The airlock closed with a hiss of finality. This was really happening. She was leaving Omega, leaving Garrus's steadfast presence. And more dauntingly, she was heading aboard a starship. Hate was too mild a word to describe Jane's aversion to ships.
A bodiless voice chimed from somewhere above, "shore party stand ready for decontamination," as a sweeping, light breeze passed over them. Jane nearly jumped out of her skin. Of course, the mechanical voice sounded damn near identical to the one aboard the Ubralle.
"Ohhh that's just the decon program. Nothing to worry about." She'd nearly forgotten about Tali, the quarian stood at her side, helmet tilted in her direction. Whether it was concern or curiosity, she had no idea. The mask ensured emotions were concealed.
"Oh.. um.. yeah. I know." An awkward pause. "Sorry, I'm not the biggest fan of ships. But I'll adapt." The last bit was added hastily, a panicked afterthought.
"Ah… yes. That makes sense."
They stood in silence as the decontamination program ran its course. When it finished, Tali pressed a few buttons along the side panel, and a drawer popped out of the otherwise featureless wall. She turned, bearing a homogeneous, black suit. After a moment, Jane realized that the material ended abruptly at the wrists and ankles and surmised that it was for her.
"Sorry I didn't have a chance to explain it over the QEC. Everything happened so quickly once it was agreed that you could come aboard. Our environment is sterile, or as close to it as we can manage. Having someone breathe freely would be quite the risk. Plus, there aren't any bathrooms. Don't worry I'll explain how everything works." Holding the suit next to the petite woman standing before her made the ensemble seem gargantuan. "You're … smaller than I imagined. I mean, I figured you'd be shorter than Shepard just not… shorter than me."
"It might fit… if it comes with a belt, or five." Jane smiled awkwardly, overcome with gratitude for Kal's absence. He proceeded through the chamber earlier, leaving the two women alone. "No idea how to get in it though… or how it works."
Tali sighed and returned it to the drawer, pressed a few more buttons, and waited for a replacement to arrive. "Keelah, you'll swim in this too." She grumbled, sent it back, then finally opted for something in an adolescent size. "Now if this doesn't fit, I may be at a loss."
Still clothed, Jane hopped in the suit, pulling it upwards. Seeing that they'd finally found one that would fit, with the addition of several cinches around the waist, Tali interrupted. "Ah… yes. Well, you'll have to get fully undressed before you seal up. Otherwise, some of the suit functions won't work properly. Plus, clothing gets all nasty and soiled. It's not recommended." Sensing her discomfort, Tali turned around, allowing Jane some privacy. "Let me know if you need help."
That was her intention, to allow the woman a bit of modesty. Yet, Jane's back reflected against the polished metal, and she scarcely managed to stop herself from gasping. Every inch was covered in scars – diagonal, parallel, long and jagged, short with clean edges, it was a mass of scar tissue that coalesced, crisscrossing and overlapping – without a smidgen of unblemished skin in sight. And when Jane turned to ask for help, front torso exposed, that traitorous cry managed to escape.
"Keelah!" Shock and horror caused her voice to pitch. "Sorry… I didn't mean to… I mean… I don't mean to… who did that to you?" The words just tumbled out, she swore, somewhere in her head her brain was screaming shut up, but apparently her mouth was above listening today. Thank you mouth.
Jane's arms fled to her chest, cheeks flush, eyes downcast. "It's okay, Garrus killed him." Her voice was soft, scarcely audible.
Nothing about that was okay. Nothing. No wonder Garrus insisted she not travel alone. Even if his suspicions were nothing more than paranoia, the woman standing before her seemed like a child, a timid little girl. Someone who had been so beaten down that she simply stopped growing, frozen in time, unable to develop. And they were bringing her to Tuchanka? Garrus had warned her, that there was a lot more than what met the eye when it came to the young Shepard. But it was difficult see his stance with this submissive, delicate creature nervously rocking back on her heels, avoiding her gaze – even through the helmet. Most didn't give two figs when they saw the mask, others didn't know where to put their eyes so they'd stare constantly, making rather intense and unwavering eye contact.
Jane had been so different in the car, more open. Was it the ship? Or maybe it had to do with the fact Garrus was gone. He'd warned her about that too – that she had very little contact with anyone outside of the team and had only been off base a handful of times.
"She knows nothing of society, you'll have to look out for her until you meet up with Wrex. I'm serious Tali. Don't let her out of your sight."
"Things are drastically different in the Fleet, and I'll be there to explain everything. I've never seen you worry so much Garrus."
Now that she was staring at Jane under the harsh florescent lighting, his concern seemed far too minor. And she would be certain to have a few words with him later. Right now there were several programs and functions within the suit Jane needed to learn. She helped her with the seals, Jane chose a rose colored tint for the mask, and began explaining how everything worked.
"Alright, let's get the most embarrassing part out of the way first." Tali directed her attention to a panel on the left arm, hoping that the woman was right handed. The inherent device contained two dozen buttons, capable of countless combinations. Thankfully, she only needed to memorize a few commands. "This is what you press to use the bathroom. Liquid waste is purified then recycled. Solid is stored in the second suit layer and deposited in a hermetically sealed container. There are waste receptacles throughout the fleet we use to space it. I'll show you where these are located once we're aboard."
