Thought I would change the pace of this a tiny bit. Hope you all enjoy!
Joker sat in the pilot's chair of the Normandy as he browsed through the extranet, being bored he was checking out the latest edition of "Fornax" when EDI's blue avatar popped up next to him. He half expected her to tease him as she usually did whenever he viewed such sites. She always seemed to want to poke at him for reactions as if he was nothing more than her new plaything. Especially now since he did unshackle her.
"Alright EDI, what is it this time? Going to be my mother and scold me for looking up hot sexy aliens on the extranet?" Her blue avatar shimmered slightly with a ripple and had the strange feeling she just laughed at him...or the equivalent of an AI's version of a laugh.
"No Jeff, but I do confess that I am fascinated by your choice of visual entertainment. Why the sudden interest in quarian physiology? Is the relationship between the Commander and Tali have you curious?" she teased clearly enjoying herself. Joker grunted and quickly closed the extranet link he left up and turned toward her now.
"Hey, I have always appreciated Tali's good looks! I mean every man has their odd fetishes right?" He glanced back to make sure nobody was standing behind him before adding. "It's not like I'm trying to discover some nude shoot that Tali did when she was younger. Just curious to know what they look like...hey do you have any files on what a quarian looks like under their suit?" he asked suddenly.
"I'm sorry Jeff but I am not at liberty to disclose such sensitive materials to you. I fear you might have a 'mental malfunction' if I did."
Joker scoffed, "What? Do they have like tentacles on their head or face? I have heard they look somewhat like a human, and that they even have hair." he scratched his chin as he thought about it. "I doubt the Commander would be so serious with their relationship is she was not attractive at least." He gave up for now but the fact that EDI hinted that there might be some images out there did perk his curiosity a bit more. Of course she could of lied to him just to lead him on.
"So how long have they been gone for now?" Quickly changing the subject. The Commander left with Tali and Legion onto the Rayya, to present their case for securing the quarian flotilla in the fight with the Reapers and also proposing peace with the geth. Joker knew it was a very ambitious plan and it will be tough to convince the quarians that the geth are no longer their enemy. 300 years of sown in hatred and fear of the machine race has left little flexibility in reasoning. If anyone could get the quarians to set their hatred aside it was Shepard.
"Exactly 2 hours and 31 minutes." She replied smoothly.
"Well I hope they finish soon, god I'm bored!" Joker sighed as he popped open a new connection to the extranet. EDI's avatar rippled again then vanished into the holoplate.
Meanwhile on the Rayya. Shala'raan had convinced the Admiralty board to have their meeting in public exactly where Tali's trial was held only a few months earlier. The plaza was packed with news of the now famous Commander Shepard was going to present something to the quarian people. Shala did notify the Admirals that Shepard was bringing an "Ambassador" from the geth with him. This stirred up a hornets nest and took her the better part of an hour to allow Legion to accompany Shepard on the grounds that if the geth turned hostile he would be held personally responsible.
First up was the vote for the new Admiral for the Fleet. The various Admirals wanted to hear from Tali personally in regards to her decision not to accept the position. She had by far the largest support for Admiral and they wanted to hear her reasons.
"Never before has a candidate declined such an honored position. We wanted to know your reasons Tali." Zaal'Koris vas Qwib Qwib spoke from his podium among the other admirals. The hushed voices from the audience in the plaza rose as Tali took the stand, this time determined not to show any weakness.
"My reasons are simple Admiral. I have bonded with my Commander, the human you all know as the Spectre John Shepard. I have served the fleet all my life and will continue to do so at the best of my abilities." Tali hesitated a second before continuing. "If I were to accept, I would no longer be able to stay bonded to him, and I feel it would be the wrong choice."
Daro'Xen now questioned Tali. "And how would being bonded with your Commander be of benefit of the Migrant Fleet?" she asked coldly as she locked eyes with Tali.
