Talo felt right at home on the Rayya, with the familiar corridors of a ship that had been redesigned and modified and was mostly patch work now. He had been informed by Rael 'Zorah that his mother, Serenae'Serath vas Idenna had been brought on board the cruiser along with Talo's sister, Sempira'Serath vas Sky's Grace. At first it was so Serenae could see Talo before her wounds got the better of her, but now it was so Doctor McCoy could treat her. Talo had used his brand new freighter to transfer to the Rayya again so he could visit them.
He was acknowledged as 'Talo'Serath vas Tolan' or 'Captain Talo'Serath' by anybody he greeted. He headed for the ship's sick bay. Ships in the Migrant fleet usually contain 'clean rooms' where Quarians can give birth or undergo medical procedures in relative safety.
"Brother!" shouted a young female voice.
His sister Sempira ran out and embraced him.
"Sister." He replied returning the hug.
He was so happy to see his family again.
"How is she?" Talo asked.
"The doctors have done all they could. All they can do now is make her comfortable." Said Sempira.
Talo tried to keep calm as he heard this. Tali and Bones were watching this. Bones was wearing an EVA suit to ensure to protect the crew of the ship.
"It's not too late. I've brought help over from the Enterprise." Said Talo.
Sempira looked over her brother's shoulder and saw Tali and Dr. McCoy.
"Tali' Zorah, it's good to see you again. And are you one of the Federation people?" asked Sempira.
"It's good to see you again as well, Sempira. This is Dr. McCoy vas Enterprise. He is the doctor who saved your brother when he was injured." Said Tali.
Sempira reached and shook Bones' hand.
"I am forever grateful to you for saving my brother, Dr. McCoy." Said Sempira.
"The pleasure's all mine. Your brother helped us when he didn't have to. Saving him was the least we could do after all he was waiting for us when those pirates came." Said Bones.
"Do you believe you can help our mother?" asked Sempira.
"I won't know until I get a good look at her. Our medical technology can easily treat a simple cold that would be deadly but we must hurry or even my medicine won't be able to help her in time." Said Bones.
"Of course." Said Sempira.
She led the group down the hall they could see Serenae through window in a room completely isolated from the rest of the ship. Her face looked almost no different from a human. Her skin was pale from no doubt living in a containment suit for nearly her entire life, her dark hair was cut to her neck, her ears were pointed like a Vulcan's, and Bones noted she looked beautiful even though she was sick. There was an IV hooked up to her while a heart monitor was keeping track of her heartbeat.
"All right, open the door and make sure no one comes inside until I say so." Said Bones.
Sempira nodded and had the guards open the door. Bones and Talo stepped into the door and stopped as it closed while their suits were sterilized to keep from any germs that may be on their suits to getting into the room. The door to the clean room opened after the cleaning process was done and they stepped in. The clean room was completely white and nearly empty if not for the bed with the patient and the medical room.
Talo was at his mother's side just after he walked into the room.
"Mother?" he asked quietly.
Serenae's eyes opened revealing that they were green like her son's as she looked up hearing her son's voice.
"Talo? Is that you?" she asked looking up at him.
"I am here, mother." Said Talo.
Serenae smiled as she raised her hand and put it on Talo's visor.
"I am so glad to see you again." Said Serenae.
"I brought help." Said Talo.
Bones was holding a tricoder scanning Serenae.
"We may have got to her just in time." Said Bones.
"Can you save her?" asked Talo.
"First I need to get her to breath. The bacterium's cut off her breathing." Said Bones.
He took out a hydro spray and injected it into Serenae's neck. The sick Quarian suddenly was able to breathe better. She gasped as she took in the sterilized air. The pain she was in nearly vanished too.
She felt as light as a feather.
"I just injected her with mild stimulant. Next step is easy. What she's got is what we humans call a common cold. Easy to cure from where we're from." Said Bones.
He took out another hydro spray and injected it again.
"That should take care of the infection. She should be fine but I recommend she does not move for a little bit and plenty of rest." Said Bones.
"How do you feel, mother?" asked Talo.
"Better than before." Said Serenae smiling up at Talo.
He held her hand tightly.
"I am so proud of you, Talo. You have saved our people." Said Serenae.
Talo felt tears coming down his face. Bones smiled at this. He walked over to the door to leave them alone.
"Captain, there is something I must discuss." Said Ambassador Trell.
There was another meeting to discuss trade routes between the two powers. Talo was absent to be with his mother while she was recuperating.
"What would that be?" asked Kirk.
"In regards to your agreeing with Ambassador Wrex's request to aid in modifying the genophage I must confess something." Said Trell.
