Mass Effect: Sacrificial Symptom

by Pakkrat

She was Quarian. It was Geth. They were part of two halves from one world. Sadly life on the Normandy is cruel. Everyone must make a sacrifice. Yet was it going to just be their lives or happiness? Between ME2 and ME3, may be alternate time? Tali/Legion.

10. Chapter 10

Mass Effect: Sacrificial Symptom

Disclaimer: I do not own or have any rights to representation of Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, EA Games and any other mass media trademarks within this fiction. All is represented within the context of private entertainment and the exchange of free ideals/entertainment. No attempts to falsely render said persons or members, fictitious or otherwise were intentional.

Note: No I did not stop writing merely been preparing for Mass Effect 3... In spades. So those in ponder, I am working at it BIG time. After obtaining all the achievements for ME1, and ME2, it's going to be amazing to try once more a final time. Another thing is the length of this chapter, seeing I spent all my free time either playing ME1-2, and Kingdoms of Amalur, it was not hard to imagine the level of distraction, here. I finished though and here it is more to come. This chapter plays on Zaeed one of the few that dislikes the Geth, Jacob second but Jacob plays well with others. Zaeed does not.

~~~~~~ Chapter 10: Definition: Sacrificial Symptom~~~~~~

The conference room was lighting up as Shepard walked in to the already talking team. Mordin, head scientist was involved. With him was Dr. Chakwas, medical expert. Jacob and Miranda were the common figure heads to Cerberus activities. However, the only odd addition was the Quarian Marine, Kal-Reeger. Kal, was here for a few reasons but mostly the insight of later and some other previous events. Shepard understood the importance of talking out these kind of events. Especially, since a long overdue summing of the problems was obviously necessary.

When Shepard looked at everyone assembled, his own reaction was simple. He was annoyed. Not at them, or the amount of time they had all spent studying over events, records and data. It was the fact he already knew that what he's doing might just be a waste, as all the info he saw was somewhat useless. Even so, he had to have the meeting.

"Edi?" Shepard turned up to the sound of the AI turning on. "Do you know how long until we reach Flotilla space?"

EDI told them, in a swift response. "The Flotilla has been in orbit of a large red giant most likely re-fuelling a number of solar based batteries and other such secondary energy conserving use devices. As well gathering gaseous emissions and deposits from neighboring gas giants while in orbit. They are near one of the most used Mass Effect Gates there are in that area. When we pass the next array, we should be immediately in Flotilla space."

Before he can ask, she finally answered. "It will be in thirty minutes, Shepard."

"Thank you Edi." As the AI closed, he asked, "Which means we have 30 minutes to review before Kal-Reeger returns to the Flotilla. So what, can we say about the information we gathered?"

Miranda gave something of a worried frown. She never liked not having enough answers. "I'm going to have to say very little. What I found were mostly data logs on numerous transports into the station. Resource logs from unmarked mining facilities. Three of them I can gather?"

Jacob's eyes turn on Miranda, and he asks, "Did you say three? I found about the same. Except, one went quiet a few weeks back. That was sort of what I was going to ask." Miranda would ask why, but he explained with his tapping on his Omni-tool, "The shipping logs I reviewed were the latest ones. I sort of dumped the old ones on Miranda who got stuck with files resulting in old, old transmissions. Recently, maybe a little over a week ago? One of the transport stations went dead. I found it odd, but I didn't know if it would help?"

Shepard wondered though, with something of a raise of his brow, "Why wouldn't that help? It lowers our search and even raises the question what happened?"

"Well Commander. From all the information I read? There are no logs where the stations are. Better yet? The only name I got was Triumvirate-A, Triumvirate-B and Triumvirate-C. It seems Triumvirate-C was the one that closed down, not sure why."

Miranda seemed a bit edgy. "That's the same stations…" looking at her tool, she only turned up to Shepard after referencing something specific. "What's worse? A majority of the resources they were taking on were coming from these places, Shepard. Nearly around 96 percent. What's better is from the numbers, it's just impossible to believe what is being logged. Some of these mining operations were returning planet loads of materials. Platinum, Iridium and more. I can not even understand how they gathered this much let alone from only three stations."

"Two." Jacob reminds, with his fingers even raised as a reminder. "Which even worse than that. Those two stations seemed to pick up in production. These numbers don't make sense, but inside there? I can imagine they had years of supplies to make not only enough firepower, Geth and ships to perhaps take on the Citadel and one day maybe just the Reapers. Reports even imply there were other housing facilities like the one we found."

After this, Shepard held his nose from the brim. Then he asked, "What do we know then? That Jacohbe is an unknown alien life form, from a unseen parallel dimension which made a deal with the Reapers to be immortal. To house himself in a Reaper, Apex. He joined the Reapers with the goal of actually betraying them? If that's the case…" Shepard now thought, rather obviously. "How do we know that Apex was not using Reaper resources? Maybe, stealing from their own stockpiles some where?"

Mordin now interjects, "Even if that is the most feasible, it is not logical. Apex, Jacohbe… it. Apex is better, Apex?" He started again now, smiling at the fact he was in such a conundrum to a name. "Apex, would not chance his attempt at rebellion on the matter of resource theft. True, he was gathering these resources in an attempt to actually destroy the reapers and to assist his own means. However, Apex was a coward willing to sacrifice his own kind for immortality. He does not have a will or desire to chance his survival by directly interjecting possible suspicion."

"Then what is it?" Shepard asked, as he leaned forward onto the side of the table. Now, he asked as he saw the data being displayed over the many various sections he hunched over, "What is it that Apex was doing? Where was he getting all these resources to make his army? If not from theft, and battling Geth? Where else could he get this kind of an edge against the Reapers? An edge we could use."

Mordin seemed to shake his head, and offer a slight indignation. "Even if we learned the truth it may not be of use. Every thing given is taken from another place. Where this Apex is taking it may result in terrible conditions and offer less resolve and only greater dangers for those here. Only after we learn the truth, should you seek that option."

Shepard looked a bit discerned though. It was obvious to all his only real wish was to be ready, and seeing that the Reapers are coming? They needed any break they can get. However, the Commander gave a confidant grin before nodding back. "Okay, Modin? What about the medical records? The ones Thane gathered off that dead… thing, before?"

Miranda however jumped back in. The female operative states, "Not so fast Shepard. There was something else that I have to mention. Some of these older stock files recorded an extremely large collection of a unknown, unclassified resource. It only was harvested every so often, and these logs don't even tell how much as so much a shift in operations."

Jacob seemed a bit confused. Tapping on his device he asks, "What are you talking about? I never saw this?"

"Like I said. It only happened at certain times." She lowered her head now wondering, "Wait? What if the Triumvirate are moving mining facilities? These resources could be unexplored places in the universe. Or, what if…"

Shepard suddenly raised his hand, saying. "Everyone, speculation is not going to help anything. I know it was a lot to read on but just stay to the facts. Mordin?" That was the best person for this. Mordin knew his facts, even if it was usually seven for one question.

However, Mordin simply looked up to tell Shepard. "Actually, at this time? I have nothing to add."

"What?" Shepard leaned in, dumbfounded. "Mordin, you always have something to add! You're my best information person."

"Correction, Shepard. I'm the best analysis person. Not information." The Salarian began to explain. "While I have been studying the information gathered? I'm not as of yet ready to discuss my findings. There is a great deal of information to go over and so far? I am not prepared to discuss. When I am, I will."

Oh how Shepard looked. Standing a bit taller than usual, and head shaking with a bit of disappointment. What would he do with any of this?

"After all this we're still no closer to stopping the Reapers." Shepard finally said. It hurt him in truth to say it. Yet they were not really any better. Soon, he asks, "Is there anything to report?"

At that Reeger said, "I have something. It, may not be much. Yet I have to report it to someone. Not my people of course. The information could be dangerous. Commander, can we talk in private?" Shepard got a feeling that this was good. So, he dismissed the team. Reeger was left looking around, before he asks, "Do you know about Tali'zorah and the Geth?"

Mordin's eyes shot up, blinking. Just as the doors to the office close. Oh, this might not go well.

---

In the hallway outside of Engineering. Tali was with Legion, and the two were actually in a slightly heated discussion. Tali, tapped her Omni-tool asking, "What about this? A Vid from Earth. It's called Tron, never understood it but it has a oddly diverse view of AI and computer inward processing. Also, as a bonus it was made by Disney. A company that in the earlier age, of 'Walt Era' worked well on family entertainment."

Legion, strangely spun his lens as he tapped his tool telling her, "Disney also completed animated films with hidden sexual messages, innuendo and countless forms of subliminal advertising. In an attempt to encourage young growth. That would be suspected, but also perhaps an issue with this company?"

"Okay… well, they never made bad movies." She retorted, crossing her arms. "Not really."

"Disney also created a Sci-fi film called 'The Black Hole' which was acclaimed as being even more absurd, if not boring than most documentaries on their animation series. As well having inner appeal to a lengthy abnormal representation of 'heaven' and 'hell' as the ultimate traversion into the endless voice. In turn, that implies this film also being live action could be similar in fault hood."

Tali now groaned as she asks, "Why do you keep doing this Legion?"

"What is it we are doing?" Legion turned his head, and she clenched her fists glaring. He noticed, asking, "Have we acted in a way to anger you?"

"N-no, no. I just, I can't understand. You keep fighting me on things to do, why?"

Legion stood there noticing her cross her arms. He explained, "We seek to bring optimum entertainment. We are not trying to 'fight' you on any activity." Tapping his tool he requests, "Would you like to watch a vid like that we saw prior? There are a number with the same actors."

