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Mass Effect: Break the Cycle

Part I:

Chapter 7: Aftermath of Eden Prime


Anderson stared as they wheeled him onto the cargo bay elevator, Chakwas already at the head of the group, her omnitool out monitoring his condition. He held up a hand stopping the Kaidan and the woman just as the door hissed shut. "Lieutenant Alenko, report."

The lieutenant glanced to the left and right before meeting his gaze. "God sir, I'm not sure where to begin."

"Well, first you can introduce me to your comrade in arms there." Anderson gestured to the woman clad in phoenix armor that was marred by scorch marks and grazing shots.

The woman snapped to attention, her hand going up for a salute. "Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams of the 212th Marine Regiment, sir."

"We picked her up after her unit was destroyed, sir." Kaidan said.

"Where is Jenkins or Nihlus?" Anderson asked.

"Dead sir." Kaidan's expression contorted. "The geth recon drones got Jenkins. He was dead before we knew they were coming. Nihlus… we found his body, shot through the back of the head with some sort of pistol. Looked almost like an execution."

"Any idea who did it?" Anderson asked.

Williams stirred. "One of the dockworkers said he saw it happen, some turian named Saren did it."

Anderson's hands turned into fists and he glanced between the two of them. "Make your reports. I want them within an hour. Chief Williams, it seems you'll be tagging along with us at least for a while."

"Yes sir, thank you sir."

Anderson felt his eyebrow arch at the woman for a moment before turning to Alenko. "You said geth?"

"Yes, sir, they looked almost like the images in our textbook with a few minor changes. Some sort of more advanced model." Kaidan brought up his omnitool and a still image appeared from his helmet cam floating above the interface. "Of course the newest images anyone has of geth are what, three hundred years old?"

"That's about right." Anderson's scowl deepened. Saren and the geth, how? And why would the two work together? He tapped the elevator control. "Come with me Lieutenant."


Chakwas helped the crew heave Shepard onto a bed and tapped her omnitool activating the scanning equipment. After a moment the scan had run showing no physical injuries. Interesting, something besides a simple concussion did this then. Nodding to herself she glanced at the two crewmen that had brought him in. "Let's get him out of that armor."

One slowly disengaged the helmet seals. She jumped as she finished and stared at his face. "Doctor Chakwas! Look, look at his eyes!"

Chakwas bent over him and watched as his eyes moved behind their lids, his body twitching in turn just slightly. "Intense dreaming?" She started running a neurological scan.


Tali pulled the wires from the wall and dropped them onto the concrete floor, her eyes nervously glancing to the hud as she shut down the power box. There was still the single contact just outside the door. Taking a deep breath she walked to the door glancing back at the kids huddled behind her.

She pulled it open and froze her gaze locked with the geth sprawled out on the ground, its light flickering on and off and a clicking sound coming from its chassis. Scowling she stepped forward and kicked the rifle that was in its hands away. Still watching her sensors she knelt over it and stowed her shotgun. She drew the knife and plunged it into where the chest plates came together and wrenched it sideways. The plates pulled open with a crack and she smiled. "Alright geth, tell me your secrets."

She pulled a cable from her omnitool and felt around inside the chest for a moment before finding an access port. With a click the cable plugged in and data began to flash by on her omnitool's display.

The geth's head suddenly twitched and its optic flashed online focusing on her for a moment before sparks and the blue smoke of fried electronics shot through the machine. Her own omnitool sputtered from the sparks as she ripped the cable free and scowled. Damn it, not fast enough. She grimaced as her wrist throbbed from the electric shock and she glanced at the files she'd acquired. "One audio record and common language definition files for the subject matter."

She sheathed her knife and kicked the worthless pile of parts. Then she reached down and picked up the pulse rifle, tapping its activation switch to make sure it still worked. The weapon folded out to full size in her hands and she grinned. At least this is something. Tapping the button again she watched it collapse and stowed it, glad for the magnetic grappled in her shield harness.

A crumbling sound echoed across the town and Tali turned as the geth dropship turned away from the central town tower, it crumbling behind in its wake. The ship pointed its nose to the sky and set off, its fighters lifting off and forming up in escort positions. Tali swallowed and glanced around. Are those three all that's left in this town?

Behind her the three kids peeked out of the shed. "Are they gone?"

She nodded. "They're gone."

The three slowly stepped out into the light, the oldest glancing around nervously. "Uh, thank you, miss."

"The name is Tali." She tapped the omnitool and activated the helmet speakers for the file, then froze as a chill ran down her spine hearing words from some turian voice. As small as the file was, it was big, really big. A turian and a woman of some sort were working with these geth… to bring back some group called the 'Reapers'. The information is valuable, but not to the fleet. She snickered at that. Just my luck huh, I suppose I'll need to get this to someone that'd care. "Do any of you own a car… or maybe your parents?"

