat had turned into a recollection of one of Luke's most painful memories.
“But I didn’t. I was so happy she finally had a… a true ambition. I threw my university offers out right when she did to sign up alongside her. There was no way I was going to let her go alone. Nothing would keep us apart. Anderson pulled strings, got us assigned to the same academy, then the same task force," his voice began to grow tight. "Everything was going well until… Torfan.”
“It sounds like you two were close," she noted, trying to alleviate the conversation. "Your bond was special.”
“Two peas in a pod, that was us,” he chuckled. “I never dated back then. Lara scared all the girls off,” a slight smirk crawled up his face.
“Good,” Liara stated before realising with horror (at the second raise of an amused eyebrow) at what she had said. “I-I-I- simply meant in the sense that you could focus on your studies.” Luke started laughing.
“What about you?” he graciously diverted. “Got any boys at home waiting for you? Or girls. More likely girls, being Asari," he corrected himself with a shake of the head. "Got any girls waiting at home for you?”
“Goddess, no,” she laughed. The very notion was rather amusing. “Between my busy schedule and my… eccentricities, I am afraid I am not, as you say, ‘girlfriend material’.”
“I find that hard to believe.” He took another sip from his wine while she furrowed her brow.
“Really?” For a single moment she criticised herself for such an ineloquent reply, but her curiosity quickly overruled her self-deprecation.
“Sorry if this is too forward, but…” the human struggled with his words, appearing awkward for what may be the first time ever in front of her. “You are a catch.”
Disappointment. “I am aware my physical looks are considered to be somewhat attractive, but it is the rest of me which is typically considered to be unsuitable for a relationship,” she clarified.
“But that’s the part I’m talking about!" Luke quickly countered her. " You’re kind, funny, and sweet. You’re extremely smart. And you’re passionate about the things that fascinate you.”
“You don’t think I’m obsessed?” she was almost afraid to ask.
The commander actually laughed at that. “There’s nothing wrong with following your passions. Butch’ll tell you how much I can ramble about history. It’s what makes you interesting.”
Liara straightened her back a little and tilted her head slightly. “You find me… interesting?”
The corner of his mouth twitched slightly as he figured out the best way to continue. “Yes. I could spend the rest of this trip explaining it to you, but just trust me when I say I definitely do find you interesting.”
Her face flushed a darker shade of purple than had ever happened in her life before. She could feel her face warm dramatically. “I find you interesting too.” Keep it together T’Soni!!
“I'm glad to hear it.” He placed a hand around her shoulder and – where her lab coat failed to reach – his skin made contact with hers. Goddess, goddess, goddess, goddess, godd… “Are you alright, Blue?”
“I- I am well,” she managed, “I am sorry, I am not used to… well… to being touched.”
Luke looked slightly confused for but a moment before catching on. His eyes widened and he moved his arm away extremely quickly with a gasp. “I am so sorry Liara, I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable I was just- damn it," he chastised himself. "I’m the last person who should have made a mistake like that with someone who’s touch-averse. Twenty-seven years with Lara and I couldn’t pick up on the-”
“Luke!” she interrupted, yanking him out of his cyclic self-recrimination.
He gave her a pained look. “I’m so-”
“Luke. I’m ok.” As if to accentuate her point she placed a hand on either side of his face, holding him steady. He calmed down and held her gaze, though she could see a dejected sadness in his eyes. “You make me feel safe.”
His sigh of relief might have been comical had the situation not been so serious. Luke placed his left hand over hers and took a deep breath. She could tell that he understood just how deep those words had been. If his sister was anything like her – and it sounded like she was even more touch averse, as he said – then Luke would appreciate the trust and value she placed in him. To further prove her point, Liara, with no lack of nervousness, grabbed his hand and lifted it to her face. He tensed briefly, entirely apprehensive about potentially violating such a barrier, but a soft squeeze was enough to assuage him and he capitulated.
They sat there for countless moments, staring into each other’s eyes. Each second brought their faces a little bit closer together. Each second closed the distance between them a little bit more. Anticipation and wanting possessed her. There was a clatter as a pile of poorly stacked datapads gave and fell over but even that couldn’t interrupt this intimate moment.
Immersed in the silence, Liara became acutely aware of the vanishing space between them. Unconsciously, she found herself mesmerised by his features, tracing the rugged lines of his face, the piercing intensity of his eyes. Her gaze lowered, drawn to the firm curve of his lips, then back to his eyes, back and forth like a pendulum.
There was a magnetic pull that was drawing them closer until their breaths mingled, until there was no space left to be claimed. His hand gently cradled her face, the touch sending warm thrills through her. The height difference was lost in their proximity. She could feel her heart thudding erratically. This was a feeling she was quite unaccustomed to but there was no fear or anxiety. A curiosity took hold of her and she found herself reaching out, her hand moving to his chest. Her fingertips pressed gently, feeling the steady beat of his heart. It was, as she hoped, just as chaotic as her own.
Feeling emboldened by this discovery, Liara let her hand trail up his chest to hook around the nape of his neck, pulling him closer. The anticipation was almost too much to bear. The world outside, with all its troubles and uncertainties, ceased to exist. For now, it was just them.
And then it happened.
Liara closed the little distance they had left and she pressed her lips against his.
Her heart fluttered in her chest as she closed her eyes and leant in. It was soft. Cautious. As her lips brushed against his, she could taste the lingering notes of the Terminus red they had shared earlier.It felt intoxicating, but she soon felt a twinge of uncertainty as she registered Shepard's surprise and hesitancy. His lack of immediate response made her heartbeat quicken in a sudden onslaught of anxiety. Her heart began to thump loudly in her chest – was she doing it wrong? Was this not what he wanted? Had she made a terrible mistake? She was about to pull away, about to retreat and run away, when she felt him stir.
Luke moved slowly, cautiously. He leaned into her, reciprocating her passion with a gentle but assertive push of his lips against hers. His was more experienced and she could feel the intimacy and warmth flooding through her in waves. His fingers found the back of her neck, pulling her closer as his lips moved against hers. His other hand found its way to her waist, holding her steady.
Liara found herself responding to his advances, her initial fear and apprehension being swept away by the wave of emotions crashing over her. She let her body relax against his, her tension melting away under his careful touch. Time seemed to lose all meaning, the minutes blurred into one long moment. The rest of the universe faded away leaving only the two of them. The outside world with its troubles and challenges ceased to exist, all thoughts of duty simply vanished. They pulled away. They looked into each others open eyes.
And then they did it again.
And one more time. For good measure.
They sat in comfortable silence, hugging each other, neither willing to be the first to speak. Weeks of incremental intimacy led up to this and even now both Luke and Liara seemed nervous to damage what they had built. There was only so long that such a silence could persist, however, and it was Luke who was the one to break it. “Is this…” he gestured between the two of them, “something you want to explore?”
“Goddess, yes,” she answered quickly, eliciting a chuckle from the man embracing her. It was a verbal commitment. Vague, but a commitment nonetheless. They could figure out specifics later. But while they were here… “I have a… confession to make.” Luke squeezed her gently, encouraging her to go on. “There was another reason I did not want you to bond with Shiala on Feros.”
He sighed, looking guilty. “Because…” he filled in, “it’s usually an intimate gesture between an Asari and her partner.”
She smiled. “Yes. I wanted your first meld to be with me.”
He looked even guiltier. “Liara… I have a confession to make as well.”
"Oh," she stated quietly.
“I’ve melded before. This… this wouldn’t be my first.” He finally met her eyes and must have seen her turmoil. “I’m sorry, Blue, I should have said something earlier-”
“No, no… you do not have to apologise,” she chuckled ruefully, “You have done nothing wrong. I have always been a b-bit of a hopeless romantic. I read too many romance novels and watched too many vids. I should have known this was a possibility.”
“It, er, there’s more,” he awkwardly scratched the back of his head. If it was possible to explode from embarrassment, it looked like Luke would have done so. “On my first mission after Torfan I took a lot of missions in the Terminus systems. Batarians took my sister away from me so I…" a flash of regret crossed his face before disappearing. "Anyway, I was on Omega on a quick vacation,” he said the word ‘vacation’ in a way that implied it was not as such. “My reputation got me into a few fights until I ended being dragged into Afterlife by a group of Krogan. They through me in front of Aria and-”
“Aria T’Loak?” she gasped.
“That’s the one,” he scratched his head again.
“Was it… serious?” Liara pushed, doing her best not to let her curiosity take over the situtaion at hand.
“Yes,” he admitted with great hesitancy, “technically we’re still bonded by Omega law.” As Liara’s eyes widened he quickly moved to reassure her. “It’s not recognised by anywhere else, and I promise there’s no problem. I’ve spoken to Aria at length. In, er, anticipation of this.”
Though she was feeling a swirl of emotions, she felt warm at the thought that Shepard had been interested enough in her to prematurely confront the self-proclaimed ‘Pirate Queen of Omega’. “So,” she paused, taking a sip from her wine, “do I need to worry about a jealous Asari pseudo-warlord assassinating me?”
“No,” he laughed, “I can say that with certainty. You have nothing to worry about.”
If Luke said there wouldn’t be a problem, she believed him. She trusted him. Everything was going to be fine. No, she corrected, everything was going to be perfect.
Chapter 29: X57
Summary:
Only luck leaves the Normandy close enough to Asteroid X57 to have a chance to prevent a genocide
Notes:
Thank you so much everybody! I was rather nervous uploading the last chapter but the reception has been extremely positive! I read every single review, and every one so far has brought a smile to my face :)
Chapter Text
Guilily, Luke had always enjoyed his dress blues. As much as he tried to pretend like he hated the over-the-topness that the Alliance threw his way at every opportunity it could, dressing up sharply always took him right back to the day he, Lara, and Butch graduated the academy. Over his seven years in service a lot had happened, but the uniform always put him right back in that moment. Today, for example, he had spent the better part of the day on Terra Nova. He'd shaken hands with entrepreneurs and planetary leaders across the capital city. They'd gathered to celebrate the opening of several new mines and refineries expected to boost the planet’s economy significantly. Luke made a few speeches, posed for pictures - he'd even cut open a ribbon, which was a tradition he genuinely had believed nobody still followed.
The Normandy had just peeled away from Terra Nova's gravitational hold. Back on board, his duty hadn't stopped. Official statements for the media hounds were drawn up and reports to Alliance brass were dispatched. Only then did the day began to quiet. Luke unbuttoned the top two buttons of his uniform jacket, slumping into the comfortable couch Anderson had left behind. Thank goodness for small favours.
But just as he was sinking into the comfort of solitude – and a glass of whiskey – the comm system in his room began to buzz, shattering the silence. He groaned. The day, it seemed, was not quite done with him yet. “Commander Shepard. We have a situation,” Luke's eyes widened as Hackett's face materialised in front of him and he quickly stood to attention. Immediately he thought he was about to receive another pseudo-black-ops mission, but the look on the admiral’s face indicated otherwise. “I need you to turn your ship around and return to the Asgard System. We just received a scattered distress signal from Asteroid X57. We have a major mining operation planned for it and have been moving the asteroid into orbit with Terra Nova. According to this signal, hostiles have seized control of the jets and shifted course towards the planet.”
Luke lowered his head and nodded. There were over four million people on that planet. How many would die in the blast radius? How many would die from the shockwave? The consequences of an asteroid colliding with a small planet were too disturbing to hesitate. “Joker!” he shouted at the intercom. “Turn this ship around and get us to X57, now!”
“The ninth fleet is moving to support, but we doubt it will arrive in time," Hackett explained grimly. "You’re our best bet, Shepard.”
He nodded. “I won’t let you down, sir. With your permission, sir, I need to prepare for the mission.”
“Godspeed, commander,” the admiral terminated the clall.
Butch moved quickly down the corridor, rifle tucked close and ready. She ducked behind cover as another burst of gunfire peppered the metal walls around her. “Anytime today, lieutenant!” she barked back, firing blind to keep the Batarians pinned.
Alenko grimaced, distracted. “Yeah, working on it,” he muttered. A biotic warp arced sluggishly past her, shattering the enemy’s cover but lacking his usual finesse.
She spared him a glance, eyebrows knitted. “Keep your head here, LT!”
“I’m here,” he insisted, shaking his head clear.
To her right, Wrex let out a bark of laughter. “Less talk, more bodies!” he roared, stepping out boldly into the open and leveling his weapon at the advancing Batarians. Butch ducked again as another wave of fire surged. She saw Williams moving swiftly, gracefully lobbing grenades towards their marks.
“Ha!” Ashley’s voice rang clear. “Eat that, assholes!” The subsequent explosion rattled the corridor, Ashley whooping in triumph.
A hulking Batarian stomped into view, weapon raised. Wrex squared off immediately, snarling fiercely. “Got a big one!” Butch warned.
Wrex merely grunted. “He’s mine.” Gunfire echoed in the tight space. Butch leveled her rifle, covering Wrex without interfering in his duel. After a brief storm of shots, the Batarian toppled, landing heavily onto the deck plating. “Mine,” Wrex confirmed, satisfaction in his gravelly tone.
She checked her ammo and glanced down the hallway towards Engine Two’s control room. “Still a ways to go,” she called out. “Ammo check.”
“Good,” Ashley answered instantly. Wrex gave a noncommittal grunt.
“Kaidan?” Butch turned her head slightly, wary.
“Yeah, good,” Alenko replied quietly, voice slightly more confident than before as he wiped his forehead. He took a breath and met her eye firmly. “Let’s keep going.”
“Right,” Butch nodded, slamming a fresh thermal clip into place. She pressed forward again, staying low she moved. Every few steps she snapped off quick bursts at distant shadows, making sure to keep their enemies cautious. The hallway ahead was narrow and littered with scrap metal and damaged plating - it was the perfect place for an ambushe. “We push hard,” Butch ordered. “Don’t give them time to regroup.”
“Music to my ears,” Wrex chuckled darkly, his shotgun cocked in rhythm with his steps.
Ashley fell into stride with them, breathing quick but controlled. “Bet we clear the next room in under a minute,” she quipped, a tight grin flashing beneath her visor.
Butch couldn't help but smirk. “What’s the wager?”
“Double or nothing from last time,” Ashley shot back instantly.
“You're already in the hole from that mess on Sharjila,” Butch reminded her lightly.
“All the more reason to win,” she replied, eyes glinting with anticipation.
A distant growl echoed from the corridor ahead, signaling another wave. Butch raised a closed fist, halting the squad as they dropped into a ready stance. She looked briefly to Alenko again. “You good?”
His jaw tightened, eyes set with determination. “I said I'm fine.”
Butch held his gaze a moment longer, then nodded sharply. “Alright then. Let's earn Ash her credits.”
Shepard led the way, weapon raised. Garrus and Liara followed suit on either side of him with Tali protecting their rear. Everyone expected a fight as vicious as the one they found at Engine One, and the one Delta Squad reported from Engine Two. Garrus considered himself to be a fairly open-minded Turian. He got along well with the humans despite their very recent conflict and was even willing to work with some of the Krogan. The Batarians, however, were another matter.
Garrus struggled to associate much positivity with their sorry excuse for a galactic civilisation. They were the only species to maintain slavery as a governmental institute, and worse than that it was an institution which was a critical part of their economy and society. It revolted him. His feelings towards Batarians went from disgust to pity and sympathy. As much as he despised their way of life, he couldn’t ignore the fact that not every Batarian supported it. Garrus mentally corrected himself, the majority of Batarians were likely a victim of it.
Fingers on their triggers, the four of them cleared the antechamber and entered the main room. What was inside of this torch station was not what any of them had expected – or hoped four. A pile of Terminus-produced firearms lay off to the side of a large group of both Batarians and very much alive humans. One Batarian, the one who’s unique reddish armour made him appear as their leader, noticed their arrival and ordered the rest to raise their hands. “Commander Shepard," he greeted them solemnly. "I am Charn, these are my men. I have two men in the control room with one of the human engineers who are trying to revert the trajectory of the asteroid and avoid collision. We surrender to your custody.”
For a very tense moment the crew of the Normandy held still. The humans appeared unharmed and the Batarians appeared unarmed. Garrus’s mandibles twitched in unease. "He's telling the truth," one of the humans stepped in. "They killed two of their own men when they tried to kill us!"
“All we ask,” the Batarians continued, “is that you consider all the evidence when processing us. We want a fair trial. Balak lied and manipulated us into what we thought was a mission of liberating prisoners of war. My men and I were just slaves. Cannon fodder," his face curled into what might be a sneer. "Alliance prison would be less cruel.”
“Charn,” Shepard stated bluntly, “there is a very likely chance that your actions are the only reason the asteroid hasn’t hit Terra Nova yet. You could have let it strike the planet and returned home as heroes. Why didn’t you?”
“Those of us from the lower castes would do just about anything to get out of it. Balak promised us salvation and riches, but still, this is too much,' he shook his head. "We refuse to murder, torture, and genocide. We've had enough,” he proclaimed.
“Why?” Garrus interjected. Bewilderment finally outweighed his patience.
The Batarian's face flashed with anger. “Because we aren’t monsters! I know my kind has been at odds with yours since you entered galactic society, but you know as much as I do that neither side is entirely evil. No matter how much the propaganda may say." A shockingly good point. "Let us surrender to you, serve our time, and emerge as free men and women.”
Garrus examined Luke's face. He was in thought, processing, formulating a plan. The Turian had become quite familiar with the commander’s mannerisms and tells over the last few months, but he couldn’t read what was going through his head right now. Similarly, Liara and Tali stood awkwardly off to the side, positioned to intervene if things went south. As awkward and unnatural as it felt, though, Garrus suspected it would not be going south at all.
“All right Charn. Here’s my terms," Luke holstered his weapon. "You and your team will help us break into the command centre. Once Balak is dealt with and the asteroid has been cleared, you will surrender into my custody. Spectre custody," he clarified. "I will personally testify on all of your behalf to get you the best deal I can manage. Do you accept?”
“You?" the Batarian nearly scoffed. "Commander Shepard? You’d testify for us?”
Garrus, Tali, and Liara practically all stared at the commander at the same time. This mission just keeps getting better and better…
“Is that so hard to believe?” Luke countered.
Charn made a noise that could have been a snort. “Your family is well-known throughout the hegemony.” While vague, all in the room could read between the lines enough to know what that meant. One Shepard was the Hero of Elysium. Another was the Butcher of Torfan. Their mother was one of the most decorated officers in the navy, and their adopted sister was perhaps one of the few humans in the Alliance whose kill count rivaled theirs.
Luke's lip quirked. “You said it yourself, neither of us is stupid enough to believe the propaganda.”
“Hh…" Charn gruffed approvingly. "Very well, commander, we shall do as you say. What is the plan?”
Luke could feel the cold gaze of the Batarians around the atrium. They whispered between each other, almost not believing that they could have been so successful as to capture him alive. He and Garrus had ‘fallen into the clutches’ of Charn and his men, pretending to be prisoners in a gambit to edge closer to their true target without risking the lives of the hostages.
Their wrists were bound in steel restraints, but the clamps had been unlocked for a swift release. Beneath their composed faces they were ready to unleash hell at the slightest signal, but the wait was excruciating. The Batarians stalked behind them, poking them with their weapons as if Shepard and Garrus were true captives. Liara had been vehemently against this risky venture - throwing Luke into the lion's den did not sit well with her - but he saw no other way to liberate the hostages from Balak. While he hated the idea nearly as much as she did, he couldn’t go in gun’s blazing and risk innocent lives.
So while Luke and Garrus played their part, Liara and Tali were being escorted by the remainder of Charn's men around the outer rim of the room. They were moving to disengage the bombs and sabotage as many drones as they could. With a harsh shove to Shepard's shoulder, Charn brought the act home, manoeuvring him directly before the architect of this madness. Balak looked like an average Batarian, save for an empty socket where an eye should have been. “Ha! Look at you,” Balak sneered, “the Hero of Elysium! You’ve done well Charn. Far better than I could even hope. You shall return to the Hegemony not as a slave but as a Lieutenant,” he promised, not taking his eyes off Luke.
He fixed Balak with his worst scowl. It wasn’t hard to look furious when you were, well, furious. “You really think this changes anything?” he growled.
Balak’s face contorted into something distructing. “Changes anything? You humans started this war," he accused. "You encroach on our territories, steal our colonies, slaughter our people, and then have the audacity to call it progress. You call yourself a hero, Shepard, but from where I stand you look more like a butcher.”
Luke’s jaw tightened. “I don’t slaughter civilians, Balak. You’re not fighting a war, you’re just killing innocents. You're a terrorist.”
“Innocent?” Balak spat the word out, contempt dripping from his tone. “There are no innocent humans. Every colonist you bring to our border is another nail in our coffin. You think you can just spread across the stars unchecked?” he rose a hand angrily.
“You’re deranged, Balak,” Luke shot back. “You sound like a madman.”
Balak's face twitched. “Is it mad to love your people? You killed my brother on Elysium, your sister killed my mother on Torfan, and my father shot himself rather than live in the galaxy you created! Do you have anything left to say, human, before I put a bullet in your worthless skull and parade your corpse through the streets of Khar’shan?” he boomed.
Luke schooled his features and tilted his chin up. “This is your last chance to surrender. I’m authorised to use deadly force to eliminate terrorist threats to the Alliance. Drop your weapon.”
The Batarian scoffed. “Bah, a waste of words. How fittin-”
The tense silence that had swallowed the room was suddenly shattered by the crisp clink of Shepard's restraints hitting the floor. Balak, who was right up in his face, fell to the floor as Luke knocked him out with one punch. And then the room exploded into chaos.
“…nother thanks to Commander Luke Shepard, who personally stopped a Batarian terrorist attack on Asteroid X57 which would have killed over one million people. What’s more, not only did he liberate the human hostages without a single death, but the Commander managed to save a number of Batarian slaves who put their lives on the line to apprehend their leader, Furr’l Balak. After the Commander personally testified on behalf of our new Batarian allies, Governor Caruso granted them a full pardon and citizenship on Terra Nova. This only goes to show that every species has something to contribute. This is Lane Appleby, ANN. Have a gr-”
Lara shut her terminal off with a heavy sigh, plunging her small cabin back into silence. She wasn’t even angry, though she knew she should be. Weeks ago, she'd have thrown something - gone to the shooting range, maybe. But now she didn't even feel that spark of rage. She found herself feeling less and less of anything these days. She felt hollow. Alone, Lara rarely left her quarters anymore unless absolutely necessary. Her life had become a rather pathetic cycle of exhaustion and detachment broken only by replays of old family videos and long conversations with Not-Luke. “I’m surprised,” the apparition remarked gently, voice carrying that familiar teasing edge she remembered from childhood. “I thought you’d lose it at the idea of the real me running around saving Batarians instead of slaughtering them.”
She sighed again, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “I don’t know anymore. It’s too confusing.” The words came out tired.
Not-Luke’s expression softened and he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. The weight wasn’t real, she logically knew that, but it still felt grounding. It still felt reassuring. “It doesn’t have to be, Lar.”
Lara shook her head slowly, eyes closed, as if trying to clear the muddled thoughts swirling through her mind. “I just-” she began, her voice edged with frustration, then stopped herself, groaning quietly. “Can we please talk about something else? This is making my head hurt.”
The aparition hesitated, watching her quietly for a second before relenting. “Tell me about the Third Russian Civil War.”
She rolled her eyes in a reflex that managed to momentarily cut through the numbness. “You already know everything about it.”
“Only because it’s your favourite period of history,” he replied, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “Go on, it’s been ages since you’ve run me through it.”
Lara felt something shift in her chest, a tiny flicker of something warm and familiar. She couldn’t help it. He always knew how to drag her back from the brink, even when he wasn’t really there. She turned in her chair, meeting his eyes with a fragile echo of the what they’d shared as children. “Ok,” she said softly, clasping her hands in her lap. “What year should we start in?”
“Thank you, Commander," Charn gripped his forearm firmly. "My men and I owe you our lives. You are the first to show us mercy in a long time.”
"Think nothing of it," Luke shook right back, nodding his head in respect. “Everyone deserves it.”
An unreadable look crossed hi sface. “You believe… all Batarians deserve better?”
Luke didn't try to hide his displeasure. “No one deserves to be a slave. I’d fight the hegemony myself if it wouldn’t start a galactic war,” he grumbled.
“Hh. You are a man of honour and virtue," Charn praised him. "Shepard, I would like to make a request.”
“After all the lives you’ve saved? Name it,” he smiled.
“My people and I wish to follow you. We wish for you to become our Var’Shan, our Warlord," he explained. "You speak of justice for all my people. We desire to fight the Hegemony. This will take time. Under your guidance, we will move to the Terminus systems to begin preparing for the Liberation,” Charn stated confidently. He really was willing to wage war against his own people.
Luke nodded his head slowly. He wasn’t certain about having others swear themselves to him, but if Liara could make that choice then so could he. Once this mess with Saren was over, perhaps he could dedicate more effort and resources to this liberation. “I accept.”
“Then we are ready," they all bowed at a slight angle. "We are your Var’Da, your faithful. Who would you have as your Voice in your absence?”
“Charn," he barely kept his face serious, "we both know I’m picking you.”
For perhaps the first time, the Batarian truly smiled. “Very well. Then I will be your Var’Del. Thank you again Commander. We leave tonight for Omega.”
“I’ll place a few calls for you," he promised. "I have friends in the area who will help.” The Batarians all pounded their chest – their version of a salute – and turned to leave. Luke watched them walk towards the city where their shuttles awaited them.
Chapter 30: Contingency
Summary:
All the little things that seem boring are actually super important. Plus Shepard get's an anonymous tip.
Chapter Text
The woods of Altai were silent. Katherina hated the outdoors. It was cold. It was bright. The snow was too deep. She was uncomfortable. Her gloves were too large. She hadn’t grown into them yet. Petrovsky walked ahead silently. The thick military coat he wore seemed too thin for this climate, yet he moved with his hands tucked neatly behind his back as if this were merely another day on the job. He didn’t shiver. He never shivered. He was everything she wished she could be - powerful, confident, strong.
Invincible.
“You’re limping,” he noted without turning around.
“I’m not,” she insisted despite knowing very well that he was correct. After her last altercation with h̷͙́̑ͅë̶͓́ ̴̮̪̀j̷̦̫̑ǧ̴͖s̶̮̉ĩ̵̯͐g̸̲̪͒f̸̞̿f̸̰͉̀̾ her father she had... she hadn't exactly emerged cleanly. She was weak.
He tutted. “You’re favouring your right foot again,” seeing straight through her.
She paused. “The boots are tight.”
“Then take them off.”
“I’ll freeze,” she complained.
Petrovsky pared her a slight glance, just long enough to see the look on his face. “Then walk properly,” he growled back.
Katherina kept her features neutral. “Yes, sir.”
They passed under a tree covered in frost. The sun was beginning to dip past the ridge in the distance, casting long shadows that stretched like reaching hands across the snow. Petrovsky finally halted. He extended a hand without looking. She placed the small ocular in his palm. He brought the scope to his eye and surveyed the ridge. “There,” he said, passing it back. “Do you see it?”
She took the scope and scanned slowly. “No.”
“Tree line. Southern slope," he clipiped. "Follow the contour, then shift ten degrees east.”
She did.
Then she saw it. A young deer, tall but thin. Its antlers were uneven, one side stunted. It drank slowly from the frozen stream. There were no other animals in sight. “Why not just shoot it from here?” she asked.
Petrovsky finally turned to face her, the faintest smirk on his face. “Because this is not about killing a deer.” She furrowed her brow. He moved beside her and knelt in the snow. “The animal is irrelevant. What matters is the method. If we take it now, we risk missing or alerting others. But if we guide it…” He reached into his coat and produced a small, round beacon. “We place these along its possible exits. Limit the terrain. Keep pressure from behind. Eventually, it will take the path we leave open.” He pointed to a nearby ridge. “There.”
“You’re corralling it,” she stated, hoping to impress him with her deductions.
“I'm shaping the battlefield,” he corrected. “Victory is not seizing an opportunity, it is creating one. Control the terrain, dictate the tempo, and your enemy makes the fatal mistake of thinking they had a choice.” Katherina nodded slowly. “Come,” he said, rising to his feet again. “Let’s trap the poor bastard.”
They spent the next thirty minutes planting the devices. No words passed between them. Katherina followed his movements precisely. She mirrored his stride, studying where he placed each emitter and how he laid the scent-masking powder. When he handed her the last one, he watched her carefully as she buried it beneath the snow. “Well done,” he said. It was rare praise. She flushed slightly, embarrassed by her reaction. By the time they returned to the vantage point, the deer had moved. Petrovsky checked the new coordinates. “Still within the zone. Good.” He gestured for her to take the rifle.
She hesitated.
He noticed.
“You will not always have me by your side, Katherina,” he said darkly.
Katherina sighed. “I know.”
“Then act like it.” He folded his arms. “You want to be stronger than them, don’t you?” She didn’t respond, making him step closer. “How do you expect to kill your family if you can’t even kill a pathetic animal?”
She winced.
He waited.
“I just-” she muttered, “It’s alive.”
“So are they,” Petrovsky snapped. “Your mother. Your father. They’re alive too. Should I kill them for you, Katherina? Or will you finally grow into the person I know you can be? Sieze your destiny,” he growled.
She clenched her jaw. Her hand curled tighter around the rifle. He saw it. He said nothing.
She breathed once. Then again.
And then Katherina moved.
By the time the deer turned its head, she was already halfway down the ridge. Petrovsky didn’t call after her. He waited, silent, arms behind his back, until she returned.
She dragged the carcass behind her, blood seeping across the snow in dark lines.
He raised a brow. “You didn’t shoot it.”
“No.”
He paused. “Explain.”
“I stabbed it. It was cleaner.”
“Was it?” he asked.
Katherina didn’t reply.
Petrovsky walked forward and looked down at the wound. Then at her. “And did you feel stronger?”
“No.”
“But did you hesitate?”
“Only for a second.”
“Then there’s hope for you yet.” He removed one glove and rested a heavy hand on her shoulder. “This pain you carry will not go away, Katherina. Nor should it. Let it shape you. Let it carve the vessel you were meant to become. The universe does not reward decency, it rewards control.”
“Then why don’t you just take me?” she blurted suddenly. “Why don’t you just kill them and take me away? You’re already more of a father than he's ever been.”
For once, Petrovsky didn’t have an immediate answer.
He looked to the distant snow-covered horizon and allowed a long silence before answering. “Because without pain, there is no transformation. You must crawl through the fire yourself, child. You must know the depths of your rage. When the day of reckoning comes, it will be you who ends them. Not me.”
She looked down at the dead animal between them.
“Why?”
He turned back toward the path. “Because that will be the moment the galaxy learns your name.”
They walked in silence back toward the transport. Her gloves were still too big.
But this time, she didn’t limp.
Frederick lay limp on the couch, totally asleep, his head laying in her lap. He was still dressed in his semi-formal wear from their brief trip to the Illium Symphonic Orchestra, a fact she knew he would dread the following morning. Removing creases from Italian fabric was not easy. Katherina ran her hand through his hair absentmindedly as she lazily glanced over the dim terminal in her free arm. Frederick had gotten so excited after they watched Matriarch Felysia’s Fourth Symphony. Full of ideas, he rushed through dinner so they might return home, allowing him to continue writing his Requiem, a piece of which he had suffered serious writer’s block for several months.
So, late into the night, she worked with him, orchestrating his ideas and managing the software to allow him to make as much progress as possible. Frederick was tremendously talented at creating motifs and constructing the general atmosphere of his pieces, but it was Katherina who put in the work to truly finish it off. She added articulations and ornaments, personally took care of the instrumentation, and inputted it all professionally into the best notation software money could buy.
It had been four hours since they got home from the performance and Frederick, while mumbling incoherently about this being his ‘greatest work yet’, finally passed out onto her lap. Satisfied with her work – and still awake thanks to the coffee she so foolishly took at Frederick’s insistence – she decided to be as productive as possible with her free time. Katherina reviewed Benezia’s notes on the ongoing operation on Noveria. Now there was a competent figure of authority. She had a commanding presence Saren lacked completely, and her mind was nearly as sharp as the twins’. Nearly. What a shame that her mind had been corrupted by that blasted ship. What a waste it would be to remove her.
Benezia’s notes detailed extensive successes in the production of Rachni soldiers. Creation was not the issue anymore, it seemed, but control. Their unique hive mind made their application as an army both incredibly tantalising, yet incredibly frustrating. It appeared that Benezia’s team was on the verge of a major breakthrough. If the notes were anything to go off (and Katherina was smart enough to agree), within the next few weeks the first functional Rachni squadrons would be completely ready for deployment.
That was unacceptable.
Frederick and her had discussed this at length already. These notes were the confirmation she needed to, with only a little bit of regret, take action. An unstoppable horde of Rachni serving Sovereign would certainly be… detrimental to their goals. Benezia had to go, but the twins could not have a hand in the demise of the Matriarch and her operation. No, if Saren or Sovereign discovered their betrayal things would get very, very complicated. They had no issues abandoning the Turian – they had been paid in full, after all – but there was one last thing they needed from the puppet and his poor excuse for an empire.
Fortunately, they had a plan. It was Frederick who had come up with the brilliant idea originally. She smiled at his peaceful, unmoving form. This was an eventuality they had discussed previously so she felt no hesitation in initiating the Noveria Contingency. She negotiated her way through her terminal to the file she wanted and triggered the command. Frederick stirred beneath her, curling up slightly and leaning onto her further. Perhaps she had done enough work for tonight. The coffee was still in her system but being close to her brother always had a calming effect on her. She pulled her emergency blanket from behind the couch (an item acquired after many a night such as this) and covered the two of them, sinking into the couch further and pulling her surprisingly light brother into a loving hug. She sighed happily and closed her eyes. It wasn’t long until she fell asleep.
“…ased off these figures, we can estimate that the Alliance will be in a position to fully harness these resources within five standard years. Assuming there are no hiccups in funding or operational status, of course,” Pressley added.
Luke crossed his arms and grunted, staring at the chart the XO had presented in front of him via hologram. “Hiccups such as an extragalactic invasion?”
“Uh, yessir," he agreed. "That would impact development and production.”
“Five years isn’t even in our optimistic predictions, Shepard.” Liara vigorously scrolled through the raw data Pressley had sent to her personal terminal.
Currently, based on these figures, the mining data he had collected across the Terminus Frontier seemed as if it would be useless to the Alliance, if the Reapers arrived based on their estimations. These estimations were made based on several assumptions. Mainly, this assumed that Saren was directly required to instigate their return and that, if they stopped him, they would prevent the Reapers from being able to return immediately. This was a very big if. Regardless, they had to make a decision on what to do with the data and there didn’t seem to be an option which suited any of their projections. Unless…
“Pressley," he didn't look up from the charts. "Run the simulation again, assuming the resources are outsourced to second party who can begin development immediately.”
“Sir?” he asked cautiously.
Luke could feel the uncertainty radiating off his XO. “I’m considering all our options.”
“Yes, sir.” Pressley was nothing if not loyal. Luke was his commanding officer and had given him an order. He knew what to do.
It was Liara’s turn to raise an eyebrow as she attempted to follow his train of thought. “Even if I had full access to my mother’s fortune, I am not sure I could manage this.”
Before he could respond a little ding indicated the simulation shad been run. Pressley chewed the inside of his cheek but held his tongue. “Commander, estimates sit at two years now. I have no idea how you plan to achieve this. I can’t think of anyone who has the wealth needed and is loyal to the Alliance.”
“I need to make a call,” he stated and turned around, not looking back.
Luke strolled out of the CIC and returned to his quarters, locking the door behind him. He sat down on his ever-so-comfortable couch - possibly the best thing Anderson had left behind - and rested his chin on his hands. He had an idea, that much was true, but it was technically tantamount to treason. The fact he was considering it showed just how much he had been convinced of the Reaper threat. He believed it so much that he was genuinely considering bypassing the Alliance entirely to ensure that when the inevitable war arrived, the Alliance would stand as ready as possible. Making up his mind, he queued up a familiar frequency on his terminal. It didn’t take long for the Asari on the other side to pick up.
“She-pard!” the sing-song voice greeted.
“Aria. Is now a good time?”
“It’s always a good time when you’re involved,” the Asari winked and downed a shot glass.
“I need to ask a favour,” he spread his arms across the back of the couch.
Aria gave him a reproachful look. “Straight to business already?”
Luke sighed. “I’m in a hurry, I don’t have much time to talk.”
“Fine, fine, but I expect you to call me when you do." She bared her teeth. "Your new Asari’s taking up all your precious free time from what I hear.”
“Aria.”
“Fine!” she pouted. The Queen of Omega was pouting. “What do you want?”
“I have data on dozens of worlds in the Terminus Frontier," he gestured a lazy circle with his hand. "Mineral and gas deposits, positions for refineries, prime locations for transportation hubs. This file covers an estimate of one point four trillion Credits’ worth of data.”
“Is it too much to hope this is an early anniversary present?” she teased.
Luke pursed his lips, still not entirely convinced he was making the right call. “The Alliance can’t have it ready in time. I need an external party to get this up and running and sell the resources to the Alliance at a lower price.”
“Ready in time for what,” she suddenly grew serious.
“I can’t say yet. I promise you’ll be among the first to know when we confirm it but I can’t risk leaking any information," he defended himself. "I need you to trust me.”
Aria didn’t even hesitate to agree. “I’ll get on it right away.”
“I- Thank you," he breathed out, shaking his head. "You don’t know how much of a relief that is to hear.”
“Give me a few weeks to get this thing moving,” Aria smirked. “I can’t believe you’re getting me to move into legitimate business.”
He snorted, giving her a grateful smile. “I should go. We can talk later.”
“We will talk later,” she pointed accusingly with another shot glass, before downing it, “Don’t keep me waiting.”
With that, Aria cut the transmission. Shepard sat in silence, contemplating his actions. Yes, he had made the choice to benefit the Alliance in the long run, but how many people would see it that way? To most it would appear as if he handed confidential data to a Terminus warlord and they would probably assume he stood to benefit financially from it. God forbid if Westerlund got their hands on this.
What’s done was done and Shepard resolved himself to get back to work, but before he could leave his room his terminal buzzed again with an incoming priority from an unidentified source.
Guten Abend, Herr Shepard.
His eyes narrowed as he read through the message. Luke frowned. "Fuck."
Liara closed her terminal and rubbed her eyes. Away from the bustle of the crew she unfastened her ‘duty jacket’ (as Butch referred to it as) and sunk into her bed, exhausted. Having decided that her usual lab outfit wasn’t appropriate for serving in a non-isolated capacity on the Normandy, she had Vibeno send her a small wardrobe of militaristic navy outfits so that she could fit in more with the crew. Shepard seemed to approve, and she picked up on whispers of the crew appreciating her efforts to do her part. She picked up on other whispers too, but not every eavesdropping was as modest or comforting to hear.
In this brief respite she mused on her current situation. She had always been a scientist first and foremost, the daughter of Matriarch Benezia second. Her mother's reputation often overshadowed her own accomplishments, but here aboard the Normandy, she was simply Liara, the crew's archaeologist and Prothean expert. The commander’s personal assistant. Luke’s not-so-secret partner. She was seen for her skill and intellect, not just her lineage. There was an unexpected comfort in that anonymity.
Yet her mother’s shadow followed her. Benezia’s involvement with Saren made every mission a personal struggle. The emotional toll of such a reality weighed on Liara, the fatigue of which often came crashing down in these quiet moments of solitude. She appreciated the crew's respect for her privacy, she was grateful for the lack of unnecessary probing into her personal affairs. Shepard, however, was a different story. He had a knack for breaking down the walls she had so meticulously erected over many decades. Their relationship was not something she ever could have anticipated – she had only interacted with a small handful of humans prior to joining up with the mostly human crew of the Normandy.
Moments of self-doubt clouded her thoughts occasionally, fear of her mother's destiny becoming her own. Could she too, fall victim to such manipulation? Was there a dark destiny waiting for her too? These were questions she hoped she'd never have to answer, yet they lingered in the back of her mind. The intercom pulled her from her thoughts. It was Shepard. “Blue? Got a minute?”
“Of course, do come in.” Luke hesitated momentarily before placing a quick pec on her left cheek. Unable to resist herself, Liara grinned and actually giggled (but only a little) before he took her hand into his and ducked his head slightly. She had come to understand that this meant there was bad news. “Li… I received an anonymous message. I know where your mother is.”
“You found her?" She gasped. "You must tell me where!”
Luke sighed. “She’s on Noveria. Garrus confirmed it through a source in Port Hanshan. I haven’t told Joker to set a course, though.”
“We must make haste immediately," she declared. "There may yet be time to talk her down! Please Shepard," she begged. "We must go.”
“The Normandy will be. I wanted to give you the opportunity to…" he awkwardly trailed off. It didn't take a genius to see where his mind had gone. "We can drop you off at the Citadel first. Shiala said they had been corrupted by Saren. I-" he blew out slowly. "I can’t promise Benezia will survive this mission.”
“You would have me confined to the sidelines? To stress over whether my mother could have been saved?" she felt a rare flash of anger, standing quickly. "Whether she might be dead? Whether the man I-…” Liara took a deep breath and fidgeted with her uniform. “Shepard I cannot remain on the Citadel. I will stand by your side when we face my mother.”
“I’m not going to force you to stay. I just wanted to give you the option. I-…" he threw his hands in the air. "I don’t know what I’d do if I was in your shoes. I’m so sorry, Liara.”
Incapable of containing herself she pulled her commander into a tight hug. It felt like he was the only stable factor she had in her life at the moment. She would go to Noveria, she would do her best to save her mother, but she wasn’t as naïve as many believed her to be.
Chapter 31: Port Hanshan
Summary:
The Normandy docks on Noveria, but nothing is ever simple.
Chapter Text
"Damn corpos," Luke muttered to himself, absently adjusting his formalwear. He hated the corporate world. He hated the corporate world. The Alliance had its issues, yes, but being stabbed in the back by your closest friends was not one of them. The corporate world was oen of lies, manipulation, and deceit, and nothing combined all of that more than Noveria. The planet was the picture of private industry. It was one of the few truly anarcho-capitalist planets in Citadel Space. Garrus had breifed him on the world heavily before they landed. Everything about it screamed red flag.
Luke word his dark maroon suit, almost disgusted at how well he fit the role he was about to step into. At his side, Liara stood nervously. She looked stunning in her own fitted attire of a similar shade. Liara had done research prior to their arrival and insisted that they dress themselves formally for the duration of their time at the Port. Eager to avoid drawing too much attention and ruffling the feathers of the corporations, Shepard agreed.
Behind them, Wrex and Ashley were dressed in full red armour. The Krogan mercenary loomed at the Salarian dockworker who kept a wide birth between them. Williams was equally intimidating, Luke found himself jealous of them both. The pair's job was simple: play the part of personal security.
With a curt nod to his team, he stepped off the Normandy onto the freezing docking bay with a sigh. They hadn’t even made it to the entrance when they were confronted by Port Hanshan's security team. Captain Matsuo stepped forward, he knew her from Garrus' breifing and hoped she was as reasonable as his friend had made her out to be. "Commander Shepard," she greeted him formally. "We'll need you and your team to hand over your weapons or return them to your ship. Port Hanshan is an independent trading zone. Non-authorised personnel are not permitted to carry weapons."
"Respectfully," he replied, his eyes never leaving Matsuo's, "I'm invoking Spectre authority. The situation is too risky for my team to wander weaponless."
At that, Sergeant Stirling scoffed, her lips pulling into a sneer. Garrus had also breifed him on her. Luke had hoped they wouldn't cross paths but apparently luck wasn't on his side today. "That's a load of horse shit," she growled, raising her weapon. Her open aggression caused a riple through the security team causing all to raise their weapons. The sudden surge of hostility got an immediate reaction from his team. Liara's biotic aura flared in response while Wrex and Williams instinctively raised their weapons, ready to protect their commander.
It was at this point that both Luke and Matsuo spun to face their respective teams. "Stand down!" they barked in unison. Reluctantly, and with a series of grumbles from Stirling, both teams lowered their weapons. Returning her gaze to Luke, the corner of Matsuo’s mouth twitched upwards. Slightly.
Just then, a frantic-looking brunette dashed towards them, stepping between the two gorups. "Captain," she huffed, her breath fogging in the frosty air, "Shepard's Spectre codes check out." Parasini paused for breath, her chest rising and falling rapidly. "Council law states that Shepard and his team are permitted to carry weapons."
Matsuo nodded and dismissed her squad with a nod, her gaze returning to Shepard. "My apologies, Commander," she said, extending her hand. "Thank you for not escalating the situation." Shepard took the offered hand and they shook. The brunette, meanwhile, had taken a step back, watching the exchange closely. "Shepard," she called as Matsuo turned to leave, "please check in with me at the front desk when you get a chance."
As she departed, Shepard watched her go. What a start to the mission. "Got a bad feeling about this," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
As they walked towards Administrator Anoleis' office, Liara felt her anxiety continue to spike. Shepard had been right. Her mother was here on Noveria. The brunetter had introduced herself as an adminsrative assistant named Giana Parasini. At the front desk she confirmed her mother's location. She felt awful.
Entering the Administrator's office was akin to stepping into another world. The room was small but it practically oozed wealth and power. The walls were adorned with art and awards that showcased Anoleis' ‘accomplishments’ in a tacky display. The man clearly held himself in high esteem. As she took in her surroundings, Liara couldn't help but draw comparisons to Councillor Tevos' office. The Asari councillor was known for her lavish taste more than any other councilor. And yet, Anoleis' office was somehow nearly more ostentatious. The only thing it lacked were the Thessian marble columns that were the hallmark of Tevos' office.
The administrator didn't waste any time on pleasantries. "Be quick," he barked. "Each second I spend talking to you is costing me ten thousand credits."
Luke was just as curt. "We need to get to Peak 15," he replied. "We're looking for Matriarch Benezia."
"No." Anoleis' retort was curt and final. Shepard's expression hardened and he crossed his arms as he regarded the obstinate Salarian.
Liara decided to step in. "Would you really obstruct a Council mission?"
Anoleis snorted, the sound sharp and dismissive. "Your mission is a farce, a ploy to placate the humans. You," he pointed at Shepard, "are no real Spectre. I'll take my chances."
She did her best to restrain her frustration but she refused to back down. "There must be a way to gain access to the facility," she insisted.
For a moment, Anoleis looked like he was about to argue, but then he stopped himself, pausing before speaking again. "Perhaps there is," he said slowly, leaning forwards to steeple his fingers. "I have an issue that my men seem incapable of resolving. Lorik Qui'in, the manager of the Synthetic Insights Noveria branch. He's becoming a nuisance. I cannot say more. Remove Qui'in as an issue and I will give you the authorisation you need," he promised.
Shepard looked sceptical - his distrust for the Salarian Administrator was clear. Still, he gave a curt nod and made to leave. As they exited the office, Liara could hear him mutter "Good riddance" under his breath.
Upon passing Parasini's desk, the secretary cleared her throat and beckoned them closer. "Lorik Qui'in is the key," she whispered. "Meet me at this location in fifteen minutes."
Liara and Luke exchanged a glance. Their curiosity had been piqued. Wrex only groaned. “Can’t we just shoot our way through? A pyjak infestation would give me less of a headache.”
Similarly to Luke, Garrus hated the corporate world - his time in C-Sec had made him all too familar with it, Noveria in particular. There was practically an entire department on the Citadel dedicated to customs and trade with Noveria. Unfortunately for him, this meant that Shepard thought he'd be best suited to leading the the second team to find another way to Peak 15, saying something about not putting their eggs in one basket. He didn't really understand the phrase but Butch insisted it made perfect sense
Garrus was uncomfortable in his outfit, a blue suit that he hadn't worn since it was issued to him back in his C-Sec days. It was formal enough for the mission but he missed the reassuring weight of his armour. He glanced over at Butch, who had traded her usual gear for what she claimed was standard human female formalwear: black pants, a white frilled top, and an overcoat. The get-up made her look less like a soldier and more like an executive on a business trip, which would have been amusing if she hadn't made it abundantly clear that all jokes were off-limits. Butch grumbled that when signing up for the Alliance she never expected to have to dress up in anything other than Alliance blues.
Tali, too, had put some effort into her outfit, cobbling together an array of fabrics to add a touch of formality to her usually utilitarian suit. It was clear they were all out of their usual element, but it wasn’t like they had much of a choice in the matter. Which all led to this precise moment.
As Tali worked on a terminal in the adjacent room, attempting to hack into the shipping manifests for the cargo ships docked next to the Normandy, Garrus and Butch had the task of distracting a small group of businesspeople on break. They spun a story about representing the T'Soni estate to reevaluate current investments given the current crisis. The ruse seemed to be working. The crowd lapped up the excuse and supposed inside scoop on Asari finances.
Butch played her part remarkably well and he once again found himself marveling that in another world she could have been an actress or some time of performer. He once again wondered what drove her into the Alliance. She had her arm looped through Garrus', laughing convincingly at a completely unfunny joke made by a particularly obnoxious human from Binary Helix. The effort was clearly painful for her, but she managed to keep up the façade to an impressive standard. "So," the Asari among the group interjected, cutting through the chatter with her curious gaze focused on them. "You make a striking pair. How did you two meet?"
For a moment, Garrus was caught off guard. Their plan to pose as a couple perhaps had worked a little too well, yet Butch swooped in without missing a beat. "We worked for two different divisions on the same project," she explained, the tale flowing smoothly as if it were truth. "We fought for months. You know how it is," Butch giggled. "He wanted more fundig, I wanted his saff, but..." She reached up to cup his face, a mischievous grin on her lips. "He eventually gave in."
Garrus played along, despite feeling slightly flustered at the unexpected intimacy. Internally, he was cursing himself for letting Butch talk him into this. She was sneaky, that much was for sure. He forced a chuckle and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her in closer. "That's my sweetheart for you," he said, a fond smile playing at his mandibles. "She just doesn't know when to quit."
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tali emerge from the adjacent room, discreetly giving him a thumbs up before slipping out of sight. Their little charade had bought her the time she needed.
Butch stifled a yawn.
Back within the confines of the Normandy, Garrus poured through the gigabytes of data while searching for abnormalities. He believed that if they could spot and rectify a serious issue, the corporations involved may feel inclined as to lend a hand to their situation. Personally, Butch wished they could just bypass all of this and go straight to Peak 15, but Luke was insistent that they don’t step on the toes of the powerful men and women at Port Hanshan.
Bored, Butch had pulled out a deck of cards to teach the Quarian blackjack. She came to regret this as Tali seemed to be much better with numbers than she was. Garrus’ head poked up from his seat across the mess-hall whenever Tali yelped in joy at another victory. A few more losses later and Butch threw her cards down with a pout. “Don’t be angry,” Tali teased, “you’re still better than me at lots of things.”
“Yeah? Like what,” she asked. She had always found putting people on the spot had to be entertaining.
Tali leant in conspiratorially and looked around the room. “Like seducing Turians.”
“Tali!!” Everyone at the mess-hall gave the pair a quick look before going back to what they were doing. “You are terrible,” she hissed.
“I saw everything on the cameras!" she giggled. "It’s like I’m watching a scene from Fleet and Flotilla! I mean you’re not exactly a Quarian but it’s close enough!”
“You watch too many of those damn vids,” Butch grumbled, unhappy with being called out. That was supposed to be her job, after all.
“Someone’s got a crush!” the Quarian continued to tease her.
Butch sighed and put her head in her hands. “Tali…”
“You know, this stuff was so boring on the Flotilla," she complained. "News spread so fast that if you told anyone who were into it would reach the ears of everyone else by dinner. No one said anything because someone was always listening.”
“Tali, I do not have a ‘crush’, ok?" she growled. "I’m not a little girl anymore.”
The Quarian waved dismissively, “Fine, fine. What should I use instead then? Love interest? Eugh, that’s gross," she shook her heda. "I’m sticking with crush.”
"There's no guarantee it would even work," Butch huffed. He's Turian. I'm human. I don't even know if its scientifically possible."
"Oh its possible," Tali chuckled, leaning back into her seat.
She snarled. "Get your head out of the gutter."
Butch swore she could see a smile behind the glass of Tali's helmet. "Only when you get yours out of the clouds."
“There used to be a time where I was the one doing all the joking, and it was everyone else who was suffering,” she complained.
“I heard somewhere that humans have a song for this,” Tali seemingly shifted topics, innocently.
She rose an eyebrow. “Yeah? And what’s that.”
“Garrus and Butch-” she started.
Realisation hit her like a ton of bricks. “No,” she whispered.
“Sitting in a tree-”
Butch clenched her fists, doing all in her power to remain calm. “Tali I swear to god.”
“K, I, S, S-”
A growl escaped her throat. “Tali if you finish that song I promise I will end y- hey, Gar!” she forced herself get it together, grinning.
Butch shifted her sneer into a grin as Garrus appeared out of nowhere. His mandibles twitched in amusement but, if he heard any of their previous conversation, he didn’t say anything. “I found something in the files. Undisclosed cargo from the freighter Cervo seems to disappear each time it docks. I think it’s a smuggling operation," he threw a datapad on the table. "I’ve traced the cargo to a Hanar, Opold. He runs several shell companies, we can find him at the edge of the port. Let’s go take a look.”
Chapter 32: Espionage
Summary:
Shepard needs to reach Peak 15, but Noverian bureaucracy get's in the way so the Normandy crew needs to find a more... alternative approach
Chapter Text
Ashley stood a little way off from Shepard and Liara, watching as they spoke to Lorik Qui'in. Wrex stood beside her and shifted his weight in frustration. The pair of them were on standby, more than ready for action, but for now all they could do was wait. Ashley did not like waiting. "This is killing me," she muttered to Wrex who was no doubt as restless as she was.
Wrex gruffed. "Too much talk, not enough action." She sighed as Wrex fell silent again. The two weren't particularly close - to be entirely honest the Krogan terrified her - but there wasn't much else to do at the moment. He grunted, drawing her attention back to him. "How would you kill everyone in this room?"
The abruptness of the question took Ashley aback. "What?" she asked, not sure she'd heard him right.
The old man just shrugged, unperturbed by his own dark query. "You never know when this line of thinking could save you."
After a moment of surprise, Ashley took the question in stride. "How much time do I have to prepare?" she clarified.
"Right this second," he answered, grinning. "Assassins don't wait to kill you until you're ready."
She took a moment to assess the room, her eyes narrowing as she visualised her strategy. "I'd take out the Asari next to us first," she began, pointing out the blue-skinned women standing not too far away, who overheard and gave Ashley a worried look. "Throw a grenade into the crowd, and make my way to the bar for cover. From there, I'd use the remaining grenades I have on me. It's a small room, wouldn't take many," she narrowed her eyes. "Any stragglers, I'd pick off with my rifle."
Wrex let out a gruff chuckle, clearly satisfied. "I like the way you think, Williams."
Before Ashley could respond, Shepard and Liara approached them again. The commander had a grin on his face, and he slapped a hand on Wrex's back. "Looks like you two will finally get the chance to do some fighting." Ashley lit up. We have a meeting in the Synthetic Insights office. Are you ready for some aggressive negotiations?” She couldn't help but grin back, feeling a surge of adrenaline rush through her. Finally, she could actuall do something this mission.
This eagerness was quickly battered away.
There was a major checkpoint in the public access to the branch offices. The sergeant on duty refused to allow anyone without proper authorisation passed. Ashley knew instantly that these guards were on the administrator’s payroll but they couldn’t just attack them in view of everyone else. It appeared they were at another impasse. That was, until a single Volus strutted his way towards them. “Commander Shepard? What an – hshh – unexpected surprise. What brings you to Noveria?”
“Orda?" Luke asked before brightening up. "It’s great to see you again, I didn’t know your Guild had a branch office here.”
“Truthfully, we don’t. I’m here to renegotiate – hshh – a few contracts now that we have acquired certain… information," she explained, before looking between them all. "Please, introduce me to your companions. I recognise – hshh – Doctor T’Soni of course, but the others are unfamiliar.”
“Ashley, Wrex, this is Superintendent Ordo Kan," he introduced them. "We met at the annual Volus Economic Forum,” he flashed a charismatic grin at the Volus, “She was the most sociable dignitary there. Liara and I would’ve been lost without her.”
She had never met a female Volus. Before she could control herself, Ashley blurted out “She?!”
Kan sighed. “Commander Shepard, I forget that not all – hshh – aliens share your… attention to detail.” Ashley could have sworn the Volus checked him out.
“Williams…” Shepard groaned, likely in preparation of rightfully reprimanding her offensiveness.
“It’s alright, Commander. It’s nothing worse than what I’ve heard during my time on Noveria," she patted him on the leg. "And I can forgive such a transgression, I admit that not many females leave our worlds. These suits are not flattering in – hshh – the slightest.”
“Yet I see you still managed to find the newer model suit you were telling me about," he flashed another grin. "I agree with you, I like this one more than the last.”
Ashley couldn't help the look of confusion that overwhelmed her. Is Shepard… putting the charm on the Volus?
“Bah, flatterer,” Kan waved off, “Now let’s see about that nasty checkpoint. I have a – hshh – meeting with the Armali representatives in their branch office. I’m certain I can get you through.” True to her word, the Volus waved a datapad, shook her fist, and loudly argued with the sergeant until he reluctantly agreed to let them through. Before the could part ways, Orda pulled out a datapad and a small piece of… jewlery? “Here, take this,” she offered.
Luke looked closer. “What is it?”
“This,” she lifted the small medallion, “is a Mark for the Kan Guild. It – hshh – denotes you as an ally to our Guild. Expect favourable deals and friendly faces. And this,” she lifted the card, “is my personal frequency. I’m a busy – hshh – woman, but if you ever require assistance from my Guild, I will do what I can. Now go," she gestured past them, lowering her voice. "I suspect you are in a hurry.”
Luke was only just realising how ridiculous it was of him to enter a combat situation unarmoured. He found himself taking cover towards the back of the room under the protection of a biotic bubble, courtesy of Liara. The barrier distorted the view of the room ahead, but any shots from the enemy that managed to come their way ricocheted off harmlessly. He could have charged in anyways but then he'd be down a suit, and he was actually really fond of this one.
He watched as Wrex and Ashley vented their frustration upon the guards. They were corrupt employees whose loyalty to their corrupt employers made them just as guilty, so he felt little guilt himself letting his friends cut loose. Wrex grabbed a large flower pot with a grunt and brought it smashing down onto a mercenary's head, shattering both the pot and the man's ability to fight in one fell swoop. Just to the right of him, a mercenary wielding a shock stick lunged at Williams, but the marine was quicker. She blocked the blow with her armoured forearm and punched the man in the throat, causing him to stagger back. Before he could recover, she swiftly lifted her pistol and shot him in the gut, leaving him writhing on the floor.
The remaining enemies, seeing the fate of their comrades, didn't put up much of a fight. They were down within moments. Luke gave swift praise as they entered Qui’in’s personal office. Wrex and Ashley immediately set up a defensive position at the door, which was reassuring considering that they were now completely cornered. As they did, Liara took a seat at Qui'in's desk and, with the passwords they'd obtained from the Turian, she began the process of downloading the incriminating information against the administrator.
Luke's omni-tool buzzed before he could inspect the room further. He accepted the incoming call, recognising Parasini's contact information. "Stirling is on her way with a detachment of mercs," she relayed urgently. "Whatever you're doing, do it quickly."
"Great," he muttered. "More combat I'm going to have to sit out."
"Don't worry, Shepard," Wrex chuckled, "I'll take care of you.
He gave his friend a deeply unimpressed look.
The terminal made a pleasant ding upon the completion of the download. Liara stood up quickly as Luke joined her at the entrance. “No sign of mercs,” Wrex stated cautiously. “Yet.”
