Before the 'Normandy' had securely docked with the 'Rayya', Brandon was already waiting by the airlock. Still restless and awake after twenty-five hours, but that would not hinder him. Shepard, Tali, and Garrus joined as the doors slid open and they prepared to board. When the rest of the squad entered Brandon realized his feet were still planted where they were. It would be a lie if he didn't feel a hollowness in his gut. He took a large breath from the oxygen in his suit, then made his first few steps onto the ship. Unlike the last visit to the 'Rayya', he wasn't met with guards and assault rifles. He did see one man he remembered very well.
"Captain Shepard. Tali'Zorah told me a lot about you. I wish we could be meeting under more pleasant circumstances."
"I've never actually reached the rank of captain. Technically, I'm no longer in the Alliance."
Kar'Danna vas Rayya scoffed at the remark.
"You're the commander of the Normandy, responsible for the lives aboard it. That entitles you to respect among our people. May you stand between your crew and harm as you lead them through the empty quarters of the stars."
Tali whispered to Shepard.
"It's an old captain's blessing."
Shepard bowed her head.
"Thank you, captain. Keelah se'lai."
"Technically, I'm under orders to place Tali'Zorah under arrest pending the hearing. So, Tali…you're confined to this ship until this trial is over."
Tali was staying strong despite the situation. Shepard still was puzzled by the nature of the accusations.
"Exactly what is my friend being charged with?"
"They're charging her with bringing active geth into the Fleet as part of a secret project."
Shepard could see the wide glow from Tali's eyes when she heard the claim.
"That's insane! I only sent parts…pieces. Nothing was damaged or temporarily inactive. I was careful."
Kar'Danna lowered his head.
"I know you wouldn't endanger the fleet, but it's the admirals you must convince. Preparations got underway as soon as you arrived. The hearing's being held in the garden plaza. Good luck."
"Thank you, Captain."
"I do wish I could do more to help. The trial requires that I be officially neutral...unofficially I'm here, if you need to talk."
"Actually, there is one thing…"
Tali looked back at Brandon. He swallowed hard before he moved from the rear of the squad into view of Kar'Donna. The captain immediately recognized him.
"Brandon Davis vas Razgriz…you know Tali'Zorah and Captain Shepard?"
"I was under Shepard's command on the first 'Normandy'. It was irrelevant at the time."
The quarian observed the man who had stood in front of him months ago. Standing firm, composed. Almost proud. It was the soldier that had returned, not the shell that left his ship.
"I know I have no sanction to ask for a request, but as a favor…"
Kar'Danna shook his head.
"Tali…this is still your home. Davis, I'll have a marine escort you to what you seek."
"I thank you, sir."
Brandon watched Shepard, Garrus, and Tali walk on down the corridor. He hoped everything would turn out okay. He waited as a red garbed, quarian approached him. Definitely a marine from his physique under his suit.
"Kal'Reegar."
"Brandon Davis."
Reegar paused. He heard the rumors, as did most of the Fleet, but knowing Brandon was a soldier solidified the claims. He could tell from the human's posture. Organization, discipline, and respect translated across many of the armed forces of the galaxy; regardless of the race.
"This way."
Brandon's vision, if not his mind, was clouded with emotion the first time on the 'Rayya'. Now he could observe the ship with open eyes. Metal halls that had lost their shine countless decades ago. Worn yet clean floors. And so many quarians that stared at him. Humans were the minority now. The snickers and curious glances he received had lost their effect after Brandon joined the Alliance. There will always be people who despised those that act as "the government's hand". Human military less so by veteran aliens.
Reegar suddenly slowed at a section of metal wall before stopping completely. Brandon's eyes fell on the memorial.
