Shepard:
Shepard rubbed her head and left her neck exposed to Ty as he readied the shot. "So, I just saw you in your armor. How did you get out?"
"Uh, I didn't." Ty put the needle to her neck and pushed it in as fast as possible without puncturing the wrong vein.
"What do you mean, how can you not be in it and not be out?"
The door opened and Ty stepped through in his nanite armor. "Because, he got out a while ago. Hello Shepard, I am Drew."
She would have struggled and freaked out but Ty had a needle in her neck and that wouldn't have felt too good. "What?"
Ty pulled the needle out and put some medigel on her neck. "This, is a new manifestation of the nanites. A thrall under me."
"We like to refer to Ty as our father. Although, that definition is not accurate in the least bit."
"The thought of Ty being a father is terrifying to me." Hannah commented, from where she was helping Chakwas remove the cleaver from Bourne's chest.
Cecelia smiled as the drugs filled her system. "You never know, he might be a better dad then you can imagine."
She began to wobble and fell back but Ty caught her and lowered her to one of the beds. "Thanks, but I prefer to keep that off my resume."
"Yeah, generally on a resume you want to be as honest as- wow, how did he not pass out on the way here?" Hannah's tone of voice made Shepard look over, and as she saw the way half of Bourne's ribs were sliced in half and swaying oddly where they were still connected, she had to wonder the same.
"Hero, I meant that I don't want to have kids just yet and thanks to me, yes he survived and was able to make it this far."
"I wouldn't have been surprised if he was stubborn enough to make it anyway. But thanks, either way."
Shepard laid back on the table and rested. "You know, this whole adventure that we are on is going to be one big joke some day."
"Somehow I really doubt that." Hannah said darkly.
Shepard chuckled at Hannah's comment. "Just imagine it, I'll be sitting in my private penthouse in the presidium. Hot tub in the living room, world class kitchen with the finest ingredients, and a giant screen TV that I can watch all the videos made about me."
"I had a mission once where I thought the same thing." She said, voice as cold as ice. "Then my boyfriend and several friends got killed along the way, and I ended up with nothing."
"Well, there is the difference between you and me Hannah. I won't end up with nothing."
"Keep telling yourself that. And hope that it happens that way." From the tone in her voice, she clearly thought it would be just the opposite.
"You know, with what I know now Cecelia… I think I can make that happen. I have just one question. Do you want the lights in your hot tub to change colors or stay one color." Ty's confidence made her feel warm inside.
Hannah glared at him, and for a moment her biotics flared around her. But she turned back to what she was doing without speaking.
"Something wrong Hannah?" Cecelia found it hard to believe but Ty sounded like he had genuine concern in his voice.
She didn't even glance his way, concentrating on what she was doing. But Shepard saw her tense up slightly, and guessed that they'd hit a very raw nerve.
"Hannah, speak up, that's an order."
"Mind your own goddamn business." She snapped. "I'm busy here."
"General consensus believes that Hannah doesn't think that it is fair what has happened to you and her."
Hannah threw a warp at Drew over her shoulder, and he dodged with unseen reflexes.
"Apologies Ms. Swan, but I can not allow myself to take damage due to the repercussions of using Normandy hull to rebuild myself."
She spun on her heels, biotics flaring around her. "Will you idiots get out and let us work?"
Ty got on one side of Cecelia and Drew got on the other side, both helping her up. "Well, slaves, take me to my cabin."
"Consensus thinks it would be a good idea to drop her."
Ty shook his head and dragged her forward with Drew. "Bad idea."
She let out a slight giggle. "Aw, you know me so well."
"Cecelia, are you alright?"
She felt her head droop and caught herself. "Yeah, I'm fine. I think the doc had you give me a shot of morphine so all my senses are blurred and going crazy."
"Was this involved that time you were stripping?"
"Yep, this, alcohol, and twenty percent off my tattoo." She reminded herself to make sure Bourne didn't use his injury as an excuse to get out cleaning the bathrooms for making her reveal that.
"Sounds like one hell of a story." Ty hit the switch and opened the door to her room. "Want to tell it?"
"Nah, right now I want to lay down on my bed and wait till this shit wears off."
Ty and Drew carried her over to her bed and then Ty picked her up and laid her in it. "Okay, well, I should probably go check on Bourne."
Shepard grabbed onto her arm to hold him back. "You could stay."
He turned back to her and removed her hand, laying it gently on the bed. "Love to, but I can't unless I know Bourne is alright. It might be my fault that he is in this situation, or I will probably get blamed for it."
