"*********?" Got's hand knocking on my visor snaps me out of my trance.
"Huh What is it?" I angrily ask.
"What is with you?" He asks.
"Eh?" I reply.
"It's like you weren't here. Did you fall asleep?" he asks.
"No, I have something on my mind. Did you need something?" I ask.
"We finished our work. Would it be ok for me to go see my friends? Today is the last day of my punishment" He said.
"We just had lunch like 15 minutes ago. Are you trying to weasel out of work? Look at that big pile over there we need to get done" I point out to what I now realize is an empty room corner.
"It's been alot longer than that. Can I go now?" Got asks. I would like my personal space back. Very well. Got is free to go and I'll tell the admirals about his performance. He seems like an okish kid. Lots of room for improvement. I still keep thinking about last night.
Very carefully I take hold of the sides of the hammock. If you lay down at a 45 degree angle you can avoid curving your spine like a banana. We're still high enough that my anxiety keeps telling me "the hammock will rip! We'll fall in our sleep!" The hammock underside is reinforced with steel wiring weaved like a net with a foam matt over it to soften the hammock and I won't have strings of metal leaving marks on my back. Tali carefully steps in. Her hand lays on the edge of the platform as she balances getting into the hammock. My quarian lover lays on top of me and zips the hammock up. This isn't a bad way to get a night's rest. We are two peas in a pod full of love. Instinctively I take a huge breath in and let it naturally leave my lungs. Tali responds to doing the same.
I say "You know I wouldn't falling asleep like this everytime."
Tali replies "As much as you enjoy this, I much rather prefer a real bed."
"This reminds me when we fell asleep on the chair and ottoman by the fireplace. You fell asleep and finally stopped flinching whenever the logs cracked. Karla or someone put a blanket over us. That is one of my all-time favorite memories. The difference being it didn't feel like I was snuggling with someone while we both wear a football helmet" I said.
"My favorite memory is when I was had a bad day working on the Normandy engine core. Gabby and I got into a little fight and I came to see you. Remember? Then you surprised me with those earrings I saw at the 'art-in-the-citadel.'" Tali said.
"I'm still surprised you wanted them. They kept falling off your hoodie and when Miranda told them you were to had to get your ears pierced, you freaked out" I said.
"I thought they were just attached. I can't believe they stab their own ears to put them on" Tali said.
"If you think that is crazy, some people have these circles to widen the hole so large I can put my finger through them" I said.
"That is insane" Tali said.
"Humans are weird. Hey Tali, I'm curious. You said quarians don't have money but get something else in compensation. Do I get anything for my work?" I ask.
"No. You have to work longer than we'll be here for you to get an upgrade. For example, If I stayed for a quarian year, we could move to a higher-level hammock" Tali said.
"That is it? Anything else?" I asked.
"Little stuff but pretty much it" Tali said.
"What is the point? This hammock here is pretty good. It has a super cute quarian woman in it" I said.
"Hehe I know it must look silly to you, but it is something to motivate our people. It's not like humans don't do the same, just in a different way" Tali said.
"Like what?"
"Don't humans get more stuff the older the get? More skycars, a bigger living space, or other stuff. Why do you need so much stuff?" Tali asked.
"It must be different here, but I had to be frugal with my money. I developed a practical mindset. Does this thing serve a need or improve my life in some way. If it didn't, it wasn't coming home. Sure, I bought myself treats once and a while, but it wasn't much" I said.
"Well now you can make whatever you want for free" Tali said.
"I can't make another you" I said.
"You'd never get rid of me" Tali said.
"Of course not. You're awesome!" I said.
Tali shuffles around and props her head up to get a straight view of my visor "Hey… you know… for normal quarian couples… this would be around the time we'd become permanently bonded. While we are not a normal couple… I'm curious… how come you haven't asked me yet?"
"Umm…" I'm starting to blush.
"Well?" Tali asked.
"It is not a good time" Should I really be letting her know what I think? I love where we are at, and I don't want to change anything.
"Are you planning something?" Her voice carries a slightly excited tone.
"No… I don't want to propose to you until after the Reapers are defeated" I said.
"Why the wait?" she asked.
"I-I… I'm scared" I confessed.
"What do you have to be scared of?" Tali asked.
