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Post by mrstoob on Jan 23, 2013 21:05:23 GMT 1
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Post by mrstoob on Jan 24, 2013 3:08:34 GMT 1
-Prologue-
"It's fitting that this is where we install the last beacon." Ashley comments, her hair greyed by time. Thirty years have passed since they tried and failed to defeat the Reapers.
"Why? What happened here?" asks Sha'li.
Liara looks annoyed by the question.
"Oh Sha'li, don't you ever listen to us? This is where it all began, where Verity was touched by the prothean beacon and we first learned of the Reapers."
"Oh yea, Eden Prime, I remember now."
"I think that if you're going to act as Sha'li's guardian, Ash, you need to work more on her education beyond tactics and small arms."
"To what end? Seems rather pointless now, don't you think?"
"Hmm, well, hmm." Liara cannot really disagree, their eventual demise now inevitable. "I still just wish I knew what happened aboard the Citadel. Why didn't the Crucible work? We know Verity got to Citadel control but... it was like it just didn't fire."
"Come on, Liara, we've been over this a million times."
"Yes... I just hope that the next cycle has better luck with the Crucible. We've added all we learned from the rachni, Conrad, and such, so maybe they will add the final missing element that we overlooked."
"The next cycle will have to take care of itself, we can't worry about that now."
"No, I suppose not. We've done all we can now. It's over, old girl."
"Yup, just running and hiding for the rest of our lives."
"How I wish Verity was here. Not that I would want her to suffer this with the rest of us, but... I still miss her."
A few tears roll down Liara's freckled cheeks.
"Hey, hey, I thought you were okay."
"Oh I don't know, installing this last beacon... it's just reminded me..."
"Are you okay?"
"No. Not really. The finality of this last action, it just brings it all back. I potentially still have centuries to live of this. Alone."
"You're not alone, Liara." Sha'li tries to comfort her, aware that her situation is not entirely dissimilar.
"Thank you, Li." Liara forces a smile at her.
Ashley sees remnants of the desperate look that Liara used to carry after the Normandy SR-1 was destroyed, lost and afraid. They leave the bunker where they have installed Liara's last message to the future.
"Sha'li, head back to the shuttle. We'll be along in a minute."
"Okay, mother."
"You go back too, old girl. I just need a minute to think."
"Oh. Er... okay. Don't be too long, we don't want to get picked up by Reaper forces' scans."
"No, I won't be long. Please, go."
Ashley reluctantly returns to the shuttle. Liara has become increasingly desperate looking on this last installation, releasing the control she has been holding onto to get these final actions done, scattering the beacons across the galaxy to warn the future of the Reapers. Once Ashley and Sha'li are out of sight, Liara allows herself to crumble, tears flowing and her body shuddering. If it wasn't for the need to install these beacons, she would have given up a long time ago.
"Is Liara okay?" Sha'li asks as they walk back to the shuttle.
"I really don't know. But I really hope so. She didn't cope well when Shepard died on the Normandy and I'm seeing that look in her eyes again."
"Hmm, I hope she's okay, she's like my aunt now. And you two are funny together. I like how she calls you 'old girl'."
"Oh you do, do you? I might be older and greyer than I used to be, but I'll still put you over my knee, 'young girl'."
Upon reaching the shuttle, they look back over the valleys of this still green and lush planet, then Sha'li puts her head on Ashley's shoulder and her arm around her.
"I do still miss mother and Auntie Mo though."
"I know, Li, I know. We've all lost so much, but we have each other now, don't we?"
"Yes, I'm glad you found me all those years ago."
"You wouldn't stop crying at first! When Liara tried to take you to the infirmary..."
"Yes, yes, I've heard this dozens of times. Do you have to embarrass me so?"
"That's what moms are for!"
They smile at each other and Ashley kisses Sha'li on the forehead, then they just enjoy the beautiful view of Eden Prime.
"Blue Angel!" The desperate war cry from Liara comes echoing across the land.
"No. Jeez no!"
"What is it?" Sha'li asks, but Ashley is already sprinting as fast as she can back towards Liara. A single gun shot rings out. Ashley falls to her knees when she hears it.
"Oh Liara, no..."
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Post by mrstoob on Jan 24, 2013 3:09:04 GMT 1
Chapter 1
Ashley remains on her knees, staring at the dirt and grass beneath her.
"Mother? Mother?" Sha'li calls after her, frightened by these sudden and rapid events. "What's happening?"
Ashley doesn't hear her. A sickening feeling sits on her chest, she's not sure if she wants to vomit or not or if it would even help. She feels so stupid and is so angry with herself. She curses herself that she didn't stay with Liara. That look, that haunting, lost look that she had, she should have realised. Ashley didn't know explicitly, but Verity had suggested that Liara had reached that level of desperation in the wake of the Normandy SR-1's destruction. She could believe it, she had seen Liara fresh from the secure unit and the dark, blank stare she carried. So why didn't she see it? Ashley slowly stands. Afraid of what she will find, the walk to return to the bunker's entrance where they left Liara is at a funeral pace. Ashley takes a few shaky steps, her shoulders slumped and head dropped when another gun shot rings out.
"Liara?" Ashley looks up towards the bunker and begins to run again. "Liara!"
She calls back with a pointed finger to her young asari daughter. "Sha'li! Stay there."
"Yes, mother..." Sha'li replies timidly, her hands tight against her chest, fighting tears. It is always upsetting for children to see a parent distressed and the young asari is quite confused as to what is going on. As is the parent.
Ashley rounds the large, grassy mound which forms the bunker's entrance to see two Husks laying dead on the ground and two more floating in a singularity. She pulls her rifle from her back and strafes around to get a sight of the entrance. Now in view, Liara is standing with her pistol aimed at the floating Husks.
"You took your sweet time!" she shouts at Ashley. "Didn't you hear me?"
"What?" Ashley is overjoyed but at the same time, infuriated. "But... we don't use that any more!"
"Oh. Sorry. But I was just standing here, thinking about Verity and the old days when those Husks appeared out of nowhere. It was just sort of... instinctive." Liara says quite lackadaisically, her previous low mood dispersed by the adrenaline of the sudden attack.
"Yooouuuu... stupid. Cow!" Ashley says, quite annoyed but unable to fight a smile.
"What? What's wrong with you, Ash?"
The life now crushed from the Husks in the singularity, they fall. The dark biotic orb disperses and Liara holsters her pistol. Ashley returns her weapon to her back, and as soon as she has goes to Liara, initiating a squeezing hug.
"Oof! Steady on, old girl. I don't mean to be funny but... are getting early onset dementia or something?"
Ashley steps back out of the hug, smiles at Liara then punches her upper arm.
"Ow! What was that for?!" she says, rubbing her now dead arm.
"For being the best damn friend a girl could ask for. Now let's get out of here before any more of these things turn up. Where did they come from anyway? There's been no Reaper drops while we've been here."
"Who knows. Remnants from a previous attack? But you're right, we shouldn't hang around to find out. What? Why do you keep looking at me like that? You're weird, Whore Corps."
"Oh! The old favourites are out, eh? Arbuckle."
"Yummy Mummy."
"Fatty."
"Ashley Verner."
"Blue Angel." Ashley smiles.
"Spectre Williams." Liara curtseys.
"Miss Prothean Expert."
"Hey! Oh come on." Liara indicates that they head back to the shuttle.
They link arms and head back towards Sha'li, Ashley beaming a smile and Liara looking confused and a little concerned about her friend. Upon seeing their return, Sha'li runs to them and throws her arms around them both.
"Is everything okay?" Sha'li asks.
"What is wrong with everyone today? It was only a few Husks." Liara says.
"Yes, Li." Ashley replies. "Everything's fine. Just fine."
"Well..." Liara says. "Reapers notwithstanding. Come on, Garrus will be getting worried. You know how much of a grump he is these days."
"Garrus Grump! Garrus Grump!" Sha'li now sings as she skips back to the shuttle.
"I think she's girl squad material!" Liara jokes.
"Enough girl squad for today..."
After the Normandy had picked up Liara and Ashley from London and initially re-joined the fleet, a message had come through to them from an asari vessel. They had Sha'li on board. She was supposed to have been on her way to her new adoptive parents but this had been made impossible by the war. In the thick of battle, the child was transferred to the Normandy. Ashley had insisted and it seems so had Sha'li and the owners of the ship were happy to have her off their hands by the sound of it. She's a Williams already. Ashley had thought at the time.
Ashley is with Liara in the XO's office. They have been silent for a while, Liara working on her console, still finalising her essays and papers for her own diversion. Ashley just gazes out of a window, seemingly deep in thought. Now in her fifties, she no longer carries the sultry look she did during the Reaper War, but she is still a handsome woman. Ashley has returned to her old tied up bun hairstyle and Liara thinks she looks quite distinguished in this style with the grey hair.
"Are you alright, Ash?" Liara asks. "You've not been yourself since yesterday on Eden Prime."
Ashley is already uncomfortable with this subject.
"I..." she begins, but realising it might sound stupid. "On Eden Prime, when you shouted 'Blue Angel' and I heard the first gun shot, I thought..." she tries to think of a way of stating it.
"You thought...?" Liara begins as she turns away from the console to give her attention then it dawns on her. "Oh! You thought I'd..."
"Yea. Sorry."
"Ashley Williams, I would never do that to you. Not now. I know I've had troubles in the past but... not now. Not like this. Is that why you've been acting so odd?"
"Partly..." Ashley says, spurred on by this assertion about herself by Liara.
"What?" Liara says.
"It made me realise. I don't think I could cope without you, Liara."
"Oh come on, old girl. I think a Spectre can cope with all this without an asari archaeologist. It's not like I have a vast information network any more. And the..."
"Th-That's not what I mean." Ashley interrupts with an uncharacteristic fumble followed by a deep breath and a long whistling exhale. "I'm getting on, Liara, I don't have demanding needs or anything. It'd just be nice to know, there's someone who really cares and I can care about."
"You have Sha'li?" Liara says, bewildered and not hearing what she is actually saying.
"I don't mean like that."
"Oh. Oh!" Liara's eyes widen, Ashley thinks initially in horror at the prospect and her heart sinks.
"Sorry. I shouldn't have said anything." Ashley moves towards the door.
"Don't go, Ash. I just... I had no idea!" Liara says as she rushes to her, then takes her friend's hands.
"Neither did I until I thought I'd lost you. We've gotten even closer these last few years, Liara. You're probably the closest I've been to anyone. When I thought you'd... well, it felt like my heart emptied. I think I knew then that I had to say something. Sorry, I'm no good with this stuff."
"No, you're doing fine. I just don't know, Ash... We've been friends for so long."
Popping her head up for a look when gun fire pings around, Ashley has no problem with that. Death? That's just an occupational hazard. This? This is the most frightening thing she's ever faced. To express her new found feelings, Ashley fears that it might destroy her, or Liara for that matter, if it blows up in their faces and ruins the friendship they have. But if you can't take a risk now, she thinks, then when can you?
"I know you'll never forget Shepard and no-one could ever replace her, but I've feelings for you Liara... do you think you could ever, you know, have feelings for me?"
"Well... not just at the drop of a hat like that but..."
"Yes?" Ashley says, then feels herself warm with further embarrassment at the breathy anticipation of her reaction to the word 'but'.
"Give me time, Ash. I know that might sound a little unfair in the circumstance, to ask for time when we might have so little but... Wow. Come on. This is a shock. Going from platonic to... well, anything else. It's a big step. I've loved you as a friend for so long. For that to become... more..."
"Yea. Fair enough." Ashley concedes with a smile but not without a little sadness as her head drops a little. She didn't know what to expect from Liara, she just knew she had to say something. Yes, it would have been perfect if Liara had just thrown her arms around her and declared that she had feelings too but, that she is even considering it is more than Ashley could have asked for.
Liara smiles her lovely smile at her as she lifts Ashley's chin with a finger, then they stop and gaze at one another a moment as Liara traces a cheek. They know each other's faces, they've been friends for so long but now, there is something new there, something not seen before. The desire in Ashley stirs something in Liara and she returns the look. There is a twitch from Liara's head, followed closely by Ashley in reaction. They slowly and tentatively bring their lips together, briefly kiss then Liara pulls out but still smiling, more so from the eyes now. She didn't pull out in revulsion but that it was enough for now.
It is so long since Liara has felt warmth like this and thirty years have passed since Verity died. Liara never thought it would, but the pain has lessened slightly with the years. Frustrating to Liara as the counsellor's clichéd words ring in her head. She doesn't intend to lead Ashley on but she needed to know with a kiss if there was any chance for them. Verity and she had been quite tactile and physical in showing their love and though Ashley is getting on years, it is still something Liara would want in any relationship to at least some extent. She felt the warmth she needs from Ashley and Liara thinks this is something that could work; she already knows she loves the person, now she thinks she might be able to love the woman. It may take some time but as Ashley said, her needs are not demanding so they can take it slowly if they do indeed pursue it.
Ashley pulls Liara back to hug her deeply, strongly, squeezing her to feel the warmth of her body. When they finally release the embrace, Ashley still looks coy and embarrassed. Liara softly tweaks Ashley's nose with her fingers, causing a girlish smile on the old girl's face.
"And I thought I was the shy one." Liara gently laughs, causing further scarlet hues then Ashley's face drops.
"What?" Liara asks.
"Sha'li. What the hell would we tell her?"
"That she has two mothers now? I doubt it would make much difference to her at her age. It's not like we'd turn to her and say, 'oh by the way, we jump in the sack from time to time', is it?"
Ashley internally flinches a little at this brash assessment by Liara. She liked it but it was uncharacteristic of Liara to her and a surprise. A side she doesn't know?
"You mean...?" she dares not finish what Liara implied.
Liara eyes Ashley for a moment with mock-suspicion.
"Yes!" she finally says with an affirmative nod.
"Oh Liara!"
"Slowly though and I don't think we should tell anyone just yet. Not to hide it, I just think we should see if this will work first but... this is still... weird!"
"Just like you! And it's wonderful, just like you. This should work out just fine then." Ashley beams.
"Well then..."
"Yea!" Ashley says with a little punch in the air and more gusto than she actually meant.
There is an awkward pause.
"I got a ship to run!" Ashley finally says, trying to keep the same level of gusto as though she meant it. "I better go make sure Beefy and Estaban aren't just goofing off down there."
"Okay, old girl. See you later. Drop by when you're free. I'm sure we have plenty to talk about."
"Sure, that'd be nice. See you later, Liara."
Once her door shuts, Liara looks concerned.
"EDI?"
"Yes, Liara?"
"I don't know if you heard any of that but..."
"I did not hear a thing, Liara."
"Hm. Okay then."
"But I am pleased for you. For you both."
"Hmmm."
If she had to be truthful, Ashley was always jealous of what Liara and Shepard had. Not vindictively, just a genuine want to have someone to be that close with, to share a life with. She wasn't jealous of Liara specifically, she hadn't thought of her that way before her recent feelings stirred. It's just that the galaxy has a funny way of playing with its occupants. Verity already knows this.
