Olasie'Venn vas Neema is finally going to be making a bigger presence in the story from now on, aside from Juel.
Remember her name.
I'd also like to tell you that Prazza isn't going to be an asshat.
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CHAPTER 7
1-24-2186
[ UNKNOWN LOCATION ]
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Shadows stretched long and sharp, light fracturing the dark by the fierce light of a star that consumed the room.
A lone figure centered in the oppressive emptiness, companioned only by the hazy wisps of smoke trailing from a lit cigarette.
"Commander Shepard."
The greeting came from nowhere and everywhere, vibrating with a detached chill. It was cautious, distant, tinged with a shade of calculation.
"I thought we'd be meeting face to face," John replied, arms crossing firmly over his chest, a practiced stance of indifference in the face of this man's veiled authority.
"A necessary precaution," He drew slowly on his cigarette, letting it smolder before exhaling. The smoke spiraled upward, weaving between them like a veil. "Not unusual with what you and I know."
John didn't let up his expression.
"I was informed of how much it cost to bring me back." Lines of worry creased his forehead, "Why'd you do it?"
TIM reached for his glass. "For the defense and preservation of humanity." He answered, grin modest, "I didn't invest two years' time and billions of credits to bring you back to serve as a common soldier.
"That's a lot to hold someone to." Shepard said.
A brief smile was glimpsed.
"—Humanity—the galaxy, is still pitted against the greatest threat of our existence."
"...The reapers." John said lamely. He didn't need a lecture. He needed some answers to the questions that'd been running through his mind for months.
"Can I ask some questions?"
"I'd be worried if you didn't." He gave a small sway of his hand.
"How'd you find me?" John asked while shrugging, "Last thing I remember was suffocating in space inside a ship."
"Your cohort, Dr. T'Soni, with the help of my staff, helped apprehend your body and any remains within." He explained, "We gave your last message to Ms. Zorah to ensure that she heard your last words."
John felt his breath leave him. Hearing her name made his stomach twist and turn with anxiety. No doubt the man looked down on his relationship with the woman.
"...Where is she?"
"After your death, she returned to the Migrant Fleet and joined Admiral Gerrel's ship: The Neema."
"How do you know that?"
"Information is my weapon, Commander."
"Would you, uh, have any further information regarding her status?"
If it were any more of a joke, John was actually hoping to get the answer along the lines of 'Yup, and she's still single too.'
But in what reality would that exist in?
"Unfortunately, no." TIM answered. He took a long drag from his cigarette before crushing its red embers into the chair's built-in ashtray, "I don't have any further information regarding Ms. Zorah's current status or whereabouts."
John nodded silently, cuffed his disappointment, and changed the topic.
"What about any of my other team? You said Liara helped retrieve my body? Where is she now?"
"She did. She now lives on Illium."
"Garrus?"
"Mr. Vakarian has dropped off the grid for some time. Though his current location is on Omega."
"Wrex?"
"Shortly after your death, Wrex returned to Tuchanka and has been doing an admirable job of uniting krogan clans on the planet."
"And Ashley?"
"Master Sergeant Williams is now currently stationed on Horizon as a geographical specialist."
"That's her new MOS? I can't imagine she'd be willing to do something like that. I wasn't even aware she had the expertise for that."
"That's her 'official' MOS. She's currently helping to deploy a defense grid to human colonies in the far reaches of the Traverse."
The confusing look on John's face only grew. "Why is the Alliance involving itself with colonists out there? That's outside Alliance bounds as far as I'm aware."
The Illusive man gave John a wide smile as he admitted another cigarette between his lips. "Which brings us to why you're here, Shepard." He stood from his seat and took a long drag, "We're at war. No one wants to admit it, but humanity is under attack. Entire colonies, human colonies, are disappearing. We suspect the reapers or even the collectors." The smoke drifting from his exhale caught onto John's hologram.
Shepard grimaced slightly. "The collectors?" Already pained features creased into a frown, "Only human colonies? How could you know the collectors are involved?"
"The official after-action reports of your team, and those who were sent to save you from your isolation on Ullipses. In all reports, your team consistently brought up how the collectors had apprehended you at the Normandy's crash site." He pointed straight at John, "None of them knew how they managed to capture your entire crew so effortlessly. The collectors showed a special interest in humans, and your incident with them backs that. The lines are there. You just have to know how to find them."
Satisfied with his answer, he sat back at his throne and took in a measured sip from his glass.
Before John could speak, The Illusive man rose a hand.
"There's more," The Illusive man said while he skimmed through some unrelated report, "Our intelligence suggests that whoever is abducting these colonies may also be working for the Reapers—much like Saren and the geth aided Sovereign."
John's brows knit in, and the lines of worry deepened. "That doesn't surprise me."
"You would know better than anyone about how this pattern unfolds with the reapers."
"If this involves them... if they're back, then tell me where to go. Just point me in the right direction."
"Mrs. Lawson suspected you'd be...unwilling to listen to us. Though I assured her you'd prioritize the mission over your feelings about Cerberus. She's rarely wrong." He tapped a command on his console, pulling up an image of a bleak, desolate colony on a floating display beside him.
John's eyes narrowed as he took in the details of the colony's demographics.
"This is Freedom's Progress," the Illusive Man continued. "The latest colony to go dark."
"When?"
"Thirty hours ago. This is the earliest warning we've ever received. The Alliance is still scrambling a task force to launch an investigation. Experience suggests they are still days away before making contact with the planet. Looters and Pirates will have likely scoured everything by then."
"How soon can we leave to get there?"
"Now. There's already a shuttle waiting to take you there and is within standard FTL range. This, insofar, is our best chance to find any leads before anyone else."
"There isn't time to waste then."
"Miranda and Jacob will brief you."
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Two hours later.
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"We've yet to get a reply. Attempts of initiating contact with the colony's TCT isn't working. I've got to bring her down." The pilot shrugged worriedly while prepping the ship to enter the planet's atmosphere.
"Sounds good, Toreah." Prazza said, "I'll get my marines ready and prepped for departure."
The pilot turned to face Prazza.
"Uh, from what we've got on the map, it looks like we have a landing pad on the town's outskirts. Around… a klick or so away from the colony's border."
"Do it. We can walk that distance. If we have to, we'll find a vehicle to use for rapid transport if he's unable to walk."
"Right."
Prazza nodded to the pilot, gave one last cursory glance at the viewport, before palming the headrest and heading back into the hold where his platoon sat.
When he passed by his two newest temporary members, Juel and Tali, he nodded to them.
"Listen up! The colony's not responding to our hails. We've designated an LZ a pick away from the colony." Prazza sat down in his own seat and strapped in, "From there we'll walk and find a way in."
The cabin's lights turned stark red to warn everyone of atmosphere entry. Anything not tucked away or strapped in was quickly put away.
"If we come into contact with humans, I want everyone's weapons holstered and on safety. I will not risk a diplomatic incident with the only race in this galaxy that doesn't hate us." The ship started shaking violently.
"Now, let's go over the plan one more time," He turned to his first squad leader, "Erickeh. What do we do if we come under fire from humans?"
