-Envy-

-Two Weeks Ago
Systems Alliance Frigate Normandy SR-2, CIC (Combat Information Center)

Aedan watched the holographic Milky Way swirl lazily in front of his usual spot at the head of the CIC as the Normandy's crew performed their usual duties. In particular, his gaze was fixed on the informational display of one particular planet.

The Normandy was currently within the Iera System of the Shadow Sea, in orbit above the human colony world, Horizon. The last time he was there, he was working with Cerberus and faced the Collectors for the first time. Now, however, the colony supposedly housed a "safe-haven" from the war. Aptly named "Sanctuary," it was a refuge that supposedly housed millions according to the advertisments. If that was the case, then why did it and the primary human settlements appear to be completely deserted?

Reminds me too much of Freedom's Progress, Aedan shuddered. Something's wrong, I can feel it. It can't be a coincidence that Kai Leng's signal disappeared in this area.

The Normandy was here based on Specialist Traynor's quick thinking, which Aedan found out about the morning after Thessia. In his absence (and because Kaiden was with Liara all night, to everyone's suspicion), Garrus ordered Joker to follow up on Traynor's lead after the signal pointed to Horizon.

For about the hundredth time now, he was thankful Garrus decided to be his XO.

"Still no response to our hails, Commander," Specialist Traynor spoke up from her station. "Orders?"

Aedan stared at the display for a moment longer, gripping the steel safety bars. He finally turned to Traynor, his emotions carefully masked behind eleven years of military discipline.

"We're going in. Have Kaiden come up to the CIC, he'll be in charge of the Normandy while I'm groundside."

Traynor saluted as Aedan rushed past her and headed for the elevator. "EDI, tell Garrus and Tali to meet me in the cargo hold as soon as they're able. Have Cortez prep one of the Kodiaks for a drop. Also, make sure Lieutenant Vega's ready to go with Liara and Javik at a moment's notice if we need backup."

"At once, Shepard."

The elevator's doors closed as it lowered him toward the cargo hold, but abruptly stopped at Deck Four. As the doors opened, Aedan's hardened eyes softened slightly as Tali walked in, hitting the button that closed the doors behind them.

"Aedan, what's going on?" Tali asked, taking a spot next to him as the elevator resumed its descent.

"Not sure," Aedan replied, arms crossed as he leaned against the wall. "Remember those ads we saw about 'Sanctuary?' Turns out it's on Horizon. What's strange is that Traynor didn't pick up any comm. traffic at all. Can't be a coincidence Leng's signal went dark there."

Tali picked up on his line of thinking almost immediately, as if their minds were joined. Yet another sign of how close their bond was. "Cerberus might have something to do with this."

"Exactly," Aedan sighed as the elevator slowed. "Suit up and be prepared to find anything you can imagine down there. Hopefully we'll find Leng and survivors, but...I'd expect the worst."

She took a moment to put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, giving it a slight squeeze. "Whatever happens, I'm right behind you."

-Several Hours Later
Systems Alliance Frigate Normandy SR-2, Captain's Cabin

None of them were prepared for what they found on Horizon. Sanctuary turned out to be the closest thing Aedan could compare to a living hell. Nothing, not even what he'd seen at the asari monastery, could compare to the nightmare he led his team into.

It was all a front for a Cerberus research installation, though this one put all the others Aedan and his crew shut down over the years to shame. Not even the bases testing Thorian Creepers or bio-engineered Rachni compared to what they found.

Every single refugee was killed by Cerberus; sacrificed and turned into husks and other abominations so that the Illusive Man and his cronies could study the effects of indoctrination. It made other Cerberus horrors like Project Overlord look like child's play.

All those lives, just so that monster could satisfy his insane obsession with controlling the Reapers. To top it all off, the project was headed by Dr. Henry Lawson, Miranda's power-hungry father. Fortunately for Miranda and her sister, Oriana, Aedan's team arrived just in time to give Miranda the chance she needed to save her sister and put her father down for good.

Aedan had offered a ride back to the Citadel on the Normandy, but Miranda was insistent about taking her own shuttle to an Alliance base herself. She did promise to keep in touch, however.

