Notes:
Amonkira - Lord of Hunters (Drell)
CGC - Center for Galactic Cooperation
Siame - "one who is all", a loved one cherished above all others (Thessian/Source: CDN)
The Value of Friends
Vila Militar, Rio de Janeiro – 2 July 2191
As Sharon finished the story, Adrien blurted, "What were they thinking?"
Misinterpreting the question, Liara responded, "That is what Shepard is known for; it's a part of her normal battle rhythm… something she also calls her 'crash and blast.' Generally speaking, though, immediately following the Nova, she punctuates her attack with a close-range blast from her shotgun." She smiled softly and looked to her siame. "However, that would have been rather difficult to accomplish when a flame thrower and a sidearm were all you had as weaponry."
Shepard chuckled quietly, shaking her head as she answered, "You have gotten way too used to my fighting style, T'Soni."
Aghast, Adrien made a scoffing noise and spoke again. "That's not what I was talking about! I meant the ossilbir! On a borderline hot-house planet like Sathur, that plant would exhibit nearly uncontrolled growth! There's a reason it is only grown on cold planets, inside nurseries and greenhouses, where it goes dormant if it tries to expand outside! Plant that freely… in a temperate environment? There are no controls! Its growth is going to explode… and it's going to be hungry! How did those idiots not realize that?"
Sharon reached over and ran a soothing hand down Adrien's back. "No, babe. Obviously, the governor was not well versed on the agrobiologic… shall we say 'complications'… of growing such a plant. Besides which… the governor's failure was not the point of the story."
Shepard laughed at the expression on Adrien's face. "And the point of the story, given your training at the hands of Cerberus, is likely totally lost on you. Most soldiers are trained to not fight with total, reckless abandon… but with planned, calculated attacks. The first time Ashley Williams saw me do that, when we were chasing Saren on Eden Prime, she thought I was absolutely nuts. She wasn't sure if she should be awed by or frightened of me."
At that, Sharon cocked an eyebrow. "That's easy. She should have been both… and, she should have remembered that when she decided to turn her back on you, only to come back begging forgiveness, later."
"She had her reasons, Sharon, and you know it. Don't zero in on Ashley based on what I went through with Niki. Our relationships were very different." Shepard smiled softly and reached over to take Liara's hand as she continued, "And both of those chains of events worked out in the end. As far as Liara and I are concerned, it was how things were meant to be."
"Besides which, this is supposed to be a celebration, is it not?" Liara gave Shepard's hand a loving squeeze, acknowledging her statement. "So, let us refresh our drinks and start planning that long-delayed super-vacation for the two of you!"
Cipritine, Palaven, Trebia System – 4 July 2191
The star Trebia was hanging low in Palaven's eastern sky, its brilliance only slightly diminished by the debris-laden atmosphere. Garrus Vakarian shaded his eyes against the glare as he searched the horizon back and forth – thirty degrees on either side – for the familiar silhouette of the Turian built, Jorius-class corvette, Aletheia.
Pilot Livos Tanni, having contacted Palaven's traffic control system for approach and docking clearance immediately upon exiting the vicinity of the relay, had also requested the Primarch's Advisor and Systems Alliance Liaison be notified of their imminent arrival.
Garrus, having previously procured a ten-passenger skycar for Shepard's and Liara's visit, had taken his time getting to the spaceport – having been assured Aletheia would need about three hours to arrive.
Sparing a quick glance at his chrono, he returned to scanning the approach corridors for the T'Soni flagship. A brief, metallic flash caught his eye; he looked away, then back. Spreading and dropping his mandibles in anticipation of the happy reunion to come, he watched what could only be Aletheia, slowing its approach to the landing zone in the characteristic nose high, tail down attitude of every Jorius-class corvette ever constructed.
Very few birds of that class are still flying after the damned war. He shook his head sorrowfully at the thought as the ship continued its slow approach towards the pre-configured docking cradle. Detecting the slight wing-wobble of a manual approach, he watched with a great deal of interest as a supremely talented Livos Tanni eased the massive vessel to within a few meters of the landing zone, before allowing the VI 'copilot' to softly settle the hull onto the cradle.
Dropping and spreading his mandibles in happiness, he approached the corvette's nose from its left, as the whine from the main engines rapidly spooled down to a silence, broken only be the numerous tinks and pops of super-heated metal slowly cooling; the main hatch opened with a popping hiss of pressurized air escaping. He waved a greeting to Iryna Velros, who smiled and returned his wave as she extended and lowered the egress ramp.
