I: Enigma

by RedCenturionG

Seventy years prior to current events, the ultimate fight for galactic survival ensued. Follow the story of Marcus L. Shepard, Tali'Zorah nar Rayya and Garrus Vakarian as they come to meet and fight forces thought only existent in nightmares. But there is more to the story. Something else is going on behind the scenes...

11. Chapter 9 Romance Is A Bitch

December 20, 2250

1401 hours.

{CLASSIFIED LOCATION}

Special Tasks Group Operative Commander Carter Dielheart, Lieutenant Jaris 'Siren' Paltarons.

Today was another normal day. More interrogation, more useless questions, more mindless babbling about Zero-Zero-One's lifestyle. The work had become quite interesting instead of the tedious shit that Carter had actually expected. Ever since the salarian STG started their 'outreach program' after the 'Earth Recession' period following 2190, and began recruiting multiracial agents to train as STG operatives, humans like him, all ex-CIA, had begun getting so used to the job, that they felt like the sneeky bastards themselves.

Carter's callsign was 'Nemesis', but most just called him Carter. Jaris Paltarons, aka Siren, and his fellow comrades from the now defunct Ulysses Squad, were now working in facilities like these, all working towards the same goal; Project Catalyst. Ever since the end of the Post-Apocalyptic Wars of 2194 to 2229, the Alliance had been trying to find ways of utilizing reaper 'nanites' as cybernetic upgrades, their source obviously being the now defunct Cerberus and Shepard himself. The Alliance's goal; to supply powerful upgrades to trainees to essentially transform the alliance marines into supersoldiers. It was risky, but could it be done? Time would tell.

The room was lit up in a vast blue light and many humans, salarians, asari, yahg, raloi and quarians moved to and from the edges of the packed mess hall, all scrabbling for the canteen so as to grab their levo and dextro amino food and drink. Pushing past them, he sat next to his teammate.

"Nemesis! Your session over all ready?" Siren asked, his face creasing in a frown. His armor was white with black stripes, while he wore armor similiar to the blood dragon armor, with more advanced barriers. His APAR assault rifle sat on the table, heating core obviously overused recently. The man was growing a beard, dark brown in color, but it wasn't fluffy; barely making his chin, his hazel eyes gazed into his as he waited for an answer.

"On break actually. They're feeding Zero-Zero-One now. I'm just getting some food. I'm starving." Carter said, pulling in next to his friend, his plate covered in an assortment of vegetables, fried potatoes and two chicken sausages. He began to eat as Siren threw his next question at him.

"So...what bit you get up to?" He asked, and Nemesis easily knew what he was referring to.

"Post-Therum. Tali got injured and he's about to call a meeting of the crew. Just saved Liara in other words." Carter finished, his mouth now full of potato.

"Ha! I'm up to the bit where he just handed Saren's ass to him. Zero-Eleven is WAY more cooperative than Zero-Zero-One, and you'd think he would be the one to concentrate more." Siren replied, and both of them chuckled. He's right. The man's a stubborn moron.

"I guess he'll crack eventually. He's in much worse shape than the other subjects. Zero-Twelve is pretty loopy though." Carter stated.

Siren chuckled, "Zero-Twelve? As in 'Loopy Verner'? He's useless. Would have thrown him out by now. Of course you need to go through 'wipe mind clean' regulations but what's the point when there's nothing in there to start with? Everytime I mention 'Shepard' he goes into a mental breakdown. You'd think their brothers or something."

Carter simply nodded in agreement, digging into his sausage as he did. Before he could further enjoy his meal, a voice came over the comm.

"Section Acheron, Squad 5-C, report to the Interrogation Wing. One of the subjects has gone loose. Response team Squad 5-C, report immediately, out." Turning, he watched as two quarian marines, three salarians, a single turian and two geth raced out the door to execute their assigned tasks.

"Must be Zero-Twenty. NOW THAT is someone they need under lock and key. He's like a juggernaut." Siren declared, pointing his fork in the general direction of the interrogation wing.

"Why?" Carter turned back to Siren, completely oblivious to who Twenty was. As far as he knew, only nineteen subjects existed.

"Twenty! You know, the big krogan guy named Grunt!" Siren explained, and Carter widened his eyes in surprise.

"We have him in here! Why didn't they say anything? He's a fucking krogan for fuck sake, you can't let one of those loose without armed guard!" Carter shouted, simply infuriated that he was sleeping in a facility that held a krogan. How many others were there? And what if they held Yahg to? Civilian yahg were bad enough, but a pissed off one?

"Hey, you want to place a complaint, talk to the Alliance brass. Otherwise keep me out of this. I don't make policy around here," Siren stated before looking at his chrono, "And I should get back to it. Hopefully 'ol Bailey is still up for some more." With that, he patted Carter on the back as he returned to it. Carter, for the sake of it, decided to check his omni-tool an realized he had been blissfully unaware of the message on his tool.

To: Nemesis {Name and Rank Withheld for Security Purposes as per Regulation 150, Article Six}

From: Interrogation Wing, Assistant Harrison.

Subject: Zero-Zero-One.

He's waking up sir, and he's waiting for you. Just take it slowly, it seems he's been dreaming lately and is feeling a bit light headed. Take it slow.

Hopefully this shit can end soon, Catalyst had better pay off for all these people have gone through. Why does interrogation need to be used for a cybernetic upgrade program anyway?

From: Interrogation Wing, Assistant Harrison.

To: Nemesis {Name and Rank Withheld for Security Purposes as per Regulation 150, Article Six}

"Well fuck." Carter cursed under his breath as he deactivated his omni-tool and snatched the last sausage off the plate, taking the plate back to the canteen before emptying its contents into the nearby bin and giving it back. He then made his way out of the mess hall, his destination being the interrogation wing.

