Author's note: In its current form, I think this chapter is absolutely amazing. It wasn't always that way. Fourteen went through many variations with widely ranged plot developments, and I'm sorry it took me this long to release it. I'd have to say that my procrastination is definitely going to be the biggest thing that prevents me from ever being an actual paid and published writer.
I did have this chapter mostly done quite a while ago, when chapter thirteen first went live. However, even the editing process has become complicated by real life intercessions. Worst of all, my communication with my beta reader has slowed to an absolute crawl. This is not a negative reflection on her; I am as much at fault, if not more, when it comes to our communication. I can't tell you how badly I wanted to release this chapter, but with Thanksgiving and the holidays encroaching upon us, editing just hasn't been getting done as promptly as it used to be. I am sorry for my bad timing and the delays it has caused.
Thankfully, Ladyhawke has been professional about the whole thing, and she's still doing everything she can to make sure my work's presentable (ha ha).
So, long sob story short: for those of you who are sticking with this despite the slow updates, I applaud your patience and thank you from the bottom of my heart. Fingers crossed, perhaps we'll see fifteen released in a more timely manner! (That means getting another chapter to my beta, so I'm going to work on that that right now, I promise.)
Chapter 14
I woke up a little late the next day, delightfully pain-free as I lay in my comfortable bed. My regular morning soreness reasserted itself only after I started moving around again, erasing any thoughts I entertained of my healing being complete. Still, this was perfectly manageable for me, and it was nice to have those few waking seconds free of any uncomfortableness. I'm healing, but it won't be much longer before I'm back to my prime. That thought alone comforted me. I took my shower and dressed in a dark red blouse with jeans, wanting to reconnect with my civilian fashion apart from the Alliance uniforms I usually wore.
I entered the living room and immediately caught the warm and mouthwatering aroma of food cooking nearby. It reminded me of rising yeast bread. I watched Liara work in the kitchen to prepare her meal, her back turned away from me. Speaking up, I asked, "Hello there. When did you get here, and what smells so good?"
"I came early and let myself in," the asari replied. "I suspected you needed your rest, so I let you sleep in. As for breakfast, I'm making camadia. You introduced me to pancakes, and now it's my turn."
My heart thrummed pleasingly as I imagined Liara lovingly watching over me while I slept. I like that image a lot, I realized. "Can't wait," I told her, my mouth watering a little bit. "I'll just catch up on the news for a minute."
Sitting on the couch, I activated the wall terminal and navigated to the Citadel's most popular news services broadcasts. A severe-looking salarian anchorman was finishing a story on a big bust that recently wrapped up, with almost two hundred suspects arrested, on charges from organ trafficking to murder. It seemed like a big shakeup for organized crime to me. Surprisingly, the next report he presented stated that Commander Shepard, "first human Spectre," had returned to the Citadel, but had made no public appearances as of yet.
I hadn't realized just how carefully the galactic community watched its new human Spectre. I felt a little ridiculous for not realizing this sooner, because it made a great deal of sense from their point of view. Shepard must be a huge wild card for them. Hell, he was a huge wild card on the Normandy at times.
I also instructed the terminal to bring up my personal mail, but was disappointed to see nothing of interest to me. Shepard hadn't tried to reach me yet, and Chakwas wanted me to come back to the Normandy in another week or less for a checkup.
I stretched my arms and legs briefly as I minimized my mail account, leaving the broadcast to command center screen once again. I took a double-take as I recognized the scene displayed; it was the rally from the night before. The camera angle shifted, and I was staring at Liara as she departed the Normandy's airlock. Paying rapt attention, I listened to the voice of the female reporter.
"It seems the Normandy has accepted some unusual passengers during its ongoing mission for the Citadel. Liara T'Soni, seen here leaving the ship, is the only daughter of Matriarch Benezia, an asari currently 'wanted for questioning' by the Citadel Council. There has been no official word from the Alliance or Commander Shepard about her presence or her role aboard the ship, leaving many questions in the minds of Alliance citizens about what is going on with our first human Spectre. We caught up to Commander Shepard and asked him about these developments."
The scene shifted immediately, and I recognized C-Sec Academy in the background, with Shepard front and center. "Commander Shepard, there are reports of numerous alien species leaving and returning to your ship, of particular note an asari, Liara T'Soni. Is it true that you've taken aliens such as Dr. T'Soni aboard your ship? Was it at the Council's request?"
"No comment," he growled from behind clenched teeth. He pushed past the reporter with one arm, and she looked quite put out.
The scene shifted again to the same reporter, now in a studio setting. "Commander Shepard continues to keep a tight communications blackout on his crew and current mission since becoming a Spectre. Questions continue to mount if he is truly an Alliance soldier—or the property of a Council that has held humanity back from the beginning. This is Kassia al Julani reporting from the Citadel."
I closed the news feed immediately, angry. Property of the Council? You've got to be kidding me. We're trying to save the galaxy here, but she's trying to convince everyone we're brainwashed servants of the Council? This is beyond ridiculous, this is... Fucking media. We have a job to do. Is this story going to put pressure on the Alliance? We don't need interruptions from our mission. Saren's closing in on the Conduit, and so are we. I hope Shepard can steer us through the nonsense that will spawn from this. We can't get bogged down and let Saren get to the Conduit first.
Despite my refusal to let some trollop impede our mission's progress, there was an undercurrent of understanding that it was largely out of my hands. The Admiralty would have to decide how to react. Shepard would have to deal with their decision. There wasn't a thing that I, or Liara for that matter, could do about it. Best not to worry about things you can't change. I shouldn't bother Liara about it either. She might feel guilty when it's not even her fault.
Besides, Liara was cooking for me, and I wanted to be able to appreciate her willingness to do so rather than waste the carefree atmosphere between us. I disappeared back into my bedroom before she sensed anything was wrong and forced myself to breathe deeply until I felt entirely calm.
In the end, it worked better than I could have predicted. By chance I inhaled a deep breath of the permeating yeast smell, and it instantly reminded me of my mother baking bread back at home. My sisters and I used to love helping out. Times like those are what kept us so close, I reminisced.
I returned to the common room and took a seat at the table. The soothing smell made me amenable to sharing just for sharing's sake. "Did I ever tell you my sisters and I would cook with my mother a lot?"
"No," Liara replied from the kitchen. Turning her head to one side, facing me as much as she could, she asked, "What did you cook?" She turned back, giving her attention back to her project at hand.
"All kinds of foods, but usually my father's favorites: homemade bread, pasta, and ice cream for dessert. We all wanted to help out when we were celebrating our father's return home from a deployment."
