SSV Normandy, Widow System, Serpent Nebula

2183.07.16

Shepard was the first human member of the Special Tactics and Reconnaissance Division of the Citadel, and, thus far, all she had accomplished was a lot of paperwork. Heaving an irritated sigh, Shepard tucked the stack of encrypted optical readers tucked under her arm and tapped the door controls to Captain Anderson's cabin. The hatch slid open. "You called, sir?"

"Come in, Shepard."

Jane paused before she entered the blue-tinted chamber with a small frown—something was wrong. She knew Anderson too well and his smile was bittersweet. He gestured at the chair in front of his round conference table. "First things first, Garrus Vakarian is settling in aboard ship. You made the right call, Shepard. He's going to be a useful asset."

"Thank you, sir."

"More importantly," Anderson said, "I received a report from the shore patrol. Three men were put in the hospital last night. I wanted you to know they'll be fine."

"Yes, sir." Shepard settled into parade rest.

Anderson frowned. "I heard what happened in the bar, Jane. You're a Spectre, you can do what you think is right. But you know better, Shepard, you can't afford to get into barroom brawls."

"Yes, sir."

Her commanding officer waved his hand, "Enough about that, it's done. You don't answer to me anymore," Anderson stood up and extended his hand. "Congratulations, Spectre Shepard."

"Thank you, Captain." Shepard said as she relaxed and took Anderson's warm hand in her own. "But it doesn't really feel like we achieved anything."

"You're wrong," Anderson smiled, "This is a good first step, Commander. We needed the Citadel's files, and now you have access to top-level intelligence. You talked to the requisitions officer?"

Shepard gave him a twisted smile and dropped the encrypted pads she had been carrying on the table. "You make it sound easy. I spent two hours signing forms and three hours wading through redacted files for nothing. The Council has no idea where Saren is hiding, sir."

"That's not unexpected," Anderson frowned, "Perhaps we're going about this the wrong way. Saren is an expert at covering his tracks. But his ally, Matriarch Benezia, the other voice in the recording? She's a politician."

"Damn! Benezia." Shepard sat down and let her head fall back. She pulled her hands through her thin hair and rubbed at her aching skull, the locks clinging to her fingers and creating a mess of flyaway hairs, and then hauled herself upright. She gestured towards Anderson's computer, "Sir?"

He rotated the computer towards her and Shepard logged in. Stabbing the keys irritably she scrolled through the files. "Matriarch Benezia's current whereabouts are unknown," Shepard said, "But she has property on Thessia and Illium—and she has a daughter. A scientist who specializes in the Protheans, Doctor Liara T'Soni. That can't be a coincidence."

Shepard slid the screen towards him and Anderson nodded thoughtfully, "Says here that she was exploring an archaeological dig on a mining world in the Artemis Tau cluster. We don't know if she's involved, but you should find her, see what she knows."

Shepard frowned. "You make it sound like you're not coming with me."

Anderson's smile faded. He closed the computer, his craggy features carved into an intense grimace. "It's complicated," Anderson sighed. "You've received your new security clearance?"

It wasn't really question. Shepard didn't say anything. The captain hesitated. "Twenty years ago I was part of a mission in the Skylian Verge, and I was working with Saren."

Shepard's face went blank, hiding her shock. She leaned forward as Anderson shook his head with a sour expression, "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you before, but I was a candidate for the Spectres. Saren was ordered to observe and report, just like Nihlus was with you. We were working to find and remove a batarian extremist cell. Saren eliminated the target, but he took down a space station to do it. A lot people died, a lot of innocent people." Anderson gave her a bitter smile. "I know how the world works, Jane, and so do you. Sometimes we're forced to make unpleasant decisions, but only if there's no other way. Saren doesn't even look for another option. No conscience. No hesitation. He'd kill a thousand innocent civilians to end a war without a second thought. He's twisted, broken, he likes the violence, the killing. And he knows how to cover his tracks." Anderson laughed shortly. "He pinned the whole disaster on me. Saren had his proof that humanity wasn't ready, I was kicked out of the Spectres, and it was all hushed up. I couldn't tell you, Jane."