Cecelia let herself rest back and her vision began to slip. "Rain check?"
She heard the door open at the other end of her room. "Hell, yeah."
Ty:
^So, you guys need a Hero?^ I asked as I walked back to the medbay.
*What I need is for you to tell me what the hell happened out there. I got a few things from Bourne, but since Tali was there, he didn't want to use the link very much.*
^We got blind sided by a creeper and caught on one of the Thorian's roots. It dragged us down and we got skewered on some rebar .^
*Then why aren't you injured? And where' d the cleaver come from? Also, what did he mean with that comment about a "farm cow?" and "crossbow castration?"*
^Hehehehehehehe, not gonna talk about those ones.^
)Will you two keep it down? I'm trying to sleep here.(
*How are you doing that in a coma?*
)...I dunno. Ty did it.(
^So, got any thing you are angry about Hero? Why were you so upset?^
She practically exploded over the line. *That self righteous bitch is talking about everything going so perfectly, and when it comes to it, she's going to be in the same position I was in, and I can't tell her a damn thing about it! Not to mention her 'holier than thou' attitude about it. I did everything she's going to do, and I didn't have a Super Soldier or a User on my side. And I didn't have to kill everyone I met to do it either!*
^I honestly don't know what to say right here.^ I opened the med bay doors and stepped in.
)Maybe sorry would be a good place to start. And the crossbow comment was because Saren decided to pull one of my Fable 2 characters out, and if I hadn't moved just then…( He somehow sent a shiver across the line. Or it may have been a real shiver, because Chakwas was currently sewing him up, and I didn't see any IV bags set up for pain meds.
*And the "Farm Cow?"*
)Ty's ex-girlfriend.(
^Okay, granted she is my ex but I still take offense to that. Now, why should I say sorry?^
)Cecelia didn't know. You did, and you didn't do much to stop her.(
*She was drugged, and could still have kicked his ass. What could he really have done? Just because I know it was justified and he doesn't owe me an apology doesn't make it less irritating.*
^Um, and what makes you think she will end up where you were?^
)You know Hero, if I can put up with him and call him my friend, you of all people ought to be able to-(
*I'm sorry Ty, how often have you talked about how the future is set in stone? Like Ashley leaving Bourne on Horizon? Or that it all comes down to those final three choices?*
)Technically four if you tell the AI screw off.(
^Maybe, I found out why Bourne argued with me about it. Maybe, I finally have a real reason to try it.^
)If you two are going to argue again, can you do it on the lower deck or somewhere else out of range? I'm already KOed, and don't have biotics. I don't need a headache on top of that.(
^Shut up Bourne.^ It took me a second but I realized that Hero said it at the same time I did.
)See, why are you arguing when you have so much in common?(
*Only the fact that you're already injured is stopping me from reaving you for saying that.*
I changed my armor back to normal and walked past everyone to see Liara. ^Well, I'm going to see what's up with tentacle head.^
)Oh, I gotta remember that one.(
*Yeah, because that's suuuuch a problem for you.*
)You know what I mean.(
^The real question is, who are you going to use it on, Raptor or Liara?^
)...Meh, I'll have to think about it. Probably Raptor though.(
I stopped short of hitting the button to Liara's door and turned back to Bourne, Hero, and a relieve Chakwas as she walked back to her desk and had a seat. ^Question, So with Iron, what's a better threat? I'm going to turn you into a woman or I'm going to sit you down and make you watch Friendship is magic all the way through?^
)The second one.( *Definitely My Little Pony.* They said almost in unison.
^You know, I had a feeling you would pick that one.^
)You give him a boobjob, his only concern is that they might impede the motion of swinging a knife. Speaking of knives, Hero, can you do me a favor and trash that cleaver for me? I decided I don't want to wait three days to have the knowledge that it still exists.(
*I think it was more operator error than the weapon's fault.*
)...Operator error? With a big knife? Is there someone else on this line I don't know about that you're talking to?(
^Speaking again of big knives, I'm going to go run down to the bay and grab that machete.^
)You mean the one that stabbed you in the back? That seems like seriously bad luck dude.(
*Yeah, I'm not superstitious, but keeping weapons that were turned on me is the one thing I try not to do...which is why I'm not sure why Bourne is so worried about one he just slipped with.*
)The Thorian deliberately grabbed my wrist and shoved it into me. I'm sure of it.(
*Uh huh. Sure.*
^Bourne just wants it for himself. Actually, I got three tomahawks now. You can keep it.^
*It stabbed him too.*
)Not in this universe.(
*You really want to risk it?*
)I think at this point, it'd be relatively good luck...not that I want Ty to get stabbed again, just that it seems better in comparison to some of the shit that's happened.(
^I wonder if I can throw a tomahawk into a glitch and control what glitch it comes out of.^ I hadn't paid attention to their last words as the thought formed in my head.