With no reason to remain any longer, the four of them quickly crossed the small indoor bridge to the main room of the branch and closed in on the door. Before they could reach the exit, however, Stirling and her troops burst through the door, weapons raised. Williams and Wrex raised their own weapons as well and Liara brought the barrier back up.
“I knew I didn’t like you,” the merc leader spat.
She felt the commander sigh. “Let us through, Stirling, no one has to die.” Luke held his hands in the air, behind the bubble, trying to project calm.
The woman scoffed. “Horse shit. You’ve already killed my men, I can’t trust you.”
“I’m going to give you one last chance to surrender,” he threatened her. Liara hadn't heard Luke bring out this voice before but she knew he meant business.
Stirling sneered. “What, you think you’re better than me?" she shifted her eyes back to Luke. "Tell tentacle-head to drop the bubble. Now.”
Liara had no such intention. She actually strengthened her barrier even further out of spite for the woman who would threaten her commander. But Shepard placed a hand on her arm reassuringly and nodded. He wanted her to lower the barrier. Something in his eyes said he had a plan. With great reluctance, Liara obliged.
“Good. Now drop your weapons," she ordered. "I’ll make this quick.”
“Well thank you for that,” Shepard drawled.
“You’re dead,” Stirling gave him a venomous look, “I’ve got nothing more to say to you.”
Having completely exhausted diplomacy, Luke resorted to more extreme measures. Liara felt rush of movement and Shepard had a pistol pointing directly at the sergeant’s head. Her pistol. He had positioned himself so perfectly so that he could effortlessly grab her pistol without being stopped.
His finger hovered over the trigger. “How about goodbye?”
Stirling scrambled to bring her own gun to meet him but Shepard was too quick. His bullet hit the woman square in the middle of her exposed forehead and she crumpled the floor. His pistol remained in the air, pointed at the nervous and stunned mercenaries. In his full suit, he appeared incredibly suave, like a spy out of those movies Butch put on each week for the crew to watch.
“The rest of you," he boomed, "drop your guns on the floor. I won’t give you as many chances as I gave Stirling.”
Fate sometimes allowed moments of perfect timing. In this instance, Captain Matsuo barged in with a full squad behind the mercenaries, completely outflanking them. “Listen to the commander,” she ordered, “You’re charged with violating the Noverian Anti-Espionage Charter. A trial will be organised at the Board’s earliest convenience.”
Though unhappy, the remaining mercenaries gave in and dropped their weapons. Their former colleagues arrested them and began escorting them out of the office, but Matsuo remained behind.
“I admire your bravery,” she complimented with a slight smirk, shaking his hand for the second time since they landed, “If you’ll follow me, Parasini-san and Qui’in are waiting with some of my men at the Administrator’s office. I believe you’re a man who takes pleasure in seeing a job wrapped up. The grand finale is right this way.”
Nothing sickened Garrus quite like corruption. He had his own issues, but he liked to think he worked towards the greater good. And so it was with great satisfaction that he watched Shepard and Parasini march the cuffed administrator out of his office, squirming angrily under their unrelenting custody. "I’d recite your rights to you,” Parasini mocked with a perverse grin on her face, “but what was it you told me when you first hired me? ‘Parasini, don’t you ever presume to quote the words I wrote’. I don’t usually visit the Board hearings after a successful mission, but for you? I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Matsuo’s men took the restrained Salarian – who was still demanding that someone arrest Parasini and Shepard – and guided him away from the rest of the group. Even Liara had a polite grin on her lips. It was rather difficult to feel any degree of sympathy for a man like Anoleis. “Commander,” the captain thanked, “you’ve done a lot for us since you docked. I wish I could have given you this sooner,” she reached a hand out to hand a garage pass and the extra authorisation needed to get to Peak 15.
“Synthetic Insights is most pleased with your assistance,” Qui’in added. “There is not much I can offer, but, should you ever need a favour from someone working in the VI and AI industry, do reach out. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have an office to repair” He nodded respectfully and made his way out.
“I would wait until tomorrow to travel to Peak 15,” Parasini suggested, “the storm should have subsided by then.”
“I think we’ll take that advice," Luke agreed. "We need time to resupply and armour up. What happens next here?” he nodded to their side.
“That depends,” Matsuo shrugged, “Anoleis dealt with most of his competitors. There’s no one on-site to be promoted in his wake. The port’s going to be chaotic for a good few weeks," she sighed. "We need to seriously clean house, there’s too much corruption here. But there’s a good change whoever the Board selects to become administrator would be a corporate lackey. Armali and Binary Helix have already put forwards candidates and it won’t be long until all out arguing and espionage breaks out.”
And then realisation struck. “I have an idea,” Garrus offered. “Butch, Tali and I were looking for alternative ways to reach Peak 15 while you were handling the administrator. We couldn’t find a legitimate garage pass, but we unravelled a major smuggling operation implicating a handful of high ranking employees from the major companies. You could use this as leverage to keep the corporations in line.”
“I appreciate the idea but I’m not administrator,” Matsuo shook her head, though Parasini practically brightened up.
The IA agent started typing away at her omni-tool. “No, you’d be perfect for the role! I can pass the recommendation up to my superiors. You could step in as an interim administrator to start cleaning up the mess, and when you go a good enough job they’ll probably keep you on.”
“I think you’d do great,” Luke concurred, “You’re a natural leader.”
Conflict washed over the woman's face. “I- Well- If the Board makes the offer, maybe I’ll consider it.”
“The Board’s expecting me to testify this evening so I have to go prepare myself,” Parasini smiled, “I hope I get to see you again, Shepard. I owe you a beer.”
Matsuo shook her head but seemed to share the sentiment. “I’m more of a wine person,” she admitted, “but if I see you on Noveria again, the drinks are on me.”
After a restless night on the Normandy and a hazardous journey from Port Hanshan, Shepard stepped out from the lead Mako of their small convoy, his boots crunching into the snow as he landed solidly at the entrance of Peak 15. The chill in the air bit through his armour, but he barely noticed; it felt good to have it back on. He stretched slightly, more than ready to get back into action.
Around him, the rest of the ground team disembarked from their respective vehicles. He'd brought everyone. There was no way they were going to embark on a mission this big without as many capable hands as he could manage. They all stared at the entrance before them.
Lukebroke formation and walked up to the door. Inputting the codes Matsuo gave him, it opened, and he stepped inside.
The first thing he noticed was the smell of death.
Chapter 33: Peak 15
Summary:
Finally, Shepard's team enters Peak 15, but Matriarch Benezia is no where in sight. Nobody is.
Chapter Text
Peak 15 was dim. The shutters were half-open, but the tinted windows behind them made it nearly impossible for light to get in. What little light did reach the inner rooms was only partially enhanced by what few lights in the main atrium remained intact. Tali’s stomach turned as she surveyed the area. It wasn't good. Some battle had clearly taken place here and she wasn't upset to have missed it. Bodies lay strewn across the metal floor bearing the brutal signs of burn marks and horrifying disfigurement. The dead wore varied faces - soldiers, scientists, support staff, all silenced forever. It was like something out of a horror vid. Tali swallowed hard, attempting to push back the bile rising in her throat.
Unnerved, she inched closer to Wrex. She take comfort in the Krogan's intimidating presence. He had developed a soft spot for her, after all, and treated her with what Butch insisted was fatherly affection. She couldn’t say why that was, but, given the awfully creepy nature of their situation she wasn't going to turn down any sense of security. She noticed her other teammates clustered tighter than usual as well. Butch and Garrus were practically huddling as their weapons’ sights swivelled across the seemingly empty rooms in front of them. Liara was hesitant to leave so much as a handful of space between her and the commander, practically joining herself to his hip.
Suddenly, a metallic crash echoed through the facility, causing Tali to emit a small squeak of surprise. A piece of debris had fallen from the ceiling, shattering the silence with a loud clang. Wrex let out a deep, throaty chuckle, leaning his hulking frame towards her slightly. "Steady, Tali," he rumbled, his gravelly voice oddly soothing. "Not much further to the tram."
The words barely had time to sink in when Shepard's raised fist cut through the air. They'd been in combat together enough times to know the signal for the team to ready their weapons and seek cover. Obeying instinctively, Tali crouched behind a nearby console. The next minute was agonising. The silence was agonising. And then, breaking the stillness, a low, ominous rustle sounded from the vents above.
A small horde of creatured spilled from the metallic shafts, screeching. More, still, skittered down the walls. They were insectile, and while she wasn't usually afraid of bugs, in the face of the imminent threat her mind was consumed by one thought - extermination. Next to her, Wrex growled, his voice rumbling above the noise. "Rachni."
It seemed that if there was one thing the Normandy seemed to bump into more than anything it was ancient life forms hellbent on their destruction. Her shock was soon replaced with terror as a Rachni darted around a corner, leaping towards her. She yelped, her finger squeezing the trigger of her shotgun instinctively. A blast rang out, leaving a gaping hole in the creature's centre and it fell to the ground, twitching.
Wrex let out a roar of pride at her side. "Ha! You’ve killed your first Rachni!" he bellowed, a feral grin on his face as he slammed his shotgun inside the mouth of another creature and fired. "You're more Krogan than most of the shrivelling clans on Tuchanka!"
"Shit," Ashley groaned, surveying the ugly acid burns etched across her armour. Her once chest plate now looked more like a chewed up piece of scrap metal. She couldn't help but grumble about the annoyance of it all. "I'll need to get a whole new set after this."
Shepard looked over at her with a concerned expression. "You alright to push on, Ash?"
She gave him a quick nod. "I'm not about to let some acid burns slow me down, Commander."
Before they could continue their trek through the creepy facility, the team took a methodical approach, clearing the remaining rooms. The last thing they wanted was to be flanked by any stragglers while engaged in battle further down the line. Two more Rachni tried to put up a fight, screeching as they lunged, but the team was well-coordinated and prepared. A few well-placed shots from Shepard's pistol and a barrage of incendiary rounds from Tali and the alien creatures were reduced to smoking, charred heaps.
While Ashley was grumbling about the damage to her armour, Shepard, Garrus, and Liara had set themselves to work. The trio navigated through the abandoned terminals in the cleared offices trying to find anything of value. The commander saved what appeared to be weapons schematics and prototype designs to send to Alliance R&D. The tech was impressive, but what they needed - information on the Rachni - was nowhere to be found.
Her focus fell to the unfortunate employees they kept finding all over the place. If there was no mention of the creatures here, it was likely those people had been kept in the dark about what was happening deeper in the facility and had died without even knowing what the Rachni were. While the others worked, Ashley leaned against a wall, muttering to Butch. "Seems like every major corporation we bump into is into some dodgy business that gets people killed.”
Butch nodded in agreement, her own expression hardening. "Wouldn't mind having a few words with some of these executives myself," she said. "Away from any prying eyes, of course. You know what's up with Alenko?" she asked.
Ashley's eyes shifted to the other marine who was standing on his own, sweating more than he should've been. "He doesn't look so good."
"You're not wrong," the Aussie hummed. "Last few missions have been getting to him. Hasn't been the same since Eden Prime."
"He's not the one who lost his whole team," she grunted, watching him rub his temple. "He's also not the one who got possessed by an alien beacon. Why's he complaining?"
"Beats me," Butch shrugged. "Reckon we should check on him?"
Their conversation was cut short when Shepard emerged from the last office. "Let's move," he ordered. "The tram is around the corner."
They managed to reach the tram without further drama. Butch and Wrex had stormed ahead, yet, for once (much to their surprise) there was no resistance. This portion of the facility seemed to have no fight left to give.
With the coast clear, Tali went to work on the controls. It didn't take long for her to get the tram to hum to life and begin its pre-programmed journey. As the carriage moved, Alenko slumped himself against Williams. Ashley made a face, evidently not thrilled with his proximity. The lull didn't last long as Alenko began to complain. "This mission is a shitfest," he grumbled. "Can't wait to finish off that Matriarch and get back to the Normandy."
Butch narrowed her eyes, wondering how on Earth he could be saying that. Even if Benezia wasn’t the daughter of one of her new best friends she was still a person of significant importance. This was not an assassination mission and they had very clear orders. Before she could speak, however, Luke had crossed the tram with visible irritation. "I'm sorry, did I designate the Matriarch as a hostile target?" he snapped. "Or did I very specifically explain the complex nature of this mission back on the Normandy? You will only fire on the Matriarch if the parameters I set are met. Understood?"
Butch leaned back, as she watched Alenko stutter out an apology, relieved she wouldn't have to address the situation herself. Her relief was short-lived as the peaceful hum of the tram was shattered with a high-pitched screech. Another of the creatures landed with a thud on the roof of the tram, its claws scraping against the metal as it violently attempted to gain access.
And then another landed.
And another.
Dozens of Rachni slammed into the side of the tram, rocking it to the side. Butch staggered and caught herself against a railing. Someone shouted something panicked behind her but she couldn’t make out who it was. Her attention was fixed on the creature pressing itself against the window next to her, jaws snapping open. Wrex stepped forward and shoved her aside roughly. "Move," he growled, raising his shotgun. Without waiting, he fired directly into the creature's face. The window shattered instantly, shattering shards of glass across the tram's interior. The Rachni vanished in a splatter of gore.
“Thanks,” Butch breathed, righting herself. She raised her rifle to the gap Wrex had created, firing in bursts at the incoming creatures trying to climb through.
The doors on the opposite side buckled inward, hinges creaking loudly. Butch spun around, feeling a spike of dread at the noise. Before the doors gave completely, Liara stepped forward and raised her hands, doing whatever the hell she was doing with her biotics. The barrier held and the doors didn't collapse entirely. Luke reacted immediately. "Wrex, Alenko, reinforce Liara, now!" he barked.
Both men responded instantly, biotic energy flaring around them as they joined Liara at the doorway. Alenko seemed to buckle but he didn't entirely give in. The doors held and beyond that Butch didn't exactly about anything else.
The tram suddenly jerked forward, nearly knocking Butch off balance again. She turned sharply to see Tali hunched over the tram controls, fingers flying across the keys.
"What the hell are you doing, Tali?" she shouted over the noise.
The Quarian didn't look up from the controls. "Hold onto something!" she called back urgently.
Before Butch could question further, she saw the tunnel looming up ahead. The narrow tunnel ahead. Realization hit her just as the tram shot forward. There was a sickening crunch, and most of the remaining Rachni were scraped from the sides of the tram as it entered the tunnel.
Butch exhaled shakily, gripping the railing tighter as they emerged into relative safety once again. “Tali,” Butch exclaimed with a manic laugh, “you’re crazy, and I fucking love you.”
Luke moved swiftly through the dim hallways, more than ready to finish this mission. Hnever wanted to take a tram again. Ever. Behind him, his team stayed close and he had no doubt they were just as disturbed as he was. He raised a fist at an approaching entrance, signaling them to stop. Just ahead, a closed door glowed faintly in the dark. Luke approached slowly, weapon ready as he listened for any sign of movement. Hearing nothing, he reached out and eased the door open.
Inside was a makeshift security station. A group of humans crouched behind overturned tables, guns trained immediately on Shepard and his team. Among them was an Asari who stepped forward aggressively.
Luke raised a hand cautiously. “Easy,” he said clearly. “We’re friendlies.”
A bald man, clearly their leader, narrowed his eyes. “You Alliance?”
“I’m Commander Shepard,” he affirmed. “We’re looking for Matriarch Benezia.”
“No one's seen the Matriarch for days,” the man said, his gun lowering slightly. “She and her commandos headed to the Executive Labs. We got separated when the bugs swarmed us.”
“Not to be rude,” Luke joked with a modicum of sarcasm, “but mind lowering those weapons?”
The man hesitated, then nodded to his group. “Captain Ventralis, ERCS,” he introduced himself. “Can't tell you how good it is to see friendly faces.”
Before he could reply, the Asari beside Ventralis stepped forward sharply. “I disagree. This is Shepard, the man Lady Benezia warned us about. He's here to assassinate her.” She glared at Ventralis. “I order you and your men to arrest these intruders immediately.”
Ventralis shook his head sharply. “I don’t take orders from you, Alestia. My job’s dealing with Rachni, not arresting the few allies we have.”
“Your job is to protected this facility from all threats,” she snapped.
“We're barely surviving the bugs as it is," the bald man sighed. "I'm not risking our first help in days on your word alone.”
Alestia glared at the captain. “Unless you wish to be out of a job I suggest you do just that.”
“Enough,” Luke interrupted, certain the frustration in his voice was evident. “We’ve just fought enough Rachni to make sure I never leave ship without a can of bug spray ever again," he grumbled. "Our priority is finding the Matriarch to ask her some questions but my Spectre authority allows me to intervene in this crisis to help you all out. Let me in and I promise I’ll find a way to help.”
Ventralis looked at him wearily. “Commander, I was already- Alestia, no!” he suddenly shouted.
Luke turned just as the Asari raised her pistol toward his head. Before she could fire, a powerful biotic warp threw her violently into the wall. Alestia crumpled lifelessly to the floor. Liara lowered her glowing hand slowly, meeting Luke's surprised gaze. He offered a grateful nod. Having a protective biotic as powerful as Liara did have its benefits. He turned quickly back to Ventralis, who stared at the body in shock. “Hold the line here,” he instructed firmly. “We’ll handle this.”
Ventralis nodded numbly. “Good luck, Commander.”
Chapter 34: Rift Station
Summary:
The Normandy rests up at Rift Station and looks for Benezia
Notes:
Ok... I know it's been too weeks... but hear me out!!
I've moved houses, had uni prep, a plethora of personal developments, the whole DDOS thing, and - just to top it all off - my computer broke down for the past two days, AFTER I had finished these chapters to upload, but before I could actually upload.
So thank you for waiting! I'm not actually dead, and I do plan to finish this piece. And just for being so patient, have a triple upload!
Chapter Text
Having finally reached Rift Station after what felt like an eternity, the Normandy's ground team took advantage of the brief respite to regroup and resupply. The station was a welcome change from the non-stop Rachni attacks and endless slew of corpses, and everyone seemed to take in a breath of relief.
Butch was busy helping Ashleyfind a temporary replacement for her damaged chest-plate. Wrex was recounting tales of the Rachni Wars to Tali and anyone else who would listen, which somehow seemed to be actually improving the morale of those around them. Over in a corner, Shepard and Garrus were engaged in deep conversation with a Volus and a human. From their intense expressions, Liara assumed they were figuring out their next strategy. Normally she'd wish to be there with them but at the moment she simply needed a few seconds to herself.
And Liara couldn't see Alenko anywhere. Not that she was looking for him. His insensitive comments about her mother had left a bitter taste in her mouth. She didn't need his company. But Luke standing up for her, now that had felt good.
Liara herself was sitting down, slowly nibbling on a ration bar. The bar was dry and not particularly inviting, but she wasn't really eating for the taste. She needed the energy. The fact that her mother was involved in this mission seemed to make the whole ordeal even more draining. How could she stand by and just let these inhumane experiments take place under her watch? Too many had died. She could not be of her own mind, there was no possible scenario in which this was a conscious decision.
Lifting her eyes from her meal, she happened to make eye-contact with Luke across the room. An instinctive smile found its way to her lips and she raised a hand in a hesitant wave, before abruptly second-guessing herself. With a sheepish grimace, she quickly withdrew her hand, placing it back in her lap. She mentally chastised herself for her awkwardness. Why did she have to act like some giddy Thessian schoolgirl around him?
Luke simply smiled back. She watched as he smoothly excused himself from the conversation and made his way over to her. The casual, confident way he carried himself was almost a perfect contrast to her own fumbling awkwardness. It did nothing to ease her nerves. As he sat down beside her, she forced herself to take a calming breath. “How’re you holding up, Blue?”
She huffed. “I fervently believe that is the most unoriginal nickname I have been labelled with.”
“Is that so?” he teased, narrowing his eyes, “I’m sorry I’ve insulted you. I’ll go back to Doctor T’Soni.”
“N-no! Blue is fine,” she blurted before realising he was messing with her. “You are- hmph.”
Shepard chuckled, leaning back into his seat. “Seriously though, how’re you holding up? I know this must be tough.”
“You have no idea,” she sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I keep expecting my mother to be in the next room. I run through the worst possible scenarios constantly. Goddess, I am mad that she would get involved in something like this, that she would drag me into this mess," she closed her eyes. "But she is my mother, and I still hope more than anything that we can save her.”
“Liara…” he began. She already kne where this was going to go.
“No, it is alright, Luke. I have come to terms with it," she did her best to make it sound like she genuinely believed that. "My mother is gone. She has been corrupted by Saren.”
Shepard's face fell. “There still might be a chance we can help her.”
“I wish that were true. I have been talking with Shiala, between missions," she explained. "Her mission on Thessia goes well. But I have asked her more about Saren and my mother. She is convinced that she has been indoctrinated by Saren, that my mother is no longer her own person.”
“That’s… I don’t even know what to say to that,” Luke replied with quiet honesty.
Liara looked up at the roof. “It… it makes it easier, in a way. I could not kill my mother in cold blood if her mind was her own. I understand there is a strong chance she will not survive this encounter. Do not hesitate because of my feelings. I will mourn afterwards but, as much as it pains to say it," her voice softened. "We must consider the bigger picture.”
They sat in neutral silence for a few minutes. Those were not words either wanted to say or hear. “Liara, I promise you that I’ll do everything in my power to keep your mother alive. Look at me,” Shepard cupped her face and held her gaze. “Liara. Whatever happens in the Executive Labs, I’ll be here with you. Whatever you need, I’ll do it.”
“T-… Thank you, Luke,” she smiled gently.
Butch stood in front of the vending machine growing more and more frustrated by the second. The damn thing refused to spit out her ration, despite her having fed it the correct credits. Thrice. She gave the machine a solid thump with her fist. For all the advancements mankind had made, they still couldn't create a vending machine that actually bloody worked.
Just as she was about to give the machine a kick for good measure, it was suddenly engulfed in a burst of blue energy. Butch instinctively stepped back, throwing her arms up to protect her face. Rations began to tumble out onto the floor as she growled. With a colourful string of curses, Butch turned to see Alenko who... he wasn't looking all that well. She still wasn't happy. "Having a laugh? The hell do you want," she snapped, scowling at him.
“Just thought I’d lend a hand,” he replied quietly, shoulders slumped. “Figured you could use a break.”
Something about his voice made her pause. She folded her arms, studying him more closely. "You alright, LT? You look like shit."
Alenko shook his head slightly. "Does it even matter?"
"Of course it matters," Butch said impatiently. "You're still part of this crew." They may have drifted significantly since the fiasco on Eden Prime but far as Butch was concerned the team's the team.
"Am I?" he scoffed quietly, leaning against the wall as if suddenly exhausted. "Feels like everyone forgot that part."
"What’s that supposed to mean?" she narrowed her eyes.
Alenko glanced away, hesitating before he spoke again. "The Normandy used to mean something. We were a team, had each other's backs. But lately it’s like… none of us are on the same page anymore."
Butch sighed heavily, rubbing her forehead. "We’ve all been through hell. Eden Prime, Feros, now this shitshow, it’s bound to shake us up a bit. But we're still here, we're still together."
"No," Alenko said bitterly, voice tight. "You’re still here. Shepard’s still here. But the rest of us? The commander replaced us and nobody even blinked."
Her patience started to thin again. "Kaidan, Luke brought on people who can help with our mission. This isn't about replacing anyone."
He laughed, but the sound held no warmth, only exhaustion. "Tell yourself whatever you need to hear, Butch. I’ve seen how the commander looks at T'Soni. I've seen how you look at Vakarian. Only reason you're not being replaced is because you're his sister," he grumbled with no small amount of vitriol.
She bristled, eyes narrowing. "You sound like Terra Firma."
His gaze snapped back to her, hurt flaring briefly in his eyes. "That's not fair."
"Isn't it?" she pressed. "Listen to yourself."
"I’m not a bigot," he said sharply. "I'm just tired of feeling like an outsider on my own ship. Shepard trusts you, he trusts Garrus - hell, he'd trust Wrex before he’d talk to me about what’s really going on. Ever since that beacon, he’s been…different. We both know it." Alenko grimaced, rubbing his head again.
Butch opened her mouth, but nothing came out. "Kaidan," she finally said, quieter this time. "The commander’s still the same man we’ve always known. He’s making hard choices. Maybe you just need some rest-"
"Stop," he interrupted harshly, pushing away from the wall. "Don't act like I'm imagining things. You see it too, but you're ignoring it because you're safe in your spot next to him."
"Excuse me?" Her voice was dangerously low.
"You know exactly what I mean," he accused. "You’ve always been his favourite. You never had to fight for your place like the rest of us did."
"Careful, LT," she warned, fists clenching at her sides. "You’re crossing a line."
Frustration overtook him. He took a step forward, hand reaching out as if he could physically make her understand. "Dammit, Butch, listen"
Before he could finish, his hand closed firmly around her wrist. Memories from Mindoir came flashing back to her. Butch's reaction was immediate. "Take your hands off me," she snarled, meeting his gaze with a cold fury.
"Just listen," he pleaded, desperation creeping into his voice as he tightened his grip. "You're not hearing me-"
She struck him hard across the bridge of his nose with her forehead, forcing him to stumble backwards. "I said," she growled, twisting out of his grip, "take your hands-" she shoved him violently against the opposite wall "-off me." Her knee connected sharply, driving the breath from him and dropping him to the ground.
Without looking back, she stalked off angrily, leaving the groaning marine next to the vending machine. Garrus caught her eye from across the room, pulling away from his conversation as he started toward her. But Butch didn't slow down, marching straight toward Luke.
Garrus moved quickly, pushing through the crowd to reach Butch. He had seen her angry before - scratch that, he'd seen her angry on a weekly basis since they'd met - but this was different. The fury radiating from her now was something else entirely. He'd grown accustomed to how rapidly she could swing between anger and laughter but there was no laughter in sight this time. Something felt deeply wrong.
As he drew closer, he caught the tail end of what she was saying. Her voice was sharp and shaking with barely contained rage. “-he’s a fucking nutjob, Luke!”
Garrus' eyes narrowed. “What happened?” he demanded, stepping up beside Butch. His tone was sharper than he'd intended, but he couldn't mask the sudden wave of protectiveness that surged through him.
Luke glanced between them, clearly conflicted. Butch didn't wait for him to answer, turning sharply towards Garrus. Her voice was tight, practically shaking. “Alenko just assaulted me.”
Garrus’ mandibles flared in shock, then confusion, then anger. He stepped forward slightly, voice dark. “Where is he?”
Luke raised a hand, stepping between them carefully. “It’s not that simple, Garrus.”
Butch laughed bitterly, glaring at Shepard in disbelief. “Are you fucking serious?”
Her brother looked pained, trying to keep his voice even. “I’m on your side, Butch. You know I am. But I’m limited in what action I can take right now-”
“Limited?” she interrupted, voice rising sharply. “He attacked me! He’s dangerous. He needs to be off the goddamn ship, Luke.”
Shepard hesitated, his expression strained. “Butch, I can’t just—”
She exploded loud enough that heads began to turn. “It felt like Mindoir all over again!”
Luke froze. All color drained from his face, and for a long, painful second nobody moved or spoke. Garrus didn’t know exactly what had happened on Mindoir, but the look in Luke’s eyes and the anguish in Butch’s voice were enough to tell him everything. He didn't need the details.
He took a step forward, putting himself between Butch and Luke, anger still simmering beneath his voice. “Shepard, where is Alenko?” he growled quietly.
Luke sighed deeply, running a hand over his face. His gaze was distant, voice firm but strained. “I can’t let you do that, Garrus. Leave it with me.” He gave Butch one last, remorseful look before turning away. "Please."
He walked away without another word, leaving Garrus alone with Butch. He watched her for a moment, the tension draining slightly from his shoulders. “You alright?” he asked quietly, the anger in his voice replaced with concern. Butch stood motionless for a moment, eyes fixed on the floor. Then, very slightly, she shook her head. Garrus noticed the tremors in her hands, and without thinking - without giving himself a chance to second-guess himself - he stepped forward and gently wrapped his arms around her.
She didn’t resist. Instead, her shoulders relaxed instantly, and she leaned into him, resting her forehead against his chest plate. He held her close, careful but firm, not caring who else might be watching. He intended to stay there as long as she needed.
Once again, they were on the move again - the Executive Labs were just around the corner. This time, however, their progress remained unimpeded. Luke could still hear the Rachni around them. Their crawling and scratching was a constant as irritating as it was concerning, but for now the creatures kept their distance. He caught glimpses of them as they moved through the tunnels. Really, he should have had his head more in the game, yet while he should have been focused on the mission, his mind was elsewhere.
Alenko's aggression towards Butch had crossed a line and Luke had little choice but to leave him behind guarding the rear. Dealing with Alenko's behavior now would distract from their mission, but he promised himself he'd sort it out as soon as they returned to the Normandy. He felt- he was furious, really, but as much as he wanted to punch the man thorugh a wall for laying a hand on his sister it wasn't the time or place. Alenko had been acting off for months, ever since Eden Prime. In hindsight he should have looked into this sooner but he just never had the time. No, he mentally corrected, he did have the time. He just kept putting it off.
His thoughts halted abruptly as they stepped into a large, open chamber. At its centre stood an enormous transparent cylinder containing the largest Rachni Lukehad ever seen. Wires and tubes connected directly into its body. A soft, mournful melody resonated throughout the chamber. Then he noticed the bodies scattered around the floor. Asari commandos, dead from wounds that clearly matched those they'd encountered earlier on the corpses throughout the facility.
“Ah, Liara.” A voice echoed from above, cutting through the eerie music. The doors slammed shut behind them.
Luke's weapon immediately snapped upwards as he scanned for the source. After months of searching, the Matriarch was right there. They'd found her. Benezia began to gracefully descend, calm enough to concern him. Liara let out a soft, stunned whisper: “Mother…”
Benezia landed lightly, stepping towards them with an unnatural serenity. Luke staed at the strange black device fitted around her head like a twisted crown. Thick wires stretched upward and disappeared into machinery suspended from the ceiling. It looked suspiciously like the tech they'd found on Feros. Rachni continued to crawl along the walls, but strangely, for once they weren’t aggressive. Their melodic humming was strangely peaceful which only made the whole damn situation more unsettling.
The Matriarch reached out, gently stroking one of the Rachni as though it were a beloved pet. She turned to face Liara, offering a serene yet chilling smile. “My child,” she greeted warmly, “I’m so glad you could finally meet your brothers.”
Luke felt a chill run down his spine.
Chapter 35: Mother Knows Best
Summary:
The crew of the Normandy have to deal with Benezia
Notes:
For the title of the chapter, if you know you know
Chapter Text
When she was a girl, her mother had given her a long speech about how important it is that each individual play their role. Each sentient is a cog in a much grander machine, and only when they understand does the galaxy flourish. This theory was applied at many levels. Economically, socially, militarily, the list went on, but this particular speech ended up revolving around family. Everyone had a duty to fulfil their responsibilities within a family to the best of their ability. A parent's role was to provide support and guidance for their offspring. A child's role was to grow and learn to one day contribute to the grander galactic ecosystem in their own way. It was a theory that promoted harmony through love, trust, and faith.
As she stared into the eyes of the woman who birthed her, Liara saw none of that. “What have you done, mother?”
Benezia levitated herself once more, smiling gently. “You do not know the power of motherhood. To create, to grow, to mold into something beautiful. Look at my new children!” she gestured grandly at the infestation around her.
“I am your child," she insisted spitefully, "not these insects!”
The Matriarch frowned in disappointment. “True, I did not birth them, that honour goes to the Queen. But it is my mind that guides them," her face grew pleasant. "They recognise me as their mother, as they should. They recognise the truth of Saren’s plan, as you should," Benezia suddenly became stern. "Yet, you insist on this… disappointing act of rebelliousness.”
“And what of your followers?” Liara challenged, “They Pledged themselves to you, the highest honour an Asari could give, and yet, they lay dead. Killed by your pets.”
“Ttt, do not act so childishly. And do not insult your brothers. My followers struggled with what we have created here. Their minds were clouded with uncertainty and doubt. I sensed it. My children sensed it. What happened was… unfortunate," she grimaced for less than a second, "but expected.”
Liara could barely recognise the woman in front of them. “And what next? Will you kill me too, mother?”
The Matriarch chuckled. It was the same chuckle she had used to reprimand her as a whelp, but perverted. “Do not fret, my child, your brothers will not harm you. I shall take you to Sovereign. We shall be a family once more.”
Benezia rose her hand as if to order an attack, but Luke jumped in front of Liara, shouting. “Wait! Matriarch, we don’t want to fight you. Whether it’s you or us who die it’s going to hurt Liara,” he tried to stop her.
“Perhaps I’ve been too soft on her. This will be an educative moment,” her mother growled.
“No,” Luke argued with a disapproving raise of his index finger, “Liara refused to believe you were involved in Saren’s plot until given enough evidence to drown a Krogan. She insisted that you were kind and loving and compassionate! Your daughter loves you, and whatever corruption Saren has forced on you... you love her too.”
“Of course I love her,” she answered, acting as if his logic was ridiculous, “If I return her to Sovereign, she will become an ally and thus will remain safe.”
“That’s not true and you know it," he disagreed vehemently. "Saren will discard her the moment he’s done with her. Shiala told us you’re not in complete control, but you still have hundreds of years of wisdom. If you love your daughter, you’ll help her. We have to stop Saren.”
Benezia tutted. “Though there may be some truth in your words, you fail to understand the inevitability of the situation. Fighting will bring only death. I will not lose my only daughter do some delusion of hope and survivability.”
Luke crossed his arms and leant back. “I can’t believe you’re a coward,” he stated derisively.
“What!?” Benezia’s voice echoed throughout the room, rustling the Rachni who sung apprehensively. “You dare-”
“Yes, I do,” he continued angrily, “because bravery means fighting for who you love, not enslaving them!”
The Matriarch's face twitched. “I would not-, that is-”
“Please, mother, listen to us!” Liara pleaded, pushing past Shepard, “You can make this right!”
“You fail to understand-”
“That’s a load of bullshit,” Butch shouted, shaking her fist as Garrus held her back, “Li’s been singing your praises for months and you’re going to betray her like this?!”
“I-, I am not-” she watched the walls begin to break down. For the first time today, Liara allowed herself to truely hope.
“Yes you are!” Shepard roared, commanding everyone’s attention. Benezia’s head drooped slightly and for once her eyes failed to meet any of the Normandy’s crew. He continued, quieter. “But you don’t have to. Surrender and we can make a plan together. Do it for Liara.”
There was a very pregnant pause as everyone eyed the troubled and immobile Asari dangling in the air. The Rachni seemed to itch slightly closer to her, humming supportively. “I-… perhaps there is truth in your words… What have I d-”
“ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL”
Benezia's crown began to glow with a crimson light, casting harsh shadows across her features. She went limp, dangling in the air like a puppet cut from its strings. Her eyes too ignited with an otherworldly glow, devoid of what life they previously held. The Rachni surrounding the room screeched in distress, their harmonious melody turning into a discordant cacophony. Their movements became frantic as they became unsure and frightened.
Suddenly, the tubes and wires began to glow the same scarlet hue of the Matriarch's crown. A pulsating hum filled the room, vibrating the very ground beneath their feet. The vibration grew in intensity, and he could feel the electric tension in the air. Finally, the large structure to which everything was connected erupted in a brilliant flash of red. It lit the entire room, casting a light that bathed everything in a deep, bloody hue. The light was blinding, forcing Liara to shield her eyes against its searing intensity.
“SHEPARD. YOU WILL KNOW PAIN.”
Luke stared at Benezia's body. “Shit.”
Butch tackled him out of the way as a Rachni dove at him. “Look out!!”
From the back of their formation, Garrus squinted down the scope of his rifle firing shot after shot into the swarming Rachni. They just kept coming. Every time one dropped, another quickly filled the gap. The team's progress was slow, bogged down by the relentless enemy. They were trying to reach a small lab just ahead. It wasn't the greatest cover but it offered a better defensive position than anywhere else. To Garrus' surprise, Shepard had let Wrex take the lead. The old Krogan may not have been alive during the war but he was raised by those who were. Right now, that was all the advantage they were going to get.
He had initially been concerned with how Liara would handle herself in the fight but that worry quickly proved unnecessary. Despite the obvious strain from facing her mother, Liara's had fully thrown herself into the battle. He supposed it made sense. Violence was a powerful outlet for emotion. When they reached the lab, the squad quickly took defensive positions, sheltering behind desks and overturned tables. It wasn't perfect cover but it was better than being out in the open. Luke slid behind a lab bench next to Wrex, both of them reloading quickly. Garrus moved slightly higher onto a nearby platform, listening as Shepard spoke with the Krogan. “There’s too many,” Wrex growled. “We can’t hold them off forever.”
“Look at them,” Luke shot back, nodding towards the creatures. “No strategy. Whatever’s controlling her is throwing wave after wave at us without thought. When Benezia was at the wheel the Rachni were positioned to wipe us out easily.”
“Numbers are numbers, Shepard,” Wrex rumbled. "They'll still take us out eventually."
“Benezia was resisting," Luke shouted over an explosion. "If we can break her connection, we won’t need to fight our way out.”
The Krogan huffed. “Or she kills us anyway.”
“At least it'd be quicker!” Butch called back, throwing another grenade over their makeshift barricade.
“Tali!” Luke shouted, crawling swiftly toward the Quarian. “There's got to be an external control. If we shut it down-”
“We stop the Rachni,” she finished. She paused, uncertain. “But how do we do that?”
Shepard hesitated briefly, firing at a Rachni crawling towards them. “I was hoping you had ideas.”
“I can't hack anything from here!" Tali shouted. "There must be a satellite connection somewhere outside the facility.”
“The Normandy can destroy it. Can you locate the signal?”
Tali shook her head urgently, pointing to terminals in a dangerously exposed corner. “Not from here, I need access!”
Luke cursed quietly under his breath, then turned quickly toward Garrus. “Garrus! Cover Tali from here. Wrex, you're with me—we're getting Tali to those terminals. Everyone else, hold the line!”
Butch could hardly believe they were still pushing forward. The Rachni had become predictable, they had completely fixated on Luke. That single-mindedness made them easy targets, allowing Butch and the others to tear through their ranks with surprising ease. Nearby, Tali shouted victoriously, confirming the coordinates had finally gone through to Joker. But just as relief washed over her, everything fell apart.
A Rachni lunged from nowhere, landing hard on Tali. The Quarian screamed as its mandibles tore through her suit and into her flesh. Butch’s stomach clenched. Before anyone else could move, Wrex barrelled into the creature, his shotgun blast obliterating it instantly. But the damage was already done. Luke grabbed Tali and dragged her back into cover. Blood seeped visibly from her suit as Liara quickly dropped beside her, pale-faced. Butch watched anxiously as Liara wrapped a tight bandage around Tali’s midsection and sealed the wound with her biotics. It was a temporary fix at best. They needed real medical help, and fast.
The Rachni seemed to sense their vulnerability and immediately surged toward Luke and Tali’s position. Before they reached their target, Wrex threw himself into the enemy lines with a fury Butch had never seen from the Krogan. He fired his shotgun relentlessly, blowing through the enemy until it finally overheated. Without pausing, he swung the gun like a club, smashing creatures aside until the weapon broke in his hands. Even weaponless, he didn’t stop. Wrex charged forward, ripping into the Rachni with nothing but raw strength. Butch might have been disturbed if she wasn’t just as furious at the insects who’d hurt Tali.
Soon, the Rachni changed their approach. They no longer rushed Luke and instead instead turned their attention fully toward Wrex. Maybe they saw him as a bigger threat, or maybe just easier to reach. Either way, the rest who were able fired frantically, trying to keep them off the Krogan. But even Wrex’s rage had limits, and slowly he was forced back step by step, despite the bodies piling up around him.
Just when it felt like the Rachni were about to overwhelm them, the room shook dramatically. The red glow that had covered everything suddenly vanished, plunging the lab back into normal lighting. The constant hum of machines cut off abruptly, leaving a heavy silence behind. Joker had done it.
Immediately, the Rachni pulled back. Their aggressive movements ceased, replaced by cautious, almost gentle steps. Butch kept her rifle trained on them anyway, unwilling to trust their sudden docility. All attention shifted to Benezia. Still suspended by the ugly cables and wiring, her body now twitched uncontrollably. She began slowly descending, movements becoming steadier the closer she got to the ground.
When she finally landed, her knees buckled and she collapsed. Slowly, she lifted her head, meeting their gaze. Her eyes were clear now. Butch could see the tears. She had seen this face a thousand times, be it the sole survivor of a campaign gone wrong or a mother who just lost both her children. Benezia had the face of a broken woman. Butch knew she wouldn’t be coming back from this.
Chapter 36: Confutatis Maledictis
Summary:
The Noveria Arc comes to an end
Chapter Text
Liara sat on the floor hugging her mother. Tears flowed down both of their faces as they held each other tightly. Luke was polite enough to have directed the rest of them to ensure the room was clear of Rachni. Wrex had picked up Tali and left, intending to get her medical attention as soon as possible. It sounded bad, but she struggled to care about anything beyond what was in her arms. Her mother was holding onto her for dear life, and Liara couldn’t shake the fear that this might be the last time they would be together. “Mother…” she finally managed. “Why?”
It wasn’t exactly eloquent, but it was all she could muster. “My little wing… I-… I tried. I tried so very hard to do the right thing. But Sovereign, Saren’s ship, it controls you. Saren referred to it as Indoctrination," she shuddered. "I only wanted to save my… friend from going down a dark path, to stop countless deaths and violence-… but that wasn’t what happened,” she slumped.
Liara closed her eyes. “What… what happened here?”
“Saren wanted an army. We found a Rachni egg, hatched the Queen. We were… violent," she confessed. Her voice was full of guilt. "She gave me her children, but we couldn’t control them. Our scientists made this machine,” she gestured softly at her head. “It tuned my mind to theirs, utilising my melding ability to communicate with their harmonics. Had you not intervened, it is certain that Saren would have used me as a weapon.”
“Oh mother…” she whispered.
Benezia smiled sadly. “Do not pity me, my actions were monstrous. I was controlled and manipulated, but the hands which caused all this harm were still my own.”
Luke stepped forwards, lowering himself to a knee. He looked worried but she understood he still had a job to do. They needed information. She squeezed harder. “Matriarch, I… I know you’re troubled but I need to ask you some questions. Could I record you, to show the Council?”
“Of course,” she agreed, holding Shepard’s worried gaze.
“We’ve been tracing Saren for months but we still don’t understand his plans. What is the conduit?” he asked gently.
Her mother closed her eyes. “I… I do not know. But Saren believes it is the key to the return of the Reapers. I have melded with him. I am certain he believes it to be true.”
“The Reapers?” Luke asked. She understood they needed as much proof as they could get, regardless of the situation. Thank the goddess Shepard was clearheaded for she most certainly was not.
Benezia's face fell. “The machines which exterminated the Protheans. They are returning. We- we hoped to limit the damage by working with them, to save the lives of our people, to save the galaxy.”
He tapped something into his omni-tool. “Where can I find Saren?”
“I do not know. He mostly remains on Sovereign, he could be anywhere,” she replied.
Liara struggled to keep herself together as Luke kept pushing. She hated this. “Is there anything you could give us? Any information at all.”
“Yes… yes, I can," she tried to push herself up. "When you enter the Hot Labs, take my personal data cache. I located the Mu Relay from the mind of the Rachni Queen. I was not… gentle. This relay is the final jump to the conduit. You must hurry, Saren is getting closer and closer to his goals. If he can pinpoint the final system…”
“Thank you, Matriarch, you have no idea how helpful this is,” Luke seemed incredibly grateful. Subconsciously she knew this to be a major coup, but Liara struggled to give much thought to anything beyond her dying mother.
“Mm…" her mother smiled maternally. "You have chosen well, Little Wing.”
“Mother?” she asked, confused.
“The commander is good man, and a greater leader." Benezia chuckled, turning ot look at the commander. "You have frustrated him like no one else.”
Shepard smirked slightly. “I’ll do my best to keep that up.”
Her mother's face fell once more as she forced herself to stand up. “Thank you, children, but you must go now. There is nothing else you can accomplish here.”
“What?” Liara exclaimed, pulling away from the Matriarch.
“I cannot come with you. This equipment, it is not removable,” she admitted. "This arrangement was supposed to be permanent."
“Surely with time we might find a way!” she felt a flash of anger, disgusted that her mother would simply give up and die.
Benezia smiled sadly again. “No. To do so would kill me. Listen carefully. Sovereign’s commands were etched into the minds of my- of the Rachni," she corrected herself. "I am holding them back but I am too weak to subdue them. If you stay here, they will kill you. Go down to the Hot Labs and initiate a neutron purge,” she ordered darkly.
“That will kill everyone in these labs too!" Liara's eyes widened. "You will die!”
Her mother refused to look her in the eyes. “I know, child, but it is the only way. Only I can keep the Rachni here long enough for you to initiate the purge.” Liara opened her mouth but, for once, could find nothing to say. “There is one last matter to attend to. Commander, I do not trust my judgement," she shifted her gaze to Luke's. "Should I release the Queen, or keep her here to die with me?”
He didn’t even hesitate for a second. “I won’t preside over a genocide. Free her.”
A jubilant harmony rung throughout the room. Shepard turned to face the Queen who jittered happily. Next to her, the corpse of an Asari commando seemed to reanimate, lifting itself off the ground. “She…pard… Shepard… You… would free us?”
“Are you the Queen?” stepped towards her.
The dead Asari struggled to hold itself upright. “Yes…”
“I can’t imagine what you’ve been through,” Luke rested a hand on the central cylinder containing the Queen. “It’s over. But I need you to flee so you don’t get killed.”
“Where must… we go…?" the corpse sung. "Where… will we be safe… from the tainted ones…?
“The Terminus systems. If you can hide, I’ll give you my frequency. I promise I’ll find you a new home,” he gave her his word.
Confusion echoed around the room. “You would… do more than… free us…?
Luke crossed his arms. “I meant what I said. I won’t stand by and watch a genocide.”
“Then I have… a favour... to ask… … Take… my daughter… with you… …" she requested. "The next Queen… must be safe… if I do not make it…”
Benezia narrowed her eyes. “You have a daughter?”
“This tainted one…” the Queen accused, “kept us here… for so many years… that I learnt how… to subvert her trap… … When I realised… I was pregnant… with a girl… I knew how to hide her… … The Round One… helped me at night… he hid my daughter… she is in the Hot Labs.., or so he tells me… Please… protect her.., until I have a home… for us…”
“I’ll do it,” Shepard promised unwaveringly.
“Now go,” Benezia pleaded, “I will release the Queen but you must initiate the purge.”
“I won’t let you die, mother!” Liara yelled and leapt at her mother, stopped only by Shepard. She gave him a pained look as he pulled her away.
“Go, my daughter,” the Matriarch clasped her hands behind her back as she levitated herself off the ground.
“No! We can still save you!” Liara fought Shepard’s grip, thrashing about as he slowly led her to the elevator.
She turned away, lifting herself higher into the room. “I have been violated, and I have violated. I do not wish to continue any further. I do not doubt there is a way to ensure my survival, but I would prefer if my story ended here.”
“Mother!” Liara screamed.
She looked back down at them, smiling. “Go, my daughter. I am so very proud of you. Keep her safe, commander.” She gave him a knowing glance of approval. “I love you, Liara.”
“Mother!!!!!”
The elevator doors slid shut, silencing all of them immediately, with the exception of Liara's crying. Her sobs echoed off the walls and Luke held her carefully, unsure of what else to do. Her tears soaked into his armour, but he didn’t move. The rest of the team stood in silence, avoiding each other’s eyes. Nobody spoke. There was nothing helpful to say, and nobody wanted to make it worse by trying.
Then something shifted. Liara's arms tensed, and she suddenly shoved him back. Before anyone could react, biotic energy flared around her. She pinned him to the elevator wall with more force than anyone had expected. “You promised,” she grit through her teeth, her voice shaking, her face close to his. “You promised you’d do everything you could to save her. Why did you pull me away?”
Luke didn’t resist. He held her gaze. “Liara… I’m sorry. I didn’t want it to go like this, I-” He was cut off as his body lifted from the floor, the pressure increasing.
"Get your hands off-" Butch growled as she moved forwards before being sent flying backwards.
Her hand going for her weapon, but Luke reached out with a hand to stop her. “Butch, no!”
Liara's voice broke into a scream. “You promised!”
Luke grunted as the pressure mounted. Heat flaring in his limbs. “Li…a…ra…”
“Stop talking!” she shouted, her grip on her powers slipping into something messier.
Butch didn’t listen this time. She stepped forward again. Liara turned sharply and lifted her too, both of them now hovering in the air.
“Leave… her… alone,” Luke gasped out.
“All of you, just-” Liara’s voice cracked mid-word. Her body trembled. “Please-”
The biotics vanished all at once. She dropped to the floor first, followed a moment later by Shepard. He hit the ground hard, groaning at the impact. Despite his pain he forced himself back up, slowly pulling Liara back into a hug as she sobbed relentlessly. This time, she didn’t fight back. Or assault anyone.
The elevator doors opened with a soft hiss as they reached the Hot Labs. Steam hissed from vents nearby. Machinery whirred steadily. It was abandoned. Luke looked down at Liara. Her face was pale and drawn and her eyes were glassy with exhaustion. He turned to Butch, who hadn’t said a word since being released. She looked uncomfortable, unsure of what to do.
“She’ll be alright,” Luke said, more to himself than to anyone else. He gently passed Liara over.
Butch hesitated for a second, then nodded and wrapped an arm around her. "If she goes nuclear again," she hissed at him but he cut her off with a glare.
Luke stood up fully and scanned the room. “Garrus,” he pointed toward a nearby terminal, “see if you can start the purge from there.”
The Turian moved quickly to the station and started working. “I’ll find us an exit,” Williams said, already looking around. “We’re not going to want to stick around.”
He nodded but his focus had shifted. He had one more job to do. The Queen had begged them to protect her child - the second Queen. Was she a princess? Did Rachni even have princesses? He was unfamiliar with the terminology but it wasn't important. That being said, he was a bit confused as to where to look. How a Rachni offspring could be kept hidden from the scientists who were here daily was beyond him. There were tanks with various creatures, data pads detailing experiments, but nothing that directly pointed to the location of the Queen's daughter.
He moved through the lab quickly looking at anything that might give him a clue. But there was nothing obvious. No cage. No label. “Commander,” Garrus called from the terminal. “I’m ready. Once I trigger the purge, we’ll have to move fast.”
“Not yet,” Shepard replied. “We still need to find the Rachni… Princess.” Luke still wasn't sure if the word was right, but nobody corrected him. And then they heard a soft, almost melodic hum. Familiar in a way that he couldn't quite place. He moved toward the sound, following it to the corner of the room. The melody grew louder. Then something shifted above them. He looked up.
A shadow moved in the vent.
A moment later, the young Rachni emerged. She moved with gracefully, humming with the same tune. Her body shimmered slightly under the lights. She was much softer and much smaller than her mother, but no less strange. As she approached Luke there was no hint of aggression or fear. Instead she seemed almost jubilant. Her appendages reached out to wrap gently around his arms and torso. After a few seconds, he nodded. “Garrus,” he said quietly. “Start the purge.”
The Turian hit the command. Sirens went off immediately. Red lights flashed across the lab. “Williams!” Luke shouted, keeping the Rachni close.
“This way!” she yelled back, pointing to a corridor to the left. “Come on!”
Chapter 37: Aftermath
Summary:
With Thessia behind them, the consequences begin stacking up
Chapter Text
Luke had met several Asari in his time. He'd gotten close to a fair few as well, starting after Elysium. All but Aria spoke well of Thessia, the planet the Normandy was approaching. Many had shown him pictures. Liara had quite a few from her childhood, embarrased as she was about her wealth. She mostly showed him pictures of parks and academic events. Even so, Luke had hopes that one day he'd have the opportunity to visit the world.
This was not what he had in mind.
He leaned over the command console as he glanced at the readouts on the screen. He hadn’t had the chance to ask Liara what the proper rites were for an Asari Matriarch. They hadn’t recovered much of a body, but he figured returning to Asari space was the right thing to do. Thessia was their home and, no matter what came next, it made sense that it would begin there.
He pushed away from the console and turned toward the elevator. It had been quite a few missions since he had to exert himself so much. The day had taken its toll and he was really stating to feel it. Every step down the hallway felt heavier than the last, dramatic as it sounded in his head. He paused for a brief moment outside the door to his quarters. Luke took a deep breath, bracing himself for what was on the other side.
And then he entered.
Liara sat on the couch, curled into herself, tears running quietly down her cheeks. Butch sat beside her, stiff and clearly out of her depth, doing what she could to care for the Asari. She looked up when she noticed him and he caught a glimpse of pure relief in her face. She stood and approached him, crossing her arms. "Not too happy about babysitting Li after she force-choked you," she whispered at him.
"What if it was our mom who died?" he placed his helmet down on the desk. "I know damn well how poorly I'd take it."
Butch scoffed. "I'd be pissed too, but we're all supposed to be family on the Normandy," she stressed. "No matter what, you never raise a hand against family."
Luke sighed. "Be that as it may, she's a lot more sheltered than us. Can you blame her for losing her cool?"
"Look, I like her, I really do," his sister gave him a pointed look, "and I promise I really do feel bloody awful about this all. But come on. You know damn well at the end of the day if it comes down to it you'll always come first," she leaned in. "You and your family took me in when I had nothing else. I'll always be loyal to you."
"I know," he whispered. "You know I appreciate that. You're just as much a sister to me as Lara."
Butch snorted. "Don't let her hear you say that," she smirked before getting dark once again. "Luke, seriously, I'm not going to hold this against her. I'm really not. Just know that I won't hesitate to do what I have to to keep you safe," she warned him. Luke straightened his back. "Remember that when you deal with Alenko."
Luke's eyes followed her out of the room. He sighed again, pulling off the last pieces of his armout until he was just in his bodysuit and pulled his leather jacket over the top. Butch was right. He should have reacted stronger when she told him about Alenko. Hell, Garrus reacted angrier. He'd deal with it later. For now, he looked back at Liara who was still on his couch, he needed to deal with this.
He didn’t say anything at first. He just sat there, close enough for her to feel it. After a moment, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her gently toward him. She didn’t resist. Her body leaned into his, the tension in her frame easing just slightly.
The room stayed quiet.
He’d seen grief like this before. Soldiers, civilians, people who had lost more than anyone should have to. There was never a right thing to say. No clever line or comforting speech ever helped. What mattered was being there. Staying.
Eventually, she spoke. “Luke… I feel so weak.” Her voice was shaky. “She was the only family I ever had. I… I don’t have anyone now.”
He gave her a gentle squeeze. “That’s not true,” he disagreed softly. “You have me. You have this crew. You have the Normandy.”
Liara gave a short, humourless laugh. “You can’t promise me that. This is a military ship. You all risk your lives every day.” He didn’t argue. He couldn’t. She wasn’t wrong. “I’m sorry,” she added, softer now. “For the elevator. I know you tried.”
“I wish I could’ve done more,” he honestly replied. Luke was about to say something else when his omni-tool chirped. He looked down, already annoyed, and saw the message flash across the screen: CIC. Urgent. Thessian Defence Force on the line.
Liara’s eyes followed the shift in his focus. “Luke?”
Luke looked at her. “I have to go. The TDF wants to speak with me.” He hesitated. “Will you be okay for a few minutes?”
She nodded, wiping at her face. “Go. It’s important. I’ll stay here.”
He stood and gave her hand one last squeeze. “I won’t be long.”
She offered a faint smile. “I know.”
Katherina smoothed out her custom crimson uniform as she moved side-by-side with her brother at a brisk pace towards the Leviathan’s comm centre. Truthfully, they could handle a call from practically any room on their ship - roughly 80% of their jobs revolved around communication, after all. Running businesses as large as Luthor Intergalactic could be done remotely but they could not be run silently. Underlings were often unreliable for positions of executive strategy. But when the meeting of the Preservation Council was called, both twins knew that it just wouldn't do to join the call from the medium-sized projector in their living room.
Frederick glanced at his omni-tool. “Do you think this is about Benezia?”
“Mm,” Katherina agreed, “either her success, or her death.”
“A shame. What a waste,” he frowned.
She exhaled sharlpy in agreeance. “Let’s just hope Luke took care of her for us. I’d hate to have to deal with the Noverian infestation ourselves. You know how much I hate bugs.”
The Preservation Council was a group of people Saren assembled to coordinate his efforts. Though they all claimed to want to preserve the galaxy as best they could, only a fool would fail to see the rivalries and secret desires of its members. The group was supposedly a collaborative project, but everyone involved knew that they were using each other to achieve their own goals.
The twins entered the room and dimmed the lights, stepping into the circle in the centre of the room. The world faded away and holograms began to appear, displaying every living member of the Preservation Council in a circle. At their left was the Krogan battlemaster, Doctor Weyrloc Droyas. He led Saren’s efforts to circumvent the Genophage and had a legion of Krogan mercenaries at his disposal. Then was the hologram of a single Geth Prime, the synthetics’ representation on the Council. It really communicated, but when it did, it spoke on behalf of their ‘Consensus’.
Then, opposite the two of them, was Saren himself. Katherina was certain his hologram was slightly larger than the rest of them, as if to make himself appear more impressive. He was rather tall, though, so perhaps she was allowing her perception to be altered by her personal bias of the man. The empty spot next to Saren told Katherina that Benezia had indeed perished on Noveria. She wondered if someone else would take her place. Her death would likely mean more resources would go to Droyas’ project. Finally, directly at the twin’s right, was Mr Harper.
Katherina had heeded Petrovsky's warnings about the man. He was illusive, information on him was scarce – even to someone with their resources. The man purportedly had a vast secretive organisation at his disposal. She had no way to verify this information. At the moment they danced around each other, lending assistance where they could but not yet trusting each other enough to show their hands. He puffed his cigar, nodding at the twins in acknowledgment.
“Luthors,” Saren greeted, treating them as one, “I’m thrilled you could finally join us.”
“Dealing with an Alliance Admiral is not a process one can step away from carelessly, Herr Saren,” Katherina countered cooly, turning her head to the only other human on the council aside from her brother. “Herr Harper, Kohoku will cease to be an issue by end of day. Your operations will not be disturbed.”
“I admire your efficiency,” he nodded again, grateful.
The Turian scowled. “We are not here to discuss irrelevant Admirals,” Saren interrupted. He was practically fuming. “No, we are here to discuss the situation on Noveria.”
The twins shared a performative look. “I’m afraid we are out of the loop,” Frederick acted innocent. “We received no news while on Binthu. The coverage was lacking.”
“Benezia’s dead,” Droyas grinned, no doubt happy about the increase in funding and support his projects were about to receive. “I told you, the Krogan are superior to the Rachni. Our new horde will bring you victory, Saren.”
“The Normandy arrived in Noveria four days ago,” Harper explained, typing away on something they couldn't see. “They effected a major change in administration, reached the Matriarch’s facility, and wiped it out with a neutron purge. I find it quite impressive. If only we had the commander on our side,” he mused.
Katherina furrowed her brow. “How did Shepard learn the location of the facility?” she asked calmly, feigning ignorance.
“Heh,” Droyas chuckled, “I knew she’d make a mistake one day. Benezia wasn’t so smart in the end.”
Saren growled. “Benezia’s death is not something to be happy about. She financially contributed more than any other to our mission. She is not replaceable.”
Katherina huffed. “Bickering will get us nowhere,” she interjected dismissively.
“What is the plan now?” her brother finished for her.
