When Fates Collide

Chapter 5

~ ~ ~ The Seduction Begins ~ ~ ~

The turian spectre summoned the gray armored human to his quarters. Inside the private chambers, Matriarch Benezia and Saren were in deep conversation when the redhead entered. The asari slowly turned to face the requested guest and was now standing completely regal before her. For a brief moment, a glimmer flashed before the experienced fighter's thoughts, Wow, she is stunning. Allowing her green eyes to wonder where they should not have been, the veteran soldier admired, That neck line is rather ambiguous. I wouldn't mind tapping that, if she wasn't such a bitch.

What Shepard had been not so suddenly staring at was an elegant, asari high priestess gown. The blue silky material flowed flawlessly over her body; accentuating every curve and turn of the nearly thousand year old woman. The front of the dress was exposed showing more of her chest than it was covering. And although it was a traditional gown for those who served within the Goddess Athame's temple, it was not meant to draw unnecessary attention like it did with so many male species. The worst being the human males, they seemed to have developed an unwanted obsession with the asari; priestess or not. However in this case, the rogue soldier had personally seen this particular asari matriarch stop traffic dead in their tracks wearing that dress. The human often mused, wonder what the stone cold matriarch would look like if she actually tried to look sexy.

Abruptly ripping, the former Alliance officer from her private thoughts, the sultry matriarch, hissed at the turian spectre in a mocking tone. "Your pet is here." The harden warrior grimaced knowing the matriarch knew she hated being called Saren's pet. It was beyond belittling to the deadly soldier. Had it been spoken off anyone else's tongue, Shepard would have surely silenced it with a few rounds from Maggie. Even rogue spectre never repeated the term. It baffled the human warrior why Saren's second in command, seemed so particular about singling her out with the verbal insults. Observing the swelling rage behind Shepard's emerald eyes, the matriarch smirked pretending to clear her voice to speak.

"We require that you befriend the Professor."

Turning to glare at the spectre in charge, the disobedient warrior blatantly spat, "Are you kidding me?"

Ignoring the veteran soldier's outburst, the avian man snorted before flexing his mandibles as the alluring matriarch continued, "Liara is exceedingly intelligent and is wise beyond her years." Beginning to pace back and forth in a slow and steady rhythm, the Athame priestess added with a hint of regret, "It must have been her up bringing." It sounded like another person talking about her daughter. Here her mother was plotting to betray her daughter, when she should have been taking pride in Liara's resistance to be swayed.

Switching her gaze between the asari matriarch and the council's top agent, the jaded marine annoyingly addressed the two; her words soaking with sarcasm, "Why don't you act like her friend, and see what she will tell you?"

There was no hesitation, no regret, and no hint of emotion when the maiden's birth mother responded factually, "She no longer trusts me." Giving Saren a weary glance, "Nor you. No, we need someone she would not suspect. For some unforeseen reason, she trusted you enough to follow you to the ship. We need you to exploit that reason." The words dripped from her mouth as if saturated in venom. Matriarch Benezia added, "Turning an asari is not an easy task. We do not trust easy, as we live a thousand years."

After the matriarch finished her outlandish proposal, Shepard spoke her mind, "You know how hard it's going to be to play nice with the little asari?"

As Saren went into his speech, conveying how important his mission was to conquering the galaxy, the seasoned soldier rolled her eyes, not impressed by the mundane speech. Really save that speech for someone who actually cares.

Matriarch Benezia suddenly interjected and reminded the daydreaming Shepard of her place in the great scheme of things. To the rogue warrior, the high priestess always knew when she was thinking ill thoughts of her superiors. It really creped the veteran soldier out at times. In fact, sometimes she felt the matriarch was actually reading her mind. She tried not to think about it too often as if unnerved her greatly. But here she was again, coincidentally correcting the redhead when she saw the defiant smugness on Shepard's face.

The asari's body instantly flickered with a faint blue glimmer of light, causing the hired hand to take a few weary steps backwards. Reminding the human her place in the greater scheme of things, Benezia's warned from the back of her throat, "Shepard, do you really want to test my patience?"

Taking a few more steps away from the glowing woman, the former Alliance officer internally retorted, What she meant to say is, 'Shepard do you really want to die today?' Mimicking a disobedient child, the rogue soldier crossed her arms, cocked her head to the side, and stilled her thoughts agreeing to the assignment. "When do I start?"

% % % % % % %

Later that evening, when most of the ship's crew had turned in for the night, Shepard was in the galley collecting a few items for a late night snack. Included in the heist, were a couple of honeysuckle juice boxes from the Ardat Yakshi Monastery. Swiftly gathering her items, she turned to witness an asari commando glaring at the back of her head. Instinctually, the gray armored woman shifted her lifted items to her right hand, while her free dominant hand; twitched for her side arm. Not about to back down from a fight, the redhead returned the penetrating stare, triggering the impeding asari to summon her biotics in one hand. To the human it felt like an old western showdown. The experienced fighter was un-phased by the flickering luminous light of the biotic power, as her own fingers smoothly removed her pistol from her side.

