Chapter 36 – Precious Cargo
"Hope you're not afraid of the dark."
It had been over an hour since the turian had grinned at his own joke and sealed Tali'Zorah into the hidden compartment below the deck of his freighter, over an hour since she'd last seen much beyond her own hand in the darkness of the chamber. The space she occupied was just long enough to allow her to stretch her legs out if she sat with her back to the wall, giving her more room than the cramped conditions she'd been forced to endure aboard the turian cargo-runner she and Ren had shared. All the same, the quarian had grown tired of her constraints within minutes. If it hadn't been for Tellix's strict instructions that she was not to utilize Omni-Tools or electronic devices of any kind beyond what was absolutely necessary for her suit's VI, she would have been browsing the extranet long ago. Instead images of the two turians that had pursued her on Illium had occupied Tali's thoughts for much of the last hour. Who were they working for? What did they want with me? How did they find me, and for that matter, how long had they been chasing me?

The answers had not been forthcoming. Eventually Tali gave up, finishing her mental workout with little more than a headache to show for her efforts. The one thing she was fairly certain of was that the turian's sudden appearance was somehow linked to her possession of the geth data core she'd taken from Olsav. Tali knew they couldn't be working for Zeras any longer and after the strange manner in which the geth had abandoned the rogue diplomat, she guessed that the synthetics must have another master. One who had both the credits and the power to learn of her theft and move to intercept her in a matter of days. Tali could only hope that the two men that had been chasing her across Illium, Jarin and Tarkuss, had lost all trace of her that night. She was reasonably confident that in the worst case scenario of them finding out she'd fled the planet, it would be days before they could arrive on the Citadel to begin hunting her down once more. With any luck this Tellix won't have left any traces for them to follow either. He better not have after how much this trip cost me.

Tali was still chafing at the price the turian smuggler had demanded in return for taking her to the Citadel at such short notice. The majority of the credits she'd pocketed from the sale of the stolen cargo-runner had been handed over to Tellix to secure passage, though Tali had retained the sense to provide only 60% of the credits initially, with the rest to follow once she arrived at her destination. Tellix had been willing enough to accept those conditions and the scattered conversations about him that she'd picked up on in the smuggler's lounge, as it was informally referred to, seemed to be true. So far his operation had been run with a quiet, confident professionalism that emanated from the Captain and resonated throughout his small eight-man crew. Tellix had assured her that every man on the freighter had been handpicked and their loyalty was never in doubt. Tali had been forced to agree with his judgement, having seen them operate as she watched quietly from the sidelines when she had been permitted to travel freely around the freighter. The engineer had been impressed with the solemn deference the men showed to their Captain and the sure fire, practised manner in which they went about their work. As Tellix had claimed, each man was happy enough to acknowledge her if she was to raise a concern, but for the most part her presence went ignored. Clearly the crew were just as adept at handling the other kind of cargo their Captain ferried as they were the piles of bulky containers.

The voyage itself had been uneventful and it was only as they arrived within the Widow system that Tellix had called for her, escorting the engineer to a smuggling compartment that the turian had been using for years. He'd explained that despite working for and using a private corporation's docking bays, his ship still had to be searched by Council representatives in the interests of preventing immigration. He'd mentioned bribery before Tali had even thought to bring the subject up, revealing that it was often an indefinite and expensive practise that would cost the girl extra if she wanted to risk trying it. Tali had vetoed the idea and Tellix had instead flashed her a roguish grin. "Then we go with plan A which has worked so many times the boys and I are starting to bet on whether we'll ever have to use plan B. Odds aren't good, let me tell you."

And so Tali found herself trapped within a blacked-out compartment with only a few inches of thick metal sheeting separating her from the mid-deck of the turian freighter. When Tali had first seen the smuggler's 'contraband cabinet', as he liked to describe it, she'd immediately wondered to herself if the incredibly simplistic set-up would be too easy to detect. Tellix had quelled those fears as he helped her down, perhaps already familiar with the complaint, confidently stating that it worked so well because it was so simple. Tali could only hope he was right as he and a batarian crew-mate hefted the covering back into place, plunging her into blackness.

