Mass Effect: inFamous

The Second Coming

Chapter 5

"The thing about power is that, while everyone covets it, are envious of those who possess it, they are also equally fearful of those with power. And the Greater the Power, the Greater the Fear and Envy. Least, that's how it felt to me."

-Unknown

More Questions than Answers

"So...none of you of any idea who the hell those guys were?" Cole asked, now that he gotten some rest. It had been almost a day since the Conduit had more or less invited both himself and his mute escort onboard the Cerberus craft. During which time, the Conduit had passed out in the first bed he could find, which coincidentally was in the medical bay. Rayna had stayed by his side, only leaving to get some food and to relieve herself. She had slept in a chair next to the Conduit.

During that time, the Normandy crew had learned that the station in orbit had been destroyed as well, but there were a number of survivors from the planetary facility. Several had secured themselves in a few of the panic rooms scattered throughout the facility, along with the armory and connected security offices. An inventive few had actually barricaded themselves in an office, sealing the doors and blocking the entrance with loose furniture. Fresh Cerberus forces had arrived shortly after and had gathered as many bodies and wrecks as they possibly could to try and identify who they were and just what organization the unknown were affiliated with. A task that was easier said than actually done.

Miranda shook her head. "Whoever they are, they have access to resources that only Cerberus, the Shadow Broker or an organized government would." She pulled up the lists.

The armors collected were, aside from the battle damage and fatal wounds, practically pristine. They had been cared for so well and meticulously that it would make even the most neurotic of turians envious. This in the face that the armor was years old and custom-made. Mass-produced yes, but not by any known makers. And the quality was nothing to snort at either. It was on just below that used by regular military forces, as was the rest of the gear. A feat that not very few of the most well-funded mercenary bands and private military companies could boast.

As said before, their omnitools were Military-grade, or so close that there was no real difference, in terms of both the tool itself and the programs loaded into it. Aside from the basics and specialized programs for certain tasks, there was no personal information on any of them.

"Whoever these people are, they took great pains to ensure that we would not know the name of their organization. We have identified some of the individuals but their backgrounds are so varied, it's almost comical." This time, the faces and names of the identified began appearing. "Nurses, small-time managers, security guards, accountants." She ticked off. "Most of them are white-collar workers. The only thing special about them is the fact that none of them should have ever had access to this type of training or equipment. In fact, outside of today, Cerberus has no records showing that these people even knew of each other." Miranda summarized.

"So, you got nothing." Cole said bluntly.

The Cerberus liaison nodded, "There were two individuals of note, however. The realization of one is quite disturbing." All but two of the faces disappeared. On the left was a black man, to the right was a white woman.

"The first is Aldo Dorus. A small time politician. He's known for being against human gene-mods and gene-therapy. He's funded Cerberus on a few occassions. According to the information I found, he had disappeared from public view and life about four months ago. No traces." The former's picture shrunk, with the latter's enlarging. "This is Operative Jennifer Kon, light-infiltration specialist. Essentially she focuses more on handling civilians in the field. She disappeared during an operation, some months ago, in the Terminus systems at an independent asari colony. We had assumed she had been killed."

"So," Shepard started, "either we the biggest coincidence in the galaxy," Everyone present highly doubted that possibility. "Or we've got an organization even more clandestine than the damn Shadow Broker out there."

"And possibly with infiltrators even in Cerberus." Jacob pointed out. "That or these people are capable of breaking someone in a matter of months." There was a shudder among the former-military, as they couldn't imagine what it would take to break someone that thoroughly. Getting over it, Jacob continued, "Why haven't we ever heard about these people?" Drawing everyone's attention, he explained. "These kinds of resources and ordinance, people who access to these things don't just fall under the radar, no matter how hard they may try. I've had my share of pirates and mercenaries when I was a corsair, and one thing I learned, is that the more resources you have, the more people know about you, and the more people want it.'

"There is another potential explanation." Everyone's attention snapping towards EDI. The AI had introduced herself earlier in the meeting and to Cole's credit, all he had said was, 'Hey.'