"I know that, sir." Shepard processed the revelation carefully, turning the new information over in her mind. It explained Anderson's willingness to pursue Saren. He knew he was dirty, twisted. In the end, it was just another nail in Saren's coffin. Shepard leaned back in her chair with a grunt. "Damn. That son of a bitch is good."

"He is," Anderson cracked a smile. "I knew how twisted he was, but I couldn't do anything. It was hard, especially after he became the Council's top agent."

"Not anymore," Shepard said grimly, "Now, we can put him in the ground."

Anderson nodded. "He's dangerous. He has to be stopped, before he gets whatever it is he's after, the Beacons, and the Reapers." Anderson sighed, "Well, Commander. You asked if I was going with you, and I'm not. The Council doesn't trust my judgment, they know that Saren and I have a history. I'm stepping down from command of the Normandy—"

Shepard snapped to her feet—she had known something was wrong! "You can't—they can't! David, the Normandy is your ship! I'm a marine, sir. I don't have the training or the experience for the big chair."

"You're the Executive Officer, Shepard, you know this ship inside and out. Lieutenant Commander Pressly is more than qualified to handle the ship's systems. I know the two of you can work together," Anderson said, "The Normandy is quick and quiet, the perfect ship for a Spectre. You can do this, Commander. It's time for me step down."

Jane's heart was pounding. Not this. Not this on top of everything. She wasn't ready. Her hands balled into fists. But you would be free. In command. Jane collapsed into her chair and put her elbows on her knees, rubbing at the scar on her eyebrow. "Damn the Council!"

"It's part of my deal, Commander," Anderson said, "I needed to get out of the way. The Council was furious that we used deadly force on the Citadel, Shepard, and I can't blame them. But we needed that data, it needed to be done. And now, I need to take the fall."

"It was my call, sir," Shepard growled, "I ran that mission. I pulled the trigger."

Captain Anderson frowned. "I taught you better, Jane. The responsibility was mine, I made the command decision. Now it's your turn, and I know you're ready."

Shepard hung her head, letting the drumbeat of her racing heart drown out the frantic whispering in the back of her mind.

"I believe in you, Shepard," Anderson said softly, and Shepard heard him rise to his feet. Shepard forced herself to look up. Captain Anderson raised a weathered hand in a salute. She forced herself to stand. She forced herself to salute.

"You're the one who can stop Saren, Jane," Anderson said, "If that means I have to step aside, so be it. I've already talked with the Senior Officers, Shepard. Now it's time to speak with them yourself, and Naval Headquarters is on the line in the radio room. Then I want you out of here and after Saren, you hear me?"

"Sir," Shepard groaned, "I can't! You know what happened. The Beacon…did something to me. I don't trust myself. I can't be in command!"

"I trust you, Shepard," Anderson said simply. He gave her a gentle smile, "You're the only one with the information from the Beacon, you have to do this. You know the magnitude of the threat. I'll do my best to convince Udina and the Council that the Reapers are real, but you need to be in the field. Work with Doctor Chakwas and use the data from the Beacon, don't let it use you. Find the Conduit."

"What do I tell the crew, sir?"

"The truth, Shepard. Always tell them the truth." Anderson walked around his desk and his hand hovered in the air by her elbow. Anderson squeezed her arm, once, and then folded his hands behind his back. "You're the right choice. Let the crew do their jobs. Take care of them, Jane."

Damn it, don't do this to me, David! I can't protect them! In the end, Shepard had to lie. Shepard always lied. "Yes, sir. I'll do the job."

"Lieutenant Alenko and Gunnery Chief Williams, please report to the communications room," The Normandy VI echoed through the cargo bay, "Lieutenant Alenko and Gunnery Chief Williams, please report to the communications room."

Kaidan leaned back on the crate he was sitting on in the cargo bay with the Normandy Marines, closing his handheld computer. Wondering why he had been summoned to the Communications Room, Kaidan glanced at his wrist. The Normandy VI hadn't transmitted any additional details to his omni-tool, and he wasn't expecting any mail. Ship's mail had been delivered in a buoy dump when they arrived at the Citadel, but the classified nature of their operations meant that they couldn't send or receive live personal communications.