“We need time,” Saren breathed out slowly. “Benezia found us the location of the Mu relay. I need time to calculate the location of the Conduit. The Geth are amassing half of our forces in the Armstrong Cluster, where they will launch a major operation to distract the Alliance.” Katherina glanced at the Geth which remained silent and immobile. Saren shifted his attention to Droyas. “I hope your project will yield usable results by the time we're prepared for the final phase of our mission.”
the doctor rose his hands grandly. “Krogan boots will shake the Citadel once more,” he boomed, “and nothing will stop our glorious Horde!!”
“Harper, Luthors,” Saren ordered, “destabilise our foes however you can. Keep me appraised of any information that could affect our goals.”
The three of them remained silent, only nodding. One by one, the holograms flickered out.
Luke walked through the Normandy with a growing sense of frustration. The galaxy was doing everything it could to make this as difficult as possible for him. All he wanted was a moment to check on Liara but the demands just kept coming. It felt endless. First, the Thessian Defence Force had held him up with questions and red tape. Then the Council of Matriarchs had demanded his personal presence. Given what had happened, he couldn’t exactly say no. Their influence was massive, and with a prominant Matriarch dead at his hands, they were watching everything.
They demanded his personal audience and was forced into a long and exhausting holo-call. It was nothing but political pressure dressed as polite concern. He was relieved when they agreed to wait until he reached Zenithia before continuing. But no sooner had the call ended than his comm lit up again, this time with requests from Councillor Tevos. More formalities, more subtle reminders of how badly this could go if handled wrong.
And then the press found out.
Luke hated dealing with reporters on a good day. Now? He was one message away from losing it. He'd used Spectre authority to stall them for the time being, but it wouldn’t last.
He ended another briefing with local security to delay the media and left the comms room without a word, making his way toward his quarters as quickly as he could. He hit the door panel doing alll in his power not to let his irritation show. The room was quiet when he stepped inside. No sign of Liara. Then he heard a soft, uneven sound near the bed. He followed it, stepping carefully, and found her curled up on the floor, small and shaking. Her breathing was quick, too quick. Luke knelt down beside her without hesitation.
It was evident she was in the throes of a severe panic attack. Despite the gravity of the situation, Luke remained composed. He'd seen enough episodes in his time to recognise the signs. His sister had suffered in her teenage years too many times for his liking. Luke took Liara’s hands in his and leaned in. “Hey,” he whispered gently, “I need you to breathe with me, okay? Just follow me.”
He inhaled slowly and deeply, letting her feel the rhythm, then exhaled just as slowly. Her hands were ice cold and trembling and she clung to his fingers like they were a lifeline.
“Come on,” he said again, quieter this time. “In... and out. Just like that.” Her wide eyes flicked up but they locked onto his. She was struggling. He could see it all over her. The breathing was still sharp and uneven, but it started to slow. “There you go,” Luke murmured. “You're doing great. Just stay with me. In... out.”
The room around them faded into the background. All that mattered was keeping her steady. Slowly, her breathing matched his. Not perfectly, but it was enough for her to begin to calm. The shaking in her arms eased. Luke stayed right there, rubbing his thumb along the back of her hand.
Her voice was barely above a whisper. “Please… meld with me. I need your strength.”
Luke hesitated. He knew that the melding process was… intimate. It wasn’t something to be taken lightly. "Liara," he began, weighing his words carefully, "Are you sure this is what you want right now? I-"
“P-Please,” she repeated, voice trembling. “I can’t…”
He nodded, leaning in. “Alright.”
Their foreheads met. Everything else fell away in an instant. Her fear hit him immediately . It was cold. Tight. Crushing. Panic still clung to every part of her, as did shame and helplessness. But Luke didn’t flinch. He focused on what he wanted her to feel. Calm. Safety. Steadiness. Bit by bit, he pushed it outward. It took time, but eventually the fear eased. The panic faded to the edges. Her emotions steadied. His strength filled the gaps she couldn’t hold herself.
When the meld faded they were still close, foreheads touching. Liara was breathing normally now. Her eyes were dry. Then she slumped forward, wrapping her arms around him and whispering, “Thank you…”
Luke caught her easily. Her body had gone limp. Exhaustion had finally won out. She was asleep before she even finished the sentence.
He shifted carefully, sliding one arm under her knees and the other behind her back. Then he stood, carrying her over to the bed and laying her down gently. He made sure the covers were pulled over her, smoothing them out with quiet care. She didn’t stir. He stood there for a few more seconds, hand resting lightly on her shoulder. Just watching her breathe.
Looks like it’s the couch for me tonight.
Chapter 38: Thessia
Summary:
Alenko is dealt with. The Normandy prepares to handle the fallout of Benezia's death
Chapter Text
The days ahead weren’t going to be easy.
Luke leaned back in his chair in the comms room, which was temporarily doubling as his office while Liara was passed out in his quarters. His eyes skimmed over a stack of reports he was too tired to care about. His understanding of Asari politics was limited on a good day. Now, after Benezia’s death, every political faction on Thessia wanted something from him. And through all of that, Liara remained at the centre of it. Which meant so did he. The Normandy needed to be airtight moving forward. No distractions. No fractures.
Which was why Kaidan was now a problem he couldn’t avoid any longer.
Luke didn't want to do this. He didn't want to have to confront the man he called a friend. Alenko and he had drifted, yes, but they'd served for years. Yet at the same time he had raised against his sister. If Butch was willing to step between him and Liara when she attacked him in the elevator then he needed to be willing to do the same now. Still. He didn't feel particularly good about it.
A chime at the door pulled him from his thoughts. He rubbed his eyes once before hitting the panel. “Come in.” The door slid open and Alenko stepped in. His uniform was clean but he looked like he hadn’t slept. There was a dullness behind his eyes. He looked tired beyond belief. Luke motioned for him to sit. “Kaiden,” Luke said, voice firm but level. “Take a seat.”
Kaidan nodded once and sat down stiffly. His shoulders were hunched, jaw tight. Luke didn’t sit at first - he paced. He took several slow steps from one end of the room to the other as he tried to figure out the best way to approach this.
“I’ll be honest,” he began, stopping in front of the desk. “I still can't believe I'm doing this. We’ve worked together long enough for me to know you’re a good man. But what happened with Butch can’t go without consequence.” His friend said nothing. His hands were clasped tightly in his lap. “This is a formal disciplinary hearing,” Luke continued. “Security footage backs up her report. I didn’t need to give you a chance to explain, but I thought you deserved that much.”
Kaidan gave a short breath of a joyless laugh. “You thought we were friends.”
Luke didn’t respond right away. "Aren't we?"
“I respect you, Commander,” he said eventually, looking past him rather than at him. “But friends don’t do what you’ve done.”
“What have I done?” he unclasped his hands, standing tall.
“You made this place unrecognisable,” Kaidan said, voice low. “This ship… we used to be a team. Now half of it’s filled with people we can’t trust.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Can’t trust, or don’t want to?”
“I’m not a bigot,” Kaidan snapped before Luke could even finish. “I’m not-" He stopped himself, pressing a hand to his temple. “You don’t get it. Something’s wrong. I wake up in a sweat. I- I can’t focus. There’s pressure in my skull all the time, and every time I try to talk about it, people look at me like I’ve lost my mind.”
Luke studied him. There was something else eating away at him. “Kaidan,” Luke said slowly, “if something’s wrong, you should’ve come to me.”
“I didn’t know how,” Kaidan said, voice cracking ever so slightly. “It’s like there’s this fog, and I can’t think straight. You brought in Garrus, Wrex, Liara, and suddenly we don’t matter anymore. You don’t even see it, do you?”
Luke didn’t answer. He let the silence hang between them before finally speaking. “Cut the bullshit,” he said evenly. “You’re not the only one who struggled with the changes, but you’re the only one who let it come to this.” Kaidan looked up sharply. “Seven crew complaints,” Luke gestured to a file he had open on his desk. “Four were about Wrex eating too much. The other three were withdrawn after people actually worked with the new team. We’re still a unit. The only one who isn’t on board anymore is you.”
“That’s not fair,” Kaidan said, jaw tightening again.
“You assaulted a fellow officer.”
“I lost control,” he muttered.
He rested his hands on the desk. “You scared her.”
Kaiden paled. “I didn’t mean to.”
“But you did.”
He exhaled sharply and leaned back, eyes closing for a moment. “I can’t explain it,” he said, quieter now.
Luke sat down across from him and leaned forward. “Then you need help. And this isn’t the place to get it.”
Kaidan’s eyes opened, panic setting in. “Wait. What does that mean?”
“I’m suspending you from duty on the Normandy,” Luke said, voice steady but regretful. “You’re getting transferred to another Alliance ship. Somewhere quieter. Somewhere where you can reset. You’re not fit for combat with us anymore, Kaidan. I can’t ignore that.”
“You can’t do that,” Kaidan said, standing abruptly, voice rising. “You don’t get to just throw me out.”
“Hackett gave me full authority,” Luke replied calmly. “Your shuttle leaves in twenty-four hours. You’re not being thrown out," he raised his hands to calm him, "I'm giving you a chance to get better.”
Kaidan’s biotics shimmered faintly, the familiar glow starting to build in his arms. “You really think I’m broken,” he whispered.
“I think you need help,” he stood his ground.
There was a long pause. Kaidan nodded, just once. It wasn’t agreement. It sure as hell wasn't acceptance. Luke knew the man well enough to know it was resignation. “Fine,” he muttered. “I’ll pack.”
He turned and walked out.
Luke stayed where he was, staring at the closed door for a long time before letting out a slow breath. A soft rustling behind him pulled him out of it. He turned his head, eyebrows rising slightly when he spotted the Rachni Princess crawling out of one of the wall vents. He gave her a slight smile as he seated himself again. She was humming a gentle sound that almost felt upbeat. She tilted her head when she reached him. Her hum shifting slightly, like a question. Luke gave a tired chuckle, leaning back in his chair as she climbed onto him without hesitation. Her weight settled across his shoulders and arms, limbs wrapped carefully around him in what could only be described as a hug.
“Not really,” he said, answering the question she hadn’t voiced. “But it had to be done.”
He let out a breath and closed his eyes for a second. It was strange, sitting there with a massive insect wrapped around him. It wasn’t the kind of thing you could explain to anyone else without getting a few concerned looks, but the Princess had a way of making her presence feel warm. Like she understood more than anyone gave her credit for. She tightened her grip just slightly, almost like she was trying to comfort him.
Luke smiled faintly. “Well,” he said, glancing up at her, “it’s nice to know someone around here gives a damn. Hope the Normandy’s ducts aren’t too cramped for you.” The Princess hummed again, clearly pleased. Luke could feel the sound vibrating faintly through his chest. He looked at her thoughtfully. “I wonder if we could actually translate what you’re saying,” he muttered. “Old Rachni war archives must have something buried in them.”
That got a reaction. She let out a higher-pitched chirp. Her limbs shifted slightly like she was bracing herself, hopeful.
Luke grinned. “I’ll talk to Tali,” he promised, nodding once. “She’s good at figuring this kind of thing out.” The Princess didn’t say anything else. She just stayed there, humming softly while Luke turned back to his terminal. He had more messages to get through. She stayed right where she was, and somehow, that helped.
Liara’s eyelids felt heavy. Her head was foggy and she felt disoriented. For a moment, she couldn’t remember where she was or how she got there.
Her first realisation was how comfortable the bed was. The second realisation was that she was still in her under-armour. The third realisation was that, due to the comfiness of the bed, it could not be the cot she has been sleeping using in her ‘lab’, meaning that this was not her bed.
And then it all came back to her.
A sharp inhale broke the room's quiet. Liara's blue skin flushed a deeper shade, a pang of embarrassment flooding her. She hadn't experienced an episode so severe since her formative years, back when the galaxy had seemed so much larger and more overwhelming. Not that it wasn’t now, of course, but she had learnt how to control herself better to avoid such incidents.
She glanced toward the terminal on the table beside her. The message from Shiala was still open.
She read it again. The beginning was her condolences over her mother's death which she very much appreciated. But as she scrolled, her heart sank. The second half of the message was a summary of the assets she now stood to inherit. It read more like a classified military briefing than a legal document. Companies, shipping lanes, research labs, off-world interests, even asteroid holdings and four entire planets. Trillions of credits that had been tied to Benezia’s name, and now, to hers.
But that wasn’t the worst of it. The Council of Matriarchs had already begun trying to block the inheritance, citing her age and 'emotional instability'. They weren’t subtle about it either. Officially, they claimed they were safeguarding the legacy of one of their most influential members, but Liara was smart enough to read between the lines. Unofficially, they sougt to keep power where it already was.
It had been too much. She was still grieving, still reeling from the mission. And now suddenly, everyone wanted something from her.
She rubbed her temples, trying to focus. If she could push the funeral forward quickly, the Matriarchs would have to step back, at least for a while. It wasn’t a long-term solution, but it would buy her time. The door slid open, pulling her out of her thoughts. Liara looked up, startled at first, but relaxed as Luke stepped inside, carrying a tray in one hand and a change of clothes in the other.
“Is that…?”
“We’re on Thessia,” he said casually, setting the tray down beside her. “Figured I’d order something local.” She didn’t wait for permission. The moment the lid came off, the aroma hit her, and she began eating without hesitation. It was the first real meal she’d had in days. “You look better,” Luke said, watching her with a faint smile.
“I’m sorry about before,” she replied between bites. “That won’t happen again. Thank you for everything.”
Luke frowned and shook his head. “I’m not accepting that apology. You went through something traumatic. What happened was a natural response.”
Liara gave a small, tired smile. “You don’t have to walk on eggshells, Luke. My mother died. We both know that. But that’s not what set me off.” She reached for the terminal and forwarded the message to his omni-tool. “This did.”
Luke raised his wrist and began reading. His eyes moved faster as he scrolled. After a moment, he let out a breath. “Holy sh- Liara, is this real?”
She grimaced. “Every line of it.”
He sat down across from her and stared at the document for a long moment. “Okay,” he said finally. “So what’s the plan?”
Liara blinked. “The plan?”
“I’m not letting you handle this alone. Not with half of Thessia watching, and definitely not with Saren still out there," he grumbled. "We don’t have any leads right now anyway. The Normandy stays with you.” She opened her mouth, but Luke held up a hand before she could argue. “You’re not going to talk me out of it. My Spectre status might actually be useful for once. And frankly, I don’t trust those Matriarchs not to try something.”
She let out a quiet breath. The knot in her chest loosened just a little. “Thank you,” she said softly. “I… I didn’t realise how much I needed to hear that.”
Luke leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “So,” he asked again, more gently this time, “what’s the plan?”
The shuttle ride into Thessia had been quiet.
Earlier, she’d watched Liara walk out of Luke’s quarters with her head high and shoulders squared. She seemed a bit more confident again. After everything they’d gone through on Noveria, Butch wouldn't have been able to blame her if she had regressed or retreated into her shell again. Then Luke briefed her and Garrus about the inheritance and she was even more impressed.
They didn’t exactly have a full squad this time. Tali was still recovering, and Wrex hadn’t left her side since they got back. Butch had always known the big guy had a soft spot, but seeing him camped outside the medbay just confirmed it. And then there was the fact that they were officially down a man. Butch didn’t waste any more thought on him than she had to. She wasn't angry that Luke hadn't taken a harsher line with Kaiden. He didn't tell her what happened in the disciplinary meeting but nor did she want to know. As far as she was concerned Alenko was about to be removed from the Normandy and she wouldn't have to think about it any more.
Regardless, it left the ground team a little thin.
Garrus and Pressley were Butch things down aboard the Normandy. Butch had her doubts about the two of them working together at first, but after Feros they’d somehow clicked and found a flow that worked. She smirked to herself at the thought. Luke treated Garrus like an equal, sure, but he was also teaching him how to lead without ever making it obvious. The Turian took to leadership naturally and she played her part to support him where she could.
Butch sat toward the back, keeping an eye on the rest of the group while watching the city roll past the windows. It wasn’t often she found herself deployed somewhere this nice. Thessia had a natural glow to it. It had clean skies, smooth buildings, and a weird style of architecture that just seemed to fit with the Asari.
Across from her, Luke shifted slightly, reaching up to adjust the rank bars on his uniform. He was nervous, not that he’d ever admit it. Liara sat next to him, wearing what Butch privately referred to as a power suit - though, technically, it was a dress. But the point still stood. It made a statement. She looked important. The shuttle finally touched down in front of the T’Soni estate. Butch stepped out last, boots hitting the polished stone walkway. She kept to the back of the group and looked around.
The place was enormous.
It stretched out over what had to be several acres, every inch of it carefully maintained. The structure itself was stunning. It looked like the kind of place that made you stand a little straighter just walking up to it. Three Asari waited at the front steps. Butch instantly recognised Shiala standing tall with her hands clasped in front of her. The other two were unfamiliar but if she were to put money on it she'd bet they were important. The one in the centre stepped forward and bowed as Liara approached, the rest of the group falling in behind her.
Chapter 39: Lady
Summary:
Liara's ascension begins
Chapter Text
“Lady Liara,” the elegant, mature Asari standing in the centre of the three greeted. “It is good to see you again. Thank the Goddess you are unharmed.”
“Thank you, Aunty,” Liara replied with a fond smile, “but you should be directing your thanks to the commander and our crew,” she turned to indicated at Luke who, being a little out of his depth, nodded respectfully. He hoped that was appropriate.
“Ah, but we should have introductions!" she spread her hands just in front of herself. "I am Myrissa T’Soni, Stewardess of House T’Soni. Think of me as the Head of House’s second in command.”
The second unknown Asari stepped forwards to shake his hand, which he happily returned. This was a greeting he could understand. “Lidarvnea Dalina, High Commander of the Guard," she gave him a firm grip. "I lead the House’s military, security, and intelligence forces. I’ve read a lot about you commander, it’s an honour to meet.”
“And we have already met,” Shiala smiled, “I have returned to my post as Chief Financial Executive. I run the businesses and assets for the House.”
“Commander Luke Shepard, Spectre and commanding officer of the Normandy," he introducted himself before gesturing to the other two members of the crew. "These are two senior members of my ground team, Staff Lieutenant Butch Williams and Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams.”
Myrissa took it all in stride, offering each of them the same warm courtesy she’d shown Liara. “You’re all very welcome here. House T’Soni owes each of you a great deal.” She gestured toward the large, arched doorway behind her. “Please, come inside. You must be exhausted from your journey. If you would like," she tilted her head, "I will send for you and your crew’s belongings to be brought here to T’Soni Manor. I suspect we will be here awhile. Perhaps it would be simplest to temporarily move in?”
“Of course,” Luke replied, putting on his ‘commander face’. “I’ll ping Garrus to let him know.”
They moved indoors through the enormous manor to the main dining room which sported a truly massive dining table. Liara, after a moment of hesitancy which only Luke was able to pick up on, took her seat at the head of the table. Myrissa sat at her left side, with Lidarvnea and Shiala sitting the next seat down. This left a seat open next to Liara at her right, where she indicated for him to sit. Butch and Williams didn’t sit at all, instead opting to stand protectively behind him.
“Lady Liara,” Myrissa started, “first let me preface this by offering my most sincere condolences. My sister’s…" her face slightly fell as she searched for the right words. "Yhe events which led up to and included my sister’s death were abhorrent. Neither myself or Lidarvnea supported Benezia’s path, but, as leaders of the House, it was our duty to support her. When you officially assume the title of Lady of the House, I can assure you that you will have the same unconditional support.”
She nodded politely. “Thank you. Mother always spoke highly of you, I am confident that with you as Steward our House will continue to prosper.”
Liara's aunt smiled again. “And I am certain that you will be just as great a leader as your mother, if not greater. Especially with the commander as your Mar’Lya. The choice will, naturally, upset a great many people, but I am confident that will not be a serious issue.”
Luke raised an eyebrow at Liara who nervously darted her eyes for a moment, before mouthing ‘later’.
“Now," the other Matriarch shuffled her datawork arounf. "This morning I simply wish to prepare ahead. We will all fare better with a plan, considering how… unusual this situation is.”
“Very well then,” Liara agreed, accepting a glass of wine from a servant.
“Legally speaking, the inheritance cannot be contested. I wrote the will myself over the course of seven months and it is, if you will permit me a moment of arrogance, ironclad in its totality," her eyes sparkled. "There is no doubt that you will inherit the entire T’Soni estate.”
Luke sensed a catch. Evidently, Liara did too. “However…”
“However, that is not our greatest concern in the slightest," Myrissa reluctantly continued. "Firstly, not everyone within the house will agree with your ascension. Tonight’s dinner will be crucial to clamp down on the dissidence. Some fear you will replace them, some fear you will change the direction of the House significantly, some will disagree with your Mar’Lya.”
Liara tilted her head upwards. “What do you suggest.”
“If we are to fend off the Council of Matriarchs and solidify your position we will need to first secure the House. Do what you can to ensure the loyalty of your subordinates, but remember, we do not need to please everyone," she continud, knitting her fingers. "We will need to remove many from their positions to guarantee a smooth transition. I will give you a list of who we cannot afford to lose later, the rest is up to your discretion.”
The maiden pursed her lips. “What is next?”
Lidarvnea spoke up, straightening her back. “There is the matter of the acolytes. Before Benezia went down the path that she did, she commanded tens of thousands of acolytes. Only two thousand remained with her when she followed Saren. The news of Benezia’s death and your pending ascension has reached the eyes and ears of many. There are is a great number who wish to make the Pledge.”
Liara frowned. “How many?”
“Well, when we account for those who left Benezia, in addition to the Guard who will want to Pledge, and the requests from all areas of your purview and the general public,” Lidarvnea tugged her collar, “we are looking at a figure upwards of seventy-four thousand.”
“What?!” Liara exclaimed in surprise. “How? It is ludicrous to pledge oneself to one as young as I!”
“You represent change,” Shiala offered, setting down her glass. “Consider it. The Asari have maintained the status quo for over a thousand years, for better or worse. There are many, especially in younger demographics, who see you a symbol. You represent a different path. Can you blame them for wanting to participate?”
Myrissa avoided making eye-contact. "There is also the matter of your exploits with the commander. You are more famous than you realise."
Luke didn’t need Liara to speak to understand what she was thinking. It was a lot to process, there was no way she wouldn’t be overwhelmed. But, with that being said, Liara only downed her glass of wine and nodded, waving for another. “What… what do you advise?”
“You have a month to manage inducting new followers before they begin to change their minds,” Lidarvnea offered. “You could gradually induct all who wish to Pledge. It would take a while but it’s doable. You would not be able to remain on the Normandy, however.”
“I sense an ‘or’,” she stated with trepidation.
The three chief servants exchanged several looks before the High Commander berathed out. “We host a grand Pledging ceremony.”
“There hasn’t been such a ceremony in over five-hundred years!” Liara remarked with incredulity.
“One of the assets owned by House T’Soni is the ancient Athemite Colosseum,” Shiala suggested carefully. “I have consulted several experts. It would support the numbers and provide you the means to accept Pledges from all who come.”
Luke placed a hand over hers as she seemed to deflate. “You… you three have already discussed this, haven’t you?”
“We want you to succeed,” Myrissia nodded. “I confess, we too have been swept up by the ideas your ascension puts forwards. It is our duty to ensure you are in as best a position as possible.”
“I… Thank you," Liara pushed her chair back, standing. "Is there anything else we should discuss?”
“Nothing that cannot be tomorrow,” Myrissa assured them
Liara breathed out sharply. “Thank you, all of you. You may return to your duties. I have… much to think on.”
“Of course,” Myrissa nodded with a smile. “We are at your disposal should you require anything else. I will drop by your room to give a more specific briefing for tonight’s gala this afternoon.”
Butch and Williams stood guard in the hallway while Liara paced her room in front of Shepard, hands clasped firmly behind her back. She knew he probably thought her mad but she also knew that if she didn't keep moving she would go mad. “I knew you were rich,” he chuckled, “but not this rich.”
Her lip twitched downwards. “I am not one to boast. I would prefer to make connections based off my accomplishments rather than my family name and resources.”
He nodded. “I can respect that.” He leant into the couch and watched her for a few moments before speaking up. “How’re you feeling?”
“How am- Luke did you hear what they were saying? This- this- this continues to get bigger, and bigger, and bigger, and everyone is looking at me as if I’m some beacon of change!" she spiraled. "I have gone from being a nobody to topping the news and gossip columns within a week! What do I do?”
Shepard smiled which only slightly put her at ease. “You know, I remember coming to you for a similar reason after Therum. You seemed to know what you were talking about.”
“T-This is different!” she insisted.
“Liara,” he stopped her pacing and took hold of her hand. “I know this is scary, but I also know you can do this. I’m right behind you. The whole ship is.” She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. She was catastrophising, she knew that. It would help if self-awareness would equate to calming down but regretably that seemed to be a tall order. “Could I ask a question?”
“Please,” she allowed, not feeling comfortable with silence.
Luke squeezed her hand. “Your aunt referred to me as Mar’Lya. What does that mean?”
“Ah, I-I-, I did not mean to be so forward as to presume," Liara felt a pang of guilt for naming him without giving him understanding. It wasn't fair to rope him into this when he had already done so much. "It is difficult to explain.”
“Try me,” he pushed.
“It means you would lead the House with me," she sighed. "You would become a part of the family and be placed in- you’d be second only to me. Not that I d-don’t see you as an equal, of c-”
Luke laughed, pulling her out of her ramblings. Yet again, she was both frustrated and relieved. “Blue, I know you do. I meant what I said, I am here for you. I’m honoured you trust me enough to give me that role, but are you sure this is what you want? I’m human, that’s not going to make this any easier for you,” he observantly and regretably correctly noted.
“I- I don’t have anyone else…” she answered nervously. “Having a Mar’Lya would ssignificantly improve the strength of my claim. I can’t do this on my own…”
“Come here,” he pulled her into a warm embrace. She sighed and squeezed back, grateful for his presence.
The evening was just as miserable as Luke had expected it to be.
With Liara on his arm, he escorted her from one guest to the next. Every conversation started the same way. “Such a tragedy.” “A terrible loss.” “The galaxy feels smaller without her.” Some meant it. Others didn’t even bother pretending to. The pro-Liara crowd were the easiest to handle. They’d already made up their minds and they wanted her to know it. A few polite words, a handshake, and they were done. The moderates were next. There were many who hadn’t picked a side yet but swore they were keeping an open mind. “We’ll see how she grows into the role,” they said, as if she wasn’t standing right in front of them. Liara handled them well. She told them she understood and thanked them for giving her a chance.
Then there were the hardliners, those who didn’t think Liara belonged here at all. Luke's presence didn’t help. Some took issue with a human being so close to House T’Soni affairs. Others simply didn’t like that he lacked any noble background. Myrissa had been a tremendous help. He took great joy in watching her effortlessly shutting down harsh criticisms. “Oh, but I wasn’t aware non-Asari partners at an ascension were controversial? I seem to remember Benezia was with a Krogan at the time of hers, and my memory may be a little hazy, but I am quite certain that you brought a Salarian to the very same event.”
That shut things down quickly.
Eventually, the talking gave way to dinner at a long table, filled with people Luke didn’t want to talk to. He sat next to Liara again, answering the same types of questions from the same types of people. “What an honour to meet the hero of the Alliance,” they said. “I didn’t expect Lady T’Soni to be courting a soldier,” they said.
He smiled when it was polite. Bit back every eye-roll he wanted to make. For all the political wrangling he had to endure with the Council or the Alliance brass, this was worse. Way worse.He would have felt impressed if he wasn’t focused on the fact that he was now heavily involved in three major galactic governmental bodies.
The most enjoyable parts of the evening were the brief minutes where he could pull away and speak with members of the Guard. Security personnel, military officers, intelligence agents, these were the sort of people he could get along easily with. There wasn’t any bullshit involved. He liked Lidarvnea. She was professional and clearly experienced in military matters. If she’d served in the Alliance, she’d have been high command by now. Whenever Liara had to excuse herself to use the bathroom or to calm down a dignitary offended by his presence he was quick to join the Commander of the Guard and her colleagues for those oh so very brief moments of enjoyment.
But as much as it pained him to do so (and it really really did) he immediately pulled himself away from the Guard and returned to Liara’s side to suffer right next to her. Though she was good at hiding it, Luke knew Liara well enough to be able to tell that she was hating this just as much as he was. With a sigh, and maybe a slight gritting of the teeth, they approached Matriarch Thyssilla, one of the Matriarchs who seemed to think that pyjaks held more intelligence than the average military-man, and that Liara was a disappointment to “such a prestigious line” for not being a perfect imitation of her mother.
And so the fun continued.
Chapter 40: Funeral March
Summary:
Benezia get's her funeral
Notes:
Forty chapters... wow...
Thank you so much everyone for the love and support! I don't know how much more I have to go, but I don't think we're too far off Virmire now. I want to finish the Thessia arc (which may be a couple more chapters) and have one or two chapters for the Citadel and maybe Earth. We're definitely past half way haha
Again, thank you!!!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Butch adjusted her collar for the third time and muttered something unkind under her breath. She’d changed out of her armour and into her formal dress uniform, and while nobody had said anything she had made sure her displeasure was obvious to everyone around her. It wasn’t just she didn't feel comfortable in it, it was that if anyone tried to harm Luke or Liara during the funeral she’d be less capable of defending them. It didn’t sit right.
Williams had voiced the same concern back on the ship. But in the end, it was a funeral. Coming in dressed for combat would’ve been rude. So here they were. Polished boots. Sharp creases. No plating.
Still bugged her.
At least Garrus seemed to be enjoying himself. He thought she looked rather dashing so it wasn't as if it was entirely doom and gloom. She supposed he must like a girl in uniform. He was seated beside her now, one talon resting lightly on the back of her hand. He probably thought she was upset - nerves or grief or something like that - and was trying to comfort her. Normally, she didn’t appreciate being treated like she needed looking after. But when it was him… well, that was different.
Butch elbowed Ashley when she failed to suppress a snicker.
Gar looked sharp as well. She’d be lying if she said he didn’t look good in his hastily tailored suit and she made a mental note to tell him that later. Maybe. She hesitantly grabbed his hand, and no she wasn’t nervous. She just… funerals. You were allowed to be a little sentimental.
Up at the front, the Asari priestess leading the procession finished her part and took a seat. The second half of the ceremony was about to begin. Myrissa stood calmly and moved to the podium. One by one, other close family would speak. Liara would go last. Butch shifted slightly in her seat, trying to stretch her legs without being too obvious about it.
Then Garrus’s omni-tool vibrated quietly. She turned her head and narrowed her eyes. “I thought I told you to leave that on the Normandy,” she hissed.
“Pressley said he’d only call if it was serious,” Garrus replied under his breath, already checking the alert. “It’s an emergency. I’ve got to go.”
Butch frowned. “On your own? Like hell you are!”
Fortunately, they’d been seated in one of the Normandy’s private booths along the side of the hall. It gave them just enough cover to slip out quietly with nothing more than a few sideways glances.
Luke clutched his service cap tightly. Growing up he'd never attended any funerals. The only family he had was Lara and mom. Anderson too, whenever he was off-duty, but he was away as often as their mom was. The first procession he attented was a service to honour several of his comrades who had died on Elysium. There had been a few more of those throughout his career.
This felt different.
He couldn't imagine losing someone so close to you. He and Lara had been seperated for nearly seven years but he still held on to the hope that they'd be reunited. Liara had no such hope. He breathed out as quietly as he could, looking around the room. They were in the massive Rillan Temple that the matriarch had mentioned earlier. Thousands filled the pews, dignitaries and guests dressed in their finest, all eyes fixed forward. High above, media drones hovered just below the temple’s dome. Luke shifted slightly, straightening out his dress uniform.
A slight movement beside him pulled his focus back.
Liara sat straight, dressed in flowing mourning attire that pooled around her. She kept tugging gently at the edge of one sleeve, twisting the fabric between her fingers. She didn’t say a word, didn’t look at him, didn't even look forwards. Shiala’s speech ended, drawing a soft wave of applause from the room. Luke gave a small nod toward Liara. She didn’t look at him, but her hand stilled. He watched her take a long, quiet breath and stand.
Almost as if on cue, the drones moved in closer.
He wanted to shoot them.
Liara walked to the podium without hesitation but he knew how much she probably wanted to turn around and walk the other way. She stood there for a moment, her hands resting lightly on either side of the stand. Then, when the room had settled again, she began. “Thank you all for being here today,” she said, her voice calm but low, steady despite the tremor Luke could hear underneath. “We’ve already spoken at length about my mother. About her kindness, her wisdom, her strength. You’ve all shared stories, remembered her accomplishments, honoured her legacy. So rather than repeat what’s already been said, I’d like to end with something smaller.”
She paused, glancing briefly down at her hands. Luke tightened his grip on his cap.
“When I was a child, I was incredibly shy. You would all be familiar with my reputation as an outcast. I didn’t fit in. I wasn’t interested in politics or ceremony. I was curious about old things. Archaeology. History. It made me different. And for a while, I thought that was a bad thing. People told me I needed to change.” Her hands tensed slightly against the podium. “But not my mother. No, she refused to let me bend the knee. She encouraged me and gave me the strength to simply be myself. As the only daughter and heir to such a prestigious House, who would have blamed her if she chose to mould me into a direct copy of her? But she did not. My mother embraced my differences and set me down a path to grow and come out of my shell in my own time, naturally. She was unhesitant in paying for lessons in whatever interested. She taught me responsibility, humility, and compassion.”
Liara looked up again, sweeping her gaze over the gathered crowd.
“I am not my mother. I won’t pretend to be. But I carry the lessons she gave me. She believed that strength wasn’t about being unshakable, it was about knowing when to lean on others. She said no one succeeds alone. And she lived that truth.”
She glanced toward the front row, locking eyes with Myrissa.
“I may not be my mother, but her lessons live on in me. My ascension marks a new beginning for House T’Soni, it is true, but many forget the greatest lesson my mother ever preached. ‘One is only as strong as those they lean on.’ I have no illusions as to my ability and experience. I am young, and I have many centuries of learning ahead of me. I will not run this House alone. Matriarch Myrissa. High Commander Lidarvnea. Commander Shepard,” she nodded at him. "I am confident that together all of our futures are secure."
There was another pause. Longer.
“So let us not bid my mother farewell with fear for the future, or by living in the past. Benezia valued the present, and we can only honour her by doing so ourselves.” Her voice grew quieter as she finished. “I love you, Mother. Goodbye.”
It was a decent speech, but nothing special.
Katherina and Frederick sipped their wine simultaneously, bored by the procession. It wasn’t as if they had any real reason to be here, but they didn’t have much else to do; all of their other projects were in a position where they weren’t able to continue them for the moment.
They were technically responsible for the funeral wrapping up in front of them, so perhaps there was something poetic about it. They didn’t feel guilty – how could anyone feel guilty for making the right call? – but they could both admit that Benezia’s death was a waste. She would have made a powerful ally if Saren, no, Sovereign hadn’t corrupted her. But perhaps the situation would be somewhat salvageable.
She hooked her arm around his, sipping on the exquisite wine as they hovered, following their target. It was fascinating what boredom could lead to. Hermann, their faithful adjutant, would momentarily approach Shepard to pull him away for a conversation as a distraction. Hermann was a veteran, which made him perfect for the role. Off their top of her head she thought that he may have fought in first Alliance-Batarian War. Ah, what a blessing to have competent staff.
And then it happened. Shepard led Hermann upstairs.
The man deserved a raise.
The soon-to-be Lady T’Soni politely excused herself from her present entourage and entered onto the balcony. The twins exchanged a smirk and followed. They opened the door and joined her. “Milady,” they both greeted, nearly startling the Asari. “Apologies,” they offered in synchronicity.
“It is quite alright,” she replied tiredly. “I am the one who should apologise, it has ben a long day.” She composed herself and put on an incredibly impressive fake face of amiability. Katherina could respect the skilfulness of her masking.
“I am Frederick, this is my sister Katherina,” her brother introduced, shaking T’Soni’s hand. Shtemporarily unhooked her arm from her brother’s to do the same. “We worked with your mother. We were rather close, she asked as to deliver a message if she died.”
A flicker of doubt crossed the Asari's face. “Oh? Where did you work with her?”
“Armali,” Katherina offered. “We couldn’t have saved the company without her help.”
“I see. What was this message?” she nearly sounded curt. How adorable.
“Here,” Frederick passed a datachip which contained a forged recording from her mother expressing her incalculable love for her daughter. They'd put it together last night on the way to Thessia.
Katherina put on an empathetic face. “Your mother spoke of you often, it’s so good to finally meet you in person. She was so proud of you,” she consoled pleasantly. The sentimentality made her want to throw up. Liara was not difficult to fool, however, and they effortlessly continued to convince her of their compassion for her. Honestly, it was almost insulting how easy it was to manipulate her, especially for somebody as experienced as them.
Two silent buzzes from her watch told her that Shepard was on the way and that they would have two minutes to finish up. “Milady,” Katherina instantly interrupted her brother, “I’m afraid we must be going. Our flight leaves within the hour. We included our contact information on the file we gave you. My brother and I specialise in consulting, project management, and operational oversight. We’re a call away if you need anything.”
Liara nodded. “Thank you, I appreciate you delivering this message to me. I have a suspicion I may need to call upon your services, given my immediate inheritance. Have a safe flight.”
The two shook her hand and spun around, speedwalking back through the building.
“Hook,” she grinned.
“Line,” Frederick smirked,
“And sinker,” Katherina giggled. God she hated having to fake pleasantness. It was exhausting and would doubtlessly cause dozens of wrinkles down the line. They left the building with pomp only to bump into a Turian male and a human woman.
“Luthor…” the woman growled.
Katherina’s smile faded. Wonderful. Just her luck running into someone who not only recognised her but, for whatever reason, was not at all fond of her.
“Mhm,” she replied, tone clipped and indifferent. “And you are?”
The woman didn’t answer right away. She just kept staring, like she was waiting for Katherina to recoil or apologise. When that didn’t happen, she took a half-step forward, her voice biting. “What the hell are you doing here?” The accent was Australian. Definitely not Lawson’s brat - Katherina would’ve recognised her. This one was still familiar, though, somehow. And irritatingly loud.
“We came to pay our respects to the Matriarch,” Frederick cut in before she could respon. “I assume that’s why you’re both here too.”
The woman gave a bitter little laugh and waved a dismissive hand. “Please. As if you’d ever do anything without an angle. You're gonna slip up one day, and when you do, we’ll be there to nail you. Both of you,” she threatened.
Katherina and Frederick looked at each other, then snorted in perfect sync. “I’m afraid we really don’t know who you are,” her brother replied, his tone dripping with mock sympathy. “But it’s touching that you think we’d remember.”
The Australian glared at them for several moments before grunting. “Come on, Garrus, we need to keep moving,” the woman muttered, brushing past.
“Garrus…” Katherina blinked. “Vakarian?” Her eyes flicked to the Turian walking beside the loud one and something clicked into place. Of course. She’d seen the dossiers on the Normandy crew. Which would make this woman- “Ah!” she exclaimed brightly, turning back with a delighted grin. “Miss Robinson!” Her voice dripped with enthusiasm. “Forgive me, you actually look somewhat decent today. I almost didn’t recognise you. I suppose I’m just used to you usual… dishevelled appearance.”
The Turian rumbled what almost sounded warningly. Robinson didn’t flinch. “Big words for someone who hides behind her brother.”
Katherina let out a short, sharp laugh. “Please. I could say the same. Tell me, how many times did Luke have to bail you out back at the Academy? I lost count after the fourth incident. Robinson’s jaw tensed. Katherina tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly. “You were practically a walking citation.”
“At least I earned my place,” the marine growled. “You’ve been coasting on name and inheritance you're whole damn life.”
Katherina's face twitched. She waved it away, irritated now. “You wouldn’t have survived the Academy if it weren’t for me. You-” A quiet throat-clear from Frederick cut her off. She stopped mid-sentence, breathing through her nose, though her eyes stayed locked on Robinson’s.
“You never brought me anything but a fucking headache,” Robinson shot back. “You didn’t help me, fucking hell you nearly got me kicked out two times,” she lifted her index and middle finger.
She rolled her eyes. “Ugh. I’d forgotten what a brute you are, Beatrice.”
“It’s Butch,” Robinson roared.
The slap came fast. Katherina’s head snapped slightly to the side. She stood frozen for a beat, lips parting in a stunned breath. Then, slowly, a smile curled at the edge of her mouth. She turned her head back, met the woman's glare with one of her own, and chuckled low. “That,” she drawled, “was not a very smart move.”
Frederick moved before anyone could respond. He stepped forward and drove a fist into Butch’s stomach, sending her stumbling back with a choked grunt. She dropped to a knee, coughing. Vakarian reacted on instinct and reached for his sidearm but Frederick was already moving. With a flick of his wrist, a small device embedded in his cuff pinged once. A concussive pulse erupted outward in a flash and both Garrus and Butch were thrown off balance. The Turian slammed into the wall, and Butch hit the ground with a heavy thud.
“Frederick, enough!” Katherina snapped, taking a step forward. Her brother gave a little grunt of acknowledgement but didn’t look away from their would-be accosters. Katherina straightened her coat with a sigh and addressed Butch without looking directly at her. “Miss Robinson, I advise you stay right where you are until we’ve left the premises. As we’re feeling generous, we won’t press charges for your assault. Do try and control yourself next time, hmm?”
Frederick lingered a moment longer. “Hit her again,” he hissed, “and I’ll crush your windpipe before anyone gets a shot off.”
With that, the twins turned and walked away, boots clicking rhythmically against the marble floor. Katherina didn’t look back. She simply patted her brother’s arm as they left, a smug little smirk returning to her face. “Well,” she said lightly, “that was fun.”
Luke was proud of himself. He had shown excellent self-control in not punching, shooting, shouting at, or otherwise assaulting any of the guests who had been nothing but rude to him and Liara. Several of the present Asari Matriarchs were absolutely audacious in a way he genuinely didn't think was possible. Really, he'd patrolled thr Terminus Systems after Torfan, he'd seen the worst sentient life had to offer, and still nobody had given him a headach a way these Asari were. He shelved his vaguely violent thoughts as Butch and Garrus approached him and he smiled at them, grateful for literally any distraction from the proceedings.
His smile faded the closer they got.
They looked like they’d been in a fight. Butch growled “We need to talk.” He frowned immediately and let them lead him towards an isolated corner of the room. “What the hell happened?” he asked.
Butch scowled. “Luthor twins. That can wait thought, I need to-”
“What could be more important than you getting assaulted?” he interupted incredulously.
She gave him a slightly embarassed look. “Technically, erm, it was the other way around, but listen.”
Garrus cut his way in. “Commander, Alenko disappeared before the transfer ship arrived.”
Oh.
Notes:
So. The Alenko thing. So far it looks like all of you have been pretty receptive to the twist. I got asked what prompted me to write him like this.
Personally I have never been a huge fan of Alenko. Or Ashley, for that matter, but a lot of fanfics changed my mind on her. I found Alenko to be boring and kind of one-dimensional. Now that's just my own thoughts but I know that there are many who agree with me. So, I decided to write a twist to make him a little more interesting (in my eyes) and add some discord to the Normandy, which seems to be running a little too perfectly...
Again, I know many many people love Alenko as a character and thoroughly enjoy his romance route, but I could not. This was a decision made to give a little more drama and emotion to the novel.
Chapter 41: Intermission
Summary:
A shorter chapter made of a few short exerpts I've wanted to write for a while
Chapter Text
Luke resisted the urge to pace the Normandy’s comms room. The brass had responded quickly to report and their response had been far more immediate than he had predicted. The holograms of Anderson, Rear Admiral Mikhailovich, and Director Wells of Alliance Intelligence hovered in front of him. None of them looked pleased.
“Tell us one last time how you failed to prevent a decorated soldier from going AWOL,” Mikhailovich clipped. “His record prior to your command was flawless. So I ask again - is it you, commander, who is at fault for the Lieutenant’s renegading?”
“Admiral,” Anderson snapped, visibly outraged. “I agree that this situation requires closer examination, but there’s no way you can lay this at Shepard’s feet.”
“It’s alright, sit,” Luke cut in, keeping his tone even. “I take full responsibility.”
Anderson’s head turned sharply at the same time that the Rear Admiral's did. “What?” they both exclaimed. Director Wells merely raised an eyebrow, folding his hands behind his back as he observed.
“Alenko expressed anger and frustration,” Luke explained, keeping eye contact with each of them in turn. “He believed I was giving my alien crewmates preferential treatment. He didn’t like that I was promoting based on merit, not nationality. Furthermore, he was exhibiting signs of severe mental stress which I failed to detect. I’ve already sent you the security footage. I should have acted earlier.”
There was a pause. Mikhailovich scoffed quietly but said nothing. Anderson exhaled and gave Luke a small nod. Director Wells finally spoke. His voice was smooth, deep, and unmistakably upper-class. “Alliance Intelligence has reviewed your file, commander. We’re confident you acted appropriately. My presence here isn’t to place blame, it’s to issue a warning.”
Luke frowned slightly. “Sir?”
Wells folded his arms. “There’s been an increase in Alliance defections over the past year. Small numbers, just enough to avoid triggering alerts. But the pattern’s there. Disgruntled personnel, often with xenophobic leanings. They vanish without a trace. We believe they’re being recruited.”
He stiffened. “Recruited by who?”
The director clicked his tongue. “That’s the problem. We’re not sure. We have suspicions but have been unable to confirm. Which,” he raised a warning finger, “is why I’m telling you now, son. Watch your crew. I can bury Alenko’s disappearance, but if this happens again, the optics could get rather ugly.”
Luke nodded. “Understood. I’ve already spoken with the rest of my team. There won’t be any further incidents.”
“Good,” Wells said, his expression unreadable. “One last thing. We believe a rogue black-ops organisation that was thought to have been dismantled after the First Contact War to be responsible for this pattern. I cannot say for certain whether Alenko defected to them, but the threat remains nevertheless.”
Mikhailovich rolled his eyes. “I hardly think this is relevant to a marin”
“Admiral,” Wells interrupted, gaze cutting sharp. “Intelligence is my department. You focus on keeping Alenko out of the headlines. The commander and I will handle the rest.” His attention returned to Luke. “If you encounter anything connected to a group known as Cerberus, you contact me,” he stressed. “Directly.”
“Yes, sir,” Luke replied, already committing the name to memory as he snapped into a salute.
The director gave a single nod. “Very good. As you were.”
Understandably, Butch was mad.
She tore into the back again and again and again. Sweat plastered hair to her face, her breath was quick, but she didn’t stop. Couldn’t. God she hated the Luthors, their smug expressions, the arrogant tone Katherina always had, the way Frederick had sent her to the floor like it was nothing. Like she was nothing.
Her knuckles screamed, but she barely felt them. It wasn’t about pain. It was about not thinking. Not seeing his face, not hearing hers. Katherina’s voice still echoed in her skull, twisted and grating. That polished smirk and condescending tone.
She grit her teeth. She hated feeling vulnerable.
Hated it even more when someone saw.
Sure, Frederick was taller. Sure, he had some weird tech up his sleeve. But she wasn’t weak. She’d fought people bigger, tougher, meaner. He never graduated from the academy. Butch should have been able to knock him flat. But she hadn’t. With a guttural yell, she threw another blow, hard enough to make the entire bag rattle on its chain. It swayed wide and came back crooked.
“You know,” came Garrus rumbled from the doorway, “I'm starting to think the bag’s not helping much.”
Butch didn’t look over right away. She just stood there, breathing hard, arms stiff at her sides. Finally, she shot him a look. “What do you suggest then?” The words came out sharper than intended.
Garrus didn’t flinch. He just tilted his head slightly, arms folded, like he’d expected that kind of response. “Might help to hit something that hits back.”
She rolled her shoulder, biting down a scowl. “You sure you want this, Gar? I’m pissed and you’re going to feel it.”
“That makes two of us,” he didn't back down.
They didn’t waste time.
She hit hard. He hit harder. And still, she didn’t stop. Garrus didn’t hold back, not even a little - he never had with her, which she appreciated. He wasn’t afraid of her temper or trying to placate her. He respected it. Matched it. She hated pity but Garrus never gave her any. Over what could have been an hour she let out her anger at Katherina, her stupid brother, Alenko, Sare, Mindoir, every single bastard who had pissed her off. Garrus never slowed down.
By the end, both of them were panting and bruised, slumped against the wall with their shoulders nearly touching. Butch let her head fall back against the cool surface with a sigh.
They sat there for a while, not saying anything. Just breathing.
Then Garrus spoke. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure,” she said, wiping sweat from her brow. “Shoot.”
“Why do you go by Butch?”
She hesitated. “It’s my name,” she shrugged.
Garrus nodded, respectful, but didn’t shift. He wasn’t buying it, but he wasn’t going to push. That made it worse. She breathed out through her nose, then looked down at her hands, flexing the knuckles. That was the thing about Garrus. He didn’t push, didn’t prod. Just let the silence hang until she chose to fill it. It would have pissed her off if it wasn't what she really needed.
“It was a nickname from the Academy,” she muttered. “It stuck.” She hesitated, chewing the inside of her cheek. “But after Mindoir… it just made things easier.”
Garrus blinked. “You’re from Mindoir?”
She nodded slowly. “Yeah,” she exhaled mithlessly.
There was another pause. Not long, but long enough to feel it. He didn’t press. She appreciated that. Butch had only opened up once before in her entire life. It was the first anniversary of the destruction of the colony, it just came on the news. She broke down. Luke took care of her, and then she locked it up. Twisted the key. Put it away somewhere it would never bother her again, until recently.
“I don’t… talk about it much,” she continued. “Not because I’m hiding it. Just because what the hell is there to say?” She sniffed once and gave a lifeless chuckle. “You already know how it went. Slavers hit a colony. Alliance didn’t show up. Almost everyone died. I was… one of the unlucky ones who made it.”
Garrus didn’t say anything. If he did she might have closed up again. Unfortunately - or maybe fortunately, she didn't really know which - Garrus knew her too well to give her the easy way out.
She rested her arms on her knees. “My parents, my brother, they didn’t make it. I got out, somehow. The Batarians- they- I was-. Look, I ended up in a military hospital, then bounced through half a dozen placement officers until someone figured out I was more trouble than I was worth and threw me at the Academy.” She felt a tears begin to fall down her face as the memories all came back. “And that’s where Beatrice died.”
He reached around her, carefully embracing her. She appreciated it but found herself unable to move.
“Beatrice was soft. Beatrice cried too loud at night and had panic attacks when people yelled. She wasn’t going to survive a single week in that place, let alone the rest of the galaxy. So I made her go away.” She glanced at him, jaw clenched. “Butch didn’t need to explain herself. Butch didn’t need to be okay. Butch just got the job done.”
Garrus’s brow furrowed. “Spirits… I teased you when I first joined the Normandy. I didn’t-”
She cut him off with a growl. “I swear to God, Garrus. If you apologise, I will drag you back onto that mat and ruin you.”
His mandibles twitched. “Right. Shutting up.”
She let out a small, tired laugh. “You’re fine. Honestly, if someone had to use that name again… I’d pick you over most. Even Luke pities me too much to call me Beatrice.”
“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable,” Garrus said, quiet now.
Butch shrugged. “If we’re in private,” she offered, voice softer than before, “you can call me Beatrice.”
He gave a small nod. “Okay.” She yawned then, long and ungraceful, and without thinking too much about it, leaned sideways until her shoulder pressed against him. Garrus didn’t move. He just lifted a hand and gently patted her head. “Alright then,” he murmured. “Good night, Beatrice.”
Tali watched as Shepard entered the mess hall. He looked absolutely exhausted. He headed straight for the caf machine. The Quarian found herself amazed once more as the machine already had a mug filled with Shepard's preferred drink prepared before he even reached out to take it. She couldn't understand it. The Commander's schedule was anything but consistent, his need for caffeine fluctuated based on dozens of variables. Yet every single time, without fail, the machine always knew. She’d staked out the mess hall for hours once and no one prepared the drink for Shepard, it was as if the mug was prepared out of thin air.
It wasn't just the caf machine, either. During her time aboard the Normandy, Tali had taken note of multiple peculiarities. The doors – those blasted doors – would always open automatically for Shepard, while others aboard the ship had to manually trigger them. She even once caught the lights subtly dimming in a room when Shepard had yawned tiredly, making things easier on his eyes.
She'd spent countless hours delving into the Normandy's VI code, trying to discern some hidden sentience or secret programming directive. Her results were always the same: nothing. The ship's virtual intelligence operated as intended showing no signs of autonomous thinking, yet these continuous oddities seemed to contradict that.
Before Tali could delve deeper into her thoughts, a junior officer approached Shepard with a datapad in his hand. "Commander, I have the month's emissions report for you," he began, trying to open the file. Shepard barely suppressed a grimace. But as the officer attempted to show him the datapad seemed to glitch, rendering the file unreadable. The young man's eyes widened in confusion. "I, uh, seem to have a corrupted file. I'll redownload and get back to you shortly, sir."
Tali's eyes narrowed behind her visor, suspicion forming a solid thought in her mind. The emissions report was notoriously dry and tedious, something Shepard had previously voiced his disinterest in. Now, suddenly, it was corrupted? The coincidences were too numerous to be random.
With a small smirk hidden beneath her mask, Tali leaned back, her hypothesis becoming clearer. The Normandy absolutely adored it’s commander.
Shepard had left for the Normandy to deal with some administrative tasks but Liara found herself unable to afford any time to rest. She was anchored to the manor as Shiala and Myrissa guided her through countless documents, each requiring her attention and signature. The process was slow and taxing yet there was no way to easily condense the work required to deal with the sheer incomprehensibly colossal volume of assets Benezia had amassed over the centuries.
One planet might require seven separate forms. A company could require even more. Tax agreements. Ownership transfers. Labour obligations. Executive rights. Delegation permissions. Benezia had… thousands of assets spread across every corner of Council space. Even more, in all likelihood. It was overwhelming.
Many would find the process monotonous and opt to skim through the documents just to expedite the process, however Liara was insistent on fully understanding her portfolio in its entirety. If there was one lesson she had taken from her years studying the academic world it was the importance of knowledge. Every piece of the empire she took over was, for the most part, an asset she had never encountered before in great detail. She wanted to be aware of what exactly she was inheriting and the responsabilities that came with each. She took breaks sparingly but refused to allow herself rest. This was to be her life for many decades to come - it was a far cry from her quiet archaeological digs and research.
Chapter 42: Councils
Summary:
Liara and Shepard deal with more than one Council
Notes:
Writer's block... Writer's block... Writer's block... Writer's block... Writer's block... Writer's block...
I've been having all these tremendous idea's for a Star Wars fanfic, but it took me a few hours to come up with this one chapter here. I am considering starting to write a second fanfic simultaneously. It's not what I wanted but if my idea's and creativity are split, I may as well do something about it. I don't know yet...
Presently, I am trying to purely dedicate my efforts to this story here, but if this continues to remain maddening I may have to kickstart a second project.
Chapter Text
Their luck was bound to run out eventually.
The Council of Matriarchs had exhausted every roadblock and political loophole they could think of and decided to go on publically on the offensive. A formal summons had been delivered. Liara was to appear before the Council in person. It didn't take a genius to know this was supposed to be a trap. Luke had called Udina on the way to the session for advice. The ambassador was exasperated at the whole ordeal and ended up just telling him to keep his mouth shut and avoid causing a diplomatic incident
Behind Luke and Liara, Butch and Lidarvnea led a sizable “security” detail made up of Normandy personnel and Asari commandos. No one expected a fight, of course, but he knew how these kinds of things worked. A show of force had its own language. If the Council wanted to flex its muscles, Liara had every right to flex back.
Inside, the Matriarchal Chambers were massive. Dozens of older Asari were seated in curved tiers that spiralled up into the ceiling like a hive. Holograms flickered in place of those who couldn’t be there in person. Luke could feel their stares the second they entered. Some scowled. A few looked bored. None looked particularly welcoming.
At the centre of the chamber, seated atop a raised dais, was the woman in charge. Shepard didn’t need an introduction to know who she was. The way others looked at her gave it away. That, and the sheer force of presence she exuded without saying a word. According to Liara, the chancellorship rotated every few months, but the influence the sitting Chancellor Elect wielded during that term was… considerable. Shiala had breifed them on Lineen T’harix before they left. None of it was good.
At her nod, Luke and Liara were directed to a rising platform. It lifted them into the air and began to slowly rotate around the central dais. “This hearing is now in session,” the Chancellor Elect announced, voice echoing through the chamber with practiced severity.
A hush followed. Luke tightened his jaw and folded his hands behind his back.
“Matriarch Benezia was a paragon,” the Chancellor began. “A guardian of tradition and an architect of stability. Benezia held the very office I do now no fewer than thirteen times in her lifespan. She shaped our prosperity with wisdom and patience - qualities we now see threatened. Her legacy, and indeed her empire, were not meant to fall into untested hands. Lady Liara T’Soni, you arrive here with no preparation, no earned authority, and a foreign soldier in your shadow. You stand, in our view, not as a steward of your mother’s achievements… but as a threat.”
Luke resisted the urge to grit his teeth. Great. This is going to be fun.
“Matriarchs,” Liara began her speach, neither hostile nor warm. “My mother did much good. None can deny that. But I think it’s important to remember how her story ended. She was not infallible. None of us are. I’ve heard a great deal about the virtues of stability and tradition. I would ask this Council to consider the virtue of perspective. You seek to preserve the status quo. I seek to understand whether it still serves us, and if not, how we might change it. Together.”
The response was immediate.
“Heresy!”
“She mocks us!”
“She’s a child!”
“Silence!” the Chancellor barked, raising one elegant hand. “Liara-”
“Lady Liara,” she corrected tersely. “If protocol and tradition are so vital to this chamber, I would appreciate the proper use of my title.”
The Chancellor’s jaw clenched. “Very well. Lady Liara,” Lineen said, every syllable soaked in disdain. “Our issue lies not with your position as Head of House, but with the scale of power you now control. You did not build your mother’s holdings. You inherited them. You lack the wisdom and experience to wield such influence responsibly.”
Liara didn’t flinch. “If personal achievement is your metric, Chancellor Elect, then we must apply it evenly. By our team’s public records review, only twelve percent of your net worth stems from decisions made under your own name. The remainder, as I understand, was passed to you.”
That got their attention.
The chamber erupted into protest. Shouting. Grumbling. Someone two rows up even stood. Liara raised her voice above them all. “How many of you earned your seats? Your estates? If inherited power is dangerous, then I suspect this entire Council has much to answer for.”
“Lady Liara!” the Chancellor snapped, clearly rattled. “Regardless of acquisition, you lack the maturity to manage what you’ve been given-”
“Chancellor Elect,” Liara cut in once more. “I find it curious how quickly your standards shift. But while we’re discussing qualifications…” She stepped forward slightly, her hands clasped behind her back. “You spent two centuries as a dancer on Omega, correct? Forgive me, but I fail to see how that experience better prepared you to lead a Council of intergalactic importance.”
The chamber went utterly still.
Luke had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from grinning.
“If we’re assigning value to past careers,” Liara continued, “then let’s be honest about it. I may not be a Matriarch. But I’m a trained scientist, a seasoned analyst, and a proven field operator. I employ a capable, experienced staff. I have ties to the Alliance, to the Citadel, and to the wider galaxy. I am surrounded by allies who see what I’m building and choose to support it.” She leant forwards, raising her brow. “And I have not worked a single year in a strip club.”
The room exploded.
Luke leaned back slightly as the crowd descended into chaos.
It went on for hours.
Luke remained mostly silent, stepping in only when necessary - a few Matriarchs thought that he would make an easy target. The Council threw every accusation they could find, but none of it stuck. Liara dismantled them one by one. On live, intergalactic broadcast, no less. Luke suspected the viewer count was setting new records. This was not the Liara he met on Therum.
