Chapter Fifty-One:

In Which Our Hero Chats Over Coffee

Annoyed, Liara shook the coffee machine. How is it possible that I can operate sensitive machines designed to perform excavations so delicate they're practically surgical, yet I cannot control this simple—

"Try plugging it in." Chief Williams straightened from where she was leaning against the entryway to the kitchenette and walked over to the machine. Reaching around the coffee maker, she inserted the power cord into an outlet. "It falls out pretty easily," Williams explained, smiling.

"I—Thank you." Liara fidgeted, watching as coffee began to drip into the carafe.

"No problem." Williams pulled open one of the cupboards and took down a mug. She drummed her fingers absently against the porcelain, smiling to herself. When the coffee maker switched itself off, Liara poured herself a cup before offering the pot to Williams. There was a momentary delay before Williams realized what was going on and let Liara pour coffee into her mug.

"Thanks, Doctor," she said.

"Of course, Chief Williams." Liara watched in horror as the marine took a sip of her coffee and exited the kitchenette. Shaking her head in disbelief, Liara proceeded to enhance her own coffee with a good deal of sugar.

As Liara began to open several of the ridiculously small packets of creamer, she heard Chief Williams greet someone in the mess.

"Morning, Skipper."

"Hey, Ash. You up for coming with me for an early-morning chat with Parasini?"

"Of course, sir. What did she want yesterday, anyway?"

"I'd tell you, but I don't want to ruin the surprise. You're going to love it though."

"Really? After yesterday, I can't believe that you haven't figured out that I'm not really good with surprises."

"Considering that I haven't run for the hills, I can't believe that you haven't figured out you're not the only thickhead on this ship. I've got to make a mistake over and over before I learn, I guess."

"See, now I'm trying to figure out if there's a compliment in there somewhere, or if you're just incredibly thickheaded, sir."

Shepard's next words were tinged with laughter. "If you hit a superior officer Williams, I'll be forced to add a disciplinary note to your file."

"No fun, Skipper."

"No whining, marine. Go get suited up; I want to be at the administrator's office when it opens. Before you go, tell me: did you leave any coffee for your CO?"

"Dr. T'Soni made a whole pot, actually. She's still in the kitchenette."

The commander was quiet for a moment; Liara could imagine his face going still as his thoughts shifted to business. "Two birds, one stone."

"You haven't talked with her yet?" Chief Williams' voice had taken on a similarly professional tone.

"I thought I'd have a chance yesterday, but things didn't pan out. I'd better go talk to her now, while things are still quiet."

"I'll see you later, Commander."

"Meet me at the airlock at 0930. Oh, and tell Garrus to come. I think he'll get a kick out of this, too."

Liara heard Shepard approach the kitchenette and stirred her coffee frantically, reaching for an air of nonchalance she couldn't quite affect.


"I can't believe how corrupt you've become in such a short time," Shepard said as he poured himself a coffee. "I can just remember thinking that you seemed like such an innocent, pleasant person when you first came aboard the Normandy."

"Corrupt?" Liara yelped. "Me?" He knows I was eavesdropping. "What do you mean?"

"Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about." Shepard gently touched his mug to Liara's. "You're an addict now, just like the rest of us. Joker's a terrible person for introducing you to this stuff."

"Oh. You were joking."

Shepard's lips quirked slightly. "I can't help it. You actually laugh at my jokes sometimes." He sipped his coffee thoughtfully. "We missed you last night. Why didn't you come out? I think you'dve had fun."

Liara made a face. "In all honesty, Shepard, I prefer to be alone most of the time. Growing up, my mother's house was filled with her students… nearly all of them ignored me. It was a long while before I learned that being alone and being invisible are not the same thing. Longer still before I could appreciate being alone with my own thoughts. Now…" she laughed. "It sounds terrible to say out loud, but now, I don't find many people interesting enough to want to spend time socializing with them. Not when I could be doing something productive, like research."

"I'm tempted to ask you which camp I fall into, but I'm afraid of your answer," Shepard smiled. Liara opened her mouth to reassure him, but the commander held up a hand. "And if you get all flustered and start apologizing, I'll forget that there's something I need to talk to you about." He put his mug down on the counter and reached out to close the kitchenette door, but then seemed to think better of it.

"Would you mind if we moved this conversation to my cabin?" he asked. "It won't take long, but I'd like us to have privacy without depriving the rest of the crew of a chance to get breakfast." Without waiting for Liara's response, Shepard collected his coffee and left the room. Liara followed, realizing as she did so that Shepard hadn't really been asking if she minded.


"Have a seat." Shepard engaged the privacy lock on his door before sitting at the central table in his cabin, and gesturing for Liara to take the seat across from him. She sat, a growing sense of apprehension taking root in her stomach.

Shepard rubbed the scar on his nose. "I know you, at least, always read the mission briefs, so I won't rehash why we're here on Noveria."

"There were reports of geth presence on the planet, correct?"

"Right, right. But that was just our initial intelligence. Yesterday, we found out a bit more about the situation." He took a breath, and pulled his hand down from his face. His expression was unreadable, blank and professional. "Matriarch Benezia is on Noveria. I know that I hadn't planned on bringing you on this ground mission, but you must realize that your mother's presence on the planet changes things.

"I don't know much about your mother. You do, though. If you think you'd be able to handle it, I'd like to put you on the ground team."

"You want to add me to the team? With Tali and Chief Williams?"

"Not exactly. We've done all our training in small, three-person units. I don't want to change that. Too many people on the ground can be as bad as too few." Shepard's face twitched in the small expression that Liara had come to recognize as his usual substitute for a real smile. "Although, I suppose it's worse to have too few. In any case, I'm going to drop Williams and Tali from the team and substitute you in. I was thinking you and Garrus; you two work well together."

Liara bit her bottom lip. Benezia is here. Shepard wants me on the ground team so I can talk with Benezia. "I—Shepard, I told you when I first arrived on the Normandy that I don't know why Benezia has made the choices she has."

"I understand that."

"Then why are you asking me to do this? What do you think I can do, Shepard? I haven't spoken to Benezia in years; I barely know her anymore."

"She's your mother, Liara, I just want you to talk to her. If she's going to listen to anyone, she'll listen to you."

"I have nothing to say to her."

"You don't even want to try?"

"You already had a plan in place, Shepard," Liara stood up. "I suggest you proceed with that."

"Please, Liara."

Liara looked the commander in the eye. Despite her aversion to encountering Benezia, she didn't want to disappoint Shepard. Lifting her chin, Liara forced herself to ignore her irrational infatuation.

"You've worked with me long enough to know what will happen if you mother won't turn herself in." Shepard stood and moved to the door. When he faced Liara, she was struck by how haggard he looked. "I'm tired of killing people, Liara. I don't want to kill your mother, but if I can't talk her down, I will.

"I… I remember what I saw in your memories when you tried to interpret the visions from the beacon. You've fought with your mother, but I know you love her. And… I don't know if you saw my—my mother at all, in my memories, but I'd give anything to talk with her again."

Shepard punched a code into his door, and it slid open. "Still, it's your decision. My apologies for badgering you, Doctor."

Liara hesitated. "You want to save my mother?"

His face softened. "I want you to save her. I'd just be there to make sure you don't get bothered by the geth."

"Do you promise me you won't let her die?"

"You know I can't promise that, Liara, and I'm sorry. But I'll give her every chance I can."

Liara put a hand on Shepard's arm. "Then maybe together, we can help her."