I have never ever seen Tali so… yearning for me. What has gotten into her? Was it my dominating presence? Whatever it is, my woman wants more of it and after what she just did to me, she's getting it. Not going to lie, it felt so weird to add in swear words during our private time. I love her dearly and I don't want to say anything bad to her, but how she light up… hrrrgh. I'll get used to it. We're in Thane's old room. Despite how small it is, it feels huge compared to living on the fleet for several months. The spot is a bit warm for my liking as it is close to the engine. Tali likes to listen to the engine in case she needs to check on it immediately and it soothes her like a white noise generator.

"Wow. I just… wow!" I'm going to have to stimulate her much better than her deluxe nerve stim pro in return.

Tali crawls forwards towards me, resting that cute little head on my chest. "You appear relieved. Why is that?" she asks rhetorically.

"I had they absolute best time of my life and it is all thanks to this" my pointer finger gently presses on her cheek, near her nose and I make my way back, in a snake pattern, pokey poke, pokey poke, feeling and mapping the contours of her elegant cheekbones with each point of contact. I repeatedly press until x marks the spot "come on where is it?"

Tali giggles and asks "what are you doing?"

"I'm looking for the special nerve where if i push down just right will create a smile that can melt a glacier" my words make Tali lip's curl like nothing else. I FOUND IT. "THERE IT IS" I drill into my serotonin button. I'm going to have to mark it with a pen.

Tali says "I love how much you like my face."

"Performance and aesthetics, ohohohohoh I lucked out big time" maybe there is a god.

"When do I get my turn?" Tali asks.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK "Tali it is Rann. Admiral Korris set up a rescue beacon at his location, but it is jammed. A precise signal can't be detected. I need you and Commander Shepard to rescue him immediately."

Tali pouches off from the bed and puts her visor back on. My soul aches in pain. I just found the sweet spot. Maybe there is a devil. Tali beacons me to get up. Ah fine. My legs are a little weak, but I can do another mission. Quick reset and I'm ready to go. Weird it took more energy than normal. Ehh probably nothing to worry about. Tali opens the door and quickly chats with her aunt. Rann has to leave the Normandy immediately to discuss recent events with the other admirals and other high ranking quarians. Tali pulls me to the elevator. She asks me to contact Shepard while she calls her dad. I do so and Shepard informs me he already knows and to meet him in the cargo bay. James is coming along on this mission and Shepard told me to tell him. Joker is going to enter low orbit and will take a shuttle as close as we can to the coordinates Admiral Korris is. There are several AA guns that will need to be taken down as well.

The elevator reverses direction and descends. Tali is ready to go, and I form my custom Alliance armor over my body. Shepard insisted I wear this because the battlefields are so intense, he didn't want anyone mistaking me for someone indoctrinated. A man in casual clothes on the battlefield is indicative of that. The doors open wide, and I look immediately at James. He knows the drill. He sits his dumbbells down. Cortez the shuttle pilot knows its mission time when the weights hit the floor.

James ask us to fill him in.

Tali explains "While Shepard was about the Geth dreadnought, Admiral Korris's ship was damaged. Praising the ancestors he and others got to an escape pod in time and landed on Rannoch. We're going to rescue him."

James asks "casualties?"

Tali doesn't know.

Shepard arrives and he has his warrior face on. We hop into the shuttle. I was so focused on getting ready I didn't notice we already entered the atmosphere. Cortez lifts the shuttle off the floor and shoots out the Normandy. Controlled descent, which is PR wording for falling until we reach a specific altitude helps evade the AA guns but not entirely. The sounds of the blasts are deafening. That combined with Cortez's shuttle flying nearly makes me vomit. The shuttle lands. The juices in my stomach settle. I'm ok for the moment.

James says "might as well get it out now." It's actually a very tempting idea.

James examines his omnitool readings and lists off "jamming towers, anti-aircraft guns, rockets. Geth must have been building up an army for a while."

I reply "Legion said they were left over from the morning wars. The geth and their allies repaired what they could in case the migrant quarians came back."

James said "Than I guess we're lucky they aren't all wearing nukes for backpacks."

Why didn't I think of that? I could have made a mountain of bottlecaps in the fallout universe. I hate being over encumbered.

I ask "where do we go?"

