Chapter 75 - Noveria, Revisited
"Status report," Aria T'Loak demands urgently, addressing a stuttering salarian, one of the Eclipse engineers.
"All Cerberus squads in the area have been routed," the salarian quickly explains. "Save for those that chose to flee. We even liberated scores of captured civilians from the Cerberus shuttles."
"Whatever. I suppose it'll make Shepard happy," Aria shrugs, looking disinterested. "Our casualties?"
"High. Close to 60%," the salarian shakes his head. "Cerberus withdrawal fortunate."
Aria's nod of the head is almost imperceptible. "Alright, back to the shuttles and get off this planet," she says, her eyes falling on Lieutenant James Vega, standing a little to the side, unusually silent. "Leave the last one for the Lieutenant and myself. We will be along shortly."
As the salarian scurries away, James raises a curious eyebrow at the Queen of Omega. The magnificent and intimidating asari simply raises a shining metallic object consisting of rings and chains. "I assume you're familiar with this?" she asks Vega.
"Yeah, had the pleasure to wear those a few times back on Earth, after some dustups with the cops," James replies. "These look like C-Sec standard issue."
"Correct. Picked them off some wiseass turian who had the bright idea of bringing me to the station for questioning," Aria's eyes glisten dangerously. "Ended up keeping the handcuffs myself," she says, giving James a meaningful glance. "...one can never know when they could become useful..."
Garrus reaches down and picks up a handful of snow, running it through his fingers with a pained expression on his face. "I hate snow," he mutters. "Hate this whole place..."
"Allow me to theorize that you will not stop hating Noveria after repeating that statement for the ninth time, Garrus," EDI says, looking as exasperated as possible for a synthetic.
"I just imagine Shepard and T'Soni getting cozy in that restaurant in Port Hanshan... damn, this isn't fair," Garrus complains, eyes carefully scanning the skies for more incoming Cerberus reinforcements. "I should be there with them, reminiscing in the memories of our first adventures here, while you rookies mop up these Cerberus goons!"
"Shall I inform the Commander of your desire to also join her and Dr. T'Soni in what with high statistical probability will follow their date in the restaurant?" EDI asks, sounding completely serious.
"What?! Spirits, NO!" Garrus exclaims, giving EDI a highly disturbed look. "Damn you, EDI, you are getting too good at this."
"We had our own ways of dealing with officers who neglected their duty," Javik speaks up. "Among the soldiers under my command, the favorite method was to tie an enraged da'z'hun to the offender's stomach and set the set the culprit free once da'z'hun had buried itself."
"What the hell is a da'z'hun?" Garrus asks, even knowing that he probably will not like the answer.
"A highly aggressive flesh-eating worm, about this large," Javik indicates the size of around half-a-yard. "They tore through their victim's skin and proceeded to devour their internal organs from the inside. Most of the victims ended up carving themselves up and digging through their insides, trying to pull the worm out, dying as their organs and blood spilled out on the ground in a tangled mess."
"You're just a barrel of laughs, Prothy," Garrus rolls his eyes. "So, just because Shepard and Liara decide to take a little time off for themselves, you're suggesting to put them through that sort of enjoyable experience? I wonder what the Commander would think about this idea."
"I am highly curious myself," EDI agrees. "This is why I recorded Javik's suggestion for later inclusion in the mission debrief."
Javik seems a little hesitant when he speaks up again. "I only said that she would have faced such punishment back in my cycle," he offers conciliatory.
"Yes, and we had already established that your cycle considered possessing sense of humor to be a punishable offense," Garrus sighs. "Spirits, I hope you guys at least had alcohol."
"We did," Javik replies. Garrus perks up, looking more hopeful. "Indulging in this vice was punishable by a choice of either impaling, vivisection or slow dismemberment," Javik adds as Garrus' shoulders immediately slump in dejection.
"I'm starting to see why your cycle lost the war," the turian remarks. "No downtime, executions for the slightest infraction, the morale must have been completely eroded."
