M'MON'UAV'RA'HOEN

"CITY OF THE DELTA"

SUR'KESH

OCTOBER, 2188


IT WAS THE ONLY PLACE it had appeared that set off alarms. The figure coalesced in the middle of a busy plaza, had settled on the ground. A moment later, it sent a pulse that had flashed through the whole city before it found itself locked behind several layers of a high-density set of kinetic barriers, and salarian STG teams were running with stasis field generators even as it realized what had happened. Inside the 'bubble' of barriers, the figure reached two appendages to either side of itself and touched the barriers. They flexed, but they held. The SF generators were activated and the figure stopped moving altogether.

Save for about one hundred salarians, mostly elderly, there were no other casualties, and no one reported any ill effects. The one hundred were speedily gathered and sent to be tested.

A rather tall salarian, one Doctor Heftan Dolus, renowned for his work on the Crucible and chief investigating officer for the Dalatrass, omnitool activated, approached it cautiously, flanked by a dozen heavily-armed guards, and his team of scientists, all dragging heavy equipment behind them.

"It seems… puzzled," he informed them, omnitool scanning. "It's fortunate the krogan sent us that other, or the death toll could have been much, much higher." Inside the bubble, the construct revolved slowly, possibly analyzing its situation. There was a crackle and the barriers solidified, as several more layers were integrated.

"What did you make of its attack, sir?"

"Different from the others, yes. It made turians and humans kill each other, paralyzed the drell on Kahje, and they are soon to perish. I want all medical reports collated as soon as possible, all autopsies in our possession as soon as possible."

"Lifters are incoming, sir." Dolus was told by an aide. "All air-lanes and population centres below the transit route are being cleared. Rohntin Facility will be ready when we arrive."

"Excellent. I want the quick-deploy cryo measures in place as a backup. Also, have them prepare the DSF. We're taking no chances." A salute and the aide bent to his omnitool.

"Is the drop system failsafe really necessary, Doctor?" Salau Fal', his compositional analyzer.

"It is." Dolus began walking around the bubble. "You've seen the data. If this gets loose, it can conceivably kill entire cities – if not more. The implications of these devices is quite horrendous." His omnitool flashed again, double-checking the barrier. "If it gets loose, I will drop the lab into that volcanic vent. It might survive molten rock, it might not, but it won't escape easily." Dolus stopped, narrowed his eyes at the thing. It stopped revolving to 'look' directly at him. "Yes – we know you're a device, thanks to the krogan and your inability to kill them – if it was such. I will understand you – even if I must dissect each individual atom to do so."

The figure extended an 'arm', gently touched the inner barrier. It rippled, then shorted out and vanished. One of the techs yelped and another barrier snapped back into its place, to also be almost immediately shorted out. As it went, the techs raised another. It too went the way of its predecessors. As quickly as it killed the inner barrier, the techs raised a new one.

"Curious," Dolus said. He turned back to his techs. "Stop. Be prepared to raise new ones. Let's see what it is actually trying to do."

"Doctor – I think it's obvious," Fal' said, but Dolus shook his head.

"Never assume the obvious always applies." He told him. Before them, another layer of barrier shorted out, then another. Dolus stood calmly, eying the figure with a steady gaze, the hollow 'eyes' of it staring back. Four more layers vanished before the figure withdrew its appendage and stopped. Dolus crooked a finger and the barrier system replaced all that had been lost.

"sO It bEGinS." Was all it said.

The figure started to rearrange itself, shrinking in, collapsing, finally rendering itself down to what appeared to be an odd shape on the ground. It was not easy to focus on for any extended period. Dolus immediately scanned it with his omnitool.

"Astonishing! It is now in what appears to be a demipenteractic honeycomb configuration. It is still folding over, however." He shook his head, openly impressed. "It also appears that its previous action was a simple test of our intentions. This may be some form of standby state." He turned to his team. "Regardless, this thing will be treated as if it were an unstable solar core, understood?" Heads bobbed in the affirmative around him. The lifter craft arrived and the object was loaded. Even as it was, an aide came running.

"Sir! Rhos'En'Rhot Sector, Sehn'Suh'cht Principality and the Harh'Zelh'aid Annex have all reported similar instances!"

"Casualties?"

"At the moment, it seems only among the very young or the very old."

"Dispatch teams at once! Leave nothing uninvestigated!" The aide ran off. Dolus turned back to his personal craft, secretary in tow.

"I want new teams sent to every area we have data on. Request again that an investigative team be allowed back to Hranta. We need to know what's going on." The secretary nodded, bent to his omnitool.

Salau Fal' watched the frenzy, felt his disquiet growing, following along. When there was a pause in Dolus' order-giving, he asked,

"Sir… what do you think is happening?" Dolus stopped, contemplated. His frown seemed to pull his whole face downward.

"The data suggests… no, it is too unsettling. Which means it is likely true. Salau, I need you to oversee Rohntin." Dolus resumed walking to his vehicle.

"What will you be doing, sir?"

"I need to find Padok Wiks."