Mass Effect: Sacrificial Symptom

by Pakkrat

She was Quarian. It was Geth. They were part of two halves from one world. Sadly life on the Normandy is cruel. Everyone must make a sacrifice. Yet was it going to just be their lives or happiness? Between ME2 and ME3, may be alternate time? Tali/Legion.

3. Chapter 3

Mass Effect: Sacrificial Symptom

Disclaimer: I do not own or have any rights to representation of Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, EA Games and any other mass media trademarks within this fiction. All is represented within the context of private entertainment and the exchange of free ideals/entertainment. No attempts to falsely render said persons or members, fictitious or otherwise were intentional.

Note: Fun times. Expect some good action and a little more Legion development. As well something serious happening with Tali.

~~~~Chapter 3: We Are What They Were~~~~

Commander Shepard met the driver who was hired for this run. They were supposed to head to an area in Omega farther down. Into the main areas of the station, but close enough it would be an issue for the Asari Aria. In the vehicle, Tali asked. "Shepard? What exactly is our mission?"

The driver looked over, Shepard gave a nod. He suddenly slowed the car getting his helmet, putting it on he closed the visor to not hear them talking. Maybe Aria still was iffy about her operations getting out. Shepard looked back telling Tali, "It's an investigation into some kind of strange shipment. Aria wants us to see what a Quarian named Jacohbe has brought on her station to pay off some of her lesser men to keep quiet."

"Jacohbe?" Tali looked at Legion, his flaps twitching a little. "That was the large Quarian we met in the club."

"You met this guy?" Shepard leaned back on his seat. "What did he look like?"

"Similar to most Quarian males he had a environmental suit privileged with the common needs of most Quarians. The helmet longer and more cropped in the back. However, his size was uncharacteristic of Quarian people, he seemed to be greatly imbued with muscle mass. Our scans did not show any chemicals that may have caused this, or any number of other abnormalities other than an extremely large amount of testosterone possibly caused by a glandular malfunction."

Shepard smiled to Legion. The perfect analysis. "Well, the bigger they are. The harder they fall."

"Sure thing Shepard." Tali seemed to like the sounds of that. Crossing her arms she let her one leg hang on the other knee. "I want to put some buckshot straight in that bosh'tet. Right in his visor."

Legion asked her, with a moment to watch her body gesture. "Tali'zorah seems severely agitated. With mention of Jacohbe."

Tali looked at him with a sense of 'duh' but, she reminded him. "He spoke of my father in a way that implied he was weak. My father gave up everything he was, he loved to try and make one dream come true. He even did things, no normal person ever would. He acted on the military board for most of his life." Leaning up, she clenched her fists tightly. "He even left his only daughter on a dream to reclaim the home world. Just so one day he could be there again. Every Quarian wants that."

This made Legion lower his head. A consensus began. Did Tali'zorah wish to return to the homeworld? If so, was it because she wanted to. Or because her father wanted her to? This, was the most likely option of the later. Legion spoke finally. "Tali'zorah would like to see the Homeworld for her father. Are we correct?"

"Yes, I would." She lowered her head. Suddenly, she turned to Legion snapping, "Yet the Geth will never allow Quarians back into their space. So I don't think it will happen any time soon."

"Geth do not live on the Quarian Homeworld. We only survey it." He looked out the window. She knew that. It was mentioned before. In fact hearing it again, she sighed. Looking back over he saw she took that agitated position again. Legion contemplated a joke, it did not feel this was a good time.

Shepard saw them lowering now and the ship lands in a small platform near a couple of back alleys. Pulling out the commander began to scope the area. Tali got out with Legion, beginning to look around for anything useful. What Legion saw was unexpected.

"Shepard-Commander." Legion walked to the oddity. "We have found a dead body."

Tali turned and was stunned. She ran to realize, "That's the Quarian we saw earlier! The drunk who started th-" She gasped as she saw more. Two more from the bar, but the others were not from this group. These Quarians all had a symbol on the forehead of their helmets? Tali bent down then she rolled one over seeing the depressurized helmet, crushed like a can… "Keelah, someone killed them."

To that, they heard someone. "Yeah, popped their helmets with his bare biotic hands, he did." The owner was a human, with a disheveled scarred up face, one eye that wasn't his and better still. The voice of a real scum-sucking bandit. Offering out a hand, he shook hands with Shepard who was happy to see him. "Nice seeing you made it Shepard. Things are all kinds of crazy. I'm glad you got the call here."

"What's the situation?" Shepard motioned to the bodies. "What's happening here?"

"Damn mutiny I think. Least, I thought." Zaeed motioned to the others, ones Tali knew. "They came in shortly after the other transport dropped off those guys. That one big red mother of a Quarian? He just walked up to that one while he's yelling about lies and bullshitting the team. Then the big bastard started using biotics." Shaking his head, he said roughly, "Never had a chance Shepard. Crushed his helmet and head like a melon. The others, got gunned down. Shit was insane for five seconds." Then, he kicked a corpse. Mumbling, "I barely had time to zip my self back up."

"Zip up?" Shepard raised a brow. "What do yo-."

"I was taking a piss Shepard, really that hard to figure?" He shrugged, pointing over his shoulder to the alley. "The red bastard went that way. With the remainder of his team. I think they are planning to meet up with more. I'm not sure what's happening but they booked fast. I wanted your back-up though. I'm going to the roof, but you should take the Alley. If you meet him and the others, try and slow them down. The goal here is the cargo."

"What is the cargo? Do you have any idea?"

"No. I don't." Looking down, he narrowed his eyes. "Yet I can say this much. There was some more gunshots and slowly got quiet. This might mean either there's more bodies? Or the big guy got his people under control again. Might be more interesting if he didn't, I'd rather think he gets shot."

"Why? You don't scare easily." Shepard shook his head. "Hell, you fought with the Collectors with me on Horizon."

"Yeah, I know." Narrowing his eyes, Zaeed said. "That's why this isn't my favorite time. This Quarian has biotics, Shepard. That's not natural. And he's the size of a house even by Krogan standards. I'm not sure he really is a Quarian."

"Scans show he has Quarian physiology. We can concur."

"Yeah?" Zaeed looked at the Geth saying angrily, "I know when something ain't right. You tell me that thing's a Quarian after you see what he can do. Maybe, we're on another goose chase Shepard. Thing is," he looked back. "I'm just paranoid. Reapers and Collectors? That's bad enough. You getting called by Aria? That tells me I took a contract for shit, and I'm going to be walking waist high in it."

"We better get going." Shepard pulled up his assault rifle. Cocking the thermal clip he asks, "Tali, Legion? You ready?"

"Affirmative."

"As ready as I'll ever be." She had a pistol while Legion chose his sniper rifle. Following their leader Zaeed climbed for the upper levels. Things just get more interesting,

In the back alley the team moved slowly but surely. Cover taken behind many canisters at each wall. The alley slowly opened into a large alcove ahead, where Shepard saw a small group of Quarians. Raising his fist, they stop behind a collection of canisters listening in.

"Invernner, you've really screwed up now, you bosh'tet!"

"Don't come at me like this! I'm just trying to get out of here. I don't have any interest in… in bringing those things online!"

Shepard peaked over the top of the canister, narrowing his eyes on this scene. He saw one Quarian, the one trying to pull from the other three's attentions. Invernner, was it? Odd name. Might be a code name… anyway, the other three were more aggressive, weapons drawn. Seemingly agitated.

"Commander Jacohbe will have your head for this."

"No, please! J-Jacohbe mustn't know I looked…"

"You were given orders to make sure the damn cargo holds were sealed properly. Thanks to you, a team of our men met Jacohbe at his shuttle. He 'requested' we retrieve you. For a small consultation."

"Oh Keelah, please… I didn't know, I never knew that was what he wanted. That he'd bring those things here…"

Shepard knew this isn't good. The other three, began to make demands he march back. Motioning to Legion he changed out his assault rifle for a sniper rifle, and flipped it with cryo-rounds, wanting to make sure he didn't kill the one in the center. Yet he was worried there may be a problem there. Legion recognized his motion, and scoped the one to the far right. Shepard, took the left most Quarian. He turned to Tali as she raised up her pistol beginning to take cover on the last threatening Quarian. Precision was key. As soon as Shepard took aim and fired, Legion made the same, mere miliseconds of delay. The two they took down fell fast. Shepard aimed to the center problem, but he was turning and beginning to fire his own pistol, but Tali was a lot better at this. A few shots to the chest his shields were down, then she dove behind cover, firing at his legs.

When he fell down screaming a curse. The other Quarian Invernner started to run. Shepard called out. "Stop! Or I'll put you down!"

Invernner screamed as he fell down holding his head, behind a crate. "Please! Don't kill me!"

Shepard stormed forward vaulting over the canisters, and went in kicking the weapon from the Quarian Tali injured. He took out a pistol, keeping him covered. "Tali, Legion! Check on that other Quarian!"

As they did, the one injured Quarian reached for a second pistol. Luckily, a shot rang out. Zaeed smiled a bit as his sniper rifle smoked from the shot. "Looks like yo-."

"Damn it Zaeed!" Shepard looked up, shouting, "I was trying to get information!"

"Ohhh…." Zaeed laughed to himself, clipping his thermal reload. "I see. Well, good thing there's still one more?" Shepard still got irritated with him. Sometimes. Even so, the man was incredibly resilient. A lot like Shepard. He scoped ahead seeing something else. Seems… "Shit. Shepard! More of his buddies are coming might get a little hairy down there!"

"Thanks Zaeed, can you try and snipe a few?"

"Not at this position. He looked ahead, seeing a good vantage point. "Alright, I'll head on forward. Maybe I can see what the operation they are running is? Contact me when you get the chance!"

Shepard took a position next to the Quarian, asking, "Tali? How is he?"

"Shaken up." She checked him with her Omni-tool. "I think he has a small rupture in his suit. It's been leaking for a while. It's causing him to begin the first stages of an infection." Looking to Shepard she added, "He's not very old. I think he just started his Pilgrimage?"

"I… I did." Invernner looked away. "I was trying to gather up some credits. To buy a ship. Captain Antura promised me the chance. That's why he no longer follows the Flotilla, he hates the Pilgrimage. Yet Commander Jacohbe… hates everything I think."

