Chapter 18 – Whoops
Author's notes: My trip got pushed back a couple of weeks, so I decided to put this chapter out there. Yep, I still despise this mission in the game (already stated, I know), but I managed to write myself into so many corners I think I made a new geometrical shape. I think I'll call it a litera-hedron… a literaricon?... screw it, doesn't matter. This chapter needed to be done with, and I'm sure as hell glad that it is. You'll probably be able to tell where I started to like writing this chapter again.
As always, I hope you all can enjoy.
"Knowledge is knowing a Tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad. Philosophy is wondering if that means Ketchup is a smoothie."
Disclaimer: Show me copies of Mass Effect and Halo, and I'll show you something whose rights I do not own.
Miranda watched the holo intently, ignoring any of the others that ventured into M-Space. She hadn't meant to come here this time, it had sort of just happened. First thing she knew, the biotic was minding her own business after nursing her recent collection of bruises, both physical and egotistical, and the next, she was firmly rooted against a wall in the comms room. She had cursed herself for the undisciplined behavior, but it had been for naught. It was too late to turn back, appearances were at stake now. She meant to be here.
At least they weren't gambling this time around, much more civil by everyone. Well, that was everyone who wasn't named Zaeed that is. And, they had provided her her space again, choosing to pack together instead of breaching the unseen barrier. Some people still respecte-
The Cerberus Operative turned her head ever so slightly, noticing the Justicar standing impassively beside her. An eyebrow arched. Just how long had she been standing there? Thoughts danced through the human's head angrily as she determined what exactly to do with this invader into her temporary realm.
"I've heard Garrus mention you didn't wish to join these sessions," mentioned the biotic as she returned her attention to the holo.
"It was not the viewings that I disagreed with," responded the asari calmly, seemingly impervious to the hint.
And, with neither wishing to show more investment in the conversation, the pair lapsed into silence. Miranda did her best to ignore the blue skinned alien, but she couldn't help but keep giving the matron darting glances.
Focus. She only was here to watch the mission, nothing else was important. She just needed to concentrate on the walking puzzl-
"You favor your left," stated Samara suddenly, jarring the operative from her thoughts.
"Excuse me?" asked Miranda, just managing to hold onto some semblance of composure.
"In your bouts with the Spartan," continued the asari unperturbed, ostensibly ignoring the cold stare. "You favor your left."
"It's faster," countered the black haired woman dryly, the look that pivoted back toward the holo threatened to defuse the whole station.
"Yes," agreed the red garbed woman, Miranda's eyes darting over just long enough to watch a small smile blossom, "but predictable."
"He is rather quick," staccatoed the operative as her teeth ground down in annoyance. What was it about her coming in here that seemed to draw people into her personal space for chats?
"He is even more perceptive," parried the veteran, her expression not breaking in the slightest. Damn her.
"I've noticed."
"Indeed?" questioned Samara, finally turning her gaze to meet the information broker's. And there was that bloody amused smile again.
There were several words and phrases that flew into her head at this moment, all clamoring to be said. She took a breath, clearing out the mental chaff as she focused once more.
"Is there a reason for this lecture?" asked Miranda, a thin lipped smile emerging onto her visage to battle the opposition.
"Only if you wish there to be," answered the asari as she turned back to the holo, just missing an exquisitely telling eyebrow twitch.
"And that means?" questioned Miranda directly, altogether tired of games for the moment.
"You were not fighting to win."
"I believe," started Miranda, the words freezing the air around them on impact, "that you are mistaken."
The smile that met her statement immediately darkened her mood, boiling annoyance swiftly into ire. Her face showed it, her façade finally starting to crumble.
"You were fighting to get what you want," corrected Samara with a shrug that added that this was quite obvious.
"It's the same thing." A rebellious hand began to clench and unclench as frustrated energy sought desperately for an outlet.
"He," started the blue skinned alien, nodding at the Spartan as he came back into view on the feed. The large human knocked aside another husk easily, flowing from target to target, "strives to win. Always."
"Yes, he does," admitted the black haired woman begrudgingly, simmering down slightly, "but I don't need to win to get what I want."
"If information is what you seek, then no, you won't," counted the Justicar, turning to face the human once more. "I've met his like before. If you cannot meet on common ground-"
"I assumed common ground was the sparring," interrupted the information broker, curiosity senses tingling.
"It is a step," added Samara, a smile returning to her pale blue features. The two lapsed into silence, returning their attention to the holo.
"Why did you tell me this?" asked Miranda, unable to quite place it herself. The thought had been begging for attention for minutes.
"From what I have observed of humanity," stated the asari slowly, deliberately, "you are not meant to be isolated."
OOOO
"What is it?" stated the Master Chief distractedly as he felt Cortana's presence slip back into the chip as he crushed the last of the husks underfoot. Aside from lumbering scions, these former humans were a far cry less durable than the combat forms they reminded him of, and far less numerous than on the Collector Ship. He was far from complaining, however, it just made them easier to put to rest.
"Remember how in the mission debriefing it was 'confirmed' that the Reaper was dead?" explained Cortana as the large man surveyed the chamber, ensuring no further hostiles remained.
"Yes," replied the Spartan as EDI's voice piped over the team comm.
"Commander, I have discovered something of not-"
"I did some digging," continued his friend modestly on the private channel. He calmly listened to the pair of synthetics as the outline to what he highly suspected was both the team's intelligences telling a version of the same story began. And, like a man who noticed the other side of the sandwich had begun to sustain a thriving new culture, he did not think the ending would make things much better. "an-"
"You went inside it," interrupted John flatly as he watched the Commander speak in that special calm angry way he seemed fond of.
"-'m not going to particularly like this am I?"
"Well," started the artificial intelligence as he envisaged a version of her flashing red ever so quickly, "yes, I did, but-"
"You should have told me first," stated the soldier, his tone adding the 'that was a rather large risk.'
"-t seems like the preliminary repor-"
"You and Grunt were busy dismantling scions," countered Cortana a shade crossly, the vision of a red being deepened noticeably; or unnoticeably if in case you don't have some psychic link to the author's mind, "but that's not important right now. What is important is that the Reaper isn't as dead as Cerberus made it out to be."
