"...Let me get this straight. Not only are there more people like you, but one of them is your ex-girlfriend?" Tali repeated in disbelief.
"Well...yeah, that's the story in a nutshell." I leaned against the wall next to my bed, looking at the three on the couch. "Though Slade and Isaac don't seem to have the same genetic enhancements as me and the latter isn't a biotic. Way more reliant on tech than I am too. Have to have something going for them or they'd have died by now, but…"
"But they're from the same program." Garrus clarified.
I looked around the cabin again. Liara and Raptor were on one part of the couch, Tali on the other end, and Garrus had taken the seat from near my desk.
"...I thought that at first, but I'm starting to suspect it wasn't. Similar, but not quite the same." I looked at my palm, and the scars crossing it. "Slade and Isaac knew slash know about Iron and Hero...but Jennifer didn't, and outright told me she thought I was lying when I gave her the abridged version. And she seems to remember more than they- or especially I- do about our previous lives. That implies...something, but I'm not sure exactly what."
"But they were scanned into a body like you were?" Tali asked, tinkering with her omni-tool as she examined the chain-blade I'd recovered.
"I think...no, with some of the newer things they've said, it seems more likely they were abducted and altered from how they started. But they knew my...brain donor? Which is probably why they were chosen- or they stumbled upon it somehow."
I tried to think of what else I could tell them that I hadn't already- aside from the obvious about being from the real world.
"But if they were...the other guy's friends...why are they so eager to kill you?" Garrus asked thoughtfully. "If they were after Iron, that'd make a lot more sense."
"Like I said, Jennifer didn't know about Iron- or if she ever did, she doesn't now. I don't think she's lying about that, but I don't know who she thinks she's actually fighting... Slade and Isaac, they seem to want me dead. Not Iron, not 'omega'... maybe the first guy and they don't see the difference...If they did stumble on it because of him...there's something else too." I said hesitantly.
If they are back...or if they come back, and they find out later, it'll make things worse than if I head it off now...but I'm still not looking forward to this conversation at all.
"I can't tell what this is." Tali said before I could, apparently having not heard the last part. "It's pretty advanced tech- but it doesn't seem like what we've seen the collectors using. Materials aren't the same as the Collector beam weapon Shepard recovered either."
"Is there anything you can tell us about it?" She asked.
"Only that it's clearly made for a human or Asari hand- the way the grip is...I think. Mordin might be able to tell you more about who it would be best for, but as far as who constructed it…"
"Could it be from a previous cycle?" I wondered aloud. "Prothean?... or before?"
"Maybe...it also looks like it could cut through almost anything, even plate armor from a dreadnought."
I brought it to my hand and stuck it inside on of the pockets of my jacket. "Yeah, I'm aware of its cutting capabilities." I deadpanned.
"You said there was something else?" She asked, apparently having not heard about the arm.
For a long moment, I considered lying, saying it wasn't important, maybe telling her about the arm, or my real name...they already have enough reasons to not trust me...and yet all of them are here. Raptor's my friend despite everything, and even if Garrus and Tali don't trust me, which they clearly don't...I do have supernatural luck... Here's hoping it holds...or that the Pyschomancer can erase memories and I could figure out how to do it.
"You remember back when Hephaestus upgraded my gauntlet tech? Before my eyes started changing color?"
"Changing color?" Tali asked suspiciously.
"Yeah. Now when I'm pissed, eyes and biotics go red, and...purple is apparently me thinking or concentrating. I thought he'd just triggered the 'redundant amps', the ones Hero or Iron used when they took over."
"But…?" Garrus and Tali were both eying me warily.
"...When we fought that...did we decide on a name for the giant bug thing? Maybe Pretorian?"
"Sure, whatever." Raptor waved a hand in dismissal. "Are you saying…"
"... When we were fighting it, I heard Iron's voice. But then I saw him too- like a ghost. And later, when I was deciding what to do about following Isaac, Hero showed up spouting advice, also transparent and actually visible."
