Shepard was sitting in Dr. Chakwas office, he had just sent another message to Miranda Lawson, he'd been unable to reach her for some time now. He wasn't sure if he believed she was just laying low or if Cerberus had finally caught up to her, but she could be the only person who'd have the information he needed to locate Tali.
He had been unable to sleep after the revelation about Tali, he had been pacing in his room trying to work out just how on earth it could be possible, he had also tried to search the extranet for any kind of information but had no luck, the only logical conclusion that he could come to was that it wasn't his. The idea was tearing him apart and decided to come see Dr. Chakwas to see if she could shed any light on it.
"Dr Chakwas.. is there anything you can tell me?" Shepard asked, his voice was full of sadness.
"Commander.. I really don't know what to say, I know very little on Quarian biology.. and what I do know is that it is that it's biologically impossible." Chakwas said sighing.
"So, it can't be mine then?... Someone else must of got her pregnant..." He struggled to get them words out, the idea made him feel sick to his stomach.
"Actually.. There is something, I have Talis blood test results here." She pulled out a data log from her desk. "A blood sample was collected from the roof were Mr Moreau had shot her. With some help I ran some tests on the sample and was able to determine a few facts." She handed the data log to Shepard.
"I don't know what this all means?" Shepard asked puzzled after scanning through it with his eyes.
Chakwas sighed, "In simply terms I matched your DNA to the traces in Talis blood. It's your child."
Shepards heart skipped a beat, he sudden felt very warm on the inside. "You could find that out from a small sample?"
"Science can be a wonderful thing Commander." She gave him a little smile. "There is something else.. I found some.. genetic anomalies, also in her blood. But without further comparison to other Quarians, I am unable to tell you if thats normal for her race or if they are a factor that contributes to her current state. Give me more time and I'll get back to you as soon as I have news."
"Thank you Dr. Chakwas, you have been a big help." Shepard said, finding himself smiling for the first time in weeks.
"Anytime Commander, I also might add, that she could of just adapted to contact with you, could be as simple as that." She replied, "Now try get some rest."
"I will, thank you Karin."
He left the her office and was heading back to his room, her last words kept playing in his head. "Adapted to contact with you." She had said. He stopped in his tracks as he remembered some things Tali had once said to him. "Our bodies carried the seeds that spread the desert grass... My system had adapted. No more negative reactions to you anymore. That's how we survive... to inter-species contact..." Could she of just adapted to him? It was a small hope, one that Shepard was happy to cling to.
"Life will find a way." He said quietly to himself, remembering an old Earth saying.
. . . . .
Tali woke up yet again in pain, every part of her ached, she had a strong headache, her sinuses were blocked, she had a sore throat, she was running a fever and onto of all that she felt sick to her stomach. Yet again. She wanted to blame her injuries from the last week, but any infections she had got from that were long gone. "Bosh'tet!" She thought to herself as she was forced to get up and run to her personal rest room. Her mask was laying next to the wash basin as her head hung over it, waiting for the feeling of nausea to pass. She looked at herself in the mirrior "Keelah.. I look half dead." She said to herself while she rinsed her face, her eyes were a unsually bright sharp blue. Her hand moved to her stomach as she felt a small strange kicking sensation, and for a split second. Her eyes reverted back to their original state.
. . . . .
The Illusive Man was studying a holo projection of the Dark Energy Dreadnought while smoking, he had a smirk on his face as he reviewed the test data.
"It's a impressive feat of technology, now that it's in the right hands. We can begin to shape the future." The Illusive Man said.
"This weapon will bring the chaos under control. Order will be restored." Harbinger spoke through The Illusive Mans lips.
"The Alliance will now know of our plans, and so will the Council." He replied, pausing to smoke. "No doubt they will send Shepard to find and stop us."
"Shepard is becoming less of a threat. The Quarian is wearing down his resolve. Every action she takes against them for us, is a blow to his being."
"Ah yes, Miss Tali'Zorah, one of Shepards biggest strengths had always been his friends and the support they gave, a strength that is now fading fast. When the final hour comes, he will stand alone in the darkness and that will be Tali'Zorahs doing." He paused to smoke for a second. "The Alliance will of surely uncovered her 'condition' from the scanners." The Illusive Man had learnt from his extensive information network about Admiral Hacketts health issues, it presented the perfect opportunity to expose Tali'Zorahs condition. "Shepard will be torn in half." He said with a evil smirk.
"That unborn child will be a valuable asset in breaking Shepard. Only when the champion of chaos is a broken shell will order be able to follow."
