Chapter 28-Law

The Mass-Effect relay located in the Valhallan Threshold blazed with blue light as the Normandy materialized next to it from superluminal speed. For a moment, the ship hung next to the colossal space-borne mass driver that had transported it from Pragia, before its own engines flared into life and swiftly powered it towards the flotilla of ships so large that, even thousands of miles away, its sensors were ablaze with floods of data.

It swooped close, and soon the ships came into view, a great flock of vessels shining in the harsh light of the twin suns they were orbiting. The ship grew closer, individual vessels, thousands of them, soon become distinguishable from the great flotilla.

"We're in radio contact range," Joker announced as the Normandy swept in. Within the cockpit was Tali, Malleus and Kullas, watching the approaching fleet with interest.

"Good. Open a link," Tali said. Joker nodded to her, and the Quarian announced; "This is Tali Zorah Nar Rayya Vas Neema, requesting permission to land on the ship, the Rayya."

"Our system has your ship flagged as Cerberus," a voice, its accent unmistakably Quarian, announced. "Verify."

"After time adrift among open stars, along tides of light and shoals of dust, I shall return to where I began," Tali replied, clearly uttering some sort of passphrase.

"Verified," the radio-operator said. "Welcome home, Tali Zorah."

"We need a security and quarantine team to meet us," Tali said. "Our ship is not clean."

"Understood," the operator said. "Approach exterior docking cradle seventeen."

Joker guided the Normandy next to the Rayya, a particularly large ship with an immense sphere of paneled metal dominating its form, and a docking corridor extended to meet them, clamping over the airlock.

"Are you sure you and Tali wish to do this alone?" Malleus asked the Forge Priest quietly in Gothic.

"I am sure," Kullas said. "This is a personal issue, and with all due respect, brother-captain, of all the members of this ship's crew I am the one she trusts most. Besides, their anti-contamination routines are somewhat stringent. It would be simplest for just the two of us to go."

"Very well," Malleus said, as Joker opened the interior door of the airlock. "I suppose the rest of us will just have to wait aboard the Normandy."

"We shall not be long," Kullas said. "Ave Omnissah, brother captain."

They stepped through the airlock, and along a short corridor, before out a second set of doors. Kullas had placed his helmet on, a precaution against bacterial infection, and the scanners built into it identified and highlighted several Quarians standing ready to meet them, ones that carried weapons and, even beneath their sealed enviro-suits, had a particularly brawny set to them. At their front was an unarmed one, his own suit a bronze colour with a red sash sitting over it. It seemed to look surprised for a moment, before saying; "We were, ah, not expecting a diplomatic mission."

"Nor should you have been," Kullas said. "My name is Kullas Lokarim, and I come to speak on behalf of Tali Zorah Vas Neema."

"I see," the Quarian said. "I am Captain Kar'Danna Vas Neema. Tali, it is good to see you again."

"An honour," Kullas said.

"It's good to see you again, Kar'Danna," Tali said. "But what exactly am I being charged for, here?"

"You've been charged with smuggling active Geth parts onto the fleet for your father's research," Kar'Danna said. "Which is as treasonous as you can get without actually going a stealing a ship."

"They were not active," Tali replied firmly. "They were safe!"

"Look," Kar'Danna said. "I believe you Tali, but there's no point talking about it here; we'll have to this at the hearing. It's at the garden court."

"Where's that?" Kullas asked.

"Don't worry," Tali said. "I know the way."

She led him through the corridors of the Rayya. It was a compact ship, somewhat cramped, and even in its corridors storage crates were lashed to the walls. Various Quarians watched them on their way through with interest, a few calling greeting to Tali which the young machinist returned, or simply staring fascinated at the Astartes in their midst.

They reached a doorway leading into what looked to be a large courtyard, with greenery arranged around it in various points, and Tali suddenly stopped as she saw another Quarian woman waiting there.

"Auntie Raan!" Tali said, stepping forward embracing the Quarian, who hugged her back.

"Tali Zorah Vas Normandy," she said warmly, her voice sounding like that of a much older person. "It's good to see you."

