The flight up to the live ship had been entrancing. The Quarian fleet's numbers were speculated about in the Alliance, but looking now at the thousands of vessels outside the Normandy's view port… she had a funny feeling their numbers concerning the flotilla were grossly underestimated. There were fighters darting about running drills, cargo barges, cruisers, and live ships spun slowly and serenely with battleships flanking each one. The Quarians suffered few outsiders into the flotilla for more than just trade. So despite the weight of anxiety in her gut for Tali's fate, there was also a jumpy excitement coursing through her.
"Tali," Shepard watched her friend pace and wring her hands. The docking procedure was taking forever, it had been 15 minutes before clamps engaged, and it would be another 20 minutes of suit scrubbing as they passed through to the Rayya's inner corridors according to their engineer.
She grabbed the quarian's forearms as she moved by. "We're with you. I promise I'll give everything I can to make this right."
"I know Shepard. I know. Just… I'm facing exile. Never to see my Father again… my friends?" Tali's voice was wavering.
There was nothing to be said to comfort. So Shepard tipped her head and touched her helmet visor to Tali's.
The engineer sighed. "I wish Liara could have stayed for this. She's always so calm. It would have been nice to have our girl group back together again. No offense, Garrus."
"None taken."
She and Garrus had had to take their hard suits off for decon and as their armor was sprayed, they were both attacked by respective teams of quarians to scrub them down. By the time they got rekitted and stepped through the airlock with Tali, Shepard was already annoyed. If she'd known that was going to happen she'd have just walked over naked. The quarian quarantine team had rubbed her raw, and the under-suit was now chafing away what little of her skin remained.
"Damndable freaking brushes," She murmured and wriggled, trying to re-situate the suit as the lock cycled.
Garrus turned an eye down on her. "I thought that was lovely. I haven't had my plates wire brushed since I lived on Palaven."
Shepard shot him back an incredulous look.
"What?"
The airlock opened, allowing the three into the inner halls of the Rayya. The corridor was shockingly large compared to the SR2, and crowded. Many quarians bustled by, on their way to whatever destinations. There was a line of men and women in gold and black suits on either side of the door that snapped to a recognizable attention as they strode onto the metal floors.
A tall quarian stood in front of them in the passageway. He dwarfed her and Tali. "Captain Shepard. Tali'Zorah has told me much about you, I wish we were meeting under more pleasant circumstances." He bowed slightly, hunching forward with broad shoulders. "I am Captain Kar'Danna of the Rayya. Welcome to our ship."
"Thank you and likewise. Tali has saved many lives aboard the Normandy. I'm here to return the favor."
"Understandable. As Captain of the vessel Tali'Zorah serves on, your voice carries weight here. He turned to address Tali, the bright hall lighting glinting off of a round crest in the midst of his chest harness. "I wish I could do more to help. The trial requires that I be officially neutral but… I'm here, if you need to talk."
Tali stepped forward. "What am I charged with?"
He hesitated. "They are charging you with bringing active geth into the fleet."
"What?! That's insane! I never brought active geth onboard! I only sent back parts and pieces!" She rocked her head. "Unless… something was only damaged and not permanently inactive... no, no, I was careful, I triple checked EVERYTHING. There's no way."
"I'm under orders to place you under arrest. I'm sorry Tali, we confine you to this ship until the trial is over." The Captain bowed his head, talking more to the floor than to Tali. "They are aware you are here. The trial is being held in the garden plaza. They are already preparing to start." He stepped to the side and held an arm out down the hall.
She and the Commander both muttered expletives under their breaths.
Shepard followed Tali through a maze of hallways, Garrus right behind her. It was hard to stay focused on the trial though when presented with so many colorful beings. The environmental suits varied wildly, different helmet shapes and sash colors crossed them in the halls. Some were adorned with long slitted skirts and herding around younglings. At some point they passed by a tiny, pale baby being carried in a bubble, and even though she tried not to stare, the sight dragged her in. It was so small, it's wide eyes serenely closed and intricate black markings on it's stark white forehead. Her first glimpse of a quarian outside their suit. The galaxy lauded the humans their large range of dimorphism, but the different heights and builds of the Quarians suggested they were just as diverse. The Normandy's crew were quiet compared to the whispering and murmuring as they walked. She caught Tali's name more than once in rather unquiet chatter as they moved.
