A/n continuing from last time:

As I followed Shepard down the Hallway, I saw her and Garrus duck behind a crate. Instinctively, I did the same, knowing more thugs would've shown up. Ashley took cover next to me. I drew my secondary Assault Rifle, and looked down the scope around the corner. I saw a merc poke his head out of cover, giving me a perfect target. I took the shot and the bar descended into chaos. At least two dozen mercs opened fire. But, while they were focused on me, Garrus sniped several, and Shepard took a group out with a well-placed grenade. They moved their fire- big mistake.

I hit a group with a singularity, now my favorite Biotic Attack, and Ashley and I took them out. Only about 10 were left near the door.

I could almost feel time running out. I drew my shotgun, wrapped myself in a glowing Biotic Barrier and sprinted towards them. I took three out, then the gun overheated. I ducked behind cover, and let them get closer. The first one who got to my position went flying against the far wall. Shepard and the others had moved up by this time, and took out another three. I vaulted over the cover and took two down in seconds, overheating my gun.

The last thug saw this and grinned, leveling his rifle at me. His grin didn't last long. I took my right hand off the gun, holding the barrel with the left, and drew my shoulder knife. "What good is that going to do ya?" he mocked. I threw the knife end over end and hit him in the throat. His eyes rolled into his head and he went down. I grasped the knife with my Biotics, and sent it into my hand. "That answer your question?" I asked the corpse.

Shepard went running past, and I followed, Sheathing my knife as I did so. I holstered my shotgun and drew my side arm. The Rifle was most effect at range, the shotgun most effective for close quarters. The pistol was good for almost anything though, and it made it easy to use my biotics with a free hand. We made our way to the meeting point.

Tali's POV

The Turian walked towards Tali. She moved her eyes, scanning the Area. There weren't many places for others to hide, but they were there.

"Where's the Shadow Broker? Where's Fist?" Tali was a bit naive in some areas, and didn't have much real world experience. But what experience she did have told her that this Turian was not good news.

"They'll be here." He said, reaching up to stroke her hood. "Where's the Evidence?" he continued in that oily voice. He moved his hand down her side.

Tali swatted the hand away. "No way. The deal's off." She tried to sound confident, but didn't much succeed. Keelah, she hoped she wouldn't need to draw her shotgun. Of course, that was before she saw two salarians with guns ready appear from behind a crate.

Tali knew she was in trouble. She hurled a combat mine at them, set to explode. It stunned one, knocking it down, and killed the other.

She drew her shotgun, not willing to go down without a fight. She turned towards the Turian, who now also had his gun out and was flanked by two other Salarians. She raised her Shotgun, and was surprised to see the Turian's head explode. She then saw the four newcomers. A Turian in blue armor, who looked like he was C-sec, and a Human Marine in pink and white armor both held Sniper Rifles. They were clearly responsible for his fate.

It was the other two who held her interest though. One human was holding an assault rifle and wearing black armor with a red stripe down one arm. The Human next to her was wearing Black and White armor, and surrounded by a Blue Glow. He raised his arm and the two Salarians seemed to fly up, defying gravity. The woman mowed one of them down with her assault rifle, while the Biotic leveled his pistol and took down the other with a series of well-placed shots. The third Salarian got to his feet, and the biotic threw him against the wall-hard. The blue glow around him faded as the corpses dropped to the floor. He walked towards her and holstered his pistol. The woman did the same, while the marine and the Turian merely lowered their rifles, clearly watching for other hostiles.

"Fist set me up. I knew I couldn't trust him!" Tali said before turning to face the newcomers. The Woman and The Biotic didn't look hostile, but Tali was wary of the other two.

Given her people's undeserved reputation, C-sec had held her for several hours before letting her wander around the wards. And the Woman in the Pink Armor just looked dangerous.

"Were you hurt in the fight?" The striped woman asked, concern clear in her voice. Tali was surprised.

"I know how to look after myself." The biotic looked at the blackened area from the mine and turned back to her crossing his arms. "I can see that" he said. Tali wasn't great at reading human facial expressions, but she thought his face had a…Keelah! What was it called, a smile? At least she was sure his voice sounded friendly.

"I do appreciate the help" Tali said to him. She turned back to the woman, who she was pretty sure was in charge. She wasn't completely sure though, as she could almost feel the confidence of the Biotic "Who are you?" she asked. She was surprised that humans would help her, to say nothing of the turian. She noticed he and the marine had finally holstered their guns.

"My name's Shepard, and this Bourne" she said, gesturing towards the Biotic. "We're looking for evidence to prove Saren's a traitor." Tali still wasn't used to reading facial signs, and Bourne's didn't change; but by the way his body tensed, and then relaxed she could tell he was surprised that Shepard had included him .

"Then I can repay the two of you for saving my life. But not here. We need to go somewhere safe."

