Chapter Sixteen: The Harbinger's Wrath

Several Hours Later

She woke up slowly, being much too comfortable to be bothered to completely open her eyes. Her bed had gotten very comfy then she remembered it being and the blankets felt warmer and thicker than they had before. The pillow was as soft as clouds when the night before they were passable at best. This all felt off.

But there were other things as well that was off. The room was colder then what Tali remembered her room being. And the smell it was so…familiar. A memory of the night before Ilos flashed through her eyes and where she slept that night. Zane had this smell. A thought appeared in her mind at that revelation. Zane…had…this…smell.

"Keelah don't let it be." She thought not daring to open her eyes.

The sound of footsteps and humming forced her to open her eyes in fear. The fear turned to embarrassment and when she looked she saw Zane tapping his foot to an unheard beat as he read reports.

He must've heard her or felt her eyes upon him because he soon turned around and saw her sitting up. He quickly went to her and put his hands on her shoulders gently.

"Hey there Lady Zorah. Have a nice nap, did we?" He asked her and she nodded tiredly.

"Why…why am I here?" She asked and was afraid of the response. He looked confused.

"You fell asleep here." He said and she sighed. Her embarrassment increasing. She didn't mean to sleep here no matter how much she wanted to. And now that she had nothing could compare to how comfy that bed was.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean…" He placed a finger on top of her helmet.

"Don't be, you needed a restful sleep and I wasn't all that tired anyway." He said and smiled at her which she returned. His smile was an infection and she got it every time he did it.

"I need to go to work Zane. Sorry for taking your bed from you." She said and went to get up only for him to keep her still.

"I told Shepard about the message you received. We are on our way towards the Migrant Fleet now. Take this time to rest while you can. You will need it I'm sure. And if you ever need to talk I will be right here." He said and smiled again and got up as she sat there motionless as he continued reading.

She wasn't what to think as she looked at him. But she was certain that if she once thought of him as a simple crush...then it had gone way past that point. Now she loved him.

…

"Alright, I want everyone ready in five minutes. No idea when the Commander is going to be here. Let's show a good impression! Attan and Illis you are on the welcoming committee." Titan ordered them and they nodded and grabbed their rifles and ran towards the garden plaza of the Rayya. People were already beginning to pour in for the trial. As Illis knew, Quarians did love to talk and gossip and it showed.

"Man, who would've thought LOHL could bring in such a crowd?" Attan asked with a small -if saddened- chuckle.

"Can you imagine what she is feeling right now?" Illis asked his close friend.

"Can you imagine what he is feeling right now? I'm sure he knows by now." Attan responded and Illis nodded. Nervous at the prospect of the Harbinger wanting retaliation if LOHL was exiled.

"What do you think the Speaker meant by THOS wanting to take care of it personally?" Illis asked and they entered leaned against a bulkhead as they waited for the Commander's confirmed airlock.

"More than likely him commanding us via intercom. But who knows Illis." The two shrugged and waited patiently as more and more civilians and Militia entered the hall. The Admirals had already shown up and were just waiting for the Commander to show up so they could start.

…

Tali paced back and forth on the bridge as the Normandy approached the Migrant Fleet. The feelings she got two years ago were in stark contrast to the ones she had now. Then she had feelings of excitement and happiness. Now she felt only unease and despair.

A gentle hand on her shoulder knocked her from her thoughts and she looked back and saw Zane with a look of confidence. She gave a nod and finally replied with her code phrase.

"After time adrift among open stars, along tides of light and through shoals of dust, I will return where I began." She finished and took a breath to calm her nerves.

"Roger that Tali'Zorah welcome home." The operator said and the Normandy began to dock with the Rayya. The fear and excitement turned to her being incredibly nervous about stepping onto the Rayya. She was scared to go home! To be seen by her people again! She just wanted the day to be over and if she was lucky "accidentally" sleep in Zane's bed again.

"Me, Garrus, and Zane will be with you the whole way." Shepard said nodding to her which calmed her nerves. She looked to Zane and he gave a curt nod his eyes gentle but still very stern only reducing her nervousness even more. He wore the same mask he did when he first set foot on the Rayya. The black mask matching his black and red jacket.

She took a deep breath and as the docking procedure ended she was ready for what lay ahead. She was just sure she wasn't going to like it.

