In Shepard's Shadow

Meld


The Normandy slid through the fabric of space and time like an assault rifle round through turian brain membranes. The mass effect generators onboard reduced the ship’s relative mass to an astounding degree, allowing the vessel to approach speeds that would be impossible under the laws of Einstein’s theory of relativity.

Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams pealed off her Alliance blouse as she entered the ship’s shower room. The room was a modestly designed simple box, 2.5 meters to a side. There were three showerheads, one on each of the walls, excluding the entrance. The light crew and rotating shifts on the Normandy made it unnecessary to house a larger shower facility.

Ashley kicked off her boots and wiggled out of her trousers, hanging them along with her blouse on a line of hooks next to the entrance. She had just finished a midnight run and was sweating profusely. She had tried sleeping, but was too wound up for it to stick. Lieutenant Alenko had been hit with a bad bout of migraines that evening, so her preferred method of unwinding was not an option tonight.

Ashley approached the showerhead directly opposite the entrance and it activated automatically, sending soothing streams of warm water over her body. The Chief reached behind her head and undid her bun, letting her rich dark hair burst free to hang down just past her shoulder blades. She just stood there, letting the jets of hot water work away at her tense muscles, her eyes closed as she began to relax.

There was a soft whooshing sound as the entrance opened behind her. Ashley turned; her spirits lifting as she thought Kaidan had come to join her. Her high hopes were stopped short as she saw the asari scientist, Liara T’Soni. Ashley’s disappointment was replaced by curiosity as she saw that the asari was entering the showers walking backwards, keeping her eyes towards the entrance. Only when the door whisked shut did the blue skinned alien turn around, and only then did she notice Ashley’s presence. Liara jumped in surprise, covering her mouth in her hands.

“Oh dear!” Her gentle voice was thick with shock. “I’m so sorry.”

The asari turned away, averting her gaze to the wall awkwardly. Like all asari, Liara’s smooth bluish head was fairly identical to a human’s so far as her face was concerned. She had no ears that Ashley could recognize; where there would be hair on a human, asari had elegant locks of flesh. These flanges began at the top of her forehead and tapered off at the back of her head. Like every single asari that Ashley had ever seen, Liara was slender and graceful, but at the moment, she looked like she might be sick.

“I …I did not think anyone would be here.” Liara folded her arms across her chest in an effort to appear aloof. It didn’t work. “Is it not the middle of the human sleep cycle?”

“I needed to relax. Look, don’t worry. No biggie, doctor.” Ashley shrugged her shoulders casually. “No harm done. Odd time of day for a shower, though.”

“I have been showering at this time since I came onboard.” Liara explained, her shoulders hunched in embarrassment. “I did not want to disturb the other crewmembers.”

“Bother the crew?” Ashley blinked in confusion. “They’re used to communal showers.”

“But not with aliens.” Liara gazed intently on the tiled deck. “You understand.”

“But that’s not…” Ashley frowned, feeling her stomach turn. She had never cared much for having aliens on board, but she didn’t like the idea of this asari having to shower in the middle of the night because she was worried about making her uncomfortable. “That isn’t right.”

“As are many things.” Liara smiled weakly and turned back to the door. “Accept my apologies for disturbing you, Ashley Williams.”

“Wait.” Ashley surprised herself. “It’s just us in here, and you’re not going to disturb me. Freshen yourself up.”

Liara turned back to her, but kept her eyes averted toward the wall.

“That is very generous of you, Miss Williams.” Liara inclined her head in a slight bow. “Thank you.”

“You’re part of the crew.” Ashley shook her head. “This is no favor. I can’t stand seeing anyone getting bullied around by fear. Unless it’s the geth or Saren.”

“All the same, thank you.” Liara continued starring at the wall.

“Say, Liara.” Ashley said amusedly. “It’s ok to look at me while we talk.”

“But is nudity not a taboo for humans?” Liara asked.

“The military doesn’t give us time or the privilege of modesty.” Ashley shook her head. “If you’ve got it, flaunt it, right?”