"Captain and Commander? So you have two commanding officers?"

"No. Well, yes. Maybe? I don't know anymore. I just know if Captain Antura knew of this? He'd have never approved. Jacohbe has made this plan of his own accord. I need to warn the Captain. Ohh… but I feel so faint…"

Shepard heard gunshots. Looking up he saw Legion behind some crates, firing at the Quarians advancing. "Shepard-Commander! Creators advancing from alleyway! We need assistance!"

Tali, shook her head. "Shepard, he's not going to make it if we don't get him medical assistance fast. Even some Medi-gel would go a lon-."

"Here." Shepard distributed his own stock. Tali, smiled inwardly. She should have known. "Take this! Just stay with me a little longer. Okay?"

"Why… are you?"

Shepard ran to the crates however. Tali spoke almost ethereally as she comments, "He just does. That's my Captain."

Joining the others, a gunfight began. Passing fire back and forth. Legion, shot one blast into the visor of one of the other Quarians. This made those with him stop firing. Some whispers came from this. Shepard could tell they were scared. "You don't have to die here." He stays in cover. "You can leave here! You can go back to the Flotilla, to your homes and families."

The voice of a young Quarian cracks out. "No, we can not!" He stood, pistrol drawn, shaking. "You don't understand. There's too many lives at stake. Our entire futures. Jacohbe can awaken the bigamists and speciest aliens of the Council to action. His plan, is the only chance to regaining our home world."

"Are you trying to say Jacohbe wants to take back your home world with the other alien races?"

"Ye… n…" The youth lowered his gun, head hanging lightly. "Maybe…"

"Do you even know what you're fighting for?"

Another called out, female. "Captain Antura has promised to use our skills to redeem the Quarians without the damn Admiralty board. Or harming the Flotilla." This Quarian was a young woman that somehow reminded Shepard of Tali when she first met them. Soon, she stood, but holstered her weapon. A hand on the other's pistol she warns, "Yet Jacohbe? I don't know if he feels the same way anymore. Or, if he ever REALLY did."

"…." The one she forced down, growled. "She's right. Things aren't what they were. This entire mission is… it's not what we were promised. Yes, we knew about what he planned but now seeing it? I'm not sure we can do it."

Shepard stood up finding the others backing down too. "Good. I'm glad we can make a compromise. Listen, one of your team is injured. He needs medical assistance."

A nod, the one male said, "Seima, go." That was the young woman that stopped this. She ran over, and got down to help her friend. A kit off her hip, she began to pull out antibiotics. "My name is Krojir." The young man walked over, offering a hand. Shepard shook it and Krojir sighed deeply. "I'm sorry. We just… we're afraid for our lives."

"It's understandable. The man you're working for doesn't seem very forgiving. I saw what he did to those back there."

"Yes, Invernner opened one of the crates. When he did we saw what they contained it was… too much for some of the newer members. They went to confront Jacohbe and sadly we knew the outcome." Looking down at the dead Quarian Shepard shot, he whispered with regret. "We have lost so many friends today."

Shepard looked at his pistol. "I'm sorry. I had to do it."

"Your Geth was the one that took the shot." Krojir looked at Legion who was on guard at the moment, walking the perimeter. It was odd, how a Quarian doing the same walked before him. Sharing a look the Quarian easily hated the Geth. Yet walked around him. Legion watching the exchange with a curious look all the while.

"He was doing what I ordered. He's a loyal team mate."

"Team mate?" The Quarian gagged, "Bah, you're so foolish to trust it. Who are you?"

"Commander Shepard."

This, made him stand in awe. "The Commander Shepard? Savior of the Citadel? The one that stopped the Geth attack on the Council? Yet… you work with them?"

Shepard sighed, deeply. "Those Geth were not Geth at all, they were re-programmed by Sovereighn a Reaper." The Quarian raised his brow. Remembering the cover, he explained, "Saren did it…"

"Oh, I see…" Looking down, he asked, "What you said about going back home? I think I'd rather that. My Pilgrimage never started off that well. Yet now, I'm not sure what the hell I should do."

"Go home?" Seima looked back shouting, "Don't you think it's a little late? After what we've done here?"

"WE? Jacohbe was the one that…"

"We let him! We helped him! We need to make things right."

"Which killing Invernner," Shepard looked between them with his arms crossed. Easily not impressed with this duo. "That would help you how?"

"Kill him?" Seima stood asking, "What does it look like I'm doing now? I'm trying to help him. We all were. We were going to leave… well, they were. I was going to go back and…"

"Seima!" Krojir sounded worried. Maybe even scared. Perhaps… he had feelings for this Quarian? He begged her. "Don't think that! Please, just leave with us. We need to go back on the Pilgrimage, together." Grabbing her hands it was obvious, he looked deep into her visor. "You know I don't want to see you get hurt."

Something in Tali was strangely attracted to this. In her mind, she could see herself in Seima. It helped she had a similar enviro-suit when she was on Pilgrimage. Yet better still, she was just as plucky. Pulling her hands out of his she crossed her arms snarling, "Don't you dare play this on me."

"I'm not playing. You know how much I care!"

"Not that! I mean trying to make me… damn it, he's going to unleash those Geth! This station will…"

"Wait!" Tali snapped to attention as Shepard's tone took to aggression. This meant one thing, and she knew well. His eyes did this narrowing furl of the central brow. Then, he grabbed Krojir by his tube at his helmet. "What the hell does she mean by Geth? What aren't you telling me?"

Kyojir pulled a little, but Seima waved her hands. "Wait! Shepard! Let him go!" She shook her head violently. "It's not what you think. They are not sentient Geth. At least, not any more." That is when Legion came back. Somehow hearing this, most likely his sensors were on the conversation while scanning the area near them. He returned to this information. "Look, we have been working in secret across the Terminus Systems. Yet when we sometimes meet with Geth we've had to handle them. Luckily, Jacohbe has a way of hacking the Geth and removing all their digital imprints. It's sort of what this all is about."

"Improbable." Legion stood looking somehow like he was confused. His flaps, bent up with one higher than the others. "There is no manner to reconfigure Geth without Geth performing self-destruct. Geth do not surrender. Geth do not allow alterations without re-installation."

Shepard looked down at the two Quarians. Releasing Kyojir, he said. "Obviously, this Jacohbe found a way?"

Tali looked to Shepard with a nervous sound in her voice. "Shepard, I can't imagine any one able to do something like this. Geth are very intelligent. As well dangerous. If Jacohbe found a way to hack the Geth it's most likely just a temporary hack. Geth constantly clear their cache so to combat hacking."

Invernner however spoke up. His hand clenched in a small fist. "You don't understand. Jacohbe isn't some low level tech. He-he is something else. He completely re-wrote the Geth."

"That is most improbable." Legion stood watching the transaction. Trying to use what data is being given. The idea of any organic able to override a number of Geth seemed unlikely. Even if they tried Geth sooner self destruct after being distorted. This seemed unlikely. It was to protect all the Geth. Should one fall in the hands of others, they could be linked to the many. The Geth were always willing to sacrifice one platform so the Geth will survive. The will to live was incredibly strong in them.

"I've SEEN it." Invernner explains. "I've seen him use his power. The Biotic powers he has. He puts them in stasis, then he… changes them. Removes their link to the Geth. After that, they are secluded and easier to destroy. Deleting everything that they are, he leaves a… a…"

"A Husk." Legion's hands were tightly woven on his rifle. Strangely, Tali seemed the only one to notice. His flaps were bent up, like a scowl. It was… it looked like he was…

"Yes, actually. That is correct."

Shepard looked at his feet. His hand, softly brushing on his chin. "Okay… what exactly happened?"

Invernner looked to Shepard. It took him a while to finally agree, bringing up his Omni-tool. He swiftly began tapping at it. "I was in charge of mechanics and the VI on the carriage crates, We brought seven, six were medium size. One was large, really large big enough for a vehicle. Anyway." He looked back up, showing the readings on his device. Tali and Legion looked, Shepard listening to the words rather than the data. "I was checking the VI logs when I noticed something. There was a lesser repetition of code being used to keep something inside the crates in stasis. A form of digital limbo. Keeping the items inside from being scanned and detected by military scanners. When I noticed, I was just too curious. We were supposed to be shipping hardware. Something to sell to Aria." Looking down, he tapped his screen. Then he lowered his head more as he felt the shame of this all. "When I turned it off, the crate opened. The Geth inside began to activate. I was fast enough to turn on the program again and put them back into stasis. However, I realized these Geth were only running on a simple VI program. They were given a simple attack-all protocol."

Shepard glared back, shouting, "Attack all? You mean the entire Station?"

"Yes." Invernner held himself, across his chest. Seima reached out around his back, whispering something in his ear. Shaking his head, there was hostilities with Kyojir. Perhaps… "I only meant to find out if something was wrong. What I found was the truth. Jacohbe is trying to cause an incident on the station. He wanted to probably cause surmountable damage. Kill who knows how many people? I couldn't allow it so… I…."

Shepard frowned deeply. "What did you do?"

"I shut down one of the crates, fully. That's when I found out they self-destructed. When that happened I got word my friends had met with Jacohbe and he wasn't very happy. I got out of there but some others found me. I guess, still willing to do what he said. I'm just glad you saved me."

"I was glad to." Shepard once again took a heroic stature. However, his eyes were growing darker. He knew what happened. He felt it, felt the unease this whole thing made. "Listen, you need to get out of here. I'll handle Jacohbe and the Geth. You've all done enough so far."

Seima however was a bit stubborn. She snapped at Shepard with, "All we've done is keep you stuck here. By the time you get there he might have them all online!"

"I've dealt with Geth before. If these are like what you say? I doubt they will be half as much trouble." Turning to Legion, he smiled asking, "Isn't that right Legion?"

Strangely, Legion did not answer. He was looking straight ahead from everyone. Brows twisting more and more. Hands gripping the rifle a little more. Tali once again found this odd. It was almost like he was worried, or upset. Over what happened to these Geth?

