Dovahkiin's effect

Chapter 17: Knowing your Friends

Tali:" How did you manage to push forward even after all that you have been through." She asked as she wipes away the tears from her face.

Malen:" Some days I wanted to rest and never wake up Tali, but it was not out of despair. I wanted to feel warm and at peace with my life and in my dreams I found a place that my starved heart longed for. I never wanted to leave that place, but in a way my dreams gave me hope that I would walk those fields of green by the ocean shore someday. The sun shining warmly on a small field of grass and flowers with the ocean a jogging distance away with the smell of ocean breezes. I suppose that was the only comfort I had during that time, but I always felt like someone was watching me from afar in my dreams."

Tali:" That sounds like a beautiful place. Perhaps somewhere in the galaxy there is a world that has the place from your dreams. Anyways, to lighten the mood a bit: Have you finished repairing my suit?"

Malen:" I have. I was repairing it while telling you about my past. Here you are." He says as he hands Tali her fully repaired suit.

What Tali didn't notice was that Malen had actually completed the repairs sooner than she thought and apparently he had used up all the synthetic material.

Tali:" It didn't seem like the repairs would need all the synthetic material." She thought to herself.

Malen had actually used the remainder of the materials in order to improve her suit to his very high standards of durability without sacrificing its flexibility and light weight. While this galaxy and its technology far outstripped the advancements on Nirn in the same field, Magic can provide advantages that this galaxy will not obtain for a long time.

Tali:" umm Malen?"

Malen:" Yes Tali?"

Tali:" did you happen to add anything to my suit?"

Malen:" If you mean improvements when you say "add" then yes."

Tali:" What kind of "improvements did you add to my suit?" she asked confused and curiously.

Malen:" It's probably best if I showed you rather than told you, though you're just gonna have to trust me on this."

Tali:" I do trust you. I trust you very much. What do you need me to do?"

Malen:" I need you to hang your suit on something for me."

Tali walks over to the side of the shuttle bay and opens a locker with a hook in the back of it.

Tali:" will this do?"

Malen:" yes that will do. Now let me see your shotgun."

Tali seems to be a little nervous about what this is implying, but she trusts Malen and gives him her shotgun. Malen takes the shotgun and aims the barrel at her suit. He casually pulls the trigger and a loud bang is heard from the gun.

Tali:" I guess he is gonna have to repair my suit again, but I wonder if this has to do with the "improvements" he made to my suit."

After the shot was fired, quiet sounds were echoed inside the locker that sounded like needles being dropped on the floor. Malen lowered the shotgun and gave it back to Tali.

Malen:" Inspect your armor for any damage and you will know what improvements I made to your suit."

Tali placed the shotgun on top of the locker and looked inside. The mass accelerated rounds were on the bottom of the locker in front of the suit. While she did see the shields of her suit flare up, she knew that they could not withstand a near point blank shotgun blast, but based on where the rounds ended up it seemed like they did not penetrate the suit. Tali probed the suit with her hands. Feeling for any depressions or holes made by the rounds, but her suit was completely intact. Tali soon looked up to Malen with a confused and somewhat pleased look on her face.

Malen:" Your suit is now virtually indestructible. Not even Sovereign could damage your suit."

Tali:" you did that with nothing more than a workbench, synthetic materials of the suit, and a hammer?! Is that what magic is capable of?"

Malen:" That and much more Tali, as you have already have been made witness to." He said with a chuckle.

Tali felt both ecstatic and a little bit sheepish that she would still be surprised at what Malen could do.

Tali:" Thank you very much! Could you teach me that sometime?"

Malen:" I was going to anyway once we have continued your magic training, but the collectors won't give us the time we need to properly train I'm afraid."

Tali:" You're right about that. Anyways, I should probably check on the ship's shields and engine, but you can visit me or ask for me whenever you like."

Malen:" Will do."

Tali kisses Malen tenderly on the cheek, after she puts her suit back on, and walks into the elevator and goes 1 floor up.

As Malen relaxes on a chair and listens to some music, a thought occurs to him.

Malen:" I have not really talked with the other crew members yet. I should probably get to know them if I'm going to be saving the galaxy with them." He thought to himself.

Malen got up out of the chair, turned the music from his Omni tool off, got into the elevator and went up to the third floor. Malen wanted to get to know the people he has not even talked to yet and see what kind of person they are. Malen walked down the left side and turned right towards Miranda's office. Malen raised his hand to the door in a habit of knocking on doors to rooms he was about to enter. The door opened automatically before his hand tapped the door. Feeling a little sheepish, Malen walked into the room and saw Miranda sitting in front of a desk with a bed behind her and a couch on her right.

