The De-Ager (1/11)
anonymous
June 28 2013, 20:50:22 UTC
The first thing she saw were the aliens scattered around the room, apparently tossed about like toys. Shepard tried to stand, but everything hurt, and she grunted painfully. Taking in the rest of the room, she shook her head, trying to clear her confusion.
She was in a metal room, setup as some kind of laboratory. Her heart began pounding, as images of being turned into a lab rat filled her head. She'd heard about other kids getting nabbed and used by companies, or the government, but she'd never thought it could happen to her. Fortunately, things didn't seem to go the way that anyone expected, as she was up and about quicker than the rest.
Of course, that didn't explain why the majority of the people in the room were aliens, and she'd never seen a scientist dressed in such skin tight clothing as the only human had. Shepard couldn't help but pause for a second to get a good look at the woman's curves, and it was distracting enough that it kept her from noticing one of the aliens until she was standing.
Shepard had never seen an asari before, but that's what she assumed the beautiful blue woman was. She'd thought the pictures she had seen were pretty, but none of them did the asari justice if the example in front of her was typical. Her white and blue outfit sort of looked like a sexy lab coat, but her face, with its big blue eyes, round cheeks, and freckles, didn't look very much like a mad scientist.
The asari was shaking her own head, and when she saw Shepard her mouth dropped open in shock. Shepard looked down self consciously for a second, and frowned in confusion at her own clothing. For some reason she was wearing an over sized white and black uniform, which was so baggy she looked like she was swimming in it.
“Shepard?” the asari said. “Your eyes... it is you. What has happened?”
“How'd you know my name?” Shepard demanded suspiciously. “What'd you do to me?”
“Shepard?” the asari repeated. “You- you do not know who I am?”
“Should I?” Shepard asked, backing away slowly as the other two aliens and the human woman all climbed to their feet. One looked really old and was probably a salarian. He was missing one of his horns, but his clothing and demeanor seemed a better fit for mad scientist. The other alien was a turian in heavy blue armor, and from the scars covering half his face, Shepard suspected he was a security guard or mercenary of some kind. That fit with what Shepard had heard about salarians and turians, anyway.
“I- how can you not know me?” the asari asked. “What was the last thing that you remember?”
“Not bein' anywhere like this,” Shepard said. “I dunno who you people are, but I'm not lettin' you do anymore experimentin' on me, or whatever. So just back off and lemme outta here.”
“You can't just get out of here,” the turian said. Shepard was disturbed by the way the mandibles moved and clicked after that statement.
“Like hell I can't!” Shepard said, suddenly darting away from the turian. She didn't know anything about aliens except what she'd seen on the TV in the store, but she thought the big spiky alien was probably the most dangerous.
The turian had been between Shepard and the only door, but her keenly honed skill at evasion had allowed her to spot the other exit, some kind of ladder at the other end of the lab. The human woman shouted her name and lunged for her just before Shepard reached the ladder, managing to grab her shoulder. Shepard yelled and kicked, her foot hitting the woman in the knee and making her shout in pain.
Shepard didn't waste anymore time, grabbing the ladder and sliding down, not even bothering with the rungs. When she hit the bottom she found herself surrounded by some kind of industrial machinery, and it wasn't the first time she'd used such things as cover. She was gone, climbing into the tiny service tunnels and wriggling between devices so fast her pursuers didn't even get a glimpse of her by the time they reached the room she'd found. She ignored their shouts and kept crawling, looking for somewhere safe to hide until the heat was off.
The De-Ager (2/11)
anonymous
June 28 2013, 20:51:10 UTC
Shepard hid out for two days. She didn't know where she was, but it was full of machines the likes of which she'd never imagined. Her favorite one was the huge blue ball that glowed at the center of a wide open area. She could lay on her stomach under the metal catwalk and stare at it for hours, even though she didn't have a clue what it did.
In addition to laying low, she'd found a water pipe she could tap into, and some empty oil cans she could seal to relieve herself in. She couldn't use any of the restrooms since there were so many cameras, and with the number of people searching the ship, calling her name, she knew that if she showed up on their surveillance she'd be found in no time at all. Fortunately, she was used to improvising in places with no functional facilities, so it wasn't a problem for her, and sealing it let them avoid smelling her out.
Unfortunately, the only things that she couldn't manage to find were food or a safe exit. Her limited explorations had uncovered no way out of her current area without being spotted, and not a crumb was stored anywhere she could find. She couldn't even take anything from the people she saw, as none of them carried any food.
The strangest thing about the people were how many of them were aliens. She'd seen every race she'd ever heard of, and even some she couldn't identify. There was even a robot with a flashlight for a head. Shepard had been afraid she'd be spotted by that one, but so far she'd managed to stay hidden.
Eventually the pretty asari who she had first seen came into the room and sat down in the middle of the wide open area with all of the control panels. She carefully pulled out containers of food, setting one directly across from her, and another further away. She then pulled out utensils and began slowly eating.
Shepard sat, watching the asari, her stomach growling at her. She was so hungry, and the food looked delicious. Shepard was smart though, and she knew what the asari was doing. She was trying to bait her out into the open with the food. The only problem was, it looked, and smelled, so good.
The De-Ager (3/11)
anonymous
June 28 2013, 20:52:39 UTC
She knew it was a bad idea, but finally Shepard couldn't stand it anymore. She finally decided to trust the small voice, which was telling her that the pretty asari wasn't trying to hurt her. Hesitating for just another moment, she carefully climbed up onto the metal flooring.
“Hello,” the asari said, her voice gentle. “Would you like some food?”
Shepard hovered, close enough to dive for safety, but not quite ready to give up on the meal. “Who're you?”
“My name is Liara T'Soni,” the asari said.
“Whataya want?”
