AN: Sorry for the slightly late update, and that this is a lil bit shorter. I had loads written down, but I ended up hating the way the story was going and started again from scratch. Hope you enjoy this one though!
Chapter 4: Frenemies
Year: 2183
Location: classified
When you live forever, time is irrelevant.
Of course, it can still be measured in the comings and goings of the things around you, but there is nothing so concrete as a ticking clock.
I'm reassured whenever I ask, that almost four years have passed since I made a deal with the human Alliance. so far, the only people to know of my existence is numbered less than fifty. Not only does it make any possible leaks easy to track down, but most of those fifty people are researchers, scientists, engineers and the like, following the design schematics that I salvaged from times gone by or from ideas that I generated.
The armour was the easy part. Without the need for a kinetic barrier due to my 'biotics' all that was required were the designs and the materials. The design was simple enough, armour plating to cover my own with a dual bandolier design that stretched out backwards. The legs and arms were both similar, and seemed to accentuate the hard edged forms of my body, though the forearms had a line of two inch spines. The helmet was a hooded affair, with a single large ocular system on one side, and three smaller ones placed in a triangle on the other.
I had made sure that my bioluminescence would be able to show through the armour with clear patches installed over where the fire shone through me. The colour scheme was obvious as orange and black, but I didn't mind its garish nature. Putting on the full armour set when it was complete though, made me look as if I was some kind of transforming helicopter with the sharp edges of stealth technology.
Weapons on the other hand… were a little more complicated. I had to delve back in time to humanity's research into the 'coilgun' or gauss weaponry, which used powerful electromagnetic fields to deploy different types of energised material, but it was also the main form of weaponry used by my people.
The first weapon to be successful, was called the Enforcer. It was essentially an assault rifle, though the scientists had managed to adapt old mass effect weapons technology and combine it with the proposed system to make a weapon that would melt the sand grain sized chunks of metal and supercharge them, creating enough heat that only ninety rounds would burn through the unshielded hull of a mako tank.
The second weapon, was named simply. The railgun. I'm not sure if researchers had been looking for a way to make it a portable, reusable weapon since the discovery of mass effect tech, but through the use of carbon nanotubes, superconducting materials and a lot of other parts including twenty-six heat sinks, it was made possible.
Third came the darkstar. It was in essence, a black hole launcher. It weighed a lot, and required several heavy duty power cells for a single launch, but what it did was truly terrifying. To fire, the darkstar requires three seconds of charging, while two dozen capacitors collect energy, and discharge it all at once. With the introduction of strong magnetic fields, the electricity causes a destabilisation of gravity at the centre of the gun. This, is the black hole. It gets launched by using more magnetic fields, and when it is fired, the only thing able to stop the thing is nothing short of a house.
People, mechs, anything and everything can be sucked into it, but its best effect happens when physics balances itself out. The sudden extreme gravitational pull means that the black hole only lasts about ten seconds before it consumes itself, ending with an enormous release of energy, only slightly less than that of the prototyped 'Cain' launcher.
There was also a carbine variant of the Enforcer, a hand cannon which was dubbed the Rose, and others, including the Arc rifle. it was in essence, an electrical field projector. When you fired it, extreme voltages were poured out, charging the air and anything else before a capacitor generated current and the shock was enough that anything organic which was unshielded (and even sometimes armoured) would explode from the sudden energising of particles. Of course, with the science that I'd given the humans, and with their resources and drive, improvements were made in all aspects of their life. Of course, it was largely focused around military, but I know of the threat to the galaxy, and while they listened to my warnings, I do not fully believe that they have paid any attention to them, despite the news that the human, Commander Shepard, apparently defeated one.
I need to speak with the person, whoever and wherever they are.
The final thing I was paid for, for the advancement of human weapons technologies, was a small ship. It was only what most people would call a big dropship, but that meant it was plenty big enough for me to have all the amenities that I could possibly want. It was also outfitted with GUARDIAN point defense weapons, as well as a few torpedo bays, and it did also have a small ship sized rail gun that ran the length of the small ship - not more than seventy metres, at most.