To her credit, Jane didn't seem the least bit put off. She simply shrugged as Tali continued. "Now, that wound on your arm looked pretty nasty. I trust your doctor prescribed antibiotics? If there's one thing we quarians know, it's not to mess with infection."
Jane nodded.
"Alright, I'll show you where to deposit the meds. Then, when it's time to take a dose, you simply press this."
Another nod. This silent compliance worried Tali even further. The woman was borderline mute.
"Now for the food. You have the nutrient paste right?" When she produced a tube, Tali showed her how to empty it's contents into the compartment near her humerus. "Thankfully, paste keeps pretty well. Sorry we can't offer a more palatable diet. But everything on the fleet is dextro."
The gloves, boots, and mask were the last components. Tali had to put in an order for custom five-finger and toe habiliments, and Garrus made her swear up and down to keep the fact that he paid for them a secret. Thankfully, her concerns about fitting were unwarranted, praise be to the Ancestors for the marvelous invention of elastic. They really were one size fits all.
As for her sudden descent into silence, Tali could only hope it was born of exhaustion. Fleet time, the hour was terribly late. And Jane converted a week ago. She was certainly feeling fatigued after the long day. Hopefully, the same could be said about her human companion.
When the airlock opened, revealing the Neema's vast gallery, it was Jane's turn to gasp, stricken. A long, pentagonal hall greeted her. Each equilateral side held rod-shaped tubes, emitting a soft blue light that ignited numerous port-windows – giving the vast emptiness of space an almost mystical feel. Even the floor, a silvery tungsten, reflected the light beautifully. The Neema was, in a word, breathtaking; a ship seemingly constructed out ethereal sprites and otherworldly components. How out of place it seemed, in such a dark and tumultuous galaxy.
"This used to be an asari dreadnaught," Tali offered in explanation. "One of the reasons I had to obtain special permission for you to come aboard. It's rare for this vessel to venture away from the Fleet. As you can see, the asari place a high value on ascetics. Come on, the deck where I bunk is this way."
Jane trotted after Tali, feeling as though she were passing through a veil of mist. Eventually, the hall spilled out into a circular CIC. Given the late hour, only a skeleton crew remained on duty, with a few people organizing the masses' return from Omega. Their uniforms were distinct from the rest of the crew, piquing Jane's curiosity. Despite the mask, Tali caught on quickly and offered an explanation. "Those are the Fleet Police, a branch of the military. See the red and blue markings on their shoulders? That's part of the uniform. Mainly they enforce rules like the curfew, just make sure you're polite around them and you'll be fine. No one expects you to know everything."
They eased their way through the crowds to an elevator, Tali's hand wrapped around her wrist, ensuring she didn't get lost in the hub-bub. "Um.. Like I said, the accommodations are sparse. I used to have a room but rotated out a few weeks ago."
I'm not picky. Jane meant to say that out loud, yet she was stunned by the mass of quarians. In all her years, she'd never seen so many people in one place. It made her grateful for the suit, a barrier between herself and this foreign world.
The elevator creaked and shuddered the entire way, causing Jane to wonder how old the rickety contraption was. Deck four, where Tali was assigned, proved to be a vast and beautiful area consumed by a sea of make-shift sleeping quarters. Thick quilts, whose patterns were as vibrant and varied as Kar'Shan's flocks of babaghas, partitioned off each individual space. Jane didn't count, but given the deck's size and cluttered noise, hushed voices muttering in deference to the late hour, she guessed that there were hundreds of quarians sharing this space. Maybe even a thousand.
"It's pretty." She murmured absentmindedly.
"Well, I'm glad you like it. The quilts are an influential part of our culture." Tali beckoned her into what Jane surmised was her 'room.' Merely large enough for a bed, and a walking tract. A drawered bit of furniture served as the headboard, containing all of Tali's worldly possessions.
Several blankets encompassed the narrow space, their themes far too varied for her to see a connection. "This one was my mother's, from her birth clan, Rilon." She pulled a magnetizing bit of fabric towards them. Reds, oranges, yellows, and greens, - colors were layered upon colors in haphazard shapes of octagrams and checker boards. Yet, the background was organized into precise sequences. "She used creational design patterns for the backdrop, a bit of programming humor perhaps. The other bits of fabric were cut from the over wrappings of departed family, it's a way of honoring and always remembering our Ancestors. Anyhow," she continued, "your bed is right under mine here. It's a bit cramped, I know." Tali pointed to a mattress nestled underneath her own, a small cubby that was more than adequate for her needs. "Oh keelah, are you claustrophobic? We can switch if so, I didn't think about..."
"It's fine." Jane interjected. "I prefer small, out of the way places anyhow. Force of habit. I guess." She wasted no time crawling into the cubby, and was welcomed by bits of paper birds hanging from the metal frame, causing her to reach out, a hidden smile on her face.
