"Prepare for final countdown."
"Preparing for final countdown."
"Initiating commandeering crane. You will be transferred to interior docking cradle nine."
"Copy, control. Waiting for space vector."
"Stand-by, Tanis-1… obtaining space vector… Acknowledging active pressure. Aligning equilibrium."
"Were in tandem, Control. Mass Effect core stabilizing. Rheostats operational. Guardian lasers synchronizing… drive core functioning at sub-optimal velocity."
"Okay, Tanis-1. Your vector space is seven, two, niner, niner, zero, one, one. Inhibiting quadrant eight point five. You are a go, Tanis-1, shackles released. Confiscation terminated. Closing cabin section seal."
"Roger. Awaiting the green light."
"Final detachment in five. Yellow signal wavered."
"Visual on door release… increasing to optimal velocity. Thank you control."
"Take care of them, Tanis-1. Ancestors watch you."
"Roger, Control. Keelah'Selai."
"Keelah'Selai. Out."
Flight Commander Suvai'Eem vas Neema's grabbed for his intercom.
"Okay everyone. We're through the cradle. Your pilgrimage has officially begun. We'll be making our first stop at the Citadel. Thankfully, we're two jumps away from exiting the Traverse into Council space. We've been deemed fit to move without an ample escort. Only four other ships will be joining us." Suvai paused for just a second, "We're drifting now until we get word from our escort. We'll follow them through until their drop-off point. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask; just come up to the helm. That'll be all."
Suvai hung the receiver up and went back to his console.
"Hey Suvai."
"Hello Tali." Suvai greeted with his aging smile and raspy voice.
Tali decided to strike up some conversation. "So. How long have you been doing this?"
"Years. About twenty five I think." he answered, "Does my heart good doing this."
Tali nodded approvingly. "Something you've volunteered to do?"
"Of course. My job's to taxi people." He grasped the old worn joystick to emphasize his point, "And I recall bringing you to the Rayya every time your dad needed you. But, if I remember correctly, he's relocated his resources to one of Admiral Xen's research frigates… The Alarei?"
"He has." Tali remarked flatly, "He's taken the ship for himself."
The old man didn't push the conversation further; she obviously wasn't interested in talking about that.
"Ilheemai-4 to Tanis-1, escort achieved. Prepare for Relay's marked acquisition."
"Roger, Ilheemai-4. Standing-by." Suvai answered through the radio.
He turned to Tali. "We're ten minutes out until we pass through the Relay. Make yourself comfortable. The Citadel's three hours out."
"I'll get some rest and see how Juel is doing."
Suvai nodded. "Okay. I'll be here."
-Three hours and thirty minutes later...
The citadel was nothing short of a spectacular view. Paired with the soft lavender of light from the Serpent nebula, it made anyone standing or sitting near a window to just pause and look.
"...Been a long time." Juel said pensively as he placed his only hand along the window.
Tali inwardly agreed. The rehash may not have been as long as it was for Juel, but the sight was, if it had meant anything, nostalgic.
The Citadel's ringed center, flanked by its five creased arms, was truly a sight to behold. But through Tali's wavering eyes, it had only reminded her of loss and pain.
Not just upon just herself and her personal experience, but to the quarian people as a whole.
They were barred here. Looked upon like varren squealing for rotten second-hand meat. The Citadel's inhabitants rarely festered over a quarian's existence. As 'inconvenient' as it was to have a quarian around, it was almost unheard of to actually stand out and actually be rude to one.
It wasn't all bad. While Tali would freely admit there was a lot of racism geared toward her kind, thousands of others weren't.
Which had to mean something.
"How do you feel?" Juel asked quietly.
"I should be asking you that, Juel." She said.
"I guess you should be. I'm feeling fine, by the way." He murmured, "Can't wait to deal with C-sec."
"Maybe I can get us some legal immunity. From John's old captain."
"Yeah?"
"Yes." Tali nodded, "I'll pay him a visit."
"Who else do you want to see?" He asked before leaning on a support beam.
"Garrus mentioned having Liara here to see me, but I doubt that's going to happen." Her shoulders shrug faintly.
"Okay… and my arm?"
"I'll handle it. If anything, Anderson can point us in the right direction." She stared out at the window herself before touching her necklace with a free hand absently.
"And of my other problem?"
"We'll find an information broker. A reputable one. Then we wait."
"Fair enough." Juel said before sitting in a chair and looking toward Suvai.
"—What registry? We do this every year, Khorus. Every. Year. It always just seems to magically 'disappear' at everyone's earliest convenience, doesn't it?" The man's hostile looking posture almost made Juel grin. The pilot continued his rant against the traffic controller.
