"Professor, I need to speak to you." said Shepard as he entered the Normandy's tech lab.
Mordin fumbled with his terminal at his desk without having the decency to make eye contact. "Not good time, commander. May have stumbled across evidence proving existence of particles beyond sub-atomic level. Could explain origin of life-"
Shepard felt that he would succumb to a severe headache at the sheer complexity of the Professor's excuse. Maybe he would find it interesting any other day, but this was hardly any other day, and he had something far more important to discuss with the Salarian genius.
Interrupting before the professor could dive into a marathon of babbling, the Spectre said, "First of all, remember that you're talking to someone with an IQ equal to half of yours. Second, I want to talk about the Prothean DNA."
"Prothean? Aw, yes. Sovereign employing use of ancient technology. No such knowledge exists in individuals of current date. Seeking possible knowledge of defense against weapon from Prothean?" the hyperactive Salarian quickly assumed.
"You practically read my mind. We're going to need any data from any source about this kind of technology if we hope to counter it, maybe even mount a defense against it." Shepard said in reply.
"I agree. Catalyst weapon powerful. Cannot possibly destroy dreadnaughts without use of large fleet. More subtle approach necessary, yes." Mordin urged.
"So..." The Spectre walked over to the desk and stared down at the glass container filled with bio-nutrient fluid that was preserving the tiny skin cells that made up the base of the aged alien DNA. "How long will it take for it to grow?"
Lifting his head to finally make eye contact, the professor started, "Have run simulations to determine growth cycle. Normal gestation rate approximately two—three years-"
"Three years?" Shepard interrupted, sounding slightly shocked.
"Please allow me to continue, commander." Clearing his throat, Mordin continued. "Have synthesized rapid growth enzyme to accelerate growth cycle. Should fully mature into adult stage in two—three days. Will remove enzyme once subject reaches acceptable age." he finished with a satisfied smirk.
"Now that's more like it. Good work, Mordin. Be sure to have EDI inform the crew of our decision. Wouldn't want to see them making for the escape pods when that thing starts roaming around." replied the Spectre.
He about faced and walked into the CIC. About half a dozen quarians worked furiously on the different system terminals. A female lay on her back with nothing but her lower waist and legs visible as she fiddled with the wiring underneath the command platform. Two males assisted each other in installing new circuit boards in the tactical control terminal, and four others seemed to be journeying back and forth from the Neema to the Normandy, carrying cases of the equipment necessary to upgrade the Normandy's sensors. In the middle of all this, Tali, his beloved, intelligent wife, stood at the top of the command platform supervising each of her kin's tasks.
For a while he just decided to watch her as she become lost in her element. Tali knew every system—every piece of hardware down to its nano-modular chipset. She was an exceptional engineer in every aspect. The knowledge of any starship's mechanics came natural to her. She could read the inner workings like a book. How such a mind could fit in such a tiny skull, he would never know.
For the most part she was very patient and soft spoken when it came to instructing members of her people. Tali showed leniency to any brother, sister, or friend of hers she knew to be competent. When it came to guiding the Salarian technicians on the Citadel, however, she had more than once been ready to take a plasma torch to their faces. He couldn't blame her. After all, how many Salarians does it take to repair an engine manifold? Anyone without common knowledge would probably guess one or two, but Tali was close to blowing an O2 filter when she saw that it took five of them. Those "Fickle, impatent-minded, primordial, reptilian, bosh'tets," as she put it, wouldn't know how to screw in a diode without the aid of a demonstration vid.
Temporarily relieving herself from her duty, she looked at him from the platform as she shifted her weight to her right leg and placed her right hand on her hip; striking a pose.
"Enjoying the view, commander?" She asked with a smile, knowing full well his answer.
"That all depends on what you're referring to in my view, honey." he replied with an equally affectionate smile.
"So now we are on a basis of referring to each other using the names of food condiments?" She said sarcastically as she descended from the platform towards him.
Chucking he replied, "No, no. It's an expression human couples use to-"
"I know what it means you silly bosh'tet!" she laughed, nudging him in the shoulder.
Shepard crossed his arms while wearing a defeated smile. "Why is it you can learn everything about humans yet I can't find the meaning of 'bosh'tet' after staying up all night on the extranet?"
