Chapter 9: Pura Sapiens

The entire area erupted into applause. Shepard saluted the three Presidents. The three leaders smiled. President Juarez approached Shepard and shook his hand. "You deserve this Captain. Now I thought I'd inform you that leaders from all over the galaxy are convening here on earth in a few days."

"About how to deal with the Reapers?" Shepard finished.

"Yes," he replied with a serious look. "We need you to be there. You killed two Reapers already. Your opinion will be very valued."

"I'll be there."

"Good. We'll see you then. In the meantime go enjoy yourself! This is your party!"

"Will do, Mister President!"

Shepard walked off the stage and returned to the main table where his team sat. The rest of the evening went off without incident. Again Shepard was harassed by corporate executives who wanted an endorsement. And again he and Tali danced on the dance floor. It was a magical evening for the two of them. A variety of music from different races was played. The event continued well past sunset. The full moon was high in the sky as Shepard and Tali danced. It was a moment they would forever treasure.

Unbeknown to them, a person stood in the shadows of the room, watching them. Disgust building within him. He lifted his omni-tool and hid from public sight. "Yeah, it's me." There was a pause. "Yeah, the news is accurate. We go forward with Operation Purification."

The sun rose over the horizon awakening the slumbering city. The sun's light crept through the sliding door of Shepard's and Tali's room towards their bed. Tali was on her side sleeping with her back right up against Shepard's chest. Shepard had his arm draped over her side, holding her in his sleep. The wall of sunlight reached Tali's face. The warmth of the sun caused her face to twitch. Her eyes opened briefly only to be blinded by the sun and close. She stirred in bed which caused Shepard to wake up.

"Morning," he whispered.

"Good morning," she said back. She looked out of the balcony sliding doors.

"You want to watch the sun rise?"

"Yes, I would like that."

They both got out of bed and wrapped themselves in robes that hung on a hook next to the bed. A warm breeze came in through the door as it opened. Shepard and Tali walked onto the balcony to see the sun rise up over the plains. He stood behind Tali and wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to his chest. A herd of various animals congregated at a waterhole.

"This planet is beautiful, Shepard. What are those animals?"

"The ones with the long neck are Giraffes. The large gray ones with tusks is an elephant. The four-legged black and white striped ones are Zebras. There's gazelle and a half a dozens whose name escape me."

"Thank you for bringing me here Shepard. It's breath-taking."

"The day's about to get better," he said while giving her a squeeze. "I'm taking you out for some shopping and sight-seeing. This is our leave. Time to take full advantage of it."

She smiled.

A portion of the city was cleared of civilians so Shepard and his crew could explore the city without being heckled or mobbed by crazed fans or protesters. The images of the protesters were still fresh in Shepard's and Tali's minds. They were mostly xenophobes or Terra Firma party members who argued against Shepard's multi-racial crew or his relationship. Regardless of the negativity of the news vids, they didn't let that ruin their day. They visited several stores in the morning. They stopped at a cafe that specialized in levo-amino and dextro-amino foods around noon.

"Doesn't the emptiness of these streets seem eerie to you, Shepard," she ask with serious concern.

"A little," Shepard replied. "I can understand the precaution, though."

"It just seems like a waste for them to have a section of the city sealed off to us."

The server at the restaurant came up to their table with their drinks. Just water for the two. Shepard stopped drinking any alcohol after nearly getting killed at Omega. They lifted their glasses and clang them together. "To our future together," he said in a toast.

"To our future," Tali cheered.

They drank their glasses. As soon as the glasses were placed back on the table, their vision began to blur.

"Sh-Shepard..." Tali moaned.

"I-I think our glasses were poisoned..." Shepard got out before blacking out.

Tali's last image was that of Shepard landing on the table. Her arms were weakening. Her stomach ached and her mind was getting tired. She tried to reach out to grab Shepard but she blacked out as well.

