CHAPTER TWELVE

Little Moments

Liara T'soni was eternally grateful for escaping the clutches of Saren's men, and eagerly shook all their hands upon entering the Normandy, Joker chuckling at how earnest she was. She came off like a child at Christmas, amazed at everthing she was beholding on the ship, scribbling notes down onto her omni-tool's notepad feature, taking everything in with wide eyes. Not that the crew minded. They were happy, for the most part, to let Ms. T'Soni look around.

Except, of course, Navigator Pressly. He mumbled slightly incoherently under his breath, arms folded across his chest as Requisitions Officer Lucas heartily shook Ms. T'soni's hand.

"I'm sorry, it's DOCTOR T'soni, isn't it?" Lucas inquired, nervously smiling back at her. "I imagine you've got some truly fascinating stories to tell us about all kinds of incredible finds. I was quite a fan of archeology in the day myself."

"You were a fan of INDIANA JONES. That's like saying you're a fan of medicine because you watched "Scrubs" and "MASH" nonstop." Grey chuckled, shaking his head back and forth.

"Oh, but I ADORE those shows." Dr. Chakwas intoned as she headed over to Dr. T'Soni in the communications room, shaking her hand heartily, giving Ms. T'soni a cheery smile. "Alan Alda is one of my personal favorite actors. But Dr. Winchester will always hold an even more special place in my heart. He was refined and dignified. A true gentleman like a doctor ought to be."

"I admit I myself was actually quite into "Indiana Jones"." Liara actually sheepishly admitted to the good doctor and the rest of the crew, face blushing slightly. "When I wished to learn more about your culture and if your kind studied archeology like us, I found torrent videos of the good Dr. Jones. I binged-watched every single one."

"Even Crystal Skull?" Lucas asked.

"HEY!" Grey snapped, pointing an accusatory finger at his nephew. "I will DEFEND that film. People just hated it because SHIA was in it. At least it wasn't racist as Hell like Temple of Doom!"

"Yeah, but it played it a bit too safe…" Lucas remarked aloud. "Though I did always secretly wonder if aliens really DID leave anything behind on Earth." He immediately glanced around at Wrex, Garrus, Tali and then finally Dr. T'Soni. "…you're all sure NONE of your races ever stopped by Earth?"

"If we had…you'd have known by the craters where ancient civilizations used to be." Wrex said with a dark grin.

"Speaking of things exploding, ten more minutes and you'd have been toast." Joker remarked as he rolled his eyes, waving a hand in the air. "The Normandy ain't equipped to land in EXPLODING VOLCANOS like the one your dig site was evidently over. So much for "inactive". And for future reference? Volcanoes fry our sensors and melt our hull. Just so you know."

"We almost died out there and your pilot's making jokes?" Liara asked, looking rather…astonished.

"It's how he copes." Shepherd remarked, though he inwardly thought that perhaps this was a bit too SOON. "He pulled our asses out of there. I think he's earned the right to a few bad jokes."

"It must be a human thing. You must forgive me, I adore your culture but don't have much PERSONAL experience with your race. At any rate, I'm very grateful for what you've done and I imagine you must have much to ask of me." Dr. Liara admitted to Shepherd, rubbing the back of her neck as she stood in the center of the communications room, the crew sitting around in plush black chairs.

"We'd like to know what you know of the Conduit." Kaiden inquired. "ANYTHING at all, we need to know everything we can about it."

"I know it was related to the Prothean extinction, my true area of expertise. I've spent the past 50 years trying to decipher what happened to them."

"Oh, I think I know. They got wiped out by a race of hyper-advanced machines known as the Reapers. I saw it in a vision I got from a Prothean beacon." Shepherd said with a solemn look on his face, arms folded across his chest as he bit into his lip. "Ever since I interacted with that damn thing, and got that strange, horrific vision I…I keep seeing them." Shepherd admitted as he put a single finger to his head, cringing a bit. "It's been kinda keeping me up at night, truth be told. What you see on my face is the eight hours of sleep I DIDN'T get for the past few days."

Liara's eyes widened. "Visions? Prothean beacons commonly imparted information via mental stimuli, they OFTEN passed data in the form of visual input!" She proclaimed, hands flying to her mouth. "By the GODDESS, that's fascinating! Where is this beacon?"

"Blown up on Eden Prime, unfortunately." Shepherd apologized.

