Mass Effect: To the Citadel and Beyond

A pulse rifle fired, the sound cracked the air and missed Shepard's head by less than an inch; it could have been fired on another planet for all he cared because he didn't register it and just kept running. He allowed himself one quick glimpse behind, at least 30 Collectors were close behind some with Particle Beams raised charging them up to unleash devastation on the Commander and his squad whilst others were making a futile attempt to catch up to them to stop them from boarding the Normandy SR2, the sight made Shepard sprint faster with renewed vigour determined to keep the promise he had made before this "suicide mission".

It was quiet on the Deck 1, Shepard was deep in thought looking at what was meant to be various shipping logs that Detective Anaya had forwarded for him to look at after he had helped her not only stop her being "ripped a new one" by Samara but he had also destroyed most of the Eclipse in that sector AND given her evidence that Pitne For was a thieving backstabbing good for nothing drug smuggler, basically to cut it short crime was a record low in her sector, hell yeah Shepard thought it's time for her to scratch my back after all he'd done for her! But alas even though she had gone to the trouble of getting him various amounts of "top secret" information he was busy playing MineSweeper 21th Century edition, however had gotten bored with playing it the way any normal person would and so had downloaded a SupERFast Quad mod for it where there were no flags, one life and you had to find all the bombs within 5 seconds. It was easy to see that Shepard liked a challenge, he was concentrating on it so much that he didn't hear the lift halt at the top floor and the door to his cabin open to reveal a beautiful Quarian woman clad in purple, that Quarian was Tali Zorah Vas Normandy Nar Raya; she nervously walked into the room.

"She..Shepard?" She called out to the preoccupied Commander

Shepard heard nothing; he was so psyched at this moment.

"OH MY GOD" he thought "only one more bomb to find and I have finally slain this bloody game that's been haunting me since Ilos! He let out a small chuckle. "Never shall anything overcome the awesomeness that is Commander John Shepard!"

"Oh Keelah! He's not answering, perhaps he hasn't heard me? Should I speak again? He's turned away from me more does that mean that he doesn't want to see me? Keelah I wish I'd researched more on human body language! No Tali get a hold of yourself he obviously just hasn't heard you he would have said if he didn't want you here".

"Shepard?" A moment of silence occurred until Tali attempted to press further "Commander? I hope I'm not disturbing anything"?

"Come on bomb show yourself to Momma!"

Tali decided that he obviously hadn't heard her either times "perhaps he has one of those Apples in his ears" she wondered about whether she should try out playing music in her helmet the next time Shepard wanted to see her with some important news, "that would show him the stupid Bosh'tet!, oh Keelah Shepard I'm so sorry!

Unfortunately Tali hadn't taken the time to ask Shepard whether humans had the power of telepathy with their closest family members and so decided to move and touch Shepard to get his attention not only to tell him that she had taken some anti-biotics and immuno boosters but also to apologise for calling him a bosh'tet, she moved closer now close enough to touch, her heart rate had increased tenfold and her breathing had deepened from stress, she reached out and touched his shoulder; it felt amazing to be in contact with him; she built up the courage and slightly louder added "John"?

"Come on you stupid piece of crap I want to win!"

Shepard reached down with his finger to press the final unhidden box. This was it. He was going to win. He was already congratulating himself and formulating his I Told You So speech to Garrus and about how he had a lack of faith in his friend and should now bow down and bask in his glory when something with 3 digits grasped his shoulder, Shepard jumped and missed the unhidden box by only a fraction but it was just enough for him to fail, Shepard decided that if it was Garrus that had stopped him from being King of Everything then he would take Garrus and throw him out of the airlock.

"Oh come on Garrus I was SO CLOSE did you really have to mess it up now?" Shepard said with his voice rising higher and higher until the final word he spat out with a great amount of venom, he instantly regretted it after turning round and seeing who it was.

"Oh Keelah Shepard I'm sorry for interrupting you at such an important time and for calling you a bosh'tet and for thinking we were close and.." Tali was stopped in her nervous speech as Shepard put his index finger to her mouth piece.

"Tali I assure you that you have nothing to be sorry for" Shepard gently grasped the young Quarians hand and squeezes it "I'm sorry I shouted I thought you were Garrus"

"But Shepard I…." Tali was cut off by Shepard who raised his hand and then placed it on her hip.

