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Chapter 2: The Big, Blue Adventure

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"Goddamn media maws!"

Commander Lakota Shepard and Doctor Liara T'Soni walked briskly through the dilapidated confines of the Presidium while intermittently glancing back upon their rearward trail. Liara, disadvantaged by both her high heeled shoes and elegant, form fitting dress, struggled to keep up with the Spectre's brisk pace.

"I can't believe she interrupted our dinner!" Dodging miscellaneous debris, Lakota continued the vehement rant. "If I see Khalisah Al-Jilani face-to-face, mark my words, I'm going to punch her!" To emphasize the declaration, she irritably jabbed the open air with her right fist.

"Shepard!" chastised Liara.

"I'm serious! I'm a Spectre, I could get away with it!"

"Maybe in your next lifetime, Commander. Right now, I think you had better focus on where you are leading us."

"Yeah… You're probably right, but that doesn't mean I want to hit her any less."

"Of course not, Commander."

Lakota shot a quick, humored glance in the asari's direction and huffed mockingly, "Now you're just placating me."

Smirking, Liara replied, "Yes, Shepard."

After hastily ducking out of the Blue Rose, Lakota had led Liara on a twisted journey while attempting to elude the reporters pursuing them. The fifteen minute flight to freedom had been complicated by sequestered areas, fallen metal remains and unexpected dead ends, but they eventually arrived unmolested at the central ring of the Citadel: The Presidium. Concluding that they weren't being followed or at least not followed closely, Lakota slowed their tempo and took a moment to survey the landscape before her. Mainly, the colossal damage done during that final confrontation with Saren, now dubbed "The Battle of the Citadel."

The Presidium was a massive, park-like complex which contained offices for various branches of the galactic government, as well as embassies for all the races represented in the Citadel. Normally the lush, panoramic views showcased scenery bustling with activity, but because of the catastrophic wreckage caused by the Reaper ship ramming into the space station, nearly all zones of the Presidium had been quarantined and registered off-limits to personnel. Lakota's Spectre status granted her and Liara access to the restricted sectors tended to by the keepers: mute, spider-like creatures who maintained the Citadel's vital systems.

Stopping in front of a fragmented railing, Lakota took a serious look at the broken landscape in front of her and stated the obvious. "This is going to take years to repair."

"Yes," agreed the scientist, "but the Citadel has always been an important monument to the galactic communities, and with the defeat of Saren and Sovereign, it will take on greater significance as a symbol of unified resistance. They will rebuild."

Lakota sighed thoughtfully and then turned, studying the keeper to her right that was busy fixing a bulkhead. Skeptically shaking her head, she commented, "Knowing what I do about these machines…I don't trust them."

Stepping beside her lover, Liara questioned, "Commander?"

"At least the geth are upfront about their hostility. These keepers are no more than creepy, little sleeper agents. They maintain this space station waiting for someone or something to wake them up. And then what happens?"

"Is paranoia a trait of all good soldiers?" teased Liara.

"Yes. Keeps us alive a lot longer." The Spectre shrugged her shoulders. "Oh, well. The council didn't listen to me before; they're not going to listen to me now. After all, Saren and Sovereign were just figments of my imagination and this whole Citadel disaster," Lakota spread her arms wide, as if to embrace the crumpled chaos in before her, "well, that's just some sort of keeper malfunction."

Liara regarded her lover as though she had lost her mind. "Shepard?"

Lakota noticed the asari's alarmed expression and broke into a mirthful grin. Shaking her head apologetically, she said, "Sorry, Liara. Just venting my frustration because shooting something doesn't seem wise."

Eyebrow raised, Liara played along. "But you are a Spectre; your privileges cover random shootings."

Laughing, Lakota quipped, "Oh… so I can shoot things, but punching someone is off-limits? Doctor, I like the way you think. Now…all I need is my gun."

Liara moved behind Lakota wrapping her arms tightly around the commander's waist. She placed a quick kiss on her lover's neck before salaciously whispering, "I can think of many things you like."

