Chapter 4: On to Earth
"We're not a pissing hotel y'know!" Joker sarcastically snapped, witnessing 5 extra members walk on-board, each bringing salvage and personal belongings with them. Kaidan waived his hand at Joker, he knew by now that this meant 'Oh shut up'
"So" Liara stood at the end of the corridor that joined the CIC to the cockpit, arms folded "I see we have acquired new members to our team" Her face was slightly shrewd, she didn't seem mightily impressed.
"Ill acquire your ass on a table soon heh heh" Gruz sneered. Liara raised an eyebrow at him, then started towards him her hand glowing blue as she raised him off the floor by his throat and slammed him onto a bollard.
"Keep saying shit like that to me you buffoon and I'll have you thrown out of the airlock, got it?" she twisted her hand, tightening the now biotic grip on Gruz's neck, the sounds of choking could be heard as his hands struggled to attempt prize hers away from it.
"O….K" he gurgled finally, she let her grip go, he slumped to the floor, his belongings around him. He coughed a fair while before grabbing his stuff up and standing at the back like a dog with its tail between its legs. Liara at that point stropped off, she had done enough to show how powerful she was. "Gotta admit" he whispered to Narran "That kinda turned me on heh heh" Narran jerked his head in disbelief
"For spirits sakes man" he replied shaking his head.
"So will this extra fuel be any good?" Garrus asked Joker
"Good? It's more than good! The more fuel the better Garrus what kind of question is that?" his sarcasm ever present, he leant back into his chair and grinned childishly "I literally have to just press this glowing button here to start our way back to Earth, are we done?"
"Well as far as I'm aware yeah, we're prepped, but Joker" he sat on the seat opposite to his and EDIs "we need to get there as soon as possible, I have to see Amy" his harmonics were low, sincere, scared…all kinds of feelings. Joker leant towards him and uncharacteristically looked at him speaking with empathy in his voice.
"She'll be OK Garrus, you know she will." Garrus simply nodded gently in agreement, she was a woman who could easily take care of herself, but this was a whole other level and although he did nod along, his gut made him feel there was more to it. She could easily be in danger with every second he wasn't by her side, that's how he felt and there were no words, no gestures that could ease that feeling for him.
"We better get cracking" Joker ended, as he started up the comm across the ship again, forewarning the crew that things were on the slow and steady, but Earth would hopefully be in sight soon. The hum of the Normandy's core soon resonated slightly louder with movement, and off it started
Amy, im coming…
Javik stared intently at Gruz, his lips pursed arms folded as he leant against the refrigerator door, Gruz stared back, his lips curling over sat on the mess hall chair with his legs wide open and arm dangling between them, it seemed a standoff between the two was going on…But no-one could figure out why. Vega eyed each one in turn, then approached the fridge with caution.
"Yo, Jav my maaaan" he drew out "I uh, could use some eggs Y'know? Was thinking of showing the new guys some hospitality Vega Style?"
"Nobody cares about your primitive eggs." Javik spat, his gaze didn't break from Gruz's for one second. "Why you would eat eggs from an animal called a 'Chicken' which is also some form of 'taunt' to another human is beyond me"
"What? Well It's no different to you saying you eat Salarian liver raw and then call them the lizard people like that's an insult" Soleet swallowed hard.
"No, stupid primitive it is different, anyway why are you offering hospitality, these lot should be locked up and kept under guard, we have no idea what they are capable of doing" his hand gestured forward to them whilst he sneered a few moments more. Gruz had enough.
"Have you got a problem?" he growled, Batarian voices were deep, but this was another level of deep.
"Not so much a problem" Javik guffawed "More a… 'Pressing issue'"
"What?" Gruz spat, Narran placed an arm on his shoulder. Now wasn't the time to start fights.
"Well you see, your head… It looks capable of holding 6 sets of eyes. Only you never evolved them-"
"Is this going somewhere beetle head?" Gruz stood up, Narran now tugging at his arm.
"Not really, it's not like you can just pluck two more eyes from nowhere is it? Anyway it seems your race is…" Now Vega put a hand on Javik's chest
"Don't go there man" he muttered between his teeth.
"What?" Whispered Javik, his enquiry was sincere. His words however, were offensive.
"Don't" Vega stared until Javik caved.
"WHAT? Im waiting!" Gruz barked in the background, he was already hot headed, anymore and he'd melt into a pool of anger and frustration.
"Oh it is nothing, I wouldn't pick at the brain of a primitive creature like you anymore" Javik's words poured like liquid venom as although he didn't know it, he was indeed the bitchiest person on board. Vega slapped his hands down to his sides with despair and looked around the room.
"Really Prothy?" he pressed
"Why are you looking so 'pissed'-"Javik continued as Gruz suddenly appeared in his face, Narran and Dornak doing their best to prize him away from a fight.