"Auntie Raan!" Tali took off at a trot and launched herself at a slightly taller woman in a lovely silver and ruby suit just outside a large chamber.
"Tali'Zora vas Normandy, I'm so happy to see you. I could only delay them so long." The two women hugged tightly.
"Wait, Vas Normandy?" Tali pulled away from her.
The woman let out a sigh. "I'm afraid so. The Admiralty board put forward a move to have you tried under that name, since your departure from the Neema."
"What?!"
"I take it being associated with a human ship is a bad sign?" Shepard stepped up next to her friend.
Tali faced her. "They stripped me of my ship's name! That's as good as declaring me an exile already!" She wailed and brought a palm up to her visor. "Keelah…" She shook her head. "Shepard vas Normandy, this is Admiral Shala'Raan vas Tonbay. She's a friend of my father's."
Shepard bowed as the Captain had earlier and the woman mirrored it. "You're an Admiral, does that mean you are one of the judges?"
"Unfortunately, no. My history with Tali and her father forced me to recuse myself of the proceedings. I am still moderating and ensuring rules are followed, but I have no vote in the judgement." Raan sighed.
"Which means father is recused." Tali breathed quietly.
The taller woman folded her arms. "You'll understand once you are inside, Tali."
"Does the accused get a defense counselor?" Shepard asked.
The Admiral turned her gaze on her. "Indeed she does, Captain Shepard. Tali is now a part of your crew by Quarian law. Accused are always represented by their ship's Captain."
The N7 and Tali shared looks.
"So… you'll actually speak in my defense." Tali sounded shell shocked. About how she was feeling too.
"Shit… I'm not prepared… but I'll do everything I can Tali." Shepard swiveled back to Raan. "I don't know Quarian law, stripping her of her ship name is putting her at a tremendous disadvantage!"
Raan nodded. "I recognize that. But our rules are simple. Present the truth to the best of your abilities. There are no legal tricks or political loopholes to exploit here like there are in human society."
The soldier had a sinking suspicion that couldn't possibly be true.
"Now, I promised I would not delay you. The Admiralty wishes to proceed immediately, follow me." Raan turned and walked into the large room in front of them.
"'You'll see'? What kind of answer is that?" The Commander looked at her friend.
Tali threaded a hand through her elbow. "I don't know, Shepard."
The three proceeded into the chamber, following Shala'Raan down tiered steps until they reached a raised podium at the bottom of the rounded area. The walls were covered with colorful plants, green and maroon vines roped across the ceiling tiles. There were a few Quarians sat at a ledge overhanging the platform. Other than the greenery, it was a room remarkably similar to a human assembly hall. Hundreds of quarians were already sitting along the tiers, and the many that were traversing the corridor were now packing in behind them.
"Shit… we don't know anything and we are going straight into this…" Shepard mumbled as they approached the stand. Garrus laid a gauntlet on her shoulder, and Tali had a death grip on her arm.
Raan took the stairs on the side of the auditorium and stood just behind three quarians on the ledge above them. All of them had a similar suit to the ship's Captain, with even bigger rounded medals on their chest harnesses.
Shala' Raan raised her arms and the roomful of chatter ceased. "I now call this Conclave to order. Blessed are the ancestors who kept us alive and sustained us, enabling us to reach this season. Keelah Se'Lai."
The room murmured along as she spoke, like a prayer.
"The accused, Tali'Zorah vas Normandy, has come with her Captain to defend herself against the charge of treason." Raan shuffled uncomfortably on the podium.
"Objection!" One of the three Admirals stuck his hand in the air, a smaller man wearing fushia scarves and waist belts. He pointed at the Commander. "A human has no business at a hearing involving such sensitive military matters!"
Man, she couldn't have agreed more with that statement. Shepard briefly wondered how loud he would scream if he knew about Legion over on the Normandy.
Raan sounded agitated. "Then you should not have declared Tali crew of the Normandy, Admiral Koris. By right as Tali's Captain, Shepard must stay. Captain Shepard, your crew member Tali'Zorah has been accused of treason. What say you?"
Shepard had a moment of blind panic. "Tali'Zorah has always been a proud and loyal member of the Migrant Fleet, honored to call herself vas Neema. It's a damn shame that her own people have chosen to demonize a hero of the Battle of the Citadel, to the point where even her own ship's Captain has been forbidden to speak for her!" So, she let her anger carry her a little. The crowd murmured loudly behind them. That had been good, right?