Shepard comments "Just up ahead and we got company. Geth!"

I borrowed/cloned Garrus's favorite sniper rifle and this thing is a beast. One shot one kill even for these advanced geth units. The fun ends when I notice the lying down quarian bodies. Their brown suits made them look like rocks until the right angle of fire illuminated their cracked visors. There are no standard quarian weapons or basic combat armor worn. Civilians who stood no chance. I can't help to imagine the feeling of the first thing that happens when you finally arrive on your home planet, and you die. That's terrifying to me. So close to the finish line and being denied your greatest desire.

Shepard says we should move on to the jamming tower. James warns the commander to wait. "There is a mine where you are about to step."

As much as I love sniper rifles, this thing is overpowered. I ask James "does using a sniper rifle ever feel like cheating to you?"

He says "I never use them. I prefer being up-close."

We eliminate the geth and reach the AA gun.

Shepard says "Tali will you please?"

I say "Wait, make James do it."

James says "really?"

I smile and nod my head. He looks at the commander for the ok. "Go ahead" Shepard says.

"Techs not really my specialty, but I'll pull a few wires and see what comes out" James step up to the console, he scratches his ear before proceeding to kick the ever-living crap of the console. Shepard and Tali are giving me the look while I watch in anticipation. James's fifth kick does the trick to the surprise of Tali.

Shepard asks "Did you do something to you know?"

"Nope didn't have to."

James asks "something you want to fill me in on?"

"I mean, wouldn't it be nice if I could just wave my hand and get it working?" Those kicks probably fixed a loose wire. That's my best guess.

"Yeah that would be nice" James said.

Tali whispers to me "what are you doing?"

"Having a little fun."

James alerts us to incoming geth. I jump to cover and set up my rifle. These must be new geth. Their flashlight heads are much bigger. Just makes them an easier Target. Bullseye! Whoa these ones spray oil out when you shoot them. The back of my head rattles. Something is wrong. Just in case I use my extra senses and make a horrific discovery.

"Guys these aren't geth. They're organics."

James asks "what do you mean?"

"They must be planetside quarians. Shepard, I know they are firing at us, but these people are only defending their homes from us. Should we try and talk it out? Wave a white flag?"

Shepard says "we have no time and those quarians allied themselves with the Reapers. It is us or them."

Tali cries out "SHEPARD!"

"Tali I get these are your people in a way and you didn't sign up for shooting them, but we have to find your admiral. Fall back and watch our backs if you want. We'll handle this."

"But-"

"You heard the commander sparks."

I crouch and run over to Tali. She looks at me and I can metaphorically feel her thoughts going 'why are we allowing this?' I feel horrible for what is happening right now. In my mind, I visualize innocent people just trying to defend their homes and survive the war. I have to remind myself these people choose to take the "safe" option at the cost of others. They could have allied with us when they had the chance. Then again it's not like these people owe the galaxy anything. They just want to be left alone and our war is dragging them into this, and they are paying the ultimate price. All I can do is pray they get the good things they deserve in the afterlife. The battle ends as fast as it begins. We hike over and look at our opponents. They are wearing armor that resembles the geth. I lift up the mask and see a young man. He couldn't have been older than 20. I can't look at this anymore. This kid had a long life ahead of him. So many years of life wasted. He should have met a significant other and lived a long life doing what made him happy and instead he died. He is not going to have it here. It seems so unfair.

Shepard says "they really didn't want your people back Tali."

She says "I can't say I blame them. We left them to rot then return after centuries and cause a war in their skies then I kill them. Is this what you feel when you kill bad humans?"

"You feel bad at first, but you get used to or learn to ignore it. The worst thing is feeling good killing the bad ones. It can make you feel righteous and lead you down a bad road. Don't let it control you" I said.

Shepard says "Tali we're still on a mission. I need you to bottle up your feelings and express them later in private. We have to find your admiral. Can you keep going?"

Tali nods "let's get this over with as soon as possible."

Shepard says "There is a signal up over that hill. Watch for mines. I see one over there."

James said "they may have been keeping the admiral there to lure other quarians. Keep your eye out for more."

BANG!

Tali asks "was that a gunshot?"

"It must have been" Shepard said.

"Why did it sound strange?" James asks.

