?
YOU HAVE FAILED
The voice in his head was loud. It felt as though his brain could explode due to its force. He tried to speak, but he was paralyzed with fear at his situation.
YOUR SPECIES HAS PROVEN THEY ARE OF NO USE TO US
As the voice spoke, his eyes went wide "N-no! PP-pl-ease! We-we couldn't have known they would interfere! J-just give us another-" he trailed off as his head felt like it would explode.
EXCUSES WILL NOT HELP YOU. NOR WILL THEY HELP YOUR SPECIES
He staggered as his vision became blurry "B-but.. we.. we did everything you asked..." He said.
WE ASKED FOR SPECIMENS. WE GAVE YOU THE TOOLS YOU NEEDED. YET YOU SLAUGHTERED MORE THAN YOU GAVE US
"T-they didn't give us a choice!" He felt as the butt of a weapon hit the back of his head, leaving him on the ground.
WE CAME TO YOU FOR YOUR REPUTATION, BUT YOU FAILED IN LIVING UP TO YOUR NAME
"Pl-please..." He tried to beg as the voice spoke, but found his voice gone.
YOU ARE OF NO USE TO US
He saw as the creatures around him walked closer and the front one convulsed as it was lifted into the air, discharged a yellow energy from its body and assumed a yellow hue in its body and eyes. The voice spoke one final time.
ASSUMING CONTROL
SSV Rainier, April 2, 2170
Above Earth
Jane Shepard stood looking out a window at the sight before her.
Earth had always been beautiful, and she had barely had a chance to look at it. Living in ships had not made it easier.
The sight was improved by the presence of not only Alliance vessels, but Migrant Fleet vessels above Earth as well.
After the attack, the Alliance had worried the Batarians would return, so they asked for help in evacuating everyone and bring them to Earth. They were aided by the Migrant Fleet who had accompanied them here while both groups left some vessels behind in case the slavers returned.
Still, the sight was overshadowed by her thoughts. It had been around two weeks since the attacks on Mindoir and the Einstein by the slavers. And those attacks had left her with a sour sight behind her; her brother, John, laying on a bed with several monitors and an IV on him.
John had woken up barely two days ago, but his body had taken quite a beating during Mindoir. Jane had tried to cheer him up, but happiness had seemingly become a foreign concept for him. The cheer he once radiated from him, was now gone, replaced by a husk of a person, all thanks to the Batarians.
Batarians. The name alone left a vile taste in Jane's mouth whenever she tried saying it, let alone think of it. What they had done to her brother, she would probably never know, not when John refused to open up on what happened. All she knew, was that what they had done had taken a huge toll on him.
Thinking of everything that happened though, must have caused her to ball her fist a little too hard as she heard him talk "Jane? You alright?" He asked.
Realizing how her own fingernails were digging into her skin and nearly tearing through it from the force, she let her hand relax and turned to look back at John "Yeah. I'm good, don't worry" She said "You?"
John sighed as he looked back at the ceiling "Still feel like an elcor stepped on my head. But doing better."
Jane smiled at the affirmation that he was improving. The past two weeks had been horrible for her and her mother, as they had grown slightly distant during that period. Still, she had tried to stay by his side as he healed, not really caring about anything else, and only going out to eat the terrible food of the ship, or to got to the bathroom.
"Good. Glad you're doing better..." she said trying to sound cheerful. John however didn't buy her expression and frowned.
"You're thinking about revenge... aren't you?" He asked.
Jane's eyes went wide at her brother's apparent ability to read her mind. "Y-yeah..." she said.
"Hmmm..." He said "Honestly? I wish I could go and kill every last one that attacked me on Mindoir." He stopped talking as he closed his eyes before resuming "But I don't know if I should even want to..." he said.
Jane looked confused at his words.
"I know... the bastards deserve nothing but my hate... but I'm just eleven." He gulped "And I've already killed more than some people have in their lives... It-it's horrible..."
Jane stepped closer to John and held his hand as he continued "Back on Mindoir. I killed so many of them and didn't look back. But I don't know how to feel about it now... It- it just felt good to kill them on Mindoir. Does... does that make me a monster?" He asked.
Jane stood there, looking at him for a bit before answering "You are not a monster John... They gave you no choice in the matter. If it hadn't been them, it would have been you."
John looked away from Jane. Still, doesn't feel right... but I guess you have a point...
"Okay..." Was all he could answer at that.
Silence ensued between both of them before being broken by an almost growling sound. Jane laughed at her brother who looked away in embarrassment.
Jane tapped where his stomach was and giggled "Looks like the tummy monster is angry."
"Oh shut up..." John pouted.
"Hmm? Looks like its anger is carrying itself out of your mouth."
He sighed. "I hate you."
"Do you though?" She asked.
John came up with an idea to get back at her "Hmm, well see I can't exactly move right now. Maybe you have to take care of it today?"
"Oh? So I'm your butler now?"
"Long as I can't move, you'll just have to be Alfred." He said almost smugly.
Jane rolled her eyes while shaking her head "You watch way too many old movies. But very well..." she said as she walked out the door almost bowing "As you wish Mister Wayne."