Koris jumped up and leaned over the barrier, stabbing a finger in the air wildly at her. "Nobody has been forbidden from any-"
The Admiral next to him stood and got in his face. "Lie to them if you must Zaal'Koris, but do not lie in front of me and expect me to stay silent! The human is right!" The room was in a tizzy behind them. Garrus swiveled left and right to look across the quarians.
Raan held up both hands again, trying to regain order. "Admiral's please! We appreciate Captain Shepard's willingness to represent Tali'Zorah in this hearing."
"This trial is a farce. You haven't even divulged the nature of your levy against Tali. We are caught blindsighted with no information and forced to stand here - to what end?" Shepard boomed. The room chatter started up again.
The last Admiral stood, a female. "To clarify, Tali is being accused of bringing active geth into the Migrant fleet. Not whole units, but pieces capable of spontaneously re-activating."
Tali took a step forward. "I have sent parts to my father at his request. But I would never send back active geth. Everything I sent was triple checked to be disabled and harmless."
Koris interrupted her. "Then explain how geth seized the lab ship your father was working on!"
Tali balked, it was obvious even despite her helmet. "What?! What happened?"
The other male Admiral spoke up. "As far as we can tell, geth have killed everyone on the Alarei, Tali. Your father included."
Tali stood in shock, her glowing eyes wide inside the fog of her mask. "No...no… Keelah," Her voice trembled. The people behind them were getting out of control.
Shepard slammed her palms on the podium. "I thought quarians valued family! How dare you spring this on her in the middle of this trial?!" The room quieted.
Raan hesitated, a familiar wringing of hands followed. "We apologize - Tali should have been informed."
Yeah no shit, and she herself had had the perfect opportunity before they'd even stepped into this auditorium.
Tali grabbed her arms. "Shepard, please, please, we must take back the Alarei!"
Koris brought a hand up to his helmet. "We should destroy the ship... However, if you are looking for an honorable death instead of exile…"
Her engineer stood against the banister and pointed her finger right back at the bastard. "I'm looking for my father, you Bosh'tet!" She yelled up at him. The murmuring kicked back up.
Raan raised placating hands. "Taking back the Alarei is a dangerous proposition."
"And still sounds better than standing here listening to this joke of a hearing. We will take our chances with the geth. If you doubt her loyalty so much, killing a few more geth won't sway you anyway." Shepard barked.
Koris leaned over the railing "We do not accuse Tali of aiding the geth, we accuse her of carelessness leading to the death of hundreds of quarians, including her own father!" Judging by the man's vehemence, she was superb at digging at his sore spots already. Shepard smirked inside her helmet. He was certainly already on her shit list too.
Raan spoke over them both. "It is decided then! You intend to take back the Alarei. You are hereby given leave of the Rayya. A shuttle will wait in the secondary docking hangar. Be safe, Tali'Zorah. This hearing will resume upon your return, or upon the determination that you have been killed in action."
People began filing out of the room, including the Admirals who all stepped off the dais and through a side door. Geeze, at least it had been fast - unlike Earth hearings.
Shepard jerked her head. "Come on Tali, we'll get that damn ship back and then some."
Her engineer laid a hand on her forearm, stopping her from walking away. "Wait. Thank you Shepard, I'm glad you agreed with me on that, but we should go speak to the Admirals while they are recessed, it will help us see what their viewpoints are."
"I'm pretty sure I already see Koris's." Shepard huffed.
"They sound so sure that my father is dead… but we won't know anything until we go over there. He might still be alive." Tali was back to wringing her hands.
"How are you holding up? That was a lot of fire they threw at you." Garrus rumbled.
"Yeah and that was before they even told you about your father." Shepard put a hand on Tali's shoulder.
Tali sighed. "I thought it would be bad. But I guess no one is ever ready to be charged with treason."
Garrus nodded. "Lets go find the Admirals and get to the Alarei as soon as we can."
On their way to the Admiral's courtyard they passed Veetor, the jumpy quarian they had rescued on Freedom's Progress. God, that seemed like an eternity ago.
Shepard leaned in to Tali. "That's a good sign, right? He said he and Reegar are here to plead to the Admirals on your behalf? I bet we could even convince Reegar to do it publicly."
Raan must have expected them. She came right up to Tali as soon as she saw them, but Tali spoke first. "You set me up Shala! And you told Captain Danna not to say anything either! I don't find out that my father may be dead until the trial? Why?!" It was rare to see the engineer so angry.
