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Chapter 15

She Said

The restaurant looked like it cost more for one dinner here than all four of us made in a month. Of course, Council Spectres don't get paid and neither did the ex-vigilantes or quarian engineers who worked for them. I was glad I was independently wealthy and that Tali had found my money. Heh, maybe the universe would finally do me a good turn and Cerberus just "borrowed" the Normandy to repair her.

Right.

The restaurant, Ariete, was at the top of one of the more massive spires in Nos Astra. All of the outside walls were windows. The interior walls were all clear as well, with various designs and paintings seemingly suspended in the material creating some privacy amongst the tables with interesting artwork in case the conversation stalled awkwardly, I supposed. From what I could see, the table cloths were made of some asari imported fabric I'd last seen draping the walls and furniture of the Consort's office. I knew the cloth would feel like velvet and satin somehow coexisting in the same fabric. The centerpieces were made of flowers from hundreds of different worlds, I even recognized a few that were supposed to be from Earth and Mindoir. Soft instrumental music that had Tali swaying quietly gently dulled out the genteel clatter of utensils on porcelain. The smells coming from the kitchen were already making me salivate, though.

I leaned over to Kaidan as we stood at the maitre d's station, a wide, circular desk of some exotic wood that stood about chest high on me, briefly waiting to be shown to Liara's table. "So, you going to treat us with your big Alliance Commander's salary?" He laughed, and was about to reply when the tuxedoed asari returned to show us to our table.

Our table was in a dimly lit corner of the restaurant with heavier pieces of art surrounding it, creating the illusion of privacy. Liara stood from where she was perched nervously. I felt a brief stab of jealousy looking at her. She always made me feel so awkward. She was still wearing her pale makeup, dimming her usual clear blue to a paler shade. Her arms were covered in white fingerless gloves that reached her biceps. Her dress was sleeveless, like mine, but swept down from a plunging neckline to sweep the floor in more of that white alien fabric. One clear white stone that looked like a one carat teardrop hung from her throat. I felt like I was wearing too much jewelry and too much dress.

She clasped my hands in greeting, leaning in to kiss me on one cheek then the other. I was glad to see when she leaned in to greet Kaidan and then Garrus the same way. Tali merely allowed a hug. Liara gestured for us to sit down and me being me, I took the inner seat against the wall, noting that both Kaidan and Garrus tried to claim it first. It was the better defensive position, if it came down to it, so I claimed it. They were just going to have to content themselves with the chairs on either side of me.

"This is nice." Liara said, inanely. "Old friends, getting together to have dinner. We should really do this more often."

I smiled, I'm afraid it wasn't a nice smile. I didn't like this charade and I'd have preferred to just get the information I needed, pay her, and go. I didn't want her trading on my friendship, or the fact that she was responsible for my resurrection. "Except you didn't call us here for that," I told her.

She shook her head, quickly. I wasn't even sure I saw her do it, but her meaning was clear. "We'll be able to talk freely in few minutes, Shepard, when the night band takes the stage," she said quietly. Louder, she said to Garrus and Tali, "I picked this restaurant because they are also supposed to have decent Palaven cuisine and traditional quarian dishes. The menus will be sent to your Omni-Tools."

Garrus' flared to life and I leaned over to look at it. "Sorry, Shepard, it's all dextro food."

I made a face at Garrus, then nearly jumped out of my skin when Kaidan put his hand on my bare arm. Tingles went to my finger tips and down through the rest of my body. He slid his hand down my arm, lightly playing his fingertips against the sensitive skin, his biotic nerve endings sparking against mine. His 'Tool was open for me to look at with him. His fingers stopped playing with my arm and traveled downward to entwine his fingers with mine and pulled my hand into his lap, still holding it. I looked at him out of the corner of my eye and saw that he was watching me. I was about to pull my hand away, when his thumb stroked lightly across my palm causing me to shiver and a pulse of heat to shoot straight through my body. Damn him for knowing exactly what buttons to push. I tried to pull my hand away, but he gripped tighter and I didn't want to start wrestling with him under the table, so he won this round and got to keep my hand. I pulled my eyes away from his and noticed the pained expression on Liara's face.

