Author's Note: My apologies for taking so long to write and upload this chapter, I just moved back to my college apartment. Preparations for the upcoming semester and job training have taken up most of my time. Now that I'm settled in, I hope to update more regularly. I also wanted to thank everyone in my audience, because Unbreakable Bond has surpassed 10,000 views! It has grown far more than I ever expected when I first had the idea to write a fanfic. And I have all you to thank for it. I sincerely hope you all continue to read and enjoy!
The shuttle door opened, and Tali was greeted by the most beautiful view she ever saw. The vast expanse of Rannoch, her people's homeworld, was before her. Tali paused as Shepard and Garrus jumped off the shuttle, she was in utter awe.
Keelah, it's beautiful. she thought.
Tali timidly jumped off the shuttle, as if the pristine landscape in front of her would shatter if she landed with too much force. Shepard and Garrus were watching her, understanding the gravity of the situation. Shepard couldn't help but smile, the woman he loved finally was able to step foot on her people's long lost home. He was happy to be able to play a small part in getting Tali here, and he couldn't think of any quarian more deserving than her to be the first to return. Tali slowly walked over towards the duo, but didn't say a word. What words could she use to describe how she was feeling?
Tali spoke softly, "I can't believe it, I don't think it's really sunk in yet. The homeworld. My world."
Shepard walked over to her, put his hand around her hip and pulled her close. Tali did the same to him, and for a moment they just drank in the scenery. Garrus smiled and decided to stay put, to let the couple have their moment alone. He suddenly saw an opportunity, and discreetly snapped a picture of his friends with his omnitool.
Tali broke the silence, "Look at the sky. And the rock formations? My people used to write poems about them."
"When we're done here, they will again." Shepard replied, smiling. "Who knows? Maybe you'll write one."
Tali grinned, "You've heard me say 'Keelah se'lai'? The best translation I can come up with is, 'By the homeworld I hope to see someday'."
Shepard gave her a little squeeze, "Looks like today is that day."
They separated, and Shepard followed Tali as she made her way to a shallow creek.
Tali raised her hands, and made a rectangle with her thumbs and forefingers. She looked through the rectangle, and decided she loved the view.
Turning to Shepard, Tali stated, "The living room window will be right… here."
"Something I should know?" he replied, playfully.
Tali hugged Shepard, "I just claimed the land. I know it doesn't mean much, but when this is over, I'll… we'll have a home."
Shepard placed his forehead on Tali's visor, looking deep into her eyes.
He spoke softly, "When this is all over, I'll be wherever you are. And there will be no place I'd rather be."
They both turned to gaze upon what they hoped would soon be their land. Both imagined a house, with kids playing in the yard. A home filled with love and joy. Garrus secretly snapped another picture from behind.
Shepard spoke first this time, "The quarians have spent centuries as nomads. You think you can go back to living in one place?"
Tali answered with a sigh, "We have gotten used to carrying our homes around with us."
Shepard bent down, and picked up a rock about the size of his palm.
Smiling, he placed it in Tali's hand, "Rannoch is your home, our home now. You'll just have to carry it around with you for a little longer."
Tali appreciated the gesture, and turned the rock over and over in her hands. She looked back at him, with a smile he could see through her visor. Tali placed the rock into one of her enviro-suit's many pockets. They walked back over to where Garrus was.
Shepard spoke to them, "Come on, let's go take back Rannoch."
Shepard stood above the massive pit where the Reaper signal was being transmitted from. The mission had been successful so far. The squad had infiltrated the Reaper base and cleared out all hostile geth. Legion was currently securing transportation for extraction. All that was left was to destroy the transmitter, and Rannoch would once again belong to the quarians. Tali could barely contain her excitement, after 300 years of exile, her people would be able to come home. She was proud to play a role in their return.
EDI came over the comms, "Shepard, Normandy's weapons systems are ready to sync to your targeting laser. I recommend you withdraw to a safe distance."
