Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership of any Mass Effect or Bioware intellectual property.
Please also note that this story contains some profanity and sexuality. Spoilers present for the games, DLC, and comics.
A/N: A scene roughly based on one from The Office and another envisioned with the help of Dragon-Claw666's "LOOK AT ME" on Deviantart.
Hmmmm….my approval of this chapter could be graphed as a sine wave, but here it is, and I hope you enjoy nonetheless.
Thank you all so much for the kind words of encouragement with the last chapter! You're my heroes!
Chapter 10: Show and Tell II
"Wakey Wakey, Cap'n!" Shepard heard loud banging on the cabin's door accompanying the shouts and stirred. She was beginning to discover that a side effect of the scrambler is more visitors than she was used to. She tried to sit up, but Liara was practically on top of her. She suddenly and whole-heartedly felt zero motivation to get up.
"Uhnnnnnn," Liara groaned. "Shepard, who is it?"
"I-un-no" Shepard mumbled as she nuzzled deeper into Liara's embrace.
"Permission to warp whoever it is?" Liara asked, pulling the covers over her face—anything to drown out the continued banging and the morning.
Shepard nodded slightly with her eyes still closed, a small chuckle escaping. "Sure, love. Cap'n's orders."
The door swooshed open; whoever it was didn't know how to give up. "Cap'n, I believe I have your permission to 'kick your ass out of bed', but I'd rather you be dressed for it."
Shepard lifted her head finally to see Ash standing at the entryway. "Go away, L.C. I can demote you, you know."
"You can't miss your own statue unveiling, Shepard. Besides, Garrus filled me in on the plan for today and we better get going."
It was Shepard's turn to groan, remembering the statue. She lifted her head only to grab her pillow and hide beneath it.
Liara finally emerged, tucking the sheet at her sides to cover herself as she sat up in bed. The holo-clock next to the bed read a depressingly early 0600 hours. These military women will be the death of me. She yawned, saying "I'll take care of Shepard, Ashley. We'll be down shortly."
"I'll be getting my team ready." Ashley gave a casual salute before turning on her heels for the lift.
Liara leaned over slightly, removing the pillow to reveal Shepard and smiled. She bent to kiss her temple, saying nothing. She padded to the coffeemaker to turn it on before stepping into the shower and let the rushing water warm her. She heard the violent crack! of the sheets being whipped and tossed as Shepard left the bed and dashed for the shower.
Shepard laced her arms around Liara's waist from behind and pecked her shoulder. "A shower to get me up. Very clever."
Liara smiled, turning her head slightly to look back to Shepard. "I have no idea what you mean, Captain."
MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT
"Ready, Captain?" Allers asked with her camera hovering behind her.
"Sure, Allers." Cameras had never bothered Shepard. They were like bugs that either minded their own business or needed to be swatted away when they buzzed too near. They had their uses, though, and Shepard planned to use the media for all it was worth today.
Dressed in her brass and blues with Liara by her side, Shepard felt more confident today would go as planned. They were separated from the stage and crowd on the HQ steps by a curtain that shrouded the statue and provided the backdrop. She just had to step in front of the curtain and the galaxy would be her witness.
"Tali, Kasumi, status." Shepard radioed. They were readying a disabling program for the cameras. If anything went wrong this time, Tali and Kasumi were ready to cut all feeds.
"We're nearly there, Shep." Kasumi's soft voice came through.
"We'll be ready in a moment, Captain." Tali replied.
"Good. Give us the go when you've got it." Shepard smiled. Liara squeezed her hand.
"Spectre Williams, Spectre Bau, do you copy?"
"Aye, Captain." Ashley piped in. "We're secure and holding."
"Ready when you are, Shepard." Spectre Bau confirmed.
Admiral Hackett was stalling for them with his introductory speech. "Captain Shepard was and is the best humanity has to offer. She pulled the final trigger that brought an end to a cycle that would have devastated species after species for eons to come. But she'll come out here today, and I know what she'll say. She'll say she didn't do it alone. She'll say she did no more than her duty and that given the chance, anyone else would have done what she did. Maybe she's right, but it wasn't just anyone. She defeated the Reapers. She was the one who warned us about them from the beginning and was there at the end."
"We're good to go, Captain." Shepard could hear the smile in Tali's voice.
"Ok, this is it." Shepard squeezed Liara's hand and radioed the admiral. "We're good to go Sir; you can stop making me a saint."
The admiral stepped slightly away from the podium. "She's here today to accept our thanks. Please welcome Captain Shepard!"
Liara kissed her hand, smiling before Shepard stepped into view to the sound of cheers and applause, nodding to faces she recognized, including the prime minister. As she made her way to the center of the stage, the curtain revealed her statue and the crowd roared even more. The towering version of her was in her armor, determined and pointing in the distance, not unlike the holo-figure that Liara had put into her time capsule of sorts. She gave Liara a questioning eyebrow and Liara smiled and shrugged apologetically. Apparently she'd given the admiral input on the statue after they'd met on Earth the last time. Shepard had avoided the subject of the statue in and out of the melds as much as possible. It was no wonder she didn't know until now.
The prime minister, Admiral Anderson, and her mother were sitting behind and to the left of the podium for the ceremony. She saluted Admiral Hackett sharply, releasing it when he answered with his own. The three sitting stood and she saluted them as well. Her mom gave her a wink as she returned the salute and Shepard smiled. The admiral spoke as he decorated her with a new Star. "Captain Shepard, I bestow upon you the Star of Terra for your courage and perseverance in the line of duty for humanity and the galaxy. We thank you for your service." He pinned the Star next to her other medals, including her first Star. The admiral cupped his mike as he leaned in to speak without anyone else hearing. "That's the understatement of the century, Captain and thank you for your continued service. Leave it to you to make today into a mission."
Shepard smiled as he stood back up, clasping his arm in a shake before saluting again.
The admiral stepped back and joined the three behind the podium as they took their seats again.
She stepped up to the podium to speak. "Thank you." Shepard paused at another burst of applause. She smiled, but gestured for quiet. "Thank you," she repeated as hundreds continued to cheer. HQ wasn't particularly keen on having thousands in the crowd that wanted to be there and Shepard had asked it be a bare minimum. She looked down, as if shy. She was already putting on a show.
She went straight into N7 officer mode. She'd rally the troops so to speak, allowing her voice to take on the gruff tone of a superior officer giving a pep talk before battle. "The admiral," she paused as the cheers finally started to subside, "is right. I only did my duty." Her voice would give no doubt that she was the soldier that lead the galaxy to victory and would do so again.
"I did what any other soldier from any world would have done, given the order. For that matter, I did what any mother would have done for her child, what any sister would have done for her brother, what any friend would have done for another, what you would have done for me."
"And the admiral is right: I won't stand up here today without telling you that I didn't defeat the Reapers alone. It was you." She looked pointedly at the cameras behind the crowd. "All of you. You did what you could to hold the Reapers at bay and then you came together to build the Crucible. We stood together!" She paused as cheers resounded.
"When I first began this fight, chasing Sovereign across the galaxy, I knew it would take more than me, more than humanity. Please help me thank some of the finest in the galaxy: Garrus Vakarian!" She raised her fist as she shouted his name and cheers erupted.
"Tali Zorah vas Normandy nar Rayya!" Cheers exploded again.
"Urdnot Wrex!" Cheers.
"And I'm especially partial to and want to thank" she smiled, looking back at Liara behind the stage who smiled back sweetly, "Dr. Liara T'Soni!" She raised her fist straight up into the air in triumph. Fellow soldiers oorahed as the crowd continued to cheer.
