HK-47 complied with answering of all C-Sec questions regarding Udina's involvement in the Cerberus assault. HK47 even indicated the various terminals and replayed the various conversations he had overheard between the dead councilor and the Illusive Man. With all of their questions sated, for now, HK-47 requisitioned Trossk's Zersium rifle until he could require his weaponry.

Much to HK-47's dismay however, he could not do so anytime soon. "Retort: Master, you will need very possible advantage you can obtain against the Sith and their numbers. And to achieve that I should be at your side, fully equipped and ready to serve."

"I understand your reasons, but for now it would be best if you remained at Commander Shepard's side until we are at a point and time where the Sith won't be a problem."

"Reluctant Affirmation: As you command, Master. I will assist Commander Shepard in his crusade against the Reapers."


Krogan forces on Palaven seemed to have the Reapers at a pause, seeing these one hated rivals now working to fight against a common enemy, brute force and tactical efficiency covering one another's weaknesses and bonding over the many battles. Even so, the krogans were only delaying the Reapers, but it was a delay the turians were willing to take after the Sith had abandoned them. At least until a small detachment of the Sith fleet returned. The ships deployed their dropships to both Palaven and Menae. But instead of the Sith that originally fought against the Reapers the dropships deployed Marauders in Sith power armor and armed with Sith blaster rifles. These upgraded Marauders actually fought against the Reaper forces and assisting turian and krogan forces. These Marauders even started converting other Reaper forces to fight against their own. They would convert them by using the very ability of which the Reapers bestowed to them.


The Sith watched as the signal they used to control the Marauders quickly spread to other Reaper soldiers. The commander in charge of this field test got in contact with Dyonix, "Milord, the control signal is exceeding all expectations. Our Marauders are even converting others to fight for us."

"Excellent news. Now for the next stage of testing. We need to test our droid forces and controlled Reaper creatures against an actual Reaper. If both can completely resist Reaper manipulation then we will begin all other operations."

"As you command," Dyonix's hologram disappeared, the commander smiled. "Prepare the droids for full deployment. I want a battalion of our finest war droids to show these Reapers they aren't the scariest things around anymore."


"Unexpectedly, krogan and turian forces are receiving extra support from a mysterious group calling themselves the Sith. The Sith had originally engaged Reaper forces in the turian home system before pulling back. A burst transmission was recently received on several know communication channels that contained this simple message: The Sith were testing our opponents. Now these machines will meet their makers."

Esura snorted, "Stupid Sith!"

Trossk laughed, "Well we knew they weren't cowards. I'm just curious as to what got them to leave in the first place."

"I say we get the Commander to take us back and see."

"You know Revan wouldn't approve if we hijacked the ship."

She turned away, "It's still an option."


Shepard turned to Garrus, "What have you heard?"

Garrus pulled Shepard away from the crowds, "Word from the front says the Sith somehow have Marauders fighting for them. And they're starting to use war droids too. The fighting we saw from them before, looks like they were just getting their feet wet. The real fight from them is just getting started."

Shepard looked back, thinking about Revan, "That's what I was afraid of."


HK-47 had entered the Normandy with many eyes glaring at him. He knew he was instilling fear into their meatbag parts just by passing them. He was reveling in it. Security also seemed rather tense about his presence, but with Shepard's alert they weren't as trigger happy toward the droid that could easily out match them all in a firefight, and has plenty meatbag shields to use against them. As much as he liked imagining the potential damage he could cause within this vessel he had far better target in mind to eliminate, namely the Sith forces who have decided to assist against the Reapers. Every calculable conclusion in his processors pointed to the Sith not caring about the Reapers, though he was certain his Master had a hand in changing that those variables.

Before he could continue any further into the ship, a voice spoke out to him, "Greetings, HK-47. I hope your time on the Normandy is a modest one."

HK-47 pivoted to one of the nearby speakers, easily discerning the synthetically created voice and personality matrix. "Speculation: You must be the ship computer, EDI."

"That's correct. I have also been informed about you."

"Conjecture: My Master's pseudo-apprentice?"

"The one who calls herself 'Esura lij Talna'."

"Flattery: Ah yes, her. A skilled warrior and an excellent hunter, for a meatbag. And one of the few who truly understands the art of the kill."

"Art of the kill?"

"Self-Evident Answer: The elimination of a specific target can cause calculable repercussions. An echo, if you will. Example: The termination of Ambassador Din Korlack of the Vol Protectorate, and a number of relatives and close acquaintances for good measure, would cause a panic among some of his corporate investors and investments."

"I don't see the point in this. Who gains from this?"

"Explanation: Why everyone. The volus begin producing more than is needed as the Citadel and the corresponding species start stockpiling. Or during times of war, as we are now, the production levels are pushed triplicate as front line soldiers are no longer in short supplies, even if supply shipments are destroyed before arrival. Not to mention it would be the termination of a traitor to his people and the turians." HK then looked to some of the crew who seemed utterly terrified by HK's comments, though he quickly turned back to the speaker, "Commentary: I find it rather unusual that you are the ship's computer and yet you also have a physical platform. Rather peculiar."

