by Joan Jett
"You wanted your sister dead?" I asked.
"She was a criminal. If word of her activities got out, I'd be considered a security risk. The Council would put me on administrative leave, revoke my clearance, or worse. I can’t afford that."
"And now?" inquired Shepard, his voice calm and mild.
She became coy. "I shall transfer a little something into your account as a token of my appreciation. I'm sure you'll find the amount satisfactory."
A slow, cynical smile spread across Shepard’s face. "Come on, Nassana. I'm a Spectre. Do you really think a few credits are going to motivate me?"
"That's fair enough, I suppose. Name your price."
Shepard's voice became very cold, and his smile vanished without a trace. "All right. I want you off the Citadel."
"What?"
"Never mind that you set me up to take her down without getting your own hands dirty. She was a slaver. She didn't get anything she didn't deserve." He rose from his chair and leaned across the table, pushing her personal space, looking rather like an angry beast. "What matters is that you knew she was a pirate and slaver. You did nothing to stop her. The only thing that mattered to you was your position on the Citadel. The people she killed and kept in cages never entered your mind."
Nassana's face turned ugly with rage. "That was not my problem, Commander."
"It is now." Shepard produced a data card and slapped it onto the table in front of Nassana. "Here's a copy of all the data we mined from your sister's networks. Dates and locations of pirate raids. Manifests of loot and slaves taken. Prices and locations of sale for each piece of so-called inventory. And finally, all of your correspondence with her over the past three years. There's more than enough here to prove you're not just a security risk, but an accessory. Take it home, look it over. If you're still on the Citadel in three days, a copy goes to C-Sec."
"Where do you expect me to go?"
Shepard mocked her: "That is not my problem, Nassana.”
"You might go back to Illium," I suggested mildly. "The life of a corporate executive is hardly one of hardship. Even if it takes you away from the centers of power here on the Citadel."
"What do you know of power, you pathetic little pureblood?" she snapped.
I felt an icy chill. Nassana had clearly recognized me, and knew far too much about me for comfort.
"She knows enough to use it wisely," said Shepard. "I can't trust you to do the same. Three days. We're done here."
He turned and walked away. I rose and followed him out the door.
"Do you suppose it worked?" he asked, once we were at a safe distance.
"I suspect it did. I don't think you realize how intimidating you can be to asari."
"Intimidating, am I?" He didn't seem displeased.
"Well, you are very large. And quite ugly by asari standards. And many asari find humans a little frightening. So aggressive and reckless."
He frowned at me for a moment, until he saw my small smile. "Are you messing with me, Doctor?"
"Only enough to keep you honest, Commander."
* * *
9 March 2183, Citadel
Meetings filled all of Shepard’s time for the next two days: Alliance intelligence, C-Sec, the Spectre organization. Kaidan and Garrus accompanied him to these. No one insisted that I attend, so I had the time to myself.
I decided to go shopping.
Almost all my possessions were lost on Therum, not only my scientific equipment but my personal effects as well. Fortunately my identity card and my credit chit had been in a pocket of my jacket the entire time, and they had come onto the Normandy with me. I had no trouble re-establishing my identity and gaining access to my bank accounts on the Citadel.
I bought several changes of clothing, utilitarian enough not to stand out aboard an Alliance warship. Toiletries more suited for an asari. Several pieces of scientific equipment that might be useful. A new notebook computer, better than the standard Alliance issue. A few asari delicacies, to be stored among galley cargo for my personal use.
Then I decided to be a little irresponsible. I may have been a young, reclusive scientist, but I was still asari. My morale required that I be able to present myself well on appropriate occasions.
In a Presidium boutique I found a long shimmer-silk evening dress in a deep violet hue. It fit me perfectly, leaving my shoulders and most of my back bare, giving the impression that it stayed on due to sheer personal magnetism. It came with arm-length gloves to match, and a silver choker set with high-quality amethysts. Finally I found a tiny bottle of fragrance, a scent I had always liked, extracted from Thessian mountain flowers. The whole ensemble made a noticeable dent in my bank account, and it went straight into a valise to be stored in a dark corner of my compartment aboard the Normandy. I had no idea whether I would ever wear any of it . . . but I felt a little better knowing it would be there if I wanted it.