She nodded and let the cheers subside. "But like all of you, I lost friends in the war that I ask you to thank as well." She looked down and looked back up with fiery eyes. She raised her fist again, shouting "Thane Krios!" The audience cheered again as she narrated. "He was dying in Huerta Memorial Hospital on the Citadel when I and the galaxy desperately needed his help. He answered the call though it never came." She paused to bow her head.
She looked back into the crowd. "Mordin Solus!" She raised her fist again. A desperate roar filled the crowd, especially from the krogan members. "With his sacrifice, the krogan were given hope again. He gave his life so that the krogan had a reason to beat the Reapers." She paused, a small smile finding itself on her lips. "It had to be him. Someone else might've gotten it wrong." Soft laughter came from the crowd in the company of cheers.
"When the Reapers threatened us all, we stood together, even those outside of Council space," Shepard continued. "The Reapers didn't care whether we were batarian, human, quarian, drell, or vorcha. They came for us all and we all fought to survive. Most species have a checkered past with more than a few others, but we buried those quarrels for the greater peace that we could share when the Reapers were defeated."
"I have come here today not solely to accept this Star," she lifted the Star from her chest slightly "or to thank you all for your efforts in the war. I came to tell you that our fight for peace is not over," she paused shaking her head in unfeigned disgust. This was it. The crowd had helped her so far. They would sell her next words to the rest of the galaxy watching in their homes.
"Yesterday, you were introduced to our new enemy. And I say 'our' enemy in the same sense the Reapers were our enemy." The crowd murmured.
"They claim to fight for peace and equality: noble intentions," she nodded. "Yet they give no peaceful, open protest to the Council's rule and have personally told me they will vanquish those that oppose their representation." Tali and Kasumi streamed edited, but un-tampered audio from her meeting with Clerk Bosker at HQ. "We are gathering forces or vanquishing enemies…do not be surprised when this comes to haunt you."
Shepard gazed into the murmuring crowd. Allers had told her to play the 'galaxy sweetheart' card before going into detail about the Board. The public would be outraged. "My first interaction with them was not three weeks after we defeated the Reapers when they tried to poison my wife and me on our honeymoon," the crowd became angry. A few incredulous "what"s were shouted, the crowd appalled for her and Liara.
"Play it up, Captain." Allers radioed in encouragement. Shepard followed her advice by nodding sadly to the crowd and rubbing her neck with a helpless shrug.
"When that didn't work, they tried again, but this time they put my shuttle pilot—the pilot that brought me to London in the final push against the Reapers—in the hospital." The crowd's anger grew with shouts. "One of the Alliance's finest, a man that saved me too many times to count so that I could defeat the Reapers, is still there, comatose," she shook her head as the crowd shouted and booed in anger.
She became angry as well, glaring into the cameras. "I didn't fight, I didn't destroy the Reapers so that men like Lieutenant Steven Cortez, a man who would have sacrificed himself for the very people who tried to kill him, could become so-called martyrs." She spat the word. "And I know your friends, your family, didn't sacrifice themselves for the Board to call for more bloodshed."
"No!" A turrian in the crowd shouted.
"I didn't fight for this!" A woman in blues yelled.
"I'd like to set the record straight," Shepard continued. "No one under Council authority made that stage explode yesterday." The crowd began to murmur in anger again. "They were not martyrs. They wasted the chance you and I tried to give them. They wasted the chance too many sacrificed themselves for—a chance that too many didn't get, thanks to the Reapers." The crowd was still angry, shouting with outcries.
"I know one thing I didn't fight the Reapers for," she paused. "I didn't fight them just to fight another war!" The crowd shouted in anger once more. Fellow soldiers oorahed and krogan punched their palms fury.
"I fought for peace and equality, and unlike the Board, I'm still fighting for it." She glanced from one face in the crowd to another as affirming cheers resounded.
"Here's the best part about this Board," she paused to give a sarcastic sneer. "They don't want peace. I think we can agree that they've shown us that." A few audience members shouted in agreement.
"But they also don't want equality. Only hours ago, the human Board Member contacted an ex-Cerberus agent to join them," Boos and hisses permeated the air. "That's right," she let the crowd make its assumptions about Miranda. "The Board that is supposed to want equality went to a person who once was a head operative of one of the most supremacist terrorist organizations in galactic history: a group that nearly crippled us against the Reapers." She allowed the crowd its outrage. "And they didn't go to Cerberus in ignorance or because they had no choice like too many of us in the past. After everything Cerberus did during the War, they still sought ex-Cerberus help." Allers captured a human soldier spitting at the idea in disgust.
"But here's my favorite part: my team found the human Board Member. She's here, right now." The crowd was engulfed in frantic murmurs. Shepard was careful not to look at the prime minister.
"Captain," Allers radioed giddily, "she literally twitched. Keep egging her on, but don't look at her yet."
Shepard continued. "She has the gall to be here as if she is thankful for what the fallen and you and I did while she orders her people to bomb themselves over the extranet."
Allers laughed in the radio. "Fantastic, Shepard. She's freaking squirming. Keep going. Tali, Kasumi, point some cameras on her."
"She doesn't even have the courage to stand up and tell you that she doesn't really want peace or equality. What motivation could she have if she's the type of person that wastes your sacrifices? I doubt they are as noble as a cry for peace and equality. She has the same motivation the Board truly has: she wants to rule the galaxy in the Council's stead. Nothing more, nothing less, and she will sacrifice as many as it takes." She paused and lowered her voice for the next part. "It seems governing Earth isn't enough for her."
Faces started to dart toward the prime minister as understanding sunk in. Allers' camera flew from the recognition dawning on soldiers' faces to the prime minister who was now frowning and gripping her dress in fists.
"She wants to take advantage of us as we lick our wounds from the Reapers."
The crowd began shouting again, this time for the prime minister to answer Shepard's accusations. Shepard remained focused on the crowd, knowing that if the Board Member made a move, she'd be told by her people. She and Allers wanted this next part to be as effective as possible on the Board Member and the people watching.
"Barely a month after the devastation of the Reapers and while the galaxy is still fragile, she is forcing me to arrest her from her high position on Earth while the Council is still lacking in a permanent human Councilor." She emphasized 'permanent' so that anyone watching, wanting to take advantage of Earth in its even further fragile state thanks to the prime minister, would know they would answer to her.
"Madam Prime Minister," she began, finally confirming the crowd's suspicions. Gasps of awe and shock rung through the crowd and she finally turned toward her. "If you'll come with me please." Her eyes finally landing on the prime minister had its effect: the prime minister tried to run. She may as well have pled guilty on the spot.
"Coward!" someone shouted in the crowd.
Shepard wanted to laugh. They were in Alliance HQ and there was an angry mob shouting for her. Where are you going to go? Nevertheless, she radioed Bau and Williams as she removed her mike, "Grab her. Tali, Kasumi, cut the feeds. Allers, you too. I want the last thing the galaxy to see to be a Board Member on the run."
MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT
Cameras flashed and swerved at all angles as Tevos looked into the gathered media in a press conference. She was incredibly pleased with Shepard's showmanship today, but kept her features reserved. "Councilor!" a hanar sounded above the others. "This one asks if Spectre Shepard's statements today are true and if it relates to what happened on Kahje."
She looked toward him, keeping her gaze steady and her movements confident. "Spectre Shepard has announced, with the Council's support, that the galaxy faces a new enemy, calling themselves 'The Board'. Yes, the events on Kahje four days ago were the result of this new conflict."
"Urgently: Councilor." An elcor boomed in volume rather than tone. "With hesitance: What do you say to the many species that lack a Council position and might be sympathetic to The Board?"
