Disclaimer
All characters belong to the developers of the Mass Effect franchise, except the OC ones.
Enjoy reading, and please review!
Author's Note:
There isn't going to be a lot of focus on Shepard in this, so to clarify I'm running with the default Shepard (Male, Paragon, Soldier, Liara LI). Wrex is alive, Kaidan is dead, and the Council was saved.
Shadow Warrior (ME2) - Ch. 1 - 26
Rogue Shadow (Interim) - Ch. 27 - Present
Prologue
Miranda Lawson examined the file on the datapad that the Illusive Man had just passed to her. A portrait of a quarian stared back at her - a blue mask surrounded by a black-armoured environmental suit. She read through the military file below. Revenants, First Company, Lieutenant was all the information she was given. The Revenants she knew were the quarian special forces, recruited from elite Marine units, but beyond that there was very little that Cerberus could find out about their numbers, composition, or chain of command. Miranda skimmed through a long list of engagements and paused over the most recent of them, titled only as "Gaven, 2184".
"Given his history, you really think we can pursue the Lieutenant as a candidate for this mission?" Miranda asked doubtfully, reading through the mission report. "His entire squad was eliminated in one of our own operations only three months ago. He was relieved of duty and passed over to medical with night terrors and hallucinations afterwards, this quarian is emotionally unstable."
"Tali'Zorah can convince him," the Illusive Man tapped his cigarette, and a clump of ash dropped into the tray. "We get her, we get him. As for the rest... he'll be fine for this mission."
"Why him though?" Miranda pressed. "What makes him so special?"
"The Revenants undergo brutal training, both mentally and physically," the Illusive Man looked at her with those cold eyes. They stared unnaturally, almost inhumanly at her. "They'd give the N7 programme a run for its money. Maybe even the asari commandos too."
"But why -"
"Exceptional scores in general aptitude tests; extensive training in stealth, sniper, and ambush tactics; the Admiralty Board has commended him on bravery, ingenuity and leadership," the Illusive Man reeled off the attributes in the file as Miranda read it herself. He looked up at her, and she wavered a little under his piercing gaze. "Need I go on, Miranda?"
"No," Miranda handed back the datapad. "But how did we get this? We've found it damn-near impossible to break quarian codes before, why is it we're able to access these files now?"
"We've gained access to a new source of information," he said flatly. "That's all you need to know right now. How long before Shepard will be fit for action?"
"Maybe nine months, maybe a year," Miranda watched the Illusive Man contemplate this, a glass of red Thessian wine in one hand.
"More and more colonists are going missing each month," he finally said, his tone darkening. "Get the job done, Miranda. And get it done soon."
Ten months later, Lieutenant Zhar'Nara nervously paced the deck of the Rayya. While the decontamination team finished with Tali'Zorah and Commander Shepard, Zhar had been anxiously listening to the Admirals speaking. The thought of Tali committing treason was a feat that few people could believe, but after the attempt to retake the Alarei opinion had begun to swing against her.
Zhar was a seven-year veteran of the Revenants and one of the three Lieutenants that commanded the regiment. As such he had gained a degree of respect amongst the captains of the Conclave. Many of them knew of the sacrifices and skills it took to gain a place in the quarian special forces, let alone rise to become one of its highest-ranked officers. Despite this he had found that his assurances that Tali was innocent seemed to be falling on deaf ears. Many had found the reports of the marines that survived the attack on the Alarei to be deeply concerning, as an infiltration of the Fleet could be catastrophic if they sent the information back to geth space.
The blast doors opened, and Tali and the human entered the hallway. Tali paused slightly when she saw him standing there, but Zhar shook his head and waved them forwards. The four Revenants detailed to escort them took up formation, none of them so much as looking at Tali or her captain.
"The reunion will have to wait, Tali," Zhar pulled her along. "There's a war brewing between Koris and Gerrell. All I know is that Raan has a plan, but she can't take part in the trial."
"Why not?" The question came from the human – Shepard. Zhar stayed silent, warily eyeing the human from beneath his mask.
"Raan was very close to my family," Tali explained, realising that Zhar wasn't going to go on. "Admirals with a personal interest are forbidden from taking part in trials."
