Chapter Twenty-Three: We Are One

A/N: This chapter will have a sex scene. Not overly graphic but you know, fair warning and such. I will mark it with [Scene Start] and [Scene End] so if you don't want to read that part just go to the end part. Here's hoping I do this right…

…

"You unshackled an AI?!" Miranda exclaimed as soon as Joker walked in.

"You guys were gone, and I was out of options. I tried communicating with you guys, but I got nothing. It wasn't until EDI said she retrieved your signal did I try it again." Joker explained. Zane figured it all ended rather well. No one was taken, there were some wounded but nothing that couldn't be fixed. And the Collectors that were on the Normandy quickly began falling back as soon as Vitkin exited Ilos' atmosphere.

"It doesn't matter now. We need to decide what the next step is." Shepard stated.

"We need to get to the Collector home. They hit us here in our own home. And if it wasn't for that Reaper we would have been done for!" Miranda said. The entire team was in the meeting room. And the feeling was mutual. They had to hit the Collector base sooner rather than later. Otherwise, they were existing on borrowed time.

"Zane, any idea if Vitkin is willing to help us some more?" Shepard asked him and he closed his eyes for a moment. Whispers and echoes of voices reached his ears and they all reached a consensus.

He opened them and they gleamed for a moment. "It has disappeared. It has to get things prepared for when the Reapers return. It will be there when we need it."

"How do you know?" Tali asked and he smiled.

"Because we are an investment."

"Oh, that's great. Always wanted to be a Reaper's investment." Garrus joked.

"So, what now?" Jack asked.

"I want to know the extent of Vitkin's meddling with Zane." Miranda said and her demeanor was hostile. And he couldn't blame her.

"Like?"

"Does it control you?" She asked and Zane smiled when the image of a growl appeared. It was frustrated at the question. Frustrated at the fact that it didn't control Zane as much as it wanted to.

"Not exactly. What you saw on the Reaper was an extreme case. It had the most power there but I did eventually break free…It didn't like that." He said gently. Miranda still held daggers in her eyes at him.

"What is this Miranda? A damn interrogation?" Jacob asked.

"We don't know if he can still be trusted."

"What has he done to not earn our trust?" Garrus asked.

"He is the Harbinger of the Organization which I might add is indirectly fighting against Cerberus. He was created by a Reaper and is a man of many secrets. Not to mention he already shot at us once while under its control. What has he done to earn our trust?" Miranda asked after she listed her reasons.

"He helped me get Sidona." Garrus spoke up.

"Helped me with my trial." Tali said.

"His men put you there." Miranda pointed out.

"He helped me hunt down Morinth." Samara followed.

"Helped me get Maelon." Mordin said with a smile.

"His men found the information to find my father Miranda." Jacob stated.

"And as you said I was under Vitkin's control when I opened fire on you. Not to mention, I stopped myself before I made a fatal shot. Furthermore, it will be my men watching over your sister. Cerberus is useless in that department." He piped up surprising Miranda.

"What do you mean?" Miranda asked.

"If you go rogue then they have the perfect hostage. My men will make sure it doesn't come to that."

"Fine…maybe he isn't as bad as I thought. I still don't trust him but if he tries anything again I will shoot him myself."

"You were right to be afraid and apprehensive. But in the end, I know what I must do and we now just have another resource to use against the Collectors." Zane said as he looked around the room. He gave a nod to the team and they returned it.

"So, Zane I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't ask, but what did Vitkin mean when it said it created you?" Shepard asked and the room turned to Zane. He put his head down and sighed. He wasn't even sure where to really start but he knew they deserved the truth. He had held enough information from them, it was time to be open.

"I am not from here." He began and remained silent. "This is going to be a doozy…" He muttered. "I was originally born in the United States in the year of 1996." Their faces became shocked.

"Impossible!" Miranda exclaimed.

"Bullshit!" Jack shouted.

"Intriguing." Mordin said.

Zane saw Tali's eyes encourage him and he gave a small smile to her and she nodded before placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "The reason I know as much as I do is because all of this existed in a game. A game I played a lot and maybe too much. I know this place like the back of my hand. I know what can come at us and how to deal with it…mostly." He trailed off thinking about Virmire and his failure there.

"So, you knew about Kaiden and Ashley's death!" Shepard yelled. His eyes pained. Zane shook his head desperately.

"No, no, no! That wasn't supposed to happen! One would die yes but not the both of them! That wasn't supposed to happen. I can only guess as to why it happened. I assume because I am here then their role was filled by me. Therefore, they had to die so their place would remain empty."

"What are you talking about?" Garrus asked.

"I think I understand." Samara spoke up. "The universe demanded one of your comrades die so the other would take their place. With Zane here, they both had to die so he could take their place." She said and Zane nodded. He couldn't have said it any better.

"However, because of that and because I am here when I shouldn't be I have no idea what other changes have or will occur. Other than the changes that I have instigated. Like the Organization for example." Zane explained.

"What things were going to occur? And what things have happened that you didn't expect?" Shepard asked.

"Miranda's sister still would've been in trouble. Garrus would've been betrayed by someone. Morinth would've been on Omega. And Mordin's colleague would be on Tuchanka and be held by Clan Weyrloc. And Tali's trial still would've happened." She gasped and he gave an apologetic look before continuing. "However, there would be changes. Garrus' betrayer would be a male Turian by the name of Sidonis, Morinth wasn't to have such a pull over Shepard as she did this time. Maelon's research wouldn't have progessed so far due to the lack of alien test subjects, and Tali's trial would conclude with you all finding out Rael was the cause of the Geth outbreak." She shook her head in disbelief and he held her hand and carrased it.

"What?" She asked him and he explained.

"He did it for you Tali. He wanted you to see the homeworld at any cost. And then build you a home on Rannoch. His love for his daughter caused him to make bad decisions. I'm sorry." She gripped his hand tighter and nodded in understanding. "But it is different now. For all of you. The galaxy that I know isn't the one we are in. There are changes, some minor and some major." Zane said and the team nodded.

