Later on, Judy had met up with Bogo and Lionheart.
"Hopps, what took you so long? We've been waiting for almost an hour." Lionheart said in annoyance.
"Sorry… I was wrapping up some stuff I was doing while investigating Saren. And I didn't really bother to keep track of… time…? Sir, what's wrong?" Judy asked, noting that Bogo looked depressed.
"To make a long story short… you're getting the Normandy, and I'm pretty much benched." Bogo said.
"What?! Lionheart, was this you?!" Judy said in outrage.
"Commander, you need the Normandy more than Bogo does. And believe me when I say that I hate this. But that he's getting on in years." Lionheart said.
"But he's a hero of the First Contact War, the first N7 period, and-"
"Judy… just let it go. Saving the galaxy is a young mammal's game." Bogo said.
"Thank you Bogo, now we lost contact with one of our colonies. Gnu's Hope on Furros, a planet that used to be a Prothean world with a massive city, but geth were seen right before it went dark. Then there's Novhareia, Matriarch Beneziah was last seen there. Then finally there's the Matriarch's daughter, Doctor Liara T'soni. As I understand she's somewhere in the Artemis Cau cluster, she might know something about her mother's betrayal." Lionheart said.
"That's rather presumptuous Leodore, aliens have a somewhat different to family relations." Judy said.
"True, but still, you got a job to do Commander. Now I have to go… Bellwether is hosting a Raid, and I'm the Tank." Lionheart said as he left.
"…well, I heard something interesting from Clawhauser. That you nearly became a Specter." Judy said, Bogo sighed.
"…long story short. I was selected to be a Specter candidate. Saren was my selected mentor… I still don't understand why HIM of all people. But in the first and only mission we had, he sabotaged the entire mission, and made it look like it was my fault." Bogo explained.
"You would have been the greatest Specter in the history of the organization sir." Judy said empathetically.
"The past is past Judy. Now go out there… and give that cockatrice hell." Bogo said.
XXXX
"Buffalo's been a captain for over twenty years, now he's behind a desk… and apparently Lionheart is a GOF nerd. So that's at least funny." Joker said as Judy stood next to him on the ships bridge.
"It's just part of the job Joker. Let the young take up the responsibilities of the old… still, he's only in his fifties, late forties at least. That's not really retirement age anymore." Judy said.
"Think the crew needs to hear from there new captain?" Joker asked.
"You have to ask? Put me on!" Judy said as Joker pressed a button on his console. "Attention-" there was then a loud feedback over the speakers. "Sorry about that… attention, crew of the SSV Normandy, this is Commander Judy Hopps. You all know our mission, find Saren, and stop him from finding the Conduit. This isn't just to ensure the survival of just mammalkind, but EVERY space faring civilization in the galaxy! This mission won't be easy, not by a long shot… but I wouldn't have it any other way. We'll hunt him down, and drag either kicking and screaming or dead back to the Citadel. And prove to the galaxy just what we mammals can do, Hopps out." Judy said.
"Well… we're too first?" Joker asked.
"Set a course for the Artemis- OH CHEESE AND CRACKERS! I completely forgot that Davies could have seen and heard everything that happened during the- I GOTTA RUN!" Judy said as she bolted off of the bridge.
XXXX
"DAVIES! How… how much did you hear?" Judy asked as she found her twin brother, the autistic bunny looking terrified and scarred.
"…besides, that there are monster robots lurking somewhere, besides that Saren not only hates mammals, but is actively LOOKING for the monster robots, TO KILL EVERYONE?!" Davies yelled, looking as if on the verge of a meltdown.
"Davies, calm-clam down… here's Walter… and Saren will not get away with this." Judy said as she gave her twin a stuffed penguin.
"I… I know. I know you-you will stop him… but-"
"But nothing, Davies, I'm sorry you heard everything… it's just… it's been a rough week." Judy said as she hugged her brother.
"Rough… was the attack on Mindoir. Rough, was that incident with Gideon Grey when we were kitt's. Rough, was having to try to raise almost one-hundred brothers and sisters between the two of us!" Davies rambled.
"Davies, you know that we weren't the only ones who pitched in-"
"ROUGH… does NOT include robots that exterminated the Protheans, and the insane Specter that wants to bring them back!" Davies bellowed.
"Look… I'm scarred too. But losing our cool will only make matters worse." Judy said.
"Right… I still remember the last time I lost my cool… I didn't even hear that batarian screaming as I tore out his eyes." Davies said.
"Look, it'll be awhile before we even need to get on a mission. Let's get some gaming in, don't you think? It might calm your nerves." Judy said reassuringly.
"Yeah… yeah… something with a LOT of bloodshed. I'll look for something, though it might take a while to find something." Davies said.
"Well, I think I'm done with the tour Carrots. Showing the new guys around… and Davies almost went crazy because of the uh… things we learned, didn't he?" Nick said, finding Judy and Davies.