Her dreams were not of being in Shepard's arms but watching him fall into an abyss filled with Reapers. She calls out to him, desperately trying to save her love. He disappears in the darkness. Tali screamed as he vanished.

Shepard's dreamless sleep was interrupted by a punch to the face. He was shirtless and strapped to a chair. The pain surged through his face. He opened his eyes and saw a man in black stand in front of him. "It's an honor to meet you Captain Shepard."

"Who are you?" Shepard demanded in a growl. "Cerberus?"

The man pauses as if trying to figure out who he was talking about. "I'm afraid I don't know who Cerberus is."

"Then what do you want?"

"I only wish to help you with your illness."

"I'm not sick."

"You are." The man nodded to a door where a red-haired woman walked into with a medical tray. The tray had syringes and wires with medical pads on each end. The woman and man placed the pads on Shepard's skin which stuck there due to an adhesive.

The woman bent over and whispered into his ear, "We're going to make you better."

Tali jolts out of her slumber. A small amount of time passed while she was knocked out. Shepard was gone. The grogginess she felt immediately dissipated when she was griped with fear.

"Excuse me, m'am," the server said while standing behind her. "Do you need anything else?"

He was the same server who gave them their drinks. Tali launched up from her chair to her feet and screamed, "Where is Shepard!" she demanded.

"You don't remember?" he asked in shock.

"Remember what?" she growled.

"You ended up drinking a lot. I saw you got drunk and started yelling at the Captain. It looked like you said some terrible things because he looked hurt and left. You ended up passing out at the table."

Tali stared at him for a minute with a neutral look. Just as the server was turning around, Tali punched him in the stomach. He fell to his knees and landed on his side. "Where is Shepard?" she repeated.

"I don't know!"

Tali kicked him in his stomach. She pulled up her omni-tool and opened to comm. "This is Tali'Zorah to team. Shepard's and my drinks were spiked and he was taken."

There was a moment of silence before a response came. "You can't be serious!" Miranda said int the comm.

"I'm serious. I have the server who gave us the drinks. We need to interrogate him."

"We'll be right there," Jacob added.

The server tried to get back on his feet. Tali kicked him in the side and kept a foot on his chest. "You're not going anywhere, Bosh'tet."

"I don't know where Shepard is," he insisted.

"You will tell me soon enough."

The team arrived within ten minutes of the call and loaded the man into a vehicle for transport despite his protest. They took the server to a local Alliance station where he was placed in an interrogation room. Tali, Jacob, Miranda, Thane, Kaidan, Mordin and Garrus stood outside of the room. They were all dressed in their military gear. Tali was leaning against the wall, very upset and was in tears. Mordin did a scan of the glass Tali and Shepard drank from. "Hmm. Fortunate."

"What is fortunate of Shepard being kidnapped?" she cried.

"Apologies, Tali'Zorah. I did not mean to say the situation was fortunate. I was referring to the drugs the kidnappers used. They used a sedative on Shepard. What's fortunate is that they used a dextro-amino-compatible sedative for you. They could have easily gave you some of Shepard's sedative and killed you."

"I just heard!" a familiar voice called out.

The team turned to see Admiral Hackett approach them. Kaidan stood at attention. "Sir, it is good to see you again."

"Likewise, Commander. So you got the guy in there?"

"Yes," Garrus answered.

"Is it possible that Cerberus is behind this?"

"It's a possibility," Miranda replied. "We should interrogate him and find out where they took Shepard. Ideas?"

''I would suggest you and Jacob go in," Thane suggested. "One gets rough and the other acts as the sympathizer. Similar to what Shepard and I did when interrogating Kelham."

Miranda nodded to Jacob. "I'll be the bad cop," she said.

"And I'll intervene when you get too rough."

They entered the room where the server was strapped to a chair. Jacob stood next to him while Miranda stood in front of him. "I hope you realize the reality of your situation," she announced. The man was expressing a sense of fear in his eyes. "Kidnapping a Spectre. Such a crime is usually punishable by death. Usually by the Spectre who was kidnapped. I can promise that they'll go easy on you. All you need to do is tell me where you took Shepard."

