Just a little note. I don't own any of these character, BioWare does. I just get to play around with them.
Enjoy this weeks chapter
Chapter VII
Liara has abruptly left the kitchen, leaving Shepard no clue to why. What did I say? Or do? She then goes after the asari needing to know what was wrong. Something was wrong, that much the Commander knew for certain.
Dr. T'Soni has tears streaming down her face as she walks into their bedroom. What do I say when she walks in. Liara covers her eyes with her hands as the tears keep flowing. How do you forgive me, Shepard? How do you act like nothing has changed? When everything has changed, especially me.
Commander Shepard walks in to the bedroom, seeing Liara sobbing while sitting on the bed, "What's wrong, Liara?" Shepard kneels in front of Liara. She takes the sling off her arm and uses both thumbs to wipe away the tears, "Please, tell me." Leia holds Liara's face with her hands.
Liara's hand went to meet Shepard's. The asari was unsure how to explain, so she just blurts it out, "How, Commander, do you forgive me?"
Again, Shepard is dumbfounded. "What kind of question is that? Forgive you for what? Me not contacting my mom or for something else?" inquires Shepard.
T'Soni sighs. She is holding both of Shepard's hands, "For giving you to Cerberus. How do you forgive me for that?" Liara stood up and the Commander stood up with her. She couldn't look Shepard in the eyes, " For making it hard for you to speak with your mother. I knew from what we saw chasing Saren what Cerberus was like, and I did it anyway, Shepard."
The red-haired human stood there. T'Soni is still holding her hands. Shepard moves her hands from Liara's hands to around Liara's waist pulling her in close. She then whispers, "Nothing to forgive, T'Soni. I love you, nothing can change that."
Liara wraps her arms tightly around Leia and sobs. They were a mixture of happy sobs along with sad ones. Shepard held Liara tightly, letting her know things were okay. Without you, Liara, Cerberus couldn't have brought me back. I can never thank you enough. I worked with them because it was necessary and they betrayed me in the end. And lie to me every step of the way. Their biggest lie was about you.
"I'm sorry, Leia. I feel like you not contacting you mother is my fault," remarks T'Soni.
Commander Shepard goes and sits on the bed and brings Dr. T'Soni with her. "Look, Liara." Shepard scoots back fluffing up a couple of pillows to make it more comfortable. She leans against the headrest of the bed, Liara lies next to Shepard with Shepard's arms around T'Soni. "I wouldn't be here, if not for you. You think what you did was you being selfish, but I see it as you being selfless. You sacrificed a part of yourself to save me, Liara." Leia squeezes Liara.
T'Soni stays in Shepard's embrace. It feels warm and comforting. Oddly enough, she isn't afraid of anything when she is with Commander Shepard. "Shepard, I didn't dare hope that Cerberus could do what they said they could do. I just couldn't. One of my contacts on Omega saw you along with Miranda Lawson talking to Aria T'Loak. There was another human with you, but my contact didn't know who it was. Just that is was a female wearing a hood."
Leia chuckled, "That would have been Kasumi Goto."
"The thief?" asks Liara. She gets up, looks at Shepard with a confused look. "Why would you have her with you?"
Shepard takes a deep breath and exhales it before speaking, "Cerberus gave me dossiers on everyone that was on my team. I wanted to have my team. You, Kaidan, Tali, Garrus, and Wrex with me. People I could trust. The Illusive Man told me that Wrex hadn't left Tuchanka in over a year. I found out later that was true. He then tells me that he has no idea where Garrus went after leaving C-Sec. True, he ended up being Archangel on Omega. He had to think more about Tali after she helped me at Freedoms Progress and I'm sure he collected more information about her too. I was also told that Kaidan's Alliance file was highly classified and he didn't have access to it. Then I asked about you." The tone in Shepard's voice hardened some with the last sentence.
"What did he say? From your tone, I think he lied to you," says Liara matter of factly.
Shepard grins, "Of course he did. For some reason, he doesn't want us together. Xenophobia maybe or he thinks it looks bad I am with an asari instead of another human. I asked about you and got told you were on Illium and his sources said you were working for the Shadow Broker and if that was the case. You couldn't be trusted."
Liara saw red. A new enemy. Like she needed another one. The reapers where enough. She didn't have the time to put too much focus into Cerberus and their many activities. "That bastard. He knew. Knew, I was looking for the Shadow Broker, Shepard. Not working for him." T'Soni slides out of Shepard's grasp and got off the bed and went into the bathroom to watch her face and try to calm down. What game are you playing at, Illusive Man. Chess? If so, what pieces are we to you. Am I just a pawn? What about Shepard? What is she? The Knight?
Leia Shepard, human Spectre, got off the bed and followed Liara to the bathroom. She peeks her head in and sees Liara washing her face. The asari's expression was telling, full of determination. It's almost the same look she had when talking about the Shadow Broker before she took over that role. Oh crap, I've seen that look before. Same look she had when talking about the Shadow Broker. Liara don't. Let me handle it. Please. Shepard asks, "You okay, Liara?"