Tali suddenly spun around screaming, "NO! I want to just spend time with you! Keelah, how is that so hard to understand?"

Legion soon showed alarm, his flaps shot straight out. "We-We did not recognize this. It was our mission to give activities. Does that not improve relationships?"

Tali began to shake her head, relaxing. She forgets that Legion was not a man. Legion, was a GETH and was in as much need as she did in some things. With this she took a calming, slow breath. To then take his hand from his tool and tell him. "Legion, it's not the activities that matter. It's that we are together for them. To understand our own feelings. Do you get that? Please, say you do!"

Legion seemed to turn his head from the tool, and then her. A nod he admits. "That is understandable. We can permit this activity." When he lowered his hands he asks, "What if we take time to share notes on combat tech and specializing our talents or methods together. To offer true opposition to the Reapers?"

Strangely, Tali seemed to gleam. "Oh! Oh Legion! That will be perfect. We should use our free time like that, I have this new hacking algorithm I've been working on, here!"

Suddenly, Tali showed him her tool, and the two began to converse on the use of tech skills. Which, from afar Grunt narrowed his eyes in his quarters pressed up against the glass. Blinking, he asks, "What is this?"

Eventually, Zaeed pushed his face on the glass as well. "Don't cheat me you blasted Krogan! Get back to the ga-holy hell!" He saw Tali hug Legion, after Mordin came to her asking for her help with something. Zaeed blinked before rubbing his eyes. "Damn! My other eye's finally gone bad."

"No, it has not." Grunt smiled as he watched. "It seems the Battle mistress has taken the Geth as her partner. The Krogan rights of mating are impressive. Even across species! Okeer would be suspect, perhaps?"

Jack popped her head out and rolled her eyes. "Oh those two? You guys are behind." Turning to the table, she sat down dishing her cards. "I heard the Quarian and Thief chattering the other night. Seeing how bad Tali was with things I figured it had to be the Geth."

Grunt turned to Jack telling her. "I see. Most wise. I suppose biotics do help intelligence."

"Then why do so many Krogans have biotics?" A smile, and she shook her head with a nasty smirk. The Krogan glared at her with a growl, but accepted her words most fortunate. If she was not part of his Krannt? He'd put a slug in her skull.

Still, Zaeed just watched Legion stand there looking on his Omni-tool. "I still don't get it. I need to see this for myself. In person." Walking out of the cargo port, Zaeed asked, "Legion! You tin can rust bucket. What are you doing over there?"

Jack, she tried to call him. Yet groaning she warned, "You don't know what you're getting yourself into."

Legion shot his head up and greeted Zaeed. "We are in process of assessing what activities to commit with our partner Tal-." His voice stopped, and the chirp came. A sudden realization and Legion said, "We are in midst of calibrations."

Zaeed had a big'ol grin before slapping the Geth. "I'll be shot out a airlock, and strangled by a Hanar. It's true. You are after the Quarian? Eh?"

Legion's head turned around and all over, "How did you learn?"

"Jack." Which, taking a look there's Jack smirking in a chair waving her cards. Grunt, trying to peak her hand before she gave him a biotic eye poke, forcing the big fellow to roar out and toss the table. The door closed as the biotic flush of Jack implied a fight. As well the bashing sounds from inside.

Zaeed shrugged before asking, "So what's the plan here Legion? Are you and her going to do the nasty anytime soon?" He chuckled, adding, "I might have some pointers… wait, actually? Since you're an oversize-ah, yeah. We might have to ask Miranda, she looks the kind of girl with expertise with those things."

Legion seemed to be uncertain what this is supposed to mean. Leaning off his hip, his brow furled with some serious confusion. However, with a few bits of quick logging. The Geth's brow grew wide, alert. "That is not our intention."

Zaeed had a bit of a smirk. "Aw, come on. You can't be telling me that even you and your whole god-damn mechanized tin can make up hasn't got a few places to get an upgrade. Get what I'm saying?" A chuckle, and he crossed his arms, waving a hand to lead the Geth who only curiously watched. "You get it, in your lower chassis. Right? Uh-huh?"

Legion's right brow quirked upward, the sight made Zaeed narrow his eyes. "I mean a penis."

"We have no need of such a design. As well Tali has shown no need to commit such actions. We believe, your interpretation of events are misled."

Zaeed gave a stern look. "Listen. You can't ignore a girl too long. You do, she starts to go stray. It's an age old fact. IF you and the Quarian got a thing, fine. Personally, I'd like to see you thrown out an airlock." Zaeed, motioned behind himself, "Hell, if Shepard asked? I'd use the trash compactor and shoot you out right now. I don't trust a machine. Especially after Eden Prime."

"We are Geth. Not Heretics."

"Yeah," Zaeed gave that same look. A shrug, he asks, "You both get blown to bits the same. So again, I don't give a damn one way or another. I gave my two cents. If you're not interested, go lube your gears."

Zaeed left, laughing to himself a little. Was it meant to be a serious conversation? Or did he just do that to mess with the machine? It's hard to tell. Seasoned man like him. Legion however took all data into consideration. Each of his programs began a immediate consensus. Which, as his flaps flip and curve. Legion realized something. Tali and Legion, have never spoken of this. Yet was this an act worth mentioning?

Going to the elevators he began to prepare some thought. There needed to be a review of minor protocol. Perhaps a evaluation of the needs of organics. After all, Quarians are a very sensation drawback society. If Tali'zorah wished for these activities, would she be willing to converse it? The norm of their society were to use the stimulation-pack interface often devised for adult Quarian interaction. A simulation of the real sensations. This made Legion realize for her health, the opportunity could be important.

---

Tali and Mordin met in secrecy mostly. In his lab. Mordin, quickly explained. "Tali, your former crew member Kal'Reeger is currently in talks with Commander Shepard. It would seem, that he is aware of you and Legion."

Tali is not surprised, but then startled. "Wait, he's telling Shepard?"

Mordin, raised his brow. "Not the exact response expected. I assume you knew he knew?"

"Well, yes. He said he would not tell the Admiralty Board but, Shepard?" Here, she looked worried. "Keelah, can he be considering on telling them then?"

"Maybe? Perhaps, more a reason. If you think about it, Shepard should know. It may be a danger to the team, or the ship. If something happens later because of it?"

"It's none of their business! I don't even know what is happening, why do they need to?" Tali, turned with a bit of anger. Her fists clenched into balls, "Argh! So I like a Geth! So what? I'm not marrying him! I-I just, I just…" Tali's anger however fell short, and confusion as well a feeling of disappointment took her. "I just wish I understood all of this."

Mordin, stepped close. A smile, he took her shoulder. Tali turned, and he blinked with a simple nod, reassuring her. "Sometimes, the best way to understand something. I find? It is best to realize it is impossible to truly understand."

"Huh?"

"Exactly." Mordin, tapped her visor. An apologetic whisper, he stepped back and explained. "The only way we can analyze is to realize it is impossible to analyze. For example, black holes. Dark energy. Those dual use of unknowns, can be impossible to analyze. So we must take minor leaps in faith. To then find out more, we do not analyze the thing in play, no! Of course not! Instead, we analyze what said form or energy can do, not the actual anomaly. It is not about the anomaly. It, is about the experience."

Tali narrowed her eyes though, asking, "You talk to Thane lately?"

"No, not really. Thane is very quiet. Likes to keep to himself." To that, he grinned. "Though, I'm sure we pass words on occasion."

Tali now heard someone enter, Shepard…

"Mordin, I'd like t-," Shepard saw Tali. A moment, he seemed a bit stern. "Actually, that can wait. Tali, can I talk to you in the conference room?"

Tali shied her eyes. Was he angry? She thought maybe. Following, she turned to Mordin who frowned but gave her an encouraging nod. Tali sighed as she entered the room after a short breath, and saw Shepard leaning with his back on the table. Arms crossed, he looked serious. "Yes Commander?"

Shepard asked, "Why wasn't I informed about you and Legion?"

"Because," she began, getting some nerve. Once more reminded how it's not his, but her business. "Commander, the matter was between I, and Legion. Not you, Legion and I. Do you understand?"

"I do. Yet this was not how I wanted to find out." A frown, he admits, "I though we were friends. I expected some courtesy on my ship."

"Shepard! I didn't want Reeger to know!" She now cried out, "I BARELY wanted to admit it myself! So where in the midst of all this, was telling you on the list?"

Shepard thought, and a relief came, as he said. "I suppose you're right. It can't be easy. I just feel I should have known for more important reasons." Putting a hand up, he stopped her next bout. "Especially seeing we're this close to Quarian territory, and if word of this got out it could lead to issues. IF I knew, I would have tried to keep Reeger farther apart from you all. I would also have put a clear mouth-shut policy on the matter, with the team. I need to inform them all."

Tali lowered her head. Oh Keelah. "Do they need to know?"

Shepard, however smiled. "You think they don't?"

"I…" she groaned, "Agh, you're probably right. I bet we're the new big thing… how did I get myself into this?" She rubbed her helmet, asking, "Can we be discreet?"

"I'll try." Shepard sighed, "I would have appreciated some forthrightness though."

"Again, Commander. I'm still getting used to the idea myself… for years, I was raised to think all Geth are just the one mistake we made that took our lives, our home from us." Turning, she slowly held the wall with her hand, seeming a bit distant. "The days my father told me of them. The stories I heard. The rumors of Eden Prime, our old mission. Everything added up. Now, we're working with a geth… and, I find he's not all that bad." A laugh, she even adds, "Hell, he's nice. Even a bit romantic… in his own, weird stiff way."

