A/N - For those who play the game, I'm not doing things in the order the game might deliver the plot. Writing my own story allows me the freedom to do things when I want.
Australian / British standard English. There is a good chance of reading the following: lots of profanity, characters drinking, typos, and bad grammar at times.
Proofreading and editing suggestions provided by OhDave1. Any mistakes are still mine.
Comments are appreciated as always.
Feedback by email is always welcome. Enjoy chatting with anyone who likes my work.
*****
Shepard heads to Illium to meet up with an old flame. Or two.
*****
I made a decision that morning. Without anything from the Illusive Man about where the Collectors were going to hit next, I pointed Joker towards Illium. I wanted to see Liara and check up on her. No, scratch that. I just really wanted to see her. Let her know that I was alive. Then I wanted to know what she was up to. If she'd moved on or if she was still mourning me. If she had moved on, I could accept that. Two years is a long time. Maybe not in the grand scheme of things, but I would never expect any widow of mine to mourn me for the rest of their life.
In addition to meeting up with Liara, there was another recruit to pick up. She was labelled as the 'Sorceress' as per the dossier provided by the Illusive Man. Another powerful biotic though rather amusingly, she was also trained in how to use a blade. Now that might sound rather silly to many people, but given the advent of shields, it takes quite a few shots before a shield is disabled, and if that same person is wearing armour, even more bullets are required before you hit skin, muscles and bone.
"I'm guessing he knows where we're going?" I asked Miranda although I already knew the answer.
"He knew that you'd head here sooner rather than later, Shepard. Don't worry about it."
"I'm not. I'm just wondering if he'll try and interfere."
"Depends on what you end up doing," Miranda stated, giving me a look that I already recognised, "I mean, it's been two years, and she must have missed you during that time."
"You do realise that I miss her too."
I think Miranda nearly snorted before she replied. "Yes, we're aware. We're surprised you haven't been around trying to recruit an asari or two already."
"Don't tempt me, Miranda."
I was rather surprised that the flight control of Nos Astra, Illium's capital, didn't attempt to stop us from landing. I'd long learned that we were registered as a civilian ship by Cerberus, but I guess Illium didn't really give a shit. Miranda had suggested that I do some reading before we docked, and the warning had already been sent out to the crew that if they were off the ship, to not verbally agree to nor sign their name to anything.
That warning was given again after the ship was clamped in place and a docking arm attached to the airlock. I was dressed in casual clothing as I didn't see the point in armour just yet. I knew some of my squad might be interested in getting off the ship. Many others were happy to remain on board as I'd been honest about being unsure as to how long we'd be on Illium. It might be a matter of a few hours though I only knew that one of our recruits was in Nos Astra. I didn't have an exact location.
Walking off the ship onto the docks, Nos Astra was one of probably hundreds of modern cities around the galaxy. But I was aware of the sordid underbelly that existed in the city and the fact that even the Asari Republics kept Illium at arm's length. They could get away with doing all sorts of shit on the planet and claim innocent. It was probably similar to Noveria in some ways if you looked at it.
I wasn't particularly surprised to be greeted by an incredibly attractive asari. Garrus was immediately laughing his arse off at my side. Miranda was probably stifling a chuckle behind me. I knew Kasumi, Amelie and Kelly were also hoping to get off the ship for at least a few hours. To my genuine surprise, the asari seemed to know all about me and explained that any fees incurred by the docking of the
Normandy
had already been covered by Liara.
"What do you know about her?" I had to ask.
The asari spoke of Liara in glowing terms, something that I would expect as Liara didn't have a bad bone in her body. But to hear that she was an influential information broker still didn't make sense. I knew that it had been over two years since I died, but to go from an archaeologist to an information broker just didn't make sense.
"Go see her," Miranda suggested once I'd thanked the asari for the information, "Just let us know how it goes."
Nos Astra was a bustling metropolis. To be honest, we stopped at one of the overlooks and took it all in. Yes, it might have been modern in one regard, but the horizon showing snow-capped peaks and breathtaking scenery had most of us standing in silence for a few minutes. You couldn't ignore the noise. I had a feeling it was a twenty-four-seven sort of city. People slept though then worried about losing money if they did.
My companions only left me alone when I suggested that I'd head straight for Liara's offices. I had no idea what to expect but wanted to go alone. Kelly gave me a quick hug and wished me luck. Garrus also admitted that he would have kept in touch with her without his own problems.
There was more than one sign pointing me in the direction of her offices. I walked through a set of double doors and spoke to a receptionist, no surprise it was an asari, asking if Doctor T'Soni was free. Asking who I was, I told her and the lowered jaw and eyes widening in surprise suggested that word hadn't exactly passed through yet that I'd arrived.
"Don't tell her. I want it to be a surprise."