"…no matter." Liara sighed. "A shame, though. What I would have given to study it. Yet I may be able to assist you. According to my findings, the Protheans weren't the first galactic civilization to mysteriously vanish. The cycle started long before them." She nervously rubbed her hands, cringing a bit as she bit her own lip. "There's…not really much evidence FOR my theory but…here it is. The cycle that grips our galaxy is one of extinction. Every time a great civilization rises, it's suddenly and violently cast down, leaving only ruins in its wake."

The others glanced about at each other. You could hear a pin drop as Liara continued, her tone entrancing, fascinating, all of them listening eagerly to her speak. "The Protheans rose from a single world and made their empire expand across the whole galaxy. Yet even THEY climbed to the top on the bones of those that came before. Their greatest achievements…the Mass Relays? The Citadel? All based on those who came before. You feel your vision tells you how the Protheans died out, how they were cast down and made into bones WE built upon?"

"I'm dead certain." Shepherd said with a firm nod. "You say Prothean tech could transmit info directly into someone's mind, is that it? That's how I can "understand" it?"

"Yes. But such beacons were really only meant for Prothean physiology, for "lesser" minds it would have been impossible to even see. You must be very strong-willed to be able to take in any of that." She remarked.

"Look, this ain't helping us find Saren or the Conduit." Ashley spoke up, shaking her head back and forth.

"I'm truly sorry. My scientific curiosity got the better of me." Liara apologized nervously as Shepherd chuckled a bit. "I'm afraid I don't know where either is."

"It's not a big deal. We'd be happy to have a Prothean expert on board. We could always use more help."

"And her biotics will come in handy when the fightin' starts." Wrex added with a small smile.

"Welcome aboard, Liara." Shepherd remarked cheerily, shaking her hand. "Dr. Chakwas will show you to your quarters. Then we'll head to find Ms. Dantius and investigate that unusual Biotic colony run by "Major Kyle" we heard about. It's not that far off…and I've got a bad feeling about it." He added. "Something in my gut says we should investigate."

With that, everyone left the room, save for Joker, who leaned back in his chair and pointed at himself with a big grin. "Y'know, I prefer gold to silver."

Shepherd blinked stupidly in surprise. "Huh?"

"For my medal. I figure you'd recommend me for one since I pulled your boots outta the fire." Joker chuckled, adjusting the cap atop his head.

"Oh, Joker. You know if I recommend you for one, you'll have to stand onstage along with some asshole politician who'll talk out for three hours about nothing." Shepherd wryly mused as Joker sighed melodramatically, putting his arm over his forehead.

"Oh, alas! Alack! When you're right, you're right. And they'd probably make me shave. I spent the last seven weeks on this baby." He added, pointing at his beard and grinning. "I ain't givin' it up."

"Y'know, Joker, I don't really know much about you." Shepherd admitted with a slight shrug, Joker raising an eyebrow up. "Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"

Joker immediately frowned at this, groaning as he held his head in his hands, shaking it back and forth. "UGGGHHHHH. Ya did a background check on me, huh? Look, I'll tell you what I told Capt. Anderson. You. Want. Me. As your Pilot. I'm not good. I'm not great. I'm the BEST. DAMN. HELMSMAN. In the entire Alliance fleet! All those commendations in my file? I earned every single one, and they weren't given to me as CHARITY for some freakin' disease!" Joker snapped, pointing an accusatory finger at Shepherd, face fuming…until he saw the genuine concern and surprise on the commander's face.

"Jesus, Joker, I…I didn't even know you were sick. Is there anything we can do?" Shepherd asked, Joker immediately inwardly smacking himself.

Oh shit. He doesn't know.

"You really don't…fuck. Fuck, fuck, FUCK." Joker groaned. "AAAAAnd Joker sticks his foot in his mouth. I am SO sorry. Look, uh…I've got Vriolik's Syndrome. Brittle Bone Disease. The bones in my legs never really developed properly, they're basically hollow. Too much force and they SHATTER." Joker said, making an "explosion" gesture with his hands, going "boooom". "And even with crutches and my leg braces its hard for me to get around. One wrong step-CRAKK! But I learned to manage, y'know?"

Joker took in a deep breath, taking off his hat and pointing it at Shepherd, smiling slightly. "You put the Normandy in my hands and I'll make her DANCE for you, just…don't ask ME to do any dancing. Unless you like the sound of snapping shin bones. Maybe you're sick that way."

"I'm a LITTLE sick." Shepherd remarked. "You kind of HAVE to be to be in the N7 program. But how'd you get the name Joker?"