Shepard came over and smiled before grabbing her shoulder. "If this makes you happy. I promise, I won't let anything ruin it for you."

"Don't make that promise." Tali closed her eyes. "My people learn of this? There's no telling what may happen. I might be the first execution in centuries. Banishment would never be an option." Tali, lowered her head. "As for Legion… I just don't know if I could think what'll happen, if he suddenly was gone like Father, or. When I lost you."

Shepard now asked, "Do you still feel something for me?"

"Of course Commander." Tali turned, holding his hand. "I can't just stop that. Yet, now I feel something for him. It's so funny, I can't tell which is stronger." A simple smile, that he can't see. She frowned, admittedly that's something she liked most from Legion. She knew he saw her. For what she is. "I think maybe the same. Or close to it?"

"Then I'm happy for you." Shepard said with a firmer grip, and a slight nod. "Dismissed."

"Thank you Commander." Tali left, slowly walking the halls. She felt a little disoriented. The emotional level of unfamiliarity had her bouncing left and right.

On one side she had her feelings for Shepard. The hero. The savior of the citadel. A man she felt for many times over. She dreamed of many times before. The other she had Legion, The Geth, a former enemy made ally. A feeling, strangely affectionate machine who made it clear his ideals on her and this possible romance. With each side she knew obvious pro and con, but her heart was the one in combat more than her mind. Tali now stopped, took a long breath, and gave herself a light tap on the helmet.

Time to get to work. To get back to work, and provide for her crew. That will help her forget.

Well, not forget. More like get her mind off the constant debate. Which, those Quarians love so much. Hopefully they can drop off Reeger and get to the mission. Without a lengthy argument or politics with the Admiralty board. Then after that distraction, she might consult Legion a little. Try and understand a few more things. She had all kinds of questions, and she wanted his take on them.

---

It was around four hours almost within this time of 'talks' the Admiralty spoke with Kal'Reeger, Shepard and had some form of conference. When they arrived to meet with the Admiralty, it was at request. They wanted an in person discussion. Which was odd. Tali also had been requested. After this long measure of time went on and on, someone new arrived.

It was a Quarian that Tali met for the first time now. As she sat outside of a conference hall, she was with Reeger. There the Quarian came forward. She saw him first, and noted a few things. First, his Exosuit was black and had a dark gray trim, metallic scrap across his deep gray haze visor. In dark terrain he'd be almost impossible to notice. He was aged, probably as old as her father was. Or maybe even older? It's hard to tell. What she noted though was across his shoulders tasseled shoulder pieces. This made her narrow her eyes, and ask, "Reeger, whose that?"

When Reeger saw him. Reeger had to look twice. "Well, that's unexpected."

Tali looked over asking, with now growing concern. "What is it?"

"That, is Uhn'Gehncis." He looked closer but recognized the suit structure, and the strange measure of the man's walk. As well his right arm had an Omni-tool that looked very different from most. "I think this could explain why the Admiralty board is keeping us."

Tali looked closer and noticed the man's turn from them straight into the Admiralty conference with Shepard. They were alone now with that man. Crossing her arms and legs, she demanded, "I want to know what's going on right now!"

"Easy! Ma'am!" Reeger stood up and walked to the door, checking. It was locked alright. "Uhn isn't dangerous. Well, he is." To that she glared, and he warned, "To Geth mostly! He's a Infiltrator and a damn good one. Uhn works on missions of high-level danger and commonly within Geth space. If this is what I think it is? We've just been drafted for something."

Tali groaned as she hung her head. "Keelah, why me?"

Sitting back down Reeger had to chuckle. "What, did you have plans?" As it clicked, he turned asking, "Did you and… uh, him? Have plans?"

"No." Tali then slumped forward sighing. Tali thought now to herself, "Not that it matters. I can't imagine what's going on in the meantime. I just hope he's not as confused as I am right now… who am I kidding? No one can be as confused as I am right now!"

---

"So, Krogan DMZ, right?" Zaeed, threw in his chips as he started once more. "Dropped down on a base of Vorcha. Had to wear ourselves a pretty nasty set of environmental suits that were so tight. It made that outfit Miranda walks around in look baggy."

Grunt and Kenneth were listening well, as Jack mostly accepted his speeches during this hand. The one newest member however, was in the corner watching. Zaeed shot a glance at Legion who for the last hour stood watching, listening and taking every word in like a recording. Which, Zaeed felt uneasy for once. It's true, he was all for attention on his nostalgia. Yet the Geth just set him off and on, some how?

Kenneth asks, with interest, "Yeah, what happened?"

"Huh?" Turning, Zaeed gives a nod. "Yeah, right. Sorry about that. Anyway, we drop down. It's me, a Salarian Eclipse engineer, a Krogan vanguard or whatever you call those things really. I'd say more like a shield with a nasty shotgun. Two other human mercs, one was a Soldier the other I think a biotic. Then the last part of the team, an Asari Adept. We hop in on this mission to take out a Krogan that has been killing merchants after robbing them. Story goes, bastard hid out on this Vorcha training ground with his team, five vorcha he trained himself and get this, a Quarian!"

Grunt admits, "Quarians are not the strongest, but useful. I still don't see why it was added into a team of Vorcha?"

"Not part of that team." Zaeed threw out, "In fact, this Quarian was a bastard of a Quarian. A damn sociopath who served as their torture expert. As well skilled little shit, used terrible knowledge of mechanics, VI/AI alternating algorithms and personally he knew too damn well how to use a sniper rifle." Zaeed turned out his hand, saying, "Anyway, we get in there. Sure enough, the camp's crawling with the bastards. Vorcha all around us. Shit if I was ready for this, but we made our way in slow and steady. Salarian helped set off a tank that caused some serious commotion. Lucky, those bastards know how to work things like a common accident. I was set up, sniper. Had to keep an eye out, give back intel to the teams and warn what's on here and there, intel mostly was not my strength but it was a damn good job this time."

Grunt laid his hand, snarling as he saw Kenneth. "You win again!"

"Shh!" Kenneth, shoved the cards to Jack. "Whatever, go on! What happened next?"

Zaeed smirked but then he saw Legion watching the cards. After that, he blinked. Yet a wry smile, he watched the Geth, while going on. "Right, so anyway."

Zaeed recalled the mission. "Half way in the mission the Krogan I mentioned? Turns out he's the brother of the bastard we're after! Son of a bitch turns on us, and gets a band of Vorcha to help him try and flank the team. I luckily got them told about it just as a small group of Vorcha came up behind me, trying to kill me before I told the team. After I kill the little blighters, turns out the team's lost the Asari, sniper round to the throat, and it was in the damn center so she bled out slow. Shot was intended to kill her slow and that's where I realized how bad this Quarian was. Looking around the best sniping shots I found him, aiming back around for another shot. I situate myself, take a shot."

Zaeed narrowed his eyes and said, "I fold."

"Wait, what?" Kenneth shook his head, "Why?"

"Because, I can." Anyway, he smirked throwing out a moment. "So, I take the shot! The Quarian, lost his shields. They go down and here I am realizing, he's back up like," snapping his fingers, he slammed his other hand on the table. Shouting, "That! The little bastard had a redundant shielding system meaning, I had barely a second's time to try and take him out between breaking his shields! Thanks to this little lack of knowledge he ran, looking for a better spot and place maybe to shoot my ass! I wasn't too thrilled."

"Anyway, team groundside is getting into some heavy shit. So I take aim and the Krogan traitor, blow his brains out. Now, Vorcha are useless in a fight if no one's giving orders. Without him, the team broke out and forced past most their defenses to a safer location. That is, until they get sniped. The human biotic got shot in the shoulder, seemed the sniper was getting antsy knowing I was out there."

Zaeed saw the next hand, and was looking at Legion again with a grin. "Alright, I'm all in."

Grunt raised his brow, "Why…?"

"I feel lucky, of course!" Zaeed, saw Kenneth take the bet, Jack folds fast. Grunt, wasn't intimidated and went on. "Alright, where was I?"

Kenneth says, "The part where the sniper shot the biotic!"

"Right! That, well he got our biotic and it clicked. He hit the adept and the biotic. Obviously, he knew how dangerous they were. So I started thinking and I realized something. Quarian folk have a heavy knowledge of communications. During this whole time we're relaying information over a secure channel. Yet I think, he hacked us. I then ask, if the Salarian can hold up the heat with his biotics. Lucky me, salarian was smart enough to know he wasn't a biotic, and he just said of course. When the sniper came back out, I took a shot and took down his shields. He ran off again, leaving the team time to regroup."

Laying down his cards, Zaeed smirked saying, "Well, look at that." He watched the others, and said. "Looks like I win this round."

"W-what?" Kenneth was stunned, "But, I always win."

"Yeah, damn shame that." Zaeed scooped his credits, and began to place his bets, watching his hand he turned to Legion and then, smiled. "I call." To that, he began to talk again, "Anyway… yeah, finally I see a shuttle coming in. It's obvious the Krogan was making a run. I call the team, tell them I'm coming down. They agree, they needed the extra guns. I run out, heading to them when suddenly, I trip." To that, he then slammed the table, "And just as I fell down a fucking sniper round came THIS fucking, god damn close to my skull!" His fingers, pressed with a sliver right of space. Zaeed snarls out, "I fucking saw the round literally skim my nose and singe the skin of it. I rolled behind a rock, and realized the Quarian bastard was sick of the games and came after me this time. Most likely, his system works so many times. If we did that too much, he'd chance a serious shot."

"Excellent, now it's getting good." Grunt, fidgets in his chair. "Yes, what happened! Did you break his helmet off his head!"

