Author Note: Hey everyone, new chapter! Hope you like it! Here comes the plot!
...
CAM No2: Recording:
Xen adjusted the fuzzy lens, pixels straining and mixing millions of small colored squares into the static image. She leaned back from the optical lens, the reflection of the camera shrinking in her mirrored glass face. The aperture blurred and quickly refocused as she stepped aside. Revealing her sterile lab.
"V.I installment trials...attempt number three. Captured Geth counterparts have failed as the V.I ravaged and destroyed their motherboards. I have attempted to dampen the V.I's abilities." She cleared her voice and turned to the lab table, a Geth unit lying out upon its pristine chrome surface. The optical sensor had been unscrewed and removed, placed on a nearby metal tray, along with the neatly laid out screws.
She paced from the camera that viewed the open laboratory. Strewn Geth parts littered the floor. To stop the Geth from panicking or seeing this as a threatening experiment, she had dismantled the eye and locked the Geth's black box, sealing the unit's mind within; similar to what she did to Jor.
"Creator Xen? I do not understand the nature of these upgrades. Our designs are already satisfactory for Geth use." The unit electronically whirred, head moving to see the room, despite the removed eye.
"Oh, this is a simple upgrade for your optical sensors. Consider it a gift as apology for Admiral Gerrel's actions. Not all Quarians are like him." Xen cooed with a hidden smirk as she pulled a white latex glove down her suited arm, snapping it to her elbow with a slap. The eyeless Geth head peered at her, only the inner workings of the Geth unit's head showing. The head flaps reared slightly.
"We know. What Destroyer Gerrel did is inexcusable. But as a race, we know not all Creators are alike. You are not like him." The Geth whirred gently. She smiled at the Geth lying defenselessly on her sterile operating table. A long copper cable with a silver plug rose in her hands.
"Oh I know. I'm worse." She snarled, slamming the cable down into the port on the Geth's open head. The body thrashed and jerks, the restraints on the arms and legs holding the bucking limbs down. Green flashes of light roared and flashed like aurora borealis lightning. Her silver eyes sinisterly fixated on the wailing, bucking Geth on the table. Finally a massive boom emitted and the fried Geth head jerked back finally, the body falling still. The room darkened to almost pitch black, the camera losing focus on the dark.
"Damn! Another failure, Attempt number three." Xen rubbed her visor in frustration with a white gloved hand. "V.I has once again ravaged the Geth's motherboard and black box." She growled, throwing the cable down on the deceased unit. "How did Cerberus do it?" she snarled, stepping away from the body as the track lighting above flickered back to life with a blink.
The white room seemed darker than before, her dark deeds seemingly darkening the sterile room after every attempt. She opened her Omni tool and leaned against her desk, scanning over the documents. Xen shook her head as she flicked her finger up the holographic page, words flying past. Suddenly one quick glimpse caught her eye and she scrolled back, her silver gaze locking onto the paragraph.
David Archer, the human component of the hybrid VI, was autistic and a mathematical savant. David's unparalleled understanding of mathematics allowed him to communicate with the Geth on a fundamental level; communication had previously been a significant hurdle for the project, and without any results the Illusive Man threatened to shut the project down. Dr. Archer realized the potential of this breakthrough, and forcibly incorporated David into the VI. At this point, the hybrid VI went berserk and began its rampage and escape attempt.
Xen suddenly felt a pair of imaginary hands grip her brain and rinse it out like a damp towel. All her thoughts came to a violent realization. A human mind was needed to complete this V.I that she managed to recreate. The only component missing. She scanned back up the page and read the sentence she'd scanned over several times, though only now did it make sense to her why it was important to her subconscious.
After deactivating the rogue VI, my decision about who should handle the care of David Archer fell to Grissom Academy and its leading professional Kahlee Sanders. He is in capable hands, far away and safe from Gavin Archer.
The words her mind outlines in deep black thrummed into her cerebrum. She finally had her means of completion. With her knowledge of the Geth she could stop this V.I from going berserk, along with David's ability to communicate with the Geth digitally. She needed to get to the newly rebuilt Academy and seize David Archer. She smirked and chuckled, turning from her table and looking at the camera lens. She neared it, leaning towards it.
"Attempt number four coming soon. Oh, that will be my greatest achievement." She cackled.
"End log."
...
