Three Little Lovebirds

Chapter 26 – The Utopia Complex

It wasn't the most original greeting, especially considering the woman talking to her was also a person she'd be living with for the next week. She'd thought she was prepared for this, but now that Tali was actually here, she wasn't so sure. What should she say? What could she say!? By the Goddess, where was Shepard?

"I-I'm fine." The quarian seemed to be having difficulty meeting her gaze; it was hard to tell behind that visor. "Has Lucy come up yet?"

"She was here just a minute ago." Liara paused, before realising she should probably elaborate. "She went go and sort out some details with the rest of the crew; I expect she'll be back in a moment."

"Oh, okay."

Think Liara, think! You have to say something, even if it's just so called 'small-talk'.

"I-uh," She had always worked quite well under pressure; perhaps committing herself to the conversation would force her mind to come up with ideas. Either that or she was about to make a complete fool of herself. More likely the latter. "I-I-I..."

Oh Goddess, I'm hopeless.

"I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who's finding this awkward." Tali somehow managed to giggle in such a way that left Liara thinking she was more terrified than amused, "I-I spent the whole walk up here from engineering trying to figure out what I'd say to you."

"You too?" Liara let out a sigh of relief, before tentatively enquiring, "So, um, what comes after the bit where you ask me where Shepard is?"

"Well, that was about as far as I got." Tali seemed to be finding the clasp of her bag extremely fascinating. Liara's heart went out to the young quarian; the scientist could well have been looking at herself, standing there without a clue how to act or what to say.

"Oh, well, it's a start." The asari tried to think of what she'd want the other person to say to her in this situation. Perhaps if they could find some common ground; a shared interest. It would be a start at least. Hopefully, once they'd got past the initial tension, the rest would flow naturally. But what did they both like? Liara hardly knew Tali, at least, not on a personal level. Everything she knew, really, she'd learned from Lucy. They both shared scientific interests of sorts, but in two completely different fields. What did they have to talk about? What thread connected the two of them?

Of course.

Liara bit the bullet. "So, I, er, I don't want to be too f-forward...but w-what do you think? Of her, I mean, of...us?"

Too soon! Too soon! Goddess, it sounds like you're interrogating her.

If the quarian thought the question was odd, it didn't show. She was apparently ready to grasp at any thread of conversation which presented an opportunity to break the awkward silence.

"Lucy?" Her fidgeting tailed off, as if she was deep in thought, "She's...she's..."

Perfect?

"...perfect."

Tali looked at her properly. For the first time since the conversation began, their gazes met. The only thing Liara could distinguish through the fog of her life support were her eyes, and they shone with an unspoken admiration.

"But you don't need me to tell you that. I-" She paused, seemingly questioning whether or not to disclose something, "I-I've seen the way you look at her..."

"Like she's the only other person in the room?" Liara breathlessly finished the sentence, letting her own sentiments mingle with the quarian's in mutual understanding, "Like your eyes would starve to death if her body wasn't there to feed them?"

"Exactly," Tali's face was inscrutable, but Liara was certain she knew what she was trying to express. It was what she'd felt ever since the spectre had come crashing so unexpectedly into her life.

"You know," The quarian continued, apprehension written all over her body, "When Lucy first told me that she loved you, I was more than a little upset. I, uh...I-I felt certain that no one could love her as much as I did."

There was that nervous little laugh again. Liara wanted to do something to help put Tali at ease, but wasn't even sure where to begin. Instead, she simply swallowed down her fear at what might be said, and nodded.

"It hurt me." The way she said those words left no doubt that it truly had. "B-But then, I, um, I accidentally overheard the two of you talking; just after you had woken up. The things you said to each other; well, it made me realise that there was someone else out there who could honestly say that...that they loved her. The way I love her."

Liara could feel a large portion of her apprehension dissolve away as she listened to Tali's expressive explanation. In a way, it seemed the quarian had endured more pain than she had. Liara had feared never having the woman she loved, but Tali had feared losing her, even if such concerns had been quickly laid to rest. The asari tried to imagine how much it would hurt, seeing Lucy recede into the arms of someone else and turning her back on their love. She quickly stopped, for the thought brought on an icy-cold dread which made her visibly shiver. Empathy was a natural talent of her race, and although Liara hadn't had much practice at it, she did find herself humbled by Tali's willingness to risk that horrid and hurtful place for the sake of her and Shepard. Liara knew it took little to spark self-doubt, yet it took extraordinary courage to defeat it. She had never truly mastered her own, but now, with Lucy by her side, she at least felt that she was winning the battle. After all, how could she doubt herself when the first human spectre didn't?

