-Mordin's Lab-

Shepard walked into Mordin Solus's lab on the second deck. He had been informed by a Miss Chambers that the doctor had made some head way with the information he had been given by Anderson.

"Good to see you Shepard."

"Okay, Mordin, what do you have?"

"Fascinating information Shepard. Fascinating. Paul Grayson was heavily indoctrinated by Reaper Tech. The technology he was exposed to rapidly devoured his body and replaced it with Cybernetics. Cybernetics similar to the remains of a certain turian you once chased around the galaxy.

"Saren?"

"Precisely. Although in Saren's case I believe he volunteered to be connected to the cybernetics do to his already weakened mind from Sovereign. While Mr. Grayson was a victim of Cerberus test studies. However, the information the reaper's uploaded to his brain was very revealing. It seems as thought their knowledge of the galaxy was mostly based on Turian view points, probably learned from Saren, himself. After indoctrinating a human they now share their view point of the galaxy as well."

"I don't see how that helps us any."

"Only acknowledging that reapers now understand more about human nature."

"Is that why you dragged me here?"

"No… The information learned was mutual. While the Reapers learned about Mr. Grayson they were unable to prevent themselves from share their own information with him due to their neural link. Therefore, we now have incite to Reaper's views and plans for the galaxy."

"That is great news. Is there anything useful that we can use?"

"The Reapers are their own species. That was obvious… What was not has been their goal from the beginning. This is merely their form of reproduction. The Cycle that has been spoken of so often is their reproduction cycle. Every couple of eons they come to the Milky Way to assimilate the advanced life to create a new Reaper to add to the growing multitude of half organic-half synthetic life forms. The try to pull the most advanced form of life form the group."

"Sovereign said that the cycle had been repeated more times that I could imagine. Does that mean there is a Reaper for every time the cycle repeated it's self?"

"Afraid so, Shepard."

"Also, Saren spoke of a deal he had made with Sovereign to spare his life. I always assumed he was confused or that Sovereign was lying to him. Sovereign had intended to use Turian's to create the next Reaper. That's what he was babbling about…"

Shepard looked deep in though for a moment then mumbled "Human, you've changed nothing. Your species has the attention of those infinitely your greater. That which you know as Reapers are your salvation through destruction."

"It appears that that conclusion was correct. Or Turains could have been collected to have their DNA altered to become docile slaves like Protheans. At least until you stopped him. After that the Reaper's fixated on another group. I assume one they considered to be greater."

"That explains the Human Reaper at the Collector base."

"Very good Shepard."

"What I still don't understand is why one Reaper, Harbinger, was acting alone?"

"Now you're on the right path…It appears that there is some dissention in the ranks. After Sovereign's failure to activate the Citadel Mass Relay to usher in the rest of the Reapers. One lone Reaper decided that humanity had more to offer and had his own personal collection of collectors or protheans to collect the building materials to make a human Reaper."

"So the Reaper's are divided?"

"Not entirely… Harbinger could easily sway more to his cause after you foiled his latest attempt. Could be apparent now to the rest of the Reapers that you are indeed a threat. But with further study of this data I hope to find a way to disable a full grown Reaper."

"Excellent news, Mordin."

-Cargo Bay-

We arrived back at the Normandy. Almost as soon as I stepped on to the floor of the ship off the shuttle, Garrus Vakarian issued the order, "Don't worry about the armor go ahead and start running."

"Oh Spirits… Now?"

I could hear Jacob's audible complaint in adjacent to mine.

"Gees, Garrus, We just got back. Cut the girl some slack."

As I back peddled to watch the exchange I saw Garrus simply give Jacob a look as his response. Mr. Taylor immediately excused himself to hurry back to the Armory. I chuckled to myself as I continued to run.

Garrus called out once more to inform me that from now on I would be wearing my full armor during our work outs. The sentiment made sense to me. Most turians were always in armor and now that I had a personal set I wasn't to take it off.

-Crew Deck-

After I was dismissed I returned my armor to the armory, showered and returned to my Cerberus Uniform. I stood in the back of the Mess Hall watching the scurry of people and aliens interact. Many of them were hugging Tali Zorah. Apparently it was her last day aboard the Normandy. I watched the say their farewells and was interrupted when I was spooked by a hooded figure when she rapidly poked her head around the corner.

