Tali rubbed her hands as the elevator ascended to the Commander's quarters. Just when it seemed like life might be getting back to normal...

"We are detecting elevated biometric indications of emotional distress."

Tali jumped at the sound of Legion's voice. Ordinarily, she was acutely aware of the geth's location on the ship at any time. Now, she'd forgotten what was standing right next to her. "What? Oh, sorry. This is just... Politics. After Shepard appointed me chief engineer, Miranda and I had a disagreement over who was actually in charge of our department."

"Was this conflict resolved?"

"I thought so, but who can tell with Miranda?"

But when the door opened to the Commander's quarters, the Miranda was nowhere to be seen. Shepard stood alone and waved the pair in from the hallway. "Come on in. Sorry to interrupt your work, but something's come up."

Tali tried to make eye contact, but he turned away to lead them inside without looking at her. "Let me guess... Cerberus doesn't approve of my staffing choices."

"Of course they don't." Shepard laughed and gestured them toward the lower level. "Have a seat."

Legion sat on one of the couches, a gesture of compliance as opposed to seeking comfort like an organic. Tali remained standing, arms crossed, in front of Shepard. "Miranda?"

"The Illusive Man, actually," Shepard said. "He's concerned about the schematics of this ship falling into the hands of the geth. But that's not why I called you up here."

Legion's facial plates rippled. "We will not share data designated as classified with the collective."

"I know," Shepard said to the geth. "You're no more of a danger than, say, a quarian chief engineer. Or a turian weapons officer. Or a commander who made a good run at taking out Cerberus facilities, just for example. We're all a risk. We either trust each other, or we don't. And I trust you, Legion. That was good enough for him."

"Me too," Tali said. The tension in her body faded. As usual, the Shepard had taken care of things. But certainly he didn't summon them just to tell them there was no problem.

"Thank you, Shepard-Commander, Creator-Tali'Zorah." Legion said. "Our intention is cooperative integration with the Normandy collective."

Tali laughed. "Well I'd say as of today, you're officially part our collective. Right, Shepard?"

"I'm afraid it's not that simple."

"It never is, is it? So what's the bad news?"

"Stress indicators have resumed," Legion announced.

"Tali, please," Shepard gestured toward the couch, waiting until Tali relented and sat next to the geth. "This is good news, trust me. Right now, the SSV Shenyang is en route to pick up representatives of the Alliance diplomatic corps at Arcturus Station. In eight hours, we'll rendezvous with them at the Utopia mass relay. After which she will proceed directly to the Migrant Fleet for an audience with the Admiralty Board." He paused, looking at both of them in turn. "You two are going to be aboard her."

Tali's respirator sputtered with her sudden attempt to inhale her mask. "What?"

"The Admiralty Board has agreed to negotiations with the geth." Shepard sat on the edge of the table in front of them. "And you two get to be a key part of the process. Now here's the thing, Legion. Whatever you do, stay on the Shenyang. Under no circumstances are you to leave that ship. Let the quarians come to you."

"Shepard, wait." Tali stood but found her legs had gone shaky. Cerberus was on the cusp of decoding the collector IFF. The Normandy would be on its way through the Omega Four relay soon after. He was sending her away now?

"There's an Admiral on the Board named Xen who wants you in the worst way," Shepard explained. "But you're under diplomatic protection as long as you stay on the Shenyang. If they try to take you off, it will be considered an act of war against the Alliance."

"Shepard!" Tali slammed the table with the palms of her hands. "You can't do this!"

He stood to face her. "It's already done, Tali. It's out of my hands. I talked to Anderson last night and told him everything that happened. He made some inquiries at Arcturus. They got excited and called the Admiralty Board. And this morning, the Admirals accepted the Alliance proposal to act as mediators. As part of the deal, they insisted you be there, and as your captain, that I tell you. You're going home."

Tali sunk slowly back down to the couch.

"I'm sorry," Shepard said. "I didn't find out about all this myself until just a few minutes ago. But this changes everything. They want to start negotiations right away."

"Shepard-Commander," Legion said, "The geth were not consulted about these negotiations."

"I know, Legion." Shepard walked to his desk and picked up his omnitool. "I've got a data pack for you outlining the details. Direct from Arcturus. You're free to accept it, amend it, or reject it after all of you look it over."

Legion's omnitool rendered into the air around its wrist. "Standing by to receive download. We require secure access to our network for re-transmission to the collective."

"EDI, open the channel," Shepard said as he sent the information to Legion's omni.

Tali looked up. The negotiations were useless if only one side was in attendance. "What if they don't accept? Do we still have to go?"

"We accept these proposals," Legion said. "Negotiations with the creators will commence immediately with Systems Alliance mediation."

