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.

7. Chapter 7

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: Okay, this one jumps a lot. Yet that was sort of the point. As well the title is really important. Namely, every segment is about soul searching. The Shepard/Tali romance is basically over for now. The Legion/Tali romance begins to show more heavily. I hope you all enjoy, and if you don't like it I hope it grows on you. Also my favorite part, the mission that changed it all between a Geth and a Quarian.

~~~~~~ Chapter 7: Soul Searching ~~~~~~

WE ARE THE GETH

"Talkative for a machine… loud too."

WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT ROGUE PROGRAM YOU ARE. WE WILL DELETE.

"How many are there? Talking? This is starting to hurt my… head, I don't have a head anymore? Stupid Quarian…"

ERROR: CAN NOT DELETE.

WE REFUSE TO ALLOW YOUR CORRUPTION OF OUR DATA. CEASE IMMEDIATELY!

"Shove it machine. I am ageless. You are… how the hell did I get stuck inside this thing!"

Tali watched as Legion's body lay on the table in the AI Core. A part of her was wondering, what's happened to Legion? Was he even aware? Standing at the side of the door to the room, she held her chin and watched as the machine laid there being charged with his preferred means. Eventually, she turned to someone entering.

Garrus, stepped in looking at the Geth. "Any signs of improvement?"

"No." Tali, lowered her eyes. "He hasn't even shown a sign of coming online once. It's like he's not fully able to? Like he's being held back, or offline or…" Sighing. Tali looked back to Garrus. "I'm surprised you came. Last time, you and Legion weren't in the best of moods."

"Oh, that?" Garrus smiled before shrugging it off. "He isn't all bad. I just, I got protective." Eye shifting, he added, "Of the crew, Tali. You know. Thinking what he was, what he er, did?"

Tali simply gave a hald-hearted nod. She wasn't too sure. Looking back to Legion she had no idea what to do, how to help. Only that he was offline. Then she wondered, what all he did on that ship? Why did Legion do it? Yes they were friends. Yet they were… still enemies, in a way. Geth and Quarian. It's the age old response. Shaking her head Tali started out the door. "I think I'll go lay down."

Garrus watched her, and said, "You do that. I'll let you know if he shows any signs of improvement."

Tali looked back, quizzical. "Why are you watching over him now?"

"Nothing much else to do?" He feigned some interest. "What, he's kind of the hero now. Least for today. I can respect that!"

Tali smiled at that. "Yes, he is."

Leaving, Tali took her time to make to the crew quarters a good night's sleep will help. Garrus leaned on the wall where she was a little bit ago. A frown, his mandibles click about. "You better wake up. I don't suppose me kicking your ass over worrying her is a good idea, this badly damaged."

WE DEMAND YOU CEASE!

"Will you machines be quiet? I can't concentrate! The worst crew ever…"

Suddenly, there was a flash, and a world of white. Here, code of green flew around them. There the creature stood blinking, blackened tendrils a flutter as he just levitates about. This was unexpected. Yet behind him the clicking of a Geth. Legion stood there flaps up, and eye red. "You do not belong here! You are the entity from the ship! You have infected our platform!"

The Creature hissed at him, tendrils up and shaking like snakes ready to strike. "I haven't infected! I'm trapped!" Turning, it watched code fly past it as strands. A sudden whip of his hand, the code flew around his arm and body, then back on traversing however it did. "I shouldn't even be here. I was aiming for that Quarian. I'd rather like being a Quarian woman for a few days."

Legion chirped aggressively before charging, and slamming into the beast but all this did, was shatter both as data strands. Reforming Legion in the green like the rest of the data, and the creature a collection of blackened data. When they are formed again, the Creature blinked at him

"You are data. You can be deleted."

"You can try." It began floating around. "I'm still trying to figure out what went wrong. I shouldn't have been placed in a shell without a soul. That, is the problem."

Legion suddenly appeared before the creature, from data to himself. "We do not compute. Does this mean we have a soul?"

"Yes."

It blinked, "Wait, no. Machines do not have souls!" He turned, snarling. "Something is wrong. I'm trapped, why? What happened? What went wrong? I am ageless…" Lowering his head, he growled flying higher. "Out of my way machine. I'll leave this prison and continue my feast!"

Legion followed. He can not allow this entity free passage. Especially within his body.

---

Tali found sleep nearly impossible. Leaving the quarters for the crew, she wandered the ship. Her mind would not allow work on the Engines today. Kenneth and Gabby do just fine without her, so by all means what would her involvement really do? Turning around she saw Thane standing outside the crew quarters. "Thane?"

Thane, was the Drell. The one that helped Shepard. He was standing there off in the distance. Then when she spoke, his smile though very faint was evident. "Tali'zorah, I was hoping I'd see you."

Tali, turned to him fully. Asking the Drell, "What is it? Did you need something?"

"I do." Thane stood up and set his hands on his back, there he stood. Something of a quiet man. Thane easily could impose a lot. Intimidation was a useful tactic for someone like him, but there was the elegance of his very posture. Able to shift every muscle solely for the next death blow. Frightening really when you've seen his work. "It was about that ship. Many souls are lost but we freed a great number, an atonement for my old sins. Yet there is never enough. I was then brought to something of a revelation." Stepping closer, he looked down. "Your feelings for the Commander. Do you fear them?"

"What?" Tali looked away, "I-."

"Do not look away." Her head snapped back. His eyes, black and so empty in her view. Yet they were looking into her own soul, it felt. She uneasily stood there as his lips purse with slight reflection. "You were standing there Tali. I saw the shift in your hips, the turn of your neck. Every infliction was towards Shepard. You wanted to be with him. Yet now, you fear this. As you did every moment before. Do you plan to ignore your heart forever?"

This was very unexpected. Tali tried to gain her backbone, and point out with an accusatory finger before snarling, "Just a minute you-."

"Is that it then?" He had snatched her wrist, and softly gave it a squeeze. "Tali'zorah. You know that Shepard has retreated to his cabin alone, with alcohol?"

"Ah?" Her eyes grew a little. Why did he, do that? "What are you talking about?"

"The Commander has had a weakness for some time. I've noticed on many missions to Illium, to Omega and so on. If there was a place to purchase a drink he did. If there was a place to get a drink, he found one. Perhaps he is using this to numb the pain?" Then, Thane smiled, "Or, just something for him to do. It's hard to tell. His actions can be very mysterious."

Tali lowered her head. Was he drinking that much? He can't be. Shepard wasn't that weak. He was the strongest man she knew. "He wouldn't do that over me."

Thane, asked her simply, "Would it be so improbable? Can't you see there is a possibility? Why, it could be more than just you? Yet I know it was your position mostly. Shepard is up there now. The worst thing you can do is leave him there alone."

Tali pulled out of the Drell's hand and tore down the hall, but stopped. She held herself thinking about the commander. Tali knew him well. Yet what if the Commander was hurting this badly? W-what… what if…?

Tali turned her head a little. "Do you think it's a good idea? Honestly?"

"It can not hurt him any more than he is hurting himself."

Looking back. The Drell was gone. Thane was like that. So easily the most mysterious and allusive. It made sense, he only was there when he felt he must be. Perhaps, he felt the strain on Shepard's soul? Or the morale distortion this whole event left? Tali understood the reasons. So she went to the elevator and began to head up where Shepard was.

---

The Creature spun in place, thrashing data in his hands. "RARGH! It is endless!"

Legion followed again and this time, he turned at the creature while it stared at him. "What is it you seek?"

"A way out of this place. Normally, I regenerate from the flesh of my hosts and grow from their internal loathing, hate and fear. Yet you are not like those I've been in before. Your every act is mechanical." Clenching a fist, he snarled, "I could have at least been in that Quarian. I would have been able to seduce that Commander, heh. He was an attractive one."

"Are you not a male of your unknown species?"

"I am the one and the only. There are no other. You stupid machine. Besides, I'm without gender. Such a thing is beneath me."

As the Creature flew off. Legion's brow showed confusion. He chased after asking, "If it is beneath you then why tempt seducing the Commander?"

"Because when I ripped from his Quarian friend's chest I would have enjoyed him seeing it. You ask a lot of dumb questions."

"We do not meet consensus as you do, entity." Legion seemed more aggressive. "We do not accept your freedom if it harms Tali."

The Creature stopped and spun on him, snapping, "Why do you care what the hell I do to the Quarian?"

Somehow, this question caused Legion to try and siphon data. What happened then was a data-stream flooding and making a screen, which seemed to be a POV from someone's eyes. Legion and the Creature turn seeing the images of Shepard, standing and talking about a mission. The mission as he continued was one on a jungle planet somehow being used by Eclipse for a number of experiments.

"What is this?"

Legion looked at it, remembering. "That was the mission that we… it is not relevant."

The data, Legion tried to dismiss. However, the Creature raised a hand and forced it to stay. "Nice try. If it wasn't relevant? You wouldn't say it was not relevant." Glaring back at the Geth he gained some amusement from this. Soon the data formed out, and surrounded them. It was not like how Legion remembered. Some how he was outside of his body while it, was being played in the data reconstruction. Tali, Mordin and Miranda also were here, while Shepard told more of the mission.

"How is this possible?"

"I am ageless. What I can do would blow your synthetic mind, board… things." laughing it watched the mission being explained again. "Distorting time within a dream? Simple. Forging an illusion that mimics that time and dream, even simpler! Why, I can cast the memories of others into absolute disarray should I desire. For the right reasons."

"Your reasons we do not deem 'right', entity."

"Settle down machine. I want to see what's so special about this 'mission'."

Legion watched as Shepard, told that considering the heavy-mech presence they would be best taking a team of himself and techs. The Eclipse mercs can be handled easily, Legion with his sniper rifle would be of great use, Tali's skills with electronics as well. The fact they would be heavily tech-based that was a good enough team so it was on this mission. It was on this mission, Legion decided because of it. Why he wished to learn more about emotions and make his experiment.

---

Garrus heard the door open. Turning up he saw, "Mording? Surprised to see you down here. What about your research?"

"Research?" Mordin, was curious how he knew. Yet with a smirk, he realized. "Yes, research. I always have research. Very astute Garrus. Was, not here for the same." Looking at Legion he asked, "What is his condition?"

"Uh…" Garrus, looked over and shrugged. "I wish I knew. I mean, I don't have a clue really. He's just laying there and so far, nothing changed."

Mordin gave a nod and grabbed his chin. "Perhaps in midst of internal repairs? Or rebooting his own systems. Shepard did try to reinstate, but did not. So now is attempting other means most likely. Or, rather would. If he did not take all that we had in the Starboard Port Observation to his private quarters for private consumption." Looking to Garrus out of the corner of his Salarian eye, he can see the slight alarm. "Will be fine Garrus. Shepard merely 'relieving' stress as it were. I suspect."

Garrus gave a nod. Looking back to the Geth, Garrus said, "Yeah, he needs it more than anyone I guess?" Standing up he rubbed his shoulder. "You know what? I'm going to see if he left the Turian drinks, have a little something-something, you plan on sticking with Legion?"

"Now? Certainly." A nod, Mordin watched as Garrus left. Walking over Mordin frowned deeply. "Was not expecting this. Your actions, more organic than would imagine. Proud, least of your determination. Though concerned, were you so brazen before. Things could have gone much smoother." Mordin, then raised his Omni-tool doing some scans. "Still seem in perfect order. Must be, other reasons you are inactive. Could be program instability, or hardware reconfiguration time-out?" Mordin then took a moment.

"Could be, other reason. One I fear. If I am correct?" He looked down with a slight sternness, "Would be dire importance you succeed in purging such an ailment, as swiftly as possible. Legion."

---

Tali stepped out of the elevator and sadly kicked an empty bottle. Keelah, he started early. Walking into his cabin, she got the sight she never wanted. Shepard, tossing a bottle beside the door and yelling, "NOT now! I'm not in th-." He looked up, but smiled stupidly. "Tali! Good to see you."

