Chapter 14: Merit Badges and Rooms With Elephants In Them
Passing though the markets lower section Shiala thought she saw a recognizable face from Zhu's Hope. May O'Connell... she thought the name was.
"May?" the huntress said walking over to her.
"Shiala...?" the dark haired woman smiled when she recognized the asari. The smile then turned into a frown as her brained registered that Shiala was not the beautiful purple hued huntresses that had helped them recover form the geth and thorian attacks but was now emerald. At first she wondered if she had the right woman. But she must be, how else would the asari have known her name let alone called her by it.
"It is I, yes." The huntresses deciphered the look of confusion on the human's face.
"Then it's happening to you too-the spores of the Thorian. We thought you might have been spared," May uttered, staring at the green skin.
The huntress shook her head. "No... spores?" Shiala had thought the changes were do to her unborn daughter. But if May was here...then something more had happened at Zhu's Hope. Something horrid.
"Maybe you had it worse considering you were its slave," May said softly. She cut her eyes away for a moment feeling ashamed she was still staring that the astounding difference in the woman who had befriended the colony. "We all were in its thrall but you were inside that damn thing."
Shiala shifted on her feet uncomfortably. "How has Zhu's Hope been doing?" She felt the need to shift the conversation a bit, at the very least away from focusing on her.
"It's doing well. Even done a lot of rebuilding, more even then when you left to join Shepard. We're following the plans you laid out. And the salvage of the geth ship is still going on. That was a good idea you had to build more shelters from its hull. Ledra has been a big help, he's been able to turn a profit for us selling much of it that we don't use."
Shiala nodded. "And what of ExoGeni? They have not been troubling the colony or has the Thorian somehow survived the Commander's attack?"
"No, in fact ExoGeni has been very supportive of Zhu's Hope. They heed what Commander Shepard said. They actually seemed to want to help us survive. Shepard was very persuasive. But they all got recalled along with what was left of the Thorian," May said stiffly as if the monster corporation had deliberately abandoned the colony when things had grown worse. "And the Thorian is dead. After all and you and the Commander went through to kill it I understand your concern." The engineer held the expression of a thirsty woman who had finally been given water only to have it taste of salt.
"What brings you here to Illium? Trading?" Shiala pressed on. Trade negotiations weren't exactly the strong suit of the young engineer; it was more the salarian trader, Ledra's area of skill.
"No." May shook her head. "My reasons on Illium might be pretty ordinary to what you're up to but it's like I said when I first saw you... probably why you're green. We have health problems. We hired a medical survey company to do some scans. But apparently the medical contracts allow the company to perform invasive procedures on us without our consent." May took on a sour expression. She was out of her depth and she knew it. But of all the colonists since the fall of Fi Dan and Shiala's departure, May had been the one the people of Zhu's Hope had turned to. She had become their voice when dealing with those outside Feros.
"That's why I'm here. But now you're here, maybe you will have better luck. The representative at Baria Frontiers will only deal with asari. I tried but...she kind of scares me and I don't know what to do..." May was clearly grasping for any stable figure hold. Shiala's mere presence was a ray of hope in her hour of desperation.
Shiala looked up to the area where May pointed to. "I can try...but my diplomacy skills are lacking. Shepard, however, might be able to help. She has a way with people."
"You're here with Shepard?" May brightened up. Now this was good news-glorious news! "I thought you might have been on leave..."
Shiala shook her head. "It's complicated," was all she offered. Using her radio she contacted the Spectre and relayed the issue to the Commander.
*I'll see what I can do. But I'll need details,* Shepard said. *I don't think Spectre status means anything here, so I'll find another way.*
"It's not your status, Commander, that is needed but your negotiating skills," Shiala said hinting at Shepard's silver tongue.
*Understood. I'll be there shortly. Shepard out.*
True to her word, the Commander arrived on the scene, moments later she was brought up to speed by both parties. "So Baria Frontiers is interested in your problems? I thought they dealt with star charts not medical issues."
"I suppose. But they offered medical scans and treatments next to nothing. It was what we could afford," May said. "We should have known it was too good to be true. But we were desperate. In the fine print we apparently agreed to allow them to perform invasive follow up procedures if they deemed it valuable." May let out a long suffering sigh. "Which they have."
Shepard frowned, not liking what she was hearing. "Can they actually force these procedures on you?"
May shook her head. "No but they can declare us in breach of contract, which means we're responsible for the full price we would have paid normally. Zhu's Hope is just getting on its feet again; there is no way we can afford that, Shepard."
"What kind of medical problems do the colonist have." The Spectre cut glance to her former XO.
"Headaches or muscles spasms. Vivid nightmares... similar to the experiences they had when in thrall to the Thorian."
Or turning green with unstable biotics, and being suddenly pregnant. Shepard finished. She knew Shiala had all those same issues as well. She had reported the muscles spasms to Chakwas and Mordin, both of whom were working on a solution to the medical issues which they had equally assumed was tied to the unborn child. Obviously it was something much more than that.
"Sometimes when we're near another Thorian victim we share sensations of heat or pain. It has to be due to trace amounts of the Thorian's parasitic spores. You can see why we would want it studied and cured."
"No doubt." She cast her eyes up to the Baria Frontiers kiosk. "What kind of woman is this representative?"
May looked up following the Spectre's watchful eyes. "Hard. Bitter. She won't deal with any one that isn't asari. I've tried. She won't talk to me save to say the decisive words: 'Get out.' I've heard what some of the other asari say about her. They don't have any fondness for her either. It's because she's something called a pureblood, whatever that is."
Shiala and Shepard exchanged a sour look of disgust for the word to be so causally slung. May apparently didn't see the exchange or she didn't know its meaning since she continued. "Guess breeding with their own kind is some kind of taboo because it creates something called an ardat-yakshi. This Erinya married one of them purebloods too and had pureblood kids."
