John woke up. He was afraid that image of dying Morinth would be stuck in his head but no. Though he could recall a glimpse of something that reminded of Tali's glowing eyes behind visor...
Throwing out the airlock all musings, he got up, dressed and decided to go to mess hall. Maybe along the way he'll think about another destination... His plans were nulified when he bumped into Tali walking out of the elevator and going straight for his cabin.
"Whoops, sorry Tals. Can I help you?" John asked jovially, still thinking how memories of cute purple quarian broke him from Ardat-Yakshi's clutches.
"I'm sorry Shepard but...I'm gonna have to leave for a while." Tali muttered wringing her hands.
"Leave? What happened" John was puzzled. What could make Tali so nervous?
"I just got message from the Fleet. They...accused me of treason!" panicked girl sputtered.
"Treason? How in the hell- Why?"
"I don't know. I'm scared Shepard..."
John instinctively wrapped arms around quarian mechanic. "We'll clear this up right now. Where's the fleet now?"
"They're mining in Valhallan Treshold now..."
"EDI! Set course onto Valhallan Threshold! If Joker will start slacking I'll skin him alive!" John barked.
"Message relayed. Logging you out"
"Thank you Shepard...I wanted to charter a shuttle or..." Tali trailed off
"I won't let you deal with problems on your own Tali. I won't let you down." John hugged Tali. She reciprocated enjoying brief moment of peace in his arms.
"Thank you Shepard."
/.../
John walked into Armory. Music was on, indication that Jester was back in town.
"Max, my favourite evil genius!" John greeted his brother who was busy creating some new deadly devices.
"Wassup jarhead?"
"You told me you were giving me tasers. Instead I fried brain of asari killer." John chuckled hiding his disturbance at the fact.
"I told you it could fry. I hope you didn't got in trouble for this?"
"Maybe a bit, but nothing solid. Just went off the script. I'll bring the junk back later...Look, Tali just told me she got into some nasty business with the Fleet, we're going there to clean it up. I want you to go with me. If anything would go south I'd rather not have any Cerberus or other races that screwed with quarians."
"I hear ya. No problem. But only because you asked and I like your girlfirend..." Max laughed.
"We're not together."
"Yet"
"Ha. Ha."
"Oh go pout. You could at least do it to get even with me. She'd take care of the rest" Max was still egging on John.
"I'm so not continuing that conversation Max."
"Whatever. I'll prepare some souvenirs."
"Souvenirs?"
"Souvenirs...novelties...party tricks..."
"You're weird bro..."
"Yup. Thankfully, Kasumi digs it"
/.../
John and Tali stood behind Joker's seat glancing at sea of ships. Migrant fleet.
"Amazing. Never seen anything like it." John mused loudly.
"Yes. Even after all I saw...this is quarian home now." Tali sighed.
"This is patrol of the Migrant Fleet. State your business." intercom chirped.
"This is Tali'Zorah vas Neema nar Rayya. Requesting permission to dock with the Rayya"
"We have you flagged as Cerberus. Identify."
"After time adrift among open stars, along tides of light and through shoals of dust, I wil return where I began" Tali replied.
"Identity confirmed. Welcome home Tali'Zorah"
"We request quarantine team to meet us. Our ship is not clean."
/.../
"Thank you for doing this...I was employed by my father to send inactive parts of geth to the Fleet but that was it...Didn't even had clearence to know what they did with it..." Tali muttered as they were in decontamination.
"Don't worry Tali. If not your charm then Logan's fist will make them see reason" Max chuckled trying to ease the tension.
They were welcomed by Captain Kar'Danna, CO of Rayya. He only told Tali that she was viewed as member of Normandy and Shepard will be speaking in her defense. John already smelled farse.
It only turned in fact when three of four Admirals accused her of treason, bringing active geth to the Fleet and to top it all they said that ship where Tali's father, Rael, was on, had been taken over by geth. John tried his best to not throw punches around and persuaded Admiralty to let them retake Rael's ship Alarei. Luckily maybe the'll find some evidence there that'll prove Tali's innocence. Admiralty board was so kind that they allowed it.
"Bunch of pricks..." Max muttered.