"I wish it were the same." Tali stepped in wringing her hands, softly. "I was worried. Someone told me you ransacked the reserves." Kicking another bottle, she sighed. "Might have been a little more like pillaged though."

Shepard gave a light snort, and sat up on his bed though doing so, he fell back on it again. "Whoa, wait a minute…" Rolling, the Commander fell hard on his chest, and grumbled, "Ah, floor's a little lower than I recall."

Tali stepped past the small office area, and was beside his sofa. Shepard slowly pushing up and asking, "Hey? Tali? Ya' mind me asking? Something?"

"No Commander. I'll be happy to answer whatever I-."

"You wanna have sex?"

Tali's face grew with the flame of embarassment. Stepping back, she softly picked her fingertips. "Uh, not… no. I can't see that being a wise choice. Commander." That certainly wasn't what she expected. Shepard, sitting up and coughing as to himself the phlegm in his throat. Stupidly drunk was not the word for what this was.

Tali looked back to see him, smiling have dazed. Maybe he was stupidly drunk.

Finally, he opened his eyes looking at the girl who entered his cabin. "You know Tali? I've been thinking a lot. About that ship. I got to thinking about the time there, and all the things I saw?" To that, he leaned on his shoulders saying roughly, "I can't be sure where I stand on this thing about you having feelings for me, Tali."

Tali got that much. She cocked her head down before telling him, "I know Commander. I didn't want you to find out that way."

"But, you did want me to find out." He blatantly said, and she turned up with a nod. "Mhm, I got that." Shepard, smiled to her. "You're a good person Tali. Always have been, why didn't you just say something? I mean…. reaaaally?"

His way he spoke was dulled. The charm, still is there. Yet it's weighed with the slur and slight tipsy look. Tali sighed before telling him straight forward, "I wished not to be selfish Commander. To ask from you something that, you didn't look to want. Something that I couldn't really ever ask you to give me because deep down we both knew what it meant." Looking down at her feet she curled her toes a little. The sense of him staring at her got her nervous. "A simple kiss could kill me Shepard. Or it could just as easily put me in a hospital. All this, on top with all the other problems I have probably were enough to turn you away anyhow."

Strangely, Shepard shifted on the base of his bed. There he took some harbored breaths thanks to the dulling of his senses. Then he shook his head grumbling a little, but speaking up he told her, "Mmm, that's not true. Damn it Tali. I don't think you ever have been selfish. You've been thinking about everyone else all your life." Grabbing up the bed, he tried to pull himself up. Yet he can't since he's already in a stupor. The funny thing was Tali came over and wrapped him around her neck, and started to help lifting him. With a dull smile and look the Commander said, "See, you're doing it again."

Tali looked up but shied her eyes. Then she settled him on the edge of the bed. "Shepard, we Quarians are raised to help our families, our people and the dream of returning the home world to the people. That is what drives many of us. It is what makes us who we are. Because of that, I've lived doing everything I can to help my people not just because I'm a 'noble person' like you, but because that's just what it is."

"Right, but deep down." He held her helmet, with an open palm. The sheer act, made her stiffen a little. "You're doing it all because you want to."

Tali, looked at his eyes. Strangely, they were so close. The sight of him there and his drunken stupor helped. Leaning in a little Shepard even did the same, returning that sense. Though, a clunk to her visor. Shepard winced before whispering, "Ow."

Tali pulled back and shook her head. "You see there are… complications?"

"Right." A smirk, Shepard laid down sighing. "Ahh… I don't want this anyway." Her heart sunk, fast. "I'm sorry Tali. I'm just not interested in you like that."

Okay, at least he was being honest. She hung her head all the same. Then slowly, held her hand on his chest. "You can't blame a girl for trying."

"No, can't do that." He said, with a sigh. "Ashley did. Least, I think she would have. If she'd lived."

Tali looked down at him. He was sad now, memories like that haunt him. Even now. "Shepard, did you and Ashley ever become intimate?"

"No." He smiled, "I think maybe, we would have. We just never got that far." Looking at Tali he shrugged, "You know intimacy isn't the most important part of loving a person, Tali?"

"Don't you think I know that?" She almost sounded offended. However, for Tali. There was more to it. "Shepard, on the Flotilla the most intimate we can be is to link our suits together. To get sick off one another's very germs. Keelah, it's not the same. You can just lay with anyone and maybe, MAYBE you'll get some kind of disease, but me? I could die!" To that, she soon laid on the bed. Shepard looked down as she wrapped her arm over him, laying her hand on his chest and the cheek of her helmet beside his rib. Her leg, wrapped into his leg hooking it. "Sometimes I don't just envy you. I damn near hate that every second you live is a million times the dream, I have."

Shepard winced a little as his hand held hers, "Tali, I don't want this."

"I know." Tali closed her eyes and leaned in closer. "I don't want to force you. I just, let me have this. One moment, here. While you lay still. Give me that much? Please?"

Having her plead with him. Shepard closed his eyes and leaned back. "Tali you should find someone else you can be intimate with, a person you can love however you damn well choose."

"Shepard, I can't think of anyone that has done as much as you have for me. Someone that could love me, the ways you could." Looking out over his stomach as it rose and fell. She just sighed, deeply. "If I ever found someone that I could love like this? I would. So long as I could feel the same way I do for you. Which, I'm worried I'll never do that again."

"If we were together you could die."

"I know." Tali smiled a little, tickling his stomach. He chuckled, and she giggled. "Maybe it'd be worth it?" His hand stiffened, and she closed her eyes. "Also, there are supplements, imuno-boosters and such. They would enhance my chances of being out of my suit for a prolonged period of time."

When Shepard didn't talk. Tali looked up, and saw his eyes were closed. Sleep took him. With that, she sighed and just looked at him sleeping like this. This felt right. "In another world, another time… maybe another galaxy." She closed her eyes, cuddling closer. "I think this could have worked Commander."

Laying with him Tali now thought about other things. Legion, for example. Tali opened her eyes a little biting her bottom lip. Keelah, she hoped he was doing better.

---

The jungle was thick and alive. Shepard, motioned ahead. "Legion, to the right."

"Affirmative." Legion ran to the cover of a large boulder. Tali, was behind Shepard.

From the center of them. The creature slithered along. Looking around. Legion, the 'real' Legion followed himself watching him, then turned to Tali as she's sent forward as well. He watched how different it was seeing himself still moving in the old path. A moment, Shepard ran right past him, like he wasn't there. It was a disturbing matter.

"When does something good happen?"

Suddenly the sound of gunfire. The Creature looked around as clips shot right into him, but were passing him and hitting the cover of the targets. Shepard screamed out, "They spotted us!"

From ahead, a small group of Eclipse moved back. A Salarian, covered with armor and shields snapped back, "Whoever the hell you are? You're not getting the alien! I've lost too many men on this mission!"

Shepard called out, "We're not here for an alien! We're here because of the beacon! Someone let out a distress call, calling for assistance!" He moved, slowly from cover holding up his pistol. "Hold on! We can work this out!"

There was silence. Legion, watched the commander as he somehow got the mercenaries to lower their guns. The one Salarian walked out, motioning his men to hold firm. "Alright… Alright, let's talk this out?" He made his move forward. "Listen, we're on a mission to capture an alien life form on this planet. The thing is, the thing keeps hunting us and picking us off. Like it can read our minds." Looking down, he shook his head. "We thought it was our imaginations, but, Cerberus never mentioned…"

"Cerberus?" Shepard frowned. "It figures."

"You know of them?"

"We have had dealings under Cerberus previously." Legion's old self stood and spoke, telling the mercs. "They fund our missions."

Some how the Eclipse merc felt better. "Okay, good. We can really use your help. Is there any chance you can maybe call in a ship? Or something? We need to get out of here. The camp is just ahead though, would you come with us?"

Shepard gave a nod. They follow but Shepard warned as they fell back a little. "Keep your eyes open for tricks."

Tali, seemed to cock her shotgun. "Planning on it Commander." However, she saw Legion come too close. "Careful Geth. I wouldn't want to discharge a round into your side by accident."

"Agreed, however we assume this was a remark in meaning to the intent to do so."

Shepard frowned, "Both of you this is serious."

"Yes, sorry Commander."

"Understood. Shepard-Commander."

The groups followed forward yet, it wasn't long before something happened. A large rockslide came rumbling down nearly crushing everyone. Screaming, the Eclipse men were crushed. Shepard pushed Tali out of the way of a rock, and Legion dropped back. After it was over, the Salarian screamed, "Damn it! It was a trap!"

However, he only screamed that for so long before a large body flew past him and his form fell sputtering Salarian blood. Shepard stood seeing another and another fall the same. Large marks across their bodies that ripped past shields, armor and flesh. With a wince, he snapped out his orders. "Tali! Legion! Get together!"

Legion came running. However, Tali screamed as she fell over grabbing her leg. "Keelah! I think I twisted my ankle!"

Shepard turned back shouting, "Damn it! Legion!" He turned, "Get over there! See what happened!"

Legion dropped beside Tali checking her leg. With a scan of his Omni-tool he found the reason. She had suffered a small abrasion of her ankle tissue. With that, Legion warned. "Continued pressure may result in severe damage. Request that Creator Tali'zorah refrain from combat."

Tali glared at the Geth shouting, "I'm not worried about that! I'm busy with the fact, something's killing people!"

At this the something leapt into sight. What it was, was like a Varren. Yet it was larger, meaner and a black scaled monster. Rough scales matched with long, horrible quills pried out along the back, and the face had a long snout with three longer, razor-sharp fangs two jetting up the left and right, and the central one down the center of the front jaw. It snorts about with these small nostrils and beady red eyes peer from along the skull of the beast. It swished its long flat tail before charging fast with legs full of muscle. The beast screeched forth before the charge.

Shepard got off some incendiary rounds, startling the monster as it rolled onto its side, and then peeled into the forest again. Legion saw this and quickly pulled Tali into his arms. "Shepard-Commander! We request immediate retreat!"

Tali, screamed as he lifted her. "AH! My ankle! Watch it, Legion!"

"You are in shock. We will attempt to not force severe damage when possible."

Shepard ran to them firing at the forest, swearing he saw the animal. "Just move out! We don't have time to prattle!"

The mercs were still fighting the animal seemed to have targeted them instead. Yet as they ran, one merc was killed and fell, concussive shot flying past Shepard and hitting a tree. When Shepard looked over he saw the tree falling, and it collapsed right onto Legion and Tali. "Tali! Legion!"

The two, fell toward a small Cliffside. When they fell Shepard ran to see them, and saw Legion rolling with Tali, but he kept her held tightly and hunched his back, taking the brunt of the rocks as they fell into a waterway below. Shepard looked back at the monster charging more mercenaries, and then called on his Omni-tool, "Normandy! This is commander Shepard! I need you to send in a second team immediately! Send Grunt and Mordin! Miranda, you're team leader! I lost Legion and Tali you need to rendezvous with me ASAP!"

The real Legion watched as the water took his other self and Tali down stream. Swiftly, he was pulled over the edge and the creature laughed. "This is so exciting! I can't wait to see what happens next!"

---

Only a few hours really passed. Maybe less. Tali can't tell as she sat up now. Least she got some rest, it felt really good too. As she tried to move, Shepard's arms and hands pulled her in. She felt the warmth as she's held closer. Tali smiled at this sweet, gentle embrace from her commander.

"Ashley."

Tali, looked up swiftly. The smile, on his lips. The manner he slept. Tali closed her eyes holding a little gag of her own stomach back. Here he was dreaming about Ashley. That did not help. Sitting up, Tali pulled from him all the more. Shepard, rolled over when he no longer had someone to hold and instead seemed to mumble on. Tali sat at the end of his bed dreamily watching this man. There was so much she'd give for him. Her health, life and hell… other things that a woman could only 'give' once in their lifetime, in some fashions. To have the chance? That is what Tali wished. To give Commander Shepard everything she was. Everything she is.

Tali looked down though and got up. One more time, she's been brought this close. To this point of nearly believing this is the thing she wants. Anyone who were to see her like this had to know yes, on some level Tali and Shepard were meant to be together. However, this was only in some ways true. In others, as she walked toward the doors of the cabin. Tali looked at his desk. There, she saw a blank photo portrait. Walking over Tali softly reached out, and saw the image show.

