Whew! Lots of time and work, and I'm finally back on top of this thing! I edited in a past romantic history between Shepard and Tali to give some flavor later on (there is a method to my madness). Enjoy and review!
Note: The more specific your reviews are, the better I'll do in the future! Constructive criticism welcome.
Chapter One: Interest and Infiltration
Captain's Cabin
Six months. Shepard thought. Has it really been that long? The commander watched the exotic fish dance in the glowing tank that served as a wall. He envied their simple lives, just going day-to-day without all the worries that plagued him. A beep from his terminal alerted to something or other important, who knows. Shepard didn't care at this point. Six hours of reading those reports was more than enough. He flopped down on his plush bed and let the softness soak up all the strain he felt. It felt so good just to lay down. But it brought back pleasant memories. They were just that though: memories. Memories of what he let slip away.
He sat up and stared blankly a the models held in the case above his desk. One stood out in particular: the Normandy SR1. He tried not to think about that ship. A lot of good people were lost. And time. So much time. Shepard reached into the lowest drawer in his nightstand and pulled out a small, charred piece of metal. On the metal, barely legible, was the phrase "keelah se'lia" burnt into the plating. Every time he looked at it, it reminded him of when Tali tried to teach him to write it out. When he finally got it, he burnt it into the plating by his bunk with an old blowtorch and some scrap.
"You seriously melted it into your wall!?" The quarian woman giggled. "I can't believe you did that."
The proud commander stood up straighter, giving off an air of confidence. "Of course. This way I'll never forget." He grinned widely.
"It looks terrible." Tali said, her smile almost hiding those glowing eyes. "You wrote that letter wrong. It now says keelah se'reh." She chuckled again.
Shepard knelt down and looked closely at it. "What does that mean?" He asked, observing the fused metal.
"I believe you called my planet a garbage dump." She said, finally suppressing her laughter. Tali wrapped her arms around him and squeezed. "But I still appreciate the effort."
Shepard, however, was not convinced. He retrieved the torch and the left over scrap to fix it. The items were quickly removed from his hands and wielded by the young quarian.
"I think it's best if I fix it. I wouldn't want you accidentally insulting your mother, would I?" When she was done, it read properly, even hiding the old mistakes. "There."
"Good. I guess I should reward you somehow." The commander teased, playfully pulling the young quarian with him onto the bed. He made sure she was beneath him and looking right into his eyes.
Tali kept an innocent tone. "What could you possibly mean, Captain? You wouldn't take advantage of a young girl far from home, would you?" She gripped his waist tightly, pulling him down over her. Or rather, trying to.
"No," was the response. "But I might try to make my girl squeal in that cute way she does." With that, he fingered the latch contact on her faceplate and was rewarded with a slight hiss. Underneath, the woman's beautiful lips beckoned him in.
"That was a long time ago." The commander dropped the chunk of metal back into the drawer and closed it with soft thud. The only thing that pained him more was knowing that same girl he had once been so intimate with was aboard now, and he could barely talk to her about anything other than business. Even when he defended her at the trial and held her when she found her father dead, Shepard felt out of place. Like that was meant for another time. "I need some air."
CIC
Shepard strode out of the now vacant elevator onto the busy deck. Casually, he made his way toward the cockpit, looking about at the activities around him as he moved along. Upon reaching his destination, Shepard leaned lazily against the bulkhead behind Joker's chair.
"Joker, how are you holding up?" Shepard asked.
Joker turned his chair around to face the commander. "Can't complain. Though I am a little nervous about going near a Reaper, derelict or not."
"Don't worry, I'll make sure you don't get too hurt." Shepard smirked at his friend.
Joker shook his head and adjusted his ball cap. With a smile, Joker said, "Just don't get –this- Normandy destroyed. And make sure you get back too."
Edi sparked on just then, filling the cockpit with a calm, blue light. "Mr. Moreau, Commander Shepard has no way to control whether or not this ship or he is destroyed."
Before Joker could respond, Shepard said, "She got you there, Jeff." Turning quickly, Shepard made his way back to the elevator. From behind him, he heard Joker swear at EDI quietly.
"Commander," Shepard heard from behind him. Damn, almost made it. Shepard turned to face Kelly.
"Yes, Kelly?"
"Tali wanted to speak with you down in engineering. It sounded important."