"…Yes. No. Yes… Yes. Yes. yesyesyesyesyesyes. Good. We'll take it."
The old gruff man huffed frustratingly before dropping the receiver back into its jack.
"Damn turian. Every time. Every damned time."
"Calm down, Suvai, before you give yourself an aneurysm." Juel said jokingly.
Suvai turned around and actually laughed. "No, believe it or not, Khorus is my friend. We've known each other for a little over sixteen years."
"Really?"
"The little shit just gives me a hard time. But every year we meet and share a few drinks and some stories."
"Well, it looks like you've shared some history with him."
"Yup." The helmsman nodded distantly before looking at Juel, "Come on. We'll be docking now. You guys need to get your stuff ready."
"Will do."
Both Tali and Juel rise from their seats.
"Any idea how you two plan on getting back home?" Suvai asked.
"Think of it as another pilgrimage." Juel answered.
"If you can, bring me a replacement for ol' Tanis, here. She's served me well, but I need to cut some strings."
"We'll see, Suvai. And thank you. We'll see you in a couple months. Or a couple weeks depending on how this goes." She gave the old quarian a rough pat on the shoulder before walking off into the ship's claustrophobic corridor.
"Take care you two. And keep him safe! At least until he get's a new arm!"
"Next!" A human woman, well into her mid-forties, laid her dagger-like stare along the eighteen quarians shuffling their way through customs. The first quarian pilgrim, by the name of Dreim'Mlah nar Neema, stepped through the ill-fitted scanner before being subjected to a 'callous' pat-down by a turian security officer.
The officer carefully placed his hands on the young man's torso before placing both palms against his faceplate.
"Clear." He motioned with a cheerful eye before motioning along to his next 'victim', "Next!"
Gyui'Illetel nar Neema was next.
"Pilgrimage, you guys?" The Turian's voice was mirthful as he tried to give the quarian girl a smile.
"Yes, officer."
He placed both his hands along her shoulder blades before running them softly along her forearm.
"I'm sure you'll bring something back good. You're clear."
"Thank you."
Yeusa'Illetel nar Neema.
"Tell your brothers and sisters there's a great shelter here on Zakera. Just ask Avina, the Citadel's VI. She'll get you all situated."
"Thank you, sir."
"You're clear."
Tali'Zorah vas Neema.
"If I remember, last year, there was a lot less pilgrims…" The approachable turian motioned with silent hands for her to mimic his posture.
She obeyed.
"A little more on Zakera this year. And I'm not actually a pilgrim. I'm here to get my friend here a surgeon… and a new arm."
"Is that so? I'd give you advice, but I wouldn't know any good doctors for that." He followed the basic pat-down procedure the same he did on the last four hundred and thirty six itinerants.
"You know," Tali began, "Your smile makes this bearable. And it doesn't go unappreciated. Thank you. I'd give you gratuity, but that isn't allowed, I'd think."
The turian smiled and shrugged.
"The galaxy's a better place when people smile and pat you on the back. Enjoy your stay, ma'am. I hope your friend gets what he needs."
Tali's hands absent-mindedly grasped the turian's. "I'd like to know your name, officer."
"Sergeant Mare Talone. At your service, ma'am."
"Tali'Zorah vas Neema nar Rayya."
His eyes widened a bit. "Tali'Zorah? A Hero? Back on the ol' Citadel? Confirm with the clerk up there and he'll get you set-up for some VIP. If Ider Mannus so much as even gives you a salarian winch, come back to me."
Tali actually smiled.
"Thank you, Sergeant Talone."
"Anytime. Next!"
Juel'Kaan vas Neema.
Talone waited for the limbless man. "Hope you guys find what you need."
"No kidding. Not helping out on pipe duty sucks." Juel pointed to his limbless stump.
"You'll leave with a new arm. I'm sure of it. Carry on. You're clear."
"Much appreciated, sir."
Tali eyed the busy view before placing her hands on the customs desk.
"How can I help you?" A salarian asked when he finally got around to serving the two of them.
"Officer Talone has requested that we receive VIP passes."
If the salarians had brows to emote with, this one did.
"V.I.P, passes? You two? What for?"
Tali took a breath.
"For saving the Citadel. Former operative aboard the SSV Normandy."
"Likely story."
"Likely." Tali repeated with a drawl, "And how many quarian's by the name of Tali'Zorah vas Neema nar Rayya do you come by, exactly?"
"Name the Normandy's ground team." His eyes narrowed before crossing his arms.
