Chapter 24: No Comment.
Shepard's POV
John sat upon the edge of his bed in the cabin of the Normandy. No lights, no sound, and no movement could be observed in any form as he tried to focus on his breathing. Sleep, it was very elusive after Noveria. Time, that was proving to be like a flash in a pan. What seemed like an abundance of was already dying down to barely a glow as plans for defeating the Reapers were closing.
More silence. Followed by the steady rhythm of his breathing. He was sweating despite the comfortable temperature of the room. He tried to focus his thoughts and all he got back was a jumbled mess of faces twisted in agony as he tried to make his targets in time. Every twisted visage a marker of how he was falling behind.
Now, with his head buried in his hands John could see the face on Liara as she saw what the reapers had done to her people. The shock, the fear. She had not been able to sleep for hours as well. He could hear her shallow breaths in the bed next to him as she tried to block out the last moments of the Ardat-Yakshi monastery.
John thought he had enough sense for fear to overcome it. But this, those monsters made of Asari. They took away peace from John. That last inner oasis he could get away from the fear had been breached.
Liara began to sob quietly again as he tried to forget what he had almost done. The moment he woke up confused, thinking one of those…Banshee creatures Kyson had mention was in his room. It had him pinned in his bed, choking him as it got ready to disembowel him by its long clawed fingers. He had punched it in the eye as he desperately reached for his pistol by his pillow. When he looked back. It was Liara sprawled out and dazed on the end of the bed. What should have been instant recognition was missed as he swept the room for the creature. He almost made it into the elevator before what had happened settled in.
Reality settled like lead shot in an exposed wound.
He reached out next to him hoping to find Liara, to physically remind her he was sorry, that he was burning inside but he could hear her move away under the covers as she sensed the movement. Tears fell to his feet as the damage began to manifest. She would not trust him again. Not anymore.
The line had been crossed and the chasm he had rent in his relationship was wider than any relay jump he could fathom. A sad thought crossed his memories.
"Who will take the demons out of me?" he whispered as he saw nothing but darkness around him. The same darkness he was headed towards if he failed. Or worse, even if he won. He began to wonder if he would have a place in the galaxy where the Reapers were gone. What of all the other soldiers? Men and women who had to fight, sacrifice, or worse to survive. How many generations would suffer the pain of such a mass trauma as a galactic genocide?
Why live if what is left is a shell?
No response from the dark room. Lira had gone quiet again. Not even his own inner conscious would answer him. That little fact, the worm of fear called doubt began to gnaw on his soul with a hunger of decades.
What if we lose? What…if?
That was the notion that let his mind see not Liara, but a monster in his bed. What if? Those two words sent his fist out in panic as it struck his closest and dearest friend in the left eye. The one who loved him in his darkest moments, beaten away with two words.
What if?
Long and deep breaths could be heard from the left side of the bed as Liara finally fell asleep. He sighed as he found the courage to get up and get dressed. No sleep for the third day in a row seemed a possibility. He felt his way clumsily towards his bathroom where he had left his discarded jeans and jacket. Here he was, the great Commander slinking off like some no good wife beater. Before he left the room he turned back peering into the back.
"I'm sorry." He said
No reply came back. Not that he expected one. If she even talked to him again it would be a miracle. Not that god had found room in his life in many years now. It wasn't likely he was going to take interest with events now.
The lights in the elevator stung his eyes as he just stood there. Lost, doubt gnawing at his bones. Guilt, burning his soul and his weight began to increase threatening to make him collapse on the floor. The sloppy pose of a worshiper of failure. A broken heap. So drunk with exhaustion was he that he didn't notice the hands of several people pull at him.
He let curiosity have a day off as he was dragged showing metal grating passing under his chest. No sound, just a dull video on mute as the room spun and he was placed on a table. People seemed to pass in front of him but all he saw was the face of Liara contorted into that of a monster from a nightmare he could not ever fathom. One second she had the smile of his past love, then a grotesque creature with sharpened spines where graceful curves once adorned Liara's scalp. Then…nothing.
The strangest dreams he could always remember, also the happy ones if not linked to a simple event. But to be aware that you are dreaming but with nowhere to go is a very scary place to be. He knew sleep had finally come. He could feel his body screaming with aches and pains but couldn't move. All was silent, yet he couldn't move his body in any way. Was he restrained?
The Med bay. Even in his drugged sleep he knew where he most likely was. He hoped.
Now, a dull rumble began to grow into pulses. Those pulses began to ebb and flow as if there was a patter. Speech. It was about him.
"What could you expect from the stress? People can only go so far. Shepard, he passed that mark years ago. We may have asked too much." Came a deep voice he could recognize in a rough way. An image of Eden Prime for some reason came to mind.
"I have never seen him rattled once. Shocked, yes. Dismayed even on occasion but never rocked back on his heels. He told us otherwise but I never believed him." Admitted a second voice. That one was much more familiar. John tried to open his eyes but his body didn't even try to respond. Time may have passed but he couldn't tell.
"Only if you want it. You have seen the results of this Command…" said the first voice before darkness and merciful rest finally blessed him.
When he did come back from the lower regions of death, he had two large golden eyes looking at him with thin slits for pupils. He had no strength to react other than stare back. Whatever that was in front of him, he belonged to it.
"He is just him. No taint binds him." Said a giant cat-like creature crouched in the Med bay comically. Then the scrutinizing gaze from four eyes. Twice the intensity as the giant before. A glare was given by the creature before he felt a hand grip his arm. He had forgotten all about his limbs. Seconds passed as he was stared down a second time. Then, a curt nod.
"He is not indoctrinated either." Said the Prothean. John grunted as he had more complex thoughts coming back, so did the pain. Flares of pain came from bruises while a full on corona surrounded his head causing him to squint.
"This is the longest it has ever taken for him to come around. Thank you for the help both of you, he needs to stay here for observation for a few days." Said Dr. Chakwas in a stern yet polite tone. The giant creature left silently.
"Of course. If you need any more assistance, you know where I am." Said Javik as he left as well. John saw the doctor move within view. She looked at his readouts shaking her head before addressing him directly.
"You collapsed in the elevator. That's what happens when you don't eat or drink for almost three days. Add the blood loss and bad patch job on that back wound you were asking for trouble." Said Chakwas as she began to swap a fluid bag. He stayed silent because he couldn't find an excuse.
"Quiet as well? I would imagine so after the shit you have pulled. I expect that behaviour from a desperate rookie sergeant. Not you." Scalded the older woman. John frowned as he finally found his voice. The dry tongue and throat caused a rasping sound instead of speech.
"Two days. That's how long. A little help from medicine kept you from pushing towards a week of run time." Said the doctor. Now she was looking at him directly.