He stood amongst a wall of names. No photos, no bio, just names. Each once a life that had now been extinguished. Ironic, that the only sure thing that life can guarantee is death. The cruel joke of the galactic traverse. He took a step closer staring at the inscriptions on the wall. The elegant cursive of the quarian language. All names of which he did not know…except one. The one name that he ran two fingers across to feel the indentation of the metal; its coldness felt through his gloves. His hand wavered on the engraving for a brief moment as a sad smile formed. Thoughts returned from what seemed like a distant past. Nevertheless, moments he would cherish for his lifetime. The soldier stood at attention and saluted with his eyes never leaving the name. After a suitable period of time, Brandon allowed his arm to rest at his side and turned away…but not before uttering a single word. As simple as it was it bore so much weight.
"Goodbye."
Brandon Davis walked away from the life that had changed his in so many ways. One he would never forget.
Shauna'Czar vas Rayya nar Idenna
She would have liked to have been called that.
Kal'Reegar stood at ease and patiently waited for the soldier.
"You have my sympathies. Good to know honor is still present in the galaxy."
Brandon nodded as they moved away.
"While we're on the subject, you don't put the most loyal quarian on trial for treason. What's this hearing really about?"
"I am not at liberty to exchange information to any quarian."
Kal glanced back to Brandon.
"Didn't say anything about humans. This is all politic vorchashit. War with the geth. Retaking the homeworld. Everyone has an aim. Tali'Zorah is just caught in the middle."
Brandon could not help but chuckle.
"It's reassuring politics are just as crappy here as they are in the Council chambers."
"It's a gorram mess is what it is."
The loud stomps against the metal deck were incredibly familiar. His assumption was right when he saw Shepard with Garrus and Tali coming down the hallway.
"That was quick. Charges cleared?"
When Shepard pulled out her Vindicator rifle, Brandon half expected they were busting Tali out.
"Nope. We are retaking a ship from the geth."
Brandon pulled one of his pistols and checked the fresh thermal clip.
"I hope you don't expect me to just wave you off."
"You sure?"
"Whether or not I've made my peace with the past, I'll be damned if I let my friends go in without backup."
He sprung the slide back down and spun his pistol into place. Shepard approved, but looked to Tali make sure she did. She returned her look then peered back at Brandon.
"Can't suppose I can argue that."
Brandon grinned. It was then Tali noticed the red suited quarian.
"Kal!"
"Ma'a-."
Tali threw her arms around the marine. Garrus seemed to shift his stance a bit uneasily.
"Good to see you're okay."
"Physical damage wasn't too bad, but was down for about a week with infection."
"What are you doing aboard the Rayya?"
"I, ah, stayed to argue the charges against you. You deserve better than what you're getting."
"Thanks, Kal."
"Just stating the facts, ma'am."
Shepard remembered their meeting when she helped rescue Tali. She had to force him stay back from getting himself killed.
"Seeing how things went, it didn't go too well with the Admiralty Board?"
"Admiral Raan asked my opinion about the geth, since I'd fought on Haestrom. She and Gerrel are hoping you'll kill a bunch of geth to get the crowd on your side, then find evidence to clear your name."
Garrus silently growled over the predicament.
"That was the plan?"
"They were hesitant, but well, she didn't have many other options."
"You did the right thing. Thank you."
"Ma'am, not many marines made it back from the initial assault. The strike teams were torn to shreds. Only reason I wasn't with them was because I am still refrained from duty. You sure you can handle it?"
"My father is alive on that ship…"
The quarian checked her pistol.
"…I'm going to find him."
"Tali."
She was stunned when the marine called her by name. Reegar reached behind and tossed Tali an extensively modified Sokolov shotgun. Retrofitted for thermal clips, enhanced kinetic stability coil, and bored for devastating stopping power within range.
"I call her Vera. She'll stop anything that moves."
Tali marveled at the weapon that was obviously very personal to Reegar.
"If things get edgy, flip the switch. You'll have one incendiary."
When he turned to Shepard, even with his visor, she could tell he looked her straight in the eyes.
"Whatever happens, keep her safe."
"Damn right we will."
Garrus cocked the action on his Vindicator.
"They'll have two humans and me to get through before we let anything happen to her."
With that, the four of them proceeded to the shuttle waiting to bring them to the Alarei. Tali tossed Brandon her Scimitar.
"I know you're good with a shotgun. This'll be close quarters."