"It's easier than saying Alliance Flight Lieutenant Jeff Moreau. And I looooves to make the little children laugh." Joker remarked, flipping his cap onto his head as Shepherd snorted.

"Oh, please, Santa Claus." Shepherd chuckled. "You ain't giving anything but coal."

"Yeah, true. Look, the real reason is this teach of mine in flight school razzed me for never smiling. She stuck me with the name Joker. It caught on. I wasn't interested in smiling and cracking jokes." Joker remarked with a snort, waving a hand in the air. "I was working my ass off because I knew the world didn't givwe you anything if you just went around grinning like an idiot. Well…unless you wanted to go into politics. But if you really wanna get shit done, you hunker down and pray you get lucky. Well, I did that. And at the end of the year I was THE best pilot, class validectorian, and you can guess who was grinning the most at graduation!"

"The sickly kid with the creaky little legs that kicked his instructor's asses?" Shepherd asked.

"RIGHT ON." Joker said with a grin. "And I haven't let ANY of them forget it. They still send me hate mail." He added, pulling out his personal phone and bringing up his email app, cheery titles reading "So f—k yourself" in big letters from "Professor Emory" and other noted academics.

Chuckling at this, Shepherd made his way towards Kaiden, who was at his locker, looking over a few photographs before putting them away, not too far from the living quarters connected to the medical bay where Liara would now be staying. "Kaiden, is everything alright?"

The biotic glanced from the photos to Shepherd before putting the photos away. "Just…reminiscing." Kaiden Alenko said softly. "…I miss Jenkins. He was a good friend." But it was more than just that. "I miss his stupid sense of humor. Miss his earnestness. Miss the way his eyes lit up when he saw ME light up with psychic power…" Kaiden thought inwardly.

"I miss him too, Kaiden." Shepherd admitted with a small nod as Kaiden slightly chewed his lip.

"Permission to speak freely, Commander? Off the record?"

Shepherd waved a dismissive hand in the air. "You don't have to stand on ceremony, Kaiden. Speak your mind."

"I think there's something…really wrong with all this. Saren's trying to bring about galactic extinction but the Council won't give us ANY backup?" Kaiden remarked, looking a little angry. "I mean, C'MON! There's writing on the wall, but SOMEBODY ain't reading it."

"Believe me, I think they're idiots with their heads stuck in the sand. They don't wanna believe anything is really wrong." Shepherd remarked. "If I hadn't seen the vision I might not believe it either."

"You'd just think they'd be more OPEN to the POSSIBILITY of the Reapers." Kaiden added as he paced back and forth, holding his hands behind his back. "I mean, why would it be so surprising that there's other aliens out there we've never even seen? I mean, there's other GALAXIES. For all we know, there could be ten THOUSAND aliens just waiting to come in to the Milky Way. They're such jackasses."

He sighed, hanging his head. "Sorry if I'm getting too informal. Protocol wasn't big back at "BAaT"."

"Tell me about it." Shepherd asked, sitting down in a nearby chair as Kaiden sat down next to him at the nearby dining room table, brushing his black hair back and sighing.

"Biotic Acclimatio and Temperance" didn't last past the airlock. To the kids they hauled in, it was "Brain Camp". Well, "hauled in" might be a bit unfair, I suppose the terminology would be "encouraged to commit to an evaluation of our abilitites so an understanding of biotics could be compiled"!" Kaiden remarked, speaking in a faux-fancy-authoritative tone, waving his hands in the air. "I suppoe there's worse results from "accidental" exposure to element zero in the womb. Beats the BRAIN TUMORS some kids grew up with."

Yeah. "Accidental". TOTALLY just an accident that people like Kaiden's mother had just so HAPPENED to endure a horrific eezo accident due to a transport crash and the corporation Conatix just so HAPPENED to show up the next day. TOTAL coincidence.

Kaiden hesitated. "…I don't want you thinkin' I'm a whiner, I got my past squared away. But I haven't forgiven Conatix for what happened. And if I ever DO find proof they MADE that happen…"

"I understand." Shepherd admitted, getting up and heading for the east wing, seeing Liara T'Soni speaking with Grey, who nervously shook the asari's hand.

"I appreciate you telling me." He said. "And believe me. It was an honor to help you. It's what people like us do."

"People like you?"

"We're the good guys, doctor." Grey said, putting a hand on his chest, his hair flopping over the tie-dye headband he wore over his forehead. "We help folks in need. And the first rule of a medic, of a doctor, is "do no harm"."