"I wish." Zaeed, grumbled but then leaned back sighing a little. "Right, I start scoping the area, see him not far. Realizing he's used that damn sniper rifle all this time I assume that's his best case weapon. I charge, duck and charge. Throw a grenade behind him making him jump from cover. A shot later, I take his shield down and it's popping right back up again. Pissing me off, that. So I shift to an assault rifle. Next thing I know, I'm under heavy fire from a sub-machine gun." To that, he smacks his forehead, "Little shit's got a sub-machine gun! I'm just REALLY hating this little bastard. So I wait for him to reload, hear the clip pop and I bum-rush him! I run in, fire like mad with disruptor ammo. As I rip his shields, his ass is back peddling and shooting at me, we take one another's shields out and I realize they didn't come back like before, I hop behind a rock shouting,"

Zaeed, stood up and screamed, "What's the matter! You limy shit! Your toy break down?"

Grunt laughed, but then frowned when Zaeed lays his cards out, "You… win?"

"DAMN right I do!" The merc was exhilarated, he kicked out his chair, screaming, "That fuck! He suddenly cries out, "Not like your Asari friend's spinal cord snapped. I'll repair this, after I blast your face in!"

Stomping along, Zaeed recalls in vivid memory, "I snap back, as I load a clip. "You're going to fucking pray for a fast death you shit! Sad thing is, I'm not a religious man!" And so, I get out ready to fight. There I see a god-damn Loki-Mech! One of them, I realize, the Quarian was carrying ON HIS BACK somehow! It had to have been made custom, with low-grade parts and low grade supplies, so it was light for him to run that well with that. When it started firing, I had to shoot it to bits when suddenly, sniper round right in my god-damn face! It ripped my shields, tore my right cheek up and burned like a bitch."

Grunt saw this and chuckled. "I like it. Bloody, fierce. Really exciting!"

"Yeah, and he was more stunned I stood right off a knee, gargled out a nasty few words and fired into him, ripping his shields and his suit. Sadly, he dove and sent an attack drone after me. I didn't see it coming. When I did I blew it up, and it exploded knocking me off my feet."

Zaeed sat down, pulling his chair back. A grumble, he rubbed his cheek and took his cards, seeing everyone check theirs he suddenly watched Legion. Then a smirk, "Right, I fold." A nod, "Anyway…"

Jack, suddenly slammed a fist. "Hold it!" She glared, and turned to Legion. Then she narrowed her eyes. "What's the deal Za-,"

"Jack! Silence!" Grunt, leaned in, eyes glowing almost. "Continue! I want to hear more!"

Zaeed had a chuckle and gave a nod, "Right, so anyway." He smiled to Jack and winking before telling them once more, "I tried to track him but he was gone. So, I rushed to the team. By then, the Soldier was dead from a three-Vorcha attack on their flank and the Engineer Salarian, with the Human biotic were in some serious shit. I came running behind the Vorcha, ripped their armor apart with some decisive fire. We barely had time to talk and get my face bandaged since medi-gel wasn't much for superficial wounds as that. We did have the eventual, little tiff about how a mission like this isn't worth the pay. What we did do after that though was rush toward the Krogan shuttle. When we get there, the Krogan was just putting the last shipment of supplies in with his team when the Quarian appeared. I swear, I looked at him long enough to see the shock in his face as I was back, bandage covering the lower part of my jaw. The bastard thought I'd be dead by now."

A laugh, "Hell, maybe thought I'd bleed or loose consciousness. Not a god damn chance!"

The rounds progressed, Kenneth won… but, now this time. Zaeed checked his cards and narrowed his eyes to Legion, Jack glared back as she checked her cards. Then noticed, Legion's brow flaps as he scanned all the cards, would twitch. Higher when on her hand. To that, she screamed slamming down her cards and shouting, "Fucking knew it!"

Zaeed laughed, because the two guys were too worried about him. Kenneth however asks, "Where's she going?"

"Aw, who cares?" Zaeed grinned as he leaned in. "Wanna hear how it ends? Anty up, this is the best part…"

---

It was some time when Tali finally entered the chambers with Shepard. The Quarian mentioned before, the dark suited fellow seemed to note her again and nods toward Tali. Tali got a feeling of uncertainty as she saw Shepard, his face even in his helmet was strangely concerned. As he turned though and saw her, he asks, "Tali? Do you have any idea what's going on?"

Tali looked to him though for answers. Shaking her head, she asks, "What do you mean?"

"The Admiralty Board has been talking to me, then had me wait outside to talk to this guy. Now, I was called back and whatever it is, they won't tell me. They said, that it's something of a concern for them, but not for Cerberus."

Just then a female voice of the admiralty board spoke. Daro'Xen, the member who was most interested in another matter of admiral decision. Xen spoke now with some reminder, "Actually, Commander. The way we tried to explain was that there is a united concern for your team and a mission we have currently under way. Yet, we can not trust Cerberus to most parts."

Shepard looked back, and gave a stern glare. He had made it clear he no longer, or ever truly would be a member of Cerberus. Even so, Xen explained, "It's not that we do not trust you Commander. It is that this is a matter of Flotilla security. We need this to be run in our own circle. Yet, we also would request your aid where applicable."

Tali now narrowed her eyes. She was the one upset. "I guess I'm the one that is being volunteered then? On behalf of the Normandy crew?"

Another spoke, this one was a male quarian. The appologetic, and adamant man of peace. Zaal'Koris. Korris said, "It's not exactly a matter of volunteering. We need your aid and the aid of Shepard. The issue is, the Normandy has stealth systems that most ships do not. With those, you can traverse in dangerous space where most do not dare." To his peers he gave an affirmative nod. "It is also implicated that there may be a connection to your current activities. Those, with the traitor Jacohbe."

Now, Shepard lowered his head whispering, "Never easy is it?"

Tali, mused to him. "When it comes to Quarian politics? Shepard, easy would be a miracle."

---

Zaeed seemed to like his hand a lot especially after seeing Legion's brow furls like many times before.

"So, we got to the Krogan shuttle. The Quarian came in a bit shocked, started making orders. Now a Krogan is stubborn but also stupid, so when he commanded they turn on their mechs I was kind of surprised. Now they turned on three big, old YMIR mechs and a few ton of LOKI mechs. We had to be pretty careful how we took them out, but lucky for us things changed fast. The Krogan smelling blood ordered they swarm with the Mechs. That Quarian, he commanded they leave now it wasn't worth the time. The Krogan wanted to fight, Quarian wanted to leave. That's where I say, funniest thing happened. You get sent to kill a guy, then you become allies."

Grunt seemed a bit amused now, itching in his crest as he scratched. "Oh! Let me guess! You had to team up against the mechs! Hah!"

"Yeah, for now. We had the YMIR and LOKI bastards swarming from damn all across the field. Right? Then at the shuttle I saw the Krogan giving orders, saying they will not leave until they reclaim the base. So the Quarian is getting pissed, and finally when the Krogan turned about, that bastard kicked his huge ass over and rolled him out. The Quarian turned on more mechs while he just stole the shuttle." A hearty laugh, he put his cards down saying, "Next thing I know I'm elbow to elbow with that krogan bastard and fighting a huge ass mess of mechs."

Laughter was dialed down as Kenneth and Grunt notice once more the poor boys lost the round. Paying up, Zaeed had a nasty bit of a grin. "Anyway, the Quarian got away and that biotic got killed from massive damage thanks to YMIR bastards. When it was over, the Krogan, the Salarian and myself were all that's standing and honestly I'm not doing too hot. It wasn't long before the Krogan turned on me, shotgun in hand shields down. I didn't have a clip, wasn't able to lift my rifle."

The last hand. Least, seeing how bad he took their creds. Zaeed turned his head about and shoved the pile, shouting, "ALL in boys!"

"Damn!" Kenneth, screamed, "I can't! I haven't got the creds!"

"ME either! You're buying the pot! That's… cowardly!"

"Damn right it is!" Laughing, Zaeed kicked up his boots, and narrowed them saying, "Well? You going to play?"

Kenneth sadly stood up, taking his last bit of creds. "Not this time Zaeed. I'm not that stu-wait a minute." He gave a shake of the head, "I'm not stupid!"

Grunt too left, with the human snarling a bit of, "I thought you were the one always cheating."

"I never cheat! You ever catch me?"

"Precisely, that's why I assumed. You just were very good at cheating."

Zaeed had to admit it was a good haul. Collecting his chips and creds he saw Legion with his brow flapping, and almost fidgeting. A grin, and he motioned him up. "Here, take a seat."

Legion stood with a slight pause and spin of his lens. "We do not have credits to gamble."

"No, but you helped me win this much. I owe you the end of my story."

"We, did not aid you."

"Hoh, but you did. Tin can." A heavy chuckle, and he pockets a ton of his winnings. "You sure as hell did."

Legion sat down as requested. Looking to Zaeed. Zaeed, shifts on his chest leaning in, telling the story best he can to the end. "Right, so we got me, the Krogan and Salarian. I'm out of clips, the Krogan's got a shotgun and we're point blank. Now, his shields are down. I got my assault rifle. Next thing I know as I'm pretty damn sure I've bought it, too tired to roll out the way or hell, guess the shot. All of a sudden, blam! Right across from my side, the Salarian got one hot, fast shot with a sniper rifle that someone left." Zaeed, smirked as he taps his chin, "Got the Krogan right here, shot blew his lower jaw clean off. Now, the Krogan's a stubborn bastard, and like I said stupid. He turned and raged on that Salarian like you wouldn't believe. Charged him full force back into a wall, and bleeding out like that still had the power to cause the wall to crack. I'm now realizing just how damn insane this all was when I suddenly drop my gun and take a dead Vorcha rifle. I start blasting the hell out of that Krogan's hump, blam-blam-blam!"

