Chapter 34: Chapter 34

Alliances

Chapter 34 : Ship

"I see your awake again, did you rest well?" Kal asks softly. She had been asleep for about 6 hours and nurse Ellen had pushed him out of sickbay 'to ensure she got the rest she needs'. He doubted that had he stayed there she would have rested any less but he obeyed.

"Yes I did Kal, Ellen and the others are taking good care of me. You don't need to worry so much." she said, her eyes giving her smile away even though he could hear a cough after she finished speaking.

"I'll worry as much as I need to for you Lana. Is there anything I can get you?

Anything you need or want?" he asked just to make conversation, to give him a reason to be near her.

"What more could I need Kal, you're already here beside me." she replied.

"Okay you two, Lana is still healing Kal and we do not need her heart rate climbing any higher please and her temperature has climbed slightly so we need to be careful." Said Dr. Chakwas who had just entered the sickbay.

"Uh, sorry Dr. Chakwas" Kal said as he stood upright. He hadn't realized he was leaning that far over Lana.

Giggling alittle Lana said "I don't mind Doctor, it's nice having him here protecting me from the vicious aliens." Her light laughter turning into another bout of coughing.

"Lana, your body has been through a lot of stress recently and a high heart rate is not something I want to see. Kal, that may be a surgical decon field you're in but it still does not mean it will stop debris from falling off your suit onto her." Dr. Chakwas stated clearly.

"Yes ma'am" he replied. Thinking about what she said he had to ask "Uh ma'am, Dr. Chakwas I mean. If this is a surgical field then it's constantly sterilizing the air correct?"

"No you don't. I will not take any chances with her, that leg must be kept sterile if it's to heal properly so don't even think about it. She's running a high temp and if you listen to her you can tell her nasal cavities are badly blocked and her breathing is constricted. Luckily it looks like the medication is fighting her infections effectively or it could be a lot worse. Besides, there is time enough after I release her from sickbay." she said.

"Dr. Chakwas, what do you mean by time enough?" Lana asked. After she was released she knew she would be returning to the fleet, of course after she could dress that is. She began coughing but luckily it wasn't too bad.

"The Commander sent word on your replacement suit. Seems the earliest it can be delivered here will be in about 2 and a half weeks. Until then I guess we will have to find a closet some where to keep you." she replied.

Whispering to Kal, Lana asks "Is that a sterile container?"

"I don't know, my translator just stated it was a storage bin. Dr. Chakwas, um closet?" he asked a little concerned for Lana's future living accommodations.

"Oh for heavens sake, 100 percent translation indeed. Sorry, I was actually joking, it's a small room used to store items. Don't worry, the Commander and Tali have something of a surprise for you but until then you stay here." she replied. "Now, any pain or odd sensations Lana?" she asked as she entered the sterile field, mask in place. She had seen Lana's temperature increasing rapidly and heart rate was climbing as well.

"Dr. Chakwas, I really don't feel that well." she replied as she once more began coughing, this time a gurgling sound could be heard with her breathing.

…

Speaking softly Tali says "How long will she keep us waiting?" They had been in Admiral Xen's outer office for almost an hour now and Tali was wondering why Xen was trying to irritate John so much. She didn't realize how little it would take right now.

John softly answer as well replying "Doubt it will be much longer, trouble is she forgets I'm military. I've stood in formations for hours. This just brings back memories." Let her play her game, he was pretty sure she wasn't in there and was hoping he would rush in making himself look foolish. For now, he could stand there and wait. He was surprised she was already playing her cards though, already showing that this would be a hostile meeting.

"John, Admiral Xen is insane" she said in a whisper. "She won't just back down like Shala did, you may have to make her." Tali worried about that. John would not back down in this and she doubted that Xen would either so the only outcome she could see was one of violence. If any harm came to Xen it would affect the peace later and if John were hurt she would kill who ever hurt him.

"I know Tali, it was clear at the trial that she looks down at everyone around her. She feels superior to you and I, most likely she feels that way about every quarian in the fleet. It may get rather unpleasant during our talk and I must ask you to please not interfere no matter what I say." he replied.

"I won't John." she said and was getting ready to ask him what he planned to do when Admiral Xen casually strolled into the office. Glancing over at John as she spoke quietly with one of her adjutants she then turned to him. "Commander Shepard, shouldn't you be out patrolling the perimeter or something actually useful to the fleet?" she asked blandly. Time to put this human in his place, remind him of who she was.

Without missing a beat he replies just as blandly "Sure you want to do this here Daro?" He couldn't help but see the slight flash of her eyes opening slightly wider before she controlled herself. He had been right, straight into a battle without even taking the time to ask why he was there.