Lakota leaned into the asari's paradoxical embrace – one that was both comforting and stirring, and then sighed heavily. "Heh, I'd love to be reminded of those things."

"As you wish…" Liara adeptly slid around her lover's right side, never disengaging her hold and upon meeting an inquisitive gaze, an impish smirk was drawn across her lips. Pressing tightly into her lover's frame, the scientist's face nuzzled Lakota's neck breathing in her scent of sandalwood woven with a hint of sage. Since their first intimate encounter, Liara was smitten with this surprising sensual aspect which now carried sumptuous memories and ignited exotic, primal desires through her senses.

"Goddess," growled the asari, "you are…..intoxicating."

Her lips found Lakota's neck, and she placed doting kisses just under the jaw line while the commander's hands roamed freely across her backside, massaging every inch touched. Enjoying the visceral dance ignited between them, Liara left a trail of lingering pecks down her lover's neck, but stopped when she felt the rhythmic drumbeat of a pulse on her lips. She knew this was a sensitive spot for Lakota - a favored spot, and when she gently bit down, she was heralded with a pleasurable gasp.

"Liara…," murmured Lakota.

"Now is not the time for talking, Shepard." To finalize her pronouncement, Liara leaned in and tenderly brushed her lips upon Lakota's. Pressing in to deepen the kiss, she was rewarded with the commander's lips parting and the feel of her silken tongue making contact. The warm, spicy-sweet taste of cinnamon drifted amidst their communion assailing Liara's senses and heightening her deliciously roused craving. Needing to feel more, her right hand snaked leisurely up the commander's left side, noting supple curves and firm muscles along the way. Upon capturing the back of Lakota's head, she decisively pulled her lover into a crushingly deep, lascivious kiss that ravaged lips, time and space.

The shift in intensity was not lost on Lakota as she succumbed to the ardent ministrations of her lover and her own untamed desires beckoning from within. Lost in the heady pleasure of being devoured, the commander's hands artfully slid over her lover's captivating landscape kneading and stroking along the way. The intrepid exploration of peaks and valleys elicited a deep throated moan from the asari and prompted Lakota to tightly envelop her within the strength of her arms, merging their forms as though imperceptible hues of sunlight rays. Time laggardly slipped away while the lovers immersed themselves unreservedly in the seductive dance playing between.

Plummeting toward the hallowed point of no return, Liara gathered her sparse vestiges of willpower, placed her hands on her lover's shoulders, and gently halted the amorous procession by deliberately drawing her lips away. Breathing in like a sea at rest, she strove to rein in her rampant, lustful desires. "Commander…," she hissed through obvious arousal, "…behave."

With a feral smirk, Lakota seductively intoned, "May I remind you, Doctor… You started this."

The commander was a striking woman. In human terms, she was not a classic beauty, but her good-looking features carried with them a natural beauty. At five foot nine, she was taller than the average human female, and had a lithe, athletic build of someone who engaged in intense regular exercise. People were inexplicably drawn in by her energy, and her presence dominated the very space she stood. Her pale green eyes were luminescent against the backdrop of her honey-tanned skin and ponytailed, raven-black hair. Her looks were marred, and dually enhanced, by one feature: a seven inch scar starting above the right eyebrow, cutting a path down over the bridge of her nose, across the left cheek and ending at the jaw bone.

A wistful smile tugged at Liara's lips as she raised her right hand so her forefinger could trace the lightly faded, diagonal scar that slashed across her lover's face. "Yes, well… How could I not when the vision before me is so… enthralling?"

Lakota deftly caught the asari's right hand and held it firmly against her cheek as sultry, green eyes fell into blue ones, dark and fathomless as the ocean depths. Taking in a deep, grounding breath, she brought her lover's hand to her lips and kissed the palm slowly, methodically as if branding their essence upon the azure color skin. "Our date isn't over, Doctor."

