Shala's heart began to race with uncontainable rage. To see Tali being violated by the man she trusted to keep her safe brought an overwhelming wave of emotion. Seconds seemed like hours as her mind strained to comprehend the reality of the situation. Feeling her gloved fingers begin to dig into her palms, she acted on the first thing her motherly instincts told her do.
Shepard spun around rapidly while Tali quickly slipped her legs off of him and sat down on the foot of the bed behind him covering her face with both hands. They both felt like children being caught red handed in a mischievous deed. Tali began to mumble something to herself in Khelish that his sub dermal implants failed to translate while quickly reaching for, and reattaching her visor. Shepard looked to see her shaking her head fearfully then to Shala who was storming towards him.
"Raan please! Let me-" Shala threw her fist directly into his jaw sending him to the floor with a few droplets of blood flying from his busted lip. Tali screamed as she watched him stumble to the floor with Shala leaning over him and wailing on his face.
It was then that Shala felt herself being tackled off of him. Hitting the wall, she slowly regained footing and to her surprise found Tali standing in front of her with her eyes narrowed into a glare. "Move aside child! I'll rip his filthy human testicles off if I have to!"
"You'll do no such thing!" Tali shouted. "Shepard vas Normandy has done nothing wrong!"
Confused by her response Raan said, "Then what is the meaning of this child? Is this your idea of a joke? Are you trying to give an old women a heart attack!"
Sitting up, Shepard wiped the blood from his lip and said, "Old with a hell of a right hook..."
Growing even more furious from his comment, Shala looked to him and shouted, "Silence fiend! Or I'll have you spaced with the next load of garbage!"
Tali took few steps closer to her and yelled while pointing angrily. "Over my lifeless, unsuited corpse!"
"What in the names of the ancestors has come over you child? Why do you protect him?"
Inhaling deeply, Tali summons all her resolve and says as assertively as she can, "Because he has made a vow to me Aunt Shala. We are to be bonded."
Shala felt a wave of a thousand thoughts jolt through her mind; the exhaustion of the day finally taking its toll combined with the shock of Tali's words. She quickly found herself in a state of vertigo and began stumbling backwards; nearly falling over before Tali caught her.
"Aunt Shala!" Tali shouted. Looking into her visor she could see that her eyes were barely open and could hear her mumbling something in Khelish. It was then that two Quarian guards came into the room with pistols drawn.
"Is everyone alright? We heard screaming and...what happened to the Admiral?" The male guard asked.
"Bring water quickly!" Tali said looking in the guards direction. The two officers shared a puzzled look then turned back to Tali. "Now!" She shouted.
"Uh, yes ma'am! Right away!" The guards ran off down the corridor looking for the requested item while Tali carried her Auntie over to the bed and with the assistance of Shepard, laid her gently over the mattress.
"Breathe Auntie, just breathe..." she spoke softly laying her hand gingerly on Shala's abdomen.
Concerned she had fallen ill, Shepard asked, "What's wrong with her?"
Looking up at his still uncovered head she replied, "I'm not sure. Probably just severe exhaustion." Noticing his bruised cheek and bloodied lip she adds. "Keelah, all you alright Shepard?"
"It's a lot less painful than getting slugged by a Krogan, Tali. I'll live." he assured.
Dropping her head, she began to feel terrible for her Auntie's actions. "I'm so sorry John. Had I known she would respond in this manner I would have told her of our relationship in the message. This is all my fault..."
"Don't blame yourself, Tali." He said reaching for her shoulder. "I'm the one who suggested we meet with her. And to be honest I sort of expected this."
"No you didn't." she replied slightly sullen.
"Well...aside from her being surprisingly strong..."
The Neema's mess hall was quite busy that time of day. Most of the Normandy's crew along with Quarian crew members sat at the many tables and benches around him. Though he paid them little attention. Something was eating through his mind like a parasite; dulling out all other sounds around him.
"Thank you." He heard those two words echo repeatedly in his thoughts. He had just finished informing the family members of his deceased squad of their loved one's deaths. But the words of only one puzzled him.
"Thank you." That was what Leti'Zenia, bond-mate of Moro'Zenia, told him. Most broke down sobbing. Others had hysterical fits of sadness. But she told him..."Thank you."
"Thank you." It was becoming unbearable to listen to. His head started to hurt and his vision went blurry. The voice seemed to repeat quicker as if purposely meaning him torment. It finally became too much.
Slamming his fist down on the table he yelled, "FOR WHAT!" His outburst drew the attention of all others in the room. He took a second to regain composure and looked around to see the many spectators staring at him. The room fell into such a silence that typing of an omni-tool could be heard.