"Hey, get moving, Ell-Tee! Maybe we're finally getting some fucking info, sir," Private Monica Negulesco said.

Kaidan smiled. "If I did I wouldn't share it with you, Negulesco, not after your performance in the simulator. You'll have to do better than that."

The Normandy Marines let out a chorus of hoots and whistles and Kaidan smiled. They were waiting for the official report from the Council, and the ship had been buzzing with rumors. Alpha Squad was chomping at the bit in particular. They were tired of simulations and calibrating their arms with new ammunition and scanners. Not that Shepard had made it easy for them. The woman was a sadist—Alpha Squad had been battered by wave after wave of holographic husks patterned after the creatures they had encountered on Eden Prime, followed by merciless armies of krogan and synthetics. Kaidan had no idea when she had time to program the simulations, but he was glad she hadn't been there to run them herself. He knew it would have been worse, far worse.

Negulesco was splayed on a unfolded plastic recliner, chewing a wad of pink bubblegum and painting her nails. Her foot was tapping. Private Tucks swiped a poker chip and chucked it at her back. Tucks, Shay, and Laflamme were playing poker. Private Laflamme's used Tuck's distraction as an opportunity to peek at the array of cards on the upturned crate in front of him. Laflamme showed Shay the cards, rubbed at the knots of rusty hair on the top of his dark head, and then dropped his hand. "I'm out, ami." Laflamme closed his eyes and slid his beret down his face.

Tucks swore, "No fair, man!"

"C'est la vie," Laflamme chuckled.

Kaidan stood, smiling. "Alright, Tucks, cool down. All of you, I want to find the Makos in one piece when I get back, you hear me?"

"Sir, yes, sir!"

Smiling, Kaidan walked across the cargo bay towards the Gunnery Chief. She was working on her rifle and the new tungsten-carbide ammunition on the table next to the armory cage. "You coming, Chief?"

"Yes, sir," Williams slid the stock onto the magnetic rail and then compressed the rifle into its storage block. "Just need to square this away," she gestured at the table, full of loose ammunition.

She started cleaning up the workbench. Kaidan joined her, sliding the loose bolts into a clear plastic clips and slotting the clips into a container.

"Thanks, Lieutenant."

"Of course, Chief."

Ashley met his eyes and gave him a controlled smile. She was still aloof, but her attitude had abated since he had taken her aside the day before. She had really pulled through during the simulations. Kaidan knew Williams was a good Marine, she was just hurting, and for good reasons. He thought back to their conversation the previous evening as he stowed the tungsten impactors. He had tried to get her back on track, to get her out of her head and onto the team. She had been sinking into a morass of self-pity and anger. She knew she was green, on loan to an Interplanetary Combatives Team for the first time. But Kaidan had told her what Shepard had told him: get her head out of her ass, start acting like a soldier, stop fighting, and start learning.

"How are you doing, Williams?" Kaidan murmured as he fit an impactor into a transparent clip.

"I know you're trying to help, Lieutenant," Ashley said, "We all lost men on Eden Prime. But every marine on this boat keeps talking to me like I'm some raw recruit. I went through hell on Eden Prime, I'm a Gunnery Chief, and a damn good one, sir."

Kaidan nodded slowly. "I get it, Williams. I do. But trust me, Chief, you wouldn't be here if the Commander thought you couldn't hack it, so stop acting like we pity you. Sure, it's terrible that you lost a lot of good people on Eden Prime. It was a nasty situation, but if you think that affects our work, you're dead wrong."

Ashley hesitated, and then the rhythmic rattle of the shells continued. Ashley shook her head, her voice lowering, "You're kidding yourself, Alenko. The Commander doesn't care about me."

"You're wrong," Kaidan grinned, "The Commander doesn't care who you are, sure, or where you came from. But that's because she only cares about one thing, and that's the job. And she's damn good at her job, as I think you've seen."

Ashley stared at him and Kaidan smiled a moment, Ashley spoke softly. "I heard she was a ground pounder like me. But she's not. She's something different."

"You're right, Williams," Kaidan whistled, "She's, well, she pushes herself harder than anyone I've ever seen. She lives for the fight. She never stops. She's the best of us, Williams. She doesn't like us. Shepard keeps us alive. She clears the way and we watch her back. This is her war, and we are her army." Kaidan grinned, "You're here because the Commander thinks you're one badass marine. So get on board, Williams."