…

The team walked out of the airlock and were met by several Marines and even more Militia members. The Marines got out of their relaxed position and saluted as their captain approached Shepard. But Tali saw that the Militia didn't salute to anyone instead they lined the walls and held their weapons close to their chest. They seemed more like soldiers then the Marines did.

"Captain Shepard a pleasure to meet you. People speak highly of you. I just wish we could've met under different circumstances." He said.

"As do I." Shepard said sadly as they began to walk closer to the garden plaza.

"Captain what is the trial about?' Garrus asked and Kar'Danna stopped and looked back at them.

He sighed and looked at Tali. "Tali'Zorah I can only say you have been accused of bringing in active Geth to the fleet with intent to fracture it and purposely undermining the authority of the Admiralty Board. I'm sorry but it doesn't look good for you." Anger ran up her spine and her legs felt like they would give out any moment but she remained standing. The charges were much worse than she thought.

"What!" Zane shouted and approached the captain. Shepard and Garrus put hands on his chest to stop him from breaking Kar's mask. "Explain yourself, Captain." He said deathly quiet his fists clenched, his eyes ice, and his fury was unmatched.

"I cannot say anymore. I am sorry. I will let Admiral Raan tell you." Kar said with his head down in shame. Zane approached slower and soon the height difference became apparent with Zane towering over Kar like Zane did with most Quarians.

"I thank you for telling us early…but never ever scare her like this again…am I clear?" He said to Kar who nodded several times. Zane then looked to the Militia around them. Tali saw his eyes piercing into each of them and when she looked at them they did their best to keep their composure. The way he looked through them scared them. They had probably never seen eyes made of ice that held barely contained fury.

Zane sighed again and began to make his way towards the garden plaza with the team behind him. The Militia around them followed close behind them and two Quarians came to her side.

"Hello LOHL." A familiar voice said.

"Been too long ma'am." Another familiar voice said.

"Attan? Illis?" She said, hardly recognizing them.

"Indeed." They replied in unison.

"Anything you guys can tell us about the trial?" Garrus asked them and they shook their heads.

"No, but I can tell you that Tali has nothing to worry about. We have been told that the Harbinger is looking into this matter personally. You will be alright LOHL." Attan said and then they went back to the wall as Militia lined it again. Zane was speaking with her Aunt Raan his fists behind his back. To Raan it looked like he was respectively standing at attention. To Tali he was hiding the rage he had at that moment.

"Auntie Raan!" She said and ran to her and closed her hand around in a tight hug. But it felt one-sided…she wasn't used to that.

"Hello, Tali'Zorah vas Normandy." Raan said and Tali heard Zane nearly growl but her excitement overtook her.

"Everyone this is Admiral Shala'Raan vas Tonbay…wait. Aunt Raan you called me vas Normandy why?" Tali asked.

"Does it matter?" Shepard asked confused.

"Ship names are the homes of the Quarian people. And a source of pride for them. To be called 'vas' of a ship outside of the fleet is a sign an insult…a sign of not being welcome." Zane said his voice getting lower and lower in tone.

"They might as well as name me exiled already."

"That will not happen." Zane said before Shala could speak. His eyes holding the same determination as ever before.

"There are still people that know you as vas Neema Tali. No matter what we legally must call you." She said as gently as possible but Tali felt like it was false hope. A false gentle voice to keep her placated to keep her from getting too angry, too rash.

"Does Tali get an advocate of some sort?" Shepard asked.

"Yes, she does Captain Shepard." Shala said and Tali could hear the nervous laugh come from Shepard. He didn't like being named "captain" she guessed because he technically wasn't a captain. "As her captain, you shall speak in her name." Shala told him and the nervous laugh returned.

"Well, Tali I will certainly do my best to help you." He said and Zane put a hand on her shoulder.

"We all will." He nodded and she nodded back.

"You have no legal loopholes to worry about. The legal system is quite basic and shouldn't be difficult to navigate with a man of your intelligence." Shala told Shepard with a tone Tali would only ever use with Zane.

"Did Aunt Shala just flirt with Shepard?" She wondered but thought better of it.

"Well then…let's get started." Shepard said and then they entered the garden plaza. Many Quarians were already in the plaza and when they turned to her she felt all their eyes on her. The feeling of wanting to be invisible can to her one-thousand times worse than ever before. She wanted to find a dark corner and hide and just remain there until this whole thing was done.

"…Keelah se'lai." The room chanted. She hadn't even noticed the trial was now underway. She looked around the room and saw Militia line the walls in waiting. Zane was pacing from side to side. Even from where she stood she felt his anger…she saw his anger.

