Liara T'Soni had seen many strange things in her time—ancient Prothean ruins, Reaper artifacts, and the darkest secrets of the galaxy's most powerful figures. But nothing had quite prepared her for this.
She stood in front of the glass enclosure, her head tilted in a curious way as five small, fuzzy creatures tumbled around inside. Tiny, furry, clumsy, and unlike anything Liara had encountered. She'd always been fascinated by biology, but this… this was something else entirely.
"They're adorable, aren't they?" the assistant standing beside her ventured, a bit unsure about addressing the Shadow Broker herself. His voice was full of nerves, as if he might say the wrong thing.
Liara's bright blue eyes shifted from the kittens to the assistant, her expression softening slightly. "Yes, I suppose they are. I must admit, this wasn't quite what I expected when I agreed to transport 'sensitive biological cargo.'"
"These are... kittens. Very common on Earth. Purpose: domestic pets. The ambassador's family requested their safe transportation."
"They're so tiny," she remarked, a note of wonder in her voice.
She crouched down to get a closer look at the kittens, her biotic markings glowing faintly in the dim light. The kittens seemed to notice her all at once, their tiny heads lifting in unison, and one particularly brave little furball wobbled its way toward her, bumping into the glass as it mewed.
And then, the sound started—soft and rhythmic. Liara blinked. "What's that?"
The assistant smiled, seeming to relax slightly at her curiosity. "That's purring. It means they're content, happy. It's how they show comfort or pleasure."
"I've heard a sound like this before. Garrus makes similar noises when he's relaxed." She let out a soft laugh. "I imagine I should introduce them. They'd have plenty to talk about—both sitting around, rumbling away about… well, knowing Garrus probably calibrations."
The assistant watched anxiously as the asari opened the glass door, but before he could say anything, one of the kittens boldly approached Liara's hand. It sniffed her fingers, whiskers twitching with curiosity, seemingly intrigued by her presence. Gently, she reached into the enclosure, her fingers brushing against the kitten's soft fur as it stumbled into her palm. The purring grew louder, vibrating through her hand in a way that was oddly comforting.
"They're so... fragile and yet so expressive," Liara murmured, gently stroking the kitten's back with one finger, fascinated by the way it curled into her touch, tiny claws kneading at her skin.
The assistant nodded, his nervousness returning slightly as he watched the Shadow Broker handle the animal. "Yes, ma'am. I guess that's why humans keep them as pets. They're… grounding."
"Grounding," she repeated. "Yes, I think that's a good way to describe it."
Liara glanced at the assistant again. "It makes you wonder if turians would have a similar reaction. After all, they also rumble when they're content." She smiled slightly, picturing Garrus trying to make sense of the kitten's purring. He'd probably analyze it, breaking down the sound and vibrations, comparing it to his own. "I wonder if their rumble improves accuracy too," he might joke.
She shifted the kitten in her hands, allowing it to climb onto her arm, where it wobbled slightly before settling down, its purring reaching a new, almost comedic intensity. Liara chuckled at the sensation, a stark contrast to the cool, serious demeanor she wore these days.
She was curious what Garrus would do if she brought him one of these. Probably would try to teach it how to mod a sniper rifle. The mental image of the turian, completely unbothered by the fact that a kitten was perched on his shoulder while he meticulously adjusted his rifle sights, was enough to make her smile.
But the kitten had other ideas. It clumsily pawed at her arm, trying to climb higher. She gently helped it, positioning her other hand as a makeshift perch. The tiny creature purred louder, nuzzling her with surprising affection. Its emotions were on full display—unlike many of the people she dealt with regularly.
Her omni-tool beeped softly, pulling her attention away from the moment. A new message—likely something urgent, something far removed from the small warmth of the Earth creatures. She sighed, knowing that her duties couldn't wait, even if part of her wanted to stay just a little longer in this strangely peaceful environment.
Liara placed the tiny thing back into the enclosure, watching with amusement as it immediately joined the others in a tangled ball of fur. Before turning away, she glanced at the assistant. "Make sure they're well cared for. I believe the ambassador's family will be eager to receive them."
He nodded quickly. "Of course, ma'am. I'll personally see to it."
Liara gave him a polite nod and took one last look at the fluffies, who were now contentedly piled on top of each other, purring away without a care in the world.
I should definitely get one for Garrus, she thought.
She immediately imagined Garrus' initial resistance to such a gift. He'd likely protest, citing allergies or the impracticality of a pet during wartime. But then she thought of Shepard—the Commander had a way of bringing out the softer side in all of them. Shepard's eyes would light up, just as they had when she wanted to adopt a varren on Tuchanka. That familiar spark of enthusiasm would surely wear down Garrus' defenses. Liara had no doubt that his bondmate would make the turian accept the tiny ball of fur, probably with a mix of exasperation and hidden fondness.
With these thoughts, she left the hangar. Her steps lighter than usual, a smile on her lips.
"You seem cheerful today, Doctor T'Soni," said a passing employee, surprised to see his usually serious superior smiling.
The asari shook her head, composing her features back into their familiar calm expression.
"Just made... an unexpected discovery in interspecies communication."
The employee nodded, clearly not understanding but wisely choosing not to inquire further. Meanwhile, Liara headed to her office, mentally compiling a list of everything needed to keep a pet aboard the Normandy.