Shepard pulled out the targeting laser, and painted the signal transmitter.
"Target locked." EDI announced as the Normandy came screaming into view.
The ship fired two missiles and scored a direct hit on the transmitter.
The squad rushed down to the edge of the pit to assess the damage. They peered into the pit, trying to see through the smoke and dust. All of a sudden, the massive legs of a Reaper Destroyer came out of the pit.
"Reaper!" Shepard yelled.
Almost immediately, a geth ground transport came flying up to them.
Legion's voice came over the comms, "We have located transportation!"
"Everybody, get to the ship! Move!" Shepard ordered.
The squad sprinted over to the geth transport, and Shepard manned the turret on top. Legion sped away from the base and the Reaper climbed out of the pit. Shepard looked back, terrified, as the Reaper began to pursue.
He raised the Migrant Fleet over the comms, "Shepard to Fleet, it's not a Reaper base, it's a live Reaper! I need an orbital strike!"
"Affirmative, Shepard. Waiting for your mark." Admiral Gerrel replied.
Once the squad was a safe distance away, Shepard ordered the Fleet to fire at will. Fire rained from the sky, and the Fleet scored multiple hits on the Reaper as it was charging it's laser. It shrieked in pain, and stumbled to the ground. Gerrel announced the Reaper was jamming the Fleet's targeting systems, and they couldn't make a precision shot on their own.
Shepard realized what had to be done, he had to get out and paint the Reaper with the targeting laser himself.
"Legion, pull over." he ordered.
Shepard jumped off the transport, and began walking towards the still recovering Reaper.
"Shepard-Commander?" Legion asked.
Shepard replied, "If we run away, the geth stay under Reaper control, and the quarians are dead. This ends now!"
He ordered EDI to sync all the Migrant Fleet's cannons to the Normandy's targeting system.
Tali spoke up, "If this doesn't… If we don't make it…"
"You worry too much." Shepard interrupted, his voice softened.
She tried to fit all her feelings and emotions for Shepard into three words, "I love you."
"I love you too, Keelah se'lai" he responded, with the same amount of emotion.
The Reaper had recovered, and fired its laser up at the Fleet. Shepard saw his opportunity, and painted the Reaper. Another orbital strike came crashing down, causing the Reaper to stumble again. It looked around, and saw Shepard. It turned its attention to him, and began walking towards him. Shepard dodged the Reaper's laser, and painted it again. Another volley of hits, and the Reaper was clearly taking damage. He repeated this process several times. Each time the Reaper was hit, Shepard thought of the friends he'd lost fighting this threat. Ashley on Virmire, Mordin on Tuchanka, and Thane on the Citadel. Today, he was making a stand, for them. Finally, after several more barrages, the Reaper could take no more. It crashed to the ground, and let out a final shriek of pain.
Shepard walked over to the edge of the cliff he was on, and looked at the fallen Reaper.
The Reaper's eye focused on him, and it boomed, "Shepard."
"You know who I am?" Shepard asked.
"Harbinger speaks of you." the Reaper answered. "You resist, but you will fail."
Suddenly, Shepard began hearing the whispers again. He got a headache, but ignored it.
"I killed a Reaper on Tuchanka, and I killed you. Just imagine what the entire galaxy can do when we're united." Shepard stated.
The Reaper seemed to ignore what he was saying, "Without our intervention, organics and synthetics will always be in conflict. The cycle must continue."
The red light of the Reaper's eye slowly faded away as it died.
Tali ran up to Shepard and jumped into him, wrapping her arms and legs around him.
"John, we did it!" she exclaimed, "We killed a Reaper!"
Legion strolled over to them, and announced, "We can confirm that the geth are no longer being directed by the Old Machines, we are free."
"You did it, Shepard! The geth fleet has stopped firing, their completely vulnerable." Admiral Gerrel added over the comms.