"Thank you, Kelly. As you were." Shepard turned back to the elevator and entered its open doors.
"Aye, Commander."
Shepard relaxed once he was in the elevator. It had been a tough day. Everyone was getting prepared for whatever contingency might occur. The tension was so thick, it was palpable. Leaning against the back rail, Shepard couldn't help but think back to his time on the SR1 with her. That was a long time ago. He thought sadly.
Engineering
"What's wrong with her?" Donnelly said quietly to his fellow engineer, Gabby Daniels.
"Quiet, Kenneth! She can probably hear you!" Daniels hissed.
"What?" Donnelly's thick Scottish accent almost absurdly lacing his words. "Do you think I deserved that chewing out?"
"Kenneth, if she hears you, then we'll both be in trouble!"
"She may not be able to hear you, but I can." Shepard's voice rang out, startling the two.
"Sorry, sir." Daniels said. "We'll get right back to work." Both she and Donnelly saluted and turned back to their consoles.
Shepard turned away from them and strode over to Tali, who was busy at her own console. Shepard could almost taste the frustration around her. "You wanted to see me, Tali?" He said quietly, trying not to startle her.
Tali whipped around, almost slamming into Shepard. "What? Oh…right, yes. Let me just…" She started fiddling with her omnitool. "Come on you little bosh'tet!" She exclaimed. "Oh, sorry. I have a small fever and I'm taking it out on the drive core."
"And her subordinates."
Shepard and Tali heard Donnelly's remark and turned to look at him. Gabby them smacked him furiously upside the head.
"Shut up, Kenneth!" Daniels yelled.
Turning back to Tali, Shepard asked, "Do you need help or time to rest?" He took a baby step closer to her.
Seeing the look of worry across his face, Tali replied, "It's not that bad. If a stray bit of bacteria could kill us, we'd all have died by now. It won't affect my performance."
Shepard nodded solemnly. "That's good. I don't know if I could live in a suit my whole life.
Tali gave an amused snort. "You'd probably never survive." She teased.
"Maybe." Shepard smiled, but it was short lived. "Do you ever... Do you ever think about what happened on the first Normandy. With us?" He reached a hand and touched her arm gingerly. She drew back at first but relaxed quickly.
"I try not to think about it. In case you don't still want what we had" She was wringing her hands as she always did when nervous. This was a difficult subject for her.
Shepard took another step, now only a few inches from her. "And what if I said I did?" He was stroking her arm gently now, causing her to release a tender purr at his touch.
She took the step whis time, his face mere centimeters away from hers. "I-I don't know. I never thought you would." She reached up to touch his face, stroking the growing stubble on his scarred chin. "We should talk later. I have to get back to work. And there are some things to think about." Reluctantly, she backed off and turned to her display
Shepard slowly walked out of the engineering bay, uneager to leave. Halfway through the door, he stopped and turned his head, as much as he could, back to face Tali. "I thought you had to get back to work." He said and continued his way out.
Tali turned back around to her console swiftly. She was thankful that her mask hid her blushing face.
Captain's Quarters
Shepard was sitting on his couch, gazing at the screen of the datatpad. A yawn escaped his mouth. First it was a small, short yawn; however, it grew into a body-covering, all-or-nothing yawn. He rubbed his weary, bloodshot eyes.
"Commander," he heard over the intercom. "ETA four hours to the Derelict Reaper." Joker's voice blared.
Shepard let out his breath and put the pad down. Laying back, he closed his eyes and hoped for a short nap.
"Commander Shepard, Tali'Zorah is on the elevator to your quarters. Shall I let her in or inform her that you are resting?" EDI's voice said.
"Let her in, EDI. A few minutes more of wakefulness won't hurt."
"As you wish, Commander."
The doors opened into his cabin. Tali stepped in cautiously and made her way to the couch. She stood on the other side of the table from Shepard, her hands in front of her fidgeting. She stood there for awhile, not saying anything. Shepard decided that he should start them off.
"You can sit if you want to." He told her, motioning to the place on the couch next to him."
Nodding, she sat down on the couch, her eyes never leaving the floor. After another wait, shorter this time, she said, "Garrus told me that you were taking him and Grunt over to the Reaper."
"That's right." Shepard confirmed. "Is there a problem?"
