Nice thread! Very funny posts so far, I thought I'd delve a bit into a more serious fictitious discussion rather than an attempt at comedy (since I pretty much lack a good sense of humor). The following is a part of a bigger, more complex fictitious scenario I had built in my head for pure amusement, take everything with a grain of salt and don't impose the established canon of both games against this story, because you will find thing that don't hold well, and that's the point, take it as an "alternative" view on some of the elements of the game.
=================================
[Commander Shepard and her crew destroyed the Collectors base and came back victorious from the mission a few weeks ago, the ship has been fully repaired and the crew is slowly but surely going back on track after the ordeal they went through during the abduction by the Collectors. On occasion Shepard receives various jobs to work on, the commander's, crew's and team's personal and professional life resumes...]
Miranda: Kelly, have you seen the commander? I would like to speak to her.
Yoeman Chambers: Commander Shepard is currently in her private cabin, I assume that she will be on the CIC once we reach our destination, I will give her the message miss Lawson.
Miranda: I appreciate, but it won't be necessary, I will wait until she's available... [turns back and starts walking away from the CIC to the elevator]
Yeoman Chambers: Ok, have a good day miss Lawson.
Miranda: [turns back again and looks at Kelly] I know I am the second in command, but I think that you can put the formalities away after what we all went through together, as a team, and the group discussions we've had also helped forge us all as a family, just call me Miranda.
Yoeman Chambers: [smiles, thinks that Shepard's various discussions with Miranda had more positive results than she herself expected, Miranda's attitude towards the crew gradually becomes more friendly and less formal] Noted, miss Lawson.
Miranda: [smiles, turns back and takes the elevator down to her deck]
[Moments later the Normandy docks at Illium, Shepard arrives on the CIC, Miranda was already there discussing with the CIC's crew, waiting Shepard...]
Miranda: Shepard, can I speak to you for a moment?
Shepard: Yes Miranda, what's on your mind?
Miranda: Well, originally I was wondering why we had to go on Illium, but I think I know why and I understand, still now that we're here I wanted to ask permission to leave the Normandy for a few hours, I will take some time around the trading floor for personal interests.
Shepard: Permission granted Miranda.
Miranda: [smiling] Thank you Shepard.
Shepard: EDI, as per schedule I am leaving the Normandy for some time, I will be back just before departure.
EDI: Understood, Shepard.
[Shepard leaves the Normandy with Miranda and other members of the crew and team who asked permission for some time to relax as they see fit, they part ways at different locations until eventually Shepard heads alone to Liara's office, she reaches the office's entrance and notices a new assistant at the terminal...]
Assistant: Hello, may I help you?
Shepard: Hi, I had a scheduled appointment with Liara, can I see her now?
Assistant: [looks at her terminal for a few seconds] Oh, indeed, you must b-
[Liara's office door opens...]
Liara: Commander Shepard, on time as usual [smiling], it's ok, she can come in [talking to her assistant].
[The office's door closes, Liara then very slowly steps backward smiling and looking at Shepard's envious eyes, taking Shepard by her back and neck with each hands and both share a much desired kiss, both looking closely at each others' eyes, then Shepard affectionately and gently touch Liara's forehead with her own and emotionally speaks...]
Shepard: You know how difficult it is to wait for these moments Liara.
Liara: [softly kisses Shepard again, and replies] ...I know all too well.
Shepard: [both then take a seat...] I hate waiting to get holes in my agenda for things like this.
Liara: We both have a very busy life Shepard, very important obligations.
Shepard: So, how's your new assistant? I hope that she already practiced her barrier skills, just in case.
Liara: [hesitantly smiles briefly] No, it won't be necessary, I made sure this time that she won't be a problem.
Shepard: Anything new about your current issues?
Liara: For the moment I'm still taking out layers of lies one by one, it's a long process but ever since you helped me the last time I'm getting closer to the Shadow Broker by the day.
Shepard: My original offer still stands firm Liara, you can join my team and together we will figure out everything in due time, you know what I can do with a team like the one I have, or the one I had...
Liara: Oh Shepard I do remember you know... I'm sorry I... it's such a wrenching choice, but I took my decision.
Shepard: Liara, I will speak in full honesty, as I always do especially with you, even though I respect your choice I still don't understand it, you could have more resources and manpower to work with if you joined me, even if there's that big Cerberus logo on the ship, my heart is still at the same place.
