I don't own characters from Bioware, they do. I am simply taking some liberties with the worldbuilding is all.

This is also a story that's not presented in any particularly chronological order (unless a particular arc will require multiple chapters to develop, then it will be chronological). It's merely a collection of short snippets involving episodes in the relationship between the Normandy's best trio Commander John Alexander Shepard, best boy Garrus Vakarian and best girl Tali'Zorah. If you have suggestions for some premises for chapters, then you are allowed to share it, and I may write it while giving you credit for the idea. That, however, isn't a promise that I will write it; I have to write it in a way that particularly satisfies this AU, and I know that some premises may not work as well.

Although other characters from the series will be portrayed, it's mostly about the Normandy's best consistent trio throughout the series. And it will be a Shepard/Tali romance centric.

Anyways, hope you enjoy and don't forget to follow, leave a review and favorite.

An Easy Day

If Shepard could describe this day, he would call it an 'easy day'. He heard that motto every time he worked with DEVGRU. It's not because it actually was, but because it was the only way to deal with the constant hardship by reminding them that it will only get worse.

After the botched mission on Eden Prime, losing Cpl. Jenkins, hundreds of colonists and a Turian Spectre named Nihlus that Shepard had sort of grown to respect, Shepard couldn't help but feel a bitter taste in his mouth about how HE of all people was now being pushed for SPECTRE candidacy. Ambassador Udina was attempting to push him into this position despite his clear reluctance to do so. It wasn't because he thought humanity didn't need to advance with the Galactic community or anything, he was simply not wanting to be handed more responsibility than he had. He already had J-SOC yanking him around the chain as is.

Frankly, it was common for him to be rewarded in the face of disastrous circumstances just because he survived.

Just like Elysium…

But, who was he to argue? He may not have wanted it, but he would inevitably accept it regardless. Duty to a higher cause was all he had left; it was the only thing that gave him purpose. And if Humanity wanted a hero, then so be it.

What was supposed to be a simple investigation into the matter of a rogue Turian Spectre and his involvement with the Geth's attack on Eden Prime turned into a skirmish with assassins, mercenaries, criminals, and information brokers.

Initially he met Garrus Vakarian, a hard boiled Turian C-Sec Officer who was the lead investigator into the matter of Saren's betrayal of the Council, before being stone-walled that is. After Udina, Shepard and Anderson unsuccessfully tried to present evidence of the betrayal, Shepard was sent off on his own to follow up leads. He ran into Vakarian again in a hostage situation at the Med-clinic in the wards, where he took an admittedly impressive trick shot with just a pistol to save the Doctor, but Shepard had criticized him for being reckless. Not a great start to their partnership, but nonetheless, Shepard needed what Vakarian knew about Saren. They decided they would work together to bring down Saren, Vakarian offering what he knows about Saren as an individual.

Their investigation lead them to meeting Wrex, a Krogan merc who was apparently after a bounty on Fist, the one they needed to wrestle information out of to reveal a meeting location where a Quarian that supposedly recovered evidence on Saren's betrayal was supposed to meet some assassins. For his crimes, Shepard was attempting to bring him to C-Sec alive since they had him, but their new Krogan enforcer had executed him on the spot without warning. If it was Shepard who did that, it would've been a war crime; to kill a surrendered enemy, particularly if they were human. Ironically, technical war crimes against aliens, especially if they were Batarians, were often covered up.

Shepard chastised the Krogan, but they had little time to spare, and Wrex was wholly apathetic. He had hoped if this Krogan was going to be riding with them, he would fall in line. The Alliance Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Prime Minister had expressed an interest in pursuing friendly relations with the Krogan; they could be a potential ally against the other races should relations with them go up shit's creek; that was the real reason beyond friendly negotiations with everyone. That was the hidden reality of this new four-dimensional game of intergalactic chess they had entered. Nonetheless, if he was to receive any orders from top brass, it would be to appease the Krogan, should it mean any potential positive to Human-Krogan relations. Fist was just a criminal after all, not someone who fell in line with Alliance legality.

The new team of law-abiding Human Commander, hard-boiled Turian C-Sec officer, and chaotic Krogan Mercenary had worked their way to the alley where the information exchange was going down. The Quarian was being set up by the late Fist's thugs, but they weren't so smart; with some sniper cover, a constant forward push and a Krogan brutally dominating the Turian Assassin hand-to-hand, the Quarian was free.

