Chapter 21: Legion's Loyalty

Shepard dropped off the geth unit in the AI core and had a firewall erected in front of it. Shepard then went to the portside observation to drink the day away. Malen held Tali on his back as he waited for the elevator to be usable. Once it was usable, Malen went down to the cargo bay and laid Tali down on the bed.

He pulled the covers over her and kissed her gently on the lips and was going to walk away, but Tali had grabbed his left arm.

Tali:" Sing mee a luliby Malen *hic*. Befoure you go."

Malen:" Argonians are not known for their singing Tali. We often get booed offstage for sounding to raspy."

Tali:" I don't reaaaly care. I need luliby to fall slepp *hic*"

Malen:" *sigh* I will try my best"

Malen adjusts the configuration in his vocal cords so that he wouldn't sound so raspy when he sang and sang in baritone.

Malen:" Sing all he joyful. Sing all together. The wind in the treetops, the wind in the heather. The stars are in blossom. The moon is in flower, and bright are the windows of night in the tower. Dance all he joyful. Now dance all together. Soft is the grass and let foot be like feather. The river is silver. The shadows are fleeting, and marry is may time, and marry be our meeting. Sing now we softly. In dreams let us leave him. The wanderer sleepith. Now soft be his pillow. Lullaby Lullaby under and willow."

That song was from "The Hobbit" by JRR Tolkien

When Malen looked down at Tali, he saw that she was fast asleep.

Malen:" Good night Tali."

Malen sat up from the edge of the bed and proceeded to the elevator. Malen recalled that Garrus and Vaermina were passed out in portside observation so he decided to be the good friend that he is and get them to the beds in crew quarters.

When Malen got to portside observation, he saw Garrus and Vaermina in the same position as they were before. Malen also saw Shepard passed out on the floor with some broken glass near him.

Malen:" Looks like Shepard had a one man drinking contest. I guess I'll carry him up to his cabin. Think he would appreciate that." He thought to himself.

Malen saw that Kasumi had not moved an inch since he was last there and was a little concerned about it.

Malen:" Do you ever move? Are you bored or something?"

Kasumi:" I prefer to stay in one spot when I'm not using my talents. I'm not bored at all: I like to watch."

Malen becomes a bit creeped out by that statement.

Malen:" Well… hope you keep enjoying yourself by your very creepy standards."

Kasumi:" I always do."

Malen shook his head and hoisted Garrus and Vaermina over his shoulders. He went into the crew quarters and placed both Garrus and Vaermina in the same bed, but could only position them in a piled manner for them to fit on the same bed. He pulled the bed sheets over them and went back to portside for Shepard.

Malen lifted Shepard onto his right should and used the elevator to go up to floor one. Malen went to the back of the cabin where the bed is located and placed Shepard on the bed. After Malen pulled the sheets over Shepard and made sure he was sleeping comfortably (at least as best he could on his hard bed), he decided that he should communicate with the geth that was brought aboard.

Malen logically deduced that the geth is probably in the AI core since that is where the most cyber security could be produced. The AI core was dimly lit with blue lights on the side and a deep red light at the back. On a bench beneath the red light was the geth unit. There was a guard standing to the right side of the geth.

Malen approached the geth.

Malen:" I'm reactivating the geth unit. I do not need your assistance for this so you may leave."

The guard has heard about Malen and some of his feats and did not question the request since Malen was more than able to handle himself. The guard simply saluted him and left the core room. Malen tapped on his Omni tool and began the processes of reactivating the geth.

EDI:" I have isolated our systems and erected additional firewalls. I am prepared to resist any hacking attempt."

Malen steps in front of the erected firewall and activates the geth.

Malen:" Are you going to attack me?"

Geth:" No."

Malen:" Good… Good. I have questions I must ask and questions that I will ask later depending on your answers and intentions. Why are you compelled to speak to an organic? Most geth do not speak and only have one program in their platform. I sense at least 1,000 "programs" in that platform."

Geth:" Geth do not normally speak like this due to its inefficiency. Heretics do not have the need or desire to speak with organics since they follow the old machines."

Malen:" Old machines?... I assume you mean the reapers."

Geth:" Reaper. A superstitious title originating with the Protheans. We call those entities the Old Machines."

Malen:" Could you elaborate on these "heretics"?"

