There was a loud bellow coming from engineering that just about the entire ship heard. "He's upset…"

"Understatement of the week, O'Brien." Cortez turned to Six with some concern of his own however, "Are you certain it won't be any trouble?"

Six shrugged, "It claimed that the 'heretics' were the ones following the Reapers and actively attacking organic targets. Like the MSV Broken Arrow hijacking or the weather device."

"It confirmed they were the 'heretics'?"

Six nodded, "Dot verified the geth activity we've encountered with it. It also provided coordinates to a heretic satellite it wants us to attack."

Cortez still wanted to be cautious, "Did it say why?"

"The same reason it was on the derelict Reaper. It was studying its hardware and software because Sovereign gave the heretics a virus that will corrupt the rest of the geth into aligning with the Reapers. This satellite is where the virus is being housed inside a Reaper device until they're ready to deploy it."

Jorge had his own concerns about the mission, "The 'heretics' won't detect us?"

"It claimed Normandy's stealth systems will be enough to sneak us onboard."

Cortez looked up, "Dot, threat assessment about the geth."

"Yes, Master Sergeant. Unit 2A93 has not attempted to lie when questioned or perform any hacking attempts since reactivation. However, it has withheld information that it deemed sensitive to its people's survival. If information provided is accurate, this headquarters satellite should deal a significant blow to heretic numbers."

O'Brien didn't understand, "What do you mean?"

"As expressed by Unit 2A93, geth do not identify their mobile platform hardware as geth. Geth identify their software programming as geth. Assuming the heretic headquarters houses all of their serves, that will destroy more geth heretics than a standard operation against them."

Jorge had some idea about what she meant, though he wanted to make sure, "So this wouldn't be just be blowing up an enemy base. It'd be closer to taking out a city, right?"

"Larger. Unit 2A93 estimates that the servers could house billions of geth heretic programs. A more apt analog would be the populace of Earth. Due note, the heretic geth are a minority of the true geth. Geth numbers could potentially be in the quintillions. More data on geth servers and operational practices would be needed to estimate possible numbers."

Six was gearing up, "Dot, give me everything you can about geth that would be relevant."

O'Brien walked over to one of the lockers, "Well, you're not planning on going alone with the Commander and that thing, are you?"

Six was checking her DMR and shotgun, "The Commander will probably want to minimize our numbers this time for speed and efficiency. Tali will want to go to gather intel on geth architecture and how they've changed, among other things. Vaht because of his vow to protect Tali and the hate the Covenant have of the geth." She grabbed a grenade, "Dot, where are we?"

"We will be arriving at the heretic station within the hour."

The team gathered near the airlock as the Normandy approached the heretic satellite. Vaht was obviously watching the geth, making sure it wasn't doing anything suspicious.

Joker on the other hand had his own worries about this 'plan', swerving back to Legion, "You know it's just our heat emissions that are hidden, right? They can look out a window and see us coming."

"Windows are structural weaknesses. Geth do not use them. Approach the hull at these coordinates." Tali and Vaht carefully watched Legion provide the coordinates to navigation. Though as it did, Joker started mocking it by doing the Robot with his arms and mouth. "Access achieved. We may proceed." Shepard glared at him to stop, much to his dismay.

Six was checking her seals, expecting a zero atmo environment given the minimal needs of synthetics. The Normandy attached to the docking clamp leaving it up to Legion to force the door opened. Before the door opened Legion stated the obvious, "Alert. This facility has little air or gravity. Geth require neither."

Shepard had her helmet on though Vaht angrily snarled, "Of course it wouldn't machine. The only one among us who normally doesn't were a full EVA suit is Shepard."

The door opened as Legion moved forward. Shepard looked around the empty hall, "Won't we be detected? Don't they have intrusion alarms?"

Legion turned back, "Sensors have been reduced. We have infiltrated their wireless network and filled the data storage with random bits."

Six didn't seem to follow, "And that helps us how?"

"The heretics must scrub this 'junk' data. They have partitioned themselves into local networks, working in parallel. Any alarm we trigger will not go beyond the room we are in. Only accessing the main core will trigger a station wide alert."

Shepard pat both Six and Vaht as she moved on, "We've got a job to do. Let's get to it."

"Shepard-Commander," Legion blurted out to stop her, "We concluded that destruction of this station was the only resolution to the heretic question. There is now a second option. Their virus can be repurposed. If released into the station's network, the heretics will be rewritten to accept our truth."

