Summary - "She was different, Liara could sense it, and she could see it in the way she moved. Not like most humans and Liara could also tell that this human was keeping something from them. Something from not just Liara, but the whole crew; she had seen into the mind of this human and knew not all was as it seemed…"

AN – I'm using the ME2 and ME3 weapon for that story because they varies far more in term of design that the ones in ME1 did. Just imagine that they don't use thermal clip before ME2 timeline.

Rating - Older Teen to Mature

By: WDG and Lesbostar

The Age of Legends – Chapter 2 – Meeting an Angel

Shepard stared at the sleeping beauty lying in med bay, when they had found the good Asari doctor she had been trapped behind some sort of glowing blue shield and inside of some sort of prothean stasis field. Even then her beauty had been overwhelming. At first the Asari thought them to be some more acolyte of the Geth but after a few minutes they had been able to convince her of their trustworthiness. Afterward it had just been a matter of actually freeing the doctor.

Using the central elevator of the old prothean facility they managed to go back up faster than they went down. At least that time they weren't any Geth shooting at them. But before they could reach the top of the elevator the mines began to cave in. It seems that using the mining laser to drill through the rock under Liara had done more damage to the structure than thought. Before they could escape they found the path blocked by a krogan battlemaster and a squad of Geth.

"Hand over the Asari and you'll live. Or don't." The smile he gave them at the end of that sentence was frightening. At least for the young Quarian and said Asari. Shepard thought over the different option at her disposal and knew that whatever she choose it better be one that allowed them to get out fast. "Why don't we take that outside? The place is falling apart." She tried diplomacy despite the fact that it was highly unlikely to work on a krogan. "Exciting isn't it?" As the battlemaster was talking the commander made a sign to Ashley and Tali to be ready for a battle, she then reached for her sniper rifle, an M-98 Widow. It rapidly unfolded and Artemis took rapidly aim on the krogan head and fired. The enemy's head exploded in a shower of gore and blood. The Geth started to raise their weapon but before they could return fire, Ashley had already moved into cover and unholstered her M-8 Avenger, she immediately fired at the nearest Geth trooper. Her target's shield failed after a few seconds and then a lucky shot hit him right in the flashlight making him go down. Meanwhile Tali and Liara had gotten in cover on the opposite of Ashley and Tali was firing her M-27 Scimitar rapidly but without much luck.

The Geth were quick to regain their focus and their return fire was deadly accurate. Ashley and Tali found themself pinned down behind their cover. Shepard just had the time to fire one more time downing a Geth rocket trooper about to fire in Liara and Tali's direction. When she finally reached some cover she saw on her HUD that her shields were just about to fail.

The six Geth troopers were accompanied by a Geth destroyer who was hammering at Shepard's cover. The rescue squad was forced to pop out of cover for just a few seconds before the geth could concentrate their fire on them. Rapidly the remaining troopers were destroyed either by Tali's shotgun or Ashley's Avenger. Shepard had managed to bring down the destroyer's shield and damaged him but before she could finish him he turned toward Liara's position because his advance had managed to slightly expose her. The powerful shotgun fired just has Artemis's last shot destroyed him.

Fortunately that last shot was only a glancing blow on the Asari's right leg and wouldn't leave lasting damage but now she wouldn't be able to run, and the cave in was getting worse with rock falling everywhere around the squad. Ashley applied a dose of medi-gel to the wound, closing it. Artemis then motioned to everyone to start running "Go! The ruins won't last much longer." Her order made them finally react and Tali and Ashley started running toward the door. The commander seeing the beautiful Asari limping and unable to run was fast in helping her by draping one arm around her shoulder and supporting her.

And now in the Normandy's infirmary Artemis Diana Shepard finally realized how close it had been. In fact the mine had completely collapsed as soon as they had exited. It seemed that the last rush had been too much for the poor Asari archeologist because she had lost consciousness after a few moments outside.

So here she is, waiting for the beautiful Asari to wake up. Well that and Dr. Chakwas wouldn't let her out of her sight until she could make sure everything was still okay with her, especially, since she had slipped up and told the doctor she was starting to have small head aches.

She was brought out of her musings by a light being shined into her eyes, wincing a little and jerking backwards she glared at the Doctor.

"Was that really necessary Doc." She asked.

Chakwas smiled and looked over to the young Asari lying in the med bay, turning back to Shepard she nodded firmly "Yes, it was seeing as I have been calling your name for the past minute and getting no response. After all I was only making sure you were okay. But now I see what had your attention." Chakwas grinned even more and patted Shepard on the shoulder before saying "Although I can't say I blame you. She is quite beautiful isn't she? And judging by her looks she couldn't be much older than one hundred to one hundred and ten, which would put her in her maiden stage, making her about your age in maturity or slightly younger. After all you've got quite a bit of wisdom despite the fact that you're still quite young."

