Entropy 2: Homeward

by RelayJumper

Commander John Shepard has survived the hell of Tuchanka, but the story is far from over! He has saved the Citadel only to fly right into another war. The Geth vs. The Quarians! But before he can get back to the Galactic war against the Reapers, he must defeat his own maelstrom brewing within the elegant hull of the Normandy before pressing onward, and Homeward...

27. Chapter 27: Return to Sender

Enjoy.

Chapter 27: Return to Sender

Kyson's POV

There is only so much you can do in thirty-six hours. Atleast, that was what Kyson had just been told by Steve.

"So, I can't take the backup kodiak?" asked Kyson, trying to make sure he had heard right.

"No, that's not what I said. I'm just observing that if you want to go to the citadel and be back here in the time frame you want, it will be damn close." said Cortez as he stood next to Kyson. Both of them looked at the stored shuttle on the starboard side of the Normandy. Kyson scratched at the stubble on his chin.

"Why haven't we used it?" asked Kyson.

"We haven't needed to." was the curt reply from Steve.

"I promise I will bring it back with a full tank." said Kyson as he turned to Steve with a wide grin. The pilot smiled also but wouldn't look at him.

"You said the password. Not a scratch, okay? I know I can make you fix what you break." said Steve before he opened his omni-tool. The arms holding the second shuttle lowered down to the floor. He now had a live countdown before he went into hell.

"Thanks, Steve." said Kyson as he began to walk towards the elevator. His own tool gave a soft ping notifying him that his chosen team was assembled at the bar. He figured one little drink wouldn't hurt. Hell, he already had about three in him since his talk with Liara about an hour ago.

Kyson had even requested both Garrus and Adams for this quick meeting. It was time for Kyson to come back up to speed with operations. The starboard observation room had everyone needed as he walked in.

"You look the part." said Garrus who was on the sofa under the window of the room. Luke was sitting next to the Turian while Adams and Tali sat on the matching couch opposite them. Dehara was standing at the bar with a bored look. All eyes met him.

"I figured the dress blues would help a bit with procurement." Kyson half mumbled as he stood facing the small group he had assembled. He needed to be brief. Time, it was a movin'.

"Adams, I am going to be stealing Tali from you for about a week. I have some errands to run for the Alliance." said Kyson. Greg nodded.

"We are green on my end. What are you guys up too? Provided I can know." asked Adams. This caused Tali to put her omni-tool away and give Kyson her full attention.

"If it is more Rachni, I'm not going." she said flatly. Kyson was about to ask when Garrus cut in.

"Like I said yesterday, you missed all of the fun. This may be a chance to make up for lost time." said the turian. Tali shook her head.

"I will also remind you that I don't do things that scuttle. Now, Kyson. What are you getting us into?" asked Tali.

"We are going to Menae. Palaven's moon. I have been tasked with being the N7 presence for a joint operation with the formed allies. I will be mostly representing the Geth and Quarian part of this." he said. The expected hush fell over the room.

Kyson saw Garrus stand out of the corner of his eye.

"And why do they need an N7 on the front lines? Are we that desperate already?" asked Garrus who got to the crux.

"The Quarians and Geth are building a physical decoy fleet. The hope is to distract the reapers long enough for a massive evac on Palven. Apparently, we used up how many times we can fake false fleets. The last attempt had all ten evacuation ships blown from the skies." he said being blunt.

"How many people?" asked Greg.

"All cargo freighters. Around thirty thousand." Kyson said as he looked at Garrus.

"Then make this one work. Who is your contact on the ground so we can attempt to stay in touch? Damn comms are getting worse." asked Garrus without missing a beat. Kyson saw the determination in his friend's eyes. Command was suiting the turian.

"Kal'Reeger. He is going to be the lead on the quarian security detail for the logistics outpost I am going to set up. I have word that General Corinthus is still beating the machines like little bitches. If you can't get Kal, then try the general." said Kyson. Shifting his gaze onto Dehara, Kyson gave the smallest traces of a smile.

"You're on this one. Ready to hit the shit?" asked Kyson. Dehara smiled back at him. She didn't need to speak a word.

"Then, that's about it. I need to procure some items on the citadel before coming back here. Tali, the three of us will meet back here in thirty four hours. When I get back, I will need you and Dehara to be ready. Anything you need while I'm out?" asked Kyson.

"I have everything I need." said Dehara.

"Are we going straight to the moon?" asked Tali.

"No. We are going to Rannoch first to see the mock ships under construction. Then, we are going to meet up with the security team on the Neema." said Kyson. Tali seemed to ponder something as she shifted around in her seat.

"I should be fine. I'll get rest while you prepare." she said as she began to look at her tool again.

"Thank you, everyone." said Kyson as he walked to the bar.

"Be safe out there. The Normandy will feel like a senior care center with you two gone." said Adams as he patted Kyson on the shoulder before leaving. Garrus, he only nodded once before walking off himself. Dehara put a massive paw on his chest as he tried to walk behind the bar.

"I hope you are ready." was all she said. Kyson craned his neck back so he could see the intent stare of his feline friend.

"Always." he smirked. And with that, Dehara also left. Kyson found some water and took a swig. It was going to be a rough week. The operation should only take about three hours if it was done right. The lead up time would be the killer.

"Kyson, do you need me to go with you to the citadel?" asked Tali. He turned around and saw that she had joined him.

"If you want. I just need to get some new armor, weapons, other odds and ends. You know, basics." said Kyson. This was actually the longest conversation with Tali in almost two weeks. They were going to be having plenty of time together again.

"I'll check with Adams one last time. I'll see you in the shuttle bay?" asked Tali.

"You have ten minutes." he replied. Tali simply turned for the door. Kyson leaned back and took a deep breath. This was going to be a hard one to pull off. It was hard to ask Tali to go with him. He was being selfish in wanting her with him in case he died.

"What's on your mind Kyson?" asked Luke from the sofa. Kyson looked at his dad and shrugged.

"I'm thinking about how this may still end with casualties. Not by my failing, but by simple math. I will do everything I can to make this work. This is going to be front lines. You know." said Kyson being honest and up front. He met his father's gaze. He could see the old man thinking. Then his father sighed and leaned back into the couch.

"The only thing you can do in large operations is keep your shit tight. Praying helps. But, like you said, it's math. The reapers have better numbers to boot. It's your job to help tip that balance." said Luke as he stared at the ceiling.

"What did you do before missions like this? When you were headed into a battalion of turians in the first contact war?" asked Kyson. Luke laughed.

"I prayed like mad. Then I made damn sure I knew what I had to do. Then, I thought about the kids I hadn't had yet." said Luke.

"A bit simple given the level of risk." Kyson remarked. Luke looked at him like he was an idiot. That look hadn't changed despite the years. It was half way between a sneer and a grimace. Then Luke relaxed his features and smiled at his son.

"Kyson, it is the simplest of reasons that people fight the hardest for. We start wars for big picture ideals. We slaughter in the name of the future. But those in the trench fight to survive. Try holding onto an ideal when a grenade lands next to you. You'll say 'fuck this shit' instantly." said Luke.

Kyson lit a cig.

"I know. It's just, getting some hope back means I now have something to lose." he admitted. Luke nodded.

"Just like each and every person you are about to work with and command. They have just as much in this operation as you. When I helped make the new N7 program, what do you think I taught first?" asked Luke.

"Follow orders?" asked Kyson. He knew what was coming but couldn't help but be a bit glibe about it.

"Make the battleground yours." said Luke with a firm voice. Kyson took a deep drag on his cig again. That was the very saying he grew up with.

"The field only bears the seed you sow. So plow baby, plow. I remember." said Kyson as he recalled the earlier lesson marines got. What makes the grass grow? Blood! Blood! Blood! Kyson watched as his dad got up and walked over to his temporary locker he shared with Beni in this room.

Luke pulled out a blue fabric of some kind. Then as he placed it over his torso as if to gauge a suit off the rack, he began to smile again.

"I'm coming with you." said Luke as Kyson saw the familiar patterns of a quarian enviro-suit.

"What?" asked Kyson. His dad laughed as he threw the suit over his shoulder and grabbed that old double barrel shotgun of his.

"Just to the citadel and Rannoch. I'm bored and in the way. I need to bother Han for a while. Old bastard had a party and everything after he landed on Rannoch. Forgot to invite me." said Luke as he walked out of the room. Kyson just stood there with his smoke.

"This is going to be a long mission." he sighed as he put the butt out in the lone ashtray on the bar. He decided to skip the drink. Might as well dry out now. That was the downside to realizing you ain't crazy or about to die. He had lost his appetite for being blitzkrieg drunk. Kyson began to chuckle to himself as he made his way after his dad.

"Now I have to cope like everyone else. Well, shit." he said as he caught up with his dad by the elevator.

"John and Beni are going to meet us in the hanger bay." warned Luke. Kyson stayed quiet as he got into the elevator. He kept eyeing that suit his dad had pulled out. If it was important, Luke would say so.

As promised. Beni and Shepard were talking with Tali by the armory bench as the two Sorley's walked up. John stood at attention. So did the Sorley's.

"Captain Sorley, I presume you wish to disembark with the LC?" asked Shepard.

"I do" snapped Luke.

"At ease." replied John. Kyson put his arm down and looked at the time. They needed to move now if this little party was going to start. Now all he could think about was getting to the mock fleet ASAP. He wanted this over with. But, that would only hasten his biggest fear. If he was successful the likelihood of him being moved off of the Normandy was that much higher. So would the likelihood of him being separated from Tali.

Crazy or not. The space demon in his head didn't make him sign on with the alliance.

He did that on his own.

"You getting bored with me old man?" aske Benalia as she walked up to Luke. Kyson began to move towards the prepped kodiak.

"You are cramping my style you old hag. I figure I could get better entertainment from you ex, Han." grumbled Luke. Kyson caught Tali stop what she was doing and glance at the old couple. It was obvious she wasn't used to 'play' fighting coming from her elders.

"I should smack the fuck outta you." Beni snapped back causing Luke to laugh.

"You promise so much." said Luke before kissing Beni goodbye. And with that she went to the elevator. Kyson looked back one last time before getting on the kodiak. He looked at the bulkheads, the observation windows above. For the first time, it felt like leaving home.

"LC." said Shepard as he walked up.

"Commander?" he asked. Kyson was acutely aware of his nerves for the first time in ages. It was making him begin to sweat.

"I need you back here to kick Garrus in the ass when he tries to ram this ship into a reaper. I think James set a bad example." said John. Kyson began to laugh at the thought. Shepard extended a hand.

"Good Luck." said Shepard with his smile fading. Kyson knew in his gut that the commander wanted to say goodbye. Kyson could see the strain in the smile he was getting.

Taking his Commanders hand, he shook it once.

"Don't need it. I have Tali." he said with confidence. Kyson had one trick up his sleeve.

"That you do." said Shepard. And with that done. Shepard left. The small team climbed into the kodiak.

Then, they were gone. It was an hour to the systems relay so Kyson plotted their trajectory before joining his family.

"It will be nice to stretch my legs a bit on the presidium." said Tali as Kyson sat next to her. She didn't bring up the mission, or how she hadn't heard about it. She must be just as scared as he was. So, he would do as she did.

"Yeah. I don't think my shoulder is going to be the same after that last fall from the duct work." said Kyson adding to the inane small talk. Tali just leaned into him. So Kyson wasn't the only one feeling how off this mission was. He tried to keep his fears at bay as time just ticked down. They had a bunch of relays to jump before they made it back to citadel space. In a strange twist, it was safer to go through the Terminus Systems. The Reapers didn't have the troops out in force there yet. It was going to be six hours there, six back. And that was if there were no raiders or reapers waiting on the other side of each jump.

Luke seemed happy enough to promptly pass out on the rear bench, snoring loudly. The old man seemed to ignore the light weightless feeling between jumps at each relay. It was much more pronounced in small craft such as a drop ship. The young couple had retreated to the cockpit and simply busied themselves with flying the ship and keeping on point. It wasn't until they were going to make the last jump before Tali spoke up.

"I can't be the only one who thinks this is a bad idea." said Tali. Kyson rolled his head towards her and grinned.

"We were bound to get a shitty detail eventually and to think that we bitched about being bored." he said, trying to keep things from crushing them. The screen in front of Kyson gave him a warning that the final jump was only two minutes away.

"We should have known better. There is a lot of war to go it seems." said Tali. That was an understatement. One minute till the jump. Kyson lined the ship up for the final approach as the shuttle linked up with the relay's navigation systems. He shut down the outboard display screen as the massive light signature of the relay overloaded the cab with blinding blue light.

30 seconds.

"Finalizing approach." said Kyson as Tali went back to her station and watched the flight plan simulator for errors.

"Everything looks clear." she said.

20 seconds. Kyson brought the shuttle along ther relay, he locked the ship into the flight path and could see on the screen as the thusters began to try and compensate for the sudden lack of resistance. They were within the mass envelope now. There was no turning back.

10 seconds. Kyson always got tense at this moment. The jump was near instant. But what lay ahead on the other side would be a shit show. He desperately scanned the sensor feedback from the relay hoping he could see any signs of traffic to avoid on the other side. Tali had reminded him that the war would have the Widow relay at the citadel slammed with traffic.

5…

"Still clear on the other side." he said as he sent yet another updated scan. This shit really was a crap shoot until you jumped down the hole.

4…

"You have done this before, right?" asked Tali as she suddenly realized who was flying.

3…

"Maybe." was all he said.

2…

"Keelah." was all Tali could say. Time was up.

The ship vibrated lightly as the hair on the back of Kyson's neck stood on end. He almost felt weightless for a fraction but he couldn't let himself be distracted. His hands searched for a physical screen to grip. That funny mixture of vertigo and fear made the ends of his fingers and toes itch and ache in that unique pain. All he could do is keep scanning during the jump.

"I'm wounded. Forgot my trip to the fleet already?" asked Kyson as he once again sent a scan down the line, so to speak. Then, just as fast as it started the kodiak once again was moving under its own power. The scanner lit up like christmas as Kyson brought the ship closer to their destination.

"Clear." said Tali as she ignored his jab. After turning the display back on, Kyson saw the citadel and what seemed like thousands of lights orbiting it. Traffic indeed. It was time to get in line.