Tali looked at Shepard for a minute, then she looked back down to the floor. "I… I wanted to tell you to…. To come back safely." She continued to stare at the floor.
Shepard smiled and put his hand on hers. "I'll make sure I do, Tali. Trust me." He squeezed her hand gently.
She looked at him. Although he couldn't see through her mask, he had the impression that she was crying. Shepard moved closer to her and put his arm around her. Tali didn't say anything after that, and she didn't move away. She leaned in closer to him.
It was hard for Shepard not to ask her. Not to push But her knew that she would talk about them when she was then, he'd just have to be happy with their little moments.
"I don't want to lose you again." She said quietly.
Shepard rested his head on hers. She moved her left arm over to hold onto his right arm and grasped his hand with her left. For a moment, they just sat there, not moving or saying anything. Tali tried to move away, but Shepard wouldn't let go. It was then that she heard a light snoring coming from his mouth. Behind her mask, she beamed.
"Rest well, Shepard."
Captain's Quarters, almost four hours later
"Commander, we've reached the Reaper. Garrus and Grunt are waiting for you." Joker waited for a minute then tried again. "Commander, can you hear me?"
"He's putting on his armor now, Joker. Tell Garrus and Grunt that he'll be there in a second." Tali's voice came over the comm.
Joker tilted his head in confusion. He looked at his terminal again. It showed that he paged the Captain's Quarters. Joker's smile covered his face.
"Did I interrupt anything? Please tell me I did." Joker said.
"Joker, shut up and tell Garrus and Grunt to hold on." Shepard's voice shot over the comm., startling Joker.
"Aye, Commander. Sorry."
Derelict Reaper
"Garrus, cover me!" Grunt shouted. Grunt charged the Scion in front of him, knocking it off the platform. Garrus took out the husks as Grunt charged.
"Shepard, another one, 3 o'clock!" Garrus yelled. A shot rang out. The Scion staggered before exploding and falling onto a husk in front of it, crushing the husk. "Good shooting."
"Not and good as this." Shepard said. Another shot was fired, piercing one husk then continuing through three others behind it. Shepard reloaded his sniper rifle and took aim again. "Grunt, duck."
The krogan sidestepped, avoiding a husk that was later beheaded by the shell from Shepard's rifle.
"Looks like that's the last of them." Garrus stated, looking around.
"Good work, Shepard." Grunt said as Shepard walked up to the pair.
Shepard nodded then pointed to a structure at the end of the room. "Recognize those, Garrus?" He said.
"Dragon's teeth." Garrus said, following Shepard's finger. "Guess that would explain all the husks."
"So the husks were Reaper technology all along. Come on, we need to get that IFF." Shepard holstered his sniper rifle and drew his Pulse Rifle. Warily, they charged into the next room. Shepard looked around but saw no husks. Waving his team to spread out, they moved about the platform, ready for anything. A sniper shot blew away a husk that was sneaking up on Shepard.
"What the…!" he shouted. When he looked up, he saw a geth atop some containers.
"Shepard-Commander." It said, then disappeared as husks began to crawl onto the platform.
"Shepard, behind you!" Garrus yelled to his distracted friend.
Shepard dove and flipped on his back, putting his Pulse Rifle to his eye and blowing the husk into chunks. Getting up, he slammed the butt of his rifle into another husk's face then shot it with his pistol.
"I am Krogan!" Grunt shouted, he picked up a husk and threw it into a group of the things coming at them. With a shotgun blast, he butchered three of the oncoming horde.
"They don't stand a chance." Garrus said as he emptied his battle rifle's clip into the mass, downing at least five of them.
"That the best you got?" Shepard yelled to Garrus. Kneeling, he launched a concussive blast into the crowd, scattering the lot of them. "Let's see, now that's, what, ten to fifteen of them?" Shepard stood, his face alight with a boyish grin.
Garrus shook his head, laughing. "I beat you when it comes to getting the ladies, so I guess it's only fair that you should beat me when it comes to this." Garrus walked over to Shepard and patted his back. He leaned in, mouth near Shepard's ear. "Speaking of women, how are things with Tali?"
"What! How…When…Huh?" Shepard started. He whispered hurriedly. "We'll talk about that later, okay?"
