Talimancer Book I: Reflection
By PurpleReignonHorses
So this Mass Effect fanfic will obviously be based on the TalixShepard romance. I have kind of lost interest in Mass Effect as a whole. Hence my other Mass Effect fanfic has kind of not had an update in a while. But I wanted to write this more fluff-based fanfic since I've always been a fan of the whole MEHEM ending personally. It starts right after Shepard and his various allies beat the Reapers and finally retake Earth. Shepard survives (obviously)
Story Legend
Bold and Underlined- Locations and Timestamps
Thoughts and Introductions- Italics
Actions- Normal Text
Communications- Bold and Italicized
Chapter I: Shepard..Reborn
Commander Alex Shepard had been gravely wounded in the gigantic battle to retake Earth from the Reaper fleet. The lone human had bravely withstood everything the Reapers had thrown at him and had blasted the Crucible to kingdom come. The Reapers were finally beaten. Though he had ordered the Normandy SR-2 to flee as soon as Admiral Hackett activated it, Joker had refused. Luckily for him, an Alliance dreadnought by the name of Odinson had bravely agreed to send a team to extract any survivors from the lone Citadel before it completely exploded. That was then they found both Captain Anderson and the human Spectre. Alex was, miraculously, still conscious and still had a heartbeat. He was in dire need of medical attention. Anderson was..unfortunately gone. That leads us now to an occupied hospital room in Mendoza Memorial Hospital on Earth.
Mendoza Memorial Hospital, Citadel
After the Battle of the Citadel
18 Hours Later
Alex let out a loud groan. There was a loud ringing in his ear. The voice of his mentor rang in his ear. You did it son. I'm proud of you. He suddenly woke up in a cold sweat. "What? Where? Who?" He looked down and saw he was dressed in a hospital gown of some kind.
Doctor Chakwas then walked in the room. The woman let out a gasp. "My god! You really survived!"
Alex rested a hand against his head and groaned. "Doctor...Chakwas? What the hell happened? What are you doing here?"
Doctor Chakwas gave him a small smile and shook her head smirking at him. "Did you really think Tali was going to allow anyone else to keep watch over you? You did it Shepard! You beat the Reapers!"
The woman then walked over to him. "How are you feeling?"
Alex then tried to get up out of bed and was shocked when he saw two robotic appendages where his real legs once stood. "What the hell happened to my legs? Why can't I move them?"
Doctor Chakwas let out a sad sigh. "I'm sorry Shepard. Your real legs were crushed beyond repair when the rubble of the Citadel collapsed on you."
Alex's eyes widened and darted around the room. Anderson? Where is he? "Where's the captain? He was with me on the Citadel." "I'm so sorry Shepard. Captain Anderson didn't make it. We managed to extract him but his injuries were..too severe."
Alex's eyes widened in horror. "No! That can't be true! I saw him! I saw…" Memories flashed in the young soldier's head. The last moments before he left Earth to desperately find support to fight the Reaper Invasion. The moment he was standing beside the captain when he had come back to the Citadel after his two-year absence. He then lowered his head in sorrow. Tears were forming out of his eyes. I..can't believe it. He's gone. His fists tightened.
Doctor Chakwas put a hand on the man's shoulder. "I..wasn't there but I know he was proud of you until the very end. He wanted you to survive. You were like a son to him." Alex nodded and wiped away some of the tears in his eyes.
The door then opened. Tali then walked in the room. The young admiral's eyes widened in shock. "Keelah! Shepard...you are alive! It's..a miracle."
Doctor Chakwas, noticing that the two lovers needed a moment, silently excused herself and walked out the door.
Alex gasped. He tried to form words but they had difficulty coming to his mouth. "Tali.." He stood up from the bed. The inexperience with the robotic appendages however, caused him to trip and fall forward.
Luckily, Tali was there to catch him and sit him back on the bed. She held him close to her for dear life. She was shaking and crying. "I..really thought that little moment we shared on the Normandy's ramp was the last time I'd ever see you alive again"
Alex let out a sigh and wrapped his arms around her. "Me too."
The quarian then turned his face to meet hers.
Alex felt himself recoil a bit when he saw the anger in her eyes.
" You..you bosh'tet! Don't you ever do that to me again! I told you that I wanted to be by your side! I made that decision to be with you no matter what we faced! Don't you ever leave me behind ever again! Do you understand me?"
Alex just nodded. "I do."
Tali let out a sigh of relief. The quarian was too grateful to be angry with him. "Good." She then removed her mask, pulled down her hood, and kissed him as passionately as she could. She rested a dextro-hand on his arm.
He rested a hand on hers.
They then separated from one another.
Tali then rested her hand on his chest. She then let out a sad sigh. "I'm sorry about Captain Anderson. He was a good friend. I liked him."
Alex began to absent-mindedly play with her long, lavender hair. "I..know. He was like a father to me. I...will miss him." He then turned her face to meet his. "So what are your plans now that the Reapers are beaten?"
