Presidium Commons

"Keep it easy on the ale Liara."

"I know my limit, James. And I'm well past it..." Liara laughed before she nearly dropped the glass of salarian ale, "I've never understood why people drown themselves with this poison. Yet...this isn't the first time that I've drank it."

"Did you go heavy when your mom died? Or Shepard?"

"Actually...it was after I turned over Shepard's body to Cerberus." Liara answered, "I practically became an alcoholic...by the time Shepard helped me track down the previous Shadow Broker...I had only been dry for two months."

"You as a Guzzler? I can see you as a lot of things ma'am..." James chuckled while Liara put down the glass, "You're always in control and with your job, you'd need to be calm to keep the numbers right...no?"

"So they say...the benefit of my job is that only a select few individuals know the truth about my profession." Even though the whole squad knew of Liara's identity as the Shadow Broker, they generally avoided referring to her as said title in public, "I'm much more emotional than I would like to admit. If any of my agents saw how I acted when I learned about Feros..."

"Everyone needs to cry sometime..."

"And then there's Rannoch..." James himself felt a little heavier from the mention of Rannoch. Not just because of the loss of an entire race, but because of the state that it left Tali in and the demon that it brought out of Shepard, "It didn't have to end the way that it did."

"Maybe not..."

"Perhaps if we had gotten to Rannoch before dealing with the coup-"

"Then the reapers would use Cerberus to take control of the Citadel, kill the council and the galaxy would be sitting ducks like in past cycles." James soothed the asari's face and gently took the glass out of her hand, "What happened on Rannoch wasn't your fault. Sometimes stupid people make stupid decisions...and good people suffer the mess."

"I know...I just hope that we never face a situation like that again."

"Don't worry, Loco's on fire...he's not gonna let stupid people screw up the galaxy's chances to live."

"I know...he told me what about his proposal."

"It's gonna cause a shit storm or something?"

"If I know Shepard...the shit storm already started."

Council Tower

Standing before the Council, Damian watched as the dominoes that he'd set off all fell into foreseen places.

He knew that the dogs would want to rip off his head as soon as the Council received his recommendations to the Council. It was an old power which was buried under politics, but he didn't sit idly while in Alliance Custody.

Emergency Order 783 was a emergency power granted to any spectre who enacts it in situations where the Council has been vacated of most if not all members or where the Council is unable to act in response to a crisis in Citadel Space. This power grants a spectre of considerable reputation and executive influence to recommend additional seats to the Council. Technically, Shepard used this to appoint Anderson without really knowing about it and could have created a new council if the assembly before had perished against Sovereign.

As a check and balance, the Council must approve of the recommendations with a majority vote. But thanks to his actions, Shepard had already succeeded in 2/3rd's of his intentions. Which meant the last part would be...

Difficult.

"The appointment of the volus and the krogan to the council are unorthodox, but agreeable." The Asari Councilor stated while looking towards the other Council members, "But the Geth? That is unacceptable!"

"I have to agree Shepard." The Turian Councilor joined in, "The Geth are responsible for the genocide of an entire species; Have engaged in open hostilities against Citadel Space; and sided with the reapers. Accepting them as allies is hard enough or even granting them an embassy would be a challenge. But a representative on the Council?"

"You've read my dissertation about the Battle for Rannoch. The Quarians started the war and the Geth finished it. They sided with the reapers out of desperation to preserve themselves." Shepard responded, "Besides, the Geth that were working for Sovereign were a small minority that broke off since they worshipped the reapers."

"And how can we guarantee that the rest don't do so themselves?"

"You'll have to take my word for it."

"With respect Shepard...you're word is under question as of late-"

"Aren't you only alive because I stopped Cerberus' Coup and saved your life?" Shepard asked the Salarian Councilor while mentally correcting himself, "It was actually Kirrahe who saved your life. But that would ruin the plan...sorry Major..."

"And I am grateful for that...but that doesn't make this move any less audacious or risky." The Councilor more cautiously added, "Vouch for them however you want, it won't change their past. It also won't change that they're machines-"

"Machines with an in-depth knowledge of how the reapers think thanks to the Heratics that were rewritten to join the collective."

"How do we know that the reapers won't rewrite them to become our enemy?"