Williams let out a laugh. "I'm on board, Alenko, just stop sweet-talking me. Please. It's painful."

"Alright, Williams." Kaidan stacked a set of magazines in the storage box, smiling to himself.

"We're done, sir, thank you," Ashley locked the cases in the armory cage.

They took the elevator to the Habitation Deck in silence. In the mess hall, several crewmen were speaking in hushed whispers. The entire ship was holding its breath. As they ascended the stairs to the Command Deck, Kaidan felt a thread of anxiety tightening his muscles and static electricity rose on the back of his neck. Standing in front of the door were Fredricks and Hsaio, who saluted at their approach. Kaidan returned their salute and Hsaio tapped the door controls and buzzed them in.

Inside the room, the insulating tiles deadened the thrum of the reactor. It was dead silent. Commander Shepard was standing in front of the inactive projector, staring into the shadows. Her shoulders were taut, the fringe of copper hair darker and redder in the dim light. Her black roots glittering with a halo of flyaway hairs. The ring of communications consoles were unlit, the chairs empty. "Lieutenant Alenko and Chief Williams reporting as ordered, sir!"

"At ease, Alenko, Williams. Sit down."

Kaidan took a seat and Williams followed him, leaving an empty space between them and the Commander. Alenko cleared his throat. "Do you mind if I ask what's going on, Commander?"

"You'll find out soon enough, Alenko."

The doors flickered open and Joker entered. His leg braces hummed as he hobbled towards Kaidan. Kaidan clasped his hand and said quietly, "How are you doing, Joker?"

"Wondering why I had to drag myself down here," Joker said loudly, "Don't you usually come to me, Commander?"

"For some reason, Lieutenant," Shepard said dryly, "We're stationary, Joker. The ship will survive without your attention for five minutes."

"Damn it, Commander," Joker muttered as he lowered himself carefully into the seat, "You say stuff like that and, blam! That's when the shit hits the fan."

The doors opened again and Garrus Vakarian entered, followed by Tali'Zorah. Commander Shepard spared a smile for Tali'Zorah as she took her seat, and Kaidan raised an eyebrow. The young alien folded her ankles and hands together and looked around nervously. Joker blew her a kiss, and Tali's glowing eyes became white orbs and then she let out a laugh. When everyone was seated, the Commander cleared her throat and stood in front of the project, hands behind her back. Silence fell. Kaidan tugged at his rolled-up sleeves nervously. Shepard paced back and forth, two steps, and then stopped. She looked up.

"I've been granted Spectre Status and I'm taking command of the Normandy," Commander Shepard said. Her face was expressionless. "We're going after Saren and going to stop him before he finds the Conduit. The Captain has stepped down, effective immediately."

Kaidan's eyes widened and he rocked backwards. Joker was the first to speak. "Son of bitch! You can't let that happen Commander!"

"I don't have a choice, Joker," Shepard said harshly. "It's done."

"Damn it, the skipper survives a hundred battles and gets taken out by backroom politics," Joker muttered, "The captain got screwed, Commander. I can't believe it!"

"Then we make it right, Joker," Kaidan found his voice. He met Shepard's green eyes with his own. "The Captain's sacrifice won't be in vain, Commander. We'll capture Saren."

"Hold it, Lieutenant," Shepard drew in a breath, "Now's your chance to jump ship, all of you, before we leave dock."

"Don't be ridiculous, Shepard," Garrus said, "We're in this till the end."

"Don't be so sure, Vakarian." Shepard shook her head. "You all need to know something, before you decide. The Prothean Beacon on Eden Prime downloaded...information into my brain. The Protheans were fighting a war with a race of machines called the Reapers, and they lost. The Reapers wiped out their entire civilization. The Beacons are a warning. I warned the Council, but they won't listen."

"Hold on, Commander," Williams interjected, "What about Saren? What does Eden Prime have to do with this?"

"Williams, Saren is searching for the Beacons," Shepard said tightly, "He attacked Eden Prime for the Beacon. He's using the information to try and find the Conduit to the Reapers. He wants to bring them back. I don't know why, I don't know how, but we have to get there first. Or it's over. For everyone."

