It is a beautiful sunny day with a slight breeze. The grass is a deep green and there is not one cloud in the sky. At least it doesn't look like there is from the window. The T'Soni kids are a bit stir crazy. Liara is insistent that they do not go outside. Since their home backs up to the woods Liara does not want to risk anything happening to her kids. Aethyta told her she is being over protective but when Liara reminded her of the recent attack in the backyard the Matriarch shut her mouth very quickly.
Shepard is spending the day with Samara watching a house where they know a follower of Shadow is residing. There has been no movement inside the place and no one has gone in or come out since she started watching the place with the Justicar four hours ago.
Liara finally agreed to allow Kaya and Lacy to come over. Mia did not request a friend to come over, she is keeping to herself surfing the extra net. She is making a list of items she is going to need when she moves to Vancouver in less than two weeks. Eva is on the couch reading not really paying attention to anyone else. Liara envies her that; she wishes she could escape right about now.
"Do we really have to stay inside all day Mom?" asks Little A.
Liara lets out a sigh. She and Aethyta are sitting at the kitchen table. "Yes honey."
"But it's so nice out Mom. And I don't see what the big deal is if we stay in the backyard."
"You heard your mother kid, now drop it," says the Matriarch.
Little A closes her lips tight, "Fine." She walks into the family room and plops down on the couch with a huff.
"I am not sure how much more of this I can take," says Liara. She rests her chin on her hand.
"Eh…everything will be fine, they just need to be patient."
Liara looks at her father.
"What? Do I have something on my face?"
"How are you feeling Dad?"
Aethyta averts her eyes and shrugs her shoulders, "Fine."
Liara studies her father.
"Stop staring at me, I'm fine."
"You seem tired lately."
"That's what happens when you get old kid. It's no big deal."
Liara swallows, "You would tell me if there was…anything to tell me right?"
Aethyta sits up a little straighter in her chair. "I am fine now you drop it."
Liara nods a little, "Okay." Liara sees Raina come out from her room. "Hello Raina."
"Hi." Raina grabs a drink from the refrigerator.
"Did you want to practice with those interview questions you have?"
"It's okay Mom, Lacy is going to help me." Raina walks over to the front door. "She's here."
"Wait!" Liara jumps out of her chair to stop her daughter from opening the front door. She looks at the monitor and clicks through the different shots each camera projects. Her daughter is right; there is a sky car landing.
"Are you okay Mom?" Raina places her hand on her mother's shoulder.
"Y-Yes I'm fine. Jus…Just wait until she is at the door please."
Raina can feel her mother's worry. "Okay, sure."
"Who is that?" Liara points to the monitor. There is another sky car landing.
"That's Kaya."
Liara notices her hand is shaking, she quickly grabs it with her other hand. "Good…that's good. I will tell your sister." Liara walks to the family room.
Raina looks at her grandfather.
"She'll be fine," Aethyta says.
Raina opens the front door just as Lacy is about to knock.
"Geez Raina you scared me."
"Sorry Lacy, please come in."
"She here?" Little A runs up to the front door nearly knocking into Raina.
"She's coming, geez."
Little A waits at the door ignoring her sister.
"You want anything to drink Lacy?"
"No thanks."
Raina leads her friend into her room.
"Hi Kaya!" Little A gives her a quick kiss. "Thanks for coming over."
"You bet."
"Let's go upstairs."
Kaya says hi to the rest of the family before heading upstairs with Little A.
Liara walks back into the kitchen looking very uneasy.
"You okay kid?"
"Not really. I do not like feeling like a prisoner in my own home."
Raina sits on her bed while Lacy sits on her desk chair.
"What's with the tension?"
Raina lets out a sigh, "I didn't want to elaborate over the omni." Raina fills Lacy in on some details, not the details where Dava could be a threat and Mia's life is in danger but enough information to explain the tension Lacy has picked up on.
"Are you okay?" asks Lacy.
"Yes. I am actually happy for the distraction of preparing for this interview."
"Have you heard yet when it is?"
