Kaidan had heard second-hand that speaking with the council could be a daunting affair; those who had actually done so said that it was rather like being chastised before a crowd, even if one was receiving a commendation. He had always assumed that they were just talking things up, trying to garner a little extra attention; he could now confirm for himself that such was not the case. There was something about feeling those three sets of accusing eyes on him that took him straight back to childhood when he had broken his brother's wrist while rough-housing. His mother had worn such a look and he remembered not being able to sit still for nearly a full day afterward.

Rumor had it the punishments the council dispensed were far worse; if this didn't work out he would be experiencing that first-hand too.

Ambassador Udina stood to his left, quiet for once; Kaidan was fairly certain he had never witnessed such a thing, and he was equally certain it meant nothing good. Ashley was at his other side, a solid and dependable presence, though her expression lacked its usual confidence.

The asari, counselor Tevos, was the first to speak. "Lieutenant Alenko, I understand that you were in charge of security during the time that Dr. Liara T'Soni was taken; will you give an account of your actions for last night, beginning in the afternoon during the hour prior to the arrival of Dr. T'Soni's ship and ending with approximately oh four-hundred this morning?"

Udina cut in before he could form a response, "This is Not Necessary." Kaidan winced; did he have to speak in capitals all the time? At least he wasn't acceding to the council's whims without question this time around; normally he played the part of their lap-dog.

"Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko's Whereabouts have been confirmed as has Gu-"

"The council has not addressed you, ambassador. You may hold your comments until they are requested." Kaidan could practically hear his teeth grinding, and despite the gravity of the situation he could swear he heard Ashley snort; it restored a little of his confidence and he found himself stepping forward to answer their inquiry before the echoes of the councilor's voice had subsided.

"Prior to Dr. T'Soni's arrival I was in charge of ensuring that every possible precaution was taken to ensure her safety; my whereabouts for the time you specified as well as the day prior are all a matter of record. In the hours directly before the estimated time of abduction I was in the infirmary; the nurse on duty there can confirm that the drugs I was given would ensure an uninterrupted sleep."

"There. Returning to the matter at hand-"

"Ambassador Udina, this is the second time you have interrupted council proceedings. There will not be a third."

The councilor's stern face turned to Ashley; "And you, Gunnery-Chief Williams? Can you account for your actions in the time given?"

Ashley tensed and Kaidan murmured a quick prayer that she was only nervous, and not preparing to show that temper of hers. It couldn't be sitting well with her that she was being interrogated by an external power on Alliance soil. Williams was a good soldier, and Kaidan knew she was no Terra Firma nut-job it was just that sometimes she got a little carried away in the heat of the moment and said things she nearly always regretted later. He needed the council's trust if he was going to convince them to take his side.

Kaidan relaxed once again as Ashley spoke, voice even and pitched to carry, giving no clue to whatever internal battle she waged. "I was off-duty until yesterday evening; my records will indicate that I did not exit my quarters until the early afternoon; I was in the mess and the gym until evening, thereafter I attended the evening dinner in my capacity as a sec-"

"Enough. This is a reiteration of facts we have already been made aware of."

"As I said." Udina murmured under his breath, for once Kaidan appreciated his frustration; the council was wasting its time on petty details when greater things were at stake.

Kaidan cleared his throat, lowering his head in an attitude of humility that wasn't entirely feigned- he bore some of the responsibility for this fiasco. Ashley stared in open-mouthed shock as he took advantage of the tense silence to voice his request.

"Councilor Tevos, in light of recent events and my own inadvertent part in this unfortunate occurrence I request that I be assigned the task of locating Dr. T'Soni with the authority to direct a small team that would be under my sole command."

"That is preposterous! You are in effect suggesting that we circumvent the command structure of your own Alliance to grant you a pseudo-Spectre status!"

"Looks like the turian and Udina have more than a little in common. I bet it'd be true love if they gave it a chance. "Ashley whispered for his ears, Kaidan shot her a quelling look and she fell silent, her expression making it clear she wasn't the least bit sorry.

The salarian spoke, "You must understand, lieutenant that the council has its own resources for dealing with such matters."