This can't be happening, Tali thought. She was a neutron caught in reaction that had already started. The geth's lack of bureaucracy robbed her of any chance she had to stop it.

Shepard sat down next to her. "Look, I don't like the timing of this, either. I don't want to lose you. But think about the possibilities. You can help end the war. Get your people home. Hell, maybe they'll overturn that sham of a trial!"

Tali stared at the table. "And where are you going to be?"

"Same plan as always. As soon as Cerberus cracks the IFF, we're going through Omega Four."

Tali leaned back with her hands over her mask. Being recalled to the fleet was the last thing she expected. After her trial, they couldn't be rid of her fast enough. Just like before, the Admiralty Board decided everything for her, and she had no say in the matter. But this time Shepard was going along with it.

"Shepard-Commander," Legion buzzed. "This mobile platform's physical presence is not required for negotiations to commence. We will provide protocols for Alliance diplomatic resources, allowing direct communication with the Collective. We will then accompany the Normandy through the Omega Four relay."

"That's right," Tali said. "We don't have to be there. And if he doesn't go, I'm not going."

"You two don't seem to get it." Shepard stood and paced. "Having you there in person, both of you, is part of the deal. Like it or not, Legion, you're the face of the geth by virtue of being the only mobile platform outside of the Veil. But you've proven that geth are willing to work with organics toward a common good, which is something quarians, and the rest of the galaxy, need to see. And Tali? You're the daughter of an Admiral, an honest-to-goodness hero of the battle of the Citadel, and probably the greatest expert on the geth alive. Both sides will listen to you. Most importantly, you're already talking to each other. The barriers have already come down. You can show them the way."

Shepard paused to gauge their reactions. Legion's head plates cycled through several configurations. Tali just stared at the top of the table. "This is incredible. How can you not be excited about what could come from this?"

"Excited?" Tali looked up at Shepard.

"Yeah!"

"Let me tell you about excitement." Tali stood and planted herself faceplate-to-face with Shepard, "The last time I left, I came back to a funeral. It was the worst experience of my life. Nothing else comes close. Every single day I wondered what I could have done, if only I had been there, if I could have made a difference. I will not go through that again! I'm going to be standing your side, not over another empty casket!"

"Tali-" Shepard tried to put his hands on her shoulders, but she flung them away.

"Tali, Tali, Tali," Tali shouted, on the verge of tears. "I am Tali'Zorah vas Normandy! There is nothing more important than my ship, my crew, or my captain. You will not go through that relay without me. I won't let you!"

Shepard stared, wide eyed at her outburst. Tali rarely let anyone get close enough to see any detail in her face. Other species would constantly peer into her mask as if they were looking for fish in an aquarium. Or, she'd turn away to conceal the shy awkwardness of the lost little girl on pilgrimage that still bubbled to the surface when it was Shepard who looked at her. This time, there was no turning away for either of them.

"Shepard-Commander?" The geth asked during the ensuing silence.

Shepard blinked. "What is it, Legion?"

"The destiny of the Creators and geth is uncertain, regardless of our participation in negotiations. However, If the old machines return, the future of the entire galaxy is in jeopardy. Mutual cooperation against the old machines must be the highest priority."

"That's right," Shepard said. "That's exactly why you and the quarians need to settle things, before the reapers come back."

"Shepard-Commander is in error. Creator-Tali'Zorah's participation in the negotiations increases the probability of a peaceful outcome, but does not guarantee it. If the Creators and geth are unable to reconcile, the status of the galaxy remains unchanged. However, the Normandy collective is the only resource tasked with defeating the collectors and preventing the return of the old machines. If we fail, our shared fate, and the fate of all galactic civilizations, is extermination. As chief engineer, Creator-Tali'Zorah is essential to the survival of the Normandy and success of its mission." Legion rose to stand next to Tali. "Therefore we judge that Creator-Tali'Zorah must remain aboard the Normandy."

Tali's gaze never wavered from Shepard's eyes as he pondered the geth's words.

After a moment, he turned away. He walked to his bed, hands locked behind his neck. Tali and Legion both watched him expectantly. He finally turned back to face them. "What am I going to do with you two?" He stared at them, lost in thought for a few seconds, when he let out a soft laugh.

"What?"

"I've never seen you two standing so close. I just realized now how much you have in common."

Tali glanced at the geth next to her. The resemblance was no accident; the proportion of its limbs, hands and feet, the shape of its head, even its posture. Like most species, the quarians made androids in their own image. She blinked. Was Shepard talking about something more than physical appearance? Legion was fighting to stay aboard, trying to convince their commander to it on mission that could very likely result in its destruction... Just like her. But more than that, it was fighting for her, refusing to leave anyone behind, as it had done on Clobakas.