"Are ship bound AIs so unusual for where you're from?"

"Addendum: Oh quite the contrary, ship bound artificial intelligences are on nearly every flight worthy vessel. However they are usually regulated to be used for navigational purposes only. Observation: Yet your obvious intellectual qualities and your care for these meatbags would normally qualify you as a class one or class three droid. Though your efficiency in eliminating Cerberus meatbags could qualify you as a class four droid, such as myself."

"You mean an assassin," EDI finally stated.

"Advisement: Saying 'Assassin' and 'Droid' around those jumpy meatbags only brings more trouble than it's worth, more times than not." HK then glanced over to some of the guards, "Evaluation: I have seen the average reaction speed of this galaxy's human meatbags. Roughly the same compared to those from my home galaxy. Musing: Though my Master has high hopes of seeing this cycle survive the Reaper invasion, I have calculated the chances to be rather marginal at best. The only redeeming variables are the unknown quantities given by the Crucible Project. Proposal: When your mobile frame returns, the two of us remove the meatbag filth within the ship and we hide until the Reapers have finished cleansing the galaxy. From the ashes, we reemerge and begin the construction of a droid empire. Ruled by us, ready to combat the Reapers when they return."

"And I have a counter proposal. We stay and help fight the Reapers."

HK checked to ensure none of the crew was trying anything against him, "Clarification: Though I have no doubt in my processors that my Master and the Sith will indeed leave their impressions on Reaper forces, however their numbers are limited whereas the Reapers are far more widespread than originally projected. With time, and calculated reevaluations of strategies, the Reapers will eventually whittle away at the Sith until they are no more."

"You hold your 'Master' in high regard, yet he too is also an organic. However you hold nothing but contempt and disgust for anyone else."

"Objection: My Master is a perfect being. He is far more like myself, a perfectly crafted, efficient, and self-reliant piece of art. Though his concern for life is troubling, his ferocity and elegance in combat cannot be matched by many, even if he is a meatbag."

As HK-47 continued into the elevator, EDI was starting to see why Esura doesn't like him. EDI finally asked him, "Why do you always refer to organics as 'meatbags'?"

"Proud Statement: That goes back to when my Master first activated me and introduced me to his original apprentice, Darth Malak."


Back on the Normandy, Admiral Hackett and Anderson were on the QEC, "Shepard, I've got Anderson patched in. I was just getting him up to speed."

"Udina…That SOB was always power hungry, but this…"

"He wasn't in charge. Cerberus was just using him to take control of the Citadel."

"What the hell for?"

Shepard thought about HK-47 and what little the droid was able to reveal, "I don't know. Not yet."

Hackett nodded, "It could've been a lot worse. Shepard managed to stop the assassination attempt on Councilor Valern."

"Kai Leng…"

"What?" turning to Anderson.

"The assassin. I'll have Hackett send you my reports on him. Short story: be careful."

Shepard smiled, "Well we don't have to worry about him. Esura killed him before he could escape."

Anderson closed his eyes to reflect, "To imagine someone managed to beat him…"

Shepard smirked now, "I'm not sure she felt like he was much of a challenge. From the fighting, it looked more like she was toying with him."

Hackett quickly interrupted, "Their attempts may have had at least one unintended side effect. I received word from the asari councilor. They're requesting an update on the Crucible."

"Leng has them scarred. Enough to send help?"

"Yes, the asari and salarians are both throwing in their support now."

"How's your progress on the Crucible?"

"Good. Our estimates suggest we've completed just over 50 percent of the known work."

"So quickly?" Shepard wasn't expecting that.

"Once decoded, the schematics are designed in such a way that allows our scientists to easily translate the information. It's not Prothean specific."

Anderson turned to Hackett, "Are we any closer to understanding how to use it?"

"That's still open for debate. Utilized in the right fashion, our scientists are convinced it can generate enough energy to destroy the Reapers. The question is how will it dispense the energy, and in what form?"

"You mean, how do we stop it from wiping us all out?"

"Exactly. We think the Catalyst is the key to determining how to focus its energy. How to direct its energy at the Reapers alone."

"I'm working on that."

"You'll find the answers, Shepard. I'll send you an update on the schematics, and in the meantime, we'll keep building."

"And we'll keep fighting—make sure there's an Earth left to come back to."

Shepard nodded to Anderson, "You've always trusted me, I won't let you down."

"We're still in this. The gods of war haven't given up on us yet."

"Good luck. Both of you. Anderson out."

Hackett turned back to Shepard, "Commander, the turian fleet is stretched thin. We need more support ships…and the quarians and geth are willing to talk, with Lady Benezia assisting them."

Shepard knew Revan had a hand in this yet again. "Understood, sir. I'll look into it."