John then talked to Admirals and managed to piece it together. Tali wasn't the target here. The geth were. Apparently there was a rift in Fleet. Scientist Daro'Xen and Heavy fleet Admiral Han'Gerrel were pushing to go to war aginst the geth and reclaim long lost homeworld. Zaal'Koris and Shala'Raan were against it. Koris was even bitterly resenting any fighting, stating that Geth were their creation and it was quarian fault for making machines rebel. Tali was just a scapegoat. A last drop to weight for or against war. As daughter of man who was experimenting to find a way to wage war against AIs.
Shala'Raan was saddened by all this, specially being a surrogate aunt to Tali. But her hands were tied. Only hope was on Alarei.
/.../
Entering Alarei, squad battled through few groups of geth, uncovering traces of what Real was doing there. He was experimenting on tech from Tali. He tried hacking geth. Unfortunately they couldn't find any survivors. At one of the corridors they found a body of a quarian. In white suit. Tali immediately dropped her gun and ran to the body.
"No! No no no no no! It can't be! Not now! You can't die father! You can't die and leave me with this mess!" Tali broke down and mumbled as John picked her up and hold tightly. It took a minute but Tali stopped sobbing.
Max fiddled with Rael's omni-tool and managed to play some pre-recorded message
"Tali, if you are listening to this then I'm dead and geth have taken over the ship. You must go to the bridge and destroy the hub there. it will prevent geth from creating more neural links...Show the data to Gerrel and Xen they must-" Rael's message was cut short by a blast.
"He knew you'd come. Had faith that you'll sort it out." John stated.
"Yes...As always he just dumps something on my lap...He never cared much." Tali spoke bitterly still with tears in her eyes.
"Let's find that hub, maybe data from there would clear things up" Max spoke. Shepard nodded.
Entering the bridge they found a bunch of geth. Max quickly paralyzed them using EMP grenades, Finishing them off was easy.
Much harder was truth that surfaced from data stored there. Turns out that Rael was obsessed with war effort and bypassed security measures to reassemble geth from parts that Tali unknowing for what, was sending. He wanted to experiment on 'live' geth but was over his head when pack of them activated and murdered whole crew. Tali was shocked and insisted to not say anything about it. She couldn't bear that her father would be branded the worst criminal in their history. She was willing to risk exile from Fleet that she was threatened with just to ensure her father's name would stay clean... John was moved by her selflesness. And idealistic stupidity.
Once they went back to Rayya, the trial was already going. They walked into the hall just before Admirals rendered them dead and exiled Tali posthumously.
"You got balls, getting somebody do your dirty work and then still trying to call them dead after few hours!" John snapped losing his control. "Go get your ship"
"Apologies Commander...Your return was...unexpected." Shala'Raan tried be diplomatic.
"Have you found any evidence proving Tali's innocence?" Koris piped in.
"No I don't. And I don't need to." John went over board. Those bastards crossed the line. They crossed his crew. "Tali saved Citadel and whole galaxy from the geth! Any of you pricks did that ever? Thought so. How many of you fought geth? She did. Alongside me she killed hundreds of them! And you have guts to accuse that selfless girl of treason?!"
"This is not the point of that trial-" Gerrel tried by John was like a juggernaut now.
"This trial is a sham! You're using Tali as a scapegoat! To see what people think about the geth! You Han'Gerrel along Xen are pushing for war with the geth! While Koris is doing everything to prevent it. War junkies and damn geth apologist!"
John looked around the hall. All faces were looking at him. "You want to play your political BS? Your business, but Tali is my crew! I would give my last breath to her if she'd ask for it! Don't you dare crossing my people! Keep away from her with your war games!" John took a step back then walked up again. "So I'll say it again...You try exile Tali, you'll exile the embodiment of quarian, a definition of it's priniciples! And she'll find new home. On my ship. Where we value people, not play them like pawns!"
Crowd was unrest. After a while Raan spoke "Are Admirals ready to render judgement?"
Three Admirals responsible for this pondered a while then typed on there consoles. Raan looked at hers and spoke again. "Tali'Zorah, in light of your exemplary service you are found cleared of all charges. This trial is concluded. Kheelah se'lai"
Crowd went ballistic. Apparently no one ever dared to stand up to those suited fossils...
