What with the changing seasons, I'll probably be switching to a biweekly update schedule from now through autumn. I've been falling behind as it is, and could use a bit more editing time.

I appreciate the continuing reviews from af-zero. It's encouraging to know someone is willing to take the time to comment, though I wish a few more of you would. I know you're out there.

CHAPTER TEN
Communication

Kara studied the damaged pieces of her armor carefully. The flexible base material all across the right arm was ruined, tearing apart with only minimal stress. The hardened plates were not much better, pitted and brittle. The worse effected parts simply crumbled under pressure.

Overall, a third of the suit needed replacing. What spare parts they had simply couldn't cover that level of damage. She sighed; their supply problem had just become acute. She dumped the armor on the floor. "Liara, could I see you in the Armory?" she asked, activating the comm.

While she waited, Kara stripped off her armor's cloth under suit and started to dress. She had only just pulled on her trousers when the Asari arrived.

It was contradictory, she realized, for a roomful of women to make her uncomfortable about her body, when the Asari had never made her feel the same. Liara studied her bare torso with open curiosity, rather than studiously avoiding all contact or blushing furiously, as if breasts were something to be ashamed of, and perhaps that made all the difference. "Hello, Kara."

"Liara," Kara nodded, as she shrugged on and buttoned her shirt. "Haven't you gone showering with the crew yet?"

"I've been avoiding them," Liara admitted.

Kara smiled. "I do the same. If you'd like, I could arrange to clear the shower room for you. Fifteen minutes a day, during first watch."

"No," Liara replied firmly. "I'll be fine. You asked me here for something other than talk?"

Kara retrieved her battered chest piece, and held it up. "I hoped you could help me get new armor."

"I'll try," Liara said, "but many of my contacts were through my mother."

"Thank you. If you could find something for yourself, as well, I'll scape together enough credits to pay for it."

Liara nodded. "When I heard you were facing a Thresher Maw, I was very concerned," she said, focusing too-intently on Kara's damaged armor.

Kara gently shifted Liara's attention back to her, with a hand on the Asari's chin. "You don't need to convince me, Liara," she said softly. "I trust you."

"You're very-" Liara breathed; she cut herself off abruptly, her brilliant blue eyes turning downward. "I should go see about that armor," she muttered.

Kara let the Asari go, sinking back down onto the bench. They were twenty-six hours out from the relay, and still well beyond range of the comm network. No one would be shopping for anything for eighteen hours at least.

She had tried to remain professional around the Asari, but she found it difficult. She saw Liara as a young woman, uncertain and alone, and wanted, or needed, to reach out.

That wasn't all she wanted, though. Liara was brilliant, even for an Asari, confident, and kind, all traits Kara found attractive.

Kara sighed. She needed to get control of herself, not rush into another relationship. Not now.

"You wanted to see me?" Kara asked, leaning against the rail between Engineering and the Mass Effect core. She had caught Tali'Zorah staring into the core as it hummed and pulsed. It could be entrancing, she supposed, all shifting lights and a faint blue aura. Close as they were, she could feel it, a constant buzz in the back of her mind. There were reasons why biotics made for poor engineers; it wouldn't take long to translate into a substantial headache.

"It's been twenty days, and I still find this ship fascinating," the young Quarian said, turning her head towards Kara. "I'm still getting used to the quiet, though."

"Greg Adams tells me you've been invaluable. He claims you already know more about the Normandy's systems than anyone on his staff."

"He said that? I don't know. Kara, these systems are more advanced than anything I've worked with."

Kara smiled, and turned her gaze back to the core. "Except for Greg, we lost all our senior engineers back on the Citadel. He needs someone to take over second watch. You'd do the jobs he assigned you, with Pema and Ajuna's assistance."

"Kara, are you sure about this? I haven't even completed my Pilgrimage. I haven't the slightest idea how to command-"

"I'm sure," Kara interrupted softly.

"If you need me, Kara, I'll do it," Tali said, standing straight and nodding.

Kara nodded. "You start today, sixteen hundred hours."

"Wait... what if I had said no?" Tali inquired, her bright eyes narrowing slightly.

"I knew you wouldn't," Kara smiled.

Tali sighed. "I guess you're right, as usual," she grumbled.