"How did you get here?" Jacob asked.

"If you had asked me that a week ago I wouldn't have been able to tell you. I remember a stormy night and was about to drift asleep. Then I wake up on the Citadel with Achilles standing behind me with a bag of gear. This very M4 I use today, a mask, a hoodie, pretty much my starter gear that I kept using." He said.

"And so, you what? Decided to become a vigilante?" Shepard asked and Zane nodded with a small smile.

"Me and Achilles knew that I had to catch your attention. Me being a cop had too many variables for me to predictably reach a noticeable level within the two years I had to get your attention or anyone's attention really. But with my knowledge, the things that I had learned, and the things that I could still learn, being a vigilante that had access to a lot of information was a perfect fit."

"I thought Achilles said he lived with you? You mean he knew you were from the past?" Garrus brought up.

"Achilles isn't Turian originally. He was Vitkin's mistake when it first tried to take me. Achilles was my dog and was caught in the crossfire. Achilles showed up here but wasn't what Vitkin wanted and then it tried to get me again. The second time was the charm." Zane explained and a look of confusion went through everyone's faces. "I know it sounds strange but it will make sense here soon enough."

"Okay…how?" Shepard asked.

"I am not the original Zane. The one that was born in 1996 isn't me I am an exact copy but I am not the original. When Vitkin takes someone from the past it kills them. It is how the universe maintains a balance throughout time." Zane felt sick just saying it. He hated saying that he was a copy. How can he be a copy? He had the memories, the desires, the hopes, the dreams. What makes a person?

"How can Vitkin do that?" Jacob questioned.

"It is a power his people have. They have a higher affinity for time then we do. They could see the past and bring something from the past to the future. But now as a Reaper, Vitkin can only see the past and then it must recreate what it saw. Thus, I was built inside Vitkin. Once I was completed it dropped me off on the Citadel and waited for me to find it."

"Why wait for you to find it if you were made inside of it?" Miranda asked and Zane suddenly understood why that was the case. The voices whispered in his ears as he blinked.

"It needed to see if I was capable. To see if I was worthy. It also had to test its control over me. Even though its control over me is minimal for the most part I proved myself worthy of its gifts."

"Well, this is a lot to take in Zane." Shepard said and Zane nodded.

"I know Sir." Shepard sighed and rubbed his forehead in annoyance.

"Everyone continue on your normal procedures. We will be moving towards the Omega Relay soon. Be ready when the call comes."

"Commander, the IFF is almost complete. The Collector's attack stalled my progress. I am ratifying now." EDI's digitized avatar appeared and spoke with an indifferent tone.

"Understood EDI see to it and let me know when progress has been made." Shepard ordered and looked at the room of his team, his comrades, his friends. "Alright everyone, get some rest. As soon as that IFF is installed we are out of here and heading towards the Omega Relay." The team nodded and then the meeting room was quickly emptied.

…

Tali began her normal operations despite the fact she had to get some rest but she had a lot on her mind. But was soon lost in her own thoughts as she worked.

Despite what she had said to him, the fact Zane was technically a construct did bother her. Worse yet, Vitkin was always in his head and may never leave. And then there was the possible future Vitkin showed her. She didn't believe it but at the same time, she knew Zane had a temper and a bloodlust to match it. She didn't want to admit it but him going on a rampage may have been possible. She doubted it would come to that though.

She still loved him despite all of these truths. He had always been there, he always lent his ear if she needed to vent. And he was always the voice of reason when they would talk on the old Normandy. He made her laugh and he made her feel like her being a Quarian was a blessing and not a curse.

And most of all he loved her. Despite never seeing her, never seeing her face. Unless he had seen it in his old timeline then maybe but even then, it wouldn't have been the same. He hadn't seen her for himself and yet he still loved her. When he looked at her it was her not the mask.

It was because of these reasons she loved him. It was why she wanted -no needed- to feel her skin on his. Just once did she want that moment of pure bliss. She wanted to know did he feel as hot as a star? Or was he as cold as his eyes could be? She wanted to taste his lips and feel his breath on her neck. She wanted to smell him without filters. To hear his voice with her ears without the helmet replaying his voice. She wanted to see his face clearly and not have an overlay in front of her when she did so. She wanted to see just how much like water and ice his eyes could become without the mask…just once.

All these things she wanted and without him knowing, she had been learning how to make it reality. The extranet was very useful in the learning department. And what she had been learning was shocking her and making her excited for the time to put all her knowledge to the test.

She even went to Mordin and Chakwas to see if there was anything she could learn. She thought she had been discreet…she was wrong.

…

"Ah. You wish to mate with Zane yes?" Mordin began. All she had done was ask relatively simple and innocent questions and Mordin had picked up on their conclusion quickly.

"Wha? No…not really…perhaps." She said as she blushed and the Salarian gave a gentle smile.

"Nothing to be embarrassed by. Go to Chakwas she will give you some immune-bolsters. And a word of warning for you. Human men are on average shorter then Quarian men…but much wider. If you catch my meaning. Take care and I will send you some material that explains best positions so both species are comfortable." He said with a smile and she felt embarrassed as she left but was thankful nonetheless.

She then quickly went to Chakwas and was careful that Zane didn't see her when she exited the elevator. She tiptoed her way to the med-bay and quickly slipped into Chakwas' domain.

"Ah, Tali, what do you need?" The older woman asked. Tali began to fiddle with her fingers like she always did when she was nervous.

"I need immune-bolsters if you have them." Tali asked.

"Oh, and for what?" Chakwas asked and Tali wasn't sure what to say.

"Something…er…private." And she saw Chakwas get a small smirk pull at the corner of her mouth. Chakwas was silent as she went to her desk and open a cabinet and pull out a small bottle. She then quickly closed the cabinet door and went to Tali and gave the bottle to her. The smirk now a full smile.

The bottle was filled completely with immune-bolsters. Chakwas then returned and gave her another bottle and it was filled with antibiotics.