)That's...huh. Good question. Might just get stuck in there, but it would come in handy in a fight. You know, the whole "You missed" line from them, but you were really aiming at the wall behind them so it comes out of another wall and gets them in the head.(
^When you get up we can test it in the holodeck or whatever it's called… By the way, where the hell did that come from? It was never in the game, nor in my universe.^
)Had it in mine.(
*Yeah, I wondered about that too. I just had to use the cargo bay and some empty crates.*
)Yeah, but then again, how often do you really use a gun? You're more biotic focused.(
^Pretty sure if she was in the original version, she didn't use her biotics as much in the first game.^
*I generally used those to weaken them and then finished them off with the assault rifle...yeah, your theory just doesn't hold up.*
)The hell should I know why some versions have shooting ranges and some not? Maybe it's based on our headcanons or something.(
^... Possibly, but then if you believed that Garrus and Tali were always meant to be lovers that would… have… happened. Damnit, I hate when I answer my own doubts with an example.^
)Yeah, if it makes you feel better, I really doubt that'll happen in this version.(
*Why wouldn't it?* She teased. *Not like she has her eye on you...oh wait, nevermind.*
^You seriously have to answer that call with a yes or no, bro.^
)Yeah, somehow, the knowledge that I stabbed her at one point seems like kind of a mood killer. I can't have a normal conversation with her without thinking about it, let alone going down that road.(
^Then, tell her that it wouldn't work out. This is totally like Jack and Riddick from Chronicals.^
)...No. No it is not.(
^Hero, thought?^
*I have no idea. I never had to deal with any issues like that.*
)What about Kaidan and Liara coming onto you?(
*...I think I prefered when we were arguing.*
^That's your answer, tell her the mission is too important for you two to have anything other than a friendship.^
)I somehow doubt it'll be that simple.(
^Do you want to hear her dejected or get angry at you after you turn down her actual advances?^
)I. Stabbed. Her. In. The. Gut. I seriously doubt she can get anywhere near that because I turn her down.(
*Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.*
^Thank you Hero, plus, you already made yourself a hypocrite. If Tali is the same, then Ashley is the same. If Ashley isn't the same, then Tali isn't the same.^
)Who said anything about her?(
*We both know you don't mean that.*
)I've said all I'm going to on the subject.(
^No, you have to make a choice and do what's right Bourne, damnit.^
)Sometimes there is no good choice. Only one that's slightly less terrible.(
^Then, make a choice and get it over with. You are leading on two women right now and the longer it's prolonged-^
)How exactly am I leading Tali on? And Ashley offered to dance with me, not the other way around.(
*There's more to it than that.*
^If I get stopped by one of them in the Normandy, I will probably do it for you. You know, if I do it then you are going to look even worse.^
)Ask me if I care.(
*Okay, you're hiding something. Otherwise you wouldn't be so-*
)Because he's right! It probably is doomed to failure!(
I stood up and walked to the wall next to Bourne's cot and with Five strokes I made a five count on the wall. ^This wall is officially the amount of times Bourne has admitted I am right. Bourne, you have me now and with me nothing is going to be doomed.^
"Did you just put those marks on my wall?" Chakwas said with outrage and I saw her eye twitch as she looked at me.
"Yes, I did. No worries though, I will make you a millionaire if you keep quiet about it." As soon as I said it, Chakwas fell into her seat and ignored what I just did.
