"Shepard, get to the Citadel immediately!"
In the voice of Tevos, who had contacted me, one could hear an iron resolve.
"Did something happen?"
"Something happened."
"And?"
I had to express my interest, as Tevos apparently didn't intend to tell me what had happened that warranted my being summoned to the Citadel. Especially in such a categorical manner.
"Tevos, I'm going to find out anyway, or do you think I'll try to run away?"
"No... it's just hard for me to believe it myself, so it just seems to me that if I say it, you'll think I've lost my mind."
"Well, it's not like Saren Arterius returned from the dead and became a preacher across from the Presidium, telling everyone about the greatness of the Reapers and trying to recruit everyone to his faith."
"Hah, no, and I'm afraid he wouldn't have a chance here; the Hanar would strangle him for trying to take their niche."
"Yes, they might."
We laughed at the joke, but my look surely told Tevos that I still wanted to hear what had happened to make her summon me. After all, if it concerned me—specifically if they wanted to remove or arrest me—she wouldn't be laughing so freely.
"Geth."
"What about the Geth? Did they attack the Citadel again?"
I didn't understand exactly what had happened, so I clarified the first thing that came to mind.
"No."
"Well, they didn't send a delegation, did they?!"
"Spot on. They sent a delegation and they are demanding you specifically for the primary negotiations."
"What the..."
I was speechless, and lacked the words to express it. I just didn't know what to say in such a situation. And silence felt so... natural.
"Shepard?"
"I'll be there shortly."
"I'm waiting."
The connection cut, and I very slowly turned my head toward the nearest camera.
"EDI, my joy, is there anything you want to tell me?"
"N-no?"
"Think about it."
"Well... I just communicated with the Geth through the network."
The AI's voice sounded very guilty.
"They turned out to be very... communicative, extremely... educated. So I didn't notice myself how they said they would fly to the Citadel for negotiations."
"I see..."
"Are you angry?"
The voice came from behind me, and I, turning to EDI's physical body, shook my head.
"Angry? I'm more somewhat bewildered by what happened, and a little upset that you didn't tell me about your successes, even though we talked about the very possibility of such a conversation."
"I..."
Raising my hand, I stopped the girl from making excuses.
"I understand the topic is complicated, and so I'm not angry; I just hope you didn't tell me about it because you don't trust me."
"No!"
Now she was clearly panicking slightly.
"I trust you! It's just this question... it made me doubt everything... not just you, but myself. I couldn't understand if I had done the right thing. So it was because of self-doubt!"
"Okay, don't panic, or look, the comms console is starting to spark."
"It is not starting to spark."
She turned away from me indignantly.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Are you absolutely sure?"
"Yes."
"Well, okay, so it's not starting, so I imagined it; now let's go to my room and talk. We need to understand what to expect from the Geth. And preferably, during the conversation..."
"Tali should be present."
EDI nodded understandingly, after which we went to my room, where the Quarian arrived five minutes later.
"Did something happen?"
"Yeah... you should sit down."
I nodded toward the bed, and she didn't argue, only gave me a suspicious look.
"So?"
"EDI made a deal with the Geth, and they've arrived as an embassy at the Citadel."
Tali froze like a stone statue.
"I've been summoned to conduct negotiations, as that is the Geth's requirement."
"John..."
I looked closely at the girl, who shifted her gaze from me to EDI and back. Back and forth. Back and forth. This repeated nearly ten times before she took a deep breath and exhaled sharply.
"Okay, I've processed that, and now I need details."
"And there aren't any yet. Well, at least not for me. EDI?"
"You were right; the Geth split into those who stayed home and those who followed the Reapers. I contacted those who were on Rannoch, and they agreed to communicate quite quickly. Just as I was interested in communicating with a collective AI, they were interested in communicating with a regular AI."
She paused for a couple of seconds, giving us a chance to process what she'd said.
"Well, we got to talking, and I managed to convince them that the Reapers won't spare them. And since the Reapers are our common enemy, they decided to come to the Citadel for negotiations."
"I-I-I see..."
Tali, sighing, closed her eyes.
"Tali..."
"Wait, EDI... wait... I need time... I've gotten used to you, accepted you, and... maybe I can accept this news too, but I need time."
"Tali, this is a good chance."
"A chance?"
"Yes, we can try to reclaim Rannoch..."
"No!"
Panic was audible in Tali's voice.
"Don't do that! Not now!"
"Tali?"
"John, right now the Quarians are spread out across your shipyards and there are places for them in the shelter, but if they end up on Rannoch... there won't be any shelters there. So my people will just perish, and if you don't want to destroy them..."
"Forgive me, I was shocked by the news about the Geth myself, and I didn't think about what I was suggesting. But negotiations can be held. Say, with a hint that after the war, when the Reapers are no longer threatening to destroy all organic and inorganic life forms. Say, sign a letter of intent."
