Still Right Here

[Tali’Zorha]

"Well... Mac's worth focusing on." JT said with a smile and nudged her back. "First and only woman I ever wanted to actually be monogamous with."

"That's good. Stay that way. I'm sure she'd cut off some vital pieces of you if you cheated... without permission of course. For a while on Xenex it wasn't super uncommon for couples to have more than one partner. I never liked that but for some it worked out." Tali said and refilled her glass. "You know... in between half of that first drink and this one... I had a thought. You said that a veil was lifted on your mind... it felt like you were connected to something... bigger right?" she sat down and sipped her drink. "I once got Korba so drunk he babbled about something... some 'others' they could do incredible things. I thought he was just having an active imagination. Trying to say something smart to impress a 'dumb' desert girl. But there may have been more to it."

[Mac Calhoun]

“You think there’s more to this new issue with my telepathy then probably stress.” Mac stated as she sipped her drink thoughtfully. Then drained her glass. “Fine if we’re going down this road, I need the bottle. Actually, hand me two.”

[Tali’Zorha]

"Fine with me." Tali gestured and brought a bottle over to Mac. "Good thing the women in our family can hold our booze... "

[Mac Calhoun]

“It’s both a blessing and a curse.” Mac said as she took the cap off and took a swig. “Okay so…assuming these others are what aliens? Then my grandfather wasn’t Xenexian he was one of these Others. That means Mom is part Other and so are Jason, me, and Alex. Maybe Carly but we’ll exclude her for now.”

Mac took a deep swig and she let the information sink in for a moment.

“You said she mentioned something about evolving. What if she’s right? What if blowing up planets is what these Others do?” Mac said as she looked at Tali. “What if we’re all going to end up like that? Jason can be dark sometimes when he’s angry. His telekinesis seems stronger and after that third planet my telepathy feels stronger. What if it’s happening to me now? Shit! And what our grandfather did this?”

"Well she was on a roll until the end." Korba said as he appeared in Tali's quarters leaning against the wall.

[Tali’Zorha]

"KORBA??!" Tali exclaimed and almost dropped her glass, but telekinetically moved it to a table. "What... what... I..."

"I think you broke Tali..." JT said as he looked at the stranger. "Who are you and why shouldn't my wife throw a bottle of very good whiskey at your head?"

[Mac Calhoun]

“Because it would be a waste of time. Time, I don’t have much of.” Korba said as he pushed off the wall and moved over to Tali. He knelt down in front of her, took her hands in his, and squeezed gently. “Tali, my desert flower, the man you knew as Korba is gone. I know it’s complicated, but I can only take this form for a short time. I won’t be able to take it again.”

“I need more alcohol.” Mac said as she went to get up.

“No M’k’n’zy. I put you through too much. I think you deserve a peaceful rest.” Korba said with a kind smile.

“What?” Mac inquired as she grew drowsy and passed out on JT.

[Tali’Zorha]

"I... I just... we need answer Korba... what do you mean you can't take this form again?" Tali looked in his eyes, tears welling up in her's. "It's been a very very long time Korba... please, I need to know. So does she... her brother. Her mother. What... are you... what are we?"

[Mac Calhoun]

“You’re a feisty Xenexian my love.” Korba said as he smiled at her. “Korba was a Xenexian. I’m from a race once known as the Assyrian. We were a psionic race and one day our mental abilities grew beyond our physical forms and we ascended to a higher plan. When we met, I was inhabiting Korba’s body, with his permission of course. I was a bit of rule breaker you could say eventually the Others found out. I suppose you could say I was the reason for Korba’s relationship issues though he did love you as well."

Korba brushed the hair back from her face.

"As for our child...she is Assyrian and Xenexian. I wasn't sure until her mind touched our plane." Korba said and looked away. "Which means the Others are aware of her as well. Her children will be Assyrian. I sensed it in M'k'n'zy though she isn't aware of even a quarter of her power."

[Tali’Zorha]

"That... makes some sense but... what are our kids? Our daughter? Her kids?" Tali gestured to Mac. "I felt her mother... our daughter just destroy planets... entire worlds. The Brethren... no love lost there only killed our people and destroyed our cities, but she... she wiped them out!"

[Mac Calhoun]

“I know.” Korba said as he squeezed her hand. “They wanted her to wipe out Dominus and his entire fleet as well. I managed to stop her and shield her from them but I won’t be able to protect her for forever. Our daughter has always done what she thought was right. Her methods have not always been black and white. I am not defending her actions but there are things that even I can’t see that could be at play. Something that she saw that drove her actions or something Jack saw in his lifetimes.”