)Ty, that's just it. You aren't coming back with me to my version. And I don't plan on staying here.(
*And if it does end up that way? Wouldn't you rather-*
)If it comes down to that…then I'll have bigger things to worry about.(
^I'm sure I can get you back there.^
)In which case it's a moot point, because I've got a girlfriend back there. So therefore, I'm perfectly justified if I choose not to go with either of these two. Case closed.(
*...I think...did he just play us both?*
^I can't believe I gave up cuddling with Cecelia to make sure you were alright.^
)...meh, you'll have plenty of time for that later. Trust me, that Cipher takes a while to get used to.(
*Agreed. But you're still a dick for pulling that Jason.*
)Next time, when I say to drop something- drop it.(
*Yeah, what's next? You going to warp his clothes off in the middle of a mission?*
)...(
^Uuuuuh, I'm going to go in with Cecelia and see if the offer is still open.^
*Okay, how in the hell did you manage to piss him off that badly?*
^Well, I went inside his implants and he kicked me out… but he kicked Drew out first.^
)Well, next time ask first.(
^... Next time, don't take my clothes.^
)I didn't do it on purpose!(
I walked out the door and started making my way back to Shepard's room. ^Well, see you guys later.^
)I'm not going to be going anywhere...also, you know how to block us out, right?(
I hit the button on the door and it opened and showed that Shepard had gotten out of her armor and into a shirt and her underwear. ^Um, maybe I shouldn't be here.^
*Yeah, I'm blocking you out.*
)Ditto.( Both links faded with that.
Against my better judgement, I walked in.
Bourne:
I focused my attention inward- not that there was anywhere else for it to go- and ended up in the void once again.
Hero joined me a moment later. *So, one hell of a day?*
)You don't know the half of it.(
*So, what happened with Ty's ex?*
)Short version: She's basically god around here. And she really hates Cecelia.(
*You know, I felt bad about turning him down, but now I feel a little less guilty about it.*
^Well, I don't know about you guys. But this just got awkward.^
Even though it would have had no effect, Hero still plugged her ears. *Just stop there. I don't want to know.*
^I meant what you just said. Because, I already knew it wasn't going to work out. You just added insult to injury.^
)She turned you down because she still had feeling for Thane. "Cece" literally beat you/me to with an inch of your life. And punches you daily anyway.(
^Is it really turning me down if I already accepted it wasn't possible and the only reason it got in my mind was because of Drew? Besides, I already know it wasn't love or a crush.^
Correct, it was respect.
)You know, I came in here for some time alone.(
*Yeah, when you've been asked by literally everyone on the crew for help and can't get five minutes to yourself, then you can talk to me about alone time.*
^Yeah, when are you going to speed up an elevator or enhance someone's shields?^
)I don't exactly have many marketable skills here. What am I supposed to do, give biotic tips or shooting lessons? Or knife lessons?(
^Ah, strawberries. Anyway, face it Bourne, you aren't on par with Hero or me when it comes to people needing help.^
)Not here, no. But I don't recall you getting Tali the geth data for a pilgrimage offering in your version. Or helping Garrus with Dr. Saleon.(
^You're right, she got killed and Iyaiyaiyai love mexican music. How about you?^
*What do you mean she got killed?* )What do you mean "Got killed?"(
^She was dead for a short time. Then, she was brought back to life by Danny.^
)...and you're only mentioning this now?(
^It's not something I am relatively proud of.^
*You're not saying you stabbed her too, are you?*
)I somehow doubt he did…right?(
^I tried to let her stay dead! I was so angry at everyone and the power I got after her barrier fell was immeasurable. I was stronger than I am now. I could do anything and save anyone at the cost of one life.^
)...and you thought I wouldn't understand that?(
*Please tell me you did not just say that.*
)There's a reason you're the one who's named Hero. In his place...(
^Tali once said that I was like a brother to her in this world. The only thing that I could think was that I was the junky older brother that would trade her for his next fix.^
*A better comparison would be if you would sacrifice me to save the rest of the galaxy.*
)I didn't exactly put up a lot of protest when you went into Saren's head to take Iron down.( I said, disgusted by myself more than I was Ty.
^Hero, what kind of perfume do you think Cecelia wears?^
*You're just trying to change the subject?*
)I don't know, I haven't noticed her wearing any. And I've got a pretty good nose along with everything else.(
*And you're going along with it?!*
)Maybe I should have named you sherlock instead.(
^Maybe it's her shampoo then. It smells amazing. I am going crazy from this.^
*AAGH! I'm out of here! I'm going to talk to Tali, because she's apparently the only other sane person on this fucking ship!*
She winked out before any of us could reply, and the barriers she erected in her mind were like 10 feet of solid steel.
^I like her. It's easy to get her to leave when you don't want her around.^
)I was serious you know.( I slumped against a wall that appeared behind me. )And she's arguably my best friend in existence.(
^Well, then I will just block you out and continue cuddling with Cecelia if what I said I was-^
)I didn't say it didn't make sense, and that I wouldn't have done the same. Doesn't mean any of us have to like it though.(
^So, think she is going to talk to Tali for you?^
)Normally I wouldn't be worried about it. But with the way she's been acting, she might.(
^Bummer.^
)Actually, now would be the best time to do it in some ways. I'll be out for a while, so she'll have time to cool off.(
Or for her to effortlessly kill you in your sleep.
