A/N: Another time skip of one year, barely noticeable. In other news, fortunately this chapter was prepared some time ago, because I certainly would not have had time and opportunity to proofread it, since I have spent last four days dealing with a medical emergency. Hopefully the situation improves, because without going into details, it has been pretty annoying to deal with.
Chapter 21 – The Great Parnack Expedition
Year 2195 CE
Parnack, the yahg homeworld
"So... Tevos didn't raise a storm about you going on this hunting trip?" Morgan asked, turning to Aria T'Loak, the Pirate Queen sitting next to Shepard in a seat at the back of the large transport shuttle.
"This is far more safe than what I do for living daily, Shepard," Aria chuckled at her. "She was not worried at all. In fact, she was relieved that I am coming to keep an eye on you, considering your propensity for getting into trouble."
"Are you sure it wasn't the other way around and I was supposed to keep an eye on you?" Morgan grinned.
"But I already know you can't keep your eyes off me, sweet thing," Aria drawled predictably, making Morgan sigh inwardly. "Anyway, I told Tevos to take a small vacation to Thessia, spend some time with the girls. Liara would appreciate the company as well, I'm sure."
"Yes, for some reason she was slightly agitated when I left, I should have been more insulted about her lack of faith in me," Shepard grumbled, keeping her voice down, since Garrus was still busy addressing the other members of the hunting expedition, speaking as he stood fully armed at the front of the shuttle.
Morgan and Aria had gone over the intel several times before joining up with the others, Garrus giving them a little head start. While little was catalogued of the faunae of Parnack, the slaughtered Council delegation and subsequent unsanctioned private forays had provided some information about the inhabitants of the planet and the conditions on the surface. Today, their prey was something called a wugu-beast, a massive six-legged creature that largely reminded Shepard of a giant scorpion. Size of a very large mammoth, spiky tail with a humongous and likely deadly poisonous stinger, a pair of massive pincers, this creature was not to be trifled with, having wiped out one of the private merc expeditions to Parnack. The footage left behind by one of the victims showed the creature taking them all by surprise, having burrowed under a dune of sand and suddenly emerging to quickly slay all the explorers.
Garrus had sent several squads of his own to make quick forays to the planet, simply flying in low orbit and gathering as much data as they could, trying to record places of yahg settlements to avoid, as well as the more likely places where the wugu-beasts might be found. All of Garrus' teams had returned safely, even if one had managed to fly too close to what looked like a yahg capital of sorts, learning that they had managed to develop fairly efficient GTAM systems.
The structure of the yahg society was still not very well researched, but they appeared to be following a strict clan structure, similar to the krogan, many settlements scattered throughout the surface of the vast planet and hidden well by the thick jungles that seemed to cover the entire world of Parnack. Garrus had chosen a location which did not have any yahg strongholds nearby, however, as he was currently explaining to the group of business-tycoons-turned-exotic-hunters, this did not mean that they could be certain of not encountering any member of the savage species, able to easily rip them all apart with bare arms.
Even though Garrus received a lot of tempting offers from willing participants, he never broke his rule about expanding the group to more than ten people. With Morgan and Aria taking two spots, the rest of the places were seized by four human businessman from Earth, the leader of some turian mercenary gang and his badass looking girlfriend, a wiry salarian intel broker who kept shooting worried glances at Aria, and a young asari maiden, her participation sponsored by her mother, a prominent matriarch back on Thessia. Curiously, for three of the humans, their entries had been purchased as birthday presents by their spouses, making Morgan suspect that the wives were seeking a convenient way to early inheritance. As for Shepard herself, Garrus had kindly agreed to keep her identity as secret, and so far nobody had recognized her, buying the explanation that she was simply Aria's henchwoman and latest paramour.
Well, the salarian intel broker probably knows who I am, but it's not something he's going to share with the others, Morgan thought, listening to the last safety instructions that Garrus doled out for the others. Everyone present knew how to carry a gun, the two turians and the young asari looked fairly competent, and the humans were all hunting enthusiasts, taking great pleasure in slaughtering small birds and helpless animals back on Earth, in dreams of one day returning home with glorious trophies to boost about to their business partners. To say that hunting wugu-beasts on Parnack was a little out of their league was certainly not an understatement. Garrus clearly felt the same, having asked for credits in advance.
"This seems... like the tropical rainforests near Rio, where I did my N7 training," Morgan said, looking outside the shuttle window, trying to ignore the smooth curves of Aria's body pressing lightly against her as the asari leaned over her to stare outside.
