A blast of warm air washed over Faith and Liara, and the soldier decided to keep herself from vocalising yet another noise of pleased surprise.
Liara's family home was beautiful.
The vast entrance hall, all graceful curves and soft colours, was clearly designed to both welcome and impress, and did so with breathtaking ease. The high ceiling was spotted with dozens of lights, like stars in the night sky, each a slightly different colour that cascaded through the room in a rainbow, reflecting from the slopes of the walls with subtle shifts of lustre and hue.
Faith took in the surroundings, glancing through the single door which seemed to lead to an even greater hall, in the split second before a sight she had never seen before came barreling towards them.
An overweight asari appeared through a small door in the distance of the next room, and on sighting the pair, immediately bolted towards them.
Danger.
Acting on deeply ingrained instinct, Faith's hand flickered downwards to her waist, for her fingers to twitch at the obvious emptiness.
No gun!
Firearms were heavily controlled on Thessia.
She had used her Spectre status to ensure she could carry one - she never went unarmed - but promised to keep it hidden as a compromise to Liara; she was doing everything she could to ensure she did not sabotage Liara's reputation for the upcoming trial.
With her gun packed in her bag, on a planet full of natural biotics Shepard felt somewhat at a disadvantage - she had been practicing her own with Liara, but was not nearly confident enough to say she was anything approaching a strong biotic.
But before her mind even formed another plan, it became obvious that the asari running towards them was not a threat. She had a wide smile across her homely face - and Liara herself had darted forwards, arms outstretched, a similar smile touching her own lips.
Faith relaxed as the pair embraced, and assessed the asari holding her lover. She was still smiling happily, dressed in clothes that almost appeared human in design - a jacket and skirt - though the bright colours and unusual cut confirmed asari origin. Her skin was a deep indigo, and her crests shorter than most asari's, reminding Faith of close cropped human hair. After several seconds, the asari planted a soft kiss on Liara's cheek - the familiar gesture causing Faith's fingers to twitch again - and held her back at arm's length.
'Mistress T'Soni, you look wonderful!' she beamed, looking up and down Liara's body. 'How long has it been since you left? Thirty years? Forty? You were barely a child then, and now... a beautiful maiden if ever I saw one!'
Liara blushed, and wriggled awkwardly from the grasp... the movement instantly reminding Faith of the way her sisters used to do in order avoid their mother's inspection, and finally disarming the last of her suspicions. The asari was clearly neither a threat to their safety, nor a potential source of any romantic awkwardness.
Finally breaking free, a delicious dark blush still caressing her cheeks, Liara gave a warm smile. 'It has been forty two years. And you must call me Liara, please!'
The other asari shook her head harshly. 'Nonsense. You are the Mistress of this estate, and I'll call you such.' She tilted her head, looking over Liara's shoulder, and her unusually dark purple eyes locked Faith's, as if noticing her for the first time-
And Shepard instantly saw that the friendly asari had a hard steel inside her, that the charming personality hid remarkably well. For an uncomfortable second the pair assessed each other, until again the asari's face lit into a smile. 'A human? Oh, I have never met one before! Is she yours?'
Faith's deep eyes widened, and whatever reply she could have made was forgotten.
Of course I would say I am, but for her to assume?
Liara looked about as embarrassed as Faith felt, burying her face into her hand. 'Goddess, it is not like-'
After an awkward second, Faith absolutely unsure of how to respond, Liara removed her hand, stood straight and took a step back so the pair could see each other. 'This is Spectre Faith Shepard, my partner. Faith, this is Matron Rania, custodian of the estate.'
Rania gave a small cough, an amused smile on her face. Liara looked back, confused, and tilted her head.
Several seconds of tense anticipation passed, until the younger asari's eyes brightened, and she spoke excitedly, 'Oh! I apologise! Faith, this is Matriarch Rania.'
Faith did not know how Liara could tell - Rania had the ageless beauty of all asari, graceful despite being heavier set than any of the species she had seen before. But the custodian did not seem to mind the confusion, and instantly crossed the hall to draw Faith into an embrace which the stoic soldier awkwardly returned, despite her body reflexively trying to reject the gesture.
'I hope you take good care of her, Spectre.' The whispered voice in her ear was hard, full of that same steel she had glimpsed when Rania first saw her. Before she could respond, Rania held Faith back at arm's length just as she had Liara.