"No. Here are some questions. I got them from one of my professors. It is just a sampling."
Lacy looks over the list. She looks at her friend. "Are you sure you are okay? You look like you are about to cry."
"No I am fine really, it's just…."
"…the feeling thing?"
Raina smiles at her friend. "Yes the feeling thing."
"How about I make you some tea?"
"You are my guest I should be the one making you something."
"Oh please. I brought some from home. I figured we could use some to relax. I know where everything is, you stay put. Then I will grill you with questions."
Lacy steps out of Raina's room. Her mother and grandfather have moved into the family room where Eva is reading and Mia is sitting quietly.
"Hello," says Kaya. She is looking in the refrigerator.
"Hi Kaya. I am making tea, want some?"
"Sure. Can I bring one up for Little A too?
"Of course."
"How have you been Lacy?"
"Good thank you. And you?"
"Good. Something's going on around her though. Little A won't really elaborate, but she can't go outside today. Weird huh?"
Lacy just smiles and nods to Kaya. The two don't really know each other very well. Lacy thinks Kaya and Little A make a great couple. They are both very academic, young and have a great sense of humor.
Mia walks up to the breakfast bar. "What are you two doing? Get sick of your girlfriends already?" Mia wonders why Lacy suddenly looks tense.
"Oh Mia," Lacy waves a dismissive hand, "you know Raina and I are not like that."
"And why is that?"
"Geez Mia, nosey much?" says Kaya.
Mia shrugs her shoulders, "Just curious. So what are you doing?"
Lacy looks up at Mia, "I am making tea. I brought it from home."
"Tea?" Mia is growing tired of the conversation. She is bored and she is taking her frustration out on the guests.
"Yes Mia tea. You will like it. It is my special blend."
"I don't like tea," says Mia.
Lacy and Kaya both look up at her as if she just suddenly sprouted horns from her head.
"What?"
Kaya shakes her head.
"I don't think I have ever met an asari who does not like tea," says Lacy. "How odd."
Mia looks at the asari and wonders why she seems mad about it. Is she maybe imagining things?
"Well I love the smell of it Lacy, is it ready yet?" asks Kaya.
"Almost." Lacy looks at Mia, "Raina told me about you signing with a skyball team, congratulations."
"Thanks."
"I understand you leave soon?"
"Yeah." Mia feels a little uneasy but she doesn't know why.
"Well good for you. You must be very excited."
"Yeah you get to go off planet and explore Earth," says Kaya.
"Oh really?" says Lacy, "where are you going exactly, Raina told me but I forgot?"
Mia narrows her eyes, "Canada."
Lacy hands two cups of tea to Kaya. "Here you go tell me how you like it."
"I will Lacy thank you." Kaya heads upstairs.
"You sure you don't want any Mia?"
"No thanks." Mia walks back into the family room.
Lacy follows Mia into the family room with two cups of tea, one in each hand. "Tea anyone? It is my special blend."
"Sure!" says Eva.
"Nah," says Aethyta.
"Yes she will have some," says Liara as she takes the cup from Lacy and gives it to her father. To her father she says, "Drink. You could use something other than Ryncol."
"I will get you one as well Liara," says Lacy. She walks back into the kitchen to grab a cup and brings it out to Liara.
"Mmm this is really good," says Eva. "What's in it?"
"It is my special blend," says Lacy.
Liara takes the cup closes her eyes and smells the aroma. She smells cinnamon but is having a hard time placing the other ingredients. She looks at her father and waits for the Matriarch to take a sip. Aethyta finally relents, "Happy now."
Liara smiles then takes a sip. "Mmm this is very good Lacy."
Lacy hears the compliment from the kitchen. She has a cup in her hands and heads to Raina's room.
Mia notices Lacy come back out of Raina's room to grab another cup.
"You should try this honey," says Liara to Mia.
"No thanks."
"Here you go Mia," says Lacy. She holds the cup out in front of Mia.
"I said no thank you."
"Mia," says Liara, "You can at least try it."
