Visits
Captain's Quarters – Freighter Ithaca – leaving the Citadel
In silence Second Lieutenant Tamara Brant, codename Falcon, watched Rory preparing the meal. That he had used the time at the Citadel to integrate a small kitchen into his very spacious Captain's quarters was only another sign of his very unusual skills and preferences. He liked to cook for good friends, had done the same years ago as they served in the same unit with him being her squad leader. And he was good at it, even if he had only a limited number of receipts in his cooking book. Pepper steak, salad and baked potato were planned for today. And the dessert would be his famous crème brûlée. The first dessert at least, as Tamara hoped with a smile.
It was visible that his room was still in the phase of furnishing. Only a handful of personal items could be seen, the most prominent being a charcoal picture of Tali'Zorah, depicting her as she worked on a machine with an endless number of parts scattered around her. The picture was not really good, neither the relative scales of the body parts nor the whole viewing angle were correct, but it was still visible how intensive his memory about her had to be. She knew that he created the picture on Sur'Kesh and for a moment she wondered if he would be able to make something similar about her.
"Less thinking, more eating," Rory mocked her as he left the kitchen and placed a wonderful smelling steak in front of her.
"Rory, you're too good to me." The pleasure showed clearly on her face as she inhaled.
"It is only to soothe my fiery redhead. I don't want to receive another beating."
"Pah, next time I know that your death is only faked. And I don't believe that getting Dr. Michel near your skin is something you regret too much. Caressing hands and all, you know," Tamara smirked wickedly.
Rory made a show of a relaxed smile: "Yes, Dr. Michel, her gentle hands," he sighed, continuing hastily as Tamara growled deeply: "Not that I wouldn't prefer other hands to caress my skin."
The growl switched into a smile but for a while Tamara looked thoughtfully at him. After some moments she stated with a soft, compassionate voice, way out of her normal behavior: "You know, Rory, that I don't love you. You're a friend for me and I like to be a tad more sometimes, but that's it. And I'm no substitute for Ash."
Rory nodded and padded her hand slightly: "I know, Tam. I don't see you as a kind of consolation prize. I like to spend time with you and in the right mood I desire a bit more. But I won't hinder you if you're looking for someone else. And you can be assured that I haven't commandeered you because of … I wanted to have you around me because I trust you and I know how competent you are. The promotion is not a kind of bribery."
Tamara grinned back: "Good to hear, because you should know: if I ever hear you scream her name, your recuperation from Virmire will look like a holiday for you after me showing you my … displeasure."
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Lia'Vael's Quarters – Freighter Ithaca – near Quarian Flotilla
After some minutes Tali'Zorah and Rory were finally able to end the hearty embrace they had started instantly after entering Lia'Vael's quarters. I had been Lia's first duty on board of the Ithaca to change her quarters following the blueprints Rory had kept from the Normandy. After a short welcoming of Tali and Kal'Reegar – the Quarian being her honor guard on the visit – Lia had proposed them to use her quarters.
"It is so good to see you again, Tali … I really missed you." Rory couldn't help but to follow the impulse and drag her small frame into his hearty embrace anew. She wriggled out of his embrace and ordered him, her finger pressing the tip of his nose: "Leave my ribs intact, Rory. If you bruise me, Kal'Reegar won't allow another visit in the near future."
"So, won't he? And this Kal'Reegar, he has anything to say about your company?" He smiled, his face showing a slight question.
"He is a friend, a good friend but no more. And he cares about me."
"Good to hear. I already like him. And you're sure about that I don't have to break his nose for unduly harassing my little sister," he asked with a light mock in his voice?
Tali punched against his breast: "Don't dare to touch him."
"Ouch, Tali, you know that I bruise easily." He threw his hands in the air in mocking submission: "Alright, I leave him alone … for now."
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CIC – Freighter Ithaca – leaving Quarian Flotilla
"Thank you, Lia, for offering your quarters. It was very nice to see Tali again and feel her embrace."
"You're welcome," the Quarian answered with a smile. "It was the least I could do. I owe her so much. Without her making a good impression on the Normandy I wouldn't stay here and I wouldn't have these quarters in the first. Never had I hoped … this is all very surprising for me."
Rory asked with a smile: "I hope a positive surprise?" After her nod he continued: "I've not much experience with your people, only Tali I've got to know. Please tell me if I do something stupid. You're not Tali but it may be possible that I transfer my knowledge about her preferences onto you and make a mistake in the process. You're a member of my team now and my office is open for you whenever there is the need to speak."
