A/N: Hello everyone. This chapter was a long time in the making. The family and I went on a lovely vacation to Greece and I have just started a new job. That last fact will probably slow down my writing even more, but I have a clear vision where I am going, and very much enjoy writing the story.
Reviews are most welcome - positive and negative - as I can always learn something from it. Vector 71 and Bebus, thank you for all the help and suggestions!
Chapter 14, Fallen from a distant star
Where will we be in three years? Can we solidify the peace? A lot will depend on how the Council reacts to my plans...
Commander Karli Shepard gazed at the huge ship that would carry her away from Earth. She frowned at the tasks she set before herself.
Leviathans... how have they reacted to the news of the Reapers' demise? Are they plotting something right now?
The couple had planned their trip to Thessia with great care. Shepard insisted they would leave on a human ship; a regular civilian transport, instead off all the luxury yachts that were being offered by various wealthy individuals both human and alien. "I am human, and I am leaving Earth on a human ship".
Together they had selected the MSV Sagittarius, a huge transport that would visit several worlds before docking at Illium. Liara wanted to visit her old apartment, secure a few belongings, and possibly sell the place. After a few days on Illium, they would board the Miámoll, a large asari cruiser that would take them all the way to Thessia.
Miranda Lawson personally drove the couple to London's spaceport. Liara took the opportunity to make sure all her call and address information on the two scientists was correct. She also took the liberty to invite both women to come and visit their new house on Thessia. Shepard raised an eyebrow at this, but remained silent.
When they got to their apartment at the Citadel, the couple spent a few hours packing, then headed to the docks. Unbelievably, the travel agency had actually managed to keep their schedule a secret, and no reporters bothered them as they boarded a large shuttle; The Sagittarius had not been able to dock, due to final repairs and upgrades on this side of the docks.
As they entered the craft, a few people recognized them, and within thirty seconds everyone aboard was aware they were in the presence of Commander Shepard and her alien lover. Perhaps because it was so crowded, but none approached them, and both of them were grateful for it.
The shuttle was spacious, but obviously overbooked. Liara and Karli noticed an elderly couple, nervously holding the straps dangling from the ceiling, and gave up their seats to the grateful pair. That proved to be a mistake. Once the shuttle took off, Shepard's unstable balance made her bump into other passengers and she realized she was unable to reach overhead for the straps.
Fucking hell! I am a wreck! Rage and frustration coursed through her veins, and she meekly accepted a seat offered by a young salarian. Galactic savior, pfft! Can't even stand upright, need a seat just like the old folks...
She became painfully aware of people staring at her, and fought the urge to yell at them. Almost instinctively her thoughts drifted to her partner. Blue's always so composed, wish we were joined right now.
Liara abruptly turned her head, and intensely stared at Karli. Grabbing her lover's hand, she merged their minds together.
You asked for me.
It was a statement, not a question.
Eyes wide in surprise, Shepard's emotions were easy to read, even without the bond. How did? Wh...?
Kneeling down, Liara steadied herself against the bases of the seats, bringing her face to face with Karli. Subconsciously, she raised one hand in a thankful gesture. The Goddess shines on us... blessed be our union!
Liara's emotions flooded through their bond, and Karli gasped when she felt her partner's overpowering gratitude and exhilaration. How did I call you? What happened?
Liara's words came, her voice singing with joy, Whenever couples share a prolonged period of bonding, or share very deep unions, a fascinating phenomena occurs, She explained, her eyes sparkling, their faces only inches apart.
The essence one shares during those moments doesn't wholly return to the original partner, a fraction remains within their bondmate.
Karli had been confused, now she was dumbfounded, You're saying... a piece of you, inside me? Her hand tapped her chest, reinforcing the words.
The silence in the shuttle was deafening. Everyone was watching them, but the couple did not care, completely focused on the other, their eyes locked.
Yes love, I am within you, and there is a fragment of your spirit within me, normally that has little consequences. Within exclusive asari couples, something else can occur. Some couples gain... an ability. They are able to sense their partner's emotions, become aware of each other's physical presence, and can 'call' the other over a short distance; the essence within one's partner resonates with the original owner.
Shepard's brain tried to process all that. But I am not asari!