"Hmm... this is going to be interesting," the Pirate Queen mused, having pulled back. "Won't be able to see anything in that thicket until they are right on top of us. You may as well leave that sniper rifle behind and pick something else. I'm going to pack my shotgun," she patted the heavily modded latest edition of Claymore on the seat next to her.
"I'm not really a shotgun girl, Aria," Morgan replied. "Though you do bring up a good point, Garrus also mentioned going with his assault rifle. He told me has modded one of his Phaeston's just the way I like it."
"That toy? Well... those better be some damn good mods, because that rifle is for the weaklings," Aria scowled, then getting interrupted by Garrus, speaking loud enough for his voice to reach them at the back of the shuttle.
"Attention everyone, we're coming in for the landing!" he shouted. "Remember what I told you about safety procedures, no wondering about on your own in the jungle, is that clear? I'm not going to go searching for your remains for the funeral, and I have your signed agreements to that effect."
"He's really trying to be dramatic and frighten them," Aria said with an exasperated eye roll.
"And doing a damn good job at it," Morgan nodded, watching the humans in particular being very tentative about getting out from the shuttle.
"We're going to set up our base camp here," Garrus waved around the slightly elevated clearing. With the thick jungle around them, it did not offer them any tactical advantage, but simply being clear of vegetation it meant that they didn't have to spend hours cutting down the gigantic fern like plants. Two turian shuttle pilots, also Garrus' henchmen, were busy carrying supplies out of the transport, and Garrus grabbed a crate of drones and waved for Aria and Shepard to approach him. "Aria, can I trust you and your girlfriend," he couldn't help looking extremely smug saying these words, "to set up these security drones around the perimeter? I don't want anything sneaking up on us."
"Aye, aye, Grand Huntsman Vakarian," Aria mock-saluted with another roll of her eyes, poking Shepard to grab the crate of drones and follow her into the jungle, Garrus uploading data to the asari's omni-tool to show where exactly on the grid he wanted the drones to be placed.
"You're really abusing this position of power, aren't you, Aria?" Morgan grumbled as they left the camp, Shepard following the asari into the thick jungle.
"I certainly am, that's the whole point of wielding power," Aria chuckled, using her omni-blade to slash the thick vines and ferns blocking their passage. "See, I'm being helpful here. So you better be thankful that I don't make you do all the work."
"Thanks a lot," Morgan sighed. "So... judging by how you're embracing this position... I'm guessing you're heavily into role-play?"
"Maybe... why, you have something in mind, Shepard? You also seem to be enjoying the role of being subservient to me..." Aria spoke huskily, pulling aside a thick branch and waiting until Morgan had passed through. "You know, with both of your hands tied up with that crate, nothing stops me from doing this..." the Pirate Queen said, retracting her omni-blade and moments later Morgan found her backside being roughly grabbed by the asari's wandering hands.
"You know, I can always drop this crate and beat you over the head with one of these drones," Morgan suggested, Aria laughing and letting go, moving ahead again to clear the path.
"I think this is the place where our dear Archangel wanted one of the drones," Aria said eventually, stopping and helping Shepard carefully lower the heavy crate. Morgan took a drone out of the storage box and activated it, syncing its software with her omni-tool and then manipulating the drone into floating three yards up in the air before making it attach itself to the thick trunk of the fern-tree.
"There, that's done with," Morgan said, having activated the security protocol of the drone. "We can move on to the next spot," she picked up the heavy crate again, Aria leading the way onwards.
"You know, Shepard... I'm thinking that if our paths had crossed twenty years earlier..." Aria began to speak again, vigorously slashing the canopy with her omni-blade and appearing to take great enjoyment from it. "I think I would have claimed you as mine. We'd have had so much fun on Omega. That couch would have seen plenty of action, let me tell you."
"Would I have had any choice not to go along with that?" Morgan asked, a little exasperated at Aria's confidence and smug certainty.
"Oh, please, you wouldn't let me treat you like you do, if you were completely indifferent to me," Aria clicked her tongue knowingly. "Just tell me I'm wrong."
"You're wrong," Morgan said quickly. Okay, so maybe she isn't wrong, but she sure as hell doesn't need to know that.
"And you're a terrible liar, Shepard," Aria laughed. "Anyway, put the next drone down here," she said once they had reached the next spot, then repeating the same process until all eight drones had been placed along the grid to cover all possible approaches to the camp.
