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Turnabout-	By : Spiritwolf71 Category: +M through R > Mass Effect Views: 7688 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: This story takes place within Bioware's Mass Effect Universe, their creative property. I do not own any of Bioware's stories or characters or locations. The Author recieved no money from this story and is writing it purely for entertainment.

Chapter List
- 17
- 18
- 19
The beat was steady and loud and tended to drown out whatever other music accompanied it. It was an unusual sound for the sordid dark streets of Tortuga’s capitol Port Moresby. When settlers had first come to Tortuga this pleasant almost oasis type area had been a thick forested area with a river running through it that led to a large lake. A small villa had been built on the Eastern shore of the river which then spread to the West. The town continued to grow until it reached the lake.
The area had stopped growing but people did not stop coming. Human, Salarians, Krogan Asari and Turian alike crammed themselves into the city. Other cities began to pop up around the surface of Tortuga but none of the as large or overly populated as Port Moresby. None of them as lawless either.
Last time Shepard had come to Tortuga she had gone to La Guardia, it was bad. It was run by the Blood pack and they ran it like terrorist, but it had laws, granted laws written by the Blood pack, but they were laws and they were upheld. In La Guardia you paid your homage to the pack, grew your fields and drank yourself into a stupor and life went on.
Port Moresby had more death in a day then the rest of the planet had in a week. There was no old age, there was no jail, and you lived in the darkness and hoped that no one would ever find you.
Until now Shepard had never heard music in the streets of the city. Sure there were several establishments of drinking and whoring, but never dance and music. Leave it to Aria to make her mark in a dismal hole in the ground. Shepard was not happy to be back here, she hated Tortuga.
Shepard and Liara moved into Aria’s newest establishment which she named Elusian, which Liara explained to her was an old ritual used in the days before Siari and maybe even as old as the Goddess Athame. It was considered a cleansing ritual the maiden would perform before they were paired up with their mates. It was forgotten for some time but then rose again as Siari became more popular. It change slightly became a word used for finding oneself, in a sensual sort of way. Human had an equivalent; it was called puberty, or more to the discovery of sexual desire. Either way, Shepard found it an odd name for a bar.
Shepard smiled as Liara had blushed her way through the explanation and Liara knew she was going to get teased. She smiled as she finished and looked to Cayle.
“You know I have to say something don’t you?” The Human said, taking her lovers hand. “You just looked so damn cute blushing like that.”
Liara smiled, “I am sure you do.”
“You will have to tell me later how you went through your Elusian ritual,” Shepard smiled even more.
“It wasn’t a ritual per say,” Liara explain. “It’s more of a time just before one reached the Maiden phase. It is not something that is generally talked about, as I am sure that Humans do not talk about their own sexual curiosity as, basically, young adults.”
Shepard raised a brow and smiled. “I wouldn’t mind.”
“I bet you wouldn’t” Liara leaned into her slightly. “Maybe you can share as well.”
Shepard chuckled and squeezed the Asari’s hand. “I didn’t get a chance to go through anything like that Liara,” She admitted, “but maybe we can make something up.”
They walked through the line up to the main doors and were stopped by two large Krogans and a Turian.
“Do you usually just walk to the front of the line and cut in front of everyone?” The Turian asked.
“Usually,” Shepard answered. She handed the Turian a data pad, “give this to Aria and let her decide.”
The Turian looked to it for a long time. Shepard shrugged, “Or not, but I would not want to be in your shoe’s if Aria ever found out you turned me away.”
“Why, who are you?” The man could not help ask, his curiosity was peaked.
“That’s for Aria to know, not you,” Shepard glared at the man. It was not a long showdown as the Turian finally turned away.
“If your messing with me Human, I’ll make sure you pay for it.” He said moving off. Cayle laughed then closed her eyes.
If anything Aria’s music was catchy. Not that Cayle danced by any stretch of the imagination, but she could not help tapping her foot to the beat. Last time she danced was with Jack on the Citadel and the young biotic had never let her live it down. Old woman dancing was what she had called it.
