Ch.13 - Overdue Talk

"Dr. T'Soni? What are you doing here?" I asked the maiden Asari as she come into mine and Tali's workspace.

Tali's was currently working on her marksmanship with Wrex, having spent a bit too much time tinkering in the last week or so, she felt the need to move her body.

But Dr. T'Soni's presence here was highly unusual. In fact, I believe Tali said she had only come down to this area of the ship a handful of times, mainly from initial curiosity regarding how human vessels operated and what made the Normandy unique.

And the fact that she has always done her best to avoid me, the hesitation displayed across her body attesting to her desire for being away from me even now, well it makes her presence even curiouser.

"W-well I, I am here to discuss my, um, behavior ever since your acceptance on the Normandy." She answered with some fear, nervousness, hope and determination. "It has come to my attention that my actions might have led to some… misconceptions."

"Misconceptions?" I questioned. "I simply thought my presence made you uncomfortable. I see nothing wrong with one person not getting along with another as long as it does not hamper our duties.

Although not ideal, I do not believe we hold any sort of antagonistic relationship, hence I do not take your aversion to me in a personal manner."

"Of course I do not dislike you! In fact, I very much wish to have many conversations with, now more than ever!" The Prothean Archeologist exclaimed rather suddenly.

"Hm? That is a surprise. If you wish to discuss things, then have I done something to cause some kind of counterweight to this desire?" I asked earnestly.

"N-no! It's not you. I mean, maybe slightly, but not of your own volition or knowledge." She quickly tried to explain, looking flustered. "Oh Goddess, I cannot even do this right."

"Then let us take a moment." I interrupted her frustrations. "Refocus your thoughts and succinctly explain your reasoning as if a research paper. As a doctorate holder, I am certain this is something you should be accustomed to doing."

This at least seemed to help the Asari as her eyes regained focus and her emotions calmed.

"*Deep Breath in, Exhale* Ok. Now, personally, I have no issues with you Neo. You have been very polite and understanding, and I truly do wish to approach you more often if only because I am one of the few who know of your origins.

The reason I have not is because, well, your biotics or maybe even your empathic abilities, they work like something of a temptation to me. Sweet, alluring, but also dominating. I fear unconsciously falling prey to it, hence why I have been avoiding you."

Now that was unexpected.

"You mean to tell me that I am something of a narcotic to you?" I hesitantly asked for clarification.

"That description may be somewhat accurate, but holds flaws." She countered after a bit of thought. "It would be akin to an instinctive desire to submit. Ever since we first encountered you, I have always felt that you were somehow beyond me, but this was also… attractive to me at a base level.

The only problem was that I did not feel a true attraction to you in a romantic or sexual manner, nor did I desire a relationship with you like that and certainly not a submissive one, thus I distanced myself."

That would be problematic. I value choice and freedom beyond many things and depriving others of such would be repulsive to me. But now it seems I am unconsciously assailing my own comrade's freedom.

"But hold on, Shiala has not mentioned such a things and I spent quite some time with her on Feros." I mentioned as I remembered my new friend.

"It is my belief that she likely never had a chance to notice due to your immediate connection to each other during the knowledge bond. Afterwards, she probably formed a sense of trust and followed your lead instinctually." Dr. T'Soni explained, causing me to feel dread.

"Did I become like them?" I thought aloud in disgust towards myself.

The very thought of becoming like those scientists, like the Thorian, and now Saren, it made me disgusted.

"Them?" The Asari maiden asked softly.

"The manipulators. The cruel. Those who take the gift of choice from others. Those who take freedom from the living." I answered with little thought as I continually debated internally.

The immediate solution was to quickly study myself and discover exactly which part influenced Asari while building countermeasures to avoid repeating what I had unknowingly done to Shiala.

She was my friend, or so I thought, and I would not impose on the minds of others like that.

"Goddess no! You are nothing like them Neo! What happened to Shiala, it is nothing like the Thorian!" She hurriedly responded. "You need to understand that while tempting, you do not impose yourself on others.

If Shiala did not see you as worth submitting, she would not. She also doesn't just obey you or lose her will, she saw you as someone she thought worth following."