"Speaking of which…" Zhar muttered. They had reached the Conclave chambers, where Admiral Shala'Raan stood waiting for them.
"Zhar, your brother is inside with Doctor Elan'Shiya," Raan said as they approached. "I'm sure he'll be delighted to see you."
"Thank you, Admiral," Zhar nodded at Tali and left her and Shepard to Raan.
The Conclave was buzzing with talk as Zhar entered. There were hundreds of captains in the Migrant Fleet, and although the crowd was largely made up of only the most senior of them, there were still several dozen filling the chamber seats. Zhar saw his brother, Veetor'Nara nar Hanha and Doctor Elan'Shiya in one of the front benches and went to sit with them. Evidently the large crowd was agitating Veetor, and Zhar heard the doctor attempting to calm him down as he approached.
"I knew this was a mistake, doctor," Veetor was saying, squirming in his seat. "There's just too many people. It's too loud!"
"Calm down, Veetor," the doctor said soothingly. "You did the right thing. It was very brave of you to come here today. Look, your brother's here!"
"He is?" Veetor looked searchingly around him, then leapt to his feet when he spotted Zhar.
"Veetor, it's been too long," Zhar embraced his brother as he descended the final step onto the chamber floor. "How are you? I heard you had some trouble on your Pilgrimage?"
"Lieutenant, it might be better if you didn't remind him," the doctor came to stand next to the brothers. "Veetor was heavily traumatised, it took several weeks before he could even talk to me about it."
"They… Cerberus tried to take me away," Veetor stepped back slightly. "Tali stopped them, but for a moment, I thought…"
"It's okay Veetor, you don't need to say any more," Zhar steered him back to his seat before turning to the doctor. "Thank you doctor, for taking care of my brother. It means a lot to me."
"Veetor still needs time, Lieutenant," Elan'Shiya said in a low voice. "He was delirious when Tali brought him to me, but I think in several months he could be better than he was before."
The Conclave suddenly went silent, as Admiral Raan led Tali and Shepard down to the chamber floor and took her place at the Speaker's Podium.
"Captains of the Conclave," Raan began. "Tali'Zorah vas Normandy nar Neema has been accused of treason. Captain Shepard, will you speak for Tali'Zorah?"
"Why did they change her name?" Zhar asked Elan quietly.
"Admiral Koris ordered it," the doctor explained in a hushed voice.
Zhar was astonished when Shepard was permitted to attempt to take back the Alarei, and waved Tali over when the Admiralty Board adjourned the trial.
"Veetor, good to see -," Shepard began to speak, but Zhar stepped between them, pulling a combat knife from its sheath on his chest.
"Stay back, Shepard," Zhar warned him, bringing the knife up to the human's neck. "You tried taking my brother once, I'll not let you near him again."
Shepard stood still as a post, warily eyeing the blade at his throat.
"Zhar, no!" Tali grabbed at his arm. "Shepard helped Veetor on Freedom's Progress."
"He's with Cerberus, Tali," Zhar pressed the knife into the soft spot at the neck of Shepard's armour, eyeing the human with disgust and suspicion, which sank into his tone as he addressed him. "I've lost a lot of friends to your kind, Shepard."
"Zhar, it's true. It wasn't Shepard that tried to take me away when… when…" Veetor's voice faltered at the end. Zhar looked at his brother, then at Shepard and Tali, before sheathing the knife.
"Shepard, this is Lieutenant Zhar'Nara vas Doranz, he's an officer in the Revenants," Tali explained, standing between the two.
"Revenants?" Shepard asked.
"Quarian Special Forces," Zhar said coldly. "Something like your N7 programme. Only better."
"I didn't know the quarians had Special Forces," Shepard said, with something close to genuine interest in Zhar's mind. "And I thought that quarian families could only have one child per family?"
"We like to keep to ourselves, Shepard," Tali jumped in with a glance at Zhar. "And around twenty years ago a virus spread through a number of ships - something picked up by a quarian returning from their Pilgrimage, they weren't decontaminated properly. The Conclave removed the restriction on single births until the population stabilised."