She tapped her omnitool and started to read the common language information files that'd been included. Keelah… this is really big.

"My mom did…" The oldest said pointing down the street. "I can get it if you want."

"If you've got any family elsewhere on the planet, you might want to call them." Tali glanced at the eldest. "I… I need to get to the Citadel. Could you get me a ride back to the capital?" When the kids looked at her in confusion she sighed. "Do… how many of you have omnitools?"

"Uh… I do." The oldest said raising his wrist and activating it cautiously. "I… I have a grandma I can contact… what about you guys?" He asked the others cautiously.


Admiral Hackett glared at the terminal before him, watching the two men. "What the hell happened David? Eden Prime comes under attack within minutes of your arrival and… Where's Nihlus?"

"Nihlus is dead," Anderson said grimly. "Commander Shepard is in the infirmary, unconscious."

The Admiral sighed and dropped a data-slate on the table. "That's just fucking great. The Einstein reported engaging the enemy with limited success before they exited the system. From the reports on the ground it sounds like they were some sort of synthetics."

"Geth, from the helmet cam footage we've got it's pretty clear what they were. Even have the same basic design they did three hundred years ago." Anderson shook his head and tapped the terminal showing two images, one three hundred years old, the other taken from the helmet cam.

"That would explain the data we got from the Kursk's spectral scans. Their analysis said quarian manufacture but then no one thought to bring up their rogue creations, now, what about your mission?" Hackett asked as he scratched at his scar.

"The beacon was active when our team found it, it overloaded after interacting with Commander Shepard. He's still unconscious from the incident. Whatever was on it is lost to us, unfortunately."

"They may have used it successfully before you secured it though," Hackett sighed. "This is going to blow up in our face I think. Udina is going to be pissed and to think the geth are attacking human colonies."

Anderson nodded. "There's a complication as well… from what we've been able to determine Nihlus wasn't killed by a geth." And now the bomb, Hackett may believe me but the Council… "A witness on the ground claimed that Nihlus was killed by another spectre, a turian spectre."

"Do you have a name?" Hackett asked.

"Saren Arterius."

"Shit." Admiral Hackett stared at the terminal for a long moment then tapped the communications channel controls. "I need Ambassador Udina on the line, due to security concerns I must ask the Lieutenant with you to step out for a minute."

"Sure sir." Alenko states, nodding before walking out of screen.

Hackett drummed his fingers. "We'll have to get the council to revoke his spectre status, a turian working alongside the geth? What the hell is going on out there?"


The geth walked up to the door, inside its three hundred odd processes weighing data, conclusions, and ideas. All agreed on one single concept though, now so hard wired into their encoding that it was considered impossible to amend. The Reapers are Gods and Saren is there prophet.

With a click the door hissed open and the geth stepped inside, using the spare processing power from the neural link inherent in all geth it began to compose it's responses. Within the geth had come to another consensus. Organic speech is inefficient. Unfortunate that it is required for interactions with the Prophet.

Saren glanced over his shoulder looking irritated. "What is it?"

"We have recorded an anomaly at the human colony world of Liberty. A creat-cre…" The geth made a buzzing sound and almost seemed to stutter. "…quarian disabled a platform and may have recovered data from its memory core. We advise that this anomaly be removed."

Saren sighed and glanced at the geth. "Do you have the quarian's identity?"

"We have a recording of her image. Her realk has an unusual pattern symbolizing a genetic trait within less than one percent of their remaining population. We are uploading the image to your omnitool." The geth's hands glowed with its own omnitool. It was efficient to utilize organic technology, integrating the system into the platform would waste processes more suitable to other tasks. Geth do not waste processes.

Saren nodded as he looked at the image. "I will alert my agents to be on the lookout for this quarian."


Tali sighed as she stepped out of the air-car and shut the door, happy to get away from the three young humans. I don't need hero worship. I need credits and I need a flight to the Citadel. I doubt anyone here is interested in this… Saren.

She stood before one of the most unfortunate of locals for a quarian to find themselves, and one of the most common, now that humanity had spread around the galaxy. Taking a deep breath she stepped up to the door and noticed a dozen odd people watching her. Shaking her head she opened the door to the Liberty and Freedom Pawn shop.

The door clanged shut behind her and the proprietor glared at her for a long moment, studying her. I hate this, he thinks I'm a thief already… She stopped as she saw his eyes widen. Okay, I am a bit well-armed for a thief. She snickered in her visor and stepped up to the display.

"Can I help you?" He asked studying her for a long moment.

Tali smirked as she pulled the Pulse Rifle off her back and dropped it on the case. Remember be forceful and sure of yourself. "H-how much would you give me for this?" She stammered.

The man behind the counter stared at the device and tapped the activation stud watching it unfold in a flash. "What is it?"

"That is a geth pulse rifle."

The man blinked and picked up the rifle tapping the terminal for a moment before scanning it. "We don't fence goods here."

