Chapter One: Even Heroes Die

Four months

Six days and

Fifteen hours

After Geth defeat at the Citadel

Nazara is dead Zane…now go out and find it. Find the Rogue One. To refuse is to begin your own demise. You have time before its patience grows thin. Before it is annoyed to the point of no return. The cycle shall begin again. You know this. It knows this. To delay is to accept your defeat and for the Rogue One to be defeated. It will not allow that again.

Find it or lose all you hold dear. Lose your friends, loved ones, emotions, yourself…you have been warned. Find it where the first victory began.

…

Zane stood beside the galaxy map as he usually did. It was his "spot" and so it remained for the better part of four months. He simply waited for it to happen. He made his peace with it some time ago. No sense in trying to deny it. No sense in changing it. Shepard had to die so the galaxy could be saved. Zane once toyed with the idea of dying in Shepard's place. But he doubted Cerberus would go to the vast sums to save him.

Besides, he had figured out a way to help without Shepard being there. The foundation was in place. However, it was still in its infancy. And as soon as he returned to the Citadel he would oversee the beginning of something grand. A pet project he had been cooking up for the past four months. The foundations were in place it just needed a few finishing touches. And for the ball to get rolling.

And then there was the Rogue One. Even without Shepard getting visons Zane would get…commands. Like whispers, he couldn't quite hear. Or images he mysteriously knew the meaning of. They usually occurred when he slept like this morning. A buzzing of words heard somewhere deep in his mind. They always told him the same thing…find the Rogue One. What would happen afterward? That was anyone's guess.

"…Zane!" He heard Shepard exclaim in his ear. He quickly deactivated the music in his ears and stood straight in embarrassment.

"Sorry, Sir." He said quickly.

"I asked what was going on in your head? You alright?" He asked and Zane thought about telling him. But then Zane banished the thought. His mind was a cluster-fuck of thoughts. Many of them didn't make sense to him, so how would they make sense to the others? And then he would have to explain the fact he was an interdimensional time traveler.

"Its nothing Commander, just dozing off is all. How are you?" Zane asked hoping to change the subject. Shepard gave him a curious look but didn't press on the issue.

"Annoyed. We have been searching this sector for the past three days and not a clue on those missing ships." He vented and Zane understood.

"Have you heard Preston's theory? It deals with pirates and slavers." Zane asked.

"And you don't believe that?" He shook his head quickly.

"If it were either of those they would scuttle the vessel to not leave evidence or witnesses. We haven't seen any debris younger than a month old. I think it is something else."

"But what could that be?" Shepard asked and Zane just simply shrugged. The air around them was filled with uncertainty and a sort of…foreboding. No one knew what to expect. No one knew that the Hero of the Citadel would be dead in less than twenty-four hours. No one knew but him. It wasn't a comforting thought.

"Some things Shepard, we don't want to know." Zane said and the Commander dwelled on the statement for a moment before leaving with a nod of his head.

"Like one's own death." Zane thought. Watching the Commander walk away. But he ended those morose, depressing thoughts with a single reminder Shepard would not be gone for long. Just two years and when he returned there would be a lot of changes made. Many of which would be of Zane's making and for the better.

Tired of sitting in one place for much too long Zane walked to the garage of the Normandy. He went straight to the workbench and placed his M4 on it.

Almost two years he had this mysterious weapon that appeared when he was catapulted from his home to this galaxy. And still, he had no idea who made it, where it came from, and why it seemed to be waiting for him. All he knew was that it had a highly advanced version of thermal clips built into the two magazines that refilled on their own. And that the weapon made short work of enemies.

As much as he loved the weapon he had been wanting to upgrade it. Or even change it in a few ways. But he didn't know enough about weapons to give it a grand makeover. So, he practiced on the weapons Shepard would pick up in the field. Like the one that was beside his own rifle. He had learned how the "collapsing" mechanic worked. And had slowly been introducing that to his own. But it still needed some work. He had to work with the "magnetizing" ability of the weapons. He had an idea of how they functioned. But it wasn't as simple as sticking a giant magnet on one's back.