"Deployment of less-than-lethal weaponry and hacking strategies to compromise the enemy. When we have created a sufficient enough distraction, we will withdraw back into the ship and leave. With or without our primary objective."
"Correct." Prazza managed to point his finger toward his second squad leader, "What loads will we be using if we're engaged, Olasie?"
"None sir. We will use discretionary tactics by using anti-thermal/IR smoke grenades, and ocular flares if necessary."
"Good." He motioned for his next squad leader to answer his next question, "Who's our ambassador for this mission?"
"Tali'Zorah. She has the most experience in handling human affairs." Naika answered.
"Excellent. If we do this right, we'll get our objective and leave without incident. You are all to exercise extreme caution. You will only fire your weapon if you absolutely have to; only if your life is in direct and immediate danger.
The platoon nodded in unison.
"Good. Steadfast marines."
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"Fan out. Secure the LZ. Second squad: I want you to establish a forward observer at the colony's high walls." Prazza spoke quietly to the platoon while checking over the remaining pieces of gear he hooked onto his chest rig.
"Copy. Second squad: Form up. Let's move." The second squad leader, Olasie'Venn vas Neema, led her squad down the landing ramp to prep for their short journey toward the colony's border.
"Tali," Prazza began with another whisper, "I wouldn't ordinarily allow civvies into a squad going head first, but considering you're the only quarian here with the highest geth and krogan body count, I'd like for you to be part of second squad. They'll take point and establish a TCA to get a search party going. With any luck, you'll be able to establish a connection with the humans if we find any."
"Sounds good." Tali replied with a smile while slowly retrieving her shotgun and bag, "Come on Juel."
"Right behind you, Tali." He gave Prazza a quick nod, "Thanks, Prazza."
"No problem, Juel." Prazza placed a hand on the man's shoulder and shook it briskly, "Ancestors with us. Hopefully we'll find the poor bastard and get him back home where he belongs."
And with that, Juel and Tali ran down the ramp and caught up with first squad to begin their march toward the colony's high walls that surrounded the town.
It wasn't long before the marines started chatting up aimless conversations to pass the time.
"Ever been in snow, Teri?" Talukh asked as he watched the slowly falling snow.
"Second time. First was on Noveria." Teri replied, keeping her stare forward.
"Never been there."
"Hope you never have to," Teri said, "Place is a nightmare."
"Yeah? For your pilgrimage, right? What kind of work?"
"Contracting. Binary Helix stuff. Weapons testing. Close to eight years ago. What'd you do for your pilgrimage?"
"Ha," Talukh shook his head, "Dumb shit for a while. Ever been to a salarian homeworld?"
"I can't imagine." Olasie piped up, "Let me guess, Talukh. They used you as a test subject."
"Why are we even talking about pilgrimages?" Darehk finally spoke, "Tali's got us all beat."
"True that." Juel replied.
Tali blushed slightly.
They continue for a way in silence.
"No automated farming machines. No people. No cars." Juel shook his head, "Not even the street lights are on out here."
"And look," Tali motioned to the air traffic tower out in the distance, "That explains why they weren't responding to our requests for landing. Everything over there is off."
Several heads turn to look at the tower's dark silhouette.
"Maybe they turn it off at night." Kylie suggested.
"Who would do that?" Talukh murmured as he continued to peer into the black silhouette, "That makes no sense, Kylie."
"They're human. Aliens are weird." Teri shrugged.
Eventually, they finally came up to the wall and the huge door that would lead them inside.
Walking around it wasn't an option. It spanned the entire circumference of the town.
"Check your corners. I want your safeties off. Visors hot." Olasie ordered.
"But Prazza said—"
"We were expecting contact by now. The parameters have changed, and I will countermand that order as the situation dictates."
A series of clicks from their weapons told the group they were now ready to fire.
"Darehk, get the door open."
"You got it." The marine approached the panel and pressed a few keys, "Door controls aren't turning on. I'm starting to think the whole damn power grid's offline." The man rubbed his helmet in thought before backing off the panel.
"Doesn't look like we're getting through the door." Olasie said aloud as she thought, "Teri, I want you to deploy a grapple line to the wall. We're going to have to climb to get on top."
"Roger." The woman set off with her battle buddy.
About a minute or so later, they both returned. "Okay. This way."
She led the group from the entranceway to the wall that flanked the massive door. "Well. Start climbing."
Tali could almost swear Juel groaned a little bit.
They took turns climbing the large wall. When they all reached the top, they spread out across the wall's walkway to get a better look at the colony's interior.
Just as dark as everything else.
No lights.
No movement.
Nothing.
"...This isn't right." Juel said as he zoomed in on some buildings with his visor's binoculars, "Something's definitely off."
And at that exact moment, Tali remembered.
She remembered the Normandy.
The crew.
Ullipses.
The collectors.
And John.
But this time, John wasn't the foresight of everything else.
It was the collectors.
The stillness in the air. The emptiness.
They were here.
"Juel." She murmured with a slight tremble of fear, "I feel it. The collectors were here."
When she said that, it caught him way off guard.
"Are you absolutely sure?" Juel asked with a frown before facing her, "Were not going on much here other than your gut and a little news article."
"It has to be." She muttered lamely, "I can't imagine what else would've happened to these people."
Juel's frown only deepened.
Tali rubbed her fingers along the length of her visor frustratingly before sighing. "Though, with any luck, the collectors will have left our pilgrim here like they did with us on Ullipses."
"Okay," Juel said as he got up from his kneel, "I should probably tell Olasie then what's up."
And with that, he got up and made his way to Olasie and her squad to explain what probably happened to these people.
Tali didn't like this.
She didn't like it at all.
She'd faced many things in her short and little life.
Terrible, traumatizing things. But she'd done it and came out stronger and better because of it.
But this...
She was scared to death of what lay beyond and below these walls.
Terrified.
Juel came back and crawled into his small hiding perch next to her before speaking.
"Olasie said she's reporting back to Prazza to advise them of our situation."
"Let's hope Prazza gets third and fourth squad down here soon." Tali said quietly.
"Would agree." They both look out into the town and Juel sighed, "Veetor could be anywhere out there. And there's no guarantee he's even in the colony."
Tali swallowed dryly.
"Then we better get started."
Juel nodded and sighed. "Why don't you tap into anything radio related? Maybe you can get a bead on him."
She nodded vigorously. "Right."
"Yell if you see anything." Juel intoned quietly, "Actually, just whisper. I'm going to help the others set up post here."
"Okay." She mumbled before curling up against a box and turning on her omni-tool.
Ten seconds in and she found something.
"Weird," Her omni-tool was picking up short burst radio frequency pinging around a single point. And if her memory served correctly, the hopping was working on an encrypted broadband 205A-5 channel; the same channel that LOKI mechs operated on. It wasn't a particularly great find, but it gave them something to work with.
She got up slowly and made her way to Olasie.
"Olasie. I'm getting something on encrypted broadband. Same hopping channels that LOKI Mechs use to communicate with each other. And from what I can tell, we've got security mechs scattered within the city. Nothing big, hopefully. Just basic stuff. Can't tell you what armament though."
