Sorry this chapter took a bit longer to get out, guys. Some stuff with school came up, but it's all taken care of now, so I should (SHOULD!) be updating regularly. No promises. Except for one. At least one chapter a week. Anyway, I'll shut up now. As always, please review. Your input is what keeps this story going. Yeah, I'm talking to you. WARNING: SEXUAL CONTENT.
His hands slide over her shoulders and snake down her arms while pulling him closer to her. Their bodies touch. Connect. His fingers glide down her spine, stopping at the contours of her hips. His palms skirt the upper flanks of her legs, causing her abdomen to flare up in excitement. Warm breath scuttles down the nape of her neck as his lips dance around her throat. His tongue dabs lightly on her skin. A moan of pleasure escapes her as his mouth gradually brushes downward over her body. His lips find her breasts, where the mouth spasms increase before finally continuing on its journey. He breathes softly again as his open mouth passes her naval. His head stops in between her legs. As she feels his tongue working inside her, she grasps his scalp and runs her fingers through his hair. Waves of unprecedented ecstasy wash over her like tides of the ocean. As the pleasure rises, she feels that she is close, and pulls his head in nearer to her body. She gets closer and closer and closer, until she finally-
A gloved hand roused her awake, and a glimpse upward revealed an amused Kaidan.
"First the mess hall, now Engineering? You know there's a sleeping pod reserved for you upstairs, right?"
Tali smiled and shook her head dismissively as she took Kaidan's extended hand to help herself up. She had begun a bad habit of not sleeping in her pod when the time came for her sleeping shift. Being inside the pod only muffled the already virtually nonexistent sounds that the Normandy emitted. As Tali got to her feet with the help of Kaidan, he informed her of what everyone was up to next.
"We've reached Therum, our last planet to be searched. There's a high chance Dr. T'Soni's on this planet, so we don't want to waste any time to check it out. Also, Shepard wants you on the ground team. Along with me and Garrus."
Shepard. Tali's heart skipped a beat just by the mention of his name. Her mind wandered back to her dream. The man that had touched her body in her nocturnal fantasy was Shepard. It was an odd dream, but Tali enjoyed it while it lasted. Oh, how she would love to get Shepard in bed! The thought was, of course ruled out by logic, her not being able to get out of her suit, and Shepard's obvious 'disinterest' in her. As she had told herself many a time before, there was just no way that Shepard was interested in her. Not in a romantic way, of course.
"Okay, Kaidan. Thanks for letting me know. I'll be up there in a second."
"No problem, but you'll want to stay down here." The statement earned a confused look from Tali as Kaidan smirked lightly.
"We're taking the Mako.", Kaidan added dramatically.
Tali scoffed. "Great.", Tali said, with thick sarcasm
"Don't worry, Tali. If you get scared during the drop, you can always just hold Shepard's hand."
Tali was startled by Kaidan's word. She didn't even expect anyone to remember that. Her face burned as her hands came together in a nervous twitch. "...Oh."
Kaidan chuckled softly as he patted Tali's shoulder. "Just messing with you. Come on." Kaidan turned to leave, with Tali at his heel.
Shepard was already chatting idly with Garrus when Tali and Kaidan entered the cargo hold. They were leaning on the Mako as they chatted, and Tali instinctively beamed at Shepard's familiar grin. Shepard is probably Tali's best friend. Not just her best friend since the beginning of her pilgrimage, but her best friend period. She'd never told anyone about her problems with her father. Shepard was the only person whom Tali had told her feelings about her father. Shepard's words heightened Tali's spirits, even if only for a brief time. Last night, Shepard had shown Tali the same gesture of trust that she had shown him. He revealed a secret that he kept to himself, and Tali had comforted him on the spot. It didn't feel like merely returning the favor, however. She felt like she had actually been there for him, of which Shepard was definitely thankful for. The touch Shepard gave to Tali last night felt important. Like it was the milestone of a broken-down barrier between them both, even if there was no such barrier initially.
Tali gathered her pistol and her shotgun from her weapons locker, and stepped over to where Garrus, Kaidan, and Shepard were all lounging. Shepard greeted her with a warm smile.
"Ready to go?" He asked.