Malen took the seat that was in front of the desk.

Miranda:" Hello Malen. What brings you to my office?"

Malen:" I'm just wanting to get to know the crew better. I imagine that Shepard is doing something similar."

Miranda:" Yes he is. He helped me protect my sister not too long ago. I guess that experience humbled me a bit."

Malen:" Just a bit ehh?" He said in a joking tone of voice.

Miranda obviously got what Malen was hinting at and merely sighed to herself.

Miranda:" Yes it did as hard as that is to believe. So what is it that you want to know?"

Malen:" Well I want to know Miranda. Not your history or that you were made from a sample of your father's living DNA, but Miranda the woman sitting in front of me. I would like to know your likes and dislikes, hobbies, your favorites of stuff. You know the stuff the friends ask other friends."

Miranda was taken aback by this. She has rarely been asked such things since most are interested in asking her of either Cerberus operations or her modified genetics.

Miranda:" I appreciate you wanting to make small talk, but small talk really isn't my strong suit."

Malen:" Ouch! Am I really that repulsive?!" He said in a joking sarcastic manner.

Miranda was getting the feeling that Malen was starting to act like Joker around her and she really wanted to face palm herself, but knew that would be rude to someone who the Illusive man was currently VERY interested in, but he had a better idea of what he was dealing with than most since he intercepted Malen's message.

Miranda:" But there is something I would like to ask you though."

Malen:" and that would be?"

Miranda:" While you have not provided any advancement in tech for this galaxy, I've seen you do impossible things even by the reapers' standards of capability. You are probably wondering why I'm acting so calm about this after I've seen you wipe out an entire army of collectors and their ship by yourself, and repairing the atmosphere of an entire planet and restoring a star to its normal state. Am I correct?" She asked calmly.

While she had her doubts about Malen on Omega about his usefulness and capability, they were soon dashed away and started to get vaporized into oblivion. She knows that she does not make mistakes when it comes to information gathering and recording and what she recorded gave her mind and body pause. What greatness that humanity can achieve if they could replicate Malen's feats, but she could not even begin to conceive how to make any of that possible, so she is resorting to persuading a non-human to help a "human" cause.

Malen:" That is correct. So why are you so calm then?"

Miranda:" Because I am asking on behalf of Cerberus and humanity for you to help us advance in capability and take a higher place of respect and role in the galaxy."

Malen:" That does sound like a noble cause, but your methods and future intentions are put into question I'm afraid."

Miranda understands that Malen is referring to Cerberus's not so clean past and the "prohuman" image that Cerberus has. So she decides to try to smooth things over.

Miranda:" Cerberus isn't as evil or corrupt as you might have been led to believe. The past crimes of Cerberus were done by rogue cells and were not affiliated with the goals as Cerberus as a whole. We are willing to work with non-humans to give humanity a larger and fairer role in this galaxy."

Malen:" Maybe so, at least to you, but I still have my doubts about that. A sentient species should not sacrifice its sense of compassion and morality to further expand your kind but end up reverting back into animals. What I'm trying to say is that humanity cannot expand if it sacrifices its humanity."

Miranda tries to be understanding in order to get on Malen's good side.

Miranda:" I understand that, but we are not trying to enslave the other races, just have an equal say in things and be treated equally."

Malen:" That is understandable, and you seem like a nice enough woman, but let me warn you as a friend. Do not let the lure of knowledge consume you."

Miranda:" What do you mean by that?" She asks, unsure of what Malen is getting at.

Malen:" Instead of just telling you, let me show you."

Malen stand up and walks next to the door behind him. A black portal appears in front of the door and spits out a dark skinned humanoid wearing brown robes. He immediately got up and started to move about the room: searching frantically for something that clearly was not there.

?:" Where are they!? Books the books?! Knowing, knowledge, being, being knowledge. More! I must have more! I must know MORE! GIVE ME MORE!" He screamed in a psychotic manner.

The dark skinned humanoid charged at Miranda with hands ablaze with magical fire, but was decapitated before he touched the desk. The head fell to the table with the neck landing first and the face staring at Miranda with a frozen expression of crazed panic.

Miranda didn't know whether to be jump scared by the sudden assault on her and the severed head staring crazed at her, or vomit from how horrifying that was so quickly. Somehow to a grateful Miranda, She managed to keep most of her composure during this sudden and a bit scary event.