Like a cawing buzz-saw tearing through the eardrums, the alarm clock blitzed the silence of the bedroom. Lunar light soaked into the curtains and painted four squares of white light on the wooden floor by the foot of the bed. Within the crisp white sheets lay two bodies, both baring skin against skin, tan against pale grey, curves against broad muscle. With a protective arm curled around Tali's waist, holding her lithe form against his hip, her leg draped over his, he slowly began to uncomfortably stir, brow scrunched.
His arm slithered away from Tali's soft side, an unhappy moan escaping her lips as she nuzzled deeper into his chest, her left hand pressed against his pectoral, hair splayed out across his collarbone. He grumbled as his eyes peeled apart, dazed and drowsy drenched iris's looking for the disturbance. He noticed the beeping wasn't coming from the obnoxious alarm clock, but from the small metal band that housed his Omni tool, perched on the night stand. His hand grasped the metal coil after three missed clutches at thin air.
He placed it on his wrist, snarling at the cold metal on skin. Shepard pressed the small beeping button and suddenly a vibrant flash of amber lit the room, the Omni tool bursting to life. Tali and Shepard both groaned, Shepard shielding his eyes and Tali grumbling unhappily.
"Keelah, what time is it?" She moaned, scrunching a fistful of bed sheets and pulling them over her head, mumbling as she nuzzled back into the soft comfortable spot she had found earlier on. Shepard grimaced and dimmed the brightness of the tool. Finally the message materialized.
"Shepard!" rumbled the deep baritone voice of none other than Urdnot Wrex. His leathery face curled over his teeth into a toothy grin. Shepard snarled at him, rubbing his eyes with a free hand as Tali pressed against him beneath the covers, slowly falling asleep again.
"Wrex, you...You get that there's a time difference right?" Shepard moaned. Wrex simply laughed, his huge toad like mouth guffawing. The red eyes set back on Shepard.
"Sorry, but knowing you and Tali, you weren't doing much sleeping." He chuckled, that constant grin on his face.
"Har-har Wrex." Shepard deadpanned. "We were actually sleeping."
"Okay Okay, get off my tail." Wrex raised his hands on the Vid screen, the scars on his right side still creasing into a grin.
"So...what's up?" Shepard hissed. Wrex smirked again at the grumpy human he called a brother.
"Just letting you know, that me and Baby Pyjak are stopping by on Rannoch for a day or two. Thought we'd come and visit." Wrex nodded. Shepard scoffed a dreary laugh at Wrex's name for Grunt.
"Two huge Krogan that love to break things stopping by my new house? Sounds wonderful." Shepard dryly spoke. Wrex chuckled that same signature laugh of his, his red cracked crest bobbing along with his head.
"We'll be by in the morning. See ya then Shepard."
"Wrex." Shepard shut the tool and darkness resumed. Still half asleep, he was happy to know it wouldn't take long to fall asleep again.
"Mmm, Wrex and Grunt in the morning?" Tali mumbled as she poked her head up from the sheets, still pressing against him softly. Her warmth heated his side and he moaned with delight as he wrapped his arms around her beneath the sheets.
"Mmm hmm. Night Tal." Shepard pressed the side of his head into the cool pillow; eyes closed as he brought his head down and kissed the top of her head, the scent of her hair intoxicatingly wonderful.
"Goodnight sweethea..." She yawned mid sentence, eyes tightly shut and slowly softening. She never finished the sentence as an adorable snore left her ajar lips. With a content smile on his face, Shepard hugged her closer and they both drifted back to sleep.
...
Slowly his lids began to open as the morning rays of dawn filled the bedroom. The light was unchallenged as the curtains were pulled back and the blue sky was faintly tinged with a morning mist. Shepard blinked gently and yawned, stretching his arms out. He suddenly realized that the weight of a Quarian to his side was gone, and he peered over to see her side empty.
Suddenly with a bounce, said Quarian landed on him, clad in her snug Enviro-suit, only thing being missing was the purple mask and helmet. Shepard groaned at her pounce, but a faint chuckle jolting his throat. Tali giggled as she watched him writhe beneath her.
"Wakey wakey!" She cheerily said. Shepard blinked hard and sat up, elbows propping him.
