Chapter Four

Kaja T'Soni walks into her mother's home feeling better about things in her life than she did when she left yesterday. Liara hears the front door open and peeks her head down the stairs to see who walked in. The elder asari walks downstairs and says, "You've finally returned. Feeling better?"

"Yes, I am," replies the commando with a smirk as she walks into her room to grab a fresh set of clothes then she heads into the shower.

Liara notices the smirk on her daughter's face and wonders what is causing it. She tells herself it's none of her business if Kaja doesn't want to discuss it. Something is telling the Shadow Broker, Kaja will come and talk with her about it. Until then, Liara goes back up to her office to do more work. The work of an information broker is never complete.

Kaja goes upstairs to her mom's office. She is wearing a dress for the first time in a long time. Kaja is a lot like her father especially when it comes to the types of clothes they wear. "Hi, mom. I hope you didn't worry about me too much last night. I have things to think about and I wanted a little privacy to do that."

"No, Kaja. You were nice enough to leave me a note saying you were leaving and didn't know when you would be home. Besides, you're big enough to handle yourself. You're not a child," answers Liara. She looks up from her terminal and notices the dress Kaja is wearing. "I didn't think you even owned a dress, Kaja. You look very nice in one."

A smile crosses Kaja's lips. "Thanks, mom. I need to ask you a few questions. If you have some time." The first question she wants to ask is about Cassandra Mitchell.

"What is it, little one?" Liara smiles at Kaja and gives her daughter her full attention. The Shadow Broker knows her daughter is in a rough spot and has things to work out in her life. If Liara can help her any way, she will. Kaja needs to ask for it first.

"Do you know Cassandra Mitchell? Or I should say Dr. Mitchell." Kaja gives her mother a smile when she asks about Cass.

"Yes, we've met. She asked me when she was still in high school to be her mentor and tutor in archeology. Dr. Mitchell has contacted me a few times with questions about a few Prothean artifacts the museum has received since she has worked there. Why do you ask?" asks Dr. T'Soni.

Kaja smirks like her father, "I met her last night at the amusement park. Her friends were staring at me and she approached me after the park closed to apologize for their rudeness. I ended up sleeping on her couch last night."

Taken back a little by Kaja's comments. She starts to say something then Liara thinks they would make a good couple. If her daughter can get her professional life in order. Liara knows Dr. Mitchell is in many ways like herself before she met Commander Leia Shepard and Kaja is so much like her father. "Is there something going on with you and her? Or should I ask, is it something you want?"

"She peaks my curiosity. I want to get to know her better. I've never met anyone like Cass before. Her friends are a pain in the ass, but I really don't know them to pass any type of judgment. She told me she worked for you for a summer. She seems to know about our family. Please tell me you told her things," replies Kaja. She hopes it was her mother telling Cass the things about her and her sisters. Suddenly, Kaja remembers an incident involving Gaia around the time Cass was working with her mom. "Mom, was Cass here when Gaia came home with her entourage about fifteen years ago?"

Liara has to think back to when Gaia came home with her entourage. She is an excellent information broker, but Liara doesn't always remember everything as the years tick by. "Yes, she was the one I mentioned when I told you about that. Your sister was out of line that day. Or her entourage was out of line. Yes, I told her about you and your sisters. Why do you ask, Kaja?"

"I needed to know if she lied to me or not. I didn't think she did, but I still needed to ask you if she really did work with you once," comments Kaja. "Cass mentioned she saw a picture of me. Which one?"

"This one." Liara hands the picture frame to Kaja. It's the picture from her graduation from huntress training.

Kaja looks at the picture. She doesn't seeing anything special with it. Setting the picture back on her mother's desk, Kaja says, "Thanks for listening, mom. I'm heading to the study to goof around on the extranet. I might look for something to do on Earth for a few days while I am on leave. Maybe see if I can visit Gaia while I'm there."

The Shadow Broker watches her eldest walk back down the stairs. Liara thinks Kaja is in a better place mentally. Kaja does seem a little happier. The elder asari hopes the reason for it is because of the human, Dr. Mitchell. Liara doesn't want her daughter to settle down prematurely. Kaja is so involved in her work, she doesn't seem to take time for herself. Her terminal beeps with an incoming message.

Pushing a few buttons on the keyboard, the image of Dr. Cassandra Mitchell appears. Liara starts smiling when she sees the human archeologist. "Hello, Dr. Mitchell. Something I can help you with?" Liara can tell by the look on Dr. Mitchell's face, she is a little nervous. Which Liara hasn't seen before. She has a good feeling on the reason for it. Kaja.