Feeling a bite of anger at the implication of the question, Faith battled to remember that she was here for Liara's sake, and simply nodded, holding the matriarch's hard gaze. Eventually, Rania nodded back with what seemed to be a satisfied smile, and the awkward moment passed, Liara apparently not even noticing. She crossed to the pair, and placed a hand on Rania's shoulder, gently drawing her away - to Faith's relief. She was not generally comfortable with casual touches like that, though had promised to both herself and Liara that whatever she could do whilst on Thessia to make a good impression, she would.
Even if it eventually meant embracing every damned one of Benezia's prosecutors; she could handle the protective questioning of Liara's guardian.
'When did it happen, Matriarch?' Liara asked, softly inflecting the last word.
Rania turned, and gave a warm smile. 'Oh, please, you will call me Rania. I feel old enough already!' The matriarch shook her head. 'It was when Mistress Benezia... when she left us, and you granted me full control of the estate until your return. I'd been old enough for decades.'
Faith looked on in confusion. Was the progression from maiden, to matron, to matriarch, a conscious decision? And why were Benezia, and Rania, referred to by their given name in formal titles, and Liara by her family name? She was again reminded that as well as she knew Liara, there was still so much about the asari she did not understand. She resolved to ask Liara the questions when they were alone.
Liara seemed to notice Shepard's confusion, as perceptive as always. 'Our responsibilities define us as much as our age and physiology, Faith.'
Rania nodded, picking up the explanation. 'That's right. When I realised I was responsible for the whole estate... well, I couldn't delay it any longer.' Again Rania looked long and hard at Liara. 'You look like you've got far more duties than a girl your age should have, Mistress.'
With a sad smile Liara nodded. 'Perhaps. But it is necessary.'
'It always seems that way, dear, but know that you have a whole life before you. I would not see you falter so soon.'
Faith crossed the hall to Liara, standing beside her partner. 'She does not carry her burdens alone.'
Again Rania locked her gaze, but this time it was touched with affection. 'Good. I've heard of you, Spectre, and it's not nearly all good. But I trust myself rather than the words of others, and believe you do care for her, even if I'd rather she enjoy a more carefree youth.'
'It is my choice, Rania,' said Liara softly, the words filling Faith with both pride... and a touch of guilt. She too would prefer Liara live a life of innocent happiness, free of the worries and horrors her own life brought, but knew also that Liara spoke the truth. The asari was as bound to their battles as Faith herself was, and chose to stay and fight. 'Though, I would ask of you to continue to assist me, if you would. I have not returned to take control of the estate, and your continued support here is invaluable to me.'
'Of course, Mistress T'Soni.' Rania replied instantly, bowing her head.
The dynamic between the two was unusual, Faith noted. Rania seemed to act at once as a parent figure, a friend, an advisor and a servant of Liara, with Liara acting the reciprocal roles in return. And yet, the odd combination of relationships bundled into one did not seem unnatural; perhaps such was commonplace amongst asari, rather than the more strictly defined relationships humans tended to hold.
With yet another warm smile, Rania turned and led the pair deeper into the vast central hall of the house. The grand, circular room stood with three levels, each tiered with an elegantly decorated balcony overlooking the richly adorned floor the trio were slowly crossing. Faith could see several asari traverse far above them: likely students or diplomats, according to Liara's words regarding the function of the building. On the ceiling high above them was a beautifully painted fresco which, if Faith's asari mythology was correct, displayed an image of the goddess Athame, warmly looking down on the visitors. There were no obvious stairs; they must have been in the building proper, perhaps behind one of the six doors circling the room.
She could scarcely comprehend that this was all Liara's. Faith was just a simple farm girl, a soldier whose greatest exposure to high culture was the ceremonies she attended after Sovereign's attack on the Citadel. Liara was as close as asari had to nobility, vastly wealthy and influential. Out on the Normandy such things mattered little, and she knew that Liara held no feelings of superiority from her upbringing, but in the face of the full grandeur of House T'Soni, Faith could not help but feel a little out of place.
Rania's voice echoed softly across the vast hall. 'If you wish, I can brief you on the status of the estate, Mistress T'Soni. Following Mistress Benezia's... fall... the fortunes have been in flux but continue on an overall positive, if slow, upward trend.'
Taking Faith's arm again, Liara replied, 'I would like that, Rania, thank you. But perhaps tomorrow morning? We have travelled far today.'
'Of course, Mistress.' Rania said quickly. 'But there is somebody else-'
Before she could finish, the small door Rania had entered through earlier opened and, slowly, a familiar face came into view.
'Shiala!' Liara's voice rang happily, as she darted forward to the asari Shepard had spared on Feros, wide smile across her face.
