The shuttle in the back has a viewport. I'm watching the Normandy shrink in size as it gets smaller and smaller until the ship capable of cruising suns becomes a star in the background. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I kept my abilities hidden. The price for these powers were high, and somewhat forced upon me. The tiniest part of me secretly loathes these fruits of my labors. During the years I now call my training, I read about these abilities. I assumed they were symbolic and were warned these were a distraction. While my eyes were firmly fixed on the goal, I figured it would be a wise choice to get comfortable using them just in case something bad were to happen, to protect my family, but I always prefer secrecy to conflict.
Thankfully, it is finally going my way. I saw these fruits of my labors as a means to an end to get what I hoped for, I escaped. I was free. I believed I could have what I really wanted, and it was out there somewhere in the infinite. While I disliked my original world, in truth, it wasn't as bad as I make it seem. However, I had too many bad memories and the issues became too large of a problem for me to justify having a life there. Like the Normandy, that is all behind me now. I found love like no other and can have a normal life with her. Well normal for a quarian. This is going to be an adjustment.
Rael says "The trip will take 4 days. This shuttle is old and slow. It is going to take three days for the shuttle and the traverse ship, which will increase our speed, to join, then we'll head home."
"WHAT!" I yelled.
Tali lays on the bench, sits ups, stretches her cute back, oh how I loved that curvy graceful arch, asks "What is the matter, love?"
"You're saying we are going to be cramped in this less than 100-sqft shuttle with you guys for the next three days?" I said.
"Yes" Rael and Tali said, like it was totally normal.
I ask "where are you guys going to sleep or use the bathroom?"
Tali answers "We'll sleep on the floor and our suits recycle our waste."
"Having regrets yet? I can turn this ship around and drop you back off" Rael threatens.
"NO No no. I want to stay with Tali. I can adapt. I've done it hundreds of times before. I just really like having a bed. I could make some twin mattresses if you'd like" I said. Whew he made me panic.
Rael and Tali look at each other "That is a lovely idea. But we should let you know, on the ship, most quarians don't sleep on beds" Rael said.
I ask "What do you do?"
"Alot of us like to sleep on the floor. The suits have interior padding so it is as comfortable as we can make it" Rael said.
I slap my dumb head "That is what that was for. I felt it when hugging Tali. I thought it was storage for extra fabric for repairs."
Tali replies "We use it for storage also. Quarians use everything we have to the maximum, and I mean everything. I'd think you'll be impressed" Tali said.
"Intriguing. What if I don't want to sleep on the floor?" I don't wish to sound rude.
Rael asks Tali "What are those sacs humans sleep on?"
"A beanbag?" Tali said.
"No, the ones they use in the forests" he said.
I reply "A hammock?"
"YES! That is the world. They are really popular on the fleet. You could have 5 quarians sleeping above and below you" Rael said.
"Well, I feel bad for the bottom quarian. If one breaks, that could be 10 people crushing you while you dream" I said.
Tali replies "I've slept in them. We reinforce them so it doesn't happen. We can snuggle up in the same hammock" Oh paradise.
"You are sure the weight will hold? I'm heavier than I look" I said.
"How much does your quarian body weigh?" Rael asks.
"I weigh… oh yeah, I forgot I'm a quarian now. I have no idea" I said.
"How did you forget?" Rael asked.
"This isn't my first time transforming into an alien with a mask" I said.
"You've done this before?" Tali asked.
"There was this alien species not in this universe called a yautja who are fierce hunters and I wanted to see what it was like. Got bored pretty quick and left" I said.
"Oh… well moving on. We should talk about quarian customs. Each ship is different since our race is distributed. Some ships haven't had contact with others in a hundred years. But in general, don't be rude, never block someone's way, the ships are crowded, and we hate it when our path is obstructed. Be aware of where you are" Rael said.
"Got it. How crowded?" I nervously asked.
Rael answers "very. I know you are going to hate hearing this, but we won't have a single minute alone."
Uh oh.
Tali asks her dad "we are going to the Rayya right?"
He answers "Our birthship yes daughter."
Tali says to me "I know some secret spots I was shown as a teenager behind the paneling if we need a getaway."
"Wait what?!" Rael asked.
"Is it going to be rubbing shoulder to shoulder crowded all the time?" I nervously asked.