Dr. Liara T'Soni is drying her face off. She hangs the towel back up, turns to face the Commander, "Yes, I'll be fine. I can't say the same about our enemies though, Leia."
"Let me deal with Cerberus. I'm sure he will want his ship back along with his AI, but I'm giving them to the Alliance. I need you to put all of your focus on helping me stop the reapers." Shepard hugs Liara, "Okay?"
Liara kisses Shepard on the lips softly, "Okay." She then kisses the Commander deeply. Liara broke off the kiss and walked back into the bedroom, "I want to tell you more, Leia. I owe you that much."
Shepard was right behind T'Soni. She sits in a chair listening to what Liara was going to say, "I'll listen to anything you have to say. You don't owe me anything, Liara." She smiles to Liara and gets one in return.
The asari sits on the edge of the bed facing Shepard in the chair. "I didn't go looking for Cerberus' help, Leia. Feron was working for them and the Shadow Broker. The Shadow Broker wanted me out of the way, so he got Feron to do. Things got messy after that. Got mixed up with the Blue Suns that is when Cerberus showed up. Couple of sniper shots and I was able to use my biotics to allow Feron and I to get away." Liara stops talking and looks at Shepard. Leia is sitting, listening carefully to what is being said. Shepard reachs out and grabs Liara's hand. T'Soni continues, "That is when we actually met Miranda and two others that were with her. She took me to meet the Illusive Man."
Shepard nods that she is understanding. She could feel the tension through Liara from holding Liara's hand. "I agreed but for you, not Cerberus and not for him."
Shepard asks, "Talk to him actually face to face or through a holocomm?"
"What do you think? His name fits, too," answers Liara. Liara stands up and says, "I know there isn't any place to really go here, but lets walk."
Leia stands up and interlocks her left hand with Liara's right hand as they walk around the ship, "Liara, are you sure you're okay? This seems to have caused you to grow tense. Maybe, I shouldn't have said anything."
"I'm okay, Shepard. Yes, I am a little tense. I knew Cerberus used me to get their hands on you and yet I gave them to you anyway. I'm pissed that he lied to you, only to use you to help me with the Shadow Broker. It's like The Illusive Man wants me here, Shepard. I feel like I'm being set up. I don't like it," states Liara in a cold matter of fact tone in her voice.
"I don't like it either and I've thought that too sometimes, Liara. Especially since Miranda told us she sent him a report after the fact. I'll deal with it. Let me," Commander Shepard said in a tone that told Liara she was serious and it was an order like they were back on the Normandy. "I still don't understand what the collectors wanted with me. Every time we fought them, Liara. Harbinger would taunt me through a collector by taking one over. They want me alive for some reason. Even Dr. Kenson wanted me for the reapers," said Shepard as Liara led them towards the office.
Liara slows down and stops before entering the office area. She says in a subordinate manner, "Aye aye, Commander." Liara's tone change with the next sentence, "If I get anything about Cerberus, I will pass them along to you." The asari leans in close to Shepard's ear whispering, "I love you, Leia."
They kiss again. Shepard breaks the lip lock, "Did you ever find out what the collectors wanted with me?"
"It was just business to the Shadow Broker. I never did find out exactly what the collectors wanted. Study would be my best guess," says Liara. "I was able to get you before the collectors did but just barely. And I was only able to do that when Feron sacrificed himself to allow me to escape in the ship with your..," Liara's words trailed off and she never finished her thought.
Commander Shepard takes Liara into her arms and holds her close. Liara feels better being in Shepard's arms. "Liara, lets watch a vid or something. We could watch the one Joker always raves about," Shepard laughs when saying that. "Or anything you want."
Liara starts laughing as well, "We can watch the 'Vaenia' vid. That way we can see what Joker's big deal is with it. That way I can tell him the next time I see him we watched it together."
"You've got to be joking. Last thing I need is Joker fantasizing about our sex life. Which I'm sure he does already. You don't need to egg him on about it," Shepard playfully pokes Liara in the side.
T'Soni gave Shepard a mischievous look, "Of course, I'm kidding, Leia. There is a documentary on ancient human cultures. I wouldn't mind watching it."
"That sounds good. I like that type of stuff," says Shepard as she walks with Liara's arm wrapped around her waist and her arm wrapped around Liara's waist. They walk through the office, up the stairs to the room where Liara had all the videos for Shepard to see. Leia's favorite were the ones of the reporter, al-Jilani getting kicked by a volus or the korgan punching her. Both of those made Shepard feel like she isn't the only victim of al-Jilani's ambush style of reporting.