But as Shiala stepped out, the human noticed she looked an unhealthy shade of green, just like the clones the Thorian had produced, and Shepard's stomach dropped... then Shiala took another step from the door.
Liara faltered, as she came further into the light.
The asari commando was limping heavily, most of her body weight supported by a cane.
With a disgruntled scowl, Shiala limped through the open doorway before her, immediately blasted by an icy breeze that cut straight through to her bones. Hobbling forward to ensure the door shut behind her, leaning bodily against her cane, she made her way out into the fresh morning.
She had talked with Liara and Shepard late into the previous night, detailing her life over the past few months, and by the time they had decided to turn in the snow had started up again. The pair had insisted she stay with them in the small, comfortable building they occupied - the living quarters closest to the main house - despite her insistence she could make it back to the guest quarters further afield she was staying in.
Shiala glanced to her ineffective leg, sighing sadly.
She was secretly grateful they had asked her to stay. Without transport, it would have been a long and painful walk back to her own quarters.
When the sickness had returned to Feros, she had travelled to Illium to seek aid - and Liara had put her in touch with Baria Frontiers, who had done a magnificent job both investigating and treating the illness...
Until her own had worsened.
Her skin pigment had changed to this disgusting green, her biotics became unstable, and the nausea was almost debilitating when it struck. It was then she found out the other part of the contract. The part that allowed the company to perform invasive tests on her, or else pay the full cost of their treatment.
Shiala closed her eyes, and breathed deeply, enjoying the taste of Thessia. The air of Feros was so stale in comparison, the scent of humans - though she had grown accustomed to it, even enjoyed it at times - was not nearly as pleasant as the background scent of her own people.
The first round of tests had been awful. The medical procedures were uncomfortable, but bearable, as she remembered why she was doing it. Repentance for her part in Benezia's treason, memories that seemed so hazy but still painful. For her unlikely new home on Feros, and her even less likely new human lover, who she missed so dearly. For the galaxy. Because it was suspected her indoctrination was key to why she was suffering, and if they could learn more about it, a few months, even years, of discomfort was a small price, considering her crimes.
The physical tests had been bearable. But when it came to the mental exam, Baria had an asari meld with her, to attempt to see if she could isolate any unusual brain activity that might explain what was wrong. She had tried to allow the asari in as best she could, but the brain resisted such cold examining and probing, the experience had left her feeling violated.
She looked around at the elegant gardens, coated in a soft, thick snow that shimmered in the morning sun. The grounds of the T'Soni estate had not cheered her as much as she had hoped they would when she returned just days previously - she had lived and worked here for decades under the matriarch, but it was just not the same any more.
The commandos she had gone to see had treated her with barely restrained hostility. She was the only one of Benezia's personal guard still alive, and it was clear the others were looking to blame her for anything from her sisters' deaths, to Benezia's treason. She had not stayed with them for long. It all seemed empty, without the matriarch there, lifeless in a way she could not quantify with words.
Or maybe it's me.
She had chosen a new life, a new home, for herself, and this one was full of memories of a time that she would sooner forget, as the horrors of her actions under Benezia haunted her.
The former commando glanced up and down the paved path that crossed the front of the house, heated from beneath to clear it from snow, as she lowered herself into a seat just outside the doors. There was somebody coming. She could see a flickering figure in the distance, too far to make out clearly because of the trees lining much of the path.
Shiala decided to greet them when they passed, but remained sitting for now, lost in memory.
She had gone to Liara again, after that first round of tests. What she expected... was not what she got.
Liara was a fine woman, and was well on her way to becoming the true heir to Benezia. But for all her strength, Liara was still a very young maiden, and could not give Shiala the guidance she hoped for. It was unfair to approach Liara like that, to force a burden that should have been her own on another... and Liara, unsure, had been unable to assist Shiala's decision.
She had resented Liara for a few days, after that meeting, but it had not taken long to realise she was more upset with herself. She wanted an easy way out of her situation, a situation she deserved every uncomfortable, even painful, minute of.
In the end, she had gone back for more tests.
For more invasive physical procedures.
For more melds, each one less pleasant than the last.
Until...
She had tried to resist, on the fifth meld. More consciously than the brain's natural resistance, she had pushed back against the asari doctor, who - on Shiala's own shakily agreed prior permission - had continued her examination, more forcefully.
To the extent that, during a particularly violent struggle, something in Shiala's brain had been damaged.
The tests had immediately stopped after that. The cowardly bitch had been worried about Shiala suing them, of all things.
As if money was the first thing on her mind, when she was more worried about her damned health.