"Alliance flight control, this is Lieutenant Commander Kyson Sorley. I am requesting a place to land. I am in a kodiak." he said making it short. He even brought up his bio scans to speed things up. His mission file said that he would be given priority if he signaled ahead.

"Just a moment, Lieutenant." came the voice of a young sounding man.

"Good, we are here." said Luke. Tali jumped in her seat.

"Yup." said Kyson. He was hoping to spend as little time here as possible. He was ahead by twenty minutes so far. He wanted to be an hour early to Rannoch. It was the easiest way to see how a crew was working. If they had their shit together, they would be ready for him the day before.

"You are clear to land at C-Sec HQ at landing bay twenty seven." siad the voice of the flight controller.

"Affirmative. Nav point has been received. Thank you." said Kyson. Once inside of the citadel's arms, he couldn't help but get a little cross eyed. The structure was truly large in such epic proportions it could only be made by giant space machines. Killer ones.

Once landed, checked again, and cleared for a second time. The small group moved through ranks of the station's defence force. Kyson's req officer was six levels down.

"Kyson." came the voice of his father.

"Yeah?" asked Kyson. He was busy looking through the catalog of new armor he could choose from. He hadn't even gotten to the weapons section. He was hoping for another shotgun.

"I'm getting hungry." said Luke. Kyson turned around from his tool as they got onto the elevator.

He must have had a special look on his face because his dad began to laugh at him.

"You think my pension can pay for the food on this over priced pontoon boat of a station? When you are done, meet me at this noodle bar in Zakera ward. I'm meeting an old friend." said Luke. The elevator began to move down as Tali asked if it was the same one she remembered. Kyson barely paid attention. He was going through the gun choices he had available and was thinking on what may lay ahead battle wise.

Up close, or far away. None of it was good when it came to reapers.

"Kyson." said Tali.

"Huh?" he asked. As he became aware of his surroundings, a wall of noise hit him. He had walked right into the middle of a busy corridor. People of all races were running about doing their daily tasks and more. He had been so buried in though that he didn't realize they had shown up in front of the req office.

"I have called you three times. What is going on in there?" asked Tali. Kyson found himself at a loss for words.

"Just planning." he said lamely.

"Worrying. That is the word you are looking for." she said. Kyson nodded. He looked at his best friend and shrugged. She had called him out. He was getting nervous for the first time in ages.

"I have hope again. I have something to lose." he admitted out loud to her.

"So we get it done right and move on to the next one." she said with confidence. There was no doubt, just resolution. Okay then.

"Right. Now, I need a new kit. Time for me to raid the alliance budget." said Kyson with a small smile.

"Finally, some retail therapy!" said Tali with excitement. She walked into the office with him in tow. They were the only people present besides the officer behind a desk with a mountain of crates around him. Most of them were open.

"They all look empty." he observed aloud.

"That's because they are. Good eyes LC." said the young woman from behind the desk. Kyson walked up and motioned to the few boxes behind her.

"Oh, those have the things you need. Maybe. Let's see, ah! Here we go. You have been given the choice of the last two guns and a handful of grenades." said the woman.

"Are we that strained already?" he asked. He was beginning to think that he was going to need a new avenue for his munitions. Maybe knock off one of Aria's thugs and take his high dollar pea shooter.

"For now. Most of our allocations are already at the front lines. I have a large shipment coming in tomorrow. That doesn't help you though. So I made sure to leave something with a punch for you." said the woman. Kyson couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"You have mission briefs?" he asked. That would be very unlikely.

"No. But we are told if the mission assigned is for light or heavy combat." she replied cheerfully.

"Things have gotten better since we chased down Saren." said Tali as she looked around at the empty crates.

"Wait, are you Tali'Zorah by chance?" asked the Woman.

"I am. Pleased to meet you, miss…" said Tali being polite. The woman came out from behind the desk and offered her hand.

"Caitlyn. My daughter loves having old quarian poems read to her at night. I just want to say thank you for helping us. The Alliance, I mean." said Caitlyn. Kyson watched as Tali took the hand and shook it. Although she seemed uncomfortable.

"It is my pleasure. Tell your daughter that she will be able to see Rannoch one day if she still likes the old stories." said Tali. Kyson went back to looking at the crates. He wondered what his dregs were going to look like. Probably recruit armor and an M-8. Not exactly shit. But still, he knew he had been spoiled. What he wouldn't do for a Mattock or hell, his Widow.

"Thank you. She will be so excited that I got to meet someone famous. Anyways, enough of me fan-girling for my daughter's sake. Lieutenant, this crate to the right is your. It was tagged for extreme conditions." said The polite woman. Kyson walked over to the box.

"Extreme, huh? About time they acknowledged it." Kyson said grimly as he opened his new gear. He couldn't believe his eyes. There was only one gun. Plus six grenades. The rest of the box had been raided.

"That isn't right. There should be a shotgun and an M-8 in there." said Caitlyn as she began to run the crate numbers against shipments. Kyson reached down and pulled out the one gun he was getting gratis from the strapped military.

"Extreme indeed." he said softly. The rifle was exactly what he needed. It was a bulldozer made for people.

The M-99 Saber.

"I have never seen that rifle before. It looks cumbersome." said Tali as she came up next to him. He had looked at this rifle back on Mars. It had a backlog for specialized riflemen. It was normally made to the specs of the serviceman who requested it and stout as hell.

"Don't worry about it Caitlyn. I think they got this one right." said Kyson as he looked in the box again. There was a new problem.

"So, do we have a separate process for armor now? I figured they had my measurements in the database." Kyson asked. Caitlyn looked into the box before looking at him and shrugged.

"Let me make a call." was all she said. Kyson could only sit on a crate and wait.

"I should have known there was a catch for not having to sit in traffic." he lamented. Tali sat next to him with the collection of grenades.

"Have you used these before? I know Shepard loves them." she asked. Kyson looked at the batch of sticky grenades. He had never used them before. He always wanted to stay away from explosions. That's why he had timers on everything. He knew five seconds was never enough.

"Not yet. I have this feeling though." he said.

"You aren't very talkative for someone who has rarely seen his lifemate for two weeks. Relax, we have some time for it." said Tali as she tried to pull him out of his mind. People were still just outside the small office space and armory calling for who knows what. Time never stood still in this place. It was nauseating. He took the lifeline thrown at him.

"This place is noisy as all fuck every time I come here. You said you wanted to build a house on Rannoch?" asked Kyson.

"Well, I can tell it is a good thing we have a planet to move onto now. If we hadn't had that shuttle to ourselves on the fleet you would have gone mad." laughed Tali.

"I don't do crowds. Events, sure. Not crowds. I get frustrated with the lack of purpose with the amount of energy being exerted by randos flowing through life." he said a bit savagely. He got nudged by an elbow.

"Like the randos even care what you think. Now, where on Rannoch did you like it the most?" she asked, keeping him away from a tangent. Kyson glanced at Caitlyn who was still on hold with her supply chain.

"Cold. if you have any. If that desert was anything to be expected, I need to be at your coldest pole." he replied. This was treading old ground now. It was comforting, though.

"There is something called climate control." said Tali with a sarcastic tone.

"LC, I got bad news. The Alliance is tits up for armor in your size on the citadel." said Caitlyn. Kyson sighed as he began to think of alternatives. He would have to go down to the wards and hope for something. He was going to be broke again.

"Any way I can put in to replace what got tore up?" he asked. Caitlyn pointed to her terminal.

"Just access your data here, then go through your issued items. Didn't you file a report already?" she asked. Kyson went through his Alliance login procedures. The N7 emblem popped up on the screen causing the young req officer to whistle.

"Damn, no wonder you are miffed. I'll leave you be." Caitlyn said as she busied herself with stacking empty crates. Kyson highlighted the entire T5-battle suit. He pressed submit.

Error.

He missed the line needing an explanation for replacement. Tali placed a hand on his shoulder and scoffed at the problem.

"Really?" she asked, causing Kyson to chuckle. He had a way to fix this.

-Suit was damaged due to 'gross negligence of enemy combatants'.

Kyson pressed enter. A soft chime went off and a new prompt came on asking for a destination or vessel.

SSV - Normandy.

Now he was done. It was time to try and hope for some armor anywhere on this damn station. Watch him end up wearing batarian armor. Garrus would give him endless shit.

"Ready for food?" asked Tali. Kyson waved to Caitlyn as the couple headed back towards the elevator.

"You really don't care what box you cram me in as long as we end up on your rock huh?" asked Kyson as he headed towards the closest taxi terminal. Tali leaned against the glass window of the elevator as it began to move. The soft blue lights of the elevator shaft highlighting her gently.

"I could model it after this." she said with a sweeping gesture with an arm.

"Now that would be hell. Even if I could keep it at 27 degrees fahrenheit." he said as he joined her.

"I would put it on a mountainside. You could go up and down all day long. Then, when you got bored it would go down at the base and into the mine." she continued causing Kyson to look at her with renewed interest. Her imagery was amusing. As she looked at him and noticed that all she was getting was a stare, Tali put her arms around her chest and leaned on her right leg with a hip thrust out defensively.

"What?" she asked. Kyson could feel her frustration from the lack of attention she had gotten from the past month. Tali hadn't caught onto the scene she was describing. Well, it was just as likely he was the one frustrated.

"I think you are on the right track. I think a house built into a cliff face overlooking one of your oceans. A wide, sweeping view of a bay to one side. I still like watching storms roll in no matter what planet I'm on." he said. The elevator stopped at the presidium. The clean, white walkways and water fountains gave a stark contrast to what was in his head.

"We have many of those. It may be that many such places have remained intact since our exile from Rannoch. Whole cities were built in the walls of the many canyons that lead to the coasts and lakes. I think it would be wonderful." agreed Tali. Kyson felt a hand take his as they began to walk past the embassies. All kinds of officials and dignitaries rushed around them.

"This is the busiest I have ever seen it here. They must be taking things seriously now." said Tali. Kyson had been here only once that he could recall. It seemed no different to him.

"Come here a lot when chasing down Saren?" he asked.

"Only when we had too. Shepard never could stand it here. The only one who ever seemed at home was Wrex." said Tali. The two had hailed a cab and leaned against a rail.

"Really?" asked Kyson. That seemed at odds with what he knew of the Krogan. Tali laughed lightly.

"I know. He would run his mouth about the galaxy owing the Krogan. How they had a statute of his species and not a Turian for greatness. He would glare at dignitaries and officers." said Tali as she pointed in the direction of the Rachni War Memorial.

"He also knew the menu of every restaurant, cafe, and bar. He had been here before any of us had been born. It hit me when no one was watching him. The team had been distracted by some Hanar trying to preach or something. I saw Wrex surrounded by some kids." said Tali as she looked off to the right at a small park-like area with a covering of trees.

"I don't see any kids here really." said Kyson as he noticed the sudden lack of.

"This is the first place off-world many kids get to see if your parents are influential in the galaxy. Garrus called them spoiled rich kids. He is so jealous sometimes. But Wrex, he loved them. The kids would ask him questions. Try to tackle him. I watched a Salarian kid try and arm wrestle with him." said Tali who sounded like she was reliving a dream.

"You knew that he wasn't exactly what he tried to portray." said Kyson. It was a nice image.

"When I finally understood why he was fighting so hard beside Shepard, why he still had hope for his people it gave me courage. It made me look at the krogan in a way I will never forget." Tali said as she squeezed his hand. Kyson let her stay in that world of yesterday as the taxi arrived. It was a twenty minute ride to the noodle shop where Luke waited.

The old marine had already had his fill and was talking with a few other alliance soldiers. Kyson watches as his dad listened to the younger fighters talk about what was going on out in the hot spots. Luke would nod once in a while and Kyson knew dad would be adding his own input despite the noise of the ward carrying whatever he might be saying away. Kyson also felt himself go ridgid as he came up to the ramen stand. Captain Riley who was in her BDU turned to him first. She gave him a quick once over from head to toe.

"You look just like your dad." she said as Kyson stood at attention.

"Ma'am." he said promptly.

"At ease." said Riley as she stood up and offered her hand. Kyson took it and relaxed. It seems the apology letter Tali had suggested had gotten through.

"I hear you have your first solo assignment. Congratulations, Kyson. I wish it was during better times." said Kyson's former CO. This was the first time she was not screaming at him or giving orders since they had met. It was a sobering scene. He had always seen Riley as fearless and unstoppable. She looked tired. She didn't quite have the same crispness to her salute that was immaculate before. She even seemed to move slower.

"Thank you, ma'am. I have heard that you and Tali have met?" said Kyson trying to change the subject. Riley had taught him everything he needed and would use from here on out. John had inspired him, refined him maybe. But it was Riley that had broken him. She had planted the seeds for what had kept him alive so far in this war. She had done her part.

"I have. She saved me and my forces on Cyone. You have a very good friend in her." said Riley. Kyson could feel how red he was turning. His combination N7 trainer and drill instructor was struggling to make small talk. It wasn't her thing apparently. To drive the captain's point home, Tali rescued them.

"It is good to see you again Captain. Have you had any more trouble?" asked Tali as she took a seat at the bar.

"None so far. We have been shoring up things though. Now that we have an idea of how the enemy operates, we can possibly detect them earlier." said Riley who took Tali's hand this time.

Kyson took his own seat at the bar and called for the owner. He looked the choices over real quick and saw a simple two eggs over hard with soy sauce over the noodles. There was a dextro equivalent that he ordered for Tali.

"Kyson." said Riley. Kyson turned back to her.

"That Saber you got. It was mine from a few years back. It saw a lot of action before I started to really embrace my biotics. Take good care of Sheila." said Riley. Kyson found himself a bit taken aback.

"Thank you. I will. Be safe out there. And fucking slaughter em'." said Ksyon with a nod. He had already told her he was sorry for the shithead he was under her command. She had forgiven him it seemed.

"Damn right I will." she said. The captain said her goodbyes with Tali and Luke before leaving with the rest of the other soldiers. Food was served and silence fell. Kyson finished quickly as Tali slowly put small amounts at a time through a hatch in her helmet. He could hear her moan softly as she enjoyed the flavors.