"No matter how hard you try, you are Human. You cannot run without sleep, food, and water. Even if you disconnect the emotions." She said with a hint of displeasure. They handed him a cup of water that burned as he drank. Hydration to the desert brought back more than his voice, but his worries as well.
"I am going to the bridge." He stated as he began to slide the IV out of his forearm.
"No you will not. And that is an order." Said a steely voice from his left. John could just barely move his head to see Garrus with his bandages removed yet still no armor standing next to him.
"You would be the one I have to write up for insubordination." Said John. He had to get up. He had to find Liara for he knew, just knew she wasn't on the ship anymore.
"Try the other way around." Said the Turian. John looked at his old friend with irritation.
"I am in no mood for this." He said to Garrus who looked stressed. More so than usual.
"The feeling is mutual. Anderson called into the Med bay after you got brought in and assessed. You have been relieved of command for an indeterminate period until cleared medically." Said Garrus flatly. John leaned back slowly, hand still on the IV. Then, took his hand away. This was a pivotal moment for him. He had never had his body not do what was asked of it. Never.
"Who is acting command?" he asked. Silence stretched for a few beats longer than he liked. The fear began to wake up again. He looked at Garrus with a grim expression.
"Kyson can't handle it." Said John bluntly. Garrus sighed before nodding in agreement.
"You aren't the only one who thinks that. I am the acting command as of two days ago." Said Garrus. The fear got blown away to just the dull pain from some back wound. A close call with a Banshee.
Seeing him relaxed seemed to reassure the Turian. The more relaxed candor of Garrus began to return.
"I'm still bound to the ship though. It's like a vacation you can't travel on. You just stare at projects on the bench but can't seem to touch them." Lamented Garrus. John nodded slowly as he tried to get his bearings.
"Stop, I already see the gears turning. That's my job." Said Garrus as he walked away without letting a reply catch him. He was stuck.
"Fuck." Muttered John.
Garrus' POV
Weeks have unfolded since the bang he had taken to the head. At first, it was foggy slips of time. Those were seizures he was told. He never knew for he would just be somewhere else all of the people would be there, others not. He would just shrug at the doctor and try to ignore the horror of knowing you can't fight and something is very wrong that can't just be patched.
Some hope came when Chakwas had shown him a scan of his brain and the contusions were in fact healing. But, there was a small black spot. That spot will haunt him until the last of his days. It is a dead part of his brain. Computers can tell you where they are lacking. Crunch numbers by yes/no trouble shoot.
That didn't apply here. Did he lose memories? Emotions? Or, the true fear. Ability. The ability towards anything could be permanently hampered. And now that the seizures had stopped, he now found himself second guessing anything and everything he did.
Could he see wires the wrong color? Maybe have false memories to complete the blank spaces of an older episode of his life? He would never know because of a small black spot. Chakwas said it was hard to detect on the scan even. With luck, it would be just the embarrassing moments of school. Or a change in taste on a particular drink.
"General Vakarian." Asked a voice that had him look up from the galaxy map. That was new as well.
"Primarch Victus." He replied to the transmission as he began to size his options before him. The last mission had revealed the desperation Cerberus was in. While Shepard was resting, He had taken action for a distress call. Defecting Cerberus scientists.
"I have a need for you and your rank back here on Palaven. We are holding our ground against the Reapers and their movements thanks to the Krogan. Even the Salarians are providing support in select pockets. But I need you back, soldier." Said the Primarch. Several support staff, the few left since Kerris killed four of them stopped and listened with anticipation. This was why he got promoted.
Now the line of succession was getting awfully close should Victus go down. By six positions to be exact. Yesterday it was over twenty.
"Sir, give the rank to a man who actually deserves the title. I am just an Advisor, remember?" he asked, trying to sound as polite as possible while serving up insubordination. Victus was quiet for an unsettling amount of time. He was seldom told no, even for a Turian.
"I know what happened, Hackett sent me a mission report by Mr. Sorley. We need a tactician badly. We are running low on men who can see the bigger picture as rank structures are wiped out by the hour now. Garrus gripped the rails of the command consul as he resisted his leader.
"Primarch. I have been given command of the Normandy. Commander Shepard was badly injured on his last mission and Admiral Anderson before dropping out of contact gave me lead." He said. He knew arguing would not win Victus. He would only listen to his internal hierarchy of needs. Garrus just hoped the need for the catalyst was higher than the promotion of one General.
"I can see why. Then, don't keep us waiting,Vakarian. I know why you are out there. Get the Asari in this fight. Hackett and I are pulling our last reserve resources in the next week. Then, unless the Quarians and Geth have a magical munitions factory or already harvested crops on Rannoch we are down to a wire." Said Victus as he instantly moved with the change in situation. The small glimpses of uncertainty were gone from months ago. Garrus sighed with relief. He was not going to abandon the Normandy.
"I will." He replied curtly.
"Good. Victus out." Said the Primarch as the transmission went dead. Garrus once again turned his attention to the map as he looked for Cyone. Hackett had requested assistance at an old fuel station on the edge of Asari space. An N7 operative was helping hold down the area but needed
back up. They were the closest back up.
"He rolled with that pretty well." Said Traynor to the right. Garrus had found her help absolutely a gift from the spirits the past few days. She and EDI both were his eyes as he stood on the bridge while Liara took point with the defectors. Javik, along with Dehara proved to be mute fighters. Very deadly and ruthless to the extreme. If you wanted a play by play, it was best to ask Liara.
"The part that bothers me the most is how much this gamble on the crucible is being decided here on this ship." He admitted. The whole crew knew that the heat was under their asses.
"So we keep working." Said Traynor as she turned back to said work. Garrus nodded in agreement.
"Joker, set a course for Cyone. We have to hold down that fuel depot if we are going to have any chance at keeping the fleets moving." He said.
"Aye General. Setting course now." Said Joker who already seemed to ease into calling Garrus by his new rank.
"We have to detour a few systems. Lay low in another so our ETA is a good four hours." Said the lieutenant. Garrus frowned painfully due to his damaged fore plate on his skull.
"Lay low where?" he asked. We need fuel ourselves. The best depot I know right now is the Krogan DMZ. The Reapers are trying to wait them out it seems." Said Joker. Garrus nodded.
"Copy that. Give me a ten minute on our arrival to the Depot." He said. The elevator awaited him as he hit the controls for the cabin. He was going to have to sit this one out again. He began to clench and unclench his fist as he let his pent up energy have a form of release. He closed his eyes hoping that when they opened he would see Palaven again. The sweeping plains. The two great forests at the poles and the one ice cap. Nothing but comfortable breezes and soft soils to walk on to ease the joints of their pain.
His eyes opened and he was in the small hall before the cabin. The door was already open with voices coming from inside.