"It's not stolen it's…" Tali pursed her lips trying to think of the proper term. "It's a war trophy."

"Huh." He scanned it with his omnitool and tapped the screen and his eyes widened. "Alright… damn." He shrugged. "Miss, do you know how much this is worth to a collector?"

I have no idea. "Maybe a couple thousand credits or so…" Tali shrugged.

"With a proper license it's worth thirty thousand credits." Tali's eyes widened. "But since you don't have the paperwork or licensing, and since I don't know how long it'll be till I can sell it. How about three thousand credits?"

Three thousand! Tali nodded vigorously. "That's… that's fine." She gasped for breath and set her credit chit on the counter.

The clerk tapped it with his own transferring the funds and picked up the rifle. Now curious Tali drew her shotgun and set it on the table. "I don't want to sell this but could you tell me its value?"

"Hmm… Armax Arsenal Avalanche." He tapped the screen and nodded. "That's worth about nine thousand credits."

Tali just stared at the weapon as she picked it up. Keelah Reegar, this is… this is worth more than every single piece of gear I own combined. She sighed and clipped it to her back. That's one big debt of resources Reegar. "Thank you."

Smiling she nodded to clerk and stepped out the door. Now to get a flight to the Citadel.


Ambassador Udina scowled at the three holographic images of the councilors in before him. "Councilors, the geth attack on Eden Prime should at least warrant a meeting of the council. Especially when information received indicates that one of the council's own agents may have been behind the attack."

The turian councilor's mandibles flared. "You slander this council with baseless accusations, accusing us of authorizing or abetting this attack?"

"No councilor, I'm accusing a council spectre, not the council itself." Udina growled. "Moreover the attack itself should also be of some concern. When was the last time geth were seen beyond the veil?"

The salarian shook his head slowly. "If they truly are geth, it has been over three hundred years since they have ventured beyond the veil."

"You also claim that this reconnaissance vessel of yours, fell victim to the geth?" The turian shook his head. "Where was this vessel, could it have incited the attack?"

"The ship was in the Traverse Councilor, and spectral analysis of ships sighted at Eden Prime show hull compositions remarkably similar to historic geth and quarian constructions." Udina shrugged. "Considering I doubt the migrant fleet has a shipyard available to produce a new line of starships the only logical conclusion is that it was the geth."

The asari councilor tapped her display. "What evidence do you have of Saren's involvement in the attack?"

"We have recordings of an impromptu interview with a dockworker that witnessed Nihlus's death." Udina said glancing at his display knowing the evidence was far from complete.

The turian councilor shook his head, mandibles twitching. The asari glanced at the salarian who nodded. She sighed and glanced at Udina. "A hearing will be called to determine how we will proceed on this matter. We will direct the C-sec Executor to open an investigation into these allegations."


Tali'Zorah tapped her omnitool as she stepped through Liberty colony's customs, reading what other information she could glean off the extranet. Scowling she sighed and shifted her rucksack in irritation. Spectres, why'd it have to be something that'd involve one of them?

She blinked as the airlock door for her shuttle hissed open and she shuffled forward in the line to board, ignoring the occasional glare from the other passengers or curious look from a kid.

Saren Arterius, Turian Spectre… one of the council's top agents is working with the geth! Keelah, we always knew the council wanted us to just roll over and die after the war but this, this is just insane. She deactivated her omnitool as the airlock door shut and the decontamination cycle started. Maybe he's gone rogue? Then I'd have to get the information to the Council, but how? No one would believe that I had something.

Behind her the doors hissed shut and she walked to one of the seats, tapping her rucksack. What, eight hours to the Citadel from here?


Garrus Vakarian clasped his talons behind his hips as he stood before Executor Pallin, his mandibles twitching in irritation. This better not be another dressing down for 'circumventing procedure' or something of that nature. I'm getting sick of all this.

Slowly Executor Pallin looked up and nodded to Garrus, his gold eyes studying him for a moment. "Garrus, we have a situation."

Garrus blinked and focused on the Executor. A situation?

"Saren Arterius, a turian spectre has been accused of going rogue. We've been asked to investigate and find any evidence to confirm or deny the charges," Executor Pallin shrugged. "I know there's not much time on this, but both the Council and the human ambassador want this dealt with quickly. I need your report on my desk first thing tomorrow morning."

Garrus's mandibles twitched. "What exactly has he been accused of besides going rogue?"

"The murder of Nihlus Kryik, a fellow spectre and…" Executor Pallin snorted derisively. "Collaborating with the geth to attack the human colony of Eden Prime."

"Wait, the geth attacked a human colony?" Garrus's mandibles flared and his eyes widened.

"Yes, quite a surprising turn of events." Executor Pallin's mandibles clicked as he tapped the display. "The humans build a colony in the Traverse; just on the edge of the Terminus systems and it gets hit by the geth."