"A delicacy indeed." she said as she finished her meal. Luke laughed and pointed at the owner who was making more noodles for customers.

"What? This hack? This shit is rehydrated from bulk packs that cost one credit each. He is making a killing with this racket at seven creds a meal. He has almost no cost in it but the eggs. I bet they are pre packaged too." said Luke as he looked at Tali.

"Are you saying I have bad taste? Because you chose this place. What does that say about you?" asked Tali who seemed to still be enjoying what she had.

"It says I'm a cheap asshole. I would take the kids to the mom and pop burger joint instead of the chain restaurants. They charged extra for the toy inside." said Luke. Kyson could see the side eye he got from his dad as the bait was thrown his way.

"That explains so much." said Tali. Kyson smiled at how that didn't apply to the youngest.

"Yet, Teagann got every Asari action figure in the happy meal." said Kyson as he finished a warm shot of sake.

"What is a happy meal?" asked Tali. Kyson looked at her like she was joking.

"A kids meal from McDoodles. Each meal has a small toy of whatever is popular in the movies or tv. Man, the commercialism actually takes from it as an adult." said Kyson as he realized something for the first time. None of the toys he wanted actually came from anything he liked. But he had always wanted one.

"See, you didn't need them shitty pieces of plastic. Hell, you would have swallowed something you shouldn't have anyways." said Luke. Kyson just continued on another pour of sake. Tali had her tool out and gasped.

"Oh! This one is so cute!" said Tali as she put her arm in front of him. The images showed a figurine of a unicorn in pink battle armor. The thing had ezzo thrusters and a mass cannon on its back.

"Uh huh." was all he could muster. Tali took her arm back and kept browsing.

"It's never too late for a happy childhood." said Luke.

"Yeah? You could make that come true for me and get me a toy after all of these years." said Kyson with a smirk. Luke shrugged.

"Name it." said the old marine. Kyson was about to be shity about it then stopped.

"I need a new suit of armor," said Kyson. Luke almost choked on his drink. When he was done coughing he looked at Kyson like he had lost his mind.

"I don't have the money to buy you that battle suit you had. That shit cost damn near three hundred thousand creds. Didn't you just get a new one today?" asked Luke. Kyson shook his head.

"Nothing in my size. Thanks for making me shaped like a brick." said Kyson. It was always his broad chest and shoulders with the short inseam that fucked him. He had turned into an engine block with arms and legs.

"That's your mother's short ass fault. Should have fucked Lexi sooner." said Luke. Kyson just stared past the joke.

"Fine! Fine, I have a guy you can go to. He is on the bottom level of this ward. His name is Rauqslan'Izarr vas Zakera. He makes armor. I'm headed there myself." said Luke. Kyson looked at the bag at his father's feet. He had a feeling he knew where this might be going.

"I need something for combat." said Kyson making sure his dad wasn't fucking with him. Luke put a hand over his heart.

"I solemnly swear. I'm ready to go when you are." said Luke. Tali was still busy looking at toys on the extranet. She seemed to be half listening as she began to follow Luke.

"Hey, buddy. The tab." said the owner. Kyson looked and saw that his dad had picked up the tab from all of the soldiers, Riley and an elcor. Then, passed it to Kyson.

"Two hundred creds…" Kyson trailed off. He paid it and caught up with his family yet again. Tali stayed immersed in the new distraction.

"I think I need to start this tradition for the kids back home." said Tali. Kyson wasn't sure if she was looking for a reply or not.

"It's McDoodles. They will have a catered menu for Quarians on Rannoch in no time." said Luke.

"Really?" asked Tali now that the elevator taking them down to one of the citadel's base floors had arrived.

"Hell, it only took them a year after the end of the first contact war before Palven had one. Now, the kids there get to enjoy shity toys too." said Luke as he led the way through a massive corridor.

Kyson felt out of place instantly. There wasn't another human to be seen. The giant warehouse-like space had to be a hundred meters wide and several times that long. He saw drell, elcor, and many quarians. Infact, this was the most he had ever seen off of the fleet in one place. There must be a thousand or more of them.

"I haven't been here in over two years." said Tali. Kyson could only listen as his mind was forced in many directions. Signs for little kiosks, carts, and stands flashed all over the place. Luke saw his son and smiled.

"It has a bigger impact if you turn the translator off." said the elder Sorley. Kyson remembered doing that on Omega. He hadn't been able to make heads or tales of the crazy symbols and garbled notes of the other species.

This time, he had the ability to make out what the quarians were saying and read their text. Most of it was for food, parts, the usual day to day tech stuff. But what got him was the small stand of an elcor. The script was made up of circular shapes and vertical lines. It almost looked like a topographic map cut into ribbons.

"It is overwhelming at times, isn't it?" asked Tali in her native tongue. Kyson nodded and replied.

"I really take that translator for granted." Kyson replied in Khelish. Tali laughed. In almost perfect english she commented on his use of her language.

"You still speak from the nose a lot. It sounds stuffy." said Tali. Kyson decided to enjoy the challenge. He kept the translator off. He just let himself get guided through the crowds. The quarians were all trading and bartering for whatever and the rest of the aliens did the same despite Kyson having no idea what they could possibly be saying.

"You need to stop being so pragmatic. Enjoy the time off instead of practicing. You sound fine." said Tali. She must have noticed he had yet to touch his tool again.

"What? Maybe I want to say dirty things to you that I don't want my dad to hear." he replied with a smile. Tali laughed as she grabbed his hand. They were beginning to draw looks for the thousandth time. It had to be a site for those down here in the lower wards. An alliance officer with a quarian woman openly hand in hand laughing as if it was just another day in the park.

Kyson could hear the quarians begin to gossip, then stop as the realization of who Tali was. That meant he had a kind of immunity. The drell men nodded at him with suggestive grins. The females of the species gave him dirty looks like he was doing something lecherous.

"Pay attention to me. They don't see humans down here very often. I won't let them make us feel like we need to hide anything." said Tali. Kyson smiled at her as they pressed on.

"If they knew what I wanted to do to you if the old man wasn't riding with us. They would be down right scandalized." said Kyson. Tali guided him through a thick press of people behind Luke. Kyson could see the barest trace of a smile through the visor.

"You are going to get so lucky at the hotel tonight." said Tali. Kyson quickened his pace. He hoped he never stopped being this giddy around her.

The trio had arrived at the back of the expo like market and into a still large corridor. This was where the people here lived. Exterior ladders led to small flats no bigger than the Kodiak. The ground level was almost completely elcor. Not surprising. A few second level apartments had stairs or ramps going to them making small alcoves against the wall. These small areas were communal kitchens. For a place so haphazardly organized, it seemed to work very well.

"This place looks almost cozy." Kyson remarked. Tali nodded at him.

"It is. Many of the species here are living the highlife compared to the farther out wards. Most aren't this lucky. Especially my people. This is the only major gathering point we have outside the fleet. This neighborhood predates our exile by less than fifty years. All of the others were sold out from under us." said Tali as her tone dropped a bit.

Kyson still didn't fully grasp how the galaxy could still stay so mad at the quarians. The Geth never went on a rampage across the galaxy afterwards. They didn't pursue their creators across the galaxy in a mass extermination. Although, the logical assumption that it would one day come did hang in the air. If you looked even deeper, it did appear to be akin to killing your children.

"That will change." said Kyson. The Geth would see to that.

"We're here. Rauq! Hey you shifty rat get out here!" shouted his father. Kyson saw the floor apartment they had stopped at had an elaborate curtain in front of the entire opening. Most of the dwellings didn't have this luxury. He had only seen one with actual windows and a door.

"Just hold on damn you. I have told you idiots a thousand times now that I only do commissions via appointment now." came a grumbling voice from within the space.

"Izarr, I told you no business at dinner. You cheap scoundrel, still can't stop chasing credits despite your wife being right in front of you? What am I? Just another piece of unsavory meat to be thrown away like a fat Krogan does when he smells conquest?" came the scolding from a woman as dishes could be heard being taken up.

"Oh shut the hell up you nag. I don't know who the hell it is. But if it was a customer, your mouth would scare them off now leave me be." snapped what Kyson assumed was Rauqslan. Kyson seemed to think that he had heard that name before. Stealing a glance at Tali he could see that she was relaxed. This must be common on the fleet if this guy was quarian like the name suggested.

That was when Kyson noticed the walls and sectioned off areas all across the area. All of them had ornate rugs, carpets, or hangings that dazzled the mind with beauty and intricacy. Then the name hit.

"Wait, Raqslan, isn't that the little creatures you make your realks from?" asked Kyson as he put the information together. Luke laughed. A surprisingly tall Quarian ducked out from behind the tapestry and stopped dead.

"You. You have the nerve to come back here." growled the man called Rauq. Kyson glanced at his dad who had his arms crossed.

"Look at how you have fallen. Preying on these poor people with your bullshit. I bet each scrap of fabric was triple the price than what could be found on Illium." snapped Luke. Kyson was looking at this stage site. There was something off about this quarian besides his height. He stood straighter in a way. It was the legs. And the feet. It looked like he was wearing human armor that styled after a quarian suit.

"And is that poor Cerenna in there? How did you swindle her to be stuck here with you? Did you buy her father a cruiser? I bet that was stolen right from under some dickhead turian." Luke continued. The odd looking man named Rauq put his hands to his helmet and began to take it off.

"Keelah, what is he doing?" asked Tali in surprise. The man behind the helmet was nothing like a quarian. It was a greying human man. He stared at Luke with a deep scowl.

"You left me no choice. It was that or surrender everything I had made to their damned military. I wasn't going to let those birds get a damn cent out of me. It would ruin my reputation." snapped the strangley dressed man. Both grey haired men scowled at each other before Luke opened his arms.

"My old friend!" said Luke with excitement. Rauq did the same with a massive grin of his own.

"My old friend indeed! My goodness what are you doing here after all of these years?" asked the man of what seemed to be of middle eastern descent. The two embraced deeply with many pats on the back. The two parted long enough to look each other in the eyes with wild looking faces.

"I am making nothing but trouble." said Luke.

"Good. This galaxy needs more trouble." said Rauq before another embrace. Tali looked at Kyson who could only shrug. He had no idea who this was. Then he could hear another voice.

"Luke'Sorley vas Earth. Where have you been all of these years?" asked the woman from before. The woman was unmistakably a quarian who came out to join them. She had beautiful teal and blue pattern that matched Rauq's. She embraced his father with as much warmth at Rauq had.

"I can't believe you fell for this old cheat. He tried to sell your family to batarians!" said Luke. The quarian shrugged lightly.

"And I tried to sell him to a krogan." said the woman.

"Luke, my friend. Who are these young ones with you?" asked Rauq as he noticed Kyson and Tali for the first time. Kyson could see the instant recognition on the tall man's face for no one could say Kyson wasn't Luke's son. This felt like all of those alliance functions he went to as a kid.

"This is my son, Lieutenant Commander Kyson Sorley. And this wonderful young woman is my new daughter-in-law. Tali'Zorah vas Normandy." said Luke. Kyson could feel the heat rise around his collar. This was the first time his father had introduced them together as a couple much less to old friends. His hand was quickly taken by Rauq. Tali was hugged by Cerena.

"Welcome to our home! Both of you. I remember hearing stories of you when travelling with your dad. To finally meet you is such an honor." said Rauq. Then the couple switched targets. The hug he got from Cerena was crushing for such a small woman. This was proving to be a theme for quarian women.

"You look just like him. You really do. Welcome. Come in! Have all of you eaten? Please have a seat at the table." said Cerrena with excitement.

"We just ate. But thank you." he said as he ducked into the small apartment. Right against the carpet wall was the table surrounded with the biggest plush pillows he had ever seen. No matter where he sat he was on what seemed like a bed. Then there was the small kitchen in the back. Next to it was an even larger collection of pillows. The bed it would seem. Every other inch of the space was filled with racks and racks of fabric in different stages of completion. Several looms made of wood. Not a single thing here even remotely reminded you that you were on the most advanced space station in the known galaxy.

"This place is amazing." said Tali as she sat down next to Kyson. She was making the same observations he was.

"Ah, this hole in the wall pales in comparison to childhood back on earth. But it does have it's charm." Rauq said. Kyson had a thing of hot coffee, black, placed in front of him. Tali got something that looked similar. Luke sipped at his and made a sour face before speaking up.

"You look to have it good here Rauq, what made the two of you settle down?" asked the old marine. Rauq leaned back on his pillow and looked back at Cerenna who had gone towards the back for something. Kyson could see just how white the hair in his beard was. He was probably a good deal older than his father.

"We couldn't run as fast as we used to," said Rauq. Luke chuckled.

"That's what you get for cheating both mercs and governments alike." said Luke.

"We cheated no one. You hurt me with your words, Luke. We always stuck to our deals. It is not our fault they couldn't read the fine print." said Rauq with what could only be described as a humble tone.

"We knew that our time of running fast and loose was done when Rauq almost got his left arm blown off by a batarian who wanted to collect his insurance money. Then, word got around that we weren't what we used to be and business started to dry up." said Cerrena as she joined the table.

"I'm glad to see that you two were able to make it out of the business in one piece. Not many do." said Luke who placed a hand on Rauq's shoulder. The tall man brushed the hand off quickly.

"Enough about us old people. What about these two! So young and with so much to see still! Tell me, Tali, what was it like getting Rannoch back? It filled us with such delight that peace had been formed with the Geth after so many years." said Rauq changing the subject.

"It was a moment of pure joy. A lifelong dream come true." said Tali honestly. Kyson sipped at his coffee as the events of their battle for Rannoch we retold by Luke and Tali. Kyson added the odd fact here or there. Cerrena nearly cried as Tali recounted taking her first breath of fresh air on Rannoch, on the plains while chasing Kyson. How the stars looked. How the air felt.

"I had once promised this one here that we would do the same thing." said Rauq as he nudged Ceranna.

"You would stop and try to steal something from the geth. I would be waiting under the Bekia tree with an I.O.U slip." said Cerrena, causing Raq to roll his eyes. The older woman did look at Kyson though as she finished.

"So, how did the most famous quarian in the galaxy get a nice young man like you?" asked Cerenna. Kyson was about to recall his rehearsed 'formal working relationship' that led to more routine before Luke cut him off.