Olasie unpacked some observation equipment and gave Tali a concerned look.
"...You okay, Tali? Juel told me what you said."
Tali gave her a feeble little nod. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine."
Seeing Tali do that did little to reassure her. "Just say something if it's too much."
"Don't worry about me." Tali answered quietly.
Olasie decided not to push the issue any further. "Alright. So it looks like we'll need to wait for the others so we can clear out the place safely. Think you can keep looking for more stuff?"
Tali nodded. "I can do that."
The radio clicked on and Prazza's voice came through. "Second squad. Be advised, we're getting a visual on what looks to be a transport shuttle descending from the atmosphere, heading three one two. Do you see it? Issue receipt to call."
Just as Prazza warned, a kodiak was descending from the atmosphere at their eleven o'clock on the opposite side of the colony.
"Confirming visual," Olasie replied, "What should we do?"
"Continue as instructed. We don't have enough information to act on it right now. We'll deploy a URD and decide from there. The rest of the second, third, and fourth will be catching up to you."
"Copy. Anything else?"
"Nope. I'll see you shortly. That'll be all. Out."
They all stared as the kodiak's rheostat thrusters kicked in just before disappearing under Freedom's long horizon of buildings.
"Think it's the Alliance?" Juel asked.
Olasie shrugged. "I... couldn't tell from here. Might be a civvie. I didn't see any other markings other than a tail-wing number."
"Damnit." Tali mumbled through a worried glare, "That can't be good news."
Juel shook his head and sighed.
This place was a giant floating mystery.
And it wasn't exactly smoothing along the moods of anyone at this point.
Add the possibility of combatants, a confirmation of mechs patrolling the city, and Tali's understandable suspicion of the collectors?
Well.
It wasn't going to be fun.
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10 minutes prior.
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John had kept his arms crossed the entire ride. He didn't want to show it, but he was planning on a way to get out of this terrible mess.
"I'm happy I convinced you to take a regular kodiak shuttle without the Cerberus markings. It certainly would have done wonders for diplomacy if we had it open for display for everyone to see."
Miranda stared absently at John's passive remark.
Jacob shrugged indifferently when they finally descended into the planet's atmosphere.
"So. Where did Wilson go?" John mentioned quietly.
"Back to the Lazarus station. He'll be preparing for your first stage physical and mental examination to certify you're healthy. After that? I can't say. He'll likely be relocated for a new cell project or assigned to us for the rest of your stay."
"What will happen to the Lazarus station?"
"Once we are finalized with the project, it'll be recycled for The Illusive man's next cell group."
"What if we don't find any evidence here?" John asked while shaking his head.
"That isn't an option." Miranda stated flatly. Noticing the silence that ensued after, Jacob spoke.
"Another thing, Commander: You're the ranking officer in this op. Anything you want to go over with us?"
John thought for a moment before leaning in close to get their attention. "First, you're going to remove those Cerberus markings on your uniform. I've got duct tape here."
"I will not put tape on my uniform." Miranda watched Shepard hand the tape to Jacob.
"That isn't a uniform. That's a catsuit. And yes. You will. I will not have people knowing that Cerberus is here. Understood?" Before she could give a reply, he spoke again. "Our first priority is securing survivors. Nothing is better than finding a firsthand account of what happened here."
"Doubtful there'll be anyone left." She said while relenting to strip off a piece to place right above her breast.
"If there are non-humans here… then maybe there will be." John said.
"We're on approach. Stand-by." The pilot called out. They all stood up and prepared their weapons.
"We also need to get you some armor." John added.
"I'm fine." She countered with an angry glare.
Something told John that she got that a lot.
"No. You're not. If you are under my command, you wear armor and something you can run in. Heels don't work here. As good as they look on you, they don't belong in my outfit."
"Understood. Commander."
"Be advised, party. I've got some readings down here. Thermal signatures at the far side of the colony— outside the border in the farms. Looks like someone landed here a little earlier than we did."
"Thanks Wilbert." Jacob answered, "Probably pirates or looters. We'll handle them."
"Roger."
Shepard peered through the port display and saw the close approaching congregation of buildings.
Of all the things that could be plaguing his mind, it was the collectors that'd been doing it the most.
At least ever since The Illusive Man mentioned they could've been responsible for what'd happened here.
"Touchdown. You're free to move, party." Wilbert broadcast over the PA, "Sheila and I will wait here. We'll deploy some mechs to guard the kodiak."
"Take care guys. See you soon. Be safe." When the door opened, the three carefully stepped out and took a careful eye to their surroundings.
The first thing John noticed was the snow.
It reminded him of Noveria.
Even in his armor, John could feel the nasty bite of cold touch his fingers every time the wind would gust or make a low howl.
He glanced at Miranda.
Even in the wind and the harsh lighting, she looked perfect. Other men might have called it beauty.
John called it strange.
"Cold?" He asked simply to her.
She graced him with a blank stare. "No."
John sighed mentally.
He was really sick of facades.
Like, really, sick of them.
"She's like that all the time, Commander. You should know that by now." Jacob said, sensing John's thoughts, "I wouldn't worry about it."
Miranda said nothing as they walk across the landing pad.
"Welcome to Freedom's Progress." John read on a frosted-over sign, "Population: 913,000..."
He shook his head. "Christ."
They both stepped up behind him.
"Orders, commander?"
He took a deep breath and turned around to face them before grabbing for his rifle. "Check your corners and targets. If you do see something, I don't want a single round fired without my explicit permission. Understood?"
"Yes sir."
"Absolutely."
They step off the landing pad, crossed the catwalk, and approached the door that would lead them downstairs into the city.
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"We came as fast as we could." The entire group breathed heavily when they made it to the top of the wall.
"Good. But we need to move faster. We set up and start searching for Veetor after we get our TCA running."
"Plan of motion if we come into contact with the unknown group?"
"Do not look hostile. I'd like to get out of this with everyone's heads on straight. But safeties remain off. I don't want them to get a jump on us if they are ready to kill people." Prazza motioned for the teams to set up and move out.
"Let's go. We move in a column efficiently and effectively." Without even having to speak, four squads began rappelling down the wall to situate themselves in a nearby building.
"How's the ship?" Olasie asked Prazza when they began setting up rendered images of the city's layout.
"Guard detail is aware of the situation and is patrolling the landing zone. Wispdrone's en-route to scan the area. Driftmark one minute."
"Okay. Who do you want to send out on a search party?
"You and second will begin the search on this quadrant of the city." He pointed to the holographic image that was now up and running, "Third squad will protect our TCA. Fourth will conduct the search on this quadrant. I want to keep communication active. Five-minute updates. We need to be thorough."
Prazza set his rifle down on his lap before looking over the city's layout. "We should have an aerial view any second now." He murmured, "Maybe we can spot the people who landed earlier."
The squad leaders around him nodded in unison. He looked at them. "Any suggestions? Should we initiate contact with the group?"
"Yes." A squad leader said, "It's better for them to know we're here. Last thing we need is for them to get spooked and engage."