Kaidan made his way over to the hatch of the Mako and opened it as Tali nodded her consent. The team of four stepped inside of the Mako, with Shepard in the driver's seat, Tali in the seat with all of the tank's systems, with Kaidan squeezed between them, his hands on the controls of the Mako's targeting and weapons. Garrus took a seat in the passenger area in the Mako, near the back. It would probably be more comfortable for him, considering that he had the entire space to himself. By what the mission briefing had informed Tali, Therum was a rich industrial planet claimed by the human Systems Alliance. Core samples that were rich with fossils indicated that Therum was much more habitable in the past than in the present. That is probably what explained the numerous Prothean ruins dotting the surface. It seemed that Therum was the most logical place for Dr. T'Soni to be, considering her occupation as a Prothean-crazed archaeologist.
"Cargo bay's clear, Commander. Nearing the surface. Ready for the drop?"
Shepard swept his gaze over the occupants of the tank, and got nods from all of them in acknowledgement. "Ready and waiting, Joker.", Shepard said as his eyes returned to their initial positions.
Tali heard the cargo bay door grinding and squealing as its door crawled ajar, allowing the Mako to be gradually pulled along by the force of the wind.
"Bay is open, Commander. Have a safe free-fall... Well, as safe as they can get."
The Mako crept forward as Shepard lightly nudged the gas pedal, then fully pushed it as the tank began to near the opening of the cargo bay. The same weightlessness suspended Tali in midair as the Mako began its descent towards the surface of Therum. Soon enough, Shepard engaged the thrusters of the tank to reduce the force of the impact, and the sharp jerk that the tank gave indicated that they had landed. Shepard eyed the occupants of the tank. Seeing that everything was satisfactory.
Surprisingly, Joker's voice sparked up over the comm. of the Mako. "Commander, I'm picking up some strange readings. Really strange. Like, off the damn charts. It looks like it's coming from an underground complex a few klicks away from the drop zone."
Upon that, the comm. chirped, and the communication with the Normandy was cut. Until someone in the Mako realigned the connection, of course.
Kaidan's appearance became serious as he faced Shepard. "Underground complex. Dig site. Jackpot."
"Maybe. Stay sharp.", Shepard said as his foot found the gas pedal, rousing the Mako into movement. The outside temperature monitor recorded a somewhat high number. Enough to alert the commander to.
"Shepard,", Tali began. "This planet's temperature is pretty extreme."
"Description on the planet said that it had lava on it. We're probably close to it.", Shepard confirmed.
"A bit too close.", Kaidan muttered. "You might want to readjust, Commander."
Shepard nodded, steering the Mako to the right in an attempt to get away from the high temperature of the lava. Shepard pointed out something on the Mako's display to Kaidan.
"Looks like a pipeline.", he muttered.
"Yeah. I'm going to follow it.", Shepard whispered, but loud enough for everyone to hear. The Mako barreled onwards, with Shepard taking periodic glances at the display of the Mako, assuring that he was still following the pipeline. The tank came to a stop when Shepard had found that the pipeline discontinued, and the only way to go was to make an almost complete u-turn onto a ridge that led up to low hill. Shepard turned the Mako onto the ridge and continued his brisk pace. After a succinct moment, a loud humming bellowed over the top of the tank. It sounded like a massive ship, something like a drop ship, but its speed was too incredible to be so.
On Kaidan's terminal, two large targets appeared on screen. The targets unfolded into a duo of four-legged robots, an almost cylinder-like head glowing as if acting as a light source. Geth. Two geth armatures, to be exact. The updated targeting and weapon cool-down systems made short work of the two armatures, with Kaidan showing an impressive amount of skill with the Mako's weapons and targeting.
"Negative contacts, Commander.", Kaidan droned as the two geth armatures collapsed under their own weight, unable to reboot themselves.
Shepard again pushed the tank forward. Words filled the tank as Garrus began to converse with Kaidan.
"So, Lieutenant. Trying to show me up? No hard feelings, but I just don't think you can beat me. That cannon round I pulled off back on Edolus went right into that thresher maw's mouth. Took its head clean off."
Kaidan grinned at Garrus' challenge. "You're on, Vakarian. Next time we're fighting a thresher maw, I'm gunning. I bet I can get a shot into its eye.
"Stay sharp.", Shepard said, reprimanding Kaidan and Garrus for their attempted conversation. Tali was sure that when Shepard said 'Stay sharp.', he really meant to say, 'Shut the hell up.' Shepard wouldn't be getting onto Tali for it, though. She almost never talked while she was in the Mako. She constantly had to pay attention to the systems, the shields, the heat thresholds. There was just too much to take care of for her to be chatting idly while the Mako was on the move. Even if she did speak up during these kinds of situations, Shepard wouldn't get angry with her. He was never angry when he was with Tali. She smiled lightly as recent memories of herself calming Shepard down popped up into her mind. She had always pacified Shepard when he became angry or frustrated. She didn't know what it was, but Tali was glad for it. She was hardly inclined to face the wrath of a pissed-off Commander Shepard.
