Chapter 8: Meeting with the council (and a date)

The Normandy made it's way back to the citadel. The ship docked and Comander Shepard and the ground team exited the ship. The five made their way to the council chambers. The three council members were on their podium waiting for them.

"Shepard, Nihlus good to see that you completed your objective and prevented a full-scale war on your way back." Tevos complemented.

"Though bringing someone untrained with you is making me question your judgment." Spartacus reprimanded.

"But it was successful, and we can have Dr. T'soni study the beacon found on Eden Prime." Valeran stated simply.

"Uhm counselors may I ask why you all selected me to study the beacon?" Liara asked.

"It's to do with your theory on how the Protheans communicate." Valeran answered.

"We want you to study it and report your findings directly to us." Spartacus ordered. "We have sent you the details and other arrangements to your omni-tool."

"Of course." She responded before leaving.

"Nihlus, Shepard please step forward." The two stepped forward. "We have another assignment for the two of you."

"Your next assignment will take you to Noveria." Valerian explained. "We have obtained reports about rachni."

"That's impossible the Rachni have been extinct even before my species was even aware of the Citadel." Nihlus exclaimed in disbelief.

"The reports came from an unknown source." Tevos explained. "However, the details were in depth with a video of one that we verified as authentic."

"We managed o find the location but not the company behind it." Valerian continued.

"We ask that you keep your objective quit, we do not want a panic over a single video." Sparticus instructed.

"We will be discreet while we investigate." Shepard said.

"Then this meeting with the council is dismissed."

The ground team exited the council chambers. Nihlus looked at Shepard for orders. "Alright, take the day off to cool down and report to the Normandy at 07:00."

"Um mam shouldn't we go to Noveria?" Williams asked.

"No the Normandy still needs to be checked over and to be refueled and the crew including us deserve to have a day off and I still need to visit the Embassy to check on a few things."

"07:00, got it mam." Alenko said heading off to get a drink. "Ash why don't you join me."

"Okay." She said following the lieutenant.

"I'm going to the Specter's area, see you on the Normandy." Nihlus said.

Shepard then walked to the Human Embassy. She entered the embassy to see Anderson and Udina talking about the Hegemony. "The military is in agreement with you Udina it cost too much in human lives and there is no guarantee that we will be able to root out the Hegemony for good."

Udina then noticed Shepard. "Ah, Shepard nice work on your mission despite the grumblings about the dig site destruction."

"There was no other way, especially with the Blood Pack there." Shepard defended. "May I ask what the two of you were talking about."

"No sense in lying to her." Anderson explained. "They're rumblings within parliament that we should declare war on the Batarian Hegemony."

"That's foolish…" Shepard stated in shock.

"We know, I have been sending messages to discourage such actions, but with the asteroid nearly killing everyone on Terra Nova the parliamentarians representing colony worlds close to Batarian space and those from Terra Nova itself want the Batarian problem taken care of." Udina explained. "It won't come to that the Prime Minister is going to announce increased patrols close to Batarian space and other pirate hot spots."

"Anything else that you came here for Shepard?" Udina asked with a bit of impatience.

"I have my next assignment." Shepard answered. "It's to Noveria."

Anderson perked up at the mention of the planet. "Noveria is a planet mostly independent from any form of galactic law." He went on. "The only form of law enforcement authority they recognize are Specters."

"Even then the administrators will make it hard for you to get anything done." Udina interjected. "My guess is that the council wants to test you on how you deal with corporate bureaucracy."

"Thank you I'm going to let you two go back to work."

"Shepard." Udina dismissed going to his holoscreen.

"Good luck Shepard." Anderson said before he to went back to a holo screen.

Shepard exited the embassies and headed for the science center. She entered the building and went to the reception area. "Excuse me, I am looking for the Prothean department."

The VI gave directions, but before she could head that way, she heard someone calling her name. "Shepard."

She turned around and saw Liara walk her way over to her. "I'm surprised to see you so soon."

Shepard smiled slightly. "I just wanted to come and see if you were setting in alright."

"I have been given the tour, but I won't be able to start until tomorrow."

"Well since your free do you want to go out?"

Liara looked at Shepard in shock. "I um sure." Liara stammered.

"Alright, do you want to head to the wards and get something to eat?" Shepard said nervously.

"Anything you have in mind?"

After taking a taxi to the wards both Liara and Shepard walked to the ramen stand. They took their seats and looked through the menu. "So, this is considered a delicacy from your home planet."

Shepard chuckled lightly. "It's actually a common dish in human space."

"I see but some of these flavors are unfamiliar."

"You never encountered human cuisine before?"