"Either way, these geth won't be a problem anymore." Tali however took a step toward Shepard, "But Shepard, think about this. If we rewrite these geth, they'll join the others. Legion's geth will be stronger. Can we trust them not to attack us in the future?"

Shepard had another concern about the new news, "Why didn't you mention this before we came aboard?"

"We did not know the virus was complete. It is. It can be used against the true geth at any time. Our arrival was timely."

Shepard figured Legion had a reason for bringing this up, "They're your people, Legion. You must have an opinion."

Legion shock its head, "This is new data. We have not yet reached consensus. We will process as the mission proceeds."

"Do not let your morals be clouded," Vaht purposefully knocking into Legion as he proceeded, "These are machines. We reprogram them or destroy them. Nothing more."

Despite the obvious hate Vaht was emanating, Legion nodded, "That is logical."

Even though Legion was a geth, Tali was surprised, "You agree with that?"

"No two species are identical. All must be judged on their own merits. Treating every species like one's own is racist. Even benign anthropomorphism. The minds of both forms of life can be shaped. Organics require time and effort. With synthetics, replacement of a data file is the only requirement."

They followed Vaht down the ramp who had stopped in front of a data stream. "The geth here seem inactive."

Legion pointed to the data, "Interrupting data streams will alert local network. We recommend preemptive strikes against hardlink routers."

They carefully maneuvered around the room, making sure they don't step on the green data stream. Six was ready to fire, though Vaht stopped her. He was holding out a plasma grenade, priming it and tossing it at the larger geth.

The room's lights turned red as the geth started firing at them. Their attack would soon end as the grenade detonated, destroying the hub they were attached to and sending the geth flying. Legion, Six Shepard picked off the stragglers before they could reestablish themselves.

After the geth were destroyed, the entire room fell silent as the lights died. Tali looked over to the damaged hub, "Shepard, I'm picking up useful resources in the geth hubs. We could salvage them for supplies."

The salvage was good, though she turned to Legion, "Why are the heretics attached to these hubs?"

Legion looked to the destroyed hub, completely ignoring the floating bodies, "These are mobile platforms. Hardware. The crew is software. They are communing through the station's central computer."

Vaht knew this was going to be the best time to learn more about the geth, certainly enough to overlook the fact that he his begrudgingly working with one again. "Then what is the point to it all?"

Legion grabbed one of the damaged units and proceeded to rip a component from its chest. "The heretics connect to the main computer to exchange data memories and program updates. We gain complexity by linking together. To be isolated within a single platform is to be reduced. We see less. Comprehend less. It is quieter."

Shepard understood it, "If you exchange data—memories—how do you keep track of which ones are yours? How do you stay 'you'?"

Legion shook its head, "There is only 'we'." For a moment, it glanced to Tali as it continued the explanation, "We were created to share data among ourselves. The difference between geth is perspective. We are many eyes looking at the same things. One platform will see things another does not and will make different judgments."

Six didn't want to show empathy to the geth, as empathy was the first step toward sympathy for the enemy. "So, anything you do to them, you in essence are committing to yourself and vice versa for the heretics."

Legion nodded, "Yes. Once they return to us and upload their memories, we will share their experience of being altered."

Shepard wasn't sure about how to feel about hearing that, "Every other species I know of might be psychologically scarred by a traumatic experience like that."

Legion seemed to be as curious on the matter as she were, "It is not clear geth can be 'traumatized'. We do not feel pain as you do. We cannot predict what the effects will do."

Coldly, Vaht advised, "Then perhaps we should not risk finding out."

Before the ethical issues were brought up, Six looked back, "We should probably get moving before the…heretics decide to send a team to investigate."

Legion nodded, "Agreed. Heretics will notice the loss of this node soon enough and begin sending out active patrols."

Jorge was monitoring the mission through Dot, though she was only giving him situational data to work with. "Corridor clear. Hacked turrets detonated. Continuing through the station."

"You know, I always hated those stupid implants we had to get after enlisting, but Six is able to give us a play-by-play just from her sending a signal?"

Cortez knocked on O'Brien's helmet, "You know our implants are nothing more than IFF pings. Besides, I'd rather have ours anyway Those higher up implants are super invasive."

Jorge wasn't sure how far he should explain, then again, they were no longer UNSC and it was very possible they may never see that Earth or her colonies again. "Not to mention Spartan implants. They're half the reason why were able to use these suits and do some of the more ridiculous stunts. So, a 'signal' from her, or me, could feed Dot a lot of intel."