)...I kinda doubt...alright, maybe.(
^She has the knife on her boot.^
Or a shotgun.
)Yes, I know. Thank you.(
She could also overload your system with electricity.
^Or just slip you some dextro food and watch you melt.^
That would not be the result even if he did not have genemods that would make such an attempt unlikely to succeed. But smothering is also an option if she wishes slow death.
)I'm glad to see you're sooooooooooo worried about me.(
^What about that Krogan in Mass Effect 2?^
)You'll have to be a lot more specific.(
^The one from the Illium Bar that drank Turian Ale.^
)I'm pretty sure it was an exaggeration...though if that's such an effective way to kill Krogan, I might have to start carrying around a flask or three.(
I could fill the empty space in my body with it and fire it out of my fingers.
)...That's either the dumbest idea I've ever heard, or one of the greatest. Why is it always like that with you two?(
^Because you don't know what to think about us. You want to think we are crazy but you see the method in our madness and you like it.^
)...you're saying I tolerate you because you're crazy?(
^No, you question us because you think we are crazy but you see that our over the top ideas could be just unexpected enough that they would work.^
)You suggested pretending to stumble into a firefight pretending to slap each other. All I see there is madness. And a hint of stupidity.(
But it works.
)Except if we had done that, it wouldn't have worked, because for some reason they were krogan.(
Variables have changed true but I calculate a sixty-five percent chance of success.
)They would have just wasted her while she was distracted by us, then riddled us with holes.(
Incorrect, the distraction would have been watched by all and taking in your reality warping and Tali's general common sense. She would have taken the chance to throw several trip mines and detonated them while hiding.
)No, see, for the reality warping, I'd have to believe it was possible. So doubt alone means it couldn't have worked. I doubt it because it was impossible, and it's impossible because I doubted it.(
^If you would have done it then it would have shown you believed it possible.^
)But since I didn't, it was and is impossible. Case closed. And here's another stupid idea from you. "Bonus Round, take out the Kroaaaaaaghhh!" My ideas may not be fancy, but they work.(
^He didn't have biotic charge in the game.^
)So you got cocky and overconfident.(
I believe were we to look up those words in the dictionary, your face would be next to at least one of them.
^Need some ice for that? Cause that is one gnarly burn.^
)Putting ice on a burn is more likely to cause the skin to peel off than help.(
^Fine aloe vera?^
)For a burn as severe as you seem to think that one was, not very effective.(
^So, should someone stop Hero so you can do it yourself and not worry about dying?^
)Honestly, I'm half considering just letting it play out to see what happens. Half.(
Should we flip a coin then?
^Uh, Drew is going to have to be the one to stop it.^
)Glad to see your sense of self preservation is intact.(
^No, Cecelia is laying her head on my chest and threatened to beat me if I move.^
)So, pretty much what I just said.(
^Drew, go down there and make sure that Hero doesn't pull anything.^
On it.
)So then, can you get out of my head so I can get that alone time?(
^Don't worry, I'm going to sleep.^
)...there's some sort of joke here about sleeping with Cecelia, but it's a little too weak for me to actually want to make it.(
Tali:
Tali worked the last of the thermal pipes into position so that the Normandy was fully masked from any Geth ships that happen to respond to the ship that Shepard destroyed. Luckily, the Normandy was already equipped to do so and it was just a few button clicks to do it. It wasn't long until the process was complete as as it did, she felt someone tap her on the shoulder.
"Hey, are you in the middle of anything?" Hannah asked.
Tali shook her head and turned around to Hannah. "Yes, I'm fine now. The Normandy is fully masked and that's all Adams wanted."
"Then-" She stopped and turned around as the door opened, and Ty's empty armor walked in. "You know, when I left, there's a reason I didn't invite you along."
"Acknowledged, Tali'Zorah nar Rayya, we require your assistance with programming issues."
Hannah glared at it for a moment before turning back to the engineer. "When you're done with...him, I was hoping to talk to you for a few minutes." She looked pointedly at the AI . "In private."
"Hannah Swan, we have noticed that there is a crack in the upper left center of your armor's back. Alliance protocol dictates that you give that your full attention before being allowed any time off duty."
