Lizzie sat drinking coffee on the couch, watching a vid with lazy interest. Miranda had gone to work and she was left to wait for her transport off station to Eden Prime that evening. Coffee was cooling in a mug propped on her knee as she contemplated the evening before. Her easy laughter with Major Quinn was preferable to the anger with General Vakarian. Right?
The front door alarm sounded and the apartment VI announced, "A Major Simon Quinn wishes to see LC Lizzie Shepard. His words. I'm sorry, Lieutenant Commander."
Shepard set the coffee cup down hard on the table.
"Uhh," she cast her gaze around, then down at herself. Pyjamas still. She stood, "Alright, just…give me a few moments. Let him in."
"Very well, Lieutenant Commander."
The doorway opened and Shepard was left standing in short shorts, an N7 singlet and a cup of coffee as Major Simon Quinn stood at the entrance of the apartment with his Alliance uniform and a quirk of a smile.
"Out of uniform again, LC?" he drawled.
Lizzie looked down at herself. Took a breath, shrugged and smiled, "You are the one who decided to visit me while I was on leave. Not that I mind, but…why are you here visiting me on leave?"
Simon strolled into the apartment and looked around in interest, "Nice place."
"Yeah, Miranda has done well. Coffee?" Lizzie called from the kitchen. Simon followed her.
"No, thank you," Simon rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet, "I was rather wondering if you wouldn't join me for a walk?"
"A…walk?" Lizzie rose a brow and regarded him with droll amusement, "Would there be coffee on this walk?"
"That could be arranged," Simon gestured grandly, "Never let it be said that I don't know how to spoil a girl."
Lizzie just laughed, "Wait here a moment, pants are probably a good idea at this point."
"If you insist," Simon drawled, "It would be a great shame, but not shocking the elite of the Presidium might be a good idea."
Lizzie headed to her room and yanked a pair of black pants up over the tight shorts. She stripped the tank and pulled on a bra and simple t-shirt. She ran her hands through her hair and headed back to the living room. Simon was standing at the window, staring out over the view.
"Ready," Lizzie called to him. He turned to face her with a smile on his face, walked over and held out his elbow for her to take. Her lips quirked, but she took it.
"So…" Simon set down his cup, "You didn't seem to get along with General Vakarian last night."
Lizzie frowned, crumbling the cookie on her plate into fine pieces, "We don't see eye to eye."
"Mmm, yes, he has that habit," Simon traced his fingertip around the rim of his cup, "I, too, have had dealings with him. He's…" he paused and cleared his throat.
Lizzie glanced up, curious, "What happened?"
"I was up for Spectre training, and he blocked my application," Simon's brows were drawn together in a scowl.
"What? Why?" Lizzie sat back in her chair.
"He claimed that I was unprofessional and unsuitable for the position," Simon affected a pompous accent, and his hands white knuckled briefly on the cup.
Lizzie set her cup into its saucer, "I'm not sure I understand."
Simon sighed, "I was working with his squad on a mission, and he made a bad decision, and rather taking responsibility for the deaths of his men, he decided to blame them on me. Using the human as a scapegoat." He shrugged, "Ah well, maybe when he leaves the Presidium I will get my chance again."
"That's appalling! What went wrong with the mission?" Lizzie was angered. Did the turian dislike all humans that much?
"We were dealing with Batarian pirates in Apien Crest, and I was one of several humans given the chance to train with turian squads. I was in Vakarian's. He was a Captain back then. I recommended to him that we not use a frontal assault, but he wouldn't listen. He sat back, sent his men in and several died. The pirates escaped and I took the blame for it," his bitterness was thick.
"Gods, I'm sorry, Simon. I had no idea that General Vakarian was such a bastard," Lizzie shook her head.
"Sorry to load that on you," Simon leaned across and took her hand. She allowed it, and her voice was soft with sympathy.
"You will get your chance again, I'm sure of it," Lizzie nodded seriously, "Vakarian can't stay here forever. I will put in a good word with Miranda, and maybe she can help."
"I couldn't ask you to do that," Simon shook his head in refusal, his dark eyes like melted chocolate.
"It's no problem, really," Lizzie shrugged.
His omnitool beeped and he wrinkled his nose attractively at the interruption, "Sorry, Lizzie, but I have to take this."
"Go ahead," she waved him away and leaned back in her chair as he strolled a distance away to talk to someone on his comm.
Lizzie checked the time. She should be returning to the apartment soon, Miranda said she would meet her for lunch. She looked up, startled, as someone sat down opposite. It was a young turian female, elegant, with the same blue markings on her features as Vakarian. Lizzie looked around, and back at the turian.
"You are Elizabeth Shepard?" the woman asked her.
"And you are?"
"It doesn't matter. Don't believe everything he tells you," the bright blue eyes regarded her sharply, "There are many sides to the same story."
She stood, and strode away.
"Wait!" Lizzie rose to make chase, but Simon arrived back at the table.
"What's wrong?" he asked, concerned, a hand on her back.
Lizzie frowned, "Nothing. Look, I have to get going. I'm meeting Miranda for lunch before I have to take the ship out to Eden Prime. It's been a pleasure." She held out her hand. Simon took it and tugged her gently forward. She allowed him to brush a kiss on her lips.
"It has been lovely. Can I see you again when you return to the Citadel?" Simon asked, his voice low and velvety soft.
"Oh, I think I could arrange that," Lizzie gave him a crooked smile.
He stood watching her depart, a smile on his face. She gave him a small wave before she disappeared into the crowd.
"You take care, alright?" Miranda wrapped her in a hug for the tenth time, "I want you to come back all in one piece." Her eyes flooded with tears for the tenth time.