“At this time I only wish to help you,” Liara said. “I know that you must be hungry. Would you not like some food?”
“Whataya want for it?” Shepard demanded. “Nothin's free.”
Liara looked sad for a moment, but not surprised. “I do not desire anything from you. The only thing that I would like is to ask you to sit and speak with me while you eat. I will not demand anything more.”
Shepard hesitated for just another moment, before nodding sharply and darting forward, grabbing the container of food and the drink next it it and shuffling back to the edge of the area. Liara didn't say anything, simply looking at Shepard sadly. Shepard bit her lip, feeling strangely uncomfortable about making the pretty asari upset, but not so uncomfortable that she stopped her retreat. She did stay where she could speak freely, even though she was ready to dive for safety in the maze of machinery at a moments notice.
Shepard took a huge bite of the hot, tasty food, and moaned in pleasure. It was the best thing she'd ever eaten, and it was so good to have something in her belly besides metallic tasting water. “'S good.”
“Yes,” Liara said. “I... had an idea about what you might like, and had the cook prepare it for us. Please, do not feel compelled to eat so quickly. You can take as much time as you desire - I will not take you, or harm you, or take your food away. It is yours, and it is safe for you to speak with me.”
Shepard wasn't so sure about all of that, but decided not to argue with someone giving her food. At the very least she could escape if something went wrong, she'd do it with a full stomach. She also knew from past experience that eating too quickly after not eating at all could make her feel sick, so it was better to slow down, however much she didn't want to.
Once she'd eaten enough that she was no longer quite so desperate, she began to study the pretty asari, who by then had finished her own, smaller, meal. “Why'd you take me? What're you tryin' to pull?”
“We did not take you,” Liara said. “The reason why you are here is somewhat complicated. I am aware of the circumstances, and I can scarcely believe it.”
“Where's here?” Shepard asked.
“You are on a ship, the Normandy,” Liara said. “We are currently quite some distance from Earth.”
Shepard paused in shock, looking around the room with a new appreciation for her situation. She'd always dreamed of leaving Earth and seeing the stars, and the room she was in could be part of a ship, although she doubted it was some cheap merchant ship. Biting her lip, Shepard mulled that over before speaking again. “So why'm I here?”
The De-Ager (4/11)
anonymous
June 28 2013, 20:53:27 UTC
“As I said, the circumstances are somewhat difficult to believe,” Liara said. “The captain of this ship is a very brave woman, and she found a strange artifact that she believed to be prothean. We are... well acquainted with one another, and I am an expert on the protheans. The captain brought the artifact to me, and several of us were examining it in the lab.”
Shepard thought back, but she hadn't recognized much in the lab she'd woken up in. If there was some strange artifact there, it was lost in her surprise about her sudden circumstances - the last thing she had remembered was going to sleep in a warehouse that her gang was squatting in. Waking up in a lab surrounded by aliens had been rather disorienting for her.
“The artifact's purpose was unknown, but as I said, the captain is a very brave woman,” Liara continued. “She figured out how to turn it on, and did so. There was a flash, and we were thrown about the the room. When we woke up, the captain had... changed.”
“Changed?” Shepard asked.
“Yes,” Liara said carefully. “While her clothing was unaltered, she had seemingly been transformed into a more youthful version of herself. As far as we can tell, she does not remember any events that transpired after her apparent new age.”
Shepard wasn't stupid. She was in fact, while uneducated, extremely intelligent. She bit her lip, pondering what Liara was saying. The idea of an artifact de-aging someone was ludicrous, but she couldn't deny how strange it was that she'd woken up on an unknown ship surrounded by aliens who knew her name, wearing a strange and oversized uniform.
“A captain?” Shepard asked. “You mean me. How'd I get to be a captai?. That sounds 's dumb 's a de-ager.”
Liara smiled. “As I said, the captain is a very brave woman. She came to command this ship because she deserved it through her hard work. Please, Shepard. Let me help you.”
“Say I believe you,” Shepard said. “Say this isn't just some crazy scheme to grab me before I split so you can do whatever it was you were doin' to me that made me wake up hurtin'-”
“Hurting?” Liara asked concerned. “Are you alright? Other than being here, de-aged, and with no memory of that fact.”
“I'm fine,” Shepard said. She studied the asari for a moment before continuing, completely unused to anyone caring enough about her to be concerned. She wasn't sure what to make of it. “So if you really didn't just kidnap me for some reason, then how're you gonna help me? Got a re-ager sittin' 'round, 'sides just waitin' for me to get old.”
“Mordin thinks he will figure the device out eventually,” Liara said. “But until he does, there is no reason for you to live like this. You can have a room with a bed and a shower, clean clothing, and food.”
The De-Ager (5/11)
anonymous
June 28 2013, 20:54:17 UTC
Shepard wanted to believe Liara. Not just because a bed and food sounded wonderful. But being clean had always been a rare luxury, and the thought of taking a shower was extremely appealing. More than all of that, Shepard was surprised to realize she wanted to believe the pretty asari. She'd been nothing but kind, and for once Shepard really wanted someone to be as good as they pretended to be.
She looked the asari in her eyes for a long moment, debating, before finally giving a tiny nod. The happy smile she received made her give a tiny smile of her own in return. When Liara stood and walked over to offer a hand up, Shepard took it after a moment and carefully stood.
The hand was soft, the tiny scales that she could see from up close feeling smooth in her hand. It was slightly cooler than she'd been expecting, but made her feel strangely warm in a way that made Shepard not want to let go. She was disappointed when Liara stepped back to lead her from the room.
It didn't take them long to reach an elevator, and once inside they went to the top floor. While they waited Shepard kept casting quick glances at the asari. She was still amazed at how pretty she was, and the longer she spent in her company, the more convinced she was that Liara wasn't going to hurt her. It was a strange feeling.
