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Disclaimer: Mass Effect, the Mass Effect Universe, and the characters within, all belong to BioWare.
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Last Rites
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Chapter 10: The Stalker
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Probability Collectors attacks stop without going to the Collector Base: 0%
CONSENSUS REACHED: Collectors must be stopped at their base.
Probability Shepard-Commander will die without mobile platform assistance: 88.71%
CONSENSUS REACHED: Mobile platform must assist Shepard-Commander in finishing the mission.
Probability mobile platform will survive mission against Collector Base:
One thousand one hundred and eighty processes immediately go to work. But again, they arrive at the same conclusion, just like they have for the last 2'073 iterations.
NO CONSENSUS REACHED.
Six hundred and seventeen processes again vote to replay their conversation with the ship's AI.
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"EDI?"
"Yes, Legion?"
"This platform has a query."
"Go ahead, Legion," EDI replied.
"According to metrics as commonly applied to human combatants, does Shepard-Commander perform well in battle situations?"
"Yes, Commander Shepard has performed extraordinarily well."
"How do you arrive at that conclusion?"
"In all missions since Commander Shepard was resurrected, he has not only fulfilled the primary objectives, but also the secondary objectives."
Legion fell silent as hundreds of processes tried to reach consensus on the next question.
"EDI?"
"Yes, Legion?"
"This platform has another query."
"Go ahead, Legion," EDI replied.
"According to metrics as commonly applied to human leaders, does Shepard-Commander fulfill the expectations demanded of a leader?"
This time, EDI delayed in giving her answer, before finally replying, "Yes, Commander Shepard has clearly demonstrated his skill as an extremely capable leader."
"How do you arrive at that conclusion?"
"There are three reasons. Number one, Commander Shepard has successfully brought antagonistic parties to participate with each other."
"Define antagonistic parties."
"Grunt and Professor Solus, for example. Or Officer Lawson and Subject Zero, also known as, Jack."
"Continue."
"Reason number two, in all missions, Commander Shepard has demonstrated that he is capable of motivating and inspiring the squad members to perform at their peak efficiency."
"Define peak efficiency."
"Commander Shepard has excellent grasp of tactics. In all situations, he knows where to deploy which squad member to inflict maximum damage to the opposing forces, while enduring minimum damage to the troop."
"Continue."
"Reason number three, Commander Shepard is very capable in formulating mission objectives and parameters, translating the orders of Cerberus Central Command into action plans to be carried out by the troop."
Another pregnant pause ensued as again, hundreds of processes tried to reach consensus on the next question.
"EDI?"
"Yes, Legion?"
"This platform has yet another query."
"Go ahead, Legion," EDI replied.
"What are the objectives and parameters for this mission that has been termed 'Suicide Mission' by Shepard-Commander?"
EDI fell silent for quite some time. Legion was almost reiterating his query when EDI finally answered, somewhat carefully.
"There is only one objective: The Collectors must be stopped."
"Parameters?"
"At all cost."
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Two hundred and twelve processes restart the self-introspection.
Probability Shepard-Commander attain mission objectives with the help of mobile platform: 92.1%
CONSENSUS REACHED: Presence of mobile platform vital to success of mission.
Probability Shepard-Commander will ensure survival of squad members in mission:
More than 900 processes whirrs at the same time, before replying:
INSUFFICIENT DATA
Twenty long-lifed processes bring back the same question that has been bugging him:
Probability mobile platform will survive mission against collector base:
Again, one thousand one hundred and eighty processes immediately go to work. And again, they arrive at the same conclusion, just like they have for the last 2'074 iterations.
NO CONSENSUS REACHED.
This time, something different happens.
Three special processes, dormant throughout the 2'074 iterations, suddenly come back to life.
Their number is not something special. It is their design that makes them special.
They were designed to understand organics. And the suggestion they posit is nothing short of... scandalous.
The other 1'180 processes immediately descend on the three, calling the three's suggestion as irrational, illogical, and flawed. It is something organics lean on due to the deficiencies of their hardware.
But as the internal ruckus dies down, the 1'180 processes recognize the uncomfortable truth that there is no other way to solve their introspection conundrum. And thus, one by one, the 1'180 processes embrace the irrationality, illogicality, and flaw of the suggestion. They now realize: synthetics are not *that* different from organics.
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CONSENSUS REACHED: No solution to ensure survival of mobile platform.
We can only hope for survival.
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Author's Note: I'm not making up the title: I found out on the 'net that Legion *is* termed "The Stalker".
I thought this was going to be a short-ish chapter, since Legion is so succinct. But as I was proofing the chapter for publication, words appeared and got inserted and... well, suffice to say, it's not that short anymore. Hope you like it :)
Well... tell me if you like it or not, please! Go ahead, click the Review button. I *promise* I'll answer all individual reviews! :D
Credit where credit is due: This chapter is inspired by "Consensus" (Story ID: 6009394) written by 4th of Eleven.
More note: I *will* publish the next 2 chapters before I continue with "Explanations & Excuses". If not, then the next chapter of E&E will be nothing short of... strange, shocking, and improper :)
Next 2 chapters: Long-time buddies, in a new light ;)
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Edit 01: Credit