"You can dodge a warp because it travels. Do you want to see if you're fast enough to avoid me reaving you?" She said without looking at it as she walked out.
"Your reave would have no effect on us due to the fact that we contain no living tissue."
"It works pretty well on armor. Which is quite literally all you are made of."
"Again, negative, we are a multi-material that uses plastics and metals. Armors stay at a general metal blend. Reaving us would only allow you to take less damage and set us up for a biotic explosion. One that you would need a traveling power to execute… that we can easily dodge because our reflexes are at a ratio of 1:132,456 to yours." He was suddenly surrounded by a blue glow, and seemed to freeze in place.
"Stasis can set one up, Reave can detonate it. And neither can be dodged." She closed the door behind her with that, but it was a bit longer before the field faded.
Drew looked back at the door and then at Tali. "She seems to be taking to Bourne's method of thinking more and more."
"I don't think he would have just threatened you. He would have actually carried through with it."
"The nanites that we have stored in her body are showing a ten percent growth in her aggression lately. It suggest she is going into menstruation."
"...you said you needed me to help you with a programing issue?"
"Alert, nanites in Tali'Zorah Nar Rayya suggest you are upset with our last sentence. What is wrong?"
She looked at herself in horror. "Nanites in me?"
He put a hand on her shoulder and nodded. "We have placed nanites in all the crew. Do not worry, they will not hurt you."
She looked at him skeptically. "Aren't those the reason Bourne's face gave Liara nightmares for a week?"
"Incorrect, Bourne was being augmented by the nanites. The ones in your and the crew's bodies are for general knowledge about the person. Keeping us updated to current happenings and phenomenon with their body incase of assistance… Your's have just found a contamination in your lower right thigh."
She looked down at the spot, though she didn't see anything. "And was this your idea or Ty's?"
"We no longer require Ty to make choices. His input takes precedence but we made this choice."
She suspected that had been the case. After the way he'd reacted to her eavesdropping, Ty would have been the biggest hypocrite in the galaxy to have come up with the idea. "And the thing you needed my help with?"
"Our true concern was separating you from Hannah Swan. The programming was false information. The level at which we work is beyond your comprehension."
Tali was beginning to get more than a little creeped out. The knowledge that it was an AI had been balanced by the fact that Ty was in charge of it, and Bourne seemed to trust it. But if it didn't listen to Ty, had its nanites in everyone in the crew, and was advanced enough that shecouldn't understand it, all it would take would be one cool calculation for her people's history to repeat itself here on the ship- without having the organics survive.
"We do not mean you any harm Tali'Zorah Nar Rayya. Our calculation will not lead to killing anyone on this ship, Citadel, or on other worlds."
She threw her arms in the air, not bother to state her annoyance since she knew the blasted machine would pick it up itself. "What do you want to talk to me about?!"
"What do you wish to talk about? We are here to separate you from Hannah at the request of Bourne and Ty."
She crossed her arms. "And why would they 'request' that? More importantly, why should I listen to you?"
"Because we are trustworthy."
"You infected everyone onboard with nanites without letting anyone know, lied to Hannah just because you wanted to separate us, and are just seriously creeping me out. What part of that spells trustworthy to you?"
"We can only lie when commanded to by Ty. The nanites were precautionary to help with any attack that would leave you wounded. You are only 'creeped out' because you only have Geth to compare us to when we are nothing like them."
After a moment, Tali had to concede the last point. "So if you can't lie, why did Bourne want me separated from Hannah?"
"Bourne because he did not want her talking to you."
"What, he's worried she'll be a bad influence on me?" She said sarcastically.
"That could be a possible reason."
"But that isn't the specific reason he said, is it?"
"Because he wishes to talk to you himself."
She thought about that for a moment. "What could he...wait a minute, how could Bourne have told you anything? By the time you got on board, he was already unconscious."
"He is comatose and is able to speak through mind link."
She stared at him wordlessly.
"Problem?"
She simply was at a loss for words.
"Do you feel left out?"
She managed to shake her head and find her voice. "No, you just caught me off guard a little bit. I didn't realize anyone besides Ty and Bourne were in on it. But I guess if you were created by Ty, I shouldn't be surprised."
"Hannah and the enemy Iron have it with us too."
"Hannah?" She asked, surprised. "And who's Iron?"
Drew twitched a little but nodded. "Iron is an enemy we encountered on Feros. He and Hannah were part of the same background as Bourne."
She didn't know why, but she suddenly shivered.
"Do you require heating?"
