Mass Effect : Resilience - ALTF5 Act I : Chapter XIII, a mass effect fanfic

Act I : Chapter XIII

SSV Normandy

Commander Gabriel Shepard helped Doctor Chakwas with the last minute checks and double checks, already feeling anxious about the plan she discussed with him. Today, Tali would finally be ejected from the pod, but the method of accomplishing such a task was no easy feat. She would need to be ejected in an environment with absolutely no pathogens or any other microscopic contaminants. Obviously, this did not leave them an abundance of options, but Chakwas came up with an idea and Gabriel had agreed it was probably the method most likely to succeed: Tali would need to be ejected in the Normandy's airlock. The plan was to move the medical stasis pod into the airlock, then he and Chakwas would cycle the atmosphere with the vacuum outside the ship - obviously while they were both wearing hardsuits. From there, the airlock would be completely sterilized and they would raise the temperature to a comfortable standard. Then, the airlock would need to be pressurized once more in order for the atmosphere to be safe for Tali. Only after they scanned the airlock and were completely sure it was safe would Tali be prepped for the ejection procedure. In theory, it was a fine plan and did not seem to carry a huge additional risk; however, there was absolutely no margin for error - if anything were to go wrong, Tali could die. Gabriel was sweating inside his helmet: everything absolutely needed to go perfectly. He checked the cargo cart one final time and was satisfied with the stability of the pod. Usually, the cart was used to move heavy objects around in the cargo bay: ammo crates, supplies, ship parts, mako tires and everything else in between. This time, it was being used to move very precious cargo and it needed to do it without a problem. Gabriel nodded towards Chakwas and she nodded in return before placing her helmet over her head.

"Well?" Tali pressed. "Are we ready?"

"Ready was we'll ever be", Gabriel answered.

"Alright, Tali", Chakwas said calmly. "I will engage the blast shields now. We will see you in the airlock." Gabriel reached out his armoured hand and placed it gently on the tempered glass of the pod, smiling as Tali did the same from the other side. He took in every little detail on her two-fingered hand and memorized every part of her smooth, delicate palm.

"Everything's going to be okay, Tali", Gabriel reassured.

"Are you trying to convince me, or yourself?" She teased.

"Yes", Gabriel chuckled. He then nodded to Chakwas and she pressed a button on her omnitool. The pod then extended its large metal panels and encased itself in a protective shell. Gabriel was sure it would be unnerving to be trapped inside a pitch black container like that, but at least she would be safe.

"Tali, are you still able to hear us?" Chakwas asked through the comm channel.

"No", Tali teased. "Could you please say that again? It's too dark in here, I can't hear you."

"Moving on…" Chakwas continued. "The system diagnostic shows the pod is secure. We shall begin moving you." Gabriel activated the magnetic lifts on the cargo cart and it slowly raised itself off the ground, with the pod perfectly balanced. The pod was definitely on the heavier side, but the cart did not seem to be struggling under the weight.

"There is likely going to be a large crowd of spectators gathered outside the medbay doors", Chakwas commented. "I will make sure they clear the way for you. Take your time pulling the cart, Commander. We are in no rush."

"Speak for yourself!" Tali quipped. "I am definitely in a rush!" Gabriel rolled his eyes underneath his helmet.

"Equalizing interior pressure with exterior atmosphere. Warning: vacuum detected in exterior environment. Alert: Normandy personnel detected inside airlock compartment. Airlock cycle procedure aborted."

Tali'Zorah knew the Normandy VI was programmed with all the safety procedures in existence, and for the first time it seemed like it was not working in her favour.

"Commander, she still won't let me cycle the airlock, and she's not giving me an option to force the cycle procedure", Joker reported over the comm. Tali thought it was cute that Joker referred to the Normandy as 'she', he really was attached to the ship, and obviously liked the ship more than anyone inside it.

"Alright, I'll try something on my end", Shepard grumbled. Tali could tell he was anxious, even without being able to see anything. She admitted it was very disorienting being inside an absolutely dark environment, she could not even see her own hands in front of her face.

I can't wait to be out of this damned thing…

"Stupid omnitool", Shepard barked. "Alright…what about this?"

"Fuck", Shepard swore. "Sorry, Doc. Excuse my marine vocabulary. Okay, what about THIS?"

