|Present Time|
|Date: 9/16/2184|
|Location: Aboard the Neema|
"Juel…?" She whispered through a little speaker on the other side of his clean room.
Since Juel's back was facing Tali while he lay in bed, she couldn't tell if he was sleeping or not.
"Juel?" She said again to see if he was up, "...You awake?"
He stirred slightly and turned around to see who was talking to him.
When he realized it was Tali, he felt surprised that she'd even consider coming to see him after their fallout.
"Tali?" He answered as he opened his dark sunken looking eyes, "Hey. You actually came."
Tali stared for a moment longer before nodding slowly to him. "...Should I come in?"
"Yeah." He said with the barest hint of a smile, "You should."
He coughed and she couldn't help but slightly cringe at the sound of phlegm gurgling in his lungs.
She walked through a clarifying jet of antiseptic mist for a minute or so before finally entering his room.
"Keelah, Juel." She said with a mumble, "You still look like shit."
He laughed and it caught her off guard.
"Yeah, I do." He answered, "Pun intended I see."
"Ah." She rubbed the sudden kink in her neck, "Bad choice of words. Sorry."
He sighed as he showed Tali his stumpy limb, "They didn't let me keep the other half as a souvenir. Pity."
"Biological hazard I'd imagine." Tali panned with a slight shake of her head, "You doped up right now?"
"Of course."
Tali nodded and brought up a stool to sit on. Then she stared at her wringing hands to think of what to say next. She knew they were both thinking about their fight, but she'd rather just forget about it entirely and just move on.
The silence after between them was a little awkward.
"Uhm..." Juel winced slightly, "...Tali?"
She looked back up. "...Hm?"
"I'm sorry... For what I said to you."
Tali didn't say anything and Juel took the hint to continue.
"...What I said was wrong."
Tali kept staring and shook her head slowly. "What you said wasn't wrong, Juel." Tali murmured without looking him in the eye anymore, "But you really are my friend. You know that."
"I know, Tali. I know. We're still friends."
Her shoulders perked up slightly when he said that. Then she gave him an unseen smile before looking at his stump again.
"Hey. Let's find you a good doctor on Illium. Patch you up just the way you were."
"Uh huh. Who's to say my kidneys would still be intact. Or even inside me."
"Then the Citadel."
He frowned. "…and you have the money?"
"I do. John gave it to me before he died."
"Tali."
"No." She said to cut him off, "It's my money. And I'll spend it on whatever and whomever I want."
"You shouldn't have to. You shouldn't have to do that for me."
Her gaze suddenly fell to the floor.
Shortly after, she stood up from the stool before looking out to the polarized glass that made up his room.
"Would you like to hear a story?" Tali asked.
He shook his head and smiled weakly.
"Do I have a choice?"
A frail laugh bubbled from her. "No."
"Well then." He waved to her with his only hand, "Go ahead. Start."
|A long While Ago|
|Date: 8/31/2183|
|Location: Serpent Nebula/The Citadel/Zakera Ward/Jumai Inn & Suites: Hotel Complex/Pending Normandy SR1 Forced R&R Deployment|
John, with a meek looking grin, brewed his coffee, poured it into a mug, and took a sip before frowning.
His coffee tasted like licking a bitter brick. Sugar and creamer would probably help.
As he reach for the creamer and mixed it in to his cup, he stopped halfway and stared at Tali sleeping in his bed before sighing quietly.
They were on vacation, amazingly enough.
Waiting for a new lead on Saren or an assignment from the Council or Alliance. Ordinarily, John wouldn't have considered the idea of doing R&R like this, let alone time off at all. But they'd all been working hard, and they'd completed everything they needed to do without anything new coming up.
So far, it'd been nearly a week and a half of nothing. Oddly enough, Shepard didn't feel compelled to worry too much about it either. In just a couple days time, they'd be at it again, whether or not they had a mission to do.
With his creamer mixed in, he poured in some sugar and glanced at Tali again.
Ah.
Tali.
She was probably going to be really upset at herself when she'd come to realize whose bed she'd fallen asleep in.
