Liara is lying fast asleep in her cot bed in the back room of the med bay. She is awoken by the bright main light being switched on.
"Mmmmmm... wuuuuu...wu?" she mumbles.
"Come on T'Soni, rise and shine."
Liara lifts her head to look at her clock, opening only one eye.
"Mmm! Five thirty? I don't think so." then puts her head back down on the pillow.
"But you said you'd come for a run with us, and gods knows you probably need it."
"But I'm sleepy." she says, snuggling her head deeper into the pillow
"Ash and Kaidan are waiting, come on!"
Liara leans on one arm, allowing her legs to fall into a position to accentuate her hips and pulls the covers back just enough to display this, wearing only her knickers and vest.
"Or you could get in here with me and snuggle instead?"
Verity has to really resist the temptation and she adores Liara's sleepy face in the morning.
"Ah no, T'Soni, you're not getting out of it like that."
Liara humphs, pulls the covers back over herself and hugs her pillow.
"It's too early for exercise. I'm too sleepy."
"You need help, Commander?" Ashley calls through. "I can get a bucket of ice water if you like?"
"Ashley Williams! You would not dare!" Liara shouts back.
"Come on, you're awake now, we've found a great planet with a lake to swim in too."
"No! I will not." Liara smiles a little and looks Verity up and down. "But I like your running gear."
Verity wears tight white thigh length running shorts with blue trim and a matching cropped vest top, showing off her toned body. She's even slapped one of her N7 patches onto the vest to make it look smart, ever proud of the achievement. It's the responsibility of everyone in the fleet to look after their own bodies. The penalties can be quite harsh if an officer lets them self go, everyone should be ready for action at all times. Shepard has always looked after herself well, and it shows.
Verity turns around and slaps one of her firm buttocks.
"You don't want to see this in action?"
"It looks nice at it is from here." Liara says with a cheeky grin.
"Sorry guys, give us five minutes." Verity calls through to Ashley and Kaidan.
"Fine. We'll wait by the Mako."
Verity sits on end of the bed.
"You can't keep doing this, Liara. You're part of a team now."
"I am sorry, Shepard. I think it is because I was an only child. I could eat what I like when I like, sleep when I like for as long as I like, even when at university. And I spent decades alone on my expeditions. And I am not actually in the Alliance, but I will try harder, I promise."
The rest of the crew had already begun to talk a little behind Liara's back about her laziness and eating habits, with the occasional nickname.
"We get extra rations for our biotics, but you always seem to eat more than everyone else. On curry night, when Samesh sent over some of his home cooked food, you devoured way more than everyone else. You munched down those onion bhajis like no-one's business."
"Oh yes, they were good. And the samosas!" Liara says but then realises this isn't helping. "But I do not mean to be selfish."
"So will you come with us? Please? For me?"
"Oh fine!" she says shortly.
The Mako lands on the planet's surface with a bounce. It's quite a lush wild sunny planet, but they've found a flatter grassier section to run on, probably a former forest laid waste by natural fire. They all get out of the vehicle, Liara wearing an all white pair of shorts and vest. The three humans do warm ups while the only stretching Liara does is when she yawns, still waking up.
"Okay, we've scanned the area and there's no geth or varren or thresher maws or whatever so we don't need to carry weapons. It's around three k's that way to the lake, it's freshwater so should be good."
"Three kilometres?" Liara says in disbelief.
"What's the matter, Arbuckle? Too much for you?" Ashley taunts.
Liara looks at Verity for an explanation. She just shakes her head.
"Come on then."
They begin jogging, Ash and Kaidan running slightly ahead, Liara and Verity running side by side behind them. After a few hundred metres, Shepard asks, "You okay? Not too much for you?"
"I am fine." Liara responds with a little annoyance in her voice. "I'm not as unfit as you three would like to think. Asari physiology is different to yours, just as the doctor has said."
"Ah, no, I talked with her and that's not what she said. She wondered if it was the case, that's all."
"She's right though."
"About what?"
"You do not see overweight asari, so there must be some reason."
"Hm. Metabolism differences maybe? Or maybe all other asari just have more control than you. I dunno. Anyway, there's nothing wrong with a little exercise for any species."
"What's an Arbuckle, Shepard?"
"Ah, ahahaha, hm."
"What is this? The Mothers Union? You two running or what?" Ashley calls back.
A look of determination comes across Liara's face. She's going to keep up with the group, just to show them that she's still got it. She is impressed with both Kaidan's and Ashley's physiques in their tight black sports gear though, both obviously keep a good regime too. Kaidan seems deep in thought, just keeping his pace, staring ahead. Liara speeds up a little to catch up with the front pair and moves along side Ashley, looking at her with a smile. Ashley gives a wry smile back.
"Not bad, Liara. I thought you'd only get about two metres and collapse."
The lake comes into view, around another three hundred metres away. Ashley looks sideways at Liara and Kaidan occasionally until they reach around a hundred away.
"Race you!" she shouts.
The three humans run ahead, unable to resist the competition as Liara just keeps her steady pace. Kaidan is spent earlier than the girls, who run with fierce looks on their faces. As they reach the water's edge, Shepard has the lead, raising her arms in victory then slows down to stop and doubles over, breathing heavy. Ashley keeps going past Verity, bounding into the water and diving when deep enough then surfaces quickly.
"Woo! That's refreshing! Cold! But refreshing!"
Liara catches the group up as Kaidan walks into the water and just swims by himself. The three girls swim a little then splash and play in the water. They lay on some rocks to allow the sun to dry their clothes, looking like some unrealistic ideal from an advertiser's wet dream. As Kaidan continues swimming, Verity gestures towards him.
"Is he okay? He's been a bit off the last couple of weeks."
"I dunno Commander, he's always a little distant."
"Hmm, maybe I should talk with him when we get back."
"I am glad you talked me into coming, Shepard. I would not want to get out of bed this early every day, but I will come with you again though."
"Yea, maybe you'll grow some quads and race next time, which, incidentally, I won as first into the water." Ashley says.
"No way! I was first to the water's edge. Nothing was said about actually going in. Sour grapes, Williams."
"Oh of course, you'll never be better than Commander Shepard, pfft!"
"We should bring a picnic next time!" Liara enthuses.
Verity and Ashley look at each other, then burst into laughter.
"What?" Liara asks innocently.