At first Tali had attempted to sleep but the lack of space and hard metal edges denied her the pleasure. She resisted the urge to consult her chronometer, remembering well Tellix's warnings that the council inspection team might pick up on unusual Omni-Tool readings. Instead she briefly considered attempting to count the passing minutes but thought better of it, her mind soon drifting to the problems that seemed be to plaguing her wherever she went. Now, as her thoughts moved on from the mysterious turians, Tali lay still and tried to feel the movement of the bulky craft, engrossing herself in guessing games. Was that the faint tug of deceleration? Are we beginning docking procedures? Is that the far-off reverberations of the boarding ramp being lowered for the inspection team? It wasn't long before the cargo freighter seemed to bring itself to a halt, the steady thrum of her engines fading into silence. Tali listened closely for clues and eventually she picked out the purposeful tramping of feet marching across the deck above her. Whoever was making the noise drew to a halt nearby, leaving the quarian to wonder if she would be freed from her confinement shortly. Curious, Tali strained her ears but could only pick just pick out the faint muttering of conversation through the heavy plating above.

The lack of intelligence put Tali on edge and dozens of thoughts rushed through her mind. If Tellix is coming for me why has he stopped so close by? Is he with the inspectors? Will this compartment really hide me from them? The cold fingers of fear suddenly gripped Tali's throat as unbidden memories popped into her head. Avo Nid said they sell my people as slaves, what if Tellix is planning to do that with me? Suddenly very on edge, Tali drew her shotgun into her hands, taking comfort in the reassuring weight. She eyed the false floor above her with suspicion now rather than hope, curling up against the corners of the compartment to try and retain as much surprise as she could. Up above the conversation seemed to die off and then the reverberations of heavy footfalls filled the space around her as whoever it was marched across the false cover. Tali raised her weapon slightly but didn't prime it, not yet. Her patience was rewarded as the marching continued, the cause of the sound disappearing further into the ship. Tense minutes ticked by but the ship seemed content to remain silent and Tali was just beginning to relax her hold on the weapon slightly when there came the sound of scuffling directly above. The trapped girl barely had time to re-raise her weapon before the deck plating slid to one side and a subtly tattooed turian face appeared over the rim.

Tellix Novas' eyes widened in surprise at the sight of the gun. "Expecting trouble are we?"
"I don't trust mercenaries." His quarian passenger replied defensively, her grip on the shotgun unwavering.
"There's just me and Barlbas," the turian said, gesturing for his batarian crewman to show his face briefly, "we're here to get you out now the inspection team has finished." Barlbas muttered something unintelligible as he glared down at the quarian girl, half shrouded in the shadows. Tellix shot him a look but the massively built native of Khar'shan just sniffed dismissively and turned to lower a small set of ladders down into the hole. They landed with a clang, clattering against the side as Barlbas positioned them. Holding the hooked tips into place with his immense weight to prevent them from sliding Barlbas leant out over the hole again and gestured for the quarian with a deep grunt.
"He doesn't talk much," Tellix apologised into the darkness, "but he's as reliable as everyone else on this ship."
Whether his passenger was fully convinced or not Novas wasn't sure but he heard the distinctive sound of a weapon being stowed moments before the ladders shook with newly added weight. Tellix got to his feet as she neared the top, offering his hand before the quarian cleared the last few steps. The girl ignored it, lifting herself out with practised ease and standing off to one side, eyeing the pair tentatively. While Tellix wondered what had caused the sudden change of nature in his client, Barlbas seemed to ignore her entirely, easily hoisting the ladders out of the pit and locking them back onto the wall without a word. As the mountain of a man began to move back to the main hold, Tellix made eye contact with his passenger. "We're not pirates on this ship miss, or slavers if that's what you were thinking. And yes, that includes Barlbas; his people might be notorious for it but not everyone agrees with the Hegemony's policies."
Tellix gestured for the quarian to follow the man in question but she declined with a shake of her head. "You first."
The turian favoured her with a smirk before complying. "You're a smart one. Smart, but paranoid. I don't know what kind of mercenaries you've encountered before but I run this ship and while I might be a smuggler, I still understand honour." He stopped at a turn in the ship's narrow corridors, fixing Tali with a compelling look. "When we get paid to do a job, we do it to the letter. We don't take bribes and we don't double-cross. It's why we charge so much, and why people will pay it, sometimes more than once."

