Chapter 11: Into the Darkness
It takes just a few minutes to get from the bar to the office of Liara, but those few minutes help you to put things into perspective. A couple of krogan throw you off a ledge, a missing slaver who vanished while Tali and the bartender were fighting the krogan, and now Liara might be in trouble. Why do things always seem to get so complicated around you? Squeezing Tali's hand you think back to when this all began, an old battlefield you can hardly recall and a commendation for doing what everyone said could not be done. A promotion to Spectre and your own ship, fighting your way across a galaxy against insurmountable odds. Leaving Ash to die on Virmire, that thought brings the starting of a tear to your eye. Ash had always been a good friend, and quite the lover of poetry.
At least Tali was safe, the bartender had quite literally saved her and you were going to have to make sure to thank her properly when this was all done. The last few steps to Liara's office seem to be the longest ones of your life. Liara had been a very good friend, even a lover, and you are truly scared to see just what has happened to her. The desk to your right reminds you just how much she has changed, Nyxeris is dead now. Killed by Liara when you informed her that the information she had on these suspects did not fit the description of the Observer. Liara had not even shown any remorse over the act, only a raw unbridled rage at the Shadow Broker and her obsession to kill him. She had changed so much in the two years you were gone.
The door to Liara's office opens with a hiss and your team moves in, she is nowhere to be seen. Nodding to Miranda she sets to work on the computer, after a few moments she shakes her head and just opens a direct link to EDI with her Omni-tool. "This could take a while Shepard. Liara has more information in here on the Shadow Broker and his contacts than I could have imagined. Finding out her contact may take EDI several hours." she says.
You are hardly listening though, for the first time you notice a turned down picture frame on Liara's desk. Tali follows your gaze and quickly puts the two together, wringing her hands in front of her nervously as she considers the implications. Reaching out you take the frame into your hand and turn it over, Tali lets out a soft gasp and a tear runs down your cheek to fall onto the frame. It is a holo of Liara holding a small asari child. Miranda pauses in her work to glance between the two of you then shakes her head and goes back to work on the computer.
Slowly you place the picture back down on the desk, face down again, and turn to Tali. "Well... at least I know now why Liara changed so much."
Tali just keeps wringing her hands for a few moments then speaks softly "Keelah... Oh Shepard" she says then moves close, reaching out to take your hands almost sheepishly.
Blinking away the tears you squeeze her hands firmly and force a smile on your face "This doesn't change anything Tali. You are still who I want, but Liara.... I don't even know her anymore." Tali just nods and accepts the pressure of your squeeze, even squeezing back for a moment.
Miranda cuts in "Would you two focus please? EDI may have found something."
EDI suddenly appears around Miranda's arm much like her Omni-tool "Liara T'Soni was meeting with a slave trader named only as "Charn" I have managed to gain access to Illium's police database through this terminal. Charn is listed as a batarian radical who captures anyone he can and sells them off to batarian slavers. His ship the Stallion left port approximately 3 days ago, their heading is unknown at this time. I am sorry Commander"
As EDI vanishes from Miranda's arm you shake your head and turn to leave "Finish the upload and meet me back at the ship Miranda, there is nothing more we can do here right now."
Tali catches your arm "Shepard! Are you just going to give up like that?"
You turn to face Tali and your voice cuts through the air with far more venom than you had ever intended to direct Tali's way "What would you have me do? Jump from star to star scanning every planet in batarian space for the ship? Liara made her choices and now she has to pay the penalty for them. If we can track down this Charn so be it but we have more pressing matters at this time!"
Tali's shoulders slump and she looks down at the floor "Your right Shepard, I was being foolish again" she says. All the tension in your body, the frustration with Liara, the pain of knowing you might not see your friend again turns around and stabs at your heart, seeing Tali hurt and defeated is more than any man in love could truly bear.
You raise a hand as if you would speak then turn away dropping your hand as you march quickly back to the Normandy. Behind you Miranda can barely be heard saying "He's under a lot of stress and I'm sure I didn't help matters much. Give him some time and he will come around" Tali's response is lost to you as the office door hisses shut.
The market, even the docking security area are all a blur to you, the only thing that snaps you out of the daze you are walking in is Joker's voice as the Normandy decontamination cycle is running. "Come back empty handed Commander? That's a first. I half expected you to come back with three more blood thirsty murdering aliens to join the crew."
Leaning your head back to look up at the ceiling you growl out "Stow it Joker! I am not in the mood for your **** right now. Have Jacob assemble the crew, I need to know where everyone's heads at" "Aye aye ya grump" Joker quips back.
When the decontamination cycle finally ends you step on to the Normandy, and are surprised to hear the cycle start right back up behind you. "They got done fast" you mutter as you head back to the comm room, hopefully someone would have an idea of where to go next, or at least know about Charn. Perhaps Zaeed could shed more light on the matter, he wasn't very fond of batarians, but he had worked with his fair share back in his days in the Blue Suns.
It takes nearly twenty minutes for everyone to make it to the comm room, Tali is the last one to enter. Staring hard at her with your arms across your chest you wait, then shake your head when she doesn't offer an explanation. "Alright EDI pull up what we know?"
