Chapter 36: Chapter 36

Alliances

Chapter 36 : Disbelief

"Dr. Chakwas! Her temperature is down." called out Judy as she continued to monitor the cold suit they had wrapped Lana in. It was the only thing that had saved her. Using a soft sterile cloth Judy was slowly and gently wiping Lana's arms and hands to remove the sweat there. The beds coverings were removing most of it as the quarian's primary sweat glands ran down the sides of their backs.

Glancing up from her console she quickly scanned the readouts on the diagnostics panels. Down 4/10ths of a degree. Not much but it appeared the worst was over she thought to herself. "Keep a constant watch on that. It may not mean much but it's the first sign we've had that's good." she said as she looked at Kal. How many times had she seen others doing the same for their loved ones.

It had been a rough couple of days for Lana, after the initial lightness of her fever and infection it had quickly escalated to the point where her body temperature was in danger of cooking her brain. The cool suit, really just a blanket with coolant tubes designed to wrap the upper body in, had kept her core temperature from climbing too high but she had been delirious and needed restraining.

Kal had been beside her almost the entire time, he had been alittle self conscious at first but as the nurses moved about him he relaxed more and did as they asked. Talk to her. So he had, till he was out of things to talk about and continued by repeating his childhood in soft loving tones. He was afraid she would not beat the infection, the shrapnel had been in her so long that the bacteria from it coursed through her entire body.

"Kal, we need to change the dressings." Judy stated as she erected a small makeshift screen to shield her lower body from his eyes. Looking at him, hearing the concern in his voice as he spoke to Lana she added "You're doing fine Kal, just keep talking to her, keep her here with us." she said quietly.

During the worst of the fever Lana had been rambling, saying phrases and words with no context as to her reference or meaning but she had also been calling Kal's name. Each time she had called him he answered "I'm here inszel." or "Lana, here I am." It didn't matter that the humans couldn't understand half the words she used, Kal did, and he knew that within her mind her unending nightmare continued. Inside his helmet tears streamed down his face because there was nothing he said or did that would make a difference in her fight to survive.

The stars, so pretty, flashed at her, angry yellow obliterating the beautiful purples of the veil. She screams in horror as the yellow washes out to a blueish white and she sees the head of a geth staring at her, weapon raised. It fires and the missile from the turret turns Stivin into a mist that clouds her eyes obscuring her vision temporarily. As it clears the veil's bold purples and deepest blacks once more stand before her for a instant before it flashes blue with the pulses from the geth's dropships cannon firing on her position. The bolts impact above her raining down as the storm continued to drench them filling their little rest spot with the blood of her squad mates pooling at her feet. The pool begins to ripple as a thresher maw rises in the middle of the group, it's mouth opening she could see the stars through the hole in the ship as she held her ground against the geth trying to batter their way into the ancient building.

Through it all she screamed and cried out for help. Trying to find the one thing that gave her hope, to help her survive the assaults. In the quiet between her nightmare's wild jumps she could hear Kal calling to her, she clung to that voice to help guide her to safety.

Uncovering Lana's leg Judy could see the infection as the puss oozed out of the few drainage tubes they had left in her. Replacing the collection bag with a fresh one, she used the sterile wipes to remove anything that had seeped onto her leg. "Dr., drainage is lessening. Only about 100ml now. Swelling is down as well." she said as she once more covered the wound with clean dressings. She heard Kal the whole time just talking softly, calling her name and telling her everything would be alright.

…

"Don't get too bored sight seeing Andrews." stated Chief Ralpa chuckling as he said it. Poor saps would miss all the fun.

"Rub it in Chief, you get to bag the prize of the galaxy and me and my team get to waste away here looking at fancy asari yachts and liners." he replied. He had spent 10 years in this section of the galaxy and knew that only someone with credits to burn would use these docks. Damn it, he had busted his ass to get to Recon 1 and now he was going to miss the action."

"Recon 1 away Captain" stated serviceman Gann.

"Course plotted for Zelene Captain. ETA in system 44 hours." stated XO Hanson.

"Very well XO, engage drives. The Illusive man wants his toy back and we are going to get it for him." stated Captain Ulric. Pulling up the charts for Zelene he updated the display for current time, watching as the planets moved around the star until they steadied in their current orbital position. Grunting to himself he sees that Helyme is another 8 hours of transit time to the already long trip, this will not make the Illusive man happy he thought to himself. "Hanson, any more intel on what we'll find on Helyme? All I have here mentions some mining sites and that's about it."

"Checking now Captain." he replied quickly pulling up the information pack the base had provided the ship. "Other than the four listed mining camps all there appears to be are the arthenn ruins that cover the planet. Those ruins are ancient, Shepard wouldn't hide in one of them would he?"

