Shepard Stories II - Ch 32: Be right back.
Main Characters: Milizkia T'Loak, Xaneya Praci, and Ceina Skylis
Serrice, Thessia – Milizkia T'Loak Residence - June 2222CE
It was early in the evening and the sun was beginning its nighttime setting. Milizkia was lounging on her balcony with her good friend Ceina Skylis when her omni-tool rang. She smiled when she saw it was Benezia then tapped at it to pull up the video "Hey B! You almost here?"
Benezia sadly shook her head then wiped her tears away. "No..."
Her smile instantly faded then she turned slightly as she softly said "Hey, what's the matter?"
"Em, I don't want to ruin your night." She sniffled then wiped her tears away again "I just wanted to call and tell you that I can't come."
She pinched her brow markings as she said "What happened? Want me to come home?"
Benezia shook her head "No, have fun tonight but come home first thing tomorrow. Ok?"
Her shoulders dropped as pain trickled through her heart at her friend being this upset "Are you sure?" she looked back at Skylis then said "I can go somewhere more private, and we can talk." She touched her chest as she said "Seeing you like this hurts my heart."
She gave a half-hearted smile as she shook her head "Aww. No, its ok. I'll tell you about it tomorrow." She looked back then said "I have to go. Be careful tonight. Love you."
"K, love you too." She said as her friend faded to black. She groaned as she sat back in her lounge chair and pouted then looked over at Skylis staring at her. "What?"
"What happened? Is she ok?" asked Skylis
She shrugged "I don't know. That scared me. I've never really seen her like that. I'm worried. I kind of just want to go and see if she's ok." She said then stared off to the side as she bit at her nail.
Skylis looked at her for a long moment then glanced back at the door then quietly said "Are you in love with Benezia?"
She jerked her head back as she quickly replied "What? No! Were just friends."
Skylis rolled her eyes as she said "Pfffftttt bullshit. You don't talk or act like that with Prass and you sure as shit don't look at Prass the way you look at Benezia." She stared at her friend for a moment then said "You never tell Benezia you love her when Prass is around. Come on Loak, you can trust me. Spill the tea."
Milizkia scratched the side of her temple as she let out a breath then closed her eyes as she said "I've always loved Benezia it just comes so easily. Friend and family love of course but this love I feel for her now is fairly new like in the last couple of years. It seems like every time I talk to her or see her it grows, and I've never felt like this before." She rubbed her chest as she said "When I'm around her it's like I'm floating on air and at times it's hard to breath." She took a breath then continued "I've always been heavily drawn to her, and I don't know why."
"Ugh because she is fucking gorgeous and everything about her is sexy." She said then looked back at the door then continued "Why the hell aren't you with her? She is eons better than Prass like at everything."
She shrugged as she said "I can't. Lady Liara is like a mother to me and I'm like a daughter to her. There's no way she would approve of it. So, I'd rather be friends than have Lady Liara axe me from the family."
"Is she really that harsh?" asked Skylis
"Yes and no but they have to approve of all relationships and if they don't approve then you are ex-communicated." She looked off to the side then back at her friend "I've seen Lady Liara angry, and she can be very scary." She shrugged then said "I guess I'm just terrified of what could happen."
"Yea, but if you don't act then you'll never know. Besides Benezia tells you she loves you all the time."
"Sky, Benezia and I have been best friends since I was sixteen. She has thrown that phrase at me for years and I'm pretty sure her love for me isn't the same."
"Well, you'll never know if you don't test the waters and you're missing out. Because Benezia…" shivers trickled up her back as she kissed her fingers then said "…is so fucking delicious and amazing."
Milizkia curled her lip as she said "Shut up!"
She laughed as she said "Mmmm and her titties are so fucking plump and perfect." She quickly flicked her tongue in between two fingers then said "Mmm and I was all up in that pussy too. I had her wetness all over my face. I fucking loved it!"
She pushed her as she said "Shut the fuck up!"
Skylis laughed then said "Oh, you're just mad because I had her before you did and you're jealous."