"Kheelah Shepard...I never heard that somebody shouted down Admiralty Board...Thank you for everything..." Tali stuttered looking at her Commander. Her savior. Again.
"Shepard. That was hell of a speech." Familiar barritone rang. "Kal'Reegar, nice to see you here" John shooked hands with quarian marine.
"I was testifying for Tali's trial. Good thing you came up."
"A pleasure, every brass is similar fossil apparently." John chuckled.
"I think our business is concluded here right?" Max asked mimicking Admirals
"Yeah, let's go." John just got an idea. "Hey Tals, you're coming with me ASAP. I got something to show you on our ship"
/.../
As they entered Shepard's cabin, Tali couldn't but marvel over his room. spacious and comfy, had large bed and even table and a couch. Living aboard life ship in Migrant Fleet she got used to very little space and sharing. Right here, it was so different.
"You like my new digs?" John asked happy he could shift her attention to something harmless.
"It's amazing Shepard! So much space! And looks so nice!" Tali walked up to the fish tank. "Live animals? You have better accomodations than quarian Admiral" She chuckled.
"Yeah, Cerberus idea, empty tank was boring so I've bought a few live decorations. Thankfully Kelly is feeding them. I'm usually to wrapped up in something." At mention of flirty redhead, Tali winced.
"She's coming here?" Tali asked before stopping herself.
"Yeah, when I'm not around. Idea of her seeing me only in my underwear or without it is not on my to-do list." Shepard said laughing. Kelly was setting off too many alarms in his head. And was not as interesting as Tali.
Quarian mechanic felt little better after this assurance but still out of place. "So what you had in mind?"
"Oh yeah, right. When helping Kasumi with heist on some rich scumbag, I've stumbled upon these." John handed Tali three stone tablets he recovered from Hock's vault. "Been meaning to give them to you outright but got wrapped up, sorry"
Tali slightly shaking took the tablets, sat placing them on her lap and unwrapped them from protective plastic. She ran her fingers along symbols and took a deep breath.
"Kheelah Shepard! Do you know what are those?" She asked shocked.
"Looked ancient and quarian so I've assumed thay're some old time writings" John replied unsure what to say.
"They're not just ancient. Last time quarian people wrote on the stone was eons ago! And this is not just some tablet, it's Scroll of Ancestors! Only a few pieces of it left in the Migrant Fleet and are revered as most precious remnants of our culture!" Tali was at the point of crying. To find something this invaluable...
"Can you read it? Or the other ones?"
Tali unwrapped rest of the tablets. "Barely, but they're all from the Scroll..." Tali was about to cry from happiness when her omni-tool beeped. She quickly opened message and almost dropped the tablet from her hands.
"That bosh'tet!" She screamed.
"What happened Tali?" john felt change of mood like a lightning strike.
"Koris just accused me of treason again. remeber our Cyclonic Barrier upgrade? I pulled it from the Fleet. Now that bastard wants to exile me for this.
"I'm tired of this fuck..." John was clenching fists when he realized something. He quickly packed tablets in the bag. "Come with me Tali"
/.../
John marched into Rayya with bag in his hand. The admiralty was back again and Koris was yapping.
"Silence!" John shouted. Even through speakers of his armor it sounded dreading.
"Commander Shepard! This time you won't rally the crowd! Tali'Zorah leaked secret technology to...Cerberus!" Koris shrieked last word.
"You listen to me good. Shut up, and listen." John wasn't playing nice now. The bad Shepard was pissed. "First of all I'm not Cerberus. That's not important. Important is that you're still trying to win something over, Koris." John leaned and pulled a tablet from the bag.
"Do you know what is this? A tablet from Scroll of the Ancestors! That's right. Precious history of your people. I have three of them!" The crowd roared shortly.
"Now I don't give a fuck about what you're trying to get here. But I'm offering you a deal. You absolve Tali and won't try ever again pulling her into your politics and you'll get precious stones here. Or you'll continue your little scheme and these tablets will go bye bye. I'll crush them to a dust, and hang your heads on my shuttle !"
"That's- That's borderline blackmail!" Koris tried to object.