Watching a vid late into the night would do that to you.
John checked his wristwatch and nodded to himself.
Eight thirty in the morning.
Best to get started with the day, he supposed.
"Hey. Tali." John whispered with his mug in hand, "Wake up."
He put a gentle hand on her shoulder and gently shook her.
She stirred from sleep and beaded her eyes open before looking up to John.
"Good morning there," He smiled, "Sleep well?"
Tali yawned and closed her eyes again before snuggling under the covers a little more.
"Mhm. Yeah."
Then Tali caught up with whose bed she was sleeping in. She opened her eyes, rather blankly John might add, and rose up to her elbows. "Wait... Did I—"
"Fall asleep watching Blasto with me?" He sipped his coffee with a grin, "Yes. Yes you did."
She stared at the comforter laying on top of her.
"Oh. How'd I get on the bed?"
He turned around and went through something in his duffel bag before taking another long gulp of his brew.
"Carried you." He said finally.
Her cheeks flush into a hazy cerise. "And where did you sleep?"
"Sofa." He sighed, "Pretty comfortable."
Tali sat up and put her bootless feet on the ground and stretched.
"...Where'd I put my boots?"
He pointed toward the front door. "I put them over there. Along with your Realk thing."
"Thanks."
Shepard finished the last of his coffee before walking into the bathroom to wash his face.
Tali chided herself mentally.
It didn't take too much of Tali's imagination to think sleeping in his room like this wasn't particularly polite.
Other than it invading his space and stealing him of a bed, was that she probably overstayed. Especially since she had a room of her own.
Whoops.
"Hey, John?" Tali said with a frown, "Keelah. Sorry. Sleeping here was pretty rude."
John gave the mirror he was looking at an exasperated look.
Oh, here we go.
Tali's lack of ego stroking her own self-worthlessness.
"You're kidding me, right?" Shepard rasped with a monotone, "You're kidding me."
Tali's eyebrows scrunched up in confusion.
"What?"
He faced her from the bathroom since she was still sitting on the bed. "Tali, sometimes I wonder if the Migrant Fleet's just a giant circle-jerk of apologies."
He put on his best impression of a quarian just to make his point. "Oh, I'm sorry for existing. I'm also terribly sorry for breathing. Oh, you needed that? Sorry."
She couldn't help but sneak a laugh as he returned to the sink. "Sorry. I just don't want to be one of those."
"One of what?"
"You know," Tali said as she got up, "that one friend that everyone hangs out with even though they'd rather not."
"Tali?" He said as he finished rinsing his face, "I'm going to say this once: I enjoy your company."
She put on her Realk. "You mean that?"
"Yes." He answered, "You're my best friend, Tali. I mean that."
Tali slipped into her boots, laced the knife around her leg, and smiled at that thought.
Being John's best friend.
She stood at bathroom's door and gave him a smile. "That means a lot, John."
"It should." He said before grabbing his toothbrush, "What're you doing today? Have any plans?"
Tali perked up slightly. "None. Want me to tag along with you?"
He started brushing his teeth before nodding. "Yup. We need to go shopping. Stuff for the Normandy mostly."
"I'd love to join you."
When he finished brushing, he walked out of the bathroom to get his own shoes on.
"But before that, we need to get some breakfast," John said, "that okay?"
"Maybe somewhere quarian friendly?"
"Of course." John said as he clipped a holster onto his belt, "But you shouldn't worry. You got a Spectre watching your back. You'll be fine."
"I hope so." Tali panned as she waited for John to finish getting ready.
"If anyone gives us any problems, or so much as a dirty look...? I'll kick their ass."
"John."
"Yeah, I know. I'm just kidding."
He checked his wallet, omni-tool, and handgun.
"Ready?" Tali asked as she opened the door.
John nodded. "Yup."
They both show themselves out and start walking down the hallway.
"Hotel's nice, wouldn't you say?"
"Pretty extravagant." Tali agreed.
"I think you've all deserved it." John nodded, "A break from gunning after Saren is definitely a welcoming change."
"Yes. Yes it is."
They rear the corner and see Garrus at his doorway looking out the window across from him.