"This is all so new to me," Liara admitted, feeling that she should reciprocate Tali's gift of honesty with one of her own. Talking about how she felt wasn't something that came easily to the young asari, but she didn't want to lose this tentative bond of understanding with her lover's other partner. Thinking of Lucy and determined not to fail her, she forced herself to keep talking, "I've never been in any kind of relationship before. I..."

She stumbled over the words, but didn't let herself stop.

"There's so much I have to learn...i-it's all so overwhelming. I-I just want her to be happy; with me...with-with us." Liara held Tali's gaze, silently imploring the other girl to recognize her sincerity. "Do you think we can do it? Figure out a way to love her where no one feels hurt or-or spurned?"

Tali hesitated for less than a second. In her mind, it was no longer a question of' if', simply 'how'.

"Yes, we will." The quarian surprised both of them by reaching out and resting a comforting hand on Liara's shoulder, "You know...I...I think I can see why she loves you."

Liara had no response to that. What she did realise however, was that something very important had just taken place. In the past few minutes, she and Tali had taken the first steps towards an acceptance that would ultimately form the foundation of any kind of polygamous relationship.

"Liara?" Lucy's voice sounded faintly from outside, steadily drawing closer as she approached the airlock, "Liara? Is Tali up yet, we..."

The object of their affections re-entered the ship, looking slightly flustered, but otherwise as radiant as usual. She stopped when she saw the two women standing there, Tali's hand on Liara's shoulder, and a smile crept unbidden to her lips. It was heart-warming to see that her partners were already getting to know each other better, and it filled her with fresh resolve.

"Well, now that you're both here, the holiday can well and truly begin."

"Lead the way, Lucy." Tali said, gathering up the small bag which contained all her worldly possessions and slinging it over her shoulder. Liara followed suit, and together, the three of them exited the ship. There wasn't much conversation as they headed for the taxi rank; each member of the trio deep in her own thoughts. Liara had worried that it might be awkward, but instead, there was a sense of silent anticipation in the air. One way or another, the next week was going to be unforgettable.

He had heard organics talk about the 'chill' of space. For them, it was a fitting description; the water in their cells froze at approximately 273K and even this close to a star, the temperature of the void was a mere 2.73K. Where he came from, it was as close enough to absolute zero that it made no statistical difference. It could take years for two neighbouring atoms to collide, their kinetic energy reduced to the tiniest dreg necessary for their continued existence. It was an apt analogy for the fate soon to befall the life in this galaxy.

The Shadow Broker did not feel the cold; he was merely aware of it as one of the multitude of variables measured by his external sensors as he glided through the infinite, inky blackness. To him, the emptiness was anything but; it teemed with radiation which ran the gamut of the electromagnetic spectrum, every individual wave from every celestial object he could see captured, analyzed, and filed away. Information was his buisness, and no piece of data, no matter how small or insignificant, was below categorisation.

Before him, the immense bulk of a Mass Relay carved out a silhouette against the star-studded background. It filled him with the logical equivalent of pride to see the legacy of his race; still fulfilling its primary function so long after its creation. It also served as a reminder of who really ruled this galaxy. He devoted one process to scouring his archives on the human race for a suitable comparison. It came to him immediately. The Reapers were like the keepers of an ant colony; they provided the initial conditions in which their subjects could grow and thrive. As they did, the mindless insects believed themselves to be masters of their own environment, blissfully unaware that those that had created it were in complete control of their fate.

20km away from the edifice's pulsating eezo core, the Shadow Broker accelerated, tracing the familiar path more commonly taken by starships on an approach vector. When travelling alone, however, he had no need of a metal shell to transport him. 10km out, he mentally transmitted his destination coordinates, using hidden subroutines known only to his kind to set up a trail of false leads which would lead any pursuers to an untimely demise in the heart of a Quasar supercluster. Not that he anticipated being followed; his size and invisibility to most conventional scanning techniques ensured that a passing ship would register him as nothing more than a bit of space-junk.

A strand of blue lightning arced from the contained singularity of the relay, striking the Shadow Broker in the chest and dancing across his carapace like the spindly legs of phantom arachnids. He understood the sensation could be likened to being 'tickled'. Then again, if an organic capable of such feelings somehow attempted the same procedure, they would be torn apart in a matter of nanoseconds. Instead, they scurried through the tunnels of his ant colony in their air-tight coffins. It was almost amusing that they considered themselves the rulers of a realm they couldn't even survive in without protection.

With a roar silenced by the vacuum of space, the agent of the enemy was blasted across light-years in the blink of an eye. His transit was logged as nothing more than another flight-plan, lost to the vast streams of data which fed to Citadel control from the vast transit network.

