A quarian. 'Trouble', he'd thought. Quarians meant trouble, he knew that from experience. Although, to their credit, it was usually not the kind of trouble people expected. They were not the thieves the common stereotype portrayed them as. Quarians were involved in thefts just as often as most other civilised species, relatively speaking. They did often take things others discarded, though, which probably fuelled the rumours. But that was not the problem. The problem was that they took unnecessary risks to get those things. Especially for people who could die from a rupture in their suits. And they got into fights. They were proud and the galaxy treated them with little respect, most of the time.

And of course, they'd let loose the Geth.

Garrus was irritated, to say the least, when the Commander let her come with them. Though she'd been fairly capable in a fight, he had to admit. But she was hardly more than a kid. He really hoped the Commander knew what she was doing.

They did not get on well. He had the tendency to put his foot in his mouth, but her comebacks proved she had a sharp, quick mind. Still, he noticed things about her. It was hard to judge her emotions by her poise and movements only, but on occasion, when they weren't on a mission, he saw her look quite forlorn. She had to feel as out of place on a human ship as he did, certainly? Shepard was a good sort, the kind to judge people by their actions, not their species. Listened to their worries. But ever since Dr T'Soni had joined them, she had taken to spending less time with the rest of the crew and distinctly more in the med-bay.

"Are you certain you want to be on this mission?"

Tali raised her head.

"What is it now, Vakarian? More insults? Afraid I'll eat all your rations?"

He raised his hands placatingly.

"I was really just wondering if you felt as lonely as you seemed."

He imagined she scowled inside the suit.

"If I were, you'd be the last person I'd want to talk to."

. . .

She hated being this easily read by the annoying, arrogant turian. Who did he think he was, anyway? First berating her for her people's big mistake, then questioning her decisions? She left him standing in the mess hall and went back into engineering, seething.

But yes, she was lonely. If someone else had asked... Well, she might have talked about how she missed home. But that wasn't all of it. The Honorata's crew, Keenah... She saw them dying, over and over again. But to discuss this, with the turian, of all people?

And he was wrong. She wanted to be on this mission. Wanted Saren to be stopped for everything he'd done, not only to her.

Her fingers drummed against the console.

"You okay, Tali?"

She looked at Adams, who frowned at her, showing actual concern.

"Yes, just thinking," she said quickly, then asked him something about the drive core. She knew all about it by now, but Adam's explanation gave her a moment to collect herself.

Why would the turian care, anyway?