Virmire was beautiful.
Even with the torn remains of a few Geth bobbing in the ankle-deep water that seemed to cover the entire planet there was a...softness to it.
The water was pale blue...gently swirling in currents Tali couldn't feel in her suit's boots as she leant against a boulder and looked out over it. Soft banks of white sand rose here and there out of the water...she wanted to touch it, to run her fingers through it...water and sand alike...
Instead she looked down at her gloved hands...and sighed.
She's been all too reminded of her limitations as of late...and had been thinking far too intensely about it since...she grimaced...back on the Normandy.
Her head hurt, thoughts still swirling around within, unwilling to stop even with the combat of them having taken out the outer Geth sentries and allowed for the anti-air turrets around Saren's base to be taken out so the Normandy could land.
Sure, hitting Saren himself would be a big thing...and his base was large...but so far the mission had fitted neatly into standard manoeuvres...even if the mission was taking longer then most times. And with time...came thoughts.
She sighed yet again, still staring at her hands, two sets of three fingers moving before her, long and inhuman...
Michael had looked so...startled. It hurt, to realise he hadn't even suspected...that he hadn't even considered her in such a light...
Yet at the same time...there hadn't been disgust in his stance, no repulsion or anger...not even sympathy for her...just surprise and confusion, and something, something soft...enough to light that disgusting flicker of hope...
On the other hand...he and Ashley had been so close, so near one another...lips nearly brushing against one another, lips that could brush one another...that had to mean something, right?
Yet...his question, just her name, it carried something in it...something other than surprise...something she still felt echo within her heart...that still made her...hope...
She hated herself for feeling it...it was ridiculous after all...and sighed as she eased away from her rest, too tired with the conflict in her mind that she couldn't resolve. Stop thinking about it, you have work to do and... She looked down at her hands again, the gloves moving as she clenched her hands into fists, straining against a prison that simply moved with them. Just...just stop.
Instead she turned to the others while taking a deep breath, forcing herself to focus.
Of the rest of the ground team Liara was the only one who seemed to give the surroundings a look, the Asari standing on a white beach as her head craned back to look at one of the many nearly vertical mountainous cliffs that rose out of the ground. Before these cliffs had been scattered around, as if thrown out by some giant, long pillars reaching up for the sky. But the closer to Saren's base they had come the more packed they had become, not lone pillars but long walls of the mountains that made for a beautiful, if confusing, labyrinth. And within the monster lurks...
In sharp contrast to her Garrus was sitting on the beach next to her, hands constantly moving as he checked his sniper rifle, his pistol, his omni-tool and his armour...over and over, in that order. Judging by the way his mandibles clicked together he was also listening in on the others...
As to them...
Michael was off by the tents of the STG's camp, talking with the Captain of the Salarian special forces unit. Wrex was just behind him, the Krogan by the looks of it covering the man from Ashley and Kaidan further behind, the two humans standing next to one another, statues for all they moved.
Between the three humans there was a clear awkwardness...and Tali could only thank the ancestors that Wrex had interposed his bulk between Michael and the two others to allow him to concentrate. She wasn't sure how Wrex knew of them having an issue, perhaps it was extremely obvious...or perhaps he was more observant then those red eyes gave the impression of.
Tali wasn't sure where she had any of the humans by now. Michael was...a mystery, or at least his disposition towards her was. Kaidan...well the two shared a pain...but neither wanted to speak of it. As to Ashley...all hostility had disappeared between the two of them...but neither was there friendship, it was just...a void.
It was the loss of three companionships...and Tali was glad for the mission forcing her to focus...or she'd despair.
Moving closer she saw Michael nod, mouth moving to ask something...and then nodding again, brow furrowed, worried but concentrated. The Salarian Captain gave the same impression, his movements just a little too fast, a little too short...they were both professionals, Commanders of high quality...and they were worried.
Tali had already talked to a few of the dozen Salarians resting in the camp...and apparently their numbers had been cut in half just scouting Saren's base. And we're supposed to destroy it, or kill the man deep within it, Keelah...
But there would be no waiting for reinforcement, she could see it in the way the two commanders nodded to one in understanding, the way they kept their voice down just a hint, despite it not being needed...the rest no doubt knew it too. Saren could not be allowed to escape, and judging by the way the Salarians acted, there was something else too...
She moved closer.
