A/N - Thanks for the advice, y'all! Made some changes, should be good. Thanks Theodur and thedeadflag!
p.s, If we were to ever make contact with aliens, I'd be totally cool with their first bit of earth culture being The Sound of Music.

On with the show! :)

2169 CE – Local Cluster/Sol/Earth/Europa/UK/London
The St Mary Matfelon Chapel

Walking along the quiet streets, Liara was enraptured with the architecture of the city, which was unlike anything she had seen before. On Thessia, and indeed all Asari occupied worlds, buildings were kept in pristine condition, clinically disinfected, buffed and waxed on a regular basis. Here, however, history seeped through the very concrete itself, worn and chipped but still standing after years of turmoil.

However, signs of modern technology were ever present. Small civilian shuttles lined the streets, metal doors were flanked with recognition software and VI terminals were dotted in alcoves. Turning the corner, Liara immediately saw what was undoubtedly the head quarters for the 10th Street Reds. Standing proud amongst the ancient architecture was a small chapel, gleaming white, marred only by strikes of vibrant red.

Though the style of the building set out to ape the surrounding architecture, it was undeniably a modern construct; where there should be stain glass windows stood what was undoubtedly two way mirrors, and what would have been gravestones had tell tale signs of cutting edge defence technology. Dotted around the grounds of the chapel stood people who would be otherwise unremarkable, if not for the pistols they were carrying, or the fact that they all had their right sleeves missing, bare arms sporting a red lion rampant tattoo.

Even the bravest of justicars would be unnerved setting eyes on this place. Liara was positively quaking. She stood, frozen by fear and uncertainty. You're in far over your head this time. Just turn around and get the next shuttle to Thessia. By the Goddess, Mother was right.

At the thought of her mother, Liara steeled herself. No. This time her mother was not right. As a child, when Liara had told her mother she wanted to study Protheans and archaeology, the Matriarch just laughed. Cute, she had thought. It's natural, all children rebel against their parents. As Liara grew older, her resolve only strengthened and her mother found it increasingly less cute.

As she prepared to leave for university, Liara's relationship with her mother began to break down and falter, leading to a rather heated exchange of words that would become their last interaction for ten years. No. I want this. I am going to do this. Taking in a deep breath, Liara strode through the open door, her fists clenched to stop them shaking.

A small squeak escaped her throat as she absorbed her surroundings. If it was beautiful outside, it was astounding inside. Intricate stone work scaled the walls, and mahogany pews lined the floor. The Chapel's inhabitants, while not adhering to a strict uniform, all had the sleeveless lion motif, with red accenting their garb.

What struck Liara, when it really shouldn't have by this point, was the diversity of the gang. Not just in phenotypes, but in age. It very nearly broke Liara's heart to see such a wealth of children amongst their ranks. They didn't act like children, instead sporting hollow, embittered expressions around their eyes.

Scanning the room, Liara became aware of the eyes watching her. While the hum of conversation didn't die down, it became noticeably more stilted. The only person not paying attention to her was a child, no older than fifteen, in the far corner, her back turned. She was several inches smaller than the Asari, with fiery red hair and was currently deep in a heated, whispered discussion with someone on her omnitool.

Liara suddenly became very self conscious of her bright blue skin amongst this sea of red. It was taking every shred of her will power not to bolt for the exit. She swallowed as two men approached and prayed her legs continued to support weight for a little while longer.

In any other situation, the contrast in the two men's appearances would be humorous. One was a hulking brute of a man, the size of a bear and could easily pass for Krogan in a darkened room, covered in scars and missing several teeth. And yet he had the softest eyes. Bright blue and inquisitive, almost like a child's. The other man would struggle to reach Liara's shoulders, was whippet thin and scraggly, with a prominent nose and beady eyes seated deep within hollows of his gaunt face. To her dismay, it was the latter that chose to introduce themselves.

"Well well well, what do we have here, then? These streets aren't the place for a pretty young Sheila like yourself." He had a nasally tone, only worsened by his accent, which was almost offensive in its thickness. Liara recognised it as belonging to the planet's southern hemisphere, Austria, was it?

Pushing her musings to the back of her mind, the Asari cleared her throat and braced herself. Keep calm. You have nothing to be scared of. Yet, anyway. Just remember what the Corporal told you.

"I am Doctor Liara T'Soni and I am here to discuss purchasing an escort for my duration on Earth." The small man regarded her with weasely eyes, a lecherous grin crawling up his face.

"What's to stop us taking you, pet? Keeping you for ourselves? You did just walk right in here, uninvited. We could use a little blue beaut to mix things up."