"I had assumed even the Alliance military understood the concept of rank and what the title Admiral means. I suppose it was too much to ask for from a race that still hasn't learned their place in this galaxy." she replied but saw immediately that she had failed to get a rise out of Shepard. Something in his eyes told her to be careful, there was an anger there but she didn't know its cause.

"A title means nothing without respect Daro." he said. "Your office is still an option to you presently but do not expect the offer to remain much longer." Watching her eyes he sees them dart to Tali and before she could say anything he adds "Tali is here with me, do not presume to give my lifemate orders," using their term for their bond as he always had.

This was not the same man she parried with at the trial, then he was fumbling for any scrap of information hoping to find a way to help poor little Tali. Now she saw him for the first time fully secure in his purpose and would not back down. She was going to order Tali to stay here in the outer office but he commanded her with more authority than she could, at least for now. So be it, he will learn, they both will. "Come into my office, we shall continue this there." she said loud enough to be heard by all.

Daro was still playing the person in charge he thought to himself as he followed her into the inner office knowing Tali followed right behind him. Once inside Daro moved to her desk but did not sit, instead she stood, arms crossed as they entered and the door shut. Waiting until Shepard stood before her desk she said "Why are you here wasting my valuable time with your petty problems? Do you intend more insults on top of the insubordination already witnessed by my staff Shepard?" The way she said Shepard turned it into a dirty, ugly word.

Shala had needed a shock to make her understand but Daro, she is on a power trip. A trip that ends soon. Not even answering her question he looks at Tali asking "The galaxy is such a huge place, why do I keep running into people who think they can tell me what to do?"

Before Tali can respond Daro says loudly "I am an Admiral in the Migrant Fleet, your superior and you will show me the respect that I require! Is that understood Shepard?" He was trying to incite her and she fell for it. Calm yourself she thought.

"You're stepping over you bounds here Daro. True, you hold the title of Admiral within the fleet but do you really believe I answer to you?" he asked, his tone going icy. She really believed he and his ship were hers to command?

"Yes. By right of bond you are acknowledge by our laws as a member of the quarian race. By registration your ship falls within the realm of quarian control. You, as captain of that vessel belong to the quarian military and that means me." she stated coolly regaining her composure.

A cold, hard laughter comes from him for a moment before he looks back at her saying "Tell me Daro, how is it you can still fit in that helmet of yours?"

Rage flared within her as she shouted back "You go too far Shepard! I'll have you arrested and your precious Tali assigned to the next field mission."

"Sit DOWN!" he commanded, his tone so cold and hard that it hit Daro like a punch to her stomach. "Now!"

Surprised by the shear intensity of his response she stepped back hitting her chair and falling into it. She just stared at him, she didn't understand how he could cause such fear in her but it was there nonetheless. Paralyzing her temporarily.

"Now, listen to me Daro," he said in that same frozen voice. "You try to issue a single command to Tali, my ship or crew and you will find it your last order as an admiral. I think you will understand this very well. I am using you and your fleet for my own needs. If you have a problem with that then maybe you should talk to the other Admirals but do not think you have any control over me."

"You have no right giving me orders!" she said still sitting. "One touch here," indicating her terminal, "and I can have a full squad of marines in here and have you shackled."

Still standing loosely, he again laughs then asks "Marines? Here? I would have thought you sent them all to their deaths by now. Or are you now painting stripes on bubbles so you can continue your twisted plans?"

He can't know she thinks, no, there is nothing that shows what was done. Nothing remains of the planning, the careful research that made it possible to fashion the survivors into the tools I needed. He could not know how I made sure any friendships formed with her died on some distant world. "You know nothing, you think to highly of yourself Shepard" she replied.

"You just confirmed what I know Daro." he said then turned to say to Tali "I need to finish this, please wait outside."

"John, are you sure?" she asked praying to the ancestors that he was not going to harm Daro.

Since the attack on the Idenna it had been decided that each officer would have a sidearm near or on their person at all times. Though the rules had been relaxed in the intervening time, Daro still had that weapon in her desk. Realizing he could ruin all her plans she knew she had one choice, if the others found out she would be exiled and she would not let that happen. He had threatened her, yes. Her adjutants had heard, Tali's account would be covered over and ignored. He was a cold blooded killer, everyone knew he could kill without mercy so she just defended herself! Reaching into the desk while his back was turned she pulled the pistol out and began standing, raising it towards the back of his head.

He was about to tell Tali 'yes' when he heard the sound of a weapon extending just before Tali yelled "John!" His combat suits enhanced speeds saved him when turning quickly he saw the weapon being raised and closed the short distance grabbing Daro's hand, forcing the weapon up, towards the ceiling.

Damn that girl she thought as her arm was forced up, swinging hard with her left hand it felt like it hit a stone wall as the punch impacted on his body armor. Off balance Daro was unable to recover as she felt the pistol wrenched from her hand and herself being pushed back down into the chair. Looking up she sees the barrel of her own weapon resting on her visor and finally stops moving, her eyes wide with fear and hate.