Kaidan was stunned. The ramifications were enormous. His stomach clenched as he thought about the wave of green light that had seized him like a biotic field. The pins and needles behind his eyes. The searing pain—and then, the Commander had thrown him to safety. And she had risen into the air, and a single scream had been ripped out of her throat before the emerald lightning had transfixed her body and sent spasms racing through her outstretched arms and legs. He had screwed up, getting that close to the Beacon. It could have been me, Kaidan thought. Kaidan felt a headache forming at his temples and rubbed at the faded scars on the back of his neck. It could have been me!

Joker whistled. "Damn, Commander. That's some messed up shit. But I have to ask, are you sure that the Beacons are, you know, real?" Joker held ups hands, "I'm not doubting you, Commander, but what if what you say was just some...virtual game? And we're just chasing smoke?"

"It's real," Shepard's neck was taut and her voice was cold and flat. "I've seen their memories. I've seen the end of civilization."

"Ancestors, Shepard…" Tali'Zorah whispered, "Are you alright?"

"I'm handling it," Shepard said, her eyelids lowering. "It's trying to communicate, Tali, but I can't understand it."

"The organic interface must be incredibly sophisticated," Tali'Zorah breathed, "But it has limits. The Beacon must have been a truly incredible work of engineering!"

"Incredible is not the word I would use," Joker muttered "They couldn't just write this down? I mean, seriously. Carve it into a moon or something."

Kaidan laughed, and felt a tightness lift from his chest. Even one corner of Shepard's lip curled.

"So what does this mean?" Garrus murmured, "For us?"

Shepard straightened and there was a snap in her voice, "Lieutenant Alenko, Chief Williams, Lieutenant Moreau" Everyone sat up a little straighter, even Joker, as Shepard paced forward, "This is your last chance. You want a transfer off this boat, you've got it, no questions asked, and no black marks on your record."

"I can't leave the Normandy, she's my baby!" Joker chuckled.

"Not a chance, Commander." Kaiden said.

Williams shook her head, "I'm in this for Eden Prime."

Shepard gave them a hard smile, a flash of teeth like a tiger, "Then you're in. There is a chance that I could be distracted by the Beacon in the field. You'll need to keep a sharp eye."

"Roger that, Commander," Williams said.

Kaiden swallowed. He knew that wasn't good, but he had to be ready, "I screwed up once, ma'am, I'm not going to do it again."

Shepard nodded and turned to the pilot, "Joker, I'm not a naval officer, I'm relying on you to operate the Normandy."

"How distracted, Commander?" Joker tugged on his hat, "You aren't going to start spouting alien gibberish, right?"

"I don't know," Shepard said, "All I know is that this is the information we need to find the Conduit before Saren, we just need to decipher it. We're going to Therum in the Knossos System to retrieve Doctor Liara T'Soni, an expert on the Protheans. She'll provide us with insight into the Beacon. Garrus, Tali'Zorah—this is where you can leave. You're civilians. You don't have to follow me down the rabbit hole."

"Never! I trust you, Shepard," Tali'Zorah said. She looked down at her hands and then raised her glowing eyes, "This is something I have to do."

"You're not getting rid of me that easily," Garrus laughed, "I'm in this till the end, Shepard."

Kaidan looked around at Shepard's strange collection of allies. It could have been me. But it had to be Commander Shepard. She's the only one who can do this. "We've all got your back, Commander. We'll find the Conduit."

"Thank you, Kaidan," Shepard said quietly. The Commander smiled again, a brief spark that was swallowed by the night in a single moment. The Commander pierced each of them with a swift stare. "I swear to you, we will get the job done. No matter what happens to me. Joker—get back in the cockpit and take us out. We're done here."

"See, Commander?" Joker hauled himself to his feet with a heavy sigh, "I came all the way down here for nothing."

Therum, Knossos System, Artemis Tau

2183.07.16

The mining laser deactivated with one last pulse of light. Steams billowed inside the tunnel and was drawn into the industrial ventilators that were connected to the mining station on the surface through two kilometers of solid rock. Flying shrapnel of superheated rock rattled against the sides of the tunnel, snapping and snarling. The steam dissipated and the floodlights mounted on the laser pierced the darkness.

