A/N - For those who play the game, I'm not doing things in the order the game might deliver the plot. Writing my own story allows me the freedom to do things when I want.
Australian / British standard English. There is a good chance of reading the following: lots of profanity, characters drinking, typos, and bad grammar at times.
Proofreading and editing suggestions provided by OhDave1. Any mistakes are still mine.
Comments are appreciated as always.
Feedback by email is always welcome. Enjoy chatting with anyone who likes my work.
*****
Shepard heads to Illium to meet up with an old flame. Or two.
*****
I made a decision that morning. Without anything from the Illusive Man about where the Collectors were going to hit next, I pointed Joker towards Illium. I wanted to see Liara and check up on her. No, scratch that. I just really wanted to see her. Let her know that I was alive. Then I wanted to know what she was up to. If she'd moved on or if she was still mourning me. If she had moved on, I could accept that. Two years is a long time. Maybe not in the grand scheme of things, but I would never expect any widow of mine to mourn me for the rest of their life.
In addition to meeting up with Liara, there was another recruit to pick up. She was labelled as the 'Sorceress' as per the dossier provided by the Illusive Man. Another powerful biotic though rather amusingly, she was also trained in how to use a blade. Now that might sound rather silly to many people, but given the advent of shields, it takes quite a few shots before a shield is disabled, and if that same person is wearing armour, even more bullets are required before you hit skin, muscles and bone.
"I'm guessing he knows where we're going?" I asked Miranda although I already knew the answer.
"He knew that you'd head here sooner rather than later, Shepard. Don't worry about it."
"I'm not. I'm just wondering if he'll try and interfere."
"Depends on what you end up doing," Miranda stated, giving me a look that I already recognised, "I mean, it's been two years, and she must have missed you during that time."
"You do realise that I miss her too."
I think Miranda nearly snorted before she replied. "Yes, we're aware. We're surprised you haven't been around trying to recruit an asari or two already."
"Don't tempt me, Miranda."
I was rather surprised that the flight control of Nos Astra, Illium's capital, didn't attempt to stop us from landing. I'd long learned that we were registered as a civilian ship by Cerberus, but I guess Illium didn't really give a shit. Miranda had suggested that I do some reading before we docked, and the warning had already been sent out to the crew that if they were off the ship, to not verbally agree to nor sign their name to anything.
That warning was given again after the ship was clamped in place and a docking arm attached to the airlock. I was dressed in casual clothing as I didn't see the point in armour just yet. I knew some of my squad might be interested in getting off the ship. Many others were happy to remain on board as I'd been honest about being unsure as to how long we'd be on Illium. It might be a matter of a few hours though I only knew that one of our recruits was in Nos Astra. I didn't have an exact location.
Walking off the ship onto the docks, Nos Astra was one of probably hundreds of modern cities around the galaxy. But I was aware of the sordid underbelly that existed in the city and the fact that even the Asari Republics kept Illium at arm's length. They could get away with doing all sorts of shit on the planet and claim innocent. It was probably similar to Noveria in some ways if you looked at it.
I wasn't particularly surprised to be greeted by an incredibly attractive asari. Garrus was immediately laughing his arse off at my side. Miranda was probably stifling a chuckle behind me. I knew Kasumi, Amelie and Kelly were also hoping to get off the ship for at least a few hours. To my genuine surprise, the asari seemed to know all about me and explained that any fees incurred by the docking of the
Normandy
had already been covered by Liara.
"What do you know about her?" I had to ask.
The asari spoke of Liara in glowing terms, something that I would expect as Liara didn't have a bad bone in her body. But to hear that she was an influential information broker still didn't make sense. I knew that it had been over two years since I died, but to go from an archaeologist to an information broker just didn't make sense.
"Go see her," Miranda suggested once I'd thanked the asari for the information, "Just let us know how it goes."
Nos Astra was a bustling metropolis. To be honest, we stopped at one of the overlooks and took it all in. Yes, it might have been modern in one regard, but the horizon showing snow-capped peaks and breathtaking scenery had most of us standing in silence for a few minutes. You couldn't ignore the noise. I had a feeling it was a twenty-four-seven sort of city. People slept though then worried about losing money if they did.
My companions only left me alone when I suggested that I'd head straight for Liara's offices. I had no idea what to expect but wanted to go alone. Kelly gave me a quick hug and wished me luck. Garrus also admitted that he would have kept in touch with her without his own problems.
There was more than one sign pointing me in the direction of her offices. I walked through a set of double doors and spoke to a receptionist, no surprise it was an asari, asking if Doctor T'Soni was free. Asking who I was, I told her and the lowered jaw and eyes widening in surprise suggested that word hadn't exactly passed through yet that I'd arrived.
"Don't tell her. I want it to be a surprise."
I think the receptionist figured out this was a reunion and nodded though with a glistening eye or two. I walked up some steps and weaved through desks and Liara's office was highlighted. I didn't miss the glances from the banks of desks, most of them asari. I figured they were leaving their desks to watch me walk by. More than a few probably already had me figured out. I knew that news of my return had likely spread across the galaxy by now.
There was another asari outside Liara's desk. She looked up from her laptop, her eyes moving up and down, before she smiled at me. "Commander Shepard..." she stated softly.
"Hello. You are?"
"Nyxeris. I'm Liara's assistant. I literally just received word that you'd finally arrived on Illium. Do you want me to announce..."
"No. I'd like it to be a surprise. Think that'll work?"
"Commander..."
"Call me Shepard."
She smiled shyly at me, almost fluttering her eyelids. I would have laughed though I was used to such reactions by now. "Shepard, I think you walking in right now will make her year. She's so busy every single day. I think it's to keep her mind occupied."
Thanking Nyxeris, I stopped at the glass doors leading to Liara's and took more than one deep breath. I wasn't nervous, but I also knew this wouldn't be easy. I didn't even want to contemplate my inevitable return with Ashley. Neither of us had known much about Cerberus, but I could only imagine how she'd react to hear that I was working with them. I figured that I might eventually meet Wrex and knew he probably wouldn't give a shit what I was doing, as long as I turned up to have a chat and drink with him.