"YOU'RE ASKING HIM WHY HE'S PISSED?" Gruz spat "YOU JUST INSULTED MY ENTIRE RACE AND YOU-"
"Shut up I am not talking to you at this moment" Javik turned back to Vega, Vega shook his head and ducked as he saw Gruz's fist raise up ready to punch Javik, within mere milliseconds Gruz's fist came to make contact with his face only for Javik to simply put his hand up and block it with a biotic hold. He turned to look at him
"See, another thing Batarian, your eyes are still forward facing despite having two sets. Primitive design. Protheans more superior in detecting attacks from side and frontal views"
"GRRRRRRAAAHH!" Gruz pulled his fist away and stormed off, Dornak looked back at the other three, shrugged and went after him.
"Err, is he gonna, you know, be ok?" Vega asked Narran who now stood with the pair wondering how the hell A had gotten to Z.
"Erm yes, he's a bit hot headed as you can tell." Narran folded his arms "Although, that was pretty much uncalled for" he looked at Javik, Javik met his stare back looking slightly stunned.
"What? Did I offend him?" Javik asked.
"Christ's" Vega huffed, Narran mirrored this with 'Spirits' both of them shaking their heads with despair.
Liara looked towards her cabin door after all the shouting had died down, she wanted to take a peek at what the commotion was about but she didn't care much for it. She sat down at her private terminal, constantly tinkering away hoping she could find something to help get EDIs personality back and running. Her inbox blinked green, she eyed the soft phasing light with fascination. She zoned out for mere seconds that felt like minutes before popping back to reality and clicking her inbox icon.
From: Feron
To: Liara t'soni
SUB: Where are you?
Liara, it's been over a day since you last quick messaged me… Are
You on your way yet? Please don't have come this far and those
Random strays have gotten you…please.
As soon as you get this, please reply. My miniChat will be open
All day.
Feron
She eyed the screen a few seconds more before opening up her miniChat on her omnitool. She stared at his last message, there was a reason she hadn't replied.
LT *_*: found a Geth ship, all Geth dead, 3 random guys on there? Suspicious or what?
FR -_-: Oh no, not at all! *insert sarcastic face here* what's your plan?
LT*_*: Do some digging, find out what they're up too of course!
FR-_-: Ah I see, you're going now?!
LT*_*: Of course, no time like the present
FR-_-: hmm you should exercise caution
LT*_*: Feron, I'm fine, I can handle myself. Hasn't witnessing me with the almighty Shepard proven that?
FR-_-: Well she isn't with you now…
LT*_*: what are you trying to say?!
FR-_-: Nothing nothing! Ah crap lol!
LT*_*: that's more like it!
FR-_-: Liara. Please be careful. I hope to see you soon, I've been thinking about you.
She stared again, fingers hovering over the orange keyboard that lay underneath them. She bit her lip as her eyes moved upwards, she wasn't looking at anything but deep in thought. How do I even… How do I feel? She felt confused and scratched her neck. She needed to talk to someone, finally outpour some thoughts and feelings to someone else hoping they could convince her that her heart was right. But her gut always said no. She stood up and patted her uniform down somewhat, then made her way to the mess hall hoping to find a friend to talk it out with.
Looking around, everyone seemed either too wound up, or too careless for her to even attempt a meaningful conversation with. Tali was in an argument with Dornak over why Quarian's had been always frowned upon on the Citadel, most of the others were engaged in some calming down between Javik and Gruz, her head scanned the mess hall once more. There was no way in hell was she trusting this with people she didn't know, she put her hand to her ear.
Garrus? Can we talk?
Sure – his voice drawing out the 'ure' his phonics always so much more evident over the comm Im in Shepard's cabin.
Thanks she giggled somewhat I'll be there in a few.
She walked towards the elevator and hit the button, feeling ever so weird that she was visiting Shepard's cabin with no Shepard. The doors hissed open finally and she buzzed on the door.
"It's me Garrus" she chirped, the doors sliding away. Garrus was sat on the sofas by Shepard's bed, Liara's mind flashed back. The last time she had been here was to discuss Shepard's time capsule, her honesty and trust in Liara made her feel so warm that day, she finally knew what it was like to have a true friend.
"So" Garrus began as his head turned back to try meet her, following her movements down the steps "What have I done now?" Liara laughed.
"Nothing, its nothing like that" She made herself comfortable not too far from him.
"O…k" He replied, almost confused "Would you like a drink?"
"Erm no thanks, I'm good" She waived her hand in front of herself "I need some advice" Garrus seemed slightly taken aback.
"You, want advice. From me?" He pointed at himself with slight disbelief. Liara normally was too headstrong to take anyone's advice, she always seemed to know 'what was best' to do.
"Yes. Look it's about Feron"
"Ahh, now it makes sense" Garrus leaned back into the sofa, crossing his leg over the other. "You finally going to tell him the truth?"
"What that I deeply care about him? That I daren't do anything about it because I fear he will get hurt again?" She became fidgety and uneasy looking at the floor. If there was one thing Liara was in her slightly older years, it was definitely too proud of herself.