Brandon nodded and pumped in a clip. Before the boarded the shuttle, he leaned and whispered to Garrus.
"Are you jealous of that marine?"
"Why would I be jealous?"
The turian was a bit quick to retort, especially after the way his mandibles flared.
The small, narrow hallway was barren aside from the body a quarian. They approached the doors with guns in hand and safeties off only to be greeted with more blood and bodies as they entered. It was the remnants of the strike team. Shepard motioned the team to halt and signaled to Tali.
"Deploying combat drone."
Tali's drone moved ahead and slowly hovered towards the far side. It illuminated the darkened corners their omni-lights failed to reach. As soon as it crossed over, it sent three shocks of electricity. The shocks revealed the cloaking fields of three large geth waiting to ambush.
"Contact! Hunters."
Shepard open fired as Garrus overloaded one of the Hunter's shields. Tali and Brandon sent two shotgun rounds knocking one of them to the ground. Without the element of surprise, the geth were taken down easily. Brandon leaned beside a fallen soldier and took note of the entry wounds in his side and back.
"Looks like the Hunters got the jump on the strike team. They were expecting troopers not cloaked models."
Garrus inspected a few more bodies. He checked their vitals, but it was more out of habit from his days at C-Sec. They were long dead.
"Bastards shot them when trying to retreat."
Tali grew increasingly nervous.
"Garrus come on. We need to get moving."
"Tali shouldn't we check-"
"No! My father is alive. He must be held up in one of the lock down chambers in the lab. And the more time we waste the less he has."
Brandon and Garrus exchanged a worried look. They knew geth didn't take prisoners. Shepard shook her head "No" to them. They nodded reluctantly and followed. The squad continued at a slow pace down the corridor lit only by the emergency lighting. They checked the corners and anyplace geth could be hidden. Shepard and Tali led the way.
"What made a part worth taking back?"
"Anything new had priority. Technology the geth developed themselves. Signs of modification, clues to their thinking."
"Isn't that a bit risky?"
"Shepard, I checked everything I sent here. I passed up great finds because they might be too dangerous, proned to uncontrolled reactivation or self-repair."
"I'm not saying you weren't thorough. Is there any other way to have activated the geth?"
Tali grew quiet as she thought.
"I don't know. Either I got sloppy and sent something dangerous, or that my father-"
She stopped herself before she finished. She pushed the thought out of her head.
They entered the next room. It was a small sub-section between levels. Brandon edged in; covering the right flank. Everything seemed fine until he heard the slight scrape of metal. His instincts pointed him at an empty space by some lockers where his shotgun blast revealed another cloaked Hunter. It was immediately cut down by the rest of the squad.
"Sector clear, ma'am."
Shepard stopped at the strong double doors that concealed the upper level. Her hand moved along the edges that had been clearly seared and blasted through.
"Looks like they tried to contain them."
Garrus moved toward a blinking terminal and pressed the button of its last recorded message. The screen flashed to show a female scientist.
WE'VE LOCKED DOWN NAVIGATION. WEAPONS ARE OFFLINE. OUR MISTAKE WON'T ENDANGER THE FLEET. THEY'RE BURNING THROUGH THE DOOR. I DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME. I'M SORRY. I'M SO SORRY. JONA STAY STRONG FOR DADDY. MOMMY LOVES YOU VERY MUCH!
Her life ended from the gunshots of the geth before it cut out.
There was a stark silence that gripped the squad. The poor quarian's last words sent a cold chill up everyone's spine.
"Let's go."
Shepard's command broke the thoughts of everyone at the moment. Brandon had to consciously draw a breath when he started to the next level, but noticed Garrus still fixed on the now blank terminal.
"Garrus?"
No response.
"Garrus!"
He looked back at him. His plates had furrowed into a predatory glare.
"You okay?"
He stomped past him with a noticeable clench in his jaw.
"Not really."
At the next level, enemies poured in from every door. The geth troopers had been waiting for them as Shepard's team fanned out. Tali managed to hack one of the synthetics causing chaos in the ranks. Garrus and Shepard picked off their targets with their assault rifles.