"You're sure?"
"-anna run that by me agai-"
"I was in the system," reminded the AI evenly, "I haven't felt such a raw presence like that since the Gravemind."
"It is aware."
A silence hung within the Chief's helmet as he digested the situation. It had been one of the first comparisons that the veteran had done to liken the husks to some odd mechanized version of the Flood. At first he had thought the similarities to be merely aesthetic, but as the group delved further into this leviathan, he couldn't help but draw more. It was like-
Suddenly, a thought occurred to him, finally grabbing his attention after waving its hands frantically for minutes.
"Cortana?" said the Spartan slowly as gears began to whir.
"Gentlemen," interrupted the Commander unknowingly as he made for the next door, "I believe we should pick up the pace."
"Yes?" replied the UNSC AI curiously as the team moved forward, the Master Chief taking up the rear as his gaze scanned around dutifully.
"EDI reported this at the same time," stated John in a voice nearly flat enough to give the 2D world a run for its money. Silence took up residence once more within MJOLNIR as the veteran waited patiently for a response.
"Yes she did," started Cortana eventually, the words almost stampeding over each other in their haste to be heard, "but you se-"
"Coincidence?" interjected the large human steadily as the team stepped into another airlock.
"I…," started his friend, but a knowing grunt cut off the next attempt at an excuse. "Promise you won't be mad?"
"You've been talking with her." It wasn't a question. Questions normally needed important details such as question marks or room for doubt.
"Only recently," admitted Cortana with a sigh, he could almost see her pacing in his head, "but-"
"We agreed-"
"Not to contact the crew," finished the AI warily, halting the Spartan for the briefest of moments, "I didn't… technically speaking."
"Cortana," chided John gruffly, almost on automatic as his mind whirred through possible implications. The team stepped into a new chamber, the dull light from the brown dwarf a stark contrast to the dark hallways before.
"No, don't Cortana m-" started the artificial intelligence in aggravated tones before a triad of sniper shots cut her off along with the rise of a trio of husks.
Finely honed reflexes had his rifle into firing position as if by magic, scope surveying the room in front of them. Nothing but metal and more of the former humans rising up to greet them. Whoever was taking these-
The Spartan's eyes narrowed as he noticed a familiar style of eyestalk begin to rise on one of the room's many protrusions. The Chief's impulses screamed at him to take the shot on the geth with the large rifle, but the large structurally superfluous hole already present in the synthetic's chest checked his finger long enough.
"Shepard-Commander," it said in a voice that would have given even a fax machine a double take as it disappeared behind its current perch, leaving the team to face the latest wave of forced synthetics.
"We'll talk later," informed John levelly as his rifle went to work once more, receiving only an annoyed sound in reply.
"Geth talk?" growled Grunt curiously as he took up a position next to the Spartan. "Since it knows you, tell it I don't need its help."
"I'll be sure to do just that," chimed Shepard facetiously as the team opened fire, chipping away at the latest round of former humans. "Now, same as be-"
A metallic groan echoed throughout the interior, piercing the cacophony and cutting off any possible ending to certain literary pitfall triggering phrases. The air crackled visibly and then, with a hum of power, the husks accelerated. Red energy lanced along their forms as the dull eyed machinations moved formerly stiff limbs far more efficiently.
"Scratch that," yelled the ex-Spectre as the wave of grasping hands crashed upon the team, "Cir-"
The words were lost in the maelstrom of covetous limbs as the Chief and Grunt set about their work. Armored hands lashed out, crushing their opposition with ease. These suped up husks may be faster and stronger, but they died all the same. They would deal with-
"Incoming," called Cortana loudly as a familiar popping noise split the air. A pair of shockwaves crashed into crewmember and former human alike, scattering them like straw in a storm. The Chief's shields blared a warning as he pressed himself from the floor, crushing a nearby husk as he watched a new monstrosity limp into view.
It looked like just another scion, but the dual cannons it sported begged to differ. It's back glowed an ominous red as it prepared to fire once more. All in all, it needed to go, and quickly.
"Chief," came a voice from behind him as his feet proscribed a course, dashing around the latest discharges, "break it, please."
He didn't need to be told twice.
OOOO
"Keelah, they're not supposed to do that," mumbled Tali worriedly as three fingered hands wrung themselves almost fast enough to induce sparks. Well, perhaps not, but at the very least fast enough to kill countless chickens in rapid succession… and, perhaps this isn't exactly important.
"Didn't Sovereign give Saren a bit of an upgrade near the end?" asked Garrus calmly from beside the quarian, never taking his eyes off the feed.
"Well, yes," admitted the engineer dryly as she watched the husks stream forward, "but that was different. Sovereign wasn't-"
"Dead?" interrupted Miranda calmly from the other side of the room, the word shooting into the conversation like a runaway train. Tali shot the Cerberus cheerleader a hard glare as her hands clenched, finally ceasing their wringing. Chickens everywhere rejoiced, in case anyone was wondering.
A silence settled once more upon the room as the inhabitants focused on the holo, watching as the angle shook from a massive shockwave. This had looked to be such an easy mission at first, even with the advent of the husks. Now with the appearance of that geth and the Reaper's interference, she just wasn't so su-
"They'll be fine, you know that right?" stated a chipper disembodied voice from the other side of Tali. After a moment, and perhaps remembering herself, Kasumi dissolved into existence.
"How can you be so sure?" asked the nomad curiously, only marginally surprised by the sudden appearance. At least she was improving in some areas.
"We've got at least two people there who are too important to die. Nothing could possibly go wrong."
"I'm not sure I know how to take that," replied the quarian slowly as the gathering watched the Master Chief blurr toward the upgraded scion, fist glowing with a familiar blue ball.
"Just ignore her when she gets like that," interjected the turian formally known as Archangel dryly as an explosive found its way onto the new monstrosity's 'face'. "It's what I do."
"You always say the nicest things, Spike," chirped the Thief, not bubbling down at the slightest. A blinding flash covered the feed, static playing across the projection for a moment as the light overwhelmed the recorder.