All things considered, she was relatively lucky. A leg that she might never be able to use properly again and a mild -ish- speech impediment was the limit of the damage. Compared to being knocked into a coma, or suffering debilitating cognitive damage, or more extensive physical disabilities, having to limp around on a cane and stutter every now and again was hardly the end of her life.
But for a commando like her, not so long ago at her physical peak, it was galling to be so impaired. Not to mention she still held the sickness, and the horrible skin tone.
A prime example of asari grace... ha...
The figure approaching seemed to add insult to injury. It was Shepard, she could see now, on a jog, breath visibly steaming behind her every few steps, feet pounding the path at a brutal pace. Shiala might have joined her, before...
Perhaps it was some divine punishment, for what she did under Benezia. Eden Prime. Feros. Countless smaller attacks that left dozens, hundreds, of innocents dead under her weapons and biotics. If that was the case, she deserved it.
Shepard finally arrived at the house, breathing heavily. As the human caught her breath, Shiala took a closer look at her. Unsurprisingly given her profession, she was more heavily built than any of the females on Feros, tight bands of muscles visible on her bare legs, clad just in shorts, and she could see the wide shoulders even beneath the soft, long-sleeved top she was wearing.
Face flushed red with exertion, Shepard pulled off the soft black hat she was wearing, and ran a hand through her short, sweat-soaked hair, leaving it looking unusually spiky.
After a couple more seconds, she glanced at Shiala, and flashed a small smile as she began cool-down stretches. 'You're awake early.'
Shiala nodded. 'So are you. The sun's only just come up, did you leave when it was still d...d-d-dark?'
She winced as her mind seemed to trip on the final word, but Shepard, thankfully, didn't give any indication she noticed, still breathing heavily. 'Yeah. I've been stuck in low gravity gyms... on ships for weeks. Feels good to run like this. Also... well...'
She looked around with a smile, breath still steaming before her. 'I'm not usually one for stopping... to look at the scenery... but this place is amazing.'
Shiala nodded. 'It is.'
Shepard finished her stretching, the pair staying in shared silence for several minutes, before straightening and gesturing to the bench Shiala was sitting on. 'Mind if I sit?'
Nodding again, Shiala shuffled over. Shepard sat beside her, and Shiala could not help but notice her legs were bumpy in the cold air, almost like an asari's pebbled skin.
How unusual, these creatures are.
She missed Feros. It was such a strange thing, to be so longing for an alien planet, but the human community there was tight, drawn together by the tragedies of the Thorian and geth attack.
Happier memories of her lover there, Michael, filled her mind, tainted with worry. She had not yet told him of her injuries. Would he still love her, now she could not accompany him as he explored the old ruins?
'I appreciate you coming for Liara.' Shepard began, dark eyes locked to Shiala's own. Her breathing was regular now, but still heavy.
'When I heard, I had to help,' Shiala replied, remembering the guilt when she heard what was happening, and grimacing. 'I've g-got better experience of indoctrination than anyone else, right?'
Shepard nodded. 'I was wondering how you heard at all. You've been keeping yourself off the radar since we liberated Feros, right?'
"Off the radar"... Shiala's mind, and translator, took a second to understand the idiom. 'Yes. Most people think I died with the other com...m-m-m...'
She clenched her eyes shut, and took a deep breath before trying again. 'Commandos.'
Looking again, she saw Shepard nodding. 'You're taking a big risk, exposing yourself like this.'
Shiala frowned, and continued, slower this time. 'Maybe. It is the least I can do for what I was part of. When I was on Illium, for the tests, I got an anonymous message telling me what was happening here.'
Shepard's brow creased, and Shiala noted a thin red scar cutting through one of her eyebrows. She understood Shepard's frustration instantly. 'I know. I don't like it either. But I did some research, and found it was true, so...' She trailed off, and shrugged, a gesture she had picked up from the humans. 'I assume it was one of La...Lady Benezia's supporters. She had a lot of friends.'
'And one of them just happened to know who you are, what you've been through, and where you were? I don't buy it.' Shepard replied, looking angry.
Shiala almost smiled. 'If there's one thing y-you can always be certain of, Commander, it's that an asari knows more than she tells you.'
The human frowned again at that, but eventually sat back. 'Liara keeps saying that about the matriarchs we're going to meet. I guess whoever told you is on our side, at least, but I still don't like being kept in the dark.'
That time, Shiala did smile. 'That is the life of a commando. There is no use fretting that you cannot change.'
Shepard glanced at her through one eye, suspicious, then finally broke into a smile of her own. 'I guess it's the life of a human soldier too. Don't ask too much, right? We'll take the help where we can get it, but I'm still not going to just roll over and accept it without question.'
