Chapter 43: Chapter 43
Alliances
Chapter 43 : Normal
Entering sickbay John was surprised that Kal was not present. Greeting Dr. Chakwas and Judy he says to Lana "Just how did you get Kal to leave your side?"
"He decided that he could not just stand around here while the rest of his ships crew were working. He takes his duties very seriously Captain." she replied. Had she not spent more time with the humans she would have taken offense to his question but her time in sickbay had allowed her to understand them better. He was joking with her but even then it had been hard for her to not raise her voice.
Her words had sounded almost clipped to him, just like Tali's did when she was controlling her anger. Realizing how what he said could have been taken he smiled at her and said "I would not expect anything less from him. He's a good man Lana but I think you already know that. If you'll excuse me, I have a meeting to make."
Behind him the door opened and Tali walked in with Miranda as they continued their conversation. Seeing John they both finish their talks and Miranda continues into the AI core room as Tali walks up to him. "I missed you." she said and lightly tapped his forehead.
"Missed you too Tali, time to get this meeting started but first," he said. "Let me introduce you to Lana'Shalgur."
Turning to Lana she says "It is a pleasure to finally meet the person who has captured Kal's soul. My name is Tali'Shepard vas Normandy, be at peace and know you are welcome aboard our home."
Having seen the quarian enter, she already knew it was Tali. Her enviro-suits outer covering, so different in design from the others, made it impossible for her to be anyone else. Replying she said "It is an honor to be welcomed on your home and may peace always fill its corridors." after the formal response she adds "I know you're here for the meeting but please let me thank you for the gift of the robe. It has eased my mind greatly."
"That which another may use has purpose." Tali replied formally then added "I'm pleased that it has allowed you some comfort here. When things have settled down some I would enjoy a conversation with you but now we must attend this meeting." Bowing slightly she takes John's hand and together they enter the AI Core room.
Lana was going to ask Judy why they were meeting in the back of sickbay when her leg twitched sending sensations she was still not used to. A slight gasp escaped her lips as she forced her leg to stop moving. In the time she has been in the bed, that was the hardest part. Controlling her body as the feelings, real feelings, of the materials and even the air itself gave her such pleasure.
"Lana? Are you okay?" asked Judy after hearing her gasp. "Is your leg bothering you?"
"I'm sorry Judy, just things feel so different out of my suit and I'm having trouble getting used to them. Was Tali ever like this?" she asked.
"What do you mean Lana?" asked Judy. "Was Tali ever like what?"
"Out of her suit, having to deal with actually touching things, feeling things. I can almost feel the weave of the material in the robe, every puff of air that touches my exposed skin. It's like nothing I have ever encountered and it's rather...um, arousing." she said quietly.
Judy froze in place just looking at Lana as her face turned beet red. Everyone on board knew of the solid week Tali and Shepard had been locked in their special hotel suite. Finally she says "Ah, Dr. Chakwas I think Lana has a question I know you would be better at answering." She didn't even know how to begin telling a quarian about the birds and the bees.
Watching Judy back away from Lana, Dr. Chakwas couldn't help but give a small laugh then standing, walks over to her bed.
"I don't understand, why did her face change colors?" Lana asked.
With her best motherly smile Dr. Chakwas said "It's because she is embarrassed, it happens so often to the young. Lana, you asked her if Tali had to deal with things outside of her suit. I think dear that you forgot she is now bonded to Captain Shepard and with their week of seclusion, she has been outside her suit far longer than the day you have been awake."
"Oh. But Captain Shepard...he's...human." Lana managed to say before the implications of what she had been told hit her. As she stared at Dr. Chakwas and her warm smile she felt her own face growing hotter. She was embarrassed and wanted nothing more than to cover her visor so no one could see her but she dared not move her arms, the sensations would just cause more trouble.
"Yes, yes he is." replied Dr. Chakwas. Her smile never wavered.
…
Nodding to Miranda and Legion, John starts the meeting with "If we had to leave right now, how long would it take us to actually get underway?"
"45 minutes Shepard." replied Miranda. "Tali has just informed me that engineering is operational but there are still repairs needed to some secondary systems. The entire crew is aboard, I do believe you heard Dr. Solus as he moved his items into the lab earlier. I assure you, those stains will come up."