It wasn't long before he finally arrived at the room and he hit the panel to open the door. It slid open to reveal the human he had been interrogation for quite some time. So...Therum. Time to find out what happened next.

ENIGMA

CHAPTER NINE:

ROMANCE IS A BITCH.

June 17, 2183

1301 hours.

Debriefing Room, Normandy-Class Stealth Frigate SSV Normandy SR-1, Knossos System.

Eden Prime War, Post-Battle.

Lieutenant Commander Marcus Lee Shepard, Gunnery Chief Ashley Williams, Staff Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko, Battlemaster Urdnot Wrex, Marksman Garrus Vakarian, Prothean Researcher Liara T'Soni.

Marcus sat in his chair, blankly staring at a wall as he waited for his team to arrive for the debriefing. The mission on Therum had gone well, and they had rescued Liara from Verx and his geth. A geth frigate had been in orbit of the planet, but upon the Normandy's escape, the geth frigate had withdrawn all forces on the planet and retreated before the Alliance could arrive.

He was finally relieved of his tedious duties to the wall when the door opened to let Ashley and Kaidan strode in, followed by Wrex, Garrus and their latest addition; Liara. Tali wasn't accompanying them due to her injuries, as she was still restricted to the med bay. Should check up on her after this. Everyone assumed their normal positions, Liara taking a seat inbetween Wrex and Garrus. By the time everyone was seated, only Tali's chair remained empty.

With everyone seated, he stood up and moved to the center to address the group.

"That wasn't exactly a textbook operation, but that was damn well done people. Not only did we get Liara out alive, but we killed that Verx asshole and took out a big portion of a geth regiment. I say that's a job well done." He nodded and everyone with a smile, everyone seemingly nodding back until his eyes landed on the only asari in the room; Liara.

"Miss T'Soni, is there anything you can tell us about Saren or your mother Benezia? Do you think they were trying to kill you or capture you? Or maybe rescue you?" He then realized how harsh the last bit had been. I need to know if she's friend or foe.

"Please, call me Liara. And I really can't help you. My mother left me six years ago and I haven't heard from her since. As for Saren, I don't know very much about him but apparently Verx was there to recruit me or something. Then he started screaming at himself." Liara finished, waiting for the human spectre to analyze the information.

"So you're completely oblivious to the fact that Saren and your mother have an armada of geth and are moving to invade Council Space?" Marcus stated. Liara's shocked expression was all he needed to know she wasn't lying. Noone was that good of a liar.

"Sh-what? My mother? Benezia? She would never do such a thing! She's kind hearted and gentle, not a murderer! How can you say such things!" The asari shouted with anger, but Marcus simply brought up his omni-tool and played the recording of Saren and Benezia they had presented as evidence, which was close to bringing Liara to tears.

"I'm sorry for your loss. I'll have you taken to the Citadel and put under armed guard." Marcus declared, but the asari immediately snapped her look towards him.

"No! I can't crawl away and hide! I have to discover why she's doing this! Please, let me come with you! I have biotic abilities and I'm pretty good with pistols." Liara pleaded with Marcus, her look begging for her to come with him. It was the same look he'd seen Tali give him a few times; the look of youth.

"Very well, I might as well introduce you to the crew then," He began introducing the asari to the entire crew, starting with Garrus before ending with Kaidan, "There are many more you should meet..."

"Like me, Joker, the pilot of this fine luxury liner. May I take your order, miss?" Joker's voice came through the comm, and sometimes Marcus wondered if he even bothered to come down from that cockpit. I'll have to ask about that later.

"Don't you have a ship to pilot?" Marcus asked the comm.

"And don't you have hot asari babes to flirt with?" Joker retorted. Marcus snorted and laughed, which was copied by Kaidan and Garrus. Ashley wasn't as impressed.

"He would never-" Ashley began, but didn't get to finish.

"Liara is a member of the crew. This is not flirting, this is introduction. I'm sorry, but you'll have to find somewhere else for that Joker. Keep your fantasies under lock and key." Marcus responded.

"Back to Fornax it is then." With that, any further retort from the crew was cut short by Joker disengaging the comms.

"Don't listen to Joker. He's a real jerk sometimes. You get used to him. Now, Liara, may I ask you what in the world you were doing down there on Therum? You looked like you were digging up Prothean ruins." He turned to Liara, very curious as to what the young asari was doing down there.

"I was. Ever since I found some artefacts on my birthworld of Thessia, I had become obsessed with the Protheans. All their vast technology, intergalactic colonies, and their wonderous creations such as the Citadel and Mass Relays. And they vanished. I found it all so very fascinating. That's why I have dedicated my life to discovering why the Protheans disappeared. And they weren't the first. Many other galactic civilizations have just vanished from the galactic map many billions of years. It seems to be a neverending cycle." The asari explained in barely contained excitement.

"Then you have your answer. I have my own theory on why the disappeared." Marcus declared.

"With all due respect Commander I've heard them all, and all of them are wrong. None of them can be proven." Liara began.

"They were wiped out by a race of sentient machines. The Reapers. And if what you said is any indication, the rest of those civilizations fell prey to the same machines. It might be a galactic cycle of extinction." Marcus explained. Liara was extremely shocked.

"The Reapers? Goddess, sentient machines? This all seems very farfetched, but if the Reapers really are that thorough, having left no trace of their existence, then the galaxy really is in danger. This cycle happens every fifty thousand years, and well..."

