Chapter 7: Ships, a girl's best friend
After Kaiden finished his story, Tali was dumbfounded, she couldn't believe a superior officer would do that to people he was responsible for. Back on the fleet, if captain or admiral did what he did they would be exiled. Tali weren't a cruel or violent person, but to her, what Yousuf did to Shepherd and Kaiden he deserved it tenfold. "Did they know what made him snap?" she asked. Shepherd came out and sighed, Tali and Kaiden jumped when they saw him. 'He must have overheard' she said nervously.
"Wayne, so you were listening in?" Kaiden asked.
Shepherd crossed his arms. "You guys were speaking so loud, how could I not" he then looked at Tali. "Especially the rookie"
Tali huffed. "I'm not that loud" she said annoyed. "Are you going to answer my question?"
"The autopsy revealed that the dumbass' system was flooded with red sand" he said calmly. Tali had heard about red sand, it was a drug, mostly used by biotics like the asari, because it temporarily booted biotics. She had heard about the side effects of red sand, but it was physical, not mental. Tali looked at Shepherd perplexed, waiting for him to explain. "Red sand is different with human, than with asari, or other races, we don't suffer the physical effects, because our immune systems, but it causes increased aggression, paranoia, and through extended use, psychosis, which is why it is illegal to sell red sand to humans in Citadel Space." He explained. 'It makes since, considering human have the third strongest immune system after vorcha and Krogan, they're so lucky they don't have to die from a small scratch' Tali thought sadly. Shepherd interrupted her thoughts. "Hackett called, he wants us to look for a missing recon team in the Sparta System" He said leaving.
"Wait, what about Saren?" Tali asked.
Shepherd looked back. "Hackett said we'll get info when they know something, for now just stand by" Shepherd left Tali and Kaiden.
Kaiden shrugged his shoulders. "I guess we'll just relax until then, you may want to check with the Gunnery Chief for your weapons and equipment." He said also leaving.
Tali grabbed his arms. "Kaiden where is engineering? I really want to work on this ship's engines."
Kaiden chucked. "It's on the way to the Gunnery Chief, just go behind the elevator and you're there, just remember you have to take the elevator first." He said waving goodbye. Tali went on her way, exploring the ship as went to the chief. She was really amazed, at the ship; it was marvel in not just, beauty, but its technology. 'I can't wait to dive into the systems; I hope this Gunnery Chief is a fast talker' she thought excitedly. Before going down, she checked in the resident medic, Dr. Karin Chakwas for a check-up. 'Better safe than sorry, something tells me I will be seeing her lot often' she was pleasantly surprised at the amount of knowledge, the good doctor showed, about Quarian physiology. 'Considering how similar Quarians and humans are, it shouldn't be a surprised'
Tali met the Gunnery Chief, Ashley Williams, she knew humans were bigger than Quarians, but Williams' size was downright intimating to the young engineer. "Hello Chief Williams, I'm here about my weapons and equipment" She greeted. The human looked at Tali, but show her the equipment and weapons and how to use some of the human equipment. Ashley was difficult at first, but eventually she warmed up to the young Quarian. Tali liked her, she was a strong woman, but she had sinking feeling that she didn't like aliens as was looking over the turian and krogan, she was suspicious of Wrex and Garrus. 'She seems to be a little prejudiced like the other humans, but hers seems forced, like it was personal, I wonder what happened with her?' she thought. She hoped Shepherd would help her. She waved goodbye to Ashley, and she nodded in response. She made her way to engineering.
"Wow, this is...Wow" was all she could say. Tali's jaw dropped when she saw the absolutely colossal drive core of the Normandy. 'Keelah! How is it possible that such a large drive core can fit in a ship this small, the power draw must crazy!' Tali thought to herself as she quickly walked over to the railing at the end of the room to get a closer look at it. "This is amazing! I've never seen a drive core like this! "Tali eagerly exclaimed looking over the details of the drive core, "I had no idea Alliance ships were so advanced!" Tali was glad for the mask, it would be hard to explain her drooling over the core. "I must know how this work, I won't be able to sleep if I don't!" she said excitably bouncing on her toes.
"The Tantalus drive generates mass concentrations that the Normandy "falls into", allowing her to move without the use of heat-emitting thrusters. The core not only makes the Normandy quiet and fast, but means she can run at FTL speeds for longer before having to discharge the drive.," a voice said from the behind. Tali jumped and turned around, it was an older human. 'Must be the chief engineer' she thought. The human smiled and extended his hand. 'Human hands look so strange. How do they keep track of all those fingers? Evolution is weird' she thought examining the human's shook his hand, it wasn't a common gesture in Quarian culture, so seemed strange, but she thought to make a good impression. "The name is Greg Adams, chief engineer of the Normandy, you are?" he greeted.
"Tali'Zorah nar Rayya, but please just Tali" She said. "If it's okay, I would like to work with you down here"
Adams raised a brow "You any good? I don't just let anyone work on this baby." He said. Tali just smirked as her chest puffed out proudly, if there was one thing she was sure about it was her engineering skills, all quarians were required to work on the engines of the fleets ships, but with her she was the best, even among her people.
"Give me some scrap metal, a circuit board, and some element zero, and I'll have it dancing and making precision jumps." She said with pride. Adams whistled and pulls up a terminal for her to prove it. Tali soon got to work, after a little over two hours, she stepped away and let Adams check her work. Adams blinked, he couldn't believe his eyes; the board was reading fifty percent improvements across. "Well?!" she said excitedly bouncing on her toes.
"I have to say, it's looking damned impressive, if Shepherd oks it, you got the job." He said smiling before adding, "Well speak of the devil." Shepherd came in and greeted Adams, and 'Rookie', she had to admit Shepherd's pet name for her was starting to grow on her, although, she wasn't going to give up getting him to say her name full-time. "Hey Shepherd, amazing little thing you recruited, I wish my guys were half as smart as she is! And twice as fast! You got to let me have her on my team." He said.
Shepherd looked at Tali, and smirked. "So the rookie has other talents, besides getting shot at, good to know" he teased. '
Tali huffed at that 'Of course I do, you bosh'tet!, he just love getting under my skin' she thought. She had caught herself blushing again, it was so infuriating, and why does this happen when he's around? 'He's an idiotic rude bosh'tet, he says a couple of nice words, and I'm blushing like a moron. Why am I still dwelling on that?' She shook her head waiting for his answer. "Sure why not, if she can handle that and being on the ground team, then I have no problems." He said simply before adding, "Now get to your stations we're leaving for the Sparta System." As Shepherd left, Tali thanked him for this opportunity.
Shepherd looked back at her. "No problem, Tali" he said with a smile.
Tali blinked at that, for the first time since they met he called her by her name. "What did you call me?"
Shepherd smirked. "Tali that is your name, right?" he asked. "See you later"
Tali blushed and just waved. "Bye…."