"Too many unknowns yet to decide." Another squad leader said, "Disposition? Armament potential?"
Tali listened from a distance while staring at the falling snowflakes from outside her closed window.
"You're right, Erickeh. We don't know. Let's just wait for visual."
On cue, the hologram gave everyone a bird's eye view of the cityscape.
Prazza pointed almost immediately to the display. "We've got… six signatures."
The squad leaders began picking out the details.
"It looks like they're looking for something."
"They've got two mechs guarding their shuttle."
"They're armed. They don't look like looters. Could be human or batarian. Hard to tell."
"More likely humans. The Hegemony border is too far out. And since when did they start deploying kodiaks for shuttle transportation?"
"Definitely not looters. Maybe they're Alliance then?"
"If it were the Alliance, they would have sent a whole damned company here with a cruiser overhead. Plus. The color scheme is off for it to be Alliance."
"We outnumber them by a little over forty. I vote to initiate contact." Prazza said aloud.
"Agreed." Another squad leader said.
They all nodded.
"Then we've got a plan of action. Volunteers?" Prazza looked around the room.
"Our squad can split up." Olasie offered, "I only need four or five men tops. And since Tali's our ambassador, we'll make the perfect contact group."
"Fine." Prazza pointed to them, "Take Tali, Juel, and two of your squad to meet them. We'll ping you their location." He turned to those who milled about the large room, "The rest of second will be joining third to continue our search. Remember: LOKI mechs may be in the area. Be wary, people."
He turned back to Olasie. "Olasie? Be careful. Carry on your task at full discretion. Try not to get us in a firefight."
"Okay." Olasie gave him a single nod before motioning her small team to follow her.
When they stepped back outside into the darkness, they stared emptily down its length before looking amongst each other.
"Ready everyone?" Olasie asked.
They all nodded slowly.
"Okay." Olasie huffed, "Let's do this."
She took a step forward, her team trailing close behind.
Juel noticed Tali removing her ammo block out of her shotgun. "What are you doing?"
"Loading incendiary rounds." She said before pocketing the block and removing another.
"Why?"
She stared at him with her empty looking eyes. "They work better on collectors."
Juel's brow furrowed darkly when she inserted her new block into the weapon before priming it.
It's not that Juel didn't believe a word she was saying—but if her experience was anything to go on, it told him she'd been through some terrible things.
He fell back in line and decided he'd change the block in his own gun.
It was better to be safe about it than never getting the chance to say sorry.
They continue on for a while in total silence.
At every pass of a building, Tali would point the barrel of her shotgun in whichever direction her paranoia would tell her to.
Shadow?
Aim at it.
A corner?
Aim at that.
A doorway?
Keep your eyes on it.
The idea of a collector lurking in some dark haunting shadow terrified her enough to make her want to keel over and hurl into her mask.
She'd have to face a million geth before she'd ever consider the idea of coming head to head with one of them again.
Tali's wide-eyed stare and frantic look was starting to get worse.
She was worrying herself into insanity.
"Tali?" Juel murmured quietly, "You okay?"
"No. Quite frankly, I'm not." She answered with an uneasy mutter.
Juel decided to leave her alone. It looked like she was tackling enough in her head.
"This is one-actual. Can you hear me, two?" Prazza muttered through the radio.
"Yes." Replied Olasie, "We're already en route to the map marker."
"Good. I'll keep you posted. Maintain current heading. Out."
Tali nodded at Prazza's voice and took a deep breath.
The erratic gusts of chilly wind that blew against her realk was making her grit her teeth. Its howling hiss wasn't quelling any of her anxieties either. Nor were the tricks the shadows of every corner would play with her eyes. And walking down these unkempt alleyways between what'd once been someone's home was too confining. There'd be nowhere to run if they ran into them.
This was driving her crazy.
Olasie rose her hand to halt the formation. "Hold it. I see two mechs coming up on our left. Talukh? Take em' out. Quietly."
"Yes ma'am." Talukh nodded to the woman before disappearing from view.
Huh.
That brought Tali some comfort.
All this time, she never knew Talukh was an infiltrator.
The man obviously had a large serrated knife of some sort. Because he came back with servo oil spilled across his blade.
"Easy enough." He shrugged before sheathing the slicked knife.
"Good work. Let's keep moving." They exited out of the alleyway and came across a four-lane highway filled with empty cars.
Hundreds of them.
All of them with their doors open and ajar.
Juel's mouth crept open. "Keelah."
"Oh my god." Olasie murmured.
As the marines passed by, they'd glance inside some of the trucks and cars.
And when it was Tali's turn, she skimmed over the interior of some family sedan before setting her eyes on a small stuffed animal in the backseat.
What happened here.
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"Commander. Wilbert's saying that he's found around forty contacts spread out across the town." Jacob frowned as he turned his omni-tool off, "Most likely looters or pirates."
"We don't know that for sure. We're going to come across them at one point. We'll find out what's going on. And if we have to shoot, we shoot."
Jacob nodded. "We're going to find out what's going on very shortly, Wilbert's reporting five or so of them coming our way."
"Does our pilot know where they are exactly?" He motioned for them to go back outside onto the street.
"Yeah. About… a hundred or so meters out now. The mechs they've killed haven't been much trouble." Jacob said while depressing a number of buttons on his omni-tool.
"Any armed group wouldn't have an issue handling security drones." Miranda chided while scanning the building tops.
"True enough." Jacob closed the door behind him as they stepped back out onto the chilled snow, "We've searched through close to five homes now and have yet to find anything." The operative shook his head in disbelief.
"See that?" John pointed to a security camera, "That looks like an answer. Maybe we can trace something if we find a wire." John said as they walked, "Hell, maybe even the people here might have some answers."
They vaulted over a small line of fencing and go around an abandoned aircar before finally taking a moment to get a view of their new surroundings.
"Looks like we're at town square." John murmured while looked at the ground to see a high volume of softened footprints strewn about the icy snow. John's brow furrowed when he realized the footprints weren't ones that could've been made by a human. And now that he saw them...
"Hey," John called to Miranda and Jacob as he pointed in the icy slush, "Over here. Come look at these."
Miranda and Jacob start walking over. John kept looking at the snow and felt pure fear grace him. The way they were shaped. It just—They couldn't be. But they look liked they belonged t—
"Identify yourself! State your purpose and content here!"
From the corner of his vision, he saw Miranda and Jacob turn around, but kept his gaze and attention focused completely on the icy footprints.
There was just no way to be sure it could really be the collectors.
Finally, time caught up with him and he realized someone had just called out to them. Hearing the voice alone told him right off the bat that it was a quarian. Very interesting. He'd be lying if it didn't catch him slightly off guard.
He turned around slowly and confirmed his guess.
Right there, twenty meters away, were three quarians standing in the middle of the street. The quarian leader, the one in the middle, spoke again, louder this time.
"I ask again: Identify yourself! State your purpose and content!"
"I should be asking you that question." John answered.
His brow had quirked when he noticed one of the quarians, embroidered in beautiful purple-blue swirls (Much like Tali's veil he noted) take a questionable step backward while placing a fist against her breast.