“That is a relief.” Liara’s eyes suddenly turned on Ashley, gazing up and down the Gunnery Chief’s wet body. Ashley felt an odd shiver run through her. “We asari are a very communal people and, given our monogendered nature, we never developed a stigma associated with nudity.”

The asari slipped out of her science uniform in a matter of seconds, surprising Ashley with the grace and speed of her movements. Liara’s body, monogendered or not, was the epitome of feminine beauty. Her azure skin glowed warmly, highlighted here and there with lighter splotches of blue and white. Her breasts were firm and full, swaying as she stepped up to the showerhead to Ashley’s left. Ashley could not fight her curiosity, and she glanced down Liara’s naked body. Apart from the bluish tone of her skin and total lack of folic growth, Liara’s lower body was identical to a human female.

It took a moment before Ashley realized that Liara was once again starring intently at her. Ashley turned back toward her own showerhead, trying not to shiver with knee-jerk uneasiness. She poured some body wash liquid into her hand from a dispenser in the wall and began to lather her hair and torso.

“Forgive my curiosity.” Liara apologized. “But I have never seen a nude human in person before. You look remarkably similar to an asari.”

Ashley felt her skin crawl and the bitter voice of her father roared in her head, screaming obscenities at the thought of his daughter being compared to an alien. She willed the voice silent.

“I’m the wrong color.” Ashley winced at the lameness of her quip. “The asari probably wouldn’t like being compared to a tomboy like me anyway.”

“On the contrary.” Liara shook her head. “Again, I am sorry to disturb you. It is just that you are so beautiful.”

“Ah… Hey now, I don’t think the Commander would like hearing you say that.” Ashley laughed nervously. She worked the lather into her hair a little harder than necessary. Her stomach was doing amazingly acrobatic flips for some reason. She didn’t really want to know why. “I don’t want the skipper getting jealous!”

“Commander Shepard is not here.” Liara’s voice was suddenly much closer.

Ashley turned to find Liara standing just behind her, dripping wet. Ashley froze, her hands still in her hair.

“The Commander has been very distant.” Liara continued, her scientist’s eyes studying Ashley’s breasts with great interest. “I believed he would be the ideal choice for my first melding. I have begun to doubt my original assessment.”

“The skipper is a complicated guy.” Ashley swallowed hard, trying not to ogle Liara’s body. This was an alien! An alien woman! But then again, Liara wasn’t technically female. She was asari, which meant… “NO!”

“I’m sorry?” Liara blinked at Ashley’s sudden outburst. “No what?”

“No…you shouldn’t give up on him yet.” Ashley stumbled through her recovery.

“But there is someone else on board with excellent physical attributes.” Liara’s eyes traveled down Ashley’s ripped abs and lean, powerful legs. “As well as a keen strategic mind and a courageous, compassionate heart.”

“Well then,” Ashley nodded awkwardly. “Just go to the lucky guy and tell him the good news!”

“She has many attributes that would be welcomed into the potential offspring of my first melding.” Liara moved even closer, her breasts just brushing against Ashley’s own bosom.

“She?” Ashley’s voice cracked as she felt Liara’s sapphire nipples tickle the quickly hardening russet tips of her own. “I…I don’t play on both teams, Liara.”

The asari’s soft lips suddenly covered Ashley’s in a tender, lingering kiss that sent a shiver down the Chief’s spine. Liara pulled back, her deep cerulean eyes wide with hope and longing.

“But then again,” Ashley breathed. “You might be in another league all together.”

Ashley grabbed the asari’s arms and pulled Liara tight against her. Their supple breasts pressed against each other, warm and soft mounds of dripping wet flesh rubbing together as they embraced.

“Let me…” Liara reached up, running her hands through Ashley’s dark tresses, working the lather thoroughly. “Your hair is…remarkable. I find it very…stimulating.”

“Thanks.” Ashley grinned in amusement. “Those tentacles on your head are pretty hot too.”