Shepard stepped up to her fellow human. "First, an education lesson, May. Pureblood is an extraordinarily derogatory term when in reference to asari. Don't use it. Second, my bondmate is born of two asari." Her voice became quite like a schoolmarm's. "There is absolutely nothing wrong with her linage."
May became contrite; she had not intended to insult the asari or especially Shepard's wife. "I'm sorry…I did meant to insult anyone."
"You didn't know. Now you do," the Commander said more softly. "Having the other asari utter their loathing for the trueborn may have embittered this Erinya, but something else makes her angry, makes her loath the other races. I just have to figure out what that something is."
Shepard claimed she was no politician, no diplomat; she was a solider. She did what she had to do out of duty. Managing to talk someone into her way of thinking was a simple trick of the tongue, nothing special, but it worked when she needed it to. Most of the time. Of course when the silver tongue didn't work there was always shouting. In this case however, shouting down the opposition as she might one of her soldiers wouldn't do. Unfortunately finesse wasn't something of Sam's strong suit; she was far too blunt for that. But maybe the direct approach was the best way to handle an angry matriarch.
Erinya hadn't been blind to the humans' discussion with one another or the emerald skinned asari trailing after the dark haired solider. It was inevitable that the mewling colonist had cried out her plight to the Alliance officer, whimpering she and her kind had unfairly taken advantage of. And lo, here Shepard came marching up to the matriarch as if she had every right to interfere. Erinya was going to have none of it.
"I saw your conversation, human. You're here to complain about the medical contracts that those colonists from Feros signed. I suggest you leave. You're life is short enough, do not waste what time you have bothering me," Erinya spat.
Shepard took a cold militant stance. It was going to be like this, was it? Fine. The Commander could play hardball as well as anyone. "Why are you insisting on theses medical tests? What use could they possibly be to you anyway?"
"Their use is not your concern," the matriarch snarled. "A legal biding contract was signed. Nothing else matters. All of you: human, salarian, turian, you're all the same. You come to our planet then complain our laws don't suit you. The galaxy would be a lot better place if nobody but the asari had ever dragged themselves out of the primordial muck!" the venom in her voice oozed with every word she spat out.
"I thought asari preferred to mate with other races for generic diversity." Offered the Spectre knowing this tactic of conversation was going to be blocked. But she had to know how to get in...something. So she pushed the matriarch's buttons deliberately, goading her into revealing why there was such hatred.
"Pft. A short sighted mistake penetrated by the same self-hating malcontents who spawned the hateful term pureblood. We hardly need your alien DNA to randomize genetic materiel. A little radiation would work just as well. You provide no new diversity, no new insights, no advancement! You bring only chaos and senseless deaths. Bagh!"
"You really think this is legal? Maybe Illium contract analysts should look it over."
"You ignorant yokel," distain dipped form Erinya's lips. "I was negotiating contracts when your ancestors were still burning witches and enslaving each other. I haven't lost a contract dispute in seventy years." Now more cocky. "Try me."
Obviously another tactic was needed. "Yeah, maybe I don't possess the necessary skills to battle you in the courts. However, I have a contract negotiator sent from the Alamari Council to Noveria to handle contracts. I believe she can deal anything you can throw at her. You also seem to forget a human save you from Saren and the geth."
Erinya sneered at the hand the human was playing. A pathetic play of force at best. This dull stone was such a child. It sickened her that this 'person' had even been granted the rank of Specter. But she'd be damned to the riptides of hell if she ever gave this human...this talking monkey the honor of her title. Time she was taught a lesson, that she learned her place.
"The geth created by the idiotic quarians, that a rouge turian Spectre led in an attack? The geth didn't even need to start there; they attacked your human colony Eden Prime first. You humans brought the geth upon us. You and the turians and the quarians!" Rage filled the matriarch's voice chilling it to subzero levels even as it burned brightly in her heart, consuming it in the flames of abhorrence and distain.
Now the meat of it. The opening Shepard needed. But she needed a pawn...a sacrificial piece to distract...she needed something more. Erinya had to be handled, not unlike the fraxon shark she had set upon during her Great Hunt. Any mistake now would be just as fatal as it had been those many fathoms below the Thessian sea.
"Perhaps we could work out different tests, something that will work for both sides." The bait...to drive the shark into the jagged coral reefs where it could not move. The ray must ambush the shark if it is to have the day.
"If the colonists were not willing to abide by the terms of the contract they should never had signed it. It is not upon me to accommodate them."
"Would you be doing this if it was an asari colony? Why are you so prejudiced against aliens?"
"Huh. If trouble came to an asari colony it is only because they were brought there by another species. You want to know why I dislike the other races. Where do I being? With salarian explorers unleashing the rachni upon us then unleashing the krogan to correct their mistakes? Or the turians so eager to bomb every problem away. Or humans...the new arrivals who think they should already be in charge?! Every war that has plagued this galaxy has been caused by your people. My people's death are on your hands!"
This was the chance Shepard had needed to move it. To shift from the sands and silt as it were and to strike. "Whose deaths are we talking about here exactly?"
"The mother of my daughters was killed on the quarian homeworld during the initial geth uprising. My daughters died on the Citadel when the geth attacked. One worked in the Embassies, the other was a greeter for the Consort." Tears streamed down Erinya's face. "I'm not speaking in hypotheticals, human. The aliens will never be my allies. The best they can do is give me useful medical data."
"Why was your bondmate on Rannoch?" the raging waves made mellow by the tidal pool. A reflection remained where once only wrath had swelled. The shark-tamed.
"Studying the quarians. Not their technology but their music." Erinya's harsh voice became soft in the remembrance, gentle even, or perhaps it was wistful. She leaned the weight of her aged body upon her elbows as they rested upon the balustrade of the short wall near the kiosk. Her unfocused eyes staring out at Illium's skyline. "She loved all their art. She said they had old souls. I think that is where my daughters got it from. Both of them loved talking with people, exploring new cultures."
"They sound like wonderful people. The galaxy is lesser for their loss," Shepard said in earnest, her voice soft and as gentle as the waters of the tidal pool. She took three steps closer to the older woman.
