Really short chapter this one. I'm hoping to get them longer once the story starts really getting under way.
They made their way slowly down to the Engineering Deck, and were greeted by an enthusiastic Tali. She was crouched over the floor with Mira near the Mass Effect Core, with a small model of a ship (Shepard noted it was a quarian ship, the model much like the ones she collected up in her own quarters). Mira was examining the ship all over, while Tali pointed out its features, and what they were used for, and describing how the ship was able to fly. Mira was very interested, not only by the model ship, but also the pulsating Core nearby.
"Shepard, you won't believe this, but she's already figured out how to build that ship model. From scratch. With no instructions."
Shepard ambled over, leaning against the wall for extra support as she gazed down at the two on the floor. Garrus followed her over.
"That's… something. With no help, at all?" Garrus interjected, rather astonished.
The quarian nodded.
"She studied the parts for a while individually, but then she just… did it. I've constructed this model several times myself, and she's at least as quick as me, even with my knowledge of ship parts." She paused, leaning backward slightly while she sat. "I admit, I'm slightly jealous of her."
"I told you she has talent."
"I've never seen anything like this, from one so young. Imagine where she could go…" She trailed off, looking down at Mira, who was fiddling with the miniature Thruster models, presumably aligning them for a perfect backward trajectory. "Can I keep teaching her?"
Shepard nodded. "For the time being, I think it's best if she stayed with us. Until we… know more about her."
"Know what exactly?"
"That's what we came to see you about," Garrus said, striding forward and holding out the datapad he'd been holding for Shepard. "I found some information in the Lab which Shepard and I think might be connected to Mira."
Tali took it from him, examining it silently.
"Can you interpret it?" Shepard asked from over near the wall.
"I think so. It shouldn't be too difficult. It's not encrypted, it's just written in the Geth language."
"How long will it take?" Shepard asked.
"I'm not sure. There's quite a lot of material here. You could get Legion to interpret it, would be much faster."
"I'd prefer you for the moment. Legion is in constant communication with the other Geth. Even if the group at the facility were Heretics, there might be data on that which might prove dangerous to Mira if they knew she was here," Shepard responded.
Tali nodded. "Fair enough. I'll get right on it."
"Thanks Tali. Hopefully it's nothing serious."
Tali looked from Mira back to the datapad. "I hope so too. Nothing's ever certain, with Geth."
Shepard and Garrus left engineering shortly after, returning up to Shepard's quarters. She hit the button to feed the fish before lowering herself carefully onto the end of the bed, leaning the crutches against the wall. Garrus noticed her face as she took so much effort to manoeuvre, and he couldn't help but come over and help. She looked up at him.
"I'm fine, really, Garrus."
He stood back, giving her some space, watching her all the while.
"Sorry Shepard. It just looks so… bulky and awkward."
She grinned, lifting the heavy cast around to the side of the bed.
"It's dreadful. But it's a whole heap better than being dead."
Garrus sat down beside her on the edge of the bed, his mandibles twitching slightly. His eyes never left her, and she detected that same relief she had seen earlier. He dipped his head, looking at the ground.
"Yeah… I don't know what I would have done if you'd… After the Geth were gone and there was nothing left to… I didn't want to believe you were gone." He stared at the floor for a few long moments while she observed him. He shook his head, grinning. "You know, even after you'd fallen I tried to reach your comm all night."
Shepard's mouth curled into a grin as well. "I tried reaching yours too. Maybe not all night, though."
She reached into her pocket, expecting to find her busted comm. device. Instead she found it wasn't there. She looked down at her empty pocket.
"Huh?"
"Shepard?"
She shook her head. "It's nothing. I've just lost my busted comm."
"I'll get you a new fall-proof one."
She looked up and chuckled, and he did too. Her smile lingered as she noted the sad-and-relieved look in his eyes had been replaced with happiness and contentment.
"You know, I'm this close to making sure you never go on another dangerous mission," Garrus stated, raising two talons on one hand a tiny distance apart, still smiling.
"That might prove to be even more dangerous than you think," Shepard grinned. "For both you and me."
"At least I wouldn't have to worry so much."
Shepard looked at him, her happy smile quickly going neutral.
"I don't want you to ever worry about me. I'm happy no matter what happens, as long as we're a team."
"That still won't stop me worrying."
"You worry too much, Garrus."
They both had a good chuckle at that one.
