Shepard started down the stairs before Liara could comment, clearly eager to begin her day. Liara toyed with the idea of letting her run all the way down half-dressed, for all she knew this could be the benighted woman's idea of normalcy. She opened her mouth to call a warning as Shepard reached the first landing, glancing back at her questioningly, shut it again and nodded to Shepard's bare legs, arching her brows in disapproval.
The consternation on Shepard's face was unmistakable; she bolted back up the stairs to the sound of a disappointed jeer from below, laughingly calling back something over her shoulder to whomever had addressed her.
"Clothes might be a good idea." Liara shuddered, there had been no need to brush so close to her, but Shepard was already at the wardrobe anyway. She bent to the drawers in the bottom of the compartment and Liara blushed at her shamelessness. That shirt was far too short to hide much of anything; she shut her eyes firmly and turned her head aside.
The soft whisper of cloth against skin beckoned her, but she stood firm for all of a few seconds before finally surrendering to temptation and opening her eyes the smallest bit.
Her suspicions from last night were confirmed; there was a red ink tattoo on her thigh, the significance of which she could not define. In the increased lighting she could see other scars now; the pale shine of burn scars on her ankles- and what could have caused that? A smooth cut along her upper thigh, thin and straight made with almost surgical precision. Shepard yanked her pants the rest of the way over her hips, bracing herself against the wardrobe for balance.
Shepard looked toward her, unconsciously nodding with satisfaction once Shepard confirmed that she had made off while she was dressing. She couldn't possibly think her captive was that foolish. The idea of the lower levels of this… bunker? Warehouse? Was still daunting even in the morning's light.
Shepard pulled the nightshirt over her head quickly, yanking on a bra impatiently, Liara was fairly certain she had never seen anyone dress so fast. Shepard stood before her in a pair of faded gray trousers, a loose green shirt pulled over top and hair standing on end with the static. She could almost hear a crackle when Shepard ran her fingers through her hair to straighten it.
"Now we go downstairs. You could have warned me."
"Why? You seemed comfortable enough."
"Not really the helpful sort at all."
"I don't have any reason to help you."
Shepard rolled her eyes, stomping down the stairs faster than Liara's legs could carry her.
"Can we continue this lovely banter after breakfast? I'm starving."
She was feeling a little light-headed herself, but she kept her gait smooth and steady. It would be too humiliating if she missed one of the stairs and fell, not to mention delaying her…
"Shoes. I need shoes."
"Not yet you don't; we can get those after breakfast. Did you think I was going to hand you a tricky bag full of all the necessary tools for your grand breakout?" Shepard tapped her foot impatiently, resting against the bar behind her on the first landing. She tipped a nod to some passersby Liara couldn't see.
Gritting her teeth Liara stomped the rest of the way down the stairs herself, brushing past Shepard on the landing and continuing forward with as much courage as she could muster.
"Well, the dead have awoken!"
Liara jumped backward with a startled cry at the unexpected voice booming just at her side. She only just kept from screaming when Shepard wrapped her arms about her and pulled her close.
"Watch it, Jackass. We just woke up, still a little out of it." There was a bite in Shepard's tone that hadn't been there a moment ago; already this morning was not off to the best start.
Her heart was still beating fit to burst and Liara clutched at Shepard's hands thoughtlessly, breathing deeply to clear the last vestige of panic from her system; no easy feat when she could still feel the adrenaline coursing through her veins, making her shake with the effort of holding still.
"Sorry, chief. You're a little late getting up-"
"Didn't I just say so?"
"And we haven't eaten yet, most of us. Wanted to meet the lady."
Now that she was thinking clearly, Liara took a moment to study this new variable. Tall, gray and balding in spots. He looked thick in the paunch but at first guess that was all muscle. Tattoos wended about his arms and over his hands, reaching up his neck to his chin. She wondered if he was inked like that all over; it hardly mattered, he was an impressive sight.