"...Its time for the next cycle. Which must mean Saren, Benezia and the geth are the vanguard of the Reapers return." Garrus added. Everyone nodded and everyone looked back at him, but it was Ashley who spoke up.

"What about that vision from the beacon? The one from Eden Prime." Ashley asked.

"Beacon? You were touched by A beacon?" Liara asked, a smile creasing her face. Marcus sighed. Williams, what have you done?

"Yes. It fed somekind of vision into my mind before exploding. I can't make sense of any of it." Marcus explained to the asari, who immediately stood up and approached him.

"If I may commander, I can help you understand that vision. I need to link my consciousness with yours. My people call it a mind-meld." Liara explained, but it was Ashley who immediately shot up to retort.

"Williams, sit down. If I ever want to understand the vision I'm going to need help." Ashley didn't look reassured, but she immediately sat down, and he turned back to face Liara. "Do it." He asked her, and he felt two, warm blue hands touch the sides of his head as the asari bowed hers down, closing her eyes. She then slowly looked up as she spoke, "Relax Commander."

Feeling his eyes getting droopy, he closed them just as Liara finished, "Embrace eternity!" She opened her eyes, and they were pitch black as night and he felt his mind spring to life as the vision once again plagued his mind. The screaming, the blood, the synthetic roars and those deafening words that always gave him shivers.

WE ARE THE END OF EVERYTHING.

His eyes shot open as Liara terminated the link with his mind, her hands seemingly holding her hands in midair as she backed off with pure shock.

"Goddess...I've never seen such...whoa...what you're going through Commander it would...it would have destroyed a lesser mind. The visions are vivid, intense, graphic. But its like you said; jumbled and useless. I can't make anything out of it. Its all jumbled and nonsensical. You'd need to think like a Prothean to understand any of it. And unfortunately, there aren't really any Protheans around." Liara explained, falling into her chair with a exhausted look on her face.

"You okay? You look exhausted." Marcus asked her. Liara looked up and for a second her gaze met his before she turned away, "I'm fine. I just need...some rest. Somewhere to sit and let my mind be at peace."

"I'll take you to the medbay where Chakwas can assign you a place to stay. I'll take your stuff to your locker and show you your sleeper pod later. Welcome to the team Liara T'Soni. Also, talk to Tali when your there. She couldn't be here due to her injury," he then turned to the rest of the assembled crew, "Crew dismissed."

Everyone immediately stood up and left, with Liara following Marcus down the steps and into the medical bay. It wasn't long before they were inside and after looking around, they saw Tali, sitting up in the second bed to the opposite door, watching as Chakwas sat next to her and ran scans of the quarian with her omni-tool. Both immediately turned to the door upon hearing it open, Tali's eyes immediately landing on her commander.

Chakwas smiled at them as they walked in, "Shepard, come to check in on Tali?" Chakwas finished up her scans and started up towards Marcus smiling warmly as she did.

"That and to introduce you to Liara T'Soni, our latest squadmate. Liara, this is Medical Officer Karin Chakwas, but we all call her doc or Doctor Chakwas for short or for some as formality." Marcus introduced the two women, and both shaked hands excitedly.

"I guess you have experience in the medical division?" Chakwas asked the asari.

"I'll just leave you two to it. I'm going to check on Tali." Marcus stated before Liara could answer, and both of the women nodded at him as he moved towards the quarian, both of them reentering their evaluation of each other.

"Hey Tali, I was wondering how you were holding up." Marcus asked as he sat up on the bed on her right and watched her. She sat up further until she was resting her back on the wall and looked directly into his eyes, her fingers wringing with each other.

"I'm...good. I just have a minor fever that's...," before she could continue, the quarian sneezed, "not bad enough to keep me off duty. Another day and I should be able to attend my duties as per normal."

"Good. We're heading to Feros now. I want to investigate the geth attack going on there. We'll arrive there in three days so you should be able to accompany us. I hope you feel better." Marcus said, smiling at her. Then he remembered Therum and knew he just had to ask. Scratching the nape of his neck, he turned to her awkwardly, "Um...about what happened on Therum..."

Through Tali's mask, he could see her blue eyes expand suddenly in shock as she cupped her vocalizer and went on a huge stuttering spree.

"I-I-I that was...um...I...didn't mean to...I just...I didn't want to think that...I...I'm...a...this is so embarrassing." Tali declared, trying to hold one three-fingered hand over her visor to shield her emotions, even though it wasn't nessacary. That hug felt so good, but now I'm totally regretting it. Why did I let my feelings get the better of my judgment? I got intimate with my superior officer! What if I had done that to Kal or my father during a meeting?

"Can we just pretend that never happened?" Tali finally said, no stuttering involved this time.

"Sorry, can't do that. Why did you hug me Tali? What made you think that was nessacary?" Marcus said with a mock angry tone.

"I thought you'd protect me! I've got a-" a YOU FOOL! Don't say that! Imagine the redicule you'd get! How disgusted he'd be!

"Got a what?" Marcus asked, no venom held in his voice.

Now you've done it. Cornered yourself you stupid girl. What are you going to say? I have a crush on you and you should just forget about it because you'd rather have Ashley or that asari? Why would he want to be involved with you anyway? He can't even see your face or kiss you whenever he wants! He's far better off with Ashley and the asari! I doubt you're even on his list of who to be with!

"Nothing." Tali responded curtly, turning her gaze away from the Spectre.

"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" Marcus asked, and Tali thanked him mentally for not pressuring the subject.

"I'm fine, Shepard. Really." Tali reassured him and Marcus simply gave her a warm smile that always seemed to make her melt into her seat.

"Well, I've got reports to write out. Tell me if you need anything." With that, Tali gave another attempt at a human salute, but once again failed and resigned to a simple nod. Chuckling, he saluted her back before reapproaching the two women he had left before.