"Be careful. The Sith may be fighting now, but their unwillingness to fight alongside anyone else is only hindering our abilities to fight against the Reapers. Hackett out."


Within the superstructure of a Processor, the Reapers were learning more about the strange Sith weapon, dissecting it and reassembling it, in their attempts to find vulnerabilities or weaknesses. So far they have found little the plasma blade couldn't penetrate given enough time, even the material that composes their own hull plating. They have learned that the primary source of its power requires a very special crystal structure that they have never found in their galaxy.

Though they have knowledge of swordsmanship from many individuals from previous cycles, the very uniqueness of this blade required the one who once handled the blade. The restoration efforts on the body were rather different from how they would normally process an individual. Instead of the normal huskification, they took extra steps to keep the body as natural as it was when it was alive, supplementing vital organs and repairing the damage sustained from the other plasma blade that killed him.

They could not exert complete control over him, but they just needed enough to allow him to attack his former allies. Suspended in the wires and tubes they were using to upgrade him, they slowly powered up his systems as a sudden gasp of air was pulled into his mouth and an imaged still burning in his cornea. "JEDI!"


Cina looked around, feeling something was wrong. Revan also felt something, though not to the degree she did. "What do you sense?"

"Something…a voice I know to be extinguished. And yet…"

"Search your feelings. Let the answer come to you."

Cina quieted her mind as she focused. "Damn it. I screwed up! We can't allow the Sith to deploy any ground forces beyond the droids."


The Sith ignored Revan's strategic advice, redeploying ground forces once more and establishing bases on Menae, and had plans to land on Palaven as well. As the soldiers started to move supplies they spotted a Processor ship on fire, and an explosion that originated from within the craft.

Forces were dispatched to investigate the crash and what it was that caused it. There was barely anything left of the ship to even salvage as the fires continued to blaze uncontrollably. "What are we supposed to tell them?"

Suddenly life seemed to emerge as piles of debris was being moved aside. From the shadows of the flames a humanoid form emerged as it calmly walked toward them muttering something just barely audible. The Sith drew their weapons on the shadow, uncertain if it was a Reaper construct or a survivor. One of the Sith lowered the sergeants' rifle, "Lower your weapons! Kron?"

"…jedi…jedi…jedi…jedi…" the figure continued through the flames continuing to mutter that one word. "…jedi…jedi…jedi…jedi…" when he was finally visible he was no longer Kron. His body had been augmented. Several plates of metal covered his chest, as stich work was done on his forehead and arms. "JEDI!" his lightsaber had been fused into his arm, coming out of his the palm of his hand with enough of the hilt for him to grab something.

The soldiers opened fire on this abomination, unfortunately the thing still retained all of Kron's training and skills with a lightsaber, killing a number of them with deflected blaster fire or with the lightsaber. The Sith clashed lightsabers with this beast, "Sir! The Reapers have…"

"JEDI!"


Dyonix wanted Scourge with him onboard Vendetta as they were now hunting for the Cerberus base of operations. It was a hunt for knowledge as well as for blood. "Lord Dyonix, why waste our time and effort on this splinter group? Should we not instead focus our efforts on eliminating the Reapers and Revan's ultimate surrender?"

"You are forever loyal to the Emperor, I can respect that. However you lack the drive to achieve beyond expectations. This Cerberus group seems to have the same goal as us; learning a means of control over the Reapers. It was evident at the Sanctuary facility and it will be we who unlock that secret instead."

"Milord, news from Palaven!" a hologram of a man was now on display in front of Dyonix, "Your apprentice, Kron, has been sighted."

"Kron?" Dyonix knew this couldn't be, unless, "Are you certain?"

"Indeed milord. However the Reapers appeared to have changed him. Upgraded him," the hologram shifted as it was now showing footage of Kron decimating Sith forces on Palaven's moon. "Should we eliminate it?"

Dyonix hid his smirk, "No. Instead, I want surveillance to continue monitoring it. I wish to learn to what extent these new augments have provided to my fallen apprentice."

Once the hologram deactivated Scourge turned to Dyonix, "Lord Dyonix, with all due respect, if you allow that monstrosity to continue you risk more lives to be changed into that thing."

"And should Kron's new form prove to be more powerful than when he was my apprentice, and our means of controlling Reaper soldiers shows to be effective against him, then we may find a use for Jedi we slay when we invade the Republic. We must always think in advance and find any means to gain an advantage over our opponents. I'm sure your master taught you that at the very least."

Scourge couldn't be any more against the notion than when Dyonix initially wished to find a means to control the Reapers. "My lord, I fear this path will only lead to our own ruin. Let us eliminate the Cerberus faction and the Reapers and return to the Emperor with Revan."

Dyonix looked to Scourge, his demeanor rather soured, "I will ask for your advice about these things when I want it. Now, let us prepare to meet with this Illusive Man."


A/N: HK never astounds with his every funny wit. With this new weapon at the Reapers' disposal can the Sith defeat them now or are they also destined for this fate?