Beyond the elevator was another door, and inside was an incredible room. It had a huge bed, a comfortable sitting area, an office, and a large bathroom. Once she had seen everything Liara spoke. “Why don't you go ahead and take a shower. I found some clothing that should be a better fit and set it out on your bed. I will wait downstairs on the third floor for you - it is where the lounges are. When you are clean you can come down and we can speak.”
Once Liara was gone Shepard wasted no time hopping in the shower and getting clean. After several days of crawling through the innards of the ship she was covered in dirt and oil, and it felt good just to stand underneath the warm water. The clothing Liara had laid out was still a little loose, but was a much better fit than what she'd been wearing before.
She then took a few minutes to poke around and look at objects in the room. The closet was half full of uniforms identical to the ones she'd been wearing, but included some other things as well. Most of it was in the same size as the uniforms, but a few items weren't. She frowned as she examined the strange women's clothing, unsure of who would wear them.
Taking in the rest of the room, she found several signs that the room, while mostly used by one person, had another frequent guest. Two sets of toiletries in the bathroom were a dead give away. Still, she didn't know who else could visit, other than that they were female, and the brand items weren't labeled in any language she recognized.
The De-Ager (6/11)
anonymous
June 28 2013, 20:54:59 UTC
Liara sat down in the lounge after pouring herself a large drink of alcohol. She wasn't normally much of a drinker, but she needed something after everything that had happened. She drank deeply before coughing and closing her eyes.
When Shepard showed up on Hagalaz claiming to found a working prothean artifact, Liara had at first thought that it was just an excuse to see her again. She wouldn't have minded one bit, as ever since the defeat of the Collectors the Normandy had been making frequent calls, and Liara spent days at a time on the ship. She had even gone so far as to move a few of her things into Shepard's cabin, and she had even begun planning possible ways to relocate to the ship permanently without disrupting Shadow Broker operations.
When she'd seen the item, though, she'd realized that Shepard really had found something. Mordin and Miranda were already studying it when she arrived, and after greeting Garrus and giving Shepard a kiss, she'd quickly joined in. Unfortunately, it didn't take long before a bored Shepard figured out how to turn it on.
Everyone had been thrown about with a flash, and when Liara could stand again she'd been shocked to discover a young Shepard. She wasn't an expert on human development, but Liara believed Shepard was in her middle teens. It hadn't taken long for the teenager to spook and run, disappearing into engineering before anyone could find her.
Liara should've seen it coming. She'd spent enough time melding with Shepard to know what her younger years had been like, and hiding in cramped industrial machinery wasn't something that would've bothered her. Surrounded by strangers, Shepard had hidden so thoroughly that they'd had no chance to find her, even knowing what room she was in.
Finally Liara had given it some serious thought, and had realized that, like coaxing out a wild animal, she would have to draw Shepard to her. As hard as it was for her to believe, Liara knew that Shepard at that age had often wanted for food, and it had been a simple matter for her to convince the ship's cook to make Shepard's favorite food. Fortunately, it had worked like a charm.
Still, the thought of her lover transformed into a youth was unnerving. While she'd recently become more on even ground with Shepard, for most of their relationship Liara had been the bright eyed, naïve one, eager to learn but scared at the same time. While no one would call the nearly feral teenage Shepard naïve, Liara knew that she'd never had any form of relationship, or any real friends, at that point in her life.
The De-Ager (7/11)
anonymous
June 28 2013, 20:55:41 UTC
When the door to the lounge finally opened, Liara opened her eyes and smiled at Shepard. She looked like a different person clean, and between her big green eyes staring out of a youthful face, and the somewhat oversized clothing one of the crew had donated, Shepard looked even younger. She paused at the doorway, not sure what to do, but after a moment she came in hesitantly, letting the door close behind her.
“Hey,” Shepard mumbled.
“Hello, Shepard,” Liara said. “Are you feeling better?”
“Yes,” Shepard said. “I... it feels nice. To be clean.”
“I know,” Liara said. Asari on Thessia spent a lot of time in and around water, and it had been difficult when she'd been in the field as an archeologist, getting used to not having access to facilities whenever she felt dirty. “You can take one as often as you desire now.”
“I thought ships didn't have much water?” Shepard said.
“Normally that is true,” Liara said. “This is a very special ship, however, and it is well supplied. We are also in orbit around a facility that can provide more if we should have any issues in that regard. So please, feel free to make use of them as often as you please.”
Shepard walked across the room, and stood, staring out the window. The view outside was spectacular, allowing them to see Hagalaz below, and the endless field of stars above. “I really am in space,” Shepard whispered, her voice awed.
Liara smiled at that. “Yes, you travel through space with great regularity. Now, why don't you sit down? These couches are very comfortable, and you can see outside from here.”
Shepard looked at her suspiciously for a moment, as if wondering if it was a trap, before slowly walking over, sitting on the far end of the couch. It hurt, seeing Shepard not trusting her, but Liara strove not to take it personally. Shepard had never trusted anyone, and she knew that the second she regained herself they would be fine again. They had to be.
“Why're you bein' so nice to me?” Shepard demanded suddenly. “Whataya want?”
“You are important to everyone on this ship, Shepard,” Liara said gently. “The you who is older has saved all of our lives, and even beyond that, made our existences far richer than we could have imagined possible without you. We would all do anything to help you, and this? Being kind, feeding you, giving you your own room? This is simply basic courtesy.”
Liara paused to let that sink in, before continuing, her eyes on the planet below where her own ship was located. “I know that in your life you have never experienced it, but for all of the bad in the world, all of the cruelty and hate, there is good. There is love, and hope, and kindness, and people who help others for no better reason than that they should. We aren't trying to trick you or hurt you, Shepard. We simply care.”
