Chapter 8: Request From Special Tactics and Reconnaissance
Shepard and Liara eyed one another vividly as they waited for one another to make a move. They had been consumed in their challenge for several hours now none willing to back down and admit defeat. Every time Shepard had seemed to obtain the upper hand Liara would respond with a surprising retaliation, and vice versa.
"Just admit it Liara, I have you backed into a corner don't I?" he taunted as Liara stared at him with a cold stare.
"Please John, I am always several moves ahead of you," Liara assured him as she made her move. She reached down for her bishop as she took down the last of Shepard's Rooks that was placed strategically to protect his king.
"Check," Liara said seductively as Shepard cursed in frustration. They had playing chess on Oleg Petrovsky's chess board for the better part of the day and Shepard was getting frustrated that he hadn't been able to defeat Liara as quickly as he'd hoped. In fact, she was doing far better than he was; he had only his king, both of his bishops a knight and several pawns remaining while Liara still had both of her rooks, a bishop a knight, 2 pawns and her queen.
"It isn't over until the kingdom is toppled Liara," he assured as he was rewarded with a small laugh.
"Clever. Tell me, where did you learn to play chess? The Alliance?"
"No, actually it was back on Mindoir. I played it with my tutor at the time," Shepard said distractedly as he observed the board and tried to calculate any possible moves. He knew Liara was trying to distract him, cause him to make a mistake, but he was aware of her ways and ignored the seemingly subtle conversation. Finally Shepard sees a move that could win him the game, in taking out his rook Liara left her Queen wide open, destroying that would lead her King wide open and would permit him to corner her with his remaining pieces. Using one of his bishops he took out Liara's queen and crossed his arms with a smug smile on his face.
"Check," he said as he awaited Liara's realization that she had lost; instead she smiles in return and positioned her knight in between her king and his bishop.
"Check mate," she said happily as she leaned back in her seat with her arms behind her head. Shepard shot from his seat trying to find where he had gone wrong. When he realized his mistake he slapped his head in disbelief for falling for such a ruse. In sacrificing her Queen she was able to corner his king with the two rooks and the bishop she had positioned to protect her king.
"Damn!" He exclaimed in defeat as he flipped the board off the table earning him a laugh from Liara.
"Come now John, nobody likes a sore loser." She teased gently. Shepard couldn't help but chuckle poorly before shaking his head again unable to accept that he had lost.
"I just can't seem to win at this anymore," Shepard admitted. "First Traynor beat me and now you," he said with a sigh.
"Traynor? When did you two ever have time to place Chess?" Liara asked suspiciously. Shepard shrugged as he answered. "We started before curing the Genophage, and then when Aria sent me Petrovsky's board we played more often, she said she liked the feel of something hard in her hand over the GUI interface."
"I see," Liara said curtly as she got up from her seat and went into the kitchen. He could tell that something was amiss but he couldn't explain what. He followed her into the kitchen where he found Liara at the glass door in the back of the house looking out at the beach. Shepard hobbled over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Everything all right?" he asked concerned.
"Of course," Liara said quickly. "I just never knew that you and Traynor spent so much time together," It took a few seconds for Shepard to put two and two together but when he finally did he couldn't help but laugh.
"You aren't jealous, are you?" Liara turned in Shepard's arm to face him and there was an angry blush growing on her face that was extremely hard for him not to laugh at.
"I most certainly am not jealous," Liara said angrily.
"Good," Shepard said now laughing as he pulled Liara closer to him as he whispered into her ear, "And besides, even if Traynor was interested in me there's no way that she'd be able to come between us."
"Flatter me all you want Shepard but it's going to take more than that to make me forgive you," Liara said teasingly, though visibly relieved by Shepard's words.
"I think I have a pretty good idea," Shepard said as he pulled Liara in for a kiss. Just as their lips brushed against one another they heard a knock coming from the door. They were intent on ignoring it until Glyph appeared from a data pad on the table.
"Dr. T'soni there is a guest outside the door," the VI announced. Shepard pulled away with a disappointed and confused look on his face.
"Does anyone even know were here?" he asked. He grew slightly worried when Liara shook her head. She then turned to her assistant and asked casually, "Glyph can you identify who it is at the door?"
"No, there are no physical records of her currently. Although it is an Asari at the door and a slight bulge in her vest may hide a hand gun." Shepard looked back at Liara who frowned slightly at Glyph's words. With the aid of his cane, and with Liara in close tow behind him, Shepard advanced to the door with Liara remaining hidden behind the wall. Shepard casually opened the door to reveal, as Glyph said, an Asari waiting at the door. She had a light purple complexion and a horizontal white line on the top and bottom of her face, she seemed to be wearing light armor and the bulge hiding her hand gun was obvious and non-hidden, however the Asari seemed to have no intention of attacking for she smiled when the door opened revealing Shepard.