"He may be desperate but he's not stupid. Those ruins are falling apart, no he'll be either at or near one of those mining sites. They'll have the tools and resources he needs to make his repairs." states Ulric.

"Hope you're right Captain, otherwise it's going to be a long search to find them." Seeing the look Ulric gave him he quickly adds "But we'll find him, no need to worry about that. He may have the Normandy under some structure but our detectors can pinpoint a heat source through 300 meters of rock."

"Let's just hope that when we finally do reach the system the Normandy's plant is up and running. If it's down then our job will be a lot harder." replied Ulric.

"Aye sir, a lot harder." responded Hanson.

Looking back to his display he gathers his thoughts and contacts Marstan, commander of the special ops teams aboard. "Marstan, here's the revised ETA for orbital insertion into Helyme's orbit. Roughly 52 hours until we can find that traitor Shepard and take back the Normandy. As soon as we find them you'll get the go ahead for the assault drop. You've got plenty of time so make damned sure your squads are ready." said Ulric over his commlink.

"Roger Captain. My squads will be ready, you just make damned sure that AI is brain dead. We can handle any people, including Shepard." replied Marstan.

"Don't worry about that AI, I have the kill codes loaded and ready for transmission just before you hit them. You better not underestimate Shepard, you may be good but I haven't seen you save the galaxy lately. You let him get away and you're as dead as I will be but remember they want the quarian alive for some kind of testing. Got that?" stated Ulric firmly.

"Yeah, yeah. I got that. Though it may be fun making her watch as we put one in Shepard's head. Maybe make his little pet cry alittle." said Marstan, a grin spreading over his face.

"Keep your racist comments to yourself Marstan, honestly I don't understand what you have against the other races. Bah, never mind, just watch how far you go. The Illusive man wants her 'healthy' so no funny business and god help you and your men if she even sniffles." Ulric said.

"Understood Captain." he replied. Of course, he didn't say anything about not scaring the sh*t outta her he thought to himself.

…

"Half way John." Tali called out as the trip counter passed the center mark. Her fingers moved over the console selecting a new set of evasive maneuvers that would automatically take them now to the relay and not back to the fleet. Shala had been surprised when she contacted her to tell her they were leaving but after Tali explained what she knew of the meeting with Admiral Xen, leaving out the issue with the pistol, and the voting she understood.

John walked into the cockpit wearing his armor sans helmet. It was here, far away from anything that a pirate attack would most likely occur and he was not about to be caught off guard as he had been in the shuttle. Pure laziness had been the cause of that and he knew it. Now they would be monitoring all traffic they spotted though in this area there was nothing found. The ship was also making small lateral moves, thrusting sideways or up and down to prevent a long range shot from actually getting a lucky strike.

"Good, how soon before we get within range of a comm buoy?" he asked as he sat down in the co-pilots seat.

"Out here? The nearest one is still 10 hours away and that's almost within the Peznula Tain system. We might as well just keep heading there and the relay unless you have a specific need for one." she said wondering why he had asked.

"No need, not really. I just don't like being out of contact for very long is all. After that little mishap in the shuttle I've become a little wary of moving about without the Normandy surrounding us." he replied.

"If there were pirates here they would have already left once the flotilla moved through. It seems that they have finally learned to not bother with our ships either due to the defenses we have or the simple fact that not one ship here is worth much to anyone other than we quarian's. What does it say about your race, your people when even slavers turn their backs on you." she said sadly.

"Hey, you stop that right now." he said. "Don't ever think you or your race is unimportant Tali. Who cares what the slavers and bandits think right now, it's what you think, what you do that makes your race important. And you are the most important thing I have ever found."

She looks at him for a moment, letting the love she sees in his eyes flow over her, washing away the sadness then says "I know you're right John, it's just that sometimes I feel the weight of the galaxy pushing me down. Keeping me and my people from ever being safe again."

"Every time you feel that weight, remember that I am right beside you pushing back as well. Whenever you feel your own strength failing know that I am there lending you mine to help you through no matter the distance between us. We are one, you and I. There have been times where your strength has helped me carry on, don't be afraid to use mine to help you." he said softly.

"I do John but sometimes the feelings come so quickly that they almost overwhelm me before I can fight back the sadness. But I always fight back, I will never let it win as long as I have you." she replied, her eyes showing the smile hidden within her visor.

"And you will always have me." he replied smiling as well. "It's too bad were so far from the buoys though, until we reach a safer area at least one of us must remain here at all times." he replied.

"So the true meaning of your first question comes out finally." Tali says with a little laugh. "You're just going to have to learn to sleep without me is all."

Still smiling he said "Actually I was wondering if the fleet had finally started voting again." adding below a whisper "and it's not the sleeping I was thinking about."

Laughing louder she replies "I can still hear you John. Maybe next time we take a trip you should see about borrowing two of those units."

