Hello all,
this chapter has been a delight to write, even though it is a slow process. Writing is still a very new experience to me, and I must confess that sometimes I have no clue whether to turn left or right. Still, I hope you can enjoy my story.
Special thanks to Bebus and Vector 71, your help and encouragement is awesome!
I have snuck in a strong symbolic gesture, and will send virtual ice cream to anyone who can find it (it's not difficult), just send a pm/review.
Yes, ice cream!
Chapter 7, Floating
Morning came, with the bright summer sun already climbing over London. Karli crawled out of bed, and touched the control for the roof. Within seconds the room exploded in a blaze of yellow and white light. She headed for the shower, while Liara covered her face with a pillow, trying to hide from the assault on her senses.
"Blue!" shouted Shepard from the shower, "I know a wonderful place we can go today, if you don't mind missing out on the zoo."
Liara smiled, and wondered what Karli was up to. "That is fine love, I actually visited the zoo yesterday, and have a few important things to share with you."
When Shepard exited the shower, steam rising from her body, she spoke again, "We'll go rowing. There's a lake with a boathouse in the park nearby. I have a lot to tell you about, and I would love to be in a quiet place, alone with you."
Liara could not respond. She was still in bed, enthralled by the human's gloriously naked, damp body, which seemed aglow in a sea of light.
Karli Shepard measured just one inch shorter than her lover. The scars which dotted and lined her body were slowly starting to disappear, and she had taken a habit of letting her dark brown hair hang loose. She was quite pleased with her slender form, which was surprisingly muscular; and with her breasts, only a fraction smaller than her lover's. Gorgeous full hips completed the picture that hypnotized the struck asari.
Shepard grinned, and sensually sauntered towards the bed. "See anything you like, Doctor T'Soni?" she teased.
"..eh, rowing, right. What are we doing that for?"
"Were you not paying attention? I'd love to talk things over with you, in a quiet place. And besides, do I really need a reason to spend all day with a highly intelligent, very attractive asari?"
Liara could not help but blush. "Flatterer."
Karli selected khaki linen shorts, then thoughtfully held up a plain white T-shirt, adorned by a small alliance symbol. Not today. Rummaging through her bag, she found a thin lilac sleeveless top, decorated with elaborate white lace. Perfect.
"I will see you at the breakfast table Liara... hungry as a wolf!"
After a refreshing cold shower, the asari opened her suitcase, and was pleased to find her pink summer dress in an almost unwrinkled condition. Short sleeved, a mid-thigh hemline, with a classic asari high neck, it had been Karli's birthday gift to her. This will do for a gorgeous day like this, now let me investigate if Karli ate the entire breakfast supply.
They exited the hotel, and strolled in the direction of the park. Karli took Liara's hand, and swung their arms in a frivolous manner, while she exclaimed, "I have a lot on my mind, and we have a lot to discuss, but I feel so carefree right now!"
Liara smiled at her, "It must be all that free time and sunshine," and then thoughtfully, "sunlight boosts levels of serotonin - the body's natural happy hormone. That is why -"
Liara noticed Karli staring at her with a playful smile, and asked, "What?"
"That's why you're so cute Liara! Analyzing things, you even did that in the middle of the war!" They both giggled, continuing their walk.
When they arrived at the lake, the duo took a moment to take in the surroundings. Large willow trees dotted the eastern bank, and across the lake they detected quite a few tall pine trees; a huge lawn surrounding a restaurant covered the other bank.
With virtually no wind, the water was as calm as a sleeping baby; two flocks of swans trailed slowly in the center of the lake. Above, the sun continued its blazing ascent.
As she breathed, Karli let the morning air slowly fill her senses, while she relaxed her shoulders. "This is lovely."
Without reading Shepard's mind, Liara spoke her partner's exact thoughts, her voice a serene whisper, "On a day like this, it is hard to believe the Reapers even existed."
"There is still a lot to do, at least we have the chance to forget about all that for one day," commented Karli, as she turned to face her lover, "we can relax now."
At the boat house they were happily surprised to find no other customers. The duo rented a small rowing boat, and as each took an oar, they tried to move their boat towards the middle of the lake.
That proved to be quite a challenge, as both of them stumbled and laughed, trying hard to get their rowing in sync with one another. As the boat made another perfect circle, Liara laughed, "Shepard, are you convinced this is the best propulsion system for the vessel? Our forward motion appears to be non-existent."
Eventually they found their rhythm together, and slowly zig-zagged to the center of the lake, where they stopped rowing and laid themselves down on their backs.
A warm, comfortable silence enveloped them, as they studied the emerald blue sky and the wisps of clouds drifting by. Time slowed to a crawl, then came to a full stop, their vessel frozen in a mirror of solitude.
"We are all alone," whispered Liara after ten blissful minutes.
"Yes," came the reply, "we have not been this alone in ages."
A few moments later, Liara moved her left hand and touched Karli's ear. The alien had developed a fascination for the human ear, intrigued by their odd shape and from. Shepard didn't speak, but her smile deepened, as the asari's exploration continued.
Liara gently entered her human's mind. An announcement or permission was not needed; the duo was well beyond that phase. It had been clear from almost the start of their relationship that there would be no secrets between the two.