Though Tali offered no verbal response, the turian thought he could see the faint glimmer of self-doubt in her eyes. He sensed it was best to say nothing more and instead continued on, stepping lightly in Barlbas' footsteps as the muscle-bound man led them to the main cargo hold. A group of seven other men from three different species were already busily hauling stacks of crates onto a large lift in the centre of the hold, their various muscles glistening with the sweat of their exertion. Tellix paused in the bulkhead doorway, allowing Barlbas to move ahead and join his fellow smugglers. "We're making good progress," the turian observed to Tali, "shouldn't be more than a half-hour before we can get the first batch of cargo off-loaded."
"And then what happens?" Tali demanded, "I don't see how you getting cargo off your ship helps me get onto the Citadel, or are you just planning to toss me down the ramp and leave it at that?"
Tellix looked almost offended. "Didn't you hear what I just said? You paid for me to get you onto the Citadel with no strings attached which is exactly what I'm going to do. I'll explain how later but right now, you'll excuse me if I go give my boys a hand."

"Lower us down Lyiom!"
The salarian at the lift controls offered a hand in acknowledgement of Tellix's order and hit the controls. The floor underneath Tali immediately lurched and mechanical whines filled the air as the lift began its slow descent. A pile of heavy shipping crates and a few specialist containment units filled the centre of the platform around which stood a ring of six men. Tellix and Tali also stood to one side of the pile, the turian standing confidently to the quarian's left. The first crack appeared in the hull, sending a thin shaft of eerie blue light into the hold which steadily widened until the lift had descended enough for Tali to catch her first glimpse of the Citadel. The light grey tones of the artificial floor seemed oddly warm to the eye and as more of it was revealed, the uniform perfection of its construction seemed to deny plausibility. As the lift lowered further Tali saw that the recessed walls were made of the same materials, often broken up into dozens of individual plates. They sloped up all along the right hand side, stretching impossibly high and far into the distance with countless lights, balconies and platforms chasing away after the stars that twinkled beyond the nebula to the quarian's left.

The cargo lift hit bottom with a solid thunk that startled Tali and seemed to bring the patient smuggling crew to life. The men operated in pairs, quickly working to move the crates off the lift and onto a group of transporters that were being brought up by a team of four dockworkers all wearing matching red and white uniforms. Tali froze at the sight of the official-looking unit but Tellix ignored their presence entirely, already busy exchanging greetings with a fifth uniformed figure who stood supervising the others. Unsure of what to do with herself, Tali moved closer to the pair.
"It's been too long Misha," declared Tellix happily, "how's Tatyana and the little ones?"
"We are well moy droog!" Replied the thickly-accented human, surprising Tali by wrapping the turian in a mighty embrace.
So much for cross-species hate here. Tali thought with amusement.
"And what of you Jultan? You have had safe journey, yes?"
Jultan? Tellix must be operating under an alias.
"Yes, very quiet." Replied the turian, gently extricating himself from the bigger man's grasp. "All these rumours of geth sightings are out on the Alliance/Hegemony borders, far beyond the routes to Illium."
"Ah," Misha sighed appreciatively, "it has been many years since I last visited the asari jewel. Truly, I miss beauty of that world."
Tellix grinned slyly. "It's pretty to be sure, but I prefer the beauty of its natives myself."
"Agreed!" Misha laughed. "But do not let Tatyana hear me say this!" Then his countenance darkened. "Still, all this talk of geth incursions getting too widespread to ignore. Be careful when next you sail the stars Jultan, the galaxy has habit of being most dangerous right where it should be most tranquil."
"You worry too much old friend, my men and I know how to take care of ourselves." Tellix seemed to exude confidence and it was as Tali stepped closer that she felt him cut the conversation short. "Now, I hate to bring our reunion to an end Misha, but I must leave you. I have some precious cargo I need to deliver in person."
"Of course," said Misha in such a way that Tali suspected he knew more than he was letting on, "do not let me delay you further."
"I'll see you at the bar later?" Tellix called over his shoulder as he moved back towards the half-unloaded cargo stack and Misha dipped his head in agreement.
"Dosvedanya!"