With a frail sigh, he decided it would probably be better to just answer the question. "I'm here with my team to investigate the colony's sudden black-out."
His gaze remained fixed on the quarian who kept taking steps backward until her back lined against a wall.
ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ
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Five minutes prior.
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"Just two more streets to cross. Looks like they're leaving the building for the next one." Prazza stated over the COM unit.
"Copy. We'll keep you posted if the situation changes. We'll initiate contact in five minutes." Olasie responded before pointing to her two subordinates. I want you two to separate and follow us in the shadows. If you can find a heightened vantage point to cover us, do it. Understood?"
"Understood." The two look to each other before running off into a nearby alleyway.
"Okay." Olasie sighed before taking a deep breath, "Just us three now. You ready guys?"
The three look to each other nervously before nodding. "As ready as we can be." Tali's squeamish stomach lurched into her throat at the prospect of communicating with armed and dangerous men. For all she knew (Much to her paranoia) it could be collectors hiding in human flesh ready to take her back into their horrid ship to experiment on her.
A stupid idea.
Yet.
"Tali? You sure you want to do this?" Juel and Olasie both stared worriedly at her.
Her words fell from her mouth before she could speak them evenly. "I… I don't know. I…"
Olasie put a hand on her shoulder. "Tali? It's okay. I can do it if you want. But I do need you to talk to them once we find out why they're here. Can you do that?"
"Yes," she nodded vigorously, offering some encouragement. "I can." Tali took a deep breath, trying to rein in her emotions. The fear in her stomach felt like being at the mercy of a krogan with nothing but a paperclip and a thirst for quarian blood. Another whiff of air into her lungs to keep the senseless thoughts at bay.
"Let's do this then." She mumbled with finality. They took the last bend in the street before finally catching a view of three humans milling about in the courtyard.
While the other two humans were gesturing and talking with their omni-tools lit, she couldn't help but keep her stare on the man who'd been staring at the snow, looking as if he'd just lost something in it.
And, ironically enough, he looked strangely familiar.
"Olasie. We're in position and have you under cover. You can initiate contact."
Olasie nodded to her COM unit and looked to Juel and Tali. "Here goes…" The woman mumbled meekly.
She stood up, glanced at the gun in her hands, and walked out into the middle of the street.
"Identify yourself! State your purpose and content!" She yelled to the three humans.
Tali saw two of them whirl around to face Olasie. But the one in the middle didn't.
As a matter of fact, five seconds pass and he still had his back facing them.
Olasie swore under her breath at the intense amount of silence that hung in the air.
Finally he turned around to face them.
"I ask again! Identify yourself! State your purpose and content!" Olasie repeated with a little less tact this time. It seemed Olasie didn't much care for the lack of an answer.
The human in the middle finally spoke. "I should be asking you that question."
ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ
ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ
ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ
Her world shattered, heart clenched by an old wrenching ache.
ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ
That... voice.
ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ
It was unmistakable.
ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ
ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ
ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ
She staggered, an unsteady step backward, hand pressed to her chest as if to hold her heart in place, her pendant soon clutched so tightly it bit into her palm.
"I'm here with my team to investigate the colony's sudden black-out." The man added while looking a little disappointed with himself.
She kept retreating until her back met the cold solidity of a wall.
"Tali…?" Juel hissed quietly so the humans couldn't hear, "What the hell is wrong with you?" He leaned in so she could see his face.
"T-t-that… voice…" She stammered with what was barely more than a breath, "It…I-i-itcantbeitjustcant." Her stare was wide with disbelief.
"Why are you guys here?" The man asked while taking a step closer. To show his compliance, he ordered his subordinates to holster their weapons while doing so himself.
"What do you mean? Whose voice? His voice?" Juel was definitely worried now.
Tali continued to shake her head while glancing back at that human with a voice just like John's.
Olasie seemed to take notice and hissed in Tali's ear. "Tali?! What the hell?" Before she could further instigate Tali's mad emotions, Olasie turned to the approaching humans.
"We're here looking for a pilgrim with the name of Veetor."
"A quarian pilgrim out on in the Traverse?" John's finger is placed at the base of his helmet, "I had a quarian pilgrim on my team once." He mentioned.
Tali suppressed a muffled cry and lay flatter against the wall.
"Maybe we can reach our goals mutually, then?" Olasie said. John nodded and turned to face the frightened-looking woman. "Is she okay?"
"I'm… not quite sure." Juel remarked quietly to the commander before turning back to Tali, "I think we should go and regroup back to our AFO and get situated. We'll meet you back with Prazza and the others." He reached around Tali's shoulder and carefully brought her back down the alley toward their temporary base.
Tali, with her arms wrapped tightly around her chest, mumbled a quiet string of insanities while giving another fleeting look at what she swore was John.
Is this what insanity was like?
Truly. She had lost it.
Juel kept his stride up until they were well out of sight.
"Tali? What is going on with you?" He tried to give a comforting tone, but failed miserably at it.
"That man—that man is John'Shepard!" She nearly screamed at Juel while wailing into a fit of tears.
Juel's eyes widen while his arms fell to his sides in exasperated shock.
"…What?" Juel stammered breathlessly while looking behind him suspiciously, "You said he was dead. How could he be standing right there? Are you absolutely sure? We can't even see his face."
"I don't know, okay?!" She pointed accusingly at herself while her chest trembled from the tears falling freely from her eyes, "I don't know! I mean, I got his last message… I heard him dying… YOU heard him dying—and I—and to see him standing there normally? —Like he—like he…" Her words roll off the tongue in a hurried gulp for breath, "Like he didn't even die! Like nothing ever happened!" Her breath turned into a heaving cry while she shook violently from her heaving breaths, "I—I don't get it. Why here? Why now? I don't—! I don't understand!"
"Calm down. Calm down. We don't even know it's him yet, okay?" Juel grabbed for Tali's forearm and tugged assertively, "Come on. There are still mechs out here. We have to get back. You can get your thoughts together there. Now seriously. Let's move."
Tali, whose eyes remained unfixed by anything that crossed her glossy gaze, mumbled to herself the entire way back.
ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ
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Three minutes prior.
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"What was that about?" Jacob hushed his concern with a hand covering his mouth.
"Don't know." John shrugged while finally exchanging nods with the remaining quarian.
"Commander John Shepard. Systems Alliance." He shook the quarian girl's hand vigorously.
"How... common is your name?" Olasie asked with a curious look.
"Quite a lot of us humans," John answered with a shrug, "so it's a fairly common name I suppose. Why?"
"...No reason." Olasie said, shaking her head. It was stupid to even consider, so Olasie dispelled any suspicion she had about Tali's past flame and the man in front of her. Tali said the John Shepard she knew was dead. So he was dead.
"So. Any idea why your friend sped off the way she did with your other soldier?" Shepard asked.
Olasie shrugged before looking down the alley Tali left in. "No. I have no idea." Olasie cleared her throat before awkwardly adding: "I have two more of my men that have a zero on us. I'll have them come back down to regroup."
John nodded approvingly. "That's good. Don't be sorry for doing the right thing." He took a moment to analyze the snowy landscape before finally speaking again, "So you guys don't know what happened either." He said as a way of statement.