Liara: Shepard, you remember when we first met on Therum... from that day until the Collectors attacked us and caused your death I was... different, the circumstances changed, I adapted to them, I had to survive, I was in danger, but fortunately I know how to fight and defend myself. The new context imposed on me in part due to my own decisions opened my eyes, and I believe that I must be the one who have to repair the damage I've caused.
Shepard: You cannot possibly hold yourself responsible for everything that's happening to you, I don't buy that.
Liara: Not everything Shepard, you're right [takes a long, slow deep breath, looks at Shepard, drops her head down a bit] ...
Shepard: You still feel guilty for leaving my body to Cerberus... that's what's happening, that guilt will eventually consume you if you don't let it go, I've already told you what I thought of your decisions, it's a context I will never be able to fully understand Liara, I wasn't there, I was dead, had I had the chance to wake up at that point and defend myself I would have done it, but the decisions were yours... and looking at it retrospectively... was it so bad of a choice? I'm back, I got a new team, a new ship, we got rid of the Collectors, and you know what? Had the Shadow Broker managed to sell my body to the Collectors and the Lazarus Project never occurred then who knows if your office wouldn't be reduced to ruins right now. If there's anything you did Liara then it was to contribute to everything I myself did ever since I started breathing again, and I will never let you feel guilty about it.
Liara: [looks at Shepard's eyes in silence, wondering how could anybody, even Shepard herself forgive her of the only thing that she felt responsible for with profound guilt, of all things at that point she starts thinking that the only reason for Shepard to think in such a way is solely due to the feelings she has for her] ...I... thank you Shepard.
Shepard: I promise you one thing Liara, I will not interfere directly or indirectly with your issues, your investigation, but if I ever learn that anybody does you any harm, if I know that you're in imminent danger, if I get names and locations...
Liara: I know, Shepard, I would do the same.
[They keep discussing about the Shadow Broker, albeit with vague terms of subtle disinformation for would-be observers, until the discussion goes back to the Collectors]
Liara: I learned about your ship heading for the Collectors base, only a few minutes after you had taken the Omega 4 relay.
Shepard: That one leaked faster than I thought it would... but, yes, I know, you're an information broker, although I'm not surprised considering how effectively you can work on about anything you undertake.
Liara: It's appreciated Shepard, but that information came to me, I wasn't looking for it.
Shepard: Is that so? I presume that you don't know the identity of the person who originally leaked that information?
Liara: Partially, we do know that it came from Cerberus, but there's more...
Shepard: I'm listening...
Liara: The information was sent directly to me, with the final sentence being: « By the time you read this we will be at the Collectors base, wait for our return, there's someone at Cerberus who owes you, Liara. »
Shepard: ...it came from my ship.
Liara: More than likely, that is why ultimately I sent you my message, asking you for this meeting, it's certainly important, and even though I have my own business to deal with, I believe that this one concerns you more than anyone else.
Shepard: I wouldn't know who could possibly send you a message directly to you from my ship, at least not at first glance... I'll have to look at it myself.
Liara: Shepard, don't raise suspicions, be careful, it may be someone who is already in danger for giving that information, if you push things too hard around that person - whoever it may be - might not be part of your crew anymore in the next few days.
Shepard: I'll be careful Liara, don't worry, thanks for letting me know about this.
Liara: I must say however that with all things taken into consideration about that Collectors base, all the rumors, folklore and the few facts about it... no ships ever returning from it... I couldn't help but think that once more you were in peril, I wouldn't have been able to take another hit from a second death sentence Shepard, that night I had vivid memories of the original Collectors attack on the Normandy, I will never forget.
Shepard: It marks our minds Liara, the survivors all remember to this day, even I still do... until... until I lost consciousness in the vacuum of space as I saw the Normandy torn apart, I suddenly felt the air slipping away from my helmet... then it all went black and silent... I'd rather not think about it too much.
Liara: Know that I will always be there to talk Shepard.
Shepard: I know [they both smile]
[They keep discussing for a while, until the time comes when Shepard must go back to the Normandy for her next mission, the rest of the crew along with Miranda eventually all get aboard and they leave Illium, back in her cabin Shepard keeps thinking about the implications of an information leaker on board, and needs to figure out about it without raising suspicions...]
=================================
I might try to go for a more humorous approach but I think I'll stick at what I believe I'm more decent at, at least for now. Love this thread.
Retour en haut
