This will be an alternating story with alternating dialogue and events and how I wish this game would've turned. Each will have some perspectives on Tali, others will be on Shepard. I don't know if I should continue this or not so if you want me to then just say the word and I will. Other than that enjoy :D
Lieutenant Commander John Shepard of the Systems Alliance Navy, already well known around the galaxy, now that being name being drawn on the lines of heroism and cruelty is very blurred to some people. Being born on the planet Mindoir, John learned that life can come at you from different angles and no matter how much you think you can prepare for it, you are always caught with your pants down. Shepard was around the age of 16 when Batarian slavers murdered and pillaged the colony, seeing everyone around you, your parents, your friends, being slaughtered left and right can change you and can possibly damage your mind. John Shepard was as strong as they come, he had survived the raid and was rescued by a passing Alliance patrol who were taken back by what they had seen. This eventually led to humanity pushing for aggressive colonization within the Skyillian Verge and making more than a few Batarians unhappy and asked the council for help with the council denying their plea and eventually took matters into their own hands. John Shepard had enlisted in the Alliance as soon as he was old enough since he thought he could prevent incidents like the raid on Mindoir from happening again.
Shepard had ascended through the ranks of the military in his early career. When suddenly Batarian slavers had begun an offensive on the Alliance world of Elysium. Shepard had rallied others to help defend Elysium from the Batarian onslaught, Shepard had done the impossible, and he had taken the others around him and rallied them into an army that was heavily outnumbered, outgunned, and outmaneuvered.
During what is now known as The Skyllian Blitz, Shepard had sacrificed his life multiple times to protect others around him. He had held off the Batarians for hours before the Batarians realized that it was a mistake to attack Elysium and had fled the system. After the battle Lieutenant (at the time) John Shepard was awarded the Star of Terra for his brave actions against a formidable foe that had hard pressed their attack for hours but perseverance, sacrifice, and duty had eventually triumphed. John Shepard had been regarded as a savior for humanity for his actions that nearly cost him his life multiple times.
A few years after The Skyllian Blitz, the Alliance led a major operation against the Batarians to destroy their base of operations on Torfan. This would eventually become a ruthless and bloody battle with both sides take heavy casualties but in the end, Humanity had gotten its revenge for now against the Batarians, at least for now.
/\\\\
Tali'Zorah nar Rayya was just like any other quarian on the flotilla for the time being. She was the daughter of Admiral Rael'Zorah but yet she did not feel or want any special treatment for that matter. Tali had always been excellent with technology, even at a young age she was a tech genius. She had made plenty of friends when she was young from Kal'Reegar who usually got into trouble from mischief to Ya'Del who kept to herself most of the time but became friends with Kal and Tali. The three of them spent most of their childhood together until it was time for them to go onto their pilgrimage.
The quarian rite of passage into adulthood, the parents send their children off onto a pilgrimage that they must find something of value to the Migrant Fleet. Now it's not as if the parents just send their kids off on alone without giving them anything. Before one leaves, they are given information about the universe around them whether it be what food to eat or how dangerous each species is, along with survival instincts. They are also given weapons and armor for protection against unwanted visitors.
Now with the pilgrimage, not every quarian who steps out of the flotilla to begin their rite of passage returns which can cause any number of things from dangers or because they found a new life outside the flotilla and decided it was perfect for them. Most eventually return to the flotilla with something of value ranging from new ship parts to important information that could improve the safety of those on the flotilla. After the gift is presented to the Captain, the captain decides whether or not to allow the young quarian aboard. Most of the time the Captain agrees to take another member of their crew as the more the Captain has onboard, the more he gets respected on the fleet.
Unfortunately, it has come the time for the young quarian girl to set off on her rite of passage to become an adult but not everything would go as planned for the young tech genius.
/\\\\
"What do you mean you aren't going to do anything?!" Shepard screamed with the veins in his neck almost popping out at the council during Saren's trial "There is an eye-witness who saw that Turian fuck…" Shepard continued, pointing at Saren "…murder Nihlus in cold blood!"