Michael's voice was calm as ever, as if he was discussing nothing but the latest report: "Sounds like a plan, I'm not comfortable with your team taking the front, but as you said, there's little choice."
"Agreed." The Salarian nodded, shoulders slumping, the man knowing he'd lose men...but accepting it, his head looking up: "But what of my request?"
Michael lifted his left arm, not looking away from the Salarian: "Williams, you're up, radio operator and fire support for the STG."
Ashley took a step forward, only to stop as Kaidan did the same, voice respectful, even if his stance was anything but that: "Sir, with all due respect, I'd advise that I..."
"Like hell you will." Ashley snapped, voice low...and the two humans looked at one, eyes narrowed, a confusing mix of emotions running through their stances. Desire, want, fear, worry, anger, sorrow, grief...
Tali felt her heart quiver at the sight...it wasn't right...the two could have been so good together...and now whatever they might have lay shattered, despite them both wanting it mended...
Michael glanced back, eyes narrowing even as the Salarian scratched his head in confusion. "Williams will be fire support, Alenko, I want you to take the STG's bomb aboard the Normandy and prep it for deployment, just like we did with the Geth base. Is that understood?" The two other humans still didn't look away from one another...and Michael's voice rose with a hint of anger: "Is that understood?"
A final cold look at Ashley, his stance one of sorrow however, and Kaidan straightened to look straight ahead, hand coming up for a salute: "Aye, aye...Commander..."
A narrowing of his eyes as Michael observed the Lieutenant's salute...and then Michael turned back to face the Salarian Captain: "Is that to your satisfaction?"
"Yes, sorry but we do need an extra gun, and more importantly it will aid in communications, cooperation is the key here." The Salarian replied, then his gaze darted to Wrex for some reason, apprehension in his stance. "Should we perhaps discuss my team's need for a rapid strike in private...?"
Silence.
Michael glancing back at Wrex...who shrugged in disinterest...then he looked back to the Salarian, arms over his chest: "The troops on the ground always find out in the end, let's have it out now, rather then later."
"Fair point." The Salarian conceded with a nod, though his hands dropped to rest on his hips, close to his pistol...his behaviour...wary. "We have discovered that Saren's base is in fact a lab, a lab where he's breeding an army, an army of Krogan."
"How...is that possible?" Wrex growled, the Krogan's disinterest evaporating even as Kaidan and Ashley took a wary step away from him.
"It seems..." The Salarian hesitated, inching backwards. "...that Saren has discovered a cure for the genophage."
Silence.
Tali watched Wrex, feeling her throat turn dry.
The Krogan hadn't moved, his hands hanging limp by his sides, yet for all that there was a tension in him...a conflict...a want. She'd only heard bits and pieces of Wrex's tale, something about the Krogan refusing to unite even with the genophage, how they would soon be gone despite Wrex's earlier efforts...
And now the cure was there, right before him.
Keelah...
The Salarian's head twitched, looking to Michael: "With this army at his disposal and his Geth Saren will have an army capable of conquering entire star systems, he must be stopped. By destroying the base and his lab we will stop-"
"Stop?" Wrex echoed, the Krogan taking a heavy step towards the Salarian, a threatening step. "You want to destroy the cure for my people?"
Michael turned, hand finding Wrex's chest: "Wrex, listen-"
Wrex's hand shot up, clawed finger pointing at the Salarian's head as he pushed closer, his eyes narrowed into slits: "Your oh so civilised Salarians used us Krogans! Only discard us when you were done with us, justifying your genocide with talks of fertility and Krogan violence! At least we didn't kill millions of children while they're in the wound, at least we didn't stay in our cities and palaces revelled in our victory as our enemies wept over their piles of stillborn."
"Wrex..." Michael's voice was low, a warning.
The Krogan shot him a look, only to bare his teeth in a growl as he looked back to the Salarian, finger trembling as it shot even closer to the tense Salarian's face: "And now you say you want to destroy the cure...you may say we are the barbarians...but we are not the ones with making laws against genocide even as we enact it..."
The Salarian actually swallowed at the words, hesitating: "I..."
"Save your words." Wrex snorted, an angry shake of his head as he turned. "The Krogan have seen your true colours, nothing you can say can bring the lives of the dead back." With a grunt he moved forward, brushing Kadian and Ashley both aside as he marched towards a suddenly frightened Tali.