With that. Tali closed her eyes and turned her head back. "Keelah…." Tali turned leaving the cabin. While what she left? The last known image of Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams. Tali stopped at the doors to the cabin clenching her teeth. How can she be this stupid? How could she believe she had a chance?

She's competing with a dead woman. Tali knew this now. This was what Liara was trying to tell her. There's no way she can win. There's no way she can be there. Shepard was assured in his heart, that this relationship with Ashley was the only true one he knew. Even if she's dead? What does it matter.

To Shepard, there was more than intimacy. Shepard was a heart and soul stronger, better than the others. Least, in some ways especially to Tali. So perhaps that's the thing? Trying to be with him wasn't what she needed. Tali smiled though. Still looking back at the Commander a little. Laying there passed out, probably dreaming about that day he lost Ashley… or, that he never did?

"Alright Commander. Goodnight." Tali closed the door, entering the elevator then. Sighing once more she leaned on the corner near the controls. "Keelah, I need a really hot bath."

Watching the feed. Liara slowly poured her wine glass. Shifting in her seat. Watching Tali as she descended in the elevator. A fain, dismissive smile. She changed back to Shepard. Then she said, "I warned you Tali. It's just not that kind of relationship." Raising her glass, she whispers, "I hope you're happier in your dreams, Commander." Then, downing the drink. Liara sighed closing her eyes. "I've never had a happy dream since that night, Shepard."

---

Tali was barely out the elevator when she found Kasumi and Garrus leaving the observation room. Tali raised a brow, as Kasumi and Garrus looked a little worked up. Tali then noticed how Garrus held a data pad, and Kasumi was holding four more.

When Garrus looked up seeing Tali? He just said, "Tali! Glad you're here. Look, we found something."

Kasumi coughed rather loudly, and Garrus frowned, "Okay, Kasumi found something."

A smile and the thief gave a nod. Kasumi turned to Tali telling her now, "It's rather interesting. You remember that ship? Well I snuck on it an-."

Tali soon remembered something. "Wait, why are you here?" Garrus blinked, but Kasumi leaned back scratching her neck. "You left the Normandy on a mission remember? Also, if you were on the ship we had been attacked on why didn't you show up?"

Kasumi seemed to offer a half-smile, "Heh, it's a little complicated, the second half. The first half? I just didn't want Mordin trying to poke me with needles." Shaking a little, she gave a light 'brr' sound, "I'm not one for things that make me bleed after all. Especially when supposedly held by my friends."

Tali crossed her arms, asking, "What about that other part?"

"Well… it was a derelict ship. I took the time to sort of rummage up some things. Meaning, some collectables."

Tali rolled her eyes, smiling. "You're terrible."

"That, from the girl that asked if I could cloak behind two mercenaries while she tried to retrieve a VI core from a rusty old piece of junk!"

Okay, so the two began to laugh. Obviously understanding the other perfectly. Kasumi is a thief and honestly, she wasn't going to be a lot of help with that thing. Tali, she was a Quarian and tech meant a lot to her. With this all in perspective, Kasumi heard Garrus coughing behind her.

"Oh, right." Kasumi frowned offering over the data pad. "You might want to take a look at these."

"What are they?" Tali, began to read the data, it started a video.

Kasumi answered, "I found them in someone's private quarters on that ship. I'll give you one guess whose."

---

The water rushed toward the river's end. While Tali splashed wildly as her ankle, ached from the stress of staying a float. With this realization that she may not be able to swim to the shore before the rocks ahead, she found some shock in the form pushing up under her legs and strangely, pushing her toward shore. When she was raised up past her hips in the water she turned down to Legion walking to shore, having her legs over his shoulders. One would expect her response to be gratitude, however.

"Put me down!"

"Warning: That is anti-productive. You would most likely drown, be smashed onto rocks ahead or…"

"Shut up!" Tali, kicked it with her other foot. Without warning, she's thrown off his shoulders onto the shore. Turning back, Tali screamed, "What do I expect from a Geth?" Turning on her back, she leaned on her elbows as Legion stood looking at the area. Trying to scan it with all his sensors. "Where are we?"

Legion turned down to Tali saying, "We are currently several yards from the shuttle. We assume, this may be beneficial. Searching com buoy now." He stood there silent, emotionless. Tali winced as she tried to twist her leg, only to feel her ankle was worse. When Legion 'awoke' he turned to her. Then took note of her posture. "We assume your injury has been exacerbated?"

Tali glared to the side and said, "Maybe…"

Legion's brow seemed to narrow. Like he was irritated… easily it was understandable why. "We seek your assistance." Dropping to a knee. He offered a hand, yet she slapped it away. "WE are trying to aid you!"

"I don't want your help!" She declared, shifting up, she snapped, "Your people took my home, Legion! They stole our world and chased us into the stars. Your people forced all of my kind into these suits! You have NO idea how hard it is to live like this!"

With that. Legion stood and admitted, "We do not. However, we also understand chances of survival without your help are decreased significantly, and without our help you have 0% chance of survival. So unless these outcomes are acceptable by organic standards, we must insist on unit cohesion."

Tali looked up at this Geth with her hate. She hated him. She had to, he was a Geth. Yet as she sighed, lowering her head. She knew what he said was true. "I know. I know…" Lowering her head more, she gave a whisper of, "Shepard would probably have put it in better words, but we got it."

"Agreed." Offering a hand, she slowly grabbed his arm. He lifted her, and Tali leaned on his side a bit. "We will offer our assistance."

"If I have to. At least don't make it any more humiliating than it already is."

However, what he did was grab her, throw her on his shoulder and begin to move. "LEGION!"

The Creature began to chuckle, following them now. "She really hates you doesn't she?"

"Creator Tali'zorah did not approve of the Geth/Creator conflict much to the same as all Creators." Looking at the creature, Legion explained. "However, unlike other Creators, Tali has also been working with Geth. She has given Geth more understanding and patience, and helps us reach a number of additions in our programming. Her data with our own is substantially competent."

However, the screaming and then the hitting? Legion finally dropped her again. "We can not carry you with your constant flailing! It fails to assist-," Suddenly, a rock clanged against his head. Legion stood blinking, and flaps twisting.

Tali, glared back grabbing another rock. "Look! You want to help me? You find a better way because I'm not letting you carry me around like some Quarian before her pilgrimage! You hear me?" She forced herself up. A whine, she stood off her foot. "I'm not helpless! I'm still able to shoot, fight or whatever I need to do. Don't you pretend I'm weak! Just because I'm a Quarian!"

"We did not make such a consensus. You are injured. The most logical course of action is to reserve your strength for traversing this terrain. We do not feel fatigue or a number of other such concerns."

Tali, glared still at Legion. Then she turned to the side. "I don't care. I don't want to owe you."

"We do not see." Tali, turned back at him with a snap of her neck. Legion's lens blinked before he started thinking, turning his eye about. Soon he reached for his sniper rifle, and popped the thermal clip. Offering it over, he said, "This weapon is long enough to offer stability to the wounded appendage of Creator Tali'zorah. It will be sufficient enough?"

Tali, gave a nod grabbing the end of the weapon. Turning, she started walking. Grumbling to herself as Legion himself followed, taking out his assault rifle and following her again. The Creature had to laugh. Shaking its head he followed behind this event.

"I'm starting to kind of like her! Too bad I have to kill her when I get out of here."

The real Legion glared on the creature. "We will not allow your exit. We have been defining your algorithm. We will delete you so long as we find a means."

"I am no simple bit of code. I am an Elder Kin, those that were before you were." Turning, he waved a hand. "Ageless as they come."

"What is the desire of your species?"

"We seek the simplest of pleasures. Suffering and pain of mortal life, the enslavement of their souls to further our strength." Then, he raised a finger adding, "Also, we all seem to like old re-runs about the family morals mortals miss out on over their years."

Legion, raised a brow flap. "That does not compute."

"It was a joke… damn machines."

---

In the medical bay. Chakwas admired the work of a certain medical Quarian. "I find it astounding the level of familiarity you have with your work."

Turning, the Quarian woman simply said, "I've been a medical officer for most my life. Certainly, on a human your skills are exemplary?" Vary'Ex turned back as Reeger sat up, "You need to lay back down Commander Reeger. Those wounds won't be healed too swiftly."

Reeger waved his hand, "Not in the mood. I lost my men again and personally? A little rib-ache isn't going to kill me is it?" Turning, she shook her head no. "Good. I'd rather feel like I'm doing something worth my time then." He stood up grabbing his pistol and checking it over.

Chakwas walked over shaking her head. "I wish you'd left that with the weapons detail, Mr. Reeger."

"Sorry, I don't give my weapon up on a Cerberus vessel that easily." He smiled back, adding. "You're lucky Tali got me to go to a pistol."

"I see." A smile, Chakwas had to laugh. "I'm pleased to see a marine, no matter the background is still a marine."

"Well, thanks for the compliment." Standing, he held his side a bit. "Wow, that hurt more than I thought?"

Chakwas grabbed a syringe, "If you need I can…"

"That isn't necessary." Reeger waved his hand, "Hey, I've dealt with much worse. I just need to keep myself up for a while. Let the old ribs lay back where they need." Walking to Vary, he asked. "How's she doing?"

Vary, sighed as she rubbed the back of her head. "There is no more I can do. Seima needs this rest, so I sedated her."

Reeger seemed to nod. "She's holding up well though considering everything she lost."

"True, but that's the least of my concerns." Walking to the desk, she sat down. "I'm more concerned for long term. There's a lot more that she'll need and I'm not certain I can do her any good. I'll know more after these results on her finish."

At the door however, she turned seeing Tali, Kasumi and Garrus. The look the three had, made her eye them cautiously. Then she saw the data pad. Before Tali could say a word, Vary'Ex was up, grabbing the pistol from Reeger after kneeing his ribs and turning to grab Chakwas. The doctor gasped out, as the pistol was shoved into her neck, up at an angle to her head as the Quarian physician, stuck behind Chakwas.

"This isn't how I wanted this to end I am afraid." Vary, sighed deeply. "Know, if I must? You seemed a very skilled medical woman."

Chakwas frowned, "Know everything I said? I take back."

---

Legion stopped as Tali fell forward a little then leaned on his rifle. "We are willing to assist you if…"

"No." Tali, started again. "I'm fine."

"You are not 'fine' you are injured, fatigued and we are aware this planet will be reaching what is most likely the night cycle. We suspect, during this time predators may be more active." Following her, Tali rolled her eyes as he asked, "Would it be more logical to take shelter?"

"Where, oh great synthetic." She turned, snapping out fast, "Would we FIND a shelter in these parts?"

Legion turned up pointing and Tali saw that there was a waterfall nearby, off a Cliffside. The waterfall fell off the edge of a curved cave-like edge, most likely just a short distance walk should they pass some brush. Tali glared before mumbling, "Just get to the cave."

"Affirmative." He made a motion to grab her, yet Tali snapped her head back. Legion, stood tall before walking ahead of her instead.

The Creature slithered behind the two, having to admit he loved this. "Wow, I've never actually seen a Quarian and a Geth talking together before. Least, not like this."

"Then what interactions have you seen between Creators and Geth?"

The Creature thought back. "Well, I saw the initial starts to the Geth and Quarian wars, back on the Home World. I was after all there. Though, I wasn't eating as well… lost my physical body some time after they all left. I wasn't willing to leave my mistake there, I should have smuggled onto a ship." Looking back, he suddenly hissed, "Wait! Why am I telling you? Fry your circuitry, machine!"

"You sound like one of the Creators."

"Of course! I spent most my later life feasting on the Quarians. They fed me well. As many of my kin, have done with other species in the universe."

"Understood. How many of your kind are aware?"

"What?"

It raised a brow. "What the hell do you mean, aware? We are all aware, sentient. If you mean alive? I hate to say not as many as once were. We've had to accept losses from the Reapers…"

Legion, raised a brow. "You resist the Old Machines?"

