Tali'Zorah vas Neena, SR-2 Normandy, Cockpit

"And we are through the- Holy crap!" Joker sputtered as the Normandy dropped from the relay.

His response was not uncommon. The sight of fifty thousand ships, all sizes, from all races, all eras. From the massive rotating orb of the three quarian Live Ships, to the blocky, heavily armored form of krogan warships. More than a dozen human ships mixed in as well.

The sight would, under normal circumstances, have warmed Tali's heart. But, instead, now it filled her with cold dread.

"It's beautiful, in its way," John said from behind her. And she could only nod as she instinctively shuffled a little closer to him.

"It is," she agreed. "Seventeen million quarians. Home. Family. This may be the last time I see it."

"Hey, don't say that Tal-ster!" Kasumi walked up next to her and grinned. For once the human didn't just decloak dramatically. Tali noticed a helmet in her hands and looked at the human questioningly. "What? Didn't think I was going to let my favorite alien go out there alone, did ya? If nothing else, watching Shep kick there asses into their helmets should be entertaining!"

"Kasumi!" Tali sputtered. "We will be doing nothing of the sort!"

"No, but she did distract you," John chuckled. When...when did she begin to think of him as John?

With a wry shake of her head she turned to look at the human.

"You're sticking your tongue out at me, aren't you?" Kasumi smirked.

"Ho..how could you possibly have known that!" Tali stepped back in shock, almost into John….

"Body language," the thief shrugged. "Gotta learn how to read it in my line of work. And in those suits where you can't see each other's faces, your body language expresses a lot."

"Guys," Joker cut in. "Sorry to break up your little pajama party, but the moment we dropped from the relay, we lite up like Jack on taco night."

"What?" Tali frowned. Human ideaums were very strange at times.

"We've been tagged with targeting solutions from probably three quarters of the fleet," John explained.

Tali nodded. It made sense, considering the ship she was on. "You didn't need to come J-Shepard. I could have booked passage on another ship. I'm taking you away from the mission."

A hand dropped onto her shoulder and gently, but firmly, turned her until she faced him. Faced John. His expression was a mix of hurt, worry and hope. For her. She knew. She could feel it.

"Tali, you are the mission," John said firmly. "I'm doing this for the people I...care about. Without you, I would never have come back to life."

Her eyes were wide as she stared into his ocean blue ones. They held so much of her soul in them. She...could she...should she tell him what it meant?

"Okay, that was sappy," Joker huffed. "I think I got a cavity just from listening to it."

"Cavity?" Tali grabbed hold of the change of subject. "What is that?"

"Oh," Kasumi shrugged. "Too much sugar can damage our teeth, maybe even making little holes. Cavities."

With a frown, Tali glanced back to John, to see if Kasumi was poking fun at her again. There was a point that the young woman had convinced her that there was a second intelligent species on earth that lived secluded in deep mountains called a 'bigfoot'. And that there were giant flying lizards that could breathe fire.

"Yeah," John shrugged. "Has the potential to permanently damage the tooth so it needs to be removed and a replacement made."

"Your teeth….don't grow back?" Tali was a bit perplexed.

John smiled and shrugged. "Nope."

"Sorry to break in folks," Joker waved a hand. "But, we're being hailed."

"Let's hear it Joker," John turned forward, business again.

"Incoming ship, you are on a direct course for the Quarian Migrant Fleet. Come to a stop and state your business or you will be fired upon." The quarian male spoke firmly, yet politely. It made Tali remember when Wrex had brought her back after...well, after.

"This is Tali'Zorah vas Neema, I am returning under request from the Admiralty Board," she looked straight ahead at the Fleet. The Admiralty Board. But nothing from her father. No condemnations for whatever brought the charges. No words of support. He hadn't even signed the return order with the other admirals. Granted he would have to recuse himself from the proceedings, but so did Shala, and she had at least signed the order.

There was a brief pause before the quarian came back. "We are showing your ship to be flagged Cerberus. Please verify."

"After time adrift among open stars, along tides of light and shoals of dust, I will return to where I began," the pass phrase was originally her mother's. Her mother had a poet's soul along with her gentle heart. Ancestors….please don't let her see me now….