She crossed her arms as she clenched her jaw then said "You're damn right I am!" she let out a breath then said "Was it really that good?"
Skylis rumbled in laughter then gently shook her curled hand at her "Oh, I've had plenty of pussy and out of everyone Benezia's is by far the best." She gently licked her lips then rubbed her fingers over them as she said "It was like candy, and so unbelievably intoxicating. I swear I just wanted to eat her pussy all night long, it's that fucking good."
"Damn."
"Yea, I'd take Benezia over Radi, over Prass, over anyone, any day. I don't give a fuck. If she called me right now and said come over. I'd take that two-hour trip in a heartbeat."
She nodded as she thought for a moment then said "So, should I just go home?"
Skylis gave her a quick side nod then said "How about drinks and fun tonight then you spill your guts to her tomorrow while you comfort her?"
She smirked as she said "Yea…" then got up to go inside.
University of Serrice
It was the end of the school year, and the University always had a massive party and most of the campus attended. The music was loud, the drinks were flowing, and the night was young.
Milizkia gently swung her arm as she lined up her shot then strategically tossed her bean filled bag. When it swished through the hole in the board, she pumped her hand it the air "Boom! 21 we win!" she said excitedly then slapped Radi's hand then took a sip of her beer.
"Damn it!" groaned Skylis then said "Rematch but you team up with Prass because she can't toss worth the shit."
Prass guzzled the last bit of her beer as she tossed the small bags on the ground then huffed "I didn't want to play this stupid game anyway." Then walked toward her girlfriend.
Milizkia chuckled. When her girlfriend got closer, she grabbed her hand then she pulled her close so she could kiss her "Awww come on babe don't be like that."
She returned her kiss then said "How about we just dance instead?"
Skylis rolled her eyes as she grunted then said "Prass you are the most uncoordinated and unathletic Asari I have ever met. I honestly don't know how you made it through the Academy."
Prass flared her nostrils as she steamed "Skylis will you shut up!"
Milizkia clamped her mouth close to prevent from laughing then said "Ok ok let's chill out. Sky, go grab some more drinks."
Skylis waved her off then said "Whatever. Come on Radi let's go." Then walked off toward the beer line.
Prass shook her head then said "Ugh she pisses me off with her asshole responses."
She gave her a lopsided grin "She's harmless and you know shes not always like that." She said then slowly slid her hands down her ass, gripped it as she slowly kissed her. "mmMmmm What kind of lip gloss is that? I love the taste of it… makes me want to keep kissing it."
Xana giggled "I know, it's why I keep applying it."
Milizkia licked her lips. "Is it …vanilla with hints of cherry?
She kissed her again, "Mmm close. Keep kissing me until you find out,"
Milizkia smiled then continued to kiss on her lover's lips while they danced together.
After Skylis and Radi returned with several beers she set them down then looked over at Loaky and Prass. She nudged her girlfriend Radi "Look at these two. We're gone for thirty minutes and they're practically fucking."
Radi laughed "Babe, when are they not?"
Skylis gave a quick side nod "True. Watch me get a rise out of Prass." She said then walked over to Loaky and slapped her ass "Mmm Loak, when are you going to give me some of that sexy purple ass."
Before Milizkia could say anything Prass quickly snapped at her "Sky you're pissing me off! Keep your damn hands to yourself and off my bae."
Skylis laughed as she raised her hands in defense "Oh come on Prass. I'm just fucking with you. Here I even got you a beer" she said then handed her one.
Radi nudged her girlfriend as she said "Babe, Na'sully." Then quickly nodded toward her.
Skylis eyed her for a moment as she took a drink of her beer then said "Hey Loak, check it, there's Na'sully. Look at this skanky bitch wearing your shit."
Milizkia looked over to see the light purple asari walking their way. She curled her lip "She has some fucking gall to be wearing my shirt that she supposedly didn't steal the last time she stayed over." She shook her head "I swear the people you all let into our place unattended. It has to stop."
Praci ran her hands up Milizkia's back "She is trying to be you, but she's not you, babe. Eerily could be your doppelgänger but definitely not you."