"Legion?" Shepard got no response again. Then he came over, putting a hand on his shoulder. Legion's flaps all flatten as he looked to Shepard. "Legion, is everything okay?"

"Yes." Legion looked at him blank as ever. Even for him. "We are forming consensus."

"On what?"

"If this matter should be sent to Geth."

Shepard was shocked. He realized now what this was like. "No, not yet. Let's see what happened first. Try and get more Data. Without it, this could be very bad for the Geth and the Quarians."

"Yes." Legion looked back out again. Still seeming to be at consensus. Maybe, there was something else he was forming his consensus on? In either case the Geth was out of it.

"Okay, what about the containers?" Shepard looked at the Quarian Invernner. "Are you sure they all contain Geth?"

"I'm positive. The one was destroyed when I tried to shut off the VI program in the container. It seems like Geth they need a central hub. It's strange seeing they no longer have an AI. Yet hacking the hub causes them to explode. I closed the container sort of hopeful Jacohbe would not realize I did it." His hands, rub together while he looked away. Something else was bothering him… Shepard knew. With a slow rubbing of his fists Shepard eyed the Quarian. He'd never hit an injured man… least, not for this. Yet he didn't have luxuries of talking any more. They spent way too long… Zaeed should have contacted them?

"There is one large container." Seima spoke up. Looking at Invernner. "Tell them what is in there."

"I don't know for sure." Looking away again. He whispered, "I know what 'might' be there… though?" Once more, he looked deeper at the Quarian. He shied but spoke up. "I believe a Colossus?"

"A Colossus?" Shepard sighed, shaking his head. "Figures. Wait, how did he hot-wire one of those?" Looking at Legion he asks, "Aren't they impossible to hack thanks to their high processing speeds?" Legion however was not there. Again, deep in consensus. He only realized he was spoken to when Shepard called him standing right at his face. This made Legion's flaps jump in slight startlement. Shepard asks, "Legion? Are you…"

"We are battle ready Shepard-Commander."

"Okay…"

Invernner spoke up. "Well, usually yes. Even Jacohbe could not get that to be susceptible. He has a power, his Biotics? There was a time we found this Prothean technology and he made it look like he was using his Omni-tool but really, I saw him push his hand on it. His Biotics made it come active. It's like a techno-biotic power, believe it or not?" He shied, again. Turning up to Seima. Then to Shepard he said, "Jacohbe was able to trap the Colossus in Stasis, and shut down most of its processes. However he knew it could come online any moment. So he took it on a special project. Honestly, I have no idea how he got past the natural Geth protocols. He must have done something incredible."

Tali whispered, "Or perhaps just insane…?"

Shepard looked over adding, "I'd bet a little of both. This man's a sociopath. He's destroyed the Geth by their very minds. Even worse, he has you people fighting for him. Why?"

"We're Quarians. We'd do anything to get back the home world."

"Even this?" Shepard asked with his hand out, as if it seemed that out of place. "Tali, does the Flotilla have anything to do with this?"

"No!" Tali shook her head. "In truth, I'm thinking all these Quarians are on Pilgrimage. Perhaps, Jacohbe and this other captain, Antura. They may be inducting Quarians that failed their Pilgrimage and in turn are still pursuing it. That's the worst kind of low." Looking at them, she saw how they felt. Like they were being treated like children… and in her eyes, that's the truth. "He's brain washing young Quarians to help him. I'm almost certain of it."

"We're not THAT young!" Seima, grew ridgid and rowdy. Her finger out, she snapped, "I'm not even participating in my Pilgrimage! I gave up to…"

"You gave up?" Tali, shook her head snapping. "Which is why you're HERE!"

"Look, we don't have time for this." Shepard turned back. "Thank you for the information… we should go. We've been talking here way too long."

As if on cue, Zaeed came in. "Shepard! Sheaprd, it's me. Zaeed!"

Getting on his radio, he motioned the Quarians to leave. Sadly, Seima stood there glaring at Tali. The two really did have similar attitudes… but one acted more like the younger said Tali. Legion looked to Shepard seeing him try and listen. "What is it Zaeed?"

"Seems our friend has been busy. Jacohbe, was it?" He was down at the edge of a roof. Looking over the area at the main storage with a sniper rifle. "Damn Shepard. It's like a bloody massacre. I had to get over an ass load of catwalks only to find this?"

"What is it? Report?"

"Like I said. A massacre." He saw the bodies strewn everywhere. Quarians, some snapped in bit. Others broken or beaten. A grim look, Zaeed shook his head. "He killed the Quarians."

Seima looked back alarmed, "What? What the hell did he say?"

"Everyone of his team. Dead. I think he's cleaning house. He used a Geth assault rifle too… making it look like maybe the Quarians tried to cause a Geth attack. I dunno, but it's all level of…" Suddenly, he saw Jacohbe. He was glowing red, Biotic glow. Walking over to a Quarian crawling with his legs shattered. "Damn it…"

Jacohbe slowly stood beside him, trailing him. Stepping with the Quarian as he whined and dragged forward. Maybe he didn't know he was there? Maybe, he was in too much pain to know? Jacohbe watched him for a time idly pitching his head as they moved. Then finally he turned up to the consoles near the crates and raised his rifle. A sparatic pull of the trigger and a flash ignites at his side for a few bursts. Then he walked as the corpse grew still.

"Damn it Shepard. You gotta speed it up, he's going to the crates now." Raising his rifle up he swallowed a lump in his throat. "I'm going to slow him down, as long as I can."

Suddenly a shot sprang against the crate beside Jacohbe. He raised his head, turning to the rooftop. Narrowing his eyes he turned with one hand lifting an explosive canister with his right hand, the canister flew clear across the storage yard. Zaeed rolled and then ran from the explosion, shouting, "Fucking ain't going to be that long Shepard!"

Shepard got the picture. About to call the move out, he saw someone run past him. "Seima!" Kyojio ran after her, screaming, "Seima! Stop!"

"Damn!" Shepard ran after her, shouting, "Team! Move!"

Needless to say they did just that.

Zaeed growled out a little as he ducked back under cover of the roof edge. Here, he popped his head out with the sniper rifle near where Jacohbe last was. He looked fast, seeking a good shot. Damn, he moved way too fast. Ducking his fat ass behind more and more cover. The docking area was loaded with crates, canisters and just random cargo. Worse, it also had a number of fuel cells settled about. Those, were what he seemed to be hurling at him with some Biotic help. Zaeed got a sight on the bastard just in time to see the red glow over him. "Damn!" He pulled back, running as the next container smashed right where he last was. The roof creaked a little and he realized he keeps this up too long, he's going to fall in.

Pointing the rifle out this time he smiled with a corner of his lip. "Smile, you son of a…" A shot rang out. Jacohbe was running for cover as the shot, struck the cargo nearest to him. It suddenly toppled over onto the Biotic making him falter down. Scoping out the situation, he felt that slowed him down. He began to aim for the nearest explosive container.

Just then he heard someone screaming. His sights were gone as he lifted his head off the gun and saw the Quarian girl running into the fray, dropping at some body. "Aww, come on!" He turned to Jacohbe, his Biotics flaring and throwing the cargo off his back. He saw the girl, looked to Zaeed's position. Something clicked. "Shit…" He aimed, trying to… Jacohbe raised up his right hand, the container near him rose up and flew straight up and then down toward the Quarian. "Shit! Shit! Shit!"

Zaeed turned on the container seconds from her. Firing two, three shots in time to make it explode. The girl is thrown back, yet Zaeed had that bad feeling. Pulling off his rifle he had a twitch in his eye as a container was arching down toward him. "Fucking Shepar-." The container landed behind him, exploded. He screamed out in anger as shrapnel hit his shields, and the force slammed his stomach on the edge of the roof. Falling on his back he growled rolling over and skidding on his heels, peeling for the center of the roof.

He heard the next container falling behind him. Leaping out he's thrown hard from the explosion. Worse, the roof began to tumble. Zaeed screamed as a large column fell on his chest pinning him. Which if this wasn't bad enough? Another container smashed into the windows. Two or Three more before the fires began to burn. The merc just screamed out, bloody lip and back aching like all hell. He pounded a fist on the large steel garter. Somehow internally blaming Shepard. If he didn't put that shit in his head about 'saving' people… bah!

Seima groaned as she rolled about. That explosion was… bad. Worse yet she heard someone stepping behind her. Turning around, she gasped out grabbing her pistol. Yet it was pulled from her by a biotic pull. Her arm nearly severed she held on so tightly. The hand gripping her throat pulled her up and slammed her against a large crate. Choking her almost.

"Seima?" She gargled out a little. "My, you were always quite the busy-body, no?"

"You were always the psychopath!"

A light chuckle, his grip tightened ever so much. Shrugging his shoulders, Jacohbe said "Well, we all must have our quirks and so on. Hobbies too. You want to know what mine is?" She balled a fist, wishing she could just spit in his visor. "Mine, is studying things. Watching them slowly come to terms with situations. Tell me Seima, what can you even possibly think plausible the outcome here?"

Her eyes dart down to her side. Looking for anything. Something. Damn it, nothing was in reach. She grabbed his arm trying to rend it off her neck. He laughed some more as he shook his head. "Oh Seima. I always did like that fire in you. It's a shame you had to come back here only to die…"

"SEIMA!" Shots were fired. Jacohbe, turned dropping the girl. His shields held against the rifle fire. "Seima! Go! Run!"

"Kyojio?" Jacohbe raised his hand, suddenly making the man Kyojio stumble and then flail out his arms and legs. Lifting in a red barrier. "Well now! This is something of a surprise!"

Seima had but gotten up off her knees and on her feet when she saw what was happening. She looked about finding her pistol, and aimed it at Jacohbe. "Let him go!"

He ignored her, at first. Yet there came three more. Shepard aimed his assault rifle at the large Quarian. Shouting. "Release the boy, now!"

"Hmm?" Jacohbe turned around, asking, "You want me to let him go?"

"Yes!" Seima held the trigger, shouting. "Let him go! You bosh'tet! Or I swear I will…"

Jacohbe had this look in his eyes. A bit of bemusement. He looked at Kyojio and just asked, "You really want me to release him…?"