"How could you know did this? You admit to rebuffing my… temptation, so how could you know her thoughts on the matter?" I questioned a bit harsher than intended as I felt myself become defensive of my actions, even if unwanted.

"Because I talked to her when on Feros. I wanted to know more about Protheans, the Cipher, anything else she might know and how she was comfortable around you." Was the strong answer as she looked directly into my eyes, showing only truth. "Shiala found you strong, compassionate and comforting, thinking that after her time on Feros, she might want to find you again."

"But how could she know that this is her own will and not my own?" I countered bitterly.

"Because she knows better than anyone what that feels like." Dr. T'Soni convincingly replied.

If anyone knew what being enslaved would feel like, it was Shiala. Enthralled twice over. I had actually helped her in this matter, to understand the threat of Saren better.

"But can she chose not to?" I then said, asking a key question.

"Neo, Shiala wants to follow you because you earned her trust after you two connected at a very deep level, but even with this instinctive pull she felt, she would not obey your every order like she did for Saren. It is a deep trust that can be broken from betrayal or loss of faith." The Asari answered as she took my hand.

I pondered on her words. Hoping for them to be true.

Her eyes, body and emotions all showed honesty, which made relief flow through me as my own body relaxed.

"I truly hope this is true Dr. T'Soni." I nearly whispered.

"It is." She reassured with a kind smile. "And call me Liara like everyone else beside Lt. Alenko. I've wanted to say that for some time."

"Very well, Liara." I acquiesced with a small smile of my own. "But what should we do regarding the feeling of temptation you resist?"

"Well, we could try and find what is causing it and if you can control it. Maybe it could be contained somehow." She suggested.

"I had some thoughts, but it would require sensors capable of picking up a very wide spectrum of signals." I revealed easily.

"You believe that you might be emitting a subconscious signal which Asari respond to?" Dr… Liara asked for clarification.

"Something like that. Maybe even a pheromone." I admitted with a nod.

"It's worth investigating, but we should begin working from Asari sensory abilities and create a list of possible signals we would be receptive of first." She suggested thoughtfully.

"A good idea. My biology is far too varied, limiting possibilities would expedite the process." I admitted praisingly. "It might be a good thing to bring Dr. Chakwas into things as well. Her expertise would be useful."

"True. I might be a called doctor, but my understanding of my species' biology is admittedly lower than the doctor." Liara agreed with ease.

"Then I guess I will have a new project, but for now I believe communication through Omni-Tool would be for the better. I do not wish to unconsciously influence you by spending too much time near you." I proposed thoughtful of her well being

"That would be the wiser course." She responded while imputing some things in hers.

*Ding*

I then received a new message.

"That would be my contact information for future exchanges." She explained before blushing slightly. "The Commander gave me yours when she told me to come talk to you. I hope that is not a problem."

"None at all Liara." I answered with a small smile. "I am glad she did. This served to be enlightening and I look forward to being able to form a fruitful relationship with you."

"As do I." Liara replied with her own smile.

The aftermaths of my meeting with Liara were far reaching for me.

This revelation of my influence over Asari troubled me, but it also motivated me to push myself so I could dominate my own abilities.

I would not allow my powers to act without my desire again.

I had to master myself further.

But at least for now, I had to work on my most immediate projects, of which Liara's protection from my influence being the latest.

As a result of this joint project, I was building a rather nice relationship with Liara through our messages. And with Dr. Chakwas now that I think about.

Discussing things with both of the Normandy's 'Doctors' was illuminating. Doctor Chakwas for her medical expertise and Liara for her perspective on Protheans even if I had experienced what it truly meant instead of her.

She was slightly dejected regarding the subjugating nature of Protheans and their culture, but 'bounced back' relatively quickly during our discussions.

I did thank the…Jane for her hand in this situation the following dinner, even if she had felt some initial guilt for my new worries regarding the Asari.

Later she found it very amusing how many messages were exchanged between myself and Liara. More so with Liara's difficulty to keep up with my pace and causing her to slightly stress about the matter.

The maiden Asari couldn't separate her thoughts to focus on more than a single task at hand like I could after all.

My workstation also showed some evolution from my diversified interests, with less hardware and more software, something which was an entertaining little project with Tali. We might have created something which would allow me access to information considered less than public easily.

