Ch 7: Only in Fairytales

Shepard stood in front of the Normandy navigation console debating what to do. The operation to retrieve Dr Liara T'Soni from the planet Therum was not exactly textbook, but a success none the less. They still had one last lead on Saren, but because of injuries sustained on Therum, Dr Chakwas had assigned Shepard three days of light duty before she could go back out into the field. As much as Shepard wanted to input Feros as their next destination, they had to hang around for a couple more days before she was medically eligible to participate in any ground teams. As she contemplated her next course of action, Joker notified her of an incoming call.

"Commander Shepard, my name is Nassana Dantius. I have a job for you. I can't say any more in an unsecure communication. It's time sensitive, so I need you to come see me at the Citadel. I'll be waiting in the diplomat's lounge on the Presidium."

Shepard frowned. "I'm sorry, but I'm not going to be back on the Citadel any time soon. If it's time sensitive, you need to find someone else."

Shepard heard Nassana gasp. "Commander, this is critical. If you can't get here... Is there any way for you to contact me on a secure channel? I absolutely must speak with you on this matter! Please..."

Shepard heard the desperation in her voice. "Send me your secure contact info and I'll call you right back." She then contacted Joker. "Jeff, put us in orbit at the relay and hold while I find out what the heck is going on."

Once the secure link was established, Nassana told a story of how her sister Dahlia was a crewman on a cargo vessel that was taken by privateers, and how she had subsequently received a ransom request with a voice print as proof of life.

Shepard considered the implications quickly, before responding. "I think I know what you're going to ask me, because paying ransoms seldom actually meets with success. I'm sorry, Nassana, but my mission is very important. I can't divert off to the Terminus Systems to chase down slavers, no matter who they may have. You'll need to hire someone else."

Nassana replied just as quickly. "That's just it, Commander. You don't have to divert anywhere. I tracked their transmission back through several comm buoys and it led to the Artemis Tau cluster. You're already there. They're on Sharjila, in the Macedon system. Please, Commander!"

Shepard was surprised that Nassana knew where they were. "I don't think I want to know how you know where I am right now, do I?"

The lie rolled easily off Nassana's tongue as she answered, "I work for the Asari government, Commander. Extortion against an Asari official is taken very seriously. When I took this to Councilor Tevos, she recommended I contact you immediately."

"I see." Shepard realized the diversion would cost her less than twelve hours, so agreed. "I'll do this, but I can't offer any promises. And I need to continue my mission, so Dahlia may end up a guest of the Normandy until I can get her back to Citadel space. I can't offer you any type of timeframe, not even for a confirmation as to whether or not we are successful, but I'll try to let you know what we find."

Since the communication was audio only, Nassana smiled as she offered her response in her best distraught voice. "Understood, Commander. I... I leave this in your capable hands. Thank you."

Nassana relaxed back in her chair with a smug expression on her face. Perfect.

Based on the time sensitive nature of the mission, Shepard begged for a medical release from Karin, finally getting it when she promised both to take Wrex for the heavy lifting and to swear off any use of her Vanguard charge. "So help me, Shepard. You come back injured from the mission, this will be the last waiver you'll ever get from me. Understood?" Karin glared at the commander until she received confirmation the message was received and understood.

The team hit the ground with the Mako and did a quick scan. There were a couple of rare mineral deposits and a crashed probe that were definitely worth surveying and salvaging, and some type of outpost, removed from the main stronghold. Shepard decided to check it out, to make sure the slavers couldn't call for reinforcements and engage the team on two fronts. The camp ended up being abandoned, but salvage turned up a theoretical dissertation by some Asari Matriarch named Dilinaga. Shepard grabbed it up, thinking that perhaps Dr T'Soni would be interested in it. After stowing their salvage in the Mako, the team headed off to locate the pirate base. As they approached, they quickly discovered it had multiple watchtowers with snipers who would have to be incapacitated before the team could safely dismount the Mako. To that end, Wrex happily operated the guns and Tali was on the electronics suite, monitoring shields and radio traffic. After a few moments of frantic driving and dodging, the stronghold's exterior defenses were down.