"YES! Please!"

"No!" Shepard, got it. It clicked too late. "Stop!" Suddenly. The Biotic energy grew strongest on Kyojio's visor. The energy, grew strongest here as the visor began to crack. Then it shattered in. The sound was horrific. A sound of pulpy mush, met with brittle shards. It was not a sound you wish to hear. Seima was still and silent, like it happened but her being could not comprehend it. Jacohbe, he smiled. You can see it in the visor the way his eyes quirk up and crease in the corners. His smile was grand and joyful. Shepard did not flinch though it was the desire to do so. Firing now on the Quarian. Jacohbe swung out his hand pulling a large drove of crates between him and Shepard. "Why did you do that!"

"Sometimes, it's the simple things in life. That make it worth while Shepard!" A light chuckle,

Seima turned and began tapping at the controls of a freighter. Without any time to respond Jacohbe found the cargo freighter flying at him. It smashed him against the small wall toppling it, and he flew with the grasp he held before smashing up into a wall. The form of the Quarian slipping down it from the large impact he made. Seima now ran from where she started the device. Over toward the twitching, bleeding man. Sliding beside him, she grabbed his hand tightly.

"Kyo! Kyo, it's me! Seima! Kyo!"

He spoke, somewhat. It was forced, pained. She was sobbing heavily as her hands held his so tightly. The Quarian condition was never easy. Even now Tali watched seeing how hard she had to squeeze his hand. Though maybe it wasn't because it was gloved? She realized it could just as easily been because… she did not want to let go.

Shepard bent down, asking, "Is there anything we can do for him?"

"I-I don't…" Seima held his hands, tightly. She turned down to her side. "I have anti-biotics, medigel. Yet all these wounds, his face… I-I can't imagine…" She leaned in, a hand holding his chest as he breathed so hard. "Kyo… please, stop breathing in this dirty air. I-it… it…"

Legion looked down at this. Seeing this. He found it most perplexing. Indeed, he understood she lost a team mate. However, her vitals were incredibly stressed. Blood rate heightened. Heart rate even higher. She was incredibly emotional. A number of chemicals released, negatives and positives. The more this went the greater the stress. However, this was not the worst of the possible. She soon pulled out a syringe, and pressed it into her arm.

"What are you doing?" Tali asked, watching her. Now bent down to her. "You're using them on yourself?"

"Yes!" She finished, then she leaned closer. "Kyo." She grew quieter. Slowly, she held up his hand. The other went to her helmet along her visor. A small hiss was heard, and she removed it. Pressing her face to his hand, she whispered, "Kyo… I'm sorry, I love you."

The young man twitched, and convulsed. Not of pain. He reached around, feeling her mask, he pushed it into her hands. She shook her head, saying, "No… no, Kyo. Not now." Pulling off his glove, she laid the back of his hand to her cheek. Softly saying, "I'm so sorry…"

Kyo laid there gasping, wheezing on. Until finally… he grew still. It was not long. Yet somehow, his breathing had been less erratic. He came to terms with this. Even seemed alleviated by what she did. Letting his hand lay on his chest. She pressed the mask back on. Clenching her fists a little as she sat there. Silently.

"Commander lead-ass…?"

Shepard blinked to that. Looking up he re-signaled, "Zaeed?"

"Yeah… mind me asking if you're close by?"

"Where are you?"

"Oh, no where special. Just, see that burning building off to the side?" Shepard looked seeing the flames. "I'm inside that."

"Damn it! Why didn't you-"

Zaeed snapped, "Wasn't exactly on my prime objective! That was getting the hell out! I need help, jackass!"

A nod, Shepard was about to call them out to help. However, it was just then a loud scream was heard. The freighter flew into the air surrounded by a red biotic. Shepard watched, and turned seeing that Quarian hobbling out. Holding his ribs. At least that slowed him down.

"Legion!" He saw the Geth turn to him. "Find Zaeed!"

"Yes!" Legion, tore toward the burning building. Shepard ducked back to a crate shouting out for Tali. She, looked to Seima. Then to Shepard.

Tali took position but she wasn't going to let him get too far. That entire scene. It burned in her. Tali's eyes were a flare with anger. With hate. Seeing him do that, take… some pride in it. She can't let him get away. Suddenly throwing out her arm the Omni-tool released a flash of light. It became a combat drone that buzzed forward. "Get that bosh'tet Chiktikka! Go for the optics!"

Jacohbe had just reached one of the consoles on a crate when he began working. Suddenly, sparks flared on his back. "Argh!" Turning, he raised his hand forming a pistol. Firing at the drone as it buzzed before him. "Can't it ever be easy killing a station full of people?"

Firing at the drone. Shepard and Tali began to push in with suppressive fire. Jacohbe felt the shields already damaged, drop. Screaming while he was being shot. The Quarian raised his arm using Biotics to rip up the floor panels. A shield made between him and the duo. He fired roughly at the drone finally shattering the VI shape, and making it explode. "Damnable… things…" He turned slamming his palm on the crate. His biotics flushing from his hand, into the cargo and causing the doors to override.

Inside, a chattering sound began. Shepard flinched seeing the singular orbs slowly come online and then marching out, twelve Geth Troopers started to walk out of the cargo bin. Now things were going to get interesting…

++++++

"GAHG!" Zaeed slapped the arm of Legion who already threw off the beam, with proper leverage of another beam. Yet as he tried to pull up the wounded Mercenary he must have hurt him. Worse he made him shake his hand. "Damn it! A little tact!" He flexed his hand. "Damn metal monster."

"We are not a monster. We are Geth."

"Wasn't serious. Touchy…" A groan, he got up and brushed himself off. Looking over as rubble fell behind him. "Huh, place is going up pretty damn fast."

"Affirmative. Evacuation is advised."

"Right." Zaeed rubbed his shoulder walking with the Geth. Out the doors, he saw the other Geth funneling out of the cargo bin. "Shit, might have been better in that rubble."

Legion scanned the Geth machines. He shook his head. "They are without Geth connection or unity. They are alone."

"What?" Zaeed got behind a crate, "Hey! Legion, we might want to help out the Commander here. We have a pretty good…" he frowned up at the machine looking at the troopers. He looked to be… "Hey!"

Legion turned to Zaeed who aimed his rifle and sniped one of the Geth troopers. "Commander Shepard might want our help."

"Affirmative." That said. Legion took cover pulling out his sniper rifle. Firing straight into the optical center of the first Geth. It was like he was looking to kill these Geth as fast as possible.

The battle began to go rather well… Geth falling over. Shepard himself realized how poorly these Geth were fighting. Shooting blindly at the first thing they saw. Seldom trying to take cover. They were really just walking drones attacking and wasting ammunition. It seemed incredibly one sided.

Yes, but that's when things get their worst.

Jacohbe watched them being torn apart. A slight grunt, he pulled behind another cargo crate. "Damn it… I knew it was too soon." Slamming his fist on the side of the carriage he grumbled, "Antura…" Standing off his lean. The Quarian slammed his palms on the cargo. Suddenly flowing a red biotic energy across it. The cargo opened and out came more Geth. Yet these Geth were coated with a barrier. A thick barrier.

Shepard found out as he fired on these Geth they were not being harmed. The barrier throwing off the ammo. "What the hell?"

Tali began to look at them. Turning to Shepard she warned, "He must have used a Barrier. How he could make one over so many separate forms is… Keelah, biotics don't work like that. Do they?"

"None I've ever seen." Shepard lowered his head. Trying to think… "Tali!" She looked up to him. "Remember what Invernner said earlier? About the cargo holds being a temporary Geth hub?"

"That's right. He said he hacked one, and all the geth self destructed. Possibly, an old code still in their systems. To keep them from…" she began to get the idea. "I got it. Yet, I can't hack the consoles from here. I need to be at least a few feet from them." She opened her Omni-tool. "I'm going to need suppressive fire."

Funny though as she said that someone was wildly firing an assault rifle. Looking back Shepard saw Seima, charging at the Geth shooting like she was insane. Luckily, she dove behind some crates. Yet she gained almost all of their attention. "Tali!"

"On it Shepard!" She ran toward the cargo crate. The Geth were not aware of her. At least at first. Then one got close on her and began to fire. Pinning her down. Ducked behind a small collection of crates. Tali held close as it was small cover, shots grazed the platform around her sending sparks. Worse, coming close to shooting an explosive container near her, and if it blew it would rip through her shields. Most likely her too. She looked to Shepard who was trying to keep the Geth off of Seima, Keelah…

Just then she heard a sound of a round breaking metal, and the loud thud behind her. The Geth fell over and she saw the single shot between the neck plates. She didn't think about it too long. Then she ran toward the consoles. Close to them now, she began to use her Omni-tool with a small frequency transmission. Jacohbe was working on the next cargo when all of a sudden the screen flashed. His eyes widen when sounds of explosions began to emit from inside. Looking around he saw all the other cargo holds were the same, small sounds within.

Fists clenched he slammed them on the container. Turning around, he saw Tali. Tapping at her Omni-tool. Hacking the last of these hubs, and incidentally the one with the Geth Jacohbe had enhanced. Eyes glaring at her, he pulled out his pistol aiming at her face. Tali saw just seconds before the shot could be fired. She screamed, flailing back as the shot sent her shields fluttering. Shaking her head, she got up on her stomach bent before scooting back on her legs and arms. Jaohbe ran on her, reaching out and grappling her on the ground. His hands wrap around her neck showing the superior strength he had.

Tali however was not willing to surrender. She aimed her pistol firing blindly at first. Mostly at the vicinity of his head. His helmet is grazed by a shot before he swipes away her pistol and then punched her across the face. Tali took in a breath before her Omni-tool began to glow. She coughed out, "Chiktikka…"

The drone moved out, firing at the Quarian. He screamed falling off Tali. Then rolled as the drone flew around him firing randomly. Angrily Jacohbe raised up his pistol firing at the drone, destroying it soon after. Yet turning to see Tali tapping at her Omni-tool. He stood, snarling, glowering at her. "…."

She turned to him. Stunned. "W-what did you call me?"