Liara giggled, pulling Ashley’s mouth to hers in another exploratory kiss. The asari’s indigo tongue slipped into the human woman’s mouth, wrestling with its rosy counterpart. Liara’s shifted her right knee between Ashley’s already wide stance. The asari scientist’s thigh began rubbing against the flesh between Ashley’s legs, eliciting a startled moan from the Alliance soldier that was smothered by Liara’s eager lips. Ashley quickly moved her left leg to reciprocate, and Liara suddenly gave out a gasp of pleasure of her own.

They stood under the warm streams of water, womanly bodies entwined together as they kissed and caressed one another. Liara’s hands moved over Ashley’s shoulders, working the body wash’s lather further down her tan form. The asari’s delicate hands roamed down to grasp the human woman’s warm bosom. Liara massaged Ashley’s breasts, watching as suds slid down over the lovely mounds.

They backed further under the showerhead. The jets of soothing water fell on Liara’s head and Ashley licked her lips as she saw the asari’s skin shimmer. The water ran down Liara’s slender neck, streaming tantalizingly over her sapphire breasts in beautiful rivulets. Ashley let her hands move up and then tentatively cupped Liara’s two lustrous orbs. For several moments they simply massaged one another in silence; the shower the only sound in the air.

“I…I’ve never done this sort of thing before.” Ashley cleared her throat nervously as she continued her ministrations on Liara’s mounds. They felt soft and warm and oddly comforting as she held them in her hands.

“Neither have I.” Liara smiled, her face anxious. “Please tell me when I do something wrong.”

“No complaints so far.” Ashley smiled back at her.

Liara leaned in and began trailing her lips down Ashley’s neck, between her breasts, and over the firm flat span of her abs. Ashley looked down and felt her heart begin to race as she realized what Liara had in mind as she knelt in front of her.

“You don’t have to do that.” Ashley shook her head. Something in the back of her mind screamed that she should shut up and let the asari scientist do whatever she wanted. “Don’t do anything you don’t want to.”

“I want to.” Liara smiled up at her calmly. “And I do not believe you know what I intend to do.”

“Well,” Ashley took a deep breath. “I love surprises.”

Liara leaned in, but her lips did not meet Ashley’s nether regions. The asari tilted her head down, gazing at the deck. Ashley blinked in confusion, wondering if something was wrong. Then Liara moved her head up, bringing the cluster of fleshy tendrils at the back of her head up between Ashley’s spread legs.

“What…oh…ahhh….” Ashley’s eyes widened in shock as the asari’s head tentacles began writhing against her nether lips. It felt as though half a dozen tongues were licking at her intimate folds. “Oh god…Liara, that’s….Mmmm!”

Ashley’s hips began undulating against the back of Liara’s head. One, then two of the asari’s tendrils slid into the human woman, and Ashley bit down on her lower lip, trying not to scream. The flanges were pure muscle tissue, boneless and infinitely dexterous. Liara sent Ashley into a fit of thrilled squeals as the flanges began wriggling around and inside her sensitive, erogenous nether regions.

“Oh my god! Ahhh…uuunnghhh!” Ashley bit her lower lip. “I’ve never….yaaah!...never felt anything like this…ahh! Oh!”

Liara’s hands slid up and down over the smooth wet skin of Ashley’s toned thighs. The asari pressed her head up against the human a bit harder, letting a couple more of her flanges squirm into Ashley’s nether lips. The Alliance soldier whipped her head back and screamed in astonishment as one of the tendrils caressed the nub of her clitoris with marvelous expertise.

“Liara…” Ashley’s breathing was accelerating. “I…I don’t know if….Mmmm…ohhh…if you know this, but humans eventually reach a certain point that…”

“Are you about to orgasm?” Liara’s soothing voice interrupted smoothly.

“Oh god, yes!” Ashley’s laugh turned into a moan of pleasure as Liara’s flanges writhed within her, bringing her to the brink. “I’m coming…nnnghhaa… like a damn supernova! I can’t…oh…oh…Aaaghh!”

Ashley’s body shook as her climax surged through her, ripping the strength from her powerful legs and sending her reeling back against the tiled wall. Ashley slid down to the deck as the last of her orgasm diffused through her body and she let herself savor the warm, luxurious glow. The Gunnery Chief finally caught her breath and looked to the asari sitting in front of her, the shower still pouring over them both.