Tali and Tellix walked in silence along the railed walkway, one of the Captain's crew maintaining a constant distance as he pushed along a sled behind them containing a trio of environmentally sealed canisters. When Tali had enquired as to their contents, Tellix had simply shaken his head. "You're not the only thing I'm smuggling today." He had admitted as they moved further and further from the teams still busily unloading the freighter. They had been stopped once by another pair of uniformed officers, the senior man demanding to see the paperwork permitting them to proceed into restricted areas. Tellix had produced the files without complaint and as the olive-skinned human studied the readout, it gave Tali time to examine the emblem on his tight-fitting shirt. Though the human lettering was strange, the quarian recognized the patterns, realising that it matched with the corporate logos that she'd seen in the terminal that Tellix had directed her to back on Illium. The smuggler had called them Longreave Medical and had referred to them as his employers, explaining that they often asked him to haul cargo across the galaxy for them. The glimmer in his eye had told her then that not all of the cargo he moved for the company was legal.

Now she waited for the officer to either grant or deny them passage, acutely aware that her fate lay within the hands of the smuggler. If whatever was on that sled turned out to be illegal and he didn't have any way of proving otherwise, she'd be arrested as an accomplice and the moment they found out she didn't have immigration clearance, Tali knew she'd likely be imprisoned indefinitely. Tali watched the human scrutinize the reports, his dark eyebrows narrowing in contemplation. Even if someone within Longreave Medical had hired Tellix to smuggle the objects for them, it was unlikely that they would have bribed or manipulated everyone in their path to allow the smuggler to pass unhindered. Even Tali could see how this would point all too clearly towards executive intervention. She found herself breathing a little easier when the man finally handed the datapad back to Tellix. "Everything's in order, you're clear to go proceed."
Tellix nodded his thanks and the group stepped forward as one but came to an immediate halt when the human suddenly threw his hand up in front of Tali. "Not the quarian though," he warned, "I didn't see anything about clearing her through."
Tali's heart began to pound and she opened her mouth to protest her innocence but Tellix got there first.
"She's a specialist I hired back on Illium, here to make sure the cargo gets through in one piece. I've got her forms here." He added, producing yet another datapad.
The official examined the readout dubiously. "A quarian specialist?"
Tali bristled at the barely concealed insult but again the smuggler was too quick for her.
"Who else but a quarian would know everything about environmental seals?"
The human shrugged indifferently. "Well it says here she's cleared for 72 hours, just make sure she comes back with you when you leave and we won't have a problem."
"Of course." Agreed Tellix, stepping past the man and gesturing for the crewman leading the sled to follow. Tali kept pace at the turian's side, wondering how best to voice her concerns about the man's last directive. Fortunately, he seemed to pick up on her unease.
"Don't worry about all that," he said once they were out of earshot of the guard, "when it comes time to leave he won't be on shift and I know for a fact the next guy won't even be aware you exist."
Tali nodded slowly. She wasn't happy about having to trust the smuggler's word again, but she also recognized that he had yet to lead her astray. "Where do we go from here?" She asked, seeing the walkway split off ahead.
"Right." Responded Tellix immediately, his confident stride never wavering. "S'carre here will be staying with the sled while you and I head up to Longreave's offices in the lift. Once we get to ground level we head out into the foyer and you follow my lead from there. You ever been on the Presidium before?" He asked suddenly.
"I-no." Replied Tali, debating whether or not to continue before abruptly deciding the knowledge couldn't hurt. "I've never even been on the Citadel before."
"Well it'll help if you look a little bewildered as we're passing reception but if this is your first time that should be easy, Presidium tends to have that effect on people."