"I have never been so unsure of myself before, Tali. I am hesitant by nature. But not unsure." Said Liara as Garrus walked into the room. The two women were on the sofa sharing a meal. The broken glass from the small raid from Kai Leng had long since been cleaned, the models of ships placed neatly along the divider of the room.
"Liara, you speculate the origin of the plates you get served on as if they may be relics from a dig site. What happened up here is something you can't be ready for."said Tali. Liara just shook her head in some sort of disappointment.
"Ready for what? He asked as he sat down next to Tali. The girls looked at each other before looking back at him.
"I think this is best left for another time." Said Tali trying to warn him. Garrus watched Liara disappear into her food and pull out her data pad. The obvious shift seemed important but, he wouldn't pry just yet. Liara had not said a word of what had made John stay awake for so long. But, he had ideas. So he let Tali be the distraction she wanted to be.
He normally got the story anyway.
"I can leave. I meant to knock." He said lamely. He had no such intention.
"Sure you did." Said Tali as she stood up to leave. She motioned for Garrus to follow once again, playing passive pays off if you know when to use it. And he had a bad feeling he might just not want to know what was bothering Liara right now.
"Anyways, Tali. I need your help on the next Mission. With me still ship bound and Liara. Doing what Liara does. I have only you." He said honestly. He had considered James but he was still too rash in his decisions. But, that was changing. Javik, the last mission showed someone who used a team. Not be a team. He was not a fit for this. Neither was Dehara. While a walking tank of a fighter she tended to leave flanks open as she relied on her powers too much. Good team work, tactical work needed.
No he needed someone who he could trust, and knew what he demanded of a ground team.
Tali stood next to the controls as the elevator made its way to the CIC. She seemed to be distracted again. A habit she had developed since Novaria.
"Tali?" came his attempt at a gentle nudge.
"I'm ready. What is the mission?" she asked. The directness of a fall back on routine all soldiers came to know in active combat. All you had was movement.
"Captain Lee Riley of the systems Alliance is requesting backup on possible reaper movement on the planet Cyone. You Familiar with the planet?" he asked. Tali nodded.
"Famous fuel plants during the Krogan Rebellions. They never became occupied, and if I recall the Matriarchs there are vowing a second success in the news feeds." She said as she left the elevator and towards the war room. Garrus nodded.
"Captain Riley has rounded up local forces along with a private sector combat team who are mostly Turian. They were hired before the war started and have pledged to help keep the planet locked down." He added as the war room was reached and Cyone was brought up on the central display.
"Is the captain alone?" asked Tali.
"Yes, she was sent as an emissary to try and negotiate assistance from the Asari for fuel. As the first attempts by reaper forces began to try and land she took charge of the situation and helped repeal the scouting attacks. Yet, one fuel depot got missed in her counter attack. No reports of a landing but her scavenged defenses are all busy in orbit. She has a small team but a few extra hands would be greatly appreciated." Garrus filled in. Tali brought out the building layout that had been provided and began to plot entry points and critical power and mechanical systems.
"Any other key information or is this a just a sweep and clear?" she asked as she synched the info to her tool. Garrus shook his head.
"That is all Hackett sent me. You know I would be on point in a second but. You know." He lamented as he pointed to his head. Tali nodded.
"I know. Can I choose who I take?" she asked. Garrus thought it over. Liara looked like the war was a far off thing behind her eyes. She was shutting out. Ashley, caused Garrus to slump his shoulders. Her death was still heavy on his heart for he had seen her grow so much. Now, just as the war needed her the most. She was gone.
"You can. Your ETA is in under two hours. I'll meet you in the shuttle bay when we are ten minutes out. EDI will inform you." He said. Tali began to walk out of the room but stopped next to him.
"You will do fine. And when Shepard gets back in command, please don't go anywhere. This ship needs you." She said, causing Garrus to look at her with curiosity.
"I knew what your promotion meant. It happened to me as well when no one knew how to fill my father's role in the fleet. They respected me, sure but it was to ease their situation, not an actual solution." She said, trying to give him support.
"You hear the call with Victus? I would imagine so with ole Shadow Broker up there." He said trying to stay open minded about his situation.
"We saw he called. We didn't intercede cause I said it was rude. Liara has been trying to keep distracted since the other day." She replied. She held a hand up before he could ask the obvious.
"What happened up there is between her and John. I won't say more." She said firmly.
"I understand. And, thank you Tali for taking point on this. Like I said…" he was stopped.
"No, thank you. The past three weeks have been hell I won't lie. I have been crawling through every crack and crevice in this ship tracking down any possible problems trying to stay ahead of any news of the war. Trying not to see any reminders of Ashley. Never in all my days here on the Normandy have I been so dare I say claustrophobic." She said. Garrus looked back at the holo of Cyone. A comfortable downright boring planet of two hundred some odd million Asari and a few others.
"I told John that I prefer blind optimism than plowing through constant truths. He laughed at me and said find a place in between. I haven't found it." He admitted as he still heard the Primarch asking for him. If he died on his homeworld, he would at least know his own outcome.
"Yes you have. Teagann." Said Tali. Garrus chuckled under his breath.
"She is the cold hard truth. She seems to thrive off them where I try and look away." He said. It was not with any malice. His soon to be wife always seemed to plan off the worst case possible and still just keep going as if only fate made the shots. He never understood this about her. She lived her private moments telling said fates to burn in hell.
"I know. Then again, she is a Sorley. When they aren't distracted by any obsession of thiers they tend to just be doom generators." Laughed the Quarian. Garrus nodded in agreement.
"How is your generator then? I know you and Adams have been keeping him busy. I haven't seen him in over a week." Asked Garrus.
"Keeping him busy is all we can do right now. He has talked with Anderson a few times and seemed agitated. I will let that sort itself out cause I already know what it was about. It is why you are in charge I believe?" she inquired. Garrus smirked.
"Nailed it. You know how to use a hammer miss." He said. Tali shrugged as if it were natural with a soft laugh.
"That is what I have missed over the past few months. Laughter. Not the nervous stuff we have in combat. Or the moments where we think they may be our last. Just, the ones where we are living." Said Tali. Garrus stayed silent as he looked out of the window.
"We are living, right?" she asked. Garrus looked at her for he had wondered that himself many days now.
"For now. We still get to be here like this. Watching the stars. Planning moments with our loved ones, maybe places to go. When those stop, when we are just moving stones out of response rather than need then I would say otherwise." He said to Tali.
"Moving stones?" she asked.
"A saying from my dad when I was a kid. My mother, when she was having a bad episode with her disease I remember her asking him the same thing. Are we living? That was his response. My mother hated it." He admitted.
"You didn't. Your father was speaking of her. She was losing sight of fighting." Tali surmised.
"Exactly. So I say live with need, not with want. To do more than survive you have to file it under a need not a want. Make it a necessity not a dream." He said. Tali surprised him by clamping onto him in a hug.