"You and Zane have fun now." She said.

"You knew?" Tali asked as she held the bottles tightly.

"You kidding? I have had those in that cabinet since you rejoined us after Haestrom. Took you two long enough. Be careful." Tali was so stunned that Chakwas had to push her out of the med-bay.

…

Tali had put the antibiotics and bolsters in her old room that had been collecting dust since she began sleeping in Zane's room. But now at least it was good for hiding surprises for him. The thought made her smirk and then in her impatience, she looked to the time again.

As the time drew closer to her having to get some sleep her initial excitement turned to fear. A part of her knew that this may be her last night on this plane of existence. And she would spend it as she saw fit. But that wasn't what troubled her. It was herself. What if she wasn't what Zane thought she would be? Would he find her beautiful? Would she mess it up? Could her last night be her worst night? And that wasn't even considering that she would get sick and maybe even very sick. Almost deathly ill.

The opportunity alone would make the illness worth it and if Zane was the cause then she wanted to be sick every day. She would suffer that for him. However, dying was another matter and she wasn't ready to die after just now making him hers. If she did die then she would find it as a very cruel joke. And extremely unfair.

She looked at the time and saw that her shift was over and she took several moments to compose herself before finally leaving her station and heading to her room.

…

Zane turned off the recorder on his omni-tool before he looked over the many reports from several Rooks, Kings, Queens, and Bishops about the situation around the galaxy. The Turian Queen was doing good work in keeping the Hierarchy aware of the threat of the Reapers. They didn't want to listen but the slight changes they had been making in their patrol routes and the increase in ship production spoke of the Turian leadership preparing for something. But with that being said the Turians were not very forthcoming with information to the Organization and constantly tried to hold back information at every opportunity.

The Queen of Humanity had a run-in with the countries of Earth when trying to get some more informants into their governments. Zane didn't need governors, presidents, or any leaders but their secretaries was just fine to him. He needed to know what Earth's countries were up to in case they tried to destabilize Earth before the Reapers showed up. However, the countries didn't take kindly to people working in high government positions whose allegiance was elsewhere. The predicament didn't hurt the Organization directly, however, the U.K. would be more careful about hiring people around Parliament. But at least the Queen got several people to act as advisors to the Alliance so that was a plus.

The Salarian King was making outstanding progress in working with the Dalatrass. They worked like two business partners. With each overseeing the whole picture but each giving input on how an action would affect their people the most. In terms of efficiency, the Salarians were his best people. But efficiency wasn't everything he needed practicality and strength. Which the Salarians lacked heavily. So much so, that Zane had to send several squads from several other systems to Sur'Kesh for the King to command them for his convoluted plans.

All and all everything was going smoothly or as smoothly as he could have expected. It was hard to believe that just under two years ago he didn't even have a base of operations. And barely had anyone to even lead. But then he pissed off the right people, helped the right people and then he yelled for help with the Reaper Menace. And people had been joining ever since.

He had the brainchild of the Organization since the fall of Saren and Sovereign but he never imagined it would be what it had become now. And still, it wasn't finished but soon…soon they would be prepared and the Reapers would tremble.

That thought gave him an idea and he got into contact with the Factory. They had many projects in the works but none were complete but there were two he was excited about and they were should be very close to completion. They went together however and had one combined name.

"Sir." A young female Salarian said sternly as she looked at the screen. Her skin was a dark green color and her eyes had the same uncanny intelligence in them that always made Zane nervous. She wore a lab coat and stood in a white room with many computer screens around the room. The woman couldn't see Zane's face but nonetheless, she acted like they were face-to-face.

"What is the sitrep of Project Imperium?" Zane asked in a monotone voice.

"Sir, Executor, and Haven are roughly eighty percent complete and the Interceptors are at ninety-five percent." The young woman said. Zane wasn't happy with this news. It had taken so long to get this far. The Executor and Haven wouldn't be in the Reaper War at the start of the war and wouldn't probably join until late in the war. Assuming the war is long and that the Reapers don't find their factory. As for the Interceptors, they would join in the middle of the war if everything went as planned. So at least there was that.

"And the other projects?" Zane asked a little disappointed.

"Well we have working prototypes of weapons and armor and they are working quite well. I expect them to be distributed in a few months. We are trying to learn of a name for the armor and weapons. Any suggestions Sir?" Zane thought for a few moments.

"The weapon is RX1 and the armor can be called Sentinel Plate armor at least that is what I would call it."

"RX1 Sir?"

"Reaper Exterminator one." Zane explained and the Salarian gave a nod with a smile.

"Good names Sir I will run it by the others. Anything else Sir?"

"Nothing right now. Keep me updated as needed."

"Of course, Sir." Then the link was cut and Zane laid back in his chair listening to the playing music. He looked at the time and knew that Tali would be getting off her shift. He smiled at how hard she worked constantly. He knew why she did it though especially now. She was nervous…scared even. And he couldn't blame her. Even he felt fear at the prospect of fighting the Collectors at their base.

He hoped that they would get out just fine and that everything would go off without a hitch. If he was lucky then he could suggest who was most suited for the tasks at hand. But he doubted he would get that opportunity and Shepard was a smart man. And if Zane could do it then Shepard could it ten times better and more efficiently.

His mind drifted and he began to think about the battles to come if they survived the Suicide Mission. The Reapers would soon know the Collector's had failed and would immediately begin their journey to the galaxy. And Zane knew that the galaxy wouldn't have much time to prepare. And that was assuming Shepard would catch the Reapers off guard at the Alpha Relay and managed to destroy it. Or come up with a better alternative if there was one. Zane's Organization was minimal in Batarian Space and had yet to think of a way to disable an entire relay without destroying it. So, unless something amazing happened, Shepard would have to kill billions to save tens of billions. The shrewd calculus of war was a constant in the galaxy. As Zane had to learn several times over the past few years.