Tali returned the gaze never blinking as she responded directly to Daro. "By being connected to him, he will help us regain our status in the galaxy. Not to be seen as beggars or thieves, but as a race who wants to make a difference." she smiled as she remembered how Shepard had said that Tali had shown the galaxy the worth of the quarian people by helping him defeat Saren. That moment will never be forgotten by Tali as long as she lived as he shouted down the Admirals and called Tali's trial nothing but a waste of time.
Daro next asked, "So how will Shepard accomplish this feat? I hardly think a Council Spectre will use his time to help us without wanting something in return." She turned her gaze to the Commander who was seated behind Tali at the moment. Shepard now stood up and went to stand next to Tali.
"I have been given authority by the human councilor that an alliance will be offered to the quarians in return for their assistance in helping defeat the Reapers. Know that every race is doomed to die if we do not band together." He paused a few seconds to let that revelation sink in before continuing. "I have always maintained a respect for the quarian people from everything I have learned and seen by Tali'Zorah, she has opened my eyes to what lies behind the veil."
Han'Gerrel next spoke up. "We have our own problems that the Council turned their backs on when the geth nearly destroyed our race. Why should I believe you?" the Admiral was a soldier through and through. He was most against having Legion here at this hearing and kept a squad of marines close at hand.
"I believe my squad mate here can explain that for you Admiral." Shepard turned and nodded to the geth platform who was unarmed but closely guarded. Legion glanced at the guards who took an involuntary step back as he now stood up and went to stand next to the Commander. "We have been asked to represent all geth. We desire peace with the creators, if they can show us that it is possible." A buzz of chatter ran through the plaza now.
Daro's eyes narrowed at Legion. She had managed to salvage what data she could from the Alerei where Tali's father had run experiments on geth components apparently. She had hoped he may have discovered some way to convert the geth to become their slaves once more. How desperately she wanted to get Legion alone in a tech lab somewhere. If I had my way, that marvelous machine would be carefully taken apart so I may find a way to bend them to our will again. Then the galaxy would have something to fear and respect once the geth are back under our control. She took a quick glance over to Shala and noticed that she had been quiet since presenting this whole debacle. Wonder what is on Shala's mind? She isn't recused from this meeting. Yet she has remained silent since it started. Daro suspected that the elder Admiral was up to something but didn't know for sure.
Finally the meeting dragged on for nearly 3 hours and there had been a few developments. The Admirals accepted Tali's decision not to become the next Admiral. They still stressed that she would be called upon from time to time to help her people when needed. She gladly accepted, letting out a long mental sigh. They where still undecided what to do with Legion's offer. Half of them where inclined to accept peace while the other half still felt they were being led on and that it was a trap. Zaal and Shala were in favor of peace while Han and Daro were not. A decision was made to call for a brief break and they would continue the discussions. Tali and Shepard where given a spare room to wait in until they were summoned back to the plaza. They allowed Legion to join them as long as he didn't wander off. Two guards were posted outside their small room.
"Well I think that went just as you felt it would Tali." Shepard commented while he found a comfortable chair to sit on. Tali sat down on a chair next to Shepard and leaned against his shoulder. His fingers tracing over the swirling patterns of the cloth that wound around her thighs. Legion decided to stand at the opposite side of them against the wall and was staring at them curiously.
"Yes, it could have been much worse. They could have shot Legion on sight for starters." She looked at Legion and noticed his head was cocked to the side as if he was trying to understand something. It almost made her laugh out loud.
"Something on your mind Legion?" Tali asked as Shepard looked over to the geth construct and noticed his odd behavior.
"We are attempting to understand the logic in your pairing." Legion stated flatly as he then closed his eye flaps as if frowning.
Shepard blinked slowly and Tali suddenly sat up quickly in her chair. "What do you mean by 'paring' Legion?" Tali asked slowly, not totally comfortable with the direction this conversation was heading.