"What? You think that nasty whore looks like me?" she scoffed.
"Ehhhhh kind of? She has a very similar skin tone, she's close to your five-eight height, build, but not your eyes. You have the sexiest emerald green eyes I've ever seen."
Skylis pointed as she said "Loak, she the one, look she has your ring!"
Milizkia clenched her fist as her lip curled "I'm going kick her fucking ass, my mother gave me that that ring, it's an heirloom." She crossed her legs and laughed, "Right after I pee."
Praci laughed, "You're a hoot baby. Want me to come with?"
Milizkia looked over at the bathroom then back at Prass "Nah the line isn't too long. I'll meet you back here in a few." She stumbled a bit after she stepped into a small hole. "Woah…"
Prass grabbed on to her lover, "You, ok? I'll just come with you."
"Yea because your drunk ass is going to help me. I'm fine babe I'm nowhere near as intoxicated as you."
Prass giggled "Whaaat… I'm not drunk." She said then kissed her passionately. "How about we just go home, and you can make love to me all night."
Milizkia smirked "Yea, not drunk my ass you're beyond drunk. I have to pee before I pee on myself." She slapped Prass's ass then turned "I won't be long babe then we can go home. I'll definitely be loving on your gorgeous body tonight."
Praci smiled at her as she walked away "Mmm can't wait. Hurry up!"
Milizkia raised a hand at her and waved, "Ok, be right back."
Her roommates looked at her then Rue said: "Damn Prass you have it bad."
"Yes, I do Rue. I love the hell out of that asari. How can I not? Look how fucking sexy she is and oh my gawd the things she does to me in bed. Mmmm."
Skylis gave Prass a lopsided grin then glanced over at her friend heading toward the bathrooms then yelled "Loak!"
"I'm good Sky." Replied Milizkia.
—/
Forty minutes later Praci was talking and laughing with her roommates and some of her friends. She looked down at her omni tool to check the time. She scrunched her brow markings then looked over in the area of the bathrooms. "Hey, have any of you seen Keke?"
"I saw her in the bathroom a little while ago, but that was like twenty minutes ago." Said her friend Jen then looked around, "Speaking of that, where's Gina and Na'sully?"
Concerned for her lover, Praci stumbled over toward the bathroom.Woah…shit…I am drunk as hell…She pushed her way to the front of the line as she said, "Excuse me." She stood in the bathroom, "Keke? You in here?" She waited for a response, and when she didn't receive one, she asked again, "Loaky?...Keke?" She tapped at her omni tool as she walked out of the bathroom.
Message to Keke: Baby, where are you?
Message to Keke: Babe?
Message to Keke: Answer me...
She shook her head and tried to stare at her blurry omni tool. She tapped at her omni tool and called her. She waited as it rang…and rang…and rang. Hey, this is Loaky leave a message, and I'll call you back. Byeeee.
She furrowed her brow markings then pouted as she said "Babe… ugh… where are you? Call me."
Her friend Jen walked over, "Was she not in the bathroom?"
"No..." she said as she scanned the area for her lover.
"Maybe she took off or went to get more drinks." Said Jen
"No, she would never just leave I know her. Maybe she just went for drinks like you said. That line is normally long." Said Prass
"She was drunk. A friend of hers might have taken her home. She did stumble earlier." She looked at her "Speaking of… you're way worse than her. We should go."
"She wasn't drunk… She never gets overly smashed." She looked around again and shook her head "No… I need to…find—"
Jen caught her friend, "Uh-huh…"
-/
Prass cracked open her eyes as she tried to move her tongue through her dry sandpaper mouth. She wiped her mouth as she squinted her eyes at the sun blaring through the window onto her face. She looked around as she grabbed at her crest to unsuccessfully calm the pounding in her head "Ohhh fuck."
"I bet… You must be hurting. Here's some water and some aspirin for that mean headache I bet you have." Said her friend Jen.
Prass sat up slowly then grabbed the pills and guzzled down the water "Oh my crest. Owww… What time is it? Where am I?"
