A/N: Enjoy!
coastierks- Oh, I'm sure bud. ;D
Imaginarivalued- I'm glad you're enjoying the story! Could you give me some examples of my incorrect usage of dialogue punctuation? Some of the stuff I do use is a little unorthodox and done on purpose. I just want to make sure it's not something I'm not catching!
FusRoDerp- Yes, my friend, it did! I was going to post on Christmas day, but decided against it.
Kellise- Hopefully it'll only get better as the story progresses!
DapperT- Yes, my friend! Another one!
"Hey dad."
"Tali." Rael, who'd been spending the better part of an hour looking at a screen, shot up from his seat to greet his daughter, "Your travels went well…?"
"Yes."
"Good." Rael grasped Tali's hand and shook it, "I'm glad you're safe."
Tali gave him a long sideways glance.
It was odd to see him so...
Jumpy.
Rael turned to Juel and gave him a nod. "Juel. Good to see you in company. I hope your arm is doing well?"
"Much." Juel answered quietly.
"I have news." Rael began before pacing around his lab, "Your pilgrimage gift... I just saw the recording of the singing woman... the one you said you saw on Rayingiri."
Her brow furrowed. "What of it?"
"It was a message. An encryption."
"An encryption?"
"More like a cypher, right?" Juel caught on as he pointed to the data scrolling across one of the dozen or so screens in the room.
"Exactly." Rael said tersely, "The geth were studying something."
Tali frowned when Rael turned on the holo-projector. Just as promised, she watched the same woman all that time ago singing in front of her hushed audience.
And it was beyond weird. According to her dad, the geth were using her as an e-mail.
"Why would the geth use a cypher? Especially like this?"
"Part of me doesn't want to know." Juel murmured through a sigh as he leaned against a table.
"I mean, what even gives you the impression that this could be used for that?" Tali's frown deepened, "…it's an awfully organic way for the geth to be communicating. Don't you think?"
"It is, Tali'Zorah. And it's exactly what I've been trying to figure out." The unmistakable lilt of Daro'Xen's voice could be heard entering the room from behind Juel and Tali.
"Daro… a pleasure." Juel said when he faced her.
"Likewise, Juel'Kaan." Daro's undertone did little to hide her coupled apathy.
"You have history with Daro?" Tali hissed quietly.
"Enough for me not to like her." Juel said before giving Daro a steady glare.
"Please, Daro. Continue."
She nodded to Rael before approaching one of the still frames of the singing woman.
"Look at the fabric of her clothing." Daro said. Her fingers traced the frill of her dress. When the blank stares finally returned to Daro, she explained further, "There's a signal running along the length of it."
"How?" Juel asked.
"Quite simple really."
Juel crossed his arms. "Care to elaborate?"
She stared at him. "Short-burst infrared light. Homogeneous nifrometry linked with tertiary aquadators that sync with Hieghmohn's code. Simple as that."
"That was a mouthful." Juel mumbled.
"Indeed, darling." Daro's smug tone made Juel's eyes roll.
"Magnify by eight, Rael. Quadrant two point five please. There at her shoulder. Play it at half the speed. Thank you."
The magnified image of the singing woman's shoulder, as Daro promised, began to fluctuate into a distinct pattern of lights.
"What does it tell us?"
"Coordinates to a solar map. And a star pattern."
"But why an optical one? Why would the geth do that?" Juel still seemed unconvinced.
"Deception, Juel. Our best guess is that the geth developed a contingency with Saren and Sovereign when in contact with other organics."
"By doing what an organic would do." Juel said nonplussed.
"Precisely."
"It didn't seem to work." Juel countered.
"Quite the contrary. I'll entertain you with an analogy, Juel. Imagine a hair, split into a millionth of a fraction. That small insignificant piece represents the fraction we now understand. The information your girlfriend provided to us is so fascinatingly complex."
Tali's eyes narrowed into slits. By no extension was Juel a romantic interest. A significant other, yes. A friend who'd known and experienced first hand what it was like to lose someone you loved to something beyond your control.
And Daro knew it.
But Daro loved pushing buttons.
Ones that really didn't need pressing.
Rael leaned onto the table with a glare that would have sliced through her thin little suit.
"Daro."
"Mhm?"
"Let's keep this professional. Shall we?"
She looked at Rael and relented. "Very well."
"Those coordinates… Where would they lead us to?" Tali asked.
"The Dholen system within the Far Rim."
"What's significant about the Dholen system?"
"A quarian observation colony established on Haestrom some three hundred eighty years ago."
"Haestrom." Tali repeated with a whisper, "...What makes this interesting?"