The De-Ager (8/11)
anonymous
June 28 2013, 20:56:26 UTC
Over the course of the next week Shepard slowly got to know the crew of the ship. She still could barely believe anything she was hearing, even after watching a recording Mordin had made of the accidental activation of the device. Everyone else seemed to believe it though, since everyone, even the scariest of the aliens, treated her so strangely.
She'd found a kindred spirit in Jack. Jack seemed hard and prickly, but whenever Shepard was around she always made time for her, and she had a good sense for when Shepard began to get overwhelmed. When Shepard asked, Jack simply said that she owed her.
As she got to know them and became less nervous around them, the crew became a bit more open as well. Unfortunately, it seemed for most of them that her change was disturbing, and no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't get over the fact that she wasn't who they wanted. They wanted the adult version, and from the things she'd overheard, she couldn't blame them. It was hard to imagine herself as a leader, much less a hero.
In general though, Shepard had found the ship to be wonderful. She showered every day, often twice, and the water was always warm for her. After the first few days she stopped hoarding food, no longer afraid that it wouldn't be available whenever she was hungry. The cook had even made snacks for her to eat whenever she wanted.
The one thing she didn't like about the ship had been the trip to the doctor. She hadn't visited a doctor since leaving the orphanage, but the stern, motherly woman managed to get her onto an examination table one night after dinner. She'd been poked and prodded and generally examined, before finally being given a series of shots. She'd hated it, but she had to admit that she'd felt better the next morning.
The one person she preferred to spend time with, however, was Liara. The asari wasn't just the first person to reach out to her on the ship, but the first person she'd ever met who didn't seem like she wanted something from her. No matter how much time she spent around Liara, she never got the feeling that she was being used.
Not that it was a hardship to spend time around her. Liara was beautiful, and Shepard had had to stop herself from staring at her on several occasions. She'd always known that she found women attractive, but Shepard had never been so thoroughly distracted by anyone before, and she didn't know what to do about it. She didn't know what to do about anything, really.
The De-Ager (9/11)
anonymous
June 28 2013, 20:57:11 UTC
Liara noticed that Shepard was acting very strangely. For the most part she chalked it up to how unsocialized she was. The fact that her and Jack were acting in each others roles - Shepard angry and afraid of everything, Jack trying to convince her that not everyone was out to hurt her and that people mattered - should've said everything about how fragile she was. While that covered most of her actions, sometimes the way that she acted around Liara defied explanation.
At first, after drawing her out of her semi-feral state hiding in the engine room, Liara and Shepard had been able to have several long talks. They had been somewhat awkward, but not terribly so. Liara had used her insights from her time with the adult version of Shepard to reach out to the teenage version, and it had worked. At first she'd opened up to Liara, but after a while she seemed to grow more and more uncomfortable in the asari's presence.
Liara had thought that perhaps she had done or said something that had angered Shepard, but dismissed that thought when she realized that the teenager seemed to spend most of her time around Liara, even if they didn't talk very often. Sometimes she even seemed to go out of her way to get Liara's attention, often by doing stupid things. When she tried to talk to her though, Shepard just seemed to blush and alternate between avoiding looking at her and staring at her when she didn't think Liara would notice. Her time on Illium had taught her quite a bit about being observant, however, and no matter how subtle Shepard tried to be Liara was always aware of her.
When Liara had approached Dr. Chakwas about the situation, the older woman had laughed at her. She wouldn't explain anything, only saying that she wasn't surprised. It was infuriating.
Finally, two weeks after her transformation, Liara was incredibly relieved when Mordin finally figured out how to reverse the process. When she found Shepard and told her the good news, the teenager wasn't nearly as happy about it as Liara was. She looked almost depressed in fact.
“Shepard... is there something the matter?” Liara asked finally.
“Yeah,” Shepard said, looking her straight in the eye for the first time in days. “When I get 'fixed' I'm not gonna be me anymore. I'm just... I'm just gonna be gone. Like I'm dead.”
The De-Ager (10/11)
anonymous
June 28 2013, 20:58:07 UTC
Liara sucked in a shocked breath, having not even considered that fact. “Goddess, Shepard. I am sorry. It did no even occur to me- I am- I- you-”
Shepard chuckled slightly “Don't worry 'bout it Liara. I just... I get it. I'm just some kid, and this adult me is a hero. You need her.”
“She is very special,” Liara said. “But that does not mean that you are not important. I...”
Liara didn't know what to say. She needed Shepard back, as her friend, her lover, and the only person with a chance to stop the Reapers. Shepard spoke before she could figure anything out. “Okay. I just have a question though. I wanna know somethin' before you get rid of me.”
“I don't wish to... it isn't... what is your question?”
“There's someone in her life,” Shepard said. “In my life. I don't always live here alone.”
“Yes,” Liara said.
Shepard took a step towards Liara, her eyes bright and intent. Liara felt uncomfortably like a bird trapped in the gaze of an earth cat. “Who is it?”
“Are- are you sure that you wish to know?” Liara asked.
“More than anything,” Shepard answered, stepping closer.
“Me,” Liara breathed. “We are- we are involved.”
Then Shepard kissed her. Liara was so surprised that she almost didn't kiss back. It was so strange, feeling the raw, awkward kiss against her lips, instead of the strong confidence that she was used to. After a moment Shepard pulled back from the still chaste kiss and gave a goofy grin that seemed completely out of place on her usually wary features. “My first kiss,” she said. “I'm ready.”
Liara nodded, not knowing what to say. Instead of the pure excitement she'd felt about Mordin's announcement, she now felt strangely torn. She needed her lover back, but it felt cruel to end the teenager's existence this way. She said nothing as they walked to Mordin's lab.
