Chapter 4
Glyph hovered over Dr. T'soni as she slept; she had told him to wake her up at 6am ship time and it was now fast approaching the hour. "It is now 6am the designated time you scheduled for your wake up call." Glyph spouted out. Liara's eyes opened slowly "thank you Glyph that will be all." Liara told the drone which spun away back to it's terminal after being dismissed. Liara rolled off her back and looked around at her Cabin. She did not see Shepard and assumed she had woken before her and left to get dressed before the rest of the crew was up. The memories of Shepard last night seemed almost as if she dreamed them but after a quick glance over to her dresser she knew it was no dream. The empty beer bottles that her and The Commander had shared last night still sat on the table and Liara quickly found her memories of last night return to her. Liara wondered how Shepard was feeling this morning; she wondered if their time together last night actually had the positive impact she hoped for on The Commander. Liara got out of bed and got dressed. Even on the Normandy 6am was still early for many of the crewmen so Liara often ate her breakfast alone in the Mess, It wasn't that Liara didn't like being around the crew so much as she liked being alone in the mornings. Liara moved into the kitchen and prepared some food. The Doctor had still not gotten used to the human food that was stoked on the Normandy but she had to eat something so she pulled out a box of Military ration Cereal and poured herself a bowl dry. Liara sat alone at the table and thought back to Shepard again as she ate she wondered if she should look for her and see how she was doing before the other crewmen had a chance to get out of their bunks but decided against it figuring The Commander would perhaps like some time alone. Shepard proved her wrong moments later when she appeared from the Normandy's elevator fully dressed in her uniform. Shepard jet black hair was tied back in the bun that Liara was accustomed to seeing and her face was now fully visible in the light, Liara admired her features, The small freckles that dotted her nose and cheeks and her striking green eyes that were now thankfully without tears. Liara greeted her "Good morning Shepard." The Commander looked at the Doctor and smiled "Good Moring Liara." She answered back. Liara did not know if Shepard would wish to speak about what had happened last night so she decided to not mention it. "You are up early. I usually eat breakfast by myself. But it's always nice to have your company." Liara told her. Shepard smiled at her "figured id sneak back up to my cabin and get dressed before everyone was up. Thank you by the way for last night. Probably the only good nights rest I've had since I left Earth." Shepard replied to the Asari. The couples privacy was broken however as the first crewmen exited their bunks and entered the Mess. Shepard's posture snapped to attention and the informal interaction between her and the doctor was clearly over, Liara was disappointed almost angry with the crew for interrupting them. "Morning Commander." Some of the men said as they passed her on their way to the kitchen, Shepard greeted them back. James Vega and The Normandy's new shuttle pilot Steve Cortez appeared together as they both walked into the now loud and crowded mess hall. Samantha Traynor the Normandy's new comm specialist pulled The Commander away from the group to show her a data pad. Liara had heard rumors about the specialist that made her feel threatened by her interactions with Shepard but she tried to push aside her jealously and treat Samantha with the same respect that she treated all of the crew with. Traynor continued to speak to Shepard and Liara was unable to hear what they were saying due to the loud chatter of the crew who were now sitting beside her bumping her elbows as they ate. Something Samantha said to Shepard made The Commander laugh and for reasons that made the Asari ashamed she was made furious by it." You know I don't think I have ever seen you at breakfast time Doctor." Engineer Adams said to Liara breaking her concentration on Shepard and Traynor. "Yes I um usually am awake earlier than this." Liara said back to Adams. "Well it's good to see you in Mess with the rest of the crew for a change." Adams shot back. Liara moved her focus back to Shepard who had now finished speaking with the specialist and was heading to the kitchen; Liara excused herself from the crowded table to meet her there. "Hello again Liara. Why do I get the feeling there's something you need to speak with me about?" Shepard said to her as they met at the kitchen. "I just wanted to see how you were feeling this morning." Liara replied to The Commander. " I'll be okay Liara… I have to be." The Commander answered her with a tone that ended the exchange. Shepard fixed herself cereal with the same box that Liara had used and ate her breakfast in quiet. Liara could tell that her father still bothered The Commander but she understood that breaking down in tears again especially in front of the crew would be helping no one so the Doctor let it go. "So where we headed today Commander I'm itching to tear those Reaper Bastards a new one!" The comment came from James Vega. "Palavan or rather one of it's moons. We need to pick up the Turian Primarch, This summit has to happen and the Turians need to be there." The Commander answered "After your chow head to your posts crew we are setting a course for Palavan in 35 minutes." After the words left Shepard's lips she turned and ventured to the CIC she had to see Joker and make sure everything was running on schedule.