Chapter 8 : Wreckage

Bridge: 13:00 hours.

The Normandy drifts 200 meters from the derelict ship they had been approaching. This close, the hull markings and fittings were readily visible.

"That is not a Turian vessel" Tali states. In fact she has no idea just what kind of vessel it used to be. The exterior skin looked .. blistered? Almost organic in form not sheet metal welded into place.

"I'm sorry Tali. When it was first detected the shape fit older designs of turian vessels." EDI says "It is also the only debris in the area with thrusters still attached."

Tali looks at Shepard saying "I don't know what we will find over there but I guess we have no choice. Lets hope we can find something."

Looking into her eye's Shepard softly says "I know you will be careful but I can't stop worrying about you." He pauses, closing his eye's for a moment then looking back into hers he continues "Tali, get your team. If anyone can do this it's you. And Tali. Please come back to me." The last was just a whisper meant for her ears only.

"I will Shepard" she says softly looking back into his eye's. Lightening the mood she continues "Remember, I a quarian. I've worked with wrecks all my life" as she turns away and heads to the elevator. Come back to me he said. He's worried about me but still trusts me enough to do the job. Oh ancestors please let me find what we need.

"Don't worry Commander, EDI and I will be monitoring her, uh them, all the time" Joker states.

Cargo hold: 13:20 hours

The shuttle lifts gently then moves slowly out of the cargo hold. Once free of the Normandy, it arcs to port as it angles towards the derelict.

"EDI, have you found a point of entry we can use?" Tali asks.

"Yes, There is a partial deck that will provide an adequate landing area." EDI says. "The area has an open doorway leading into a corridor that seems to run the length of this section. You should be able to reach all areas of the wreckage from there."

Tali says "Alright, check your gear. We stick together until we have an idea of what's over there. Understood?"

Both Kasumi and Legion respond with a simple "Yes."

EDI announces "ETA 10 seconds, good luck Tali."

Bridge: 13:22 hours

Shepard stands there silently as he watches the shuttle approach the hulk. Be safe Tali he says to himself. Turning he heads aft.

Derelict Vessel: 13:25 hours

Tali steps out of the shuttle, omnitool active and scanning. Looking up she tries to imagine what this room was for. Cargo? Conferences? Shaking her head she looks again at the omnitool and says "this way." Kasumi and Legion follow Tali into the pitch black corridor.

Engineering: 13:30 hours

Gabby calls on the intercom "Ken, what's taking you so long? You sleeping up there?"

"Sorry Gabby, every time I start working on the power Mordin starts talking again. He does have some interesting stories though and beside, it's just the conference room." Ken replies.

"Fine Ken, I'll let you tell Tali why the power's not back up then" she says and cuts the link.

Captains Quarters: 13:30 hours

Shepard felt exhausted, even with the almost 12 hours of sleep he had. The fact that his side had been on fire since he woke up was not helping either. Carefully he sat down at his desk and bringing up his terminal he grimly sets about the task of reviewing the ships logs.

Cargo hold: 13:40 hours

Miranda calls out "See that you get additional shoring on these struts." indicating a section of the hull near one of the holes. Looking around for anything else and finding nothing she continues "Good job on the repairs. If, when" she corrects herself "we get this ship through the relay at least now it won't collapse on us." Pivoting on her foot she enters the elevator heading back to deck 3. The crewman around her just watch her leave. Crewman Phillips says "She get hit on the head? She actually sounded nice."

Chief Ramirez waits until the elevator doors close before bellowing "Alright, you heard the Exec. Let's get another beam welded on that strut quickly so we can get some lunch."

Derelict Vessel: 13:50 hours

So far all Tali had found were small compartments of unknown function. The team continued down the corridor using only omnitools and Legion for light. After about 150 meters they came across a much larger door. For 5 minutes they had tried to force the door open but could not. They were about to try cutting through it when Kasumi found the recessed panel that held a lever. Pulling it, they felt a thump as the locking mechanism was release.

Slowly Legion pushed the door open.

Tali slowly entered and stopped. Her omnitools light played around the huge area until it finally fell upon the device in the middle of the room. Walking up to it she realized they had found what they were looking for. A control center. Her omnitool flashed as she started scanning the circuits. In the back of her mind she was praying to the ancestors for help in deciphering the tech.

All three techs gathered around the glowing omnitool, watching the data scroll across its display. The only movement was a ripple of flaps from Legion.

Captains Quarters: 14:30 hours

Shepard stretched and immediately regretted it. His ribs did not like that he thought to himself. "EDI, have we received any word from Tali and the team yet?" he asks.

"Nothing yet. They have only been gone one hour and ten minutes Commander." EDI replies. Just an hour? Why does it seem like days? Glancing at his chrono he decides to leave the reports and get something to eat.

Engineering: 14:44 hours

The spike in power feeds surprises Gabby. Watching the readouts closely for a reoccurance she calls Ken. "Ken, did you just do something? I got a weird spike down here."

"Aye, that would be me. Bloody control board, shorted out just as I was trying to reseat it." Ken continues "Who ever thought of putting a panel down in the crawl space should be shot!" Ken says loudly "What? No no, I'm not talking...Mordin I'm not talking to you. I'm... Forget it!"

Gabby just starts laughing.

Forward Batteries: 14:55 hours

"Shepard, finally getting around to see if my arm fell off?" Garrus says lightly.

Shepard replies "No, well, I did come by to see how your doing" indicating his arm. "How long till the cast comes off?" he asks.

"Dr. Chakwas says 2 days for the bones to set and firm up but would prefer at least 3 days." Garrus continues "As long as I can work I'll leave it on I guess."