"It's good to see you too," Tali said. "Kullas, this is my father's friend, Shala Raan Vas Rayya. Auntie Raan, this is Kullas Lokarim Vas, um…Normandy? Or Mechanicus?"

"Kullas Lokarim Vas Valaso Darundah Nar Mechanicum," Kullas replied, adding; "I've been learning Quarian, lately."

"Alright," Tali said. "Wait a moment, Auntie Raan, you just called me Tali Zorah Vas Normandy."

"Yes," Raan said, shaking her masked head. "Unfortunately, the rest of the Admiralty Board declared you a member of the crew of the Normandy, which is why Kar'Danna can't speak for you."

"That is why I am here," Kullas said.

"You are captain of the Normandy?" Raan asked. "I thought that was your leader, Malleus."

"I am not captain, but Tali has also been sworn in as an Apprentice Adept of the Adeptus Mechanicus," Kullas said. "As a Techpriest of the Mechanicus, and therefore of senior rank, I am allowed to act as an advocate on her behalf for any charges that she is accused of, as allowed by the Decree of Mons signed by Fabricator General Olban Tel in 015.M32."

"Meaning?" Raan asked.

"I have the authority to speak as defendant of Tali," Kullas said. "And if the Admiralty Board wishes to dispute that then they are welcome to see how far they get arguing against the authority of an organisation ten thousand years of age."

"Well, if you're certain," Raan said. "I think we've delayed long enough; the Admiralty Board were already getting impatient before you arrived."

"Auntie Raan, you're a member of the board," Tali said. "Aren't you going to be hearing me as well?"

"I'm too closely involved in this to be viewed as a neutral party," Raan said. "I'll be making sure the trial is a fair process, but I can't speak for either side."

"Just a quick question," Kullas said. "Is there anything of Quarian law that I should know of?"

"No," Raan said. "There won't be any legal tricks or political loopholes that you need to worry about."

"I am glad to hear that," Kullas said. "Please, lead on."

Raan lead them into the square, down a set of steps that formed a sort of semicircular arena, a podium at its centre on which three Quarians stood, appraising both Tali and Kullas as they descended to the open bottom of the small arena. Raan nodded to them to indicate that this was where they were to stand, before stepping up to a higher podium behind the three Quarians, who Kullas assumed to be the Admiralty Board. A crowd had gathered, sitting on the tiered edges of the arena, clearly here to watch the trial proceed.

"In this hallowed ground of our ancestors, we come to discuss matters of justice and the law," Raan announced, reciting some traditional blessing for the trial. "May it remain a fair one under their eyes. Keelah Se'Lai."

The last two words were repeated by the crowd, including Tali, before Raan said; "Kullas Lokarim Vas Valaso Darundah Nar Mechanicum, you come before us as advocate for Tali Zorah Vas Neema Nar Rayya."

"Objection!" one of the admiralty board members called out, his suit a light grey with red cloth across it at various points. "This trial involves confidential military information. Why are we allowing an alien as her speaker?"

"Then you should not have declared Tali a crewmember of the Normandy, Admiral Koris," Raan said. "As her crewmate, Kullas holds the right to speak for Tali."

"Objection withdrawn, then," Koris said.

"Then I shall continue," Raan said. "Tali, you are accused of bringing active Geth aboard the fleet. What say you?"

For a moment, Kullas was silent, thinking Tali was being asked to speak for herself, before the young Quarian nudged him with her elbow.

"I sincerely believe that Tali would not endanger the Migant Fleet," Kullas said. "She holds it in the highest possible regard, and pleads not guilty."

"I left parts and technology for teams to pick up, that's all," Tali said. "My father ordered me to do so. But I would never send active parts to the fleet. Everything I sent was disabled and harmless."

"Then explain to us why the Geth seized the lab ship that Rael Zorah was working on," Koris said. There was a murmur of conversation through the crowd, until Raan wave an arm for silence.

"What are you talking about?" Tali asked. "What happened?"

"As far as we can tell, Tali," one of the other admirals said. "The Geth have killed everybody aboard the Alarei, your father included. I'm sorry."