"Oh really, Commander?" the scientist asked skeptically. "So dinner being interrupted, escaping the restaurant and being chased to the Presidium… this was all part of your romantic plan?"

"Not exactly, but…," Lakota brightly encouraged, "try thinking of it as an adventure date."

"Shepard… we were pursued by your media maws!"

"Well, yes…there's that, but…"

Hearing scuffled movement echoing across the damaged park's expanse, Lakota dourly muttered, "Damn! How the hell did they get… Come on, Liara. Our adventure date isn't over yet."

Lakota grabbed the asari's hand and they scurried off in the opposite direction of the displaced sounds of movement. However, the rapid getaway through fallen debris was not conducive to the scientist's inappropriate footwear. While attempting to follow Lakota's lead, Liara hopped over a metal fragment, but miscalculated the landing. Overcompensating so she wouldn't tumble to the ground, her shoe slipped off its base and slightly rolled her ankle.

"Ow… by the goddess!" The asari stopped immediately and her hands reached down to gently rub the sprained left ankle.

The moment her lover's hand had disengaged, Lakota spun on her heels to make sure everything was alright. "Liara! Are you okay?"

Through a pained grimace, Liara nodded her head in acknowledgement, but she continued to massage the tender area.

In a fraction of a second, Lakota assessed the situation, Liara's feet, and identified the problem. "Toss 'em."

The scientist's flabbergasted gaze bore into the commander. "What?"

"You need to get rid of those shoes," repeated the Spectre matter-of-factly.

Thinking she misheard the commander, the asari incredulously questioned, "Shepard! Are you insane?"

"Maybe." Unfazed by her lover's disbelieving astonishment, Lakota knelt down in front of the scientist and muttered, "If you ask the Council, that's still a question for debate." With her left hand leveraging the asari's right calf, she decisively pulled off the shoe, and then handed it to Liara.

"These are Nikeens!" continued the aghast asari, cradling the footwear protectively as if it were pure Eezo.

A clueless expression blanketed Lakota's face as she peered up at her lover. "That's supposed to mean something to me, right?"

Horrified by the implication, Liara rolled her eyes in untold exasperation.

The commander repeated the same steps to remove the other shoe, being attentive to not touch the rapidly swelling ankle. "I've never understood high heels." Quickly looking at Liara, she went on. "Don't get me wrong, they transform a great pair of legs into a fantastic pair of legs, but…" Lakota stood, and holding the shoe's toe in her hand, she jabbed at the air with the spiked heel. "I could never get the thought that they were a potential weapon out of my head."

Liara put her hands on her hips, a shoe dangling from her right hand's fingertips, and hotly coerced, "I will take that from you now."

Ignoring the scientist, Lakota continued to attack the air with the shoe. "And you know, there is plenty of research showing how bad they are for your posture. Well, for human posture anyway."

"Shepard… that is not a toy!" Liara boldly held out her hand demanding the prized possession.

"Whoa…wait a minute! Did I just find out that The Dr. Liara T'Soni, respected asari scientist, and renowned Prothean expert, is a shoe whore?"

"Maybe"

"Maybe, my ass," Lakota laughingly teased.

"Not everyone limits themselves to seven pairs of shoes, Commander."

"Hey… I have ten pairs, thank you very much."

"Your armored boots do not count as fashionable footwear."

Spreading her arms wide as if addressing an audience, Lakota announced, "And that confirms it, ladies and gentlemen! Dr. T'Soni loves shoes!"

"You are incorrigible!"

Stepping close, Lakota wrapped her arms around the scientist's waist and then innocently inquired, "That's a good thing, right?"

In mock annoyance, Liara retorted, "Only if you remember my love of shoes on my birthday."

"Done!"