Tali smiled at him as sweetly as she could. She then took his hands in hers. "My place is with you. My home is with you Shepard. Wherever you go...I go."
Alex stared at her in shock. "But what about the fleet? What about your people? Won't they need you to lead them?"
Tali then caressed his face with one dextro-hand. There was a warm look in her eyes that held back a lot of pain. There was a bitterness inherent in her tone. "Shepard...I sacrificed so much for my people. My father...my team on Haestrom...and it got me nothing. They even tried to put me on trial for treason for supposedly 'activating' live geth." She took his hands in hers. "Of course. I'll still come to Rannoch to visit Auntie Raan. But that is it."
Alex gasped. "I'm honored but why?"
The quarian laughed and then kissed him on the cheek. "Come now Shepard. You can't be surprised. You are the one man in my life who has never demanded anything of me. You have always stood by me." She let out a sigh. "I..remember when we reunited on Freedom's Progress and I found out you were working with Cerberus. I was so afraid then." A tear ran down her eye. Her voice was a bit shaky. "I..was so afraid that those xenophobic bastards had turned the human I had fallen in love with so long ago into one of them. I was so relieved when you reassured me that you were still...you. That the alliance you forged with Cerberus was...temporary and only done so you could continue to fight against the Reapers." She then hugged him close to her. "It..took a while for me to warm back up to you. But you were patient and we ended up together again. I wouldn't change that for the world."
Alex was speechless.. "Tali...I'm honored. You don't know how much that means to me." He then stared down at his legs and nervously chuckled. "I just wish I still had the use of legs. This is kind of embarrassing. I don't know if I want you seeing me like this. So..weak and defenseless."
Tali eyed him worriedly and shook her head emphatically. "Shepard...please. I don't care whether or not you are a parapalegic. You saved my people and gave us back our homeworld. More than that, you helped us forge a peace with the geth. Our sworn enemies. Quarian children now have a future on Rannoch and they owe that to you." The quarian looked him directly in the eyes with the most loving look in her eyes and wrapped her arms around him "You saved the Milky Way and have done more for the quarian people than any quarian in our people's history. I couldn't be more proud of you. I couldn't be more honored to be by your side."
Alex just caressed her cheek and laid his head back on the pillow. "Thanks!"
Tali'Zorah vas Normandy "Of course!"
The door then opened.
Garrus then walked in. The turian let out a dry chuckle. "Well...I see you two are catching up on lost times."
Alex's eyes widened. "Garrus!"
The turian chuckled. "Glad to see you are still in the land of the living there Commander. It is true. Nothing can kill you. Not even the Reapers. You had me scared for a bit there." He then extended his foregrips.
Alex then shook them. "Same here Garrus. That was a hell of a fight. One for the history books."
Garrus laughed. "Hopefully the last one."
The turian then saw the commander's amputated limbs. "Damn. I don't think you'll be reporting back to Alliance duty with those."
Alex looked down and chuckled. "Yeah I think my career of saving the galaxy has finally come to an end. This is going to be a challenge to deal with." He then let out a groan. "Damn it!"
Tali glanced at him reassuringly and took a hand in his. "Don't worry. I'll take care of you. I'll be by your side. We'll get through this together."
Garrus nodded. "I'll go tell the others they can come in as well. Good to see you alive Shepard."
Alex nodded. "You too Garrus." He then walked out of the room.
Liara then walked in. "Shepard! By the Goddess! When I saw the Crucible explode from the viewpoint of Normandy...I thought the worst. It's a blessed miracle you are still alive."
The human and asari then hugged one another.
Alex let out a chuckle. "What can I say? I'm immortal."
Liara laughed. "Of course you make a joke about it! Typical human response!" She then glanced at Tali. "Tali. It's good to see you."
Tali nodded. "You too Liara." The two women then hugged one another.
Normandy CIC, Normandy SR-2
As Tali wheeled the commander onto the CIC, the crew of the Normandy began to cheer.
Joker turned around in his seat. As he saw the commander in a wheelchair, the bearded man felt a bit of sympathy. He let out a loud chuckle. "Well well looks like we're both in the same boat huh."
Alex let out a chuckle. "Yeah. I guess so."
Admiral Hackett saluted the Commander out of respect. "Commander. You have got to be the luckiest son of a bitch in the world. I didn't think you'd survive. There has to be a God if you're still alive."
Alex chuckled sarcastically. "You know. You have a point. Maybe I'll read that Bible now."
The Admiral chuckled. "Heh, maybe so." He then turned his gaze to Tali. He then saluted the quarian admiral. "Tali'Zorah vas Normandy..on behalf of the surviving Alliance brass..I would like to thank you for all you've done for our species. You aided the Commander in stopping Saren, helped him fight the Collectors and stopped an immediate invasion of the Mu Relay. You even helped him defeat the Reapers. You stood by him even when a lot of his own kind did not. We are in your debt." He then rummaged in his pocket and pulled out the rusty and dented medal of honor. It had the Systems Alliance logo in the middle of it. "We've never presented the Medal of Honor to an alien before but I would like for you to be the first."
