The Continuation….of Ardat Yakshi by Octoberskys
A/N: This is one the sequels to my story Ardat Yakshi. It is best that you read that one first, so you understand where this is coming from. Thank you, enjoy and feedback is always welcomed.
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Video Conference
~ ~13 ½ months after Gaisha's Plaza ~ ~
Chapter One
"Hello?"
"Hello? Elysia. Is that really you?"
"It is but who is this? I can't see your face, the screen is off. How did you get this address?" Becoming verbally more annoyed, "Who do you work for? How did you get this address? If you're trying to blackmail us you're in for a real surprise. I know people who really know people!"
Apologizing, the young woman's voice uttered, "My monitor isn't working right now." Which was a lie, her monitor was working just fine. "We've met before, Sort of?"
Impatiently, Eli asked, "Sort of!"
The young woman was so nervous she felt green which is why she had intentionally left her screen turned off. "Elysia my name is Adara Ti'tum. We met on…"
She was cut off by Elysia reply, "Illium, in Gaisha's Plaza."
Excitedly she chirped, "You remember!"
"Of course I remember you. It's not like I go around saving beautiful women everyday."
The young woman felt her heart leap from her chest at the thought of Elysia thinking she was beautiful. She was even more thankful that her screen was blank because now instead of a previously embarrassed green asari, Elysia would now be gawking at a very flushed purple faced asari. She choked out, "You thought I was beautiful?"
The very young Elysia chucked at the idea, "Yeah! Aren't all asari beautiful?"
Of course, Adara thought, she still has the innocence of a child.
There was a moment of stillness where neither party spoke until Elysia broke the silence. "Hello, Ms. Ti'tum?"
Still feeling the warmth in her flushed cheeks, "I'm sorry and please; call me Adara."
In a most curious tone Elysia asked, "Why are you calling me?"
Embarrassed by the question Adara hesitantly answered, "I'm sorry it's just that it took me such a long time to track you down; a very long time."
"Really why?" asked the young Ardat Yakshi as her curiosity was growing by the minute.
"Well, first of all, I knew when you said that your name was Elysia T'Soni that it wasn't entirely true."
Impressed with her wit and mannerism that reminded her of Liara, Elysia queried, "How'd you know that?"
"Well, I knew that the only T'Soni on Illium was an information broker and too young to have a daughter of her own; especially one your age. She was also the only daughter of the great Matriarch Benezia. But still, it wouldn't be a name you'd pick up off the streets, especially such a young girl. So I knew right away that you were somehow connected to Professor Liara T'Soni."
Worry saturated Elysia's voice, "Uh oh!"
Quick to offer, "No it's ok. It was Ms. Liara who finally gave me this address. She said she picked me up on a network asking questions about Gaisha's Plaza. She even sent a spectre to my house. Can you believe that, a spectre? I was so scared but then I explained to her who I was and why I was looking for you and she gave me this address as week ago."
"A week ago?" The young girl questioned. "Why didn't you call sooner?"
"To be honest Elysia, I was scared to call. I'm not sure I would have done it at all, if Liara hadn't contacted me this morning to ask why I hadn't called you yet. Have you spoken to her lately?"
"No, I haven't spoken to her in a couple of weeks. She's been out on some mission or something. She won't tell me anything about it, she says I'll just worry."
The perplexed asari wondered out loud, "Wait she hasn't spoken to you? Then how did she know? Hmm… that's weird. I wonder how she knew?"
Chuckling a bit Elysia chimed, "She's a very good information broker."
Slightly surprised the maiden revealed, "So I'm discovering." Regaining her focus Adara slowly felt flush again as she rushed out her reason for calling in the first place. "Look, I just wanted to say thank you and let you know how much I appreciate what you did for me back on Illium."
Stunned by her quick words, Elysia returned slowly, "You're welcome Adara. Anytime…"
They both laughed at the reply, "Really, anytime?"
"We'll you know. I have such a busy schedule so many maidens to save every day and all." The younger asari said in a playful sarcastic manner.
Smirking in a way that Adara wished Elysia could see she prodded, "You'd like that wouldn't you?"
"What?"
"Saving people's lives and setting the record straight."
"Yeah maybe, but I'm a little young for that right now. I'll leave that up to the professionals for the time being you know, Liara and Kat."
Confused Adara asked, "Who's Kat?"
Almost whispering, "Oh sorry, don't repeat that or I'll get killed. That's Commander Katherine Shepard."
Enthusiastically Adara dramatized, "Great Savior of the Citadel: Commander Shepard, First Human Spectre; that Commander Shepard? You call her Kat?"
Giggling, "It's a long story, but when I first met her I was kind of nervous. You know her being the savior of the Citadel and all. Not to mention, she was supposed to be dead. Anyway, I just shoved a bunch of cookies in my mouth so I wouldn't have to say anything when she walked in."
Dumbfounded yet impressed by the cleverness of one so young, "Really? You thought that would keep you from saying something silly?"
Mistakenly defending herself she replied, "Hey I was a kid! I was only 35."
Teasing the younger asari, Adara laughingly said, "Oh yes, I forgot... Only 35! You are so much wiser now. What are you now, 36?"
"Hey, I'm 37 and a quarter now! Anyway, like I said I was so nervous but by shoving all those cookies in my mouth all I could muster was Kat. So, she said I could use that but only I could call her that. Even Liara isn't allowed to call her that. It's really silly now that I think of it."
Still trying to stifle another laugh, "What's that my dear?"
The pride that swelled inside the asari's chest could be heard clearly over the airwaves, "I get to call the Great Commander Shepard, Kat."
Realizing how fortunate the young girl was after all, the maiden took a more sincere approach, "Do you get to see her a lot?"
She could hear the understanding sadness in her voice, "No not really. They're both very busy. It's mostly vidcoms when they get a chance, but lately even they seem less."
"I'm sorry," Offered the maiden suddenly aware of how lonely the young girl must be.
As if she had rehearsed it a million times, Elysia repeated, "It's ok. I know what they are doing is really important. It's just that I get a little lonely every now and then."
"Well if you don't mind, I …," again feeling overwhelmingly happy about having the monitor off, "I…could call you if you'd like."
"Really?" Chirped the young girl.
Equally elated, "Yes really. I mean if you'd like."
"Hell yeah! Oh! Don't tell Liara I said a bad word. She gets real sore at me when I use inappropriate language." Squinting her nose, "But somehow she always knows. One time she knew even when I was in the Athame Cathedral praying and there wasn't even anyone around to tattle on me."
Beaming the older woman thought, Oh how cute, she just used the word tattle.
In a hurried voice Elysia informed the asari on the other line, "Oh Adara I have to go. They're calling me for my next lesson. Look, call me back when you can and I'll get a schedule to see when it is best to receive vidcoms; deal?"
Very pleased that the vidcom with Elysia went a lot better than she had hoped for she said, "That sounds like an excellent idea. I'll talk to you later then."
Rushing back to the vidcom Elysia called out, "Oh Adara!"
Pleasantly surprised by the last minute sound of her name she answered, "Yes Elysia?"
"Thanks for calling," as she giggled under her breath she squeezed out, "And I think you are very beautiful too."
The vidcom suddenly went dead as Elysia had quickly ended the conversation. Adara laughed out loud in front of her vidcom monitor as she smiled, leaning back in her office chair she thought, Well, at least she didn't shove a box of cookies in her mouth.