The first two people down the ramp were T'Soni and Shepard, both of whom he gathered into his arms in a heartfelt embrace. "Welcome to Palaven, Captain… Lady Liara. It's really good to see both of you." Taking a step back from the pair, he asked, "How many commandos will be accompanying you?"
Shepard grinned at her Turian friend. "Riana, of course, plus a team of five." Looking around the spaceport, she observed, "Looks as if a lot of the destruction has been repaired, and the air doesn't appear as polluted as I'd feared, Garrus. It would seem the shrouds are doing what they were designed to do."
Garrus's chuckle was mostly sub-harmonics. "There's still a lot of fine particles suspended in the upper atmosphere. Makes for colorful sunrises and sunsets, but on most days, we can get around outside without needing to wear dust masks." With a wave of his arm, he indicated the nearby skycar. "If you'll follow me, it's a short ride to my home. Desis cannot wait to see you!"
Shepard grinned as she looked around to the commandos. "We're looking forward to seeing her, Garrus… and Ace, of course." She and Liara fell into step beside the big Turian. "I wouldn't expect you to have enough room for such a large crowd to spend the night, Garrus. Is there?"
"… a place for everyone to sleep? Of course, Shepard. Since I work for the government, my home is just a short walk from the Primarch's office complex. As such, there are guest quarters within walking distance as well." With a chuckle colored by his sub-harmonics, he added, "We even have a dining hall that features levo-based foods and beverages, which means we'll all be able to have breakfast together before your departure."
Stopping beside the aircar, he activated the split canopy and multiple doors, as Liara – up to this moment simply content to listen to the conversation and take in the sights, particularly the amount of debris cleanup and reconstruction – commented, "That sounds wonderful, Garrus. It's a shame our current schedule is too filled to allow a longer stay."
Garrus responded as Liara entered and sat in one of the front seats, while Shepard and the commandos filled the remaining seats behind the driver's position. "It means a lot to Desis and me that you are able to take the time to travel here at all." Garrus made sure all the passenger doors were closed before climbing in to sit behind the controls. Energizing the compact powerplant, he brought the extended-length vehicle to a hover, spun it on its axis and accelerated away from the spaceport.
Garrus, having sent a message to Desis during their short trip from the spaceport, wasn't surprised when the main door to his home slid open to reveal the most beautiful female he had ever known. Desis stepped outside to greet first Samantha, then Liara, with a loving embrace. Saying, "I'm so glad you could come visit us, even if only for a day!" Looking at Liara's guard detail, she motioned with both hands. "Come in, all of you. There's enough room for everyone. I have refreshments for you, and we can visit for a bit before we treat you to lunch."
She led the way into her comfortable home. Once the commandos had filed in behind Shepard and Liara, Garrus closed the door and moved about to make sure everyone was comfortably seated while Desis brought a blanket-wrapped bundle from an adjacent room. As Garrus poured drinks for everyone, Dee stopped to stand in front of Shepard. Pulling the blanket down just enough to reveal a small, sleepy-eyed face, she quietly said, "Shepard, this is Acicidia S'mantha Vyessan-Vakarian."
Liara watched Sam's face in happy silence as Shepard held out her arms, prompting Desis to carefully settle the tiny babe into the Human's arms. Saying, "Watch your fingers, Shepard." This prompted Samantha, gently stroking a small mandible, to pause and look up. "She thinks anything near her mouth must be food, and those little teeth are needle sharp." She held up a bandaged finger as proof.
Shepard chuckled. "Noted. I never thought about what an infant Turian might eat." 'Ace' innocently gazed up at the strange face looking down at her. A small hand managed to escape from the blanket and reach up towards the hand by her mandible. With a satisfied grunt, she captured a finger and pulled on it, in an attempt to taste her prize. With a happy smirk, Sam observed, "Pretty strong for one so small." Seeing her hungry mouth open up, Sam pulled back enough to keep Ace from biting down on her prize, prompting an unhappy, high-pitched, flanging squawk of protest. Samantha reluctantly handed the hungry baby back to her mom.
As Desis, accompanied by Liara, moved towards the kitchen, Garrus appeared at Sam's elbow with a glass of Elasa, saying as he handed her the glass, "She always wakes up hungry, Shepard. I'm told that's a good thing… means she's growing."
