Sta.sh
Any sain person would fain on the first position of that list, and the fact that Jaina made it all in just about three days made her arrange the long shore leave for her crew... and to worry about her sanity as well!
After such a wild ride her comrades were exhausted, they needed time to restore their health and strength, so while there was still time and place for it - Jaina would let them do it.
As the Council Spectre Jaina had the entire level of local hotel reserved for her and her crew, if everything else the Council did help its agents in need… most of the time.
It was wonderful time for Commander – piece and quietness, the sip of fresh air after those endless fights, the soft bed and delicacies and of course the loving and loved partner at her side… Liara naturally occupied the same room as Jaina and though she spent too much time with her terminal the Shadow Broker still gave all her free hours and tenderness to the one who longed so much for it – these days and nights they spent together were unforgettable!
In this place Jaina almost forgot there was a war at all – here the very time seemed to stop, paused at one particular moment of happiness… But she understood this was just one moment, and as any other it will end sooner or later.
Her crew was enjoying themselves, especially Garrus and Tali that occupied the room one level lower - ah that sweet couple was a sight for sore eyes and dispate their spicky comments and jokes about each other everybody knew there was something truly special betweeen those two.
The Savior of the Citadel was standing on the balcony of her luxury suit and enjoying the view, the light cool breeze waved her hair and soft silky dress and softly tickled pale skin under it, occasionally causing light smile on her lips. It was odd to wear dress after all that time, but under Liara`s severe sight Shepard gave up and did put this on, and in fact she liked the change!
The Adept closed her eyes, breathing in deeply the fresh air; her smile became wider when she heard soft paces behind.
"Shepard…" That voice… ah it felt like heaven.
It was odd that Shepard haven`t 'sensed' her bond mate`s aura, but since Liara insisted that Jaina cease using her Biotics for these days at least to spare her nerve system Commander was calm – it seemed she finally managed to relax well enough.
Gentle loving hands accurately touched Jaina`s shoulders, sending pleasant chills all over her body, Liara came closer and softly pressed herself to Shepard`s back and hugging her from behind, the asari chuckled with tender emotion when Commander took her wrists in her arms and gently kissed them.
"You`re cold Liara…"
"I… just washed my hands."
Jaina slowly released herself from asari`s embrace and turned to her.
"Why so early today, I thought you were on some meeting… Wait!"
Ever attentive Jaina eyed her lover top-to-bottom, noticing her very tight leather suit and elegant boots on a high square heel.
"Niiiice outfit, Tentacles…" The adept made a very horny face, noting she likes the change in her ever modest partner, her hands instinctively slid down on asari`s hips. "You borrowed it from EDI?"
"I thought I would make a surprise for you, my love…" Liara`s blue eyes glittered and her surprisingly strong hands once again twisted around Sheprd`s waist, like she wouldn`t let her go.
"What do you…?" Before she could finish the asari pulled her closer for a deep breathtaking kiss – literally. Jaina didn`t expect that – well she did, but not so… rush it was not like Liara with her ever slow and romantic, teasing approach. A second after their lips parted… but not in a way anyone would expect! The entire room shined with Biotic glow and asari flew away a few meters before her flight was interrupted by the farthest wall.
T`Soni fell on the floor while Shepard was desperately coughing and grabbing her throat, like she just swallowed hot coals. Jaina spat out some disgusting green muck she could but the most part of this shit she instinctively swallowed. The taste was foul, but this strange display was not the only reason for her hostile reaction towards Liara – but the cold metal tongue and steel teeth she felt during this short 'display of love'. The push was so strong that a few pieces of Jaina`s dress were left in Liara`s hands… Shepard hissed of sharp pain from her scratched by the inhumanly strong hands of this… thing sides.
Doctor T`Soni slowly recovered from the floor and looked at Commander victoriously, her eyes once again shined but this time it was obviously a mechanic glitter, not Biotic Power.
Jaina summoned her Biotics and thank God they responded with usual deadly speed, but when she tried to hit this… thing with Warp strike the world before her eyes started rotating wildly, and then she felt such weakness that she could barely stand! The already prepared Warp simply collapsed into small blue sparks in her hand.