"You're not going to send a Spectre to hunt down one missing asari; you probably expect the Alliance to clean this up so you don't have to deal with it. The extremist groups wouldn't take it too kindly if the council suddenly began involving itself in Terran affairs the minute one of their 'subjects' was threatened."

"Williams! Be Silent!" Udina looked to be on the verge of apoplexy. His face reddened to match a beet when Ashley ignored him only to continue her rampage, shrugging off Kaidan's conciliatory hand.

"Trust a politician to screw it all up. You have a chance to foster some goodwill here by using the home team and you're going to disregard that in favor of what? Sitting around waiting for a ransom demand before you finally decide on a course of action? It's plain you think this is our fault, give us a chance to make it right."

"Ambassador Udina you have no control of-" Councilor Tevos shook her head and he fell silent, still glaring at Ashley; the councilor looked from Kaidan to Ashley, seeming to come to some sort of decision.

"Councilor Sparatus is correct; the council has no authority to over-ride the authority of any governing body." Her gaze shifted to ambassador Udina, pinning him in place, "However, it is my belief that this would prove a satisfactory compromise. The Asari government will wish to dispatch its own unit to deal with this crisis; it is my hope that Lieutenant Alenko and…" She stared down at Ashley until she shifted uncomfortably. "Gunnery-Chief Williams will be permitted to act as liaisons."

Udina sputtered with indignation, practically choking on his words; had it been left to him it was entirely possible that Ashley and he would have spent the duration of the investigation in a holding cell, Kaidan knew, Thankfully the Asari believed in keeping friends close and enemies closer. They would be watched, but they would also be given the chance to assist and perhaps prove their loyalty when all was said and done.

It all depended on Udina now; either his spitefulness would win out and they would find themselves shipped off to some backwater agricultural colony for a lifetime, or his toadying nature would force him to agree to the asari councilor's request. Kaidan was betting on the latter.

"If it is the will of the council." Udina finally ground out.

Chalk one up for human nature, the old bastard really couldn't resist, though there would probably be hell to pay later. Kaidan could see Ashley releasing the panicked breath she hadn't even known she was holding, just barely fighting back a hysterical grin. At least one of them seemed ready for this.

The salarian dipped his head to the asari considerately, "In this I will defer to Councilor Tevos as the representative of her people."

"Agreed," The turian growled; he seemed none too pleased with this development, but Kaidan wasn't sure if he should take it personally. It hardly mattered either way.

"Then it is done. My people will contact you as soon as they arrive, lieutenant. Be prepared to assist them where necessary." She glanced over at Ashley and nodded once, a surprising amount of respect in the gesture. Ashley's eyes widened with shock, but she dipped her head quickly enough.

Ambassador Udina spun as the connection terminated. "This is an Outrage! You have over-stepped yourself, lieutenant; be sure that my superiors will hear of it." He turned to Ashley, finger shaking with rage as he stabbed it at her, "I will not forget your part in this, Williams."

He was gone before Kaidan had mustered the words to defend himself.

Ashley raised her eyebrows mockingly, "Do you think he's angry?"

"Nothing personal, I'm sure." They shared a complicit grin as they turned to leave.

!

!

Tevos deactivated the comm, staring thoughtfully off into space; despite the inherent danger of the situation this could well turn out to be a positive development, fostering stronger relations between the Alliance and council races.

Then again it could become her personal nightmare. She hadn't yet worked up the courage to inform Benezia of her daughter's disappearance, but she suspected the powerful matriarch already knew. Truth be told she was a little surprised that Benezia wasn't waiting outside her study even now.

Benezia was not one for excessive displays of emotion, but she had made her feelings clear on this particular journey; she had only been prevented from accompanying Liara out of concern that such an act would undermine her daughter's influence and lower her in the humans' estimation. Benezia respected her daughter's choices, but this one she had not been best pleased with. Tevos had no doubt Benezia would single her out for retribution when she learned that Liara had been abducted, and then goddess have mercy on her.