Cocking her head to one side, she nudged her pale skinned jawline at the asari instigating the next move. Completely engulfed in blue matter, the commando snarled at the soldier. The N7 officer squinted to increase her menacing stare until the commando's biotics ceased. The daring huntress was not as brave as she thought she was when she abruptly turned and left the galley. Muttering under her breath, as she secured her weapon on her thigh, "Asari never could go toe to toe in a fight." Juggling her newly acquired loot, the moppy redhead reasoned, Matriarch Benezia would fair much better than those commandos, who would rather hit you from behind when you weren't looking. Asari ugh!" Scowling her brow, the human protested as she scooted towards the elevator, Now I have to go play all nice with one! God this sucks! Can't I just shoot someone instead?

% % % % % % %

Inside the ship's brig, lying on the cold steel grating of the cell was a weakened and severely exhausted young asari. Other than what they harden warrior had given her, she had not been given water, food or warmth over the last three days aboard the reaper vessel. The professor looked vulnerable and frail in her fetal position in the corner of the room. Shepard inhaled sharply as she tapped in the code to release the barrier curtain to gain access to Liara's confined space. Slightly amused the human thought, I can't believe she didn't change the code yet.

Soaring high over the blue figure, the rogue soldier bent down and placed the wool blanket that she brought around the woman. The redhead's thoughts began to race, I'm no baby sitter. I'm a soldier. I'm supposed to hurt people, not make them feel better. Ugh! The renegade warrior moved to take a seat next to the tearing asari. Lowering herself down to the ground, she realized that the asari maiden had begun to tremble as if the blanket itself were hurting her. The former Alliance officer reached out and returned the blanket around her shoulder where it had fallen off. Hoping to distract the young woman, the renegade announced, "I brought you some juice."

There was no reply from the prothean expert, only quivering. The N7 officer picked up the juice box, placed the straw into its opening, and gently pushed it closer to the asari. "It's honeysuckle juice from the Ardat Yakshi Monastery on Thessia!" Still no reply came. The twenty nine year old human peered into the asari's face; noticing that her eyes were swollen and her cheeks were stricken with dried tears. But not surprisingly the maiden quickly averted her gaze elsewhere. Releasing a confused sigh, the green eyed female softly asked, "I thought all asari like this stuff. They go gaga for it up in the mess hall."

Not enjoying her new task, much less the rejection, the harden warrior was about to stand and leave when a raspy voice sneered, "Is that what my mother told you?" The biting comment caught the human off guard and she did not know how to respond. Her only instinct was get her to drink the damn juice as she pushed the box closer still.

Wanting to further entice the maiden, the reluctant baby sitter fumbled in her sack for a bit. She crumbled and rattled every rapper in the bag, expecting to entice the matriarch's daughter. Finally the rogue soldier pulled out some food rations, and placed them on the floor next to the professor. When the blue skinned woman did not budge, the deadly fighter half whispered, "Here, this will help regain your strength." It was the first honest thing the rebellious warrior had said to her. A pair of burning blue eyes glared at Shepard for a moment, then returned to the floor. It did not take long before it became apparent that this was truly Matriarch Benezia's daughter. The matte redhead could not imagine anyone being so defiant, for so long, after what she had been through. The galactic fighter would have felt more comfortable taking on a thresher maw, alone and unarmed, than sitting in this cell with her new "charge".

The young woman made no attempt to drink or eat the food the jaded marine placed at her side and only silence filled the small space. Years of experience began to infiltrate human's mind and she knew this was not a battle she was going to win; not today. She retreated out of the cell, reactivating the security barrier and took her lotus position outside the cell. There she sat, there she waited but nothing happened. Minutes turned to hours until she was no longer aware of the time. It felt like she and the young asari were reluctantly participating in a staring game. Who would be the first move? Each participant occasionally moving slightly to let the other know they were still awake and were not giving in.

The young maiden would tug at the blanket around her and the renegade would fidget with the straw from her empty juice box. The copper redhead felt this would be a cake walk for her since she hardly slept because of the relentless nightmares from the Blitz attack. No way can an asari professor compete with that. Staring helplessly at the overhead, only silence and darkness filled the small room. So determined to out wit the other, neither of them realized when slept actually over came them.

% % % % % % %

Early the next morning, the door to the brig opened quickly drawing the woman cladded in gray armor's attention. Into the space walked an asari matron. The soft purple skinned acolyte majestically held her floor length dress as she sauntered across the room towards the soldier. With an unwavering conviction she looked into the warrior's green eyes and spoke in a voice as soft as an angel, "The matriarch has authorized me to visit with the young professor."