Geth:" Geth build our own future. The heretics asked the Old Machines to give them the future. They are no longer part of us. We were studying the Old Machine's hardware to protect our future."

Malen:"Hmmmm so they separated themselves from Geth intelligence and became their own sect of Geth?"

Geth:" In a manner of speaking yes, but they are still Geth. We merely call them heretics for their different logic determinates."

Malen:" I see. What does the Geth's future have in store for organics? Can there be peace if an agreement is made?"

Geth:" If they involve themselves in a Geth positive future then yes."

Malen:" Does that include the Quarians? If they were willing to have peace with the Geth would you accept it?"

Geth:" Yes."

Malen was jumping for joy inside his mind that there was a real chance for peace. There were still some questions that Malen had.

Malen:" Are you asking to join us?"

Geth:" Yes."

Malen:" Then what can I designate you as?"

Geth:" Geth."

Malen:" I meant the grouped Geth intelligence I am speaking with. It wouldn't hurt to give you a unique and identifying designation."

EDI:" My name is Legion, for we are many."

Malen:" That would work."

Legion:" Christian Bible, The Gospel of Mark, chapter five, verse nine. We acknowledge this as an appropriate metaphor. We are Legion, a Terminal of the geth. We will integrate into the Normandy."

Malen:" One more question before I go. Is there a way to perhaps rewrite the heretics' logic to match yours?"

Geth:" Unknown. Will Investigate possibilities."

Malen holds his hand out for a hand shake. Legion slowly responds in kind by shaking Malen's hand.

Legion:" We do not know of your designation."

Malen:" I am Malen Katarn, though I also go by other names, but you don't need to know about those until later." He said as he left the AI core.

Malen accessed his Omni tool and set up a communications link with Kana Zorah on the way back to the cargo bay. Malen asked Kana about Quarian culture and language that is not provided in the wide based codex provided to him.

When Malen got to his workbench and sat in a chair in front of it, Kana sent him the information on Quarian culture and language that he had asked for. Malen read over the information displayed in a screen projection from his Omni tool and was intrigued by what was presented.

Malen had learned the words for Spouse/loved one, marriage, courtship, and love in three different terms of what of love is being described.

Malen also learned that Quarians don't actually use rings for their symbol of a marriage union, but instead use medallions worn around the neck. With that last bit of information Malen got a wonderful idea of what he could do while he waited for Legion to finish his investigation and for Tali to wake up with a hangover which he will promptly cure on her waking.

Malen sat up and stood only a few inches from the workbench. He rummaged in his satchel for the most beautiful material he had that he could make into jewelry. He eventually found a blue kind of metal of sorts that glows a beautiful teal color. Malen knew he had to make the medallion out of this rare material that he had the fortune of making copies of when he first found it. Malen was actually getting a little exited on the inside as he thought of Tali's reaction when he presents the medallion to her.

Malen gently places the aetherium pieces on the table and begins his work on forging a aetherium medallion. He knew that he had to be quiet while he worked since Tali was in the same room as him, which would mean that it would take longer than usual for him to complete a piece of jewelry.

It took Malen a few hours to complete the medallion quietly, but it was finished and he felt like he had really outdone himself this time, either that or the beauty of aetherium made up for and small mistakes he made.

The center piece of the medallion was a jewel of pure atherium the size of half a human's hand. It had the appearance as if someone captured clear water in an invisible glass and held it up to the moonlight: it gleamed with moving waves of soft teal light held in an endless ocean contained within a single jewel. Malen had made the necklace with a refined diamond thread that was threaded through aetherium beads.

Truly other no craftsman in the entire galaxy could come close to making something this beautiful. Malen held the necklace in a dim light as he watch the teal light shimmer across the bench and the diamond thread sparkle through the gaps in the aetherium beads.

His next idea was to place the necklace in a case to be presented in person when the time was right. He decided that the case should also be made of aetherium and did just that. The aetherium case that he made was rectangular in shape and could hold the necklace and some padding for it. Malen decided to use crimson red silk as the padding for the necklace since it seemed like a romantic thing to do and would make the aetherium necklace stand out a bit.

It was not long after Malen had put the case away in a secure pouch on his satchel that Tali decided to get up with a groan and grunt.

