Disclaimer: Statement: This particular meatbag does not own or claim to own the games Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic or Mass Effect for fear of execution.

Proud Declaration: Instead these games are copyrighted to the exceptional men and women of the Bioware Corporation, Lucas Arts and Microsoft game studios.

Mission: Let's Kill Something

Shepard and his crew barely managed to escape the sea of questioning reporters. They had to battle off all and every questions. "Commander, do you think humanity has a chance to befriend droids?" "Commander, if you had to choose between a Geth and a Reaper, which is less hazardous?" "Commander, can you confirm the rumors of your droid and Avina getting together?"

Luckily, a certain reporter named Emily Wong had helped them get to the Ambassador's office, provided she would get an exclusive interview with him and the droid.

Udina looked frustrated as usual. "Shepard, I don't know if I should kill you or wish you luck on your journey"

"Neither, just brief me on the mission."

"Query: Now do we get to kill something, Master?"

Shepard, Williams, Wrex, Liara and HK circled around the Ambassador's desk, as the doors opened to find the rest of the crew.

"Tali?" Shepard couldn't believe she was still here. "You okay?"

The Quarian looked better, as if she had done something worthwhile. "Never better. I decided to stay here and help you."

Liara made a wide grin with her face. "I'm glad to hear that. Now let us hear what the Ambassador has to say."

As they sat down, Garrus sat next to Shepard, whispering, "We need to talk after this."

"Your mission is simple. Go to the Planet Tezuka in the Osamu system and try to make peace with the Geth."

For some odd reason, Tali was awfully silent about this. As Udina went on about the proper etiquette and points of procedure, he added "Try not to shoot anything while you're there." HK and Wrex seemed awfully disappointed by this order.

"If all else fails, you'll be given a warhead, just like the one on Virmire."

Williams jumped up on the sentence. "We're transporting a nuke? How are we going to put that thing on the ground?"

"Assuming negotiations fail, you'll have to come up with that answer. I really hope you know what you're doing, Shepard."

"Don't I always?"

At the docking bay, the Captain wanted to send the crew with a proper farewell.

"You've got a lot of weight on your shoulders. Humanity's counting on you to see us through."

Shepard grinned. "You've done a lot for me, Captain."

"Save it for the camera. I do these things because humanity needs it." The Captain turned to the droid. "Uh…Well, I hope you shoot something with good aim."

"Proud Answer: With pleasure, sir!"

As the crew approached the entrance, Garrus pulled Commander Shepard to the side.

"I think you better hear this." Shepard listened to the recording. His expression showed something of shock, of disgust.

He glared at the Turian. "This is a joke, right?"

"Afraid not, Commander. I suggest you have a long talk with her before we head out."

"Afraid she's going to compromise the mission?"

"Worse, I think she'll do whatever it takes."

The SSV Normandy traveled smooth and lightly as the crew remained its awkward silence again. All hands eyed Commander Shepard pacing back and forth, his mind heavy with thought. As he descended down the Command deck to the Mess hall, he found Tali adjusting her equipment along as well as HK-47, rifle handy as usual.

"HK, go help Joker with Navigation."

"Confused Query: Why would you have me assist someone with an insufferable sense of humor?" Shepard gestured toward Tali's direction.

"Realization: Ah! But of course, Commander. Needless to say, if something should befall the Quarian as I ascend the stairs, I will reassure the crew that you had no such hand in the process."

Shepard paced over to her with a heavy sigh.

"Had a nice long chat with your father?"

"Yeah," her voice wobbled, "he sends his regards to the droid."

Shepard's eyes narrowed. "I trusted you, I wanted you to gain some trust, but you didn't."

"There are other ships out there." She said. Her eyes narrowed. If she wasn't welcomed here, she could just as easily leave.

"Tali, he's helping us to get what we need."

"Only because of his ship! The moment he gets what he wants, he'll shoot us in the back! Don't you see it? You're so reliant to gain the trust of the Geth that you even haven't even considered that the very droid you trust could backstab you."

Shepard stood silent at those words. Yes, he had thought of that. The possibility of betrayal. But he didn't want to confirm those thoughts, those feelings. But, he understood one thing.

"When we boarded his vessel,"

"Its."

"His. He had a chance to shoot me, or threaten me, but he didn't. I don't know much about synthetics, or droids or even the Geth. But I know anyone who's willing to listen to reason, doesn't deserve to be treated less than a human."

Shepard left Tali and headed upstairs. Fortunately, for had had stopped Joker from planting a grenade into the droid's body.

"Admiration: Oh Master, I must commend you for your silent lecture. I trust that the Quarian won't be a problem now, will she?"

"Ask her yourself."

The droid almost collapsed in shock.

"Chastising Remark: Master! Don't tell me that you let the insufferable Quarian live. I thought we had an understanding."

Shepard gave a deep laugh. "You know HK; you're probably the only one who could make me laugh. Save Kaiden."

The pilot and the droid stood in silence for a while. Shepard peered around the room to see that the crew seemed to avoid his gaze.

"Query: Master, if I may?" Shepard nodded.

"Query: Why do you insist guilt upon losing one of your crew?"

He bent his head and honestly thought about that question. "I don't…like losing men." He thought of his first loss in Eden Prime, and how Kaiden's death added to his conscience. "It makes me think I failed. Like, if you could kill 100 men but only killed 99, it's a bit of disappointment."

"Statement: How dreadful. Well hopefully the meatbag died suffering."

Shepard cringed at the thought. HK, realizing his miscalculation, decided to cheer him up.

"Comforting Statement: Master, this reminds me of a time when my original master lost someone important to him."

"Really, who was this important person?"

"Statement: She was…someone close to the master. Though their relationship was often confusing with her constant lecturing and his constant meatbag humor, when she left he…malfunctioned."

Shepard thought it over. Maybe it was like that. Maybe the guilt of what had overwhelmed him and what had caused him to stay awake all night did consume him. Maybe the loss of his Lieutenant did cause him to break down and malfunction.

"I hope not. But still…"

"Forced Re-assurance: (sigh), Master, if it's any consolation, I believe that we all are reunited with the people we…love in the end."

For once he smiled, "You mean in the place up in the sky?"

"Confusion: No Master, I was referring to the ground where all meatbags lie."

He wasn't sure what to make of that, but he felt better. "Thanks HK, I needed that."

"Statement: But of course, Master. If you are not at your full killing capacity when we reach the Geth home world, how can I have any fun?"