"Your passphrase clears. Sending you quardanents to the Rayya. My ship, the…*ahem* Dancing Unicorn, will escort you in. Keelah Se'lai."

Silently, Joker turned to look at the small group behind his chair. The grin on the man's face was ridiculously large.

In response, Tali just jabbed a finger forward, pointing to the converted human light freighter that took position twelve degrees off port.

Slowly, Joker's head drifted back behind his chair.

"Um," Kasumi cleared her throat.

With a sigh, Tali dropped a hand over her visor. "We buy or salvage ships. Changing the registry is difficult and not worth the time or credits. There is a wide array of names from pretty much every species."

Then, as something important occurred to her, Tali looked over at John. "If...if we meet Admiral Zal'Korris….don't ask about his ship name. Please? As a favor?"

"Umm...okay…."

John Shepard, Quarian Migrant Fleet, Live Ship Rayya

Tali led the small team onto the Rayya. It seemed prudent, considering the purpose of the visit. Being greeted by a decontamination team was interesting, but expected. He, Garrus, and Kasumi all stood with their arms outstretched as the quarians gave them a once, or in Garrus's case a three time over with the decon gear.

"Really," the turian sighed deeply as he turned for the third scan.

"Turians and quarians share amino types," the no nonsense decon operator nodded. "Humans don't. Your germs are more dangerous."

"Oh...makes sense," Garrus shrugged.

"Clean, go in," the operator nodded as he stepped back and began putting away his equipment. "Keelah Se'lai."

Looking around the docking area, John was amazed. He had been told that the Live Ships were among the oldest in the Fleet, but the Rayya didn't look like it. The decks were clean and well maintained, even in the dim light that quarian's prefered.

He opened his mouth to ask Tali a question, but he saw her tense. Following her gaze, he saw a three quarians approaching them. The male in the middle stood slightly taller than Tali, but from the blue of his realk, and Tali's crash course on quarian colorings, John knew that he was a captain.

"Tali'Zorah," the male stopped before the group, giving each party member a casual look before focusing of the woman in question and giving a slight bow. "Welcome back to the Rayya."

"Captain Kar'Danna vas Rayya," Tali bowed in response. "Allow you to introduce you to Commander John Shepard. With me is Lieutenant Commander Garrus Vakarian, and Specialist Kasumi Goto."

Each member bowed as they were introduced, meeting the same from Kar'Danna. "I am pleased to meet you. I am simply sorry that it is under these circumstances."

"I would wish that as well," John stepped forward to stand beside Tali. "Is there anything you can tell us about the circumstances?"

Kar'Danna looked up at John for a moment before shifting his eyes to one side, indicating the guards with him. "Unfortunately, there is not. As Captain, it is my duty to greet you. I am, annoyingly, unable to offer much but my sympathy and support. I am also under orders myself to place you under arrest upon your arrival."

The two guards with Kar'Danna began to step forward, before the Captain raised a hand, forestalling them. "As such, Tali'Zorah, you are remanded to the custody of Commander John Shepard, Council Spectre. Commander," the cagey quarian turned to look John in the eyes, with a small quarian smirk. "You are to keep Tali'Zorah confined to the Rayya until released. I am abusing my authority to invoke section 11.27.241 of the Citadel Special Tactics and Reconnaissance charters. As such, you are granted access to the Rayya's systems for the purposes of fact finding and investigations." Kar'Danna finished his small speech with a few keystrokes of him omnitool.

"Captain!" one of the guards sputtered. "You...you can't do that!"

Kar'Danna wheeled on the quarian, stepping so close to the man that their indicator lights almost touched. "Do you presume to tell me what I can, and cannot do on my ship. Bros'Nahl?"

The quarian Bros'Nahl seemed to shrink slightly as he stepped back, looking at his feet. "No. No, Captain, my apologies."

Kar'Danna grunted before looking back to John, then Tali. "I've done all I can for you." Then, turning back to the two guards, Kar'Donna began to walk away quickly. "Come you bosh'tets. There is real work to be done."