"From a traumatized dock worker." Saren said smirking laughing it off "That's not a witness."
"There isn't any substantial evidence in your favor, Commander. I'm afraid that without conclusive evidence, the charges against Saren will be dropped." The Asari Councilor stated "Do you have any other statements to provide?"
"What's the point? There's no point in wasting my fucking breath." Shepard cursed
"Then we find Saren not guilty and the charges are officially dropped." The Salarian Councilor
"I'm glad to see justice was served." Saren stated
"I swear to God that I will stop at nothing to hunt you down and kill you." Shepard said staring down Saren through the hologram. One would have thought that it would be like a Wild West movie with a stare down then quick draw between the duelists.
"Don't make promises you can't keep panzie." Saren said adding insult to injury
"Why I oughta…" Shepard said taking steps forward before being pulled back by Kaiden
"It's not worth it Shepard." Kaiden said pulling Shepard away and bringing him away from the scene that was bound to turn into a bloodbath. Captain Anderson and Ambassador Udina met Shepard along with Kaiden and Ashley when the meeting was adjourned.
"We need to find some leads if were gonna put that turian prick where he belongs, any ideas?" Shepard said finally cooling his head
"How about that one C-Sec officer gathering information on Saren, Garrus?" Ashley pointed out
"Any ideas where to find him?" Shepard asked looking at Udina and Anderson
"You could always go by Chora's Den in the wards to speak to a C-Sec officer named Harkun. He might be a little hard to work with but you should go pay him a visit." Udina said leaving bringing along Anderson only leaving Shepard, Kaiden, and Ashley to go find Harkun.
"Well, no time like the present. Let's go." Shepard said as him and his team walked over to a taxi service to go to Chora's Den.
/\\\\
"But I have important information that needs to get to the council!" Tali said pleading with C-Sec official
"Yeah? You and about a hundred thousand other people." The officer said "Now I'm not going to tell you again. I want you off this station by tomorrow or you'll be coming with us and any 'important information' you have will be tossed away never to be seen again." The officer had left leaving Tali alone by herself on the docks, with her pursuer close behind.
"Bosh'tet." Tali muttered cursing in her native tongue, Tali walked around for a few hours about to give up when she thought of an idea, she could ask how long it would take to get an audience with the council unfortunately it would not be another few months and she certainly did not have that luxury and continued to wander the wards aimlessly until she heard the sound of running footsteps behind her.
Tali quickly looked around to see her pursuer still chasing after her. "You've got to be kidding me, when is this guy going to get the fuck away." Tali muttered when she started slowing down to feel pain in her side, she looked down to see that her suit had been punctured and she had been shot, she felt the pain and immediately activated her suit decontamination system which had sealed the puncture and now she was swimming in antibiotics. She was still running through the wards to get away from her assailant. She had eventually led him through a furnace that he was stupid enough to follow her through, once she had made it through she activated it burning that creep to death. Tali left and found a medical clinic owned by a Doctor Chloe Michel and asked for her help.
"Jeez what had happened to you?" Dr. Michel asked
"Well, I was on the run from some this idiot who was trying to get information I have." Tali stated
"Do you mind if I ask what the information is?" Dr. Michel asked all the meanwhile examining Tali's wounds
"Its part of a geth memory core and something about a turian spectre named Saren." Tali said still griping in the pain that she was in.
"I see, I'm afraid that the best I can do right now is wrap you wound up and hope that it heals since cutting into your suit would just be the equivalent of murder." The doctor said
"Thank you doctor." Tali said "Is there anyone you know that could use the information, I need a place to stay and I'm willing to make a trade."
Doctor Michel thought for a second "I can set you up with a guy named Fist who knows the Shadow Broker, why don't you go talk to him in Chora's Den."