Miranda:" And what was your point in scaring me half to death?" she said calmly but with accusing looks from her eyes.

Malen:" That man that just attacked you used to be a wise and brilliant mage known as Moreian Zenith. He was able to travel to the different realms of oblivion. He then traveled to my realm of Apocrypha and was enthralled by the infinite and unknowable knowledge held within. His mind was consumed by what he had learned there and he was swallowed by his desire to know more. He is nothing more than an animal as you have seen, and his prey is new knowledge and secrets. Look well into that face Miranda. If you or Cerberus are not careful about seeking knowledge then that could be your fate."

Miranda would have had a reply if Malen had simply told her what he meant, but how he should her what he meant had prevented her from replying with anything more than a simple slow nod.

Malen smiled as he took the head and rest of the body and tossed it back into the black portal before he closed it completely.

Malen:" I hope you've learned something today. See you later." He said as he left Miranda's office.

Malen:" Who should I visit next? Hmmm haven't really talked with Thane yet."

Malen enters the life support room and sits down next to a metal table in front of Thane.

Thane:" What brings you here Malen Katarn?"

Malen:" I'm trying to get a feel for the crew Thane. I guess that I'm doing something similar that Shepard is doing, though I'm mostly just trying to know my friends. I heard that you have an illness?"

Thane:" It's called Kepral's Syndrome. It's non communicable if you were wondering. In short I am dying, but I'm not worried about that: I'm worried about all those who die to the collectors."

Malen:" I'm sorry to hear that Thane. Tell me then, if there was a way to cure you of your disease would you take it?"

Thane:" I would, but not for the reasons that most would take it. I have taken many evils out of the universe and added a few of my own. My son is the only bright thing that I have added to it. If I could see that brighter tomorrow with the ones I care for then for them I would live."

Malen smiles warmly as he pulls out a pink bottle of odd smelling liquid. Malen pours the liquid in a metal cup that he just so happened to still have on his person. Malen hands the cup to Thane.

Malen:" While monumental advancements in the field of health and medicine have been achieved in this galaxy, sometimes the cure for the incurable can be as simple as a plant or claw or fish. I think that you will find that what is in that cup will change your life for the better."

Thane:" I have my doubts about that, but I won't refuse a gesture of help and kindness." He said as he drank from the cup.

Malen:" I'm sorry about the taste of it. Some of the ingredients that I use for potions are not the most pleasant to work with."

Thane:" Even if the taste was foul enough to kill me, I could escape it through reliving memories. It is actually not the worst thing I have tasted actually."

Considering that the potion was comprised of hawk feathers and vampire dust, Malen really did not want to know what worse things Thane has drank.

Malen:" You must have had a hard life then if you have tasted worse than that hahahaha! Well I guarantee that it will help: you will see!" He said as he got out of his chair and waved good bye.

Malen:" I think I should give this to Joker as well. Hope he likes his drinks ass flavored." He thought to himself.

Malen went to the kitchen and got a proper glass cup and poured another bottle of cure disease in it. He then went up to the second floor and approached Joker with glass in hand.

Malen:" Hey Joker." He addressed in a friendly manner as he thought of a way to get Joker to drink the potion.

Joker turned his chair around and addressed Malen in a friendly manner in turn.

Joker:" Hey Malen! Wanted to see me about anymore "Exciting browsing"?"

Malen:" No, I actually got something better than that down at the fourth floor right now. I actually was wondering if you're interested in taking a challenge."

Joker:" I hope it doesn't have to do with running or dancing."

Malen:" I'm sure you actually dance better than Shepard. The challenge is to drink what is in this glass here (Hands Joker the glass filled with the cure disease potion). I will give you 100,000 credits if you can drink all of it."

Joker:" You will give me enough credits to buy a nice place to settle down in once this is over to just drink what is in this glass? Either you have a lot of money to blow or this stuff must taste like liquid death. Ok I accept your challenge!"

Joker closes his eyes prepares himself for whatever foul taste was about to assault his mouth. He chugged the glass as quickly as possible so he wouldn't have to endure the taste for long. To his surprise it was actually not as awful as he was expecting, but he wouldn't call it a pleasant drink by any means.

Joker:" Tasted like diluted mud to me. I'm not throwing up so that's a win for me and I'm getting 100,000 credits out of it which is a Big win for me. I hope you didn't just play me in that you don't have the money."

Malen:" Can I see a data pad or access to your Omni tool?"

Joker simply types in his Omni tool and pulls out a depositing into account screen. Malen accesses his account on his Omni tool and transfers 100,000 credits into Joker's account.