"I would think you'd say that a knight is sworn to valor and his heart knows only virtue." Shepherd spoke up as he put his hands on his hips, smiling a bit. "What's going on?"

"I was asking Liara about Dark Energy. She said she doesn't really know much OF it, though…so I was going to ask the others if they'd ever heard of it." Grey admitted with a shrug. "That person, the Machinist? I've heard other goons talk about him. I wanna know why he wanted my body…and what it has to do with Dark Energy."

The commander's lips pursed. "I think I remember reading sometime that there was a sun INFESTED with the stuff, consumed by it around…twenty five years ago, maybe?" Shepherd muttered, rubbing his chin in a thoughtful manner. "It went from bright and blue to a disgusting shade of dark blackish PURPLE. But that's all I remember."

"I'm surprised you DO remember that." Grey admitted.

"It made for a reaaaally creepy frontpage news image. That kind of image sticks in the back of your head, staying on with you as you get older." Shepherd remarked.

"Truly, a fascinating race, you humans." Liara admitted, thoughtfully rubbing her chin. "I'm so glad to be able to spend MORE time with you. I've spent most of my time on remote digs, unearthing the mundane from long-forgotten Prothean ruins, but my last expedition was headed by a human archeologist. She taught me how to play piano…" The Asari trailed off, her tone becoming even softer, sad…eyes misting over. "…Ms. Hunter was an exceptional woman."

"Would you like me to ask Lucas if he can get us a piano?" Grey offered. "I used to be able to play a lot myself."

"You're payin' for it." Shepherd remarked wryly. "But I think we could find some room."

The Asari Archeologist's face lit up as she clasped her gloved hands together and bowed her head. "Oh, yes! I believe I would enjoy that immensely!" She remarked, glittering blue eyes gazing back at them. "I enjoyed spending time alone in my tent, playing piano."

"You like spending time alone?" Shepherd wanted to know as Grey scratched his head in confusion, Liara sighing a bit.

"It's just…I suppose it come from being a Matriarch's daughter." Liara murmured, turning over her hands. "People expected me to follow in her footsteps, be a leader for my people. Matriarchs seek the truth of what's yet to come. But I'm interested in the past…though I suppose it must sound almost like I became an archeologist just to spite her."

"I take it she didn't like your rebellious streak?" Shepherd wanted to know. "I wouldn't know, personally. I…never knew my parents."

"I'm sorry." Liara remarked. "I suppose I can't identify. But truth be told, she was remarkably understanding." She admitted with a slight shrug of her shoulders. "Yet even if she hadn't, I HAD to study the Protheans. I felt drawn to their mysterious ways. Everything about their race fascinated me, and you…you're TOUCHED by one of their beacons! I can't even begin to imgine what secrets are in your head!"

Shepherd scowled slightly. "It sounds like you wanna dissect me in a lab somewhere…" He mumbled.

"What? Oh, no, no! I only meant you'd be an interesting specimen for an in-depth study-oh DEAR, that's even WORSE. I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Liara apologized profusely, shaking her head back and forth, hands held up.

"It's okay. I'm kidding on the square." Shepherd chukled. "Which means I'm joking…and also sorta KINDA meaning it. But still joking."

"Oh! Well, uh…gee. Now you see while I spend time with data disks and computers, I'm really so embarrassingly dense around others." Liara apologized, rubbing the back of her neck.

Grey chuckled. "Aw, it's alright. We all have brain farts. I'll go talk to Lucas about that piano." He offered, gesturing with his thumb at the doorway, heading off with a wave as Shepherd scratched his chin.

"What can you tell me about Benezia? Why do you think she joined Saren?"

"My mother always spoke of being more involved with the rest of the galaxy…I'm not sure this is the right way to go about it. I…don't understand it. I KNOW her. I haven't spoken to her in years, but I KNOW her and…she wouldn't want to go along with something like this. Something's changed." Liara murmured, her tone worrysome and troubled.

"So your "Matriarchs" are your leaders and you're all monosex, correct? And your race was the first to discover the Citadel? I take it that must make your species very beloved." Shepherd assumed. "If you don't mind me asking, there's…a few things I've heard of your race and I…wanted to actually ASK an asari, so…" He held his hands up. "If I say ANYTHING offensive, immediately cut me off."

"Go ahead. Ask."

"…um…that is…how do you…y'know…reproduce? It doesn't involve tentacles, does it?"

