Mass Effect Liara's Story Ch10

MASS EFFECT LIARA'S STORY CH 10

BIOWARE OWNS ALL.

LOTSB PART 3

THESSIA:  Liara stepped out on the back porch into cool mountain air and warm sunlight. Majestic snow and tree spotted mountains stretched out before her clawing their way to the horizon. Wispy white clouds cloaked the peaks and stretched into the jet-stream dissipating into the deep blue green hues of the cold, Thessian sky. Here, around the mansion she grew up in, warm air gently blew up from the hot spring at the base of the mountain warming the ambient temperature nearly 15 degrees.

Though still chilly, Liara only wore a traditional silver colored h'ruel,at. She glanced around the well maintained yard. The water in the pool was calm and still. Four foot hedges framed the huge green expanse on all sides. All was quiet. She glided across the manicured lawn to her favorite lounger. Liara placed her juice and a worn leather-bound book of earth poetry on the nearby table and adjusted the lounger to a sitting position. Finally sitting, she lay back and basked in the feel of the warming sun on her supple, azure skin. The air was still and silence perfect.

She was at peace, but something felt wrong. Something was missing. She felt something coming.

Without warning, a woman, her face painted camouflage and dressed in Alliance Marine fatigues bellowed a war cry and crashed through the hedges on Liara's left. She dashed half-way across the perfect lawn, combat rolled into cover behind a lawn chair and started firing at the bushes. Almost immediately her assailants ran into view, dressed identically to their adversary, taking up positions flanking their prey on both sides and laid down a murderous crossfire on the woman.

Pelted with paintballs, Anaya fell over laughing and gave up. The two identical ten year old Asari girls took off their masks, ran over and fell on top of her, giggling, shouting to the goddess of their victory and demanding sweets from their vanquished foe.

"Okay, okay!" Anaya said, finally giving in. "Go get the brownies! They're in my foot-locker in the gym."

The girls squealed in delight and dashed off into the house pausing only long enough to simultaneously yell "Hi, Mommy!" at Liara.

"Emma, Tali, only one piece, each!" Liara warned. The girls laughed their response as they disappeared through the doors.

Anaya feigned grievous injury and limped over to her. "Defeated by a couple of ten year olds, I've lost my edge, Li'."

Liara laughed at her bond-mate saying, "Even the Lion of Elysium, the First Human SPECTRE and Omega of the Collector race cannot hope to survive against the Terrible-Twosome."

Anaya grinned and arched an eyebrow at her lover. "Want to patch me up? Be my naughty nurse? That makes a great naughty nurse outfit…"

Liara smiled as Anaya leaned close and brushed her warm lips against the soft skin on her bare shoulder. She closed her eyes as desire built within her. "I think…I may be able to…kiss away…your injuries…"

Anaya sat up, looked at her strangely and said, "Commander, this is Miranda. We have entered Hagalaz's system."

NORMANDY CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS:  Liara's eyes flow open and she tried to get her bearings. "What…?" A tear escaped the corner of her eye and traced a path down her delicate cheek.

Shepard was sitting up already looking at her with a smile on her face. "Thanks, Miranda. Have the tactics team assemble in the FTL Comm's room in an hour. I want long range passive scans of the base and a holographic construct made ASAP."

"Yes, Commander."

"How long have you been awake?" Liara asked, hugging a pillow.

"About fifteen minutes. I've been watching you sleep. You still crinkle your nose when you dream, cutie." She reached over and tenderly caressed Liara's cheek, wiping away the tear. "Why so sad?"

Liara sat up and wrapped her arms around Anaya. "It…it is nothing. Just a dream I often have. I missed you, Ana'."

Anaya pulled her closer and held her tight. "I've missed you, too Li'. It's like the only part of me that I like isn't there anymore when you are gone. The galaxy is so dark and cold when you're not with me." They sat there for a few moments holding each other before Anaya whispered. "I dream of them sometimes, too."

Liara jerked back and turned her head to face Shepard. "How did you know?"

"I didn't, really. I kinda felt it. It felt…right." She grinned, "Maybe it's that bond thing you got me all wrapped up in two years ago…"

"What are your dreams like?" Liara asked wanting to share.