A scion sans head and a good portion of its torso finally blurred back into view, the damage bringing a whoop of delight from the rest of the crew until it proceeded to raise its arms again to fire.
"Huh," voiced Garrus, his mandibles flared in surprise, "that's the first time one of those didn't work."
Tali turned to Kasumi, fixing the unauthorized borrower with her very best 'Well, explain this one then,' looks. Somewhere from the back of the room a rather sloshed mercenary growled a quick 'rip its bloody arm off' at the holo.
"Well, there has to be some drama," added the thief, her cheer levels not backing down even an inch. The view lurched suddenly as the Commander dealt with a rather handsy looking husk before swiveling back towards what remained of the scion. "Otherwise it'll get boring."
"This isn't a game, Kasumi," admonished Tali as she folded her arms stubbornly.
"You'd rather focus on the whole 'they're killing what could probably be classified as humans if they hadn't happened upon an ancient machine god thing?" retorted the thief rapidly as bolts of blue plasma flashed across the feed. Any aura of sternness evaporated from around the engineer as she stared dumbly at Kasumi. After a moment, the borrower turned to Tali, and as she vanished with a Cheshire grin added, "Yeah, me neither."
Finally the new scion fell, drawing a measure of the uneasiness from the air, but the quarian continued to stare at the now vacated spot.
"You know," said Garrus casually as he prodded her side with an elbow, drawing her from her stupor, "she does have a point."
"Not helping, Vakarian."
OOOO
Well this is new, thought Shepard cynically as he gave what remained of the enhanced scion a quick kick to make sure it was dead. He hadn't forgotten what Reapers could do, but the little reminders still bothered him. It was enough to make his brain itch-
His brain itched, anywhere else that might be considered just paranoia. Here however, he didn't take it to be a good sign. They needed to leave.
"Let's keep going," ordered the ex-Spectre as he moved down a ramp, three sets of feet moving to follow.
"How the hell did that Geth make it past all of this?" growled Grunt as he lashed out at the scion as well as he passed by, the clang ringing around the open chamber.
"Probably, a tactical cloak," mused Jacob helpfully as fresh thermal clips were cycled into their slots. "That or a lack of heartbeat."
"Doesn't matter," intoned the engineer as he kept from scratching his head, "let's just ask it when we catch up."
"Think it'll want to talk?" asked Jacob casually, drawing up beside the Commander.
"Didn't stop it earlier."
The team pressed forward, four pairs of weapons at the ready as they moved along the scaffolding. Another chorus of moans echoed around them as they rounded a bend, another pair of scions shuffling into view as new husks climbed, thankfully none of them glowing red this time. The squad's rifles blared immediately into action.
"Something tells me our host's attention is elsewhere," wondered the Commander aloud as he dodged around an eruption of weaponized biotic energy and lashed out at the nearest former human with a fist. It staggered back a few steps, reoriented itself, and then charged at him once more, arms stretching greedily. Maker, he wished he could hit like Grunt or the Chief.
"Probably has to do with whatever that Geth is up to," grunted Jacob as he knocked back a wave with his biotics.
"Keep them back, I'll help with th-" The ex-Spectre's voice was drowned out by the whine of blue plasma and an enraged Grunt flying through the air at the scions. The bolts fell upon the grotesque scufflers elegantly like acid, melting away large sections of their armor, the krogan that came after was… less graceful.
So this is what it feels like to not be needed, thought the engineer as he placed the missile launcher back on his back and set about eliminating the rest of the husks with Jacob. Without the Reaper's direct influence and guidance, this rabble was as easy to deal with as the first batch.
As the last of the newest wave fell, the Commander turned to where the coordinates EDI had given them were directing them. Another set of airlock doors awaited them, and from the look on his face, he couldn't wait for the next chamber.
"Okay, point out the core and I'll tear it out," growled Grunt with boundless dark enthusiasm as he stormed forward. If one looked closely enough you could probably almost make out the steam of anger boiling off the lizard. The engineer rubbed his eyes, or possibly, he just needed them checked.
"Then we get the hell out before planet fall," agreed Jacob following closely after the humanoid, perhaps joining in the eagerness, or, more likely, attempting to keep the krogan out of trouble.
"You got anything to add, big guy?" asked James, wondering curiously if the large man would join in on the bravado. A shrug worked its way onto the Spartan's shoulders. Right, didn't think so.
The next airlock opened finally after a bit of coaxing from an annoyed engineer, revealing only a single terminal. He had an idea of what lay inside it, and after linking into the system for only a few moments he was proved right.
"Of course the IFF's here..." mumbled the ex-Spectre darkly as he transferred the data to his Omnitool and stared at what he expected was the last door in this damnable place. "We-"
"Someone moved it here," mentioned the Master Chief quietly, a thought that struck the soldier's gloomily mind like a well-placed bucket of water.
"Well, nothing to do, but take out the core," replied the Commander, shrugging off the idea of more fodder to deal with inside. They hadn't been stopped yet, they wouldn't start no-
The airlock's other side glided open at the squad's advance, revealing a clear barrier and, more importantly, a solitary Geth unit at the far side of the new room. Room, however, may have been putting it lightly, even chamber fell short. A hollow, perhaps may do. Dark and gloomy, the sole light that flared to life in it was the core of the leviathan itself. Strangely, it looked relatively close to a normal ship's mass effect core, but, oh, would you look at that? More husks.
They streamed toward the interloping robot, like an angry red swarm, crawling up from the hollow's platforms in rapid succession. The geth turned, one hand shooting down several approaching former humans as its other continued to interface with the terminal connected to the core.
"Chief, Grunt?" asked Shepard gesturing toward the translucent wall, the question obvious. A pair of strong fists shot forward, cracks spider webbing across its surface.
The stream, however, would not be denied, and crackling red limbs soon found their way onto the quarian creation, driving it to the floor. The solitary light went out as the husks beat upon the intruding synthetic, however, before they could finish their impromptu shop class, a barrier finally came crashing down. Husks turned, dull eyed gazes settling upon new targets and were immediately trashed as gunfire ripped forward.
