"This is a waste of time. Krogan are strong, we don't need to get involved in stupid Alien politics." Bellowed Grunt as he looked over at his new Battle-master. He was irritated to say the least at being dragged along for fruitless debate. He'd rather pull the legs off a Varren. Even that was more fun than this he thought.
"Look, I'm not to thrilled about to this either." Replied Wrex in his usual deep voice. "But like it or not, we're gonna need allies to help rebuild our planet. You don't wanna be sleeping with a rock for a pillow a century from now do you?"
"The Salarians created the genophage and the Turians spat it in our faces. What makes you think they won't shoot us in the back once we get there?" Grunt retorted.
"The Council used us as tools to squash the Rachni. Maybe if we can get a standing in their political system we can prevent that from happening again when- and if we find a cure for the genophage. Otherwise our race will continue to circle the drain." Grunt sighed feeling defeated. His stubborn Krogan nature still disagreed with him though.
"Fine." Said the young Krogan. "Just as long as I get to kill the first one that points a gun at us."
Wrex laughed. "You'll get your chance boy. Trouble tends to be right on my ass." The Krogan battle-master used his large three digit hand to type a command into the shuttle's console adjusting the auto-pilot's coordinates. "Anyway, we're still a few hours out from the Citadel. Feel free to entertain yourself with some fornax in the meantime." He said finishing with a devious smile as he looked at the younger Krogan sitting in the co-pilot seat to his right.
Chuckling Grunt replied with, "Why would I want to rot my brain with the extranet looking at that crap?"
"Oh I don't know..." Replied Wrex sarcastically. "Maybe in case Okeer forgot to imprint mating practices into that thick head-plate of yours? You wouldn't want to disappoint your next breeding request would you?"
"Haha!" Laughed Grunt. "At least I'm getting some. When was the last time you felt a female's warmth battle-master?"
"Hmm...now that I think about it, a while." Shrugged Wrex. "I'll have to have a talk with the female clan ambassador when we get back." He said bringing about another devious smile.
Grunt smiled back at his battle-master before leaving his chair and walking to the back of the ship towards the weapons lockers. It was his second favorite way of passing time. Adjusting and admiring his Claymore shotgun. Like Wrex, he favored the biggest and heaviest gun he could carry. The Claymore was no exception. He loved the feel of the recoil against his shoulder when he pulled the trigger, loved watching an enemy explode at point-blank range from the devastating impact of the heavy slugs.
Taking the weapon in his hands, he sat down on a bench next to the lockers. He slid his fingers down the massive barrel and began to remember the last time he had used it. It felt as if it had been forever since his dual with his former battle-master. He reveled in the memory of it. It was a battle unlike anything he had dreamed of. Though it came at a price...
He had mortally wounded Shepard during the battle. It wasn't until his blood rage diminished that he saw the error he had made in judgment. The last thing he remembered was hearing that Shepard had been stabelized and would survive his injuries. He felt guilty for the pain he caused him, for the pain he caused Tali, at least, as much guilt as a Krogan was capable of feeling.
It wasn't entirely in vain however. It was this turn of events that woke him up and allowed him to realize just how much of a issue his rage had become. Other Krogan didn't have the kind of control issues he experienced. Perhaps Okeer enhanced his blood rage to make him a better soldier? When alone his thoughts always focused on inflicting pain. In battle he was focused, clear-minded. After each one he would feel his his cease to boil. But in time the urge always came back. Always wanting more. But it doesn't matter now. His new battle-master had made great progress in helping him channel it properly; to control it so that it will not control him. It was the least he owed Shepard...
Shala waited until Tali had calmed her nerves before she decided to introduce herself. Shepard had since left the room to speak with the rest of his crew and evaluate their conditions. He insisted on staying to help her care for Shala but Tali suggested it was better if it wasn't there when she awoke. Shala slid up slowly, groaning from the strain of her sore joints, and called her niece's name.
"Tali...?" She looked to the desk sitting across from the bed she lay in and noticed her slumped over it with her helmet buried in her arms. She shot up quickly to meet the gaze of her Aunt; flinching slightly from the startling she received.
