Chapter 53 - Daddy Issues
"Lieutenant Vega. You are staring," Aria's voice is sharp and steely. She sits in the pilot's seat of the shuttle, her eyes staring straight ahead, smug and confident smile on her lips.
"Sorry, ma'am," James swiftly apologizes, sitting next to Aria in the co-pilot's seat, turning his head away from the asari. There are six Eclipse engineers in the small cargo space behind them, every one of them carrying two deactivated mechs.
"Lieutenant. Did I order you to stop staring?" Aria speaks imperiously.
"Uh... no, ma'am!" Vega turns his attention back to the Pirate Queen, needing no second invitation to study her enchanting features.
"I am surprised that Shepard has not trained you better than this, Lieutenant," Aria continues. "I suppose I will have to judge your performance for myself, since she could not vouch for it."
"Really? She seemed impressed with my skills on Menae," James sounds surprised.
"I may not be talking about your performance during combat, Lieutenant," Aria's grin widens just barely. "But I suppose that is where I will begin to... evaluate you."
"...uh, is it just me, or did it suddenly became very warm in here," James gulps.
"Let us for now concentrate on making things unpleasantly hot for Cerberus down there," Aria speaks, forcing James to break off his distracted thoughts and refocus. "ETA to Sanctum base in two minutes."
"But... but-but-but..."
"Liara!" Shepard looks at her lover with admonishment. "Now, whether you like this arrangement or not, but your... father is aboard the Normandy and she will be staying here for a while. You can't just ignore her that whole time!"
Liara sighs in defeat. "Why did they send her of all people? She can't actually give us any of the resources that we need for the Prothean device. Or commit our fleets..."
"I understand that she has been... spying on you on behalf of the matriarchs?" Shepard asks, Liara simply nodding in reply. "Tevos suggested to the matriarchs that they could use this summit as an opportunity to plant Aethyta onboard of the Normandy where she would be closer to you. They have even delegated her with some authority to make certain decisions on behalf of the matriarchs, just so that the scheme appears legit. I have to hand it to Tevos, she came up with an excellent solution to help your people without risking her own neck."
"I see. And I am supposed to be happy about being spied upon?" Liara still sounds upset. "What if she... finds out about the Shadow Broker? What if she starts to intrude on our privacy? What if the matriarchs decide to order a hit after she makes her report? Have you considered all of those things?"
"Liara, stop being ridiculous," Shepard takes her lover by the shoulders and shakes her a little, making the asari stare at her in mute surprise. "You're talking about your father. I know that you have never even spoken to each other, but if you had done that, you would know that she would never do anything to hurt you."
"Are you... certain of that?" Liara asks quietly.
"Yes. That's why I'm telling you to go and talk to her, for heaven's sake," Shepard sighs in exasperation.
"Alright... alright, I... I will," Liara says, finally gathering the courage and straightening her back. "But on one condition. You're coming with me."
"Are you sure? I don't want it to feel awkward in case you are discussing something private," Shepard asks, hesitating.
"Please, I doubt that we will be touching any topics like that. It will be a polite, frosty conversation between two strangers..."
"It doesn't have to be like that, if you're willing to... I don't know, just talk to her and you'll see that she's... actually really fun," Shepard says, though Liara still appears a little disbelieving. "Oh, let's just go already," Morgan then just takes the quietly struggling asari and drags her towards the lounge.
Aethyta is standing behind the bar as they enter, busy mixing a dangerously pink looking cocktail with an overly serious expression on her face. "Evening, Matriarch," Shepard says, then pushing a reluctant looking Liara in front of her. "I brought someone here to meet you. I think you might have heard of her."
The elder asari nods, looking at Liara. "I was wondering when you'll stop by, kid," she says.
"Well, you can't blame me for being concerned about someone sent here to spy on me," Liara says frostily, crossing her arms on her chest, making Shepard sigh inwardly.
"And what did you expect, kid? You're one of the biggest intel brokers in the galaxy, and you have some... very shady connections," Aethyta smirks, taking a swig of the alarming looking concoction. "Like... a girlfriend who used to work with Cerberus?"
"Morgan is no longer with Cerberus, surely you are not as incompetent at spying to know that!" Liara barks defiantly.
"Oh, baby's showing a bit of teeth, is she now?" Aethyta laughs, but quickly breaks off, her eyes narrowing as she stares at Morgan. "Yes, I know that. If she were still with Cerberus, she would not be getting within a light-year of you, kid."
"Is that so?" Liara glares.
"I knew what was truly going on, but to the average matriarch all of that combined with Benezia's involvement with Saren... yeah, they were about to order a hit when I intervened and agreed to keep an eye on you," Aethyta says, Shepard feeling some of Liara's anger deflating rapidly. "Or perhaps you would wish me to leave and ask for someone else to replace me? Someone who will actually be sending damning reports about your activities back to the matriarchs?"
Liara pales a little from her father's words. "No... no, that won't be necessary, I'm sure."