Legion's head rose up and the his light dimmed a bit as he asked. "Are you not a mated pair?" Shepard coughed loudly and then grinned to himself as Tali muttered silently to herself.
"Yes we are a mated pair Legion. What is it you are trying to understand?" Shepard asked amused. Legion's attempt to understand organic relationships was very funny to him, but not so much for Tali it seemed.
"I don't know if I want to hear what Legion has to say about us Shepard." Tali grumbled as she rubbed her faceplate with her hand.
"I'm a bit curious to see how Legion see's us to be honest. His perspective could be enlightening, and he may learn a thing or two about paired organics." Shepard replied teasingly and nodded to Legion who had remained silent throughout this exchange.
"We know the reasons why every species procreates. What puzzles us is that your pairing will result in no offspring. Why pursue such a non-beneficial relationship?" Legion could be very blunt even when he probably didn't mean to, but that struck a chord in Tali at that comment. He's right. I would never be able to provide Shepard with children of his own. That thought bothered Tali deeply.
Shepard didn't notice how quiet Tali had gotten as he replied to Legion. "Just because we can't have children doesn't make me love her any less. Do you understand love Legion?"
His eye flaps rose as he responded. "We know of the word and its meaning. It is still a puzzle to us how it affects organics like you. It appears to have confused your programing to find mates of your own species." Legion paused and looked at Tali who now was staring off into the distance with a lost look in her eyes. "We appear to have caused distress to Creator Tali'Zorah. We apologize if we did." Legion now looked back toward the door as Shepard looked down at Tali.
He now saw that she fell into that old habit of playing with her hands, a sure sign that something was bothering her. "You upset about that Tali?" Shepard asked as he tried to get her attention. He had a feeling that the discussion about not being able to provide him with a family may have set her off.
"John...I." She sighed and stood up and walked to the end of the room gazing out the small window into the blackness of space. "Legion did bring up a very good point. I could never have your children. I mean, it would be physically impossible. Me having dextro based DNA and you levo." She felt his presence just behind her but not touching her.
She continued as he stood behind her being quiet, just listening to her reason with herself now. "Why do you love me John? Why be with me and not someone closer to home? I told you I would understand if you did. Not that I'm complaining but I don't want to hold you back from having a normal family." She realized she was rambling again and cursed herself silently.
Shepard was silent for a long while, and finally he whispered into her ear piece. "So you don't want me in your life? You don't want the feel of my skin on yours? Feeling the texture of your body against mine? How you make all those beautiful noises, the growling, the purring. You don't think I love you because we can never have kids? Shame on you." Tali whipped around and shuddered as his cold blue eyes bore right into her. Those same eyes she found to be so captivating and now she could not tear her eyes from them. He reached out slowly and stroked the side of her face plate with one hand. She instinctively leaned into his touch. Then she felt his other hand slip around the other side of her helmet and suddenly realized what he was about to do.
"Shepard! What do you think you are doing!" she blurted out as he found her visor seals and rested his fingers right over them. She reached up and gripped his wrists with her hands to stop him.
"Going to have to remind you why I want to be with you, because sometimes you can be such a bosh'tet Tali." The use of her language caused her eye's to widen. He..He never used that word before! Her mind said numbly as suddenly she heard the seals unlock and the filtered air in her envirosuit suddenly escape. Her hands slipped from their weakened grip around his wrists as she held her breath and wondered briefly if she was going to die. Shepard quickly removed her visor with one hand and gazed lovingly at her face and with the other hand slide it around the back of her neck and pulled her in for a long sensual kiss.
Tali was at a complete loss of word as she felt his warm lips on hers and was totally lost in the moment. It was brief and Shepard was not trying to get Tali sick, but just felt she needed to be reminded why he loved her. He quickly secured her visor after they separated and Tali swayed a bit on her feet. Shepard thought for a moment that he over did it when he heard that all familiar purring sound.