"You are a good friend. And a good leader. Don't forget that." She said. Garrus was unsure at first but hugged her back.
"You have surprised me at every corner. Shotgun and all." He said as she let go and headed for the CIC.
"I try. See you in a bit." She said and was gone. Garrus turned back on the stars stealing a few more moments. All of those stars, and to think as a kid he said he would see them all. His father naturally asked how close?
"Until I can feel them." He breathed softly. He turned towards the CIC himself. He still felt wide awake.
The shuttle bay was the exact opposite from the quiet of the conference room. Loud shouts were coming from Vega as he tried to land a blow on his adversary. Garrus sat down on a crate next to James' workbench frowning as his tongue kept trying to leap out of his mouth.
"You have to learn how to flow, Vega. You hold your shoulders too tight." Said Teagann as she dodged yet another jab from the now heavily sweating man. James just lunged at her as the younger woman grabbed his fist and rotated under his arm putting him in an armlock. James smiled.
He got his back leg around Teagann's causing her to lose her grip as she stumbled. Vega seemed to walk out of the hold as his powerful leg came down on his adversary's chest.
"Damn." Muttered Teagann.
"You would not go down like that if the leg was ready." Warned James as he helped her up. Teagann nodded as she pulled her air back for the bun she had been sporting had come loose. She seemed very frustrated as she beckoned for another round.
"No thanks. I'm done. Five hours of this is good for me but I'm serious Shadow. That leg is still not ready for front lines yet. Holding a position maybe but not on the front." Said James with concern. Teagann glared at him. She hated the name she had been given since coming back on the Normandy.
"I'm not done." She said as she began to advance. James stood stock still allowing the hard left hook from Teagann to take him in the chest. Vega winced and even grimaced as he stared down Teagann.
"Keep that fight in you. But not at your friends. We need what is left of us for the final push." Said James. Apparently the talk with Shepard had rubbed off on the man. Teagann seemed to shudder as she took a step back. Garrus could see a tear on her cheek as she turned away towards the shower most likely. James looked after her as she left. When Teagann had left the bay he spoke aloud.
"I think she needs you right now Scars." Said James as he looked at the floor.
"The battle she is fighting is one for her alone." He said in response.
"She and the leg. Me and my damn head." He added for good measure. Vega laughed.
"You think she is that compromised?" he asked the Marine.
"With hand to hand. She is still a dead shot with her weapons. Put a pistol in her hands and she can clear a room in seconds. No doubt. Make her run and she will be first to the target. As soon as you put any force against her she will snap. She is doing what any animal would, compensate for the weak limb." Said Vega honestly.
"But even if the animal is fighting in its mind, it is still cornered. With no options out. That leg will cause her to think about survival, not aggression, the push forward at the beginning of a mission." Said Garrus in understanding. Vega turned around with a rare look of concern on his usual cock sure attitude.
"She will think you are babying her." Warned James.
"I know." Said Garrus. He was wondering who Tali would pick for her team as he saw his Omni-tool light up. EDI had taken to less abrupt over the comm notifications with people unless it was critical.
"Go ahead EDI." He said as James began to clean up a section of his bench. He offered Garrus a bottle of water which he took with a nod.
"I have an incoming message from Urdnot Wrex. Shall I put him on?" asked the A.I. Garrus chuckled.
"Please do." He said before taking a drink.
"Wonder what he has to say about your ass being in the big seat?" asked Vega. Whatever Garrus was about to say got cut short.
"Shepard. I need a word with you about some logistics with the Salarian STG. The Dalatrass still tries to block access even though Jondum Bau is taking leed. I'm gonna try and see if as a fellow Spectr he can get Bau to shirk the bitch for good." Said Wrex getting to the point.
"You could just head butt her like you do when things get too complicated." Said Garrus. Five seconds passed.
"You are the last person to talk about using your head, Garrus. Now, Shepard. Help and old friend out again? This should be much easier that the last round eh?" laughed the old Krogan.
"Shepard is in the Med bay. Anderson and Hackett have placed me in charge of the Normandy." Said Garrus who found it very uncomfortable to say. Ten seconds.
"I'm coming over there then." Said Wrex. Garrus shook his head.
"We have a mission in under an hour. I don't know how long it will be and Shepard hopefully will be back up in a day or so." He began.
"I don't care. And nothing personal Garrus but I don't think Bau will be as intent to listen to you." Said Wrex.
"I agree. How urgent is this?" he asked.
"If you want a supply line to keep us moving troops to Palaven then I'd say pretty urgent. The Quarians are getting ready with the Geth to bring in another wave of my troops but the old line is blocked now." Said Wrex. That was bad news.
"So Palaven is cut off?" he asked with horror.
"Not yet, but we are wasting time and fuel by having the Salarian homeworld relay being blocked off. Garrus, we need to get that open or we won't be able move against the Reapers to make a fucking difference." Said Wrex. Garrus shook his head.
"EDI, can you open a line to the Dalatrass? Tell her it is from General Vakarian of Palaven." He asked.
"They made you a General? Damn, you are getting that stick up your ass to pay off…"Wrex was stopped by another voice.
"You must be a recently promoted General due to the circumstances. I'll excuse the abrupt hacking of my private line just once. You hear me?" Asked the very angry tone of the Salarian Dalatrass. Garrus sighed.
"This was not my first choice either but the situation is very urgent. I have gotten word that a large amount of reinforcements are being delayed. Is there a problem I can help fix to prevent this?" he asked trying to play coy. He needed her to not realize who he was just long enough to get her to let up. Not that he had much hope.
"Can you put the Krogan back in check now that the Genophage has been cured? I think not General." Scoffed the dalatrass. Garrus felt his head begin to throb. He really did hate this woman.
"Ma'am with all due respect, I have watched my best friends die." He began. The pettiness of the situation was incredible. This, this is what John had to put up with every hour. Fuck this.
"I have watched families get burned to death where they stood. A frontline soldier break down and put a bullet in his own head leaving his team to die. Krogans, Turians, Humans. Even your own people have left you in droves to help make it stop. We are all dying. We will not live, any of us to ask forgiveness if we don't win the fight. The small fleet you have blocking the relay in your system has to be all you have left." Said Garrus with a cold tone. Silence followed.
"I am General Garrus Vakarian, second in command of the SSV Normandy. I promise you I will fly there myself and bring every STG vesal and every spare Spectr to bear on your fragment of an army if you stand in the way of this war again. I'm broadcasting this to every fleet in the galaxy the moment I get off this channel. You hear me?" he asked.
"Damn you. I remember you now. One of the commander's lap dogs.
"Wanna feel my bite?" he asked. More silence.