Erinya had turned and slumped down, her back resting against the short wall, her strength waning as the words passed between them. "Yes. It is" The grief was raw, bleeding.
"Do you think they would want you to do this?" Shepard pressed the issue.
"I'm not a... I didn't want..." Erinya hung her head, headless of how wet her face was becoming.
Shepard walked up and lowered her hand to help the matriarch to her feet, compassion filled her eyes. This hate, this anger, she understood all to well. She had carried it for the lose of her own daughter, to what had happed to Liara.
"I'm sending an amended contract. No more tests," Erinya choked out. "There is enough grief in this galaxy. I don't need to add to it." Broken, the matriarch departed, needing very much to recover herself.
Sam waited a moment before she returned to where May and Shiala were standing anxiously for the news to come, neither one looking all that optimistic since Shepard had given no outward sign of what had transpired between she and Erinya. If there was to be amended contracts sent the matriarch would need time to make the arrangements. She was half tempted to check out the star chart kiosk while she waited for the news to reach the other two, but decided to wait until after she passed on the news. Given the sounds of delight coming from the two near the park benches Erinya came through.
As Shepard passed from Baria Frontier's kiosk she chanced to hear the voices of two chittering matrons.
"Did you get the star charts?"
"Yes, but I had to deal with Erinya," answered the one closest to Shepard. There was clear disgust in her voice as if she had to delouse her clothing. "I feel like I need a shower, though."
"What do you expect? She's a pureblood. They're all like that," the first said equally disgusted, sounding as if the 'purebloods' should be locked up in a monastery just like the ardat-yakshi.
Shepard paused, fighting the urge to turn on the matrons and give them a piece of her mind. How dare they? Bitches! She turned ready to confront them, ignoring both May and Shiala for the honor of her bondmate and other pureborns, she took a heavy step towards the two matrons until she heard a soft voice trickle into her mind.
'My love, don't bother. You will never change their minds.'
'Liara, this is wrong! You had to put up with this crap your whole life. This is shit. No wonder Erinya was so bitter. She had to have heard their snide remarks, about her, her bondmate-her children. Asari are supposed to be the enlightened race and they pull this crap?'
'Melethril I am asari.'
'Well you're not like those cunts.'
For Samantha to use the "C-word" she had to be truly upset. It was rare she uttered the vulgarity. 'Ignore them. Do no given them power by base reactions.' Liara's voice was ever clam
'You married a human; we're all about base reactions. Remember?'
'And I love you for it. But let it go. Besides, you can't stop the Collectors if you're locked up in jail for aggravated assault. Your Spectre status will not protect you from the courts if you attack civilians unprovoked. I fear, "they insulted my bondmate" is not a good defense. At least not on an asari world, though it might pass on a krogan one.'
'Oh hey, there's an idea! I could headbutt them making them fall on their sorry blue asses. They may even bite their wagging tongues in half.' Sam could almost hear the chiding giggle coming from across the bond.
'Behave, my rash bondmate. While amusing it is still no good. No headbutting.'
Samantha felt her bondmate's phantom hand caress her cheek and rage stilled within her. Liara was correct. Shepard had to let it go. Besides, she had more pressing-happier matters to attend to. 'I guess you're right. You know it would serve them right if they had to eat crow because their miserable lives were saved due to a trueborn asari.'
'When we find a way to defeat the Reapers, they will. And they will owe a human Spectre.' Lira sent softly—proudly. 'You are always so very ready to play my protector. But today someone else needs you to play the part of their hero. Go finish what you started, Melethril.'
Sam nodded as if her bondmate could actually see the action rather than simply knew that was what she had done. She put on a game face lest May get the wrong impression and mistake the expression Shepard held was for her mission with Erinya gone wrong rather than the words she had heard spewing from the mouths of the self-hating bigots. It was not a difficult task as she had done it several times since becoming an officer. The Troopers could never see how worried or concerned their commander was, only the strength and confidence.
Walking down to meet the others she was greeted by two smiling faces.
"You did it!" May grinned at Shepard and pulled her into a tight, unabashed, exuberant hug which brought no end of amusement to the huntress at her side. "I just got the revised contract. Thank you! Shepard you saved Zhu's Hope again. I don't think I could have done what you did." She looked to the Commander and huntress. "Is it always like this? Isn't anything ever just fixed?"
Shiala wondered that too-yesterday's problems lingering in new forms. Could things not just stay fixed? Just for once?
"You have the power to make a difference, May, not everyone does." Shepard gave a sagely answer.
"Yeah you're right. You gave us a chance by saving the colony. Thank you for what you've done here, Shepard, and you too Shiala. I'll keep doing what I can."
"As will I," Shiala said softly looking to the human colonist. "I need to return to Zhu's Hope. I left ...when I shouldn't have. I can't let them down again, I wont. I want to help as much as I can. I still have a debt to pay. If I cannot aid on the Normandy to stop the Collectors than I shall go where my help will best suited. High Command nor the Council can forbid me that."
Somehow the news hadn't shocked Shepard in the slightest; it was almost as if she had expected it. She knew Shiala had been struggling with what was happening to her, wanting answers and finding few other than it was something to do with the Thorian. Mordin hadn't had time to devote to the plight of the former XO as he was concentrating solely on a way to combat the effects of the seeker swarms. Perhaps Baria Frontiers could aid her better.
As for May, she carried the expression of utter and complete relief. For a moment it seemed as if the normally stalwart woman was going to weep from it. When Shiala had been organizing the colony things had run so much smoother. She wondered if the contract dispute would have ever ensued if Shiala had been in charge. By the looks of things the huntresses was suffering even as the members of the colony had been. Considering the once purple asari was now green.
The topic of course would have to be brought up before Aleena. Colony life may not suit the more adventures bounty hunter and Shiala would not hold the woman she loved to such a life if Aleena did not care for it. Shiala had obligations, to the colony, to herself and to her unborn daughter. Aleena would at least understand that much.