She tilted her head back farther to study his face and Shepard's arms fell away from her; in some distant part of her mind Liara mourned the loss, she suddenly felt cold again. Cold and very much alone- she stepped back to Shepard's side slowly.
Liara was no expert on humans, but at her best guess this man was old. She had no way of knowing how old, but his eyes were lined in wrinkles and in his mouth in laugh lines. All in all it was a pleasant face; if she had met him on the street she might have spoken to him about those tattoos, as it was she just wondered how such a jovial looking soul had gotten mixed up in this business.
"You might be surprised to hear we haven't eaten either, so if you'll just move your ass out of the way we can all get what we want."
He fell into step on Shepard's other side as though it were a daily routine, and for all she knew it might be.
"Kevin, this is Liara. Liara, Kevin. What's to eat?"
"Tunnel vision is a dangerous flaw, Shepard."
Liara tuned out the conversation that followed and simply watched them interact, their wide gestures and open expressions, turning slightly toward each other. These two were close, and Liara wondered at the unlikely partnership. For all her sharp tone and insults, Shepard was genuinely pleased to see him, and Liara was sure Shepard would not permit even the most teasing criticism from most of her subordinates.
This would be a good place to start; he was far less intimidating than the few other faces she had seen yesterday, and he seemed rather talkative. She knew he wouldn't willingly help her- he was obviously firmly in Shepard's camp- but an unguarded word or two could make all the difference. The trick would be in finding time away from Shepard, an excuse to stay in his company. Shepard couldn't watch her forever, she would have to find a way to convince Shepard to turn her custody over to him, making it seem all her idea.
She was an asari; supposedly diplomacy was bred in her bones, surely she could manage at least that much?
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Shepard tried to keep up with Kev's wandering conversation, even contributed something every now and again, but she still felt a little too warm from that unexpected embrace earlier.
When she had stumbled back at the sound of the strange voice Shepard's first thought had been to stop Liara from knocking her over in her haste to escape and to ensure that she didn't immediately respond with a biotic reprisal. Then she had felt Liara pressing into her and her aims had changed somewhat.
With her hands clasped just beneath Liara's breasts she could feel that thundering heartbeat and the gulping breaths and when Liara had grabbed at her hands, nails biting into her fingers in some vain quest for comfort it had sent an unexpected surge of protectiveness through her. She had almost pulled Liara into the crook of her shoulder before she remembered that she was just a temporary buffer and that would be taking too many liberties.
She had snapped at her oldest friend and most devoted supporter for the sake of an asari that wouldn't be here much longer. She felt like the lowest sort of scum, but Kev was used to her sharp words, he took her admonishments with a grain of salt. Besides, there was a sparkle in his eye that said he knew exactly what was going on, and that just pissed her off even more. What if someone else had caught sight of that little display? She'd have been challenged and killed before noon. Kev had the advantage of having all but raised her; it could just be a fluke or her overactive imagination running rampant. She hoped it was the latter.
A new thought occurred to her and Shepard paled, surreptitiously looking over at Liara; what if Liara had noticed her reaction? A gaping hole in the armor of professionalism- that was a good way of imagining it. Gaping holes would be ruthlessly exploited; she did it often enough and had no doubt Liara would seize the advantage if she had caught on. Lately she had been leaving far too much to chance, but she hoped the doctor had been too absorbed in her own fear to notice the lapse.
It was just as well she would be turning her over to Mara for the day; it would give her a chance to review her priorities, think of something other than her most fascinating problem. The mundane tasks of daily existence were every bit as important and she needed to speak with Finch desperately. In order to do that she needed to be sure she was sharp and clear.
A salty smell greeted her nose and Shepard breathed in deeply; she hummed contentedly at the thought of breakfast, her serious musings laid aside for the moment. Last night had been her first deep sleep in weeks and she had awoken with an unholy appetite; anything they had managed to put together would be welcome, though she wouldn't complain if there were eggs on the table…
Kevin nudged her and Shepard bared her teeth at him, "You know what asari eat?"