"Admiral Shepard?" she asked.
"Yes," he replied still not completely used to his new title. The Asari reached into her vest and pulled out a familiar looking badge as she said, "Shayera Na'la, Special Tactics and Reconnaissance," she declared simply.
"A Spectre," Shepard announced to himself, even without having seen Liara nodding her head from the corner of his eye signaling she was telling the truth Shepard knew it to be true anyways, it was nearly impossible to make a fake badge, and even more so to obtain one.
"How can I help you Miss Na'la?" Shepard asked.
"On behalf of the Spectres I was sent to make you an offer, may I come in?" Shepard looked once to Liara and then back at Shayera as he stepped out of the door way, gesturing for the guest to enter the house. He led the guest over to where Liara and he had just been playing chess and sat across from her, Liara took a seat beside him with a protective look on her face.
"So Miss Na'la-"
"Please, Shayera," the Spectre insisted kindly.
"Ok Shayera, what can I do for you?"
"Well as you know Admiral, now that the Reapers have been defeated and things are finally settling down the crime rate is steadily returning to Council Space; and while there haven't been any crimes of serious note that require Spectre attention yet we would like to be prepared for when the inevitable does happen."
"So you want me to rejoin the Spectres then?" Shepard asked bluntly. "I'm sorry, but I'd rather not be the Council's toy anymore," he replied with a small bit of harshness he did not mean to project. Thankfully Shayera seemed either undisturbed by it or she simply did not notice it.
"You misunderstand me Shepard. The Spectres don't want to reinstate you into out fold; they want you to lead them." Shayera's words sent Shepard aback for a moment, surprised by her words. Liara however remained cool and collect as she questioned the Spectre.
"I was under the impression that there was no command structure among the Spectres, and that you picked missions as you wished,"
"That is true, the Spectre usually do make their own decisions and follow the orders of no individual. But amongst ourselves we have agreed that there has always been the need for someone to issue commands in times of great crisis, in our war with the Reapers Jondum Bau was our leader as we coordinated attacks. We'd like the Admiral to fill that role now."
"But there's no longer a war," Shepard said pointedly. "That and I'm no longer in the prime condition I once was," Shepard admitted pointing to the leg braces and gesturing to the cane.
"You wouldn't be working in the field Admiral; it's for the most part a desk job. You would coordinate the Spectres in time of war and in peace times you would be the one who says what missions need to be taken and examine all the recruits trying to join the Spectres, although I warn you it is completely up to the Council to actually induce someone into the Spectres, but as long as they are qualified and have your approval they normally always do so."
"So I'm basically just picking what missions need to be done and who should become a Spectre?"
"More or less, but the Council has no say in what you do so it's an added bonus, what do you say?" Shepard looked over towards Liara who gave him a nod as she grabbed his hand. Shepard looked back at Shayera and said calmly and casually,
"No thanks," Shayera seemed as if she was about to say something else but she froze with her mouth still agape when she realized that Shepard turned down the offer.
"We're offering you the chance to lead the Spectres, and you're declining?" She almost shouted in disbelief. Shepard just shrugged his shoulders and said, "Sorry," Shayera looked as if she was going to blow up from surprise but eventually calmed down enough to speak.
"And what would you have me tell the others when I say you don't want the job."
"Tell them the truth," Shepard answered honestly. "I'm tired of fighting, I'm tired of doing the best damn job I can and then having others like the Council not listen to me until it's too late. All I want to do is enjoy the rest of my life with my bond mate in peace." As he spoke he gave Liara's hand a squeeze and gave her a warm smile in which she returned. Shayera looked between the two of them before standing up from her seat.
"Very well Admiral I understand. I will alert the other Spectres of your decision." With her final words said the Asari Spectre walked out the door of the house and left silently without another word. As soon as they were aware that Shayera was gone (and after Liara made Glyph search the house for any bugs placed in the house) Liara turned to Shepard and asked in a confused voice,
"John when I nodded I meant that I'd support the decision for you to lead the Spectres, why did you turn them down?"
"Same reasons I told her, I'm tired of fighting. I'm ready for a nice, quiet life with my bond mate." Liara smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. As they kissed he brought his arms around her back and pulled her in tighter into their embrace. When they separated Liara looked onto Shepard with a teasing smile and said,
"Although I don't know how quiet your life will be being bonded to the Shadow Broker and all,"
"No more s then being bonded to the first human Spectre, responsible for destroying the Reapers," They both laughed in each other's arms for a few moments before Liara looked back to the chess board on the table and said in a suggestive voice,
"Are you up for a rematch?"
"You're on,"