"I don't-" He was interrupted by a punch to the stomach. Jacob places a hand on Miranda's shoulder to signal her to back off.

Miranda walked away, but then pivoted. "Don't fuck around with me!" she roared. "As team mates of a Spectre, we get de facto Spectre privileges. That means we can do anything to you." Dark energy surged around her hand which drew close to the man's groin. "Now unless you want your groin reduced to goo from a warp, you better start talking now!"

"Okay! Okay! I'm a member of Pura Sapiens. We kidnapped Shepard and took him to our headquarters in the basement of Will's Deli store that's just down the block from the restaurant."

"Why did you kidnap him?" Jacob demanded.

"Because he's dating a Quarian! We wanted to cure him of his sickness."

"He's not sick," Jacob yelled in the man's face.

"They are different species."

"So?"

"Let me put it this way. If he was screwing a dog, would you object?"

"That's not the same!" Miranda interjected.

"Different species, same thing! Still bestiality."

"I don't have time for this, come on Jacob. We need to find him now."

They exited the room where Tali rushed up to them. Seeing the worry on her face was new to them, so it was hard to know what to do or say. "What did he say?"

"It wasn't Cerberus," Miranda relented. "It was some group called Pura Sapiens."

"What?" Hackett screamed.

"You've heard of them?" Kaidan asked.

Hackett leaned against the wall and sighed. "They're a dangerous pro-human cult second only to Cerberus, luckily they are Earth-based and are rarely seen outside of Sol. They have been known for firebombing alien-run businesses, destroying embassies, and conversions. They probably took Shepard captive to convert him."

"Shouldn't Shepard be able to use his biotics to escape?" Thane asked.

"Pura Sapiens removes a person's bio-amp before they wake them so Shepard will not be able to pull off attacks powerful enough to make an escape."

"What do you mean conversions?" Garrus inquired. His mandibles scuttled.

"Like I said. Human purity. They kidnap people in inter-racial relationships. The human. They then use a variety of dangerous techniques to brainwash the person into hating aliens."

"How did this cult manage to sneak in this city in the sealed off area?"

"I don't know. They are crafty as they are crazy. We are going to need to find Shepard fast."

"What techniques do they use, how dangerous?" Tali choked.

"I-It's nothing to worry about now, we should go-"

"What techniques?" she cried.

Hackett stared at the shaken Quarian woman in front of him. He relented with volume of sadness, "They use electro-shock therapy and drugs to associate pain with aliens and drugs with humans. If... If they survive that process and are still unchanged, then the more devout women will... force themselves on him."

Those words struck her hard. "Oh. Oh Keelah!" She fell to her knees. Garrus ran over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Tali listen," Garrus said in a neutral tone. "We know where he is. We can't waste anymore time here. We need to get to him now!"

Tali choked and held back her tears. "You're right. Come on!"

A holoprojector was playing in front of Shepard. It played some footage of some Turians having sex. "They're not human and therefore relationship with one is unnatural!" The man yelled. He pressed a button which sent a jolt through Shepard. His muscles seized and his body burned. The electricity ended. Shepard tried to concentrate to create a warp. Dark energy was starting to form around his hand, but not fast enough to do anything of use.

"I'm sorry, Captain." The man in black smacked the back of Shepard's head. "We removed your bio-amp so you can't resist."

The holoprojector then started playing human porn. The woman took one of the syringes and injected him with morphine. The pain then disappeared. "After our treatment you will be cured and your mental illness will be gone."

"I'm not sick!" Shepard objected. He struggled with his restraints.

The man in black punched Shepard in the face. "You are! We will keep doing this over and over again until you are cured."

Salarian porn started playing on the holoscreen. Electricity ran through Shepard's body. His teeth clenched and his screams were muffled. The electricity ended. "All you're achieving is making me more pissed off at you."