"Anything we provide."
Kev frowned disapprovingly and Shepard waved him off, she had done her research.
Liara spoke quietly, "I would prefer something that is not derived of your livestock."
It seemed they were in luck, or at least Liara was. The long table was spread with pots of oatmeal, scattered everywhere along its length.
Fewer than a dozen at table and it was already mayhem. Shepard didn't think anyone had seen them enter for pursuing their own excessively loud conversations with her neighbors. She craned her head to search for one woman in particular, passing over the empty spot where Finch should have been. He wasn't much for the morning crowd anyway, nothing to be too concerned about.
There. She nudged Kevin aside. "We need to sit with Mara. You coming or staying?"
"Staying, happens I need to speak with Cat. She's been wrecking my work again."
"Tell her if she keeps it up I'll give her over to the Black Cats for her name's sake. I'm sure they won't find it half as amusing as I do."
Kev's smile turned sharp, "That I will, chief."
Shepard caught the surprised look on Liara's face; apparently like so many others she had been lulled into a false sense of security by the big smiles and legitimate concern. Kev hadn't survived as long as he had without honing a few sharp edges and pulling a few more dirty tricks.
Shepard snatched the bowl that was proffered to her and passed it back to Liara, grabbing another from the edge of the table before her hapless companion could make use of it. He turned to snarl but froze when he realized just who had made off with his bowl. Shepard smiled, "Something you want to say?"
"Nothing."
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Liara gripped her own bowl tightly, squeezing in as close to Shepard as she could get. The raucous chatter had dissolved into silence, and she could feel nine pairs of eyes focusing on her. Or eight pairs and a spare as it were. She chided herself for the thought, there was no need to bring herself to their level of callous cruelty- not even in the privacy of her own thoughts. Shepard seemed to stand a little taller with all the attention directed their way; she skirted mysterious puddles gracefully and took note of every face at table, finally settling in next to a light-haired female garbed in blue.
Liara hurried to claim the place next to her, scooting closer to avoid any contact with her other unknown neighbor. He gave a wheezing laugh and Liara flinched unwillingly.
"If you're finished eating then you can leave, otherwise get back to it!" Shepard barked.
The humans fell to with a will, but Liara could still feel their curiosity; it lay thick in the air. Shepard threw one last disgusted look around the messy table and then ignored Liara completely, turning back to her companion on the other side. For all her protests of hunger she never once reached for the steaming pot of oatmeal before her; tentatively Liara stretched out a hand to pull it closer, ladling a small portion into her bowl. Suddenly she just didn't feel much like eating anymore.
It looked to be more water than anything else, swirling in the bowl like curdled milk. Liara swallowed the lump in her throat and raised the bowl to her lips to smell; it smelled… palatable, but that was about all the could say for it.
Shepard turned back, nearly knocking the bowl from Liara's hands with her elbow.
"Spoon?"
Liara took it from her gingerly, running it through the watery offering.
"Pass the fruit!"
Fruit. Thank the goddess; in a matter of moments she had sprinkled some of the dried and wrinkly fruit atop her watery meal. This was like no fruit she had ever seen before, but it looked they had deliberately made it this way- it was coated in something sticky. A preservative agent? Liara licked her fingers, deaf to Shepard's stifled hiss.
Honey. Preservative agent indeed; breakfast might not be such a torturous affair after all. She scattered the fruit in her meal and tasted carefully, pleased with the sweetness at least. She hoped not every morning would be like this, but supposed she really ought to be grateful she was eating at all.
She glanced over to Shepard, curious to see why the woman hadn't been taunting or teasing her during the ordeal and found her leaning in closer to the beauty on her other side. The two were whispering too quietly for her to hear over the now-muffled conversation of the others at table, but given the rapt expression on the other woman's face Liara surmised it must be a singularly titillating conversation.
Liara leaned forward slightly, trying to see the other woman more clearly and continuously blocked by Shepard's body. She caught a glimpse every now and again, piecing her brief views together into a rather telling portrait.