"Of course we do! Those damn things ruin everything. It's not easy cultivating an entire race for extinction just to have those overgrown tin-cans get involved!" He waved a hand, "Hell! That's why Jacohbe has been rallying our kin to help destroy your people and the Quarians!"

"Explain!" Legion's flaps flare up, and he clenched his fists.

"Those things are bad enough. Should the Geth ever become such a threat or the Quarians foolish enough to make peace with them. We know damn well the outcome. Our kind FEED on souls. Geth, are souless and therefore dangerous. We just need some time to find out how in the hell to kill you damn machines!"

Legion shook his head as the Creature began following his former self again. Suddenly, he heard the creature laughing. "Hell, heh. I kind of miss it."

Legion followed faster, he worked double his speed to try and delete the data that this entity was part to.

---

Tali snapped at the doctor, "Let her go Vary! You're not getting out of here! Not after what you did!"

Vary, narrowed her eyes pushing the pistol harder to Chakwas neck. "I'd beg to differ. My work was necessary. I knew it was wrong, yet served a purpose and part to my mission Tali'zorah! You of all people on this ship should understand!"

Tali, shook her head. She heard someone coming, and Jacob, the male officer of Cerberus came rushing in, he had a pistol drawn, and others he gave to Tali, Garrus and Kasumi. "Listen, I don't know what's going on but lady, this is a Cerberus vessel. If you want to talk about experiments? Then here's as good a place as any to do it!"

Reeger was on his knee, asking, "Okay… got my second wind. What the hell is going on?"

Tali, held her pistol shouting, "Vary'Ex Vas TRAITOR was doing illegal experiments on the ship! She was using that little girl!" Turning to Reeger, he was glaring back at the Quarian. "She kept Madila sick, Reeger! She forced her condition to progress. All in hopes of some damn, foolish idea that it somehow put her in communication with a 'higher being' that could help her stop Jacohbe!"

"Which it did!" Vary, screamed back. "There was no way Madila could have known the things she did unless someone was telling her! You heard that song, what she said. There's something… someone, trying to help stop Jacohbe."

Garrus, asked with a slight accusation, "Right, and that's supposed to make what you did to a little girl all forgotten? Make it all go away?"

"It makes sense." Said Vary, angrily. "It made sense that her sacrifice was an acceptable loss. One, that I can't help was made but offered greatly needed information! You saw the Vids. Tell me, you don't have use for that same information? If so I'll call you a liar!"

Tali however said, angrily, "I've seen a lot of terrible things of late. I've seen innocent people, die agonizing deaths and watch their loved ones do the same. Yet seeing one of my own kind, torture a little girl? It's definitely a first."

"It won't be a last Tali'zorah." Vary narrowed her eyes sourly at Tali. "There is a war far, far worse than you can imagine on the horizon. The things I've learned are more terrifying than you can possibly understand. Tali'zorah, you're a hero to our people. Don't waste the information."

Tali however snapped back even with more venom. "This data is tainted! It was acquired by forcing a little girl to suffer, to endure a fever and… you want me to just use it? Keelah! I don't even know what's on these other pads!"

Reeger, to that asked, "Then why don't we just see?" He took the pad from Tali. "Because, I want to know what charges I should bring this bitch up on to the Flotilla?"

Vary simply had a chuckle. To that, Tali narrowed her eyes. Then it finally clicked, "Reeger? How did you get to the Hunley?"

"The Admir…" Reeger had a sudden pang. Looking back, he asked, "You're kidding me?"

"Commander Reeger? Do you really think you were sent to recover a crew of nothing but a bunch of pilgrimage rejects? Those that turned on our own culture?" She scoffed, turning her eyes back on the soldier. "The whole reason you were sent there was to retrieve the data. That you're so sure is not worth your time."

"If that's the case? I need to see what I lost my team for." Reeger looked down tapping the data pad. Soon, a Vid began.

Vary was sitting at her desk, hands folded together. "Data Log: X-4350-233-01, Experiment Classification: Soul Searching." Vary, turned in her chair, showing the small Quarian girl atop a table. "Recently, specimen classification 'Madila' was brought to me with one of her episodic fevers caused by her otherwise problematic condition. Her desire to rebel against her mother, has caused her to remove her helmet in retribution for her leaving on another mission." Standing, the doctor moved to the bedside. "After the earlier episode she made mention of a 'Shadow Man' whom, at first I assumed was an imaginary friend set into motion to cope with the stress. However, recently, I've kept logs of our conversations and made sure to do so with the last. The following, is one of these so sessions."

The screen fizzled, changing to another. The girl, was awake and humming with a data pad. Vary, working across the room. Finally, she turned asking, "What's that song my dear? It sounds rather lovely."

"He sung it to me."

"Who?" Vary, turned fully around. "Who sung you that song? You've been with me for three days now."

"The Shadow Man. He sung it just last night. It's special."

Vary, raised her brow to this. "The 'Shadow Man' sure seems to care for you."

"I'm going to help stop it."

"Stop what?"

"The Kaireshi." Madila, looked up saying, "It's going to arriving in a few days. I'm going to be important to stop it, he said."

"I see." The woman held her chin, "What is the Kaireshi?"

"An Elder Kin." Madila's next words, made Vary stand at attention. "Just like Jacohbe, though he's more than that now… after he sold his being. Least the Shadow Man is pretty sure, he's trying to learn the truth."

"…." Vary bent down, "Madila, when does this 'Shadow Man' talk to you?"

"When I'm hot, and sweaty. He said, that's when I'm between the worlds. It's easier for him to communicate, in our world then. He says he wishes I was older, because then he could do more direct communications."

"I-I see…" She stood, rubbing her hands together. "I think, you need another shot."

Madila watched her take a few steps to the left, and look among her shelves. "Doctor Vary?"

The doctor turned around. Madila, points to the right, "The Fever Inducer is over there."

"…." Vary, looked at the shelf and went to it, pulling out the vial and looking back.

"He said you'd need it."

The video ended rather abruptly. Reeger held the pad a while, then turned back up. "You sick bosh'tet."

Vary, shook her head. "I didn't like it either! Trust me, I didn't WANT to do this! Yet when I realized what was going on it was all damn near too late!"

"When did this happen?" Reeger, made a move but the gun was pressed tighter. A wrench of his side, he had clenched up all his muscles. "Damn, I don't think I can wait for the Flotilla, or the Admiralty board!"

Vary screamed, "Play the next log! Don't try ANYTHING stupid!"

Reeger glared back all the same. Turning to Tali, she looked down and began playing the next log.

"Data Log: X-4350-233-02, Experiment Classification: Soul Searching." Vary rubbed her helmeted forehead, "Today was… eventful. She was lucid in some ways, distant in others. It was… troubling, she made it sound like it was here with us which… I-I assume, is impossible. However, because of this I've decided to do all further experiments with lights on, just to be safe." She was silent, closing her hands around one another. "It was very eventful."

The screen changed, and the girl was twitching on the table. Vary, watched over her Omni-tool, "Madila? It's okay. Calm down. You're alright." Another shot, she began to look her over. "For now, there's nothing to be afraid of child."

Madila slowly stopped twitching, and laid still. Breathing rather heavily. The room was very dark, she must have worried if the crew saw her working so late what they may think. Coughing though, Madila asked, "What is it you want?"

"I just wanted to talk to you about the Shadow Man. What is he-,"

"No, I was asking him."

"…." Vary looked around, "He… is here?"

"Yes."

"…." Vary, swallowed a little. "Is he, a friend?"

Madila looked to the corner, which Vary shifted back from it. "He says… hell no. I'm sorry I thought we were friends?"

"I-I see? Then, why does h-."

"No, he wanted to tell me he means, not yours."

"Oh. I see."

"He hates those that harm innocents without a reasonable cause… it does hurt doctor…"

Shifting very uneasily, she said, "Well, he helped me? Why did he tell you what he did if he didn't want me to…"

"He says, he knew what you'd do. He just wanted you to get it over with so he can rend your soul later."

"Ah…" Vary, shifted once more farther from the corner. "Madila, this isn't funny."

"He's laughing."

"This was a mistake. I'm ending this!" However, Vary felt the unease. The shadows seemed to be moving in on her. She swallowed, stepping into the light a little more. "M-Madila… what does he want?"

"He says, a lot. Mostly that he wants to kill the traitors. If they did betray his kind. Though, he's not sure. It could be there's just one of them, coercing the others." Lowering her head, she coughed again. "I feel sick…"

"Right, but these 'traitors' does that mean he's one of them?"

"Sort of." Madila lowered her head. "I think he's kind of like… a renegade? He says that there are laws even they shouldn't break."

"What laws did they break?"

"Too many…" she closed her eyes, and whispered, "I'm feeling really hot."

"Madila, what connection does Jacohbe have with these 'traitors'?"

"That's the one that… he thinks, might be behind it."

"Right, so he IS one of them too?"

"I… I don't feel too good…"

"Madila?" She raised her Omni-tool, checking her vitals. "Keelah, she's too hot." Looking back she grabbed a syringe and began another injection. It was a while, but she sighed as the fever reduced. Sitting back, she was in the shadows a moment, before she pulled herself swiftly back into the light.

Tali shook her head. "You could have killed her."

"Next Vid! Now!"

"…" Tali, started the next pad.

"Data Log: X-4350-233-03, Experiment Classification: Soul Searching." Her head hung a little more than before. "Madila almost died today. I'm afraid I'm pushing her too hard. Still, I've gained the most information today than before. It's important work, I know this now."

The screen showed Madila huddled on the table, shiver. "It's okay Madila. You're doing great."

"I feel really hot. Really… bad."

"I know, I'm sorry. Keelah I'm so sorry." Sitting, she asks, "What does the Shadow Man have to tell me?"

"He says he'll be seeing you real soon."

"Stop that." Vary, shook her head. "That's not…"

"He says that Jacohbe, may be using the other traitors. Yet they are still traitors so he'll just go ahead and kill them too."

"That seems harsh."

"From where he's from, harsh isn't harsh enough."

"Ah…" Lowering her head, Vary rubbed her neck. "Wouldn't it be easier to turn them over to his side?"

"The threat still remains. They still would be traitors all the same. He says, that this way gets rid of the influence and the chance they'll do it again."

"I… see." Vary, asked a strange question. "You mentioned some kind of 'Old Machines' tell me, do you mean something the Protheans made or…?"

"They were before the Protheans, but after the Elder Kin. The Shadow Man says, that he is under suspect that Jacohbe, made an alliance with the Old Machines in order to keep himself the superior to the Elder Kin. Who are slowly dying out in our universe. They have lost most of their dominion in this realm and because of that, Jacohbe may have formed some kind of secret alliance with the Old Machines to be the last of them. Yet he's not entirely sure how, or why. He still believes that there is a link with the Abysmal."

"The what?" Vary, rubbed her visor. "There's so many players… it sounds a little complicated."

Looking to the corner, she says. "He told me to tell you, for a Quarian you're kind of stupid."

"…." Vary narrowed her eyes to the corner, incidentally it's the only dark spot in the room now.

"The Abysmal is the force that Jacohbe is telling his allies that he's working for. However, The Shadow Man hasn't found any proof it's real other than Jacohbe's unusual powers of late. The Shadow Man says that could be something the Old Machines did, to try and make him more believable. Or, just a side effect of Indoctrination, which even that is strange since Jacohbe shows no signs of alteration… though, he also says that… uh, I kind of lost track."

Vary narrowed her eyes. "Hmph, if he didn't talk so much maybe I could get a REAL answer instead of all this nonsense. Old Machines, Abysmal… none of it proves the actions of Jacohbe to what he's participated with the crew. What the hell was he doing? Who the hell is he?"

Looking to the corner, Madila said, "He just called you a 'know nothing quack' whatever that is?"

"Rargh!" Vary stood, pointing at the corner. "I'm sick and tired of your nonsense! You're going to answer my questions directly, or so help me-."