"What's got you so cheery?" He smirked, Tali leaning forward and pressing her lips to his. The soft massaging of his lips with hers made him moan with delight, bringing one of his propping hands up to cup her cheek. As the kiss intensified to a snog, Shepard brought his other supporting hand up to her side, snaking it down her curved hips and grasping her suited rear. Relying only on his abdominal muscles to hold him in the obtuse angle, the fervor that Tali pushed against him with sent him slowly falling back against the bed with said Quarian, pillow squishing under his head. Tali pressed her gloved hands on his chest, her lips smacking against his, both eyes shut as she allowed passion to see her way.
Feeling a stiffness form beneath the sheets and graze against her inner thigh, she bit his lip gently and groaned, eyes tightly shut. Shepard gasped for air and fervor, hands roaming over her curvaceous body. Her hair spilled down her sides, trickling like a raven black waterfall. His calloused left thumb pad caressed her cheek while the other squeezed into her rear.
She leaned forward pinning his shoulders against the mattress, straddling his waist, only sheets and her Enviro-suit between their skins. She sucked on his lips, pulling away and panting for air, eyes finally opening to lay on his stunned ones.
"Wha...what the...he...hell?" He panted for air as Tali bit her own bottom lip, eyes filled with heat. "It's the morning, what's with you?" he smiled. She shrugged, smirking at him as her fingers walked up his chest, scraping over his collar bone. He smiled at her hand seeing the gold band around her index finger. He peered at his own hand seeing a matching ring there.
"You're dreaming. You think I'm really going to have sex with you when Wrex and Grunt are downstairs?" she smirked.
Suddenly Shepard sat upright, rubbing his eyes with both palms and groaning to himself. Peering to his side, the bed was empty of Tali. He sighed and shook his head, peering down at the stiffened member under the sheets. He sighed and rolled his eyes, scoffing.
"I have sex dreams about my own girlfriend. Typical, I can't get laid in a dream." He scoffed, giving his body a moment to redirect the blood flow. Throwing his sheets off, he padded his bare feet across the lit room and into the bathroom. He stood over the sink and splashed cold water onto his face. He peered up as the cold beads rumbled down his face and dripped off his chiseled jaw line. His azure eyes set on the reflection in the mirror. His mind darted back to the dream. She had a ring on her finger.
I don't remember her having a ring. She doesn't, does she? Tali doesn't wear any jewelry. Why did I imagine her wearing a golden ring?
He awoke from his thoughts as the front door slammed shut downstairs, a deep baritone laugh echoing up the stairs. He quickly sprayed some deodorant, brushed his teeth, spitting the white foam down the sink. No time to shave, he quickly padded back out, picking up his folded jeans, the belt buckle clinking against the belt itself as he quickly shimmied each leg in, hopping till they reached his thin hips.
After doing those up, he pulled a grey T shirt over his broad torso. He pulled his black socks on and then his boots, tying up the laces. He trudged down the stairs, galloping down the last steps till he hit the living room floor. He smiled upon seeing the Claymore shotgun lent against the radiator.
Yep: Krogan.
With a smile and a flutter in his heart of happiness, he entered the bright white kitchen, chuckling immediately upon seeing his two Krogan family members. Huge red shell of armor adorning his torso, Wrex turned and smiled happily.
"Shepard!" Wrex cheered, hands stretched out in a greeting, Grunt turning sharply and grinning.
"Heh, Heh, Battlemaster!" Grunt chuckled.
"Get over here you two!" Shepard laughed, bear hugging the massive Urdnot clan leader, his hands barely wrapping around his friend, slapping each other's backs. Wrex reeled back, grinning, huge scars tearing down his head. He stepped aside and Grunt wrapped both titanic arms around the retired Commander. He lifted Shepard off the tiled floor with ease, crushing the life out of him. Shepard wheezed as he tapped out upon Grunt's boulder sized shoulders.
"Oops. Sorry, Heh-Heh." Grunt chuckled as he released Shepard. He spluttered and laughed, peering around the two Krogan at Tali by the coffee machine, eyes within her mask set on stirring the cups on the counter. He peered at her swirling hand that held the chrome spoon, seeing no such gold band. He sighed and rubbed his brow.
"Hey, you okay?" Wrex asked, half joking, half serious. Shepard nodded with a snapping smile.
"Hey, my two favorite Krogan are here. How are you guys?" Shepard leaned against the counter as he crossed his arms. Wrex chuckled as he nodded to Shepard.
"Everything's great. Tuchanka's on the mend, and our people are working together."
"Yeah. We're not wasting the second chance you gave us Battlemaster." Grunt nodded.