Was Kaidan doing this just to be territorial? Threatened by Liara or even Garrus? The thought made all desire for him flee from the anger it caused and heat shot through my body for a different reason. I succeeded in finally wrenching my hand away from him, though it now felt cold in my lap. But I'll be damned if he was going to do that to me again.

"Liara, what do you recommend?" I asked, politely.

Her smile was a little green around the edges, and given Kaidan's possessiveness, I couldn't blame her. I knew how she felt about me, hell, she'd tracked down my corpse! I'd never felt anything for her other than a sisterly bond, but I wasn't going to rub her nose in it. I'd never found asari attractive. I'd date Garrus first. "The steak is from Earth, Shepard. A place named Japan, I believe. The fish is what I prefer, though."

The rest of the conversation revolved around the food and the menu, Tali and Garrus expressing their amazement at the variety. I sat quietly and just watched everyone. All that was missing was Wrex. And Ashley. I cared about the people on my new team, but these… these were the ones that went through hell with me first. These were the ones I'd died to keep safe. I felt a lump creep up into my throat and I grabbed my glass of water and swallowed around it, staving off the tears that might follow. Commander Fucking Shepard does not cry in relief at having her friends back. Even if one of them has always reminded me of the little sister that died on Mindoir. I looked up and met Liara's eyes and smiled.

EDI chose that moment to interrupt Garrus' menu on his Omni-Tool. "Commander, there are several armed hostile sapients advancing on your location."

Garrus swore and began pulling pistols out of various places in his suit. Tali took one out of his hand and he handed a second one to Kaidan. I didn't ask how the AI knew, I figured she had either linked to all their 'Tools or the Concord and through that the security feed in the building. "What, you forgot one for me?" I asked Garrus.

The turian just looked at me, "When's the last time you really needed a gun, Shepard?"

I grinned and activated my Barrier. "You have a point." I felt Kaidan and Liara also bring up their barriers, the low hum vibrating in the back of my teeth and my earbones, tickling my sinuses.

Just as the thugs burst into the restaurant and started firing at the ceiling, the five of us flung the large round table on its side, the pretty porcelain shattering on the sleek granite floor. "Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please!"

I rolled my eyes as we huddled behind it. "Can't they ever be original?"

"We are not here to harm anyone! So, no one be heroes! We just want your valuables and your Omni-Tools." Yeah, over my dead body. Oh, wait, that's been done. "My associates will be coming around for your donations to our cause! Please! Be generous!" That was a human voice.

"He thinks he's a comedian," Garrus rumbled beside me.

"As soon as they get here, there's going to be trouble," Tali pointed out. "We obviously can't give them anything."

"They can't have any of our 'Tools," Kaidan pointed out. "I know mine is fairly heavily classified."

"While we don't get official classified status," I said, "Theirs and Liara's 'Tools can't be handed over either."

"Do you think they're asking for them to flush us out?" Liara asked.

"The thought had crossed my mind," Kaidan replied.

"Is there a back way out of here?" I asked.

"Shepard!" Liara protested, "You're not seriously considering leaving these people to be robbed!"

"Liara, if we fight, and we'll have to, considering who we are and what our mission is, these people will lose a hell of a lot more than their 'Tools and some rings."

Kaidan glanced at me and nodded, "I don't like it, but you're right. We're not in any position to stop this robbery."

Garrus sighed, "They're right, Liara. This is a hostage situation waiting to happen."

"While you all were debating, I pulled up the schematics for the tower we're in. There's a safety exit," the quarian looked up from her 'Tool to orient herself and glance around, "over there." She pointed. "An alarm will sound, but maybe that means the bad guys will chase us instead of hurting these people."

Kaidan and I at same time said, "OK, Tali, lead the way." He cleared his throat and motioned for me to continue. "Garrus, take point. Liara, follow Tali. Kaidan, you and I will take rear guard." The three of us renewed our barriers and followed Tali and Garrus as we all ran in a crouch for the safety exit.

The minute Garrus opened the doors, a klaxon sounded, nearly deafening all of us. I heard the human voice shout orders to get his henchmen to stop us.