As soon as they cleared the Mako. Tali worked at hacking the door lock. Once unlocked, the team rolled in through the door and were immediately swarmed by multiple hostiles. Wrex was in his element and charged forward, throwing warps and blasting away with his shotgun, with Shepard hot on his heels. Tali launched her attack drone and quickly took cover, immediately going to work at taking down the enemies' shields. As Shepard tossed out lifts, it was a fifty-fifty shot as to whether she would finish off the enemy with weapons fire or if Wrex would detonate it with a warp. Seeing how much Wrex loved to watch things explode, the warp method turned out to be pretty popular. It wasn't long before the facility was clear of hostiles and the search began for signs of any captives. There was only one closed room downstairs, which turned out to be a small office with a few small storage lockers. Tali had them open in a flash, and the team acquired some decent gear upgrades, complements of the pirate band. The team completed the sweep of the lower level with no sign of Dantius.

Shepard shook her head, "This isn't looking good. I have a feeling the captives have already been moved to another location. I doubt we're going to have very good news for her sister. I hope we didn't tip them off when we went to that abandoned camp first." The team eased into a stairwell and carefully moved to the upper level, weapons at the ready in case someone was trying to hide or catch the team by surprise. Wrex hoped there was someone up there, but his desire was left unsatisfied. The layout was identical to the first floor, and there was only one office upstairs as well. Just as Shepard feared, no captives and no Dahlia Dantius. Wrex and Shepard searched the various storage lockers while Tali hacked into the computer, hoping to find some clue as to where they may have moved any hostages.

The search was interrupted by a surprised exclamation from Tali. "Shepard! You're not going to like this... not one bit."

Shepard turned to the little Quarian with a frown. "What am I not going to like? Where did they take them?"

"They didn't take any captives anywhere. The sign-on for this computer... and all the messages moving back and forth? They belong to Dahlia Dantius."

Shepard stopped dead in her tracks. "What the hell? You telling me Dahlia wasn't kidnapped... that this is her office and she ran the operation?" The scowl on Shepard's face indicated a storm was definitely brewing.

Tali almost shrunk in on herself, knowing what Shepard's reaction was going to be. "That's exactly what I'm saying, Shepard. She was in charge... and based on this picture, she was the Asari we killed downstairs." Even though no one could see her face behind her envirosuit, Tali grimaced as she finished explaining. "And that's not all. There are messages in here back and forth to her sister. Nassana knew."

"Hell's bells! That bitch used me to eliminate a potential threat to her political career!" Shepard's face turned red with anger. "Tali, download that information and pass it to my omnitool. Nassana and I are gonna have a chat." Shepard kicked a nearby crate in frustration.

Wrex didn't help matters when he chuckled. "Looks like you just became a merc for hire, Shepard. Who knew you'd ever fall so low?"

His continued laughter was met by a withering glare from the commander as she growled a response, "You're lucky you're my favorite Krogan, Wrex."

"Ah. Just pulling your chain, Shepard. The Krogan are used to being screwed over by politicians. Welcome to the club." Wrex was still entertained by the whole chain of events, but at least he quit laughing out loud about it.

Once they cleared the airlock, Shepard made a beeline to the comm room, not even bothering with a secure channel. Nassana answered quickly. "Commander Shepard, I didn't expect to hear back from you so soon..."

"Cut the act, Dantius. I know the truth now, and I don't appreciate you turning a Council Spectre into a hit man for hire. I downloaded enough information off the computer systems at the merc base to prove you knew all about their operation and that there was never any kidnapping. You're done."

Nessana scoffed. "Oh, please. You must understand why I did what I did. If I had reported my sister through proper channels, I would have been placed on suspension at a minimum. If she wasn't apprehended quickly, I may have lost my job completely. To me, that wasn't a viable option. I promise you'll be well compensated for your efforts on my behalf."