Mia narrows her eyes at Lacy. What is the big deal? "Fine."
Lacy continues to stand there.
Mia in dramatic form takes the cup then a small sip, "Happy now, I. Don't. Like. It."
"Mia T'Soni." Liara stands up from the chair and is off balance just a bit, but she catches herself. "You apologize right now. Lacy is our guest."
Mia presses her lips together. She lets out a long breath through her nose. "I apologize Lacy. Thank you for the tea." Mia's tone is almost sincere.
Liara shakes her head.
"It's okay. Sorry Mia, I thought I heard you wanted to try some. I really cannot believe you do not like tea."
Mia gives her a look that says, are you serious? What's the big deal?"
Lacy returns to Raina's room.
Liara sits back down. She takes another sip. "This is very good."
Mia rolls her eyes. She cannot sit still. She is on her feet again. "Can we at least open a window Mom?"
Liara looks at her daughter. "Yes, you can open the door."
"Thanks." Mia opens the door leaving the screen door in place. She closes her eyes and breathes in the fresh air. "It's killing me sitting around here Mom. I need to work out ya know. And I don't mean in the basement." Lost in her thoughts and the slight breeze kissing her cheeks Mia opens her eyes when she realizes that it is very quiet, too quiet.
"Mom?" Mia turns to look to her right where her mother is sitting. She starts to walk towards her, "Mom?" When she is in front of her mother she sees the cup on the floor and her mother not responding.
A sudden wave of panic hits Mia like a raging wave crashing against jutting rocks. She shakes her mother's shoulders, "Mom? Mom wake up!"
The pain is abrupt. Mia falls to her knees. Her vision is blurry her ears are ringing. What hit me? "R-Raina?"
She feels a kick to her gut. Mia falls onto her side. She brings up her hands to cover her face waiting for another blow.
Mia feels and hears static electricity in the air. Her hands are suddenly pulled down as her body is lifted into the air. She cannot move. Her vision is blurry, her head is pounding. A figure approaches and grabs her face. Before Mia can do anything liquid is poured down her throat. Mia tries to spit it out but she knows she swallowed some.
"Who ever heard of an asari not liking tea?"
"L..Lacy?" Soon Mia's vision fades to black and the ringing in her ears cease.
Shepard and Samara have been sitting in their sky car for almost four hours now.
"Okay this is ridiculous."
"What is it Shepard?"
"We have seen nothing. No one in and no one out. I think we should go in." Shepard turns in her seat and looks behind, "DOWN!"
The sky car is hit with a force strong enough to catapult it on its nose making it land on the roof.
"Move move move!" Shepard yells as her shield is warning her that it is down 20%. She opens the door and just as she is about to exit the car is hit again causing it to spin on its roof. Shepard is thrown in the backseat. She cannot see Samara she can only see the scenery spinning as she hangs on.
Once the car slows its spinning Shepard opens the back side door and falls out of the vehicle. A bit dizzy she gets to her feet and sees Samara fighting three asari.
Flanking one of them Shepard throws a singularity. Samara notices the asari in the air. She throws a heavy reave ending the asari's life instantly.
With side arm out Shepard is firing at the second asari to draw her attention. The asari ignores her and throws a red and blue biotic ball that clips Samara causing the Justicar to fall on her side.
Holstering her weapon, Shepard plants her feet. She casts a heavy throw at the asari who just downed Samara. The asari is thrown into the side of the house, head splitting on impact.
The third asari screams and runs at Shepard tackling her to the ground. Shepard snaps her arms around the asari as she rolls. She uses her momentum to gain the advantage. She is on top of the asari, straddling her. She punches her in the face once, twice, three times. She doesn't hear Samara. Shepard moves to the asari's ribs. Left, right, left, right. Blood is coming out of the asari's mouth now. Shepard cocks back her arm ready to punch the asari in the face when she is biotically pushed off of the asari.
"That is enough Shepard," Samara kneels down to check the asari. She is unconscious.