Tevos' tattoos on her forehead came together as she frowned. "I say that our policies for admitting a race to the Council are more open and welcoming than they have ever been, having already added two new members in a few short and frantic years—one in as little as a month after the Reaper War. Moreover, the Council is responsible for all races in Council space. We have also bartered for krogan help and supplies to be sent to the people in the terminus systems outside of Council space to any that will accept our help. What's more, the chaos and destruction of the Reaper War has left us fragile. Though we welcome petitions, now isn't the time for sudden changes in galactic relations. Next question."
"Councilor Tevos." The councilor's gaze fell upon the speaker, nearly directly below her. His gray fur, she knew, meant he was a mature human. "The Reapers were all but a secret to the galactic public, dismissed as geth-utilized high technology. We learned of the Board only yesterday because they announced themselves. What do you say to the public to justify hiding another enemy?"
Tevos nodded with understanding in written in her features. "In truth, the Council, including interim Councilor Shepard, wanted to use the Board's secrecy against them. The Reapers were a difficult enemy to believe in: an army of synthetics, capable of indoctrination, whose goal is to eradicate all sentient life? Nevertheless, we have determined that the galactic public has the right to know as much as we can divulge, when it is the galactic public that is in danger. I'm afraid at this time I cannot answer in further detail, as they are still our enemy. Next question."
"Good day, Councilor Tevos," a maiden asari began. "How has yet another corrupt ruler from Earth affected your decision for the next human councilor?"
"As with the asari, every individual human makes decisions for his or herself," she rebuked the reporter for her hint at racism. "Donnel Udina was a war-time, emergency replacement for Councilor Anderson. That decision was made too hastily though in our defense Udina was the human ambassador before the War. We have taken candidates for the seat under much advisement and will come to a careful decision when we believe we have the right person." She smiled, "Captain Shepard has suggested we stay away from politicians." The crowd of reporters laughed.
MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT
"You," Shepard gently tapped Liara's nose as she chided her. "Helped with the statue."
Liara gave a pleading look and wrapped her arms around Shepard's waist. "Shepard, I sent a record of you across the galaxy; I wrote your name in the stars. You didn't seem to mind then."
Shepard raised a brow. "That's because those records were 'just in case' and I would have been dead for about 50,000 years already when someone finally opened them."
"Don't be angry, Shepard," Liara brushed a cheek. "Admiral Hackett asked my opinion and I sent my holo examples. The Alliance did the rest. I think the end result is quite stunning."
Shepard pursed her lips to the side and thought.
"Shepard," Liara cooed and coaxed her as she pushed Shepard's hips, moving them both toward a wall. "I love you," she said as sweetly as she could, knowing Shepard couldn't be upset with those words in the air.
Shepard rolled her eyes, but smiled, not resisting when Liara leaned in for a kiss. Her crossed arms unfolded and she pulled Liara into her. "You cheater," she smiled when they parted. "I think I get more than an 'I love you' and a kiss for this."
Liara looked at her with as much innocence and sweetness as she could, tucking a lock of Shepard's hair behind an ear. "Anything, my love."
Shepard smiled. She turned Liara so that she was the one against the wall. "Anything?" She leaned to continue their kiss, her mind racing with possibilities.
"Anything," Liara breathed, tilting her head up as Shepard kissed her neck.
"Sheeesh!" Ashley interrupted. "Will I ever find you two not like, like,…like that?" She stammered as she stuck both arms out straight in their direction to gesture incredulously toward their embrace.
"Goddess, I hope not," Shepard whispered to Liara and grinned with her forehead on Liara's. Liara turned her head with a blush away from Ashley's direction, only making Shepard grin more. She looked over to Ashley. "You could just stop interrupting, you know."
"We're at HQ, Captain. I figured I could count on you two keeping it in your pants until you were on the Normandy again at least. Or hell, you two can mentally do that stuff right?"
Liara eyes widened and she blushed further despite herself. Shepard, still pinning her to the wall, chuckled and kissed a cheek before releasing her. A slightly mortified Liara stayed frozen for a second before she began collecting herself and gave an apologetic look toward Ashley. Shepard chuckled again, watching her. "Oh come on. She saw you in nothing but a sheet this morning."
That was the breaking point. "Shepard!" Liara pushed both of Shepard's shoulders then folded her arms as Shepard staggered back from the force, laughing.
Ashley began chuckling, "You tell her, Liara." She turned to a recovering Shepard. "Prime minister's ready for you, but she's got a doozy of a lawyer in there with her."
"Right," Shepard sobered. "Has Spectre Bau questioned her yet?"
"No, her lawyer is claiming this is an internal Alliance matter."
"What? That's absurd." Shepard frowned. "We're spectres. Fuck the lawyer. Besides, they should be asking for Bau. I'm not going to go easy on her. Fucker tried to kill me three times."
"Wanna do a little good cop, bad cop, Cap'n? I've always wanted to." Shepard laughed.
"Good cop, bad cop?" Liara questioned. "I assume that means one of you tries to charm while the other tries to intimidate?"
"Just about. I'd say the good cop tries to pretend to be on the prisoner's side while the bad cop, yes, tries to intimidate 'em." She turned to Ash again. "Which one are you?"
"Pff! My turn to be the bad cop."
"Fine," Shepard grinned. "I'll try not to laugh when you slam your fists and tell her she's 'in a whole heap of trouble'" She snickered.
Ashley scowled. "Hey I learned a few things watching you over the years and I am a big sister. I got this."
Shepard chuckled. "Alright, Ash. Tell the lawyer they can have it their way for now, but if Bau wants to interrogate her, he has Council authority. Not to mention the current interim Councilor for humanity is a Captain in the Alliance, so tough shit anyway. I'll make it an order if I have to."
Ash saluted then left to set up the interrogation. Shepard turned back to Liara with a smirk, bringing her close. "You, Dr. T'Soni, are too cute. You go back and forth between being shy and not caring at all who sees us. You didn't care that Kasumi was keeping an eye on us on our honeymoon."
"Kasumi…Shepard I was half-drunk when she came to get us that night. Not to mention we were nearly poisoned. I had other concerns."
"And this morning?" Shepard asked.
"I was half asleep and Ashley was avoiding looking at us and stayed near the entry."
"And on Kahje?"
"Shepard, I did get embarrassed on Kahje." Liara tilted her head in confusion.
"I know," Shepard smirked again. "I'm just running through favorite memories now."
Liara pushed her shoulder, but was unable to help smiling as she rolled her eyes. Shepard caught her lips and grinned. She pecked her one last time and started to pull away, but Liara held on. Shepard raised a curious eyebrow.
"Good cop, bad cop?" Liara asked.
Shepard frowned, not catching on. "Yeees?"
"Tonight?" Liara asked again, grinning. "To make up for the statue?"
"Ahhh," Shepard returned the grin. "Hmmm…" She kissed Liara again. "We've had a busy day, but…" Shepard felt butterflies as she began to ask the question. "Date night beforehand?"
Liara quirked a brow. "You just declared war, essentially, and you want a 'date night'."
"Um, yes." Shepard gave her an 'of course' look. "We've only known each other when there was a battle for this or that going on. Doesn't change the fact that I need a romance option and I believe you're available," she smirked.
"This or that?" Liara brow was still quirked.
"Yeah, geth, sovereign, reapers…just plain stupid people with guns…"
"Romance option?" She asked in warning.
"You and only you, so you have no choice," Shepard grinned slyly.
Liara couldn't help a small laugh.
"Is that a yes?" Shepard asked. "You know, we never really dated. It's always been 'this or that'. Then we were happily ever after—which by the way, I love, but I think I need to be wooed a little, Dr. T'Soni," she was pinning her against the wall again as she smirked.
