Fiery steps.

Wednesday

Thessia's song Hotel

Liara T'soni

Her luck couldn't get any worse.

The betrayal of her mother coupled with the toll taken from losing her team on Therum only left her with a sense of dread and hopelessness at her situation. While most of her fellow asari would wave off this kind of experience as something transitory and negligible in the life of an asari, she began to see that this was a foolish notion as no living soul should have to go through such a thing to begin with.

The asari were a long lived species and while the younger races sprinted towards what success they could achieve during their comparatively shorter lifespan she saw the disinterest of her kind as something foolish and detrimental.

While the people around them toiled and worked all of their lives her own species trifled in a hedonistic manner and called it a 'sophisticated' lifestyle.

Liara saw wisdom in trying to understand those that lived alongside her and the rest of her kind. While the rest of the asari people had only reductive thoughts linked with each species of the galaxy she dared to challenge the preconceived notion that the rest of the galaxy were nothing but malleable fools who were easy to manipulate and at the service of the asari.

She wished to show her kind that there was much to learn from them, especially those that came before.

But despite holding these beliefs in high conviction there was the undeniable truth that the elders of her kind held ultimate power as they swayed the younger maidens to their whims.

And as she was forced to face this unpleasant reality Liara as she saw said elders hold her fate in their hands.

As Liara continued to watch the screen she saw the matriarchs debated the most recent developments in regard to the young doctor and her mother and frowned as most members of her republic issued insults and despictive remarks towards her person and matriarch Benezia.

The government of the asari race acted beyond the confines of more traditional structures. Each citizen of a particular republic was issued immediate representation and political power within the whole government as they were afforded an immediate electronic vote on any matter. This was issued as part of the late notion of her people regarding world governance since the Asari acted as loose confederacies for most of their history.

The action of combing through the sheer quantity of messages and communications issued to each particular session was such a volumetric task that people and VIs were employed to curate these messages in real time and pass particular queries along.

The more spiritual amongst her kind would point to their old goddess Athane, who stood as a symbol for cooperation and compassion, for being responsible for such a system to exist in the first place. This might have been what propelled her people towards hearing and acknowledging each voice in the state.

But she found that these particular ideals were working against her that day…

Benezia had been an influential figure among the matriarchs of the Thessian republic. Liara did not see it then but she now found that her political standing shielded her from the true feelings that her people shared about 'purebloods' like Liara.

This term was associated with the old ways of the Asari. Where originally they only had other members of their species to reproduce with, they now existed in a galaxy where genetic diversity among the other races pushed her species into abandoning the partnership of other Asari.

She had to see as other members of her race called her names that only meant to insult and mock the young doctor.

Eventually, Liara watched distraught as a vote was called by one of the matriarchs that demanded the revocation of her citizenship from the Thessian republic…

This would brand her an exile from her homeworld.

Forcing her to look for citizenship along another republic. But this basically branded her a nobody and any kind of support her government could give her would be gone.

Liara watched with tears as her people began to vote for her to be exiled.

She could not see this anymore.

She turned off the terminal and began to stare at the walls of her hotel room as she waited for the verdict to be over and a notice to be sent directly into her omni-tool telling her that the person she used to be was no more.

Liara was certain that she would be exiled.

She began to sob slowly, then this sobbing turned into outright crying as her fears were realized and a notification appeared in her omni-tool signaling that she was no longer a member of the Thessian republic.

This meant that her homeworld was not her home anymore.

Liara felt ashamed. She was a grown adult but she wept through the afternoon as she felt distraught.

As the day turned towards twilight and then to night Liara kept sobbing slightly as the reality of her situation continued to hound her.

She did not know what to do… Liara found herself alone in a galaxy empty of any friends or family that would aid her.

She was alone…

Liara just rested on her bed without the will to do anything.

What was she to do?

Her thoughts turned to her mother. She remembered the kind Thessian spring as they both strolled through their favorite park. Liara thought of how beautiful and graceful her mother was as they passed other Asari along their walks.

Why would Benezia betray her own daughter… her own child?