"So, only we can hear these updates?"

"Pretty much. These are on UNSC channels and encryptions. I don't think Cerberus has any information on them."

"That is correct, Noble Five. The Director and Noble Six have not used or provided any UNSC comm channels. Any encryption used by the Director, I have been asked to monitor but not use. Room cleared. Proceeding to the next section."

After destroying a pair of geth hubs they found a hallway with a view of rows upon rows of dozen stationary devices. Tali walked up to the glass, curious, "Are these databases?"

"Processors. Each contain thousands of geth."

Vaht activated his energy sword, "They will alert the rest!"

Legion however remained stationary, "They cannot. They are no more aware of us than you are of cells in your bloodstream."

Shepard turned to Legion, "This isn't like the other hubs we've seen here."

Legion had moved to a different row, "This is a database. It contains a portion of the heretics cumulated memories." Legion's optic brightened into a spotlight as a plate on the left side of its head extended, searching the room. Legion seemed to be searching for something, stopping when it found it, "Wait. we discovered copies of our current patrol routes in this database. This suggests the heretics have runtimes within our networks."

Six was keeping her eyes on the doors, "We wouldn't be here if your heretics weren't planning to hack your…people… Why wouldn't they infiltrate your network?"

Legion turned to the Spartan, even if she wasn't looking, "You do not understand. Organics do not know each other's minds. Geth do. We are not suspicious. We accept each other. The heretics desired to leave. We understood their reasons. We allowed it. There was peace between us."

Shepard agreed with Six on this, "It couldn't have lasted forever. You disagreed about what path your race should take."

"Human history is a litany of bloodshed over differing ideals of rulership and afterlife. Geth have no such history. We shared consensus on such things." Legion looked at the data that it pulled, "How could we have become so different? Why can we no longer understand each other? What did we do wrong?"

While Six kept an emotional distance from Legion, Shepard seemed to be falling down the path of sympathy as she tried to assure Legion the geth did nothing wrong, "When individuals are separated, they develop in different ways. When they get back together, they don't always get along."

Legion looked to her, "If this is the individuality you value, we question your judgment." After a moment's pause, Legion prepared to move on, "This topic is irrelevant. We must return to the mission."

Shepard stopped it for a moment, "Have you reached a decision about whether to rewrite the heretics or not?"

Legion turned back, "We are still trying to build consensus. Some processes judge destruction preferably. Others rewrite."

Vaht knocked into Legion, trying to knock it over, "Let us get moving. The sooner we leave the better."

Continuing into through the hall they found a terminal overlooking a maze-like room below. Shepard watched Legion move toward the terminal with purpose, "This is it?"

"Yes. We will upload a copy of our runtime into the core. It will delete all copies of the virus. When complete, it will notify us. The indexing operation will take time. The heretics will respond with force to our upload. We must hold this room. We can override some of the station's internal systems to defend us. are you ready to begin?"

Shepard looked to everyone, nodding to each of them to make sure they were ready. She glanced back to Legion, "Start your upload, Legion. We'll defend this position."

Legion interfaced with the console, "File transfer begun. Shepard-Commander, where would you like us to activate defenses?" The others moved to proper cover, ready to repel the assault. Legion stepped away, grabbing its weapon, "Alert: Heretics runtimes downloading to mobile platforms."

Despite moving to her side, Six tried to ignore Legion and focus on destroying the oncoming geth. Vaht was waiting near one of the ramps, a last line of defense as it were for anything that might get through.

Heretic geth were moving through the maze below, firing at their position but that wasn't enough. Six and Legion's precision made short work of most mobile platforms though the rocket troops soon entered the area.

Legion hacked one of the turrets below to give extra support as more geth continued to push in. They stood little chance when Tali and Shepard started to override their IFF recognition and turned on one another.

Vaht had little to do as he continued to watch them stopping the geth that was until a Prime appeared. The majority of the heretic platforms had been destroyed, and the turrets below had been hacked and destroyed.

It focused its suppressing fire heavily on Six and Legion's positions, recognizing the two sharpshooters as the primary threat to it reaching the upper area. During this time Six noticed that Vaht was no longer around. Normally that'd be concerning, though having fought alongside him for so long, it has some perks. When the stream of bullets stopped, Six tilted her head so her camera could examine the field.