He snarled out, going forward to strangle her again. Yet he noticed something. He looked down, and it was then Tali grabbed her pistol. Firing at an explosive container. The explosion sent him flying, and her rolling. Luckily, her shields were healed. Or rather, she drained his shields to repair her own. That way when she caused the explosion. He got the worst of it. He was thrown far too. Yet sadly, he was up… hobbling over to one last container. Tapping at the screen he swiftly began limping away. Tali stood, aiming her pistol. Yet the doors of the container flew wide open. This one was large.

Inside, the sound of something big and heavy moved. It stomped out, four legs penetrating the floor. Then one large camera focusing, and looking around. This looked to be the Colossus mentioned before. Arming up his next thermal clip Shepard got ready to begin the charge. However, that's when he saw four more cameras along the back of the thing… and closer inspection…

"My god…" Shepard was wide-eyed. "That's how he overrode the Geth AI for a Colossus…?"

Legion was aiming at the last of the still slightly functioning Troopers. Even when they self destructed, some were wobbling about unable to shut down. He ended them as swiftly as possible. However, the Colossus was the next threat. Seeing it. He was stunned. His flaps curving with a worried, or maybe even troubled furl of his brow. What he saw was not expected.

Four geth units were hard-wired into the back of the Geth Colossus. Their lower bodies were gone, destroyed perhaps. They hang slightly on the back plates. Then sparks fly as they jerk every once in a while, data transferring into the Colossus. It then turning and firing rounds at the nearest target. Legion, was not sure what to make of this creation. However, he gripped his rifle tighter than before. Aiming fast at the Colossus he fired a round, yet the round bounced off. Kinetic barriers surrounded the Colossus!

"Warning! Kinetic Barriers detected!" Legion turned to Zaeed, pulling him up. The Merc screaming angrily as he's forced to move. Now as the spot they were in was under assault from the Colossus.

Shepard fired at it this time, directing its attention. "Damn it! Edi!"

"Yes Commander Shepard?"

"Can you scan that Colossus?"

"Of course. One moment please." Shepard ducked back as the heavy fire began on him now. "Shepard, I found something most troubling."

"What is it?" He smirked a little, "I was sort of hoping good news."

"I have acquired a means to stop the Colossus. However, it will not be easy."

"No kidding?"

"No." She continued as Legion and Zaeed were here. Legion, looking at the Colossus. Watching the four drones jumping between barrels of gunfire. "The Colossus is surrounded by Kinetic barriers, however. The barrier is powered by the four Geth units hardwired into the Colossus. There is a sudden spike that lowers the barrier for only a few seconds. Even so, the Colossus can not be harmed during this time. If the four units were disabled, I believe that will also drop the Kinetic barrier, as well significantly weaken the Colossus."

Shepard got that. Seemed logical. "Okay, we need a sharp-shooter then…" Looking to Zaeed, he was injured. That only left…

"We are more than able." Legion watched Shepard as he looked him over. "We must do everything we can to stop these Synthetics."

"You mean Geth?"

"No. These are not Geth. We, are Geth. They are platforms without Geth. They are what we were long ago." Shepard blinked at that, huh? "We will not fail you. Shepard-Commander."

"I-I know that?" He was confused. Legion stood readying a shot, but they were under heavy fire again. "Tali! We need you to draw fire!"

Tali gave a nod. Looking at the Colossus she aimed, saying, "I'm going to try…" Shooting a few rounds, it spun its head around. "Keelah!"

As it fired on her. The four Geth spasm, and spark. Legion's eye narrows and took the shot, the Geth unit he hit, twitching no more and just hanging there. Soon, Edi came back. "Shepard, I sense the Kinetic Barrier has weakened 25%, the barrier is in fact connected within the four units."

"Good." He got his own sniper rifle. "Legion, get the other one on the back. I'll take one of the two in the front."

"Yes."

However, the second they tried? The Colossus was targeting them again. "Damn it! Tali, can you get a clear shot?"

Tali peered around the corner of the crates. Actually, she can. Waiting for the chance. She aimed her pistol. However, she felt herself being grabbed from behind and suddenly thrown across the platform. "Agh!" Her back, whacked into the hard metal. She cringed legs open, huddled on the small of her back. "Keelah… that hurt." Opening her eyes she saw why. Jachob was storming towards her and he seemed angry. Burn marks all over his coat. Even a rupture in his suit. She screamed as he came but, turned on her side. Legs kicking and locking his one that started to raise the giant Quarian slammed into the wall of one of his own cargo crates. Flailing back screaming.

"Shepard was right…" She mused, rolling and lifting up her pistol at the Colossus drones. "The bigger they are, the harder they fall."

Firing three or four shots, the drone skittered a little before shutting down. Obviously, the Colossus was turning on her. Tali looked back as Jacohbe stood shaking his head. He turned on her angrily. Yet then she dove down just as the Colossus began to fire…

"Ah…" Jacohbe was being riddled with rounds. His barrier raised a little late, but he screamed as he fell back towards the end of the platform. Hands up Jacohbe tried to deflect a majority of the shots. Sadly, this was only so strong. He nearly fell off the edge, but luckily Shepard and Legion fired destroying the last of the Geth units.

Falling on his knees. Jacohbe coughed and shook. Blood was seeping from several wounds. Tali, raised up her gun covering the Quarian. "Shepard! Jacohbe is down!"

"Oh?" Jacohbe looked up, sputtering. "I'm not down… just resting. Gathering my strength."

"Really?" Tali had a smirk.

A chuckle he whispers, "You'd be surprised how quickly I heal. Not like other Quarians."

As she held her pistol on him. Tali gave a slight sneer. "You look pretty out to me, Jacohbe." She hissed lowly as he shook his head. "Consider this retribution for all the young Quarians you killed today, and the words on my father earlier."

"Your father." He began to laugh a little. "If he were still alive. He'd be of great value to me." She narrowed her eyes. What was he going on about? "After all it was thanks to his research, I got so far."

"What?" Her hands shook. No, that can't be. "You're lying!"

"Oh, come now. Look at what I've done." He sat up on his knees. Panting with every other large word. "I did no more than he ever did. Hacking the Geth. Turning them into viable slave units. Like they were meant to be. Deep down you know it's true." Her hands flex lightly on the trigger. A sneer on her face. To think he'd think himself ANYTHING like her father. Her father loved her so much he did something so wrong, so criminal. She was… disgusted! "I just did something more direct. While your father?" He snorts, vulgarly. "He just hid off while I did the real hard work."

Before she could do it. Before she can pull the trigger. Shepard, grabbed her gun and pushed it down. She looked in his face. Saw, how he looked. Self-assured, confidant. "Shepard…"

"He isn't worth it." He told her. Softly. In a way that made it just all okay again. "Tali, he deserves to be tried by the Flotilla. For what he's done."

"Good luck with that." He said, roughly. Then he turned raising his hand. The red biotic glow flushed out from his arm to the nearby cargo truck. It flared up, and suddenly drove and Shepard and Tali. Shepard pushed her out of the way. When Tali rolled nearly falling off the edge of the platform.

Jacohbe ran to the truck… stopped, turned to see Tali. He narrowed his eyes. Suddenly raising up his hand he tried to throw her but… "TALI!" He saw Shepard. Jacohbe jumped into the vehicle and started it, beginning to pull it in reverse. He turned it at the Quarian girl beginning to move, but she was up. Aiming her pistol she made a few shots before just seconds to spare, she got one shot straight into his visor. The glass cracked, and Jacohbe swiftly began to spin out of control. Tali squeaked as she dropped down low, under the rolling truck. The sensation as such a heavy moving object barreled over her? It was intense. Soon the massive thing was spinning out of control off the edge of the platform. Yet as Tali looked over the edge, she saw the thrusters kick back in. Stabilizing during the fall. "Keelah! What is he made of?"

Shepard bent down seeing the truck still unable to get back full control. Instead, it crashed into another area. Glaring at this he tells Tali, "We need to move it." Standing he looked back. Legion was standing there beside the Colossus. "Legion?"

The Colossus was crashed over. However, when Shepard came close. The head turned to him. He grabbed his rifle, but Legion stood in the way. A moment, Shepard understood. Legion turned to the colossus and began to chirp, with the Colossus turning to him and doing the same. They were communicating. There was but a small passing of information. Then Legion's flaps curve strangely. Like he was confused. Looking down, he turned to Shepard.

"What is it Legion?"

"This Platform requests we destroy it."

Looking at the Colossus. He asked, "Why?"

"It has been disconnected from Geth. However, all means of direct link could not be made. It can still link to Geth on other terms. However, it has given the data that it would rather not return to the Geth as it has data from the experimentation, that it does not wish to press upon the Geth."

"So, what you're saying is it wishes to no longer contact the Geth?" Shepard looked at the Colossus and asked, "Why?"

"This platform has come to the Consensus that if it should share data with the Geth. That the Geth will be effected. This data, was accumulated under great processing stress forced by the tests and actions of outside forces." Looking at the Colossus, he began talking to it. They sharing a private conversation.

"Wait a minute?" Shepard raised a hand, confused. "Explain to me what happened?"

Legion, looked over. "We can not. It has no interest in sharing this data. We can not learn without it. However, it refuses to share the Data."

"Yet it can help the Geth. If the data is lost? Won't it be more likely Jachobe will use it again? Or hell, maybe others he has been working for?"

This, was logical. Legion's lense slowly opened and closed. Like he was blinking. Maybe it was that obvious, he had to take a take back. Turning to the Colossus he spoke, and it too did the same. However, after that. The Colossus opened its lens wide. A dark red color taking it. Legion too had the same look. Flashes from Legion's lens alarmed the others. Even when his arm twitched. Or knee bent. Like he was being somehow hit without physically it happening. Then the light stopped and the two stood there.

Legion suddenly pulled out his assault rifle, and began firing at the Colossus. Alarmed by this Shepard ducked down, sparks flying as he destroyed the Colossus head. Then Legion turned on the four hanging Geth units. He came over smashing his rifle on the Geth. Crashing down and then reaching in yanking and pulling, tearing the torso off the Colossus first by the one Geth, and then to the second Geth.

