It was overwhelming.
Nervously playing with her fingers Tali's head kept turning left and right to look at everything and everyone, feeling decidedly out of place among the aliens and their large room that was for...in fact Tali couldn't quite figure it out. Intellectually she knew it was an embassy, but to her the big area cleared for some desks and computers that mostly weren't even on seemed like a big waste of space and efficiency.
There were other baffling things about the room too, like one of the long sides of it only having a wall the height of her chest, opening a windowless space through which one could look over the Presidium...a Presidium that was nothing but glittering archways over sparkling water and fields of grass. So much space...and it's all so...so...clean... For a moment she felt a jab of bitterness, remembering the cramped spaces aboard the Flotilla, the way they were constantly fighting rust and wear from tearing their living spaces apart...and suppressed it with a grimace. It's old history, you can't change it...
At least with such a big room as the one they were in there was no crowding, the ones having accompanied Shepard standing to the side to observe as the man stood next to Tali while facing the two dark-skinned humans Tali hadn't seen before. Are most humans that colour? Or just the ones in high rank? Would it be rude to ask? I shouldn't ask...though...no...stop thinking...
To distract herself from such thoughts, not to mention the shouting of the dark-skinned one in a suit aimed at Shepard – a wonder how much one can insult another without resorting to a single curse word – Tali instead shyly eyed the silent companions to the side.
The female human – despite not knowing much of humans Tali couldn't doubt the femaleness. How do they even walk around like that...? Seems...bulky. – was glowering at the shouting male, arms crossed over the to Tali's eyes gargantuan chest. Her stance was angry, an undercurrent or aggressiveness beneath it, of pride.
The male soldier one on the other hand...there was something...noble in the way he held himself, perhaps a bit weary...but with intelligence enough to push such feelings aside. To Tali's surprise the Turian next to him had a similar way of standing...only more...defiant? Oddly enough neither seemed to notice the similarity, both in fact standing as if they didn't much care for one another.
The Krogan – Tali wasn't actually sure why he was still around, given that he'd said something about having finished his contract – was oddly enough projecting intelligence, if hidden under a brooding and calm façade, further polished by a natural inclination for violence, held tightly in check by discipline.
Shepard on the other hand...he was still calm, still decisive, still driven by that undefined need. He was standing slightly ahead of her and close, as if shielding her from the other two humans...for all she knew he just might be doing that. Now calmer she didn't fool herself he was doing it for her though, more for his own needs...she couldn't blame him, even if it was a little disappointing. At least he's not a giant any more...sort of...she glanced up at him, feeling tiny.
Ever since she had left the Flotilla Tali had been forced to get used to the idea of always looking up at those she encountered. Save the Volus, but they never want to talk to Quarians anyway...wonder why... Turian's and Krogan in particular were a neck-stretching enterprise... And Shepard was as tall as a Turian – a full two heads taller then Tali – but not as lithe, nearly as bulky as a Krogan across the shoulders in fact...and making Tali all the more painfully aware of her slight frame.
Such thoughts instantly went out the window however when the man in the suit snapped: "And what's that? A Quarian? Have you made a habit on collecting aliens as well as causing havoc Shepard?"
That man held himself as one of importance, if a bit too much, a bit too arrogant, a bit too...harsh, and as his tone implied...a bit too rude. "My name is Tali, Tali'Zorah nar Rayya." She didn't like him. "And I'm standing right here." Bosh'tet... She assumed a haughty pose, easily done from her many tousles with other Quarian engineers confronting the 'great admiral's spoiled daughter'...and snorted. "Nor am I something to collect."
The female human shifted her stance a little, showing a hint of...amusement? I can't read aliens well enough yet...
The other dark-skinned human, this one dressed in some kind of dark blue uniform rather then simple clothes like the other, stepped forth, conciliatory in his stance, the near shaven skull glittering in the lamplight. Like the first he held himself as one of importance, but underneath it Tali could see something tired and stoic, nothing else. "I apologise on ambassador Udina's behalf, we've all been under a lot of stress lately miss Rayya." The other man snorted, arms crossed over his chest, disagreeing. "We are just worried if this shooting in the citadel was worth it, and so far Shepard hasn't been forthcoming about that."