"Alright thanks again." Tali said and left the clinic to meet up with this named Fist in Chora's Den
/\\\\
Shepard and his team arrived outside Chora's Den only to meet blaster fire along the entrance to the club, no problem for a couple trained soldiers like Shepard and his team
"Looks like Saren's men wanted to kill us before we dug to deep." Kaiden stated
"Doesn't matter he's gonna die like everyone else who follows him." Shepard said "Now let's go find this Harkun." They walked into the entrance and were greeted with an interesting view
"This place has quite the uhh view." Kaiden said staring at the half-naked women dancing around everywhere
"I know what you mean by that Alenko." Shepard said agreeing with the LT
"Uhh hey Lieutenant and Commander, wanna pick up your tongues before you two step on them?" Ashely stated
"Calm down, Chief. Alenko and I are just enjoying the view." Shepard said looking over at Ash
"I can't believe that we are standing a million light years away from where humanity began to see half-naked women shake their ass and tits on a stage." Ashley said muttering to herself
"Calm down, we still got a mission to do so let's do it." Shepard said finding Harkun sitting in a corner drinking whatever it was he was drinking before he was interrupted by Shepard and his team "I hear you know where to find Garrus Vakarian now start talking."
"Well aren't you a little impatient? Who are you anyway?" Harkun said slurring his speech
"My name is not important, but I need to find Garrus and I won't ask again." Shepard said with his hand reaching for his pistol
"Alright no need for violence, I heard him mentioning that he was going to talk to a doctor down in the wards about his dead lead."
"Well thank you Harkun, you can now go ahead and sulk in your own misery now." Shepard said leaving Chora's Den
"We need to find this doctor." Shepard said taking a taxi to one of the many medical clinics on the Citadel. Surprisingly it what was the one that they had needed since he saw Garrus creeping around the bend. Some thugs were threatening the doctor about Garrus when one of them saw Shepard through the doorway.
"Who are you?!" The leader said grabbing the doctor by the neck and taking her hostage and just then his head exploded from Garrus' shot. The others tried to fend themselves off but ultimately failed.
"Damn, nice shot Garrus." Ashely said looking at the thug that was missing his head
"Thanks, you gave enough time to get into position to take him down." Garrus stated "Doctor Michel are you hurt?"
"No thank you though all of you." The doctor said with a thick heavy French accent
"Who were those punks?" Kaiden asked
"They were Fists thugs, they wanted to keep me quiet from telling Garrus about the quarian." Doctor Michel explained
"What quarian?" Shepard asked
"A few days ago, a quarian came in asking for medical attention from being shot. She mentioned that she had information on a spectre called Saren." Doctor Michel said "She asked for a place to stay in exchange for her information. I set her up with Fist who said he can set up with the Shadow Broker."
"Fist is an idiot, there is no way he is able to make a deal with the Shadow Broker. No one meets him in person." Garrus said
"Looks like we have to pay Fist a visit." Shepard said
"I'm coming with you Shepard, I wanna bring down Saren as much as you do."
"Welcome aboard Garrus."
"There is also a Krogan named Wrex who was hired to kill Fist, I think he might be to some use as well, I hear he is talking with C-Sec." Garrus added
"A krogan can pack a punch let's go pay him a visit." Shepard said "Are you going to be okay doctor?"
"I'll be fine, just go find Fist before it's too late." Doctor Michel said and with that the team of four headed down to Garrus' employer and found the Wrex arguing with C-Sec officers.
"Wrex, you got a minute?" Shepard asked the large krogan
"Out of my way, human I have no quarrel with you." Wrex said pushing him aside
"I hear you want Fist dead, I can make that happen." Shepard said and that seemed to peak Wrex's curiosity as he stopped and turned around
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend." Wrex said shaking hands with Shepard "Let's go kick some ass." They all left and headed toward Chora's den that seemed to be closed and it was too easy to suspect an ambush so all five of them burst in the doors guns blazing killing all the guards that still seemed to be shooting back. After a few minutes the five of them had made it to the back of Fist's club ready to find out where he had sent the quarian.