"In the end you'll thank us."

"I doubt that."

The crew arrived at the deli the man mentioned. The entered inside where the clerk jumped to his feet and looked at the aliens with disgust. "No aliens allowed here. I'll accept the human crew but not the aliens." Garrus went up to him and yanked him over the counter by his collar. "Hey!"

Garrus slammed him against the wall. "Where's the entrance to your basement?" he demanded.

"I'm not letting you-" A shotgun was extended and pressed against his face.

Tali's eyes were filled with rage. "You tell us now or I'll be painting the walls with your brains."

The man soiled himself. "The hatch is behind the cash register."

Garrus released his grip. "Come on!"

Another shot of morphine went into Shepard. He couldn't even tell if he was really alive. He just experienced a cycle of pain and pleasure. Shepard couldn't even tell what was playing on the holoprojector.

"Shepard?"

"F-Fuck you," he stammered.

"Stimuli aren't working."

"Then it's time to introduce a new stimuli," the red-head suggested.

"Do it!"

The radio squawked. "We have intruders! It's his crew!"

"I'll be right there." He looked to the red-head. "You continue."

The man in black ran out of the room. The red-head looked to Shepard and licked her lips seductively. She started to unbutton her blouse while walking towards Shepard. "It's time to remind you of the natural order of things."

Pura Sapiens was more prepared than the crew expected. They had armor and weapons. Enough to slow the crew. "We need to hurry through!" Garrus yelled. "Grunt use a concussion shot on the group to the right. Jacob use pull on the ones to the left."

The group on the right was knocked down by the blast. The ones of the left were lifted into the air. Miranda used an unstable warp on them which sent them flying towards different directions in the room. Grunt charged towards the ones on the right and fired shotgun rounds into each of them before they could get up. "Weak!" he roared.

"The last room is just ahead!" Kaidan said.

A man came out from behind the door and activated some tech armor. "You will not take him back. He needs to be cured!" The man pulled out a rocket launcher from a box next to him and fired several rounds.

"Take cover!" Garrus ordered.

The crew dived behind the corner of the corridor. Garrus looked to Grunt. "If you charge him, any missile will miss you due to your speed. Knock him down."

"Right!" Grunt jumped from around the corner and charged. The man in black fired several rockets, but Grunt's speed made it impossible for the rockets to lock on. Grunt pulled out his shotgun and fired a round into the man's chest. The man's armor dissipated and he was flung into a wall knocking him unconscious.

As soon as the man was down, Tali dashed for the door. She kicked it down and saw a naked woman reaching from Shepard's pants. Tali rushed in and tackled her to the ground. "Stay away from him, you bosh'tet!" Tali turned to Shepard. He had cuts and bruises all over his face. She turned off the wires and cupped his face with her hands. "Shepard? Shepard!"

Shepard moaned and opened his eyes. "T-Tali?"

"I'm here Shepard. I'm here. Just stay with me."

"Th-Thank you for coming for me," he whispered weakly.

"You would do the same for me?" she cried out. "J-Just stay with me." Tali could hold back her tears. Shepard was so badly beaten.

"I-I love you..." he said before passing out.

"Shepard?" she shook him a little. "Shepard!" Tali placed a finger on his neck to check for a pulse. Weak, but still there. "Mordin get here now! Shepard's out!"

Mordin ran in and was followed by the others. Mordin did a scan. "Hmm. Concussions, elevated brain activity. He's borderline OD'ed. We must rush him to a med bay now!"

Garrus and Mordin struggled with his straps. Tali walked over to the woman and pointed her shotgun at her face. "I should kill you right now for trying to rape Shepard!"

"Go ahead! I'd rather be dead than live in a world with scum like you."

Tali was just about to pull the trigger when Kaidan jumped in. "Don't do it Tali! Shepard wouldn't want you to gun down unarmed prisoners. She won't be able to hurt anyone else."

