Carnivores

Sorry, guys. RL got in the way. (Read: Head colds suck.)

Arcturus Station was crawling with reporters. It had been a week since the bombing, and the media outlets had yet to get any definitive answers from the Alliance. They were like carnivores attacking prey. Shepard was bombarded with questions just as soon as they disembarked the MSV Alcmene. Liara made a noise of discontent and shifted behind Shepard. Joker, who had been on edge the entire voyage, tried to maintain a look of boredom. Kaidan could see the cracks around the edges.

The Commander held up a hand to the reporters' questions. "Ladies and gentlemen," she said, loud enough that those standing near the back of the crowd could hear her. "You more than likely know more than I do about the situation. I'm not here because of what happened."

"Then why are you here?" one of the reporters asked as Shepard began to walk away.

"I may be a Spectre," she said, looking at the man, "but I'm also an Alliance officer. I'm here to turn in my reports."

Another reporter threw out a question. "Couldn't you do that from your ship?"

Shepard snorted at that. "Between you guys and the normal traffic, you've effectively blocked communications to the system." She turned and glared at them. "Congratulations."

Some of the reporters looked sheepish – Kaidan knew those were the FNGs and Shepard could walk right over them – however, most of the reporters looked unimpressed with Shepard's sarcasm. Those were the pros. They were the ones to watch out for. Carnivores.

"What happened to your arm?" someone yelled out as Shepard tried to push her way through the crowd.

"Geth sniper," she answered. "It ate a grenade for its efforts. Excuse me." She shouldered her way through with her good shoulder. Kaidan was right behind her, pushing Liara along in front of him. He stood to the side so Joker could pass. They met eyes a split second. The helmsman's eyes were like ice.

"Almost there," Kaidan assured him quietly. Joker gave a grunt and used his crutches to push through the crowd.

"Where is the SSV Normandy?" asked the nearest reporter Shepard was trying to push aside.

"In dry dock undergoing repairs to one of her classified systems," Shepard told them. "There was a malfunction while running maneuvers in the Traverse. She's still working the kinks out. No one was injured, but we don't want it to happen again. Now, if you'll excuse us. The Commandant of Fifth Fleet is expecting us."

The reporters erupted in questions upon that statement. One of them pushed a mike under Kaidan's nose.

"Is it true Commander Shepard has aliens aboard the Normandy?"

"I can't comment on our crew roster, ma'am," Kaidan replied. "You'll have to go through your regular channels to obtain a copy."

"The roster doesn't say what species they are," the reporter groused.

"It's a human ship," Joker spoke up, his voice clipped in barely-controlled anger. "Why would the roster have to specify the species?"

"Are you a member of the Normandy crew?" a reporter asked Liara.

"My name is Dr. Liara T'Soni. I, I am a… Prothean expert," Liara said, her eyes darting to and fro between the reporters and Shepard. She blinked at the cameras nervously. "Commander Shepard… saved my life from… from the geth."

"Dr. T'Soni? Little Wing?" someone called and the blue of Liara's face paled, her eyes widening. Kaidan made himself a mental note to look up the phrase. There were calls of "Dr. T'Soni" and "Little Wing," and accusing questions about Dr. T'Soni infringing on hanar sovereign rights that had Kaidan blinking in bafflement.

"What's a known Prothean tomb raider doing with the first human Spectre?"

"I am not a, a tomb raider," Liara spat hotly. Scowling, she turned and faced the inquisitor. "I'm an archeologist. I'm trying to link cycles of extinction… of, of galactic scale. The Prothean extinction is only one of many over the course of the lifetime of our galaxy. The geth attacked me at my excavation site. Commander Shepard happened to have been investigating in the area and rescued me from certain death."

"Are you Shepard's alien lover?"

Liara put a hand to her head. "Oh, Goddess."

Shepard reached back and pulled Liara away from the reporters and whispered fiercely in her ear. Liara ducked her head, nodding. When another reporter made to ask a question, the asari shook her head. "I'm sorry. No more comments," she told her. The questions didn't stop.

By the time they reached the elevator, the questions had become ludicrous. The MPs at the elevator had their hands full trying to keep the reporters back.

Liara shook her head in wonder as the doors shut and Shepard programmed the floor into the elevator's interface. "Human reporters are just as bad as asari reporters."

"Welcome to the limelight," Shepard said drily. She stood as best she could in parade rest.

"Carnivores," Kaidan remarked. She gave an unladylike snort and rolled her eyes in the affirmative.

"Was it like this before, ma'am?" he asked. "After Terra Nova, I mean."

She nodded. "Didn't have a blue alien babe with me last time. Can't wait for the spin on this," she said, her voice dripping in sarcasm.

"You… you're enjoying this?" Liara asked, appalled. Kaidan opened his mouth to explain sarcasm but Shepard beat him to it.

The Commander's response made his jaw drop. "I haven't had a private life since before Akuze. Might as well have some fun."

At Kaidan and Liara's wide-eyed looks, her lips quirked and she added, "Relax. I was just kidding."

Joker laughed for the first time since learning about the bombing.