There was a pungent silence.
"But, I thought you didn't see them before? Just hear them?" Garrus finally broke it.
"Yeah, exactly...My memory was affected by the drugs they pumped into me, so I didn't know until more recently." I lied. "But...a couple other times since then...same deal. They're like ghosts, and I can't...I don't know, can't 'sense' them in my mind like before. I hear it internally the same way, and even at the same rate; before, we could have a whole conversation in the time it takes one of you to reply outloud to something I said. When they show up now it's the same odd...time dilation effect thingee."
Another long silence.
"Let me guess- you're thinking the same thing I am. Either they're back, or I've gone completely schitzo."
"...Kinda." Raptor admitted.
"Why are you telling us?" Tali asked, confused and surprised more than anything. "Seems like you'd normally be trying to hide it...though I guess you have hidden it till now if this was back before you got me."
"Perhaps, but I believe we all know how well hiding it worked out last time." I deadpanned. "I don't know if it is really them, but if it is…"
"And what if it is just you going mad? You could-" Raptor stopped suddenly, and her face got noticeably pale.
"What?"
"...I know that Iron at least was real, because he got into my head. Hero, I'm inclined to believe for similar reasons, even if there's not as much proof."
I opened my mouth to object, but then closed it. I didn't like it, but I somewhat saw where she was coming from.
"...I hate to say it, but you said you'd been having flashbacks, like memories are coming back?"
"Yeah? And?"
"... Those voices...could mean...that you might be…"
"What? Spit it out. I know it means I might be insane! Why do you think I'm-" I stopped, seeing her shaking her head, face still pale, hesitation coloring it. "If that's not it, what could…" it suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks, robbing me of my voice.
"Are you saying he could be indoctrinated?" Garrus voiced for me, though I was relieved to hear some skepticism in his voice.
"It's possible...unlikely, but possible."
"...Saren denied he was, and it's likely anyone else who was would likewise deny it." I said slowly. "But...I've spent the entirety of the past two years and before fighting against them. Trying to get others to believe in them."
"Trying being the key word- it could be that you're meant to make people doubt their existence by seeming unhinged." Raptor seemed to hate herself even as she said it.
"But that argument could just as easily apply to anyone else here- or Anderson, or The Illusive Man, or…" Okay, that second one kinda is a bad example since he actually is indoctrinated. "...or even the Council, just since they so vehemently ignore any evidence."
"I didn't say I believed it. But...what if?"
"...Iron actually gave me a weird sorta pep talk that let me get pissed enough to just tear apart a thing that'd otherwise have wiped us out. And Hero...she actually saw something before I myself did, warned me...if they were the Reaper's voices, they'd be less...beneficial." I shook my head. "Subconscious projecting hallucinations, that makes more sense...but at the same time, they were completely...in character for them- details I could never have thought of myself. Things they'd know that I wouldn't have. I can't explain it better than that, but regardless it doesn't make any bloody sense...and if the reapers were in my head, they could've acted on some of the info I've collected. They missed their windows."
"So if they do come back-" Tali's hand was on her gut. "Then what?"
"...I don't know." I said finally. "I know it sounds stupid, but I feel like I'd be able to resist them if they did somehow resurface...the real question is how they could be back to begin with. Some sorta backup file in the amps is the only thing that'd make sense, but even then..." I scratched the back of my neck. "I mean, Sovereign kinda obliterated them when they went into Saren's head." I blinked at several odd images that flashed through my mind suddenly, and shook them away.
"If they come back-"
"I'm well aware of the consequences...though given your jumpy reaction to the flash of red just then, I suppose you are as well." I shook my head. "All I know is this- if they did come back, I would tell you four...or three, maybe." I looked at Liara in question. "What's the verdict on that? You coming on board the Normandy or is Raptor going to have to make the occasional booty call to Illium?"
They looked at each other, and I put up a barrier as Liara tossed a warp and Raptor a throw orb, causing an explosion that would've hurt if it'd connected.
"So was that a maybe then?"