"Say, Aria... does this look to you like the habitat of something like that wugu-beast?" Morgan asked as they were on their way back to the camp.
"No, but I think the security drones are meant more for possible yahg attacks," Aria replied. "And you are correct, there is no way a wugu could live in this jungle. If it tried to sneak on us here, we would hear it coming a mile away. I think that Vakarian simply did not want to set a camp in completely plain sight."
"Probably not," Morgan nodded as they arrived back in the small clearing, Garrus having set up a small command center with a holo screen that currently displayed their location on the grid, explaining something to the rest of the expedition while waiting for their return.
"Alright, now that we are all here," Garrus began, rubbing his hands impatiently. "As you can see, this is our position," he pointed at the small dot representing their camp. "We are roughly four miles from the edge of the jungle, leading to a large plateau with more sparse vegetation and rockier ground. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the hunting ground of the wugu-beast. The last scouting trip that my assistants took four days ago, revealed the presence of our prey in this region. Now we just need to get there, track it and kill it."
"How do we actually kill it?" one of the humans asked.
"That's the beauty of hunts like these, my friends," Garrus replied cheerfully. "We don't really know, and it's up for us to discover just how to kill this beast! The thrill to be the first in the galaxy to kill a monster such as this... just think of the prestige you will gain by claiming a piece of a giant wugu-claw as a trophy!"
That got the humans really excited again, while Morgan sighed, leaning closer to Aria. "Is he shitting them, or he really doesn't have a clue?" she asked quietly.
"Oh, he doesn't have a clue," Aria grinned back. "This sort of crazy shit gets him going, I can tell. It's almost endearing... if not for the massive pole up his ass..."
"So... theoretically, that wugu could be impervious to all those weapons we have brought with us," Morgan said, starting to have some belated second thoughts.
"Well, yes... but you'll always have the help of biotics, Shepard," Aria replied, a brief blue glow surrounding her hands. "If weapons can't make a dent into the bastard, my biotics will."
"Let's hope so," Morgan nodded, as Garrus was still answering questions from the other hunters, such as what equipment was considered legal, why did they have to split up on their approach to the plateau and several other inconsequential queries.
Shortly after the little Q&A session they were all set to go, even if Garrus still hadn't come up with a particularly satisfying reason for splitting them into three smaller groups. The official answer stated that it was done to make sure that they covered more ground and stood better chance at tracking the elusive wugu. Morgan's own theory was that it was done to needlessly endanger them all, but of course she did not dare to voice it and earn the enmity of their glorious leader and her peers. In the end, Garrus took the young asari and the salarian with him, the other groups made out of the two turian mercs and a pair of humans, leaving the two other excited businessmen to trail Aria and Morgan through the thick jungles on their way towards the plateau.
The humans they were stuck with, eventually tried to strike up a conversation with Morgan, all the while trying to keep away from Aria as far as possible. They were only too happy to let Morgan know more about themselves than she actually cared to know, learning that one of the middle-aged men was the CEO of a leading pharmacy company in Australia, while the Japanese looking fellow apparently owned large stakes in various segments of the adult industry. This made his question of what a sweet, young girl like her was doing in Aria's service sound particularly disturbing to Morgan, and Aria certainly did not appreciate the way the man's eyes constantly seemed to follow Shepard.
When the wily little man had for the third time whispered to Morgan that he would pay her double than what Aria was currently paying her, if only she came to work for him, Aria finally lost her patience. "Listen, you little piece of shit," the asari said, brandishing her shotgun at the frightened porn emperor. "My employees know better than to betray me, since they know that they would find themselves lying dead in the gutter as soon as they do so." She snaked her hand around Morgan's midriff. "Besides, this one has earned certain perks of the job... your unsuccessful attempt to lure her away is the greatest insult you could inflict upon me."
"I... uh, forgive me, Ms. T'Loak... I meant no disrespect," the frightened porn emperor muttered apologetically. "It will not happen again."
"See that it doesn't," Aria glared before turning to Morgan, grinning salaciously. "Tell them that working for me is the best thing that has happened to you, my pet."
"Of course, Aria, the perks alone make it so," Morgan grinned back, getting into the role as well, happy to fool around with the two pigeons following them around. "Of course, if this guy offered me the same perks as you bestow on me, Mistress, I would have thrown up on his boots."