They rounded the corner in question a moment later, coming to a halt a few feet away from a pair glass walled elevators that were currently busy ferrying scores of passengers to and fro. With the immediate danger of discovery behind her, Tali felt the first flush of excitement as she gazed up at the strangers in the enclosed space as the elevators worked their way from floor to floor. She stole a glance at the swirling nebula to her left, already picturing the majestic view that would be visible from above. More employees of Longreave Medical were awaiting the next pickup and as the lift whooshed down towards them Tali made as though to step toward it, only for Tellix to offer a slight shake of his head. "Let them go first, we'll take the second one." Though briefly disappointed Tali did as the turian asked, remaining still as the lift quickly filled upon its arrival. The smuggler's decision proved to be wise as the second lift arrived with no passengers other than themselves. "I'll be back shortly." Tellix informed his crewman who merely nodded, apparently used to these kinds of detours. Letting Tali enter first, Nolas stepped inside the elevator and keyed the control for ground level. There was a soft chime as the door slid shut and then the cylinder began its ascent. Unable to help herself, Tali moved in front of the glass panes, drinking in the incredible sight before her.

The five arms of the Citadel stretched out for miles all around her, their tips just visible at the fringe of the Serpent nebula. Each housed a vast metropolis filled with all manner of buildings whose glowing lights formed a twinkling canvas that was broken only by the gnat-like aircars that streamed across the arms, their movement barely discernible from Tali's position. Those must be the Wards. Tali realised, feeling her anticipation grow as she stared down at the nearest one. They look busy even from here, Keelah I can't wait to see what it's like down there. Suddenly a shadow passed over them and Tali looked up to see a massive cargo ship drifting over them, its size comparable to some of the smaller cruisers in the Migrant Fleet. A bevy of Kowloon class freighters followed in its wake and as they passed, Tali noticed the plethora of starships populating the nebula for the first time. Hundreds if not thousands of ships swarmed around the space station, all ranging in size from intra-system cargo runners to the immense, state-of-the-art dreadnoughts of the council fleets. Knowing that what she was seeing would be a mere fraction of the ships coming and going from the Citadel meant little to a quarian used to seeing thousands of ships flying in formation but the sheer variety on display here boggled her mind. She took a step closer to the glass as an asari transporter swept passed, marvelling at the sleek lines of the stylized hull.

"It's some view isn't it?" Tellix remarked, unintentionally startling the quarian.
Tali nodded in response, reluctant to take her eyes off the multitude of ships outside.
"Only people who have one better is the Council up in their tower but somehow I doubt they get the time to enjoy it."
"It's incredible," said the engineer, her voice barely above a whisper, "Torr was right when he said I should visit the Wards. It must be so dynamic down there."
"If it's the Wards you're heading to then you've got the right idea." Said Tellix. "I should warn you that you're going to be walking with a lot of important types once we get up to the Presidium and most of them still won't have forgiven your kind for the geth. Seeing a quarian walking among them...well, I hope you're not expecting any friendly looks."
Tali nodded, remembering her treatment on Omega and Illium. "I know what to expect."
Tellix eyed her doubtfully. "I hope you do," he said at last. "In either case, once I get you out of this building my job's done so whatever happens to you out there isn't my business any more. All the same, I'll give you some free advice. Get down to the Wards as fast as you can if you want to avoid trouble. The Citadel's not very welcoming to your people as it is and C-Sec can be very particular about who gets to wander around with the social elite on the Presidium. If you want to go unnoticed, you'll stand a better chance down with the rabble."
"Thank you." Said Tali and noticing they were nearing their stop, she opened up her Omni-Tool. "I think now would be a good time to forward your the rest of your credits wouldn't it?"
The turian thought about it, then nodded. "It'd be best, considering what I have in mind to get you out of here. Same account number as the last one, if you'd be so kind."
Tali had prepared the transfer some time ago and had the money sent over just as the elevator came to a halt. Tellix had only to glance at the alert on his own Omni-Tool to confirm the arrival of the funds as the doors split open. "Much obliged. Now, stick close and let me do the talking."