"I mean, you did threaten to flay someone alive with your mind, that one time," Aethyta winks. "Or how about when you killed your own assistant?" She then turns to Shepard. "Really, your idea of disposing of the corpse was just painful. Oh, let's put her back in her office seat! No one will ever notice! I had to clean up all that mess after you two."
"Oh... yeah, I was... kind of in a hurry," Shepard grins foolishly. "Thanks for sorting out that debacle."
"Well, are you two going to stand there at the doors the whole time? Sit down already!" Aethyta finally snaps with impatience, pointing towards the seats at the bar, and both Liara and Shepard mysteriously find themselves quickly obeying the command.
"So, it was you who bugged my office on Ilium," Liara shakes her head as Aethyta pours some elassa for them both. "Why is everyone insisting on getting me drunk?" she wonders, staring at the glass.
"Because you're no fun while sober?" Aethyta winks, earning a chuckle from Shepard, which she quickly cuts off when Liara gives her a stern look. "Ah, don't worry, kid. The matriarchs have more important things to worry about now that the Reapers are knocking on the doors. Sure, they want to keep an eye out on you, that's why they bought Tevos' little bait. But they're not going to do anything in the middle of this damned war."
"I would like to trust you on that," Liara says. "I know some of our colony worlds have come under attack, but I'm not seeing much of a response from the asari military."
"Well, you know the asari tactics," Aethyta rolls her eyes. "Infiltration and sabotage."
"Seems like a terrible strategy," Shepard says. "We already saw how turian 'flanking' of the Reapers went. Sabotage and infiltration sounds even more useless."
"Yeah, it's about as useful as tits on a hanar," Aethyta says, making Shepard choke on her drink, drops of elassa dribbling from her nose.
"Ugh, sorry about that," Morgan apologizes, quickly wiping her face clean. "I must remember that line, that was a killer. I think my rectum just prolapsed from laughing so hard."
"And the asari wanted to stay on sidelines in a summit where we can convince the races that can do the heavy lifting, like turians and krogan?" Liara blinks, stunned. "Are the matriarchs suicidal, or just that narrow-minded?"
"It makes no sense sucking up to the salarians who won't be able to help themselves much, they employ similar tactics to the asari," Morgan nods.
"I'm afraid the matriarchs are underestimating the Reapers and severely overestimating the capabilities of our commandos. They are good, but they're not built for the front ranks," Aethyta shakes her head sadly. "We're going to lose a great deal of good people before the matriarchs realize this. And then it might be too late already."
"Goddess, for the sake of our people, I hope you are wrong," Liara whispers. "Let's hope that this summit works out."
"Well, I should get along well with the krogan representative," Aethyta ponders, before giving Liara an amused stare. "My dad was a krogan, you know."
"I think Wrex will like you, Matriarch," Shepard chuckles. "Especially if you mix him some ryncol-based cocktails."
"I think I can manage that," Aethyta grins, swiftly refilling their empty glasses. "Though we seem to be running dangerously low on a very important ingredient, Noverian rum. I swear, it's like Aria T'Loak had came to raid your drinks cabinet."
"She did that, actually," Liara remarks, giving a suspicious stare to Aethyta. "Have you been spying on us before coming onboard?"
The matriarch simply sighs in response, pointing at the surface of the table. "I just saw what was scratched there. 'Property of Aria T'Loak', and it appears quite fresh," she explains, Liara looking a little guilty for jumping to conclusions.
"I'm sorry... I honestly did not see her doing that last night," Liara offers apologetically.
"It's alright, kid," Aethyta merely shrugs in return. "Though there's something I have to ask you. Always wondered how does it feel to be a quarter-krogan?"
"That's not how it works!" Liara protests, playfully elbowing the giggling Shepard.
"Pfft, I'm a thousand years old. Hell, I've had kids with a hanar," Aethyta scoffs. "So don't you tell me how reproduction works, kid."
"Wait... I have a sister that's half-hanar?" Liara blinks.
"I thought you said that wasn't how it works," Aethyta counters.
"Afraid she's got you there, Liara," Morgan adds with a chuckle.
"Hey! Aren't you supposed be on my side?" Liara mock-glares at her, all of them starting to feel slightly tipsy and warm from the drink. "If I recall, that was the sole reason I brought you here!"
"I can't help it," Morgan shrugs. "I think your dad is awesome."
"Well... I admit, she's not half-bad," Liara reluctantly agrees. Aethyta looks moved by this confession, though she quickly hides it.
"So, just a warning to you, Shepard," the matriarch says, laughter in her eyes. "If she ever head-butts you, it's nothing personal, it's just genetics."
"I have never head-butted anyone or anything!" Liara protests.
"But you did bite me that one time," Morgan remarks, making Liara turn a bright shade of purple.
"It was not my fault that the ship lost all power and you were... oh, umm..." Liara finally stops herself, turning to glare at Morgan. "You two are ganging up on me!"
"Hey, hey!" Aethyta backs off, raising up her hands in a gesture of peace. "Don't go all krogan blood rage on us, kid!"