This was still the same woman who once dragged him shopping to prepare for a simple lunch, the same woman who spent hours helping wounded scientists on Feros. The same woman who buried her head into Luke's chest after losing her mother. But she had changed now, she had become someone who could wield real power.
When the final vote was called, there was no surprise.
The Council relented.
They couldn’t touch her. Not without making themselves look weaker than they already had.
The session closed. The Chancellor gave some hollow final remarks and cut the broadcast. Liara stepped down from the podium like it was just another walk to her lab.
Luke followed a half-step behind, trying not to smile too much.
He reckoned the Matriarchs were regretting broadcasting that across the republics.
Liara and Luke had barely set foot back inside the manor before Ashyxa intercepted them. “Councillor Tevos has arrived,” her temporary PA announced, managing to sound more timid than Liara was certain she herself sounded when first brought aboard the Normandy. Liara blinked. That was… unexpected. The Councillor hadn’t set foot on Thessia in over fifty years. If she was here now, it wasn’t for a social call. “She says she wishes to speak with you directly. Privately.”
Liara let out a quiet breath, lifting a hand to pinch the bridge of her nose. “Stall her,” she said. “Pour her a drink. Give her a tour. Take her to the west wing and get her lost, if you have to.” Ashyxa gave a quick bow and padded off. Luke had already began pacing with his hands clasped behind his back, as he often did when problem-solving. “I have an idea,” Liara offered, watching with no small satisfaction as he turned on his heel to face her. “But first,” she continued, “we need to decide whether Councillor Tevos is ally or an enemy.”
Luke didn’t answer right away. His jaw worked slightly as he considered it. “Sparatus already hates me,” he muttered, “Valern seems neutral. Going up against Tevos wouldn’t be ideal.”
“I agree. But she’s in the pocket of the Council of Matriarchs," she sighed, "but Tevos will continue to be a thorn in our side either way. She is thoroughly in the pocket of the Council of Matriarchs.”
“She could cause trouble back on the Citadel,” he crossed his arms.
“She already is,” Liara said plainly. “But if we handle Sparatus properly, he could very well become an unlikely ally. I’ll work on him once we’re finished here.”
Luke gave her a nod, and they went to change. It had been twenty minutes before they entered the guest lounge where the Councilor was waiting. It was both an offensive amount of time and an offensive choice of location. Tevos appeared serene but she would not have been happy.
“Councillor,” Liara greeted lightly as she sank into one of the velvet couches, crossing one leg over the other. “To what do we owe the pleasure?”
Her partner moved to the nearby bar and began pouring himself a glass of wine without saying a word in yet another offensive power play. “You’ve made a great many enemies today,” Tevos began without preamble. “The Council of Matriarchs is not a force to be trifled with.”
“Perhaps not,” Liara agreed, folding her hands in her lap. “And yet here we are.”
“I came to offer you a solution. One that would satisfy all involved parties.” She said it as if it were a favour. Liara said nothing, only raised a brow. Shepard returned to her side, glass in hand, and settled into the seat beside her with a noncommittal grunt. “My proposal is simple,” Tevos continued, serene but calculating. “You would sign yourself into House Tevos. In name only. Publicly, you would belong to my House, but in practice, you would retain control over your inheritance. A symbolic gesture, to ease tensions.”
She smiled. “Councillor… with all due respect, I completed a triple major at Serrice. Archaeology, Architecture… and Thessian Law. I know exactly what such an agreement entails.” The smile faded. “Even if I believed for a moment that this was a sincere offer, and not a carefully veiled attempt to make me subservient… I would still decline. You’re not just asking for a political gesture. You’re asking me to sign away my autonomy. My name. My identity.” She tilted her head. “Liara Tevos,” she said, tasting the name with mock curiosity. “No, I don’t think that has quite the same ring to it, would you agree, Councillors and Ambassadors?”
At her words, holograms materialised across the room. Councillors Sparatus and Councillor Valern. Ambassadors Udina, Korlack, and Xeltan. Even Wrex and Charn, the Batarian who had sworn himself to Luke’s cause.
Tevos went rigid.
Valern was the first to speak. “An interesting use of emergency family leave, wouldn’t you say?”
“Quite,” Sparatus drawled. “Funny, I don’t remember anything on the leave form about undermining a political rival to consolidate personal power.”
“This is a violation of the Citadel Charter Against Corruption!” Udina barked, pointing an accusing finger at the stunned Asari. “A charter you signed, I might add!”
“What is this?” Tevos snapped, standing sharply. “You have no right to- why are they all here?!”
“I thought it best to have a diverse panel present,” Liara replied smoothly. “House T’Soni recognises all species as equal.”
Wrex barked a mocking laugh. “Say what you want about the Krogan, but we don’t sneak around planets stealing inheritances.”
“I can’t believe this is the Council we wanted to join,” Charn muttered bitterly. “How do you serve them, Var’Shan?”
“I am a Councillor!” Tevos snapped. “You cannot- this is-”
“Calm down,” Sparatus interrupted, with the weary disdain only a Turian politician could master. “For now, this stays between those of us present. You’ll drop this foolish attempt and return to the Citadel. We’ll talk more… privately.”
One by one, the holograms flickered out. All but Charn, who lingered and requested a private word with Luke.
Silence fell.
Liara waited until only her and Tevos remained before speaking again. “Councillor. I don’t want to harm you. I don’t want to undermine the Council of Matriarchs. But I hope today has made something clear.” Tevos said nothing. “I’m not defenceless,” Liara finished, rising from her seat.
The Councillor met her eyes. Anger and boiled just beneath the surface. “That was a bold move, T’Soni. You’ve made enemies that will not forget this.”
Liara inclined her head. “It’s Lady Liara. I do hope our next meeting is more pleasant.”
Then, without waiting for a reply, she turned and left the room.
Her hands were shaking slightly.
Luke leaned over the small holotable in the lounge over, arms folded, brow furrowed. The image of Charn flickered slightly - Omega's extranext connection wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough. The Batarian freedom fighter stood in what looked like a dimly lit war room. He looked over his datapad at the maps, coordinates, and intercepted transmissions the Batarian had sent through. A few of Charn's people moved in the background but none seemed to care that they were taking orders from a human.
“I want to hear your movements firsthand,” Luke placed the datapad down. “Where are your men positioned?”
“We’re scattered along the edge of Batarian territory,” Charn answered. “Our numbers are growing. Slowly, but enough to make noise. We’ve launched several successful raids on the Hegemony's holdings in the edge of the Terminus Systems - mining outposts, mostly. Lightly defended. No civilian targets.”
“Good,” Luke said. “Keep it that way. You’re not strong enough for a real war yet. If the Hegemony realises how deep this goes, they’ll throw their full weight at you and you'll be snuffed out before the war can really start.”
“We’re hitting what we can afford to lose,” Charn assured him. “Supply depots, arms caches. We’ve been careful. The crews are green, but they’re committed. And Aria’s supplied us with ships and guns. She says it’s just good business.”
He scratched his chin. “Then keep giving her a reason to back the right side. Don't escalate this yet. These early strikes are working because they’re small. Controlled. You push too far, too fast, and they’ll send everything they’ve got.”
“I understand,” Charn said, nodding. “We’re raiders now. Not revolutionaries.”
“Good. Stay that way until I say otherwise.”
Charn stood tall, raising a closed fist to his chest in that same pounding salute before the connection cut out. He didn’t have much time to linger. The lounge door hissed open as Liara entered, followed closely by Shiala. She gave Luke a look and motioned toward the seats.
“Luke,” she said quietly. “I know we’ll be leaving Thessia soon. There’s no more time. We need the Cypher.”
Luke stiffened. “You’re sure?”
“Yes.” Liara crossed her arms, trying to steady her breathing. “It must be done. I trust you both. I’ll remain here.”
He gave her a nod and turned toward Shiala, who had already seated herself calmly on one of the nearby lounges. She didn’t hesitate. “Of course, my Lady.” Shiala reached for his face, her touch was clinical - he was sure she was trying to avoid making Liara uncomfortable. Her eyes fluttered shut, and Luke barely had time to brace before the wave hit. “Embrace eternity.”
Chapter 43: Cadenza
Summary:
Chakwas is Chakwas. The Luthor twins are the Luthor twins. And at last, Tali's "secret project" is finished
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
“How do you feel?”
Luke rubbed his forehead and groaned. “Not great?”
“Specifics, Commander,” came the deadpan reply. “I swear, you become no easier to deal with no matter how long I serve with you.”
His eyes opened fully to find the doctorlounging in her usual seat, legs crossed and omni-tool in hand, not even pretending to look worried.
“Chakwas,” he muttered.
“The one and only.” She flicked something on her display and gave him a once-over. “I do wish you wouldn’t be so keen to throw yourself at every opportunity to scramble your own brain. I’m good, Commander, but not good enough to patch you back together if you go shattering your psyche.” She waved her hands dramatically for emphasis, doing her usual exaggerated ‘spooky’ gesture that somehow made her threats feel more credible.
“Sorry, Doc,” he mumbled, guilt creeping in just enough to warrant it.
“Bah.” She waved him off. “Your vitals are stable. No sign of neural damage. You’re fit for duty, assuming you remember how to walk upright and drink water like a functioning adult.”
He took the hint and accepted the cup she offered, sipping slowly. “Where’s Liara?”
“She wanted to stay,” Chakwas said with a slight smile. “Practically begged. But other matters required her attention and I was all too happy to kick her out.”
“Harsh,” he snorted.
“She’s a sweet girl,” the doctor went on, turning back to her omni-tool. “And you’ve certainly done worse. But I run a medical bay, not a hotel. I don’t care how pretty her eyes are.”
Luke let out a dry laugh and leaned back against the pillow. “So what’s this important business she ran off to?”
“From what I gathered, she’s doing a bit of a last-minute sweep. She's meeting with House executives, investors, bureaucrats. I can't say I envy her,” Chakwas drawled.
He groaned as he sat up fully. “How long was I out?”
“Five hours. Not bad. I haven’t seen you sleep that soundly in years,” she chortled.
Luke narrowed his eyes at her. “That’s not a compliment.”
“I didn’t say it was.”
He took another sip of water. “Did I miss anything important?”
“Between Garrus, Butch, and Pressley you’d think the Normandy was on autopilot. In fact, you might want to consider handing over command permanently-” He gave her a withering look. Chakwas rolled her eyes. “Relax. They’re not you. But they are capable. It’s nice to see, is all.”
Luke huffed. “Anything else?”
“Just one thing,” Chakwas replied, shutting down her omni-tool and standing. “Tali would like a word when you’ve got the time. She assured me its nothing personal but I do know how much you strive to meet the demands of your crew..”
“I’ll meet with her in my quarters,” he pushed himself off her cot.
Chakwas gave a small nod and turned toward her desk. “Try not to break your mind again in the next twenty-four hours. I have paperwork.”
“No promises.”
“Of course not,” she said, already halfway through logging another chart. “You’re the worst patient I’ve ever had.”
The key to maximising one’s productivity, creativity, and effectiveness was to maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life. Granted, when you operated the way the Luthor twins did, those two spheres were fairly intertwined. Were they perfectionists? Absolutely. Did they lack a social life outside of one another? Perhaps. Overworked? Only just. But that didn’t mean they didn’t know how to enjoy a break.
Katherina leaned in over the pool table, cue in hand, eyes narrowed. The shot was lined up perfectly. And no, it was not remotely ostentatious to have a pool table installed on their ship. It was taste. “I envy you, dear sister,” Frederick sighed, lazily twirling his glass. “What an easy shot fate has presented you with.”
“Fate had nothing to do with it,” she snapped, drawing back the cue. “I set it up two turns ago.”
Frederick clicked his tongue. “Yes, yes, of course. Nonetheless, a simple shot. You should have no trouble sinking it.”
Skill was only half the game - it was psychological warfare that won the match. Katherina’s jaw clenched as her cue struck the ball... and missed. What should have been the easiest shot of the night veered off the mark. Her brother's smirk widened with predatory satisfaction as he stepped up for his turn.
“Well,” Katherina drawled, eyeing him, “I suppose you would know more about fate than most.”
“And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing, nothing,” she said sweetly. “Only that it's fate making your shots, not skill.”
“Ha!” he barked. “You’ll have to do better than that, Katherina.”
She didn’t need to. The universe did it for her.
Just as Frederick leaned in to take his shot, the comm system buzzed. Loudly. He flinched, the ball veering wildly off course. It didn’t come close to hitting anything.
“Scheiß! I thought we banned that tactic three games ago!” he snarked.
Katherina smiled faintly and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, already moving to tidy herself. No one answered a holo-call looking half-dressed, even if only in spirit. “I left all comms on the console,” she said casually. “And please put your blazer on, somebody’s calling.”
Frederick groaned but obeyed, slipping the jacket on with a grumble. A moment later, the call was accepted, and, to their mutual surprise, Liara T’Soni’s image flickered into view.
“Katherina. Frederick,” T'Soni greeted.
“Lady T’Soni!” Frederick beamed, summoning what charm he could. “To what do we owe the pleasure?”
“Spare me the pleasantries,” she said flatly. “You failed to correctly introduce yourselves on the balcony. Did you not think I deserved to know I was dealing with the infamous Luthor twins?”
“Frauline T’Soni,” Katherina returned, voice soft and polite, “you must forgive us. Considering your company at the time, I’m sure you understand our reluctance to reveal ourselves fully. You, however, are intelligent. We trusted it wouldn’t take you long to piece things together.”
“You assaulted two of my closest friends,” the Asari didn't skip a beat. “The commander speaks very little in your favour.”
“Self-defence,” her brother countered smoothly. “I do urge you to review the footage. My sister was struck first. I only intervened to protect her. I may have been… somewhat enthusiastic,” he admitted with a dramatic clutch to his heart, “but surely, Frauline T’Soni, you understand. Katherina is all I have. My only family. I would not - could not stand by as she was harmed.”
It was an embellished truth, sure, but it made Katherina blush slightly all the same. She straightened her back and spoke up, patting her brother’s hand thankfully. “Lady T’Soni,” she picked up. “Our reputation precedes us, we are well aware, but it has been exaggerated. We might be ruthless, but we are not monsters. Luke is a good man,” she smiled brightly, “but he is mistaken about a great many things. We left the Alliance for good reasons. We have not once faced criminal or civil prosecution. Our actions have benefacted the improvement and development of countless Terminus worlds and we play an important, legitimate role in the galactic economy. Due to the scale of our operations, it is natural that to many we would seem benevolent, to others, terrible.”
Katherina gave her brother’s hand another loving squeeze. To T'Soni it probably just seemed like a regular sign of affection but she knew Frederick would recognise it as a ‘we did good’ sort of congratulation. “You understand that I cannot trust you,” the Asari finally spoke.
She smirked. “You are an extraordinarily smart woman. Your mother would be proud.”
“Thank you,” T'Soni spoke softly. “Regardless of my conflict on the matter, I have need of your services. From my understanding you are the only significant third party who had near complete access to my mother’s estate.”
“We had frequent, overlapping interests,” her brother stated plainly.
The Asari hummed. “I need a full analysis. Every major stakeholder under House T’Soni, internal and external. I already have people working on this but I believe your perspective would offer… unique insight.”
“How inspired!” Frederick clapped his hands. “We’d be delighted to help. I suspect we’ll uncover several details your staff may miss.”
“And,” Katherina added on, “we would be happy to do it free of charge.”
“I cannot ask that.”
“Well…” her brother cut in, giving Katherina a fake look of admonishment. She barely stifled a giggle. “If you insist, we would be open to negotiating the acquisition of certain technologies patented by your estate? BioGalactica holds many assets we have been interested in for years, but despite it’s inability to turn a major profit, Benezia refused to sell it. Now, I would not be so bold as to demand you relinquish this company, no matter how small or unprofitable it may be, but we will help you in exchange for chance to negotiate?”
“Very well,” Liara said, nodding once. “Coordinate your work with Myrissa. I will be returning to the Normandy.”
The call ended.
They turned to one another, grinning like schoolchildren.
“You were brilliant,” she told him.
“Nien,” Frederick replied, “we were brilliant. That fool will hand over that company the moment we finish this task”
“Oh let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” she teased, “I’m sure she’ll investigate the company quite thoroughly before we even hit negotiations.”
They both laughed. As if any amount of investigation would stop this.
“Ah, Katherina, you are truly remarkable. We must celebrate!” he declared, tapping the comms to the bridge. “Herr Captain, set course to the Sol System and prepare us a shuttle for Paris!”
Katherina blinked, then lit up. “Wait- really? We’re finally going? You’re taking me to the Louvre?!”
“It will take time to complete this task for the Asari. I know you’ve been wanting to visit for over a decade, so let’s book an apartment nearby and work from- oof!”
She pulled him into a crushing hug.
“Mein gott, Kathrina!”
“You’re really the best brother in the world, aren’t you?” she beamed.
“I can’t breathe!” he complained.
Katherina giggled. “I love you so very much, dear brother. You really know how to make me happy.”
“Scheiß, my back!”
Shepard swallowed the painkillers Chakwas dispensed him with and adjusted his fatigues. He keyed the door open from his omni-tool once it chimed, and Tali walked into the room eagerly. “Morning, Tali,” he greeted, watching her practically beam under her helmet. “You’re looking much better.”
“Yep!” she nodded, arms swinging loosely. “Wrex finally lets me out of his sight.” She gave a sigh that landed somewhere between fondness and exasperation. “He’s the big Krogan dad you never knew you wanted.”
He chuckled. “Glad to see you vertical. You wanted to speak to me?”
Tali’s posture straightened a little. She leaned in, lowering her voice to a dramatic whisper. “I finished the, er… secret project.” He raised an eyebrow, curious. “You know, the– ah, actually, you know what? It’ll be funnier this way.” Her voice cracked with amusement. “Have fun, commander. You can thank me later!”
He blinked. “Wait, what?”
A familiar rustling from the ventilation connected all the dots. The Princess flew from the roof and snuggled up to him again. This time she had a small metal device attached to her. It looked like a butchered omni-tool mixed with something he couldn’t recognise.
“Shepard,” she trilled. “My Prince. You can understand me?”
His eyes widened. He grinned, floored by the sound of her words. “Wow. I can’t believe she pulled it off. Yeah, I can hear you.” He blinked. “This is… this is incredible. Do you have a name? I’ve just been calling you the Princess. Feels rude now.”
“I am the Princess,” she said proudly. “Your Princess. I am Cadenza.”
He laughed, still a little stunned. “Cadenza,” he repeated, tasting the name. “That’s beautiful.”
“Thank you, my Prince. I have… a question.”
“Go ahead,” he encouraged.
“Now that my songs are heard,” she asked, hopeful, “must I remain hidden?”
He hesitated, tapping a finger against the side of his jaw. “I think I can clear you for the hangar bay at least. Give me a bit to talk to everyone first, ease them into it.”
She sung happily. “I am grateful, my Prince.”
“Could I ask why I’m the prince?” he asked with a half-smile.
“No. You are my Prince," she stressed. "You saved the Queen. You protect me. You are the leader.”
Luke gave her a wry look. “Wait, don’t tell me I’m part of the Rachni royal family now.”
“You disapprove?”
He laughed, full-bodied this time. “No, I guess not. Honestly, it’s not even in the top five strangest things to happen since I joined the Normandy.”
“Then we are in agreement,” Cadenza hummed contentedly.
Luke leaned back, exhaling slowly. “You know, if I ever travelled back in time and met younger me. Before all this happened,” he emphasised with a wave of the hand. “Told him everything that'd happen? He’d have had me committed.”
The Rachni buzzed with amusement. “In the vents, I listened to the crew. They joke that crazy is part of the ‘resume’ for working on the Normandy.”
“They’re not wrong,” he said dryly.
“The Normandy sings too,” she said, quieter now, her voice almost reverent. “I can hear her.”
That made him sit up. “Wait, really? What do you mean she sings?”
“She sings differently than others. She sings of you.”
Luke raised an eyebrow. “Of me?”
Cadenza made a pleasant noise. “You are her Prince too.”
He frowned, brow furrowing. “You’re gonna have to unpack that for me.”
“I do not know how else to explain.”
He leaned back again, arms crossed as he considered that. “Interesting,” he murmured.
Cadenza curled up against him, content.
Notes:
Cadenza is a musical term. As I am terrible at explaining such things on my own, here is the wikipedia definition: "an improvised or written-out ornamental passage played or sung by a soloist or soloists, usually in a "free" rhythmic style, and often allowing virtuosic display"
I thought it not only was a suitable name for the Princess, but for the chapted.
Chapter 44: Armstrong
Summary:
Shepard meets with the Third Fleet to deal with the Geth in the Armstrong Nebula, and Lara continues to struggle with her fears and trauma
Notes:
It has been *too* long since I wrote Lara and I am so very sorry for it
Chapter Text
After nearly two weeks, the Normandy departed Thessia.
Critics had ruthlessly attacked the vessel’s extended stay on the Asari capital but Alliance High Command were not fussed in the slightest. Until now, there had been no major Geth advances and all leads seemed to die out. The Alliance was thrilled at the prospect for closer cooperation and significant benefits which Shepard’s role in the completed proceedings had brought. House T’Soni was one of the most powerful organisations in the galaxy and it was now headed by an Asari who was both extremely pro-human and pro-Alliance.
And it wasn’t as if Luke had been sitting around on his ass doing nothing.
Changing between his uniform and suits constantly – occasionally on an hourly basis – Luke had networked hard enough to make even Udina nod his head approvingly. He played an integral role in the previous proceedings, and in his limited spare time had conversed at length with High Command in a series of high-level classified strategy meetings.
He had been in agreement with the Admirals, Directors, and Chiefs.
Something was coming.
And it had, as expected, arrived.
The Geth launched an all-out offensive into the Armstrong Cluster, chasing off the Alliance fleets and occupying the bases in the region. It was a strategical brilliant move. The Alliance had been building up a steady military presence in the nebula as a forward point of defence against the Terminus Systems. They were approaching finalising construction and the were plans to move in personnel over the course of the following months. The Geth swooped in and effortlessly conquered a highly defensible set of systems and were perfectly positioned to launch a spearhead directly into the Attican Traverse.
Swiftly, the Alliance had rallied a response force to be led by Admiral Hackett in the Attican Beta cluster. The overall grand strategy was simple. Enter the nebula, decisively defeat the Geth fleets, and reassume control of the bases. When the orders came in for the Normandy to rally with the rest of the Third Fleet and await further orders, Shepard assumed he would be participating in ground missions to liberate the bases.
This turned out to be an incorrect assumption. The Normandy was to participate in reconnaissance behind the enemy fleets, utilising the stealth drives and taking advantage of the Geth’s lack of windows to provide detailed intelligence in real time. It would be a crucial role in the upcoming battle, and Luke had, naturally, subconsciously assumed he would command the Normandy during this operation.
Again, this was an incorrect assumption. Pressley was to assume temporary command of the vessel for the duration of the mission. As per usual, this would mean that the effective power triumvirate of Pressley, Butch, and Garrus would effortlessly lead the ship in his absence. Luke himself was to report to the Diligence, Hackett’s flagship.
And so here he was, dressed in his uniform in Hackett’s office for his personal debrief before the fleet hit the relay. The admiral had his hands clasped behind his back as he studied the holographic display in front of him. If Luke didn’t know the man any better he’d have assumed he was intentionally being dramatic.
“Shepard, your self-control is admirable," he gruffed almost fondly. "I know you’re confused. While we’re in my office you can speak freely.”
He nodded. “Thank you, sir. And yes, sir, I’m not sure why I’m here.”
“I want you on the bridge with me. You will participate in leading this battle with me and Captain Kaga,” he explained, which didn't particularly, well, explain much at all.
“Yes, sir,” he nodded again, now even more confused. ‘yes sir’ wasn’t the most elegant response but it wasn’t often Admiral Hackett himself demanded your presence on the bridge for what would prove to be the largest battle the Alliance had participated in since the days of the First Contact War.
“I can see you’re still confused.” He took a seat and leant into it, steepling his fingers. “Shepard, Anderson initially watched over you and Lara during the academy as a favour to your mom. If you’d been average in any way you and your sister probably would have been assigned garrison duty to keep the two of you safe,” the admiral stated bluntly.
That felt like a slap in the face, but he didn’t know why.
“But there was nothing average about the two of you. Anderson knew you were made for greatness and guided you down that path. Consistently you have proven yourself exceptional by every measurable metric possible. There is no doubt that you’ll reach admiral one day. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if you became the youngest admiral in our nation’s history," Hackett chuckled. "Chances are you’ll go further than that. You’ve proven yourself a brilliant commander of ground forces. You’ve proven yourself an exceptional negotiator and diplomat. I want to give you the chance to develop your skills in naval warfare and grand strategy.”
This was a lot to take in, but Luke managed a slight nod and straightened his back. “I guess this is why I’ve been participating these high-level meetings?”
The corner of Hackett’s mouth twitched. “You catch on quickly. Follow me to the bridge, I want to familiarise you with the ship and the as much as possible before the battle begins.”
Another day, another mission. More Batarians dead, another corner of space just a little quieter. She filed her report, cleaned the blood from her armour, and followed her routine to the letter. She collected her tray of food from the mess hall and walked back to her quarters. She locked the door behind her. Nobody spoke to her anymore. They thought they were subtle about it but she saw the way they moved around her. Heard the whispers. She could feel it in the air. Fear, pity, maybe a little disgust. They thought she was borderline insane, that she could snap at any given moment.
And really, Lara didn’t blame them. She barely recognised herself either.
“As I keep telling you,” Not-Luke said from the other side of the table, “it really doesn’t have to be this way.”
She stabbed at the food without much interest. “I… I can’t.”
“You can,” he said, casual as ever. “You do harder things than this every week.”
“This is different,” she muttered. “This is all I have left.”
He didn’t argue, not right away, he just leaned forward a bit and rested his elbows on the table. “The real me’s still out there, you know. I guarantee he’d welcome you back with open arms.”
She laughed. It was hollow and mean but she just didn't care. “As if he’d have time for this broken shell of a sister,” she waved the fork in the air. “He’s got that Asari now. And Butch. He doesn't need me.”
The apparition gave her a sad look. “Lara…”
“That’s not Meyer talking,” she snapped, pre-empting the rebuke. “That’s me. That’s what I see when I look in the mirror. Replaced. Forgotten.” She rose to her feet, fork still in hand, arms wide. “Just look at me. I’ve been replaced, and who could blame him?” She began to laugh manically, spreading her arms. “Can’t you see me?”
Not-Luke didn’t flinch. He shook his head. “Your brother loves you. More than anything else.”
“Of course you’d say that,” she said, voice rising now, cracking. “You’re not real. You’re not him. You’re fake. But you’re the closest thing I’ll get to being loved ever again.”
He leaned back and crossed his arms like he always used to, the way he would when she was being difficult and he didn’t want to argue but also wasn’t backing down. She felt the need to apologise, but she only succeeded in opening her mouth before she blacked out for a moment and fell to the floor, smashing her head on the corner of the table. She wasn’t certain, but she may have stabbed herself with the fork too. Somewhere.
“Lara!” Not-Luke shouted. Blood traced down her face. It would probably leave another scar, but that didn’t matter. Who’d care? “Damn it, talk to me.”
She tasted iron. “I’m okay,” she mumbled.
“You’re not. You’re bleeding-”
“It’s just a little blood,” she slurred. “I’ve had worse.”
“Where’s your comm? You’ve got to call the medics.”
She rolled slightly, head too heavy to lift. “Shh. Too loud.”
“Damn it!” Not-Luke was kneeling now, right next to her. “Lara, please, stay with me. Call someone. Don’t do this.”
She smiled sadly and placed a hand on his not-face. She thought Not-Luke was beginning to tear up but she was too delirious to be certain. “You’re always so nice to me…” she managed, supressing a whimper, “even when I’m a bitch.”
“You’re not, I promise you you’re not, pl-”
“Don’t shush me,” he quietly admonished with a point of the finger. She actually giggled at that. “You’re impossible. Completely impossible.”
Things started to go dark. “Luke?” she asked, tensing up. “Where are you? Where’s… your hand?”
“I’m right here,” he promised, placing his not-hand over her. She smiled as she drifted off, tears streaming down her face. She really was insane, wasn’t she?
“Intensify forward firepower!” Hackett barked as the ship turned slightly in the face of a rapidly approaching Geth cruiser.
Luke's eyes remained transfixed on the holodisplay in front of him. The Geth had been holding strong and both sides were taking a beating. This was quickly proving to be a costly battle. The Geth, being synthetics, presented a challenge due to their risk-taking strategies. They made brazen moves in combat, committing to tactics most organics would shudder at. He watched as Geth vessels made what seemed like suicidal dives, sacrificing themselves without a second thought to manoeuvre parts of the battle in their favour.
Luke had his suspicions. If the Geth were this willing to lose ships, there had to be a mechanism allowing them to evacuate their programming before a ship's total destruction, which would place great stress on their communications systems as they also were coordinating themselves with incredible precision. Lost in thought, his mind raced back to previous strategy meetings with the Admirals. They'd often discussed the synthetics' dependency on their intricate network of transmission and communication. Suddenly, he had an epiphany.
"Track their transmissions," Luke ordered, turning to the comms officers. "Pinpoint the locations on their ships where most incoming and outgoing communication is concentrated."
Captain Kaga, the captain of the Defiance who had too much of a rigid stick to the book approach for his liking, snapped at him, "Stay out of this, Shepard. The Geth have too many external communications devices for us to effectively target them."
Unfazed, he didn't glance up at the man. "Every Geth fleet this far from their servers needs main communication hubs on their ships to process most of the load. If we target those..."
Before he could finish, one of the comms specialists interjected, "Commander's right. Each Geth vessel has two to three primary devices handling the majority of the transmissions."
Turning to Hackett, Luke made his pitch. "We need to shift our focus. Stop targeting their weapons and hit these comms devices."
Captain Kaga's face reddened with fury. "This is madness! Leave naval strategy to those who know it!"
But Admiral Hackett waved the captain off, apparently seeing what Luke was seeing. "Do it. Retarget on Shepard's marks."
The subsequent change in tactics bore fruit faster than anyone could've hoped. As the Geth fleet's primary communication nodes were taken out, their once seamless coordination faltered. Hackett, sensing blood in the water, pressed harder. He gave more leeway to his fleet's captains, allowing them to be more aggressive.
Luke was confident the battle in space would be done soon. With total naval superiority in the nebula, the Geth ground forces would be easy pickings. Captain Kaga refused to make eye-contact with him, but Hackett seemed pleased with his efforts. Luke gave him a nod, glad that he lived up to the admiral’s expectations. If he was being honest, to him naval warfare was far more stressful than ground combat. He was certain those on the bridge would disagree, and he acknowledged that he had heavily adjusted to ground operations, but there was something about the tension on the bridge from the start to the end of the battle that made it more stressful.
If Hackett had his way, this wouldn’t be the last time Luke would have to participate in this kind of warfare.
Chapter 45: Upwards
Summary:
Shepard meets with Captain Daderson and Udina, Garrus and Butch have lunch, Liara calls the Luthor twins, and Shepard is given a mission
Notes:
Over 100,000 words!
Holy crap!
Like really, holy crap!
I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting to get this far but holy hells, I've hit the 100,000 milestone.
Again, I'm giving a huge shoutout to every single last one of you in the comments giving me the motivation and push to keep going. Yes yes, I know I sound like a broken record at this point, but it's true! I doubt I'd have come this far without all of you. I'm determined to see this through to the end, but the journey has been extremely invigorating.
Again (sorry sorry, I know I know) thank you everyone!!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
“I must say, Shepard, you truly make it difficult to doubt you.” Luke and Anderson snorted simultaneously as the former took a seat, joining the captain opposite Udina’s desk. “Must you be so disgustingly good at everything you do?”
“I try my best,” he responded wryly, smirking slightly.
The ambassador gave him a wry look. “Interestingly enough you have managed to reverse the Council’s stances on you. Sparatus has become your greatest supporter. Valern acts neutral but leans towards humanity. As for Tevos, I'm sure we have better things to talk about than that dinosaur.”
“I’ve received word that the Alliance had been offered favourable rates from a myriad of Asari manufacturing and R&D organisations," Anderson shifted the conversation. "High Command attributes this to you and Doctor T’Soni and are very enthused by the possibilities.”
“Furthermore,” Udina added on with a shake of the head, “the Batarian Liberation Front has used you as a rallying point. Combine this with the recent influx of funding and support…”
“Which Alliance Intelligence believes to be coming from an anonymous Thessian benefactor, and a certain Asari from Omega…” the captain gave him a pointed look.
“And we have an established organisation with the means to destabilise the Batarian Hegemony that is thoroughly in our sphere of influence," the ambassador grumbled. "How you managed to get even the Batarians to support you, I do not know, but I would be a fool to dismiss the opportunity this presents.”
Anderson leant back into his seat. “There’s talk of our parliament recognising the BLF as the legitimate government of the Hegemony, but conservative voices only barely rejected the proposal in a recent vote. The ambassador from Khar’Shan lodged a diplomatic protest that we even voted on it.”
“We ignored it,” Udina stated with the closest thing to a smile he'd ever seen on his face.
Luke nodded his head and shrugged slightly. He had been coordinating the steadily establishing revolution with Hackett and Director Wells. Charn was gathering support every day. So far the BLF resorted to border skirmishes, attacking Hegemony military positions and rescuing slaves before retreating into Alliance space. There was nothing the Hegemony could do without instigating a war with the Alliance. “I’m sure the Hegemony is less than happy with these developments,” he stated blandly and diplomatically. The Alliance's support for the BLF was an open secret. They’d deny it to all of the media, but everyone knew that the Alliance steadily stood behind their new Batarian allies.
“You assume correctly,” Udina acknowledged with a chuckle as a red light flashed on his desk, and he reached forwards to push a button, “but let us focus on the important issue at hand. Commander Shepard, may I introduce you to Kayla Laurence, the leader of the Shepard’s Harmony Party.”
A tall black-haired woman entered the room, politely smiling as she took a seat. She wore a traditional suit with a nondescript trench coat. “Kayla Laurence,” she introduced again with an English accent, shaking his hand. Despite her thinness, her handshake was firm and he smiled politely in return. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“I’m glad to finally meet the woman who’s been using my name for a political organisation,” Luke joked, smirking a little.
“Yes, well, I thought it appropriate,” she responded embarrassedly, tucking her hair behind her ear. “You know, I was one of the civilians you saved on Elysium. I was a banker at the time and had just finished up at work. I turned down loans and refused to extend payment periods on a few mortgages to improve my figures. I won’t lie, I... I was a selfish woman, but when you saved all of our lives I felt… it was profound. You saved everyone, not caring who or what we had done. You didn’t ask questions, you just helped. I decided to change my life and dedicate myself to doing what you did. Well not on the battlefield of course,” she chuckled, rambling as she gestured to herself, “I’m far too fragile for that. But I’ve carefully studied all your press releases. My party stands by everything you say and we do our best to translate your beliefs and values into actionable policy and… I’m sorry, I rambled again.”
“It’s fine,” Luke smiled, leaning back into his chair.
“You know how it is, you meet your c- hero and your train of thought goes out the window,” she laughed nervously, quickly changing the topic of conversation. “I’m sure you have questions, Ambassador Udina mentioned that you wanted to discuss our party?”
Luke nodded and glanced over his notes, quickly recapping the information he already had. “I don’t have any problems with your policies. I’ll be honest, I’m a soldier not a bureaucrat. Most of this stuff is best left to those of you who know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m thrilled to hear that,” Kayla beamed, “and if there’s ever anything you disapprove of, or want to add, I’ll do so in a heartbeat.”
He nodded again and placed down his notes. “The only thing I want to address is the image of me you’re promoting.”
“W- Am- Did we do something w-wrong?” she sputtered, panicking.
“No,” he reassured quickly. “It’s just, I’ve watched your speeches and seen your pamphlets and videos. It just feels a bit… worshippy…”
“Elegantly put, Commander,” Udina mocked with a sinister twitch of the lip.
“I’m not perfect,” he stated firmly, glaring at the ambassador.
“Noone is,” Kayla nodded. If he didn’t know any better he’d think she had begun to imitate his mannerisms. “What is perfect is the idea of you. You represent the best our species, no, the best the galaxy has to offer. You’re Commander Shepard, the Hero of Elysium, the first human Spectre, the greatest warrior to serve the Alliance.”
He clicked his tongue. “I’m not.”
“But you are,” she stressed, “at least, that’s the you the public sees. Call it media bias, propaganda, whatever, the point it there’s an image of you shaped by your actions and the perceptions surrounding them. You can’t fight it, but you can use it to make the galaxy a better place.”
Luke nodded (again) and crossed off a few lines on his notes. “Thank you for taking the time to meet, Miss Laurence,” he thanked, turning his attention back to her.
“No no no, the pleasure was all mine, truly,” she responded somewhat giddily. “I’m available for absolutely anything,” she promised, handing him her extranet details. “I’ll set your contact to the highest priority.”
“Thank you,” he shook her hand as he stood up and collected his things. “Unfortunately I’ve got to go. I have a lunch meeting with Orda Kan, and she is one Volus you do not want to keep waiting.”
“Mmmmm,” Butch mmm’d, munching on her barbeque in an extremely non-ladylike manner as Garrus watched on with a mix of horror and amusement on his face. “This is what you guys eat?” she managed between mouthfuls.
“Yes,” he replied, placing a much smaller portion into his mouth. “I was surprised to find a Turian restaurant that makes levo versions of our food too.”
“Don’t have to tell me twice,” she grinned, dropping a tiny piece of sausage from her mouth. “You’ll never find an Aussie who’ll say no to a barbie.”
“Barbie?” he asked inquisitively, doing that cute thing where he tilts his head to the side.
“Aussie slang,” she waved off, scoffing her mouth with the next part of her meal.
“You have a lot of those,” he observed.
“Mmm,” she mumbled over her uncivilised consumption of bread soaked in gravy. “It’s a cultural thing,” Butch explained, licking the gravy off her thumb, “Luke could give you a lecture if you wanted. He did a course on linguisticals or something. I-”
“Hey guys!”
Butch spun her head around mid-munch to see a young Turian skip towards them. Garrus sighed. “Solana.”
“Fancy meeting you here!” his sister gleefully responded.
“Sol!” Butch greeted eagerly (after swallowing her mouthful extraordinarily quickly).
“What do you want?” Garrus demanded icily.
Butch teasingly elbowed the Turian, admonishing him. “That’s no way to speak to your sister, Gar.”
Solana giggled as she helped herself to a seat. “I knew I liked you.” She folded her arms and gave Garrus an innocent look. “And as to why I’m here, I just happened to be in the area. Mom wanted me to invite you two to dinner,” she added on. “If I bumped into you, that is.”
“You know,” Butch murmured conspiratorially, loudly enough for Garrus to hear, “I learnt the hard way that the more you tease your brother, the worse it’ll be when the tables turn.” It was honest advice. Shepard had ruthlessly gotten payback for every jab, poke, and joke. Inviting him to that last dinner on the Citadel was a genuine mistake.
“He can’t do anything,” Sol waved off, “dad wouldn’t let him.” Garrus rubbed his forehead and sighed. “So what’s going on with you two? Have you… you know…”
“Solana!” Garrus all but yelled indignantly as Butch erupted into laughter, drawing looks from a few of the nearby patrons.
“Oh relax and get your head out of the gutter, I meant have you kissed. Can you believe this guy?”
Katherina stood stiffly beside her brother as the crowd moved around them in a blur. Music played softly in the background - some slow, orchestral piece meant to elevate the ambience - but it only added to the sense that she didn’t belong here. Her dress uniform itched. Not physically, of course, but it made her feel like her skin didn’t fit right. Laughter echoed.
She wanted to disappear.
Her parents had made it very clear that tonight was about presentation. Alliance cadets or not, she and Frederick were still assets to be paraded around. They had been in the Alliance Academy for a year now. A full year. It should have meant something. But standing beside her parents she felt no stronger than she had on day one. Frederick played his part with ease. He always had. He was the charming one. The confident one. His smile was always perfectly calibrated. Everybody ate it up.
Her parents were in rare form tonight. Their smiles were all teeth. Her mother kept one hand locked around Katherina’s arm like a clamp, her nails digging gently through the fabric. Her father’s laugh rang a touch too loud every time one of the men they were entertaining made a joke. Katherina didn’t know how many people they’d been introduced to but none of them mattered. She didn’t want to remember any of their names.
“You remember Mr Lawson, of course,” her father intoned, guiding them toward two sharply dressed men who were already sipping dark liquor. “And Mr Hock. Such a pleasure to see you again.”
Both men offered tight smiles. She nodded automatically. Her hands folded neatly behind her back. She tried to stand taller. She could feel the weight of their smug gazes on her, as if they saw something broken and felt no shame in admiring the cracks.
She said nothing.
“Katherina,” her father said suddenly, “you’re being awfully quiet. Why don’t you tell Mr Lawson what it’s been like at the Academy?”
She didn’t react, she just stared somewhere between their shoulders. It was easier not to make eye contact. “Speak up,” her father muttered, the barest trace of warning tucked beneath his smile. “You’ve hardly said a word all night.”
“I...” her voice cracked, barely audible. Her throat felt tight. “It’s… fine,” she said softly.
Lawson raised a brow. “Just ‘fine’?”
Frederick jumped in, his ego sparing her. “She’s modest. Top scores in geographical applications. Nearly makes me look bad,” he grinned.
Hock laughed unkindly. “I’d be worried if your sister started outperforming you, boy. That’d say more about you than her.”
Her father's hand rested briefly on the small of her back. To everyone else, it would look like a comforting touch. To her, it was an order to g et it together. “She doesn’t say much, does she?” Hock remarked, lifting a brow. Katherina said nothing. She couldn’t. Her breath felt trapped somewhere in her chest. Her gloved hands clenched at her sides.
Lawson leaned in slightly, amusement dancing behind his eyes. “Still as quiet as I remember,” he mused. “I thought the academy would beat that out of you.”
Her father leaned in slightly, voice smooth but unmistakably cold. “Katherina. Say something.”
She couldn’t breathe properly. Her lungs refused to cooperate. The air was too thin. Or too thick. She didn’t know. Her pulse thudded in her ears and her hands felt cold despite the heat of the room. She needed to speak. She needed to say something. Anything.
But she couldn't.
Just as her throat began to close and the dull roar in her ears started to drown out the room, a voice cut in.
“Gentlemen.”
Petrovsky strode into their circle with his usual calm confidence. His uniform somehow looked sharper than anyone else's, medals gleaming under the chandelier light. He extended a hand to each of the men, who both straightened just slightly.
“Colonel,” Frederick said tightly, his smile faltering.
Petrovsky ignored him completely.
“Katherina,” he said, turning to her with a polite nod. “You’re looking well.”
She blinked, heart still racing. But she found her voice. “Colonel. It’s good to see you,” it came out steady.
Her father’s eyes flicked toward her, The displeasure buried in his expression was clear. “Ah,” he chastised her lightly, “now you find your tongue.”
Petrovsky barely reacted. “I was hoping to borrow your daughter for a moment, if you don’t mind. I’ve just seen President Huerta’s daughter and I think the two would get on well.”
There was a pause. Then, her father smiled thinly. “Of course, Colonel. Thank you for taking her off our hands.” She didn’t miss the flash of disgust in his eyes before the facade settled back into place.
Katherina followed Petrovsky without a word. Her legs felt like they didn’t belong to her, and the noise in her chest was still deafening. Her thoughts were tangled. She was spiralling. She could feel it. The walls were moving. The ballroom was too loud.
Then Petrovsky’s hand landed gently on her shoulder. “Breathe,” he whispered.
She did.
Her breath steadied.
He didn’t speak right away. They walked together in silence for a few minutes, weaving around the edges of the ballroom. “I don’t suppose you’d like to actually meet Huerta’s daughter?” he eventually asked, dryly.
Katherina unclenched her fists. “Not particularly.”
“Good. She’s awful.” That made her laugh. Her shoulders relaxed a little more. Eventually Petrovsky steered them toward a quieter corner, past a hallway where most guests weren’t looking. His posture relaxed. He folded his arms and glanced toward the gala behind them. “I swear,” he muttered, “I’m one drink away from strangling your parents.”
“I won’t stop you,” she joked, or tried to.
He chuckled. “No. I stand by what I said. They are yours to kill.”
Katherina scowled before her face fell. “I didn’t even say anything,” she whispered. “Not until you showed up.”
“I know you’re not fragile, but they twist you into it,” he growled. She didn’t know what to say. She was embarrassed. “You’re not weak, my dear. You’ve just been made to feel that way. There’s a difference.”
She didn’t say anything for a while. “You’ve always been kinder than you let on,” she finally said.
The colonel scoffed. “I don’t do kind. I do honest.”
Katherina sighed. “That’s kinder than anything I’ve had in a long time.”
Petrovsky stopped walking and turned to face her. He placed a firm hand on her shoulder again. “Come on. Let’s walk. You’re not getting out of this whole event, but at least I can make it bearable.”
She looked up at him. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. I’m just telling the truth.” He straightened up. “Let’s pester the servers for something non-alcoholic. I don’t care what your father says, wine is the last thing you need tonight.” That got a tiny laugh. She didn’t mean to laugh, but it happened anyway. “I like that sound,” he said with a rare grin.
They said money couldn’t buy happiness.
Katherina disagreed vehemently.
Here she sat with her brother, in a private booth overlooking the main floor of one of the most prestigious restaurants in Paris, devouring the most divine Cassoulet she had ever tasted, and was slightly tipsy off the best champagne she’d found in Alliance space. If that wasn't happiness, she really didn’t know what was. “We really should come back to Earth more often,” her brother mused as he sipped at the most expensive wine the restaurant had to offer.
“The downside to our success and importance is that we rarely have such a luxury,” she sighed sadly. The feeling passed quickly – it was impossible to feel down this present moment.
Frederick furrowed his eyebrows when his comm started buzzing.
She sighed. “I thought you turned that off before we started?”
“Only priority calls should be coming through,” he insisted, checking the incoming frequency. “It’s Benezia’s brat.”
Katherina pouted. “She couldn’t have waited until after our meal? Very well, put her through, we are rather presentable after all, hm?”
Frederick grinned and placed the portable holo-terminal on the table, accepting the call. “Lady T’Soni!” he greeted in typical fashion with a huge smile on his face. “I hope our work was suffice?”
Katherina watched the Asari somewhat distractedly as she finished another glass of wine. Who was keeping count, anyway? She made a conscious effort to keep herself together and appear professional, mentally swearing profusely at the Asari brat for her poor timing. Liara’s eyes danced between them and their environment. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything, I can call back later if you are… indisposed?”
Katherina smiled cooly keeping her mouth shut. Oh you fu-
“No no, not at all!" her brother laughed. "We’re most keen to hear your review of our efforts.” He leaned back into his seat and wrapped his arm around her chair, but positioned himself so that he’d be the main focal point of their rude interrupter’s attention.
The Asari scrutinised her for a long moment before returning her gaze to Frederick. “Your efforts have been greatly appreciated. Your reports were impeccably detailed and have proved rather helpful in my consolidation of the House. It seems I had missed a few opponents, an oversight you have allowed me to rectify.”
“We’re happy to be of service,” he lied. “If we’re being honest, it has been refreshing to relax and focus on a less intensive project for once. Perhaps not a project as grand as your mission to save the galaxy, but it was appreciated nonetheless.” Katherina giggled at his extremely subtle mockery - a mockery only she would be able to pick up on - and gently slapped a hand on his shoulder.
Liara actually had the audacity to raise an eyebrow at her but said nothing of it before continuing. “I suppose we should discuss payment.”
“Our only request was the opportunity to negotiate for BioGalactica,” he reiterated innocently. “We will accept nothing more. If not, at least we could perform a favour for our deceased friend’s daughter.”
The blue woman smiled politely. “As much as I appreciate the sentiment, I offer you neither outcome. My lawyers will be in contact with yours. We analysed the company and found nothing of significance worth keeping it for.” Nothing of significance? You ignoran- “Furthermore,” she continued, unaware of Katherina’s vitriol, “as you mentioned in out last communication, the company has consistently failed to turn a profit. Transferring it to you would remove a situation I would have to resolve in the future. Again, you are doing me a favour.”
“Believe me,” Frederick grinned between a sip of his glass. Katherina reached and pulled it from his hands to no opposition, drinking it herself, “you are the one doing us the favour. This is the start of a terrific working relationship, I just know it.”
Liara appraised them carefully. “We shall see. I will leave you to return to your dinner.”
With a few goodbyes, the call terminated.
The twins sat there for a few moments, as the implications of their acquisition slowly hit them. Katherina covered her mouth and gasped, and tears began to pour from her eyes. She dropped her glass onto the floor and threw herself into Fredericks arms.
Her brother, too, began to cry, and they sat there in the private booth hugging and letting their emotions out. Neither wanted to get their hopes up, neither wanted to let the other go. But there was hope now. It was real, it felt tangible.
It felt reachable.
“Commander Shepard,” Sparatus greeted cordially, “thank you for arriving on such short notice. We have information I am sure you’ll find useful.”
“Yes, we have a lead on Saren,” Valern continued. “For the past months, STG teams have been scouring the Traverse and Terminus systems, and we may have found something. The 3rd Infiltration Regiment has sent a corrupted distress signal directly to the Council. Our analysts believe they have discovered a major base of operations. We believe it would be worthwhile for you to investigate.”
“Our specialists are sending the relevant information to your ship as we speak,” Sparatus promised.
Luke nodded, processing the information. The Council had actually done something, or at least, the STG had. Whether or not the Council had directly caused it, the Normandy finally had another lead.
“We’ll depart within the day,” he agreed, mentally running through the most efficient method to prepare for the mission given the isolation of this location. Excitement began to creep into him.
He had a good feeling about this.
Notes:
Ok everyone, I think we're reaching the endgame now. I don't know how long or short the rest of this story will be, but I've got plenty of ideas I want to see implimented so I can't really give an estimate.
Chapter 46: Virmire
Summary:
The Virmire arc finally begins!
Notes:
HELLO
*ehem*, apologies. Yes. Hi there. Salutations. It's, *clears throat*, it's been a while...
I apologise for my absence. Uni, personal life, and work have piled up, combined with major writer's block, a bout of illness, and a lack of motivation have all contributed to this. I finally have a rough ideea of the Virmire arc and, as I type this, am in the process of uploading this first chapter.
I cannot guarantee a reliable upload schedule going forwards. My other project, the Star Wars fanfic, is similarly meeting delays, and it is frustrating me to no end.
For the meantime, enjoy this chapted, and rest assured I will - eventually - sucessfully finish this off!
Chapter Text
The hum of the Mako's engine was still entirely too loud for Butch's liking. No matter how much Garrus worked on the damn things it just never seemed to be enough. Ashley veered them over another rock formation at a pace that Butch was pretty sure went against everything basic training told them. That woman was just as bad as Luke. Garrus sat stiffly next her, his talons tapping against the side of his armour while Tali had her nose stuck in her omni-tool. Butch sat with her rifle between her knees. She was just ready to actually hit their target already. This waiting was killing her. The second Mako had been trailing the first for a while now close enough to support Luke, but not so close as to risk both being wiped in a single shot. Standard procedure. Still didn’t make her like it.
“This doesn’t feel right,” Garrus finally muttered. “The transmission’s mostly static. I’ve watched it a dozen times. I've slowed it down and ran it through filters. All we’ve got is a location and a voice saying something about Saren’s base. Could be a trap.”
“It could also be bad luck,” Tali added quietly, not looking up from her display. “The signal degradation might’ve be just that. I spent hours trying to clean it up, but whatever jamming Saren has here is better than anything in the Migrant Fleet.”
Butch glanced between them. “So you’re saying this might be a wild goose chase.”
Garrus shrugged. “Might be worse. Might be that we’re walking into a trap with no real intel.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Butch muttered, resting her head briefly against the wall. “But Luke's not the type to throw us in blind unless it’s worth it.”
“No argument there,” Garrus replied, but he didn’t look comforted. His mandibles twitched. “Still, something about this doesn’t add up. Even the worst traps usually come with bait that makes sense. We’ve got nothing here.”
“If it was a trap,” Ashley called back from the driver’s seat, “we wouldn’t have gotten this close. The Normandy got in without resistance. Geth aren’t exactly subtle.”
“Neither are Krogan,” Butch countered, “but we’ve been dealing with them all this time, too. Still doesn’t mean we know what Saren’s cooking.”
Ashley shrugged. “The geth don’t do mobile warfare. They’re dug in somewhere but they’re not trying to flush us out. They like to turtle, you know? The commander wrote a report on it. They're not exactly tactically flexible.”
Tali scoffed. “It’s almost like they don’t care if we find them.”
“Or they’re waiting for us to get closer,” Garrus added.
Butch sat up straighter and adjusted her grip on her rifle. “Great. So best case, we’re marching into a fortress with no floor plan. Worst case, we’re already in someone’s killbox.”
Ashley grinned. “You say that like it’s not Tuesday.”
Butch didn’t return the smile. She just stared out the window.
So far, the operation had gone… better than expected. Too well, in fact. After sneaking up behind enemy lines, the Normandy had landed without incident near the source of the Salarian transmissions. Geth resistance had been light, almost nonexistent. Luke didn’t trust it. They were never that lucky.
That suspicion was validated the moment Joker reported that Saren’s AA systems would make lift-off impossible. They were grounded. Joker had suggested it might be a trap, but Chief Adams had insisted that the Normandy’s stealth systems made them invisible on approach. That didn’t apply to departure. As soon as they took off, every Geth cannon from here to the horizon would lock on. Still, the Normandy was down and the beach was secure.
They made their way up the hill towards the STG camp.
Makeshift tents were spread across the ridge, camouflaged well enough to avoid a being visable from a casual flyover if not from close range. A few Salarians moved briskly between stations. There was a weariness to them though. The man who met them looked like he hadn’t slept in days. Thin even by Salarian standards, he straightened his posture the second he saw them. “Captain Kirrahe, 3rd Infiltration Regiment, STG,” he said crisply, snapping to attention. “I assume the fleet’s arrival is imminent?”
Luke frowned. “The Council couldn’t make sense of your message. They sent us to investigate.”
Kirrahe’s jaw twitched. His head jerked toward the sky, exasperated. “This is a repetition of our task. We have already investigated. What we require is a fleet to destroy this base from orbit.”
He rubbed the back of his neck, already unhappy with where this was going. “Well, you’ve got us instead. Start talking. We’ll help however we can.”
The captain gave a small, strained nod.
So far, the operation had gone… better than expected. Too well, in fact. After sneaking up behind enemy lines, the Normandy had landed without incident near the source of the Salarian transmissions. Geth resistance had been light, almost nonexistent. Luke didn’t trust it. They were never that lucky.
That suspicion was validated the moment Joker reported that Saren’s AA systems would make lift-off impossible. They were grounded. Sitting ducks. Joker had suggested it might be a trap, but Chief Adams had insisted that the Normandy’s stealth systems made them invisible on approach. That didn’t apply to departure. As soon as they took off, every Geth cannon from here to the horizon would lock on.
Still, the Normandy was down and the beach was secure. For now.
They made their way inland through the thick brush, boots crunching softly against damp earth. Luke pushed a branch aside as they stepped into a clearing—and there it was. The STG camp.
Makeshift tents were spread across the ridge, camouflaged well enough to avoid a casual flyover, but not from close range. A few Salarians moved briskly between stations, keeping to their routines with military precision. There was a weariness to them though. It was in the way their shoulders sagged just a little too much, in the way they snapped their heads at every noise like it might be a mortar.
The man who met them looked like he hadn’t slept in days. Thin even by Salarian standards, he straightened his posture the second he saw them.
“Captain Kirrahe, 3rd Infiltration Regiment, STG,” he said crisply, snapping to attention. “I assume the fleet’s arrival is imminent?”
Luke frowned. “The Council couldn’t make sense of your message. They sent us to investigate.”
Kirrahe’s jaw twitched. His head jerked toward the sky, exasperated. “This is a repetition of our task. We have already investigated. What we require is a fleet to destroy this base from orbit.”
Luke rubbed the back of his neck, already exhausted. “Well, you’ve got us instead. Start talking. We’ll help however we can.”
The captain hesitated for a brief moment before nodding. “In summary, we found Saren’s primary base of operations. Two-thirds of my unit were lost infiltrating, doing reconnaissance, extracting data, and exfiltrating. We identified four core sectors of interest to Saren. His main defence tower, which is his control hub for this facility's defences such as the AA and turrets. Then there’s an underground chamber that even my best couldn't breach. We believe it to be his personal quarters. Lastly there are two levels of research labs. They're working on understanding something they refer to as 'indoctrination', as well as producing a clone army of Krogan.”
Wrex shifted beside Luke, tension radiating off him like heat. “That’s not possible,” the Krogan rumbled. “The Genophage makes that impossible.”
“We believe Saren has found a cure,” Kirrahe said. “If that is true, this facility must be destroyed.”
“Destroy?” Wrex’s voice dropped an octave. “I don’t think so.”
The Salarian stiffened. “Commander, I suggest you control your Krogan. We cannot afford any mistakes.”
“My people were not a mistake!” Wrex roared, shoving his way past the tent flaps and out into the camp. Several Salarians jumped back.
Luke turned back toward Kirrahe. The Captain was already regretting his choice of words. "He- he won't be a problem, will he?"
“I'll take care of it,” he barely held back his displeasure, “but you’d better watch what you say when he comes back.”
Kirrahe straightened, trying to salvage what little authority he still had. “I did not intend to insult-”
“But you did,” Luke cut in. “Look, I get it. Long week. No support. Bad odds. I’ve been there. But if you want this operation to work, don’t provoke the people willing to bleed beside you.”
The Salarian gave a small bow of his head. “Understood.”
He stepped back and gestured toward the tent’s exit. “I’ll talk to him. You work on a plan.”
Ashley paced a few steps along the ridge, arms crossed tight over her chest. From up here, they had a clean line of sight to the beach below. “I don’t like this,” she muttered.
Butch didn’t answer right away. She was too busy adjusting the bipod on the long-range rifle she’d requisitioned from the Salarians. The marine continued to tweak with the weapon, not looking up. Her mouth twitched but she didn’t look up. “Join the club.”
“I mean it,” Ash went on, her voice low, trying not to draw attention. “That argument between Shepard and Wrex? I’ve seen that look before. It’s bad.”
“You think I don’t know that?” the other marine growled.
She flinched slightly but didn’t back off. “I didn’t say that. But Shepard gave a direct order to let him handle it.”
“Fuck his orders.” Butch flicked the safety off with her thumb. “If that Krogan so much as twitches, I’ll put one between his plates.”
Garrus, standing behind them with his arms crossed, let out a quiet breath. “Butch…”
“No.”
“You know Wrex. He’s not stupid.” he glanced toward the far ridge where their commander was headed, “Luke knows what he’s doing.”
“That’s my brother,” she snapped, whipping around to face him. “I’m not trusting anyone with this. Not you, not Luke, and definitely not Wrex. If something goes wrong, I’m not watching Luke get torn apart because we wanted to play nice.”
Ashley shifted, not quite meeting Butch’s eye. “If you’re dead set on this… maybe let one of us take the shot instead.”
“You try and take this rifle from me, Ash,” Butch finally met her eye. “See what happens.”
That shut everyone up.
Garrus looked away, jaw clenched. Ashley turned back toward the beach, swallowing thickly as the wind tugged at her hair. Down below, Shepard was walking toward the Krogan. The two distant silhouettes met in the middle. She knew Butch was just anxious - she got along better with the old Krogan than anyone else but Shepard, but she also knew how protective she was towards her brother. Ashley just hoped that Wrex wouldn't force the marine's hand.