"Ah, yes, Dr. T'Soni. I'm sorry to bother you. I received some artifacts from Earth. There is an item I wasn't expecting and I would very much like for you to come to the museum and look at it to verify its authenticity. Of course the museum will pay you for your time as always, Doctor," replies Cassandra. Seeing Kaja's mother is making the human a little nervous. She doesn't know if Kaja ever made it back home. Or if she said anything to Dr. T'Soni.

"What is the item, Cassandra?" asks Liara.

"The note attached to it says it is armor worn by Commander Shepard. I have no way to verify if the Commander actually wore this set of armor or not. I won't put it on display if it is not her armor." says Dr. Mitchell. Talking business is easing the nervousness Cass is feeling. "You are the only person I know that can tell me if Commander Shepard actually wore this set or not. Unless you know of someone else I can contact to verify this armor. It looks like it was never worn once. No scuff marks or anything. Which is why I think Commander Shepard never wore it, ma'am."

Liara replies after a short pause, "I can be there in a couple of hours, Dr. Mitchell. I have a meeting with a client in about an hour and when the meeting is over, I'll stop by the museum to look at this armor. I can tell you if Shepard wore it or not. Did the note mention when she wore it?"

Cass grabs the data pad with the note for the armor. "It says she wore it during the war with the Reapers. I have my doubts about it, Dr. T'Soni."

"Thank you. I know what she wore during the war, so I would know if the armor is Shepard's or not. I am almost certain right now, it is not her armor. She did take her armor with her when she left the Alliance. I still have it. I will still look at it and give you my opinion. See you soon, Dr. Mitchell." Liara ends the call with Dr. Mitchell then heads down to the study to look at the armor her bondmate wore during the war with the Reapers.

–

Kaja T'Soni sits at the desk reading a couple of messages she has received since leaving Thessia. One is from her youngest sister, Olivia.

Kaja-

I heard about your forced leave. Sorry abut that, sis. I'm going on a little vacation in a couple of weeks and I was wondering if you would be interested in joining me. I'm taking a 7-night cruise on Earth. A friend was going to go with me, but she had to cancel at the last-minute. Let me know if you're interested as soon as you get this. I would love to spend some time with you, sis. The dates are 24th-1st. The ship leaves from Athens, Greece.

Love ya,

Liv

Kaja sits back in the chair thinking and rubbing her chin. She thinks this is something she should do, spend some quality sister time with her baby sister. The commando starts typing a reply when she stops to think about Cassandra. Well, I did tell her I might go to Earth for a few days. I'll be gone longer than expected, but I hope she is okay with it. Maybe I should talk to her before replying to Liv. No, Liv needs to know, so screw it. I'll go. It will be good to spend some time with Liv.

Kaja finally types in her reply to Liv.

Liv-

I'd love to join you on the cruise. I'm at mom's, so you can contact me here if you want to talk. Athens huh? Been a long time since I've been there. Talk to you soon sis.

Love,

Kaja

After replying to her sister's message, Kaja starts goofing around on the extranet. She looks at a few new games that she heard about, but never took the time to play. None of games seem interesting enough for the asari to buy, so she does a local job search.

There are a few jobs listed on Elysium. She's only looking at the moment. Kaja wants to make sure she gets her discharge before doing any serious job searching. There's something in her gut that has gnawed away for over a century that says there is some outside influence keeping her from being transferred. From where and why? And from whom? Someone at High Command is doing someone a favor. It's a mystery Kaja may never solve. At times, she thinks maybe her mom is responsible . Kaja shakes the thought out of her head. Why would mom do that?

Sighing to herself, Kaja leans back in the chair. The young asari closes her eyes and wishes life was little less complicated. Her thoughts roam from why she joined the military in the first place to Cassandra Mitchell to what would her father do in her situation. Hearing her father's voice in her head saying, "Do your duty." Followed by "If you are unhappy, little one, then get out. Don't stay in because you feel it is what I want you to do."

Kaja leans forwards and puts her elbows on her knees and her hands cover her face. It dawns on her when she is at her parents house is when she thinks about her father the most. So, she starts to wonder if staying here is a good idea or should she rent some place for the two months she is on leave. Kaja rubs her eyes then looks for places to rent.

1 rm, bath, kitchenette, furnished, month to month 5k per month The commando sends a message to the contact for the apartment. She thinks it's a small apartment for the price or in a shady part of the colony. Either way, it really doesn't matter. The price is right and Kaja doesn't have many things with her outside of clothes and a few personal items. Things getting stolen isn't much of an issue.