The Mako rounded a corner only for the shield display to light up, signifying that multiple mass accelerator rounds were pulverizing the shields. Shepard instantly took action, back the Mako up behind the cover of a pile of massive and oddly shaped stones. The gunfire outside of the Mako continued, pinning the team down behind the stack of boulders.
"I don't suppose we take that stronghold head on. Maybe we can find another way around?", suggested Kaidan.
Shepard said nothing, narrowing his eyes in decisive thought. The alarm that the shield display dinned acted as a cue for Shepard to hammer his foot on the accelerate pedal, catapulting the tank into the midst of the gunfire. The shields took some hits, but nothing that posed as an immediate danger. Shepard had hauled the tank into another route, something that resembled a canyon. It was out of the way of the throng of turrets and cannons at the front of the stronghold. Probably another route Shepard had located while the Mako had been jammed into cover. The Mako pivoted around another turn, putting the team in sight of yet another turret. Shepard slung a pair of eyes at Kaidan, who then engaged the combat systems. Upon the heavy turret's destruction, the Mako barreled onward. The tank passed a set of low walls which opened up into a large clearing, numerous geth platforms and supply crates strewn around within. A geth destroyer became Kaidan's first target, downing it with a single cannon shot. The other, smaller geth foot soldiers fell to the rain of heavy machine gun fire. The furthering venture of the Mako led the team to another steel door stronghold. However, two departments on either side of the door seemed to be where an opening mechanism would be located. Shepard angled himself to face Garrus.
"We're going to go inside, Garrus. Try to find a door lock. You two-" Shepard turned his head back to cast a look over Kaidan and Tali. "-stay in here. Shout out if something goes wrong."
"Aye, aye, Commander.", Kaidan affirmed, nodding.
Shepard flicked his head towards the hatch of the Mako, connoting an order to Garrus to open it. Garrus gaped open the hatch and dropped down onto the planet's surface below. Shepard then clambered out of the driver's seat to follow Garrus. Once the duo had exited, the hatch slammed closed again. Kaidan reclined back in his seat, a light smile ambling across his countenance. He seemed to be searching Tali's face for something, whether he could see her features or not.
"So...", Kaidan breathed. "What's up with you and the commander?"
Tali tilted her head dubiously. "What do you mean?"
Kaidan mirrored her attitude with a skeptical rise of his brow. "You know what I mean. You spend a lot of time together. You're always feeling on each other. You stare at each other. What's up with that?"
I thought I was the one who stared...
"Uh...um...err. ...Ah..." Tali couldn't muster a fully enunciated word.
Another teasing grin worked along Kaidan's lips. A sly, shit-eating grin.
"Got a little crush on him, huh?"
"What?!", Tali squealed. "A- Absolutely not! I- I couldn't... I mean, he wouldn't..." Tali's tensed up shoulders fell after her fruitless attempt to deny Kaidan's accusations.
"Tali, I'm not trying to tease you... Well, not anymore anyway.", he added with a tiny laugh. "But, seriously. If you've got feelings for him, why don't you just talk to him about it?"
Seeing that Kaidan now knows the truth, Tali gave up trying to throw Kaidan's inference out of the window. "But...", Tali began. "Wh- What if he's not interested? I'll just end up looking like an idiot. It would just be so selfish of me. And stupid. A- And he'll never speak to me again. Ugh, why are we even talking about this? There's no way Shepard would be interested in me. I'm just... some stupid girl to him."
A sympathetic frown crossed Kaidan's features. "You don't know that. You never will unless you talk to him about it. You really shouldn't bottle things up like this, Tali. It's not good for you."
Tali sighed. "I can't, Kaidan. I just can't."
Kaidan's gaze fell away from Tali as he exhaled sharply. "If you won't do it for yourself, do it for me.", Kaidan finally declared. His eyes rested on hers. "You've got to express yourself, Tali. It's what separates you from everyone else."
Tali stared at the floor of the Mako in indignation.
Who am I to make myself different from everyone else? Quarians don't have that freedom. Especially me. If I'm not what my father wants me to be, he won't want me. No one would want me. Even now... nobody wants me.
