One thing about the end of the world is sure made folks drink a lot more. Apollo's wasn't Purgatory, only attracted the rich drunks, but there sure were a lot of them.
Only a few I was really interested in. My girl came down about an hour into my shift and gazed out over the Presidium while she looked at a few datapads. Probably more eezo shipments or heavy weapons: Something to go on that big project the Alliance was doing. Sometimes she dropped by and we spoke. I had a team of commandos refitted for some repurposed amps from that human school ready to ship out on her order. Just needed to let her know. Girl needed to lighten up though, got her azure in a bunch over everything.
As Liara kept looking out over the Presidium, that ex-Cerberus Commander, John Shepard she worked with took a seat at one of the tables, right close to the bar. He was joined by another guy: That new Spectre I think. Sweet ass.
"Really glad I convinced you to do this." Spectre Ass Candy talked to the Commander. "We could use some time off. Time to relax."
"I'm not very good at it, Kaidan. Neither are you."
"Yeah well, that's something I need to work on. Besides, John, you saved an entire world and ended a huge war. I think that means you can at least get a free steak and some drinks."
"Free is free." One of their waiters brought over their orders. Two shots of TM88, and some human beer. The Commander loved that whiskey, he drank it all the time he came here: Always his first shot. Should make it a house rule everyone has a shot. They came up to the bar to have their drinks while their food was cooked.
"You feeling better, John?"
"Heh, I met with Councilor Tevos. You'll hear all about that one when we get back to the Normandy. More worried about you, Kaidan. About your father..."
"Hey, we're not here to discuss work. I want some good memories of the Citadel. Last time we were here..." Ass Candy, Kaidan, drained one of his beers.
"Yeah. I think we both need it." The Commander looked at his shot. He always drank quickly, never took the time to stare at a shot of TM88 before.
"Heh, can't believe they get this out here. Last time I was on the Citadel, it was salarian whiskey for me, asari honey mead for...well, never mind."
"Oh, no. Spill it, Major." The Commander laughed.
"You don't do it like that." I came over with a special recipe in a shot glass I perfected back on Ilium.
"Matriarch Aethyta. Just the person I was looking for. I'm blackmailing my best friend to tell us about what I think is a new girlfriend."
"Make him drink this first. Two of these and he'll tell you about the time he and his buddy fooled around in the drive core. Three of them, and he dies of alcohol poisoning." The Commander laughed.
"I just met a doctor for drinks on the Citadel. I shipped out on a mission with Captain Kirrahe the next day. Thorian Creepers, real fun. It was six months ago, I haven't even spoken to her since, don't even know where she is."
"Oh, that old excuse. Sleep with me because I'm fighting giant acid-spitting horrors tomorrow." The Commander teased his friend. I put the shot down in front of Kaidan, and he almost choked as he drank it.
"You humans stole that from the krogan." I passed the Commander another beer. He downed it quickly. Kaidan just shook his head. From the looks of Shepard though, it was exactly what he wanted.
"You know, when I look back, I don't think I had enough moments like this." My little magic shot worked wonders on Kaidan, he was staring at the bottom of his empty shot glass.
"Yeah. Thought the same thing when the first Normandy...And then it was one mission after the other. When I finally stopped, I was under house arrest. No fun there." Oh, I'd heard it all. Back on Thessia, before the Matriarchs didn't like what was spewing out my azure, and out an about the galaxy. Soldiers were the worst. Knew it was coming the second a turian walked in. Looking for the answers to regret at the bottom of a glass.
Heh, maybe there is something to this whole "all is one" bullcrap.
"Oh, John, looks like you two are having a good time." Liara came over, putting her datapad away.
"Hello, father." Still too damn polite. Save it for when it was needed, spare yourself the toothache.
"Wait, you're Liara's father?" Kaidan apparently wasn't in the loop.
"Not what you were expecting, huh? Never thought you'd be letting your eyes look at a father's tits, huh?" Humans never understood it too well. Bunch of dicks, but damn if they didn't get things done. Maybe they'd be making the mass relays after this. And I'd be serving a bar with humans at the top of the galaxy. Well, sex to go around, that was a plus.
"Err..."
"That's okay. I was staring at your ass since you walked in. Hey, Liara, you're not screwing this one, are you?"
"Father, I...Kaidan and I are just friends. Just like with John."
"You surround yourself with two pieces of fine human ass and you're doing the dignified thing? Should've left Nezzy's attitude and taken the rack instead. They know what I'm talking about." I pointed to the two humans, who were repressing laughter, and failing miserably.
"John..."
"I'm sure it's a compliment, Liara. Your mother...aged gracefully." Shepard knocked back another shot.
"Proper use of stasis. Nezzy was doing that since you humans were trying to turn lead into gold."
"That not how it works!" Liara huffed. Kaidan, who, from the surgical scars on his neck, and the way he was blushing, was a biotic himself, knew differently.
"Mordin had pamphlets on those. I'll send them to your office."
"I'm interrupting your guy time, excuse me." With another huff, Liara left. She'd be laughing the second she was alone.
"So...why did you get those pamphlets? You're not a biotic, John?"
"He thought there was something between me and Miranda."
"You and Liara both, with this between and love and..."
"What? No, I was just scared I'd be shitting out tracking bugs for a month." We laughed again.
"Looks like our steaks are ready, John. Let's eat." Kaidan turned towards his table, and the Commander followed. I took a good look at their asses before I went back to the bar, just one for the road.
They were quieter when they ate, Kaidan kept looking at the view as he chewed. Still too depressed. There was reason to be though, Earth was burning, Palaven was burning, and the Matriarchs were running around ass over azure about Thessia. The planet was in danger, all our girls were out dancing at titty bars or getting their asses shot as Eclipse sisters rather than being around to help. If I was bitter, I might have said I told you so to any other Matriarchs still alive.
I'd save it for when the Reapers were knocked on their asses. Liara and everyone was working overtime to get it done. Might even learn something from this.
"Thanks for inviting me out, Kaidan. I actually kinda needed it."
"You're welcome, John. Now all we need to do is save the galaxy."
"Again. You know, after three times, I think I'm going to be tapped on the whole savior of the galaxy thing. Think I'll retire, be a consultant for the next Blasto movie. Already got it now: Blasto teams up with surprisingly diplomatic vorcha, taking on a crazy volus biotic god. I'll have a character like you. Maybe a talking varren."
They laughed as they left. That was the savior of the galaxy. Thousand years of violence in the galaxy and that guy was the oddest thing I'd ever seen.
And that's when I knew he and Liara, they were going to win this war.