Tali answers. "It shouldn't. We're not that densely populated. No one would be able to get any work done. Remember that Christmas movie you showed me with that guy walking around the city with the tall metal green lady? Slightly more crowded."
"That's fine. What if I need to talk to you guys about something private?" I asked.
Tali sits down to my left side and takes that arm. "Right now, you are in public mode. You'll hear everything around you. I'm putting in my father's and my omnitool address. See this icon that looks like our helmets? If you click it, a radio signal appears and only those your omnitool is programmed to within a certain distance will be able to hear you. It is encrypted so it'll be safe. Holding this button activates mute mode. That is another thing, the eyes in the mask will disappear. If you see someone without our digital eyes it does not mean they are sleeping. They do not want to be disturbed."
"Got it. Oh no!" I said.
"What is it?" Rael asked.
"I learned to speak quarian to talk to Tali in her tongue. I never learned how to read these symbols" I said.
Tali says "Guess what we'll be doing the next three days?" oh… great…
"Can we change this into american?" I politely ask Tali.
Rael says "I thought you spoke english?"
"DON'T MENTION THE BRITISH!"
"Sorry sorry sorry" Rael said.
"Father is toying with you. Here I'll show you how to change it, but you'll need to learn how to read khelish. We have signs everywhere indicating where things are like the citadel" Tali explained.
Oh, languages always take me a while to get. Tali directs me where to scroll to change the language setting. This feels so weird to do with only three fingers. Is the middle one the pointer now? I know which one is the thumb. My pinky looks huge! It feels so weird how thick and long they are. Ooo a dirty idea entered my mind. Later I tell myself. Still haven't figured out how many holes there are. I know I only have one down there. I'd like Tali to have two. NO! Three! Because of the three fingers. Quarian love bowling ball. I'm kidding. Tali said she has only two.
I ask "Anything else I should know?"
"Many such things and I'm afraid we're unable to divulge our ways in one sitting. It is very rare for a quarian not familiar with our ways to join our fleet. Exiles or those who do not return to the fleet on their pilgrimage usually do not have children. Don't worry you'll learn as you go along. How long do you intend to stay? You implied Commander Shepard will need you and Tali again in the future" Rael asked.
"At least 6 months or 200 days to make it easy, although that is when Shepard is to leave Earth, the human's homeworld. He'll be busy with other stuff until we meet again. That will give you and the other admirals enough time to form partnerships with the Alliance and geth" I said. Rael chuckles before realizing I'm serious.
"You can't honestly expect that" he said.
"The Reapers are coming. This galaxy will need all the help it can get" I said.
"I recognize that, and the admiralty will extend an offering to humanity, but there is no way we're going to ally ourselves with the geth" Rael said.
"Do you want peace or not?" I asked.
"It is not that simple" he said.
"Ancestors I forgot. Imagine when Admiral Qwib-Qwib learns about this" Tali said.
Hehehe
Rael says "Don't laugh. He hates it. Admiral Zaal'Koris is a rarity among quarians. He sympathizes with the geth over his own people. Says we deserved our banishment for enslaving the geth."
"You're forgetting it wasn't just the geth who drove your ancestors off Rannoch. There were other quarians as well in a revolutionary war. How did the other admirals react when you told them the news?" I ask.
Rael says "Honestly I haven't told them that. I was waiting to deliver the evidence in person."
"Father, you didn't. I send you those pictures of us eating family dinner with Legion. I never thought I'd say this in my life, but peace is possible between us" Tali said.
"That is not going to quell generations of hatred towards the geth" Rael said.
"How did your people even forget there are surviving quarians on Rannoch. The asari councilor made it sound like it wasn't secret information" I asked.
Rael says "Ancestors know. We have to open an investigation when we return."
Tali says "We'll talk about this later with auntie Rann."
…
…
…
I awkwardly ask "So what do quarians do to pass the time?"
Tali says "quarians are very social. We talk alot."
"Oh… great…" Where was the mute button again?
Tali says "It is fine if you are on your omnitool when not at work. No one is expecting anything from you."
Rael says "I'll look at what you can do to help around the ship. I should warn you most jobs are reserved when quarians are young. It isn't like how humans do it. You are not going to get anything good.
"That's fine. It's temporary and I've done a lot of odd jobs. Hopefully work will breeze just by" I said.
Tali says "I think that covers it for now. Are you ready for your first reading lesson? Kelish has over 50 characters not including numbers."
"Oh… great…"