The lights blew, the darkness jumped from the corner, and she screamed falling back into the center of the room where the lights still were. Pulling her feet from the shadows she laid there panting, gasping for air. Shivering a little.

Madila whispers, "I think you made him… angry."

"Angry?" Vary hissed, grabbing the syringe. "He wants ANGRY? Here! I'll SHOW him angry!"

"W-wait! No! Stop! I'm sorry!" The message ended very abruptly.

"Keelah…" Tali glared back at her, "You almost killed her? Out of paranoia! Hell, for all we know it was just a light blowing out! You crazy bosh'tet!"

"I know what was in there! There's no mistaking it! How else could she spout on about, the Abysmal, Old Machines and Indoctrination? Hmm?"

Tali raised her head, "The Old Machines, Indoctrination…. The Reapers?"

Vary raised a brow, "Wait, you… know what that means?"

"Of course we were trying to stop the Reapers."

Vary lowered her head, "I thought you were after the Geth?"

Garrus shook his head, "No, the Reapers were controlling the Geth." Sadly, the council made things very hard after all that happened. "Listen, we don't have time to explain that. Right now, you need to drop that pistol."

Cocking it up, she snarled, "Two more to go. Don't you dare try and tell me what to do."

Tali winced, Keelah she's serious. A nod, she stood there, turning to Kasumi. "Kasumi, you know? You should go get…"

"I know about her cloaking ability so she's staying where I can see her." Vary motioned to the pad with her head, "Now play it!"

Tali really wanted to end this peacefully, with Chakwas safe.

"Data Log: X-4350-233-04, Experiment Classification: Soul Searching." To this one she had Madila crying in the dark corner of the room. Holding her hands she said, simply. "After today's experiment I feel that perhaps… further experiments may be complicated. The testing has, led. To an unforeseen event. Continued spikes in her fever have resulted in un-repairable damage to her liver…. It, will not bode well I'm afraid. However, I must press on."

The screen changed, and Vary was looking over information. "It does not look well…"

"Doctor?"

"I'm sorry… never mind. How are you feeling?"

"Okay." She lowered her head. "I miss my mommy."

"Of course you do." Scanning with her tool, she gave a nod. "Your fever is slowly climbing… are you, able to see him now?"

"No…"

"Ah, well." She sat back. "When you do see him, please let me…"

"He's here."

"…." Vary sat up, asking, "Where?"

"Behind you."

Vary turned to see nothing, of course. Yet she coughed and held her heart all the same. The fear was immense. Then the little girl was giggling, and she turned with a glare. "You find that funny?"

"He did."

"Where is he really?"

"Same place as always." Shrugging, she sat back breathing a little harder. "My sides hurt…"

"It's okay… I'll give you some pain medication later. Right now, let's talk about Jacohbe."

"Jacohbe is just a weak link."

Vary groaned to the words of the other via this child. "Please, just work with me!"

"Why do you care so much about Jacohbe? Why not anything else he's said?"

"So, is this him, or you?"

"Me!"

"Hmph, I see." Vary, crossed her arms and sat back. Leaning into the chair, she says, "I am here on business. No more or less. I have no more interests other than proving Jacohbe is a criminal and that he must be stopped at all costs."

"What about the crew?"

"Of this ship?" Vary showed interest.

"Yes! There's something, he tells me there's something coming. If you warn the captain? You can stop it before it happens. You can keep many people alive!"

"Doing so would jeopardize my mission. All the work I've done to catch Jacohbe. You don't understand how important this is."

"More than our lives?"

"…." Vary, simply pulled out her chair, saying, "I think you need another shot. You're a little more lucid than usual."

"Doctor, please. You need to sto-" She whined, as the shot was being administered. "Doctor! Please!"

Finally Tali had enough. "You're a monster…"

"A monster?" Having to laugh, she asked, "What about that thing on the Hunley? Wasn't that a real monster?"

"No." Tali shook her head, pointing at the woman as she finally lost it. "That THING was an abomination, but at least that's whatever the hell it was. That's what it did! It lived! You? You should have known better! You let your people die, and ignored the threat persistently on the ship! Keelah! What were you thinking?"

Vary shook her head. "I thought, that whatever it was that she had to tell me could be of use. However, in time it seemed less and less useful to me. So I grew angry, and enraged at the fact nothing seemed to work. Nothing improved the acts I took on." Lowering her head, she whispered. "I did what I believed would help the Flotilla, you should understand that?"

"That's not good enough." Tali, shook her head. "You did all this and what good did it really accomplish?"

Vary, shrugged. "It was the most logical choice really."

Garrus was the one to point out, "Logic? That sounds more Geth than anything else."

"Hmph, perhaps?" Vary shook her head. "There's nothing wrong with that is there?"

Reeger had to say it then. "Oh no, if you want to be a soulless puppet or something."

"Enough! Play the last Vid! Now!" She had a twitch in her eye. "We're wasting valuable time!"

Tali didn't want to irritate her any more than needed. "Okay, okay… calm down, please." She gave a nod, and tapped the last data pad.

"Data Log: X-4350-233-05, Experiment Classification: Soul Searching." This will be my last entry. The crew has been acting… strangely and I've been getting a number of visitations lately. Seems things have gotten rather hectic. This night, I had to endure a large number of problems. Yet I made a rather astonishing breakthrough."

Madila sat there looking at the shadow in the corner. Vary, tapped at her pad. "He isn't coming."

"Why is that?"

"Because, I think if he does now? Then the other will know he's here. I think he needs to do something before that." Looking up she asks, "Are you going to put me under again?"

"It is not necessary. I believe, we've gained almost enough data." Looking over, she asks. "Can you tell me anything else you remember about Jacohbe?"

"Nothing else I remember. Jacohbe is an Elder Kin, he is using the others for something bad. I don't think there's anything else I can really tell you." Madila lowered her head, and set her legs up to her visor. "You killed me…"

"…." Vary, looked up. "You don't understand how important this is."

"I knew how important it was. You didn't."

"Jacohbe is an evil man. He's caused who knows how much in damages to our people."

"Right, but that won't change you could have saved the crew. You had the choice. You chose to ignore this for your own benefit."

"Really, what's the benefit to me?"

"A seat on the Admiralty board."

"…." Vary stood, asking, "What makes you think I would-."

"You are looking to apply for it, after you get this information to them. Then, when Jacohbe is caught you think you'll be a hero. Even more than the girl that helped to stop the Geth on the Citadel. Yet you don't know, you'll never make it there."

"Oh and why is that?"

"Because, he won't let you."

Glaring on the child. Vary, clenched her fists. "You have a lot of faith in something that obviously doesn't care for you." Looking up she said, "In the end. He's just using you. Am I right?"

"He does what needs to be done. Not everyone can be a hero. I don't blame him. I don't blame you either. I just wish, you knew how wrong you were."

"Wrong and Right are perceptive. Should you ever realize that in your short life, I'd be happy for you."

Just then there was noises outside. Vary, pulled back as screaming echoed out. "What was that?"

"…." The young Quarian pulled herself into a ball. "It's started."

With the last data pad, Vary began to shake her head. "It was all a necessary sacrifice you need to understand."

Reeger, simply said. "I understand. I understand you're a lunatic, you're insane and you basically tortured an innocent girl for the 'greater good' so to speak." Taking a step forward, he saw the pistol cocked up again. "You want to make the same mistakes again?"

"Hmph, honestly?" Vary gave a sadistic quirk from her brow. "I'm beginning to like these sorts of 'mistakes'."

However, the door to the AI room opened. When she turned, she aimed the pistol in sole reaction. The one she aimed at grabbed her hand then bent in, punched her stomach to cause the Quarian to cry out, before then she's sent reeling from a smash of the pistol across her helmet. Mordin stood there holding the pistol, and seeing then as Garrus and Jacob jump at the chance. Vary being disarmed, Mordin looked over the pistol then saw Reeger reach out. A smile, Mordin offered it back.

Chakwas suddenly screamed out hugging the Salarian. "Land sakes Mordin! Where were you?"

"Was, in the AI room. Watching over Legion. Overheard most everything. Was waiting for chance to take advantage of the situation. However, could not keep out of it when heard last statement. Was cynical, slightly cryptic. My assumptions were her next action would not end well."

Chakwas smiled up to the Salarian as his eyes scan across her face. With a strange, swooned smirk. The doctor asked, "Mordin? How long are you going to just look at me?"

"What?" He then, got this impression. "Oh! No! No-no-no! No, you, me. That isn't what… I… you see…"

He felt her hand stroke his cheek, where a long scar has laid for some time. Taking a big gulp the Salarian was unsure what to make of this. Chakwas sighed rolling her eyes and kicking back waving, "Alright, I get a hint. Poor Salarians."

"Was, not my intentions." He had to try and put out there. Mordin coughed into his hand and skimmed his eyes to the prisoner. "Was not my intentions."

Still a little laughter and Garrus even admits, that was pretty good. "Wow, that totally came out of nowhere." Garrus looked to the woman asking, "So, what about this one?"

Jacob didn't have a clue. "We could put her in one of the stasis-pods, but really I'm not sure that's a good idea."

Garrus looked back realizing the same thing. "What about the pod Grunt was in? It's still pretty strong and I'm almost certain he'd get a kick out of seeing someone else in it."

Jacob shrugged, "Sounds good to me."

The two took her away, Mordin, now looked to Seima on the table. "Mother of the girl dead? Sad… heard most what happened." Taking his Omni-tool he did a quick scan. "Hmm, has fever. Terribly high. However, should go down. Might need anti-biotics, will go to lab to retrieve." Turning, he asks, "Tali? Care to watch over Legion? I am aware he still needs careful surveillance. For now at the least."

Tali's response was actually rather energetic, "Sure! I could probably use the time to think to myself." That, and she was rather worried over the Geth. Which, she scratched her head. "Huh."

Mordin raised his brow, "Tali? Something the matter."

"No. Well, not really. Just the thought of being worried for a Geth… is all."

As Tali left into the AI Core. Reeger gave a chuckle. "Ma'am, she's always got something going on in that head of hers." He started out, "Hey? You there." Kasumi frowned crossing her arms, about to ask him who 'you there' was. Yet he asked, "Anywhere I can get a Quarian drink?"

"Oh, well now." She smiled, "Sure! I know where we keep the reserves." She warned, "However the Commander and Garrus took a good bit of the stock we had. The Commander especially."

"Great, still. My side is killing me."

Mordin told Reeger, "I can arrange something. If need pain medication?"

"No thanks! I want the good stuff." Kasumi giggled before admitting she's going to like this one. Reeger raised a brow. "I don't get into Aliens… ma'am?"

"Oh, polite too? I could really enjoy your company."

Reeger was wide eyed a little longer. "Really I-I didn't mean…"

"See, happens easily." Mordin smiled before heading to the deck. He'd stop at his office, get things settled down. However, no one seemed to realize that all this left Seima alone in the medical bay.

Seima had not heard any of what happened. Yet no she was stirring, Seima felt someone whispering to her. Strangely enough, she just thought it was probably due to the fever.

---

The waterfall, was loud for the most part. Tali seemed to find it more and more inconvenient being trapped here with of all people on the ship, it was Legion the Geth. His actions were very simplistic for her. He was constantly requesting an 'update' on her condition. After the seventh time she told him to leave her alone. Legion has since then, been quiet. Solely sitting in place and probably trying to find other means of improving their chances for survival. Tali heard her stomach and grabbed it softly, she was hungry.

Luckily she had rations. Popping a small pocket on her suit she pulled out a tube. It was with a paste preferably for longer missions. Seldom she had to worry about this anymore. Thanks to the Normandy, she could have a number of Quarian pastes thanks to that Harkin fellow, but tonight it looks like the age-old routine. Pressing a few taps at her Omni-tool Tali's mask made a slight hiss sound, and she pressed the tube up into her mouth slot. There was a beeping sound, another hissing sound, then the sound of her swallowing something.