"Shepard. Tali. So good to see you," The turian greeted as he caught wind of them, "Where were you two?"
"Nowhere?" Tali replied tightly with a quirked brow, "Why?"
Garrus' smile grew. "Hey. No worry. I won't tell."
"Tell? ...Garrus?" Tali replied, nonplussed.
"Tell what?" Liara's head poked out from behind Garrus before sipping on her fresh mug of tea.
Garrus leaned in dramatically toward Liara. "Tali slept in Shepard's room."
Liara feigned surprise. "What? Oh my."
"What the hell." John grumbled, playing into the joke, "You got Liara in your room, you hypocrite."
"I only came here for the tea." Liara said with a smile as she raised the mug up before patting Garrus on the shoulder, "I'll be leaving now."
The three watched Liara walk out in her pajamas and slippers back to her own room.
"Yeah." John grumbled, "Right."
"Hey. She said she didn't have any tea in her room." Garrus said with a shrug.
John waved Garrus off. "Mm. Yeah. Come on Tali."
John gave Garrus the stink eye and watched the turian guffaw at him before closing his door.
"So. Breakfast." John began as they made their way to the elevators, "There's this place I want to check out around the corner."
Tali nodded.
"Okay. Well, I do have food on the Normandy," Tali reminded him, "I can just eat that—"
He let out a single chortle and couldn't help but grin at her.
"Do you do that to avoid seeing me?"
"Oh, totally," Tali said sarcastically, "This bosh'tet just can't take a hint."
John laughed and pressed a button for the lift. "Look. You're going to eat at a nice restaurant like a lady and enjoy yourself. That's what R&R means, right? You know? Rest and Relaxation?"
"Right."
"I know it's a little weird. Believe me. But we've got a vacation quota to meet." John said as their elevator arrived, "Otherwise my pay gets docked."
Tali laughed. "Ironic."
"Ironic indeed."
They entered the lift and descend down to the main lobby. From there, they exit the foyer onto the street, and walk down a block.
"I'm glad you decided to pick something besides the Presidium for once." Tali said as they continued their stroll down the sidewalk, "A little change of pace is nice."
"Would agree. If the snobs aren't suffocating enough, its the politics."
They arrived.
"Here it is." John said as pointed to the sign above them.
"Yan'Sues! Best eatery in town." Tali read, "Where'd you find out about this place?"
"Online." John answered as they entered through the door, "Good reviews. And guess what. Quarian friendly service."
"That can't be a coincidence." Tali said with a snort.
"Ah, yeah. I looked up places to eat last night."
Tali smiled and felt rather touched by John's thoughtfulness.
"That's sweet, John. You actually had the fortitude to think of me."
"Uh... yeah? Of course. When haven't I?"
"Never really." Tali admitted with a sincere grin, "Thanks."
A waitress introduced herself at the restaurant's foyer and brought them to a booth next to a good view of the Citadel.
As they sat down, the waitress set down a mug for John and poured him his second cup of the day before fetching Tali some water.
"Can't help but shake how odd it is doing this." Tali started when their waiter left, "Doing what we do...? And here we are. Sitting down for coffee and an omelette."
John sipped his second cup and shrugged. "If it helps, I'll remind you again we're off to the Normandy next week. "
"I know." Tali replied, " I just don't think this kind of lifestyle is for us. At least for now."
"At least for now." Shepard repeated as if the words couldn't have been any truer.
She looked out the window and to the dozens of passerby. Every once in a while, a person's shadow would come across their table and pass over her.
"At least for you, I should say." Tali corrected suddenly, "I don't think my life will ever get this good."
His smile waned slightly as he set his cup down.
"And why's that."
Tali gave him a look and decided to make a joke. "The Fleet doesn't have restaurants. Or coffee."
He tipped his mug slightly toward her. "Fair point."
The waitress came back with a pair of menus before giving Tali her water and John a complimentary cup of orange juice.
"I'll be back when you're ready to order your food." She said with a smile.
John took the menu and started browsing while Tali went through the dextro version on the back.