"I would agree with this, using as proof the metabolic scans from the crew's armor after a period of shore leave," EDI says, then thinking of something. "With James being the notable exception, too high alcohol level in blood."
"Sorry, Prothy, but looks like your people weren't quite as smart as Liara wanted us all to believe," Garrus adds with a laugh, looking at the seething Javik.
"For someone claiming to be an expert on Protheans, your 'Liara' asari knows next to nothing!" he exclaims angrily.
"I think I will put that on the mission debrief, too," EDI remarks innocently. "Commander Shepard encourages less formal reports, preferring a more personal touch to them," she explains to the very sour looking Javik.
"Where the hell is our Alliance backup, I thought they wanted to seize this fighter squadron," Garrus says, starting to get impatient. "Messing with Prothy can only sustain you for so long..."
"I have a visual," EDI says suddenly. "But it is not the Alliance. More Cerberus reinforcements!"
"Finally, something to kill," Javik grabs his rifle. "I was running out of ideas for new and creative methods of executing disrespectful fellow soldiers."
"And look, how wonderful! They have brought an Atlas with them!" Garrus says, pointing at the landing pad where the heavy mech has just been delivered by Cerberus reinforcements, the turian's face assuming its customary pained expression. "And here I was wondering whether my day could possibly get any worse..."
Aria T'Loak slowly finishes dressing herself, checking her appearance in a large shard of a smashed mirror, her usual controlled and emotionless expression on her face.
"So... about these handcuffs..." Lieutenant James Vega speaks up hesitantly, still finding himself chained to the bed and lacking most of his clothing.
Aria doesn't even spare a glance in his direction, though. "I'll be in the shuttle, but don't make me wait," she says, about to exit the vandalized apartment. "If you're not there in five minutes, you'll have to find your own way off Benning. Actually, make it three minutes... I bore easily."
"So... could I have the key, please? Aria?" James sounds a little pleading.
"What key?" Aria stops briefly, before leaving. "I never mentioned actually taking the key from the turian... did I?"
"I can't decide which is more impressive, the fact that you managed to procure a dress for me on such short notice, or that you actually talked me into wearing it," Shepard tells Liara as the two of them are sitting in a quiet and private corner of the Port Hanshan restaurant, watching the snowstorm roaring outside. Inside, they are feeling warm and comfortable, the dimmed lights and quiet, discreet music creating a relaxing atmosphere in the otherwise sterile looking hall.
"The ways of the Shadow Broker are strange and mysterious," Liara grins at her. "Besides, you look very lovely, Morgan."
"I think I look like a glorified tramp," Morgan mutters, nervously tugging on the hem of the black dress.
"Maybe so, but you're my glorified tramp," Liara winks at her, as together they wait for their orders to be delivered, the subtle aromas drifting towards them from the kitchen making Shepard salivating.
"When we're done with this silly war, you're going to teach me how to wear a dress with dignity, like you... and any asari I've seen manage to do," Shepard says, a little enviously.
"I will be glad to," Liara nods, smiling. She pauses for a little bit before speaking up again. "I wonder how the others are faring..."
"You're not feeling guilty about sitting this one out, are you?" Shepard asks, slightly incredulous.
"Umm, maybe a little bit," Liara shyly confesses.
"Ah, don't be silly," Shepard gently admonishes her. "Garrus can easily handle everything that Cerberus throws at them, you know that. Let's just enjoy this one rare free evening, shall we?"
"Of course, that was the idea," Liara nods, as their orders are delivered that very moment, massive steak with fried vegetables for Morgan, and something that vaguely looks like spring rolls, only purple and slightly glowing, for her asari lover. "Oh, this is actually very good!" she says, having taken a bite, scoffing a little at Morgan's doubtful expression.
"I'm not sure about how good that is, but this steak is heavenly," Morgan says, having taken the first bite. "Mmm, delicious. You know, I'm certainly enjoying Noveria far more the second time around."