Tali giggled and closed the distance between them. Bringing her helmet within inches of his face as she placed a hand on his chest. "Allow me to make a proposition, commander."
"Oh?" he uttered excitedly.
"You return to our cabin and prepare a romantic dinner, and once I'm finished here, I'll join you and tell you exactly what a bosh'tet is." she whispered softly.
"You know exactly what motivates me." he replied, rubbing his hand along her slender arm.
"Do an exceptional job, and maybe I'll requisition a... 'special' item for you..." she whispered, this time with a seductive tone.
"See you soon, honey." he replied letting her gracefully pull away from him and return to her supervisions.
After stepping into the elevator, something occurred to him. He had been so bewitched by her charming flirts that he forgot to even ask how she was dealing with the loss of the thousands of quarians that perished in Sovereign's attack. It made him feel insensitive. Was she thinking less of him for not asking about her well being? Or was she simply trying to drown out the thoughts by focusing on the fact that they were now bonded for life? It made more sense to consider the later, but he still thought he should speak of it with her later just to be sure. After all, it is a husband's job to care for his wife's emotional health.
...
"Name please?" asked the sullen batarian standing just outside the entrance of the Afterlife nightclub.
"Two hundred creds says me and my partner can be anyone on the list." replied Zaeed, slyly passing a credit chit to the batarian doorman.
"So it does. Welcome to Afterlife. Start any trouble and you'll be sped on your way to the real thing." retorted the batarian, sliding the credit chit into his pocket.
"Your house, your rules, mate." Zaeed responded, slipping past the batarian with Aranya and into the corridor.
It didn't take long for the two to reach the next door which opened to the display of the never ending den of sin that was Afterlife. Patrons of many species naturally decorated the open bars with the sounds of slurred conversation and the smell of expensive liquor. A couple of Asari exotic dancers sensually moved about the centre platform as their bodies flowed in perfect sync to the rhythm of the music; it's heavy bass enveloping the entire room and seething through the bones of all within the club. A light haze, probably from the excessive smoking of the patrons, blended almost elegantly with the red hues that reflected off of the metallic walls.
Feeling someone nudge him in the shoulder, Zaeed turned to Aranya who said, "Let's find our man." to which he responded with a nod.
The mercenary veteran and former Eclipse lieutenant made their way around the platform overlooking the 1st floor and proceeded into the corridor leading to the lower level. Several patrons shared drinks and idle conversation at the few tables that were placed around the room. A single Salarian stood in the far corner, wringing his hands anxiously. Aranya, recognizing Ish from their previous transmission, walked over to him with her former lover following suite.
"Not exactly what I had in mind when I said somewhere private." Aranya said to the Salarian.
"In my experience, the most conspicuous is often the most inconspicuous." retorted the impatient Salarian. "Do you have my payment?"
"Do you have our information?" Zaeed interjected.
"Indeed I do. I assure you it is valid and I went through a lot of trouble to come across it." replied Ish.
"Well then, don't keep us in the dark, lad. Let's see it." said Zaeed.
"I think not. Either I receive my payment up front, or I hand this datapad over to the next buyer." Ish insisted assertively.
"What's to stop us from just taking it?" retorted Aranya, griping her holstered pistol.
Taking on a smug expression, the impish Salarian answered, "Only I possess the necessary encryption codes. The data is encrypted with a level five algorithm so don't bother thinking you can crack it yourself!"
Sighing, Aranya shot a brief glance at her former lover, Zaeed, and sighed sullenly. "Alright, two-hundred thousand credits as agreed." she said slipping him a credit chit.
"Here are the codes. A pleasure doing business with you, my friends. Now if you'll excuse me..." Ish said, handing her the datapad and a small drive containing the codes before he began to walk away.
Turning to Zaeed, she gave him a wave of her head to relay a silent suggestion. Quickly, he spun around and connected the barrel of his pistol to the Salarian's lower back causing him to instantly lose his smug composure and throw his hands up in submission.
"W-what do you think you're doing?" Ish nervously stammered.
"Relax, mate. Just gonna make sure this information was worth the trip. Ain't that right, love?" he finished glancing in Aranya's direction.
"I-I assure you the data credible! W-What reason would I have to deceive you?" asked the trembling Salarian.