"Almost noon. You went out like a light and damn you slept hard. You're in my living room on the couch. I hauled your drunk ass up here last night."
She groaned "Uggghhh… where's Loaky?"
She shrugged, "Not here. She's probably passed out at home."
"Shit… she's probably freaking out. I need to get home." She looked down at her omni tool, only saw five messages, and not one was from her lover. She pinched her brow markings when there were only two missed calls, and not one was from her lover either. "Huh… that's weird."
"What?" asked Jen
"I've got nothing from Loaky." Said Prass
"Maybe she's still passed out. You'll probably get a flood of messages when she gets up."
She nodded, "Probably. I should go. Thank you for taking care of me last night."
"No worries, babe. I know you'd do the same for me. I'll cya later."
-/
Prass waved her hand over her front door and walked in to see Radi, Rue, Core and Sky eating. "Hey…"
"Where the hell have you been? I called you twice and left several messages." Said Rue
"Sorry. I passed out at the event. Jen took me home. I literally just got up and took a cab over here. Fuck… Keke has to be pissed."
Skylis looked at Radi then at her "Wait… Loak isn't with you? We figured you were with her all night; that's why we didn't bother when you two didn't come home."
She shook her head, as panic began to flow through her "No… What do you mean she didn't come home last night?"
"I don't think she did unless she's asleep." Said Sky as she got up from the table.
Prass rushed into her room, hoping to see her lover asleep on the bed, but she wasn't. She ran over to the bathroom, and she wasn't in there either "FUCK! FUCK! FUUUUCK!"
"She's not here?" said Radi quickly, "Shiiiit!"
"No! Damn it! What if something happened to her?" Prass frantically said as she paced the room. "She didn't answer any of my calls or messages either."
"Maybe she just passed out at the event, or someone took her home like you." Said Core
"She never answered our messages either. She could be in jail… for being a drunken disorderly." Said Rue
Prass rubbed her eyes, "Fuck… we'll never hear the end of this. She's going to be livid for leaving her behind."
Radi laughed then pointed to herself and her girlfriend then to Rue and Core "We'll eventually hear the end of it. YOU, on the other hand, won't."
They all looked over when they heard the door buzz. Prass walked over and touched the intercom and looked at the security screen "Hello? Can I help you?"
"Yes… Hi. I'm from Serrice Republic Law Enforcement. Does a Loaky live here?"
Prass pinched her brow markings then said "Ummm yesss….. Did something happen? Where is she? Oh, my goodness, is she ok?"
"Not that I know of ma'am, but we found this omni tool. It says to return it to this location if found. Property of a MH "Keke" Loaky?"
Prass giggled at her saying Keke then her face dropped as she quickly opened the door "Wait you just found the omni tool? Keke never goes anywhere without that!" She began to breathe quickly as the unthinkable bounced through her mind. Pain violently radiated through her heart her, and she started to shake then blurted out "Oh my god! Something happened to her." She said as tears streamed down her face.
Skylis quickly glared at the asari officer then looked at Radi and the others who were doing the same. The others moved up slowly, and Radi made her way over behind Praci, looped her finger into her back-belt loop and pulled at it. Praci rolled her shoulder at her. Radi pulled at her belt loop again then said, "Excuse me, ma'am, you make house calls for a missing R-9000 omni tool?"
Prass wiped her eyes and backed away from the officer slightly.
"Well, as you said this is an R-9000 it's an extremely expensive omni tool…especially for a college student. I'm sure Ms. Keke would want it returned, would she not?" Said the officer. "Can I ask you all a few questions?"
"Sure…" Radi said cautiously.
The dark navy asari officer tapped at her datapad as she said, "This place is owned by a Dr. Liara T'Soni-Shepard, is that correct?" then looked up at the girls.
"Probably. Dr. T'Soni-Shepard owns several properties throughout Serrice." said Radi.
"mmHmmm… and how can you five… six afford such an expensive condo." Said the officer.
"This was listed as part of special campus housing. The six of us together we're able to afford it with our scholarship tuition." Replied Prass
"That omni tool has high-level security… how were you able to access its personal information without her fingerprints or voice imprint?" questioned Skylis.