"I'm glad Miranda got to finally put a bullet in dear-ol' dad; maybe now once the war's over, she and Oriana can live in peace. Plus, at least now we have a solid lead on Lieutenant-Bastard Kai Leng," Garrus spoke up from his place on the couch. "Miranda's bug is bound to transmit coordinates sometime soon. Then we can finally wipe Cerberus out for good."

"Yes, but we need to make sure Kai Leng's really at Cerberus HQ if we're going to strike," Liara said from next to him. "As we've seen, Cerberus isn't stupid. I've had my agents stage attacks on several of their bases in the past few months, some of them reported to be central command. Each one turned out to be a dummy."

Garrus nodded. "Not surprising considering how slippery the Illusive Man is. Plus, we still need more time to finish the Crucible. At least, that's what Victus told me. We're getting there, but it still needs a few more finishing touches."

"That reminds me, I need to check in with my contacts there," Liara said, rising from the couch as she walked to the door.

"I'll see you both later. Don't work too hard, Shepard."

Aedan grunted with a nod from his desk as he finished up his mission report. He was mashing the interface harder than normal. Actually, he'd been stone-faced ever since they came back from Horizon.

All those innocents. Entire families even, just looking for a safe haven. And we never even suspected it. The Illusive Man will pay for every innocent life he murdered in that hellhole! I'll kill him myself!

"Shepard? You with me?"

"Huh?" Aedan looked up, snapping out of his thoughts. "Oh, sorry Garrus. Did you ask me something? And where'd Liara go?"

"She just left, had to go do Shadow Broker stuff," Garrus chucked. "I asked where Tali was. Didn't her shift end a half-hour ago? Thought you'd know since you two are, you know...together?"

Aedan looked at the time on his omni-tool, completely puzzled. "EDI?"

"Yes, Shepard?" the AI responded through the intercom.

"Do you know where Tali is?" Aedan asked.

"One moment," EDI said before responding a few seconds later. "Major Alenko reports that she is in the Port Observation Lounge. He also wishes to add that she's requesting your presence, and that you should get down there immediately."

"Any idea why?"

As if on cue, his omni-tool pinged with a new text message:

"hey Aedan im in teh lounge havinga drink, wanna hwlp?"

"Uh oh," Aedan muttered before immediately getting up and shutting off his omni-tool.

"What's up?" Garrus asked.

"I think Tali might've found your stash."

"Ohh...right. Crap, I had some fine turian brandy stocked away for our victory party, too. Better get down there before she takes her mask off and dances on the poker table or something." He paused for a moment before another thought hit him. "Actually Shepard, I don't think I've ever seen Tali drunk before. What kind is she?"

"Dunno, I haven't either," Aedan admitted. "You mean you're not worried about her?"

"Well...not really. Come on, it's Tali we're talking about. She'll probably pass out after the first bottle."

"Regardless, I should go see her," Aedan sighed. "Can you finish filling out the Horizon mission report for me and send it off to Hackett when you get a moment?"

He sighed. "Oh joy, paperwork. Fine, but you owe me a drink on the Citadel when we get there."

"Will do. I'll send you what I have so far on my way down," Aedan added as he made a beeline for the elevator. "EDI, once Garrus leaves, could you run a quick decontamination cycle in here?"

"Of course. I'll also have Doctor Chakwas on standby, just in case."

"Don't know what I'd do without you, EDI," Aedan said as the agonizingly-slow elevator closed its doors.

"Though I do not support it, Jeff said to, quote, 'take plenty of pictures and video for your home movie collection.'"

"Of course he did," Aedan grumbled. "Tell him Tali will hack his omni-tool so it will play only elcor porn for a week straight if he spies on us with the cameras. As for me, I'll do much worse than that."

"He won't, Shepard. That is, unless he wants me to 'accidently' delete his Galaxy of Fantasy account."

"Shepard! Wanna drink? Oh wait...you can't! Silly me..."

Aedan didn't know whether to be pissed off, mortified...or rolling on the floor laughing his ass off at the sight that greeted him when he arrived. Kaiden warned him, but no amount of warning could have prepared him to see his quarian girlfriend rocking back and forth in her seat at the bar, a straw poked out of a sterilized container in her hands.

