When Fates Collide

Chapter 22

~ ~ A Day in the Life ~ ~

Captain Anderson noticed that the closer he and Shepard got to the ship, the faster Shepard's pace quickened.

As soon as the Normandy's decontamination doors opened, Shepard turned to Ash and hastily said, "Hey, show Dave around a bit, I've got something important I need to check on, ok?" Sprinting away, the Spectre yelled back, "Dave she'll take good care of you!"

Slightly annoyed and a bit confused, Captain Anderson looked weary at his new subordinate tour guide and factually stated, "You don't get to call me Dave, Chief."

A proud and respectful smile covered the young gunny's face, "Aye Aye Sir!"

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With a sudden burst, Shepard jogged into the med lab where she surprised the ship's doctor by questioning, "Where is she?"

Gathering her thoughts of whom Shepard was inquiring about, Dr. Chakwas immediately replied, "In the back room." The doctor hadn't even been able to complete her hand gesture to point to the back door, before Shepard rushed past her. Impatiently mashing the control panel with her hand, the door was taking too long to open in Shepard's opinion.

"Liara!"

A worry stricken face turned around, overjoyed to hear the familiar voice.

"Shepard!" uttered the astounded asari. Within a heartbeat of a single breath, Shepard crossed the room and gathered up the asari in her arms, picked her off the ground and swung her around. "I'm ok Liara! I'm ok!"

Slowly letting the ecstatic asari slide down her body, the human ranted, "I'm free! I'm free! You're never going to believe…" The Spectre's words abandoned her when she came face to face with the magnificent blue eyes of the asari. "I…I…" staggered the human's voice.

Green piercing eyes searched and touched the soul of the sapphire eyes staring back at her. With Shepard's hands firmly around the professor's waist, it allowed a free blue hand to tenderly cup the soft pink cheeks of the human. Time stood still as they gleamed at each other with affection. Shepard couldn't even remember if she was still breathing; being so lost in the oceans of blue.

Liara, so taken by being so firmly pressed against the newly appointed commander, that she too was utterly lost in the moment. A grin tugged at the edges of the human's face when one of her hands released from the asari's waist and shadowed the azure hand on her cheek. Engulfing the blue fingers in hers, Shepard leaned into the soft hand and closed her eyes; fully embracing the sincere gesture. It felt good to have Liara so close again, and closer than ever before.

In the midst of deep thought, the redhead had not even realized that Liara's other hand had found its way to her chest. The prothean expert was feeling the sensation of her pounding heart just under her skin. At first, the thumping was beating faster than ever, but when the harden woman had closed her eyes, the heartbeat slowed to a subtle calm. The asari smiled brightly thinking how the new constant pace reminded her of her mother's own beating heart. When the green sea eyes opened, she saw Liara's eyes filled with such devotion that Shepard had only seen that look from one other before; her mother.

"I sure missed you" whispered the human.

Embarrassed, Liara dropped her head and blushed before she breathlessly replied, "I missed you too."

Seeing the young asari blush made the commander suddenly aware of how much of their bodies were actually touching. When her face flushed a bright red at her own embarrassment, Shepard reluctantly pulled away from the embrace.

Searching for answers, Liara asked, mocking the woman a bit, "Not that I'm not glad to see you Shepard, but how did you get here?"

Chuckling at hearing her own words used against her, Shepard reached out and grabbed Liara's hand. Dragging the flustered asari out of the back room like a rag doll, the soldier answered, "You'll never believe what happened today." Making her way through the med bay, Shepard hailed her favorite pilot. "Joker! Have my squad meet me in the conference room in five minutes - and that includes you too mister."

An enthusiastic man answered, "Aye Aye Commander!"

Nearly at the charred med bay door, Shepard abruptly swung back around pulling her rag doll captive behind her, "Um Dr. Chakwas, I'd like to invite you to this debrief as well." Seeing the older woman's face beam at seeing her friend again, Shepard teased, "That is if you're not too busy locking down the med bay that is."

The chief medical officer dropped her datapad on the desk and cocked her head to one side at the former rogue soldier, "I wouldn't miss it for all the Serrice Ice Brandy in the Universe."

Spinning on her heels, again jerking the asari quickly in another direction, Shepard spat, "Good! See you in the conference room in five!"

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After the marathon of questions were answered that her squad had, Shepard dismissed the team, them leaving only her; an asari, a quarian and another human.

Patting her on the shoulder, Ash said, "I sure am glad you're back. I thought for sure Liara was going to break down that door and bust a cap in everyone's ass."

Only the two humans laughed at the old human saying.

Rubbing her neck, Shepard laughed and explained to her two other close friends. "Kill everyone"

Not shy about her feelings on the matter at all, Tali added, "I wish she had, I wanted to hook Udina up to a remote transmitter that was linked with the geth" The synthesized voice shrilled, "That son of a bocca. The way he had you beaten. Boshet!"