"He was gone a lot, I take it."
I stood up, entering the kitchen, and was rewarded when Liara turned fully towards me for the first time this morning. She let her spatula rest on the counter top. I answered at long last, "Too much. There's... There's never enough time." I sighed in defeat.
Liara gave me a look of compassion. "Perhaps not, but so long as you remember him, he has not left you behind."
I shrugged. "I'd rather he was here, you know?"
Liara nodded. "I won't disagree with you there. I just want you to understand that the most important thing you can do is to cherish what time you did have with your father, your loved ones. As asari, it runs to the very heart of our society to be thankful and remember. Many of the people we meet along our lives will not live as long as we will; it would be impossible to endure the pain of losing so many and being unwilling to let them go. Cherish the time, Ash, but don't get caught longing for something you cannot have."
"How long do you live?" I asked. "I've heard idle chatter that asari live a long time, but how long?"
"Almost a full millennium," Liara answered steadily.
"No way," I gasped, stymied. "I'm barely a—a blip on the radar." How could I even compete with hundreds upon hundreds of years of life? I'll be... inconsequential.
"You are more than a 'blip,' Ashley," Liara insisted. "As hard as it may be for you to understand, even hundreds of years after today, I will remember you. I will remember us. And when I do, I will smile."
"Smile?" I repeated, not knowing what to say.
"Brightly," Liara added sweetly, even as the corners of her mouth shot up in a grin. "It makes me ecstatic just to be here with you. That's what I will remember: happiness. Do you understand?"
I shrugged. "Maybe not completely. Maybe I will with time."
Liara's smile broadened. "I have faith, Ash. Now," she looked back towards her food, "I should serve this before I burn it."
I chuckled and nodded. "Anything I can do?"
"All done," Liara answered. "Have a seat at the table."
I did as she suggested, and Liara delivered a plate of hot camadia in front of me. I noted how it did look like thick pancakes to warrant Liara's comment so long ago. It's so easy to remember all the details from the days we've spent together, I reflected, smiling. I waited for my cook to finish serving her own plate, and copied her as she applied a jam on top of it that she informed me came from an asari fruit. I tried it out, and was surprised how much it did remind me of pancakes topped with an exotic and tangy fruit. It was good, but much more starchier than pancakes. In the end, I decided I liked it, especially with the jam's help—it was different, but good.
After eating, I insisted, "I'll take care of the dishes." Liara looked like she was about to protest, but stopped short when I shook my head. "No, no, cooks don't have to clean in my mom's house, and they don't have to clean in mine either."
Liara laughed melodically. "Did you inflict such treatment upon your poor father when he returned home to your meals? I should think so many cooks could make a great many dishes."
I joined her in laughing. "Very clever of you to pick the one exception to the rule. Go sit in the living room or something. I promise this won't take too long."
Liara complied and left me to clear the table while she retreated to the living room. The job of cleaning didn't take very long, but it was necessary since I had little in the way of my own plates and pans, and most of it was utilitarian mess kit stuff.
Liara boosted the sound to the terminal, and I caught what the anchorman said next. "It has just been confirmed by C-Sec that the bust led to the arrest of one human suspect believed to be the head of the gang, known by the alias the "Long Islander." His case is expected to be a high priority for the district attorney."
I smiled to myself, pleasantly surprised. Looks like C-Sec's making good on its promise, working on that gang that tried to kill me. That's really great news! Out loud, I asked, "Hey Liara, what should we do after working out?"
Liara didn't answer. Eyebrow elevated with confusion, I headed for the living area. Liara was standing before the computer terminal, reading something. When I came up to her, she gave me a complete look up-and-down before moving away. She faced away from both me and the terminal.
"What is it?" I asked even as I read the message myself.
My mail account had popped up of its own accord, and it was displaying the message it had just received. I planned on only skimming it, but as I read it, I slowed down considerably.
To our delinquent sister,
Since you obviously care nothing for your familial responsibilities, the family has decided to intervene. That's right! Clean your (tiny) collection of normal clothes and get ready to greet your sisters on the Citadel. We're coming to you! Abby, Sarah, and I are boarding a shuttle, and we'll be reunited within 36 hours! Isn't this exciting (Nerve-wracking for me, but still)? We haven't left Amaterasu in so long, but we couldn't wait to see you again, especially with everything going on. Before you get mad, I want you to know that mom practically shoved us out the door herself when she heard the plan.
You are going to be our escort on the Citadel until that Shepard guy finally steals you back from us. We can stay for only a couple of days before we return home, but all of us are looking forward to seeing you in person and possibly meeting your new friend.
See you soon,
Lynn
I straightened up and turned towards Liara, who was watching me intensely. I tried to swallow and found it unusually difficult. "Well, this is a surprise," I remarked dryly.
Liara smirked briefly, but she wasn't in a humorous mood right now. "What are you going to do? Are they talking about me? Do they even know anything about me?"
"Of course they know about you, Liara! You're not a secret I'm keeping from anyone."
Liara grimaced. "Maybe I shouldn't, but sometimes I feel as if I am, Ash. I don't understand why your military seems so stringent about who their soldiers are with. I'm just thinking that if you can't be open about us on the Normandy, then maybe you wouldn't be likely to tell your family either. Maybe it's a human thing, and I'm just not used to it."
I walked up to Liara and ran my hands up and down her arms in a placating gesture. "The military aside, you're never something I would want to hide. Still, I don't exactly like to go out of my way and 'publicize' any of my relationships because I'm a very private person. What you need to know without a doubt is that I'm humbled that you accepted me into your life. There's nothing I want more than to be with you, no matter who is around to see us.
"I told my family you are my best friend, which is one-hundred-percent true. You're important to me, and I want my family to know all about you, about us, with time so they can be ready for it. Now, one of us needs to stay calm while I get worked up about this, ok?" I remarked wryly. "It'll be ok. You'll get to meet my other favorite people in my life. That's great."
Liara nodded briskly. "I'm nervous," she confessed.
I laughed. "Me too."
() () () () ()
Liara and I stood at Public Galactic Transportation Hub 37-A. We were in a giant room filled with people standing and waiting for personnel transports to arrive, many of which were toting significant luggage behind them. Virtually every race I knew existed was represented here, but the vast majority were asari. I held Liara's left hand in my right while we waited in the crowd for my sisters to arrive.
Liara occasionally bounced up on her heels, trying to peer over the crowd. I had already given her pictures of my sisters, and she seemed determined to find them before I could. I was keeping a close eye on their terminal as well, but I was not quite as anxious as she was. "Calm down, Liara," I reminded her.
