Mass Effect: Reaper Dreams

True Blue: Part II (Asari Love Slave)

You're running with me
Don't touch the ground
We're the restless hearted
Not the chained and bound

The sky is burning
A sea of flame
Though your world is changing
I will be the same

Slave to love

Can you help me?

I can't escape

I'm a slave to love

Bryan Ferry

December 14th, 2186

Josslyn E. Shepard

____________________________________

Shepard's eyes were tired. She went back to her cabin so she could read the message from Liara on her full sized haptic display. It seemed to be a business contract, reparations of some kind. There was a reference link to Asari history which Shepard followed up on.

It was a detailed entry on ancient Thessia. She'd read some of this before. It was astonishing to think that the Asari were every bit as brutal as humanity at one time in their history. Ok, considering what she'd seen on Ilium, perhaps it wasn't that surprising at all. Underneath all those pretty clothes and eloquent ideals, the Asari weren't any less cutthroat than the Krogan, Turians, or Humans.

Their entire civilization was based on city states, and thus in their past there were many wars fought, slaves taken, and worse. In fact, slavery was such a predominate part of Asari history, that many still practiced it, though in a more sophisticated and modern venue. It made sense. It was a sad truth that females of all races seemed to enjoy putting other females under heel, even more than males. Still, Shepard found it completely distasteful. She had to deal with some of this so-called civilized slavery on Ilium before and it left a bad taste in her mouth. Why would Liara send her this?

The entry went on, a list of ancient practices, rules for slaves to follow, and so on. It was despicable stuff, mostly centered on the worst of Asari culture: sexual slavery and mind rape, and other less than savory topics. God, was Liara trying to explain to Shepard that she felt like her slave? Shepard slumped into her chair, defeated.

The talk she had with Anderson had put her feelings into focus. Shepard knew what she wanted for the first time in her life. She felt she'd finally gotten it right, was ready to move forward and commit to the woman she loved, and now this? Had she already blown it before she had a chance to make it right?

She read the rest of the entry. The Shadow Broker requested that Shepard make a pickup from a warehouse on the Citadel. She figured it must have something to do with Liara's mission on Trident. The warehouses in that district were infamous for smugglers and illegal military tech. In fact, the location was quite near the place she and Garrus had cornered Harkin just a year ago.

The directions were clear. Commander Shepard was to come alone and make contact with a Volus smuggler named Dar-Jor. Apparently Dar-Jor was in possession of property that would help the war effort. Shepard checked the access codes with EDI through her Omni-tool to make sure. They were Liara's so they were legit.

She also followed up on the Volus contact. Dar-Jor had a history of criminal activity. He was notorious for peddling slaves in the Terminus Systems. What was Liara thinking? Shepard couldn't believe it, but then again, considering how many hoops she was jumping through for Aria, she was in no position to judge.