Much to Lucy's delight, once the three of them had clambered into a waiting taxi pod, conversation began to flow more freely. Tali and Liara were still noticeably shy around each other, mainly talking to her rather than between themselves, but they seemed comfortable enough to let their guards down and partake of some light banter. Lucy wished she knew what had been said in the short time she'd been away, but she also realised that it probably wouldn't have happened if she had been there. Like it or not, there were some things that the two of them would have to work through without her direct input; all she could do was be as supportive as possible.

Watching the towers and traffic of Kithoi ward speed by as they raced towards their destination, she pondered what their next move should be. She had suggested to Liara that they shop for some more casual clothes, but it was only just beginning to dawn on her that that wasn't really something Tali could participate in. It would be more than heartless if the first thing they did was also something that excluded the young quarian.

Then again, Lucy thought, wracking her brains for ideas, maybe there was a way to include everyone. It wasn't in Tali's selfless nature to complain, but Lucy couldn't help noticing that her head-shawl was looking rather stained and tattered from repeated abuse in the field. Perhaps together they could find a suitable replacement. It had been many years since she'd last visited this area, but she could still remember the names of a few shops that might stock such accessories.

Another item which shot straight to the top of her mental shopping list was more of the quarian immuno-boosters which she and Tali had used on their first night together. It was expensive as hell to buy any that even half worked, the market for them being rather limited, but she was determined to acquire as many crates as could be physically crammed into Normandy's cargo hold. Whilst she accepted Tali's suit as an integral part of who the quarian was, she also knew that both of them would enjoy not having to be restricted by it. Before, supplies had been so limited that they only had enough to use when they wanted to make love. It would be nice to have a sufficient surplus to be able to spend some time in the flesh with Tali on a simple day-to-day basis as well.

"I've seen this area before," Tali said suddenly, pressing her faceplate to the window, "I remember it from my Pilgrimage; it's the Utopia Complex, but..."

Lucy knew where the engineer's train of thought was going, and found herself squirming self-consciously. This was the part she'd conveniently forgotten to mention. No one but her was fully aware of quite how much money their mission had been generating. At the time it had seemed like such a wonderful idea, but now Lucy was beginning to wonder if her partners would approve of their destination.

"...but it can't be. This...this is where all the diplomats and government officials stay when they visit the Citadel. A week in one of the suites here must cost more than a small starship."

"Not quite," The spectre interjected, "But, erm, you're...you're not that far off."

"You didn't..." Liara said softly, gazing in wonderment at the glittering terraces and nestled ornamental gardens which were clearly visible as their craft decelerated into a lazy descent angle, "I-I mean...how?"

"Well, uh, I had a bit stashed away," Lucy rubbed the back of her neck nervously. Was it really hot in the taxi pod, or was it just her? "You know, for special occasions...a-and I thought now would be the perfect time to, er, indulge ourselves. We won't get another opportunity like this for a while after all."

"It's beautiful," Tali whispered, "I never thought I'd ever...Keelah, I don't think any quarian has even come close to here since we lost our embassy."

The taxi glided gently downwards, looping around the myriad of spires and walkways which rose from the district's many impressive structures. A set of blinking lights highlighted their final destination; a landing pad which protruded from an elliptical ring of buildings near the quarter's edge. Passing through the static barrier, a nearly invisible force field designed to trap breathable atmosphere, their ride finally alighted on a very good approximation of solid ground. It looked strangely out of place among the million-credit luxury sports cars and private shuttles owned by the other patrons; no doubt ambassadors or big buisness types of some description. Lucy had to admit though, despite the somewhat snobby clientele, it was absolutely breathtaking. She'd done some research on the extranet beforehand, looking for somewhere they could stay, but the tiny pictures she'd seen could never do it justice. Unlike the rest of the wards, the Utopia Complex maintained a permanent, bubble-shaped static barrier that meant the whole area could effectively remain exposed to the 'outside'. It was reminiscent of the Presidium; except instead of a simulated sky overhead, you had an awe inspiring view of the Citadel arms, imposed over the iridescent backdrop of the Serpent Nebula. Narrowing her eyes, Lucy was just able to make out the glowing veins of traffic on Tayseri Warp opposite.

"Come on, let's go check out the rooms!" Lucy was already out of the car and beckoning to her companions. Having gotten over the initial shock, Liara and Tali hurriedly snatched up their luggage and followed suit, not stopping to look as the automated vehicle whirred itself to life and took off back the way it came.

The Utopia Complex wasn't so much a hotel as it was a resort. Several different letting companies vied for supremacy, but ultimately each one offered equally luxurious accommodation differing only in minutiae like the style of the decor. The perfectly maintained villas were interspersed with clusters of premium nightclubs, bars and shopping precincts designed to cater to the wealthier audience which frequented them. Having blown a large chunk of her credits on the rent alone, Lucy wasn't sure how much use they'd be able to get out of them. Fortunately, the wealth gradient decreased steadily as you left the central hub, and there were many more affordable boutiques in the area. On the other hand, it wasn't like the money did any good just sitting in her bank account.