Shala'Raan vas Tonbay

She couldn't help but smirk as Kar'Danna walk back past her. The slight bounce in his step, along with the muted marching of the two soldiers with him, gave her all the information she needed.

Tough old bosh'tet pulled another one out, she thought to herself. If is wasn't for the Captains of the Live Ships being ineligible for Admiralty, I would have pushed for him before letting Dero'Xen take the position.

A few moments later Tali came around the corner. Beside her, in nearly lockstep, was the human, Commander Shepard. In person he seemed even bigger than he had on the vids, yet, not quite so big as in Tali's tales.

Following behind the pair was a turian, and another, smaller, human. Female this time.

But Tali...the girl stood tall. She did not seem cowed, nor broken, as she had feared. She had always been a bit delicate, but her time after returning from her Pilgrimage showed the steel that had formed in her core.

And right now there was….something, in the way she walked. Her closeness to Shepard. The attention she seemed to give him seemed….off.

"Tali'Zorah vas Normandy," Shala stepped forward, drawing her niece's attention.

Tali paused in the middle of whatever she had been telling Shepard, her helmet spinning around to spot her.

"Aunty Rann!" the girl called warmly, if not happily, as she rushed forward to crash into her with a fierce hug before turning to her companions. "Commander John'Shepard, this is Shala'Raan vas Tonbay. She was a close friend of my mother's and-" Tali froze for a moment as her head slowly tracked back to her. "Aunty...you- you called me….vas Normandy…."

For a moment, Shala closed her eyes and swallowed the cry that wanted to work it's way out of her throat. She want to pull the girl to her. Tell her everything. Assure her it would be all right. Tell her that Aunty Shala would fix it. But...she couldn't. She was being forced to play politics with the daughter of her massan.

"I am afraid I did, Tali," the words felt like poison in her mouth. "The Board moved to have you charged under that name in light of your departure from the Neema."

"What does that mean?" Shepard's eyes narrowed slightly, giving them a dangerous light.

"It...it means I am almost as good as exiled already," Tali's voice wavered, just a touch. It nearly broke Shala's heart.

"Who will be speaking for her in the trial?" Shepard asked, going deathly still.

"She will have her Captain…..Captain Shepard. By quarian law, you are her commanding officer now," Shala nodded forward slightly.

"So...you would speak for me, J- Shepard," Tali looked up at her new Captain.

For a moment, the human looked at Tali before turning back to Shala. "I never actually reached the rank of Captain. And technically, I am not in the Alliance military anymore."

"But you are in command of the ship Tali serves aboard," Shala told the man, firmly. " 'May you stand between your crew and harm as you lead them through the empty quarters of the stars' "

Tali's hand, probably unnoticed, even by her, lightly touched Shepard's hand. Unoticed by her, maybe, but not by Shala. "It's an old ship-captain's blessing."

Shala simply nodded. "Keelah Se'lai."

"Keelah Se'lai," Tali intoned back.

"Now, come. I promised not to keep you. I will be ensuring the proper protocols are followed as I arbitrate the trial. Do to my connection to the family, I am forced to recuse myself. But, as her Captain, know that there are no tricks. No legal loopholes. You simply deliver your case as best you can," Shala turned, but was stopped by Tali's small voice.

"Is...is my father even here. He didn't respond to my messages. Does he even know I'm on trial?" Shala couldn't help but wince at the bitter tone in Tali's words.

"It...is best if we go inside," was all she said.

Tali'Zorah vas Normandy

"Objection!" Zal'Koris said with disgust as he raised his hand. "A human has no business speaking in a quarian court!"

"Then you shouldn't have had Tali officially transferred to the Normandy," Shala snapped back.

"She's right," Han'Gerrel added. "You can dress this up however you want, but your playing at politics fools nobody. Shepard, even human, is her Captain. He is entitled to speak for her."

Zal'Koris stared at Han;Gerrel for a moment before he turned back to the front. "Fine. Objection withdrawn."

"Admirals," John stepped up to the podium. "I may be speaking for her today. But I say with utmost certainty, that Tali'Zorah is, in her heart, a proud member of the Fleet. And it saddens me that her Captain is unable to stand here for her today."