The device had already been prepared, and after a long look at Liara, Shepard stepped forward and pushed the button. There was a flash of light, and once more everyone present was flying through the air. Biting her lip, Liara slowly stood up, unsure of what she would find.
The De-Ager (11/11)
anonymous
June 28 2013, 20:58:56 UTC
Shepard slowly sat up, her head ringing. Her fuzzy thoughts swiftly came back together, and she suddenly remembered everything, all of her life, including the strange weeks she'd just spent on the Normandy as a scared teenager. Looking down at herself, she sighed in relief when she saw that she was in her usual body.
“Shepard?” Liara asked.
Shepard glanced up, smiling when she saw Liara. Standing, she walked over to the asari, who looked at her hesitantly. “Hey,” Shepard said, before grabbing her and kissing her hard.
When Shepard let her go the somewhat dazed asari smiled at her. “Are you alright? Do you- do you remember what happened?”
“Yeah,” Shepard said. “I remember everything.”
They walked out of the lab, and Shepard paused when she saw Jack leaning against the wall. “Hey,” Shepard said.
“Shepard,” Jack said. “I get it now.”
Shepard smiled at her. “Thanks Jack. You really did make things easier for me. Having someone who gets what you're going through... it makes a world of difference.”
“Wasn't much,” Jack mumbled.
“Really, though, Jack,” Shepard said. “You did great. Did you ever think about working with kids? You could really make a difference.”
Shepard and Liara left a stunned Jack as they entered the elevator. “Where are we going?” Liara asked curiously.
“Our room,” Shepard said. “We've got a lot of lost time to make up for. Besides, I just spent two weeks with teenage hormones and you sitting there all unobtainable.”
Shepard smirked and grabbed Liara, pulling her into a toe curling kiss. “Teenage me and adult me both agree on one thing at least. You really are wonderful.”
She was in a metal room, setup as some kind of laboratory. Her heart began pounding, as images of being turned into a lab rat filled her head. She'd heard about other kids getting nabbed and used by companies, or the government, but she'd never thought it could happen to her. Fortunately, things didn't seem to go the way that anyone expected, as she was up and about quicker than the rest.
Of course, that didn't explain why the majority of the people in the room were aliens, and she'd never seen a scientist dressed in such skin tight clothing as the only human had. Shepard couldn't help but pause for a second to get a good look at the woman's curves, and it was distracting enough that it kept her from noticing one of the aliens until she was standing.
Shepard had never seen an asari before, but that's what she assumed the beautiful blue woman was. She'd thought the pictures she had seen were pretty, but none of them did the asari justice if the example in front of her was typical. Her white and blue outfit sort of looked like a sexy lab coat, but her face, with its big blue eyes, round cheeks, and freckles, didn't look very much like a mad scientist.
The asari was shaking her own head, and when she saw Shepard her mouth dropped open in shock. Shepard looked down self consciously for a second, and frowned in confusion at her own clothing. For some reason she was wearing an over sized white and black uniform, which was so baggy she looked like she was swimming in it.
“Shepard?” the asari said. “Your eyes... it is you. What has happened?”
“How'd you know my name?” Shepard demanded suspiciously. “What'd you do to me?”
“Shepard?” the asari repeated. “You- you do not know who I am?”
“Should I?” Shepard asked, backing away slowly as the other two aliens and the human woman all climbed to their feet. One looked really old and was probably a salarian. He was missing one of his horns, but his clothing and demeanor seemed a better fit for mad scientist. The other alien was a turian in heavy blue armor, and from the scars covering half his face, Shepard suspected he was a security guard or mercenary of some kind. That fit with what Shepard had heard about salarians and turians, anyway.
“I- how can you not know me?” the asari asked. “What was the last thing that you remember?”
“Not bein' anywhere like this,” Shepard said. “I dunno who you people are, but I'm not lettin' you do anymore experimentin' on me, or whatever. So just back off and lemme outta here.”
“You can't just get out of here,” the turian said. Shepard was disturbed by the way the mandibles moved and clicked after that statement.
“Like hell I can't!” Shepard said, suddenly darting away from the turian. She didn't know anything about aliens except what she'd seen on the TV in the store, but she thought the big spiky alien was probably the most dangerous.
The turian had been between Shepard and the only door, but her keenly honed skill at evasion had allowed her to spot the other exit, some kind of ladder at the other end of the lab. The human woman shouted her name and lunged for her just before Shepard reached the ladder, managing to grab her shoulder. Shepard yelled and kicked, her foot hitting the woman in the knee and making her shout in pain.
Shepard didn't waste anymore time, grabbing the ladder and sliding down, not even bothering with the rungs. When she hit the bottom she found herself surrounded by some kind of industrial machinery, and it wasn't the first time she'd used such things as cover. She was gone, climbing into the tiny service tunnels and wriggling between devices so fast her pursuers didn't even get a glimpse of her by the time they reached the room she'd found. She ignored their shouts and kept crawling, looking for somewhere safe to hide until the heat was off.
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In addition to laying low, she'd found a water pipe she could tap into, and some empty oil cans she could seal to relieve herself in. She couldn't use any of the restrooms since there were so many cameras, and with the number of people searching the ship, calling her name, she knew that if she showed up on their surveillance she'd be found in no time at all. Fortunately, she was used to improvising in places with no functional facilities, so it wasn't a problem for her, and sealing it let them avoid smelling her out.
Unfortunately, the only things that she couldn't manage to find were food or a safe exit. Her limited explorations had uncovered no way out of her current area without being spotted, and not a crumb was stored anywhere she could find. She couldn't even take anything from the people she saw, as none of them carried any food.