He looked up from his menu to her and couldn't help but smile. The sun had been in just the right spot for John to make out her dainty nose and beautiful eyes.
My.
She was beautiful. John couldn't imagine what it'd be like had it been off.
His smile never faded. And neither did his stare.
"See anything good yet, Tali?"
"Mmm..." She kept her gaze on the menu before finally nodding, "I think."
"You sure?"
"Yes. Though I'd imagine it to be much more enjoyable on a plate." She pouted slightly.
"You're probably right."
Tali sighed and looked up from her own menu to him. "You know, John...? Someday, I hope I can do this without a bucket on my head."
John brought up his omni-tool. "Here. I'll add that on my list of things to do."
"What?"
"We'll take Rannoch back. Then I'll open up a dingy little eatery just for you. A couple blocks down from your house."
"You know, I'd like that" She said as she snuck a laugh before shaking her head, "Do you even know how to cook?"
"My mom and dad always told me I made some mean chicken and chili."
"I don't even know what that is."
"You will when I make a dextro version."
"I'll hold you to that."
The waiter came back.
"What would you like, guys?"
"The YanSue's special omelette, please. Sausage to replace the bacon." He put down the menu and faced the waiter, "So you guys actually have a purifier in the back for my lovely friend?"
Tali blushed slightly at the John's remark.
"Absolutely. Stak-Aid packets and all. Just tell us what you want, and I'd love to purify it for ya'."
She wrote down John's order on her pad and then waited for Tali with a grin.
Tali buried her head back into her menu. "Uhm... the number two turian breakfast combo, please?"
"Right away." The waiter left again.
"Here. Let me forward you the stuff we need to go over today at the market." John did as promised and sent her a list.
She received the bulleted email and started skimming.
"Anybody else coming with us?"
"Nope." John shook his head, "Just you and me."
"Garrus and Liara were definitely out of the question I guess." Tali noted, "But what about Kaidan or Ash?"
"Both have stuff to do for the Alliance right now. They still fall under their chain of command. "
"And what makes you the exception?"
"Because I'm a Spectre." John shrugged, "The trade off for written reports, Tali, is verbal ones."
"And you'd prefer the former?"
John shook his head. "I'd rather do neither."
Tali shook her own head and laughed. "That isn't a choice, John."
"No, I suppose it's not."
"So none of them." Tali said as she graced the salt shaker with a long stare, "What about Wrex?"
John thought about it for a moment. "Haven't thought of him actually. Pretty sure he's at the arcade."
"Arcade? What would he be doing at an arcade?"
"Combat sims." John answered, "State of the art. Top of the line stuff."
"Well. I guess he's out then too."
"Yup."
The waiter came back with their food and put it in front of Tali. "'ere you go, hun. Nice and hot."
"Thank you."
"And for you, sir." She said as she set down his plate.
"Thanks."
John put on his desired sauces and went in with his fork.
They ate in silence for a minute or so before John finally decided to speak.
"You know, Tals? This is a blessing."
She looked up from her food pouch and cocked her head to the side.
"How so?"
"Being together like this." John said as he fumbled with his napkin, "I haven't had someone to spend time with for a long while, Tali. And the year we've spent, you and I, has changed that."
She felt her heart start pounding.
Ugh.
She hated it when it did that.
"...I guess, I just wanted to say that being around you is as easy as breathing. I just wanted to thank you for that." John murmured quietly.
The way he worded that caught up with him.
"Well. I sound like a creep, don't I?"
"No." Tali spat awkwardly to try and save him from feeling like a weirdo, "Absolutely not."
"No?"
"I know what you meant." Tali said with a small reassuring smile, "You're not a creep."
She put a hand on his and pat it before letting her voice fall into a caring whisper. "You have no idea how special it is for me to hear that."
All John could do was stare lovingly at her.
Part of him wanted to tell her right there.
Just a simple 'I love you.'
But he stopped himself.
And no matter how disappointed he was about the fact, it wouldn't make him realize that Tali had to stop herself from doing it too.
"I care about you, Tali." John said as his smile turned soft with compassion, "Really, I do."