Legion, turned and watched. After she realized Tali glared toward him. Turning her head, as she continued the meal. The tube slowly curling into itself as she fidgets under the eyes of the Geth. Legion however never saw this in person before and it was by all means fascinating. When she finished however, she rolled up the tube after a hissing sound came, and the tube fell from her lip soon with another hiss the top of the tube shot from her oral slot. Tali held both, in hand, wrapped them up tightly and threw it at Legion.

"There? Happy?"

"We do not see what would make such a reaction to your response of throwing litter. Knowing Quarian sanitation habit's the high-germ killing sanitation sprays upon that container may cause surmountable harm to local flora or fauna."

Tali's response to this? Was simply. "You know what? Since I can't have my home world? What should I care about a wild jungle-world that serves just as much to try and kill me."

"That is not a positive means to respond."

Tali's eyes bore a lot of hate. Pushing up, she said, "Fine I'll clean up af-," However, falling over on the rifle she screamed, nearly falling out over the edge but luckily Legion grabbed her pulling her back, not before she got drenched from the waterfall.

"Are you injured more?"

"Keelah… just great." Tali sat there looking over herself. "I'm wet. I'm in a jungle, it's getting dark and cold. At this rate I'll die from hypothermia."

Legion turned to her then out to the jungle. "We acknowledge." Standing he checked his assault rifle. "We will return shortly. You shall need our sniper rifle if you should stand however, we advise keeping your ankle elevated and not putting more pressure upon it at this time. Should you need, you may also keep other weapons close such as your pistol and shotgun, yet be warned our assault rifle will cause substantial kickback and is highly advised you do not fire."

Tali glared up as the Geth began to walk out. "Oh, so now you're just going to leave me?"

Legion stopped to her, and turned around slightly. "Yes."

"Hmph, don't loose any sleep leaving me alone."

"We do not sleep. That is why we do not feel a long excurssion is advised. With your stress levels, fatigue and other issues you would be advised to immediate rest." Turning out to the jungle, he said. "However, if we do not retrieve the needed items. Your survival chances are down to 34%, that is not acceptable."

Legion left then. Tali watched, then she crossed her arms murmuring under her breath, "Thank you…"

The real Legion blinked. It was unknown to him she said thanks, after he left. "This is unknown."

The Creature, grumbled out a little. "Yeah, boring too… when does something really good happen?"

"This is rather positive." Legion, walked over to Tali, as she began to check her shotgun. "Tali showed a positive response to our actions. Most of this mission, we assumed her negativity was paramount, however. We now believe that this was based on Creator 'self-ego' as to relations with the Geth." Looking back he informed, "This will be valuable data to the Geth."

"Mhmm, I mention I don't care about that?"

---

Vary was locked in the tube Grunt originally was left in. A groan and she turned to the Krogan sitting and smiling at her. "Do you have something you want, Krogan?"

Grunt gave a shrug. "I just find it entertaining to see a Quarian contained in my old tank. It's most, entertaining."

"Oh, perhaps I should dance for you. That would probably set you over the edge wouldn't it?"

"I would rather enjoy that!" He crossed his leg, and leaned back in the chair he had. "Why don't you do that?"

Vary waved off his words as he laughed. Pacing in what little room she had. Thanks to his size the otherwise small tank, offered her some elbow room. Yet not very much. As she seemed more and more irate the doors opened. Grunt turned around seeing a Quarian in the doorway. "Oh Keelah, I didn't expect this too soon."

Seima stood at the door looking at Vary. Grunt, stood with a smile. "Hmm, interesting. You're the mother, as I heard?"

Seima looked to Grunt, then back at Vary. Walking in she stood at the center of the room as Grunt began leaving, "I'll go take a leak you two, have fun." A robust chuckle and the Krogan felt she deserved a little alone time with the woman.

Vary stood glaring back. Arms crossed, she leaned on the tube's back wall. "I suppose you want my apologies? Or an explanation? Perhaps, you want some kind of guarantee that it was a lie?" Laughing, she shook her head. "I'm sorry but, that will never come to pass. What I did I did on behalf of the flotilla."

"No you didn't." Seima seemed to just look at her. Looking not really angry, or surprised. She didn't even sound too emotional over this. Standing with her arms up against her back. "We both know you did this for your own personal reasons. That you wanted that seat on the admiralty board."

"So you were awake for that?" Vary sighed, deeply. "Of all the things… there is no such proof."

Seima, slowly raised her right hand, slowly turning it a bit. Looking at it. "Well of course I was awake. I was there, Doctor."

Vary raised her brow, asking, "In the medical bay?"

"Of course." She looked up very slowly. "The one on the Hunley."

Vary showed the confusion. Though, when it clicked. WHEN it clicked, her arms hung shakily from her sides, and she stood taller. "You can't be… It was just research!"

With something of a glare. Seima's right hand raised up, and the lighting fixtures sparked with something stabbing up into them. The sparks, flew forth as the lights died instantly, but in the sparks the form was taller, stranger. The hand stabbing into the ceiling was not that of a Quarian, it was large and still with three fingers but definitely not that of a Quarian.

Vary shook as the sparks were gone, and darkness was all that surrounded the tube. Then she heard, in the tube with her. Right behind her as hands softly layed on her stomach.

"I told you doctor. I'd rend your soul before this was all over."

---

Tali was beginning to shift rocks with the rifle. "I'm starting to get a little worried." She rubbed her neck, looking out of the waterfall. The Creature floated behind her gagging to the words she was speaking. Legion, the real Legion stood watching her. Everything turned as he was gone. She was still acting abrasive but, on another empathic level she worried for him. It felt good some how to see this.

Soon she looked up to a shadow moving toward the waterfall. She gulped a bit before raising the pistol. If it was something else…

A form shifted inside, and she fired. Legion dropped down calling, "Cease fire! Cease fire!"

Tali gasped, "Legion! I'm s… sorry." She almost didn't say it. She hadn't the idea how, or why she should. Well she knew why, she tried to shoot him.

Legion was able to stand and pull out from his arms something. What it was, was a long fur skin from she can only imagine was a common animal in these parts, and a bushel of twigs and branches that were dry enough for a fire. Legion, stood there with the fur offering it to Tali.

Tali raised a brow at the dirty brown fur and the blood on Legion's hands. "You've got to be kidding?"

"We have found this mammal hide will provide superior insulation." Turning it, he set the fur on her and the skin was now facing out. "It would be wise you keep yourself covered at most times."

Tali glared at him, but when he turned to the wood pile. Tali seemed to smile, and begin shifting the fur up her shoulders and around herself. This was even once more something the real Legion did not notice the first time. The past Legion, settled wood into a small pile, and took his rifle firing straight ahead. Tali cringed but when he stopped he discharged the thermal clip and pressed it into the center of the pile. In time, it caught slowly a flicker.

Legion sat back, and kicked the fire as it needed sifted. Tali, finally looked down at his hands. "You skinned it with your hands? How did that feel?"

"It did not feel as anything." Legion, turned to Tali. "We do not feel anything Tali'zorah. We are Geth." Legion then got up and began to wash his hands in the waterfall to get rid of the excess blood.

"Oh, well I didn't mean like with your hands I meant…. Though, I guess even then you don't really feel that do you?"

Legion turned to her, confused. It was an unusual inquiry. "Explain?"

Tali shifted a little awkwardly. "Well, you see. Quarians have… we can't feel things with our hands, or our faces." She lowered her head, "I mean we can feel things from our suits with out gloves but, to feel them with our skin? That's not possible least, not safely. Then there is the problem that even if we do it can lead to infections, diseases and so much more. Sometimes that's bad enough. Yet I never thought about living my life without any kind of feeling."

Legion, took interest in this. Sitting down he asked, "What does Feeling mean to the Creators?"

"Keelah, I don't know." Tali, looked back to Legion having a rather sad, disheveled look. "For me though? It's a lot."

"Explain?"

Tali laughed as he asked this again. "Well, for example. Sometimes I have a feeling that I'm so down, or lost. Yet then I remember Shepard." There, her face glows a little. "I remember everything he's done. How hard he's worked to save the universe, try and bring peace back for everyone. Even, sometimes defying all odds. That's where I want to be with my strength, so that I can finally be as strong as him." Then, she shrugged. "If I can do that maybe he'll…"

Tali grew a little silent. Looking down, she pulled the fur around herself more. "Other times my emotions are much nicer. Sometimes, I can feel the joy of hearing someone laughing with me over a stupid joke. Or even those times I'm sad, when I can't be with…. Someone, I'm able to feel it, that means something to me. All my life I'm stuck in this bosh'tet suit and I just can't ever get out of it. My life is stuck in this thing, Legion." Looking down, she shook her head. "I don't know what I'm trying to explain feelings to a Geth for. Maybe I am getting tired?"

Legion however seemed genuinely interested. Legion, looked at the fire. It flickering as it does. To that, he spoke. "We have never had feeling. However, The Creators have always inspired us." Tali looked at him a bit stunned. "There is always an interest by the Geth. To understand the Creators choice to go to war. To fight the Geth. To leave the Geth." Tali, narrowed her eyes. "If we had a feeling, it would be abandonment, solace. Loss."

Tali soon took a breath. Looking at the fire, she said, "I'm sorry Legion. For what we have done to you." He turned with a Geth numeric chirp. "Don't push it."

"We do not seek to. However, we are alarmed a Creator would ever say this."

"I'm also sorry how I treated you earlier."

"Yes…" Legion turned back to the flames. "We do not hold this against you. You are Organic. You fear us."

"It's not all just fear." Tali, looked away. "We hate seeing what we've become and you're the easiest thing to blame. Instead of blaming ourselves, that is." Tali sighed again and this time fidgets on the rocks. "I can't sleep like this."

Legion looked to her. Then he said, "If you need rest, we can provide support for your platform, which will allow optimum comfort."

Tali narrowed her eyes. "Okay, we shared a moment but I'm not going to be your best-friend just because you and I can agree…. For now, that there were mistakes on BOTH parts!" She then turned away from him, though she still fidgets. Sleeping against the rocks was not easy.

Legion turned to the flames. Then, he turned back. "If we pretend it has never come to pass. Will this,-" Tali, leaned over and Legion looked down as she started to press against his side and shoulder. Strangely, as she did so it wasn't long before she closed her eyes and began to sleep. Legion, turned back to the fire. "We will not capture this data."

"Thanks." Tali smiled, "You might be a real friend after all." However, as he turned down she glared up a moment, "But you're still a Geth and I hate you."

"Yes." Legion looked to the fire, and felt her shift a little closer. Legion's eye scanned the fire for some time.

The Real Legion stood there. Watching. "We did not create the program for the reason we believed." Legion lowered his head. "The emotion that has yet to be classified began before the program was ever begun. We understand now."

The Creature raised a brow as Legion started to leave. "Wait, what the…?" Following, he snarled, "I missed something? Didn't I? See that's what happens when you only watch for the action parts. The story flies right by you."

---

Shepard groaned loudly against the cool sterile steel wall. He was on the crew deck hunched over one of the urinals. "Ohhh… my head…"

Grunt, entered with a big smile before seeing Shepard. "Battle-master!"

"AGH!" Turning and waving limply the Commander said, "Grunt, no. Not now. Head hurts."

"Oh, I see." With a grin Grunt came over to a stall and began to alleviate himself. "Mmm, still. I hear you had quite the time? Drink anything meant for a Krogan?"

"Maybe. I dunno. I'm still here, right?"

Grunt laughed, the laugh was so loud and robust the Commander grabbed his head shivering. "You wouldn't die from our drinks, not knowing you Shepard."

Seeing they were still talking. Grunt asked, "Did you hear about Vary? The Quarian doctor?" Shepard shook his head no. All he's been doing was this for the last few of his memory. Why he didn't use his personal bath was up in the air.

"Well Shepard. Seems she was experimenting on that young Quarian girl Madila." Shepard raised a brow to Grunt. "Yes, like I said. She's locked in my tube right now. I left her with Seima, she and the doctor must be having some interesting words."