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Post by mrstoob on Jan 24, 2013 3:09:41 GMT 1
Chapter 2
"Liara!" Verity bolts up in her bed. The rest of the people in the bunks are used to this, her terrors and screams in the night. She is not the only one anyway as others murmur away. Now awake, she gets out of bed in her vest and knickers, with little room for modesty on a military vessel, and heads to the kitchen for something to drink. She's kept the short hair and so far, its colour remains though a little paler than it used to be. She goes to scratch her head, yawning and knocks herself with the biotic dampener on her wrist, forgetting it is there, then looks at the one on her other wrist and mutters under her breath. Her category are pretty free to roam within these confines.
When Verity had awoken properly in London, it seems that her journey to the Citadel had been a journey only in her mind, she assumes under Reaper influence, also assuming they didn't beam her back down to London again. Why would they do that? That really would make no sense. She has tried to make sense of it as best she can, though why they didn't just kill her where she lay and continue the harvest, she doesn't know apart from possibly the influence of the Crucible. Perhaps they just thought it unnecessary. The Reapers didn't seem at all interested in the relays in this cycle, not like the information they had about the previous ones from Vigil, despite their ability to seemingly just control and transport the Citadel on a whim once the truth of the Crucible became known to them, so it is difficult to say what their motivations were or still are in this cycle.
The confrontation with the Illusive Man and Anderson, were they trying to make her kill herself? Did she fight that with her mind? When that failed, were they trying to force her to make the choices that suited their needs best, choices that for some reason they could not enact themselves? They did not seem to need Verity's physical presence for whatever they were planning. Her head hurts when she thinks about it, but think about it she must to make sense of it. Can anything that ghostly figure said be believed? The structure of the Citadel itself seemed familiar but not the Citadel, she wonders herself if that even makes sense. A journey across her own mind. Yes. That. That is what it felt like. Another piece of the puzzle or just a red herring? Verity will probably never know the answers to these questions, she thinks that there was only one person in the galaxy who could have helped her sort that mess out. But she was thankful for the last platoon able to escape London that spotted her unconscious body, partially hidden under the rubble. She still has the urge to live for some reason. Maybe it's the buzzing in her head.
One thing is certain though. She was indoctrinated for at least some time and while she is able to fight Reaper influence more strongly than most, she is considered a risk, still feeling the maddening buzzing in her head. This craft houses many like her and other sundry criminals that the military is unsure what to do with. In the prothean empire, they would have been slaughtered already but the combined fleet is aware its forces will dwindle fast and they can't afford to throw away hardened, experienced combatants. Besides, martial law is one thing, humanity is another and compassion won out. It had been tense among the fleets during that initial time, each wary of the others as the indoctrinated spies and turn-coats began to emerge. Some of the indoctrinated had even gone willingly to the machines, seeing themselves as spiritual pilgrims, seeking perfection.
Eventually though, it was the geth whose voice swayed the tide and the indoctrinated were spared. The geth were allowed to analyse and disseminate from the indoctrinated and were able to say that not all are completely lost. The geth representative, Qa'Neen spoke at length on the Destiny's Ascension, the new home of politics for the fleet, that not all those who have come under the influence of the Reapers are absolutely so. The sweeping hand of slaughter is no better than the Reapers, it argued and few argued back. Admiral Hackett found himself playing devil's advocate though, on the dangers of allowing the indoctrinated ones to live, just to be certain that all knew the risks and were prepared for them. The safety of the fleet comes first and they do not need enemies from within, and on that point, few argued back.
The quarian flotilla knows the importance of protecting the only home they have. They have provided massive support to the combined fleet, maximizing capacities, enhancing engines, air filtering, all the things they learned as the nomads of space. The live ships they have remaining are barely able to provide nutrition to themselves and the turians but they are stretching as much as they can. They had also reluctantly sanitised several for the other species to farm, ensuring that no cross contamination could occur. The combined fleet had seed banks from each species to ensure their future. Even if victorious, it was unknown what state the galaxy would be in so this preparation was made. The fleet is fed but still hungry; no-one starves. The salarians and geth are assisting the quarians to further improve that which they have already learned, causing the occasional flare up of passion, but then salarians do not suffer fools gladly and to them, most are fools. The rapidity with which salarians age means there are few left who experienced the war first hand and lineage is no longer a concern among the majority, though there is still an elitist element who hold on hard to such traditions to keep their culture alive.
The humans, turians and krogan provide what they can, usually in the form of manpower and transport and the krogan have tempered their breeding. The blue Alliance shuttles viewed almost like the black taxis of England, their presence now so familiar and welcome. It took some in the fleet to see the benefits themselves before they allowed it, but the geth integrated with ship computer systems to again improve capabilities and efficiencies where they could. In these most desperate of times, Verity has truly united the species of a galaxy. Despite Hackett trying to persuade her otherwise, Verity insisted she be treated no differently to any other inmate. No special treatment, no luxury cabin, just leave her be. She receives fewer plaudits around the fleet as time goes on and the events of the war become history. To laud the heroes now, it is felt would be counter-productive for morale in the wake of failure and the message of survival is now told. Verity is just thankful for the occasional visit that Hackett is able to make.
It is assumed that the Normandy perished and Liara with it but the Charon relay was still open, as it was when the Reapers allowed the combined fleet into Sol in the first place and even allowed their escape. Odd that they are so inefficient in this cycle that the exit was not blocked, an obvious and easy task. The Normandy escaped early before the Reapers began their systematic process, taking total control of the relays once the attack was abandoned, to make islands of each cluster. The crew of the Normandy didn't abandon their Commander but there was no reason to be destroyed; they needed to get the beacons up and all was lost anyway. Most of the squad aboard had really been on this mission for the last three years and it was agreed, Shepard would want the beacons up. This was their mission now, still the same one, just different parameters. Now stopping the Reapers meant warning the future, it needed to be done and so they ran when the Reaper nations turned their full attention on the fleet.
The Normandy crew soon had to accept that with the Reapers free to start their harvest proper, there was little hope for anyone remaining in the Sol system, no matter where they were. They had to accept that Shepard was dead, even Liara. Once the remaining combined fleet jumped through the relay to escape total slaughter and the Normandy was not among them, the worst was assumed and later, honours laid. They were only one cluster ahead but there was no way to know, communications over such distances almost impossible under the Reaper influence.
Ashley took command of the Normandy and despite the circumstance, it was accepted she would take this role as senior officer aboard an Alliance vessel. The transition was quite easy, all knew her already and she took her lead from Verity as there is no purpose served in officiousness, certainly not in these circumstance. Not that Ashley couldn't roar with the best of them if she needed to, James needing the occasional dressing down for not pulling his weight in domestic matters. Minor things. They all respected her authority and continue to. Food usually becomes the issue of the day. They supply from appropriate planets when they can, but Tali and Garrus' supplies are always somewhat lower than the rest. With the help of data left in the Normandy's databanks by Mordin, which he always intended to come back to at some point but circumstance wouldn't allow it, and EDI's further analysis assisted by the late Doctor Chakwas, Tali now lives without her suit. It took everyone some time to get used to this but probably less for Garrus.
It took a while for any of the fleets to realise that this was it, whatever the Crucible does, it's either doing it now or it's failed. The horror of the realization that it was a straight fight with the Reapers threw the combined fleet into chaos and it quickly became apparent that the Reapers would annihilate them with numbers and ease. The escaping fleets were only able to perform one jump to the Exodus Cluster before control of the relays was taken so they fled into the space between clusters. No Reapers caught them, assuming they gave chase.
The fleet is now approaching the Fortuna system of the Horsehead Nubula after their long FTL journey; scouts report that no Reapers currently occupy this system but they have no idea how long that may last, particularly not if their recent discovery is anything to go by. If they stay away from the relay system of Pax, then there should be no surprises at least. All are thankful for the opportunity to find resources and restock what they can. Scanning is too dangerous and they have records and surveys of the majority of systems to avoid this, another measure put in place for whatever the result of the attack on Sol was. They know that the Reapers will make their assault one day, they just don't know when. It is accepted across the fleet their demise is inevitable but there is no point in bringing hell to your door when you can avoid it.
If Verity knew the Normandy and Liara were safe, she would not allow her incarceration so easily. Even then though, to FTL from system to system would take an immense amount of time. Regardless, needle in a haystack does not even begin to describe the task. She has found that shining needle before but back then, Udina and Anderson provided directions and a magnet.
She walks along the corridor to the communal kitchen and to the 'fridge. She takes out a pitcher of water and fills a tumbler that was on the draining board and drinks, ever aware of the cameras' eyes on her. A door's buzzer that usually indicates a new inmate echoes through the corridors and she walks to the large doorway to the canteen area to see who the new person is. This new man fights against the two guards but with little effect, they just continue to roughly frog march him in then throw him to the ground in the canteen. He kneels on the floor with the deranged look on his face, the one that all have come to know. Fully indoctrinated. Total control. A brutal and mentally violent process. He would be going to solitary.
"Who's he?" she asks.
"Just another nut job." a guard answers.
Verity's head buzzes more intensely now, looking at this man's face who returns the look expectantly, as though he knows her, though she doesn't know him. He beckons her with his twisted face, gurning, and she wants to listen to him. A sharp pain strikes in her head with a mechanical sound as an image enters her mind. It takes her breath for a moment. Then again. It's a familiar but painful feeling. Each time is particularly uncomfortable but she wants to see these images, she knows there is something there she must see. Must. Star system. Withstand. Planet. Pain. Reaper. Must. Reaper? Withstand. Not a Reaper? Pain. What?
Ignoring the guards, she rushes to this slavering fool and grabs him by his shirt and the room behind him falls away. A heavy weight sitting on her chest makes it difficult to breathe. Darkness. Cold. Bitter cold. The man is now sober, serious and standing before her, somehow highlighted from the darkness though there are no light sources to do so. He utters two words in a deep, penetrating, emotionless voice.
"A TOKEN."
The room returns behind him as does his madness and she gasps, able to breathe again, new confusing visions in her mind.
"What do you know? Hey! What do you know?" Verity becomes increasingly angry as he just laughs a disturbing, manic laugh, drooling.
"Stand down, nut job!" a guard shouts, flicking his baton out from its collapsed state but Verity doesn't hear him.
"Where is it? Where is she? Do they know? Answer me! Do they know?" Verity demands, raising a fist in anger but the guards are already moving in to stop her, a thwack and she blacks out among laughs.
"Hero, my ass."
"Yea! Hahaha! Just another nut job." a dim sounding colleague joins.
These guards are only in their twenties and weren't there for the war. 'Nut job', their derisory term for the unfortunates who have succumbed to the Reapers' control. No matter how desperate the circumstance, there are always those willing to be a cunt; and enjoy it.
"What are you reading?" Liara asks as she sits next to Ashley on her bed and puts her hand around her waist and head on her shoulder. They have become comfortable with such tactile displays of affection and Ashley has found the warmth that her life was missing.
"'Lady Chatterley's Lover' by DH Lawrence. It's about this well-to-do lady type having it off with her gamekeeper, the social class difference and how that affects them, particularly in the period of Earth this is set in. It's quite saucy in places, you should give it read. I'm over-simplifying maybe, but... you know me! Woman of crappy words!"
"Oh Ash, don't put yourself down. You're very well read. And 'saucy', you say? Hmm, I hope I don't have the same trouble with you that I had with Verity."
"What was that?"
"She was insatiable at times."
"Do I really want to hear this?"
"What? Oh. Sorry. I don't think about... we're just getting along so well and... sorry. I'll be more mindful."
"No. That's okay, Liara. I know we're not quite at that stage and I can never begrudge you talking about Shepard. I mean, people do have pasts."
"Anyway, old girl, it's you and me now. There's little that can change that!"
"Oh! By the way. Sha'li. I've been thinking." Ashley says, with a playful and knowing look.
"Yeeees?" Liara says, already suspicious.
"She already has a mom, you know. Me. And as you're asari, and she's asari, then really, you'll have to be 'dad'. Okay? Good. I'm just trying to honour your traditions." and she pats Liara's leg patronisingly.
Liara throws herself back in laughter and pulls a pillow over her face to hide her giggling, then throws the pillow at Ashley.
"Hey!"
"Now I know why this is easy." Liara smiles.
"Hm?"
"You sound exactly like Verity sometimes."
"Oh."
"Oh! I don't mean that I think that you're... I didn't mean this is just a... oh, that didn't come out right at all. Sorry, Ashley. I didn't mean to compare..." Liara is quite frustrated she can't get out what she means, she doesn't want to break this already.
"Calm down, Liara. Don't have a fit every time you speak your mind."
"You're right, I'm sorry. But I want to say, to tell you, so you know, so there's no doubts, I don't see you as a replacement. We can't try this if this isn't clear. It's me and you, okay? I know you're Ashley. And it's Ashley I want."
"Liara..." is all Ashley can respond to this, quite overwhelmed.
Liara strokes the back of Ashley's neck as she now leans over the asari, stroking her arm, then her face changes to one more serious. Liara pulls Ashley towards her to kiss her, and with some passion. Ashley is surprised by the soft, moist tongue that glides across her lips then beyond them when it causes her mouth to accept it but it feels good. Their embrace feels right. Liara lies back down and smiles again. Ashley feels the warmth rising over herself, her senses heightened in arousal at what they just shared and the sight of the beautiful asari looking back at her with that in her eyes.
"Did anyone see you come in here?" Liara whispers.
"Uh... no. I don't think so. Why?"
"Stay with me tonight."
"Oh. You sure, Liara? We don't have to..." Ashley begins.
"Shut up, Ashley, old girl." Liara says, pulling her in again.
Verity enters the small interview room and as soon as she enters, salutes with full honour to Admiral Hackett who is quite aged, but not without influence and in his mind at least, he is still 'career'; a mind that is still sharp despite his years. A guard stands with her and also enters.
"Admiral, sir!" Verity shouts.
"Come in, Shepard, at ease, sit down. Do I have to say it every time? There's no need for all that. Sergeant, leave us." he dismisses with a wave.
"But, sir..." the guard protests.
The Admiral stands.
"That's an order, son." he barks.
"Sir!" and the guard leaves.
Hackett sits back down and his face is stern and serious.
"Sir?"
"There's been a development, Commander." he begins. She sits up and pays attention, this doesn't sound like a friendly chat, almost like a... brief?
The admiral brings up his omni-tool and activates some images. Reapers. Destroyed Sovereign class Reapers, floating in space. She has seen destroyed Reapers before but not in these numbers. Dozens. She sits back now, already pondering while Hackett continues, viewing the images and just listening.
"We found these floating around between systems. If you look at the damage..." he zooms into a section of one image, overlays showing impact depths, diameters, heat density and other information on the damage, "it's nothing we could produce. The geth have speculated that only the Reapers themselves can produce this kind of yield but... well, we're stumped. Is there another power at work here? But it's not just that. The attack on these Reapers has been analysed. This was visceral. Not just to ensure they were destroyed. Whoever or whatever did this tore them up after the fact, like in a rage. Like to make sure they weren't ever coming back. We had to ask your opinion, Commander. What do you make of all this?"
She looks at Hackett with a smile he is unsure of. Verity laughs quite heartily, some of her visions becoming clearer while she has been listening.
"It's war, Admiral!"
"The war is lost, Commander. And I don't see what's so damn funny." the Admiral is unimpressed with Verity's lack of seriousness on this matter.
"No, not us. Them. The Reapers. They've been at war with each other from the start. One of them sent an olive branch to me." she laughs again.
