The Citadel: Huerta Hospital.
A doctor said, "Doctor T'soni is in the ICU, but we believe she will make a full recovery within four months."
Tevos said, "Good, we don't want to lose her. She could be a powerful asset to the asari."
"Yes, ma'am."
The Citadel: Presidium. Spectre Offices.
As Shepard picked up an Avenger she asked, "These are the best weapons available?"
"Yes, ma'am." The salarian said.
"It doesn't seem more effective than my current assault rifle."
"The thermal clips mean you don't have to wait for the heat to vent. You just pop in a new clip."
"But, this is weaker than I was told it would be." Shepard said.
"The more powerful weapons-the Vindicator rifle, modified Mattock rifle, Viper Sniper rifle, Eviscerator shotgun, Phalanx and Carnifex pistols, modified locust smg, and the tempest smg-are still in development."
"Well, then I guess we'll give these a try. Let me know when the more powerful ones have been finished." Shepard said as she exited the Spectre offices.
Citadel: C-sec HQ.
Garrus asked, "Sir, what do you have on the human terrorist cell called Cerberus?"
Pallin said, "Why should I give you this information, Garrus? The last time I gave you an important case you screwed it up."
"Because Commander Shepard told me to gather as much information on cerberus as possible. There should be a message from her in your terminal."
After the executor finished looking through his messages, he said, "I will transfer all of the data to your terminal on the Normandy."
SSV Normandy Med-bay.
Chakwas said, "Ms. Lawson, I need you to lie down on bed three."
"Understood." Miranda replied. When she was on the bed, Chakwas injected her with a bright blue fluid. She then said, "For this treatment to work, you'll have to focus on what you can remember of your time serving on the Normandy."
"All I can remember is the drell attacking me. And that something else was running through my mind at the time." Miranda said.
"Focus on what was running through your mind at the time. When you remember that, use it as a link to another memory, and that to another. So on, so forth."
The Citadel: Councilor Anderson's office.
"Jessica, what the hell were you thinking? The doctors are saying T'soni won't even come to until next month. A full recovery will take even longer."
"She betrayed the entire Normandy. She'd been feeding a large amount of information to a Shadow Broker agent named Feron. Such as where we had been going, what happened on each op, and where to search for any tech that we might have missed while on the op." Jessica replied.
"Are you certain?"
"Yes, while on a mission to Klensai, Pressly investigated her terminal and sent all of the data to me. Also, the agent fed false information to the assassin Thane Krios, who is currently a member of the Normandy crew."
"This is bad. The asari government will need to see this. Otherwise, Tevos will be moving to remove your Spectre status."
"There's no evidence that I shot her." Jessica said.
"Tevos received a message from T'soni a few hours before she was injured on the Jartar op. It says that you tried to throw her out of the airlock and it took your entire ground team to hold you back."
"Yes, that did happen. Since the Klensai op, Miranda has been confined to the med-bay due to an injury she received there due to T'soni's actions."
Anderson said, "If you give me the data, it should get you out of trouble with Tevos."
Jessica said, "Good, I need to head back to the Normandy though. We've fully resupplied and T'soni is off the ship. I've got no further reason to stay here. See you later, Anderson." He just nodded, while Shepard left.
SSV Normandy: Bridge.
"Jessica, Chakwas wanted to see you. Seemed pretty important." Joker said.
"I'll be sure to look into it." she said, "Anything going on up here?"
"No, but Garrus has been looking into some upgrades the turian government has been developing."
"What is it?"
"He won't say, but it seems pretty important. He had to drop your name to get access to it." Joker said.
SSV Normandy: Legion's quarters.
Amongst the geth consensus, Legion said, "It would be wise to send a message of peace to the Creators. The Old Machines will be returning soon, and we will need to prepare our fleets for their arrival."
A prime said, "The last time the Creators believed that they had an advantage, they attacked. If we send such a message, it would be viewed as an act of weakness and they would strike."
"We have given several high-ranking creators data that may turn them to a more sympathetic tone."
"The data on how the Creators murdered their own people? How would that turn them to a more sympathetic tone?"
"There is a high probability that it will turn a large number of Creators towards peace." Legion said.
Quarian Migrant Fleet: Liveship Rayya
"Tali, you can't be serious." Rael said.