Wrex looked at the Salarian Ambassador.
"A team from the Special Tasks Group was already looking for a way to modify the genophage after they discovered that the Krogans were naturally overcoming the genophage." Said Trell.
"What?" asked Wrex looking at Trell.
"They were charged to monitor Krogan population growths to see if the genophage was still effective. They were working on a way to modify the genophage." Said Trell.
"What do you mean?" growled Wrex.
"You are here to help your people, Urdnot Wrex, but you do not speak for the entire Krogan race. The Krogan maybe dying but it's not because of the genophage. The genophage was deployed to adjust the population growth to pre-industrial levels. It's not a plague it only affects fertility rates." Said Trell.
"And because of that my people are dying." Wrex growled at the Salarian.
"Wrong, Ambassador. It's not because of the genophage, it's because your people are always fighting each other or roaming the galaxy looking for a fight. If they weren't so convinced that they were doomed and come together their numbers might actually increase. You only represent Clan Urdnot, not the entire Krogan race.
How can you negotiate if only one clan is behind it?" asked Trell.
Wrex glared deeply as he thought this over.
"Ambassador, I promised that we would offer assistance if asked." Said Kirk trying to diffuse the situation.
"No, it may be a pain in the ass to admit but the Salarian is right. I am among the only handfuls that are actually concerned for the future of our race. My people once valued courage, strength, and honor but I soon saw that it had been reduced to pointless fighting. The reason I am here is because, Captain, your Federation presents an opportunity that I can use to unite the Krogan clans.
As for those short sighted fools I will just to have to deal with them. There is too much at stake for us to be pointlessly fighting." Said Wrex.
Kirk inwardly sighed as he felt that he had just avoided a war in the briefing room.
Admiral Zorah who was filling in for Talo while he was on the Rayya decided to have his turn to speak.
"Captain, if I may I have questions concerning the homeworld. If it is true that the Geth have not lived on the homeworld for the last three hundred years than why are we finding out about this now?"
"We were unsure how you would respond to our envoys. It was logical to assume that creators would not believe us. There is also the danger in returning the creators their world in its current state. If creators return the toxins and debris left by the morning war will be dangerous to creators' health." Said Legion.
"Then what have you been doing behind the Veil all these years?" asked Zorah.
Kirk decided here that he hated politics. He was trained to negotiate but it was tiring to hear delegates argue back and forth while trying to keep them from trying to kill each other.
"The Geth believe that all organics should self-determinate without interference. We seek to build our own future." Said Legion.
"And it won't involve anyone?" asked Admiral Zorah.
"If they involve themselves it will." Said Legion.
"You do realize it will be difficult to convince my people after what you did to us." Said Zorah.
"Admiral, if I may speak up the reason why the Geth fought was because you tried to destroy them. The only time they ever fought was in self-defence. You two have stop fighting this war eventually. We want to help but we won't assist in fighting a war for you when it isn't necessary." Said Kirk.
"I know, Captain, but my people have wandered for so long." Said Zorah.
"Which makes it more important to reach a compromise here." Said Kirk.
Kirk wished that Talo was here. Talo had told him that Zorah was a stubborn man and reasoning with him would be difficult.
"It was agreed that we would send a scout ship to survey the homeworld." Said Admiral Zorah.
The door opened and Talo Serath walked in.
"I believe we should use my ship, Admiral." Said Talo.
"Talo how's your mother?" asked Zorah.
"She'll live. Admiral, I believe it would be best to use my new ship that you gave me to look at the homeworld and confirm the Geth's claim." Said Talo.
"Are you sure that is a good idea?" asked Zorah.
"It's better than sending the Rayya. If we send my ship and we avoid civilian causalities. There are civilians on the Rayya, children. We send only a handful of capable Quarians on a small scout ship." said Talo.
"And you are comfortable with this?" asked Zorah.
"It's my choice, Admiral. If what the Geth says is true I'll see it with my own eyes." Said Talo.
Captain's Log, Admiral Pike recording:
We have nearly arrived at the Exodus Cluster where the Mass Relay is and Captain Kirk reports that negotiations are going well. Trade routes have been discussed while a group of Citadel delegates have volunteered to return to Earth to see the Federation with their own eyes to confirm what they have heard. The Council has agreed to allow the Federation to colonize the Attican Traverse with citadel scientists, negotiators, and other citizens coming to live with them to gain each other's trust. The Quarians have agreed to send a scout ship to where the Quarian homeworld is to confirm that the Geth do not occupy the planet.