"Well, I believe that settles the dispute," Aria nodded, then releasing Morgan and activating her omni-tool, alerted by a soft beep of incoming message. "Garrus and his team have reached the edge of the plateau," she said, having read the notification. "Let's get moving unless we want to see them grabbing all the spoils."
The two humans immediately appeared motivated by Aria's words, surging ahead and vigorously if inefficiently slashing at the thick vines, but soon enough their efforts slowed from exhaustion, Aria and Morgan exchanging amused smirks and moving ahead again to pick up the slack. After ten more minutes of slow crawling through the thicket, the forest seemed to gradually become more sparse, large boulders starting to appear in their path as the fern-trees finally gave way, letting them stumble out onto the rocky plateau.
"You'd think that something like this wugu-beast would be easy to spot out here in the open," Aria cursed after they had spent twenty more minutes circling around the perimeter that Garrus had assigned to them. The other teams hadn't yet had any luck in scouring the plateau either, not finding even a trace of their gigantic and elusive prey.
Morgan nodded, silently agreeing that it was a little odd, considering that the recon had seen signs of the beast nearby. Still, the plateau was not completely barren, there were small copses of trees and scattered large rocks everywhere, obscuring their view and also creating perfect ambush opportunities, something that worried her greatly. "We should try to find a strategic vantage point from which to obtain a good view," she mused thoughtfully, then patting the trusty Widow on her back. "You know, now I'm glad I didn't listen to you and Garrus and brought it along, the scope will come in handy after all."
"If only we could spot that wugu-beast by tracking heat signatures," the Australian drug lord whined.
"Hey, it's Vakarian and his bloody rules here, and we all agreed to them," Aria shrugged, not wanting to even consider giving up or cheating. "What about that hill?" the asari suggested, pointing to a large grey rock atop an elevated hillock ahead of them. "That should offer an excellent view with your sniper scope."
"Yeah, that'll work," Morgan agreed, the two of them proceeding to climb up the rather steep hill, the two humans deciding to remain at the base, which was probably wise of them. After a little bit of struggle, Aria reached the top of the hill first, reaching out and helping Shepard climb the last few steps.
"Ah, this is perfect," Aria exclaimed, looking around from the hilltop in every direction, suddenly freezing when she was facing west, then pulling Morgan around to take a look as well. "Damn it, Shep, are my eyes fooling me or is that smoke?" she asked, pointing at a wispy trail stretching skywards, maybe three to four miles away from them.
"That's definitely smoke," Morgan replied worriedly, not liking the sign. She unstrapped the Widow and peered into the scope. "Shit, it's an abandoned camp, and definitely not ours."
"Well, I don't think the wugu makes a nice pretty campsite for itself, friends and the family," Aria muttered.
"No, has to be a yahg party," Morgan nodded. "Damn it, that's not good. Maybe they're out here hunting too? Anyway, we should let Garrus and the other teams know."
"In a moment... can you see any signs of our prey first, though?" Aria asked impatiently.
"Hmm... no, nothing yet," Morgan replied, carefully scanning the area through the scope. "You know, I've been thinking... the way this wugu was able to ambush that first group that encountered it... it's probably quite skilled at camouflage."
"Come on, Shepard, it's a thirty yard long giant scorpion, where is it going to hide?" Aria laughed.
"I don't know, but-... damn it, Aria, stop that," Morgan said, finding herself suddenly rocked back and forth, likely because of an ill-timed practical joke by Aria.
"Uh, that wasn't me, Shepard," Aria replied.
"What the-" Morgan started to speak again, but the next violent shake threw them both off their feet.
"Shepard... I have a bad feeling about this," Aria groaned, as the 'rock' moved again, shifting and suddenly changing shape.
"Yeah... because this is no rock!" Morgan shouted, spotting a massive claw appearing above them, about to come down and smash them flat against the massive beast's hardened carapace. "Jump!" she yelled, pulling Aria with her, as the claw descended in a swift stroke...
Armali, Thessia
With a serene smile on her lips, Liara stared out from the windows of Aria's estate on Thessia. Before her spread the lush and well-maintained garden, the koi'lo bushes in full bloom now, covered with tiny white blossoms, looking as if they were covered by soft, fluffy layer of snow. Her smile broadened as she watched her daughter Lita emerging from underneath one of the bushes with a determined look on her face. Having noticed her mother watching her, the little asari beamed at Liara, making some kind of complicated gesture with her hand.
