Mass Effect

Reactions

It had been a few days since Shepard's interview with Emily Wong, and almost the entire galaxy had seen the interview live. Re-runs were being run all the time and the interview had become somewhat viral.

The Reaction of Ashley:

Ashley was in an Alliance military cantina, she hadn't seen any news for a few days and had just gotten back from a routine mission near Eden Prime. She hated going there, but at the same time loved it. It was the first time she had met Shepard and when that happened her military career had begun improving, but she also remembered the squad that she had lost when the attack happened.
After her drink was placed down in front of her, but as she was about to drink it, one of the televisions showed Emily Wong with Commander Shepard in front of her. He was in a sharp looking tuxedo. Ashley looked for the barkeeper and yelled at him, "Hey, barkeep, turn that up."
"What," the barkeep said, "Oh, that story, right away ma'am. Surprised you haven't seen the video yet."
Ashley watched the news cast when Shepard started to talk about the Reapers she thought, 'Well Shepard, if there were anyone in the galaxy who doubted you were alive this shows that you are very much so alive. But will what you say about the reapers be covered up by the council or will the council still deny your claims?'
'So Shepard are the rumours true? Are you in a relationship with your Quarian crew member, Tali'Zorah?' Emily Wong asked.
Ashley had heard the rumours but didn't think they were true, but when Tali came into view and confirmed it, Ashley was surprised by the news, 'How long have you been in love with Tali, Shepard,' Ashley thought, 'is that why you just teased Liara and me when we came onto you?'
Ashley continued to watch the news cast and when Jilani came into the news cst unexpectedly she was sure that Shepard was going to punch Jilani in the face but was surprised to see that Tali was the one to punch Jilani. After the news segment finished, she thought to herself, 'Shepard, I had heard rumours but I didn't think they were true. I guess if being with Tali makes you happy I can't force you to be with me. Maybe if I had gone with you back on Horizon that might be me right now,' "Here's to you, Shepard, and maybe one day, if I'm lucky, I'll be part of your team again." Ashley said softly to herself as she held her glass to the screen.

The Reaction of Hannah Shepard:

After the word of the stations sponsor had finished Emily Wong appeared on the screen and as the camera panned back to reveal her son, alive and well. "Oh, Shepard," Hannah said aloud in a soft loving voice.
After Shepard mentioned the Reapers and the threat that they were and how the council tried to cover them up, Hannah could only think 'I thought something was up, especially since the council agreed with you then right after you disappeared they retracted their claims about you. Its good that you returned though, I doubt with the state that the galaxy is at now we could defend ourselves from these Reapers.'
'So Shepard are the rumours true? Are you in a relationship with your Quarian crew member, Tali'Zorah?' Emily Wong asked.
Tali came on screen and comfirmed it, 'So son,' Hannah thought, 'This is Tali, I like her, and I'm happy that you have finally gotten together with her. I'm happy for you, and for her. I thought those rumours were true and now the whole galaxy knows it. But how will the galaxy take it I wonder?'
Hannah watched the broadcast and when that horrible reporter Jilani came in unexpectedly she was furious that she had just barged her way into Emily's interview with her son. But then before Hannah knew it the problem was solved, she had heard that her son had punched Jilani out not once but twice before but this time it was her son's crewmember and girlfriend Tali that had punched Jilani out. Hannah was surprised that that sweet Quarian girl could do something like that. Hannah started too really like Tali and she hadn't even met her yet. After the interview finished Hannah thought to herself, "Revan you really know how to pick them."