"Oh no," Liara dramatically raised a hand to her mouth in mock distress. "Is 'the magic' gone already, Shepard?"
Shepard gave a short laugh at the idiom. "Yeah, sorry babe."
"Ohhhh," Liara saddened. "That's unfortunate. It was fun for a while, Shepard."
"Meh." Shepard shrugged. Liara pushed her shoulder and Shepard chuckled, bringing Liara in for a kiss that would prove much to the contrary. She pushed her into a holding room, forgetting the 'this or that' waiting for them. She raised Liara on a table, pulling her legs around her waist and bent at the waist to lay Liara down. She swept her omni-tool to send a drone to alert her if anyone approached and kicked the door to lock.
"Shepard?"
"Good cop, bad cop?" Shepard grinned, crawling up on the table over her. "You're 'in a whole heap of trouble,' Dr. T'Soni."
Liara grinned deviously in return. "Surely there's some kind of arrangement we can come to, Spectre Shepard."
"You think you can make a plea bargain with me?" Shepard challenged, hovering above her.
"I was thinking of another sort of arrangement, Spectre. I have certain…assets." She blinked seductively up at Shepard.
"Well, T'Soni. Spectres are known to bend," she bent Liara's knee at the word, running her hand from it to her hip, "certain rules." She took Liara's lips to hers as Liara's legs wrapped around her. Liara's eyes were dimming black and Shepard gasped when she felt Liara's presence and the hunger waiting there. She rose slightly to put a knee between Liara's legs and reveled when she felt Liara press against her. Then she froze. Liara froze as well with Shepard's thoughts as much hers as her wife's.
Shepard slipped off of Liara and the table, groaning as her mind rambled. We should get Tali to make some sort of portable scrambler. Oh wait! Kasumi has that. She used it when we took Keiji's graybox from Donovan Hock's vault. I'll ask her. In the meantime, I'll have to abuse my Spectre status a bit to corrupt the video and audio from this room.
Liara slipped out of Shepard's mind gently. She held her hands over her face in what Shepard assumed to be embarrassment before she heard a laugh. "Ok, Liara, you never cease to puzzle me. How can you be shamed for a hallway kiss, but laugh at cheesy role playing caught on vid?"
Liara laughed harder at that. "Because…" she breathed between fits. "You were embarrassed. I'd already thought of the vid feed and was planning on corrupting it while you interrogated the Board Member." She continued to laugh as she sat up, gripping her sides.
"And?" Shepard rolled her eyes with a grin.
"And you're a prude!" Liara accused in hysterics.
Shepard rolled her eyes again, still grinning at Liara's fits. "Excuse me for not wanting Ensign So-and-so to watch me have my way with you. I locked the door and sent a drone out—you didn't say that I was prudish then."
Liara was trying to stop laughing but continued to snicker as she jumped off the table and approached Shepard, taking her in her arms. "You're not making your case very well, Shepard."
"I'm not a prude." Shepard pouted a little with her arms crossed.
"I know." Liara smirked. "But feeling you shy—" Liara started laughing again mid-sentence involuntarily and Shepard groaned. "I'm sorry, Shepard," she chuckled and brushed her cheek. "It's 'too cute,'" she repeated Shepard. Shepard blushed. Liara giggled at the rare sight, kissing the red on Shepard's cheeks.
Liara still wore a barely concealed grin as they emerged from the room just as Ashley was rounding the corner to retrieve Shepard. Ashley saw the grin on Liara's face and Shepard's blush though she thought it was something else. "You didn't." Ashley stopped with her hands on her hips, disbelieving. "I was only gone for five minutes."
Liara started laughing as Shepard blushed deeper, turning away from Ash so she wouldn't see and narrowed her eyes at Liara. "Take care of that vid footage, you. I'll pick you up on the Normandy at…" She looked at her omni-tool for the time. "1900 hours?" She turned to join Ashley, putting up a hand for her not to say a word, but yelped when she felt a spank. She narrowed her eyes again as she turned back to the culprit.
Liara only chuckled and waved, readying Glyph.
Ashley raised both eyebrows as Shepard stormed passed her. "Uh...Captain?"
"Not a word, L.C. Come on, we have a prisoner to talk to."
Ashley caught up to her. "We still doing the good cop, bad cop thing?"
Shepard gave herself a facepalm. "Oh sweet Goddess."
MASS EFFECT
"Madam," Shepard sighed. "It's in your best interest to help us. We want to help you," she lied. Good cop was really just 'lying cop' in this case. Shepard's charm went to work. "Madam, you are a respected member of humanity. We will not let you come to harm if we can help it."
The prime minister appeared to consider something and Shepard glanced behind her to ward off Ashley. "I…"
The lawyer stepped toward her, whispering, but Shepard could hear. "You don't have to answer their questions, Rani." He stroked her shoulders briefly. Shepard pretended not to notice, but typed a message to Liara for intel as Ashley made a ruckus for the 'bad cop' part of the routine. Shepard peered up catching the last of it. Ashley glared at the man, pointing "…so be a dear and go fetch us some coffee."
The man looked at Ashley with a mixture of offense and fear. Nice, Ash.
Shepard's omni-tool flagged with a response from Liara and she smiled. Wow. Knew it. Though that complicates things. She waited for the lawyer to leave. "Madam, what is your relationship to your lawyer?"
"Sorry?" Without the man in the room, the unsure woman from the previous hour disappeared to be replaced by the one Shepard was more familiar with: Prime Minister Esperanza Molina. Her sharp features were outlined by her black, frankly beautiful, curls. Humanity had grown in the last century, but Shepard wondered how many had voted for her just so it would be her they had to watch in the news. She knew, however, that the woman before her was no show poodle. She was cunning, charming, and danced between those two attributes enough to be mysterious as well. Of course, she was only a mystery to those that weren't married to the Shadow Broker. Shepard smiled.
"That's more like it, Madam. I won't bother asking, I'll tell you what I know. You and your lawyer are lovers."
"I fail to see why that is relevant, Captain."
"Well," Shepard smirked. "You're a different person around him. You…glow."
The woman's eyes widened in shock then narrowed. Shepard smiled warmly. Gotcha.
"Does your husband know?" Shepard asked nonchalantly.
"Of course he does. You think he doesn't take lovers?"
"Oh sure," Shepard conceded, pouring the prime minister a water and pushing it toward her. The woman looked at it, nodded in thanks and drank. "But," Shepard continued as she poured for herself. "I wonder how many love children are in the mix. You've never been a mother. Does he have children?" She took a sip of water from her own glass, peering at the woman across the table from her.
"Not that I know of."
"Well," Shepard sighed again. "We've gone off topic. Bad habit of mine—getting into other people's business, right Ash?" She signaled Ash to step in.
"Prime Minister, we don't have time for this. Tell us what you know about the Board and the other Board Members. We're spectres, after all. We can take drastic measures if we have to. Spectre Shepard," she pointed at the captain, "kind of prefers it that way."
Shepard smiled kindly at the woman at Ashley's accusation to further unnerve her. "Esperanza—Rani? The Board will already be looking for your replacement which we will happily supply to them. The better to take them down. They won't come rescue you; they won't reinstate you if they miraculously win and usurp the Council. Right now, you are accused by three spectres of treason. I have a traced message with your name on it. You will easily be sentenced to death. Help us help you."
"Help us loosen the knot that's already around your neck, Madam." Ash hissed.