Anaya chuckled and laid back down gazing at the passing star-field overhead. Liara laid down on her and rested her head on Anaya's breast, looking up at her to watch those deep green eyes water as she spoke. "The dreams happen at different places. Dig-sites, labs, universities, hospitals you name it. And they are always wearing lab coats and going on explaining all this scientific mumbo-jumbo that goes right over my head-I never understand a word-but you are there nodding, asking questions, comparing notes and so on. I feel as out of place as a Krogan at a bridal shower, but I'm so proud and happy. You and I stand together holding hands watching them unmask the mysteries of the universe." Shepard paused when Liara reached up and wiped away Anaya's tear. She felt Liara tremble, and she looked down at her.

Pleading blue eyes met loving green. "Do you think we can still have that future?"

Anaya smiled, "I have no doubts."

Her confidence and faith in their future raised Liara's hopes. She pulled herself up to Anaya and kissed her tenderly at first but the passion and hunger they had for each other built quickly and their breathing and kisses grew deeper and more intense...

The door chime rang. Both women froze for a second. Liara sighed dejectedly and Anaya started reaching for her pistol. "I swear to god, I'm gonna…!" Anaya growled.

Liara laughed and kissed her gently. "It is okay. We have a lifetime."

Shepard grimaced and sat up as the chime rang again. "Yeah, but whoever that is just burned one of their nine. EDI, who's at my hatch?" Shepard grumbled.

The blue avatar that was EDI popped out of her consol and said, "That is Tali'Zorah vas Normandy, Commander. I believe she brought you and Dr. T'Soni food to break your fasts. A very considerate gesture, I must say."

Shepard sighed, crawled out of bed, pulled on her shorts and tossed a pair to Liara.

"Status on Kasumi?"

"Miss Goto is already awake, Commander. Dr. Chakwas evaluated her in the Med-Bay and cleared her for duty. She is currently exercising in the cargo bay."

"Okay, thanks." Shepard said as she crossed the room to open the door for Tali.

"You are not a VI, but an AI, are you not?" Liara asked with a little shock in her voice.

"Yes Doctor, I was specially designed to serve the Normandy and her Commander for the purpose of meeting the Reaper threat."

"It is a pleasure to meet you." Liara replied.

"The honor is mine, Doctor. I have learned much about you from crewmembers and extranet searches. You will be an excellent addition to the crew."

Liara actually blushed a bit. "Thank you EDI. I hope I can trust you to take care of the Commander."

"The Commander is my Captain and my crewmate. Without her we would all lose direction and purpose. I would do anything for my crewmates."

"Thank you, EDI."

"Logging you out, Doctor."

"Good morning!" Tali exclaimed striding into the room with a tray full of enough breakfast food to feed four people. Liara rose from pulling on her shorts and a teeshirt, met Tali at the table just as she put down the tray and gave her Quarian friend a hug.

"Good morning, Tali. Thank you. You did not have to do this…" She gushed. The two friends sat and fell into easy conversation while Liara started sampling the food.

Shepard looked from Liara to the bed several times and finally admitted defeat. She poured a mug of coffee and started toward the head. "I'm taking a shower…" she said moodily.

Forty five minutes later, they were showered and armored up as they walked into the FTL Com-Room. There was already a holographic image of the ship that served as the Shadow Broker's base projected above the planning table.  Shepard made introductions around the room. "Everybody, this is Dr. Liara T'Soni. Most of you have probably already heard of her from our fight against Saren. Li', this is our resident professor, Dr. Mordin Solis; Jacob Taylor, weapons expert; Zaeed Massani, merc and expert on high-risk ship raids; Justicar Samara; and you know Miranda, Garrus, Tali, Kasumi and EDI."

Liara nodded politely to each in turn but bowed deeply to Samara who returned the gesture. They spent two hours plotting ways to crack the Shadow Broker's base. Crawling through the service ducts seemed the best way to avoid a fight early on, but Shepard didn't like the idea of being discovered and having no room to maneuver. Blasting open the shuttle bay doors with the Normandy may cause too much damage and send the ship spiraling into Hagalaz's turbulent atmosphere. It seemed they would have to land on the hull and pick their way to the main hatch and try to enter there.