"Agreed, Shepard has always been one to choke on the hard choices, he will not be able to bring himself to harm Tali'Zorah because of it. His compassion for her and the child will be his undoing"
While the child was undoubtedly a valuable asset, It still didnt stop that fact that The Illusive Man regarded it as an abomination against human purity. When Operative had "recovered" Tali'Zorah from Shepard, Harbinger had discovered the embryo after a detailed genetic examination into how they would keep her alive, to survive the indoctrination process. The embryo was weak and wasn't going to last, Tali's body and DNA were rejecting the incompatible strands.
Harbinger had injected her with a careful balance of levo-proteins and used Reaper nano-probes to create a symbiotic harmony, in which allowed the embryo to grow and thrive. It was a smaller and less demanding process then that used to create Brutes. But that was not the reason behind his contempt, the embryo had survived naturally for as long as it did, a few more years of adaptation and this could become a natural process galaxy wide. It will be a dark day for humanity when cross species offspring became a natural part of life. He looked back at the holo of the Dreadnought "That day and many others, will never come." He smirked then turned as he heard two sets of foot steps approach him. It was Tali'Zorah and Operative.
"You wanted to see use sir?" Tali asked.
"Yes, I have assignments for you both." He replied, "Its time to pull all our resources, the remaining cells will become one to work on our final goal. Once it's been started the Dreadnought will be too large to conceal in any known system." He changed the holo image to show the Omega-4 Relay "Which is why construction past the initial stage will continue beyond the Omega-4 Relay." He turned to Tali. "Tali'Zorah, you will work with Harbinger and our engineers to alter the safety protocols to only accept a new IFF frequency. This will make the old reaper IFF redundant and any ships that try use it will fall into the black hole."
"Consider it done" Tali nodded.
"After that is done you'll be.. tying up some loose ends. Operative, I want you to regulate the flow of information regarding Cerberus and the Omega system. Also once anyone working on the Dreadnought usefulness comes to a end, I want you to ensure their silence." The Illusive Man added.
"Yes Sir." Operative replied with a smile.
"There is, one matter I wish to discuss Tali'Zorah." His voice went cold. "Why didn't you kill Shepard when you had the chance? Operative has informed me he was present in Hacketts office before the feed was looped."
Tali froze for a second, she didn't know why. Something had held her back. "I didn't believe it was his time to die.. I want him to see the order brought to the chaos before he dies." She said, she didn't know if this was a lie or the truth.
The Illusive Man went quiet for a few moments, pausing to have a smoke. "Very well. This meeting is over, you both have your roles to play. Tali'Zorah a shuttle is waiting to take you to the Dreadnought.
"Yes sir." She nodded and left the room.
"Keep an eye on her." He said to Operative.
. . . . .
A few weeks had past since Hacketts death, Shepard and the rest of his team had just attended a memorial service in his honor. Other officials were present including the now Rear-Admiral Price and Major Coats, even the Council had been present.
"This is a dark day for not just the Alliance, but the galaxy too" Garrus said to the group, "He was a fine man."
"We've lost alot of good people recently.." Liara added sadly.
"Yeah and we all know whos to blame for that" Joker spat. Shepard turned to look at him, knowing he meant Tali.
"Nows not the time Joker" Garrus said.
"Shes not to blame! If you want to blame someone, blame The Illusive Man, blame Harbinger!" Shepard said angrily.
"What about blaming you, Commander! Had you had let me stop her on Haestrom none of this would of happened!" Joker snapped back, "I hope someone can finish the job I started."
"Joker! How can you say that knowing shes carrying?" Liara said mortified.
"Enough Joker! Things arn't that simple and you know it." Garrus said stepping between Shepard and Joker before another fight could break out. Everyones conflicting views were driving them apart.
"Anyone that trys to harm her will have to deal with me! When we find her, we're taking her alive! We have to help her!" Shepard shouted past Garrus.
"Commander.." Ashley spoke up "Shepard, I won't be able to help you, the Council has sent me on a mission of my own." She sighed and looked away. "They've asked me to find and kill Tali."
Shepard stopped to look at her. "What? You cant!"
"Shepard, Tali is like a little sister to me and I could of never hurted her before.. but the Council don't believe she can be saved from her indoctrination, who she was... is gone.. Im sorry, you're my Commander and my friend, but I am also a Spectre and I have to take the orders the Council give me above all else." She said sadly. "I just hope you can get to her before I do.."
And with that Ashley walked away, on her mission to hunt down Tali'Zorah and kill her.