“Liara, that was amazing.” Ashley leaned her head back, letting the water splash over her face. “I had no idea. You’ve got to come up with a sexier name for it than ‘melding’, though. Something with a bit more…”

Ashley stopped short as Liara began giggling uncontrollably. The scientist covered her mouth politely but could not contain her melodic laughter.

“What’s so funny?” Ashley could not help but chuckle, so infectious was Liara’s laughter. “What?”

“That…” Liara shook her head. “That was not the melding.”

“Not the…” Ashley felt a stirring in her blood that was not entirely unwelcome. “Then what…”

“It is an ancient asari bonding activity.” Liara reached out and took Ashley’s hand. “It is an intimate bond between our closest friends.”

“You do that for your best friends?” Ashley grinned riley. “So, um….what does this melding look like?”

Liara laid back, her hand pulling Ashley along with her. The human woman moved to lie on top of the asari as the shower continued dousing them with warm jets of water. Ashley lowered herself down against Liara’s prone body. Their smooth stomachs pressed together first as Ashley’s arched torso came down. Liara let out a long, satisfied sigh as Ashley’s breasts met her own soft orbs. Their lips met in a long, passionate kiss full of anxious desire.

There was a peculiar sweetness to Liara’s mouth, and Ashley was strongly reminded of the first time she had tasted real honey. Ashley let her tongue roll around in exploration, wrestling Liara’s own tongue while she savored the saccharine taste of the asari’s mouth. Liara’s hands roamed over Ashley’s soaked back, moving down to grope the smooth curve of the human’s buttocks. The scientist’s nimble fingers squeezed down, gripping the hard muscle of Ashley’s glutes.

“Whoa.” Ashley gasped in surprise. “Find something you like?”

“I am sorry.” Liara blushed, her cheeks turning a deep violet. “Your fitness is simply remarkable. Such sublime musculature!”

“Stop apologizing.” Ashley grinned down at her. She then sent her hands down to grasp Liara’s firm butt. “I think you’ve got a pretty sweet ass too, doctor.”

Ashley rolled onto her back, bringing Liara on top of her. The asari scientist’s hands moved from Ashley’s butt up to grip the woman’s shoulders. Liara then began moving against Ashley, rubbing her body back and forth against the human woman’s naked body. Their soaking wet skin pressed together over the entire length of their bodies. Ashley’s breath grew heavier as she felt Liara’s supple breasts slide over her own firm mounds. Their two pairs of dripping wet breasts squeezed together, bare flesh rubbing against bare flesh over and over.

Liara moved forward, presenting Ashley her full breasts. Ashley’s lips covered Liara’s left orb, her tongue licking and teasing the erect nipple. The Chief marveled at the feel of the warm, soft flesh as her mouth mauled Liara’s bosom. Liara arched her back and moaned in appreciation.

“Chief Williams, that is marvelous!” Liara gasped, running her navy fingers through the human woman’s soaked hair as Ashley nipped and licked her ample mounds. “You exceed my every expectation.”

“Oh, Liara.” Ashley tried to keep her voice even, but failed. “I have an idea.”

“I do as well.” Liara shifted back and trailed kisses down Ashley’s neck. “Do you wish to engage in tribadism? I have studied the art very closely over the past fifty years.”

“I was thinking we could just scissor each other.” Ashley blushed despite herself. “Never tried it before.”

“That would be the same activity.” Liara smiled warmly.

“Oh.” Ashley swallowed hard, embarrassed. “Well then, great minds think alike.”

Liara sat back and scooted her slim hips between Ashley’s spread legs. The Gunnery Chief sat up, her hair hanging in drenched wisps across her eyes. She held her breath as she watched Liara’s azure slit move toward her own crevice. Then their loins pressed together, their nether lips meeting in an intimate kiss.

“Ahhh…that…that’s…” Ashley gasped as the asari began churning against her. “Damn…that’s good! That’s really good!”