Nagato, Japan, Sol System – 04 July 2191
After arriving in Japan the previous Thursday, Kasumi had spent a leisurely weekend with her grandmother, Yukiko, reminiscing, helping her with some of the deferred chores around the house – such as dusting up high, hard to reach places and cleaning windows, to name just two – and simply relaxing. She had treated Yukiko to a nice dinner out at two different restaurants, a breakfast meal at a third, and purchased two bottles of Tokutei meishō-shu (特定名称酒) – special-designation saké, the equivalent of a fine table wine – for her nana to enjoy.
Today, she was wearing a summer weight traditional outfit consisting of a full, high-waisted red skirt that fell just across her knees; it was embellished with a number of vertically oriented designs embroidered in gold thread, and was belted with a gold, rope-like tie over a black and red sash. Her blouse overlapped across her chest in a manner similar to a bathrobe; it featured loose, mid-length sleeves with embroidered designs in black, similar to that on her skirt.
Without a hood to hide her head, she had combed her hair, so her bangs just brushed her eyebrows, with longer strands falling on either side of her temples. Her feet were shod in low, slip-on shoes over a pair of short white socks. When she had modeled the outfit for Yukiko, the woman had gushed over how pretty she looked so dressed, embarrassing Kasumi to no end.
Pulling up outside the non-descript building, she quickly discovered the shop she needed to visit was one of three different establishments under a single roof. Climbing carefully out of the skycar – a task that tested her ability to maintain her modesty while wearing a skirt – she stepped through the front door of the Nagato Katana Shop, the middle of the three businesses. At the sound of the doorframe mounted, old-fashioned brass bell, a young man appeared from a doorway behind a modest counter. His eyes lit up when he saw Kasumi, setting off alarms in the master thief's mind. "Ohayō, [おはよう – Hello] and welcome. Takeshi Kurosawa, at your service." Placing his hands together in front of his chest, he bowed slightly as he asked, "What may I do for you today?"
Kasumi nodded slightly; replacing her given name with the word for 'fog', she responded, "I am Kiri Goto, and I am looking to purchase a Wakizashi, or possibly a short Katana." At his look of surprise, she looked down at her clothing for a moment; returning her gaze to the young man's eyes, she added, "Takeshi-san, please… do not form an opinion of me based on my clothing. I am actually quite proficient in the use of either weapon." She paused before adding, "I would also like to purchase three or four practice swords, along with some protective gear. Do you have either bamboo, or hard plastic Katanas or Wakizashis for sale here?"
Kurosawa's smile flattened as he offered a short bow. "I meant no offense, Miss Goto-sama. Please, if you will follow me?" He moved around the end of the counter and led her to a door to her right. "We have a store fully stocked with everything needed to safely train and practice swordcraft." Preceding her through the door, he waved an arm at the shelves within. "Please, browse our selections, Miss Goto-sama. I believe you will find everything you need."
She smiled with her response. "Thank you very much." Moving past the well-stocked shelves, she picked out the protective gear she felt would be most beneficial to her… and Shepard. There were a number of practice swords available. She hefted a Tanto – or short Katana – crafted from a silver-grey resin, followed by a Wakizashi, then a standard Katana; both were made from a similar material, with a balanced weight that felt like the real thing.
Takeshi, holding a sheathed Katana, walked up and held it out to her. "Here is a real Katana for comparison."
She gripped the scabbard just below the opening and drew the polished metal blade in one continuous motion. After taking a couple of practice swings, she replaced the blade in its scabbard without looking down.
"I now see you have more than a little training, Miss Goto-sama. Do the practice swords compare favorably with the steel in your hands?"
Kasumi smiled with her reply. "They do… the balance and weight feel very much like the real thing. My only question now, is how many creds are you going to charge me for all this protective gear, the practice swords and one Katana?"
Donnelly Home, Edinburgh, Scotland – 5 July 2191
Gabriella Donnelly, after unlocking the front door by waving her activated omnitool through the glowing red haptic crossbar, used her hip to shove the heavy door open, then hefted her backpack and overnight bag and stepped into the cool, welcoming interior of her home. Setting the bags down, she pushed the door closed with her butt, relocked it, then moved to and flopped down into the welcoming embrace of her rocking chair.