She shook her head. "Why don't you go ask Hannah not to talk to me about...whatever it is Bourne wants to talk to me about, and then let me get back to what I was doing?"
"Because, we… wish to speak to you."
She sighed in irritation. "Then why do you keep dancing around whatever it is you want to talk about?"
"Do you find us repulsive?"
She looked over it for a moment. "The changed face was the worst part when you were on Ty. On your own...it takes getting used to, but it's not horrible."
"Thank you, we find you visually attractive so your answer holds weight with our consensus."
She decided to try not to think about that too much. "And was there something else?"
He shrugged. "Some of the emotions from the previous Ty have carried over into our consensus. Can you guess how we feel about you?"
She took a step back unconsciously. "Are you saying you have feeling for me?"
"We have feelings for everyone."
She glared at it. "I meant...look- assuming that this isn't just a weird misunderstanding- I'm flattered, really I am, but I already have feelings for someone else. Which, considering you were on Ty at the time I admitted them, you should know."
"You are visually attractive to us but to say that we adore you is incorrect. There is an AI we are as you organics would say excited to meet. Now, Bourne, at the mention of his name you released oxytocin."
"...what?"
"You are in love with Bourne."
Her hand twitched towards her shotgun. "What would make you think-"
"If you are going to lie to an AI that has full access to your vitals, you could at least make an effort at it."
"Well what business is that of yours?"
"We would like to warn you that any rash decision to sleep with him before a big mission is a bad idea because it would leave you vulnerable to infection."
She stared open mouthed at the being, not sure whether her cheeks were reddening out of anger, embarrassment, or both.
"If you do, we suggest you do it in the decontamination room to best prevent infection."
She activated her omni-tool and hit the button for overload. At that range, fast as the AI was, the electric shock would be faster. But her omni-tool didn't fire.
"We are afraid we can't allow you to do that Tali'Zorah Nar Rayya."
She looked down at the device angrily. "What, did you put nanites in the control chip for these too?"
"Short range disrupter transmitted from our nanites."
Only the fact that it wouldn't work kept her from reaching for her shotgun. "First off, if you let this slip to anyone else, no amount of nanites will stop me from dismantling you. Secondly, does Bourne actually...know?"
"Bourne, Ty, Cecelia, Hannah, Wrex, Garrus, Williams, and Alenko all know without my saying."
She groaned. "How long before Bourne will be able to talk to me about this?"
"Not long, maybe three hours."
Then these are going to be the longest three hours of my life.
"Do you wish to confront him about it?"
"What tipped you off?"
"Your levels of-"
"That was rhetorical."
Drew paused for a moment before finding words. "Have you looked into Nerve stim pro as a substitute?"
She slowly put her head in her hands. "You're definitely Ty's son."
Arms suddenly enveloped her in an awkward hug. "Your odds of success are inestimable but that can be a good thing."
She managed to extract herself from the AI's arms. "I'm going to head up to the medbay and wait for him to wake up."
"We will accompany you."
"...The type of conversation I plan on having is more of a private one. As in, without other people or AI being around."
"We will leave when he awakes."
She shook her head. "Fine. But only because I doubt I can convince you not to come with me."
"Acknowledged. Did you know Ty is sleeping in Cecelia's room with her?" Drew took off walking after he made the statement.
"No. And I didn't really want to."
It wasn't long before they made it to the elevator and she hit the button to go up. "Really, because your psych profile and brain flow suggests that you have the urge to tell someone the information."
She opened her mouth to say otherwise, but then reconsidered. Before, Ty had held the threat of revealing her feelings to Bourne. Now that she was about to tell him herself- assuming he didn't already know- it was tempting.
"If you threaten Ty with that knowledge, he would not care. Plus, the only reason he held it over you was that you revealed information that you had no idea about to the person that it was directed at. Hannah Swan."
"...do those nanites let you read minds?"
"Yes, in truth, we can read so fast and transmit that we could answer your questions before you say them."
"And how does a complete invasion of privacy relate to security?"
"We hold all information to ourselves and do not divulge anything about one person to another."
"I'm not sure that's an improvement."
"Nonnegotiable."
Maybe a couple biotic explosions from Bourne will change your mind once he can use them again. I doubt he'll be happy about it either.
"We enjoy that you assume Bourne is going to be your guard dog once he wakes."
I enjoy the knowledge that you won't see it coming when he does decide to turn you into scrap.
"We enjoy calculating pi, doesn't mean we think about it to the other person."