Shepard raised her brows purposely at Ash's comment and tutted. "My my, Ash." She looked directly at the prime minister as if she were confessing to her. "You know, she wasn't always this way. I guess that's what the Reaper War did to some people. How did you survive by the way?" She slapped her palm on her forehead lightly. "Of course, you used the Board's resources to stay safe. Helps being the prime minister as well, I suppose. Too bad about all those people here on Earth that died to save you probably. I'm sure you don't think about that though. I wouldn't be able to face it, myself." She scrunched her nose a bit in distaste. "And you needn't worry about your child. It has long been policy, even in war times, to allow women to give birth before their sentence is fully carried out. Wouldn't kill an innocent, just because her mother betrayed her people. It's not my style."
Ash gave a huff. Go girl.
The woman stiffened. "I am already dead, Captain. You've said so yourself. My child will never know me, but will know its father. That is enough."
"Your husband you mean?" Shepard asked. "Unless I'm mistaken, children usually go to the husband. Of course, if you admit your affair and name your lawyer the father, that will naturally change."
"If we don't throw you in solitary with no outside contact permitted, which is the case." Ashley added. "We're not really obligated to do anything aside from care for your condition, are we Shepard?"
"That's right, Williams, that's right. Well, Madam, perhaps your husband will have a bouncing baby after all."
"He's as good a man as Herald." Esperanza dismissed their threats.
"You could do that? What happened to 'she will know her father. That is enough'?" Shepard whistled as if impressed. "What about your child, then? No regrets that you'll never see little Herald or Heraldine grow up? No supervised visits, even. You'll give birth and then…"
"Look," Ashley curved around the table sharply. "I'll make this simple for you. Either you tell us what you know and you get to maybe live with supervised visits for Herald junior in there OR we let Spectre Bau use a salarian truth-inducing drug. STG's drug is much more dependable than our version, though I hear it's also a bit more painful. Still, screaming the truth sits fine with me. Oh, and, you die as soon as the kid pops out if you choose that option."
"You can't do anything that might harm my child. Surely such a drug will strain me to the point of danger. You cannot frighten me."
"Actually, you're right there, Madam." Shepard interceded. "We can't. We're Alliance. Oh sure, we could ignore that and step into our spectre boots to do it anyway, but why bother. STG has no qualms with it. Bau can do it for us." She smiled at Ash. "Easy." She stood and turned to Ashley. "Well, I'm off, Spectre Williams. Got a date with the Mrs. Now that Madam Milona is in here, I hope my server won't try to poison us this time. We'll just let Bau handle this." Shepard opened the door and waved for Ashley to step through. "Take care, Madam." The woman frowned after them.
"So…what's the plan, Captain?" Ash asked once the door swooshed behind them.
"Wait for it," she smiled as she signaled Bau. He came a few minutes later.
"Shepard. She is mine to interrogate now? Don't know why you bother. STG methods are so much simpler."
"The situation's not exactly simple, Spectre Bau" Shepard gave a helpless smile. "She's pregnant. I know you have no issue with that, but it's taboo for humans to allow any harm to come to an unborn child under the care of the authorities. Just wait a few minutes. We're letting her stew. Hopefully, she'll make the right choice."
"Captain Shepard?" An ensign guarding the prime minister radioed. "The prisoner would like to see you again."
Shepard smiled at Ash. "Oh goody." They stepped back into the room with Bau for insurance. "Madam? I assumed our interview was over. My colleague will take it from here," she indicated Bau.
"That…Captain, you can't be serious? The whole galaxy knows you. I know you. You wouldn't allow it. You either Spectre Williams."
"You'd be surprised what an assassination attempt interrupting a honeymoon will do to a person," Shepard chuckled. "You are so lucky I didn't let my wife in here. Phew!" she chuckled again. "Well, if that is all, Madam, I really must be going. Wifely duties and all." She gave a two-fingered salute as she waited for Ashley to punch the door to open.
"Fine!" The woman bellowed. "Fine, Captain. I will tell you what I know."
Shepard raised her brows. "Oh! Well that's different then. Excuse me, Spectre Bau." She moved around him to take a seat across from the woman again.
"There is another attack scheduled." The woman began.
"Where and when?" Shepard asked politely.
"When the new human Councilor is inducted."
Shepard rolled her eyes. "I could have guessed as much." She began to stand.
"Captain!"
Shepard paused. "Yes?"
"The plan is not to attack the induction. That is too obvious, as you say. The target will be the Destiny Ascension while the Council is off-ship. The induction is merely a distraction."
Shepard frowned. "I really don't get you people. There are thousands on that ship that would die for your peace and equality and you don't hesitate."
"Peace? Equality? That is a promise no government can promise, but one that is easily given to a people who want only that after a devastating war."
"So, not so noble then, Madam." Allers will have to run that.
"You've seen me in practice on Earth, Captain. I would be a just and excellent ruler. I might listen when one of my agents tells me an ancient sentient race of synthetics will destroy all life."
"Tempting, but I'll pass, Madam. I'll take my chances with a repentant Council over a power hungry group of mercenaries that try to hide in the dark and put my shuttle pilot in the hospital. Back to the attack. Details, please."
MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT
Shepard knocked on Liara's door on the crewdeck then waited at ease. She rocked on her feet, toes to heels, back and forth as she waited. Forever went by if you were going by Shepard-missing-Liara time, so she knocked again.
"One moment, Shepard!" Liara called. Shepard had let Liara know she would be late by at least a half hour when the prime minister had started to talk. It was already an hour past date time. She'd stopped by Allers' room as well to give an exclusive interview and transfer some of the footage from the interrogation. Allers was planning on running her own segment to sum up what had happened today and the extra footage Shepard was providing would guarantee her the galaxy's attention, getting Shepard's version of the story out. The part where the prime minister had openly denied she could promise peace or equality would hopefully be especially interesting to the galactic public.
Shepard heard Liara commanding Glyph to run some data feeds while she was gone and smiled that Liara was still getting ready. She had probably used the extra time to do her broker work, the workaholic. Shepard chuckled. She smiled and leaned against the wall to the side of the door, daydreaming about their night ahead. A few minutes later she heard the door swoosh open. She leaned up and entered to meet Liara, but fell to her knees in bliss as the door swooshed shut again.
"Shepard!" Liara gasped, bending down to check her for injuries. When she saw she was fine, she rolled her eyes. "Thank you, I suppose." She stood back up.
Shepard let her eyes travel up Liara's form. Her dress was a blend of human and asari design. It stopped a few inches above the knees, curving with Liara's hips. The neck was square before it curved slightly with Liara's breasts to tease Shepard with just a hint of cleavage. Her sleeves stopped at her deltoids with her gloves nearly reaching them. There were two vertical stitches to separate the dress into three separate parts similar to Liara's other dresses that had two tones, but to Shepard's delight the dress had a single tone—this was Liara's little black dress. Shepard stayed on her knees, placing her hands on Liara's calves before she trailed them up to her hips over the dress. Liara smacked them. "Date night means after we go out, love. Maybe." She smiled down at Shepard.
Shepard stood reluctantly. "Whose idea was this again?"
Liara chuckled. "I suppose we can cheat with a kiss before we leave."
Shepard nodded enthusiastically, but tried to behave herself, cupping Liara's jaw between her palms so her hands wouldn't be tempted to wander. Liara kissed her soundly and slowly, running her hands through Shepard's hair. Shepard felt herself melt entirely. "Liara…" she breathed as Liara stepped away. Liara held out her hand and she took it.
"Where are we going for dinner, Shepard?"
"That," she smiled. "Is a secret for you to find out, Shadow Broker."