"What?" Tali asked. "No…Oh, keelah!"

"Admirals," Kullas said, stepping forward and pressing a reassuring hand on Tali's shoulder. "I appreciate the need for this trial, but a Geth controlled ship in the midst of the Migrant Fleet is a pressing concern. I have on my side a fine warship and some of the best warriors in the galaxy, and I am sure they would need little persuasion to agree to aid the Quarian people."

"You would retake the Alarei?" Raan asked. "That is somewhat of a dangerous proposal."

"With your permission, yes," Kullas said. "We may be able to find the truth behind the obvious confusion that laboured Tali with this charge, and Tali clearly needs to find her father."

"Agreed," one of the admirals said, the same one who had broken the news to Tali. "Several strike teams have already tried to retake it, but you are welcome to attempt it. And if you die during this mission, Tali, I shall see to it that your name is cleared of all charges."

"We can discuss that later," Koris said, to which the other Quarian made a somewhat dismissive gesture.

"Very well then," Raan said. "This meeting is suspended until your return from the Alarei, or if we determine that you have been killed in action. You are hereby given leave to depart the Rayya; a shuttle will be waiting at the secondary docking hangar. Keep safe, Tali."

The crowd began to disperse, and Tali and Kullas stepped up a few of the steps that led up out of the arena.

"Are you alright, Tali?" Kullas asked. "I imagine this must be quite a shock."

"I…I don't know," Tali replied. "I guess you're never really ready for a charge of treason. And my father…I don't know. They don't know for certain that he's dead. I just don't know, Kullas. I need to find out."

"Then let's," Kullas said.

Tali led Kullas out of the court, through several more corridors before they were stopped at a door by what looked to be another Quarian marine.

"Greetings, Tali Zorah Vas Normandy," he said. "I've got your clearance here."

"So can we go?" Tali asked.

"I just need to start the shuttle up and I'll be taking you across," he said. "Good luck out there, Tali Zorah."

#

The airlock of the Alarei slid open and as soon as it did so, Kullas and Tali were through, weapons raised, Tali taking the left entrance to the corridor that it led onto, Kullas taking the right.

"Clear," Tali called.

"Clear," Kullas answered, the pilot light of his flamer flickering as he searched area before him for Geth. "Which way?"

"I don't know," Tali said. "Let's try this direction."

They advanced down the corridor, avoiding the crates that were bolted to its walls and lashed to the floor, turning into some sort of kitchen unit. The scanned it, and it seemed empty, before an equine head rose up from behind a desk, a Geth clearly activating. Kullas felt an alarm-pulse of data be emitted by the machine before he opened fire, and he could hear synthetic footsteps clattering on the metal floor of the corridor leading into the room.

The first Geth to enter was gunned down by a shot from Tali, who had dove to cover, and she hurriedly tapped on her omni-tool while Kullas dealt with the second, before the holographic orb of her combat drone, Chiktikka Vas Paus, materialised next to her and hovered swiftly across the floor towards the incoming Geth.

"I am the Manifestation of the Omnissah's will, abominations!" Kullas roared over the din of the Geth firing their pulse weapons into the room in a vain attempt to try and keep his head down. "I come to purge you righteous fire and holy plasma!"

He began to advance, heedless of the fire pouring onto him that broke only when Tali's drone appeared to distract the synthetics, plasma cutter blazing as it cut down the Geth crowding the doorway.

"You cannot halt me!" he yelled in pure binaric, raising his flamer. "Ave Omnissah dominus Marta!"

The flood of burning petroleum engulfed the synthetics, and immediately they relented, beating at the flames clinging to them even as circuitboards and delicate wiring began to melt in the heat. They began to topple, helpless against the heat eating away at them, and Kullas waited dispassionately as the flames burnt themselves out.

"Tali?" he asked. "Shall we continue? I do not believe that to be the last of the Geth."

"Just a moment," Tali said. She was kneeling by the body of another Quarian, bullet wounds punched into body, and was gently moving it so the corpse lay on its back, folding its arms over while she murmured a prayer in her own language. Her work finished, she stood. "Alright, let's go."