"We're something of a rarity in quarian society, but all families are close regardless of their actual relation," Zhar looked at his brother for a moment. "Veetor, if Tali and Shepard helped you… You could speak for them."
"Lieutenant, your brother is still in a fragile state," Doctor Elan'Shala interjected. "I don't think that he could speak in a crowd like this."
"Veetor?" Tali looked at him. He was standing a little taller after what the doctor said, perhaps in defiance of her assessment.
"I… I'll try. I mean, I want to help you," Veetor started twisting his hands together. "But the Admirals, they came to see me before the trial. Me and that soldier, Kal'Reegar. I'm not sure how I could help now."
"Tali, Shepard, you should speak to the Admirals," Zhar said quietly, pulling them away from his brother and the Doctor. "Han'Gerrel and Zaal'Koris are at odds over a war with the geth. Everyone can see that's what this trial is about. If you play that up to the Conclave, they'll have no choice but to declare Tali innocent."
"Thanks, Lieutenant," Shepard said, extending a hand. Zhar shook his head and turned away. "Maybe one day, Commander, but not this one."
"Zhar, could I speak to you alone?" Tali asked, sounding slightly nervous. Shepard nodded at her and went to speak with the Admirals.
"Of course, Tali," Zhar was surprised, but followed her to one of the garden areas of the chamber.
"I don't know what to do," Tali had gone from being nervous to completely distraught. She began twisting her hands together like Veetor did when he was in a crowd. "My father, the Alarei, the geth. Could he have done something?"
"Tali, I worked with your father," Zhar took hold of her wrists. "Everything he did, he did because he loved you. You need to remember that."
"I know, but if the Alarei was lost because of what he's done," Tali raised her head to look at Zhar. "And what if Zaal'Koris is right? What if he is dead?"
"It'll be fine," Zhar released her wrists and put a hand on each side of her mask. "You'll be fine."
"Tali, Commander Shepard has informed me he is preparing to leave. You should ready yourself." Raan was approaching them. Zhar snapped to attention as the Admiral spoke, and noticed that she had brought Kal'Reegar with her. "Lieutenant, may I have a moment?"
"Of course, Admiral," Zhar looked at Tali. "Everything's going to be okay, Tali."
She nodded, and left him with the Admiral. Zhar noticed she was still twisting her hands.
"Lieutenant, I need your help to convince the Admirals should Shepard fail to find any substantial evidence," Raan indicated Kal'Reegar. "The captain has already indicated his desire to speak for Tali'Zorah. If you and your brother could speak as well, the Board might be convinced to see that she had no involvement in this."
"What help would I be?" Zhar asked.
"You have influence with many captains in the Conclave," Raan explained, waving a hand at the groups that had formed after the adjournment of the trial. "Admiral Daro'Xen may also be swayed."
"I'll see what I can do, Admiral," Zhar shook his head. "I'm not sure that Veetor could speak. Doctor Elan'Shala isn't confident that he's ready."
"Do what you can, Lieutenant, if you want to see Tali'Zorah in this fleet ever again."
With that, she nodded at Zhar and left with Kal'Reegar. Zhar sighed and walked aimlessly around the garden area. It was a small area to preserve as much space as possible on the Liveship, but it was still possible to stay there for any number of hours. As he rounded a tree, Zhar spotted Admiral Daro'Xen examining the flowers on a bush.
"Lieutenant," Xen looked up at him as she tugged a flower off the bush. "It's been far too long."
"Admiral," Zhar watched her begin to pull away the petals of the flower. "You're right, it's been a while."
"I take it that you are here to convince me to vote against Tali'Zorah's exile?"
"You know she's innocent. Tali would never do anything like this."
"The facts state otherwise, Zhar."
"Damn the facts, Admiral! She's done more for the Fleet than Admiralty Board put together."
Xen paused as she was about to pull off the last petal. "Tell them that when it matters, Zhar, and this trial might end well for everyone."
The Admiral tugged off the petal and examined it for a moment. Then, looking at Zhar, she handed it to him and left the Lieutenant in the gardens. Zhar returned to his brother and Doctor Elan'Shala on the Conclave floor, and found Veetor was even more nervous than before. His hands were twisting around like writhing snakes.