"Well if you'd give him a word in edgewise-" Tali felt a hand on her wrist, realising she had been pointing her long index-finger towards the two humans, having for the moment forgotten she wasn't arguing with the usual Quarian engineers or aliens accosting her during her pilgrimage...and in fact was raising her voice at men close to a Quarian admiral in rank. Oh...she swallowed, then realised that Shepard was the one pushing her wrist down...and swallowed again. Ohhh...
Before she had time to apologise however Shepard...shooting her a smirk, genuine amusement in his stance...spoke: "Thank you, but I don't need defending." He turned back to the other two, stance as calm as ever. "You yourself said I should proceed to procure evidence against Saren by any means necessary ambassador."
"Yes, but you haven't-"
"And here she is." Shepard took a step to the side, gesturing towards Tali. He looked at her, stance demanding action. "Tali? If you please?"
"Sure." Instantly raising her left arm Tali activated her omni-tool, the three digits on her right hand darting across the glowing menu to find the information she had hidden behind half a dozen firewalls and passwords. "I found this out in the Terminus systems, took it from a Geth-"
"A geth?" The male soldier and Turian voiced at the same time, looking at her with sudden interest. The human was the one who continued to speak though, his voice rough: "How did you do that? The Geth on Eden Prime seemed to perform some sort of self-destruct to their insides once they were down."
Tali couldn't help but let some pride seep into her voice as she replied: "If one is quick enough you can temporarily stop them from doing just that, it's all about stopping basic processes with intrusive junk code...and hacking is my speciality." She shrugged, forcing the boasting aside. They're not rival engineers... "Besides, my people made the Geth, we...understand them in a way..." Hate them, but understand...
"So how did you end up here?" Shepard asked, that need in his stance more perceivable."It's a long way from the Terminus systems..."
"Had to flee." Tali shrugged, frowning as she turned her attention back to the omni-tool. Was the password...nedas wasn't it? I hate new passwords...never remember them... "Had entire platoons of Geth after me after I got a hold of this information, even in Citadel space there was literally armies of mercenaries waiting for me..." She shrugged again, suppressing the sudden jolt of anger at her words. "...and here in the citadel...well I dropped my guard...embarrassing really."
A grunt, the Krogan shifting where he stood. "Impressive."
"Getting caught?" Tali snorted. "Or the part where I spent weeks hiding in crates, sneaking onto ships and cowering away in filthy dark corners?" Ugh...good that I have such faith in the environmental suit keeping me safe or I would have gone crazy with fear over an infection...
"You can't always fight your way out." The mercenary growled with a shrug, earning a surprised chuckle out of the female human as she glanced over at the Krogan. "So yes, impressive."
Tali looked away, she hadn't thought it all that impressive, it was just...surviving really, what she'd been trained to do before going on her pilgrimage. Sure she had been forced to stretch her abilities, improvising where her training hadn't covered things...performed better then any in her year could have been expected to, as always...but such things were expected of her given her parentage. And if something was expected it couldn't well be impressive...could it? "Umm...sure...hold on...there...got the recording for you." She looked up, finding Shepard's eyes as she hesitated. "Erm...I know I can't make any demands after saving me, but since I'm giving you this could you...well...Saren might still be after-"
"We'll keep you safe." The dark-skinned man in the uniform interrupted, then looked to Shepard. "Isn't that right Michael?" Michael...so that's his first name...Michael... Tali shook herself. Damn, still in a bit of shock over that rescue, pull it together...
"Yes sir, no question about it." Michael nodded, once, something in his stance...shifting. As if accepting new parameters...Tali frowned at that. Why is he acting like a machine at times...? "So, what do you have?"
Tali's finger, having hovered over the omni-tool darted to 'play'.
The image appearing hovered over the omni-tool, the size of a head. Most of it was just blackness, blackness slightly illuminated from below by a pale blue light, throwing the grey – almost metallic – face of a Turian in sharp relief. A synthetic voice – Tali's omni-tools VI translating the Geth's 'thinking' into words – called out: "Saren Arterius, identify...the prophet."
"Prophet?" The uniformed human echoed, shifting into a stance of confusion.
None had time to say anything though, Tali herself didn't know why the Geth would see the Turian as 'prophet', as the recording continued with the Turian speaking: "We will hit Eden Prime within the week, I want no witnesses, destroy everything once we've acquired the beacon."