Kaja hopes her mother will understand why she feels the need to rent a place during her leave instead of staying here at her parents house. She is starting to realize her happiness comes first. Not if her mom or dad approve or not.

There is a beep coming from the terminal. Two new messages. Kaja starts to read them. The first one is from the contact with the apartment. He will be available to show it at 1700 after he gets off of work. The asari sends a message back saying she will be there at 1700 to look at the apartment. The address is a few blocks away from Cass' apartment. Renting the apartment is really starting to become what Kaja needs to do. It's close enough to visit Cass regularly without the drive to the edge of town. And still close enough to see mom.

The second message is from Liv:

Sis-

Glad to hear you'll be joining on me on the cruise. I am looking forward to it.

I have a surprise for you. Please come to the Citadel on the 15th. I set up a meeting for you and you will want to attend. I found out something you will want to hear. In person only. Meet me at my office anytime before noon.

See you soon, Kaja

Liv

Kaja says under her breath, "Cryptic. Wonderful." She wonders what her baby sister is up to. No telling, but it does make the eldest sibling wonder what this meeting is about. Kaja rubs her chin thinking what this all means. She did mention in the first message she knew about the forced leave. That makes Kaja think this meeting might have to do with her military career. But why the Citadel and not Thessia? Hmm. Rubbing the back of her neck, Kaja turns off the terminal and sits back in the chair wondering what surprise Liv has in store for her. She doesn't notice her mother walk into the room.

Liara walks into the study to see Kaja being oblivious to the world around her. The computer terminal is off. She hates to disturb her daughter because Kaja looks like she is deep in thought. "Kaja, will you please help me remove the cover to this display?" asks Dr. T'Soni.

The huntress sits there without hearing her mother's request for help. Next thing Kaja hears is her name being said. Kaja turns to see who is speaking to her. "Oh, mom. I didn't hear you come in. Need something?"

"Yes, please help me remove this cover. I need to examine your father's armor," replies Liara.

Kaja helps take the cover off the display. Liara scans the armor with her omni-tool. She does several different scans. "What are you doing, mom?" asks a curious asari. Kaja leans against the desk next to the display watching her mother with her arms across her chest and head slightly leaning to the left side.

Liara looks up from the omni-tool. The way Kaja is standing brings a smile to Liara's face. "Dr. Mitchell contacted me about an unexpected item she received. There is a note claiming the armor is your father's. I have a meeting shortly and when I'm done, I'm headed to the museum."

"Mind if I joined you?" asks Kaja. She thinks perfect. Now it will be easier to get to her appointment to view the apartment.

"No, not at all. Let's put the cover back on the display," comments the elder asari. As they place the clear glass cover over Shepard's armor, Liara smiles at her daughter.

Giving her mother a curious look, the asari huntress asks, "Why are you scanning dad's armor? Doing some comparison between this set and the one the museum received?"

Dr. T'Soni beams with pride. An investigator's mind at work. Even if her daughter hates what she is doing, Kaja is very good at it. Liara thinks and feels it comes naturally to her. With a smile, Liara answers, "Yes, I will be comparing the armor at the museum to this one. This is the armor she wore when we left the Normandy. This isn't the only armor she wore. I know she wore different armor when she was fighting the Collectors. That could be the armor the museum has. I won't know until I see it."

Kaja scratches her chin. "I wouldn't be surprised if the other set is fake. I've seen a few things over the years since dad died. I was on Omega, following up on a case I was working. I heard a salarian trying to sell a gun owned by Commander Shepard. He claimed it was her favorite gun." Kaja does air quotes when she says "favorite gun." "Mom, it was the M-55 Argus. That is not her favorite gun."

"I know it's not. Remember, Kaja, there are swindlers selling thing that are not your father's, but they claim them they are her's. There isn't anything we can do about it," answers Liara. Stepping closer, Liara places her hand on Kaja's shoulder, "I don't like it any more than you do, little one. Your father anticipated this and knew there wasn't anything we can do to prevent it. The only important thing is knowing the truth." Liara hears Glyth in her ear, "Work calls. We can head to the museum after this meeting is over."

Kaja nods at her mother's comments. Following her mother out of the study, Kaja goes outside and lounges in one of the patio chairs. The view from the backyard is as beautiful and breathtaking today as it was the day they moved into the house. Even if there are more houses in the vicinity. Kaja closes her eyes to think more about her future. While she is thinking and waiting for her mother to finish with her meeting, the younger asari dozes off in the chair.

–

A/N: Again not much of a note. I do hope everyone enjoyed this week's chapter. See you next Monday.