"I knew the Krogan wouldn't waste it the moment Wrex came to me about the cure. I never doubted you guys for a moment. Wreav on the other hand." Shepard chuckled at Wrex's bellowing laughter. Tali stepped by him, offering Shepard a cup of Coffee. He took it with a smile.
"Thank you sweetheart." He warmly beamed as Tali pressed her audio port to his cheek, a kiss sounding in his ear.
"You're welcome John." She beamed back, her eyes being silver crescent moons behind the haze. She stepped back and offered a cup to Wrex. He accepted the mug happily.
"Hey, where's my kiss Tali?" He smirked. She scoffed.
"I'd need a step ladder...and mouth wash." She smirked, Wrex chuckling.
"See? She's got one hell of a Quad, Shepard!" He nodded, Grunt chuckling. Shepard nodded as well as he watched her lean against the counter next to him.
"Yeah, she has. More than me." he wrapped a hand around her shoulder, pulling her against him.
"Apparently so." Wrex smirked.
"Yeah, why'd you go soft Battlemaster? What happened to that monster we saw on the battlefield?"
"He...he finally got happy." He nodded, visions of ripping a Quarian throat out with his own teeth flashing. He shook his head and peered up at Wrex and Grunt, sharing stories about either the Saren hunt or the Collector mission. Tali's hands were wriggling together, and Shepard noticed.
"You okay?" He whispered in her ear. she nodded to him.
"Just...Gerrel's trial later. I'm nervous."
"Why?"
"I've got to be on the board, stand in for my father...again."
"Wait, you're making the decision?"
"Yeah." she sighed. Shepard looked back at Wrex and Grunt chuckling and talking, Grunt's hands zooming around to imitate something, possible the Normandy in his story. He peered back at Tali.
"You okay about that?" he asked softly.
"Honestly, I don't know. I mean, he's my Uncle basically, my father's best friend." she shrugged.
"He did a bad thing Tali." Shepard stared at her.
"Did he? Do we know that?" she spoke with a quiver. Shepard sighed, jaw unclenching.
"Okay, what's going on?" Wrex sighed, crossing his arms. Shepard nodded.
"Well, today is the trial of Admiral Han'Gerrel. I suppose you heard about the Geth attack?" Shepard asked, gulping back some hot coffee.
"Yeah, lots dead, destroyed. Not looking good." Grunt rubbed his huge head.
"Yeah, we stopped by to check in on the situation as well as visit." Wrex shrugged. Shepard nodded to himself.
"Well, Tali's on the board. She's going to be one of the people judging him." Shepard sighed, Tali nodding. Wrex's red eyes widened slightly.
"What does that mean?" Grunt mumbled. Wrex leaned forward after a grumbling eye roll.
"She helps decide if he's innocent, Pyjak." He clapped his hand on Grunt's back.
"Oh. He's not innocent though, right?" Grunt asked innocently. Wrex looked at Shepard and Tali.
"We're...not sure. He's always been destructive and violent. I think he did it. But...Tali's unsure."
"Ah, you'll do fine. You'll see the evidence and make your call." Wrex smiled, leaning forward and patting Tali's shoulder comfortingly. For a huge organic war machine, he was at heart a softy.
"Thank you Wrex. I've got to put some clothes away quickly. I'll be back in a moment." Tali said with a hidden smile as she walked out of the room. Shepard gulped the last of his Coffee, peering at the eyes of Wrex and Grunt.
"What?" He scoffed.
"So...where'd you get that bruise on your nose?" Wrex asked, face stern. Shepard looked down at his empty mug, free hand caressing the bridge of his nose. If there was anyone he could talk to about this, it was Wrex...and Grunt.
"We went on a mission to clear out a group of rebel Quarian's from a Geth farm. The mission went sour and the bomb blew us out of the sky. We camped out till the rescue teams arrived. Tali showed up but we were ambushed." Shepard's jaw clenched.
"A group of these Quarian's jumped us, attacked Garrus, Xen and Reegar...Tali." He snarled, hand tightening till his scarred knuckles went pale. "I warned them Wrex. Warned them to stop...touching her. But they carried on." his hand grew tighter, the porcelain of his mug cracking under the pressure.
"I warned them so many times. But...they kept...hurting her...hurting Garrus. I snapped, threw a piece of burning wood at him so I could get free. I got up but he held me back." He scoffed, hand tightening and tightening.