EDI quickly responds with a holographic image of the Stallion "Charn, a batarian radical, left Illium 3 days ago aboard this ship, the Stallion. Destination and cargo unknown."
Before EDI could continue Zaeed cuts in "Charn? I know him, you should too Shepard."
You turn to face Zaeed tilting your head a little in curiosity "I should? I don't recall many batarians I made friends with"
Zaeed chuckles "You let him live on that asteroid a few years ago, killed his boss thou. I have to say after working with you I don't really believe the story. You have been to good a guy to sacrifice the hostages to kill the terrorist."
That brought back the memories, Asteroid X57 was hurtling towards some planet, 4 million people below near the impact zone. You had shut down the fusion torches propelling the asteroid and then been confronted by a batarian, Charn. After a brief discussion you had talked him into leaving and he had given you the access key to the main facility. You had promised not to let the leader escape. This had been the hardest test of your convictions in your life to date. Many of your decisions had left good men and women, all soldiers, dead on the battlefield. Rarely had civilians died for your cause. The leader had the other scientists working on the asteroid locked up with bombs in their cells. His offer was a simple one, let him go to cause terror somewhere else, or sacrifice these few men and women to end it now.
The choice had taken you all of six seconds. Sometimes you still wake up in the middle of the night, sweating with the sounds of their screams ringing in your ears just before the explosion. The batarian had never stood a chance once he pushed that button. His brains were splattered all over the wall behind him just as he tapped in the final detonation code, his pet varren and the other guards were dead moments later. This was one mission you were glad Tali had not come along for. Wrex and Garrus both nodded approvingly when you turned to face them. The sight did not help your conscience at all.
The entire recall of the incident took maybe eight seconds but that was eight seconds in which Tali and Garrus exchanged one very long and telling look. Shaking your head you come out of the reverie and nod to Zaeed "Thanks for jogging my memory. Do you have any contacts you can use to try and hunt this ship down? Anyone?" Thane and Zaeed both nod "Well get to it then. Finding this ship is our top priority now. Dismissed." As the crew starts to leave you call out "Legion, Tali wait a moment please" Once the three of you are alone you nod to Legion "I believe you had something important to relay to me. Last time we spoke I was, less than functional. Please, I would like to continue that discussion now."
Legion looks around for a moment, it's head flanges flexing this way and that before it speaks "You do not have to apologize to this platform Shepard-Commander. We have searched the Normandy's databases extensively and believe we understand the emotional situation you were in at that time. We simply wished to convey to you a message from the geth at the a fore mentioned previous occasion." Legion pauses for a moment then continues when you nod "The Geth wish to initiate negotiations with the Creators for the return of their Home world."
Looking to Tali your eyebrows raise almost questioningly, she responds "I will send the information to the Admiralty board Legion. Thank you" Legion looks up and down as if nodding then turns to leave, Tali lingers behind until the door hisses shut.
"Shepard... about what Zaeed said" she begins "What happened on that asteroid he mentioned? Garrus and Wrex never spoke of the mission and I couldn't crack the security code on the old Normandy's computer before... well you know."
A painful look crosses your face but Tali is not someone you wish to hide things from "I made a bad decision, I gave my word to that batarian Charn that I would not let his boss escape. It cost those scientists their lives. I was raised with a single belief Tali, all a man has in this world is his word. Credits, cars, houses, ships, all these things can be taken away from you. Your word is who you are, it defines you, lets others know you can be trusted. I have never gone back on my word, and I will never give my word freely again. I live with that mistake every day, I just didn't remember the blasted batarian's name until Zaeed reminded me"
Tali nods knowingly and moves around the table to take your hands into hers "Shepard, the past is the past. You can't let it dominate you anymore than I can let my past dominate me. If this is going to work we have to be open with each other. Did you know about...." She pauses letting the question hang.
"About Liara's child" you finish for her.
She nods and continues "Did you know?"
Shaking your head you smile at her "I would think the look on my face would have told you that Tali. I still don't even know if the child was mine. Asari are known for being rather promiscuous you know."
Tali just nods "If it is yours... will you go back to her?"
The laugh that escapes you feels genuinely good and Tali steps back for a moment misunderstanding your laughter "No Tali, Liara once told me that Asari are very used to raising their children alone, they usually don't even know who their father is. That and I have the feeling that Liara's obsession with killing the Shadow Broker is more than just killing someone she was friends with. I think the Shadow Broker killed not only the person she mentioned, but the child as well somewhere along the road. I just don't see a single friends death changing Liara as much as she has changed."
A knowing nod slips from Tali, and she wraps her arms about you tightly "Thank you Shepard" she whispers.
Smiling you hold her to your chest, softly caressing her back and shoulders. "Come on Ms Vas Normandy, lets get some rest in my quarters. Captain's Orders."
Tali chuckles softly and responds in that cute voice "Oh... yes Commander... right away" grinning broadly beneath her mask she turns and leads you out of the comm room by the hand.