Liara T'Soni removed her protective goggles and breathing mask. There it was, the Unidentified Prothean Object, that was what the humans called it. And it wasn't a ruin—it was intact. Perspiration clung to Liara's luminous blue skin and her heart starting thrumming. This was the biggest find of her life!

The laser had broken into a rock chimney, a cave that stretched along the right flank of the cylinder. The floodlamps played across the curved dome of white tiles, several hundred meters across. Dark plumes of solidified lava encased the far side of the cylindrical structure. The beams of light darted down the side of the ruin and revealed windows in the tiled surface, glowing with blue light. In a flash, Liara realized that the Unidentified Prothean Object had once extended a kinetic barrier that kept the melting rock from fully encircling the cylinder, now, the field had retreated inside the structure leaving a system of vents and caves in the stone. Liara took an unwitting step forwards, drawn towards her past, her future, her destiny.

"Careful, Doctor T'Soni, don't get any closer until the rock cools!" Engineer Khwanrudi Saengchan called out from the controls of the mining laser.

Reluctantly, Liara tore her gaze away from the narrow vision of the Prothean Object. She let out a reluctant breath. "You're right, of course, thank you. When can we begin our excavation?"

"Give it a few minutes, Doctor." Saengchan said, "Shut her down, girls, and bring me some mass effect harnesses and flares!"

Saengchan shut down the power and then tapped the side of her white safety helmet. The visor slid open and Saengchan rubbed the back of one gloved hand across her sweat-stained forward, streaking it was dust. She joined Liara at the lip of the glowing tunnel, curls of steam wrapping around her padded yellow-and-orange suit. "Eldfell-Ashland Energy" was plastered across her chest. Saengchan peered into the chimney and grunted. "Huh! Ground scanners couldn't show us this, T'Soni."

"No, they did not. It's beautiful, Saengchan," Liara smiled, "Though we'll have to find a way around the kinetic barriers."

Saengchan opened up her omni-tool and displayed a exterior map of the structure, "I've been thinking about that. We did a scan before the final dig, look. You see how it's sinking into the lava pocket of this volcano? We think it's weakened the bottom left corner. We'll build a scaffold inside the chimney, lower the laser on an effect rig, and then cut a secondary tunnel to access the bottom of the cylinder using a reinforced access tube."

"How much time do we have?" Liara asked nervously.

"We don't know, Doctor," Saengchan muttered, "We're dealing with an active volcano. But EAE put a lot of credits into this project, Doctor T'Soni. We need to get inside."

"I couldn't agree more," Liara smiled. "This is the find of the century!"

"Sure thing, Doctor." Saengchan jerked her thumb over her shoulder, "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to prep the advance team."

Saengchan retreated from the mouth of the tunnel. Liara remained, staring longingly at the white tiles that glowed with dim blue radiance. The biggest find of the century, she knew it. It could confirm her theories about the extinction. More than that, it could provide her with critical insight into the true nature of the mysterious race that had vanished over fifty thousand years ago. How did they think, Liara wondered, how did their neural network process the world? How did they feel, how did they taste? She shivered, running her hands along her scalp tendrils, brushing a layer of perspiration along her gentle fingers. Unexpectedly, she felt a stab of longing, almost desperation. If only her mother could see this the way Liara could, see the wondrous beauty of a truly alien species. Liara dismissed the strange thought. Her mother was trapped by her position, by her obsession with power. Liara had escaped, and she didn't want to look back.

She turned towards the mining laser. Behind the laser a dozen workers were unloading supplies from crates. Standing next to a standing light, the engineer was typing on her wrist, "Doc! I'm sending some personnel back to Nova Yekaterinburg for supplies. Need anything?"

"No, thank you. I was too excited to wait, so I brought my computer and gear," Liara gestured at one of the smaller white crates.

"Huh," Saengchan grunted. "We're almost there, Doctor."