"Tali'Zorah you are hereby charged with treason due to the following…" Shala began her voice seemed shaky and her body spoke of disbelief and fright. "Sending working Geth programs with the intent to cause discord and destruction to the Flotilla, attempted murder of an Admiral and helping an unaffiliated group with intent to undermine the Admiralty Board." The charges were spoken and Tali was stunned into silence. "How do you plead?" Shala asked sadly.

"Not guilty!" Shepard said and Tali looked at a very angry Zane. His pacing had ended and now he was shooting daggers at the Admirals with his eyes. "Tali did you send working parts?" Shepard asked her and she approached the bar. She felt everyone's eyes on her and she was unnerved by them.

"Ye…yes but I was under orders by my father, Admiral Rael'Zorah." She said and she heard whispers and they called her a liar and a traitor. And those were the kind comments that she could hear.

"Doubtful."

"No way."

"She lies."

"Pfft. Yeah right."

They all said and she looked around and with every turn of her head, the feeling of fear, fright, and hopelessness crawled up her spine like a spider.

"What? What happened? Someone tell me!" She pleaded to the board.

Shala gave a sigh and looked down. "As of three hours ago, the Geth have taken over the Alarei. As of now, there are no reported survivors, we can only assume everyone has perished. Your father included" She said.

"What! Oh no, keelah why, why, why!" Tears sprang to Tali's eyes and she looked down. She prayed to the ancestors that it wasn't true. That feeling in the pit of stomach took over her whole body like a black hole. And all she wanted was for it to go away and never return. She didn't know what to do…but someone might. "Shepard please we have to get onto the Alarei please!" She begged him and he nodded.

"I understand the need for this trial Admirals. But right now, the Migrant Fleet takes priority and Tali needs to find her father." Shepard said.

Tali looked back and saw Zane talking with Adas squad. Even from the distance, she was at and the loud conversation between the Admirals and Shepard she saw how angry Zane was. But also, how scared he was. His eyes held a fear to them she had never seen before. A fright that was as unshakable as the ice that was glazed over his eyes. He was just as scared as he was angry. And Tali didn't know what that would mean for his enemies and a part of her didn't want to know.

"…But if you are looking for an honorable death…" She heard Koris began before Zane turned to him.

"She will be looking for her father you dick! And will be doing much more than your lazy ass to save the Fleet once again." He yelled across the room and all eyes went to him. He seemed to soak them in, he didn't care how out of line he was and the ice in his eyes never faded.

"Come on Tali, we are getting your dad." Shepard said and she nodded as they walked back up the steps Titan nodded to Zane and walked to Shepard.

"Commander Shepard a pleasure once again but I wish it were under better circumstances." Titan said his voice sounding saddened.

"As do I." Shepard replied.

"Adas squad is ready to depart with you on your orders. We have our orders, to help Shepard retake Alarei at any cost and find the men responsible for this tragedy and bring them down for judgment." He said and the saddened voice turned to pure anger and hatred. Zane walked over to Shepard as well and stood at attention.

"Commander with your permission I would like to go with Adas squad." He asked and Tali was shocked. She didn't want him out of her sight, especially on a Geth controlled ship!

"Why?" She asked and his gaze got softer as he looked at her. He smiled at her and seemed to tell her to not worry.

"Two squads are better than one and with me, with Adas squad, we can remain in contact and have an idea what the other is doing." He said to Shepard.

"Okay, Zane but remain in contact." Shepard told him and he nodded and then Adas squad began to make their way out of the plaza. She went to him and grabbed his wrist.

"I want to go with you." She said. She felt like a child wanting to stay with her father or mother she knew that. But she wanted to keep Zane in eyesight just in case she was needed.

"No Tali, go with Shepard you will be safer with him."

"But…"

"No buts, besides I need some kills and you would just take them all." He said and in a moment, he closed his arms around her. She felt warm and safe in his arms. "Be safe Tali." He told her.

"You too." She replied and he chuckled.

"No promises." And then the embrace ended.

…

Tali, Garrus, and Shepard walked onto the Alarei and it felt ominous and all Garrus wanted to do now was go in, kill some Geth, get Tali off the charges, then leave. The ship felt all sorts of wrong and it made his skin crawl and his carapace itch. Granted this was a vacation when compared to Ilos two-years prior but the fact remained. He felt like he didn't belong.