Shepard suddenly found himself in a very difficult position. Legion wanted to upload the Reaper code to all geth, giving them true AI status. Admiral Gerrel wanted to continue the attack against the, at the moment, defenseless geth. However, if Legion uploaded the code and the Migrant Fleet continued attacking, the geth would defend themselves, and most likely destroy the Fleet. Shepard wanted to allow Legion to upload the code, but wasn't willing to sacrifice the Migrant Fleet. He knew how much the quarians would be needed in the war against the Reapers. He also knew how devastated Tali would be if her people were wiped from the galaxy. Shepard then had an idea, an idea that could forever change how organics interacted with synthetics.
"John, you can't choose the geth over my people!" Tali pleaded.
"Tali, do you trust me?" Shepard asked, looking deep into her eyes.
"Yes, I do." Tali answered, looking as deep into his.
"Nobody else dies today. Legion, upload the code." Shepard ordered.
Legion turned away from the two of them, and began uploading the code.
Shepard patched his comm in with the entire Migrant Fleet, "All ships, this is Commander Shepard. The Reaper is dead, stand down."
Tali added, "This is Admiral Tali'Zorah, Shepard speaks with my authority."
"And mine as well." Admiral Koris stated.
"Negative, we can win this war now! Keep firing!" Admiral Gerrel retorted.
Shepard reluctantly reached down to his waist, and unholstered his pistol.
"Reaper code 60% uploaded." Legion updated.
"The geth are about to return to full strength. If you keep attacking, they'll wipe you out." Shepard said. "Your entire history is you trying to destroy the geth. You forced them to rebel. You forced them to ally with the Reapers."
"80% uploaded." Legion updated again.
Shepard hesitantly raised his pistol and aimed it at the back of Legion's head. If his plan failed, he would choose Tali and the quarians over Legion and the geth.
"The geth don't want to fight you. If you can believe that for just one minute, this war will be over." Shepard pleaded. "You have a choice. Please. Keelah se'lai."
While he waited for a response, he placed his finger on the trigger. Just as he was about to fire, Admiral Gerrel finally caved.
"All units, hold fire." he relented.
Shepard smiled, and holstered his pistol. He turned and hugged Tali tightly, his plan had worked. Peace between the quarians and geth could now be achieved.
"I knew I could trust you." she whispered in his ear.
As they separated, Legion suddenly stopped uploading the code.
"Error, copying code is insufficient. Direct personality dissemination… required." it stated as it turned to the couple. "Shepard-Commander, I must go to them. I'm… I'm sorry. It's the only way."
"Legion, about your earlier question, 'Does this unit have a soul?'. The answer is yes." Tali said.
"I know, Tali. But thank you." Legion thanked. "Keelah se'lai."
It then turned to face the sunset, dropped to its knees, and fell over, dead.
Shortly after, Admiral Raan and a geth prime came over to where Shepard and Tali were standing. They explained that the geth would allow the quarians to return to Rannoch, and that both species would pledge full support in the war effort. While Raan and the geth prime continued talking about the quarians return, Tali walked over by the edge of the cliff and sat down. Shepard sat down next to her, and placed his arm around her.
"Shopping for another house?" he asked, jokingly.
"Beachfront property." she quipped, putting her arm around him.
After a short pause, Shepard said, "I'll understand if you want to stay here. You don't have to come with me, if you feel your place is here, helping your people."
"John, I don't know how much time we have left. I don't know if we can beat the Reapers." she replied. "But whatever happens, I want to be with you."
Trying to lighten the mood, Shepard joked, "I bet you say that to every guy who gets you a homeworld."
Tali laughed, "Only the cute ones."
Garrus had been watching everything transpire from afar. He smiled, and discreetly took another picture.
Author's Note: I had Shepard aim his pistol at Legion as a failsafe in case his plan failed. I believe Shepard wouldn't place all his faith in Admiral Gerrel backing down and not have a backup plan.