Arms up, he made wild jerking motions, shouting, "Blam! Blam! Blam! Blam! I mean, I go crazy! I blast away, reducing it to a pussy mush. The Krogan must have been in a blood rage or something, because he turned a stumbling back and actually whanged me with his shotgun throwing me on my ass. That bastard stumbles on his heels gargling up blood, pouring from his hump. Then, in my most proudest moment."

Zaeed, grabbed his chest holding one of his grenades. "I get my strength back and charge him full, damn force." Swiftly, he pushes the grenade into Legion's face, just under the lens as he finishes, "I ram a grenade in the stubby lump under his jaw and throat to then kick back, roll and sure enough hear the cries of a Krogan burning up from the IN-DAMN-SIDE!"

Legion watched Zaeed roll on his seat now, hand slowly dragging on the table and just snickering to himself. Shaking his head to that memory. Zaeed then spoke a little softer, with the comment. "I should have died there. Honestly, was probably meant to. Thing is, I didn't." Turning up he frowned a bit. "The Salarian did. He got stomped on, head crushed and ribs broken. Me? I just got a few new scars, another damn story to tell. The bastard saved my life and I got to admit I never understood why? I did not even know him, I only knew he was a merc. A good merc at that. Worse part, never repaid him by killing the Quarian bastard that caused most his team to get killed."

A silence took the man. He seemed to take the time to recall that last few moments. Perhaps, a part of the story he didn't share. Perhaps, part where he held that dying Salarian bastard off from death however long he could, before it was too much. That could have been it, or maybe not? Zaeed closed his eyes and took one deep breath before he just stared at Legion. The moment came where he had to ask, "Why are you here tin-can? You been watching me all day now. Did I do something to peek your interest?"

Legion watched Zaeed for a moment. Then, he said rather plainly. "You, have."

"Right. Of course." Now, he asks, with a sheer snarl. "What'd I do?"

"You are. A interesting means of data collection. Your years of experience shed a greater understanding of human nature. However, it is your relationship with Subject-Zero, Jack. We have no other partnerships like yours to base our consensus on. It was this, we needed more information."

"Huh, that so." A snort, he says, "And here I thought you wanted to log my data stick. Hah! Get it!"

Legion leaned back, offended as if. Or maybe just startled by the words. His brow raised before he asks, "Why would this platform require such actions from us? Let alone, to make that possi-"

"Damn you suck the fun out of everything don't you? Alright, sit on down." Legion was already. So he smirked and rolled his eyes. "I mean, sit tight." Legion now tightened his grip around the chair's edges. "Oh, for the love'a, just sit."

Zaeed now thought how to say thins. "Okay, so you got a thing for the Quarian. You think studying me and Jack can help that?"

"Yes."

"Then you're so god-damn stupid, you don't deserve to be talking to me! Listen, you can't compare your thing with the Quarian, and my thing with Jack."

"Why?" Legion turned his head, brow raised with confusion. "There are moderate levels of attraction between you and Jack. You have been together longer, served better. It is a reasonable means to study, and to learn. Naturally."

Zaeed ruffled his hair, hearing him speak so calmly. It just pissed him off more. "No-no! I don't-look!" He gave a blank, serious look. Then he asks, "Do you REALLY think? That compairing the shit me and Jack are doing, will help you get the Quarian to love you? Hell! You DO realize what's wrong here, don't you?"

Legion did not. So he asked, "What is it that Zaeed Massani sees wrong wi-,"

"You're a god-damn machine! You idiot!" Finally, he slammed his fist on the table. "You're going to live forever, she's not! Hell, she gets sick she's dead. Well, fuck man! Think of this! You-WE had this talk already!"

"Yes," Legion recalls. "That is why I wished to choose a relationship, that though is in effect. Has adamant flaws."

"What?" Zaeed blinked a bit taken by that, "What's that mean?"

"Your relationship is not 'healthy' by most human standards. In truth, it is classified as an unhealthy sexual relationship, with no future."

Zaeed looked at Legion stern, angry. A bit like he did when he saw that Krogan get a little too close to Jessie, but no. A smirk, and he asks, "You want to hear another story. Not about me, it's a story from Earth." This time, he'll play the game he guessed the tin-can liked. "You love gathering information, right?"

"Yes." Legion leaned closer. "What is it called?"

"No name I know. Yet it's a love story, sort of." To that, he smirked as he said, "It's the story of the girl with claws, and the boy she fell in love with." A smirk soon turned into a crafty little smile. "First, I gotta ask something. I heard you got some kind of synthetic emotions, how's that work?"

Legion turned his eye upward, in thought. That was unexpected. "Who told you?"

"Scuttlebutt around the ship. Yet the Quarian thing was new."

"Yes, that was recent. Tali'zorah came to a appreciation of our request. It has allowed us to form a slight relationship, still in progress stages however."

"Yes, I see." A nod and he asks, "So, how do your emotions work?"

"Since we are inorganic. We simulate the needed response to a program. Said program, will cause an immediate consensus to be met under severe stress, like with combat situations it will cause us to act with enhanced aggression, should we find a need to in such time."

"Like on Omega, right? Never scares you what you might do like that?"

"No, we are Geth. We do not incorporate fear into the emotions chosen."

"Huh, go on." Zaeed raised his brow, not 'interested' but amused mostly.

"With Tali'zorah the emotion of love, admiration and such others came to manifest without direct involvement of programming. It was… irregular."

"How come?"

"Tali, has aided us in great deals. From this, we formed a bond. Friendship that grew. In time, we found we sought to spend more time with Tali'zorah. That when she was close, or we knew she was near we could not fully cognate our processes. There was a constant distraction to our programming but not in the way that is common among others who are 'lovesick' it was, irregular. The runtime error was later classified, as love."

Strange hearing it. Sick to think it, for Zaeed. He honestly was a little disgusted with the thought of a machine like this. Yet, he played it up. "Sounds great so, it just takes control?"

"Not every emotion will pass our own consensus. To ensure honest response and emotional independence like what humans have. We designed it to act when stress levels are high."

"Interesting…" Indeed it was. "So, if you get angry."

"Yes, like on Omega."

"Heh, love it." Legion raised a brow, "I mean, proceed."

"Yes." Legion was, conflicted. Yet he continued after shifting his lens around the room, like he is unaware of something. "When our emotions affect us it is usually a positive manner. When we were rejected by Tali'zorah at first," his eye lowered. "Our runtimes were slowed incredibly, consensus was drawn in manner we never approved. Most times, it was a concern that our new found emotions were a burden, and as we too were a burden."

"To who?"

"To Tali."

"Right." Zaeed frowned, "So, what you did back on that base. Apex, and the Geth."

Legion looked a little off, funny. He shook his head. "We acted both in accordance to consensus yet also in the understanding, we were a burden. We made Tali… unhappy. That was enough to act accordingly." Legion soon motioned to Zaeed, "That was why we took to you, Zaeed."

"Right, for study." A little angry, he gave a snort. "So, let's get back to my little story."

"Yes, new data will always be accepted."

"Yeah, I know. It's what I was counting on."

"So story goes. Once upon a time, in the sewers of New York City, a little girl was born with claws as big as road spikes, and sharp as butcher knives. With the strength in grip to crush rock and bend steel."

"This is a story of fiction, is it not? If it were factual such a mutation would be logged by human scientists."

Zaeed narrowed his eyes just looking with the absolute most 'no duh' expression plausible. "As I was saying."

"This girl lived in the sewers and spent her days carving in the sub structure little pictures. As well catching rats and small strays or the like. She had no mother or father, abandoned in the sewers long ago. Spending some time looking up the grates in the city to people with small hands, walking and playing. She would ask, 'What's the point to all those small hands? Such soft hands. They can't catch meat. Can't carve things. They must be very miserable.' but really, she thought. 'I wish I could be there.' Now, story goes on." He grabbed his drink, scotch. A little something for the whistle. A sigh after, and he went on. "Girl finds a man thrown in the sewers beaten so badly, he's got eyes swollen shut. Now she tries to wake him seeing she never saw a human, but just a prick of her finger makes him bleed. So she drags him by his clothes to her home. Where she cares for him and nurtures him back to health. One day while she's out, she returns to see his eyes have lost the swelling. All this time, she's been happy with the man. With a person that was soft, and that would at times say words she never understood, and pet her face to feel her skin. Those small soft hands were remarkable, and they kissed so she found out that's pretty damn nice too. She got a feeling she never knew. With the man. Yet when he saw her, and she dropped to his side smiling, happy. He said one word."

Legion asked in his interest. "What was it?"

"Monster."

"Monster?"

"Yes. Monster. He panicked, jumped on the bed, seeing her large claws, the monstrous strength in them. He cried out for help, begged for someone to save him. He turned to run. She wanted him to stay. She needed him to be there with her. So she reached out, with her strong hands. To pull him back."

Legion narrowed his lens and Zaeed, he just smirked. "Her claws dug into his flesh. His bones broke. With one grasp of her hands he was dead in an instant."

Legion lowered his lens. That was a terrible tale.

"Then," looking up, Legion scanned Zaeed, his pleasure. At the story perhaps. "She fell to her knees. She sat there, and felt a sting in her chest and tears down her eyes. Her head throbbed so hard she could not take it. Take the scream he made when she crushed the air from his lungs, and gurgled from the blood in his throat. She wanted that noise to stop. So she pressed her hands shut as tightly as she could. With that, she met him in the same fate."

