A/N: hrmm, didn't think this thought-speech out fully… my current system can only really accommodate 2 voices… tell me if my quick hack is too jarring and I'll think of something else I guess. Also, when I said drone I meant trooper, too late to change now, though it's a tad odd to think of drones as standing motionless… anyway, not a huge deal, not critical.

Shepard followed the drone through a series of corridors, the time walking allowed him a few moments to think about the implications of his new functionality; how they might improve his already significant combat prowess. Briefly he wondered if he could use Biotics, he had never noticed the Geth demonstrating any platforms with the ability, but then, two cycles had passed in the interim between now and his last confrontation with them. Passing through a door clearly marked 'Dock' Shepard took in the surroundings. There were roughly twenty shuttles settled at regular intervals on either side of a central path, the shuttles were bustling with the activity of hundreds of drones loading and unloading crates. Following his guide through the hive of activity Shepard asked his benefactor, Where and how?

Cerberus base located orbiting uninhabited world, in system with very little traffic. It has been deemed best to send Shepard on Geth Scout-ship.

A Scout-ship? Will that carry enough reinforcements?

Shepard will be accompanied by Independent Exploratory Platform. Sending additional platforms not optimal use of resources; FTL communication lag precludes adequate Geth processing in combat scenario, Independent Exploratory Platform runtimes not equipped to handle increased load of secondary platform for greater than thirty seconds.

So you're sending me with one platform and a single ship to take out a defense-laden Cerberus base?

Yes

…ugh, just like old times

More information required

Never mind

Shutting down his communications Shepard stoically followed his guide to the far-side of the hangar where a ship he hadn't noticed before, sat. The Scout-ship looked sleeker than the other vessels in the bay; it had a bottlenose that came to a rounded point, flared sides, a rudder on the back portion of the roof and a single thruster jutting out from behind. With its concave bottom and convex roof it looked something like a blind, lobed, purple-blue fish.

As Shepard approached the ship a hatch near the nose hissed open to reveal a battle-worn Geth platform. It seemed to have a gaping hole in its chest-area covered poorly by a fragment of N7 armor welded in place as a temporary patch, on its right shoulder sat a single Alliance shoulder-pad giving it a somewhat lopsided appearance. Staring almost incredulously at the run-down looking platform Shepard thought, "You've gotta be kidding me, sending me with a half-broken Trooper as my only backup?"

Independent Exploratory Platform is operating at ninety-four percent optimal efficiency, six percent abnormality persists, non-structural in origin. Platform exists as increment in parallel research line to Qubit Architecture, the maximum capacity, one thousand one hundred and eighty-three individual runtimes was loaded into Platform.

Parallel?

Research topic: diversifying runtime conclusions through alternate experience.

Platform represents sole feasible avenue of Geth assistance in field; Platform can operate independent of Geth collective.

I see, it's the only assistance you can give me then?

Physical Assistance, yes.

Why isn't it talking?

Runtimes will broadcast when Shepard opens communications

Ah.

Turning his attention inward Shepard turned his focus away from the buzzing of the Geth Collective and tried to focus on the platform in front of him.

Hello?

"Shepard-Commander," the platform replied in a wholly mechanical voice.

Shocked, Shepard paused for a moment, his next question dying on his lips; instead, he asked "You speak?"

"Yes. We are capable of interaction with transmission-incapable organics" the platform replied.

Deciding he'd had enough of people talking into his brain to last a lifetime Shepard asked aloud, "What do I call you?"

"Geth"

"I can't call you Geth, you're all Geth. How do I distinguish you from the collective?"

"Independent Explora-"

"NO," Shepard interjected loudly, "it's a pain to even think that name, it's going to be even more of a pain to say it aloud every time I need your attention."

"Data not Available"

Shepard considered for a moment; the platform contained one thousand individual runtimes, each one contributing its own effort toward an eventual goal; it reminded him of a host of soldiers. Thinking of the least cumbersome way to call the platform a fighting force Shepard blurted out "how about Legion?"

"Christian Bible, New Testament, Mark 5:9. 'My name is Legion, for we are many.' We acknowledge this is an appropriate metaphor" the platform stated after a brief pause.

"Huh, that works too," Shepard agreed offhandedly before asking, "what now, Legion?"

"It is up to Shepard-Commander, scout ship is fueled and ready."

"Any procedures to go through before we get off the ground?"

"No, Geth do not need docking protocols"

Entering the small scoutship, the first thing Shepard noticed was that there were no seats, of any kind. Stepping through the hatch quickly to let Legion by he slowly walked around the interior of the craft and observed Legion. Legion approached a humanoid sized indentation in the wall, turned around and backed into it and waited.

"So, uh, what do I? uh where do I? huh?"

"Cradles will hold us in flight, store gear in locker by cradle."

As Shepard followed Legion's advice he asked him the one question that had been pressing on him for much of the passed four hours, "so, um, am I fully synthetic? What is my body now?"

"Shepard-commander is, by mass, eighty-three percent organic human-"

"Huuuuuu" Shepard let out a rush of breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, "wait, how?"

"Geth integrated research from Virmire and on husk-technology study to fabricate organic platform that could interface with synthetic processor. Shepard genetic material was used for clone, husk research was used to overcome organic synthetic barrier complications. Also, introduced improvements to Shepard skeletal framework and musculature, reinforced with carbon filaments."

"Wait, husk tech? wouldn't that make me susceptible to control by the reapers?"

"Anti-reaper measures were the first thing Geth developed after Nazara appeared."

"Anything else I should know about before we begin the mission?"

"Shepard is outfitted with prototype shield and cloaking technologies, shield is designed to resist biotic abilities, traditional shield interwoven with element-zero utilizing active-defense matrix. Should protect against eighty percent of biotic ability users while active. Cloaking is standard Geth design, electromagnetic in all spectrums, represents improved duration and coverage over Alliance standard."

"That's it then?"

"Sidenote, Shepard-commander will have decreased oxygen and caloric requirements from absence of brain, hormonal messengers will also no longer affect Shepard-Commander."

Looking up from his locker quickly Shepard hurriedly asked, "Wait, what? You mean I won't be abl-"

"Sub-Routine PAR has been included in Shepard-Commander's library, included after conclusion was reached at sixty four percent majority in favor it was included for 'mental stability.'"

"PAR?"

"Procreation and Recreation."

Shoulders slumping and letting out a breath in a whoosh; grinning to himself Shepard finished up stowing his gear and backed into one of the alcoves. As his back hit the padded wall, straps snaked out of padding encircling him snuggly securing him into the nook; across the room he could see Legion similarly restrained. Legion's head-beacon flashed a few times then started to flash an angry red and suddenly Shepard felt the ship move.

"We are on our way, we will rendezvous with Corsair 41 and they will jump us to the Hades system then jump back."

"Wake me when we get there, I need to shoot something."

"Acknowledged Shepard-Commander."

A/N: I'm going to have some action in the subsequent chapters, I have a sequence already written, just need to write up to it I guess. Update schedule will be, erratic. Should be at least weekly though. Gotta find the right balance between volume, detail and finish.

*edit* changed to on to orbiting... normandy II doesn't fit on the ground