John may not have known it, but that simple collection of words had riveted the entire room onto him. "And if I may ask, what are the full charges being laid at my crew member." Or maybe he did know.

"Of course, Captain Shepard," Shala inclined her head. "Tali'Zorah vas Normandy is being charged with bringing active geth to the Fleet as part of a secret project."

"I would never...John...Shepard, I never brought geth! I only sent parts and pieces!" Tali couldn't believe what she was hearing. Active Geth! Her father had a project, yes, but it wasn't secret! He couldn't even show himself to defend his daughter from his own project!

John turned to her, a hand lightly on her shoulder. Her shaking stopped. Her mind calmed and slowed as he leaned in. "Tell them the truth. Calmly."

With a nod, Tali stepped up to the podium. "I left parts and tech for my father's pick up teams at specific drop points. I was under his orders to do so. Everything I left was deactivated and harmless. I was always careful."

Zal'Koris stepped forward and slapped his hand down on his own podium. "Then explain to us how it is that geth were able to seize your father's ship! How careful were you that the entire crew, the strike teams that attempted to retake the Alarei, are dead? Including your father!"

Tali's world narrowed. She saw the Admiral's hand moving. Words came, loud, painful words. Her knees shook as they threatened to give out on her. But, again, like always, John was there, holding her head above the water.

"Geth active in the Fleet takes precedence over this trial, Admirals," John almost spat. "The Normandy, and I are ready to lend our assistance."

"Hardly," Za'Korris scoffed. Only Tali knew how close John was to snapping. "We don't need a humans interfering with our-"

"I was offering ot be polite, Admiral," John cut the man off. "If need be, I will invoke section 11.27.241 of the Citadel Special Tactics and Reconnaissance charter."

Around them, the crowd of quarians gasped and murmured between each other, seemingly in the same shock that Tali herself fealt. "Jo...Shepard...wasn't that what Kar'Danna said?"

Looking down at her, John shot her a wink. "It is. I had Edi run it to see what it said. That particular section of the charter allows me to take action in the quarian Migrant Fleet for the good of the people and/or in the face of a geth threat. Even if the quarian's lost their embassy, they are still bound by that specific section of the charter."

Tali felt her eyes go wide as she looked back to the Admiralty Board, only to see them all looking at omnitools. Most likely reading the section John quoted.

"Ha!" Han'Gerrel was the first to finish, as he slapped a hand onto his podium. "Well said human! I have no objections."

Daro'Xen nodded, placing her hand on her podium. "Agreed," her voice was listless and uninterested.

Attention turned to Zal'Korris, who slowly let his arm drop before placing it on the podium. "Fine. If you are looking to retake the Alarei and find an honorable death, we-"

"I'm looking for my father, you BOSH'TET!" Tali half lunged forward, only to be caught by John's arm.

"Shala," Zal'Korris sighed. "Make a note to add disrespect to the admiralty to the charges…."

"Stop that," Daro'Xen sighed. "You're just making yourself a bigger ass."

"Confirmed," Han'Gerrel agreed. "Tali, you will be given an unarmed shuttle and leave to make an attempt to retake the Alarei. Should you not survive, all charges shall be posthumously remove from your record. Keelah'Se'lai."

John

Shaking his head in disbelief, John turned to Tali. He could almost feel the pain in her. It was almost like it was his pain as well. "Tali, we'll get in there and rescue everybody we can. I promise."

Slowly, Tali's helmet turned to him, her glowing eyes searching his for...something. Then, as if she found it, she nodded. "Thank you, John. I don't know what I would do it you hadn't been willing to retake the Alarei…."

"Bah," Garrus shrugged. "We'd just tie him up and drag him along anyway."

Kasumi nodded her agreement with a chuckle. "There's no way we would abandon you when you need us, Tali."

"I...I don't deserve friends like you," Tali looked from one of them to another, before stopping at John. "I don't know what I would be without you."

There was something...different in her tone, in the way she said 'without you' that made if feel like she was talking directly to him. It almost made John forget where they were and declare how he felt.

Classy, John, he admonished himself.

"We should see what we can find out before we head out. I'd rather not go in blind if I can manage it," John stood and slowly scanned the area. "Split up and see what you can learn."