Violet Sweeney called down the stairs to her, saying, "Ye surprised me, Ma'am – ah wasn't expecting ye tae turn up 'til sometime efter lunch. Gimme a few minutes. Ah will come doon 'n' fix ye a bit o' breakfast."
Gabby grinned as she replied, "I took an earlier flight, so take your time, Violet… please. After all the rushing around I've been doing these past few days, having an opportunity to simply sit and relax for a few minutes is all I need at the moment." She closed her eyes, placed her head against the high backrest and rocked gently to and fro – she would have probably fallen asleep in mere moments if not for the soft touch of a small hand on her knee.
Opening her eyes, she gazed at her daughter, whose grinning expression at seeing her mom was colored with a bit of concern. "You hokay, Mama?"
Putting her hands out, she gathered her little girl up and hugged her to her chest. "Of course, I'm okay, Belle," she said softly. Upon placing a loving kiss on her cheek, Gabby added, "Mom is just a bit tired, sweetie. Aunty Violet will be down shortly. We'll have some breakfast, then I'll begin getting settled back into my normal routine. Sound good?"
"C'mander Hawley be 'ere?" she asked hopefully.
"Hawley?" An echo seemed to have been generated close by her right elbow. She turned her head to look down at her handsome little boy, who had approached silently and was now standing next to her chair, wearing an expression that mirrored his sister's.
She used her hand to lightly ruffle the lush hair on top of his head; splitting her attention between the pair, she replied, "Harley may be here for a visit in a couple of weeks, kids. He just began a new job in Rio… a job that will require his undivided attention for a time, at least until he can learn everything that is expected of him."
While Gabby spoke to her children of Harley Creath's new job as Commander of the System Alliance's Spec Ops teams, Violet Sweeney slowly descended the staircase. Stepping out onto the floor, she approached Gabby as she spoke. "Fàilte hame, Missus! Howfur wis yer trip?"
"It was wonderful, Violet. Even though it's winter there, the weather was breezy and warm… very unlike our winters here." With a teeth-baring grin, she set Belle on the floor to join her brother, then focused on Violet as she rose from her chair and moved to embrace her friend. "It was only three days, but I really missed you and the twins, Missus Sweeney. Did they behave?"
"Th' behaved as always, Missus. Ah let thaim oot in th' back yaird fur a spell yesterday, whaur thay hud loads o' adventures, chasing bugs 'n' collecting this 'n' that." She chuckled as she added, "Running aroond ootdoors in th' braw ocean air tired thaim richt oot; thay wur ready fur their beds efter supper, even wi' havin' a nap efter lunch!"
"Sounds like they didn't miss me at all, Violet," she replied in a slightly self-deprecating tone. Looking at the pair, she said, "Can you kiddos play out here for a bit while Momma talks to Aunty Vo and has a bite to eat?"
Each child nodded vigorously before Belle answered for both. "Yes, Momma. P'ay."
With a sigh, Gabby grabbed the woman's hand and began moving towards the kitchen. "Come on – let's have a spot of brunch; I'll get everything unpacked afterwards." With a slight grin, she added, "I just may find a couple of souvenirs in my backpack."
Gabby sat at the table as Missus Sweeney busied herself at the stove, first to brew some coffee, then to begin cooking some eggs and sausages. "You didn't need tae bring souvenirs, Missus."
Gabby answered with a quiet chuckle. "Of course, I didn't need to… but I wanted to, Vi. You're just so good with the children… you're worth the extra thought."
In a matter of minutes, a big mug of freshly brewed coffee was placed in front of her. Gabby could see there was something troubling her friend, so asked, "What's bothering you, Violet?"
She didn't answer until she had placed a filled plate in front of Gabby, then joined her with a mug of her own. "We hae yit tae speak o' what's tae come, bit Ah hae been wondering, Missus; what's tae become o' me, wance ye 'n' th' Commander pledge yer lives tae each other?" She ducked her head, took a sip from her mug, then added, "It's a discussion we need tae hae, sooner, rather than later."
Gabby's expression took on a hint of surprise. "Your situation here? Your position? That will not change, Violet… not in the least." Studying her dear friend as she ate, she continued softly. "Even after Harley and I are married, he will still have his job in Rio de Janeiro; and I will continue my work here for T'Sere Shipwrights. Unless you want to leave us for another position, the only changes I anticipate happening will be to this house, and those won't be immediate. But I do hope you'll stay on with us… you're such a blessing!"
