The park of the lower presidiumremembered Liara T'Soni, felt like being home. Home without war and the struggle for survival. Where it was not about whether she found the solution to all problems. She glided to the ground, leaned her head against one of the big trees and tried to breathe, to suppress the sobs that seemed to have griped her body for hours. She was in the area of the park with the plants from Thessia and she needed the memory of her home so much right now.
That bitch, went through her mind and eventually she said it out loud, but did not care. What did she fancy about that damn bitch? Had she herself not sacrificed everything for her? Always helped her? Was it not promised to her that she will always return?
'Always' seemed apparently a fleeting notion for humans. Shepard had promised her and now? Friends... it was too much and she had thrown Shepard out of her room. Polite but decisive. After all, she only offered her friendship and went to meet with the Turian. It hurt and she sobbed uncontrollably. She would need to work, to coordinate something, find mercenaries, initiate evacuation, do calculations, but she did not move.
Liara tried to argue rationally that it would not matter, the Human and Turian were only a fleeting breath in her life, but she could not convince herself. She pulled her knees close and all she could think of was that fucking bitch - who was the only person who could save the galaxy - had replaced her with the Turian. In a few hours she would be back on board, put on a neutral expression on her face and work. "Friends," she heard the friendly question again in her mind and struck her head against the smooth bark of the tree. "Why does it hurt so much?" Even if she had never been really at hope?
She felt her tears on her cheeks but she looked away, as a robe slid into view. "Doctor," she heard the melodious, warm voice of the second person she did not wanted to see right now. "I do know the council meeting was not what you hoped for, but ..." Liara laughed dryly and shook her head as she stood up. "'Not as hoped' is quite an understatement, Madame Councillor" she countered. "You might have taken our only chance of surviving away from our people." Her voice was vicious and hurtful, so much so that the other Asari bent her head.
"The matriarchs..." she said softly. "A councillor can oppose the decision when it comes to the welfare of our people!" Liara snapped, "My mother has done that, why can you not?" Liara wanted to turn around but a touch on her shoulder stopped her. For a few seconds she wanted to activate her barriers about this taboo among Asari, but she was too shocked to think about it.
"And where did it take her?" Asked Tevos her anger clear. "What will be remembered of Lady Benezia? Her good deeds? The countless things she has done in order to guide our people to a better future?" The councillor shook her head. "No, one will only remember that she betrayed our people and helped the Reapers!"
Liara flinched and looked at her with wide eyes. She could not stop the tears from running down her cheeks. It was too much, simply too much.
"And we do help, but... I've spoken to High Command and we sent evac troops to the attacked Earth colony´s. In addition, I had just sent a message to the universities, to our scientists to help build the crucible. I cannot do anything official, but..."
Liara's shoulders dropped as she relaxed and nodded. "Does it look really that bad? I know the reports, however, you... you have seen it." Liara blinked because it was rare that the Councilor stumbled over words. She blinked again as she felt a warm touch on her cheek that gently wiped away a few tears.
"It's bad, I've seen the reports of Earth and saw Palavan in flames", Liara had to look away. Had she not desired minutes before that Garrus should burn in human hell? What his home planet had just transformed into it? It was not fair, she admitted to herself.
"I fear to see Thessia burn," Liara admitted softly, her voice fluttering like a leaf in the wind. They looked into each other's eyes and Liara breathed through when she discovered the mirror of her own fear in the green eyes of the Councillor's. "I'm afraid what we do… is not enough, we must do more," she pleaded.
Tevos nodded, then took her hand slowly from Liara's cheek and the young Asari immediately missed the warm, comforting feeling. "I will see what I can do," Tevos said softly.
Liara exhaled slowly, she wondered if it was worth the risk to admit that she could get hold of more information; that she could put pressure on the matriarchs. The words hung on her lips, but leaving them not. She paused and looked at the older Asari.
"What I... how I have spoken about Lady Benezia, I'm sorry, but I miss the conversations with your mother, her advice. Please accept my apology."
Liara lowered her head. "Thank you. I miss her too," Liara looked at the green where a yellow flower stood lonely among others. She went to it, knelt down and plucked it. Then she returned to the Councillor. "For luck," she suddenly smiled shyly, "we will need it."