"I don't have much experience with your species, I mostly spend my time by myself at dig sites."

"Must be lonely."

"I like it, so it will be very different working on the Citadel."

"Have you ever been on the Citadel before now?"

"I have not." She said. "I think I will have the sea food ramen please."

"Beef please." Shepard ordered.

"What about you commander?"

"Before I went to Therum to retrieve you."

"So how did you come to hear of this place."

"I looked up ramen on my navigator and found this place."

"Then why ramen."

"Growing up back on Earth Ramen was a treat."

"Really." Liara stated in shock.

"The human home world is not a paradise especially if you're an orphan." Shepard explained.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be it's not your fault, I learned to use what I have been through to better myself." She explained as Liara and Shepard received their bowls.

"So how was life before you went to explore Prothean ruins?" Shepard asked.

"Well, beyond exploring prothean ruins I am not tha interesting to be honest." She explained. "I was born on Thesia and was raised by my mother."

"Your father?"

"I never meet my faher, all I know is that she is another Asari." Liara said sadly. "I am what you call a pureblood."

"Is it not common for two Asari to get together?"

"My species has the ability to make mate with anyone no matter the species or gender." Liara informed. "Many see bonding with an Asari as no longer advancing our species."

"I see."

"If you don't mind me asking but what was it like for you growing up?"

"It was tough, I grew up on the streets of Los Angeles also ran with a street gang."

"I never thought of you as running with a gang."

"It was out of necessity, the home I was assigned to was neglictfull, so I ran away and worked for the Tenth Street Reds."

"What did you do?" Liara asked curious to know.

"Nothing major get food for the dealers, throw rock at shop windows but that was rare." Shepard answered. "When I turned 18 I enlisted into the Alliance as it was the only way for me to get out for having a permanent record and possibly get an education."

"Did you get your education?"

"Got my high school degree but decided to continue a career in the military once I was invited to train to become an N7."

"That's incredible that you have overcome so much in your life I can see why I admire you so much." Liara admitted.

"You admired me?" Shepared inquired with a smirk.

"Yes, I do, how you handle everything that stands in your way I think is quire… elegant."

Shepard looked Liara funily before she started laughing so hard, she fell off the chair. "Shepard!" Liar shouted in worry.

Shepard calmed down after a few seconds. "Sorry, it's just no one has ever called me elegant."

"Well, I couldn't think of a better word for it." She explained.

Shepard crawled back onto her chair and continued eating her ramen. "You know when the council told me that you were at a dig site and I found out how young you were in comparison to other Asari in your profession became impressed."

"Really?" Liara asked once again shocked. "I never got impressions of that from anyone before."

"Really?"

"Well like you said I am quite young so much of the Academics dismiss my work and others my age thinks of me as old fashioned because I'm not dancing at a bar, or whatever Maidens do."

"Aren't you a maiden?" Shepard asked her chuckling starting up again.

"Yes, I am but I want to explore ruins and tombs not a bar full of people wanting to look at my ass." Liara said in exacerbation.

Shepard grinned. "Liara did you just swear?"

Liara's blush darkened. "I am known to swear."

Shepard gave her letting her know that she didn't believe her. "Right." She stated sarcastically.

"Okay I might not swear but it shouldn't be that surprising." She spoke.

"I'm sorry but you're just so fun to tease."

"Am I really?"

"Your reactions are adorable."

Shepard finished laughing and quickly finished her bowl and saw that Liara was almost done with hers. "So, anything you wish to do together?"

Liara finished her bowl and put her hand on her chin. She thought for little bit. "Well there is this museum on Protheans I have always wanted to visit." She suggested.

"Sound interesting, put it on your nav paint and lead the way."

Liara took the commander to the museum. The two explored the museum Liara was the most excited pointing and explaining the different exhibits. Shepard jus smiling knowing that she was having a good time and enjoying seeing the displays herself. After a couple of hours exploring, they enter the gift shop. They search through the souvenirs to see if there was anything noteworthy. After a few minutes Shepard found a large t-shirt that said I dig Protheans.

She pulled out the shift and took it to the register to pay for it. The volus behind the counter scanned it and Shepard paid for it. She then noticed the Asari had bought a figuring of a Prothean ship. The two exited the meuseum and headed for a café to sit down for a drink and a snack. "Hey Liara, I found this and thought you might like this." She said showing her the shirt.

After a few moments as Liara translated the text on the shirt. She giggled a little at this. "That's quite clever."

Liara then nervously pushed the model ship towards the commander. "Oh, I can finally star my model ship collection." Shepard said with a wide smile. "Thank you Liara."

"You're welcome." She replied.

Thank you for reading. Hope things are well.