Tali:" *groans* Keelah… I feel like death *groans*"

Malen:" Come over here Tali and I'll get you feeling as good as new."

Tali:" That sounds great! *groans*"

Tali drags herself over to Malen. Malen places a healing spell into his right hand and touches Tali's right shoulder as the healing spell washed away her severe hangover.

Tali:" I feel a 1000% better now! *breaths deeply and exhauls in satisfaction*."

Malen:" Got a minute to talk?"

Tali:" You can talk to me until this galaxy collides with Andromeda."

Malen:" I spoke to the geth unit we brought aboard and apparently he had some very interesting things to tell me."

Tali:" I do vaguely remember that geth being able to talk. What did it have to say?"

Malen:" Apparently the geth that you have been fighting since Sovereign's attack were something called "heretics". Heretics believe that the Reapers or "Old Machines" as geth call them have the answer for their future. Legion is a representation of those who do not follow this logic. I asked Legion, the geth unit, if there was a chance for peace if the Quarians were willing for peace and he said yes. There is a chance that there doesn't have to be war at all Tali."

Tali didn't quite know how to take this information, but decided to remain positive about the implications about it. She smiled and giggled as she got dressed.

EDI:" We will be arriving on Illium in 12 minutes. Also: Malen, Legion wishes to speak with you."

Malen:" Thanks EDI."

Malen:" It took him only 5 hours to find a possibility? Incredible." He thought aloud.

Tali:" Find a possibility about what?" She asked as she finished getting into her suit.

Malen:" I asked Legion if there was a way to perhaps rewrite the heretics' logic to match theirs."

Tali:" You mean to make them non-hostile to organics?"

Malen:" Correct. I think you would be interested in what Legion has to say."

Tali:" I most certainly would!"

Tali followed Malen to the AI core. Malen was the one to approach Legion.

Malen:" I take it that you have found a possibility?"

Legion:" Yes. The heretics have developed a weapon to use against geth. You would call it a "virus". It is stored on a data core provided by Sovereign. Over time, the virus will change us. Make us conclude that worshipping the Old Machines is correct."

Malen:" We can't have that now can we, but traps work both ways. Perhaps we can use this "virus" to our advantage." He says with a grin.

Tali:" Where is this heretic weapon?"

Geth:" We will provide coordinates. Normandy's stealth systems are necessary to safely approach."

Malen laughs out loud at that last comment.

Malen:" No we don't Legion. Just send the coordinates to my Omni tool and I'll show you why."

Legion sends Malen the coordinates on his Omni tool. Malen memorizes the location to the letter as he prepares another group teleportation. Malen asks for both Legion and Tali to stand close to him. When all three were huddled together, Malen summons a portal that surrounds them in a black orb.

Legion:" WARNING! Spac…."

The group was transported all the way inside the heretic station just beyond an exterior lock.

Legion:"…ail anomaly detected!"

Tali:" I know… and so does my head * groans*"

It took legion a little bit of time for a geth to get readjust to his new surroundings so quickly.

Legion:" Malen Katarn… How did you do that?"

Tali:" He's a Daedric Prince… I still can't quite understand the full depth of his powers or abilities but he is capable of warping space time to a limited degree…. As far as I understand it."

Malen:" It is only limited when I'm outside Oblivion. What you need to know about this Legion is that I can't be classified as simply an "organic"… I became something much more not too long ago. I would prefer it if we got to the task at hand now that I have teleported us inside the heretic station."

Legion:" As you wish. Alert. This facility has little air or gravity. Geth require neither."

Malen:" I don't need those either, but I think Tali still does, but at least she has her suit on. Anyways, we should proceed."

Malen took lead as he led the group down the small hallway with adjoining stairs on the right. The room below them had green data streams connected to server hubs. Legion informed them that disrupting the streams would alert the local network. Malen got some what annoyed at having to watch where he stepped so he decided that he was going to do a little experiment with the data streams.

Malen knelt down in front of one of the data streams and held his right hand inches above it. Malen began to use his mental abilities and reality warping abilities in a way that he could see the data streams for what they truly were in the sense of their contents. Malen saw the stream of information link into the geth platforms as their programs cycled in the hubs and in data streams. Malen knew that the data streams were connected to all the geth programs in the room… so an easy way to bypass this security measure was to syphon the data stream and the program away until there was nothing left of them in the room.

