ME: Lost

Asari

Two weeks after Udina's coup, the atmosphere in the Presidium radiated a calm tension. Shopkeepers loudly pushed their wares. Friends strolled arm in arm along the paths, gossiping about the war effort. Everyone seemed desperate to forget the horrible attack and return to normal, yet no one could. C-SEC's presence in the once peaceful center had tripled; scorch marks and bullet holes juxtaposed harshly against the pristine white walls; tarps and equipment cluttered the walkways as cleanup crews continued to rebuild many of the storefronts and office buildings.

Every head turned as Shepard strode past. A full set of armor was a rare sight in this part of the station and didn't fit with her normal preference for discretion, but the last time a council member asked to speak to her - all hell had broken loose.

"You can't think of any reason why Tevos would need to speak to me in private?"

Her companion shook her head slowly, "I hope it is the final piece we need for the Crucible, but if it is, I don't understand why she would wait this long to tell us."

They walked in silence for another couple of minutes before Shepard spoke up again, "you don't need to worry about me, you know."

Liara's look of concern melted into a rueful smile, "am I that easy to read?"

"I've known you for how many years now? You've always been easy to read."

"Oh."

Shepard grimaced at her crestfallen expression, "I didn't mean that as an insult, I appreciate that about you. Sometimes people aren't completely honest with me, but you always are."

Liara laughed softly, "I am not sure those two are completely related, but thank you."

"I mean it, Liara, I'm grateful for your friendship. I don't know if I've ever said that to you, but it's true."

"Thank you, I value our friendship as well. That is why I worry for you. I always have, ever since I touched your mind and viewed the prothean images."

Shepard shook her head, flicking her fingers as if brushing away a minor annoyance, "I've lived with the beacon, the cypher, and god-knows what else in my brain for this long, I'm fine."

"What if you are not?"

"Liara-"

"No! Listen to me, Shepard. What if you are not 'fine'. The beacon, that artifact in Dr. Kenson's lab, everything. What if it is starting to affect you? What if-"

Liara jumped back to keep from tripping as her friend swung around, eyes flashing.

"What if it is, what am I supposed to do then? The reapers are still winning, my home is still burning, what do you suggest I do?" She turned stiffly, absently kicking the bench next to her, "I know you're worried, but are you trying to provide solutions or perpetuate fear?"

The asari stuttered, eyes wide. "I...I'm sorry, I didn't know if you...I just...I wanted to help-" the words trailed off lamely and she glanced away.

"I know you were trying to help, and yes, I've thought about. Of course I've thought about it! I feel like I'm going insane sometimes," Shepard sighed, shaking her head, "but I can't do anything about it. I need to do my job, and I need to do it quickly, ok?"

Liara nodded solemnly, "Alright, commander. Let's talk to Councilor Tevos and finish this."

<><><>

The Temple of Athame lay eerily quiet.

A chill ran up Kaidan's spine as his body registered the drastic temperature difference between the temple and the rocky cliffs outside. Thessia was known for its beauty, from awe-inspiring landscape to the lavish cities, and this religious center was no exception. Glossy blue columns rested every ten feet around the outside wall, each pinnacle tapering several stories above them. The pedestals cluttering the center of the main chamber featured various artifacts balanced precariously on their rough hewn surfaces. In the very center of the farthest wall, a marble figure towered over the room; its glossy finish sculpted into a beautiful asari, face lifted in supplication.

Kaidan drifted towards the statue, mouth open in awe.

"The Goddess Athame," Liara stepped to his side, a small grin of pride on her face, "ever watchful over Thessia."

"So when you say by-the-Goddess, this is her?"

"Indeed."

"She's beautiful."

"Seriously, major," a sharp voice broke into his reverie, "are you drooling over a sculpture?"

Kaidan snapped his head to the left, unsure of the bite in Shepard's tone, but the delicate giggle of the asari behind him allayed his concern.

"No, ma'am, I'm simply trying to be respectful towards Liara's religion. Something you obviously need to work on.

"Hmph," she snorted, but he saw a flash of smile twist her lips as she turned away, "why don't you just find the artifact Tevos told us about."

<><><>

The Illusive Man's glowing figure paced back and forth in front of them, staring greedily at the Prothean VI.

"Why kill what you can control," he rasped, "in that aspect the reapers are correct."

Kaidan shifted stiffly as Shepard argued with the holo-image. He kept the commander in his peripheral vision, but his pistol remained fixed on the smirking assassin in the shadows beyond. Kai Leng's eyes twinkled, and Kaidan gritted his teeth in annoyance. Obviously, this had been a trap.

Shepard's voice broke into his thoughts and he concentrated on the heated exchange, "you're indoctrinated! We can't control them. The reapers are telling you what they want you to hear!"

A sharp laugh rippled across the Illusive Man's haughty face, "maybe I could say the same about you. The reapers could be twisting your thoughts, forcing you to fight a war that can't be won."

A brief expression of concern twisted Shepard's face and Kaidan hesitated, torn between keeping an eye on the physical threat and supporting her against a mental one - but before he could decide, she shook her head slowly, visibly shaking off the doubt.

"You're wrong, the reapers are destroying us. They won't stop till they've wiped out everyone in the galaxy. You are playing right into their hands."

"Don't act like you know me," rage flared across the glowing face, "I've been fighting the reapers longer than anyone. I know their methods, I've seen their thoughts. You will never be more qualified to make this decision."

Shepard turned away, shaking her head in derision, "all you've done is slowed us down, hindered us every step of the way. Forgive me if I don't believe you have humanity's best interest in mind."

A shaking hand jabbed a finger towards her back, "I've sacrificed more for humanity than you will EVER know! I won't stand here and waste my time with this fruitless argument."

As the image blinked out, the Illusive Man's voice issued one more command, "Leng, bring me the prothean data. Kill anyone who tries to stop you."