"Mic check with Adas squad. Titan and Zane, you read?"

"Yes, Commander." Titan said.

"Affirmative." Zane said afterward.

"Alright everyone let's get going." Shepard said and Garrus nodded to him as they moved up. He held his Vindicator rifle close to his chest as they entered the first room. Blood coated the walls and the corpses of Quarians were on the ground.

Garrus saw some marines and Organization Militia on the ground in their own blood. Tali looked shaken up but held her weapon steady and aimed at the doors. Garrus looked at a door just as it opened and Geth came pouring into the room.

"Contact!" Shepard shouted and Tali blew the head off one Geth and took cover. Garrus rose from his cover -a small table- and shot the light off another Geth.

"Adas squad, this is Shepard, we got contact how about you?" Shepard asked. Garrus used overload to bring a Geth Hunter back from cloaking and then followed up by a small burst to its chest.

"Yea so do we. Titan right side. Illis cover Attan! Damn bastards really are trying to hold out." Zane responded. Garrus could hear him boiling with hate and he had seen it on the Rayya. Garrus felt bad for whoever had caused this mess and hoped they were a good hider because Zane would be coming for them.

"You guys okay?" Shepard asked Zane who laughed.

"We are yes. As for the Geth, well, the Migrant Fleet is about to have a surplus of metal components." He laughed.

"Alright. Stay in contact." Shepard said and destroyed the chest off another Geth. That Geth was the final one and the team made their way through the ship.

They ran into a small pod and Tali explained she sent any parts she found back to her father with similar pods.

"What was he working on?" Shepard asked and Tali shrugged.

"I don't know and there is nothing here to tell us anything about the end goal." She said and the team moved onwards. They did find vid recording from a Quarian about the project.

"Got another pod from someone the Organization call LOHL…whatever that means. Anyways, Rael has ordered it through processing and given to the Org Boys to look over. I don't know what they are looking for or what they take but those are our orders. But in the end, this will get us home…I know it." The recording ended.

"LOHL?" Garrus asked and Tali shrugged.

"It was what Attan and Illis called me. I thought it was a nickname or a designation for people they help. But it seems to be specific to me. I still don't know what it means." She said.

"Did your father tell you what the Organization wanted from the pods?" Shepard asked and she shook her head.

"I didn't know they were taking a look at the pods. But it is clear he let them. But to what end?" She asked more to herself than to the team.

"Well looking at recordings gets us nowhere. Move out." Shepard ordered and they made their way through more rooms and saw more recordings next to more bodies. Nothing gave an indication of what was happening and no answers were given as to what had gone wrong. Only that Admiral Zorah and the Organization had worked out a deal towards the end of taking back Rannoch.

"King Egos is getting on my ass again. He says we have a limited amount of time…I am beginning to think this wasn't sanctioned by the Admiral…or by the Harbinger. The former I am okay with but the latter? The galaxy isn't big enough for us to hide." The voice belonged to a white and blue dressed young man in another recording. His voice held a lot of terror when it mentioned the Harbinger and Garrus wondered just who this man was.

Garrus looked down and saw a similarly dressed Quarian.

"You won't have to hide from him now." He thought sadly and stepped over him just as more Geth fire zoomed pass his head.

"More of them!" Tali said and blasted the chest off one. Shepard riddled another one with rounds and Garrus took out another's legs and as it fell down several steps he put his boot on its back and turned its head into scrap metal before reloading his rifle.

Several rooms, several bodies, several recordings and many more Geth later they stood in a room that looked like the living quarters of several people. This group seemed to be mainly Militia and they held out well. For only being three of them they managed to scrap several squads of Geth before they eventually succumbed to the apparent numbers.

"Why all this carnage? What was the point Father?" Garrus heard Tali ask to herself but would come up without any answers.

"Shepard this is Adas squad do you come in?" Titan was heard on the comms.

"Roger, Adas what is it?"

"We believe there are survivors. We are on our way to them now."

"Any idea who they are?"

"I am sorry to say they are Organization but one of them is the King. He would be able to tell us what happened…if your man doesn't kill him first."

"What do you mean?" Shepard asked.

"Your man…Zane, was it? Is seething right now. If King Egos'Sumat had something to do with this…I don't think he will last long." Titan said.

"Understood." Shepard said and sighed in annoyance. "Let's hurry this up." He simply said and the team moved on.