He was fortunate to have spoken these last words quietly for on the other side of the door a mixed group of men and women in business suits, workers fatigues and more red uniformed officials stood waiting for the elevator. Tellix led the way past them, nodding politely as some stepped aside for him. Tali tagged along behind, trying to shrink and hide as best she could from the curious and prying eyes of those nearby. It was a losing battle and as Tellix led her further into the depths of the building every person they made their way past affixed the quarian with unpleasant glares. Eventually the more tarnished and worn employee only areas gradually gave way to a more pristine finish where every surface was made to sparkle for the company's visitors. Tali could feel the subtle change in atmosphere by this point, slowly realising that she was being mistaken for a visitor and possible client resulting in fewer hostile stares and an increase in curious glances, with even a few polite smiles occasionally. Tellix meanwhile was suffering none of these rebuffs and despite the predominantly human presence in the corporate office, many seemed to recognise him and greet him warmly. Tellix even stopped to exchange words with a few, mostly of the female variety Tali noted, and if questioned would introduce the quarian as a specialist advisor he'd been tasked with escorting. Tali would simply nod politely at this and offer a thin smile if eye contact was made, though most of Tellix's friends seemed happy to ignore her. Only one caught her off-guard by enquiring if she was in Citadel space as part of her Pilgrimage or if her visit was on behalf of the Floatilla. Momentarily flustered, the machinist recovered quickly. "I-yes, I am here on Pilgrimage. I'm...surprised that a human would know about such things."
The blond-haired woman laughed pleasantly. "I studied alien cultures back in my college days; I eventually dropped the class, but by then I'd already learnt all the basics. How are you finding it out here?"
"Different," replied Tali honestly, taking a strange liking to the woman's informal approach, "how life is lived in the rest of the galaxy contrasts quite strongly against normal life on the Migrant Fleet. Sometimes it's...difficult to remember how things work."
"That's right, you quarians operate your economy on a barter system don't you?"
"That's the essence of it." Tali replied, catching Tellix's motion for her to hurry up.
"It's a novel way to do things. Makes you wonder if we could operate a similar system galaxy-wide doesn't it?"
"I suppose," said Tali evasively, "you'd have to ask an economist."
The woman laughed again, clutching a datapad to her chest as a pair of suited men walked by. "Good idea, I'll bring it up at the board meeting this afternoon." Then suddenly a hand shot out which Tali was forced to grasp, her fingers folding awkwardly over the excessive digits of the human's hand. "Nice to have met you...?"
"Tali." Replied the quarian as the two shook, deciding it was better to leave her full name out of it.
"Myra Reynolds. Make sure Jultan doesn't get into too much trouble won't you?" A knowing grin accompanied these last words and as she walked away a distinctive turian voice raised itself above the corporate hubbub.
"Nice to see you again too Myra!"