"Oh Keelah" Tali thought as her face burned up from embarrassment "The legendary Commander Shepard is touching someone like me" a big grin appeared on her face as she let her mind wander with Shepard and her cuddling in his bed with no suit as to act as a go between when suddenly Shepard's hand moves down her body and suddenly unimaginable pleasure ensu…

"Like I was saying Tali" As Tali was brought back into reality with a bump her smile still apparent on her face but not as big as before "I know you didn't come up here to apologise so what's on your mind?"

"Well here goes nothing" she thought "Well… I… err… you know that conversation we had before about me finding a way to… with us"

"Damn she's so cute when she starts to mumble and stutter"

"Well I've taken some anti-biotics and some herbal suppleme…."

Tali didn't get further than that in her bid to try and persuade Shepard to let her share herself with him, he already knew that she was perfect for him and that he was more than willing to help her overcome her nervousness about subjects like this, he slowly released his hands from her hips and gently moved them up her body moving his fingers in circles when they met a particular sensitive area even outside the suit that made Tali moan quietly and eventually they found the clasps on either side of her helmet.

"Tali are you sure you're ok with this?" Shepard quietly asked

"I've never been surer about anything John" was the Quarian's reply

Shepard released the clasps and with a jettison of air allowing the pressure to balance between the helmet and the outside environment for the first time in years and then placed it neatly on the table, he then looked into the eyes of his lover, Tali was incredibly worried as Shepard hadn't spoken solidly for longer than a minute which was highly uncommon for him.

"John… please tell me everything's alright"

"Miss Vas Normandy nothing has been more perfect than this moment, you are beautiful".

Those words sent Tali completely over the edge in ecstasy, she grabbed Shepard and pushed him backwards until his legs hit the bed and he collapsed onto it, before he had time to regain composure Tali had straddled on top of him and with one seductive growl was now kissing him passionately which he returned with equal force. That night very few words were said but many fantasises of Tali's were fulfilled.

The next morning Tali awoke to find a half-naked Shepard sat on the edge of the bed; she leaned over and placed her arms around his shoulders still marvelling at the sensual touch everything had on her skin from Shepard's toned shoulders and chest to even the simplest of things such as the air around her. It was wonderful.

"Good morning beautiful"

"Mmmmm" was all Tali could say as she inhaled John's scent, it brought peace to her heart knowing that he was close.

"Ready to face the Collectors?" Shepard asked

Tali was now woken to the grim fact of reality, today she could start off being so happy having finally bonded with Shepard but by the end of it she could be back to how she felt after he had died upon the original Normandy, a broken shell completely alone. Shepard realised that he had made a mistake and so to attempt to rectify it he found her hand and ran a line of kisses down it, Tali looked up at him now with tears starting to form in her eyes.

"Promise me you won't die on me again Shepard" she sobbed as tears started to flow down her cheeks.

"I promise" came the reply solid and instant; it was all that was needed.

Shepard snapped out of his vision and plunged straight back into reality he saw that Grunt and Kasumi were already on board and Joker of all people was in the hatchway with an assault rifle spraying rounds all over the show, it was amazing that he didn't hit me Shepard thought but kept sprinting towards the Normandy, a few more steps was all it took and as Shepard jumped the ground crumbled away beneath him, he smashed against the side of the ship with his arms reaching out for grip but found none; just as he thought that he was a goner one of Grunt's massive arms reached out and sent Shepard so far skywards that he almost knocked himself out smashing his head on the entrance to the Normandy.

"Alright people!" announced Joker "get outta the way cripple about to save the day!"

He almost leapt into the cockpit discarding the weapon as he went and the Normandy thrust forward with only seconds to spare.

"Come on Joker now is the time to book it!" He heard Shepard shout over the countdown to the Collector Bases demise.

"ALRIGHT PEOPLE this is gonna be a close one HOLD ON" his fingers flying across the various computer HUDS like an accomplished pianist and the Normandy lurched forward even quicker.

EDI chimed in with "entering FTL in 3….2…..1"

The Normandy shot forward and vanished just before the Collector Base exploded in a shimmer of a hellish red explosions.

Shepard and his team had done it, survived a supposed suicide mission with no casualties. Commander John Shepard had once again done the impossible.