CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Intimacy

"She's in no danger, Kara," Karin Chakwas said, checking over her instruments again. "It's just exhaustion. A few hours of sleep is all she needs."

Kara started at the noise, nodding quickly to cover her disorientation. She had only just closed her eyes, or so she thought. "Thank you, Karin."

"I know you don't like to take advice, but it looks as though you could use some sleep yourself."

"You're right," Kara smiled, standing. Liara lay on the bed in the Normandy's sickbay, still in her undersuit, with a thin blanket pulled up to her shoulders. "You checked Brynja and Kaliran for spore concentration?"

The grey-haired doctor nodded, retreating to her desk, with Kara following behind. "Yes. They're both well below the danger levels reported by Doctor Baynham. Liara, too. Yes, I checked her." The last was delivered with a knowing smile.

Kara ignored it. "And the assassin?"

"His armor absorbed the first shot, and the second went through his shoulder. The field team had stopped the bleeding before he got to me, and since the injury wasn't severe I allowed Lieutenant Septalus to lock him in a sleeper pod. I've been monitoring his vitals." All of the pods had basic monitoring built-in, for heart-rate and breathing mostly, but the two nearest sickbay had more extensive systems, in case the beds needed to be cleared for more urgent cases. "He's awake, if you want to talk with him."

Kara groaned. She really didn't, but she had no intention of wasting ships' resources on keeping him alive, which meant dumping him before they departed. "Good. I'll want to see Liara, as soon as she wakes up."

"I'm sure she'll feel the same, but Ehigha or I will let her know."

"Thanks, Karin," Kara smiled, touching the doctor's shoulder briefly, before leaving the room.

She paused outside the door. There were a number of things she wanted to do, before the end of the day. Finish dealing with the assassin; contact Colonial Affairs with Lizbeth; collect the prothean artifacts from ExoGeni's vaults. Thank Brynja in person, for the timely interruption during her interview with Lizbeth. Unfortunately, she couldn't see herself managing it. Seeing to Liara had taken what strength she had left, and she could feel herself swaying on her feet. Bed first, she decided firmly. Starting with getting out of her armor. Everything else would have to wait. Leaving sickbay, she headed for the lift.

"Kara, wait."

Kara paused, the lift door open and waiting, as Brynja ran to catch up with her. The blond had changed back into her usual clothes, her Alliance uniform without the jacket. "I know I promised you details, Brynja, but can it wait?"

"I saw you bring Liara in. How is she?"

Gesturing that Brynja should follow, Kara stepped into the lift. "Fine. She needs rest, but that's all."

"And you?" the blond asked.

Kara smiled faintly. "Tired." The lift halted, the doors opening onto the cargo deck. She stepped out into the entry, and stopped, turning. "I meant to tell you, Brynja, your help was invaluable. I don't know if I could've gotten Lizbeth to talk. Thank you."

"All I did was report in, and get pissed," Brynja said, her smile uncertain.

Kara laid her hand against Brynja's face, raising it gently, until their eyes met. "Thank you," she repeated. It was a mistake, of course, too intimate a gesture, proven as the blond nuzzled her hand, her blue eyes closed.

"Kara, I…" Brynja breathed, taking Kara's hand in her own. "I'm trying to be a friend, and… and you need to back off."

Nodding, Kara took a step back. She had guessed that the blond's feeling for her hadn't faded, and confirmation didn't make things easier for her. "Sorry. I'm going to get changed, now."

Brynja nodded, reluctantly letting their hands part, turning away as she passed through the still-open lift door.

Kara retreated to the armory. The task of cleaning and storing her armor in its case demanded focus enough to keep her on her feet, but not enough to prevent her mind from wandering. She had sometime found herself caught between her admiration for asari culture, and the culture of her birth. Now she felt trapped by her feelings between an asari and a human, but she had lived on Thessia, and seen the way they handled love. They were capable of jealousy, but their ideal relationships were about companionship and support, rather than possession or control.