Eventually the engineer and the smuggler arrived at a large, open-plan foyer where the ceilings rose far higher than any Tali had seen so far, making her wonder once again just why the other races needed that much open, useless space. At least they've put some of it to use this time, she noticed grudgingly, eyeing the glass walkway up above that ran around the walls of the room. A pair of reception desks were housed in booth-like structures at the top of a small staircase that led down to a large waiting area. Carefully placed benches were nestled in the crook of neatly-trimmed garden-pots whilst a small counter to one side overlooked a sitting area with plush leather seating, expensive glass tables and a few scattered e-zines. A number of smartly dressed clients were already wandering about the small botanical oasis whilst two others had decided to purchase drinks from the counter and were deep in debate about an upcoming meeting. The same uniform walls that Tali had seen back at the docking bay were here as well, though this time they appeared thicker and contained banks of vertical blue lights that offset the furnishings of the foyer perfectly. The wall housing the door leading to the outside world had been constructed out of some kind of misty glass, allowing the quarian her first glimpse of the fabled Presidium. The light outside was bright, causing her to squint slightly and she just had time to make out some kind of tree before Tellix took her by the crook of the arm and drew her close.
"On my cue, head straight for the lobby doors, they lead right out on to the Presidium. I'll keep them busy on this end. Once you're out, you want to start heading right. Follow the signs to the Presidium Commons, you should find an elevator to the Wards not far from there."
Tali was about to thank him but they'd drawn near to one of the reception desks and the human clerk was already offering them a well-practised smile at their approach. Tellix was swift to return the gesture. "Good morning Maria! They're keeping you as busy as ever I see."
"Jultan Sordis! I thought that was you!" All traces of professional cordiality fell away and the woman's posture slumped slightly as she allowed herself to relax slightly. "Panela isn't with us anymore," she revealed, "she's moved on to 'bigger things' and they've yet to send me a replacement."
"Meaning you get to handle even more of your beloved paperwork." Said Tellix with just the right amount of sarcasm.
"I wish that was all," chuckled Maria, "but I also have all the 'too-busy-to-wait-around' suits interrupting me and demanding I call down an exec so they can begin their appointment three hours early."
"Well I'm not wearing a suit and I'm not here three hours early, but I am hoping you can let Bill Wigham know I'm ready to discuss my next assignment."
The woman scowled, though the mirth in her eyes revealed it to be playful. "I should have known, you never come to me unless you want something these days."
"Oh that's just cruel," replied Tellix, the all-knowing smirk never leaving his face, "what about the time when I brought back those expensive Thessian chocolates just for you?"
"One box of chocolates in two years doesn't really say I love you Jultan." Said the receptionist mischievously, pausing the search on her terminal just long enough to pin the turian with a pointed look.
"Oh I see how it is," grinned the smuggler, "in that case you'd better hope Bill sends me somewhere nice so I bring you back some of the local flavour."
"Well it doesn't look like Bill is going to be sending you anywhere," declared Maria, "he called in sick this morning, won't be back until tomorrow."
Tellix muttered glumly to himself, then abruptly turned to Tali. "In that case it looks like you and the rest of the crew just got yourselves 24 hours free shore leave. I'll let the rest of the men know but you might as well get the jump on them." He gestured to the doors behind the quarian, his expression still affable but his eyes implored her. "The Presidium's right outside and you're probably not going to get the chance to see it again; I wouldn't be waiting around if I were you."
Tali didn't have to be a mind reader to see the subtle hints in his choice of words and while she didn't dare speak, she locked gazes with him and nodded subtly. Turning on her heel and beginning her walk across the foyer, Tali caught the last strains of conversation between the receptionist and the smuggler. "Are you sure a quarian won't get into trouble up here? They barely tolerate them down in the Wards."
"I think she'll take care of herself just fine Maria."