"Well, look what we've got here, how the tides have turned Fist." Wrex said walking up to Fist
"Where's the quarian?" Shepard demanded
"I don't know what you're talking about." Fist said trying to maneuver his way out of the situation
"Don't lie to me, you don't want to be my enemy if you lie." Shepard said as Fist retracted his previous statement as he saw multiple rifles pointed at his face.
"Alright fine, she wanted to meet with the Shadow Broker in person in exchange for a place to stay." Fist said
"That's impossible, no one meets the Shadow Broker in person, and even I was hired through an agent." Wrex interjected
"But it'll be Saren's thugs will be waiting there instead of him." Fist continued
Shepard losing his patience unholstered his pistol and slammed into Fist's face "Tell me the quarian is before I blow your lying head off."
"Alright alright she's near the back alley of the markets not too far from here, if you leave now you might be able to catch her." Fist said backing up only to find a wall behind him and realized he was most likely screwed.
"See was that so hard?" Shepard said backing up and holstering his pistol when suddenly Fist was violently thrown against the wall and had blood pouring down his body. Kaiden, Ashley, and Garrus immediately had Wrex aimed down the sights ready to fire
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?!" Ashley said still keeping aimed at the large krogan
"The Shadow Broker hired me to kill him, I never leave jobs half done." Wrex said putting away his shotgun, Shepard had ordered the three of them to hold their fire
"Next time, you warn me when you do that." Shepard said "Now let's move, the quarian is still in danger." The five of them sprinted out of the club to find the quarian
/\\\\
"Where's the Shadow Broker? Where's Fist?" Tali stated not knowing what was about to unfold.
"Don't worry they'll be here, do you have the information?" The informant said starting to feel up the young quarian. Tali slapped his hand off of her.
"Depends where are the Shadow Broker and Fist. I'm not giving you shit until they get here, bosh'tet." Tali stated standing her ground
"Why don't you give me the information and if they don't get here I'll give to them from you." The assailant said
"Over my dead body." Tali said looking around seeing two Salarians in the corner conversing and she could tell that they were with the turian.
"I'm afraid I didn't want to do this but you leave me no other choice in the matter. Let's kill this bitch and take the information for Saren." The turian said calling over the Salarians and Tali sprang into action throwing a stun grenade at the three assailants and hid behind some cover, she found a pistol that her father had given to her before her pilgrimage and loaded it with heat sink clips and jumped out of cover only to find all of them dead on the alleyway floor.
"What the-"Tali said thinking aloud looking around to see five well-armed figures in front of her
"Name's Commander John Shepard, Systems Alliance Navy." Shepard said looking at the young quarian
"My name is Tali, Tali'Zorah nar Rayya. Thank you for saving my life." Tali said looking at the young dashing Commander that had just rescued a damsel in distress
"It was my pleasure Tali." Shepard said looking at the young quarian "Now I'd hate to cut this short but I hear you have information on my friend Saren."
"Ahh, yes of course. I guess this is what you can have for saving my life, Commanader." Tali said
"The council will want to hear this, I think this is what we need. We need to bring this to Udina and Anderson." Ashley stated and with that Shepard gained another a crew member and the six of them headed toward the human embassy to give Udina and Anderson the information they needed to bring the turian son of a bitch down.
/\\\\
"Eden Prime was a major victory! This brings us one step closer to finding the Conduit." The recording of Saren had stated
"That's it, that's exactly the evidence we need to implicate Saren!" Udina said
"But the next question is what is the Conduit?" Anderson asked
"It's something Saren wants, which means it's something we need." Shepard interjected
"There's also another part of the recording." Tali stated
"And one step closer to the return of the Reapers." The feminine voice from the recording said
"No we have two more questions to answer, who is that voice and what are the Reapers?" Anderson said
Visions from Eden Prime's Prothean beacon began to ring out in Shepard's head, none of it made sense but it felt as if he had heard of the Reapers. "I feel like I've heard of them before." Shepard said
"We need to bring this before the Council!" Udina said "Anderson and I will meet you up there Shepard, come when you are ready." And with that now all six members of the crew were standing in the human embassy.