Why would the geth attack a human colony? This whole situation sounds like a confused mess. Garrus pulled out a data-slate and skimmed it quickly. "I'll need as much information as I can get on Saren. Can you give me some access to the classified databases?"

"Only some of them, Spectres are almost impossible to investigate fully." Pallin's eyes focused on Garrus. "You know how well classified some of their files are, and Saren is the citadel's top agent. This is important."

"I'll get you that information Executor." Garrus glanced back at the data-slate. Looks like a long night.


Tali pressed her visor to the window as the shuttle slowly drifted through the Window Nebula, the glowing purple gas thick like clouds.

The shuttle banked through the nebula, passing just astern of a Hierarchy cruiser that was on patrol. Other shuttles, freighters, and transports of various types began to appear one after another as the nebula began to thin. Then the curtain of purple gases suddenly opened revealing the enormous station that was the Citadel and the home of galactic civilization.

The station was shaped somewhat like a closed flower just before its bloom with the three main arms held tight against the circular ring that held the entire station together. Tali knew that the arms could be pulled shut to protect the inhabitants, but that alone was probably the Citadel's only defense against attack, if not for the fleet of dreadnaughts, cruisers, and frigates that were constantly on patrol around the station.

"Attention passengers, we will be arriving within five minutes, please have all identifications, registration cards, and data-work ready for inspection. Welcome to the Citadel, the capital city of galactic civilization."

Tali shuffled nervously in her seat as the shuttle flew into one of the countless docking bays. Around her, the other passengers grabbed their bags and she took a deep breath. Slowly she stood as the first group passed by and grabbed her rucksack from the overhead compartment. With practiced ease, she swung it around her middle and stepped into the crowd. Walking out into the hangar bay, she glanced up and saw the various directions to other parts of the station.

"All persons arriving must first check into customs as per Citadel regulations. Please vector any complaints or questions to the Citadel Security Officers or Avina, the Citadel VI." An overhead speaker repeated as she shuffled toward the security gate, nervously shifting from one foot to the other. Suddenly she was aware of the weight of her shotgun hanging from her back and the pistol on her hip.

"Damn customs... always such a bore," one of the Salarian passengers ahead muttered. "One time I ended up spending an hour answering questions about a plant I brought as a gift. It's not my fault I didn't know it was restricted."

Tali swallowed as she stepped beside one of the VI terminals and glanced toward it. The VI's holographic image seemed to be based on that of a young asari maiden. "If you have any questions, please direct your inquiries to me or one of the C-Sec Officers present."

"Umm... what are the regulations regarding weapons on the Citadel?" Tali asked quietly.

"Citadel Regulations restrict the carrying of weapons on the public portions of the Citadel. Only Spectres or those to whom Spectre status has been extended can carry assault weapons in public. These weapons include, shotguns, sniper rifles, and assault rifles. Citizens are allowed to carry pistols so long as they can provide proof of ownership of the weapon."

Tali clenched her teeth as she swung the rucksack off her back and pulled the shotgun from her back. She dropped the weapon into the rucksack and hoped that alone would be enough to keep her out of an interrogation room.

The line shuffled forward and Tali took a deep breath as she came to the front. An asari maiden looked up from the haptic displays and stared at her for a long moment. "Name?"

"Tali'Zorah nar Rayya," Tali answered.

"Purpose of visit?"

"Umm... work." Tali muttered not sure how declaring she had information for the council would help her get through. The asari shrugged. "Please present any weapons and their registration."

Tali took a deep breath and pulled the pistol from her hip and set it on the table followed by the shotgun. "I... I do not intend to carry the shotgun, I just came from a world in the Terminus systems and encountered some... rather violent locals."

The asari arched an eyebrow at her but nodded once. "Your permits and weapon registration."

"Umm..." Tali lifted her omnitool and started to scroll through the documents she'd loaded for her Pilgrimage. After a few moments, she found the purchase records for both weapons by the fleet and passed it over to her. "Will... Will this be sufficient?"

The asari scowled. "I see... I'll need to speak to my supervisor."

Tali sighed. "I understand..."


Officer Marcellinus sighed as he tapped at the display of incoming passengers. Already he could see dozens of potential threats to public safety in the group. There was a trio of asari mercenaries in their black leather armor and a couple krogan bounty hunters looking rather bored in the line.

His attention flicked to the quarian standing beside the counter talking with one of the older asari that acted as the shift supervisors. The vagrant looked young, but then there wasn't a very easy way to tell their ages with those damnable environmental suits they wore. He growled low under his breath as his omnitool flagged a message for him. Scowling he lifted it up and keyed a display.

TO: All contacts.

FROM: The White Skull guild.

A contract has been placed on the quarian: Tali'Zorah nar Rayya. Subject is 1.7 meters tall and approximately 60 kilos. She wears a distinct purple realk (quarian ceremonial head-scar akin to a human shawl) with a swirl pattern.