"Yeah… yeah I heard just about everything." Davies said.
"…should I go? Or-"
"No, no it's fine Nick. Just holler when you're ready Davies." Judy said as she followed Nick.
"Pretty wild day, eh Carrots?" Nick asked.
"Yep, now spill fox. You said that you'd tell me how you're a biotic." Judy said.
"Did I say that...? Yes, I suppose I did. Well… it was in High School that I was taken to Brain Camp, or just BAaT to you normals. For some reason the teacher was this turian named Vyrnnus… cockatrice would not shut up about how much he hated mammals." Nick said.
"Then why even have a turian at all? Surely an asari would be a much better choice for an instructor." Judy said.
"That's what I asked. Of course everyone ignored the fox, and Vyrnnus would use EVERY opportunity to brag about how. 'I was at the helm of the dreadnought that killed your father'. Course there was only like one kid there whose dad even was killed during the First Contact War. And I took out the wind in his sails by pointing out that my old man was a tailor… then after that. He kept pushing us harder… a number of kids either went insane or were killed by that insane vulture." Nick explained.
"Wow… and the reason you put so much trauma in the Prey Scouts incident-"
"It was my first real bit of bullying over being a Predator, or a fox altogether." Nick said. "At any rate… there was this girl I liked. Named Crimson… her pelt was the most beautiful shade of red." Nick said dreamily.
"Nicky's got a girlfriend!" Judy said childishly.
"Yeah… RIGHT, up until I killed Vyrnnus in a blind rage, from bullying Crimson into biotically picking up a drink with her mind. After that she was terrified of me, and wouldn't even look at me. But BAaT was shut down after that whole incident. So that's a plus." Nick said bitterly.
"Oh… I'm so sorry that happened… Crimson being scarred of you, not killing Vyrnnus, anyone who gets children killed like that doesn't get sympathy." Judy said.
"And after that, I went back to being a con artist back on Earth. And… well you remember how we met on Elysium. I conned Davies for credits for a jumbo pop, you nearly broke my arm getting the money back. The batarians attacked and… well any bunny that can hold the line against five foot tall pirates, out to do all of the fun things that pirates and batarians in general do. Well… I'll stop talking now." Nick said.
"Nickolas… you ever need someone to talk to. I'm all ears." Judy said sympathetically.
"Likewise Hopps, less so then you anyway but if you ever need to gripe or be vulnerable about your feelings, you come to me fluff-butt." Nick said.
"Sis, I found one of my co-op games… and I take it Red is invited?" Davies said.
"Well I wouldn't want to-"
"Yes, Nick is invited to game." Judy said.
XXXX
Several hours later, the Normandy had arrived over the volcanic planet of Therum, where Matriarch Beneziah's daughter, Liara T'soni was last known to be. Judy, along with Ashley Williams and Garrus Vakarian landed in a Mako tank.
"Okay Judy, there's a Prothean ruin a few clicks ahead of you, and an Industrial Outpost directly in front of those. Only real problems are the lava rivers, the lava… and geth… lots… and LOTS of geth down there. Just keep on your toes… and don't die, if only to spare my ears from the scanning equipment flat lining." Davies said over the com channel.
"Roger that, we'll engage enemies as we go along. Anything else Davies?" Judy asked.
"Well… there is one thing… drive more carefully! How can you not hear Ash and Garrus screaming when there RIGHT NEXT TO YOU?! I could probably hear them even without the com channel." Davies said, referring to Judy's reckless driving of the Mako.
"Look, Mako's are hard to handle, even less so on unstable terrain like this. Seriously, I think the jets on this thing actually make it worse!" Judy said back.
Eventually after running over and blasting geth with the Mako, Judy and her squad arrived at the industrial outpost before the Prothean ruins. "So… so that's why Nick opted to stay back on the Normandy." Ashley said as she and Garrus exited the Mako.
"Are… are all rabbits terrible drivers. Or is it just you?" Garrus asked.
"Listen, those things weren't built with a bunny in mind as the driver! Davies and I had to rig up a system just so that I could reach the steering wheel, AND use the pedals! So pleace, shut up. And keep your eyes peeled for-"
Judy was interrupted as a Geth Colossus, a four legged geth walker. Fell from orbit, ready to kill.
"GET TO COVER!" Judy shouted as the Colossus opened fire.
XXXX
Eventually, Judy and her squad found an asari suspended in some manner of force field. "Who's there? I'm trapped and need helped!" The asari said.
"All right, I just need to know some things… are you Liara T'soni?" Judy asked.
"Yes… and your mammals." Liara said.
"And one turian." Garrus added.
"And what about your mother, Matriarch Benezia? Have you had any recent contact with her, or know about her dealings with Saren?" Judy asked.
"I haven't spoken to my mother in years! And what do you mean about Saren? I'd never have anything to do with that monster!" Liara said.