Shepard growled, "Don't 'oh, please' me and keep your blood money! I'm turning all the evidence we collected over to Tevos and C-Sec, but only because it may be a while before I return to the Citadel. And if for some reason they don't act on it right away, trust me, you don't want to still be on the Citadel when I do return."

The veracity of Shepard's response caught Dantius off guard. "Seems a bit harsh, don't you think, Commander?"

"I'm not a big fan of politics, I don't like being played, and I hate being lied to. Consider yourself warned." Shepard reached over and terminated the connection before Nassana had a chance to reply again. The commander shook her head in disgust. "You get all that, Joker?"

"Roger that, ma'am. I'll assemble all the logs and forward them to you to add to the data you collected from the base. Am I pointing the nose to Feros now, Commander?"

"Yes. We've wasted almost twelve hours in this system. We don't need to waste any more."

Shepard stepped into the medbay and talked briefly with Karin, letting the good doctor do a quick physical exam to prove she came away from Sharjila with no injuries. Karin practically smirked, "See, Commander. You really can be careful when properly motivated." Shepard just laughed and stepped into the back room to speak with Dr T'Soni.

As the door slid open, Liara practically jumped out of her chair. "C-Commander. It's... uhm... nice to see you. Are you coming to check up on me?" Liara was obviously nervous and fiddled with her science suit as if to make sure she had it on correctly and all zipped up. Even after she smoothed all the nonexistent wrinkles, she still fidgeted with her hands. She must have realized what she was doing, because she suddenly squared her shoulders and clasped her hands behind her back. She was still fidgeting, but at least her hands were where the commander could no longer see how nervous she was.

"I just wanted to make sure your accommodations were satisfactory and that you have everything you need." Shepard smiled at the young researcher, trying to put her more at ease.

"Oh, yes, Commander. It is more than adequate. Much more than I expected actually." Liara hesitated for a moment and shifted her eyes to look down at the floor before continuing. "I do not mean to offend, but... I was unsure as to what my status would be when I first came aboard. I know you said that you trust me, but I can tell by the looks I get from the crew that the rest do not feel the same. I... I was unsure when I first awoke if I was a passenger or... a prisoner." Liara's posture broke and she started to wring her hands again for just a moment before she folded her arms across her stomach in a protective posture.

Shepard shook her head. "I'm sorry, Liara. I should have been more clear about your status when you woke up in the medbay. I certainly didn't mean to cause you any uncertainty or distress. I imagine you have it figured out by now. After all, I don't make a habit of personally delivering food to prisoners." Shepard smiled as she watched Liara's blush of embarrassment creep up her neck. "You do understand you are a full-fledged member of the crew now, right?"

Liara responded quietly. "Yes, Commander. I appreciate the faith and trust you have placed in me. I can only hope to live up to your expectations." She paused only briefly before continuing. "I never did properly thank you for saving me from the Geth. If you had not shown up, I..."

Shepard's expression turned serious. "I'm just glad we got there in time." It was Shepard's turn to pause as she tried to remember what she had been talking about. Something about this Asari put her off her game. Shepard found herself easily distracted by the attractive maiden. "Anyway, as a crew member, the Normandy obviously provides room and board, and if you require any specialty equipment or gear in addition to what has been provided, just let me know and we'll try to get it for you." The smile returned to Shepard's face. "I'm glad to have you aboard, Liara."

Liara smiled back for the first time. "I am happy to be here, Commander. Given the circumstances, I feel much more secure with you... uhm... on the Normandy, that is, than at the dig site." Liara cursed at herself for letting that slip, but was relieved when the Commander made no comment on her change of phrasing.

Shepard's eyes suddenly went wide, realizing that speaking with Liara had made her completely forget the reason she had come in the first place. "Oh, hey. Speaking of dig sites...when we were on Sharjila, we came across an abandoned camp and when we dug through the crates we came across this writing by Matriarch Dilinaga." Shepard dug it out of her pocket and handed it over to the surprised Asari. "Thought it might interest you."

Liara was stunned. "Commander Shepard! Matriarchal writings from our age of interstellar exploration are cultural treasures to my people! This is extremely valuable... Why would you give this to me? If you turned it over to Councilor Tevos, it would certainly curry favor!"