Suddenly remembering the intense situation, Liara turned away, trying to hide a single tear that trickled down her cheek.

Understanding the moment at hand, Ash announced in a soft tone, "Well, it's good to have you back skipper. Um, I'll take Anderson to medical now. He says he wants to chat with the doc. I guess they go way back."

Shepard looked at the young engineer, who also saw the discrete display of uncontrollable emotion.

Tali mentioned, "Yes, we should be going now. I have some calibrations that need done. Just let me know if you need anything."

Even though the quarian's face was completely shielded, Shepard could feel the concern and dedication behind tented glass. Seconds before the door closed, the spectre called out. "Thanks Guys!"

Tenderly placing a hand on the asari's shoulder Shepard faced the hiding asari. "Li, are you ok?"

Again the young woman turned her head away, desperately fighting back the tears. Not allowing the asari to venture too far, Shepard sympathetically reached out and tugged on one of Liara's arms.

"Liara, I'm ok now. It wasn't as bad as it looked."

Finally speaking, Liara bit, "I was there Shepard! I saw how bad it was with my own two eyes!" Staring the woman right in the eyes, the asari remarked, "You said you were not going to lie to me anymore."

Seeing the tears threatening to break free from the young woman's eyes, Shepard encompassed the professor in her arms. "Liara, I am so sorry." The seasoned veteran squeezed tighter when she felt Liara's body shudder beneath hers, Shepard stated, "I just don't want you to worry." Letting go, a pale pink finger guided the asari's tear streaked face to look at her, "I'm ok now Liara, I promise. No one is ever going to hurt me like that again. I promise."

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A few days later, Williams delivered a data pad to the newly appointed Galactic Commander while she was enjoying a late chow with Liara and her good friend Tali. Enthralled with watching the quarian squeeze another cylinder of pasty food into her feeding tube, Ash interrupted the captain's concentrated stare.

"Skipper, I don't know what this is, but Joker said to give it to you right away." Plopping the datapad next to her commander, Ash continued, "He said he just patched it through with a 'classified' coding." Upon completing her statement, the young marine stole a french fry from her commander's tray and settled in the seat beside her.

Pretending to be mildly annoyed at losing one of her potato friends, Shepard picked up the datapad and it sprung to life as the redhead's nimble fingers floated over the screen. "It's from the Council."

Reaching for another fry before Shepard could stop her, Ash announced, "Oh Goodie."

Liara leaned in a little closer to Shepard, using the datapad as an excuse to get even closer to the human, and asked, "What does it say?"

Sitting across from Shepard, Tali interrupted in a playful tone, "Liara! It is supposed to be classified information, correct Commander?"

Still getting used to the new title, Commander Shepard slouched a little before vaguely answering. "Well it's not like you're not going to find out anyway. Right?"

"Exactly!" piped up the quarian. "I would have had it decoded before you finished clearing your tray."

Joining in the teasing, Liara directed a comment at the engineering genius, "What happened to 'For her eyes only'?

In a laugh that almost sounded like a snort, Tali rebutted, "That's only for people who don't have my hacking capabilities." Without a second to loose, the quarian continued, "You know on the Citadel, I once tapped into Barla Von's personal banking account?"

In unison, the group replied, "We know already!"

Eying the young quarian, Shepard endearingly stated, "Tali, you've told us like fifty times already. How you were tempted to turn him in to the authorities, but thought better of it because you, yourself were committing the crime."

Taking advantage of the distraction, a hand reached for a third fry when Ash's hand was smacked before she even realized Shepard moved. "Ouch!" Massaging the ill behaved hand, Ash frowned and asked, "So what does the council want anyway?"

Stroking her forehead with the back of her thumb, Shepard replied, "They want me to meet someone at Flux, tonight at 2000 hours for drinks."

Plotting her playful revenge Williams stated, "Sounds like a date."

Shepard shot the gunny a sour sideways glare as Liara shifted uneasy in her chair. The commander quickly snarled, "It's not a date!"

Quite curious Liara asked, "Who are you meeting at the club?"

"All it says is another spectre."

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The music thumped loudly inside the club, vibrating the newly appointed spectre's chest. Shepard could not help but ponder that her favorite engineer would really enjoy the music they were playing. She considered purchasing a copy of the tracks for her favored quarian before leaving. Just inside the semi-crowded club's entrance, a man leaning on the wall singled her out.

"Hey! Nice to see another human in here. We don't see enough in here if you ask me."

Behind a barely polite smile, Shepard sniped, "Sorry bub, this human's already spoken for."

As the man staggered towards her, the galactic commander could see that the man was not going to give up easily. "Come on baby! We're alone now" slurred the man.