"It's a we haven't decided yet, butt out."
I crossed my arms. "It actually is mission relevant whether or not we'd have another biotic onboard...though honestly, if she wasn't such a stabilizer for you, given that we already have Me, Jack, and Miranda and we're going for Samara and I guess Thane, it'd seem a bit redundant to have her as well...no offense."
"I thought Jacob was a biotic too?" Garrus commented.
"Yeah, but he's a crap biotic- even without being compared to the best like Jack or I."
"You also neglected to point out my own biotics." Raptor glowered at me.
"...Wait, what?" Tali and Liara asked at once.
"Yeah, Lazarus put in eezo nodes along with the cybernetics, so she's a biotic now...though a lot of practice is needed before you're really good with them...also, how did you not tell your girlfriend that already?" I asked her. "Or *show* her, for that matter."
"I had other things on my mind. Now can we stop talking about our sex life please and get back to the important part?"
"Just sayin'...there's nothing we can really do about Iron/Hero though. If they're hallucinations, medication isn't going to work. And I don't know that I want to rehash all this with Chambers. And if they're really back...there's nothing I can do about it, short of eating a bullet. And judging by the reactions when I make other people do that, I'm guessing bullets aren't tasty or good for your health."
"..." "..." "..." "..."
"Anyway, Liara, you have any idea where we'd be able to find Thane and/or Samara?"
"...Yes, Raptor told me you were looking for them- Thane arrived a few days ago, and my sources tell me he may be targeting a corporate executive: Nasana Dantius. He contacted an asari named Serina. If you go to her office in the Corporate Transfer area, she may be able to tell you more."
"You remembered all that off the top of your head?" Shepard asked.
She smiled. "I'm a very good information broker Raptor- even if my memory isn't as good as Lt. Bourne's."
"Yes, haha, you called me by my rank, very funny. What about the Justicar?"
"She registered with tracking officer Dara when she arrived- I suggest you talk to her down in the transportation hub."
"Probably not wise to split up with the trio on the loose." Garrus commented.
"Isaac could be down for a while since he took a biotic explosion point blank, but the other two still make it a valid point." I agreed. "And they've known where we've been up until now…" I stopped, eyes going purple as I thought. Wait- Jennifer obviously wouldn't know where to go unless the others told her, or she remembered from what little she got from watching 'Mike' play. And I get the sense she was telling the truth about not having played the series herself. So the question is if Slade and Isaac both know, or if it's just one of them. And if that one were Isaac...hell, if I took out both of them Jennifer would be almost no longer a threat...except she'd probably be more out for blood. Wouldn't know where to look, but she could just wait at the Citadel or something; she has to know that much from living in this reality, if she didn't already know from the games.
"You know Shepard, you really pull off the purple eyes better than he does." Tali commented.
I rolled them as they went back to blue. "Alright then- get outta here so I can get back into my armor."
"Why do you still have the one glove on though?" Tali asked, pointing at my left hand.
Liara nodded agreement.
"You know that chainsaw blade I took from Jennifer? Well, she used it on Horizon to cut my arm off, and the 'glove' is actually a prosthetic." I stated as neutrally as I could- trying not to make them feel like assholes but also trying to not sound like an asshole myself by making them feel guilty.
"...Oh." Tali said in a very quiet voice.
"What do you think for the team?" I asked Raptor casually, trying to change the subject without making it obvious.
"Depends on what we do first?"
"Hmm...Samara first? Biotics are likely to come into play more often than another sniper, and you and Garrus and Zaeed already have that covered."
"Weren't you the one just calling my girlfriend redundant with all the other biotics?"
"Exactly. She only has biotics. He has biotics and is a sniper- so he's...wait, does that make him less redundant or more redundant?"
"Uh...that's actually…let's just flip a coin."
"Seryna?" Shepard asked as they approached the Asari.
Bourne stood to her side, with Garrus and Jack behind him. They'd decided the combo of her and 'archangel's sniping, the other two's skill at close range, and their overall midrange skill, it was an almost ideal strategy- or some BS like that, Jack didn't really care.