When Captain Kirk informed me that the Geth known as Legion confirmed that another Reaper was located in the Hawking Eta cluster Chief Caeo'dan and a handful of Protheans wished to come with us. Given their experience with the Reapers I agreed and allowed them to come with us. Hopefully the derelict Reaper will give us some useful information.
End log
Admiral Pike sat in the briefing room waiting for everyone to be assembled. The door opened and Kirk walked in followed by Spock, Bones, and Legion.
"Gentlemen, how are the talks going?"
Everyone sat down before Kirk answered the question.
"So far the talks are going well but there is some tension. The Krogan have an old grudge against the council, the Quarians are suspicious of the Geth, and the council delegates are working to be cordial despite their prejudice with the Quarians and Krogans. But all parties are willing to try for peace at least to look civilized to us. Oh, Admiral Pike this is Legion." Said Kirk gesturing to Legion.
"Greeting, Pike-Admiral." Said Legion.
"Greetings, Legion. Captain Kirk tells me your people have located another Reaper." Said Pike.
"Correct. Located in the Hawking Eta cluster." Said Legion.
"What do we know about that cluster?" asked Pike.
"We have looked at the galaxy maps provided by Mr. Serath." Said Kirk.
Spock inputted a command into the computer and a holographic map of the galaxy appeared. Kirk pointed at one of the relays.
"Here it is. We know that much of area is too dangerous for travel. It's very close to the galactic core. It's in orbit of a planet called Mnemosyne." Said Kirk.
"Historic records show that the planet is a Class J with a minor Gravitic anomaly in the northern hemisphere. It is possible that the anomaly has a connection with the derelict Reaper in orbit. A weapon designed by a species that lived on the planet and used it when the Reapers came. Their last act of defiance before their extinction." Said Spock.
"Legion, since your people have made contact with a Reaper before do you have any idea what to expect if our people board it?" asked Pike.
"Federation organics would be in danger of succumbing to indoctrination that the Old Machines use to control all organics." Said Legion.
"Is there a way to block it?" asked Kirk.
"Unknown." Said Legion.
"Are there any theories on how the Reapers are able to control their victims?" asked Pike.
"My guess would be that it is a form of hypnosis. The victims would be mentally conditioned to do something against his or her will." Said Mr. McCoy.
"I believe the Reapers make use of type of energy field which utilizes psionic energy. I know of several technologies studied in the Federation. The neural neutralizer is used several penal colonies, it works by emitting a high energy beam that creates a profound sense of loneliness. Anything said to the patient while they are in this state becomes their own thoughts.
By generating a field that works similarly the Reapers must communicate with their prisoners through non-organic means. It is logical to assume that the races the Reapers have enslaved had no experience with mental processes they would have no defence against the Reapers control." Said Spock.
"And if the mechanism that allow the Reapers to control their victims is still active would we be able to withstand it?" asked Kirk.
"Vulcans are born with telepathic abilities as well as several other species in the Federation. Humans and other species that have been around telepathic species for so long would have naturally developed mental shields. Even if we do fall under the Reaper's control it would likely take longer depending on how strong the psionic field is. Long term exposure could produce profound mental illness and synaptic damage." Said Spock.
"Effectively turning them into mindless slaves." Said Pike.
"We will require a team constructed of telepaths or combat personnel who have high mental stability." Legion said. "Perhaps a single squadron compromised of eight or less to decrease chance of danger in the event of indoctrination."
"Captain, we have a short platoon of FNI operators numbering twenty seven in total, some transferred with Admiral Pike and his staff." Spock said. "I believe that Lieutenant Creed may be the most suitable choice for a team leader."
"Show me his profile." Admiral Pike said.
Spock typed a command onto a data pad in his hand and showed Admiral Pike the profile of 1st Lieutenant Nathan Creed. The man was about 26, fresh out of special Warfare training a few months previous and had only four live missions before today. He was commended for his ace marksmanship, but sometimes criticized for deviating from mission objective, one example being when he delayed his mission-which was to secure a crashed federation research probe from hostile Romulans in favour of rescuing a fire team of FNI operators who had been dropped in the incorrect location and were under fire. The mission was a partial success; the Romulans didn't get the data in the probe, but neither did the Federation when Creed destroyed the probe with a phaser blast on full power.
"He's in the brig." Kirk raised an eye brow. "Pending court marshal?"