Pig was the first thing that went through the spectre's mind, but the second thing caught the warrior by surprise as she proudly announced her next train of thought. "Like I said, I'm not available. I've got a thing for blue."

Even in his drunken state, the man knew what the woman was talking about as he spat, "Shit!" and walked back to the wall that was mostly keeping him upright. "Damn asari get laid anytime they want."

Quickly dismissing the brief encounter, Shepard continued on her way. To her great surprise, it was not very long before the commander spotted the spectre she was intended to meet in the crowded club. It was the asari spectre who had helped free her from Udina's control. The asari spectre was certainly standing out in the crowd, not because she was a spectre, but because of the revealing dress she was wearing.

At first glance, Shepard thought the outfit was exposing more than it was hiding; highlighting the asari's flawless figure. Instantly the newly appointed commander thought how amazing Liara would look in such a skimpy dress, but as she walked closer to the object of desire, Shepard rapidly became thankful Liara was not wearing a dress like that after all. Seeing the multiple people staring at her in that way, Shepard thought of the heads she would send rolling for looking at Liara like that. There would be numerous heads rolling around the ground.

In Shepard's conservative alliance uniform, she weaved her way through the various spectators who could not muster the courage to speak to the voluptuous asari. Finally reaching her target, Shepard spoke as she stroked her eyebrow with one finger in astonishment.

"Wow, you clean up nice!"

Knowing the affect the dress would have on the human, the asari politely answered, "Thank you spectre!"

The asari had purposely raised her voice to allow the patrolling sharks to hear her mention that Shepard was a spectre. The horde that was surrounding them quickly scattered.

Shamelessly eyeing the officer seductively up and down, the asari offered, "Those uniforms always look rather nice on you humans."

Tugging at her collar, Shepard then motioned towards a table trying to avoid blushing from the asari's flirtatious comment. "Shall we sit?"

The asari delicately placed her hand on Shepard's forearm that slowly turned into a soft tugging, "Come upstairs with me. I already have a table reserved for us up there."

Trying to shout over the music, Shepard answered, "You lead, I'll follow."

Already enjoying the human's charming company, the asari abruptly turned around and whispered in Shepard's ear. "I thought you'd never ask."

The arousing warm breath on her lobe caused the human's temperature to rise, as watched at the asari's figure slithered up the stairs. Subconsciously, Shepard stared at the asari's hypnotic ass swagger up the stairs, as did half of the club's crowd. Nervously, the commander muttered, "Goddess Athame help me!"

Thinking it was safer to be next to the woman, instead of behind her, Shepard hurriedly jogged up the stairs to catch up to the ravishing asari. Attempting to refocus her thoughts, the commander asked, "Where are the other spectres?"

Without missing a beat of her alluring stride, the asari answered. "The others already have new assignments."

Successfully regaining her professionalism, the human asked, "Why don't you?"

Nearing the top of the stairs, the asari unexpectedly stopped her forward progress. Trying to force a laugh, the seductively dressed asari informed the newest spectre, "I just finished chasing an illegal weapons trader half way across the damn galaxy. I was hot on their tail for a little over a year; without a break."

Following the floating asari again, Shepard said, "A whole year. Wow! Without a break?"

"Yes Spectre Shepard, sometimes you have to do whatever it takes to get the job done."

The asari spoke her words at several patrons sitting adjacent to her table, making them scatter like the wind, much to her liking. She wanted Shepard alone as much as possible.

Placing her drink on the table, the senior spectre took a seat and stated, "You will soon find out Shepard. The life of a spectre is not always an easy one. That is why a majority of us do not have families or even bondmates."

The new spectre immediately paused and contemplated her relationship with Liara.

Seeing the bothersome façade on the human's face, the asari gently reached out, placed her hand on top of the human's and offered, "Let them go now before you really hurt them. Nothing is worse than leaving someone behind to wait and pray you come back one day."

Shepard's expression dramatically changed for the worse as she sunk back into her seat.

The irresistibly dressed woman's previously flirtatious manner all but escaped her, as she softly questioned, "Who is she?"

Shepard was just about to mention a particular prothean expert's name, when she muted her words. "Wait, how did you know it was a she?"

Stirring her drink, the asari answered truthfully, but respectfully, "Spectres know what the council knows; and we know all."

A bit stunned, Shepard still answered the question. "Liara T'Soni. But I guess you already knew that."

"I can tell from your face that you care a great deal for this Liara T'Soni, no?" Pretending to be focused on her beverage, the asari squinted as her feminine voice inquired, "However…..you two have yet to…. pleasure one other?"

Frantic about such personal knowledge, Shepard sat up and straightened her uniform blouse. In an octave or two higher than intended, she belted, "No! No it's not like that! We haven't…. I mean, I would never…."