Shiala felt herself beginning to relax in the human's company. Both were soldiers in one form or another, and whilst in a different life they might have been forced to fight each other, here, where they had the same goals, they could share those things they had in common.
After several seconds, the human took a deep breath. 'Shiala, there's something else I wanted to talk to you about.'
Shiala nodded. 'Of course.'
'About your indoctrination.'
Shiala frowned, instantly uncomfortable again, but gestured for Shepard to go on.
'You said Baria Frontiers stopped when you got hurt?'
She resisted glancing down to her cane, and nodded wordlessly, not wanting to embarrass herself with another broken sentence.
'If I told you I knew somebody else investigating indoctrination, and that you could help, would you go?' The words, spoken without emotion, sent a chill down Shiala's spine.
How dare she?
She had to bite down the instinctive urge to stand up, to throw back her answer, to rage at the human's presumptuousness.
The question was... fair... as much as such a question could be. No demands, no attempt to appeal to a sense of duty, or guilt. No false promise about what it would involve.
Shepard was trying to prepare the galaxy for the Reapers' arrival.
And whilst it would be pleasant to imagine a war could be won with speeches and heroics, Shiala knew from long experience that was not the case. Superior intel, weaponry and tactics would win.
Indoctrination was one of the Reapers' most deadly weapons.
And Shiala was the only person ever to have recovered from it.
Would I go?
Could I go?
For more tests.
For more needles and questions and... and more of those horrible melds...
Shiala glanced at Shepard, whose face gave no clue to her thoughts, then back down to her own legs.
One of which she might never be able to use properly again. Liara had demanded Shiala see a doctor, on the credits of House T'Soni.
But if the tests continued, she might never get better.
It was likely she would only continue to deteriorate.
Had she not given enough?
She thought of the dead colonists on Feros. The dead on Eden Prime.
They never had a choice.
Shiala looked up again at Shepard. 'I... want to but...' she shook her head. 'I need some time to think about it, Shepard. Maybe w... w-w-w... wh... w-dammit!'
The asari clenched her hands tightly into fists, feeling her biotics begin to spark across her knuckles.
Still, Shepard sat, impassive. Was the human truly asking her to subject herself to more, to risk worsening her condition?
The dead never had a choice.
She took a breath again. 'When we are finished with the trial, ask me again. I will have an answer.'
Shepard nodded, and stood up. 'Thank you, Shiala. I could ask no more of you.'
With an indulgent sigh of pleasure, Aria T'Loak leaned back into her soft leather couch. It was a good day to be Queen, she decided. Afterlife had a pleasant buzz that had yet to turn into the more intense heartbeat of the night, she had just received news that a particularly large number of Council ships had passed through the Omega 4 Relay, all paying their frankly extortionate toll, and the broken form that Grizz was currently dragging down the stairs to be dumped outside would show everybody why when Aria wanted something, Aria got it.
Not to mention, a rather fortuitous series of events had come to pass that presented a rather unique opportunity.
She glanced up at Garka. 'Leave me.'
The heavily armoured batarian nodded once, then turned to leave her with just the dancers for company.
Calling up her omni-tool, she dialled the agent she had decided would be the one to carry out her will. It would be sweet indeed, to have the oh-so-famous Commander Shepard do as Aria commanded.
After several seconds, a pretty human female with red hair appeared above her wrist. 'Hello, can I help you?'
Her voice was sweet, and as the camera adjusted Aria could see the human had a wonderful figure.
Not exactly what she had expected from Shepard's secretary; the soldier seemed so boringly uninterested in such pursuits, and Aria spared a second to wonder if she should bother provoking that knowing glint in the red-haired human's eyes.
Another time.
'I want to speak to her,' Aria said bluntly.
To her credit, the human did not act as though a stranger had just called the most secret ship in the galaxy and demanded to speak to its captain. She simply looked sympathetic - fake sympathetic, Aria noted, but she did a good job at masking it - and spoke politely. 'I'm sorry, but she won't be available to talk for several days. If you wish, I can-'
Aria's eye twitched. She hated platitudes. 'Do you know who I am?' she overrode, allowing a drop of venom to enter her voice, but not raising it.
'Aria T'Loak, ma'am,' the redhead replied, without missing a beat.
And, Aria noted, without reacting in any way at all. Not fear, nor some false bravado, or forced casualness. For all she looked like somebody hired for her boss to eyebang, there was clearly at least a little more to the pretty human than her appearance. 'That's right,' Aria drawled, 'so listen. I know your boss is on Thessia with her little playtoy.'