There was a tinkling chime just before her assistant spoke, "Councilor there is a- Wait! You can't-!" The voice cut off abruptly and Tevos squared her shoulders, it seemed fate had found her at last, however the asari that strode through the door was not the one she had been expecting.

Tall and slender, tip-tilted eyes and an expression that could set fire to a glass of water at thirty paces away, how could she have forgotten?

"Aethyta."

"Matriarch Aethyta, Tevos. What the hell is this I'm hearing about Dr. T'Soni pulling a vanishing act on earth?"

"I thought you were Benezia."

"Matriarch Benezia. Don't make me remind you aga- The Fuck! I thought she'd have been and gone by now."

There was something terribly satisfying about seeing the normally smug asari looking nervously over her shoulder for some sign of her former lover. Finally, something she hadn't been expecting.

"Benezia hasn't come to see me as of yet, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time." Tevos gave her a razor-thin smile, "was there something you wanted to discuss?"

Aethyta scowled, her voice dropping down into its usual low, husky cadence. "Now that you mention it, why the hell didn't she have an escort? I get it, you lot still want to further "The Asari Cause" through diplomacy and alliances and shit, but sending some inexperienced kid to a political hotbed after years doing jack-shit to prepare for it… that was irresponsible."

Tevos blushed at the rebuke, unaccustomed to being addressed so bluntly.

"I was given to understand that the Alliance would provide for her safety. There was no reason to suspect any overtly threatening action-"

"Bullshit. The humans have been gunning for a place on the council practically since the end of the Relay 314 incident."

"The other matriarchs might take your words a little more seriously if you could communicate without the use of such vulgar language. A little. I'm afraid your last few suggestions have still left you a laughingstock in the eyes of most."

The shadow of disappointment not unmixed with shame that crossed Aethyta's face almost made her feel remorseful of her words. Almost.

"Guess that's not really what I'm here to talk about anyway. I want you to reassign me to search and rescue duty, effective immediately."

Tevos blinked, she certainly hadn't been expecting that, but the idea did hold some appeal. If Aethyta were otherwise engaged on earth then she wouldn't be able to appear at will in her office, and if she tried to keep her here after she made her request… Aethyta's reputation as a trouble-maker was not undeserved. She was wildly out of control, even now in her matriarch stage.

"The Alliance has already assigned that task to some of their best soldiers; I had only just terminated the link when you barged in."

"They're the ones that lost her in the first place! Don't fuck with me- I know they'll be sending backup. I want in on that team."

"I want you to lead it."

"That's acceptable. And suspiciously accommodating. What are you getting at, Tevos?

Tevos only just kept from grinding her teeth in frustration, "A little respect would not be amiss, Matriarch Aethyta."

Aethyta shrugged, a satisfied light sparking in her eyes at the title.

"What I'm "getting at" is the root of the problem. You're so keen to take this duty? Do so; it will shorten the process considerably. I imagine you will be ready to leave by tomorrow?"

"I can be gone by this evening."

"Better. My resources are at your disposal, naturally. It would be best if you could take a team of commandoes-"

Her comm chimed again and Aethyta lifted a brow, gesturing toward her desk. "You going to take that?"

"It can wait."

Aethyta snickered softly, "You sure? Your receptionist is a little flighty for a matron."

"What did you do?" Tevos snapped; there was a headache building behind her eyes and couldn't Cyrenia tell she was a little busy?

"Nothing much. Like I said, she's a little flighty. It's cute." Aethyta winked lewdly but before Tevos could think of a suitably sharp retort the comm activated.

"Councilor, someone else to see you. I couldn't keep her here; she was most insistent."

"Who is it?"

"Matriarch Ben-"'

The door slid open and Aethyta unconsciously assumed a combat stance when she saw the asari that entered.

Benezia had always been a beauty, as a maiden she had practically sparkled with life; in her matron years she had glowed with some inner pride, and now that she had entered her matriarch stage the years only complimented her. Confidence kept her chin high and there was still spirit in her direct gaze, not to mention a superb body that was the envy of asari half her age.

