Chapter 6 has arrived! I wonder how long I can keep up this new chapter a day thing… I was originally going to post updates every other day but… It's so hard not to continue the story! I'm feeling it; it just wants to flood out of my fingers and onto the keyboard! :D Hopefully that's a good thing, and people keep coming back so I mustn't be that bad. Anyway, Mass Effect is owned by Bioware, and Tali commands you to enjoy!
Ch.6: Follow the Heart
Citadel
Admiral Anderson
"I wouldn't have it any other way, sir."
Anderson remained sitting as Shepard got up and began walking away. Anderson could hardly believe the scared, angry kid he had rescued on Mindior so long ago had become the savior of the galaxy. Anderson turned his head back to the Earth, thinking about the day he had first met Shepard.
Flashback
Orbital Mindior, 2170
"Sir, there are slaver ships all over the main colony; the Batarians are at it again."
Anderson looked at the screen. The colony had been decimated, and it appeared most of the slaver's ships had already left with most of the colony's population.
Anderson turned back to his pilot, "Worst raid I've seen in years, we'd better get down there quickly if we want to save anyone."
Anderson turned to exit the helm and ready his ground team.
Mindior
Anderson and his small squad of 6 were walking through the streets of the main colony. The buildings had been raided, and then torched, and there was no living soul to be seen. There were bodies everywhere, most likely the civilians who tried to resist, and the terrible smell of fresh death loomed over everything. Anderson had to turn his head away from a dead woman clutching a small child in her arms; the child was gone as well. Another girl, probably 15 or 16, was lying dead face-up near them in a pool of blood, empty eyes looking up to the sky.
Anderson shook his head. 'Damned slavers…'
Anderson noticed a few slavers lifting a crate filled with people into a ship, and told his squad to slow down before they saw them. Then Anderson saw a bright blue light.
"YOU'LL ALL PAY!" A young boy, who looked to be 16 or so, was running towards the slavers with an immense biotic fury. The boy was covered in blood, but almost all of it was Batarian blood. He held a sharp knife in one hand and an assault rifle in the other and he was glowing brightly. The boy summoned up more biotic power and charged at one of the Batarians, who died instantly.
One of the other Batarians yelled, "Kill him, it's the biotic that's sabotaging us!"
The Batarians readied their weapons and began firing at the boy. The boy's biotics seemed weakened, but they defended him from the bullets that were flying at him. Anderson told his team to move and rescue the boy, and they sprang into action. They fired at the Batarians, and the Batarians were taken completely by surprise and killed quickly. The boy was panting loudly, but managed to yell to the soldiers.
"Thank God someone's still alive that has a gun! We…" He stopped to try and catch his breath; he failed to do so quickly, and spoke on, "… We need to… Get these people out of here… Save the humans..."
The boy then looked past the soldiers towards the dead women Anderson at seen earlier. The boys face, completely red from his overuse of biotics, paled almost completely at the sight. Anderson knew right away the boy had known them.
The boy walked towards the dead girl lying face up, fingers outstretched, and knelt down next to her. He looked at her and tears began to roll down his face. Anderson told his troops to secure the ship, and then walked up to the boy and knelt beside him.
"Did you know her, son?" Anderson asked the boy as gently and quietly as he could. The boy let out a sob, then tried in vain to compose himself.
He kept his gaze on the girl on the ground, "She was … Her name was Ellen. She was…" He closed his eyes as more tears came out. "… My girlfriend…"
Anderson put his hand on the boy's shoulder, "It's alright son, your safe now."
The boy opened his eyes, pushed Anderson away, got up, and roared with anger, "I'm safe!? I just watched these … ANIMALS kill most of my friends and family! I saw my teachers, neighbors, and friends get rounded into ships like cattle!" His anger calmed a bit, and more tears fell down from his eyes. "I'm standing next to my dead girlfriend you asshole! I watched my parents and my sister get shot and die because I didn't save them!" The boy shut his eyes and looked down. "… How could I ever be safe from this?"
Anderson put his hand on the boy's shoulder again, "It wasn't your fault son, you couldn't have done anything. You're safe now, the Alliance is here, and I'll make sure you can get out of here alive."
The boy sniffled and stood up straighter, although he was still severely tired. He looked at Anderson, "Just … make them stop … make this nightmare stop…"
Anderson smiled understandingly at the boy, "We will son, we will. Now, please follow me and we'll get you out of this mess."