The strangest thing about the people were how many of them were aliens. She'd seen every race she'd ever heard of, and even some she couldn't identify. There was even a robot with a flashlight for a head. Shepard had been afraid she'd be spotted by that one, but so far she'd managed to stay hidden.
Eventually the pretty asari who she had first seen came into the room and sat down in the middle of the wide open area with all of the control panels. She carefully pulled out containers of food, setting one directly across from her, and another further away. She then pulled out utensils and began slowly eating.
Shepard sat, watching the asari, her stomach growling at her. She was so hungry, and the food looked delicious. Shepard was smart though, and she knew what the asari was doing. She was trying to bait her out into the open with the food. The only problem was, it looked, and smelled, so good.
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“Hello,” the asari said, her voice gentle. “Would you like some food?”
Shepard hovered, close enough to dive for safety, but not quite ready to give up on the meal. “Who're you?”
“My name is Liara T'Soni,” the asari said.
“Whataya want?”
“At this time I only wish to help you,” Liara said. “I know that you must be hungry. Would you not like some food?”
“Whataya want for it?” Shepard demanded. “Nothin's free.”
Liara looked sad for a moment, but not surprised. “I do not desire anything from you. The only thing that I would like is to ask you to sit and speak with me while you eat. I will not demand anything more.”
Shepard hesitated for just another moment, before nodding sharply and darting forward, grabbing the container of food and the drink next it it and shuffling back to the edge of the area. Liara didn't say anything, simply looking at Shepard sadly. Shepard bit her lip, feeling strangely uncomfortable about making the pretty asari upset, but not so uncomfortable that she stopped her retreat. She did stay where she could speak freely, even though she was ready to dive for safety in the maze of machinery at a moments notice.
Shepard took a huge bite of the hot, tasty food, and moaned in pleasure. It was the best thing she'd ever eaten, and it was so good to have something in her belly besides metallic tasting water. “'S good.”
“Yes,” Liara said. “I... had an idea about what you might like, and had the cook prepare it for us. Please, do not feel compelled to eat so quickly. You can take as much time as you desire - I will not take you, or harm you, or take your food away. It is yours, and it is safe for you to speak with me.”
Shepard wasn't so sure about all of that, but decided not to argue with someone giving her food. At the very least she could escape if something went wrong, she'd do it with a full stomach. She also knew from past experience that eating too quickly after not eating at all could make her feel sick, so it was better to slow down, however much she didn't want to.
Once she'd eaten enough that she was no longer quite so desperate, she began to study the pretty asari, who by then had finished her own, smaller, meal. “Why'd you take me? What're you tryin' to pull?”
“We did not take you,” Liara said. “The reason why you are here is somewhat complicated. I am aware of the circumstances, and I can scarcely believe it.”
“Where's here?” Shepard asked.
“You are on a ship, the Normandy,” Liara said. “We are currently quite some distance from Earth.”
Shepard paused in shock, looking around the room with a new appreciation for her situation. She'd always dreamed of leaving Earth and seeing the stars, and the room she was in could be part of a ship, although she doubted it was some cheap merchant ship. Biting her lip, Shepard mulled that over before speaking again. “So why'm I here?”
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Shepard thought back, but she hadn't recognized much in the lab she'd woken up in. If there was some strange artifact there, it was lost in her surprise about her sudden circumstances - the last thing she had remembered was going to sleep in a warehouse that her gang was squatting in. Waking up in a lab surrounded by aliens had been rather disorienting for her.
“The artifact's purpose was unknown, but as I said, the captain is a very brave woman,” Liara continued. “She figured out how to turn it on, and did so. There was a flash, and we were thrown about the the room. When we woke up, the captain had... changed.”
“Changed?” Shepard asked.
“Yes,” Liara said carefully. “While her clothing was unaltered, she had seemingly been transformed into a more youthful version of herself. As far as we can tell, she does not remember any events that transpired after her apparent new age.”
Shepard wasn't stupid. She was in fact, while uneducated, extremely intelligent. She bit her lip, pondering what Liara was saying. The idea of an artifact de-aging someone was ludicrous, but she couldn't deny how strange it was that she'd woken up on an unknown ship surrounded by aliens who knew her name, wearing a strange and oversized uniform.
“A captain?” Shepard asked. “You mean me. How'd I get to be a captai?. That sounds 's dumb 's a de-ager.”
Liara smiled. “As I said, the captain is a very brave woman. She came to command this ship because she deserved it through her hard work. Please, Shepard. Let me help you.”
“Say I believe you,” Shepard said. “Say this isn't just some crazy scheme to grab me before I split so you can do whatever it was you were doin' to me that made me wake up hurtin'-”
“Hurting?” Liara asked concerned. “Are you alright? Other than being here, de-aged, and with no memory of that fact.”
“I'm fine,” Shepard said. She studied the asari for a moment before continuing, completely unused to anyone caring enough about her to be concerned. She wasn't sure what to make of it. “So if you really didn't just kidnap me for some reason, then how're you gonna help me? Got a re-ager sittin' 'round, 'sides just waitin' for me to get old.”
“Mordin thinks he will figure the device out eventually,” Liara said. “But until he does, there is no reason for you to live like this. You can have a room with a bed and a shower, clean clothing, and food.”
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She looked the asari in her eyes for a long moment, debating, before finally giving a tiny nod. The happy smile she received made her give a tiny smile of her own in return. When Liara stood and walked over to offer a hand up, Shepard took it after a moment and carefully stood.
The hand was soft, the tiny scales that she could see from up close feeling smooth in her hand. It was slightly cooler than she'd been expecting, but made her feel strangely warm in a way that made Shepard not want to let go. She was disappointed when Liara stepped back to lead her from the room.
