Chapter 21: Recollection
The alien's voice was quiet and raspy. "You are neither Prothean, nor machine. My name is Synn, I am one of the vanguard." He coughed heavily, producing a clear white fluid.
Likely a surfacant to protect his lungs from the cold. The thought caught John off guard, here was what was likely the only living prothean and he was considering the cryo process that had preserved it.
"I am one of seven, hidden and preserved as a warning for the next civilization."
The translator affixed to the Prothean's armor struggled to keep pace with his words as it converted them into salarian, the only language the cryo facility had had exposure to. Thankfully, the salarian dialect was one of many programmed into the translators carried by Shepard's team.
Shepard spoke, "The Reapers must have known you were here. Why they waited until now to attack you I have no idea."
The Vanguard's head jerked back when he heard Shepard mention the Reapers in such a familiar manner. "So, a resistance has been established, it seems my task is irrelevant."
"Hardly." Shepard asserted. "We've managed to stall them for a few years at best, but most of the sentients alive right now don't believe in the Reapers' existence. Your testimony could well be the turning point we've been looking for."
Synn's eyes stared into space as he contemplated the information. "Did you speak with Vigil? The program on Ilos?"
The Commander nodded. "That's what enabled us to stop Sovereign."
"Sovereign?"
"I'll explain on the way," Shepard motioned for the Prothean to follow. "In the meantime, we need to get you some where safe."
"I will not be able to fight for several hours, the effects of cryogenic stasis are… tenacious." Synn slowly flexed, trying to work the stiffness out of his form before following the human into the dark tunnel beyond.
Tali couldn't believe what was happening. They were speaking to a Prothean; one of the ancient race wiped out by the Reapers 50,000 years ago was standing in front of them! The alien had called himself 'Synn'; One of seven vanguards; the Protheans' final act of defiance against the Reapers. She became dimly aware that the group was moving, with the prothean following directly behind.
Something about the alien was compelling; it seemed to draw old memories to the surface. She could hear John radio the Normandy, but was too dazed to listen. Sunlight stung her eyes as her visor automatically darkened, compensating for the change in light.
Tali sensed herself ascending the ramp before the Normandy's doors sealed behind her.
"I recommend that Tali'Zorah be exiled posthumously." Zaal'Koris' authoritative voice carried through the auditorium's doors as Shepard, Tali and Garrus neared the plaza.
Admiral Gerrel was incredulous. "Posthum- What purpose in Keelah's name would that serve? !"
A sudden murmur rippled through the chamber as three figures pushed past the guards at the entrance.
"Sorry it took us so long," Shepard's voice rose above the quiet whispers. "We wanted to be sure we got all of them."
Admiral Gerrel was the first to respond. "We apologize, captain, your success in taking back the Alarei is very… unexpected."
Shala quickly interjected. "But, also very welcome."
Gerrel resumed. "Did you find anything on the Alarei that could clarify what happened there?"
Tali felt every muscle in her body tense simultaneously. Please, Keelah, don't do it! "Shepard, please…" she reached out with one arm, thought better of it, and pulled back.
Shala spoke. "Does Captain Shepard have any new evidence to submit to this hearing?"
The Commander cast a quick glance at the quarian before ascending the dais. She'd die to preserve his name, the father who could never say he cared, could never tell her he loved her. He looked at the Omni-tool on his wrist and Tali's heart-rate accelerated.
Please. No!
Shepard drew a breath.
Keelah, John, PLEASE, don't destroy who he was!
He tensed, anger washing over him. They had no right to do this to her. After everything she'd sacrificed, all for the sake of the fleet, here they were, spitting on the memory of her father. This was wrong! Shepard forced himself to calm down. Anger wouldn't get him anywhere and it certainly wouldn't help Tali.
Shepard paced slowly along the railing, never taking his eyes off the Admirals.
"Admirals, I spoke with each of you before we retook the Alarei," His voice was level, but everyone in the auditorium could feel the anger buried in his words. "What I found was not a sincere desire to see justice served, but a juvenile argument between military officials. It is the DUTY of a government to enforce justice, to protect its people when they cannot defend themselves.
John's voice rose as he spoke, gaining force and fury with each syllable.
"When an innocent person is called to defend themselves against a charge that is known to be false, the government has surrendered its mantle and become the very thing it was formed to oppose. That is exactly what has happened here. Tali'Zorah is being tried for a crime that all of us know she wouldn't- couldn't commit."
Shepard's chest heaved. Control, get back in control. The Commander resumed his speech, his voice was again level and measured.
"Why would Tali be careless enough to send parts to her father that could get him killed? She knows more about the geth than any other quarian alive. She's smart enough not to have made these mistakes and you," He pointed to Admiral Koris, who seemed to slouch slightly. "Know it."