"Go get them, Chiktikka vas Paus."
Tali's drone shocked and distracted more incoming enemies allowing her to blast chunks off them with her shotgun. Brandon fired his pistol at two geth taking cover on the far side with their electronic beeps one of the signs of discontent. Their rifles spraying back at him was the other sign. While he was reloading, he noticed the storage nets on the ceiling. He glanced back at the geth and spotted large crates hanging above the enemies' position. He aimed at the straps on the ceiling and sent the crates toppling and crushing troopers underneath. Eventually, the wave of enemies ceased as the team walked through the debris of geth bodies. They still kept their guns at the ready incase one reactivated.
Walking closer, Brandon saw the crates he had shot start to move. He was immediately over them to see one of the geth hadn't been completely compacted. It was functional, barely. Its head was exposed as well as a partially damaged arm desperately clawing for its just out of reach rifle. It's optical flickered as it sputtered code until a large turian foot smashed down severing the connectors to its head. The glare in Garrus' eye was noted.
"Not now, Davis."
Garrus' dark tone cut him off before he could say a word. They checked the rest of the area before joining Tali and Shepard at a terminal.
"They were performing experiments on geth systems, looking for new ways to overcome geth resistance to reprogramming. Father just told me to send back any geth technology that wasn't a direct danger to the Fleet. I suspected he might be testing weapons, but I thought he was just working on new ways to bypass shields or armor."
"Do you think weapon testing on geth was right?"
"It's not testing weapons on prisoners, Shepard. I only sent Father parts. Even if assembled they wouldn't be sapient. If you had asked me if experimenting on sapient geth was right before we met, I would've agreed wholeheartedly. Seeing the live experiments from Cerberus changed that. We wouldn't be any different than them."
"So what does this mean?"
Tali looked lost. Her hopes clashed with the truth unraveling in front of her.
"If they were deliberately re-activating the geth...Father was doing something terrible."
Tali stared at the console trying to find some sort of answer to the clues piling up.
"What was all this father? You promised me you'd build me a house on the homeworld. Was this going to bring us home?"
Shepard placed a hand on the quarian's shoulder.
"Come on. We need to keep moving."
Through the next passage was a ledge and steps leading to a lower level. Shepard motioned her crew to take cover when the doors slid open. Garrus unslung his sniper rifle and took aim below.
"Three troopers. We got the surprise if we..."
He saw Chiktikka zip past his sights into the pack. The geth looked at its approach with various electronic sputters before the drone exploded point blank taking them out.
"We don't have time to waste."
Tali rushed down without waiting, but was knocked to the ground after suffering a plasma shot into her kinetic barriers.
"Damnit Tali!"
Brandon and Shepard immediately followed while Garrus sniped. A partial damaged geth was riddled with rounds from both Brandon's pistols while Shepard burst fired into the last trooper. Garrus proceeded down and hacked the door with Brandon ready for any more geth that might attempt to enter. Shepard picked Tali up off the ground. She knew her friend was too emotional to berate her actions, but suddenly Tali grew incredibly still; her eyes focused right past her. Shepard stared into the next corridor. Garrus had hacked the door to reveal a lone body in the middle of the floor.
"Father!"
She ran past her friends kneeled beside her father's body.
"No, no, no! You always had a plan. Masked life signs, or, or an onboard medical stasis program, maybe. You! You wouldn't…they're wrong! You wouldn't just die like this! You wouldn't leave me to clean up your mess! You can't."
"Hey, hey."
Shepard pulled her up from the ground. When Tali finally tore her sight from her father's body she fell into Shepard's arms. Garrus and Brandon lowered their heads. It was all they could do while Shepard tightly held Tali as she wept.
"Damn it. Damn it! I'm…I'm sorry."
"Shh. Shh. It's okay. It'll be okay."
Tali parted from Shepard. She tried so hard to be strong, though her friends could hear the chokes in her voice.
"He…he must've known I'd come. May-maybe he left a message."