The Reaction of Urdnot Wrex

Wrex was on his chair in the Urdnot compound on Tuchanka, he was reading the profile of Urdnot Grunt, when a Krogan from another clan came to see him. He put down the datapad and looked at the newly arrived Krogan. His clan markings indicated that he had come from clan Weyrloc.
"State your business here Weyrloc," Wrex said in a calm but threatening tone.
"I am Weyrloc Dra," Dra said, "I have come to join your clan. Clan Weyrloc is falling after your human friend Shepard and that new Krogan of yours Grunt came and destroyed our Salarian scientist."
"So you think you can just come here and join our clan," Wrex said as he stood up and approached Dra "join our clan and mate with our females?"
"Yes," Dra said as he dropped down and knelt before Wrex, "please I have just been a scout for clan Weyrloc. I am willing to give myself over to your clan fully. I came unarmed to show you my loyalty to your clan."
Wrex stood there looking down at the kneeling Krogan before him, "You can join on one condition," Wrex said.
"Anything," Dra replied.
"Bring in the prisoner," Wrex said. A Krogan with the clan markings of clan Uvenk, was brought out, he was clapped in chains and had a scar over his left eye. "This is a traitor to clan Urdnot. I want you to take this knife and kill him."
"What," the Uvenk Krogan said, "if it wasn't for your human friend Shepard, Wrex. You would be dead now and I would be where you are."
"Shut up," Wrex said and kicked the Uvenk Krogan in the jaw, "Gatatog, if you think you could kill Shepard then you are more stupid than you look. Kill him now." Wrex said and put the knife at Dra's feat.
Dra picked up the knife hesitantly, but just before he stabbed Gatatog, Gatotog said, "Wait, if you are going to kill me. Then let me at least maintain some of my honour. Let me fight this whelp to."
"Very well Gatatog," Wrex said, "but regardless of who wins this battle, you are still going to become Varren chow."
The fight was quick and short, Dra had made a deep cut across Gatatog's throat. Before Wrex could make Dra's initiation into clan Urdnot complete. A news cast came in from over the loud speakers.
'So Shepard are the rumours true? Are you in a relationship with your Quarian crew member, Tali'Zorah?' Emily Wong's voice asked.
'…yes, we are together," Tali's voice said.
"Huh, look at that," Wrex said distracted, "not surprised though, Shepard always did seem like he had something for that Quarian. I've never seen a stronger Quarian than that Tali before."
"DIE!!!" Dra suddenly yelled at Wrex, but Wrex quickly dodged the stab and grabbed Dra's arm holding the knife. After a quick twist there was the sound of cracking bones and Wrex suddenly threw Dra over his back and he landed and rolled into the Varren fight pit just as a couple of Krogan's released their Varren into the pit.
One of the Varren was Urz and after a quick yell from Dra and the sound of a Varren dying. Urz hopped back out of the pit, blood on his jaws and claws, and was gnawing on the arm of the Dra.
"That's a good boy, Urz," Wrex said and sat back down on his chair and continued reading the datapad on Grunt as a few Krogan came and took the corpse of Gatatog away.

The Reaction of Kal'Reager

Kal'Reager was traveling through the galaxy aboard a ship with several Quarian soldiers that were under his command. They had just accomplished their mission but they had lost several of their friends on the mission and had paid a human ship to take them to the Citadel so that they could go home.
The ship they were on had all the monitors on a news cast that was about to show some human reporter with news on a human soldier. Kal noticed that one of the human females on the ship in the area they were in kept looking at him but when he looked the girl looked away. 'I wonder why that girl keeps looking at me?' Kal thought, 'Oh well, I'll be back home shortly and this trip will be just another memory to me.
The girl was looking at him again, Kal was trying to pay no attention to her, but the girl started to approach him. She was younger than he was he thought, not knowing how human's matured he wasn't sure but he guessed she was a bit younger than Tali. She was quite small her head only came up to his pelvis, and she seemed to be wearing a fairly tattered and dirtied brown shirt and pants and had greasy looking possibly red hair. The girl stopped right in front of him and when he looked down at her she said, "Um, Mister, are you a Quarian?"
"I am," Kal said looking down at her.
"Are you a soldier?" she asked.
"I am," Kal replied again starting to feel awkward.
"Did you know my dad?" the girl asked again, "He was a soldier in the Alliance, but he's not with us anymore." She looked down at her feet.
Kal looked around to see if the girl's mother was near but he didn't see any of the human females react to the girl, "Where's you mother?" Kal asked.
"With daddy," the girl said, "but it's alright I'm going to live with my uncle and auntie on the Citadel."
"I'm sorry for your loss," Kal said, "one of my friends recently lost her father as well."
'So Shepard are the rumours true? Are you in a relationship with your Quarian crew member, Tali'Zorah?' Emily Wong's asked as Kal realised that Shepard was the human being interviewed and was surprised to see Tali walk into view and confirm the question.
"Tali," Kal said aloud, "so after all your loss, you have finally found your happiness with Shepard."
"Is she the friend that you were talking about?" the girl asked suddenly.
"She is," Kal said, "her life had been stricken with loss and hardships for a very long time. But since she met Shepard her life has gotten better, and after his return I'm sure she started to smile for the first time in a very long time."
The ships intercom suddenly came on notifying everyone to get ready for the docking procedure onto the Citadel. The ship shook slightly Kal looked at his men and they departed the ship. The girl was walking beside Kal, after they got out of the shuttle she looked around as a couple of human's came and said, "Elizabeth, welcome to the Citadel."
"Uncle, auntie," the girl said "Mr. Quarian this is my uncle and auntie."
"Sorry if she gave you any trouble, sir," the man said, "she lost her parents on Horizon."
"It's alright," Kal said, "she reminded me of a friend that had been through similar circumstances."
"Thank you for making sure she didn't get into any trouble," the woman said, "perhaps one day everyone will be able to live in harmony like we do on the Citadel."
"Perhaps," Kal said despite knowing how Quarian's were felt across the galaxy, "My men are waiting for me, I must be off now. We are going home ourselves."
"Good bye Mr. Quarian," The girl said as she left with her uncle and aunt.
'I'll have to make contact with Shala'Raan,' Kal thought, 'She'll want to hear this news about Tali and Shepard.'