"If that is what you want, Shiala, then go for it. I know Liara will be supportive about the change, as I am. Aleena will follow. She'll want to be at your side as much as I want to be at Liara's," Shepard said clasping her mentor's forearm.
Sheila smiled and touched Shepard's cheek then shoulder. "Thank you, Commander. May was right; you saved Zhu's Hope once again and you will save those other colonies as well. I have faith in you."
Shepard offered a polite smile. "I should go. I know you both will have a lot of planning to do before your transport leaves for Feros. Shiala, if you must leave before we met again, safe journeys' and good luck. Oh! Once the little one is born, you'll have to contract us. After all you're family."
The huntress smiled sincerely at the parting words, feeling a deep warmth fill her as she heard the accepted words. "And to you, Shepard."
MEMEMEMEMEMEME
Most of the crew had, by now, transferred to their new postings: either staying on the Victory, going ashore to Illium or onto the new vessel recovered from Cerberus. The Normandy was even now undergoing its new transformation paint job which would strip it of its Cerberus colors and convert it to those of the Special Tactics and Reconnaissance.
Despite where they were posted, the majority of the crew free of currant obligations had made the decision to do a little sight-seeing, resupplying as well as a bit of recreational shopping.
Liara hit the markets, wanting to find something-a house warming gift for the new captain's quarters. She thought of finding a replacement model for the one she took but she cast that idea aside. Besides, she wanted Samantha to 'read' the message of how much she was thinking of her by taking the model.
As it was, Liara was at a loss on what to buy for her bondmate, unless it was a weapon or armor mod, a model ship, or fish Samantha was very difficult to shop for. the young archeologist had gone to the Memories of Illium shop when she overheard a similar dilemma from a salarian who was talking to his step-daughter on what to purchase for his bondmate. The young maiden was simply happy to spend time with her dad and attempting to tell him her mother would like anything he bought her because it came from him.
Samantha wore tee-shirts and hoodies when not on duty yes, but unless they were military N7 issue she wasn't likely to wear it. Besides wearing one with the pun: 'Illium: You're blue shifting already...' just didn't seem her style. The human already possessed the breeds of fish Illium were selling, as they had purchased them the last time they were here during the medical procedure for the bout of Cyan Syndrome.
But maybe... something for the pets, plastic castles for the fish? Or maybe one of those plastic transparent balls for the hamster... 'Augh! Why must you be so difficult?' Liara thought to herself.
'Difficult about what?' came Sam's bewildered answer.
'Oh...Damn...I forget I was transmitting.' Liara was mortified her bondmate had 'heard' the statement. 'Forget I said anything. Please?'
'Only because you're so adorable when you're embarrassed,' the Spectre laughed 'Just like that first time when we spoke at length back in the storage compartment of Chakwas' medbay on the first Normandy...' Sam teased light-heartedly. 'That's when I truly fell in love with you. You told me about asari culture and wanted to do an in-depth study on me and then tried to back- peddle. Gods Li... I could have kissed you right there on the spot! You were so meltablly cute!'
'Meltablly?
'What? It's a word.'
Liara found herself smiling: How she loved her sweet human Spectre. In the theatre of her mind's eyes she could almost see Samantha folding her arms under her breasts defensively. 'As you say, sweet Melethril.'
"Sweet huh?" Samantha's voice sounded in here ear, giving Liara such a start she squealed, which in turn caused the Spectre to giggle as Gianna's earlier comments about squealing asari popped in her head.
Liara batted her bondmate on the arm. "Sometimes you cam be quite the brat you know."
Sam's lips curled into a full megawatt smile. "Only very slightly."
"How did you even sneak up on me?" The asari was still frowning.
The Commander lifted a finger to her lips and looked to the contingent of asari commandos, all of whom were ten paces from Liara's side. All of them looked quite sheepish. "Asked them to keep still and I simply shielded myself just to see how close I could get to you." Her arms went about Liara's waist holding the woman she loved above all else close to her. The smile deepened as it occurred to her she was now holding her daughter as well.
Liara was unable to keep her discontent for long; in truth it was only a surface reaction to being startled. Privately she loved the teasing, cheeky side of her bondmate. it was...'meltablly' adorable.
"Soooo," Sam said after a beat. "What are we after?" She rested her chin on the asari's shoulder—still holding her from behind.
"It wouldn't be a gift if you saw what I purchased now would it?" Liara lightly rebuked the other woman.
"Nah, it'd still be a gift, just not a surprise."
"Semantics."
Sam placed a kiss on her beloved's neck folds before letting her go. "Looks like we both had similar ideas. I wanted to get you something for the apartment. But I couldn't think of what you'd like that wasn't some sort of relic or something Prothean related." She gave a hopeless shrug of the shoulders.
Liara was about to respond when they heard the exasperated sigh coming from the asari clerk. At first both the Prothean expert and her Spectre bondmate assumed it was because apparently all four of her customers were indecisive on their purchases, but alas no. It came from, of all things, a krogan male in civilian attire spouting poetry!
"You know it's just weird seeing a krogan out of armour... it's like seeing a turtle without its shell. It just sorta sits wrong. Ya know?"
Liara gave another swat to Samantha's arm and frowned and realized too late the comment wasn't a racial slur, it was simply an observation. The archaeologist had to admit it was very surreal to see a krogan out of their typical hardsuits. But then they were so very accustomed to dear old Wrex.
And he didn't spout poetry.
For a moment the couple was content to listen-and make a true effort not to burst out laughing. The same went to the small contingent of commandos trying their hardest to keep watch and not fall into fits of snickering giggles at the tragic figure of a krogan.
"Oh Blue Rose of Illium, let your roots dig deep into the hot soil of Tuchanka. Let our scorching sun and sheeting rain turn your supple beauty into strength. For if our love is to survive, it must grow thorns to pierce the hand of any that would uproot it!"