"mmHmmm" The officer looked over at Skylis and replied, "Well I'm a law enforcement officer, we have security access to obtain a very low-level portion of security on these. Such as their name." she looked back at her datapad "Speaking of… MH "Keke" Loaky. That's an interesting name to put in here. What's Keke short for?"
Prass responded quickly with "Makayla… H is for Henderson…"
The officer looked up at Prass, cocked her head and squinted an eye "You sure about that? You sure it's not for Milizkia T'Loak?"
She shook her head "Noo. I mean I've seen her around campus, but she doesn't live here, and that's not hers."
"mmHmmm. Explain Loaky? Is that not a form of T'Loak?"
Prass made a face "No… that's her call sign. We were all in a Military Academy together. Hers is Lowkey as in L-O-W-K-E-Y…ya know as in subtle."
She pointed to her datapad as she said "That's not how she spelled it on here. She spelled it L-O-A-K-Y.
"Hmmm, that's odd." replied Prass.
The officer stared at Prass for a moment then looked at the other asari then said "That it is." She slanted her eyes at them then said "So, tell me ladies. What are your call signs?"
Prass pointed to Sky "That's FUFA" she pointed to Radi "That's SADE" she pointed to Core "That's Flick" she pointed to Rue "That's Hurly" and I'm pancake."
The officer arched a brow marking "Uh-huh, and I'm guessing those stand for something?"
The others just looked at each other then back over at Prass as she nodded and said "They sure do. FUFA, fuck face, SADE, slow at doing everything. Hurly because she pukes almost every time she drinks too much, Flick because she likes to flick her bean and pancake because I have big ass areolas." Prass smiled as her words rolled off her tongue.
The officer looked at her then tapped at her datapad "Uh-huh… Do you know where I can find a Ms. T'Loak?"
Prass shrugged as she said "No… I saw her last night, though. She was wearing dark blue jeans; a grey and purple designer top and she was wearing a family heirloom on her left hand. The ring is black with an amethyst stone in it. From my understanding I believe her mother gave it to her."
The officer tapped at her datapad, as she said "So, you know of her mother Aria T'Loak?"
Prass shrugged as she said "No, I've just heard her mention it."
The officer continued to tap at her datapad then turned it toward them. The image was of Aria T'Loak with a black ring on her finger that held a large amethyst stone. The officer tapped at the ring as she said "Is this the ring you saw?"
Prass looked at image on the datapad then said "Yea, that's it."
The officer smiled broadly, "Thank you."
"So, what of my friend?" Said Prass
"We'll hang on to her for questioning." Replied the officer.
Skylis looked over quickly "So, you have Loaky?"
The officer cleared her throat, "What I meant to say was if we find her, we'll hold on to her for questioning."
"Why? I don't understand. Questioning for what? How did you know she was missing? We haven't filed a missing person's report." Said Prass
"I figured she was since her omni tool is not with her and your reaction from earlier." The officer turned, "Thank you, ladies. I must go now."
"Hey, wait… her omni tool." Prass said quickly.
"Oh, yea…I'm going to hang on to this. Ya know just in case her mother wants it." The officer said as she pointed to the omni-tool then exited the condo.
Skylis bumped Praci, "Wow, Prass, you were amazing. Quick on your feet. Flick… Big ass areoles… I almost lost it when you said that."
Praci let out a long breath "Fuck… it just spilled out. I don't even know how I came up with that shit. My head is still pounding from my hangover, and my emotions are all over the place."
Skylis rubbed the side of her temple as she said "Someone has her and I bet this has to do with her mother. Did you all actually look at the image or just the ring, because holy shit did you see the sternness on Aria's face? I know an image says a thousand words but that one was very clear."
Core pinched her brow markings "Why would they take her because of her mother? What's her mother do anyway?"
Skylis arched a brow "Do you seriously not know who Aria T'Loak is?"
Core shrugged as she said "No."