"Dalatrass. This little movement is desperate in the extreme. It's over. Stop letting more people die over your grudge. You aren't just blocking troops. It is blocking refugees. People who could go back to the fight what little of those there are. That is your legacy if I let this get out and I will personally guarantee the Primarch will sanction our forces to blast you out of the damn void. What is your call?" asked Garrus. A minute passed. Garrus was sure the Dalatrass had left the comm she was using all together until a tired voice came through.
"No one has ever kept their promise after a war. The Krogan won't. But, you make a point. I will move out of position. I let possibilities of the future block the realities of the now. You have a clear path now General." Said the Dalatrass. Garrus nearly collapsed on his crate.
"Thank you, I am tired of seeing death. If I can stop it in any way I will." He lamented as he began to calculate what casualties got added with the possible hours delay in ship movement.
"This is my last transmission as Dalatrass. There is no place for me in this war." Said the Salarian before EDI dropped the comm. The shuttle bay was silent. Garrus looked down and saw the small water bottle in his hand was crushed in his palm with most of its contents on the deck.
"Holy shit. I just got a message that my commanders got clearance to use the Salarian relay. That was well played, Garrus. You have spent too much time around Shepard." Said the od Krogan. Garrus shook his head.
"Hey, someone had to cool you off from being such a quick tempered hothead. Not much from me I know. But, seriously what is your location? I need a minute from this war and checking in on John might not be a bad idea. How banged up is he?" asked Wrex.
"Bad. Hell, we all are. Especially since…" Garrus let the thought drop, not knowing if Wrex knew about Ashley.
"Since, what?" Snapped the Krogan.
"Ashley, she got killed not long after coming back aboard the Normandy." Said Garrus. He knew that the two had stayed in touch despite Ashley staying with the alliance. But he didn't know if it was simply professional or a friendship.
"Where the fuck are you?" asked a very calm sounding Wrex.
"Cyone, in the Silean Nebula." He replied.
"Stay put. I'll be there in seven hours. You hear me Garrus?" asked Wrex.
"I hear you. I'll let Joker know you are on the way." He replied.
"And Shepard?" pressed the Krogan.
"I have been ordered to leave to Commander in the dark unless it is a strict emergency. But a visit from a friend will just have to be a surprise." Said Garrus in a way of not saying no.
"I'll be over." And the comm was cut.
"Well, shit." Said Garrus as he got up and walked away. Garrus still had much to do before his team went planetside. The inevitable visit from Wrex was going to be a rough one for the crew. He had never heard sorrow in Krogan's voice before.
He had to focus for next was uncharted territory for him. He finally tracked down Dehara in the lounge sitting on the floor for nothing would ever support her large frame. She seemed to be to be at peace as she looked over a comically small data pad in her hand. She didn't glance his way as he took a seat on the sofa against the wall.
"You seem agitated." Said the large alien. Garrus had been told about and seen a cat once on the Citadel. To refer this creature to such a thing seemed very odd. What he saw was a giant with questionable motives. He had watched the vid given to Shepard and what had happened to Kyson. They welcomed the Oomari. Garrus, not yet.
"A little. You should see what I'm like when I get annoyed." He replied hoping the hint that she should set the data pad down wouldn't be missed. He didn't trust these new players. Locked up for so long. They had so many chances to rise back up. This Khoshekh thing and all and yet why not help the Protheans? They obviously put a small archive on the Novaria. Someone had to of noticed. Garrus felt for the fourth time that day as nothing more than a hedged bet.
That the Normandy was the long shot no one could quite drop from their hand. It reminded him of black jack and calling on twenty. The Normandy was that hoped for ace. What were they to the Oomari? Kyson would have been left to die or killed if not for chance.
"You don't have to threaten me just because you are in charge. Your pecking order is firmly intact." Said Dehara with what he assumed was a smile. Not as easy to read as the Humans despite the size. She had to walk either hunched or on all fours around the ship. She had also not settled on a single spot on the ship yet causing further distrust from Garrus. It was the sign of an expected short stay.
"Duly noted. I wanted to ask you a few questions about the last mission. He got a curt nod.
"I wanted to talk about teamwork." He began.
Tali's POV
She was checking over her suit seals out of habit as she waited for her chosen team to arrive. Garrus was standing with her as well. He seemed relaxed for the situation.
"What is making you look so smug?" she asked. Garrus swiveled the long neck of his towards Tali.
"I got the Salarian Dalatrass to back down. It is just hitting me." He smiled.
"You are letting command go to your head. Quickly it seems." Said Tali trying to knock him down a peg. Garrus just shrugged and continued to beam. Tali knew that look would disappear because her first choice of a squad member came up behind him. She had her N7 armor she had appropriated; it was still just past prototype phase once Cerberus unveiled their Phantom project on the galaxy. The Alliance saw the effectiveness and so did the Asari. The two had worked together to make this armor a reality. It had N7 badges but Serrice Armories manufactured it.
Garrus glanced to his right and looked back at Tali. He stayed silent as they waited for Tali's final choice.
"I'm surprised you aren't taking Liara with you, Sparks. I had you out for having a ladies night out to get away from these assholes." Jabbed James as he came into view. Garrus seemed to tense again but kept a watch on Tali.
"Who says it still isn't?" She asked. James' smille faded down as he stopped in front of her.
"Tali I assume has briefed you on the mission. As far as I can tell this is a sweep and clear mission. Captain Riley asked for backup and we were the closest. Now, in the past hour we have gotten word that the fuel reactor has gone silent and the fleets are desperate for every drop of fuel we can get." He said as he looked at the ground team. He looked all of them in the eyes before continuing.
"Where there was a chance of Reaper forces now you can guarantee them. Remember one thing when facing them. Distance. It is the only thing we got on these bastards. They are shock and awe. They use expendable light troops to scatter and divide in seconds. You will have to keep tight and focused. Use Riley and her team and let her use you to get this done. Good luck." Said Garrus as he turned to leave. Tali sensed he wasn't done but she wasn't going to push it. She knew why he kept it to the point. Even James looked worried but he just smiled at her and gave a big thumbs up and a wink.
The team boarded the Kodiak as Cortez fired up the thrusters. Tali took a seat across from the two humans. She saw James had his Katana shotgun and Mattock rifle. The Grenade launcher might be handy as well. Teagann had her sword on her back. She had even traded her Scorpion for a Carnifex. The new addition to the young woman's arsenal was the Mantis sniper rifle. One that had pits and dents on its panels and frame.
Garrus was trying to be like Shepard by not letting fear and emotion get in the way. But the rifle said he still wished it was him. Tali couldn't blame him. She had done the same in asking Teagann to go. Liara was in no shape to be behind a gun despite how amazing she was under fire. And, she had not been told outright that Kyson was not authorized on the battlefield but she had a feeling that he needed to stay focused on the Normandy for a while. He still had healing to do and combat was not the place for that.