The human's eyes widened almost imperceptibly, and Aria allowed a whisper of a grin to touch her lips. 'Yes, I know. Now tell her I want to speak to her, and that it's important I do so before she leaves the planet.'
After several seconds of close scrutiny, the secretary finally nodded, and re-applied her endlessly polite smile. 'I'll let her know you want to speak to her, but I can't promise she'll answer.'
'She will,' Aria said with perfect confidence.
Shepard was a lot of things, but stupid was not one of them. She owed Aria for taking care of her ship after she had returned through the Omega 4 Relay, and whilst Aria continued to make a handsome profit from the Council science teams passing through on a near daily basis - a deal Shepard had negotiated - she still did not consider them even. She had seen Shepard's little announcement about the Reapers, and whilst it all seemed a little... unlikely, on meeting the Spectre Aria had noted that Shepard was one of those curious people who genuinely did not seem to care about empowering herself.
With her Spectre status and that lovely ship, combined with what seemed to be the "civilised" governments of the galaxy wanting only to wash their hands of her, the woman could have done just about anything. And yet, she just seemed interested in plucking a couple of particularly noteworthy individuals from Aria's nest, and pursuing a ridiculously suicidal mission involving the mysterious relay in her system.
Not that it mattered. Everybody had something they wanted, and if Shepard's motivations lay not with personal gain, then the alternative was easy enough to deduce.
She wanted fleets, soldiers, weapons and more to fight these Reapers.
And the Terminus had more of those than any government would care to admit... and there was only one person who could even begin to claim they commanded enough power to draw on that military might as a whole.
Aria felt her pulse quicken in anticipation. There was nothing better than a war. Pathetic, scared civilians would give everything of themselves for a promise of protection she had no intention of providing, smuggling would skyrocket, soldiers would look for any number of ways to blow off steam, and people stopped caring if their friends or neighbours went missing... perfect. If Shepard's war came about, she would be in the ideal place to profit.
And if Shepard expected that war, she needed Aria. It was as simple as that. They both knew it, and so it was no surprise that the soldier's face appeared above Aria's wrist less than a minute after red-haired disappeared.
Aria grinned. It wasn't often she talked to a person she could bait without intimidating them in one way or another. The teasing persona was the one she enjoyed the most. 'Shepard. Your secretary's such a sweet, pretty little thing. She even thought you might not take my call.'
'I'm here. What do you want, Aria?' Shepard replied gruffly.
The pirate's smile only widened, and she ignored the question. 'I'm glad you did. Otherwise I'd have had to call T'Soni's house directly, and we can't have her name tarnished any more, can we?'
That got her. Shepard's eyes narrowed, and there was a brief flash of teeth as she spoke coldly. 'Your deal's with me, not her.'
Touchy subject... and the subtext was obvious. Shepard wouldn't do anything to risk her position in the ridiculous farce of a trial that was the biggest news on Thessia.
It could have been frustrating, dealing with that kind of limitation, if Aria let herself get frustrated. But knowing the limits of her power was one of the reasons she had held it for so long. And whilst knowing such a tender point was undoubtedly an advantage in their negotiations, Aria also knew that Shepard would have no trouble telling Aria where to stuff it if she pushed too hard, or demanded too much in return for her favour. The Queen of Omega did not doubt she could suitably punish Shepard for doing so, but it was in nobody's interest to let such an opportunity go to waste.
Deciding that Shepard would not react well to any further teasing about her little pureblood pet - for now at least - Aria settled in to business. 'That it is. And as you have no doubt worked out, I am calling in that favour.'
The human nodded. 'Tell me.'
Aria leaned back again, mind working the best way to present her will.
Eventually she gave a predatory smile, and nodded. 'One of the matriarchs judging Benezia's trial is a prime bitch named Artus.'
Anger again flashed across Shepard's face, and the image jolted as the human obviously slashed the hand holding her omni-tool. 'No. We're leaving the trial out of this.'
'You didn't even hear me out, Shepard,' Aria drawled, allowing venom to seep into her voice. The human's arrogance set her teeth on edge, but the opportunity was one she could not afford to lose through anger. But she would not let some human think she could dictate Aria's will. 'Don't interrupt me again.'
A second passed, tense, before the human finally seemed to relax. 'I won't. But don't expect me to sabotage this trial for you.'
Stuck up bitch...
'I don't,' Aria replied, not allowing her anger to touch her. 'If things go as I expect, this can be a... mutually beneficial... arrangement.'