No you are not, I would have noticed the crest. It is extremely rare amongst interspecies relationships, but it does happen. This morning at breakfast I got my first clue. Later, I felt your presence when you sat next to me in the church. In my language, Arlas, this phenomena is known as Irrulun.
And you think...?
Yes sweet human, yes!
Karli grinned. If Liara had been standing upright, Shepard was convinced that the asari would have been hopping and skipping through the shuttle, crowded or not. Relishing the fact that her partner was so thoroughly pleased, she took the asari's hand and gave a gentle squeeze.
And Liara wasn't done yet. She cut their mental connection; enthusiasm bubbled in her eyes as she said, "Now close your eyes, and try to sense where I am."
Looking at all the curious faces in the crowded shuttle, Shepard wasn't too thrilled about that idea and whispered, "Shall we try that later, in private?"
Suddenly aware of all the attention, Liara blushed lightly and nodded, while her fingers played with the palm of Shepard's hand. Still beaming with joy with their newfound connection, she whispered in Karli's ear, "I am yours, Munde Tir'ae".
Commander Shepard was seated on a comfortable, large bed, in one of the biggest cabins the Sagittarius had to offer. Liara played along when Karli had selected a regular civilian ship but when they reached the cabin selection, the asari had given her a loving smirk, but would not budge. "For years we have lived on the Normandy and various other crafts. We are getting the royal package, and that is final."
Amongst the two them, and Liara was aware of it, Karli had come to enjoy releasing control. On the battlefield Shepard had always been the leader, taking charge in all situations, always leading from the front. When the two of them became an couple, Liara had been very shy and inexperienced but that had changed quickly. Now Shepard was pleased to have moments where she did not have to be the initiator, content to let her lover guide her.
Looking around the cabin, she was glad with Liara's decision. It was ridiculously large for a space vessel, and had several rooms. The living room and the bed room were decorated in warm colors, scattered with paintings of various alien rituals, and the live plants in most corners made the cabin feel alive and comfortable. Through a small door in the bedroom one entered a lounge, with a large observation window. It reminded Karli of the Normandy's lounge, where she'd met with Samara for long pleasant conversations.
Liara's melodious voice cut through her musings.
"Close your eyes love."
Shepard did as ordered, and there was only darkness. She squinted her eyes, and the blackness intensified. Moving her head from left to right, she muttered, "I don't notice anything."
"Think of me."
That was easy enough. Liara's gentle blue face appeared in front of her closed eyes, but still the darkness persisted. Karli enlarged the image, pictured Liara in a deep green asari dress, arms folded in front of her breasts, a typical stance for her lover. "Nothing."
"What do you feel for me?"
Even easier. Instead of just a picture, Shepard fondly embraced the endless abundandant fountain of love and affection that Liara had unlocked. Their bond had a beginning, but no end; Karli felt her heart rate increase as her spirit opened.
A spark flickered in the darkness. Karli gasped and it nearly died, until she re-focused on her intense feelings for her bondmate. The spark grew slowly and developed in a soft blue beacon.
"I... I see a blue aura... to my right..."
"Keep your eyes closed!" As Liara moved through the room, the gentle beacon floated within Karli's darkness.
"That is... special..." whispered Karli, holding her breath. She clearly sensed Liara standing right in front of her.
"Now, what am I feeling?"
The beacon pulsed with happiness, and Karli's face turned into a big smile. "There is a lot of blue joy!" She opened her eyes and quickly rose to embrace the beaming Liara. "And Doctor? do we have a successful experiment?"
Liara had no chance to answer as Karli pulled her even closer and found her partner's lips for a passionate kiss. Liara immediately responded, and slowly ran her hands up and down down Shepard's waist , enjoying the luscious curves of her hips. Panting, they broke the kiss, and Liara could finally answer the question.
"Absolutely," she laughed, "Earth has given us a wonderful parting gift."
"Actually," lectured Shepard, "If I remember your words, this is the result of us doing a lot of embracing eternity..."
Blushing lightly, Liara had to agree, "You are correct, brown eyes. And since you brought it up..."
She gave Shepard a good shove, who yelped, "Hey!" as she had no choice but to fall backwards on the bed. Before she could recover, Liara was right on top of her.
The asari pinned Shepard to the bed. "Taking down a Spectre has never been this easy!"
