A day later Inside the shuttle.

"Okay, let me get this straight. So, I am a distraction for you, Liara, Garrus, and Tali, to sneak in and kill the shadow broker" Ben explained Shepard's plan.

Liara chimed in "And rescued Feron."

"And rescue Feron." Ben Amended "It is not a bad plan but one problem. The bad guy hides out and is going to have more men than usual. It is always the case."

Again, Liara chimed in "Oh once we take out the outside guards the inside will be much easier and less men to deal with."

Ben coked his head to the rest of the crew "She did not just say that."

Garrus shook his head. Tali snorted. Shepard grinned into his mouth.

"Why? what did I say."

"Ben. Liara has a knack for being naïve and hopeful even at the worst of times. It is her best but also her worst trait ever" Shepard explained. Ben snorted in reply.

"Uh hum" Liara who now had her arms crossed.

"Oh, come Liara, you know it is true. Remember the Guards on Noveria?" Tali Ask

"I do"

"Wait, wait, what is this about?" Ben asked. So, Garrus explained, heavily explaining the mission on Noveria and pointing out Shepard's choice.

"Dam at least the Queen kept her word." Ben turns to Liara "Why did you think the people in peak fifteen were on your side. They clearly worked for your mother.

"Because they were nice," Shepard rolled his eyes. Liara notices and frowns at him.

Ben moved on and decided to get change whistling at the coming storm that raging outside the shadow broker ship "time to give the storm some Feedback."

Garrus muttered something about "at least you're not eating it."

Ben hit his Omnitrix turning into a black and green plug alien called.

"Feedback!" The shuttle lands, and the door slides open. Feedback walks out first. Turing behind speaking.

"I start the distraction and meet you inside."

Shepard nodded "Call if there are any problems" Feedback two fingers waved back heading off to cause some mayhem but before Feedback moved another step, lightning surges towards him from the sky. Pulling up his plug absorbers Feedback absorbs the lightning. Smiles and walks off with no scratch on him.

The rest just look at him in awe as they get out of the shuttle themselves. "keel'ah/Spirits/By the goddess/wondering if he can absorb a reaper laser?"

All heads turn to Shepard giving him a deadpanned look. Shepard held up a defensive posture "what, it is a valid question?"

Liara just rolled her eyes "let's just go" and so they walked off to stop the Shadow broker.

Shadow broker ship outer walls

All four walk off heading the centre of the ship.

Liara walking alongside the crew, with SNG in hand, sees an electric rod filled with energy, across the bridge they are approaching. "Those pillars keep the ship intact, destroying one of those conduits should disrupt the enemy formation and their shields."

"Good to know. Garrus swapped to Sniper and hung back. Wait for my signal to destroy those conduits" Shepard ordered.

"On its Shepard"

"Tali takes points with Liara." This surprised Liara. She was half expecting to join the Shepard side. So, he can talk again about….

"On it" Liara shouted heading up front.

"Understood Shepard" Tali nodded to Shepard. Understanding where he is going with this.

"Ben get ready we about to push" Shepard ask over the coms.

"Understood Shep, urm but forewarn, those conduits you hit. The storm target me as a replacement so better to choose wisely on those shots of yours" Shepard frowned.

"How have you worked that out?" he asked.

"I may have tested a theory." Shepard rolled his eyes.

"Alright we are cutting coms till we reach the centre. Call only on an emergency" Shepard ordered.

"Roger, Roger" And the coms are cut.

"Alright let's move" Shepard told his team and so they did.

As they walk across the bridge guards appear from a cover hole. Though there may not be a lot of guards, their armour and shields do make it tough to kill them. Shepard fires off his assault rifle, Tali moving forward shotgun in hand. Liara firing off a singularity allowing Tali to shoot at the enemy in open space. Some of the merc guards got flown out in the wind where the lightning purged their body from existence.

They push forward and as they move towards the centre of the ship Shepard, and the gang decide to go around through the side railings and even inside part of the ship. So far, they have not met any more mercs, only mechs and drones. Then a….

"CrackaBOOOM!"

An explosion appeared on the other side of the ship, and several guards flew across into space. Garrus chuckled behind Shepard and the gang.

"Seems Ben distraction, is working."

Tali nods "yes, though I am curious what he did to cause that explosion."

Over to Ben (led zeppelin playing in the background)

"HA AH, I'm putting a shock to your system" Feedback said this while connecting to the conduits near him causing an overload in the shadow broker systems. The mercs are trying to stop him. They are doing an unbelievably bad job of it. considering they are sending their men to kill Feedback with just Guns and Feedback and absorb biotics.