Liara puffed her cheeks, almost irritated. "The transport landed five minutes ago."
"I'm aware," I pointed out, sorely tempted to grin at her. "They'll be here."
Liara gasped. "Wait, there! I see Sarah! And there's Lynn! And over to their right, there's Abby!" Her enthusiasm was written all over her face and definitely mirrored my own.
"Let's go." The words were barely out of my mouth before I was heedlessly throwing myself into the throng of people, working us through the room to my sisters. I belatedly realized a few annoyed and angry scoffs were directly my fault, but it didn't matter. I pulled us right up to my sisters, barely stopping in time to avoid bowling them over. "Hey!" I interjected far louder than was required.
Sarah's face lit up first as she saw me. "Ashley!" The others' expressions quickly mirrored her own, and the three of them surrounded me in a group bear hug so quickly I barely had time to release Liara's hand before either of our arms were forced to bend improperly. My sisters squeezed me tight, and I reciprocated with as much strength as I could.
We pulled apart a few seconds later, each grinning so widely we looked ridiculous. My ribs protested mildly from their abuse, but it was worth every dull throb. Before they could say another word, I held up a finger to quiet them. "First off, before I forget, I want to introduce you to my friend Liara. Liara?"
I turned to my right, and Liara stepped forward to my side. "Hello. Ashley has talked about the three of you nonstop since she found out you were coming."
Sarah's eyes got big briefly before she held out her hand and shook Liara's, "You're Liara? Well, hi! I didn't think I'd get to meet you so soon! I'm Sarah."
Lynn started when she saw Liara for the first time, but she recovered enough composure to smile and take her turn shaking hands. "Hello Liara. I'm Lynn."
Abby held out her hand daintily before they shook. "I'm Abby. It's wonderful to meet you, Liara."
I debated grabbing Liara's hand, but I'd already told myself to pace this. Things would be hard enough, and they were still tired from their trip. It was time to get them settled in. "I rented a place to live while the Normandy is docked at the Citadel. I want you three to move in with me until you leave."
"Bed," Abby shouted.
"Bed," Sarah echoed not even a moment later.
I laughed. "I'm bringing in an air mattress for the floor. Since they called the bed, Lynn can have the mattress, and I'll take the couch."
"Wow, this trip just got a whole lot cheaper," Abby remarked appreciatively. "Mom would approve."
"You like that?" I asked rhetorically. "Good. Let's get your stuff over there right now."
The three women gathered the stuff at their feet and followed me out of the terminal. It took a while to clear security, but eventually we were on our way. We requested two rapid transit shuttles. The first accepted Liara, myself, and Sarah. The next took on most of my sisters' luggage, Lynn, and Abby.
Sarah stared out the shuttle's windows in wonderment, taking in the whole sight of the Citadel ward arm as it seemed to stretch out impossibly long. "Liara, do you live on the Citadel?" she asked.
"No," Liara answered. "My work often takes me quite far away from the Citadel. I haven't been here in many years."
"So you lived here before?"
"I visited," Liara corrected. "My mother occasionally had business here. It was rare, however. Thessia was my real home for most of my life."
"Thessia? What's Thessia like?"
"Thessia is the asari homeworld. Perhaps that makes me biased, but I think it is a beautiful world with an abundance of oceans and sea life. Every available square inch of land bursts with plants, green grass, and trees."
"Sounds like a place I'd want to visit," Sarah concluded.
"You thinking about traveling around?" I jested.
"Yep," Sarah answered without hesitation. "Well, college comes first, but after I graduate... I gotta go see some of these worlds. They sound so amazing. I want to experience them personally."
In that moment, I saw so much of our father in Sarah that I was disquieted. Dad had always loved space, but that love was tinged at its edges with the understanding that space and the military were what kept him away from the rest of us while we grew up. It was hard to think of losing some of the closeness I had to Sarah because we were both gallivanting about the galaxy on our own adventures. One nomadic sister made getting together as a family difficult enough already.
It wasn't long before we were in my section of the wards, pulling luggage along yet another hallway. I opened the door for my sisters, who stacked everything they brought in the corner not too far from the door itself. It was out of the way, at least, leaving the living area mostly unencumbered.
The five of us took every available seat: the couch and a couple of stools from the kitchen bar. We were arranged in a V-shape so everyone could easily talk with everyone else. My sisters took a load off on the couch. Liara and I were side-by-side on the stools. I started off, "So, like the place? Not bad considering how quickly I was able to pick it up."
"A little small for all of us," Abby noted, "but who cares, we're sisters."
"Your family is quite large," Liara noted. "Is it common to have so many siblings all within a few years of age?"
"Part of that whole human lifespan thing, I guess," I tried to answer her. "After all, a human's childbearing years are rather short when compared to an asari's."
Abby nodded in agreement. "How long do asari live?" she asked.
"Almost a full millennium," Liara answered.
"Whoa," Sarah interjected surprised. "I mean... I knew that." Her cheeks reddened the slightest shade.
I smirked as I watched my youngest sister try to hide her embarrassment. "I try not to think about what it would be like to live that long. It would only depress me since I can't."
Everyone chuckled to themselves at that one. Abby looked at me for a second or two before she made a decision about whatever she was thinking. She questioned, "So Liara, you're on the ship with my big sister?"
Liara nodded. "I am."
"What's it like on the ship?" Sarah interjected her question at me. "You've had your heart set on it for so long."
"Everything I wanted it to be, and yet there's still a lot in common with a garrison posting," I answered, reflecting on my memories of both. "My responsibilities now are very close to what they were before, but the context has changed completely. It's no longer about a simple defensive presence on a planet. I have to think more aggressively, push myself harder. I'm taking the fight to the bad guys now."
Lynn shivered. "Scares the crap out of me just to think about it," she remarked, "but at least you look healthy."
"I fought a krogan in hand-to-hand recently," I added. "There's even a krogan Battle Master on the Normandy. Let me just say, I have a whole new respect for krogan warriors. Everything you've ever heard about them is probably an understatement."
Lynn sat forward and slapped me on the knee irritably. "Stop it!" she demanded.
My sisters and I laughed, but Liara didn't quite understand our exchange. I facetiously apologized, "I'm sorry, sis. I only speak the truth."
Lynn rolled her eyes in obvious annoyance. "You love frightening me with your stories."
"Well, that's true," Abby interjected. "Don't even pretend to give me that innocent look, Ash."
I grinned widely; there was no use in denying it. "How's mom? How's the house?"
"She's fine, but she's worried about you too," Lynn told me. "Your transfer to a ship happened so fast, after years of garrison postings. How'd you manage that, anyway?"
