A/N: Shockingly, no Shepard and Liara in this one. I thought they needed a little break after the last chapter. But don't worry, behind the scenes, Shepard is slowly beginning to recover. ;)
Also, even if it's something of a fandom canon, no 'Thea' Tevos in this story. I went with a different name, because following asari naming conventions, Tevos should be her first name, not last name. Also, I imagine that a councilor of the asari would come from a very influential clan, that all appear to be named T'Something. Well, that was my line of thinking anyway!
Chapter 128 - Everybody's Changing
"Is there anyone close nearby to you, Admiral Raan?" Tali asks, standing in the Normandy comm room and looking at the vid projection of her fellow admiral.
"No, I do not believe so. Why do you ask, Tali?" Shala'Raan inquires.
"Because I wanted to call you Auntie Raan and shout how great it is to see you alive!" Tali exclaims, bouncing a little in front of the consoles, feeling so incredibly relieved that for a moment she forgets that her body terribly exhausted.
"Tali, it is a relief to see you alive and well, too," Raan says kindly, looking a little amused. "I trust you are taking good care of yourself."
"Well... I desperately need a few hours of sleep, Auntie," Tali bashfully admits. "But I really need an update on the state of the Fleet, or I won't be able to get that sleep."
"I won't lie to you, Tali, it was a very close thing. We have lost two thirds of our ships and over a half of our people, and most importantly, we nearly lost the Rayya, too."
"Yes, I have heard about that, but what exactly happened, Auntie Raan?"
"It was purely bad luck. The fleets were reorganizing when one of those Reaper capital ships fired upon us and by some miracle the beam didn't hit any of the hundred ships close to its path but cut straight to the Rayya and severely crippled our liveship. We escorted it away from the battle immediately, but there are massive hull breaches and several of the agricultural wings have been wiped out completely. Our engineers are still trying to contain the damage."
"What does that mean in combination with the news about the relays being damaged?" Tali asks, wringing her hands nervously.
"Our food production capacity is down to 40%, which considering our losses in the battle would be sufficient for our people not to starve," Raan explains. "Unfortunately, we are not the only dextros trapped in the system, and the turians didn't have the foresight to bring enough food supplies to last for an extended period of time. I do not think we can let our turian brothers and sisters starve, after they have fought shoulder to shoulder with us. Besides, if we decide to withhold the supplies... well, I don't want to think about that, but they could become desperate enough to-"
"Let's... let's just not go there," Tali shudders briefly. "I'm sure we can figure something out."
"Indeed," Admiral Raan nods. "The turian leaders are constantly contacting me as well, desperate to hear the projections of how much we will be able to share. Councilor Sparatus has informed me that most of the warehouses storing food supplies have been lost when the Citadel's Zakera Ward was destroyed. And Primarch Victus wants to know by how much they need to limit their rations to be able to hold out for nine to twelve months, which is the current... optimistic projection for the relay repairs."
"We should consider doing the same, Auntie, we will be able to survive longer and will have more to spare!" Tali exclaims.
"Yes, which is why I need your approval to limit daily rations to our troops by 20%, Tali," Raan nods.
"Granted," the affirmation is immediate.
"There is no need for you to make the sacrifice, Tali, whether one person does it or not won't make a difference, and I'd rather see you eating well..."
"Absolutely not, I will not give myself any special treatment," Tali replies vehemently. "In fact, I am sure the Normandy has some supplies that I can requisition and share with our people... though, I imagine we're not that desperate yet..."
Raan shakes her head, obviously having expected Tali's reaction. "Thankfully we are nowhere near that desperate, child. It's simply that we should begin saving resources while we still can, and then with luck we will not have to face such desperation. We will continue to work together with the turians to see if we can work out some sort of arrangement."
"That's... good to hear," Tali says, her words broken up by taking one of those deep volus-like yawns.