Though, to Shepard's amusement, the Quarian had counter-ambushed her would-be attackers, having primed a grenade and tossing it while jumping quickly to nearby cover. This Quarian had some experience, no doubt; perhaps she didn't need to be saved, but the extra backup never hurt.

Her name was Tali'Zorah…'nar Rayya'? Shepard wasn't sure what that last part was, but that wasn't the time to be inquisitive. She had evidence on Saren, good enough that he, the Shadow Broker and Fist wanted her dead because of it. Shepard was prepping to escort her back to the embassies; there she would be safe and they would be able to present the evidence. Shepard upon inspection of his new squad saw that Wrex was indifferent, just checking his gun, grenades, large combat knife, you name it. But Vakarian was side eyeing Zorah. It was hard to tell a Turian's expression as they didn't have the same facial muscularity of humans, but it didn't take an Alien Psychiatrist to know that this Turian was treating the Quarian with judgement.

The escort back to the embassy was done with weapons out and at the ready, not willing to try their chances with another potential ambush' wouldn't want to be caught with their skivvies down. Especially upon entering the embassy, this drew some very concerned, shocked stares from people, with Vakarian having to use his C-Sec badge to explain that this was 'authorized by him'. Upon entering Ambassador Udina's office, the human diplomat's back turned to them alongside the grounded Captain David Anderson, they approached with no hesitation.

Without turning the Ambassador addressed him with disdain, clearly knowing Shepard had access; who else could it possibly be?

"You're not making my job here easy, Commander…" Udina grumbled. "Firefights in the Wards? An all-out assault on Chora's Den!? The news reports said there were two seismic events felt throughout the lower wards, no doubt it was you!" Shepard side eyed around him, looking at the Turian and the Krogan who participated in the assault; the 'seismic' events were clearly referring to the two breacher charges they used to blast a hole through the doors of Chora's Den, one in the front, and the other to Fist's office. Awkwardly, Shepard only just now wondered in retrospect if the Alliance would have to pay for those damages.

"You have already done enough to jeopardize your Spectre candidacy—" Udina turned to them, Anderson as well, but he had interrupted himself when his eyes caught sight of the whole of them. Of course, having their weapons out may have been one of the reasons he was shocked, but the aliens… "What's going on here? A Krogan, Turian and…a Quarian? What're you up to Shepard?"

"Making your day, Ambassador," Shepard said. "This Quarian has evidence that will prove Saren's treachery."

"Is that so? Maybe you should start at the beginning, Miss…?"

"My name is Tali, Tali'Zorah nar Rayya."

"We don't see many Quarians here, why did you leave the Flotilla," Udina questioned, bringing a knuckle under his chin. Zorah started to pace slowly back and forth.

"I was on my pilgrimage, my rite of passage into adulthood."

Shepard perked up at the mention of this.

"Never heard of this before…is that why you were here?" Shepard asked.

"Yes, it's a tradition amongst my people for when we reach maturity. We leave the Flotilla and only return once we have brought back something of value. In this way we prove ourselves and cross into adulthood."

"Would that include something like the evidence you have?"

"No, not really. It would have to be something like food, fuel, resources or even a useful technology. This won't make life on the flotilla easier."

"We don't have the time for a history lesson, Commander," Udina interjected. Shepard, simply straightened up to attention. "Tell us what you found Miss Tali'Zorah." Tali nodded, bringing up her omni-tool.

"During my travels, I began hearing reports of Geth, the historical enemy of my people—"

Under his breath, Vakarian muttered just so Shepard could hear. "That's a sugarcoat of a fact if there ever was one." Shepard gave him a look, noting the second time the Turian indicated his disapproval of her. Did he have a problem with Quarians? Nonetheless Zorah didn't hear this and continued on.

"These reports indicated the Geth were going beyond the Veil, which is not normal for them. I was curious." Shepard listened to her intently. So the Geth attack on Eden Prime wasn't normal for Geth to do. What changed? Were they interested in Prothean tech? "So I tracked a patrol of Geth to an uncharted world. I waited for one to become separated from it's unit, then I disabled it and removed it's memory core."

