Was it a little selfish to do what she was doing? Maybe, but Liara didn't let it bother her too much. Market manipulation wasn't going to hurt anyone, outside of a few wealthy assholes who probably had it coming anyway. Besides, was it really that much of a hindrance to live in some comfort, after all the work she and her friends did to save the galaxy from the existential threat of the Reapers. Surely the galaxy at large would be grateful to their noble protectors! Why, Liara could still remember when they first fought the Reaper, how the machinations of Sovereign had destroyed her research and taken her mother from her, and yet they defeated him and a grateful galaxy...decided to cover it up and pretend everything was fine.
Okay, bad example, but...the Collectors! She had not been as involved there admittedly, but Shepard literally gave her life fighting the monstrous beings and helped to thwart another plot by the Reapers to take over the galaxy, and the galaxy had repaid that kindness by...throwing her in jail.
Er...the Reaper invasion itself, of course! Liara had been right at the center of that this time, helped to coordinate the war against the vile machines, forced to send countless lives to their deaths, including Shepard herself in a desperate last gambit that destroyed the Reapers once and for all! And surely, in remembrance of the hero that gave her life to protect them, the galaxy would come together to build a better world as she would have wanted?
That was Liara's thoughts anyway, when she took a break from managing her contacts to watch some television. Reclining in a comfortable chair, her mind on edge as her fingers drummed impatiently on the arms, the program was interrupted by a breaking news story.
"This just in," the Salarian announcer declared. "The Batarian government has withdrawn from negotiations with the Hierarchy, and both sides have begun mobilization. The Asari Republics have declared-"
There was an unholy shriek of pure rage and frustration, and the sound of shattered glass. Outside of her private quarters, her assistant Dahlia, a chubby youngling barely past 87 hired for her discretion and excellent administrative abilities, immediately ran in to see what the problem was, fearing an assassination attempt. Instead, she found the mangled remains of an arm chair nestled in the center of an expensive television, and a righteously furious Liara storming back and forth, sending objects flying like a miniature tornado with her biotics.
"Miss T'Soni!" Dahlia shouted as she narrowly dodged a potted plant. "What's-"
"How many!?!?" Liara screamed at no one in particular. "How many have bled to save them? How many have DIED? And yet they never LISTEN! They just squabble, and bicker, and tear themselves apart all over again!"
"W-who?" the timid asari assistant muttered.
"ALL OF THEM!!!" Liara shrieked. "Every waking being out there, who WE saved from the threat of the Reapers. THREE TIMES, DAHLIA! And yet they are HEEDLESS! THANKLESS! UNAPPRECIATIVE! UNGRATEFUL!" Something seemed to twitch behind her furious gaze, and Liara's eyes suddenly narrowed, her voice going cold. "And if they won't appreciate what we've done, everyone we've lost...well, I'll just have to take matters into my own hands."
Liara glanced down at herself, and then spun on her heel and dashed into her bedroom. Not having the stomach to just wait patiently, Dahlia tried to busy herself with tidying up the mess she left behind, before her boss emerged moments later.
The transformation was shocking; Liara had ditched her dress for, of all things, a human business suit, one that hugged and seemed to highlight the asari's attractive figure. It was a uniform jet black, with gold buttons and a white shirt underneath, and a red tie hanging from her neck. Even her eyeliner was a heavier shade of black, Dahlia realized, making her look...almost sinister.
"Yes...this will do wonderfully," Liara said coolly, brushing the lapels of the suit off. "I suppose black does suit me after all." The wicked looking asari turned around, noticing the ruins of a shelf between her and a window, and threw it aside with her biotics...only the field generated was a dark blood red instead of the usual light blue, further alarming her meek assistant. Walking to the broad glass wall overlooking the city, Liara pressed a hand against the glass as she stared at the streets below.
"All of you...are so ungrateful..." she whispered coldly, clenching her fist and cracking the shatterproof glass beneath it. "Nothing but petulant children, given a gift you could never appreciate. But I will make you appreciate it...even if I have to crush each and every one of you to do it." Liara started to laugh, and it was a sound Dahlia had never heard before, something that made an excited chill run down her spine. There was no lightness or actual humor in it, but a rising madness, a manic, determined rage, spiraling into gleeful bliss. Despite every instinct telling her to, though, Dahlia had no intent of fleeing. This was a side of her employer she'd never seen before, and to tell the truth, it deeply intrigued her. She'd lost two sisters against the menace of the Reapers, and a close friend when Sovereign assaulted the Citadel years ago, and she was equally frustrated knowing that the peace that followed was starting to fall apart. Could this remarkable asari finally be the one to bring peace to the galaxy? She was willing to find out, at least.
"Wh-what is it you want, ma'am?" Dahlia asked obediently. Liara turned around, and this time Dahlia felt a mixture of fear and excitement as she noticed her boss' iris had turned a deep scarlet.
"To rule it all, my dearest Dahlia," Liara said viciously. "Pax Liara...and I have the perfect plan to bring the galaxy to its knees, groveling at my heels..."
Reign of the Shadow Broker: Liara will expand her vast intelligence network in a bid to control all aspects of society and rule the galaxy from the shadows.
The Corporatocracy: Liara wields her market influence to create a corporate empire that will hold dominion over all governments and factions.
The United Front: When a new threat to the galaxy emerges, Liara will cite her work spearheading the war against the Reapers and bring the galaxy under her rule to fight the new enemy...an enemy she herself manufactured.
Liara the Conquerer: No parlor tricks or deceptions, not anymore! Liara is going to embark on an intergalactic conquest and unite the galaxy under her rule the old fashioned way.
Free Choice: Just what sort of twisted, evil scheme is this asari capable of? And is it all just a thinly veiled excuse to put Liara in a suit before fattening her up?
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