Back to Shepard

"Well, whatever it is…." Liara interrupted Shepard after he pushed the first node passing through the side route they took.

"The second node is just over there. On the other side of the ridge. We push that down, then the solar panels will make a route for us."

Shepard nods. "Alright same formation as before" They nod in return.

Garrus walks next to Shepard and asks. "What was it you about to say Shepard."

"Oh, just that whatever Ben is doing is working, we got some breathing room to push forward. That is all."

"Oh! I thought" Garrus was stunned. Why is Shepard being more agreeable now than before? He knew Liara was not ready to talk about her feelings.

"You thought what?" Shepard raised an eyebrow at Garrus.

"Urm...well"

"You were thinking, this is my chance. Etc, etc." Shepard air quoted

Garrus gaped. "Well," Shepard snorted.

"I may disagree with the mission and worry about Liara but that does not mean I was not going to help. Plus, the shadow broker was after Liara because of me. I be lying and saying it was not personal." Shepard explained.

"Right," In front of the two, Liara and Tali heard. Tali under her mask smirks. While Liara frowned. She was told…

"So, you…?" Garrus pushed.

"No, I am not." Shepard answered with finality

"oh" Garrus was surprised by how Shepard had given up on Liara so easily.

Flashback Normandy SR2 mess hall.

At the back of the corner Shepard was leaning against the side wall, looking at Liara from afar while she was talking to some of the crew.

"You know you need to give her space right. You cannot force your way back in" Shepard turned to the voice.

"Ben, I don't think…"

"Trust me I have dated, well was in a… anyway. 2 years of you being dead, you cannot come back from that. I meant figuratively by the way. She grieved, mourned, never to expect to see you again. What do you think her reaction was going to be like" Ben explained.

"I just thought that. I miss the old days. The days where everything I knew was gone and the new thrive." Shepard explained.

"And that is the problem. These aren't the old days. They grow up, make mistakes, and become new people. Different people. Death does that to a person. It changes you. It changes her." Ben tilted his head to Liara. He patted Shepard's shoulder.

"What should I do then? Wallo in self-pity?" Shepard's turned to Ben.

"Find yourself first before you find other people." Ben Answered

"No offence, but are we sure we are referring to Liara here?" Shepard ask.

"Maybe or maybe not but know this Shepard, death will always haunt you, as you have escaped it." Ben then walks away. Leaving that last thought to Shepard.

Flashback End Shadow broker ship outer walls.

"Urm." Tali interrupted Shepard's thoughts. He turns to look to see more mercs coming their way.

"Alright get ready to charge! Garrus snipe those conduits!" Shepard gave out commands.

"On it" He does so, electrocuting the mercs. Tali and Liara working on the same Strat from last time while walking forward. Shepard started firing, upon the mercs hiding behind corners while also using cryo blast to freeze groups together. Then smashing them with a warp.

As they make their way to the second node pushing past the Mercs. As Shepard pushes down the node Ben calls Shepard.

"Yo Shep"

Garrus answers through his omni-tool "Shepard busy at the Ben. What going on?"

"Right so good news, Mercs are leaving me alone…" Feedback explained.

"Meaning now they are redirecting their forces at us. Thanks." Garrus put the piece together.

"You're welcome. Other good news: I am inside the ship. Made a quite big crater back here. Anyway, I am heading to your direct point of entry and see if I can open it from my side before you get there." Feedback further explained

Garrus nods "right good plan, I let Shepard know."

"Good also one more thing. I landed in one of the security rooms. I know where Feron is, and he is alive but barely. You need to get moving. Fast."

"Understood Garrus out" He cuts coms. Looking up to see Shepard finishing his task.

Liara pointed out "just across from here they main entrance we need to move fast."

Garrus chimed in. Everyone turned to him as he started to explain what Ben told him. "Not just fast. Ben just called. Shadow broker found out about the distraction and is sending the mercs our way. Ben managed to get inside and is meeting us at the entrance so he can open the door on his side." He turns to Liara "He found Feron and according to Ben he is barely alive, but we need to hurry."

"Keel'ah, we need to hurry," Tali just copied what Garrus just said. Shepard nodded.

"I just said that" Garrus sulked. No one was listening.

"Right, let's go. Move it!" Shepard shouted.

They move fast, running towards the centre of the ship. Fighting a wave of guards leading there, they made it. The centre was incredibly open with many flanking positions that the mercs could reach. They see the door right dab in the middle.