They advanced through the ship, waiting for ambushers but finding nothing in the empty corridors of the Alarei.

"I don't like this," Tali said Kullas quietly. "It's too quiet. The ship was supposed to be overrun, and the Geth should know we're here."

"You suspect an ambush?" Kullas said. "Wise. These Geth are treacherous creatures."

He halted, a slight clank of metal on metal that would have been inaudible to most only just detected on the edge of his hearing.

"What is it?" Tali asked.

"There's something here," Kullas said, scanning the large room they had just entered. "Stay behind me."

Tali slid into Kullas' shadow, her back to his, weapon raised, before she gave a yell of alarm. Kullas turned to see her wrestling with something invisible, fending off blows from some hidden attacker before she grabbed at it with her bionic and began to squeeze. The tortured metal beneath her grip screamed, and sparks flew as circuitry and wiring began to become crushed. With a crackle, whatever field that had hid her opponent from view blew out and a Geth was revealed, larger and burlier than the other troopers they had fought before. Tali grabbed at the pistol at her belt and squeezed off a pair of shots into the synthetic, staggering it before another two smashed the lense at the centre of its skull and sent it toppling to the floor, a smoking ruin.

"Well handled," Kullas said.

"Thanks," Tali replied. "Come on."

They headed through more of the Alarei, scanning for hostiles, before Kullas stopped in a room that looked like a laboratory; various pieces of mechanical equipment were scattered around it, as well as what looked a few dismembered Geth that had not yet been repaired by their fellows.

"What's this?" Kullas asked, stepping over to a computer console. He tapped the play button at the bottom of the projected screen, and an image of a Quarian appeared.

"Father!" Tali said as she saw it, before hushing as he began to speak.

"Log forty seven," the Quarian was saying. "We are beginning to make tangible progress, but a little slower than expected. The network is proving even more difficult to hack than we expected; we break down one firewall only for it erect a dozen more with entirely new encryption protocols. We have only a few working but they already seem to be exhibiting the collective intelligence they're so infamous for. We're going to keep working on it though; I promised myself I'd build Tali a house on the homeworld, and I'm not giving up on an entire year's work just because these Geth are proving more stubborn than anticipated."

The recording ended, and Tali seemed to be frowning beneath her mask.

"What was that about?" she asked.

"It appears they were trying to make a miniaturised version of the neural network that the Geth use," Kullas said. "Perhaps seeing if they could hack and control it."

"No, that can't be right," Tali said quietly. "He wouldn't do something like that. That would be dangerous even by his standards."

"There may be some explanation," Kullas said, even though he personally doubted that to be the case.

"You're right," Tali said. "He wouldn't do something like that, I know. He's alive, I'm sure of it; he's too clever to let Geth get him. We'll find him and we can find out what they were really doing here and then we can return to the fleet."

She stepped away form the console, and headed towards the door, Kullas following her. She stopped at the doorway, activated it and ducked through, weapon up. A moment later, the sound of the strange rifles the Geth carried crackled and Tali yelled a warning.

Kullas sped through the door after her, flamer roaring as he sent a jet of burning fuel into the room in order to keep the synthetics' heads down. He saw Tali had gone to cover behind some furniture, and she popped up a moment later to fire off a few shots from her pistol and to send her combat drone out to draw the Geth's fire.

The synthetics that had avoided Kullas' initial attack advanced through the flames, avoiding the worst patches of burning fuel as they moved with swift, sure coordination through the fires, weapons blazing as they wore down their cover or slammed into Kullas' power armour. The Forge Priest stood his ground, plasma cutter countering with deadly accuracy, each shot smashing through the Geth's shielding and tearing them to pieces, their metal shells no match for a plasma weapon forged by artisans of Lusita. Moments later, he began to advance, getting into close combat distance of the Geth, servo arms grabbing and smashing the machines whenever they came into reach, the great pincers crushing them in their grip or throwing them across the room as Kullas roared binaric litanies and canticles in praise of the Omnissah. Within moments, a dozen Geth had been felled and the few that remained began to fall back, only to be cut down by Tali's pistol as they did so.