"Oh, no, no. I was asked that quite a lot." Liara sighed. "I'm used to it by now. I ASSURE you, my private parts do NOT turn into a tentacle monster mid-coitus. My race can mate with any species…though perhaps "mate" isn't the right word, physical contact isn't always needed. It's more like…" She thoughtfully rubbed her chin. "Our unique physiology allows our minds to meld with others. Touch the very depths of their minds. It allows us to explore the genetic memory within a species and, in turn, we're able to share in the most basic elements of their individual and racial identities."

"So it's like you…COPY someone when you mindmeld? And that produces children?" Shepherd inquired.

"You could put it in such a fashion, yes. After the union, if the melding is full enough and we will it, we bear children the "normal" way after a period of months." Liara went on. "The traits we've gotten from our partners are then passed on to our daughters. It is how we connect to other races and better understand them."

"What about the other parent?"

"Well, sometimes the joining is a brief fling, othertimes a lifelong commitment. Since my race can live for a millenia, the "lifelong" thing might not be…feasible, if you understand. I personally never really knew my father. Only that it was another asari. And from how my mother talks, their…parting wasn't the best." Liara mumbled softly, glancing down at the floor, speaking quietly and sadly. "…I don't even have a picture. But my mother tells me I have my "father's" eyes. Then again, me having an asari father isn't something I always liked having. Asari don't typically take asari partners, they don't gain anything new according to the conventional wisdom. So we "purebloods" are just…weakening the gene pool according to many. Not that they'd say that to my face." She muttered with a frown. "…though a few HAVE. Very inconsiderate."

"I'm sorry. I suppose racism isn't just a human thing."

"It's almost never "just" a problem of ONE race, I assure you. THAT much I know of ALL species." Liara intoned. "Still, I try to take a philosophical approach to this, just like the rest of my kind. We don't focus on the inevitable loss of our partners. We focus on the time we have WITH them. And even then, when they're gone-"

"They will always be with you?" Shepherd finished with a small smile, Liara nodding in agreement.

"Yes. They'll always be with us." Liara chuckled. "I've seen THAT series too. It's quite charming. "I am a Jedi, like my father before me". I had quite the crush on Mark Hamill. He had an adorable face."

"Nothing quite like a good space epic." Shepherd remarked in agreement, heading out to check on the rest of the crew. Wrex, as it were, was nodding over at Grey as he headed over to the engine room. "What's up?"

"I told the human the Quarian was muttering to herself about dark energy, that he should ask her. He seems possessed." Wrex intoned. "I know you don't see it, but…" Wrex was quiet, his red eyes glancing over towards the engine room. "…there's just a gut feeling I have about the kid. The medic is…" He hesitated. "…he's nice. He's a real nice kid. But he's hiding something sick and awful inside of him. And I don't know if he even realizes it."

"Sometimes I do get the feeling he's not telling me everything." Shepherd admitted.

"I've felt the same gut feeling about Saren. I did work for him once when I was still a mercenary. I was supposed to get this package off a ship, me and some other Krogan mercenaries." Wrex admitted, Shepherd looking intrigued, eyes widening in surprise.

"You met him? Why didn't you tell us?"

"It was only once. Like I said, it was just a job on the edge of the Terminus Systems. The mercs said it paid well and the boss was never around to ride them. This time was 'd taken this massive cargo freighter. Gotten hold of a "very special package". I was checking bodies for valuables, extra credits. Then I saw him. He wasn't speaking. He was just moving through the ship…watching. A couple of the mercs called him by name, but…he never spoke. Not to anyone." Wrex said, his deep tone becoming quieter, almost…frightened?

Shepherd didn't say anything. But yes. He was sure Wrex's tone now had an edge of FEAR in it as the Krogan went on. "I looked into his eyes. And I got a horrific feeling in my gut that stirred up like somebody was taking a blender to my insides and shaking up the chunks. I didn't even wait to get paid. And I was right about how dangerous he was, because my instincts were right. Every other merc on that mission died within a week. EVERY damn one." Wrex said, pointing at Shepherd. "He's rotten to the CORE."

"I don't doubt that." Shepherd intoned. "But he's met his match. I'm not letting him get away with this."

"I'll hold you to that." Wrex remarked. "I admire men who try keep their promises." He said, Shepherd giving him a nod.

"Talk to you later, Wrex." He said, turning…and bumping right into Ashley, taking a step back. "OH! Ash! I'm sorry!"

"No, no, I'M sorry, I…I wanted to talk to you. Do you mind?"

Wrec chuckled, leaving the two alone as Ashley rubbed the back of her neck, Shepherd tilting his head slightly to the side. "What's on your mind, Williams?"