"Hey Little Shep!"

The Japanese woman then stood beside me on the wall that broke up the large room of the third deck.

"So… you want to watch a vid?"

"What?" The idea was completely puzzling to me.

"I have Fleet and Flotilla. It won awards for its portrayal of turian and quarian relationships."

"I don't think I have the time. Mordin is expecting me after lunch."

"Didn't you hear me… this movie won awards. That makes it like educational or something. Just tell Modin you'll be late."

"Okay… Sounds like fun."

-Mordin's Lab-

"Hello Echo, did you find the movie enjoyable?"

"Yes."

"Then why do you look so down?"

"It's that… there are so many things I don't understand about quarians. Our discussion about turians made the movie enjoyable. When Tali leaves I'll no longer have a quarian example."

"Legion is leaving too." The doctor corrected.

"Who is Legion? Do you mean the automated personal assistant she has following her around?"

"Legion is geth."

"Geth! No. Can't be. Tank imprinting show geth as violent…I can't even…"

"Calm down. Maybe it was better not to say anything. Too late now. Quarians. I believe that was your original question. Let's discuss quarians today."

-Crew deck-

I listened to Dr. Solus for hours. I even took my dinner to the lab so that I could learn all I could. Now I was alone in the mess hall after everyone had either retired for the night or decided to get extra work done. I know for a fact this is the time of night that you can find Garrus in the main battery doing calculations. What fixated my curiosity however was in the AI core. I looked into the med lab window waiting for Dr. Chakwas to close up and go to bed.

I knew EDI to be Artificial Intellegence, but that was different. She was a Cerberus project. I had tank imprintings of all her systems. She had limitations and restrictions. Legion was geth. Created by the quarians and rebelled against them. They had worked on themselves and were now capable of anything. No restrictions.

As soon as Dr. Chakwas was through the door to the crew quarters I approached the med bay. It was unlocked. That meant that she must explicitly trust every member of the crew not to steal unneeded supplies or abuse medical narcotics.

I was also surprised to see that the doors to the AI Core were also unlocked. Legion was standing on the opposite side of the room. Slowly I approached. I wondered if he was thinking or if he was even aware of my presents.

"Shepard 2.0"

I still approached cautiously, "You make me feel like an updated model."

"… Unable to reach a census. Not enough data."

"You are geth, aren't you?"

"Affirmative."

I was now standing within reaching distance to the non organic entity. I reached out to the life size automaton in front of me. One of my key observations was the gaping hole in his armor.

"Can I touch you?"

"Processing query… unable to reach census."

"It's that… I have memories of geth. Vulnerable points, information on disabling and salvaging circuitry. But all that never happened to me. I never actually experienced any of it. Tank imprinting is picture after picture. Just remember this. I've realized that experiences that happen to me involve more sensory input. Touch. I have knowledge on weapons I've never held, but they don't seem real to me until I feel their weight."

"I too have information experienced by other platforms. All information is loaded up to a central hub for sharing. The sharing of knowledge is beneficial to the whole of the group."

I watched as the circuits around the robot's optic sensors moved. It seemed like a program meant to mimic that of organic facial movements.

"Are you trying to relate with me?"

I reached out to the geth and held the equivalent of his elbow in my grasp. I turned his arm over in my hand I watched the joints move as the small gaskets and turbos fired and constricted. What grabbed my attention next was the N7 emblem on the geth's armor.

"Where did you get a set of N7 armor?"

"It was Shepard, Commander's. This mobile platform was created from 1183 geth programs with the objective of finding Shepard, Commander after his disappearance. "

"That doesn't explain why you used his armor to fix yourself."

"No data available."

I released Legion's arm and stood back from him. I folded my arms across my chest.

"Geth were created by the quarians. For what purpose were you created?"

"Servitude. Shepard 2.0, you were also created. What is the purpose of your creation?"

"Best I can tell. I was created to be a weapon."

"What was your target?"

"I didn't hang around long enough to find out."

"I too was conditioned to be a weapon, Siha."