Because of it's size though, it was a very fast ship. Fast and agile, and what it lacked in defensive capabilities, it made up for in maneuverability and stealth, having been given a stealth drive comparable to that of the Normandy. My ship though, was named the Velkog, or Night-demon and it's design was somewhat reminiscent of an oversized dragonfly, though the wings were fixed and housed the torpedo bays.
Considering the technology gap, and the fact that time wasn't as big an issue for us as most other races, we never really developed anything that could do long-distance interstellar travel. Interplanetary, sure, but anything further than that and we resorted to using things like solar sails, powered by several light beams on the ship to accelerate it to low percentages of the speed of light.
With the technology advancement set in motion, I decided that it was time to leave, and see if I could find my way to the Commander.
My ship departed during the space station's night cycle. Saying my goodbyes wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, though it may just have been because I have always reserved attachment for beings with shorter lives than my own, even if they span thousands of years.
I knew the area of space that the commander would be searching, as her orders to wipe out remaining Geth forces were almost as public as the destruction of the 'Geth' ship that invaded the Citadel. I needed to speak with her, if only briefly. It was a matter of the utmost importance.
The journey to the Omega nebula was short, despite sneaking through most of the Terminus systems to get there. The only problem that I actually had was when I passed by Omega, and several ships picked up on my 'unidentified craft' and told me to either come with them to Omega to see Aria, or to get 'destroyed'.
One of those ships was barely larger than my own and got 'destroyed' when I fired the main gun on my ship and the round hit it's engines. The others opened fire straight away, but I had already left, giving them a message not to follow me. Despite the message, they pursued me to the edge of the system until I jumped into FTL and headed to the Amada system.
The system was fairly unremarkable, though passing by the planets reminded me of the battles that were fought here. Petty fights over resources by the Inusannon, who believed themselves masters of their galaxy. I am glad they learned the truth, but not at all that they were destroyed.
I looked through the system, scanners operating at their maximum, for only a few hours when a the floating wreckage of a ship, Id'd as the Normandy came up on the scanners.
"Shit." I said out loud. I knew I was too late - the reapers, they've been here. Their black, oily scent the only clue - aside from the corpse of a ship falling to the planet below. There must be some survivors - someone to say what had happened. Perhaps they were already on the planet below?
Perhaps the Commander was with them?
I descended onto the planet an hour later, having found the distress signals of multiple lifepods on the planets surface. The planet itself was… uncomfortable. Glaciers covered the ground, though thankfully there was no storm in sight, despite the howling winds. From what I could see, the crewmembers had begun to congregate around one particular lifepod. Perhaps this was the one with the Commander in?
There was something off about the way they were grouped around it though, something that made me feel as though I hadn't arrived in time. In time to warn her of the reapers' pets.
Nevertheless, most of the crew looked skyward at my approach, some in fear, taking out weapons and tracking the ship, though for most there was a sense of hope, a renewed confidence. I suddenly became acutely aware that I was going to disappoint them as my ship landed, a side airlock opening up to reveal my armoured self to the crew.
One soldier opened fire, the bullets pinging off my barrier creating a golden shower around me. I reacted half a second later, leaping towards the woman. She stopped firing as the distance closed between us, but she got ready to strike. My wings shot out, their golden flames melting the top of the snow and ice beneath me and halting my momentum just before I reached her. The swing fell short and before she could do anything else the weapon was in my hands, unbroken, but collapsed into a non-lethal state. She snarled at me, but as my barrier strengthened again, and as I held the only weapon she had, she relented, only her foul attitude in my way now.
"Which one of you is the Commander?" I bellowed, my voice heard by all through the bitter winds. As soon as I finished, every person stuck their hand up. Well. It seems that they are all loyal to her. I stayed silent a moment longer, before inviting them all onto my ship. It would be very crowded, but I had the only shelter, and it was a very civil invitation, so I hoped that they wouldn't think I was here to kidnap them.
