AUTHOR'S NOTE: Back from my trip! Sorry the chapter is a bit shorter than usual, but I think next one will have some decent length to it. Either way we're coming up to the end of ME1 rather quickly, and I'm expecting ME2 will generally also have longer chapters
Commander John Shepard
I hadn't said much after that meld with Shiala. She wanted to stay on Feros to help the Colonists, as a way to atone for what she did under Saren's thrall. We got her some clothes, and when the Colonists later woke up, they agreed. We essentially remained on guard duty until the Alliance ships arrived, which the Normandy had to depart in order to join in. If the Geth could help it, it seems they didn't want me leaving. Fortunately, using similar tactics to last time, and the Normandy's surprise capabilities, the attack went smoothly for us, and the Geth ships were left as scrap in orbit.
I contacted the lead of the Fleet detachment, to learn that it was Rear Admiral Bradford. I gave a brief explanation of the situation down here, and she readily agreed to send some of the doctors on her ships down to check on the survivors, especially the ones the Thorian once controlled, as well as some marines to pick up Jeong. I then returned to the Normandy to write up the report for Hackett and the Council. I sent it, then gathered the crew in the comm room for debrief.
What I had yet to tell anyone, even put in the report, is that I kept seeing the vision. Every time I got distracted, even for a second, losing focus on any task, I saw more and more flashes from the vision. Some were even new. They were becoming clearer. I did not look forward to sleeping tonight. But the crew was gathered, and it was time to debrief.
"Commander? Are you alright? You look… pale. That is an ill sign in Humans, correct? Are there negative effects from the Cipher?" Liara asked. I sighed and ran a hand over my face.
"Maybe part of it was the meld, but… it's just unsettling," I reassured. She seemed to blush.
"I… might be able to help." She sat straighter with her legs pressed together and her hands clasped on her lap. "I am an expert on the Protheans, and… if we were to meld, I could gain both the Cipher, and the visions. Together, we might be able to make some sense… of it…" she ended with an awkward murmur. Well, given her pass a while ago I think I see why this is a bit awkward for her. I then heard Ashley start a chuckle before freezing and just stopping, struggling to hide a smirk. While… Tali seemed to shrink back a little? I sighed again.
"Fuck it. I suppose the Cipher is something that deserves to be spread around a bit. You sure you want the visions though? They aren't pleasant," I warned. Liara nodded.
"If it can help us locate the Conduit, Commander, I believe it will be worth it."
"Alright. Just try to do it quickly. If last time was any indicator, this isn't something I particularly enjoy," I requested. Liara then stood, and I did the same.
"Then I shall pass over the starting rhetoric. Just relax." Liara stood in front of me, staring into my eyes. I immediately felt the presence at my mind, requesting entrance. It did not slowly creep up, like it did with Shiala. Subtly. Rather just quickly, bluntly, even. She closed her eyes. "Embrace eternity." They opened, and were black.
The images again. But this time, far more rapid. Nearly impossible to make them out individually this time. The horrific noises that normally accompanied them were now sped up, and almost blending into an even more incoherent, but no less haunting mess. I saw the ships, and it stopped. I heard one last whisper.
Avenge us, Human.
Liara took several steps back, eyes once again normal, but wide. Her hands slowly went towards her head. She was breathing faster than normal. I felt… fine?
"That…" she stopped herself to breathe again. "That was incredible! All this time, all my research, yet I never dreamed…" she had a hand against her forehead now. She then returned her gaze to me. "I'm so sorry, Commander. The images were so vivid. I never would have imagined for it to be so… intense. Your will must be remarkably strong. A weaker mind would have been destroyed."
"Comes with being a warrior. A true warrior. And a survivor," Wrex gave me a sideways glance and a nod. Hm, gaining the respect of someone who's been alive somewhere between seven and eight hundred years. Give or take. That's something.
"Well, what did you see?" Ashley questioned, not aggressively, but, curiously. A bit impatient because of the curiosity. Another improvement.
"I'm still not entirely sure," Liara revealed with a bit of embarrassment. "The beacon on Eden Prime must have been badly damaged. It seems like significant parts of the vision are missing. The data transferred is incomplete."
"I've been seeing the occasional new image as time passes. Might be that what we need is still being pieced together by our heads," I suggested.
"Hm, then we'll have to wait and see," Liara mused. "But I am now certain of at least one thing. The Protheans were indeed destroyed by a race of Sentient Machines. A massive fleet of ships identical to Sovereign. They are very real, and most certainly, a major threat. I do think… that I'm able to discern something, however," Liara paused, closing her eyes as if focusing on another flash. "I believe the Conduit is on a world hidden by the Protheans. Unfortunately, I do not know where this world is. I suspect Saren has this information."
