In the cargo hold of the refitted and upgraded Normandy, Kelly, while she put away her gear, could not help but overhear the conversation between Shepard and Tali.

"I don't know if you'll find anything else with it, but what I do know is that the Protheans had found it and hid it away long before the Reapers came and wiped them out," Nora said as she handed Tali'Zorah a data pad with all the information Echo had left her. At the Quarian's side stood both Legion and Kal'Reegar, both worse for wear after another scrape with the Indoctrinated Cerberus forces.

"Are you sure you can trust... her? After what happened?" Tali asked, concerned.

Shepard frowned. "I wouldn't trust her with a care package. However, she's more determined to destroy the Reapers, no matter what. And she was privy to a lot of hidden technology and weapons that the rest of the Protheans weren't aware of."

"But," Kal'Reegar said, "if this is what you think it is, then what good will it be against them?"

"It's not," Nora said as she shook her head, "it's a contingency. Just in case. Because there's far too many things that can happen. If it turns out to be true and if... if we lose, I want you to gather as many survivors as you can, take it, and get out."

"Shepard-Commander," the Geth platform said, "the statistical possibility of this contingency bearing any favorable results is extremely unlikely. Any technology that predates the Protheans will have either disintegrated or have been lost to time."

She gave Legion a sad smile. "I know. I just like to think that I have enough back up plans in case things go bad so we can come out alive. And knowing the Reapers and with Cerberus under their control, things can and will go bad."

"You know, I was wondering when you would put us in a situation where we would face impossible odds," Tali said wryly.

Shepard snorted, "Is that always the case? Who knows if anyone else found that thing after all these millenia. For all I know, I could be sending you into the arms of some Eldritch Abomination waiting to eat you all. And if that's the case," she then took Tali from her compatriots, and embraced her tightly to the shock of the Quarian.

Shepard then pulled away from the surprised Tali as she continued, "Kal'Reegar, Legion; your orders are as follows: You are to guard Tali'Zorah Vas Normandy with your lives. Not just because she's a member of my crew," she paused for a moment, "but because she's a member of the family I made myself, since I was denied one as I grew up."

Without a missed beat, Legion nodded, "Acknowledged."

Kal'Reegar followed suit, "Understood, Commander."

Tali tried to comprehend what had just happened. While she had noticed Shepard's condition had improved ever since she began to speak with Kelly, it was hard not to wonder at how much she had changed for the better.

"Shepard," Tali said, the joy in her voice evident. Like her Commander, she too was bereft of family, but to be considered one by a captain in the fleet was an honor above most others. She then turned to the Marine and Geth platform and said, "ready the frigate. We'll be on our way in the hour."

"Keelah Se'lai," both Legion and Kal'Reegar said at the same time before they both turned and left.

When she was sure they were out of earshot, Tali turned back to her commander and said, "Shepard.. I knew you were getting better, but I wasn't aware at how much you've changed."

Nora gave Tali a wry smile of her own. "I had good friends that cared for me. It's only recently I've seen how much," her smile faltered, "unlike Kaidan. I wonder sometimes if he resented the fact I not only shot him down, but left him to die on Virmire."

Tali blinked. "What? No, I'm sure he didn't."

"What do you mean?"

The Quarian girl said, slightly embarrassed, "I know that it was none of my business at the time, but I could hear quite a bit. And you know, even though when he made his feelings known to you, he never resented you."

"How so?"

"Well, against my better judgment, I told Kaidan that I overheard the... um, time you rejected his advances. However, he wasn't as broken up as you thought."

Nora blinked, "What? Why?"

"Well, he told me that from the first day he was assigned to your unit, you were moody, withdrawn, and reclusive. However, when Liara came along, you started to... what's that saying? ...come out of your shell? Anyway, he was happy to see you actually smile once. You did it so little back then."

Shepard shook her head. "If there's anything I do regret; it's not treating you all better than the way I did."

"But you did," Tali insisted, "you went out your way for us. And while we were a little suspicious after at first, we knew that you weren't doing it for some hidden agenda or something some Bosh'tet politician would do."

Eventually, a real smile started to creep up on Shepard's face. "You think Kaidan would have been happy at how much I've grown?"

Tali nodded enthusiastically, "I know he would have."

Nora closed her eyes and said softly, "You deserved so much more than what you got, Alenko."

Tali then grasped the Commander's shoulder gently. "Remember what you said? Let's keep fighting to make sure he's not forgotten. If we fail, then no one will remember."

"Right. Be careful, Tali." Nora nodded.

"You too." With that, the Quarian left.

Shepard enjoyed a moment's respite and a deep breath, for she knew it would not last.

"I hope you're satisfied," Echo mumbled bitterly.

"I am. For now, anyway." Shepard said with a small smile.

"If this does work..." Echo began.

"That's a rather large 'if'." Nora stated.

"If this does work, then perhaps I may have been wrong." the Prothean said with noticeable difficulty.

"Well, it has to work before you say anything."

"You have accomplished all this and you still doubt?"

"I'm not a god, remember? I try and plan for each and every potential event that can and will go wrong. The best I can do is try to minimize the worst possible outcome. Thus far, I've been lucky."

"Lucky? You are on the cusp of turning the tide against the Reapers and you dare say it was due to good fortune?"

"Yes. You've seen my life. You know what I know. All the planning in the world won't cover every eventuality. Somehow, in someway, something can and will go wrong."

"Then deal with it as it comes."

"Those seem awfully kind words from someone who hates me."

"I still do. As sure as space is dark, I still despise you. However, I will not argue with all you have achieved."

"So, in the slight chance we do come out victorious, what happens to you and me?"

"That is not important at the moment. Concentrate on the battle at hand."

After a moment of silence, Shepard asked, "Echo? Echo?"

When no response from the Prothean came, Kelly gave Shepard a soft smile and said, "I guess she does that a lot?"

Not perturbed at Kelly's eavesdropping, Shepard shrugged. "Sometimes. However, she hasn't taken control of me since I drew the line, so, I'm guessing I was doing something right."

"I wonder, though..."

"Hm?"

"She told me once she used to be a living individual before the Reapers crushed the Protheans. You figure she was someone like you during her life?"

"You mean someone who knew about the Reapers but no one believed her?"

"Possibly. Stranger things have happened."

"I don't know. However, I don't want to say that if the same happened to me, I'd still stay me."

Kelly's smile grew. "Well, we haven't gotten to that point yet, so, there's that."