Celebrating the mutual consensus, the commander tightened her embrace and placed a tender, lingering kiss upon her lover's lips. As the moment faded, she attempted to draw away but was surprised by Liara hands capturing her hair and reining her back into a fierce, bruising kiss. Hungry and demanding, the exotic dance of their lips lit fire to a smoldering ember that never seemed to wane. The couple attempted to communicate their longing and desire with each silken stroke of the tongue and each tantalizing nibble of the teeth. Inflamed hands wantonly caressed thighs, arms, and backs; their audacious movements flowing in rhythm with the fiery cadence of tenacious, unending kisses.

Abruptly, Liara disengaged and affectionately stated, "That kiss is a more appropriate apology for ridiculing shoe love."

Smiling serenely, but with a mischievous glint in her eye, Lakota reached out with her right hand and cupped her lover's cheek. Her mouth slowly curled into a sultry grin as her emerald eyes locked onto sapphire ones which were full of curiosity. The tip of the commander's thumb gently traced the sensual outline of soft lips as if preparing the way for better things and then she gently pulled Liara closer. Supple lips, lusciously swollen from their previous encounter, lightly grazed each other in a teasing caress that haunted the senses like a half-remembered dream of fabled promises. Rousing in its sublime nature, the ethereal salutation was held captive by intensity alone. Even as the delicate kiss lightened its touch, the lips remained connected savoring the taste, reveling in the feel, and were ultimately consumed by the enticing sweetness of the endearment.

Lazily withdrawing from the ambrosial kiss, Lakota leaned forward until foreheads barely touched, and then held herself still in quiet devotion. The human and asari remained statuesque, listening to the harmony in their breathing, feeling the warmth of their close proximity, tasting the tranquil flavor of their melded senses. The passage of time was beyond their notice.

Breaking the silence, Liara contentedly whispered, "That was adequate, as well."

"Just adequate?"

"More research is needed, Commander."

"Excellent idea, Doctor. Are you free now?"

"For you, I will make the time." Foreheads still touching, Liara's head turned slightly and her brows furrowed disapprovingly as she heard noises from behind. "It seems our research will have to wait for another time though."

Lakota released a frustrated sigh, but only tightened her snug embrace. After taking a few moments to further enjoy the peaceful serenity, Lakota leaned back, placed a quick, chaste kiss on her lover's lips, and then reluctantly said, "Okay, let's go."

Spurred on by the faint sounds in the distance, Lakota took Liara's hand and they resumed their elusive flight. Their pace was slowed considerably, by two factors: Liara's sprained ankle and her form-fitting dress. The gown was exquisite, but its snug shape did not allow much freedom for leg movement. The two continued to determinedly plod their way through the broken landscape of the once lush mezzanine, but Lakota soon realized that their pursuers were gaining ground.

Abruptly, Lakota halted their progress. Donning her most bewitching smile, she turned to Liara and roguishly inquired, "How's your love of dresses?"

The scientist's brows creased in a questioning glare. "Wha…?"

Lakota brandished a hidden knife from the inside of her right, knee-high black leather boot and knelt down. Surprised, the scientist spent a split-second attempting to figure out exactly how many other weapons her lover was carrying and exactly where she could have hidden them. She couldn't imagine the commander's skintight, black leather pants or burgundy silk halter top would offer much room to conceal weapons. Her hands had extensively explored the commander's form and found nothing out of place. She reasoned that the black leather boots were the most logical place to hide a weapon. The sound of fabric tearing woke her to the moment as Lakota cut two slits, one on each side of her dress, which reached to mid-thigh.

"Damn. You have fantastic legs, Doctor. You should show them off more."

Shaking her head in dumbfounded amusement, Liara sighed. "Apparently, I'll start now."

Lakota shamelessly admired the bare form in front of her. As her hand brushed along the length of the asari's graceful, right leg, she murmured, "I love this view."

"I'm glad, Commander, because it is going to cost you."

"It's worth every cred."

Upon hearing some far-off commotion, Lakota placed a quick, reverent kiss upon her lover's thigh and then stood up. "Come on," she urged while grabbing Liara's hand, "we've got to go!"