"I know things are different aboard the Normandy than most vessels but…I'm worried about the aliens. Vakarian and Wrex. Ms. Liara and Tali seem harmless, but those two…with all due respect, should they have full access to the ship?"

"Why the unease?" Shepherd inquired. "Is this because they're aliens aboard a prototype alliance ship?"

"Well…YEAH." Ashley admitted with a nervous grin. "Thing is, I…I don't know if I can call the council races "allies". Humans have to learn to rely on ourselves."

Shepherd put a hand on her shoulder. "Williams, relax. Standing up for ourselves doesn't necessarily mean standing alone."

"It's not about turning down allies. I just don't think we should bet on them STAYING allies. On always playing nice, if you get my drift?" Ashley murmured as she rubbed her arm. Part of her hated saying this, she didn't want to sound like a racist. "It's just…if their backs are against the wall, the council races will abandon us."

"Kind of pessimistic…" Shepherd remarked, scratching his head.

"A pessimist is what an optimist calls a realist." Ashley intoned with a shrug. "If you're fighting a bear, you'll sic your dog on it and run. You might love your dog, but it's not human. It's not racism, not really. It's just an asari is always gonna think another asari is more important than a Quarian or a Volus, a Turian will think another Turian means more than an Asari or a Salarian, that kinda thing."

"Ashley, why do you feel this way?" Shepherd wanted to know, looking a bit concerned.

"Well…my family's defended the Alliance since it was founded. My father, grandfather, GREAT-GRANDFATHER, we all picked up a rifle and swore the oath of service. And…well, as you might have heard, my Grandfather was the first general to surrender to an alien race?"

"Ahhh. I see where you're coming from." Shepherd admitted. "Shanxi still lingers in your family's heart. I can understand. But this is a multilateral mission, Williams. We've gotta work with aliens, like it or not. They might just surprise us."

"I'll do whatever I can, sir. You say "jump", I say "how high"? You say kiss a turian, I'll ask which cheek." Ashley said with a salute, snapping her heels together.

"How about kissing me?" Shepherd inquired with a small smile.

"Well YOU'RE up front." Ashley mused a smile spreading across her face as Shepherd grinned back.

"And I think you're a beautiful and intelligent woman, Ashley. I certainly want to learn more about you." Shepherd said, shaking her hand. "Don't be a stranger. My door's always open."

"I'll remember that." She said with a small smile as Shepherd walked off, heading over to Garrus as he glanced over his shoulder, turning around and holding up his sniper rifle, Lucas standing by him.

"Mr. Perkins here has been VERY helpful. He orded me some fascinating new modifications for my sniper rifle. To which I'm in his debt. Besides…he got me this." Garrus added, pointing at a small ribbon that was now wrapped around the rifle which even Shepherd, illiterate in Latin as he was, could tell meant "Beware of Dog". Cave Canem.

"Dog?"

"Because it's got a sharp, loud bark and a HELL OF A BITE." Lucas chuckled, giving Garrus a "noogie" atop his head. "He was just telling me about his days in C-Sec."

"Why DID you get into Citadel Security?" Shepherd wanted to know, Garrus thoughtfully rubbing his chin as he slung the sniper rifle onto his back.

"…hmm. There were several reasons. I wanted to fight injustice. Help people. Make a difference. And besides, my father was in C-Sec too…" Garrus added with a nod. "One of the best. I grew up knowing all about his accomplishments, either at the dinner table or in the vids. Needless to say, he's…taking my resignation pretty bad."

"Why?" Shepherd said, frowning a bit. "I would think he'd be proud you're going after a rogue Spectre agent with the first human spectre."

"He's a C-Sec man to the bone. "Do it right or don't do it at all" is his motto. He thinks I joined up because I'm being like he always thought I was…rash. Impatient. He's afraid I'll end up like Saren." Garrus remarked with a shrug.

And truth be told, GARRUS was worried he'd end up like Saren. He'd read the spectre's files. Saren had become a member of the army to protect and defend his planet. And become a spectre to fight injustice. To accomplish things you couldn't do on one planet alone. He kept going too far. One more step over the line until he'd reached this, the point of no return. Part of Garrus feared this. Feared that one day he'd step over the line and end up looking back at himself…and seeing somebody that wasn't Garrus Vakarian anymore. But somebody just like Saren.