"Well, I can see that you need to rest, I will not delay you for much longer, my dear Tali," Raan speaks, sounding as if she is smiling under her mask. "But there are a few more items we have to discuss. First, the turians have been demanding that the Alliance grant them a place for a small enclave groundside to position their troops and work with the locals to aid them in their efforts of rebuilding. I was thinking that perhaps the Alliance could grant our people a small lot of space near the turians, where we could store some of the food supplies for an easy exchange with their ground forces. Also, many of our people have expressed a desire to work planetside and help humans rebuild their homes."
"I agree with that plan, absolutely a good... idea," Tali says, yawning again in the middle of the sentence.
"Now, for the most important part," Raan speaks, crossing her hands on her chest. "As you well know, the Admiralty Board has been undermanned since we lost both Gerrel and Xen, and to operate with the necessary authority, we badly need to promote worthy candidates from our midst."
"But we'd need Koris for that, wouldn't we?" Tali asks. "And I don't think we have managed to set up a QEC connection back to the homeworld, or have we..."
"No... but Admiral Koris and I spoke about potential candidates before leaving Rannoch. I have his written consent, approving both of these choices. I bring them up now because they both have fortunately survived the battle for Earth, and would be able to step up to accept this mantle of responsibility, pending your approval."
"I... I can scarcely believe you did not mention this to me until now!" Tali sounds a little shocked.
"I apologize, Tali, but you were so distraught over the incident with the Normandy back on Rannoch, and later I did not want to bring it up on the eve of the battle, where none of our survival was guaranteed," Raan explains. "I hope you can forgive me, child."
"Of... of course, now that you explained it, it all makes perfect sense..." Tali nods without much thought. "So, who are those two? I've spent so much time away from my people in past few years, I might not even know them..."
"I dare say you will," Raan says, a little mysteriously. "Our first candidate is Captain Kar'Danna vas Rayya. I believe you have met before."
"Of course I have, and that is a resounding 'Yes!' from me!" Tali cheers. "He's a great candidate, thank you for choosing him! He's always been so supportive towards me, level-headed and wise. He will make a great admiral! And who's the last one, Auntie?"
"A highly distinguished marine you know well, admired for his many deeds of great heroism," Admiral Raan informs her. "I am, of course, speaking of your friend Kal'Reegar."
"...Kal?! Admiral Kal'Reegar! Oh... oh my..." Tali staggers, almost falling on her back from the shock and surprise. "I... did not expect this, but... yes, Keelah, absolutely yes, he'll be reluctant, worried, shocked, uncertain... but I'll talk him into accepting the responsibility... and he will do a great job!"
"That is good," Raan sounds pleased. "Finally the Admiralty Board will be at full complement so that we can best serve our people."
"In fact, Kal is here with me on the Normandy," Tali says. "I could inform him right away!"
"Then I bid you farewell, dear child. But do not forget about sleeping, Tali," Raan reminds her as they part, bowing lightly to each other and Tali skips out of the comm room and back towards the bridge. As she arrives there, Tali finds Kal'Reegar and Lia'Vael immersed in quiet talking, not even sensing her approach. She sounds far less depressed now, but Kal's just that kind of a person, he can make anyone feel a bit better just by talking with them, Tali smiles inwardly, watching the other two conversing quietly.
There's definitely a bit of hero worship in that body language... and I don't think Kal has any lady friends or anyone waiting for him back on Rannoch... maybe I could try and encourage them... she then breaks off her train of thoughts, blushing furiously under her facemask. I shouldn't be thinking something so inappropriate, she has just lost her boyfriend, romance is hardly on her mind, she just needs the comfort of a friendly shoulder... and a lot of good things can start from there, admittedly.
She finally abandons her plots of matchmaking, alerting the others to her appearance with a pronounced cough, startling them slightly. Hmm, perhaps I shouldn't shock him with the news just yet, though, Tali decides, watching Kal slowly rising from the co-pilot's seat. I don't think he'll be able to rest after such a bombshell being dropped on his head, and it can surely wait for a few hours. "Kal, I could show you to a free bunk for some sleep now, you must be completely exhausted," she merely says, seeing the other quarian nodding to that. "Follow me," but as she turns around, she hears Lia'Vael speaking up behind her.