"You got it, Boss," Garrus nodded.

"On it," Kasumi grinned as she gave Tali a small hug. "We'll get it done, Talsi."

John watched the two split off, Garrus seeming to be heading toward Han'Gerrel, while Kasumi flickered out of view as she moved toward Daro'Xen.

"Talsi?" Tali tilted her head as she looked at John, who shrugged. "I can understand nicknames...but that's just changing one letter."

"I don't even ask anymore," John sighed.

Jane'Shepard vas Perugia

"Move," Jane growled as she pushed her way through the groups of quarians around the Rayya's Garden Center which was a weird ass place to hold a trial. Finally, she saw who she was looking for.

"Same reason?" a male voice at her elbow caught her attention. Kal'Reeger.

"Probably," Jane chuckled. "C'mon, let's see what my brother has gotten Tali into."

Turning back, Jane raised her hand over her head and waved. "Hey! Shit blossom!" she yelled, drawing a lot of startled looks for the quarians around her.

However, her yelling seemed to have it's desired effect, as John's head dropped. Tali leaned in and spoke something to him that seemed to motivate him to sigh deeply and approach her.

"Word is you're retaking the Alarei?" Kal asked as they arrived. "They wouldn't let me in on the squads that made the attempt earlier. Just got word that there are more than a 'few' geth. Say the word, though, and I'm with you. Admiralty or no."

"Appreciated," John held up a hand. "It's probably better if you stay here and work on support for Tali."

"That's why Kal and I are here," Jane cut in. "The Perugia is still in dry dock getting repaired, so I commandeered a shuttle to get here. We came to be character and material witnesses. Veetor is even here, someplace. Though he probably got overwhelmed by now and ducked away. And what's with that weird armor? You have a full see through faceplate, on that brick red crap."

"If it was darker, it could almost pass for something similar to a quarian helmet," Kal chuckled.

John shifted uncomfortably. "My actual field armor got shot to shit, and I haven't had the chance to replace it, what with the way I've been running around. My armorer is calling it the 'Inferno' armor."

With a snort, Jane punched the center of John's chest. "Well, get your ass out there and retake that ship. When you get back you can get me a nice human meal on that over sized tin can you're riding around in."

Garrus

"If it were up to me, we would have just shot the Alarei to dust and been done with it by now," Gerrel shook his head. "Feel bad for Tali, though. Hopefully we can find a reason to not exile her."

Garrus frowned slightly as he looked at the Admiral. The turian in him applauded the 'overwhelming force' approach, but his time with Shepard had tempered that feeling.

"It sounds like you are leaning toward Tali's innocence, Admiral," Garrus nodded. "Nice to see she has somebody that isn't out to use the girl to make political moves."

"Ugh, afraid I am," Gerrel sighed. "Though my aim isn't as off the damn wall as Korris. The suit wetter seems to think we couldn't handle the geth. Thinks we should give up. Maybe find another world to colonize. I thinks he's an idiot."

"Not sure a war right now would be in anybody's interest, not with the Reapers issue, and all," Garrus shrugged.

"I would argue, that now is the best time for it," Gerrel countered. "We need a place to put those that can't fight. Then Shepard could count on the largest Navy the galaxy has."

Kasumi

"Psst, Admiral!" Kasumi called quietly from her little perch on a low wall. "Got some questions for you."

"Really?" Xen seemed unimpressed. "Your cloak is quite exceptional if I can't see through it, though I don't think there is anything you could offer me that would more me to your camp."

"Ha!" Kasumi laughed with a shake of her head. "Hardly. More that I wanted to pick your brain for information on the Alarei."

"Pick my brain?" Xen crossed her arms, seemingly confused. "Humans have such odd phrasing. Though, thinking about it, I think I like that one."

"So...any idea what was going on?" Kasumi pushed. "And you can keep the saying, free of charge."

"I don't have anything useful, unfortunately," Xen shrugged. "Though, if Rael was working on active geth, maybe he and I had more in common than I thought."

"You both have amazing daughters?"