Shepard practically snorted. "Any favor I got from the council would be short-lived at best. Besides, you're the archeologist... Even though it's not related to the Protheans, I still have more faith in you than in the councilor to make sure it gets into the right hands."

Liara was still in shock at what she was holding in her hand. "Goddess. I cannot possibly thank you enough, Commander. I will certainly ensure this gets to the Thessia Guildhall for study."

"I'm glad you like it, Liara. I'll see you later." No longer angry over the whole Dantius incident, Shepard was grinning ear-to-ear when she walked out, caught up in the Asari's enthusiasm and feeling inordinately pleased with the ability to bring a smile to the archeologist's face. The trip to Sharjila had been worthwhile, after all.

After dinner, Shepard walked around and talked with some the crew, just trying to get a handle on how well everyone was integrating. Ashley seemed to have done a complete turnaround, and was openly chatting with Tali, trying to explain some of the human colloquialisms that seem to cause so much confusion. It made the commander think of Liara...she has the same issue with understanding non-literal phraseology. Liara tended to be more of a loner, secluding herself in her room behind the med bay. Maybe it was time to check in on the good doctor, and make sure she was settling in comfortably and had eaten dinner. Shepard almost stopped dead in her tracks when she suddenly realized where her thoughts had taken her. By the Great Mother! I am infatuated with an Asari! I mean she's beautiful, but damn! I can't possibly be in love with someone I just met. She resumed her normal pace after a quick shake of her head, but did not change her destination.

Shepard walked through the med bay to the back room they had provided the archeologist. As the door slid open, she took in the view once more. The area was really no more than a glorified storage room, but there was ample space for a cot, a small desk with a private terminal on it and still a little bit of room to move around, even with a few storage crates still sitting around. Not much, but more private accommodations that any of the rest of the crew had. Still, Shepard had to admit, the best thing in the room was the person now occupying it. Liara stood up when Shepard entered the room. "Hello, Commander. Is there something I can help you with?"

"Hey Liara, no, nothing specific, but I'd like a chance to just talk. I like to get to know my crew, more so than what I can read in a dossier; that is, if you don't mind and if you have time." Shepard observed the Asari, to see that her response matched her body language.

"Certainly, Commander. I would like the opportunity to learn a bit more about you as well. I hope that does not seem too forward?"

Shepard chuckled. "Not a bit, Liara. Though you're going to wear out my title if you keep calling me Commander every time you speak to me. My rule is if we're off duty, it's Shepard...Unless you want me calling you Dr T'Soni all night, that is. We can stay formal, if that would make you more comfortable, though honestly, I prefer calling you Liara." A spike of hope came when Liara started nodding her head in agreement.

"Agreed, Com...ah, Shepard. I will admit, I am used to being alone much of the time, so my social skills are not well developed. One would think otherwise, being a daughter of a Matriarch, but my mother was always busy, so I was normally either alone or with one of my mother's acolytes or commandos. I actually preferred it that way."

Liara wrinkled her nose, as if recalling an unpleasant memory. "People expected me to follow in Benezia's footsteps...they wanted me to become a leader of our people. But I have always felt drawn to the past; the Protheans were these wondrous mysterious figures. I wanted to learn everything about them." Suddenly, Liara looked troubled. "Perhaps if I had stayed, Benezia would not have allied with Saren. None of this makes sense to me. I have not actually seen her in many years, but I know her, or at least I did. This was not like her. Something changed."

Shepard suddenly felt the need to smooth the worry lines from the Asari's forehead. "It's ok, Liara, we'll figure it out, given enough time. Besides, tonight, I came here to talk about you, not your mother."

Liara ducked her head, blushing. "I..I am sorry, Shepard, I do not know what to say, I am afraid I am not very interesting. I spend most of my time on remote digs, unearthing mundane items, buried in long forgotten Prothean ruins. Most people are not very interested in that sort of thing and find it very boring."