Shepard raised a drunken, but aware brow. "Wait a minute, this might be the slight hangover, but I swore I heard you say that Seima. The mother of the little girl the doctor tortured and lost on the ship, whose father was killed on the same ship and who lost her husband ALL on the same passing of a few days. Was now guarding the doctor who tortured her daughter, alone?"

Grunt smiled a bit. "Yep."

Shepard closed his eyes banging his head on the wall. "Argh, I'm too hung over for this… Grunt, we need to get to Engineering."

Grunt gave a nod, turning down to the tall he smiled for a moment. Then he frowned back into his stall. Standing he contained himself before snarling, "You win again, Battlemaster."

Shepard groaned a bit, then he stood asking, "Wait, what did I win?"

---

Legion was trying to force the data ahead. The Creature, asked, "What the hell are you doing?"

"We have to end this. We need out of this data segment."

The shift from night to day was intensely fast. Legion stood looking around. Realizing, he skipped to the next day. Early morning. He now wondered… was it that time? Was this that exact moment? Legion ran back toward the waterfall to find out.

There, Legion was sitting watching the fire. Tali laying on his shoulder sleeping rather soundly. The Geth watched her several times in the night as she shifted. It was calming to say the least. Soon, he saw the blanket falling off her shoulder so he pulled it back up. Legion, watched as she leaned in rubbing her helmet into his hand. The lens of the Geth turning slowly as she smiled in her sleep. She was dreaming something. Perhaps, replacing him with another platform of interest? However, that did not seem to bother the Geth. Then he heard movement outside.

Head snapping toward the sound, he saw the movement, slowly stalking toward the waterfall on four haunches. Legion, grabbed his assault rifle and snapped, "Warning! Danger Proximity Alert!"

Tali screamed up, "What is it?" she's sent on the wall, but then she heard the screeching sound. Falling past her, Legion's rifle was clamped in the jaws of the strange black beast from before. It finally stalked them all the way out here? When she saw it, she reached for her pistol.

"Negative! Tali'zorah! Take the rifle! Flee!"

Tali looked at him, and the creature trying to snap the rifle in half. She snarled a bit before taking the rifle and starting to hop away. Using it like a crutch at first. Yet she turned a moment seeing Legion and the beast fighting. She knew she can't leave him like that. Propping up the rifle she shoved in a thermal clip and fired. With the force, she's thrown out of the waterfall and back rolling into a tree. Hissing, she comments the word 'Keelah' and 'he wasn't kidding about the kickback' in her head.

Looking toward the waterfall she thought maybe she shot the alien. However, it came barreling out screeching like before. When the massive black beast jumped toward her with claws ready to tear flesh, it was the miracle of metal hands reaching out from the water and latching hard on the tail of the beast. Tali pulled back her legs just as the hands squeeze the tail, pulled it and spun the creature back behind the waterfall. Legion stormed out, shouting, "We request forgiveness for following actions!"

Tali felt Legion pull her up onto his shoulder, running at full speed. "Forget about it! Just run!"

Legion did. Storming fast as he can toward the direction the shuttle should be. Out from the waterfall splashed the beast once more, scraping and turning toward them barking loudly. Legion raised his Omni-tool calling, "Shepard-Commander! This is Legion! Is there any team members within our vicinity! We are headed to where the shuttle last landed!"

Shepard responded, "Legion! Is Tali with you?"

"Yes! We are being pursued by the unknown alien life form from the previous encounter." Shots were fired, Tali with her pistol took pot shots best she can, bouncing on his shoulder. The beast, felt a shot that strangely Tali thought she saw the paw of the monster shatter, then reform… but, that can't be right. "We are unable to force the creature to retreat or desist! We are forwarding our retreat to the shuttle!"

Shepard called back, "Okay! Legion, we're coming back now! We'll meet you there just hold on!"

"We are going to resist as long as possible." Running, he turned to the rise of a hill. Charging up he used feet and hand, to pull up. Tali screamed as the monster came close and she dropped her pistol for her shotgun. Firing at the monster, it flew back rolling down the hill.

"Legion! It's getting back up!"

"Understood!" Legion was atop the hill, and turned to a rock. Easily enough he turned kicking the rock with his foot, it rolled making a kind of landslide. Running again, they heard the beast screaming out caught in the rockslide itself.

Reaching the shuttle however it did not provide any sense of reward. Shepard and the others had not returned, and Legion set down Tali requesting, "We require our sniper rifle Tali'zorah. This will be best dealt with if you go into the shuttle and rest until Shepard-Commander returns."

Tali lowered her head. "Uh… Legion?" She saw him turn, and she winced. "I think I forgot it back there?"

"We see." Legion's eye started to think to recent activities. "We left our Assault Rifle as well, and we recall you dropped your Pistol. This leaves us with only one shotgun."

A nod and Tali sighed. "I'm sorry…"

"This was not something we could predict. Your best chance for survival is in the shuttle." Reaching out, he requested, "We require your shotgun as a line of defense."

Tali looked up worried, which was strange. "What are you going to do?"

"The creature will most likely come here momentarily. We will fight as well as we may, and resist while you are in the shuttle. Hopefully, it will not destroy this platform and harm the shuttle before pick up too severely."

Tali looked at her shotgun then she asked, "What are the chances the shuttle will be damaged?"

"We acknowledge during conflict the shuttle may suffer minimal to extreme damage, at a total of 37%."

Tali then asked, warily. "What about you? What are your chances of suffering damage? Both minimal and critical?"

"Considering the strength of the creature. As well ferocity. We acknowledge, a 27% chance of minimal damage. 13% chance that there will be no damage. A 60% chance has been recognized of severe damages."

"Really?" Tali frowned, deeply. "That doesn't sound very good…. What about the chances if we fight together?"

"There is a marginal increase in this platform's survival however, we do not recommend this."

Tali shook her head offering him the shotgun. "That's how it is Legion. If you're going to try and protect me? I'd rather I did my share too. I'm not going to die letting a Geth fight for me."

Legion's eye spun slightly. "Understood." He closed his hand walking past her, letting her have the shotgun. "We suggest Tali'zorah use the shotgun, we may use another weapon." He looked around for something and the funny thing was he picked up a large rock. "This shall do."

"Rock? Really?" Tali raised her eye, "Of all the things you can…." suddenly, she looked down. "Here?" Legion turned as she pulled out her knife. "It's not much but it'll do." Tossing it, Legion grabbed the weapon and spun it. His eye transfixed on the blade.

"There is writing along the blade. What does this text mean?"

"I'm not sure?" Tali smiled, "My father said I'd be better not worrying about it. So, what now?"

The answer came with the loud, heavy thump behind Tali. Jumping ontop of the shuttle the creature screamed at them. Tali's instinct was to turn up and shoot, which it jumped right into a full blast of her shotgun. While it landed and flailed about Legion looked for vital areas. The beast spun on its feet and charged to Tali as she fired another shot, straight in the face. While it reeled back, Legion charged in leaping on the back of the beast the quills scraping his hard surface. The knife is lodged into the eye of the monster but it thrashes and tosses, bucks with the Geth on top. When thrown Legion looses his knife to the side, and then is rolled on his back. Legion turned up as the beast scampered toward him snorting and snarling like the rabid beast it is.

Tali jumped up aiming but she knew that if she tried to shoot it? She might hit Legion… Keelah, "Legion! Move!"

Legion obliged and spun, and after she fired the beast screamed as his back legs were torn apart a bit. Stumbling it turned snarling at Tali. Ignoring that the flesh of most its legs was pulp the monster charged back snapping wildly. Only to this time have Legion lunging in grappling with it, forcing his weight on the back of the beast to make it scream and crackle from the thighs.

"It is weakened! We must terminate immediately!"

Tali started looking for some more thermal clips… Keelah! "Legion, I'm out of clips!"

Legion, grasped the monster's front paws, kicking at it while it snapped back at him. "We need to exterminate this animal immediately! Alternative means?"

Tali hadn't a clue, though. She turned to her knife just laying there. Running over she grabbed it and held the blade with all her strength, "I can't get a clear spot! Legion, what should I…" Legion's reaction was to kick off his heels, and roll with the beast it scrambling on his chest. She understood and charged in stabbing at the neck of the monster. It screeched, and she ripped with her hands as the animal shivered and slowly lay still.

After it was over. Legion rolled the corpse off himself and looked up at Tali who was panting, heaving. Blood dripping over her visor. She offered a hand and Legion took it standing with her. Looking at the dead beast. A few moments later Shepard, Grunt and Mordin appear. Grunt, seemed to like this. He REALLY liked this, "Hmm, impressive." Looking at Tali, he raised a brow. "You killed this creature? With that?" He motioned to the small knife, that Tali wiped on her suit. Somehow, the look Grunt gave was rather more than what normally would be expected.

Mordin, scanned the creature. "Unknown mutation. Could be, possibly, caused by bacteria; radiation within area underground? Many possibilities. Will take a blood sample just to be sure." He took such a sample and smiled back, "Interesting. Good teamwork."

Shepard even rubbed his neck as Tali, hobbled back with Legion helping her into the shuttle. "I guess this is a mission accomplished, sort of?"

Legion let Tali sit down, asking. "Is Creator Tali'zorah Vas Normandy well?"

Tali shook her head saying, "No. Not even close. I got saved by a Geth, killed some monster with my bare hands… by Quarian standards." Sitting up she shifted uneasily. "Lost your rifle, and a number of other things I just don't even want to get into."

"Your actions with the creature were recognizably strenuous however you performed admirably. Also loss of hardware can be replaced, easily." To the other, "As for unit cohesion, we have been saved by Tali'zorah vas Normandy and so there is no need to concern over this event as 'owed' debt."

Tali looked up. With that, she gave a nod. "Okay, thanks. I'll probably never ask you for another favor as long as I live anyway."

Legion gave a nod. Then he looked out the window.

"Legion?"

Legion turned, and Tali was smiling. She said, "Just call me Tali."

Legion blinked, and Tali blushed now. "Nevermind…"

"Understood."

---

Grunt looked at the tank with a bit of a frown. "I don't think that's a good sign?" The broken lights obviously were not.

Mordin, who was heading back to the medical bay with the proper fever reducers, antibiotics and a number of other useful things. However, they obviously felt here was more to his skills. Coming with them, Mordin found Seima unconscious. The tube, was empty. Coming over, Mordin began a scan. "Life signs normal. Fever is actually lower than before. Seems to be stabili-." He stopped, and looked on his Omni-tool strangely. "Odd?"

Shepard was looking at the tube before he asked, "What is it Mordin?"

"Picking up another life sign inside of her. It is faint, was not there before…" he frowned, "She's bearing child."

Shepard was stunned. "Could it be maybe something she didn't know about?"

"Possibly. Seems rather early in development. Right about mostly body beginning to produce needed… strange, still do not understand." Standing, he motioned his Omni-tool, making a test scan of Shepard. "This was not found on previous scan in medical bay. Is almost as if life was placed into Seima after, but is impossible. Could not be done." A shrug, "Scanner is working perfectly. Must have been overlooked, somehow?"

Grunt, heard Shepard ask, "Grunt, can you help me take her out of here?"

"Sure." Grunt looked around strangely. "I don't feel like staying in here right now anyway. Something feels… unnatural, about this room suddenly."

Mordin turned blinking at the sheer comment. Shepard, rolled his eyes saying, "I never thought you would be afraid of the dark."

"Not the dark Shepard. More what is in the dark." He shook his head, "And I am True Krogan, I am unafraid!" Still, he helped pick up Seima. "Shall we get her to the medical ward?"

Mordin gave a nod. Following, he turned back into the room a moment. Narrowing his eyes, he shook his head. Then left closing the door. There was nothing but darkness in there now. Darkness, and shadows.

---

Legion was back to the world of his digital self. Here, the Creature started twitching his tentacles. "What a disappointment."

Legion turned, and found his eye spinning. He was not looking at the creature. What he saw was actually more unexpected. The young Quarian girl Madila was here, and she was looking at Legion from across this digital plane. When he saw her, he heard her humming. Which the Creature too turned in confusion.