"So, we found a place for our asari researcher?"

Chakwas nodded and turned towards him, "She'll be helping me in the medbay. I've given her my old office in the back. Now you know where to find her if you need her." With that, Chakwas retreated to her new desk while Liara moved into her new room to check it out. Letting her be, Marcus decided to leave the medbay and headed for his cabin.

Time for a hot shower.

Then he remembered he had just been on Therum.

Cold shower it is.

{Loading...}

June 18, 2183

0400 hours.

Mess Hall, Normandy-Class Stealth Frigate SSV Normandy SR-1, In FTL inbound for Attican Beta Cluster.

Eden Prime War.

Machinist Tali'Zorah nar Rayya.

All night she tossed and turned. She tried her best to sleep. She tried again and again and again. She tried filtering old quarian folk music into her audio filters, she tried drinking cold water, she tried everything, and she failed.

She could not sleep. Why?

It was too quiet.

Now many of the crew may have found it odd that quarians found it hard to sleep when it was quiet, but when you're a quarian, you tend to get used to sleeping to noise. Especially back on the fleet. This ship was just too advanced to let her sleep. Finally surrendering to being awake, she got up out of bed and decided to have a early breakfast and headed out into the mess hall. Hitting the door panel, she made her way through the door and out into the hall.

But when she turned right she found the one person she wished wasn't there. Shepard was on one side of the table, his face buried deep in work. She shook away the feelings she had from the previous day and moved up towards him, which he took notice of, moving his head to look at her.

"Tali? What are you doing up so early? You're shift doesn't start until Zero-Eight-Hundred." Marcus asked, half happy that he finally had a distraction from his tedious and half-annoyed that he couldn't finish it. Eventually, the battle of the mind was won by the former, and he dropped the datapad on the table.

"Couldn't sleep." Tali said bluntly and to the point, sitting down next to the spectre. Reaching behind her, she put a hand through the dextro food crate and pulled a single tube of nutrient paste, feeding it into her mouth piece.

"Nightmares, eh? I get them to." Marcus asked the quarian, his face looking worn. His eyes were bloodshot, while his face looked drained of energy. A man exhausted.

"No. Its too quiet to sleep." Tali said, not ignorant of the last bit Shepard said. This man...the man who seems so indestructible, has nightmares? I guess its true what they say, 'nobody's perfect.' Upon Tali's explanation of her insomniac state, Marcus faced her with a raised brow.

"Too quiet? How can you not sleep to quiet? That's how I sleep. My mum used to say that 'when its quiet, you drift off like a little angel.'" Marcus recounted with a little humor in his voice at the memory, a grin gracing his lips. Tali didn't quite understand what an angel was, but she guessed it must have been a human thing.

"Things are different on the fleet. Our ships are so worn down and old that they all make loud humming sounds when the engines are on. It was annoying at first, but we gradually got used to it and fell asleep to it. When there's no sound on one of our ships, it means a engine has died or even worse...a blocked air filter. I know that's not the case here, but its old instinct."

"'Old Habits die hard.' I see what you mean." Marcus said, and he suddenly felt sorry for the quarian. All the things her people went through. Their ancestors pay for their mistakes and they still suffer greatly for it. These people are worse than the batarians. At least they HAVE a homeworld. The quarians have a fleet of dying, decomissioned ships.

"Yeah, like that. I guess I'll get used to it. Its just alittle scary, that's all." Tali said, finally finishing her tube of nutrient paste.

"Tell me more about your people. For starters, what is with the 'nar Rayya' bit of your name?" Marcus asked, ready to delve deeper into the world of quarian culture. Tali smiled at the prospect of teaching the human more about her people, and began to explain.

"Well, nar in my people's language means 'born on' and the Rayya is one of the three liveships that keep my people alive."

"So 'nar Rayya' basically means 'born on Rayya.' So you were born on a liveship, correct?" Nodding to confirm Marcus was right, the human smiled at his victory.

"Although it doesn't remain that way. That's what pilgrimages are about. We are sent out when we become of age to do so, and we leave the fleet to find something of value to prove our worth. That's what pilgrimages are. Once we return, we present the gift to the captain of the ship we wish to join. If its accepted, and it usually is, we then join that crew and earn the 'vas' in our name, which replaces the 'nar.'"

"Vas?" Marcus asked.

"It means 'Crew of'. Say if I was joining the...Neema," And I will once my pilgrimage is over, "I'd become 'Tali'Zorah vas Neema.' But if the ship is destroyed, you gain the 'vas ri' in your name, which means 'Crew of Defunct.'"

"That makes sense. I guess that kind of makes you 'Tali'Zorah vas Normandy' doesn't it?" Marcus asked, and Tali felt her heart skip a beat. vas Normandy. That sounds...nice if I say it aloud.

"Not really. Technically your ship isn't part of the Migrant Fleet, so it doesn't count, not to mention I haven't presented a gift to the captain."

"Yeah you have." Marcus stated clearly.

"What? But-what then? What have I presented?" Tali asked the captain.

"Well, there's the evidene and then there's..." Marcus immediately stopped, cutting himself off.

"What?" Tali asked again.

"You." Marcus said simply causing Tali's heart to skip two beats. Marcus cursed in his mind. You? The...fuck are you doing you retard! What happened to 'romance doesn't belong on the battlefield'? Are you chucking that out the window? No, stop this now! This is ludicrous! She probably doesn't want you anyway! She's better off with a member of her own species!