"I watched over his shoulder as this...monster pulled at her suit, touched her body...made her cry!" Shepard gritted his teeth and the mug exploded in his palm, Wrex peering down at the falling chunks of white porcelain. Grunt peered at Wrex for any sort of tell.
"I warned them..." He peered up with glassy eyes at Wrex.
"What did you do Shepard?" he asked as softly as he could in his baritone voice. Shepard scoffed and rubbed his eyes, blood staining his porcelain prickled hand.
"I ripped his throat out with my teeth." He spoke so calmly and with a faint weak laugh, tears dripping onto his shirt, unable to comprehend his own unthinkable actions. He shrugged. "I snapped...and I just... to save the one person I can't live without...that's her." He motioned towards the ceiling, where Tali was upstairs. Wrex's eyes never left Shepard. Even Grunt was quiet and shocked.
"She was scared of me Wrex. She was scared of me!" Shepard slapped his chest repeatedly as he hissed through gritted teeth.
"What sort of person does that to someone? What sort of...animal does that?" he sighed, peering at the floor, crunching porcelain under heel.
"A desperate one." Wrex leaned forward to let the words impact him. Shepard peered up, his eyes raw. "You were in a situation where it was either you, or them. You were thrown into a situation where you had no gun, no knife, no weapon at all. You were thrown into a situation where you were forced to watch that wonderful girl get hurt!" He pointed to the ceiling. "It was either you or them. Yeah, maybe it was violent, maybe it was scary. But they're here now to think that because you acted."
Shepard scoffed, avoiding the Krogan gaze.
"Would you ever hurt her?" Wrex asked.
"No!" Shepard answered immediately. Wrex smiled.
"Exactly. You hurt them, because they were hurting her. She has nothing to fear. I know you Shepard: A heart of gold, you gave my kind a second chance based only on me, and a few other Krogan, you hadn't met every single Krogan and asked them about their personality. You took a gamble, and look at us now! A new empire, an ideal of hope, of peace! That's because of you. You gave us a second chance; you did the same for them." Wrex grabbed Shepard's shoulders.
"You don't have a bad bone in your body. It wasn't an animal's actions, it was a desperate man's, and there is nothing more dangerous than a man with a loved one at stake." Wrex stood up straight. Shepard smiled at Wrex, sniffing.
"It's not true. Wrex, what makes me different from them, huh? They were savages, and I killed them like a savage!" Shepard sniffed. He leaned forward towards Wrex. "I'm not what she thinks I am. I'm just another monster too." He sighed, standing up straight.
"She knows what you are: A damn good man who was put in a position where violent bloodshed was impossible to avoid. It was either you or them. Think of it like the Reapers. Either we destroy them, or they destroy us? You feel guilt over the Reapers?" Wrex asked him rhetorically. Shepard shook his head.
"Never." Shepard growled.
"These men acted like monsters, they get treated like monsters. They get killed like the monsters they are. You're one of the kindest men I know; I wouldn't call you my brother otherwise."
Shepard sighed, rubbing is brow.
"Thanks Wrex. I needed to hear that."
"Anytime brother. You are not an animal. You're a man that's new to the feeling of true love. That includes doing the unthinkable to save that person." Wrex nodded. "Even that."
"Whew...I guess so."
Wrex nodded, eyes peering at the arch to the living room then back to Shepard. He was starting to calm, and a supportive thump on the arm from Grunt and a toothy grin made him chuckle.
Stood in the living room by the arch to the kitchen was Tali, back to the wall and eyes darting in thought. What Wrex had said was true, and it made her love Shepard even more. She smiled to herself and sighed away her bubbling emotions. Remembering when the Citadel exploded with him on it, quivering hands unable to put his name on the memorial wall. She never felt so alone. She never ever loved anyone like she did Shepard. And he loved her the same way. She swallowed her thoughts and stepped around the corner.
He can't live without me.
"Hey! What are we talking about?" She asked with a hidden smile. Shepard gulped.
"Err, guns and stuff, right Wrex?" he looked to the Krogan, quickly wiping his eyes.
"Yep, big old guns..."
Tali grasped Shepard's hand and squeezed it, smiling at him. He was happily chatting with Grunt about the Collector Base. She watched as Shepard smiled at Grunt's storytelling, confusing Wrex on parts when he left a crucial fact out, which Shepard added. Grunt then went back to flying his hands around to visualize the fight.