"Don't let him fool you. He is my son. Little shit caused Tali all sorts of hell until she caved." said Luke with a shit grin. Kyson raised a hand to call time but that was stopped as well.

"I'm glad he did, too. We wouldn't be back on Rannoch nor would I be as happy without him." she said as she squeezed his left hand under the table. Kyson took another sip of his coffee. And nodded.

"What brought you two together?" asked Kyson. Rauq laughed.

"As your father said. We tried selling each other at different points. We were competing mercs out in the traverse. We were contracted out against each other by a krogan warlord to take out his rival. We had no idea." said Rauq.

"We met outside the door to the bastard's safe room. He had the cheapest shotgun I had ever seen. It was held together with tape!" laughed Cerrena who still found joy in the memory.

"Then you two took him down together and found out that a team was better?" asked Tali.

"Ancestors no. This Bosh'tet didn't see me and got spooked when I tried to get his attention. He knocked me out with the butt of his gun. Killed the warlord and left me with nothing to show for it but a terrible headache." said Cerenna who was still laughing. Tali looked at Kyson. Once again, he could see the traces of a shocked expression.

"Oh calm down. I spent the next ten years making this man's life hell before we actually started to work together." said the older woman warmly.

"You still make my life hell, you swindling witch." jabbed Rauq who had gotten up to get more coffee.

"You are still bitter that I stole the reward money from you." snickered Cerenna. Kyson couldn't help but be amused. This reminded him of every book he had read as a kid. The old couple was comfortable. It was also starkley different from his home life growing up.

"Yes, well. Tell me, Luke, why have you come to our humble abode? Have you eaten anything yet?" asked Rauq as he tried to change the subject.

"We have eaten. And I was hoping you could help us with a little project." said Luke getting down to business.

"You haven't been eating enough I can see. Look at your boy, he looks half starved. Then look at Tali. I bet your last good meal was before the war. I will be back." said Cerenna. Kyson tried to object by raising a hand to catch his hostess' attention. Luke put his arm down quickly.

"There is no saying no. Don't be rude." admonished his father. Kyson looked to Rauq who smiled at him and shrugged. Kyson still couldn't figure out if what he was seeing was influenced by the earth or the fleet.

"We don't get many chances to entertain these days. Everything is just business, I hope you will forgive our eagerness to indulge in some selfish old habits?" asked Rauq.

"Not at all. We could use the change in company. I'm surprised this little shack is to your liking? A bit of a step down from the old place yeah?" asked Luke. Kyson wasn't sure how that comment wasn't rude but his reluctance to eat was. Raq began to laugh softly before jestering around with his arms wide open to the shop.

"We have everything we need. Look at all of those stuffy bastards who have millions pissing away their retirement on things they can't take past the grave. I am richer than I ever have been. I do something I enjoy. I have someone I love. I even get to convince people who have midlife crises into adapted enviro-suits for deep space adventures." said Rauq who was still beaming with pride.

Kyson leaned back into his pillow and looked around the shop with renewed interest. He was going to be getting a quarian suit. He would bet a dime to a doughnut that was the purpose here.

"Is that why people call you Rauqslan?" asked Kyson. He was genuinely curious.

"It is. It isn't my real name of course but one I have earned here and cultivated." said Raq.

"You let people call you 'rodent'?" asked Tali.

"I find it easier to let people see what they want too. People know that I love to haggle harder than most. But I also make sure I have the talent to back up my prices. It is a game I love to play." said Rauq.

"More like good branding. No one foregets a shyster like you huh? Saves on business card expenses." laughed Luke. Rauq placed his hand to his head with a funny face. Before smiling like a light had lit up. Kyson laughed a bit causing Rauq to point at him.

"Finally, we make progress! So, this business. I would gather you are looking for something unique. I wouldn't be needed to help with simple suit repairs. I believe Tali could outpace me with her skills." said the old suit maker.

"No. I need help with two projects." said Luke as he opened his small bag and produced a light blue suit. It was sky blue with simple straight lines following the contours of the fabric for decoration. There was very little armor and it looked faded.

"You still have it after all of these years?" asked Raq with wide eyes as he almost snatched the suit away. He began to run his fingers over the seams and seals. Flipping it from back to front. Cerenna returned and paused at the sight.

"You honor him by keeping it. Bless you, Luke." she said softly.

"Honour who? If you don't mind me asking?" asked Tali. Kyson could see his father share a strained look with the old couple.

"It was the suit that Sam got me when we had crashed on a mission. There was a team of quarian scouts with us who didn't make it and my suit had been fried. One scout had died in the crash but his suit wasn't ruptured. Justin's dad saved my life with his quick thinking." said Luke Kyson could see how this suit would mean a lot.

"That scout was also my cousin. He was a gentle man who used to be quick on his feet." added Cerenna. Kyson could tell that there was much more to this story. But none of the elders want to talk about it.

"I will have it freshened up. Only a few hours, no problem." said Rauq with a warm smile. Luke nodded before looking at Kyson.

"My boy here is going to be spending some decent time with the fleet on his next assignment. He needs to be outfitted properly to limit distractions. Even on Rannoch he still needs to be situationally adaptable for the quarians." said Luke going all business in a blink. Izarr nodded as he began to look Kyson over, stroking his stubble with the look of an artist trying to see an image in a stone block.

"Have you spent time with them before, Kyson?" asked Rauq. Kyson nodded.

"About three months, I had my own kodiak shuttle I used as an apartment." said Kyson

"This is going to be an enlightening experience for you, if you get a suit like mine." said Tali who was trying not to sound excited. He smiled at her knowing that a chance to share her experience with someone besides her species must be thrilling. Many of her people liked to remind people that the other species have it easy, take things for granted. Now, Kyson didn't think Tali had such a cynical view on this. She had always wanted to have something of hers to share with him. Besides data files and tech, quarians didn't have much in the way of things to share cross species that the others of the galaxy didn't already have.

"Well, if we are going to do this, then you must eat." said Cerennna as she laid a giant platter with the whole roast on the table. Kyson could smell the spices and herbs used. It was a goat. Tali was given a small container.

"My friends. Let us enjoy this meal together." said Izarr as Cerenna joined them with her own sealed container. Izarr began a prayer. Kyson stole a glance at Tali who was staring at the roast.

So many people are out here. Just living. And where have I been all of these years? Kyson looked back at his host who looked very spry for a man with so much grey hair.

As the meal began, Kyson found that despite being quarian, Cerenna had a way with cooking. The meat was some of the most delightful food he had tasted in years. In fact, he couldn't remember the last time he had an actual family dinner. It had been nothing but street food and fancy establishments.

"Cerenna, you have to get me this recipe. Is this replicating the dish on the table?" asked Tali who was using a tube to connect to the container.

"It is. We haven't had it in a few weeks. We were celebrating our eleventh anniversary." said Cerenna.

"Congratulations. I'm sorry we are in the middle of it." said Kyson as he set the food down. An anniversary seemed like imposing too much upon his dad's friends.

"Oh don't be so worried. It was last week. We were so busy making a suit for an elcor who was trying to disappear on a planet out in the traverse that we had both forgotten." said Cerenna.

"Hiding won't work. If it does, would being alone really be a fate worth living?" asked Tali who seemed disgusted by the elcor's actions.

"I want to know how you were able to make a suit for a tank." asked Luke before taking another huge bite of meat. Kyson still felt like he was imposing. He looked at his plate and noticed he had taken the least amount of food. A single slice of meat, a few vegetables with an amazing goat cheese on the side. He had devoured it quickly.

Another chunk of meat was placed on his plate, twice as big as his first serving. Then cheese and veggies. He looked up to Cerenna leaning back into her seat.

"Eat!" she said like a fussing mother. Kyson quickly began to eat.

"You need more food. Your cheeks are all sunken and make you look too serious. How will you make her smile with that frown you always carry? You need to be full if we are going to help you with a new suit." said Cerenna. Kyson did as he was told. He figured he was going to be in this position even if he wasn't getting fitted for something.

"It's not not like I'm the grim reaper or anything." said Kyson as he set to chewing on more meat.

"You have some bony elbows. They hurt through my suit." said Tali.

"See, you need to chew on more of the fat. How are we supposed to calculate the give the suit needs on an empty stomach?" Cerenna continued to fuss.

"The Alliance has always relied on short operations with catered MRE's to adjust for more rigid armor. We don't have to live in our suits full time like the ladies here do." said Luke. Kyson knew this. But he just kept eating. He was thankful for his dad taking over the responsibilities of conversation. Idle chatter of old contacts and laughter as Luke heard the fates of old friends.

"I like them." said Tali as she rubbed a hand on his thigh lazily. She had finished her meal and had switched to some water.

"They have known each other for a long time if they worked with Mr. Syphe." said Kyson.

"Who?" asked Tali.

"Sam Syphe. Justin's dad. He was one of the original men trained by my dad when they were young. The first N7 team." said Kyson

"I sometimes forget who your dad is. He seems to try and hide what he is." said Tali.

"That's because my fighting days are over. Reapers aside. I didn't want to be the hard bastard my entire life." said Luke.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so judgemental." said Tali. Luke smiled at her.

"Don't apologize when you are right. Other people have to deal with thier stupid shit when they are wrong, not the other way around." said Luke. Kyson looked down at his plate and tried to focus back on his food.

"You look like you are ready. Izarr, clean this mess while I get Kyson measured for his woman." said Cerenna.

"I did the dishes on our last anniversary!" whined Rauq. He was lightly slapped on the back of the head.

"And you should do them more. Luke will help you. He got out of ship duties more than any other. Now he can make up for it." said Ceranna as she began to usher Kyson as he began to stand.

"What can I do?" asked Tali, trying not to be rude.

"You come with us dear. I remember making the first suit for Izarr. He will need someone to help explain things. It makes it go so much quicker." said Ceranna who chuckled under her breath. Kyson found this to be very ominous.

"Remember, when the option for 'pre lubricate' comes up, use it." said Luke causing Rauq and his father to begin laughing like hyenas. Kyson had no idea what that was about as he was pushed towards the back of the shop. If the woman kept pushing him he would get checked into the back wall.

There was soft chime. Then a crack in the wall appeared and a section began to slide up into the ceiling above. Bright, artificial light made him squint as he was led into an armory. An elaborate one.

On the wall to his left were racks of quarian helmets, armor plates, and every imaginable part you could need for one of the famous eviro-suits. On the same wall were several stools and a workbench. The center of the floor had pallets of blank metal billets and bolts of fabric. Mounds of fabric.

But it was the right side of the place that made him begin to realize that these two were much more than they seemed.

There was a very complex looking CNC machine and a tube with a million warning labels. They had a small military sized supply of eezo. But that made sense to Kyson.

There were ten automatic looms, all quietly clicking away making all of the various fabrics that were hung all around this district.

"That is genius," said Kyson as he stopped to look at the very fast looking machines. These were obviously state of the art.

"You think that every rich, money bag jingling bosh'tet gets the real deal? Ha! Only those of the highest respect get one of the project's Izarr makes out front. I make this stuff here and sell it all over the galaxy. My competition think I have a team of twenty kids on their pilgrimage sweating away while I live the high life." laughed Cerenna. She motioned for him to sit on a stool.

"You are cheating people with our culture?" asked Tali who obviously didn't like what she was seeing.

"And why shouldn't I? The galaxy has had no problem cheating us of help with getting our home back. They have no problem using our services while denying us fair payment. Let them think I am a lowly servant of Izarr. The Turians that come through think I am his pet when they feel like being extra mean. But I have their money." said Cerenna with a tone of absolute satisfaction. She also left no room for Tali to argue.

"Take off your clothes," said Cerenna as she motioned for the door to close behind them.

"Um." was the bright response Kyson had.

"Do you want to survive facing the reapers in a baggy suit that will catch every rock or cover you are using? Off with them." said the woman sharply. She was now working. Tali laughed at him.

"I see what you mean now. Humans get so bashful around other people with their bodies. Yet they sure talk a big game." said Tali as Kyson stripped down.

"Said the pot." said Kyson under his breath.

"Izarr and I were not yet dating when I made his first suit. He took some serious convincing. Kyson, those need to go too." said Cerenna. Kyson looked down at his boxers.

"I'm seventy six of your years old. I have been with Rauq for years. You think this is the first penis I have ever seen? I could open up a dildo emporium with the molds I could make with this racket." said Ceranna as she got out a pair of small pens. Kyson could feel himself turn scarlett as Tali trembled next to him trying not to laugh at his discomfort.

He was nude.

"Don't laugh, Tali. Don't laugh." said Tali as she tried to control herself. Kyson tried not to glare at her.

"Good. Now, relax. Good boy." said the suit maker as she began to use the stylus' she had. The omni-tools she had on each arm began to light up as she began to mark measurements along his body.

"Whoa." he said as the hair on his body began to stand on end with each prod. It was the worst when she actually ran a stylus along the skin before making a measurement. She made him bend his arms in twelve different ways, move his head in just as many. She was even getting a map of how his muscles tensed.

"This is amazing. You are getting a fit better than any quarian on the fleet has gotten." Said Tali as her laughter began to die down. She was circling Kyson as he was being sized up.

"Tell me, how long have you two been married?" asked the old woman.

"We aren't officially recorded in our ships logs yet. But we are fully bonded." said Tali.

"What are you waiting for? Did you get her the medallion at least?" asked Cerenna who stopped to look Kyson in the eyes.

"I did. Made it myself." he said. She went back to work.

"Legs apart." she said as she posed for him what he was supposed to do. He set his feet apart a bit past 'at ease'.

"Very good. Now, have you been told how our traditions work when it comes to our realks?" asked Cerenna. Kyson looked at Tali for help. He knew a few things but not any of the intricacies. He could feel his feet getting sized.

"Not much. We haven't had much time to go over it in the past year." said Tali a little sheepishly. Like a kid not doing her homework.

"I know that profession has a few things to do with it. Someone on the fleet said that it had to do with family as well." said Kyson.

"There is much more than that. You have realks for certain holidays, marital status, family positions, and yes occupation. But in this modern time it means crap." said Cerenna.