"What..." Tali tried to form a coherent sentence, but she failed. Did he just say that? No! No! NO! He must have meant it in a different context. Just because he called you a gift to him doesn't make it a romantically involved comment! Oh you blind stubborn fool, that's exactly what it means!

Inside, Marcus' otherside fought against his logic.

Do it. Have you seen the way she moves around you? The way she talks to you? The way she hugged you? The way she LOOKS at you? The evidence is all there, you just have to notice! She has a thing for you, and you should act upon it. Do you really think Hunter would want you moping around like this? She'd tell you the samething! Tell the damn girl! Or are you too much of a fucking coward to do it? Its not hard. Six simple words, 'I have a crush for you.' SAY IT!

But Marcus wasn't having any of it.

"Nothing. I didn't say anything. What do you think I said? I certainly didn't mention anything like that. I don't know what you're talking about." Marcus stated without even thinking. Smooth dickhead, REAL smooth. Now, like her, you're a blabber mouth who can't keep his mouth shut worth a dime. Yet again, even she knows better.

"Nevermind." Tali said, effectively ending the conversation, "Anyway, do you mind if..." Tali turned only to find Marcus drifting off to sleep.

"Shepard? Are you betting bored of listening to me? Or are you tired?" she said loud enough to make Marcus jump out of the seat.

"Oh sorry. Your voice is just so...soothing." Please let her take that the wrong way.

"Um...thanks. I think." Tali responded. Keelah, this is awkward. Need to find a way out. To make matters worse, she felt Marcus' hips pressing into hers as he drifted off. Her face lit up like a oven and she immediately slid into a chair nearby, trying to keep her distance before she unnessacarily rips her mask off and kisses him. This crush is pathetic. A relationship with Peta could work better.

She regretted that thought. Relationship? Peta? Me? Could those words even belong in a sentence let alone actually happen? No. Just...no. I need to change this subject and fast. Luckily, Marcus had the same plans.

"Well, I'm going to bed. I'm tired and need the few hours of rest. I hope you...find a solution to your problem." With that, Marcus retreated to his cabin. Without looking back, he slapped the door control and ran in, slamming it again to close the door before backing up into the wall.

What...the...fuck. That was awkward. How can an army of geth not destroy me, but a simple quarian girl makes me melt like a six year old boy when he's punished for committing a bad thing? I need to sort this out.

Romance doesn't belong on the battlefield.

But does that even count anymore? What if I don't care? What if I go for it and tell her the next morning. He decided to test the words in his mouth.

"Hey Tali, didn't know if you know this, but I have a huge crush for you." The words felt bitter in his mouth.

This is idiotic. Romance doesn't...argh! No, that doesn't count anymore! I don't care! If I'm going to tell her that I like her, then I have to do it in a non-abrupt way. Preferably one that doesn't involve shoving the words 'Join Me In Bed' in her face...mask...whatever. Besides, how can a relationship work with her? We wouldn't even be able to do what normal couples do! Kissing, hugging...sex. Damn it, how can I be thinking of that right now!

My logic says no, it won't work.

My emotions say she's the right one.

But organics are people of emotions aren't we?

He carefully thought out what he was going to do. Finally, he glimpsed at his desk, having given up telling her directly. But he had another idea; one that might just work. Of course, he was doing it because she needed it, but it didn't make it that much less important.

Without hesitation, he collected the items he needed and began his task.

{Loading...}

June 18, 2183

0959 hours.

Cargo Hold, Normandy-Class Stealth Frigate SSV Normandy SR-1, In FTL inbound for Attican Beta Cluster.

Eden Prime War.

Marksman Garrus Vakarian.

Obviously he had been concentrating on something or had a blindfold on, because he certainly hadn't noticed the two HUGE scorch marks on the side of the Mako. Thanks to the vehicle's armor, whatever caused the marks hadn't ripped their armor wide open. It was a simple matter of getting rid of the marks. That's where he now found himself struggling.

Sighing heavily, he returned to his tedious work of getting rid of the marks, while he felt Chief Williams' eyes gazing into his skull. He tried not to growl in frustration and demand why she was looking at him as if he was a geth, and ignored the human female as he continued working.

But there was only so much resistance in a man before he would finally break. This turian was hitting breaking point, and he really didn't know if Wrex was on good terms with Ashley; or if the krogan would use it as an excuse and come to the 'rescue' of the human marine. Spinning around, he faced the human.

"Is there something you need or do you insist in looking at the back of my skull?" Garrus asked angerily, seeing that Ashley was little over a meter away from him, leaning on her left hip with arms crossed. Upon seeing Garrus turning around, she attempted to retreat, but the turian wasn't letting her go. She stopped and spun back around to answer his question.

"Yeah there is something I need." Ashley declared.

"Then tell me so I can answer you and return to my work. This Mako does need scrubbing." Garrus said, pointing at the scorch marks.

"Get the fuck off my ship." Ashley demanded, stepping forward for emphasis. The turian simply held his position, crossing his arms.

"YOUR ship? Last time I checked, Shepard was in charge. If he wants me here, I'll be here. What is your problem anyway? First you try to act all nice with Tali and now you're a bitch all over again?" Garrus answered with the same hostile tone Ashley was using, albeit more forceful. The human didn't give in however.

"ACT nice? Hell, I tried my best! But talking to aliens is like trying to personificate a teddy bear! I feel like I'm growing insane! Now he brings that asari aboard! Next he'll be asking to recruit salarians! You damn aliens-" Ashley's words became nothing but a whisper as Garrus disappeared in thought, realizing who she was talking to. Of course.

"Is this all about the First Contact War?" Garrus interrupted her, stopping Ashley on the spot.

"What?" she asked dumbfounded, surprised the turian could see through her so easily.