"Tali, I realize you are mad. But the Admiral's needed to hear the shock in your voice. That was the only way they would have agreed to let you go to the Alarei, and the Alarei is the only place you'll be able to find evidence to exonerate you!" Raan held out pleading hands.
"I understand your position, but that was still way over the line." Shepard interjected.
"She has no one else to speak for her, and I cannot be involved. I couldn't afford sensitivity. And it worked. I was there when her mother gave birth. We sync'ed our suits so I could be with her in the open air chamber. I was sick for a week, but it was worth it. It was me who took Tali from her mother to put her in the bubble. I must protect her Captain Shepard, for her father's sake."
Tali waved in frustration. "Don't talk like that! We don't know that he is dead!"
"I am sorry Tali… sorry about all of this. That it had to be this way." The Admiral's voice wavered.
"Is there anything you can tell us about the Alarei?" Garrus asked.
"Not much. Rael'Zorah only said he was researching new defense technology." Raan looked to Tali.
"He told me he needed geth parts and pieces. I assumed he was testing weapon effects on geth components." Tali propped a palm on her visor.
Shala'Raan nodded. "We knew nothing until we received a distress signal from the Alarei just before their coms went dead. We didn't even know about the geth until a boarding team was attacked. The marines that survived and escaped saw bodies in the halls. We must assume the worst."
Shepard paced a few strides. "Damn. So we don't have any idea a how many there are. We need to find evidence that would be swaying - shipping manifests and inventory data on the parts Tali sent, and records of Rael's experiments. That would show how careful she was."
"Yes. Anything to prove this was all just a horrible unforeseen mistake." The Admiral murmured.
"So what's really going on here. The way the Admirals were arguing makes it seem like this whole hearing is just a smoke screen for something else." The Commander folded her arms.
Raan blinked a few times. "You caught that? Yes. The geth make this a touchy issue." She paused. "The Admiralty board is trying to determine if we should focus on… colonial developments, or try to retake the Homeworld."
Shepard didn't reign in her gasp fast enough. Fuck. Not now, not with the Reapers coming. And nothing she would say would stop it. It wasn't like the universe believed they were a threat. Behind her, Garrus started that humming chest noise. But instead of calming, as it usually was - it was annoying that he could tell how much that statement had freaked her out, even with a mask on.
"You are thinking of war, with the geth? Now?!" Tali sounded just as shocked as she felt, at least.
"The Quarian fleet is impressive, but you can't take on the geth." Shepard mumbled.
Shala'Raan paced a few steps this time. "We grow tired of wandering the stars, Shepard. We want our world back. We've been punished enough. This is not my opinion… I am just telling you which way the recycler is blowing."
Her insides were screaming. The small spark of hope she'd had as they flew up to the Fleet, that maybe they'd have the firepower to stop the Reapers if the Quarians joined the cause… was so quickly stamped out. War. "Come on Tali, let's talk to the rest so we can go kick some geth ass."
Legion.
The queasy feeling in her stomach turned into outright nausea as they spoke to the Admiral that had fought with Koris, Han'Gerrel. He was affable and praised her for taking the piss out of Koris. But he was the warmonger. Raan had seemed undecided. Further speaking with Admiral Koris revealed that even though he was a blowhard up on the stand - he was on the side of peace. He understood that the geth had done what they had to to live. Despite herself, she actually liked the guy. The last Admiral, Admiral Xen, had just replaced Tali's own father. And while it was interesting that the quarians had elected a diversely opinionated board of leadership… Xen was the most unhinged of the bunch. Talking with her uncovered her lofty dreams of re-subjugating the entirety of the geth.
None of this had ever been about Tali. It was a power play to get a rise out of the quarian masses. To incite fear and blame in order to start a war and get their hands on whatever precious weapons research Tali's father had cost them.
Over on the Alarei, the evidence only proved how much deeper the quarian plot went. Every step the trio took through the small ship Shepard had wished they'd had Legion with them. He'd have made the fight so much easier. His hacking ability on his own kind was unparalleled on the mission to rescue David Archer.
As Tali sobbed over her father's body, The Commander tried to wrestle up some empathy. Really, truly, tried and her heart sank for her friend, but only emptiness filled her - even as Tali cried inside the circle of her arms.
War.