"So much to do. So, little time." Zane said as he got to work. He tore into the Avenger rifle before him. Placing every screw, plate, rubber piece, and even what to glue in separate places on the table. He scanned each piece and each square inch of the now dismantled weapon. His omni-tool telling him what he needed to know of it.

"Searching on the extranet for that would be much easier." Garrus said looking at what Zane had been doing. He smiled at the Turian.

"Very true but I really hate the technical talk that comes from vids or articles. And I don't need a beginner's book on it. This suits me just fine. Besides, I always had a weird thing where I like to destroy things. This scratches that itch." He said as he continued to scan the parts and examine them further.

Garrus watched Zane tentatively as he looked at each piece figured out what it was for then down the list of objects to study. Zane managed to scan each piece, listen to his songs, and play a game on his omni-tool. Watching him was giving Garrus a headache just from the sheer amount of multi-tasking going on. The Turian simply left shaking his head.

…

Zane hummed as the song finished and while he finished putting in the last piece to the Avenger. He tested it out on a target to his right. The gun fired properly and discharged the thermal clip smoothly. At some point learning about the weapon became fun and he forgot what he was initially looking for. Or working towards. But the notes he kept helped to remind him of the task at hand.

"What time is it?" He said out loud looking at his omni-tool and yawned. He saw a three-fingered hand appear and place itself on the table beside his own. Close enough that it was less than an inch from touching.

"Time for you to go to sleep." The woman's voice spoke beside him. He immediately smiled.

"If I said I'm not tired would you believe me?" He asked.

"No." She replied quickly.

"You're no fun Tali." Zane said as he grabbed his rifle and carried it to his locker. Zane put his weapon in its appropriate spot and got it perfectly standing straight. Afterwards, he rose and yawned once more and headed to their room. Their beds on opposite walls and he went to the one on the right. Zane laid down on his back after taking off his hoodie and mask and stared at the ceiling.

"Zane?" She said quietly he still looked at the ceiling and smirked. He liked the way she said his name. It was so…different then how a human had said it or any other alien for that matter.

"Yes, Madam nar Rayya?"

"Do you think we will find those responsible for the missing transports?" Tali asked him suddenly. The smile turned to a frown in nanoseconds and he felt anxiety rising. He felt the urge to crack every ligament in his body. The question had caught him off guard and he almost wasn't sure what to say.

He had the urge to tell her to say her goodbyes to the crew. That Shepard would be dead for about two years and this band of misfits would go on a long hiatus.

"Yes, I do." He said trying to sound optimistic and not let the depressing undertone show. Tali seemed to accept that answer and soon was trying to go to sleep. He continued to stare up at the ceiling the black and gray colors becoming brighter as his eyes grew used to the lack of light. He became so mesmerized by his thoughts. That he ignored the itching his scars were giving him. The same scars that were a "goodbye" present from Saren. The thought of the man sometimes made him remember his last words to Zane. Before Saren shot him four times in the back.

"Told you I wouldn't make the same mistake." Zane shook his head and began to stare at the ceiling. He eventually ignored the cute sounds Tali began to give off as she slept. Then he didn't even notice he was about to fall asleep before it was too late.

The Next Day

"Tali!" Zane woke up with a startled look in his eyes and a cold sweat. It wasn't an order from the Rogue One this time but a dream. He didn't get nightmares like this anymore…or so he thought.

He saw it… the fire, the death, the destruction. Geth impaling everything in their path. Saren had him by the throat and a gun to his temple. The Turian was about to pull the trigger when the team came to save him. But Sovereign appeared out of nowhere. The Reaper crashed through the ceiling and killed everything with a single blast of its laser. All but one died from the one blast. Tali crawled to him. Still trying to help but the missing legs prevented her from being much help. Saren threw Zane to the side and he just sat there frozen. He wanted to move but couldn't, the fear paralyzed him stiff. Saren walked and placed a foot on her back.

"Zane… help me." She pleaded reaching for him. And yet he did nothing, the fear kept him still. And Saren pulled the trigger and the dream ended. As Saren looked at him with glowing blue eyes.