"So, we need to make our move then. We need to find some base of operations and go on the offensive. Not just wait for him to try and find something," I mused. "I'll request additional efforts from the Council and the Alliance to find something. Anyone have anything to add?" No one spoke up. "Then dismissed. Joker, the Council ready for a talk then?" The others began leaving, and Joker conveyed that they needed just another moment. A few minutes after the crew had all left, they were patched in. Holograms of the three Councilors appeared, and once again, Tevos saw fit to begin.
"Commander," she greeted with a nod. "ExoGeni should have told us about the Thorian. It would have made your job much easier."
"Frankly that's the last thing about them I'm concerned with. And I'm sure that you all feel the same," I remarked, feeling a bit emboldened by my lingering anger towards them. "Making deals with the terrorist organization Cerberus, using unwilling, unknowing human test subjects who were being infected and controlled by an unknown creature, threatening the life of a worker who spoke out," I listed off. The Councilors glanced amongst one another.
"Of course, these are also significant. Though we see fit to hold our action until after you investigated the two leads you found. In the meantime, we are willing to allow the Alliance to handle legal action," Tevos responded. I don't approve, but that's not entirely unreasonable.
"I regret that your hand had been forced to destroy it rather than capture it or leave it alive. Study, ethical study, could have produced a wealth of knowledge if what it, and this, Shiala, told you," Valern mused.
"It may be better off this way, I'm afraid. I tried to reason with it, but it didn't seem particularly willing to trust or work with… non-plants, after Saren betrayed it. Further it could have gained control over the scientists," I reminded.
"Perhaps," Valern shrugged. "Regardless, that's all academic now."
"At least the Colony and its inhabitants were saved," Tevos nodded. Sparatus scoffed.
"Of course it was. Shepard would go to any lengths to help a Human Colony." I raised a brow, keeping my anger in check as I was a bit unstable right now.
"Councilor Sparatus, I understand you still have doubts about me, and I can respect that. But I suggest you wait for the time to come when the lives of a non-human colony rests on my shoulders for you to insinuate that I wouldn't do the same for them. It would save you both the embarrassment and the apologies for when I prove you wrong." Sparatus' brows furrowed, and he moved to begin speaking, but seemed rather surprised by the chuckling of his fellow Councilors.
"Wise advice, Commander," Tevos smirked.
"And an admirable view. But remember, Spectres must make sacrifices from time to time. I hope you're willing to do the same when the time comes," Valern reminded. I simply nodded.
"I have a request, Councilors. During the debrief with my ground team, Dr. T'Soni suggested a mind meld to transfer both the visions from the Eden Prime Beacon as well as the Cipher to her. Given her knowledge of the Protheans, she believed she could be of help deciphering them. She claims that the data from the Beacon is incomplete. She made out that the Conduit is on a world hidden by the Protheans, and can… sense, a gap for where its location should be. That the information should be present, but like it's corrupted. She suspects Saren has this information. It's my evaluation that we cannot simply wait for Saren to make another move now. Waiting to see what he next attempts to gain. We need to go on the offensive. But to do that, we need to know where to attack. I'm requesting that you use whatever means you deem necessary to gain intel on locations Saren may be basing himself. Even in the Terminus systems. I'll be making the same request to the Alliance." The Councilors glanced amongst themselves, and nodded.
"We already have teams searching, but we will send additional agents," Tevos stated.
"Much appreciated, Councilors. Thank you."
"Goodbye, Commander. We'll be waiting for your report on the leads from ExoGeni." The comms went silent.
"Joker, I want at Nodacrux by the time we wake up tomorrow," I ordered through the intercom.
"Aye, aye, Commander. It's just one relay jump and some FTL away."
"Good. You make sure to get some shut-eye too, alright?" I reminded, yawning.
"Don't need to tell me twice." I exited the comm room and went down to my quarters. By the looks of it, most of the others were already in their sleeper pods. Or at least getting ready to. I stripped, took a shower, washing off the sweat. Dried myself off afterwards, threw on some boxers, and fell into bed. I was exhausted. Physically and mentally. It wasn't long until I drifted off.
The land was barren. The sky dark and clouded. There was no sign of anything alive. Just bones sticking out of the dirt. There were dead, leafless trees in the distance, I stood in a barren grassland. What used to be a grassland, at least. I see… a faint, glowing green light. And it's getting closer. There were the whispers again.
