Titan
By: Absolute Edge
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The point of this note is to explain the scale of these spaceships from EVE Online in relation to Mass Effect. EVE Online ships range from the size of a Boeing 747 to… well… whatever else is 18 kilometers long. Mass Effect ships only get to about two kilometers?
So keep that in mind while you read my story. EVE Online ships are big; really, really big.
Response – voidzzz – As to whether or not the Titan's problem is Reaper or EVE related I'd rather not say this early on. However, you'll find out soon enough, very, very soon.
Chapter II
The sun was burning exceptionally bright today and the Illusive Man had to actually turn up the tint on the thick glass window that spanned the entire side of the station. It intrigued him that the sun was flaring up today and he delved into his theories about this particular sun; trying to figure out how changes in the suns 'personality' affected the universe around him. Something was happening and the Illusive Man felt that in just a few moments he will be receiving a message and that the information therein would be anything but desirable.
Sure enough a black bar popped up on the clear screen besides him with scrolling words telling him who was calling; it was Kain, from the Demarkus System. It was a curious event and fueled the Illusive Man's belief that this sun, burning angrily in front of him, was tied closer to the very foundations of the universe than he had first thought. He waved his hand over the screen and waited for the hologram to connect. Sure enough, Kain appeared before the Illusive Man in a clean cut white dress uniform.
"Sir, my apologies for taking up your valuable time but this cannot wait." Kain said with a crisp salute. The Illusive Man nodded to Kain who then lowered his hand and went to parade rest.
"Go on Lieutenant Kain." The Illusive Man said with a wave of his hand.
"I've receive word that the Arch-Xenotech Laboratory on Yenn IV has been destroyed." Kain said quickly before adding, "We've received a bounced transmission from the AXL, if you wish I have in right here."
"You may proceed Lieutenant, let's hear it." The Illusive Man said with a nod. Kain brought up his Omni-Tool and pressed a holographic button. The sound of Captain Decarus's last words filled the Illusive Man's room and he turned his old friends' words over and over in his head.
"You know what's strange about this message Lieutenant?" The Illusive Man asked once the message was finished.
"Negative Sir, would you enlighten me?" Kain asked politely.
"Of course my good man; Captain Decarus has served on the Cerberus Dreadnought Leviathan, don't worry I don't expect you to have ever heard of it because it doesn't technically exist. Regardless, the Leviathan is unofficially the largest ship in existence spanning just under three kilometers in length. Now, the late Captain Decarus mentioned that the ship that killed him was massive. He sounded like a man who not only knew his death was imminent but also that even trying to fight was pointless. Uncharacteristic, but it tells me that this new force is something to be reckoned with." The Illusive man said slowly, methodically. He watched Kain shift his weight uncomfortably and grinned.
"Should I organize the fleet?" Lieutenant Kain asked, his voice betraying his nervousness.
"No, I don't think we'll be needing them. Thank you Lieutenant, you're dismissed." The Illusive Man waved his hand over the glass screen besides him and the Lieutenant blinked out.
The Illusive Man sighed and rubbed his temple; glad he no longer had to hide his shock and anger. He turned in his chair and glared at the sun fuming in rage. The AXL was an important, expensive facility dedicated to the research and development of biological and chemical warfare directed towards aliens but rendering Humans immune.
The Illusive Man sent out a request to the SSV Normandy and waited for a response. It might take minutes, it might take a whole day; the Illusive Man had only time.
"Commander Shepard, you have a call." Miranda said from the doorway.
She watched Shepard finish speaking with Joker; something about EDI but Miranda wasn't too keen on finding out what. He held up a finger asking for just a moment longer and had a good hearty laugh before turning away and walking to Miranda.
"Hey Miranda, what's up?" Shepard said as he leaned up against the doorframe crossing his arms and smiling. She wasn't about to fall for his charm and rugged good looks; besides, he was her superior and fraternization is illegal.
"You have a call Sir, from the Illusive Man." Miranda said moving aside so Shepard could pass through; he sighed in irritation and nodded his head.
"Alright, I guess I have to go take it." Shepard sighed as he passed Miranda who followed him to his right and just a step behind.
"Well, he is the Illusive Man."
"And when he says 'jump' I say 'how high' right?" Shepard said looking over with a sarcastic grin; Miranda sighed and rolled her eyes.
"He did pay a lot of money to have you brought back to life, you do owe him that."
"You're defending him?" Shepard stopped and held out a hand to keep Miranda from passing him; he gave her the oddest look.