"Shepard…" Damn that lisping smoked voice always drove her mad, but right now Jaina would give everything for this all to be only a bad dream and the ability to wake up… The sudden burning pain in her chest proved her wrong, it was not a dream.
"I warned you not to interfere with my plans, haven`t I?" The illusive man with his played arrogance stated through the synthetic`s mouth. "You have interrupted my agenda for the last time!"
"What is this…?" Jaina asked him, trying to buy some time and with horror realizing how weak her voice was, the poison she have taken completely drained her of it seemed all life energy!
Commander knew T.I.M.`s passion for the cheap theatrical effects so she was certain he wouldn`t deny himself such pleasure… and she was right!
"The essence you swallowed is a very strong synthetic poison, and though there is no antidote for it I know that with your regenerative capabilities it won`t be enough to actually kill you… You are too powerful Commander!"
Synthetic asari crossed her hands and twisted fingers like Illusive Man always did when feeling victorious… Old habits die hard truly!
Jaina knew he was right, even though she felt very weak Adept sensed how her body fights the poison, how the Dark Energy in her blood burns the blasted infection away – slowly but surely she was recovering from intoxication… the main word here was slowly.
"But it will weaken you enough for 'our' lovely Dr. T`soni to finish this overextended fuss."
Jaina heard the habitual sound of a priming pistol the robotic Liara took out from some hidden place in her hull. Synthetic aimed at the and pulled the trigger – the bullet smashed on Shepard`s opened palm and collapsed into dust, even poisoned Jaina could still stand her ground, and though every breath she took ached heavily Commander`s Biotics shined as bright as before when she managed to stand up straight.
The asari mech fired again and took out second gun, gunning Commander down from both hands now: the firing rate and accuracy was admirable, but it was forfeit for none of 'her' shots hit the target, helplessly bouncing off Commander`s barrier she held in front of herself like a glowing shield. The bright shining blue ball of Dark Energy once again appeared above Jaina`s shanking hand and the next moment pseudo Liara received very 'tender' Warp kiss.
The Assassin recoiled from this hit and when she looked back at the Commander Jaina saw the true face of that thing – under synthetic blue skin so skillfully imitating Liara`s face there was an ugly steel skull with horrible cold as ice blue eyes.
The Assassin raised one of the guns again but this time Jaina wasn`t going to play tank again.
"Give me that!" The Biotic Pull ripped both guns from robot hands and they fell on the floor with hull echoes, "Now get over here!"
Jaina grasped the synthetic with her power, making the assassin droid fly helplessly and the next moment she simply crushed it into the metal clot like a tin beer can. With loud echo this ugly piece of iron fell on the floor and the next moment Jaina knelt near it – her entire body was shaking from the tension, she was still very week and the intoxication didn`t let go easily.
Shepard hissed, feeling how large sweat drops slide down her face and hands, how spiky cold chills run through her body, how her rib cage is like on fire and her head humming and aching like…
She could not finish the thought, because the next moment she suddenly realized that this time she was the one who underestimated The Illusive Man`s tretchery and gulie...
***
Garrus Vakarian was sitting in his room and watching football match – it was his favorite human game and he even tried to play himself a bit, not that it was something to be proud of but still…
"Come oooooooon, pass to the… ARGH!!" The turian sniper roared like a bear grasping his fringed head when the player of his favorite team decided to shoot rather than pass the ball and thus missed the gate.
"Kheela…" Tali sitting on the soft sofa next to him helm-palmed herself, "Is there any sense to it? He can`t hear you, stop advising the players damn it! Not only you make me watch this stupid game that I know nothing about…"
"Don`t be a prune, bucket head!" Vakarian grasped some dextro-pop-corn from the huge bowl on the table and threw it in his mouth. And before Tali could comment that as well he grasped the quarian by her waist and pulled her closer.
"What are you…?!" Her shiny eyes widened when Garrus gently licked her face mask, purring like a kitten.
"You… revolting…" Tali crossed her legs and turned away from him but not breaking the embrace – she was actually trying to hide her flushed face from her mate. "You men are animals… I`m beginning to understand why Jaina went for Liara…"
"Oh that`s not what I remember you were moaning this night into my ear…" Turian`s claw started tickling her side making young quarian engineer giggle.