"I know. I do too."
"Good." John said, returning back to a more cheery mood, "Now let's eat before our food gets cold."
Around an hour later...
"This one wishes for you to elaborate."
"Elaborate? Okay..." John repeated as he pointed to one of its products, "Look. Right here. Forced warranty co-pay that's eighty percent the original price. That's ridiculous."
"This one holds their merchandise in high esteem." It replied.
"Well apparently not," John grumbled, "if the customer has to pay for a half year warranty at nearly a thousand credits a month."
"If you do not like this one's bartering system, you may choose another seller."
"I suppose so." John said as he began wheeling his cart away, "Let's go, Tali. We'll go off and find someone else."
As they walked out of the store, John faced her with a frown on his face.
"Can you believe that? Forced premiums and warranties eighty percent the price of everything in his store? Bull shit."
"It is bull shit." Tali agreed, "If anything, I'm your warranty and guarantee." Tali joked.
John chuckled. "Yeah. What use is a guarantee when I have you?"
"Exactly."
They both laugh. As they walked, a volus shopkeeper waved to get their attention.
"Earth-Clan!"
John slowly stopped the cart and glanced at Tali before looking to the pudgy looking man just to make sure it was him he was calling for. "Me?"
"Yes!"
John shrugged and went to him while Tali followed.
"What can I do for you?" John asked.
"Ah. I'd rather say it's what I can do for you. -skeesh- I see you've tried to sell your goods to that ridiculous hanar! -skeesh- I thought maybe we could make a deal."
"My ears are open." John said, "Refer to my tech expert here. She knows more about the equipment we're handling than I do."
"Ah. -skeesh- very well. I'll consult to your clanless technician."
John couldn't help but let that ring in his head.
...Clanless?
What?
John's brows scrunched up in confusion as he glanced to Tali behind him for a second. "...Excuse me? Clanless?"
"Yes." The volus said, unaware of John's fairly large frown, "Looters and whatnot. -skeesh- Good for only handling second hand trash and the like. You know what I'm talking about, yes?"
"No," John said rather aggressively as he tried catching up to the blatant douchery that came out of the guy's mouth, "I actually don't know what you're talking about."
"How could you not?" The volus said as he turned to Tali herself, "Tell him, servant: How did you end up here with the earth-clan? Presumably through one of the collective servitudes on the Citadel, correct?"
John was stunned into silence.
Servitude?
As in... contracted slavery?
He was pretty sure those were banned on the Citadel.
...Weren't they?
The volus kept talking. "...Or has your pilgrimage sold you off the highest bidder, hm?" The volus shook his head, "Such trash, I tell you."
Tali glowered and said nothing.
John finally regained his mental footing.
"Do you know who the hell you're even speaking to?"
The volus glanced between the both of them and sensed his newest customer didn't look all that happy anymore.
"No. -skeesh- I'm afraid I have you at a disadvantage, Mr...?"
He ignored the formality and pointed to Tali standing behind him.
"You owe her an apology."
"Why? ...For reminding her for what she is? Trash?"
"My name's John Shepard. And you're speaking to a Council Spectre, you low life fuck stain." John growled, "And the only trash I see here is the thing standing in front of me."
The volus closed his stumpy little hands into fists. "What? How dare you."
"How dare I?" John repeated with a slightly raised voice, "This woman here's done more in past three months than what the likes of you could do in an entire god damned lifetime. And I will not tolerate the way you are addressing her."
John leaned in closer than personal space would normally allow. "Are. We. Clear."
The volus recoiled slightly away. "-Skeesh-I…I—"
"Shut up." John interrupted angrily, "Tell her you're sorry. Now."
The volus hesitated for a moment before facing her.
"I'm sorry, clanless."
Oh, that wasn't really all that sincere. Not at all.
And John wasn't going to take that. And he certainly wouldn't let Tali take it either.
He lowered to a knee so he could stare straight into the man's soul and anything else that could've been hiding behind that stupid mask.
"You've got one more chance before she broadcasts your private data from your Omni-tool to the entire goddamned ward."
"You're -skeesh- threatening me!"