MASS EFFECT
Shepard ducked into a small doorway, if you could call it that in Ulsan, Korea. She'd been stationed here during part of her N7 schooling. The town gave a little town/big city vibe. Sections were still farmland and tranquil while other sections bustled to rival any metropolis. Korea was one of the most industrious and hard-working countries Shepard knew. The Reaper War left them in ruins like any other country, but rebuilding efforts were enthusiastically and efficiently met. Having experienced more war than any country should over its history, and having built most of Earth's modern skyscrapers for everyone from the North American continent to the rich islands near Dubai, the Korea republic was in its stride in the rebuilding efforts. The old downtown section of the city was already clear of any rubble though some of the missing or empty shells of buildings still bore a trace of the war. Shepard had checked that one of her favorite restaurants in the galaxy (literally a hole in the wall) was open still and when she discovered it was, she decided she needed to take Liara immediately.
Shepard led Liara up the makeshift staircase, turning as it made its jagged curves upward to the Indian restaurant waiting inside. A young woman met them and nodded in a bow before leading them to a table. The restaurant was dimly lit and remarkably designed silk fabrics decorated with gold filigree on the walls. Their table, like the others, was secluded with its own walls and was near the floor, the easier to sit and eat in the traditional Korean style. Richly woven carpets replaced chairs and silk pillows lined the walls for guests to sit back in comfort. Their particular station was Siddhartha themed with one of the silk fabrics hanging on the back wall displaying Siddhartha's as he meditated in a lotus pose.
Liara stared about her, her eyes devouring one thing after another, a little in awe at her new surroundings. Shepard motioned for Liara to sit on one of the carpets. "Shepard, I should have worn something else. I'm not exactly dressed to sit without a chair," she indicated her dress.
"Nonsense. Shepard pulled a silk fabric from a basket in the corner of their private section. "Here. Sit and you can place this over your lap. It's why they have these."
"Oh!" Liara removed her heels and sat lotus style as Shepard laid out the fabric across Liara's legs then joined her. She gathered a few pillows to support their backs.
"Is this alright, Liara?"
Liara smiled. "It's wonderful, Shepard. Beautiful. I've never seen anything like it."
Shepard visibly relaxed. "Good. Have you had much Indian food? I know it's a bit strange to come to Korea to have Indian food, but what can I say, it's my favorite Indian place on Earth, or well, anywhere."
Liara smiled. "I wouldn't know if it was Korean or Indian without you telling me, love. I've studied Earth, but not its cuisine."
"Well, Rupert uses curry on our rice sometimes. That's a common Asian dish in India or Korea. Here's the menu." Shepard tapped on the table and a holo displayed the options for their dinner. They selected items that would work well with an asari palette and sent the order straight to the kitchen. The young woman returned to deliver water and naan while they waited. Shepard ordered them both a lassi as well.
Shepard leaned back to relax on her pillows with her fingers laced together behind her head and she closed her eyes.
Liara smiled. "You are so at home here. I see why you chose it."
"Hmm? Yeah, it has a laid back luxury to it. I hope you like it." She sat up to kiss the bare flesh between a sleeve and a glove on Liara.
"I love it, Shepard."
Shepard propped a knee up to lean in for a kiss. In their privacy, Liara happily accepted but parted them. "Date night, remember? We should probably talk more than kiss."
"How about fifty/fifty?"
"Fifty/fifty?"
"Equal parts kissing and talking."
Liara gave a small laugh. "I'll start then. How are your lessons with Quoyle progressing?"
Shepard grinned. "Excellent. He's very skilled. He's training me with the omni-goggles and stimulator capacitors on so that I can slow things down visually and speed things up physically. Then we practice without it, trying to get me to see things coming faster and speed my own movements up."
Liara bit her lip. "I still need to watch you practice." She leaned in for another kiss.
Shepard chuckled after receiving the kiss. "Yes, you do, but I don't blame you for getting some work done while I'm practicing. You've been working on your book with Javik, right?"
Liara sighed. "Yes, slowly." Her gaze became far away. "He's reluctant to live in the past and I can't blame him. It must be painful to discuss everything that was. I think his fulfillment of his duty is his only comfort. He was able to help stop the Reapers. Sometimes he reminds me of a very grumpy and condescending version of you," Liara smiled returning her gaze to Shepard.
"How so?" Shepard quirked a brow.
"He's very dutiful and takes the galaxy's troubles as his own. He can be kind or ruthless, depending on the situation, but he is honest. You two are very similar Shepard. He was a version of you in the last cycle, but he never had a chance with the catalyst." She smiled at Shepard again.
"Is that how you're writing him?"
"Not necessarily. I make some discreet parallels in one of the opening chapters in which I introduce him as my co-author. I will let the reader decide whether or not there are true parallels or…if I simply see you in everything and everyone that I admire. I can't help it, Shepard." She smiled a bit shyly.
"What else are you two covering?" Shepard egged her on. She loved it when Liara talked about her Prothean work.
"Right now, we are going through my past publications to confirm or adjust my previous findings."
"How much have you published?"
Liara blushed. "Enough for someone my age, Shepard, but not as much as I would have liked. Being a maiden had its disadvantages while I was studying Protheans at such an early age. People are far more receptive to my ideas after I discovered the plans for the Crucible and I've in fact been offered a position at my former university. It is a role that only matriarchs are usually offered."
Shepard beamed, excited for her. "Liara, that's amazing. Will you accept?"
Liara looked puzzled. "I can hardly accept currently, Shepard. The Board is still a threat," she held up a silencing finger as Shepard began to protest, "and no, I won't leave you to fight them alone. We will not even discuss it."
Shepard frowned. "Just like that?"
"Just like that." Liara confirmed with a small, unwavering smile.
"Liara, I don't want to hold you back. You're my wife, yes, but I'll support anything you—"
"I believe this is discussing it when there is nothing to discuss."
"Liara." Shepard frowned again.
"Don't worry, love." She kissed Shepard's temple sweetly. "It is not just our chase for the Board. I enjoy field work too much to accept a permanent position that would keep me on Thessia for the majority of my tenure. Aside from the obvious benefits of wisdom a matriarch brings, there are other reasons matriarchs usually fill professorship roles. I am still a maiden and I still want to make discoveries more often that write about them. Remember Tuchanka? I wouldn't have explored the city of the ancients if it wasn't for your duties. We are well-matched, my love."
Shepard smiled at that. "Too bad I manage to blow up ruins as much as I explore them. It's a good thing I have an archeologist along to take note of things before they're destroyed."
Liara gave a lilt of laughter. "Yes, 'good thing'." Liara reached for her water, but Shepard gently slapped her hand away, scanning their waters and naan. Even if the human Board Member was in lock up, she wouldn't take any chances with Liara. She nodded, giving Liara the go ahead. Liara opted for a kiss instead.
MASS EFFECT
"Movie?" Shepard asked and gestured behind her with a thumb toward the 'Megabox' theater. "There's a new Blasto that I think you'll enjoy. Javik and I have a cameo in it," she grinned.
"You're joking!" Liara's eyes widened. "I saw the ads, but I thought they had hired actors."
"Nope, it's us," Shepard laughed.
"I have to see it then, Shepard," Liara clapped her hands a little in excitement.
Shepard typed on her omni-tool to purchase and select their seats. "Done. Shall we?"
MASS EFFECT
Liara was still laughing as they exited the theater. "And, and then you!" she laughed again. "You said 'This one is the hero of the Citadel'! And Javik!" She held onto Shepard, laughing into her shoulder. She mimicked his angry voice: "'Boiled or fried?'" "It's the same thing he told the hanar on Kahje!"
Shepard chuckled, caressing Liara's neck. "Glad we could entertain. Come on, we should go."
MASS EFFECT
"Thank you, Dr. T'Soni, for a lovely evening," Shepard said as they approached Liara's office. "Maybe we can do this again sometime. Call me?" She gave Liara a charming smile.
"Of course, Captain. Thank you for tonight." She turned and gave Shepard a gentle kiss. "Goodnight."