Tali's rather bubbly mood was pauperized by her thoughts. She doesn't think she will ever be free of the throes of depression that had clutched her over the course of her lifetime. But, now that she thinks about it, whenever Shepard is around her, whenever she feels his presence, she feels instantly relieved. Like she is not the only one to hold the weight of terrible burdens...
Does Tali's presence make Shepard feel the same way?
Maybe Kaidan was right. She would never know unless she asks. Tali glanced back up towards him. "Thank you... Kaidan."
The moment after Kaidan beamed at her for her appreciation, the hatch of the Mako opened to a cursing Garrus. Once Garrus had found a seat in the back of the Mako, Shepard made his way back inside. "I told you not to touch that wire, Garrus. You should have just let me handle it."
"Oh, whatever." Garrus muttered angrily, his tone devoid of its customary enthusiasm.
The Mako roared to life as Shepard initiated its systems. His foot coming down onto the gas pedal, the Mako was now on the move once again. The tank climbed a rather steep inclination of a rocky hill. As the Mako came to a cessation of its movement atop the hill, Shepard's eyes expanded into a bewildered glare.
"Damn... looks like a... lava lake."
A closer look at Shepard's sensory terminal revealed a large body of high temperature liquid collaborated into a wide trench spanned before the Mako. The team was, in fact, next to a lava lake. Tali's shoulders became rigid. Shepard was good at driving... somewhat. But, she was still paranoid of the Mako making a freak wrong turn, and the tank plunging into the flaming-hot pool. She took a deep breath as she assured herself that Shepard knew what he was doing. He always did.
The shield display lit up as two shots hit the Mako. The shields were still at 91%. Maybe the updates that Garrus gave the Mako were paying off. An agitated grunt escaped Shepard as he faced Kaidan. "Armatures."
"On it.", Kaidan chirped as his fingers found the weapons system. Alternating uses of the cannon and the machine gun by Kaidan laid waste to one of the armatures in a laconic amount of time. The second armature, a good distance away from the tank, was out of reach for the Mako to get an accurate shot off of it. Before Shepard could commence the tank's acceleration, a cannon shot rang out from the Mako, and struck the armature directly in its flashlight-eye, collapsing the hulking giant with almost no effort.
Shepard shot an awestruck glance at Kaidan's immaculate precision. Kaidan liberated a delighted chuckle before he twisted his head around to Garrus.
"What was that about being the best shot with the cannon, Garrus?"
"...That was totally a lucky shot, and you know it.", Garrus sneered.
Kaidan was smiling ear to ear when he turned back around. "Whatever you say."
"Let's just get this doctor and get out of here. We can discuss who's a better geth shooter later."
The Mako continued its trek across the planet's surface, eventually arriving at a decline of the land, with a tunnel- bridge on the other side of the open space in front of the Mako. However, there were some problem individuals blocking the path to the tunnel. Namely, two rocket trooper geth, and a geth colossus.
"Today just keeps getting more and more interesting.", Shepard exhaled, initiating the maneuver of heaving the Mako back and forth while Kaidan engaged the geth. The two rocket launcher geth were no match for the Mako's guns and the expert operating them, but the colossus was less than inclined to go down without a hitch. Cannon shots continued to pound the colossus' shields. Barely getting any hits off on the Mako, the colossus was beginning to lose this battle. It made a last ditch attempt to shoot off a shield-destroying round, but a cannon shot found its way into one of its legs, collapsing the entire colossus, and disabling it.
Shepard gave a relieved sigh as his muscles became relaxed. "Nice work, Kaidan."
There was a slight nod from Kaidan, and again the tank muscled forward, entering the tunnel. Two geth platforms waiting outside of the opposite end of the tunnel were eradicated with ease by Kaidan. Shepard steadily advanced the Mako over a path which led into yet another tunnel.
"Sensors say we're getting close."
"Good", Kaidan groaned. "My fingers are getting tired."
"I still need your biotics handy, Lieutenant. Stay sharp."
"Aye, aye."
An abrupt stop of the Mako jerked Tali out of the arrangement of terminals, and she laid her eyes on Shepard questioningly. He had an irritated image on his features.
"The Mako can't go any further.", Shepard uttered bitterly. "The way's blocked by stone."
A silence cast over the occupants of the tank.
"On foot, then, I guess?" Garrus suggested.
"Get the door.", Shepard commanded. Obviously, the answer was 'yes'.
