Once they were outside Liara stopped and looked at El'Jaid with a mischievous smile, "Now, hand over the keys or we are taking a taxi."
El'Jaid gave her the look right back, "C'mon T'Soni don't you trust me? My driving has gotten better. Besides those fare meters are really nasty." She retorted as she tossed Liara the keys to her sky car that was parked just a few city blocks away.
"Ha Ha, miss 'we'll be fine'". Liara smirked.
The two walked down the busy sidewalks, making sure to stay on the inside. Liara's head scarf and El'Jaid's upturned coat collar were enough to ward off the passing glance by people around them. El'Jaid couldn't stand dressing and passing off like a spy, but she was in no mood to deal with a mob; especially after having dealt with the Alliance Staff of Admirals and Generals.
El'Jaid's mind drifted her away to thought as they continued walking forward. All around them the signs of continuous construction were evident. The Council had given New Ceylon to the Humans to make as their 'new' homeworld. While the survivors were more than happy to be given a world to claim and make as their own; El'Jaid knew it that to them is would never be Earth.
El'Jaid shook her head dispelling the oily memories and thoughts away. The Sun had started to set and a chill embedded in to the air for the night. Liara pulled close to El'Jaid as the air cooled, and she noticed that soon they were only apart of a few people still walking on the street. The curfew was nearly in effect.
El'Jaid turned them both down a short ally that led to the parking platform. leaves and trash rustled on the ground as they walked. The walls of the buildings rising and imposing around them. The tapping of her staff marking off the time.
"Well boys what do we have here? A couple of curfew busters, and they look like a good catch." A shadow hissed from a corner, sinister laughter crept out from the alley in return. El'Jaid caught movement in her peripheral vision. Five thugs drew away from their perches and encircled them. Two, a human and a Turian, cut off the route behind them. Three, two humans and a Batarian, to their front. All armed with either clubs, brass knuckles, or vibro-knives. The leader had the gun.
"It looks like a couple who are trying to pull off looking like the famed 'hero' and her little blue toy."
El'Jaid pushed herself to cover Liara, but a small smile crept on her face. New Ceylon had a capable security and police force modeled after C-Sec, but the force was still too limited to provide full security, hence the need for a curfew. No matter; she had dealt with gangs like this before trying to make a fast buck. All she had to do was say she was with the Alliance and they would disperse.
"Might as well let this crippled soldier and her guest pass. You don't want to deal with Alliance MPs do you?" El'Jaid said leaning heavy on her staff playing up the image.
The head of the triad in front of her was a human male. He was muscular, tattooed, but she has seen better work.
He spat to the side. "Fuck-um. By the time the MPs get here we will be long gone with your goods. Besides your not Alliance, nice try with the coat and hat though. Now hand over all your valuables old lady."
El'Jaid's eyes glinted, they didn't know who they had caught. "Go to hell." She replied. Her eye's lit up like rubies. She reached out with her biotics and started to touch the five assailants, gently so they wouldn't notice.
Liara could tell what El'Jaid was doing, and her eyes widened. El'Jaid was slowly reaving the thugs. Sapping their will and energy. Then she would then move on to their strength, slowly witling them down, and finally if given only time, she would drain their lives.
The Leader smiled as only a viper could. "Oh really, well honey it sounds like you have a silver tongue. I'd love to see what you and your friend can do with your lips though." The other thugs chuckled as they encircled El'Jaid and Liara closer.
But they were tiring. The reave was having its effect on them. One of the Human's stumbled. "Hey Seth... I'm... I'm not doin to good."
The Leader turned to him. "Get up or I'll show you what its like to 'not be doin good.'" The Leader turned back to El'Jaid his Face twisted with rage as he could feel her vampirism on him increasing. "The wench is a biotic. Take her down!"
The Turian and Human behind them went for Liara and tried to go for her shoulders to pull her away. But Liara responded by lifting with her biotics then throwing them across the alley into the side of a garbage bin. The her assailants crumpled to the ground.