…

Liara frowned and got up from her bed, she wanted answers for this. But while she could not get to her mother now she could get in contact with people who might know where she was…

She thought of those people she could contact on the citadel. Her best bet would either be the senior Asari within the citadel's embassy or maybe councilor Tevos…

As if fate decided to reward her now proactive stance she was alerted by her omni-tool once more.

In her inbox she found a message that overcame the grim sight of the one that confirmed her expulsion from Thessia.

It was addressed by Councilor Tevos.

Liara wasted no time in combing through the content of the message.

It consisted of a simple petition to meet. She found the situation too convenient to be a simple coincidence but decided that the best course of action in tracking her mother would be to meet with the councilor.

But she wasn't naive.

She quickly drafted a message requesting assistance to the only person she could trust now…

Shepard.

David's apartment

Ashley Williams

Ashley did not enjoy it when she was forced to act in a feminine manner.

Don't misunderstand her, she clearly understood that some women wished to act in that manner because they wanted to, not because they were pressured into being like that.

In her youth she enjoyed the time spent with Jane as they talked about fashion or the next fad. Her time in the alliance had morphed her outlook on life to the point where her favorite things would become more like tasks over time.

After she graduated from the academy and went to become a full fledged grunt this previous personality had become not but a distant memory.

Ashley was a career woman and this meant that not heaven nor earth could force her to be anything but what she wanted to be.

But Jane Shepard was a creature from hell.

"Come on Ash. Kaidan is gonna grow a beard by the time you are done" Jane began to berate her friend.

"And whose fault is that, asshole?" Ashley said as she shifted uncomfortably in the dress that had been lended to her.

"Mine, of course. But that doesn't mean I don't want my friend to look the best!" Ashley could picture the grin with which she was most likely saying this.

Damn that silvertongue of hers.

"Fine… I just hope the damn zipper doesn't break" Ashley Williams walked to the bathroom door and made her way to present herself to her expecting friend.

She may be out of practice but this did not mean that Ashley would neglect her own image as some might have suspected. She found that the gray dress that Jane had given her might have been a size too small for her but the good intention of Jane was not lost on her.

For some reason that still eluded her, Ashley found that she took more than necessary to make certain that her makeup was perfect.

But as she opened the door she was surprised to see as her friend began to smile honestly at her.

"I know… I look ridiculous" She felt that the miniskirt was a little too short for her.

"No, Ash. You look beautiful" Jane continued to look at her with a knowing smile "Your date is gonna love it" Ash did not know why these words made her a little bit happy but she ignored these thoughts and began to accompany her friend as they made their way out of the apartment…

"Where were we going again?" Ashley asked her friend as they hailed a cab.

"I originally thought about inviting our dates to the Silver coast casino, but I did not wish to scare my date with fabulous taste" Ashley chuckled at the words of her friend. She did not ask their destination as she wanted to see what kind of thing Jane had in store.

"So you are still not going to tell me the name of your mysterious date?" Ashley asked as the cab began to take them on their merry way.

"Nope" was Jane's answer.

Some time later…

The cab finally stopped as their relatively long journey finally came to an end.

Ashley found herself truly surprised when she realized that the place where Jane had taken them was extremely familiar to her.

"I'm impressed Jane" Ashley began "I did not expect you to take me to a place with so many memories" she continued as she found herself along the same terrace where she had hunted for Garrus, Wrex and Tali not long ago.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Jane asked as she began to lead her friend towards a set of stairs.

"To make a long story short it was here where we recruited the aliens that now live in our ship" Ashley responded as they made their trek up the stairs and began to near… the flux casino?

"Aliens?" Jane asked a little insulted "You mean our crewmates?"

"Yeah, whatever" before Jane could begin to berate her, Ashley asked the obvious question "Why the Flux, Jane? Don't you know its dance floor is the size of my room?"

Her friend smiled as she forgot all about the crude comment from before "Exactly" the smile she gave did nothing to reassure Ashley.

They finally entered and to Ashley's surprise she found that the casino and dance floor were full.

"Color me impressed" Ashley said a little loudly so her friend could hear her over the beat of the music "Where are our dates?" She asked as Jane gave the indications to her date as well as Kaidan once John had forked over his contact.

"Let me just… There!" Jane pointed towards a Turian that was sitting alone by the bar.

Why was that silhouette so familiar?