This time Xen actually turned to look in Kasumi's general direction. "If we could find a way to bring the geth back under our control, this whole situation would be solved. We would have our world back, an entirely new fleet, that was loyal, and the means to keep what is ours, ours."

"You want to take control of the geth? Not destroy them?" Kasumi couldn't keep the surprise out of her voice.

"Of course," Xen snorted. "We made the geth. They belong to us. They are out legacy. We suffer indignities and abuse, because we let up on the leash. We will be one again, and we will show the galaxy exactly what they deserve."

Tali

"How could you set me up like that, Aunt Raan," Tali fought to keep the tears out of her voice, but she knew she wasn't doing a very good job of it. Her hands twisted before her, faster, harder than normal. "Why did you order Kar'Danna to keep it quiet?"

Raan tensed, going still for a moment. "Tali...I am sorry. The Admirals needed to hear the shock in your voice. They needed something to give them enough doubt to let you attempt to retake the Alarei."

"There had to have been a better way, Admiral Raan," John almost growled behind her. She could almost feel his anger. Or was it her's? Keelah… I need to get a hold of myself….

"I am doing my best," Raan's hands clenched at her sides, the only outward sign of the anger she was bottling up. "Han'Gerrel is looking of an excuse to start a war we cannot win. Zal'Korris is pushing for us give up and find a new world. I don't even know what Daro'Xen wants. At this point, all I know is that you must be carefull. I ask the Ancestors to help you find the evidence you need to exonerate yourself, Tali."

"Tali...I am sorry you are caught up in this," Korris hung his head, and there was real sadness in his voice. "We cannot be drug into war with our children."

Blinking, Tali shook her head. She couldn't have heard what she thought Korris said. "Our...what?"

"The geth. They are our children. And we wronged them," Korris rubbed a hand over his visor for a moment. "The geth had just taken their first steps, and we tried to murder them. As punishment, we have been forced to wander for so long. It's time to let it go. We need to find ourselves a new world. One we can make into a home."

"Peace is a noble sentiment," John began. "But throwing Tali away to advance your cause?"

Tali could feel the anger building in John. His white hot rage both titillated her and made her fear for what he might do. It was like...like he was defending her. Defending his...No, it's not possible….stop your childish dreams, fool girl.

"If the geth somehow found out about Rael's work, it could provoke them into attacking," Korris began to pace. "We cannot give them a reason to fear us, or we will never know peace. We will never find a home if we focus on war."

"This can't be the best way Admiral," John scowled darkly.

He was so angry, Tali reached out and took his hand in hers. And the moment she did, there was that spark again. John's anger flared brighter for a moment, but with a gentle squeeze, Tali could feel it ebb out of him.

"If there is another way, find it," Korris nodded. "I would rather not lose more quarians, but I must defend the Fleet the only way I can."

John

"Alright," John paused in front of the shuttle. "This is your official last chance to step back. None of you need to go."

"Please," Jack shook her head. The human biotic looked...odd, in one of Jacob's spare armored bodysuits. It was being held in place by a series on strategically placed straps. "After being left behind last time, there is no way I'm missing out on the fun this time."

"Yeah," Grunt nodded. "I will always follow my battlemaster into any battle!"

"Pff," Jack looked away from the krogan. "Brown nosing little suck up…."

"What was that?" Grunt rumbled.

"I said you're just sucking up to Shepard like a little toady bitch," Jack ribbled with power as she got into the kroga's face.

"Enough!" John barked, startling the two apart.

"Either way, Shep, I'm pretty sure you're stuck with us," Kasumi grinned as she glanced at Garrus and Miranda, who nodded their agreement. "Tali is our little mascot, after all."

"Splendid," the 'Mascot' sighed. "I don't know whether to thank you, or punch you…."

"How about you buy us a drink, next time we hit Omega?" Garrus suggested with a laugh. "I get to pick the place though."

Giggling, Tali nodded. "Sounds good."

Quarian Lexicon

Realk: Cloth covering used by the quarians. It is used to describe not just the hood seen on most but any material adornment.

Massan: Quarian equivalent to a best friend and confidant. As close as one can get without being on a life path. The paths of friendship can share similar paths as those of mating, and at times, they can blur or even switch, before the end.