"The Geth fight for their own future like we do. They've already taken steps to ensure that they'll never be controlled by the reapers."

"Only so many precautions can be taken against Indoctrination-"

"Yeah. I know that more than any of you."

"How can you poster like this when Palaven is being set ablaze by the reapers!"

"You dare attempt to discredit my authority as a councilor while Thessia is beset by the reapers?"

"Ah yes, reapers." Shepard used his hands to air-quote as he said those three words, "An immortal race of sentient starships alledgedly waiting in dark space. Didn't you dismiss that claim?"

"Shepard-"

"And because you dismissed those claims...billions are dead and we're on the ropes!" Shepard accused, "So you don't get to pass judgement on my decisions! I'm not asking you if you can appoint those representatives onto the Council...I'm telling that they're on the Council! Because after seeing how badly you've messed up for the past few years, I'm not going to trust the grand bulk of the allied forces under the control of a Council that's done everything that they could to impede or ignore me ever since Saren attacked Eden Prime!"

"If you expect us to go along with your little scheme-"

"Who said that you had a choice?" Shepard blunted, "I'm the only reason that any of you are alive today and the only reason why we have a chance in this war. Besides, my decision holds majority anyway. You approved of the Volus and Krogan ambassadors who will approve the appointment of the Geth representative, as will Councillor Osoba and Valern."

"Do not presume to speak for elected officials Shepard-"

"Your right, I can speak for myself." The holo-image of Urdnot Dagg boomed through the hall, "I don't care much about the geth myself. But Shepard's done more for my people then any of you ever have. As ambassador of my people, I say let the flash-lights in."

"Shepard has allowed my people to have a voice that they should have had many years ago." The image of Din Korlack appeared next to Dagg's, "His judgement has saved our galaxy many times despite their price. If the price is not greater than extermination by the reapers then we will stand by this one."

"Despite my apprehensions...I agree with Shepard's reasoning." Valern hesitantly said to the apparent disapproval of his peers, "Personally, I don't have quite as much faith in the geth as the Commander. But Shepard is our only hope and if he believes this can improve our chances against the reapers...so be it."

"I have lost friends and family to the geth, but they are not the enemy right now." Osoba joined in, "Our homeworlds are ablazed with millions being drawn into some horrid harvest. As some on earth would say, is now the time to be petty and picky?"

"Well...that's four against two." Shepard remarked to Tevos and Sparatus, "Go ahead and try to say that their appointments aren't official and therefore it's a tie...we both know that you would be stalling. In any case, Emergency Order 783 is in effect anyway."

"Shepard...your tenacity for complicating matters-"

"Hasn't that been your job for the past three years?" Reputation be damned, Shepard wasn't going to play nice with the Council this time. Now he was deliberately opening wounds that the Council had believed to be well bandaged. True, installing the Geth on the Council would be a blow to his reputation in the eyes of the people. But Damian considered it a minor price to pay compared to his failures on Rannoch or his failure in not confronting the Council sooner.

"Shepard-"

"Chatting with you has been fun, but I should go."

"We have not adjourned this meeting!"

"Fine, get the new councilors up to speed on the politics of the Citadel and how they can fit in." Shepard didn't turn back as he proceeded to exit the Council Chambers, a smirk on his face from the loud mixture of cheers and outrage that he heard from those observing the proceedings.

Docking Bay Waiting Lounge

"Can you believe what Shepard did?"

"Putting the Krogan and the Geth on the Council? He might as well hand the galaxy over to the reapers now!"

"Jim...the only reason any of us are alive is because of Shepard. We should give him a benefit of a doubt."

"Guess so...but if a bucket head shoots you in the back, don't say that I didn't warn you."

"How's he gonna do that? He'll be dead right?" Joker pointed out to the group of security guards that were sharing recent gossip with each other, "So what's the juicy news around the Citadel?"

"You haven't heard Joker?"

"My girl's gotta a nice ass...I got distracted..."

"Wish I had an ass of my own..."

"You do, everyone as an ass."

"That's not what I meant!"

"Yeah...yeah...Shep'll probably want us on the Normandy soon...so get going while you're ahead." The guards saluted Joker before they went off and left Joker with a quiet woman leaning on the balcony, "Like the view?"

"You're not going to make a joke?"