Jane turned her eyes towards her friend and found that something else stole her attention "Well, look who just got here!" Ashley followed her gaze and found that she had somehow spotted Alenko as he entered just behind them.

He did not wear something flashy to Ashley's relief. But what he did wear was old school even by the standards of half a millennia ago. While his outfit might have passed as not that nice Ashley found that a simple shirt along with black pants fitted Kaidan surprisingly well.

"Hey Alenko, over here" Jane called the lieutenant as she waved one of her hands, but as she was doing this a passing couple stumbled onto her and knocked her out of balance.

Ashley catched her and glared at the couple as they continued without giving a fuck "Assholes" she whispered as she helped her friend to her feet.

Kaidan began to make his way towards them as a group of alliance soldiers also stood in his way "Sorry I was late… Ash" he said with a light blush on his face as he glanced at Ashley.

Seeing how the usually calm and collected lieutenant was acting like a dork placed a smile on her face.

"What a start to our night" Jane smiled as she grabbed them both by the shoulders and began to push them towards the bar.

Kaidan peeled his eyes away from Ashley just in time to see the figure that they were approaching, to Ashley's surprise it would seem that Kaidan also found the figure in the bar familiar.

"And here is my date" the figure was turned by Jane as he sat on a rotating stool.

They were surprised to see the figure of Garrus Vakarian wearing what must have been formal wear for a Turian.

"Oh shit…" was Garrus' answer as he realized who was accompanying his date.

"So… this is Garrus" Jane began to explain "I met while strolling through the citadel. Say hi Garrus" she said this as she interlocked her arm with his.

"Hi" was his dry answer.

Ashley could not understand how it was that Jane did not know that Garrus was part of the crew of the Normandy, she then realized that Jane must have skipped on reading her transfer notice while on shore leave.

Williams would punish her friend for neglecting her duties in that way.

"A pleasure to meet you Garrus" she said while extending a hand for him to shake.

"Um… what's going on?" Garrus asked this time as he shaker her hand

"Ash, what are you…" Ashley punched Kaidan with her elbow as she turned to give him a warning smile.

"I hope you take care of my friend" She said this as continued to give Garrus a fake smile "But you know. I would really like it if you entertained her a little".

Jane raised an eyebrow as Ashley turned her gaze towards the dance floor "What are you thinking?".

"How about you go for a dance?" she said as she pushed Garrus out of his seat and forced the pair to approach the crowded dance floor "Have fun".

Ashley turned once again to her confused partner as he waited for her by the bar.

She approached the counter and took a seat as Alenko offered her one, he then sat next to her "What was that?".

"A little punishment" she said as she ordered a glass of whiskey for herself. Alenko followed suit and just ordered a beer "Thank you for agreeing to this, Lt" Ashley said as she found that her company at this moment was better than being left alone.

"Don't mention it. I'm just happy you didn't punch me the moment I arrived" Ashley obliged and punched the lieutenant playfully on the shoulder.

She chuckled as Kaidan rubbed his shoulder with a face full of betrayal. She then turned to the dance floor and smiled as her plan was working flawlessly.

"Poor Garrus" Said Alenko as he turned his gaze to the dancing pair. Garrus was a size too big for a dance floor and Jane…

Well, they always made fun of her brother for how lacking his dance moves were.

But Jane…

She takes the trophy for thrashing around without a care in the world.

"Let's change the subject. The mere sight of Jane hurts my eyes" Ashley said as she ordered another glass.

"I don't know if I can. It's like watching a train wreck" Ashley felt a tinge of Jealousy as he said this while continuing to stare at Jane.

"Whatever…" she continued to order more shots just as fast as she was downing them.

"Um… Ash" the lieutenant said as he turned to her once again "Maybe you shouldn't…" Ashley glared at him so he would stop what he was saying.

"Try to keep up Lt" Why were there two Kaidans?

Maybe she did have enough…

Or maybe just one more.

Flux Casino

Garrus Vakarian

This night had turned too wild for him.

Garrus was a by the book Turian, this was mainly due to his upbringing as the son of a C-sec officer who taught him that anything wild was most likely the product of bad decisions.

But her dance partner had just shown him a new meaning to the word wild.

While he moved to the rhythm of the beat in a slow fashion, Jane just trashed around like mad.