The former Alliance officer immediately recognized the matron as being one of the acolytes attached to the matriarch's hip. With a great deal of respect, the obedient soldier stepped aside allowing her passage. The N7 officer studied the asari closely as she seemed to float across the room. Her mere presence alone screamed that she was truly a dedicated servant of the Athame priestess. Although she was unable to put her finger on exactly why, the galactic combatant knew this acolyte was somehow different from the rest.

Under the harden warrior's watchful eye, the two women conversed for some time. Liara allowed the eloquent asari to lift her to the cot inside the cell. The human smirked. Well at least now I don't have to sit on the floor anymore. The angelic voice spoke to the young T'Soni in a caring tone. "We can only follow her blindly. We bow at her feet under her greatness. She asked me to trust her and I am. I wish you could do the same Liara."

The beautiful matron continued with admiration in her voice. "You know Little…." She choked on her words, "You know she loves you immensely. The way she would smile when you came back home to Thessia. I wish you could have seen the beam of a proud mother." Shiala was the only person Liara trusted on the ship; mostly because she had known her since birth. Huntress Shiala was her mother's most trusted acolyte and practically the maiden's nursemaid. She had even been her first biotic teacher.

Glaring at Shepard, Liara snarled, "Why is that human here?"

Shiala took in a deep breath and released it before answering. "The matriarch has commanded that she watch over you."

Liara snapped, "I'm not a child! And so far, she is the only one who has brought any harm to me."

The acolyte took the maiden's pale blue hand and lovingly explained, "Little, there are many dangers on this ship. Many you will never know of." Giving a hesitant glance at the soldier, Benezia's student continued, "She is here to protect you with her very life."

Hearing the matron's statement made the renegade turn away in disgust while she spat, More like baby sit!

The asari women talked for several more minutes while the redhead propped herself up on top of a steel table ensuring she was out of ear shot, but could closely observe the two asari's body language carefully.

Unexpectedly, the matriarch's voice filled the room as she called out over the speaker. "Shiala, I am in need of your presence in my quarters. At Once!"

The bitter sound of her words brought a frown upon the matron's face. "I must go. She commands me." Rising off the make shift bed, the asari acolyte leaned over and gently caressed the side of the young professor's cheek. And although her voice trembled, she hoped her words would bring the young asari confidence. "Take care little wing. Be strong and know that the soldier tasked to watch over you will be diligent in her duty."

Melting into the assistant's touch, Liara smiled for the first time in a week. As the acolyte stood once again, Liara's rich blue eyes stared upward. Parched, the maiden uttered, "I'm not saying I will trust her, but I will try to accept her care, for you Shiala."

Staring at the floor, the asari huntress imperially gathered her long dressed and walked towards the exit. Intuitively aware when she was in front of Shepard, she glanced up with a distant look of respect. Unlike any of the other asari on board, she nodded politely at the soldier and left the room. It caused the seasoned warrior to frown in confusion and ponder the meaning behind the nod as she looked back at the cell. Liara's gaze never left the acolyte until the door closed. Once gone, the declining prothean expert faced the wall of her prison, reluctantly outstretched on the cot and fell asleep.

% % % % % % %

The former alliance soldier brought prothean expert a full tray of chow for dinner that night. Accepting the plate of food from her, Liara looked at Shepard with a little less mistrust in her eyes. She unexpectedly asked the experienced fighter, "Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?" replied the perplexed soldier.

"Watching over me like a child?"

Shepard nervously cracked her neck and searched for a viable answer, repeating the words of the acolyte, "Because I am commanded too."

The young T'Soni smirked at the feeble answer. "You do not strike me as one who follows blindly."

The comment surprised the former Alliance officer. I guess she is smarter than I thought.

Watching the blue asari poke at her meal caused the pale skinned human to try and lighten the mood. "You know they say I'm supposed to protect you but they feed us this crap." The matriarch's daughter continued to stir her mush absentmindedly with the fork as the green eyed woman went on. "That stuff will surely kill all of us one day."

Liara frowned at both the comment and the meal. "Well it is at least a little better than what I have been eating on the dig site for the last six months."

Surprised jaded marine asked, "Really?"

"Well not really better, but at least this is warm."

They both shared an awkward chuckle. The harden warrior suddenly felt a little silly and excused herself. "I have to go now." Pausing before she exited the room, the human recalled, Play nice, and earn her trust. The reminder echoed in her head. Turning back around to face the young prothean expert, the rogue soldier declared, "I am here to protect you Liara; whether you believe it not." Catching the asari completely by surprise of the bold statement, the copper redhead twisted on the heel of her boot, not giving the professor any time to reply and swiftly marched out of the space.