Zane looked around and didn't see Tali in her bed. A spark of fear went up his spine and he quickly got out of bed. He had to know she was safe, that the crew was safe. That they didn't die because of him, that she didn't die because of him. He got up and stumbled to the door and opened it. He saw Garrus working and Tali began to walk towards the engine room. Zane gave a relieved sigh as he reentered the room and sat on his bed. Face in his hands as the images of them all dying replayed in his mind over and over. As if it was on repeat. Saren looking at him as he killed Tali and Sovereign almost laughing at it killed the crew.

Zane rose from his bed and got on his hoodie and mask. And he quickly learned that today was the day. Shepard, the Lion of Elysium, Savior of the Citadel, Champion of Humanity would die. In what is possibly the cheapest way to go. A surprise attack from a powerful dreadnaught. But that wouldn't stop Zane from getting prepared. He had the essentials and some of the not-so-essential things packed and ready.

He walked out into the garage and immediately made his way to the engine room. The doors opened and he just watched them all work.

"How many here would die? No, how many would live? That was the better question." He could try to help as many as he could. But he didn't remember all their names. Nor did he remember which ones died. He'd be better off simply escorting them off one by one. But that would take too long.

"Zane, you alright?" Garrus asked him knocking him from his thoughts.

"Hm? Yea, yea I'm fine. I'm just thinking."

"Really? Because it looks more like your trying to burn a hole into the drive core with your eyes." The Turian gave the version of a smirk. It was a simple twitch of one mandible. But Achilles did it often and Zane knew what it meant within a week.

Achilles, Zane's first friend on the Citadel. But more than that, a relic of the past much like Zane. Achilles had been Zane's dog from before Zane was transported. And then Achilles died. Natural causes everyone assumed but now that Zane was here with him? The old facts were being called into question.

"Burn a hole? Now that is just boring. Now make it go boom…that is more fun." Zane jested as he turned around. He popped his knuckles followed by his neck then an arm followed by the other. Then to top it off he did his back. Zane was getting nervous now as the clock got closer to "midnight." He needed to take his mind off the life and death situation about to hit the Normandy like a damn tidal wave.

"Back to tinkering." He said to himself and went to the bench.

"You know I wasn't aware you tinkered…ever." Garrus brought up. With Wrex gone the garage had become so quiet and so lonely. Who would've thought that with the huge Krogan gone the room could take such a quiet turn?

"And Wrex hardly ever spoke!" Zane mentally exclaimed. As he pulled out the equipment he would need.

"That's because I usually don't. But after Saren, I realized I needed to change some things. You know…just in case another Spectre decides he wants to go rogue." Zane said as he began to take apart the Carnefix pistol. He wanted to see what made it such a powerhouse. This thing demolished anything and everything it touched. Leaving nasty wounds and missing limbs, heads, etcetera.

"Fair enough." Garrus said but Zane was already blocking out the outside world. Only keeping a lookout for the alarms and red lights for evacuation. He had to look casual but remain alert.

Zane thought about playing games on his omni-tool like he used to. But what he said about Saren had been true. Zane was learning the issues that came from his weapon's…older roots. The strap meant he had to constantly make sure it didn't move too often and was a constant annoyance. It also meant the weapon was very difficult to hide. If it "folded" then it would be much easier to keep hidden. Another issue with the weapon was that it was very difficult to upgrade. If Zane wanted to upgrade the M4 he would have to dismantle the damn thing and put it together with the attachment on it. The M4 just wasn't compatible with attachments meant for weapons made almost 200 years after its inception.

Although the M4 did have a cool hybrid scope that could go from a red dot to a long-range scope. But a new barrel, stock, even receiver then it wasn't as simple. He would need three new parts just to add a new one. It needed to be streamlined.

After long, the Carnefix was completely dismantled and was bare before him. He soon saw the cause of its power. The M4 was good and killed effectively but there were always improvements to be made. Zane pulled up his omni-tool and began to record.