She was almost twitching with anticipation of an actual fight- she'd been stuck shooting at dummies since Horizon.
"Who wants to know?"
"Uh, we do. That's why we just asked." Bourne responded. "We're looking for Thane Krios, and heard you might be able to point us his direction."
She digested that for a moment. "Tana, cover for me." She said as she stood up and waved them to a more deserted area of the bay.
"Yeah, I know who Thane Krios is. I might've passed him some information, but I didn't hire him…what do you want to know?"
"We heard he's after Nassana Dantius- and that you used to work for her."
"Why does that name sound familiar?" Garrus muttered.
"Because she hired us to kill her sister." Bourne answered, the first time he'd spoken since they left the ship.
"I thought that was just a rumor. Well, you know what she's capable of then- yeah, I used to work security for her until I found about little things like that."
"Kill her sister?" Jack whispered to the Turian..
"Yeah- except she wasn't as upfront about it. She told us the slavers kidnapped her sister, so we killed the slavers...then we found out one of her sisters was a slaver."
"Amazed she's still walking around- I'd have torn her head off if she pulled something like that on me."
"Believe me, I considered it." Bourne said without turning around.
"Yeah, he has enhanced hearing." Garrus half-glared at him.
He shrugged and walked back towards them as Shepard kept talking with the Asari- sounded like she was working out the details of something or something.
"You know, I wonder if Lawson has enhanced hearing?" He suddenly said, cocking his head to the side as he considered it.
"Who cares?" Jack said dismissively.
Shepard turned around before he could reply. "Well, sounds like we've got a couple hours to kill."
"And she means killing time- not people." Bourne commented to Jack with a smirk.
"We could always do both."
"Tell you what- if someone's really, really annoying and there's no cameras around-" He ducked as Shepard threw a punch at him from behind. "-Then you can take it up with her."
"We want to just head back to the ship?" Garrus asked.
"No, I don't want to deal with the airlock and getting my armor back on and back off."
"You wouldn't mind losing the armor if it involved Liara I bet."
"No Jason, I would not. But seeing as we have a mission, I have a problem timewise with doing that you wouldn't."
"...Meaning?"
"Since my liasons aren't as short as yours-"
"Short as in time, or what he's offering the ladies?" Jack laughed.
"What, you think she was talking about just one?" Garrus chuckled.
"Even if either of those things were true, and they aren't-" He raised his hand, a biotic field around it. "Let's just say Liara's going to be very pleased if/when you get better control over your biotics...or do you already know what I'm talking about?"
"None of your business." She said, face going bright red.
"You ever been on the receiving end though?" Jack smirked at him. "Cause if both people can-"
"Will you please not encourage him?" Raptor cut her off.
"Yeah, to be honest between the fact the biotics in the robot arm are kinda...not what I'm used to, and the fact that it's a robotic arm to begin with, not exactly the sexiest thing in the world..."
"Oh, and your face is?"
Shepard just facepalmed and walked so she was several feet ahead of them where she wouldn't hear. Garrus followed after a moment.
"She always this much of a prude?" Jack muttered in undertone.
"...Kinda." Bourne shrugged. "Then again, you're kinda biased in the other direction."
"The fuck is that supposed to mean?"
"You do remember what you were wearing when we met, right?"
"You have the cheerleader walking around in spandex all day showing off everything, and you're giving me crap for my outfit?"
"I give both of you crap about them." He chuckled.
"Yeah, there's a difference though. Her suit makes her rack and ass look way bigger-..." She stopped short.
"What, you were keeping your breasts strapped down to try to make them look smaller?"
She shot him a surprised look.
"Memory like mine you notice odd things- I'm betting you loosened them slightly once you were on the Normandy?"
"...Yeah." She crossed her arms, trying not to think about why she'd started doing it.
"...Still doesn't explain why you couldn't wear a shirt over them or something."
She glared at him. "None of your fucking business."