She only shook her head. "No. The only reason why we're here is because we received a distress call from a pilgrim of ours that's here. Veetor. That's why." She took a step out toward the open street to give herself a moment to peer down its length. "I have to ask. Why did the Alliance only send a single shuttle?" Olasie now had turned to face the Commander.
Miranda and Jacob both exchanged worried glances.
"The Alliance needed discretion; especially in the face of colonies that wish to remain outside of Alliance jurisdiction." He fluttered his hand in a sign of loathing disappointment, "Unfortunately, the consequence of rejecting our help is also refusing protection that could be propagated in the Traverse. Hence things like this." John finally shook his head.
"Pity." Olasie sighed while placing a hand along the frame of an iced car door.
"It is." Shepard agreed while thumbing to Jacob and Miranda, "I'd like to you to meet Lieutenant Taylor and Major Lawson."
Jacob frowned at having his rank below his wife, but said nothing.
"A pleasure." Miranda smiled and shook the quarian's hand briskly.
"Like the suit, hun." The quarian intoned between their handshake.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Jacob Taylor."
"My name is Olasie, if I forgot to mention it." She shook Jacob's next. When they finished exchanging their pleasantries, Olasie's men finally turned the corner and met up with her.
"We're Out-Op, Olasie. Let's head back to base. You advised Prazza of what's going on?"
"Yes. Prazza is aware and wants us back at the FOB Asap."
"Okay." Olasie flicked the safety off her weapon before tilting her head in the direction they needed to go, "Follow us, Commander. I think it would be a good idea if we stick together."
"Agreed." John let a small smile appear on his face. His luck couldn't have been any better. Running into quarians on his first visit on a planet was like waking up from this putrid nightmare.
It was anything short of a miracle. Hopefully, they could help him find his way back to Tali. Or at least point him in the right direction. Surely she must've been a quarian celebrity with how she'd helped him kill Saren and his puppet geth. Not to mention the terabytes of data she had given as a pilgrimage gift.
John, under the satisfaction of finally planning on how to see Tali again, took on each step with a little more confidence than the last.
The cocktail of emotions that spilled into his gut was a little overbearing, but he made do with what he had.
But he wasn't lying to himself; it was mainly anxiety.
He wouldn't even know where to begin. Or how to explain his two-year disappearance. Would she even have the desire to hear him out? Would she even care anymore? Would she hate him forever?
Did she move on?
The ugly ideas of reality reared their heads as he thought.
When the time came, he concluded, he would know what to say.
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"Tali?" Juel's voice carried enough weight to make her turn around, "Tell me what's going on."
"I don't know, Juel!" She rose her hands up in protest, "I. Don't. Know."
"You need to talk to the man." Juel offered while taking another step closer to the woman, "He'll be here soon."
She shook her head. "I'm crazy. I just know it." A bitter chortle left her lips. Juel frowned at the obnoxious sound.
"No. You're not. You fell in love with the man. You don't forget things like this." He closed the distance and put both hands on her shoulders, "I can help you. Let's see if this man really is John'Shepard. If he is? He has a lot of explaining to do." Tali could see the translucent glare that came from the other side of his visor.
"Okay…" She nodded slowly and placed both of her hands on her small medallion, "…Okay" she repeated with a small snort.
She took a seat at beside the dinner table topped with uneaten food.
"Odd." Juel mumbled while looking over a bowl of small yellow squares. She only gave it a passing glance.
"It's corn, Juel." She muttered uninterestingly while placing her head into both of her palms.
"Corn?" The nook between his pointer and thumb fits between his vocalizer, "Looks tasty."
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John saluted the platoon sergeant as a sign of respect. "Commander Shepard. Alliance Navy. Where's your Lieutenant?"
Prazza gave the human a good careful once over before returning the military gesture. "Good to have the Alliance with us, Commander. I am the Lieutenant." Prazza allowed himself a moment to relax while thumbing the hologram behind him, "I'll get you up to speed with our situation."
John signaled for Jacob and Miranda to mingle with the other quarians.
"A Lieutenant Platoon Sergeant?"
"Not Alliance, commander. Job description over rank."
The quarian sergeant led the ex-Spectre to a portable platform with a holographic image of the city's layout.
"I'm sure Olasie has informed you of our problem?"
"Yeah. She did. You've got a Pilgrim named Veetor here and you're trying to find him. We can help aide the search effort in exchange for helping us find evidence for what could have happened here. But tell me one thing," Shepard's hands unknowingly fold across his chest as he leaned in to whisper to the platoon sergeant, "It looked like one of your soldiers had a break down when she saw me."
"Uh." Prazza shook his head as if he were trying to remember something, "Yes, Olasie told me about that. I think she might have snapped when she saw a human again. No offense."
"What do you mean? How do you figure?"
"I heard she lost her captain two years ago. Was part of some human ship that helped take down that…" Prazza looked around suspiciously to make sure no one could hear him within earshot, "…that thing called a Reaper during her pilgrimage." He said at last while carefully looking behind both his shoulders.
...𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽?
John's mind reeled. He took a step back and let his gaze fall to his feet while he contemplated the sheer and very crazy coincidence of it all. The sudden pounding in his ears started to aggravate him.
He saw Tali.
And didn't even -fucking- know it.
Brilliant.
Truly the best way to introduce yourself after she thought you were dead for Two. Years.
John didn't keep the jittery show of anxiety in check and Prazza took very careful notice.
"What's her name?"
"Tali'Zorah vas Neema." His brows rise as he answered the human, "…why?"
John shook his head at his own pathetic sense of perception.
𝓢𝓱𝓲𝓽. Not. Good.
Keep your cool, John. Don't screw this up any further.
"Where is she?"
"I, er, from what I can remember, she went down that hallway to your right to get her bearings back together. She's with Juel, her boyfriend, or something." Prazza stepped up next to the commander as they both look down the hallway.
"Her… boyfriend?" John's voice cracked as his gaze lowered into an unfocused stare.
"I think they're in a relationship. I have no clue. I don't know them very well. They did come together on this mission though." Prazza remarked before looking to the Commander.
"I want to see her." John finally said depressingly, "To say I'm sorry. For you know," He turned to face the platoon sergeant, "for scaring her."
"She's a civvie. So it's not my call." Prazza turned and yelled for Olasie, "Olasie!"
"Yes Sergeant?"
"Could you please direct the Commander to Tali? He wants to apologize to her."
"Can do. This way Commander. I'm sure she'll be alright seeing you now."
John followed silently until they reached the room's doorway.
"She should be in here." Olasie stated while walking through the entrance.
"Huh." Olasie scanned the room from left to right, "I thought she was in here." She gave the living area another hasty glance, "…That's fine. Stay here. I'll go find her." When Olasie Left, Mrs. Lawson had entered the room. John kept his gaze fixed on the wall before him while taking off his helmet.
Shepard paid the woman no mind when she called out to him.
"Commander?" Lawson asked while she approached.
"What is it?" He leaned on the end of a rustic piece of furniture before glaring at the Cerberus operative.