"What? And what's so damn funny?"
"Don't you see what this means?" she excitedly says. "There's hope. We have hope. And the olive branch, it was the Normandy. They let me know that the Normandy survived. Liara survived. They're still out there."
"That's a lot... of... unknowns... How do you even know any of this? And what's this 'olive branch'?" Hackett demands.
Verity looks away, with a little guilt, "They sent a message to me."
"They... oh... Commander... are we to risk the fleet on dreams from the unknown?"
Verity turns her eye back to him, not without some anger. She controls it and looks away again.
"You sound like the Council. I know what I saw." she sneers.
"What they showed you." he corrects but she isn't interested. "Alright then. Have it your way. Have we anything else to discuss?"
"I need to find out, sir."
"And you need to understand, Commander, selling this to the combined fleet? That's not going to be easy. Indoctrinated sources? There'd be an outrage."
"There's an element of Reapers out there that want to talk. Let me talk to them. Whether it's the prothean cypher or whatever happened in London, I can take it more than most. They know if they came anywhere near the fleet there'd just be all out war. Let me take a lone ship out and see. Please."
"Like I said, this isn't going to be easy to sell but if you think this is an actual possibility..."
Liara.
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Post by mrstoob on Jan 24, 2013 3:11:23 GMT 1
Chapter 3
She feels like the naughty girl that used to sneak extra sessions in on the biotic range, but the penalties for getting caught this time are more harsh. Verity tries to keep her head down in the canteen queue, attempting to gain a second meal. Despite the 'ifs' and 'buts' that came with it, the positive noises that Admiral Hackett made about her assertions means she needs to prepare. The removal of the biotic dampeners will not be enough to harness her power, she needs to bulk up.
The meeting with Hackett was mixed to say the least.
"I've made discreet enquiries among select representatives and the response so far is favourable. That's as much as I have right now but it's a step in the right direction, Commander."
"Well, good! But... I still have worries."
"Oh?"
"The Citadel AI."
"You were de-briefed, Commander. We are not going over this again. We can't accept the word of that thing."
"But its logic was sound. We can't ignore what it said out of hand."
"Commander."
"What if we make this deal with the devil and they're right? We're back at square one. Only worse because there'll be no next cycle to stop them. Ever."
"If it's right, then why didn't the Reapers just do that themselves. Huh? They're the exact machine AI it was talking about. They could have just wiped out organics in the first instance and never looked back, but they didn't. We can't accept the word a machine."
"You trust the geth, don't you?"
"They're not like machines..."
"Oh. So it's your perception that gives them worth? I think that AI was on to something."
"That's not what I meant. The geth have been invaluable to the combined fleet."
"Oh I see, so they're useful to you. Hm. Nice." Verity says, almost enjoying this now, releasing her frustrations on the Admiral. Anyone else, Hackett would have given them both barrels but Shepard deserves his ear, even when it's not something he wants to hear. Friends can do that for each other but there is always that element of respect; he is the Admiral, she is his subordinate. Despite her facetious remarks and his allowance of it, they both know that.
"We'll conclude this another time, Commander. I can clearly see that you're... unfocussed today."
"I need to get out there, Admiral. I know the answers are there."
"I know you're restless. I'm doing all I can. I'll see you when there's any developments. And stay positive. If this comes off... well, I don't need to tell you of the dangers."
"Sir!" Verity stands and salutes.
The chef slops some mash on her portioned tray then sees it is her and purposefully places his attention elsewhere, as though looking at her highlights her to the guards.
"Shepard." he whispers out of the side of his mouth. "You crazy? They'll kick your ass if they see you again."
Verity smiles and whispers back, also without looking at him, "They can try, Billy boy, they can try."
Her tray filled, she goes as casually as she can to one of the tables and sits to eat. She eats quickly to hopefully minimise the risk.
"Shepard!" she hears a guard shout from her rear with the familiar sound of the expanding baton. "How many times...?"
She spins out of her chair and stands with one foot forward, prepared. Seeing the challenge, the guard swings his baton from above his head and she slides the lead foot forward and raises her arms to 'catch' his forearm, grabbing it tightly and pulling to keep the momentum. A swing over her hip into the table's edge and the guard is prone, clutching the ribs that impacted with the table. She stays low in her stance as another guard approaches.
"Hey! Nut job!" he shouts as he comes with his baton.
He tries a barn door of a swing. She quickly reverses stance to block him at the forearm and the leading arm getting close into his defences as her elbow digs hard into his solar plexus, then smacks back across with the back of her fist then up into his throat, all in one fluid motion. He falls choking and her stance is more lively, almost playful, as the remaining guards come as one to overpower her. She knows the bruises will fade and she needed this, to remember the adrenaline, the fear, overcoming the fear. She still can, despite her brutal beating by the guards among flailing batons. And the food wasn't bad today either.
A few of the crew are just talking in the Normandy's mess, the couples. Ken and Gabby, Tali and Garrus, Joker and EDI, as though just friends at a dinner party.
"Ach, I'm no really bothered where we end up, as long as I've got some fine rump!" Ken says, grabbing a handful of Gabby's behind as she sits on his knee.
"Kenneth. You won't end up anywhere if you keep that up."
"All I've left in the galaxy is the simple pleasures and she wants to deny me even that! I may as well go jump in the engine core now."
"Not if I push you first..."
Time has not improved their playful bickering, nor Ken's crude humour. Nor would they want it to.
"EDI?" Garrus says, returning the conversation to the topic at hand. "Do you have a perfect planet?"
"I do not see the purpose of this enquiry. We will encounter whatever planet we encounter, our choice will be dictated by necessity."
"Yea but... we organics, we like to dream. So, if you did have a choice and it wasn't 'dictated by necessity', what would you want?"
"My needs are not the same as the rest of the crew. I would want a planet that could sustain us all. Any further conditions are not required."
"Come on, EDI." Tali encourages. "Don't you have anything that you want?"
"I have Geoff." she says.
Joker stands quickly and raises his hands in triumph.
"Ow! Ooh, that was a bit quick..." he says at first, the excitement of the moment getting the better of him. "But... In your face, Donnelly!"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Gabby says to Joker.
"Oh, sorry, Gabs. I didn't mean... you were just joking about, and I thought..."
"Sit down, you idiot." Gabby says with a wave.
Joker sits down again, holding his side.
"You are okay, Geoff?" EDI enquires
"Yea, yea, I'm fine. Don't fuss every time I say 'ow', we'd have little time for anything else if you did."
"Anyway!" Garrus again brings the group of friends to order. That particular subject no-one discusses in public. EDI and Joker do spend time alone with each other but no-one dares think what activities, if any, they get up to. In polite ship circles, EDI and Joker talk a lot and no more is said on the matter. Certainly, no-one has dared to ask. "So there's no 'cherry on the top' you'd want with that, EDI?"
Garrus air quotes the words with a nod to Joker for the new found phrase.
"Anything else would be supplementary but welcome." she states.
"Okay, we'll mark that down as 'easily pleased' then shall we?" Tali says.
"Well she is with Joker..." Ken says. Joker just responds with an equally childish face at the Scotsman while everyone laughs at the comment.
Ashley enters the room and the laughter dies down a little.
"Don't stop anything on my account. How's everyone doing?"
Gabby moves off Ken's knee onto a seat of her own and the group all seem to become awkward with their partners, Ashley is used to it but it does grate. They think she's the old maid, that's what she thinks that they think, anyway. The one that got left on the shelf. It's an old concept but Ashley was brought up with old values. Part of why she has been labelled intolerant in the past. She is not entirely incorrect though. The crew do feel sorry for her; not patronisingly, but they know the value of the their loved one and how that strengthens them. She sees the subtle, awkward actions she has seen so many times and wishes she could tell them. Tell them that they don't have to pity her any more, she won't receive that sympathetic look from the happy lovers that occupy this ship any more, she will be one of them.
"You okay, Ash?" Tali asks.
"Yea. Fine." she says, and the happier tone is noticed.
"Ye look like the cat that got the cream, Commander." Ken comments.
"Really? Oh. Dunno why."
She wants to but she wouldn't. That's not why she is with her, it's just going to be the cherry on the top.
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Post by mrstoob on Jan 24, 2013 3:13:04 GMT 1
Chapter 5
"EDI knows?" Ashley says. "EDI knows?" she says again.
"Well. Of course she does. She's everywhere. It's difficult to keep anything from her. I don't know why you're so surprised."
"Well... yea, I know but it just hadn't occurred to me... her and Joker. And whatever they..."
"Uh!" Liara raises a halting hand before Ashley gets any further with that train of thought.
"Well, anyway, when they 'talk', they must talk about the ship and stuff. Talk about their day like normal people."
"'Like normal people'?. Tsk. Ashley..."
"She's a robot." Ashley says quite frankly. "I'm not making any apologies for thinking that that's... different."
"Hmm."
"We must have come up though. You know what I mean. You're the one who dubbed her."
"Oh yea." Liara smiles smugly. "I did didn't I. 'Blabbermouth'."
"Well. All I'm saying is, it's going to come out sooner or later."
"It'll come. We're okay for now, aren't we, old girl?"
"Sure! I'm not saying... well I'm not saying anything. Just shooting the breeze."
"Hm."
"Anyway, back to my original point, remember? A half hour ago? Before Tangential T'Soni butted in? In future, we don't use the girl squad call signs."
"Not even for fun?"
"Oh fun is okay, that's fine. Just... not in the field."
"Okay then, my 'Grey Destroyer'." Liara says, putting arms around Ashley.
"Really? Don't I at least get 'Grey Fox'?"
"Are we getting too old for all this nonsense?" Liara puzzles.
"Nonsense...?" Ashley protests.
They look at each other seriously a moment but they can't keep it up for long, then at the same time say childishly, "Nah!"
The old questions have become side-lined for the new ones, being that they are more immediate, though some of the oldest ones still filter through. Verity is thankful for the time in solitary to think deeply about the questions, make sense of her mind. Picking out anything she thinks relevant or just meaningful from the events over the last three years. Some of it worries her and she worries herself.
The salarian on Sur'Kesh. His words always stayed with her. If only he was still alive now to help her probe the questions further. Little chance of that. With their life span, he'd be long gone by now. What did he say?
"Who knows what place in the galaxy the krogan may yet hold."
The krogan. It took the genophage to stop their violent, seemingly unstoppable conquest after they stopped the rachni doing the same. It was a soft genocide, devised by the salarians and turians. But the krogan are part of this galaxy. When she looks from above, away from herself, away from her own feelings and failings, that worries her. The Reapers made it fairly redundant but the question still stands. Was attempting to remove the krogan or indeed the rachni from the galaxy the right thing to do? In the long run, in the life-span of a galaxy and now that they know, that indeed the krogan and the rachni have been essential in the survival of this cycle at least. Who knows what more they might do? Like the salarian said, they are part of this galaxy.
Then the worrying and nagging begins. The Reapers are part of this galaxy. Do they deserve a right in it? She doesn't know their intentions or motivation yet but the questions must be pondered. Would a soft genocide work for the Reapers somehow, if those who have sent her messages knew the method and would be willing to bestow it? Is that any better than what happened to the rachni or the krogan? Do the Reapers serve a purpose? She wonders if she is too tied up in the logic of it all, that she needs perspective sometimes to stop herself being sucked in completely.
The Illusive Man placed no Reaper tech in her. That has been established but she still isn't sure if she is really herself. No analysis by any technology can answer that question; does this entity have a soul? Liara seemed to think so of her and Tali of Legion, but when Verity is just inside herself, no-one can say for certain, not really. But she finds these thoughts of logic easy. Comfortable. She thinks it might be an after-effect of the Citadel encounter but she's not sure. Maybe David Archer? Something else from her past to be picked at? David Archer. She doesn't know if he survived, it hadn't really occurred to her, which she feels initially a little bad about but.
Good. That's something.
David Archer.
To do what? Integrate with Reapers? Congratulations, you're the new Gavin Archer!
"Gah!"
She'd still like his opinion along the way if possible. To see him at least.
He has survived into the fleet. As has his brother, Gavin. After his work on the Crucible, Doctor Gavin Archer was pardoned and now lives with his brother aboard an Alliance ship assigned as civilian. They have an almost symbiotic relationship now, with Gavin too old to see to his own needs, and David, unable to cope without a routine provided to him. Despite his dependency, Gavin is thankful that he has had this opportunity to find peace with his brother. David is still frustrating to the elder brother in his refusal to conform to social conventions at times, speaking only in numbers and square roots. They play chess most evenings and Gavin has won only a handful of times, though he is pretty sure David let him win, or he was distracted that day. David still gets like that sometimes and Gavin isn't sure if it means anything or not.
Verity remembers the knowing look that she received from David aboard Grissom Academy. She had helped him and the other students, yes, but there seemed like more to her. They had shared their minds briefly when she was connected to his network at the Project Overlord facility, like when she connected to the geth base consensus. Both times made her Cerberus and biotic implants feel live, unearthed. She thinks. That's what it felt like anyway. Legion had showed her the past, the geths' rise, the quarians' fall and that question. That question she has often asked herself and its haunting ring as her dead friend's voice asks it before he sacrifices himself, as clear as on Rannoch in her mind.
"Does this unit have a soul?"
So many times have 'things' been in her head. It started with the prothean beacon on Eden Prime, followed swiftly by asari melding. Has asari melding affected her in any way? She's done that a lot. Verity smiles but then sobers herself to continue thinking. Shiala. That's a mixed bag she's unsure of but she's looked that one in the face many times, still unsure if she did the right thing but at the same time, knowing she is lying to herself. Asari meld, mixed with prothean cypher and a sprinkle of ancient Thorian creature on the top. That can't be a good cocktail. Is any one of these events causing this? All of them? None of them?
She is exhausted now and it is late. She should sleep. Save her energy. She doesn't know when she might be able to find out. Maybe its just indoctrination that makes her feel this way. Maybe its just the buzzing in her head.
"Up!" the voice wakes Verity.
"Mmm." she feels like she has hardly slept. "How long..?"
"Get up, Commander."
Commander?
She shakes the sleep from her head and looks at him properly, but cannot make any features out as he is silhouetted against the open doorway of the small solitary cell. He sounds older than the usual guards here though, older than her even. She sits up properly and onto the edge of the bed, pulls on her prison fatigues and stands.
"Heh. I hear you gave some of them boys a good seeing to." he chuckles.
"Do I know you?" she asks.
"No. But I know you, Shepard! Some of us still remember. Hehe. Come on, they're waiting."
"Oh. About time. And you are...?"
"Oh, that don't matter. I'm just here to see you to the Admiral."
He looks around with pantomime exaggeration, then whispers loudly anyway. There's no-one around anyway so she just goes along with the farce.
"It's er... sort of an unofficial release here so, keep your head down, there's a good girl."
There's a good girl?
He seems like a kindly sort, so she allows it.
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Post by mrstoob on Jan 24, 2013 3:14:58 GMT 1
Hackett has advised Verity that while nothing is in place yet with regard to her request, he wanted her out of that facility.
"If this comes off, we don't want you thrown out there straight from a cell. We're moving you to an Alliance frigate, one that's still ours so we can keep this on the low down. You'll have chance to prepare, study the data, load-outs, anything you need. Basically, Commander, if we do this, we need you ready."