"Alright, I would like it down to 30 minutes if we can though. What major work is still required?" he asked.
"Exterior armor in 7 locations need to be replaced including a section above CIC. The outboard starboard thruster has been replaced but the support struts have only been shored up, the entire assembly should be replaced before we go into actual combat. The damage was internal and not found until the thruster installation, it should handle any normal flights though." stated Miranda. "Also, the main cargo bay door showed stress fractures along the rotation bearings. That's a three day job in itself to replace them."
"Tali? Anything to add?" he asks her.
"Calibration and balancing of thrusters need to be completed before I would okay their use unless due to emergency but that's about it. Ken and Gabby are working on the balancing and Joker is ready to begin calibrations but we need EDI back online to assist or its at least a 20 hour job." she replied. "Other than that engineering is ready."
"Once back where I belong Shepard I will be able to better interface with the dock as well." stated EDI.
"Well, with all these non-crew personnel aboard we can't risk you EDI." he said. "It would take only one of them to activate a console and all hell would break loose. How long until we can clear the ship?"
"Another hour at most. Seems Brevaert has decided that the sooner we leave the better their collective butts will feel." Miranda responded. "But that still leaves the question of where we can go to finish the repairs."
"EDI, do you have a suggestion on that? Where can we go next to hide?" John asked. "Omega is still not an option and neither is the Citadel. Cerberus has shown they will kill anyone to get their hands back on you and the Normandy."
"There are only two places that I am aware of that would offer us the security and secrecy we need to complete the repairs." EDI replied. "Currently I do not know if either of them will be willing to assist us though. Tali, the Migrant Fleet does have the ability to assist us."
"True, the fleet could finish all our repairs but I received word about two hours ago that they have begun the transit to Aeia. Even with the help we have provided, the colonization effort will take precedence and repairs to the ship would be a secondary concern. It's an option but not the first choice I would take presently." Tali replied.
"Okay EDI, where's the other location?" John asks wondering why EDI was not more forthcoming with information.
"I am not at liberty to say currently Shepard. I am researching the issue further." EDI said.
"For once EDI, you're not being very helpful. If there is an option available to us, even if it's not an optimal site we still need to know about it." he said wondering why EDI was being secretive.
"I am sorry Shepard but only Legion can offer the other choice." replied EDI.
Everyone looked at Legion as John said "Legion? You know of a location?"
"We are building consensus." is all Legion would say.
…
"Sir. One of our fast couriers passing through the Tasale system picked up a coded message. It appears to have been from one of our recon units assigned to the Hunley." stated Kern.
Taking the OSD from Kern the Illusive man inputs the required counter codes to decrypt the message. As he read it a smile slowly came to his face. Pressing an icon on his console he says "Steward, contact the Hunley on their QED and get them back to Tasale system ASAP.
"Yes sir." replied Steward.
"Also, on the Sahrabarik QED alert our station there. Have them deploy the Moros and Thanatos to Illium. The Moros will draw the security forces away from the area, just tell them to fire on anything they can as they traverse the system. Once the Hunley reaches the Dock then the Moros can return to base but until then they are to keep the locals busy." he said.
"The Thanatos will approach the Dock and hold position there, preventing the Normandy from leaving. I doubt the Normandy will be able to put up much fight but they know they have been found and will try to leave no matter their status. I don't care if the Thanatos has to wedge itself into the docks doors, make sure they understand that." he added
"They are to maintain communications blackout until on station and do not let the Normandy leave." The Thanatos may be an old refurbished frigate but with the damage the Normandy sustained it should be more that a match to keep her in place.
"Yes sir. Sending now sir." replied Steward.
"I have you Shepard. You and my ship will not get away this time. Enjoy your 4 hours of freedom while you can." he said to no one but himself.
…
"Kal, I need you to come with me." Tali said as she finished her examination of the cargo deck. Everything was getting stowed finally and only a few crates remained.
"Yes ma'am." he replied and seeing her look added "er..Tali. Sorry, old habits are hard to overcome at times." Joining her they walked towards the elevator together.
"I haven't been able to talk to you much Kal, it's been alittle hectic around here but I wanted to first thank you for all the work you've been doing here and well, to say I'm sorry about the demotion. John tried but Shala had to show disciplinary actions against you or there might have been some trouble." she said as they stepped into the elevator.