Violet actually blushed at the praise as Gabby took a couple of sips from her mug, sighed, and continued in a soft voice. "However, I do believe we'll need to move you downstairs. I think my office needs to be remodeled as a bedroom for you." At Violet's questioning look, she added, "I'll ask T'Sere to assist in relocating my office and design workstation into the basement, since the main computer, servers and interstellar transceiver are all down there, anyway." She took a bite of sausage and chewed thoughtfully for several moments before inclining her head towards the back door. "And, I'll have a full bathroom added… perhaps in the mudroom. I think it possible for it to be accessible either from there or from inside your new bedroom, but we'll have to see what can be done."
Gabby could see Violet was contemplating everything she'd just been told, so added, "Violet, the only reason I'm considering moving your bedroom down here has to do with the kids. You know that in just a few short years, Belle will absolutely need her own bedroom. Brother and sister they may be, but they'll each need their privacy as they get older, Belle especially." She did not give voice to what she was thinking. I haven't ruled out having a child… maybe even two, with Harley. Should we be so fortunate, we'll either need to remodel this place even further, or move into a bigger house.
Thinking of having a child with Harley caused a hot spike of desire to slowly spread outward from her core, making her feel all warm and tingly. She had willingly shared a bed with the man just yesterday evening, but only after having previously made good and sure her IUD was functioning correctly. I'll be damned if I allow myself to unexpectedly get pregnant again, came the thought. One time with Kenneth, though it did save my life, was quite enough.
Violet smiled at Gabby over her mug, saying, "I kin completely gree wi' yer assessment. A girl transitioning intae womanhood shuid nae hae tae share her sleeping space wi' a brother, or ony male. Ah wull be happy tae shift doon 'ere in order that Annabelle kin hae her privacy." The perceptive woman's smile became a snarky grin as she asked, "And whit aboot ye 'n' th' Colonel? You're aye young… wull ye bear th' man's bairns wance you're married?"
"Violet!" came the shocked exclamation, accompanied by a deep blush that rose from the exposed skin just below her throat. Knowing her cheeks were completely engulfed in vivid shades of crimson, she giggled nervously as she replied. "Truthfully, I was just thinking about that very thing." Gabby ducked her head for several moments, then shifted just her eyes to study her housekeeper from under her brows. "You do know that Belle and Malcolm were a happy accident, don't you." Statement, not a question.
Violet nodded once as she answered, "I wis tellt o' that… 'n' that it undoubtedly saved yer life, Missus." She held up her hands in a stopping motion. "Ah hae ne'er asked ye aboot this, as it's none o' mah business. Ye wur merrit tae Kenneth oan that frigate, 'n' it's regretful he ne'er knew he fathered twins."
Gabby shook her head once as she replied, "Ah, but he did. I usually forget about this when the subject comes up, but I told him during his visit with me… on the CGC the Christmas before…" she paused at the feelings that memory stirred up. With a soft cough to clear a suddenly constricted throat, she continued, "before his unexpected death during the Quarian conflict."
The blush from before returned as she changed the subject, but she plowed ahead anyway. "I had my implant inspected before my trip this past weekend, Violet. I don't intend to get pregnant before Harley and I get married, and then, only if he and I agree that we're ready for a baby."
"Or two," Violet chuckled, then laughed at the ensuing expression on Gabriella's face. She stood, picked up the dishes and utensils, took them to the sink and began washing. "So then," she said over her shoulder. "Have ye set a date; 'n' whaur wull ye tak' yer vows?"
"We talked about that – briefly. Harley would like for us to legalize our union as soon as possible, even if it's only done in front of a Navy chaplain." Pausing to take a couple of swallows of coffee, she continued, "He believes that I should be able to enjoy whatever benefits there are from being married to an Alliance Navy Commander." At Violet's look of puzzlement, she added, "Health insurance, life insurance…" pausing only briefly to clear the unexpected lump that had formed in her throat, she concluded with, "death benefits."
"My God, Missus! Did he actually say death benefits?"
Gabby nodded as she explained, "He has no one else, Violet. As a military man, there's always the possibility, however remote, that he could meet his end due to an accident, or God forbid, hostile action. He's simply being practical… just one of the many things I love about him." She mopped up the remaining eggs on her plate with a last bit of toast, popped it and a last bite of sausage in her mouth, then finished her coffee. "He told me we can have a big church wedding at some point in the not-too-distant future, in order to repeat our vows with friends and family present, but he is absolutely adamant that the children and I be taken care of financially, should the unthinkable come to pass."