"Good, I also wanted to thank you for getting Legion functional again." Shepard pauses for a second the says "I know it wasn't what you thought you would be doing when you joined up with me but thanks."

"How is Tali anyway, I heard she is leading a team on a wreck. You sure about her and Legion out there?" Garrus asks with concern.

Shepard answers "Legion is part of this crew and they need" stressing the word "to work together if there is going to be any hope for the quarian's. And thanks again Garrus." he says as he exits the room. He did not add that he trusted Tali more than anyone else on the ship though Garrus was a close second.

Heading to the elevator Shepard realizes he has not even seen Samara since the battle and decided to check on her.

Derelict Vessel 15:35 hours

"Okay Legion, lift this panel and hold it. Kasumi can you see the modules?" Tali asks.

"Yes, the lumpy gray boxes. Got them, you can release the panel now." Kasumi says. "Tali, are you sure you'll be able to interface these into the Normandy? I've never seen anything like these before."

"Yes, Legion and I can alter the connectors and rig some cabling so they should all work. Well, we should be able to I think." responds Tali.

Legion states "Creator Tali'Zorah is correct. Though they are different in design they are identical in function to components already in place aboard the Normandy. The designs of these specific modules are for thrust control and appear to be superior in design."

Tali grabs an armload of modules and calls over her radio "Alright, lets get all this back to the shuttle then we can look for more."

Following Tali's instructions both Legion and Kasumi load up and head back to the shuttle.

At the shuttle Tali sends an update via EDI on their status and progress. She wished Shepard had been there so she could hear his voice. This place was so dead. More foreboding than even Haestrom had felt. Inside she had the feeling of old, ancient eye's watching her. Thinking to herself she says Get a hold of yourself Tali! It's only a dead husk, it can't harm anyone. At the same time she remembers the derelict reaper.

Deck 3: 15:35 hours

Walking into the Starboard Observation lounge Shepard was surprised to find Samara not in her customary sitting position but standing at the window looking out at the field of ancient ships. Clearing his throat to warn her of his presence the asks "Samara, I wanted to check on you, make sure your okay."

Still looking out the view port Samara begins speaking "Shepard, I am glad you have come. I would take a moment of your time if I may."

"I have grown old in this galaxy." Samara begins "Seen many things, learned even more. And I am still learning. You for instance. A warrior like myself but unlike as well. We both follow a code that allows no compromise in our beliefs. In battle we both grant no quarter to the enemy but there we depart paths." Turning slowly to look directly at Shepard she continues "You have found a way for love to fit in yours, a way I could not."

Shepard's mouth starts to open but Samara holds up a hand to stop him.

"Don't look surprised Shepard, the Normandy is a small vessel. Even among the asari, word gets around about things private." Smiling gently now Samara says "You surprised me also with your choice, not many can see beyond the surface to what lies beneath. If I may ask, what drew you to her?"

Pausing to order his thoughts "When I first met Tali I had never heard of or seen a quarian. I knew there was something special about her though. She seemed so, well, childlike but also so mature. I've grown to admire her strength, her courage. Over time I realized it's what's inside that really matters." Looking down he says "I, I've never really felt this way about anyone before."

Smiling once more at him, Samara says "I am not surprised, it is not something a warrior expects to feel. But you have given me hope, maybe I too shall find what I do not expect."

Sitting down she looks once more at Shepard saying "You humans are full of surprises, thank you Shepard."

Leaving he thinks to himself, Samara had caught him off guard with that. But he also realizes he meant every word. Walking out he looks at his chrono. Damn, whats taking so long! He heads to the bridge.

Deck 2: 16:10 hours

Damn he thought, that's the third pickup he had found. Just how many bugs had Cerberus hidden on this ship he thought. Ken calls out on his comm-set "Gabby, I found another one. I think that's all but you know as soon as I add power the Illusive man will want to talk to Shepard."

"Your right Ken, let's leave that for last shall we. Tali told us how upset he had been when Shepard blew the base up" Gabby says. "You just make sure that when you do apply power, it works!" she says menacingly.

Derelict Vessel: 17:05 hours

"Your sure those are regulators? They look like rotten potatoes Tali, big rotten potatoes" Kasumi says with a frown.

"Yes, I'm sure. Lets take all four of them and Legion, can you bring that crate of cabling. It's time we get back." Tali says.

Legion replies "Yes Creator Tali'Zorah. Calculated space requirements for these components indicate that personnel space will be at minimal comfort levels for transit back to the Normandy."

Tali was tired. They had been working non-stop since finding the control rooms and as she approached the shuttle it was clear the trip had been productive. Components of odd shapes and sizes filled all but the aft section of the shuttle. To get home the team will have to ride back standing on the seats. Thinking back to Legions 'minimal comfort levels' made her smile.

Once out of the corridor Tali opens a comm link to the Normandy. "Tali to Normandy, do you read me Joker?"

"It's about time you called Tali, Shepard here is about to wear down the deck from his pacing." Joker replies.

Shepard stops pacing when he hears Tali's voice. He want to yell into the mic at her for not calling in enough but he holds his tongue. She is safe.

Tali laughs a little though it's a tired laugh saying "Well tell him we are heading back. We will need some assistance with the offload though, should be back in about 10 minutes." She smiles to herself. He was worried but didn't try to call. He's letting me run this operation.

"Acknowledged Tali, hurry home." comes Jokers reply.

"Joker give me ships comms please" Shepard asks.

Joker hits the switch saying "Your on."

Shepard's speaks into the pickup "All away team members not actively engaged in duties or recovering please report to the Cargo hold for shuttle stores offload. Looks like there was something of use in that wreckage after all." He heads aft to assist in the team and to see a certain someone.