As he thought in relative silence he began to think of the life he used to have. The life of a younger Zane. The one that lived on Earth and whose greatest concern was passing high school and finding a college to get into. Everything seemed easier then but he would be lying if he said it was a fulfilling life. He had no plans for that future, nothing to look forward to. But now he had something. He had someone. His old family could never be replaced but the void he had in his heart was at least filled with something. The Normandy was his family now and Tali was his life, she was his future.

Zane's omni-tool lit up and it knocked him from his thoughts.

You there? You awake?

-Achilles

Zane smiled. He had hoped that Achilles wasn't too angry with him. And since this may have been Zane's last day there were things that needed to be said.

I am…we have to talk. Call.

-The Reaper

It didn't take long before his omni-tool buzzed several times and he pressed the "accept" button.

"Hey, bud." Zane said in a dull tone.

"Hey mate." Achilles replied in an equally somber tone. Much like himself, Achilles had been thinking deeply.

"We are on our way to the Omega Four Relay." Zane said plainly and he could hear the sigh of sadness come from his old friend.

"Are you guys ready?"

"As much as we can be. It is up to Shepard to direct the right people to the right job and for us to do the job. They also know where I am originally from by the way." Zane said running the Collector base through his head as he knew it from the game.

"How did that go?"

"They took it well. Better then I would've. And better then I thought they would. Now it is just a matter of taking on the Collectors and getting ready for the Reapers." Zane stated simply.

"I have faith in you guys."

"Thanks."

"I have to, if you fail I'm fucked." Achilles said and a small -if depressing- chuckle came from the Turian.

"No pressure huh?"

"What can I say? I'm a realist." Achilles said nonchalantly.

"Oh, is that what you are? I would've gone with an ass." Zane laughed.

"Same thing really. I got it from you."

"Nothing like learning from the best." Zane said with a smile.

"But enough stalling. Something is troubling you." Achilles said seriously and Zane cursed inwardly. Tali and Achilles could read him like a book sometimes. But not nearly like his mother could.

"Yea." Zane took a deep breath before speaking again. "I met it Achilles."

"Met what?"

"It. The Rogue One. The Rogue Reaper." A still silence befell the call.

"What…wha…what was it like?"

"Well sit in and buckle up it's a long story."

Zane began from the beginning. The headaches and his vision on the derelict Reaper. The way to Ilos and how eerie the whole planet was. And then what Vitkin did when it took control of his mind. How he shot at his friends and how he didn't regain control until he was over Tali and was ready to fire. The rage Vitkin felt when Zane fought the Reaper and how he was punished for it. And then came the truth. Zane wasn't Zane and Achilles wasn't the real Achilles.

Achilles took the news in stride and the silence was killing Zane. He half expected for Achilles to just hang up but he never did.

"I always sort of figured something like that would be the case." Achilles said suddenly.

"What?"

"I mean I was a bulldog how many years ago now? Anyways, I die and then come back as a Turian with the ability to talk, walk, and all the other things necessary to live in a modern age? Something was off about it." He said and Zane understood what he was saying. No sane person would think that they were one species one day and then a new species and consider it normal.

"Was I too hasty in thinking it was normal? Was I too hasty in thinking it was natural?" He thought aloud.

"I don't know Zane. Perhaps you didn't want to know? I cannot give you answers to things I do not know."

"Yea." Zane drifted and sighed there was one more thing he had to tell Achilles before he went to sleep. Two more things actually.

"What is it? I can hear you thinking from here." Achilles said with a small chuckle.

"You remember Project Phalanx?" He asked and Achilles hummed in thought.

"Yea what about it? It was a failed project." Achilles said.

In the beginning Project Phalanx was Zane's attempt at uniting the race of the galaxy under a single banner and disregard the Council's stupidity to get a force large enough to stand up against the Reapers. A phalanx of warriors, ready and waiting to fight the uncountable enemy.

But no one had the pull Zane needed. Either that or they believed in the Council and their government too much to care. Or they thought the talk of Reapers was crazy. After several months Zane gave up on Project Phalanx until he got another idea.

"Not entirely…" Zane began before he thought about the rise of the Organization. And then began to tell Achilles the tale.

Phalanx seemed like a distant goal he would never reach until he realized he was focused on the wrong people. He didn't need already established generals, admirals, and representatives. He just needed people. So, he went to the masses. Those that hated politics, those that had a natural distrust of the governments. Getting credits was easy when he did a few favors for the wealthy. And when Valkyrie took him across the galaxy he found surprising allies in Alliance space.

He had forgotten the one simple truth to a democracy when Phalanx began. Get a loud enough minority and the higher-ups will believe it to be the majority. It didn't take long before the Organization began to spread like a wildfire and when it was found out that their cause was not crazy but that it had some merit. Well, they went from a wildfire to a blazing inferno. The minority was becoming the majority.

And to give his Organization more legitimacy he changed himself. He ditched the Reaper persona in favor of a more favorable one…the Harbinger of Salvation. It also served as a "fuck you" to the Reapers. He kept himself hidden from everyone to make the masses and his people believe they were dealing with another Shadow Broker. A ghost that held the strings of the Puppet Master. This secrecy also gave him an advantage in many situations. When it came to dealings with high-ranking officials the secrecy meant his opponents knew nothing about him but he knew everything he needed to.

He had just never mentioned any of this to Achilles.

"You what! You never told me you were THOS! You mean I have been hunting down my own best friend for nearly two years? What the fuck! You…you…ah!" Zane smiled at his friend's reaction. He didn't expect anything less from Achilles though.

"Achilles, it isn't that big of a deal."

"The hell it isn't. You realize I have been arresting your men, right?"

"No, you haven't."

"Really? I just arrested one guy today." Achilles said in a know-it-all tone. Zane only chuckled for a moment.

"You mean the man known as Quien Mux? Turian, pale blue carapace, wears red face paint? Yea I know. And yes, he is one of mine. But when I say you haven't arrested anyone from my side. I mean you haven't arrested anyone I haven't wanted to be arrested."

