Chapter Two: The Resurrection

One Year

Two months

Three days

Since Normandy Attack

"Come on you damn bosh'tet!" Tali cursed at the console. As it just refused to do what she wanted. The thing was so old she had to work backward. The Normandy's systems were so much more responsive and better, less glitchy, and had a more pleasant UI. That she had to relearn how the older equipment worked. Luckily, she was good at what she did. Every day it was like this. Wake up, go to work on the Neema's engines, have the engine fight her every step of the way. Curse at the engine, rectify the problem, go to bed then repeat the process. After a week of this. The cycle has overstayed its welcome. Now it was over a year old and she hated the cycle.

She finally saw the error causing the engines to not do what she required of it and quickly found a workaround. Within a few seconds, the error was erased and replaced by a new block of code fixing the problem. All of these steps just to quell the "bleeding" effect the engine was giving off. She had been working for over ten hours straight. And with her job now finished she could finally go to her room and sleep like never before. Tali left and clocked out and began heading home. On her way, she grabbed nutrient paste so she wouldn't sleep hungry.

Once she made it to her room and opened it she could only give a slightly depressed sigh. The room was small, cramped, and dark. Though it was a little better than most. It's what she got for such a great gift she brought back. For as "great" as it had been she still felt like a means to an end of nothingness. The Flotilla wasn't doing anything to find a new home it was simply trying to survive or so it had been for the better part of the past three hundred years. Something had shifted in the populace. A group of Quarians had seemingly shown up from nowhere and began taking things into their owns hands.

They were not violent nor did they protest anything. But they looked like a small army. Weapons and armor followed them always. This group seemed to be on every live ship. The group did seem to have a uniform they all wore white and blue with an insignia on their shoulder pads. However, the group was small and spread thin. They were on every major ship but there was no more than a dozen at the most. This group, however, seemed to be recruiting heavily. They had a plan but what it was could be anyone's guess.

…

Over the next few months, the group had grown larger and larger. What was once just a dozen on the largest of live ships became dozens on almost every ship. They spread like a virus but no problems had shown up. They seemed to only be a major help. They worked with the Admiralty Board and Conclave. They were good at getting things the Fleet needed. Eezo, minerals, weapons, armor, more ships. They had the contacts and the power to help the Fleet live. And in return, they could remain.

Their name was very simple. The Organization they called themselves, nothing else. They revealed nothing about themselves. And those that joined then didn't say anything either. One of Tali's friends Lilhim'Tokis had joined and said he wasn't sworn to secrecy but rather they would reveal more when the time was right. Lilhim didn't say anything further before he was called by a comrade.

The Organization worked and lived like other Quarians they just seemed like a heavily outfitted group of people. The word "mercenaries" came to Tali's mind but they didn't ask for payment far as she knew they only just asked to be left alone. From time to time they would pressure the Board and Conclave for more military styled ships or more weapons, and marines. They wanted war or were preparing the Quarians for it. And mercenaries don't outfit and help those they plan on attacking.

"Enough about that." Tali had to keep her mind off them. Her father had requested her and she would not keep him waiting. She passed many crowds and many more of the Organization. She noticed the Organization didn't seem Quarian in origin so they must be an outside group and...

"No stop that." Tali told herself. She had to be focused when talking to her father. It wouldn't end well otherwise. She tapped on the door and it quickly opened. She walked in cautiously and heard her father talking to someone. Or rather someone talking to him.

"Now Admiral Zorah I hope my people are on their best behavior." The voice asked. It was gruff, unnaturally low in tone, it would be threatening to most but she didn't get that feeling. It was simply a voice asking a question. But with the tone of voice of someone who knew more than they let on.

"So far yes. They have been a great asset to us." The voice grunted at the mention of assets and it wasn't friendly.

"They are people Admiral, not assets. Your people I might add. If I wanted to give you an asset, I'd give you damn VIs. No, I gave you some of the best of my people. To show the Organization is not interested in unrest. Only in preparation."

"Preparation for what?" Her father asked sternly causing the voice to laugh.

"Ask your daughter she would know. She saw firsthand what is to come." Tali grabbed the ring that hung from her neck via the chain. The same ring Zane had given her. She grabbed it without thinking. It was the only thing that reminded her of that time…of that life.

Tali peered into the room and saw her father speaking to the man via a screen. The man he spoke to couldn't be seen. It was only the insignia the Organization had. It was a single vertical line and two downward curved lines over it. The lines were all the color of blue in front of a white background.