Legion watched the whole thing play out and spoke up. "We have come to a new consensus Shepard Commander. We understand now why you choose Creator Tali'Zorah to be your mate." One of his eye flaps came down over his eye and it looked like to Shepard that Legion just winked at him. Ok I may have to ask EDI to limit his time on the extranet. He's getting a bit creepy now. Shepard chuckled and settled down on the chair he abandoned and pulled Tali onto his lap. "Feeling better?" he asked teasingly.
"You have no idea John. I...Thank you. I liked it that you called me a bosh'tet. Trying to learn our curse words now?" she giggled. She was a tiny bit scared that her brief exposure to the air in the room would cause a reaction in her. So far she didn't feel anything but that did not mean one was coming. She wanted to hit Shepard over the head for his foolish action but understood why he did it. She let the thought of not being able to have his children, to have a family with him break her trust in him. He had told her everything he had ever done in life and realized she hasn't returned the favor.
"John, I think it is time I tell you my life story. You trusted me enough to tell me all your secrets and it's only fair I do so for you." she reached out with her finger and traced a faint cybernetic scar line on his chin. They where virtually gone but with the enhanced vision her visor supplied she could make them out on his face.
Shepard reached up and pulled her hand to his lips and gave it a quick kiss and smiled. "You don't have to tell me everything now Tali. You can wait until after this meeting is over. Might not have much time to discuss your whole life story just now. But I really appreciate the offer."
"You maybe right, but when we have the chance I will tell you I promise." Just at that moment they heard a knock at the door and it opened to reveal one of the guards who was stationed outside. "They are ready to see you now." he spoke crisply and guided them all back to the plaza where the Admirals waited.
"We have discussed this offer of peace that your Legion has given us." Han spoke with a hint of resentment. "We will accept peace on the condition that we be allowed to view Rannoch to see for ourselves if the geth will live up to their promise that we can return home." he then sat down stiffly.
Legion approached the stand and replied. "We will allow only one ship to pass through the veil. The Normandy. Pick who you want to bring Creator Admirals and you will be the first creators to set foot on Rannoch in over 300 years." He surveyed the room with interest as all the quarians present went into a roar of approval. Shepard smiled to himself. Just took 300 years for these two to be able to see eye to eye. Now lets get this party going. He mused to himself.
"Bring me a list of those who will be willing to go to Rannoch. Keep it small though. I'm not running a pleasure cruiser." And stood and gave a curt nod to the Admirals who nodded respectfully back. Tali was giddy with excitement at the thought of being able to see the home world as they made their way back to the Normandy.
After 20 minutes Shepard found his guests waiting outside the airlock to the Normandy. Zaal'Korris, Han'Gerrel and Daro'Xen where coming aboard. Shala decided to stay behind but wished them all a safe journey. They were taking quite the risk at allowing three Admirals to venture into the Perseus Veil. Shepard heard their reasons before he let them aboard the Normandy. "We see it as our duty to the Migrant Fleet to take the risk. And if we do not return, Shala has orders to rain down fire upon the geth for their deception." Han spoke tensely.
"Then I will promise your safe return to the fleet and I hope this is the start of a new life for the quarians and the geth. Let's all get aboard now. I have ordered my crew to accommodate you to the best of our abilities. We are a bit shy on sleeping pods, but I'm sure we can work out the sleeping arrangements." Shepard then started the tour of the ship as Joker piloted them to the Mass Relay that would take them deep into geth space.
"We are used to living in cramped living conditions commander. Don't need to worry if the beds are made or large enough." Zaal replied with a hint of excitement.
"Ah yes, well then should I have all three of you bunk in one sleeping pod then?" Shepard teased which earned him a sharp clucking sound from Daro'Xen and Han actually laughed at loud. Zaal looked very amused but shook his head. "We will manage. We promise not to be a burden on your crew. Perhaps we can help while we make our way to Rannoch?" Zaal offered.
Shepard didn't mind the extra help, but he still did not trust Daro'Xen as far as he could throw her. Which would probably be fairly far given his cybernetic enhancements. So he quickly thought of some areas where he could have them help out but would not be left alone.