What was the point of saving the colonists from the Collectors again? All this effort would go to hell as soon as the Quarians pulled the trigger. The Reapers would come after they and the geth destroyed each other.
Later, while Tali was busy downloading everything off of her father's console, Garrus leaned in off coms. "Are you alright? You've been uncharacteristically quiet." He murmured.
His voice dragged her out of her circular thoughts. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine Big Guy. Just. Thinking."
"I don't buy that for a minute. Your BP has been elevated since we last spoke with Shala'Raan. "
"You and that damned visor." She huffed.
"War with the geth. That's what you are thinking about. And the Reapers."
"Do you think they'll do it?" Shepard whispered.
"I don't know. Maybe. But remind me to give you a fly by of the Hierarchy's armada once this is all over. That will bring your spirits up. The Quarian's are not the only species with firepower."
His humming confidence brought a bit of a smile back. "Why am I picturing tiny baby Garrus flying around toy spaceships and dreaming about becoming a fighter pilot?"
He straightened and cleared his throat. "Probably because that is extraordinarily accurate." His sub vocals warbled.
"Aw, don't be embarrassed. I wanted to be a fighter pilot too."
He turned to look at her, but his mirrored visor hid his expression.
Tali's anguished speech cut over them on coms. "I don't understand… by the logs we've found… my father was purposefully ignoring code, bypassing security protocols we've stood by for generations - and assembling geth and neural linking them on purpose! All so he could test out a virus?!"
Shepard walked up next to her engineer.
"That breaks our most sacred laws! Laws we have upheld since before the geth drove us from the Homeworld!" Tali paced erratically, both palms on her forehead. "Everything here was his fault! When this comes up at trial… Keelah, Shepard." As she swiveled and they both locked eyes. "Shepard, we can't tell them. Not the Admirals, not anyone!" Hysteria drove her into a fevered pitch The Commander had not heard from her before.
"Tali, without this evidence you are looking at exile!" Shepard gestured at the log.
"You think I don't know that?! You think I want to live, knowing I will never see the Fleet again?!" Tali's voice broke as she screeched. "But I cannot go back into that room and say my father was the worst war criminal my people have ever known!"
"Tali, calm down, think rationally about this! You heard your Father, he didn't want you embroiled in any of these politics. Rael'Zorah doesn't need you to worry about him anymore." There was an argument to be made that if he didn't want to endanger his daughter, he wouldn't have done any of this. And he damn sure wouldn't have done it with parts she'd sent him. Hopefully, Tali wouldn't go there.
The tears were apparent in the quarian's speech. "You don't understand, Shepard. They would strike his name from the manifest of every ship he ever served on! He would be worse than an exile. He would be a traitor to our people, a monster talked about in stories for children! I can't let all the good he has done be destroyed over this Shepard, I just…. I just can't!"
"Tali…"
The engineer wrapped arms around her neck, speaking softer. "Please, Shepard. You are my Captain. It's your decision, but please - don't destroy what my father was. Come on, we need to get back before they assume we are dead."
Garrus's soothing vocals oscillated through the shuttle, but he was silent otherwise. Tali sat with her helmet in her hands. And Shepard was smack dab in the middle of an impossible situation, and couldn't even force herself to think of a way out of it. The possibility of a large-scale galactic war that could wipe The Perseus Veil clean off the map - interrupted every thought she wrangled. Her brain felt like mush as she stepped back onto the live ship.
Until they walked out of the shuttle… and the amplified voices of the Admirals floated out to the hanger.
"It's only been a few hours!" Shala'Raan's spoke desperately.
Koris's voice was quieter, more muffled. "We need to face facts, it's been hours with no word. There is no reason to think they survived. It's a pity that Captain Shepard vas Normandy is a better speaker than a soldier."
Wow, okay, Koris just moved back onto the shit list, peace or no peace.
"Shepard, they already started!" Tali took off at a run down the corridor, with the Commander hot on her heels. They had to pass the courtyard and run down the length of the hall outside the auditorium to traipse back down the tiered stairs to the bottom. Shepard paused at the top as Tali jogged down. There were far more bodies crammed in here this time. Hundreds upon hundreds of quarians were sitting and standing in the room. The throng was boisterous while the Admirals were speaking over them. She and her engineer both had to push through people to get to the dais.
Tali marched right up to the podium. "Sorry we're late." She was definitely mad, the comment laced with vehemence and sarcasm.