Her arm shook as the decision went through her mind. Tali lowered the gun. "Consider yourself lucky."

"Unlike Shepard!" she accused. "How will you make him happy for the rest of his life? You can't bear his children! That can never happen. That's what we stand for. Only human women can give him children. You offer him nothing! Just a childless existence!"

Tali was hit hard by that comment. That thought was always in her head, but it never really came forward, until now. A mixture of anger, sorrow and self-pity filled her. "Someone get her out of here," she choked.

"You know I'm right," was the last thing she uttered before being hulled out.

Citadel Omega spun in place. Time reversed as the construct was reformed back into a dreadnaught which returned back to Citadel Alpha. Time went back further and faster until the moment before the Reapers arrival. A dreadnaught similar to Omega's emerged from the inner ring of arms. It exited the system.

Time fast forward. The ship entered a different system and started its process of transformation. Planets that surrounded it dissolved to provide the resources to this unknown Citadel.

Back at the Citadel Alpha the arms closed and the Reaper fleet emerged. The Prothean ships stood little chance to the massive fleet that came from the Citadel relay. A dozen Reapers exited the system through the relay.

The dreadnaught was slightly changed. It was starting to get the appearance of the Citadel. The relay in the system activated. Reapers emerged and came down on the Citadel. "Your attempts are futile," one of the Reapers announced. "We are assuming direct control of this station." The Reaper's eyes glowed yellow.

Shepard shook awake. He was in a hospital bed with a couple of tubes attached to his arm. Tali was sitting next to him, fast asleep. Shepard reached out and grabbed her hand. She was awakened and looked to Shepard. "Shepard!" Tali got off of the chair and hugged him. "I'm so glad you're okay." Tears ran down her face.

"Hey, hey," he cooed. He held her chin and looked her in the eyes. "Come here." They kissed. When they pulled away he had a look of sadness befall his face. "I'm sorry we can't seem to have a few days to ourselves without some problem arising."

Tali choked. "Please don't apologize. This isn't your fault. That stupid Pura Sapiens group nearly killed you trying to get you to hate me. And that woman nearly raped you."

Shepard pulled her close for another hug. "Thank you for coming for me."

"I'd do anything for you," she whispered.

Shepard caught something in her eyes when she said that. "Is something wrong?"

"N-No..."

"Tali, I know when something is bothering you. Please. I'm here for you." He held her hands gently.

Tears came down her cheeks. "I-It was just something the woman said to me that hurt me. She said that that you'll never be happy because I can't give you children." She choked. "And she's right." Tali slowly pulled her hands away and placed them on her stomach. "I'll never be able to give you children." She broke down and cupped her face with both of her hands and cried.

Despite the pain he was feeling, Shepard sat up and grabbed Tali in a hug. She placed her head on his shoulder. "Tali..." he whispered. Tali looked up and saw him looking at her lovingly. "Just because we can't conceive a child doesn't mean we can't be a family." He placed extra emphasis over the next few words. "There is nothing wrong with adoption." He kissed her on her forehead. Her tears stopped. "You of all people should know that family ties go much deeper than blood. You consider the Flotilla your family. I was given legal guardians when my family we're... taken from me. I considered them family." Shepard stroked her cheek. A tear rolled out from his non-bruised eye. "We'll still have kids, Tali. They may not be related to us, but they will still be our children. Our family."

Tali didn't realize that Shepard thought so far ahead. "I love you so much!" She lunged forward and held him tight. Shepard moved over on the bed a bit to allow Tali to lie down next to him. She did not release her grip during the movement.

"Tali... I was going to say this yesterday, but then, well... The day did not go well." He looked her in the eyes. "After the Reaper mess is done... Will you marry me?"

She gasped and did not give her answer a second thought. "Yes! Oh Keelah, yes!" Tali moved forward and kissed him passionately. Just one thought ran through her mind. We're going to be a family.