Quarters Talk

Commander Lakota Shepard fidgeted in her desk chair. The monitor in front of her displayed star maps of uncharted geth space, but right now her mind was not on the geth. She swiveled around in the chair surveying her room for the fifteenth time and came up with the same assessment: her quarters were nothing extravagant, but they suited her basic needs. After eleven years with the Alliance military, she was thankful for finally having two things: a comfortable bed and the luxury of privacy.

Suddenly, a chirp sounded and the doors to her quarters slid open revealing Dr. Liara T'Soni, the Asari scientist who joined the commander's crew over two months ago during the hunt for Saren.

"Commander, may I come in?"

"Absolutely, Doctor. I was just thinking about you. I assume you'd like to continue our conversation from the Citadel?"

The doors closed as Liara stepped through. She turned to lock the keypad, then swiveled back to face the commander. "Actually, no."

Unable to hide her surprise, Lakota questioned, "No?"

Liara slowly crossed the distance between them shamelessly appraising the commander each step of the way. Slyly, she intoned, "I had something more physical in mind."

Standing to meet the Asari, Lakota smiled, then demurely flirted, "I'm open to suggestions."

Eyebrow raised, Liara smirked coyly. "Are you?"

Once face to face, Liara's right hand reached up and sensuously caressed her lover's cheek. "How about this?" She leaned in so her lips lightly brushed the commander's. Parting slightly, the Asari's tongue danced out to explore the mouth too long neglected.

A low moan escaped Lakota's throat as her hands instinctively captured Liara's hips and drew her in. Body to body, they slowly stoked the fire raging between them. Hands roamed freely. Lips and tongue entwined. Neither wanted to hurry, but rather forced themselves to maintain a deliberately painful pace until their lust threatened to consume them both.

Clothing fell indiscriminately on the floor as they made their way to the bed. Desire overrode speech, instinct overrode thought, reckless abandon overrode practical physics. Their longing overwhelmed all but each other.

Clothes fully cast aside, the bed the sole berth of their universe, the blue-hued Asari and honey-tanned human continued their intimate dance of sensual arousal. Each caress lifted their desire. Each moan signaled a step further to the edge. Breathing became more labored until panting was all that remained. Until coherent thought was all but left behind.

Lying naked on top of the commander, Liara ceased all movement and looked directly, wantonly into her lover's lustful, pale green eyes. "Will you join with me, Shepard?"

"Yes," Lakota whispered in a rush, her barely contained desire carried within the aching tones of the word spoken.

The Asari race had a unique ability to merge with their partner's nervous system. This joining was an energetic melding of mind, body and spirit. Thoughts, memories and emotions become one: a unified consciousness bound together by the wants, needs and willful desire of two individual entities.

Still focused on the commander, Liara's blue eyes transformed to an obsidian hue. Her lips descended and lured Lakota's into a slow, passionate kiss that deepened with each subtle movement of the Asari's body. Each gyration signaled a deepening immersion of their now melded consciousness which spiraled blissfully toward a rapturous climax.

"Embrace eternity…"

Much later…

Lying on the bed, nestled in each others arms, Lakota and Liara enjoyed the peaceful aftermath of their joining. Their rhythmic breathing matched the quiet mood that had settled between them and neither moved for fear of disrupting the serenity. Even the resonate hum of the Normandy added to the tranquility of the moment as the ship negotiated its way through space.

After a time, Liara's voice sounded in the silence. "Commander?"

Lazily, Lakota rolled onto her bent left arm so she had a better survey of her alluring, inquisitive lover. "Doctor?"

"I would like to continue our conversation now."

"Which conversation?" Lakota teased. "The one we just finished …"

Liara smiled. "I think we said all we needed to say on that subject. For now..."

Conceding, Lakota smirked and wistfully commented, "I guess round two will have to wait 'til later."

Turning her head on the pillow so their eyes met, Liara said, "I am curious about something, Shepard."

"What would that be?"

"The tattoo you have on your back. What is it? I have never seen anything like it before."

"It's a medicine wheel. A symbol that originates from indigenous tribes on Earth. It signifies a person's unique path in life and also the interconnectedness of all life."

Liara motioned for Lakota to lie on her stomach allowing the scientist to examine the tattoo more closely with her finger tips. "Do the different colored sections have special meaning?"