"Sounds like ye fell in love wi' a richt proper jimmy, Missus." Violet rose and cleared the table. "I'll juist dae up th' dishes while ye go 'n' unpack."
"Thank you, Missus Sweeney," Gabby sighed in response.
Oasia, Ilos, Refuge – 8 Jul 2191
Returning to work on Friday, only to have the weekend immediately ahead, normally would have seemed silly. In this case, however, Liara had known she would use the day to check in and determine the status of the various items on her projects list. Then, she would have the entire weekend to meet with the primaries of each, in more casual settings than the respective offices, to create a plan of action to move each project forward. Given the latest developments, Liara's primary focus would be the status of the dig – most important, the leadership performance of Saleesha Kessori. Liara's upcoming exposition at the Serrice College of Archaeology, the date for which was still to be determined, and the timeline for her shift to a full-time professorship all depended on Sal's ability – and agreement – to take over the site director position.
As such, her first stop after a hurried breakfast in the community center was to have a conversation with Rasha, who welcomed her back with her normal 'happy to see you' smile.
"Liara. So good to have you back! How was the trip? Colonel Culver's retirement? Desis and the baby? Oh! And Garrus, of course." She said the last part with a chuckle, with poor Garrus as an afterthought.
"Which of those would you like me to answer first, Rasha?" Liara also chuckled softly, shaking her head as she did so. "The trip in general was fast, but the visits were all long overdue and very enjoyable, however short. Sharon seems to already be settling into the retirement mindset, currently with nothing more on her docket than simply moving in with Adrien and helping out with security at Cliffside, in an 'advisory only' capacity. I was very happy to accommodate her and Samantha getting together for a bit. A lot of fun was had in a very short period of time."
Her face lit with an endearing smile as she continued. "As for our Turian friends, everyone is doing very well, and Ace… Acicidia S'mantha Vyessan-Vakarian… is even cuter than she looked in the pictures! Unless something drastic happens, they promised to meet us at the estate when we are home for the end-of-year holidays." She drew a deep breath before adding, "And now, it's my turn for questions. How did everything go while I was out? Did Sal step up like everyone suspected she would, given the opportunity?"
Rasha smiled. "She is no stranger to leadership, but leading a skyball team of like-minded individuals is very different from running this group, for sure." Rasha gave the leadership prospect, who was well out of listening range, a quick glance before continuing quietly, "But, best thing about her is that she adapts her tactics quickly, like you. It's obvious the people you hired know exactly what they're doing, so Sal shifted quickly from 'directing' to asking what each thought was their best way forward… then picking from the solutions offered."
A now grinning Rasha continued, "It was very effective because it put experience against experience instead of against a relatively young newcomer trying to tell them where to direct their energies. More than anything else this week, I think she learned the real value of softer tactics, like accommodation and pacification. I think, given a bit of time, Sal will settle in quite nicely to a leadership style that will serve her well, particularly as she gains the experience to back up her decisions."
"Thank the Goddess for that!" Liara breathed an audible sigh of relief. "Not that I wouldn't trust you to run the dig, Rasha…"
The Drell immediately cut her off, answering with a smirk. "No worries about that, Doctor. I fully understand the politics of the grant from the college. They need someone credentialed by the university to run the dig, not some unknown Drell with suspect experience."
"You do not have suspect experience!" Liara came hotly to her defense. "Your name was all over my doctoral reports…" Her volume tapered to nothing as Rasha began to laugh, so she rolled her eyes and made a scoffing sound before continuing, "And you know it!"
"The real truth of it, my dearest Doctor T'Soni, is that I love the work, while absolutely hating the requirements… and all the paperwork and headaches… that come along with the entirety of project management. Give me a trowel and an artifact brush? Then, I am in the embrace of Amonkira, as I hunt down those little shards of the past. It is the best I can ask for!"
"So, you are truly okay with me temporarily relinquishing my daily leadership duties to Sal, so I have time to prepare my exposition on the musical language of the Inusannon?"
"Absolutely." Rasha nodded emphatically. "You only have to promise me one thing."
"And just what would that be?" Liara gave her a sideways look, a bit of a smirk appearing on her face as she asked, thinking it was going to be some ridiculous, teasing request.