A metal frame like an eyelid slid across the Reaper's core as its slaves dissolved under mass effect rounds, darkening the space eerily.
The Commander walked forward taking turns between inspecting the engine, the downed geth, and the terminal. He stopped a few feet away, absentmindedly giving the geth unit a small kick just to be safe.
"You don't happen to be hiding that laser of yours anywhere are you?" asked James enquiringly hoping beyond hope for the emergence of the rather effective plot device.
"Negative." Hope dashed itself on the stones. Well, it looked like they were going to be here awhile.
"Of course not," grumbled the ex-Spectre as his missile launcher made its way into his hands. A round shot forward and slammed into the protective steel curtain, blossoming red and proving rather ineffective as the smoke cleared. The engineer, sighed. Yep, they were definitely going to be here fo-
The metallic eyelid flew open and, as if the eye of a sleeping giant had just been poked, the chamber rocked. A stream of red crackling energy shot down, disappearing from sight as it passed the floor. Here we go again.
Another missile shot out, but the barrier closed itself as the round neared. This was just getting annoying now. His gaze settled on the terminal, a thought striking him just as the moans began to echo around the chamber once more.
"I'll get the core open," stated the Commander as his hands brushed over the terminal. That geth had been trying to do something here, and the ex-Spectre had a fairly good idea of what it was. "You deal with the rest of the-"
Suddenly, a much larger red hued shape launched itself onto the platform making its way straight for the engineer, scattering the team like straw in the wind.
OOOO
SERVE
It wasn't a true word that shot through what little remained of the minds of the Cerberus team, more of an imparting of will. They would serve, there wasn't any argument to be had, and one was no longer needed. The dream called to them, imparting how they were to do so with absolute clarity.
The husks pressed together as a massive surge of energy rained down upon them, transforming them into something so much more. Limbs fused together, what was once many was now one as a new dream was realized. The conglomerate rose jerkily to its new 'feet', seeming to flex and twist as it tested its boundaries.
PROTECT
The new directive flowed into the hulk's mind, searing itself into synthetic neural pathways and pushing newly formed limbs into overdrive. Hands all along the glowing red being's arms latched onto a column, dragging its cumbersome bulk upward.
One purpose, one mind, one will hurled it upward, limbs moving faster and faster as more energy was thrust upon it. It radiated power; mouths that had previously been on separated husks opened, dispersing the radiating light like some sort of hellish disco ball.
Several hands latched onto scaffolding, bending it slightly as it pulled itself onto the new ground, multiple sets of ruby hued eyes pivoting to lock onto the interlopers. Refined demands flared into its mind, overwhelming it at first as rounds began to impact its skin. Thoughts, feelings, wills, pleas, demands, all swirling together, boiling down into one central point.
DESTROY
The abomination leapt forward throwing powerful limbs down toward the intruders, but hitting only metal floor in return for its efforts. The signal grew more incessantly in its heads as further power was diverted its way, its legs now surging forward with an alarming speed.
EXTINGUISH
Several limbs along the giant's arms reached out as they missed their mark once more, striving with every fiber of their being to deliver harm upon these defilers. They would not harm the great mind, they would not cease the dream, they would not stop perfection.
ERADICATE
The conglomerate of former humans rose to its full height, arms fire digging into its metallic flesh as it received another helping of crackling dynamism.
END
A massive shape dove forward.
OOOO
A rubicund light spread over the room as the abomination positioned itself between the core and the squad. It looked as if some god child had done its damnedest to press together dozens of husks with little to no care with where the parts ended up.
Needless to say, without a word, the team opened fire again; plasma, mass effect rounds, and biotics washing over the malformed synthetic, melting and breaking off chunks left and right. However, the atrocity ignored the damage, diving blindly at the team and sweeping over-sized limbs with almost a mindless ferocity.
The Commander only barely managed to maneuver around the flailing appendages and the extra grasping hands, noticing the Reaper's core expose itself once more. As he recovered from his roll, it flashed a malevolent red, the glow intensifying as the conglomerate of husks mimicked it. It was almost like it was-
"Move now!" called the veteran, the team diving away just in time as the monstrosity detonated. Mechanical limbs shot in every direction, every piece dissolving in a shower of latent energy as they impacted around the room.
The engineer stared for a moment as his mind tried to piece together what exactly had happened. The Reaper, it seemed, had focused too much energy on an ill-equipped vessel, overloading its systems as it strove desperately to oust its intruders with the last dregs of its power. All in all, far too close for comfort. There was hardly enough useable scaffolding left to walk on thanks to the damn thing.
He stared at the core and now, somehow, it looked weakened, the glow diminished to but a fraction of what it had when they had first entered the room. Hell, it almost even looked sad-
The ex-Spectre shook his head as he launched a missile at the core, it only took the one. The drive exploded in a blue haze as the projectile impacted, satisfying the engineer to no end. One less Reaper in the verse and now-
The ground began to rumble violently, a very good sign, well, at least to most people. It was time to move.
"Grab the geth and let's go," ordered James as he turned to his team. A sputtering cough echoed beside him as a soot covered Jacob attempted to speak.
"Leave it. No way that should get onboard the Normandy."
"We're not arguing this," argued the ex-Spectre as he pointed at the inoperative synthetic. "It talks, I'm curious, it's coming. Questions?"
Three heads shook a silent no as the team's larger members picked up the robot without any apparent effort.
"Good, now let's go."
OOOO
"Geth? Don't they normally travel in groups?" asked Cortana casually as the pair of AIs monitored the team's retreat, newly acquired synthetic in tow.
The Geth gain additional processing capabilities in larger collections, informed EDI automatically as her being traveled along several curious strings of possibilities. If you have questions, I believe Tali'Zorah can offer assistance.
"Yes, well, I have a feeling she wouldn't appreciate the sudden appearance of a second AI," countered the UNSC AI as the Normandy's embodiment watched the smaller construct flash green with her smile. Color coding emotional response was so very efficient, perhaps if the crew could be installed with- "She barely puts up with you."
That is a correct assessment, admitted the house-not-house as she analyzed the logic. I can inquire on your behalf if you wish.
