Chapter 21

Shepard wasn't sure what it was about quarians that made them easier to deal with than other species but she strongly suspected that it was to do with the masks covering their faces. Whatever it was she was glad because it made shouting at the admirals a hell of a lot easier, although her anger on behalf of her friend was enough to tip the scales.

"Come on, Garrus. Let's give Tali a bit of alone time with her boyfriend." She said to Garrus as Tali headed over to Reegar.

"Boyfriend? Maybe I should have a word with him..." She hit him at that.

"Leave the poor guy alone, Garrus. But I know what you mean, Tali is like a little sister, huh?"

"Yeah. You actually managed to hug her earlier." He pointed out and she hit him again.

"Baka. Of course I did. Like I said, she's like a little sister to me. I guess all of the crew are like my family at this point."

"Yeah, you've managed to make friends with everyone." He said and she nodded.

"Yeah, it is different, isn't it? We used to pretty much keep to ourselves back on the SR1."

"Yeah but back on the SR1 no one was crazy enough to put up with either of us. Well, except for Wrex and Tali and even they had their limits." She snorted at that as they entered the shuttle and finally managed to take off their helmets.

"It's so strange though. I'm getting on with everyone. I mean, even Jacob and Miranda are alright. Although, I'm still not a Kelly fan. She's way too friendly. It spooks me a little." Garrus laughed at that as he sat down next to her.

"I think it spooks everyone." She laughed, shaking her head.

"I do feel a little bad, though. I always take you with me on missions so some people just get left on the ship constantly. Hell, I think Thane only left the ship when we went to help with his son which I feel bad about. I mean, he's always really nice to me and even though he wouldn't say anything I get the feeling he's getting a little restless when I talk to him." She said, leaning back in her chair.

"So, you talk to Thane often?" She frowned a little before shrugging.

"As much as anyone I guess... Wait, are you still jealous?" She asked, still frowning as she heard the familiar tones in his sub-harmonics. "Didn't we already go over this? I mean, sure Thane's an awesome shot but he's got nothing on you. Unless... that's not what this is about..." He sighed at that and she tried to figure out what was wrong.

"Look, I'm just being stupid ani. It's just that he's clearly... interested in you." She frowned at that, shaking her head.

"No, he's not. Garrus, he spends all of his time talking about his dead wife. And, even if he was interested, it wouldn't matter. We went over this Garrus, I'm not interested in anyone but you."

"I know, ani. It just... turians are sometimes a little territorial and it's difficult to stop it when I see the way he looks at you." She shook her head, smiling a little.

"Okay, I admit it's a little sweet that you care so much but you need to knock this off. Okay? I'm not interested in anyone else, not even a little bit."

"Okay, ani. I'll knock it off." He said, smiling at her.

"Good. Now, it's probably going to be a while before Tali returns and we have to rush off to pick up that IFF so right now I'm going to prove to you once and for all that you are the one I'm interested in." She said, pulling herself onto his lap as she ran her armoured hand along the underside of his fringe, eliciting a growl from him.

"Shepard-Commander." Shepard stopped dead as, after she'd thrown the last husk over the side of the railing, the sniper had stood up and revealed itself to be a geth.

"Shepard..." Garrus groaned as he saw the look in her eye.

"It's a geth..." He frowned.

"Yes, Shepard. A geth. Like all of those ones we killed while fighting Saren." She shook her head, her eyes wide.

"But it talked, Garrus. It's a talking geth!" She exclaimed like a kid in a toy shop.

"It's a talking geth in the middle of a dead Reaper. How can that be a good thing?" He asked but her grin refused to fade. It was quite possibly the most interesting discovery she'd ever made and she tended to get excited over the little ones.

"It's talking. Have you never wondered what a geth would say if it could talk?" She asked, practically bouncing. He sighed.

"No, amazingly it never crossed my mind." He said, shaking his head as she lead them further into the Reaper.

"Fuck Shepard. You're crazier than I thought." Jack chimed in but Shepard simply beamed, shaking her head.

"A talking geth..." She said again causing both Garrus and Jack to groan in unison.

"You activated the geth, didn't you?" Garrus asked as Shepard practically bounced into the Main Battery, grinning.

"Maybe..." She said and he sighed.

"Did you take back up with you?" She looked a little sheepish at that and he groaned. "Your disregard for your own life is staggering sometimes Jane."

"Oh, come on Garrus, don't insult me. Are you seriously saying that I couldn't take down one geth?" He sighed shaking his head.

"No, you're right. It's just... weird. And Tali is going to... what was that phrase you used the other day? 'Have a shit-fit'?" Shepard looked a little put-out at that.

"Yeah, she is, isn't she? I'd better go and tell her now. But, Legion's alright. Apparently not all geth have sided with the Reapers and he's one of the good ones. I like him." Garrus sighed at that. Of course of all of the people she's ever met, the one who she'd take to right away would be a geth. Between his sub-harmonics and their connection he might as well have said his thoughts out loud.

"Well, to be fair, I liked EDI when I first met her too. I had to sort of force myself to be wary of her. Plus, I liked you right away as well." She said, still smiling. He sighed before smiling back.

"I would keep arguing but your excitement is so infectious. It might actually be able to stop Tali from going at your new friend with a shotgun..." He joked but she bit her lip a little.

"Yeah, I'd better go explain things to her before this gets out of hand... Plus I might need her help, Legion asked me to help him stop the bad geth, the ones allied with the Reapers, from attacking the good geth." She explained, pushing her galsses up her nose.

"Why is it called Legion? And are they really 'good' geth?" Garrus asked and she shrugged.

"EDI came up with the name, it's a bible quote or something, and until Legion's group of geth do something to prove that they are bad then, yes, they are 'good' geth." He put his hands up in surrender.

"Alright, alright. Just don't let Tali hear you say that." At that Shepard cringed a little, really not looking forward to explaining it to her friend...