"No good," Miranda said. "That hatch is sealed and a big enough explosive charge would damage the ship overly much."

"I have something that can open those doors." Liara said. They all turned to her. "I came across a few…specialty items during my last few months as an information broker."

"That's it then," Shepard declared. "We land forward and move to the rear to find this hatch."

"Why not just land next to the hatch, Commander?" Kasumi asked.

"I don't want to be landing and have a company of guards closing on our position all at the same time. We'll work our way from bow to aft and thin them out as we go." Shepard said firmly.

"Sounds like the best option since you're trying to take her and not blow her out of the sky," Zaeed ventured. "You'll need to be careful of the slip stream, get too high off the hull and kiss your ass good-bye."

"Commander, I'd like to volunteer for the mission." Miranda said.

Shepard looked at her in surprise and considered, "Thanks Miranda, but you know I like combined arms operations. I think we have biotics more than covered this time with Liara and myself. I need a tech expert this time, just in case."

Miranda was disappointed, but knew the Commander's reasons were sound.

"Tali," Shepard said. "You're up."

The young Quarian lifted her chin and crossed her arms. "You can count on me, Commander."

"That's it then, we hit target in one hour. Everyone else, dismissed."

As they filed out of the room, Liara gathered Shepard and Garrus together at the door. "Ana', I would like a few moments alone with Garrus, if you don't mind."

Shepard looked puzzled, but shrugged. "Okay, I'll be outside." She said and stepped out to talk to her XO.

Out in the hall, Miranda handed Shepard her K-Bar back. "I had this cleaned for you, Commander."

Anaya took the blade and smiled. "Thanks, XO. I was hoping I hadn't lost this." She deftly twirled it around a couple times before again reading the faded inscription etched into the blade. 'To: Gunny Shepard, From: 3rd Plt, B Co, 1st Btn, 5th Rgt, 1st MAR DIV. Semper Fi'. "It's a family heir-loom, sort of. It's about three hundred years old. Gunnery Sergeant Nick Shepard used to carry it when he served in the old United States Marine Corps. Luckily, I placed it in a safe deposit box on the Citadel along with some other odds and ends before I…died."

"Why do you carry that old thing, anyways?" Miranda asked.

Shepard smirked at her XO. "You saw what it did to Vasir, right? Sometimes, the old ways are best. Shields can protect you from lasers and plasma, but a rock will still cave in your skull. I really think we would ha…" They heard shouting from inside the Comm's Room and a thump as something hit the wall.

/////

"What do you want, T'Soni," Garrus growled while staring at the holographic image of the Normandy.

Liara decided that this had gone on long enough. "Garrus, I believe we should talk and clear the air between us."

"I don't want anything to do with you." He said curtly.

"Look, I know you love Anaya…"

Faster than she could believe, he whirled around, grabbed Liara by the throat and shoved her against the bulkhead. "You don't know anything, Asari!" He roared.

Liara couldn't believe that this was happening! Her first impulse was to toss him across the room with her biotics, but quickly realized that it would solve nothing. Anaya needed Garrus. He was her best friend, besides herself.

She grabbed hold of his arm and managed to hold herself up high enough that she could still breathe. His mandibles twitched violently and his eyes burned with rebellious anger. She stared back at him with wide, defiant eyes and said, "Then why don't you explain it to me before we kill each other?"

He seemed to suddenly realize what he was doing and let her go. "I know you think I'm acting out of jealousy but you don't know Krogan crap! Maybe I do love her, but I certainly give her the RESPECT she DESERVES! The fact is that you abandoned her! You!" He pointed a thick finger in her face, "The one she chose! You weren't there when Williams called her a traitor on Horizon. You didn't see the hurt on her face, the pain it caused. Williams abandoned her on Horizon then you did, too on Ilium. I haven't seen her that hurt since Alenko died!"

He started pacing back and forth by the hatch and his voice rose in volume with each sentence. "All of us, you, me, everyone from the old Normandy owe her everything! Without even knowing you, she saved your worthless ass on Therum from a Krogan warlord and a company of Geth! She brought you into her crew, her family when there was no reason at all for anyone to trust you! She runs menial errands all over Ilium because you flutter your little blue eyes at her! Then you pull her into some stupid vendetta against the Shadow Broker AND NEARLY GET HER KILLED!" He smashed his fist into the bulkhead beside Liara's head, and wrapped his other hand around her throat again.