Anderson kept his hand on the boy's shoulder and they began walking towards the squad. Anderson looked at one of them, "Fitzpatrick, status update. How many were alive in there?"
The marine named Fitzpatrick saluted Anderson, "Sir, there are only 6 people on the ship, and all of them have been knocked out sir. Most likely this was one of the stragglers sir."
"At ease Fitzpatrick, now take this boy back to our ship, he needs some rest."
Fitzpatrick saluted again, "Yes sir!"
Fitzpatrick walked up to the boy and gestured for him to follow. Anderson took his hand off of the boy's shoulder and the boy went off, still sniffling a little bit, with Fitzpatrick back to the ship.
Another marine approached Anderson, with concern in his eyes, "Sir, can I say something off the record?"
Anderson turned his head towards the marine. "Alright son, let me hear it."
The marine shuffled a bit. "Sir… Not to be frank but, these slavers took this colony so easily and… I wonder if we even make a difference at all… I mean that boy lost everything."
Anderson shook his head at the marine. "Sometimes I feel the same way too, but as long as you know in your heart you're doing what's right, then you're doing good. Besides, one thing the galaxy has taught me is that you can't save everyone… No matter how hard you try."
End flashback
Anderson turned his eyes away from Earth, thinking about how few he had actually saved on Mindior. He had basically raised Shepard after that, teaching him fighting techniques while he mastered his biotic power. Obviously he hadn't been around too often, with the Alliance military and all, but he had always gone out of his way to visit him until Shepard had turned 18 and joined the Alliance himself. Anderson didn't see Shepard much after that… Until Azuke happened and Shepard was thrown into depression again. Anderson couldn't imagine how painful all of those losses were to Shepard, but he knew with just a little bit of support Shepard would perk right back up, because he knew in his heart that Shepard would always do what was right, and would always follow his heart.
Anderson then turned his head to the sound of magnetic clamps connecting to the Citadel. The Crucible had docked.
Normandy SR-2
Tali'Zorah
Tali awoke with a haze in her eyes. She tried to get up but felt pain in her chest, forcing her to lie back down. Her mind was glazed over, and she reached over to try and feel Shepard, to understand why she felt so dizzy. Her hand grabbed at nothing but air and she remembered what had happened. She closed her eyes and started to weep gently at the memory of Shepard's last words. 'You know I love you Tali, I always will.'
She couldn't accept it! She couldn't believe his words meant everything they had would end. He was hers, and she was his, and nothing could ever separate them, not even a horde of bosh'tet Reapers. She then noticed Dr. Chakwas come in with a sterilized mask on.
"Tali, you're awake." Dr. Chakwas walked up to her bed. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine… We need to go back…" Tali said faintly. Despite the constant protest in her mind, her body wouldn't let her just get up and run to the shuttle.
Dr. Chakwas smiled faintly. "I guess you didn't hear the news, did you?" Dr. Chakwas put a hand on Tali's shoulder, pushing her back down to the bed. "He's ok, Tali. Anderson and Shepard made it to the Citadel."
Tali jerked her head to look into Dr. Chakwas's eyes, "R-really!? He's still … alive?"
Dr. Chakwas's smile widened, "Yes, yes he is, and he's about to permanently shut down the Reapers."
Tali began to feel tears well up in her eyes again, but they were not tears of sorrow like before. No, Tali now felt an indescribable amount of happiness and nothing else could convey her feelings.
"Thank you for telling me … He better kill those bosh'tets." Tali sniffled a bit, then teased. "Or I'll get my shotgun."
Dr. Chakwas shook her head, "That's the spirit Tali, no wonder Shepard loves you."
Tali laid back again and closed her eyes. She was still hurt physically, but all of her emotional anguish was gone. Shepard had made it to the Citadel, and had saved everyone again, like he always did. She would be able to hold him in her arms once more, and feel his warm breath on her cheeks. She would be able to help him build that house on Rannoch and they would be together for the rest of their days. She would always love him, because he never failed her; he always followed his heart, and his heart always led him back to her.
Author's endnote: Yes, finally, more Tali! Jeez didn't I make this a romance fic, what was I thinking with no Tali in so many chapters!? XD Anyhow, hope you enjoyed this chapter and I hope to see you again later for another one! And as always please review, favorite, follow, give me free Tali merchandise, or whatever, and get ready for anything next chapter!