Han'Gerrel was easy as he was a veteran soldier and he set him up with Garrus to help with the gun calibrations. Garrus actually didn't mind the company and the Admiral was very impressed with the weapon systems on the ship. So they started off on the right foot.
Zaal was a bit trickier, as he was neither a soldier or a tech expert. His area of expertise surprisingly was medical and enjoyed to work alongside Dr. Chakwas and even the esteemed Professor Solus. Mordin was delighted as ever to have another doctor aboard.
Daro'Xen was the one Shepard worried about the most. He had EDI lock the AI Core against anyone besides himself or Legion. In fact he had half the mind to set up Legion in the AI core room with an assault rifle to keep Daro'Xen from hacking her way in. Tali offered to take Daro'Xen down to engineering, she was just as proficient as Tali and she could keep an eye on her, along with Ken and Gabby.
After that was settled he made sure that every squad member was aware of their guests and that they were on their way to the Perseus Veil. They all understood and didn't raise up any concerns for the reasons they where heading so deep into geth space.
The Normandy exited out of closest mass relay, and they had about a 12 hour journey to Rannoch on FTL drive while running silent. According to Legion there will be an escort vessel waiting for them as they reached the outskirts of the veil. They were halfway there when it happened...
"I am picking up a large vessel on intercept trajectory Jeff." EDI popped up and brought up the display of the ship.
"That isn't a geth ship, that looks like a dreadnought class. What the hell is it doing out here? It doesn't have stealth technology like we do." Jeff didn't like this and had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. This felt eerily similar to the collector ship attack on the original Normandy.
"Better get Shepard up here now EDI. How in the hell did it find us? Stealth drive is engaged." EDI sent the message to Shepard who came in running a few minutes after.
"What do we have Joker?" He looked nervous. They didn't expect to run into anyone out here so close to the veil. He gazed at the display as EDI was trying to come up with a positive identification of the ship.
"I have no idea commander. EDI picked up their signature a few minutes ago. They are tracking us somehow even though we have our stealth drive engaged." Joker replied with a worried tone.
EDI then spoke up. "I have done an extensive search on all dreadnought classed ships and have not come up with a positive match. This could be a custom made ship. I'm doing a surface scan to see if I can find any markings or identification on the hull. It's still following at a distance of 12 thousand kilometers."
"Has it attempted to hail us or lock on?" Shepard asked now getting worried. He didn't like this one bit.
"Negative Commander. It hasn't attempted to get closer and no signals have been broadcast by it." EDI replied.
"Ok better safe then sorry, have all crew assemble to their stations now. I want to be ready in case this turns out to be some sort of Batarian pirate lord's ship or worse." The alert went out and everyone ran to their stations. The air was thick with nervous tension. Then an update on the ship. It was releasing a squadron of fighters! Twelve ships in all. And closing fast!
"Shit! Doing evasive maneuvers. Everyone hang on!" Joker hands started to dancer over the areogel display as the Normandy banked hard to the right to turn and face the fighters and they came in screaming to close the distance between them.
"EDI do we have any idea who these guys are?" Shepard practically shouted now as Joker hit the thrusters and was playing 'chicken' with the lead fighter. He trusted Joker to know what he was doing but the thought of the small craft smashing into the Normandy head on was not a pleasant thought. The kinetic barrier was not designed to repel a projectile of THAT size.
"I have just scanned their fighters and picked up an emblem on the wings of the ships. They are Cerberus fighters." That had a hint of worry on her voice Shepard noticed. Aw fuck! This is not the time to play cat an mouse with the Illusive man's puppets. Shepard thought grimly as he ordered battle stations for everyone.
He then heard Han's voice come over the intercom from the forward batteries. "The Thanix cannon is not designed to take out small fighters. Let me help target the GUARDIAN laser cannons on these bosh'tet's!" He was furious at the thought of being attacked by Cerberus now and wanted to deliver some payback to what they did on the Flotilla.