"What do you mean?"

"I need people on the inside. Make sure C-Sec is doing their job. And furthermore, I can always use someone on the inside."

"You mean you recruit from the prisons?"

"What? No! I mean your wardens." Zane said nonchalantly. Achilles was speechless for several moments.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"You were an asset when you didn't know."

"What!?" Achilles snapped.

"Well, it would be suspicious if the Captain of a precinct wasn't doing their job. It would look like I had you in my pocket. I have some Captains in my pocket of course. Just enough to be useful but no more. And they are not doing my bidding they simply give my men some room to roam. And the other Captains take your stance, leave my men alone and we don't cause trouble. Also, you are just as predictable when you don't know things as when you do. Don't worry though. I know you better than almost anyone else."

"You used me?" Zane rolled his eyes.

"Achilles, for fuck's sake. This is me you are talking to. Did I use you? Yes, I did. Did I do it for my benefit? Yes, I did. Would have me telling you change this conversation? No, it would not. Would have my telling you potentially ruin your career? Yes, it might have. You would be arrested for corruption and then I would lose my best friend. I am not going to let that happen. I am only telling you now so that in case I die…well no regrets, right?" Zane said and Achilles sighed.

"Well better late than never. Let's change the subject, please. So that I can at least try to sleep comfortably."

"Alright. How has Sophia been behaving?"

"Since you showed up she has been more in the clouds than ever. But, she gets her duties done in a timely manner so I cannot complain too much."

"She needs to find a boy toy."

"She needs you to return her feelings." Achilles said and Zane laughed as he blushed.

"Yea…that won't happen. I…er…found someone already." A silence befell the call again.

"Haha! Okay don't joke now I know you didn't say that and mean it."

"I did say it and I did mean it."

"Who?"

"Tali." Achilles chuckled but not in an insulting matter.

"Why am I not surprised? I am happy for you Zane really, I am. Now I have to deal with Sophia. I do not want to see her in a jealousy-fueled rage so you get to tell her." Achilles said as he still chuckled.

"Fair enough but I won't be going to the Citadel for a good long while."

"That's fine." Achilles then yawned. "Zane, I got to get some sleep. Not that I will get much knowing you are going on a fucking suicide mission."

"Good night old friend."

"Zane." Achilles grew serious in his tone.

"Yea?"

"Be careful."

"I will be fine. I know how the Suicide Mission goes." Zane said calmly.

"Oh, I wasn't talking about that. Did your parents ever tell you about the birds…" Zane quickly began to interrupt him. And Achilles began to laugh.

"Ah oh no Achilles a random tunnel…grrrsh… in space. I'm losing you…grrsh…your breaking up!" Then Zane closed the call and sighed before chuckling to himself.

…

Achilles's laughed as he went into his room. His apartment was large and well kept. Zane could learn something from him. He looked out the window and saw the Citadel in its nighttime glory. It was beautiful but something about it made him laugh.

"Only Zane could literally have it where he had as much pull of the Citadel as the damn Shadow Broker. He will be the death of me I swear it." Then he looked passed the Citadel and looked at the nebula that surrounded the Citadel. "Be careful Zane on your mission. And may your parents watch over you." He then realized he left the request open to interpretation. "During the mission I mean, not when you and Tali…ah, I fucked it up!" Achilles cursed then chuckled.

"Bout time he tried to get laid." He thought as he prepared to take a shower.

…

Zane looked over the new reports of the smaller cells of Organization when his door opened. He looked over and saw a flash of purple before arms wrapped around him.

"Hmm…light weighted, gentle to the touch, soft in the front. I know someone like that." He said and reached behind and pinched the hips and a shocked shriek came from the woman's mouth.

"Not fair." Tali said as he turned. He smirked at her and she looked up at him. He could see she was nervous about something.

"Tali, what is it? You seem nervous." He asked and she stared at his chest. He gently put his finger under her helmet and forced her to look up at him. Her bright eyes mesmerized him as he stared at them.

"I…I wanted to well. I mean it's just this could be our last night and well I wanted it to be special." She began and grabbed the datapad in his hands and tossed it to the desk.

"Okay?" He said not sure where this was going.

"And I wanted to share it with you."

"And how did you wish to spend it?" He asked and she grabbed his hands and placed them on her hips. He gently held her and raised his brow. She wrapped her arms around his neck and began to sway her hips the song that played. It was a gentle tune and wasn't his normal type of music. They did that for several minutes and they came to the realization that they were not half bad at dancing.

"Well, this is a good start." She said with a laugh. He smiled but was still confused. She then rose to the tips of her toes and put her head beside his ear. "I also bolstered my immune-system and have enough stuff to swim in antibiotics." She whispered in a low tone.

It was enough to make the male in him reach new heights of excitement. He stilled and the realization of what she was saying hit him. What she was suggesting hit him even harder.

"I…I mean are you sure?" He could feel her smile at him and brought him to the foot of the bed.

"I am nervous of course but I want this Zane. I need this. I need to feel you just once." She said nearly pleading.

He sat beside her and looked deeply into her eyes as she began to ramble on.

"I just didn't know how to say it and I was nervous you wouldn't want to. Not that I don't think…I mean…" He gently grabbed her arms. And smiled at her and she seemed to calm down.

"Tali I will not force you to do anything you don't want to. And I certainly won't refuse you anything you wish to have. That would be hazardous to my health." He smiled and she giggled.

"I just need to show you how I feel." She rose her hand to her visor and he heard her take a deep breath. And then a hissing sound broke the silent air.

That hiss was so quiet yet it was the loudest thing he had ever heard. He felt his heart racing and his adrenaline run through his veins. And she slowly took off the visor. She bent her head down and her face remained hidden from him. She took another deep breath and it was a pleasant sound when it was unfiltered by her mask. A few strands of silver hair fell from the helmet. She slowly threw her hood back and then she grabbed her helmet and took it off.