They practiced open relationships as standard, often having more than one lover at a time, and did not often spend more than half a century with any one person, though they might reconnect after many years, and rarely refused to support a former lover. Kara sighed, and tried to banish those thoughts. If she hesitated to have a single relationship, adding a second would be folly.

"The thorian sleeps for millennia at a time," Liara said, pacing across the comm room floor, gesturing excitedly as she spoke. "And life for it is quite dull, by our standards, worried about soil nutrient contents and moisture levels. I don't know how old it is. Five hundred thousand years? A billion? I can't conceive of how it measures time, but it remembers other animal intelligences coming to Feros, long before the protheans. And it remembers the reapers. Maybe it absorbed some of them? The first time it tasted thoughts, they were empty. Even so, the disappearance of animal species did not affect it. We came, lived and died, and it used us when it could. I'm not sure it even recognized us as intelligent, our culture, our thoughts… just noise, to it. How could anything so small, so short lived, be intelligent? It sees an entire world at once. It was shocked when I made contact with it. Amused, maybe. The little biped speaks in my mind?"

"Liara," Kara interrupted, smiling.

"Sorry. That's how it sees us. We don't matter. We're too transient, and too alien. The colony should be evacuated, and the thorian left alone."

"I agree," Kara nodded. It was selfish of her to claim the moment for herself, but she found listening to the asari's voice relaxing, and her excited description of her link with the thorian fascinating.

"And the protheans. Satharii. I spent my life looking for hints into their culture, and now my head is so full with them, I can almost see through their eyes. Kara, I—"

Holding up her hand, Kara stood. "Once we're in space, Liara, we'll sit down, and you can spend hours telling me about who they really were."

Liara lowered her face, smiling shyly. "You know I could, too."

"I know you want to," Kara grinned, "and I'm happy to let you—"

"Captain," Keyx interrupted, over the comm. "The head of Colonial Affairs is waiting to speak with you. Doctor Baynham is on her way up."

"Send her straight in," Kara said, switching on the main display. Liara gave her a warm smile, and left the room.

The Minister of Colonial Affairs was a squat, heavy-set man, brown skinned, his eyes steel grey, with a perpetually dour expression made all the worse by an exaggerated scowl, directed at her with barely concealed hostility. Kara supposed that, being an important member of the current government, it was his duty to believe their propaganda. "I'm a very busy man, Spectre Shepard. I've been laying plans for the evacuation of our colonies in the Traverse."

For which he blamed her. Opening the channel before Lizbeth arrived had been a mistake, it seemed. Fortunately, the walk from the crew deck did not take long at all, and she entered the comm room before Kara felt compelled to reply.

"Lizbeth, this is Terrance Quatal, Minister of Colonial Affairs. I believe he's already seen your file."

"Minister—"

"Are you aware, Doctor Baynham, that collaborating with traitors exposes you to the same charge?"

Lizbeth turned, wide-eyed, on Kara. "Traitors?"

Kara sighed. "Insults thrown by demagogues are not serious charges, Terrance. Stop wasting your valuable time."

His scowl deepened, then he shrugged, and leaned back in his chair. She wondered if the fact they were speaking at all weren't evidence of a more accommodating posture towards her, on the part of the Alliance, now that they knew she'd survived Cerberus' ambush.

"Minister Quatal," Lizbeth said, beginning again, her voice more guarded. "Captain Shepard's involvement has enabled my coming forward, but I assure you I haven't collaborated with her. ExoGeni's atmosphere has psychoactive properties that affect the judgement of humans, beginning after approximately three months exposure, which ExoGeni discovered about ten months ago. This fact was hidden from the colonists, and from your department, while I was hired to research the phenomenon. When I expressed doubts, Ethan Jeong, head of ExoGeni Feros, threatened not only me, but my mother."

Terrance rapped his fingers against his desk impatiently. "There's nothing I can do."

"Sir, the Zhu's Hope colony must be evacuated. As an Alliance-based corporation, ExoGeni's colonies are under your jurisdiction."