"Excuse me?" asked Tali who once again was not prepared for the difference of Cerenna's ways.

"Many of our people follow the old traditions the best they can but seeing as you don't have seasons or the movements of Tikkun to observe even half of the pompous dressing of centuries past, you could wear a mosaic for all anyone could care and be just fine."

"That is not what I was taught." said Tali who seemed scandalized. She began to look at the fabrics on the workbench waiting to be used. Some had some very vibrant coloring and complexity.

"You are from the closest thing the fleet has to nobility. You and those stuffy admirals holding onto things that got us no closer to home than lobbying the council for help." said the old woman.

"That is not true. We gave all of ourselves to help the fleet. My father died trying to get the homeworld back." said Tali defensively. Creanna stopped measuring Kyson's hips and laid a hand on her shoulder.

"I heard. And I am sorry for his loss, Tali. But the truth is simple out here. Traditions don't help you survive a war. But I also didn't mean for this conversation to be combative. Please forgive me." said Cerenna. Tali took a deep breath and nodded. Kyson had never seen her get worked up at her own people over traditions before.

"You will see what I mean when you get to the fleet. Now, Kyson. What is your favorite color?" asked Cerenna as she got back to him.

"Orange. But, I don't think bright colors are the way to go for combat. Don't want to make it easy on the reapers or, anyone." he said.

"Exactly. The reason I brought up tradition was the color. Once you and Tali get officially recorded in a ship's logs, you would be able to don the colors of the clan you two decided to support. The color of the suit your father has is one he chose for your family. It is even recorded on the logs of the ship that went down with us on it all those years ago. In memoriam." added the suit maker. Kyson looked at Tali who shrugged her shoulders at him.

"We could make our own, here and now. She brings up a good point. We only hold onto the traditions when we can. It is almost all symbolic anyways." said Tali trying to downplay any pressure. She was doing a lot of tongue-biting for that agreement with Cerenna. Kyson looked at the rich purple and swirling pattern of Tali's realk. Then down at the way the decorative fabric hugging her thighs looked in the light.

"Is your pattern gender specific?" asked Kyson.

"No. This pattern is for Zorah's. The color is mine. I look good in it." said Tali.

"Then match hers please. My father has his own story. I'm a part of this one. If that is okay with you, Tali?" asked Kyson.

"I am." she replied.

"Good. Kyson, put your right leg up on the stool." said Cerenna. Kyson did as told and felt himself suddenly very aware of how exposed he really was.

"Armor color then?" asked the old woman. Tali leaned back against the bench and stared at his crotch. He shook his head at her. She wouldn't be ashamed in the least at this sight.

"Bla...whoa! Black." Kyson yelped as a firm grasp moved his endowment out of the way. He felt a twitch in his piece as he stared at Tali with eyes wide. Tali had put both of her hands over where her mouth was. Then she giggled at him.

"What, are you at a funeral or something? You are fighting monsters not trying to impose fear into the dreams of stupid teenagers. Leg down." said Cerenna causing Kyson to take a deep breath. Touch was touch. And the male anatomy was responding. The old woman moved around to his ass and proceeded to grab things again.

As he fidgeted in reaction she smacked him on the ass.

"No moving." she snapped and he went still.

"Bad Kyson." laughed Tali. Kyson could only stand there red in that face as he truly began to be at attention. Now he felt down right embarrassed. He was beginning to really understand how much a prued he was compared to what quarians must have to deal with. Cerenna came back around and looked right at his member. His heart was in his throat.

"I need to make room for that too." said Cerenna. The woman held no reservation in staring at him and commenting to Tali.

"Smart girl. Dating outside of your species." said Cerenna.

"I thought I was a trend setter. Being with a human." said Tali. Cerenna laughed for the first time truly. It was a deeper sound than Kyson had expected. Yet it was warm and honest.

"Oh goodness no! These humans started laying with everything in sight the moment they jumped their relay. You two won't be the last. But, it seems you are the first to be recognized by the fleet. Okay, Kyson. Put your clothes on and come here." said Cerenna. Kyson did as told. Tali never stopped watching him.

"Because I'm the closest thing to quarian royalty?" asked Tali, making a small jab.

"No, because he is a good boy. You did good." said the old woman who was greatly enjoying pestering Tali.

"Does every one of you go through this for your first suit?" asked Kyson. This was possibly the ultimate tailoring he had ever seen. Hell, even his doctors had never been so particular.

"No, this is something our mothers do, after weeks of prep and acclimation in a clean room. It is normally very private." said Tali who looked at Cerenna. Kyson now for the first time in ages had no ability to read Tali. This was a new situation and he had no physical clue or tone of voice to reference.

"You are Luke's boy. I do it special just for you. Now, how do you fight?" asked the old woman. Kyson had finished with his uniform and went to the terminal on the bench. It had the exoskeletal frame of just the armor pieces.

"I am a combat engineer," said Kyson. Cerenna instantly shook her head 'no' at him.

"That is not what I asked. How do you fight?" she asked again with emphasis. Kyson had to stand back and think.

"I'm about to go to the front line," he said. He got no answer. Kyson rolled his eyes and tried to think what was special about how he got through the fire fights.

"I normally have the heaviest armor, and the biggest gun. I'm a straight through the middle kind of guy." said Kyson.

"Ah, Lucky." said the old woman before going back to the terminal. She began to talk to herself as she started making selections from the inventory.

Kyson found that this old woman was nothing like her compatriots. So many of the female quarians he had met were so conservative. Not bashful or scared of new experiences. Just guarded, and very procedural in their doings. This woman who had outfitted him was beginning to remind him of Tali.

"Okay, so using the Zorah pattern, Tali's color. All black for the armor. The full works on plating. Lower temperature range for comfort. Extra compartment room. And the secret something. That should do just fine." said Cerenna before turning back to Kyson.

"What secret?" he asked.

"You will see. It will keep that luck of yours working right. Now, go back out front and get some sleep. It will be done in the morning." Kyson was pushed along with Tali with the now open door.

"Won't we be taking up your bed?" asked Kyson.

"We have a private suite in the back that we stay in when we go on 'vacation' every few months. Now go check on those old fools." said the old suit maker before the door was closed behind them.

The two 'kids' looked at each other.

"So what made you more excited, the posing or me watching as another woman touched you?" asked Tali. Kyson didn't know what to say to that, making Tali giggle again.

"Don't worry about it, it was fun for me." she said. Kyson let out a held breath and gave a weak smile.

"She took a long time, she must have liked you!" came the voice of Rauq from the cleared table. With yet another cup of coffee Kyson watched his dad looking at a small holo map of the galaxy. There were areas on the map in red with sub screens giving reports on events in each theater of war.

"She did. You have quite the operation here." said Tali with a slight edge in her voice. Rauq held up his hands in defense.

"My dear, you are not the first to feel offended by our means here. Please, let me explain." said Rauq. Kyson felt the food starting to really settle and he was feeling the weight of his eyelids causing him to sink into the pillows. He was fighting leaning back in his dress uniform.

"Many quarians who first see some of our retrofitted suits are aghast that we would take something so valuable, and meaningful to the condition of your people and make a profit. I assure you that we do it as tastefully as possible." said Rauq. Tali still had her arms crossed defensively so Rauq continued.

"We don't do any colors that were not already used by your people. We also don't do commercial logos, advertising, or even premade prints. We only make the stuff for furniture and outside species by machine. The stuff for the realks. That is all in this room and very real." said Raq hoping the extra clarification helps.

"Where does all of this money go? On the fleet, it takes the support of an entire crew many months if not years to get their child into a full suit. To change and customize meant reworking the entire piece yourself. These suits are symbols of our tenacity and fortitude against a galaxy that forsake us to death in the vast." said Tali, not buying it.

"I think that is the allure. And a bit of respect shown, Tali. What better way to go out in the wild unknown than in a suit devised by the ultimate survivors. The brightest improvisors." said Kyson seeing the logic the old couple were using. Rauq gestured towards Kyson with both hands and a smile.

"Exactly, my good boy. When Cerenna was first asked by a friend that they needed a suit for a clean room job at their college, she saw no better way to work safely than wearing a quarian suit! You have to be so mindful every moment of every day and your people built with that in mind. The woman was tuley inspired. Word spread, business grew." said Rauq with a broad smile once again.

"I understand the logic, but I feel that some of this should still go back toward the fleet." said Tali. Raq placed both hands over his heart and made a tragic face of pain.

"Oh but I tried! Cerenna wouldn't have any of it." said the old man.

"Really? I find that hard to believe." said Tali. Kyson was almost shocked how hard Tali was being. But, she was a woman of her people. She still had a job and fierce loyalty to the now growing fate of her home.

"We give forty percent of the proceeds to a quarian specific shelter here. We have two clean rooms out in that big bazaar you walked through and a small group of volunteer medical staff. Not all pilgrimages ended so famously as yours." said Rauq who cast his first stone back at Tali. Kyson was impressed. He took his time letting Tali get her way before firing back. It worked.

"Where was that when I got shot?" she asked. Before anyone could respond she answered her own question.

"Too far away because I went right after the Shadow Broker, in the open with what was possibly the most sensitive information in the known galaxy thirty minutes away by shuttle. sorry. " said Tali who did lean back into the pillows.

"No, you have nothing to be sorry about. I do charge the other species a lot of money. And you are right, the suits are very special. We make them special for our clients as well. And don't worry, there is a steep 'bosh'tet fee'." said Rauq, causing Luke to look away from his holo.

"Smart. A word I never expected to associate you with." said the older Sorley. Rauq merely laughed and leaned on Luke's shoulder like the years had never passed between them. The two older men began to look over the map again with renewed vigor.

"I can't believe I am ready for bed after three cups of coffee." said Kyson. This brought Rauq back from the holo. The bed is behind you. Please, any time you are ready." said their host. Rauq kindly showed where the bathroom, water and the channel to use if they needed Rauq or Cerenna once they had retired. With a few 'thank yous' later and a shift of twenty feet, Kyson found himself in his boxers and undershirt laying in an ocean of pillows. He sank so low on the main pillow that the others made a kind of noise cancelling wall. The sounds of his father and Rauq bounced off of the ceiling before reaching the young couple.

"I can't believe your dad had so much to do with my people. How much he had travelled or, lives he had become a part of." said Tali as the unexpected turn of events sunk in. It was not surprising to Kyson in the least once he got to know John.

"Look at who he trained. My dad raised a legend. Came up with the method for it too." he said. It came out a little clipped on the end for someone who was supposedly tired.

"Sounds like legends have made you bitter." said Tali in a low voice. Kyson just lay there as he heard his father and Rauq begin to talk less about the good old days and about the war.

"I shouldn't be. My dad has set things in motion that have possibly saved this galaxy. Led me here." he replied. He wasn't trying to be angry with shit he couldn't change. Tali helped by letting it go.

"I know. I am so excited to finally share this with you. You will be able to see my world like me. I have always tried to help my friends understand but I never really had a true comparison for them." she said in an excited whisper. Kyson rolled over on his side and placed a hand on Tali's shoulder.

"I get to be a guinea pig." he said.

"You are not my test subject." said Tali quickly. But he had already passed out.

He did not sleep well though. He woke up three times that night. The first time was nature. Rauq and his father were still up discussing war movements.

The second time had to be much later. All of the lights were off, you could hear movement outside the curtains and rugs of a wall as people went about business late at night on the one corridor. He just tried to close his eyes and trail off when he felt a pressure on his right knee. Then, it was gone. He could feel Tali move slightly before the pressure was back and rose up his shin and back to his knee.

Opening his eyes he stole a glance in the faint glow from the kitchen appliances. Tali was clutching a pillow in her arms on his right yet had her legs straddling his exposed appendage. He could feel his member hard as stone.

"You have got to be kidding me." he almost sighed. She was going to grind him into insanity. And this was a place they could not risk exposure under any circumstance. They had been fuck all lucky already. Which brought back Cerenna's observation. She was a sharp one that was for sure.

Kyson gently pushed Tali off of him causing her to make a noise that could only be described as an angry grunt.

"Don't be mad at me, you pervert." he mumbled back. He could feel the smile on his face though.

On the third time he came back from a dreamless sleep, he could hear the voices of the older company. The table light was turned down low and he could hear Cerenna talking in Khelish.

"I worry for them. They are so young to be where they are." said the woman.

"They are where the galaxy and fate need them. Some of this they chose, but much of it would have happened anyway." added Rauq. Then, with a large amount of surprise, a third voice joined them.

"I knew the moment I saw my first Turian, my kids were going to have to fight harder than they would ever know. The game had changed for humanity, for our future. Many saw the resolution of our first contact as a chance to make the leap into greatness." said Luke in almost perfect Khelish. It was much stronger than Kyson's grasp.

"Ah, competition. Without it how would we have ever grown?" asked Rauq. Luke chuckled softly.

"True. But unlike some of my compatriots or later students, I don't want all of our advancement to come at the price of war. I'm damn good at that. War. But when I look at those two grinding this hellish experience. It makes me wonder if I should have stayed on earth. Be able to buy the hope." said Luke causing Kyson to close his eyes again but there was no sleeping now.

"You don't mean that. You had to fight for your people. Just as Rael did. Just as Han still does. How can you cut yourself down when you helped your entire people learn the ins and outs of these crafty asari? Or arrogant turians. Not to mention the sneaking salarians." said Cerenna sternly.

"My friend. You have been keeping so many players in check behind the scenes for so long by tugging the littlest of strings. You need to let Shepard take hold of them." said Rauq with a gentle voice. There was silence.

"He has. But I'll be damned if my kids die because we weren't quick enough. I wasn't, when you pointed out the first signs of Amelia having troubles." said Luke. This was new for Kyson. He had assumed his dad had always known about his mom.

"You haven't said a word about her. How is she doing?" asked Cerenna. More silence.

"She passed, almost three years ago now. She is buried at home on the old farm." said Luke. Kyson could hear Cerenna gasp.

"Was it cancer from all of the unknown things we expose ourselves to? An accident? We are still not old in this age." asked Rauq. Luke took a long time.

"I never told Kyson. Not after what happened with his brother." said Luke with hesitation. Kyson felt like he was going to scream. He felt a hand tighten on his. Tali began to run her hand through his hair as a distraction. She was also awake.