He leveled his eyes with hers so their faces were less than an inch apart. "She deserves so much better than you, you have treated her like a pet Vorcha, or Varren!" He hissed at her. "So tell me T'Soni, help me understand, what the hell is so important that you'd desert Shepard and then almost get her killed? Why do you deserve to even be on this ship?"

"Because she's the one I love, Garrus." A low, dangerous voice growled from behind him. He glanced over his shoulder and Shepard stood there in the open hatch with a look on her face he had seen many times in battle, but never thought would be directed at him. The K-Bar in her clenched fist pulsed with biotic energy that bled from between her fingers. "And the Shadow Broker is responsible for killing our children two years ago. Now, old times or not, love you like a brother or no, if you don't let her go right now, I'll personally shove this knife right up your crap hole!"

Garrus shook his head and realized he did indeed have Liara by the throat again, let go and stepped back. 'Why didn't she fight back?' he wondered. "Children?" He stammered. "Wha…uh…" He looked at Liara and it dawned on him as to how much of an ass he's been. He dropped his gaze to the deck in shame. "I'm…I'm sorry, I didn't know. I see…I understand now. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because it's my pain to carry and deal with, Garrus. I prop my crew up when they need it, but problems go up the chain, not down. I can't lay my burdens on my crew." Anaya growled between clenched teeth. "Li, are you okay?"

Liara stepped between them and lightly touched Garrus on the arm. "I am well, Ana'. He did not know. He thought I was hurting you possibly on purpose, which would be reason enough for me to hate someone also." She reached out her other hand until Shepard finally settled down and took it in her own. "He only wants what is best for you."

Garrus straightened and finally looked them each on the eyes again. "Commander, Liara I am sorry for my behavior. I…now know I shouldn't have judged so harshly. I've brought dishonor to myself, for this. It won't happen again."

Shepard gave him a not-so-light punch on the arm. "I know it won't, ya big Vorcha-brained dope."

"I'd…like to go with you on this mission, Commander. I'd like to help you both. Make up for…this. For what I did and said. I'd consider it a way to restore honor?" He said quietly, with a slight hopeful glance at the pair. "I know you want a tech expert, but I'm not too bad at it, if you recall."

"Okay," Shepard said. "I'll tell Tali, meet in the shuttle bay in an hour."

/////

THE SHADOW BROKER SHIP:  They hit the hull of the ship and Shepard took off at a run. She wanted to clear as much terrain as possible before being detected. She liked keeping the enemy to their front. They made excellent time at first, a couple drones popped up here and there, but were easily handled by Garrus and Anaya.

The lightning collector rods were a real blessing. For most engagements, Shepard kept Liara and Garrus in cover and just kept shooting the rod bases releasing the pent up energy which shot out until it found a conduit, usually the Broker's merc guards.

While Shepard did this, Liara and Garrus devised their own tactic for dealing with the guards. Liara would lift or pull a merc up or capture a group in a singularity and Garrus hit them with a concussive shot, sending them flying into the slip-stream.

When they got to the hatch Liara placed the device on it and waited while it opened, booted up and started its work.

"What the hell is that thing, Liara?" Garrus asked.

"It's a by-pass-shunt program."

"Yeah, I've heard of those. I also heard they are highly illegal…" He said cryptically.

Liara smiled, "I'll wager that whatever we might consider 'illegal' is fair game here on the Shadow Broker base. Would you not agree, Officer Vakarian?" She replied sweetly.

"Asari and their legal loop-holes…" He teased.

"Company!" Shepard yelled. "Get away from that hatch, there's no cover there." Mercs swarmed from the left and the right.

"Their attacks are uncoordinated, Ana'. They'd be more effective if they struck together."

Shepard glanced over at her, "Don't give 'em any ideas, T'Soni…"

The action around the hatch intensified and for a moment or two, Liara thought they'd be over-whelmed. But every time things got intense, Anaya would shift their positions around and provide fire into the guards' partially exposed flanks. It was amazing how the young woman could track so many different moving parts on the field of battle and anticipated their enemy's next moves.