"We had received a transmission from federation space, he has been charged with striking one Major Westin, discharging his blaster to stop a fist fight, harming a civilian- Lieutenant said in his defence that the man was abusing his fiancée...Creed's younger sister Sarah Creed. He is also charged with destruction or property- a door and several pieces of furniture at the hotel Creed tracked his sister's fiancé to. And finally he also struck police officer who tried to restrain him before Creed immediately was brought up to the Enterprise before we returned to Citadel Space." Spock finished reading the charges. "He has taken advanced hand to hand combat, is a key marksman, piloting, demolition, covert operations, combat engineering, field medicines, open combat tactics, has an excellent physical record and a psychologist mentioned in a report while giving Lieutenant Creed his mental conditioning in special warfare training that Creed has near perfect mental condition, he just chooses a less accepted method of handling a situation. You could call him the opposite of a Vulcan if you would, thinking with a mix emotions and logic instead of only logic."
"Admiral, with your permission I'd like the charges against Lieutenant Creed dropped." Kirk said. "He may be vital to this mission."
"Permission granted Captain, get Creed out of the lock, but tell him until he has his act together he's busted down to 2nd Lieutenant." Pike said. "I'll allow a squad of seven to accompany Creed on the mission."
"Pike-Admiral, with your permission this platform will accompany your team." Legion said.
"Permission granted, we may need someone who is less prone to indoctrination." Pike said.
"We will collect six other FNI operators who may fit the requirements." Legion said. "We look forward to meeting Creed-Lieutenant."
Talo was wondering why Captain Kirk had called him over to the Constitution as he stepped out of the shuttle. Looking around he saw two guards that must have been his escorts as he walked towards the turbo lift. The layout of the ship was the same as the Enterprise which he took the time to familiarize while he was aboard so it didn't take him long to find the briefing room. Kirk and Spock were sitting at the table with a grey haired human.
Legion was present as well.
"Mr. Serath, welcome. Admiral Pike this is Talo Serath nar Idenna. Mr. Serath, this is Admiral Pike." Said Kirk.
"Greetings, Admiral and its Talo Serath vas Tolan now. I was given my own ship as a reward for my negotiations." Said Talo.
"That's great news." Said Kirk smiling.
"Thank you for sending your doctor to help my mother. I do not think she would have survived without your help." Said Talo.
"It was the least we could do for the all the trouble you went through while waiting for us." Said Kirk. "We called you here because the reason we took so long is because we made a startling discovery in our own home system."
"Would that discovery be connected with why you called me?" asked Talo.
Kirk nodded.
"According to official historic data banks the Mass Relays and the Citadel were built by a race known as the Protheans, who vanished over fifty thousand years ago." Said Kirk.
"Yes, that is common knowledge." Said Talo.
"Well, we found evidence that tells us a different story of what happened." Said Kirk.
"What do you mean?" asked Talo.
The door opened and Talo turned and saw two aliens he had never seen before. They were humanoid in appearance with a long tentacle beard and long fingers.
"We found a Prothean base hidden below the surface of the fourth planet of our system. The reason we didn't know is because it was so deeply hidden we had no idea it was there until we received a transmission from it." Said Kirk.
"You . . . mean that . . . a Prothean is standing right in front of me?" asked Talo in surprise.
"I am Chief Caeo'dan of all that remains of my species. The race that you know of as Protheans." Said Caeo'dan.
"And I am Captain Ran'Zealan." Said the second Prothean.
Talo was shocked when he heard that. The Protheans, an intergalactic myth for so long, a race that was hailed as the creators of the Mass Relays and the Citadel and vanished without a trace thousands of years ago, and here he was talking with one of them.
"You might want to sit down. There is a lot that we have to tell you and it will be a shock." Said Kirk.
Talo agreed and sat at the nearest chair.
"When we returned home we delivered our report which was intercepted by an AI that kept the Prothean base running for the last fifty thousand years. The Protheans at the base were resting in cryo tubes that kept them in suspended animation. When we sent out report the AI awoke the Protheans and after reviewing the information contacted us and gave us a great detail of information." Said Kirk.
"Information that shows evidence that a Relay once existed in the human home system but was destroyed when the Protheans fled from a hostile race that was hunting them to extinction." Said Spock.
"Extinction? Is that why no one ever found any trace of them?" asked Talo.
"Yes. The monsters that nearly destroyed our entire race took great care in ensuring that all evidence of our existence was destroyed. There is only sixty four of us left now when we once numbered in billions." Said Ran.
Talo was quiet as he considered this. Right now he was comparing the pain his people suffered to the pain the Protheans must have endured. In his mind he believed that the Protheans must have had it worse as no one came to help them as the Federation came to help his people.
"But what attempted to wipe out your people?" asked Talo.
"A race of highly advanced machines that my people labelled the Reapers. Despite what your people and all the other races that use the Mass Relays believe my people did not create the Mass Relays nor did we build the Citadel. We merely found them like you did." Said Caeo'dan.