"I lost my eldest, Kevin. The one you saw after he was born. He took his own life. It devastated me. It destroyed Kyson. Teagann, my youngest. She won't speak to me about him." said his father.

"Oh, Luke." said Cerenna with a soft sob. Rauq was silent.

"Years later, Amelia had a lucid moment. She had been deteriorating quickly. She was under constant care at this point. Her doctors had made a breakthrough in healing her, helping balance out the mood swings. I had her back for a month. Then she asked me why Kevin did it. But, she knew. She understood in that moment of clarity the abuse she had put our kids through. It crushed her. A nurse found her the next morning. She had found a way to make a shiv from the bed frame that was supposedly safe. And layed herself open." said Luke. Kyson was shaking. The air around him was warm yet he was shivering as if he was back on Noveria.

He could hear the soft sobs of Cerenna. Then Luke sniffed loudly and let out a single sob.

"I can hear Kyson now. I earned it." said Luke as he tried to reign himself in. Tali's grip on his hand was that of a vise as she tried to get him to focus on her.

"will you tell him?" asked Rauq in a strained voice.

"I can't. When he came back to earth after being gone for years, all I said was that she had died. If I have said more I don't know." admitted Luke.

"And what of the youngest one?" asked Cerenna.

"She did the same thing Kyson did after his brother. Ran as far as she could from me. She went to Illium. Kyson had gone to Omega. She hardly has a word to say to me even though the entire family is on the Normandy." said Luke.

"Oh, Keelah! You are all on that ship together? Oh ancestors what are you doing? Look what happened to Rael? Luke, they are kids." said Cerenna loudly causing Rauq to try and shush her.

"You think I don't see that every day? Fuck, we were kids when we went down to Rannoch all of those years ago. You two weren't at that time but damn. You don't think my heart breaks as I watch my surviving kids and protege holding on for dear life as they hurtle towards their eventual death? I even brought Benalia with us." said Luke full of raw emotion. Kyson had never heard his dad be vulnerable. He was going to be sick.

"I tried to make the galaxy a better place and I'm on the edge of losing everything I fought for." Luke finished with anger. Minutes passed before Rauq spoke again.

"You have fought a war. Yours was one of cloak and dagger. A chess board of a million calculations. You won. You may not like it, but this war is not your fault. You do not own this." said his father's old friend. Luke laughed with mirth.

"Listen to me. You and Amelia inspired me to look the woman next to you in the eyes and say that I wanted her forever. Me, a Saudi Prince. Not one of the distant ones might I remind you. You showed me how to be a better person than a vagabond in the traverse running from his family problems." said Rauq. Kyson started to understand just how big things were getting.

"Don't forget how you told the old admirals to fuck themselves over the comm when they told you to turn me over for my crimes. You have saved so many people. And you loved Amelia and your children with all of your heart. Even if you couldn't show it." said Cerenna as she also tried to bring Luke out of his slump. That proved too much for Kyson. He had heard enough bullshit for a lifetime. He began to sit up when Tali latched onto him and put a finger to his lips. He could make out the soft glow of her eyes through her visor.

[ Now is not a good time. ] came to her thoughts as she reached for him. Kyson closed his eyes again and could see images of Tali's aunt, her dead father, and even Shepard in armor. And an ache in her chest that matched his own.

"Thank you. Both of you. I'm sorry you had to hear all of that." said Luke. After that, no one talked. It had to be over an hour until Cerenna appeared over the pillow wall and checked on the two. Kyson had almost gone back to sleep.

"Wake up. Breakfast." said the hostess. Kyson and Tali wasted no time in getting up. They had stayed awake yet silent. Kyson began checking for any errant creases in his uniform.

"Kyson, coffee?" asked Luke from the table. It was time to see if the hour cooldown was enough to function after what he had just heard. He wanted to punch his dad in the fucking mouth. But, he couldn't put a finger on why.

"Yeah." was all he could say.

"Don't put that thing back on yet. Our customers always leave wearing what they buy." said Cerenna as she put down several bowls with rice with two eggs over hard on top. Luke passed a mug over.

"We have four hours before departure. Was there anything else you needed before we headed back to the Normandy?" asked the old Marine. Luke had a data pad with Kyson assumed was the daily news. It was the lifeblood of political creatures.

"A bed. The hammock is a bit too cramped." said Kyson. Luke nodded as he began to eat silently. Rauq was also absorbed in a catalog of some kind. Kyson was quickly dragged off once breakfast was done. Cerenna had them in the small factory with the completed suits on the bench.

"You know the drill. Off with them." was all the woman said as she looked at her handiwork one last time. Kyson wasn't nearly as reserved this time. He was too distracted by the jet black color of the suit. Several of the armor pieces were on the bench still.

"You will need to listen to what I am about to tell you." said Cerenna with a cold tone. She gave him the suit that was in two halves.

"Look inside of the suit. I want you to notice that you have biometric sensors to hook up. The placement is important. Put the bottom half on first." she said. Kyson looked at Tali who was bouncing on her toes. Was she nervous? As he placed his first foot into the internal legging he felt an almost silky smooth membrane. He shivered.

"This part is best to get over with first. It is the hardest part. Now, the other leg. Good." said the old woman who came up and grasped the waistline of the garment in the front.

"Notice, you have multiple seals and internal bulkheads for containing exposure. You know it is for their protection not yours. This here in front, it has two overlapping gussets to give you some space, Notice how the thicker inner membrane seals first. The second in the outer tougher 'skin'." she continued as she showed kyson how it worked the first time. She then used her omni-tool to activate the suit's power. The inner membrane clung to him like a second skin.

"You will feel like you are naked. But, you are not. Now see this circuit here? Right in front. Line it up with your penis." said Cerenna. Kyson looked the woman right in the eyes.

"I can tell that Tali has done what all girls do. Every time she has taken off her suit, she comes out fresh as a flower? That is planned, dear." said Cerenna as she moved to let Kyson get a look at Tali.

"What. Space survival is not flattering." said Tali as she began to pace back and forth a few steps.

"Wait, I logically understand that you guys have to, I mean...can't I just…" Kyson searched the two ladies present and both were shaking their heads 'no' at him. His tool lit up and he could see that he had been connected to his suit's computer. There was a very long settings list. One was highlighted.

Pre-lubrication? In Khelish. He looked up. One last time.

Yes.

It was not comfortable. He had to stare at the inventory on the wall to try and remain calm. By the time his basic suit was on. He had tubes going from his right leg to his hip, another on his left arm to his back.

The boots, and greaves actually felt great compared to what he had experienced thus far. The second tube, the debris tube as Cerenna called it was still haunting him when Tali placed her hand on his shoulders. She scanned his face over and over with her roaming eyes before hugging him.

"You are so patient." she said at last. Kyson took a deep breath and hugged her.

"Let's make the most of this, yeah?" he asked with a little edge in his voice. Tali nodded.

"Okay, okay. He isn't going to be in this forever like you so let me finish. Put this belt on. It has extra power cells, thermal clip pouches, and your new secret. See the new option on your tool. If you want to stay lucky, you need a cloak." said Cerenna. Kyson almost hugged the woman.

"I have wanted one for so long. Holy shit thank you." he said with excitement. Kyson was shushed with a wave. He was fitted with the last bit of his armor outer shell that had even more compartments. All jet black like the suit. Then, his lower section of the realk was clasped into place. The deep purple against the black was very elegant looking. He had even been given a metalic, golden border and trim. The top was added. It came around his neck and shoulders like a stylish scarf. Tali took a picture with her tool as he looked up.

"Opportunist." he grumbled.

"You look amazing!" she said.

"Walk around please. I want to hear if there is anything not to your liking." said Cerenna. Kyson began to do his trials for the creator of this strange garment. Cerenna had been right, he felt like he was completely nude. Only when he took a step, or grazed something did he get a distant feeling of pressure to remind him that there was more on him.

Then there was the weight. It was so fucking light! It made that battle suit seem like sheets of plate metal welded to a chafing frame. He had even forgotten that he had new attachment points.

"This feels fucking great. I wish my clothes felt this comfortable." said Kyson as he joined the two quarians. Cerenna had the helmet in her hands. It had a slight purple tint to the visor and enough ports and tube connections to make his eyes cross.

"Main power is the small one in the back. The larger two are for the wash sequence and life support. These smaller ones are for the sensors that go on your forehead, neck, and the tubes are the mouth. Read the manual for the fine details." she said as the visor was removed. The helmet is placed and connected. Tali even began to help as she placed the sensors in the right places.

"Remember, it helps to take up the slack now on your induction tube. That thing has gotten up my nose one too many times." Tali said as she made sure the tube was placed within the grasp of his mouth.

Now, Kyson was beginning to be very apprehensive of this whole ordeal. It was a great honour for him to have this. He knew just how much it meant to have this made for him specifically. Yet, he wasn't sure he was ready to feel truly cut off. His armor he had always had before, that came off at the end of the day.

Tali picked up the visor and looked at it as she turned it over several times. When she looked at him, he could tell she was torn. What they had to do was too important to let his discomfort distract him. He took the visor from her, savored the air and reached out for his uniform.

"This is gonna be the hard part." said Kyson as he suffered a cig down at an odd angle. A click led to a very satisfying drag.

"Here we fucking go." he said.

"You have the ability to buy nicotine supplements. You are not the first to have this problem." said Cerenna who grabbed a black bag that matched his suit. She began to take small canisters off of shelves and place them in the bag.

"I have about twenty here. Use one every twelve hours. You look like a pack-a-day user. There is two weeks of food for you. Most of it is teriyaki chicken. It was the only one you humans seemed to like. Several other fruits, vegetables, and even desserts. All portioned and here." said Cerenna as Kyson smoked his last cig for at least the day.

"You really are a one stop shop." he replied as he took the gifts. Cerenna dragged him to the far wall past the looms.

"Put your visor on please." Kyson did as told. He felt the click, and watched as the small clasps automatically brought the visor to the sealing gasket. Lights began to blink on his new hud. His world became the slightest shade of amethyst.

Cerenna turned him and then he saw himself.

"Is that, me?" he asked as he put the free hand up to the side of his helmet. He had already seen in the hud display a suggestion to tap the region by his right temple. His end of the visor brought the world to natural lighting. But the figure in the mirror was still obscured in a light purple and shadow.

The hard black armor, the very high contrasting saturated purple and gold made him feel like something he wasn't. He looked dignified, elegant almost. Dare he say regal. Tali came next to him and took him by the arm.

"What every girl hopes to bring home." said Tali. He could feel the presence of her three fingered hands grasping him. It was a distant feeling that made him instantly understand the absolute dying need to be free. He could feel his chest get tight. He began to get dizzy and sat down on a crate.

"I understand." he said weakly as his thoughts swirled around.

"We get lonely easily. The exodus has been hard on us." said Cerenna as she came before him.

Looking back into the mirror, a bystander would be able to make almost no distinction of the three quarians gathered. Kyson, being slightly taller than Cerenna but an inch shorter than Tali blended him in. No one could ever tell who he really was until customs or scans.

"What do I owe you?" asked Kyson.

"For you? Nothing. You are Luke's son." said Cerenna. This was huge for Kyson.

"Friends, family and community help each young adult who reaches their coming of age. This suit is a sign of optimism and hope for the future we place in our children." said Cerenna as she placed a hand on his shoulder and looked at him.

"You are family, not just to Tali, but to the quarian people. You are a man in your own right many times over. So I don't make this suit for hope. I make it for action. Resolution. Life." continued the old woman. Kyson felt himself get slapped on the right side of his chest armor. In the mirror, was the iconic N7.

"I have heard that you two have run into my nephew." she said as Kyson ran his fingers over the added badge.

"We have?" asked Tali. Kyson was equally at a loss.

"Kerris. You missed him by days." said Cerenna.

"You have to be joking." said Kyson. There was no getting away from that motherfucker it seemed. What the hell did he have to do?

"Kerris, he never mentioned you growing up." said Tali who was also not prepared in any way for this sudden turn. Cerenna got up and pulled Kyson to his feet.

"I had heard your names before you showed up. If you are going to repay me for this suit, this is how. Do not go after him." said Cerenna as she looked the couple in the eyes respectively.

"We have no intention to," said Kyson. After the last encounter, the thought of encountering Khoshekh again left him doubting he would survive the next round.

"I don't know what has warped him into the creature I have seen, it has been years since I saw him last. But that is not important. Listen to me, Kyson." said Cerenna with an urgency to her words causing them to be clipped.

"Kerris, his path is death. But look at Tali, she is life. Remember this." said Cerenna. Kyson looked at his lifemate. His HUD was passively showing details to hail her over a private comm was the only one he recognized of the tiny emblems along the sides of his visor.

What he did see was the reason he was alive. Also, that his day with Kerris was still going to come.

"He knows," said Tali. She had begun to reach out to him before the two were roughly shoved out the now open door to the street shop.

"I know. Kyson, he is a good one. Tali, you will be fine with him, now go." said Cerennna hurriedly. Luke was already giving Rauq a brotherly hug.

"Here he is! So tell me? What do you think? It fits him well, no?" asked Cerenna who completely dropped the serious conversation from before. Luke beamed at him.

"Well, shit. You look good Kyson. Ready to go?" asked Luke. Kyson nodded once. He was still reeling from his warning. What had Kerris told her? What did she know? She obviously didn't harbor any ill will towards him. Was she on good terms with the cyborg? No, not likely in a while from the one line of information she had added.

"I think we are. But, we need to go by the markets first on the presidium. Meet us at the kodiak?" asked Tali. Luke just smiled as he looked at Kyson before walking off with Cerenna. The old woman didn't even wave as she left.

"It was wonderful to meet you two." said Rauq warmly. He had his helmet back on and brought the couple in for a long hug.

"I need you to keep an eye on the old bastard for me. Cerenna and I aren't the only ones moving slower these days." said the kind man nicknamed Rodent. Kyson had to say something. He may never see these wonderful people again after all of the hospitality and help shown to him in less than twelve hours.

"Rauq, I heard you talking last night. About a landing on Rannoch. And, my mother." said Kyson who couldn't hold back his curiosity. The hand on his right shoulder clamped hard as the older man's attention focused in.

