Thessia
T'Aryn looked from the name on her chart to the quiet asari sitting there with an enigmatic, sorrowful smile on her lips. All of her training flew from the window as T'Aryn recalled seeing this face far too many times. Plastered across the vid screens on the anniversary of the Reaper war, standing on the steps of the temple of Athame, giving a speech of remembrance and regret…the only one living who had been in the center of that great conflict…who would still speak of it anyhow.
T'Aryn creased her brows, knowing that there were appropriate questions to ask, protocols to be followed, but the words typed on the chart had lost all definition and meaning. She took a deep breath, attempting to restore her calm, to focus on the patient…a hero…a goddess be damned war hero.
"It's all right." that mellifluous voice, so much more real than on the recordings or live camera streaming. "I assure you, I'm fine."
T'Aryn wiped her now sweaty palm on her wrinkled lab coat and swallowed the lump in her throat. "I doubt that." she managed to rasp, too brusque, hoping that her voice did not offend the graceful matron before her. "Oh, goddess." she hissed, realizing her blunder. "Do forgive me…"
"Dr. Liara T'Soni." the asari of legend extended her hand and T'Aryn shook it, thinking the distinctly human greeting somewhat odd, but admiring the strength in that seemingly delicate hand. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"Sen T'Aryn." she managed to remember her own name, alarmed as a pained crease pinched Liara's facial markings. Immediately, some part of her training returned. "Are you experiencing any symptoms?" she asked, keying her omni to scan once more. "Shortness of breath, dizziness, any tightness or pain in your chest?"
"No." Liara shook her head, making even that seem the most graceful of gestures. With her here, in person, it was so difficult to see the battle hardened asari of legend…somehow twisted by the war from a gentle, naïve archaeologist to a biotic valkyrie. "I was but…it's done now. No reason for concern…it is something I am accustomed to after three hundred and twenty seven years."
A quick glance at the chart revealed Liara's age. Four hundred and thirty seven…far too young to be exhibiting symptoms of cardiac distress. Sen frowned. She exhaled, preparing to ask further questions when the door of the room burst open, revealing an exquisite asari…the imposing form of the chief of cardiology.
"Dr. T'Soni." Chief Ela's voice rang through the room, a low alto that somehow contrasted with the rare lavender of her complexion. T'Aryn took a step back…the chief held a formidable, intimidating presence, carrying herself as though she were a matriarch.
However, as disconcerted as she was by the presence of the chief of cardiology, Sen T'Aryn could only find herself grateful. Ela's presence meant that her part, ineffectual and brief though it had been, was over, and that she could go home, as she had been longing to halfway through her shift.
"…you should be admitted for at least a day's monitoring." Ela continued, and Sen realized that the chief must have been speaking the entire time. "I will attend to your care myself, and you will, of course, given your status, be housed in a private room."
"With all due respect to your profession, Dr. T'Vari," Liara spoke, and Sen wondered how she had blanked out their introductions, "I do not think it will be necessary. I am feeling quite well and…"
"I must insist." Ela interrupted, and Sen's eyes widened at her gall. "Your health is nothing to be trifled with, and, given your position, you must consider not only your own self, but all of Thessia, perhaps the galaxy as a whole."
Liara sighed and Sen caught a flash of irritation in her eyes before they returned to that calm, serene blue…a color so fashionable now that many asari underwent a painful procedure to alter the color of the iris to that famous shade.
"I will submit to the monitoring and tests…" the chief opened her mouth and Liara raised a finger, halting the older asari's words. "…under one condition."
"Name it." Ela spoke, not nearly as concerned for Liara's health as she was for the reputation of Thessia Medical.
If word got out that the Liara T'Soni had been in the ER, discharged without proper examination, and something were to go wrong…the galaxy would be outraged.
"Grateful as I am for your offer of monitoring my care yourself, I would prefer to remain under the care of Dr. T'Aryn."
"What!?" Sen spoke before thinking…again…and Ela's countenance flushed a deep purple with a mixture of surprise and indignation.
"While Dr. T'Aryn is qualified," Ela stressed the word in a demeaning manner, "I would suggest, if you continue to insist on refusing my offer, one of our more seasoned specialists."
"Dr. T'Aryn, or I will leave now." Liara countered, rising from the exam table, filling the small room with a force of presence that left Sen feeling slightly claustrophobic.
The chief's lips pursed and she keyed in her omni-tool, seeing at once to the admittance and transfer of Dr. Liara T'Soni to the twelfth floor cardiology department. Liara submitted to the transport by wheelchair with a quiet grace and dignity that left Sen stunned after the display of force.