Joker:" You pay a lot better than the Alliance or Shepard: Have any more challenges for me?" He said with a chuckle.

Malen:" Maybe later, but I'm going to go wandering about the ship some more. Take care of yourself now." He said as he left for the armory.

Malen had wondered if it was possible to create a conjuration spell for the guns that used element zero to operate. Malen entered the Armory where Jacob was standing in front of a metal desk of weapons.

Jacob:" Malen? What can I help you with or talk about?"

Malen:" Would just like to look at some of the guns for a bit for an experiment of mine. Don't worry, I won't break or destroy them. Also I do believe you are something of this ship's expert in ship armor."

Jacob:" I wouldn't call myself an expert on the matter, but I have contacts that are experts in fitting and retrofitting ship armor. As for the weapons, you can help yourself to whatever you like."

Malen:" Thanks! I asked about the ship armor because I have some metal ingots that can be used to retrofit the Normandy." He said as he picked up an assault rifle.

Jacob:" Yeah Shepard told me about that: Said you had a metal called Ebony that is stronger and more durable than diamond which is incredible to say the least. You sure you have enough Ebony to cover the Normandy's exterior?"

Malen:" I do actually, or at least I can make more in an instant if needed. Here (He pulls out a smaller satchel out of his regular satchel and sets on the table next to Jacob). That should be enough to retrofit the Normandy I think. I know it doesn't look like much, but that satchel does not have a true bottom, but the ingots in it will always be in reach. I would not lift the bag if I were you since you would break your arms trying to pick it up.

Jacob stairs at the bag with suspicion and tried to pick it up, but quickly finds out that the bag is impossible to lift off the table. Jacob reaches into the bag and pulls out a couple blocks of Ebony from the bag. The metal was black in color and weighed a significant amount for its size.

Jacob:" Shepard scheduled us to go to the citadel in a few days. I'll get in touch with my contacts and have them meet us at the citadel for the retrofitting."

Malen nodded his head without turning around as he began to disassemble the assault rifle using precise telekinesis. The inner workings of the assault rifle's design and technology were revealed to Malen as he stared at each intricate component of the weapon. Once Malen had a full understanding of the assault rifle and the technology that it uses to function, Malen closed his eyes and concentrated magic energy in between his hands. A teal and dark purple haze formed around his hands and in-between them as he manipulated the magic energy to form the inner workings of an assault rifle. The magic gradually took shape and form until it became a ghost like resemblance to the assault rifle he just dissembled and reassembled moments ago.

Malen:" Good. Now that I know how to do that I can make a spell book for it when I have the free time." He thought to himself as he said good bye to Jacob.

Malen thought that Samara, Kasumi, and EDI were a little too awkward to socialize with. Malen also wanted to see Tali again and learn more about her and so he went down to the fourth floor to chat with her.

Once Malen got to the engine room, he tapped Tali on her right should.

Malen:" Got some time to talk?"

Tali:" I always have time for you Malen. What did you want to talk about?" She asked as she turned around to address him.

Malen:" Several things actually. I want to get to know you better Tali: perhaps you could tell me what are your hobbies besides tinkering with tech? What do you like to do?"

Tali:" Well…. I like to dance a bit and I like watching romance movies with singing in it if that's what you wanted to know."

Malen files away that information for later retrieval, but he had another question he wanted to ask.

Malen:" I didn't see your mother in the migrant fleet. Where would she be?"

Tali looks down and takes her a while to answer his question. Malen could tell that the answer is painful to her.

Tali:" Passed away when I was young." She says in a slight depressed voice.

Malen:" I'm sorry. I didn't know and I hope I didn't upset you by bringing it up. Where is she buried?"

Tali:" No offense taken. You could not have known anyway. The fleet does not have the space to accommodate burial sites, so we get as close to Rannoch without alerting the geth and space them towards the planet in hopes that at least their bodies will reach Rannoch that their souls could not."

Malen also filed that away for future use.

Malen:" I think it's getting a bit late now. Want to sleep in the bed we slept in last night?"

Tali:" (Yawns) sure. Today has been a bit emotional for us both."

And with that Tali followed Malen back down to the cargo bay and rested in the same bed with green sheets. Tali laid on her side after she got undressed and Malen had his arms around her as he also laid on his side. Time drifted by as both slowly nodded themselves to sleep.

Author's notes: I am very sorry that took so long again to update, life situations and all. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and leave a review of how you think the story is going so far. The next chapter's title will be called " The Wandering Lover".