"I know," Liara grinned. "I—"

Chips of stone started to shiver on the ridged surface of the tunnel. Puffs of dust swirled in the hot air. A tremor raced through the red rock Liara's knees buckled. The asari gasped and threw out her hands, stumbling towards the tunnel wall. The lights rattled and swayed. The tumble of shadows rang with shouts of surprise and the snap and crackle of falling flakes of rock. Then the tremor was over. Coughing up searing hot dust, Liara waved a hand in front of her face.

"Masks on, sound off!" Saengchan called out. "Doc, are you alright?"

"Yes," Liara choked, fumbling for her transparent breather and fitting the mask to her mouth. "I'm fine!"

"We better move fast, Doctor T'Soni," Saengchan said, "Or we're going to be trapped down here."

Liara nodded reluctantly. This was the biggest find of her entire life. She wasn't going to let a little volcano get in the way.

Virmire, Hoc System, Sentry Omega

2183.07.16

The wind carried the scent of the ocean. Salt spray flew from the crests of azure waves and wafted across the beaches. Delicate emerald leaves swayed in the breeze. The white sun lapped at the surface of the waves and sent scintillating murmurs of gold and bronze across the open sea. An agonizing scream rent the air, and a flock of brightly-plumed birds darted into the air.

Benezia glided onto the balcony and saw Saren, facing the ocean. She cleared her throat and spoke. "I have unfortunate news."

Saren's ocular implants shone in the sunlight. His talons dug into the railing until, with a whine of cybernetic electromuscles, his diamond-tipped claws cut the balustrade into shreds. There was a crackling sound as he withdrew his hands and bits of plastic scattered across the spraycrete balcony. The breeze carried fragments of plastic out over the cliffs and clinging trees and towards the concrete bastions that housed the planetary defense cannons. The ocean swept around the artificial islands and formed a latticework of waves radiating towards the coast.

A roar rattled the sky, a roar laced with pain and rage. The roar was replaced gurgling sounds broken by desperate breaths, and then a high-pitched squeal— Benezia blinked. "Saren?"

"I heard you," Saren whispered.

He turned and Benezia fell in behind him, silent, her hands folded inside her turquoise robes. A long tunnel led into the base and the blast doors closed behind them automatically. Saren's heavy tread echoed on the tiles and, at his approach, Benezia could hear a sound akin to a whimper. It grated on her nerves, but, for Saren, it evoked a different reaction. He shifted his head and she saw his mangled face cracked into a smile, metal tendons glinting in the gaping holes in his cheeks. "Progress is being made, Benezia, see?"

The test subject was laid out on an elevated metal table. A surgical mech hung like a bloated insect on the ceiling above the subject. Its thin, segmented arms withdrew with a hum when they entered the room, revealing the krogan immobilized on the slab. At least, the mound of flesh that had once been a krogan. Benezia could identify the line of its split hooves, its clawed hands emerging from a pulped mass of organs and cybernetic implants, one finger still twitching. Black cables wound around exposed bone. The ugly mouth gaped and closed. Born in a gestation tube, the poor creature still retained the capacity to feel pain—and fear. Distracted, Saren hunched over his prey pinned to the examination table, until Benezia cleared her throat. The Spectre rose with a cold laugh. "Of course. What news, Benezia? Tell me."

Beneiza inclined her head. "Unfortunately, I have bad news. You will not be pleased."

"Stop prevaricating and speak, woman," Saren hissed.

"Very well. My contact on the Council confirms what you already suspected. The Council has not only condemned you, they have provided the human with Spectre Status. She is hunting you as we speak."

They had anticipated this once eventuality it had become clear that Commander Shepard had retrieved the quarian. However, time had not dulled Saren's displeasure. Benezia kept her eye fixed on the holographic projector but she could still see Saren's talons rip into the organic flesh of his palms. She could see the quiver in his neck and eyes as the chemicals in his bloodstream reacted to the injury. Saren swallowed his anger. "Very…well…Benezia…" Saren panted, "I was expecting this turn of events. This is nothing. Meaningless. I shall continue my work."

"Perhaps," Benezia murmured, "We went too far with our presumptive strike on Eden Prime. When you find the next Beacon, we could move in secret...?"