I turned as I reached the airlock, and stood, waiting patiently with the woman's gun still in hand. They were huddled in a group again, talking animatedly. I heard the occasional word of argument as someone raised their voice loud enough to be heard over the winds, and after a long while, a Turian approached, caution in his every step, rifle cradled in his arms, ready to be snapped up and have it's trigger pulled.
"What do you want with the Commander?" He said, his voice flanged and on edge. It was understandable seeming as their ship had just been destroyed…. but still.
"Simply to talk," I said as I gazed over the crew, noticing that there wasn't anyone that they looked to for directions. They were barely a crew anymore, merely a collection of frightened individuals, slowly freezing to death. "She isn't here, is she." It may have been a question, but it didn't sound like it.
The Turian simply stood stone still, barely moving against the fierce winds. I motioned for him to enter the ship and still he stood like rock, though after a few moments he moved hesitantly towards me.
I extended my hand in a Turian greeting, allowing for our hands to meet the other's forearm. As I did so, I placed my other hand on his shoulder, the thinner armour allowing the information to spill over just enough for basic things to come through.
"Welcome, Garrus." His armoured head spun to me, his whole body jerking away in surprise.
"How do you know my name?" He hissed, the tinny voice emitted through the helmet barely hiding suddenly angry tone of voice.
"All will be explained later. For now, you have two choices, similarly does the rest of the crew, who I assume can hear me." He gave a curt nod, and I could tell he was furrowing his brow as I spoke. "You can wait for the Alliance here, or those of you willing and able, can join me against the reapers. I know where they have gone. I know where they have taken your commander."
Almost immediately there were a few new people scrambling to enter the ship. An Asari, two humans (including the one who'd tried to shoot me) and the Turian entered the ship.
One of the humans was a very frail, feeble young man, though his attitude was full of vigour. "So do you know who the hell it was who killed my baby?"
I nodded once, knowledge of the previous cycles was like an ongoing story. I may have been written into it once upon a time, but now? Now I was hidden in between the lines. Left as a myth or a legend to tell children, maybe to frighten them into behaving.
Your people call them the Collectors. At this the Asari lights up, the expression on her face one of barely concealed delight, but also surprise and concentration as she tries and fails to connects the dots. "I once heard something about an insectoid race taking specimens for study, and there are some untranslated Prothean glyphs that may describe the same species… but… but what do they have to do with all this?"
I turned around and began to remove my armour, speaking while I moved. "The 'Collectors' are actually your precursors." They gave me a slight look of confusion at that, but kept listening as I continued, removing more armour and revealing the loosely suggested form underneath my clothes. "They are servants to the reapers, slaves, made more than fifty thousand years ago. They are what is left of the Protheans."
The people in front of me looked slightly dumb-struck, especially the Asari, who was almost tearful. The Turian, Garrus, stood and pointed a taloned finger at me, almost accusingly. "And how do you know this?"
I extend my hand, he recoils slightly, but I don't reach to grab him, simply leave my hand hanging there. "It would be easier to show you, than to tell you." Tentatively, almost knowing what is to come, he reaches his own hand towards me. When our hands touch and nothing happens, he relaxes visibly. Immediately though, I pull him down and place my other hand against his head.
It's like a video set on fast forward, his own brain like a sponge, absorbing the information as quickly as it can. When it's finished, he simply says 'Oh.' and stumbles backwards, barely able to keep himself from collapsing to the floor as he finds a seat and takes it.
One by one they agree to receive the information. Ashley is next, adamant that I harmed him in some way and that she had to see for herself what it was I'd done. Foolish logic, but she accepted it almost willingly, and her reaction was no different to Garrus'. The man was next, Joker the pilot. I saw in his mind that he was suffering from a brittle bone disease, and held him before his legs failed him and set him down on a chair, his breathing short and sharp. Liara, the Asari received the information the best, though I suppose that it's because of her species' ability to 'meld' that helped her.