It's been very useful already.

In between smaller assignments Jane undertook from private individuals, the Alliance or from Spectre databases, I was attempting to hunt down information regarding Saren, Matriarch Benezia and their possible allies.

Some points of interests were their investments, in particular the extensive number of biologically and chemically inclined companies with… less than stellar reputations.

And so my time was split between my many interests and projects.

Time with Tali, working on her new suit improvements or my own programs.

Time 'with' Liara, working on blocking my influence or discussing matters relating to Protheans as I incorporated their knowledge or skills.

Time with Jane, simply talking about our woes or the day's happening.

Time with Garrus, working on furthering my accuracy and knowledge regarding rifles, with tips on how to handle investigations, find information or handle security.

Time with Wrex, fighting.

Time with Joker, learning how to pilot and even taking over for him at one point when it was time for him to rest.

Time with Dr. Chakwas as I studied medicine and began assisting her in counseling crew members, allowing me to further get to know them.

Unfortunately, I was not able to spend time with Lt. Alenko or Ashley, but instead I furthered my independent training and research.

And about two weeks later, Jane announced some shore leave in the Citadel due to having to go there for various reasons.

(When I mean two weeks, I mean in terms of 'real' hours.

I am currently working on time being 'longer' aboard a ship during mass effect jump than it 'really is'. So if a jump takes a few moments in 'real time', it could feel like a few hours aboard the ship itself.

You know, a time dilation due to going so fast.)

Going to the Citadel seemed interesting.

The largest known construct in the Galaxy. Seat of the largest gathering of authority and center of galactic affairs.

Also likely to be a sort of trap laid by the Reapers to gather the chain-of-command of advanced civilizations before cutting it to weaken those they plan to erase.

My time there was already looking to be… busy.

I did agree to go shopping with Tali for some harder to obtain parts and look around for interesting bits. Jane said we could go around to look for some specialized ammo for my weapons or to see if she could obtain some new ones, then have lunch somewhere to relax.

But I did hear that the last time Jane was on the Citadel that many interesting events took place around her.

Clinic shootout, bar/strip club half destroyed with a Krogan she then recruited, stopping Tali's assassination, involving herself in a few other crimes, becoming the first human Spectre and revealing Saren's betrayal to start a race across the Galaxy to halt the return of a machine race hellbent on reaping advanced civilizations.

I am hoping for a calmer visit.

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EXTRA AUTHOR NOTE:

Quick little chapter to have Liara confront Neo.

I thought it would be good for Neo to also confront his tempting aspect. I am kind of having a hard time describing it because it isn't exactly submission, more like a desire to follow him. It can be platonic, romantic, sexual or in a familial way, but Asari will generally want to follow him or see him as very charismatic.

Liara has little experience with people, much less romance or sex, so she has troubles bringing that across.

This effect also scared her due to Neo's origins and the fact that he is really powerful, he just hasn't shown it yet because he's developing his control.

As for Shiala, while writing this chapter I thought I could basically have her latch onto Neo as a strong protective pillar after having essentially been rescued with his help, having touched his spirit which is even more attractive to Asari and then spending time with him and doing it again.

So far I'm thinking he can help her with her future mutations due to the Thorian and as a direct subordinate later.

So many possibilities.

I also wanted to explain/remind people that Shepard and the crew aren't just jumping around the Galaxy from one fight or mission to the next. There is down time in the middle and the Time Dilation should lengthen that considerably, allowing for Neo's projects, training, research and bonding.

Being superhuman in pretty much any definition of the word would let him keep up this impossible pace and even adapt to do more.

He's gonna be pretty op for a single person.

Not gonna be able to tear full reapers apart, well from the outside anyway, but still very powerful.

He's just starting out after all.

Beyond that, a quick rundown of what Neo does on the ship, how he bonds with the main Squad but still deals with some exceptions and spoiler for what's going on next chapter.

Every crew needs shore leave and there are Citadel quests that can only be done after you've done a few of the main ones and return a second time, so that's gonna happen, just not really with Neo unless I change my mind.

Anyway, although short I think the quick release makes it better. Hope you enjoy.