"Damn right I am. Now say it with her name." John rasped with as much anger as he could, "Tell Tali that you're sorry. Respectfully."
He faced her again. "...I'm— I'm sorry, Tali. -skeesh-"
Tali dipped her head. "Thank you."
"Like talking to a damn child." John said as he stood back up.
He gestured for her to wrap up their stuff before pointing at the pudgy ball with legs. "Hope we never cross paths again."
The volus was left writhing his palms around anxiously before mumbling something to himself with a huff as they both left his store.
John grumbled to himself when they were well enough away from that walking ball of fat.
"Wow." Tali mumbled quietly.
"God damnit. Can't believe that. What an asshole."
Tali stopped walking.
"John. Stop."
He stopped and turned around to face her.
"What he did was out of line, Tali."
"John." She shook her head to show him she wasn't upset about the issue, "No one's ever spoken on my behalf like that."
"You deserve better." John rasped with a frown.
"I have better." Tali said with a sad smile as she swayed an arm to him, "I've got you."
If John didn't see that as a sign of love, she didn't know what would.
His grimace went away and his eyes went soft. As he stepped up to her, he put a gentle hand on her arm before squeezing it affectionately. "You do." He murmured.
This would've been the time to kiss hadn't there been this sheen of glass between them.
He turned back to their cart. "Third time should be a charm. Let's see if we can't find a turian with enough will to hold their tongue."
"A turian, John?"
"If he even stares the wrong way? It'll be a swift kick to the balls, Tali. I swear."
"Right," Tali laughed as she thought of John leg punching a turian's crotch, "I'm sure."
"Yeah." John laughed before shrugging, "I wouldn't even know how to do that. To a turian at least."
They, by chance, come across a turian shopkeeper's store.
"Well. Speak of the devil." John said as he turned the cart toward the door, "Come on."
With a shrug, Tali followed John in.
As they approached, the turian behind the counter flared his mandibles into a smile before putting his hands behind his back. "Hello. What can I do for you both today?"
"Just looking to see if we can buy and trade."
"Of course! Have a look around."
John thumbed the cart. "My cart here's got stuff I've collected too over the past three or so months. If you need anything, you can refer to my techie here. She'll get you situated."
"Well." The turian said with a bit of surprise, "I was just about to run an errand, but with you here, maybe I won't have to." The turian's Omni-tool sprang to life.
John pointed at the shopkeeper's kiosk. "You wouldn't mind if I took a look, would you?"
"Not at all, sir." The turian said with his small smile. John nodded to the man and started browsing.
Then the turian faced Tali. "Hello there, ma'am. How're you?"
"Good." Tali said politely.
"Good." the turian repeated as he started typing, "Now, my errand was for me to find a spare M-8 chamber and sear. You wouldn't happen to have some analytic converters for those too would you?"
Tali gave the man a grin. "Yes! Just the thing for you."
She went in under one of the boxes and started sifting through the stuff. "M-8 chamber and sear, right here. I also have an Omni-generated weapon system diagnostic too if you want. That'd certainly come in handy over the analytic converter."
"That'd be just the thing, Ms...?"
"Tali'Zorah, sir."
The turian rose his brows in surprise. "My. You're part of the Normandy." He gave the commander a fleeting look, "That's the commander himself? The human Spectre?"
"Yes." Tali said without being able to hold her smile, "That's him."
The turian actually laughed and shook his head. "Who would've thought. Two of galaxy's best in my dingy little store."
She grabbed the parts and brought it over to him. "I didn't get your name, sir."
"Uliach Kueen." He said with a grin. By the time Tali had set the stuff on the counter, John was back with a small grin on his face.
"Looks like we came to the right man, Tals." Shepard said, "He's got quite the set up here."
"I'm sure," Tali said, smiling at John, "See anything good?"
"Yes, I did." John answered before facing the turian shopkeeper, "I noticed a savant IX on the shelf there..."
Uliach nodded. "Yes sir. Top, top of the line stuff. It's quite the buy... a small fortune, actually."
"I'll take it. Tali's been needing an upgrade."
