Quarian Emissary: Tali's Intriguing Allure by Jade Gretz

Tali'Zorah nar Rayya vas Normandy, better known as Tali, adjusted her enviro-suit seal as the battered shuttle shuddered through the atmosphere of Fehl Prime. Dust devils danced across the desolate crimson landscape, a morbid ballet against the dying embers of a setting sun. Below, the once-vibrant mining colony resembled a ghost town, its gleaming metal structures now marred by rust and decay.

Tali wasn't here for mineral deposits or trade negotiations. A distress call, coded and cryptic, had originated from Fehl Prime weeks ago. Now, with Shepard grounded due to a faulty Normandy reactor core, Tali, ever the loyal Spectre candidate, volunteered to investigate solo.

Landing with a thump that shook the shuttle, Tali stepped out onto the rust-red sand. The air, thin and metallic, held a strange stillness, broken only by the insistent whine of her suit's filters. Her omni-tool flickered to life, displaying a chilling visual – the colony's population, once at a healthy five hundred, had dwindled to a mere twenty-five. More disturbingly, the missing colonists weren't listed as deceased, but as "unresponsive."

Unease prickled at Tali beneath her suit. This wasn't a simple mining accident. It reeked of something far more sinister. Following pre-programmed coordinates, she navigated the deserted streets. Buildings stood open, personal belongings scattered haphazardly, as if their occupants had vanished in a hurry. A half-eaten breakfast sat on a table, its milk turning sour, an unsettling snapshot of a life abruptly interrupted.

Reaching the colony's central hub, Tali stumbled upon the horrifying source of the distress call. A group of colonists, once human but warped beyond recognition, huddled in a corner, their bodies contorted into grotesque parodies of their former selves. Skin stretched taut over bulging muscles, eyes glowed an unnatural yellow, and guttural growls erupted from their throats. These were no longer humans, but twisted, monstrous creatures driven by a primal hunger.

Tali's heart hammered against her ribs. This wasn't a geth attack, nor a krogan incursion. The signs pointed towards a terrifying possibility – an unknown biological agent, one capable of rewriting human DNA on a cellular level.

Thinking fast, she activated her omni-tool's combat mode, the familiar hum of her shotgun a comfort in the face of this unnatural horror. She couldn't afford to simply neutralize these creatures – their mutated bodies held clues to the virus itself. Stun rounds were her best bet.

The fight was brutal. The mutated humans, devoid of reason, were relentless. Their claws, tipped with bone growths, scraped against her enviro-suit, leaving sparking gashes. One lunged at her, teeth snapping mere inches from her visor. A well-placed stun blast sent it crashing back, its bestial snarls echoing in the metallic hall.

Taking cover behind a dented countertop, Tali caught her breath, her visor flickering with a biohazard warning. The air was thick with spores, microscopic carriers of the virus. She needed a sample, a way to analyze it back on the Normandy.

As if sensing her intent, the creatures surged forward, their mutated forms a grotesque symphony of violence. One, taller and bulkier than the others, slammed into her with a force that sent her tumbling across the floor. Stars swam behind her visor as she scrambled to her feet, adrenaline coursing through her veins.

A desperate idea sparked in her mind. Quarians weren't known for their brute strength, but their agility was legendary. With a burst of speed, she darted towards an open ventilation shaft, her slim figure slipping through the narrow opening just before the monstrous creature could grab her.

The cramped ducts were a nightmare of exposed cables and flickering lights. But they offered an escape route, leading her deeper into the heart of the central hub. Here, she found the colony's medical wing, its automated doors thankfully still operational.

Inside, rows of empty medical pods stood silent. But on a central console, blinking red lights indicated an ongoing analysis. A single pod remained open, its occupant a twisted parody of what was once a doctor. Tali, her stomach churning, found her sample – a vial of viscous green liquid labeled "Patient Zero."

A tremor shook the floor, sending debris raining from above. The horde had found her. But her objective was complete. With the vial securely in her enviro-suit, Tali sprinted towards a hidden maintenance hatch she
...(more at https://www.deviantart.com/jadegretzai).
For more supergirl, chun li, batgirl, tifa, lara croft, wonder woman, rogue and much more, please visit my page at www.deviantart.com/jadegretzai - Thanks for your support :)
https://www.deviantart.com/jadegretzai/art/Quarian-Emissary-Tali-s-Intriguing-Allure-1041250279