"I was targeted as a possible spectre candidate." Garrus admitted. "Me and a thousand other Turian military recruits, but…my father talked me out of it. He despises the spectres. Unlimited power, NO accountability…wouldn't like you much. No offense."

"I can understand. It gets tempting to abuse that kind of power." Shepherd remarked.

The Turian snorted slightly, shaking his head. "My father doesn't get it…and I wonder if you do. Saren's not going to play by our rules. C-Sec's rules. ANYONE'S rules but his own. You want to nail him, you gotta send in someone not tied down by policies and procedures. Not wrapped up in red tape."

"I only want to use the power I have for the right reasons. But I think I need men like yourself around me to keep me from stepping over the line. Because if we start breaking any law we like just to get what we want, what makes us better than Saren?" Shepherd wanted to know. "The road to Hell's paved with good intentions because nobody ever HAS bad intentions. Everyone is the hero of their own story, Garrus. Everyone thinks they're doing the right thing in some way."

"I've never thought about it like that." Garrus murmured softly, his face becoming thoughtful. "I see what you mean but…" He glanced slightly to the side, mandibled face looking intrigued, conflicted. "…I'll think about it."

"I hope you do." Shepherd admitted as he headed for the engine room, Grey standing next to Tali, the Quarian watching in awe as Grey held up the hand that had his omni-tool, electricity sizzling off his fingertips as he made little sparks dance. "Having fun?"

"I know this must come as a…SHOCK…to you, Ms. Raya."

"Please, call me Tali." Tali insisted, trying to hold back her giggles. "Your jokes are SOOO cheesy."

"I know. But you're clearly getting a CHARGE outta them." He added, Tali laughing uproariously as the rest of the crew rolled their eyes, Engineer Adams groaned, throwing his hands in the air.

"What're you two talking about?"

"They started talking about dark energy. Now HE won't stop cracking bad jokes." Engineer Adams muttered. "Can you not do your strange mumbo-jumbo inside the engine? I don't want something frying."

"I needed a good laugh." Tali said, composing herself and standing up, giving Grey an appreciative nod as Grey lowered his hand. "His Harmonics-based technology is positively fascinating…and he's funny." She added with a nod at the medic. "I've been feeling kind of…down lately."

"How so?" Shepherd asked, his face looking concerned.

"I hope I don't come off like a whiner…" Tali thought inwardly, rubbing the back of her neck and taking in a breath before speaking. "Your ship's amazing, your crew's been very nice to me so far, your chief engineer is a SAINT…but I feel out of place here. For starters, how do you sleep at night? The engines are so quiet."

"It's too quiet to sleep? The silence wakes you up?" Shepherd asked.

"Is it like needing white noise to sleep? I always sleep with a fan on myself." Grey admitted, putting a hand on his chest as Tali shook her head.

"No, though it would appreciate a fan. Could you ask your nephew Mr. Perkins to acquire one?" She inquired of the medic as he nodded. "The thing is, the very last thing you want to hear on a Quarian ship in the Flotilla is silence. It measn an engine's died or air filter's shut down. It's terrifying. I know I don't have to worry about that here, it's just…old habits die hard. And besides, this ship feels rather…empty. Like half the crew is missing."

"You feel homesick, don't you?" Shepherd reasoned gently, giving Tali a small nod of his head.

"Back home I couldn't wait to get away from the crowds and now I miss them…" Tali murmured softly.

"Don't know what you've got 'til it's g-" Grey slapped his hands over his mouth, stopping himself. "EEP. Sorry! Almost activated the power. I have to be reeeeaaal careful."

"I know what you mean. I wonder if that's what the Pilgrimage is really about. Giving a new understanding of our people and our culture." Tali said to the two, giving them a nod. "Y'know…" She hesitated. "There's always a few who never DO come back. I always assumed something terrible befell them but…maybe they just wished for a different life. I DO plan to return, but…I think I can understand why others would stay out here."

"You two were speaking of dark energy, right?" Shepherd remarked, looking from the medic to the Quarian engineer, raising an eyebrow up. "Have you studied it, Tali?"

"Yes, actually." Tali admitted with a hint of pride. "Dark energy's the "fifth foce" in the galaxy. Like electromagnetism and gravity, it affects all matter in the galaxy. And it can be manipulated through element zero."

"Eezo? The thing that was said to have caused an explosion of biotic abilities in kids exposed to it?" Shepherd murmured, eyes narrowing slightly.