"It was from a weapon that used gunpowder. We have to go. Hurry" I carefully leap across bodies of Geth and quarians. Some civilians from the fleet, most had that same armor we just finished killing except these aren't our victims. Whoever killed these people were either very skilled or lucky, or adequate amounts of both. We find the source of the noise. It's so dark here I can't tell the color of the suit the quarian leaning on the rock, putting pressure on his wound is and standing next to him is another quarian who is not his buddy.

"That was a warning shot. The next one drills a hole in your mask. You people were cowards before. Now you can't even show your face?" A male quarian standing nearly six feet tall with a pistol aiming towards the survivor.

Us humans aim our weapons at him. My finger near the trigger. The nail is leaning against the trigger guard. It should be on the trigger, but I don't want to accidentally kill this guy. That barely an adult quarian I killed is enough for my mind to hold.

Shepard said "Put the gun down. You're outnumbered."

He looks at us with initial curiosity, but it is only momentarily "so these are the famous humans I've heard so much about. The newcomers, so eager to put their planet on the galactic map and become part of a much larger community. You're being foolish. The council won't help you like they didn't help my ancestors. By the way human, the Reapers were generous enough to give us universal translators."

Shepard tries to connect with him over that "Yeah, I learned that the hard way. My planet was one of the first to be attacked by the Reapers and we didn't get any help at all, even being a council race."

"So, you see? Their positions of powers are just for show. When things get tough, they run like his people did. My kind don't run away, we eliminate them" he said.

The quarian on the ground begs, "Please I want HUAHHH!" His captor shoots his shoulder. The color of bone freaks me out. He might lose his arm if we don't apply medigel right now. Supposedly it can save limbs. I've never seen it. Chakwas says medigel is a composite of clotting agents, broad spectrum antibiotics that inhibit prokaryotic DNA replication, and "universal stem cells" the salarians made.

"You people had everything, and you still wanted more. You're insatiable" he said with such hatred.

James said "don't become the thing you hate. I get you're scared. We all are, but there has to be a better way."

"It doesn't matter. Whatever we choose, they'll find a way to get what they want from us. I'm trying to protect my family. I didn't want this, but they made the only option to kill them. They weren't even content with the stars" he said.

The quarian bleeding out says "please. I work in maintenance, I clean engine parts."

Shepard says "Listen to him. I met with your people before. I understand something really bad happened and no one wishes it will happen again, but all those lessons learned will be erased, and it will happen elsewhere if the Reapers take over. Please let him go. Look at him? Do you really think he's a threat in the state he's in?"

James says "Listen to him."

"Please. I'd give up the homeworld if it means I can see my son one last time. Please."

"Why should I trust you?" he says.

James asks "Why should we trust you? You're working for the Reapers."

"I'm working with the Geth to protect our home. Reapers, humans, his kind, I don't care. I just need you gone. Why should I let him go?" he asks.

"Moral reasons for one. Two if you don't I'm going to shoot your balls off next I use the barrel of my gun to brand your uvula then who knows. Make the smart choice or I'm choosing the fun one."

He ponders it for a moment. He lowers his gun and says "take him before I change my mind."

"Ancestors tha-" BANG!

"Don't mention my ancestors again. Humans get him outta here."

Shepard applies medigel while the other quarian leaves. James stays back with me, calls for my attention "Hermano that was badass!"

"I know it just came out."

"Can I use that next time I have a stand off?"

"Yeah go nuts just don't take credit for it."

Tali says "if you two are finished discussing one liners, we have a tower to disable and an Admiral to find." She points to a large blue pillar sending energy upwards with irregular concave pieces floating close to the top. Yeah I want to blow that up. There are two AA guns.

James suggest we split up. Shepard doesn't like it but concedes it is a good idea. He and Tali will take one while James and I go to the other. Geth are blocking our way. There is a turrent. James wants to get closer. His style of combat is upclose with a shotgun. I set up my rifle and kill the geth preventing him from moving up. I have to take turns between assisting James and trying to get the one on the turrent. It keeps moving back and forth and I have a slim window. It took me 6 attempts in order to bring it down. By the time James gets to the AA gun, Shepard and Tali have finished their task. Let's pretend we had the hard side.