"I need every passenger and colony ship we have to be ready and waiting, in case the Prime Ministers makes the call to evacuate our officially established colonies in the Traverse. There's nothing I can do."

It was nothing more than an excuse. The situation was simply not that dire, and nothing short of a full-scale invasion by a major power would make it so. Even then, a single Kart-Hadasht class colony ship could carry a thousand colonists, with supplies and pre-fab structures. An Athabasca class freighter could provide cramped accommodations for the three hundred inhabitants of Zhu's Hope, though not much else. "One ship won't make that much difference," Kara said, "but if you force me to make other arrangements, I will."

"Fine," he shrugged. "You do that."

"Minister, please," Lizbeth began, but the projectors shut off. He had already cut the transmission. "He didn't even ask for evidence against ExoGeni."

"Quatal was on the board of ICI, before he went into politics," Kara replied. "At least one of his aides worked for ExoGeni."

Lizbeth slumped into the nearest chair, resting her face in her hands. "You knew he wouldn't help."

"I hoped he would send a ship, but no. I didn't expect action against ExoGeni until the colonists demanded it."

"Damn it," she muttered, before straightening up. "What will happen to the colonists now?"

"We ask the Council for help," she said. A conversation with them was already on her schedule. It seemed that she had no choice but to involve them in human affairs, once again.

"Shepard," Torres groaned, frowning at her from across his desk. "Whatever your excuses are this time, I don't want to hear them. There's no chance in hell that my superiors will forgive blatant piracy, no matter how you justify it."

"I realize that," Kara said. "That's why I came. I've spoken to the Citadel Council, and the Asari Republic has agreed to dispatch a ship to evacuate the colony. You're being offered a new contract."

He snorted, and shook his head.

She had, admittedly, bullied him into submission on two occasions. He most likely expected that to continue. "It's a favorable deal," she continued, standing and walking around his desk. She brought up the document on his console, passed to the tower's mainframe before she left the ship. "The Council will take over payments to you and your men, with a twenty-five percent increase in pay. Until the transport arrives, you'll hold ExoGeni's staff here, in the tower, and you'll supervise the evacuation from the surface. The colonists will be brought to the Citadel, where ExoGeni's staff will be put on trial."

"And what happens when it's done? Corps hate it when you break contract, and it doesn't matter why. Not that you care, right? You'll be off pushing some other poor bastard around."

He was probably right. "You must think I enjoy it," she sighed, returning to her chair.

"It's how people are."

"Of course. It's what they're taught." Some children didn't learn their lessons very well, however. "You'll find, Michael, that most aliens dislike humanity, not humans. You shouldn't have trouble finding work. Salarian merchant ships often hire outside security."

"I'll have the damnedest time convincing the boys," Torres frowned. "Is there another option?"

"You can take your chances with ExoGeni," Kara told him. "The asari will come, and evacuate the colony, which will be much more dangerous without your support. You'll go with them, or not if you prefer."

"And will you… condescend… to explain why the hell this is necessary?"

Kara leaned forward, meeting Torres' gaze. Far too many people already knew of the thorian's existence, including those who had tried to exploit it. One more was unlikely to cause trouble, or further boost the conspiracy theories that would rise out of recent events. He needed to know, if only to anticipate the potential resistance of the colonist, and why. She made her explanation brief, touching on the thorian and its mind controlling spores, but not describing the creature in great detail. "You can get the details from Ethan, if you want more."

"Shit. That's what you were after?"

"No," Kara said, leaning back again. "I was after a connection to Cerberus, but that investigation can be passed off to someone else."

He sat, unsmiling, as he attempted to process what he had learned. "One more question, Shepard. This thing has sucked the brains out of people for at least fifty thousand years, right? That sounds pretty awful to me, and what I don't get is, you clearly think you're the defender of all things bright and fluffy. So why not just kill it?"

Valern had asked her the same question, during her conversation with the Council. She had told them that she deferred to Liara's judgement. The asari's insight into the ancient alien came from direct mental contact, not outside observation.