"Fair enough...what about the earing amp thing though? Did you just find that on the way out or…?"
"They thought it was just a translator, so they weren't smart enough to take it...wouldn't have done much good anyway with the anti-biotic shit they had on me."
"What, were they worried about you getting an infection or something?"
"...That is literally the stupidest fucking thing I've ever heard."
"Well, hanging around us, I'm sure it'll be topped sooner or later." He chuckled.
"Around 'us' or just you?"
"Either or." He shrugged.
"Yeah, I thought you were kidding earlier-" Jack leaned over to whisper to me. "But I think this the most bizarre thing I've ever seen, even if it isn't quite the stupidest."
I had to nod as we watched a krogan recite poetry in disbelief, while Garrus and Raptor were dealing with the vendor he was trying to woo.
I tried not to grimace at the sudden thought that he'd be dead within the next 8 months or so. Especially since there's nothing I can do about it- no more than I could save Thane or Mordin.
"You know- it looks like they're pretty distracted... " Jack said with a smile that could only be described as devilish. "We could probably ditch them."
"Yeah, sounds like a plan- just let me update my will real quick." I said sarcastically.
"What, a tough guy like you is scared of her-"
"Not so much scared as terrified of her punches beyond all capacity for rational thought." I pointed to my left arm "You see this dent in the metal here- that's from her fist. And she was. Holding. Back... if she ever figures a biotic punch, I'm going to have to keep a barrier up 24-7."
"...Now that might be the most pathetic thing I've ever heard."
"Yeah, I know." I sighed. "But even if we snuck off- what is there to even do?" I suddenly smiled as a thought hit me. "Unless you wanna hit up a tattoo parlor and pay up for losing that drinking bet."
"...Yeah, there's no fucking way I'm getting your name tattooed on the bottom of my foot."
I chuckled. "Yeah, bet was kinda rigged anyway so it's fair enough if you don't."
"Rigged how? Like you were just drinking water or some shit?" She asked both angrily and curiously.
"Part of the gene mods means it's basically impossible for me to get drunk even when I drink enough to kill a normal person..or like, ten normal people."
"...That sounds like that blows."
"Big time." I sighed, and then looked over at where Raptor and Garrus were looking at prices for a sniper rifle.
"Could hit up the tattoo parlor though- know there's one thing I need to finish getting inked."
"...I kinda don't want to know, but at the same time I gotta ask where you possibly have left that isn't tattooed already?"
"The design isn't complete. Like just the outlines without the colors...and there's another couple that need to be redone."
...it would be kinda nice to unwind and relax for five minutes...and there's no way the trio would expect me there- they've been waiting for us on missions, not actively seeking us out...no guarantee they'd even still be on the planet after what just happened...and with my pain tolerance it wouldn't really impact the mission…
"You know of any places nearby?"
She brought up her omni-tool. "Yeah- within walking distance of here."
"...Screw it, let's go...but if she does notice and get pissed, I'm going to say you snuck off and I was just tracking you down."
"Can't say that if you get inked too."
"Yeah, I mean if she catches us quickly...can't decide which idea to use though...probably just get both."
"What did you have in mind?" She asked as she pulled up a map and started walking.. "Let me guess- an Omega? A knife?"
"Meh, maybe on the chest where there's that scar...I was thinking either 'Seid ihr das Essen? Nein, wir sind der Jäger!' or 'ليس هناك ما هو صحيح، فكل شيء مباح'."
"...What is, that, Turian?"
"First is german, second is arabic." He shrugged. "Kinda hard to explain- they're both references to a 21st century anime and videogame, respectively."
"Do you actually know what they mean? I'm not going to get inked with some rookie who gets some symbol that looks cool but ends up meaning 'varrenfucker'."
"I'm sure...well, they aren't actually quite perfect translations, but it's authentic to what it was in the game and anime, so I'd rather get that version anyway."
"So you're telling me you're a nerd on top of the ugly face? No wonder you haven't gotten any in two years."