"Found the cause of the Carnefix's power. It simply grabs a much larger chunk of the floating slug. Pretty, simple, right? I think I can improve on this. If I can figure out a way to make it into the shape of a bullet and add some rifling to it. Then it could be nearly unstoppable. My M4 does this surprisingly well however the chunks it grabs are very small. Good for accurate, sustained fire not so much if I want a heavy punch. However, if I were to increase the chunk it grabs then it may severely decrease the number of shots I can have. This is unacceptable, there are only two magazines and they are one of a kind. I've tried to understand how they work on the advanced level but it is no use. I am simply unsure how it makes more rounds. Perhaps I don't want to know. Next project is figuring out how the hell weapons are synced to omni-tools. A plethora of ammo types at my command will be most useful." Zane finished as he began to put the pistol back together.

The Normandy then shook violently. At first, Zane thought it was just some space debris. Then it happened again. This time more violent and much more noticeable.

"Shit!" He cursed as he got his weapons and strapped them up. The alarms soon followed and the once black and blue room turned into an ominous red color.

"Is that what I think it is?" Garrus asked and Zane nodded.

"Alarms we are under attack!" He ran for the engine room with Garrus following close behind him.

"All crew find escape pods and abandon ship!" They heard Shepard's voice loud and clear as the door opened. The drive core was alive with activity shaking and pulsating often and almost brutally. The engineers kept up the work but it would be to no avail. The shields, armor, and weapons of the Normandy were no match for a Collector vessel.

They had to leave and they had to leave now!

"Everyone out! Let's move it people!" Garrus and Zane called out and the engineers finally began to move away from their stations. Zane and Garrus kept everyone moving and Tali showed up.

"I can help. I can…" Zane hushed her with a hand on her shoulder.

"No, you need to get moving get into our room grab the bags on our beds and get them into a pod. Me and Garrus will be there soon."

"What about Shepard?" Garrus asked no doubt wanting to make sure he would get out as well.

"Liara will see to him. He is stubborn if she can't get through to him then we certainly won't." Zane said still guiding the few more crewmates.

"I knew today was going to be a bad day when I woke up." Garrus said as he ran to his locker grabbing some essentials.

"Oh, you too?" Zane joked as he went to the room and grabbed the bag on Tali's left shoulder. The bags were not heavy but he had to help. He didn't prepare for this moment for the past four months for nothing. And he'd be damned if it was to all burn away here. "Okay let's get out of here." He said as he ran to the pod. He threw his bag in and Tali gave hers to him and he repeated the process. Tali went in followed by Garrus.

"Wait, my pilgrimage gift! Did you pack it?" Tali exclaimed and Zane cursed he knew he forgot to pack something. The ship shook again.

"I'll get it, one moment." He ran away from the pod and dodged the breaking railings, and supports. He saw crewmates dead trapped by railings that had crushed their skulls inward. And their bodies engulfed in flames. But he had to ignore it, to look past it. Zane jumped over fire spots and a downed locker. "Be in Shepard's crew I thought. It would be fun I thought. Be a hero I thought. The fuck was I thinking?" He cursed when he entered the room and saw the datapad in the center of flames. "Oh no, you don't." Then he went into the inferno.

…

Tali waited in the pod for what seemed like an eternity. Her legs shook with anticipation, fear, and just the shred of hope her and Zane would live through this.

"Come on Zane move it." Garrus said to no one as he looked at the open pod door. Tali saw the pods begin to depart. Time was running thin for them.

"Where is he?!" She exclaimed and with every second she was certain he was dead, dying, or was calling for her to help him. She was about to make a run for him when a datapad landed in her lap. Then a figure in black ran into the pod crashing into her and Garrus.

"Time to leave everyone." Zane said as he pressed a button and the pod took off.

She didn't think about the fact they had just left their home for almost the past year. Or that some of her friends may still be on that ship. She couldn't afford to think like that. She could only think of the fact Zane, Garrus, and she got out okay.

They looked out the window and saw the ship that attacked them. It looked so alien and so mysterious. A mixture of organic chitin and synthetic metals. Tali felt pain, defeat, hopeless, and just all-around like crap. And from the face of Garrus so did he.