The Krogan stood tall at the edge of the surf. He had his arms crossed as he looked out at the shallow water. Luke approached calmly, doing all in his power to avoid appearing hostile before stopping beside him. Neither spoke.
He didn’t look Luke's way when he finally spoke. “Shepard.”
“Wrex.” The silence stretched for a moment.
“This is wrong, Shepard,” he finally rumbled.
Luke sighed. “I know.”
Wrex’s head tilted, just a fraction. Then his voice dropped again to something rough. “Do you know why I stormed my way onto the Normandy?”
“To be a pain in my ass?” he gave the old man a look.
A rumble of amusement rolled from the Krogan’s throat. “Heh. No. I joined because of you, Shepard.” Luke blinked, eyes narrowing slightly. That wasn’t the answer he expected. “Where you go, glory and greatness follows. I was on Elysium, bet you didn’t know that.” Wrex turned slightly. “I was turning in a bounty for the city’s mayor. When the Batarians hit he tripled my fee to keep him alive. Coward, but he paid well.”
“Always wondered how he escaped,” Luke mused.
“But you had honour. You rallied the colony and kept the Batarians at bay, turning the tide of the battle and achieving a glorious victory! I knew when our paths crossed that there would be more. More battle, more greatness!” he boomed.
“Sure would’ve been glad to have your help back then,” he crossed his arms.
“You’re missing the point,” Wrex angrily pushed. “There’s glory behind you, a different kind of glory the Krogan are used to. The kind that anyone who follows you can experience. Merc life was getting empty. Tuchanka… I didn’t have hope. I followed you because I needed to see how you did it. How you find victory and glory in any situation. The Krogan need a new direction if we’re going to survive. I thought that direction would be you.”
Luke willed himself not to sigh. “Here comes the ‘but’”.
Wrex’s mouth twisted. “You released the damn Rachni! Hundreds of millions of Krogan died in the Rebellions and the aftermath. And you send the bugs back into the fucking galaxy!”
“Would you rather I commit genocide?” Luke shot back.
“How many more of my people have to die before you all stop making the same damn mistakes!! You’re about to try and convince me to end the only hope for my people!!” Wrex shouted, turning around to fire his shotgun several times into the ocean.
He clenched his fists. “That’s bullshit and you know it.”
“Don’t talk down to me!” Wrex roared, rounding on him. “This is the future of my people we’re talking about!”
Something inside Luke cracked. He lunged forward with an unexpected burst of fury, smashing his head against the Krogan's. Wrex staggered half a step, more surprised than hurt. “You think I don’t care?” he snarled. “This is exactly why we need to destroy that base. Saren’s indoctrinated, Wrex. Everything he touches is poisoned. You really think the Krogan coming out of those tubes would be free? ” The Krogan didn't have an answer to that. “Think, Wrex! Do you want the Krogan to become a slave race?!”
For a long second, Wrex said nothing. His chest heaved with slow, controlled breath. The fury hadn’t left his eyes, though some of the fire seemed to have died. “What would you have me do!” he bellowed.
Luke sighed and relaxed his shoulders, smiling slightly. “You’ll lead the team to the labs to destroy the source,” he explained, raising a hand to stop Wrex before he could utter a rebuttal. “Since this base will be obliterated there’ll be no way to verify the deletion of the data.” The Krogan gave him a confused look, but then his eyes began to twinkle. “The Council will have to take my word that all data relating to curing the Genophage was destroyed. Every single file. Can I trust you to take care of that?” he rose an eyebrow, hoping to god the Krogan would see what he meant.
Wrex stared at him for what felt like an eternity.
Then, slowly, his shoulders shook. He started to laugh. His chuckle evolved into a full-bodied roar that echoed down the coast. He slapped a hand on Luke's back harshly, barking profusely. “Ha! Commander Shepard!” he boomed. “Tenacious as a human. Strong as a Krogan. Skilled as a Turian. Smart as an Asari.” He leaned in, eyes gleaming. “And as devious as a Salarian.”
Luke smirked and rolled his shoulder where Wrex had nearly dislocated it with the slap. “Glad to know I’m finally earning the Krogan stamp of approval.”
Wrex chuckled again and the two fell into a long laugh. They stood there for a moment longer, letting anothersilence settle between them. Wrex tilted his head toward the treeline with an amused grunt. “Did you know your sister was a hair’s breadth away from putting a round through my skull?”
Luke blinked. “No. No, I didn’t.”
The Krogan chuckled low in his chest. “Hmph. Good Krantt.” He gave a small approving nod toward the cliffs beyond. “She’s got your back.”
He pinched his brow. "Yeah. That she does."
“I’d take her on my squad any day," Wrex huffed. "She might’ve pulled the trigger too, if you hadn’t headbutted me first.”
“I’ll be sure to thank her later.”
Wrex grinned wide. “Do that. Just don’t tell her how close I came to vaporising your pretty skull.”
Luke shook his head, already turning back toward the ridge. “She’d probably say I had it coming.”
“Wouldn’t be wrong,” Wrex said, still chuckling as he followed.
Garrus sighed. Butch had the rifle balanced across her thighs as she slid the scope back into place. “You alright?” he asked, arms folding across his chest.
“Yep,” she replied, clicking the last latch shut on the case.
He didn’t move. “You sure?”
Butch finally paused, the corner of her mouth tugging into a smirk. “I’m glad I didn’t have to kill the old man,” she snickered. “I kind of like the bloodthirsty bastard.”
Garrus tilted his head, one brow lifting. “Would you really have pulled the trigger?”
She shrugged, flipping the latches shut on the case. “Do you really want an answer to that?”
Garrus left Butch where she was, sitting alone with her rifle case and whatever thoughts were still eating at her. He didn’t like walking away, not when she looked like that, but she hadn’t asked him to stay. The last thing she needed was he didn’t want someone watching over her shoulder. She needed space, and Garrus knew her well enough to respect that.
Luke gave him a quick nod as he approached. Garrus fell in beside him without a word. Captain Kirrahe was waiting in the command tent, the rough layout of Saren’s base projected in blue across the table between them. The schematics looked were raw but they seemed in-depth enough to see what they were working with. Each key location blinked with a faint red dot, and there were too many of them for the size of the strike force they had. Garrus didn’t need Luke’s grim expression to realise what it meant.
They were splitting up.
Luke scratched his forehead as he studied the plan. “I’ll take Liara to Saren’s personal quarters. He’ll be too distracted by what’s about to happen around the rest of the base to expect us there. Butch will lead Wrex and Tali to destroy the research labs.”
Kirrahe nodded sharply, eyes flicking between them. “Very good. My team will launch distracting operations at these key points.” He tapped three areas on the map. “We'll keep Saren’s forces chasing shadows. Any support you can provide from the inside will make our lives easier.”
The commander gave a tight nod. “Garrus and Williams will prepare to seize the defence tower. When my team and Butch’s team are finished, we’ll regroup at the tower, install the drive core, and make our escape.”
Garrus leaned in slightly, committing the movements to memory. It was a good plan, at least it was as clean as it could be, considering the circumstances. It still relied on a lot going right. “What’s left of my team should be able to rendezvous once the pressure is lifted off us,” Kirrahe continued, tracing a finger along a narrow passage. “I suspect we’ll have the opportunity to beeline to the tower once Saren’s forces realise where the real threat is.”
“Which means by the time they piece together what’s happening,” Luke added, “we’ll all have already regrouped and secured the tower.”
Kirrahe nodded. “The tower appears quite defensible. Holding it should not be difficult. Are you certain your men on the Normandy are capable of rigging the drive core and delivering it when the time is right?”
“They’ll get it done, Captain,” Luke said confidently.
“Excellent.” Kirrahe exhaled slowly and stepped back from the table. “Let’s brief our teams and prepare for the mission.” He hesitated for a moment, his composure faltering just slightly. “The 3rd Infiltration Regiment has participated in innumerable operations over the years, but I suspect this will be one of the most difficult yet. I hope you’ll forgive my earlier transgressions.”
“We’re all feeling the stress,” Luke replied, offering a small smile. “I’ve got a crate of brandy on the ship. Saved it for a mission like this. Once it’s over, we’d be glad if you joined us for a drink.”
Kirrahe blinked. “Is the Normandy not a military vessel? This is a blatant violation of military protocol,” he said flatly, before a smirk betrayed him and he extended his hand. “That being said, I’m thrilled we will not have to wait until we return to the Citadel to have a decent drink.”
Chapter 47: Mission
Summary:
The team has split up and works to accomplish their missions
Chapter Text
Butch couldn’t help but feel pleased as they carved their way toward the labs. The Salarians were giving it everything they had, and it was working - whatever Saren was planning, his forces were definitely too busy to pay them much attention. She, Wrex, and Tali were proving to be a damn effective trio. Butch smirked, recalling the moment Wrex hurled himself into a fuel tank without a second thought, the resulting explosion taking out half a dozen rocket drones in one go. If there was an award for the best fireworks display, they'd have received it right then and there.
The labs, once infiltrated, looked less like a research centre and more like the backdrop of some twisted comedy. A Krogan in a stained lab coat - seriously, a lab coat - was celebrating with a group of Salarians, drinks in hand like they were celebrating a birthday party. The one human doctor in the room even had a bloody party hat offset on his head. Krogan soldiers stood rigid behind them and not one of them looked like they cared much for the celebrations. They actually kind of creeped her out a little bit.
The moment Butch’s squad stepped in, the Krogan guards lifted their weapons.
Before Butch could even speak, Wrex’s voice cracked through the air like a whip. “Droyas! Knew it had to be you, you old varren!" he chuckled. "What the hell are you doing working for Saren?”
The Krogan doctor blinked and furrowed his brow, only to be replaced by a wide grin in recognition. “Urdnot Wrex! You've arrived at the perfect time! Witness the future of our people!”
He clapped Wrex on the back, all but ignoring the others, and ushered him toward a reinforced window overlooking a massive array of tanks and machinery. It all pulsed with a sickly red glow.
Wrex narrowed his eyes. “What have you done?” he rumbled.
“We haven’t cured the Genophage, not yet. That's still years if not decades off,” Droyas explained. He sonuded rather pleased with himself. “But we did find a workaround. We adjusted it enough to allow controlled reproduction. Fully viable Krogan, right here, grown in this facility. We bypassed the Genophage entirely!” he boasted. Tali inhaled sharply. “It was my son, Okeer,” Droyas went on proudly. “He cracked the code. He had to head back to Tuchanka to retrieve some equipment, but once he returns... by the end of the month, we'll have enough soldiers to take the Citadel,” a grin spread across the old man's face.
Butch glanced at Wrex. He didn’t look impressed. “You tellin’ me they’re not indoctrinated?” Wrex asked. The concern was evident in his voice.
Droyas scoffed. “Indoctrination? That’s just Alliance propaganda,” the doctor scoffed.
Tali’s voice cut in. “Did Saren modify the cloning systems?”
“He did add those black tubes, but those are only to connect this facility directly to the power grid. Mechanics aren't really my area of expertise,” he admitted.
“You idiot,” Wrex growled, stepping back from the window. “Saren has indoctrinated them all.”
“Inconceivable! Absolutely inconciev-”
The words died in his throat.
The gunfire hit them before any of them moved. Butch dropped behind a workbench, dragging Tali with her as Wrex threw himself to the side. The Salarians who’d been laughing and clinking glasses a second ago dropped as the soldiers behind them opened fire. Droyas staggered, blinking in confusion as blood bloomed across his chest as he turned to face his creations once last time. "I-" Droyas didn’t make it far. A stray blast from one of his creations caught him in the side and sent him careening backward through the glass window with a roar, vanishing into the mechanical pit below.
Wrex rose from cover with a dark look. “So much for diplomacy.” Snarling, he surged forward, rose his shotgun, and bellowed as he plunged into the fray.
Butch followed a heartbeat later, teeth gritted. “Hell of a party,” she muttered to herself. “Next time, we’re bringing our own drinks.”
Luke and Liara moved quickly and quietly through the corridors leading toward Saren’s private tower. He wasn't used to the lack of opposition they were facing. Most of the time that stealth was a part of the mission he assigned another team to handle it. There were no patrols, no gunfire. Just silence. He didn't know what to make of it. Most of the heat was being handled by the Salarian strike teams. The two Geth Primes standing guard at the tower entrance didn’t catch Luke off guard. He barely needed to look at Liara before they both broke into a run. By this point they'd fought together enough to have a sort of synergy that just seemed to work. Her biotics pulled them out of cover and, unprepared, failed to prevent him from obliterating them with several bursts from his assault rifle.
Breathing hard but not wasting a second, Luke swept the area before nodding forward.
Inside, the space didn’t match the rest of the complex. The reception area was spartan, almost clinical. Just another heavy-duty security door, locked tight with a military-grade interface. Luke studied it for a moment before stepping aside. Liara was already at the panel, fingers moving fast. Her brow furrowed. “This encryption is not like the others,” she murmured. “It is unfamiliar. Someone really didn’t want this door opened.”
Luke ran through the options in his head. If they couldn't bypass the system, maybe they could find an alternate access point. Hell at this point he'd be perfectly happy to just blow the thing wide open and deal with the fallout.
And then two holograms shimmered into view.
He scowled the moment they appeared. “Luthors.”
“Guten Tag, Herr Shepard,” Frederick greeted with a smug smile. “It has been quite some time, no?”
“Not long enough,” Luke grumbled.
Katherina gave a polite nod. “Let’s keep this civil, please. Frederick and I are here to help.”
“Surely Fraulein T’Soni can vouch for our helpfulness,” her brother added, tilting his head just enough to be irritating.
Liara hesitated. “They did assist with the asset transfer from my mother’s estate,” she said slowly. “I believe we should at least hear them out.”
Luke sighed. “Fine. Talk.”
“Danke, my friends.” Katherina gestured to the side. A soft ping from the terminal drew their attention. “What you’re looking at is the data we just forwarded to C-Sec. It includes proof that we were the ones who leaked the location of the Noveria facility. We had hoped you’d get there in time to save Matriarch Benezia.”
Frederick picked up without missing a beat. “You’ll also find documentation proving we were responsible for leaking the information about this very site. Once we realised what Saren was planning, we sent everything we had to the Council.”
“And now,” Katherina continued, a faint smile tugging at her lips, “we’re giving you the locations of the remaining bases under Saren’s command, and the names of his collaborators on the Citadel. Everything you need to bring him down.”
Frederick gave a small bow. “There’s also ample evidence showing we were acting under duress of torture and death. Its all very compelling. C-Sec has already cleared us completely. We're actually due to recieve a personal commendation from the Executor.”
Luke took a step forward. “Bullshit.”
“Language,” Katherina said lightly, waggling a finger. Her gaze bore into him and - for whatever reason - her smile seemed as genuine as it was disturbing. “Don’t be so crass, Luke it’s beneath you. You’ll find the codes to unlock the door attached to that terminal. We’ve also disabled Saren’s private defences. What you’re looking for is behind that door. We have done all we can.”
“Doctor T’Soni,” Frederick said, softer this time. “It’s always a pleasure.”
He turned to Luke. “Commander. It was… good to see you again. We wish you luck.”
Katherina giggled, her eyes never leaving his. "I am sure I'll be seenig you very soon, Luke."
“Auf Wiedersehen,” the twins said together, before cutting the connection.
Liara watched Luke carefully. He stood with his arms braced on the console, his eyes locked on the readout. He hadn’t said a word since the beacon finished with him. The scientist in her wanted to pounce on him and pry answers out of him immediately. Liara pushed those feelings away. Luke was grappling with something and it wouldn't be right to push just yet. That being said, the beacon flooded his mind with something that left him looking positively pale. He let out a shuddered breath.
“You saw something,” she finally let the curiosity get the best of her.
Luke didn’t answer right away. His eyes flicked down, unfocused, like he was trying to hold on to something that was slipping through his fingers. Finally, he gave a slow nod. “We were right,” he muttered. “The- the Reapers are real.”
Liara’s breath caught.
He took of. She followed him as he climbed back up the rail, practically searching for something as he accessed the main terminal. He typed away, looking for... looking for whatever this beacon had set him on the path towards. He grunted as it suddenly shut off. Luke looked up as a bright red light bathed the room. Liara followed. She gasped. "By the goddess..."
“YOU ARE NOT SAREN.”
Liara tilted her head at the strange hologram as Luke approached further. What is that? Is it... is it some sort of defensive VI? The construct appeared alien in every sense of the word. Interestingly enough, however, it seemed aquatic in shape, like a mechanical version of the Terran creatures known as squids, or the Thessian Vycines.
“RUDIMENTARY CREATURES OF BLOOD AND FLESH. YOU TOUCH MY MIND, FUMBLING IN IGNORANCE, INCAPABLE OF UNDERSTANDING.”
Perhaps not, she stiffened as a chill ran down her spine.
“THERE IS A REALM OF EXISTENCE SO FAR BEYOND YOUR OWN YOU CANNOT EVEN IMAGINE IT. I AM BEYOND YOUR COMPREHENSION. I AM SOVEREIGN.”
Luke’s eyes widened in a moment of sudden realisation. “Sovereign isn't just some Reaper ship Saren found, it's an actual Reaper….”
“REAPER?” the voice echoed again, almost with bored disdain. “A LABEL CREATED BY THE PROTHEANS TO GIVE VOICE TO THEIR DESTRUCTION. IN THE END, WHAT THEY CHOOSE TO CALL US IS IRRELEVANT. WE SIMPLY… ARE.”
Liara shook her head in disbelief. “The Protheans vanished over fifty thousand years ago. You couldn’t have been there, that’s not-”
The hologram didn't shift. “ORGANIC LIFE IS NOTHING BUT A GENETIC MUTATION, AN ACCIDENT. YOUR LIVES ARE MEASURED IN YEARS AND DECADES. YOU WITHER AND DIE. WE ARE ETERNAL. THE PINNACLE OF EVOLUTION AND EXISTENCE. BEFORE US, YOU ARE NOTHING. YOUR EXTINCTION IS INEVITABLE. WE ARE THE END OF EVERYTHING.”
“Whatever your plan is, it's going to fail. I'll make sure of that.” Luke stated with such confidence and determination that Liara actually believed him and she subconsciously straightened her back.
The machine disagreed. “CONFIDENCE BORN OF IGNORANCE. THE CYCLE CANNOT BE BROKEN.”
Liara’s breath hitched. She looked at Luke. “Cycle? Then… my theories-”
“THE PATTERN HAS REPEATED ITSELF MORE TIMES THAN YOU CAN FATHOM. ORGANIC CIVILIZATIONS RISE, EVOLVE, ADVANCE. AND AT THE APEX OF THEIR GLORY, THEY ARE EXTINGUISHED. THE PROTHEANS WERE NOT THE FIRST. THEY DID NOT CREATE THE CITADEL. THEY DID NOT FORGE THE MASS RELAYS. THEY MERELY FOUND THEM, THE LEGACY OF MY KIND.”
Luke took a slow step forward. “So why leave them behind? Why build something just to have us stumble on it later?”
“YOUR CIVILIZATION IS BASED ON THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE MASS RELAYS, OUR TECHNOLOGY. BY USING IT, YOUR SOCIETY DEVELOPS ALONG THE PATHS WE DESIRE. WE IMPOSE ORDER ON THE CHAOS OF ORGANIC EVOLUTION. YOU EXIST BECAUSE WE ALLOW IT. AND YOU WILL END BECAUSE WE DEMAND IT.”
“They're harvesting us!” Liara gasped, “Letting us advance to a certain point and then wiping us out!”
Luke kept his voice even. “What do you want from us? Slaves? Resources?”
Soveriegn barely seemed interested in him. “MY KIND TRANSCENDS YOUR VERY UNDERSTANDING. WE ARE EACH A NATION, INDEPENDENT, FREE OF ALL WEAKNESS. YOU CANNOT EVEN GRASP THE NATURE OF OUR EXISTENCE.”
Liara stepped forward, desperation creeping into her voice. “Where did you come from? Who built you?”
“WE HAVE NO BEGINNING. WE HAVE NO END. WE ARE INFINITE. MILLIONS OF YEARS AFTER YOUR CIVILIZATION HAS BEEN ERASED AND FORGOTTEN, WE WILL ENDURE.”
Luke’s eyes locked onto the hologram. “You’re not answering. Where are the rest of you? Are you the only one left?”
“WE ARE LEGION. THE TIME OF OUR RETURN IS COMING. OUR NUMBERS WILL DARKEN THE SKY OF EVERY WORLD. YOU CANNOT ESCAPE YOUR DOOM.”
Liara couldn't help the dread that was beginning to set in. The sheer confidence in its voice... It was terrifying. “I don’t care what you think,” Luke defied it. “We’ll stop you.”
“YOUR WORDS ARE AS EMPTY AS YOUR FUTURE. I AM THE VANGUARD OF YOUR DESTRUCTION.”
“No,” Shepard angrily confronted, “you’re the one whose word’s are empty. All you do is talk, but you’re useless, aren’t you? That’s why you need Saren, and the twins, and Droyas, and all your other pawns. You and your whole assembly plant think you’re better than everyone else, yet you’re completely dependant on organics!”
For a second, nothing happened.
The projection didn’t respond. Liara caught herself holding her breath. Her hand began to twitch nervously.
“SHEPARD. YOU ARE AN ANOMALY. I WILL DEAL WITH YOU… MYSELF.”
Chapter 48: Nuclear
Summary:
The Virmire Arc comes to a close
Notes:
Yes, I'm still writing this haha. We're slowly getting there
Chapter Text
The top of the defence tower had turned into something between a trench and a meat grinder. The day and night had started to blur as they reached the evening. The jig was up and all of Saren's forces were converging on their location.
Butch and Wrex had taken up position just past the central walkway and were blasting anything that moved. It was hard to tell if they were working together or competing. Either way, the results were the same. Spirits forbid he ever find himself on the wrong side of those two. Williams was nearby as she helped a group of Salarians hold a choke point that had already seen four separate pushes.
Further up the slope, Tali was working with two of Kirrahe’s surviving Salarians. Every so often a wave of static would interfere with Geth units, causing them to falter or turn on each other, courtesy of their combined tech sabotage. Behind them, perched near a sandbag barricade close to the Normandy’s ramp, Garrus lined up another shot through his scope. His mandibles twitched as he watched the target fall, half-slagged before it hit the ground. Kirrahe was beside him coordinating his forces and dealing with the few Geth unfortunate enough to sneak their way towards them.
The ferocity and determination with which the they fought had clearly taken the Geth by surprise. When Wrex, Butch, and Tali had first rendezvoused with Garrus and Williams at the tower, the Geth's strategic error became apparent. They'd allowed the team to deactivate the anti-air defences, and, before the Geth could formulate a counter-strategy, the Normandy had touched down behind them.
Now, behind a makeshift barrier cobbled together from crates and plating, Chief Adams was crouched beside the ship repurposing the Salarian drive core for nuclear detonation. All species present had been through a nuclear age, some to more detrimental results than others. This would be one of the few recorded nuclear explosions since the Krogan Rebellions and, while not a war crime according to the Citadel, would be examined very carefully afterwards,
Luke and Liara broke through the north corridor with barely a warning. A few grenades and biotic pulses later and the last of the current wave fell apart. Cheers echoed across the tower. Garrus could hear Butch let out a whoop, and even Wrex offered something that could have been a laugh as he stepped over the twitching remains of a Geth Juggernaut.
Luke jogged over to Garrus and Kirrahe, brushing off debris as he reached for another thermal clip. “How’s the core?” he asked.
Kirrahe didn’t look up from his scope. “Engineer Adams says five minutes. Maybe less, assuming no interference.”
“Casualties?”
“Minimal.” Kirrahe’s voice was almost casual. “Logically we should be dead by now, so we won't complain.”
The commander turned to Garrus. “How’s the situation?”
Garrus flicked his scope up and leaned back. “Manageable. The Geth and Krogan are limited by the entryways. I doubt the facility’s designer ever anticipated a hostile force taking this section. They’re stuck behind four bottlenecks, can’t make it in without crossing the kill zone.”
Luke smirked. “Nice to be on the right side of a kill zone for once.”
“That’s what I like to hear,” Luke chuckled, slapping Garrus on the shoulder. “Nice not to be on the receiving end of it for once. We-”
Garrus looked up to see why the commander had been cut off so abruptly. His eyes widened in shock as he realised Saren had come in out of nowhere, lifting Luke off the ground and tackling him into a pile of crates.
The world spun. Luke hit the crates hard. His breath torn from his lungs before he even registered the impact. His vision blurred for a moment, then sharpened just in time to see Saren bearing down on him. His eyes seemed practically manic. “Shepard,” Saren hissed, voice dripping with venom.
Before Luke could pull himself upright, the Turian’s fist lit up with blue energy. He swung fast. Luke twisted his head just enough that the blow skimmed past, the wind from it whistling by his ear. Acting on instinct, he reached for the knife at his side, yanked it free, and slashed. Steel met armour and something beneath it. Saren snarled in pain, stumbling a step back.
But he wasn’t done.
The shockwave hit like a punch from a tank. Luke went airborne, limbs flailing, before crashing back to the ground painfully. His knife clattered away into the dust. He coughed, tasting iron. Something in his ribs felt wrong.
Across from him, Saren was still standing. “You…” the Turian muttered, his voice suddenly softer, more pained. “It’s such a waste…”
He blinked. His head was still ringing. “What?”
“All this time,” the former Spectre rumbled, stepping closer, “and I’ve never felt so… connected to someone.”
Luke tried to sit up, but Saren nudged aside a broken piece of crate and crouched beside him, blocking his path.
“Don’t act so surprised,” Saren went on, calmer now, almost casual. “You and I, we’re two sides of the same coin. I used to hate you for it. I couldn’t understand how a human, of all things, was disrupting my work.” He paused, looking Luke over like he was seeing something no one else could. “But then I realised. You understand me. You think like I do. It’s why you’ve been such a thorn in my side. You see what I see.”
“What the hell are you one about?” he coughed as he tried to push himself up.
“I’m talking about the truth,” the Turian insisted. “You know what Sovereign is. You know what’s coming. You know very well we can’t stop it.”
Luke clenched his jaw, forcing himself upright. “So what, we just roll over and let them win?”
Saren shook his head. “It’s not defeat. It’s survival. Look at the Protheans. They fought back, what is left of their civilisation now? How many lives might have been spared if they simply bowed to the Reapers. Is subservience not preferable to extinction?”
“Is that what Sovereign told you? The Reaper in your living room? He had something else to say to me,” he repressed a grimace as the pain caught up.
The former spectre snarled again. “Don’t play games with me. I’m trying to save the galaxy, and that’s what you want too! We shouldn’t be fighting one another. Men like us are destined for greatness, for victory! Only we can save the masses. They’re too conceited and stupid to save themselves.”
“You’re indoctrinated, Saren.” Luke started trying to stand but the Turian just pushed him back down. “You can’t see how twisted you logic is, or how it goes against the evidence.”
“I’m as clear-headed as ever, Shepard. This,” he gestured around, “facility was created to understand the effects of indoctrination. I have learnt that the more the Reapers exert their will, the less… functional the victims become. For now, I am useful, so my mind is my own. As is yours.”
Saren reached forwards to him but Luke whacked his hand away. “You’re wrong, you just can’t see it.”
The Turian roared and lifted him off the ground, glowing blue. “I do not wish to kill you, Shepard, but I will if I have to. You must join me. You-”
“Yeah, I think I’ll pass, thanks.”
Luke raised the grenade in his hand, holding it right between them. He smiled. It blinked.
Saren’s eyes widened. With a growl, he hurled Luke back over the crates just as the grenade slipped from his hand. Luke flew backward through the air and hit the ground with a heavy thud, rolling once before landing flat on his back. The explosion lit up the platform behind him, but when he glanced up he could already see Saren’s silhouette gliding through the smoke on his hoverboard, somehow unharmed. “Of course,” Luke muttered bitterly.
He shoved himself upright with a groan. His ribs screamed in protest. Before he could fully recover, he felt hands grab him. “Come on,” Liara urged, slipping beneath his arm to support him. “We have to go!”
“What-?” he started to protest but the Asari just kept pulling him.
“The bomb,” she shouted over the roar. “Adams says it’s ready. We need to move. Now!”
The greatest part of serving with a Spectre was that they could get around any rules.
Sure, that power was supposed to be used primarily to achieve missions, but there were other reasons for that power to be enjoyed. For example, Alliance soldiers were not allowed to drink while serving on a ship. That rule would have prevented Butch from participating in the victory party at the hangar bay with the majority of the Normandy’s crew and the Salarian survivors.
That is, if Luke hadn’t acquired two crates of alcohol in preparation of such a day.
Butch was seated at a makeshift table opposite Wrex, an impressive array of shot glasses scattered around them. The drinking game they'd come up with was simple, but effective. Every time someone said "Saren", "Reaper", or "Nuclear", they'd throw back a shot. Krogans could throw back a lot of alcohol but the old man had clearly never met an Australian. Wrex was clearly enjoying himself. Each time he tossed back another shot of Ryncol, he gave her an amused look, seemingly waiting for her to admit defeat. But Butch was holding her own. She took pride in that she had likely lasted much longer than any of the Krogan’s previous non-human competition.
The hangar was full of laughter, clinking glasses, and the occasional off-tune singing from someone who’d clearly started early - she was looking at Williams specifically. The noise quieted as Luke stood up onto one of the Mako's drink in hand. He raised a hand, waiting until the last few chuckles and murmurs died down. A sharp whistle rang out from somewhere in the crowd. Luke smirked, rolled his eyes, and shook his head before speaking.
"All right, all right," Luke began with no small amount of amusement. “Listen, today we did the impossible. The circumstances were against us, but not a single one of you faltered in the line of duty. Every person in this room did their part to destroy Saren’s facility. I’ve never been more proud to serve on the Normandy. Oorah!!!”
Butch joined the rest of the Alliance personnel in roaring right back at the commander, slamming her fist on the table.
“And let’s not forget our Salarian comrades!” everyone cheered at the slightly awkward Salarians as she nodded and politely smiled back. “This joint-mission could not have been done without you. I sincerely hope we have the opportunity to work together in the future. Wish I had you by my side at Elysium.” Shepard let the crowd cheer for a few more moments. “Now. Joker’s already set us on a course back to the Citadel. We need to resupply before we travel to Ilum. The Council wants an in-person briefing as well. We’ve finally located the planet in the data from Saren’s lab, and we have proof that he has located the Conduit. So celebrate tonight, because in a few days’ time we’re kicking that Turian’s ass all the way back to Palaven!”
Everyone cheered and returned to their activities. Butch turned back to face Wrex who had poured her two shots of Ryncol. He chuckled evilly. “Heh, commander said Saren twice.”
“What, this supposed to scare me?”
Katherina finished the last sip of her champagne, letting the crisp chill of it linger on her tongue before setting the glass down gently on the coffee table. The bottle had been one they picked up back in Paris. She leaned back into the plush cushions and folded one leg over the other. “Frederick,” she called, a soft lilt in her voice, “doesn’t it feel good to finally be rid of Herr Saren?”
Her brother stood near the window with his arms crossed, his eyes focused on the stars outside. “Of course,” he replied without turning. “This mess will be wrapped up soon enough.”
“Thank goodness,” she said, her smile blooming easily, until it faded just as quickly. He hadn’t looked at her when he spoke. His shoulders had tensed ever so slightly. “What is it?”
He hesitated, just for a breath, before finally facing her. “I spoke to Director Kylos. From BioGalactica.”
She arched an eyebrow. “And?”
“They won’t be able to begin as quickly as we had hoped,” he said, jaw tightening. “I suspect they’re still mired in some ethical quandary. I’ve set course to deal with them myself. We cannot delay anymore.”
Katherina exhaled through her nose, not quite a sigh. “Do we have a timeframe? A-” she cut herself off as a searing pain jolted through her head. She winced, one hand darting to her temple as her body curled forward instinctively.
Frederick was at her side in an instant. “Katherina!”
“I am alright,” she muttered, forcing her voice to remain even despite the sting still pulsing behind her eyes. “It is only the usual.”
“Scheiße. Scheiße!” he swore under his breath, but loud enough for her to hear.
She shot him a withering look. “Oh, don’t be such a worrywart.”
Instead of answering he just leaned in, slipped one arm under her knees, the other around her back. “Frederick-” she began, more warning than protest, but he was already lifting her with ease. She squirmed just a little in his arms, indignant but not struggling. “Honestly. I’m hardly- Frederick!!” she snapped, glaring at him as he carried her toward the corridor.
“Come, Katherina. I think we had best get you to bed.” She rolled her eyes and let her head rest against his shoulder with a long, melodramatic sigh.
Chapter 49: Escape
Summary:
The Council locks down the Normandy, but the crew isn't giving up just yet
Chapter Text
The crew had partied believing they were on the verge of a total victory. They celebrated believing that, with all the information necessary to capture Saren, that after a final pit stop they would be on the way to end this half-year long adventure. They thought that they would save the galaxy, show the Council what humanity could do, and embark on whatever mission came next.
They were wrong.
They exited a vessel cheering him on, Liara was the only companion he brought with him as the crew was to prepare for their departure. Luke had left Garrus and Butch to oversee refuelling and resupplying. Liara was just glad that they finally had a clear plan. At least, until they reached the Council Chambers. Far from the ceremonious welcome the commander rightfully deserved, they walked into a room that, excluding the Council, Udina, and Anderson, was completely empty. Liara had a rather poor feeling about this.
Luke stood at the podium for a few moments, but the Councillors said nothing. He didn’t seem to think much of it and took it as an opportunity to talk. “Councillors, I hope that you’ve had the time to read my report. I was surprised not to receive a reply given the severity of the situation. We have crippled Saren’s operations, decimated his allies, and have tracked him down to his final objective. He has a head start, but my crew are readying the Normandy to chase after him and-”
“That won’t be necessary,” Tevos interrupted, appearing entirely too pleased with herself. Liara’s gut sunk even further. “We have determined an alternative course of action.”
Luke looked at the Matriarch who said nothing else to elaborate on her words. Sparatus sighed and stepped forwards a little, gripping his stand. “Commander, the Council has elected to…" he made a reluctant sigh, "to cordon off all major relays to the Citadel with our fleets. Saren won’t be able to reach the Citadel, so our blockade will entirely neutralise his effectiveness as a threat.”
The commander was as taken aback as she was. “With all due respect, this is a terrible plan.” Tevos actually had the audacity to look dismayed while the other two Councillors only shrunk a little in resignation. “This blockade does nothing to stop Saren, in fact, it actively gives him the room to do as he pleases anywhere else. This blockade not only make no sense militarily,” he rowed, getting increasingly irate, “but it’s an economic and political fuck-up. Literally nothing of value is to be gained from this.”
Tevos glowered. “I shall try not to be offended, as this is my plan, but you are entirely out of line.”
The Salarian tried to intervene. “I would be keen to hear what Shepard has to-”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Valern,” Tevos dismissed.
“Councillors,” Luke demanded, “I urge you to see reason. I understand your reluctance to send fleets into the Terminus, I do. But when you had the same issue at the beginning of this fiasco you sent the Normandy. You-”
“As riveting as this is,” the Asari Councillor not-so-politely interjected in a rare moment that was out of her character, “you would do well to remember your place. You’re a Council Spectre, meaning you go where we send you.”
Valern turned to face his colleague. “Tevos, perhaps we should-”
She barely held back a snarl. “No. We already held a vote. The decision is final.” Sparatus and Valern exchanged a disgruntled look but said nothing more. “Commander Shepard,” Tevos continued proudly, “we appreciate your assistance, but for now consider yourself posted to the Citadel. We will summon you when require further services. That will be all."
“They’re a bunch of self-centred jackasses,” Udina growled as he poured himself a stiff drink from his private reserve. He didn't so much as look at the commander as he sunk into one of his seats. While he was absolutely livid with the Council’s sheer incompetence and arrogance, Shepard seemed almost broken by it. The ambassador offered Anderson a glass, but the captain politely waved him off. “They even had me personally lock down the Normandy, to add salt to the wound.” He downed his first glass in one gulp.
Anderson sighed. “You didn’t see this coming, Donnel?”
“Of course not, David," he scowled. "Whether you like it or not, my career is tied to Shepard just as much as yours. The Council did everything behind our backs.”
“I can’t believe they’d just shut us down like that,” Shepard lamented, scratching his temple.
“Oh don’t get me wrong, they’ve always have their heads up their asses,” Udina ranted, pouring a second glass. “This entire human spectre-ship started as a Turian ploy to discredit humanity even further. Hells, now that we have the Turians on board, the Asari have turned around!” he threw his hands in the air, spilling some of his alcohol.
The commander looked crestfallen. “You’re saying this was always a trap?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying," he growled. "And unless we figure out a plan, humanity’s political weight is going to be obliterated for the next half century.”
“Forget about the politics,” Shepard growled, standing up. “There are lives at stack. Billions upon billions of lives at stake.” Shepard pointed aimlessly out the window. “If we don’t stop Saren, it’s game over!”
Udina bah’d and slumped into his chair. “Neither of us can do our jobs while you’re stuck on the Citadel. Damn them all to hell.”
Garrus never liked to think of himself as a Citadel-skeptic - for spirits' sake he'd had to contain tens of protests from the various anti-extranationalist groups. He’d spent most of his career working under their authority during his time in C-Sec, if not indirectly. He didn’t care much for politics beyond what got in the way of enforcing the law, and most of his frustration had always been directed at bureaucracy or internal policy, not the Council itself.
With that being said, that was starting to change.
As he sat with his family and Butch, explaining the situation – he didn’t care that it was supposed to be classified - Garrus got progressively more and more vehement in his anger. For once, his mother didn’t step in to try and calm him down, she just let him vent. Even more to his surprise was the fact that his father wasn’t lifting a finger to defend those cowardly politicians. Who would have predicted the day that Udina had more of a spine than the actual Council.
“Screw the Council!” Solana shouted, “I say you… you should save the galaxy anyway!”
“Is what you’d express if you supported sedition,” his father interjected quickly with a verbal excess of amusement.
Butch began to get angry again. “We couldn’t if we wanted to. The Council forced Udina and C-Sec to lock the Normandy down. We, er, I guess it is the sort of thing we’d do.” Silence descended across the table as everyone ate silently. She poked at her food and sighed.
“Are you… certain in the validity of your claims?” his father asked. There was something about his tone that gave him pause. Garrus straightened his back.
“We’ve found too much evidence,” he stated confidently before chuckling ruefully. “Worst part is, most of it’s been right in front of us all this time.”
His father chewed on his food silently as the rest of the room watched with anticipation. His father wasn't the kind of man who would ever talk for the sake of talking. If Castis Vakarian said something then there was a meaning to it. His father nodded slowly. “Hypothetically, anyone ranking higher than a detective could release the Normandy’s docking clips and provide traffic authorisation," he dabbed his mouth with a serviette. "Cooincidentally, I seem to have misplaced my codes in my jacket pocket over there. The issue is that the Council forced Udina to issue orders. Unless someone in his office were to revoke them, the Normandy would fail friend-or-foe detection to the ships in orbit.”
Garrus chewed his food nervously. “So what you’re saying is… hypothetically, of course…”
“Of course,” his father agreed.
“That if rebellious members of the Normandy…”
“Traitors, they’d be,” he gave Garrus a serious look.
“...found their way into both C-Sec and Udina’s office, they could release the Normandy?”
“Sedition,” his father intoned with a point of the fork, “at its height.”
Butch stood up quickly, nearly knocking her chair over. “Gar! Are Shepard and Anderson still at Flux?”
Garrus followed suit and reached for his coat, making sure he had everything. “Comm ahead, tell them to stay put. We-” he stopped mid-sentence and leant down to give his mom and sister a hug and leant over to shake his father’s hand. “Thanks for dinner. We’ve got to run, sorry. Something’s just come up.”
“Stay safe, dears,” his mother implored while his father returned his back attention to his meal, ceding all responsibility onto Garrus' shoulders.
“We’ll try not to get in too much trouble.”
He was halfway out the door when he heard his father sigh. “I am not looking forwards to the inevitable conversation with the Executor.”
Luke let his elbows rest on the table as he watched Liara order drinks from the bar. His shoulders sagged a little more than usual. If his mom was here she'd have told him off for his posture. Anderson usually would have but he knew the man well enough to know he was just as if not more put out than he was. “I don’t know what else I could’ve said,” he complained. “We gave them everything. This is- this is just petty..”
Anderson sat opposite him, arms folded, watching him for a moment. “Try to see it from their perspective,” he spoke at last. “I almost can't blame them for thinking we've just wrapped it all up. Hell, if I hadn't been here from the start I'm not sure I'd believe it all either,” the captain chuckled mirthlessly.
“That's not an excuse,” Luke muttered, shaking his head. “Saren has a head start. I could be right out there hunting him down if they'd just get out of my way.”
“They’ve backed themselves into a corner,” Anderson sighed. “Tevos has something on the others. Could be dirt, more likely she's threatening to pull Asari support from somewhere else.” Luke didn’t say anything. “I’ve spoken to Hackett,” he continued, leaning in slightly. “The Alliance is pressuring the Council, not that it’s done much. The Normandy is still an Alliance vessel and you're still an Alliance soldier. President Sheng just convened an emergency session of parliament to address the situation.”
Luke looked up with a scowl. “You an I both know we don't have that kind of time.”
"Chin up," Butch grinned as she sat herself down next to him, grabbing his shoulder. "We may have a way out of this."
He listened as his sister and Garrus explained what they'd put together so far. Normally he'd be completely against such an illegal action, but it wasn't as if they had any other choice. They needed to take action and they needed to do so now. He sighed, already knowing how this would go down. They were going to steal the Normandy.
“Butch and I can deal with the C-Sec lockdown,” Garrus assured them, “but that leaves Udina’s office.”
“Get the rest of your crew to the ship. I’ll take care of Udina,” Anderson declared, downing his glass.
“Sir,” Luke implored, “that’ll end your career. I can’t let you do that.”
“Damn it, Luke, we don’t have a choice and you know it. Your team will need to be at your best to defeat Saren. You can’t spare anyone else.”
“I-”
“Listen to me carefully, son. I’ve watched you grow into the best goddamn soldier I’ve ever seen. You’ve been through more hell than most but you’re still a man both I and your mother are proud of. What’s more, you’ve become a true leader. It’s time you stop following me and give me a chance to follow you. So I won’t hear anymore on this. I’ll deal with Udina.” Luke nodded, not knowing quite what to say. Registering an outstretched hand, he grabbed Anderson’s forearm and shook, sharing a mutual look of respect. Anderson pulled him closer into a hug. “Go on, son. You’ve got a galaxy to save.”
Anderson marched into Udina’s office without preamble. Dupont attempted to stop him but Udina dismissed the man with a wave of the hand absently. Udina looked somewhat downtrodden. He didn’t look up at Anderson, but he wasn’t fully focused on his work either. “Donnel,” he snap the man out of his state. “I’m going to issue the Normandy valid friend-or-foe codes to leave the system and stop Saren?”
The ambassador huffed. “Don’t be a fool, David. You’ll destroy all of humanity’s remaining political clout.”
“Saren must be stopped,” he insisted as he begun to input commands into a terminal.
“Tevos will have us shot for treason! Don’t through our lives away. It’s over,” the other man stressed.
Anderson grunted. “I’ll take full responsibility. You can denounce me and save face. If Shepard succeeds, Valern and Sparatus will claim they authorised his mission and take credit. If he fails, well, we’d best not think about that.”
Udina laughed mirthlessly as he pointed at the computer. “I’m watching you commit treason literally right in front of me. I have no plausible deniability to denounce you over.”
“I need you to have faith,” he let his lip quirk slightly as he found the right files.
Click. Anderson froze. “I need you to step away from that terminal.”
He slowly turned around to see the ambassador holding a gun at him. “Donnel…” he breathed out.
“If this is going to work, we’re going to have to make this convincing.” Realisation hit.
A smile crept its way onto the captain’s face. “You know, a few months ago, I really would have enjoyed what I’m about to do.”
“What a shame that we have a degree of friendship now,” Udina lamented. Despite his sarcastic tone, Anderson knew there was a genuine undertone. “Since we are on a schedule, could y-”
The ambassador crumpled to the ground as Anderson decked him across the jaw.
Most of the crew of the Normandy had already returned to the ship. It didn’t take very long at all for Pressley to subtly coordinate bringing everyone back discreetly - they'd been running drills ever since the fiasco on Feros. Butch and Garrus estimated it was five minutes until the Normandy would be free, so Luke and Liara – having just held an emergency meeting with Sha’ira – were sprinting back to the Normandy as fast as possible. They entered the docking bay just as the locks began to detach from the vessel. Joker had been running pre-flight procedure so all they had to do was-
“FREEZE!”
Luke and Liara stopped as a round flew between there heads, placing their hands up. Without any armour on a single hit could prove fatal. They remained there for a few moments until they heard a disgusting laugh start behind them. Shepard decided to risk it turning around. Holding a gun at him was his sister, Lara. Her eyes were glassy yet completely empty, as if she were under a spell. Her face was like stone. Though her gun was steady her left hand slowly tapped against her leg. Shepard could tell she was in a terrible state. He could see a bruise on her face.
Next to her, laughing, was Captain Meyer. He limped a little closer to him and chuckled. “You had a good run, but now it’s my Shepard’s turn.”
Chapter 50: The Third Movement
Summary:
Luke and Liara are impeded by Meyer and Lara. The clock is ticking, but things are too personal for anyone to care.
Notes:
Chapter 50. Wow.
It's finally happening. The much awaited and anticipated confrontation between Luke and Lara. I've been preparing for weeks to public this chapter. If we count simply conceiving ideas, this is over a month in the making. This chapter is, in my opinion, my most emotional one yet and I really hope it meets all of your expectations.
And on another more personal note, it brings me great happiness to see the same faces from the start continue to follow this journey irregardless of my breaks and writer's block. You've made this journey so much better for me and I will strive to bring you the story you all deserve.
Chapter Text
Lara kept her eyes on the desk.
It was always easier when she just looked at the surface and ignored the low muttering. She hated it when Luke left her. She was vulnerable without him. She tapped her pen once, twice, and kept her hands in her lap so nobody could see the slight tremble in her fingers. When would he come back?
She didn’t want to be here. She never wanted to be here.
She wanted to be with Luke.
The class buzzed with scattered conversation. A few students were still pretending to study but most were already halfway packed up. The instructor had stepped out for a moment and that was all the invitation they needed to take advantage of the situation. “Hey,” one of the boys called out. “Lara.”
She didn’t respond. He knew she wouldn’t. “She’s playing mute again,” his friend snorted. “Real convincing.”
“I dunno, maybe she just doesn’t know how to speak to actual people. Probably just whispers to her brother all day. Isn’t that right, Lara?”
Still, she said nothing.
They circled slowly from behind. Lara could feel the pressure behind her chest building again. She hated how predictable it was. Heat crawled up the back of her neck. She began tapping her leg with her index finger again. Still, she didn’t look at them.
“Bet she doesn’t even eat lunch without him telling her it’s safe,” one of them laughed.
“Maybe he cuts her food for her too.” the other chimed in.
They laughed again. Louder this time. She could feel the eyes of others drifting toward them, but no one said anything. No one ever did. She gripped the edge of the desk. Her nails dug into the wood and her lungs burned. If she spoke, she knew it would come out wrong. So she didn’t.
She stared harder at the desk. Breathed in once. Out.
Then their tone shifted.
“Honestly, it’s kinda pathetic. You can’t do anything without your brother, can you?” the first boy sneered. “What happens when he finally ditches you? You gonna cry in a corner? Crawl under a desk and wait to be rescued?”
“Maybe she’s just waiting for him to show up and punch someone. Like always.”
“That’s funny,” a voice said behind them. “Because I was just about to.”
The boys froze.
Lara’s breath caught. She looked up. Luke stood just behind them, arms crossed, expression cold as could be.
One of the boys turned, opening his mouth like he was about to say something clever. Luke didn’t give him the chance.
He punched him square in the j̶a̸w̵.̵
̵S̷h̶e̷ ̴ s̵̫̓̍͐̐m̷̹͙̠͘i̶̹͓̹͒͆͂͊̋l̷̡͉̄̑̈́e̵̡͈̕d̵̡̡͇̦̑̈́̌͠͝.̸̬̞̦͊̀ͅ ̶̡̲͕̞̇̈́̎̕͜S̶͖̝͈̘̎h̵̤̍̓͂͆e̸̛̘̯̲̱͖̅͑͘ ̸̛͇͈͑ͅk̵̗̭̮͓̫̂n̶̞̝͉͛́͜ͅę̷̱̭͚̅̍́̔̅w̷̗̓͌͑ ̷͙̬͓̋͆͝h̶̆͆͊̇̀̈́́͜e̵͚̗̹̰͓͕͕̿̌̋̈́̈̔̽̔͂͑͂̀͝’̷̧͚̙̜̝̦̒̓̀͛̎͂͐͘͝͠ḋ̵̢̃ ̸̧̛̜̭͚̬̒n̶̢͈̠̟̩̝͔̥͔̟͊̂̓̽̈́̊́ȩ̴̻͇͔̞̝̞̯̤͎̪̘͈͈̌v̸̧͈̼̪̗̒̔͒̿̾̚ȩ̷̤̣̱̥̍̈ṛ̸̢͇͚̝͌̾́̄̉́̾̎̏̐͂̉͌̃ͅ ̷͎̉͊̾̔̊̈́̈́̎̔̋ĺ̸̫̖̹̻̍̊̐̆͋͝e̷͍̦̰̜̖͗̀̈́̔̾̔̌ẗ̴̛̠̯̣̭̲̱̳́́͋̅̈́̊͜͠͠ ̸͈͍̲̻̤̊̍̌͒̎͑͠ḫ̸̄ȩ̷̓̓̿͑͑r̷̬̫͙̪͕̳͕̰̟̭͖̉̊͐̋͑̀͝ ̷̡̈́̈́̽̄̚͠d̴̢̢̠̥͔̫͎̬̣̞̻͗̃̌̊̒̈́͜o̶̳̜̳̝͛̔͊̈́̊̇̆͝w̸̨̨̼̱̺͖̥͙̖̳̮̜͌̎̽̍͗͂̍̚̚n̸̲̘͇̠̟͚̮̻̙̩͖̼͓̯̒̃̐̃̈́̇.̷̢̮͍̗͕͙̬̙̩͉͙̺̣̹̔̓̂̎͐͐̈́͗̽̂̌̈́̊͘
Lara sat on the steps outside the administrative building, eyes fixed on the courtyard ahead. She could hear Luke talking to someone about their next class. She didn’t care who. She wasn’t listening. She just needed him nearby.
Her hand gripped the sleeve of her jacket a little tighter.
Katie was gone.
No one knew why. One day she was there, trying to tuck herself under Luke’s arm like she belonged there. The next, she was just gone. No goodbye. No message. No reason. She vanished like she was never real in the first place.
Lara had never liked her.
She wasn’t sure when it started. Probably from the moment that girl first smiled at them in the cafeteria like she was doing them a favour. Like being kind to them meant something. As if that gave her permission to stick around. To sit with them. To laugh at things Luke said that Lara had heard a thousand times and still found funny in a quiet sort of way, not the loud, desperate giggle Katie had perfected.
She hadn’t trusted her. There’d been something about Katie that rubbed her the wrong way. The way she always touched Luke’s arm like it was casual, like she hadn’t been trying to inch closer every day. The way she always looked so impressed with herself for being the only student who wasn’t awful to them.
Lara hadn’t liked her. But she hadn’t said anything.
It wasn’t her place.
Luke had seemed fine with it. He never pushed Katie away. He let her talk to him like she knew him. He never told her to back off. They hadn’t done anything. Lara knew that. Luke wasn’t stupid. Katie hadn’t been a real threat. Not really. But still. She’d gotten close. Closer than anyone had in a long time. Close enough to make it feel like maybe Lara wasn’t the only one Luke needed.
She hated that thought more than anything.
She hadn’t told him that either.
She’d played the role she always did. She smiled when she had to. Sat through Katie’s conversations without ever looking her in the eye. She stayed quiet when that girl threw herself at Luke, day after day, like she had a right to him.
Lara knew she was jealous. She knew what it looked like. She also knew it didn’t matter. Because Luke came first. Always.
So she stayed quiet.
And then Katie disappeared.
No message. No goodbye. Not even a rumour. Just gone.
Luke had tried to find her. Asked around. Checked the logs, watched the news, looked through everything she could think of to explain why someone who had practically latched onto him would just vanish. But there was nothing. Not a trace. Like she'd been erased.
And Lara hated her for that.
More than she’d hated her before. More than she’d admitted even to herself.
Because Katie hadn’t just walked away. She’d hurt Luke. He didn’t show it but he wasn't able to hide anything. She knew what he looked like when something didn’t sit right in his chest. When he felt like he wasn’t enough. When he felt like someone had let him down, even if he tried to pretend it didn’t matter.
Lara knew. Because he was the only one who ever understood her, and she was the only one who could ever understand him back.
She sat there on the steps with her hand in his. Not speaking, not moving, just holding on like it might keep something from slipping away again. He didn’t say anything either. He just sat there. Their hands rested between them, palms pressed tight. He probably thought she was comforting him. Maybe he was right.
But really, she was angry.
Lara couldn’t forgive that.
She didn’t care if it made her petty or possessive or dramatic. She didn’t owe anyone anything. Not her kindness. Not her understanding. Especially not someone who’d hurt him.
Luke had always been the one to protect her. Always been the one to speak for her when she couldn’t. To fight for her when she was too weak. To do hatever it took to make her happy. He was the one who sat beside her when she was shaking and said nothing, because he knew that silence was better than a thousand useless words. He knew her better than anyone ever would.
It was about time she did something for him.
She gripped his hand a little tighter.
Lara didn’t make promises out loud. She didn’t like saying things she couldn’t guarantee. But she made one now.
No one would hurt Luke like that again. Not while she was ̶s̴t̴i̴l̷l̷ ̶b̸r̴e̶a̶t̵h̷i̶ņ̴͇͈͎̗̇̔̈́̈́͒g̸͚̖͂̈͝.̵̧͈͎̙͔̏̔̿̅͑͝
̵̨͔͚̭̍Ŝ̴̬͖̺͉h̴̞̹̗̼͈̃̔̒͘̕̕ͅe̴̙̲͇̺̻̰̾͋’̵̨͍̟̞̽̇d̸͖̪̖́̈͋͋͘ ̶̧̛̔̌̿̈́̎b̷͓̩̳̤̈́û̵̜̼̼̲̮̙ṟ̶̙͙͚͍͈̃̌̎n̴̹̄̅͐̕ ̵̥̲̆͗t̷̙̭͉̬̄̃ḧ̷̢̠͓̭̑̔ȅ̴̝̠̬͕̗̆̎̒̐͋ͅḿ̷̧͍̼̯̟̮͛ t̸͖̺̲̦̂͋ơ̷̧̮̞͈̙̣̲̤̼͓̥̗̤̙̊̈́͂͛̈́̈́́̅̄̕͜ ̶̡̻͚̓̋̆͋̓̔̾͌̕a̸̛͔͇̼̟̫͆̄̄̔̃̾̋̈͘͝͝s̷̢̰̱̙̋̾͒̉̋́̏̔̎̄̿̕̚h̶̛͇͌̍̄͂̀̿̒̅̈́͝ ̵̻͈̺͉̱͇̩̹̫̚ͅb̷͖̞͚̏́̎͊͂̽̎̈́̅̊̈̚͘͠e̴̛͉͙̲̻̠̎̓͒͒͑͜f̸̧̼̽̔͗̋̅̍͒͊̔͑̏͝o̶̦͔͙̱͗͜ŕ̴͔̳̝̤̻̮̞͔̤̤̉̄̌͋̄̏̓̍e̷͚̹̹͇̗̬͎̦͒̔̅͆̀́̚ͅ ̵̧̲͓̭̮̫̦̋͑͜s̸̼̖̫̻͎̰̝̳̥̓̚ẖ̷̮̲̺͍͛̏͒̔̃̾ͅẻ̸̡̛̝̭̠̠̠̝̯͈̗̲̙͍̜̗̏̉̌̿̚ ̸̡͓͆̒̿͂̌̅́͒͑͝l̶̖̐̐͌̐̚͘͝ȩ̵̛̭͔̰̱͍̩̰̮͙̯͕͈̜́́̽́͂̂͊̏̅́̕ͅt̴͇̭͚̒͑̚͘ ̵̛̮͋̈̊i̷͋̃͊͜ṱ̵̡̧̗̬͓͖͔͈̭̞̥̏͘͜͝ ̶̲̦̪͚͚̻̅̐̄͂͝ͅͅh̶͚̙̜̼̦̬͖͔̞̪̲͗̐̏͊̑̑͆͗̍̚̚̚̚͝a̷̢̲͔̮͓̭͍͑̏̇̃p̴̢͚͙̘̹̻͖̞̙̣͊͂̐̿̾̒͋̈͘p̷̢͔̟̩̮͈̪̦͕͊̃͗e̸̐̏̂̋̃̌̎͗̊͜ņ̴̨͈̮̦̻̲̞̼͇̩̳͉̣̟̎.̴̠̭̭̠̫̞̃͑͆̅
It was getting harder to breathe.
She curled tighter into herself, arms wrapped around her knees, forehead pressed against the cool metal wall. The lights were off in the supply closet. Her chest kept convulsing like her lungs had forgotten how to work. Her throat hurt from how tight it felt. Her hands were locked against her sleeves, nails digging into her arms through the fabric.
She’d tried to hide it. Kept it together during morning drills. Made it through formation. Ate half her lunch before she slipped away from the mess and ducked into the nearest unlocked room.
The shaking wouldn’t stop.
She didn’t know how long she’d been in there. Time had gone weird, blurry and slow. Her eyes stung, but no tears came. Her whole body felt like it was stuck in free fall, like it was suspended in that moment right after you trip, right before you hit the ground.
Then the door burst open.
Lara flinched hard, pulling tighter into herself. Her head snapped up - and then her heart caught in her throat all over again as she saw her brother's worried look.
Luke stepped in fast and closed the door behind him with a quiet click. He didn’t say anything. Just moved down to the floor, carefully lowering himself until he was crouched in front of her. His arms wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her into his chest. Her body was rigid at first, and then she collapsed into him with a strangled sound, forehead pressed against his collarbone, hands clinging to the front of his fatigues with everything she had.
“It’s alright,” he whispered, his hand cradling the back of her head. “I’ve got you. I’ve got you, Lara.” She didn’t know how long they stayed like that. Long enough for her to breathe again.
Finally, her voice came out. Quiet and cracked. “I heard them.”
He didn’t move. “Who?”
“Those officers, from Arcturus,” she rasped, swallowing hard. “In the corridor. Talking about where we’d be placed after graduation.” He stiffened slightly. “They said they’d split us. Put us in different units.”
“They don’t know anything yet,” Luke said, keeping his voice even. “They throw out possibilities all the time. That doesn’t mean it’s final. We’ll figure it out. We’ll find a way to-”
“They’re going to separate us,” she whispered, interrupting him before she could stop herself. “I’m going to be all alone.”
His arms tightened around her. She felt him exhale sharply, then rest his chin against the top of her head. “You won’t be,” he he promised.