Good.
"Didn't waste much time declaring us dead, huh Koris? Go get your damned ship." The urge to tear her helmet off and yell in the bastard's face was hard to stamp down as she walked the last few steps.
Gerrel leaned his palms on the railing in front of him. "We… apologize, Captain Shepard." He threw an obviously scathing look at Koris despite their helmets. "Your success in reclaiming the Alarei is… unexpected."
"Success is my job. Let's get this over with. Every minute you detain my crewman costs human lives in the Terminus." Shit, she had no plan here. She leaned both palms on the surface of the lectern.
"Does Captain Shepard have additional evidence to submit to the Admirals?" Raan didn't disguise the hope in her voice.
Tali's head whipped to make eye contact with her. "Shepard, please."
Christ. "You know what? No. I don't. Because I won't play along with this farce of a trial! Tali's achievements and record of conduct are the only proof you need. Come on Tali, we're leaving." Shepard turned.
"What?!" Raan sounded devastated.
Koris stood. "Tali is confined to this ship, this is a formal proceeding, you are not permitted to leave!"
"NO!" Shepard shouted. "This is an embarrassment! This is a con job on the people in this room!" The Commander waved a hand to gesture at all the people present behind her, pointing a finger at Gerrel and then Koris. "And I will not let her be used as a pawn in your warmongering." The room exploded in voices.
Koris sputtered magnificently. God, she wished she could see his face. "What?!"
"You are using this trial as a cover up for the experimenting you've let happen behind closed doors and now are using the geth's presence to incite fear in your own people! If you want to murder your people chasing a pipe dream because you can't let centuries old grudges against the geth die, then so be it. But leave Tali out of it."
Han'Gerrel was the next to stutter. "That... your accusations are-"
"They are correct!" She turned to the murmuring behind her. "Look at the people you've elected. They don't care about Tali. All they care about is the geth! Tali is a hero, she has saved countless lives of all species in her actions during the Battle of the Citadel and is helping me now to end the Collector threat to the Terminus! No one in this room has ever known her as anything but a kind, loving, friend. You know it and I know it." Many of the audience were now standing and talking.
Shala'Raan was holding up her arms. "Order!"
Koris spoke over the din. "If you have no new evidence, the Admirals should render judgement-"
Kaal'Reegar pushed through to the front of the dais, his voice booming through his modulator. "Tali has done more for the Fleet than any of you Bosh'tets have ever done! This trial is pissing on every marine that died on Haestrom protecting Tali so she could gather the information you asked for. If you exile her, you had better be prepared to exile me too."
Bless him, that really got the throng going. The Admirals all seemed shocked, rooted in place as they looked out across the sea of bodies. Shepard glanced around, she'd thought Garrus had been right behind them as they came down the stairs. A familiar blue peeked through the multitudes of enviro-suits. Ah, there he was, sitting at the top of the auditorium looking down.
Many minutes passed before Raan got the room back under control. Minutes where the Commander contemplated just leaving entirely. She'd like to see anyone try to stop them. Hmph. The rest of the Admirals were staying awfully quiet… a fact that made dread build inside her chest.
Eventually the room subdued at least enough for Shala'Raan to be heard. When she next spoke it was hard to tell if the tone was more weary or more relieved. "Tali'Zorah. In light of your history of service, the Admirals do not find sufficient evidence to convict. You are cleared of all charges and free to return to the Normandy."
A cheer raised in the assembly and many people pressed in to congratulate Tali. Shepard ducked to squeeze in between two large men in the same suit as Reegar, to traipse up to her sniper's position.
"Whatcha doing up here Big Guy?" She bent to sit next to him.
"I figured that whatever was about to come out of your mouth here was bound to be viral video, so I needed a good spot to record."
She snorted. "You think you know me so well."
"Because I do. Cram Commander Shepard into a room full of idiots and she will never disappoint you." There was a smile in those words even if she couldn't see it.
"Yeah? And how'd I do?"
He gave her a thumbs up.
Shepard rested her chin in her hand. "Just between you and me, I can't fucking believe that worked. I considered throwing her dad under the bus. Who cares about some dead guy, save your own skin."
"You would never. Tali is way too cute for you to betray." He hummed.
"Shut up." She pushed his pauldron away while he chuckled. "Come on, let's get out of here. This has been a monumental waste of my time." She grumbled.