A 2,000 credit bounty is offered to any information that will lead to her capture.

Marcellinus swallowed as he stared at the quarian again, "Hello..."

He glanced at the data feed from the custom's station and felt his eyes widen before glancing back toward the girl. "Well... well." He opened up his omnitool and started to type up a message to the White Skull bounty hunters guild. His C-Sec salary was barely paying the rent after all.

I'll need to ensure she's still here if I'm to get any of the money. He thought before standing and tapping the display. "Someone takeover, I'm going to go question one of the new arrivals."


Tali shuffled nervously as the older asari passed a scanner over the two weapons. "Well, both weapon registries confirm the fleet purchased them."

"So... are they authorized?" the young maiden asked looking confused.

The older matron pursed her lips for a moment then nodded. "She's authorized for the weapons."

Tali let out a long sigh of relief before picking up the shotgun and dropping it in her rucksack and holstering the pistol. "Thank you." She murmured quietly.

"Next!" The asari maiden called out as Tali shuffled past the security gate. She swung the rucksack over her shoulder and sighed.

"You, quarian..." A two-toned voice called out and she froze.

"Yes?" She asked timidly as she looked up toward the tall turian that had called to her. He had a pistol in his hand and wore the standard blue armor of C-Sec security. "Uh..."

"Follow me, I've got a few questions on how a vagrant like you gets a hold of weaponry like that," the turian officer growled.

Tali flinched under his gaze. "Umm..."

"Shut up and follow me," the turian officer growled.

Tali slumped and took a deep breath before following the officer into an elevator, which quickly descended toward the C-Sec Office. She chewed on the feed tube as the elevator slowed to a stop and she was pushed out onto a concourse floor. Grumbling under her breath, she was led down a set of stairs to an interrogation room.

"Officer… umm, why are you questioning me… I thought I answered all of C-Sec's questions at customs," Tali said carefully before the hissed shut and she heard the click of a lock activate.

"Weapons on the table," the turian barked and Tali flinched before pulling the shotgun out and dropping it on the table, followed a moment later by her sidearm. Then she sat down in the chair opposite the door with a huff.

"You quarians are trouble, ever since you made the geth you've been stealing and thieving, living off the scraps left by real civilizations. Now, why does a girl on her pilgrimage have a shotgun and a pistol? Have you decided to move beyond theft to more bloody crimes?" the turian was almost snarling by the end and Tali closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"It is dangerous in the Traverse… there are geth there now!" She snapped back.

"Really, I doubt that… I doubt that a great deal."


Garrus Vakarian rubbed an eye with a talon and tapped his data-slate against the table in irritation. With a hiss Chellick stepped through the door and glanced over at him, his mandibles clicking softly as they twitched. "You're working late."

"And yet you're still here." Garrus muttered. He tapped the data-slate again and glanced at his terminal.

"I heard you got called up to the Executor's office, what you do this time Garrus? Shoot somebody?" Chellick chuckled.

"No, nothing like that, I'm doing a job for the Executor, seems the council wants C-sec looking into reports about one of their Spectres going rogue." Garrus tapped his terminal screen and sighed. "Damn it, so many of these damn records are still sealed by council order. I can't get anything solid for his activities for the last five years and there are a lot of sealed records going back further than that."

"Surprised?" Chellick sat down on the chair opposite Garrus and leaned over the desk. "Spectres are trouble, I'm sure most of us would be pissed to see some of those operation reports and what they did."

Garrus's mandibles quivered and he brought up one of the few mission reports that had been released to him. "We need them. You know how quick a Spectre could remove some of our ongoing headaches?" He sighed after a moment. "But still, this one really rubs me the wrong way."

"Which Spectre? There's only like what, a hundred of them in total?"

"Saren Areterius." Garrus stated as his extranet mail icon lit up. Growling he tapped it. Maybe they'd unsealed one of these damn mission reports.

"You're kidding." Chellick's mandibles gaped in surprise and he stared at Garrus for a long moment. "What's he accused of?"

"The murder of Spectre Nihlus Kryik and assisting the geth attack on Eden Prime." Garrus skimmed the messages. Huh, the after action reports from Eden Prime from Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams and Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko. He laughed. The Systems Alliance is being awfully nice sending me this.

"Spirits, Garrus! He's accused of the murder of a Spectre and an attack by the geth?"

"That about covers it." Garrus opened up Kaidan Alenko's report and noticed a set of attached files. His voice dropped to a mutter. "The Systems Alliance is being more cooperative then the Spectre office, I guess I should have expected that."

"But he's the council's top agent! If he's gone bad…" Chellick shook his head. "I did say Spectres are trouble, didn't I?"

"You did." Garrus opened up one of the attachments and studied it for a moment and his mandibles twitched in surprise. The medical scan of Nihlus Kryik's body, let's see… His mouth continued to run as he read. "I still say we need them, but maybe the council should keep a better watch on their agents."