He found that as she bumped and punched the rest of the people dancing around them Garrus had to excuse his companion and move her to other parts of the dance club.

Over time they had less and less of the dance floor where they were welcomed. And in time Garrus found himself exhausted.

"Hey, let's go for some drinks" Jane finally suggested after his hour of torture was finally done.

Thank the spirits. He thought as they made way for the bar once again.

Garrus had begun to drink before the group arrived as a way to steel himself for what was to come.

As they made their way to where Alenko and Williams had remained Garrus was surprised to find their seats empty.

"Where did they…" Jane began to ask as they approached the counter but the bartender approached them and explained the situation.

"Your friends paid their tab and went for a walk" the human explained as he began to pick up the empty bottle of beer and the glass of whiskey.

"Hope they don't have too much fun" Jane said as he took one of the empty seats.

"Aren't you worried something might happen to your… friends?" nothing he had seen in his limited interactions with Williams or Alenko pointed to them being people who took advantage of the defenseless.

But caution was precious to Garrus.

"Nah.. if Kaidan tries something he will find the tip of Ashley's shoe deep up his ass" Jane said in a crude manner as she began to drink the rum she ordered "But I think the walk will serve them both".

Garrus took a seat next to the human and ordered some Turian brandy "If you say so" as his drink arrived he began to ponder what he could do to make his date a little bit nicer.

"All right. I think I'm ready to hit the dance floor once again" Oh no. Quick Garrus, think of something.

"Actually… I have to use the bathroom. I was drinking a little before you arrived" Perfect. He can ditch her as he… Wait. Garrus isn't thinking this. Wait, wait, wait… he actually has to use the bathroom? Huh?

"Don't keep me waiting" Jane said in a flirtatious voice.

Garrus got up from his seat and made his way to the bathroom. But instead of entering one of the empty stalls he made his way to the sink.

"Oh spirits…" Garrus wanted to curse as he did not know what to do in this situation. For one part he began to enjoy the company of the human, but found that this might have been the booze talking. On the other part he truly wished to ditch this date as Jane had begun to prove herself too much for him to handle.

What could he do?

As he was pondering how to get out of this situation he realized that he wasn't alone in the bathroom…

Out of one of the stalls came the figure of a massive Krogan who made his way to the sink.

"Well. If it isn't the little Pyjak" came the all familiar voice of Wrex, his massive figure lumbering towards him "What are you doing here Garrus, having a date?"

"Yes" this surprised the clearly drunk Krogan "and you?" He asked in a tipsy manner as he also began to feel how drunk he truly was.

"Hunting a thief. But it didn't pan out" Wrex said as he just shrugged at his own misfortune.

"Sorry to hear that" Garrus turned to the mirror as he did not know what to do with his own situation.

"What's got you down?" Wrex asked in a disinterested manner.

"Bad date" he answered honestly.

"Ha. Sucks to be you" Garrus glared at Wrex as he heard his answer "But I might be able to help" he said with a grin.

"Oh… and why would you do that?" Garrus asked this time.

"For a favor of course. I'm tracking a little rat and another pair of eyes would come in handy" Wrex answered as he wrapped an arm around Garrus' shoulder "So… Do we have a pact?" He extended his free hand for Garrus to shake it.

He thought of it for a minute. In the end he did wish for this night to end, but whatever Wrex was planning could leave a lot of devastation…

Screw it.

He shaked his hand "Deal. What do we do?".

Wrex smirked before he began to whisper.

Garrus was so tired and eniviatred that he never tought about just leaving.

Jane Shepard

She was worried.

Jane was not certain why Garrus was taking so long in his trip to the bathroom.

But as he took more and more time Jane began to feel disappointed.

This wouldn't be the first time she had been ditched.

Over the years he had too many dates to recall them all, but some that stuck around in his memory were those where she was ditched.

She might have come on as a little bit too pushy to most people, but she did this since this was her way of showing true interest.

Many of her partners did not like to hang around for long. With her trying to convince herself that they weren't the one.

Each person that stood her up had hurted Jane to such a degree that she began to make excuses for them.

Maybe she wasn't that interesting…

Maybe she had been too forceful…

Maybe she was just wrong…

Maybe next time…

With a sigh of disappointment she called the bartender to pay her tab and leave the casino since she wanted to go home.

