"We need to get this data to the Illusive Man," stated Miranda once a panicked Veetor had finished telling them everything they wished to know. "Grab the quarian and call the shuttle to come pick us up."
The three of them turned when the door beeped before sliding open and Shepard scowled as Tali entered the control room.
"What?" Utter outrage coated her voice. "Veetor is injured! He needs treatment, not an interrogation!"
She shook a finger at them to stress her point and Shepard could not help but find her pathetic for thinking a simple gesture would sway her.
"We won't hurt him," replied Jacob, certainly the most conciliatory of the team. "We just need to see if he knows anything else. He'll be returned, unharmed."
Shepard suspected not even he believed his own words.
"Your people tried to betray us once already," added Miranda, sounding like she described a standard mercantile decision rather than an attempt to doublecross them. "If we give him to you, we'll never get the intel we need."
"Prazza was an idiot," retorted Tali with a distaste directed at both her late subordinates and her current interlocutors, "and he and his men paid for it. You're welcome to take Veetor's omni-tool data, but please. Just let me take it him."
Tali was familiar enough with Cerberus and Shepard to know not to entertain any hope that they would comply, but she had to at least try for Veetor's sake.
"No."
Tali narrowed her eyes and glared at her ex-commander who, as she had learned to expect a long time ago, displayed no sign of compassion for non-humans. Her eyes drifted to Veetor. Despite his high fever, he had understood something very unpleasant was going on but fear still had too strong a grip for him to dare to do anything.
"Take the quarian," said Shepard. "We're going."
Miranda grabbed Veetor's arm and urged him to march forwards. Shepard had barely taken a step towards the door when Tali blocked the way, both arms stretched out. Shepard narrowed her eyes.
"Out of my way."
"Over my dead body," Tali hissed as her emotions got the better of her.
Tense silence followed as they stared at one another.
Finally, Shepard smirked.
"With pleasure."
She drew her heavy pistol before anyone could react and shot three rounds in the quarian's stomach. Tali staggered backwards with a strangled choke before collapsing against the railing behind the door. Shepard then shattered her visor with a kick when she struggled to stand.
"I never liked you," she stated nonchalantly as she magnetized her gun back to her hip.
"Not bad," commented Miranda.
She shook Veetor out of his horror and forced him to accompany them. As they followed Shepard out of the control, Jacob slowed his pace and stared at Tali dejectedly.
"Don't even think about giving her Medi-gel," warned Shepard from several feet away, not even bothering to turn her head.
Jacob nodded grimly, gave one last glance at the quarian, and followed his leader.