"Equalizing interior pressure with exterior atmosphere. Warning: vacuum detected in exterior environment. Alert: Normandy personnel -

"Okay, okay!" Shepard shouted over the intercom. "We get it! Ship not happy! Got it! Please shut up now!" Tali giggled to herself. She might have been quite nervous, but it was always entertaining hearing Gabriel shout.

"Equalizing interior pressure with exterior atmosphere. Warning: vacuum detected in exterior environment. Please standby."

"Hang on tight to the bars, Doc", Shepard ordered. "There's going to be a little bit of a tug."

"Not to worry, Commander", Chakwas replied. "This is not my first -

Her voice was completely cut off by the sudden howl of wind as the airlock cycled and the chamber was thrown into a vacuum. Tali wished her pod's auditory simulators had been turned off.

"You good, Doc?" Shepard asked

"Very good", Chakwas answered. "Now, pressurize the airlock once again, and engage the temperature stabilizer."

"Got it", Shepard stated.

"Airlock compartment pressurizing sequence initiated. Please standby."

An audible hissing sound emanated from inside the chamber, and Chakwas breathed a slow sigh of relief.

"Final step, now", she commented. "Raise the temperature."

"Already done", Shepard sighed.

"Alright, then", Chakwas continued. "Nitrogen and oxygen levels are fine. Pressure is stabilized. Temperature at one hundred and six Kelvin and rising. We shall give the heating elements a few moments until the temperature is at two hundred and ninety-eight Kelvin, which should be more than comfortable for our lovely Quarian."

"What's so special about two-ninety-eight Kelvin?" Shepard inquired.

"Nothing special, Commander", Chakwas replied. "Two hundred and ninety-eight Kelvin - or approximately twenty-five degrees celsius - is standard room temperature, which should be comfortable for Tali. Speaking of which, you have been abnormally quiet, my dear. Are you alright, Tali?"

"I'm fine", Tali answered. "Just anxious to get outta here."

"That makes two of us", Gabriel muttered. "We good to go, Doc?"

"Two hundred and fifty-five Kelvin, Commander", Chakwas reported.

"Well, it's safe enough to get the blast shielding off", Shepard observed. "Let's start with that." Tali felt the medigel suspension around her vibrate very softly as the pod collapsed its metal panels and she could see the airlock chamber. The sudden burst of light blinded her and she kept her eyes closed for a few moments.

"Nice to see you again", Shepard grinned.

"I wish I could say the same", Tali said without opening her eyes.

"The blindness should pass soon, Tali", Chakwas reassured. "Now begins the difficult portion of our plan. The atmosphere we are in is not completely sterilized anymore, so we must limit Tali's exposure to the air as much as we can. Not a perfect scenario, but this is as close to perfect as we can achieve. Are you ready, Tali? I will begin the ejection procedure as soon as you are prepared."

"I've been ready for two weeks", Tali sassed. "Pull me out." Tali's visor flashed red and a beeping noise sounded off as the medigel suspension began draining out of the pod. The numbness covering her entire body slowly began to dissipate and she could now feel her fingers.

"Ugh gross", Shepard groaned as he stepped around in the ankle-deep pool of medigel that was now at the bottom of the airlock. He then placed a small crate in front of the pod and opened it, revealing Tali's purple, embroidered environment suit tucked inside it.

"Alright, Tali", Chakwas spoke up. "Do not try to move, I am now going to open the pod. When you are ready, climb out. The Commander and I will assist you in getting dressed. Take your time, but do not waste your time either." Tali struggled to remain still as the glass door hissed open and Tali felt a shivering breeze take her by surprise. Her entire body was still wet from the medigel, and she began to shiver. When Tali was sure all the feeling had come back to her, she grabbed onto the sides of the pod and pulled herself out of it. Tali jumped slightly as she felt the touch of Gabriel and Chakwas on her bare, naked skin.

Wait a minute…

Tali wrenched the helmet off her head and looked down at her feet, realizing for the first time that she was completely naked.

Oh, Keelah!

She instantly felt her cheeks begin to burn red and she caught Shepard's gaze.

"YOU NEVER TOLD ME I WAS FUCKING NAKED THE ENTIRE TIME!" Tali yelled.

"That's the thing I was going to tell you today!" Shepard countered. Tali was absolutely furious because she could tell Gabriel was smirking underneath his helmet.

"BOSH'TET!" Tali swore.