"Admir-... ugh, Tali, please, if I could ask for a moment in private..." the ever-timid pilot says.
"I'll wait by the CIC," Kal'Reegar offers, walking ahead of her.
"What is it, Lia?" Tali asks.
"I'm not sure what to respond to this..." Lia'Vael says, bringing up a short text transmission up on the screen before them.
"...get out of my pilot's seat, you impostor suit-rat?" Tali reads the message, gasping in shock. "Keelah... Joker, you... you wouldn't! Oh, I'm so sorry, Lia, I guess Joker is still taking this all very badly. I'm... sure he will calm down. I would just... ignore this and do not respond to it."
"What about the ten other messages, do I ignore those as well?" Lia asks.
"There... there are more?" Tali feels absolutely stunned.
"Eleven messages altogether in the previous six hours. The one I showed you was the... kindest."
"Has he... learned of EDI's fate?" Tali suddenly realizes something.
"Yes, he appears to know that EDI is offline," Lia'Vael nods softly. "Oh, I don't know what to do, Tali, I do not wish to offend anyone with my presence, but... but perhaps it would just be best if I'd simply leave, perhaps he is ready to resume his post..."
"Let's not be hasty, Lia, I will... talk it over with someone," Tali quickly moves to reassure the other quarian, gently hugging her. "For now, simply do not open any new messages from him. And take a break from your post as well, Samantha can keep watching the communications, the Normandy won't be leaving the Citadel for a while, so you don't need to be here at the helm all the time."
"Alright... alright, I will," Lia nods slowly. "I'll take some time off, I promise."
"That's a good girl," Tali softly pats Lia on the shoulder before walking away from the bridge to catch up with Kal'Reegar. Keelah, as if we didn't have enough of real problems... now, Joker insists to become one of them, too... damn it...
"About the bloody time," Lieutenant Kurin Calvi opens her eyes to a gruff greeting from a massive, grumbling krogan, sitting next to her hospital bed.
"Aww... baby's getting bored without me?" she asks, then having to cough painfully for a while. She tests her fingers and toes by wiggling them and every limb seems to respond, being in place, even if her body feels more than a bit sore.
"If you had died, it would have meant that I spent the entire battle digging you out of rubble for nothing," Grunt chuckles in that adorably disturbing way of his.
"Appreciate it, love," Kurin winks at her favorite krogan, watching him becoming a little flustered from her deliberately teasing sweetness. "Say, it looks like I'm back on the Citadel... which probably means the galaxy is saved, the Reapers are gone and I bloody went and missed the whole battle by being a dumbass and charging a wall?"
"That sounds about right," Grunt grins. "Yeah, Shepard took care of everything for us. Shame, but I hear her recovery isn't as smooth as yours. For a while they were sure she was going to die. Now I heard from Liara that they have stabilized her... whatever that means..."
"That means she's not getting worse, at least. And what of the others? Did your clan leader made out alright?" Grunt shakes his head in response to that question, pointing towards the doors leading to another ward of the hospital. "He's there, injured? Well, how is he looking?"
"Flat and grumpy," Grunt replies with a shrug. "But otherwise fine. He'll be alright. Listen... everyone's been sending their people back down to the planet, something about helping weakling humans rebuild. Even gave us krogan some place to put up our camp! Been getting calls from fellow Urdnot... they want me down there, while the old man is still enjoying his nap," he points at Wrex's door again.
"Do you know if the asari have sent their people down to Earth as well?" Kurin asks, gently pulling herself higher up in the bed.
"Yeah, think so. The turians are our closest neighbors though, some ten miles north," Grunt explains. "So, I was wondering... how much time do you think you're going to be spending here, doing nothing? That squeaky man in white insisted that you need three more days, but that can't be right."
"Three days, completely ridiculous, I feel absolutely fine!" Kurin tries to turn her legs to get out of the bed, suddenly feeling a red hot spike of pain shooting through her right leg towards the hip. "...on second thought, maybe I want to take off another day or so... but baby doesn't need to wait for me, honestly, you can just go and play 'Tackle the Kakliosaur' with your krogan friends, and I'll catch up with you once I can... hmm, walk?"