"Alright we are here. Ben better get that door open. This place is open to ambushes" Tali said with a nervous tone.

"Well."

"No time mercs, Garrus covered with sniper fire, Tali right side, Liara left." Shepard shouted out orders. Everyone nodded and mercs started pouring down on them from every corner of the ship.

On the other side of the door

"Come on," Feedback used two of his plug fingers to override the circuitry of the door. Then he hears what is happening outside.

"Oh great. Shepard better holdout…."

Back outside

"Drone flying above!" Said drones along with the merc are onloading upon Shepard and his squad.

"Garrus!" Tali shouted.

"Yes, yes, I am overloading them. Why don't you use an Energy Drain?" Garrus shouted back.

"I DID!"

"Oh."

"BEN HURRY THE FUCK UP" Shepard demanded.

Back inside

"Dammit it not working, I need" I lightbulb appeared and open his omni-tool.

"Shepard, I have a plan and at this point it is a fairly terrible plan…" Feedback said.

"Well, what do you need me to do?" Shepard asks while in a fire fight.

"Well, I am going to plug myself into the conduit power system and you get…"

"Shoot the conduit, get it. Just send the signal" Shepard sounded very eager as he Tali, Garrus and Liara fighting hordes of mercs and drones.

Back outside

"Garrus, snipe the conduit on the left on my signal." Shepard shouted to his friend.

"What signal?"

"You won't miss it" Shepard said as he pulled up his carnifex on the other Conduit.

Back inside

Looking around the walls, Ben sees a panel. He opens it up to see a junction for the conduits.

"Alright I am in, Shepard…." Electricity flows through his body as soon as he finishes the word Shepard. He directs the flow towards the door.

Back outside

Shepard gets his Carnifex out and shoots conduit on the right as soon as he hears Ben's voice. Garrus sees this and fires the left conduit. Tali and Liara are delaying for this to work pulling out every skill they have to hold off the mercs.

They hear a creek. Seeing the door open their rush in and what came out was feedback firing off a wave of storm at the mercs. Then heading back inside after incapacitated them permanently.

Back inside

Tali huffing and puffing within her clear mask. "That was close. Ben, what took you?"

"Sorry, the door has several layers of encoding." Feedback explained.

Garrus puffs out a breath "Couldn't you turn into an upgrade, and you know…."

"Not with that storm. I get fried the moment I use him here."

Shepard chimes in "enough, Ben take us to Feron, you said you know where he is" Ben nods and orders the gang to follow him as they run through the long corridors. Liara asks as they were taking fire from rockets from mercs.

"More of them, how many guards does the shadow broker have?" Feedback snorted at Liara Naivete.

"You weren't kidding about her being naïve," Shepard snorted in retort. Liara sent a glare at the pair.

Shadow Broker: "Hold your positions no matter the cost!"

Garrus fires a sniper shot from his side cover "Ben, I think it time for a change."

Tali nodded agreeing hiding on the other side of Garrus "you need something that can help us, cover while pushing forward."

Feedback smirk hit his Omnitrix dial changing to.

"Mentacle" A light skin green tentacle alien. Using Mentacle powers. Like Xylene. He grabs a couple of metal panels and telekinesis moves them in front of the crew leaving small gaps in between.

"I got the cover, lets push." Mentacle cheerfully exclaimed, while holding up a metal shield.

Shepard smirks "everyone get behind Ben cover and push forward. Time your shots." So, they push and push, making it hard for the mercs to fight back thanks to Ben telekinesis cover.

Mentacle was smiling "just round the corner we reach Feron. It is a two-lane corridor. So, get ready." everyone nodded.

Liara was pouting "I had the base schematics downloaded."

Tali patted her on the back while she, Liara, Ben, Shepard, and Garrus took out the guards. "It is okay. Ben is just annoying like that."

"Oii!" Ben made a noise of protest.

Tali snorted "Tell me I am wrong then."

"Did not have to say it though." Mentacle said this while slamming a merc head against shards of metal.

Garrus comes in "That should be all of them."

Shepard responded "yes but you know how missions go. Best scout ahead. Make sure we did not spook."

Garrus nods "got it Shepard" Tali put her hand up "I go. With these tight corridors best if someone with a shotgun goes" Everyone nods and Tali heads of to scout

They walk towards the door that holds Feron.

Shepard opens up his omni-tool "let Me bypass it. Only take a sec" it was a sec. "It's done" They Walk in guns up. Liara walks in first to see Feron tied to a chair.