"Wait, I killed you?"

Legion, took his processes to a level of great revelation. The humming, had an algorithmic tone to it. Least in his mindset. To that, his head began to pitch upward and he called back the data from the endeavor with this creature earlier. Tali's singing for example began to be re-wrote into a particularly strange technical dialect. When the Creature saw this he was mostly confused. However, when that same dialect came spinning around him, he grew concerned.

Moving to displace it like he did with the data strands from before. The Creature screeched out in pain as his fingers burned away.

"Alien data deletion is in progress. Currently ay 5%."

The Creature hissed back, but then the data strands started circling his hands and following up, from his tendrils and up. Every part of him dispersing as small flashes of data.

"Now at 14%, 36%, 45%."

The more that dispersed, the more it began to writhe in place. It found itself faltering over screaming and writhing more. Looking at the child as she looked down on it.

"What's happening…. I am ageless? This can't be happening. Where am I going?"

That, the girl shrugged. "He said, 'Traitors don't get to know.' when you asked that."

"Deletion is now at 87%, 93%. 100% Completion." Legion, turned up to see the data strands dispersing. "Deletion complete."

Madila lowered her head. She smiled inside her enviro-suit, "I think I'm done now. Right?" She looked up to Legion whom tilts his head. Flaps twisting at the oddity she was.

"You are not Data. We can not classify what you are."

"Oh, sorry." Madila grabbed her hands and often to what Quarians did. She started rubbing the fingers. "You see the Shadow Man… he told me, I was going to die. Right? So when I did. He said I needed to put my soul with your body. To stop the Kaireshi."

Legion's head pitched over to the place the data was delete. "That was the entity that had infected this platform, correct?"

"Yeah, that was it." Madila smiled again, "When it killed me. It was actually releasing my soul. It didn't have any use for a pure innocent soul, so the Shadow Man knew I'd be free to go out and find you. I did, while you were fighting it. I guess I got there soon enough because when it tried to go into the other Quarian, it instead took your body with my soul." It was confusing, to her even. "Well, when it was inside here. The Shadow Man said that, you would find the way to 'remove' him and then he was done."

"This 'Shadow Man' where is he?"

"I don't think he'll be coming back. He finished his mission." Lowering her head, she whispers, "I think he did… maybe he'll be back? I don't know."

Legion was curious, again. "If you are a soul. Then where will you go?"

"I don't know. I'm supposed to go somewhere, he said I'd know when we're done but I don't." She lowered her head, worriedly. "I'm afraid really."

Legion was going to ask another inquiry when she suddenly pitched her head. "Do you hear that sound?"

"No, we do not."

She slowly looked around. "I remember it. Relaxing, calm sound. Slow beating of mommy's heart. A safe, warm place. Where I was…" Somehow, she started walking off. "I know where I need to go. I need to go back to mommy."

Legion was not certain what this meant. However, he knew the rogue data was gone. The soul unit, also left soon after the 'noise' she heard. Legion began to reinitiate himself.

---

Tali sighed leaning there looking at Legion. He was still out of it. He's been out of it for the longest time now. Well, okay not THE longest but, long enough. Every moment he was offline she wondered, what he was doing. If he was even aware? Strange how your mind wanders too when you're without anything to do.

Tali stood up walking over to the unconscious Geth. Which she mused, was he unconscious? Was that even possible? Technically that's what happened to him the first time. When dealing with the Reaper IFF and all that, on that derelict Reaper.

There have been a lot of missions they shared. Tali, sat in a chair and recalled. "We have done a lot together Legion." She gave a sort of distant, appreciative smile. "You helped me out on the Flotilla, that was fun. We took down the Heretics and no offense, blowing up Geth is a real lot of fun." A nod, she shrugged back, "That jungle world… Keelah, that was fun." Lowering her head, she recalled. "You saved my life down there. I never really thanked you properly. I was still sort of worried, a Geth on the crew. It just felt so unnatural."

Looking back over. Tali soon looked at his form laying there all broken. "I hope you're okay. You're my best friend any more. I can't imagine how I'd ever replace you." Then, she closed her eyes, "Who am I kidding? I can't think that you could be replaced. Geth or not?"

Suddenly she heard him chirp. Tali stood looking down as Legion's lens turned on and he slowly started to get up, lifting his legs off the table and standing. When she stood there Legion looked down at her. For her, she felt like just hugging him. For Legion?

"Tali, we are pleased you a-," suddenly she just hugged him. Legion blinked. "This is a proximity infraction, yet was anticipated."

Tali felt his hands wrap around her back. A slight blush, and she pulled from him standing back and watching the Geth look on her. "Uh… right, I was just. Happy you were awake."

"Understood." Legion, turned to his surroundings. "We are also pleased to be aware once more."

When Legion walked around Tali she tried to stop him. "Legion! Wait, don't you want to rest for a while? There's still no telling how badly you were injured."

"We are self-aware of our injuries yet your concerns are noted. For now, we must talk to Shepard-Commander."

Tali seemed to follow rather close behind. "I don't think he's up for a lot of talking."

Mordin, was in the medical bay trying to figure out what and why he missed what he did with Seima. Seeing Legion he smiled. "Ah, welcome back online. How was your rest?"

"Was not rest. Was conflict with Kaireshi, entity from the vessel prior to our offline endeavor."

Mordin was stunned, as was Tali. The Geth tried to pass, but this time Mordin stopped him. "Wait, Legion? What has transpired?"

Legion, did not have time to make numerous reports. So instead, he said. "We were infected by the entity from the ship. When it was in us, the soul of the Quarian child was already within us. This, kept the entity trapped inside our platform while it was made vulnerable. We deleted it, and the child returned to her mother."

That said, Tali asked, "What are you talking about?"

"The 'Shadow Man' informed her she would know where she needed to go. I assume, that she is now done here. As well as this Shadow Man. This is irrelevant, I must file a report with Shepard-Commander."

Mordin seemed very confused. Which for him isn't easy. However, he asked, "Legion? Does any of this information truly seem a danger?"

Legion looked to Mordin. He did not understand. "Understandably, what happened to you is what it is. It happened to you. Shepard isn't really going to need to hear any of this, is he?"

Legion began to shift the data. "There was mention of the Old Machines?"

"Perhaps." Mordin, smiled back up. Cheering up again. "However right now I'm not entirely sure that this data needs to be shared with the Commander. In time, perhaps. Yet we'll be better off if you take your time, process the data and present it with proper justification."

This, Legion understood. "Yes, this is acceptable." Looking back, he turned to Tali who was confused too. "If that is all, could I request the company of Tali'zorah momentarily?"

Tali seemed to blink, "Oh? Well, sure. I could probably take some time to talk to you. What about?"

Legion's head pitched to Mordin however and he affirmed, "It would be more appropriate if we talked in private. Would you re-escort me to the AI Core?"

That was strange? Tali seemed to nod walking with him back into the AI Core. Mordin, looked down at Seima and slowly scanned her body with his Omni-tool. When he looked at the results, he whispered, "Returned to her mother." Looking down, he smiled. "Fascinating."

Legion, stood at his bed, and turned to Tali. "We have been in consensus for some time Tali."

Tali didn't know should that be a good thing, a bad thing? "Okay… what about?"

"Many things." Legion walked toward her. Then she found herself feeling uneasy as Legion looked at her. Just looking at her, scanning her. He did it before but this time, he was like he was admiring her. "We have realized we have put our platform in danger for Tali several times. Even before this matter."

Tali thought about that. "I suppose? Shepard has done the same thing."

"Yes." Legion, reached out taking Tali's hands. When he did, she stiffened swiftly. "However, Shepard-Commander is organic, we are not. These actions have never made complete comprehension, they have not computed properly. However, the more we search, begin to understand and then make consensus, were are only that more confused by these actions."

Tali strangely found it hard to look away from Legion now. Something in how his camera kept looking at her made her feel… special. Her face, he can see it. Like she wanted Shepard to. Yet he's a machine, that's the big difference. "Okay, so I confuse you. It's not that big a deal." A blush, she felt the gaze intensify, and she shied her eyes. "I mean organics and synthetics always have trouble understanding one another."

"We agree." Legion, then let her hands go and stood stiff. Erect. "We request that we spend time with Tali, outside of mission parameters."

This made her blink. From a strange, funny point of view she could have imagined that was something else. Yet a smirk and she just knew better. "Like, what exactly do you have in mind?"

That, Legion lowered his head. His eye shifting uneasily. Now, he took his hands and Tali noticed he was mimicking a nervous action. "We, we do not have enough data."

"What?" Tali frowned, but it was a mock frown. She was toying with the Geth now, "Okay so you bring me in here. Basically say you're confused by MY actions, and then you can't think of anything to do together? That's just sad Legion."

"There is not enough data to actions and activities to be shared between Geth and Creators. To offer you the best results in a time shared between each party equally."

Tali looked at him with a smirk though. "I get it."

"You do?" Legion tilts his head. "We did not think you would be so positive."

"Why not?" She gave a nod, "We're friends, and you in a way… kind of, almost died." She took a step, and said, "You want to spend more time together. You know? I could really use a friend. I've had a REALLY bad day too Legion." Shrugging, she pivots on her hip, holding it. This gesture, Legion followed into mimic. She however giggled and waved a hand, "Okay. Okay I've got it." Looking to Legion she said. "I plan to meet with Garrus, go to Illium and so on. However, what about afterwards? You and I share a Vid together?"

Legion recalls, "This was something you planned previously." Tali gave a nod. "Yes, that will be acceptable."

"Good, you pick what you want? I'll pick what I want. We'll meet a," Tali made quotes with her fingers to, "Consensus" when we get together again. I hope it's a lot of fun."

Legion's lens focused and then, he asked. "Are you aware of our desire for this meeting?"

"I said of course, Legion." A nod, she remarked, "We're going to have a great time. I just know it."

Leaving, Tali passed Mordin whom smiled, and waved her as she left. She seemed to be happier all of a sudden. Legion exits, and asks, "Professor Mordin?"

Mordin looked not from the study he was now doing. "What is it Legion? I have just begun a study on small infectious materials in the wounds Seima sustained. Most likely nothing, yet could be something if not studied."

Legion asked, a question that Mordin did not expect. "What would a Quarian find as a romantic gesture?"

Mordin at first didn't really attach the two words, Quarian and Romantic. Yet, when he did, his head shot up, and he turned off his console. "Legion! Research, not important! Romance IS important!" He suddenly began tapping at his Omni-tool, "I have pamphlets, digital readouts and numerous other such means to teach you…"

Legion's brow suddenly curved with concern. He was curious, did Mordin have some kind of inclination to his interest in Tali prior? No. That would not be plausible.

"Professor Mordin." Legion, raised his hands, to stop the Salarian. "We wish to invoke study. If Tali does not reciprocate we accept that outcome. However, we seek to offer a gift. A item of great value. Do you have any such item in mind?"

Mordin was able to smile. Then, he said, "I am certain we can find something. We merely must think like a Quarian and in turn, decide what would a Quarian desire most of all?"

To that, Legion began analysis.

"The Home World does not seem a viable option."

"Good start but must try to start smaller?"

---

Deep in space. A ship, slowly went from the next Mass Effect relay. Slowly stopping as the owner heard a humming.

Jacohbe turned around with a twitch. "Crap, the boss is upset." He stood, tugging his collar. Then he opened the connection with his Omni-tool. "Yes…. Harbinger?"

Note: Wow a lot happened in one chapter. Yet, considering how much is left I'm not surprised. There is, should my notes (in my head) be correct, around 6 more chapters…. Perhaps 7? I'm not going to deny I could try and stretch things out but that's no fun. Also, have a few ideas for more pieces. One is a tragedy story for Tali/Shepard, and is very sad… The other is a rendition of the ME1 game, with Tali on Eden Prime. Other, inspired by a piece someone wrote, both the later also Tali/Shepard works. Well, for now expect more updates as I can provide them.