As Lia left the CIC, Rory thought about the hours he had spent with Tali. It had been wonderful to hear her voice again. He had told her about Sur'Kesh, about his convalescence and the visit of his mother. And she narrated how her welcome at the flotilla had been, her grief about her father's neutral behavior and her time on the Neema. Rory was relieved that she had found a good friend in Kal'Reegar. He seemed to be a competent, trustworthy soldier. At least he could be sure that she was moderately secure without him around.
He had notepads with messages from her for Garrus, Liara and Nelyna and hoped that he would be able to deliver them. Slowly the flotilla faded away on the monitor that showed the area behind the Ithaca. Omega, I'm coming.
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Afterlife – Omega
Rory, you're the only man I know that not only avoids to be turned on by the looks and moves of an Asari Dancer but even seems to lower his body temperature in their vicinity. Rory remembered Garrus' snide remark as he crossed thru the gathered public of the Afterlife bar like a battleship in full flight. I was like Chora's Den on the Citadel but tenfold, tenfold in smell, in noises and everything.
The batarian bouncer silently stepped aside to allow him and Falcon entrance to Aria's place, a platform that allowed full sight onto every place of Afterlife's upper level. Without order Falcon took a watching position while Rory closed the small gap to Aria, bowing lightly in front of the Asari Crime lord.
"Rory Udina, now we meet at last. I've heard many things about you."
"Certainly less than I about you, Lady Aria," Rory responded. Her smile about his flattery was fleeting, but she remained relaxed. "I was surprised to hear that you would be my next … deliverer of goods."
Following her gesture Rory took a seat on the u-shaped couch. "With the delivery I only repay Mrs. Blake a small favor. And I already planned to visit Omega, so it hadn't been a detour."
"I understand. But … don't you have … reservations about trading weapons?"
Rory shrugged. "Why should I? Every weapon that left the Citadel is a weapon less to threaten the good and honorable citizens there." He pressed an unhappy smile before he continued. "And with you as the de-facto-regent of Omega … who else could be a better and more trustworthy recipient?"
For a while the Asari examined Rory's stance and expression. For her it was clearly visible that he didn't like her, but she couldn't decide if it was something personal or only the dislike for her race she had already heard him to have.
"It is nothing personal." His simple statement surprised her, but she was able to suppress her face to pale. It happened not very often that someone was able to read her face and this from a human. "Instead I heard some …" for a moment Rory battled with words. "Mrs. Blake told me that you're all around trustworthy … and dangerous." Both smiled shortly at this revelation. "But I have to admit that even with your extra-ordinary combination of intellect, appearance and experience" – Aria realized that he stated this description not as a flattery but simply as facts – "I can't forget that you're … Asari. But it is nothing personal."
A look in his eyes proved Aria that they could be trading partners or foes, depending on her decision, but never friends. Sometimes, she decided, she should spare some energy to find background information about him, telling her why he despised her people so much. Not that it was really important.
"I've no problem with that. Open words can be refreshing sometimes. But you told me that you wanted to visit Omega even before your small arrangement with Mrs. Blake. Anything I could help around?"
"I'm sure you could, Lady Aria. I'm searching for a friend, Garrus Vakarian. I heard he's on Omega and perhaps in contact with you."
"He is. After our small arrangement – Mrs. Blake told you why he came to Omega? – "after Rory's nod she continued: "he stayed here to pay off for my help in the matter. Now he's working for me from time to time. At least if he's able to leave his small war against the Blue Suns behind for a few hours. No, I won't tell you why he is doing that. You should ask him yourself."
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Garrus' storehouse – Omega
"You're really hard to find, Garrus," Rory growled as they clasped hands. With Aria's help it had been possible to arrange a meeting. Now they were in an old, almost unused storehouse on one of Omega's lower levels. Aside from Garrus he saw a wild mix of Humans, Batarians, Turians and even a pair of Krogans.
"There have been some misunderstandings between me and the Blue Suns, so I have to be a bit careful."
"Misunderstandings, yes," Rory asked with a grin? "Do you have any idea how they started?"
Garrus seemed a bit exhausted but healthy. A few new scars were visible but else he was okay. "It started with the Blue Suns selling Shepard's body. They found him on Alchera and brought him to Omega to make a little auction about him. As Liara and I arrived to buy him there had been some complications. Two times they tried to assassinate us. So our relation is a bit strained now."
"I see. Do you need anything? I've still good relations to Helena Blake. I could send you weapons, armor or other equipment."
Garrus nodded. "That would be helpful. And you don't want to haggle me out of this?"
Rory shrugged: "Why should I try? You're a big mean Turian. You don't need a nurse. Only try to stay alive."