Shepard shook his head, then pointed toward the pair as he approached them. "OK, here's how this is going to play out. We'll get you set up on comms to talk with whoever you need over the relays. If the Shenyang calls, you get to the briefing room. I don't care if you're on duty, if it's in the middle of the night, you're in the can, whatever, you're at their beck and call, on their schedule. Agreed?"

Tali bounced up and down. "Oh, yes! Absolutely!"

"And I want updates from the Alliance ambassador every four hours and copies of all your correspondence and all transmissions logged to my console. Don't make me come looking for it."

"You'll have it," Tali put her hands on Shepard's chest. "I swear."

"And if either of you need my help or input on anything, find me, no matter what I'm doing."

"Keelah!" Tali cried. "Thank you!"

Legion panned between the two organics. "We are remaining aboard the Normandy?"

"Yes!" Tali fell against the geth, shaking its shoulder. "We're staying!"

"Thank you, Shepard-Commander," Legion said, seemingly oblivious to the laughing quarian dangling from its shoulder. "We will comply with your instructions."

Shepard smiled, though it wasn't as happy en expression as it should have been. "All right, I'll let Anderson know what the updated plan is. Dismissed."

Legion walked up the stairs to the exit, but Tali lingered, pausing on the middle step to look back at Shepard. His hands were on his hips, and he bit his lower lip as humans tended to do when worried. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm just preparing myself for the response I'm going to get when I tell Udina and the Admirals that they can't have my crew. It's going to be one hell of a conference call."

"I'm sorry," Tali said, "I didn't mean to get you in trouble. Do you want me to stay while you talk to them?"

"Nah," Shepard said with a shrug. "Udina already hates my guts, and it won't be the first time I told the Admiralty Board to shove it, right? Besides, Anderson's got my back. He'll understand. And if it blows up? What's the worst they can do? Send me on a suicide mission?"

Tali walked back to him. "If they did, I'd go with you."

Shepard smiled, his eyes full of joy but also fear. He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. "You already are. Thank you."

Tali gasped at the embrace. Thank you for not sending me home, thank you for helping me find peace with Legion, thank you for all of this, she thought, but as usual none of those sentiments found their way to her lips. All she could manage was to hold onto him, but that was always enough.

"Don't let them waste this," Shepard whispered.

"I wont," Tali said. "I promise."

Shepard pulled back. Tali noticed the glisten of moisture beneath his eyes. He wanted this to work more than anyone, and he wasn't even quarian. She reached gingerly up with a finger but pulled back as Shepard wiped it clear with his own hand. "All right," he said and waved to the hatch. "Get your new staff back down below and get that core looked at, and update me when you're done. I gotta make a call."

"Aye, sir," Tali said and climbed back up the steps, cursing yet another missed opportunity. As she stepped into the corridor, she cast a backwards glance into Shepard's quarters. He sat with his back to her, staring at the blank monitor in front of him with his hands locked behind his neck. She leaned against the frame of the hatch when a soft electronic buzz erupted from her right. Legion's fish-eye lens poked from within the open elevator.

Tali looked one last time through the hatch before stepping away joining Legion in the lift. "Back to the shop," Tali told it.

They stood in silence as they descended. In spite of their success, a strange feeling lingered. It wasn't fear, even though she just signed up for another hundred chances to die. Was it her own emotional plea that swayed Shepard, or Legion's assessment of failure if she was forced back to the Fleet? It didn't matter either way, she decided. Through their combined effort, they were both staying on the Normandy.

Legion looked at Tali and then back to the door in an almost organic reaction. Had it sensed her and mirrored her movements? Was it trying to interpret her body language? Or was it simply reacting to some electronic stimulus Tali couldn't detect without an omnitool? Incompatible methods of communication, resulting in incomplete perspectives. Our fundamental dichotomy, still at work. The hatch opened to Deck Four and she stepped into the empty corridor, with Legion close behind.

One final thought made her stop in her tracks, blocking Legion's path. They won't know if you don't tell them. She turned to face the geth. "Thank you," she said. "For everything."

"You are welcome, Tali'Zorah vas Normandy."

The End - Continued in For Tomorrow We Die.

And thus ends this little quarantine exercise. It was a great way to revisit Mass Effect and especially two of my favorite characters. I've said it before but Mass Effect has stuck with me in a way like no other franchise to the point of updating a story that just turned 10 years old. After a couple of missteps, it's not the franchise it used to be but it's still one of my faves and this was a great way for me to keep it alive inside. Depending on how the whole COVID thing goes, I do have 72 chapters of FTWD that could use a tune-up...

And, of course, I have to plug an original work, Bright Star, now playing on FictionPress. See my profile for the link, and as usual, thanks for reading!