Liara's hand, carrying the fork of food towards her mouth suddenly stops for a moment, as she glances quickly at Morgan, then resuming the motion. "Yes, I... quite agree," she nods, busy chewing. "It was inevitable that the memories would resurface during our visit here. Just as inevitable as you working your way around to asking me about it."
Morgan finds herself blushing a little bit. "I'm terribly predictable, aren't I?"
"Yes, but it is... sweet," Liara concedes with a smile. "It is true, I have been thinking much about Benezia, lately, especially after talking with dad. It has... helped me to do what you told me I should focus on, right after her death. To try and remember the best in her."
"I'm glad to hear that," Morgan says quietly.
"Ever since her death, I have been... avoiding thinking about her, and when I have allowed a thought here or there, I found myself feeling... indifferent," Liara confesses, looking saddened. "Talking with dad, realizing how much she and mother loved each other for a very long time... it somehow helped me to see the best in my mother once again."
"Tell me about her," Shepard urges the asari.
"She was... always so very confident. Kind... and compassionate. And she loved to wear yellow," Liara manages a smile. "I always thought she was the most beautiful woman in the galaxy."
"I wish there had been a way for me to meet her before... well, everything went to hell," Shepard says, Liara's pensive expression catching on to her. "Though, I doubt she would consider me an appropriate match for a daughter of a prominent matriarch."
"You would be surprised, Morgan," now Liara smiles in earnest, before resuming eating. "She always embarrassed me by trying to encourage me towards... sexual experimentation, claiming that it was an important phase before choosing a... permanent bondmate."
"So... you could be making a terrible mistake by sticking with me?" Shepard winks at her, but Liara does not appear amused.
"You just keep talking like that, Shepard..." she adds warningly.
"I wasn't being entirely serious," Morgan smiles, cutting off another piece of the delicious steak and starting to chew on it. "But if I were to be more serious..." she resumes talking a moment later, giving Liara an earnest look. "Thank you for... just being here with me, Liara. I can't imagine my life without you in it, really. Don't want to."
"I had to, for those damned two years," Liara replies, equally serious. "I don't want to go back to it, I don't ever want to remember how it made me feel. So, I thank you for the same, Morgan."
"Damn, this would be the perfect opportunity to pull out an engagement ring, drop on my knees and ask you to marry me," Shepard chuckles. "Unfortunately, I am hopelessly unprepared."
"I'm sure there will be... other opportunities," Liara winks, then quickly finishing up the last bits of her meal, looking rather content. "Speaking of... formalizing certain relationships..." she looks a little hesitant as she speaks. "Morgan, I have never told you, there really weren't many opportunities for it, but... it is roughly two years and eight months since I put you as my officially registered bondmate in the asari embassy records on the Citadel. It was immediately after we returned from our trip to Earth, and I just knew I... had to do it."
"So... it's kind of like... being married for asari, isn't it?" Shepard asks, Liara nodding slowly. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because... our relationship was still very new at that point," Liara explains. "Under normal circumstances, I would have never done something like that, but after Saren and Sovereign... after the death of my mother, I didn't have anyone but you, Morgan, I didn't know about my dad, I just wanted to make sure you would be entitled to some benefits in the case of my... well... you know what I mean."
"It's you that I want, Liara, not your possessions or whatever wealth the T'Soni empire has accrued over the centuries," Morgan smiles at her lover.
"Yes, yes, but there was also the matter of my research..." Liara says. "I did not want it to fall into anyone else's hands but yours. But then... the Normandy was destroyed by the Collectors. I kept hacking into the embassy's systems to keep your name on record, it was... one of my ways to keep believing that you will come back to me."
"Oh, Liara..." Shepard sighs, reaching out and taking her lover's hands in hers.
"And after you did come back, it must have slipped my mind amidst all this turmoil around us," Liara smiles. "So... before you chastise yourself for missing the opportunity, I think you deserved to know that I have made an even greater mess of a potentially romantic occasion."