"Despite the fact that there is no information about this organization, it is likely that it is a well established one. I have calculated that the training and experience the intruders displayed takes years, perhaps decades, to teach. Considering the scale of the attack, it is very likely they have been around for the better part of two centuries but have been inactive. Possibly Preparing."

There was a shocked silence for a moment as everyone processed EDI's words before Shepard asked, "Two centuries? That would make them from before humanity discovered the Martian archives." She pointed out, as not only she but everyone present found it difficult that this new organization was so old, yet never known. "Did something happen to you?"

"My systems are operating at one hundred percent." EDI answered, sounding almost affronted by Shepard implying that she could malfunction . "I can only hypothesize the length of their existence, but based on the evidence I have analyzed, it is the only conclusion I have come to. Predominantly, upon Mr. MacGrath's first contact with these individuals." A series of video recordings appeared, specifically, Cole almost running headfirst into the flamethrower trooper. "After that instance, the majority of the intruders began focusing on Mr. MacGrath in an attempt to terminate him. It is likely the first individual alerted his companions before they converged on his location. The only logical explanation is they know of Mr. MacGrath and perceive him as either a high value target or a threat. Potentially both."

Shepard pinched her eyes as she muttered, "It's always something else…"

"So what? We got a bunch of human purists or anti-Conduits or something running around?" Cole tried to joke. All he got were a bunch of flat looks, but Shepard did smirk at him. She didn't realize that the simple gesture tore at him, but the Conduit hid it well. Though with every moment he was stuck in the same room with her, the harder it was becoming not to react. "Look, it's not as though they're anything to worry about. I can just fry any more of these bastards that try to take me out." The Conduit reassured them. It wasn't an empty boast. His powers felt, strange to be sure. Especially after that strange energy he drained from those vehicles to summon that Ionic Storm. But he still felt as strong as when he faced John White.

"Still, it would pay to know just who these people are." Shepard said as she shook her head before giving orders; "Miranda, try to find out more about these people. I doubt the Illusive Man didn't know about this. Jacob, see if you can outfit Mr. MacGrath with some...tools. And his friend as well." She added as an afterthought. "And Mr. MacGrath." The Conduit gave her an inquisitive glance, "Lets get you acclimated. Shall we?"

**The Second Coming**

To the ignorance of Shepard, the Illusive Man, or Jack Harper as he was once known by, was indeed ignorant to the fact that there was an unknown organization somewhere out there in the galaxy. And worse yet, they had managed to infiltrate Cerberus without his knowing.

His assistant, a young woman by the name of Triana Alle, was doing her best to hide her nervousness from her boss. The Illusive Man, whether he realized it or not, was emitting an aura that would have cowed lesser individuals.

'How?' Harper thought to himself, 'Just how could these people exist and yet there is nothing to suggest their existence?' The glass in his hands began to crack under the pressure of his fingers, all the files that could possibly relate before him. Even records that so much as alluded to the group from the twenty-first century. Yet there was nothing.

Not so much as a whisper as to their name, or size. Only the barest scope of their power was evident by the force that they had sent to try and assassinate Cole MacGrath. Taking a deep breathe, The Illusive Man forcibly calmed himself down. Closing down all the files, he set aside the now cracked glass. "Take care, Shepard. It seems that in gaining an ally, we have also gained a new enemy."

**The Second Coming**

Far from the Normandy, a rare meeting was taking place. Those attending having not seen each other in decades.

"So…" Leo began, "Which one of us was the one to call this meeting?" They asked. "It has been quite some time since the last."

"Indeed it has." Pisces agreed. "Was it you Virgo? You were the previous one to call for such a meeting?"

"No, it was not I." Virgo answered. "I was in the middle of important business, I was barely able to receive the notification, let alone attend the meeting."

"I was the one who called you all." Their attention all snapping to the Zodiac that had spoken.