More Geth got in their way and more Geth were turned into scrap metal with no sign of giving up or letting up. And with each room secured and with each round spent a picture of how this came to be was becoming clearer. However, it was slow and still didn't make much sense.

"Sirs." A young Quarian said to two tall Quarian males.

"That's Father." Tali said pointing at one of the males.

"Have you completed your task?" The other Quarian male asked. He wore a white and blue suit and had golden trimmings. He had the voice of a very impatient man or maybe it had been a bad day.

"No King Sumat, the network is fighting me at every turn. Maybe LOHL can send a more intact frame? It may have some better programming." The young Quarian looked to the Admiral.

"Absolutely not. The possible blow out from this is already getting out of hand. None of this comes back to Tali understood?" Rael said and the younger Quarian nodded.

"Then perhaps the Harbinger?" He asked Egos.

"No, he is probably busy. We'll deal with what we have." He said but the reply seemed too quick for Garrus' liking.

"Egos explain to me wha…fzzzk" Rael began but the recording became corrupt and ended.

"Damn it!" Tali said and slammed the wall. "No, no, no. It can't be."

"Tali it is okay, we don't know the whole story yet." Shepard told her and she began to calm down. Her fear that her father was involved somehow was becoming clearer and clearer. And all the more likely.

"You're…you're right." She said and nodded and they made their way further into the ship. They had some more contact but the Geth seemed to be coming in smaller and smaller groups.

"Adas this is Shepard, you read?"

"Yes, Shepard?" Titan replied. The echoing of gunfire could be heard from where they were but also from the comm.

"You guys getting increasing waves of Geth?" Shepard asked they took another assault from the Geth. The squad was smaller than the last and was easily dispatched.

"Yes, Sir. You guys getting more too?"

"No, they are only getting smaller."

"They see us as the bigger threat maybe? Anyways, me and Adas squad are almost to the survivors. We'll be in contact." Zane said and his comm channel went silent.

"Understood." Shepard said and they made their way down some stairs. The Geth had instead switched from larger numbers to better troops. It mattered not, they were still no match for the team. They went to another recording and pressed play.

"I have been hearing rumors lately. That the Harbinger is unaware of what we are doing. If so, that is terms for Regicide for Egos. But I am torn. I want this to be sanctioned that we are doing the Harbinger's bidding but then again…is this what the Organization really is? Are we just monsters and don't know it? I hope I'm wrong, that the rumors are wrong. And if I am not, and we win back Rannoch, I hope the ends justify the means." Then again, the recording was cut.

"A rogue cell?" Garrus asked and Shepard shook his head.

"If that is the case then many people didn't even know they were rogue. I think this is a leadership issue. The King was screwing up his orders. Or were making his own." Shepard clarified.

"I thought Kings could make their own orders?" Garrus asked. Thinking back to Greet on the Citadel.

"I would assume they don't usurp the Harbinger's orders." Shepard said and opened another door. In the middle of a hallway was a single body. A purple faceplate, black suit, with red plating.

"Father!" Tali ran and went down to the corpse begging for it to not be true, to be a fake, a ruse.

"Adas…we found Rael'Zorah." Shepard said slowly.

"How is he? Is he okay? Tell me!" Zane ordered. Seemingly in response, Tali's cries wailed and echoed off the walls and into the commlink. Zane's link was cut and they heard nothing. Except for a distant scream that echoed off the walls. Garrus didn't know how far Zane was but he was close enough to send a shiver up his spine.

A final recording was on Rael's body after Shepard had managed to calm Tali down and they played it.

"Tali, if you are seeing this then I am dead and you are on the Alarei somehow and I don't care how. Beyond this door is the main Geth hub. Disable it and you disable the Geth. But there should also be one last log. Take it and give it to the Admiralty Board and find a way to give it to the Harbinger. You remember him yes? I hope so. Goodbye Tali…I am sorry." And then a final Geth pulse shot ended the recording.

"Bye Dad." Tali said and sniffed. She clutched her shotgun and went to the last door. Shepard opened it the moment she nodded and they entered the final room. A large Geth Prime and two hunters stood there and when the doors closed the Geth knew they had company. They stepped over two Organization Militia corpses as they began to open fire on the team.

The two Hunters were easy to dispatch but Tali wanted the Prime for herself. She used her full arsenal. A drone, a hack, everything she had she used. She ran at the Prime quickly and took out a leg with her shotgun. It kneeled and went to aim at her only for her to take out an arm with another blast of her shotgun. She walked to its front, pointed the muzzle of the shotgun to its face and pulled the trigger.