Aethyta apparently hadn't lost interest in it; Tevos heard her low whistle as Benezia strode into the room. Any other day under any other circumstances Benezia would have been welcome; she was accounted a wise and decisive leader and Tevos would have been glad to make use of her experience. Today, with her daughter being the subject of discussion she would just as soon not had to see her at all, but there had never been any chance of that.

Benezia stopped short when she finally noticed Aethyta standing stiffly in the middle of the room, Tevos thought she saw a flicker of unease cross that smooth face but it was gone so swiftly she couldn't be sure. Evidently deciding not to concern herself any further with what she might be interrupting, Benezia addressed herself to the councilor immediately.

"I received word that Liara was reported missing shortly after arriving on Earth. Apparently there was a meeting of the council not too long ago to decide what action should be taken."

Where was she getting her information? That had been an emergency meeting, there was hardly any time to plan for it; she had to have someone in the office reporting to her. It couldn't be Cyrenia, Aethyta was right, she was as flighty as a maiden fresh from home. There would be time to seek that out later, at the moment Benezia's expression said clearly she wouldn't wait much longer for an explanation.

"We reached a consensus that a small team should be sent to work with Alliance forces in order to locate her."

"A wise decision; it would be foolish to alienate the local authority when we most require their cooperation."

Aethyta snorted. "Should have figured you'd approve of it. Myself, I think we should make a point. Track them down and take them out in such a way they don't so much as look slantwise at another asari."

Benezia affected surprise, "Matriarch Aethyta. Were you also here to offer your thoughts on the matter?"

Aethyta's face flushed and Tevos could see the retort forming on her lips before she bit back the impulse to respond with venom.

"In fact, I'm here for orders. You're looking at the chief of operations for this rescue mission."

"Chief is a strong word-" Tevos began, but Benezia cut her off mid-sentence, glaring balefully at Aethyta.

"Doubtless you'll wish to charge in, guns blazing, cutting down anyone who disagrees? That was ever your way."

"More of a facilitator." Tevos finished, knowing neither one heard her or cared.

"It's better than hanging back waiting for a miracle to happen; your 'diplomats' and 'facilitators' are about as useful as-"

"Tits on a hanar?" Benezia sneered, "We've heard that one before, Aethyta."

"I was going to say 'a leash on a krogan'; but if you insist, Nezzie."

"Must you always be so crude?"

"Funny, you're not the first one to ask today."

"Perhaps it is a sign from the goddess."

"Enough!" Tevos barked. Surprisingly they both fell silent, gazing at her like sullen children deprived of their favorite candy.

"Do try to remember that we are all of us adults here. No matter how tenuous that may seem at times." She glared at Aethyta, who wilted slightly and back again to Benezia who met her glare for glare, undeterred.

"If you are going to send Aethyta on what should be a diplomatic assignment-"

"A rescue operation."

"A diplomatic assignment then I must insist on accompanying her; otherwise she will ruin any chance of securing the cooperation of our allies."

"They're our allies now? Who gave them the promotion?"

Benezia shot Tevos a look as if to say You see what I mean? She's a menace!

Tevos considered as Benezia and Aethyta tried valiantly to stare each other down. If anything, Benezia was even more of a concern than her counter-part; Aethyta still bore the stigma of a political outcasr, but Benezia's influence was not inconsiderable. The fact that she was even bothering to speak to her before taking action was really only a courtesy; the both knew that she could appeal to a higher power and have her way. Aethyta would be displeased but…

"Of course; Liara is your daughter, it is only fitting that you should be among those sent to retrieve her."

Benezia inclined her head gracefully, shooting one last triumphant look at Aethyta before gliding from the room.

Aethyta looked from Tevos to Benezia and hurried after her, the door hissing shut behind her to leave blessed silence at last.

Tevos let out a relieved sigh, grateful that they would now be at each other's throats rather than hers, and a little worried; sweet goddess, what had she unleashed on the unsuspecting humans?

!

!

Aethyta rushed to catch up to Benezia; she always managed to stay a few paces ahead despite her cumbersome dress, but that was something she had grown accustomed to in their time together. She redoubled her efforts, pushing carelessly by the pedestrians that stepped into her path. Damned if she was going to call out to Nezzie like some child to her mother, there were other ways of getting her attention.