Kal stood up and walked out of the mess hall with dozens of eyes following his movement. He didn't care. He found himself in a long corridor as he stepped through the first door his saw. Leaning against the wall he tried to clear his thoughts of that infernal word.
"Thank you?" He whispered to himself. "For what? Getting your bond-mate killed?" Why did she say it? Did she think he was some sort of hero for bringing her the news she never should have lived to hear? Was it because Kal gave him a chance to die for the good of the fleet? What fleet? This rotting hell-hole of indecisive bureaucrats that failed to make any act to save their dying race?
This can't continue he thought. 300 years and millions KIA later, things were no different than they were back then. The ranking officers made the orders to send them to their deaths, and the soldiers obey without question. Why is it that they had no say in the matter? Why should they die in vain on missions that end up being counter-productive to the fleet's cause? When was enough, enough?
He continued in his train of thought as he walked back to his lonely cubicle. As he drew back the curtain that was improvised as the door, he took note of all his possessions inside. It wasn't much different from any others cubicle. A narrow 10 by 10 surrounding of walls that gave a strong since of claustrophobia, a single locker for suit essentials and weapons, a small desk, and a thin mat laid out over the floor to use for sleeping.
He stepped inside and walked over to his locker. A few keystrokes and it opened upon accepting his code. His Predator pistol hung on the rack next to his suit's special armor plating. He hesitated but slowly reached out and took the weapon in hand. He then sat down on his mat and examined the pistol he held in his lap.
Holding it up to his face, he pulled back the top of the weapon, cocking it, and then brought it back to his lap. So easy it was he thought. Simply point the barrel at any being and one shot to the head would end it's life. Death. He wondered what it was like. To have the life snuffed out of your body and your soul traveling to the afterlife to join the ancestors. He wondered if all the men he'd lost over his years as a marine were there; or if there even was life after death. What if all this labor and perseverance for the fleet held nothing for them in death...
How many missions would it be before his time came? Before he would feel the burning sensation of lasers from a Geth's pulse rifle pierce through his armor and sear his skin. Maybe it would be painful, maybe not depending on where he was hit. Either way, it couldn't be worse than living out your life only to watch those around you wither and die. Maybe his next assignment would be it. Yes. He almost—no, hoped, that it would be. It would be so easy. Just find any enemy and stow his weapon. Just let whatever desires him harm to grant him his wish. The more he thought about it the easier it was to believe. To just let himself be die if it meant if would end the images of all those men he had lost...
"Sir?" The familiar form of the female Quarian, Vel'Lara vas Neema, brushed the curtain to the side and looked at him quizzically.
Kal almost jumped from her voice as it shocked him away from his tormenting thoughts and back to the present. "We're off duty Vel. Call me Kal." He in a flat tone.
"Right, sorry Kal." Vel pointed inside the room as if asking for permission to enter. Kal waved her over with his a slight motion of his head.
She took a seat next to him on the floor, being careful not to get to close to allow him to keep his personal space, and looked at him with nervous eyes. "Is there something you need?" asked Kal slightly sullen.
"Just wanted to talk if you don't mind. I couldn't help but notice you're outburst in the mess hall." Kal averted his eyes and returned his gaze to the weapon in his lap. She decided against prying for answers as to why he was fondling it like a pet. "You're thinking about the others. The ones that didn't make it I mean."
Kal froze for a moment. He didn't realize he was so transparent. At least not to someone as young and naïve as her. "Their lives are on me..." he replied quietly.
"I may be young but I know enough to know that they knew the risks when they were assigned to the mission Kal. Their deaths are on their own hands." she said trying her best to bring him an inch of comfort.
"It was my responsibility as Squad leader to see they return home safely. You wouldn't understand." Retorted Kal.
"They made their choice Kal. And they all died as heroes of the fleet." Heroes? He wanted to laugh at the word but held it back. They may mark their names with the title, but in the end they are viewed as collateral for the fleet.
"You're right..." He said, slowly standing up. Vel felt a smile work its way onto her lips. She felt she had succeeded in bringing him some peace.
"You are young..." He finished as he walked out of the cubicle. Vel's smile was instantly replaced by a frown. She began to feel stupid for coming by and checking on him. In the end it was a failed attempt. At least she tried. And she wouldn't give up on him.
Tali worked diligently to make sure Shala was nice and comfortable. After calming her down she had given her a mild sedative to help her rest. She also disabled her audio receivers to make sure they didn't disturb her slumber.
Tali gave her auntie's hand a gently squeeze then laid it over her stomach as she walked over to her human fiance who was fastening his air-tight helmet back on. She stopped him him saying, "Wait just a minute John. Let me have a look at that jaw."