Shepard grinned, watching the door swoosh closed. It swooshed right back open and Liara grabbed her by the collar, dragging her in. "Get in here."
Jack scoffed from the mess table as they disappeared. "Anyone else think it's bullshit Shepard and blue get two rooms? I get a cot under the stairs and they get two huge spaces with two huge beds. What assholes."
Miranda shrugged. "If anything, she stole the room from me, so what do you care?"
Garrus shook his head. "No way, Lawson. I have dibs. Just because you used to be in there, doesn't mean you automatically get it if Liara gives it up. I've been with Shepard the whole way through from Sovereign to London. That room's mine."
"Could you imagine all that space to yourself?" Traynor daydreamed.
"You all can have it." Kasumi put in. "I love the port observation deck. Bigger window."
"Where do you sleep now that there's a poker table where your bed used to be?" Tali asked.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Kasumi teased.
"Hey, now," Garrus interceded. "Tali's a one man kind of girl, right Tali?"
"So is Kasumi, you bosh'tet," Tali gave him one of her gentler pushes.
"Ok ass wipes," Jack began, "here's the deal: shuttle bay in five. If your shields go down, you're out and no XO room for you. Cry me a fucking river. Last one standing gets claim as soon as blue gives it up."
"It's probably a waste of time," Traynor put in, not liking that combat would determine the room's occupant. "Liara needs all that space for her brokering equipment."
"Whatever, I'm bored and Cerberus Cheerleader needs a good taste of what biotics can really do," Jack chucked her chin at Miranda in challenge.
"You know what they say about teachers, Jack: 'Those that can, do; those that can't, teach.'"
"Fuck you," Jack smirked. "Come on, princess. I'll give you a lesson you'll never forget." The others looked after them as they left for the lift.
"Maybe Shep had it right. Those two seem to have some serious tension between them to work out." Kasumi turned back to the group.
"Some?" Tali chuckled. "How long do you think they can hold out?"
"Wait, what?!" Traynor snapped her head at the turn of the conversation.
"You haven't noticed?" Tali asked.
"Well, I imagined…" Traynor let her voice trail off and Kasumi laughed.
Garrus squirmed awkwardly. How could Tali be so comfortable talking about this stuff? "Ladies, I'm dying over here. That's just their dysfunctional way of being friends. Please, let's change the subject."
"No no no no no," Traynor stammered. "What did Shepard say?"
Kasumi chuckled again. "She told them to kiss and get it over with at the party on the Silversun strip." Her voice took on that genuine tone, "Shep's rather sweet, actually. You've seen her with Liara. I think she wants them to make each other happy and was giving them a push."
"Still dying," Garrus protested. "I think I'll go find Quoyle or James. If they start to gossip I can just shoot them." He stood and made his way to the life support room.
Kasumi leaned toward Tali. "Tell me everything, Tali. How and when did you two end up together? I want details." Samantha leaned in as well, intrigued.
Tali looked from one to the other. "Oh Keelah. I don't know if it's any more than a mutual attraction coupled with friendship that became more when we all thought we were going to be dead in a few days."
"Aside from the dead part, sounds perfect to me," Kasumi assured her. "Besides, you saw how possessive he was when I teased you. It's more than a friends with benefits thing, trust me. I've seen the way he looks at you."
"She's right, Tali," Samantha chimed in. "He's playing for keeps."
"So am I. What about you and James, Kasumi?"
Kasumi gave a soft smile. "I'm still not relationship material, Tali. We decided to go our separate ways. To be honest, I think he's in love with Ashley. When she left, he beat all of his own gym records, I think to distract himself. He's been spending as much time on the Warsaw as he can. But, I'm fine, Tali, really. Happy memories are more than a lot of people have."
"Yeah," Samantha gave a sigh.
Tali looked from one to the other. "New priority mission: find someone for both of you. Samantha, how do you feel about dextro women?"
Samantha's eyes widened. "I, uh…don't really know."
"Only one way to find out," Kasumi smiled.
"Kasumi, what about you?" Tali turned to her.
"Depends on the person, Tali, but muscles never hurt. I haven't seen many brawny quarians."
"What, you want a krogan?" Tali teased.
Kasumi chuckled. "As cute as Grunt is, no."
"Grunt is cute?" Samantha turned to Kasumi so that both Tali and she were staring at her. Kasumi shook her head and chuckled, standing and walking away with a wave. "You two are too easy. I'm going to curl up with one of my romance novels before this gets carried away. Goodnight Tali. Samantha."
They waved after her. "I do hope she finds someone," Samantha smiled after her. "If you can love so fully once, it must come easier, right?"
"Perhaps," Tali mused. "Or perhaps it is too much to let go. She needs time. I know that if Garrus was gone…it would take a miracle for me to move on."
Samantha smiled. "So you two are serious."
"Perhaps," Tali repeated teasingly and smiled beneath her mask before leaning in. "Now, I have just the girl for you."
MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT MASS EFFECT
"What?!" Shepard boomed in the office. "What do you mean she isn't the human Board Member, Feron?"
"It seems the human Board Member was as careful as I am, guarding his or her movements and sending false ones through proxy agents. Whoever it is has the prime minister working for them, but they're not on Earth. All of the Board Members, which includes me twice, just received a message that the human Board Member is still operating. I traced the message to Rannoch and looked into it further. I think whoever it is has been there since the end of the war."
Shepard was fuming. The prime minister was very good, and whoever the human Board Member was, they were probably better. "Do you think it's another shadow Board Member, like your krogan? Maybe the quarian Board Member is double dipping as well."
"It's possible, Shepard. We won't know until you find them one way or another. I would stick to your schedule and go to Rannoch as you were planning. You'll find out if we have been led falsely yet again."
"We'll keep you posted Feron. Thank you." Liara said behind her.
Goddess, please let Feron be on our side, Shepard thought as she watched his image disappear. Liara laced her arms around Shepard's waist. "What a waste today was," Shepard admitted bitterly. "All that crap about the Destiny Ascension. No idea if any of it was true. I can't let Bau have her when she's pregnant. Square one."
Liara shook her head in protest. "The only set-back is that we don't have the human Board Member, Shepard. The blow the Board suffered from the galactic public's scrutiny was far more important, and you delivered that. Hardly a soul is likely to sympathize with the Board after today."
Shepard sighed. "Liara, I hate to ask, but—"
"Can we trust Feron?" Liara anticipated. Shepard raised her eyebrows. "Yes, Shepard. He has betrayed me in the past, but he ultimately sacrificed himself so that I could escape with you and deliver you to Cerberus." She paused as Shepard turned to face her and lean against the desk before she continued. "What would be his motivation for misleading us today? I don't see what harm it was to take in the prime minister if she is an agent for the Board. And why would he needlessly point us to Rannoch when we were already planning on going there? We could contact Aecuster if you'd like."
"Feron could be fooling him as well," Shepard countered. "Or he could have been one of Feron's agents this whole time, even when Kolyat was a kid—the previous hanar Board Member as well. I know I sound paranoid, but we're putting a lot of trust in one man, Liara. Tevos asked if this tech he gave us could be a way for him to keep tabs on us. Maybe she was right. He's betrayed you before, you admit, and you didn't suspect Nyxeris on Illium…"
"And I learned from that, Shepard," Liara frowned. "You think I don't have people watching Feron? People he trusts and people that allow me to meld with them so that I can be sure? Maelon wasn't there on accident, Shepard." She smiled as Shepard's eyes widened. "So unless Maelon keeps walls in his mind so hidden that an asari can't see them—nothing anyone is known to be able to do—I think we can trust Feron."