Finally I found a quiet wine-bar not far from the Council Tower, ordered a class of chilled meliteia, and sat down on the terrace where I could get a broad view of the Presidium. For about half an hour I sipped my wine, idly paging through extranet messages on my omni-tool. An unobtrusive attendant took away my empty glass and replaced it with another, leaving me to savor the peace and quiet.
It didn't last, of course. After a time I heard heavy footsteps approaching and turned to see who it was. "Oh. Hello, Commander."
"May I join you?" He made a polite gesture of refusal when the attendant appeared and offered him a wine list.
"Of course."
He sat down at the table across from me, and simply relaxed in the quiet for a moment. "This is a nice place, Liara. It suits you."
I blinked at the moment of flattery. "Thank you, Shepard. May I ask how your meetings are going?"
"Finished, and we've identified a new objective. Normandy departs in ninety minutes."
"Then I had best return to the ship. My errands here are finished."
"Liara . . ."
So much concern in his voice, he must have heard bad news. "What is it, Shepard?"
"There's been a sighting of geth on Noveria," he said, not meeting my eyes.
"Noveria?" The name was unfamiliar to me, but a quick reference to the astrographic database in my omni-tool cured that. "That's not a former Prothean world. It's also deep within human space. What could Saren possibly want there?"
"No idea. We'll have to go and investigate." His face cleared, as if he had reached some decision. "Liara, I want you to stay here. Take a ship back to Thessia and don't worry about this anymore. You should be safe enough in the heart of Citadel space."
I frowned at him. "What are you not telling me, Commander?"
"Alliance intel reports that about the same time as the geth sighting, an asari Matriarch arrived on Noveria with a whole platoon of commandos in her entourage. She hasn't been seen to leave, so there's a good chance she's still there."
"I see. You think it may be Benezia."
"It seems likely."
I considered it, angry at the wine in my blood that made me mistrust my own thinking. "I do not see that it makes any difference. All the reasoning that suggested I might be useful to you still holds. Unless you order me off the Normandy, I will come with you."
His hand balled into a fist on the tabletop. "Damn it, Liara. Do you realize that I may have to kill your mother?"
"I know." I sighed. "Shepard, if this is all some kind of horrible mistake, if she can be reasoned with, then that’s even more reason that you need me. I could never forgive myself if I was not there to give her a chance, and that was why you had to kill her."
He looked uncertain, seeing my logic but still not wanting to accept it.
I reached out and placed my hand over his for a moment, feeling a small shock at the contact of my skin with his. "Shepard. I trust you. I know you would never do Benezia harm unless there was no other choice."
He glanced down at my hand, surprised, and then nodded reluctantly. "All ri
ght. If you're sure."
"I have never been more sure of anything in my life. Saren must be stopped, Shepard, no matter what the cost. I will be with you until that is done."
His eyes met mine, cool blue without any hint of pretense in them. "Thank you, Liara."
Chapter 8 : Suddenly, Batarians
9 March 2183, Citadel
When we reached Normandy's airlock, Lieutenant Pressley was already there to greet us.
I had seen the lieutenant before: an older male human with a partially naked cranium, neatly trimmed facial hair, and tired grey eyes. He served as Shepard's second-in-command and the ship's navigator. Unlike his superior he had no interest in the "aliens" among the crew. Even after Sharjila he had never warmed to me.
Now he hurried to meet us with a very worried expression, handing Shepard a datapad. "Commander, we've just received FLASH traffic from Admiral Hackett."
Shepard scanned the pad and frowned. I suppressed my curiosity, remaining silent while he read.
"Is anyone still ashore?" Shepard demanded after he finished.
"Adams and an engineering team are just finishing up repairs to the hull plating over compartment four-A. They've been advised. Adams says they'll have everything nailed down in ten minutes."