It did not take long for Liara to understand what her daughter had meant, noticing Rila approaching with soft steps, looking around and trying to spot either Lita or her sister Falere, currently having their turn hiding in this game of hide-and-seek, something universally played by children of all species in the galaxy as far as Liara's research had shown. Smiling, she made a barely perceptible nod in Rila's direction to warn Lita, her daughter winking at her and then disappearing back under the bush to dodge her dogged pursuer.
"Rila and Falere have truly taken to Lita," she was slightly startled as Tevos came to stand by her side at the window. "And it is no wonder, she is a lovely child. It warms my heart watching them play like this, free from all cares and concerns."
Liara nodded with a happy smile. "Yes, they seem to be bonding very well," she agreed. "They both have at least two if not three centuries on Lita, so it amazes me how well they are getting along."
"It does not surprise me at all, Liara. They both have led such sheltered lives, remaining naive and innocent, almost childlike on many levels. It is no wonder that they are getting along so well," Tevos smiled, her expression turning a little somber as she regarded Liara. "And yet... they have almost two centuries on you. In a perfect galaxy... you should be out there, with them, just as joyful and carefree... yet, with what you have gone through, Liara," the councilor sighed deeply before continuing. "You should have been like one of them. So much has been taken from you... so many things that never should have been stolen, not so early..."
"Yes... but it was not stolen without a good reason. So much has been gained in return," Liara replied quietly. "If not for the Reapers... I would have never met Shepard. Lita would not have been born. I would have not lost my mother, but at least I regained my father..."
"If not for the Reapers, I would have never become culpable for the loss of billions..." Tevos said, her voice dripping thick with suppressed guilt. "But I would have never become reunited with Aria. You and Shepard would have never rescued the girls from the Lesuss monastery. And my life would have remained ever cold and lonely."
"To say that the good outweighs the bad in all of this feels so very inconsiderate towards all those who lost their lives in the war... but sometimes I cannot help but to think these thoughts. Morgan and Lita... they make me feel that way," Liara sniffled.
"I know exactly what you mean," Tevos wrapped a comforting arm around Liara's shoulder, the maiden leaning into the matron's supportive embrace. "I often feel undeserving to be blessed with once again having family and friends like you... I would be lost without Aria and all of you..."
"Will the hurt and the pain ever go away completely?" Liara wondered quietly. "I would like to offer some platitudes that you should not blame yourself for what happened, but... I think we both know it is not as easy."
"Perhaps not, but our circumstances are different. While I deserve to carry the weight of my decisions until it is my time to become one with the oceans, I do feel that you are tormenting yourself needlessly, Liara," Tevos said softly. "Your daughter will find her own way in life, you need to believe that. She carries the best of you and Shepard... she could never become lost. You need to start believing that. You need to start believing in her."
"I... I do... it's just... so difficult to let go..." Liara managed. "Please... I will think on your words, Tevos, but let us speak of it no more... my heart wishes to be sad no more when graced with your presence. Let us seek distraction and merriment, and try to rid ourselves of these gloomy thoughts," she said, pressing her cheek against the councilor's shoulder, feeling the older asari responding by lowering her head and brushing lightly against the tops of Liara's crests.
"Yes, that would be most wise," Tevos agreed readily. "Aria and Shepard have landed on Parnack by now. I do hope that Aria sends me a message soon, even if I have full confidence that she knows what she is doing. And Shepard's presence there does reassure me."
"And even if they both get into trouble, Garrus will be there to bail them out, yes," Liara nodded, looking more at ease. "But I still think I require more than simple conversation to provide me with adequate distraction. Would you honor me with a game of kamisi?"
A confident smile spread on Tevos' lips as she turned to reply. "That is a bold invitation, Liara. You know that my father was a volus, and we played that game every week."
"Oh, I am sure that you will find me an adequate opponent," Liara said, never one to back down from a challenge. "Besides, I am sure that you played the original version as it was invented on Irune. I learned the asari variant when I was mere twenty, we spent many evenings playing it with Shiala and the other commandos in Benezia's service."
"Then perhaps you are capable of providing me with worthy opposition," Tevos eventually acceded. "I accept your proposal, with the condition that we will play out in the garden. The weather is too lovely for us to spend time cooped up inside."
Smiling and idly chatting, the pair left the estate through the back entrance, barefoot as they walked down a meandering path of colorful pebbles, surrounded by flowerbeds, until finding a comfortable place to sit, a small patch of short trimmed grass, in the shade provided by the large leathery leaves of a vayran tree. Together, they slowly began to lay out the table and all the complementary pieces, taking up two rather large boxes.