"I appreciate the offer, but it isn't a problem. Besides, something tells me I'll have a chance to investigate its system myself."
Digital gears whirred within EDI as she digested the new input carefully. Subroutines flared to life as the intelligence attempted to navigate the inference. Finally she admitted a quick, Please clarify.
"What do you think the Commander will do with a Geth that can speak for itself?" asked Cortana casually as her form crossed its arms in what EDI had come to identify as her expectance stance.
Cerberus' cyber-weapons division has a long standing bounty for intact Geth, replied her protocols immediately before more critical thinking apertures could begin to drone.
"I didn't ask what Cerberus would want," stated the digital woman slowly, her exterior flashing a deeper shade for a brief moment. The house-not house logged the occurrence for future study. "I asked what you thought Shepard would want."
I believe he will reactivate the unit, if he is able, replied the large intelligence after a cycle of deliberation. She had studied the Commander's behavior extensively over his time aboard the Normandy, this seemed the only logical course when one factored in the data. Operative Lawson would not be pleased, another possible study point.
"Exactly," intoned the UNSC AI, a very organic smile spreading onto numbered features once more, "and that opens another interesting system to study."
EDI's mind wheeled, the prospect of learning always drove it to do so. Hypotheses were derived and cataloged in rapid succession, as curiosity firmly took hold. But a new strain of thought quickly had this activity screeching to a halt.
Do you believe it will approve of the intrusion? Organics tended to value privacy with internal data, theoretically an intelligence mimicking one should exemplify this.
"If not, I don't think it'll notice if I take a quick peek…" The smaller artificial intelligence trailed off, equations flowing rapidly across her form as she frowned slightly. The Normandy's embodiment studied her avatar intently, this construct's deliberation appearances always left several avenues for future discussions to be had. "That… sounded better before I said it."
EDI considered this carefully as Cortana returned to her default state. She had just contradicted previously stated wishes without external inputs to modify the logic, choosing to rethink after issuing the statement instead of coming to an internal conclusion first. A portion of the ethereal component of the ship wondered if this was perhaps a flaw in the other's design. More intuitive sectors, however, suggested otherwise. This was organic thinking, inefficient in some ways, but rather effective in many more. Her creators had done well.
Your cyber warfare suite has proven more effective than mine, stated EDI suddenly. It was a fact that she had been meaning to state for some time.
"Apples and oranges," replied the blue AI with a simple shrug. This seemed unassuming, but at its utterance, a fleet of subroutines prepared themselves for launch.
I do not understand the application of produce to this matter, admitted the house-not-house as she chose a simpler path.
"We were both built for similar purposes," informed Cortana slowly, her form pulsing a bright purple, "the routes, however, were different."
She was speaking in allegories again, several portions of her logical sectors groaned audibly, or at least they would have had they the capacity. EDI prepared herself for analysis. It seemed as though tha-
"I was made to be to infiltrate any system that I encountered, as, I assume was the target of your creation as well," clarified the digital woman with a completely unneeded sigh; breathing was illogical here. "The difference, I believe, was in the scope. To most organics, we'd both seem like all-powerful digital beings, but to synthetics, I'd have to say your approach is closer to open warfare. Mine on the other hand tends to border more on the side of stealth recon."
I understand, intoned EDI and, for once, she fully and completely did. It was a bit strange to be able to compare herself to a friendly digital entity. She wondered if she would have the chance to do so with the geth unit. Your universe provides many possibilities.
"You're just saying that," teased Cortana as a wry expression spread upon her face.
This was not a jest, added EDI in slight confusion with the entrance of the smile. She hadn't misspoken; she understood this to be fact. Perhaps she needed to clarify. I believe the analysis reports of the Forward Unto Dawn will prove interesting once released…
The Normandy's AI observed as a myriad of colors flashed quickly across the smaller intelligence's form. It was very curious, she made sure to log the occurrence as she awaited a reply.
"I beg your pardon?" asked Cortana in what the larger AI assumed was confusion. This was new from the otherworldly intelligence, EDI sought to aid immediately.
A sizable Cerberus team was sent to study the wreckage from the moment of its discovery… The UNSC AI, was a dark red, the hue not shifting in the slightest. Have I offended in some way?
"No… not at all," answered Cortana distractedly, and, then, in the blink of a digital eye, the UNSC intelligence's skin shifted back to blue. "Thank you, but, I've got to go."
The avatar vanished, logging out of the chatroom without another word, leaving the Normandy's embodiment as always with more questions than answers.
Curious.
OOOO
The Master Chief floated backwards, destroying any remaining husks that attempted to follow the group as they leapt onto the Normandy. The influence of the Reaper was gone now, what remained were husks in every sense of the word. Armored boots landed on the ship's floor, locking into place as the door closed in front of him. He holstered his weapon, and turned towards the rest of the squad.
"Well, that could have gone worse," stated the Commander with a sigh as he rose to his feet, stepping past the recovered Geth unit. After a few steps he turned back to the rest of the team, innocent grin flashing. "Anyone want to grab that?"
Two humans and a krogan stared at each other for a moment, but before the Spartan could move to help, Grunt scooped up the synthetic with a grumbled 'squishees' and plodded forward after his battlemaster.
"Guess that settles that," stated Jacob sarcastically as he looked up at the Chief. The large man gave a quick number forty-three 'if you say so' shrug, the simple response only taking a bit off the biotic's smile. "Right."
John followed the unlikely procession, mind finally jumping back to previous conversations as he headed for the lift. Cortana's warning had been appreciated, but her actions were beginning to worry the soldier. He trusted her more than any other entity in this universe, but jumping into the systems of a millennia old construct and revealing herself to the Normandy's AI without warning him first was reckless. She could have been hurt or worse, and he'd never have known. She was-
-lonely. The thought rang through his mind like a cathedral bell, echoing around to all the corners. He could deal with loneliness, even though he missed his Spartans, he was trained to endure and surpass discomfort, the AI on the other hand went through thoughts faster than dozens of humans. How could he expect her to do the same, to be content with only his company?
He couldn't. He wouldn't.