"You mean the Reapers? Yes, she has told me several times. And while I am sure she believes them and her friends who also saw them. I doubt they are back." Her father said and she felt a small pain in her chest from that statement. Why didn't he believe her?! He had to! The facts were there. One need only look and see the truth. The truth was the demise of the galaxy was coming from the darkness of space itself! The insignia remained quiet for a little bit of time. And now that she gave it another look it looked like a simple rendition of a Reaper… that makes more sense now.

"That is why we are preparing Admiral! Because they are on the way. And I will not have billions die because a few hardnosed asses such as yourself don't want to believe the truth! If you would like I can make my boys be like those on the Citadel. Which in case you need a refresher on the current affairs on the Citadel, they are sort of a thorn in the Council's side. Do you want that?" The voice berated her father like no one ever had. It had grown angry and disappointed. The pleasantries were over. The voice would get its point across or it would move on. The voice made the conversation seem so meaningless yet so important at the same time.

Tali kept her mouth shut but knew what the voice said was true. The Reapers were coming back and the Admiralty Board wasn't doing anything about it. This also explained why the Organization always had weapons and gear meant for war. And why they gave a lot of it to the Fleet. They were here to prepare for the upcoming war with the Reapers.

"I will help my people…" The voice cut her father off. It had the professionalism expected of it and the calmness it had maintained throughout the conversation. But in it was a hint of anger an anger that was barely maintained. It was tired of the charade of being "pleasant" and it knew her father was stubborn and would only accept two things. Might or the true reality of the situation.

"When the Reapers return if you are not prepared to fight them. And if you do not have a planet to gather materials or feed your people from the Reapers will kill you slowly. Once they have destroyed all the other civilizations they will shut down the mass relays and you will die a very slow, painful, and pathetic death. I don't want that to happen to you, to my people with you, and most certainly not for your daughter. I am asking you to trust me. To trust my people. If you have any questions, contact me. But right now, I have other things that require my full attention good day admiral. And good day Miss Tali'Zorah vas Neema nar Rayya." The screen went to black and her father turned immediately to her. Tali tapped the ring a few more times before slipping it back into the fabric of her suit.

"Tali… I didn't know you were there. I thought you would continue to wait in the other room." He said and she saw her father's hands clenched. Being told what to do was not something he liked especially when it came from a simple voice behind a screen and symbol.

"Sorry, Father." She said head bowed in mock shame. She had nothing to be ashamed of she knew that. But her father needed at least one victory.

"I have a mission for you. The Organization told me Freedom's Progress, a human colony, will be attacked soon. And that one of our own is on the planet a kid named Veetor nar Rayya. Take a squad of marines and go there and get him then come home." He ordered. She was surprised she was given the orders to do so.

"Why me?"

"Well, the Organization says you would have the best know-how of human tech in the Fleet and they are right. You spent a lot of time on a human vessel. And I need someone I trust on this." Rael seemed to doze off still heated about the conversation with the voice.

"Who was that you were speaking to?" Tali asked pointing at the blank screen.

"The Organization's leader. The Harbinger they call him. Codenamed THOS. The Harbinger of Salvation. Seems like he is a level-headed fellow if it wasn't for that fact he is the biggest bosh'tet I have ever met." Rael seemed to calm down a little enough to stand straight and not lean against the desk.

"Yea I knew someone like that." Tali said but didn't name specifics. Zane was a lot like that. He would make himself heard, was a sarcastic bosh'tet, but knew what to do and when, and he liked the dramatic flair. And he most certainly knew how to push someone's buttons better than most.

"Either way, you need to get going to Freedom's Progress. I'll send the coordinates to you and I'll have a squad ready to meet you." And with that, he turned and ignored her walk out as he began to go back into his work.

…

The ride was long and silent but they went over the mission at least thirty times. Prazza knew she was the one giving orders though he wasn't a fan.

"Can't believe we are being ordered around by a civilian."

"A civilian that has seen more combat than you." Tali replied as she watched the planet get closer and closer.

"Ma'am I am reading a signal telling us where to land." Perhaps they have some help. Or it could be a trap. It was a risk they would have to take.

"Follow it."

"Yes, ma'am." The pilot quickly got into action and began to descend onto the signal.

"Alright get set we don't know what to expect." She ordered as she cocked her shotgun.

…

The doors opened and the marines fanned out for any hostiles when none were detected they began to move forward. The entire place was deathly quiet but looked like a battle had taken place. The bodies of strange aliens littered the place. They looked like a humanoid bug with four eyes and brown flesh and a long head. But Tali didn't have the equipment to figure out what it was for sure. So, she just settled for a blood and tissue sample.

The first building they went into was barren for only a moment before an adjacent door opened and several mechs came out weapons ready to shoot.