She found herself wondering what Jack was doing now. She had been more than happy when she had learned that the young biotic had started teaching. Jack had a sassy mouth but deep down she had a big heart. She had become so used to being disrespected that she did her level best to throw people away from her before she was disappointed. It had taken some work to get Jack to trust her, and more importantly to trust others. She knew how hard it had been, one only needed to be kicked in the face so many time before they covered their head when people approached. Jack had overcome that though and become so much more than even she expected she could be.
She loved working with the younger biotics, she loved having them look up to her and make her feel like she was someone special. Jack had never told her that. She didn’t have to; she just had to watch Jack with “her kids”. Jack had finally found her home. Shepard could only hope she would get to see Jack sometime soon. She had always thought of Jack like a little sister.
The Turian returned looking a little bit pale. He gestured them to enter the club. “Aria is in the office,” he pointed to a room that overlooked the club. The widows were darkened but Shepard imagined that on the other side they had a clear view of the bar. Aria always needed to know exactly what was happening.
Shepard nodded and held Liara’s hand tighter. She did not want to bring her lover with her for several reasons. The first was the simple fact that this was Tortuga and anything bad could happen here. As Lissa she had always done very well, but then she had never had to come to Port Moresby. Still though, the Cerberus Assassin was more suited to this atmosphere the Alliance Soldier. Even so, both hated the way women were treated on this rock.
Aria’s place was not bad. There were no restrictions on her here, but the ones that she made for herself. Her dancing girls were naked and her serving girls were half dressed but no one was touching or abusing them, not like all the other places. She imagined a lot of the woman wanted to work here. Aria would only have hired the best. There was absolutely no fighting; signs were up all over stating as such. Knowing Aria she would have had to kill quite a few people before her rules were firmly established.
Regardless, Shepard watched Liara like a hawk as they made their way through the club, moving herself between the Asari and anyone who dared approach.
They approached the office and Shepard could not help but think of the second reason. She had visited Aria before, as Lissa. Actually she had been to Aria’s several times as the Asari seemed to be a bit of an information broker herself. Lissa had never minded trading away some Cerberus information in exchange for information she was looking for, besides she had never thought of betraying the Illusive Man as betraying Cerberus. She had given Aria a lot of information on the last few Illusive Man hold outs and let her take them out. Aria hated the man and anyone who dealt with him.
Aria also liked Lissa, not that the Asari had ever come out and said it, but she had flirted and Lissa had flirted right back. Lissa had always had an unexplained affection for the Asari. Shepard now knew where that came from. It was from her love for Liara, deep down being with an Asari was right; it was the way it was supposed to be.
She and Aria had even come very close one night, to stepping over that line between friends and more. They had both been venting their frustration out about men and their lack of use for them. It had been entertaining at first and they shared a laugh or two and then they were kissing and exploring and it had taken everything in Lissa’s power to finally pull away from the Asari before things went beyond the point of no return. She liked Aria, but she wasn’t able to take that step. That had been the last time Lissa had been to Aria’s. If Shepard was lucky, Aria would not figure it out. She had her black hair back and Miranda had returned her eyes to their original colour but her hair style was still short.
As they made their way up the steps to Aria’s office Shepard prayed that none of her past with Aria would come out. She had been too embarrassed to tell her lover herself and she was not sure how Liara would take it.
Cayle stopped and looked around the establishment. Like all of Aria’s clubs there was a slight red glow in the dimness. Several stages littered the main floor at all different levels with dancer moving their bodies to the beat. Most of the girls here were human, but there was a smattering of Asari as well. There were two bars at each end of the dance floor with bar tenders and a few bouncers at each.
The club was packed with the younger crowd, not the worn out, knarred hands, knarred heart regulars. People were here to actually dance, not drink themselves into oblivion. It was not something she expected in this town. It was almost as if the music and the dance gave them some semblance of hope. That was Aria’s gift.
The two guards outside of the office moved out of her way as she approached. She looked to Liara for a second before opening the door and stepping inside.