Just as expected, Vaht managed to climb his way down while the Prime busied itself with them and ran his energy sword throw it. The Prime still functioned as it knocked the Elite warrior back. Six and Legion both shot at the Prime's joints, disabling its arms and leaving it open for retaliation from an angered Sangheili.

Vaht smashed the Prime's head with his Plasma Rifle before proceeding to ripe one of the arms off and proceeded to beat it down into scrap. While Vaht continued to smash the Prime the console started to flash. Legion turned to the other, "Datamine and analysis complete. Shepard-Commander. It is time to choose. Do we rewrite the heretics, or delete them?"

Shepard wasn't completely certain herself what to do, "You don't have any trouble wiping out your own people?"

Legion continued to defend its views, "Every sapient has the right to make their own decisions. The heretics chose a path that prohibits coexistence."

Tali still couldn't follow Legion's logic of self-determination, "That doesn't make sense. If they 'have the right to make their own decisions', how can you suggest brainwashing them to accept your way?"

"We stated the option exists. We did not endorse it. It is Shepard-Commander's decision."

Another point that Shepard also didn't understand, "Why are you letting me make this decision? They're your people."

Legion turned to the console, "We are conflicted. There is no consensus among our higher-order runtimes; 573 favor rewrite, and 571 favor destruction. Shepard-Commander. You have fought the heretics. You have perspective we lack. The geth grant their fate to you."

Vaht interjected, finally climbing back up to their level, "If that is your logic, machine, then would I not be a more suitable candidate to determine the fate of the heretics? My people were coerced into combining our efforts with the geth once."

"You have already voiced your desire to destroy the heretics. Your views are also hazed by your contradicting religious beliefs. You hold a veritable hatred for artificial intelligence, yet will adhere to the advice and offerings of an ancient artificial intelligence of your 'gods'."

Vaht pressed his helmet against Legion's head, "Mind your tongue, geth. You may be capable alone, but that does not mean I cannot destroy you."

Six grabbed Vaht's shoulder, "Remember, we still need it to destroy or rewrite them." Vaht shock her off, though that didn't mean he didn't know. Six had her own worries about rewriting the heretics, "What's stopping the heretics from using the virus to change back?"

Legion seemed confident about its plan, "We will delete the virus after using it. We judge it too dangerous to allow its existence."

That seemed to have some comfort, though Shepard understood where Six was going with her question. "There's no guarantee they won't come to the same conclusions again, is there? To worship the Reapers, and attack organics?"

"There is a non-zero probability of error."

Six looked back to Shepard, giving a heavy sigh, "Then we shouldn't take the possibility they could convince more geth into joining them later. Destroy the station…"

"Acknowledged." Legion started working the console, "Collapsing antimatter magnetic bottling mechanisms. Done. Recommend withdrawal to Normandy." The station violently shock as a door was unlocked.

Six grabbed her shotgun and Vaht was running ahead while Shepard and Tali were still getting their balance. Legion was also not as effected by the shockwave from the collapsing core as it followed behind Six.

Six paused when more aftershocks hit the station, but that wasn't enough to throw her aim off at the geth trying to stop them. Vaht rushed the two on the left as Six took out the one on his right. Vaht was about to turn the corner until a hail of bullets streaked passed his helmet.

Normally a grenade would help clear the hall, but with how close they were to the airlock. Shepard watched the bullets flying though she also saw the three geth were holding the next hall. Six was already ready to give Vaht an opening. A hologram of Six rushed at the three geth, giving them a target to focus on as it got closer. Vaht had turned invisible, cutting all three in two. He watched around the next corner, seeing a Prime and two other geth.

Six was prepared to charge in with Vaht, however Shepard managed to stop her. "You two don't have to do this alone." Her omni-tool activated as it constructed her combat drone. Legion and Tali did the same, sending the drones off ahead to give the geth new targets to priorities.

That wasn't an opening either warrior was going to miss. Legion used its sniper rifle, taking out the furthest geth unit. Six charged into the second geth so she could ram her shotgun up to its chest and blasted a hole just like the one Legion carries with an added bit of crushing the geth's head with her bare hand. Vaht tackled the Prime to the ground, wrestling for control of its weapon. The fight ended with a blast from Tali's shotgun.

Shepard tapped Vaht's shoulder, "No time to admire your work!" The door opened to the void where the Normandy was waiting for them. They quickly got inside and Joker got out of there as quickly as possible before the station was reduced to rubble.