Mass Effect: Rise of the Harbinger

-Duty-

-Aboard the SSV Lincoln-

Dyson Courtland, a twenty-five year old Alliance biotic, rubbed his chin checking to make sure he hadn't missed a whisker. Their commanding officer was tough on being clean shaven. One stray whisker would put you on KP duty for a week. Jump Zero wasn't even this bad. And he remembered how much he and Kaiden Alenko couldn't stand their Turian trainer, Vernus. His now commanding officer made Vernus look almost like a saint. But for whatever reason, Captain Travus gave Dyson a wide berth. The most guessed reason was that it was because Dyson was the only biotic in the Shadow Company Spec-Ops group. Add to that fact that he was also the next gen biotic implant to keep him ahead of any enemies he and his team might encounter. But Shadow Company hadn't been active for some time. There was no need to employ Spec-Ops when there was no real war happening. Dyson's friend, Sven Taladore, leaned his head back on his pillow in their quarters.

"Come on, Dys. You know Travus isn't going to say anything to you. You could piss on his shoes and you'd get away with it." Sven laughed.

"Yeah, I know. Guess Jump Zero just made a bit more conscious of not wanting to piss off my CO, Sven." Dyson looked over to his friend and ran his hand over his chin one last time.

Sven sat up. "You know what this is about, Dys? Why he wanted to talk to you here?"

Dyson shook his head. "No idea. Still makes me nervous thinking about it."

Sven couldn't have agreed more. The only time Captain Travus ever visited a soldier's quarters was because they were in deep trouble and he was going to ream them a new one.

The door to their quarters opened. Both immediately jumped to attention. "Sir!" They said in unison and saluted crisply.

Captain Travus saluted back. "At ease, gentlemen." He watched as both stood at a parade rest stance. "Sergeant Taladore, I need to have this conversation in private with the Lieutenant."

"Sir!" Sven said and started to leave, giving Dyson a 'good luck' look.

When Sven left, Travus shut the door. He sat down. "Have a seat, son." When Dyson was seated, Travus leaned forward. "I didn't want this to get out there, Dyson. Not a lot of people are open to the thought of a human working with aliens."

"Are we at war with any of them, sir?" Dyson asked. He knew the answer but he had to ask it.

"No, and that's not the point. The point is that Command has chosen you to be the first human to work with another species." Travus leaned back. "And there are some in Command that think that interaction with aliens will weaken humanity." His brows furrowed. "You and I both know that's bullshit."

Dyson nodded in agreement. "But why me, sir?"

Travus folded his arms over his chest. "Any number of reasons. Your scores are exemplary. You're the only biotic in a spec ops group in the entire Third Fleet. Or you pissed someone off." He shook his head. "In truth I don't know the reason. They just said they wanted it to be you."

Dyson didn't like where this was going. "Alright. Then what race am I being assigned to, sir?"

"Quarian, believe it or not." Travus gave a tight grin. "The Migrant fleet has already been contacted by Command. And they've…agreed…to this program. And when I say agreed, it was begrudgingly."

Dyson's shoulders slumped. He had taken time to study most of the Council races. Quarians were one of the last ones he studied but a lot of their information was scattered at best. As if someone hadn't bothered to look for more about them. He was able to gleam a bit about their religion and their fleet, ship and political structures. The fact was Quarians weren't a readily trusting people. They were a tight knit people that were exiled from their homes. And no one to date had ever set foot on a Quarian ship. "Great." Dyson sighed. Proving himself to the Quarians was already going to be hard enough. This just made it harder.

"Get your armor on, Lieutenant. You're meeting up with a Quarian returning from their Pilgrimage in three hours." Travus stood and saluted.

Dyson saluted back. When Sven returned, Dyson told him everything.

-Aboard the Rayya, four days later-

The trip with the Quarian coming off of Pilgrimage was highly uneventful, and to a point, silent. The young Quarian, Shirn, wanted nothing to do with this human. A human setting foot aboard one of their ships felt like an insult to the Quarian race. But Dyson had told him that he was under orders to go through with this program. At least this human was just following orders. That was the only thing he and the Quarians would have in common. Dyson was starting to feel sorry for the Quarians. He had just spent four days in his armor and Death Mask and there was no reprieve from that for him. He had to always remain in his armor and mask. He couldn't imagine the Quarians having done this their entire lives. But he wouldn't insult them by pitying them. This was their culture now. But now, Dyson stood before the Admiralty Board. He stood next to Shirn and a young female Quarian named Valna'Dasna nar Alerai.