"Targets detected." One said before Tali hacked it and overloaded another. The hacked mech shot at its partner before Tali blew its head off.

"Let's move." She said and made her way through the colony. The next building had destroyed mechs and the aliens littering it. Followed by the next building and the next. Until they made it to what looked like a warehouse. The marines opened the door and charged in.

"Contact!" A voice yelled

"Hold fire!" An older voice commanded.

"We got company." Prazza said.

"Hold fire Prazza!" Tali ordered and shoved his gun down before stepping in front of the two squads. The other squad was dirty, bloody, and looked like they went through hell. But they were ready to fight. They also wore the same armor as the Quarians a part of the Organization accept they were humans mainly. There was an Asari with them who held a sniper rifle at her hip and was ready to pull the trigger.

"Tali'Zorah vas Neema nar Rayya?" A tall human asked stepping forward. His helmet covered his face. Only his eyes could be seen and they were a gleaming green. His voice sounded older and was deep.

"Yes, who are you?"

"Victor Avrain of Samurai squad. Rook of Samurai squad. Organization Militia. A pleasure to meet you." He said with his hand out which she shook.

"How did you know my name?" She asked and he laughed. He gave a hand signal and his squad immediately put their weapons away. She did a similar gesture and her team followed suit.

"We have our orders from the Harbinger himself. Go to Freedom's Progress stop abduction -if possible- then wait for Tali'Zorah and team. And make sure she completes her mission with minimal casualties." Victor said he gave the air of ex-military with how straight he stood and how he spoke could only be true.

Tali would've questioned how they knew she would leading this mission. But if her father was correct then the Harbinger knew she would lead the team. It was their idea anyway. So, it wasn't a farfetched idea for the squad to be briefed.

"I see…what happened here?" She asked gesturing to the bodies of dead aliens. A younger man kicked a dead alien then spat at him.

"Devon, simmer down. These are Collectors. The Harbinger has been trying to stop these little shits for months almost a year. But to no avail, we were sent here to help if we could. We got here at the last minute. Most of the colonists had been taken but we made them pay for it." Victor said with a grin.

"I see, any idea why they are here?"

"Militia intel suggests the Collectors work for the Reapers. Thus, we work against them."

"Right so what now? Do you know my mission?" Tali asked the large man.

"Affirmative, find a Quarian pilgrim and bring him back to the Migrant Fleet. We will help you in that endeavor. However, our orders state; do not engage the pilgrim only help you get to him."

"Understood well any idea where he is?" A Quarian marine asked.

"Negative, I would look in the adjacent building if I were you he may be there. My team should get moving. We will watch over you. My Knight, Versa, will be with you." He said and the Asari approached with a nod. She had the aura of an ex-commando a sword on her hip and a sniper rifle on her back.

"Yes, Sir. Tali'Zorah I am at your service." She said with a small bow of her head.

"Now that is done. Samurai gear up! We're moving out. Don't worry Tali we will watch over you as I said." Then Victor and the rest of Samurai squad left.

"Victor forgot that we do have a lead of where your pilgrim is. He went north. Towards the heart of the colony, I would suggest going there." She said to Tali with a glancing look at the others and most gave a nod.

"I don't take orders from you." Prazza spat. Tali shook her head.

"No Prazza you don't. You take orders from me…now shut up." She said glaring at him.

"Damn straight Tali." Versa said with a smile.

The door behind them then opened. The squad grabbed their weapons and pointed them at the door. In the entrance were the silhouettes of three humans two of them wore Cerberus colors and had the symbol of the hated organization. And one was different. But they all carried their weapons in all the same, ready to shoot.

"Cerberus dogs!" Prazza spat.

"They are not an issue...yet." Versa said her rifle dipping slightly she wasn't going to shoot. Which meant this squad wasn't a threat? That was surprising but Tali would fall to Versa's judgment on this. She had been here longer then Tali and her squad. And seemed to be briefed on Cerberus showing up.

"Guns down." Tali ordered repeating the process of getting into the line of fire. She looked at the human squad and saw a face that belonged to only one man. The eyes were a dead giveaway. "Shepard…how…how are you…you're alive?" Shepard motioned for his team to put their weapons down.

"It's me Tali. Remember that recording we found during the Geth incursion? Did it help with your pilgrimage? And did Zane still keep it?" He asked and only Shepard would know that.

"It worked wonders and Zane gave me the original he made a copy." She looked to Prazza and if looks could kill he would be a puddle. "Gun down Prazza this is Commander Shepard."

"Why is your old commander working for an enemy?"

"I don't know. Why don't we ask?" She said in a sarcastic voice and looked at Shepard who smiled.