"I never married. It just never happened. There were others I considered but things happened. Tali… I'm scared that if I lose my wife… that I won't recover from that. Because if something were to happen to you, I might never see you again. You'll go to the apogee and I'll be stuck here" I said.
"I said I'll come back to you" Tali said.
"I know and you meant it, but what if you can't?" I asked.
"The universe would not be so cruel to keep us apart" Tali said.
"I know firsthand how cruel a universe can be. We can't count on that. Tali…do you want to spend the rest of your life with me?" I asked.
"You should already know the answer to that" Tali rolls over. "I have a long day tomorrow. I'm going to sleep. Goodnight" Tali said.
"I love you Tali" I said. She replies, "I love you too."
Tali left before I woke up.
Did I say something wrong? Did I get her hopes up? How would I even ask her? I believe she knows what it means for me to propose but she deserves to be asked the way her culture dictates. If I talk to Rann, she might spill the beans to Tali. Hmm. I have some time to kill. The courtyard is open. Immersion into quarian culture seems like a good idea. I lock up shop even though no one is going to steal anything and head to the courtyard.
This feels like a miniature indoor park. There are people socializing, musicians playing a fun energetic song, a makeshift stall handing out special nutrient pastes that taste sweeter than normal. This feels cool. There are so many other quarians taller than me. This feels so weird. I aimlessly walk around secretly hope someone will come talk to me. Making conversations with strangers unless it is quest related is a weakness. I became so focused on doing rather than living. Wait… something is missing. I'm not getting stared at.
I tap the shoulder of a random quarian woman and ask her a test question "Hi even though we never met, do you feel an uncanny sexual attraction towards me?" If I asked this on Earth, I'd get a yes then would be heading to jail.
"NO?" she is being honest. The random lady unconsciously sends me a weird vibe and walks off.
What the hell? This almost never happens. I've transformed into other races before and I still had wandering eyes on me. What's different? Huh I blend into the crowd. I feel normal. I like it. I tried introducing myself to other quarians to make friends, but it didn't go well. Where the hell is my vibe tribe? I make small talk with quite a few people, sadly it becomes awkward, and I leave. Lots of them give me the rock on hand symbol. I'm going to have to ask Tali what that means. Time to no longer care. A quarian woman in a yellow suit with a plant leaf like design is by herself. This one is different. Her suit is covered head to toe in carefully arranged crystals. It's beautiful. I wonder if it would be rude to ask Tali to do something like that. The lone quarian girl must be people watching as her focus is on the crowd. I walk up to her and say "Well don't you look bedazzily."
She swoops her head around and looks at me.
She makes a single sound "Hmm?"
"I'm new to the ship but haven't seen any other quarians with your design. It's pretty cool" I said.
She asks "Are you talking to me?"
"No, I am talking to the other walking gem store, yes, I am talking to you. Sorry I didn't mean to be rude. I might be in a fighting with my bondmate" I said.
"Umm… I'm not sure I should be talking to you" she said.
"What? Is it not appropriate in your culture?" I ask.
"Well um… no. It's just…" She said.
"What's your name?" I ask.
"Fanto" she said.
"Hi I'm *********. How are you?" I ask.
"Ugh… I'm alright all things considering" For some reason she is very confused.
"It sounds like you are having a weird day" I said.
"Very. This is really odd" Fanto said.
"What is going on?" I ask. A tap on my shoulder causes me to turn around. Tali is right behind me.
"TALI! What are you doing here?" I ask.
"I decided to leave early and see you but you weren't at your station, so I tracked you here" Tali said.
"You're tracking me? Like an NSA creep?" I asked.
"Quarians can track each other if you have their address and permission settings. I'll show you how to find me in case we ever get separated. It's very easy to happen" Tali said.
"Well in any case I am so happy to see you. Hey I'm sorry for how I left things last night" I said.
"Oh, don't worry about that. Who are you talking you?" Tali asks.
"Let me introduce you two. This is Fanto. Isn't her suit pretty? I like the crystals" I said. Both of them are sending me piercing energy through their eyes it is drilling holes into my head.
Tali tugs my arm "*********, who are you talking to?" Why is she so concerned?
Fanto twitches her neck. Wait a minute. I wave my hand through the air. My arm phases through her as if she is a hologram. I'm NOT using my powers at the moment.
"Oh SHIT!" I said.
"What's wrong?" Tali asks. Remember your promise.