"How, trivial of you." Tali said before leaning in uncomfortably close to the salarian, "Garrus Vakarian. Urdnot Wrex. Kaidan Alenko. Ashley Williams. Liara T'Soni and John Shepard."
She didn't hide the anger she felt for having to mention John's name.
"And the Normandy's XO?" A little smile managed to creep along his skinny cheeks.
"Pressly. Ask another question and I'll have Councilor Anderson personally reprimand you for your lack of civility. He was exonerated of command of the Normandy before Shepard became spectre."
The salarian's smile vanished quickly. "I'll, uh, get you those VIP cards."
"Good." Tali chirped mockingly, "Top level, officer. The Presidium is where we're headed."
"Yes ma'am."
"The next fiscal year isn't looking good. Accounting for the droves of people leaving Citadel space to live elsewhere, we're expecting a dip in revenue; upwards of twelve to eighteen percent. We are watching a crisis in the making, Mr. Dimak. We either enact a government shutdown, launch bond programs, or re-write tax law and hike them up to close the gap in losses." Anderson said before sighing.
"Understood, councilor. We'll have a timeline proposed later this week." The turian answered.
"Thank you, Mr. Dimak. I'll be looking forward to your report." Anderson lied.
"Good day, councilor."
The call finally ended and Anderson allowed himself to heave a sigh he'd been holding since the conversation started.
"I'm getting too old for this…" He grumbled to himself before opening up the personal fridge sitting under his desk for a bottle of water, "Way too old."
Before he could uncap the water, his pager went off and the phone started ringing.
"Joann, could you hold off my calls please?"
Joann, his personal secretary, didn't answer.
"Joann?"
He peered over his desk to see she wasn't there.
"Oh hell. What do I even pay that woman for."
He sat back down in his chair, sighed, and took the call.
"Councilor Anderson speaking." He said before taking a sip of water.
"Captain Anderson…"
He nearly choked.
"Tali'Zorah? I…" He coughed slightly and cleared his throat at the number of surprises he was getting today, "…what brings you here? Not that I'm complaining… it's just a welcoming surprise."
"Thought I could visit, I suppose."
"Do, come in. I'll open the door for you." He pressed a button right under his desk before placing a smile on his face.
But then he relaxed a little more since he had to remind himself this wasn't another possy politician kissing his ass.
Tali ambled through the door with Juel and reared the corner before finally meeting Anderson.
"A pleasure, Captain."Tali said as a formality before shaking hands. She knew he wasn't really a captain anymore, but the title sounded a lot better to her than councilor.
"Please, Tali. You can just call me Anderson."
She nodded slowly and smiled.
"So what's going on, Tali? What brings you here?"
"I'm sorry to come on such short notice... but I need help. I have a friend here with me. His name's Juel'Kaan. I'd like you to meet him."
She gestured to Juel.
"Of course." Anderson nodded, "It's my pleasure. A friend of Tali is a friend of mine."
"Thank you, sir."
"How has the last year or so treated you?"
"Well…" Tali shrugged, "It's been tough. What about you?"
"Ah." Anderson shook his head and looked at the papers on his desk, "Didn't exactly think I'd be spending my twilight years behind a desk like this."
"You're doing something important at least." Tali defended, "Being a councilor is a big deal."
"True. As much as I like to complain, it's important." David explained, "But sometimes it's like beating my head against a wall."
"The other councilors giving you trouble?"
David couldn't help but shrug. "They have their reasons. But enough about me. You said you needed help?"
Tali took a chair and sat down. "I'm sure you've noticed, but Juel's missing an arm. And we're trying to find him a prosthesis."
"I see."
"And maybe... some legal immunity." Tali added shamefully.
"Well, I can definitely help with the legal immunity part." Anderson said immediately as he put on his glasses to get the papers started on his computer, "But I think Liara would probably know more about getting a prosthesis than I would."
"Liara?" Tali said, visibly confused, "What do you mean?"
Anderson looked at her with his reading glasses and frowned. "You aren't with her? She was here just an hour ago. I just assumed she was with you."
"No." Tali immediately played with her veil as she thought it over, "...Garrus must've been serious about Liara coming here then..."
Tali stood from the seat. "Do you know where she is?"
"Hmm... She told me she was going to be at that chain restaurant; the SouthStar Café right across the street from here."
"Thank you, Anderson."
"Of course." Anderson said warmly, "I'll get you your legal immunity. Call me in an hour and I'll email it to you."
Tali, as she turned around with Juel in tow, smiled darkly.
Her mind played out the likely scenarios, but knew, for a long moment, her questions would finally get answered.
'Tell me, Liara… what exactly is the Lazarus Project?'