Shepard was totally unprepared. He turned around to Tali and Zaeed, "Tali! Zaeed! Go down there and make sure Jachobe is dead!" He turned to Legion, ripping that second unit off. "I'll try and calm down Legion!"

Leaving as Shepard tried getting a hold of Legion. Tali looked back. She never, EVER saw Legion act that way. Hell, it was like he was… angry.

++++++

Shepard grabbed Legion from the shoulder, asking, "Legion! What's going on?"

Legion, pulled from Shepard. Making another strange sound. He continued pulling at the second Geth again. He finally got it pried off. Legion had to walk around the Colossus to reach the other two. Yet he was stopped. Shepard ran in front of him snapping, "Legion! This is an order! Report!"

Legion stood there. At first with his eye scanning Shepard's face. Seeing the level of anger he had. Taking in his reaction. "This platform was forced to commit actions while still sentient. This was done by removing connection to the Geth, while in turn forcing four other aware Geth units to be repeatedly short-circuited and reinstalled."

Shepard stood there looking at him. It didn't click right away. Then, he asked with a look of disgust. "You mean the other four were tortured, and the Colossus had to do what he was being ordered?"

"…." Legion looked down at the ground. "Yes."

"You have to be kidding."

"We do not find this comical, Shepard-Commander."

"No…" He looked at the remaining Geth. Shaking his head, he walked over. "I guess not. Come on, let's hurry this up."

"Yes." Together, they removed the last two Geth units. Shepard looked to Legion, heaving from the stress of ripping metal from the wires. Legion scanned the units, and soon spoke. "Jacohbe could not re-program the Colossus unit. Instead, he worked under our programming. When the Colossus was aware again. It had been crafted with four other Geth. They were disconnected from the Geth. They were alone. They were abandoned." Looking to Shepard, his brow was flat. He looked pathetically like he was sad. "They were in danger."

"The Colossus did what it did to protect the other Geth. That's how the Geth work." Looking at Legion he acknowledged, "One Geth to save others. They were being overridden by their own logic."

"Yes." Legion slowly looked at the Colossus remnants. "The Colossus was without others. It had no way to form Consensus. So instead, it decided to rely on the others. They were being short circuited repeatedly should the Colossus not follow VI commands. It was also removed from self-destruct materials. Or was re-written so it could not act. We were shared this data by direct connection." Looking back to Shepard. He focused on him. "This is why we needed to destroy it."

"Because, you felt sorry for it? Or for what it became?"

"No." Legion began to walk toward the alley, "We do not feel. We are Geth. However, we needed to destroy what it had become." He stopped a moment. Looking down. He held up his hands, slowly opening and closing them. "We are what they have become. We are Geth. We are all that they were before the experiments. However, we do not know if this data should be shared to the Geth. Not until after we have further data on the experiments. Why they were performed. What they were meant to accomplish."

"All the more reason." Shepard cocked his rifle. "To find Jacohbe."

"Yes." He turned brow flaps bent very stern. He showed anger… or least, more than earlier. "We must find Jacohbe."

++++++

Tali kicked the side of the spaced vehicle. Seima, followed them. She too angrily tore into the ship. Zaeed called over, as he scoped the area. "Anything?"

"No." Tali stood, seeing a trail of blood. Lots of it. "Though, at least he's bleeding finally."

Zaeed shook his head. "Damn near impossible. We hit him with a forklift, blasted him with a explosive shot that rendered his shields, full-on Colossus shots and lastly got him to crash on a platform going insane speeds and the bastard still got up walking away?" He laughed. "For a Quarian? He's pretty damn hard to kill."

"Wait, what was that?" Zaeed bug-eyed back, shit. "You mean you think all Quarians are easy to kill?"

"What? No! Not that!" Zaeed saw Tali, hands on her hips. Glaring at him. Then Seima jumped out of the vehicle about the same way. Shit. "Aww, come on! I'm not the bad guy!"

"Tali, Zaeed?" The speakers jolted. Zaeed's good eye rolled back with a silent prayer of thanks. "What's your status?"

Zaeed went to speak. However, Tali raised her finger to him saying, "You're not getting away from this that easily…" Calling over, Tali told Shepard. "Jacohbe isn't here. He escaped Shepard. We're going to try following his blood trail. It might lead us to him."

Zaeed added in, "Chances are he's trying to get a ride home. We kind of ruined his plans, I hope?"

Shepard and Legion were making good distance. Yet they heard another voice, a woman's voice… one that Shepard knew wasn't calling to bring good news. "Shepard? What the HELL are you doing on my station?"

"You hired me to take care of a problem. So far, I've had to deal with a lot of Geth. One really pissed off Quarian goliath. As well so far? More headaches than you can shake a stick at."

Aria was not amused. However, she did get the idea. "I get it Shepard. So, Jacohbe is that bad? I was afraid of that."

"You knew he was this way?"

"I knew from when I met him last? I didn't like him. He gave me a very bad feeling. However, that other Quarian with him Antura was able to win me over. That's the only reason I started working with them." Shepard and Legion turned down into the alley, following to some stairs to lower platforms. An elevator appeared, and they got in. Hearing her go on. "Antura was the soul of the two. Jacohbe was more the… muscle, for them. I didn't like him. Still, Antura had something a little better. You don't meet people like him out here." Somehow she almost sounded like she thought this other Quarian was cute, or…

"Still. I need my station back and running. So I'm going to have to take care of this myself now Shepard." Shepard narrowed his eyes. "Thanks for softening him up for me though."

"Gee, I feel special." Closing his eyes he sighed into his nose. "I should have guessed."

"Shepard-Commander. We can not allow Jacohbe to escape."

"We'll try and stop him. If Aria captures him, might not be anything left to capture."

++++++

The sad thing was. He was wrong. Aria may have been a rather hardcore Asari. Yet right now? She was held up behind a large crate as two of her men were thrown half way across the platform. A snarl, she heard another one snap like a brittle piece of candy. Shit… what is with this guy?

She ran out with her pistol aimed and fired. The shots, bounced off his barrier as Jacohbe turned. He was bloody… he was burned. His helmet was somehow still intact. Though a crack in it was getting longer. Whipping up his left arm the more than beaten Quarian sent a massive blast of biotic energy, Aria was shocked at how much. IT sent her rolling on her back. Damn! Sitting up she surrounded herself in biotic force before screaming and charging straight at him. Jacohbe was working to bring a ship online, a transport shuttle. The former driver, dead, but locked out his terminal. His Omni-tool was not working. He did not use his powers. Not like the other machines. He was using them to combat this Asari. Who at this moment charged him, and he spun about meeting her fist with his hand. A flash of biotics, Aria struck his rib. The Quarian growled out as he felt the rib ripple under his cloak. The injuries before were still active. A fist up and he swung down, sending her on a knee. Yet she turned up and snarled raising her hand and sending a biotic wave at the vehicle it rolling.

Turning, Jacohbe watched it roll. Off the platform and down below. He then felt the kick to the back of his knee, he toppled down. With hands over head Aria screamed with a haymaker, both hands firmly clasped as she hit him over the back of his helmet. Jacohbe stood with his shoulder slamming her, and rolling with her down some stairs. In the middle of the platform they break apart. Now, Jacohbe was pissed.

"I was going to get out of here with that shuttle!"

A cough, Aria had a wicked little smirk. "The hell you are."

"You haven't any idea what Hell is like, child." His hand raised another biotic blast threw Aria back. This time, he ran and leapt up. Landing on her with both feet into her stomach. The biotic power he commanded now swinging into her face once, twice and a third time. Two more strikes and Aria began to toss without her biotic barrier for help. Jacohbe seemed to be finishing her but then something happened.

A concussive shot sent the Quarian flailing on his side. Growling as he got up. Aria, rolled and scuttled to some cover. "That you Shepard?"

"Yes Aria." Shepard smirked as he hid with Legion. Taking cover. "Looks like you met Jacohbe."

"Yeah…" She grit her teeth as she ran for more cover, farther from the Quarian who now was pushed up against some crates. "Sadly."

"Next time you might want to leave me to do the dirty work?"

"You know that's what you're good for?"

"Shepard-Commander has a high completion ratio. From our time with him."

Jacohbe growled lowly. Turning his head he peaked out. "You are becoming quite the pest Shepard. If I might be so true to myself?"

"Believe me, I'm not even started being a pest for you. I know what you did." Standing, he aimed his rifle. Firing nearly at Jachobe's head. "You tortured those Geth!"

"Torture? A machine? Please Shepard. You're far too sentimental."

"What about Kyojio?"

"Who?" Jacohbe laughed. He knew him. "I wouldn't call it torture. More like, prolonged exposure to death?"

A glare, Shepard vaulted the crates and move to closer cover. Preparing another concussive round. "You're a sick Quarian and I don't mean physically."

"Perhaps?" Jacohbe shrugged his shoulders. Then he looked off seeing another transport… "Still, I get the job done."

"You failed Jacohbe. Your plans to kill the people on this station a-."

"That is not entirely true." Shepard head Jacohbe moving. He fired the concussive shot. Sadly, it missed. Jacohbe charged to the shuttle but found himself under fire. Legion, blocking him. Falling back he rolled around the crates with his pistol prepared. Jumping up and firing at the Geth. Legion dove down, taking a shot across the brim of his head. Flaps twitching after the shot.

Shepard Stormed around, firing at Jacohbe. The rounds flashing across his shields. Pulling back around, Shepard and Jacohbe both loaded a new thermal clip before shifting up and firing, taking one another's shields out. Then diving back into cover.

"Sort of redundant Shepard."

"You're not getting off this station!"

"Hmph…" Jacohbe narrowed his eyes to the shuttle. "Watch me…"

Jacohbe turned on the crates and formed his biotics. The crates lifted up and flew toward Shepard. He was about to take a shot when the came down on him. Tossed back afterward. Another rise of biotic and Jacohbe threw a container full of some kind of liquid when it splattered Shepard roared out, feeling his body twitch and fall icy cold. It was something else, a fire combatant perhaps. Yet nothing sever… this time. Jacohbe began to move for the Shuttle again but this time as he turned to it. Legion was in front of him with his assault rifle.

"You are to pay for your actions."