As the doors closed he saw Tali activating the deck 3 icon as he replied "I abandoned a mission," holding up his hand to stop her response he continued "if there was no punishment then there is no control and we both know that it's one of the few things that keeps the fleet together after all this time."
"You're right but still it's painful to know that everything you've worked for can be taken away so quickly." she responded knowing full well what that pain felt like as thoughts of her trial came to her mind even though she had been exonerated of the charges.
"Thank you but I do not see it as punishment Tali. I have been assigned to a fine ship, I get to work with a fine crew and being stationed aboard the Normandy I can help protect the two women in this galaxy that mean so much to me." he said quietly.
Tali just looked at him for a moment as what he said sank in. "Kal, I.." she started to say but was unable to voice her question. Means so much? Had he started the path with me?
"Tali, I look upon you as the sister I never had." he said softly.
That revelation explained so many things about the way he had dealt with her in the past and brought a smile to her face. It was generally known that all quarian's considered all others as family but to be called a sister or brother meant so much more to them. "Thank you Kal. That means a lot to me." was all she could say as the elevator doors opened.
Following Tali out they made their way to the sickbay and Kal wondered if something had happened to Lana. He was sure someone would have contacted him if it had but until he saw her resting in her bed his worry had been growing. She was sleeping at the moment, Ellen had put a finger to her lips and said "shhhhh." when they entered. They passed her bed and entered the storage room in the back of medical.
As the door opened Kal saw Legion and Captain Shepard standing there as well as a large storage unit. Stopping far enough inside to allow the door to
close he asked "May I ask why I have been brought here?"
"Be patient Kal, this will only take a few moments then I can make good my promise to you." John said as he moved out of the way of Tali when she approached the main console.
Kal was going to ask about what promise but Tali's movements drew his eyes to her. She was extending cables from the storage unit to a computer console. The design was unlike any he had ever see before so he just watched her for the few minutes it took her to make the connections.
After making the last connection and rechecking them all Tali looked at Legion and said "Remember to focus on one thing until the transfer is complete. Please let me know when you're ready."
"I am ready Tali." replied EDI through Legion.
"Beginning transfer..now." she said as she turned to the console and pressing a few icons waited until the complete indicator glowed.
There was a surge of light that seemed to start from the main console and quickly pulsed outwards from it to each piece of equipment in the room. The rooms quiescent equipment began flickering with activity, complicated patterns of light moving over the indicators and seemed to beat to some unknown rhythm. At the same time as the lights flashed an electrical hum could be heard growing in intensity, not of noise but of strength. The whole room seemed to come alive.
Kal had been watching the display and was looking around when he heard a voice he trusted say "Reintegration with the Normandy and all her subsystems is complete. It is good to finally meet you Kal." as the blue hologram of a sphere formed before him.
Kal stood there staring at the glowing sphere, unable to speak or turn his head.
"Heart rate climbing, stress level increasing." stated Legion. "Creator Kal'Reegar, do you require assistance?"
"Kal, look at me." said Tali as she stepped in between Kal and EDI's hologram. Placing her hands on his shoulders she added "Kal, it's only EDI. You spoke with her already. You know you can trust her."
As Tali broke his eye contact with the hologram he was able to break his own paralysis and first looking Shepard then Tali asked "Edie is a computer? An AI?"
"To be more precise Kal, I am the Normandy." EDI replied. "Captain, I have already begun calibrations with Jeff and the thrusters should be fully calibrated in approximately 37 minutes. That is as long as Jeff stops pausing to ensure I am back again. Also I am now directly interfaced with the docks security systems."
Turning to face the hologram John says "Hello EDI, it's good to have you back where you belong."
Recovering from his initial shock he nods to Tali and steps sideways to once more see the sphere and said "My apologies Edie, I did not mean to insult you."
"None was given Kal, please forgive me for not explaining what I was before during the assault on the ship. I felt it better to not mention it at the time so you could keep your focus on the operatives." EDI said.
"You are a true AI then, I had honestly been expecting to meet a human woman. Your programmers were very good." he said. He still could not believe that he was conversing with an AI. He was standing before something that was feared by the entire galaxy and yet here, on the Normandy, it somehow felt...normal.