But as she was getting ready to leave she was surprised to find Garrus making his way towards her.

"Sorry. The bathroom was busier than what I expected" she was surprised. Of all the times she had mingled with strangers this had been the first one to return.

Jane just looked at Garrus as he took his seat next to her and proceeded to give her a warm smile.

"Um… I… um" Jane began to stutter as she could not believe what was happening in front of her.

She had acted like a maniac ever since they met and she did this mostly out of fun rather than genuine romantic interest.

She half expected for him to ditch her at the first opportunity.

But this…

She truly did not expect it.

"Sorry for being late. Let me make it up to you" he said with a sultry voice as he ordered two more drinks for both of them.

Jane continued to watch him with a dumbfounded expression. This wasn't the same Turian she had coerced into this date.

"Um… thanks" she said this while a deep blush began to form in her cheeks.

Was it getting hot in here?

"HEY YOU!" a deep and growling voice called from behind. Jane turned to see a massive figure towering over them.

She had seen many Krogans in her life. But of all Krogans she had met none even compared to the size of this one…

Jane was scared.

"Who are you talking to?" Garrus got up from his seat and began to stand up to the Krogan.

"Hey Garrus. Maybe that isn't a good…" Jane tried to intervene but alas this was for not.

"I was talking to you bird brain" the Krogan smiled as he pushed Garrus.

"That's it" Garrus grabbed an empty bottle of beer and crushed it over the Krogan's head.

The Krogan on his part was undeterred by his meek attempt at an attack and charged at Garrus.

As the krogan charged, Jane saw that not only did he push Garrus through the counter. But she also saw as all the sealed liquor began to drain as they shattered the glass containers.

Jane saw in horror as they continued their fight just on the other side of the counter.

"Is that the best you got you oversized brute?!" Garrus began to punch the Krogan on the sides as he let go of him after the charge.

"Garrus Stop!" Jane pleaded as the commotion from the fight had the other customers rattled.

"Why are they fighting?", "The fucking booze!", "Kick his ass, turian!" some voices began to yell as they continued their fight.

As if they wanted to join in the fun some of the most inebriated people began to pick a fight with whoever was just within reach.

Jane saw as the whole casino went berserk and began to devolve into chaos as vandalism and assaults occurred around her.

An asari turned her around and tried to punch her without warning. But Jane was quicker and she delivered a jab straight at her attacker's chest.

The fight that began it all began to calm down as Garrus and the krogan showed signs of tiring down. Jane made use of this opportunity and grabbed Garrus by the collar.

"We are leaving. NOW!" Jane ordered as she began to pull Garrus towards the exit.

None of them saw it, but as Jane began to push the turian away from the retreating krogan she pushed an ash tray that still held a lit cigar.

One little push made it fall out of the table that hosted it.

This cigar spinned slowly as it began to fall to the floor.

Straight into a poodle of the liquor that had spread beyond the counter…

Jane turned to see in horror as a fire began to spread from the bar.

All the other people in the casino realized what was going on and made a run for the exit.

In the chaos she was pushed to the ground and she was at risk of being trampled by the stampeding crowd but a figure placed itself atop Jane to cover her from danger..

Once the rampaging stopped Jane opened her eyes and saw that she was safe. Willing to tank her savior she got up to her feet and saw that it was Garrus who took the brunt of the attack.

"Thanks…" before she could finish Garrus grabbed her and began to escort her to the exit.

She turned to see as the flux began to burn as the sprinklers failed.

This was a disaster.

Some time later…

Garrus had escorted her to the door of David's apartment.

The trip had been taken in silence as some of the fire managed to singe them a little.

"Sorry…" Garrus began to apologize before Jane interrupted him.

"No, I'm sorry" Her answer surprised the Turian "I shouldn't have forced you to come" she approached his face and planted a kiss in his cheek "Thank you for doing so anyway".

With this she left the Turian outside of the apartment and she made her way inside.

What a disaster.

Afterword

I wrote this chapter while drunk and by the time I sobered up I liked what I had written :v

By the way. After I edited this chapter I realized that the Asari are basically ruled by tw*tch chat.