Admiral Zal'Korris stood with Admiral Shala'ran as they looked at the three. "First," Admiral Zal'Korris started. "Let me start by welcoming back those who were on their Pilgrimage. You've done well and the Captain of the Icarus will be pleased with that which you brought back to the Fleet. You've both done well."

"Keelah'sehli." Valna'Dasna and Kal'Shirn replied in unison.

"Now, as for you, human." Zal'Korris looked hard at Dyson. "I don't appreciate that your Systems Alliance suggested we take on one of your people to foster better relations. Let alone for four years."

Dyson jerked slightly hearing the amount of time he's be with the Migrant Fleet. And his reaction wasn't lost to the other two. He was never told this. "Yessir." He answered with a dry thoat. 'Damn Travus.' He thought.

"But in the spirit of showing we are not opposed to such things, you will join Kal'Shirn and Valna'Dasna aboard the Icarus. You will learn our ways, you will make yourself a part of this flotilla. Is that understood?" Zal'Korris asked incredulously. He didn't expect this human to last more than three months before be sent back.

"Sir, yessir!" Dyson responded.

"No need to be so formal, human. Now then." Zal'Korris relaxed a bit. "Being only two of us Admirals were able to be here, tell us a bit about yourself, human."

Dyson stayed at attention. "I am Lieutenant Dyson "Harbinger" Courtland of the Systems Alliance, sir. I am lead of a Spec Ops team code named Shadow Company. I am also, sir, a biotic."

"Then why were you selected for this program with the Migrant Fleet?" Shala'ran asked curiously.

Dyson looked at Shala'ran. "I wish I knew the answer to that, ma'am. Unfortunately, I have none. I was told I was to come to the Migrant Fleet to work with your people."

Zal'Korris and Shala'ran looked at one another. He was kept in the dark about all of this. Why were his own people doing this to him? "Very well, Lieutenant. Just so you are aware, your rank means nothing here. I am sorry." Shala'ran said kindly. "You will start as these two will. You know a bit about mechanical work on ships?"

"Yes, ma'am. Field repairs of the Mako and shuttles, ma'am." Dyson answered.

"Good. Learn what you can of our people. All three of you may report to the Icarus." Shala'ran dismissed them.

As the three walked, Shirn and Valna'Dasna walked a little bit ahead of Dyson. They spoke quietly so that he couldn't hear them. "How do we get stuck with a human? The Captain isn't going to like this. Even his own people didn't tell him everything. He must not be a great soldier." Shirn sneered.

Valna'Dasna looked behind her quickly to catch a glance at Dyson. She looked back forward again. "No, I don't think it's that. Something doesn't feel right about any of this. I think he's been abandoned by his people."

Shirn almost laughed out loud. "Humans don't abandon their own. They're too self-centered as a species for that."

Even though Shirn and Valna'Dasna thought he hadn't heard them, Dyson heard every word. And the worst part is, he had already come to the conclusion that there was those in the Systems Alliance that wanted him gone. But he couldn't figure out why. The entire trip over to the Icarus, Dyson had said nothing. And it was impossible to gauge his emotions being he was able to keep complete composure. And being he said little, they couldn't even tell what he was thinking. When they boarded the Icarus, the Captain greeted the three but took Valna'Dasna and Shirn to show them where they would be stationed. Valna'Dasna looked behind her, back at Dyson and felt a pang of regret that he was being treated this way by the Captain. Practically ignored.

Dyson was left standing alone at the airlock and moved over to a window overlooking the flotilla. An older Quarian male walked up next to him.

"You're the new addition to the Migrant Fleet?" He asked.

"Supposedly." Dyson answered feeling thoroughly defeated.

"We've never had a human in the fleet before. It's an exciting time, wouldn't you say?" The older Quarian asked.

Dyson gave a light chuckle. "I suppose that depends on who you ask. I feel about as welcome here as I did on my old ship."

The older Quarian stood straighter. "Then let me be the first to welcome you. I am Rosv'Kreza vas Icarus. Second in command. And you are?"

Dyson wouldn't disrespect the second in command of a ship. He turned and saluted. "Lieutenant Dyson "Harbinger" Courtland, sir."

Rosv'Kreza smiled under his helmet. "Why don't you join my family and me for dinner tonight? Would it be alright if I called you Harbinger on duty and Dyson in private?"