"I have help," Kara said, squeezing the Quarian's shoulder. She recalled feeling terrified, before her first command, and wished someone had shown her some understanding. That had given way to a sort of cold dread, after Elysium. She did not fear her mistakes; she feared success, and fresh dead added to the pile of people she had killed. "So will you. Don't be afraid to accept it."

Tali nodded. "Then I can help you to be right about this transmitter," she said, leading Kara to the workbench near the door. The distress beacon they'd recovered from Edolus lay there, partially disassembled.

"The casing is from a standard Alliance distress beacon," Tali continued, "but the electronics aren't. They're of human construction, and use some fairly advanced techniques."

"A corporation?" Kara asked. What profit was to be found in luring a squad of marines onto a Thresher Maw nest? No. Someone else had done this. An organization not concerned with making money.

Tali shrugged. "I don't know, but it was placed deliberately. There's a second device built in, which detects nearby humans and then activates a low-intensity sound pulse, a sort of Thresher Maw lure."

Kara closed her eyes. She had expected something else. Batarians, perhaps. They were being pressed on all sides, and had resorted to using terrorist tactics against the Systems Alliance, though usually on a larger scale. Defending a government was a dubious enough cause to kill for, but whoever had planted that distress beacon had done it for pay.

She didn't understand, and she never had. If not that were not bad enough, her head had begun to ache from the proximity of the core. "Anything else?"

"I don't think there's anything else to find," Tali said, her filtered voice sounding apologetic.

Kara mustered a smile, as she turned towards the young Quarian. "You did well, Tali."

Kara tensed as she once again found herself standing before a holographic Council. They had contacted her almost as soon as she filed her report, less than an hour after the Normandy had come within range of the comm network, which made her suspect they either wanted something, or had important information.

"Councillors," she nodded.

"Shepard," Tevos said, her eyes focused intently on, presumably, the place where Kara's image stood before her. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused us?"

"Yes, but Human-Council relations are not my concern," Kara replied. "You appointed me to stop Saren, a task I cannot complete without your continuing support. Are you withdrawing that support?"

Sparatus' mandibles flared as he stared at her. "No. Your species wanted you made a Spectre; now they want you recalled. We are not here to indulge Ambassador Udina's whims, and we will not tolerate interference in your mission."

"Salarian STG teams have been deployed to the Traverse in an attempt to track Saren. They will also be watching you," Valern said. "Should your behavior be questionable, your Spectre status will be revoked, and you will be turned over to the Alliance. Is that clear?"

"One hopes that, considering Saren's betrayal, you're giving as much attention to your other agents?" Kara asked sharply. She did not resent their concern, just that they had singled her out for special treatment. They did not answer. "Have these STG teams reported any sign of Saren?"

"Not yet. You'll be notified if they discover anything you need to know," Valern replied.

"I want to see all their reports," Kara countered. "I can't do this job if you won't trust me."

"Very well," the Salarian agreed, though not without irritation.

"There is one other matter," Tevos said, regarding Kara's boldness with interest. "Doctor T'Soni. Are you certain she can be trusted?"

Kara hesitated. "I trust her," she said quietly. She doubted her judgement more than Liara's intent, and that was not the Council's business.

Tevos noticed, of course, but let it pass with a nod. "If we do learn anything, I'll make sure you're informed."

"Thank you, Councillor Tevos," Kara nodded, for her silence and her words.

The three holographs nodded, and the projector went dark.

Kara slumped into the nearest chair. No leads, no new information. She did not handle a lack of direction well. Even wandering the galaxy alone she had always found some goal, a sight to see next, something to learn or experience. It was no longer enough. She had a goal-stopping Saren-and any unnecessary delay was intolerable.

"Kara?"

"Yes?" she snapped, recognizing Liara's voice without turning. The lock on the door had shut down along with the comm channel. She regretted her tone immediately.

"I'm sorry-" they both said at once.

"I'm just feeling frustrated, Liara. I'm glad to see you," Kara finished, recovering first.

The young Asari nodded. "Is there anything I can do?"

"Bring me good news," Kara said softly.

"A friend of mine, who lectured at the University of Serrice while I was there, is on the Citadel. She works for Serrice Council," Liara said, sitting in the nearest chair and leaning forward. "They don't sell to the public, but your Spectre authority will get you access."