"It wasn't a happy circumstance," I conceded. "The Normandy's marines were the first responders to Eden Prime when it was attacked by the geth. They lost one of their own, Private Jenkins. And, well, I already told you about my squad... The end result of this was that I helped Shepard on his mission on Eden Prime, and Anderson brought me aboard the ship before they left orbit. Now, here I am."
"I'm sorry about your squad," Abby apologized, squeezing my knee.
"Thanks," I replied, choking up.
"Are you okay?" Sarah asked immediately.
"It sucks, but I'm in a place to make it right," I told them, voice hardening, "and I will."
"Just be careful," Lynn warned me. "We want you to come home when your mission is over."
"I will," I promised. I felt the somber mood stifling me, so I tried to escape from under it. "I'm so glad you all have come to see me."
"We're glad we got to come, Sarah especially," Abby replied easily, smiling. "So what is the crew of the Normandy like?"
I looked over to Liara. "How can we possibly summarize the crew?"
Liara considered my question before answering, "Captain Anderson and Commander Shepard know skill. Shepard especially has made many additions to the Normandy crew, and we're all working together on this mission. It is quite amazing to see. Without the specialists, even without a soldier like Ashley, we would not have made it this far."
Abby stated, "He seems to be a natural leader. Guess that's why he's the first human Spectre. As amazing as it is, though, we all think and worry about you every day. You're not just serving on a ship like Dad. You're serving under a Council Spectre on some kind of galactic mission. It sounds so dangerous."
"Trust me," I implored them, "if it were anyone besides Shepard, and if we didn't have the allies we have to help us, I would be the first one to request a transfer. I think I can trust Commander Shepard and his crew. Despite the danger, I think we can persevere."
"Of course we trust you," Abby replied, "but we love you too." She beamed at me.
I smiled warmly with thanks towards each of my sisters. "I love all of you so much," I confessed. "Having you here is an amazing, happy surprise."
There were silent nods of affirmation by my sisters.
"Liara, you'll keep an eye on our sister for us, won't you?" Sarah questioned.
"Of course," Liara answered steadily. "How could I not?"
"Liara is the best," I told them. "She's a biotic. She's been a literal godsend throughout everything."
"Gush much?" Sarah interjected with a sly grin. Everyone laughed at her joke, but they seemed to accept my words at their face value. It was a somewhat encouraging sign, anyway. I could tell there were more steps before I could come out with my full feelings about Liara.
"Let's eat," Lynn suggested. "We can talk more when I have some chicken on my plate."
"Great idea!" Sarah approved. Liara and I accepted the responsibility on their behalf, ordering some Chinese food that we could pick up and eat in the apartment. My sisters started moving and unpacking the bare minimum from their luggage so they wouldn't overcrowd the limited space in my temporary home.
() () () () ()
Liara returned to the Normandy not long after we ate. I made her promise to check in with us the next day in case I wanted her to come over again, but I knew the chances strongly favored spending the whole day with no one but my three sisters. They were usually downright possessive of me when it came to my days off.
We slept well enough, despite lacking full beds for everyone. I was, of course, the first one to wake up and start my day. I decided to exercise with a jog down the wards so that I wouldn't wake the rest of them. Running gave me time to think about my feelings about yesterday. I was bursting at the seams with thankfulness that I had gotten to see my sisters again, but having Liara there without telling them the whole reason why, tempered my good spirits. If I thought this would be easy, however, I would have told them right there in the terminal where we first met.
I jogged for thirty minutes before returning home. Fortunately, the shower had not yet been claimed, so I was able to slip right inside and clean up, getting ready for our day together as a family. By the time I was out, everyone was up and waiting to take their turn. We cycled through the bathroom with all the speed of a military squad, something dad had forced us all to learn to do. Considering how many of us there were, I was immensely grateful for my family's 'training'.
Everyone dressed up, expecting to spend some of our time out on the Presidium. Abby, the oddball that she was, even recruited Lynn and I into helping her don her soft yellow dress with its large skirt that went down to her ankles. We tied the bow in the back for her. I had to admit to myself, Abby could even make a look as old as this one look good, even fresh. Maybe it came from how she naturally carried herself aloof; I wasn't sure.
I still had few options of my own. After I donned a navy blouse and jeans, I saw Sarah approach in my mirror. She rolled her eyes at me. "This is the nicest thing you have, isn't it?" she asked. "How do you expect to ever have a date with so few clothes? You think men are just going to throw themselves at your feet at random? You gotta do your part."
I mock glared at her, scrunching up my nose at her reflection. She saw it and copied me with the addition of sticking out the tip of her tongue at me. We chuckled together. "Sarah, I'm not really into—that. I just want to be who I am. People should see the real me no matter what I wear."
"People should, but men won't," she chided me. "Believe me. I'm a senior in high school. I know things."
Now that was too rich for me, and I lost my entire composure, laughing uproariously. "You—have—so much—to learn, Munchkin." When I finally regained my breath, I told her, "Oh Sarah, you're so funny."
"Well, finally. About time you picked up on that. But I want you to know, I'm a little serious too. This is fine so long as you're looking to go home alone at 9:30."
"Sarah!" I snapped. "Get your head out of the bedroom once in a while, and you might discover there's more to life than boys!"
"Like what? Girls?" she laughed.
I looked away from Sarah's eyes in the mirror and smoothed a wrinkle in my pants' leg, unable to come up with an adequate response. Sarah—none of my sisters had any idea that I was not simply a guy-only kind of girl. I'd always been careful about that secret attraction before because I had enough trouble in the military as it was. I was simply used to having to hide it. I'd never even actually gone out with any girls until Liara. "Well, I think this works for today," I defended my selection.
"If you insist, big sis," Sarah finally caved.
The two of us waited in the living room while Abby and Lynn dressed in my bedroom. Finally, we were all set to go. Together, the four of us took a shuttle to the Presidium and started to walk along the river that flowed down the length of it. We window-shopped occasionally, but none of us were hard-set on spending all our money here on the first day. Most of the time, we simply walked and talked.
"I recognize this part. The human embassy is up ahead," I told them. "I went there after Eden Prime. If we kept going, we should come across the elevator up to the Citadel Tower."
"What's in the Citadel Tower?" Lynn asked.
"The Citadel Council, of course," I answered. "The three most powerful people on the Citadel."
"You think they could lift the taxes on stuff I export to Citadel space?" Abby quipped.
I smiled and shrugged. "I have no idea how that all works, sis."
She nodded. "I know. It's annoying to have to raise prices just because the goods pass an invisible line somewhere in empty space. Doesn't seem fair to me."