Garrus laughed and walked on. Shepard sighed, dropping his head and shaking it slowly. Joker. I need to have a chat with him when we get back. Shepard followed Garrus, Grunt falling behind the two. Shepard moved ahead and Garrus, who took a sniper position over a lower platform, set up for another wave. Grunt followed Shepard, staying close to his side.
"There are more, Shepard. I know it." Grunt growled. Shepard nodded and moved close to the edge.
A husk shot over the edge, grabbing onto Shepard's arm and began clawing his armor. One scrape hit Shepard on his cheek. Shepard shot the husk in the gut twice, then thrice, then a fourth time before it released it's hold. Grunt was getting swarmed, but his shotgun took down enough that he could handle himself. Garrus picked away at the husks climbing onto the platform. Shepard rallied to Grunt and helped him eliminate the remaining husks.
Lowering himself onto a ramp, Shepard felt his face for the wound. "Well, that was fun." He said, discovering that it was bleeding. "I'm wearing a helmet from now on."
Garrus chuckled. "Hiding your face won't make you any prettier." Garrus looked at the scratch. "Considering you came back from the dead, I'd say that wound is quite minor."
"I think the best action is to hurry out of this place. Run and gun. Understand?" Shepard said.
"That means I won't even get to see my foes crumple to the ground." Grunt stated, banging his fists together, garnering a look from Shepard. "I will do as you say."
Garrus just nodded and grabbed his battle rifle. Checking the heat sink, he slapped it a couple times to make sure it was in properly.
"Let's move out." Shepard ordered.
The group charged through the husks, only stopping for brief bouts with Scions. When they made it to the door, behind them was a trail of bodies, blood, and spent clips. Shepard got the door open while Garrus and Grunt covered him. The trio downed five more husks before they closed the large metal door. Glad for a chance to rest, they sat down for a second. Grunt was the first up, Shepard next, Garrus finally standing last. They opened the door to the core to see the geth standing by the console. The geth stopped to take down a couple husks before lowering the screen in front of the team. One husk slipped by, though, and deactivated the geth shortly after it lowered the screen.
"Alright, time to take the core out." Shepard said, reaching for his heavy weapon. Hefting it up, he took aim.
"Uh, Shepard. What is that?" Garrus asked.
"This? The M-920. Cain. Stand back, this might hurt." Shepard waited for the gate to the core to open and fired. With that one shot, the core started making a terrible noise and small explosions started within it.
"We should go." Grunt pointed out, a hint of worry in his voice.
"Get that geth first. He may know something." Shepard ordered. As he and Garrus lifted the geth up, they were set on by more husks. Grunt held them back as Shepard and Garrus lugged their heavy cargo. After leaving the room, Garrus grabbed the IFF and ran ahead to open the door in front of them.
"Joker, pick up, now!" Shepard shouted into his commlink.
"Already standing by, Commander." Was the reply.
Cutting a swath through the coming hordes of husks, Grunt sustained few injuries. Garrus and Shepard lifted the geth onto the ship and helped Grunt board. With lightning speed, they flew away from the exploding Reaper.
"Commander, everything alri….." Joker stopped mid-sentence. "Geth." He said, looking at the crumpled mass of machinery.
"Can you two take care of the geth?" Shepard asked Grunt and Garrus. They both nodded and began moving to the elevator. Shepard turned back to Joker. "You and I need to talk." He said.
"Is it about making your computer's screensaver a picture of Grunt that says I love you?" Joker asked.
"You did what?" Shepard exclaimed.
"Nothing. What did we need to talk about?" Joker smiled, cautious of revealing more.
Shepard shook his head. "Who told Garrus about Tali being in my room?" Shepard asked, trying to get the thought of the screensaver out of his head. That's just awkward. He thought to himself.
"Well, when you were late, he asked what you were doing. I didn't think it was that big of a deal." Joker shrugged.
Shepard bit the inside of his cheek. "Fine, you're off the hook. For now." Shepard started to walk away, but turned back before he got too far. Facing Joker and standing about three meters away, he said, very loudly, "Oh, and stay away from my private terminal or I'll tell everyone about that dance you were doing last night after third shift." Shepard watched Joker's face turn bright red as everyone's eyes on the CIC began to turn to him, expecting to see or hear something. Joker turned back to the piloting controls. Shepard headed for the elevator and went up to his cabin. He was having trouble getting Tali out of his head though. Maybe he should go talk to her.