'Bless him, he is trying, isn't he?' Liara sent.
'Maybe I'm off my rocker but I actually get his poetry. That last part-about the thorns piercing any hand that would uproot it...I especially get that part. Hell sometimes I feel like that.' The inference of course was referring to the outside forces that seemingly conspired to tear the two lovers apart. 'Seems Miss Santorī's not too impressed with his interpretation, though.' Shepard watched the frustrated asari who seemed to be, in vain, trying to stop up her ears and pretend the krogan wasn't loitering about her shop making a fool of himself and her.
'Wait, how do you know what her name is?' Liara cocked her head ever so slightly to the side, waiting for her bondmate to explain.
Shepard laughed, which of course gained a scowl from the proprietress of the shop. She must be assuming the burst of sound was at the krogan's attempts of courtship.
'And you call yourself an information broker.' Sam kissed Liara's temple. 'Her name is on the terminal. See? Memories of Illium: proprietress Ereba Santorī'
Liara's made an embarrassed sigh of making such an obvious and silly mistake. Then to recover from her embarrassment she added. 'Um well yes but we don't know if that is Ereba or one of her employees.'
'Good point.' Shepard conceded. Then as her impulsive behavior took charge, the Commander blurted out, "Say, Ereba?"
"What do you want?" the shop's representative snapped. She rubbed her tattooed forehead wincing. "Sorry. Sorry, that dammed krogan's love pomes are getting on my nerves."
Shepard and Liara turned to the lovelorn krogan in question. The Commander couldn't help but think of the old warrior poets of ancient Scotland. And she wondered if their pomes were just as bad but heartfelt.
"Blue Rose of Illium..." his voice called out across the quad, casing more than a few heads to turn, and few of them snickering at the love-sick krogan, "you have blossomed in a tower of glass and plastic. But beauty under glass is untested and weak."
"Is that krogan bothering you?" asked Shepard. Maybe it wasn't so funny or innocent after all if this woman was being harassed. If this guy was a stalker...he'd have to be taken care of before he escalated from not so annoying love poetry to something much worse and perilous to Ereba's person.
Worry flashed in the asari's face. She immediate held up her hands to forestall any unnecessarily 'charging in the save the day' antics from a well-meaning human soldier. That was the last thing she wanted. "No! No you don't have to hurt him or anything." She watched the poet for a breath before turning back to the would be human champion.
"…Where are your honored dead, to fertilize the ground that you might grow strong? On the rocky plains of Tuchanka, I will build you a garden from the bones of my ancestors."
"He's harmless. Which I know, krogan...so it's hard to believe," Ereba said in a soft tender voice.
'I do not think our krogan poet is the only one in love,' Liara sent, causing Shepard to smile
'Agreed.'
"His name is Charr," the young matron said, "We're kind of dating but, well, we're on a break." She gave a small lopsided shrug. "And he's trying to show me how sensitive he is by... wooing me."
All three turned to the struggling krogan making a true effort to show a tender side. Which, let's face it was a monumental effort for a krogan to admit let alone willingly show in public. It struck Shepard that this was why he wasn't in armor and was weaponless. He was showing the woman he loved true vulnerability and absolute trust in her presence. Sensitive side indeed.
"It's really bad," the asari said apologetically.
"Blue Rose of Illium, leave eternity unembraced and grapple in the glorious struggle that is us, here and now!" Charr cried out.
"It doesn't seem common for asari to date krogan. What brought you two together? " Shepard commented. She knew of no such parings actually. A few turians and the salarians, and humans were becoming more common. But this was the first krogan-asari paring the Spectre had heard of. And really, when it got right down to it, maybe it shouldn't be that surprising. Liara didn't seem all that surprised. There were more than a handful of krogan who wanted to bed, or as some of the ones on the citadel proclaimed, 'screw' Sha'ira...but that was different somehow.
Ereba smiled warmly. "He's a fun guy. Really smart. Especially for a krogan." There was pride in the matron's voice as she spoke. "And he's got a good job as a transport technician." She looked to Liara as if what she was about to say was self-evident. "It's fun to join a mercenary guild or dance at bars for a few centuries." clearly two activates she had done in the past. She shrugged once more. "But then eventually you hit the matron stage, you know." As she continued to explain she spoke with her hands, "Then you get your back tattoos removed, let your scalp go back to its natural blue and settle down with someone dependable."
'I don't ever recall you having a back tattoo and you're scalp has always been blue,' Shepard's comment silently slid across the bond.
'Perhaps not but I did settle down with someone dependable... despite the fact I'm not in my matron stage quite yet.'
"So if he has a great job and seems dependable why are the two of you on a break?" asked Shepard.
Ereba gave a sigh looking to Liara. "He's serious, as in talking about kids. Charr is a great guy to date but..." she looked over at her boyfriend with a sad fondness. "But for something permanent..." she winced as if her tongue had probed a cavity within her mouth. "Krogans live looong lives." Her attention was drawn back to Shepard and Liara. "It's not like dating a human where you just stick it out for a century before they die."
This gained scowls from both in the couple. Liara coiled her arm around her bondmate, her face pulled into a sneer for the comment. Her expression was nearly as cold as the one Shepard held for the bitches she passed spewing crap about purebloods
Ereba winced realizing her faux pas. "Ah... um...No offence."
Liara's answer was a contemptible snort.
Ereba shrunk a little... "Really... I...um..."
"Go on. About Charr that is." Shepard offered a lifesaver for the hole the matron had dug for herself as Liara was clearly not offering any sort of out for the older asari.
"Um, yes." She coughed slightly. "Well, what he said, it made me wonder though if he really likes me or if he just wants kids. He can't have them any other way, you know because of the genophage."
"That's a good question," Shepard said. "Maybe you should ask him."
"I did. I don't think he realized our kids would always have been asari. Non-asari don't always get that we're not taking alien DNA were just using it to randomize some of the genetic information. Anyway Charr was quite for a long time. Then he said he'd love our girls no matter what color they were."