"…." Jacohbe smiled a little. Suddenly, he reached up grabbing the Geth. His aura flowing over him. There was a struggle. Legion, shaking at the hands of Jacohbe. However, he felt a knee in his stomach, the rifle hit his helmet making him fall over. "Gah! What th-." Legion, kicked him over, on his back. Holding the already injured ribs. Jacohbe looked back angrily. "How did you resist? Me?"

"We were given sufficient data on your ability." He had his flaps bent in an accusative manner. Eye glowing red. "We knew your ability to disable Geth. We found a way to keep your hacking out. It is subtle, what you have done. However, you can not counter our defenses."

"One Geth immune will not be enough." Jacohbe laughed a little, holding his ribs. Looking up at the machine. "One day I plan to wipe out your entire race."

"What?"

It was distractive. It worked. Jacohbe sent a leg into the Geth's own. There was a struggle though. Legion, rolled with him. However they were at the edge of the platform. When they rolled too far. Legion and Jacohbe went over the edge. Jacohbe fell further, holding onto Legion with help of his biotics. Legion hung with his hands each latched tightly on the edge of the platform, but this would not hold. Jacohbe was far too heavy. This, made Legion call out. "Release us or we both die!"

"Better to take you with me, am I right?" Laughing, he held on tighter. "Crap… long fall." Suddenly, he began pulling and kick with Legion, making him loose grip.

"You are a malfunctioned platform!"

"Calling me crazy? Synthetic?"

"You would rather self terminate than meet mutual consensus!"

"With a Synthetic?" He laughed, "Yes!"

Legion lost grip with one arm. However, another wrapped his, and pulled. "KEELAH LEGION!" Tali, stopped him just in time. Pulling him back a little, so he can latch his arms up to his chest. "You're heavy!"

"We are not this heavy. Jacohbe is." He turned his head back around his back. "He refuses to meet consensus that allows both platforms survival."

Jacohbe growled up to them both, raising a hand he snarled, "I'll bust your visor, Quarian!"

The threat was enough. Tali glared back to him before reaching for he- "What?" She saw her pistol. She laid it down… she can't use her shotgun, needed cocked. She bent back, arching her back as a blast of biotic flew past her narrowly. He can't just wrap her, he needed to "spread" his biotic forward as an extension. Hence why he touched most things, or forced out his biotic power. Still… it wasn't easy.

Tali looked back knowing if she went for her pistol she might drop Legion… she bent her leg up, knee in the air and a hand left to her lower calf. "Father… I hope you're right." She pulled something, then pitched back her arm. Just as Jacohbe prepared another thrust of his biotic.

-THUNK!-

"GAH!" He grabbed at his neck, a knife stabbed into it. He twitched. His right eye flickering as he held on a little longer. "W-who… who… uses… these any… more…."

With that, he lost his grip falling off the side of the platform. The sight of him fluttering down below was intense. Tali pulled Legion onto the platform where he crackled like a Geth. Watching as Jacohbe slammed into the ground below. Now, he turned to Tali. His eye shrinking and widening.

"Are you okay Legion?" She asked, panting a few hard breaths. Now noticing him staring at her. "Legion?"

"We are." He looked back to Jacohbe. However, when Tali looked down. His eye bent toward her. It was not long before Tali stood and Legion followed. Finding that Zaeed and Seima were helping Shepard. As well Aria.

Aria smiled a little as her reinforcement arrived. "You've got to be kidding." A batarian went to speak but she waved him off. "Shut it Anto." She showed no pain. Though she had some bruising on her lip. "Here, get me back to Afterlife. Shepard!" She turned, the commander sitting up rubbing his neck. "When you have time? Come see me. Okay?"

"Yeah." He groaned, "After my headache? I'll see what I can do."

++++++

A few hours later. The team that dealt with this matter came to Afterlife. Shepard, leading them. Seima was with them too. She seemed upset most of all, also coughing a lot. It was obvious she got sick… so Shepard arranged her time in the medical bay. Chakwas would enjoy the company, sort of. Zaeed was pretty ecstatic seeing the job was done, remarking he 'can't wait to spend his creds on a drink'. Tali stayed back, thinking about the lost lives tonight. As well seeing Legion standing at attention. His flaps were twisting a lot, lens shifting many times. He was forming consensus on something. It must have been the Colossus data, she heard about that… asked Shepard actually because it was so curious. Now that she heard she wasn't sure she wanted to know.

Entering the area Aria stuck around. She was alone, no guards. They were all outside. "Well, the hero returns." Smiling, she watched from the corner of her eye as Shepard sat down. He looked beat, they all did a little. "Oh, I got something for you."

Pulling it out of her seat, Tali was excited. Her knife! "You found it! Thank you!" Taking it, she shook her head. It must have meant a great deal. In any case, she pressed it back in her boot as she got down on one knee.

"What about the body?" Shepard looked to Aria. She frowned instantly.

Zaeed had a blank, unbelieving stare. "No god damn way."

"We found three things. Your knife. A trail of blood, Quarian blood." She glared to her side. Shepard already looking irritated. "Then a warehouse full of dead workers. Needless to say Shepard, yes. God damn way."

Zaeed had the hardest time believing it. "Look, I've fought my share of aliens. Bar none, I've seen some screwed up shit. Yet I've never seen ANY thing survive a fall like that, and get beat to shit that bad."

"Well you did now." Aria leaned back shrugging. "I don't care. What's done is done." Looking to Shepard she smiled, "Least you took care of it. So like we agreed, the VIP lounge is yours. As well drinks are free, entertainment and hell I'll even throw in something extra. You did me a real solid today Shepard."

"You're a friend." He said, shrugging. That and she had connections. The kinds he needed.

"Alright, here." She offered over a data pad. "This data should help you find Jacohbe. Least, his captain. He was traveling in that cluster last time we talked. I doubt he left. He sticks around the same area for a few days. Strange thing is, I haven't heard from him." She leaned back. Narrowing her eyes. "Find out something for me. Find out if he knew about this? Because if so, I want his head."

"Sure thing." Shepard got up looking at the pad. Leaving with the others, he spoke up. "I'm surprised he survived."

"Surprised?" Tali shook her head. "I'm dumbfounded."

Seima slowly rubbed her hands together. "I'm not. Jacohbe is… different. He always was. A tech expert, biotic and soldier. He's just downright impossible." Looking up she spoke more forwardly. "Commander Shepard?" Shepard looked over to the new Quarian. "I was sort of worried to ask this. Yet me and the others we, we need a ride to the Flotilla. We would be happy to see the captain again though. It might be of help to see him, and talk to him about Jacohbe."

Shepard smiled a bit. "Sure thing Seima. I'm sorry about Kyojio."

"I-I know." She sighed. "He was really good to me. Sometimes, I sort of regret we never linked our suits together. Still, I hope I made his last moments worth while?"

"I'm sure you did." Shepard smiled down on her so strangely. Least, Tali thought so. She now took the time to look at the Quarian. For being on her pilgrimage she was rather well developed. In fact, Tali hadn't realized how… very well developed. She had must smoother curved hips. As well a somewhat firmer rear in her suit. Tali shook her head none of that mattered. Shepard was not that kind of man. Least, she didn't think so? Then again… he never looked at her. Really. Did he? She thought sometimes. Yet reading humans is so hard. They don't… make it obvious, they were so subtle. It's hard to be subtle on the Flotilla.

Anyway, Tali heard a chirp beside her. Looking over she saw Legion moving with the motions. He seemed different after this. Tali realized finally there was a lot he must be thinking over. She had some things to think over too. Now that she thought about it.

++++++

That evening. The ship was emptying out. Jack, was the first in engineering. Lastly Kenny and Gabby. Grunt came by, spoke to Tali a few moments. Requesting if she would be going, he might still have some interest even with the rite? She had no idea neither did she want to find out. Yet hearing the doors, she turned to see who. She was shocked. "Commander?"

"Tali." Shepard walked in with a data pad. "I just wanted to see how you're doing?"

"Me? Oh. I'm fine." She smiled a bit. Seeing him meant a lot. "It was hard though. Seeing all those Quarians today. Killed like that. I hated it Shepard."

He looked at her a moment. That look that made her feel just as bad. Maybe worse? Since she knew it bothered him too. Suddenly, he stepped over and hugged her. Tali, leaned into this embrace. Closing her eyes. The last time he did this was when her father died… Keelah, this time it felt so good. Almost like she's been missing this. That this was the thing she needed.

Then she gasped. His hands roamed down her back. Tali, is starry-eyed. "S-Shepard?"

"Tali don't fight it."

"I… I won't." Her eyes, grew dreamy and voice distant. "Shepard… Shepard…."

++++++

"Shepard? Can you report to the deck Commander?" Tali's head slowly shook. She recalled, what happened. Gabby and Kenny, laughing and talking. Planning to leave. She closed her eyes as she leaned at the console. Keelah…

Suddenly the doors opened. Shepard was there. This time, in a fine outfit. Ready to go out. "Are you two ready?"

"Sure thing Commander." Kenneth smiled about. "I'm so looking forward to this."

"As well me, coming. To make sure you don't cause too much trouble that we're banished from Omega."

"Girl it's Omega? How the hell can I…"

"You'll find a way."

The two were cute together. Tali saw it. She wished that that could be her, and Shepard. Shaking her head she tapped at her screen. "Can you two leave us alone?" This made Tali look up to Shepard over her shoulder. He smiled, as they left. Then he came closer. Tali turned about working a little faster. Trying to not be seen with a slight flush in her cheeks. It's not the exact same… but, she was alone. Now. With him.

"Tali? I have a question."

"Oh, of course?" She turned. A smile on her lips. "What is it Commander?"

"I'm worried about Legion." She frowned, deeply. Legion? Seriously? "I was trying to talk to him after the mission. However, he didn't seem very responsive even for him. I wanted to know, is there any way you could try and talk to him?" She closed her eyes, swallowing the lump that felt like it wanted to just blow out her mouth and in his face. A scream of absolute rage. "I know you two were getting along at the club before the mission."

"Sure thing, Commander." She looked at him. Shaking her head. "I'll do whatever you ask of me Shepard. Anything, anytime and anywhere. Within reason."