"You seem to focus your hostility on me every single time! You're polite to Tali, nice to Liara when you want to be and you stay clear of Wrex, but everytime I appear its all 'let's yell down the turian' time. So I'll ask again, is this about the First Contact War?" Garrus responded, and waited as Ashley entered pensive thought.

"YES! Yes goddamn it, it is! Because of your fucking people my grandfather was forced to surrender and got my whole family blacklisted! We were military to the blood and they made us rookies permanently! I could be a commander right now, but instead I'm being lead by bloody sergeants! Do you have any idea what this feels like? To be cast aside like your existence means nothing!?"

"Yes, I do. My old C-Sec Captain treated me like that. He cast aside my opinions, turned me into his own personal pet to run his errands. He let criminals walk free and whenever I complained about 'in-justice' he'd justify it. So yes, I know exactly what it feels like." Garrus answered in kind.

"Yeah well good for fucking you. This is pointless. Just...keep your distance turian." Ashley stated before slowly backing off.

"Yeah turian, keep your distance, she might scratch you." Wrex's gruff voice came from behind them, and both of them turned to see the krogan watching from his position in the corner.

"Mind your own damn business, krogan." Ashley ordered.

"Keep quiet, pyjak. I'll talk when I want to, if I want to. Its not in your place to decide. Remember, cast aside?" Wrex chuckled at his own joke as Ashley shook her head in anger and returned to her work bench, pulling down an assault rifle that recently had taken a scorch mark and began polishing it.

When Wrex's gaze left the human and he turned back to Garrus, he saw the turian giving him a firm glare.

"What?" Wrex demanded.

"You're such an asshole." Garrus stated bluntly before turning back to his console and continuing with his work.

"I just saved your ass, ungrateful pyjak. This ship is full of idiots. I need some Ryncol." Wrex stated without a care what anyone else thought and walked into the elevator. Just as the door began to close, Fred stepped in and motioned for Wrex.

"Wait! Mr. Wrex could you please inform Shepard that the items he ordered are here!" Wrex glared down at the human.

"What am I? A messenger? Do it yourself." Wrex said, once again reaching for the control panel.

"The delivery may involve a shotgun..." Fred mumbled as he walked off and Wrex froze in place for a moment.

"Consider it done." Wrex said in almost rapidfire, something not commonly heard from the krogan, and he hit the panel again and ascended to the Crew Deck in the elevator. Garrus watched the exchange and Fred as he returned to his post.

"You cheeky bastard." Garrus said, chuckling.

"Krogan are hard to please. He must not be krogan." Fred said, both of them chuckling harder this time.

I'm liking humans already.

Then he glanced at Ashley.

Almost all of them.

{Loading...}

June 18, 2183

1010 hours.

Cockpit, Normandy-Class Stealth Frigate SSV Normandy SR-1, In FTL inbound for Attican Beta Cluster.

Eden Prime War.

Lieutenant Commander Marcus Lee Shepard, Master Chief Petty Officer Charles Pressly, Flight Lieutenant Jeff 'Joker' Moreau.

"So you're telling me your disease, Vrolik's Syndrome, it causes frail bones? That's why you can't ever leave this damn cockpit?" Marcus finally asked, and Joker gave a sigh of relief. It was about time this discussion came to an end, it was starting to hurt his bones more than standing up would.

"Exactly. Any attempt at standing up would be met with the shattering of bones and lots of internal bleeding. And yes, its completely untreatable, there is no cure. So before you ask if I can be cured, NO, I can't. Now can we drop this and move to something else? This conversation is making me very uneasy."

"Of course Joker, I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable." Marcus declared and immediately turned to Pressly who seemed to be lingering on the side of the cockpit.

"Something on your mind, Pressly?" Marcus asked the navigator, who turned to acknowledge the spectre's question.

"Just thinking about Eden Prime, how we lost Jenkins and how we just saved Miss T'Soni from the same fate. What do we expect to find at Feros? According to the debrief, the colony recently came under siege from geth forces." Pressly stated.

"True. But what you didn't read is that a sizable security force posted their for a corporation called ExoGeni was stationed near the main colony; Zhu's Hope. With luck, we'll be there in three days and be able to lift the siege and push the geth off the planet."

"But what are the geth doing there in the first place? What's so interesting about a human colony in the ass-end of nowhere?" Joker spoke up.

"The colony is built ontop of a Prothean ruin. An abandoned, lost city if I heard right." Marcus informed them.

"Yeah, and the geth are totally there for the view." Joker said sarcastically.

"I agree with Joker, Commander. The geth are here for something, and it definitely ain't ruins. But what?" Pressly pondered.

"We'll find out soon enough. For now we should just take some rest, get fed in preparation for hitting Feros. If the hostile enemy count is correct, we'll have alot of resistance. Possibly armatures and more of those hoppers if we're unlucky. Keep me updated on our progress." Marcus ordered, before leaving down the flight deck.

However, upon moving down, he saw Wrex coming up and approaching the cockpit. But when he saw Marcus, he headed straight for him.

"Something you need Wrex?" Marcus asked politely as they stopped infront of each other.

"Fred wanted me to tell you that the items you requested just arrived." Wrex informed him before leaving back for the Crew Deck.

"Goody." Marcus said to noone in particular as he followed Wrex down the stairs but broke off and entered the elevator, hitting the panel and the door slid shut to begin its descent. It wasn't long before he arrived in the Cargo Hold. He immediately turned right and approached Fred.

"Got something for me, Fred?" Marcus asked the officer, and he immediately looked up at his commander, smiling.