"That's what we're going to find out..." replied Aranya. Connecting the small drive to the datapad, she began the decryption sequence. Moments later the device confirmed its completion and revealed the data which she in turn examined thoroughly.
"Huh..." she uttered.
"What is it, love?" asked Zaeed.
"Change of plans..." Before he could inquire further, she stepped over to the Salarian, drew her pistol, and fired a single shot into the back of his skull. Ish's body dropped to the floor like a limp ragdoll with his dark green blood spraying forth from the exit wound in his forehead.
"The fuck are you doing!" he exclaimed, shocked by her actions.
"Just shut up and follow my lead! The data-" she was interrupted by the sound of an unfolding rifle.
"Hands where I can see em!" a batarian shouted. The couple turned to see a tall batarian as well as two of his kin and a turian all with their rifles drawn and aimed in their direction.
"Anto. Long time no see, mate." Zaeed said to the tall batarian that was Anto.
"Messani? I told you to never show your face here again!" retorted Anto.
"I'm a bad listener. Sue me." Zaeed retorted back.
"Smart ass human! I'll fillet your ass for-" The turian, who they had noticed was listening to his communicator, quickly interrupted the angry batarian.
"Hold on, Anto." Stepping forward, he said to the two, "You two got a date with Aria. Move it!"
…
Shepard lit the candles set up on either side of the table. One, two, three, and four. Finished, he stood up and admired his handy work.
"I would've been a great waiter... Not that I'd trade any of this for it." he thought.
The setup was perfect. A hot plate of spaghetti in meatballs for himself on one side of the table, and a steaming hot, sealed bowl of what was the quarian equivalent of chicken soup on the other. Though simple, it was a delicacy to quarians, being that most of what they ate was a bland paste. Four candles were lit around the corners of the table and several more were placed about the room. Something was missing though...
"Right!" taking a small vase and placing it in the center of the table, he set a row of exotic, violet flowers in it. He had managed to acquire a few from the Neema's hydroponics bay just before the wedding. The botanists told him they were native of Rannoch although they weren't one-hundred percent pure being that they were genetically grown. Still, it was a lovely aesthetic that Tali would appreciate nonetheless. For drinks, he poured himself a glass of expensive whine that Kasumi had been so generous to provide him with, and for Tali, a simple quarian equivalent.
A soft chime from the cabin door startled him. Telling him that someone was asking for permission to enter.
"Lights, forty-percent brightness." The room's lights slowly dimmed letting the room grow darker. The blue rays of light from the fish tank added a colorful hue that set the perfect romantic atmosphere he had hoped for.
"Come in." he said aloud so that whoever it was would here. Though he had a pretty good guess as to who it was.
The door opened and in stepped Tali'Shepard vas Normandy. Though probably exhausted, he could tell by her composure she was excited. He approached her with an ear to ear smile.
"Evening, Mrs. Shepard." Turning to the table, he outstretched his hand towards it. "Dinner is served."
With a giggle, she took his free hand and let him lead her to the table. "How thoughtful." she said with a smile of her own.
Both sat down on the couch beside each other. Sharing a warm embrace and an affectionate stare before turning to the dishes laid out before them. Both picked up their drinks and glanced at each other.
"To new beginnings..." he said lovingly.
Tali giggled. "And may the Reapers cower before us." she added as the two tapped glasses.
While Shepard began scooping the noodles into his mouth, Tali connected an extended tube from her helmet to the port on the sealed bowl and began sucking gingerly; letting the warm, tangy soup flow into her mouth. While chewing on the tiny bits of meat that came with each mouthful of soup, she turned to her husband to watch him suck a single noodle that hung from his lip into his mouth. She laughed at the spectacle which succeeded in provoking a laugh from him as well before the two went back to their own delicious meals.
Shepard scooped up another chunk of noodles and opened his mouth to prepare for the coming delight but froze as a thought occurred to him.
"Tali, honey..." he said softly.
Tali gulped down another mouthful of soup and licked her lips clean before answering. "Yes John?"
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Of course I am. The maintenance team will be finished installing the sensors in a few hours and then we will be ready to depart." she answered, trying to sound oblivious.
"Tali, are you sure there's nothing bothering you?" he said, prying for an answer.
"John, I am perfectly well. You know that." she replied.