"You wanna talk about looks with that haircut?"
"You've got the same damn thing going on!"
"Except my hair is red, and I'm a guy." I smirked. "And with the clothing- seriously- not much room for you to talk about fashion sense."
"You're the one that got me this outfit for missions, dumbass. And the pants, and the boots, and the visor."
"...Okay, I'll be honest. I don't know how I walked into that."
"Stick to making fun of the cheerleader."
"...Meh, I did help her out with that other thing, so she kinda owes me a few bad jokes anyway." I shrugged. "But on the other hand, I've been making fun of her for the past two years- the rest of you offer a whole new realm of mockery."
"You also gave me this shotgun." She tapped it. "And the back of your head doesn't have much armor."
"Yeah, but if you fire it at me, it'll trigger a little present I put in there and not only disable the gun, but also put enough electricity in you to fry you."
"...you really did that?"
"Nah, it just shuts the gun down. No sense killing you if it's just an accident or friendly fire...and if you're doing it on purpose, I'd rather take you down personally." I called a knife into hand and spun it around my fingers before putting it back on my belt.
"...Will it do that if I aim it at Lawson?"
"Due to hardware restrictions, yes. The chips in the guns will stop the user from firing at anyone on the Normandy team...what? It's not just for you- I did that to all the guns when Taylor wasn't around. You'll be glad if someone takes the gun and tries to fire at you."
"Except you, because you put in some sorta override?"
"Why would I? I've already got my own guns and biotics, and the knives, and the dreadshot-"
"You know that's the dumbest fucking name for anything ever, right?"
"Well what the hell else am I supposed to call it? The Barrier Blaster? Nova Canon? Some other third thing?"
She just shook her head and kept walking. "Come on genius- tattoo place is only a block from here."
Almost on cue, my omni-tool started beeping, and I pulled it up to see a message from Shepard that made the blood drain from my face.
"Okay, so we're going with the plan where we say you snuck off and I caught you, since I don't want what she just described to happen to me."
"What could be so-" I showed her the message. "...Damn, she could teach me a thing or three."
"Less talk, more walk back before she finds a way to do this despite it being physically impossible."
(So, does anyone else have any ideas for what to talk about? I think we're starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel at this point.)
T117: Did you make that joke just because I invited Spike in for this one?
(Can't prove that.)
~I bet we can!~
)Yeah, I do have the pyschomancer again by now in the story. Ergo...or we could just hurt you a lot until you admit it.(
S7: Ah, but you can't hurt me with it. And now I write so that Layla has immunity to your dominate power.
T117: You know, there's a whole arguement I could make against that, but really I don't care for the A/N verse like I would for the crossover verse, so I'm not going to bother.
*Is it really that, or can you just not think of anything?*
T117: Hey, it's not my fault he made her so damn OP compared to you guys.
S7: She is a step below digital god. I made her that way because she already defeated her crucible.
(You do realize you're only written up to chapter 43, right Trebor? There's a lot you could do to even the field...that, or next time the stupid crossover verse is actually a balance of digital and reality instead of him just taking it over with digitalism and you not stopping him.)
T117: You realize that I can also use those chapters to bring you back, and therefore set you up for even more torture than last time, right?
)I can think of a few things.(
*So can I.*
~Well, who is gonna see Big Hero 6?~
T117: You know that it's actually some marvel thing? I'm definitely wanting to see it, even if it's not part of the MCU proper.
S7: That does look interesting. And who doesn't love robots?
(I love killing robots, does that count?)
~You would get along with HK47.~
(...Eh, yeah, probably.)
S7: Didn't we already have a robot discussion.
T117: I don't know, maybe...probably.
S7: Well, we should stop here before this all starts again.
T117: Yeah, not a terrible idea.
(What? Already? But I've barely even insulted him or Layla for being Crazy metal has been logged off for his own safety...and because hearing him insult everyone constantly is very annoying.
S7: You know, I really don't miss that. 1473I2.
T117: Sayonara.