"Certainly do sir, your new omnitools and shotgun just arrived. I also placed an extra order for a HMWSG Pistol, you know, for our quarian friend." Fred reached under the bench and pulled out the items, laying them across the table; six HMOT omnitools, a single HMWSG Master Shotgun and a single HMWSG Pistol.

"Thank you Frederics, you did good. While you're at it, could you place an order for more food rations, levo and dextro? We've been running low ever since Therum." Fred simply smiled and nodded as Marcus picked up the items and crossed the room, handing omnitools to Garrus and Ashley, and then Wrex when he finally came down. He then gave one to Tali, and then Kaidan on the upper level. He apologized to Liara for not getting one for her, but she simply said that her model was a Nexus, and was sufficient enough.

He then returned to Tali.

"Hey, Tali. Fred was nice enough to get you a new pistol." Upon hearing 'new', Tali spun around to face Marcus, who held a pistol out for her to take. She hesitated, but only for a moment as she eventually took it from Marcus' hands and tested it in her grip.

"You like it? That's a spectre's pistol right there, state-of-the-art, hasn't seen action yet. Its not like those second-hand cheap pieces of scrap you get out there." Tali simply nodded as she finished examining the pistol's glowing red lines and holstered it on her hip.

"One more thing, are you up for that sparring session at some point?" Marcus asked the quarian as she froze in her tracks. Ancestors, completely forgot!

"Um...okay...sure. What...time? Today maybe?" Tali asked.

"Not today I'm afraid, work to do, reports to finish up. How about tomorrow let's say...midday, one o'clock? I've got some moves I'd like to show you that could help with your hand-to-hand combat skills."

"That sounds...great. I'll just have to ask Adams to give me a shift break at that time." Marcus smiled and for a moment both of them looked into each other's eyes. However, it didn't last long as both of them realized what they were doing.

What the fuck was that?

Ancestors, what did I just do?

Shaking themselves from their trance, they said goodbye and went back to their duties; Tali at her console, and Marcus to his cabin to finish writing up his reports.

"Tali, I've got another job for you." Adams' voice came across the room, and the young quarian turned to face the engineer as he approached.

"Yes, Adams? What would you like me to do?" Tali asked, turning her body to fully face the chief engineer as he stopped in front of her.

"There's some grime clogging up the vents and I need you to clear it out. I'd get my staff to do it but they're...too afraid to do so." Adams said with half-hearted amusement.

"Why? Its just grime." Tali asked.

"Well...they're are spiders in the vents. We humans have...arachnophobia. Its a powerful fear we have..." Adams said, half creeped out by the thought that arachnids were crawling around the ship.

"They can't be that bad. I'll go clean it out." Tali informed him and immediately pulled out a vent hatch and crawled in. Adams smiled at the quarian's bravado as he returned to his post.

"Brave girl. I just hope her suit has a portable, built-in toilet." Adams said to himself as he grinned.

{Loading...}

June 17, 2183

1716 hours.

Species 37 Holding Pen, Underground Facility, Zhu's Hope, Feros.

Eden Prime War.

Mission Parameters: Land on Feros and gain the cipher from the Thorian. The cipher should assist in piecing together the visions while Benezia interrogates the Rachni Queen on Noveria. Once the cipher is gained, order the geth to wipe out the colony. Leave no evidence of our presence here. Make sure the Thorian does not survive.

Prophet Saren Arterius, Sovereign, Commando Captain Shiala R'Ness.

Saren sneered at the colonists as he and his geth and asari followers strode through the colony, not a single colonist opening fire on them. Up above stood Sovereign, the largest warship in existence, bearing down on the colony like a organic would an insect. The colonists gazed up at the ship in awe and shock, while a simply geth battlegroup circled the ship, with a single frigate having already broken off to deal with ExoGeni Headquarters.

Numerous geth platforms; mostly trooper class and asari commandos lead by Shiala moved alongside them, making sure the colonists didn't try anything. Saren simply ignored Sovereign's servants as he moved towards his main objective; the freighter that covered the the facility he had to gain access to.

It wasn't long before he had reached the freighter and stood beside it. A strong pain tried to enter Saren's mind.

You bring your machine servants to apprehend me, to learn what I know, to gain the cipher of which the protheans I consumed held so very long ago. You are foolish. You will be mine to control.

ORGANIC. YOUR ATTEMPTS ARE FRAIL. MY SERVANT IS HERE TO GAIN THE CIPHER IN WHICH YOUR INFERIOR FORM POSSESSES. YOU WILL GRANT ACCESS, OR FACE ANNILIHATION LIKE YOUR ILK. YOUR FELLOW THORIANS DID NOT SURVIVE THE HARVEST, AND YOU WILL NOT EITHER IF THE CIPHER IS NOT SURRENDERED.

And so enters the voice of the machine-destroyers. The ones who's numbers darkened the skies and exterminated all that was alive. You're bringers of destruction, you are the reason my people no longer exist. The cipher will be yours, but at a cost. Enter at your own discretion.

With that, the Thorian ordered one of its own servants, a colonist, to lift the freighter, revealing the facility entrance below. Saren motioned for his troops to follow, and together they journeyed into the darkness that was the Thorian's cage.

It didn't take long to traverse the vast staircase that descended into the Thorian's prison, and finally he and his servants arrived in the hidden facility. It was run down and dirty, the walls looking like ancient stone carvings, while the floor was a haphazard mess. The stairs were close to complete collapse, while many of the stone support columns looked so aged, they could fall apart. The facility was a like a spire; a circular tower with numerous levels and the one goal in the middle; the Thorian itself.