Tali checked her father's omni-tool.
TALI, IF YOU ARE LISTENING, THEN I AM DEAD. THE GETH HAVE GONE ACTIVE. I DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME. THEIR MAIN HUB WILL BE ON THE BRIDGE. YOU'LL NEED TO DESTROY THEIR VI PROCESS FROM FORMING NEW NEURAL LINKS. MAKE SURE HAN'GERREL AND DARO'XEN SEE THE DATA. THEY MUST...
The transmission ended. No last words of love. No compassion for a daughter in the last moments of life. Just orders from an admiral. Tali stood still unable to take her eyes off her father's corpse.
"I'm…I'm sorry Tali. But he knew you'd come."
"I don't know what's worse... thinking that he never really cared, or that he did and that this was the only way he could show it. It doesn't matter. I cared…I'm here…and I mean to finish this."
Tali strongly pumped a fresh thermal clip into her Solokov and the squad marched to the door of the central hub. This ended now.
They had fought through Hunters and were only engaging geth troopers. The geth were defending the network with the last of their resources…or the best of them. When they entered the control hub they discovered it was the latter. The Geth Prime towered over the squad. Ten feet tall in the confined space made it more menacing than it would otherwise have been. To add to the danger, two troopers stood on either side. Nowhere to run. Nowhere to take cover. The only thing that separated them was a large panel of glass.
"Is that glass bulletproof?"
"No Shepard."
The firing line of two assault rifles, two pistols, and a shotgun shattered through the glass tearing the troopers to shreds. They never broke formation as they slowly walked firing at the Prime. Acknowledging the situation, the Prime fired its machine gun dispersing the group. They fanned out to disorient its focus. Whenever it tried to target one of their companions they forced it to attack the other. Almost frustratingly, it fired multiple siege pulses that sent Garrus pinned under debris and Shepard and Brandon against the far wall. It then steered its attention at Tali who was reloading her shotgun.
Despite being unable to move, Garrus brought up his omni-tool and overloaded what has left of its shields. The geth instantly turned towards the him.
"Stick this up your command module!"
He fired his Predator pistol with shots bouncing off the synthetics armor. He just needed to draw it away from her...even if he knew what'd happen to him. It approached him, yet he kept shooting until the heatsink popped. Towering over Garrus, the Geth Prime aimed its Revenant square on the turian.
"No!"
Tali switched to the incendiary and squeezed the trigger. It was not a slug round, it was an explosive blast that knocked the Prime backwards into the control console. The liquid phosphorus burned and seared through its polymer armor sending melted chunks to the deck floor. It was heavily damaged, but not offline. Tali marched towards it.
She fired at its core sending lubricant and shrapnel everywhere. She fired again severing its knee joint collapsing it to the ground. The Prime propped itself up with its arm before Tali severed it off and sent another blast to force it to the ground. Tali stood over the synthetic; its light optic flickered at her only to then see the shotgun barrel pressed against it. The geth's head exploded off its body in a flurry of sparks. When its body twitched from an electrical short, Tali fired another shot into its core. And then another. And then another until the Solokov overheated. She pumped back for another thermal clip but the only result was a loud click as she squeezed the trigger. She pumped it again and again repeatedly squeezing the trigger to no avail.
Garrus' talon slowly pushed her weapon down. Tali's shoulders fell as she stopped. She stared at the remains that was once a geth. Then feeling Garrus' other hand grip over her shoulder.
"It's over, Tali. It's over."
She panted to catch her breath. Finally, realized it was finished.
It was a solemn ride back to the 'Rayya'. Tali downloaded the video file and logs to her omni-tool and wiped the system. But she had yet to play it. She looked around as her friends waited. They knew she would have to. She breathed as she played the recording. Her father's voice echoed in the shuttle.
DO WE HAVE ENOUGH PARTS TO BRING MORE ONLINE?