Legion sat there silent for a time. Standing, he told Zaeed. "That is a unique story. We will remember it."

Going to leave, Zaeed asks, "Hey, don't you get what it means?"

"I believe it was a story of numerous meaning. We decipher several."

"Oh, but I got a good one." Zaeed stood up walking to the machine. "Like, how sometimes people just can't change the fact they can't be together. Like how, in the end? Two people come from two different worlds, and only hurt the other when they try and keep them in theirs. Because it's a world that the other can never be a part of. In the end, they are separated."

Legion watched Zaeed a moment. Taking in the slight stare, a little bit of aggravation. "You are telling us this for your own reason. It is most likely you have taken offense to something we said."

"Or, making it clear. One day your emotions might go haywire, turn you on Tali in a fight. How would you take killing, your little friend?"

"We would never harm Tali! Never!"

"Maybe, but I am right. For another reason." Moving his hand out, Zaeed sternly tapped Legion across the chest with his index, in an accusatory manner. "The end is Tali's going to die one day. You won't. You think about that part yet? Or hell, better yet. How much she's going to loose for you if her people learn what you've done? Or hell, here's a good one! What'll happen to you?"

Legion looked at him with the same curious stare he gave many times. His brows flip a bit, and then make the awkward rise of a single flap. "What will come to us?"

"Legion, what'll happen when the Geth start to concern themselves with how you've 'evolved' how 'independent' you're becoming?"

Legion stepped back, like it was a part of his earlier concern. Like he already had his suspicions, and none were good. "We are not sure. However, we are aware. Whatever comes from our relations with Creator Tali, they will not affect the Geth."

"No, but weren't all the Geth going to become some kind of Gestalt mind? Join to one?" Legion's lens fell, and Zaeed took that as an obvious response. "Yeah, thought so. That means you'll be a heretic."

"No!" Legion looked shocked, a bit upset in his hands raised and lens glowing brightly. "We are not a Heretic! We will not betray Geth, for any goal."

"Even Tali?"

Then, Legion was still. His eye flickered. A moment, his head hangs. "No data… a-available."

"Hah!" Zaeed, pushed past the machine. Whispering, "Can't wait to hear how that goes for your Geth friends."

Legion turned seeing Zaeed leave. A moment of silence left him in deep contemplation. Zaeed wanted to cause a little humiliation perhaps. Yet this was far deeper than even perhaps he knew? Though, did Zaeed care? Hell he hated the Geth, good or bad. A simple man with a simple plan. Not aware the level of confusion left in the synthetic now.

---

Tali sighed deeply when she left the shuttle and entered the Normandy. "Keelah, that was incredibly tiring."

Shepard shook his head admitting with absolute irritation, "You're not the one being forced in the back seat of a mission on his own ship."

"I know. Yet, thank you for agreeing. To everything."

Tali showed her appreciation with a grasp of his hand and a squeeze of it. A slight grin on her face but he didn't see it, only how her eyes slunk in the gesture. Looking though he gave the same smile. Offering his approval.

Shepard asked, "Are you sure you're up for this? I mean, leading a team on a mission. You have… history."

"I know." Tali shook her head, now crossing her arms she leaned on the wall. The sanitation process was beginning in the airlock. "It's just, they won't allow it otherwise and I can't trust a team working under that Quarian. I don't know him that well. Let alone do I trust him to lead my friends."

Shepard gave his approval but, showed concern. She shook her head saying, "I'm going to be fine Shepard. I'll choose a team from the Normandy, and if you wish? We'll have a little discussion before the mission. A team prep talk. Like usual."

"You will." Shepard now gave a cocky smile. "Let's see how you do in my shoes."

"I don't think your shoes will fit." Then, she tapped her toes adding, "Not to mention you humans have some strange feet. How do you walk with them?"

"We manage." Shepard nudged her as the doors open, and with that he asks, "How do you shoot straight with only three?"

"Remember Shepard. I use a shotgun." Having said that, she and the commander laugh a little. Though Tali was nervous. "I think I'll go see Legion. Maybe, it'll put me in a better mood."

"Couldn't hurt. In the meantime, I'll go see what I can find out about this planet, and maybe anything else EDI can offer for info."

"Thanks Shepard." Tali walked past him as they circled the galaxy map. She was now thinking about just how Legion will probably be able to help her with the mission. Oh, but she can't. He's a Geth… her people wouldn't approve. Let alone on this mission would it be wise to take a Geth. Sometimes, it was a bit disheartening to think what might be the cause of the major conflict being distance of two cultures. Or, lack of one. Geth never really had a culture.

She's over thinking again. Tali sighed before tapping her helmet, "I need to stop that." Shepard took the first elevator. Yet this caused time, that now someone came over. Tali felt the tap on her shoulder, and turned to see Chambers. "Oh, hello."

"Hello Tali." Kelly smiled brightly and asked, "Is there something troubling you?"

"Yes… well, no not really." Keelah, she needed out of this. "I just need to go see someone, it's been a long ordeal on the Flotilla. Quarian politics and all."

Chambers did not sound too convinced, especially when she asks, "Are you sure it's not something else? Maybe, relationship issues?"

Tali raised a brow but slowly, in a bit of a concerned voice, asked, "Why would that be a problem? Seeing I settled what I needed to with Shepard?"

"Yes, but now you're with Legion." Tali's eyes grew wide. "That kind of impli-"

"What!" Tali grabbed the yeoman by her shoulders, "Who told you! Where did you… oh, Keelah!" Shaking her head, "You can't say this to anyone! If the Quarians found out…"

"Relax! I never would." A frown though, she held her neck, "Yet that could be a problem. I think, most the ship knows?"

"Tell me you're kidding!"

"Not at all." Chambers looked as even now some of the hands on the ship were looking and whispering. This was bad, but Chambers did not understand why. "Tali? It's not that big of a deal."

"No it is. If any of the Quarian people heard of this? It could cost me everything. IT could harm the Normandy, Shepard, the crew! I can't even think what that will do. If the Quarian coming aboard hears about this?"

Chambers now understood. "There is a delegate coming?"

"No, a military member. I can't discuss it now, but. If he gets wind of this? There will be severe backlash."

Huh, Chambers rubbed her chin, "I get it. I get it big, so. We'll just make it clear, this isn't something that needs to be discussed outside of our current mission." A smile of confidence and she shook Tali's hand, "I'll say something to Shepard, he'll set this straight."

That meant a lot. Tali sighed in incredible relief, "Keelah, thanks… I can't take that stress. Not now."

"Of course Tali." Tilting her head though, Chambers had to ask. Since she was a creature of interest to her team's concerns. "What else is bothering you?"

"I'll tell the immediate crew soon enough but, well. I have to lead a mission." To that, Tali lowered her head, and drew a slight bit of concern. "A very dangerous one perhaps? There is not a lot of information. What I do have, I will be bringing into light with talks later."

"I see." Chambers gave a nod, and slapped Tali's shoulder trying to up the girl's morale. "It's okay Tali. I believe in you, because Shepard obviously does."

"I know. Thank you." Now she wanted to see Legion again. "I bet poor Legion is confused at how people are talking."

"Legion has been very quiet. Last I heard, he was in the AI Room." Tali turned and left, but. "Of course he did spend a good bit of time with Zaeed."

"Zaeed?" Tali looked back, and asked, "What do you mean?"

---

Tali entered the AI room to find Legion with his back to her. He was working on his Omni-tool it seemed. Or perhaps some other project? She can not tell from this vantage point, but she asked with a little worry, "Legion? Are you okay?"

Legion spun his head back a little and his lens whirred with seeing her. "Tali'zorah. It is good to see you have returned." Standing toward her he closed the design schematic on his Omni-tool. Then he told her, "We have been in a rather in depth number of personal consensus since last you left. It has been, enlightening."

"I heard." Tali walked in, getting kind of nervous. Legion picked up on it and came close. Seeing how she held her hands, he took them and she looked up to his curious stare. "I heard something happened with you and Zaeed. What is it?"

"Yes." Legion recalled, "There was an incident. Zaeed Massani made his feelings clear. He does not approve of the union of Geth and Organic. As well, encouraged a number of negative data packets to thrust into consensus."

"That's not his business." She gave a firey glare, and turned to the door but had her hands held firmly by Legion. Even so, she clenched her hands and said, "If he wants to upset you? I should go see about upsetting him."

"Tali, do not worry." Legion gave her a nod which seeing, she was reassured. Tali soon saw how his eye scanned her face, and she got embarrassed. To that, he suddenly cupped her chin, which deeply caused her eyes to wander. "Zaeed achieved in offering us much needed data. While it was not how we had planned. His data, to ours provided the needed means of numerous simulations."

"Simualtions?" Tali got curious, and so she asked, "Just what kinds of simulations?"

"Numerous."

"For what purpose?"

"Numerous."

"Argh, I mean."

Legion suddenly chirped, in Geth. At this Tali glared at him and smiled before shaking her head. "Bosh'tet."

"We sought to rise slight alleviation. Your blood is pumping a slight bit more not of embarrassment, but of anger. We in fact, find this remarkably interesting."

Before Tali could ask why? Legion soon explained. "Zaeed formed data on negative aspects. One was our emotional structure, our programming. The lack of controls and superseding logs to ensure proper limitations. While we do not wish to restrict the emotional patterns we have accumulated, we have known the dangers with them."

Tali thought back. "Like Omega."