"Yeah..." Aedan scratched the back of his head, unsure of what to say. "Um, why are you drinking alone, Tali?"

"Drinking? Um...oh! I'm toasting Miranda...I think."

"Is that so?" Aedan asked, taking a seat next to her. "Wait, how are you getting drunk?"

"Veryy carefully," Tali slurred. "Turian brandy, triple filtered, then introduced into the suit through an emergency, induction port."

Aedan was completely lost as she gestured to the plastic tube sticking out of her drink. "Um...that's a straw Tali."

"E-emergency...induction...port," she sounded out. "It's actually getting a little harder to get it into the slot. I think that means it's working."

"Right," Aedan sighed. It's gonna be a long night. Best roll with it for now, I guess.

"She was so rude," Tali continued. "What did Jack call her? 'Cerberus cheerleader?' With her perfect genes, and that attitude, and...and still, she got it done. She stopped her father."

"I didn't realize this would be so hard on you," he said. I thought the thousands of dead refugees would be the reason. At least that I could understand. But what's Miranda and her father have to do with it?

"I didn't like her. Keelah, she was such a bitch!" Tali sighed. "But I respected her. Sometimes that's better than liking. She did whatever it took to stop her father. She never gave into him. Never changed herself to please him."

So that is what this is about, Aedan thought. Now he was starting to see the picture. "Ahh."

"Don't 'ahh' me! You sound like a vorcha," she scolded.

He chuckled. "Seeing a bit of yourself in Miranda fighting her father, huh?"

"Yes!" Tali exclaimed. "Ancestors, I spent my life trying to live up to him, then making up for his mistakes, doing what he'd have wanted."

"Except it's never that easy," Aedan mused.

"Aedan, when do we get to stop reacting to our parents and start living for ourselves?"

Ah, what the hell. Not like she drinks much anyway. "I wouldn't know, mine are gone, remember? But I think the answer to that one is at the bottom of that glass," he said.

"I might need help with the induction straw. Port. You know."

"Sure," Aedan said, walking around the bar for a root beer. "How about some company too?"

"But what about..."

"I said company, not drinking buddy," Aedan laughed. "And before you say it, no I'm not mad at you. Hell I'm surprised you didn't do this sooner with all you've been going through."

He sat back down, popping the bottle cap and taking a gulp. She rested her head on his shoulder for a moment before she shot up laughing.

"I can't believe this! I'm having a drink with my boyfriend. My human boyfriend. Hah! My father would have hated you."

"Wasn't a fan of humans?"

"Nope!" she chirped. "Wanted me to bond with a quarian! Said being with a human wasn't befitting a 'proud daughter of the Migrant Fleet.' He didn't even once come by to ask me how I was doing after you...well..."

Asshole. "Here's to him, then," Aedan interrupted, trying to maneuver away from that particular topic.

"And, to Miranda!" Tali added. "Nice job, you genetically perfect Cerberus cheerleader bosh'tet. Keelah se'lai!"

They both took another drink, setting their drinks down with two loud thunks.

-Eight Hours Later
Systems Alliance Frigate Normandy SR-2, Captain's Cabin

Aedan had only been back in their room for a few minutes when Tali finally stirred.

"Ugh," she groaned, holding her head as she started to rise. She paused when she noticed her suit was on, but her visor and helmet gear were missing. Frantically she looked around for them, but once she realized where she was (and the amused figure looking down at her fondly), she collapsed back onto the bed.

"How're you feeling?" Aedan asked, walking down the steps and taking a seat next to her.

"Like I just spent three hours with you in the Mako..."

"Oh come on, I wasn't that bad."

"Yes you were, you lying bosh'tet!" she giggled. "I've never seen a krogan turn several different shades of green when taking out geth turrets. Let's not forget the time you made Garrus nearly hyperventilate on Feros when you flew off the road..."

Aedan laughed at that. "The look on his face was priceless when I landed on that colossus!"