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.” She didn’t believe him. Not really. But she wanted to. “I don’t care what orders they give. I don’t care what rules I have to break. I’ll always be there for you, Lara,” he murmured. “̴I̵’̸l̸l̸ ̵d̶o̸ ̶w̵h̷a̸t̶e̵v̴e̵r̵ ̵i̷t̵̳̪̘͔͙͆̌̄͆͆ ̸̜̎̌͜ẗ̴̹̤̫̰͇́͑a̸͖̙̻̍̈̓͘͘k̵͍͒̌̅̋͠e̷̹̓̽s̷͎̀̀̑.̶̫͉͆̃͝ ̶̫̗͇̈́͂͊̓I̵̠̼̽̏̒̋’̸̧̫̫̅̽̚m̸̬̃̓ ̷̦͈͚̾̎͗͊n̴̢̫̪̬̻̿͝o̶̝̩̥̖͛ͅt̶͇͚̑͑̒̚͠ ̸̟̠͎̤̊͊̾̑̈́ͅl̸̻̲͚͖̻̆̈͠e̶̛̼͓͚̟͋͆̾ä̴̠̗̟͇͖̮́̋v̴̛͕͓̝͉͖̦̻̒̂̔̊̄̚͜͝i̵̱̯̜̱͋̏͜ñ̶̗̪̟̮͈̗ͅğ̴̦̻̱̠̹͍͈̅̏̏ ̴͈͈̙̗͈̉̊͊̈́ÿ̵̰̰̬̜́̿̉̐͘ǫ̵̡̘̻̮̬̪̍̂̅̃̈́͜ú̵̡̙̼̰̗͈̼́͘ ̷̡̨̮͙͍͉̯͖́̄̾̀͆b̷͈̦̮̜̒e̶̼͋̓͛͛͑͐ḩ̷̦͇̺̂͊͠i̸̜̤͠n̷͍̟̬͗́̾̈͊̽̏̽ͅd̶͖̬͕̋̉̀̋̽ͅ.̷̧̯͎̗̰̚ͅ”̸̫̯̅͒̇̉̔̋̈̕
She didn’t talk much. That was the first thing most of her platoon had to say about her when they thought she wasn't listening. They found her cold. Quiet. Mechanical. They didn’t understand her and she didn’t care. She wasn’t here to make friends. She was here to do a job. She was mad after Elysium. There was nothing she could do to help her brother when the slavers attacked, but she could retaliate.
Their target was just ahead. The shield generator was tucked inside the ruins of what used to be a water refinery.
Luke’s unit had pushed in from the west. They were clearing the heavier resistance so her teamcould move in and plant the charges. She kept checking his signal every few minutes, watching his little blip float along the edge of her radar was her tether.
Someone behind her asked what the plan was if the Batarians showed up again. She didn̵̤̋’̴͉̽t̴̩̏ ̷̹̆ă̷͇ņ̵́s̵̤̒ẁ̷̤e̶͍͑r̶̳͂.̸̹͑ ̴̯̀S̷͈͝h̶̛̦e̷͈͝ ̷̧̑g̵̭͂a̷̹͠v̶̱̔e̸̥̓ ̸͓̄t̴̙̜̖͉̦͐̊̚͘͘͜͠h̴̯̓͊e̸̥̣͖̮̬̥̲̍̇ ̴̨̝̜̺̳̋͆̍͛̈́̏̚͝ȱ̴̫̮͑r̸͚̭̬͉̲͑̄̀͊̋̀͜d̴̛͇̔̐̌̋̾͘e̸̡͇̻̩̩̾̕r̵͔͎̥̽͆̾̍̈́̔͋͝ ̴̦̉̾͝t̸̢͕̼̟̲̭̺͐̌͆̽́̀͆ò̵̡̨͖̣̽͛̀ ̵̡̓̎͌͑̾̚̕.̵̰̈̽̑̿̔
“Keep pushing!” she shouted, barely audible over the gunfire. “That shield needs to come down now!”
The comms were a mess. She couldn’t reach Kyle’s unit. She couldn’t reach command. Only static and the low pop of weapons on every channel. A few of her men were bleeding, dragging their feet. She didn’t care. The generator was just over the ridge. They’d fought too hard to stop now.
Kyle’s reinforcements were close. Minutes away.
She gritted her teeth and waved her team forward. She didn’t even feel her legs anymore. It was supposed to be simple. Move in, get the shield down, regroup. She stared at the Batarians in front of her.
They just wouldn’t move.
“Back!” she screamed. “Get back!” But they kept standing there. Huddled together, half-dressed like civilians. One of them had a rifle half-hidden under his coat. She knew it. She could see it. Why wouldn’t they drop it? Why wouldn’t they- “They’re pretending,” she panicked. “They’re not civilians. They’re not. They’re lying!”
She spun and looked to her team.
“Open fire.”
They hesitated.
“I said ̸̡̀o̴̙̔p̷̢͘e̵͍͑n̷̢͝ ̷̥̚f̷̗̈i̷͕̋ṟ̶͂é̶͕!̶̒͜”̸̢͌
̴̤̀T̷̬̈́ḧ̸̙e̵̠̿ ̴̪̚w̷͙͝ò̴̥ŕ̶͖ḷ̸̢̻͈̃d̷͍̟͙̩̼̯̣͛͌͠ ̷̟̣͒̃̅̅̀̓̓ţ̵̭̩͙̗̰̯́̍͊̕͠ǘ̶̯̻͓̮͠r̶̦̪̻̯̙̮̐͑̇̏̑͝͝ņ̵̘̪͍̖̳͙̂́͗̕͘͝e̷̲̹̺̣̤̐̆̿̓̕d̴͇͗́̅͆̅̕ ̷̭͊̉̕ŗ̵̳̙̰̑̑͑ȩ̷̦͚̟͊̓d̴̡̥̣͓͔̐̏́̂͋́ ̸͇̤̈́́͒̎ă̸̪͖̅͑̆̆͂ǧ̴̦à̸̡̖̥̜̭̰̰̅̄̚̕i̵̫̗͐̇̇̒̑n̴͔̞͒͐.̷͕͚̈́̏̑
“I’m pinned!” she screamed into the radio.
Luke’s voice crackled through the static, panicked and angry and afraid all at once. “I’m coming, I’m coming, hold on-”
But she couldn’t see him. She couldn’t hear him. The generator was still active. Evren was dead. He’d been her engineer. His blood pooled under the console. He hadn’t even finished the bypass. She didn’t know what to do. She didn’t know how to disable it. The enemy kept coming.
Luke said he was coming.
Where̵̙̋ ̶̗̈̈́w̴͇͍̑̏a̵̛͚͉͠s̷̠͐ ̸̝̫̏ẖ̴͜͝è̵̼?̴̯̻̓̅
̴̙̐̓W̷̳̌h̶̳̯̄e̶͕̩̾̅ȓ̶̲̬͎̀̍͜e̶̯̺̼͔̍͝͝ ̴̨̡̜̳̳̬̣͋̂̒͊͘w̵̢̢̻̘͒͗̓ͅa̴͔̯͍̫̬̓̊͂͋̂̆͘ş̷͙̘̀ͅ ̴̱͇̹̳̲̦̻̒̄̀̏̒͌̏ḣ̶̛̦̬̼͜e̸̬̳̞̤̺͍̿́̂?̶̢̨̹̺̬̣̐͊̃́?̷͓̅͐̀͂̂̒̃?̵̼͒͌̈?̸̨̳̼̖͒̏̿ͅͅ
Her throat was dry. Her head hurt. She sat up too fast and nearly blacked out again. Her shoulder was bandaged. There was a burn down her side. Someone had stripped her out of her gear.
Luke. She needed Luke.
He wasn’t there.
She looked up and saw a man walking toward her, limping slightly. Alliance uniform. Clean-shaven. His hair was dark, slicked back. He smiled widely. “Good to see you awake, Lieutenant.”
He sat on the edge of her bed without asking.
“I’m Captain Meyer. You and I have a lot to talk about.”
And then it ̴̭̬̑b̴̻̞̿̕ë̷̫́ǧ̷̨ͅa̷̺͇̓n̸̺̝̂ ̵̘͑ä̸̺̳́͝n̴̲̦̎d̷̰͒ ̶̹̕t̷̨̛̬̓ḧ̷̡̧̃ě̵̘̱͍̪͒̏̎̈́n̵͚̄̏͝ ̶̬̺͍̊̋̔̚ȉ̷̞̬̠̠͛̀ť̴̢̹͉̗̑̏ ̷̛̜̥͖͊̈́̕̕b̴̙̬̅̕͝ẽ̸̞̐͘͝g̵̗̀́̌ả̵̢̼͝ǹ̷̡̪̉͌͝ ̵̪͉̋͆a̴̢̳͇̭̍̄n̵̝̣͕̫͛͠d̵͕̬̤̝͋̏͂ͅ ̷̡̳͖̤̈̾t̴̛͓̎̚ͅh̴̺͒̓̉̌̕e̸̬͛̂̍̓͝n̴̡͔͈̞̼̈̄́ ̵̨̲͖̭̠̋̕̚͝i̵̢̨̙̱͗͐̾̕t̸̜̅ ̸̯̖͌̕̕b̷̼̝̐e̴̢͎̹͖̤̋̌͒̔͂g̷̢̻̲̀̇̿͜ͅa̶̺͠n̶̥̱̺̔́̍͘͜ ̴͖̿̇̀a̶̻̦̓̀̄̿͌n̶̝͖̩̦̯̽͛̕͝ḓ̴̪̾͗̊̂ ̸̈́͛͠ͅt̴̻͇̪͚̑̀͌̍̾h̵̗͍̺͇͔͗͌̾e̵̞̋̋̑ņ̶̱͂̎̚ ̸̝̘̮̓į̷̖͚̞̮̔̽t̵̘̠̺̀̅̔ ̵̖̘͑̋̐ḃ̴̨̛̤̞̅̏ę̵̨̤̞͍͔͎̯̙͉̣̫̫̮́̈́̓̈̆̏̑͗͋͝g̸̢̧̨̻̼̭̭̠͎̻̠̼͕̾̈́ạ̸̳̈́̊̕ṇ̸̗̭͎͚̠̐̈́́̓̒̓͂̕ ̶̨̡̭͈̼͕̺̠̝̤̒̏̓͂͌̓̒̆́̋̕͜ͅͅa̸̧̧͖͚͙͔̳̜͐̒̑́̂̾̉͜n̴̘͓̳̯͓̗͕̱͖͕͓͉̯̓̈́̚d̴̡̞͍͉̭̳͎͚͖̩̟̼̋̿ ̸̧̢̛̝̥̞̠̝̣̜̼͙͓̑̂̾͌̓̽̈́t̸͉̪̀̿̀̈́̂͝ͅͅh̵̺̗̱̳̖̠̼͚̳̦́̇̇̀̆̈̂͊͂̇́̔̕̕e̸̖̼̰͈̪̫͍̅͌͊̏̊̎̓̂͐̐͜n̵̡̤̐̂̔̅͌̄̋̈́̓͘͘ ̵̧̨̤̩͓͠i̴̢̡̓̓̇̉͂ţ̷̨̤͙̺̲̪̘͙̟̓͑̒͌̔̀̀̉̋̒͝͝ͅ ̶̛̥̝̦͚̮̦̞̝͕̼͕̱̳̆̈̀̎̓̋̿̉̈́̓̀̊̆ͅḇ̷̲͍͕̖̀̀̉̄̿̃̔͘͘͘͠ȅ̷̪͔̑̄͌͗͗̔̈̄g̷̨̧̳̰̖̼̯̲͙̤̟̳̠̱̈́̾̈́̊̑͒̄̍͋̀̂̓å̵͈̝̯̮̣͉̳͉̯͒͆̎̌̈͒̀̿̊̐̍͂̕n̷̯̤͈͖̥̹̟̚
Lara stared forwards, not at all in control of her own body. She looked at her brother. He looked hurt. This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
As Lara’s pistol remained firmly aimed at Luke and Liara, his sister’s despicable CO continued to pace around the pair at a steady limp. He felt as hopeless as he was stunned. Lara hadn’t been receptive to him at the best of times since Torfan, but he hadn’t truly realised how deep Meyer’s control had gone. His guilt only deepened - how could he have let it get this far? “Ah, Luke, the prodigal son! Your mother must be so proud,” Meyer mocked with a grin on his face. “I admit, you’ve done well for yourself, but I think we both knew your luck couldn’t last forever.”
“The hell do you think you’re doing, Meyer,” he growled angrily.
“You’re not the only one with orders from the Council,” the captain tutted gleefully. “Consider us an insurance policy. Can’t have you doing anything stupid, after all. Humanity’s got to be respectable,” he let out another short burst of laughter.
“I find that hard to believe,” Liara disagreed defiantly.
“Oh but they did. Well,” he shrugged, “technically it was Tevos who gave me permission to stop you leaving by any means necessary, but that’s semantics. My orders have a councillor’s signature, so your fate is in my hands,” a wicked grin split his face.
“You’re sick,” Luke spat, “what have you done to my sister?!”
“Me? You think I’ve done this to her?” Meyer chuckled, hobbling over to Lara. “Oh no, you have it all wrong,” he laughed as he grabbed and shook the face of his borderline-catatonic sister. “You’re the one who broke her down, leaving her to die on Torfan. I just put the pieces back together. Isn’t she so much better now?” Lara didn't so much as react.
Luke sneered. “Bullshit! I- I committed atrocities on Torfan to reach her. I dragged her out of that generator and brought her back to the ship. You’ve been putting lies in her h-”
“You shouldn’t have let her out of your sight!" the captain snapped, interupting him. "You failed her, Shepard, and she paid the price.”
“No!” Luke roared.
“Yes!!” Meyer laughed as he limped back into a circular trail of pacing. “And now we’re going to flip the script, shall we say.”
“What are you talking about?” Liara asked, strained.
“Tevos has made us great promises. Once you’re… out of the picture, my Shepard will become the new human Spectre. I’ve got the headlines already," he spread his hands in the air. "We’re taking a real ‘avenge my brother’ approach with this narrative,” he joked. “Batarian terrorists are absolutely despicable, don’t you know. Hells, if we’re lucky enough, this could start a war in your name!”
Luke looked at Lara sadly. He was at a complete loss as to what to do. If she tried to kill him, he wasn’t sure he could find it within him to raise a finger in his own defence. Seven years later he was one of the most famous people in the galaxy, he literally had the power to do away with any law or regulation in Citadel space and he still hadn't found a way to bring her home. “You…” he tried, swallowing his own emotion, “you may have been right… I did fail Lara.”
“I- pardon?” Meyer furrowed his brow, confused.
Luke sighed and held his sister’s gaze for a long pause before dropping his eyes to the ground shamefully. “I wasn’t quick enough. I wasn’t good enough. I failed to stop us enlisting. I failed to save you from the Batarians. And when the dust settled, I failed to save you from him. I’m… I’m so sorry Lara…” he couldn’t keep himself together anymore as he sobbed out the last words. “Do whatever you have to do. I only want what’s best for you.”
“What are you doing?!” Not-Luke pleaded. It was ridiculous that the apparition was still with her, even as her own brother visibly gave up in front of her. She truly was despicable. “Lara! What are you doing?!”
“What are you waiting for!” Meyer barked. “Take the shot.”
Her finger tapping increased.
Not-Luke tried to get in her face. “I get your anger, but I never thought you’d be considering killing your brother! God, I’m a part of your mind and I still didn’t realise you actually hated him that much.”
“That’s not true!” She shouted.
All eyes turned to her.
“What?” Meyer shouted, confused. “What are you talking about? I gave you an order!”
“Fuck his orders!” Not-Luke begged. “You can finally break free, how is this a difficult decision? All we have to do is drop our weapon and the real me will take care of everything else. Please,” he pleased, “trust us.”
Her lip quivered. “I- I can’t disobey orders. They’re all I’ve got,” she spoke weakly.
Lara's pistol began to waver slightly and her tapping increased even further. Meyer, who was standing several meters away, spun in a circle and spread his arms out exasperatedly. “What the bloody hell are you on about? You’re damn right you can’t disobey or- who the hell are you talking to?” he boomed, looking around them incredulously.
“He’s treating you like shit, Lar!” Not-Luke shouted.
Meyer pulled his face. “Sweet Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, the more I keep you around the more broken I realise you are.”
The real Luke glowered at her captain. “If you really cared about her, you’d be doing whatever you could to help her-”
“What in the name of President Sheng do you think I’ve been doing? Look at her, she’s the sorriest piece of shit I’ve ever laid eyes on," he fumed. "The girl needs a firm guiding hand to keep her together. You think she’d last a day without me? She’s completely dependent on me! I made her!!" Meyer roared. "She belongs to me, and if you think you have any chance in breaking her again, you’re sorely mistaken!”
“Bullshit!” both Luke’s shouted.
“Lara-”
It was too much.
“Shut up!!!”
“What did you say to me?” Everyone fell silent as Meyer began to limp towards his sister incredibly slowly. “Commander. I asked you a question. What did you just say to me?”
Lara's face paled as she realised what she did. “I wasn- I didn’t-”
Meyer leant in close. “For god’s sake, girl, get it together! Who the fuck are you talking to?”
“I- I- I-” Luke clenched his fists as he watched his sister try to speak, realisign just how truly awful the last seven years must have been for her.
“Shoot him!! Shoot him now!!” the captain snapped.
Lara struggled to respond. “I- I- c-can’t..”
“You what?!!!” Meyer boomed.
“I c-can’t!!!” she screamed as tears began pouring down her face. Though her pistol remained firmly pointed at him, Luke knew she wasn’t going to pull the trigger.The captain placed a hand on Lara’s shoulder and sighed.
And then he punched her across the face.
Luke roared and charged at his sister’s tormenter. Meyer had raised his hand to strike her again but Luke tackled him to the ground. He punched the man over and over and over and over again, displacing his teeth and sending blood everywhere. He gave into his rage and unleashed his frustrations at himself and the captain below him from the past six years upon the frail man. This was the man who had taken everything from him, from them. He shouted and swore and screamed as tears began to flow down his face.
He knelt there on top of his sister’s abuser, panting.
“L-Luke..?”
He turned around to see his sister fall to her knees. His eyes widened; he knew his sister well enough to know what was about to happen. He stood as fast as he could and ran towards her. She was already tugging at her collar as she begun fall over, hyperventilating. Tears continued to stream down her face as any remaining semblance of confidence or dignity completely disappeared. He swooped her into a tight hug and held her close, unwilling to let her go. “Its ok,” he whispered. “Its ok. You’re going to be ok.”
She gave him a look of near total fear. “L-L-L-”
“Ssh, it’s going to be ok. We’re going to be ok. Y-you’re going to be ok,” he promised, doing all he could to keep it together.
“C-commander,” Liara interrupted. He had forgotten she was there. “We should get her aboard the Normandy.”
For a moment he nearly snapped, nearly decided to screw the galaxy altogether and take his sister far, far away, where nobody could ever hurt them again. But in a moment of clarity he nodded and stood up, carrying his sobbing sister towards the ship.
Williams jogged up to the cockpit uneasily. “Take us out Joker, they’re aboard.”
“Ma’am yes ma’am,” he mock-saluted. His face hardened as he interacted with the controls. Williams sat down in the seat next to him. “Is… did you see them?”
She had. “No,” she lied.
“I hope the commander’s… I don’t know how to put it.” They sat in silence. Joker periodically turned his attention to the surveillance camera facing the closed entrance to Shepard’s quarters. He was likely searching for any sign of ‘crisis averted', or an ‘all-clear’.
There was none.
“I’ve got a sister too," he spoke up. "She’s four years younger than me though. I don’t know… fuck, this is terrible.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice,” she agreed softly. Her eyes were attached to the same camera footage. Being the eldest of four siblings, this ordeal was hitting pretty close to home. She clenched her teeth.
“And Butch isn’t even here,” the pilot rambled. “Don’t get me wrong, Liara will help, but she’s… she’s new. Butch has been with them since the academy. Now she’s probably sitting in a C-Sec cell with her boyfriend and the captain being accused of treason. That’s what I should be focused on, but-…”
Williams droned him out.
She felt numb.
Garrus leant back into the cold metal wall watching Butch pace around the room aimlessly. They were placed in a small high security cell in the presidium. Much to nobody’s surprised, strolling into C-Sec headquarters and revoking orders given by the Council was a treasonous offence. It seemed confinement treated her much rougher than it did him. She didn’t look like she was handling it very well, but there wasn’t much he could do. “Butch,” he spoke up.
She didn’t respond.
“Butch,” he asked again. She shook her head and kept pacing. “Beatrice,” he asked softly, snapping her out of her state. “Are you alright?”
“I’ve got a bad feeling, Gar. Something’s gone wrong, I can feel it," she rubbed her arm. "What were we thinking? Now we’re trapped here and Luke's out there and we can’t do anything to help.”
“He's the commander for a reason, Beatrice. He’ll manage,” he stated confidently. He genuinely believed there wasn’t anything that could stop the man.
She continued to frown. “I don’t know…”
Before they could continue their conversation, the door to their cell opened. His father barged into the room, followed by a very exasperated looking Detective Chellick. “You can’t just take them, Castis! They’ve committed treason, they-”
“I’m not freeing them, Festur, I’m placing them to house arrest,” the older Turian waved him off dismissively.
Chellick rumbled warningly. “The Executor is not going to stand for this!”
His father paused to turn around and loom over the detective and sneered, actually making the seasoned officer shrink. “The Executor can kiss my ass.” He turned back to face him and Beatrice. “Come on, we’re leaving.”
“For spirit’s sake," Chellick pinched his brow, "the human isn’t even a part of your family. This house arrest loophole won’t work!”
The elder Vakarian raised an eye inquisitively at him. “You haven’t bonded yet?”
“Dad!” he grit through his teeth.
The Turian gave him a nod of agreement. “You’re right, that’s a conversation for another time.”
“Sir,” Chellick stressed, “you’re going to ruin your career.”
His father sighed, before turning around and placing a firm hand on the detective's shoulder. “If you have nothing else of value to add, detective, get out of my way so I can take my children home.”
The three of them marched out of the cell and towards his father’s speeder. “Does, uh, does mom know about this?” he asked.
“Of course,” the elder Turian dismissed his concerns casually. “She had to prepare for dinner after all.”
Garrus felt something at his wrist. He looked down to see Butch wrap her hand around his. He squeezed back.
Liara was exhausted. She couldn’t begin to imagine how tired Luke must be. Chakwas wanted to sedate the twins, but both seemed adamantly against what they perceived as forced separation. Hours into the Normandy’s flight, the twins were still locked in the commander’s room latched onto one another, hugging with enough intensity that she wouldn’t be surprised if they bruised one another. They weren’t talking, that she knew of. Just… Liara didn’t know what the correct term to describe it was.
She had done what she could to help, but Luke and his sister seemed incapable of registering anyone else. Liara understood, of course; they had been separated for years and Lara had been trapped in an abusive environment without break. It wasn’t something she could relate to in any capacity.
Guiltily, there was a part of her that felt jealous. It was irrational, it was inappropriate, and it was entirely insensitive. Yet it was there, nonetheless. She worried that Luke wouldn’t need her anymore. He hadn’t looked at her once since the standoff begun. And she felt absolutely awful for even thinking that way.
“Blue one!” Liara eeped as the Rachni Princess emerged from the ventilation system in front of her. “We cannot reach the Prince!”
“Yes, well,” she traced the top of her cup, “he’s preoccupied.”
“He is hurt! We cannot reach him!”
She sighed. “No I supposed you couldn’t.”
“The Normandy feels it too. We can hear his pain. Help us reach our Prince!” Liara barely suppressed a grimace. She hated it when the Rachni acted possessive. “Blue one!”
“No one can reach him!” she snapped before slumping back into her seat. “I can’t reach him…”
“We must help him!”
She smiled sadly at the creature as it bristled. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible. It will be a while before either Shepard is ready to return to us. All we can do is wait.”
The Princess appeared indignant before scurrying off back to the vents.
Liara returned to gazing aimlessly at the walls of her study. “No,” she decided. She wasn’t going to wallow in doubt and jealously. When she broke down after her mother’s death Luke didn’t hesitate for a moment - by the time she woke up they had already reached Thessia and he was coordinating bringing her mother's body home. There wasn’t much she could do in this situation but she felt obligated to try. Liara pulled her terminal open and began typing.
“Dear Rear Admiral Hannah Shepard…”
His mother deserved to know.
Chapter 51: Da Capo al Fine
Summary:
The twins are finally reunited, and they get to work
Notes:
We're on a roll but does Liara think that's a good thing
Chapter Text
Luke's left leg quietly bounced off the floor. He crossed his arms and leant back into the chair at his desk, trying to focus on pulling himself together for when he inevitably had to speak with the crew. Alas, his head kept darting back to his bed, where his sister lay, peacefully sleeping. He didn’t doubt that this was the first good rest she’d gotten in years.
He knew he should get Chakwas up to check on her. He knew it wasn’t what one typically called mature to isolate himself in his room while the Normandy approached their most vital mission yet. But he couldn’t bring himself to care. His sister was home. She was finally home, and nothing would split them apart ever again. He didn’t care if he had to leave the Alliance, leave the whole fucking galaxy, Luke refused to allow anything stand between him and his sister until his last breath.
He turned back to look at her again, reassuring himself that she was still here. He felt ashamed with how much assurance he needed, how little it took to frighten him. He breathed out mirthlessly, imagining the field day the media would have if they could see him now. Luke sighed, if o- “Luke!!” Lara shot up, eyes widened. He was at her side within seconds. She latched onto him, breathing heavily. “Y-you’re still here,” she whispered softly with extreme relief.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he replied quietly.
She was trembling. “I thought I was dreaming.”
He “It’s ok, I’m here. I’m right here.”
“I- I’m so sorry,” she began sobbing again. Luke started to get a little emotional too. He wanted to hold her tighter but he held back, knowing his sister’s sensitivities to touch and physical pressure. It might have been nearly seven years but he hadn’t forgotten a single detail.
He felt a pang of guilt at the sound of her apologising. “You have nothing to be sorry for, it w-”
“N-no!" she cried out. "I was t-too weak, I- I- I-”
“No,” he shut down, his voice only slightly trembling. “No one should have to be as strong as you were. As you are.”
“I wish we never joined the Alliance,” Lara gripped his back even harder.
“So do I,” he answered truthfully, “but its ok. Its all going to be ok. I- after this mission, we never have to fight again.”
“You can’t promise that,” she warned with audible doubt, leaning back to rub her temples.
He couldn't blame her. “I’ve been building, making connections. There’s something big we have to stop, but I promise you that we’ll never have to go into another battle after this. I’ve got a plan.”
“I… I trust you.” Those words had never before made him so emotional.
uke swallowed hard and briefly had to look away. “We just need to finish this last mission. Whenever you’re ready, we'll go out there. We need to show the crew that we’re ok and ready to save the day. We have four days until we arrive, that should be enough to stop the team worrying.”
Lara nodded and wiped her face, clearing it of tears. Her scarred lip twitched as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. He furrowed his brow as she instantly composed herself, putting on a stern face. It was… disconcerting, how easy she put on that mask.
“Ok, that’s good, but you’re a little menacing,” he put on his most sheepish smile, “we don’t want to scare Tali, after all.”
Her face softened a little and her scarred lip quirked up slightly.
“There we go,” he grinned, squeezing her hand. “Are you sure you’re ready to go out there?”
She nodded. “I’ll be by your side, won’t I?”
Luke pulled her into a hug. “Always.”
Garrus’ appreciated his father’s efforts. He really did. He’d much rather be enjoying time with his family than rotting away in a C-Sec prison awaiting trial. But regardless how vastly superior his present accommodations were to the cell they had been taken from, the fact remained that it wouldn’t be long until he and Beatrice would be dragged away to stand trial. At best, they expected life in prison. So he sat up in the attic with his father, sipping the brandy the elder Vakarian was saving for either a truly incredible moment, or a truly poor one.
Beatrice was downstairs, likely chatting away with his mother and sister. She got along really well with those two, especially his mom. The human ate twice as much as the average Turian, and since his mom loved to cook, they seemed to just click. His mom was especially thrilled that she got to learn entire new recipes to accommodate for the whole levo/dextro differences. Butch certainly wasn’t complaining and ate up as much food as his mom could put in front of her. Garrus thought that the more humans eat, the squishier they get, but apparently this was rude to point out and all three women in the house had practically pounced on him while his father simply tutted.
To be fair, it wasn’t like he was saying she was squishier. It was a genuine question of biological curiosity.
He was dragged out of his musings by his father’s sigh. “Son, I talked with the Executor today. Your trial is scheduled nearly two weeks from now.”
“I can’t say I’m surprised,” he replied dryly.
His father grunted with what might be interpreted as approval. “At least you have the sense not to joke about it.”
“Dad…” he started, trying to find the words. “Thank you,” he settled for. There was nothing that could adequately express his feelings.
“If you’re right, about this whole ‘Reaper’ thing, that is, then it shouldn’t be too long until you’re completely cleared of all charges,” he took another sip from his glass.
Garrus did his best not to sigh. “That could be years away.”
“Would you have done anything differently if you could go back?” the elder Turian leaned towards him.
“No,” he answered resolutely. “Nothing.”
“Good. Good.” The two Vakarians sat in silence for a while, nursing their drinks. “So… you seriously haven’t bonded with her yet?”
Garrus huffed. “You know dad, I was expecting you to be more disapproving. Would have saved me all this,” he gestured with dramaticism.
“When Solana first told me you were interested in a human, I admit to being… concerned,” he chuckled, “but she’s a good match for you. She drags you out of your comfort zone, and you reel her back in.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” Garrus retorted with a shake of the head. “I haven’t even known her for a full year, dad. Don’t you think it’s a bit soon to be getting bonded?”
“Bah, let an old man fuss," he waved him off. "Your mother and I are simply eager for grandchildren.”
“Dad,” he groaned.
His father set his empty glass down on the table. “Tell you what. I’m taking Acinia and Solana out for dinner tonight. The house is yours tonight.”
“Dad.”
“What?" his old man replied innocently. "You may as well enjoy the time you have.”
“We are not having this conversation,” he growled. Then he chuckled. “Spirits, you’re as bad as the others.”
Liara frowned as she heard voices in the neighbouring med-bay. The discussion seemed tense, which piqued her interest. It wouldn’t count as eavesdropping if she just walked past whoever was there, right? She had to get a glass of water at some point, after all. With a quick breath in she stood up, fixed her clothes, and opened her door to see Luke talking with a rather unhappy Doctor Chakwas.
“...-n’t care. We’ve committed treason already," he crossed his arms. "You can’t declare me unfit for duty anymore. You can give us a checkup after we’re done making the rounds.”
Liara remained still for a moment, taking in the humans in front of her whom she had not seen in nearly twenty-four hours. Commanders Luke and Lara Shepard stood in their full uniform much more confidently than she expected. Lara was the first to notice her presence and made a nearly inaudible noise, causing Luke to turn and spot her. Both twins put on an identical grin as they walked towards her. “Hey, Blue, hope we didn’t worry you too much, mind if we step inside?”
The Asari nodded silently, allowing them entry. “Are…” she tried, frowning, “are you alright?”
“Never been better,” Lara smiled as Luke placed an arm on her shoulder. There was something about the two of them. Their smiles weren’t quite meeting their eyes, their confidence seemed somewhat exaggerated.
Luke nodded. “We’ll have plenty of time later to talk about it, but we’re finally back together again. I wanted to introduce you to my sister. I know you’ve technically met before, but with all that behind us I thought proper introductions were in order.”
By ‘technically met’, Luke meant ‘when she held us at gunpoint and I nearly let her pull the trigger’.
“So, Liara,” he beamed, “This is my sister, Lara. And Lara, this is Liara, a close friend of mine.” That stung more than it should.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” his sister politely introduced. “Luke’s told me much about you. I followed the news closely, it’s a dangerous galaxy out there, that’s for sure. Thank you for looking out for him while I was away,” she shifted her grin back to Luke. “But I’m back, and nothing will ever get in the way again.”
Liara did her best not to frown. “I have been more than happy to be of service, I assure you, service I have no intention of ceasing anytime soon.”
“Oh you weren’t kidding Luke,” the redheaded human smirked.
Luke gave her an admonishing look. “Lara…”
Lara continued unabashed. “She really does have the cutest way of talking.”
Though technically a compliment, Liara felt more unsettled than anything. Something wasn’t sitting right. Something felt off. And she didn’t like it one bit.
Tali lazily leant into Wrex, barely awake. There was nothing to do at the moment as the ship made the trip to wherever Saren was hoping to find the Conduit. Adams told her that there wasn’t anything else to do in the engine, Liara had retreated to her quarters, and Butch was still on the Citadel probably stuck in a cell with Garrus and Anderson.
“Good to see the two of you being productive,” a familiar and much-missed voice rung out.
“Shepard!” Tali exclaimed as she leapt to her feet, making the Krogan chuckle. As she looked up at the commander, she noticed a redhead in an identical uniform walking right next to him.
“Both of us,” Luke joked, making the unknown girl smile.
Wrex approached the pair and slapped Tali on the back. “Heh, I told the kid you’d be fine. Everyone’s getting all worked up over nothing.”
“I am not a child you bosh’tet!” Tali shouted, punching the amused Krogan.
Luke laughed brightly. “Thanks for the confidence, Wrex, and thank you Tali for the concern.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Lara introduced herself. “Luke’s been catching me up on your adventures. I must say, it’s relieving to hear he’s had such a competent team watching his back all this time.”
“Ha!” Wrex bellowed, “as if the commander needs anyone to carry him through battle, he could tear apart a Thresher Maw," he chuckled before smashing his fists together, "with his bare hands!!”
“Well,” Lara smiled, “here’s hoping that never becomes necessary.”
Tali chuckled and shook her head. “I’m glad that you’re back together again. We’ll need all the help we can get to beat Saren.”
“Bah! He stands no chance," Wrex clapped the commander - Luke, that is - on the back. "Twice the Shepards, double the glory!”
They finished introductions and parted ways, leaving Tali with Wrex. The Krogan turned to clean his shotgun, rumbling lowly to himself.
“It feels weird seeing him make the rounds with her instead of Lara,” Tali confessed.
Wrex grunted. “You’d better get used to it. They’re healing, the girl especially.”
“I thought she seemed nice," she stated as she tried to subtly place her own shotgun on the bench as well. "They look like their doing alright.”
The Krogan shrugged. “Not every scar’s on the outside.”
“Didn’t you say before that we were all getting worked up over nothing?” she tilted her head.
“The twins are trying to make everyone think they’re fine," Wrex went against his earlier words. "The sooner they think they’ve succeeded, the sooner they’ll be ready to kick Saren’s ass.”
Lara walked in step with her brother as he did a loop around the ship. They greeted every member on the Normandy, apologising for any inconvenience and doing their best to portray an image of normalcy. For once she didn’t feel the need to tap her leg, and – if she was being honest – at points the smile she wore was real. She had felt empty since the-… since that day. Logically, Lara was aware of that much. But she hadn’t realised just how much until she had been finally reunited with her brother.
It made her almost giddy, the way he presented her to the crew. She couldn't say she cared all that much for them but they were absolutely devoted to her brother. He introduced her as if she was his new second-in-command, making sure everybody knew that an order from her was an order from him. The fact that he embraced her so quickly, that he practically handed her the keys to his kingdom - it made her feel a smidge worse about taking so long to reach out.
So she shook hands. She smiled politely. She put on the image of a woman entirely in control, even though she definitely wasn't. But finally, after all these years, she didn’t have to try any longer. It had been so easy to let Meyer control her, but all he did was use her for his own gain. She could see that now. Shepard made her finally see that. During that time the only security and control she truly had was what she gave herself. So no, she wasn’t in control, but she didn’t need to be ever again. Luke always knew what to do. Luke knew how to make her feel safe. She could trust him. Lara fell back into their old relationship without any difficulty or hesitation. It felt right. It was right.
Of course, it was still an adjustment. No, she corrected herself mentally, it was a major adjustment. Pretend as she might but she was still a monster who had done monstrous things. She was a broken woman, and, self-delusion aside, reintegration into her brother's life would not go seamlessly. With all that being said, Lara was determined to see it through. Nothing would stand in her way.
That Ashley woman fell into place quickly. The marine had tortured herself over her role in prolonging Lara’s reunification with her brother all those months ago. The guilt that woman carried over drivign them apart on the Citadel was almost palpable. She would do anything to fix her mistakes which rendered her a non-threat. She hated Ashley for ruining her earlier chance at reclaiming her brother, but she knew Luke was fond of her. She would be safe. For now.
The rest of the Alliance crew similarly were eager to accept her and remained incredible loyal to Luke. She was impressed with the level of control he had over the ship. He always was good at that. The Krogan, however, saw straight through them. Lara was smart enough to know that much, but she could also tell he wouldn’t get in the way. Whatever happened, he was on their side, and where he went, Tali would follow.
She only had two concerns.
Firstly, there was the matter of the woman she shared the role of sister with. Butch. She wasn't thrilled when Luke had insisted on bringing her into their world back in the academy - it made her think of Katie and the promise she made herself after that girl's disappearance. Lara was initially going to try and have the other woman thrown out of the academy but by the time she was about to make her move, Luke was too attached. All things considered, Butch wasn't the worst thing in the world. While it stung every time Luke referred to her as his sister at first, Lara had grown slightly fond of the other woman.
After all, Butch had gotten into several fights for her and while their truce was tenuous at points, they had come to respect each other to a certain degree. With that being said, from Lata's research it seemed as if the Australian was involved with Vakarian. In an ideal world, they'd drift away from the Normandy without hurting Luke, thus removing a small but still mentionable threat to her return.
Secondly - and this was the single biggest threat she had located - was Liara.
It was clear that she had developed feelings for Luke. It was clear that Luke thought he had developed feelings back. Lara chastised herself. Due to her absence, she wasn’t available to ward off women like Liara. Women who would only hurt her brother, who couldn’t truly understand him. It was Katie all over again. He didn’t need them then, and he didn’t need them now. Liara T’Soni would only get in the way. No, that would not do. Not in the slightest. Lara would find a way to deal with this problem, she only needed time. She would secure their lives back if it was the last thing she did. Luke was hers.
Lara didn't feel goot about it. She wasn't salivating at the thought of driving wedges betwen Luke and those who he deluded himself into caring about, but it was necessary. She knew she couldn't relinquish control just yet. Once their situation had stablised she would be able to simply let go of the rope and allow Luke to carry her once more.
So, for now, she shook hands.
She smiled politely.
She put on the image of a woman entirely in control.
It was what Lara was good at, after all.
Chapter 52: Antithesis
Summary:
The Luthor Twins check in, and the Normandy arrives at Ilos
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Katherina sighed deeply. It was the sort of sigh one exhaled when being forced to re-sit the same examinations for the umpteenth time, despite the blatantly obvious fact that the results wouldn’t change. It was the sort of exasperated resignation one felf when, to nobody’s surprise, the outcome of every single test and examination came back just the same as previous iteration.
Though, immediately after this feeling of annoyance, she felt a bit guilty. It was hypocritical. If the roles were reversed she knew for a fact she would be just as if not even more overbearing to her brother. She was glad she was the one who was ill, not him, as she didn’t know what she’d do with herself if anything happened to Frederick.
That was a lie. She knew exactly what she’d do, and it wasn’t particularly pretty.
So while her dear brother argued vociferously with the doctors in the room on the other side of the glass, falsely believing that she wouldn’t be able to hear him despite his volume, she perused recent notifications on her.
Boring. Delete.
Irrelevant. Delete.
Amusing, but spam nevertheless. Delete.
As another sigh began to creep its way out of her, her eyes glazed over a high priority notification passed on from Hermann, back on the Leviathan.
Mr Harper had written them an email. She examined it with great curiosity. It seemed that the Shepard twins had finally reunited. She opened a photo of them and projected it above her cot. She hummed, staring at them. Katherina stared at their graduation photo from the academy and sighed. It was... regretable that she and Luke had never gotten along. It was never possible, of course, given the circumstances, but she liked to hope that Luke somehow recognised the bond they had. Back in the academy, Lara had been the mediator between them, so to speak, allowing for the two sets of twins to work together when required, be it for a group project or team exercise.
She a̸͉̕l̸̡̻̳͔͇̞̹̿ṃ̴̧̭̹̊̿̽̇̎̽̒͜ó̶̡̰̗̯͂̊̈̈s̷̘͈̦̘͐͂̌̐̏͘t̷̞̫̝̝̪̜̿̋̀͝ ̴̢͖̟̽̎͝f̴̢̯̼̯̠̌ͅe̶͎͑̋̇̈̽͝l̴̛͔̖̙͍̇̽͋͛̎̊t̷̠̞̫̆ ̶̟͙̤̥̿̊́̉͝j̸̜͙̝̠̙̓̐͋̿͗͘ė̵̡̡̳̩̰̀ had always been appreciative of their bond. It was nearly exactly like hers and Frederick's. To be even more sentimental, she and Frederick knew more than anyone how powerful the bond of family is. The biggest reason she disliked T'Soni was because she attempted to act as a replacement for Lara. There was a void left which that Asari had weased her way into, taking advantage of him. It was arrogant.
Katherina snarled.
Luke deserved so much better.
There was few greater tragedies than the seperation that had occured between Luke and Lara. If the Shepards had remained united all this time, the galaxy could only marvel at how powerful they might be this very day.
Alas, they would never know for certain. And, regardless of all this innocuous musing, the Shepards had returned to each other’s side at last. Katherina could only hope that Lara wouldn’t squander this chance. Luke lacked the conviction to do what it would take to secure their bond once more, and, by trying to fill the void their separation caused with T'Soni, had actually caused more damage to it. Perhaps after they were done here, they could lend some assistance to Lara.
Assuming the galaxy wasn’t exterminated, that is.
Oh, and that she was still alive to do so.
They had quite the list.
Frederick growled as he barged back into the room. “These fools are as useful as a legless Varren. They are making no progress whatsoever!”
Katherina felt a wry grin creep across her face. “As much as it disgusts me to defend the common man, I feel I must point out the difficulty involved in our current cituation.”
Her brother snorted, and his face softened. “I-… …”
“I know,” she whispered sadly, placing a hand on the side of his face. “I know, but this is the only real chance we have. Doctor Gregorich assures me the machine will be prepared in days.”
“It is experimental, there is no way of knowing you will be alright!” he snarled.
“Do we have another choice?”
Her brother had no answer to that.
“Brother,” she whispered. He didn’t meet her eyes. “Frederick,” she stated more firmly, making him look up. She pulled him in closer and planted a kiss on his forehead. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” he replied, painfully quiet.
She straightened her back and smiled. “This will work.”
“It had better.”
Katherina agreed. This operation had best work for both their sakes, for if one Luthor didn̷͛͂̌͌͜͝’̷̡̗̑t̵͈̗̞͓̹̎͑ ̶̨̫̈̀̌ͅs̴̛̹͈̰͙̀̅̓͜ü̴͕̳̲ͅȓ̸̛͉̞͌͂̑v̷͚̇̋̅i̷̩̽̀́v̶̥̣͔̅̾͒ȩ̴̘͇̹̗͊,̷̨̯̜͓̿̀̽̌̅ ̶̨̫̯̗̓͌̆̇͘ͅn̸̢̥̼͖̮̅͒̕͝ḛ̸̖̻͚̝̌i̵͕̔͛t̴̟̺̭̝̎̐̄̚̕ḩ̵̬̰̯̖̆ḙ̵̹̩͎͖͆̽͌r̶͈͕̝̀͗͝ ̴̞̝̏͊̂͋͆ẅ̷̨̡͍͎͈́͆͆̽ṍ̸̗̤̚u̶̼̻̎l̸̨̺͌̌d̵̙̽̾͛̿̒.̴̠̊̐
When she was younger, Lara enjoyed playing chess with her brother frequently. Beside it simply being enjoyable, their mother - wen present - deemed it an acceptable distraction from homework and chores, as opposed to video games. Luke was a worthy adversary, not least because they had played together for so long that he had an intimate understanding of her psychology and playstyle.
One particular thing that was important to Lara in chess was that she only ever played as black. Just at it had been for centuries, black always went second to white. She pursued this strategy because she understood the value of allowing your enemy to make the first turn. Be it chess, war, or, in this case, frigate politics, letting your enemy move first often led to them showing their hand. It is incredibly how much insight one can get by fighting the need to rush and instead simply observing your opponent move unopposed.
And so, Lara restrained herself. She sat back and let T'Soni make the first move, eavesdropping via a bug she planted in her and Luke’s room beforehand. Eavesdropping really wasn’t anything serious as there weren’t supposed to be any secrets between the two of them, so she felt little guilt. Lara was sure her brother would understand. It was for their greater good, after all. He wanted them to remain together just as much as she did.
“Thank you for taking the time to see me, Luke," the woman's voice made her lip curl. "I know you are rather busy. You have been rather occupied with your sister, and understandably so at that.”
Lara snorted as her brother started to respond. “You know I have an open-door policy, Blue. And thanks for being understanding. You have no idea how glad I am to have her on board.” Her face softened at that.
“Quite glad, I would imagine,” she hummed with audible amusement. Lara rolled her eyes. “How are you feeling?”
She could imagine the smile spread across her brother's lips. “Honestly? I’m completely overjoyed that we’ve reunited. I’m genuinely happy. But I’m anxious," Luke admitted with audible vulnerability. "I’m terrified I’ll screw something up, or something will take her from me again.”
“I’m certain that will not be the case. The Luke Shepard I know is unstoppable when it comes to family.” Lara shook her head. That went without saying. “If you do not mind me saying, she is not exactly as I had imagined, given your stories, that is.”
Luke let out a sigh. "She's been through a lot. God," he breathed out harshly. "If Meyer's still breathing I'm going to kill him," he growled.
"I-" T'Soni began, before cutting herself off. It was likely she hadn't seen just how far Luke was willing to go for Lara. He wasn't the pure paragon that many believed him to be. Nobody was. There would always be just that little part of everyone that is capable of doing nearly anything. No one was immune. "I take it Lara will be joining us as we put an end to our mission?"
"Of course," her brother nearly scoffed. "I'm not letting her out of my sight again. She's my number one priority." A warm sensation she'd long forgotten warmed her chest. Lara smiled and leant back into her seat.
The Asari was silent for a quick second. It was probably just sinking in that her unchallenged position at Luke's side was now in jeopardy. "None of this can be easy," she replied. "I intend to remain by your side to assist in any capacity.”
“I appreciate it, Liara. Your help’s really meant a lot to me over these months. I’ll be sure to reach out to you if I need you.”
And so Lara had her information; her baseline. It appeared she was wrong - T'Soni would not pose a threat in the slightest. The only real threat, of course, came from what she represented. It would not be difficult to deal with. The Asari’s own jealously would probably do half the work for her without Lara having to do anything herself. Honestly, she had gotten anxious over nothing.
Of course, just as with chess, the moment your enemy made their first move and you understood them, one had to act accordingly to destroy them as efficiently and effectively as possible.
The team gathered in the CIC around what used to be the galaxy map, now configured to display the readings from the surface of Ilos, the Prothean world they had arrived at less than an hour ago. Luke stood on the central podium, taking everything in. “Sweet Mary,” Pressley remarked, sounding distinctly impressed. “The planet’s just like Earth, as if humans disappeared for thousands of years. Look at these continents,” he pointed at the holographic display. “There’s eight of them, split by three oceans. Look at these readings. The Protheans must have developed similarly to us, can you see where all these ruins are located?”
Luke examined the scans closer. His knowledge of history and geography all began to flash through his mind. “Their population centres look human. They’re situated on rivers, coasts, and lakes for the most part.”
“Yes,” Lara agreed, “but that’s only part of it.” She bent over while maintaining a straight back, clasping her hands behind herself while carefully scrutinizing the readings. “These centres are all of a similar size and structure, but look at these,” she pointed at a group of markings further away from bodies of water. “The Protheans shared the human desire to conquer as much land as possible. This terrain would be highly undesirable for the Protheans given what we know about them, but they tamed it nevertheless.”
“Sounds Krogan to me,” Wrex chuckled.
“You’re quite right,” his sister smirked. “Humans, Krogan, and Vorcha are the only species who have the trait to completely dominate one’s territory, regardless of how inhospitable or undesirable the land may be. Salarians and Turians only build in undesirable regions for military installations, research centres, etcetera. Asari do not move out of their species’ regional comfort zone to few exceptions. It appears that we humans and Krogan share more with the Protheans than we thought. I will need to examine this further,” she decided.
“A fascinating theory,” Liara stepped forwards, taking in the display. Luke looked up at her, interested to hear what their resident Prothean expert had to say. “I must disagree on two notions, however. Firstly, it is academically agreed on that the Protheans could not be associated with the word ‘domination’ to any degree. They were a peaceful and virtuous people. Secondly, do note that any advanced nation has the capability to create settlements in any terrain.”
“Ah,” Lara smiled curtly, raising an index finger into the air, “that would be true, if the psycology of each species were truly so simple. The ability to construct facilities in any environment does not mean that a species will do so. Take the Asari. Deserts make up thirty percent of Thessia, yet less than one percent of that surface area is permanently populated. Incentive is not the reason, as forty percent of the planet’s mines are located in these lands. No, the Asari prefer comfort over practicality. Ergo, capability does not equate to certainty.”
“I understand that from the information available it might seem that straightforward,” Liara stressed, clearly unhappy with being challenged academically on both the Protheans and her own people, “but these things are hardly ever so. Perhaps the Protheans had ample incentive to do so, or their species was naturally more adaptable, similar to the Vorcha.”
“I respect your opinion, but I have published numerous research articles and studies on the topic. I would be more than happy to transfer you my most popular work, 'Subjugating Geography, a Chronological Analysis into the Psychology and Physiology of Galactic Species'. It should already be accessible in the University of Serrice though, where it is an acclaimed piece,” she smiled, tilting her head up.
Luke probably should have addressed the tension in the air but he was just happy to see his sister interacting normally again. “As interesting as this is, and I really do mean it,” he interrupted, “we are here on a mission. There’ll be time for this afterwards.”
“How the hell are we getting down there,” Ashley furrowed her brow at the hologram. “If the Geth are here,” she pointed, “there’s no room for the Normandy to land, or to drop the Mako.”
“I can do it.” Everyone turned to Joker who slowly limped towards them.
“Um, Jeff?” Luke began, only to be waved off by Joker.
“Ship’s on autopilot. Anyway, I can do it.”
“Impossible,” Pressley shook his head, “it’s too narrow. We could kill the commander. Er, both of them,” he nodded at Lara.
Joker ignored Pressley and turned to Luke. “Commander, I can do this.”
Luke paused for a moment and nodded. “Suit up everyone. Joker, take us down in twenty.”
Notes:
Ok. Ok. So I think I need to quickly say a few things. I have made a few creative decisions for this entire fic which may not be entirely popular. You may have noticed that the piece is getting darker and darker as it goes on. Many of you have commented on it already.
Most full game rewrites I have read - especially for ME1 - feature a similar narrative structure. Things start off looking really bad for Shepard(s) and the Normandy and they struggle to get recognition and assets, until, by the end of it, everything is much better and the main characters are happy.
I wanted to buck this trend.
Shepard has had an easy ride until Virmire. He has made allies, acquired resources, developed assets, and become a popular galactic celebrity. He, arguably, has had a much easier time than many fics portray him to have. Now, however, is when he really starts to have trouble. Enter the Virmire aftermath. Enter Lara. Enter Ilos.
This is a different approach and while I don't know how it will be recieved, it stems from me wanting to provide a different experience and a different style. I hope you all enjoy it, future dark writing aside :)
And I promise that, by the end of the trilogy, things should be much better haha
Chapter 53: Tenuto
Summary:
The team lands on Ilos. Conversations are had on the Citadel and on Ilos.
Chapter Text
Any anxious musings over the happenings on the Normandy left Liara’s mind as she took in the planet around her.
Ilos.
It was incredible. It was beautiful. It was absolutely “Unbelievable…” she gasped, studying every surrounding detail. “This has to be the most well-preserved Prothean site in known space…”
“Looks old,” Wrex grunted, earning a snort from Williams.
“Fifty million years and it is still standing grandly. It is remarkable!” she laughed lightly.
“Thoughts?” Luke asked. As she opened her mouth to start speaking, she was cut off.
“We’d need time to study,” Lara shrugged. “But the architecture matches.”
The commander crosssed his arms. “Similar style to the place on Therum, where we found Liara.”
His sister hummed. “I’ve seen the schematics. This is likely a Prothean research centre as well.”
“Much of the structure must be underground,” Liara chipped in, weaving her way into the conversation. Prothean ruins was her area of expertise after all. “After this is all wrapped up I would like to thoroughly investigate this place myself.”
“I wouldn’t mind doing the same,” Lara agreed with a nod. “The place still has functioning technology, look at those lights. The Protheans really knew how to build to last.”
“So which way should we start?” Luke asked.
“Saren’s already inside,” Wrex grunted, pointing at the floor. “Tracks. He’s got company, too.”
“Wouldn’t be any fun otherwise,” Williams grinned earning a chuckle from the murder-hungry Krogan.
Liara thought back to her months studying ruins on Therum. Saren would be taking what he perceived to be the most direct route. It was only direct, however, assuming the facility was fully operational. Power shortages, faulty technology, and collapsed bodies of construction would severely inhibit the Turian’s ability to easily reach the nucleus of the centre, his likely target. Following Saren directly would cost both time and resources, neither which they could afford to lose. This meant they would need an alternative plan.
“We should take the maintenance tunnels," she spoke up. "Every Prothean facility has nearly as many tunnels as they do hallways.”
“It’s true,” Lara agreed, clasping her hands behind her back. “They were clearly afraid of being attacked in their Fourth Age. I assume now this was due to the Reapers. If their facilities were damaged, the tunnels would allow ease of movement and if need be escape.”
“Though that’s all conjecture,” Liara added, "I believe I can locate us a quicker route to the Conduit, whatever that may be.”
Luke scratched his stubble. “Will the Mako fit in these tunnels?”
“I should think so,” Liara nodded.
“Let’s get to it then,” he accepted, reaching to his omni-tool.
“No need,” Lara stopped him with a smile. “I’ve already downloaded the orbital scans from the Normandy and transferred them to Liara.”
Luke chuckled and shook his head. “Still reading my mind?”
“Someone’s got to,” she giggled, fixing her coat distractedly.
Liara frowned but quickly turned her attention to analysing the files. She had a Prothean ruin to delve into.
“So…” Sol innocently drawled as she took her turn, moving her little icon on the board four places. “Are you guys, you know, official?”
Garrus furrowed his brow in confusion. His sister had been devouring human media ever since it hit the galactic stage and, much to his chagrin, had adopted much of the humans’ nonsensical vernacular. Beatrice, being a human, seemed to understand completely. She reddened slightly while laughing. Garrus sighed. “What are you talking about?”
“Sol’s asking if we’re an item,” Beatrice explained, which didn’t really explain anything at all.
His sister nudged him. “You know, are you a thing? Are you together now?”
Garrus felt even more confused. “We’ve been together all this time, haven’t we?”
Sol and Beatrice erupted into giggles and laughter respectively. Beatrice's eyes even started leaking. “Gar!” she exclaimed.
“What?” he asked with genuine confusion.
“Girls,” his mother admonished, “stop teasing my son. Garrus, dear, Solana is asking if you and Beatrice are in a relationship.”
His mandibles twitched. “Then just say that!” he growled.
“Way to spoil the fun, ‘Nia,” Beatrice joked, wiping at her eyes. He was still confused as to how she could just abbreviate his mother’s name from Acinia to ‘Nia. She assured him it was an Australian thing. Which… still didn’t really clear that up. Or anything, for that matter.
“I must admit,” his mother continued, chirping with the sort of amusement that struck fear into the heart of any child, “I find myself somewhat curious as well.”
“Yeah, you’ve got to tell us!” Sol demanded. “Especially after last night,” she whispered no-so-quietly to Beatrice, earning a raised brow from his mother as the Australian somehow turned even more read.. Garrus sighed and buried his face in his hands.
“You are all the worst,” he grumbled. He darted his eyes up at Beatrice. “Why are you so okay with this?”
The Australian shrugged, sipping no-so-innocently from her glass. “I already gave you my answer," she drawled. "Multiple times, if I recall” she muttered under her breath.
Garrus ran his hands across his face. “Why can’t you tell them and save me all of… this!” he gestured exasperatedly. He was growing increasingly irked by being the butt of the joke tonight.
“That’s not how it works,” Sol reprimanded, crossing her arms. “You’re the boyfriend, you have to announce it.”
“I haven’t even admitted to anything!” Garrus exclaimed.
“Guess he’s ashamed of me,” Beatrice lamented with a fake-sad sigh.
“I- that’s not- you-,” he rubbed his temples as the girls – and his mother – erupted into laughter. “Dad! Help me out, I’m completely outnumbered here!”
His father didn’t even lift his eyes from the paper. “I learned to not fight these battles years ago, son. You’re on your own.”
“Smart man,” his mother chirped, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Now, Garrus, I believe you were going to tell us whether you and Beatrice here are in a relationship?”
He looked at the beautiful woman sitting across from him who was only smiling before sighing. “Yes, we are.”
“Yay!” Solana screamed, pulling Beatrice into a hug tight enough to make her choke on her drink. “We’re officially sisters now, right?”
“Damn straight,” his girlfriend coughed out.
“I don’t think that’s how it wo-”
“Oh I’m so proud of you, dear,” his mother praised. “That wasn’t so difficult, was it?”
“No,” he agreed defeatedly. “All it took was being placed under house arrest for treason.”
“If I knew that would be what it would take to have you join us for dinner more often,” his mother started mischievously, “I would have framed you for sedition years ago.”
The team quickly came across a long room hovering over a lake divided by a gap. The passage split into two open directions on either side of the room, leading to what Liara had determined to be a major control station. Unfortunately, the Geth had set up positions on either side of the large gap, meaning that to avoid being taken out by crossfire they would need to split into two groups. Lara had volunteered to partner up with Wrex to take the left passage.
Truthfully, she had been waiting for a situation like this. She just needed a moment alone with the Krogan to have a friendly conversation. Off the comms. As Wrex permanently disabled an armature, he looked up at her as she calmly approached him in this brief reprieve.
“Shepard,” he grunted.
“Wrex,” she sighed, her face expressionless. “Let’s skip the bullshit.”
“Heh," a dark grin spread across his face. "Good. Wondered when you’d make your move.”
Lara gave him a flat look. “I know you’re the only person on the ship who can fully see through me.”
Wrex put on a look of fake interest. “That so?”
She pursed her lips. “Quite.”
“Heh. How’d you tell?” he spat onto the side of the path.
Lara tilted her head up ever-so-slightly. “It takes a monster to know a monster.” Wrex only grunted at that. “Understandably, this makes you a threat.”
“You’re not wrong,” he agreed.
“But you haven’t said anything yet, even after seeing everything I’m doing,” she verbalised her observations.
Wrex grinned. “Right again.”
Seeing that he wasn't going to offer any information of his own accord, she sighed and began to pace. “I can’t tell if you’re simply not loyal, if you’ve got your own agenda, or if you’re playing me,” she admitted.
“I’m loyal to Shepard," he stated bluntly. "He’s done more for the Krogan than anyone else in the last four centuries. He’s done more for me than anyone else since Aleena.” Lara didn't know who this Aleena was but she assumed that the statement must have been rather significant.
“I see,” she hummed.
Wrex leant in closer to her, breaching her personal space. She forced herself not to back away despite feeling uncomfortable. “Do you? I’m not sure.”
Lara didn't even try to keep her lip from twisting into a sneer. “Try me.”
“Shepard’s my Krantt," the Krogan gruffed, stepping back. "He has my loyalty. I'd follow him to hell and back if he asked. But in our time together it’s been clear that he lost what was most important to him.”
“Me.”
“Don’t be so full of yourself,” he grinned. “But you're not wrong. This is the happiest I've seen him since I met him on the Citadel. I’m not going to mess up his one chance at getting you back.”