Liara groans, covering her face with her hands, but her shoulders are shaking from laughter. "You are... not quite what I expected you to be... dad," she finally admits, smiling.
"Well, you're not quite what I anticipated either, kid," Aethyta grins back. "But then I knew that any daughter of Benezia would be special... especially one that's also quarter-krogan."
"Now you're just doing that on purpose," Liara sighs.
"At least you've done well with your choice of bondmate," Aethyta says approvingly. "I have no experience with humans myself, but you can't argue with that rack," Shepard suddenly finds her face burning from Aethyta's frank appraisal. "Granted, it's still a far cry from Nezzy's, but then she was quite unique."
"I can't believe you just said that," Liara shakes her head.
"What? You'd rather have me talk about your rack?" Aethyta takes another large swig, before refilling the glasses yet again. "I'm sure it's lovely, but just wait until you hit the matriarch stage, you will surely rival Nezzy. Too bad you won't be around to enjoy her then, Shepard."
"Yeah, gee, thanks for pointing that out," Shepard complains.
"Dad, this is not an acceptable topic for conversation!" Liara tries to stop her, but Aethyta is clearly on a roll.
"Oh, don't be such a prude, kid," the matriarch scoffs. "I hadn't even asked how many times you have thrown Shepard on the bed and peeled her out of her uniform!"
"I don't think it's possible to do that enough times," Shepard quips.
"How can you make everything sound so tawdry!" Liara exclaims.
"Hey, if it's all civilized, you're just not doing it right," Aethyta laughs.
"Oh, we're having plenty of fun, especially when she lets that quarter-krogan side of her take over in the bedroom," Morgan remarks innocently.
"Shepard!" Liara glares at her again, before letting out a resigned sigh. "I wonder if I should just shoot myself to forget all this embarrassment..."
"No, no, I'm not letting you do that," Morgan shakes her head, giggling. "Who's going to peel me out of my uniform if you shoot yourself?"
"Okay... in that case... maybe if I drink enough..." she swiftly picks up the full glass of elassa and downs it in one go. "Maybe if I drink that, it will erase this conversation from my mind..." Liara says as her eyes quickly become hazy.
"Uh-oh... she's going to pass out, isn't she?" Shepard looks at her lover worriedly.
"Ayup, I think that's a given," Aethyta laughs as Liara's eyes slowly roll at the back of her head and she slowly slumps across the table. "Ah, there we go. Well, you better get her to bed," the matriarch says.
"I don't think there will be much peeling of uniforms tonight, though," Morgan adds, putting on a theatrical pout as she gently picks up her lover, about to slowly carry Liara away.
"Probably not," Aethyta nods, before hesitating a little, then speaking again as Shepard stops on her way. "Listen, babe... thanks for dragging her over here. I was... worried she'd react badly to me being on the ship. That's why I even told Tevos to get lost when she came to me with this idea. She just kept trying to convince me... heck, she even went as far as flirting and making certain... overtures. Athame's tits, I still can't believe that."
"You... uh, took her up on that?" Morgan blinks, unable to picture the cold and arrogant asari councilor in the role of seductress.
"Hah, that would be telling," Aethyta winks at her. "Still, it helps to know that our people are represented on the Council by a slut of galactic proportions."
"Somehow I don't think I should tell that to her face..." Shepard snorts, unable to stop herself from chuckling as she bids Aethyta goodnight and carefully carries her softly snoring lover to bed...
"Give me the casualty report," Aria stands outside the shuttle, staring at one of the batarian engineers. Meanwhile, James is hauling two crates with the salvaged Reaper tech onboard of the shuttle.
"We lost eleven mechs and four of our engineers," the batarian replies. "Cerberus forces were-"
"I saw well enough what happened to the Cerberus forces," Aria cuts him off harshly. "Obliterated to the very last. Well done, people." She gives a backwards glance to James, standing at the shuttle doors. "And an adequate performance from you, Lieutenant," Aria allows herself a hint of a smile.
Two of the batarians are about to move past Aria and into the cargo hold of one of the shuttles, when Aria stops them. "And where do you think you're going?" her steely voice makes them halt immediately.
"Uh... the shuttle?" one of the batarians replies, scratching his head.
"Everyone save Lieutenant Vega is taking the other shuttle," Aria orders. Behind her, James raises a curious eyebrow.
"But Aria... there's not enough room in one shuttle for us all!" one of the salarians protests.
"Then I suggest you find the room, or else I will do it for you by thinning your numbers!" Aria speaks dangerously and the salarian covers, crawling back to the shuttle, trying to squeeze in with the others. After much pushing and shoving, they finally manage to seal the cargo space doors and the other shuttle gingerly takes off to leave Sanctum.
"If only I didn't need those idiots," Aria mutters under her breath, turning around fluidly and walking back to the remaining shuttle. "Get inside, Lieutenant Vega," she says simply, pointing at the cargo hold, her hands already working to undo the straps of her armor. "It is time to evaluate another aspect of your... performance."