"Seriously, Liara, are you sure that thing is going to work?" Anaya said as she ejected another thermal clip.

"Should be any minute now…" Liara evaded as she unloaded a clip into a merc.

"You didn't answer my question, T'Soni!" Shepard yelled as she dropped another rocket drone. A merc rose in front of her only to have his head disappear in a pink mist.

"Scratch one!" Garrus shouted.

Liara smiled and engaged a merc heavy on the ledge above them. "No time to talk!" It really was like old times.

Anaya tackled a merc and twisted his head around until she heard a satisfying crack. "I'm gonna kick your cute, little blue ass when we get done here!"

Liara laughed as she used her biotics to grab a grenade thrown at Garrus and return it to the sender just as it detonated. "Sorry! Was that kick, kiss or lick?"

Anaya shot another energy collector sending deadly bolts of bright electricity into three more guards. None got back up. "I'll start with the first one and probably move straight to the last one…"

Garrus pointed to a guard on the ledge, "Liara, pull!" She did and the merc floated out a few meters only to be sent flying far above the ship by Garrus' concussive shot.

"Then you'll get your first instruction on that 'Azure' subject…" Liara said coyly as she fired a few rounds at a merc biotic to take down her shields.

Shepard reached over a wall, grabbed a merc by his armor and flung him into the energy collector before diving back to cover closely followed by a hail of enemy fire. "Hardly! If you think about it, it's not like I haven't already been there Li'."

Liara and Garrus both poured rounds into a combat drone until it was destroyed. "I remember…vividly, but we should not let perishable skills fade away…"

"Okay, do you two mind?" Garrus said, pulling a Salarian guard into a head-lock and breaking his neck.

"Sorry, Garrus..." They women said together.

The shunt program finally signaled it was done just as another wave of mercs came at them. "Garrus, give me a hedge-clipper at the hatch!" Anaya ordered.

Liara and Anaya collapsed to positions near the hatch and covered the Turian as he set four charges on each side of the opening all at waist level. Each charge had four hundred pellets that would blow away from the charge and cut through almost anything. "Done!" He shouted.

"Good, get inside. Li', you too!" Shepard ordered. Though Liara didn't want to leave her, Liara obeyed.

With only one shooter left at the hatch, the mercs grew confident and charged Shepard's position. Anaya waited to make sure they were close enough and committed enough before dashing through the hatch and sealing it behind her. She grinned at Garrus. "Now, big guy."

Garrus nodded and keyed the detonator. A rumble came from the other side as 3200 pellets were explosively propelled at the remaining seven guards cutting them to shreds. "See, aren't you glad you brought me?" Garrus quipped.

Shepard popped him in the shoulder and grinned. "Yeah, but Tali would have done it with much more style, probably with lasers and stuff. Good job, Garrus." She checked their thermal clips and ensured everyone was ok. "Alright, let's keep going."

There was a surprising number of guards inside the ship. 'It must cost a fortune to get supplies enough for all these people up here on a continuous basis', Liara thought as they made their way through the amazing ship. But with Shepard's tactics, they never really stood a chance.

Finally they came to the brig. After dispatching the last biotic guard, Shepard quickly opened the door and all three of them rushed in.

Liara looked around furtively, hoping against hope. Sitting in a chair wired to the main conductors and system control unit was Feron. He was still alive. "Feron!" Liara exclaimed.

The Drell looked up from his prison and tried to focus. "Liara? What are you doing here?"

"Hold on I'll get you out of there." She ran over to the consol and started a prelim shut-down

"Wait, wait!" Feron called just before his body was surrounded by crackling energy. His body convulsed as the electricity shot through his nervous system.

"I thought this was too easy." Shepard remarked.

"I'm tied into the system. If I'm moved, I fry. You have to shut down the main power systems in the main control room, if I am to get out of this alive."

Shepard nodded, cracked her knuckles and drew her Lotus. "Okay then, let's finish this."