Tali kept her eyes on Shepard. She felt silly for being scared of him. His actions were never animalistic; they were scared actions, loving actions. Of course he'd never do that to her, he did it to save her. She cherished his words on her, and pulled herself against his arm, head on his shoulder, tracing fingers around his palm. Shepard smiled warmly as he watched the Krogan laughing and chatting.
...
Tali sat in the Garden, her feet dangling off the cliff as her hood billowed around her head, her mask in her lap. She enjoyed these moments where she could let a small dose of the environment help adapt her immune system. She closed her eyes as the cold breeze licked her cheeks. A deep inhale through her nostrils left a fiery sensation inside them, her lungs crisp from the cold air, the smell of seaweed and salt filling her nasal with each intake.
Suddenly the huge footsteps of a Krogan greeted her ears, Tali fumbling to get her mask back on. It hissed into placed just as Wrex sat with a groan, his own huge feet dangling beside hers.
"Hey." She said to him. He nodded, eyes set on the view; the huge fingers of mountainous stone plucking at the blue sky and the ocean lapping against the coast below, foaming white froth seething around the jagged rock teeth.
"You did good Tali. It's a nice view, nice house. Glad to see you get it." He smiled. Tali nodded, chuckling.
"Seems crazy still, like a dream. I have a home on the Home world! I can't even say it without giggling like a child." Tali giggled, hands on her thighs, plucking at her cloth wraps. Wrex leaned back on his hands, head bobbing.
"Shepard's a good man."
"I know." She raised an eyebrow, practically hissing. Wrex peered at her, his lips closed over his teeth.
"He told me about what happened." He spoke, Tali nodding. "You're not...scared of him are you?" he asked, her eyes snapping at him.
"What? Of course not!" she snarled. Wrex simply stared her down. She sighed, slumping her shoulders. "I was...for a little while. It was scary to see."
"I know. I couldn't believe it when he told me. But once he told me all of it, I knew why he did it immediately."
"Oh?" she rolled her silver eyes.
"Hey, I'm old, not stupid." He chuckled. "He did it to save you. Never be scared of him. The only reason it came to that was because he was desperate to save you."
"But that? His own teeth..." she shuddered.
"What was he supposed to do? Shove and hope the guy didn't come back at him? Tali, he had to take this guy out there and then. Bam!" He slapped his fist to his hand with a clap. "Take them out in one motion, no matter how violent. If it saves the person you love...you do it, and this is coming from a Krogan who killed his own father." Wrex shrugged, chuckling weakly. Tali nodded, her feet swaying weightlessly off the edge.
"I know." she sighed, like a child being berated for stealing from the cookie jar.
"Well you can hear a fair bit from that Living room." Wrex smirked at her, her eyes snapping at him.
"Wha...how did you-"
"I'm not stupid Tali...I could smell you...plus...your shadow." He chuckled at her. She sighed, defeated again.
"Hearing him say all that, how he can't live without me...it's strange, I've never had anyone love me that much." she wrung her hands.
"Get used to it. He's crazy about you, always has been." Wrex pat her back, chuckling.
"Always?" she asked. Wrex nodded, scratching at his scars.
"Oh yeah. He talked to us on the first Normandy, sure, but he never came for story time or just to talk about random things. Never seen anyone wear the elevator to engineering down like that." he chuckled. She nodded, smiling beneath her mask. The huge Krogan shifted beside her.
"Now your problem...when's the big day?" Wrex looked at her. She sighed, hunching over.
"I...I don't know. He used to say how he "hates" the idea of Bonding...Marriage." She hissed, quoting the sentence with bobbing fingers.
"Why?" Wrex asked.
"All he says when I ask him about human bonding, is that it never lasts. He never says why." She groaned, looking at her hands. "Forget it, it's stupid. He'd hate it, being bonded for life." Wrex leaned over to her audio receiver.
"Not if it's with you he won't." And that was all Wrex said, groaning as he got up, leaving those words to sink in like shrapnel from a shotgun. Tali sat there, pondering the words. Wrex pat her back and walked back to the house. Grunt and Shepard chatting, each sentence ending with a slap or punch to the arm. Tali nodded and got up too, turning on heel and running after Wrex.
"Thank you." She said to him in hushed tones.
"Ah, old Uncle Urdnot worries about you, kid." He chuckled, wrapping a huge arm around her shoulder and pulling her in, his other hand knuckling her head, ruffling her hood.