"Maybe." Chellick shrugged.

Large caliber pistol, looks like the shot was fired upward into the back of Nihlus's head, went through the shield too. Garrus scowled. Spectres had top of the line gear and to be dropped like that required him to be at ease during the attack. A betrayal fits, but at best that's circumstantial. He tapped the screen again and selected the second attachment. "So, what do you think of the geth going after humanity?"

Chellick arched a brow ridge. "Attacking a colony after three hundred years of hiding behind the veil? I bet some human expedition tried to enter their space, sounds like the most obvious explanation."

That does sound reasonable. Garrus selected the second attachment and found that it was a video log. Hitting the play button he studied it, listening for a bit. "Hmm…" His eyes studied the human as he spoke, remembering his training, his experience. His gut tightened, traumatized or not the dock worker believed what he said. Damn it, if Saren really did it how do I nail him?


Officer Marcellinus scowled as he paced before the quarian vagrant and saw her glowing gaze follow him as he paced. Those two glowing eyes narrowed at him when he came to a stop. "So… you mean to tell me, that you traveled to the world of Liberty because you heard rumors of geth attacks on human colonies. You searched for a geth raiding party, attacked one of the units and managed to destroy one before they left."

"Yes," the quarian stated. "I can provide suit telemetry to confirm my story if you want it."

"I'm sure you can… and I'm sure a quarian like yourself could manufacture any record you desired for me to examine, yes?" Marcellinus growled. "Now… why are you bringing a shotgun aboard this station: who do you intend to kill, quarian?"

"No one!" Tali snapped. "I use it to defend myself… never to attack someone that doesn't deserve it."

"So, does someone here deserve to be filled full of holes by a quarian girl?" Marcellinus asked. "I'm sure the fleet has plenty of enemies around that a pilgrim might feel honor bound to clean up."

Tali stared at him for a long moment. "I am not sure… was that a joke? We do not go around killing others for our amusement… do you think these suits are just to hide us from you? If I was wounded even if just a piece of my suit was punctured, I could die! We'd make the absolute worse assassins and bounty hunters in history!"

The C-Sec officer stared down at her and then chuckled. "You make a fair point quarian… maybe you'd just hack a security mech and turn it against its owner… that'd be a safe way to go about a contract wouldn't it?"

The girl banged her head on the table and sighed. "You've been asking me for three hours! Do you have any actual crimes to throw at me, charges to keep me here? I'm sure if you don't you'll have to let me go soon, right officer?"

The C-Sec officer's omnitool lit up and he glanced at it for a moment. "Fine… but I'll be watching you."

"Wha… what?"

"You can go," the officer said with a turian smile. "Get out before I change my mind!"

Tali grabbed her gear and scurried for the door as it unlocked. With a gasp for breath, she padded toward the elevator and glanced anxiously around for a moment before taking a deep breath and stepping onto the express to the market level.


Garrus growled as he finished a large canister of dextro-coffee and tossed it into the nearest waste disposal unit. He'd been up for hours, and now in the depths of the night he was glaring at line after line of data he'd been digging through.

"Investigating Spectres..." He growled under his breath and clicked his mandibles as another sigh rumbled from his chest and he glared at the data. "At this rate... I'll be better off looking at it sideways. Let's see... investment records... surely some of them are public." He muttered to himself again before tapping at the haptic controls.

"Hmm..." He rumbled.

Binary Helix - 100,000 shares.

ExoGeni Corporation - 50,000 shares.

White Skull Mercenary Group Inc. - 20,000 shares.

- Additional Market Data Restricted due to Spectre Status -

"Damn it..." He snapped as he glared at the information. "Surely there is more than this, Spectres tend to be wealthy bastards." He growled in frustration and sat back in the seat. "Okay... C-Sec Requisition Records."

- Data on Spectre Saren Arcterius's Requisitions is Restricted -

Garrus snarled in frustration. "Nothing? I can't even find out if he bought a pistol?" He slammed his talons into the desk and pushed back from it. "Maybe I could find something..."

The terminal chirped and he leaned toward it. "What the hell? What's a quarian got to do with this mess? Moreover, why would someone go after one?"


Tali tapped her omnitool in irritation as she stepped out of the lift. Why were they so long? A couple others stepped out after her and she pursed her lips as she flipped through the display. Where am I going to go to get this information to someone, an agent of the Shadow Broker? What should I do?

Scowling she walked toward an ally-way and nearly tripped over a keeper as it plodded past. She stopped and stared at the strange insect like creature. Huh, they don't talk. No response at all really… She shrugged and turned around a corner and leaned against the wall tapping at her omnitool. Someone has to know how to contact him on the extranet… She started searching, her eyes focusing on the holographic display that appeared over the tool as she skimmed forums and chat records. Come on…

Then she smiled. An extranet mail address, well it's something. She took a step away from the wall and deactivated the omnitool. Then she turned away from the main corridor and froze as she heard the sound of a weapon extending.