They continued their winding trek through the Citadel stopping in front of the consort's chambers to assess their bearings. Lakota glanced quickly at the doorway and then cautiously peered at her lover.

Liara fixed a hard gaze upon the door, firmly crossed her arms and adamantly stated, "No."

Lakota tentatively suggested, "But we could…"

"No."

"But it's right…"

"No."

"But…"

"Absolutely not."

In spite of the fact that Lakota's dalliance with the consort was before she met Liara, it still didn't sit well with the scientist and the Spectre was wise enough to realize when she was amidst a losing battle.

"Okay then, let's find someplace else."

As they forged on through the havoc and remains of the now famous galactic battle, Lakota couldn't help but wonder how long it would actually take to restore the Presidium. Their march took them pass the large krogan monument and also a few disabled Avina terminals. As Lakota approached a fork in their path, she glanced up to admire the now inactive small-scale mass relay she and her crew used to follow Saren from Ilos to the Citadel. At first, this monument was thought to be a piece of Prothean Art, but now the relay's true purpose was known. It was one of two relays identified as the Conduit, which created a back door into the Citadel and bypassed the station's defenses. With great satisfaction she remembered the exhilarating moment when the Mako emerged through this relay on the Presidium, crushing several geth in the landing.

Still contemplating the relay and beaming with mirthfully smug pride, Lakota asked, "So…what way do you think?"

Silence answered the question.

Lakota spun around only to find empty space. "Liara?" Searching frantically with her eyes, she finally caught sight of her lover, and muttered, "Oh, hell…"

Lakota trudged back to the krogan statue and found Liara kneeling, studying the monument. Lakota grabbed Liara's hand and tugged as amused exasperation illuminated her face. "This is no time for sightseeing, Doctor," her words were light and humorous; after all, this was just one of the many cute things Lakota loved about the scientist.

"Shepard, did you know that this statue represents the values of the krogan –honor, loyalty, courage, fortitude…"

"Yes, my dear… you mentioned that once before. Although…," Lakota scrutinized the statue, "…didn't it have a head at that time?"

"Yes, it is a shame. I wonder if they will rebuild it."

"I'll ask the Council next time I see them. Come on. I hear the posse."

Their path was unhampered until they reached a precipice overlooking the Presidium Lake. The bridge that connected to the other side of the platform was receded, and in its place was a ten meter gap of empty space. Lakota found the bridge's control panel, but it was damaged. She surveyed the area for a new option and spied another bridge terminal on the wall, across the open space roughly fifteen meters away.

Liara watched as the commander's eyes lit up with a mischievous gleam. "Shepard, what are you planning?"

Waving off the asari, Lakota chuckled. "I've got this." She bent down and pulled the knife she used on Liara's dress out of her leather boot. She walked to the edge of the platform and took a deep breath, centering herself. Squaring her shoulders, she lined up her target and then threw the knife at the wall panel. Bull's eye –dead center of the bridge controls.

Seconds palpably ticked by, yet nothing happened.

"But…" Lakota appeared stricken.

"Shepard, while the knife throw was impressive, I fail to see how it was supposed to help our situation."

Visibly distraught, Lakota whined, "But that always works in the vids!"

Doing her best to suppress her amusement, Liara finally gave up and laughed aloud.

Undeterred, the commander scanned the area and found the solution a few meters away: a metal beam thirty centimeter wide that crossed the expanse. She walked over to the plank and examined its sturdiness. The beam would hold their combined weight, but they would have to tread over it in a single file line.

"Commander, normally, I would have no issues with crossing that… but I do not trust my ankle. I'll be okay though, I can…"

"Trust me?" Lakota interrupted while flashing a roguish grin.

"Shepard, I can…"

"Trust me?" Lakota interrupted again, this time holding out her right hand.

Liara contemplated Lakota for a long moment before returning the smile and taking the proffered hand. "Always, Commander."

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Next Chapter - Blue-Eyed Girl