But Zane was different. He looked determined his eyes were narrowed trying to burn the alien ship with them it seemed. His fists clenched in a way they hadn't in months. She almost felt sorry for those that had attacked them. They had no idea what they had awakened. What they had unleashed upon themselves.

"They will pay…they will all pay. I promise you that." Zane said in the voice of the Reaper. The same voice when he was a vigilante on the Citadel's streets. In that low, toneless, unfeeling, hatred filled voice.

When the Normandy blew up again a pang of guilt and sorrow hit Tali. She couldn't stop the tear from falling nor its counterparts. Garrus' mandibles were spread open in shock but Zane remained emotionless. His eyes as hard as steel. And as cold as ice. She grabbed his hand and the eyes relinquished the hardness the sheer malice and hate was gone nearly immediately. Replaced by sadness but also a measure of hope. He held onto her hand and caressed it slowly. More of a way to calm him down. But it relaxed her as well as a side effect.

…

Zane stared out into the depths of space for a long time. Long enough that the wreckage of the Normandy was gone, the sight of other pods was gone. Only the stars remained. Garrus had fallen asleep some time ago. But Tali had beaten him to that first. Soon as he began to rub her hand she was out like a light in no time. As they drifted in open space Zane could only think of the future and how he would change it. Of how it would be a different setting for Shepard then the one he should wake up in. Zane had plans and he had every intention of fulfilling those plans.

And while the Rogue One was not something to be trifled with he knew he had some time before anything bad would happen. And he had priorities to attend to first.

The pod shook slightly then it shook a little more. Waking up the others.

"Huh, what?" Garrus asked in a mild panic.

"Alliance is here. Time to give our reports then they will send us on our way." Zane clarified. He read normal procedures when the Alliance found drifting escape pods. And what they did if the pod came from an Alliance vessel. Tali grasped his hand a little tighter, fearful of having to think about the ordeal once again. Even Zane didn't want to think about it. Not that it would matter. The Alliance and Council would immediately sweep this all under the rug. All in the name of "peace" and "public unrest" they would sign their own death warrants if the alternative was a "mild" inconvenience.

…

Just as he predicted, he gave the report of what happened. The officer seemed like he believed every word. But Zane could see past it. It was hard to make out but there was a slight roll of the eyes and the twitch at the corner of his mouth suggesting the urge to smirk. So, while he played the part well, the officer couldn't care less about the "truth" he only wanted a reason. Zane kept himself from beating the officer to a pulp. That wouldn't look good and furthermore, he couldn't help Shepard if he was killed via firing squad or something of the sort.

Zane walked the long hallway towards the hanger where he would tell the pilot where to take him. He figured the Citadel was his best bet to get the ball rolling on his plans. There could be no hold ups. He had at most two years for his brainchild to become efficient and if it wasn't ready in time then his efforts would be for naught.

"Zane…where are you going?" He heard Tali ask him. He stopped and held his head low. He hated to say goodbye to her. He was hoping to just leave and not look back. He would see her again. But he would rather not say goodbye before then.

"Leaving." He said simply.

"Where to?" She asked him and this time he looked at her. He might as well tell her goodbye now. She would have his head if he left without a goodbye anyways.

"The Citadel. I have something I need to do. After that…who knows. Maybe the Reaper will return once and for all." Zane didn't believe that for a moment. Shepard would come back and the Reaper would take another "extended" vacation. The Reapers and Harbinger had to be stopped and Zane wanted to be there when they were stopped. From beginning to end.

"Oh…I was hoping you would at least….um…well, what I mean is that the ride will be so lonely and…" She began to her signature babbling and with each second Zane's smile grew wider and wider. It was both comedic and cute how could he not? And he began to feel disappointed in himself. Tali deserved a goodbye more than most people.

"Alright, Madam nar Rayya. I'll see you off it's the least I can do. You have saved my ass more often than I can count." Zane said as he approached the shuttle with the woman who seemed to be bouncing on her toes. Garrus had left some time ago after he said his goodbyes then he immediately went to the Citadel. Garrus had work to do and people to warn. Much like Zane.