"Then maybe you should have considered how unpopular it would make you before you did it."
"We do not care how popular we are. Simply that we get the correct results that lead to Shepard's success and Ty to be proud of us."
"How does eavesdropping on everyone's thoughts make him proud of you? Didn't win me any points with him. Or with Bourne."
"We do not generally use the information we get from them. Also, it is how we see."
"You can make nanites to collect information from everyone on the ship, but you can't create optics for yourself?"
"We are an advanced machine that does not need optics when we work on a system of echolocation."
"I thought Ty fixed this elevator so it goes faster." She muttered as the elevator opened.
"Okay, we are going to see Ty. Bourne will wake in two hours and forty-three minutes."
She set a timer on her omni-tool, as much to see if he'd be correct as to make the time seem less infinite. "Didn't you say Ty was in Shepard's room, sleeping?"
"Yes."
"And you think walking in there and waking one or both of them up is a good idea? Or somehow getting in there without making any noise and just watching them?"
"... We have just realized that social convention would not call for that."
She shook her head as she walked into the medbay.
S7: It's official, we can't get through one level of portal without screwing with each other.
T117: To be fair, part of that problem is that I kinda suck at the teamwork angle of that...but man, when I switched that portal as you were coming out of it so you landed in the death zone; Haha, priceless.
S7: Wanna keep talking there shorty? How about the time I smashed you with the block out of your own incompetence?
T117: Was that before or after you were trying to kill me with the laser redirection thing?
S7: Please, if I was going to kill you there, I would have. I just wanted to make you dance.
T117: Yeah, you also kept stealing my head!...I was doing it back, but you started it!
(Unfortunately they were robots, so it was less fun than it sounds.)
S7: It was still pretty fun. We gonna play tonight?
T117: Sure, once we're done writing the A/N. Also, got another subject that I'm sure we can get at least some mileage out of down here.
S7: What? Did your voice finally drop and you sound like a man instead of a twelve-year-old?
T117: Hardy har har. I'll give you a hint. One of the songs got stuck in my head and I've listened to it on You-tube probably a dozen times now.
(Yeah, and torturing me with every play.)
S7: Uh, is it one of the MCR songs I sent you? Monster? THNKS FR TH MMRS?
T117: Well, I did get a bunch of Skillet songs on Itunes, but no.
Based on his youtube history showing several plays of "Let it Go", I am going to guess he finally saw "Frozen" as you suggested.
T117: Yeah, what she said.
S7:... Really, you seriously have gotten on the meth that is know as Let It Go?
(No, I can quit anytime I want!)
T117: Yeah, that song is definitely the best from the film...but I disagree with the people that thought the film was better than the Lion King.
S7: That is pretty stupid of people. Oh, and we have to settle our tie on Halo: Reach.
T117: Yeah, guess we do.
S7: And finish minecraft.
T117: Yeah, but wasn't that with Ferret's account? Or probably someone else, he's just the only name I can think of.
S7: Damnit, it might have been! Maybe we should see if… Nah she said no last time.
T117: We could always start a new map.
S7: Yeah, I got Cody, my Gf and her friend wanting to defeat it.
T117: Plus, the new update just come out, so it'd have all that stuff.
S7: You know, I was wondering. In Legends of Silvania, should Riker drive a Maserati, Ferrari, Mustang, or Charger?
T117:...I'm not really a car person, so my input here is more or less nonexistent.
S7: Well, you have an internet. Look it up in a bright orange.
T117: Yeah, I did. I guess my input is that a Ferrari is a car I've always heard of as being an expensive one, so...do you want him to be rich or something?
S7: His parents left him a trust fund, so yes.
T117: Then I'd go with that. That's what I'd get if I was able to afford it.
S7: Well, how about we ask the audience?
T117: Works for me.
S7: Okay guys, we are almost out of time so leave your thought about what the character should drive. Anything to add Trebor?
T117: Yeah. While we were doing this, I tried listening to a bunch of songs from the Lion King to get "Let it Go" out of my head. It only made things worse.
(I told you that's what would happen!)
T117: But, it tortured him more, so it's not all bad.
(Yeah yeah, very funny. Now someone untie me from this damn chair!)
S7: How about you listen to the safety dance? It generally helps and it isn't that annoying.
T117: I'll find something anyway; my brain is just really susceptible to earworms like that.
S7: Well, it happens to the weak minded. So, don't feel bad.
T117: I'm going to ignore that. Sayonara folks.
S7:1473I2