"What are we going to do with the quarian?" Wrex asked
"My name is Tali! You saw what I can do in the alleyway Commander, allow me to join you." Tali said asking permission
"Sure why not, more the merrier." Shepard said and heard of a groaning sound come from Ashley but that's just the way Ashley was. He just looked at her and she rolled her eyes and became silent
"Thank you, you won't regret this." Tali said taking the Commander's side as the six of them left the human embassy and made their way up the citadel tower, after a short trip they eventually made it up and saw Anderson by the stairs waiting for Shepard and his crew.
"Come on, Udina's already presenting the evidence to the council." Anderson said as he brought Shepard up to where Udina was standing on the platform.
The recording began playing again, this time with both Saren's and the mysterious woman's voice, when it was finished playing the turian councilor spoke up.
"This proof is irrefutable, Commander. Saren's spectre status will be revoked and he will no longer have the resources he once had."
"That other voice, her name is Matriarch Benezia." The Asari councilor interjected
"A Matriarch is one of the last stages an asari can go through I think. I also believe that are revered upon by other asari and are very powerful with biotics than the normal asari. Am I correct?" Shepard said with everything else looking around dumbfounded "What, I do my research." Shepard said with a smirk.
"You are correct, Commander." The asari councilor said "If she is allying herself with Saren, then she could ally others to her cause, which in the long run can be dangerous for us."
"You know he is the Terminus Systems, send your fleet in!" Udina demanded
"We will not send our fleets to capture one man and besides if we send our fleets in, we will trigger a war with the Terminus Systems." The Salarian councilor
"Then send me in." Shepard said with authority "The Normandy can maneuver through the Terminus Systems undetected
"Well there is an alternative." The Asari councilor stated and looked over at the Turian councilor
"No humanity is not yet ready to join the ranks of the Spectres!" The Turian councilor stated
"It was a HUMAN who brought down a Turian spectre. Stop holding us back! If you don't do this, it will be the biggest mistake any of you will ever make." Shepard shouted
The three Councilors looked at each other and nodded each pressing buttons on their omni-tools.
"Commander John Shepard of the Systems Alliance Navy, please step forward." The Asari councilor said "It is the decision of the Council that you be granted all the powers and privileges of the Special Tactics and Reconnaissance branch of the Citadel." She began
"Spectres are not trained, but chosen. Individuals forged in the fire of service and battle; those whose actions elevate them above the rank and file." The Salarian Councilor said
"Spectres are an ideal, a symbol. The embodiment of courage, determination, and self-reliance. They are the right hand of the Council, instrments of our will." The Asari Councilor continued
"Spectres bear a great burden. They are protectors of galactic peace, both our first and last line of defense. The safety of the galaxy is theirs to uphold." The Turian councilor ended "You are the first among your species to become a Spectre, Congratulations."
"Never thought I'd hear that that from a Turian." Shepard thought but then realized he just gained a position almost impossible by any other person in the galaxy, he didn't want to piss of the Council, at least not yet. "Thank you Councilor." Was all Shepard said before he bowed before the three members of the Council.
"You are now a Spectre, you have the authority of wherever you go, and you can take Saren down by any means you believe are fit." The Asari Councilor stated "This meeting is adjourned."
"Looks like you finally did it Shepard, you gonna need a ship and some supplies. Anderson come with me. Meet us at the dock when you're ready, Shepard." Udina said and left the Council area
"Wow not even a congratulations." Tali said
"What do you expect from a politician?" Shepard said
"Well he is a politician, so of course we can't expect him for anything." Ashley said
"Alright gang let's go." Shepard said and they had made it down the stairs before Shepard saw an Admiral arguing over a terminal. "Something wrong Admiral?"
"Commander Shepard, congratulations on becoming humanity's first Spectre." The Admiral said congratulating the new Spectre "Good to see you again John. How have you been?" Kahoku said as he shook hands and hugged the young Commander as they had fought together during the Skyllian Blitz on Elysium. They even knew each other from before the Blitz they, both went to the Academy around the same time but Kahoku rose through the ranks quicker than Shepard.