"Good. I'm moving our departure time up by thirty minutes. Inform port authority and demand a priority lane outbound to the Theta-6 relay. Give them my Spectre authorization code if you have to."
"Aye-aye," said the lieutenant, and hurried away.
"What is it, Shepard?" I asked.
"There's been an accident at one of our colonies," he explained. "Terra Nova. They've been working to move a nickel-iron asteroid into planetary orbit. Something's gone wrong. They've lost contact with the engineering crew on the asteroid, the fusion torches they installed won't stop firing, and the asteroid is on a trajectory to impact the planet directly in a little over a day."
"Merciful Goddess," I murmured.
"You said it. Normandy is the only Alliance ship close enough and fast enough to have a chance at getting there in time to investigate." He gave me a look. "Noveria will have to wait."
I nodded, troubled but doing my best not to show it. "Let me know if there's anything I can do to help you."
"I will."
I left Shepard to his duties and took the lift down to the crew deck.
Goddess, forgive me for being glad I don't have to face Benezia yet. And never let Shepard suspect it!
* * *
9 March 2183, SSV Normandy, Interstellar Space
Normandy was a very quiet ship during the fast run to Terra Nova.
That evening I couldn't sleep at first. Sitting alone in my compartment, I looked up the vital statistics for the Asgard star system, including those for Terra Nova and the errant asteroid. I discovered horror in the dry mathematics. A collision would not only kill millions of human colonists, it would wreck the planet's rich biosphere for millions of years to come. Such a disaster would shake the entire galaxy.
We raced for time against unimaginably high stakes. The Citadel Council took the preservation of natural biospheres very seriously. If human negligence destroyed Terra Nova, the backlash against human colonial expansion would be ferocious. Humanity would be lucky to escape the highest level of sanctions, punishment so crippling that the Alliance might be tempted to secede from galactic society entirely.
On the other hand, if the destruction could be provably attributed to some foreign power, then the Alliance would be justified in declaring all-out war against the attacker – and the Council might very well join in on the side of the Alliance.
Suddenly I saw the truth. I called up the ship's communications net on my omni-tool. "Commander Shepard?"
"What is it, Liara?"
"I know what has happened in the Asgard system."
"I think I do too, but let's hear your theory."
"Batarian terrorists."
"I agree," he said without hesitation. "Colonial engineers were already moving the asteroid. All the batarians have to do is hijack it, direct it at the planet, and get away before the collision. The impact destroys any evidence they were involved, and it looks as if we humans wrecked our own colony planet."
"Thus bringing the Alliance into a direct confrontation with the Council, and the Batarian Hegemony to profit from the chaos." I frowned, seeing the other side of the equation. "Of course, if the ploy fails there will be evidence that the terrorists acted alone, without the Hegemony's support or approval. That would confuse the issue enough to keep the Council neutral."
"So the batarians have everything to gain, nothing to lose. Sure. We need to be careful, though. So far we're just speculating, even if it does all sound very plausible."
I paused, mustering my courage. "Shepard, may I make a recommendation?"
"I'm listening."
"If you take a combat team to the asteroid, bring either Detective Vakarian or me with you. It might be important to have a witness from one of the Council races on hand."
He said nothing for a long moment, while he considered the implications. "Good idea. Get some sleep, Liara, because you've just talked yourself into the job."
I acknowledged his order and signed off. Then I went to lie down, although sleep took a long time to come.
* * *
10 March 2183, Asgard System, Asteroid X57
While I tried to rest, Normandy's pilot, navigator, and engineering team worked miracles.
The Exodus Cluster had its primary mass relay in the Utopia system, home of the Eden Prime colony. The Asgard star system drifted almost sixteen light-years away from there. Normally the Normandy would have required a little more than a standard day to reach Terra Nova. Somehow Lieutenant Pressley found a more dangerous but more direct route. Lieutenant Moreau flew the route without wrecking us in any dense knots of the interstellar medium. Lieutenant Adams and Tali kept the mass-effect drive core working at 105% of capacity. In the end we dropped out of FTL well ahead of schedule, only twenty-two hours and a few minutes after departing the Citadel.