In contrast to the dimly lit club the room was bright and did not have that red glow. It reminded her more of an office and she was not used to that. Aria usually preferred a comfortable couch in the middle of her establishment. However Tortuga was not a normal place and one needed to protect themselves. As requested on the pad Aria was present with just one guard, one that she trusted.
“So, it seems as though you just can’t stay dead Shepard,” Aria said looking up from her red couch. That was a mainstay it seemed. Cayle could not help but wonder if she dragged it with her from establishment to establishment.
“Yes, it would seem as though Death and I have established an equitable working relationship."
Aria laughed as Shepard moved to the couch and sat down. Liara followed but remained standing. Aria focused on her. “So, has your girlfriend learned how to speak?”
Shepard looked to Liara having no idea what Aria was talking about.
“Last time I visited Aria, Feron insisted on doing the talking,” Liara explained. Shepard still, really did not understand. Judging Liara’s body language she was not happy with the way the conversation was going.
“And how are you doing?” Shepard changed the subject. “Every time I meet you, you’re in a different place.”
“Yes because picking up and moving my life is always fun,” Aria commented dryly.
“I’m happy to see you too,” Shepard smiled.
Aria looked at her for a very long time and Cayle found herself getting uncomfortable. Aria was trying to figure something out, she could tell in how the Asari lowered one brow.
“So how did you escape death this time?”
“That is a story for another day,” Shepard stated firmly, letting the proprietor know that was not on the table for discussion. “However I would just like for you to know, Kai Leng is finally deceased.”
It was quiet for a long time. As Lissa, Shepard had found out what happened to Aria’s daughter. She knew that Aria had wanted Leng dead for some time. Cayle kicked herself for mentioning it. She as Shepard had never known. She looked to Aria to see if she would pick up on it.
She had, she could see it in the way Aria looked to her now. The quiet in the room grew deafening. Cayle went through all sorts of things she would say to Liara if Aria spoke up. Not that Cayle would ever have had a relationship with the Older Asari but Lissa was not Cayle. Would Liara even see it that way?
“It is good that he is dead. It’s just too bad I was not the one to do it,” Aria said her eyes not leaving Cayle’s. She knew, and she was not going to mention it. Shepard let out the breath she had been holding.
“This is a nice place you have here for Tortuga.” Shepard immediately changed the subject.
“Yes, one built on a lot of blood. It’s seems the people of Tortuga were used to taking what they wanted and their manners were, well, non-existent.”
“Looks like you have it under control.”
“Yes,” Aria picked up a glass and took a drink, she was still eyeing Shepard. “We had to teach several lessons when we arrived. Apparently a few people did not know my rule.”
Cayle chuckled, “What about Omega.”
“Omega is mine and one day, I will take it back.”
Shepard knew how much the woman loved Omega. She had left because of that love for it. Had she stayed it would have been destroyed. It was like that story she had heard once, the one about the two women, both claiming a child to be their own. When the magistrate ordered the baby cut in two and each woman given a half. The real mother stepped forward and allowed the other woman to have the child.
“What if I said that day could be now?”
Again that defining silence, Aria looked from Shepard to Liara. “Are you playing with me Shepard, I do not like to be toyed with.”
“I would never do that,” Shepard said honestly, “But we need access to the Omega four relay and the only way to do that is to control Omega. I figure who better to help us with its weakness’ and get us in undetected if need be, then you.”
“Who are we?” Aria asked, it was a fair question.
“The Alliance and whatever Allies that come along.”
Aria stood and moved over to the window, looking down at the dancing locals below. “And if I take part in this, who gets control of Omega?”
“Well, from all that I know Omega has an owner; she’s just been gone for a bit. You would have to allow the Alliance to use it as a launching ground for their forces though.”
“And the Alliance will just hand it over to me when they are done?”
Shepard could really not guarantee that. She could not even guarantee she’d be anything but arrested and placed under house arrest and giving a dishonourable discharge. She just wanted to have a plan in motion for when she returned to the Alliance. Something to make her worth something other than arrested, to them.