"Well, other than becoming a Spectre not so bad." Shepard said smirking "The Council sent me on a mission to hunt down Saren."
"Well, shouldn't you not be telling him what the mission is Commander?" Kaiden asked
"He'll keep quiet, we're old friends." Shepard stated "We went through the Academy together and we fought together during the Blitz." Shepard said explaining their relationship to the rest of the crew. "So what are doing? I heard you arguing with that terminal."
"Well I've been trying to talk to one of the Council's assistant but I keep getting stonewalled." Kahoku said
"Well, I'm a Spectre now so I can do what you need."
"I'm not going to ask you to do that Shepard." Kahoku said insisting he didn't need Shepard's help
"Admiral, it would be my honor to help an old friend."
"Alright, my men were sent out to respond to a distress system on the planet Edolus in the Sparta System in the Artimus Tau Cluster." Kahoku said "They were supposed to report in when they got there but it's been days since I've last heard from them. I need to know what has become of them."
"It would be an honor to help you Admiral." Shepard said
"Thanks again John, I owe you one. I'll be here when you return, if not then you know where to find me." The admiral said shaking hands with Shepard and leaving.
"Commander, shouldn't we be heading over to the docking bay?" Kaiden asked
"Yeah, let's go." Shepard said as they had left the Citadel Tower and headed toward C-Sec Academy because that's where the elevator to the docking bay was. The trip there was mostly silent, until a radio call came in over Shepard's radio.
"Commander Shepard, is that you?" the heavy French accent asked
"Yeah, go for Commander Shepard." Shepard said answering his radio
"My name is Lieutenant Girard of the Alliance working alongside with C-Sec." Girad said "She has a gun that was taken from one of my men when she overpowered him and has herself holed up behind some crates."
"What does this have to do with me?" Shepard asked
"Well…" Girard said as there was silence for a few seconds "She's a survivor from Mindoir, Commander." Just then Shepard's heart sank as his mind raced back to the small little backwater colony that he called home before the Batarians massacred everyone he knew and loved. He had taken it upon himself to see this through and make sure this girl does not harm herself or others.
"Alright, Lieutenant I'm on my up." Shepard said "Alenko, take Wrex and Garrus back to the Normandy while I deal with this."
"Shepard, shouldn't we meet up with Udina and the Captain?" Ashley said
"I need to do this, just tell them that it's a personal matter that I need to handle." Shepard said
"You got it Shepard." Kaiden said "What about Williams and Tali?"
"They'll be coming with me in case something happens but I hope it won't come to that."
"Roger that." Kaiden said as he took Garrus and Wrex back to the Normandy to meet with Udina and Captain Anderson. Shepard took Ashley and Tali to the farside of the Alliance dock to meet up with Lieutenant Girard and his men.
Shepard had arrived on the upper deck of the docking bay to see Lieutenant Girard and his men standing by. "Lieutenant Girad, Commander Shepard." Shepard said shaking hands with the L-T
"Thank you for coming Commander. If anyone can get her out of this it's you." Girard said
"It would be an honor Lieutenant, it's hard going through what happened there. It's impossible to forget what happened." Shepard said "What do you need me to do?"
"Well, if you can maybe inject her with this sedative, we can get her the help she needs. I also have a sniper standing by in case but I don't want to use him unless it's the absolutely last resort." Girard stated "Here's the sedative and hopefully you can convince her to take it without doing anything rash."
"With all due respect Lieutenant, I wanna convince her to get help and have her go willingly. I won't use the sedative unless I have to and you can tell you sniper to stand down because I will not need him. She will not die on my watch, whether it be her or someone else." Shepard said giving the sedative back to Girard
"It's your call Commander, I'll tell my men to stand down while you take care of this." Girard said motioning his men to stand down and Shepard made his way up to the crates before he was stopped by the young quarian.