Tali's mind went blank for a second.
What.
"Of course!" Uliach said happily, "I'll ring it up and give you a dis—"
A loud crash sounded out from behind John and he whirled around to see Tali cursing because she'd dropped one of the more expensive things in their cart onto the ground.
"Oh. God... damnit." Tali grumbled with a frustrated groan.
Uliach stared awkwardly at John and Tali before going back to pressing his buttons at his register.
John couldn't help but laugh and step up to her before putting a hand on her ruffled ones.
"Don't worry about it. Tali? It's fine."
"I just wrecked a fortune, John. Damnit, I'm so sorry."
"Tali." He repeated with a shrug, "It's okay. No big deal."
"You're lucky, Ms. Zorah," The turian said out loud with a calming smile, "had you been under my command, I'd have made you wash my dishes personally for a week."
Both John and Uliach share a laugh while Tali put a hand on her face embarrassingly.
"You used to be military?" John asked Uliach as he bent down to help Tali pick up the pieces she'd dropped.
"Oh, very much so." Uliach answered as he hobbled around to the other side of the counter with his cane, "Retired out as a pioneering sergeant for the 444th Expeditionaries after serving some time on the home-planet's moon for the 62nd signal corps. Half my service was on Posting Condor, amazingly."
John didn't understand specifically all the intricacies of turian military, but nodded all the same. It sounded interesting, and it would be something worth looking up on a wiki later that night.
"But enough about that." Uliach said as he waved his hand about, "About that Savant IX. I'll set you up with a discount, Commander."
"That would be phenomenal sir." John said humbly, "I appreciate it greatly."
The old turian hobbled back around the counter to set up the discount at his register. "None needed, Commander. Your service is enough thanks for this old bag of bones."
John smiled at the man before turning to Tali and giving her the dip of the head.
"John..." She whispered without it ever reaching him. She couldn't believe he was going to buy her something like that.
"With the discount and parts you brought me... the difference totals at six thousand, five hundred credits flat, Commander."
"Sounds about right." John said right before sliding his chit across a scanner. Anything Tali could've said to object against the purchase was too late. It was under John's name now.
"Let me shake your hand, sir." John asked as he held out his hand for the turian to shake, "Been a pleasure doing business with you."
"The honor's mine, son." Uliach said with a wide grin.
As John and Tali turned to go, Uliach called out to John right after Tali passed out the door so she couldn't hear him.
"...Commander? You keep her safe." The old turian said with a gentle smile and small wink.
"I will, sir." John answered with a stout nod before walking out.
Tali was waiting just outside the store when John passed the door. He handed her the box with the new omni-tool in it.
"Surprise." John said jokingly, "Just for you."
Tali accepted the gift with both hands and a nervous mumble.
"John... a Savant?"
"Hell yes."
"Why...?" Tali asked with an astonished murmur, "...Why do you do this for me?"
"Because you're a good person Tali." John answered quietly, "That's why."
"...You shouldn't have to though." Tali said without the courage to look him in the eye, "You shouldn't have to do that for me."
"You're right. I don't." John answered with a shrug, "But I choose to. Because I want to."
With nothing else to say, Tali came up to John and hugged him.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, Tals."
He pat her back and smiled at her. "Hey. Let's put off the chores for another day. Let's have some fun."
"Fun?" Tali said as she took a step back, "Where at?"
"Not sure. Maybe you should check with that new Savant of yours."
Tali beamed at him.
|Present Time|
|Date: 9/16/2184|
|Location: Aboard the Neema's Medical Bay|
Juel's grin grew when her story was nearing the end.
Every once in a while, she'd twirl her hands around to help explain her tale. Other times, she'd stare at the ceiling to gather her thoughts before continuing her long monologue.
She was lost in total memory, that much was certain. Every detail given told seamlessly.
It were no different than if she were reading straight out of a story book.
"—and he taught me that day, that I have to spend my money on what I want." Tali explained when her story finally came to a close, "And if it helps you, then so be it."
She stood up and gave him the stare down. "We're going to the Citadel, Juel. And we're getting you a new arm."