"That's it! That's what we need!" The uniformed human called out, stance shifting into eagerness, into a near obsession. "When the council sees this they have to revoke his Spectre status!" To the side the others shifted too, the Turian and female human in particular looking eager and ready to pounce.
"And the Reapers?" Another voice, the Geth turning its vision to another face, this one a old-looking Asari. "We have to find the conduit, soon."
"Who's the broad?" The female human asked out of the blue, frowning at the face, stance saying she was anything but impressed. "And a conduit you can buy in most stores..." She blinked, stiffening where she stood as she looked at the others, movement embarrassed all of a sudden. "Erm...sorry...sir."
"Wait..." Tali tapped the controls on the omni-tool...and the synthetic voice of her suit called out again: "Matriarch Benezia T'Soni, second in command...irrelevant."
A small snort escaped the human female. "Heh, that Geth and I think alike..."
The male soldier shrugged, shooting the woman a look. His stance was helpful...yet carefully scornful. "She said the conduit, not a conduit."
The exasperation was clear in the woman's stance as she with rolling eyes retorted. "I know that...jeez...lighten up...ahem...sir."
All looked at the two bickering humans, many looking a bit irritated with the interruption. Tali was one of them...though her focus was mainly on Michael as the man stood with a bowed head, thoughtful...confounded? "Reapers..." The name was but a whisper, confused, as if he was tasting it.
A tiny shadow of a shudder ran through the man.
Then he straightened and turned back to Tali, calm and decisive once more, tone official: "Thank you Tali'Zorah nar Rayya, the alliance will of course protect you for what you've done for us, we will bring Saren to justice and you'll be safe once more." No doubts, no worries, fact.
"Actually..." Tali's voice stopped the man in his tracks as he moved to face the two dark-skinned men looking eager and ready to go already, now all heads turned towards her again though, making her feel small and silly. "...I...wouldn't mind coming along if that's...possible."
Silence.
The humans exchanging unreadable looks.
Then Shepard speaking up, head cocked to the side, stance thoughtful, yet not ready to reject her just yet... "Why would you want to do that? If we go after Saren we will likely go into battle-zones and risk life and limb to bring him in, not exactly safe."
"I'm not even safe in the heart of the citadel...by that logic removing the source of the danger as soon as possible would be best." Tali replied, then found her hands moving, fingers intertwining as she muttered: " Besides, I'm out here to prove my worth and value to my people...a people that created the Geth...what would it say about me if I hid away when I had a chance to stop them from making more people suffer from their depredations?" Father would never look at me again... "No, the Geth must be fought, and I'm not about to stand to the side and let others steal that responsibility from me!"
With a blink Tali realised she had raised her voice at the end, her face flushing as she found the others still staring at her, the Krogan grinning like an idiot, Shepard's stance looking...quietly impressed.
The blush got worse.
"Okay, nice, but we're actually out there fighting girl..." The female human spoke up, a challenge in her stance. "And you look a bit on the frail side for that."
"Says the human." The Krogan scoffed, shooting the glaring female a smirk.
"You think I took down that Geth with words?" Tali snorted, straightening even as her omni-tool glowed, her finger darting to point to where one of the embassies security droids stood in an alcove, powered down and almost a part of the décor by the looks of it. Probably not even seen by most non-Quarians who weren't so painfully aware of every droid in society... "I can shoot, I can fight, I can stop your gun, ruin your shields, turn Geth and other machines to my allies..."
There was no hesitation in the marine, only arms crossing over that obscene chest, unimpressed...though slightly curious. "I'm shaking...wait...what was that last thing?"
"Hostile detected." Everyone jumped at the electronic voice as the security droid stepped out of the alcove, pistol raised and humming into activation. "Lethal force auth-"
A snap of Tali's fingers...and the droid powered down, head leaning forward...and then the entire thing fell to the floor with a crash.
Silence.
The others staring at the machine, then her, then back to the machine.
Heh – Tali crossed her arms in front of her, regarding the stunned looking human female – how's that for frail?
A small chuckle, Shepard shrugging, stance amused. "What can I say after seeing that? You're in."
"G-good." Tali nodded, then nodded again, shifting where she stood as she looked up at the massive and armoured marine covered in weapons looking down at her. Her fingers finding one another, nervously fiddling.
Keelah...I hope I made the right decision...
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Thanks to Abydos Jackson for as ever seeing to that I don't screw up.