Sunlit hair scraped back from a fox-like face, braided to run down her back. Liara wondered if she knew what a risk that would be in combat; some part of her wanted to reach behind Shepard and tug the woman's braid just to make a point. It was an amusing fancy, but she wouldn't dare.
Full dark lips and dark brown eyes, a smile that lit her whole face and golden skin with nary a freckle in sight; Liara hated her instantly. It had to be Shepard's paramour; Liara wondered how she must have felt when a prisoner usurped her place in that spacious bed. She felt a vicious stab of satisfaction at the thought of the other woman banished back to some cold, undersized bunk.
Liara turned back to her meal; doubtless the two would have much to discuss after so long apart and it was none of her concern if the breakfast grew cold while Shepard flirted with the straw-haired-
Patience, Liara reminded herself. This was her chance to gather information, as Shepard had so helpfully reminded her earlier. This was something she could use if she had the wits for it.
She finished her first bowl and returned for a second, feeling far more optimistic now that she had decided on this course; she had two possible sources- one still lacking a couldn't very well come out and ask for it directly, maybe if she-
"This is Mara, she'll be looking after you this afternoon."
That had been far easier than expected. Liara leaned forward to lock eyes with her again; that charming smile was gone, replaced by a brooding expression that boded ill for their acquaintanceship.
Pity that.
Shepard ladled some cooling oatmeal into her bowl, scanning the table once more. As one of the men seated on the other side rose to leave, Shepard whistled loudly; every face turned to her, deafening silence and perfect stillness settling on the table.
"I expect everyone to clean up their places. This place is a mess and you lot know better; I didn't realize I would have to keep an eye on you every second of the day just to be sure you weren't slacking off. Chores resume as of now; if I catch anyone slacking off, they're going to catch hell. Understood?"
A rumbling buzz that Shepard must have taken for assent because she was tucking into her food again as though nothing was out of place.
"I take it you're ready for that walk?"
"Whenever you are."
"I'll finish up here and then we'll go."
Liara smirked behind her hand; finally, something was going right.
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By the time Shepard had finished her breakfast nearly everyone had cleared away and returned to their duties, leaving a far cleaner table and a comfortable silence behind. Liara was taking in her surroundings with wide eyes. Shepard was amused to note that she had already spotted even the exits that were tucked out of sight and was now keeping a tally of any new faces that passed by.
This only served to reinforce her conviction that Liara would require constant supervision, though it was promising that she hadn't tried anything foolish. There had been a couple times she thought Liara might have been preparing to use her biotics, the hair on her arms had prickled in warning, but when she turned she found Liara was studying Mara with the same dedication she must her Prothean artifacts.
Now if only she would turn that kind of attention to her. A small sliver of jealousy still pricked at her, but Mara was the best choice both for ensuring against an escape and protecting Liara from the others. Shepard didn't think Liara would like her half so much when she learned what a stern bitch Mara could be, and that thought warmed her slightly.
Of course, this choice came with its own unique set of risks; Mara had not been with the Reds as long as some of the others, she appreciated power and what it could do for her. All in all, she was one of the ones Shepard most needed to keep her eye on, and she might well use this as an opportunity to gain ground in the unofficial pecking order. Finch and Mara were the two greatest threats to her authority. At least, Finch would be if he ever decided she wasn't acting with their best interests at heart. Mara might try for it on principle and to hell with the Reds.
Hopefully this task would keep her busy; she could deal with the doctor and the troublemaker in one fell swoop. Shepard glanced at Mara from the corner of her eye, she didn't want to leave the table until the other woman did. She couldn't find any particular reason for the impulse, but she was almost finished her meal anyway so it shouldn't be too hard to accomplish.
Now if only Liara would stop looking at her that way, damn it. Did she see something Shepard didn't? Had the scales tipped enough that Liara thought she would have a better chance with the other woman?