Her own instincts were less clear. She had little sympathy for its willingness to invade and control the minds of sentient beings, but it was not aggressive. Its grasp did not extend beyond Feros' dusty surface, and would not in the foreseeable future. "Because I don't have to," she said quietly, watching Torres' reaction silently. "We can let it have Feros."

"I can't say I'll be sorry to leave this place," he admitted. "So I guess you'll be leaving now?"

Kara nodded as she stood. "As soon as you've made a decision."

Torres nodded, staring at his console. "Give me an hour, Shepard."

"Shepard, I have a request to make."

Kara stopped, turning to face the krogan. The wind howled in gusts over the patched-up prothean skyway, tossing her hair about in a most annoying manner. She clawed it out of her eyes. "A request?" It had surprised to her find that he, and not Garrus or Liara, had waited for her to speak to Torres, and make a final visit to Ethan. Almost as surprising as his asking something of her.

"I have business on Tuntau. It's a barren world, two days off the Argos Rho Relay. It won't delay us much, and now is the best time—"

"This is about your family armor, isn't it?" Kara asked.

Wrex nodded. "I told you about Tonn Actus. Auran has agreed to help me recover it. Seems like she thinks her father is more of a bastard than I do."

As Argos Rho was on their route to the Citadel, the journey would only mean a delay of four or five days. With Saren still in hiding, they could afford it, though it'd mean straining their supplies of dextro rations. She also wanted to encourage Wrex's efforts at connecting with the eture. "I'll take you," Kara said, pushing her hair back again, as she gestured that they should continue. The wind was moving in advance of a storm front, if the darkening skies were any indication. "You and Auran will have to work out how to proceed from there."

"She really wants you there, Shepard. She says you'll keep things civil."

"And you?"

The Krogan shrugged his wide shoulders. "I just want my armor back, but I'll go in shooting if I have to."

Kara sighed. "I'll give it some thought."

They had reached the outskirts of the colony, and the ramp that lead to the spaceport. "I don't get why you're so reluctant, Shepard. This isn't what you wanted?"

She had pushed him towards a less violent solution, but had never meant to get involved herself. Even if that sounded like a fair description of the last month and a half, she had to draw a line somewhere, and she had not stake in this. "I respect that you're open to alternatives, Wrex, but I feel like this is your mission. It seems appropriate that you handle it without me."

Wrex snorted. "You make it sound like some sort of test."

"I admit to some curiosity," Kara said, "but you're old enough to handle yourself. You certainly don't need me judging you."

"That's pyjak shit, Shepard. We both know you have expectations."

"Which you are under no obligation to follow," Kara told him, as they entered the Normandy's cargo bay. "Unless you're concerned about disappointing me?"

"Don't be absurd," Wrex grunted, trudging off towards the armory.

Kara grinned. As absurd as the thought seemed, he was almost sweet.

"Garrus," she said, approaching the turian, sitting atop a crate with an ExoGeni label and talking with Orlanis.

"Shepard," he said. "We've finished 'confiscating' the artifacts. Everything is loaded and strapped down."

"Where's Liara? I expected to find her here."

"Crew deck," Orlanis replied, standing. "She picked out several items, and left as soon as everything was settled. She was very excited."

Kara smiled. It was easy enough to picture. The bright eyes, the shy smile. The tight line of her lips as she focused on her work. The effect was a little distracting. "That's her." She shook off the thought. "Our prisoner. Did you interrogate him?"

Orlanis nodded. "His name is Karl Jonson, formerly an Alliance marine lieutenant. He admits to working with Cerberus, but says he's not a member. I don't think he knew about the thorian. He claims that orders to assassinate you came through the day before we arrived."

He was eminently expendable, both to Cerberus and ExoGeni, so she didn't doubt his ignorance. No one told the grunts anything, if they could help it. For much the same reason, he wasn't worth anything to her as a prisoner. "Good. We'll put him off the ship as soon as Torres checks in."