Shepard frowned, "That is so not true. At least not for me...I love history. Besides, don't sell yourself short, Liara. I know you've written a least a dozen papers... Just because your people don't give you the credit due, doesn't mean the rest of us aren't paying attention. But I do have to say, the solitary life you describe sounds dangerous, and lonely..."

Liara shrugged, "Until the Geth followed me to Artemus Tau, I never found myself in any situation my biotics could not handle. As for the solitude, well, that is one aspect that most appealed to me. Sometimes, I just need to get away from other people. You have witnessed my inadequacies in social situations, so you should understand why I sometimes prefer to spend my time in the field on remote digs. I always seem to say something embarrassing around other people."

Shepard cocked her head and gave Liara a rakish grin. "I think it's part of your charm. You are very straight forward. I can trust what you say, without having to search for ulterior motives. You shouldn't be embarrassed by your sincerity. I like it." That, at least, got a shy smile out of the Asari.

"Shepard, as I have said, I'm not used to dealing with people, especially humans. What little time I have spent with you and your crew, I have already discovered you humans are creatures of action. You, in particular, pursue your goals with an almost indomitable determination. I cannot believe you took on a Krogan Battlemaster on my behalf, when you don't even know me. I find it ... admirable. There is something compelling about you, Shepard...you intrigue me." Liara paused and took a deep breath before the rest of the words came out in a rush, as if she had to get them all out before her courage failed her. "I am very inexperienced in this, yet I... I feel as if we share some type of connection, but I am not sure if it is appropriate to act on my feelings. I am sorry if this is awkward. I am only trying to be honest." Liara stopped, obviously nervous, biting her lower lip and looking at the floor, refusing to meet the commander's eyes.

Shepard reached over gently and lifted Liara's chin, until their eyes met, not letting her look away. "Liara, you're right, there is something between us. I've felt it since our eyes first met. There was a definite spark. I couldn't explain it then, I can't explain it any better now." As Shepard spoke, she watched the heat rise in the Asari's face, creeping out of her collar, up her neck, and finally leaving an attractive blush on her cheeks.

When the commander touched her chin, Liara felt a bolt of electric travel through her being and her skin burned hot where Shepard's fingers caught under her chin. Liara blurted out, "Does this not seem strange to you? We have only known each other a short time. We have almost nothing in common. This makes no sense!" Her blush rose in full at her admission and she pulled her chin from Shepard's grasp and looked away, self-conscious.

Shepard spoke very quietly, "Logic doesn't always work when it comes to relationships, but we do have things in common, Liara. We are not as disparate as it may seem on the surface. We both like history, we're both interested in the Protheans, and because of circumstances, we certainly have a common goal. Quit thinking like a scientist and just let yourself get swept up in the storm." Shepard leaned over a bit to recapture the Asari's gaze and Liara looked into soft green pools full of compassion. "Liara?"

Liara swallowed hard and finally managed to speak. "You make it sound so...chaotic, so... dangerous. This is all a bit overwhelming. I am not used to...this. You. I...I need some time."

Shepard smiled and told her, "Take all the time you need, I'll be around." She closed the distance between them and heard Liara's sharp intake of breath. She cautiously cupped Liara's face with both hands and gently kissed her on the forehead. Then, Shepard whispered in her ear, "You intrigue me as well, Dr T'Soni... I'm not going anywhere. Goodnight, Liara." As she stepped back, she dropped her hands to Liara's shoulders and drifted with a gentle touch down her arms, finally clasping Liara's trembling hands with a tender caress. With one last smile for the beautiful Asari before her, she turned and left the room.

Liara was practically frozen in panic when the commander stepped up and reached for her, having no idea what was coming. Did I not just say I needed time? The feathery kiss on her forehead was a surprise, not unwelcome by any means, and it seemed to send a second lightning bolt down through her whole body, all the way to her toes. She felt like a leaf, shaking in the wind, ready to be blown away by the storm. When Shepard let go of her hands and left, she felt like her only remaining anchor had been torn from her grasp. She finally exhaled the breath she did not realize she was holding, and sat in a heap on her cot. By the Goddess!