Shepard devoutly hoped not, for more reasons than one. If an outsider- and a prisoner at that- could see a failing power structure then she was in far worse straits than she had supposed. That, and she rather hoped that if Liara attempted to seduce anyone it would be her, she wanted that more than she was willing to admit.
Then again, as the doctor had said earlier, she had no particular reason to aid Shepard in any way. Had everything to gain by the opposite in fact. That certainly didn't bode well for any sort of intimacy.
Shit. Had she left the wardrobe unlocked? She'd been so distracted she thought she might have. She needed to buck up and start acting professionally again. Starting now.
Mara rose and Shepard looked back to her, refusing to crane her neck and meet her eyes but instead addressing her midriff. "We'll stay in the area. Expect us back sometime around noon. I'll need you to guard her until this evening."
"Understood." She cleared her dishes and strolled away, casting one final glance at Liara over her shoulder.
"Your lover?"
Shepard turned back, raking Liara with a questioning stare. Already so keen to figure out where each and every piece fit in the grand scheme. She was way off on this one, but it might be better not to correct the misapprehension. If she assumed they were lovers then she would focus all her energy in that direction… or she might not. Liara T'Soni was still something of a mystery despite her dedicated attempts to learn all she could of her.
"My subordinate."
"Your subordinate lover then?"
Where had that shy little scholar from the dance disappeared to? Shepard was starting to miss her.
"She's not into women. Or aliens."
Shepard could have smacked herself. She had no way of knowing Mara's preferences, but she rather desperately wanted to put Liara off the idea of bedding her.
"No. I don't suppose she would be, seeing as she is participating in this… travesty."
Liara's gaze flashed from the bowl on the table and back to her, "Are you finished? Can we go?"
There was an eagerness in her tone born of something more than scheming. She had to be going half-mad cooped up for so long with only the artificial light and nothing to entertain her.
Shepard's mood instantly soured; maybe Mara had a book to lend her or something she could so and maybe if the doctor asked very nicely she would give it over. Maybe she would ask for a kiss in return.
Damn it, why hadn't she thought of that?
She smiled at the thought of posing such a question, wondering how the asari would react. Would she blush and stammer and shake her head or would she straighten her spine and stare down the woman that had dared to ask such an impertinent question? Somehow she couldn't see Liara taking the third option and granting the kiss.
Though now that she thought on it… What would that be like? Soft and gentle at first, opening hesitantly at her urging, fingers curling into the fabric of her shirt even as she pulled away. Shepard would follow, teasing at that dimple just at the corner of her lip and Liara would tilt her head just so, baring her throat to Shepard's questing lips.
Except that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. And Shepard thought she could use that walk to clear her head right about now.
"By all means, let's go."
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Liara jumped from her seat so quickly she stumbled, catching herself on Shepard's shoulder while the other woman rose. So much for the famed asari poise, she needed to work at that. She still felt a little giddy though: the cuffs were off, she had ventured downstairs without incident and supped with her foes; and now finally they were getting out of this wretched gloom.
Liara couldn't decide whether she most missed fresh air or bright sunshine. It took considerable effort to walk calmly by Shepard's side, making their way up to the second level again to gather their things.
Interesting. The wardrobe door was cracked; Shepard must have left it unlocked when she pulled her clothes from it earlier. She made no move to correct the error immediately, but Liara caught the tell-tale thinning of her lips.
She glanced over to the area near the bed, spotting the uncomfortable heels she had worn to the party; she wondered if it would be too much to ask that Shepard have another pait on hand roughly in her size. Shepard followed her eyes, walking over now to close the wardrobe doors carefully and turning the key in the lock. She hurried to her desk and slid a thin knife out from the bottom of a drawer and slipping it into a slit in her pants Liara hadn't noted before.
"You're going to need another pair of shoes."
Liara raised her brows again, "Yes."
Shepard folded her arms over her chest and glared back almost petulantly, "Think you could fit in mine?"
Liara studied her feet, holding her own out and guessing roughly. By her estimation, Shepard's feet were a little bigger, but not enough to make much of a difference. "I think so. It would be better to try a pair though."