"Shala!" She stood up and walked over the edge of the bed. "You're awake. Are you feeling better?" She asked with concern in her now timid voice.
"I am feeling fine. Do not worry yourself for me Tali." The elder Quarian woman let out another painful groan as she slid her legs over the side of the bed; Tali taking a seat next to her on the edge. "How long was I asleep for?"
"Nearly an hour. You just collapsed when we were...arguing." Tali suddenly felt a knot in her stomach; the air in her helmet suddenly burning with every breath. What was Shala going to say next? She expected every bit of a lecture about how foolish loving a human was. About how it was inferior compared to the vow she had taken for her people. She braced herself when she heard her aunt take a deep breathe. The first words escaping her mouth only a second later.
"Tali, before my fainting, I remember hearing you say that you love Shepard vas Normandy..." The nervous, young engineer began to wring her hands together. A clear symptom of anxiety that even Shala recognized. She slid herself closer to her niece and spoke softly. "You do realize what that word means among to our people, the depth of it's meaning, yes?"
"I do." She replied after a momentary pause. Letting her emotions slip she blurted out, "And whether you approve or not does not entitle you to assaulting him!"
Shala was mildly surprised at the assertiveness she took with her, but a little proud at the same time. "No, of course not. That was very unbecoming of me and I apologize. I knew you would bring home a man someday. But I was... unprepared for...this."
"This? You mean the fact that he's human?" retorted Tali.
"No! I mean- yes." She stammered trying to find the correct words to express herself. "But that is all it is Tali; shock of the situation. I do not think any less of him for what he is. It's just that it is very uncommon to see aliens in a relationship with Quarians such as us."
"And that's exactly why I fell for him Shala. He doesn't see a Quarian when he looks at me. Others refer to me by thief, harlot, vagrant. He sees none of those things." Her voice calmed as she continued. "Ever since I departed on my pilgrimage and came aboard his ship he has treated me as he would anyone else. Without even knowing what I look like he trusted me with his life. When I'm around him I never feel like a stranger but an equal."
"The day you returned home two years ago...you mourned him because you loved him even then?" There was a brief silence that followed Shala's words.
"Yes...and then the ancestors brought him back to me. I was granted a second chance at love auntie; a chance to live a life away from all...this." She said waving her hand around the room.
Shala was speechless. How could she have been so naive; so dense as to not see what plagued her adopted niece with such great sorrow back then. How could it have slipped her mind during the trial? Clearly this man loved her the same. He spoke with such pride and dignity for her. He was a good man indeed.
"Tali, if you had only spoken to me of this sooner I would have-" The beeping of her omni-tool cut her off abruptly. Tali turned and gave a slight nod to reassure her to answer it. Summoning the holographic interface, Shala scrolled through a message written in Khelish.
"I'm so sorry child. But I have been called to a board meeting. I must depart for the Rayya." She said apologetically.
"It's alright aunt Shala. You shouldn't keep them waiting." Shala brought her niece into a tight embrace before standing to leave. "I will return shortly. We still have much to discuss, Tali."
Tali followed her to the metal door and opened it for her. As Shala stepped through the doorway she turned and said, "Please deliver my sincere apology to that bosh'tet human of yours." She said with a chuckle to let her know she was joking.
"I will Shala. Keelah Se'lai."
"Keelah Se'lai." Shala said returning the kind gesture.
"Rael, Rael, Rael..." Admiral Daro'Xen uttered at she scrolled through the recovered data from the Alarei on her private terminal. "You've been a very busy man haven't you..."
Before her was anything and everything pertaining to Rael'Zorah's research conducted on the Alarei before the tragic incident that claimed the lives of everyone on board, including Rael'Zorah. Daro had been working tirelessly for weeks decrypting and analyzing every last terabyte of data pertaining to his research. The implications of the project, the experiments, told her that were it not for the unexpected Geth parts turning sapient, the would have successfully completed the program in less than a month. With her knowledge and experience in studying AI, the Moreh's science team could easily finish what they started. Ironic that the one person in the galaxy she had to thank for this was Shepard. His interference in Tali'Zorah's trial was unexpected and unfortunate, but in the end things tipped in her favor. Him choosing to keep the data a secret allowed her the perfect opportunity to board the Alarei and snatch what was left on the main hub before the rest of the Admiralty board could discover and prevent her from working in secret.