Only to come to an abrupt stop at the edge of the beach, the Krogan's head downcast, looking down at the water gently brushing against his feet, hands tightening into fists of frustration at whatever he saw. Himself...powerless.
Tali made to move towards him, unsure how to help...only to find Michael move in Wrex's footsteps, quickly catching up to the Krogan, left hand landing on Wrex's left shoulder even as he looked down at his feet, pondering his words.
It would be words meant to make Wrex fall in line again, to make him useful for them again, Tali knew it, it was Michael's way.
But she also knew it would be words he meant, words he believed...even if he himself didn't know it.
He looked up...and Tali felt her breath hitch as their eyes met. Whatever he was about to say to the Krogan visibly slipped from his lips, his body tensing as he was conflicted between the need to make Wrex well...and...another. To speak with her...but to say what...she didn't know.
She licked her lips, throat dry...and looked down at her feet, unable to meet that gaze a moment longer as longing, embarrassment and fear shot through her like fire.
Keelah...I should have left when I had the chance. She knew she didn't mean the thought...but it helped none the less.
A clearing of his throat...and Tali heard Michael's voice: "Wrex. I..."
"It's not right, Michael." The Krogan rumbled, surprising Tali, there was pain in his voice. "By rights...my people don't deserve this."
Silence.
Then Michael's voice, soft: "When were things ever right? When did you see true justice? When did anyone get what they deserved?"
Silence.
Then Wrex's voice, harsh but low: "True..." A low growl: "Better to take what you can...Saren might be a monster but he's helping my people..."
"Wrex, you know he isn't..."
She couldn't help it...she looked up.
Michael stood next to Wrex, facing the Krogan as his left hand remained on the mercenary's shoulder, his other hand on Wrex's wrist...and his face earnest. Does he even know how much of his mask has fallen off? How much of his emotions that now show? Tali looked away, chest heaving with a shaky breath. I...should stop thinking about him...it'll only... Another shaky breath. It'll only make things more difficult when he...he...
Wrex snorted. "Oh? Then what is he doing?"
"He's using the Krogan, you know this." Michael sighed...and Tali looked up in time to see him move to stand in front of Wrex, both hands one a massive shoulder as he looked into Wrex's eyes. "When he's helped the Reapers come forth all life will end, Krogan as well, you know this. And even if that wasn't the case...Wrex...your people were used by the Asari and Salarians...I don't deny it, you were tools in their war against the Rachni, dependent on them to move into the galaxy even as you fought for them..."
A weary sigh escaped Wrex, the Krogan's shoulders slumping: "What's your point?" Tali shook her head softly, even with Michael blocking her view it was obvious, Wrex already knew the answer...he just didn't want to hear it.
Amazing how similar the two are when you think about it...Keelah...stop it Tali...
She knew she couldn't however, instead she only stood there...and watched as Michael spoke: "Saren is doing the same thing. He holds the cure, he holds your future, every Krogan will be his to command...tools to wage his war...is that what you want?"
Silence.
Then Wrex body moved as he brushed Michael's hands off, voice growing in volume, self-assured and calm as always: "No, it isn't, my people might die out, but we will not be slaves again."
A pat on Wrex's shoulder: "Good."
"Right." A click of Wrex drawing his shotgun, the Krogan's face splitting into a shark-like smile: "Enough with this sensitive crap, let's go turn Saren's face into a bloody pulp."
Michael chuckled, the man echoing Wrex's grin with a nod. "Damn right. You and..." He looked up, past Tali...who felt herself stiffen in...she wasn't sure what actually...at the mere brush of his gaze. "...Liara are with me in Shadow, we infiltrate through the rear of the enemy base." His gaze moved over to Garrus, the Turian already moving towards him, having heard everything and just waiting for the call: "Garrus, you're Light, Shadow's spotter and scout." A look towards Tali...and she straightened, feeling his need surge through her. "Tali, you're with Garrus."
Silence.
The team gathering round him even as the Salarians did the same over by their Captain...
The awkwardness among the humans and Tali gone, pushed aside by purpose.
Michael nodded at them, the fire of his need to which the others gathered round moving through them, uniting them, united with the purpose to do what he commanded...to be greater than themselves. He looked to them...and they looked back.
And in his voice there was nothing but conviction: "Today we win."
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Thanks to Abydos Jackson for dealing with this nuisance. (Me, not the chapter.)