"You're tachycardic. Your heart is going into—"
"I'm fine." Shepard rudely interrupted Miranda with a low growl.
"No. You're not. You aren't ready for stress like this… I need you to calm down before you give yourself an embolism."
"You're not serious." Shepard's eyes fixate with hers.
The look on her face told him she was indeed being serious.
He rolled his eyes inattentively. "What do you want me to do?" He muttered miserably.
"Take off your glove." She ordered while extracting a small parcel out of her bag.
"Fine." He unclasped the locking mechanism that kept his gauntlet on. She opened the package and gently grabbed for him.
"A little pinch." She uttered before injecting something into his wrist.
He stared at the needle for a long while until it was done administering.
"Done," she murmured, then turned his hand over, keeping it cradled in her grasp a moment longer than necessary. She shouldn't have lingered—especially not now, with everything at stake—but here she was, quietly marveling at two years' worth of effort. A heartbeat passed, and another, before she even realized she was well past the boundary of personal space.
The timing was painfully bad.
"—J-John…?" Tali stood at the doorway with both her palms placed squarely over her chest.
Miranda's unamused stare was what met the younger woman. Shepard's mouth hung open and he tried to walk over to her.
"…Tali…?"
The quarian lashed outward with a sneer powerful enough to halt him in his tracks. "Oh my god. Stay away from me." The sharpness of her stare burned with the ferocity of tungsten burning at its melting point.
"Tali…? Please. Just let m—" he pleaded, reaching out as he stepped closer, desperation in his voice. But before he could close the distance, her hands shot out, shoving him back with a force that caught him completely off guard. He stumbled, crashing into a table behind him, the jarring impact sending plates flying to the floor, food scattering in chaotic disarray. The sharp clangs echoed in the silence.
"𝘚𝘛𝘈𝘠 𝘈𝘞𝘈𝘠 𝘍𝘙𝘖𝘔 𝘔𝘌." She screamed, "WHY?! Shepard?! WHY!? You PROMISED ME." By now her eyes are stained with tears, "You… you son of a bitch! I believed for so long that you were dead! And you…! —and I find you like—like this…? With another woman no less?!"
She took several steps back while covering her chest with both her arms in an attempt to keep the violent trembling at bay. "How could you…? How could you!?"
"Tali, please. Just please listen!" He called out and tried to reach out to her again.
Her arms swings outward. "Don't touch me. Don't Touch Me!"
Her screams seemed to be loud enough, because Juel stepped in with his gun out and aiming at Shepard's head.
"Back away from her. Now. I won't ask again." Juel sneered, safety flicking off.
Before long, Miranda's handgun was trailing Juel's face. "Not a wise proposition." She chided angrily.
"What the hell is going on in here?" Prazza entered with several others before hesitating on whether or not he should bring his own rifle to bear.
"Miranda. Stand down." Shepard muttered, staring down at the food staining his clothes and gear.
"Commander." Her tone could cut steel.
"I said: Stand. Down." He repeated again with a little more malice. He heard her pistol get holstered.
"I'll comply." John took a few steps back, but his gaze never left Tali. "I don't want this to turn into an incident."
Juel's weapon clicked back to safety and went to Tali. "You okay?"
She said nothing and practically ran out the door and away from everyone.
Under the silence of cold muffled winds, those who remained awkwardly stared amongst each other to get a sense of some direction from what happened just moments before.
"Commander," Prazza began, staring at the mess John was covered in, "I'd recommend that you keep your distance from Tali'Zorah for the remainder of this mission." He stepped forward aggressively to assert his order, "Otherwise we -will- have an incident in our hands. Am I absolutely clear?"
"Do you know why she's lost it like that, Sergeant?" Shepard's voice is barely above a cracked whisper.
"No. I don't, Commander. Would you mind enlightening me?"
"Because, Prazza. I'm the Commander John Shepard. The one who stopped Saren and his geth from taking over the Citadel."
Olasie gave John an unbelieving look.
What in fuck dude.
Prazza handed John a towel to wipe off the filth.
"As much as I am inclined to believe you, you will still keep your distance until we're done exercising our search and rescue effort. I will not have you and your team compromise this operation."
"Remember where you stand, Sergeant." Miranda called out evenly, "You are on a human settlement in the Traverse. You are also speaking to a human officer with a rank and pay grade twenty times higher than you."
"Irrelevant." Prazza countered with an angry grimace, "You do not fall under my chain of command."
"This is relevant, Sergeant. My after action report will detail every event that has occurred during this operation. That report will then be passed to my chain of command for a determination of where both our people stand. I suggest you not order the Commander where he can and cannot go on this human settlement."
Prazza shook his head and complied. "I ask you to please not start anything. For everyone's sake."
"Agreed." Shepard's weary tone reached out to everyone still standing in the living area.
"Good." Prazza breathed out a sigh of relief, "Let's go people. We're done here. Back to your posts. Now." One by one, the quarian marines filed out of the room until only John and Miranda were left.
"I've got to talk to her, Miranda. She needs to know what's going on." John said desperately as he looked out toward the open door.
"Ah. Love's a bitch." Miranda said, breaking her veneer and giving John what closely resembled something akin to a reassuring smile. It was all a bit out of character for her, and he appreciated it for all it was worth, but he felt a faint twist in his gut at the sight. It was sincere, maybe, but rare enough to know she didn't do that much.
"Where's Jacob?"
"Assisting with the search effort alongside Prazza's team."
A single unfocused nod to her and he motioned for them to leave the room.
As soon as they stepped out of the hallway, they were met with Juel waiting for them both.
"I think we need to introduce ourselves." Juel started wearily, "—Without pointing guns at each other. Name's Juel'Kaan."
John rubbed the back of his neck. "That would be preferred, yes."
"Look, I'm not about to pretend I know what's going on here," Juel said with a sigh, "But I have questions. And I'd like to get some things straight." He motioned them to follow, leading them to a quiet corner. A few quarians passed by, casting uninterpretible looks at the sight of John, still spattered with what clearly had to be gravy and mashed potatoes.
"Do you know Tali?" Shepard asked him, Miranda still beside.
"Know her?" He scoffed slightly, "I've been stuck with Tali ever since she came aboard the Neema." He shook his head at the numerous piles of memories that lay buried in his head, "You've got to answer me truthfully."
Juel let his shoulder hold him up against the wall, arms crossing. He did that to let calm the nerves of everyone who'd witnessed Tali's spectacle just moments before.
"Do you know where she is?" John pressed.
Juel rose his hand to stop the imminent bombardment from the human. "Yes. I do. Remember: my questions first."
The ex-Spectre frowned but gave his consent.
"That could be anyone wearing John'Shepard's face. How do we know it's really you?"
"Juel… I need to speak to her."
Juel's brows stood resolute and he remained quiet.
"Please." John pleaded, "You have no idea how much I have to explain. You have to trust me." Shepard's voice practically pleaded to the man, "She needs to know where I was. Where I've been."
"Answer my question then. How do I know it's really you?"
It was clear he wasn't going to settle for some vague assurance.