Shepard blushed and looked anywhere but at Liara or Chakwas, choosing instead to ask "Are you going to perform a full physical now?" Chakwas nodded and motioned for Shepard to move into the privacy room at the back of the med bay. "Yes, I am going to do that now, I didn't really get a chance after Eden Prime and its time for your latest one anyway." Turning her back to Shepard she made sure the med bay doors where locked and the windows tinted so no one could come in or see what was going on in the room. "Beside you know your parents like to be kept updated on the changes going on inside of your body. So be good just this once and don't make a fuss about it" Chakwas turned around once more before saying "Now please disrobe and lay on the table."

Chakwas then turned to begin getting ready for the physical, while Shepard cringed a little and let out a tired sigh. Grumbling she turned her back on the Doctor and began to disrobe, once down to her underwear she asked "All the way Doc?" Chakwas gave a small sound of agreement and said "Yes, Shepard completely naked, like always." Shepard sighed before taking off the last pieces of her clothes and folding them neatly in a chair before climbing onto the cool table and laying back. Closing her eyes she waited for the doctor to finish her preparation.

Chakwas turned around and frowned, this was always the hard part with Shepard. She felt like she was treating this young woman like she was a lab rat. Because that's what Shepard was to her in age. At 21 she was just a young woman barely out of her teenage years. Sighing she steeled her nerves and walked over to the table and started typing away on her Omni tool. She took in the scars left over from Shepards run in with the Thresher Maw on Akuze. She ghosted her fingers over the white lines on her upper right bicep, before tracing the ones on her left rib cage leading down to her stomach stopping just at the top of her abs. She quickly noted that the scars were now completely healed. A few months ago they were still quite red. With scars like that she was lucky to still be alive.

Pulling her hand back she put her Omni tool away before pressing a button on the table and backing up as Shepard was lifted of the table. She was surrounded by a grid patterned red light that began scanning her up and down, cataloging all her growths and changes on the outside as well as the ones on her insides. Already she could see some flagged areas'. The main change was on her bones which showed an increase in flexibility as well as one in durability and strength. They were also some other smaller changes. And of course her brain activity was still off the chart thanks to her earlier run in with the Prothean beacon on Eden Prime.

Once this part was over and Chakwas was done with the last test and she told Shepard she could leave the room right after providing a blood sample.

Walking out of the private area in the med bay Shepard rubbed her arm while mumbling "Damn crazy Doctor should have just took my whole damn arm while she was at it!" looking over to Liara she was surprised to be meet with bright blue eyes looking right back at her. Artemis was left breathless from the captivating pool of blue before her.

"Its good to see you up and about Doctor T'Soni. How are you feeling?" Shepard finally managed to ask as she moved closer to the Asari. Liara was a little bit disoriented when she woke up. At first she thought she had died in that god awful anti-intrusion bubble that she had accidently activated. Only to feel relief when she realized she was in a medical bay of some sorts after taking a look around. So imagine her surprise when she came face to face with the very same person she had thought was only some figment of her imagination. Blushing she whispered "she was real" to herself not realizing Shepard could hear her "Yes, I am quite real Doctor." Shepard was going to say more but Chakwas walked up chuckling "Now, now commander no needed to make the girl feel so embarrassed." Patting Shepard on the shoulder she pointed to the door "Now get out, I will let you talk more with Miss T'Soni after I check her over and get her some food and water."

Shepard wanted to argue but then realized the futility of that and just nodded and left the room. As she was leaving though she couldn't help but let her gaze linger on the beautiful Asari in the room. Shaking her head she made a quick round around the ship and checked on everyone, before plotting a course back to the citadel. Walking into her cabin on the ship she sat at her desk before sighing and reaching forward to make a call.

It was only a minute before her mother filled the screen "Mom…" Hannah Shepard smiled when she saw her only child on the screen before frowning when she realized how tired she looked "Did you have a long day my little pup?" Artemis frowned when she heard her childhood nickname "Mom really, your still calling me that, even after all this years?" Hannah laughed at the indignant tone of her voice before saying "You know it, you'll always be my child so it's my right as your mother to call you however I want. No matter what age you are. Besides you know it means that I love you." Artemis chuckled before placing her hand on the screen "I miss you, and Dame." Hannah sighed "I know Artemis, we miss you too. You could always ask for some leaves. I know you never go on any unless ordered."