“What do you think?” Aria looked directly at Liara. “Will they go along with Shepard or arrest her?”
Liara looked to Cayle, who hung her head. “You know?” the younger Asari asked.
“I knew Lissa and Lissa knew about my daughter, I don’t think I ever told Shepard,” Aria took another drink.
“When I was Lissa I had made some deals with Aria, she was an informant.” Cayle explained and prayed that Aria would leave it at that.
Aria turned to her, looking her straight in the eyes, “Yes, a very good informant.”
“And a friend,” Cayle added and looked to Liara who was starting to make assumptions of her own. She could see the Shadow Broker coming out in Liara, the tensing and the stern face and the slight blue flare of her biotics.
“Nothing ever happened,” Cayle didn’t want to do this, now in front of Aria. She should have told Liara.
“Unfortunately,” Aria added. Liara still had her back up but thankfully was not pressing the issue, not here anyway.
Again that silence hit the room. She needed to get out of there, and get Liara out of there before things went bad. “Are you in?” she asked finally.
“I still have the three mercenary groups under my control. If we go for the station they have to be a part of it, and the station comes back under my control.”
They were fair demands. “That was my plan.”

“Ok, count me in.”
“Aria, you had a fling with Aria,” Liara said too calmly as they entered the shuttle. Shepard knew the Asari was anything but calm, her biotics were flaring now. Cayle had no idea what to say
“I didn’t know how to tell you,” Shepard said as they got onto the shuttle. It had been along silent walk back to the landing fields and Shepard had been afraid to breech the subject out in the open. She didn’t really want to die on Tortuga.
“Aria, you had a fling with Aria?” Liara said turning on her.
“I did not,” Cayle defended. “It was not me, Lissa,” she paused for a long time. “Aria was pretty much the only Asari Lissa knew and it felt right that for her to have feelings for her. Just deep down having an Asari at her side was right and she could never explain it. It was one night, Aria opened up to Lissa about a lot of thing and vice versa. They tried the whole intimate thing but Lissa stopped it, it was wrong.”
“I’d say,” Liara was still tense with blue wisps slightly outlining her body. Cayle took a deep breath. “You could have told me, trusted me.”
Shepard took a deep breath, “I was a completely different person for five years Liara. There were things I did that, I am really ashamed of. I had no control over them. I mean sometime I wonder how I could have let them change me, how could,” She paused and turned away, running her hand through her hair. “I love you Liara, I always have but when I think back to some of the things I have done, I worry that you would never forgive me. I don’t think I could deal well if you were ashamed of me”
Shepard felt Liara’s hand on her shoulder. The Asari turned her around. “I would never be ashamed of you Cayle. And I don’t think I am upset about you and Aria, more upset about hearing it from her.”
Cayle rested her forehead against Liara’s. “Nothing happened with us, I think because deep down, the only Asari for me is you.”
Liara smiled and tilted her head up, pressing her lips against Shepard. “Your right about that,” she brought her hand up and tangled it in Cayle’s hair. She always loved the feel of the Humans hair in her fingers, so soft.
Cayle reached down and pulled Liara tightly to her, letting her tongue explore and play with Liara’s. The Asari’s moan was enough to awaken deep desires in the Human. The shuttle was not the ideal place but Cayle did not care. She needed Liara now more than ever.
They could not stop touching each other as their clothes became nothing but a pile on the floor. Cayle smiled as she ran her fingers over Liara’s crest, remembering how much the Asari loved that. Her other hand traveled downward, past the nap of her back to her buttocks and she squeezed slightly.
Cayle had struggled since she got her memory back, the two worlds colliding but she knew beyond anything, that Liara was the centre of her sole and they were one. She had held back for days and could hold back no longer. She lifted Liara’s leg up as she pressed her against the wall, her lips exploring that spot at the edge of the crest where ear would be. Liara could only moan as she gripped Cayle’s hair in one hand, arm in the other.
“Goddess,” She whispered. She could not control herself; she was putty in the human’s hands. “Embrace Eternity,” She continued as she and Shepard became one.
- 17
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