"The geth didn't want a war with our ancestors. There were thousands of quarians that opposed the annihilation of the geth and were killed by our ancestors, not the geth." Tali said.
"Why are you defending the geth?" Han'Gerrel asked.
"While I was on the Normandy, Commander Shepard ordered the recovery of a working geth unit. After the mission on Virmire it was fully interrogated and gave us a large amount of data about what the geth have christened the Morning War." Tali replied, "This unit had tried to kill us all, but Shepard showed it mercy. When I asked her why, she told me that it was time for the galaxy to consider giving the geth another chance. We may have lost our homeworld three hundred years ago, she'd lost a friend and comrade to them a few hours before."
"This is similar to an argument given by a Qael'Tharn vas Rayya." Han'Gerrel said.
"Qael was working with Saren until he defected on Virmire."
"He defected against Saren?" Rael asked.
"Yes, he assisted us on Virmire. We were being overwhelmed by a dead Spectre, and he helped us overwhelm its kinetic barriers."
"A dead Spectre?" Gerrel asked.
"Yes, that is the other matter I was going to get to. While working with Shepard, I learned that the protheans were eradicated by a group of sentient ships known only as reapers. For the past billions of years, they have destroyed civilizations at the apex of their glory by attacking through the Citadel which is an enormous mass relay that leads to dark space. There, the majority of the fleet lies dormant until the relay is opened."
"If these so-called reapers come through the Citadel, why have they not returned yet?" Gerrel asked.
Tuchanka: the Hollows.
"Wreav, get out of the way." Wrex said.
"I will not let you suggest to the other clans that we go to the humans to cure the genophage for us! True krogan do not go to others for aid!" Wreav said.
"If you want to live with the genophage, be my guest. I; however, am going to do what I can to cure our people. If that means going to the humans for aid, then fine."
"The humans cannot be trusted! They won't help us, they're more likely to make us even more sterile if that's possible."
"Out of my way, Wreav. My decision is final." Wrex said. When Wreav didn't comply, Wrex headbutted him and entered the Hollows.
SSV Normandy: Med Bay.
"What's going on, Karin?" Jessica asked.
"The data you'd given me was from a previous Cerberus project they'd used that base for. It was a kind of amnesia treatment, and it worked. Miranda would like to see you." Chakwas replied.
"It worked? She remembers everything?"
"Yes, but the chemical that was used to speed up the recovery process also causes extreme drowsiness. I'm not going to clear her to leave the med bay until you say it's fine to do so."
"Thanks, Karin. Sorry I put a gun in your face." Jessica said as she headed over to Miranda's bedside. Miranda asked, "Jessica, how are you feeling?"
"Fine, now that you've recovered and T'soni is gone."
"When'd we leave the Hades Gamma cluster?"
"A day ago. We're on our way back now. The planet Chohe is where we'll be striking next. You think you'll be ready to go by the time we get there?"
"I should be." Miranda said, "I'm just a little tired right now."
"Well, you should get to bed then. I'll meet you in the Captain's quarters later." Jessica said. "Chakwas, she's good to go."
"Understood, but Miranda, you really should get some rest." Chakwas said.
"I'll do that." Miranda said.
The Migrant Fleet: Liveship Rayya
"Tali, you say that Shepard allowed this geth unit to work with you. This is a confession of treason. To even associate with the geth, is treason." Rael said.
Tali replied, "It was either work with Legion, or let Sovereign open the Citadel mass relay without a single quarian working against it."
"To work with a geth is treason!" Gerrel said.
"You may view association with the geth as treason, Admiral, but I think it would have been more treasonous to our people to not try to save us from certain death. Shepard understood that Legion would be a valuable asset when the reapers come. Maybe you should consider helping us fight the reapers. Rather than focusing on your grudge with the geth. They don't want to kill us. If you were willing to consider peace, than our conflict with the geth could end in a single day."
"How can we know that these reapers will even come after us?" Gerrel asked.
"The reaper Sovereign, it made it clear that at the end of every cycle the reapers come and destroy every race capable of spaceflight. If we're going to survive and be useful to the rest of the galaxy, we need to make peace with the geth. Legion is currently pushing his people to offer peace to the Migrant Fleet." Tali said.
"Why should we trust the geth who forced us from our homeworld?" Rael asked.