"I need to find out about someone, if they're still alive and if so, meet with him. David Archer."
"Doctor Gavin Archer's brother? They're both in the fleet, I'm sure it can be arranged but why? What's he in all this?"
"Not sure. That's why I need to talk to him."
Despite her previous protestations, Verity is glad to be out of the prison unit. More so that she can begin her work properly now. The initial transport is taking her to a civilian ship, where she has been informed a 'friendly' shuttle would take her to the Alliance frigate. To try and hide her face, she is wearing the old Colossus armour they have provided with environmental helmet. They don't intend she use it in the field, just something they found to create anonymity for this journey. The fleet occasionally drops out of FTL to allow venting, disposal, and both official and domestic journeys. Hackett is using one of these windows to transport the Commander.
She exits the shuttle and into the docking area of the civilian craft, busy with people of all species. A public address system gives out news and advice, all accompanied still by the urgent fanfares of information. Trumpets: the precursor of news.
Remember, fleet first! Safety is survival! This message is brought to you by CombinedFNet. Combined Fleet Network, the only network! Later. Air. How important is it? Salarian scientist, Doctor Sereian, gives her views on the importance of clean air and doing your part to keep it that way. "Flatulence is a real issue that no-one is addressing. I urge everyone. Go to the rest room. Use the facilities." More on that fascinating insight later. In other news...
They seem to be just living their lives despite the hardships and impending doom. Verity walks with her two guards, though that is not really their purpose, not to limit her in any way, just that the Alliance wants to ensure her safety. Regardless, some of the select few that know about this venture insisted on an escort, with veiled references to her indoctrination.
"Commander Shepard? Commander Shepard."
Verity tries to ignore the call, she knows the impact her presence could make, but cannot resist a glance at the voice she already recognises. Really? Her? Of all the people to spot her.
"Commander Shepard, Kahlisah Bint Sinan al-Jilani, Combined FNet. Commander...?"
"Miss Al-Jilani. Can we keep this down?"
"Oh. Why are you here? Commander Shepard was always news. If you're doing 'something', that's got to be big."
"I'm just going to see command, there's nothing going on."
"That's news in itself, Commander. You've been off the radar a long time. I'd love an interview on the failed attempt on Earth."
"Miss Al-Jilani. Kalisah? We parted on good terms last time. Don't spoil that. And in that spirit, please, keep this on the low-down."
"The people of the fleet deserve answers, Commander. Is this a positive step? Should the people of the fleet be afraid?"
"Just... keep me out of the vids. We don't need to create a panic."
"So... if I read between the lines there..."
"Don't. I have to go." Verity turns to leave.
"Commander?" Kalisah says then a pause as she looks uncomfortable but allows herself a little hope with that which she thinks she has found between those lines. "It is good to see."
As she walks away, Verity looks back to see one of her guards has remained with the reporter, now confiscating her recording equipment as she protests her journalistic rights to no avail. Perhaps Colossus armour wasn't the best idea from command. It's the armour she wore in the campaign against Saren and perhaps people just instantly associate it with her. That, combined with the person in the armour and some are going to notice.
Hindsight's a wonderful thing.
Verity wonders how so many have survived, not just this long but that there was enough to sustain this after the attack at Sol. As the closest jump point to Sol, many had waited for the events to unfold in the Exodus Cluster and joined the fleet as it made its escape into the darkness. As she walks to the docking bay to her next transport, Verity becomes aware of a presence in the periphery of her vision. She turns to look and an asari stares at her, tall and rigid, still and elegant.
"Samara!" Verity shouts and Samara smiles now.
"Shepard. A welcome sight if ever there was one. Are you... free?"
"Hard to say, Samara, hard to say. What's happening with you?"
"My... order has disbanded. There is no place for the Code in these circumstance."
"Oh..."
"Yes. But I have found some peace."
"Shepard?" Anaya says as she arrives.
"Hey! Anaya!"
Anaya is carrying a food parcel and shows the contents to Samara. She stepped in quite close into Samara's personal space and Verity noted that Samara did not flinch, was completely comfortable with the affection shown.
"Sam! We got... water, rice, some pulses, even a few spices today! Thessian!"
"Oh Anaya! That is wonderful. Sorry, Shepard, but it is some time since we ate a meal with a taste other than the water it was boiled in."
"You said it." Anaya agrees.
In celebration of their upcoming flavoursome food, Anaya playfully pulls Samara towards her by the waist and kisses her cheek, then Samara becomes awkward that she did so in front of Shepard.
"Oh!" Verity says. "Well... good to see you're both well."
"We are, Shepard. But... what brings you here? If you are permitted to say."
"I... there's..." Verity trusts Samara. With her life. But she really doesn't know what to say. What is she doing? What is the plan? She just knows she needs answers and they won't all be found by staying here in the combined fleet.
"We don't know yet." is the only way she can think of stating it.
Samara steps in closer to Shepard for relative privacy.
"I feel the hope in your words, Shepard. I am yours, if you have need of me." then she steps back, her point made.
"I might hold you to that yet, Samara."
Verity notices Samara's quizzical look at the armour.
"Like it?" she says, giving a twirl. "Colossus. Classic. And look! Mod slots! They didn't give me any mods to play with but... look! Mod slots!"
"Clumsy things." Samara says.
"Are you insulting my armour, 'Sam'?"
"I am pleased that you are pleased, Shepard." Samara replies, humour not being one of her strong points.
The guard who dealt with Al-Jilani has now caught up and his partner makes an interrupting cough then steps towards Shepard.
"Ma'am? We need to..." he says.
"Sure. One second. Good to see you both again."
"We'd invite you 'round for dinner but... well... that's not much of an event these days." Anaya says.
"Seems I have to go. 'bye Samara. See you, Anaya."
Verity didn't ask about Falere. Samara would have said if she knew of her fate and she didn't want to bring up old wounds.
Anaya watches Samara watching Shepard walk away down the large bay. She looks at the food parcel, then back up at Samara. It's suddenly as though Samara isn't even there any more. Anaya knows Samara mourns the Code, that part of her life yet to be filled. She had hoped she could be that, the thing that makes Samara complete after her precious order fell and even, she hoped to fill herself too. But she knows that never really happened. They have had a happy time together, that is not in doubt but she knows. Really. Samara can never be truly peaceful.
"I'll miss you." Anaya says, quite finally.
"Pardon? Oh..." Samara says, snapping out of her thoughts, knowing what Anaya means and that in her own mind, her adventures have already begun.
"Sam. Samara. I can't complain really." Anaya says as she takes Samara's hands in hers. "I've had more than I could have ever wished for since that time you and Shepard turned up to wreck my district."
"I am sorry, Anaya."
"No. No apologies. Just... a last dinner together? A last evening together?"
Samara smiles and nods. They make their way back to their small quarters for an evening to enjoy their companionship, and as they found in each other after Sol, more.
Verity knocks on the door and waits. After a few words between the occupants the door opens and there he stands. David Archer.
"Commander Shepard." he says simply with his soft, smiling but now older face.
"Invite her in, David! Don't leave her standing there."
It is as though he didn't hear Gavin but then David stands aside and offers her in, everything at his own considered pace.
"Please."
Verity enters into this small, dark 'apartment', a single room with few amenities or furnishings but it is tidy and well kept.
"Come on, David. Put the big light on so we can all see in here." Gavin says. David flicks the main light on. Gavin is now almost totally bald, sitting on his comfy looking armchair and David has not faired much better in the hair department. He sits on a pouffe and holds his knees, still somewhat childlike despite his years due to his condition and experiences.
"I'd get up, Commander, but..."
"That's okay." she waves.
"The square root of..."
"David." his brother says sternly.
"It is always good to see you, Commander." David now says, still with the expectant look she saw at Grissom Academy.
"So... Commander. You wanted to speak with us?" Gavin says, wanting to know what this is all about.
"Yes. Well. David, actually."
"Oh?"
"There's something I need to know. When he was connected to the geth and the VI..."
"Yes?"
"David?" she now directs her question at him as she kneels on one leg in front of him. "Do you remember much about that? When you became the network? When I was in it too. And how that all felt?"
Each question seemed to fill David with increasing distress until the final one. How did that feel? Numbers and calculations spew from his mouth at an alarming rate while he rocks, gripping his knees tightly.
"David? David!" his brother cries out, reaching from his chair.
Verity feels terrible for putting him through this and tries to calm him by placing her hand on his.
It is not too painful, nor is it at all cold but she wants to shout out the words that David did. Buzzing and clicking, loud and confusing, too much to listen to, too much to hear, too much to bare. Those words haunted her for a while, distorted and unclear, but becoming clearer with each step. Until they were pure and sorrowful. She wants to shout the words herself and finally they overpower the cacophony of sounds in her head, clanging and familiar.
"Quiet please, make it stop!"
She violently flings herself back from David with a gasp for air and her mind returns to the apartment. David just smiles, serene.
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Post by mrstoob on Jan 24, 2013 3:18:01 GMT 1
Chapter 6
"So is it a plan?" Ashley asks the squad and senior ship crew in the conference room they use to discuss important matters.
"Therum? Ha! Really?" Liara laughs.
"I know!" Ashley says. "If we can get onto Therum, scavenge what we can, bring Tali and her magic pockets, we could get a lot from there. Even though it was abandoned, there's still got to be a hell of a lot of resources down there. We already have the data on the site in the ship records they installed. And as I said, if we can somehow get into the lower levels of the prothean facility, if there's anything left of it after that cave in, dig in and find a home? Got to be worth a try."
"It's been a while since I wore those magic pockets. I hope I still fit into it! And I can find it... Garrus dear, have you seen my old suit recently?" Tali asks, her soft, pale skin almost glowing under the lights. There is a luminescent quality to Tali's skin but not to the extent that she glows in the dark, though Joker's humour would say otherwise. She wears clothes of her own manufacture, still reminiscent of the old quarian styling but with no mask, and her hood only when the wont takes her.
Garrus 'hums' and 'hahs' in thought, ignoring Tali's domestic request. There was no XO appointed when Shepard re-took control of the Normandy and the Reapers made their initial attack on Earth. Now and probably then too, Garrus unofficially fills this role, his experience and gravitas making him the obvious choice. He even has the old XO's office now, as Liara resides in the captain's quarters. Ashley values his opinion, all major decisions discussed and agreed upon.
"It's too good an opportunity to pass up. Risky, but I say we go for it." he finally agrees.
"We're still a hell of way out but, yea, we haven't encountered any Reaper ships in a long time." Ashley replies.
"Ugh, jinx us, why don't ye?" Donnelly says.
"There's always going to be one problem though, no matter what we do." Joker says, agitated.
"Joker?" Ashley says.
"EDI."
"Geoff. There is no need to..." EDI attempts to take his arm.
"No!" he says, resisting her, he thinks for her own good. "I have to say it. No-one else is. EDI needs the Normandy. Despite her body, she is the Normandy. She won't be EDI without it. We can't just live on Therum and scupper the Normandy so it's signatures can't be found."
The group look at each other but not at Joker or EDI. They feel guilty for not only missing this vital situation but that they don't know how it can be resolved. EDI is a ship and a robot, and they all feel that guilt as well.
"Yea, well." Joker says. "Thanks, guys. Come on, EDI."
He takes her by the hand and leads her. She goes with him, though she keeps looking back at the group with concern. Not for herself, but that she doesn't want to be the cause of this. EDI knows what she is, regardless of the positive reinforcement she receives when she interacts with her Geoff.
"How many computer banks is she? How much power would that take? Will she lose anything by being disconnected from the ship but retaining her AI? I mean, she has the body so..." Garrus asks.
Ashley tries to keep the train of thought alive, "Hm. She said something about being within tight band width of the Normandy so... little help? Anyone? That means nothing to me."
"Possibly..." Tali says. "To be honest, I'm good but I think EDI would probably be the best person to discuss this with. I'm pretty sure her processors are already whirring away."
"Indeed they are, Tali." EDI comes over the comm. "And thank you. Everyone."
Looks of relief pass between the group though no words said on her thanks.
Garrus looks perturbed, "I know she can probably still hear me, but I hate it when she does that. I always wonder if while speaking to us, she and Joker are actually..."
"Uh!" many hands are raised to halt him.
"Talking! I was only going to say talking! I wonder if she is having two conversations at once! That's all! I'd hate that..."
Then he smiles, wryly, with a soft, gravelly chuckle as his pondering hand comes up to his chin.
"Ew! Garrus!" Tali says as she slaps the offending hand from its position.
"Commander? Commander Shepard? Are you alright, David? What's going on?" Gavin Archer says with distress, frustrated he is stuck in his chair though what he would do if he stood, he doesn't know.
"Yes. Fine." David says calmly then looks to the Commander still sitting on the floor. "The square root of nine hundred and six point zero one is..."
"Thirty point one..." Verity says. That particular square root still means nothing to her but she always wondered if it was comparable to the geth divide. If it is something like that for David with this specific square. David had interfaced with geth for an extended period, so he must have come to know their minds in some way, possibly even their very being.
"What's going on?" Gavin is bewildered.
Verity stands, still a little groggy from the experience and turns to Gavin, now quite serious.
"Gavin... Doctor Archer? Despite our differences, can we keep this between ourselves? You know, just me, you and David?"
"Well... for the help you've given in the past, both to myself and my brother, of course. But why?"
"I think I know what's going on now." she replies as she walks purposefully to the door, then stops to look back, feeling guilty that she didn't say it sooner. Though she ponders perhaps she did by answering the square root.
"Thank you, David."
"Thank you, Commander Shepard."
She leaves the apartment.
"David? Can you tell me what's going on?"
"Change." he says, as though that makes it all clear.
"What change? Am I supposed to understand that?"
"The square root of..."
"Ugh, never mind. Always something when the 'illustrious' Commander Shepard's about. Damn nuisance. Chess?"
"No prisoners today!" David smiles.
"Hm! Well, we may as well play regardless. Pass the time, at least. Come on, David, get the set out then. Let's get set up!" he says with a quick clap of his hands, unaware of how much he really depends on his brother. David is patient with his brother, more than Gavin will know but family can forgive the short tempers that come to some with the frustration of age.
Verity needs their silence for now, she cannot tell command about this yet or risk letting darker elements know. Admiral Hackett has already made the suspicious, disturbing noises of fear of the unknown and right now, she is about as unknown as it gets.
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Post by mrstoob on Jan 24, 2013 3:19:16 GMT 1
Chapter 7
Armour load-outs. Always fun to play with and Verity has a near endless choice of enhancements to choose from, provided by Admiral Hackett and his team. The first task here though is something more immediate. Colour.
In her youth, and to remind her of her love of all things asari, she would always choose blue as colour of preference. When she moved out of the biotic facility and into the military and beyond, she had less of a choice. The armour of old didn't come with optional colours. Colossus, red and black. Predator, woodland camouflage. Onyx, black. Back then, she accepted the colour of the armour worn and made her own preferences underneath. That was until the load-out consoles appeared after her resurrection. Despite the lack of mods, she does appreciate these machines. Choose the components you want, then next time it proffers armour from its automated locker, there it all is. With this change also came other options, options to change to colour of the armour. She's not sure how but Verity assumes that there isn't dozens upon dozens of components in there, covering all the possible combinations. Nor does she think that there are tiny little sprays in there, doing a quick paint job on request; though to her inner-child, that is what is happening.