El'Jaid took on the three to the front of her. First was the leader who tried to raise his pistol. El'Jaid rushed forward. She drew him in with her staff behind his head and pulled him down kicking her knee in to his chest. At the same time she gripped his hand gun digging her fingers in to his joints feeling his tendons snap and the cartilage in his hand crush until he let the gun go.
His scream rang down the alley.
His two flanking partners were stunned. They had thought she was a cripple. The human to the left received her staff's head to the side of his face. El'Jaid was rewarded with the unnerving crunch as it shattered his jaw. At nearly the same time the Batarian was lifted to the air and slammed against the side of the building. The sound of his left arm colliding against concrete and steel hung in the alleyway's stale air.
Seth went for the pistol with his functional hand, but El'Jaid was too quick. Aimed at his head was the blue laser of her Phalanx.
"You touch it, and your brains will be flung across the ground." She said coldly.
He looked up in to her face. Her eyes burned like fire, her old scares flowing like lava.
"I shoulda guessed." He spat chuckling with the pain that his broken and cracked ribs caused. "Its the butcher of Torfan. The Colony slut who sold Earth out, and her little blue bitch girlfriend." His eyes darted over to Liara.
He went for the gun again and began to swing it up at Liara. El'Jaid sent her left foot in to the side of his head, sending the gun flying down the dark alley and sprawling the goon out.
"Try to even get up and I'll do more then crush your fucking face!" El'Jaid barked.
He tried to get up, but he couldn't. He no strength left, and his life was slowly ending.
"We'll go! We'll go!" One of henchmen cried as the others who could move stopped and carried off their boss down another alleyway. The gang slumped and stumbled down the alleyway, trying to get away from El'Jaid as quickly as they could.
Soon El'Jaid and Liara were left alone in the alley. El'Jaid just stood there and started to shake.
Liara cautiously approached her. She hadn't seen El'Jaid lash out like this in some time, but she knew that El'Jaid had lost none of her edge. "El? Are you ok?"
Adrenaline was surging through El'Jaid. She had no time to think, she had just reacted. It was glorious. She took a few deep breaths. Centering herself, allowing herself to calm down. She looked down at her walking staff. No marks.
Liara have walked to her side and gently touched her shoulder. "El?"
El'Jaid looked over to Liara. Here eyes back to being mismatched. "Are you ok Liara?"
The Asari wirily smiled. "Yeah."
Liara wanted to comment on how El'Jaid had handled the three men. She still found El'Jaid's unique reaving ability unnerving to witness, even more so by how much control she had gained over it. But even more so she just wanted to leave this dark alley and the night behind them.
Liara shivered in the cold. El'Jaid undid her coat and hung it around Liara.
"You know I don't need a protector." She teased hugging El'Jaid close.
"I never said you did, but have one anyway." El'Jaid looked in to Liara's eyes.
What kind of life can I provide for her? She mused to herself. But she mentally shook off the thought and the two continued on to the elevator and took it up to the sky car platform.
[][][][][]
El'Jaid home was about a half hours 'flight' from the city. She had liked the idea of seclusion, and especially desired it. Yet she had spent very little time at her home, favoring the Academy.
This place just feels too alone. She had thought to herself.
She had been 'alone' for most of her life after Mindior. Yet being in the military means your always around people. About the only privacy she had ever completely gotten for a while in the military was a bathroom stall.
She had wished at one time that she could be completely alone one day, just have a place all to her own. But after spending a week at her new home, she had detested the commute to the Academy, and couldn't stand the silence.
It made her remember her time on the two Normandy's. She missed seeing people she was familiar with, more importantly she missed Liara. The last six months had been agony for her, as had every other stint of parting they had endure since the war ended. She had understood that what needed to be done had to be done, but now she wanted to start a new life. She had saved the Galaxy, now she just wanted some form of normalcy. Normal? What have I gotten myself in to! She thought as the sky car came to a soft stop.
The door popped open and El'Jaid got out of the car and gave her hand to Liara. The Asari just beamed as she looked around. The El'Jaid's home and was constructed out of a mixture of materials, and just a single level home. She was a woman of simple tastes in that regard. She didn't want a mansion, but something quaint and private.