As the three of them exited the parking area in awed silence, it occurred to Lucy that she didn't have the foggiest idea where they were meant to go. There was no signpost, and nowhere that looked like a reception area. Just as she was about to admit defeat, a VI pedestal came to life nearby, displaying a holographic image of an asari not dissimilar from Avina, the tourist interface on the Presidium.

"Greetings, and allow me to be the first to welcome you to the Sentis plaza. I am your virtual guide, Selena. We hope your journey to our premium resort was a pleasant one. If I may take the name of your party leader, I will show you to your apartment."

Lucy glanced at the other two, unable to stop a bit of a smirk from spreading across her features. She was quite certain they weren't the type of person the computerised concierge was used to addressing.

"I guess we'd better do what she says," Lucy approached the pedestal, the VI detecting her movement and orienting itself to face her, "Lucy Shepard. We're a party of three."

"One minute ma'am while I access our guest list." Selena stood unblinking for a few moments, "Ah, here we are; the penthouse suite on level A2, booked for a week, is that correct?"

"Certainly is."

"Very good ma'am, if your party would please follow me." The small holo emitter from which Selena was projected began to move at a leisurely pace along a rail mounted in the floor. It was a surreal sight, watching the VI glide off down the path like a digital ghost.

"Uh...okay then." Lucy motioned for them to keep up with their guide. The route she was taking led them right across the middle of the circular courtyard, past concentric rings of floral displays surrounding a central fountain. Flowers of all shapes, sizes and colours clustered together in a dazzling show of spectral beauty. It was hard to believe they weren't planet-side.

"Goddess, is that..." Liara slowed her pace to examine a large, vine-like plant adorned with indigo buds in full bloom, "It is!"

She turned to Lucy, an expression of utter delight on her face.

"It's a Hanging Rose...'Maiden's Folly'." Carefully, she plucked off one of the blossoms, "Mother used to love them. In the summertime, the walls of our house would be completely covered. They're very rare outside of Thessia; I-I haven't seen one since I left home."

Carefully, Liara handed the flower to her partner, the tiniest beginnings of a blush creeping up her neck.

"H-Here."

Feeling utterly charmed, Lucy pressed the violet petals to her nose and inhaled deeply. A rich, succulent sweetness, like the scent of terran roses only much more intense caressed her senses.

"It smells wonderful," She looked up at the embarrassed Asari through lidded eyes, "What does the name mean...'Maiden's Folly'?"

"Oh..." Liara's blush suddenly intensified, "T-Their scent is a mild aphrodisiac; a-a-at least, for asari. In the past, maidens would give them to the one they desired, in the hopes that the smell would make them more...susceptible to their advances. A-Apparently it worked...hence the name."

Lucy's gaze drifted from the flower, to Liara, and back again.

"Why, Miss T'Soni! Anyone would think you were trying to seduce me."

A palpable silence hung in the air between them. It took Liara several moments to find the courage to speak.

"P-Perhaps." She squeaked.

Lucy's smile widened, but the flirtatious remark she was about to make died on the tip of her tongue. Her eyes were drawn to where Tali was standing, forlornly holding a blossom between two delicate fingers. As their relationship had progressed from acquaintances, to friends, and finally to lovers, Lucy had become quite adept at discerning the quarian's mood from her body language. It didn't take a genius to know what was going through Tali's mind as she stared sadly at the flower, making no attempt to bring it up to her face.

It struck the spectre then how insensitive she must seem at times. She was so caught up in trying to make everyone happy that she sometimes lost sight of the fact that her actions could hurt people's hearts as well as heal them.

What was it that you said to them? That this was for their benefit, not for yours? By god, you'd better start practicing what you preach young lady!

"Go to her Shepard..." With a start, Lucy realised that Liara had spoken to her. Looking back, she saw that the asari was also watching the heart-wrenching scene. Her voice was shaky, but there was an unmissable conviction behind the words she way saying."Got to her...s-she needs you more than I do right now."

It hadn't dawned on Lucy until that she'd been seeking Liara's approval to act until it was given. Knowing that the asari didn't think she was spoiling their moment however, finalised her decision. She mouthed a silent 'thank you', hoping it was enough to convey how truly grateful she was. Then, tucking the scientist's gift into her breast pocket, she hurried to Tali's side.

Liara watched Lucy go, not really able to make sense of what she was feeling. She wasn't sure what had possessed her to say what she had, or how she'd known what Lucy had wanted without asking. She had thought it was because they were soul mates; but now, looking at the way Tali suddenly reached out and hugged her spectre, she realised it was simply because they were in love.