Eventually she did laugh in a voice and turned back.
"I hate you, Vakarian…"
Tali purred, twisting her hands around Garrus` neck and allowing him to take her in his hands and put the gorgeous quarian on his knees.But before she could do what they both wanted the entire level shook from horrible explosion, the TV immediately went static and instead of a tender kiss Tali smashed Garrus with her helm, the bowl of pop-corn fell on the floor and the air filled with foul stench of a burnt isolation.
"Shepard!" Both breathed out in the voice.
***
"Shepard!" Vakarian roared, smashing the door of the room with ironical number 777 and storming in, the thick spiky black smoke lashed him like a chain whip, but the Turian held his breath and moved further, stumbling on numerous fragments of wall, celling and broken furniture.
Tali came in after him, both friends had their omnitools ready for combat but even with open windows it was hard to see anything in this smoke.
"Garrus…"
Vakarian rammed forward to the husky voice still not seeing anything and grabbed the source of it… The slim hands desperately reached his face, to make sure it was really him. Thank the Spirits it was Jaina and she was in one piece!
"Shepard!" The turian felt that his commander is going to faint, so he instantly grabbed her and held in his arms. Vakarian felt creeps feeling how light and fragile his Commander was in reality, it was like holding a rag doll.
"Please… take me out of here." She whispered, sobbing and holding her head like fearing it would break.
No more words were required – with all speed he was capable of Garrus stormed from the destroyed room almost smashing Tali away –the quarian barely managed to dodge him: the hotel stuff already began to fuss near the room and he could hear distant echoes of fire team and C-Sec sirens – but right now Vakarian was happy because he was holding Jaina Shepard in his arms and she was alive.
When they made it out on the main floor Vakarian put Adept at the soft sofa. The first thing he did after shouting the awed stuff to get lost was taking the tablecloth from the nearest table: Jaina`s dress turned into the rags from the explosion, so he gently wrapped the groaning woman into it trying all his best not to hurt her further.
"What happened Shepard?!" Tali knelt near her as well, scanning the Commander with her omnitool, "Kheela, are you alright?!"
"No…" Jaina looked bad, her hands bared numerous burns and cuts from shrapnel, her hair burnt and she was all black from soot. Commander`s breath was heavy, she was barely conscious - but thankfully it was obvious her life was not in danger.
Vakarian carefully moved the burnt strand of black hair from Jaina`s face – The Biotic Barrier saved Commander once again, she was unharmed and awake, just covering her face all the time like she was hiding from the light.
"Don`t worry, my friend, the medics are going, you`ll be fine…"
Jaina`s hand found hers and she grasped it strongly.
"Tali… Garrus…" Jaina forced herself up and then tried to open her eyes, after a few attempts she succeeded.
"Spirits…" The turian accurately reached his friend`s face, not knowing what else to say while Tali swallowed bitterly.
"Garrus… why have you st… Where is…" Her hand once again touched his face, desperately palping it while other was still holding Tali`s palm, but this time all Vakarian could do was clenching his teeth and stay silent – not to hurt Jaina further.
"I..." Her voice trembled making Tali sob with pain, "I.. I can`t see!"
END
Thanks again for this piece of awesomeness! 
Great job.
You've done a really good job at pulling everyone into the story, starting off with what seems like a touching scene between Jaina and Liara. Then, things get intense. The battle between Jaina and TIM's synthetic Liara is intense, but I love that no matter how weak Jaina is getting, she still remains strong. And, I love how you capture Garrus and Tali's relationship and how Garrus is watching football!!!!
Excellent story, Ren!!!! The emotion and the intensity in this story is strong and I can't wait to see what happens next!!! I know that Liara now has a score to settle with TIM for hurting her Jaina!!! Nobody hurts her Jaina!!!!
Jaina is my favorite Shepard - she is not a human tank like Tag that can survive everything but she has other talents, you`ll see!
I`m working on the next part right now and hopefully it`ll be up soon! Thanks again and take care of yourself my friend!
Excellent story Ren! The mood, the feelings are all so strong! Absolutely splendid