Liara pushes a few buttons to both dim the lights and start the vid. Shepard went and got comfortable on the couch. Once the lights dimmed, the vid started and Liara curls up next to Shepard. The Commander places her arm around Liara and snuggles tightly against the asari's body. They watched the documentary in silence. Again enjoying being in each other company. Before the vid was over, both Liara and Shepard dozed off.
Aboard the Normandy, Feron is cleaning up the kitchen after serving the last meal of the day. Everyone seemed to enjoy the dinner he prepared. Nothing fancy. Just carrots, potatoes with a little gravy, and some fried meat. He also prepared different meals for Tali and Garrus.
Grunt walks up to the newest member of the crew even if Feron was here just until Shepard comes back. "Any glorious battles, drell?"
Feron turns around and looks at the young tank bred krogan standing next to him, "No, I deal in information. I'm not a soldier."
Grunt points one of his fingers at Feron, "You're soft." Grunt turns and goes back down to the cargo hold area he stays in. Feron looks at him as the krogan walks away.
Garrus is sitting at a table finishing up the last of his dinner. He shakes his head at the exchange between the drell and krogan. "Don't worry, Feron. He thinks all of us are soft except for the quarians. Shepard was right, you can cook. But then how often is she wrong?"
Dr. Chakwas was sitting a few chairs down from the turian, "She's not wrong very often, Garrus. Feron, that was one of the best meals I've had aboard a ship like this in a long long time. Thank you."
Feron feels good. He is receiving compliments on how his cooking is better than Gardner's. The drell is also being welcomed by everyone helps a great deal. They don't know his past, they only know that Commander Shepard asked him to be their cook. The Commander sure knows how to gain the loyalty of others.
In the other section of tables, Engineers Donnelly and Daniels are talking among themselves about staying or leaving. Engineer Gabrellia Daniels says, "I know you and the Alliance don't see eye to eye, Ken. But we would still be here on the Normandy. She's the best ship ever. Don't you still want to serve under Commander Shepard. She came for us, Ken."
Engineer Ken Donnelly was finishing the last bite of food. "I know, Gabby. How do we even know the Alliance won't just arrest us along with Shepard? Then just give the Normandy a whole new crew," says Ken with the Scottish accent of his. "There isn't a person on this ship, Gabby, that doesn't owe the Commander for something. I just don't know about the brass, Gabby."
"I know, Ken. I know. I'm don't know about them either. I do trust Commander Shepard fully. She's doing the right thing. Think about this. Every since she came aboard. It might have Cerberus logos on just about everything including our uniforms, but has the Commander ran it any differently than an Alliance vessel?" ask Gabby.
Engineer Donnelly thought about that for a second or two before answering, "Suppose not, from what I've heard. We didn't serve with the Commander before, Gabby. Suppose we could ask those that did. Get a better understanding of the situation."
Nods in agreement, Engineer Daniels gets up and walks over to where Dr. Chakwas is sitting. "Excuse me, Dr. Chakwas. Donnelly and I would like to ask you something." Gabby points to where she is sitting with Ken Donnelly.
The doctor says, "Sure." Dr. Chakwas gets up and busses her tray over to the kitchen. She then proceeds to over to where the two engineers are sitting. Chakwas sits next to Daniels, "What can I do for you two?"
Donnelly spoke first, "Well, doctor, you served with the Commander aboard the SSV Normandy."
"Yes, I did," answered Chakwas in her normal calm tone. "Why do you ask?"
"We want to know if the Commander is doing things like this was an Alliance vessel instead of a Cerberus one, Dr. Chakwas?" asks Daniels.
Chakwas thinks about that, Hmmm, good question. Yes and no really. I think she is a little more relax with the crew because they are not Alliance, but civilians. The doctor says, "I guess that would depend on a few things. Yes, she is different with this crew. I also think that is due to this not being a military vessel, but a civilian one. And no. She talked to everyone aboard the original Normandy just like she does here. Even Admiral Hackett didn't think this was a Cerberus vessel any longer. He said that to me himself. So if you two are thinking of leaving because of your ties with Cerberus, I wouldn't worry about it."
Donnelly asks, "Why do you say that, doctor?"
"Well, I was part of the crew the stole the Normandy when it was grounded by the Ambassador Udina. Capt. Anderson punched him in the gut from what I heard. That turned out okay. None of us got arrested. I doubt any of us with this time either," replies Dr. Chakwas. Then she spoke a little more softly, "Because we are former Alliance. I'm almost positive they will take us back to continue to serve on this vessel and with Commander Shepard."
Engineer Daniels says as Dr. Chakwas is getting up to go to her office, "Thank you, doctor." Donnelly second the thanks. "See, told you, Ken. Commander will make sure things will be okay."
"Wouldn't it be a kick in the daddy bags if the reapers showed up while we are on Earth. Those bloody bastards," comments engineer Donnelly.
"Yea, right," replies Daniels. Both engineers take their trays to Feron and head back to the engineering level.
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See you need week.