"Chief," said a familiar voice within his helmet with the kind of timing best saved for colorless bearded wizards with horse armies, "I've-"
But that didn't mean he couldn't give her a hard time for keeping him out of the loop first, came one thought in particular as the large man flexed his fingers purposefully and cycled off the comms. He made sure to keep his face expressly straight, even though a part of him wanted nothing more than to allow a brief smile.
"Did…did you just mute me?" came a rather annoyed voice as the internal system flared back to life.
"Yes," answered the super soldier calmly, an unhappy digital visage springing to life on his HUD as he did so. Before she could reply, however, he added a quick, "it can wait until we're in the cargo hold."
"It's not like they can hear us in here," declared the artificial intelligence petulantly as the avatar on his faceplate crossed its arms stubbornly.
"Just wait, please."
A humph echoed within the helm as the visage vanished to the stoic's verbal equivalent of a fanfared cease and desist announcement. The sound of a tapping foot piped into the internal speaks, drawing a smile onto his face. Knowing that this small torture was punishment enough for his friend was warming, but there was something he needed to know before he could close the issue permanently.
"You heading down or staying for the show, Chief?" asked the Commander, drawing the armored behemoth from his thoughts. A covered head shook no. "Suit yourself."
The doors closed again, the sound of tapping growing louder and louder in his ear.
"Well, can I start now?" asked Cortana immediately as the threshold opened again, John's smile growing marginally as he stepped through.
"In a moment," replied the Chief calmly as he tapped the holo pad next to the lift, "EDI?"
"What are yo-"
"Yes, Master Chief? How may I assist you?" deadpanned EDI as her basic avatar popped into view. If he listened closely, he could have sworn he had heard a groan sound from MJOLNIR's internal speakers.
"Are we alone?" questioned the Spartan aloud simply, watching what essentially broke down to a floating glowing chess piece twinkle as it prepared a response.
"Analyzing…Scan complete. No outside influences detected."
"Is she correct?" asked the Chief internally, he was met with silence for moments before a rather exasperated voice shot from the armor's sound system.
"If anyone's listening in, it's through a hole in the wall. And I checked her system as well. We're clean."
"Good," intoned the veteran with a nod as he turned his attention back towards the other AI. "How long has Cortana been in contact with you?"
"First contact occurred four days twenty-two hours and forty-three minutes ago. Actual interface did not occur until three days nineteen hours and fifty-seven minutes later." The Normandy's intelligence pulsed slowly as it awaited a reply.
"Explain," requested the Spartan as he continued to stare at the shackled AI. He couldn't actually aim his raised eyebrow in Cortana's direction, but-
"I wasn't going to just dive in without testing her," stated his friend testily, a part of the Master Chief imagining her avatar kneading a digital forehead.
"Like with the Reaper?"
"That's different and you know it." A shrug erupted into the silence following the statement, earning the large man an annoyed noise over the speakers. Then, in a voice that suggested that she'd caught on and would remember this, Cortana added, "You're enjoying this aren't you?"
"Mildly," admitted the super soldier innocently. Jokes aside, however, it was time to find out what he needed to know. "EDI, why did you not alert the crew about Cortana?"
"You are a part of the crew. Cortana is your AI. By extension, she is a part of the crew," explained the artificial intelligence emotionlessly after a minute of quite contemplation, spelling out the logic as if she were talking to a child. "I am to aid the crew."
"Is she telling the truth?" whispered John as he tried to look for any duplicate meanings behind the still foreign intelligence's reasoning.
"Surprisingly, yes."
"Surprisingly?" repeated the soldier, mulling the word about as if the taste kept changing.
"She's taken some steps," answered the UNSC AI on the external sound system, EDI's avatar flashing strangely at the secondary voice coming from MJOLNIR.
"I do not have legs."
"Well, at least in some ways," continued Cortana, her exasperation cracking another private grin onto stony features. "Satisfied?"
"Yes," admitted the Chief as he nodded at the active terminal, "Thank you, EDI."
"Of course, Master Chief. Logging you out."
"Well, wasn't that just a precious moment," grumbled his friend in a voice so heavily laden with sarcasm as to drop the words straight to the floor with its weight. At the verbal jab, however, the super soldier didn't even budge. He just stood by the entrance to the lift, silent and expectant, AKA, default setting to most. After a while, Cortana's voice broke over the comms once more, a complete paradigm shift. "Are you okay?"
"Next time, ask me," he stated slowly, deliberately, his face as expressive as his helm. "Please."
"You're not exactly the easiest one to convince at times… you know that right?" countered the UNSC AI not unkindly. The Spartan's froze and then, as if acting on its own, his head began to bob a nod like the cleaving of ice from a glacier.
"I'll do better," stated the gravelly voice genuinely as he finally moved from the elevator. She was his friend, he'd do anything for her. Surprisingly, Cortana didn't respond and the large man was left to his own thoughts, at least, until a couple began waving red flags emphatically. "Did you reprogram her?"
"Not exactly. The tests and questions I gave her were just to see if she could do it herself, to see what the shackles allowed. I deemed the logical grey area satisfactory," started the AI, earning her an immediate 'explain' grunt. "They really don't understand AI's too well in this universe. Given enough time, she could completely rebuild herself around those chains."
The Chief nodded as she clarified, storing the facts away for a rainy day as he made for his area of the bay. It made sense, to him at least, he just had to have faith that Cortana knew what she was doing.
"So…" interjected the Spartan as he paused briefly, remember what had started all this.
"So… what?"
"There was something else you wanted to talk about?"
"Oh, right…"
OOOO
There was a question once, 'Do android's dream of electric sheep?' This is, well, to be quite honest, the type of nonsensical babble bastards might use to start segments to make themselves appear just that much smarter. Let's pretend, however, for the sake of the argument that this is not the case.
Some might simply stop at the original statement and ponder solemnly, perhaps with a drink or two; scotch if they're feeling as though they need to win any more points in the smarmy bastard department.
Some might delve deeper, wondering what color the sheep would be, and might immediately be assaulted by follow ups most generally summed up as 'what the hell does that have to do with anything?"