Garrus pulled the hatch door of the Mako open, exiting through the passage of the open tank. Kaidan followed, dropping onto the ground below. As Shepard crawled out of his seat, he angled himself to extend a hand to Tali. She sat slack jawed at the gesture. Shepard was going to usher Tali out of the tank. Like a gentleman. She curbed an excited giggle as Shepard took her hand lightly, and pulled her towards himself.
"Thank you." Tali said almost seductively.
"Ladies first." Shepard responded, equally enchanting.
Tali shook off the chills that bounded down her spine as she declined down towards surface of the planet. It definitely looked like a lava planet. She could feel the scalding air rising from the ground. The rocks and stone looked as if they were crafted from lava, an eerie reddish hue condensed in its appearance. Shepard waved the squad forward as he sauntered past the two rock pillars that barred the Mako from its advancement. Shepard drawing his assault rifle provoked everyone to do the same. Garrus unsheathed his sniper rifle, with Kaidan drawing his holstered sidearm. Tali removed the Scimitar shotgun from the small of her back. She bounced the shotgun in her hands, again accustoming herself to the weight of the weapon. Her finger grazed the trigger, and impersonated firing a round, becoming familiarized with the weight that the shotgun would swing back after a shot. The squad trekked forward until a distinctive clicking noise intoned through the small battleground that the squad was enclosed in. Shepard barked orders to ensconce themselves behind the boulders that littered the land before them. The symphonic wail of gunfire the geth unleashed was greeted with shots from Shepard, Garrus, and Kaidan. Tali still sat motionless behind one of the stones. There was one thing about conflict that terrified Tali. Suit ruptures. If a shot managed to break through her shields, and pierce her enviro-suit, it was all over for her unless she's able to apply an ample amount of medigel, and the clamps in the suit closed over the perforation quick enough. At the least, she could get away with a minor infection if she took a shot. The gunfire raged on, indicating that the geth were coming closer. She couldn't stay down for much longer. She had to get up, fire, hack one of them, something.
Wait... of course!
Tali activated her omnitool, immersing herself in the numerous combat hacking programs that the omnitool offered. Overload. That would do something. Tali typed in a few commands in her omnitool, and designated a target. As she initiated the attack on the geth's systems, a mechanical shriek was heard in close proximity of her. A satisfying thump told her that her target was destroyed. She smiled under her mask. It was just one geth, but anytime she had the opportunity to take one down, she took it with enthusiasm. Every geth was going to suffer the consequences for wronging her people. Emphasis on suffer.
A sniper shot rang out over the battlefield, ending the battle with the last geth falling to the ground, unable to rewrite its systems to resume its assault. The squad uprooted itself out of their entrenched positions, resuming its march towards their objective. Another crescendo of gunfire once again pinned the squad into a fortified position before they could advance much further. However, the gunfire seemed to be increased. Multiplicative. Tali reactivated her omnitool, surfing through the hacking commands. She selected a target for sabotage. However, the command wasn't executed. The geth platform seemed to fade from the display, until finally disappearing. The khellish equivalent of 'SABOTAGE BLOCKED' flashed before her on her omnitool.
Bosh'tets... Too many for a hacking attempt...
"Shepard!", Tali shouted over the gunfire. "There are too many of them for me to try and hack one of them! They instantly block out any attempts I make!"
"How exactly do they 'block you out'?", Shepard responded, his voice raised as well.
There was just not enough time to explain the whole process of the collective thoughts of geth. She'd have to give him the short version. "Let's just say the more there are, they smarter they become!"
"Great.", spat Shepard sarcastically. "We'll thin them out, then! Kaidan, Tali, stay down! Garrus, you think you're a good shot? Show me."
Garrus nodded, readying himself to emerge from cover to take a shot at the geth. Shepard drew his sniper rifle, mirroring Garrus' action. "Go!"
The two soldiers angled their rifles around their covers, Shepard taking the first shot and successfully blowing the head off of one of the geth snipers. The amount of time to line up a shot was incredible. He wasn't looking at the enemy for more than three seconds before he was able to pop off a round directly into the head of one of the geth. It was no wonder why Shepard was regarded with such high respect. Garrus managed to get a blow off of another geth, collapsing the entire platform. The process was repeated multiple times, and the numbers seemed to be slowly declining. Maybe Tali could take another crack at hacking one of the geth. While she browsed her omnitool, she noticed Kaidan, crouching beside her, raise his body slightly, taking peek over the cover. A shot from the opposite side rang out, a bullet striking Kaidan in the head. His shields shattered as his body was hurled forward, face planting into the ground.