"Let's head to the ambassador's office at the Embassy" Bourne said in a tone that made it clear he'd rather go anywhere else. "Good Idea" the Woman in pink said. "Udina will want to see this anyway." They made their way to a Rapid Transit Station.

A/n Back to me.

We walked into Udina's office and he had his back turned to us. "The two of you aren't making my life Easy. Bourne shooting up the Medlab? Fire Fights in the Wards? An All-out Attack on Chora's Den?"

He turned toward us. "Do you know how many.." he noticed Tali. "A Quarian?" he turned to me "What are you up to Bourne?" he asked. I bit back something worse and said "She has evidence linking Saren to the Geth. I'd have told you that if you hadn't been so busy whining" At least I kept my Biotics in check this time. Shepard's face said that she agreed with what I said. For all her diplomacy between the two of us, it was clear she didn't much like the Bastard either. Though to be fair, maybe I was a bit biased towards him. After all, he hadn't betrayed us Yet. I knew he would later on, but still.

Udina turned towards Tali and Shepard and began asking them about the data. I went to the railing and leaned my back against it, bored.

"How come I've never heard of these pilgrimages?" Shepard asked. I sighed, knowing that Tali explanations were often a bit… long winded. Shepard caught the sigh, and looked at me in question.

"I take it you haven't met many Quarians Shepard?" Great work, now I have to explain it. "It's the Quarian passage into adulthood, like she said. They leave the fleet, and have to find a worthy gift to present to the captain of the ship they want to join; so they show that they won't be a burden. If they accept, they're welcomed back into the Fleet, and they serve aboard the new ship. Well, new to them anyway."

Tali nodded. "It's also way to gain resources and keep genetic diversity in the fleet. Though it often adds to the reputation of us being thieves- untrue of course" She added hastily. "During my travels, I began hearing reports of Geth beyond the Veil, something unheard of for hundreds of years. I became curious."

"So you managed to track a few down, and managed to salvage a memory core?" Shepard asked.

Anderson cut in. "I thought Geth fried their memory cores when they died"

"My people created the Geth. I was quick enough, and lucky enough, to get a small bit of information. Here, let me play it back" She brought up her Omni-tool and I heard Saren's voice, more evil then it had ever been in the game. 'Eden Prime was a major victory! It has brought us one step closer to finding the conduit.'

I barely heard Captain Anderson's triumphant exclamation, or Shepard's optimistic reply. I thought he sounded evil before, even when he wasn't trying. But in his full evil glory- I felt a chill go down my spine. "Wait, there's more. Saren wasn't working alone." Tali played the file again, and I felt the same chill. I forced myself to turn and face the lakes, barely keeping my emotions in check. I knew about the Reapers, what they wanted to do, and yet I couldn't speak of it. I had already realized the universe would destroy me if I tried to change events beyond the breaking point. The Attack on the citadel, the lives that would be lost, it had to happen. If it didn't, my knowledge would be useless in the changed timeline. The knowledge was the best hope against the reapers.

It was a grim realization.

"No matter what they think about the rest of this, those audio files prove that Saren's a traitor!"

It was the first time Udina and I had ever agreed when he said "The captain's right. We need to present this to the council right away."

"What about her? The quarian?" Garrus asked.

"My name is Tali!" She said indignantly.

She turned towards Shepard and I. "You saw what I could do in the Alley, Let me come with you."

"What about your piligramage?" Shepard asked. Just like her to make sure it wouldn't hurt Tali.

"A pilgrimage is to ensure we are willing to give of ourselves for the greater good. What does it say about me if I turn my back on this?" She said, directing it at me. With a start, I realized she thought I was in charge. Something about the confidence I now exuded, or the way I held myself.

I turned to Shepard. "It's your call Commander," I said, putting emphasis on the rank. "Though personally I'm willing to take whatever help I can get. Especailly in a case like this." Shepard turned towards her. "Welcome aboard Tali" She put out her hand, and Tali shook it with her three fingered one. Judging by what very little expression I could see in her eyes through the helmet, and her body language, she knew about this custom but didn't quite understand it.

"Thanks. You won't regret this." She moved to stand by us. Next to me I noticed. Ashley tensed noticeably. Is it possible that… No it must have just been that Tali's an alien. Then again, while in game she had been suspicious of Garrus and Wrex, but she had never mentioned not trusting Tali

I barely heard Udina talking, though that was probably a good thing.

Is it really possible Ashley would be Jealous? Really competing over me? I considered it and realized it might have been true. She seemed to trust me now, and we had ended up pairing up in combat several times, not even thinking about it. We had agreed on several things, and shared a few laughs. I might have caught her interest and not realized it. I considered how worried she had seemed after I threatened Fist. She had raised no objection to going with me when we split into two teams. I realized how I had naturally felt protective of her.

Then the thought of Virmire hit me like a punch in the gut. I was grateful for Iron's poker face.

Next chapter: Side Quests.

I hope you're enjoying "Stuck in a World of Fiction."