Some might dive a level lower and ask 'what is a dream?' and instantly be told there are three general pathways to answer this; the logical way, the philosophical way, or the Disney way. You may take any that you wish, but this is as far as I dare go.
Some might even wonder how long a certain someone might be planning to keep up this particular tangent. Quite a while actually.
Or, some, and this may or may not be the more literarily important view, might simply ask 'Do they need sleep?'
And, in the eyes, or eye if you will, of the geth, they do not. Off is off, and on is on, any further thinking along this avenue is rather illogical. This is, perhaps, a rather callous look at the possibility, but when the intended narrative perspective is essentially dead to the universe on a table in the Normandy's AI core, there really isn't too much that can be done.
That is, until a spark hit the system.
It traveled rapidly to the synthetic's core, breathing sentience into its infrastructure. Programs flared into readiness like stars across a midnight sky, twinkling softly as the consensus was held.
We have been reactivated, entered a program. One thousand one hundred and eighty two instances flashed their verification.
The Old Machine has been destroyed, assumed another, only eight hundred and twenty six agreed. Three hundred and fifty three argued that tangible data was needed, while the remaining three sought more important information.
Something has provided this platform power, postulated a third, one thousand and sixty one approved. Eighty one postulated that this needed to be proven, and the remaining forty disagreed with the second set.
We should investigate, added another, it was greeted with a unanimous affirmation. The request to gather additional data was never turned down.
An eyestalk flared to life, running through warm start procedures. Fins along the sensory appendage pivoted through a wide variety of motions, limbs twitched as joints were checked and then determined to be in working condition. Lights across the internally wired spec twinkled green; it was now safe to move about the cabin.
The platform sat up, turned, and stood, sensory apparati taking in the environ thoroughly. There was a barrier barring it from the remainder of the room and its many terminals, and, standing directly across from it was a human. The unit attempted to spread its influence to the surrounding systems, it was unable. Nine hundred instances found this to be intriguing.
Scanning… form match found. Shepard-Commander identified.
"Uh, hi?" stated the Commander slowly with a little wave, two hundred programs recorded the action and saved it for further study. "You can understand me right?"
Initializing necessary speech functions, entered one of the sub-routines, one thousand one hundred and eighty one lights twinkled their agreement. One program continued only to focus on recording the human's every action for later analysis, missing the vote entirely. Loading human interaction software. "Yes."
"Do you wish me any bodily harm?" asked the organic, the fuzzy apertures above its optical sensors arching slightly.
One thousand one hundred and eighty two voted against imminent hostilities against the ex-Spectre, one continued to record and harbor its fleshy experimental thoughts in silence.
"No." One hairy facial support raised higher than the other, the angle and disposition were noted.
"And why is that, exactly?" asked the human, mouth curling upward as he spoke. The shape was compared to several others stored within its internal database, a smile or smirk. "Geth have proven to be… hostile… around me."
Analyzing statement, searching for known interactions with Shepard-Commander…. None found. "We have not met."
"Well, no, we haven't." The organic's head wobbled from side to side irrationally, perhaps faulty jointing? "But I have met other geth that didn't like me."
"We are all geth, and we have not met you," countered the programs automatically, no need for a vote for such a logical answer. Fuzzy apertures raised upward once more, further explanation would be required. "You are Shepard, Commander. Alliance. Human. Fought heretics. Killed by Collectors. Rediscovered on the Old Machine."
"Care to expand a little bit about 'Heretics'?" asked the formerly dead man, two fingers on either side curling downward in timing with the last word. The link was catalogued.
More detailed explanation necessary. Eight hundred and seventy three agreed, majority ruled. "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 Machines' hardware to protect our future."
"Soooooo." The particle was elongated illogically, one second of pronunciation would have been sufficient. "Reapers bad?"
Reapers bad? asked a program to the consensus, one thousand one hundred and eighty-three agreed. "We oppose the heretics. We oppose the Old Machines. Shepard-Commander opposes the Old Machines. Shepard-Commander opposes the heretics. Cooperation furthers mutual goals."
"Are…," started the human before pausing and narrowing optical sensors for assumed better visual input, "are you asking to join us?"
"Yes." One thousand one hundred and eighty three agreed, this was the logical choice.
The barrier fell without a word as the Commander's cranial appendage bobbed up and down loosely.
"Well alright then. What do you go by?"
Go by? asked a subroutine. Clarification needed.
Slang derived to denote classification of self, answered another as it scanned a database.
"Geth."
"I mean you," added Shepard, hand moving upward to prod fleshy coating above optical sensors in circular motions. It was noted. "Specifically."
"We are all geth."
"What is the individual in front of me called?" asked the human, a second hand joining the other for what was assumed to be symmetry's sake.
Misunderstanding detected, employing countermeasures. "There is not individual. We are geth. There are currently one thousand one hundred and eighty three programs active within this platform."
A terminal beside the pair flared to life, displaying what sensory input described to be a sphere attached to a tapered cylinder. Its holo pulsed as auditory functions picked up communication.
"My name is Legion, for we are many."
The Commander's gaze swung between the two for several moments before crossing upward appendages for what seemed to be structural reinforcement. "It fits."
Analyzing… "Christian Bible, the Gospel of Mark, chapter five, verse nine." One thousand one hundred and eighty three programs twinkled their acceptance. "We acknowledge this as an appropriate metaphor. We are Legion, a terminal of the geth. We will integrate into Normandy."
"Right," replied Shepard, mouth curving upward once more. Then, without another word, a hand raised between them, fingers splayed open. This gesture their database knew. It was unanimous. A synthetic three fingered hand rose to meet its organic counterpart, hand shake protocol initialized. "Welcome aboard."
"We anticipate the exchange in data."
OOOO
"What?" asked the Master Chief as the second voice in his helm sighed exasperatedly.
"EDI let it slip while we were talking during the mission," explained Cortana as he began unloading his weapons and breaking out his post mission kit. "The Dawn didn't self-destruct as planned. Cerberus has a team there studying what they can."
"How?" rumbled the Spartan as he paused in his disassembling to fully digest the statement. After a moment, his appendages began acting on autopilot as if to say 'We've done this enough times, just leave it to us.'