Shepard continued to stare before she furrowed her brows. "Alright, I'm going to skip past the part where I ask why you didn't tell me and ask how you know Maelon isn't being fooled either."
Liara's eyes darted away from Shepard's and she began pacing, wringing her fingers nervously. "I'm not sure you'll like my answer."
Shepard's heart started pounding. "Why's that?"
Liara stopped and took Shepard's hands in hers. "Don't be angry."
"Don't make me angry," Shepard stared at her again, in surprised confusion. She folded her arms, taking her hands away. "How could you even be hiding something from me? I haven't felt any walls…"
"Because there aren't any, Shepard, I promise you. You simply haven't asked and you haven't pried in a meld either. Honestly, I hoped you would pry so I wouldn't have to tell you."
"So it's an honest omission?" Shepard frowned.
"Of course not, but it's not a dishonest one either. I didn't want you to be upset."
"Liara, I love you, why wouldn't you just tell me? What happened to being partners? And by the way, you still haven't told me. My mind is racing. Just tell me. What is it?"
"I…" Liara began, taking her chair at her other desk and sitting down. She forced herself to look into Shepard's eyes and blurted it out: "While you were visiting Mordin's memorial, I forced a meld on Feron."
Shepard's brows raised in shock. "You…forced…"
"Shepard," she looked ashamed and turned her face away. "You know I am appalled at the very idea. The intrusion…is sickening." She looked down and stood up, pacing again, her voice becoming more desperate. "But they were coming after us. They'd tried to assassinate us twice already and, and Shepard, I can't lose you again. I won't. I had to be sure. When he refused, I thought it was only evidence that he did have something to hide. I walled my own mind off and began the meld anyway." Her voice shook at the memory. "And I found what he was hiding. Everything he had said about the Board was true. What he didn't want me to know…he guarded it so well, but I kept prying. I was ruthless, Shepard. He…didn't want me to know how he felt…"
Shepard waited, knowing Liara needed to explain it all in full now that she had started.
Liara found her way to the bed and sat on it, bracing her temples with her hands. "As soon as I realized he was loyal, I felt sick. I apologized in the meld, begged for his forgiveness and he gave it, but I could feel his pain before I left his mind. He told me he understood, that I didn't need to apologize, but…Goddess, I felt monstrous." She began wringing her hands again, not wanting to tell Shepard this next part, but unable to not tell her. "That's not the worst part, Shepard." Liara looked up at her, the pain etched in her features and it was all Shepard could do to let her finish, to not hold her and tell her she could never do anything she wouldn't understand. "I…Goddess, Shepard, I would do it again." Liara gripped her crest hard, her blue knuckles paling.
Shepard sat beside her gently. She brought Liara's chin up to meet her eyes with love and reassurance. "Liara T'Soni, I love you. You did nothing I wouldn't have done in your place if it meant I could protect you. That doesn't make it right, but you are not alone. We've all had to make terrible decisions. You've made them in the past. You handed me to Cerberus, but you did it because you loved me and just like then, I could never 'be angry' for that."
Shepard sighed. "You want to know why I hate that statue so much? I'm no hero. I had to sacrifice 300,000 souls, destroy an entire relay system, just so I could buy us some time before the Reapers hit, and you know what? As much as I hate what I did and hate myself for it, I'd do it again, because we survived, Liara. And I knew you wouldn't blame me for what had to be done. You don't have to bear this sort of burden alone." She caressed Liara's cheek sweetly.
Liara looked at her, puzzled, still frantic. "How can you just... I was afraid you'd think differently of me." Shepard pulled Liara into her and Liara buried herself in her embrace. She closed her eyes, focusing on Shepard's arms around her as she clutched at her uniform.
Shepard waited a few minutes. "Can I ask you for something?"
Liara clutched at her tighter. "Anything."
Shepard leaned back to lay them on the bed and spoke as they faced each other. "If you can't tell me something like this, tell your dad. She loves you and she's here for you now just as I am."
Liara sighed heavily as she brought herself closer to Shepard. "I know, but honestly, Shepard, there's no one I'd rather tell my morbid secrets to than you," she smiled apologetically.
Shepard smiled slightly as she kissed her crest. "Is it wrong that makes me a little happy?"
Liara gave a small chuckle in answer. She tilted her chin up for a kiss. She sighed. "So now you know why we can trust Feron."
"I wish you'd have told me sooner. I kept worrying I'd have to kill him eventually. So Rannoch."
"Rannoch," Liara nodded.
"Garrus will be pleased," Shepard grinned.
"Oh?" Liara became curious.
"Come on, Shadow Broker. Don't tell me I know something you don't."
Liara smirked. "That Garrus is going to propose to Tali on her homeworld?"
"I really don't get to surprise you with anything," Shepard complained, rolling her eyes and smiling.
"We both know that isn't true. I'm still waiting for my surprise."
Shepard let the words hang in the air, merely smiling.
"Nothing?" Liara begged. "You won't tell me anything about it?"
Shepard smiled again. "So how did you know about Garrus and Tali?"
"Subtle change in subject, love." Liara patting Shepard's thigh in mock approval, the knot in her stomach slowly unfurling.
"What can I say, I'm a smooth talker." Shepard smiled that she had distracted Liara from their conversation about Feron at least. "But seriously, how did you know?"
"I've hacked EDI."
"Really?"
"No." Shepard pushed her gently and Liara gave in. "He made an incredibly ridiculous amount of tech purchases yesterday as well as the permits to ship it to Rannoch. One of my brokers informed me."
Shepard quirked an eyebrow. "How does a tech purchase signal marriage?"
"First of all, it's Tali." Liara laughed. "What else would she want? Secondly, quarians exchange gifts of rarity or great value that can be used to help the flotilla when they propose marriage. The item must be nearly as valuable as their first gift to the flotilla after pilgrimage to demonstrate that their union will be prosperous for the quarian people. Normally, they give the gift to the captain of the ship for his or her approval of the marriage. I wonder who Garrus will present the tech to instead."
"Surely not me." Shepard frowned. "If the point is for it to go toward the flotilla, I'd suspect he is planning on giving it to Tali's Auntie Raan and will ask for her blessing."
"I suspect so," Liara nodded.
Shepard grinned. "I hope I get to see it. Ha! He's going to be a ball of nerves and awkwardness." She chuckled. "Grade A fodder."
Liara smirked and chuckled. "So supportive, Shepard."
"Hey, he gives me shit for falling for those blue, doe eyes of yours. Telling me if stared at my targets in a firefight as I much as I stare into your eyes, I might improve my aim. Never should have let him win at bottle shooting back on the Citadel."
Liara lifted her eyes to Shepard and pushed her on her back, maintaining her gaze. She blinked softly to hide her eyes for a second and entered Shepard's mind. Look at me. Her eyes returned to blue before she lifted her gaze again. She traced a finger across Shepard's lips as she unbuckled Shepard's belt. She lifted the undershirt to caress Shepard's tight stomach, her smile reaching her eyes when Shepard hitched underneath her touch and inhaled sharply. She maintained her gaze as she made her way down to kiss the same spot.
Shepard threw a fist into the mattress when Liara did, nearly breaking their gaze as her eyes begged to roll back. "Wow…" Her breathing quickened and Liara grinned then bit her lip, the emotions always reaching her eyes. She unbuttoned and lowered the zipper of Shepard's pants, her eyes lit with excitement now. She forced herself to not join with Shepard. Forced herself to maintain the gaze as she peeled her out of her uniform and kissed lower. Her eyes smoldered as she neared Shepard's center.
Shepard's breath was staggered. "Join with me."
Liara smirked as she looked up, still focused on Shepard's eyes that were locked on hers. The mirth in Liara's eyes matched her grin. "Patience, love."