The Reactions of the Quarian Admiralty Board

Shala'Raan was on the Tonbay in her quarters preparing to discuss the matter of finding a Quarian to take Real'Zorah's place on the Admiralty Board. She was about to leave when her Omni-tool beeped indicated she had a message that had just arrived. She had a few moments so she decided to read the message.
She opened the message and found it was from Kal'Reager. 'Admiral Shala'Raan vas Tonbay, I know I am just a soldier but you being Tali's aunt I figured you would want to hear the news I have just found out. Tali and Shepard have gotten together, to what extent I do know but at least to the point where Tali is Shepard's girlfriend and possibly mate.'
'Oh Tali,' Shala'Raan thought, "I'm not sure how this would make your father feel, but as long as you are happy with Shepard. I'm happy for you.' She then left her quarters to go to Admiralty Board meeting.

The Admiralty board meeting had began and Shala'Raan and all the other Admirals started to discuss who would best fulfill Real'Zorah's place. Shala'Raan said, "Perhaps we should consider giving the position to Tali'Zorah."
"Tali would make a good choice except she is never here," Daro'Xen said, "She is on that human ship the Normandy. Though it is a advance ship we cannot give her the position because she'll never be around when she needs to be."
"Irrelevant," Han'Gerrel said, "Tali has shown that she is committed to helping her people, I'm sure she would drop everything to deal with Admiralty board matters."
"Even is she were to drop everything to deal with Admiralty board matters and come back to the fleet when we called," Daro'Xen said, "She would still only be speaking for the Quarians on the Normandy which is only her."
"Tali would not think of herself and you know it," Shala'Raan said, "she would think what is best for her people…"
"But how would she know what is best for her people if she is never here to see what is going on," Zaal'Koris asked.
"Her friends such as Veetor and Kal'Reager would tell her as well as Arcee," Shala'Raan countered.
"Arcee isn't a Quarian" Daro'Xen said, "I wasn't in favour of her coming to live with us. But I must admit she has made a splendid addition to our ranks."
"I still say that Tali would be the best Quarian to replace her father," Shala'Raan said.
"I agree," Han'Gerrel said.
"But isn't she involved with that human, Captain Shepard?" Daro'Xen said, "what if she dies because they get too intimate. After all they recently announced to the entire galaxy that they are together. So we must assume that they have linked their suit's environments."
"I did not know this," Zaal'Korris said.
"Neither did I," Han'Gerrel said.
"I had just found just before coming to this meeting," Shala'Raan said, "but the fact that Tali is with Shepard should be irrelevant."
"We are not sure she can even have a child with Shepard," Daro'Xen said, "what if she can't have a child with Shepard and does not want to mate with one of her own kind? She might be killing part of our race."
"One quarian not having children isn't going to make a massive difference to our population," Shala'Raan said. "Stop attacking Tali's commitment to her people, Admiral Xen. Do you forget what she did to prove her innocence when she had been accused of heresy? She risked her life to prove that she was innocent."
"What if she doesn't want to become an Admiral?" Han'Gerrel said, "we should consider that and come up with a second candidate for Admiral."
"Agreed," Zaal'Koris said.
"Agreed," Daro'Xen said.
Shala'Raan sighed before saying, "Agreed, but I still say we should ask Tali first is she wants to become Admiral." The rest of the Admiral's nodded in agreement at this comment.