"Your father, he needs his son. Not a soldier." said Rauq, getting right to it.

"Tali, I am honoured I could meet you. I know that Rael is very proud of you. He was so excited to show us pictures of you and the family. Take this." said Rauq as he handed Tali a small picture frame.

In the little five by seven inch frame was Rael'Zorah, with his wife and a little bubble with two large eyes staring from a plastic window. The family was here, in this ward amongst the crowd in the expo outside.

"I…" Tali couldn't speak.

"Go in peace, my friends." said Rauq. Kyson found it kind that he didn't try to wish them luck. Kyson was handed a bag with his uniform and ushered out into the street.

"Thank you, for everything." said Kyson with one last look back.

Izarr had already gone back inside leaving the couple out in the street with many others now beginning to wake up and start their day. They stared at each other not knowing what to say, or what to do with everything that had been revealed.

"Are you gonna make it?" asked Kyson.

"Are you? I mean, damn." said Tali as she took action and turned back towards the markets. Kyson had to really step to keep up.

He could feel how his body moved almost effortlessly as he had an amazing range of movement. People saw him and didn't even give a second glance as they moved through the crowd. His translator was still off causing him to get a bit disoriented with all of the noise being filtered through speakers and amplified. He was trying to decipher all of his controls while on the fly but only succeeded in losing Tali in the crowd.

He stopped. Looked around. There were lights, and noises assaulting him at every angle.

"I'm right here." said the voice of Tali. Kyson spun around, missed her the first time. Then a group of her people shuffled out of the way.

"Come on, I have a lot to teach you about your new suit." she said.

"You do." he agreed.

"You don't have to stay in it. I can tell you are having trouble with it." said Tali as they got to a cab.

"I think I am just trying to not freak out in general right now. I won't lie. I am not okay. None of this is okay. Fucking shit." he blabbered as the panic set in.

"I mean, what the hell did our parents fucking get us into? Is half of this bullshit we are in now from our ancestors just not fucking being...god damnit." he finished. He didn't scream, or shout any of this small outburst. He punched the dash of the Tali. A soft chime showed a thirty cred penalty had been added to the fair.

"Yeah, fuck you too." he snapped. Another five creds.

"I am really angry too, Kyson. My father had been down to Rannoch. He never said a damn word. Acted for years in front of me, and my people. But, I can't let this distract us right now. We have the homeworld back and we need to keep it that way." said Tali as she tried to keep him focused. Kyson was more pissed that he was making her feel obligated to handle him. None of what he had heard had really surprised him except Rannoch and Kerris.

"You're right. Just, so many layers of frustration. Okay, okay. I can change subjects I swear." he said as he tried to reach up and scratch at his head. He found his helmet.

"Yeah, that will never stop. Apparently the instinct to pick at yourself or any nervous ticks don't care for being in a suit. We can't override nature." said Tali as Kyson just sighed.

"I don't know how you have done it for so long. Thirty minutes and I already don't know what to do with myself." he said trying to keep his word and focus on the new suit. Tali reached over and took his visor off.

"You can do this if you need a break. I never knew you to be claustrophobic." said Tali thinking she had solved the problem.

"Nah. I think it is the permanence. I just got caught up in the thought of being isolated. Me, the recluse of the ship." he added. Tali laughed at him.

"You are not a recluse. How many times do I have to tell you this? You make a friend everywhere you go. It's the tubes. It has to be." said Tali.

"Maybe." he grumbled. Tali then reached over and took all of the connecting tubes off before removing his helmet.

"We will try again later. But, now I want my own gift. I want that bed." she said. Kyson lit a cig and let his shoulders drop. A chime went off again.

"Okay, fifty creds is a bit steep for 'no smoking'. Said Tali. Kyson just stared out into space as the taxi brought them along the skylanes along the long arm of the citadel.

"I love you." said Kyson as he looked at all of the possible lives out there trying their best to just exist. It was kinda funny how in a small little moving capsule, he could feel a part of the hidden optimism here. The Citadel was made by the reapers, sure. But what the races did with it guided or not was actually fascinating.

"I love you too. We are almost there. I already picked out the one I want." said Tali as they closed in on the terminal.

"Yeah? Why not have it sent to the kodiak?" he asked.

"I need to test something." she said cryptically. This was the point where he needed to let things flow again. He wanted answers from the old couple he had encountered. He wanted even more from his dad.

"Stop brooding." said Tali by the time they had reached the upscale furniture store. Kyson looked around and saw people giving them nasty looks as they entered. An asari floor sales representative swooped in on them instantly.

"Why hello there. I must say, you have done a wonderful job replicating a quarian suit. My name is Halest, can I be of assistance?" asked the asari.

"It is not a replica, and no. I know the exact bed I want. I just need to test one thing on the floor model." said Tali who instantly went on guard. The asari smiled perfectly and motioned to the large sales floor.

"Please, make yourself at home." said Halest. Kyson was towed along by the hand as he looked back and gave a shit grin . Tali always found a good way to distract him. The bed she wanted was past the ultra modern leather sofas and next to the futons. It was a king sized bed with a very solid looking timber frame joined like barn trusses.

"I had no idea you wanted rustic." said Kyson as he walked around the bed. The headboard was low, maybe less than two feet from the top of the mattress. There was no footboard. It also was only a foot off of the ground.

"I think it is plain, and boring. I love it." said Tali with excitement. Kyson tried to get a read on her. He even saw the asari tailing them like a predator a few displays away. The quiet, soothing shopping music was interrupted by a soft thudding. Over and over the bed softly began to rock and clunk around on the floor. Tali was standing on one side of the headboard with both hands on it.

She was shaking the living fuck out of it.

"I...must ...make...sure." Tal said as she began to pant.

"Ma'am, I must ask you to please stop!'' said Halest who had come running up. Kyson watched as other shoppers had stopped to look at Tali. many started shaking their heads and muttering.

"I don't want to hear it. I might die tomorrow and I'll be damned if the bed breaks tonight." snapped Tali at the crowd. She looked like a wolf with the biggest piece of meat.

"I hear that." said a turian man who was on a very large sofa.

"Kyson, get over here and help." she said. Kyson began to laugh as he ran to join her. They spent two minutes trying to rock the frame apart and it barely even noticed them.

"You really are a genius." said Kyson as Tali finished paying for the bed kit. It would be at the kodiak.

"I know. You love me." said Tali as their trip came to a close. All they had to do was take a bit of a trek to C-Sec.

"Indeed. Tali, thank you for coming with me." said Kyson.

"Shh. Let's just enjoy the walk. Where you go, I go." said his saera.

Tali's POV

The kodiak began to shudder lightly with the adjustment of thrusters when leaving the fifth jump. Tali had been reading almost the entire trip in a vain attempt to stay distracted. Kyson, he had fallen asleep in one of the jump seats in minutes. If only it was that easy for her to shut her brain down to hide from stress.

But why should she be stressed? She had a distinct feeling that it was the emotions bleeding through from Kyson. Tali was also trying her best not to question Luke. He was not going to just talk about his darkest secrets because she wanted to know more.

Then again, what did she have to lose? They could be dead at any moment anyways. Acting upon this before she second guessed herself, Tali entered the cockpit and sat down next to Luke.

"Hey there. I figured you would catch some sleep as well. We only have one more jump." said Luke as he looked up from the screen.

"I will once we get to Rannoch. Kyson is catching up on what he missed last night." said Tali. She figured it was a fast enough lead into saying how they had overheard the conversation last night.

"Those damn pillows are uncomfortable as hell. I don't care what shape they are, or how big. You always sink in just enough to kill your back." said Luke who apparently had some experience.

"I don't know if that was it exactly. But, when growing up on the fleet, being so close to family and friends on ships made it difficult to drown out the sounds of others when it was your turn to sleep." said Tali. Luke closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then exhaled softly as he looked at Tali.

"When you live on a ship, there are no secrets." said Luke with a wan smile.

"I just want you to know that you are not alone. And that you still have your family." said Tali. She had heard the pain in the old man's heart this morning. How he blamed himself for so much.

"Thank you Tali, and I know. I said otherwise, but truly I know. How much did you hear?" he asked.

"Cerenna said she was worried for us." said Tali as she watched Luke look at the air in front of him recalling the conversation.

"So then he knows about his mother. And you know about Rannoch." said Luke without missing a step.

"In order for Kyson to be your son, you need to act like his father." was her reply.

"Tali, your dad was a dedicated man to you and your mother. When she died, something changed in Rael. I want to think that we kept ourselves apart to hide you kids from the pain. Living your own is bad enough. But having a shattered parent is unfair for children. It robs them of their own future." said Luke. It was much more than she was expecting. Just like after the funeral.

"But what hurts me the most is watching you making the same mistakes over and over. My father never once even hinted that he had been to the homeworld before. He watched our entire people struggle and suffer and kept it to himself." Tali said.

"Just what would you expect the fleet to do? Congratulate him? No. Look at your own trial, look at the near miss of killing off the Geth. Your people would have called him a liar at best, or exiled him for jeopardizing the entire fleet by coming back." said Luke. The man was right.

"That was why he was so edgy around Kerris once he had come back." she said as she began to understand the events around the bad memory.

"Exactly. Kerris was too compromised. Especially after what we all saw down on Rannoch. But, I am not sharing that story." said Luke with a growing smile. Tali wanted the story more than anything.

"I'm not saying a word until Han is in the same room. He was there. It was also his idea to go in the first place." said Luke before Tali could protest. A loud snore reverberated from the room behind them. Kyson must have slumped into an awkward position again.

"How is he taking to the suit?" aske the old marine. Tali took the defeat and went with the new subject.

"I think he hates it. He hasn't needed it for a practical reason yet. That will change when he wakes up and needs to go to the bathroom for the first time since putting it on." said Tali. She remembered the walk to the taxi. He was acting almost drunk when she looked back at him.

"I never got used to the one I had repaired. I can tolerate it. Practicality is what I have to think about to ignore the discomforts." said Luke with a grimace. Tali began to think about how much discomfort there must have been when the entire fleet began to make the switch to envirosuit living. And how very fast it had been for it to happen.

"I know I never want to put my visor back on. But, his life doesn't depend on it." she observed.

"He will adapt. He cares for Rannoch. Kyson is my smartest kid and will do whatever needs doing for those he cares about." said Luke with pride in his voice.

"And don't you dare tell him I said that. I don't want Teagann thinking I play favorites." added the old man.

"You have called Teagann the smartest kid when talking with Garrus?" asked Tali. The small laugh she got made her envious once again to have siblings.

"You will make a good mother." said Luke. Tali paused on that. Her, a mother? That was absurd.

"I don't know if I am good for children." she admitted. They were about to go to the front lines again and Luke wanted to talk grandbabies?"

"Bullshit. You like family life too much. You will want them. Kyson may take convincing but he is a family man. Even if he gets itchy feet once in a while." said Luke.

"The suit will help with that, whatever that means." said Tali.

"He gets bored and needs to wander about. None of my children like to feel trapped or stagnant in their lives. Kyson needs to roam a bit to be happy. I think your pilgrimage has a lot to do with tempering that for your people." said Luke with a very intuitive insight.

Tali sat there lost in the very thought of them adopting kids. She would be a terrible mother.

Kyson's POV

Thirty minutes was all he had to himself before the mission. He had everything he needed in the kodiak already except his crew. It was in this small amount of time he had messaged Admiral Han of his arrival. He would be ahead of schedule by exactly twenty minutes.

Then, there was the real challenge of the mission. His new suit. He had Tali help him with the helmet before she went to check on Adams. Then, when he was finally alone, he chanced using the suit for its claim to handle internal liquids. He had been holding his piss for hours.

Everything worked. There may be a god everything worked.

"Kyson, when you get the fleet moving from Rannoch give us a shout. I will provide support or evac depending on what happens. And give…" the voice of Garrus stopped. Kyson, who had already put his visor back on spun around.

Garrus had his jaw open mid sentence, eyes wide. Then the mandibles twitched and his upper plates moved into the familiar position. Garrus smiled, no, beamed at him.

"She is already dressing you." said Garrus. Kyson grabbed an overhead rail.

"Fuck you." was all he could manage. He was already a bundle of nerves.

"No! You look good in it, seriously. You got the 'being short thing' to help blend in." said Garrus who was trying to keep a straight face. Kyson grabbed his new rifle and tossed it to the turian.

"Whoa now. This will get it done." said Garrus who looked to give it back. Kyson was gone.

"They gave you a cloak as well. Good. When you get to Menae, tell General Corinthus to keep up the fight. What he has done so far is a damn miracle." said Garrus. Kyson dropped the cloak and took the gun.

"I will." said Kyson. Garrus just stood there looking over the suit. Then he held out his hand. Kyson took it and brought his friend in and embraced him.

"Stay sharp. And make every shot count for two. We need you here when this is done. I have bad reports coming from asari space. The reapers have them on target now that all of the other home worlds are occupied." said Garrus. Kyson let go and nodded.

"Where are you off to?" asked Kyson.

"We have something brewing in another system. John is going back on point for this one. It is a distress call and we think Cerberus is involved." said Garrus.

"You won't be able to resist." said Kyson. He knew that if John would be stepping back up to CO, Garrus wouldn't sit on the ship anymore.

"I need to stretch my legs. See you in a week." said Garrus before leaving. Two other stepped in as he left. Tali and Dehara both. Kyson watched as Tali moved to the far wall giving Dehara as much space as possible. The Oomari had to duck in and sit on the floor to be anywhere near comfortable. Even her staff had to be shortened to the compact length of eight feet and laid on the floor.

Her armor was absolutely exotic looking. It looked like egyptian priest regalia from the painted temples back on earth. The big difference was the tail must be inside the suit, and she had an all grey paint scheme. If it was paint. The helmet had a long, single slit on a visor that ran from ear to ear covering one hundred and eighty degrees.

"We are having a fashion show." said Dehara. She must be hearing his thoughts again. But likely the new armor was intriguing for her as well.

"Tali got me a late birthday gift." said Kyson as he sat down. Luke was the last to show up. He had his old blue quarian enviro suit on. He was much taller and lanky compared to his children and stood out greatly like Raq had.