"Good job Tali." Garrus said as Shepard pulled a switch and the power flickered for a moment before coming back online.

"Here it is." Shepard said and pressed play on the recording when Tali nodded.

Three figures in the same room the team stood in were there. All three were Organization member's and two seemed to be the same two that were laid face down in their own blood. And one was clearly Egos.

"So, are you two ready?" Egos asked.

"Yes, but Sir I don't like this. This is wrong. Are we sure Rael is okay with this? That he ordered this?" Egos put a hand on the Quarian's shoulder and nodded.

"I know it seems farfetched but yes he did."

"What about the Harbinger? Did he sign off on this?"

"Forget him I am the King and I gave you an order." Egos snapped.

"But if the Harbinger didn't…" Egos pulled out a knife and jabbed it into the Quarian's neck.

"I said forget him. Yoltacon…start the process." He ordered the other Quarian.

"Rael didn't sign off on this did he?" Yoltacon asked as he turned to the panel.

"No." Egos said and Yoltacon nodded and in a ditch effort, he tried to turn on the King. He grabbed a pistol and quickly turned. Ego grabbed the Quarian's arm and jammed the knife deep into man's gut.

"Traitor."

"No…I am giving our people our home back…on the backs of the Geth. When we have our Geth army. No one, not even the Reapers will topple us. The Quarians will return and we will have our reparations even if it comes in ashes." Egos said and the Quarian fell down. The King pressed a single button and then the feed was cut.

"Father…Father was betrayed?" Tali asked and the team nodded. Shepard reached for his helmet's earpiece.

"It is Egos'Sumat he did this!" Shepard exclaimed.

"Yea we know, he is running. I lost him…your man hasn't." Titan said and down by Rael's corpse a door opened and out came a white and blue Quarian man with golden trimmings. He looked at the team as they pointed their weapons at him. Egos was a mess, blood coated him but he looked like he had been through the ringer. His faceplate was beginning to crack but remained sealed tightly enough. He stood while favoring his right leg and he had a hard time raising his arms.

He looked to where he came from and before he could flinch a black and red blur crashed into him. His mask had cracked more and when Zane's shoulder left Egos' gut the Quarian fell with a *thud* and began to crawl away but not for long.

He was picked up and slammed into the wall and carried to another room where the sounds of a body crashing into tables and metal could be heard.

"Traitor! Liar! Killer! You hurt her! You did this to her! This is your fault! This blood is on your hands! Her tears are on your hands! I will have your head Egos for what you've done!" Zane yelled and the team ran towards the room.

"Please, I was just…ack!" They saw Zane grabbing Egos' throat.

"No excuses Egos!" He yelled and slammed Egos into a wall and then threw him across the room. Zane got his omni-blade out as they entered the room. Adas squad showed up and had their weapons down.

"Please someone help me! Help!" Egos screamed as Zane grabbed the back of his neck and had the edge of his blade almost kissing Egos' neck.

"I will tell you what is going to happen. You will be presented in front of the Admiralty Board you will make it clear what you did and then I will let her…" Zane had Egos face Tali "Decide what to do with you and maybe I will let your people help her in that endeavor." He said and the fear Egos felt could be seen, he shook in terror and shook his head as he closed his eyes tightly.

…

The Board was about to name her either posthumously guilty or not guilty just as they reentered the plaza. In cuffs and limping was Egos. Zane took him before the Board and kicked his leg out and forced him to kneel.

"Tell them what you did!" He ordered. His voice booming in anger.

"I…I linked the Geth in the hopes to make them into an army. In the hopes to retake the homeworld."

"And!" Zane pressed.

"And Tali'Zorah, the Organization, nor Admiral Rael'Zorah were ever aware of my plans. I killed my own men to keep my secret. I have no excuse." He finished.

"He could have been pressured into a confession we have no…" Koris began and Zane nodded to Shepard and he replayed the recording they had found.

As the recording played the masks of the Quarians began to stare at Egos and the universal feeling of disgust and hate began to bathe the room.

"I…I see. Egos'Sumat vas Alerai nar Minz you are exiled from the Migrant Fleet forevermore. Tali'Zorah vas Normandy nar Rayya you are hereby cleared of all charges. This meeting is over." Shala said and the Board began to separate again.

