Liara T'Soni

Matriarch Benezia was sitting at a table, staring blankly at the wall across from her when her Liara found her.

"Uh, Mother," she said, startling the Matriarch out of her reverie, "could you do me a little favour?"

"It depends, Liara," Benezia replied evenly, "on what the favour is."

"I need you to take me to Mars, in the Sol system," Liara was petrified that her mother would say no, so she spoke slowly, selecting her words carefully.

Benezia was very surprised. Her daughter seemed so ashamed to ask such a small thing of her. Liara knew that her mother would do anything for her. "Why? Wait, don't tell me… you need me to take you to a dig there. But why didn't you just ask Matriarch Sephere? She takes you to all your digs; how is this any different?" Liara wasn't surprised at how quickly her mother figured out what she wanted. That was always what she had asked for. Could she go to this dig, buy her this tool she couldn't afford, etc. It never changed, but Liara couldn't tell her mother that the other Matriarch had forbidden her from boarding the ship because Liara had been talking about her behind her back. Benezia would disown her for saying bad things about Sephere.

"Umm… Her ship is being repaired, and I need to be there in 6 days." Liara said, hoping her mother couldn't detect the uncertainty behind her words.

"Of course. I'll take you to your dig." If Benezia noticed anything, she didn't show it. "Mars, right? How about tomorrow, do you think you could do that?"

"Of course, mother! Thank you so much!" Liara ran up and gave her mother a hug.

"It's not a problem, honey. I'd do anything for you." Liara smiled at that. She knew, and she would do anything for her mother too.

Ashley Williams

"So, what did the Captain have to say to you, Ash?" asked Ashley's best friend on her team, Talia Kalrita. It took all of Ashley's willpower to keep herself from jumping with joy.

"I've been promoted to Gunnery Chief!" she answered excitedly. Her friend was silent for a moment then she let out a tiny scream and threw her arms around Ashley.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so happy for you!" Talia paused to calm herself down. "It looks like the Williams curse is wearing off, huh?"

"Yeah, maybe it is." Ashley said, "Maybe."

"I feel bad interrupting this little party," said Flight Lieutenant Andrew Pollre, "but you need to know that we'll be docking at the Citadel soon. After that last fight we need some repairs, a new CO and XO, and some of us…" he paused, looking at Ashley, "are getting transferred to a different ship. So pack your bags, we'll be staying on the Citadel for a few weeks."

"Yes sir," responded Talia. Then she left to pack up.

"I'm getting transferred?" Ashley shouted indignantly, "Away from Talia? Of course, the one time something something goes right something else goes horribly wrong!"

"It's not that bad, you're going to be under the Command of Rita Shepard," responded the Flight Lieutenant, trying desperately to cheer her up.

Ashley's eyes widened, "The Rita Shepard! From Elysium? Really? Why didn't you tell me that in the first place?" She paused, thinking, "I'm still going to be sad… not getting to see Talia, but I guess I could message her… Andrew?"

"Yes, Gunnery Chief Williams?" He responded, making sure to use her new rank, not her old one.

"Keep her safe…" She said slowly, obviously sad. "I don't know what I'd do if she… you know. So be careful."

"Of course, Ash. You too."

Garrus Vakarian

"What do you need, Vakarian," asked Commander Bailey of C-Sec. "I haven't got all day, you know."

"The usual, sir," Garrus said, "Lantar Sidonis and his friends bullying another Quarian female." He was disappointed that he had to say that. Garrus used to be one of Lantar's friends, now he stayed with them to make sure that they didn't get into too much trouble.

"You have to know by now that, no matter how many times this happens, you need the Quarian with you to prove that it actually happened." Bailey said, not seeing Tali behind Garrus.

"Of course, sir. She's right here." Garrus replied, gesturing to where Tali was standing behind him - forcing her to come out.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you there. What is your name?" Bailey asked, still emotionless.

"Tali'Zorah Nar Rayya." she replied softly. Garrus wished he could see the expression on her face. She sounded so sad.

"One moment, I'm getting a call." said Bailey, completely ignoring Tali.

Oh, Garrus thought, that must hurt; he doesn't even seem to care.

The Commander was silent for a moment, "Of course the Rayya is cleared to leave port! Tell them to go. Good riddance."

"What!" Tali interrupted, sounding very afraid, "tell them to stop! That's my ship!"

"Your ship?" Bailey asked. When she nodded he started hurriedly barking into his com, "Tell them to stop! Don't question my orders, I told you to stop them!" He was silent for a few moments, listening, then turned to Tali, "I'm afraid they're out of communications range, I'm sorry. You're going to be staying on the Citadel for a while." For once he sounded genuinely sorry. Not that that was going to help Tali at the moment.

"No, no, no, no, no! It can't be! My father will kill me! No!" she stammered.

That's when Garrus cut in, "Come on, Tali'Zorah." He emphasised her name, as if to say to Bailey it was his fault for not listening, "I'll help you find a place to stay while you're here." With that, he and Tali turned and left Bailey alone with his thoughts.

Sorry about Garrus calling Tali just Tali instead of Tali'Zorah… I kind of published that chapter before it was ready. ;D

Eljay101