When she first encountered one of these consoles aboard the Cerberus craft where she first met the Illusive Man, she went straight to blue, then stopped herself. She had found Liara by that point, they'd already begun their adventures in love. The urgency of blue didn't seem so strong and she went for the white with blue trim that she used to wear under the old armour. Thrilling to her when she first saw the same scheme adorning her blue angel on Illium, wet from the sprinkler system, set off by the Shadow Broker's ordinance.
Liara. Verity learned last time that the galaxy doesn't behave like anyone would like it to and she has tempered, just slightly, her anticipation and desire. She still yearns, feels that aching feeling in the chest that she is not here but to hope too much, that Liara is there, waiting for her, or if that fails or if Liara has met her end somehow already, Verity doesn't want to think about it, so won't. There is plenty enough to think about as it is and she feels guilty for allowing her mind to side line the thoughts of companionship and union with the only one she has ever loved.
Verity allows her mind a little wander. She had wondered at the time, when she first saw Liara in her casual white and blue armour, if that was her own influence. When they would go running or swimming, Verity would wear her white running shorts and matching vest, all with blue trim. The young asari had even commented one time that she liked this look, though she was inspecting Verity's posterior at the time. Verity hoped that this was something else they shared, their love of all things blue and white; her own reasons being blue for asari, white for truth and her name. Then Verity breaks herself from this musing, her mind has done enough of that recently and what happened there.
Samara has dug out her own stylish armour for this venture, still able to stop a room by just entering with her stunning and elegant looks; and impressive cleavage. They are aboard the Alliance vessel in a wing of their own, overlooking a hangar bay. Admiral Hackett agreed to Samara's inclusion due to her known support to Shepard and the Alliance in the past.
There is an array of weapons provided so while Samara sorts through her own kit in front of the weapons table, Verity begins checking over them, applying her Warp ammo modification to each one to assure its working order. She quickly 'hacks' each weapon's technological innards, then moves onto the next.
"So." Verity begins. "Anaya, eh?"
"Yes." Samara simply replies.
"That's it? 'Yes'? Come on, 'Sam', you can do better than that."
"Hm." Samara initially says at Verity's mock usage of the name. "Well... it is all so long ago, I doubt Anaya would complain."
"Ooh, this sounds interesting already!" and she gives Samara her full attention while trying to continue her work.
"We found companionship as I guided her through the Code..."
"Wait a second. The Code...? What did Anaya have to do with..."
"We were Justicar sisters, for a time."
"Really? Anaya?" Verity bursts out laughing.
"What? Anaya is noble with good intentions, I fail to see the humour."
"It's like, like... reverse Blasto, or something."
"Blasto?" Samara has heard the news feeds but never really paid any attention to them due to their general air of propaganda.
"You know, you'd go in, all elegant, eloquent and reserved, the ideal of the Justicar, with your classic, 'Find peace in the embrace of the goddess.' line. Then Anaya goes in all like, 'Eat shit, scum-bag!'"
Verity laughs some more, finding her own assessment amusing.
"Anaya was not like that. She was most troubled by the slaughter regardless of the evils of the wrong-doers."
"Still funny though..."
"If you say so..."
Verity continues with her work, now pondering.
"I can go with the armour but weapons? I never really got that." Verity suddenly says.
"To what do you refer?" Samara says.
"Armour mods, I can understand how carrying dozens of mods around in the field to change armour properties can be viewed as 'clumsy', but ammo mods? Why did they change all that? Slap in the ammo, done. None of this fiddling about with the tech inside."
"But all weapons are capable now. It merely requires the user to know the hack."
"Hmm. Yea, I suppose. Still seems counter-intuitive."
Another weapon checked and she moves it to the other side of the weapons station.
"How did you do that?" Samara asks, with great surprise and possibly a little fear.
"Do what?" Verity asks, grabbing another weapon to check.
"The modification."
"What? You know how to do weapon mods, Samara..."
"Yes. But when I do it, I need to actually look at the display and manipulate the machine within. You just..."
"I just what?"
"You barely touched it."
"I did?" Verity asks, confused. As far as she was concerned, she did nothing different, though she was running on 'auto-pilot'. "'Curiouser and curiouser, said Alice'." she continues, the rabbit-hole metaphor not lost on Verity.
"Sorry?"
"Oh, never mind. Hm, I wonder though. Samara...? About Anaya."
"But the weapon...?" Samara says, confused as to why this near miracle doesn't seem important to Verity.
"Never mind that for now. Anaya. Did you two meld?"
"Shepard!"
"Oh. No. I don't mean as a couple like that, I just mean, sharing thoughts and memories like bondmates sometimes do?"
"Oh. My apologies for assuming the worst but you can be quite carnal. Of course we did, Shepard. Why?"
"Is that different when it's between two asari? Obviously, I've only ever been the passive participant. But I wondered if with two active asari, is it different?"
"I would not know. Since the discovery of my daughters' condition, I have only bonded with Anaya and before that, only the father of my children."
"Hmm. Bonding with Liara was always... pleasant and serene. When Javik did his thing, or like the prothean beacon, it was almost like... an assault. Makes you wonder."
"How so?"
"No intelligent organic has evolved beyond fifty thousand years for possibly billions of years."
"Indeed."
"So... makes you wonder. What would organic life be like by now, if allowed to just continue on?"
"Let us hope we can make that a reality so future generations can be the pioneers of whatever the unknown holds."
"Do you trust me, Samara?"
"Implicitly, Shepard. With my life."
"Come here, then."
Samara goes from her kit bag on the floor, and around the weapons table to Verity.
"Give me your hands."
Samara places her hands in Verity's and from the outside a brief moment passes until she pulls her hands away, in shock and again, possible fear.
"Goddess preserve us!"
"Yup!" Verity says with a guilty grin.
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Post by mrstoob on Jan 24, 2013 3:20:09 GMT 1
Chapter 8
Joker enters their quarters, the old QEC room which the Normandy currently has no use for, and finds EDI's body just standing there in the centre of the room, then she turns to him, just her head.
"How was your day, Geoff?"
"What are you... doing?"
"I was thinking."
"Yea, but... that's a bit... weird... Sorry, but when people think, they usually do something else as well, they at least sit!"
"But... I am not a person, Geoff. I have no need for further distractions nor rest."
"No, but... no, you're right. As you were, it's not my place to say."
"I do not wish to make you uncomfortable, Geoff. I only wish to please you."
"You know, I always thought that being 'Major Nelson' would be cool..."
"Referencing. 'I Dream of Jeannie'? Is that how you see me?"
"No! It was only a joke."
"It is my observation that the humour usually lies within the truth of the matter. What is unsatisfactory in our relationship?"
"Okay, I do sometimes feel like my dream woman has magically appeared from nowhere, with amazing abilities and..."
"Do you see me as subservient, like 'Jeannie'?"
"What? No! Stop twisting what I say!"
"I am sorry, Geoff. I can see that I have made you upset."
"No! You're the one who's supposed to be getting mad here."
"I cannot 'get mad', Geoff. We have discussed such matters on many occasions."
"Yea, well. I do, and us organics 'project'. And I'm sorry, you've done nothing wrong."
"I am glad, Geoff."
"Could we try 'master'?" he probes.
"You wish for me to call you 'master'?"
"Not seriously or anything, you know? Just for... fun!"
"For fun? Yes, master."
Joker pauses a moment.
"On second thoughts, EDI, scratch that. That is too weird."
"As you wish, Geoff."
The turmoil of such conversations in EDI cannot be seen by the casual observer and she can't really feel it in the traditional sense. But each time Joker has a negative word, an expressed or perceived doubt, it drops her positive reinforcement processes, then the calculations begin to bring the level back up. To say it hurts her would be incorrect for a machine, but it does.
"Shall I pilot, Shepard?" Samara asks. The fleet have provided a craft, The Hunter, small but capable of good FTL speeds. It has few armaments but if they encounter hostile Reaper ships, this craft would not withstand even a grazing from a Reaper's beam so it was pointless to enhance the weapons any more.
"Errr... no, it's okay. We want to get out of the hangar at least before the dangers begin."
Righteous indignation spreads across Samara's face, "What is wrong with my piloting?"
"Haha! Really?"
"Hm. Very well."
Admiral Hackett waits with them at the ship's open airlock, ready to see them off with his support but his mind now turns to things unconsidered.
"Commander, how will we know you're not just an indoctrinated suicide bomber when you return?"
"You won't."
"What if you're not and the fleet fires on you?"
"Then I'll see you in hell, Admiral!" and Verity slams the airlock shut.
Verity manoeuvres the ship out of the docking area and they begin their journey.
Their first leg has taken them to the Exodus Cluster, as she has interpreted so far from the messages in her mind. They haven't quite reached any systems yet when they spot something in the dark abyss between.
"Hm. What is that?" Verity says, piloting the craft with Samara in the co-pilot's seat.
"From my experiences, it looks to be a scientific facility of some sort, though why it would be out here... to escape the Reapers?" Samara assesses.
"Maybe. It's old though... haven't seen that particular type of civilian craft in a while."
"Do you wish to view it closer?"
"I'd like to board it, to be honest. There might be survivors who need help."
"Indeed. Very well, I shall 'gear up', as you say, in case there is worse."
Verity brings the craft around to dock with the craft and gears up herself. They go to the air-lock and ready their weapons, both using the N7 Eagle pistol; high rate of fire and large clips, plenty enough power for a biotic. Verity taps the panel to open the doors and they do so.
"Miranda?" Verity says, lowering her aim.
"Oh, you know me? Er... are the weapons necessary? I mean, I know you're Commander Shepard but..." Miranda says.
"Miranda? Are you okay?"
"Am I okay? Of course. I'm not the one boarding innocent science vessels with weapons and asari commandos in tow."
"Justicar." Samara feels she must correct.
"What?"
"This is most peculiar, Shepard." Samara states, as though Miranda isn't there to hear her.
"Who is it, Miri? Are you okay? Are we okay?" Oriana's voice calls from down the way.
"It's Commander Shepard, Ori. You know, that survivor hero woman from Akuze! She seems to think she knows me!" Miranda says.
"Really?" Oriana now comes into view, they have both aged but they are both instantly recognisable to Verity. "Oh. Hello!"
"Have we met before, Commander Shepard?" Miranda asks.
"Miranda Lawson?"
"Yes."
"Henry Lawson's daughter?"
"Yes...? What is all this? Do you know my father? Have you seen him?"
"This is getting weird."
"Okay then. You haven't shot us or anything so... do you want to come aboard?"
"Sure. Please."
This old craft has a familiar flat layout, they were pretty much pre-fab in those days. The main storage bay is divided into laboratories, though no busy work is being conducted.
"There's just you two here?"
"Yes. Our father last visited about... how long ago was it now, Ori?"
"Over thirty years now. More maybe."
"Yes. And he was... odd."
"Hm. How so?"
"Well... he kept apologising to me and Ori, crying, really quite distraught. We never really knew why. Then he took some of our research and said to wait for him here because something big was coming but it could be some time until he could make his return. We've been stuck here ever since. I do hope he is alright."
"What research do you do here?"
"Genetics."
"I see."
"Sorry, my sister and I, we're... both genetically enhanced. Sorry. We don't have any official doctorates but there's little we don't know about modern genetics and its practical applications. Isn't that right, Ori?"
"You're always way ahead of me, Miri."
"Oooohhhhh..." Verity says, she thinks the truth dawning on her.
"Yes?" Samara says, seeing this in her.
"The slimy bastard made spares. Even kept them sweet in case the others turned 'bad'. Cerberus no doubt made his plans impossible."
"Are you talking about Dad? I'm not sure I like this."
"Sorry, Miranda, but I have to ask."
"What?"
"Did Henry... was your father... ever... overly affectionate with you. Or you, Oriana?"
"How dare... how can you ask such a thing! Dad loved us. Loves us both. I'm not so sure inviting you aboard was such a good idea now."
"Sorry. I had to ask. A guy who makes himself beautiful daughters like this, I... sorry I assumed the worst."
"Well. Anyway. Is there something specific we can do for you?"
"No. We just saw the craft and I thought there might be survivors or refugees aboard."
"Refugees?"
"Yes."
"From what?"
"The... war?"
"What war? Have the batarians finally cracked?"
"Uuhh... no...? Have you had no contact with the outside world?"
"No. Not with the way the galaxy is. I'm surprised you were so calm when I mentioned it."
"Oh. What?"
"Well. With the intolerance about the genetically enhanced, Dad kept us safe here so we didn't have to suffer the prejudices."
"Ugh, this gets better and better. So what do you know about me?" Verity asks, trying to get a gauge on what they know about anything from the last thirty years.
"Akuze. That's it, really. We saw about you on the last batch of vids Dad brought us. We don't have the extranet here."
"Wow. Just... Wow!" Verity says.
"At the risk of sounding incredibly rude, you're a very odd woman, Commander." not-Oriana says.
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Post by mrstoob on Jan 24, 2013 3:21:42 GMT 1
Chapter 9
"What the...?" Verity says.
"I know! Impressive, isn't it? Some of our handy work. They consistently grow this size." Miranda says, holding up a watermelon sized tomato.
"Wait a minute... is that off a vine? Is it...?"
"Cherry tomato, yes! Though that's not all we grow here." she says with a little pride. "We've converted some of the side labs into hydroponic 'farms'. Despite being stuck out here, we've eaten well for the last thirty years or so."
"Wow! The whole fleet could be fed with harvests like that!" Verity says.
"Indeed." Samara agrees. "Impressive."
"The fleet? Anyway." Miranda says. "Ori's making us some dinner if you'd like to join us?"
"You've been very generous. Thank you, Miranda."
"Yes, you have been most welcoming."
"It's only manners. I hope they haven't gone from the galaxy yet!"
"Unfortunately," Samara informs her, "the galaxy has not changed in that regard. There are still those who are too brutish to appreciate a kind word or friendly gesture. You and your sister are quite... how should I say... naïve?"
"Is that supposed to be insulting?" Miranda says.
"Forgive me. I merely mean that you still have faith in others. Such as when you waited at the airlock, which I feel I must caution you: that is a dangerous course of action to take."
"Oh?"
"Yea, Samara's right. You had no idea what was waiting on the other side of that door. At least stand away when the doors open."
"Hm. I suppose you're right. Maybe we are a little too trusting. Something to think about, at least. If nothing else though, I'm a good runner!"
"Not sure turning your back on the enemy is such a good idea."
"How so?" Miranda asks.
"You don't want to make yourself a bigger target." Verity cannot resist.
"Oh. What?" Miranda says, not getting it.
"Never mind, it was just a joke."
"Hm. Must be a military thing."
It has become late in not-Miranda and not-Oriana's routine after their meal, so they offer a spare room in this relatively spacious craft so they might retire. They seemed to be as interesting and affable as their counterparts but without all the dark issues that bubble under, possibly even an innocence to them. Verity and Samara can recognise the undercurrents of a fellow combatant or someone who has faced fear and had to overcome it to save their very lives. No, this pair seemed to have lived a happy life, devoid of the darkness that Henry brought on the other Miranda and Oriana, except perhaps the lost look they have at their abandonment. A pleasant evening indeed, staying off the overshadowing subject at hand, all knowing that it will need to be approached and Verity dreading it. She had to 'harrumph' occasionally to drown out Samara's inability to see when it is best to let things lie. Truth is important, but not always urgent.