"Yes. Dark energy's also enabled faster than light travel, it helps us produce mass effect fields because that's what eezo releases when subjected to powerful electrical currents. It's really VERY fascinating." Tali admitted. "Now, of course, dark energy can oversaturate an area. The more that's expelled, the darker it becomes in tone, actually. History's only seen it happen a few times, but when massive amounts of eezo gave off even more massive productions of dark energy-"

"It looked big, purple and scary?" Shepherd finished as Tali nodded in agreement. "Any idea why this "Machinist" would be interested in that?" He inquired of Grey as the medic shrugged.

"No idea. My power isn't biotic in nature. I don't give off that glow they do, after all. And their psychic abilities aren't like MY power. It's unique."

"Perhaps you're able to tap into dark energy DIRECTLY, without the use of electrical impules in your nervous system like biotics can?" Tali mused aloud. "Maybe THAT'S where your powers come from?"

"That's impossible. I'd still only be able to do things like throw stuff around if it was dark energy, right? I mean that's all dark energy does. It helps you move things. From ships to cups." Grey reasoned.

"It's a LITTLE more complicated than that." Tali chuckled. "It also helps to power the mass relays and it can be used to power defensive and offensive weapons systems."

"Can it make somebody do something they wouldn't do spontaneously, though? Because my power CAN do that." Grey murmured.

"No, it-wait. WHAT? Really? Come on. That CAN'T be true." Tali asked, looking a bit incredulous as Engineer Adams sighed.

"Oh dear."

"Everyone, cover your ears." Shepherd ordered, Tali glancing left and right as Grey cleared his throat, Tali looking confused.

"What're you-"

"Just DANCE. Gone okay, doo-doo-doo! Just DANCE, spin that record, baby! Doo-doo-doo, just DANCE!"

Tali IMMEDIATELY began to sway her hips, swerving her body about like a snake, arms held above her head as she shook it like an polaroid picture, humming happily as she swayed back and forth. The crew watched in astonishment before Tali stopped herself, slowly turning to Grey, obviously gaping behind her mask.

"…now you see why I don't sing much outside the battlefield." Grey mumbled. "…I don't wanna risk this power going off and…making somebody do something they don't wanna do. Which also means I can't enjoy the songs I knew and loved or else something might BLOW UP. It's a gift and a curse…" He whispered. "I mean…what happens if "End of the World" pops up on the Classic Station and I'm standing right there? We'd be screwed."

"That was…I…" Tali stammered. "…that felt so STRANGE. I was very, VERY happy and ecstatic but…I felt as though I was watching myself from far away…" She murmured, holding her head in her hands. "I…don't find THAT very funny."

"I should go." Grey said. "I'm sorry." He added mournfully, bowing his head as he left the room, Shepherd sighing.

"I'd seen his ability at work on the field during the Blitz…but this is the flip side. The same thing that can heal wounds, patch the sick, give hope…it can also CONTROL. DESTROY." He murmured. "He terrifies me sometimes. Perhaps Wrex was right. Perhaps there is something dark in him."

…the two laid on the bed together, Saren softly stroking the side of her body, nuzzling up against her, a soft murr rising up from his throat. The Turian snuggled up more closely as Benezia smiled softly, enjoying the remarkably soft touch he was now giving to her. It had indeed been a…very intriguing experience. And quite…passionate.

IT hadn't once spoken up. It didn't even seem interested in watching, thankfully. The rest of the Geth had not once disturbed them. They were now simply lying in each other's arms, the soft, faint blue light of the lamp by their bedside stand casting faint rays acros the room. As Saren leaned in to the back of her neck, Benezia felt his breath as he inhaled her scent.

"I've never experienced it quite like that. I understand your race needn't have physical contact, but…I do hope it was pleasurable."

"Not unpleasant at all. In fact, quite enjoyable." Benezia admitted. "I'm glad we made this decision. I'm not afraid of what's to come."

Saren turned her over, holding her cheek in his clawed digits, pale blue eyes gazing into dark blue. "He'll be the future, I suppose."

"…I'm worried for her, though, Saren. For my little wing." Benezia whispered. "…your Krogan mercenaries aren't above crippling her to bring her back."

"I saw the feed. If they try anything like that…I'll break their spines." Saren promised, giving Benezia a kiss on the forehead as the two just laid in each other's arms. "Let us just have these next few hours and let there be nothing else. No fear. No worry. Only each other and what we have. Only the hope for the future."

"…I can do that." The Matriarch admitted, wrapping her arms around him and nuzzling up against his chest, listening to his beating heart, feeling his soft breathing on her head. Wishing that this moment could last for an eternity…