A huge creature sat behind the desk, awaiting them in the main control room. Hands larger than most species heads sat calmly on the granite desk. He watched them closely through four sets of eyes set deep in the exoskeleton covered face as they entered the room. "Well," Anaya said. "I've seen a lot in my travels, but you take the prize for ugly."

"You cannot bait me, Shepard." It growled back at her. "You are nothing to me, your reckless actions show how limited you really are and how much you will never know."

"I'm so tired of people telling me how much I suck..." Shepard said. "Let the Drell go now, and I may let you live."

The creature laughed, it was a terrible, deep coughing sound. "While you fumble in the dark Shepard, I know everything about each of you." He said smugly, "Archangel, the failed vigilante from Omega. Failed leader who ended up letting his team get killed. I will get a good price for your body, Turian. Commander Shepard, hero, icon, dead and brought back to life by a Cerberus Operation called the Lazarus Project headed by Miranda Lawson and Jacob Taylor. Does first-hand experience of your own mortality haunt you? And Liara T'Soni, archaeologist, 'adequate' information broker, killer of your own mother, failed daughter, failed teammate, failed friend and failed mother."

Biotic power pulsed from Liara, "Our babies died because of your contract with the Batarians, murderer!"

It cocked its head at her and laughed again. "You are mistaken, Asari. I made no such contract. I wanted the Commander's body for the Collectors, but I cared little about you. You are apparently a failed information broker, also."

Liara breathed deep, trying to center herself. Sha'ira and Thel'ena always told her to seek balance, but rage, confusion, self-doubt battled inside her head. Facts, focus on facts. "Is that right? You are a Yahg. A species quarantined to their home planet for slaughtering the Counsel's First Contact Teams. This station predates the discovery of your planet, so that means you were probably taken from there by the original Shadow Broker who wanted you as…well I suppose all you would be good for is…a trophy," She paused, a smirk playing on her lips, "or a pet. How am I doing?"

The Yahg stood and bellowed as he crushed his granite slab desk with his fists. Taking the larger part, he hurled it at them with tremendous force.

Liara would have caught the brunt of his attack, but Anaya dragged her to the deck just in time. Garrus, though took a glancing blow and was stunned and pinned under the huge piece of furniture. Though immobile, he came-to quickly, managed to pull out his pistol and started firing at the Broker from his semi-protected position.

The Broker pulled a Revenant machine gun and started laying down murderous fire at Shepard. Liara, Garrus and Shepard all took turns firing at him to weaken his shields. Shepard and Liara circled around him so he was always caught in a cross fire and off balance. But it wasn't working fast enough. His shields were incredibly strong.

Garrus managed to pull out his grenade launcher, "Have a few of these tamales!" He shouted as he launched four 40mm rounds at the monster. The Broker rocked back from the impacts and went down on a knee. He shook his head as if to clear it and started channeling power from the energy sphere above him into a type of shield Anaya had never seen before.

Liara shot a few rounds at it with no effect. "It's kinetically sensitive. Our weapons will not penetrate!"

Anaya grimaced and drew her K-Bar. "Got to do things the hard way again…" She said grimly.

Anaya closed with the Broker and smashed an elbow into his face feeling the satisfying crunching of breaking bone in her opponent's cheek. She followed quickly with a slashing stab of her knife across his narrowly exposed throat. Thick, black-green blood gushed from the wound and the Broker roared in pain.

Thanks to her powered suit joints and armored knuckles each blow she landed rocked the huge creature. The Broker bellowed in pain and rage as he tried to catch her. He was big and strong, but a bit slow. She managed to evade his wild swings and sneak in close to land a few of her own, but as big as he was, she just wasn't doing enough damage.

Then it dawned on her. "Liara! Get him off his feet!" Immediately a biotic field pushed the Yahg's legs out from under him and he flopped down on his chest, cracking his jaw on the steel deck. Anaya walked around to the thing's head, "Garrus, launcher!" The big Turian reached back and tossed the launcher to Shepard.

Anaya never took her eyes off her prey but caught the launcher in stride. The Yahg was just starting to push himself off the deck when the raven-haired SPECTRE shoved the barrel of the grenade launcher a foot down his throat. "Never insult my girl again." She growled and pulled the trigger.