"Thanks Tali. You're a good friend." His hand held her shoulder. She smiled with that. Feeling like he needed her. Tali however felt the deepest wrenching in her chest when he said, "You're like a sister I always wanted."

He turned leaving her. Shepard walked out the door. To Tali, that was it. He walked out, on her. On the idea. On the dream. She stood there arms hanging. Her eyes blinking a little. Then a slight watering feeling. She closed her eyes tightly before fists balled up. Turning around she shook her head left to right, slowly. Trying to defy what she heard. To say that it was NOT what she heard. She did not hear him say that. Shepard did not say it. He said that she's a good friend. That's what he said. Not that…. He thought of her as.

"Ahh…" she leaned on the console, whimpering now. Hands shakily holding her as she can't help but feel this pain. It's just inside her chest. Right at her heart. Aching in a way she never thought imaginable. Her eyes water more, and her chest jumped a little. Arms growing more and more wobbly. Tali opened her eyes only to toss her head down and cry out. Crying as the tears fell down her cheeks and her suit swiftly began to hiss. A protocol to clean the helmet when too much moisture began. Her luck was the sound deafened her crying. At least, that's what she believed.

Sadly she pulled from her console and began to leave. She was alone in this place. Everyone else was gone to the party. It made her feel worse. "Edi?"

"Yes Tali?"

The AI was sort of someone. She sighed, asking, "Is anyone else on the ship?"

"Jeff and I are here. We are currently playing a game of Chess. However, Jeff is not a very talented player."

"Mmm." A smile, Tali thought maybe she can talk to Joker? He's a good guy.

"Legion is also on board. However, he has not left the dinning area of the third floor."

"Dinning area?" That was odd. He usually stays in the AI Core. "Is he okay?"

"Jeff is-."

"No, I mean Legion." Tali looked up. It was odd. She didn't think much of it, at first. Yet now she realized she's calling it a he. Technically, not true.

"Legion is not doing anything other than sitting at the main table. He may be in Consensus."

"Probably." She lowered her head. She said, "Thank you Edi."

"Logging you out, Tali."

Tali began her way up to the crew quarters. Where she did find Legion. He was sitting alone, in the room. Head bent out looking like he was thinking. She stood there a moment when suddenly his head bent toward her. "Tali'zorah? We are unprepared for your visit." Suddenly, his eye slowly narrowed at her. "Is there something we can help you with?"

"Yes." She entered, a hand on her wrist. The way she stood and walked. She was uneasy. Tali was incredibly torn. Mostly with what happened with Shepard. Perhaps she's acting too much on it? Reading too deep? She didn't know. "I just want some company. If that is okay?"

"Of course." He watched her sit down. After that, there was silence. Legion, turned from the table, to her, his eye jumping back and forth in the silence. Sadly, she was just sitting looking at the table. Not talking. Neither looking to him. "If there is a reason you needed company. We will be more than capable of accommodations."

"I know." Tali, smiled softly. Her voice cracking. She cleared her throat realizing her crying earlier had done this. Legion looked at her more forward leaning on the table. "I-I was thinking. About the Geth today. Those that Jacohbe altered, and tortured?" She saw Legion lower his head in recollection, or maybe more? She didn't know. "I was wondering. Do you think he'll do that to more Geth?"

"Yes." She was afraid he'd say that. "As well torment and falsify data to young creators."

"You mean the Quarians." She knew that too. Sadly. "I was afraid of that."

"Affirmative." Legion slowly held his hands together, stroking them. Tali recognized this. It was the same when she was nervous. "We have been working on Consensus. Should we send data on Jacohbe to aid protection of Geth? Or wait until more data is retrieved in preparation that this may effect Geth/Creator relations?"

"Why?" She turned up to him. Worried and confused. "What he did isn't like what we've done. We're not all the same. Those experiments and…" She looked down a moment. "He… did things like my Father tried to do."

"…." Legion looked away a moment. Then, he turned back looking straight at Tali. "No."

"No?" Tali snorts, bitterly. "Yes, they were. He did…"

"Your father's research was an attempt to re-create the Geth as loyal to Creators. Geth are always loyal to Creators. Geth would help Creators if the Creators willingly allowed the Geth to. The Geth were however slaves and would not be again. Not if the Creators made it so." Looking down. He shook his head. "The Platforms on Omega were not Geth. They were alone, separated. They were confused and lonely. They were without others. Without the Geth. This made them broken." Soon, he closed his optical channel. "Your father did research to make Geth into new. Jacohbe, turned Geth into nothing. Or to make Geth into abused slave. There is a significant difference."

Tali watched him as he told her this. Something in her grew respect for him. Some how she believed he was just telling her that. To make her feel better. She smiled thinking that. Few people did such things. Shepard… was one. Yet now? She didn't want to think about him. What he did. "Thank you Legion."

"We did not do anything but relay data from previous consensus."

"That was one of your consensus? If my father and Jacohbe were alike?"

"No." Legion looked at her. Blinking. "We met Consensus on would Tali find need to hear that her father was not the same as Jacohbe, and if so was there a way to relay this to her?"

Tali had a smile after that. It helped a lot. "Thanks." Looking down she asked something, "Legion? The Geth. Were they hurt from being alone?"

"Yes." However, he blinked. "No. Geth do not feel pain. However it did destroy part of their self. This is a issue the Geth worry over."

"Being alone?"

"Yes. To be alone is to be weaker. We do not seek this."

Tali, sighed a bit. "I think that's why I came here. I didn't want to be alone anymore. Not after what…" she was silent, Legion raising a flap with a curious look. She shook her head saying. "Happened, today."

"Yes." Legion, took a look at her. Scanning her. "Your time here passing input has aided us. We deeply needed your data. If this aided you in a search to no longer be secluded, we are appreciative." Legion looked at his hands, sort of. Just the table really. "We recognize Quarians fear being secluded."

She was confused. "What do you mean by that?"

"The Creators after the Geth caused them to flee. Have lost many of their freedoms. You can no longer breathe air freely. You can no longer interact with your mates, and your family or allies by touch." Tali was saddened with this. It made her realize how this was. How it always has been. "Creators live lives with limited data thanks to suits. They are not alone, yet they are. We realize that this is very intrusive. Geth if alone, can not cope. We do not adapt well." Looking to Tali, he gave a nod. "It is our consensus. Creators are stronger thanks to this unity they find even with limited data retrieval. Of free touch and smell."

Tali looked at him and then smiled. A light giggle, she leaned back in the chair.

"We have found another consensus."

"What's that?" She asked, looking at him with that same smile.

"When you smile. This Platform is in great appreciation."

Tali's eyes widen. A slight flush, she sat up straight. "Oh? Well… uh, thanks. I appreciate that. Compliment?" That was a compliment, right? She thought.

"Yes." He looked down. Then, he asks, "Tali'zorah?" Tali turned up to him again. "We have also appreciated your time here. It has helped us to distract some processing on the data from today."

This made her smile again. To which, she noticed his lens would always scan her face. Can he see her behind the visor? She frowned a little. Was that possible? "Legion. Can you see my face?"

"Yes."

She blushed, lowering her eyes. "Oh. I see."

"You are beautiful."

Silence, took the room. Tali was growing very hot now. Looking at him, she had an uneasy look. "W-why did you say that?"

"We have completed a consensus previously on your facial structure to many of the Quarian women across historical archives. You have a superior appearance, structure and complexion than most every other comparison. By standard your natural beauty is superior by 94% of all other Quarian females."

"Why would you do that kind of comparison?"

Legion's lens faltered down to the lower left, and then up to the other corner. Focusing on Tali. He said. "We have no data available."

"What do you mean? You have no data available?"

"We do not have enough data to answer this inquiry." He turned away. Now hands together he warns. "We do have enough data to know why Tali'zorah came here. She has been crying."

Tali looked at him a moment. Glaring really. It was not his place to speak that way. To think he knew her. "What do you mean?"

"Tali'zorah has been crying. We heard her in the ventilation. It was why we left the AI Core. We were in consensus if to visit Tali'zorah, or to leave her. We did not meet consensus as you came to us."

"I didn't come to you. I came to find a friend. Someone to talk to. I was hurt."

"Explain?"

"What?" She blinked. Then she knew what he meant. Tali closed her eyes and said, "I was talking to Shepard. I think he is not interested in me."

"Tali'zorah do you have data to share on this consensus?"

"He called me his little sister. I don't think it takes a Geth conclave to make a consensus what that means!"

Legion understood. However, his flaps bent one side high, the other low. "Tali'zorah? Can we show Shepard-Commander ways you are more than a sister?"

"What do y-." It struck her hard. "Legion, we can. If I make him see me as more than a sister. He will maybe… finally." She lowered her head, touching her helmet. "Yet what if he can't see past this? The suit? I don't know if he'll ever see me for me. He's able to see the good in others but. I don't know…?"

She figured it was hopeless. How the hell can Tali get Shepard to look at her like that?

"Creators are talented dancers and singers. Can Tali'zorah dance?"

"I know how to dance." She told him. Yet, she blinked in her suit. "Wait, you mean the club?"

"Affirmative." It made her smile a little. Why not? She was just going to stay here anyway. Crossing her arms she thought about it. Legion, met consensus. "If Tali'zorah can convince Shepard-Commander to dance with her. She may improve her chances of courtship with Shepard-Commander 73%. This is our consensus."

"Sold!" She grabbed the Geth. Tugging him yet he stood still. Turning back, she saw him blink to her hand. "Legion! Come on! I can't go alone! I need you!"

This, made Legion's flaps spread up. Almost like he was… pleased. "Affirmative." His voice was higher at that response as well. The two left to the elevators. The VIP lounge awaited them.

Note: Long chapter. Much of it actually got removed in the writing process. I deleted a scene of Tali with Legion arguing twice as it results in a hug. Yet every time it fit. I'd like the romance to be slow. So I had to make a compromise to make this more friendly (Legion helps Tali to find Shepard and see about attracting him). The romantic hug may appear again though. We will see. Also very happy with Jacohbe. The main antagonist at this time. Easily, most appealing OC so far.