Goddess, this was a mistake. But you've come too far now. Hold your ground. Stay. Calm. What would Mother do? Name drop. If you did not have the sway yourself, use those around you as leverage.

She fixed him with what she hoped was a steely glaze.

"That would be unwise. You see, I am the daughter of the powerful Matriarch Benezia."

Good. Now, remember what she told you. Veiled threats.

"If we were to have a... d- difference of opinions, I'm afraid the political fallout would become a rather loathsome headache."

Yes, yes.

"So much paperwork. For me, at least."

The man's grin only widened.

"Really?"

"Really," Came the reply from the bear-like man, who shared the southern hemispherical accent. Yes, definitely Austrian. Unlike his compatriot, the large man had a soothing, infinitely more pleasing diction.

He had been tapping on his own omnitool as the exchange had taken place and Liara could make out the orange tinted profile of her mother floating over the large arm, surrounded by walls of scrolling text.

"Leave her be, drongo. Even if I were to let you take her, we couldn't be doing with a bunch of pissed off blues breathing down our necks. She wants company, she can get company. Assuming you can pay, of course, miss?" Taken aback the bear-like man's delicate elocution her voice lost its edge.

"I, uh- yes. Money won't be a problem. How much for one week?"

"How much you got?" the weasely man piped up again.

"Enough." She retorted curtly as she sent a figure to the bear-like man's omnitool from her own. Standing on his tip toes, the weasely man peeked up at his companions arm.

"Yes it will be" he all but breathed.

"For that, we can you our best," The bear-like man said, turning to his associate, "You go get the blood nut. Tell her she'll get enough bacon to feed those ankle-biters for months."

As the weasely man stalked off to the corner containing the girl who had been on her omnitool, the bear-like man offered an apologetic smile to the Asari. He's nice, Liara, try some small talk. Remember, he's from Austria. You saw a vid about that.

"Austria. I hear you have sentient countryside that can sing for millennia. It sounds wonderful." She offered hopefully. The man only stared at her, a bemused smirk on his face.

"It sure does." Liara's shoulders sagged and her face burned as she instantly regretted opening her mouth. Well done Liara, another faux pas. I don't even know what part I got wrong. She was no good at this socialization business. The sooner she could get to those ruins the better.

Thankfully, the weasely man had quickly returned with girl in tow. Her brow was furrowed under strands of vibrant auburn hair and her nose wrinkled, displacing the smattering of freckles across her face. Vivid green eyes refused to rise any further than waist level. When it was clear she would not be introducing herself, the bear-like man took it upon himself to do so for her.

"Don't let her appearance fool you; she's a little ripper when it comes to fighting."

Apparently angered by her lack of acknowledgement, the weasely man gave the girl a sharp dig in the ribs and hissed in her ear.

"Remember, she's Asari and her pay's keeping your street rats from doing the world a favour and disappearing down some vent. So you give her what she wants or this is going to be a long week, one you might not live to see the end of."

Liara watched as the girl barely suppressed a shudder and yanked away from the weasely man. Stony faced, the girl managed momentary eye contact with the Asari, wariness and distrust in her eyes, before returning her gaze to the floor as she finally acknowledged Liara with an equally expressionless "Miss."

The bear-like man put a giant hand on the girl's shoulder.

"Remember the rules, right? Fifty feet at all times or no dice, you'll get paid when you get back and the Doctor's sent us confirmation that you filled your end of the deal, okay?" She nodded, keeping her eyes fixed on the floor.

He leaned in closer to her ear, in an act of reassurance as opposed to the other's admonishment.

"We'll keep an eye out for your kids while you're gone. Keep 'em out of harm's way." This made her look up to him and nodded.

"Thank you."

She turned to the Asari and with a small shrug of resignation, gestured towards the exit. Liara gave the girl a reassuring smile, but her gaze had already returned to examining the feet of those around her. Making their way out of the chapel, the sun had already begun to set. Liara forgot that Earth days tended to be shorter than those on Thessia.

They walked in silence for a while, turning a corner, the soft sound of the girl's shoes behind Liara being the only indication that the girl was still following. Breaking the silence, Liara spoke over her shoulder,

"It's getting dark but luckily, I have a hotel room booked for the night. We can get an early start tomorrow and we can set off for Pa- Parice- Pari...Sian, Par-i-zee-ah?"

She stumbled over the last word, blushing slightly, hoping her fumble would at least break the tension and give the girl a giggle. Liara waited, but her only response was silence punctuated by the light shuffling of shoes.

That man was right. This was going to be a long week.