Ashley
The overall mood of the ship was somber and yet, less heavy. "Wow, so many people cared about Chey in varying degrees. The whole intervention was moving and my heart was full, Chey had been reached. I hoped I would see the Chey I had come to know and love as sister on Eden Prime." I mused. I felt a tap on my shoulder I hoped it was Shea, but it was Kaidan. "Hey Ashley. About what happened yesterday in the mess. I'm sorry if that looked like more then a friendly hug. Shea figured out I liked her and she was letting me down gently, I misinterpreted the signals. I just wanted you to know, that I know she only wants you and that I would be stepping back. I know you two are waiting till Saren is dealt with, but I'm still stepping back. I sincerely hope that you and Shea will be happy." He said. He held out his hand. I nodded and shook it. "Thanks Kaidan. No hard feelings?" I ask. "I won't lie it makes me sad, but no hard feelings. You are Shea's choice, and I will respect that." He says and our hands let go and he returns to his station.
We docked on Noveria a couple of days later. Kaidan and myself accompany Shea, after a minor altercation with some guards we were on our way to Administer Anoleis office. Or at least we were until Shea went to the shop and agreed to smuggle something for a Hanar. Normally neither of us do well with smuggling, but she agrees just to help out the Hanar. We had agreed on the way back to the docking bay that we would check the merchandise and go from there. It was nothing bad just some weapon mods we didn't need, but nothing morally wrong so we gave it to the Hanar. Shea gets double what he was going to originally pay us. She had quite the silver tongue, I wondered what other talents her tongue might have, but remembering she was a virgin, she probably doesn't know much about what to do with her tongue. I smiled as I was looking at her. "I guess I'll have to teach her, and I will love every minute of it, as will she." I feel a nudge. "Umm Ashley, your looking at Shea with a predatory gleam, it's a bit disconcerting." Kaidan says. I blushed, I was a little surprised that Liara was walking up to us.
"Hey, what's up?" I ask her. "Shea radioed and told me to come, that my mother was still here." She said. "Oh. OK. Hey Shea, Liara's here you need one of us to head back to the ship?" I ask her. "Yeah, I need you to go back Ash. Chey is having a rough day and so I thought she could use some sisterly companionship, so since I can't go, I need you too. Sorry Ash I know you want to stay." She says. "No worries. Be safe. I'll see you later. Liara I hope things work out with your mom. Kaidan you had better keep our commander safe." I said. He nods. "Will do chief." He says. Liara hugs me nd whispers. "Thank you Ashley I will do all I can to keep your heart safe for you, if you keep mine safe while I'm away." She says. "Don't worry between Chey and I nothing will happen to Tali." I whispered back. She kisses my cheek in thanks. Now if only they could admit to each other. "One thing at a time." I think as I get on board the ship, remove my armor and head to Shea's room.
"Hey Ash." She says. "Shea said you were having a bad day, but you seem fine." I said. "Yeah, I kind of tricked her. I'm not saying I'm fine, but I wanted some alone time with you." She says. I arch my eyebrows. "Chey, I know you are hurting and in need of some comfort, but I'm in love with Shea." She starts laughing. "What?" I ask miffed. "I'm sorry. That sounded differently in my head, so I wanted to do something special for Shea. So I thought you might have some ideas, most of mine are too romantic, and well you two have been talking a lot and you have three sisters. So I was hoping you could help me out with what to do." She says. All anger I may have felt disappears and warmth spreads around my heart. "By the way, I already consider you my sister, but I wouldn't mind if it was made official and you married Shea." I spit out the sip of water I had taken. "M-marriage. Marry your sister." I blush fiercely.
Shea
"Noveria is fucking cold. My armor is doing nothing to keep the cold at bay." We had stopped Anoleis's corruption and we stopped an asari from stealing some secret information. Gianna Parasini gave us a pass so we could proceed to the peak 15 station and confront Matriarch Benezia. Which is why we were now freezing our asses off as we wandered through the station fighting Rachni and their drones, trying to get to the hot labs where she was. And it was very fucking cold. How I'd love to curl up to fire drinking hot cocoa while Ashley is snuggled up against me. It was just a daydream but one day we would make it a reality. And I couldn't wait. I hoped thoughts of Ash outside of the Alliance would distract me enough to not focus on how bloody cold it was.
I wondered how Chey was doing, a part of me knew she was tricking me, but whatever she wanted to do with Ash seemed really important. As long as she wasn't doing Ash, I was ok with not having her with me. We finally caught up to the Matriarch, and now here comes the villainous speech that always seemed to happen, even though this was real life and not a movie, book, show, or game. Liara seemed speechless, I could get it, it was one thing to go over in your head what you would say to someone, but it was a lot harder for the words to come when you were facing said person. I hope whatever comes from this Liara can handle.
As the Matriarch took her last breath she gave me what was needed to find the conduit Saren was looking for. To know that someone as strong as Benezia was to lose complete control. This ship Sovereign was more powerful then we first thought. This once difficult task now had become even more daunting. The sudden need for a day off from everything became overwhelming. "I would like just one day, one day to relax." I thought. This mission has wore me down physically, mentally, and emotionally. Liara was quiet, unnervingly so. I became worried she would shut down like Chey, I would let her get the chance to say goodbye properly. I walked a bit away and radioed the ship. "Hey Joker, how long would it take to get to Thessia from here?" I ask. "Thessia? Why do we have to go there?" he asked. "We don't have to go, but I want to and Liara needs to. Her mom was indoctrinated and we had to kill her. Liara is starting to shut down. I want to give her some closure and hopefully help her to move on." I said.
"Gotcha, Thessia from here if we don't stop unless we absolutely have to 3 days going to and coming back. " Okay. Set the course when we return we leave immediately. How is Chey doing?" I ask. She seems to be fine, but Ash and her have been in your room for like an hour, so I couldn't actually tell you." He responds. "Ok we'll be back in about 2 hours. We're going to have to contain the situation here first." I said. "Yes ma'am." He says and we disconnect. "Take 20 everyone, because once we initiate this neutron purge we'll have to run like hell to escape the blast." I said. "Yes, ma'am" Kaidan says. Liara just nods and heads to the other side of the room. "Kaidan, keep an eye on her." I tell him quietly. He nods.
I leave that room and find my way back to Benezia's body. I found a blanket and wrapped her body into it and carried her to the tram station, gently I set her body on a bench. I return to the next room just before the 20 minute rest was over. "Everyone ready?" Affirmative nods around we continue on to the control room. I pull up the system and select the initiate purge command and enter the password then we hauled ass I took the rear just in case someone couldn't keep up. We breath a sigh of relief once we get of the elevator and back into the tram station. Liara notices the body. "I decided we would be taking her back to Thessia to have a funeral for her. I hope that's ok with you." I inform Liara she nods and looks out the windows.