She continued to scroll through the data, her eyes darting across the display rapidly to keep up with the with every code that flew by. She halted the display when a certain strand of code caught her eye.
"My, my, what have we here?" Everything in the technical readouts showed that the project was to create a weapon; a virus that would infect the Geth network on a galactic scale and ultimately cause their run times to shut down permanently. But from what she was seeing the in programs most basic code told her that this virus could easily be re-purposed to hack their directives and allow the up-loader total control over the entire collective. It was as if the ancestors had appeared to her and granted her her greatest wish. This was what she had been striving for; a way to return the Geth to the obedience of their masters, and with that, bring the rest of the galaxy to its knees before the might of the Quarian race they so quickly shunned from their worlds.
A devious smirk found its way to her lips as she relished in her dream of a Quarian utopia, the annoying beeping over her omni-tool jolting her back to the present a moment later. Lifting up her arm, she activates the interface and begins reading the message. Admiral Han'Gerrel vas Neema has apparently requested an emergency board meeting on the Rayya.
"Again with that war mongering bosh'tet." She says to herself. "This had better be worth my invaluable time."
Daro'Xen's personal shuttle craft docks with the Rayya nearly half an hour later. As she stepped out of the airlock and entered the corridor she was greeted with the sight of a few Quarian marines lounging and relaxing against the railing. As soon as they notice her they quickly stand up straight and hold their rifles firmly against their chests as she passed by. It flattered her knowing that she could inspire such fear and respect at the same time. Soon it would be more than simple fear and respect, soon they would all not stand, not bow.
She walked through a series of seemingly unending corridors when she finally came to the hatch leading into the board's private conference room. She stepped inside as the hatch hissed open. Shala'Raan, Zael'Korris, and Han'Gerrel had already arrived and sat on opposite ends around a circular table with a holographic interface projector embedded in the center. She walked around that suit wetter she knew as Admiral Korris and casually took her seat waiting for Gerrel to explain his reasons for summoning them on such inconvenient, short notice. Whatever it was, she suspected it must have something to do with the two Quarian marines the Normandy recovered.
Standing up Han addressed each of them. "This board meeting is now in session. Thank you for your patience admirals. I'm sure you're anxious to understand why I called this meeting so I'll get right down to it."
Admiral Xen crossed her arms, Korris leaned forward over the table, Shala remained in her current posture. "As you know the Normandy recently boarded my ship with two rescued marines of mine. I won't deny, I did send a team to intercept and recon the Geth ships seen leaving the veil. They followed them through the MU relay to the planet Ilos. They were discovered and lost six men however, before Shepard arrived on scene to evac. Kal'Reegar, one of my best, tells me that the Geth have been subdued to the control of a Reaper."
Shala gasped slightly. "A Reaper?"
"You did this without our consent?" Interjected Zaal'Korris. "Do you hold no loyalty to what this board represents? You're actions risk throwing us into open war on our own grounds!"
"The Geth haven't left the veil in two years!" Han shouted. "I won't risk being unprepared for an all out attack on the fleet. Or have you forgotten the massacre of Eden Prime and the battle of the Citadel, Korris?"
"That was a purely human incident and therefore holds no relativity in your defense!" Retorted Zaal.
"Wrong Korris! You think the Geth will stop after the humans? The walking slag piles you're so eager to be friends with will kill us all! Or maybe that's what you're afraid of. Maybe you want to live to be their pet once they've killed the rest of us?"
Zaal slammed his fist on the table and replied, "I've had about enough of your insolence you-"
"That's enough Admirals!" Shala intervened. "We must focus on this new threat at the moment."
"Admiral Raan is correct." said Daro finally adding her own words to the discussion. "You men can kill each other over your irrational ideals later. For now we must discuss what course of action to take to counter this opposition."
Han took his seat slowly. "The most rational choice would be to hit them where they live while the rest linger in Geth controlled star systems. We could reclaim our homeworld and end this threat before it escalates to a war on a galactic scale."
"You would see our fleet burn in the skies of Rannoch Gerrel?" said Zaal. "Our supplies are strained as it is. We have no where near enough assets for a full scale invasion."