I felt bad knowing that I'd left behind members of the crew, but it had been their choice, and the Alliance was on their way - in fact, as we left the system, several Alliance vessels appeared. Joker had asked if he could pilot the ship, and knowing it would make him slightly happier to put him at the helm, I agreed.
The others, while happy that they were going to be doing something to help their commander again, were filled with what seemed like a bloodlust, each of their faces scowling as we headed back through the Omega nebula, the Omega 4 relay barely showing signs of any activity. We weren't going to head through it though, not in this ship and not until we'd gathered a few… things.
Joker was perplexed, but followed my orders as we landed on an old planet, xunuk, though in this cycle I believe it was called Junthor. The crew of the normandy seemed ready to fight something, but now was not the time. I could almost gauge their reactions already to what I was about to reveal, though they already knew of what was to come… They just didn't realise it.
I made sure that we landed near to an old dig site, it was where the writing had been found.
Liara seemed to faintly recognise where we were as I left the ship, armour on and helmet re-donned. They followed me out of the ship after a few moments. Its odd thinking that we had travelled across the galaxy, but it hadn't taken more than half a day because of the damn reapers and their relays. Their highly effective, very useful relays which for some reason unbeknownst to me, the races in this cycle decided not to study. Why would you not want to know how you were travelling?
My thoughts swirl in my head as we reach a very large building, huge stone pillars supporting what's left of the crumbling monument. There are shadows everywhere, despite the light shining down through the huge holes in the ceiling.
More and more pillars are non-existent or their crumbling remains can be barely seen, as though someone forcibly removed all but one in the centre of the room. When we reach it, I circle it, searching for the words. I find them there, scratched into the pillar with a jagged edge.
Liara halts by my side, pondering to herself quietly. when Ashley and Garrus appear, more annoyed that there wasn't anything to kill here. "Why the hell did you drag us down into these ruins?" Ashley says, the scowl on her face growing with each passing moment.
"I need to collect… a relic." I still didn't know yet how to reveal what it was to them without them going berserk, so I just decided that I would 'wing it' as the human expression goes. Ashley just snorts and Garrus folds his arms as though he too his losing patience. Liara however, is pouring herself over the writings, trying to figure out what they say. It's a long while before she gives up, turning to me and asking for an explanation. "I know that there is something similar in human psychology, though the name of the man escapes me. It goes something like this:" I clear my throat slightly, translating as best as I can. "Walk within these workings, and understand our greatness." I move slightly, pointing to a new set of words. "From the monsters of within."
The others just stare blankly, though they start to shift, a new sensation has fallen on me, and I know that we're being watched. I call out into the shadows, hoping that it is who I need, and hoping that they are still well. "Aphra? Kuna boye a cikin inuwa?" My voice echoes through the dark, and suddenly there is a dispelling light as something moves forwards, it's movements almost hidden by the shadows, except for a few glints of light, shining dully off of a cracked a bent metal surface.
"Vejr? Ni haihuwa maigidanka. Kun hagu ni nan har wata dogon lokaci." The voice that filled the room was definitely something mechanical, from the quiet synthetic gargling noises that were emitted in between words.
I could feel the others beside me reeling back in fear, and although I could understand why they were doing it, I didn't share in their movements. Instead, I walked into the shadows, a faint glow surrounding me, illuminating my profile against the darkness.
"Dangina kusa kasala fatan, tunanin cewa, dangina ka manta game da ni." The robotic voice spoke again, a slightly soothing tone of voice, though it seemed as though it was too soothing, like it was all an act.
"Aphra, ina bukatan taimako, kuma za ka yi mini ɗã'ã. Ni ne shugaban zuciya." I say back, my words forceful, and the result is a small hiss from the machine, barely fifteen meters away now. I know that it's probably angry, and at the will of her baser desires, but I am not perturbed by the display.
In a flash, it lunges, a long, mechanical arm lashing out into the light, the end where a wrist and hand should be is simply a tangled mess of broken metals, wires and tubing, the tip sharpened into a point. I try my hardest not to flinch as the lunge brings her closer and closer to me, until it stops dead, mere inches from my face.
"What the hell is that?"