Long silver hair fell from their constrained environment. Her hair was perfect. It looked silky and wavy and long and fell below her shoulders. He put a shaky finger under her chin and felt her smooth and soft skin as he lifted her head up to him.

This Tali'Zorah wasn't the one from the game. This one was so much better. Her skin was a faint purple and was close to a pinkish color with dark purple marks around her face that looked like clan or face markings. She blinked several times and her eyes seemingly grew dimmer and dimmer with each blink until they were like normal eyes. Her eyes were bright silver in color and looked alien with most of the eye being the iris but they had a black ring around them. Her pupil was larger than a human's and her eyes held more life in them than any eyes he had ever seen. She gently put her hair back and revealed a pointed ear that was hidden under her silver hair. Her lips were the color of purple and were full but looked fearful and she bit them nervously. She seemed to have two fangs that poked out when she grinned at him.

He was speechless. He had never seen such beauty before and doubted he ever would again. He didn't what to say or what to do. But instinct took over and he crashed his lips against her own as she was about to do the same.

[Scene Start]

Lips fought, tongues clashed, hands traveled, and eyes closed shut as they tried to devour each other. They both tried to get the other onto their back but they were unmovable. Tali had strong legs that pushed up but Zane had the upper body strength and pushed down with neither giving up. He couldn't place her taste but it was the best thing he had ever tasted.

Sophia didn't have a taste that he could remember but the taste of cherry came to mind when he remembered kissing her. Tali had a different taste. It was like strawberries but different…better…alien.

Zane tasted so alien to Tali. His natural scent came through but so did other things. A fruity taste came through as well as well as citrus and many other scents and tastes that she didn't have words for. Her breath was leaving her faster than she could regain it but she wouldn't give up this little fight they were having.

She knew just how competitive he was and it showed in that room as he pushed against her. His hands traveled up and down her back trying greatly to find anything to take off. Her own hands gripped at his jacket and shirt trying desperately to bring him closer.

He felt her hair and it was flawless. Silky strands ran through is fingers. Her hair was as light as feathers and he couldn't stop his fingers from traveling through the strands. Her hand grabbed at his jacket and nearly tore it off from his body and they continued their battle as the jacket fell to the floor. Leaving him in a black T-shirt and jeans.

She undid the golden rings around her neck and they fell to the floor with a louder *thud* and cold air ran passed her neck. With a shaky hand, she unzipped the neck-seam and peeled the suit back to reveal her bare neck to the cold air.

Zane immediately retracted from her lips and went for her neck. Her smell wasn't different from her taste and he loved it. Her skin was as cold as ice but it wasn't unpleasant to him and he continued to kiss each inch he found. She giggled as his lips attacked her neck she simply tilted her head to give him more room to do as he pleased.

The shock of his hot lips at her neck made her stop pushing against him and he took that moment to bring her down to the bed. She laughed as he chuckled against her skin. She hummed in pleasure as he kissed her neck and then she moaned when he gave a gentle bite to her skin.

"Ah…" She moaned as he kissed the bite mark before doing again only somewhere else. He laughed against her skin and continued to tease her skin. She was defenseless as a hand rested on her hip and the other gently went down her cheek and rested on her neck. His hand tapped gently on her neck she grabbed the hand and kissed it.

"Hehe." He laughed before rising. The light shadowed him and he looked imposing to her. The thought of him made her nearly beg him to take her out of the damn suit. But he did nothing and only stared at her seemingly waiting for her to do something.

She got up and rested on her knees as she reached for her clothing and took off the fabric leaving her in just her suit. She then slowly reached for the zipper that she left at her neck. He looked impatient and she smiled seductively at him. She slowly brought the zipper down revealing more of her pinkish skin.

She wasn't able to finish before he was on her again. She laughed as he attacked her lips then face and then back to her neck. His hands traveled with his face. One hand grabbed the zipper and slowly pulled it down. He kissed each centimeter of exposed skin until he suddenly stopped. She rose her head and looked down and saw him smiling.

One of his hands went to her chest and grabbed what laid between her breasts. It was a small silver ring. The same ring he had given her so long ago. He kissed the gem and looked at her and smiled almost evilly. He pressed the gem gently to her skin and wetness of his kiss had made the gem cold and she moaned at its touch. And then he ran his tongue over more of her flesh. Just enough to make her skin tingle from its touch.

"You bosh'tet." She hissed. And pressed up into the air as he laughed then went back to kissing.

He finally brought the suit to her belly and pushed it aside to reveal her breasts. They were just as perfect as everything else about her. Not too big but not too small. Just large enough for him to get a handful. Or a mouthful as Tali learned.

"You damn…" She moaned as she instinctively brought her body closer to him. He laughed again as he devoured more of her. Tali was so easy to tease. His tongue got to work and his lips held the flesh still as his tongue went over every centimeter of flesh in his mouth.

He brought the zipper down past her navel and finally it stopped. He looked and saw that the only hair Tali had was on her head and he smiled again. And she had nothing in the way of underwear.

"No underwear Tali? You little minx." He said.

"Don't need it. The suit is incredibly comfortable." She said in a haze. She began to take her arms out of her suit and he helped by holding the suit down. The first thing she did when she had the chance was to touch his skin with her fingers. He was hot and soft on his forearms. He had stopped kissing and teasing her and they collided their hands together.

His hand was surprisingly soft in some areas and hard as a rock at others. His fingertips had calloused with his thumb having the worst of it. She was in love with his touch. So rough and hard but so very gentle. Zane acted like he was scared she would break if he was too rough.

As she became enamored by his hands he slowly peeled the suit away from her skin. Tali seemingly didn't even notice she was getting taken out of her suit until the majority of it had passed her butt. He backed up and Tali sat up and used her elbows as support to see what he had in store for her. He grabbed the buckles for her boots and pulled them apart before taking the boots off.

Then he gently grabbed the suit at her feet and pulled as hard as he could. The suit flew pass her legs, down her feet and then it dropped on the floor. She was completely bare before him and he eyed her for several moments. A smile appeared on his face that grew wider and wider.