Are you done with my ear, sweetheart? She felt the asari's charismatic laughter through their bond.
I would love to study if your hearing is better than mine, with these... er, yes love, what would you like to discuss first? Liara's voice flowed into Karli's consciousness, and not for the first time, Shepard marveled at this means of communication.
Blue, I'd like for you to see what happened yesterday, and be warned, it's not pleasant.
Liara readied herself, as she moved towards the human's memories. The previous day's events and emotions unfolded; Karli unconsciously took a deep breath when she saw herself crying in the chair, Brynn's arms wrapped around her. Yes my love, yesterday was not good news.
She continued in a rush of thoughts: it is not that I want to go back to combat, it's just very frustrating that I have no choice in the matter. I grew up on Alliance ships, the military has been my life, and now it's all being taken away. I... I will never be the vanguard again...
The last phrase came out with a resigned sigh.
As vanguard, she was always the first to engage the enemy up close. After the initial charge, she often found herself surrounded by enemy troops, relying on brute firepower and lightning reflexes to stay out of harm's way. Shepard was a masterful vanguard, and her tendency to lead from the front was one more reason why she was beloved and respected by her troops.
The asari focused on Shepard's grief, and sent a wave of reassurance through their bond, while being brutally honest about the matter: I am very concerned about your health as well, Karli, but you have to remember one very important thing: you are so much more than a warrior.
She gently travelled to the core of Shepard's hurt, and imprinted it with her care and love for the human.
Feeling the encouragement, Shepard tried to lift the mood a bit: Hey Blue, Miranda and Brynn still have another plan in the works, who knows what they'll come up with?
But being linked, Liara knew instantly that even Shepard did not believe her own words.
With the union still active, Karli thought of a question she'd wanted to ask Liara. Blue, what is a Mandein?
Liara's surprise was evident through their bond. Mandein, Shepard, where did you hear that word?
Councillor Tevos called me yesterday, something else we should discuss, but please answer me first.
Yes. It is a very old title, from Thessia's ancient times, and its use is extremely rare. Roughly translated, Mandein stands for "Right hand of Thessia." The title is given to warriors who have proven themselves invaluable to their tribes. The last person to receive this title was a Matriarch, and that was 140 years ago. Now Karli, I am extremely curious about your talk with Councillor Tevos.
Shepard directed Liara's attention to the memory of the call. After five minutes, Liara looked at Karli, and gasped, "You have been declared Mandein?" In her shock, she had severed their mental connection.
Karli blushed and shrugged her shoulders. "What do you think of the position she offered?"
The asari was still struggling to compose herself, "You have been declared Mandein!"
Unsure how to respond, Shepard's blush intensified, and she offered, "Well, eh, yes?"
Liara took Karli's hand in her own. "That is a great privilege, love. Did you not hear what I said? The last time anyone received that title was a long time ago. And you are not an asari!"
All Shepard could muster was an insecure grin. "Er, I feel honored?"
The asari's joyous laughter chimed over the lake.
"Perhaps you will understand better when we get to Thessia." Liara fell silent for a moment, then focused on the human's first question. "Karli, your own body prevents you from being in a combat zone, and even if that was not so, I want you by my side while we build a new life on Thessia. Can we agree to let someone else save the galaxy?"
Liara's voice increased in volume, as anger sprouted within her. "I think you have done enough, why did Tevos ask this of you?"
"In the condition I'm in, it's out of the question I set foot on a battlefield," Shepard acknowledged with a regretful sigh. "If there is any way I will accept this job, Tevos will have to find someone to be the enforcer."
Relieved that Shepard had so easily agreed with her, the asari smiled.
Karli looked at her partner with renewed determination. "Liara, there's one pressing reason why I want to accept Tevos's position... The galaxy is at peace right now, and we need to ensure it stays that way."
She leaned forward, wrapping one arm around Liara, while the other slipped underneath her dress and gently brushed against her lover's stomach. In a soft voice she whispered, "For us, and future generations."
A blush came to Liara's face, as she knew the full meaning of her partner's words. "That sounds like a very good reason to accept the position," the asari said slowly, thinking, "perhaps we can arrange things so you could do most of your activities from our own house? I am confident we can arrange one room to be your study."
"So, we agree I take the job? Provided I can work mostly from our house on Thessia, and will not be personally involved in combat."
Liara nodded, relieved. Karli was going to be by her side, out of the line of fire. "Those terms sound good to me; I am very curious how Councillor Tevos will react to them."
The pair studied the clouds for some time, and Shepard finally dared to address the last part of the memory, "What did you make of my mother's response?"
In her most logical archeologist voice, Liara replied; "It would be quite a shock for any mother to find out that they will be a grandmother soon. On top of that, she barely knows me, and on top of that, she learned that her grandchild will not be her own species. I think her response was understandable."
She noticed Karli staring at her with an open mouth. "Did I say something wrong?"
Fumbling, Shepard tried to find the right words. "What... how do you do that? I was very upset with Mom's reaction, and with your logic you make everything sound so simple. This is some kind of asari magic, isn't it?"
Liara flashed a wicked smile. "You will never know, dear human."