The two of them thrashed against each other, their bodies undulating together ever faster. Liara grasped Ashley’s long, smooth leg, hugging it against her bosom as she gulped down air.

“Nnnnghaaa! Oh, by the GODDESS!” Her cobalt breasts heaved as she moaned with delight. “Chief Williams! We must…oh, yes…..oh, goddess! More forcefully!”

“Hell yes!” Ashley pitched her hips, slamming their sensitive flesh together. Their intimate folds worked against each other. “Come on, doctor! Aaargh! That’s right! Oh YEAH!”

“Open your mind, Williams!” Liara’s voice was high and ecstatic.

“Ohhh! Wha…what?” Ashley asked, confused. “Wait, is….ahhh…is this the…”

“Embrace eternity!” Liara screamed, her eyes suddenly filling with darkness.

“Wait, what do I….” Ashley’s question faltered as she gazed into the bottomless darkness of Liara’s eyes. “Oh my god! AHHHH!”

A wave of power washed over Ashley, and she watched in awe as arcs of electricity flashed to life between their wet, undulating bodies. Blue fingers of energy coiled and flowed between their mingling slits. The pleasure multiplied exponentially, beyond anything Ashley had ever thought possible. Her body shook as the energy curled up around her breasts and up her neck to her head.

It was then that everything changed.

Suddenly Ashley’s mind was no longer alone. Liara’s consciousness flowed into her, a tide of soothing warmth. Their souls embraced and entangled themselves, memories flashing back and forth as their bodies became a single living organism. Their lives mixed and fused into one. The pleasure was the pure, unadulterated ecstasy of total and complete union.

Ashley and Liara ceased to be, and their bodies thrashed about in joined spasms. They were a single being comprised of two bodies, writhing in throes of pleasure that a lifetime of orgasms could never hope to achieve. Two mouths opened, screaming in a single voice, describing the indescribable.

After an eternity of ecstasy the union split apart, and Liara and Ashley once again returned to existence. Liara fell forward onto Ashley and they embraced desperately, their bodies still convulsing with orgasmic pulses of pleasure.

“Liara!” Ashley’s voice cried, strained with longing.

“Ashley!” Liara screamed back.

At last the spasms began to diffuse into shivers of pleasure and at last their bodies went limp with exhaustion. For close to an hour they simply laid there, holding each other. After a long while, Ashley cleared her aching throat.

“We…” She faltered. The melding had been far more intense than she could have dreamed. “I, I mean. There’s you, and there’s me. God, Liara, why doesn’t that sound right?”

“That was our…I mean that was MY first melding as well.” Liara shook her head slowly. “It was described to me decades ago, but…”

“…they never told me it would be like this.” Ashley finished the sentence absently. She closed her eyes and shook her head, trying to clear it. “No…no that’s not it. That’s not mine. Not my memory. That’s yours. Damn!”

“I believe the effects of the melding should fade after a time.” Liara laid her head against Ashley’s right breast. “Only a matter of time.”

“Then let’s enjoy this while it lasts.” Ashley leaned down and kissed the smooth skin of Liara’s head flanges.

After a moment, Liara spoke up.

“Are we…is this love, Ashley?” Liara asked in a hushed whisper.

“Don’t you know what I think already?” Ashley whispered back.

“I do. And we don’t know, do we?” Liara let out a long sigh.

“Not a clue.” Ashley stroked Liara’s back. “But the commander can’t know about this.”

“Of course.” Liara snuggled against Ashley’s warm breast. “You must remain harsh and suspicious of me.”

“I’ll try my best.” Ashley grinned at the irony of her previous prejudices. “I suppose we probably won’t be together again until after we finish off Saren.”

“That would be for the best.” Liara’s voice was thick with regret. “We must always remember; ‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all’.”

“Picked up a little Tennyson from me, did you?” Ashley giggled. “That’ll teach you to practice safer sex in the future.”

“Do you agree with his assessment?” Liara asked quietly.

Ashley pulled Liara up to kiss her long and deeply. When they finally parted, they locked gazes. Ashley spoke firmly.

“I think Tennyson never melded with Liara T’Soni.”