Why me? she wondered as the chief rounded on her, violet eyes sparking.
"You understand the importance of this patient, Dr. T'Aryn?" she asked, and Sen nodded, her shoulders tightening and nostrils flaring. "Good. Then you understand the consequences if you are not to be found in her proximity for the duration of the monitoring."
"Yes, chief."
"Excellent." the chief shook her head. "T'Soni's." she grumbled. "Always so improbably headstrong."
Sen stood there as the chief left, momentarily stunned. She knew the chief had survived the Reaper War…but had no concept of any sort of prior relationship with the T'Soni family.
They were powerful before the war…until Matriarch Benezia sundered the family reputation by siding with Saren…until Liara rebuilt it. Goddess, what am I going to do? And now I can't leave and I'm so tired…and Mira. How much more of this will she be willing to endure?
Sen straightened and sighed, attempting to ease the kinks out of her back. She retraced the steps she had taken earlier, sagging against the elevator wall and glancing balefully at the outside world that had been denied her…again. A nurse met her on the twelfth floor and led her to the room where Liara had already been ensconced and the requisite wireless devices placed to read her heart rhythm for at least a full day and night, as was standard procedure. Although, Sen could easily anticipate chief recommending two days of constant surveillance for this particular patient.
The nurses left to make their rounds and Sen rubbed her hand along her crest. "Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable, Dr. T'Soni?"
"Yes." she smiled. "Call me Liara."
The informality stunned her and she shuffled her feet before staggering to the couch and sitting down.
"You must be very tired." Liara murmured, her voice sounding too…intimate…for a complete stranger. "I do apologize for keeping you here, Dr. T'Aryn."
"Sen, please." Sen extended the courtesy of informality, watching that brief flash of pain in Liara's eyes again. "And I am more concerned by your presence here, in truth."
Liara laughed, melodic, soulful, haunting. "Oh that is quite easy to explain." she smiled, white teeth gleaming against the harsh artificial light. "It is never wise to complain of a dizzy spell while vid conferencing with an utter mother hen of a krogan clan leader."
Mother hen…Sen fumbled with the description, attempting to place it before giving up and resolving to search it later.
"Urdnot Wrex?" she asked, cringing inside as she realized she may have opened a door the esteemed Dr. T'Soni wished closed.
"The very same." Liara offered that smile again, and Sen felt more at ease immediately. "So you know the story then." her voice lowered, sounding almost regretful.
"What was taught." Sen offered, unable to comprehend the melancholy in Liara's eyes…not for an intrusion made but for an opportunity denied? "The names of those who played a part. The major battles. The crew of the Normandy."
Liara nodded, as though expecting the answer. "That…that seems to be all the galaxy cares about now. Who can blame them…after three hundred years, most of what remains of the war are the scars in the earth. Very few, save the asari and krogan, are alive who remember that time."
Sen wanted to comfort the matron, but did not know how. Instead, her eyes watched Liara as the asari lifted back the stark white of the hospital issued robe and rested her fingers on the simple black and silver bracelet across her left wrist.
Liara T'Soni…bonded? Sen wracked her memory, attempting to recall an announcement of such a momentous occasion, but could find nothing. It must have been in secret…and I do not blame her. The shy archaeologist of history, if she still exists, would probably hate and avoid any scrutiny surrounding her or her bondmate.
"I am sorry if I have brought back unpleasant memories." Sen apologized, knowing that, no matter the cost, this was the one patient with which to at least attempt bedside manner.
"Not at all." but Liara's voice was not in that room, not in that century. "But few will ever know of the pleasantness of those times…krogans want to hear of their battles, turians their prowess, quarians their cunning, asari their wisdom, humans their glory…damnable glory. But there were…there were beautiful moments in between the horror."
Sen looked around the room, the collar of her tunic suddenly too tight. She attempted to loosen it, not knowing whether to step forward or backwards.
"We have…time to dispose of, if you are not averse to conversing. Chief T'Vari forbade me from leaving the hospital during your stay."
"I did not mean for that when I asked for you." Liara amended, her brow creasing with that emotion that was…too much…too soon…for reasons unfathomable.
Sen waved the concern away, refraining from looking at Liara's face, finding her eyes, open and frank and honest…unsettling. "It's nothing, truly. The chief is very much looking for a reason to upend my career. Prejudice against an asari in her maidenhood attempting a matron's career."
"I know the feeling." Liara nodded, empathizing with the doctor…another shock. "Perhaps, then, that is where this story should begin."