"Let's get this shit show started shall we?" asked Luke as he went to the pilot seat.

The team was quiet while the Kodiak departed once again towards Rannoch. It was a short ride due to the Normandy covering the bulk of the distance in the last hour.

"We are headed to the main fleet staging area on the southern continent. The geth and quarians have assembled five turian cruisers, six alliance frigates and twelve geth destroyers. It is meant to look like a desperate attack from the get go. Another ruse. But when the reapers find actual reactor signatures and start getting shot they will have to respond." said Kyson as he began the mission brief.

"Seems like a waste of good drive cores." said Dehara.

"The cores and resources for them came from a handful of ships our fleet decommissioned once their crews settled on the homeworld. The junkers that were barely holding together." Tali elaborated.

"It helped cut down on repairs needed to let them maneuver quickly for this gimmick. We will review the ships before getting support from a squad of quarian marines led by Kal'Reegar. He will be the main security force for our FOB on Menae. Once the ships have been reviewed we depart. The lead ship, a geth destroyer will also have the VIP payload." said Kyson.

"You have several nuclear warheads on it?" asked Tali as if she already knew.

"Nope. It is the dead reaper we took down. We're gonna strap it to the front of the ship. Cause a stir." he replied sounding a bit smug. Dehara began to chuckle lightly.

"I love it." said the large cat.

"I'm glad. Dehara. I want you to stay here on the Kodiak for the first few minutes. This will be your true roll out to the galactic community. You have just been promoted to secret weapon." said Kyson. In reality, he didn't want to spook the quarians. Change was not something they did well.

"Smart." was all Dehara had to say.

"I imagine everyone wants that damn abomination off of the planet. I remember the science team on the derelict reaper orbiting Klendeggon. It still indoctrinated the crew and had a functioning drive core, almost fifty thousand years later. That thing cannot stay." said Tali. Kyson felt his stomach flop as the image of the reaper bearing down on him blinding his thoughts. The giant red eye of oblivion.

"Yeah. and we got to see it live." he added.

We are landing in thirty. Entering atmo' now." said Luke from up front. Kyson reached up and grabbed the overheard rail. The shuttle began to rumble with the turbulence of entry.

"This, this is unsettling." said Dehara as.

"Space is new for you. Very different in person huh?" asked Kyson trying to make sure she was still solid.

"This is much less unnerving in the Normandy." admitted his large companion.

"I'm just happy I don't get motion sickness like Karen does." said Tali.

"Karen?" asked Dehara as the shaking stopped.

"Dr. Chakwas. She has a horrible time if the inertial dampeners have any issues. I think it has something to do with her not being able to hold her liquor." said Tali.

"Oh. Well I hope to never find out what that is all about." said the cat. Kyson watched out the window as lights began to fill his view. It was night on the planet and it outlined an incredible sight.

A great valley, filled with an entire city, spilled towards the southern ocean. The waterfront was dominated by a space port that looked reminiscent of the facility with the reaper. Large, beautiful arched roofs with rich copper and bronze cladding mixed with solar cells. All of this held up with brutally efficient steel trusses.

The kodiak was going straight towards them. As they became level with the almost sheer walls of the roughly three mile wide valley, Kyson saw thousands of small ships parked on the upper mesa. Temporary structures were everywhere and thousands upon thousands were scrambling about.

"This is amazing. My people have come home." said Tali in a hushed whisper. Kyson watched as they followed a slow moving river in the center of the valley. Luke brought the shuttle about fifty feet above the water.

"This is Luke Sorley, of the Alliance Navy. I am requesting a landing at dock twenty-two B." asked Luke as he hailed the facility.

"We have you cleared for landing. Proceed." came the voice over the comm. Kyson looked at Dehara.

"Can you squeeze into the cockpit?" he asked.

"You have got to be kidding me." she asked. Kyson just shrugged. The shuttle landed gently and Kyson tried to act casual as Dehara contorted herself into the cramped space of the cockpit.

"It'll be for just a few seconds. We will shut the door instantly." said Kyson.

"Sure." said the Oomari in irritation. With that done, he opened the door to the outside air of Rannoch. He was met with blasting flood lights and sounds of heavy machinery grinding away. His new display in the visor started spewing out information. Temperature change, oxygen levels and basic information on the consistency of the soils and bacteria in the air. Other meteorological facts along with a general bulletin ran across the top of his vision. It was being broadcast from the admiralty board.

"All citizens. Until further notice there is to be no leaving the southern continent unless authorized by the Admiralty Board. The board is not taking requests at this time." said the message.

"Already having problems I see." said Kyson to himself. It made sense that the lost tribe of the galaxy would try to see every inch of the world thought lost. Youngsters and old alike wanted to have room for themselves for the first time in three hundred years.

Kyson couldn't feel the slight breeze on his suit, or the fact that it was quite temperate so far south from the reaper base, but he could smell the salty air mixed with the acrid smell of burnt metal. The welding that was taking place around him must still be going day and night. As his eyes adjusted he could make out that the shuttle pad was on the corner of the facility. He had nothing but a dark ocean in front of him and a murky river on his right. Across the quarter mile distance was a twin facility to this one with a Turian cruiser

Looking to the left, the dock the team was currently at held one of the massive geth destroyers. It had that otherworldly color and shape to it. Brutal math shaped the ship leaving no hint of an organics whimsical mind.

"Where the hell are the humans? If I'm gonna spend for top dollar work, I'm not going to waste it on the local help." came a gravelly voice. Kyson saw a single quarian male in a dark blue suit walk up towards the team. It was Han'Gerrel.

"You there, in the light blue, You can't fool me." said Han as Luke walked up and embraced his old friend.

"Since when did you pay anyone you cheapskate." said Luke. Han just laughed before looking at Kyson.

"You, get their things and let's go." said Han.

"Funny." Kyson deadpanned. He wasn't really in the mood for Gerral to play water under the bridge.

"She has robbed all of the humor out of you. Don't worry, you dad was the same way when he first had that tube go up his koa." laughed Han. Kyson glared at Han for the quarian slang for 'ass'. Not that the suit helped portray it.

"So what is your excuse then?" asked Tali. Han waved her off.

"Glad to have you back, Tali. And welcome home. The home we have all been waiting so long for." said Gerral with joy in his voice.

"It is a dream come true. How have our people been doing?" asked Tali.

"Almost all of them are running around like fools. Some are even getting extremely sick as they try to leave their suits. Even though the geth are uploading their programs in our suits to help boost our immune system recovery. Then, there are those who are still overwhelmed. I have at least twenty thusand who will not leave their ships. Most of them are older than me. I think the change is too much." said Han as they reached an elevator.

"I have only been in this suit for less than a day and I already need out." said Kyson, being frank. Han shrugged his shoulders at him.

"I can only imagine. You have had your entire life in absolute freedom. I think the old-timers will come around. Besides, I don't see what the trouble is. You look like one of us almost down to the nuts and bolts." said Han.

"Speaking of, how goes the completion of the ships?" asked Kyson. The group arrived at the platform mid ship on the destroyer.

[ Kyson, I am with the team. ] said Dehara with her psionics. Kyson smiled.

[ I knew you couldn't resist. Give me a few more moments. ] replied Kyson.

"We are nearly there. Many of the crews were happy to give these ships over to have a valiant send off. We are making the final touches now, mostly recovering any useful tech and infrastructure the ships can do without and remain viable for this mission." said the Admiral. The group stopped at a large entry ramp and docking tube connecting the destroyer to the catwalk.

"And here is the rest of the team." added Han as a group of almost a score in number came down the service catwalk. Kyson counted ten quarians, all armed to the teeth. Kal'Reegar was up front flanked by two Krogan who had no problems staying open air around their hosts.

Kyson had been out and about on the planet already. It was a bit reckless come to think of it, the exposure of 'him' to the ecology.

"Tali, couldn't stay away?" asked Kal in greeting. The small procession stopped. The two krogan took to standing by the rail near the entrance ramp. Both just stared at Kyson.

"I admit, I wasn't prepared to see Rannoch again until whatever happened after helping Shepard." said Tali. Kyson watched as more of the quarians began to look at Kyson intently as well. The fact that something was off was starting to be recognized.

"Well, I'm glad you're back ma'am. You too Kyson. I see you have prepared for an extended stay. The alliance didn't give you a personal apartment this time?" asked Kal. Kyson walked up and offered his hand. It was taken briskly.

"My days in luxury are at an end. How are your operations going with the krogan supply lines?" asked Kyson.

"We have the reapers bogged down on all fronts for now. I think this will force their focus on Rannoch. We are about to join the other races in a ground war I believe. Then there is Thessia. I don't see that being quiet for much longer either." said Kal with honesty.

"Agreed. Shepard seems to be on a similar line of thinking." replied Kyson as he looked out over the small sliver of the city he could see from the story's tall ramparts.

"Where is the commander? Why isn't he here leading this like he did before?" asked a young sounding quarian from behind Kal. Kyson grinned.

"Busy. Have you seen front line action yet, Mr?" asked Kyson. Time to take the reins.

"Malcon'Ezra. I have seen the front. Twice now. But I want to know why two humans have our suits. Let me guess, you got them issued to you by your alliance? Mr?" asked the young marine who seemed to want to start shit. Why, he couldn't guess but he would find out.

"Lieutenant Commander Kyson Sorley. At your service. This suit was a gift, is that an issue? I don't want to endanger your people unnecessarily." said Kyson as he threw an olive branch to test the waters. If this guy was pissed about something, it may be reflecting something larger afoot.

"Oh, well, I guess that makes sense then. I still don't see why Kal isn't in charge of this operation seeing as he has done the leg work up until now." said the kid. The more he talked, the more he sounded like a teenager. Kyson was only twenty four so he could only say but so much.

"Last time I checked, it was the Humans that got your home world back." said the voice of Dehara from above Kyson she must be standing right behind him. That was decent timing on her part. Everyone but Luke and Tali went for their weapons. The Krogan about fell off the railing, eyes bulging out of their heads in pure shock at the size of the Oomari.

"Stand down. This is Dehara. She is a friend of mine and the Normandy. We picked her up under a rock a few systems ago and she wants to help us. Where she is from and what she may be is not your concern, but you will all be working with her. The Admirals and Urdnot Wrex have asked for me to be here to be an extra set of eyes on this. My team and I are here to see that the reaper that is still out in the desert gets gone." said Kyson. He crossed his arms and watched as Kal walked up to Dehara, no fear whatsoever.

"You look like a living anti-tank rifle. That works for me." said Kal. Dehara stayed silent.

"Admiral Gerral, have you kept the reaper corpse under lock down? I have been suggested to keep any life away from it for at least a mile un-shielded." said Kyson who was moving things along.

[ I like watching you work in that suit. I'm looking forward to having the same experience you do when taking mine off. ] came the thoughts of Tali. Kyson felt himself lose track of the conversation slightly. Han had already started talking.

"The field has been up since the day of your departure. The geth have been holding down the fort on that issue. They can fill you in." said Gerral. Kyson wasn't sure if Tali was actually talking to him or if he just happened to pick up on her passively. He looked at her as the quarians began to part ranks. He made a small gesture with his hands as if to ask 'what the hell'? She only tilted her head slightly trying to understand.

"Commander Sorley. The admiral is correct of the status. The fallen machine shows no signs of activity or traces of the signal used for indoctrination." said the synthetic voice of a geth unit Kyson saw two trooper platforms and one prime. The prime was the unit speaking with the group.

"Very good. Are we sure this ship will have the juice to lift that thing off the planet?" asked Kyson.

"Affirmative. All tests have been run." said the unit. Kyson nodded as he looked back to the krogan. They had begun to focus on him again. Only him. It was starting to creep him out. It was time to exercise his new deck of card tricks. He reached out with a bit more force to both Tali and Dehara.

[ The krogan. There is something wrong there.] Projected Kyson. It was a bit mind bending to feel the others shift focus on the two krogan. It was as if having intrusive thoughts and flashbacks combined. As the two targets came into focus, it became possible to retract back to his own mind. This may not work as well as he hoped. Maybe, it was too taxing for his human brain to try and tackle this new ability.

Tip of the iceberg and shit like that.

[ Wan't me to tail them after this meeting? ] asked Dehara.

[ That would be wise. I'll send you off to inspect the grapples being mounted to this destroyer as an excuse. ] Kyson replied. He watched as the group seemed expectant of him. Balancing out two conversations needs more fitness than he had.

"Very well. We have five days to go over what we are going to do, get that pile of heap off this rock, and pull off a stunt that will hopefully save thousands of lives. Two birds, one stone." said Kyson as he looked the group assembled in the eyes. Or, sensors when it came to the geth.

"Two birds what?" asked the young quarian named Ezra.

"Getting two things done in one motion." Tali elaborated. Then the group began to nod their heads in agreement. Idioms, Kyson needed to stop using them.

"Thank you. Now, Dehara here is going to look at this ship tomorrow before we go and check on the reaper. After that, I am going to go over logistics with the ground team. Do any of you need anything from me?" asked Kyson.

"This is the best possible way to contact this program assigned to the project." said the Geth prime. Kyson's tool lit up as he was given a message. Kyson nodded and the trio of geth platforms walked away.

"You have my number. We are stationed on the Turian cruiser across the way." added Kal.

"Understood. And good to see you." added Kyson in ernest. Kal just saluted in response which Kyson matched before the marines departed. The two Krogan were left.

"When you are ready, we will accompany you to the reaper. Urdnot Wrex also wanted to tell the quarian well done. She needs to come to Tuchanka when this is over." said the krogan on the right.

"If this doesn't go as planned, Rannoch may be just like your homeworld." said Tali. Both Krogan began to chuckle at her.

"You already have the suits." said the same krogan as they departed. Kyson watched them with suspicion. They looked way too interested in him. This had to be paranoia on his part.

"The Alliance has put together some strange bedfellows, Luke." said Han.

"You could slap a label on em'. Make sure it says 'Return To Sender' on it like it will the Reaper. Problem solved." said Luke with what Kyson could only assume was a wicked smirk.

Kyson sighed as he looked back over the dark ocean. This was gonna be a week from hell.

Thank you once again.

Review as you will.

~RJ