"Tali, thousands of your people died today. I know how close quarians are with their kin. If you're hurting, you can talk to me." he said softly.
Sighing, she sunk her head and explained, "John, I do feel for their loss. It would be impossible for me to not feel something. I grew up with loss so, as insensitive as this my sound, I've grown used to it. Pirates raids have destroyed more than their share of our ships. Besides, you are forgetting that this is our day of bonding. A day of days, our day. I am aware of the seriousness of the current events. But I am not going to let some bosh'tet Reaper destroy the happiness we should be sharing on this day!"
For a moment he watched the silver orbs that were her eyes behind her visor with a frown on his face. Seconds later, his frown slowly curved into a smile and he said, "You're right. Whether it be the galaxy, or our wedding, we can't let them win... I love you..."
Smiling in return, Tali retracted her feeding tube and then began unsealing her helmet. Laying the visor on the table, she leaned in and let her lips gently connect with his into a soft, loving kiss.
He watched her slowly back away with a smile on her face and said, "You taste much better than my dinner."
She giggled in response and said, "I have an idea..." She slowly stood up. "How about we skip dinner..." Guiding her hands to her hips, she began to sensually caress them. "And go straight to desert..." she said with a devious expression on her face.
"You know for a quarian, you can be very naughty sometimes." he said, his cheeks burning red in arousal.
Admiring every curve, every feature of her angelic, lithe form, he watched as she strolled over the bathroom saying, "I'll be right back. Don't you dare go anywhere!" He could only nod absentmindedly.
He waited anxiously as Tali performed whatever she had planned in his bathroom. He felt his entire body go numb as his mind raced with both passion and desire. He hadn't been this nervous since their first joining before entering the Omega 4 relay.
Feeling his breath quicken, he decided to save time by unbuckling his belt and tossing it aside as the seconds past.
Tali finally emerged from the bathroom and walked down the steps into the living room of the cabin so that her husband could observe every corner of her body. Shepard himself, was stunned to see her wearing nothing but the lingerie she always wore under her suit. It wasn't often he had the chance to see the full aspect of her lush quarian body. She was petite with wide hips and a very thin waist. Her arms were slender and her legs were toned and firm.
"Whoa... You look..." He tried to get the words out, but his expression was enough to let her know how engrossed he was in her beauty.
Approaching him with exaggerated swings of her hips, she said to him, "It would be difficult to perform with the added weight of my suit..."
"And...what would that be?" he replied as she reached over to caress the side of his face.
"Did I ever tell you that I can dance?" she said stifling a giggle.
"No...you didn't..." he replied, still dumbstruck by this new side of her.
"Well my dear husband..." she walked over to his terminal and inserted a small data drive. "Tonight, I dedicate this dance for you. Do try not to stare at my buttox the entire time..."
Tali proceeded to the center of the living room. Seconds later, the same eerie yet soothing music that played at their wedding began to fill the room. Tali began her act by dropping to her knees and arching her back sensually as she performed a series of fluid motions with her hands before quickly rising to her feet and bursting into a ballet-like dance.
Twirling and jumping, she was truly a sight to behold. Her light weight, especially without the burden of her suit, gave her a freedom of movement unlike any other. Shepard felt as if he had found the meaning of life; an emotion that few would ever feel. Overwhelming affection, passion, and desire all swirling around in his head and working their way down into his heart. The moment was beautiful, majestic. If a tear should drop down his eye, he would feel no shame over it. For the happiness he felt drowned out all else.
She danced her way toward him as the music slowly died down before fading from existence. Leaning forward, she slowly, sensually straddled him from where he sat on the couch and wrapped her arms around him. Shepard in turn did the same and pulled her into a long, heated kiss. One that drove them as close to suffocation as possible before they broke away. They gazed into each others eyes, he into her luminescent silver ones, and she into his sapphire orbs. No words needed to be said. Their minds and bodies were in perfect sync. They each knew exactly what the other wanted.
As she hungrily dove in for another passionate kiss, she guided her arms down to his waist and furiously ripped his shirt off. She admired every pit of his strong abdomen muscles with each caress of her hands and then again guided her hands to his waistline and slowly began to pull off his lower garments. Shepard in turn proceeded to do the same to her as they prepared to endure yet another night of love of pleasure. One that would be well worth another fever on her part...