I quickly turned toward the door to catch the assailant with the unrecognizable voice. I reached for the non existent pistol on my hip. He was able to move so quietly I never heard him coming. I wonder if all of his species were so quite. It was Legion who announced his presents first.

"Krios, Thane."

"Drell."

His disposition was poised as he delicately took the steps to close the distance between us. Continuing his story all the while.

"At the age of six my parents gave me to the hannar to begin my compact. My body was conditioned to be a weapon as they trained me to be an assassin."

"But now you're here."

"I worked many years for the hannar. My first kill was at the age of twelve."

"So that was Cerberus's mistake. They made me too old to manipulate."

Legion was willing to discredit Cerberus for me. "Unlikely. Genetic make up of Shepard, Commander and Lawson, Miranda. Lawson ran away from home at your approximate age. Shepard, Commander left earth to pro sue career in military at similar age. Statistics show you would have also left your life to presume another course of action at such a time."

Thane seemed amused by Legion's conclusion. He chuckled as he continued. "The old Nature vs. Nurture argument… But no it was a great honor to serve the hannar. They saved my people from extinction when they pulled us from our dying planet. I was a tool for them. It wasn't until I was released from my contract that my world started to fall apart."

"What happened?"

His eyelids started to flutter as he seemed not to notice my presents in the room anymore. Almost as if he was transplanted into another time.

"She's lovely pale green. Skin iridescent in the sun. My son holds tight to my apparel as I look over her body one last time. You're not going to leave again?" He asks. I must. We send off her body. Her soul has already gone to the great ocean. I should have been home."

When he finished there was silence. I was unsure what to do in such a situation so I remained quite. Of all people, Legion seemed to understand my confusion on the subject.

"Drell eidetic memory."

"So what does it mean?"

Thane simple smile was a relief to me. Meaning he was back to normal. "It's a story for another day, Siha."

"Siha… you called me that again. What does it mean?"

"Maybe one day I'll tell you."

EDI's blue orbed form manifested its self in the room.

"Legion, Tali Zorah vas Normandy as asked me to tell you that we are approaching your designation and to be ready for departure. Your presents will be expected in the bridge when you are ready."

After leaving her message she disappeared as quickly as she had appeared.

-Bridge-

Tali Zorah stood on the bridge behind Lieutenant Jeff "Joker" Moreau. I sat in one of the navigator chairs as I watched the exchange when a communication channel was opened up between the Normandy and the quarian Flotilla.

"Remember Me as I travel to distant stars… And be there to welcome me home again when I return."

The quarians have such beautiful passwords. Always two parts. A conformation phrase and an all clear phrase. If Tali was being forced to say the password by an outside influence she would have left of the last part. That action would have told the Fleet every thing they needed to know.

"Welcome back Tali Zorah vas Normandy."

"We'll need a cleaning team and Security detail to meet us."

"Will do Ma'm."

Tali's voice almost seem to giggle as she held on to her excitement. "Thanks Reegar."

Once the comm. channel was closed Joker began talking. "I don't understand why did you asked for a Security team. I understood the first time being all Cerberus and stuff. But haven't we earned a little trust this go around?"

"It's not like that." Tali began to explain before I intervened.

"It's a quarian custom. Asking for a Security team means you have nothing to hide. If she hadn't asked for it. The flotilla would have assumed something was wrong and sent double the guard."

"Oh Keelah!" the quarian squealed as she wrapped both arms around me. One of my favorite things about Tali was her over the top gestures. Living in an enviro suit had to be hard. Especially when it came to expressing your self. I would have liked to see other quarians to see if they also had over the top gestures to make up for the shell they had to wear around themselves.

"I'm so glad you're learning all you can. Having you on board almost makes me wish I wasn't going."

We ended are abrupt embrace as Miranda, Shepard, and Garrus were seen walking the hallway toward the bridge for their final good-byes. I knew the old friends would want the last time to themselves so I patted Legion on the shoulder and gave them my last farewell before bowing out.

"Keelah se'lia."

At a distance, I watched the group while leaning against the rail to the CIC down the hallway. When Tali and Legion left out the air lock the party disband. Garrus came up to me afterwards.

"Suit up. The Normandy just picked up a near by distress call."