They are coming.
Stop them.
Avenge us.
Break the Cycle.
The words repeated, in varying order. There were other whispers, but I couldn't make them out. The distant light was close enough for me to see that it had a form. As it got closer, I was able to make it out. Bipedal. Two arms, three fingers on each. A plated, bug-like head. It wore what seemed like robes with intrinsic patterns. Perhaps they meant something. Perhaps they didn't.
Nobility, the voices whispered. Answering my question, it seems? The figure stood a few feet in front of me. Four, unblinking eyes. This figure, however, seemed like a hologram. I could see through it.
"Commander John Shepard. Son of Hannah and Adam Shepard. Now we can communicate properly." the figure spoke. A feminine voice. The accent sounded either Jamaican or one of the African accents. I'm not sure.
"Who, or what, are you?" This is a dream… I can tell. But… I can't control it. I've never seen any environments, or… things like this for my mind to mirror.
"This system is designated as: Echo. A virtual intelligence created by the Prothean Empire in its final days. Imprinted with the features and limited personality of… error. Data corrupted. This system was one of many placed within our beacons, waiting to warn the next cycle. This system, and the beacon of its origin, were damaged. When the Turian, Saren Arterius, used it, and when you used it, a copy of this system was imprinted. Proper communication was delayed by need to translate your language to that of the Protheans. The Cipher has bypassed this need. Before, fragments could be, as you described, whispered, to you."
"So… does that mean a copy of you is now in Liara's head?"
"Yes."
"Well… what is it? What do you have to tell me, Echo?"
"... Data corrupted."
"Shit…"
"Damage to beacon and this system's memory was severe. In addition, the Protheans failed to anticipate the severity of the damage to the overall beacon network. However, this system has analyzed this cycle. There is still time to delay the Reapers. However, length of delay, is unknown. While this cycle is still primitive, if prepared, if united, there is a chance. A chance the Empire did not have."
"Well, that's something at least," I muttered. "What are the visions you've showed me?"
"This system's first attempts at communication. They consist of images this unit gathered during the Reaper conquest of the world you call, Eden Prime. In addition, the final image of the Reaper fleet, as was a production of a programmer to show severity of the threat in case proper communication could not initially be established."
"Where is the Conduit?"
"Data corrupted."
"What exactly is the conduit?"
"Data corrupted."
"Damn it…"
"Apologies, Commander. This system can provide no more information. This system was designed to utilize transferred energy from a Beacon to persist long enough to communicate with linked individual, and then, disseminate, as to not leech energy from host. All denizens of the Galaxy must perform at peak proficiency to defeat the Reaper threat. This system has already required the use of some of your own energy, and shall not use any more than absolutely necessary. Goodbye."
"Wait! Come on there has to be something! Anything damn it!"
The hologram faded, the landscape faded, everything went black.
I woke, more relaxed than one would expect. And, feeling surprisingly rested. Energized, even. I got ready for the day, knowing we should arrive at Nodacrux soon, and went out to the mess hall. The crew was already gathered, waiting for food. Today was a day for Chef to just make a more generic meal for the crew to conserve supplies. We end up in port often enough that we can still afford some luxuries, but it's still better to save more often than not. Quietly, I sat down. Something must have been off with my expression.
"Are you alright, Shepard? You appear… uneasy," Tali spoke up. I glanced amongst the others, they were watching, seemingly thinking the same. Except for Liara.
"You have the dream too, Liara?" I asked.
"I did."
"Dream?" Ashley questioned, confused.
"Apparently the beacon had a VI in it. Echo, I think. Bits are fuzzy. It was still trying to translate English to Prothean, but the Cipher bypassed all that. When I was asleep, I guess it saw fit to talk then," I began.
"Did it tell you where the Conduit is?" Garrus got to the point.
"No, unfortunately. Beacon was broken, VI was broken. Lost that information."
"Is it still in your head?" Wrex asked.
"No. Something about… it would only last long enough to tell me what it needed to say. To not… drain energy, yeah, that's right," I nodded. "It deleted itself."
"Did it say anything valuable?" Kaidan leaned forward.
"There was something, I guess. It said it evaluated our 'cycle,' and said we still had a chance. Also said that the Protheans never had a chance," I recounted.
"It told me much the same," Liara murmured.
"Eerie…" Kaidan mused. The food arrived, and we began eating. I'm not sure if we anticipated as much, but if we thought that was Eerie…
Nodacrux would prove far, far worse.