Kara grinned. Serrice Council's electronics division had designed her implant, a modified version of one intended to enhance the natural biotics of Asari commandos. It worked far better than the old L2 model it had replaced.

Their armory produced the finest biotic-enhanced armor in the galaxy, with integrated amplifiers and a host of other features. They did not sell pieces on the open market, but distributed them to elite commando units. Techniques they pioneered were passed on to general manufacturers in the centralized Asari economy, but Serrice Council products were always decades ahead.

"Thanks, Liara," she said, walking through the door. "Tell your friend we'll be there in a week. I'll be back."

Kara walked briskly toward the front of the bridge. "Jeffrey, take us back to the Citadel."

"Captain?" the lieutenant asked, turning his chair.

"Don't worry. We'll be discreet."

"Aye, sir," he shrugged. "I suppose I can run circles around an Alliance cruiser as easily as a Geth fleet, but it isn't as much fun."

"Noted," Kara laughed. "We'll get you that fleet soon."

"Thanks, sir. Shooting Thresher Maws is fun and all, but nothing gets the blood pumping like a hostile dreadnaught or two."

"For you, maybe. I was on foot."

"I can see how that might change your perspective," Moreau grinned.

Kara shook her head. "Brynja," she said, turning around and walking over to the young blond, "I need to talk to Admiral Kahoku. Use the Spectre priority channel-that should get his attention."

"On it," Brynja said, bringing up the comm directory.

"You changed your look," Kara said softly. The ensign had ceased wearing her uniform tunic the day after Edolus, leaving only the plain white undershirt. Keyx had brought it to her attention at the time, but she told him to ignore it. It made little sense to enforce a dress code among the crew, when she did not adhere to it herself.

"Those bastard admirals tried to use a distress call against you," Brynja scowled. "Pirates use tactics like that. Criminals. I joined to stop scum like that, not to help them. I've already written up my resignation."

"So much for Captain Ásdísdóttir," Kara smiled.

There was a hint of lost dreams in Brynja's eyes, as she sighed in response. "She was lost the first time you smiled at me."

That was on the bridge, just as they were escaping lockdown on the Citadel. "When this is over, I'll help you find something else."

"Thanks, Kara," the blond replied. "Council Spectre Kara Shepard needs to speak to Admiral Kahoku, priority one," she added, into the comm.

"I'll be in the briefing room," Kara said, waiting for Brynja's acknowledging nod before making her way back.

Admiral Kahoku's bearded face was already project on the holographic display when Kara arrived. "I'm sure she'll be here in a moment, sir," Liara was saying, having taken up Kara's former position in the center of the room.

Kara sat comfortably in the empty chair nearest the door. "Admiral."

"Shepard. What is it you want?" he asked, his voice and expression polite. He was not a man greeting an ally, she decided, but that was not a surprise.

"I want to talk about Edolus," she said, letting her own hostility show. "I recovered the logs from your marines. They were ordered to place a false distress call, to lure me in."

"That's a violation of Council law," Liara noted, now seated in the next chair. "It caries a felony charge of piracy."

"As is interfering with a Council Spectre in pursuit of her duties," Kara added. "That is, if she doesn't shoot you on the spot."

"What happened to my marines, Shepard," Kahoku demanded.

Kara sighed. She had expected the question, but it still blunted her anger. "Someone else planted a distress beacon on a Thresher Maw nest. They followed it, and were killed. It's dead, now."

Kahoku hunched slightly. "Who?"

"I don't know. Humans, with access to advanced technology."

"Cerberus?"

Kara almost bit her tongue. "Maybe." It made sense, even. They were a pro-human terrorist group, former Alliance black-ops. Her actions were enough of an affront to their ideology that the fake beacon might have been meant for her, and not the marines at all.

"If I can track down their base, would you investigate?"

"Yes," she declared. The Alliance would never grant him permission to do so, but her authority came from the Council.

"I'll..." he hesitated, sighing. "I'll convince the Defense Council to rescind the capture order on you."

"Thank you, Admiral," Kara said. "That's all I wanted."

He nodded. "You'll be the first to know when I learn something. Kahoku out."