As the door closed she heard as John let out a small laugh after so long.
As he waited for Jane to return, John looked out the window of his current room. He saw the bright blue orb in the distance in its beauty. He hadn't had time to appreciate it, like Jane. Still, whenever he got to see it, he was captivated by it. Sure it wasn't his 'home', but he still owed the fact that he was even here to it.
Suddenly, he heard some knocks in his door. He felt confused on why Jane would knock on it, she knew he couldn't move, and it opened automatically. "You know you don't have to knock Jane!" He said.
But soon, the door opened and instead of Jane, he saw his mother, and alongside her was someone who caught his attention. Young, in a suit, purple veil and mask, and alien.
"Tali?!" He asked surprised.
"John!" She shouted as she closed the distance between them and enveloped him in a slow and gentle hug which he happily returned. He could see his mom smiling before she nodded at him and left the room.
Once the embrace was broken, John was the first to speak "W-what are you doing here?" He asked.
"I-I umm... heard about what happened... Keelah, I was so scared when my mom told me about it... My mom talked with yours and said that you were unconscious... Are... are you okay?"
"Yeah... I do feel horrible but I'm alive." He said as he smiled.
Tali giggled a bit at that and her eyes formed into crescent shapes "I'm glad."
The door opened back up and in came Jane holding a tray of food. She took a moment to realize that John was now joined by Tali, but once she did she smiled "Tali! Good to see you again!" As she put down the tray on John's lap, she quickly gave her a tight hug and almost lifted Tali off the ground.
John laughed at the groaning sounds Tali made from the force of the hug which earned him a slap on the shoulder by Tali and he let out a fake gasp "Ohh! It seems that the young quarian has attacked someone who is defenseless! And here I thought we were friends."
Tali's eyes went wide at that "W-what? Oh. Keelah... I-I'm so s-sorry. I-I."
John held his hand up stopping her "I was kidding Tali. You're okay."
"Oh." She let her head drop in embarrassment, but raised it again as John patted her shoulder.
"So... I brought you the food so you could eat it... not ignore it." Jane said behind Tali.
"Hmm? Oh right! Sorry..." John said trying to rise a little to assume a sitting position on the bed, and failing.
Tali quickly figured out what he was trying to do and helped him sit to which he looked at her and smiled before thanking her.
As he began eating, he almost gagged after his first bite of the food "How does someone screw up an egg?"
"Oh I'm sorry... I'll just go and ask that they make you some restaurant quality food shall I?" Jane said almost mockingly.
"I mean, anything that doesn't give me food poisoning is welcome."
"Sorry Mister Wayne. I'll get you something better next time." Jane bowed.
Tali looked between both of them confused "Wayne? I thought it was Shepard?"
John and Jane looked at each other and smiled "I take it you've never seen Batman then?" John asked as he looked back at Tali
"Wha..."
John held up a hand to stop her and his smile almost caused her to melt at the sight "Old vid from Earth. Could show it to you if you ever come by again."
Tali began wringing her hands again and speaking in a low tone "S-sure... I-I'd like that..."
John smiled as he went back to eating... whatever food he was eating - If it could even be called that - and gagging at how they managed to screw up the simplest foods of all time.
"So... you didn't answer my question on why you were here Tali." John said before hesitating to put some more food in his mouth.
"Hmm? Oh, ummm... well you see after I learned you were unconscious after the attack I just wanted to see you were safe. Of course your mom talked with mine and told her you had woken up so I wanted to come see you so I had to ask her if it was okay and she said it was and so she asked to come aboard into this-" She stopped as John began chuckling "What?"
"Oh nothing it's just that the way you talk and the things you do with your hands is kinda cute." He said smiling.
Cute? He thinks I'm cute?
Although neither human could see it, Tali was blushing behind her mask at being called that by John.
As John and Tali both talked with each other, Jane went back to look at Earth in the distance alongside all those Alliance and Migrant Fleet vessels, all seemingly helping each other, and she smiled at the sight not only in front, but also behind her.
Earth
Walking through the surprisingly wide halls of Earth's Embassy, the five Admirals were surprised at the hospitality this species had shown them. Whereas the Turians, Asari, Salarians - every species in fact - would have thrown them out, or shot them down, they had only received a few nasty glances from some humans, but not insulted or told to leave... at least yet.
Still, what was about to happen could either be the best thing to happen to the Migrant Fleet in over 300 years, or they could go back to living the way the always had.
As they entered a large, almost circular room, they saw several humans all sitting down and several guards at the doors. Counting them, they realized there were around 100 members there.
Keelah... Raan went tense at the sight.
One of the humans, who looked to be the main member - if there even was such a thing with them - stood from his chair and spoke first "Welcome, we apologize for dragging you down here, but circumstances made it necessary."
None of the Admirals spoke, instead looking at the humans nervously. Raan glanced at the others and realizing they wouldn't speak, she decided to speak first "Apologies are not necessary, we understand why you needed us to be down here instead. We also appreciate the hospitality you have shown us."
"We will never throw relations out the window because of reputations we haven't seen first-hand. We prefer the phrase 'Innocent until proven guilty' and, well, you haven't done anything to seem 'guilty' of earning your reputation." The human said.