Shepard fought back for just a second, then surrendered and relaxed on the bed, her bright eyes twinkling with pleasure. "I am your captive, huntress."
Giggling, Liara started to unbutton Shepard's pants, who eagerly assisted her lover, pushing the offending garment off her hips.
"I suggest we take our time tonight..." purred the asari, her seductive voice sending shivers down Karli's spine. "After all, we won't be interrupted for the next three days..."
The next morning they did absolutely nothing. Staying in bed for hours, they thoroughly enjoyed their wonderful nothing-to-do-travel moment. Karli checked the extranet for the Thessia weather forecast, bacon and eggs were consumed in bed and afterwards Liara insisted on combing Karli's hair.
The asari parted a few strands of hair and as she gently pulled the comb through, the human offered, "We have some leisurely days ahead of us. Shall we dedicate a few hours per day to my study of Arlas?"
"Excellent idea. By the time we reach Thessia, you will have a basic understanding of my language." Liara studied her work, and turned Shepard's head to the right side.
"I hope you are right," replied Karli, "several sources have told me it is a very difficult language."
Liara took a deep breath. She had a suggestion as well, but it would not be well received. She brought it very carefully, so Shepard would not immediately reject it. "It would bring me great... pleasure to see you... in a dress."
As expected, Shepard's head shot up, and she had the word 'no' already in her mouth when she noticed Liara's pleading eyes. She laughed, then pouted, "Aw, I cannot refuse you anything, that's not fair!" Pulling her blue lover against her body, she whispered, "For you, I'll try it. But only once!"
"Of course dear," smiled a smug Liara. It was apparent to both of them that it would not be limited to just one try.
An hour later they started their first language lesson. Arlas, the main asari language proved to be a challenge. Shepard tried to find an Earth language to compare it to, but unsurprisingly none fit. Arlas was much more than a collection of verbs and vowels, often it was all about finding the right tone, as different tones held different meanings in a similar sentence structure. Still, Shepard had never backed down from a challenge and the harder it got, the more determined she assaulted the lessons presented by Liara.
After dinner the two moved to the upper deck, which featured a casino and a ballroom for dancing. The couple had never seen a hall this size on a space ship; large chandeliers hung from the dark ceiling and tables lined the circular brown walls, a lit candle on each of them. Most tables held couples or groups of humans, but the duo also noticed a few other races. At the top end of the oval an elevated platform held a large group of musicians. About ten couples rapidly moved across the shiny wooden floor, dancing to a highly strange type of music.
Karli motioned to the other end of the oval where she'd discovered the bar. Liara had chosen her yellow asari dress, and walked with such poise and dignity, Karli could not stop shooting her admiring glances; Liara's confident, knowing smile told the human that the alien easily sensed her affection. Shepard's clothing was very simple compared to her lover, she'd opted for black pants and a long sleeved dark purple blouse.
The bartender noticed them, and her eyes went wide. "Commander Shepard, Doctor T'Soni... it is an honor to see you!"
Her voice was so shocked and sincere, the couple could not help but be intrigued by the surprised woman. "Have we met?" Asked Shepard. She inspected the woman, and concluded she was very well dressed for a bartender. A beautiful ornamental black dress accentuated her strong facial features and her shining blonde hair fell over her shoulders.
"Um, non, we have not. My name is Amanda, and I must confess I have been following your... lives in the magazines."
Karli nodded. "They love to write about us, Amanda, whether we like it or not. Hope you focus on the good things, at least?"
"Oh yes Commander, one could easily say," her voice fell to a shy whisper, "Vous est, You are my hero."
Liara, obviously in a playful mood, tickled her lover in the neck and whispered, "That makes two of us!" Shepard quickly retaliated, dropping her hand and giving Liara a pinch, which made the asari squeak and jump in surprise.
All three of them laughed, and Amanda suddenly pulled up a bottle from under the counter. "Champagne!" She expertly opened the bottle, and filled two tall glasses.
Shepard knew the drink, but Liara was pleasantly surprised by the fresh bubbly taste in her mouth. "So Amanda," asked Shepard, "What would you recommend for entertainment here on board? In this life I have already lost too many credits on gambling, and this music is truly undanceable."
"Ummm, at ten tonight we have a tango competition, is that something for you?" offered the bartender.