Shepard is on her butt panting. She looks between Samara and the unconscious asari.
"Are you alright Shepard? Shepard?"
"Yeah." After catching her breath the human stands. "You okay?"
"I am fine."
"Call it in, I am checking the house."
Samara quickly binds the unconscious asari. "Wait Shepard. I must come with you."
Shepard is the first one through the door. She is shielded but other than that stealth is out of the question. She slams open the door with one swift kick and starts yelling through the house. "Come out come out wherever you are!"
Samara is on her heels. "Do you think this is a wise tactic Shepard?"
"Don't give a shit Samara." Each room Shepard walks in quickly and walks out continuing up to the second level. "Empty, the fucking place is empty!"
"I do not understand. We saw no one leave the house."
Shepard moves past the Justicar and heads back downstairs. Samara quickly follows. "What are you looking for?"
"I will know it when I find it," say Shepard. She is looking along the walls on the first level. She is trailing her hand along each one.
Samara looks outside to check on the unconscious asari. She makes a call to Meryl.
Shepard moves toward the back of the house. She opens a set of double doors that swing out. Inside the small closest are cleaning supplies. She looks closer. She sees a partial foot print. Someone must have spilled, because the substance left a small trace. Shepard moves the supplies away from the wall. "Shit. Samara!"
In seconds the Justicar is at Shepard's side shield up ready for another battle. "What is it?"
"Look." Shepard opens the door. She looks inside, "It's a tunnel. There's a ladder. I bet this runs out to the field out there." Shepard moves past Samara and points out the window. "See those trees? Perfect way to come in and out without anyone knowing."
"Yes I see. I spoke with Meryl. She is sending a unit to deal with the asari."
"I'm going in the tunnel."
"I am with you."
The human and asari climb down. They do not have to bend over too much to walk the tunnel. There are lights strung along the dirt corridor. "This has been here a long time," says Shepard as she points to the lights.
The tunnel stops at a ladder. Shepard climbs up and lifts the cover slowly. It is not very heavy, just awkward to lift. She peers out to see what she can see. "Yep." She turns to look down at Samara, "we are in the trees." Shepard opens the cover and climbs out. The Justicar follows.
They are in a copse of trees completely hidden from the street.
"Look here Shepard."
The retired Captain follows Samara's eyes, "Footprints."
"They disappear here." Samara walks to where the dirt ends and the grass begins.
"Son of a bitch," says Shepard. "We've been played." Shepard is about to say something else when her omni-tool rings.
"Arelia? Can I call you back this is not…"
"Shepard I thought you said Liara and the kids were staying home today."
Shepard's heart starts to race, "They are home."
"They are not answering. Oh hang on…. Valya looked around back."
Shepard hears Valya swearing in the background. "What is going on Arelia?"
"Shepard you need to get here fast. It appears as if everyone has been drugged."
"What? Put up vid."
"What is it Shepard?" asks Samara. She places her hand on the human's shoulder.
Shepard shakes her head then sees video footage. She sees Valya trying to wake up Liara who looks to be sleeping in a chair. Arelia pans the camera to reveal Aethyta and Eva both asleep.
"Where are the rest of the kids?"
"Akira is checking upstairs," says Arelia.
Shepard can see her walking towards Raina's room. When the door is opened she sees Raina on the floor.
"Is …is she okay?" Shepard is trying not to panic.
The camera shakes as Arelia bends down to check on Raina. "She is sleeping."
"Little A and another asari are upstairs. I took a picture Shepard," says Akira.
Shepard brings up the photo, "That's Kaya, Little A's girlfriend."
"They are both asleep."
"Have you checked everywhere?" The panic has set in now, Shepard is yelling.
Realization crosses Akira's face. "Goddess."
The camera swings toward Valya. She yelled something but Shepard didn't hear.
"What? What did she say?"
"She is checking the basement."
Shepard's heart sinks when she sees Valya's face. "No..no…no….where is she? She has to be there!"
Valya can be seen very clearly on camera now, "She's not here Shepard. Mia is not here."