It didn't take them long to reach an elevator, and once inside they went to the top floor. While they waited Shepard kept casting quick glances at the asari. She was still amazed at how pretty she was, and the longer she spent in her company, the more convinced she was that Liara wasn't going to hurt her. It was a strange feeling.
Beyond the elevator was another door, and inside was an incredible room. It had a huge bed, a comfortable sitting area, an office, and a large bathroom. Once she had seen everything Liara spoke. “Why don't you go ahead and take a shower. I found some clothing that should be a better fit and set it out on your bed. I will wait downstairs on the third floor for you - it is where the lounges are. When you are clean you can come down and we can speak.”
Once Liara was gone Shepard wasted no time hopping in the shower and getting clean. After several days of crawling through the innards of the ship she was covered in dirt and oil, and it felt good just to stand underneath the warm water. The clothing Liara had laid out was still a little loose, but was a much better fit than what she'd been wearing before.
She then took a few minutes to poke around and look at objects in the room. The closet was half full of uniforms identical to the ones she'd been wearing, but included some other things as well. Most of it was in the same size as the uniforms, but a few items weren't. She frowned as she examined the strange women's clothing, unsure of who would wear them.
Taking in the rest of the room, she found several signs that the room, while mostly used by one person, had another frequent guest. Two sets of toiletries in the bathroom were a dead give away. Still, she didn't know who else could visit, other than that they were female, and the brand items weren't labeled in any language she recognized.
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When Shepard showed up on Hagalaz claiming to found a working prothean artifact, Liara had at first thought that it was just an excuse to see her again. She wouldn't have minded one bit, as ever since the defeat of the Collectors the Normandy had been making frequent calls, and Liara spent days at a time on the ship. She had even gone so far as to move a few of her things into Shepard's cabin, and she had even begun planning possible ways to relocate to the ship permanently without disrupting Shadow Broker operations.
When she'd seen the item, though, she'd realized that Shepard really had found something. Mordin and Miranda were already studying it when she arrived, and after greeting Garrus and giving Shepard a kiss, she'd quickly joined in. Unfortunately, it didn't take long before a bored Shepard figured out how to turn it on.
Everyone had been thrown about with a flash, and when Liara could stand again she'd been shocked to discover a young Shepard. She wasn't an expert on human development, but Liara believed Shepard was in her middle teens. It hadn't taken long for the teenager to spook and run, disappearing into engineering before anyone could find her.
Liara should've seen it coming. She'd spent enough time melding with Shepard to know what her younger years had been like, and hiding in cramped industrial machinery wasn't something that would've bothered her. Surrounded by strangers, Shepard had hidden so thoroughly that they'd had no chance to find her, even knowing what room she was in.
Finally Liara had given it some serious thought, and had realized that, like coaxing out a wild animal, she would have to draw Shepard to her. As hard as it was for her to believe, Liara knew that Shepard at that age had often wanted for food, and it had been a simple matter for her to convince the ship's cook to make Shepard's favorite food. Fortunately, it had worked like a charm.
Still, the thought of her lover transformed into a youth was unnerving. While she'd recently become more on even ground with Shepard, for most of their relationship Liara had been the bright eyed, naïve one, eager to learn but scared at the same time. While no one would call the nearly feral teenage Shepard naïve, Liara knew that she'd never had any form of relationship, or any real friends, at that point in her life.
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“Hey,” Shepard mumbled.
“Hello, Shepard,” Liara said. “Are you feeling better?”
“Yes,” Shepard said. “I... it feels nice. To be clean.”
“I know,” Liara said. Asari on Thessia spent a lot of time in and around water, and it had been difficult when she'd been in the field as an archeologist, getting used to not having access to facilities whenever she felt dirty. “You can take one as often as you desire now.”
“I thought ships didn't have much water?” Shepard said.
“Normally that is true,” Liara said. “This is a very special ship, however, and it is well supplied. We are also in orbit around a facility that can provide more if we should have any issues in that regard. So please, feel free to make use of them as often as you please.”
Shepard walked across the room, and stood, staring out the window. The view outside was spectacular, allowing them to see Hagalaz below, and the endless field of stars above. “I really am in space,” Shepard whispered, her voice awed.
Liara smiled at that. “Yes, you travel through space with great regularity. Now, why don't you sit down? These couches are very comfortable, and you can see outside from here.”
Shepard looked at her suspiciously for a moment, as if wondering if it was a trap, before slowly walking over, sitting on the far end of the couch. It hurt, seeing Shepard not trusting her, but Liara strove not to take it personally. Shepard had never trusted anyone, and she knew that the second she regained herself they would be fine again. They had to be.
“Why're you bein' so nice to me?” Shepard demanded suddenly. “Whataya want?”
“You are important to everyone on this ship, Shepard,” Liara said gently. “The you who is older has saved all of our lives, and even beyond that, made our existences far richer than we could have imagined possible without you. We would all do anything to help you, and this? Being kind, feeding you, giving you your own room? This is simply basic courtesy.”
Liara paused to let that sink in, before continuing, her eyes on the planet below where her own ship was located. “I know that in your life you have never experienced it, but for all of the bad in the world, all of the cruelty and hate, there is good. There is love, and hope, and kindness, and people who help others for no better reason than that they should. We aren't trying to trick you or hurt you, Shepard. We simply care.”
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She'd found a kindred spirit in Jack. Jack seemed hard and prickly, but whenever Shepard was around she always made time for her, and she had a good sense for when Shepard began to get overwhelmed. When Shepard asked, Jack simply said that she owed her.
As she got to know them and became less nervous around them, the crew became a bit more open as well. Unfortunately, it seemed for most of them that her change was disturbing, and no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't get over the fact that she wasn't who they wanted. They wanted the adult version, and from the things she'd overheard, she couldn't blame them. It was hard to imagine herself as a leader, much less a hero.