"As much as I would like to disagree, Admiral Korris is correct. Even if we had the resources to invade the Perseus veil, we still have no knowledge of the strength of the Geth collective." said Daro. She would do everything she had to to prevent war. Just a little more time and her weapon would be operational. These fools would not ruin that.
Silence fell over the room leaving Shala the last to state her opinion. Han looked at her expectantly from across the table. "Shala?"
"I'm sorry Han. But they are right. We can't risk the survival of our race without the proper intelligence."
Han sighed. "Very well...if no one has anything else to add, this board meeting is adjourned."
Aranya T'Konis sat at one of the tables in the mess hall of the Neema with a datapad in hand. The lights were dimmed with not a soul in sight but herself. It was the time in between shifts when most of the crew was sleeping. She figured it would be a good a time as any to catch up on any information her contacts may have leaked regarding the location of Vido Santiago.
The snapping of a loaded pistol caused her to look up. "Sending a greeting card to your blood pack pimps?" Snarled Zaeed with his weapon pointed at her head.
She froze and lifted her hands up. "Hey, chill, I was just checking for any leads on Vido's location."
Zaeed held out his hand. "Let me see the datapad." Aranya slowly handed it to him. He looked through the paragraphs and saw nothing suspicious after a moment. He handed it back to her which she angrily snatched from his hand.
"You can be a real grouch sometimes." She said sullenly.
"Can't be too careful." Narrowing his eyes he added, "Can you blame me?"
"I guess not. Anyway, I've done some digging. My contact on Omega says he might have something for me. I'll keep an eye on it but I'm not making any promises." She said.
"Just make it quick darling." Zaeed said as he turned to leave. "I aint got another 20 years of patience in me."
Staring back down at the datapad, Arayna replied, "Advantage of being an Asari, you got all the time in the galaxy."
Shepard returned the large cubicle nearly an hour after Shala's departure. When he entered Tali was sitting at the desk while absentmindedly surfing the extranet to pass the time.
"Shepard, where have you been for the past hour? My shoulders have been begging for the company of your hands." She said playfully.
Walking over to her with a grin under his helmet, Shepard placed a hand on each shoulder and began roughly massaging the aches away eliciting a quiet moan from her. After a minute he leaned his head in over her shoulder and whispered where he knew her ear to be.
"Have your shoulders been satisfied, Ma'am?" He teased.
Tali moaned again before replying, "Indeed they have, John."
"You are so sexy when you say my name." He said letting his hands slide off her shoulders and down her arms as she gracefully found her way into his arms.
Giggling she said, "Remind me again what that word means?"
Shepard let out a laugh of his own and led her to the side of bed. "I will. But first, I have something for you." As she sat down on the edge of the mattress, Shepard got done on one knee in front of her and lifted up a small box in his hands. Tali brought her hands to the sides of her helmet as he opened the top revealing a uniquely designed, platinum chain necklace with a large blue diamond crafted proficiently by Quarian hands connecting each end.
"Oh...John..." She could barely speak as her heart tried to escape from her chest.
"I...picked this up during my...errand. It reminded me of you." Taking the necklace in hand, Shepard lightly taped the diamond causing it to glow brightly from the tiny amount of element zero encased within. Tali's breath caught in her chest as he handed it to her and helped her tie it behind her neck. A little difficult with her hood on, but not impossible.
As it was snapped in place, Tali looked down at the fading light emanating from the diamond. "It's...so majestic, beautiful..." She looked up and locked eyes with Shepard. "Thank you..."
Shepard gingerly took her hands in his as her eyes began to mist. "It got me thinking Tali. We don't know how much longer we have till Sovereign makes his next move. We don't even know how much longer we..." No, he wasn't going talk about death. They will live to share the live they wanted with one another. "Tali, lets get married. Tomorrow. Forget everything else."
Tali placed one hand over the diamond on her chest. "Yes!" She said throwing herself into his embrace. She pulled back after a brief moment. "I'll tell Shala as soon as she returns. She may be upset, but I don't care. I want this John, for the both of us."
"So do I Tali. " He said as they went back into to their solemn embrace. "So do I..."