Shepard listened a moment longer at Charr's poem.
"…I am speechless, not with blood rage, but with love, and I stand here, humble and mute, to offer you a home. Come to me, Blue Rose of Illium. Let our three hearts beat as two."
"You need to talk to your boyfriend," Liara said they continued to watch him. "He's just going to keep shouting poetry until you do."
"I know," came an exasperated answer. "But it's tough, I like him a lot, hell...I love him. But I don't know if he's permanent bond material."
Shepard flashed a lopsided grin. "Look at him; he's obviously crazy about you."
Ereba looked unconvinced. Frightened would be a better word. "Is he? What if he just wants to have kids? Am I just his baby making machine," she snorted. "He said I wasn't but..."
"If he said that you either trust him so you have nothing to worry about or you don't and you've already decided," Shepard said sagely.
"I...I guess...I haven't thought about it like that." Ereba rubbed her forehead once more. "And I do trust him, if he said it. You know you're right. I'm going to talk to him." She smiled brightly at the same moment she activated her omni tool and pointed it at the kiosk of her store's computer interface. "Here, I've give you both a preferred discount at the terminal." She smiled fondly at the couple. "Thanks for the help." She saw the still entwined arms of Shepard and Liara. "And...I am really sorry about that human comment." This was more to Liara than to Sam. She made another swipe at her terminal with her omni-tool which would allow any member of the Normandy's crew to take advantage of the discount as well.
Liara unwrapped her arm and stepped closer to Ereba and whispered so that only the other asari could hear her. "You should thank the Goddess you are gifted with someone who has an equally long life for a bondmate." Liara looked behind her to Samantha then to the salarian male and his step-daughter, both of whom were still struggling to find the perfect gift for his bondmate and the maiden's mother. "Not many of us are given such bountiful, beautiful gifts. I'd give my last hundred years to have such a blessing with my bondmate. I am not sticking it out with her, but savoring every moment I have with her." Her face pulled from a morose expression to a true smile. "I do wish you and your Charr many happy years together."
Ereba titled her head in supplication. "And I wish the same for you and your Commander Shepard." She grinned when she saw the younger asari blink in surprise. "Yes I know who she is and who you are. You should not look so astonished, Dr. T'Soni. Your faces are well known." She excused herself and padded quietly over to the krogan, cupped his rugged face with soft blue hands and kissed him full on his great maw.
The last thing either pair of shoppers at the store heard was Ereba uttering, "Charr, I am yours," before Charr grabbed her up into his arms and hugged her tightly barking out a sound of sheer delight and triumph.
Liara returned to her own bondmate's side and reclaimed the arm she had been holding earlier. "I never knew you were such a diehard romantic, Samantha." She planted a kiss on the human's ruby lips.
Sam offered a crooked smile. "Shush…lest you ruin my tough girl image." She nuzzled Liara's neckfolds drawing in the scent she so loved.
"Oh you don't have to worry overmuch, Melethril. Unless you start spouting love poetry I think your secret is pretty well safeguarded. Everyone will simply believe you are the ordinary romantic, not such a soft touch."
"You sure about that? I'll have you know I can do the poetry thing too. 'Oh Blue Rose of Therum...'"
The native Thessian gently shoved Samantha in the shoulder with her own, but a bright smile graced her azure features. "You are terrible."
"Yeah, well you still love me, Angel Eyes."
Liara firmly planted yet another kiss on her lover's mouth. "Yes. I certainly do."
MEMEMEMEMEMEME
Tali wrapped her hands around that of her lover's arm as they wandered the markets. They had made several purchases already and had them sent to the Normandy. Seeing the omni-tool mods and upgrades caused the quarian to squeal in delight. Custom heuristics, hydra modules, multicore amplifiers, shield harmonics just to name a few of the items she purchased.
Garrus had teased her about it until he saw the sniper rifles up for sale. He practically drooled over the M-98 Widow Anti-Material rifle and disrupter rounds, combat scanner and scram pulsar.
"I don't know how she did it, but these new toys would have cost a hell of a lot more if Shepard hadn't gotten those discounts for the Normandy crew" Tali said admiring her new purchases.
"Well she's good like that. Remember the Citadel; she got all those store discounts by saying: 'This is Commander Shepard and this is my favorite store on the Citadel.'" Garrus mimicked the Spectre's voice causing Tali to giggle.
"When those shopkeepers find out she gave her endorsements to other stores they may revoke the discounts," she said still giggling.
"Good thing we bought everything we needed the last time we were there," came a glib answer.
"Needed yes, not necessarily wanted though. There were a few things I didn't pick up because it wasn't a priority at the time," Tali said nuzzling up to Garrus as they walked the streets of Illium. "Who knows, maybe they won't care if their profits are high enough." She looked around at the sweeping skyscrapers. "All in all I think I prefer the chilly reception I get on the Citadel to the one here. You know Illium won't even allow the ships from the Flotilla to dock here. Guess the oh so pretty asari are afraid us 'suit-rats' will dirty up their pretty city." Tali's voice became tainted with bitterness that came with the persecuted.
"They say you're just as safe walking the streets of Illium as you are the Citadel, but the truth is Illium is just Omega with a better address," Garrus remarked.
The young quarian offered a dry laugh. "Humm, take your pick; mugged by a good looking Eclipse Sister or thrashed by a scruffy looking Omega gang-banger on a weekend bender, I don't know which would be worse."
"I prefer my evil to be straight forward; at least I know it's coming," quipped the turian. "Speaking about evil, I've got a terrible gut-ache that needs filling, how about you and me grab something at Eternity. We're close enough to it." Garrus pointed with his thumb towards a sign advertising the bar.
They had eaten there the last visit; it had good grub, drinks and an amusing matriarch. She may not own the bar but she sure ran it as if she did.
Tali nodded. "It'd be a nice change from the mess hall. Gardner tries but not being dextro he can't taste the meals he serves up. It always tastes as bland as paste. I can't imagine what it tastes like before the triple filters."