I smirked. "Nothing that inconveniences you is ever 'fair,' Abby."
Lynn and Sarah laughed. "She's got that right!"
Abby briefly faked a pout. "Hey! I'm the second-oldest, remember! I swear; I get a lot more respect when you aren't around, Ash."
I chuckled and nodded my head. I could definitely see how things could work out that way. Maybe it was simply my purpose to keep Abby in her place, though, whenever I was around to do so. In any case, I wasn't about to feel guilty about it. Our family thrived on our jibes and teasing.
The four of us reached the Citadel Tower's base, where an Avina terminal launched into its spiel about the Tower and some of its history. I didn't listen much, preferring to take in the Tower's extreme height and my sisters' reactions to it. Sarah was enraptured by every word Avina had to share. Abby was somewhat interested. Lynn was the least interested, preferring to watch the aliens as they passed us by.
When some space opened up and removed any immediate threat of being overheard, Lynn confessed privately to me, "I don't know how you seem to have become such good friends with Liara so fast. When have the aliens been anything but bad news?"
"It didn't happen all at once," I assured her. "It's been a long time since we both joined the Normandy. I distrusted Liara and the others from the start. But Liara—she pushed right through every barrier I had between us. She made me realize how much these aliens and I actually have in common. She's—special like that, I suppose. She has so much empathy it's staggering sometimes. I know that if you were to think about it, and if you were to see what I've seen on the Normandy, you'd understand where I'm coming from a whole lot better. They may look nothing like us, but deep down we all share the same motivations: love, respect, anger, even fear."
"They still don't look a thing like us," Lynn objected.
"You remember reading about discrimination between white humans and black humans? Judged by the tone of our skin, of all things. What did that have to do with who a person was?"
"Nothing," Lynn agreed readily, "but that's because we were still all human. Their brains are all different from ours in some ways."
"I know," I told her. "What I've come to realize is that a human's life experience can be similar to an alien's. Missing fathers, single mothers. Love, pride, and humility. The desire to feel safe and secure. If all these things that define a human experience are shared amongst all the other races in the galaxy, then the line between human and asari starts to break down just like the white and black line did."
Lynn nodded. "So you became best friends with an asari. Liara."
"The very best of friends," I agreed with my sister. "I know that if you got to know her, you'd love her too."
"I'll try," Lynn promised. "It's just not easy to look beyond what you see. Blue skin. Strange head. Probably more than a couple traditions I know nothing about."
"I'm not expecting you to change overnight," I told her. "I didn't. But I'm glad you're willing to try. It means a lot to me, thanks."
Lynn smiled. "Of course, Ash."
The four of us doubled back. With a start, I recognized the Consort's chambers. I moved us past the door eagerly, not wanting to get drawn into a discussion about who exactly she was and what she did. I knew I'd probably just get it all wrong trying to explain it on my own.
For our second dinner, we cooked a big meal together, each helping out. The kitchen barely fit us all behind the counter, but we managed without any serious complaint. Abby volunteered to help me clean up while Sarah disappeared into my bedroom to lay down. Lynn watched some extranet news feeds from the mattress on the floor in front of the couch.
Abby passed me a rinsed-off plate. "The Citadel is amazing. Everything I've heard about it is true. The energy and time required to build something this big must have been enormous."
"Thankfully the Protheans left it behind for us," I chuckled. "Otherwise we'd never be able to duplicate a place like this." Or, if you believe Sovereign, the Reapers left it behind... That's troubling to consider. But how could something so dedicated to destruction even care enough to create anything?
"Your letter confused me, Ash," Abby confessed. "It was strange to think of you, someone who knows better than anyone what we have to live with, would put yourself out there and connect with someone from another race. The only thing more surprising would have been to hear that person was a turian instead."
I placed the dish on a drying rack for Abby. "Yeah."
"What sparked it? What made it happen?"
"I found things in common with Liara and Wrex, a krogan. Two polar opposite races, two people whose appearance easily separates them from humans. It made me think about my preconceptions about what aliens were like. I wasn't expecting to find out that Liara wasn't a word person either. I wasn't expecting to find the honor code of a krogan Battle Master reminded me of my own loyalty oath. Those two lit the spark, and talking with Liara eventually sealed the deal."
"But what about our history, Ashley? Through the war, through grandpa's own account, we've seen only a glimpse of what they can do to us. How can there be any trust there?"
"We want to think they're all the same, but they're not. I've been working alongside a krogan on Shepard's team for a long time now, and I trust him to have my back in a firefight, even if we're fighting other krogan. I trust him, Abby. That's the whole secret to it. I had to look past their race to see for myself what kind of people I'm dealing with, and Shepard's team is made up of nothing but dependable people.
"I think Grandpa and Dad would be proud to see me today. Working together with aliens is a good thing. It proves I'm a better person now. I'm still serving the Alliance, and that service is what always mattered most to both of them. If I can do a better job protecting Alliance citizens because I get help outside of the human race, then that's what they'd want me to do. Our family is about protecting people, and I'm still doing a kick-ass job at it, if you ask me."
Abby burst out laughing before stifling the sound with a hand over her mouth. "Oh big sis, you know how much I miss talking with you? Your mission is so secretive that you can't even send us regular vidmails anymore."
"I've missed you too, Abby." We shared a moment gazing into each other's eyes. Abby only looked away in order to finish the dishes. As we worked quietly, I felt like something monumental had occurred here between us, and I was happier for it.
() () () () ()
Abby and Lynn were out shopping in the Wards today. Sarah wanted to stay in the apartment with me. She practiced some of her aikido forms and moves while I stretched and exercised myself. I could feel her watching me from the corner of her eyes. Paranoid, I wondered if she would be able to tell how serious the injuries had been that I was still recovering from.
"So this is what you do every day?" Sarah asked.
"Yeah," I answered tersely as I extended my reach down to my toes.
"Just exercise in your apartment by yourself? You could at least go to a gym."
"I prefer the solitude," I told her. "Liara is more than enough company for a work-out session."
Sarah did a headstand next to me, less of an aikido move and more of her signature move; she did it at least once every time I saw her exercise. From her upside-down posture, she remarked, "You always said gyms were a great place to look for guys that were hopefully worth the time of day since they take care of themselves."
I could see upside-down Sarah watching my reaction, so I bemoaned breathily, "Sarah," concentrating on counting numbers in my head until I could switch into another stretch.
"What? I know you like to look, even if you are a little stingy on the touching." Sarah grinned and winked at me. I thrust out one hand as quickly as I could, and before it even registered in Sarah's mind, she was already toppling over from a forceful push to her thigh. She screamed in surprise. She landed loudly on her back and gasped, "Oof!"