"You won't mind me leaving you here alone?" Grunt asks, puzzled, as he scratches his chin.
"Well, I don't want you to die of boredom up here," Kurin shrugs. By the end of the third day, he'd probably have roughed up a few doctors and nurses... a bored krogan is a dangerous krogan. "Come a bit closer, you big softie of mine," she then chuckles, wrapping her arms around Grunt's neck as much as she is able, before planting a big, wet smooch on his cheek. "There, now run along and go play with your clansmates. And try not to blow up anything nuclear, at least until I can go down to the planet and observe the exciting explosions!"
"Yes, honey..." Grunt grumbles, getting up and carefully lumbering out of Kurin's hospital room, leaving the asari wondering just how the hell she has gotten involved in such a strange and awkward relationship. Not complaining, though, she grins to herself. Definitely not complaining.
"This is rather impressively good for hospital fare," Tevos T'Naori, known to the most of the galaxy as Councilor Tevos, or simply 'the asari councilor', is currently busy sipping a nourishing broth from a tray placed over her hospital bed. The injury is no longer causing her pain, however, it is taking a lot of time for her physically untrained body to recover the necessary strength to endure the daunting schedule of a councilor. The doctors here at the small Tayseri Ward hospital are aware of this, being extra careful with their highly esteemed patient.
There is only one other person in the small room reserved specifically for her, another asari, currently standing at the window, but Aria T'Loak is not looking outside of said window, in fact she is staring at her own reflection, once again admiring how intimidating the black eye-patch covering her left eye makes her look. "So, remind me again, Aria, how did you explain your presence here without completely and utterly ruining my career?"
"Apparently I'm here because I need a favor from you, and everyone in this hospital have been gossiping how you're in my pocket," Aria smirks in reply. "They've all seen you with those two young asari, who I claimed to be exotic dancers in my employ."
"I hate using the girls even as a flimsy excuse like that. It's just fortunate that everyone has bigger issues to look at right now than investigating just what sort of dirty dealings and shocking promiscuity the asari councilor might be involved with," Tevos remarks, the spoon then stopping half-way to her mouth. "So, do you need a favor, Aria?"
"Maybe. When do you plan to return to work?"
"In a couple of days. Valern and Sparatus are flooding me with status updates as soon as they found out I had regained consciousness, it's like they don't want me to rest," Tevos grumbles good-naturedly. "Why do you ask?"
"Eh... damned Hackett and his fellow idiot admirals are annoying me," Aria shrugs. "You see, the merc groups decided to cash in on the chaos. All the Blue Suns, Eclipse and Blood Pack have been sending their forces down to Earth in numbers, claiming large territories as their own before the Alliance had even lifted a finger. And they think I'm behind it all... I can't convince them that I don't fucking care about this devastated rock that is their precious Earth."
"So you want my help to get Hackett off your back," Tevos muses. "Hmm... there might be a way. Some of those admirals are making not so vague hints about how deserving they are to claim the vacant spot of the humanity's councilor. Especially this man named... Singh, was it? Maybe it's something I can use."
"It would be appreciated," Aria nods. "By the way, this is the last time I'm visiting you. Here, in the hospital," she adds quickly, seeing how Tevos blanches from her words, gratified from the powerful reaction of fear on her lover's face.
"Yes... that would be prudent," the councilor admits reluctantly. "I... might have an idea on how to smoothen the situation and quench these rumors about our relationship. If the concern is even still relevant, we have very little idea about the state of our homeworld. I will try to make use of the QEC in the Council chambers as soon as I am able."
Aria lets out a snort full of contempt. "I wouldn't shed a tear if those elder matriarchs had all been clawed to little shreds by husks, or worse. Guiding our people with their infinite wisdom and patience, my ass."
"It... sometimes is tempting to agree with that sentiment, yes. But what about you, Aria? I know you didn't expect to end up in a situation like this... it must feel... very strange for you," Tevos remarks quietly. "Are you making any plans?"