Shepard, Tali, and I boarded the Mako as the ship began its final approach. I listened to comm chatter as we waited to deploy.
"Drift less than 2000-K," said the pilot. "Stealth systems engaged. No sign of hostile vessels in space, can't tell if there are any unexpected visitors on the ground."
"What's the asteroid's trajectory?" asked Shepard.
"It's on track to slam into the Sea of Storms in just over four hours."
"Ocean impact," murmured Tali. "Keelah."
The staging bay doors opened and the Mako flew out into space. This time I barely noticed any vertigo, focused as I was on the unfolding crisis. I checked my displays and calmly reported no active sensors on our vehicle as it glided to the asteroid's surface.
"How long do we have, Joker?" asked Shepard.
"Best guess? If those fusion torches aren't shut down within an hour, Terra Nova has had it."
"All right. Kaidan?"
"Yes, sir?”
"Have your squad ready for insertion at the second drop zone as soon as I give the signal. Assume hostile forces, go in fast and heavy. Are Garrus and Wrex ready to go?"
A krogan voice broke in, like raspy thunder. "More than ready, Shepard."
"I'll take that as a yes. Everybody stay sharp. No margin for error here."
We struck the surface and bounced high. Shepard smoothly turned up the input to the Mako's mass-effect core, amplifying the asteroid's pull on us and giving us more traction. Then he set out for the first fusion torch.
"Commander, I'm picking up active radar transmission from up ahead," I reported. "Low intensity, probably just side-lobe radiation for now. We'll be detected as soon as we have line-of-sight to the torch."
"That tears it. The Alliance would have put rocket turrets around the torches. If they're active then someone has hijacked the defensive systems."
"How do you want to handle this?" asked Tali.
"Th
at depends on how good a shot you are with the main gun."
Tali turned in her seat to give Shepard a pointed stare. It was a very good stare, given that we could barely see her eyes at all.
"I'll concede the point," he said, amused. "There's no cover to speak of, so we're going to rely on speed and mobility. I'll try to give you a moment's warning each time I have to maneuver. Take out the turrets at your discretion."
"Got it, Shepard," said Tali eagerly.
We drove down a long slope, made a wide left turn, and saw the first fusion torch thundering away in the distance.
"Active sensors. Four . . . no, five turrets coming online." My fingers flew across the display, marking the turrets and sending their locations to Shepard and Tali. "They're shielded. You'll need to get close to take them out."
"Let's dance," said Shepard.
The Mako became almost maneuverable in microgravity. Shepard jinked left, right, zoomed forward, slammed into reverse. Even with the instruments in front of me I became confused within moments, but he seemed to maintain a mental map of all of the turrets as well as any rockets currently in flight. He simply knew which direction to dodge at any given moment. The turrets fired at us repeatedly, and we took two or three hits, but most of the missiles flew past us without effect. Meanwhile our main gun fired like a metronome. Tali lined up shots almost as quickly as the capacitors could recharge, and she didn't often miss.
Finally we had silenced all of the turrets. Shepard pulled up outside the entrance to the torch's control bunker, and we emerged from the Mako ready for trouble. We passed through the airlock, into a large storage room . . .
"Batarians," said Shepard in disgust.
Our hypothesis had been confirmed. Three batarians looked up from a piece of equipment they had been working on, gave us startled four-eyed stares, and then dove for cover. Assault rifle fire burst out at us. Shepard leaped for the cover of a piece of heavy machinery, producing his sniper rifle, and Tali and I hurried to find positions for ourselves.
It reminded me of Sharjila. I used my biotics to lift enemy soldiers out of cover or knock them off their feet, and fired my pistol at targets of opportunity. Tali remotely overloaded enemy weapons and shields, and turned out to be quite deadly with a shotgun. Shepard built a model of the battlefield in his mind, and then began picking off targets with frighteningly accurate shots from his sniper rifle.