"Yes. That incident was very stressful. Under such stress, we could do something we do not seek to. That is where we began the earliest simulation. Could we physically harm Tali… you, if stressed?"

Tali looked upwards and asked, with a hint of fear, "Could you?"

"No." To that, she made a slight sigh of relief, she wasn't sure how else to react? "We performed many tests. Our emotional programming will act in a manner that demands response. However, it has evolved with us. We, Geth. We are not controlled by it, it acts within our own programming."

That sounded confusing, to most. Yet Tali knew tech, and so she asks, "It's a basic pathing algorithm then? I mean, it will cause action but not action that your internal programming will not permit?"

"Yes. As well no." Legion went to make her understand, hands up, he motioned them with a moment, "In our simulation, you were angry with us. We however were being stressed by your actions, the simulation being that Geth and Creators were at war, that Geth would win less Tali destroyed us. To this, we normally as Geth would act to prevent termination."

Tali looked horrified now, shaking her head and clenching her fists. "Legion! That's horrible!"

"It was a simulation. In the simulation," his right hand, was representing Tali, his left himself. "Tali'zorah had her shotgun drawn, body at full emotional distress and confusion and set to kill us. To terminate us. In this, we. Did nothing."

Tali's eyes shift, to a sudden pang. It was in her chest but made a shaking in her hands. "Wait you let me kill you?"

"…. Yes."

"Why?"

Legion, lowered his lens. That point, he thought. Hard. "There is little data, yet we have only one reason. We have deemed it, the 'Sacrificial Symptom'."

Tali crossed her arms and felt uneasy, "What…?"

"Tali'zorah, in the Vid we procured in our initial consensus date. It showed one organic sacrificing himself to save another, one he loved. In history, this act has been deemed 'the ultimate sacrifice' and yet, it does not seem enough. We have done countless numbers of study and simulation on it. In the enemy base, We accepted you had no desire to share life with us. So we accepted, ending our processes would be acceptable." Stepping close, he took Tali's shoulder and tension was just lightly enough she felt it, and Tali held his hand looking into his eye with fear, and he knew that fear. "We do not wish to perish. Yet if there is such a time? We have deemed this, acceptable."

"T-that's… that's horrible…" Tali lowered her head, and again he lifted her face. "Why do you keep doing that?"

"Your face shows many emotions. We wish to incorporate them all, into this platform. We do not need fear, but now we understand it. Fear, serves a purpose. It protects you as does it protect others. If we had not given to fear of harming you, Tali. We may have never formed this consensus appropriately."

Tali now pushed his hand off her shoulder. Not angry but more, uncomfortable. "You can't die Legion."

"We will not. We only took this simulation, on behalf of the data given." Legion, leaned on his hip, telling, "There was more data, as well other simulations. Do you wish to learn more?"

"I-I don't know?" Hearing him say these things were both so damn disturbing, but also… sweet. You could never understand, til you saw how he moved. How he spoke. It was so easy. While she can't wrap her mind around it.

"Please. Let us continue."

Tali just nodded to him, and listened more.

"Zaeed spoke of the inevitability. The Geth seek to become one, a single mind of many. It was, our wish as well. However, there was a change."

"What changed?"

"Us."

"Oh," Tali, lowered her head. "I'm sorry."

"No, do not be." Legion gave a nod, and explained. "Like the Heretics, we have our own truth. All our programs have been, united. It is strange to explain. Time with organics, time watching and contemplating your kind. Living beings that are not Geth, without the Geth in our greater scope. We are still Geth. Yet, Zaeed made it clear, we are also now Heretics."

Tali finally jumped, "Heretics? You're no-"

"We are. Yet we are not extreme heretics. We are still Geth. We are however now certain. We will not be able to join the Geth. Not in that end goal." His head hung, as he made this clear. "We, are no longer certain if Geth can accept this. However, the consensus of all other Geth has been in deliberations for a time. On our emotions. On our involvment." Legion turned up to her and said, "We are still Geth. However, if we are a danger to Geth. They will not allow us to be part of the Geth for long. It is, troubling. Yet we await to learn if this is the outcome."

Tali soon realized just how bad it was. Legion was trying to tell her, that since he wanted to explore this. The Geth might not accept him any longer. She realized then, how much her people would do the same. Yet was it the same reason? The Geth did not 'hate' the Quarians in truth only Legion had emotions. Yet the understood the danger of the rogue heretics. If Legion were, to evolve like them. Tali closed her eyes and pushed all these thoughts away, to only then think one thing. That she wanted to ask.

"You'd die for me?"

"Yes."

"Why…?"

"We, love you."

"…." Tali lowered her head, and finally just hugged him. "You know? My recent problems with the Flotilla. All of a sudden, that seems pitiful hearing what you've been struggling with. I wish I'd been here to help."

"You were. In light of our feeling for you. It helped us in our consensus." Legion wrapped his arms around her, and cupped his head around the back of her helmet. While he felt nothing physically, the act was respected. He recognized and honored her gesture, as a genuine act. Yet he also found it unsettling how even with all his emotions her had no means to ever know touch. Not like she did. Yet, in the way her body moved. He simulated an understanding, that when he squeezed his fingers at her shoulders and it made her back stiffen, then relax? He can process, that this meant a measure of comfort after the initial alarm. He based all actions of 'touch' with Tali, by her body's response. Not his own.

That was the best he as what he is. Can offer.

Tali sighed a bit as she realized she had a lot to do. "Legion, I need to go."

Tali let go, stepping back and looking up at him. Legion seemed to look at her, scanning her body language. "Tali'zorah." She gave a nod. "We have another consensus to form. Yet we need your aid in cooperation. When you have time, we will be pleased to speak with you in private."

"Right." A smile etched under her iridescent eyes. Soon, she asks, "Will you be willing in a hour or so? I have to all a meeting. With the ship's main crew. So after that. We should talk."

"Yes. That is acceptable."

Tali let go of his hand after stepping back from him and hanging onto it a while. She honestly could not believe how bad it felt letting him go. She had to though. As their fingers trailed, Tali stepped out and sighed deeply. Walking past Chakwas, Tali's eyes glare angrily. "Chakwas, prepare a bed."

The doctor looked up startled in the manner Tali's shoulders thrust and fists tense. She knew what it meant. "What's going on?"

"I'm going to have a talk with Zaeed."

As the doors closed. Chakwas frowned deeply, "Good heavens," standing, she thought who to see? Mordin was in his lab, he was working on something. Then she turned to the AI Room.

---

Zaeed was leaning on his perch somewhat thinking back to a fine old mission. When the doors opened. In came Tali, looking rather angry, least her body language said so. "Huh, was wondering when you'd show." Zaeed motioned to the desk by surveilance. "Top right shelf."

Tali was somewhat distracted, so she opened the drawer. Her eyes glare back as Zaeed speaks up, "I charged them power cells just for when you came. You know, for you little mechanical friend." A smirk, he leaned off, waving a hand around the room. "I don't need any batteries for my toys. Mind you, seeing you Quarians need your suits to fool around, it must be pretty relaxing having your own hand-held like that?"

Tali stepped into the center of the room staring him down. Then she started to pace, looking at him. Zaeed was now pushing off the wall asking, "You didn't? Really, did you come down here to do this? Kid?"

"My name is Tali'zorah vas Normandy, I'm not a kid. I'm a woman."

Zaeed narrowed his eyes, and rolled his head but his eyes never left her. She soon stood there tensing up a little, giving a stern flutter of her eyes around the room. "Right. Forgot, you Quarians and your pilgrimages. Still, can't say it'll matter. You all look the same in those suits you wear." A snort, he asks, "Wasn't it the Geth that caused that?"

"The Geth and the Quarians." She said, begrudgingly but truthfully. Tali leaned back on her haunches, and slowly motioned her right hand off to her side, the left one out a little. "Yes, I know. Legion however isn't like that. He's a good person, unlike some people."

"Holy hell." Zaeed had to laugh inwardly, mostly chuckled outwardly. "You even think of it as a he? That's to right, be the funniest damn thing ever." Then, he admits with a slight shrug as he opened his legs out a little. "That and the thought some two-bit Quarain quad-slut is going to ever kick my ass!"

"RARGH!" Tali, charged, and the fight. Well.

First, she dropped down, punched his knee. Or tried to, Zaeed pulled back and sent his right fist down on the back of her helmet. Then snagged the cowl around her, tugging it and ripping it off. The reaction, Tali screamed up punching her shoulder and head under his ribs, the battle armor made him gag only a little as the little snot actually had some strong legs. Quarian arches… probably made that possible. Thrown back on that wall he's always up against, Zaeed raised his arms and dual-haymaker into her spine. A scream and Tali fell, but punched his ribs a little.

Zaeed however was much stronger. He kicked her stomach, then backhanded her helmet. Grabbing his hand he snarled and rubbed it as she spun on her hands and feet, sprawled out on the ground. Tali had basic military training, from her father and the Quarians in hand to hand. Yet, she never really practiced it. She never thought to use it. Today though, Tali narrowed her eyes as she shifted her knees and stood up glaring on the bastard. No, the bosh'tet.

"Got to admit." Zaeed shook his hand a little. "I didn't see you coming at me like this."

"You hurt my friend."

"I hurt no one." With that, he charged at her, swinging his right, but as she shifted his body jerked and suddenly his left hand snatched the quarian's throat. Throwing her back on the desk, he held her there shouting, "It's a god damn MACHINE!"