"Of course, sir." Dyson nodded.

"Bah, ignore that sir part for now. Now come. It must have been a long trip. Let's get you settled in." Rosv'Kreza escorted Dyson to his family's quarters. It was actually a fair large size with one spare bedroom. "Dyson, this is my beloved, Zalea'Kreza. And our daughter, Miri'Kreza."

Dyson bowed his head. "A pleasure to meet you all."

Zalea walked over and gave Dyson a hug. "Welcome to the Migrant Fleet and aboard the Icarus. I can only imaging the hard time so many people are giving you."

Dyson smiled. At least this family was being very pleasant. "I'm used to it, Zalea'Kreza."

Miri'Kreza huffed. "Well you shouldn't have to take it. Father always said that treating our allies like our enemies won't get us help from anyone."

Dyson chuckled. "And you're right. I shouldn't take it. But as a soldier in the Alliance, I have no choice."

"Well, dinner is ready. I took the liberty of finding some amino based paste for you, Dyson." Zalea'Kreza motioned for everyone to follow her to the eating area. As everyone sat down, Zalea looked at Dyson. "I don't mean to sound presumptuous, Dyson, but do you know of our prayer customs?"

"I do, ma'am. Would you…?" He started to ask.

"Would you? I'm curious to what you've learned." She said with an audible smile.

Dyson lowered his head. He committed much of what he learned about their religion to memory. "May this bounty grant us strength to help us through our toils so that we may always be able to come home to those we love. Keelah'sehli."

"Keelah'sehli." The family answered.

Rosv looked up and clapsed Dyson on the shoulder. "Said like a true Quarian."

"You honor us greatly, Dyson. So few care to learn our ways. Thank you for taking that time." Zalea was so happy.

"So, what's your homeworld like?" Miri asked as she started to dig into her paste.

Dyson stopped and looked down. "I…I don't know. I was raised on Mindoir."

Rosv froze. "Keelah…wasn't that the human colony that…"

"Yes." Dyson said simply.

"What of your…your family?" Zalea asked cautiously.

"They died in the raid. I was…broken…for a long time. When I was rescued at ten years old, I was in, um, 'medical' care for another year." Dyson shuddered. "It took a whole year to identify myself again as a person and not an animal. Another six months to even talk straight. I was found to have very strong biotic powers. I was sent to Jump Zero…err…Gagaren Station…at eleven years old." Dyson leaned back in the chair. "Truth be told, the only 'family' I've known has been the Alliance. And even then, they're not a 'family' I care for. They see me as a weapon, and not a person. Given the most up to date biotic implants."

Zalea stood up and touched Rosv's arm. She excused them for a few minutes. When they were alone and sure neither Dyson nor Miri could hear them, she spoke. "Rosv, we have to help him. He has no one among his own people. He seems like such a gentle person, especially for a human. And Miri's taken to him."

"I know, Zalea. He already even spoke one of our own prayers. I just have no idea how the Conclave or the Admiralty Board will react to the request." Rosv sighed slightly. "Let's give it a few months. If things continue to go smoothly, then we'll consider bringing him into the family. But I hope you're ready for a very rough few months. Many of the others don't trust him."

"We aren't most others, Rosv. And I refuse to make him feel unwelcome." Zalea walked back out and sat down with Dyson and Miri again. Rosv knew she was right, but he wanted to make sure they were careful and sure about this.

After nearly several months, Dyson was allowed to become part of the Kreza family. He had spent those months going over every scrap of information about the Quarian people when he wasn't on duty. When he became part of the Kreza family, he shed his old name and took on the name of Harbinger'Kreza vas Icarus. His real name of Dyson'Kreza only ever being used among family. Also during that time, he and Valna'Dasna worked together in the engineering section of the Icarus. He was amazed at how good she was at keeping the Icarus maintained. He also saw how upset she could get if one of the engines failed to start up properly or would just fail altogether. Shirn worked with her but he ended up making her more upset at times. The more time Dyson spent with Valna, the more he grew to like her. At the same time, Valna was also beginning to really like Dyson. Though Dyson was good at engineering work, Rosv found that his son was better at security and enforcement detail. The only other question that lay in Dyson's mind, was where his future would lead him from here.

A/N: This story was a personal request from a reader to learn more about the history of Harbinger. This is based off the character I used in The Life We Live.