As she thought of the young engineer she tried the experiment she wanted to test as soon as she left the ship again. She closed her eyes and relaxed. Imagining that feeling she got around her lifemate. She felt a brush of something cool. It was him. It seemed to move away before coming back.
[There you are.] Said Kyson in his smiled.
[I am almost to Cyone. Garrus didn't say a word against my choice to take Teagann.] she replied. There was no need to reply how thus far they could communicate from a distance.
[We all trust you. So be safe and I'll see you when you get back] He replied. Tali couldn't help but feel a little put off at his lack of excitement.
[I have a torch in my hands. Adams is looking at me odd] He followed up.
[Ah, I love you. Bye.] And she opened her eyes and felt him move away. It always seemed to get darker in the room when they seperated their connection. Once this war was over, she would have to try and convince him to let a few studies be done to understand this new possible course of consciousness. She had been opposed to study at first yet, she was still curious. Who wouldn't be?
Tali let herself take a deep breath as she shifted her thoughts back towards her current mission.
"Cortez, what is the ETA?" she asked.
"One minute. I have the factory on visual now." Came Steve from the cockpit. Tali nodded and stood up.
"Weapons ready." She ordered before bringing up the comm link she had been sent.
"Captain Riley, This is Tali'Zorah vas Normandy . We are here to back you up. What is your location?" she asked. A few moments of silence. Now she had her shotgun out now certain that a fight was at the LZ.
"Good to hear. We are at loading bay seven. So far everything is secure but you will see." Said The captain. Tali nodded as she got the clear from Cortez. She opened up the shuttle door and stepped down onto the landing pad size for much larger transport ships.
"Stay here and keep an eye on the skies, please." Asked Tali as she waved her team forward. Teagann took point with her pistol while James had his rifle out. The good weight of her gifted shotgun was an old comfort for Tali as she kept an eye on their rear until the door closed.
"Teagann, switch positions with me." She said once inside.
"Understood." Said the younger Sorley as Tali moved up. The inside of the factory was as she expected. Cramped, full of heavy equipment and very tight corners with nothing but places for enemies to have a chance for a drop on them.
"At Least it's not uphill." She said. James laughed.
"Yet." He said. Tali knew she had just jinxed herself. Damn Shepard for explaining the concept all of those years ago. Every race had an idiom for it yet the Humans seemed to make it feel unsavory.
"Halt, Normandy crew?" came a voice from ahead behind a support for a heavy crane. Tali motioned her team to stop.
"Correct. I'm Tali. I'm here on point for Shepard." She said getting to people came out while others nearby were told to stand down. A female woman in armor very similar to what was issued to Lieutenant Syphe back on Earth emerged with a grim looking Turian man.
Tali held out a hand to Riley but was ignored. The Turian surprised her and took it instead.
"Milex. Thank you for coming so soon." He said. Tali nodded and looked at Riley.
"What is your status?" asked Tali as she saw nothing but a quiet facility.
"We had a possible contact that slipped through the defense grid in orbit and around the Relay. Milex here and his private little army have helped the local Asari militia organize against our foe. Yet in our last defense against a heavy wave of ships I thought I saw a contact get through." Said Riley. She looked around the facility before continuing.
"I would not have called but when this facility went silent I wanted to play it safe. It had a crew of fifty workers all missing. The low lying areas also have a massive breach of fuel. I think you know the danger there. These people have been valiant in their fighting so far but are not trained in breach and clear ops." She said finally. Tali walked past the Captain and looked down a ramp and saw a dense, glowing cloud as her HUD began to scream radiation hazards at her.
"That was the only warning we got from the staff here. That there was a sudden breach of containment before they got cut off." Added Milex. Tali sighed as she had old memories on the old SR1. Dropping in on derelict ships filled with thorian creepers with Cerberus cargo crates dumping out more as the moved towards the bridge.
"This will take time." She replied causing Riley to look at her.
"Ma'am, if I may ask. Where is Commander Shepard?" said a very agitated sounding woman.
"He has taken some bad hits lately and is recovering in the Med bay on the Normandy. I have been given point on this mission and General Garrus Vakarian is acting command as of now. Riley nodded.
"I see. I hope he makes a full recovery. I have heard Vakarian before. I'm trying to place it." Said Riley.
"Everyone here knows them Captain. At this point who hasn't heard of how Tali here along with Garrus helped take down Saren and the Collectors." Said Milex causing Tali to blush just a bit under her grim smirk. A reputation did come in handy.
"That's correct. This is James Vega and Teagann Sorley. They are ready as I am. Riley stayed quiet as she seemed to stare at Teagann through her helmet's mask.
"Your brother wouldn't be named Kyson would it?" Pressed Riley. Tali saw the Captain had her arms crossed and was tapping her foot clearly agitated. Tali was taking it back. A reputation sucked.
"Damn it, what else has my brother done?" asked Teagann as she picked up on the same cue. Riley looked stricken as her shoulders slumped.
"Just when I thought I had forgotten that rotten bastard. Just great. Look, I don't need any more loose cannons on this. Can you take orders or are you going to go AWOL like my worst student ever to be allowed in and out of the N7 program?" sneered the Human Vanguard.
Tali did not like her tone for a second but she was working blind on this.
"You were his Captain?" she asked. Kyson had mentioned that his time spent in the program was horrible.
"He abandoned his unit multiple times to go after targets by himself. He would buck orders at every turn and undermine the other recruits for personal gain. Not to mention the constant reek of cheap hooch and general nastiness towards anyone not him when off duty. He was absolutely the worst person under my command." She said with Malice. Tali winced while Teagann nodded.
"Yup. That's my brother. I try to leave my customers with a smile…personally." Said Teagann trying to lighten the mood. James stayed quiet as Tali stared down the Captain.
"I am sorry he acted in such a way. I was the cause of that indirectly." Said Tali trying to give the Captain some room to come back to the mission. She couldn't have a divide if they were about to be in combat. Every time there was a rift when working under Shepard or with her few teams on the fleet it would kill the operation before it began.
"What, you tell him he needed to stop cheating on you or something. He always seemed the insecure type. Overcompensating for a lack of personality. I hope for your sake you get to keep a distance from him." Snapped the woman.
"He thought I had been murdered. He got spaced for over a galactic day alone in the Valhallan Threshold. He was delusional at best. Did he not tell you this or Luke before he got sent into the program?" Tali shot back with a bone to pick with her Father-in-law. Riley walked up to her slowly. Tali found ir so strange to be on the other side of things. She couldn't get a read on the Captain due to the mask. Why would this bother her now?
"No. I was not aware." She said with a more guarded tone.
"Luke is on board the Normandy now. If you want to settle the score so is Kyson. But right now, we have a mission and Garrus has put me on point. Are we in agreement on this?" she asked. Riley held out her hand.