Shepard was already moving to a spot just on the other side of her desk, she bent quickly and came back up with a pair of sandals. They were dusty and worn and something she wouldn't expect this woman to wear anywhere, even in the relative privacy of her own quarters let alone outside. It seemed so impractical- not a trait Liara associated with her captor.
Liara reached for them slowly, worried Shepard might pull back at the last minute, but Shepard shoved them into her hands briskly and stepped back, her whole posture screaming impatience to be off.
She slipped into the sandals, lacing them up her ankles carefully. She had worn the style before to some of the informal affairs she had been required to attend so many years ago, but she had always found it particularly frustrating. The ties always came undone at least several times during the course of the evening, or loosened and slid down her ankle to trip her at the most inopportune time; after years digging she wasn't used to wearing anything save boots and the amount of vulnerable skin exposed to the dirt and elements was also a little disconcerting. Still, she hadn't realized she could ever be so grateful for a pair of sandals.
She nodded once to Shepard, testing the feel of them on her feet. A little loose and prone to slipping, she wouldn't be able to run but that was probably exactly as Shepard had intended.
Liara had thought that might be the end of it, but Shepard had taken hold of those blasted cuffs again; it seemed she would never quite be free of them.
"One to my wrist, and one to yours."
"Will that not interfere with its dampening ability?"
"It will not."
But of course, if it did she would never admit as much to the very individual she was trying to confine. She would have to test those limits carefully if she could distract Shepard long enough.
Liara extended her right wrist, doubtless Shepard had assumed she right-dominant and even this little subterfuge could work to her advantage in future. Shepard reached for her left and Liara jerked back in surprise, eyes widening perceptibly.
"You're left-handed, logically that is the hand I should restrain. Shall we try this again?"
How had she given herself away? It couldn't have been over breakfast, she'd been careful to use her right. Maybe-
"Going down the stairs. Your natural inclination is to put your left foot first, that's also how you took the book last night. I noticed how reluctant you were to use your left this morning, most people change dominance for smaller tasks. You markedly failed to do so."
Liara allowed Shepard to cuff her left wrist, "And you? This will inhibit you just as much."
"You didn't notice? I'm a southpaw myself."
Over one hundred years old and she had been bested by someone a quarter her age at best estimate, an uncomfortable thought.
Reading her mind once again, Shepard shook her head as an infuriatingly smug expression stole across her features. "It's nothing to be worried about, your mind has been on other things."
"And you are at the root of most of them." She genuinely hadn't meant to voice that last comment aloud; it was her habit to speak to herself when she was alone if for no other reason than to clarify her thoughts and provide the illusion of company when needed. It required constant vigilance on her part to ensure her internal commentary did not bleed out; she had failed again.
Shepard locked the other cuff about her own wrist, stepping closer suddenly until Liara could feel the warmth of her. "That's very good to know, doctor. I've been thinking about you too."
"I'm sure you have." Liara stepped back, much as she would have liked to cross her arms that would have drawn Shepard close again and she needed the distance.
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Shepard had to navigate the stairs cautiously, mindful of the flimsy sandals protecting Liara's feet- one wrong step and they would probably slip off. She glanced down again to watch Liara step down with her.
Feet had never been particularly interesting objects. They were a necessary appendage for walking and running and occasionally planting on some bastard's instep. Damned if there hadn't been something vaguely endearing about Liara twisting her foot every which way trying to determine whether those shoes were going to fit or not. She could have just asked for the pair right off and Shepard would have willingly handed them over, but if Liara wanted to admire her pretty toes for a bit she wasn't going to complain.
She had seen the confusion in Liara's eyes when she fished out the sandals. They weren't something she normally wore despite their apparent age, but it was against her nature to toss out anything she might one day have need of again. Lo and behold she had found a purpose for them at last.
Not only did they serve the exceedingly practical function of ensuring that running would be a difficult prospect, but she couldn't help but appreciate how those straps emphasized the curve of her ankles.