Tali blushed under her helmet, chuckled and stared down at her wheelchair bound boyfriend. "I'm honored Admiral Hackett but there is no need for such a medal. I love Shepard. He was kind enough to give me a second home on the Normandy SR-1 five years ago. He was there for me when the Admiralty Board accused me of treason and when my father died on the Alarei. He is the only reason my people have a homeworld back on Rannoch. Trust me when I say it has been my greatest pleasure to be at his side. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else." The quarian then laughed. Alexander needs some cheering up. I can see the sadness in his eyes. "Besides..I care deeply about the human race."
Alex looked up at her and then looked away blushing. "Hey, no fair! You can't use my own catchphrases against me!"
The quarian chuckled and shook her head laughing. Tali let out a chuckle. She then leaned in and whispered in a teasing tone.. "All is fair in love and war Shepard."
Joker just turned around and burst out laughing. "She's got you there Commander!"
The Commander then glared at Joker. "Joker! I swear to God! I will jump out of this chair and kill you with my bare hands!"
Lt. Commander Alenko then walked up to the two wheelchair-bound men laughing. "Haha! Ah Commander. Nothing changes that attitude of yours. Not even facing possible death a second time."
Alex just shook his head and groaned. "It's good to see you too, Kaidan."
Kaidan just smirked at him. "You know this is going in the history books. Commander Alexander Ramon Shepard of the Alliance Navy. Hero of the Citadel, Uniter of Peace, Savior of the Milky Way. You are going to have so many medals pinned on that chest of yours you won't have room. I'm jealous. I just got to be the second human Spectre in Alliance history."
Alex glanced at him incredulously. "I'm just one soldier."
Kaidan just shook his head smiling. "Not my point Shepard. Why are you always so humble?"
Liara, who was leaning against the wall, shook her head smiling. " Kaidan has a point Shepard. You connected with not one but two Prothean beacons and lived to tell the tale about it. Do you not realize how incredible of a feat that is?"
Javik then nodded. "The asari speaks the truth Commander. The fact remains that the beacons were meant for Protheans only. You were of a primitive species. You were not supposed to be able to understand any of it yet you managed to survive the experience despite the odds against you." Javik then turned to face the Commander and took a knee in honor of him. "I am not one to give honor or credence to a lesser species but I will make this the one exception. You have done what my people couldn't in all the years we had our empire. You united every organic and synthetic species in this life cycle and beat the Reapers for good. You are the one human in the galaxy I respect. Thank you for allowing me to avenge my fallen people."
Commander Shepard half-smirked at the man and saluted with a hand. "Wow. Actual praise from you Javik. I'm impressed."
Javik just shrugged. "I see no reason for laughter. I am merely stating a fact." He then sighed. "Now that my purpose as the arbiter of vengeance has been fulfilled…I will be leaving for Tuchanka soon. Wrex said my experiences as a soldier would be of great benefit to him and his clan."
Alex just nodded. "Of course Javik. Thank you for everything you have done for us. We couldn't have done it without you."
Javik just nodded blankly. "I will remember you all fondly." He then walked off without a word."
Liara just chuckled. "Typical Prothean. Never one to emote." She then glanced at Shepard. "So..how bad are your injuries Commander?"
The Commander just sighed and held his head down. As much as he hated to admit..he had to be honest with his crew. They all had literally ridden with him from hell and back. "The rubble from the Citadel crushed the bones in my legs to pieces. They are saying I am never going to walk ever again. Both the Citadel and Alliance military are giving me an honorable discharge. Full honors."
Garrus sighed and placed a hand on the Commander's shoulder. Damn all that work beating the odds at every turn and beating the Reapers…only to lose it all because of chance. "I'm sorry Shepard. That can't be easy to come to terms with."
Alex shook his head. "No need. You know as well as I do Garrus that the price of war is sometimes a heavy one. I'd rather be stuck in a wheelchair than be living in a world where the Reapers regained control.
Liara gasped in shock. "That's terrible. Maybe there is something I can do for you. Something we haven't tried."
Alex turned his head up to look at her and sighed. "I…appreciate the offer Liara but there is nothing you can do medically. At the most, I could invest in some artificial limbs but that is it."
Liara nodded sadly. "I understand. My condolences Shepard." She then turned to Tali. "Are you going to be his official caretaker now?"
The quarian eagerly nodded. "Yes. I am. I've already filled in the 18-SD forms and transmitted them to Alliance Command."
Liara nodded, smiling. "I see. Take care of him. The galaxy needs its hero alive."
Tali nodded. "I'll lay my life down on the line for him if I have to."
Let me know what y'all think!