"ERRRRR" I growl to myself.
Tali says "*********?"
"Sweetie… I made you a promise and I keep my promises unless you relinquish it" I said.
"Well which one?" Tali asked.
"The problem is if I tell you… I'm technically breaking it" I said.
"Ancestors, as long as it doesn't affect our relationship it's fine. What is the matter cherished?" Tali asks. I look straight at Fanto.
"I'm looking at a ghost!" I said.
Tali laughs "very funny" my head swivels back at her. Tali's subconscious fills in the blanks.
"Are you joking? Please tell me you are joking" Tali said.
"I'm not." I turn to Fanto, exasperatedly throwing my arm in the air "Well want do you want?! You spirits always want something. You wouldn't be attached if there wasn't something" If you think ghosts were annoying before, opening drawers, moving chairs, throwing things, they are SO MUCH WORSE WHEN THEY TALK TO YOU. Oh lord they are so starved for attention they will talk to me endlessly. Now I have to be this person's therapist and help them desync from this place and move to the higher realms. Honestly, I'm more shocked a ghost can sustain themselves in this universe with how low of a concentration my ability fuel is here.
Fanto says "I can't believe you can see me. I haven't talked to anyone in a very long time."
I ask Tali "Are these the ancestor spirits you worship?"
"I don't know" Tali said.
Fanto comments "With how long I've been around she might be one of my descendants. You can actually see me! You must be very special."
I ask "You have no idea. Now tell me what you want from me. You are not the first ghost to ask and sadly won't be the last. How long have you been here?"
"I have no idea but I want to go back home" Fanta said.
"What ship are you from? I can ask Tali and I'll help you get back to your birth ship" I said.
"No I want to go to our real home. Rannoch. My grandparents told me stories of our world. How it is so filled with life and things until the terrorists rebelled and kicked us off our planet along with those ungrateful geth!" Fanta said.
"Back up. Let me get this straight. Your grandparents were?"
"I come from a very prominent family. My Grandfather was the majority shareholder for Roma gems, his wife a CFO in a top ten oil company. My other-" normally I let people finish their sentences, but I hate elitists.
"Don't care about your family's career aspirations. What terrorists?" I ask.
"The geth formed an alliance with terrorists who have been attacking my family and friends for years. After all we did for them building companies, giving them the opportunities to work, keeping them safe, they attacked us because they thought they knew better" Fanta said.
"What is the ancestor saying?" Tali asks.
"She said she is the granddaughter of the quarians who fled Rannoch and she called Raon and Karla's ancestors terrorists. Hey silver spooned idiot. I've been to Ranno-"
"NO SO loud" Tali said. Right, we haven't told the admirals yet.
I whisper "We've been to Rannoch. We talked to them. Your people practically enslaved them. Not letting them drive home from the factories to be with their families and you controlled when they could have children."
"We had to keep them working otherwise they'd commit crimes in their spare time. Baby booms are a cost-effective way to increase the population. Raise the children all at once. You wouldn't understand. They must be suffering without our guidance" Fanta said. My blood fires like fire.
"If anything, they are thriving and they are doing so because your people are gone" I said.
"What!? That can't be" Fanta says.
"It is and it turns out, a country flourishes when you remove the parasites" I said.
"Do you know who you are talking to?" Fanto asks. I snap my fingers. The energy in her side is disharmonized from the rest of her. This causes a pain like sensation. Fanto ask, "Who are you?"
"The dream of an angel and the nightmare of a demon. Get out of here" I said.
Fanta runs into a wall and disappears.
Tali asks "What happened?"
"She ran away" I said.
"Is she gone gone?" Tali asks.
"If only it were that easy. She'll be back" I said.
"********* what happened? You seem really mad" Tali said.
I give Tali a quick summary of what just occurred.
"She said that? How could they think that?" Tali said.
"They live in their own reality" I said.
"Is she going to come back and haunt us?" Tali nervously asks.
"No, I will protect you" I said.
"That is a relief. ********* I came to find you because I have some bad news" Tali said.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
"It's about Commander Shepard" Tali said.
"What happened? It's been a while since we spoke" I said.
"He hasn't told you yet? I only know of it because my Dad told me" she said.
"Tali, you're starting to scare me. What happened?" I ask.
"It's starting. The Reapers are attacking Earth."