I think the receptionist figured out this was a reunion and nodded though with a glistening eye or two. I walked up some steps and weaved through desks and Liara's office was highlighted. I didn't miss the glances from the banks of desks, most of them asari. I figured they were leaving their desks to watch me walk by. More than a few probably already had me figured out. I knew that news of my return had likely spread across the galaxy by now.
There was another asari outside Liara's desk. She looked up from her laptop, her eyes moving up and down, before she smiled at me. "Commander Shepard..." she stated softly.
"Hello. You are?"
"Nyxeris. I'm Liara's assistant. I literally just received word that you'd finally arrived on Illium. Do you want me to announce..."
"No. I'd like it to be a surprise. Think that'll work?"
"Commander..."
"Call me Shepard."
She smiled shyly at me, almost fluttering her eyelids. I would have laughed though I was used to such reactions by now. "Shepard, I think you walking in right now will make her year. She's so busy every single day. I think it's to keep her mind occupied."
Thanking Nyxeris, I stopped at the glass doors leading to Liara's and took more than one deep breath. I wasn't nervous, but I also knew this wouldn't be easy. I didn't even want to contemplate my inevitable return with Ashley. Neither of us had known much about Cerberus, but I could only imagine how she'd react to hear that I was working with them. I figured that I might eventually meet Wrex and knew he probably wouldn't give a shit what I was doing, as long as I turned up to have a chat and drink with him.
I pushed one of the doors forward and stepped into an incredibly modern but immediately inviting and warm office. Liara sat at her desk behind a laptop. There was a comfortable-looking couch and armchair to one side. Bookcases that were full of old hardcovers and paperbacks. More than one piece of artwork on a wall. A few plants dotted about. Large windows provided a view of Nos Astra and the mountains in the distance.
"I'm busy, Nxyeris..."
"Hi, Liara..."
She looked up so quickly that I almost laughed. What almost got me going was the immediate trembling of her lower lip before she was up on her feet so quickly, tears running down her cheeks that I opened my arms just in time to catch her, her arms and legs wrapping around me tightly. And she sobbed. I had no idea an asari could cry so much.
It took her a few minutes to calm down before she leaned back, and we kissed. Best. Kiss. Ever. I eventually managed to carry her over to her desk to rest her butt on it. When her hands immediately worked on getting my shirt off, I started to laugh.
"We'll talk later," she stated urgently, "Two years, Shepard. Two. Years. I need you now. Right now. Nyxeris, hold all calls. I mean all calls. Lock the doors to my office. No one is to interrupt me until I call you."
"Liara..."
"Shepard. Shut up. I mean it. I've waited over two years for this moment. We can worry about everything later. Right now, I need you inside me. I mean it. I need your big dick inside my hot, tight, asari pussy. Got it?"
I chuckled before I replied, "Yes, ma'am."
Her eyes gazed up at me and softened before she started to cry again. I held her in my arms as I waited for her to calm down. "I knew you'd come," she finally whispered, "I just wasn't sure when. But I had everything organised... But I know about what's happening with the Collectors and..."
I gently shushed her. "We'll talk later," I assured her, "I'm guessing you want something else."
Liara nearly tore my shirt off before my trousers and underwear hit the floor, her hand immediately grasping my cock. As for Liara, she wore a simple dress that she took off with ease, undid her bra and slid off her panties ever so quickly. I would have eaten her out though a glance down told me her pussy was glistening and ready for me.
She choked back a sob when I gently slid inside her. I groaned as I savoured being inside her again. Her fingers dug into my back as her head rested against my chest, feeling her legs surround me as I gently started to thrust.
"Thirty seconds or thirty minutes... I don't care... Just love me, Shepard," she whispered.
"I do love you, Liara..." I whispered back.
I think that nearly set her off for a third time before she lifted her head, and we shared another passionate kiss. I felt her hips moving in time with the movement of my thrusts. I never felt any woman or asari needing me as much as I did in those few minutes we coupled for the first time. Liara's eyes were almost constantly on mine, and when she finally started to smile, I knew I grinned like an idiot back at her.
"Cum for me," she finally moaned, feeling her pussy squeezing my cock, "I need to feel you fill me, Shepard."
I made her squeal when I picked her up, kissing her as I walked us over to the couch. I sat down so she was straddled on my lap. She gazed down at me with such intensity that I knew in that moment her feelings for me had never changed for a second. When she enjoyed an orgasm, I kissed her hard and pumped my cock up into her. That made her almost growl, ordering me to cum inside her. I obliged within another couple of minutes.
"I have a small apartment here," she whispered, "Carry me there, Shepard."
The door was hidden in the wall, leading into what would have been considered a studio apartment. Joined sleeping and living quarters, a small kitchen and separate bathroom. I laid her back on the large bed as she spread her legs, a series of passionate kisses as my cock refused to soften for a second. Liara finally pushed me off her just enough to meet my eyes and the smile on her face...