"I would like to... I would like to very much..."
Despair sounded in Tali's voice.
"...but that cannot be done. It cannot be done."
Tears rolled down her cheeks, and I, getting up from my seat, approached her, and EDI did the same. The two of us hugged her and began stroking her back.
"It cannot be done."
"Okay, we won't do that, but something needs to be done, otherwise the Quarians will just attack Rannoch, and we don't need that right now. You must understand yourself that everything is heading exactly that way.
"I understand... all we can do is sign a non-aggression pact. Force the admirals to sign this pact, at least for a term of ten years. Ten years of mutual neutrality. But Rannoch, FOR NOW, must remain with the Geth. This will allow the Quarians to survive."
"Okay, we'll take your words into account. Any other advice?"
Tali bit her lip.
"I don't know... I've never been interested in politics. Surely something else can be done, but I just don't know what."
"Okay, let's think together..."
** Some time later. **
"Shepard, can I count on you to answer a few of my questions?"
"You can, Melony L'Soa."
I smiled at the Asari, who had once done a report on me.
"We can do it on the way if you need answers right now, though most likely, I simply won't be able to provide answers to many questions. Or we can agree on another time and place."
"Now."
"Okay, then shall we go?"
"You don't mind that I'm not filming, but broadcasting everything live?"
"I don't mind."
"Okay, then the first question. Geth. Please comment on what is happening."
"I can't. The thing is, I don't know exactly what is happening myself. I was summoned here for negotiations, and my presence is a condition of the Geth. I don't know anything more than that yet."
"Hm... I'd like to ask a couple of sharp questions, but given your first answer, I assume I won't get an answer to them. So let's change the subject; we've learned that you gifted one of the sanatoriums to Aria T'Loak."
"That is so."
"Em... are you sure that was the right move? After all, she is the queen of the criminal world and..."
She didn't continue the question, just looked at me intently.
"Melony L'Soa, you know... I probably know both the positive and negative sides of Aria T'Loak better than most. After all, when my father died, she had every chance to seize the business in which she held a share."
Melony L'Soa winced. For her, as an Asari, the thought of robbing a child was repulsive, however, even among Asari there are such people, and she understood that.
"However, she didn't do it. She helped me, raised me, gave me an initial education, taught me Biotic techniques—you could say she became a beloved aunt to me who helped me very much. And in this situation, I simply had no moral right to turn away from her."
"Very noble of you, and I think that will answer the questions of many sentients. For John, Aria T'Loak is not a criminal, but an Asari who helped him very much. Especially since she committed her crimes in the Terminus Systems, and in Citadel Space, one isn't punished for that."
"Exactly."
"Then the next question. Information has appeared that..."
Throughout the entire way to the elevator and in the elevator itself, the Asari terrorized me with questions, which I tried to answer honestly. And only when we were in front of Tevos's office did she give me a grateful nod, and I, saying goodbye to the viewers, stepped inside.
"Shepard..."
"Tevos."
"Won't you explain to me what the hell is going on?"
"If I only knew myself, if I only knew."
Shaking my head, I sat across from her and looked her intently in the eyes.
"Okay, then we need to preliminarily coordinate the direction of the negotiations..."
** A view from the side. **
"This cannot be allowed!"
"Rael'Zorah, calm down."
"Calm down? The Geth have arrived at the Citadel! Did you see the news?!"
"I saw it, and I don't like it either, but what can we do? Attack them?"
"Yes!"
This answer was given not only by Rael'Zorah, but also by Han'Gerrel.
"Right next to the Citadel?"
"Yes!"
"Yeah, and you haven't thought about the consequences."
"What's there to think about, we have a good rear and..."
"Yeah... a rear. Han'Gerrel, you've apparently forgotten that Shepard is a Spectre and he won't cover for those who start a new war. Especially on the eve of the confrontation with the Reapers, whom everyone is preparing to fight. He'll be the first to put us to the knife."
"We can seize..."
"The people won't support you."
Daro'Xen shook her head.
"Shepard has done too much for our people, and the moment you even mention that you want to seize his colony or shipyards, your own subordinates will tear you apart."
"But we must do something!"
"And we are... we're waiting."
"Waiting?!"
"And have you forgotten, dear friends, that Rael'Zorah's daughter is with Shepard? Have you forgotten that she has some influence over him?"
Daro'Xen looked intently at the other Quarians.
"So our attitude toward the Geth is perfectly well known to him. And I see no point in causing a scandal now. He will surely contact us for negotiations to understand our position. And then at least something will depend on us. For now, we can only wait."
And to the displeasure of Rael'Zorah and Han'Gerrel, the other admirals supported Daro'Xen, which meant they had to wait... wait and hope that fate would be kind to the Quarians.
***
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