The suit hid so much, but it couldn't hide the cool metal of a gun barrel pressed against the small of her back. Maybe it'd be better if it did.

"Give me any data you have on Saren and the geth, quarian." The two toned voice of a turian hissed in her helmet's audio receptors.

An icy cold lump formed in the pit of her stomach and she looked over her shoulder at the turian. How did they know? The geth! Had it transmitted her image? But, a quarian in a suit isn't that easy to…

She took a deep breath drowning the thought. "What data?"

The turian chuckled. "Come on missy, you're pretty distinctive for a vagrant, hunting geth on Liberty. Hand over your omnitool and no one gets hurt."

Tali laughed. "You do realize it's under my suit right? I'm not pulling off my sleeve in a place like this."

"You either do it now, or I strip it from your corpse. So, chance of death or certain…"

Tali spun, swinging her fist around toward the turian. Before she could connect the pistol fired. Pain lanced through her right shoulder and alarms rang in her suit. Isolation seals clamped down around the breach and she felt her arm go numb from the sudden pressure. Dazed she spun to the floor and hit the deck with a thud and stared up at the turian clad in black armor, a large pistol pointed at her visor.

He chuckled. "Nice try, you almost…"

She grabbed the pistol off her belt and squeezed the trigger furiously even before it extended to full length. Shot after shot rang out, ripping through the armor and shields. The turian staggered, blue blood dripping from the holes before falling to the floor. Her finger still fluttered on the trigger, not noticing the overheat alarm.

He's dead! Her mind seemed to be yelling at her body. He's dead… you're still alive, but unless you get up you won't stay that way. Tali stared at the turian lying in a pool of blood and felt a wave of nausea rise from her stomach. I… I killed him. He wasn't even a geth and I... She dropped the pistol and blinked her eyes. It was him or me, come on Tali you know that. With a groan she sat upright and grabbed hold of the wall for support. A keeper glanced in her direction for a moment before continuing to work at a terminal. Grimacing she picked up the gun and clipped it back to her belt.

Suit breach, let's see antibiotics… Her mind was swimming and she could see darkness creeping in on the edges of her vision. Pulling out her rucksack she fumbled for the medicines then reached back to the medical injection port and slammed it home. With a hiss she injected the load and grimaced. That done she stuffed the empty syringe in a pocket on her realk and pulled out the suit patch kit. Ten minutes and I'll be really hurting. I need to seal it now. She bit her lip as she pulled out the patch and slapped it over the entry wound in her back before covering the exit wound in the front of her shoulder.

The emergency seals relaxed as the patches held back the air. Tali took a deep breath, grimacing as she felt a wave of pain roll out from her shoulder. It felt like her shoulder was burning and she blinked away tears. Damn it, I saw a clinic just a block away or so. Come on Tali, don't let that bosh'tet end you. She staggered out of the alleyway and glanced up a the signs, no C-sec ran toward her, no one seemed to notice the dark stain on her realk as she stumbled through the crowd toward a clinic.

With a hiss the doors opened and a human turned to look at her. Tali caught her gaze shifting from her visor to shoulder and she stumbled, darkness clouding her vision. "Please…"

The redheaded woman rushed forward just as the darkness overwhelmed Tali and she fell.


Matriarch Benezia stepped through the hatch to Saren's quarters, her long dress softly rolling across the decking. Ahead Saren sat in a throne like chair, a turian dinner laid out on the tray before him along with a full bottle of turian brandy. His prosthetic hand was pressed against his face and one claw tapped his nose.

She coughed quietly and saw Saren twitch in acknowledgement. "Our infiltration of Citadel reports is complete. We have identified the vessel, the SSV Normandy, a human alliance vessel. They managed to save the colony."

Saren froze. "And the beacon?"

"One of the humans may have used it." Benezia stated.

Saren snarled and the cabin lighting flashed red as he smashed the tray against the wall, smashing the brandy before spinning toward her. He stalked up to her, his breath pressing against her cheeks. Benezia stared at him as he slowly drew back. "This human… must be eliminated."

"It will be done… I have expanded your contract with the White Skulls, if he appears anywhere in Citadel space, we'll know."

"Make this a priority." Saren growled before stalking back to his chair and dropping into it.


John felt his temple scream in pain as he blinked up into an overhead light. A groan slipped from his lips as he sat up and slumped forward with a gasp of pain. He saw the Gunnery Chief they'd picked up on the surface scramble for the small office, "Doctor, Doctor Chakwas! I think he's waking up."

The click of Chakwas's heels echoed across the deck as John shook his head and rubbed his temples, "You had us worried there Shepard. How are you feeling?"

Shepard scowled and glanced up at the doctor. "Minor throbbing, nothing serious… How long was I out?"