"Oh, Kara," Liara grinned, turning away from the close scrutiny of one of the prothean artifacts they had confiscated. She was sitting at the narrow desk in the medical storage room, several more pieces of an ancient civilization spread out before her. "I'm glad you came."

"Have you something to show me already?" Kara inquired, smiling in reply, as she moved to lean against the desk. The Normandy had only departed Feros minutes ago, shortly after Torres had agreed to the new contract, cruising towards the relay at sublight in-system speeds. She had left him with the impression that she'd return if he failed to follow it.

"Well, no," the asari said, her face turning back to the object in her hands. It appeared to be a statuette, in remarkably good condition. "I simply wanted to see you."

"Here I am," Kara said. Liara didn't reply, her attention lingering on the artifact. "What's that?"

"This is the single most impressive piece ever found on Feros. ExoGeni's archeologist believed the colonists forged it."

"You disagree?"

Liara stood, holding the figure up for Kara to see. It appeared humanoid, made of a silvery metal-alloy, with a surprising amount of detail still intact. "He would have never seen anything like her before, but I recognize her. She is 'Song that Lights the Stars'. A prothean client-race worshipped her as the goddess of beauty, starlight, and travel." Blue eyes rose, catching Kara's green ones. "She's for you."

It would have taken someone quite oblivious to miss the intent behind the gift. Kara could feel her heart pounding. "Liara—"

"Kara, I was a fool. I pushed away the one thing I really wanted, because I feared losing it. Well, I want us back. I know I hurt—"

Kara silenced the asari with a soft kiss. "Liara, I understand. You're not the first person to make a mistake."

"You're not even angry?"

"That would get in the way of making up," she breathed, brushing her lips against Liara's neck.

"How about," Liara said, easing her back, gently, "you go to your cabin. I'll be along as soon as I get my armor stored, and we can continue our reconciliation in more comfort."

Kara glanced down. The young asari was still wearing her armor, and looking no less attractive for it. "Oh. Yes."

"I was anxious to begin studying these artifacts," Liara explained, flushing slightly, "and I was not uncomfortable."

Kara stepped back, before she fell into another kiss. Getting herself properly aroused would only make for a more frustrating wait. "I'll be there," she said, her hand sliding along the door frame until her fingers found the controls.

The door opened, and she turned away. She walked quickly, ignoring Ehigha, and the crew that sat in the mess, passing time. She could have lingered, but she didn't even want to risk delaying her reunion.

She retrieved her tablet from the edge of the desk, and settled on the bed. It could be a long half hour, if the list of unread reports was as dry as usual.

Liara locked the door as soon as she entered, and turned. She had dressed in a set of clothes she had picked out when they were last on the Citadel. The style was popular amongst asari, and a little formal, her straight-legged trousers made of black cloth, and her long-sleeved shirt dark blue, the shade chosen to emphasize her skin tone, the front held closed by simple silver clasps. The hem hung half-way down her hips.

Kara grinned, and swung her legs off the bed. She had already set aside her omnitool, and slid her datapad onto the desk beside it. "Are you trying to seduce me, Doctor T'Soni?" she asked, in the asari's native tongue.

The young asari laughed, glancing down self-consciously, before taking a first deliberate step. "I thought I already had," she said, as she drew close, and Kara rose to greet her. The mere act of hearing her voice, unobstructed by mechanical translation, had an intimate feeling.

"I still feel a little unseduced," Kara said, but they were already falling towards each other, pausing only to savor the anticipation. Liara's lips met hers, softly at first, as strong arms encircled her, and pulled her close. she let the asari's narrow tongue flit past her lips, teasing her, as their kiss deepened, slow and passionate in a way that filled her with heat and desire.

When they finally parted, Liara pressed light kisses against her lips as they gasped for breath. "Better?" the asari breathed.

"Yes," Kara replied, laughing softly. The asari's hand rose, palm outward. She raised hers, touching the back of their hands together, as if to say; let's see where desire takes us.

Smiling shyly, Liara began to undo the clasps of her shirt.