I laughed as I straightened up to stand over her head. "You, little girl, are far too forward for my tastes. Do you have some sort of romantic gossip quota to meet when it comes to your big sister?"
"Yes," Sarah chipped in immediately, her voice mildly strained, "and you make it very hard on me to get it." She fake-pouted.
I reached out and helped Sarah back to her feet. Once she was up, I replied, "I just haven't felt like it. I don't need anything from those nameless guys in the gyms. I'm happy with my life the way it is now."
"What, sharing hairstyles with Liara? C'mon, big sis, it's ok to admit you have needs. I do."
"My needs are being met," I blurted out before realizing how it would sound to Sarah.
Sarah gaped at me. "Your needs are what now?" she shot back, astonished.
Oh crap! "Not like that," I backpedaled quickly, panicked.
"No-no-no-no-no. You finish what you started. Spill!" Sarah's full attention bore into me like she was a powerful mining laser for gossip.
"There's nothing to start!" I insisted, finding it difficult to meet her stare. "What I meant was—that I—am happy."
Sarah nodded slowly each time I paused. When I finished, she prodded, "Am happy with..."
I shot my little sister a nasty look. "Look, if you must know, I'm already interested in someone. We're not really ready to go public or anything, but I like the place we're at. I like how we can talk and just be anchors for each other's problems. Do I want more? Sure, but I'm in no rush and neither is—this other person."
"You've been holding out on me!" Sarah concluded, acting hurt. "I should have known from the minute I saw you in the terminal. I can always tell."
"There's nothing to tell; at least not yet, I mean. It's all very new, and we're still learning about each other."
"So who is he? Please tell me you've reconsidered everything and gone with Shepard. He's so cute!"
I glared at her while answering, "No, it's not Shepard."
"So who is it then? Come on, do you really want me to get in trouble for searching through the Normandy's current personnel roster? I will, and then I will start at the A's and work my way down."
"You need to see a therapist," I retorted. "Seriously, this much interest in my life can't be healthy."
"You wound me," Sarah countered facetiously. Sobering, she continued, "I'm merely a teenage student who has 'watched' her bigger sister casually date the occasional guy before giving up entirely for months at a time. I worry about you, you know. You're always away from the rest of us while serving in the Alliance, and you don't have anyone. You can't marry the Alliance you know; not to mention that the Alliance hasn't exactly had our family's best interests at heart. I don't want you to end your career as a soldier one day with no one around to take care of you."
I smiled. "I take care of myself," I told her.
Sarah rolled her eyes. "Duh! But even a super-soldier has to take a load off now and then! It isn't healthy, and you know it! That's why I push you so hard. Somebody has to. Abby and Lynn; they just don't see what's going on here. They're too busy with their own drama sometimes."
I was speechless. I'd always seen Sarah's prodding as an annoyance to be ignored. I'd never considered why she did it so insistently. Sarah had touched my heart with her caring and love. Lowly, I whispered, "Hey," and reached out to her.
Sarah came readily into my arms, and we hugged. The room was completely silent, as if it were holding its breath along with us. My love for my sister teared up my eyes as we stood in each other's arms. When we finally broke apart, I said, "Thank you, Sarah. I love you so much."
"I love you too, Ash," Sarah answered.
"I want you to know I'll be fine, no matter what happens to me. I'll still have you, won't I?"
"Of course," Sarah agreed.
() () () () ()
Shore leave came to its inevitable conclusion only one day later. My sisters bid me farewell and made plans to return to Amaterasu. I ended the rental of my Citadel accommodations, somewhat sorry to see it go. I boarded the ship alongside Liara, each of us carrying our personal effects back aboard. The crew began to stow all their things back where they belonged, and the Normandy came back to life. Everything was checked and double-checked before Pressley gave Shepard the green light.
As soon as he had it, Commander Shepard ordered us to depart from the Citadel. We were back to navigating between mass relays, intent on reaching some destination at the best possible speed. Joker knew the location, but the Spectre had yet to share it with the rest of us who were not on the bridge when the order was given.
Shepard called a meeting of his team together in the comm room. I expected we would finally be brought up to speed. I tried to read his expression as I entered, but it was the very definition of neutral, and I had no idea if the news he was bringing us would be good or bad. I desperately hoped it was the former.
"We have a lead on Saren," Shepard answered our unspoken question very deliberately. I noticed a momentarily look of worry when he glanced at Liara, but it was quickly covered up beneath a poker face once again. Liara might not have caught it, but I did. What does that have to do with Liara? "The Council has discovered that one of the countless corporations where Saren is a stockholder was active in former rachni territory, especially around old battlefields from the war, as recently as a month ago. The corporation is headquartered on Noveria. That's where we're going. My hope is that Saren will either be there himself, or we'll find a link to him that we can exploit.
"The planet is not a part of Citadel space, and the Council has a tentative relationship with the various corporations that own and run the planet. Spectres are allowed the same authority to act that they have in Citadel space, but I'm on a tighter leash, especially on a diplomatic level. They'll be watching my every move. Their greatest loyalty is to themselves, so I have to be careful not to rock the boat to keep them on my side."
"Noveria does all the controversial stuff, don't they?" I asked, remembering things I'd heard about the planet from the extranet.
Shepard nodded. "It could be bad. The corporations that set up shop on Noveria pay big fees in order to conduct their business in seclusion, away from the public eye. Their stated project goals span everything from developing artificial intelligence to researching bioamps and implants for biotics, to developing a cure for the genophage. Before anyone asks, the project for the genophage cure isn't connected to Saren, and it failed less than a month ago. The krogan investors sued for their money back; old news."
Shepard sighed. "The truth is we have no idea what Saren wanted from his Noveria connections. We're all going to have to be extra careful over there. The last thing I need is to fight the entirety of Port Hanshan's privately hired security forces to get through to our enemy. Not to mention the stink it'll cause between Noveria and the Citadel races. Unfortunately, that means I have to take a small team into the Port. I've decided that it will be Garrus, Wrex, and myself."
I was shocked to discover that I'd be sitting the mission out. "Sir! With respect, allow me to accompany you. You can't go in there without backup," I reasoned.
"It's the way it has to be," Shepard steadfastly resolved. "I'm sorry, Chief, but this is the way the chips fall this time. I need strong biotic backup and someone with the tech and investigative skills to see evidence that even I would miss. Noveria only allows Spectres to have two armed people accompanying them, and you're no good to me without your guns."
I wasn't ready to back down yet. "With all due respect, Sir, diplomacy be damned. You're a Spectre, and this mission is a matter of galactic security. We should all be able to go."