Benezia rounded the corner and Aethyta pounced, wrapping a firm hand around her upper arm and spinning her around. A brief flash was all the warning she had before Nezzie unleashed a biotic shock that would have sent her reeling if she hadn't already prepared a barrier.

"Don't even try, Nezzie. We have a lot to talk about."

"The matter is settled. I would leave you here if I could, but I'd hate to turn around and find you stepping on my skirts." Her smirk was razor-thin and wickedly sharp.

Aethyta snarled softly, "You shouldn't come. Bad enough you got the kid mixed up in this one. I'm going to be a while cleaning up this mess."

"Are you insinuating that this is somehow my fault?"

"That's what I said, right?"

"If you hadn't extracted my promise to let her run unchecked, this would not be happening."

"I said let her go when she pleased, not 'encourage her to run rampant'!"

"You're one to talk; at least she's not stripping in some rundown club on Omega while she waits for her next client."

"No. She's probably bound and gagged in some seedy little slum with some bastard threatening to stick a knife in her if she so much as twitches the wrong way."

Benezia moved so fast she never saw the blow coming until her palm landed with stinging force.

Shocked and angry and unaccountably aroused Aethyta hauled her closer, lips taking her former lover's mouth with bruising force. She was even more shocked when instead of throwing her into a wall as she justly deserved Benezia pulled her closer to return the kiss with equal force, biting down hard on her lip when she tried to separate them. Aethyta groaned and surrendered to the impulse, thankful that she had chosen a semi-secluded area for this confrontation.

They kissed desperately, anger and fear combining until they could no longer tell it from lust; Aethyta's fingers dug into her arms until she knew there would be bruises, and worse, she felt a possessive thrill at the thought that only intensified when Nezzie's nails scored into her shoulders, tongue clashing with hers.

Benezia drew back, a haughty expression once again painted on her lovely face; "This is none of my doing, Aethyta. But I will see that it is made right." Not even a hint of breathlessness in her even voice.

Aethyta herself drew a shuddering breath, she'd never expected that after all these years apart she could still have such a visceral reaction, could hardly credit that it had been returned measure for measure. She released her grip on Benezia's arms, allowing her to step back as she contemplated what they had done.

Benezia turned from her the moment she was free, striding off hastily with a business-like gait that suggested the interlude was forgotten.

It seemed Benezia was all too willing to do exactly what she had done a century past and leave her alone once more. Trouble was, she knew now that she could still make Benezia respond to her, and she wasn't certain she was willing to give that up again. Liara was the most important thing right now; no one fucked with her daughter and came away unscathed, but then she would apply herself to the problem of Benezia with that same focus, and maybe they could make something of whatever tattered scraps were left.

!

!

Benezia hurried from the plaza, anxious to put that indiscretion behind her as soon as she could. She hadn't been thinking, that much was clear. It was too much to take in at once, first to be notified that her child was being held by some fanatic Terran group, then to run into her former lover when she went to appeal to the councilor, and the picture Aethyta had painted of what might be happening to Liara as they spoke.

It had been too much even for her legendary composure. It had been natural once to turn to Aethyta when she felt defeated or hopeless; Aethyta had an overwhelming strength of will that had always bolstered her whenever times became hard. Old habits died hard, the humans said, and she had just proved it. She'd been infuriated when she had learned of her daughter's desperate straits not too long ago and frustrated with the need to keep calm before her peers when all she wanted to do was find the monsters that had instigated this and rend them limb from limb. Kissing Aethyta had been a diversion, a way to divert some of her aggressiveness; it had also been a mistake.

They were going to be working together until this unfortunate affair was concluded and she needed to be sure that Aethyta would heed her advice and in order to ensure that she would need her respect.

Then again, Aethyta had a fairly straightforward personality; she was cunning, but if one knew what she wanted and dangled it just out of her reach then she was also malleable. At least, so she had thought when they were together. Aethyta's desire was transparent; it would require very little skill to use it against her. Some vestige of her younger self reminded her that Aethyta had often teased her for her cautiousness, asking if she had ever been a reckless maiden.