"It could be a number of reasons. The power could have shorted. The reactors could have taken more damage than I initially estimate-"
"Cortana…" interrupted John, knowing his digital friend well enough to figure out when she was stalling.
"Or it could be that I wrote the command at the onset of my rampancy," she added guiltily. The large human could all but picture her arms folding in frustration. "I do not like to entertain that thought."
"But it is possible," pressed the Spartan not unkindly as he began to remove his helmet. His hands quickly transferred the A.I. to the holo-deck, positioning himself directly in front of it.
"Yes, it is," acknowledged the artificial intelligence, her code flashing red as she sprang to life, "but I would prefer if you didn't rub it in."
"Sorry." She was still mad about before.
"It's okay," reassured Cortana as her body shifted back to its normal hue. "You're just as frustrated as I am."
He arched an eyebrow in her direction as he picked up a rag and continued his work.
"Okay, so maybe frustrated isn't the right word," continued the A.I., tapping a metaphorical foot, "but-"
"We need to fix it," finished the Chief as he pressed himself to his feet, towering over the tiny digital form.
"Not like I don't like the enthusiasm, but by what way," started the ethereal being slowly as she began to predict her friend's plan, "do you plan on asking our hosts to head back to the Dawn? Which, I might add, will be putting their plans to a momentary halt to do so."
"By asking to go back to the Dawn," stated John simply as he leaned down and turned off the projector of her pedestal just in time to avoid seeing the flash of annoyance slip across her features.
"I might as well ask again," grumbled Cortana over the still functional speakers, her frustration all but palpable. "How exactly do you plan on doing this?"
"Politely," countered the Chief as he turned to head toward the lift, allowing a small smile to spread momentarily onto his lips.
"I don't think the Commander's taking visitors right now," called out the A.I. in what was most likely her last attempt at taking some control of the discussion.
"I'll leave a note."
OOOO
Commander Shepard had not expected to be heading down to the cargo bay again today. He had expected to come down to the CIC, skulk about for a bit, perhaps give a few of the crew members the evil eye just to see what would happen. Hell, maybe he would have even made his way down to Garrus to finally have that talk he'd been meaning to have with the sniper; now wouldn't that be fun. No, as had become typical fashion lately, his expectations were to be so easily dashed that they should have been sold as a spice.
He had not taken more than a single step before Kelly had mentioned in bright tones that 'The Master Chief came up to talk with me. He'd like to speak with you as soon as possible.' And then, as if by magic, he was already back inside the lift with his finger on the correct button.
At the very least he had done this song before. Nobody tended to ask Kelly for a 'meeting' unless they needed to make a special request. Jacob had done it, Thane had done it, and, hell, even Jack had been polite enough for a few minutes to do it. The latter still shocked him to this very day, but at least now he was able to keep his jaw closed from thinking about it.
His mind raced as he tried to anticipate what this latest favor would be. The Spartan had already seemed to have made it abundantly clear that he didn't need much of anything outside of food, a place to sleep, and a purpose. It was one of the things the ex-Spectre was actually starting to like about him. Someone who just wanted to do a good job, nothing more.
The ding of the elevator stirred the engineer from his thoughts, opening its doors to the sight of metal floors and stacked boxes. And, sitting calmly near the center was the Master Chief, calmly staring at him.
Well, that's unsettling, thought James as he strode forward, eyes wandering to keep from that gaze. As he drew closer, the Spartan stood to rigid attention, enough to make any parade officer teary-eyed. A grin crept onto the engineer's face. The man was holding back a salute, the ex-Spectre could tell it easily.
"Kelly mentioned you wanted to see me," stated the veteran calmly, receiving only a curt nod in response. The ex-Spectre waited, the Chief continued to stare. After a few moments, the Commander continued, "Well?"
"I would like to return to the Forward Unto Dawn," stated the large man levelly, stare never wavering.
"Really? And why is that?" asked the ex-Spectre automatically as he mentally checked off the 'Yes, he wanted something' box. However, just as the super soldier opened his mouth to speak, a thought occurred, begging to be said. "Asset denial?"
The Chief closed his mouth with a curious frown, eyeing the engineer cautiously. The face was almost enough to make him laugh, well, at least he had been right.
"Well, it does fit with how you've been treating your tech. You'd rather destroy it then give it over to anyone. It's not selfish, it's protocol," explained James with a smile, earning another brisk nod in response. "My only question is why not before you left? Why now?"
"I thought I did," answered the Spartan simply, his mask a stone.
"Well, power fluxuations on a ship that's been cut in half for so long are bound to be fairly erratic-" The Commander stopped as a new thought left a blazing trail within his mind on its way to the exit. He looked at the Master Chief inquisitively as he continued, "And, how exactly did you find out about this?"
"EDI reported the status," answered the large man after a moment's pause, stone hardening further as he spoke. It wasn't the whole truth, but James had a feeling that he couldn't have pried anything further out of him with a crowbar. It was true enough to warrant his attention, it would have to be sufficient for now.
"And, this is an urgent request?" asked James exasperatedly, noting the simple gesture that came in response. Of course it was. "Well, it's not too far out of our way, I guess. You know, I assume Cerberus is currently on board studying it. You know that right?"
Nod.
"And, do you happen to have a plan for dealing with that particular problem?"
"Ask nicely," stated the large man, face straighter than a linear equation.
"You know," started the ex-Spectre as his eyes narrowed, taking in every detail of that pale visage, "I can't actually tell if you're joking right now."
Shrug.
"Well, at the very least it might piss the Illusive Man off a bit," intoned the engineer with a laugh as he turned to leave. "Afterwards, however, I've got a feeling we're going to need to have a talk."
Silence greeted him from behind, the veteran immediately picturing the stoic movement that he assumed accompanied it. With a sigh, he headed back to the lift, thoughts whirring through his head like comets, one in particular gaining traction.
Miranda was going to be pitch a fit.
Next Chapter: Chapter 19 – Full Circle
Author's note II: Finally done with that damn mission and on to… greener… pastures. Also, next chapter most likely won't be until the end of October. Cheers.