"Agreed." She said as they shook hands. Tali got things back on topic by pulling out her Omni-tool.
"I have a possible access to the vent controls if we move those crates here to our right. From there I have run scans showing the two points I need to hit in order to get the reactor online. Can your team hold her? If my team gets our asses chewed off by reaper forces this falls apart." Said Tali.
"You can count on us." Said the Captain.
"James, Teagann. Move up to the crates. Milex, take your crew and hold this ramp. Riley, cover the path we are leaving by. I want more than one way back out of this place." Said Tali as James motioned for her to move up.
Tali got under the lifted crate despite her mistrust of being under something so heavy. To her right was a control room with lift controls. Once the crates were moved she took point once again. The first out of place thing she saw was an odd piece of machinery she had never seen before. It was glowing purple and looked so strangely like Reaper tech. It made her teeth grind so it was definitely reaper tech.
"What is that?" she asked motioning with the barrel of her gun.
"That is what we call a barrier engine. The Reapers use it like a shield generator. That reminds me, Sparks…have you faced any Reaper forces yet?" asked Vega.
"Not yet. I have heard you all talking about them though. Turian Marauders can aid in building temporary armor while Cannibals soak up bullets like a sponge. Then there are the husks. They never end." Said Tali as she determined shooting the engine was the best course of action. Teagann found one as well and destroyed it as well.
"Wait till you see a Brute." Said James.
"A what?" asked Tali. She had found the venting control to help clean the internal atmosphere.
"The Reapers found a way to combine a Turian and a Krogan. They are B.I.G. big. And they charge you with armor three times as thick as a Mako." Said James. Teagann seemed to check her surroundings more carefully with the mention of such a beast.
"We will make them pay." Said Tali as she tried to imagine what may lay in waiting. She hit the controls and the venting began to exchange atmosphere sending the leaked fuel into industrial scrubbers. She hoped.
"Teagann, you see any more of those shield things? She asked as she motioned for James to clear the base of a ladder near the generator core.
"I count four. Permission to eradicate? I guarantee If I do it has to wake up whatever is here." Said the former Thief.
"You are clear to fire." She said. The sound of Garrus' rifle went off four times. Then, nothing.
"Riley, anything?" asked Tali over the comm.
"All we hear is you. Have you engaged any hostels or shadows…like Kyson?" added Riley who was still fixated on the topic.
"We found Reaper barrier engines. Something has to be here. You were right to approach this slowly." Said Tali as she motioned for Teagann to join her and James at the first fuel generator.
"She will not drop that shit about your brother Teagann. I have to admit, I know your bother I think on a certain level. But that sounds out of line even for him." Said Vega to the youngest Sorley.
"He tried to hide the bad days, hell I thought he was dead for months. I was in the dark like Tali was." Said Teagann.
"We can dig this up later. Tali to Normandy. Can you hear me?" she asked into her comm.
"Loud and clear. Go ahead Tali." Said Garrus she would never admit it out loud in front of him, but hearing Garrus on the other line gave a sense of stability in the situation. She did not like the lack of enemies to shoot. Too much like the derelict Reaper.
"Do you have any contacts from orbit?" she asked.
"Negative. Cortez?" asked Garrus.
"I have nothing." Came the pilot.
"Shit." Said Tali as her focus came to the fuel generator. She had her squad keep an eye out as she began to fix the control.
"Something wrong?" asked Garrus. Tali grunted and a wire fell from her grasp. It was obvious the controls had been shot through. The more she glanced around. Small traces of a fighting were showing. Pools of blue blood. Asari. And more projectile holes in grates and walls.
"My whole damn life is wires and more wires. For once I wish my solution could be more like Wrex. Just smash it." She lamented as she finished re wiring a simple power line. Garrus laughed.
"Guess who is stopping by for a visit?" said her acting commander.
"Is he? I thought he would be so busy." She said before pressing the activation of the generator.
"He heard about Ashley." Was all Garrus said.
"I Miss her too but, I didn't realize they were close." She replied.
"Same. Keep me advised. Garrus out." And like that back to a supposedly empty factory. Tali activated the fuel generator. The giant pistons caused the frame to bind as the cranking torque of well over a thousand horse power if she were to go by Alliance standards began to hum.
A loud screech could be heard mixed with a raspy wail. Husks. Tali turned on her AP rounds and looked up the ramp at the right. Ten of the damn things were coming from above.
"You wanted uphill right?" asked James as he laid into the monsters cutting a swath with a smile on his lips.
"Teagann had her pistol back out and joined in. Tali only had time to take a single shot before she got sight of her first Cannibal. It had the four eyes of A batarian but seemed so wrong. Perverted in some grotesque way she couldn't find words for. She fired at the thing center of mass. It was blown back from the force. She nodded as she ejected the clip. Another of it's kind moved in over the corpse. It opened its mouth and seemed to be absorbing the fallen into extra bulk. Now she knew.
"Oh I don't like that." She said as she put two shots into the thing before it could finish.
"Riley we have engaged Reaper troops. How is your position?" asked Tali. She could hear James laying down fire broken by the loud thumps of Teagann's pistol.
"We have been engaged but are holding. Milex is keeping the lower floor clear as well. You did a hell of a job waking them up." Said Riley.
"Part of the service." Tali grumbled.
"Team, move forward." Ordered the Quarian. She took point as she took down yet another Cannibal. She took cover at the top of the ramp as fire came from behind a consul where the second generator was waiting for her. James had brought out his shotgun and began to shred more husks. Tali peeked over her cover and saw movement behind the holo display. They looked like Turians.
"Are those your Marauders?" asked Tali to her team.
"Yep. The tend to have shields. Want me to take them out?" aske Tegann.
"Well, if you want to kill them more than the other ones sure." Said Tali not catching on to what Teagann was about to do.
"Shadow, I wouldn't if I were you." Said James who seemed to know more than her. Tali caught sight of Teagann pulling out her sword as she cloaked. Tali understood. Teagann was not as fast as she used to be. Tali looked back at the Marauders. She began to aim at her when one of the heads rolled off it's shoulders. The second turned but was too late. The arm holding the rifle was removed before it also lost the brain bowl. Teagann's cloak timed out as she began to cut down what little husks remained.
The only sounds remaining were the shots coming from Riley and her team.
"Don't push too hard. You know that leg isn't ready." Admonished James. If Teagann didn't have a helmet on she knew the look of irritation that must be there. But, the solid metal plate with a full digital display kept the world at a distance for Teagann.
"You are right, That was hard to pull off in time. Only opportune targets now." Agreed Sorley.
Tali listened as she saw her chance for the second generator. For once all she had to hit was start. It did nothing. She was about to swear when the machine jumped online. Good. Now she could focus on the Reactor. Tali moved over to the holo where the dead Marauders had made the floor slick with gore.