The Quarian leapt from cover to follow them, skirting the flames and Kullas' bulk and charging after the remaining synthetics, yelling curses in her language as she cut them down with her pistol. The final machine that was left tried to flee down a corner, and Tali followed it, weapon still blazing with Kullas on her heels. She cut it down with a shot to the back of its head, and as it clattered to the ground, she dropped her aim as she saw the corpse of a Quarian slumped on the wall.

She dropped down next to it, and murmured quietly; "No. No, no, no!"

She shook the corpse she had discovered angrily as Kullas drew up next to her, wailing; "You were supposed to have a plan! Masked life signs, a medical stasis program. You can't just…you can't just die and let me clean up your mess!"

"Tali," Kullas said gently, crouching next to her and laying a hand on her shoulder.

"I don't know what to do," Tali said quietly. "I thought he'd be…I don't know. I just don't know what to do."

"Tali, I'm sorry. But maybe he left something for you?" Kullas said, motioning to the still active omni-tool that was on the Quarian's wrist. "A message, perhaps?"

With shaking hands she tapped a few buttons, and a recording began to play.

"This is a message for Tali Zorah Vas Neema," the voice of Rael Zorah said. "If this is not her, please send this message to her as soon as you can. Tali, if this is you, then I am dead."

There was a sigh, a crackle static.

"I can't speak long; the Geth will find me soon, or I might just bleed out, but we were trying to recreate their neural network, repairing Geth so that we could try and control them," he continued. "It was illegal, yes, but we believed that if the Admiralty Board saw the results of our work then we would forgiven for the result. But now that isn't the case; they've broken free and it's not long now before I'm discovered. Most likely the Board will blame you; they don't want to believe one of their own would do something like this, but all you need to do is give them this recording and you should be cleared of all charges. I will be held responsible, but I should be. It is the only right thing to do. I'm sorry, Tali. I promised to build you a house on the homeworld, but I've made a terrible mistake."

Rael's voice broke off, coughing hoarsely, before it continued.

"Their hub is just through the door ahead; destroy it and you'll render the Geth inactive. Keelah Se'lai, Tali."

The recording cut off, and Tali looked at the corpse in disbelief.

"So he was reactivating Geth," Tali said quietly. "I don't which was worse. Thinking he didn't care or knowing he did and this was the only way he could show it."

"People are difficult to predict and comprehend, Tali," Kullas said. "I think he most likely cared for you a great deal."

"I don't know any more," Tali said. "Look, let's just get to the hub. I want to kill these things."

"You aren't the only one," Kullas said.

They headed through the door into the main hub room together, weapons up as they entered it. Immediately, a storm of fire greeted them, and they dodged out of the way, seeing the new threat; a Geth far larger than the ones they had seen before, a single immense machine gun held in its hands.

"Geth Prime!" Tali yelled as it turned its weapon in her direction, a hail of rounds shredding the floor that they hit.

"Here, abomination!" Kullas yelled, sending a burst of fire from his plasma cutter at the thing. The shot glanced off the shields that protected it, and they held firm, light rippling around it, simply staggering the thing before it brought its weapon up and sent high-calibre rounds into Kullas' servo harness, forcing him to fold it away behind his back before it could damage either of the weapons housed there.

Then Tali appeared and punched in the thigh.

The shields protected it, already weakened by the plasma cutter's assault, flickered out beneath the assault and the metal of its leg dented. Tali yelled in anger and grief and struck again, this time at the knee, sending it collapsing to the ground with a clang before she was at its head.

"Die, bosh'tet machine!" she screamed as she slammed the bionic into the centre of its head, the Geth crackling its distress in binary. A second blow shattered the lense at the centre of its skull and groped for her blindly, until a final blow to its metallic cranium shattered the already weakened shell and saw it fall limp. Tali collapsed on her knees next to it, the fury gone from her assault.

Kullas reached down and helped her up, unsure what to say.

"Let's just kill these things properly before they come back," Tali said quietly. "I've had enough of this place. I've had enough of these things."