"Father, you've seen my pilgrimage gift. It clearly shows that the geth didn't want this war. And they still don't want to fight us. The geth want to coexist with organics, not fight us."
"Then what of Eden Prime?"
"That was a rogue group of geth that were serving the reapers. The majority of the geth can be trusted."
"What you are suggesting is madness!" Gerrel said.
"I'm trying to save our entire race from a war with the geth that we cannot be ready for. If we ever go to war with them, we'll either play them into the reapers' hands, tentacles, whatever, or they'll tear through our fleet. We need to form some kind of treaty with the geth." Tali said.
Rael replied, "We will consider your suggestion. Though, if you hadn't been actively working against the geth that attacked Eden Prime, you would be exiled for treason."
SSV Normandy: Cargo Hold.
"What is that?" Shepard asked.
Garrus replied, "These are the rough draft of the schematics to the experimental Thanix cannon. It's based on Sovereign's weapons."
"What will it do?"
"It won't be as powerful as Sovereign's cannons, but it will be significantly stronger than what we currently have on our ships smaller than cruisers. It's still stronger than the cruiser's weapons, but not by a significant amount."
"So, this new weapon will help us beat the reapers when they return?"
"I'm sure of it. But we may not have time for a complete retrofit of the fleets."
"Is the turian army preparing for the reapers?"
"Yeah, Sparatus took it right to the primarch."
"Good. Now, business aside, how are you doing Garrus?"
"I'm fine, Shepard. Still somewhat shocked by what you did to T'soni though."
"She deserved it."
"She deserved to be shot so that she'll probably have deformations for the rest of her life which will be over 900 years?"
"It won't be that long." Shepard said.
"That isn't a solution."
"Garrus. My decision is final. T'soni is as good as dead. Once we're done with the reapers, she'll probably go next."
"Understood, Commander." Garrus said. Shepard walked over to Ashley and said, "How are you holding up, Ashley?"
"I'm fine, just thinking." she replied.
"About what?"
"How T'soni always acted suspiciously. I think there's something more we haven't found."
"Can't someone on this ship talk about something other than that asari?"
"Sorry, ma'am. What did you want to talk about?"
"I know you and Kaidan were... close." Shepard said.
"It was just a one night stand after Eden Prime, ma'am."
"That isn't the important part. He was a close friend of yours. If you need to either punch me or take some time off from the Normandy.
"Shepard, Kaidan was a good friend, that's it. I know he was your friend too and you weren't working to get him killed." Ashley said.
Shepard replied, "Good, I've got to go now." as she left the room.
Legion's quarters.
"Shepard-Commander, what do you wish to discuss?"
Shepard replied, "I was wondering why the heretics joined Sovereign."
"The geth seek to build our future. Nazara offered to give it to us. The heretics chose to take its offer."
"What future is this?"
"Ours."
"Can you be more clear, Legion?"
"It is not something we wish to talk about. Perhaps another time."
"Fine, how are your attempts to get your people to prepare for the reapers going?" Shepard asked.
"They are going as well as can be expected. We believe that within one standard galactic year's time the geth will be preparing for war with the Old Machines."
Shepard nodded, she then said, "Good work Legion."
"Thank you, Shepard." Legion said as she exited the room.
Thane's room.
"Thane, what are you doing?" Shepard asked.
"I am preparing for the next mission. Unless, you don't want me to come with you." he replied.
"I just thought I told you to leave the Normandy when we docked on the Citadel."
"Under the circumstances, Joker believed it would be best to have me stay so long as you were in a troubled state of mind."
"Well, Miranda's recovered, so I should be fine, Thane."
"Then when we next dock on the Citadel, I shall leave the Normandy."
"What is that thing? I've seen you look at it before. Every time after we killed some cerberus operatives or those two rachni."
"It is the last thing Irikah gave me. It is an amulet that bears the mark of Amonkira, Lord of Hunters."
"You follow classic drell beliefs?"
"Yes, why do you know so much about the drell?"
"When you work in the Alliance, you learn as much as you can about the other races' culture, body structure, and military structure"
"Did this help you fight the batarians on Elysium, or survive Akuze?" Thane asked.
Shepard replied, "Yeah, I knew the batarians' attack patterns, and I knew more about thresher maws than the rest of my unit."
Thane said, "Interesting, if you would not mind, Shepard, I would like to meditate on what we have discussed"
"Of course." Shepard said.