"Also we have good relations with the Turians and, forgive my language, they are a pain in the ass for us. If we can have relations with them, then why not you as well?" Another human said.
"Yes" The main speaker said while shaking his head "We also wanted to thank you for your assistance on the Mindoir colony and for assisting the Einstein." An older human spoke, with a very different accent.
"Oh, well, we were in the system at the time and we heard the distress call so we decided to help." Raan spoke.
"Yes, but how convenient you were in the system at the time the Batarians attacked." Another human spoke, much younger yet still a much different accent that sounded quite raspy.
"Woah, we didn't have anyth-" Gerrel tried to speak, being cut off by Raan.
"We understand that you may believe we had something to do as we were in the system. But why would we try to start relations by getting so many humans killed?" Raan asked, to which several humans actually looked on in contemplation as they probably had the same objections.
Raan paced as she spoke "Besides, we also don't have a good history with Batarians. They attempted to attack us several years ago. They don't like us any more than they like you."
They saw as the humans began speaking amongst each other. It surprised them just how different they all sounded, most with different tones and accents.
Once all of the humans looked back at the Admirals, the main one spoke "We have decided to accept your reasoning. Now, we do have to know this. What exactly can you provide? We can provide you with supplies and better equipment since we know you could use it, but what can you give us if we accept?"
As Raan contemplated, she was surprised when Gerrel spoke first and in an optimistic tone "We could provide some good armaments and protection from our fleets."
Rael was the next to speak "And if I may say so, we do have some damn good engineers and scientists in the fleet."
Discussions continued for what felt like hours to all of them, the quarian Admirals and human ambassadors exchanging what they could provide and gain from this Alliance if it came to pass.
But still, Raan was quite optimistic. The fact they hadn't been laughed out of the room yet, and that the discussions were still ongoing was a huge relief as she believed their chances could indeed be somewhat good.
But Ancestors do they really have to bicker over each other as much as they have? Their own politics seem like almost the same as ours...
Once both groups had been satisfied, they all left with the human ambassadors having told them that they would reach out and relay their decision.
Raan decided to sit down at a bench near the shuttle bay as she waited for a shuttle back to the Tonbay looking up at the now night sky. She did have to admit that human homeworld was quite beautiful from space. But down here it was almost perfect, shining sun, green shrubbery, massive cities filled with life, and their moon shining brightly in the night.
She knew it could never compare to what Rannoch once was before their exile, but humans were well on their way to being almost as advanced as the quarians once were.
She suddenly felt someone sit down beside her and looked over to see Rael. He didn't say anything for a while, instead looking straight ahead.
After some time, Raan became annoyed at Rael's obvious want to talk about something and broke the silence between them "Something on your mind?"
Rael didn't speak, only looking at her as he tried to come up with words.
"Rael?"
He looked down and sighed "Do you truly think this is a good idea?" He asked.
Raan shook her head "Whether you like it or not, this could very well be the only chance we have at actually surviving." Raan stopped as she looked away "We are one hull breach away from extinction. Humans could be our only chance at surviving."
Raan looked back at Rael as he continued to look at the ground "But that's not what you wanted to ask. Was it?"
Rael's head shot up to look at Raan as she crossed her arms. He tried to speak but couldn't.
"Out with it." Raan ordered.
Rael mustered up enough courage to finally ask his question "How... how could I possibly say I'm sorry for not being there for them?"
Raan's arms went back to her sides and she sighed "Nila and Tali?" She asked to which Rael nodded "Quite honestly, I have no idea how you will do that. You've been so distant with them for so long that I'm simply not sure how you could make amends."
Rael's looked down at the ground again in shame "All you can do, is be there for them now. Before it becomes too late." She said.
A brief silence ensued before being broken by Rael "Think they'll forgive me?"
Raan shook her head "I have no idea. But it's worth a try."
Just then, a shuttle came above them and Raan stood up "Well, seems like that's my ride." She said as she walked over to where it would land.
Once the shuttle landed, she began stepping inside before stopping to look back at Rael who was watching her leave "Be the parent Tali needs, and the saera Nila needs. And soon, otherwise... Well, we don't know what the future holds."
Raan stepped into the shuttle and the door closed before it flied off into the sky leaving Rael to contemplate Raan's words. Alone.
ANN, April 17, 2170
This is Alliance News Network with a special broadcast! Today, April 17, 2170 at 15:00, a vote was held at the Earth Embassy in order to determine whether or not Humanity should ally with the newly met Quarians.
After the attack on Mindoir and the SSV Einstein, the Quarians allied with the survivors to fight back against the invading Batarian slavers successfully repelling their offensive and saving hundreds of colonists.
Now, they are currently stationed above Earth, having been waiting for Humanity's decision on this Alliance.
But the vote has concluded, and the verdict has been reached. There were 36 votes against relations with the Quarians. And there were 64 for starting relations with them.
In conclusion. Humanity has decided to create relations with the Migrant Fleet after such a huge vote, marking the second time Earth has allied with an alien species after the First Contact War.
This could mark the start of humanity's improvement in both our ships and defense and be the biggest push since we found the Mars archives, and the mass relays...