"Feron!" Liara shouted.

"Liara," Feron replied in a groggy voice.

"Hold on, I'm getting you out of there" Liara tried imputing some commands in the console near Feron for it only to shock Feron.

"AHHHHH"

"Oh god Feron"

"What the hell," Shepard exclaimed.

"The equipment is sensitive to tampering. This chair plugs in the broker info network. You have to shut down the power. Pull me out now and my brain is cooked." Feron explained breathing heavily.

Liara pulls up her omni-tool "do you know where we need to cut the power."

"It will not be easy you have to go to centre operations."

"Easy or not, we're getting you out of there" Shepard turns to Garrus. "Stay here and make sure Feron alright."

Garrus nodded. "Got it Shepard."

Tali charged into the room. "Shepard, we got company."

Shadow Broker: "I want all teams to outpost C" Shepard nods.

"Tali, stay here with Garrus. Ben charged ahead and created an opening for us."

"Got it Shep/of course Shepard." Ben charges a head holding some metal shards in hand he created earlier.

"Let's go liara." Liara nods to Shepard.

Tali looks at Liara "we keep him safe don't you worry. You have our word."

Again, Liara nods and follows Shepard out.

A few minutes later, a couple of dead bodies, both Liara and Shepard, catch up to Ben.

Shepard asks Ben "Any trouble."

"Just the ones outside the torture room. This one guard thought it was smart to play dead and hit a rocket in my face. Did not work though, telekinesis was a shock to his system." Ben responded, smirking.

"Let's get in there and finish this" Liara said with a cold steel in her voice.

All three walk through the corridor. Seeing a big shadow behemoth behind his desk and computers.

"Here for the Drell, Reckless even for Commander"

Mentacle snorted "Got something to say Benjamin Kriby Tennyson." Mentacle stopped cold.

"Funny, when Dr. Psychobos explained who you are. He never told me how much of a childlike attitude you have" Both Shepard and Liara are a little surprised.

The shadow broker continued "he also told me to tell you. Beware of the rule of three." Now that shocked Ben understanding behind those words.

"Yes, your Universe, which is now here. It is also Eon Universe and a third Universe. Was affected by Eon singularity effect that caused his world to merge with another. You also get the added bonus of three villains each world whether there be teams or single."

Mentacle snarled, "I doubt Dr. Psychobos told you this willingly."

"Oh, he did. Wanted out of his partnership with Eon and Zs'Skayr." he Shadow broker explained.

"Not surprised both are, a little insane!" Mentacle quipped.

"Agreed, it was me who told Zs'Skayr of the illusive man base location. He related in kind. You never wonder where you got my base info commander." The Shadow broker mentioned, and Shepard cringed. Yes, that explains a lot, The illusive man must retaliate against the shadow broker.

"ENOUGH!" Liara shouted in anger "That bombing on illum was not necessary. You caged Feron here for two years."

"Dr. T-Soni. Your interference caused all this, Feron betrayed me when he handed your Shepard body. The Drell is paying the prick." The Shadow broker pointed out.

Shepard argues back "Someone was bound to come after you for working with the collectors."

"It was a mutual…"

"Unknown alien scan competed!" Ben Omnitrix scanned The Shadow broker and spoke up.

"Unknown alien scan added to registry."

"Neat." Mentacle chirps. Shepard snorted.

The shadow broker was not amused.

Shepard continued and tried to negotiate. "Let Feron walk out with us."

"You won't be walking out at all." The shadow broke, leaned forward and demanded.

Liara's lips started to tip upwards "you're quite confident for someone with nowhere left to hide."

"You travel with interesting companions Dr, T-Soni. Ben here will help with my survival against the reapers." The shadow broke turn to Mentacle.

Mentacle snorted "Yeah noooo!" letting that no be drawn out.

"It is pointless to challenge me Dr, T-Soni, I know you every secret. while you fumble in the dark."

Liara went on a tangent with her lips smiling. "Is that right? You are a Yarg, a pr-spaceflight quarantined to their home world from massacring the council's first contact teams. This base is older than your planet's discovery which means you killed the original shadow broker 60 years ago then took over. I am guessing you were taken from your world by a trophy hunter who wanted a slave…. or a pet. How am I doing?"

Silence filled the room to the point that pin drop was not even heard.

Mentacle snorted again "Dam!"

The shadow broker stands up from his desk and slams it down with a hard smash down. Pulls out his revenant assault rifle and opens fire.