"Well yeah, that's basically all you can do!" Garrus laughed "Although I'm sure he can handle himself"
"The shadow broker almost killed him Garrus, I can't see him like that again" Garrus rolled his eyes
"The shadow broker is also gone, it's now you. He's helped you do some crazy stuff, if it hadn't been for you two I wouldn't have met Amy again" His face softened and looked toward her with genuine gratitude, she smiled and looked at him.
"How did you and Shepard even become an item?" Liara laughed "I thought her and Alenko-"
"Yea well once she tasted a REAL man she didn't wanna go back to starters" Laughed Garrus
"Me-ow" Liara remarked "That was so catty Garrus" she shook her head along with his joke
"Well she WAS with Alenko. Although she told me when they finally did 'get together' he never seemed too into her. She even said their first time seemed like just a passing, no emotion, nothing."
"Wow really? I thought Alenko would have been quite the schmoozer" Liara raised an eyebrow fascinated on the new outlook she had gotten on her comrade.
"Nope apparently he was always plain talking afterwards. She even said how she'd been swayed by him for so long only for it to fizzle out rather quickly. Then obviously she died so…" He laughed to himself "That was her perfect excuse to rethink things through"
"Garrus!" Liara laughed and hit him on the arm
"It's true she told me!" He laughed back flinching from the slap he received. "Anyway, when I first met Amy? Wow. I'd never had a 'thing' for humans. EVER." He began, his face when whimsical for some time. Liara sat forward and listened intently. "But seeing her strength, her courage? That really did it for me. It wasn't some human style lust at first. It was love." Liara felt her heart swoon, it was like reading a romance novel how Garrus spoke of her. "I never thought she'd like Turians, and me Humans. It's just that thing isn't it?" he shrugged, but Liara knew what he meant, she nodded with him "And when she did die, it felt like…it felt like something died within me too. That was when I realised I felt more for her than a friend. I felt horrid it took something as bad as her dying for me to realise how I felt!"
"That's understandable though Garrus" Liara added a reassuring hand on his leg
"I just felt I never had a chance with her, you and Alenko had made feelings clear with her and she chose the Human, that's how I felt" Liara blushed with embarrassment.
"Yes. I wasn't impressed with how that got spread around" She gritted her teeth whilst murmuring "Ashley" She then laughed "My crush soon passed though, but I understand what attracted you to her, she has a certain 'charisma' doesn't she?" Garrus nodded and hummed.
"I remember seeing her on Omega. I had to double take through my sniper rifle to be sure I wasn't dreaming, and there she was. As brazen as always! Walking into a battlefield with no helmet on" He laughed wickedly "So I shot some concussive rounds, knocked her shields right off, I told her it was because the guys would get suspicious, which it kinda was! But it was flirting" Liara smiled and looked at him anxious to carry on.
"So, then she comes up the stairs and doesn't even know it's me. Her face was priceless, and the voice she spoke my name in. My. God. I will take that one to my grave" he laughed again "Then obviously I got a rocket to the face" Liara winced
"I did hear about that. Well not like it isn't evident anyway" She gestured towards his scars.
"Yea, I came out of the med bay to be called a 'tough son of a bitch' by Jacob, I swear she flirted with me then too"
He stood up and walked over to the aquarium tank to put some food out for the fishes. "She kept popping into the main battery for chats, you know Shepard always yakking. Anyway this one day we're talking and I get onto how Turian ships prepare and de-stress etcetera, and I told her I ended up in bed with someone after numerous rounds of combat and said 'I had the reach, She had the flexibility'" He chuckled "I should probably not say anymore" Liara's eyebrow raised, her need for information had almost become OCD like since becoming the Shadow Broker.
"You didn't…there and then…" she sounded a little taken aback.
"No! Spirits no!" Garrus waved his arms in front of him "There was lust, but obviously we had no idea about each other's…anatomy" he shuddered jokingly "That sounded clinical. She basically offered to help me de-stress, and the rest is history" Liara looked satisfied with that answer, although she wanted to hear more. "What I'm trying to say Liara, is, live for the moment. Stop second guessing yourself and Feron and just go for it."
"Yes but this isn't the end of the Galaxy anymore-"she got interrupted
"Liara! How do you know?" He shrugged with slight anger in his shoulders "He won't hang around for you to umm and arr forever you know, how would you feel if he met someone else?"
"I… I'd be upset" She looked towards the floor almost guilty feeling
"Exactly, Amy used to say this odd human thing… Grab the bull by the horns – I think that's it"
Liara looked puzzled, neither of them had a clue what that was supposed to mean. But it fit well.
Liara stood up and was about to bid farewell when she clocked the data pad blinking green in Shepard's drawer. She pointed and went to ask if he was going to get it but he looked hesitant. She squinted her eyes at him, Turian facial expressions could be hard to read at times.
"Garrus?"
"I know. I can see it."
"Do you need privacy?" she asked, she wasn't sure what she wanted to hear him say
"Erm. No it's ok, It's Amy's I shouldn't pry" although he stared immensely at it.
"Ok. Well thanks for the talk, I think it's helped clear my mind" Liara smiled, nodded and waved politely
"Anytime Li" Garrus replied, softly smiling back.
