Ashley

Liara and Shepard entered the apartment to find Tali on the couch and Ashley kneeling in front of her, holding her hands. She was obviously comforting Tali.

“I just…” Tali said. “I never wanted Shepard to be embarrassed like that and now she’s pissed.”

Ashley’s eyes looked up and spotted Shepard and Liara approaching. Ashley saw Shepard hold up her finger and gulped as Tali kept talking. “Tali, listen to me,” Ashley said. “I’m going to protect you, okay? You’re like a sister to me. We’ve come this far together. We’ll get through this together. And you can drink through that emergency induction port and laugh about it some day.”

At that moment Shepard cleared her throat. Tali jumped and turned. No longer needing her mask, Tali’s face was completely visible. She had a cowl over her hair and wore clothes not too different from her quarian suit. “Shepard,” Tali said, her face frowning already, afraid of what may happen. “Please. I’m sorry.”

“I understand,” Shepard said. “But both of you still went behind my back and betrayed me.”

“I didn’t,” Tali cried. “I didn’t know. Please. Please don’t… strip me… n-naked…”

Ashley stepped in front of Tali. And shielded her from Shepard. “Come on, Skipper, leave Tali out of this.”

Shepard narrowed her eyes. “Do you have a different proposal, Williams?”