Kullas headed to the console, extended a hand and entered the system. Almost immediately he felt dozens of runtimes begin to bombard him, self-adapting codes, abominable intelligences that threatened to overwhelm him, but he immediately pushed back, chattering prayers to the Omnissah and grabbing and crushing each tendril of intelligence in turn. Realising they were outmatched, the others began to flee into the depths of their hub, and the digital spike of Kullas' consciousness followed with merciless speed, zeroing in on and eliminating each Geth intelligence in turn until it was completely purged.

"We are done," Kullas said. "Come, let us return to the Rayya."

#

They were about to enter the garden court when Tali suddenly stopped Kullas.

"What is it?" the Forge Priest asked.

"It's about the trial," Tali said. "And my father."

"What about him?"

"Well, you see, if the Board finds out about what he did, I'll be acquitted, yes," Tali said. "But they'll remove my father from the fleet's records for what he did. People may remember him for a while, but after a while it'll seem like he never existed. But if I take the blame then, while I might be exiled, my children will still be able to come back. I can at least keep the memory of him alive."

"I see," Kullas said. "So you would rather I said we found no new evidence, then?"

"Please."

Kullas sighed, before shaking his head.

"Very well," he said, before stepping into the garden court.

The admirals were waiting and got to their positions on the podium as Kullas and Tali approached, the crowd once again condensing back into their seats on the edge of the court.

"I call this meeting to order once more," Shala'Raan said. "Kullas Lokarim, do you have any new evidence to present to the court?"

"Kullas," Tali murmured quietly enough for only him to hear. "Please."

"I regret to say that, while the Alarei is purged of all abominable intelligence, no evidence proving the innocence of Tali Zorah Vas Neema was found," Kullas said. "We await your verdict."

There was a quiet discussion among that Admiralty Board, before each one summoned and omni-tool up and tapped a button. A holographic display appeared in front of Raan, and she shook her head before saying; "The Admiralty Board finds Tali Zorah Vas Normandy guilty of treason, and exile her from the Migrant Fleet for the rest of her life. Tali, you have an hour to collect any belongings and say goodbye to any family members or friends you need to."

She sighed, before saying; "This court is dismissed. Keelah Se'lai."

She stepped down from her podium with a dejected set to her features, and Tali hurried over to her as she did so.

"Auntie Raan," she said, grabbing the woman in an embrace. "I'm sorry."

"In all my days, I never thought I would have to pronounce a sentence of treason upon my own goddaughter," Raan said, returning Tali's embrace.

"I am sorry I was unable to help further," Kullas said.

"Do not be," Raan said. "At least you made the effort."

"She's right," Tali said. "Thank you, Kullas, for everything. Look, there are some people I need to say goodbye to. Can you wait a while?"

"Indeed I can," Kullas said.

"Thank you," Tali said, before hurrying off and leaving Raan and Kullas alone.

"Can I ask," Raan said. "What happened to Tali's hand?"

"Ah, that?" Kullas said. "She lost it, unfortunately, in an accident. I had the skill and knowledge to artifice her a new one, and so I did."

"What?" Raan said. "She…she was hurt?"

"Yes," Kullas said. "I managed to fix it, though, as you can see, as good as new. Better, in fact."

"Oh dear," Raan said. "Not only do I find out that Tali is in exile but she's back to doing the same sort of things she was doing with Shephard."

"In all fairness, it is an important cause that we work for," Kullas said.

"Yes, I know," Raan sighed. "She was telling me all about the Geth and the Reapers when she got back to the fleet from when Shephard picked her up, and it sounded terrifying. Now you tell me she's doing it all again?"

"Yes, she is," Kullas said. "And I do not believe you would dissuade her with much ease."

"No, I suppose not," Raan said. "But I'll be worrying about her. I mean, she's already lost a hand; who knows what else could happen to her. Kullas, you strike me as an honourable man. Please, I want you to promise me something."

"Of course," Kullas said.

"See to it that Tali comes to no harm," Raan said.

"That is a difficult request," Kullas said slowly.

"I know," Raan said. "But please."

"Very well, Shala'Raan," Kullas said after a moment. "You have my word."