Tali'Zorah left the pair behind and crossed the room without incident, making herself ignore the vibrant miniature gardens as she passed them, no matter how much her curiosity was piqued by the unfamiliar plants. As she neared the glass double-doors they split apart silently and the familiar voice of a VI, this one with human overtones, resonated from hidden speakers. "Thank you for visiting Longreave Medical, have a pleasant day." As soon as she stepped outside the corporate building Tali felt as though a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders and though she immediately moved off to the right as Tellix had instructed, her eyes couldn't help but fall upon the massive lake lying far below. A steppe-like network of tiered balconies and walkways ran up the angular walls of the cylindrical Presidium interior and looking down from the railings of the fourth level, Tali had expected to see a bottom layer filled with...she wasn't sure. Wide open concourses, busy parking platforms, sprawling shopping emporiums for the galaxy's elite if the holovids were to be believed. Whatever she'd pictured, it couldn't have been further removed from the sight before her. Sitting directly between this side of the station and the next was a solid lake, its surface a rich blue and peppered with sprouting fountains that sprayed the water dozens of feet into the air. Scattered walkways extended out across its expanse, their consistent whiteness broken up by the occasional scattering of the boughs of green trees and patches of well manicured grass. High above the familiar shapes of aircars whizzed past in busy traffic lanes against the backdrop of an artificial sky peppered with imitation white clouds. Tali could scarcely believe the scale of it and the amount of unused volume the station held felt sinful just to look at. The astonished quarian stepped closer to the balcony's edge, ignoring the vapid glares of passersby. How much water are they holding in there? She wondered. It's probably more than the reservoirs aboard the Yalawe. It can't be drinkable though, can it?

Her eyes rarely left the massive body of water as the quarian made her way across the Presidium, so lost in her disbelief that the hostile stares she was receiving from the well-dressed men and women went completely unnoticed. Her fingers trailed briefly across the top of a glass railing, the idyllic appearance of the Citadel's heart having a soothing effect on the fatigued soul of the bewitched girl. She passed bars and open air restaurants, shopping emporiums both small and large and more corporate offices and government property than she could count. So enraptured by it all was Tali that she almost forgot to look for signs directing her to the Wards. In truth, the quarian was becoming increasingly reluctant to leave. The Wards had looked incredibly alive, seemingly bursting with the collective energy of the galactic community; and yet Tali felt drawn instead to the restful, contemplative atmosphere of the Presidium. What could a few more hours up here hurt? I'll have plenty of time to investigate the Wards later. The engineer barely noticed the large sign as she passed under it: Presidium Commons. Her eyes instead were on the walls of the corridors she passed through, each twice her height and glowing with advertisements for everything from banking services to the latest fashions. Tali gazed at each one as she slowly strolled by, drinking in as much of the experience as she could. So this is how the rest of the galaxy lives. The thought had been innocent enough but it was the realisation that followed it which caused the girl's features to suddenly harden. And we're denied it all, all this peace and comfort, the homes, even the right to exist alongside the other species. And for what reason? The mistakes of our ancestors? How much longer must my people pay for the geth's existence?

And just like that, Tali'Zorah no longer cared to remain on the Presidium. The quarian's footsteps were abruptly that much more rapid, her eyes no longer on everything but looking only for the nearest route to the Wards. As the spell of the Presidium fell away with each passing moment Tali's blissful ignorance disappeared along with it. She was suddenly very aware of the withering looks from the people she strode past, a faint glimmer of self-consciousness reminding her that the fabrics of her suit hadn't been washed properly in weeks. Then her jaw tightened. You are not here to please them, to pander to their ways and grovel for their acceptance. You are a quarian. You are Tali'Zorah nar Rayya and you are here to earn your place amongst your own people; these stuck-up bosh'tets don't care anything for you, so they don't matter. A sign ahead called to her, the entrance to the Wards was through the next district. Tali turned left at a small C-Sec office, careful not to make eye contact with the uniformed officers within, and made her way down a few flights of stairs onto a small landing. A scattering of benches held a pair of smartly dressed humans and a salarian engaged in earnest conversation with a young asari colleague. A few of the heads rose to stare at her as Tali moved past and she ignored them all.

A heartbeat later, her left arm exploded into searing agony.