"Scorpio, I should have known it was you." Leo's sneer could be heard in their words. "You live up to your qualities: manipulative as always."

"And you are as melodramatic as always Leo." Scorpio shot back. "Nevertheless, there is a reason I called for this meeting. The Prime Conduit has returned." For a moment there was silence before the shouting began.

"That's impossible!" Aries shouted. "We've been searching for the Prime Conduit since the Event! We've found nothing of that creature!"

"Aries is right." Sagittarius argued. "Since the first meeting of our predecessors and their predecessors, our goal has been to find and destroy the Prime Conduit, and all others like him. How could you have-"

"I did not. Cerberus was the one to have found the Prime Conduit." Scorpio finally said, silencing them all. "I believed I told you all that it would not be a mistake to allow them to fester as they did." There was a series of grumbles as they could not deny that Scorpio had indeed warned them against acting against the group, and had agreed against, at the time, their better judgement. "Instead insisting on allowing them to grow and planting our agents within. The results speak for themselves."

"I assume then, that you sent a force to gauge the Prime's strength?" Capricorn asked. Scorpio nodded. "And what were the results?"

"As we all expected." Was the answer. To the surprise of any except those attending, there was no muttered curses or stoked rage. Just simple acceptance. They had assumed since assumed that should the Prime Conduit ever be found, that their power would either have been equal to or greater to when it had been during the Event. Not for a moment had they ever thought that it would have been lesser.

"Do we" "know of" "their location?" The Gemini twins asked, the last words spoken in stereo.

"No." Scorpio answered. "Ever since we lost the Asset, as we all learned when we took the position, our intelligence network has been severely hampered."

Taurus snorted. "We thought that the Necromonger-style of succession that the Shadow Broker was a boon for us. Now look how that turned out." As a whole, they had managed to insert one of their agents as the Shadow Broker, taking advantage of how each successor to the vast information broker's network came about. "You keep what you kill." Taurus mockingly quoted.

"Still." Cancer spoke before an argument could break out. "What is important is the Prime Conduit is now out in the open." Seeing that they had the others' attention, continued. "Inform your legions to keep an eye out, tell them. 'The Prime has returned.' "

With that said, they all rose and left. None of them had ever been here, they did not know each other and this meeting had never taken place.

**The Second Coming**

"Seriously? Do we have to do this?" Cole asked as he was, again, jabbed with what must have been the fifth or sixth needle, in his arm. "It's actually starting to get sore." He idly drained a small charge from a battery the size of normal car battery from his era, but one far more advanced as the power he had taken from it would have drained the former already. "How many more of those things do I have left anyways?"

"Eight." Chakwas answered, not even glancing sideways at the rather impressive phenomenon occurring not a foot from her. "And you'll sit through them all, Mr. MacGrath. Whether you complain about them or not is of no concern." She turned, placing down the used syringe and picking up another one before sticking the needle in a small vial among several others on a nearby by. "And I already know about your miraculous healing abilities, but super-powers or not, I'll be damned if I have you coughing out blood because you got infected with the asari common cold."

Cole sighed as he got himself ready for another shot, knowing that it was pointless trying to argue with someone like her. Among all the doctors he had met in both Empire City and New Marais, while they were scared of him when he was injured, the moment they knew he was hurt or otherwise needed some sort of medical attention, it was as those they suddenly lost all the fear. Ordering him around so that they can do their job, not taking no for answer, and forcing him if and when he tried to refuse. "So, doc, if I'm going to be around here for a while, mind telling me what your name is? And what this place is?"

Chakwas didn't take her eyes off her work as she searched for a new place to stick the fresh needle. "To be honest, I'm surprised it took you this long to ask. Even more so that you're not panicking right now. I would think a man in your position would be right now."

"I've gotten past that stage." The Conduit answered with a smirk. "Spent a bit of time learning everything that happened, or at least, close to it." He grimaced slightly as the needle entered his skin and Chakwas depressed the plunger, the contents making the injection area bulge slightly before flowing with the blood. "I'm surprised I've only seen humans so far. Don't tell me you guys are racists or something?"