"Kaidan!", Shepard bellowed.
Kaidan rose slowly to his hands and knees, groaning. "I- I'm alright!", he called out. He leaned back into the cover of the stone, panting.
Thank the ancestors. I really don't feel like dealing with a dead body today.
Tali resumed her perusing through the hacking programs, finding sabotage, and locking in on a target. The hack was successful, as the geth turned on its allies, opening fire. Soon, all of the gunfire ceased throughout the canyon, enticing collective sighs of relief within the squad. With all of the geth destroyed, the team maneuvered through the throng of stones that were splayed along everywhere. A mining tube that led underground came into view upon reaching the top of the canyon wall.
"That's the place.", Shepard announced.
"Good." Garrus stated irritatingly. "I'm ready to find this doctor and get off this planet."
To Garrus' dismay, a geth dropship hovered into the sky above them, dropping a geth armature, along with a handful of geth platforms. There was another... creature, as well. It seemed almost organic and fleshy, but a glance from its flashlight head revealed its true nature as a geth. Some new type of geth Tali had never seen before. It was bad enough that the geth were so numerous. Now, on top of everything, the geth were upgrading? The thought would have to saved for later. The squad has found itself in another uncomfortable position, a geth armature now in the midst of battle. Any venture out of cover would instantaneously be met with a direct round from the armature's weapons. By now, most of the geth troopers were disabled, the armature still standing and pinning the team down.
Shepard exhaled before he presented the squad with a plan. "Okay. This is what we're gonna do. Me, Garrus, and Kaidan are all going to poke out and hit it with everything we've got. That should be enough to get its shields down quickly. Tali will then overload its systems. That should finish it off. And if it doesn't, repeat. Got it?"
Everyone acknowledged the plan with a round of nods, and they got into position.
"Three... Two... One... Now!"
Garrus, Shepard, and Kaidan faced the armature, weapons blazing. Its shields flared up, and soon collapsed under the crushing force of three mass accelerator weapons. Tali targeted the armature with an overload sequence, and allowed the program to invade the geth's systems and overload its circuits.
A loud creaking followed the eerie silence, and the armature plowed into the ground in a pile of metal and steel. Everyone took a breather from the monotonous sequences of fighting before everyone roused themselves for one final push into the mining tunnel. This doctor was either going to be a goldmine of information, or a follower of Saren.
"What the hell was that?", Shepard growled upon a tremor shaking the ruin.
Dr. Liara T'Soni answered. "It must have been the mining laser. It must have shook something loose. I fear that if we do not hasten our pace, we may not make it out of here."
"Well, shit.", Shepard cursed. "Everyone move!"
The degree of the tremors became extreme. The whole planet seemed to shake as Shepard rushed everyone towards the exit of the mine. A large boulder landed next to Tali, the catwalk giving way under its substantial weight. The catwalk steadily began to collapse, the supports rupturing under it. Tali felt herself falling, sliding off of the edge. A dark chasm rushed towards her as she fell, and she flailed her arms, and her legs, searching desperately for something, anything to latch onto. A heavy hand clutched her wrist, ceasing her rapid descent. The strong arm lifted her up, Shepard coming into sight. One of his arms hooked under the pivot of her knees, and another arm wrapped around her back. She found herself being carried up through the pipe of the mining shaft, the cavern behind them collapsing and being engulfed by the multitude of rocks and stone. All five of them had emerged from the shaft, everyone present and accounted for.
The way Shepard held Tali in his arms signified that Tali seemed to be unconscious to him. Her head was nuzzled up under his chin, her ears pressed against his heart. As the scene went quiet, aside from the descending Normandy, Tali could hear Shepard's heartbeat. It was accelerated due to the rush of adrenaline from escaping the mining shaft. But, still calming and assuring. A warmth flushed over her as she realized her position. Cuddled up against a big burly man, held in his arms as her head was buried in his chest. She would never give away that she was awake. She would never ruin this moment. She'd never been this close to someone before. She'd never been in such a sentimental position like this with anyone. She's never had a man to sweep her off of her feet and hold her in his arms, and she would never want to be held by anyone else but Shepard. No, she wouldn't ruin this moment if the universe was falling apart.
Tali's cheeks burned all the way towards the Normandy.