"Tali that's not what I was referring to, I hope you know that. It's just that I've gotten used to having you beside me, feeling the weight of your head on my shoulder. That's all." he said softly. He was not about to mention the little sounds she made as she slept helped him relax, nobody likes to be told they snore no matter how cute the other person thinks it is.

"I sleep better laying beside you too but don't worry. We'll be home soon and then we can catch up on any 'sleep' you want too." she said mischievously.

"I'm being serious now and besides, it's time for me to take the watch and you to try getting some rest. By the time you're up we should be nearing the relay." he said

"I doubt I will sleep that long." she said then decided now was the time to ask. "John, when will you tell me what you and Xen talked about? I know at least some of it was about me." Her voice very serious.

Exhaling loudly he looks at her. He had been thinking of what to tell her ever since he had found out about Daro's schemes. Tali was right, she had the right to know so he took one more deep breath. "She was trying to use your mission mishaps to help convince you to support her research ideas. The geth had killed so many of your squad mates that she was counting on you wanting to strike back at them." he stated hoping she would take that as enough of an answer.

"Strike back? Yes, but with a shotgun or missile not by trying to recover them like they were lost tools. She's insane John, why would she ever think I could actually be persuaded to assist in her delusions? Her idea is just as crazy as she is, anyone who would follow it would have to be pretty damn desperate to ever..." Desperate? Like how she felt before meeting John again on Freedom's Progress? Her hands stop moving on the control board and she just stares at John, her eyes flash in anger as she realizes just how the mishaps occurred.

"Tali, I'm sorry." he said sadly.

All those people, all the deaths, Daro's fault not hers. No wonder there were so many new marines assigned to her missions, marines without the experience needed to know how to survive. "You should have pulled the trigger. You should have left her lying in a pool of her own blood just like so many others were left due to her plans!" Tali said almost shouting in her anger.

"What good would that do Tali? Would it have brought them back?" he asked keeping his voice soft though he had wanted to yell back at her suggestion of cold blooded murder. He knew it was more the shock of finding out what happened than her true feelings.

"Yes!" she exclaimed. "It would have put an end to any more deaths by her hands. Now she can do it all over again with another person. John, we have to go back and stop her." she said

"She is stopped Tali, she can't do this again." he stated. "We know of her attempts, there is no data to prove her guilt so what court would convict? Right now, all she has left are the memories of all the deaths she caused and the fact that they were all for nothing. She as gained only nightmares for herself, you must let it go or it will eat you up inside."

"Not enough! Not near enough to make up for the two years I went through, so many died around me." but even then, as she said it her anger peaked and was replaced by a sadness that enveloped her. Surrounding her in the pain of loss for her people and herself as she remember all those who had died. Softly she began to cry.

Moving beside her he pulls her up into his arms, just holding her tightly as she lets her tears fall. He knew her outbursts had been made out of anger and just let it drop. Whispering to her he says "I had wanted so much to spare you this pain." Her own arms wrap around him as she returns his hug.

Through her tears she said "I know you meant well John but I needed to know this. I needed to know that although they died because of me it was not because I failed them." In her mind, the despair and self doubt she had had over the last two years began to slowly dissolve. Time would be needed before it was all gone but here and there small pockets in her soul were washed clean, emptied of the burdens it had carried. In its place the love she had for John rushed in, filling the void created there.

…

Shala sat there watching as the Line of Votes moved closer and closer to the final deciding one. The challenge of the Ziiten had paid off and though still complaining, Conclave member Rien'Tomren vas Sylquin had accepted the ruling and had his vote withdrawn.

Now back on track she waited as all the fleet did. Each time the Line advanced the Conclave member made sure that the first thing stated was a question. This had been the downfall of the Sylquin, the simple fact that when called upon to vote Rien had just stated his vote and in so doing broke protocol. So eager was he to add to the tally that he failed to perform the most simplest of functions. Even a question as simple as 'What's the vote tally' would have sufficed.

Pulling up the voting records she quickly scanned the tallies. The computers were doing a good job making sure that all ships had equal voting rights. Of course only the Admirals and the techs who maintained the voting computers knew of this fact. That when it came down to voting, the computers decided who should get a say. As the requests came it, the systems would check and see if they voted in the last call and if they had not, the ships name would show up in the first 2/3rds to be counted. A simple trick to keep all the ships happy but a necessary one as well. Luckily, both the Sylquin and Ziiten had voted last time so no real problem would occur from this.

Finally the Ziiten was called and as she listened for the question she stared in disbelief at her console as Una'Yelza vas Ziiten stated clearly and proudly that her ship voted yes, forgetting the needed question.

Inszel: Term of status or standing within a social circle. Literal translation: Most trusted confidant and partner.

Used to describe the personal relationship of an individual. Implies a deep personal connection. Humans would say girlfriend or boyfriend but these only touch the surface of what it truly means.