Artemis smiled sheepishly "I know, I talked to Dame a few days ago, she expressed the same wish. I'm sure you heard but I was made a Specter. And the council already sent me on a mission. I've got to track down Saren and his accomplices." Hannah frowned "I sense a but coming." Artemis lifted an eyebrow before looking away from her mother's all-knowing gaze "There isn't a but I am quite happy to be a Specter. It's just…one of the people I am hunting down…I have her daughter on board in my med bay, and I don't think she even has a clue as to what's going on. She just looks so innocent and all doe eyed….she's so beautiful….and ….ahem what I mean is I don't think she is a part of it… and I don't know what to do with her."

Hanna watched as her daughter got this far away look in her icy blue eyes before feeling her heart lighten. It seems like her daughter had a crush on the girl. Hannah sighed before speaking "I think I understand, are you heading back to the citadel? If so, you should talk to your Dame she may be able to help you more. She's better than me at this stuff. I'm like you on that front, just a soldier. What's the girls name by the way?" Artemis nodded in understanding of the advice "I was planning on going to talk to Dame as soon as we hit the Citadel. And her name is…Liara, Liara T'Soni" Hanna had a look of recognition flash over her face before speaking "You definitely need to talk to your Dame, also bring up Liara's name in the conversation….ask your Dame about someone called Sha'ira. Now I am being called back up to the bridge I will talk to you, latter my little pup" Hannah then mimed a kiss before login off.

Artemis sighed and stared at the dark screen before rubbing her face and shaking her head at her mother's childish actions. But she did bring up a good point of talking to her Dame about Liara, however the way she brought that up made her question if Liara even knew who her own Dame was. As a Pureblood Asari from one of the most influential family that was unlikely.

Standing up she decide she would ask Liara about it later for now she just wanted a little rest. Putting on some sleeping clothes she climbed into her 'new' bed and closed her eyes letting her mind rest as she fell into a deep slumber.

Shepard awoke with a gasp heart racing and pounding sweat pouring down her body, the images still fresh in her mind. Grabbing her head in pain she whimpered. Standing she quickly made her way to the shower and turned on the water, grabbing a bottle of aspirin she took two pills before stepping under the hot spray of water. Once her headache had slightly faded she quickly washed herself and then stepped out of the shower to get dressed.

Making sure that she had all her gear, she stepped out and made her way to the Mess Hall just outside of her quarters. She was hopping to get a light breakfast before another hectic day. After eating she made her way up to the bridge. She took the nightshift's reports from her XO, reading them, not noting anything important or worthy of her attention. She then headed for the helm, wanting to talk to Joker. "How much longer till we dock on the citadel Joker?" Surprised the pilot looked up from his screen before replying "Not much longer now Commander, about another 10 hours." Nodding she patted him on the shoulder "Good work Lieutenant". Then she turned around and left.

She made her rounds once again only this time telling the crew that they would be docking soon. She also told them that they should grab all the supplies they needed while on the Citadel because they may not be able to do that again for some time. She only got held up once when Tail asked her about some better part for the engine. The young Quarian seemed a little nervous about asking her commander for money "Uhmmm commander, me and the engineering team have noticed that the heat dispersers are effective they're not top of the line. With those new one we could stay in sthealth mode for two more hours than the 20 we can currently sustain. The problem is that while the new part is on the Citadel, we don't have enough to afford it even though the engine crew and I put all our money together but it still isn't enough."

Shepard smiled before saying "Here take this, if anyone asks just say I gave you the rest for the part okay" Shepard then handed over a small see through card with her name on it "Just type in the pin and it should cover the whole cost okay and don't worry I promise you won't even put a dent in my money okay just be sure to give me the card back when your done" Tail nodded and before Shepard could stop her the young Quarian hugged her tightly "Thank You so much" then the young Quarian took off fast. "It's nothing Tali. I'm happy that you're settling in well with the crew." Tali nodded and rushed back to her station.

Shepard just shook her head before turning around and headed to the med bay, walking in she was surprised to see Liara missing. Turning to Chakwas she asked "Where's Liara Doc?" Chakwas pointed to the only other room in the med bay beside the private area "The storage room Commander I figured the girl could use a place to eat in peace without Gunnery Chief Williams giving her hateful looks and whispering words of distastes every time she tried to leave the med bay." Shepard's look hardened "When did this happen?" Chakwas paused and looked at the clock "I would say sometime after you left, probably an hour or so. When I tried to take her out to get some food and since then it has been going on non stop today so after a while I just brought her in here while I went to get her the food."

Shepard took a deep breath before asking "Has anyone else done anything" when Chakwas shook her head no Shepard spoke again "I will be right back then, express my deepest apologies to Liara, now if you will excuse me I have a Gunnery Chief to talk to." With that Shepard left the room, her expression dark.