In general though, Shepard had found the ship to be wonderful. She showered every day, often twice, and the water was always warm for her. After the first few days she stopped hoarding food, no longer afraid that it wouldn't be available whenever she was hungry. The cook had even made snacks for her to eat whenever she wanted.
The one thing she didn't like about the ship had been the trip to the doctor. She hadn't visited a doctor since leaving the orphanage, but the stern, motherly woman managed to get her onto an examination table one night after dinner. She'd been poked and prodded and generally examined, before finally being given a series of shots. She'd hated it, but she had to admit that she'd felt better the next morning.
The one person she preferred to spend time with, however, was Liara. The asari wasn't just the first person to reach out to her on the ship, but the first person she'd ever met who didn't seem like she wanted something from her. No matter how much time she spent around Liara, she never got the feeling that she was being used.
Not that it was a hardship to spend time around her. Liara was beautiful, and Shepard had had to stop herself from staring at her on several occasions. She'd always known that she found women attractive, but Shepard had never been so thoroughly distracted by anyone before, and she didn't know what to do about it. She didn't know what to do about anything, really.
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At first, after drawing her out of her semi-feral state hiding in the engine room, Liara and Shepard had been able to have several long talks. They had been somewhat awkward, but not terribly so. Liara had used her insights from her time with the adult version of Shepard to reach out to the teenage version, and it had worked. At first she'd opened up to Liara, but after a while she seemed to grow more and more uncomfortable in the asari's presence.
Liara had thought that perhaps she had done or said something that had angered Shepard, but dismissed that thought when she realized that the teenager seemed to spend most of her time around Liara, even if they didn't talk very often. Sometimes she even seemed to go out of her way to get Liara's attention, often by doing stupid things. When she tried to talk to her though, Shepard just seemed to blush and alternate between avoiding looking at her and staring at her when she didn't think Liara would notice. Her time on Illium had taught her quite a bit about being observant, however, and no matter how subtle Shepard tried to be Liara was always aware of her.
When Liara had approached Dr. Chakwas about the situation, the older woman had laughed at her. She wouldn't explain anything, only saying that she wasn't surprised. It was infuriating.
Finally, two weeks after her transformation, Liara was incredibly relieved when Mordin finally figured out how to reverse the process. When she found Shepard and told her the good news, the teenager wasn't nearly as happy about it as Liara was. She looked almost depressed in fact.
“Shepard... is there something the matter?” Liara asked finally.
“Yeah,” Shepard said, looking her straight in the eye for the first time in days. “When I get 'fixed' I'm not gonna be me anymore. I'm just... I'm just gonna be gone. Like I'm dead.”
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Shepard chuckled slightly “Don't worry 'bout it Liara. I just... I get it. I'm just some kid, and this adult me is a hero. You need her.”
“She is very special,” Liara said. “But that does not mean that you are not important. I...”
Liara didn't know what to say. She needed Shepard back, as her friend, her lover, and the only person with a chance to stop the Reapers. Shepard spoke before she could figure anything out. “Okay. I just have a question though. I wanna know somethin' before you get rid of me.”
“I don't wish to... it isn't... what is your question?”
“There's someone in her life,” Shepard said. “In my life. I don't always live here alone.”
“Yes,” Liara said.
Shepard took a step towards Liara, her eyes bright and intent. Liara felt uncomfortably like a bird trapped in the gaze of an earth cat. “Who is it?”
“Are- are you sure that you wish to know?” Liara asked.
“More than anything,” Shepard answered, stepping closer.
“Me,” Liara breathed. “We are- we are involved.”
Then Shepard kissed her. Liara was so surprised that she almost didn't kiss back. It was so strange, feeling the raw, awkward kiss against her lips, instead of the strong confidence that she was used to. After a moment Shepard pulled back from the still chaste kiss and gave a goofy grin that seemed completely out of place on her usually wary features. “My first kiss,” she said. “I'm ready.”
Liara nodded, not knowing what to say. Instead of the pure excitement she'd felt about Mordin's announcement, she now felt strangely torn. She needed her lover back, but it felt cruel to end the teenager's existence this way. She said nothing as they walked to Mordin's lab.
The device had already been prepared, and after a long look at Liara, Shepard stepped forward and pushed the button. There was a flash of light, and once more everyone present was flying through the air. Biting her lip, Liara slowly stood up, unsure of what she would find.
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“Shepard?” Liara asked.
Shepard glanced up, smiling when she saw Liara. Standing, she walked over to the asari, who looked at her hesitantly. “Hey,” Shepard said, before grabbing her and kissing her hard.
When Shepard let her go the somewhat dazed asari smiled at her. “Are you alright? Do you- do you remember what happened?”
“Yeah,” Shepard said. “I remember everything.”
They walked out of the lab, and Shepard paused when she saw Jack leaning against the wall. “Hey,” Shepard said.
“Shepard,” Jack said. “I get it now.”
Shepard smiled at her. “Thanks Jack. You really did make things easier for me. Having someone who gets what you're going through... it makes a world of difference.”
“Wasn't much,” Jack mumbled.
“Really, though, Jack,” Shepard said. “You did great. Did you ever think about working with kids? You could really make a difference.”
Shepard and Liara left a stunned Jack as they entered the elevator. “Where are we going?” Liara asked curiously.
“Our room,” Shepard said. “We've got a lot of lost time to make up for. Besides, I just spent two weeks with teenage hormones and you sitting there all unobtainable.”
“Teenage hormones?” Liara asked, confused. “Unobtainable?”
Shepard smirked and grabbed Liara, pulling her into a toe curling kiss. “Teenage me and adult me both agree on one thing at least. You really are wonderful.”
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