"Okay, your mom's a sour topic… so how did you get into this thing, and how do we get you out?" Judy asked.
"It's some manner of Prothean security field. I put myself in here to protect myself from the geth. Can you believe it? Geth, outside of the Veil!" Liara said.
"Well, we'll have to get you up to speed when we leave. You have any clue on where the off button is?" Judy asked.
"It's right behind me… but as it stands I can't reach it. Can you reach back there?" Liara asked.
"I always find a way… with any luck we won't accidentally cause these ruins to be consumed by lava." Judy said.
XXXX
"Uh… we kind of used the mining laser to get back here. And that MIGHT be why the ruins are shaking. So… there's a good chance that this whole place will be consumed by lava." Judy said as she and her squad removed Liara from the Prothean device.
"Regardless, we must get out of here quickly. There was a krogan leading the geth, have you encountered him yet?" Liara asked.
"Nope, now let's get moving. Joker! I need the Normandy ready for an emergency pick up, it's getting hot down here. Literally." Judy said as the ruins shook, and the squad made their way to the elevator leading up to the surface… only to also find the krogan Liara mentioned, and a squad of geth when they reached their destination.
"Took you long enough carrot breath, Saren said to just kill the little girl. But then I figured, 'she's Beneziah's girl, she's a loose end that the Council might know about, might send a Specter to come rescue her.' Then a few days later, you come along… all I'd need is to show Saren your head. And I might even get a seat in his inner circle." The krogan gloated.
"As if just being a renegade was bad enough." Garrus muttered under his breath.
"Yeah, that ain't happening." Judy said as she nonchalantly blew up the krogans head with a blast from her assault rifle. The firefight was intense, but the squad managed to escape aboard the Normandy as the ruins were consumed by an erupting volcano.
XXXX
"Commander, this might come as a surprise. But the Normandy's hull isn't rated to be anywhere near lava, magma and etc. So next time you need an emergency rescue. Please find a safer spot that can't melt the hull, or fry the sensors. You know… just to keep a repeat performance." Joker said over the ships coms as Judy and her squad mates sat in the Normandy's ready room.
"We nearly die and he's making jokes?!" Liara said incredulously.
"Just be glad it isn't Nick. He'd never shut up about the three humped camel." Judy said.
"Hey! That one's funny, and you know it Carrots." Nick said.
"I see… it must be a mammal thing. Forgive me I… I have no idea how long I was down there, nor do I have much experience with your species'. And you tell me that my mother is in league with Saren and the geth?" Liara said in disbelief.
"I'm sorry… but we may need your help. Saren is after some manner of Prothean artifact called the Conduit, apparently he found it through a Prothean beacon on Eden Prime and- GAH...! and I was exposed to that thing too… and the near constant headaches from that blasted vision!" Judy explained.
"Visions? Visions of what?" Liara asked.
"That would be the Reapers, a race of machines whipping out the Protheans fifty-thousand years ago. Also for some reason there orange." Judy said.
"Commander, I've been studying the Protheans for fifty years, and what you just described fits in with a theory I've had regarding their disappearance, as well as many other alien civilizations before them." Liara said, Judy just looked perplexed at the asari.
"…how old are you? Sorry for asking but-"
"It's fine Commander. If you must know, I'm only one-hundred and six years old." Liara said.
Ashley whistled. "Here's hoping I look as good as you when I'm that old." The wolf said.
"Regardless, in my research I've found a cycle of sorts. Every fifty-thousand years a civilization rises up, then without any warning there violently cast down. These Reapers could be responsible, not just the Protheans extinction, but every civilization before them." Liara explained.
"And that's related to Judy's visions… how exactly? Seriously, how are those two things really connected with each other? I mean I get that the whole thing is a big deal, but I'm not seeing a connection anywhere." Nick asked.
"It might be something to look into latter, for now… I feel light headed." Liara said.
"Agreed, when was the time you ate, or even slept?" Tali asked.
"You should head down to sick bay to see Dr. Chawkwas, we can talk again later. Everyone else, dismissed." Judy said.
"Mission reports filled, and ready to be sent to the Council, just say the word." Joker said over the ships com.
"You know… let's not. I get the feeling the Council will give me an ear full about accidentally destroying that ruin. Babbling on and on about how I should take further precautions against Liara. So no, no I will not be sending a mission report to the Council. Just… I don't know. Forward an abridged copy to Bogo, and add on that he's not supposed to share it with the Council or something." Judy said, looking aggravated at the thought of talking to the Council.
"Aye, aye ma'am. Where to next… wait. I'm getting something on a priority channel. All the message says is that it's for your ears only, and that it's a Priority Saber-1. It's available for you to access at the Galaxy Map." Joker said.
"Really…? Well with luck it's just Alliance command overreacting. Still, it might be worth looking at. I mean what could be the worse that's going on?" Judy said to herself as she left for the bridge and the Galaxy Map.