"Mhm...ugh," Tali moaned. "Speaking of dry heaving—"

" —Here," Aedan placed an empty waste basket next to his bed as Tali sat up and leaned over. Without a word he readied a glass of water and held it out to her when she was done. "At least dextros and levos both drink water."

Tali nodded as she downed the cup, a sour look on her face as she put the glass down. "Sorry about that. My head is pounding and I'm pretty sure I'll be getting at least a mild infection. Really, Aedan? I don't understand why people do this for fun."

Aedan smirked as he sat down next to her again. "It depends on the situation. Some like doing it because it loosens them up, like a date for example. Humans call it 'liquid courage' in those instances."

"And what about you? I mean, if this is how you felt every time you woke up, why would you poison yourself like this?"

The mirth left Aedan's eyes as Tali's own softened. "To forget," he muttered. "That's another thing humans use alcohol for. It makes us forget things, at least for awhile. But it can be dangerous when you don't realize what you're doing. Not to mention it's addicting. It can get as bad as an addiction to red sand if you let it."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have—"

"—it's fine," Aedan cut her off, entwining one of his hands with hers as he stared up at the bullet hole that was still visible if one knew where to look. "That night happened, and I've left it behind me. Never did get a chance to say thank you, by the way."

"Please, there's no need," Tali said. "And, if you'd rather I not drink as well, I could..."

"Nah," Aedan waved his other hand. "Do what you want. I won't stop you if you do. Just, well...don't drink alone again, okay?" He cracked a smile, lightening the mood. "At least tell me first so I know when to cut you off next time."

Tali groaned. "How much?"

"Before I got there? About two bottles of Garrus' turian brandy. Sterilized, of course. You finished half of another before I cut you off."

"And, I didn't...do anything questionable last night, did I?"

"Well, you did confess your undying love for Garrus and started dancing on the bar—"

She swatted him on the arm. "Bosh'tet, I did not!"

"Oh good, your memory's intact!" Aedan laughed. "What do you last remember?"

"Mmm...I think it was after we toasted Miranda. Or was it my father?"

"Both actually," Aedan said. "And relax, we just talked for a bit before you passed out. I carried you up here and fell asleep on the couch. I just got back from meeting with Hackett, actually."

"What time is it?"

"About 1300, give or take."

"Keelah! Adams is going to kill me," Tali exclaimed as she started to rise.

"Relax," Aedan soothed as he pulled her back down. "I told him you weren't feeling well so he gave you the day off. Not much to do anyway except wait 'till we get to the Citadel."

"Wait, the Citadel?" Tali questioned. "Shouldn't we be preparing to assault Cerberus' main base?"

"Change of plans. Actually, care for a late breakfast? Just let me shower first and I'll tell you all about it. The rest of the crew already knows."

"Sure," Tali said as Aedan helped her to her feet. As the water turned on she started running some suit diagnostics on her omni-tool and checked her e-mail. That is, until she found a select few messages to certain crew members that were badly worded.

Keelah, Tali thought, completely mortified as she read through the ones she sent Javik and Aedan in particular. What happened to my spellchecker?

Whooo! We're finally heading to the Citadel! From here-on, we'll be exploring select moments covered in the Citadel DLC (with my own personal touches, of course) and catching up to the time period established in the first chapter. Thanks for the awesome response last chapter, guys! I got some very helpful and encouraging reviews, and it's given me extra motivation to keep going! Anyway, not much else to say here really. This chapter wasn't as hard as I thought it'd be to write. Might be because I'm doing another run-through of ME2 and 3 right now as FemShep (out of curiosity's sake. Romancing Garrus, and I must say, I can see why Shakarians are so enthusiastic. Don't get me wrong, I miss Tali lots and I'll always be a Talimancer first and foremost. But for FemShep, I'm definitely a Shakarian, haha).

I do wish this chapter was a bit more exciting/longer, but well, it is what it is. The Citadel stuff will be far more interesting, I promise, haha. Expect a little action, lots of fun times to be had, and of course, more Tali/Shepard fluff!

Anyway, thanks like always everyone for reading/reviewing/fav/following. I'll try to get the next chapter out as soon as I can, but it might be another week or two depending on what happens in my personal life (transitioning jobs). Please review if you could!

-Sheik