"Let's see...about your tightsuit fetish or the fact that a quarian is walking around without a mask without being mobbed by xenophiles who'd die from smelling your hair?" Tali actually found herself chuckling a little, "See? I wasn't even trying."

"Isn't that why they call you Joker?"

"Actually it was a nickname that stuck...not my choice...but look where I am now."

"Where is EDI?"

"She went out shopping, I stopped asking for what exactly a while ago. But every now and then she surprises me..."

"Good for the two of you..."

"Um...thanks..." Tali expected Joker to be put off by her words and braced herself for him to be himself, "I knew you and Legion were close-"

"Using his arm as a prosthetic can make two people close no?"

"Guess so..." Joker awkwardly replied as though thinking of something to say, "Look...I know it won't make anything better, but I want you to know that I'm sorry about your people. If you ever need anything from me or EDI...short from dying...let us know."

"I only tried to commit suicide once and I'm the suicide girl..."

"No one's freaked out...okay...they are...but in a good way."

"A good way?" Of course, Tali was the only one who wanted to be with her people in oblivion, "They pity me-"

"Pity you? Oh no...my instructors pitied me...Illusive Man pitied me...my mom pitied me...if anyone knows anything about pity...that's me." Joker cut in and used a nearby computer to search through the databases for recent arrivals, "Shepard cares...about me and really cares about you...how he was after Rannoch...it was worst than Horizon..."

"I don't think Ash would approve of all these Horizon comments-"

"I watched Collectors board my ship and capture my friends to make into orange juice while she turned her back on us. Ash can kiss my ass on the Horizon comments." Joker stated when he finally found the planet of origin that he was looking for, "But it's worst than that...he had you...now he's about as bad as when we lost Kaidan on Virmire."

"He's disappointed that you tried to kill yourself, if it were any other circumstance...I'd understand...Damn it!"

"What are you looking for?"

"I can kind of relate to how you feel..." Joker managed while rubbing his eyelids, "When the reapers attacked...all contact was lost with a small colony called Tiptree. It had a population of less than a hundred though...so no big deal right? For anyone else...that's true..."

"You had family on Tiptree?"

"My sister and father...that's where I was born." Joker replied, "There's been word from the system since the reapers got there...and with what I know about reapers firsthand...they're probably dead..."

"At least you have hope-"

"If I've got hope then so do you..."

"You have EDI and the Normandy and Shepard..."

"Last I checked...you were still part of the squad. I never heard Shepard demand you to leave the ship like he did with Allers or tell Prothy to throw you out the airlock." Tali giggled again, "I'm not gonna pretend to be expert on grief or "getting over the mass genocide of your entire race". But you've still got us...you're one of the family Tali and we just want whats best for you."

"So I am being a selfish cunt..."

"I wouldn't as far as to call you a cunt...but the suicide attempt wasn't one of your better decisions."

"Where would I start? I'm not getting better anytime soon..."

"If I were you...I'd try to patch things up with Shepard...preferably after the heat from his Council meeting blows over a bit..."

Crew Lounge, Normandy

"YOU PUT THE GETH ON THE COUNCIL?"

"Now I see what Joker was talking about..." Tali quietly thought to herself, "I wouldn't do it...but...it's not like I can trust myself right now..."

"And I thought the shitstorm was over..." Miranda mumbled as she and the other squadmates all listened to Shepard and Ashley loudly argue in the Starboard Observation Deck, "Or is she the only one bold enough to voice her objection?"

"The Volus on the same level as the Krogan? Great joke Shepard..." Grunt chuckled and chomped down a fish that he'd grabbed from the Presidium Lake.

"I've only been skimming the networks for a few minutes and the reaction to Shepard's appointment...is mixed...at best." Liara didn't bother going into details, but suffice to say that news of a Geth Councillor was heavily affecting morale in Council Space, "He couldn't have done this without knowing what it would cause..."

"Of course not...Shepard wanted to mold the Council into something that won't hinder him in the War against the Reapers." Garrus laxly explained, "Look at them...the only one who dared object to Shepard were the Asari and Turian Councilors...the other councilors were on Shepard's side out of obligation or because they owed him or they just knew when to keep their mouth shut. The Council's taken some heavy hits in it's reputation after they brushed aside reaper investigation efforts after Sovereign."