"Now Daro, just sit here a moment please," he said to her then louder so Tali could hear "Please turn off your audio pickups, I wish some private time with Daro."

"Done." Tali replied as he saw the glow from her omnitool vanish. She was scared. If John killed her it would ruin all his plans, there was no way the fleet would work with a murderer. Even if it was Daro he would still be an outcast and she with him. She could do nothing to change what happens though, he was her lifemate and Daro had tried to kill him. Tali did turn away though, she had no wish to see it happen. Sadly she prayed for the ancestors to stay John's hand, he had never killed anyone like this before, defenseless, unarmed but he was furious and she didn't know why.

"Now Daro, there a few items I think we should discuss." he said in a tone that froze her chest, making even breathing painful. Tapping her visor with the pistols barrel a couple of times he said "Pay attention now, I really don't like repeating myself."

"I'm an Admir..." Daro started to say but he tapped her visor again making her look at the barrel only inches from her eyes. Pulling her eyes from the gun she looks into his visor and sees his eyes staring coldly back. She knew then that she truly stared at death.

"You're a conniving little btch and if Tali were not here I would pull this trigger right now. You are nothing to me except a tool to use and if need be, thrown away with the rest of the useless garbage. The choice is yours, stop playing games and grow the fck up or be replaced." he said.

Shaking she asked "What do you need me to do?" She could not break the hold his eyes held on her soul and she grew colder as she waited for his answer.

"Better Daro, your learning. Aeia is up for voting, you will do everything in your power to insure that colony succeeds. It must happen if your people are to survive the coming war. Do you understand that?" he asked clearly.

Seeing his stare has not changed she just nodded once, slightly, and waited as the hatred she felt within her grew stronger.

"There will be a meeting called by me for the Conclave and the Admirals. You will not oppose this offer no matter what it may mean to your petty schemes. Do you read me Admiral?" he said almost spitting the word at her.

Tali knew that if he was going to shoot her he would have already. Even with her audio off she would have heard the pistol discharge so knew that he was in fact just talking to her and this confused her. If he had only planned to talk, why had he asked her to disable her audio pickups? Slowly turning back around she sees them in the same position, gun still held to her visor with him standing over her.

He was going to try and demand something from the fleet? "I will not let you harm the fleet Shepard." she said angrily.

"Harm?" he said laughing coldly. "When have I done anything to harm your people Daro? I don't pick the missions or personnel assigned to them." he stated.

"I was trying to help my people! I have only done what was needed to ensure our survival." she stated with more volume as the cause for his anger became apparent to her. Somehow he knew of what she was had been doing.

"The only thing you've accomplished is get a lot of good people killed Daro." he replied angrily.

"You stand there judging me when your concern is only for that, that girl there." she said raising an arm to indicate Tali. "She survived them as planned, she was never meant to die and would have survived more had you not meddled." It irritated her knowing that had she died Shepard would not be here now destroying what was left of her plans.

"You forget Daro, Tali is already mine and I will kill anyone who tries to harm her. You've threatened her life already, don't repeat that mistake." he stated.

Tali had seen Daro's gesture at her and knew they were discussing her, but why? She almost reactivated her audio but John had not wanted her to hear this. He would tell her in time if she needed to know what was said but something inside gave her the feeling that she didn't want to know. Shala had said she was looking into the missions from before, was that what this was about?

"Then what do you want of me?" she demanded.

"You interfere with me again, try to control me, and I put an end to your schemes," he said tapping her visor again with the pistol. "Don't make the mistake of thinking my concern for the quarian race means I won't kill you. Things that stand in my way are either destroyed or left dying in the wake as I pass." he stated clearly. "These are not idle boasts but clear, hard facts that you should be aware of. Now, since you should by now understand your position here I have a final question for you."

His cold hard eyes were proof enough that if he killed her right now he would feel nothing more than one does dumping litter. Daro responds "Ask your question," as her hatred for his disregard for her life finally sank in.

With the coldness of the void rolling over her she heard him ask "Why were you trying to break Tali's mind and spirit? You lie to me now and I swear I'll toss you out an airlock keeping your mask as a trophy."

…

Walking back to the yacht was quiet for both of them, Tali knew he was still angry at Daro but could do nothing to soothe him, at least not until they reached the ship. John had just tossed the pistol onto the desk as he turned to her leaving Daro alive but deeply shaken by his words, his actions clearly saying that Daro no longer mattered.

She had actually thought alarms would be sounding by now, marines rushing to arrest them but Daro must have decided not to push back and that was surprising to her. She had always been so cold and calculating that until Tali had seen her shaking she thought nothing could scare her.

Rounding the last corner to the hangar bay she looks once at John and taking his hand leads him back to the ship.