"Pure beauty." He said and began to approach and she stopped him by putting a foot on his crotch. She smiled when she felt just how hard the area was. He cringed in pain but stopped dead in his tracks.

"No, no, no. Your turn to strip." She said in a lone tone and she felt his crotch twitch in response and grow harder and slightly larger. He gulped and his breathing grew faster. He reached for his T-Shirt and she pressed harder. Making him stop.

"What?" He pleaded in a high-pitched tone.

"By me." She said and with a single finger, he waved him to her. He approached as slowly as her foot would allow. And she was sure to make it as slow as possible. When he reached the bed, she showed him just how flexible she was by rising to him with her foot still at his crotch. Her knee about to pass her head as she got closer to him.

"Oh, fuck Tali." He moaned as he watched and closed his eyes as his mouth went wide. She giggled and finally retracted her foot. She reached for his shirt and slowly rose it up. She kissed each bit of skin she found. Making sure to put him through as much agony as he had put her through. He tried to reach for her but she bit down on his skin her fangs pinching the flesh.

"No touching this time." She said looking up at him with her eyes and he looked like he liked what he saw. His face was contorted with pleasure and pain.

"You little…" She bit down again.

"Be nice." She said and he was silent. "Good boy." She whispered and continued to do as she pleased. She was agonizingly slow with removing his shirt. She kissed every part of skin, every scar, everything that she saw on him was met with her lips and tongue. And if he tried to do something a simple bite stopped him immediately. She made it to his neck and stopped removing his shirt and did to him what he had done to her. Biting then licking then kissing. Then rinse and repeat. It made him moan everything in the book and curse her name in every way he knew how. He was so easy to get agitated and she enjoyed every second of it.

She took the shirt off and before he could open his eyes she kissed his lips again. She placed her hands on either side of his face and held him still. She felt his soft face and his short hair. The hair atop his head was soft to the touch and the remains of a beard made her hands tingle causing her to giggle.

Once she was satisfied with touching him she reached for his pants only for her to realize his jeans were gone replaced by a thin fabric. She broke away from his lips and looked down and saw his jeans on the floor in a mess. Instead, there was a thin red colored fabric. And there was something that pointed at her inside of them. Her eyes grew wide at the size and then she realized she had been tricked. She looked at him and saw an evil smile. He pushed her to the bed and began to kiss her stomach with renewed vigor.

"Aww Lady Zorah, you have been foiled again." He said between kisses and she was helpless to his touch and kisses. A hand traveled up her leg and then went towards her core. It hovered over and around it. Touching just enough to keep her in line but not enough to satisfy her.

It was painfully magnificent.

"You…ah keelah Zane." She moaned as a finger traced her slit. Zane had learned just how sensitive Quarians were and he was using it to his advantage. He chuckled as he licked and kissed her skin and his lips went to where his hand was. He kissed her womanhood where her scent was the strongest but different. More alien and less familiar. A wetness came leaking from it and it smelled alien but not unpleasant. It glistened like a river in the noon sun.

She felt him probe her core with his finger and then his lips. She could hear him smell and then a laugh. All the while she knew her excitement showed down there. She felt a burning desire for him to do something, ANYTHING to her.

And so, he did. She felt his tongue enter and she gripped the bed sheets as tightly as she could. She felt his tongue explore every bit of her insides and then his tongue went over something. The area he went over was sensitive and she arched her back on pure instinct. She heard him chuckle and then he did it again. This time he put more pressure on the area and she arched her back again.

"Don't stop." She ordered. He repeated the action over and over and each time he added more and more pressure to the spot. And then just when it seemed he couldn't add any more pressure he did something that sent her crazy. As he slid his tongue through her he grinded his teeth over her slit. The resulting climax caused her to shake involuntarily. Zane slowly backed away his face slick with wetness. A smirk on his lips.

He cleaned her juices from his face with his tongue and then his fingers. He laughed as he did so and the taste was intoxicating.

He approached her again and when he was close enough she wrapped her legs around him. He was shocked for a moment and Tali used that moment to rise to his face and kiss him. As he fell into the kiss she used her momentum and flipped him over and he landed on the bed with her on him.

"Pinned you, my mate." She giggled.

"Maybe I let you pin me." He said and she attacked his neck like he had done to her. Her ring hovered over his chest then the cold metal landed on his skin and his breathing quickened as he felt her lips, tongue, and teeth send him into a silent frenzy. He simply wrapped his arms around her and explored her bareback.

She sent a finger to his chest and she glided it down her mate's chest. As she glided down his chest he did the same with her back and when she reached his pants he reached her rear. She let him squeeze as he pleased and the feeling made her smile.

Tali continued to smile and she rose from his neck and looked down at him. He was silent but she saw the silent plea. A plea to continue, to tease him, to do something, to do anything. And she slowly peeled the thin fabric away until a force that had been causing friction and made Zane squirm in discomfort finally gave way. The object flung at her and she soon took the rest of the fabric off.

She looked down and she was shocked at the object. It was certainly smaller than a Quarian but that wasn't what intrigued her. Its girth would fill her like no Quarian male could ever hope to achieve. And his length certainly wasn't anything to laugh at. At least six inches stared at her and she couldn't help the urge to wrap it in her hand.

"Woah." Zane hummed her grip was like a vice and he laid his head back. She slowly moved her hand up and down its length and each time she saw how he reacted. His fingers danced on the bed as they tried to relieve the tension he felt. She knew how that felt and she moved a little faster.

She got an instant reaction from him moaning again. "Damn Tali." He said and shut his eyes. She pumped faster and this gained another reaction with him looking at her and he nearly pleaded for her to continue. She did so and moved his member around with each move of her hand and he looked like he was enjoying himself. But Tali doubted it was as much as she was having. She moved faster and faster and his breathing only got faster and then just when he looked like he couldn't take anymore she stopped.