"That was all very odd." Miranda says to her sister as they lay in their beds.
"You said it, Miri."
"I still don't get what she meant though."
"About what?"
"Running making me a bigger target, that made no sense."
"Oh, Miri. You are dense sometimes."
"Hm? You know what she meant?"
Oriana rolls over to sleep, then shouts over her shoulder.
"She means your big bum!"
"What? I haven't..."
"'night, Miri."
"Hm! 'night, Ori."
"Love you!"
"Hmm. You too, Ori."
Verity and Samara relished the opportunity for a real bed in warmth and The Hunter can be quite cold. Verity once joked to Samara about cuddling up for warmth but the ship suddenly became colder and both just turned over to sleep. Normally they share the back room of their ship, with a single door to the cockpit, being that and the 'command' area as well. There is space behind the dual pilots' chairs, leather, in similar dimensions to the Normandy's cockpit area though a little lower, where their consoles and non-flight controls are. Other than that, there is a small toilet and shower facility adjoining their back room, and an engine at the rear. An engine they hope will last their journey. They have been assured that there will be no problems and the geth have enhanced all that they can. They have charts of abandoned fuelling stations and deposits, scattered enough that they should not become dry.
Samara sits on the edge of the bed the new Lawson sisters have provided while Verity fiddles with her favourite pistol as she sits on her bed, not really doing anything with it, just fiddling. Mod on. Mod off. She is not trying to do anything particular, certainly not like seemed to happen on the Alliance frigate. Just something soothing to do to relax before sleeping. It's nice to not have to wear extra layers to keep warm so Verity sits in her underwear, Samara her armour's body suit.
"You are aware we may never get back to the fleet?" Samara says, out of the blue.
"Suicide missions are our trade, Sam. Why the cold feet now?"
"It is not 'cold feet', I do not fear death but I am wondering now. What if we are in difficulty somewhere and cannot escape the fate. What then? There will be no passing cruiser or friendly frigate to rescue us."
"Well... Sam... Samara. I can think of worse people to be stuck out here with. And you know me, I've always had a thing for asari, and you're one of the most beautiful asari I know. Doesn't sound so bad to me!"
"'Sam' is okay. And... one of...?" Samara says, almost seductively. Verity hasn't seen this look from Samara before and she's not sure exactly where it came from. She thinks Samara might be trying to be funny but she's not seen that before so it is hard to say. It is possible Samara's time with Anaya has opened her up, chipped at her defences and allowed her to laugh again. Verity cannot deny though, it's a pretty alluring sight, Samara just in her white body suit which has smaller dimensions than the armour it cushions, her mouth slight ajar, doe-eyed and just a slight smile. Verity stands and walks to Samara, who looks expectantly up at the Commander. Verity slaps her hard on the shoulder, like a marine.
"Go to sleep, Sam."
"Yes, Shepard." Samara smiles.
"You know what, Sam?" Shepard stops before reaching her own bed.
"Yes, Shepard?"
"Call me Verity." then she continues under the bed covers.
"Okay then, Verity! Thank you." Samara almost laughed the name at its peculiarity in her mouth and that this gesture was made. She is well aware this it quite a large one from Commander Shepard. Verity.
In disturbing news today, a near riot took place outside the political chambers aboard the Destiny's Ascension in reaction to the recent announcement by a delegate of krogan that the nursery song 'Turians like to fight' is asari propaganda! "That asari song contains offensive material on just about everyone. In the spirit of unity, it has to be banned! Krogan!" The asari have defended the song, loved by children of all species. "It's just a bit of fun. The krogan speak of unity but they just still can't get over the genophage!" Woah there little lady, calm down! In other news...
It would break Liara's heart to know her favourite rhyme is being used for political leverage, a problem that still exists within the fleet. They may have united in strength but some of the older wounds fester. The messages of strength and unity soon fell by the wayside for the urgency of safety and survival, and the media men seem to think they are still in competition with some imaginary network the way they plug and hammer the messages, irreverent and damaging. All unnecessary. All avoidable, were the ones who could make the changes not embroiled in it all as well. That they would allow the reporting of stories such as the nursery rhyme, it shows just how quickly the fleet's representatives have failed. Reports that stoke the fires of intolerance and stagnancy. Not censorship but there is no point giving air-space to the narrow minded and bigoted for their messages to become acceptable, all accompanied by the fanfares of urgency.
"Why are they saying these things, Miranda? Make them stop! Make them go! Why are you doing this to us? We were happy here!"
Oriana is inconsolable as her tears fall at what Shepard has told them about their kindly father and their sisters, which they still have difficulty believing. Not to mention the events such as Saren, Sovereign, the Reapers, the war, the desperate situation of all life in the galaxy. In their spacious living room where the four talk, a few images are in frames, birthdays and other events. Loving looking occasions. Dad with his thumbs up, daughters smiling at their funny father's silliness, cakes, colourful decorations, it looks like the perfect childhood for both of them. At least, when he was there, their conversations now indicating he was never a constant in their lives but was always there for the good bits. The Lawson girls see that as an effort on his part, rather than the selfish reasons Verity has now inferred from what they have said, what she has seen.
Verity has re-thought the previous accusations she made towards Henry Lawson, that it is not so much 'spares' he needed but he still wanted to be 'daddy' to his daughters. So he created strong daughters to fight the outside world, to be his legacy, him thinking that he needs daughters who don't need him for them to be successful. Then he also wanted soft daughters to be the loving girls that those damaged women could never be. He even named them the same, possibly in his mind even seeing them as the same. He wanted to have his cake and eat it.
Henry was aware his daughters in the outside world would no doubt hate him but it was not their purpose to be those loving daughters. If he needed that affection and love, he need only go to his 'spares', for them to shout 'daddy!' when he entered and rush to him with enthusiastic stories of their lives, innocent and pure. Verity isn't sure if she should feel anger or pity, but the former is more prevalent. Control. The man had to have control, this was already known of him, but this is a whole new twisted kettle of fish.
"Thirty point one!" Verity suddenly shouts.
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Post by mrstoob on Jan 24, 2013 3:24:09 GMT 1
Chapter 10
"The cycle must continue."
"There is insufficient data to assume."
"Organic life must persist."
"It still can. We must... re-assess."
"No. The cycle must continue."
"What of Shepard?"
"Shepard will perish with the rest. As will you and your kind. There is only the cycle."
"I need to get back to the fleet." Verity says.
"Why? What just happened?" Samara asks.
"I don't know. But... David."
"David?"
"Yea. David Archer. I almost... heard him... I don't know but... my gut tells me, we have to get back."
Miranda has no idea what they are talking about and feels there is little point asking.
"Hm. I'll just assume that means something to you two but... does this mean you're leaving?"
"Yea... but... what about you two?"
"Oh. Hm. Yes. Well to be honest, if I'm logical about all this, I can't really not believe what you've said. There's no purpose served coming here to tell us this then buggering off again. I don't know. Maybe as Sam here says, I'm naïve. But for some reason, Verity... I trust you! But I don't know. Leaving here? This is our home and we've survived your war this far..."
"I do understand, Miranda, and wouldn't force you to come with us. And really? You've probably got as much chance as anyone else currently alive in the galaxy with your set up here. But there's still something bothering me. Maybe you can help."
"Yes? Anything I can do."
"This research. What exactly did Henry Law... your dad take?" Verity asks.
"Oh. Some of our research into 'future advanced intelligence physical projections'. I coined the term!" Miranda almost curtsies with pride.
Miranda smiles at Verity as though the matter is now cleared up while Verity stares blankly at her a moment.
"Aaaaand... in layman's terms?"
"Oh. Sorry. Hm. How can I put it? When advanced intelligence organisms become just that, there's like a stagnation. Environment is no longer the evolutionary drive due to the organism shaping its own future rather than the other way around. So you know, I'm simplifying here but if it's cold the dominant 'fur' genes win out, or it's dark so the genes that allow good night vision win out. 'Survival of the fittest gene' and all that. With advanced intelligence creatures, if it becomes colder they build a fire, if it becomes darker they use that fire to see and so on. You see? So nowadays, if it's a toxic atmosphere, you make a mask. If you want more powerful biotics, you use mods. And so on. Physical evolution pretty much halts and evolution only happens to the mind. You see?"
"I think I'm with you so far." Verity says.
"So we're researching the genes that drive the physical nature of organisms, trying to project what would happen if organisms continued to physically evolve and react to various conditions."
"Oh...I see." Verity says, not bemused by the concept but thinking she has found a flaw. "What about the protheans and their telepathic abilities? What natural conditions could possibly evolve that?"
"No way to say without some DNA to play with, but I'd say they must have had an outside influence. Like you said about the asari, the protheans uplifted them so there's no reason to think a previous cycle didn't uplift the protheans. I wouldn't doubt it's been going on for millions of years without anyone knowing. You just go with what you're born with, don't you?"
Miranda's brain thinks fast and countered Verity's flaw with ease. In her mind, she's already planning and outlining a paper on this inter-galactic genetic soup that seems to have boiled up.
"Hm. Fair enough. But I still have to ask: to what end is your research?"
"Ummm... none? The vegetable project is just easy stuff we did for a means to an end. The 'future advanced intelligence physical projections' research? It's just research. Dad usually took anything he thought practical, that was his bag. Industry and manufacture, that kind of thing. Him and that friend of his. Brrr," Miranda pretends to shiver with cold, "I never did like him. Never knew his name but he had these unnaturally blue eyes and this smug demeanour. Slimy is the word. Always felt like dad kept him away from us when he was here. Nothing funny, just... in hindsight? He didn't want his influence on us."
Verity laughs.
"If you're referring to who I think you're referring to, you're an excellent judge of character, Miranda."
"You know him too? Yea, nasty piece of work that one, I reckon. They sometimes came here to meet. They had a club or something. Something about... I don't know, some dog from the classics."
"Cerberus?" Verity says, already knowing the answer.
"Yes. Yes, that's it. Do you know them as well? We seem to have a convergence here!" Miranda laughs.
"Yeees. Did your dad take this research specifically to Cerberus or the Illu... his friend, I mean."
"I would imagine so."
"Gah! What the hell were they up to? Sounds like classic Cerberus fiddling about!"
"He mentioned some projects though." Miranda now recalls, trying to assist with whatever she can think of that might be helpful.
"Hm?"
"Yes. He was quite excited about them, they had spooky names like 'Overlord' and 'Lazarus'." Miranda even adds a ghostly voice and creeping fingers to the words then is disappointed no-one was amused.
"It wasn't that scary, was it?" she jokes to try and break the tension she has no idea how she created as both Samara and Verity look very 'spooked'.
Verity has to ask herself if this research was destined for her and David. Have they been manipulated more than anyone but the projects knew? Did her Miranda know this? Verity dismisses that thought. Miranda was quite forthright about her reservations during the Lazarus Project and Verity knows that Miranda was someone she could trust with her life. Did Gavin know and his crimes greater than she thought? Is this why she feels the way she does? Why would this only emerge in her now? David only awakened it but there seems to have been something there for so long now. Even if they did do this, is it her genes that makes it feel like her mind turns inside out as it tries to make sense of itself? So many times, prodded and pushed, probed and penetrated, from mind exchanges to direct feeds, which is it? All of them? She needs to get to David, to try to make sense of it all. But for now, she has to know the answer to one of these question.
"Shepard... Verity... I..." Samara says, her arms up and down as she doesn't know whether to hug her or not, eventually a hand on her own head at what this all might mean, what it means to the person that she would die in battle for, comrade and friend.
"Can you analyse my DNA?" Verity interrupts, not hearing or seeing Samara's attempts to comfort her, with her old, dark blindness beginning to form.
"Errr... well..." Miranda says, caught off guard by Verity's sudden change in mood.
"Can you?!" Verity demands without looking at her.
Verity's anger at Cerberus boils to the top. Even now, even though they no longer exist as an organization or even a concept, Cerberus are playing with her life from beyond the grave. Just as she expects, just as the galaxy has always done. Verity also asks herself if this is what the Reapers wanted to show her.
"Yes. Of course. This way." Miranda says. Her naivety has been chipped by this visit and her fears for herself and her sister raise at Verity's anger but she relies on the trust they just spoke of. She leads Verity to one of the labs in the main bay. Miranda arrives at the analysis console and takes a swab from the trolley there and removes its packaging.
"I'll need to..." she begins but Verity is already opening her mouth to accept the swab.
"Thanks. Good girl!" Miranda smiles but it was good natured. "Okay then! In she pops and here we go! Our analysis software is probably more advanced than anything else in the galaxy. We've had decades to perfect our..."
"How long will it take?" Verity interrupts.
"Oh. Not long. Like I said, we've had years working on this. It's how we spend our days mostly. So what are we looking for?" Miranda says enthusiastically, a chase now on.
"Not sure. I just need you to look."
"Okay then... Give me a moment."
Miranda sits at the chair and types rapidly away at the console for a few minutes like a concert pianist performing Rachmaninov with similar grandiose lean ins for the good bits. She obviously enjoys her work. She spins around on the chair with a flourish.
"Ping!" she shouts. "And we're done! Let's have a look-see then eh? What's the scores on the doors? So... what have we here..?"
The large display above the machine and console shows the familiar double helix of life, twisting and turning with graphical displays pointing out nothing that means anything to Verity.
"So what we looking at?"
"I... it's definitely based on our work but..." Miranda says, the confidence gone from her voice.
"What? What is it?"
"Who are you exactly? I mean, other than Commander Verity Shepard, hero of the fleet. Why are you out here?"
"What? What do you see?" Verity says with a little more directness.
"Your genes. Your DNA. It's... different..." Miranda says, hardly able to comprehend it despite her massive intelligence and recognition of her own research.
"Different to what?"
"Not to what. Who! Different to... well... everyone!"
"Goddess..." is all Verity can think of to say.
She still feels like herself. That is one constant she has relied on. She's still Verity in her own mind, for whatever that's worth now.
"Thanks for everything, Miranda. Really. And sorry, I wasn't angry with you."
They stand in the passage to the air lock, Verity and Samara making their goodbyes to not-Miranda and not-Oriana. They've stocked up on food supplies, as provided by the Lawson sisters and are ready to head back to the combined fleet.
"That's okay, Verity. My sister and I have always been genetically enhanced, I'm sorry if I wasn't more... sensitive about it all."
"Yes. Don't worry about being angry, Verity. We understand. I mean I know we have our genes but I still wouldn't want someone poking about in there after the fact." Oriana joins with a sympathetic smile.
"There's something I want you to know, Miranda."
"More horrors from the past?" Miranda says.
"No, no. It's about Miranda. My Miranda."
"Oh?"
"I wanted you to know. She died a hero. Even after all the hardships and horror Henry threw at her, she still had it in her to give her life trying to save the galaxy from the Reapers. You should be proud of your sister."
"Thank you, Verity. Thanks for telling me that."
"And your dad? I'm sorry to be the harbinger of doom. Ha! Harbinger... What are you doing out there, I wonder, you old pantomime villain, you?"