"Good gods, Miranda, I'm not going off to war," Lizzie laughed, "I'm going to be walking the perimeter of Eden Prime most of the time, maybe once in a while taking on pirates and whoever." She gripped Miranda's chin and gave her an affectionate kiss. She paused, and frowned thoughtfully, "Look, just do me a favour will you?"
"Anything!" Miranda replied, holding the hands of her friend tightly.
"Just keep an eye out for Simon Quinn. I think that General Vakarian blocked his Spectre training unfairly."
"What? Why?" Miranda frowned, "General Vakarian has always been just in his dealings with the Citadel. I imagine if he blocked the Major it was for a very good reason."
Lizzie shrugged, "Sometimes appearances aren't all they seem."
Miranda ran her hand affectionately through Lizzie's cropped locks, "Alright, you. There is someone else who wants to say goodbye." With a final wave, Miranda left her to resume her duties. Tali was waiting for her to finish talking to Miranda and greeted her with a hug.
"You be careful," the quarian's voice was soft.
"I always am," Lizzie smiled and held Tali's hand, "How are things going with Kal?"
"He's been very…gentle," Tali's voice grew dreamy, "And sweet. We went out to dinner last night after the reception. And it was more than I could ever dream of. There were live fish! In the floor!"
Lizzie laughed, "Good, I'm glad." She rested her forehead on Tali's helmet.
"Garrus has arranged for an investigator. C-Sec found nothing on who hired those hit men," Tali murmured quietly.
"Garrus?" Lizzie rose a brow.
Tali cleared her throat, "He has been very kind. Even looking into the matter himself."
Lizzie was silent, "That's very…yeah…good of him."
Tali gripped her hands tightly, "I will miss you being around. We don't see each other for years, then in two days it's like I'm losing my best friend all over again."
"I will be back again," Lizzie smiled, "I promise. I have a three month long rotation on Eden Prime, then I will find out where I am posted. And we can stay in contact via mail. Send me lots of news, okay?"
Tali hugged her again, "Alright, I had better go. I have to sit in on a meeting."
And with that, Lizzie was left alone to wait for her shuttle to be called. The docking bay was busy, travelers moving swiftly, most rapid talking into their comms. She leaned back in her seat, arm draped over the back, and people watched.
"Lieutenant Commander Shepard," the familiar gruff voice, musical with its harmonics, made her close her eyes. Gods, why couldn't the man leave her alone. She stood and plastered a polite expression over the impatience.
"General Vakarian," she looked askance to the two female turians accompanying him, and her eyes widened in surprise. She recognised the younger as the one who had spoken to her earlier that day.
"This is the wife of Palaven's Primarch, Lady Arria Alexis," Garrus introduced the older turian, who regarded Lizzie with sharp whiskey brown eyes, "Lady Arria, this is Lieutenant Commander Elizabeth Shepard. She was the Alliance officer who saved the life of Technician Tali'zorah nar Rayya vas Neema."
"Really?" the turian woman's voice was rusted with age, but its harmonics were strong, "How interesting." She looked the human woman up and down. Lizzie felt weighed, measured and found wanting, "So…muscular." A delicate shudder.
"Ma'am," Lizzie nodded her head politely, before her sharp green eyes turned on the bright blue gaze of the younger turian.
"And my sister, Solana Vakarian," he gestured to the woman with the same facial tattoos he bore.
"A pleasure to meet you," Lizzie held out her hand to the younger Vakarian, query deep in her eyes.
"And you," the reply was gentle, the harmonics peaceful and the returned grasp was firm.
"Solana is escorting the Lady Arria back to Palaven," Garrus explained their presence.
"Did you enjoy your time on the Citadel?" Lizzie asked politely of the two women.
"It is a cesspit of politics and hot air," Arria Alexis snapped in reply, "I look forward to breathing the clean air of Palaven again."
Lizzie glanced at Garrus, and saw his mandibles flare slightly in a grin, she couldn't help but return it, "That's unfortunate, ma'am. And you, Miss Vakarian?"
"It was an education," Solana replied, her mandibles fluttering in a smile.
"By the Spirits, Vakarian, this dallying is irritating. Miss Shepard, congratulations on your newfound fame. Don't let it go to your head. Solana, make sure my baggage has been loaded. I don't trust these morons to do anything right in this place," Lady Arria snapped her fingers at Solana, who bowed and departed, giving Lizzie a sharp look.
"I assure you, everything is fine, ma'am," Garrus murmured.
"Spirits, boy, I hope you become more efficient when you marry my daughter and take over the Primacy," Lady Arria flicked the shawl she was wearing over her shoulder and stalked off toward the VIP waiting lounge.
Garrus gave a sigh, and rose a hand to rub his brow. Lizzie bit her lower lip. So the General was being wed to the Primarch's daughter? That's nice for them. A tidy little bow. She looked up at him to make some polite response and paused when her gaze met his. There was a flicker of pain and annoyance in their depths before it was masked by polite indifference.
"My apologies. The Lady Primarch does not travel well."
"That's alright," Lizzie offered a small smile, "My congratulations on your coming nuptuals. I hope that it…goes well?" She concluded, imbuing the last words with hopefulness.
"Hrmmm," the turian rumbled, his gaze resting on her face intently, "Good luck with your rotation, Lieutenant Commander. Stay safe."
"Everyone is saying that to me today," Lizzie replied drily, "I'm sure I can manage."
"The usual response is 'thank you' to a polite statement well meant," Garrus' tone was faintly lecturing, though there was the light of amusement in his eyes.
"I have never considered myself 'usual'," Lizzie replied airily.
"No, Lieutenant Commander, that you are not," the General bowed his head politely and moved to follow Arria Alexis. Despite herself, Lizzie watched him go, taking her seat after a moment.