Chapter 7: Jacob and Tali?

As you walk away from Mordin's lab and towards the elevator to your cabin you hear the Yeoman speak up again "Commander, Legion really needs to speak with you, Joker would like a word, and Jacob has been acting strange".

With hardly a nod you move right into the elevator and push the button for your cabin. A few seconds go by as you hear the whooshing sound of the elevator moving then the doors open up and you step forth to enter your cabin. As the second set of doors open you are greeted by a sight that sets your nerves on edge. Standing in the middle of your cabin is Jacob with his hands on Tali's shoulders. The jealousy was already beginning to swell within you, your hands curl up into fists even as they both turn to face you. Even as you stand on the edge of the small stairs leading down to them you feel the jealousy building, almost boiling over, it takes all of your self control to keep your voice from showing the edge that your eyes cannot hide "Jacob. Tali. Might I ask what the two of you are doing up here? Anything I need to be aware of?"

Jacob was another Cerberus operative you have to remind yourself. Despite the fact that over the last few months you had come to trust him, he was still Cerberus. His dark skin and strong jaw make him more of a trustworthy figure, especially since he is human. Still there has always been something about the way he carries himself in that Cerberus uniform that just sets the hairs on the back of your neck on edge. He might have been an Alliance soldier once, but now he was Cerberus. Tali'Zorah vas Normandy on the other hand was a Quarian, and probably the most beautiful woman you had ever laid eyes upon, human or alien. She has to live inside of an environmental suit however because of her peoples diminished immune systems after living for generations in space aboard sterile star ships. Still she decorates her environmental suit with a bit of color, purple overlays and a purple/silver designed cloth hood that drapes down and is pinned to the suit in several places. The entire getup reminds you just how feminine she really is, despite the fact that she can take apart your ships drive core with her eyes closed and put it back together better than when she took it apart.

Jacob is the first to react, raising his hands palms towards you he speaks calmly "Shepard this isn't what.." he never gets to finish his sentence.

Tali quite suddenly steps between the two of you and seems to be looking right into your soul, all of the anger seems to seep right out of you as you stare at her helmet and the soft glow of her eyes behind the faceplate. Slowly your hands unclench and Tali takes a step forward, softly speaking "Shepard... Mordin has told me many interesting things. I asked Jacob up here because I have read that human males tend to take news like this better in company. I... I think I may be pregnant Shepard." The news hits you hard, leaves you stunned for just a moment, then you smirk as your eyes start to tear up.

"Tali... oh Tali" you start to say and take a single step forward before she raises her hand to stop you.

"Shepard I can't have this baby without dying, you know I want to... to give you this but I just can't.... I asked Mordin to run some tests, make sure, I haven't done anything yet but I thought you should know. If there was anyway..... I'm sorry Shepard. You know I can't put what I want before the people of the galaxy, not with this fight coming." she says and pushes past you rushing out of the cabin and down the elevator before you can stop her. The sounds of her sobbing still echo in your ears as the hot tears start to run down your face.

Jacob slowly moves forward to try and place a hand on your shoulder "I'm sorry Commander, I tried to tell her Garrus or someone you knew better would probably help more but, Hell there's nothing right about this. You have saved more asses than anyone else in the galaxy, you shouldn't be slapped down like this. I'm sorry man, real sorry."

Nodding at Jacob you push by him and move to sit on the couch, reaching into the cabinet under the table you pull out a bottle of Krogan Ale you managed to get from the bartender on the Citadel "Well none of us ever get what we deserve they say" you hear yourself saying as you fill the two wine glasses on the table with the harsh ale "Care for a drink? It'll pickle your liver in a glass or I'm a Krogan" the sadness in your voice is unmistakeable but you raise the glass up anyway as Jacob sits across from you and picks up the other glass.

"Hell Commander, If there's anything I can do for you, you know I'll do it."

As you nod your thanks to Jacob you tap the glasses together "To the fools" you say as you down the glass in a single long gulp.

Jacob downs his glass and after a long hiss as the liquid burns down his throat picks up the bottle to refill your glass. With a smirk you notice he doesn't refill his own. "Getting weak on me Jacob?" you slur slightly and smirk at him. Lifting the glass again you eye it for a long long moment, then EDI's voice cuts in over the music that always plays in your cabin.

"Commander, the Illusive Man has grown tired of waiting for you to answer his message. You have an urgent message at your private terminal. Also Legion is on his way up, I suggest refraining from any more drink until you have spoken with him."

With a very deep sigh you place the glass back down on the counter and reach into the cabinet for a towel to dry your eyes. "Thanks for the drink Jacob, I'll drop by later to check on ya" you say with the most heartfelt thanks you can muster at the moment. Why does everything always seem to be crashing around your ears these days, first Jack and Miranda tearing up the hold, then Thane and Zaeed planning a hit, now Tali telling you she is going to abort your child. Your child! Gods and demons but you had never thought to even have a child with her much less that having one would kill her... or that she would so quickly judge it had to be destroyed. There had to be another answer! There was always another answer!

Just as you start to pick up the glass of ale again you hear Legion and Jacob talking outside your cabin. What do I care? You think as you down the glass in a single gulp "EDI open the cabin door for me. I don't feel like getting up to drag Legion's tin ass in here" A moment later the sound of Legion's feet comes to your ears and you see two Legion's standing before you "Shoulda lishtened to EDI about tha ale" you mutter as Legion stops in front of you.

"Shepard-Commander.... you are exhibiting signs of alcohol poisoning, We will take you down to Mordin for immediate treatment" Legion says just before moving over and picking you up bodily.

Smacking your lips you hang over Legion's shoulder like a sack of old potatoes and mutter "Damned geth... worsh than my mother" then all is darkness.