…

The ride to the Migrant Fleet had been mostly quiet but not uncomfortable. Tali had been playing with her hands for almost the entire ride. While Zane just sat, slept, listened to music, or watched her. Or he did a culmination of all three of those.

Zane was just about to fall asleep when his omni-tool sprang to life. A message had been sent.

Heard what happened please tell me you are okay!

-Achilles

Zane rolled his eyes. Achilles was extremely protective which was funny when the person he protects gets shot at in his free time.

I am fine Achilles you worry too much. Everything is going according to plan I will be there soon enough and then we can begin Project Phalanx.

-Reaper

He waited some time just waiting for the message of Achilles questioning him again.

I still don't like this idea. What you are thinking is possibly conspiracy to commit unrest! There will be some serious penalties if you do this.

-Achilles

Zane knew that would be his remark. Achilles always questioned the plans he came up with. And in Achilles' defense, they were usually over-the-top. However, the plans Achilles wanted would just take too long to come together and relied on too many variables. With Zane's plans, they required his personality and the hope and fear of the people around him. And he could use that to his advantage.

And there will be some serious consequences if we don't do it. Billions will die Achilles billions the Council will just sit on their asses the whole time. They need to be reminded what it means to serve people. And sometimes facing a scary truth is better than a beautiful lie! This discussion is over until I get there. I don't want to hear a peep from you about Phalanx until I'm face-to-face with you.

-Reaper

Zane closed the omni-tool and he knew Achilles wouldn't dare message him back until they saw each other. There was a chance it would be a screaming match but it may also be civil. Who knew? They were the closest thing they had to a family now. And in his personal experience family was never predictable. And unfortunately, Achilles had learned a lot from him. That meant he was stubborn, a pain in the ass, and didn't give up easily. It was why the argument had to be ended before it got serious.

"Look Zane! It's my home." Tali said knocking him from his thoughts. She peered out the window with an excitement he saw very rarely. Zane rose and got beside her to look towards the Flotilla. There were hundreds of ships it seemed. Each one serving a purpose and each one having a duty to the others.

"Must be something. To come back to this, I mean." He said and Tali became morose. Her shoulders dropped and her head dipped.

"Yea…just wish I was on the Normandy and coming home." Zane grabbed her shoulders he was only a few inches taller than her and peered into her eyes.

"Hey now. No need for that. You are home that is all that matters. You can see your friends, your Aunt Raan, and even your father. And most of all you can add vas to your name! That is enough reason to look forward not backward." He said and was surprised when she clasped her arms around his waist. "Quarians really like the hugging thing huh?" He thought as she released him just as the shuttle was about to dock.

Tali had warned her people she was coming home some time ago in a message to her Aunt. Of course, while Zane was arguing with Achilles she did it in person. She looked at him and her body language said she wasn't sure if what she was about to say would be…too much.

"I want you to meet them." She asked quickly. Zane had to turn off the music in his ears to make sure he had heard her right.

"What?"

"Aunt Raan, my friends, my father even. I want you to meet them. Please?" She asked and he thought about it. He didn't expect that request at all. It caught him off guard. But he saw no reason why not. The Citadel wouldn't disappear. And he realized he had been too hasty in trying to leave for the Citadel so quickly. He reached behind him and grabbed the mask clasped to his pants. After he undid the clasp he slid it onto his face. The mask hissed as it made an airtight seal around his mouth. The mask was of Asari-make but retrofitted for humans. It was a black color and still covered his identity. It was perfect for space missions or missions lacking in oxygen.

"Well, I do like to meet people." He said with a laugh. The door to the airlock finally opened. And Zane was sure he was more nervous than Tali was. He knew everything he said, did, and remarked, would be scrutinized to all hell. He didn't like being scrutinized he preferred to do the scrutinizing. It kept him at an advantage during a meeting. Now he wouldn't have that advantage. Worse yet, he would be outnumbered.

