It was early afternoon when there was the sound of the VI announcing that they had a visitor. A Lady Arria Alexis wished to speak with Lieutenant Commander Elizabeth Shepard. Miranda was already awake and brought up the video to talk to the imperious turian.

"I must apologise, Lady Alexis, but LC Shepard is still asleep,"

"Then wake her up," the woman snapped, "My time is precious."

"I'm sorry, Lady Alexis, but I will not,"

"Look, you jumped up little human…" Lady Alexis snapped.

Lizzie tiredly came from the bedroom and shuffled across to the vid, "It's fine, Miranda, I'm awake."

"Good, now let me in,"

Lizzie waved her hand, "It's fine. The sooner she comes in, the sooner she can be gone."

Lady Alexis swept into the apartment without acknowledging Miranda. She strode straight up to Lizzie and thrust a taloned finger at her face, "What are you up to, you tiresome little piece?"

Lizzie rubbed a hand through the red tangle of her hair, "You are going to have to be more specific, ma'am. Right now, I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Garrus Vakarian. Stay away from him," the turian's voice hummed with threat, "He is intended for my daughter and our families will unite to create a new dynasty. It is impossible that he would even consider you for a bond mate!"

"If you say it is impossible, Lady Alexis, then I do not know what it is you want me to say."

"I want you to say you will stay away from him!"

"It's not really an issue, ma'am, I have been posted to the Skyllian Verge."

"Good," Lady Alexis nodded sharply, "And will you promise to refuse his suit if he tries to press it?"

"You say such a thing is impossible, Lady Alexis."

"Give me your promise, girl, that you will not enter a relationship now, or ever, with General Garrus Vakarian, for such a union would earn you both the contempt of his family and the contempt of his world."

Lizzie closed her eyes and seemed to be trying to make a choice. When she opened her eyes, she was resolute and calm.

"I will not promise that now, or ever. If his family or his world were put in such a state at the promise of our union, then I assure you, I would have no concern for either eventuality. If the turians of Palaven can see no benefit in the union between turian and human then they are short sighted indeed."

"What of issue?" Lady Alexis snapped, "You have doomed his line to failure. Turian and human - a biological impossibility!"

Lizzie's eyes grew luminous in the low light of the apartment, her ire rising finally, "You assume, ma'am, that I had any intention of reproducing should I be with a human partner." She took a step forward, crowding Lady Alexis' space, "I am a soldier, my lady, in the ways of our military, I am among the elite and I sweated and bled in the name of my people. I chose a different path to other women - though many follow the same path. Garrus Vakarian is no less noble in his endeavours. He has proved to me, and to so many others, that he is one of the most honourable of men - turian, human, drell, or quarian, and I have nothing less than the greatest admiration for him."

Lady Alexis bared her teeth, "You stupid girl. You will doom us to conflict!"

"Oh please," Lizzie sighed, and shook her head, "Leave, Lady Alexis, before I am forced to be less than polite. I have seen your markings and know you to be from a war-clan. In my way, I too am from such a clan." She smiled and it was terrible, "Leave. Now."

Lady Alexis lapsed into silence, and turned on her heel, sweeping out with a flutter of robes.

Miranda hesitantly approached, "Uhh, Lizzie?" She handed her a cup of coffee, "Is there something you want to tell me?"

"Nothing," Lizzie sipped and sighed, "I was just winding her up. I don't like bowing down to bullies."

"You just said you would marry Garrus Vakarian if he asked."

Lizzie shrugged, her expression troubled, "Irrelevant. He wont ask. He isn't a fool, she was speaking the truth." She took her coffee with her to the couch and leaned back.

"But you would say yes."

"I don't know."

Miranda sat down beside her, wrapped an arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head affectionately, "Oh, Lizzie. Such a tangled web."