"Veetor, what's wrong?" Zhar put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Is it the noise? Do you want to leave?"
"No, no it's fine Zhar," Veetor looked at the Admirals ascending to the raised platform. "I want to speak for Tali, if it will help."
"It will Veetor."
The doors opened, and the captains fell silent as Tali and Shepard walked to the centre of the chamber. Zhar took his seat and watched the trial proceed. When Shepard revealed that they had found no evidence exonerating Tali on the Alarei, the captains began muttering amongst themselves.
"It doesn't matter that there wasn't any evidence," Shepard's voice cut through the chatter. "Because Tali would never have endangered the fleet. She always acted in the best interests of her people."
Zhar nudged his brother, who breathed deeply and stepped onto the chamber floor. There was a determination in his step that Zhar had never seen before.
"I have something to say," Veetor called, stepping up beside Tali and Shepard.
"Veetor'Nara nar Hanha," Admiral Koris peered down at him. "You have given evidence to this board already. What else is there to -?"
"Let him speak, Zaal'Koris," Admiral Xen cut in. She turned slightly towards Zhar and gave him a fraction of a nod. As his brother spoke Zhar walked out to join him, and out of the corner of his eye he saw Kal'Reegar doing the same.
"Admirals, when my brother was trapped on Freedom's Progress, Cerberus tried to take him with them," Zhar paused, eyeing Shepard for a moment. "It was only by Tali'Zorah vas Normandy's intervention that he is here today. She would never do anything to put our people in danger, much less her own father. Tali cares more for our people than she does for herself. Something you would do well to remember."
"That's right!" Kal'Reegar jumped in. "Tali's done more for the Fleet than any of you. If you exile her you might as well do the same for me!"
"The same goes for us," Veetor's voice was shaking, but still firm. The chamber remained silent for some time after this.
"Admirals, you have heard all the evidence in Tali'Zorah vas Normandy's favour," Raan spoke for the first time since the end of the trial's adjournment. "You may proceed with your judgement."
The Conclave was deadly silent as the Admirals keyed in their votes on their omnitools. Raan looked at the votes, then raised her voice so that all the captains could hear her.
"The Admiralty Board finds Tali'Zorah vas Normandy nar Rayya innocent. She is hereby cleared of all charges," Raan nodded at Shepard and Tali. "This concludes the trial. Keelah se'lai."
With the trial finished, the captains started filing out of the chamber. Tali and Shepard turned to the three quarians standing with them.
"Thank you, all of you," Tali looked at the three of them individually. "I can't tell you how much this means to me."
"Just doing my duty," Kal'Reegar saluted Shepard. "I owed the Commander a favour anyway."
As Reegar and Shepard began speaking about the trial, Zhar spotted Admiral Xen approaching the group, and tentatively wondered how much he should reveal of her actions. As if sensing Zhar's apprehensions, Xen shook her head.
"Veetor'Nara, it must have taken a great deal of courage for you to speak today," the Admiral spoke respectfully to him. "And I understand that Doctor Elan'Shiya is helping you after you were extracted from Freedom's Progress?"
"Yes Admiral," Veetor said cautiously. "She's been incredible, but I have to return to my Pilgrimage soon."
"I will speak to the Admiralty Board," Xen's voice was low and calm, almost caring. "I'm sure they could be convinced to postpone your leaving until you are fully recovered."
"Thank you Admiral," Veetor moved off with the Admiral towards Doctor Shiya, leaving Tali and Zhar standing alone together.
"Zhar, what you said today…" Tali shook her head. "You, Veetor, Kal'Reegar, I owe you all so much."
"You don't owe me anything, Tali," Zhar looked over to his brother. "You saved my brother from Cerberus, I'm forever in your debt."
"Come with us, Zhar," Tali urged him, indicating Shepard. "We need someone like you."
"I'll never work for Cerberus," Zhar watched the human for a moment. "Not after they tried to take Veetor."
"We're not working for Cerberus, we're working for Shepard."
"What's the difference? Shepard works for Cerberus."
"The difference is that you'll be working with me, Zhar. Call it a favour," Tali touched his arm. "We're leaving soon. Just… think about it. For me."
"No promises."