-Yes. The new shipment from your daughter will let us add two more geth to the network.-
-We're nearing a breakthrough on systemic viral attacks. Perhaps we should inform the Admiralty Board, just to be safe.-
NO. WE'RE TOO CLOSE. I PROMISED TO BUILD MY DAUGHTER A HOUSE ON THE HOMEWORLD. I'M NOT GOING TO SIT AND WAIT WHILE THE POLITICIANS ARGUE.
-We'd have an easier time if Tali'Zorah could send back more working material.-
ABSOLUTELY NOT. I DON'T WANT TALI EXPOSED TO ANY POLITICAL BLOWBACK. LEAVE TALI OUT OF THIS. ASSEMBLE NEW GETH WITH WHAT WE HAVE. BYPASS THE SECURITY PROTOCOLS IF NEED BE.
The feed ended.
Shepard could see the sadness encompassing Tali when her head hung forward.
"Your father wanted to keep his promise to you…he loved you."
"I never wanted this, Shepard. Keelah…I never wanted this."
Tali's hands squeezed into fists as her world seemed to crash down on her.
"Everything is his fault. I-I tried to pretend it didn't point to him, but this…when this comes up in the trial, they'll…we can't tell them, not the admirals, not anyone."
"But Tali…you heard him say he didn't want you to be caught in the politics."
"You don't understand, Shepard. They would strike his name from the manifest of every ship he ever served on. He would be worse than an exile. He'd be a traitor to our people, held up for children as a monster in a cautionary tale! I can't let all the good he did be destroyed for this, Shepard."
Garrus heart ached at the crack in Tali's voice.
"But Tali, without this evidence you are looking at exile."
She almost glared at Garrus.
"You think I don't know that? You think I want to live knowing I can never see the fleet again? But I can't go back into that room and say my father was the worst war criminal in our people's history. I cannot."
Shepard stiffened at those words.
"Okay. Okay, Tali."
"Please…don't destroy what my father was."
Tali had practically begged her. Not as her commander, but her friend. She was willing to give up everything for her father. Then again, without Admiral Zorah, there wasn't much left.
A sudden thud indicated they had docked back with the 'Rayya'. Upon the shuttle's arrival, only one quarian was awaiting there unexpected return.
"Ma'am."
"Kal?"
"The Admiralty Board is already rendering judgment. Figured I'd be the one to let you know when you came back."
That struck Tali as much as a physical blow. But it was Shepard who brought her confidence back up.
"Let's remind them how alive we are."
In the plaza, only Shala'Raan vas Tonbay patiently waited. Daro'Xen vas Moreh watched Zael'Koris vas Qwib Qwib bicker with Han'Gerrel vas Neema.
"I vote to exile Tali post-humorously in light of the recent-"
Gerral pointed an accussing finger at Korris.
"She may not have meant anything to you, but she was my crew and I will not-"
Gerral did not have a chance to finish as a loud gunshot echoed in the plaza jolting every quarian in the room. All eyes turned to the human at the top of the steps. Brandon stood with his smoking pistol pointed upwards before sliding it back into his holster. While the turian standing on his right didn't help, Kal'Reegar was quick to stay beside Brandon to ensure the people everything was safe.
"A bit dramatic, wasn't it?"
If he wasn't being watched by so many nervous people, Brandon would have laughed.
"It got their attention."
Shepard and Tali emerged behind them and marched toward the podium as silence gripped the room.
"Sorry we're late."
"You didn't waste much time before declaring us dead. Go get your ship."
Han'Gerral was the first to respond.
"We apologize, Shepard. Your success in taking back the Alerai is very unexpected."
"But also very welcomed," Raan added.
"Did you find anything on the Alerai that could clarifiy what happened there?"
Xen and Koris turned to hear the response.
Shepard was hesitant and then looked back to her Tali.
"Shepard… Please…"
She pleaded before Shepard stood in front of the admirals.
"Look at them. All of you. They don't care about Tali. All they care about is there war with the geth."
"This has nothing to do with the geth-"
Koris' shout was nothing compared to Shepard's bellow.
"The hell it doesn't. You have the gall to stand before her and accuse her of treason just so you can facilitate your own agendas. She has shown the galaxy the value of the quarian people and would risk her life to protect Migrant Fleet. You stand here to judge her while she sacrifices sweat and blood for you. She deserves better than this."