Shepard just chuckles in reply. "You do have your romantic moments, T'Soni," she says, grinning broadly. "Though this war isn't exactly helping matters, is it? Maybe after we've cleared up the Reapers from the galaxy, we could do the whole... what's it called, bonding ceremony, all proper like."
"If you truly wish to do it properly, we will have to wait considerable time until I reach the socially acceptable age of entering a permanent bond with someone," Liara winks at her. "It would be legal, but still very frowned upon. Which also was a reason why I had to hack the Citadel embassy records to register our relationship."
"There's still so much I don't know about your people and your culture, love," Morgan says thoughtfully. "I really regret that we didn't take more time off after Saren and went to visit Thessia... now with the Reapers closing in... things might never be the same again."
"No... no, they will not be the same," Liara shakes her head. "Even here, everything appears quiet and peaceful, but I look at all these salarians in the hall and I can't help thinking that they're here because there's a war out there, and they're keeping an eye on Noveria's mass relay."
"I was wondering about that, I certainly don't remember so many salarians here during our last visit. Gods, after dealing with Anoleis, for a while I felt like punching every salarian I saw," Shepard recalls. "But we're on the border of the salarian space here, aren't we?" Liara nods at that. "Ah yes, makes sense then."
"See, we got dragged back into discussing the war again, whether we want it or not," Liara remarks with a bitter smile, before her eyes light up again. "Let's try to focus on something... more enjoyable. Like that new dress of yours," the asari runs her eyes over her, making Shepard blush slightly at the frank appraisal.
"T'Soni, you are quite irrepressible," she chides, loving every moment of the attention that she is receiving. "But if you want to tell me how good I look in it, I suppose I won't try to stop you."
"You wearing a dress also lets me do this..." Liara says teasingly, and with disbelief, Morgan feels the cooler, slightly rougher skin of the asari's foot pressed against her shin, sliding up and down, making Shepard narrow her eyes in delight, drawing a sharp hiss of breath.
"At this rate, Liara, we're not going to make it back to the ship," she adds warningly. "I'll just have to drag you into some kind of a dark corner, or perhaps the female restrooms..."
"Well, luckily for you, I expected this kind of reaction," Liara grins at her. "There is a hotel right above this restaurant. I made sure to reserve a suite for us, thinking it might be... a welcome change of scenery from the Normandy."
Shepard rises so quickly from the table, that she manages to bowl over a couple of glasses. Everyone in the hall is now staring at her, and she manages a nervous laughter, blushing furiously. Liara gets up from her seat and takes Morgan's hand, smiling. "That is the kind of enthusiasm that I love to see, Commander..." she adds, chuckling, leading Morgan towards the elevator.
"Uh, Commander..." Samantha Traynor stops Morgan and Liara as they pass the CIC on their way towards the elevator. "There's a mission report from James waiting for you."
"Just fill me in, Samantha, I trust the mission was a success?" Shepard asks, not terribly interested in details.
"Yes, the Cerberus forces have been routed, and most of the captured civilians freed," Traynor explains. "They did not manage to learn why they would be abducting civilians."
"Oh, I think we can guess," Liara speaks up. "With all the beating Cerberus is taking, they are bound to need more and more shock troops. Fit them out with implants, and..."
Traynor pales as soon as she realizes the meaning of Liara's words. "That's monstrous," she whispers.
"That's Cerberus," Shepard smiles thinly. "So, we can expect James to be back with us shortly, I take it?"
"Well... uh, not exactly," Traynor says a little hesitantly. "He is requesting extraction from Benning. He also appeared to be... naked while making the vid call..."
"What happened?" Liara asks, both her and Morgan deeply puzzled.
"He refused to elaborate," Traynor shrugs. "He only said that some scavengers stole his armor while he was... indisposed?"
Shepard groans, pressing a palm against her face. "What the... how the... James! I don't even..."