"Oh El! I love it!" Liara exclaimed. She had never seen a human 'house' before. She was used to apartments and condos, but never a stand alone house. "The photos you sent me just don't do it justice."
"Well don't stand there silly, come in!" El'Jaid called from the front door.
The two entered the home. The smell of fresh paint and new carpet permeated the air. Liara could tell El'Jaid had not been staying there. She undid her scarf and hung it on the coat peg near the door. She walked over to the couch and ran her hands along it's back as she looked around the room. It was spartanly decorated, the walls empty and the floors clear. She could tell it was a military woman's home, that the owner liked space, and tried to keep things simple.
El'Jaid leaned against a wall and watched Liara walk about the room. She enjoyed watching her move, she had a grace few others had, and it was more than just the way she moved. "I'm going to clean up, but please make your self at home." She disappeared around the corner.
Liara was left alone with her thoughts as she passed around the room. Her hand passed by the box in her pocket. Oh Goddess...what now? I know she was hoping to retire. I was hoping she would retire... She thought.
She let her mind take her where it willed, leading her down a small hall way to El'Jaid's study. This room was far more decorated then the main living room she had been. On one wall hung pictures of the original Normandy and it's Crew. Commendations and Medal cases hung beneath it. On another hung a picture of the second Normandy, and underneath it trinkets of varying size and description. El'Jaid has become more sentimental, especially of those years. Liara thought to her self, she knew El'Jaid as well as anyone, better in fact; but there were things that even El'Jaid kept from Liara. Most of it about her life before she had met Liara.
She remembered talking with the Justicar Samara on the rebuilt Normandy years ago. Samara had been in awe of El'Jaid, and of Liara, but Liara didn't understand why then or at that moment in El'Jaid's study.
She moved to El'Jaid desk and terminal. The terminal reacted to her presence and turned on. El'Jaid had numerous e-mail messages. Most of them were garbage, but a few caught Liara's eye. She knew better then to pry, but curiosity got the better of her.
One was from a Krogan Shaman by the name of Torsk.
Great Warlord Shepard.
On behalf of the United Krogan Clans I thank you for taking action in preserving our warrior's heritage when they arrive at the academy. It is appreciated that you understand the importance of our culture and have allowed our warriors to return home to Tuchanka when their rights must be done.
May forever your aim be true and your enemies keep you sharp.
Shaman Chadek Torsk
Shepard must had really had an effect on the Krogan. Liara mused. She had never seen a Korgan compose a letter so eloquently. But then again, Shepard was recognized as a Warlord by the Krogan. The only 'alien' ever given that right and title.
Liara's eyes pursed through more of the messages. They fell on another message that had been sent last week.
Captain Shepard,
Your meeting with the joint Generals and Admirals staff will be held at 10:00am in five days time. We thank you for your desire to bring your concern before the staff, and look forward to meeting with you.
Liara frowned. The meeting had not gone towards El'Jaid's favor. Perhaps it was due to her previous impression on Admiral Mikhailovich. Perhaps comparing his opinion of the Original Normandy's to earlier General's options of Tanks and Airplanes had colored his opinion of her. She didn't know for certain.
Her eyes continued to scan through the messages and found one just a few hours old. It was from Councilor Anderson on Esthasia, and it was privately encrypted to just this terminal and El'Jaid's other one at the Academy.
Shepard,
I just heard the news about your meeting with the Admirals staff. I know you have wanted to retire from the Alliance. If it were anyone else I'd support their choice, but the Galaxy still needs you. I understand your desire to start a new path in life. You have done more than anyone could have asked of you. I do appreciate you instructing at the Academy. I have read many glowing reports from several ambassadors, but the Alliance, the Galaxy, still needs leadership at this critical time. They need you.
I am glad that you're getting a chance to see Dr. T'Soni. Dr. T'Soni and you deserve some time together. Give her my best.
Anderson,
PS. If you need anything, let me know. I know what its like.
Liara's brow furrowed. Even Counselor Anderson didn't seem to understand El'Jaid. True he was the Human representative on the Council, but couldn't he understand that El'Jaid had done enough?
Then her eye caught another message. It was sent at 8:00am this morning.