"No, this is just your game turning against you, spineless shit!" John turned then to the crowd. "So what do you say? You'd rather welcome back a quarian who proved her heroism AND found herself these priceless tablets at mansion of one Donovan Hock while she was helping me there...Or you'll be as dumb and blind as this fucker" Shepard pointed at Zaal'Koris "What do you say? People in attendance here? Admirals? Yo want to play a game of fuck with me or you'll see some reason? And don't try detaining me. I killed krogans with bare hands, you won't even make me break a sweat!"
Crowd roared, some people wanted to fight for tablets but others were chanting Tali's name again.
"Admirals?" Raan tried to contain terror. Admirals unfrozed and tapped at their consoles. They did it immediately, only Koris pondered a second longer.
"Tali'Zorah, you've been again found cleared of all charges. Go in peace."
"Shame I had to lower myself to level of a politician to get to you" Shepard spat than walked up to Raan and handed her bag. "Don't forget that Tali found them. And don't try breaking your word. Or geth would be the least of your worries." John turned around and motioned at Tali to follow him.
/.../
Once they entered airlock, John leaned against the wall and let out a huge sigh.
"Shepard..." Tali only managed to say.
"I'm sorry Tali...I shouldn't go that far but...I just couldnt stand it. You did so much and they tried using you in their games..." John was panting like after a marathon.
"Shepard..." Tali just walked up to him and wrapped arms around. "Thank you" She whispered.
"I wouldn't let you get hurt...You were always special to me...And I finally now for sure why..." John felt it. He was sure about it. He proved it to himself yelling down entire quarian brass. Twice.
"Shepard?" Tali's heart almost jumped out of her chest.
"Come on, let's talk in my cabin." He grabbed her hand and stormed through CIC into the elevator taking off his helmet. He didn't cared whether anybody sees them. He needed to do it. The moment they went into his cabin he wrapped arms around Tali.
"I care for you Tali. It took me so long but I'm sure. I just...you're so special to me Tali." John spoke feeling his throat clenching and heart jumping out of his chest.
"Ohh...Shepard..." Tali clinged to him. Her captain. Her savior. Her hero...She couldn't say anything else. There was so much: Treason, gift of quarian history, another trial and another save from her dashing Commander. A dream. Her fantasy came to life.
She couldn't hold tears anymore.
"Tali?" Shepard realized Tali was crying.
"Kheelah! It's just...Is there even possible for you to be even better?! You help me, treat me right, now you're giving me a priceless gift and save me from exile! That is worth more than I could ever give you!" Tali was babbling and sobbing.
"You gave more than enough Tali." Shepard replied. Tali looked up on him. "You were with me from the beginning, never doubted when others were pissing on me. Saved my life more than I can count...and you're keeping me on track." John felt a surge of adrenaline. Time stopped. He just saw a girl clinging to him. A girl that was near him whenever he needed her. By god how he was blind, wasting his time fumbling with Liara. The one that always kept him in check was Tali.
"Shepard I-" Tali tried to say something but her throat clenched.
"Tali...it took me long time and few friends to realise it...but I..." John did his best to not loose his voice. "I love you Tals. With my whole heart."
Tali pulled him in a tight hug. "Kheelah Shepard! I- I never thought you would..."
"If you're not interested I'll understand Tali but I just...I had to say it. I couldn't hold it any longer" now Shepard was watery eyed.
"Shepard...I am interested, just never believed you would see past this damned suit...but why? I can't show you my face!, I cant even touch you or kiss you!" Tali still couldn't believe it was happening.
"Because it's you Tali. Because you showed me long ago that it's not the looks or the touch is what matters most...but a character, loyalty, this spark that keeps you going...You have it all Tali. I don't care about your suit. Maybe we'll find some way to get closer, maybe we won't. Doesn't matter. I want you with me. Together, I'm not afraid I'll screw up or do wrong. I'm just sorry that it took me so long to realize it."
"Shepard...I..."
"You don't have to say anything Tali. Just stay here with me." John kissed her visor still holding her.
"I will Shepard. I'll stay with you..."
"You can call me John, only you can now."
Tali smiled at this and hugged John tighter.