"I've thought this through, Chief. My way is the best way of getting through the Port. The more stir I create at Port Hanshan, the more likely it is that we tip off Saren before we get to him. It's a stealth and reconnaissance mission, not an assault."
I bit down on my tongue to stop my retort from leaving my lips. You're being weak by giving into their demands. Shepard shrugged a brief apology at me before focusing on Wrex and Garrus. Well, at least he's considerate enough to give me that, I thought dryly, letting out a quiet huff in disapproval.
"Garrus, Wrex, I want both of you geared up and on the bridge when we dock at Noveria. We'll enter Port Hanshan, get security to clear us, and rent a vehicle from Hanshan for transportation on the surface."
The turian and krogan nodded their acquiescence to Shepard's command, and the meeting was adjourned. I couldn't let it go, however. I'd been a part of this mission from the start, and I'd be damned if I had to sit it out and wait for news. There had to be something I could do, even if Shepard wouldn't take me along in his team.
I headed to the bridge, glancing at Pressley. Shepard had left the CIC for the mess hall, probably to eat a high-carb meal so he'd have plenty of energy for the mission. It was what I'd do. I could talk to the XO in relative privacy right now...
I furrowed my brow in consternation. The very idea of groveling at Pressley's feet irked me, but if I wanted in on this mission, he might be my only way in. I'd have to talk to him, and be civil at the very least. I took a deep breath before approaching him and requesting a few minutes to talk. Pressley agreed, placing another officer in charge of the deck until he returned. We headed into the comm room together, but for once, it'd be for a completely different reason than before.
"Sir, I think Shepard's making a mistake on this mission to Noveria. We were almost all killed on Virmire while we were together. Now is no time to be splitting up the team in half."
Pressley shrugged. "It's his call, Gunnery Chief."
"I know, but—" I paused, sighed, and took a deep breath. "We are both loyal to the Commander, through thick and thin. I know you feel the same way I do about this mission. Things are going to go wrong without more people there to help him."
"Again, his call." Pressley seemed annoyed.
"What if we brainstormed something together. An alternate plan. We might convince him to change his mind. All I want is a chance. If he still says no, I'll let the matter drop."
Pressley went over to the holographics controls and brought up the main screen, displaying a cached view of Port Hanshan on Noveria. Vital statistics were listed to the right of the image. The Port was well armed, with both anti-ship batteries and lots of security personnel to stop people on the ground. I could see why the Commander had been so worried about pissing them off. These people collected more weapons than Saren did at Virmire.
"Wow," I interjected.
Pressley harrumphed. "You said it, Chief. This place is better armed than some of our bigger colonies. There's no way we can take them on in a fight. They'll rip the ship to shreds."
"What about the topography outside of the port?" I asked. "Could you circumvent Hanshan and drop me off somewhere where I can link up with Shepard later?"
The view zoomed out to a computerized simulation of a mountain range. Port Hanshan sat right in the middle of the mountains at the only significantly sized area that was level. "There's no room to drop the mako, and if we don't go directly to Hanshan, they'll ask questions. Chances of finding an LZ are low."
I stared at the simulated world, trying to see a solution where there seemed to be nothing. "What about Hanshan? Can I leave the ship after we dock at the Port?"
Pressley shook his head. "This Port was built with that kind of thing in mind. There's sensor drones at every berth watching all the angles. They'll know the moment you step one foot outside of this ship."
"There must be something," I growled, not at Pressley, but more in response to my growing frustration with the problem.
Pressley paged through some more data about Noveria. "Their radar net has a lot of holes thanks to the uneven surface of the mountains. I suggested to the Commander that the reinforcements get dropped off somewhere in one of these blind spots before the Normandy reaches a berth. He pointed out that Noveria traffic control would pick up our extra delay while deploying soldiers and send some drones to check it out. Then there'd be hell to pay. Noveria won't hesitate to call our reinforcements an invasion force, and after that they can do some very nasty things to you and to the ship."
"So you're saying we can't drop with the mako, and rappelling is out because of the time needed to stop and hover above a potentially workable LZ."
"That's what I'm saying, yes," Pressley replied. "Unless you sprout wings and fly yourself down, I don't see a way to do this. Shepard's right; he usually is."
I sighed, rubbing my temples to alleviate the mounting tension there. "All right, Commander. Thanks for your time."
"You come up with another solution, let me know," Pressley concluded, shutting down the holographics. We both knew it was a hollow order because neither of us expected to find a solution.
Dejected, I left the bridge and found Liara in her lab. She was tinkering with her Prothean data card reader. I could see one of the data cards sitting near it. I opened with, "I don't know how you did it."
Liara looked up, shooting me a raised eyebrow. "Did what?"
"Sat around while I got to gallivant around, messing up bad guys with my boomstick."
She smiled and turned back around to continue her work. I had a very nice view of her slim behind while she was bent over her work, and I shamelessly took the opportunity to drink it in. Liara truly had it all when it came to a sexy body. I was intimidated, perhaps more than a little jealous, too.
"—counting medical supplies with Doctor Chakwas."
At the mention of my doctor, I shook my head to clear it and focus on what she was saying. "What?" I asked incredulously.
"I know it sounds rather inane, but it did help me keep my mind occupied for a few hours. We even found a couple of miscounted items and fixed her inventory."
"Yeah, that's not going to work for me. I need action. I need a rifle in my hands, an an enemy on the other side of my barrel. I talked with Pressley; I tried to find a way to deploy without anyone on Noveria finding out about it. Easier said than done. They've buttoned up the planet pretty well considering the topography of the Port's mountain range."
"You may have to resign yourself to the inevitable," Liara informed me. "I haven't seen the information on Noveria myself, but it sounds like security is a major concern for the world considering the size of corporations that can afford their rates. The threat of industrial espionage probably drove them to police-state levels of security and surveillance."
I said nothing, but moved over to my favorite crate and half-sat on it again. I sighed as I relaxed against it. Liara finished her work placing her tools down. She smiled and walked over to join me. She half-sat too, but unlike last time, this time she was close enough to touch her hip with mine.
"I'm sorry, Ash. I know you want to be there for the Commander, but that is not always feasible. Perhaps next time. If there is a next time..." Liara paused, falling deep into thought. "Isn't it odd how the Commander kept the briefing so general? At one time I thought he had a lead on one of Saren's agents, but at another time he quite clearly said the lead was on Saren himself. Usually we know exactly what he does; he's always been very transparent with us. This time he was avoiding telling us anything. I wonder why. Did something change while we were on the Citadel?"