"We're not really sure." Rael let out an exhaustive sigh, "All we know is that Haestrom's colony was established to observe Dholen's magnetic corrosion and solar output. The star is a red giant. But it erupted into one several years ago prematurely… and no one knows why." Rael placed a palm over his visor before continuing. "…But if the geth are interested in it… and if 'Sovereign' the Reaper was investing a considerable amount of his geth army into studying Dohlen, then it's a cause for concern."
Tali's eyes widened at the mention of Sovereign. "How do we know Sovereign was involved?" Tali asked.
"The 'cypher' was an acting report sent from the Far Rim to a designation titled: Sovereign, Old Machine: Nazara." Daro then shrugged before placing the majority of her weight on a foot. "At least… that's how we've managed to decrypt it."
The four quarians stare quietly for a lengthy sum of seconds before Tali spoke.
"I need to go there." Tali murmured, "I need to go there and find what Sovereign and his geth were looking for."
Daro's couldn't help but scoff. "Tali. Your aspiration to uphold Commander Shepard's torch is quite… admirable. Though I can't help but bring your judgement into question."
"You keep Shepard -out- of this." Tali forced a finger against Daro's chest, "Am. I. Absolutely. Clear?"
Daro's glowing eyes look at the offending finger before giving the woman a bland smile.
"Did he pop your little suit, Tali girl? Hm?"
Rael put up with a lot. But Daro making a slithering remark about her daughter like that was too fucking much.
"Enough!" Rael's fist slammed against the table before pointing at the other admiral, "You are out of line. Your work has been absolutely valuable, Daro. Now leave."
Thinking better than to inflame Rael's thinly sliced patience, she, as hard as it was, gave her best unseen smile before waving good-bye. "A pleasure, you three."
She stepped out of the lab as quietly as her nimble feet could allow before closing the door behind her.
The remaining three watch the door close before breathing a sigh of relief.
Finally.
The acidic aura around Daro managed to leave an arrogant stench in the room… it'd probably be days before the ship's scrubbers could rid the reeking attitude away.
"Do you want to do this, Tali?" Rael asked.
"Yes. Absolutely."
"Good. I know I can trust you." The mentally aged Admiral sighed before turning off the holographic projector, "I'll have Gerrel handle the logistics… Two months minimum preparation time. I'll have my advisors develop an OPORD with him."
"Thank you, Father." She let the air hang awkwardly for a moment before closing the distance between them, "I love you, dad."
"I love you too, Tali. Come here." Both his palms rise up and urge for her to embrace him.
Cautiously, she approached her father and gave him a hug that could've lasted a lifetime.
"Be safe, Tali, when you finally have to go to Haestrom… remember that it's in geth space. I shouldn't have to remind you how dangerous it is."
"I… I will, dad. How many missions have we done?"
His palm cupped the back of her helmet before placing her at arm's length. "A lot, Tali. A lot. You can go now. Maybe I'll see you sometime on the Neema… if I have time."
"I'd like that."
"You've received my update sir?" Wilson's clothes and lab coat looked none worse for the wear when he spoke, but the sags under his eyes spoke volumes for the amount of work he'd poured out from his suffering complexion. "Especially about the Shadow Broker?"
"Yes. Your scale of progress on Shepard has soared exponentially. Even I had my doubts. I'm glad you proved me wrong."
Wilson frowned inwardly. He was resurrecting the clinically dead for the absolute first time in history and the best he could get out of the man was a professional compliment. Had he been in public, he'd be swimming in intellectual and financial wealth whilst walking up to a podium for a nobel prize to give some fancy speech in a fancy suit.
Doctors and scientists from across the galaxy would have come to hear his personal testimony to such a claim.
That and he could finally get laid with reputable women. He couldn't help but mentally chide himself.
"Can I get a raise yet?" Wilson asked with a mirthful grin.
"Yes. You can."
"Wow. That was easy."
"Your work and your loyalty deserve their proper merit. All of it is excellent news. Though the Shadow's Broker's attempts at espionage, are not, however."
"A little more than espionage, sir. I had some technicals extract information from a virus that he provided me to use against our security network. Needless to say, they've sent you a 'patch' of sorts to update the exposed defects in our system. You can have your own team evaluate the findings."
The Illusive Man's brushed titanium arm rest, accompanied with his recommended dosage of chilled burden, is pressed against the man's fingers.
"Forward the information."
"I'm still worried, sir. And Miranda has reason to believe so, too."
The Illusive man's glass is raised toward the hologram. "Wilson, you need not worry. Miranda will be well informed of our next move."
"Okay. I have to get back to it, TIM. Take care of yourself. Thanks for the raise." The doctor gave Harper a slight dip of the head before terminating the QED.
TIM lit another thinly rolled cigarette and smirked. Half the reason The Illusive man hired Wilson was for his pragmatism. He liked it—knowing that Wilson kept things friendly and professional, was something the Illusive man had learned to respect. And his respect for the man soared when Wilson eagerly handed over information that could have compromised the Lazarus project in its entirety.