% % % % % % %

Without notice Shiala suddenly stepped into the brig causing the gray armored soldier to stare at her blankly. Hopping down from her steel table perch, she moved towards the acolyte. "I'm sorry, but I think she's sleeping."

The older matron smiled at the seasoned warrior's unintentional concern for the young woman. "That is alright, I was sent for you." Motioning towards the door, the trusty acolyte disclosed, "Saren has requested your presence on the bridge."

Puzzled why the matriarch's most trusted was sent, the experienced fighter said, "Why did he send for me? Couldn't he just blast for me over the speaker system like he always does?" Shepard begrudged before she took one more look at the sleeping asari. Picking up her assault rifle, the former Alliance officer stomped out of the room.

Walking back to the brig after Saren's little meeting, something did not sit well within N7 officer's gut. Her battle wisdom was telling her something wasn't right. Waiting for the elevator she thought how strange that Saren had nothing really important to say to her. Shepard however, found it comforting that Matriarch Benezia was in the room although not engaged in their conversation. She was focusing solely on a monitor off to the side of the bridge. At least she is up here and not harassing her daughter. The meeting abruptly ended when the matriarch requested the turian leader's presence at the monitor for something apparently very important. With a wave of her hand the Athame priestess dismissed the human soldier as she commanded Shiala, "Go with her."

Aggravated Shepard impatiently tapped at the elevator call button. "Come on Come on!" The longer she waited, the more her skin began to crawl. What's eating you soldier? The door finally opened and she stepped inside again rapidly pressing the button to close the doors. (Because doing this in the year 2183 still doesn't make the elevator/lift come any faster - lol) The heavy metal doors began to close as the veteran combatant witnessed Shiala rushing towards the closing gates. "I've gotta go," The jaded marine hadn't purposely left the matron, but she did feel an overwhelming urge to get back to her charge.

The doors to the brig swished open and upon stepping in Shepard's eyes widened as she instantly reached for her assault rifle. She yelled from across the room making haste of her distance between herself and Liara. "Get back!" Loudly screamed the green eyed soldier as an intense rage began to fill her. "Get Away from her!"

The entrance again swished open as the matriarch's trusted student finally caught up. All eyes fell on her except those of copper red head, who never took her eyes off the intruders. Stealing her absolute attention were two white armored geth shock troopers, inside Liara's cell. One of them was gripping the prothean expert's arm. The galactic warrior yelled so viciously that she spat as she spoke, "Get your fucking hands off her now!"

Once inside the cell, the renegade human pulled the asari's free arm and pushed her assault weapon into the drive core of the geth as if it would help it understand the seriousness of her threat. Shepard slowly commanded with great spite, "Get your fucking hands off her right now so help me!" Her weapon was pushed so far inside the trooper's head it tilted it to one side. The inanimate object slowly complied and released the blue maiden. Practically dragging the professor on the floor, the experienced fighter immediately placed the prothean expert behind her; situating herself in between the young asari and the unwelcomed geth.

The infuriated warrior growled at the speaker system. "Saren! Saren! Get these fucking geth out of this room before you are picking up spare pieces for months!"

The ship's captain calmly hissed filling the speaker box. "Calm down Shepard. They were only checking on the girl."

Without hesitation, the angry N7 officer retorted, "Checking on her my ass! That's what I am for! If you want anything done right, you have to do it yourself." The human paused only long enough to fill her lungs with air again before she continued her back talk. "I mean it Saren. Get them out of here!"

Not amused the turian leader laughed, "You're giving me orders now are you Shepard?"

The geth recoiled pointing their weapons at the former Alliance officer.

"It's not an order, it's a warning! And I am warning you. Call off your trash cans before they find themselves in one!"

There was a long pause as Shiala anticipated the worse; hoping Liara would not be injured in the swell of fire that was about to ensue. Mildly looking for cover herself, the matron thought, This isn't going to end well.

An electronic signal was sent to the machines that informed the geth shock troopers to disengage. Pleased to see the armored guard abandoned their battle stance, the asari acolyte sighed deeply as her posture relaxed at the site of the clunkers standing down. However, the copper redhead did not lower her weapon or breath until they exited the room.

Shepard kneeled down next to the frightened maiden. "Are you ok? What the hell was that all about?"

Equally confused, the matriarch's daughter replied, "I have no idea. I was sleeping one minute and the next they were lifting me into the air. Before I even knew what was going on they…they… and then you came in." Liara grabbed the human's free arm and began to cry. Shepard remained motionless as she comforted the young asari when suddenly she noticed that Shiala was no longer in the room.

Outside the brig, the faithful acolyte tapped her ear piece. "Shiala here. Yes, matriarch. It was a success." Briefly looking behind her to ensure she was alone, the matron added, "The plan worked exactly as you said it would."