"About fifteen hours, something happened down there with the beacon, I think. I've been running a neurological scan since about an hour after your arrival. Let me shut it down." Chakwas taped the terminal.

"Neurological scan?" Shepard groaned inwardly. "Did the beacon do something to me?"

"I'm not sure… hence the scan. What happened down there?" Chakwas asked.

Ashley Williams stepped forward and looked down at the deck plating for a moment. "It's my fault. I must have triggered some kind of security field when I approached it. You had to push me out of the way."

Shepard shook his head and tried to rub away the headache that blazed from behind his temples. "You had no way to know what would happen."

Chakwas sighed, "Actually, we don't even know if that's what set it off. Unfortunately we'll never get the chance to find out."

Shepard glanced at her in confusion.

Ashley sighed and started to explain, "The beacon exploded, system overload maybe. The blast knocked you cold. The Lieutenant and I carried you back here to the ship."

He groaned and looked up at the marine. "I appreciate it."

"Physically you're fine," Chakwas harrumphed for a moment. "I've detected some unusual brain activity, abnormal beta waves, I also noticed an increase in your rapid eye movement signs typically associated with intense dreaming."

"I wouldn't call it dreaming…" Shepard said quietly as his mind replayed the blizzard of images that had assaulted his mind. "I saw… I'm not sure what I saw. Death, destruction, nothings really clear."

"Hmm… I better add this to my report, it may—" Chakwas lifted a data-slate then stepped back as the stepped into the medical bay. "Oh, Captain Anderson."

"How's our XO holding up doctor?" The older black veteran asked as he stopped by the door.

"All the readings look normal. I'd say the commander's going to be fine." Chakwas answered.

Anderson's gaze swept over Shepard for a moment. "Glad to hear it. Shepard, I need to speak with you… In private."

"Aye, aye, captain, I'll be in the mess if you need me." Ashley gave a deft salute then left followed by a silently fuming Chakwas.

The door hissed shut and Anderson's business like persona deflated into the mentor Shepard knew. He took a deep breath, "Sounds like that beacon hit you pretty hard commander. You sure you're okay?"

"Physically… yeah, not sure about otherwise." He balled a fist and glanced up at Anderson. "I don't like soldier's dying under my command," Shepard said with a slight shake of his head.

"Jenkins wasn't your fault. You did a good job Shepard." Anderson said.

"Does this look like a good job Captain?" Shepard snapped before reeling his emotions back in.

Anderson shifted almost guiltily on his feet and clasped his hands behind his back. "I won't lie to you Shepard, things look bad. Nihlus is dead, the beacon was destroyed, and geth are invading. The Council is going to want answers."

"I'd like answers too," Shepard scoffed quietly. "I didn't do anything wrong, captain, hopefully the Council can see that."

"I'll stand behind you and your report Shepard. You're a damn hero in my books," Anderson reassured him before starting to pace. "That's not why I'm here. It's Saren, that other turian. Saren's a spectre, one of the best, a living legend, but if he's working with the geth it means he's gone rogue. A rogue spectre's trouble, Saren's dangerous and he hates humans."

"He didn't come to Eden Prime because he hates humans." Shepard observed. "He wanted the beacon."

Anderson sighed. "You're right. Saren has allied himself with the geth. I don't know how. I don't know why. But it had something to do with that beacon. You were there just before that beacon self-destructed. Did you see anything? Any clue as to what Saren was after?"

Shepard flinched and took a deep breath. "This will sound crazy." He glanced up at Anderson, "Just before I lost consciousness, I had some kind of vision."

"A vision… A vision of what?"

"War… chaos… destruction." Bits of imagery rolled over his mind. "I saw synthetics, geth maybe. Slaughtering people, butchering them."

"We need to report this to the Council, Shepard." Anderson said.

Shepard scoffed. "What are we gonna tell them? I had a bad dream?"

"Alright, maybe we won't be able to convince them that way… but you should include it… maybe the beacon was trying to tell you something." Anderson shook his head. "We don't know what information was stored in that beacon. Lost Prothean technology, blueprints for some ancient weapon of mass destruction, whatever it was… Saren took it. But I know Saren, I know his reputation, his politics, he believes humans are a blight on the galaxy. This attack was an act of war, he has the secrets from the beacon, he has an army of geth at his command, and he won't stop until he's wiped humanity from the face of the galaxy."

As Anderson rattled on Shepard felt his determination grow, his anger at the attack fanned by the description of the attack. Finally Shepard growled, "I'll find some way to take him down."

"It's not that easy." Anderson shook his head and sighed. "He's a spectre, he can go anywhere, do almost anything. That's why we need the Council on our side."

Shepard glanced up at Anderson again, "We prove Saren's gone rogue, and the council will revoke his spectre status."

Anderson nodded, "I'll contact the ambassador and see if he can get us an audience with the council. He'll want to see us as soon as we reach the Citadel."