"Tali's expertise was vital in defeating Saren and the geth on the citadel. Her efforts on behalf of the quarian people, on Noveria, Ilos, Virmire, Haestrom, Freedom's progress, Aite, the Alarei, hell, even the Citadel," he spread his arms for emphasis, "surpasses anything any of us here have done. I can't think of anything that speaks more to her loyalty to the fleet than the sacrifices she's made on behalf of her people. If that's not enough for you…" Shepard stopped pacing and heaved a sigh, his glare could be felt through his helmet. The Commander shook his head slowly. "Nothing will be." Shepard's speech had ended quietly in terms of volume, but the authority carried in his words spoke louder than anything else.
The auditorium was deathly still. The Commander's shoulders rose and fell, his anger radiated throughout the chamber, defying any who dared contradict him. Tali stared in disbelief. John had not simply openly defied the Admiralty Board, he had rebuked them!
Shala finally spoke, her voice shaky. "Are the Admirals prepared to render the judgment?"
A lump formed in Tali's throat. There way no way they would acquit her now.
The Admirals slowly lifted their arms and tapped their omni-tools. A moment later, Shala'Raan's voice echoed through the chamber, this time more stable. "Tali'Zorah, in light of your history of service, we do not find sufficient evidence to convict. You are hereby cleared of all charges."
The young quarian felt dizzy. Her head began to spin. Cleared? ! She staggered slightly, catching herself before hitting the ground.
Shala continued. "Captain Shepard, please accept these gifts in appreciation for your willingness to represent one of our people." She tapped her omni-tool, sending schematics for various tech upgrades to his OSD.
"With respect, I didn't represent one of your people," Shepard answered, his tone now more civil. "I represented one of mine."
"So you did. Go in peace, Tali'Zorah vas Normandy. Keelah se'lai."
A red armored quarian walked up to them on their way out.
"Kal'Reegar?" The Commander queried.
The marine nodded. "Nice talking Shepard. Funny how it takes a Commander to remind the Admirals about military honor." He turned to Tali. "Glad they're off your back ma'am, and that you didn't have to give 'em that evidence you found on the Alarei."
"I didn't say anything about finding evidence, Kal." Tali's voice was simultaneously subdued and surprised.
"Noticed that Ma'am." The Squad-leader winked. "Stay safe out there."
"Kal, just call me Tali."
"I'll work on that, Ma'am."
Tali walked alongside the Commander as they neared the airlock leading to the Normandy with Garrus following silently behind. "Thank you for what you said back there, I've never had anyone speak like that on my behalf before."
Shepard heaved a sigh and shook his head. "The whole trial was insulting, you should have had time to mourn your father. You deserved- you deserve better."
"I got better," She smiled "I got you."
The two stood in the airlock as the decontamination cycle engaged, Garrus waiting behind them.
"Besides," she added teasingly. "It's fun watching you shout."
Tali woke from the dream feeling particularly warm. Shepard's defense of her at the trial had shown her just how strong he could be. Not physically, although he was that too, but the man had an unparalleled force of will. She closed her eyes and savored the memory.
Synn sat in the life-support chamber of the ship, eyes closed, deep in thought. Shepard had already briefed him on Sovereign, a Reaper dreadnaught that had staged a massive assault on the Citadel with an army of geth. Apparently, the Commander had been a thorn in the Reapers' side for roughly four years now. Not only was he instrumental in Sovereign's defeat, he had destroyed an Njat R'lo home-base at the galactic core.
The Prothean reviewed his current situation in his head. It had been 53,497 years since the Reapers had begun their genocide against his kind. 51,982 years had passed since his entry into the vanguard project and the ultimate annihilation of his species.
The hope had been that the vanguard chamber would someday be discovered by a sapient race, one that would have sufficient technology to make use of the gifts he would be able to provide. Instead of discovery by a single species, Synn had been found by several. Turians, asari, salarians, humans, quarians, krogan, batarians, all sentient, all advanced enough to use the technology he could provide. The trouble would be convincing these nations that the reapers existed.
Unfortunately, the Galactic community had been unwilling to see the Reaper Sovereign as more than an advanced Geth construct. Synn would have a chance to carry out his mission, he would persuade the Citadel Council of the Reapers' existence and stop the sentient machines once and for all.
Revision Note:
Rewriting the trial was nearly an exercise in futility; I tried three different approaches and have only somewhat settled on the current one. It is within the realm of possibility that I may rewrite it yet again.
Original Author's Note:
This is easily one of my favorite non-combat chapters. I absolutely LOVED getting to write Tali's trial and have Shepard tell the admirals where to stuff it. It just communicated his sense of justice and loyalty to Tali better than I had hoped.