Captain Shepard,
Your item will be ready for pickup today after 10:00am. Everything is to your instructions. It took us some time but we were able to find and craft exactly what you were looking for. We thank you for your business, and wish you the best of luck for your future.
Best wishes,
WJC
Who was WJC? She thought. Part of her wished she was back on the Halagaz so she could piece things together...
"Care for something to eat?" El'Jaid asked calling from the living room. Liara gave a silent start at having nearly been caught but then walked out in to the foyer. El'Jaid's eyes were still mismatched. El'Jaid was always hard to read when her eyes were like that.
El'Jaid had changed in to a red turtleneck with a long white sweater vest that had been trimmed with silver and black loose fitting fabric pants. For once she didn't look military. Liara enjoyed her love in uniform, but seeing her 'casual' for once; she looked exquisite. Liara stood there for a moment admiring her. Her eyes taking in the curves of her shoulders, and gentle glide of her hips...
"Admiring the view?" El'Jaid called out impishly
Liara blushed slightly and shook her head recalling her senses for a moment.
El'Jaid smiled as she directed them both towards the foyer. The knee high dinning table was only set with an array of finger food yet had an ample supply of tea. "I wasn't sure what to come up with so I just thought I'd go with something simple." Her tone was one of modestly as she rubbed the back of her neck, a quirky smile on her face.
"Guess we will just have to make due then won't we." Liara smiling mischievously. She walked towards El'Jaid and wrapped her arm around El'Jaid waist.
El'Jaid looked in to Liara's blue eyes. Maybe now isn't the right time... She thought.
"Something wrong?" Liara asked, a concerned look on her face.
"Hum? No...Nothing is wrong." El'Jaid said and gently kissed Liara's cheek.
The two sat down next to each other and enjoyed their private dinner. The fireplace gently lighting the room; crackling, and offering it's warmth.
After they had enough El'Jaid moved the dinner table out of the way and they leaned back against the couch.
Liara snuggled up against El'Jaid, draping a blanket around them. El'Jaid just looked in to the fire, lost deep in thought. She didn't know why, but she could tell El'Jaid was tense. As tense as she had been before the Reapers had struck.
"El?" Liara purred softly drawing closer to comfort El'Jaid.
El'Jaid blinked coming back to the present. She cursed her self for drifting away, but she couldn't help it. How could she broach the subject? Giving orders and commanding an army seemed easier then this predicament she was in...
"Yeah Angel?" She answered back reassuringly. Hugging Liara closely. She enjoyed the warmth.
"Are you sure your okay?" Liara asked in a reassuring tone.
In truth El'Jaid was furious at still being tied to her post. She was just now finding time to relax and reorganize her thoughts. She wanted the past to stay where it was, she wanted her new life. Will I ever have it? she wondered.
"Yeah..." Is all El'Jaid could say.
Liara smiled thinly. She knew it wasn't a truthful answer, but for the moment it would have to do.
The two sat in front of the fire for a while and said nothing, just enjoying each other's company and for once in their life together they had secured some measure of peace.
"Liara, can I ask you something?" El'Jaid said quietly. But no response came back. She looked down and saw that Liara had fallen asleep. A smile caressing her face. El'Jaid noticed that it was a smile reserved only for her. She smiled in returned and gently stroked Liara's head, and almost instinctively Liara hugged her just a little tighter.
El'Jaid just shook her head and she rested a little while longer letting Liara slip in to deeper sleep. Then she gently gathered Liara up in to her arms. Liara's arms still draped around El'Jaid's neck as she took Liara to her bed. Liara felt like a light package, but then again being partially synthetic did have it's advantages, from time to time.
El'Jaid gently laid Liara down in bed and covered her. "Thank you Shepard." Liara spoke softly still asleep. El'Jaid just smiled and she sat down in a large arm chair and drew a blanket across her. She also had a small pistol beside her. She hadn't been able to sleep without having it near by ever since dealing with the Collectors, and Cerberus.
Not 'quite' the way I wanted the evening to go, but ah well. Tomorrow is another day. She mused to her self and she closed her own eyes a drifted to sleep.