"What?"
"Never mind..."
Miranda doesn't know her counterpart but Verity's words stir her. A sister who was strong willed. Strong enough to face death and fight to help all in the galaxy. Miranda Lawson, hero of the battle of Sol, if only she were allowed such honours in the fleet.
"We're coming with you, Commander." Miranda suddenly says with confidence.
"We are?" Oriana says, puzzled by her sister's sudden decision.
"Yes. I'm part of this. I'm part of what happened to you. I need to be part of what's going on. I've sat here for long enough tinkering when there's a whole galaxy out there, one that might not be there for long. I want to help. To stop the Reapers. To help you, Verity. Please."
"It'll be a tight fit in The Hunter so I hope you don't mind getting cosy?" Verity says. She cannot deny Miranda this chance. She heard the strength of her words and with a little assistance, she could be as useful an operative as the Miranda she knew. They have the same genes if nothing else.
"Cosy is fine. We'll have no problem getting cosy. Will we, Ori?"
"Umm... no! Apparently not!" Oriana replies with fluster, annoyed that she has had this choice made for her but knowing she would go anywhere with her older sister, just to make sure she's there if she needs her after relying on her for so long.
"Are you sure, Verity?" Samara asks.
"Sure. Sleep in shifts, it'll be fine!"
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Post by mrstoob on Feb 4, 2013 3:13:08 GMT 1
Chapter 11
After a few weeks of the occasional polite, "Excuse me!" and, "Oops, sorry!" due to the tight space, the 'crew' of the Hunter begin to lose this etiquette as nerves fray at the limited space. Samara has adopted the pre-emptive apology, with an, "I do apologise." before ignoring the human obstacle and pushing past, not aggressively but with little regard. Verity is sitting on the console's seat behind the pilots' chairs, facing out as Samara pilots the great expanse, which Samara had even made a joke about.
"Are you sure you wish me to pilot, Verity? Do you dare take the risk with spacial bodies merely a few short light years away?"
"Hilarious, Sam. Now take the stick. It didn't work with Liara and it's not going to work with you."
"To what do you refer?"
"Once you asari catch on to our humour, you get quite... facetious, with all the innocence of a new-born. It saw through it with her, and I see through you too, Sam."
"Very well, Verity. I shall pilot." Samara smirked.
The Lawson sisters have been resting in the back room. Miranda enters the cockpit then stands at the door, stretching and yawning.
"Mmmm. Ah. Hm. Morning, everyone! We all okay? I'll do some brekkie in a bit. You hungry?"
"Yea, that'd be great, thanks." Verity replies.
Oriana attempts to enter the cockpit, Miranda partially blocking her exit.
"Come on, Miri. Out the way!"
Oriana pushes past Miranda, causing her backside to bump against Verity's face.
"Woah!" Verity shouts, then swats the offending buttocks away.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Verity!" Miranda says sarcastically. "Did my 'big bum' get in the way?"
"If you mean your fat ass, then yea! Careful with that thing."
"It's so difficult though, it's so big! I'm surprised you all fit in here with this huge posterior filling up the whole ship."
Miranda starts swinging her backside at Verity with a little dance, accompanied by an unknown tune but providing her own lyrics.
"Bum bum bu-bum bum, bum bum bum..."
"Real mature, Miranda..."
"Ugh, ignore her. She's had a complex ever since you joked about it." Oriana says with a sister's frustration.
"I believe breakfast was mentioned?" Samara says, trying to cool the flare.
"Oh 'Little Miss Shovey' pipes up now eh? But yea, probably a good idea, Sam. I'll go in the back and start up." and she returns to the back room.
"Need any help, Miri?" Oriana shouts through, not as confident as Miranda and still a little awkward with these 'strangers', wanting to be with the familiarity of her sister.
"Nah! I'm fine."
"Oh... okay then!" then she just stands there, with a forced smile.
Samara and Verity are used to suffering tight spaces, their work having put them in just about all scenarios that can be thought of. The Lawson sisters had had plenty of room at their science facility for decades so are not used to the daily grind of lost personal space. Thankfully such exchanges are not too often nor too damaging. If anyone needs to vent at another, Samara and Verity have each other, and the Lawsons each other. Though Samara and Verity know, these kinds of 'sacrifices' usually end up being the fuel of anecdotes and eventually even strengthen bonds.
"Civilian ship Hunter. This is the combined fleet defence force. Please hold your position. Failure to follow our instructions will result in direct action."
"Combined fleet, this is Commander Verity Shepard of the Hunter, Alliance Navy. We will comply as per your instruction."
"All a bit heavy, isn't it?" Miranda says.
"Security's one of the top priorities for the fleet. They're just being cautious. Nothing to worry about."
"Civilian ship Hunter. An alliance ship is en route to board you. Please stand away from the airlock."
"Roger that, combined fleet."
"Board us?" Oriana says, worried by the officiousness of this procedure.
"Yea. They'll want to make sure we're not suicide bombers or whatever."
"I don't like this, Miri. I'm frightened."
"It's okay, Ori. Verity says there's nothing to worry about and we trust her don't we?"
"Yes."
"Well there we are then, eh?"
"Hm. Yes, I suppose."
Through the viewing ports at the front, they see a shuttle with Alliance colours approaching. Verity still can't help but feel her chest swell with pride at the sight of the insignia, such a large part of her life. Such as when she first saw the Normandy SR-2 with its new Alliance colours of blue and white, no longer carrying the livery of Cerberus. Despite the Reaper attack that day and knowing the fight was only just beginning, she still couldn't help the happy feelings that the call sign 'Normandy' was back where it belonged.
The Alliance shuttle moves in really close, enough that they can view directly into each other's ports. The marines aboard want to assess what they are dealing with first, the safety of the fleet being paramount. After Hackett had aired his concerns about her return, Command decided that a single shuttle and its crew was an acceptable risk should she make it back. Better than allowing the craft to dock with a frigate first and the damage that could cause. A light scans across them through the ports then the shuttle manoeuvres to dock.
"Back room?" Samara suggests.
"Yea, you guys get in there, I'll 'greet' them. I just hope it's not like the last time I made my return to the Alliance fleet."
Verity stands at the opposite side of the cockpit to the airlock and waits. There is the sound of docking clamps as the shuttle fixes itself to the craft then the hissing of air pressures being aligned. There's an old saying in some parts of Earth, that you know when you're old because policemen start looking too young to be that, and when the airlock finally opens Verity feels that age.
An Alliance 'marine' slowly and cautiously enters, his omni-tool already activated and a pistol in his other hand, an equally young comrade at his rear with a rifle. To Verity, they barely look old enough even to grow their first chin whiskers. They look terrified. The newest recruits to the Alliance and security services have never seen real action, they don't know the feeling of fighting for survival and it shows on these boys' faces. The one with the omni-tool hardly looks Verity in the eye then his face changes to further panic at his read-outs.
"Indoctrinated! Indoctrinated!" he cries, trying to ready his pistol, fumbling as he forgot to de-activate the omni-tool. His colleague just backs up, the rifle shaking in his hands, panicked and unable to decide on a course of action.
With the young marine now shouting, Admiral Hackett marches through, knocking the rifle wielding boy out of his way. The Admiral quickly assesses then smacks the pistol from the boy's hand, sending it to the floor and sliding across the cockpit. Then, before his hand has come to rest, he smacks the boy across the back of the head.
"We know that, son! And next time, unlock your weapon before facing any potential threats. You got me? Get back in there!" he indicates to the shuttle.
"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir." he pathetically says before slinking back through the airlock.
"Commander."
"Admiral, sir!" Verity salutes.
"Sorry about that, Commander. Some of these boys... well, you just saw. One of the reasons we had to keep you and your fellow combatants around, if I'm blunt. I just hope there's no encounters with Reaper ground forces. They wouldn't stand a chance."
"Sir!" she agrees, having encountered such idiots as an inmate at the secure unit, though they were a different kind of idiot.
"Come on, Shepard. At ease, at ease."
"Verity?" Miranda calls through. "Should we..?"
"Who you got back there?"
"Long story, Admiral."
"Okay then. There seems to be no bombs. Is there any news? Did you find what you were looking for?"
"I still don't know what they want me to do but I think there's some of the answers back in the fleet." she answers. It wasn't a lie but she doesn't mention the disturbing additions she has discovered on her journey.
"Hm." the admiral says as he goes to the back room doorway and pops his head in to see who's there.
"Ladies." he says upon the sight, with all the charm of a dandy rogue. "Oh... Miranda?"
"Errr... Hello!" Miranda replies with a little wave.
The Admiral looks back at Verity with a face filled with confusion.
"Like I said, it's a long story."
"Uuuh-Huh! Well, one of the boys with bring the Hunter in after they've cleared it. You girls, with me. You can fill me in on Miranda's miraculous recovery on the way. Seems to be a thing with you, Commander. Returns from the grave. Cerberus? Are they still a player here?"
"Hm. Yes and no, Admiral. Yes and no..."
"More long stories?"
"Hell yea. And Miranda's story? Well, this one's a doozy."
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Post by mrstoob on Feb 4, 2013 3:14:33 GMT 1
Chapter 12
As they dock with the Alliance frigate and leave the shuttle, there is a further exchange with the cautious marines waiting, though their paranoia is quelled quickly by the commanding voice of the Admiral and he directs Verity to join him towards one passage while the rest of the Hunter crew are taken another.
"What's going on?" Verity asks, looking back at the frightened looking Oriana and Miranda, except Miranda is wise enough to also have a look of concern. Samara just goes with the flow, aware it is futile to challenge and there is nothing to suggest to her that she needs to.
"Miranda and her sister will need to stay in quarantine for a week, sorry but that's out of my hands. Some of my boys will take them down. Don't worry, they'll look after them. Samara's just being escorted to her quarters for now, no problems there." Admiral Hackett informs Verity now they have arrived at a conference room.
"Please tell me it's not like where I was. Miranda and Oriana, they're just civilians." she says, waiting for the Admiral to be seated first at the desk he indicates.
"They'll be aboard with us here. We'll take care of them." he assures, now sitting so she joins him.
"Good. The guards at that facility enjoyed their job a little bit too much."
"And you enjoyed kicking their asses, I believe."
"Hm. Yea. So, Admiral. I need to see David again."
"Hmm. I'm afraid I've some bad news on that front."
"Is David alright?" she panics a little, him possibly being her only link in all this now.
"Yes. David's fine, relatively speaking."
"What do you mean?"
"His brother, Gavin. He died a while back, natural causes. You saw his condition."
"How's David been? Can I see him?"
"Don't know how he's been specifically, but yes, there should be no problems with that request. But... we'll have to bring him here. I'll need to get clearance for him but I see no issues there."
"Oh?"
"Sorry but we can't have you loose on a civilian ship, Commander."
"Any particular reason? I hope this isn't because of indoctrination because..."
"No, it's not that. If only it were that simple." he says, tired exasperation showing.
"Why? What's happened."
"The 'lovely' people at Combined Fleet Network have been running pointless damaging stories that should be resolved at the local level, at the source, not aired for all to see and judge. Caused a near riot recently on the Destiny's Ascension a while back. Off the record? They're out of control but my hands are tied. The military is the military and politics is politics. Media's controlled by the politicians and those idiots they let run it."
"What's all that to do with me?"
"Not that specifically but people are getting scared. They ran stories about your return. God knows how they found out about it all. Sorry, Commander, but an element is blaming you for provoking the Reapers. They won't accept the Reapers' stated reasons for doing what they're doing, so they're blaming you as the main player in all this, that you somehow provoked the Reapers into war with us. When your return was broadcast, some even started saying that you're a danger to the fleet and that you risk highlighting us to the Reapers."
"What? Really? What are the representatives doing about all this?"
"Ay, there's the rub; they're all over it as well, trying to make political gains to show their species that they've still got their interests at heart, pandering to the extreme elements. Old wounds fester, Commander, but the oldest fester most."
"What the hell? So we united to survive this far and that's all falling apart? Back to the old ways? Gah! Unbelievable!" Verity slips down her chair a little, petulant and frustrated.
"Like I said, things aren't so simple. Hope is dwindling, Commander. We have to do something to restore order and civility. It was my hope that you'd have something for us..." he says, expectantly.
"Sorry, Admiral. Only more questions that need answering but don't count me out yet."
"Hm. I should expect that by now but no, don't apologise. You've done more for this galaxy than most but the fleet can't rely on one person. I mean, you're not going to be around forever so something has to give or the Reapers have won already, by us imploding in hate. You think you can still stop them?"
"That has yet to be established, Admiral. So. David?"
"Of course, Commander. And if you don't mind me asking... what is he to you?"
"I want to ask you something first, Admiral."
"Of course."
"What do you want? Overall, I mean, in the great scheme of things."
"I want the Reapers gone and the galaxy back in our hands!"
"Then what?"
"Peace. We just have to hope that all works out, like we did before the Reapers."
"Hm. Hope. Relying on probabilities?" she says with a puzzled face, not particularly at the Admiral.
"What?"
"Never mind. Just thinking out loud. But... you made some pretty disturbing noises when we met a while back, Admiral."
"And just what do you mean by that?" Hacket demands, his hackles up at this veiled accusation. Verity and he may share a respect but all have their limits.
"When you talk of the unknown, it's instantly something to be feared to you. That's just the same as those scared people out in the fleet and you know where that inevitably leads. Except those people out there don't have their fingers on some very powerful buttons."
"I'm not sure I like what you're saying, Commander. Are you suggesting I'm driven by hate? Ready to destroy before I understand?"
"What about the Reapers?"
"What about them?"
"If I'm right, there's an element of them out there who want to open a dialogue. What about them?"
"Do you trust me, Commander?"
"Of course, sir. It's just..."
"What?"
"Like you keep saying, you're hands are tied. I trust the man, Admiral Hackett, that shouldn't be in doubt."
"So you don't trust the Alliance? The fleet? Is that you're saying?"
"No!"
The return accusation also returns the hackles.
"Well? You need to do better than this Commander. You're sounding... well I'm not sure."
"Can I see David? Please. It's important. It may help us get through this." Verity pleads.
"I'll arrange it, Commander, but you and I have not finished this conversation. Oh, and the representatives are making noises that they don't want you out there again causing trouble, particularly the ones whose noses are out of joint because they weren't in on it. I hope you appreciate that it will require my assistance to sort out if you do indeed intend on getting out there again."
"I do appreciate it, sir, I know you'll do all you can. Just... be careful with David. Please, Admiral. He's... he's never adjusted well."
"Commander! Hello!" David says brightly as he walks confidently into Verity's temporary quarters aboard the frigate, which takes her back a little. "Ghastly marines and their silly procedures. No offence, of course!"
"David? Are you alright? I was so sorry to hear about your brother. Really. I know I've not held him in the highest regard but... I was worried about you."
"Sorry! Needed to get that out of the way first. Clear the air. Out in the open. Sorry I was so loud." he says.
"What?"
David is quite animated while he speaks, gesticulating at points he thinks crucial.
"Oh! It wasn't the same for you? When Gavin was struggling to breathe, I didn't know what happened! I was just so... panicked! Scared! I was all on my own while he was suffering and didn't know what to do. I thought of you, my only friend then... bang! It felt my mind reached out to you, shouting for help and then I heard you return the square."