Reegar's fist clentched when the admiralty board showed no reaction. He immediately marched towards Tali. A frail, but determined quarian joined his rush to her side.
"Wait! Shepard is right! Tali saved me! She doesn't deserve to be exiled!"
Tali was surprised Veetor had spoken, as jittery as he was. Then Reegar appeared beside her.
"Damn straight! Tali's done more for this Fleet than you assholes ever will! You're pissing on everything she fought for. Everything I fought for. What my men DIED for! So if you exile her…you might as well do the same to me."
"Me too."
It was at that moment when more of the crowd had stood on Tali's behalf. Garrus and Brandon shared a glance and marveled over how many people supported their friend. The admirals looked at each other and activated their omni-tools. They were keying in their votes. Their motions were enough to quiet the crowd down. Shala'Raan spoke when she received the consensus.
"Tali'Zorah, in light of your history of service, we do not find sufficient evidence to convict. You are cleared of all charges."
The tension could almost literally be felt lifted from Tali, Shepard, and everyone in the room.
"Commander Shepard, please accept these gifts in appreciation for you taking the time to represent one of our people."
Shepard took a step forward and made her words very firm and clear.
"With all due respect admiral, I didn't represent one of your people…I represented one of mine."
Han'Gerrel gave her a prideful nod.
"This hearing is concluded. Go in peace Tali'Zorah vas Normandy. Keelah se'lai."
At the end of Raan's words, the hearing disbanded. Garrus gave Tali a friendly nudge.
"Shepard, told you it'd be okay."
Garrus was sure she was smiling. Tali lost her father, but hadn't lost her home. She couldn't believe so many had supported her, including her friends.
"Kal…thank you. I can't believe you did that."
"You would have done the same for me, ma'am. Figured I had to say something after you didn't use the evidence you found on the Alerai."
"I didn't say anything about finding evidence."
"Notice that, ma'am."
"Oh Kal..."
She held out Vera but he made no movement to take it.
"It's yours."
"What?"
"I don't know where you're going, but I think you'll need her more than I will. Good luck out there. Ma'am."
"Kal, just call me Tali."
"I'll work on that…ma'am."
Tali walked towards Admiral Xen, but Garrus didn't have a chance to follow.
"Turian."
Garrus glared back at Reegar and approached him.
"You have somtheing to say to me?"
"Yeah, you take good care of her."
It was a mutual understanding between the two men.
"Absolutely, Reegar."
"Good. Otherwise, I'll kick your ass."
Garrus mandibles twitched with a smirk. Brandon considered this was his cue to exit and return to the 'Normandy'. No doubt Tali would need to talk with some of the admirals.
"Brandon Davis, a word."
It was Captain Kar'Danna who summoned him.
"Shauna'Czar's family wanted to contact you, but we had no way to reach you after you left."
The soldier's mouth became incredibly dry after that statement.
"I'm not sure I have the courage to face that, sir."
"Just a message. It's been forwarded to the 'Normandy' to transfer to you."
Brandon nodded and noticed what might be the slightest hint of a smile by the captain.
"Shepard chooses her people wisely."
"We'll…I'll admit I would've dropped her name when…Shauna presented her gift to join your crew. She didn't know either."
Kar'Danna chuckled.
"Would have been quite the surprise. But as the captain of the vessel she served on, your voice would have carried much weight."
"Captain… Not sure I've earned that title."
"You learned in a short time things one must endure. For some…what they never want to. You are a friend to the quarian people and you will always be welcomed to this ship."
Pride. Something that Brandon hadn't felt in quite some time. Brandon stood at attention and firmly saluted the captain.
"Yes, sir."
Kar'Danna returned it with utmost precision.
"Fly well, Captain Brandon Davis vas Razgriz. Keelah se'lai."
"Keelah se'lai."
Special thanks to black-cat-9288 for a beta-read. Sorry for the extended delay. This was the first chapter I had to start from scratch so took longer.