Mind on business. Right.
If she wasn't wearing the cuffs it would be easy enough to slip behind her and watch her descend the stairs…
Shepard cleared her throat, putting a little more distance between them. It was that time with Mara that had her so on edge; it hadn't escaped her notice that Liara could hardly take her eyes off the bitch. Part of that might have been wariness, but who wouldn't look at her twice? She'd very nearly called Kevin back when Liara asked whether Mara was her lover or not, but the day she began making professional decisions based on personal inclinations was the day she needed to step down and let another take her place.
Given her numerous lapses in judgment of late, that day might not be long in coming.
Liara had to rush to keep up with her as Shepard made for the exit with ground-eating strides. She shoved hard enough against the door that it banged into the wall and echoed back into the empty space behind.
She heard Liara inhaling deeply, drawing as much of the tainted air into her lungs as she could manage.
"Careful. This district isn't filtered, it's the repository of all the filth and detritus the other districts were tired of dealing with; breathe too deeply and you'll probably catch something. I doubt your immune system is ready for the diseases lurking around here. I'm pretty sure there are illnesses that have been a century dead everywhere else."
"Irrelevant. Studies have shown that the air trapped inside buildings is more polluted than the circulating air outside and we are a highly adaptable species."
"I suppose you would have to be in order to breed with every known order of life."
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Liara eyed her slantwise, had that been a veiled jab at the age-old myth of asari promiscuity or an agreement with her assessment? It hardly mattered either way, she turned away from Shepard to survey the skyline and her surroundings.
They were in some sort of manufacturing district; the asphalt beneath her feet was crumbling and giving way to weeds and grass. The building itself was in a reasonable state of repair, but the buildings around it were far past their better days. She could see the gleam of old rubbish scattered in small heaps all over the place. The sheer amount of rust was terrifying, all the documentary vids said tetanus had been vanquished with the advent of modern vaccines, but she didn't much care to test the theory here. Her feet suddenly seemed more vulnerable than ever.
Far in the distance she could see the soaring buildings of the metropolis, dark and forbidding, overcrowded. Somehow this open space felt even more threatening. Perhaps it was the company.
Liara sneaked another glance at Shepard, her eyes had dipped shut and her face was tilted to catch the sun more fully, but she could see the tenseness in every line of her body. Shepard was expecting her to run; she wouldn't get more than a few paces if that.
Remembering her former resolution, Liara attempted to engage her biotics but all she had for her efforts was a nagging pressure behind her eyes that would not clear no matter how often she blinked.
"It only gets worse the more you try."
Interesting. Shepard could have guessed that she would attempt this, or there could well be something in the cuffs that would transmit a matching signal when she activated her biotics. If the former she could use that for a weapon.
"Where did you find these?"
"It doesn't matter. I have them."
"If it doesn't matter then there's no harm in telling me."
Shepard's silence was her answer. Another tack then.
"You're a biotic. That's rare in humans, how did you come by it?"
"Come by it?" Shepard laughed bitterly, "You make it sound like I just stumbled across it in the attic one day. It manifested when I was a kid if that's what you're asking."
"Biotics in humans normally result from exposure to ele-"
"Element Zero in the womb. For all I know my mother was a whore hooked on red sand. You think that might have done it?"
"You don't know your parents then?" Now she was getting somewhere. Small steps would lead to greater gains later, and she was genuinely interested in Shepard's history. How did a clever, literate and resourceful woman end up the "chief" of some small time gang with an unusual amount of resources and an ambitious agenda?
"I think that's what I implied."
Then again, this might prove far more difficult than she had first thought.
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Ack. Sorry for the late update, that took a little longer than normal.
Also, while the end is by no means nigh I need to start working on a plausible resolution other than "space magic did it". I'm going to start taking a little more time with the chapters toward that aim, meaning the next update probably won't come until next weekend.
I promise some actual plot advancement then. :)