Liara burst into laughter, and prodded Karli. "Shepard cannot dance Amanda, didn't you know that?"
With a flair for theatrics, Karli took a step back and pretended to be insulted, "Not dance, me? Where did you hear such a vicious rumor?"
She placed her hands on Liara's hips and pulled her close. "You are mostly right love; The N7 academy is in Rio and the Tango happens to be the only dance I can do. Music is the soundtrack of our lives, on the rare occasion that we were allowed to visit the nightclubs, I managed to pick up a few moves." Noticing the look of unbelief in the asari's eyes, she motioned to the bartender, "Amanda, could you...?"
The bartender signalled the musicians who erupted in a happy south american tango.
Karli nudged the asari in the proper stance. "This dance is all about hips. Try to follow, I will go real slow to start."
The start was a bit shaky, but after a minute Liara had a basic idea where she was supposed to move her feet. "Oh, I apologize!" she muttered, after she stepped on Shepard's toes again.
Her feet would be blue in the morning, but Karli did not care; she was having a wonderful time. "Don't worry Liara, you are doing fine." She looked in the bright blue eyes, and tried to veer her partner to the right. "Two steps now!"
Halfway into the dance, the pair had mastered the basic steps and turns. Natural asari grace and elegance had quickly elevated Liara's movement to a fluid, smooth step, and the two happily glided across the floor, delighting in the joy of the sensual dance.
Tension built between their warm bodies as their hips brushed against each other once more. Karli licked her upper lips and felt almost embarrassed when Liara noticed the gesture.
When the music stopped, the asari happily exclaimed, "One more!", and she smiled gratefully at the musicians, who were focused on the couple and immediately started a second tango.
Karli was happy to oblige, this time introducing a few advanced moves into their repertoire, including the notorious dip. "Ooh!" Liara gasped when her crest almost brushed the wooden dance floor, but laughed out loud as Shepard lifted her back up.
"Do you believe in dreams?" whispered Shepard, as she lovingly gazed in Liara's splendid blue orbs, "That's how I found you."
Liara shivered and missed a step, but their eyes remained locked. "You woke me into my new life," she breathed, "and it still feels like a magnificent dream."
The asari leaned forward and Karli responded, their lips meeting for a gentle kiss, that intensified as they forgot to move their feet. Their bodies met in a warm embrace and the ballroom disappeared; the world faded into an orange haze, and only the dream remained.
Shortly afterwards, they decided on a break. Karli went over to speak with the musicians, while Liara had another drink of Champagne.
Amanda commented, "Commander Shepard is the most confident woman I have ever seen. It's amazing how she carries herself, even with her ailments".
"How do you know about that?" asked Liara sharply.
"Oh, I... I'm sorry Doctor T'Soni, I did not mean to offend. The Commander's health concerns have been in news, it's almost common knowledge."
Liara nodded, and regretted her harsh tone. One week after Karli had been released from the Hospital, she had fainted inside a large transport hub. There had been many questions and many pictures. A few days later a reporter had bribed someone inside the hospital; Shepard's condition was in all the papers.
"I apologize for my reply, Amanda. It... it is still very odd that our entire life is being monitored by the press. And Kar... Commander Shepard's condition has me on edge."
"She reminds me of the Phoenix," started the human, "Do you know that story, Doctor T'Soni?" Upon the asari's denial, she continued, "The phoenix is a mythical bird that has been mentioned in ancient Egyptian and Greek mythology, it is a colorful bird with a tail of gold and scarlet. According to mythology, the phoenix can live up to 1000 years. When it dies, it ignites and is consumed by fire. From the ashes, rises a new, young phoenix ready to begin life anew."
Liara winced for a second when she heard the word dies. But at the end of the tale, she smiled and enthusiastically took Amanda's hand. "What a lovely story! In asari culture we have a very similar myth, but as you can imagine it involves a sea creature. Qui'rin, keeper of the waters."
Amanda was not surprised. "The theme of hope must be universal. The Phoenix myth is about that; hope for those of us who have been hurt by tragedy or hardship – death, illness, war – can we start over, can we rebuild?"
"You are completely right," complimented Liara with a thoughtful frown, "Commander Shepard is exactly that."
"And," she added, a bright smile in her eyes, "You have just given me a wonderful idea..."