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Slaves of Cerberus	By : NakedOwlMan Category: +M through R > Mass Effect Views: 138076 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: Mass Effect and all the characters in it are owned by people that are not me. I have not made a cent off this work of fiction

Chapter List
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She was suspended in mid-air, a Prothean force-field holding her aloft. She felt a light rumble in her stomach, the result of days of being locked in this blasted device. But this time around, unlike when it had happened before, Liara already knew that help was on its way. Beautiful, amazing, human help.
"Therum," she heard a voice behind her, lightly amused. "I still remember thinking, 'That's what asari archaeologists look like? I may have to have gunfights in Prothean ruins more often.'"
Liara smiled, watching as Shepard made her way to the control panel at her side. She was so stunning back then: a powerful figure in her Alliance armor, with her red hair now back to its normal length and swaying slightly as she walked. "And I remember thinking," Liara said, as she watched Shepard work on the controls, "'Just my luck. The first time I meet this beautiful human, and here I am hanging in the air looking like an idiot.'"
The force-field dissipated, and Liara fell lightly to the ground. Shepard was immediately there to help her to her feet. "Still feel weird doing this," Shepard said, staring around at the dig site that had collapsed years ago in the real world. But in their shared memories, it would exist for as long as they both lived.
Trying to explain it to Shepard once, Liara had compared it to those trick pieces of art that just looked like two random splatters of paint but, when you crossed your eyes and joined them together, appeared to be a 3D image. In their shared minds, their separate memories of the time they spent together melded into one vivid experience, seeming to both of them like they were reliving it all over again.
"Considering our circumstances, I think we could both use the opportunity to linger in... fonder times," Liara said. "Not to mention that it gives us an opportunity to discuss our strategy."
"You think they're buying it?" Shepard said, leading Liara over to the lift that would carry them out of the dig site to safety. Behind them, vague images of Kaidan and Ashley followed behind them, going through the motions of the memories they were a part of.
Liara considered. "The clone, definitely. Did you see the look in her eyes when I kissed her? And how eager she was to do it again after Brooks had left? She's fallen hard."
"It's a hard kiss to resist, for certain," Shepard said with a wink. "But still... I'm worried we're laying it on too heavy. She has to know deep down that you're faking it, right?"
"Shepard, I learned a lot about reading people as an information broker," Liara said. "Neural implants can teach you a lot, but they're no substitute for real life experience... experience that the woman wearing your face doesn't have. She may look and act like an adult, but deep down inside she's little more than a child. Combine that with her massive ego and... no. I don't think she knows that I'm faking it. I think she's absolutely certain that she's won me over with her spectacular presence and charming smile."
Shepard paced around the lift platform. "But Brooks... she's craftier than the clone. I don't think it's going to be as easy to fool her." She gave Liara a concerned look. "Not to mention what might happen if we push her too far. If the clone hadn't stopped her... she might have killed you back there. "
"I know," Liara said, thankful that the pain that still lingered back in the real world wasn't felt in this shared memory. "But I don't think she'll take it that far. The last thing she wants is to lose her emotional grip on the clone. It's why she doesn't want the clone to fall in love with me... but also why she won't want to kill me either. Either event would drive the clone away from her, and Brooks can't afford for that to happen."
"You can't be sure she won't lose control, though," Shepard said, rubbing the back of her neck. "Maybe we're making a mistake here, Liara. Maybe we should call this whole thing off and try something different."
"Trust me, Shepard: Brooks isn't in this relationship for love, or even sex. She's in it because the clone is useful to her. As a way to steal the Normandy more easily, and as a figurehead to build up support behind this new Cerberus. I suspect that if Cerberus ever became powerful enough that Brooks no longer needed a Shepard figure at the head of it... Brooks would dispose of her so-called lover without a second thought."
Shepard nodded in agreement. "You see how she was with Kelly when they brought her up? And the way she always suggests bringing in other people to join in their twisted little games? I think she's already shopping around for her next bed-warmer."
"Right, but as long as the clone holds the power in Cerberus, Brooks has to play the part of the faithful partner," Liara said. "Which is why it can't be easy for her to watch me take her place in your double's heart."
"Yes, such a shame when your lover spurns you for another," Shepard observed. "You know, I never should have trusted a shifty asari like you, Liara. Watching you betray me like this... makes me think that joining Cerberus is a good idea after all."
Liara smiled at her. "Like we said, though: Brooks is definitely smarter than her partner. We're going to have to play that part of this plan more subtly. The two of us fighting, you getting angry with me over what I'm doing with the clone. Maybe acting out to make sure I specifically get punished."
This made Shepard frown. "It's going to be hard, Liara. Every time they turn that prod on you, it's..."
"I know. Can't say I enjoy it much either," Liara said with a shudder. "But it needs to happen for our plan to work. Brooks needs to believe that you eventually come to hate me. That my 'betrayal' has finally made you snap, enough so that you'd switch sides and join up with Cerberus if given the opportunity."
"And then Brooks starts to think that maybe she shouldn't be wasting her time with some clone of me... when the real me would be a much better option." Shepard said, staring up the lift shaft. "We're starting to get near the top. Probably should get to some cover."
As the lift came to a stop, and the krogan and geth from their memories started charging into battle, Shepard and Liara ducked behind a wall outcropping.
"It's a shaky plan, I know," Liara said, speaking loudly over the cacophony of battle, the memories of Ash and Kaidan opening fire on the attackers. "A lot of maybes, a lot of variables. But I think it's our best bet. At the very least, it will take them off their guards. Maybe cause one of them to make a mistake."
Removing a piece of her armor, Shepard reached a bare hand up to caress Liara's cheek. It was still hard to believe that this was all happening within their shared consciousness; Liara felt so real to her right now. "It's going to be hard for me, Liara. Pretending to stop loving you, to make them believe I hate you... you don't know how hard it's going to be."
Liara nodded. "Just remember: no matter what you say to me or do to me, whatever you have to do to convince them, do it. And know that none of it will ever change my feelings. I love you, Shepard, and I always will."
Shepard leaned over to kiss her, the taste of Liara on her lips so vivid, even in this shared memory. "I guess we'd better break the meld, before they get suspicious," Shepard said with a sigh. "You ready?"
"Yes, Shepard," Liara said. The two of them closed their eyes, and the sounds of gunfire ripping into geth chassis faded away, replaced with the harsh sounds of their current reality.
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Slaves of Cerberus