I shrugged, remembering Shepard's strange glance at Liara during the briefing. "Something's off. All the more reason for us to be going on this mission. It makes me nervous."
Liara tilted her head so it could rest against my left shoulder. She leaned against me like that for a minute before speaking. "And you're certain there's no way to get down there without being discovered?"
I rested my head against hers as if that were an answer. She seemed to get the message. She coiled our hands that were nearest each other together in a tight hold. "So you're just giving up?"
"I think you know me better than that," I replied dryly.
"Of course," she answered, smiling. "I was hoping it would challenge you to try harder."
"I may have to start calling you my drill instructor, Liara, if you keep this up."
She laughed. "I would be a horrible instructor for anything. I belong in the field, studying things, not trying to explain them to a room full of students."
I smirked, imaging her heroic, but doomed attempts to teach and interact with teens and twenty-something's at some university. "How's the reader?" I asked, diverting.
"It's ready," she stated. "I've made all the fixes I can make based on the information I gained from the failed attempt to access one of the cards we have. I just have to muster enough courage to actually try it on a second card. It was very hard, destroying the first card. I can't imagine what information it held that was wasted by my failure. I don't want that to happen again."
I nodded, and since our heads still rested together, Liara felt it move. She sighed, adding, "I guess, sometimes it takes a leap of faith."
I imagined taking a death-defying jump at a high altitude based on faith. It reminded me of the jumps I'd taken off the Normandy's deck, having faith in my rappelling equipment. I imagined trying to do that without the rappelling gear there, perhaps as the ship was higher in the air and moving. It was utterly ridiculous to think that someone could survive a fall like that.
Not unless you can fly.
Flying would be pretty helpful on missions. Hanar can fly. Well, they float anyway. Like pink balloons.
But we're not hanar. If only jet packs were practical—
Wait a minute. What if I could fly? Or at the very least, control my fall, since that's what flying really is...
I straightened immediately as my mind whirled. Liara lifted her head and turned to look at me. As realization dawned in my eyes, I shut them tight, guffawed, and smacked the palm of my hand into my forehead. "Of course! That's it, Liara! Flying's the key! Thank you!" I turned towards her, smiling big, and gave her a big noisy kiss on her forehead, one hand cupping each cheek. I pulled away quickly. "I—uh—I gotta go, sorry. I have to talk to the Commander!" I jumped off the crate and quickly headed to the door.
I turned back to her as the door opened. "I'm sorry, I know you wanted to talk about your work some more, but—well, we don't have a lot of time before Noveria, and I'll try to make it up to you later..."
She laughed, motioning for me to go. "It's all right, Ash. It'll keep. Go!"
I smiled as wide as I could. "You're the best," I told her before spinning around to leave.
I quickly headed up to the bridge and pulled Pressley aside. Commander Shepard had the deck, and the navigator-slash-executive-officer was looking rather bored without anything to do. "Commander, I have an idea. You said there's nothing we can do unless I can fly."
Pressley looked at me quizzically. "Yes, I think I said something like that. There something in your genetic package not listed in your file?"
I shook my head. "I'm sure it's complete, Commander. No wings. But—maybe a battlefield equipment pod."
"A battlefield pod?" Pressley asked with surprise. Then, he seemed to catch on. "You mean the equipment drop pods that deliver weapons to the field? How'll that work? The hit to the ground is ok for most weapons and such stored in our pods, but it might break quite a few bones in a person, if not kill them."
I smirked. "Well, how do you deliver sensitive electronics equipment when it's necessary to drop them with an equipment pod?"
Pressley thought about it for a moment before answering. "We replace the air in the pod with gel to distribute the shock throughout the pod and keep the equipment from absorbing the worst of it. More energy is absorbed by the pod's shell instead."
I nodded. "That's what I'm going to do with the drop pods. Climb in, strap in, and use my suit's oxygen reserves in full-seal helmet mode. Then somebody closes them up and fills the pods with gel. You fire them at the surface near Hanshan, and we disembark from there."
Pressley began dissecting the idea aloud. "The pods should be able to escape detection thanks to them being small as well as designed for that exact purpose, but it'll still be a tight squeeze for a whole person even after we pull out the weapon racks and other innards of the pod."
"Thankfully, the only ones of us left to deploy are all girls of lesser stature and not six-foot-six men." I smirked.
Pressley considered this, and then looked to Shepard, wetting his lips before speaking. "Sir, could you come here a moment?"
Shepard looked at us, and his focus seemed to center on my grin. He narrowed his eyes, knowing I was up to something, but unsure what to expect. He strode down the ramp and over to our corner of the CIC where we stood. "What is it, Commander?"
Pressley looked to me. "I think our Gunnery Chief has been hiding her ingenuity from us for a while now. You might like this one. It's—gutsy."
I smiled, remembering my commendation for "gutsy" maneuvering on Titan back in the Sol system. Even when I was in training, gutsy was exactly what I was good at doing, I reminded myself. That's why I know we're going to do it.
I know at least one of my reviewers mentioned wanting to see Ashley's sisters, and low and behold, here they are! Of all the directions fourteen went in development, this is by far the best one I could have decided to go with. Of course, strictly speaking, Ashley isn't "out" about Liara... But hey, you gotta lay the groundwork first or the loved ones are going to feel like the carpet got pulled out from under them.
All good furloughs must come to an end, and with most of the obligatory healing out of the way, Ashley is ready to take on Saren with Shepard and his team. Unfortunately, Noveria will not give anyone on the Normandy a reprieve just because of their horrible experiences on Virmire.
Now, we all know my Ashley is completely non-canonical in reference to her sexual orientation. I knew I'd have no backing whatsoever for this part of my AU. The question becomes, though, is how true am I to her character overall? I felt that giving her an attraction to women but making it her personal secret made the most sense; in my rose-colored glasses, I can see how this wouldn't change her outward interactions in the game very much, and yet it would allow me to show why her attraction to Liara is not completely out of left field. I felt it was being true to her character in the game—at least, mostly.
Of course, your mileage may vary, and I suppose that's the most intriguing question I have to posit about your reaction to this chapter. If that doesn't go anywhere for you, how about this: how did you react to my imagining of Ashley's sisters? They were mostly blank canvases when I started this chapter, but by its conclusion I've given them each a fairly firm image.
Over a hundred fifty reviews; I couldn't have asked for a better response from my readers. Thank you so much for participating in this story! The sense of community I get from each of you is encouraging and makes putting my work out here on the internet worth it.
I just realized I've talked far too long at this point, sorry! I'm off to work on the next chapters and maybe even sleep like a normal human being. Until next time!