The grenade tore through the Broker's organs and came to rest in his lower intestines before detonating. Black blood and greenish gore erupted from his body splattering across the walls and dripping from the ceiling. Chunks of the Broker lay scattered throughout the room, decorating the interface relays. Anaya herself was covered in gore from the chest down with more than a few chunks of meat and blood in her hair and on her face.

With tears in her eyes, Liara launched herself into Anaya's arms and hugged her tight despite the gore and smell on the Soldier. When they finally parted, Liara brushed Shepard's hair back from her face with a finger and smiled at her lovingly. "I cannot thank you enough, Ana'. After so long, I have you back and we've rescued Feron too."

"And we avenged our daughters…" Shepard said quietly.

Liara bit her lower lip and looked at her pensively "I am not so sure..."

"Li'," Anaya said in a whisper, "he was trying to knock you off balance…"

Liara gently placed a finger on Anaya's lips. "Perhaps, but the answers are all right there. We need to know the truth." She said pointing to the Broker's computer interface. "We will see."

Shepard grinned slightly and kissed her lightly. "Whatever you need, a ghra."

"Uh…I hate to break this up," Garrus said from under the desk. "But could someone get this thing off me?"

The spell was broken again and both women grinned ruefully and shrugged, letting each other go for now.

Liara was immediately captivated by the information node behind where the Broker's desk had been, and walked over to it. Hundreds of separate contact feeds were monitored right here. No blocks, systems firewalls or any security at all. The system was incredible. On a whim, she started a search and accessed the file on herself and Shepard.

With a smile on her face, Anaya strode over to Garrus and helped him get out from under the desk. "C'mon, ya big sissy. Quit loafing around…"

Garrus chuckled as he stood, "If you can fight effectively laying down, then why not? Besides, it gave me great cover."

"Yeah, yeah. Part of your 'stylish ways' right?" she said handing him back the gore covered launcher.

Garrus gagged and stepped back. "Uh, you can keep it, Commander. And by the way, you really stink."

"Listen," She said. "I need you to call the Normandy and have them send Tali, Mordin and a cleanup crew ASAP. Bring a security team in case we missed anyone. We have to get Feron out of that chair."

Garrus knuckled his forehead as he walked out of the room. "On the way, Commander."

"What have you got, Li'?" Anaya asked coming up behind her love.

Liara turned with apprehension etched in her features. "I'm not sure, Ana'. I have access to all his files but the names of his operatives are coded. An operative designated X7A initiated the contract." She sighed and shrugged dejectedly. "I…I fear our search is not over yet."

Shepard didn't move while she processed the information, "Show me what you have…"

Liara accessed a personal log file of the Broker's. His deep, gravely voice filled the room. "Received notification from Operative X7A, he has found data leading to the position of the Asari archaeologist and contracted Batarian Pirates to eliminate her. Contract approved. Memo: find operative X7A's source of information, priority 3D."

Anaya's face betrayed no emotion at all. A dangerous sign, Liara knew. She turned to her Asari lover and fixed her with a determined stare. "Li', I…no, we need to find out the truth. The real truth." Tears welled in her eyes. "I don't care what the cost to me…whoever killed our girls will pay for it with their lives."

Liara drew her lover in and gently caressed the human woman's lips with her own. "I will find what I can, Ana'." Then her cerulean lips turned up in a grin. "But seriously, love, you need a shower…"

/////

NORMANDY CAPTAIN'S CABIN:  Liara walked into Shepard's cabin and Anaya met her by the hatch. "So how was Tali's tour?" She asked.

"It was fun, you have a beautiful ship. I ran into Joker…" she looked away in shame. "I am sorry, but I still have trouble not being angry at him." She looked away guiltily. "I know I should let it go, but I cannot help but think of all that time we lost because he disobeyed…" She could not meet Shepard's eyes. "I…I hate him so…for killing you. Though I know I should not…."

Anaya gathered her into her arms saying, "Don't blame yourself, Li'. It's only natural. I know I'd auger out the tail end of anyone I thought hurt you."

Liara giggled. "I know you would, Ana'." She kissed her lover's shoulder and reveled in her warmth. "But where does this new intel leave us?" She meant the data found on the Shadow Broker's Base.