"Loco's rubbing salt into the wound then? Harsh..."

"In my cycle, a failure to prepare for a coming battle was met with much worst repercussions."

"In your cycle, you blew up an entire star system to destroy an indoctrinated race."

"And your people ate flies." Padok's expression was unreadable after Javik's statement. The STG captain groaned and took another drink from his cannister, "I approve of the Commander's seizure of power...but not of his alliance with the machines."

"In these desperate times, we cannot be judgemental of our allies. We do not have that luxury."

"Your people appear to believe otherwise." Javik reminded Padok as Shepard stormed into the lounge followed by Ashley, "Commander."

"Anyone else wanna bitch about the geth?" Shepard inquired to his squad, "We need their power and abilities to be used in the highest capacity possible. Got a problem with it? Write it in an email and send it to my office, cause I don't want to hear anymore bitching!"

"You just put an AI on the Council Shepard! No offense to EDI, but that's going to make things worse-"

"Based on what we're going after, I can't fuck up anymore than the Council already has!" Shepard yelled into Ashley's face to her silent challenge and to the crew's surprise. Damian shook his head and turned back to address the rest of the squad, "We're going to Thessia to recover a Prothean Device...one that will help us figure out what the Catalyst is and how to use the Crucible to defeat the reapers."

"Thessia is under attack..." Liara pointed out as her omni-tool replayed frantic warnings from asari officials that were quickly cut off by communication failure or screams of pain and terror, "Why wouldn't the Republic tell the Council about this sooner?"

"Hoarding a prothean beacon is forbidden in Citadel space, isn't it?" Miranda reminded the group, "If the leading race of the Council is revealed to have kept a prothean beacon secret...the political ramifications would likely decrease their standing amongst the Citadel races."

"Politics..." Ashley spat, "You sure that this beacon is worth entering the eye of the storm for?"

"The Councilor wouldn't have told me in private otherwise." Shepard answered, "Joker...set a course for Thessia in the Parnitha System!"

"Aye ye Commander! So you want to go light speed or ludicrous speed?"

"As close to ludicrous as you can get."Shepard replied with a light smile that quickly turned into a focused frown, "Whatever is on Thessia needs to be retrieved before the Reapers overwhelm the planet's defenses. If it will help us complete the Crucible then all the better and then I'll have a chat with the Councilor."

"Even our own allies have their own agenda..." The Councilor's words repeated in Shepard's mind like a tick biting the sole of his foot, "A balance of power exists in the galaxy that we don't wish to upset..."

"Shepard?" Damian was completely surprised to see Tali's hand wave in his distracted face. He jumped startled, earning a humored chuckle from the rest of the squad, "You looked like you had blanked out for a second."

"I didn't even know you were out of your room..."

"I didn't want to miss the squad meeting."

"No...it's just..." Tali slowly caressed Shepard's arm and returned to her spot at the table while the Commander regained his composure, "Sorry everyone...I guess I'm still a little livid from the Council Meeting and the damned politicians..."

"You should be used to it, you're one of them after all." Ashley commented, "Working with the Geth is one thing...but rewarding them with authority after they've committed mass genocide and worked with the reapers? This is gonna bite us in the ass-"

"If you don't like it then you can leave at next port." Shepard declared to the shock of some squadmates, "Are we going to have any problems Lieutenant Commander?"

"No Skipper...we won't..."

"Good...you're all dismissed. Check your armor and ammo, once we enter the Parnitha System then we'll have to move fast." Shepard stated to the crew and turned to head for the elevator. However, a pale-grey blur had slid through the doors before they closed and pinned Shepard to the other side, "Tali?"

Author's Notes:

The line depends into a trench.

While Tali and Shepard attempt to move forward from Rannoch, other crew members are beginning to reevaluate their efforts in light of the stark tragedy. Will the squad manage to remain as tightly bonded as before the tragic end of the Morning Conflict or will Shepard's actions cause old wounds to reopen and division to spread?

After her little "pep-talk" with Javik, I felt like Tali should have a poignant but lighter conversation with someone who isn't quite as harsh. Since she'd already talked to Garrus back in Chapter 2, Joker popped up in my mind and I thought, I haven't had him do anything meaningful in the story yet. So why not?

What will happen between Tali and Shepard? I have no idea to be honest...