MORNING WAR

Author's note: this story takes place on Rannoch, the Quarian homeworld, between year 1880 and 1995 of the Council Era which is roughly 300 years before the events of Mass Effect which is (c) Bioware.

PROLOGUE: GETH

oOo 1880 oOo

"You really want to rename the VI networks?"

"Absolutely." He looked up at his colleague with a wide smile. "The mobile hardware release deserves a little ceremony." He turned to face the form still attached to the reclined lab chair which looked back at him through its glowing photoreceptor. "Unit Zero-One? What is the Khelish word for 'servant of the people'?"

"The word is Geth, Creator Zahak." The synthetic voice replied, eliciting an even wider smile on the scientist's face.

"Yes, very good." Zahak nodded and patted the VI on its duraluminium shoulders.

"Well, Professor," the other scientist reached for the bottle Saurian Brandy in her locker filled the two plastic mugs sitting on the counter. "Congratulations!" She smiled offering him the drink. "You made it, Creator Zahak." She teased, stifling a yawn.

The woman glanced at the creature

"We made it, Reela," he corrected, lifting his mug in a toast. "You put as much effort in this project as myself."

"Now let's put you offline for the last few calibrations…" he tapped on his omni-tool and within moments the machine was back into standby mode.

"Ancestors, you fuss over it…"

His eyes lingered on the dormant form before turning to face the other scientist, his face beaming with triumph, enthusiasm winning over tiredness.

"Weren't you here until midnight fixing Zero-One's circuitry?"

"Well it needed resoldering," she shrugged lightly and fought back another yawn.

"You're exhausted," he patted her shoulder checking the time on the wall behind her. It was well past midnight – again. "Go get some rest," she opened her mouth to protest but he blocked her before she could say a word. "I'll just file in some data and go home as well. Don't worry. I wouldn't dream starting any test on our Geth, without you."

"You're probably right." A sigh escaped her lips and looked at the clock. "Goodnight, Professor…" She collected her coat from the hanger and paused one last time before heading out the lab. "Goodnight Geth," and the door closed silently behind her.

"You're the beginning of a whole new era, I can tell" he whispered running a hand over the smooth surface of its metallic chest plate. In the last three years he'd been so absorbed by the project that it was the first time he realized the rough elegance of unit Zero-One: the most advanced cybernetic technology in the galaxy lay enclosed in a flexible but durable outer shell and synthetic muscle tissue giving it the strength of a Krogan and the agility of a Sur'Kesh monkey; its artificial brain was able of potentially infinite calculus capacity and flawless memory.

From an aesthetic point of view he had to admit that he hadn't given it the most original design, but he was satisfied with the results nonetheless. Reela once mentioned that its shape and proportions carried slightly too much resemblance with its Quarian creator, but to him, it was just perfect.

"Geth..." Zahak mused, repeating the word to himself. Yes, he liked the sound of it.