Cutting the new recruit a break, the spectre moved a little closer to human and soothingly said, "It's ok. I'm old enough to understand."

Tugging at the high collar on her uniform, the redhead swallowed hard and beseeched the woman, "I'm pretty sure that's not why the council called me here, for you to meddle in my private affairs."

The asari mused, the council no, but someone else; yes, very much so.

Breaking the awkward moment was a new blaring song. The beat of the melody was much faster and hypnotic than the one before. The tune played at an increased volume, suddenly making it harder to hear the privy conversation.

"What?" shouted the human straining to hear the asari's words.

Entertained by the human's awkwardness, the asari flagged down a passing waitress, "I was asking what you thought about the council's decision the last week." The spectre motioned with two long delicate blue digits, "Two more drinks please!"

Amazed, Shepard's eyes enchantingly stared at the long graceful fingers. How does one so sophisticated, become something so deadly?

The profound base music throbbed deep inside the commander's chest, which was beginning to bother the human soldier. Although she often enjoyed a good beat, her free time was filled with the melodic tones of classical music; strings being her favorite. It was something that she and Liara shared whenever possible on the ship.

A playful grin swept the asari's face again when she asked, "What is the matter Shepard?"

Trying to focus on the meeting, and not the prothean expert sitting alone at her terminal inside the med lab, Shepard retorted, "Nothing, it just hard to hear in here!"

Smirking, the asari tapped her omni tool and suddenly the only sound that could be heard was her voice, "Is that better Commander Shepard?"

Stunned, yet delighted at her ingenuity, Shepard asked, "How did you do that?"

Suggestively licking her lips, the asari spectre slowly sipped her drink before answering. "It is just a little something I picked up over the years. It is a noise cancellation transformer. No one can hear us, and it drowns out everything around us." Seeing the wide eyed human's astonishment, the spectre asked, "Pretty cool huh?"

Jokingly the asari offered, "I might be able to give you the program, if you can hook me up on a date with that asari scientist of yours."

The hopeful smile quickly abandoned the human's face as her green eyes shrunk into a visual warning.

Stirring her drink as if nothing else mattered, the asari spectre laughed out loud, "I am kidding! Remember I know what the council knows, and well we know that you two are… pairing."

Defensively sitting back in her seat, Shepard crossed her arms and shot back, "We are not together!"

Shepard looked visually engaged in the conversation, but her mind was twirling at the idea she had begun to have strong feelings for the asari maiden. What bothered her most was that others might have knowledge of their blooming affections for each other.

A teasing smirk shook the commander from her troubled thoughts, "Oh really? But seriously…." The asari provocatively grazed her lips with her tongue as she leaned over the table a little closer to Shepard. "I wouldn't mind a private meeting with that gunny chief of yours. Ash, I believe is her name. The brunette strutting around in that suit of armor…" The aroused woman leaned back in her chair, chewed on her bottom lip as she zealously purred, "Goddess….she just makes my blood boil."

"Oh! I don't think she's…. um interested in aliens."

Removing herself from the table, the asari pouted, "Oh that is a real shame. I would have made it well worth her time, I'm sure." Gleaming at the fellow spectre, the asari said, "I would have made it worth your effort as well" as she tapped her omni-tool indicating the noise suppressor.

Feeling the greed inside her growing, Shepard speedily replied, "I'll see what I can do."

Finishing a small twirl that further accentuated the eloquent body under the fine silk dress, the asari spectress answered back, "Good" before returning to the table.

Studying the spectre for a moment, Shepard abruptly announced, "By the Goddess! How rude of me? I don't even know your name?"

Laughing at how long it was going to take before the human asked, the asari quipped, "Spectre Ta'Lina at your service, Spectre Shepard."

When the waitress returned with the drinks, she was drowning in the outside music until she leaned over to place the glasses next to the perspective owners. Her eyes shot wide when she realized it was silent next to them. When the maiden stared at the matron, Ta'Lina waved her hand and sharply announced, "You can go now."

Picking up as if the conversation had never stopped, Ta'Lina explained, "Most of the time, right or wrong is not as evident as black or white. That is why the council created the Spectres Citadel Special Tactics Reconnaissance. Sometimes we have to fill in the gray the best we can. We have to make the tough decisions and act on them that most citizens would not, or could not do."

The asari spectre stopped stirring her drink with purpose, and focused solely on the human at her table. "It is not a pretty job, but in order to maintain balance within the galaxy, it is a necessary evil. Do you understand what I am saying Shepard?"

Deadpanned, the human answered back, "Unfortunately, more than I care to."

Knowing the new spectres' background thoroughly, Ta'Lina solemnly replied, "Good".

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A/N: Looking for a serious beta with experience. Please send me an email if you are interested. Thank you!