Annie was led by one of the asari's batarian thugs to a taxi stop where a car pulled up and the door opened to Aria leaning in the back. "Get in," she ordered and for a moment Annie considered defying them but that would be pointless as she climbed aboard.
"How dramatic."
"There are too many eyes and ears in Purgatory," she commented before the doors closed and they began their casual trip around the docking bays.
"I assume this is about retaking Omega?" Annie let her eyes drift around the car, out the window, and then back to Aria as if to uphold how this was supposed to look normal to the outside bystander.
"This is about your war, Shepard and with Cerberus controlling the Terminus Systems it seriously bolsters their mobility. Since taking Omega they've spread through the galaxy. Surely the Alliance has noticed." Aria…as melodramatic as always.
"Cut to the chase. What's your plan?"
"I've amassed a collection of fighter ships, we're going to punch through their lines and invade. Once we're on Omega, it's a ground war. That's why I want you – I only accept the best."
"You flatter me," Annie muttered. Certainly Aria and her didn't see eye to eye on everything and it always unnerved the commander with how much Aria knew about her past but Annie couldn't deny her drive. "What sort of force are we up against?"
"Petrovsky's army is massive, and he's got Omega locked tight. The information stops there." Petrovsky was Cerberus's number one strategists and the Illusive Man's best-kept secret. Annie could see by the way Aria flinched at every mention of the name that she was out for blood.
"So…you're winging it? Sounds familiar," Annie smirked, glancing back out the window only for Aria to give her own scoff.
"Not at all. There are secrets on Omega only I know, secrets that will provide us a foothold. I can tell you this. Petrovsky's invasion was precise and ruthless. He'll stop at nothing to win."
"Looks like he's about to meet his match," Annie added, looking over the small collection of information Aria had just explained on a datapad. The woman chuckled, leaning back in her seat as she turned her attention towards the commander.
"That kind of talk makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. When Omega is mine again, I'll give you everything. I've got ships, mercs, eezo – all yours for the war." It was then Annie heard the heavy hanging catch to this whole plan, and she figured it had a lot to do with how Aria wanted none of her team to hear about this. "My only requirement is that I have objections with some of the company you keep, so you'll have to leave the Normandy and its crew behind." Annie pursed her lips together in thought. That wouldn't be easy. Her team would suspect, Liara would suspect.
"My crew are professionals," Annie hissed as Aria gave a mischievous smirk, leaning over to pull at Annie's chin with her index finger. Annie tensed, her nose wrinkling in an annoyed expression.
"Let's just say…I want you all to myself." It was then Annie was dropped back off at the dock, Aria leaving without much more except where to meet her and her fleet. Annie made her way back to the Normandy, trying to think of a good excuse the whole walk there.
All Annie needed to do was get out the door. The rest of her team seemed to believe her that whatever she was doing would be important. All except for Liara. The asari had heard about her departure through the grapevine, which only seemed to make her more upset that she hadn't heard it from the commander herself. Annie was aware of the dangers of withholding information from an information broker but she was simply following Aria's instruction. No one was to know. No one was to come with her.
"Hold on, where is it you're going again?" Liara asked, chasing after Annie as the commander finished up a few last minute items on the CIC.
"Just…on a bit of a trip," she remarked, sliding into the elevator in hopes of losing her lover. But Liara was quick and thin, slipping into the small gap between the doors as they shut.
"Oh really? Just a trip?" She crossed her arms over her chest, raising her brow accusingly at her lover. Annie couldn't honestly believe Liara would fall for this
"Ya…like, you know, some shore leave to clear my head." The doors opened to the shuttle bay and Annie stepped out to begin putting on her armor and preparing her weapons.
"You do understand that I know when you're lying? That's part of the whole mental connection thing we share. Plus you're a terrible liar." There was a pause of which Annie attempted to pretend she didn't understand what Liara was talking about. "Very well," Liara huffed, helping Annie reach a difficult buckle on her side. "Ignoring the fact that you have yet to go on a shore leave without me, I have never believed you to take a day off in a situation like this unless someone had a gun to your head." It was then Liara came to a disturbing possibility, her worry showing in her features as Annie rolled her eyes, gripping the woman's shoulders gently.
"No one is holding a gun to my head, Liara, I promise. I'm just going to be gone for a couple of days." Annie rested a kiss on Liara's cheek, moving away from the supplies and towards the shuttle she planned to take over to Aria's fleet location. Alone.
"Annie Eleanor Shepard," Liara hissed, hands on her hips as Annie flinched, almost too nervous to turn around and face her. Liara had a good way of settling guilt and fear into Annie's bones by just a few well-placed words. Go on a suicide mission to the center of the galaxy? Sure. Attempt to convince the krogan to forgive the turians? Sounds like fun. Put her alone in a room with an upset Liara? No thank you. "Tell me where you are going or so help me I'll find out myself and then quarantine you to your quarters for the remainder of this war." Some people might've considered her response a little…extreme, but Annie could understand her concern. She'd just gotten the commander back. Annie knew she wouldn't like letting her run off into the unknown.
Annie rolled her lips, turning around to face her and glancing at the room full of curious crewmembers. She reached over, grabbing Liara's wrist and tugging her behind the shuttle as the asari gave her an annoyed glare. "Doing this isn't going to change my question," Liara stressed as Annie rolled her eyes.
"Look…I'm going to Omega to help Aria get the station back," Liara's annoyed expression fell into a stunned one, mouth falling partially open. "She made me promise that I wouldn't tell anyone or bring anyone along."
"Omega?" Liara said a little too loud for Annie as the woman quickly shushed her. The asari attempted to lower her voice but her words were still filled with a harsh worry. "That place is overrun by Cerberus troops!"
"I know, I know. But Aria claims to have a plan and she just needs my help to be able to properly execute it." Liara gave a hard laugh, reaching up to cup Annie's face before giving a gentle and somewhat degrading pat on her cheek.
"My love, you are one of the most impressive fighters I know. But are you sure this is even possible?" Annie reached up, taking the hand on her face and hold it close to her chest.
"It's worth a try, isn't it? To have an entire station providing the Alliance with necessary eezo, weaponry, and fighters? Plus, we'll be taking out a major Cerberus base in the process. Aria promised it would be no more than three days. One to get there and prepare, one to take the station over, and another to get back to the Normandy." Liara stood there, her thumb gently running over the worn and scratched up armor before giving a defeated sigh.
"Three days?"
"Three days," Annie rolled her lips, realizing just how much she hoped the woman would approve. The commander hated having to go behind Liara's back. Suddenly the woman leaned forward, pulling Annie into the deep kiss. There were times when their kisses were playful and lovely, and then others when they were needy. This was the latter. Liara's arms wrapped around Annie's neck her right leg sliding up her side, hugging her body, as she seemed to refuse to let go.
"Okay," she panted, resting her hand on Annie's chest as the Spectre smiled. "But watch yourself around Aria," Liara added as Annie raised an amused brow.
"Watch myself? My love, if the past three years has proved anything," she wrapped her arms around the asari's waist, lifting her before pressing Liara's back tighter to the side of the shuttle. Liara giggled, wrapping her legs around Annie's waist and looking down as she curled a pesky loose piece of hair around Annie's ear. "It is that I am completely and utterly taken," she whispered as Liara held Annie's face in her hands and they kissed deeply once more.