"Cerberus rebuilt me from scratch. For intents and purposes, I was dead. I was…resurrected and now I am here investigating the missing colonists." He said and Prazza gave a huff of annoyance.

"Yea right, no one has the sums it would take to do that. And no soldier is worth the money would take."

"You haven't seen him work Prazza. It was money well spent." Tali said as she heard Versa chuckle.

"What are you doing here Tali?" Shepard asked.

"A Quarian pilgrim was here we want to bring him home and make sure he is alright." She explained. "Problem is, he is very cagey and doesn't like crowds."

"What she means he is more than likely delirious, probably hasn't scrubbed his O2 intake and is about to get very protective. He never really was all there if you get me." Prazza said the hostility slowly fading.

"Seems we will get more done if we work together anyways. Split up and meet up in the center. Our scans indicate that is where the mechs are being controlled anyways." The Cerberus man said.

"And we have intel that is where Veetor went." Versa spoke up.

"And who are you?" The Cerberus woman asked Versa.

"Versa, ex-commando, Knight of the Organization's Militia and I do not want to be your friend." She said in quick succession.

"The Organization?" Shepard questioned.

"A bunch of upstarts who think causing unrest will make everyone believe the Reapers are real. Not knowing they are shooting themselves in the feet." The woman, that Tali quickly deduced was a total bitch, spoke with such acid and venom. Versa just laughed.

"Yes, because experimenting on people, Rachni, Thorian creepers, and using an Alliance unit as lap dogs for a Thresher Maw test is much better. Fucking blow it out your ass Cerberus whore." Versa said her arms still crossed.

"Alright enough! Let's get moving before we start shooting each other." Shepard defused the situation quickly.

"Agreed, meet you in the center and Shepard, it's good to have you back." Tali said and made her way out. Her team was ready to go and they had no time to waste. Veetor may have been farther gone they initially feared. With an alien invasion of a small colony. It didn't look good for him.

"You seem to know a lot about Cerberus." Tali mentioned as they passed another building.

"I don't, but the Organization does, the Harbinger makes it a point to be a thorn in Cerberus' side as often as possible."

"Have you ever met your Harbinger?" Prazza asked.

"Not face to face no. But I have spoken with him. He keeps his face hidden from most of us. And for good reason. When you become a pain in everyone's ass everyone wants you dead, dying, or wants leverage."

"But to hide amongst your own people seems like there is very little trust there." Prazza continued.

"I used to think so. But I believe he does it for a good reason. When faced with impending doom people need a symbol to believe in. For us, that is the Harbinger. We don't need the man behind the name but rather the symbol itself. I saw it as a commando. People will cling to the word of captain, sergeant, and general. More than the man or woman that title belongs to. If you are lucky then the man or woman is a good one and your belief is reinforced by that person. People look to their leaders for guidance and he is ours. And he has yet to lead us wrong. It is why we span the galaxy and not a single city." Versa said scanning the rooftops for any assailants.

"How did you join them?" Tali asked as she passed a table with food on it that had gone cold hours ago.

"I was on Thessia when Victor showed up in a bar. He immediately began to try and sweep me off my feet. In turn, I knocked him off his. We fought for a little bit and in the end, he offered me a place in the Organization. Said there was something brewing and they were preparing for it." She took a moment to pick up a book and place it down gently. "I thought he was nuts but he laid it all out for me. Said that if in a week if I wasn't convinced then I could leave and never return. I even got a call from the Harbinger himself. I never saw his face as I said but he explained in great detail what was going to happen and when and how. And the way he said it. He was so sure of what was to come he was either completely nuts or there was merit to his words. I heard the rumors Shepard had started and I figured he had merit. That was a year ago, and now I am here." She finished

"Do you regret it?" Tali asked it was a fair question.

"Sometimes I feel like I just joined another commando unit. Which isn't a bad thing in and of itself but I left that life for a reason. But on other days. On most days, rather, I feel like I joined a large family. The command structure actually gives a damn about people. We are not seen as assets but rather as people who know what is at stake. And how many times do you see your leader walk amongst the people getting insight from them, talking to them? I never once saw my Councilor or a single Matriarch walk into a bar and drink with the rabble. That is what my higher-ups do. So, if we are crazy then we are my kind of crazy." She finished and her eyes turned stern.

"What is it?" Tali asked she pointed out a window and they saw a Quarian enter a small building.

"We wait for Shepard, he may be able to talk Veetor down." Tali ordered as they waited but Prazza only paced in annoyance.

"I have had it with this crap! I am not letting Cerberus get ahold of one of our people. And I don't care who you are or who you work for. I have my orders let's go team." Prazza rose and only two others got up with him.