"I just cleaned this suit." She said with aggravation.
"We have more inbound. Teagann get that cannon of yours down that range." Said James as he got his rifle out again. Tali worked as fast as she could while her team held back the reapers. The power that she had supplied had to go through a calibration process. Just because it had power didn't mean it needed all of it. To get the reactor to properly refine helium-3 it had to be balanced on the two beams that collided in the center to condense the molecules into usable cells.
Boom.
The mantis spoke.
Boom. Boom.
Now it was a conversation. Vega whooped with joy as the contacts fell before them. Tali almost had the charges rectified to the parameters set in the core's memory. It still wouldn't be making fuel yet but it would be ready the moment the facility was secured.
"Riley to the Normandy team! We are being overrun!" came the harsh voice of Riley. Tali looked up and could look down the ramp into the reactor core. Down the far side was the base of the Ramp leading to Milex and his men. Tali saw more than a dozen cannibals closing in with Milex trying his best with the rifle he had. Tali had to make a decision fast.
"Teagann. Could you do that trick again? Go help Milex." She ordered as she came up behind the young woman and began to fire at yet another Marauder.
"On it." And with that she was gone. Tali began to follow while still firing to cover James. They only had two contacts left. She watched as Tegan began to move into the reactor core. She had almost made it to the center with sword drawn, when a giant shadow sweeped out at her.
Tali gasped as Teagann rolled her shoulder just in time to miss the near devastating blow. A giant black creature moved into view. Splayed ribs exposed a glowing blue spine. The fractured skull of a Turian fused to the monsteroud hulk of what must have been a Krogan roared as it charged Teagann.
The young woman jumped up and over the beast while only taking a small surface chunk of armor. But she had cornered herself. Tali saw the red glow of the reactor above and wasted no time.
"Teagann. You have seconds, Run!" snapped Tali as she brought power to the reactor. It would incinerate the thing. But Teagan had to move now.
The woman needed no extra incentive as she turned tail instantly. The beast had lodged it's massive claw in a floor service panel leaving its body under the two beams. Tali saw the shield doors closing but no sight on Teagann as the doors shut.
"Kellah, what have I done." She asked as she ran as fast as she could towards James. He had cleared the way they had come.
"Move!" she shouted as she ran along the upper catwalk trying to get back with Riley. The gunfire she heard was intense as she neared. She saw the crates from before and husks climbing up where once poison blocked their path. Tali tore into the ranks as she fired round after round trying to clear a path to any sign of her new sister. James joined in causing a huge thanks from the Asari nearby.
Tali looked at the same huge group of cannibals from before. They had Milex and his men Isolated on a catwalk on the far left. Only Milex was left firing while his men were reduced to throwing equipment down the ramp.
Then the first Cannibal seem to just fall apart. Then another. The reapers were so focused on their first victory that the invisible slashing storm of Teagann was ignored. Her cloak had timed out and yet they fell like twigs from a bush being trimmed.
Milex stopped firing as the scene unfolded. Teagan just calmly worked her way up the ramp but a hitch in her gait told Tali she was running out of steam. Tali knew her squad mate was running out of time and her assault would slow.
"Milex, help her." Ordered Tali as she ran past Riley and her recovering crew. Tali shot the first cannibal to notice something was amiss and sight down on Teagann. Tali blasted the things head off before getting an arm under her sister's.
"Thanks." Came a tired wheeze form Teagann. Milex had run out of ammo with a single Cannibal left. His men dropped a spare turbine shaft with the crane reducing it to a puddle of goo.
Cheers went up as Tali held onto Teagann and a full head count came up to Sorley chanting her name. Teagann could barely stand and took her helmet off for fresh air now that it was available. Tali set her down on a workbench. Teagann was panting as her long brunette hair covered her features.
"That used to be so much easier." Said teagann. She looked up and Tali noticed Riley approach. She had removed her helmet as well. A deep ebony colored woman with hair in a tight bun and deep brown eyes looked hard at Teagann.
"You look just like him. Why couldn't you be in the program?" asked the Captain. Tegann shook her head.
"Because I hate the Alliance. You know my dad more than I do when you got trained. Even heard your name over a few formal dinners while I tried to study school." Said Teagann. Tali kept quiet. So did Riley.
"I'm sorry you had to deal with my Brother at his worst. And so is he. But, while you got the best training from my dad we got the worst father from him. Kyson didn't want to be there. If you called him I'm sure he would make amends." Said Teagann in rare defense of her brother. Riley looked at Teagann with hard eyes of steel.
"He made my life hell. But I do hear you, ma'am. Tell Kyson to message me. He is just lucky he has you two to keep him straight. And tell him to shut the fuck up once in a while. His aim is fine, but morals…" Riley left it at that as she told her troops to secure the factory for good.
Milex came up with Vega.
"Whatever bad blood you have with her please know that you are a damn hero for us and Cyone today. All of you. I thought we were done when we ran out of ammo. We need your ships to show up for fuel as we need munitions. Please, if there is anything we can do?" asked Milex full of gratitude. Tali held up a hand.
"Take this victory. Show it to the galaxy and let it spread around this planet. That will go many light years towards winning this war. The fact that we can not just hold, but win." Said Tali as she shook the Turian's hand one more time. Vega had Teagann supported as she hopped towards the exit.
"Yes Ma'am. Good luck out there." Milex smiled as her turned to his duties. Tali followed her squad to the Kodiak.
"Ground team to Normandy." She called. It felt good that despite this being her first mission on point since coming back to the crew, and a full head count. She had seen Reaper action and hadn't folded. She was worried ever since she froze on Rannoch.
"This is Normandy, Go ahead." Said Garrus.
"We encountered light Reaper forces and have cleared the reactor. Riley and her forces will remain in anticipation of the fleets. We have no casualties." She added at the end. She could see Garrus relaxing over the comm.
"Very good ground team. See you in a few." Said Garrus.
"Understood." And she cut the comm. Once in the air she had one last thing to do. She closed her eyes again.
[Kyson?] Tali tried to feel for him. Nothing but empty space and the sound of the Kodiak's thrusters. Tali sighed and let herself relax back into her seat. She looked across and Teagann who seemed to be trying to ignore the pain in her leg.
"You are headed to the Med bay." Said Tali. Teagann gave a wry smile.
"Garrus is gonna be so pissed at me." She said with a flash of a frown.
"No he won't. He kept his mouth shut because he knew you could handle it. Pain and all. You did well." Said Tali. Teagann tried to shirk the complement.
"Listen to her. You had those people cheering down there and you fought like a damn demon. Take the complement senorita." Said James. Teagann stayed quiet. It was how Sorley's tended to agree to things.
No comment.
A/N
I hope nothing was screwed up by having to copy paste and as always, enjoy!
~RJ