Shepard nodded. 'Okay. Tell me about Artus.'
Picturing the bitch's face, Aria scowled. 'Her public image is that she's soft, but don't let it fool you. They're all vipers, Shepard, and she's the worst of them. She'll leave you thinking she's the clever, reasonable, wise one, and you were an upstart fool for disagreeing with her. She'll use her tongue however she needs to get you on her side, but will never argue, never threaten.'
The human nodded thoughtfully, a look of distaste on her features, but stayed quiet.
Aria continued, pleased. 'She's taken a... dislike... to me. I think it's because one of her daughters is doing a lovely job fucking her way up my chain of command, but that doesn't matter. What matters to you is that she's also the one most likely to want Benezia's name spoiled.'
The matriarch's sudden shift was more an inconvenience than any real problem in terms of physical losses or gains - Artus was not nearly influential enough to make a sizeable dent in Aria's empire. But it was the principal of the thing that mattered: Artus was a public figure which gave her ravings weight, and given time the slight inconvenience might turn into something more.
Not to mention, it pissed Aria off, and that was reason enough for her to act.
The pirate felt that wonderful feeling of a plan coming together as a dark look soured the human's features. 'Why?'
She really wants Benezia cleared, this will be easier than I thought.
'The usual,' Aria replied, 'she stands to make a lot of money if Benezia's investments fail, and she's best placed to take in all of Benezia's old followers if her name is disgraced. That kind of thing is important to them, you see.'
It was almost amusing, to watch the matriarchs scuttling around Thessia, weaving the webs of lies and deals and deceptions they imagined made them sophisticated. They thought they had power, when all it took was another of their number to die to kick up old grudges and have them at each other's throats for decades or longer.
Aria had even ordered a couple of assassinations for that exact reason, when she either needed them distracted, or when she was bored. That was power. One word from her and she could mobilise the entire might of Omega, without the bothersome process of democracy or convincing those who incorrectly thought their opinions important that the action was worthwhile.
And while she could have done the same in this situation; ordered an assassination or taken any other path, the opportunity here was much better, and the rewards so much... sweeter.
She shifted herself into a more comfortable position in her sofa. 'So while Artus tries to convince everybody why it's important Benezia is labelled a traitor, why her property needs to be confiscated as an example to others, why the name T'Soni should be reduced to dirt-'
Shepard's face twitched prettily. This is almost too easy... 'All sounding oh so reasonable of course, I want you to keep in mind that she's somebody both of us want shut up. You do what I want, and your debt is cleared.'
'Tell me.' Her voice was cold, and Aria grinned in victory.
'I don't just want you to defeat her in the trial, Shepard. I want her humiliated. I want her followers to think her feeble, her backers to lose confidence in her, her whore daughter to think she's not worth a damned phone call. How you do it is up to you. Use your Spectre status to arrest her in public. Provoke her into saying what she actually thinks for once; you'll find she holds some interesting prejudices. Break into her house and dig up some dirt on her, or plant something there if you feel like playing dirty. If you need resources; agents or evidence, I can smuggle-'
'That won't be necessary,' Shepard interrupted, and Aria was pleased enough with the anger in Shepard's eyes to allow it. 'You've made your point. But I want to know, what do you get out of this? I bet you could shut her up yourself in any number of ways.'
Aria's grin widened. 'Of course I could. But when people find out Commander Shepard did it for me, I'm sure we'll see others begin doubting the... validity... of their position.' Anticipating Shepard's obvious response, Aria continued as the human's mouth opened. 'Don't worry, I'm not going to shout it out. Yet, anyway. You and I see things in a different way, human. I'll wait a few years until Artus' name is ground into nothing, then start the rumours that you were acting on my command.'
'How can I know that?'
'You can't,' Aria said coldly. 'But that's the price of dealing with me. I can tell you now that that's what I'll do, it's up to you if you want to believe me or not.'
Silence.
For several long seconds, the pair stared at each other, Shepard clearly calculating the pros and cons of Aria's proposal. It was a good deal, Aria knew - far better than the other options she had planned for Shepard.
Eventually, Shepard took a deep breath, and spoke clearly. 'I'll do it.'
Aria nodded. Of course she would. 'Excellent. It's been a pleasure as always, Shepard.' Feeling generous, she smirked and added, 'And a word of advice: enjoy Thessia while you can before those bitches make you hate the place.'
Enjoying Shepard's bemused look, Aria cut the call, and gestured Artus' daughter - currently gyrating on a pole to the side of her lounge - over to her.
It was a good day to be Queen.