Benezia wondered idly; would Aethyta think it reckless enough if she seduced her when all was said and done?

She dismissed the thought quickly, furious that she had even considered it with so much at stake. Finding Liara and securing her release by any means necessary was her sole objective, If she had to deal with the fallout from that mistake later then she would do so, but not until this matter was settled. At this moment, she needed to find Shiala; Aethyta would begin assembling her team quickly and she had to ensure that some of her allies were chosen for duty.

!

!

Liara didn't realize until they were downstairs how much she still trusted Shepard in spite of all she had gone through already; looking around at all the villainous scum that were loitering in just the right place to catch a glimpse of her, she had rapidly decided that trusting Shepard was the better option. She was not quite so keen on having her own quarters anymore, especially not with the frankly assessing leers some of them cast in her direction.

Shepard wasn't oblivious to the attention, that much was apparent; there was a dark frown gathering on her brow and she glared forbiddingly at some of the more obvious offenders. Liara was reassured by the gestures, perhaps she could use this in a bid for sympathy; she had felt safer chained to Shepard's bed than she did just walking in this echoing space.

Half-unconsciously Liara reached out to take her arm again, walking with her as she had on the way to the dinner. Shepard stiffened at first, but her other hand rose absently to clasp Liara's as she made her way to the holding cell in the left-most corner. Liara swallowed when she saw the dampener integrated into the cell; it was no wonder Shepard had felt secure releasing her from the restraints if this is what she had in store. All this would have cost a pretty penny- where were they getting the money for this sort of venture? They couldn't have too many resources at their disposal; it had to be a collaborative effort with more powerful backing, that was the only explanation that made any sense.

The dark-haired man approached and Liara's fingers twisted in the fabric of Shepard's shirt, eyes stinging with tears she wouldn't shed again if it killed her. Shepard's grip tightened and she moved a little closer to her prisoner, subtly maneuvering into a position that would block his approach.

"Finch. Was there something you wanted to discuss?"

"You still planning on keeping her down here?"

Shepard's eyes narrowed, "No, I'm just parading down here so you can get an eye-full; I have no intention of using the cell we devised specifically for that purpose. Why do you ask?"

"Might want to reconsider. The others are showing a little too much interest."

"And you, Finch? What's your interest?"

"Not into aliens, chief. Just thought you should know."

He moved away slowly, eyes raking down her form regardless of his words; Liara cringed inside, but this was the time to make her move.

"Please don't."

Shepard was pulling her along again, frown turned thoughtful.

"You heard what he said, if you leave me down here there is no guarantee I will be left in peace."

"They know better than to cross me."

"When you're here perhaps, but you don't know what they might do when your back is turned. Please don't take the chance." Her breathing was becoming erratic and her footsteps slowed their pace, frantically beseeching the goddess for mercy as Shepard considered.

"Just what would you have me do? I can't have a trained biotic running loose; I don't have the time to keep watch on you all day and let's not even bother pretending that escape isn't your highest priority. I warn you, don't waste my time."

"Keep me with you; only for tonight, take the time to consider other options."

"Such as? You heard Finch; he could be trusted to keep an eye on you. Kevin too, if I can find him."

"I could attempt escape right now. We both know it would be a resounding failure, but I am an able combatant and you could not subdue me without injury; if you attempt to leave me down here that will become my only choice."

"I don't like threats, Liara."

Liara's heart skipped a beat at the use of her name- that was a positive development; she could use it to forge a connection.

"Shepard, one night is all I am asking. You know my fears are not unfounded. Not entirely."

Shepard stopped. "It's reasonable, but I don't know how I feel about sharing my bed with the enemy."

"With a prisoner; cuff me again if you must, but please don't make this mistake. We will both regret it heartily."

Shepard shifted her gaze to each of the people gathered in the open space, locking eyes with them until they looked away one by one.

She turned to lock gazes with her captive, eyes lighting in a way that left Liara feeling both vulnerable and strangely breathless. Merciful goddess but she was beautiful; how could such a creature be so dark of heart?

"Alright, but this time I'm going to require something more than merely your word."