"Like crap," Garrus said. "At least for tonight babe your boyfriend will see to it you get something decent. No food pouches or MREs either. You know they even import brandy from my hometown? A taste of home." His mandibles twitched in an avian smile.
There were a fair number of people within the bar, mostly the clientele were asari but there was a handful of turians and humans as well. There was even another turian and quarian couple out on what appeared to be a date. The quarian female was complaining about someone she apparently had previously dated, a human by the sound of it. It hadn't gone well. Her date was telling her humans were not to be trusted on a personal level. Which both Tali and Garrus took exception to. Garrus was about to interject on Shepard's behalf when something else caught his attention.
It was an older asari- a matron by the sound of her voice and a very young quarian; no doubt she was on her Pilgrimage.
"It's okay, I'll think of something," a voice of an asari matron said trying to calm the quarian female next to her. Her suit was very much like Tali's in its paisley design though it held more black in it compared to the purples the young engineer preferred.
"You said Synthetic Insights would buy me. You said it was an easy sale," the girl whimpered.
Exasperated the dark blue matron shook her head and rubbed her forehead as if to rub away a growing headache festering behind her eyes. "I assumed they would take an AI tech."
Garrus mandibles sneered. He didn't know how it was happening on Illium considering slavery was forbidden in Council Space; even this close to the Terminus Systems such a thing should have been abolished. He definably didn't like it. He was appalled the asari people even allowed such a thing on their world, even if it was Illium.
"You made this quarian your slave?" he said marching up to the asari. "You need to let her go. Now!"
Like many asari, this matron opted for the facial markings brought by custom from the turians. Hers were similar in design and color to those worn by the asari Councilor; they were even the same white hue.
"We prefer the term indentured servant and before you do anything hasty you should know this quarian signed the agreement voluntarily. And her service contract is completely legal on Illium," she said evenly. "If you actually want to help the quarian convince the Synthetic Insights representative to buy her contract."
Garrus looked to his girlfriend them back to the asari. "What if I bought her myself and freed her? I'm Garrus Vakarian XO of the Normandy under Spectre Shepard's command. If not me then I know my Commander will agree to do the same. Shepard would let her go and everybody would be happy."
"A gallant offer with three problems: first, her technical skills merit several hundred thousand credits."
"Then there is also a fee for freeing me before my service contract ends," the quarian said in a deflated tone.
"Exactly," the contract dealer cut in. "And finally you are clearly a traveler, you said so yourself. Her service contract requires she remains on Illium."
"I don't want them to take me off to a mine somewhere," the quarian said nervously.
"So what, slavery is legal on Illium?" Tali asked, not keeping the confusion and disgust from her voice. She knew practically everything was legal on Illium as long as you had the contracts for it. Hell, even red sand was legal as long as you had the correct paper work and the health warnings clearly printed on the packages. She just didn't realize 'everything legal' also included the barbarous act of slavery.
"Indentured servitude lasts a set amount of time or until agreed upon conditions are met. Illium must approve all contracts. The law restricts what kind of restraint or corrective options I can use and what tasks I can legally assign her. I am also legally responsible for her behavior and health." She looked to the young woman reassuringly. "Abuse is absolutely forbidden."
"Why did this quarian sign herself into slavery?" Garrus still wasn't buying it.
"I tried to play the stock market," the quarian answered. "I'm good with numbers and I thought I had a way to make unlimited money." She looked away. "I lost everything. Then I took a credit line and lost that and then I took out an illegal loan and you get the picture."
Both Tali and Garrus nodded. Anywhere else the girl would be dead...or a real slave working in the mines
"As part of our agreement I paid off her debts, five years from now she will have a fresh start and excellent work references."
Tali shook her head. "Sounds great, unless you lose her paperwork or come up with a reason to hold her longer." She folded her arms over her chest in a very Shepard-like manner
"All contracts are monitored by Illium law enforcement," the asari explained as if she were talking to a particularly dull-witted child. "In a case, such as you described, the burden of proof would be on me." She shook her head slightly. "No system is perfect but safeguards are set up to protect all parties."
"If slavery is legal then why are you trying to sell the quarian?" Garrus practically demanded.
"Indentured servitude," the dealer said forcefully. "And I don't keep service contracts myself. I'm a contract broker. I assumed that Synthetic Insights would jump at a chance for a skilled AI tech, but they won't even make me an offer."
"Why not just keep her?" Tali asked. "You said she had technical skills."
"Being a quarian you know first hand about your people's strict health requirements and diet. It makes it expensive to house and feed. I'd run at a minor profit at best." There was a vigorous shake of the head. "I don't have the money for constant suit repairs and clean room facilities."
"So what happens if Synthetic Insights won't take me?" the slave asked, her voice still laced with worry.
"A solution always presents itself. Don't worry I will take care of you," came an optimistic response from the broker.
Garrus looked to the woman he loved, then to the younger quarian then back to the contract dealer. Part of his mind went straight to the question what would Shepard do? The answer was obvious: "We'll talk to the Synthetic Insights rep and see what we can do."
The asari matron perked up. "Really? Thank you I'd appreciate that. She's right over there past the table with the other turian and quarian couple. She's the one in yellow."
From her body language the quarian tech was also grinning behind her mask. "Keelah... Thank you! Thank you!"
Tali only nodded as an unspoken: 'You're welcome but we haven't done anything yet.'
Garrus put his hand on the small of his lover's back and ushered her away from the two to the back area of the bar were the broker was. Once clear of the two Tali placed a hand on Garrus's halting their progress.
"How are we going to do this? Neither one of is the smooth talker Shepard is. When you're not talking about big guns, sniper riffles or calibrations you... stumble over you're own tongue. And so do I, I'm no good at talking to strangers and Liara is the only asari that doesn't make me feel like some idiot child."
"I plan on winging it. We've been around Shepard long enough to know how her mind works. We'll just channel her," Garrus said smoothly. "Just imagine what'd she say and say that."