Faith scowled, and glared at the empty air above her wrist for a second, before clearing her face.
She had no doubt Aria was correct that this Artus would be as bad as Aria suggested: the pirate was not stupid enough to lie to Shepard in something like this, but to destroy her reputation for holding inconvenient opinions? For an asari criminal she was forced by disgusting necessity to deal with more than once?
The whole day had left her feeling helpless. Liara was with Matriarch Rania, discussing the T'Soni estate fortunes; discussions Shepard had volunteered to sit out, figuring she should instead spend the time learning all she could about asari legal systems for when the prosecutors of Benezia finally decided to call on them.
The reading had been frustratingly vague: Liara was correct that for some crimes, proof and punishment was very clean cut. But for Benezia's unusual charge, so much relied on the interpretation of Benezia's own actions by a group of people whose position, apparently, was dependent only on the fact that they had lived for a long time rather than any actual training, experience or qualification. One of whom she now had the task of humiliating in public.
But that was a problem for later.
Alien legal systems aside, her request to Shiala earlier in the day had left a bad taste in her mouth.
Cold, hard, practicality had dictated she ask the question. Indoctrination, that terrifying process that - she knew from the Prothean beacon - had been amongst the Reapers' most deadly weapons, was shrouded in absolute mystery.
Faith dropped into her chair and pushed aside the stack of pads concerning Benezia's trial, instead retrieving her personal datapad, and calling up her private messages.
The sickly asari, limping on her cane without a word of complaint, stuttering almost pitifully at times, was the only person to have successfully recovered from indoctrination.
Shepard recognised a fighter in Shiala - Liara said that the commando was uniquely gifted in her mastery of the meld and as such often taught the skill to youths, but at her core Shiala was a soldier, driven by duty, forged by combat, just like Shepard herself.
Did she have any right to play on what she knew was that damaged, but still intact, sense of duty? The asari had committed some horrible crimes - and not all, she had hesitantly admitted, were done under the influence of her own indoctrination. Benezia had ordered her guard to do some things all knew were illegal, but done anyway through loyalty to the matriarch. If it was simply demanding Shiala continue helping Zhu's Hope as she had been, or being incarcerated, the question would be simple. But for the asari to further risk her health in such a manner was something else entirely, and brought back unpleasant memories of Project Overlord... experiments she had allowed on an unwilling - unknowing - subject for a tactical advantage.
Quashing the memories and scrolling through the messages displayed before her, Faith finally found the one that allowed her to ask the question to Shiala with any sense of justification, and gave a tiny smile as she read over the now familiar words.
Shepard,
Collector Base fascinating. Much of interest. Much not: surprising amount of obsolete technology. Ancient computers running machines we don't understand. Would like to... not important.
Found what I believe is key to Reaper control of Collectors. Will be examining further. Suspect it will assist understanding of indoctrination, possibly husk creation and control process.
Also, understand you are provoking war effort. Thought you should know, salarians respond well to hard evidence. Gather more.
Mordin.
If Shiala agreed to the tests, Faith would send her to the salarian. Whilst she knew deep down that Cerberus were likely further along with their studies, and could probably make better use of Shiala, she also knew they would be brutal, and the asari had suffered enough already. Mordin had a very strict code of ethics, and would ensure Shiala was treated as well as possible, in the circumstances.
Deciding to wait until Shiala gave a decision before messaging Mordin, she flagged the message for easier finding later on, then stood and stretched, wondering when Liara would return, and if she had time for another exercise session. It felt amazing to push herself in full gravity - the low artificial gravity on board both the Broker's ship and the Normandy left her feeling uncomfortably soft, though she had enjoyed her recent sessions with Vega, the man even more obsessed with honing himself than she was.
As if answering her thoughts, a soft tone sounded throughout the house, notifying her somebody was waiting to be let in.
Finally!
With an anticipatory smile, Faith made her way to the door and gestured at the panel to open it.
Over twelve years as a soldier had drilled a lot of hard knowledge and unshakeable habits into Shepard.
Always check your corners.
Never let the enemy dictate terms of engagement.
There is no such thing as a coincidence.
Shepard's body was honed and practiced in combat, and a history of training, instinct and hard experience led her to trust her gut, whatever the circumstances.
And so it was that less than a second after she opened the door, the gun holstered at her side was drawn, the barrel pointed directly between the eyes of Matriarch Aethyta.
A/N: Thank you Jay8008 and Vector 71 for the encouragement on this one - it took a while to get it the way I wanted, hopefully the next chapter will come a little faster!
The events regarding Shiala are from chapter 25 of Parallel Lives.