Zane pulled Egos and threw him down towards Tali's feet. The Organization surrounding them. Egos looked at her and his eyes pleaded forgiveness but his body showed mock bravery. Tali thought about what would her father do? What would Shepard do? What would Zane do?

"What will the Organization do?" She asked.

"He will be branded, disgraced, and then…regicide." Zane said quickly.

"They will kill him?" Tali asked.

"No, but he might as well be dead to us." Zane said.

"Us?" She asked and his gaze turned to her. And then to the others. A look of discomfort went through his face but faded away soon afterward.

"Oh, by the ancestors." Egos murmured in horror.

"You're…you're him?" Illis asked. The crowd got closer to them and her eyes remained transfixed on him. His eyes showed him trying to come to a decision before he gave a sigh.

"I am the Harbinger of Salvation, leader of the Organization." He said and the Militia around them gasped.

"You're what Zane?" Shepard asked as he approached the group. Shepard didn't look angry but slightly disappointed and confused.

"You heard me, Shepard. I am THOS." Zane said and he crouched to get eye level with Egos. "And you…I better never see you ever again. Or a branding will be the least of your worries." He got up and looked towards Titan. "Get him branded. Send the word out, King Egos is no more, regicide has occurred. Find me the Bishop." He ordered and two people grabbed Egos and dragged him away.

"That would be me, Sir." She saw Lilhim appear from the crowd and get Zane's attention.

"Lilhim, you are now the King of the Quarians. Do right by them, do right by us, and always walk in defiance." Zane said and Lilhim nodded.

"I won't let you down, Sir."

"I am sure you won't." Zane said and turned but something bumped into his leg. Both him and Tali looked down and saw a small child looking up at him.

"Uton!" Attan said and Zane raised a hand. His eyes smiling. His demeanor was calming down.

"Well hi there. How are we?" Zane asked the child as he crouched to the boy's level.

"Good, do you work with my Uncle Attan?" Tali heard chuckling from the Organization members around them.

"You could say that. But the better question is what is a big dude like you doing in a place like this?"

"It's the biggest place I know. And Mother is busy." The child answered quickly.

"Oh really? Well, I think you are too good for this place. Tell you what, I think you are worth one-hundred Uncle Attans." Zane said and the boy laughed.

"Really?"

"Oh yes, do you know how crazy he is?" The boy shook his head. "Well, he works with me…and I am crazier than most people." He said.

"And how crazy is that?"

"I've seen him charge a Geth Colossus…Twice." Tali spoke up. The boy and everyone else looked at her.

"Really?" They asked in unison.

"Yep it was big and the planet was hot and you could see pools of lava. But you know what? That man charged it and saved me. He did it again not all that long ago. Attan and Illis were there for that." Tali said to the boy and everyone looked at Attan and Illis.

"Yes, I saw it with my own eyes it was on Haestrom. We were boxed in and only a Colossus between us and survival and the Harbinger…"

Tali saw Zane walk away with a smile that faded. Shepard had left to talk with those around the plaza leaving her to her own devices. Zane took a seat within the small circular area. She went to him and sat beside him. The silence was comforting at first but got strange as time went on.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked him.

"Didn't know how to bring it up." He replied.

"Hey Tali, guess what, I am the leader of a large Organization of people whose sole purpose is to prepare the galaxy for war with Reaper and I have my fingers in every pizza. That works, right?"

"Pie…fingers in every pie is the saying Tali." He corrected her and she reached and pinched his neck. His neck immediately reacted to the strong grip and he froze in pain.

"You know what I meant bosh'tet." She hissed and he nodded in pain.

"Yes, I know." She let him go and he rubbed the back of his neck. A small smile beneath the mask. But the smile soon faded away. "But I just…I saw no purpose for it. I don't even let the Organization know. I didn't want to keep the secret from you Tali. It just happened." He said and looked at her. His eyes asked for forgiveness and she couldn't remain angry at him. She wrapped her arms around him and he did the same.

The moment he did she couldn't stop the tears that sprang to her eyes. All the feelings of neglect from her father didn't matter anymore. Father did love her in his own way and she only saw it now. Everything he ever did was for her sake. She just wished her father had told her as much.

"It'll be okay Tali." He said and caressed her back gently.

"How did you get past it all? Leaving your family? Leaving your home?" He looked her in the eyes and gripped her hands tightly but gently.

"I found a new home and a new family. I found more people to care for and love." He said and he smiled at her.

"Sir, a moment please?" Titan asked and Zane nodded.