"Yes and even the colors are significant." Closing her eyes, Lakota brought the image of her tattoo to mind. "It's divided into four quadrants…four directions. Each represents an aspect of life: mental, emotional, physical, spiritual or young, adult, midlife, elder or even the seasons on earth: autumn, summer, winter and spring. Four is considered a sacred number." Delighting in the attention the blue hued hand showed to her back, Lakota sighed contentedly. "They are all bound in a circle which alludes to the connectedness of all things."

Contemplating the commander's words, Liara said, "I did not realize you had such an interest in spiritual things."

"It doesn't overshadow my life. I'm not religious in the same fashion that Ashley was. But when you break anything or anyone down to a quantum level, we're all just a bunch of energy particles roaming around."

Catching this new and unexpected side over her lover was reminiscent of being on an archeological dig and unearthing a long forgotten Prothean relic: mysterious, provocative and utterly enthralling. "You continue to surprise me, Shepard. You really do have the wisdom of a matriarch within you."

Amused by the thought, she laughed out loud. "Hah! I'm not sure about that. I did, after all, try to drive the Mako over a thresher maw. That could have turned out better." Stretching her body from finger to toe, Lakota sank into the luxury of the serene moment and into the attention given by fingers still tracing the image on her back. Sighing happily, she asked, "What about you, Liara? What wisdom has one hundred and six years brought you?"

"The Asari religion- siari, holds a very similar idea as doctrine. Every life in the universe is an aspect of the greater whole, and death is a merging of one's spiritual energy back into greater universal consciousness. While I have not thought much on this, it is, nonetheless, a comforting view." After a moment of contemplation, Liara continued, "I do feel our ability to mate with virtual any race is an indication of an innate connection throughout all life."

A comfortable silence fell between them as they each enjoyed the tranquil mood infused by the Asari's hand continuing its inquisitive journey across the ten inch tattoo accentuating the commander's backside. The multicolored medicine wheel was centered high on her back between the shoulder blades. Its circle was outlined in ivory toned antlers bound in strips of tattered brown leather. Within the wheel a red line created the north/south path and a black line created the east/west path bringing into existence four quadrants: yellow in the northeast, red in the southeast, black in the southwest and white in the northwest. Two arrows adorned with feathers, one lying in a southwest to northeast path, the other lying in a southeast to northwest path, were pictured behind the medicine wheel. Further scrutinizing the tattoo, Liara asked, "And the animal in the center?"

"That's a Bengal tiger. Extinct now on Earth, but I have a particular affinity for them."

"Do they represent something specific?"

"Strength, valor, passion, sensuality, courage."

A smile tugged at Liara's lips. "That sounds accurate." She continued to lazily trace the outline of the vivid orange and black tiger with her forefinger. "What is its significance for you?"

"To me the tiger is a symbol of the qualities I admire and hope to attain. It's a sleek and ferocious animal. A patient and silent hunter. Generally a solitary creature, but nurturing and protective of her cubs. All around a magnificent, passionate and powerful animal." Lakota contemplated a moment before continuing. "As for the tattoo, I got it when I was fifteen. At the time, I was feeling disconnected from all things. I wanted something that I could call my own and that no one could steal. A tattoo seemed like a perfect fit. The medicine wheel is about the circle of life and reminded me of the bigger picture around me. It gave me a sense of belonging. Belonging to something more than I could see, hear or touch. Still does."

Made self-conscious by her unexpected admission, Lakota said, "Damn Doctor, you sure know how to make a girl talk."

"I think I may have found your weakness, Commander." As Liara finished the sentence she lightly raked her fingers down the Lakota's back drawing out an involuntary gasp.

Shaking her head and smiling Lakota gave out rueful laugh. "Apparently you did." She rolled onto her back impishly gazing into the Asari's eyes. "Do me a favor, don't let it get around, okay?"

A sultry grin graced Liara's lips. "This will be our secret."

"One of many I hope."

"As you wish, Commander." Shifting the topic, the Asari said, "For now though, I would like to discuss your offer."

Curiosity piqued, Lakota repeated, "My offer?"

Liara provocatively leaned into Lakota, kissing her slowly, deeply. "I believe you called it 'round two'."