"ARRRRGH!" Tali, grabbed and smashed the nearest object she can, a lamp on the desk. Then she grabbed a hold of the end of the desk and pulled both her legs. With her firm grip, and strong legs she kicked Zaeed across the room into several of the storage containers. Zaeed rolled off the blow, and fell on his knees gasping a bit. That kick hurt like hell.

Tali sat up breathing heavily. Holding her neck as that hold was hard, but not that hard. Maybe he's trying to just scare her? She snarled out though, "You have no idea how much more man that machine is than you!"

Zaeed spun his head up with a near whiplash snarl. Jerking up he stormed at her, but Tali jumped off to the side. This time though, Zaeed stumbled on his feet and started planting punches. Tali ducked as she can. Zaeed, he hit her however in the face plate, then a blow to the stomach, cheek and so forth. A few blows and she flung back faltering on the crates gasping and panting violently. Feeling each blow.

Zaeed leaned on his desk, and yanked the shelf open. Grunting and holding his rib, Zaeed now took out a cigar and said, "Fucking only see your father right now."

Tali turned, shakily. Glaring on him to mention her father. "I mean, he hated the Geth right?" Kicking up a leg, he sat with his knee on the desk, and puffed his cigar a little. Grinning on Tali being as angry she was. "Tried to experiment with them. Provide the 'answer' to the Geth problem. Look at his baby girl now. What a mess you've made."

"You had no right to hurt Legion."

"Oh here we go again." Snarling, he glared on her with a bit of hate. "It's a machine. I didn't hurt it!"

"Yes you did!" She shifted up on the crates, and held her ribs. Oh keelah… "He's been trying to understand everything you told him. He even ran simulations, about his people. About me."

"So?" He smirked, asking, "Do I look like I care?"

"That's just it you don't. You don't care how much you hurt my boyfriend."

"Wait a moment." Zaeed suddenly took a heavy puff of his cigar. Then he tossed it down, stepped off the desk and pulled up his lower armor from the waist. "Right, part of that isn't working for me."

"Which part?"

"Yeah, the 'boy' part. Last I checked, you gotta have one of these," he grabbed his crotch, smirking, "To be a boy."

"Oh? Really?" Tali narrowed her eyes, as she pushed off the boxes. "I'm surprised you count that shriveled husk worth something to mention."

"You lil'!"

Another bout, this time Zaeed charged in but she had suddenly grabbed…

"No! NO! NO! Stop!"

Tali blinked, and saw the rusty gun she was holding. Then she recalled, "Jessie?"

"Please! Don't! Wait, I'll KILL you!" Yet, as he went to snatch her, she raised it, daring to do it. "You don't have the guts!"

Tali glared back asking, with a heavy dose of venom on her lips. "This rusty piece of scrap mean so much to you?"

"Yes! Okay, you got me."

"Good." She raised it, looking to smash it. Yet as Zaeed's heart jumped she stopped. Dropping it a inch off the place it lay before. Zaeed held his chest over his heart while Tali walked over and wrapped her cloak over her helmet. "Think about that next time you mess with Legion. Zaeed."

Zaeed glared on her before checking the rifle. Seeing it's okay, he snarled out, "Hell, didn't mess with him too much. I just poked some fun at him."

"I don't care." She turned, Tali now points at Zaeed in an accusatory fashion. "You don't have any right to bother him or me. Especially when you have such feelings for a damn out of date junk gun!"

Zaeed sighed before shaking his head. "You're right…" Turning, he offered his hand. "You fight pretty good for a Quarian."

Tali looked at his hand, and then his earnest smile. A little bit humbled, perhaps? Tali reached out grabbing his hand…

Suddenly, he pulled her into a punch straight into her stomach, and as she was thrown off that he snatched her by her shoulders, and spun her over his leg, laying her out on the floor painfully tossed on her back. Where he now, roared out and kicked Tali as she rolled on her side, making her gasp again.

"Don't you EVER touch my Jessie!"

Tali, snarled but he stomped on her helmet, and pressed her face into the floor, where he demanded, "Say it! Say you'll never, ever touch my Jessie!"

"BOSH'TET!"

Narrowing his eyes, he suddenly raised his foot and stomped her helmet. Tali gasped before then feeling him kick her stomach, raising her up off the floor. Then down he dropped to a knee, pulling her over and then up before tossing her straight into the wall beside the door.

Coughing, Tali held herself a little more beaten than she anticipated. Zaeed gave a sigh, and cough before he dropped on his back, up against his crates.

"Damn Quarian."

"Stupid, old man."

He narrowed his eyes but had to admit. She's a lot tougher than he gave credit for. "Most people don't stick around after this long."

Tali gave and equal glare. Still certain, "I won't leave until you pay."

Zaeed just smiled. "I don't think you can help with that." He stood and shifted his shoulder rubbing it. "Still, you did give me a little bit of an ache."

Talking toward her, she narrowed her eyes. Then Tali pulled back her leg, he was going to jump but she kicked too fast… this time, not his knee. Not his thigh.

"ARGH!" Zaeed, flew back and slammed on the ground curled over, hands between his legs. "Oh, god." He cried, head tossing as she chuckled. "It's not funny…"

"Seems funny to me." Tali, started to stand up and groan a bit. "Oh, Keelah. I think you may have bruised my ribs."

"You bruised my pride."

Tali glared on his shuffled state. Then smiled before saying, "Good. Then we're even."

Zaeed glared back snarling, "We're not even close to even you little shit."

"Trust me Zaeed. This isn't something you want to push."

"Why not?" He asks, as he felt some the numbness in his thighs and such leave. Yet, as the Quarian opened the door. Legion walked in. Seeing Tali, and then Zaeed? Tali gave a nod then points to Legion.

"Because, next time. I'm letting my boy friend kick your ass. Which, I think you might find a fist fight with him a little harder to handle."

Zaeed thought about that a moment. Then looked at Legion's legs. "Huh… might be a bit the problem if he kicks like you."

Legion turned to Tali. Who was smiling, with some strange faint interesting pleasure in her moment of superiority. "In fact," Legion spoke as he looked at Zaeed. "Our physical kick is strong enough to most likely dent most hulls of most space faring frigates. That, is only a speculation."

Zaeed rubbed his groin whispering, "Right, guess I get where that's going."

Tali gave a nod, and said. "You are catching on. Just don't forget." She turned, grabbing Legion's arm and pulling him out. "Let's take you back to the AI room Legion."

Legion left, as Zaeed seemed to go back to his common routine, minus a little more ache. Yet in the elevator, Legion asks, "Do you wish to stop in the medical bay first?"

"Oh Keelah yes!" A groan, she held tighter as she gave a slight grumble, "That jerk is a mean fighter."

"You fought a skilled veteran mercenary and prevailed." Legion gave a nod and then slight chirp. "Mostly."

"Hmph, remind me never to fight on your behalf ever again."

Legion, looked down as she was serious. "Noted, we never asked you to. We accepted his truth. It was enlightening."

Tali seemed to understand, but she shook her head. "I don't care Legion. From now on, someone messes with you. They mess with me. Now let's go take care of this…" she sighed holding her ribs. "Well these problems. Before something else comes up."

---

Chakwas looked over Tali for a while and then, a smile she told her. "You'll be just fine. No bone damage. No suit ruptures as I can tell."

Tali sighed as she jumped off the table a bit relieved. "Thank you Chakwas."

"Any time." However, she frowned asking, "So are you going to be okay to go to the meeting."

"I have to be." Tali shook her head saying, "I don't have a choice. I'm the one leading the discussion."

Leaving now. Tali whispered, "Thank you for coming Legion. I mean, I had Zaeed taken care of, but you helped a lot."

"We are more than pleased to assist." Tali walked out, Legion soon watched her and turned to Chakwas after the door closed. "Tali is in good spirits. Even after a conflict with a team member."

"It's a bit of the need to blow off steam." Chakwas told. A smile, she turned up and gave a nod. "In some people the desire to help someone, or better beat the tar out of another can really change a person."

"Indeed." Legion, soon began to open his design program again. Chakwas raised a brow as she can not tell what this device was.

"What are you working on?"

Legion looked up to Chakwas. Then he asked, "Can you resist the urge to discuss this matter with anyone else?"

"Of course. I'm a doctor." She smiled, Chakwas loved to hear news. Especially secrets. "So what is it?"

Legion gave a nod, as he showed her the design. "It is a sexual aide."

"…." Chakwas smiled at first, then her eyes grew wide, and jaw hung. That was… what…?

"Zaeed continued to explain the need of sexual stimulation with one's partner. We have not incorporated the design. However, before we do. We wish to take on the hindsight of Tali's preferences." He motioned and suddenly added something. "Our design is a remarkable construct of considered promise. Every aspect has a specific means to stimulate the full sexual orifice of the female gender. Especially a Quarian. This design, is…"

Chakwas while blushing deeply, said, "Legion, you know? This is something you REALLY should discuss with Tali immediately."

"We will after her war room presentation."

The poor doctor. Flush in the cheeks. Embarassed to all degree. She shook her head and told him, "Be sure you do. You might find her reluctant."

Legion lowered his eye, and then turned to Chakwas. "Is the design 'faulty' for a reason we have you to notice? If you could give us any opinion you may have?"

Chakwas finally gave a snorting chuckle, trying not to laugh now at the absurdity. "Legion please put that thing away." Then, a giggle she whispered, "Good lord he doesn't even have one yet and we're begging him to… hah."

Legion's brow curved strangely, before he closed the program. "We do not understand your response?"

"Trust me Legion." She went to work with a smile. "My response will be tame compared to Tali's."