"I will be back or I will see you on the Normandy. I am sorry Tali, you didn't deserve this event. I wish I had done better…you deserve better." He said and quickly left.

Tali looked around and saw Shala speaking with several Quarians and she got up to go to her "Aunt" her anger was over any previous limit. When the Quarians noticed her they back away slowly and Shala turned even slower. When she saw Tali she seemed to grow frightened.

"Tali now please…" She began.

"No Shala! I trusted you, I loved you and this is how I am repaid? I am only told the length of the charges until the hearing?! I am only told the Fleet may be in danger when I get here?! I am only told my father may be dead and can only confirm by seeing it for myself?! What the fuck Shala?!" She cursed and her Aunt was shocked by the language. She had used a human word and even used it in the correct context. Tali was realizing just how many human tendencies she was getting from staying on the Normandy now. And she wasn't about to change them…at least not yet. From the words she used, her accent, and even how she felt being on the Rayya again. She thought it all stemmed from where she lived now.

"They needed to see the shock, the fear, the pain you felt. I didn't hurt you because I liked it, I did it to help you." Shala reasoned.

"You figured there was no other way huh? Is that it? You were not much help when it came to the Alarei. No marines went after my father or the Alarei but the Militia was certainly willing to go." Tali said.

"The Marines are not my area Tali, you know that. And we did send a squad but they didn't last five minutes…we had no reason to assume another squad would do better." Shala tried to explain.

"And don't get me started on my posthumous hearing…what a joke." Tali said with mock laughter.

"You were not going to be named guilty I promise." She said but it only made Tali's blood boil. She was getting tired of the promises her people were giving her. Only for them to come up short.

"No! You don't get to promise me anything! Zane made good on his promises and he didn't lie to my face to do it!"

"You care about that human, don't you? That's the same one from two years ago is it not?"

"And what if I do? And what if it is?" Tali asked glaring at her Aunt.

"Tali…I know you are mourning but if your father…"

"My father? Don't you ever use him to reprimand me! I had it hard enough having to live up to his expectations."

"Rael wouldn't want you to throw away your future for…"

"For what? A human? Is that it? Well, do I have news for you Shala…I love him!" Shala was shocked into silence. Tali was quiet enough as to not alert the entire plaza and keep the conversation private-ish. "Yes, I said it, I love Zane. And whether he loves me or not is another matter but at least he cares about me and shows it on a regular basis. Could you and Father say the same?" Tali said and walked away. She had said her peace and that was all she needed to do for the moment.

"LOHL?" Illis came up to her with Attan by his side.

"Not now guys." She said and they gave a chuckle. It wasn't in a mocking tone but rather a gentle one.

"This won't take long ma'am. We wanted to say we are sorry for your loss. And thank you, for if it wasn't for you we never would have caught that traitor." Attan said.

"And also, that we owe you an explanation." Illis said.

"An explanation?"

"LOHL, it means Love of His Life. Him being the Harbinger. I did say we would tell you what it meant."

"Really? Is that what LOHL means?" Tali asked the anger and sadness she felt being cast away. Replaced with a feeling euphoria as the two nodded.

"Yes, a lot of us here were told to keep an eye on you. Make sure you were not hurt and to make sure that what just happened wouldn't happen. Which leads us to our apology." Illis said and Attan took over.

"We had reason to believe something was going on with the Alarei. We didn't have evidence and we tried to be discreet as to not cause a panic. Thus, we were slow and then we were too late to find out Egos was a traitor."

"Please forgive us LOHL." Illis pleaded and in reply Tali hugged them both.

"All is forgiven." She said.

"Good…please don't tell the Harbinger we messed up." Attan made sure to ask.

"Mess up what?' She asked with a wink and then she rejoined her team.

"Ready to leave?" Shepard asked. She gave one last look around her home and looked at the same spot where she had said goodbye to Zane two years ago. She then looked at Zane and smiled at him as he did the same to her.

"Yes, Captain I am ready." She said then they made their way towards Normandy…her home.

A/N: Woah! Man, I tell you what, long before I ever got to this chapter I was already thinking about how it would be. I think I did it justice.

But really quick did I catch anyone off guard with Zane being the Harbinger? I tried to not make it too obvious and I think I did okay on that front. I am sure many had it figured it out the moment you heard of the Organization and THOS. Ah well.

Anyways, loved making this chapter really had fun with it and I had been looking forward to it for a little while.