"Prazza, you moron you don't know what is out there!" Versa shouted as he ran into the small building. As they closed in on the door an explosion knocked them from their feet. The team quickly got up and weapons were out as they began to open fire.

"Get back here!" Tali screamed at the squad. But they didn't seem to hear her. A YMIR mech showed up and threw a Quarian into a crate. As it did so, it's gun lined up a shot and took it. Telak'Oris was nothing more but paste after the barrage of bullets hit him. And the last one was Prazza. He ran as fast he could but a rocket hit beside him causing him to stumble into a crate.

"Tali we are almost to you but blocked by a door to the south." She heard Shepard say.

"Shepard get ready, a heavy mech showed up and is tearing Prazza apart we'll need your help. Get your team by the door and I'll open it." She said making way to get a good line of sight on the large door Shepard had mentioned. Soon as she was given the all clear she activated the door and made it open. Her team tried to keep the mech off Prazza but it ignored them. The mech stomped on Prazza's head and the explosion made Tali gag.

"Samurai should be here any moment." Versa said reloading her rifle and taking another shot. The mech began its approach towards them. But soon Shepard began his own assault. Warps, throws, and everything in Shepard's squad's arsenal was unleashed at once.

"New priority target…engaging." The mech turned its attention towards Shepard. It began its slow destruction of his team. Knocking over crates and kicking them down and stomping them into nothingness. Shepard and his team with the help of Tali's own team tried their best to take it out or even slow it down. But there was no stopping this thing.

"Unleash hell!" A voice from high up called and a torrent of bullets, fire, ice, and biotics was let loose. The mech couldn't even turn before its whole back side was exposed.

"Weak spot. I'm on it!" Versa said taking aim and firing as many shots as her rifle would allow.

"Malfunction…critical…errors… need assistance." It garbled out. Then was finished off with another few clips of mass accelerated rounds. The giant mech dropped to its knees then crashed to the ground finally destroyed.

"Samurai squad help the wounded come on people let's move it." Victor ordered as he rappelled down to them from a high vantage point. Him and his team immediately began helping any that needed it.

"Thank you, Rook." Tali said when he was in earshot.

"No worries, sorry we were late, more mechs to the east then we expected. Have fun Versa?"

"Always enjoy a good time Sir." She said applying medi-gel to any wounds. Tali saw Shepard go into the building where Veetor was.

"You good here? I have my own mission to attend to."

"No worries ma'am we got this. Once we are done however we must depart. So, if we don't see you then it was a privilege to meet you. And remember…walk in defiance." He said and shook her hand one more time before finishing up.

"Wonder what makes her so important? Not many individuals get a mission meant just to them." Versa mentioned and Victor shook his head a smile on his face.

"It wasn't just for her. And if we were meant to know I'm sure the Harbinger would tell us."

"Can we leave now Sir?"

"Yes, Chris we can leave. Samurai let's move out. Time to go home."

…

Tali walked into the small room and heard that bitch tell Shepard to take Veetor and leave.

"What? Veetor is sick he needs help not an interrogation!" She pointed out and looked to Shepard for help.

"Your people have already tried to undermine us once today. Your word is worthless." Tali clenched her fists tightly.

"If Shepard wasn't here right now bosh'tet I swear." She thought then took a quick breath, the anger subsiding a moment. "Prazza was an idiot and those that followed him are now dead. I have no problem with you taking Veetor's omni-tool but please let me take him." She almost begged Shepard.

"Veetor goes with Tali he is sick and they know how to handle it. We will be given the omni-tool and Miranda we will speak more of this later. Am I clear?" The way Shepard spoke was so…Reaper-like. And not like Sovereign but like Zane as the Reaper. The way his voice held no emotion, no way to know what undertone was being used. All you knew was that you fucked up somehow.

"Understood Shepard." The bosh'tet said.

"Thank you, Shepard, nice to know you are giving the orders. Be careful Shepard." Tali said and was about to leave.

"You don't have to leave, you can join me. Just like the old times." Tali thought about it for a moment. And she wanted to join him, she really did. So much so, she nearly turned in that moment and agree…but she stopped herself.

"I would Shepard but I have my own mission. Maybe once that is over well, we will see what happens." Then she guided Veetor out of the room. Just before the door closed she stepped in front of it to stop it. She looked and saw Shepard looking at her. "Have you seen Zane? Heard of or from him?"

"No, I haven't I'm sure he'll turn up and most likely will make a glorious entrance." He said with a smile.

"Yea…probably." Tali laughed and looked out and saw Samurai squad was nowhere to be found.