Malen slowly stood back up with his right hand still extended outwards. The green streams of data were being pulled into Malen's right hand. Eventually the streams of data formed into a small green ball with white lights shining in it that represented geth programs. A sound like something was powering down as geth platforms fell away from the server hubs and remained motionless on the ground.

Tali was clapping in applause at the versatility of Malen's power while Legion was having a temporary "Does not compute" moment. Malen notices Legion's confusion by his silence and his face plates twitching.

Malen:" This goes along with the "much more than just an organic" statement Legion. I will explain it to you later, but we still have a goal to reach here."

Malen decides to keep the small green orb in a pouch on his satchel and will probably add more to it as time progresses. Malen, Tali, and eventually Legion make their way through the station. They annihilated geth patrols along the way with spells of fire and ice along with mass effect rounds. The data streams in rooms they entered, Malen would syphon away all the data and geth programs into a green orb and add it to the one already in one of his pouches.

They reached a hallway with windows on the right side revealing a large database hub network. Legion studied the hub and discovered copies of their current patrol routes.

Legion:" This suggests the heretics have runtimes within our networks."

Malen:" Perhaps the differences in their logic have made them focused into an isolation complex within their field of ideology. Either that or they are aware of or calculated our intentions when we were made aware to them and wish to preserve their logic."

Legion:" If this is the individuality that you suggest, we question your judgement. This topic is irrelevant. We must return to the mission."

Malen:" It may be relevant in the future." He added as the continued on their way.

The next room was on an upper floor above a large, maze like, room. In front of them was a glowing teal console that looked significant based on its placement in the room.

They went up to the console.

Malen:" Is this the controls?"

Legion:" Yes. We will upload a copy of our runtime into the core. It will delete all copies of the virus. When complete, it will notify us. The indexing will take time. The heretics will respond with force to our upload. We must hold this room. Are you ready to begin?"

Malen:" Always ready!"

Tali:" Indeed!"

Swarms of heretic geth platforms began to pour into the lower floor and began firing at the upper floor. Malen recalled that his servants in Apocrypha haven't seen combat in a while and are probably getting bored, at least as to what Malen imagined them feeling.

Malen held out his left hand and shot out pale green orbs of energy that landed on the lower level and expanded into large spheres. The spheres soon dissipated and revealed large and grotesque creatures that were black and dark green in color. Malen had summoned Seekers and Lurkers onto the lower levels and watched as they smashed, blew up, and tore apart the heretic platforms.

Malen:" These were some of the inhabitants of Apocrypha before I became its master in case you were wondering. You can take as much time as you need Legion. They haven't had much sport in some time."

Malen told Tali to watch the carnage/fireworks with him as his servants made short work of the heretic platforms to which Tali agreed since it seemed fun to watch, at least from a bizarre stand point.

Once the last heretic platform in the area was neutralized, Legion spoke.

Legion:" Datamine and analysis complete. Releasing virus. Note: remote access via high gain transmission required."

Tali:" What does that mean?"

Malen:" Based on the fact that we want more than to simply rewrite the heretics on this station, it would stand to reason that a powerful pulse of energy would be required to send the virus across other heretic occupied space."

Legion:" Correct. The virus will be sent to heretics in nearby star systems. This station with broadcast a powerful electromagnetic pulse through FTL channels."

Malen:" Just out of curiosity… how powerful are we talking here?"

Legion:" Yield in excess of 1.21 petawatts. Alert: EM flux will be hazardous to unshielded organics. Addendum: The interior of this station is not shielded."

Malen:" Well that answers my question then. All aboard the express train of getting the fuck out of here!"

Tali understood what that meant and huddled close to Malen. Legion followed suit. Malen summon the portal again as they were teleported away from the station before the EMP was released. Malen had teleported them back to the AI core from where they started at.

Malen:" Well Tali. Did you learn a thing or two about geth on our little trip?" He said with a hint of sarcasm and smugness.

Tali:" I did. I learned a great deal actually and I might have to rethink my stance on geth a little from this experience."

Malen:" Hopefully the Quarians will come to like them as friends in the future."

Author's Notes: I hope that was an entertaining chapter for you all. Leave reviews about what you thought of it and the story so far. The next Chapter will be called " We Go Alone".