"You found them? But if the Protheans did not create them than who did?" asked Talo.
"The Reapers did." Said Ran darkly.
He held up his omni-tool and projected the image of a Reaper. Talo looked at the image.
"According to them the Reapers are a race of synthetic warships that hibernate every fifty thousand years until they are given the signal to return. They created the Mass Relays and the Citadel as a trap for sentient species." Said Kirk.
"A trap? What do you mean?" asked Talo.
"The Reapers hunted down and wiped out my people because we used their technology to build our empire. I do not know why they do this but for whatever reason the result is the same. Genocide." Said Captain Ran.
"When the Geth heretics launched their attack we saw proof of their claim when a Reaper attempted to attack the Enterprise." Said Kirk.
"That ship. I saw it on when my VI recorded it when it landed on the planet. But I thought it was a Geth dreadnaught." Said Talo.
"Geth technology is not advanced enough to construct a ship advanced as an Old Machine." Said Legion.
"The Citadel races assumed it was a Geth dreadnaught because they would most likely believe our claim would be a lie. The only proof we had destroyed itself when the Reaper self destructed. As for the Citadel races, the idea that the Citadel and Relays were constructed by a race of machines to use as a trap to wipe out sentient species does sound a bit crazy." Said Kirk.
"I would agree, but I am smart enough to know if you wanted to lie you would have made a story easier to believe. These two resemble the Prothean statues in the ruins that have been documented." Said Talo gesturing to Caeo'dan and Ran. "But where are the Reapers?"
"Dark space." Said Legion.
"An area outside of the galaxy. It is the name for the void between the galaxies." Said Spock.
"How does Legion know about this?" asked Talo.
"The Old Machine signalled us and offered to assist us in building our future. We refused. We will build our own future." Said Legion.
"But there were Geth working with that thing." Said Talo.
"Heretics. They were not true Geth." Said Legion.
"Apparently some Geth accepted the Reaper's offer. In exchange for giving them the technology they need to achieve their objective the heretics aided the Reaper in gathering allies to attack the Citadel." Said Kirk.
"But why?" asked Talo.
"The Citadel is where the Reapers first appeared when they committed genocide against my people. It is a Mass Relay that connects with dark space where the rest of the Reapers reside. Apparently when it is time to begin the next genocide the Reaper that attacked the Enterprise stays behind to signal the keepers to activate the Citadel relay to open the path between the Citadel and dark space. But a group of Prothean scientists were able to alter their reaction to signal ensuring that they now ignore the Reapers." Said Caeo'dan.
"Without the keepers Nazara began to look for allies to take the Citadel and activate the relay manually." Said Legion.
Talo was silent as he considered what he had heard. This whole story was hard to believe but at the same time it did answer some questions. The Protheans vanishing without a trace leaving behind the Mass Relays and the Citadel with no signs of war, disease, or even any messages left behind by their civilization.
"What do you plan to do if this is true?" asked Talo.
"So far we need to wait until we have gained the trust of the Citadel species while looking for clues that could prove the existence of the Reapers. Our technology is radically different so we could help them go down a different technological path than the one the Reapers laid out for them. We decided it would be best to wait until the right time. And we may have proof." Said Pike.
A galaxy map appeared above the table.
"According to Legion there is a derelict Reaper located in orbit of a planet named Mnemosyne in the Hawking Eta cluster. Since you are going to the Quarian homeworld to prove what Legion says we believe coming along as an escort could be a good excuse to go without arousing suspicion from the other races. It would be a good chance to gain proof that the Reapers exist if there is a real one still in this galaxy." Said Kirk.
"And you are telling me this because than I will be suspicious when you stop at Mnemosyne which is nowhere near the homeworld." Said Talo.
"That and I believe we all have earned each other's trust by now." Said Kirk.
"Will you tell the Admirals about this?" asked Talo.
"That's not up to us. You know so you can tell them if you wish. We thought it would be a bad idea because the Admirals are still suspicious of the Geth." Said Kirk.
Talo sighed.
"I am not sure what to say. This is a lot to take in but you have earned my trust for all you've done for me and my people. And you have been upfront and there would be no reason to make up a ruse this large or imaginative." Said Talo.
"So will you allow us to make a stop at the Thorne System to see this Reaper?" asked Pike.
"I'll do better. I'm coming with you. I want to see if this is real with my own eyes." Said Talo.
"Would that be wise? If anything happens to you . . ." said Kirk.
"I know but with something this dangerous to my people out there I must find out as much as I can." Said Talo.
"All right, you're in. Let's make our preparations. Ambassador Sarek and I will take over the negotiations and deal with the rest of the Citadel species." Said Pike.