"Gee, thanks' for the noogie, Uncle." She groaned, standing up straight as he released her, straightening her hood as his laughter bellowed. She watched Shepard talking with them, each holding a beer bottle. He offered one to Wrex and then all clinked bottles. His smile, the happiness, she thought back to what Wrex said.
Not if it's with you he won't.
He lived with her, built her a house, and shared himself with her. Why would he be opposed to making it official? She shrugged off the thoughts and saved them for another day. In a few hours Gerrel's trial will be held, she needed to be focused on that. She walked over to them.
"Hey Tal! Everything Okay?" he asked as Grunt slapped his back. She looked at Wrex who gave her a reassuring wink. The love in his voice, the way he smiled. He loved her and she loved him. She could always ask why he hates marriage later on.
"Everything's great! What're we talking about?" she asked, walking over to him as he draped an arm over her shoulder. They shared laughs and stories for the next few hours.
But right now, right now I have this.
...
Gerrel shifted in his cell, glaring through the prism of cell bars. His teeth flared and his eyes burned white hot silver. His gloved palms balled up the sponged padding of the dry mattress. Today was the day, the day of his trial. The day the name Han'Gerrel Vas Neema becomes stripped from all records of Quarian history. He snarled and cricked his neck. Suddenly the loud echoing clank of the door sounded and he peered up. Two marines entered, one walking straight to Gerrel and grasping his upper arm, hauling him to his feet. He shook the man's grip off.
"I can walk to my own defeat, thank you very much." He held his head high and stepped forward and out of the cell, both Marines behind him. A nudge from the rifle barrel kept him walking at his pace.
He walked down the dank halls and into the elevator at the end of the row. The marines flanked either side of him as the metal doors slid shut with an aged groan. Gerrel sighed through pursed lips till his mask fogged up. His eyes darted back and forth, wondering, hoping the Admiral's would see sense. His stomach dropped as if he had a lunch of lead as the lift began to climb. He turned his head towards the nearest beige marine.
"So...where's the trial being held?" he dryly asked, rolling his shoulder blades. The marine barely tilted his head as he answered.
"Aboard the Rayya, we're taking a shuttle up there."
"I see. No way for me to escape aboard a ship in space, huh?" Gerrel scoffed, shaking his head. Silence dwarfed the small cube of metal for minutes. A throat cleared and broke the quiet.
"For the record sir, I've served under your command of the Heavy fleet for years and...I..." He looked at Gerrel. "I support you."
"Me too." The other marine chimed. Gerrel nodded his thanks, and for the first time stood tall and proud in front of his men. His hands held behind his back.
"Keelah Se'lai." Gerrel sighed under his breath. The doors ebbed open and sunlight blinded the Ex-Admiral. Once his vision adjusted, he laid eyes on the Kodiak resting upon the landing pad. Other Marines waited by the hull. He stepped out onto the pad as the winds hit him like a punch. He peered up to the faint rumbling turned full roar of a Geth Dreadnought overhead.
The side of the Kodiak opened and his heart froze solid as the huge Geth Prime, Kronos, stepped out. Suddenly the Geth raised a Carnifex and a loud bang echoed, Gerrel shuddering and jolting as a puncture tore through his chest. The Geth's trio of red eyes were emotionless and distant, head flaps lowered. The Marine's leaped onto the Prime, restraining him as the Geth wailed out in digital roars, trying to free his gun wielding arm.
Gerrel's vision blurred and black fingers plucked at the corners of his eyes. He staggered and the hot leaking running down his stomach made his leg fizzy and weak. He dropped to his knees with a thud and gasped in pain, clutching his chest with a free hand. Kronos dropped to his own knees, red eyes flaring at Gerrel.
"Destroyer! Destroyer of my people! You are no Creator!" Kronos roared as ten Marine's restrained the titan. Gerrel fell back with a flop and his breath became ragged. His vision began to blur just as his view of the Geth Dreadnought flying overhead filled his view. Marine's stood over him, each pulling out Medi-Gel and tools, finally losing consciousness to the ever present blackness.
...
Author's notes: A very speech heavy chapter, but necessary. Xen's finally figured out what she needs to stabilize the V.I! Good old Wrex eh? Who better to talk to about pain and war than a Krogan! and uh oh, Gerrel's in trouble. See you all next time! Love you guys!
-Dave