She lifted the N7 helmet back up off of him and placed it on the desk to the side. Shepard protesting as he brushed her hand away. "I said I'm fine, Tali. It doesn't hurt-" he winced as she put a little pressure on the wound with her finger. "...that bad."
Sighing, she reached into her suit pocket and pulled out an antiseptic cloth. "Even the great Shepard vas Normandy feels pain." She retorted.
He accepted his defeat in the argument and let her proceed in dabbing each bloody spot on the side of his face; wincing slightly when he felt the cloth touch his swollen lip. "Ow. Was that necessary?" He knew she had put more pressure on it intentionally.
"Oh, stop whining you bosh'tet. Love hurts, deal with it." She replied sullenly. He felt a smile form on his face only to feel the sting of the open wound on his lip. Retracting her hand, Tali laid the cloth on the desk then opened a pack of medi-gel and gently glazed it along the side of his face.
"Better?" She asked with a smirk. Shepard grinned widely revealing his blood-stained teeth. She laughed at the spectacle causing him to shrug and join in with a chuckle.
"Now put it back on before you breathe something filthy into the air." She said playfully, referring to his N7 helmet. He carefully placed it over his head until he heard a loud click which told him that the latches had clamped down and sealed.
Now that they had some quiet time to themselves, he decided that now would be the best time to discuss her actions that nearly cost her her life back on Ilos.
"You know Tali..." he spoke softly so as not to cause her discomfort. "You really scared me back on Ilos..." He watched as she froze in place as she was putting the half-used medi-gel pack back into her bag.
Returning from her petrified state, Tali stood up and walked over to the corner of the room with her head dropped and her arms crossed defensively. "Shepard..." back to the last name basis. He'd struck a nerve. "I do not want to talk about this right now."
He did his best to maintain a soft spoken tone as he said, "I know you don't. And that's what worries me..." Stepping up behind her he placed a hand on each of her shoulders.
"I know being a Quarian isn't easy. I know that growing up you were taught to sacrifice everything you own, including your life if need be for the fleet."
Tali's thoughts drifted to memories of her late father. All the lectures and commands she received as his daughter. Stay strong for the fleet. All eyes are upon you; expecting you to fail. Prove the wrong he'd say.
He continued. "But you're not a serving under a Quarian captain anymore; you're not taking orders from your father. You're Tali'Zorah vas Normandy now. There are no expectations for you to fulfill, no cause you need to throw your life away so rationally for..."
He could feel her body tremble. Whether she was infuriated, or sobbing, he couldn't tell. He slid his hands down her arms and stopped at her waist. Gently turning her around to face him. As she brought her gaze up, the two locked eyes. She could see the pure sincerity that radiated from his bright blue eyes. His words were soft and true.
"You remember what I told you when you talked about linking suits for the first time?" he asked in almost a whisper.
"You said I didn't need to prove anything to you..." came her quivering voice, full of emotional distress.
"I wasn't speaking hypothetically..." He could see past her visor as her expression lost all strength and she fell into a sobbing fit. She let herself fall into his arms and tucked her head under his chin as he wrapped his strong arms around her like a blanket. Shielding her from all that threatened to tear her down.
"Dammit...I'm sorry..." She said in between sobs.
Shepard caressed the back of her hood as he whispered. "You've got nothing to be sorry about..."
"Yes I do." Came her sobbing reply. "I couldn't see past my own selfish motivations. You're right about me, Kal was right..."
Shepard used his other hand to gingerly rub her back while tightening his loving embrace. Trying to find the right words, he simply said. "Tali..."
"He...He told me father made him promise to protect me on Haestrom. He was worried for me John! He cared and he couldn't even say it to my face! Damn that...bosh'tet!" Her sobbing intensified. He realized that this was her way of mourning for her father. All the bottled up emotion he thought had been vented on the Alarei.
"He loved you Tali, regardless of his actions. He never wanted his daughter to die for his recognition. He always wanted better for you in the end." Spoke Shepard softly.
"And I did get better..." noticing that her voice was regaining composure, he broke the embrace and locked eyes with her once more as she finished. "I got you."
Shala felt vision return to her. She felt a slight ache in her heard as she lifted her head up and found that she couldn't hear anything outside of the metallic, muffled voices that came from the corner of the room. Slowly turning her head, she saw her beloved Tali'Zorah wrapped in a warm embrace with Shepard vas Normandy. She was ready to leap off of the bed but restrained herself when she remembered the events prior to her losing consciousness. She felt it would be best to not cause another dramatic display. Instead she let them continue to savor the warmth of each other and let her head fall back down on the pillow as she pretended to be asleep.