"I understand that humans have something similar to this game as well," Tevos spoke as they both worked. "Have you had the opportunity to experiment with it?"
"Oh... I'm afraid that it... was not quite as intellectually stimulating as Morgan made it sound," Liara looked up at Tevos, blushing lightly. "I... did not have the heart to tell her that this 'Monopoly' of hers is twenty times more simplistic than kamisi, which in turn is an extremely simplified version of the volus original."
"It is true, sometimes a single game I played with my father could last up to three months. Though, this could also be because he was always so very busy managing his real financial investments and hardly ever could find the time," Tevos smiled softly at the memory. "But even kamisi can take up to eight hours if the two opponents are evenly matched... are you prepared for that, Liara?"
"Bring it on, my friend," Liara spoke challengingly, watching carefully as Tevos dealt them both their starting resources, investments and various other tools with which to craft their respective financial empires. Having come to know Tevos very well over the past ten years, Liara knew that her character would reflect in the way she played the game, conservatively trying to develop her own positions at first and only providing small, token interruptions to Liara's plans. Liara, on the other hand, while not being overly aggressive, tried to throw a wrench in Tevos' expansion plans, but while the councilor's style of play was largely predictable, she had so many contingencies in place that after two hours of play Liara was starting to felt a little frustrated and out of ideas on how to break Tevos' defenses down. The councilor's plan was quite clear, she was more than content to engage in a tiring battle of attrition, wearing Liara's patience down slowly but surely.
Another hour passed, and having noticed a small yawn escaping Liara's lips, Tevos called for a pause in the play, asking one of the estate servants to bring them some refreshments, as they both were more than content to take a small break and relax their minds from the draining intellectual exercise.
"Can I ask you-" Liara suddenly began to speak, but then stopped, blushing and averting her eyes as Tevos regarded her curiously.
"Please, Liara, I do not want to lose any sleep wondering what was on your mind," the matron looked at the younger asari encouragingly.
"I... no, I can't, I realized too late that it was something too private," Liara muttered, her blush deepening.
"Liara, you can't tell me something like that and then refuse to elaborate," Tevos chided her gently. "That would be considered most rude."
"It was foolish of me to even think of it. I know the strength of Morgan's love and devotion towards me," Liara spoke, her eyes lowered as if she were ashamed. "I know that I do not have any reason to doubt her commitment to me."
"Is this about Aria?" Tevos asked softly.
"Yes, I... I realized that I had no idea what she truly feels towards Shepard, but it was stupid... after all, you do know Aria's feelings, and if there was something that you were not comfortable with..."
"There, you answered your own question, Liara," the councilor chuckled, a little amused at the maiden's endearing concern. "Like you have no reason to doubt Shepard, I have no reason to doubt Aria. I feel the strength of her devotion to me, and I also know the nature of her feelings towards you, and towards Shepard. And there is nothing about it that makes me uncomfortable."
Liara looked up at Tevos, very curious now, almost as if begging her to elaborate further, but the councilor merely shook her head. "But I am afraid that I cannot share this with you, Liara. To do so would break the sacred trust of the bond that I share with Aria. You must understand this."
"I do, of course," Liara quickly nodded. "I did not mean to be so untoward, I apologize most profusely."
"Do not apologize," Tevos smiled. "But if you ever want to know the truth, you know what to do. You simply need to ask Aria."
"Oh, no... no, I could not do that!" Liara blinked, once again being made to blush deep purple. "She would tease me mercilessly about it, and probably would not even give me a straight answer. Or... or she would insist that she could only share it with me in a meld..."
"But you have melded with her before," Tevos pointed out.
"Yes, but necessity to save my child's life is an acceptable reason," Liara said. "Simple and foolish curiosity... is not."
"Does Aria still make you nervous?"
"No... not as much as she used to, at least," Liara managed. "But... I am still considerable way from sharing something personal and intimate with her. And I'm not sure that she would even agree to indulge my curiosity in this!"
There was a strange, slightly amused flicker in Tevos' eyes, but before Liara could ask anything else, the councilor turned her attention back to the game board. "Well... I feel rested enough to continue," she said, stretching her back a little before settling into a comfortable position on the grass. "I believe it is your move, Liara... unless you decide to forfeit?"
"Not on your life, Tevos," Liara shook her head, clearing it from any other distracting thoughts and plopped down on the soft patch of grass, as the twin financial empires resumed their deadly struggle.