Shepard and Tali burst through the hallway. The spectre fights off some geth coming for us. Tali comes to my side. I look her over and notice a pin hole on her arm. "I my shield popped and a stray shot must have hit me. Relax I barely noticed it and covered it in medi gel immediately."

Thank god and I really mean thank god her immune system is stronger than in the game. I'll have to take a look at it later when we are back on the ship. The metal is ridiculously. The mass effect technology in the weapons makes the rice size bit of iron much larger when it is in flight. I don't want to risk anything and covertly dissolve it. Tali runs to the console, politely pushing James to the side and get the work.

Alot of geth start to attack. I sprint to the turrents. I was so excited I yelled "shotgun" instead of dibs. My self cringe is momentarily and replaced by the awesomeness of this gun. The device swivels nicely. The spray of bullets doesn't last long. Each projectile fire increases the temperature until it needs to cool down. I remind myself during those breaks to watch out for friendly fire. I don't want to split James in two. I think Kaiden wants that honor or for him to be split.

There are way too many geth for the four of us even with the turrent. The engine sounds of Cortez's shuttle are heard. I can't take my focus off the wave of geth. The air pressure from the blast taking the tower down sway the hairs on the back of my neck. I kinda like how it feels. Like winds of destruction giving me a little massage. The clank of metal as it lands behind me is my cue to run for it. My legs run so fast I thought I accidentally used my abilities for a second. The adrenaline rush made it feel like I wasn't running at all. The tumble into the shuttle, that I felt. James pulled me off the floor into the chair, smushing my nose. There goes my nasal modeling career. I liked that for the royalties.

The destruction of the jamming tower allows the admiral to get a signal out. Shepard finds his location. There is a debate on whether to pick him up or civilian quarians. Shepard says those geth suited quarians have taken fleet quarians captive. Admiral Koris wants us to save them, but that would mean he would be left behind and slaughtered by the geth. Shepard tells the admiral he needs him and we can rescue those quarians in the future.

I had my fun with the turrets and let Shepard have his turn. The admiral weaves through the rocky terrain, avoiding gunfire from the geth and us. The intense winds rock the shuttle, protecting us from incoming missiles in exchange for making firing a risky gamble. I use my rifle and pick off the ones getting close to the admiral. Rocks are mostly my victims. The admiral runs onto the shuttle. A pair of missiles goes through the shuttle. The sharp fletching knicks James's eyebrow. He didn't even notice it was bleeding until we pointed it out. While I apply medigel to him, the admiral desperately tried to make contact with the people we left behind only to hear static. Shepard and Tali reassures him we'll rescue them soon. Cortez radios joker to fly by so he can land inside the Normandy.

Admiral Rann waits for Admiral Korris in the loading bay. She should have evacuated the cargo bay and only reenter when the atmospheric pressure inside returns to normal. The suits are stronger than I thought if they can withstand a partial vacuum. Rann turns her attention to Shepard "I've already contacted the fleet and they are sending a ship. Admiral Korris needs to return to the civilian fleet immediately. It is against protocol for two admirals to be aboard the same ship when combat is likely."

Shepard says "I'll let Joker know and he'll find a safeish spot for the transfer. James you did good work out there. Tali, ********* get a break while you can. I have to report to Admiral Hackette and discuss what's next with the Admirals."

I say thanks to my commander and head out. I take a closer look at Tali's arm. The hole is very small. Tali will easily be able to patch it up, or I'll repair the damage. James is curious and comes closer. He spots the hole to.

"Is that gonna… you know.." he said.

Tali answers "No. I applied medigel and quarians dying from infection is more of an urban myth. I'll be ok."

"A geth hurt my dear dear Tali. It's not ok. Are you in any pain?" I ask.

"I'm fine. Please stop worrying about me cherished" she said.

"I only worry because I love you so god damn much" I said.

"And I love that. James is hurt worse than me. You might want to see Dr. Chakwas. She has some device that completely removes scars in case your eyebrow loses some hair" Tali said.

He replies "Don't worry about me. ********* take good care of sparks."

We watch James walk away. He's completely unphased how close he came to death. I return my focus to Tali's wound and ask her "are you really ok?"

she says "I will be once we go back to our room and finish what we are doing."

Yep, she's going to be alright... and then some.