"No, no, not in the slightest." Chakwas answered with a smile, "The commander thought that it would be a good idea for the…non-humans onboard to keep themselves out of sight until we could introduce them to you."

"The Commander, just...who is she?" The Conduit asked. "I've read up on her claims to fame, but who is she?"

"She is...an incredibly strong woman." Cole leaned forward, listening intently. "In regards to her character, she is almost unbreakable. Unyielding as stone and equally as stubborn."

"Sounds like you have a lot of respect for her." He commented.

"I am the least of those people." Chakwas remarked as she filled another syringe. "The number of people who she has aided, the respect she has earned. Some had even referred to her as the Second Coming of you."

Cole wasn't sure how to respond to that. Ignoring the silence, Karin continued. "Many have tried to follow the example you set but not once did anyone ever dare compare another to you until Shepard." Cole just nodded, not sure of what to say to that. After all, it wasn't everyday one heard that they were the idol that many had and did look up to.

She pulled the needle out, "Finished, now then, is there anything I should know about you Mr. MacGrath, in regards to your medical history?" She held a hand as he was about to speak, "Outside of your miraculous healing abilities, I would like to know exactly when, my services will be required instead of a battery."

Cole smiled at how nonchalantly Chakwas was taking this, another common feature among doctors was how they all seemed to take his healing abilities in stride. "Well if I ever fall in a major body of water and don't get out quick, I'll be out of commission for a few hours, and the same if I don't get a chance to heal up." He drained the battery of what little charge it had left, as the 'thirst' he had faded, he realized something. "Uh, doc...you wouldn't happen to have any...sponges, would you?"

"Sponges?" The doctor's eyebrows quirked up. "Some, yes. But why?" Cole just gave a small smile and raised his hand, electricity arcing between his fingertips. "Ah." Realization struck her. "Well, I can simply requisition more the next time we dock on the Citadel."

Cole just nodded and said, "Thanks."

**The Second Coming**

"By the Spirits, Shepard, just what is he?" Garrus asked as they shared a meal in the forward battery. The turian rarely ever left the gunnery station, almost ritualistically going over every spec and detail of the systems with every free moment he had. He took another bite of the sandwich Shepard had brought him, as he forgot to eat sometimes and to keep him out of view of the subject in question for a little longer. "I mean, I thought I had some idea of what this guy could do, but Spirits…"

"I know, isn't it great!" Shepard had a great big plastered across her face. "All that power! Maybe now we can actually a make a difference! Imagine if we had him on the team when we were going after Saren?"

Shepard's grin was infectious as Garrus cracked his own. "Yeah, it would have made our jobs a lot easier. Would have made saving Liara alot easier too." Finishing off the sandwich he grabbed the accompanying drink. "But Shepard, what are you going to do about this?"

The resurrected human frowned at the question. "What do you mean by that?"

"What I mean is, how do you plan on dealing with his exposure?" Garrus elaborated. "You can't expect that we'll be able to keep wraps on his existence for long. Especially not if you bring him to the field with you. And not once he shows off those powers of his"

Theresa Shepard couldn't deny that Garrus had brought up more than a few valid points. In fact, she wouldn't be surprised if some details of what happened on the planet they picked Cole up from was flying around the extranet as rumors already. "So what would you suggest?"

Garrus sighed internally as he contemplated the answer he was about to give and if there any alternatives. But none of the solutions he could think of had as potentially few consequences than the first. And none of them were without consequences if what Shepard had told him about the Conduits was accurate. "We have to tell the Council."

A/N: Hey, sorry for delayed updates but I had a plot bunny in the form of Stargate: Project Mecha that would just not go away and reaching one of critical points in my APUFMKII.

The new organization idea that was mentioned early in the chapter is an idea I had. Let me know what you think of it. If alot of you think that this new organization is a bad idea, let me know why. Otherwise, I will you all, in the next chapter.

Please review.