"Tali!" The entire Rayya seemed to be here and screamed at once. Zane remained in the shadows to let her have the moment. He thought about just leaving but that was just cowardly and furthermore, this was at Tali's request. That alone would keep him in place. She gave about ten hugs every second. Each one about as strong as the previous. She had missed her people dearly.

The smell of the Rayya entered his nose and he was instantly hooked. It smelled of Tali but only much stronger. It had a sweet scent that didn't overload his nose. He was addicted to the scent and couldn't help the deep breathe he took to soak as much of it in as he could.

As he watched he looked for Rael'Zorah there was something about him Zane was nervous about. Could be Rael wasn't known for being very friendly with aliens. And he certainly had a protection streak with his daughter.

But he wasn't here at least not that Zane could see. Zane felt both relief and a deep state of sorrow for Tali. This was her big day, a coming of age for her, and her father wouldn't witness it. There was something to be said about missing out on that. If Zane wasn't with Tali and on the Migrant Fleet and if Rael wasn't an admiral. Well, Zane wasn't known for keeping his mouth shut that's for damn sure. And Rael deserved a stern talking to more than most.

"Who is that?" A female Quarian asked and pointed at him. Still, in the shadows, his arms crossed.

"That would be a friend of mine. That usually can't keep himself out of the spotlight." Tali waved him over and he took cautious steps out into the light. With each step, his unease began to wither until it died completely by the time he made it to Tali. However, he was always ready for things to go sideways.

"I don't know what you are talking about. For the record, I like the sound of my voice, not the spotlight." He said to her as he looked at the masks and enviro-suits that stared at him.

"Have they never seen a human before?"

"No, it's not that. But a human willing to interact with my people is sort of new. Your people have kind of followed the rest of the galaxy in hating us." Zane laughed and looked at her.

"And since when have I followed the pack?"

"Fair point." She said and the greetings began in earnest.

…

Tali had shown him every inch of the Rayya. Her father was not paying attention to Tali's return much to her disappointment. Hell, Zane was sure Rael had no idea Tali had brought a human to her home. The man hadn't looked up from his desk once during the "introduction." He was brought before Tali's friends and they seemed enamored by him. He did admit it caused him to blush a little bit under the mask when one female asked if he had a mate. And funny enough Tali decided at that point it was time to move on. Shala was nice and he was nice in return. He got the feeling of an Aunt from her and a protective one at that. However, as with those he really wants to impress, making her laugh was surprisingly easy to do. A simple jest about Koris' ship name made her giggle and then it snowballed from there.

But now the goodbye had to come. There was no denying or postponing it. Though Tali was doing her hardest to try.

"Tali I need to leave." He said trying to pry Tali's hands from him. He liked that she cared this much. But he needed to get to the Citadel before Achilles came to the Migrant Fleet himself.

"I'll miss you." She said it was surprising to him how much she wanted him to stay. But he couldn't understand why. Maybe it was the Normandy ordeal and she just needed something from that life. If he didn't have plans he would stay in a heartbeat and never leave. But things had to be done. Tasks had to be completed there was no denying it. This was a different galaxy then what he was used to. It wasn't the same anymore and that meant it needed his attention.

"And I'll miss you too. Here…" He reached into his jacket and pulled out a ring hanging by a chain. The ring was the same one Sha'ira had given to him. The thing was too difficult to have on his hand since it felt strange both under and over the gloves he wore. "I want you to have this." He handed it to her.

"What? Why? This is yours I can't…" She tried to deny it, tried to push it away but Zane was nothing if not persistent.

"Tali… I'll miss you terribly you have been a very close friend to me. One that I cannot put into words. This is my 'thank you' and a way for you to remember me when the going gets tough." He said and she nodded. The way she was slow in her movements made him believe she had been crying that entire time. And if he remained for another few minutes he wouldn't be able to let go. His attachment had gone far further then he thought possible.

"Okay…just be careful please." She said holding the shirt tightly and pulled him to her facemask. Gleaming eyes staring up at him. "I mean it you bosh'tet."

"I am the very image of caution Madam nar Rayya." He said as he backed away into the shuttle as it closed behind him. "Now we can get started." He said with a smirk.