"I've been... thinking, yes," Aria says, turning around from the window to face her. "Once you get out of here, and when you have a moment of time... we should talk."
"Talk? Oh my, that sounds serious, Aria," the councilor cannot resist a wink at her secret lover.
"I have realized that whatever plans I make for the future, I can no longer make them on my own. Too many people are involved now, the girls... you, if you still want to be involved, that is."
Tevos' eyes widen from the little hint of insecurity that seems to have slipped into Aria's words just then. "I do want to be involved, Aria, make no mistake about that," she says earnestly. "Goddess, whatever has happened... has certainly changed you. And I think that I... find this change... intoxicating."
"I assume by that you don't just mean my sexy eye-patch?" Aria chuckles, showing that some of her swagger-filled old self still remains in there.
"Not quite, though I approve of that as well," Tevos smiles.
"I think I blame Shepard and T'Soni most of all... the time spent with them, I... I felt myself change... damn, I can't really explain, but... when I heard you and the girls had been taken, I was just so angry... it was unbearable, and it was then that I realized that nothing will ever be the same again."
"It's alright, Aria... everything will be alright," the councilor speaks softly, watching the expression on Aria's face becoming a swirl of emotions, anger and passion. "Rila and Falere are safe, and so am I. I don't know what the future holds for us, but... I have a good feeling about it. And it seems that I will have one more thing to thank Liara and Shepard for."
"Yeah... if Shepard makes it," Aria sighs. "Dumb, stubborn human. Just refused to die... anyone else would have long expired from those sort of injuries. The state she was in when I found her... seen a lot of horrible shit in my days, but that was... some of the worst."
"Liara has been kind enough to update me on Shepard's and her own condition. It seems that while Shepard remains critical, there is some slight improvement. I believe that as soon as I am feeling better, I should make it my duty to visit them and express my gratitude."
"I planned to stop by later, too," Aria admits a little reluctantly. "I can't express gratitude to T'Soni, though, that would just be undignified and make that little bitch far too smug for my liking."
"Yes, we wouldn't want anyone to start spreading rumors that the fearsome Aria T'Loak has gone soft," Tevos chuckles, setting the tray aside. Then she leans back in the pillows and faces Aria with a different kind of stare, full of longing, passion and desire, the kind that makes Aria's own knees go a little weak and wobbly. "Goddess, I have missed you so much, Aria. I would give so much for a moment of privacy with you right now... to feel your lips against mine, to grind my hips against your firm, probing fingers, to experience the wonder of our essences mingling... it has been too long..."
From the way Aria is clenching her fists even tighter, swallowing and licking her lips before replying, Tevos only feels her desire spiking even higher. "Soon. Very soon," Aria simply manages, knowing that the blinds on the windows of Tevos' room do not offer the kind of privacy that they both are craving right now.
"Perhaps it would not be a good idea while the doctors are constantly monitoring all my vital readings. They would get quite the shock," Tevos chuckles, trying to clear the building tensions and making the raw hunger throbbing within her dissipate, but it is a difficult proposition while looking at Aria nearby, seeing the undisguised primal and possessive need on her face, her entire being radiating these powerful waves of raw sensuality. "Though... I think they will become concerned in a few moments, even if we don't actually do anything..." Tevos adds quietly.
Aria's lips curl back in a feral, knowing grin. "Yes... I should go before I kill you from embarrassment," the Pirate Queen nods. "Or... frustration..."
I should have better control over this, I am the powerful and wise councilor of the most advanced species in the galaxy, Tevos mentally chides herself, knowing deep inside that it is impossible for her to even attempt resisting Aria's sheer force of personality, and even more powerful sex-appeal. "Both are equally likely to happen unless you go now, yes," she finally admits with a weak sigh, savoring the victorious expression on Aria's face.
"This might be the only time I agree to take pity on you, Councilor," Aria says imperiously, sauntering past Tevos on her way to the doors. "Don't expect me to give you an easy time when I see you again in a few days..."
"Oh, Aria..." one last needy whisper escapes Tevos' lips as her lover finally leaves the room. "I wouldn't want it any other way..."