Lara raised an eyebrow. “So you’re telling me you’re not a threat to us?”
“Oh I won’t get in the way,” Wrex rumbled amusedly, “you don’t have to worry about that. Don’t get your hopes up though, I’ll be on the sidelines. I’m not going to help you either.”
Lara straightened her back. “I’ve never needed help before.”
“No,” he tilted his head back towards the group on the other side of the plaza. “You’ve only needed him.”
Lara shrugged slightly. He wasn’t precisely incorrect.
“So here are my terms," Wrex met her gaze. "I’ll keep my mouth shut if you promise me one little thing.”
Lara stared icily at the Krogan towering over her as he itched closer. “Or,” she countered with a raise of her index finger, “I could kill you.”
Wrex bellowed, laughing hard enough to draw the attention of a few more Geth who were promptly and violently dismantled. “Heh. You’re part Krogan, got to be.”
“Murder’s a complicated and tiring solution," she sighed, "so for the sake of resolving this quickly, what is this promise you want?”
He grunted. “It’s nothing much. Just need you to promise you won’t do anything to Aria.”
“That Asari on Omega? Ah,” realisation struck. “My brother;s ‘bondmate’. No, I have no plans on her thusfar, I assure you.”
“And you better keep it that way. If I hear you hurt Aria in any way,” he chuckled darkly. “Not even your brother could save your sorry hide.”
Lara tilted her chin upwards defiantly. It was a… minor concession. One she could surely find a work around if the situation came up. Unlike Liara, Aria was a tolerable accessory. She wouldn’t prove as clingy or harmful in the long run. In fact, she had met the Asari once, and she actually seemed like a useful potential ally. “Very well. I accept your terms.”
Tali relentlessly sorted through the data at her terminal on the CIC. The Mako wasn’t going to fit everyone so she had volunteered to remain on the Normandy and run analysis on all information they transmitted up to the ship. She and Pressley had made quick work of the facility’s structural analysis and determined key locations, which they used to map routes.
“Ground team reports they’ve opened the doors to the maintenance tunnels,” Comms Specialist Kaneko announced.
Pressley didn’t take his eyes off Tali’s holographic projections. “Thank you, specialist. Are we ready to transfer the route to the Commander?”
“Yep,” Tali agreed, signing off her work to the Comms Specialist’s terminal.
“Good work spotting that Geth ambush,” he added on as he zoomed in on a marked part of the schematics.
The navigator and her didn’t always get along. He was one of the more xenophobic crewmembers at the start of this voyage, after all. But Pressley wasn’t a bad person and had shown himself to be a capable executive officer. As they served together for longer on the mission, the humans and non-humans slowly warmed up to each other. None of them realised at the time but Shepard had been subtly pushing everyone into positions where they had to collaborate with one another - Pressley, for example was often paired with Garrus and Butch to coordinate missions. Williams was frequently assigned to teams with Wrex or Tali. L-
Tali frowned as a series of read markers appeared on her display. Pressley quickly leant in closer. “What do those mean?”
“It means they’ve been blocked off.”
Luke wasn’t really an anxious person. He wasn’t. Really. He was relatively patient, he was able to adapt to the situation no matter how complicated it got. That being said, he was finding it really difficult not to pace the elevator as it lowered down to an unknown destination, all the while Saren continued unimpeded. Liara and Lara stood on either side as the elevator slowly descended. The others had been left at the Mako to stand guard in case this was a trap.
And it very much looked like a trap.
Suddenly every passageway bar one was just randomly blocked off by energy fields? Unlikely. This was a decision. The only question was who made it? He was pulled from his thoughts when Lara’s hand grabbed his and gave him a gentle squeeze. “Hey, are you alright?”
“Mm. I just feel like the clock is ticking, you know?” he sighed.
She hummed. “I get it. I’m not worried though.”
He turned his head to look at her. “Yeah?”
She grinned at him. “I'm with you, aren't I? I know you'll keep me safe.” Luke smiled and squeezed her hand back. He didn't know if she knew just how emotional that statement made him.
“I am not too worried either,” Liara added. “If anybody can stop Saren and the Reapers, it is you,”
Before he could respond, the elevator stopped and the doors opened. They stepped into a small room. Other elevator doors plastered the walls, implying this was a section connected to other sections of the facility. Something important was hidden here. The approached the centre of the room where some sort of machine was set up. Blue tubes spread into it from around the floor, glowing softly. As they reached it, a blue sphere lit up above it. “Greetings, Commander. I am Vigil," the alient voice met him. "I must say, it is good to see a living Prothean after all these years.”
Chapter 54: Conduit
Summary:
The Geth attack the Citadel but the Normandy is right on their heels
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
“Prothean?” Luke raised an eyebrow. “I’m human.”
“I see,” the blue sphere responded, seemingly taking a moment to process him. “I assume then that you did not receive the full contents of the beacon?”
“They were a bit damaged,” he shrugged, feeling oddly judged. "Hold on," he took a step back, "how did you know I've used the beacons?"
The orb hovered, staring at him. “Then I must explain. You, Shepard, are Prothean. You seem to mistakenly believe these beacons were left behind to secure the survival of future species. That is an incorrect assumption. They were designed to secure the future of the Prothean people, and to avenge our past.”
“What?” Liara exclaimed. “But- that doesn’t fit in with anything we know about you!”
“The beacons are a system of initiation," Vigil continued, ignoring Liara. "You, Shepard, have become the last living Prothean that I am aware of.”
“That doesn’t change the fact that I’m human,” he crossed his arms.
The sphere replaced itself with a map of the galaxy. “The Prothean Empire was not homogenous. We brought prosperity and glory to every world we touched and initiated those most deserving into our ranks, regardless of species. My analysis has determined that you are a worthy Prothean, regardless of your inferior biology. You will carry on our legacy and restore the glory of our species.”
“Fine,” Lara interjected, “let’s pretend that we’re buying all this. There was no way to guarantee the quality of the people your beacons would recruit.”
“Another incorrect assumption, though forgivable due to your lack of information. I will elaborate," it whirred. The map was replaced with a display of the human brain, highlighting several nerves. "The beacons would analyse users who interfaced. If you met the correct requirements, the beacons would initiate you into our people. Now, we have adapted your mind to understand our language, to interface with our technology, to carry on in our footsteps.”
“I-impossible,” Liara stuttered.
“Incorrect,” Vigil stated bluntly.
“So now what?” Luke asked cautiously.
The brain was replaced with the orb from before. “As the last Prothean, I am authorised to promote you to the rank of Supreme Commander. This may be rescinded by superior Prothean authorities should they still exist.”
“Is that likely?” Lara scoffed.
“No. Supreme Commander Luke Shepard, you will avenge our people and conquer a new empire in our name. However, failure is certain unless you heed my warning. Time is on the essence, but you must understand our history. I will transfer data to your vessel, but there are things we must discuss now.”
Hands clasped behind his back, Anderson paced back and forth in his cell. Gods it was boring. All that mattered was that Luke had escaped the Citadel. He didn’t know all that much, but a furious Tevos had made that much clear when she intruded on his interrogation. Though he had to put on the patient and calm face at all times, there a part of him that felt somewhat vindicated by the anger visibly on the usually serene councillor’s face. His eyes darted up as the door slid open. “Got a visitor for you, Captain,” the C-Sec officer beckoned lazily.
“Thank you Lieutenant Bailey, that will be all.”
“Donnel,” he smiled, “good to see a friendly face.”
Udina passed him a flask and sighed. “Maximum security doesn’t suit you, David," he stated dryly. "I thought you would appreciate some company.”
“Yes, well, Vakarian and Robbinson were only here for a day before they were taken somewhere else,” he sighed.
“Vakarian’s father placed them under house arrest until the trial. C-Sec is working overtime to ensure the Council remains unaware, which is all too easy as Tevos has hyperfocused on you as the catalyst to all this…” he waved at nothing, “seditious activity.”
“That’s good to hear,” he nodded as he took a swig. “They’re good kids.”
Udina frowned. “They’re traitors; in the Council’s eyes, David. If Shepard doesn’t pull through…”
“He will,” he stated with the utmost confidence.
“I wish I shared your confidence. Damnit, David, how did we get to this,” he pinched his brow, taking his flask back from Anderson to down a swig.
He leant against the wall, crossing his arms. “Sate my curiosity, will you? Where is this prison? I know its on the Citadel but C-Sec won’t tell me anything.”
“Zykera Ward, the bottom of it at least," the ambassador pointed away from them. "The Presidium is just up that way.”
“Its good to talk to someone who can actually talk back to me,” Anderson closed his eye.
“I take it your hosts aren’t giving you the five-star treatment you deserve? My heart goes out to you,” Udina drawled sarcastically.
Anderson shrugged. “C-Sec is only doing their jobs. It’s Tevos who frustrates me most.”
“That woman is nothing but a complete and utter bi-” Udina was cut off as the room shook slightly. Red lights began flashing and alarms began to blare. “What the hell was that?”
The door to the cell slid open again as Bailey ran back in. “Ambassador, Captain, we’ve got Geth on the Citadel.”
Udina growled. “Geth? How did they get here!”
“They’re all over the Presidium," the officer ran a hand thorugh his hair. "Cut most’ve our communications too. What are our orders, sir?”
“Pardon?” Anderson frowned at the same time that his friend barked a “What?”
Bailey frowned. “I can’t get my superiors on the line, the Captain’s missing, and none of the Council’s representatives are responding to my calls. You two’re the highest ranks I can find. Hells, I’m the ranking officer and I’m just a lieutenant.”
“You are aware this man has been charged with treason?” Udina pointed at him.
“And that this man has no military experience?” Anderson pointed right back.
“I can leave you both in this cell if you want,” Bailey huffed.
“No, no, we’ll help.” Anderson ran through the possibilities in his head. “You said not all of the communications are cut?”
“Yes sir," the C-Sec officer nodded. "We can reach nearby sectors, but the Presidium and our main Zykera headquarters are not responding.”
He scratched his chin. “We need to restore communications. Bailey, gather as many men as you can spare. We’re going to push to the Presidium and take the main transmission facility. If we can restore C-Sec’s ability to coordinate we’ll stand a much better chance against the Geth.”
“Yessir,” the man saluted, running back into the main area of the prison.
“I’ll come too,” Udina grumbled, barging out of the cell and approaching a nearby weapons rack. He settled on an assault rifle and picked it up.
Anderson frowned. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea. Do you even know how to use that?”
Without looking up Udina checked the rifle and adjusted the settings. “We politicians have different methods to deal with stress. Some take mistresses. I prefer the shooting range,” he gave him a wry look.
He began to search the weapons rack. “This is a live warzone we’re about to enter, are you sure you want to come?”
Udina angrily looked back up at him as he pulled his blazer off and rolled up his sleeves. “I’m not letting you rampage across the Presidium on your own, David. Like it or not I’m coming with you,” he growled.
Anderson picked up his own rifle and similarly checked it out. “Regardless of what happens out there, I want you to know I respect you, Donnel.” He reached out a hand. “You’re a good friend.”
The ambassador took his hand and shook firmly. “Likewise, David.”
Lieutenant Bailey jogged back into the room. “We’re all suited up in riot gear, sirs. Ready to move on your orders.”
“Let’s get a move on then,” Udina grumbled. “Nothing boosts the polls like crushing an invasion, after all.”
Katherina flicked the feed from her omni-tool up onto the screen on the wall, leaning her head onto her brother’s shoulder. They watched their bugged security footage as Geth stormed key locations throughout the Citadel. They lacked numbers but shock and awe would be more than enough to temporarily secure their position.
Her brother huffed. “Fools. How could they allow Saren to make this much progress? We gave them all the tools to succeed and they squandered it.”
She hummed. “Not everyone can be as competent as us, I suppose, but I do agree. I expected much more from the Shepards.”
“Hmph. I can’t say I’m surprised,” he gruffed.
“Hush, Frederick," she patted his arm. "This would have been a difficult operation even for us.”
“This is why we should never outsource important work,” he continued to act petulantly.
She smiled. “I’m afraid we’re not in a position to do much work at the moment.”
Frederick frowned and dropped his head a little. He placed a kiss on her head and sighed. “This will work. It has to work.”
“It will. In the meantime,” she stood up and walked towards the closet, “I have a gift for you. For taking me to the Louvre a month or two ago.”
“You are under no obligation to do such a thing,” he announced proudly. “The joy on your face was all the payment I needed.”
“Well aren’t you charming,” she grinned and winked at him. “But no. I disagree.”
Frederick crossed his arms. “Very well, what gift have you scrounged up for me.”
She raise her index finger upwards. “I take issue with the word scrounge. We have far too much class to scrounge. Now where are they… aha… here you go.”
“Wh- is this a Wii remote?” he looked at it incredulously.
“Astute as ever, I see,” she gave him a wry grin.
Frederick's face lit up. “Don’t tell me...”
“Before you get your hopes up, its only a replica. Hock still has the original," she sneered for less than a second. "But once I’m better and we’re ready to, you and I are taking a little trip to Bekenstein. For now,” she smirked “let us play these games I procured.” Frederick pulled her into a crushing hug. It was expected, considering how important the antique device had been to them as children, but it hurt all the same. “Ack! I’m frail, remember?”
“I love you, Katherina,” he whispered.
“I love you too but you’re going to break my bones!”
“Drive, drive, drive!” Luke shouted as they ran out of the elevator. Williams ran into the Mako without a second’s hesitation and got behind the wheel. Luke directed everyone else into it as quickly as they could and the energy field in front of them dissipated.
“What the hell happened down there, commander?” the gunnery chief called out.
“I’ll explain latter, Williams, just keep driving,” he barked.
“To summarise,” Lara shouted over the noise, “Luke’s a Prothean, the Conduit leads to the Citadel, and Saren’s already there.”
“Drive faster, Williams!” Luke barked. “Ignore the Geth, drive straight past them all.”
“Sir?”
“Just do it!” he yelled.
“Yes sir!” she shouted
Luke's head hit the side of the Mako as the vehicle lurched forwards. Lara giggled but rubbed the affected area of his head affectionatly while the gunnery chief violated every safety rule in the Alliance military. They practically drifted around a corner leading to a long, steep, and exposed passage down to what appeared to be tiny mass relay. Preportionally.
“Holy shit…” Ashley muttered.
He grabbed the back of her seat. “Drive into it.”
“What?!!” Liara and Ashley shouted while Wrex began laughing.
“Drive!" Luke shouted. "We have to stop Saren or he’ll open a relay to dark space. Drive, that’s an order!!”
“I’m going to regret this.” Ashley growled as she slammed the acceleration.
“I believe we may all regret this,” Liara shouted over the noise of Geth Colossuses’ fire bouncing off the armoured exterior of the Mako.
Luke stared at the blue light as it approached rapidly. “We don’t have a choice. Brace yourselves!!!”
“Gone? What do you mean gone?” Tali scrunched her nose.
“I mean that they’re gone," Pressley repeated with irritation. "None of their trackers are registering in system anymore.”
Tali furiously examined the interface to no avail. The information only confirmed the XO's statements. “Bosh’tet. They couldn’t have just disappeared.”
“That’s exactly what the systems are telling us,” Pressley wiped a hand across his forehead.
Tali frowned. “Could they be glitching?”
As if taking insult to that, the ship’s lights dimmed briefly. “No,” Pressley dismissed. “You’ve seen our redundant processing systems, that’s not possible for our software.”
Tali swallowed as a foreboding feeling came over her. “Could they be…”
“No,” he denied again. “Even if they did, they’d keep on transmitting. They- hold on, the system’s recalibrating.”
“Did you do something?” she asked, moving around him.
“Its refreshing on its own. Must be the ship’s VI, blasted thing acts up from time to time,” Pressley grumbled.
“Look, it’s shifted our maps to the Widow system. That’s- that’s impossible,” Tali leant in closer to the hologram.
Joker’s voice cut in over the intercom. “Uh, guys, why is the ground team broadcasting their location from the Citadel?”
Lara ripped the restraining fabric off herself with a cough, falling to the roof of the Mako. A reflective piece of metal showed her hair to be a total mess. There was some blood flowing down her face too but that could be attended to later. She looked up at her brother who was groggily attempting to dislodge himself from his own entanglements. They locked eyes and he smiled a bit. “A little help?”
"What would you do without me," she smirked as she tugged at his restraints.
"Probably lose an arm," he grumbled as she freed him.
Liara pushed herself out from under a seat. "By the goddess," she muttered.
"You alright, Blue?" her brother asked.
Lara kept her emotions at bay as the Asari smiled at him. "I am quite alright. May we never do that again."
"Agreed," she huffed as she helped Luke out of the totalled vehicle.
“Can’t say I’m going to miss that metal box,” Williams shook her head, double-checking their weapons for damage.
“Garrus is going to lose it,” Luke chuckled. “He spent days working on that thing.”
“Mourn the box later,” Wrex grumbled. He fired his shotgun at a Geth trying to crawl away. “We’ve got a job to do.”
Ashley nodded, finishing her checks. “Damn straight. What’s the plan, sir?”
Luke looked up at the towers above the. “Vigil said Saren will be going after the controls in the Council Chambers. We need to get there first.”
“Communications are out,” Liara stated. “The few bursts I am receiving provide little information.”
“Then we need to reach the chambers quickly,” her brother decided.
“Ugh,” Ashley groaned, “There’s not going to be much room on the elevator, are we?”
Notes:
I wasn't expecting to enjoy the Udina+Anderson bromance but its really growing on me. I just started another playthrough and I keep forgetting that Udina isn't giving banter, he's being an asshole. This is what headcanon is for my friends
Chapter 55: Decision
Notes:
Right. So. Been a week and a bit. I've come down with a bloody awful sickness and haven't been able to do much more than drink a glass of water and read a few pages for more days than I'd like to admit. I've finally forced this chapter out of me and will continue writing immediately. I thank you all for your patience and support, and to those whose comments I haven't directly responded to yet, know that I appreciate them tremendously and continue to feel great pride that you all enjoy my work as much as you expouse in the comment section. Thank you, may your Christmas/holidays go without illness, and please enjoy.
Chapter Text
“You know,” Luke risked, cutting into the silence permeating the elevator, “this music isn’t half bad.”
Ashley snorted. “This is some of the worst shit I’ve ever heard. We journey the galaxy and meet new species, only to discover they put the same annoying tunes in their elevators.”
“Last time we visited the Citadel, I had this stuck in my head for a week!” Tali groaned in frustration.
“You just gotta learn to tune it out,” Wrex explained with amusement.
“And how would you suggest we do that?” Liara inquired with a raise of the eyebrow.
“Heh. I’m so glad you asked.” Wrex lifted his pistol and shot at the speaker, disabling it.
“Holy shit,” Ashley shouted, rubbing her ears. “I’m standing right next to you! That thing’s loud you know!”
“Thought you were made of sterner stuff, Williams,” Shephard teased.
“I’ve lasted this long in the marine corps without losing my hearing,” she angrily jabbed, pointing a thumb at the Krogan, “I’m not losing it now to pea-for-brains thinking it’s a good idea to discharge a weapon in a fucking elevator.”
Luke couldn’t keep it together anymore and started laughing. Ash spun around to face him, red in the face, which only made him laugh harder. Wrex grinned as the gunnery chief begun laying into him. She was completely right, but he couldn’t suppress the grin on his face. Ashley opened her mouth to continue her tirade but was cut off. Lara raised a hand to stop her as her comm started buzzing. “Incoming transmission from Captain Anderson.”
“Why would the captain wish to contact you?” Liara asked.
“He doesn’t. I rerouted Luke’s calls to my omni-tool as a layer of redundancy considering the seriousness of the mission. A prudent decision,” she stated sardonically, looking at Luke in the eyes, “considering that you haven’t checked your comms in the last five minutes and already missed one call.”
“Put him through then,” Luke sighed. He knew when he was outplayed.
There was static for a moment before it went clear. “-phard, is that you?”
“Yessir.”
“How the hell did you get back to the Citadel so quickly? Never mind, that's not important,” he corrected. “I’m linking Hackett into the call now.”
“Commander,” the voice of the Alliance’s most decorated admiral cut in, “I’m here with the Third Fleet. We’ve engaged Geth forces but we’re unable to break their lines. I’m waiting on reinforcements from either the First Fleet or the Turians but for now we can’t make a breakthrough without incurring serious casualties. Sovereign is already inside the arms of the Citadel, so we will need someone on the ground to open them to give us access.”
Luke stared out of the elevator. “We’re on our way to the Council Chambers to deal with Saren. We’ll open the arms from the controls there.”
“I don’t need to stress the importance of this mission to you, Commander," the admiral spoke lowly. "I’m giving you full authorisation to do whatever you deem necessary to succeed, political fallout be damned. You get those arms open, son, the Alliance will back you no matter what. Hackett out.”
“How close are you to the Chambers, Shepard?” Anderson followed up immediately.
He glanced at his omni-tool. “Ten minutes out, if the elevator doesn’t give out, sir.”
“Don’t jinx us,” Ashley hissed.
The captain grunted. “Udina, C-Sec, and I are holding the main transmission hub for the presidium but things are looking dicey. We’ll try to facilitate communications as long as possible but I’m afraid you shouldn’t hold your breath waiting for us to reach you.”
“Understood,” he nodded.
“I believe in you, son. Go make us proud.”
The call terminated and Luke took a deep breath. “We’ve got our work cut out for us. We need to-”
He was, again, rudely interrupted as the elevator suddenly came to a halt and the lights cut out, replaced only with the dim emergency red lights. Ashley turned at him with a scowl. “You just had to jinx us.”
“We can’t hold them off for much longer, Anderson!” Udina shouted over the sound of gunfire. The ambassador sneered as he ducked out of cover to fire another burst at the approaching Geth.
“Danse is stabilised but he won’t be much more use to us,” Bailey reported as he carefully approached them from inside the building.
“We need to hold this location. If we don’t maintain comm security, the Geth will-”
“Get down, captain!” Anderson grunted as he was tackled to the floor by Bailey. An explosion went off above where he was just standing which send a ringing noise throughout his ears. “Thank you, lieutenant,” he managed. Bailey nodded but quickly resumed his post firing at the Geth while Anderson regained his bearings.
Udina scowled again. “Damnit David, we don’t have the firepower to take out that Armature. We’ll be slaughtered like sheep if we don’t get the hell out of here.”
“We don’t have a choice. Shepard needs every second we can buy him.”
The ambassador huffed as he ejected his mag and began reloading. “If I get killed I’m going to be exceptionally pissed, do you hear me, David?”
“Don’t worry,” he drawled between bursts of fire, “you won’t be the only one.”
“I- what the bloody hell is that?” Anderson tried to spot what Udina had spotted but was forced back behind cover as the Geth targeted him once more.
“Somethings causing havoc behind their lines,” Bailey shouted. “Its not C-Sec reinforcements, that’s for sure.”
“Are you certain?” Udina questioned, “That Turian is wearing a C-Sec uniform.”
“Just one of them? Breach in protocol," the lieutenant chuckled. "I’d be happy to look the other way though, considering the predicament we’re in.”
“Y- I can’t believe it, they’ve just taken down that Armature," the ambassador marvelled. "David, are you seeing this? That woman is crazy!”
“I’m trying, Donnel!” he shouted irritably, risking another glance. The Geth had weakened their presence significantly and he could see them struggling to hold back a small group of Turians… and a human wearing Alliance fatigues. “Open fire, now’s our chance to wipe this unit out in the crossfire!”
Anderson began unloading his rifle into the synthetics, joined by Udina, Bailey, and their remaining uninjured C-Sec officers. The Geth were quickly felled by the combined might of both groups. Anderson chuckled in relief as he finally made out the identities of the human and the Turian at his side. The human woman smirked as she placed a foot on the chest of a fallen Geth Prime.
“Team Vakarian, reporting for duty,” she announced. While the other Turians seemed amused, the elder male just sighed.
“Join the marines, they said,” Ashley gritted through her teeth. “It’ll be fun, they said. Travel the galaxy, they said. You know what they didn’t say? That we’d be climbing outside of the fucking presidium.”
Wrex clapped her on the back harshly. “Didn’t know you were afraid of heights, Williams.”
Ash glared at the Krogan. “Heights I can handle. This?” she gestured around at the vast expanse around them, “I mean come on, this is damn ridiculous.”
“I share the gunnery chief’s sentiment,” Liara agreed. “Ridiculous would be an apt term.”
“Don’t tell me you’re getting nervous, Blue?” Shepard teased.
“Somewhat, yes,” she admitted with a hint of snark, earning a chuckle from the commander.
Lara’s voice jutted into the comm link. “Reminds me of Luna, at the academy. Remember when you couldn’t connect your mag boots?”
“Don’t even go there,” Luke laughed, shaking his head. “I’m still certain the Luthors were behind that,” he accused with a point of the finger. Liara sighed as Lara began laughing again.
Ashley only shuddered. “When you say Luna I can only think about that damn VI.”
“It wasn’t that bad, was it?” the commander tried to calm her.
“I read the mission reports, Luke,” Lara hummed, “I concur with Williams’ assessment.”
“Et tu, Lares?” Luke exasperated.
“Interesting,” Liara pondered, “I thought that mission was confidential.”
She gave a slightly embarassed shrug. “Meyer’s clearance was good. I read every one of Luke’s mission reports for the past seven years.”
Her hand reached out to Luke who gave it a quick squeeze. Ash still felt pretty awful for snapping at Lara all those years ago. She knew she was responsible for keeping them apart longer than they should have been. But looking at them together now, she’d never seen the commander so happy before. Ashley was determined to do whatever she could to help them. She wouldn’t make another mistake. Fortunately, Lara had been more forgiving than she ought to have been. The woman held no visible grudge and seemed willing to leave it all in the past.
Sure, Lara was a bit eccentric, but who wasn’t on the Normandy? What mattered most was results, and Lara was exceptional in achieving them. She was as talented behind a spreadsheet as she was behind a rifle which made Ash even gladder the woman hadn’t labelled her as an enemy. Lara was the kind of person who would only strike if victory was completely assured and may very well have been the most dangerous person on the crew. Far as Williams was concerned, anyone in the Alliance who’d look past her family name was alright in her books. Acceptance was so rare these days, after all.
But even the way that Lara spoke was just about as deadly. Her posh British accent – which juxtaposed Shephard’s authentic American one – and general demeanour made her sound all the more intimidating. Though to Lara she was nothing but loving and kind, it was abundantly clear that to anyone who posed either a threat, an inconvenience, or an imbecile, Lara would easily and coldly deal with them. “Controls are just up ahead," Luke called. "We’re nearly there, we just need to cross this ridge.”
“Incoming call,” Lara announced. “Hackett.”
“Put him through,” the commander replied without stopping.
“Commander, we have a situation. The Council has not, I repeat, not been evacuated," the voice explained gravely. "The Geth are pouring into the emergency evacuation zone and are closing in on the Council. I understand if you cannot afford to spare any assets to assist but we need to think about the long term here. As I said before, you have full authorisation to pursue whatever course of action you deem appropriate. Hackett out.”
Luke’s eyes slightly unfocused as he visibly begun thinking through the options available. Ashley did the same; there weren’t very many. “Leave them,” Wrex grunted, “they’d do the same to us. They’ll only be replaced and we’ll repeat the whole damn cycle again.”
“That is a very short-sighted view,” Liara disagreed. “On the contrary, only by saving them can we effect change.”
“I’m with Wrex,” Ashley spoke up. “We shouldn’t risk our lives more than we already are. That,” she pointed at the large black robot in the sky, “is what we need to focus on. We can’t afford any more distractions.”
“Lara?” Luke asked.
His sister stood with her hands clasped behind her back, staring at the same behemoth Ashley had been. “Dividing our resources is a risky strategy. I believe we could spare one member of the group at most before our combat effectiveness is reduced to the point that we suffer casualties.”
“One person can’t do much,” Wrex sniffed.
Lara nodded. “Correct. However, you are forgetting our other assets. If this individual were to rendezvous with Anderson and Udina they could abandon the communications hub and save the Council together. I suggest Williams. She is capable and a member of the Alliance, making her the optimal choice for such a course of action.”
“C-Sec cannot afford to lose control of that facility, it would compromise the entire defence!” Liara protested.
The woman shrugged. “If we fail to stop Saren, that won’t matter at all. If we do, then victory is assured and the Geth will be defeated regardless. What seems like a gamble is not. The Geth are not the deciding factor, Sovereign is.”
Liara continued to fight. “Thousands more innocent lives may be lost!!”
“It is regrettable, but it the only way to minimise lives lost in the long run. I have studied military strategy and tactics, Doctor T’Soni,' her lip quirked. "You, evidently, have not.”
Luke raised an eyebrow warningly but seemed to acquiesce. “Williams, I need you to link up with Udina and Anderson and save the Council. Can you do that for me?”
She looked between him and Liara. “Are you sure? We only have one chance at this.”
“Please, Luke," Liara pleaded. "We must minimalise the loss of live as much as we can.”
Lara sighed. “Saving the Council will do just that in the long run. It is the more beneficial move. If we do not then millions will die today,” she explained calmly, waving a hand lazily.
Luke nodded. “She’s right. I need you to do this for us, Ash.”
She stood up tall and saluted. “I won’t let you down, sir.”
Chapter 56: Recapitulation
Summary:
The Normandy has two objectives: save the Council and stop Saren. Both teams move towards their targets.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Katherina hummed in approval as they watched the direct feed from the Citadel. Though the temporary small bed was rather small compared to what she was used to, she and Frederick were able to fit on it just enough and she leaned on his arm as the terminal continued to provide a clear display of events transpiring on the Citadel. “I told you Lara was a smart… what’s the English saying again?”
He brother waved his free hand dismissively. “I do not know, but I do understand what you’re saying.”
“Saving the Council and the Citadel would strengthen humanity’s position greatly." She gave him a smug look. "I know it’s what we would have done. Imagine the influence that would have stemmed from it.” She leant forwards to stand up.
Frederick frowned. “What are you doing?”
“Relax," she rolled her eyes. "I’m just grabbing some more water.”
“Doctor Reece says you shouldn’t exert yourself. Allow me-”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Frederick," Katherina cut him off sharply. "A simple glass of water won’t kill me.”
Confidently, she stood up off her pseudo-hospital bed and marched towards the tap on the other side of the room. She hummed as she filled her glass, feeling her brother’s eyes bore into her back. To many his overprotectiveness might come across as overbearing, but she wouldn't have it any other way - after their childhood she would take as much of his love and concern as he was willing to give her.
She turned around to her brother and grinned but he was already quickly climbing out of the bed with a worried face. Katherina frowned and tried to speak, but she couldn’t even make words come out of her mouth when everything went black. The glass hit the ground before she did.
Beatrice chewed the inside of her cheek as she took point with Williams and Garrus’ dad. The Geth foolish enough to stand in their way were felled without incident and they slowly approached the Council’s emergency evacuation zone. “Should’ve listened to us,” she muttered. “The evidence was right there.”
Castis tutted. “Do try to remember that the Council oversees just over a trillion sentients. It is difficult to appreciate the perspective required to administrate a government that large.”
“I worked as an adjutant to Sparatus for four years,” Acinia added.
She shuddered. “Bloody hell. You have my condolences, ‘Nia.”
She trilled amusedly. “As… intense as the position may have been, it gave me the ability to appreciate how difficult the Council’s role truly is.”
Garrus scoffed from behind them. “Be that as it may, how many people are dying because of their hubris?”
“The Council should have listened to Shepard from the start!” Solana agreed as she activated her combat drone. “Now that’s a man that knows what he’s doing.”
“I can hear your sub-vocals,” her boyfriend grumbled irritably. “Grow up.”
Udina huffed. “Your sister’s celebrity crushing aside, she has a point.”
Anderson shook his head. “Surely it wouldn’t have taken all that much to simply move an extra fleet to the Citadel or to assign a few more Spectres to hunting down Saren.”
“Unfortunately, David, Tevos won out," the ambassador grit through his teeth. Beatrice didn't know when he and the captain had reached a first-name basis, nor did she really care. "I don’t know how she did it but she forced the other Councillors to back down and got her way. That stunt Shepard pulled with that Asari of his really got Tevos worked up.”
“Here’s hoping it gets out to the public so she has to step down,” Beatrice chuckled. “Never liked her. Too sanctimonious.”
Acinia rumbled as she lightly chastised her. “Tevos has been Councillor for centuries. Her resignation would have far reaching consequences, Beatrice.”
“I know, I know,” she grumbled, “But the woman’s a total bi- piece of work, ‘Nia,” she caught herself.
“Anyone who remains in office for that long would get either complacent or corrupt,” Solana announced.
“That’s why we humans invented term limits,” Udina stated proudly. “Sure, it took us a while to apply it to all elected positions, but we’re quite satisfied with the end result.”
Castis purred with what she was convinced was amusement. “If only you could similarly reign in your capitalists, I believe they’re called?”
The ambassador scowled. “Bah, it’s a complicated subject.”
“They’re also his party’s greatest donors,” Beatrice whispered conspiratorially.
“Weapons ready,” Acinia ordered calmly, “there’s a Geth patrol just around the corner.”
“Hell of a lot of Krogan out here,” Luke grunted as he threw another grenade over the barricades.
“That’s cause Saren knows we’re the best damn fighters in the galaxy,” Wrex roared with pride as he physically tore apart a trio of Geth.
Lara scoffed and strolled out of cover, firing her pistol at a Geth Prime’s head until it shut down and collapsed. “Debatable.”
Luke appreciated the reprieve but took in a deep breath nonetheless. It was tiring work, fighting non-stop for hours on end. He didn’t actually know just how long they’d been traversing the Citadel’s side. To be honest, he didn’t quite care. But that was beside the point. Grand calculus of war aside, he was this close to securing a better future for his family and he’d be damned if he was going to let some synthetics and Krogan get in the way.
“You’re tired,” Lara stated as she casually walked back into cover.
“You’re not?” he snarked.
His sister raised an eyebrow. “I’m not the one in heavy armour sprinting from one side of the battlefield to the other.”
“At least I’m protected!” he shot back. “You’re in the standard uniform.”
She shrugged, nonchalantly taking out a Geth with her pistol that ran around the corner. “My coat has been modified to improve its durability and defensiveness, and I’ve got an officer’s combat vest over the top of my uniform.”
Luke pursed his lips but relented. “I just don’t want to lose you again.”
That softened his sister’s face and she gave him – or at least tried to give him – a smile. It quickly quirked up into a smirk. “Well. I’m hardly even a target since you’re sprinting around like a madman.”
He grinned back before a shift in Geth positions forced them to alter their strategy. Both Shepards removed themselves from their cover and moved to join their allies at the other side of the hallway, emerging into a large open area. “We just need to get past this crest and we should be-”
He was cut off as an enormous Geth drop ship lowered down, blocking their way. Time seemed to pause as its guns locked in on them. Luke groaned.
“Oh for fuck’s sake.”
With the immediate threat taken care of, Castis rushed ahead to key in the all-clear to the evacuation zone. A few moments later and the sealed doors parted slowly. A few C-Sec operatives ran out first but, after confirming there was no further threat, the Council followed. “Ambassador Udina,” Tevos remarked, “this is a surprise.”
“Thank you for coming to our aid,” Sparatus nodded. “The Geth would have broken through if you didn’t arrive.”
Udina grunted, but Anderson stepped forwards instead. “Of course, Councillors. We’re just doing our best to limit the damage done today.”
Tevos hummed leisurely. “Yes, a shame. Regretfully, even with hindsight there was no way to predict the exact strategy of Saren’s attack. I believe anyone would have fallen victim to-”
“We fucking told you so!” Butch growled, pushing her way to the front. “We’ve been telling you since the bloody start that Saren wouldn’t stop but you didn’t listen.”
“Lieutenant!” Anderson exclaimed, shocked at the girls outrage. Castis made a sympathetic sigh of exasperation. “You’re completely out of line.”
“I happen to think Lieutenant Robinson is rather in line,” Udina declared, making Anderson feel even more shocked.
“Ambassador…” the Asari councillor began.
His friend angrily spun on her. “Don’t you ‘ambassador’ me, Tevos, I’ve had it just about up to here today. Do you know how many synthetics have shot at me? I lost count after that bloody Colossus nearly blew Anderson to the other side of the Presidium," he boomed. "This suit was imported from Italy, handcrafted by one of the finest tailors in Europe, and look at it now!”
“Thank you for your relentlessness in saving lives, ambassador,” Sparatus spoke up. He visibly didn’t care for Udina’s comeuppance but seemed willing to let it slide, given the situation. “Thousands of lives have been lost today but you and your Alliance have done wonders to reduce that appalling digit.”
Valern nodded solemnly. “Yes, today continues to be an… eye-opening experience. I believe we have much to discuss.”
Tevos cleared her throat. “While I appreciate what the ambassador has done for us all, in the face of the current crisis I believe the Council should temporarily deliberate to discuss matters concerning the aftermath?”
“No.” Sparatus denied resolutely.
The Asari councillor just about sputtered. “N-no?”
“Have a care, Tevos," he ignored her outrage, "we’re only alive thanks to the contributions of humanity. I do believe they’ve earned a seat at the negotiating table. I’m sure the Primarch will be quite keen to increase joint Human-Turian exercises.”
“I agree,” Valern turned to Udina, “humanity has proven itself a vital component to the galactic community. Come, ambassador. We have much work to do.”
Frederick's head hurt.
He felt he was seeing red. All rationality went out the window, a fact he was abundantly aware of but simply did not care. The science team was refusing to operate on Katherina and he was not having it. While most of the team stood at the edge of the room attempting not to make eye-contact with him, Doctor Reece – the team lead and evident sacrifice of the group – did his best to appear confident as he attempted to sentence his sister to death.
“I’m afraid we’re not ready yet," he straightened his back. "Even ignoring the legality of the situation this is an experimental procedure and it is too ris-”
“Is that Asari critical to our efforts here?” he interjected, crossing his hand past his chest to point at the woman.
Reece frowned. “Ji’ra? N-no, she’s just an analy-”
Frederick pulled out his pistol and shot her straight between the eyes. The scientists all made varying pathetic noises of fear and shock but Frederick rounded his pistol to Reece’s forehead. “You will operate immediately.”
“Damnit, Luthor," the doctor cowered, "threaten us all you want but if you force us you’ll only kill your sister quicker!”
Frederick roared, grabbing the deceased Asari and throwing her at a nearby glass wall, shattering it. He spun on the lead doctor, rage in his eyes, and moved quickly to grab the man by his clothes. He paused, still clenching the terrified doctor’s clothes. He sighed. He took a deep breath.
“Herr Doktor. I will say this only once. I do not care that this operation is experimental, that it is illegal, or that the results are not yet guaranteed.” He lifted the man up through sheer adrenaline and fury, pushing him up against the wall. “You will perform the operation immediately. Anybody who hesitates will be slowly tortured to death in the most painful way imaginable, as will your family and friends. Anybody who does not do exactly as I instruct will suffer the same fate. If Katherina dies rest assured I will afford every single one of you the absolute worst fates possible and you will wish with every fibre of your being that you were never born into this cruel world," he growled. "Are. We. Clear?”
Reece's eyes were alight with fear. “Y-yes sir. R-right away, sir.”
“Good.” Frederick let go of the pathetic man and he fell to the floor. “You have no more than five minutes to prepare. Get to work.”
He adjusted his tie and glared at the science team as they hurried to prepare. They would either save Katherina or not a single person – himself included – would be leaving this wretched facility alive. Frederick hovered over Katherina’s unconscious body and did his very best to stifle his emotions. He wasn’t very successful. Frederick leant down and placed a kiss on her forehead.
“Don’t leave me,” he whispered. “Please.” He winced as another sharp pain flashed through his head. He grimaced. "I need you."
Luke had taken point for the rest of the trip, so in the zone that the time had just raced by. This was it. The Council chambers. All things considered, there was relatively little Geth standing guard. On the one hand, Luke acknowledged that running an operation this large meant that there would be less forces available to protect Saren as many would be requires to assault, hold, or destroy key targets throughout the Citadel. Conversely, due to the limited number of Geth and the practical impossibility of reinforcing or resupplying the forces on the station, could Saren truly afford to spare so little troops to protect their primary target?
“I do not like this, Luke,” Liara cautioned from behind.
“Feels like a trap,” he agreed.
Wrex grunted. “Let’s spring it.”
Luke chuckled mirthlessly at the Krogan but maintained his pace. He raised his rifle and stared down the scope. He could see Saren working at the controls, either oblivious or uncaring towards his approaching adversaries. “He’s here,” he announced quietly.
After all this time, all this hunting, all this war. Saren was here. This was the finale they had been working towards for the past half year. The climax of the most stressful high-stakes operation he had ever participated in, ever led. No matter the outcome this ended today. He inhaled. A gloved hand squeezed his shoulder. “We’ve got this,” his sister reassured just as quietly.
He looked back at her and smiled. He believed her. If they could reunite after all this time then perhaps anything was possible. It wasn’t arrogance, it wasn’t some misguided notion of providence, it was a firm belief that victory was completely and utterly tangible. He just needed to reach forwards and grab it. Motivated and committed, Luke resumed his approach until he had arrived at the same spot this had all begun, the first place he had ever interacted with Saren.
“Shepard!” the Turian shouted, leaning off the Council’s public podium. A smug smile etched across his face, he spread his arms grandly and tilted his head to the side. “I was starting to think you weren’t going to make it.”
Notes:
As I'm writing this only now do I realise jus thow far into the story we've gotten. We've just hit the final scenes of the game and the finale of Veni is just around the corner. While I'm still not well I'm finally writing again and have high hopes for this fic. I'm not sure if I'll be able to complete it before new year's but if it's not done by the end of January I'll be somewhat put out.
Also in regards to the lore, the Council says they preside over trillions of sentients, off the top of my head. If this is the case then humanity can never be an equal due to sheer population imballance against the council species. For the sake of consistancy and allowing a more developed galaxy while there are over a trillion sentients in the galaxy, it's pretty evenly distributed between the main species. Only the Vorcha, Volus, Drell, and Hanar number in the tens of billions as opposed to the hundreds of billions. This also helps account for how humanity is able to reach on par with the other species so quickly and gain Council status. So yes, humanity has one to two hundred billion people, stemming from the space colonisation baby boom, an increase in standards of living and decrease in infant mortality rate, extended expected lifespans, superior medical technology, and so on. I'm aware this might seem a bit unusual but its either this or we reduce the populations of the other species too. Naturally, this could also imply a greater time since humanity hit the first relay allowing for more generations to grow. If any of you disagree with this stanec please let me know as nothing is set in stone and, honestly, this isn't super extremely important to the main story.
Chapter 57: Pinnacle
Summary:
Saren is confronted.
Notes:
TW for suicide themes. I won't detail what it is because of spoilers, but I do think this is a fairly dark chapter in general.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
“Damnit Saren,” Luke shouted, “this has to stop.”
The Turian scoffed. “Please, there’s no other way. I’ve tried to find alternatives – you saw Virmire – but the truth doesn’t care about our ethics and morals.” Saren turned back around and continued typing on the terminal in front of him. “You see, you’re missing one crucial piece of information.”
“I have a shot,” Wrex stated quietly.
Luke shook his head. “Hold your fire. We need to hear what he has to say.”
Saren turned back around and gave the Krogan an irritated look, as if offended at being spoken over. “Think of how advanced the Reapers are, how vast. Sure, we might destroy Sovereign, but are we truly so foolish to think they have no contingencies? Pretend we gamble, attempt to stop the Reapers, have you considered the stakes?” Monologuing, Saren began animatedly walking back and forth on the podium. “If we gamble and they arrive anyway, they will not be so merciful as to preserve any of us. Is that a fate we can risk? Total galactic extinction?”
He refused to let go of his pistol. “You’ve been indoctrinated! Can’t you see-”
“I can see perfectly clearly!” Saren roared, pointing a finger directly at Luke. “I’ve sacrificed everything to save the galaxy, I was this close to stopping you and your cadre of distractions, but you made me doubt. And the doubts didn’t go away,” he laughed mirthlessly. “Sovereign realised my hesitance. My weakness. He has… upgraded me. My course is finally clear.”
“You let Sovereign implant you?” Liara shouted in disbelief.
“You’re a bigger fool than I thought,” Wrex growled.
“Bold words from a Krogan,” Saren dismissed. “Keep your zoo in order, Shepard, you’re the only one I know can understand the truth.”
“You’re awfully set on convincing me,” Luke questioned, raising an eyebrow.
The Turian growled. “It appears not even Sovereign can remove my nostalgia. I admit, you remind me of myself, that is, before I realised the reality of our future. If I could be liberated, I know you can as well.”
“So what now, are you going to kill me?”
“There’s no need,” he dismissed with a wave, returning to the console. “The Protheans were a stupid people. The doomed their entire species by refusing to submit. Yet, their treachery goes further. You see, Shepard, they corrupted the Citadel’s systems. Sovereign can’t access or interact with the station. I’m in the process of transferring full control to it. Once that is done, everyone on the Citadel will bow to the Reapers and be spared from the inevitable slaughter.”
Saren spoke with such confidence. Luke was just as concerned as he was amazed by it. Saren opened his mouth to continue his rambling but shut it irritably as a loud laugh echoed throughout the room. Luke looked up to see his sister cackling, a rather concerning glint in her eye. “Then why haven’t you done it yet?”
“What?” the former spectre scowled.
“You heard me,” she continued, holstering her pistol.
“And who would you be,” he drawled arrogantly.
She tilted her chin up. “Lara Shepard, I’m his sister.”
“Fascinating,” he stood tall, eying her closely. “Perhaps you will see reason as well then.”
“You tried to kill my brother,” she countered sternly, “I don’t think so. Now answer the question.”
Saren scowled. “It takes time to manually transfer the controls.”
“Perhaps,” she smiled primly. “I would think that with such an emphasis on time that you would be rushing to complete your task as quickly as possible, yet, you continue stalling.”
“I am not stalling,” he spat, “I have all the time in the world. None of you pose a threat to our plans.”
“Hm,” she clasped her hands behind her back. “I see you’ve inherited your master’s ego as well. How pitiful.”
“Lara…” Luke whispered as she walked out into the full open.
“But I think you’re lying,” she continued.
“Is that so,” Saren sneered.
“Not to us,” she chuckled, before her face went stone cold. “To yourself.”
Saren stepped away from the controls and folded his arms. “Would you care to elaborate?”
“Happily. You see, Saren, I’ve reviewed all the information we have on indoctrination, from my brother’s experiences with Benezia on Noveria,” both Saren and Liara flinched at that, “to the files from Virmire. It appears that indoctrination does not grant the Reapers full control over your bodily functions, rather, they influence the thoughts of their victims to twist them to their needs. It’s a novel form of cerebral slavery, though as much as your masters wish to ignore the facts, it is not perfect.”
“What are you talking about,” he shot back angrily.
“Though your mind has been so twisted as to willingly comply with Sovereign and his synthetic ilk, your true self has not been eradicated, merely… repressed. It held you back on Virmire," Lara's voice was almost teasing. "It is holding you back now.”
“That’s preposterous!” he shouted, scowling heavily.
“Deep down there’s a part of you that realises Sovereign is pulling your strings.” Luke took a deep breath and walked out of cover as well. Liara and Wrex followed suit and they slowly joined Lara at the precipice of the Council’s audience section. “Deep down, you’re fighting yourself even harder than we are.”
“And so you what, seek to convince me of the error of my ways?" Saren threw a had in the air dismissively. "My conscious is clear! Can you say the same?”
“And that’s where you’re wrong," she rose a finger. "I’ve studied you, Saren. All of your files, your mission reports, your psych evaluations. They all speak to one truth.” Luke watched the Turian’s eyes widen. “You’re a sociopath. There’s no shame in it, but it’s the truth.”
“Liar!” he roared.
“Oh cease this pointless resistance,” she snapped, making Saren flinch backwards. “For all your efforts to control you fail to understand that you’re a man of dependency. You have delusions of grandeur but lack the will to fulfil your goals yourself. You seek to be a hero but lack the conviction to do what’s right. At first you were dependant on your mother – that’s right, I’ve read the hierarchy files. Her early death was unfortunate but you quickly latched onto your older brother, Desolas. He lead you to greatness and fulfilled your dreams until you had to put him down during your first interaction with a Reaper artifact.”
“That was never confirmed!” Saren screamed.
Lara only smirked.
Luke straightened his back, surprised at the depth of his sister’s knowledge on the Turian. When she said she was going to study him on the Normandy he didn’t expect her to have taken it to this extent. It was somewhat frightening watching the feared former-Spectre all but cower at his sister’s verbal onslaught. “So, with Desolas dead and buried, you were aimless until Sparatus took you under his wing. You had a good run,” she nodded, “I’ll give you that much, but you soon realised he wasn’t the man you thought he was. You wandered oncemore without direction until a voice you hadn’t head in over a decade called out to you. Sovereign.”
“How did you-” he cut himself off, not knowing what to say.
Lara shrugged and started slowly walking. “You craved dependency and willingly gave yourself to that monstrosity. Not out of a desperation to do the greater good, no, it was to fulfil your selfish subconscious desires to be dependent on something again, to be controlled by forces greater than you.”
Saren roared. “Do you have any idea how much I’ve sacrificed?” he clenched his fists momentarily before pointing a finger accusatorily at Lara. Luke took a step closer to her defensively. “Everything I’ve done has been in service of building a better future!”
She shook her head. “All you’ve done is taken steps to guarantee the death of the galaxy.”
“No…” he disagreed, his confidence suddenly falling, “Impossible…”
“Incorrect!” she shouted, smirking, “every terrible thing you have done in the name of the greatest good has instead been in the service of the greatest achievable evil. You have perhaps done more harm to the galaxy than any other sentient in existence!”
“…How…” Saren paced faster, clenching his fists.
“Because you’re weak,” Lara spat with enough venom to make Liara flinch. “You’re pathetic,” she waved condescendingly, “an imbecile of the highest degree.”
“I-Impossible…”
“The worst part is that you had the potential to do so much good, yet you directed all of your being towards pushing the worst evil in our galaxy’s history one step closer to their final victory!!" she shouted. "You’re nothing, Saren, you’re a puppet, a tool, you’re nothing but a mongrel wearing a leash of his own creation!!”
“What are you doing,” Luke questioned, uncertain. He looked back up at the Turian who was gripping the railing hard enough to bend it, mumbling to himself.
“Cognitive dissonance,” she explained nonchalantly, not even trying to be quiet. The Turian was too caught up in his own mind. “It’s the perception of contradictory information and it’s corresponding mental toll. It is typically experienced in the form of psychological stress as the person suffering it are unable to reconcile what they know with new information.” Lara pulled at her glove and lazily watched Saren slowly break down. “It has a wide spectrum of possible effects, but in extreme situations it has been known to result in suicide,” she stated boredly.
“You are trying to talk him to death,” Liara blanched, turning a lighter shade of blue.
“Saren has constructed his entire present identity around saving the galaxy," she clarified. "He has deluded himself into thinking he is doing the right thing. To have caused so much suffering and to have taken so many lives, all for naught? Well,” she huffed amusedly, before locking eyes with Liara. “it’s enough to make a man put a pistol in his mouth.”
“You monster!” the Asari shrieked suddenly.
“Stand down, Liara,” Luke ordered. Wrex grunted but remained focused on Saren.
“No I most certainly will not," Liara rrowed. "I know she is your sister but she is on the verge of talking a man into committing suicide,” she shouted with a horrified look on her face.
“He’s close,” Wrex rumbled. “Hand’s on his gun.”
Luke stared at Saren as he mindlessly gripped the holster with his talons. Truthully, he wasn't completely thrilled with how this was progressing, but it was a delicate situation. Could they really afford to risk anything? Was Saren truly so far gone? “We can end this, Luke,” Liara pleaded.
“Liara, I’ll handle this,” he lifted a hand warningly.
“No! Can’t you see what your sister is doing? She’s devious, Luke, stop this!” He winced, refusing to make eye-contact with her. He had only just been reunited with his sister, he had no intentions of letting anything get between them again.
“I can see what you’re thinking,” Lara shouted, ignoring Liara, “and I agree. It’s the only way you can redeem yourself.”
“Stop her!!” the Asari screamed.
Lara gave the other woman a stone glare but held her ground. “Do it, Saren!!! For once in your life make the right call!!”
Liara raised her pistol at Lara who didn’t so much as flinch. “Luke!”
Lara smiled coldly. “Do it!!” she barked.
Saren brought the pistol up towards his chin and closed his eyes.
“STOP!!!!”
Everything fell silent.
Saren’s eyes opened with a jolt and he stared at Luke, who had jumped between Lara and Liara. “Liara,” he growled, “put your gun away. Now.”
Trembling, the Asari complied, and her pistol dropped to the floor.
“Lara, please, give me a minute.”
She nodded without hesitation. “As you wish.”
“Wrex,” he ordered lowly, “do not let them kill each other.” The Krogan grunted as Luke walked further towards the spectre he had been chasing for so long. “Saren. Put the gun down,” he ordered.
“She’s right,” Saren lamented. “Everything she said was right.”
Lara strode past both of them and walked up to the controls. “I’m opening the arms.”
Luke gave her a grateful nod. “Listen, the Reapers are a threat unlike anything we’ve ever seen.” He took a step forwards. “I need every weapon I can get my hands on to stop them. You know them, you know the truth, we need you alive.”
“I’ll be sent to prison. Won’t be much good there," he grumbled. "Spirits, I’m indoctrinated, I won’t be much good at all.”
“If you can stop fighting us long enough to talk then you can be an asset in this war," he refused to accept the Turian's insistence that this was over. "You’re a soldier, its time to start acting like one!”
“What if I escape? What if I serve them again?” Luke could feel the sadness and regret radiating off him.
He wasn't having it. “You waged a war against Citadel Space, I know you’re strong enough to fight off Sovereign.”
“You don’t understand," Saren gripped the side of his face. "He’s in my head. I- I cant fight him forever.”
Luke sighed. “Sa-”
“No!!” he suddenly shouted, falling over.
“What’s going on? Saren!!” Luke shouted.
Saren’s eyes glowed a frightening red as his body started to convulse.
“ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL”
Notes:
Please note, my knowledge of psychology is purely casual and is rather limited in its nature. I do not claim to be a professional, and my terminology/use of terminology/use of themes may not be entirely accurate. Regardless, I did attempt a bit of research as I wrote it so I hope its mostly authentic in it's nature.
Furthermore, there was a *lot* to write in this chapter. In the end it was simplest to keep it all from Luke's POV, but there is still a lot to unpack. The following chapters will hopefully give me the time to expand upon certain ideas and plot points introduced this chapter, so back to Microsoft Word I go
Chapter 58: Execution
Summary:
Team Normandy faces off against Sovereign to decide the fate of the galaxy for what is hopefully the first and last time. If only similar stakes would never be risen again.
Notes:
Goodness this was a difficult chapter to write. From beginning to end this one was a struggle my friends, so I apologise if this was released a little bit later than I would have liked.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
“Fight it!” Luke roared.
“Kill me, Shepard!” Saren begged.
“Fight it, damnit!!”
“Don’t- ASSUMING DIRECT CON- just kill me Shepard!!!!” he demanded again.
Saren screamed in pain as he stumbled backwards and Luke paused, unsure what to do. Losing Saren would be more than detrimental to their cause but leaving him alive could very well cause the death of all of them. Perhaps he should have let Lara talk him into-
Before he could continue contemplating what to do, a large contingent of Geth poured into the room, opening fire indiscriminately.
“Wrex, Liara!” he shouted, “get us some breathing room.”
Both acknowledged and took up positions, unleashing a biotic storm to keep the incoming horde at back. He looked up at Lara, who was still working on the Council’s main terminal, and then looked too late back at Saren. His eyes a glowing red, he began approaching Luke.
“YOU HAVE COST US A VALUABLE RESOURCE, SHEPARD.”
“I- Saren?” he furrowed his brow.
“IT APPEARS THIS CYCLE HAS MORE THAN ONE ANOMALY.” The possessed Turian lifted his pistol with brilliant speed and fired. Luke only just rolled out of the way in time, taking cover behind a tree. “YOU HAVE A TWIN SISTER. AN OVERSIGHT SAREN FAILED TO MENTION.”
“I’m really broken up about that,” he snarked back, firing at the possessed Turian’s leg, figuring that if he could disable the former spectre he could avoid having to execute him. Saren was too important to let die so soon.
Saren's body shrugged off his bullets and kept moving towards him. “DO YOU UNDERSTAND JUST HOW OLD WE ARE? YOU CIVILISATION MEANS NO MORE TO US THAN A GRAIN OF SAND DOES TO ITS PLANET. YOU WILL LOSE, AND YOU WILL DIE.”
“You keep saying we can’t win, but I’m not seeing much success from your end either,” Luke dived into a roll as a biotic blast nearly obliterated his cover.
“THE ONLY FAILURES WE HAVE SUFFERED HAVE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THE FAILURES OF THE ORGANICS WE TRUSTED OUR GOALS TO. NOW THAT YOU FACE ME, YOU WILL DIE.” Luke tried to aim but dived again as yet more biotic attacks assailed towards him. “CEASE THIS POINTLESS RESISTANCE. YOUR DEFEAT IS CERTAIN. YOUR GALAXY WILL BE HARVESTED. THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO.”
Hannah silently watched out the viewport as the battle decisively turned in the Alliance’s favour. The destruction of the main Geth dreadnaught seemed to put the rest of their fleets in disarray and it was now only a matter of time until the synthetics were wiped out.
Despite that, the Rear Admiral felt no sense of elation in the slightest. Her babies were fighting for their lives down there – Hackett himself had told her – and there was nothing she could do to help them. Scattered outgoing bursts of data from the Citadel put Geth numbers upwards of ten thousand, and that was before one added Saren to the mix. She grit her teeth. “Ma’am," her comms specialist spoke up, "incoming broadcast from the Citadel, broad spectrum.”
“Alliance fleet, this is Commander Lara Shepard." Hannah's breath hitched. "I’ve disabled the Geth jamming signals and I am opening the stations arms. We need immediate assistance, direct as much firepower at Sovereign as possible. I repeat-”
Before Hannah could appreciate just how long it had been since she’d heard her daughter’s voice on anything but the news on the extranet, Lara was cut off by a strong mechanical voice. “ACCEPT YOUR FATE.”
“Fuck off!” Luke yelled right back, making it through the accompanying static. The bridge crew chuckled silently around her while trying not to look at her.
Major Murphey snorted. “Language…” she muttered to herself as she read the incoming orders from Hackett’s ship for formation changes. Alliance reinforcements had just arrived.
“Saren’s down!” Lara’s voice announced.
“Is he alive?” Luke panted.
“For now. T’Soni,” her daughter clipped, “might you attend to his wound before he bleeds out?”
“ENOUGH. YOU WILL NOT SUCCEED.”
“Bring it!” her son egged on. As she looked out the viewport, she could see the Citadel’s arms spreading. Hannah finally got a glimpse at Sovereign, the monster that was trying to kill her babies. She held back a gasp as a bright red laser struck down towards the Presidium. “You’ll have to do better than that!”
The sound of explosions overwhelmed the voices of those on the ground. A deafening thrum blasted over the radio as another red laser struck the Presidium. Hannah’s face hardened. “Flight Lieutenant,” she ordered tersely, “take us in closer.”
Captain Oberly frowned. “Belay that, we cannot break formation.”
“Lieutenant that was a direct order,” she stated crisply.
“Y-yes ma’am,” the young man nodded nervously.
Murphey raised an eyebrow at her. “Sure y’know what you’re doing?”
“They’re my children,” she hissed quietly as a fuming Captain Oberly marched across the bridge towards them.