Chakwas watched her go and wondered if she should prep the med bay for the severely wounded body of the Gunnery Chief. She was brought out of her musings when she heard her storage room door opening. Turning around she spotted the young Asari archeologist they were just talking about. She smiled "Is everything okay, Docteur T'Soni?" Liara nodded but blushed a little. The clothes the doctor had provide her with where a little big on her and slightly hung on her thin frame, she felt like a child playing dress up. Still, they were quite comfortable, and interestingly, they smelled heavenly for some reason. "Yes everything is fine Doctor thank you." Chakwas interrupted Liara "Please call me Karin" Liara nodded in answer.

"Alright Doc….Karin, however I do have a question who's clothes are these I can tell there not yours" Chakwas nodded before smiling and saying "Those are commander Shepard's. I always keep spares in here for her. Just in case… Girl's always in here for some reason after a battle and the clothes she arrive with are usually in ruins, so we mutually decided that it would be better if some were already there." Liara felt her checks flush "Commander…Shepard's clothing" Chakwas chuckled "Yes, don't worry though I am sure she won't mind, besides I am sure you heard her, even if you where in the back room."

Liara blushed she had heard the Commander talking to, the Doctor before she had left the room. "Is she going to hurt the Gunnery Chief" Chakwas looked up in thought for a moment before saying "I am not sure, but you have to understand Shepard will not stand for such things to be said on her ship about non-humans, and especially about Asari" Liara cocked her head to the side in confusion "Why Asari?"

Chakwas paused before saying "Its not my place to say, but do you know of Asari adoption rituals" Liara nodded "Well then lets just say Shepard went though that okay" Liara nodded before saying "I understand, it's a private matter indeed. Never has a human done the ritual, and she seemed to suffer no ill effects from it! Incredible!" Chakwas shook her head "None that we know off at least." Liara nodded and was about to say more when her stomach made itself known by rumbling loudly. Hearing this sound the Doctor just laughed while the Asari blushed a deep purple in embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Shepard had just found Ashley in the hanger, maintaining the team's weapons and upgrading them. As fast as she could without flat out running Artemis made her way toward the unfortunate soul. As soon as she was near enough so she didn't have to shout to be heard she spoke "Can I have a word with you Gunnery Chief" Ashley froze instantly fear shooting up her spine at the chill and commanding tone held in those words. Looking up she realized that Shepard was the one speaking them. Seeing her commanding officer she further paled. 'I'm screwed!' was the only thought that went through her head.

Putting down her materials and nodding she followed Shepard over to an isolated corner. Far enough away so that no one else would be able to hear their conversation. "Is something wrong Commander?" Shepard let her icy gaze travel over the Gunnery Chief before saying "I have heard some very disturbing news today, would you like to know what that news was" Ashley felt her mouth go dry and nodded her head "I heard that I have a Xenophobe on my ship, and I do not tolerate any kind of hate on this ship! I don't tolerate any hate at all as a matter of fact!" Shepard stepped closer her tall frame towering over Ashley's "So you can understand my anger when I hear that you are one, and have been un-respectful to a guest on my ship! I don't care if you don't like non-humans. But you keep your opinions to yourself! Am I clear?"

Ashley backed up a little in fear "Now, I am tempted to discipline you. However I have read up on your background and I slightly understand where your actions are coming from! However let me make something clear. It will not happen again do you hear me, later today after we get back from the Citadel you are going to apologize and you are going to start learning some respect for the crew of this ship and any of its guests are we clear?" Ashley nodded "Yes Commander" Shepard nodded and walked off leaving Ashley to herself.

Shepard felt her head throb as she got on the elevator, wincing she clenched her teeth and hissed a little. Taking a deep breath she clenched the railing in the elevator before she felt it subside opening her eyes she breathed out and took another deep breath before walking off the elevator once she was back at the med bay area. Seeing the food being served, she quickly grabbed three plates and drinks before setting them on a tray and heading into the med bay just in time to hear a stomach growl.

"Guess I arrive just in time" Shepard said as she sat the meals and drinks down. She looked back up only to pause, Liara was wearing…."Are those my boxers and shirt" Chakwas busted out laughing, while Liara blushed and fiddled with the hem of the dark grey shirt.

Shepard raised an eyebrow before saying "Guess so then" she looked Liara over once more, taking in the innocent appearance of woman wearing her clothes…and socks it would seem as she took in her feet. Blushing she coughed into her hand before saying "Its okay, Liara I don't mind" handing Chakwas a plate and drink she moved closer before pointing to two more chairs near the back of the med bay "Come, I have food for all of us." Liara nodded followed Shepard.

Sitting down the food Shepard pulled out Liara's chair for her. Blushing the asari sat down and looked at the table. Shepard moved to sit in her own chair before dishing out the plate of food to Liara and herself along with drinks. "I figured we could have that talk now?"

END Chapter 2