"Too far…?" Saren whispered, blood dripping down his palms, "My years of service. The blood on my talons. The countless…secrets…I have kept." Saren's voice rose to a shriek and he turned on Benezia, spitting, "The fact that I and I alone stand between the galaxy and total destruction!? That I keep you, you pathetic, mewling, morons safe from extermination? I have gone too far? No. This is just the beginning." He flicked one talon and drops of blood spattered Benezia's face.

She didn't move. "We must contain the damage. I'm thinking only of our plans, Arterius."

"Do what you must," Saren snapped, "Shepard is nothing, nothing!"

Suddenly a loud hiss echoed from the test subject spread upon the slab. Saren's eyes began to glow. "Look, Benezia! This is the future, my army. Shepard is nothing."

Benezia knew what was going to happen. She stared dispassionately at a point in space above the test subject as something shuddered beneath the mass of purple organs. The flesh began to contract like a deflating balloon, tightening into a webbed mass until, with gouts of hot gas, black metal spines erupted from the krogan's chest cavity. Her nostrils flared as she reluctantly inhaled the scent of fresh meat. The krogan's arms and legs writhed as the tough hide tightened and cracked, revealing thick strands of cybernetic black muscles. Streaks of black mucus poured out of holes in the skin onto the grated floor, splattering the grate with fragments of sloughed skin. There was a splintering sound like breaking ice and the krogan's crest cracked apart, revealing seeds of silvery metal that squirmed across the bone, forming a crown of spines. The subject's eyes began to melt, vitreous fluid bubbling and popping. Inside the skull, the sockets began to glow with blue fire.
Saren began to laugh. The turian reached out and stroked the husk's jaw with one bloody claw,

"Yes, Benezia… This is just the beginning."

Benezia cracked her lips. "Our research bears promising fruit, Arterius. Combining the regenerative abilities of the krogan species with the power of the threshing machines. Sovereign will be pleased."

Saren's good humor vanished. His face twisted into a snarl and his hand snapped tight around the husk's throat. His claws dug into the mesh of skin and carbon fiber. He drummed his fingers on the leathery surface and then withdrew his hand with a tortured growl. "We need the Conduit, Benezia! This army is worthless without the means to reactive the Citadel Relay!"

"It is…unfortunate," Benezia lied, "We must be patient, Saren, until we find another Beacon."

The visions were fragmented and confused. The Beacons rejected the tainted touch of Saren's mind. Sovereign had been unable to help; the Prothean Beacon was specifically designed to detect and reject the presence of the Reapers. Benezia was grateful. The delay had allowed her more time to prepare for the coming storm. Wheels within wheels, plans within plans. The Reapers were going to return, and they had to prepare for the war that would end all life. Saren believed he was preserving the Council Species from extermination, Saren believed that that Benezia supported his plot to supplant the Council and open the gate to the Reapers, and Benezia…what was her plan? Her head ached with pain.

"There is another way…" Saren whispered.

Benezia froze. "No, Saren, there is no need."

"Yes…" Saren whispered, "It is time, Beneiza. I need your daughter."

"I have told you before, she is useless." Benezia lied.

"I need her knowledge," Saren licked his lips. "She can meld with me…decipher the Beacons."

"She is too weak—"

"Her survival is not…necessary."

Benezia closed her eyes. She had destroyed her reputation, her free will, and, in all probability, her life, to prevent the return of the Reapers. Now, Saren asked for her daughter's life. And Benezia knew she had to wait for the right moment. The final moment.

"Of course, Saren. It will be done."

It was necessary.

Codex: Ships and Vehicles/Normandy SR-1/Log

SHIPWIDE 1MC 2183.07.16—This is Commander Shepard speaking. I have assumed command of the Normandy. Captain Anderson We have our orders: find Saren. I won't lie to you, this mission isn't going to be easy. This began with an attack on Eden Prime. Thirty thousand people are dead. But we know Saren won't stop there. His geth armies aren't going to stay on the far fringes of Citadel Space. Our enemy know we're coming. Wherever he goes, we'll be there. We hunt him to the very ends of the galaxy and bring him down. Humanity needs to do this. Not just for our own sake, but for the sake of every other species in Citadel Space. Saren must be stopped, and I promise you all…we will stop him.

[Updated 29-May-2016]