Skylis raked her hands down her face "Oh my goodness Lidi. Aria T'Loak runs the biggest criminal empire in the entire galaxy. She is the Queen of Omega and has multiple mercenary groups at her fingertips. Why the hell do you think Loak doesn't go by her actual name? Have you never realized that nobody calls her Milizkia T'Loak? Lady Liara even had her name classified at the Academy and the University. The only people that come close to saying her name are the T'Soni-Shepards. Hell Benezia, only even calls her Em."
Core raised her hands in defense as she quickly replied "Ok ok. Geez!"
Skylis shook her head then said "Well, there's no way they would have known to come here just off MH "Keke" Loaky. I bet they're checking all of Lady Liara's places."
"Speaking of… we need to call Benezia right now. Does anyone have her number?" asked Prass
Everyone shook their head but Skylis. She tapped at her omni tool as she said "I do. We traded info after our lovely one nightstand."
Radi crossed her arms as she pouted "Lucky bitch."
Skylis chuckled as she said "I know. I couldn't believe it. She was amazing and a night I'll never forget."
"Sky, her number!" snapped Prass
"Ok, sorry." she said as she tapped at her omni-tool. Her omni tool rang several times, then went to voicemail. Hi, you've reached Benezia leave a message, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Bye. She grunted then ended the call and immediately called her right back.
Benezia answered and quickly said, "Sky, I can't talk right now—"
She quickly replied, "Benezia, don't hang up; this is important. Loak is missing… or was possibly kidnapped!"
"WHAT!" shrieked Benezia as tears gathered in her eyes "Are you sure she's not on her way here?"
Skylis shook her head as she said "Positive."
Benezia turned toward her mother and said, "Mom, something happened to Em. Possibly kidnapped!"
Liara quickly replied, "WHAT? Who is that? Put the call on the video wall."
Benezia tapped at her omni tool then tossed the call on the nearest video wall, "Mom, this is Skylis one of Em's friends and her roommate."
"Skylis, fill us in. What happened?" asked Liara
"Loaky, was taken sometime late last night or very early this morning. We were at our end of the year campus party and the last time we saw her was when she left to go to the bathroom. We thought she was with Prass, but she passed out and a friend took her home. Prass just got home and said that Loak wasn't with her. Then some weird asari came by with Loaky's omni tool asking us a bunch of questions."
Benezia wiped her tears as she said "Oh my god mom and I told her to stay. I should have just told her to come home."
Liara hugged her daughter as she calmly said "Honey this is not your fault. We didn't know they'd go after her. It's going to be ok. We'll find her." When she was done comforting her daughter she returned to the vid call. "Skylis, what did this person look like?" asked Liara.
"Navy blue asari, no facial markings and was dressed in Republic of Serrice law enforcement clothes. I couldn't really tell you any other details" Said Skylis
"Glyph, give me surveillance on Serrice property priority one. Miri can you shift through that footage?" demanded Liara.
"Already on it, Lia." Said Miranda
"Skylis, did she leave the omni tool or take it with her?" asked Liara.
"She took it with her."
Liara immediately said "Glyph track and locate Milizkia T'Loak."
The translucent orb made a subtle noise as it calculated then said "Pinging location on Milizkia T'Loak…sending coordinates."
She snapped her fingers at her right-hand commando as she said "Shay, I want a crew on that location now! And bring that Eclipse bitch back here alive."
"Yes, ma'am..." replied Shandri.
"Skylis, what did she ask you all?" asked Liara.
"She knew this was your condo. She was trying to decode the information on Loaky's omni tool. It didn't have her actual name on it, but it had nicknames instead. Ones, only her friends and family would understand and would know what they meant. She wanted to know what MH was and what Keke was short for and Loaky. Prass told her MH was Makayla Henderson. Keke was short for Makayla and that Loaky was her call sign but L-o-w-k-e-y. She mentioned that she was going to keep her for questioning but then said she didn't have her. It was all very strange."
"Ok… nice job ladies. Thank you for not giving them anything. I'll have Benezia get back to you when we know more. We must go. Liara out."
After the call faded to black her roommates just looked at each other then Skylis said "This is bad."