Anaya pulled back some, "A ghra, I know what it means to you, to me, to us. I know you need to stay here. I know that doesn't mean we'll not be together…" her voice hitched and a tear ran down her face, "someday..." Liara started to speak but Anaya hushed her with a kiss and a smile.

"But where does this leave us, Ana'?" Liara asked needing to hear from her lover what was in her own heart.

Anaya took Liara's face in her hands and gazed at her with a look more piercing and honest than any she had ever seen before. "Li', you are my love. I'm always here for you and will always support…awe, crap..." The Marine said stepping away and grimacing. "Why can't I say what I want to around you…?" Anaya groused under her breath.

Liara was frightened. Her heart skipped a beat. Was she losing Shepard?

The raven haired woman crossed to the audio interface and immediately a heart-wrenching lilting Gaelic song coursed throughout the cabin. "Li', I've been reading…" she began.

Liara smiled broadly, "Dear Goddess no, Ana'!" she teased.

Anaya glanced at her almost shyly and fearfully, emotions Liara had never seen before in those delicate yet severe deep green eyes. Then the battle hardened SPECTRE crossed to the room and opened an ornate Asari h'mearl'u wood box Liara had never seen before and withdrew a crimson and gold bolt of Thessian silk cloth intricately embroidered with Asari heritage glyphs and swatches of celtic tartan."

Liara's breath caught in her throat and she tried to blink away the tears of joy that threatened to cascade from her eyes.

Anaya crossed to the low table and ceremoniously lifted a delicate silver goblet of Thessian glacial water to Liara's lips, bowed her head and intoned in a voice thick with emotion, "Liara T'Soni aile' Benez, I lay my heart for all to see. I pledge my life and soul to your unending joy if it is your will."

Tears traced tracts of joy from her blue eyes and Liara felt fear loose its strangle hold on her heart. Following custom, she took a sip from the goblet and turned in half way around so Anaya sipped from the same side. Following custom Liara bowed her head and intoned, "My love, my life, my soul is yours until I depart this realm and await you on the other side of the great veil."

Anaya followed, "You are the goddess of my heart, my being, my reason. May our days be long and our children…strong," she faltered a tad. "May our love always touch and guide each other's hearts."

Anaya took Liara's hand into her own and wrapped the cloth around their hands and forearms intricately before pausing to gaze into Liara's eyes and kissing her silk-wrapped fingers. "My life and soul are yours." She said finishing the first adjucti of the Asari betrothal ceremony.

Liara broke down crying.  Shepard picked her up and carried her to the bed. Anaya kissed her lightly and caressed her check with the back of her fingers.

"Goddess, Ana'," she sighed "I never thought such joy would be ours…"

Passion stoked an unquenchable fire and her heart pounded within her breast as Shepard explored her body with her gentle hands, wet tongue and tender lips. In no time Liara's clothes were piled in a heap next to the bed on top of Anaya's as Shepard wasted no effort caressing and breathing desire into Anya's firm body.  

Liara grasped hold of her last shred of self control, "What does this mean for us, Ana?"

Her future bond-mate's reply was firm and resolute. "It means that no matter what, no matter the foe or friend I'm yours until I die, Li'. You are the only one for me, a ghra."

Liara finally let herself go as she felt Anaya softly kiss the flesh at the nape of her neck and leave an electric rail down to her bare breasts. Almost unconsciously, Liara replied "My soul is yours, Ana'…" Liara twisted her fingers in her lover's ebony hair and pulled her warm mouth to her soft, waiting flesh…

The intensity of their passion grew until Liara found herself tearing off Anaya's last shred of clothing, gazing into those verdant eyes and finding the love and trust she had always sought throughout her life. Almost unconsciously, Liara's mind reached out and linked with her bond-mate completing the perfect union each woman had craved since Ilium.

As their hands, lips and tongues worshipped each other's bodies, they both shared the physical and emotional bliss through their extraordinarily profound meld.

Every touch, caress, taste and sigh echoed in the other's bliss and crashed through their very beings until they were one being, one soul. Their love perfect and eternal for all time…

This was love. This was bliss. This was perfection.


TO BE CONTINUED