"Be careful, Shepard." Tali said
"I will Tali, thank you." Shepard said as he continued his way past the crates where he saw the young woman squatting behind the crates in the fetal position with a pistol in her hand.
Shepard walked up behind the crates and stated his name "Hello, I'm Commander John Shepard. What's your name?"
"The masters beat her for saying her name but she was called Talitha once." The woman said with tears in her eyes "The masters beat her for crying."
"It's okay the masters aren't going to hurt you anymore Talitha, you were on Mindoir right?" Shepard said
"Yes, she was." Talitha stated
"Well, you can call me John, I was on Mindoir too." Shepard said "Do you mind if I sit next to you?"
"Please, don't hurt me!" She shouted backing herself against the crates.
"Don't worry, I'm not gonna hurt you. I only wanna talk, I know what you went through on Mindoir." Shepard stated "How were your parents?"
"They, the masters incinerated them." Talitha said beginning to sound even sadder "I saw them burned alive, I tried to play dead but they found. The masters always find us." Talitha said
"It's okay, Talitha it's all over now." Shepard said "You have developed something called Stockholm Syndrome, you're going to be okay. If you see people I know, they can heal you."
"Are they gonna… are they gonna hurt her?" Talitha asked
"No they're not, they helped me overcome what you went through. I was on Mindoir too, you're going to be okay now." Shepard said sitting down next her and gave her a hug
"It's going to be okay, I'm going to be okay." Talitha said finally not talking in third person
"You're going to be okay. Let's go." Shepard said standing up and offering Talitha his hand in peace and with luck she took it and brought her over to Lieutenant Girard. "Take good care of her, Lieutenant."
"Your… you're not coming?" Talitha asked
"I have my own destiny, if you ever need anything don't hesitate to call me." Shepard said "Even if you want to just talk."
"Alright, thank you John." Talitha said as Lieutenant Girad's men took her down the elevator to the med center.
"I can't believe you did what you did, Commander. That was unbelievable." Girard said
"It was my pleasure, not everyone comes out of this sane. I know what she went through, make sure she gets the best help possible." Shepard said
"Thank you again, Commander." Girard said leaving the docking bay down the elevator to catch up to his men.
"Alright let's get to the Normandy, knowing Udina, he's probably getting impatient." Shepard said looking at Tali and Ashley. They took a shuttle to the other side of the docking bay to meet up with Kaiden, Garrus, Wrex, Udina, and Anderson. Udina being impatient as he is was standing there pacing back and forth.
"Commander Shepard, where have you been?" Udina said almost getting in the Commander's face
"None of your damn business, Udina. What's the news?" Shepard asked pushing Udina away
"Well, you've been named Captain of the Normandy as Captain Anderson is stepping down his position as CO." Udina announced
"I'm honored sir but are you sure this is the right thing to do?" Shepard asked
"I'm getting old and besides you're the only one who can take Saren. You know the crew so it's not like adjusting to a new ship." Anderson said
"Do we have any leads?" Ashley asked
"Well, we've got reports of geth attacks on the colony of Feros, also we've heard that Matriarch Benezia is on Noveria. There is also something else, Benezia has a daughter that is a Prothean Expert, and she is currently located somewhere in the Artimus Tau Cluster, her name's Liara T'Soni." Udina stated
"I think we'll start with finding Dr. T'Soni in the Artimus Tau Cluster." Shepard said
"Alright fine, but I have a meeting to get to, so if you have any other questions you can direct them to Captain Anderson." Udina said leaving the docking bay area.
After Udina left Anderson finally opened his mouth "I can't stand that asshole."
"Well of course he's a politician." Shepard said smirking
"Still, you need to get a move on if you're going to catch Saren." Anderson stated "I have my reasons for stepping down, you need not to ask it."
"Well it's been my pleasure Captain. Take care sir." Shepard said popping a salute to his old friend.
"You too Shepard, stay safe out there." Anderson said returning the salute and leaving Shepard and the rest of his team on the dock.