Mentacle holds the thermal clips in the air using telekinesis from the shadow broker barrage. Shepard opens fire, followed by Liara dealing some heavy damage. Mentacle uses the thermal Clips and redirects them back at the shadow broker destroying his shields. Liara closes in with a warp that destroys half of the shadow broker armour, then Mentacle floats some shards from the broken table and tossed them to the shadow broker, taking down his armour. The shadow broker heads to the centre of the room and uses the energy above him to restore his shields. Shepard charges in and boxes The Shadow broker losing his focus. Now the shadow broker conjures a shield and walks forward firing off against the crew.

Mentacle grabs one of the pillars using telekinesis and slams into the shadow broker. Liara fires off a warp. Shepard fires a constant barrage. The shadow broker shields are down again and Laiar goes for another warp then followed by a Shepard warp destroying the armour of the shadow broker. Shepard goes in for the box, giving the shadow broker the 1, 2 leaving back to the same state frozen while gearing up.

The shadow broker charges us for a third time, but this time Shepard fires off an overload. Mentacle toss another pillar destroying the shields. Liara followed up with a third warp exhausting her. Heavily breathing the shadow broker took his opportunity to attack her only. Shepard opened his side arm and rained hell Mary protecting Liara. Mentacle uses the rest of the slammed desk and drops it on top of the shadow broker. The shadow broker heads back to the centre to recharge but Liara has other plans. She looked over to Shepard who nod in return and started their plan. Shepard boxed for a third time barely holding down the shadow broker. Liara used as much of her biotics as she could and destroyed the energy grid above them, laying down waves of energy on the shadow broker eradicating him.

Liara panting standing off to the side. Mentacle, leaning against the wall exhausted from the fight. Shepard first checked on Liara but saw Ben was struggling and went to help out.

Power fluctuations happen around the ship. Feron free from his cage. Garrus and Tali helped him get out. Liara walking next to Shepard sees the command console in the room light up.

"Shadow broker this is, operative Murat. We had a momentary connection failure. Can you confirm status" Liara walks forward.

"Operative Shora requesting an update. Are we still online." Liara walks further forward.

"Shadow Broker, we lost are fed. We are online and waiting for instructions" Liara reaches the console confused at what she is seeing but in a split second she makes decisions. Calming her breath, she pressed a button and spoke.

"This is the shadow broker. The situation is under control" Over where Feron, Garrus and Tali are, now hearing the shadow broker voice pulls out their weapons and charges towards the shadow broker "we experienced a power fluctuation while upgrading hardware, it disrupted communications momentarily."

Feron, Tali and Garrus Walk into the shadow broker room see Liara becoming the shadow broker "however we are now back online resume standard procedures. I want a status report on all operations in the next solar day, Shadow broker out." Liara finishes.

Feron shocked "Goddess of oceans it you, you are the… How" Garrus and Tali are equally as shocked.

Liara responded with "Well everyone who's ever seen him in person is dead so…"

"Spirits you're the new Shadow broker T-soni." Garrus muttered.

"Yes, Garrus I am" Shepard and Ben who are over on the other side. Seeing this Mentacle speaks.

"I mean cool extra info and stuff…"

"Thanks Ben" Shepard was silent on the matter which was noticed by everyone. Tali coughs.

"It looks good on you Liara" Shepard remembering Ben's words.

Liara smiled "thank you Shepard" though was shocked with Shepard 180 on the matter.

"Well, we better leave you to get set up. I will come back later whenever you are ready." Shepard said.

"Yes, that be…. Best." Liara agreed.

Ben coughs, muttering awkwardly. A red light appeared, and Ben went back to being human form. He struggles to stay standing.

Garrus comes over putting Ben right arm around Garrus shoulder seeing as Ben is exhausted "I got you lets go."

"Thanks Garrus"

Garrus looks back, "We go on ahead to the shuttle, make sure Ben rests up."

Tali nods "I go with them" So all three leave. Leaving Feron, Shepard and Liara alone.

"Well, goodbye Liara, hope to see you soon" Liara just nods and turns to the console. Feron, feeling awkward, heads to the upper deck to rest, Shepard sighs and leaves thinking about what Ben said.

Shepard muttered to himself. "Everyone has changed, have not there. Maybe…. No, even if she did change, she will never forgive me." Liara heard this as Shepard was leaving. She laid a hand on her console. Liara has a funny feeling that John was not talking about her.

"No, I don't think she will John…."