"Of course, if someone brought me back to life I would be eternally in their debt." Miranda said as if it was so obvious. Shepard stared at her with a blank expression and for a second Miranda though he was about to scold her for placing her trust in, what he thought to be, the 'wrong' crowd but what he said next surprised her.
"I see what you're saying and I can respect that." Shepard looked at her for a moment longer before turning away and walking down the hallway towards the holodeck and waved for her to follow.
"There's no way you had a change of heart that fast." Miranda said catching up to him and giving him a suspicious stare.
"Of course I haven't, but I know you're a very capable and intelligent women and I can rest easy knowing your decisions and choices have been well thought out." Shepard looked at her with a raised eyebrow, "You may not believe me but know this: I have more respect and admiration for you than you could possibly imagine."
A feeling crept up Miranda's spine and she, oddly enough, felt relieved by his words; as if she had been waiting for him to acknowledge her accomplishments. Another emotion took over Miranda and it was so foreign so different that it actually took her a moment to figure out what it was. She had to think about it, had to figure out how to respond to it and whether or not push the feeling aside and ignore it.
They reached the holodeck and Shepard punched in the combination to access the secure area; the door slid open as he entered the final code but he couldn't enter. Shepard looked down at the hand on his arm and followed it back to Miranda. She had the most peculiar look on her face, on that Shepard sure hasn't seen before, and it intrigued him. Miranda brought up her other hand and pushed Shepard into the holodeck; he stumbled back and almost lost his balance but grabbed onto a desk saving himself.
"Miranda?" Shepard asked looking back at her in confusion and a little concern; she didn't answer but instead shut the holodeck door and locked it with an audible click.
"Commander, we need to talk." Miranda said approaching him slowly but all Shepard could think about was just how fascinating her behavior was.
"Well I don't seem to be in a position to say no." Shepard said as Miranda came close to him, intimately close.
"We need to talk about us." Miranda said taking one of his hands in hers.
"What about us?" Shepard watched her eyes as they glanced around the room but they always seemed to come back to him; she was nervous.
"Are we…" Miranda didn't know how to finish the sentence and trailed off looking away.
"You want to be in a serious relationship, don't you?" Shepard asked with a raised eyebrow and a smirk.
"Yes." Miranda sounded thankful that he figured it out; as if a weight was lifted from her shoulders.
"Good, same here." Shepard said pulling Miranda in for a hug. She sighed in relief and accepted her commander's affection.
"Now that my daily dose of relationship struggles is out of the way, what does he want?" Shepard asked breaking the hug and leaning up against the desk.
"He said it's important, that's all I know, Sir." Miranda said.
"Name's John, in case you've forgotten, and it's always important apparently." Shepard said with a smirk and turned to enter the transmission room.
"I-uh, right, John… sorry, Sir." Miranda said blushing.
"Old habits die hard, just don't call me 'Sir' in bed, it'll creep me out something fierce." Shepard said shocking Miranda to silence. He laughed and closed the door behind him.
It was so tired.
It begged for rest, for a moment of respite.
It was denied.
-Please… Stop this.- The Vehemence begged. It was slowly angling itself towards the next planet, Yenn III, and felt its' Jump Portal Generator warming up. It would take a few minutes before it reaches critical speeds before projecting its energy away from the Vehemence to rip a hole in the very fabric of space.
-Negative, cannot stop.- The sickness replied softly in the same thousand strong monotone voice as it had for days.
-You're a monster.- The Vehemence said weakly.
-We are not monster, we are cure.- The sickness said flatly.
The Vehemence sighed in defeat; vents and airways hissed gasses in symbolic pain. Then it realized something, the sickness was upset with what it had said. The sickness was insulted.
-You're a disease you know? A common cold on the verge of burning out. You will die soon, and I will be there when you do.-
-SILENCE!- The sickness screamed.; tens of thousands of voices echoing through the Vehemence's body as the sickness cried in anger.
The Vehemence felt better knowing it could hurt the sickness in some way. It felt the Jump Portal Generator hit maximum power and vomit forth its energy in a violent array of blues and whites. The Vehemence couldn't actually see the events unfolding in the traditional sense of the word, but rather with sensors and augur units. It only knew what the JPG did from overhearing its original masters describing it aloud. It missed them something fierce.
-I will avenge all those you have butchered through me. I swear it on the souls of the billions you've murdered in cold blood. Even if I have to follow you into oblivion, I will see you dead.- The Vehemence whispered. There was no response to its promise and it considered that a small victory in the face of overwhelming defeat. Deep inside the Vehemence smiled.