It was a huge, ugly creature, very plant-like in its appearence. It had four slits for eyes on its face, while tentacle like appendages dripped from the bottom of its 'head', with the mouth inside the tangled mess. The creature was a huge blop of biomass, with numerous huge appendages sticking out and grasping onto the sides of the tower like arms. It was a sicky green in color, while liquid of mutual color dripped from its mouth and collected in a sickly color on the ground.

All around the room, green sacs stuck to the walls while green, humanoid forms lay on the ground, arms curled up in a fetal positions, thousands of them all over the room. He ignored them as he stopped a few meters away from the Thorian.

"These creatures...look human." Shiala commented, but the asari was ignored as Saren began to speak.

"You hold the cipher, something of which I need, but you also mentioned a price. Name it, and you shall have it. But no tricks, or Sovereign will not hesitate in using its monstrous power to destroy this place."

Your threats ring hollow, young reptile. You speak of authority, yet you old no wisdom. I have lived millions of years, watched as civilizations rose and fell, only for my people; the Thorian, to thrive. We would consume them, absorb their knowledge. It is this knowledge in wish you seek, and you are correct, I require something in return. Something in which this old growth needs.

"As I said, name it, and do it quickly. Sovereign is not one who values patience." Saren demanded, watching the giant plant with a weary eye.

A sacrifice.

Saren stood their with a wide-eyed expression. A sacrifice? But of what kind?

"Elaborate." Saren ordered.

One of you must surrender your form to become a part of me, so I may consume its knowledge for other cycles to come. The Reapers will come, and they will consume all of you, but I shall make sure your knowledge is not wasted. Upon that sacrifice, I will meld with your mind and with that meld, I shall give you the cipher.

Saren nodded, understanding the creature's intentions. He looked around the room. A geth platform wouldn't work, so that left the asari.

"I will do it sir." Shiala stood forward, dropping her assault rifle. Saren nodded and motioned for Shiala to step forward and towards the Thorian's mouth. Before she could second-guess, the Thorian's tentacles wrapped around the asari and consumed her, her body disappearing inside the mass. Saren's world suddenly was filled with the visions, and he watched as the thorian inserted the cipher into his mind.

The process proved to be fast but agonizing, but it worked, and Saren finally understood the visions completely, recognizing Ilos. So now we just need to locate the Mu Relay so we can get there.

You now have the cipher and I have gained the knowledge of the asari sacrifice. Now leave and let me be at peace.

"That won't be happening. Your species should have died out last cycle," Saren turned to his geth and asari minions, "Destroy this place and the rest of the colony, leave no survivors. Tell our frigate to kill all ExoGeni employees, no survivors." With that, Saren turned to leave the facility, only to hear the Thorian give an inhumane screech.

HOW DARE YOU DEFY ME. I WILL NOT BE DESTROYED LIKE THIS.

Before anyone knew what the thorian meant, they watched as the disgusting humanoid forms exited their fetal positions and turned to face the group. Saren wanted to vomit at the sight. They had once been humans, but their bodies had been changed. Their skin had been peeled away, leaving their muscles which were now a sickly green. The area where their eyes had once been had been gorged out leaving nothing but black, lifeless holes.

The Thorian's adjutants stormed towards them, their sheer numbers becoming overwhelming. The first victim was one of the unlucky commandos, where she tried to take one out with a biotic punch but instead got a face-full of acid; the creature puking it from its mouth like vomit. The asari screamed in agony as the acid ruined her features and let her face a melted husk.

The geth followed suit, with the acid burning their circuitry and destroying their optics. Saren's body pulsed with biotic energy as he used throw and warp to keep the creepers at bay and allowed him to escape. The rest of his team weren't so lucky; with only three troopers of the ten troopers and six asari making it out alive.

They managed to escape the facility just as the freighter closed again, and Saren felt himself picked up off the ground and thrown into the ground as one of the asari colonists attacked him. The other colonists followed suit, but Saren simply repelled their pathetic attacks with biotic barriers and he continued running until picked up by Sovereign and taken off world.

ALLOW THE INFERIOR MACHINES TO DEAL WITH THE COLONY. WE HAVE WHAT WE NEED, NOW WE ONLY NEED THE ASARI TO FINISH HER MISSION AND ACQUIRE THE INFORMATION WE NEED.

"She'll get it done Sovereign."

"Then Operation: Harvest can begin."

"Seems like one of those fucked up moments. I guess Feros was pretty scarring."

- Carter Dielheart.

"It wasn't so much as scarring as it was creepy. Those Thorian Creepers gave us a run for our money. But to know that, that plant-thing controlled the whole colony- that was scary."

- Interrogation Subject 001

"I'm sure it was. And what about Shepard's relationship with Tali'Zorah?"

- Carter Dielheart.

"I don't see why that fascinates you so much. What is it you really want? Dating advice?"

- Interrogation Subject 001.

"Just answer the fucking question. Its a matter of colonial security."

- Carter Dielheart.

"You think I'm retarded? I doubt that the relationship of a dead man has anything to do with colonial security."

- Interrogation Subject 001.

"It does when Terra Firma is on the brink of war with Rannoch."

- Carter Dielheart.

Author's Notes:

Anyone played Crysis 3? If you haven't, GET IT, the campaign was amazing! The ending is fantastic and the story is really good. I recommend it.

And I haven't forgotten about Mass Effect 3 How It Could Have Happened, its just I've gotten caught up in alot of things. That fanfic is by no means dead. If it was, you'd know about it.

To signify how satisfied I am with Crysis 3, I will be writing a one-shot fanfic on Crysis and on the events following Crysis 3. Do not read it if you haven't finished the game, as it will contain spoilers.

Now if you don't mind, I think I might risk Crysis 3 on Supersoldier difficulty. Wish me luck!

;)