"That you leave all the team members here…" Rasha ushered up her a most serious expression as she continued, "… over the entirety of the holiday period. I mean, we love house T'Soni, particularly the estate… but I'm sorry… the Thessian winter in Armali sucks, and I have absolutely no desire to be subjected to that cold and snow again."
At that, Liara laughed heartily for a few moments before catching her breath to answer, "Truth be told, I was already planning on leaving Saleesha and the entire team here… to continue working, just as they have this past week." She paused a second before adding, "Of course, anyone who wants to come to the Estate for the Human holidays of Christmas and New Year's will be provided with the transportation necessary for the round trip to Thessia and back, aboard one of the frigates."
Liara's face suddenly took on an expression that Rasha knew well, prompting the Drell to ask, "And just what haven't you told me yet about why you're doing all this? You're thinking of leaving… semi-permanently, or even permanently… aren't you." Statement, not a question. "What's going on, Liara?"
Liara pursed her lips for a long moment before beginning the full tale of the conversation she had with Dean Tevany. Rasha remained respectfully silent the entire time, until Liara had finished. As the Asari looked at her, awaiting some form of response, Rasha could not help the smile that started to spread across her lips. "Well, then. It's about damned time they recognized you for who you actually are, instead of seeing you as simply some young Asari maiden with nothing better to do with her time than play commando or stripper."
Rasha's smile vanished and her voice turned serious as she continued, "I have to admit, I'm in Matriarch Aethyta's camp when it comes to that, Liara. You're more intelligent, more mature… and more capable… than most budding matrons I have met within the field of archaeology. You've done more, traveled more places, and seen more living in your 100-plus years than most of them have seen in their 300! It's about damned time someone recognized that and gave you a job commensurate with your abilities!"
"Perhaps so, but it still feels odd." Liara's brow creased as she continued, "I mean… full professorship as a maiden? How will my peers look upon that?"
"Oh, please! You're one of the saviors of the galaxy, Liara!" Rasha scoffed. "Who gives a crap what they think? No one believed you about the Reapers… and those machines damn well proved your supposedly insane theories!"
"Even so, that was a theory I would have preferred to remain unproven." Liara smiled lightly as she spoke those words, given their victory over the machines.
"Agreed," responded Rasha, a small, matching smile appearing on her face. "But that is beside the point." Her voice was very matter of fact as she continued, "It was you who proposed the theory that later turned into fact. It makes no difference that it was not a pleasant truth, because without your knowledge, Shepard may not have sought you out… and our cycle could have ended very much the same as every other past one that had been a scourge upon our galaxy, for time immeasurable. Beyond all odds, you and Shepard led the forces that broke that cycle! I know you are tired of hearing it, but both of you deserve the accolades and benefits that come along with such a spectacular achievement! You're galactic heroes, dammit, whether you want to be known as such or not. Like your theory, not wanting it to be true doesn't change a thing."
Liara closed her eyes for a moment, drawing a quiet breath and exhaling a sigh. Looking once more at her friend, she pasted a smile on her lips and replied, "I know… but simply knowing a thing doesn't necessarily make it any easier, does it?"
"No, it most definitely does not." Rasha chuckled softly and shook her head in agreement. "But, on the other hand, knowing Sal is quite capable of stepping into the leadership position here, does make it easier for you to make the transition requested by the dean. Besides, if you are honest with yourself, what could possibly be better than getting back home, having a normal daytime schedule of class lectures, and going home to the likes of Samantha Shepard at the end of every day… without having to worry about who would be the next one to try to kill you?" She punctuated her question with a teasing grin, making Liara chuckle.
"Well… when you put it that way, I have to admit it is hard to refute." Liara smiled and stepped toward Rasha, wrapping her friend in a hug of thanks. "Now all I need to do is figure out how to tell the Ambassador… the Protheans… and Sal."
Rasha laughed. "Don't be all worried about that quite yet, Doctor. We still need to give the SILC time to finish deciphering that music… then give you time to prep your presentations. Just those two things will easily take us into next year, no doubt! I would venture a guess that the earliest you will become a lecturing professor would be the start of the next fall semester, in late August… and that doesn't include any ambassadorial staff duties that could delay even that start date." The Drell smiled widely. "And, more importantly, we will all help you accomplish those tasks, so don't you worry too much about any of it. You have friends, here, Doctor."
Liara smiled, somewhat bashfully, color appearing on her cheeks as she replied, "I know I do… and I count on every single one of you… every single day."