"Let's get out of here, get your gear stowed away. We fly off this station in five." Shepard said to Tali and Ashley. They moved from the docking bay back on to the Normandy with everyone moving to the crew deck to unload their gear. Tali had moved her gear to engineering with her being a quarian and everything. She made her way down to engineering with a sack she had from her pilgrimage but with even less in it. She could tell that she was getting looks from the rest of the crew, she also did her best to make herself feel more like home.
"Hey, my name's Tali." She said introducing herself to Engineer Adams
"My name's Engineer Adams, glad to meet you Tali, feel free to study the ship. Anything useful you can bring back the fleet will be appreciated I'm sure." Adams said
"Thank you sir." Tali said and left to go unpack, she left for her bunk which was isolated from the rest of the crew deck. She unpacked her bag and found an old photo of her, Kal, and Ya and looked at it and smiled through her mask. She had wondered how their pilgrimages were going and thought how hers has gone so far as well. By the sheer look in her eye one could tell she was homesick, but she had put the thought in the back of her head and laid down to get some shuteye for the night, just when Shepard walked into her room.
"Shepard, I mean Commander." Tali said tripping over her own words as she got nervous when talking to people she found attractive.
"You can just call me Shepard." He said taking a seat next to the quarian "You know I've never actually seen a quarian before, I mean I've read plenty about your race and with the Geth, which is something I don't hold against your people. This is my first time meeting a quarian and I have to say I'm very impressed." Shepard said which made Tali blush a little because she didn't know if that was because she was pretty of just fascinating because of being a quarian. The thought of Shepard thinking her as pretty was thrown to the front of her mind.
"Meeting a human is something too, but it also depends on the human as well." Tali said "Some can be complete bosh'tets while others are just sweethearts who were raised properly by their parents or even those who feel they can do well by being the best they can be. You fall into the last two as I've seen." Tali continued which in turn made Shepard blush a little too "You are so far remarkable beyond words, your stunt with the trauma victim was just unbelievable."
"Well, when something like that happens, it changes you and if you let it change you, you are never the same person again. I was fortunate to change my life after that happened." Shepard said
"Well, rescuing a damsel in distress adds to your track record too." Tali said lightly
"It helps if the damsel in distress is a beautiful one too." Shepard said flirting with the young quarian
"Are you flirting with me Commander?" Tali asked
"And what if I am?" Shepard said teasingly
"You don't know what to expect behind the mask though and that's what makes most people back away. Not to mention our immune systems aren't exactly the greatest in the galaxy." Tali stated
"You know, it doesn't matter what is on the outside. But it's what's on the inside that counts." Shepard said "I can always requisition the medical supplies you need, all you need to do is say the word and I'll get it for you." Shepard said
"Thank you, Shepard. I really appreciate it." Tali said
"Now, if you excuse me, I have to go talk to Joker at the helm and plot our next course." Shepard said getting up from the makeshift bunk. "But before I go." Shepard leaned over and planted a kiss on her hand. Shepard knew that the most sensitive place on the quarian suit is the hand, so he planted a wet kiss on her suit which in turn almost made Tali melt into a thousand pieces. "Good night Tali, it's gonna be a long day tomorrow." Shepard said leaving and making his way up to the bridge to meet up with Joker.
Shepard made his way up past the crew deck and pass the CIC on his way to meet Joker on the bridge.
"Hey, what's up Commander?" Joker announced
"Same shit, different day. I mean other than taking command of the Captain's ship, this just feels wrong. He should be the one here not me." Shepard said
"Well, if anyone's going to be taking down Saren it's gonna be you. The whole crew is with you until the end." Joker said
"Thanks Joker. Anyway I need you to plot a course for Edolus in the Sparta System in the Artimus Tau Cluster."
"You got it Commander, just punch up the coordinates on the galaxy map and we'll be good to go." Joker said. Shepard left the helm to put the coordinates in the galaxy map just like Joker said and left the Citadel and onward toward find out what had become of Admiral Kohaku's men.