“Admiral, I must urge you to bring us back into position,” he growled.
She ignored him. “Lieutenant, how close until our heavy weapons are in range.”
The boy flinched. “Two minutes, m-ma’am.”
Oberly took a steadying breath. “I know they’re your kids but-”
Hannah cut him off with a very aggressive point of her index finger. “One more word and I’ll have you thrown in the brig.”
“Y-you can’t do that,” he stammered.
“Major?” she called over her shoulder without looking.
“Standing by,” the Scotsman grinned.
“Hammerly,” she directed, making the young girl all but jump in her seat, “redirect all weapons controls to your terminal.”
“Yes sir! I-I mean ma’am!!” the girl stammered.
The captain let out a mirthless bark of laughter. “This is madness,” Oberly shouted. Murphy placed his hand on his pistol warningly. “You’ll be taken to tribunal!”
“You’ll be getting a transfer after this,” Hannah muttered.
“Redirection complete,” the specialist announced.
“Thank you, Hammerly. Now vacate your seat.”
“P-pardon?” she gave her a confused look.
Hannah sighed. “Get up, come on we don’t have all day,” she rushed.
As the red-cheeked weapons specialist swiftly climbed out of her seat, Hannah grunted and lowered herself onto it. Oberly was fuming. “You can’t be serious.”
She tried her best to limit the snark in her voice. She failed. “I took out a Batarian destroyer in the Blitz singlehandedly with nothing more than a damaged piece of outdated artillery. I think I can manage a weapons terminal, captain.”
Murphey chuckled. “This should be good.”
“SHEPARD. YOU HAVE STOOD AGAINST US FOR TOO LONG. YOU ARE AN ANOMALY WE SHALL RECTIFY. NOW.”
Luke turned to run as the familiar noise of Sovereign’s red weapon charging but ran face-first into a Geth Prime. Falling backwards, the mechanical behemoth tackled him to the floor, pinning him in place. Above him he could see the red laser increase in brightness as the Reaper slowly closed the distance between them. He struggled with the synthetic determined to keep him pinned to no avail.
“You’ve overstayed your welcome,” a familiar voice interrupted. He’d recognise it anywhere.
His eyes widened. “Mom?”
“Leave my pumpkins alone,” she told off the Reaper in a disturbing mix of maternal concern and righteous vitriol.
“Damnit mom, this is an open channel!” Luke yelled. He opened his mouth to say something else when a torrent of weapons-fire hit the mechanical monstrosity in the air. The Geth Prime pinning him down even locked up in what may as well as approximated shock, giving Luke the time to reach his pistol and fire multiple rounds into its head, killing it. He stumbled up, watching in awe as a single destroyer – having clearly broken formation – unleashed hell on the Reaper above.
“INGORANCE. YOU FAIL TO UNDERSTAND THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION. GIVE IN.”
Sovereign attempted to spin to face the SSV Kilimanjaro but exposing it’s still charging laser appeared to be a tactical blunder as an even more impressive series of explosions erupted across its body. His mother’s voice connected to the line again. “Go to hell you son of a bitch.”
“SHEPARD. SHEPARDS. YOU CONTINUE TO STAND IN THE WAY OF THE CYCLE. YOU HAVE BEEN NOTICED. WE KNOW YOU-YOU-YOU-YOU-YOU-YOU-YOU-YOU-”
And in a terrific explosion, Sovereign died.
As the last Geth began to fall, cheers erupted from the pockets of resistance around the Council Chambers. Luke stood up with a grin on his face and shouted in celebration. His face fell as he saw a large chunk of debris approaching.
“For the love of-”
Liara could only stare wordlessly as the back half of the chambers were engulfed in the collision with Sovereign’s debris. Her mind told her there was no way he could survive that, and she cursed herself for being so callous. She started to turn as she heard a deafening shriek.
“Luke!!!!”
Liara was knocked to the floor as Lara bolted through her, sprinting towards the rubble. Lara wasted no time in pulling at the metal and stone positioned between them and the commander. Her strength was impressive. Fuelled by fear and pain, Luke’s sister desperately tore apart the debris, grunting and screaming as she did so. Again, Liara found herself unable to move. She knew she should help, but there was just no way Luke could have survived such a hit.
Lara spun around, her perfect hair completely displaced, a rabid look on her face. “T’Soni, Wrex,” she demanded, “use your biotics. Now,” she screamed, “that’s an order!!” The confident girl from before had completely disappeared. The Krogan nodded and obliged instantly, using a combination of his brute strength and his biotic power to start clearing the path. Lara stared at her, locking eyes as her face began to glower. “T’Soni, don’t make me ask again.”
“He-… Luke-…" she tried to speak. "There is no-”
Lara’s gun was out faster than she could blink. “Don’t you dare tell me what I think’s about to come out of your mouth," she growled. "Use your biotics and start digging.”
“Lara-” she tried again.
“Stop talking!!” the woman screamed, making Liara flinch. “God you’re terrible, falling for a man you can’t even lift a finger to help. Your hesitance is costing us precious time that we don't have!!" she suddenly screamed again. "You don’t deserve Luke but he bloody well needs your help, so you have three seconds to get to work before I blow your head off and do my damnedest on my own.”
Tears began to well up in Liara’s eyes but she ignored them. As much as it pained her, Lara was right. If Luke was still alive and Liara was the reason he couldn’t be rescued she could never forgive herself. So she got to work. They dug for over twenty minutes before C-Sec and emergency services arrived. It was another fifteen minutes before Anderson, Udina, Butch, the Vakarians, and the Council appeared.
But they kept digging.
It wasn’t fair. To have gone through all this, only to die in the final moments? It was unfair. She truly hoped with everything that she had that Lara was correct. Suddenly, as she moved a large piece of concrete with a concentrated biotic push, a small, almost imperceptible sound caught her attention. She thought she could hear breathing. Heart pounding, Liara intensified her efforts, she carefully manipulated the debris to create a narrow pathway towards the noise. Her hands trembled. As she cleared a significant portion of the rubble, her eyes finally caught sight of what she had been desperately searching for.
There, partially covered in dust and debris, lay Luke, unconscious but miraculously alive. His armour was damaged, his face bruised and battered, but he was unmistakable. Relief washed over Liara in a powerful wave, but she quickly composed herself. There was no time to waste. She concentrated her biotic energy, lifting the heavier pieces of rubble that pinned him down with precise control.
As she cleared the last of the debris, her hands gently brushed against his, feeling the faint pulse of life within. Her biotic aura flickered and faded as she exhausted her energy, but she didn’t care. They had found him. With a trembling voice filled with a mixture of relief and exhaustion, Liara called out to the others, "I- I have him!"
As she moved to check on the commander, Liara was thrown to the side as Lara sprinted past her, practically diving to the floor. She panted, checking for signs of life, and let loose a relieved sob after ascertaining he was still alive. She buried her head in his chest, all sense of shame and dignity placed firmly out the window. Medics finally reached the presidium but even as they lowered themselves to examine Luke, cheers could be heard all around her.
Despite having accomplished their mission, despite having ended this assignment which had lasted over half a year, Liara did not feel the elation she thought she would. As she looked down at Lara, still firmly attached to Luke, she could only frown. Could she truly enter the Shepard family, after all of this? It was clear to anyone with eyes how much they all cared for each other – Lara and Luke especially. And it wasn’t that she doubted that Luke cared for her, that he would care for her. She knew he would. Perhaps, if she toyed with the fantasy, perhaps he might even love her someday.
Yet she would never truly have his heart.
It would be an uphill battle to remain relevant, Lara had made that much clear. In Luke’s sister’s eyes Liara was extremely unwanted. She thought back to her first conversation with Luke about Lara.
“Two peas in a pod, that was us,” he chuckled. “I never dated back then. Lara scared off all the girls.”
She was highly possessive, that much was certain. Lara was ruthless, driven, and likely jealous to an extreme extent. If Liara had time and data she might even use the term toxic. But despite all this Lara was still Luke’s sister. It wouldn’t be right to compete with her, after all the twins had been through. What if Liara was the reason the two split apart? What if something terrible happened in a moment of heightened competition between the two?
So as she watched Lara and the medics escort Luke’s unconscious body, she sighed.
It wasn’t meant to be.
Notes:
Right. Right. Right.
Ok.
So yes, I'm still committed to taking this in an atypical direction. As we near the end of Veni I'm going to try and tie up as many loose ends for Vidi as possible. I'm actually rather excited for the next fic and have plenty of ideas already but I don't know exactly when I'll start it. I hope to apply my different approach to all fics in this series so thank you for standing by me as I embark on this journey, and I truly do hope you enjoy everything to come!!
Chapter 59: Ritartando
Summary:
The aftermath of the Battle of the Citadel begins
Chapter Text
Katherina yawned. “Ugh… Frederick?”
“Katherina!” her brother exclaimed, helping her sit up. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired. Groggy. Ravished,” she pinched the bridge of her nose.
“Doctor Hemlock anticipated such an effect. I’m to feed you in about thirty minutes, though he urges you avoid exertion for a month or two," he recided quickly. "This was an experimental operation, after all.” She wiped her eyes and tried to adjust to the bright lights in the room. She exhaled amusedly as her brother pulled her into a tight hug. She weakly hugged him back and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Doctor Oberly reported a complete success. The tumour was removed without issues and there were no negative side-effects. I’ve already forwarded a copy of the medical report to you.”
Katherina did her best to push away the last remnants of her tiredness. “I’ll read it later. Right now I’d rather talk about anything else.”
He acquiesced quickly. “Of course.”
“It’s… its all over now, right?” she asked tentatively.
Frederick released her and gave her a glowing smile. “It’s over. It’s all over.”
Katherina stood up to stretch, sighing deeply as she lifted her arms towards the roof. The stiff hospital gown resisted, making her mutter in annoyance. “Ugh, these robes are truly atrocious.”
Her brother snorted. “Don’t fret, I brought an outfit for you to change into.”
She walked over to the small table where her clothes were waiting, flashing a smirk back at her brother. “You know me too well, Frederick.”
“I aught to,” he scoffed, pulling out his notes.
She began undressing, whistling slightly. “Now then. Is it safe to assume the galaxy hasn’t been plunged into devastation and ruin?”
“It has not," he stated dryly. "The Shepards destroyed Sovereign and imprisoned Saren. This whole debacle is coming to a close.”
“Mm. Is Saren going to be a problem?” she rose an eyebrow.
Frederick shook his head. “I do not believe so. With a clear head I’m certain he’ll see the benefit of keeping the true extent of our involvement hidden.”
“Good,” Katherina decreed as she buttoned up her blouse. "I would not want to risk being caught dealing with him."
Frederick continued scrolling through his notes. “All Shepards survived, my sources tell me they’re all set to receive several medals and commendations… our stocks rose thirteen percent… ah, and there’s a lot of whispering about humanity gaining a seat on the Council.”
Katherina hummed dismissively. “I’m just glad we’re not going to need to fight a war straight off the bat. I say we’ve earned a break, wouldn’t you?”
“To be entirely truthful, all I care about is that you’re alright," he tossed his datapad to the side. "We can do whatever you want.”
“Is that so?” she grinned as she finished redressing. Katherina placed her hands on her hips, smirking. “Whatever I want. I like the sound of that.”
Lara jolted up as the door twisted open and pulled her pistol out of her holster. If this was another doctor coming to ‘politely insist’ she step away from her brother and receive a check-up, she would be thoroughly upset, to put it mildly. Instead, in what was an emotionally conflicting twist, it was her mother who came through the door.
She suddenly felt somewhat self-conscious of her appearance. Lara wasn’t presently the epitome of perfection and authority. Her uniform was damaged, her unbuttoned jacket was hanging loose, and her hair was completely dreadful. Nevertheless, she holstered her pistol, straightened herself, and tilted her chin upwards slightly. “Lara…” her mother whispered, her face dancing between sadness and joy. It was confusing.
She didn't know how to feel. “Mother.”
Her mother stepped forwards as if to hug her, stopping before she could make it two steps towards her. Likely, she was remembering how touch averse Lara used to be with anyone but Luke. Even she wouldn’t touch Lara in any moment of heightened tension or panic as it would only exasperate the situation. While still sensitive to it, she was able to temporarily tolerate it much more than she had all those years ago.
Meyer refused to allow such deficiencies in his crew.
She had already begun devising ways to kill him.
Instead her mother raised a hand with her fingers spread, their method of sharing love when Lara wasn’t in a position to receive or return affection in a traditional manner. Lara slowly met her mother’s hand, interlocking fingers. She allowed herself to relax slightly. A tear fell down her mother's face. She then leant over Luke and pull his sleeping body into a loving hug. Unlike with everyone else, Lara felt little watching the older woman embrace her brother. She was their mother, after all, and – despite their distance – Hannah Shepard could count herself on the exceedingly short list of people whom Lara not only tolerated but cared about.
With a shaky breath, her mother sat down on the other free chair next to Luke’s bed. “I… I’ve missed you, Lara.” She nodded, trying to formulate an appropriate response. Such a simple task was made difficult by the severe exhaustion plaguing her body. “Are you… ok?”
The corner of her mouth quirked up as her eyes darted down to Luke. “I am now.”
Her mother looked like she was trying very hard not to cry and was barely succeeding. “Oh pumpkin, I tried, I really did. I begged the admirals to transfer you away from Meyer. I was this close to shooting him myself to get you out of there.”
“If anyone’s going to shoot him,” Lara interjected darkly, “it’ll be me.”
The older woman opened her mouth and closed it, considering her words. “But you’re back now, we can be a family again.”
“I have no intention of leaving Luke’s side ever again,” she stated resolutely.
Her mother smiled sweetly. “It’s good to hear you’re close again.”
“All those years without him,” Lara shivered, “it was… unpleasant. Like part of me had been stripped away. Meyer convinced me that he didn’t care, that Luke abandoned me. I resented him. But for all my hatred I couldn’t…” she sighed and looked down at Luke. “I need him.”
Her mother’s lips turned downwards slightly for a moment. “When was the last time you slept?”
Lara narrowed her eyes. “I don’t need you to mother me-”
“Well too bad,” she snapped back, making Lara straighten her back suddenly. “Its been years since I’ve seen you in person, you look like you’ve been hit by a car, and you just took on the biggest threat this galaxy has ever seen. So-”
“Mo-”
“Lara Victoriana Shepard," she snapped suddenly. "Did I raise you to be an interrupter?”
She sighed. “No, mother.”
The older woman's face softened and she took a small breath. “Let’s try this again. Lara, when was the last time you slept?”
“Not since before we hit the Citadel,” she admitted.
Worry plastered her mother’s face. “That- how are you still standing? That was nearly three days ago!”
“Four, actually,” she corrected nonchalantly and shook her mug. “It is remarkable what a bit of caf and ryncol can do for you. Tastes revolting but it does the job. It’s not like I was going to let Luke recover without someone watching over him. I don’t trust the people here.”
“The Krogan and marines outside will be enough,” her mother admonished her.
“No,” she disagreed sternly, “he needs me to watch over him. I won’t leave him.” Her mother nodded and leant back into her chair. In a moment of decision she pulled her pistol out and laid it on the table. She continued to make herself comfortable and kick her boots up. Lara furrowed her brow. “What are you doing.”
“If you won’t get any rest, neither will I,” she decreed.
Lara's face twitched. “For goodness sake, mo-”
“No, no, if you’re determined to put your own mother through this then I suppose I’ll have to oblige,” she hummed, refusing to make eye-contact.
She was guilt-tripping he and Lara knew it, but not only was she completely fatigued, her mother was one of the only people who could guilt her successfully. “Fine. But you had better-” she grumbled and cut herself off as her mother gave her a stern look. “Please don’t let me sleep for too long.”
“Of course, dear,” she agreed innocently.
With a(nother) sigh Lara crawled onto the hospital bed and wrapped her arms around Luke, being careful not to disturb him or aggravate his wounds. It didn’t take much time for exhaustion to kick in and she peacefully gave into unconsciousness. The last thing she saw was a smile on her mother’s face.
She had wanted to see Luke the moment she found out he was in the hospital. Garrus was unable to stop her from storming her way through the hospital and bulldozing her way past the staff. It was only after she had gotten there that she felt a bit put out - all three Shepards were passed out in a deep sleep. Lucky bastards. Beatrice had decided that she'd visit later and made her way back to the Vakarians' place for dinner. “Congratulations, pops,” she jibed. The elder Vakarian sighed but grumbled a gruff phrase of gratitude. It failed to deter her. “Who knew all you had to do to get a promotion was save the Council’s a- rears?”
Acinia rumbled amusedly and squeezed her husband’s shoulder. “I think Commissioner Vakarian has a nice ring to it, honey.”
“Yes, yes, it’s all well and good," the Turian huffed, "other than the fact that I’ll be roped to even more useless events, have twice as much paperwork, and have next to no time in the field at all.”
“Still,” Garrus countered as he reached for the jug of water, “you’re the commissioner of a third of the Citadel. That’s got to count for something, right?”
“Perhaps you’re right,” he conceded, making Acinia’s plates rise surprisedly. “What about you, Garrus, what’s the Alliance throwing at you this time?”
Beatrice grinned as she wrapped her arm around Garrus, making him grunt. “Acting Lieutenant Vakarian is due to receive another medal.”
“As are you,” he shot back, “and I know for a fact you hate your dress uniform more than I do.” If she wasn't in such a good move she would have scowled at him.
“Are you thinking of staying with the Normandy?” Solana inquired.
Garrus let out a long breath. “I’m… not too sure. With Saren captured, I don’t know where I’ll end up.”
Beatrice clicked her tongue. “My current tour ends next week as well,” she admitted. “I’ve been considering not renewing it, getting out of the Alliance.”
“Are you sure, dear?” Acinia asked. “I know how much the Alliance means to you.”
“I joined because I didn’t have anything else. Luke and Lara were my only family for a while, but now I have you guys too," she added meekly. "It got me thinking, maybe, I dunno, maybe I could do something else with my life. Not sure what, though. Er, sorry for rambling,” she looked away, embarrased.
Acinia placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, making her smile. “I think that’s very brave of you, Beatrice. It brings me great joy that you trust us enough to speak about something so important to you, and I want you to know we all consider you family as well.”
Beatrice beamed. “Thanks, ‘Nia.”
“Let me know when you have made a decision,” Castis decreed as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. “I’m going to need people I can trust on my team. You and Garrus are clearly competent and if you need someplace to work, I’m sure we could come to some arrangement.”
“Then we’d get to see you all the time!” Solana exclaimed.
Castis nodded. “Indeed.”
“Are you sure, dad?” Garrus asked apprehensively.
“Son, you’ve more than proven yourselves," the elder Vakarian stated confidently. "You’d be perfect for a leader investigative position. Commander Shepard spoke highly of your deductive ability and data analysis. I believe he refered to you as a big picture thinker. As for Lieutenant Robbinson,” he continued with a polite smile, “I’ve been regularly reading all the reports. You’re a capable fire team leader, and I believe you make a good team with my son. With the two of you working for me we’ll wrap up corruption and crime in my sectors in no time.”
“We’ll need some time to think about it,” Garrus spoke up for her.
“Of course, son, take all the time you need. Just know I think you’re ready for big things. After what the two of you did there’s no way I’m treating you like children,” he patted his son on the back.
“Thank you for your assistance,” Katherina grinned. “I apologise for our behaviour thusfar, but I’m sure you can understand our hysteria and despair given the situation.” The science team said nothing and remained very still. “Naturally, you are all free to go. Congratulations, you have all made it out in one piece, you may expect a significant bonus before the weekend.”
Her brother leant in close. “I may have killed one of the staff.”
“Ah,” she corrected, putting on another smile. “Excusing the unfortunate casualty of my brother’s depthless love for me, congratulations, you have not only all made it out in one-” Her brother leant in close again. “Oh what now.”
“Doctor Kavious’ heart gave out during the operation due to the… stress.”
Katherina rubbed her temple. “Fine, fine. You can all go now. Go.” The terrified medical professionals darted out of the room as quickly as they could. She doubted they’d ever see them again, but they had earnt their survival. “So now what?”
Katherina looped her arm around her brothers as they walked towards the exit. “I was thinking we could stop by Illium.”
“Mm?”
“Stay at a hotel, order food in, listen to music, watch a documentary or two, shut the world out for a few days. Or a week.”
“I’ll have Helmut book the reservations, he agreed.”
She rested her head on his shoulder with a smile. Things were looking up.
Chapter 60: Family
Notes:
Adding another chapter as part of my rewrite because the ending felt too abrupt and I'm on a roll (doing anything but uni work)
Chapter Text
Beatrice hesitated just outside the hospital room door. The receptionist insisted they were all awake but, well, it had just been so long since this had happened. There was the slightest feeling that she might be intruding even though it had been made abundantly clear she was part of the family. Taking a breath to steady herself, she reached out and opened the door.
She stepped into the hospital room and smiled. It was the first time in years all of the Shepards were awake and in one place. Hannah sat upright on the edge of the bed with a fond smile. Luke stood near the window with his arms crossed over his chest. Lara sat comfortably in a chair nearby – she almost looked approachable.
"Well," Beatrice drawled playfully, doing her best to let the warmth seep into her voice. "And here I thought it’d take divine intervention to bring us all under one roof again."
Hannah’s eyes twinkled, immediately gesturing Beatrice closer. "Come here, love," she said warmly, extending an inviting hand. "All my children are finally in one place again."
She stepped forward into Hannah’s embrace, surprised by how fiercely the older woman hugged her. Hannah leaned back slightly, giving her a long, maternal look, before Beatrice couldn’t keep herself serious anymore. "You know, mum, I thought for sure Luke here would ruin this reunion by oversleeping."
"You wound me," Luke replied dryly, though his eyes danced with amusement. "I haven't missed a briefing yet."
"For goodness’ sake, briefings should be the last thing on your mind," Hannah frowned. "You are on bedrest until the doctors release you and I intend to enforce it."
"We’ll see," Luke chuckled. “I’m kind of important now.”
Lara surprised her by snorting softly - her mouth curled into an almost-smile. Beatrice blinked in shock, watching the woman closely. She tilted his head curiously at her sister, but it was their mum who gently broke the silence. "It’s good to see you smile again, sweetheart. It suits you."
Lara met her mother’s gaze and then, incredibly, looked at Beatrice directly, her lips curving further into a genuine smile. She found herself returning it without thought.
Settling onto the edge of the bed, Beatrice sighed softly, feeling strangely buoyant. "I've been thinking," she began hesitantly, glancing around at the family gathered in the small, clinical room. "I might leave the Alliance."
Luke’s brows lifted. "Really? Things must be going well with Garrus, then."
Beatrice flushed slightly, ducking her head. "Well enough, not that its any of your business."
Hannah reached over, squeezing her hand supportively. "You’ll always have our support, dear. Whatever you decide."
“Thanks, mum,” she refused to make eye contact.
Lara quietly rose from her seat. "Butch, would you mind escorting me to find some water?"
"Sure," Beatrice said, her brow furrowing slightly at the unexpected request.
Exiting the room, the two women fell into another silence. While it was well-established that they were siblings in practice, they had had a much less fluid relationship than their individual connections with Luke. Lara broke the quiet first. "Butch," she spoke softly, her voice unusually gentle. She waited for her to continue. Lara sighed. "Thank you."
"For what?" Beatrice asked, surprised.
"For taking care of Luke while I was gone." Lara had a pained look in her eye. Beatrice felt something in her chest ache suddenly. "I know I've never been easy to get along with. I know… I know things haven't always been right between us." Beatrice opened her mouth, ready to deflect, but Lara shook her head slightly. "No, just… listen. I'm trying to say thank you. I don't regret bringing you into our family."
Beatrice exhaled slowly, allowing the quiet to settle around them for a heartbeat before she finally responded. "You gave me a home," she murmured. "You gave me a life. I’m the one who should be thankful."
Lara’s eyes softened, and she nodded once, almost imperceptibly. "Then I suppose we both have something to feel grateful for." Beatrice helped her carefully gather water into a small cup. As Lara took a small sip, she hesitated, turning slightly toward Beatrice. "Thank you, Butch."
"No," she turned her gaze away. "No, I think I prefer Beatrice now."
The café was tucked away in one of the Citadel's lower districts of the Presidium. It had taken Ashley far too long to get used to places like this. Quiet places, that is, which was rather ironic considering how long she’d hoped to just relax somewhere just like this. She sipped slowly, watching Garrus tapping a talon absentmindedly on his own glass. It was oddly endearing.
"So," Garrus finally broke the comfortable silence, glancing up at her. "It's finally over. Hard to believe, isn't it?"
"Tell me about it," she sighed, leaning back and letting her gaze wander out toward the passing pedestrians. "Feels like it's been a lifetime. I can't remember the last time things were normal."
"Normal," he echoed dryly. "Can't say I know what that's supposed to look like anymore."
She chuckled. "Guess we've both been on edge too long."
He hummed thoughtfully in response. They let the conversation fade naturally, neither of them pressing. It was nice, just having the freedom to sit quietly. She wasn’t used to it, but she liked it.
But there was something lingering on Ashley's mind since the battle of the Citadel. She stole another glance at the Turian, suddenly self-conscious. "So," she began carefully, "I've been hearing a few rumours."
Garrus cocked his head slightly. "Rumours?"
"About you," she clarified, "and Butch."
His mandibles flickered in confusion, his eyes narrowing slightly as he processed what she'd said. "Rumours… about me and Beatrice?"
Ashley rolled her eyes at his obliviousness. "Oh come on, Garrus. Even Pressley knows."
He blinked slowly. "I'm not exactly sure what it is everyone apparently knows. We're… together, yes. Has that really been such a surprise?"
There it was. Confirmation. Ashley forced a smile and gave him a playful shove on the shoulder, disguising the pang in her chest behind the gesture. "Damn. Guess a tiny part of me was hoping those rumours were off the mark."
His mandibles twitched again, more noticeably this time, a sign of genuine puzzlement. "Hoping?" he repeated, clearly thrown off guard.
Her grin widened despite the hollow feeling that had settled in her stomach. "Garrus, you're really clueless sometimes, you know that?"
His head tilted further, eyes narrowing into a thoughtful squint. "Are you trying to tell me something?"
She laughed openly now, shaking her head at the bemused Turian. "Don't strain yourself thinking too hard about it. You’d pop a blood vessel."
"Funny," he drawled, finally leaning back into his chair with an amused huff.
Ashley's smile softened. It was strange. She’d never really let herself dwell on it too deeply - she'd already known this was coming, after all. Garrus and Butch had always made sense, had always clicked in a way she simply couldn't compete with. Ashley wasn't blind. Her own confused feelings had been little more than a delusion born from her need to be accepted.
"I’m happy for you both," she continued gently, reaching out to briefly place her hand on his wrist. "I couldn’t imagine a better match. You deserve someone who makes you as happy as she clearly does."
He relaxed visibly at her sincerity, nodding slowly. "Thanks, Ash. That means a lot, coming from you."
They lapsed back into silence, letting the noise and bustle of the Citadel swirl around them. Garrus had been one of the first to give her a chance, even after she’d been a bitch to him. He never held it against her. He’d always treated her as his equal.
"Hey, Garrus?" Ashley spoke again. She hated how vulnerable the sounded.
"Hmm?"
"Thanks," she said simply. When he raised a questioning brow, she clarified, "For everything. You- god this is going to sound stupid," she chastised herself. “You made me feel human.”
His expression softened, his voice taking on a gentler tone. "You don't have to thank me for that, Ash. You’re a good friend."
She gave him a genuine smile. "Coming from you, that actually means something."
"Good," he nodded once, solemnly, before his mandibles flared in amusement. "But if you start getting sappy on me, I might have to reconsider."
"Ass," she shot back, grinning despite herself. "Buy me another drink and maybe I'll think about forgiving you."
Luke and his mom watched Beatrice and Lara leave the room together. It was rare they found time without interruption. It was rarer still that they weren't discussing military matters. He shifted slightly, trying not to wince. He'd been in far worse pain but his mother’s gaze narrowed on him immediately.
"You're not fooling me, pumpkin," she chastised gently, pulling the chair closer to his bedside. "You might be a hero to the rest of the galaxy, but you're still my son. You can't hide it from me."
He laughed softly. "Yes, ma'am," Luke replied dutifully.
His mother’s expression softened. The lines around her eyes deepening as she watched him. "How are you really feeling?" she asked, her voice kinder than usual.
He hesitated briefly, considering how best to answer without causing unnecessary worry. "I've had worse," he said eventually, with a small shrug. "It's nothing I can't handle."
"You always could handle anything, Luke." His mother’s smile was wistful. It was clear this whole ordeal had been just as gruelling for her as it was for him and Lara. "Even when you shouldn't have to."
Luke shifted again, this time not from pain, but from the weight of her words. "We do what we have to, mom. You taught me that better than anyone."
She regarded him silently. Eventually, she exhaled slowly and shook her head with a resigned chuckle. "That's not exactly something I wanted to pass down," she confessed quietly. "The Alliance… I spent a long time hoping you'd do something else with your life. That you'd pick a safer path."
Luke met her eyes. "It wasn’t your fault. I’m the one who should have stopped it the moment Lara brought it up."
She considered that for a moment, then smiled ruefully. "You’re a good brother." His mother leaned back in her chair, folding her arms thoughtfully. "There’s no sense getting worked up now. I suppose the Shepard stubbornness was always your biggest inheritance."
He chuckled despite himself. "Better stubbornness than some of the other traits."
"Is that your subtle way of calling your mother difficult, commander?" she asked, feigning sternness, a playful glint in her eyes.
"I would never dare," he answered solemnly, lips twitching upwards. "That'd be insubordination, ma'am."
She laughed. It was a sound Luke hadn't realized he'd missed until that very moment. It belonged to days where his mother had just gotten home after a long deployment. It belonged to days when his greatest worry was convincing Butch not to get them both grounded for another month.
"You're impossible," the older woman sighed affectionately, shaking her head. "I'm proud of you, Luke. More proud than I know how to say. And not just because of Elysium or Saren or whatever else the media praises you for." She paused, her voice lowering slightly. Vulnerability filtered in again. "I'm proud because you're a good man. You became the kind of person your father and I always hoped you'd be."
Luke swallowed hard. "Mom-"
She waved away his response lightly, looking away as though embarrassed by her own candor. "I never said it enough. Not to you, not to Lara." She hesitated, then glanced back at him. "I've made a lot of mistakes, Luke. I missed too many birthdays, too many holidays. The brass always convinced me there'd be more time, later. There never was."
"It's okay," Luke said softly, watching her closely. "We understood."
"Understanding doesn't make up for absence," she countered gently, a pained expression flitting across her features. "I can't take any of that back. But I'm here now, Luke. I need you to know that."
He reached out instinctively, hand squeezing hers firmly. "I do know that." Luke looked at his mother as she struggled to make eye-contact. "Remember when I was ten? You and Anderson took us camping on Bekenstein? He really thought it'd be a great idea to teach Lara how to fish."
His mom snorted, her demeanor brightening instantly. "She nearly put David in the river."
"And he laughed," Luke added warmly, shaking his head at the memory. "He laughed harder than I'd ever seen him laugh in my life."
"He did," she agreed fondly. "We’re all lucky that he was here for us. He's done a lot for us all."
"I don’t really remember dad," Luke shrugged. "No, Anderson was our dad. Still is. I don’t know what we would have all without him.”
His mother pushed herself up, crossing the room towards him. “I don’t care to think about that. All that matters is that we have our family.”
“Yeah,” he grinned as she grabbed his hand.
Chapter 61: Continuation
Summary:
A meeting, a confrontation, and another meeting.
Chapter Text
“Here’s to humanity, gentlemen,” Udina toasted. He clinked glasses with Anderson and Shepard – Luke Shepard, that is. Now that the commanders were reunited he needed to be careful with how he spoke. He was in a terrific mood.
Today he had cracked open the most expensive bourbon he had in his reserve. It was over two hundred thousand dollars, a gift from his mentor before he passed away roughly thirteen years ago. He had been saving it for an occasion no less monumental than the current. The culmination of his life’s work. And of course, it really didn't hurt that footage of him and Anderson fighting across the Citadel had leaked - his popularity ratings had never been so positive.
He genuinely smiled – another rare occurance. “Recruitment numbers have never been higher, our public relations department is having a field day, and the Council are offering humanity a seat. My friends, we have done well.”
“I’m assuming you’ll be eagerly accepting your new position?” Anderson mused.
“It is… still up in the air,” he admitted, “but I am the most likely candidate.”
“You’ll have our endorsement,” Shepard nodded. “You’ve pretty much been doing the job already.”
“Ironically enough it is Sparatus who pushed for our ascent the most. He truly is keen to explore greater defensive ties between our species. Personally, I’m keen to explore our political abilities," he slipped back into ambassador mode. "If we vote together, the best Tevos can do is convince Valern to bring it to a tie. And truthfully, while Valern may play the moderate, he leans more towards us than Tevos.”
Udina took another sip from the exquisite bourbon. Anderson placed his glass down and rubbed the back of his head. “We should tell Shepard the other news.”
“I thought you’d have told him already,” the ambassador rose an eyebrow.
Shepard frowned. “Told me what?”
Udina sighed. “Fine, David, I’ll tell him. Remember Kayla Laurence?”
“Party leader of the SHP?” he clarifited.
“That’s the one. She’s expected to be voted in as Vice-Chancellor in the next election,” his lip quirked in amusement.
The boy furrowed his brow. “How?”
“Your popularity has absolutely skyrocketed. Polls are predicting your party receiving over twenty percent of the votes Alliance-wide. Her coalition with the Alliance Prosperity Party and the Asian Progressive Party is expected to earn a majority of the votes, and as the second most popular party, Miss Laurence will be sworn in as Vice-Chancellor.”
“You’re a powerful man,” Anderson beamed, slapping Shepard on the back lightly. “I’m proud of you, son.”
He smiled politely but appeared more shocked than anything by the news, though he was mostly successful in hiding it. “So where do we go from here?”
“I’m afraid I’ll be limited in my usefulness for the short while,” Udina admitted. “The coming transitionary phase will take up a lot of my time and my hands will be tied until my position is secure.”
“I’ve been speaking with Hackett," Anderson took over. "He’s taking over Ts’ui as Fleet Admiral and as the leader of our military, by the way. After the ceremony tomorrow he wants you to head a special task force to gather as much intelligence on the Reapers as possible.”
Shepard sighed. “I’m just glad we’re finally being taken seriously.”
Udina smirked. “Commander, I believe you’ll find that after what you’ve just pulled, you’ll be able to do just about whatever you please.”
“That’s right, here at Westerlund News, we say the truths others are afraid to say. The Council will not recognise humanity’s sacrifices! How many must bleed for those callous aliens before we realise that humanity must seek it’s own pa-”
Ashley flicked onto the next channel lazily. One would have thought she would be busier in the aftermath of the Battle for the Citadel, yet she found herself in an unfortunately large gap between briefings.
“…-ank you, Tom. Here in Citadel Space, not only is humanity securing its position in galactic politics, we’re continuing to make advances in the face of adversity.”
“That’s right Rachel, even as we fought off Saren and his Geth hordes, major breakthroughs have been made in the medical field, expected to increase the average human’s lifespan by another seven years. Billionaire philanthropists Katherina and Frederick Luthor have made several new medical technologies public, promising a definite end to several previously incurable conditions.”
“Isn’t that specta-”
She sighed and clicked again. Her meeting with Admiral Lindholm couldn’t come quickly enough.
“-udden resignation of Commissioner Jersin sent shockwaves throughout the Citadel. Though he claimed responsibility for failing to prevent more deaths, the former Commissioner was scathing in his criticism of the Council, blaming them completely for the trag-”
Ashley frowned as the screen went black. She lifted the remote, trying to turn it back on to no avail.
“Don’t bother,” a familiar voice came from behind.
She spun quickly, coming face-to-face with Alenko. “You.”
“Long time no see, Ash,” he offered a half-hearted smile, keeping a cautious distance. “You look well.”
“How the hell did you get on the Normandy?” she shouted.
He gave a gentle shrug, keeping his expression neutral. “Whole crew’s on shore leave.”
“Not Joker. What-”
“Relax,” he held up a hand calmly. “Joker’s busy. I looped the feed. It won’t last forever, but long enough for me to talk.”
Ashley scowled, her eyes darting subtly around the room, searching for something she could use as a weapon. “What do you want, Alenko?”
Kaiden sighed, stepping towards the sink to pour himself a glass of water, careful to keep her within his peripheral vision. “My new employers - don’t ask why - are impressed by what Shepard and the Normandy have accomplished. Congratulations, by the way,” he nodded slightly, genuine respect slipping into his tone. “I hear you’re getting a promotion.”
She tensed. Then she scowled. “Thanks for spoiling the news. Get to the point.”
He placed a datachip gently on the counter. “Make sure this gets to Shepard. Its nothing special, just a bit of money, a bit of information. He’ll find it useful.” With Alenko slightly turned away, Ashley seized the moment, grabbing her mug and lunging towards him. But before she could make contact, he spun around sharply, biotics flaring gently as he halted her movement. “Ash, don’t,” he said, his voice low and filled with genuine disappointment. "I didn't come here to fight."
He released her carefully, letting her regain her footing. Ashley glared at him furiously, fists still clenched.
"I'm not your enemy," he continued quietly. "I just wish you'd see it that way."
“You betrayed us, Kaiden,” she snapped bitterly. “Don't expect sympathy.”
“I’m not asking for any,” he replied softly, his expression conflicted. “Just deliver the message.”
Their standoff was shattered by a sudden burst of acid striking Alenko, burning the side of his neck and lower jaw. He staggered back with a hiss of pain, releasing Ashley completely. She hit the ground hard and looked up to see the Rachni Princess storming towards them, fury in her eyes. “Traitor! Leave the Rude One alone!”
“Really?” Ashley shouted incredulously, “I'm the rude one?”
Before she could get up, another biotic wave shoved her down, disorienting her momentarily. When she finally regained her balance, Alenko was gone.
“Commander Shepard,” Saren drawled with a hint of respect. “Both of you. It is… good to meet you, under better circumstances of course. My mental faculties have returned with Sovereign’s defeat. My mind is once more my own.” A smile crept across his face. “Thank you for taking the time to speak with me.”
“Nice cell,” Luke observed, narrowing his eyes. It practically looked like an apartment. Lara remained silent and held back, leaving him to face the Turian.
The former specter chuckled as he poured himself a drink. “I may be an alleged terrorist, but I still have connections.”
“Alleged?” he raised an eyebrow.
“I should be thanking you, Shepard. I had thought my research into indoctrination lost when you destroyed my base on Virmire. Thanks to you, there is ample evidence I was under the control of that sentient dreadnaught. And you, on camera, I might add" he chuckled again, "have claimed that I was indoctrinated on multiple separate occasions. I doubt I’ll be in prison for much longer.”
Luke crossed his arms. “The public won’t like that.”
Saren waved a hand dismissively. “The public has a short memory and I have powerful allies. As far as I’m concerned my pending trial is a mere… formality.”
“Just how many of your allies can help you now?” Lara challenged him. “We have already rounded up over seventy of your co-conspirators and seized millions of dollars’ worth of assets.”
“Co-conspirators? Please,” Saren implored dramatically. “They were all coerced or indoctrinated. I’ll testify on behalf of that.”
Luke pointed a finger aggressively. “Bullshit.”
“I understand your anger, but I believe you’ll be thanking me in the long run. I am not your enemy, Shepards. I want to stop the Reapers as much as you do. Perhaps more. Do you know what it feels like to have your mind violated? Your very brain commandeered by some mechanical overlord? It is… unpleasant," he shuddered. "Even less so in the aftermath.”
Luke scoffed but maintained his professionalism. “Why did you call us here.”
“Because I need you to know that war is coming. My interrogators think I’m mad, but I had a Reaper in my head for years,” he emphasised by tapping his temple. “We planned contingencies. No matter what we do, they will arrive. It is inevitable. But you, you are an anomaly, Shepard. You surprised Sovereign. It became fixated on you.”
“Why?” he asked. “There’s nothing special about me, I’m just a regular human.”
“But that’s just it, don’t you see?” he spread his arms as if it was completely obvious. “The thought that a mere mortal organic could outthink, outfight, and outmanoeuvre a Reaper? It was utterly inconceivable. Sovereign was convinced there must be something special about you, something powerful, something it could not see. The Reapers are arrogant. They are certain they are the supreme power in the universe,” he pointed a finger at Shepard, “but you proved them wrong.”
“Tell us what you know,” Luke demanded, crossing his arms once more.
“Isn’t it clear? Aren’t you listening to the words coming out of my mouth? The Reapers are complacent, they’re decadent. The Harvest has gone unopposed and without issue for hundreds of billions of years. Yet for the first time in their history, it didn’t work.” He laughed darkly. “They are improvising, but it is not that easy, you see. Imagine you’ve gone your entire life using your left hand to fire your pistol. It’s muscle memory, it’s natural, it’s all you know. But then, when you’re a hundred and two, I tell you to fire the pistol using your foot.”
“What?”
“Exactly! You can see how ludicrous this whole situation is," he sat down, crossing one leg over the other. "Sovereign called you an anomaly, but the truth is that this entire cycle is an anomaly. This may be the single greatest chance to destroy the Reapers in hundreds of billions of years!”
“We’ve broken their routine,” Lara observed darkly.
“Yes! You and your brother and your mother killed Sovereign and shattered their system,” he clenched a fist in the air. “Destiny is in our hands now.”
Luke narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean, ‘our’ hands?”
“I’ve already told you, I’ll be released before the new year. I’m retiring from the Spectres. With my influence still intact, I plan to use subversive means to prepare the galaxy for war.”
“Smart,” Lara agreed. Luke turned to raise an eyebrow but she only shrugged.
“One last thing. I would like to thank you for stopping me. I know you think me callous, but even I dread the thought of galactic extinction. If it wasn’t for you and the Luthor twins, we would be on the verge of total annihilation.”
“Katherina and Frederick?” Lara questioned, cocking her head.
“Indeed," Saren rumbled. "I take it you’re familiar with them?”
Luke sighed. “We know they conspired with you but C-Sec cleared them of all charges.”
“I know for a fact they leaked important information to you that directly stopped Sovereign and I," the Turian leant back. Respect seeped into his voice. "The location of Benezia on Noveria, for instance, and the location of Virmire, oh, and the names of my so-called co-conspirators. If they hadn’t done as such, I doubt you’d have stopped me,” he stated with a hint of pride. “Fortunately for us all, you did. But be aware, Shepards,” he locked eyes with Luke and lowered his head, “Harbinger is coming, and you have been marked.”
Chapter 62: Al Fine
Summary:
With threats vanquished, this chapter - or fic - comes to a close
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Hannah beamed with pride as Hackett fastened her son’s new insignia to his chest. Captain Luke Shepard smiled and shook hands as the media barraged them with flashes as the crowd went wild with enthusiasm. Her own commendation meant little to her, but seeing her children receive accolades and recognition brought her no small amount of joy.
Lara was similarly being promoted to Staff Commander and greeted the crowd with a well-rehearsed smile and wave. Hannah almost thought she was enjoying it. Almost. With Beatrice choosing not to renew her tour, Hannah was more than happy to hear Lara would be joining her son permanently. It would be good for him to have her watch over his back – she knew her daughter wouldn’t let anything happen to him, or vice versa. Lara was set to take over as the Normandy’s XO, news which brought Pressley great relief. The navigator swore the stress had cost him the little hair he had left.
Speaking of Beatrice, she and ‘Acting-Lieutenant’ Vakarian were promoted to Lieutenant Commander in honour of their contributions. The other present members of the Normandy’s crew all received commendations, humans or not. Wrex looked rather comical as the comparatively tiny human placed a medal to his armour. Even that Williams girl was set to be promoted to Lieutenant Commander before being shipped off to the Traverse for some anti-pirating operation.
Everyone was being recognised apart from Liara. That young Asari hadn’t been able to make it for some reason, something about the Council or whatever. It was a shame that she couldn’t be there to support Luke, but Hannah knew how demanding authority could be. Still, the empty seat was clearly bugging Luke. Thank goodness Lara was there to keep a smile on his face. Whenever it started to drop she’d give him a reassuring pat or whisper. Everything was going to work out.
Liara couldn’t bring herself to fully focus on her meeting with Tevos. It wasn’t that she was boring. She wasn’t. It wasn’t that the topic of conversation was boring. It wasn’t. It wasn’t that the Councillor was a public enemy of hers and they were pretending to have a civil conversation. It really wasn’t.
It was that she couldn’t take her mind off Luke. Since Lara entered the Normandy there had been little time for the two of them. They still got along, of course, and she would be unreasonable not to acknowledge that the climax of their adventure had only just finished, but it irked at her nevertheless. Liara was a scientist first and foremost. She analysed data to make actable conclusions in order to determine the best course of action. Current data projections and trends indicated that even after the next few months of rushing around and being celebrities, there would be even less time for them.
Luke had hinted at seeking alternate plans to remaining on the front lines but he still had his duty. He would do what he had to protect the galaxy. She admired that about him, of course, but it came with a cost. Similarly, Lara was showing no sign of leaving, and the twins were showing no signs of separating. Liara didn’t want to start a feud between his sister and herself; she didn’t know if she could.
After all, Liara had only known him for just over a year. They were still only in the early stages of their relationship and had hardly pushed many boundaries. To be entirely truthful, even Liara had to admit most of the crossover was professional or academic, and their entire relationship was framed through a group setting. Lara had been with Luke from birth until she was stripped away from him after Torfan.
No. She was stuck in a fantasy. She-
“Lady T’Soni?” Tevos curtly pulled her out of her musings.
“Hm? Oh yes. I agree," she brought up another hologram. "However, I would like to implement this project differently.”
Tuesday night. A luxurious penthouse suite. The Illium skies. It was a perfect night. Katherina smiled, sipped wine, and leant into Frederick’s side as they deciphered a crossword puzzle on the chair outdoors. “Cryogenic.”
“That fits, but I still don’t know what four across is.”
“Well we know it ends with an P at least,” she muses, nestling in closer.
“Nurse, e.g…. Three letters.”
She placed the end of the pen on her lip. “Perhaps we’re looking at it wrong. Maybe it doesn’t refer to the profession, but to the action?”
“Katherina you brilliant, brilliant, woman,” he praised, rushing to write on the paper. As she leant over to read what he was writing down they were interrupted by a knock on the door. “Do we have to get that?” Frederick complained, grunting.
“I believe we told the staff only to disturb us if it was an absolute emergency," she stood, "so it may be in our best interests to check.”
“Fine, fine," he grumbled. "Let me put my jacket back on.”
They begrudgingly walked to the front of their suite and opened the door, finding Mr Harper holding a bottle of wine. “Sorry for arriving unannounced,” he gestured to the bottle, “I brought a gift.”
“Come on in,” Katherina offered, pushing the annoyance out of her voice. The only person she wanted to see was Frederick. That being said, if Harper was showing up himself it would be in their best interests to listen.
“How may we assist you,” her brother asked with only the slightest of annoyance present in his voice.
Harper set the bottle down on the dining table. “I have a job offer. With Saren out of the picture, I’d like you to come and work for Cerberus.”
“I trust you have a suitable offer in mind, Katherina and I do not lower ourselves to middle management.”
“There’s nothing middle about it. If there was one good idea Saren had it was his Preservation Council. Of course, he included conflicting visions and goals, without the smallest degree of loyalty to the mission, but the concept was what he had right. I’m inviting you to join my Cabal, the council running Cerberus. And before you ask, yes, I have a list of other members.” He smirked, passing Frederick a datasheet. “I know you like to have all the information before making a decision.”
“Ah,” Frederick smiled, “you convinced Petrovsky?”
“It wasn’t as hard as you might think. After our last talk he actually came to me. I suppose I should be thanking you,” his eyes shifted to hers.
Katherina cautiously sipped from her wine. Petrovsky was nothing but apprehensive about Harper. While thanks to her own actions she was in too deep to get out even if she wanted to, her father-figure was not. She kept her face neutral. Petrovsky would had joined up primarily to look out for her, though she knew he'd take advantage of the situation to further his own goals as well.
“Henry Lawson,” her brother mused. “Impressive.”
“I’m assuming he’s one of your chief financial backers?” Katherina added on, doing everything she could not to wince at the mention of that disgusting industrialist's name.
Harper nodded. “He’s been quite useful in funding us, but his passion for eccentric science projects has borne fruit as well.”
“Ambassador Carreria and Senator Kapoor?" Frederick barked a laugh. "How on earth did you convince those two to work together?”
The older man smirked. “Playing rivals off each other makes powerful allies. Both crave what I can give and can be counted on to do whatever it takes to get it.”
“And this Doctor Archer,” Frederick inquired, “is he the very same who was thrown out of the University of Vancouver? His thesis into the concept of the biological computer was fascinating.”
“So,” Katherina interrupted, squeezing her brother’s arm to gain his attention. “What is your proposition?”
“I understand what Saren didn’t. You’re good at what you do. Sure, you’re billionaires, but people like us don’t settle for monotony," he placed his hands in his pockets. "My offer is whatever you want. You pick your duties. I have dozens of research projects that could flourish with oversight from someone as competent as you. My intelligence forces could be whipped into shape if you were behind the wheel for even a month. I don’t care what you do, I just want you on my side.”
She turned her head to lock eyes with Frederick. When you’ve spent every waking moment of your entire life with someone else you learn how to read them well. Without words the twins considered the offer before turning back to Harper with matching smiles. “Very well, Mr Harper. We’re in.”
“Good. Any one last thing, in front of my employees, I urge you to refer to my as the Illusive Man.”
Luke looked up from his reports when a familiar knock rapped on his door. He shouted for them to come in, placing his datapad back on the desk. Liara nodded gratefully as she walked into the room. She did not sit. “I didn’t see you at the ceremony,” Luke asked nonchalantly. He hoped. He didn’t feel particularly nonchalant. Nonchalance was rather far from his present state of mind. The recent distance had started to get to him.
“I apologise. I had a meeting with Councillor Tevos,” Liara responded almost stiffly. “Are you busy?”
“Just revising my notes for the Lagos Conference," he pushed the important document to the side. "Is everything alright?”
“Hm?”
“What’s going on, Blue?”
Liara sighed and crossed over her hands before steeling her face. “Developing factors are placing greater demand on my time. I am afraid I will have to be fully committed to my work for the foreseeable future.”
It was a cop-out – a well-rehearsed cop-out at that – and they both knew it. “Is this what I think it is?”
Emotion clouded her face for but a moment. “I… I am sorry.”
“What’s brought this on, Liara?”
She gave him a pained look. “Developing fact-”
“Stop,” he cut off quietly. “After all we’ve been through, could I please have an honest answer?”
Liara sighed. “I suppose that is fair. Luke, I have cherished our time together, but I cannot commit to you. Both our works are too important, and all this has been so new to me… I cannot, no, I will not compete for you.”
“Where’s this coming from?”
“I feel myself drifting away from the Normandy. I feel the Normandy itself drifting apart. The demands placed on you have never been higher. Your sister has returned, you have duties to the Alliance and the Galaxy… I am not naïve, Luke. I knew this was a fantasy from the beginning.”
“We can’t try to work this out?” he asked quietly.
“I-,” there was a moment of visible emotion before it was all swept behind a rehearsed façade of professionalism. “There is no time, Shepard. There is much to be done, after all.”
Luke stiffened slightly and nodded. “Of course.”
And with that, Liara turned around and left the Normandy.
Garrus sighed, shaking his head slightly as he refastened Beatrice’s badge carefully to her uniform. “Stop fidgeting. You’ll knock it off again.”
She snorted, rolling her eyes. “I thought leaving the Alliance meant I'd never have to wear one of these stuffy uniforms again.”
“We’re not fighting on the frontlines,” Garrus reminded her with a patient rumble. “And these are hardly stuffy.”
“Speak for yourself,” Beatrice grumbled, tugging at her collar irritably. “Clearly, Turian standards for comfort are bloody different to mine because I can barely breathe in this.”
He chuckled softly, gently adjusting her shoulder. “It’s not supposed to feel like a combat suit. It's professional attire.”
She made a face, tugging uncomfortably at the sleeves again. “Gar, it's choking me for fuck's sake. I'm going to need a bigger size.”
Garrus stepped back, surveying her critically. “Well, tight or not, you look good.”
“Flattery will get you everywhere, Vakarian,” she teased, though she heard her anxiety seep into her voice. “I just… it’s a big change. Military life is all I know.”
“I know,” Garrus murmured gently, reaching out to softly squeeze her hand. “But I know if anyone can do this, its you. I mean after Feros civilian life should be easy. No more zombies, mutant plants."
"What if they don't like us?" she asked.
He huffed. "I'm not worried about that. You have an impressive talent for convincing people to see things your way."
She smirked faintly, her unease fading slightly. "You mean intimidating people into submission?"
"Your words, not mine," he grinned, leaning forward to place a reassuring kiss on her lips. “But yes, exactly that.”
"Gar I threatened a waiter one bloody ti-"
“Your cab is here!” Solana called from the other end of the house.
Garrus stepped back, offering his arm with a confident smile. "Come on, Beatrice."
She sighed dramatically, slipping her arm through his with an exaggerated reluctance. “Lead the way, Detective Vakarian."
Lara waited. She’d bugged Luke’s room for this very reason. She knew everything that had transpired. While she had found the result she had hoped for, she still despised the Asari for hurting Luke the way she just did; she never should have tried to seduce her brother. Lara sighed and took another sip from her caff. Luke needed enough time to process to be rational enough, but not too much time that he might come to the wrong conclusions. Through the surveillance camera she had hacked she watched the gears slowly turn as her brother leant back into his office chair.
She hated that she had to do this. She hated that Asari.
Deeming it the right moment, she stood up and marched towards Luke’s quarters. The crew saluted her as she walked past them. It was... different. They respected her, they didn't have the same fear in their eyes that the crew of the Iwo Jima had. Pressley was over the moon with her appointment to the Normandy - she'd taken a lot of work off his plate and taken all of his concerns seriously. Sighing, Lara opened Luke's door and walked in.
“You were right,” he greeted, skipping all preamble. He slowly spun around to face her.
“Pardon?” she inquired with a tilt of the head, making him smile sadly.
“Don’t get me wrong,” he chuckled mirthlessly, “I know rejection. But damn does this one sting. I thought we had something special.”
That made her frown. She quickly composed herself; self-deprecating humour was Luke’s signature coping mechanisms. “She was a nice girl,” Lara lied.
“Is this why you scared them off all these years?”
Lara smiled slightly and softened her voice. “Partly. I knew they’d only ever hurt you. You spend so much time looking out for me… I wanted to spare you all… this,” she gestured to the air.
Her brother nodded slowly, taking a careful sip from his glass. “Why didn’t you do anything this time?” he asked, curiosity evident in his voice more than anything else.
She did. “I had only just come back into your life, I didn’t feel it was my place to do anything,” she lied easily. She hated being untruthful with him, but it was for the greater good. “And… I thought you deserved a chance to be happy. I should have acted sooner.”
Liar.
“Maybe the problem’s me,” he mused as he downed the rest of his glass - that was definitely alcohol.
Lara glowered. “There is absolutely no way I’m going to let you continue that line of thinking,” she angrily accentuated with an upwards point of the finger. “You’re Commander Luke Shepard, decorated hero, beloved intergalactic celebrity. You’re smart, kind, funny, charismatic, handsome, and any woman would be lucky to consider you their partner. That Asari is a fool for not realising how fortunate she was.”
Luke actually chuckled at that. “Thanks.”
Slightly awkwardly she straightened her back and tugged at her collar, recomposing herself. “It’s all true,” she defended as she took a seat on his desk.
“Doesn’t feel that way,” he sighed again.
Lara gently placed a hand on either side of his face. “You don’t need them,” she quietly spoke. “You never did.”
He overlapped her hands with his own and nodded. “I-…” Whatever words he had died on his lips.
She pulled him in close protectively and hummed, placing a kiss on his forehead. “You only need me,” she whispered. “I won’t let anybody hurt you ever again.”
Notes:
If you all would permit me a moment to be profane - ho-ly shit.
*cough*
I cannot believe we've come to the end of this fic. It's been quite a journey and I'm eager to get started on Vidi, but I wanted to take a quick moment to thank every one of you who read, commented, and enjoyed my work. This is without a doubt the largest creative piece I've ever done and I've enjoyed sharing it with all of you. Thank you very much for the support and I'll do my very best to see this through to the end.
Now I'll be the first to admit that I'm not super thrilled with some of these last chapters. I had several major plot points to hammer out but I think my work has been a little rushed. I hope you've enjoyed it nevertheless, but the perfectionist in me is irked to no end. With that being said, now that Veni is out of the way, I can begin writing Vidi. The first chapter should be up soon, and I am incredibly keen to continue this adventure!!
So, one last time, thank you for reading to the end and thank you for the support!!!!
--
EDIT: First chapter of ME2, Vidi, has been uploaded :D
Pages Navigation
NexusPhillanthropist on Chapter 1 Tue 02 May 2023 04:58PM UTC
Comment Actions
Delta_S117 (Guest) on Chapter 1 Thu 11 May 2023 05:13PM UTC
Comment Actions
DagoneerX (Guest) on Chapter 1 Mon 14 Aug 2023 02:11PM UTC
Comment Actions
JohnS_2158 (Guest) on Chapter 8 Wed 03 May 2023 11:49AM UTC
Comment Actions
NexusPhillanthropist on Chapter 9 Thu 04 May 2023 05:42PM UTC
Comment Actions
luckyrogue7 on Chapter 11 Thu 16 May 2024 01:25PM UTC
Comment Actions
NexusPhillanthropist on Chapter 12 Tue 09 May 2023 07:58AM UTC
Comment Actions
luckyrogue7 on Chapter 12 Thu 16 May 2024 02:58PM UTC
Comment Actions
DagoneerX (Guest) on Chapter 14 Thu 11 May 2023 02:02PM UTC
Comment Actions
NexusPhillanthropist on Chapter 14 Fri 12 May 2023 04:08AM UTC
Comment Actions
Delta_S117 (Guest) on Chapter 14 Thu 18 May 2023 07:33AM UTC
Comment Actions
Delta_S117 (Guest) on Chapter 15 Mon 22 May 2023 08:06AM UTC
Comment Actions
NexusPhillanthropist on Chapter 15 Tue 23 May 2023 09:17AM UTC
Comment Actions
JohnS_2158 (Guest) on Chapter 16 Wed 24 May 2023 06:20PM UTC
Comment Actions
NexusPhillanthropist on Chapter 16 Thu 25 May 2023 09:45PM UTC
Comment Actions
Titoforce (Guest) on Chapter 19 Fri 02 Jun 2023 07:59PM UTC
Comment Actions
NexusPhillanthropist on Chapter 20 Sun 04 Jun 2023 11:47AM UTC
Comment Actions
NexusPhillanthropist on Chapter 21 Fri 09 Jun 2023 10:21AM UTC
Last Edited Fri 09 Jun 2023 10:23AM UTC
Comment Actions
ElMaestro66 on Chapter 21 Fri 09 Jun 2023 10:53AM UTC
Comment Actions
NexusPhillanthropist on Chapter 21 Fri 09 Jun 2023 12:36PM UTC
Comment Actions
JohnS_2158 (Guest) on Chapter 22 Sat 10 Jun 2023 11:55AM UTC
Comment Actions
ElMaestro66 on Chapter 22 Tue 13 Jun 2023 06:58AM UTC
Comment Actions
JohnS_2158 (Guest) on Chapter 23 Sat 10 Jun 2023 12:24PM UTC
Comment Actions
ElMaestro66 on Chapter 23 Tue 13 Jun 2023 07:00AM UTC
Comment Actions
Pages Navigation