"Ah!" He yelled when the pleasure ceased. A look of discomfort and pain appeared. She looked at the member and saw how it twitched for more attention. Tali brought her head beside it and looked up at him.

"Aww what is wrong Zane? You look like you are not comfortable." She teased and he said nothing but his eyes told her to please continue. They begged her to continue. She grabbed the base of his member but not before licking and sucking her thumb. The look on his face as he watched looked like he was in pain and she smiled at him before he began to move her hand. She pumped slower than she had before and then she got faster and faster.

His breathing became erratic and she enjoyed watching his face contort in several diverse ways. He soon grunted as a stream of his fluid rocketed up into the air. The fluid covered her fingers and hand and she slowly brought it to her mouth and gave a lick. The salty taste of him tasted strange but not unpleasant. Tali continued to stare down at her mate as he tried to recover from her work.

He breathed heavily and she thought he was spent. He waited several moments just breathing and laid his head back. But then he grabbed her and lifted her up into his arms. She had her legs wrapped around him as he stood up and looked deeply into her eyes with a smirk on his face.

"You didn't think I was done, did you?" He whispered into her ear and in no time, she was wet again and he felt him stiffen under her. She used her arms and legs and pushed him back down onto the bed. He fell and his member rested between her legs and with a smile she grabbed it again.

"I didn't care. Because I am far from done with you." She said slid it through her slit. The feeling of him made her hesitate but she tried to hide it. In reality, his width would be painful and she knew that.

Zane grabbed her leg, gently caressing it and she looked at him and he gave an understanding smile.

"Whenever you are ready." He said. She smiled and gave an appreciative nod before sliding him into her. His heat made her choke on her own air. And without even putting a third of him into her the width felt like he would break in her two.

The pain was excruciating at first but with each gentle second, it got more comfortable. She slid more of him into her and each time she felt like she was being torn apart. But each time the pain subsided and she had never felt better. And soon enough half of him was in her and then when she reached two thirds a barrier stopped him. She felt him press against something. She put one hand on him for support and pressed through the pain and the barrier gave way.

"Ah!" She cried in pain. And he was happy that he had soundproofed his room or else she may have awoken the entire ship. She breathed heavily before the pain subsided. And then she looked up at him.

A loving look went through her eyes and she moved her hips down to his hilt before raising them again and then repeated the motion. And he realized to call her hands a vice grip was nothing compared to her womanhood.

"Ah, Tali." He hissed from just how tight she was. She rocked her hips more and more as she rose them. He tried to move but she had placed her hands on his chest to keep him still and she rocked Zane's world from the position.

She quickened her pace and she felt a pressure build in her core with each move of her hips. She looked at him and he looked like he was getting close himself. Tali got faster and faster and the pressure continued to build. Zane began to grunt and his breathing got harder and faster. She began to dig her nails into his skin and left bright red welts in their wake. And finally, the pressure had reached its peak.

"Zane!" She yelled as the pressure was released and he moaned loudly and she felt him seep into her. And she felt like he was fire inside her core and it warmed her entire body. Sweat poured from her brow and she took several moments to collect herself. Her eyes had gotten brighter for a moment before dimming again.

"You are fucking awesome." Zane said.

"I have only just begun." She replied. And he smiled and a look she couldn't place shot through his eyes but his cheeky smile warmed her heart.

"You are going to break me. Or the bed." He laughed and she went to his lips again. She had every intention of making the most of this last night especially if it was to be her last.

[Scene End]

…

It seemed to be true about what they said about Quarians. They were insatiable. Either that or Tali was. Zane couldn't know for sure. He was as spent as he ever could be and his eyes kept drifting close as they laid in his bed. The smell of sweat and sex stained the room but he didn't care. Tali traced his chest with a single finger. She was careful to not hit any of the many red welts she had given him and his back was much worse than his chest. Her colorless nail kissed his skin as she had it walk on his skin.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked her in a tired voice. She looked to be deep in thought. Zane couldn't bring himself to look away from her he was afraid that if he did then she would disappear.

She didn't say anything for several moments and just watched her finger do what she commanded it to do. "I don't want to go back into the suit. I want this to last forever." She said and looked up at him. A sad look in her eyes.

"I know and I want it to too." Zane said and gave a peck on her forehead. She smiled at him and then a small giggle came out of her lips. Her eyes lost the sadness replaced by an infectious happiness he was entrapped by. "What?" He asked and the giggling got a little louder. Her finger went up to his face and scratched his cheek gently.

"You know what this means right my mate?" She asked and he raised a brow.

"That I am your mate?" He said in a joking tone and she smiled.

"You were that ages ago. No, we are joined now. We are one." He quirked his brow further.

"What does that mean?" He asked and he liked the happiness in her eyes. He loved it when she was happy. He loved to see her happy.

"Well, I don't know about you and humans. And to simplify Quarian biology. It essentially means that another male will have to really impress me before I even look at him twice." She said and he quirked a brow.

"And do I have to be scared of anyone impressing you?" He asked and her first response was a kiss on his chin and then his lips before going up to his ear.

"Highly unlikely." She whispered and he laughed. She laid her head on his chest and it didn't take long before he fell asleep as he clutched onto Tali and held her as close as he could.

…

Tali continue to trace her mate's chest with a single finger as he slept. She inspected every inch of him in the tiniest detail she could manage. Every scar, every muscle she felt, every bone she went over, every welt she had created. Each scar told a story with some looking deadlier then she wanted to think about. But four, in particular, caught her attention.

They were round and looked ugly. The scars made her angry just looking at them. They were the four gunshot wounds Saren had given to Zane. That rogue Spectre had hurt Zane many times and in turn, it made her hurt. She placed her palm on the scars and gently caressed them.

"We defeated him. We can defeat the Collectors. And then we will defeat the Reapers." She thought and then her own eyes began to drift shut as she slept in pure bliss.

A/N: Just a quick note: The face I used for Tali was a concept art by Matt Rhodes. But really, that is a personal choice on my part as I wasn't a fan of the lazy photoshop they did in the game itself.