Part of her understands that if she ever reaches a point where she doesn't feel anything after a thing like this, she'll have lost herself. But that doesn't stop another part selfishly wishing for it all the same. At Banner's final words, Tali starts, head jerking up to look at him properly. For a long moment, she's silent, struggling with what to say and if she should even say anything. Then she clears her throat.

"Not so long ago, I think I'd have told you that's a horrible thing to say. I'd say of course you shouldn't think that, no matter what." She doesn't even notice the motion as her arms wrap around her ribs like protecting herself, or maybe holding herself together. "But, ah..."

Breathe.

"I destroyed a planet." It's the first time she's said it out loud. "I was on a ship's crew, and that's what we did. We destroyed planets."

Her whole body language is so rigid it's like a touch could knock her over, but she's looking straight at Banner, drawn to her full - if unimpressive - height. "It was called Macha. It was a huge wilderness, and sometimes it felt like the whole planet was alive and it understood what we were doing - the native species, they hated us, the trees would scream like we were torturing them just being there...

"And they're all dead. They're gone."

She meant never to tell anybody - she hasn't told Shepard, hasn't told any of the people she met here, tries not to think about it wherever possible, as much as it is possible not to think about such a thing...but maybe... Maybe it helps.

"I can't tell you it's a horrible thing to say, not anymore." She shrugs, a suddenly deflated sort of gesture. "I get it. Not gamma radiation or your...green problem, not those bits, but I think I get it."