"Oh. that's… origami. I thought I'd try and make it a bit more homey. Kaiden taught me during our pursuit of Saren." Tali quickly explained. "I hope you like them… I wasn't sure what a human would want in their sleeping quarters. You can take them down if they're bothersome."
"They're adorable."
That was the last spoken sentence between them for awhile. Tali setup an alert on her omni-tool, ensuring every suit function Jane used would be known to her. Perhaps it was an invasion of privacy, but this whole situation terrified Tali. Someone needed to keep an eye out for Jane, and clearly, Garrus was just as dense as he'd always been.
Later that evening
Tali'Zorah vas Neema: Garrus?
GV: Hey! Everything good? She settle in okay?
TZN: Yeah. She just went to sleep.
GV: Good
TZN: Listen, I have some concerns. And right now I'm refraining from what the hell are you thinking you thick, dip-shitted bosh'tet, but, well, okay there it is. Seriously are you sure about this? You said it's her decision but this seems crazy, even for you.
GV: Ah, I see you're becoming acquainted with the Jane-experience. Well, you haven't seen her fight. She's a different person when shit hits the fan.
TZN: That can be said of anyone. We all have distinct personalities from the one that emerges under fire, but this is more than that. I'm having a hard time understanding how you expect her to survive day one on Tuchanka. She's scared of everything. Jumps at the slightest noise. She's barely spoken, and sticks to me like glue. What is she going to do when a krogan charges her? Hide behind a rock?
GV: Damn. That bad? She mentioned hating ships, not that I blame her. Hopefully, she'll be okay once she's planetside.
TZN: You didn't answer the question!
GV: The krogan? Probably kill him horribly. Krul gave her his knife.
TZN: I'm serious!
GV: So am I. That woman is terrifying.
TZN: I had to install a music app in her suit before she could rest, even after the sleeping medication. Like I said, she's really jumpy. And honestly, I'm trying not to be rude… we're the same age… but she's a bit like a kid. Please tell me you noticed that at least.
GV: Trust me, she's no child. I thought the same thing when she first came to live here, and boy was I wrong. What she is, is new to everything and used to people telling her exactly what to do, not having to think. Coming back from that has to be hard. Half the time she didn't know what to do with herself. So, she followed me around trying to be useful. Unless it involves killing something or playing the violin, she tends to get a bit lost.
TZN: You certainly seem to know her well. That's… more insightful than I'm used to, coming from you.
GV: To be fair, most of that insight came from Nalah. She really took to Jane. Honestly I'm not sure what I would've done without her.
TZN: Well, I hope you know what you're doing with this Tuchanka business. That's all I can say.
GV: Look Tali, I don't like it. But she survived fourteen years in batarian slavery, that's nothing to scoff at. And I trust her enough to know her limits.
TZN: If she has any.
GV: What does that mean?
TZN: I saw some stuff when I was helping her get in a suit. She's pretty banged up.
GV: WHAT?! I'll kill anyone who lays a hand on her! What the hell happened?
TZN: Stop freaking out. It's all old, but there are loads of bad scars.
GV: I'm soooo shocked /s
TZN: Sometimes I forget what an arrogant prick you are.
GV: Until you've seen her in action, don't judge. Or be prepared to eat your words with a side of crow.
TZN: Crow?
GV: Some earth bird. It's a human idiom one of my guys likes to use. I guess crow tastes nasty.
TZN: Humans have the strangest sayings.
GV: Agreed. But they are endearing.
TZN: I still think you're being a dipshit, and I'm going to have a talk with Wrex about this insanity, but I'll drop it for now. In the meantime, what does she like? How do I get her to open up a bit? She seems to like your sorry ass. So, you must know something.
GV: Well, you both enjoy music. That seems like a good starting point.
TZN: Oooh. What type? The Fleet has several musicians on rotation this week.
GV: She likes… the boring type. I guess. Whatever genre it is, it's all instrumental. Or, worse, it's a super cool song that she turns into an instrumental piece. I mean it's pretty, but boring.
TZN: So, she has taste?
GV: What's that supposed to mean?
TZN: I've seen your playlists **gag**
GV: Oh, hardy har har
GV: But anyway, just remember you're probably the first quarian she's seen.
TZN: Actually, she mentioned that… the first time we met on the QEC. Although, our society is extremely isolated. It isn't that uncommon.
GV: Alright, well, did you know I was the first turian she ever saw? Hadn't even seen one of my kind on the extranet or a picture book or whatever. She had no idea what I was.
TZN: Seriously? But you're EVERYWHERE.
GV: Not on Kar'Shan. It shouldn't be that surprising, no one wants to screw with the Hierarchy.
TZN: Or the batarians don't want to bother with dextro food.
GV: Either way, everything is new to her and ships aren't exactly her happy place.
TZN: Alright. I see your point. Anyway, I should get to sleep. It's late and I have to return to my station in the morning.
GV: Anytime. Oh, and show her how to work messenger on her omni-tool. And email. She knows how to make calls and purchases off of sites, but that's about it. I was too preoccupied with training her and ran out of time.
TZN: Will do.