John struggled to come up with something. But suddenly, he knew.
"...Before I... I guess I should say before I 'died'. The night before Illos—I was searching for something I made for her. I was just outside her room when she caught me rummaging. It was a memento. Something that I'd given Garrus the responsibility of delivering to her if I wouldn't be around to do it myself. Would you happen to know if she ever got that."
He was talking about Tali's pendant and Juel's features softened.
"She did." Was his answer before a sizable pause, "Look, Shepard. I—... she's not the same person you left behind. Don't expect her to just welcome you with open arms. Against Prazza's wishes, I'm going to give you one more chance. Don't squander it. And keep her under control, will you? You're bringing up a past that she's never been able to bury. No matter what you say, she's gonna be pissed, as evidenced by her..." He looked at his armor, "outburst."
The quarian stabbed an index finger up against his chest rig to underscore his point. "She was a fucking mess when she came back. You being here is just... not a great look."
John felt his soul swelter hearing that.
"Get your story straight." Juel continued, "And for her sake, make sure it's the truth. Come on."
Without waiting for a response, Juel turned, leaving John to follow in silence.
"I'll wait here." Miranda said, staying behind.
Only Juel and John now.
"...How well do you know her?" John asked to break the silence.
"We can skip the conversational platitudes. I'm not involved with her. No one is. She's never had anyone else aside from you."
John felt something slide from his shoulders. If it held form, its weight could have formed a black hole.
"Right through here." Juel stopped at the door and gave John the open hand he needed to go in.
"Thank you, Juel."
The quarian only gave him a slight nod.
It was an anxiety riddled motion John made, opening that door as he squeezed himself through its breadth.
He saw her. Tali, sitting at the far end, back to him, head bowed so low he could barely make out the shape of her shoulders. What he heard however, nearly ended him.
The soft, broken sound of her quiet and muffled weeping. Or the way her breaths trembled, broken by the agony he could feel across the space between them. It was knife twisting and turning in his chest to reach his heart.
Finally, he found his voice, low and fragile. "Tali."
The ground dropped away from beneath his feet and silence hung. Vast. Unimaginable. Silence.
"...Tali, please."
Her voice, when it came, was raw. A mere whisper.
"What do you want…?" She didn't move. Didn't dare turn to face him from how unbearable it would be to lay her eyes on him again.
"To explain myself." He said, voice breaking. He took a step closer, then stopped, terrified of closing the distance too quickly. Terrified of what he'd see in her eyes if she looked at him.
"It isn't worth explaining, Shepard." She lied with a tone that was empty and flat. But he she held tight to her misery, clutching it like a lifeline, even as it tore her apart.
God she wanted to know. She needed to know. And she needed those answers now.
God, she wanted to know. She wanted so badly to know. Her heart might break open just from the weight of not knowing. Every part of her was screaming for those answers, but the ache, the dark, festering ache he'd left behind—she couldn't see past it, couldn't breathe through it. She felt like she was drowning in it.
"Yes. It is, Tali."
"You lied." She let out a bitter laugh, sound as broken as she was, "You lied about your death and left me and everyone that cared about you behind."
"Look at me damnit. I was dead. Dead. I died." John pointed straight at her and she finally turned around to face him.
That part obviously caught her immediate attention. "I was brought back. Resurrected. I'm not even sure what to call it."
He closed the distance and was now within arm's reach.
Her gaze faltered, the floor holding her trance again.
"Tali. There's so much I need to get caught up on." His own teary eyed gaze fell when he finally sat down in a chair opposite from her.
It must've been her last strand of reality finally giving way to insanity. This couldn't be happening. Having John here right in front of her like this?
Unquestionably senseless.
Completely ludicrous.
"Stop. This isn't real." Her head sunk even further, "It can't be. John Shepard is dead."
"Tali. I'm right here." John had to stop himself from letting his shout pass the wall's proofing.
Tali was shaken out of her reverie at John's exasperation.
"Tali. I. Am. Right. Here."
She shook her head again and fought harder against this kind of unreality. She'd wake up soon.
She had enough of these stupid dreams.
John was beginning to grow impatient. He got up and put a hand on her shoulder before placing a pointer under her chin.
"Tali. I'm right here." He said for the third time. He lowered to a kneel and caught her fleeting glances.
"John?" Tali whispered into his ear, "Don't leave me…" Their eyes meet and John finally let a sad smile sprawl across his face.
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to stay right here for as long as you need me to."
Tali began to realize this really wasn't a dream. "John?" Her eyes widen in slow realization.
"John…?" Her tongue rolled awkwardly as she said the name. Her voice, as disparaged as it was, clung onto some feeble hope that John really wasn't dead.
"It's me, Tali. It's me. God damnit it's me…" His voice cracked several more times when he slowly wrapped his arms around her.
Her chest trembled as she gripped his shoulders and hugged him tightly. John could feel her silent sobs when her grip turned into a vice.
"Oh my god— John…" She swallowed hard before squeezing her eyes shut, "…you have so much explaining to do…" Her joyful tears recessed down her cheeks while a bright smile spread across her lips, "I can't—I can't believe it. It's you. It's really... you." She stood with her arms still around him and squeezed harder until it almost hurt. "You're actually alive. I can't believe you're alive! I just can't... oh, Keelah I'm going to hyperventilate."
Everything felt better again. Shepard finally let out the breath he was holding. Mainly because Tali was squeezing it out of him.
When she was finished, she took a step back and frowned slightly at the thought of that Miranda woman, "But… what about that woman you… were holding hands with?"
"She was doping me up with meds, Tals. I swear it was nothing else. She's quite the bitch honestly. Your timing was bad." He shrugged but thought nothing of it. He had Tali back. With him. Just as it should be.
Tali's hand held her visor in shame. "I caused a scene and everything. Sorry I—" She couldn't control the giddy feeling she had. Topping the tears that kept falling freely from her eyes didn't help either. "Come here… I could really go for another hug…"
She urged for him to embrace her again. "Damnit, John… God damnit…"
She melted into him, arms wrapped around her without another word.
A minute passed and they both stood quietly, eyes closed to get caught up in the serious absence of each other.
"I missed you so much." John separated the embrace and kept her at arm's length. When he did, he glanced at the piece of jewelry around her neck. He idly placed the pendant into his palm and played with the weight.
There, in the engravings, just as he remembered, read:
ᴛᴏ ᴜs.
"You really haven't moved on." John rasped quietly, "Did Garrus give it to you?"
"Yeah." She replied at last, "I wore it. To remember you." She sniffled a bit before playing with the weight herself, "Although I was a little disappointed you didn't give it to me in person." She teased, "But it's okay, I guess."
He embraced her again and had forgotten the long list of worries that troubled his mind. "I think this is the perfect time for me to say it. I love you."
Her smile grew until it hurt her cheeks. "John. I love you too."
Another minute of silence passed before Tali finally spoke.
"I'm still so confused. We have so much catching up to do. You have so much catching up to do." She rest her head into the nook of his shoulder before sighing.
"I know. We still have a lot to talk about. But I'm back. And I'm not leaving you."