"Unlikely," Vakarian interjected. "Geth fry their memory core when they're destroyed." Then how else did she get the evidence? Why would she need to lie? Shepard had thought. The Quarian shot a glare at the Turian C-Sec officer.

"Well, yes, but my people created the Geth," Tali said. "If you're quick and target certain points, disabling a Geth could preserve a fraction of its memory core for a brief moment, just enough time for it to be saved. It's how Quarians gather intelligence on the Geth. It's tricky, and it rarely works, but with the right circumstances, it can be done. In this case, I was able to salvage something from its audio banks." She brought up her Omni-Tool, and with it played out loud the evidence, with Saren's voice speaking of Eden Prime as a 'victory'? Sickening. And spoke of some sort of Conduit, and one other unidentified voice, mentioning 'Reapers'?

This girl must be good and must know the Geth well. If we're really going to war with the Geth, then Central Intelligence might want her expertise. Shepard thought he was more so happy that they were able to get the evidence safely and complete their mission. But what was a 'Reaper'? Did that have something to do with his visions?

After some questions and answers, making sense of it all, Udina and Anderson pressed on with plans to present the evidence to the Council. Shepard and his new team were on standby, but there was a brief question from the silent up-until-now Wrex of what they were going to do with the 'Quarian'. Zorah had shot at him, correcting his addressing of her by her race, offended by it.

"My name is Tali!" she said, then turned her attention toward the Commander. "You saw me in the alleyway, you know what I could do, let me come with you." However, Shepard wasn't so easily convinced, there were still questions to be had about her qualities, and whether her own mission would impede this one.

"Don't you have your pilgrimage?" He questioned. Without hesitation, Tali had an answer to it, almost as though she was expecting it.

"The pilgrimage proves we are willing to give of ourselves for the greater good! What does it say about me if I turn my back on this? The Geth are the enemies of the Quarians and they need to be stopped!" Shepard nodded at this.

"So you're motivated," he replied. "What do you think you can offer the Normandy?"

"Well…" Tali straightened up and held her hands behind her back at attention. "I'm an expert on Geth hardware and software, I'm proficient at combat with an emphasis on tech abilities and am an Engineer. I could work in the engineering crew." Now Shepard was convinced.

"Geth software…Engineering, tech combat, greater good, yes…" Shepard acknowledged, but turned to Anderson.

"Captain?" he said. "What is your opinion? Would J-SOC need her?"

"You must've seen her in action, Commander," Captain Anderson said. "If you believe she could be useful then I trust the judgement of an N7."

"Alright," he said. "I'll take all the help I can get." Suddenly, Vakarian stepped in.

"Commander," he said. "I wouldn't advise this action." They all turned their way to the C-Sec officer in question. Shepard raised a brow.

"Why do you say that, Vakarian?" Shepard asked, inquisitively.

"It's just that she's a…" Vakarian suddenly stopped himself when he looked at Tali, who had crossed her arms and was waiting for his answer. She's a what? Come on say it. "…a child". Shepard looked over at her, eyeing her up and down, her form that is. It was womanly, her suit was skin tight. Even if she was culturally recognized as a child, she was indefinitely an adult with the way a human would see it. It was only now that Shepard took the time to notice how…attractive her form was. I'm saying this about an Alien, and one I can't see the face of. Never thought I'd see the day.

"She looks grown up to me," Shepard said.

"I mean, there's no telling if she is even experienced enough, she could be more trouble than its worth."

"More trouble? The combat eval will be the judge of that." Shepard said. Suddenly Tali chimed in, suspicious of the Turian's reservations about her. "AND will be the judge of you as well."

"What's wrong, officer?" she said. "Am I not good enough for this team?"

"I didn't say that, Miss," Vakarian said.

"Then what ARE you saying?" Tali said, subtle accusations present.

"…Nothing," Vakarian turned toward Shepard. "It's your choice, Commander."

"Good," Shepard said turning back to Tali. "Gather whatever resources you have and report to docking bay D-14, we'll need to get you through processing and log you into the current records. Pressly will assign you a place, likely in Engineering. Welcome aboard, Zorah."

"Yes, Commander!" she exclaimed. "And thank you, you won't regret this, I swear to the Ancestors." Ancestors huh?

"I'll hold you to that." Shepard said.