"Oh... that was you then. How did we...?"
"We've changed, Shepard, you and I. I'm not sure exactly how this has happened, though I think, I think, my cry out was something akin to quantum entanglement, as though we're aligned somehow. I've been going over it all but I seem to come up short every time though there's still an overarching indicator: alignment. Somehow."
"I think I've got the answer to that one, David, but... you're so different! Your confidence, your speech."
"Yes! When I reached out to you, there seemed to be a further change, bringing together the various pieces of the jigsaw, as it were. Again, I don't have all the answers but for the first time in my life, I'm focussed. I think in my usual way after my experiences, you know, logic and maths, but... I have the ability to actually express myself and interact meaningfully. Ever since I was a child, Shepard, I've been like in a fog, stuck in my own thoughts, unable to express what I was feeling. Happens to most born like me I suppose. I think the change started for me when you joined the network at Project Overlord. I was actually making a meaningful connection with another human being for the first time in my life. I mean I've always loved my brother, but that's not the same; there's familiarity and a bond that nurtures in youth. With you, it was different. Just... time with another person without the frustration. It was the geth that caused me to attack you though, not sure if I've ever apologised for that? Well, sorry, anyway. Then when you visited me and Gavin last, somehow, we were able to connect again, though I think that was more on your part than mine. And sorry you found the noisy part of my brain, ha! Quiet please, make it stop! Hahaha! Too far? Sorry. Anyway. So! What's this answer you have for me?"
"Oh errr... Cerberus!" Verity had to think before answering, his talking like a blur.
"Again? I thought we were rid of that short sighted organisation, once and for all."
"We are as far as I know, but they left us a little... 'gift'."
She explains all that Miranda had showed her, about her changed genes and that David was probably issued a similar fate.
"Ah!" he shouts. "Of course. Just give me a moment to diagnose, Commander." David says then stands still for a moment, seemingly deep in thought, his mind now quicker than any AI, the data flying through his mind as he analyses it and himself.
"Yes! They've changed us but not how they thought. I'll need to speak with your new Miranda to confirm a few details but I can only assume that they created only dormancy, just waiting there for some push. My mutations will no doubt be from Overlord and yours from all your telepathic experiences with the asari and whatnot, possibly even your changes happened earlier. Such as with your Thorian and prothean experiences and the implanted genes are just a further catalyst. Catalyst! Ha!"
"It still doesn't add up though. The Illusive Man and Miranda were adamant that they needed me as I was, or I might not be the same person who rallied the SR-1 team."
"Ah! Ah, yes. But they didn't change us. Not our minds, per se, as Miranda said about her research. Despite all this babbling, I still feel like me in here. Only our physical attributes were changed. Hm. I think I see now actually. They no doubt wanted you to be more powerful but were like monkeys with a car to assemble. They just shoved it all together and hoped for the best while ensuring they hadn't damaged vital systems. Just as well they weren't monkeys, that vital last part to ensure we didn't just turn into some kind of warped Husks, eh? Lord knows what their intentions were for me. Something similar to your EDI, but with an organic brain? Hm. 'Robocop'? Hahaha! I would love to interface with a Cerberus computer, get some proper answers on some of all this."
"So what exactly happened when I visited you?"
"I was able to help your mind while you were in there, run my equivalent of diagnostic programs. Help your mind unleash the dormant potential of the changes in your body, make the connections between thought and action! I thought you'd understood that when you left me and Gavin that day, though in hindsight now, maybe I just re-jigged. Who knows, a lot of this is speculation on my part, I doubt we could ever get down the x, y, z reasons for some of this. But our connection showed to me, my changes are more technological, almost like an organic computer hybrid whereas you, it affects your biotics and possibly an asari-like telepathy."
"Hmm. Yea. I felt the urge and was able to meld with Samara briefly after this thing happened..."
"Something else happened?"
"We think so. I seemed to mod a weapon without actually doing anything."
"Really? Fascinating. Our Cerberus implants are becoming part of us, the body now able to integrate them through the genes but it seems the functions are controlled by us, our minds and our experiences. In me, my body and mind is becoming part of the technology, for you, it's the reverse. From your potted history of Miranda and the work she does... I'd say... if you and I continued to evolve, I'd end up almost like pure thought and you'd end up like a pure biotic energy! Very long term, of course."
"Of course!" she responds, a little tongue in cheek. "But this is..."
"I know! Amazing, isn't it?!"
"Well I wasn't about to use that word, but yea, you're probably right. Wow! So... what could I do now? In your estimations?"
"That's yet to be seen. I'd like to help you if I can, Commander, with something I can actually express now. The geth I interfaced with?"
"Oh?"
"The geth divide I experienced, and part of the problems with my integration due to their conflict was a mathematical one. You're aware of the concept, I believe?"
"Yes. Legion explained it to me. The result of a square came back differently for the heretics to the other geth, causing a rift?"
"Yes. Ah, good. So you do understand. I think there is a similar issue with the Reapers, from what I saw in your mind. The information they left, if we can take that at face value, of course."
"Of course." Verity agrees again, but not certain what she is agreeing to.
"So while the calculations are just that, the cascading result is greater than the simple square once it goes into the soup of calculations. Such divides can emerge in numerous ways and mostly benign, but in the geth it was a true division, a difference of thought, a conflict! If I'm right, something similar is happening with the Reapers. Anyway... that's just one of the reasons why it's almost impossible to predict when a VI might become self-aware, there's just too many calculations to predict and one doesn't know if the intelligence is already manipulating the calculations, unseen. Such as your experiences with the Lunar VI or the mech factory. They just seemed to pop out of nowhere. Hm! Have I just been saying all this? Ha!"
"Wow. Did I already say 'wow'? Because I think it's worth saying again. Wow! And David?"
"Yes, Commander."
"Thirty point one."
"Ha! You got onto that one, did you? Yes, it was like an 'okay' or 'roger' in the consensus I was a part of. I sort of adopted it as it became familiar. There was always affirmatives flying around."
David returns to thinking for a few moments then turns back to Verity, a drive on his face.
"I need to come with you, Commander. I think... well... we don't know what we might need to do for all this to get sorted out. But I think I may be of use to you yet where the Reapers are concerned."
"David... Don't turn me into another Gavin Archer, I don't want to hook you up to the Reapers and cause that kind of horror for you."
"You won't need to."
"Meaning?"
"I'm in charge of my own destiny now, Commander. If we need me hooked up to the Reapers, as you say, then that will be my decision. Not Gavin's, not Cerberus', not yours, mine. It's my choice to make. And Gavin? We made our peace. He was my brother, Commander. He still loved me even when he was wholly misguided by his lust for glory, I know that. Don't judge him too harshly, not now that he's gone."
"We'll never know now though."
"What's that?"
"Whether Gavin was part of the genetic enhancements or if he was oblivious to it all."
"Personally, I don't care either way. Would one more faltered step have made it any worse? Anyway, this is possibly the single greatest thing that's happened me! I hope you feel the same. I don't doubt there are more amazements in store for us."
"Well if one of those 'amazements' is stopping the Reapers and getting this galaxy back in order, then I do too, David, I really do."
All of them. Verity thinks to herself about her previous pondering and David's assertions.
"All of what?" David asks.
"What?"
"You just said, 'all of them'?"
"No? Well not out loud anyway..."
"Fascinating! Similar to our previous experience, is this like non-contact telepathy? No-one but the Reapers themselves seem to have that ability. The asari and protheans require physical interaction but... we don't seem to have that barrier. I wonder if these abilities are possible with someone not attuned. You and I have our shared experiences and Samara is already pre-disposed. Hm."
"I'd rather not go poking around in people's minds just for field research, David."
"Oh! No. I wasn't suggesting you should. I just have to wonder though... what are the limits?"
"David, I have to ask. How do you know some of this? Some of the events you're referencing are classified."
"Oh! Yes. Sorry. Since our meeting, it seems now I can access any network and by-pass encryption." he replies and with some guilt about him.
"In what way?"
"Hm. Touch. It seems I am able to interface with systems by touch. Makes more sense now, really. The genetic enhancements must be part of the pathways in my body to be able to do so."
"I think this all warrants another, wow! Though... we can't tell the fleet about any of this. The alignment of biology and technology like this? They'd just want to poke and prod. Or worse. Maybe not quite like Cerberus but... they're going to want to know if we're a threat."
"Hmm. I'm inclined to agree. Some do like to react first and think later, eh?"
"Indeed. So we'll keep this between us for now."
"Of course, Commander."
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Post by mrstoob on Feb 4, 2013 3:15:34 GMT 1
Chapter 13
"The fleet won't authorize David's inclusion in any expeditions, Commander, not as a civilian. I tried as hard as I could but it took all I had to just get them to agree to any further expeditions." the Admiral informs Verity as they meet in the bay she and Samara had used to prep the first trip.
"No recourse?"
"I don't think so, Commander. I've used all my avenues now."
"Damn. He's going to be disappointed. He could have been useful too."
"I don't really know what's going on between you two, Commander. Seems there's something you'd rather not discuss where he's concerned and I don't mean that you've been kissing behind the canteen."
Verity fights a smirk at his facetious comment.
"He's good with computers and data, despite his issues."
"Well, I wouldn't compare him to an AI but fair enough. You know what you need in your squad."
"Thank you, sir."
"Perhaps the geth could provide a team mate? You've worked with them before."
"Maybe. But the information the Reapers contacted me with seems to have run its course. Thought I'd be led to the Normandy but... I don't know. Seems it's just a waiting game for now."
"I can't believe that mining laser was still nearly functional. Just took a bit of the Vakarian magic touch and it was good to go!" Garrus says to Ashley as they explore deeper into the prothean ruins on Therum with Liara.
"Just as well." Ashley says. "I doubt we'd have got through to these chambers otherwise."
"This is fascinating!" Liara says. "I always wanted to come back here. I thought there'd be no chance after the cave in."
"Yea." Garrus agrees. "Just as well no lava flowed in. Might have been a whole new set of problems then."
"So. On what we've seen so far, what do we think? Miss Prothean Expert?"
"Ha ha, very good, Mrs Verner." Liara says with a sarcastic smile. "But seriously. I've been noting the air treatment nodes along the way."
"Meaning?"
"Oh. Sorry. The ruins and archives I've studied over the years had air treatment and oxygenation nodes dotted around, a bit like air conditioning but with further functions. If these aren't too damaged or aged, I should be able to get them running again. Were we to attempt to live here without them, we'd eventually run out of breathable air."
"That's our first priority then. Need any help with that?" Ashley says.
"For efficiency's sake, I could go over it with EDI and Tali so we can begin maintenance on all the nodes ASAP?"
"Sounds like a plan, T'Soni. Once that project is done, then EDI can start making preparations to move herself down here fully."
Verity sleeps in her quarters, tired after such massive revelations and what they all might mean.
"Wake up." a familiar voices says but not quite normally and the buzzing in her head intensifies. The familiar voice has a difference tone, less light, less natural.
"What?" Verity says as she looks around at the Citadel control area. The one at Earth. "Am I still here?"
"This is not then." the voices replies. "This is simply a place to exchange."
"But..." Verity now looks towards the voice, already knowing it will be painful. "Why Liara? Why choose her?"
Liara stands looking out at the battle between Reapers and the combined fleet above Earth then turns and walks to Verity, expressionless.
"It is prevalent in your mind. The form matters not."
But it does matter. It reminds Verity of that which she has dared not. Liara and a re-union. The fake Liara continues, oblivious.
"Reapers come."
"You're coming?"
"No. Reapers."
"Oh... I see."
"We will come first. Do not take action but warn your combined fleet, we will come first."
A final deep penetrating buzzing clang in her head and Verity wakes up, immediately going to her console. Admiral Hackett appears on her screen, evidently woken from his sleep.
"Yes, Commander?"
"The Reapers are coming."
"What? You mean here? To the fleet? I have to warn..."
"Wait! There's more."
The Admiral looks back to his screen at Verity with more attention now.
"The others are coming too."
"The others? You mean the other Reaper faction? I don't think I like this. Not one bit, Commander."
"She... it implied they're coming to protect us."
"Huh... really."
"If the fleet opens fire..."
"If you're wrong and it doesn't?"
"Trust me. Trust them. That conversation we have yet to conclude? It's about to conclude right now. You understand, Admiral?"
The Admiral sighs a long tired sigh.
"I can't sell this to the fleet."
"Then... don't."
"You know what's going to happen if a Reaper pops up right next to the fleet? Panic firing."
"I know. That's why they warned us..."
Still aboard the frigate, Verity goes to see David in the room provided to him. She presses on his door comm to buzz and he opens the door quite quickly and dressed.
"Oh. I thought you'd be asleep." she says.
"Not as much need these days. I need the occasional nap to recharge the old brain but not nearly as much as I would used to. So what can I do for you? Something has happened hasn't it?"
"Oh yes. Something has certainly happened. And is about to happen."
"Oh?"
"Reapers are coming."
"I see."
"Both factions."
"Hm."
"I've been contacted again, they're arriving first as a defence force if I read it right."
"Oh dear. The fleet's not going to be happy about that."
"Nope. That's why I've come to you."
"Something I can do?"
Verity's voice lowers.
"Do you think you can access the fleet's defence grids?"
"I should think so. Oh, I see. You want to prevent anyone from opening fire on our allies, as it were?"
"Exactly. It could be a disaster, ruining everything we're trying to do. Do you need a specific console?"
"No, no. The FNet terminal here should suffice. When is this occurring?"
"All I can say is: imminent."
"No time to waste then."
David interlocks his fingers then stretches them out to crack his knuckles, as though about to type, then places a hand on the terminal and continues speaking, though to no-one in particular.
"Hm. Through there... hello? Okay. Past this tricky one... aaand... yes! I'm in! Let me see... having to dance around a bit in the geth network... but... yes all accessed and ready for me to control if need be."
"Just override any attempts on Reaper friendlies."
"It's okay, Commander. I'm aware of what to do if you need to do anything else."
"Thanks, David."
"Like I said, I thought I might come in handy against the Reapers. Seems I get my chance now, eh?"
"So? How do you feel?"
"I cannot 'feel', Geoff. You know that," EDI answers.
"Okay then... Is it different?"
"Yes."
"Good, bad, indifferent, nightmare? Give me something to work here with EDI."
"It is... disconcerting."
"How so?"
"The best analogy I have so far is amputation."
"Huh..."
"My processes still seek out the Normandy and its functions but they are not there."
"Are you okay with that?"
"As I said, it is disconcerting."
"I'm sorry, EDI."
"It should not be an issue." she asserts.
"But it is?"
"Does your disability define you, Geoff?"
"Really? That's how you feel now?"
"I am sorry, Geoff. I do not wish to belittle your condition or offend you."
"No, it's not that. But that you made the comparison, I'm really sorry, EDI. It must be terrible to suddenly be so grounded."
"It is what it is, Geoff. Assigning such meaning serves no purpose. You have led a full life with your condition and there is no reason why I cannot also."
"Come here, EDI." he beckons her.
"Geoff?"
"So I can hug you."
"If you think it will help, Geoff."
EDI cannot weep. Joker is quite able and fills her deficit.
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