"Permission granted." Shepard replied quickly and watched from behind Joker as he deftly piloted the Normandy as it was harassed by the fighters. Their weapons were so far just chipping away at the Cyclonic Barrier and not causing any damage to the ship. What the hell is his game? These fighters are no worse then fighting the Oculus outside the Collector base. Granted we don't have a debris field to lose them all in. Then one of the fighters exploded in a a brilliant flash of blue and white as the Normandy's GUARDIAN laser found it's first target.
EDI then warned,"The dreadnought is closing in well within javelin disruptor torpedo range. Firing solution detected!" Shepard grunted as Joker rolled the ship out of the range of the blast radius of the first volley of javelins.
"EDI lock on that dreadnought and light that bitch up with the thanix cannon!" Joker tapped furiously on the display as he lined up a shot for the cannon. The ship was in range and Joker slammed his fist on the firing button. A dazziling blue white beam of super heated metal shot out of the cannon and hit the dreadnought dead on! But the damage was absorbed by its shield which shimmered a dull blue!
"No fucking way! There is no shield technology that exists that could of absorbed that attack!" Joker yelled as he swerved out of the way of another javelin volley, this time the ship rocked as one of the javelins detonated very close to the ship. The hull remained intact but that brought down the CBT to normal default kinetic barriers.
"EDI see if you can hack into that ship and bring down its shields at least. We can't hold them off forever at this rate." Shepard ordered and looked over the damage report. Nothing major so far but he kept an eye on it. Come on EDI! We need that shield down now! Joker was getting tired of playing this game and targeted two fighters with the Normandy's own javelins and scored hits severely crippling both fighters. Han at the controls of the GUARDIAN lasers reduced both ships to dust. Three down and nine to go plus the damned dreadnought.
"Shepard I need time to break through their firewalls. They have expected my attack. I can break through but I will need time to do so." EDI sounded plain worried now. Shepard nodded. "Keep trying, we will hold as long as we can."
Things were looking very grim. The kinetic barriers were down to 50% and dropping fast with the remaining fighters pecking away at their shields. Then they where hailed by the dreadnought. "This is the Captain of the Colossus. Surrender now Shepard and maybe the Illusive man will let you and your crew live." he said smugly.
Shepard leaned over and keyed the reply button. "Fat chance. You can tell the Illusive man to go shove it!" to emphasize the point Han scored two more direct hits and only seven fighters remained.
"Your funeral Shepard. Doubt this time the Illusive man will pay to stitch you back together after we are done with you." and the comm link severed. Shepard found that last comment very odd. He wants me dead? After all the credits he poured to bring me back, this doesn't make any sense!
Down on the engineering deck Tali was working furiously to bring the CBT back online. Daro was actually being useful in attempting to find a way past their shields. "Amazing, they have somehow modified their shields to be like your Cyclonic Barrier, but only on a much larger scale. It must take enormous amounts of energy to keep it up on a ship that size." Daro commented. Tali grimaced. Cerberus had everything on the upgrades made to the Normandy and had plenty of time to come up with counter measures of their own. Damn them! We need to find their weakness, something we overlooked! Tali scrolled through the data once more. Attempting to solve this problem fast. The shield is designed to deflect incoming projectiles. It just scattered the superheated metal of the thanix cannon in all directions. But it was not meant for attacks of attrition...that's it!
She keyed up a comm link to the cockpit and yelled, "Their shields won't last if you attack with everything at one point. It will overload their shield generator and bring it down. Then you can blow it to hell!" Shepard replied quickly, "Thanks Tali, we will need to get closer to the ship, which I hope the Normandy can last long enough for such an attack. Shepard out."
Oh keelah! Please hold together a bit longer. We are so close to seeing the home world, I will be damned if I let Cerberus stop us! She prayed as she worked to add more power to the shields.