"But be warned," The Catalyst suddenly spoke shattering the memory of Anderson's final moments, "others will be destroyed as well. The Crucible will not discriminate. All synthetics will be targeted." Shepard felt a sudden flash of panic. The Geth. "Even you are partly synthetic." The Catalyst reminded her.
"What exactly will happen?" Shepard asked.
The Catalyst shifted his stance and looked up at the great machine before them. "Your Crucible device appears to be largely intact, however, the effects of the blast will not be constrained to the Reapers. Technology you rely on will be affected, but those who survive should have little difficulty repairing the damage."
"There will still be losses." The Catalyst continued. "But no more than what has already been lost."
"But the Reapers will be destroyed?" Shepard asked her mind on Anderson.
"Yes, but the peace won't last." Shepard frowned when he said this. "Soon your children will create synthetics and the chaos will come back."
Shepard considered this option, but couldn't bring herself to do it. Anderson said he was proud of her, but she didn't always do what he thought was right. She couldn't destroy all synthetics…she couldn't murder and entire race of sentient beings just because they weren't organic. She couldn't destroy EDI. That would make her no better than the reapers themselves.
"There has to be another way." Shepard said almost desperately.
"There is." The Catalyst confirmed. "You could instead use the energy of the Crucible to seize control of the Reapers." The Catalyst pointed to the left most path. It was bathed in a blue light and had four prongs that she guessed a person would grab in order to take control. It was all too easy to see the illusive man taking control. He had raved about it for so long.
"So the illusive man was right after all." Shepard sighed.
"Yes, but he could have never taken control…because we already controlled him." Shepard understood that much. Anderson and Shepard could see the indoctrination clearly on the leader of Cerberus.
"But I can."
"You will die." The Catalyst warned. "You will control us, but you will lose everything you have."
Shepard narrowed her eyes at the Catalyst. "How can I control the Reapers if I'm dead?"
The Catalyst turned towards her once more. "Your corporeal form will be dissolved, but your thoughts and even your memories will continue." Shepard slowly turned to look at the blue bathed path. "Your connection to your kind will be lost though you will remain aware of their existence."
"But the Reapers will obey me?"
"Yes." The Catalyst said. "We will be yours to control and direct as you see fit."
Shepard considered this option. She could save everyone…and no one would die. Well…no one but her. But it sounded so much like indoctrination….and there was always the threat that it wouldn't work. She felt in her stomach that it would though. It would work and they would be safe. But if she lost her connection to humanity….to organics….how could she guarantee that she would not end up like the Catalyst. Caring only about the solution…
"There is another solution." The Catalyst spoke. Shepard looked to him sharply. "Synthesis." He said pointing to the beam directly ahead of her. The energy sparked and shifted before her.
"And that is?" Shepard asked glancing to the Catalyst.
"Add your energy to the Crucibles. The chain reaction will combine all synthetic and organic life into a new framework. A new DNA." The Catalyst said calm as ever.
"Explain how my energy can be added to the crucible." Shepard demanded.
"Your organic energy the essence of who and what you are will be broken down and then dispersed."
"To do what exactly?" Shepard had grown tired of the calm and matter of fact demeanor of the Catalyst. She briefly wondered if she could simply shoot him, but decided that it was a stupid idea and quickly discarded it.
"The energy of the Crucible released in this way will alter the matrix of all organic life in the galaxy. Organics seek perfection through technology, synthetics seek perfection through understanding. Organics will be perfected by integrating fully with synthetic technology. Synthetics, in turn, will finally have full understanding of organics. It is the ideal solution. Now that we know it is possible it is inevitable we will reach synthesis."
"Why couldn't you do it sooner?" Shepard asked suspicious.
"We have tried a similar solution in the past. But it has always failed."
Shepard was angry by this point. "Why?" She asked forcefully.
"Because the organics were not ready. It is not something that can be…forced." Shepard instantly wondered how many times they had tried to "force" this solution on organics. "You are ready and you may choose it." The Catalyst said simply.
"I don't know." Shepard said slowly.
"Why not? Synthetics are already a part of you. Can you imagine your life without them?" Synthetics were the only reason that she was alive right now. Without them she would be dead and this even might not have happened in the first place.
"And there will be peace?"
"The cycle will end. The Reapers will cease their harvest and the civilizations preserved in their forms will be connected to all of us." Almost like what the Asari do, thought Shepard. They bring in other races and cultures to make themselves stronger. "Synthesis is the final evolution of all life." The Catalyst said almost reverently.
"The paths are open. But you have to choose." The Catalyst took a small step back and watched impassively as Shepard stood there contemplating her decision.