He'd be sure to reward him for his loyalty.
"Have Miranda extend a pay grade raise for Wilson's efforts." He spoke to his personal communicator and waited for a reply.
"Yes sir."
Ironically enough, the sun dress Tali wore, was stunningly extravagant. John could never really measure how strikingly beautiful she was.
But he knew it was just a dream. Watching her like this with a smile full of bliss...?
This wasn't real.
Their arms were hooked too. They were walking down a path inside of some large park.
People trailed behind them too. John looked to see Garrus close behind with Wrex, and Liara not too far off.
Where Ashley was, he didn't know.
"Look at the flowers and trees, John…" She whispered with her toothy smile, "Aren't they beautiful?"
He turned back to face her and gave her a loving smile. "Yeah..." He murmured as they kept walking, "Definitely are."
His smile turned into a beaming grin. "I love you, Hun."
"I love you too, John." She said before putting an arm around his waist.
"Spirits." Garrus guffawed, "Can you guys save that for tonight?"
"Jealous, Garrus?" Wrex said with his sly smile, "Wish that was you instead?"
Garrus didn't answer.
Both Wrex and Liara laugh at his expense.
They continued walking aimlessly along the path for a while before John finally decided to speak.
"So... Where we going?"
"Not really sure..." Tali answered,
John gave Tali a thoughtful frown before pointing up the small hill on their left.
"Let's go up there then. What do you say?"
"Good idea," She nodded, "We can watch the sunset."
They climb up to the top of the little hill before picking seats on the grass.
The sight was marvelous. Ahead of them, proud mountains topped with snow pierced the sky. The warm sun sat just above, cradled between a valley.
"...Where are we, Tali?" John asked with a whisper.
"Home, John. We're home." She gave him a wet kiss on the lips right when Rannoch's sun set along her glacial mountains.
…
Wilson entered John's room, went up to his bed, and slightly shook his shoulder to wake him from sleep.
He had convinced Miranda to let John sleep for another two hours. The mental and physical burdens he'd been carrying had been taking their toll, and pushing their project too far could bring in some ill effects that wouldn't look all that great on the paperwork.
Fortunately enough, the argument between the two didn't last long. She was inclined to agree with the man, considering the circumstances.
"Commander. Hey there. You need to wake up."
John grumbled and didn't say anything.
"Come on. You got to wake up. You've been sleeping for a good ten hours."
"Fine, fine." John muttered dryly without opening his eyes, "I'm awake. Jesus."
Wilson sighed. "...How you feeling?"
John sniffed and smacked his lips, but kept his eyes closed. "I'm fine. Wish you hadn't woken me up though."
"I know. I convinced Miranda to let you sleep for a little while longer." Wilson said, "Did you sleep well at least?"
"Yeah." John answered, "I did."
He always slept well when he dreamt of her.
"Are you still dreaming?"
"...Yes."
"That's good. Means your brain's still working."
"Can I have some water?"
"Absolutely." Wilson poured him a styrofoam cup full of icy water and gave it to him.
John accepted the cup, sat up in his bed, and drank deeply. Then he lay back down and rest his head on the pillow before sighing. "Thanks."
"Of course." Wilson put on his stethoscope, "Ready? Let's get started."
John kept his stare at the ceiling while Wilson started his usual exam.
This was his second week awake? Third maybe?
John didn't remember exactly.
But John's first week?
...It was painful.
The physical therapy only took him so far. He could handle that.
But his heart, on the other hand...
His heart was still killing him.
A day had yet to pass where he didn't think about Wilson and Miranda telling him he'd been in a coma for nearly a year.
That was a long time.
Long enough to know that anyone close to him was probably gone.
Long enough to know that Tali was probably gone too.
He'd cried silently to himself alone that night.
Sobbed until the tears burned his eyes.
Wept himself utterly stupid before sleep took him from his despair.
She was probably with another man.
Living aboard one of the Flotilla's ships.
And him forgotten.
Knowing that robbed him of everything. And because of that, he felt empty and alone. Depression followed soon after. It usually got worse when he went to bed and had nothing to do but think.
John gave the ceiling a crestfallen look when Wilson finally finished his quick exam and walked out the door.
Seeing that he alone only with the cameras to watch him, he realized the dream he had just moments ago seemed less passionate now.
But some small piece of him whispered out and told him to search for her anyways after all this.
To find her and make things right. Even if she had moved on.
It was the biggest 'if' of John's life.
Hopefully, no matter how farfetched it felt, that everything would turn out in his favor.
And if it did? He'd hold her close to his new heart.
And this time, he'd never. Ever. Let her go.