"Alright..." Tali was still unconvinced. "Let's try it and get it over with."
The asari they had been directed to was by herself. At first she didn't seem to notices the couple as her attention was drawn to the data pad she held in her hand. When their shadows crossed over the screen she looked up. "Can I help you?"
"You're Synthetic Insights right?" opened Garrus. When he saw the faint nod he continued. "How would you like to get your hands on an expert quarian AI programmer?"
The asari looked to Tali. "If you like to summit a resume..."
"Oh, it's not me," Tali clarified, "It's another quarian."
A frown etched itself on the asari's face. "Wait, is it that slave?"
"I thought your people preferred to call it 'indentured servitude'." Garrus said rather snidely. But an elbow in the ribs from Tali silenced any further sarcasm. It wouldn't defiantly not suit their cause.
"Doesn't matter what it is called. It's the very issue of it. Synthetic Insights has no interests in purchasing slave labor. We're under enough scrutiny from the Citadel as it is without engaging in practices the Council disapproves of. To be frank we're hardly hiring anyone. The geth attack on the Citadel didn't engender much love for artificial intelligence."
Tali could agree there. Hell, she didn't like that her ship had an AI, one built by Cerberus no less. She could completely see the rep's point of view. But that didn't help the quarian pilgrim that had placed herself in a near impossible situation.
"Oh, I see what's going on here," Garrus said darkly. "This isn't about slaves. You just don't want to hire a quarian." He recalled the words Tali said about the Flotilla forbidden from docking here. They couldn't kick out the scant few quarian visitors and travelers but they sure didn't make it easy for them. It pissed him off.
That clearly wasn't what the SI rep was expecting and to be honest neither was Tali. She half expected Garrus to start talking how SI was worried about its reputation and some other things along that line.
"Wait. What? But?"
"Is it because you don't want to feed them or you just don't like the suits," Garrus pressed, becoming more agitated as if he were taking it personally because of his relationship with Tali.
Now on the defensive the rep pushed back just as coolly. "Synthetic Insights as a strict non-discriminating policy! We just don't hire indentured servants. "
Still on the attack Garrus shoved back with: "Maybe I'll take this to Illium's Trade Bureau just to be sure." Garrus started walking away.
"Wait!" The rep called out. "Let's not do anything crazy. Let's not waste the Bureau's time. Okay fine. I'll go draw up a contract. Just leave Illium's bureaucracy out of it." She pointed to Garrus as if she were holding a pistol. "This quarian had better be good though."
"She is," Tali said playing what she surmised was 'good cop' "And I know the Migrant Flotilla would be grateful and more likely to make purchases from you if they knew you had a quarian working for you." She looked to Garrus then to the rep and then repeated pretty much word for word what she thought Shepard might have actually said. "Here's another way to look at it, one for the public image. You purchase the contract plus the fee for early anticipation or some such, then hire the quarian and garnish wages for reimbursement. You look good for hiring a quarian and for freeing slaves out of the goodness of your hearts."
"The Board might wet its pants with this, but I can sell at lest that to them... and we could use the good publicity." The SI rep gave a cold stare to Garrus as she departed.
"She was already going to do it why'd you add that last part?" he grumbled. "You made me look like a grade-A jerk."
Tali touched his chest. "Because I know why you got a little pissy." She nuzzled his chin. "It was for me. I think you got it into your head I was in that Pilgrim's place. You weren't fighting for her, but me. It was sweet to do that," Tali said gently, "But what if that kid gets the brunt of it because that asari felt...jaded? We sorta emotionally blackmailed her into a corner. And there's the fact I'm going to have to deal with them to get the new holo-matrix for that damned AI on the Normandy. I rather not have them charging us double because they feel they lost face. Shepard's pretty adamant about getting it changed. And on top of that I think Shepard might have gone my route not yours. She isn't as... forceful."
"Oh I don't know, she did threaten to break that elcor's legs back on Omega if he didn't give a fair shake to that quarian kid trying to sell salvage so he could continue his Pilgrimage. Then there was the time she practically shoved that volus down on his fat little ass back on the Citadel because he falsely accused that Pilgrim girl for pick-pocketing and didn't apologize when she found his missing credit chit at a store. Hell I thought she might have hit that C-Sec badge as well for threatening to arrest that kid for vagrancy because he was too stupid to realize she was on her Pilgrimage."
"The Pilgrimage isn't exactly widely known. Admit it before we met you didn't even know of it did you?" There was no condemnation or rebuke in her tone only mild amusement.
Garrus shook his head; he had to admit he hadn't heard of it. He was ashamed to admit whenever he chanced to cross paths with a lone young quarian he labeled them as gypsies and thieves. Whenever he saw a few of them together he believed they were always up to something, planning some heist. It was an unfair judgment most certainly and undeserving. Tali had changed all his perceptions and equally so had Shepard. The Spectre never once prejudged Tali because she was a quarian or assumed the worse of her or her people. Shepard valued the younger woman for who she was and what she could do.
"No I didn't." Yet another reason why Garrus was now so resolute about defending Tali and the quarian people; he was making attempts to make up for past sins.
"Well, I thought you were quite striking being the champion of quarian equal rights." Tali's flexible fingers touched the underside of Garrus's chin directly on one of his erogenous zones causing him to purr. She would have loved to kiss him but this was as close as she could get outside the safe environment of the XO quarters. "Come on, lover-boy, let's go tell them the good news."
"I rather find a clean room," pouted the turian.
When they returned the asari matron looked up from her omni tool. "I just received the contract. I cannot thank you enough."
"We did it for her not for you," Garrus said sternly.
"Nevertheless, a kindness to her is mine to repay. Here, for your trouble." She handed Garrus a healthy credit chit. "Now if you will excuse me I'll get this service contract transferred."
The tech touched Tali on the shoulder. "Thank you. Both of you. I'll stay out of trouble this time." She left trailing after the contract broker.