Liara

The uncomfortable silence dragged on. The silver of her eyes fixed on me and I felt my cheeks coloring violet as I searched for the proper words to say. After I had diminished her experience…then offered to meld for the goddess' sake…I feared opening my mouth would but further entrench me in humiliation.

"How are you feeling, Dr. T'Soni?" she asked, the low timbre of her voice vibrating pleasantly along my neck. "Dr. Chakwas said I shouldn't disturb your rest, but my crew was getting a little anxious. I hope you understand."

"I…I do. And I am feeling much better, thank you." I stammered, uncertain of how to view this woman. According to her lieutenant, the crew feared her, but she seemed to have nothing but gentle words and apologies for me. "And I suppose I should thank you for saving my life, commander."

"Think nothing of it." she waved her hand dismissively before crossing her arms. "Part of my job after all."

"And offering asylum to a suspected criminal?" I pressed for further information, both about the woman and her purpose. "Is that also part of your job, commander?"

"Shepard, please." she deflected my inquiry.

"Then you must call me Liara." I insisted, watching her brow raise and the scar tissue across her face stretch.

"I will be honest with you, Liara, the turian and salarian councilors are still dubious about your innocence. Tevos on the other hand…well she didn't believe the allegations about Benezia until presented with the voice-ident."

I nodded, having expected as much. "My mother is a very influential asari, though she does not play at politics." I explained, in case there was a question I had missed in Shepard's statement about councilor Tevos. "And it is difficult to consider any matriarch so deeply ingratiating themselves with one of such dubious motivations. I assume your Saren is attempting to find out more about these…Reapers."

Shepard shrugged her shoulders. "That's the question we're all asking, doc. We've got little to go on and a lot less to run to. Some planets have reported some out of the ordinary occurrences, and it seems that wherever we spot the geth, some clues turn up. But basically we're running on theories and speculations."

"And a vision from a Prothean beacon." I steered the subject towards where I wanted it to lead, though not as subtly as I would have liked.

Shepard snorted, derisive. "Fat lot of good that's done us." she muttered, two fingers rubbing her temple in a gesture I did not know if she consciously comprehended. "All it's really done is ask more questions than we have answers to."

"If it causes you such discomfort," my boldness terrified me, but I pushed onward. "Why did you refuse my offer of a meld?"

Shepard's eyelids narrowed, and her eyes seemed as bright shining steel. "Why are you so interested in such a thing?" she asked.

"You've been touched by Prothean technology!" I exclaimed, surprised by my outburst. "Anyone in my field, with my abilities, would leap at this chance!"

Shepard laughed. "Suddenly Ash's 'scalpel' comment is starting to make sense." she grinned, a roguish expression that doubled the beats of my heart. "You want to dissect my brain, doc? Ferret out my secrets? Plant suggestions in my head?"

"It…it does not work that way." I protested. "There are many misconceptions about my people the galaxy over, Shepard. Due to the misunderstandings concerning the meld, we are perceived to be promiscuous, and that simply isn't true. The meld, while it can be an act of intimacy, is also a way of transferring knowledge without the confusion of communication and different linguistic nuances. Using it, I could see the vision as it was presented to you, without having to 'ferret', whatever that may mean, out any personal bias you might have towards it. I was not propositioning you…simply offering an exchange of thoughts in order to attempt to provide clarity."

"Easy." Shepard clutched her chest in mock injury. "I feel like I just got hit. I'm certain your intentions are nothing but pure. Earth has its overzealous scholars too, doctor."

Again a flush of shame covered my cheeks. "I apologize for my outburst." I muttered, shivering in the chill of that cool grey gaze. "I simply…the allegations made by Chief Williams and Lieutenant Alenko's unsubtle innuendos are the standard views held of my species by yours, are they not? The bombastic idea of mind control or implanting subliminal thoughts…it simply isn't true commander. Even if the asari were capable of these feats, we value the meld far too highly than to abuse it in such a way."

"The chief may be a little biased." Shepard allowed. "And it's true that we are the newcomers to the galactic scene. But it wouldn't shock me to find some underlying belief in stereotypes coloring your mind either."

"Such as?" I raised my chin in defiance, uncomfortable with having my character slighted by this woman.

"Humans are a race pre-disposed to violence and unable, much for the same reasons as the krogan, to adhere to the galactic standards embraced by the council."

"Your prowess with weaponry did little to dissuade me from that line of belief." I countered, hardly able to believe it when she began laughing again.

"All right." she conceded. "It appears we all got off on the wrong foot."

Is there a right foot? Something in their physiology? What am I missing here?

"Is that an apology?" I questioned, uncertain.

"In a roundabout sort of way." Shepard nodded. "I actually wanted to speak with you about the meld, if you don't mind."

"You already disregarded the offer, Shepard." I replied, still a touch upset. "In front of your crew for that matter. You would do yourself and their trust in you no favors by participating in a backroom deal with a suspect alien."

"I need help, Dr. T'Soni." I hadn't believed it possible, but her eyes grew colder. "I can't make heads or tails of these damn images floating around in my brain. Some of my crew are xenophobic, and as much as I don't like it, I can't cure them in a day, or give them a biology lesson in the middle of a mission in hopes to ease their minds. If you really want to see what the Protheans left behind, I'm ready and willing. Anything for an answer."

"Then you are willing to trust me?" I asked, almost humbled. "You are willing to let me see the vision?"

"Only the vision." she stipulated. "Nothing else. There are places in my head no one needs to see again, Dr. T'Soni, least of all me. I trust you to honor that."

"I will do my best." I promised, though I had no idea if I could follow through.

I have…I have never melded like this before. A mother's meld with her child is far deeper and more intimate than a shallow exchange of information between one to another. I do not have the fine control necessary to keep it at simply that level and yet…yet I must try. For her mission's sake as well as to satisfy my own curiosity.

"What do I need to do?" Shepard asked, uncrossing her arms and standing.

"Concentrate on the vision." I told her as my mouth went dry, as I attempted to coax surety in my voice. "I will link our nervous systems and begin the information transmission. I will ask that you relax as much as possible, or it will be harder to transmit the images completely."

"I understand." the soldier obeyed orders and I saw her visibly relax. "Anything else?"

"Breathe easily." I told her, taking her hands in mine. The skin was warm, supple, with rough edges and faint scarring…a warrior's hands…"Open your eyes." I urged her, and that cold silver pierced my gaze. I exhaled, grasping for the peace needed for this gesture. "Embrace Eternity."


Author's Note: Hello all! Just wanted to say thank you to all who have followed and favorited this story thus far. And a special thanks to those who have reviewed. You guys are awesome. I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas, and if you're not into celebrating, hope you enjoyed a day off at least. Bright blessings,

~R.S.