"What the hell is keeping Bourne?" Wrex demanded angrily.
"He said he'd be up here before long. Shepard answered. And if he isn't, he's going to regret it.
"Commander, it should have been me. You know that. Alenko was the superior officer. I would have gladly stayed behind."
"Alenko knew the risks going in-"
"Not all of them." There was a collective jump at Bourne's voice. "Unfortunately, none of us knew all of the risks."
"Would it kill to make some noise when you walk?" Shepard griped.
"Probably not. But I needed a good laugh." He didn't sound like he was laughing though. He walked over to his usual spot on the wall.
"Are you okay Jason?"
"According to me, yes. According to Chakwas, I'm still supposed to be in the med bay."
"Then why are you up here?" Shepard asked with a disapproving frown.
"It's amazing how far a stasis field can get you."
They all stared at him a moment. Then Shepard sighed and covered her face with a hand. "Somehow Bourne, I'm not surprised."
"Hey, I didn't hear her telling me to stay. She just stood there when I walked out."
"That's because you put her in stasis." Shepard said in exasperation.
Bourne waved a hand. "She's the one that took off the restraint." His face darkened. "Though it'd have been nice if it weren't needed. Apparently, it's Saren's fault it was needed."
"What do you mean?" Garrus asked.
Bourne sighed, rubbing his temples. "What do you think?"
Garrus's hand instinctively went to his gun.
"For crying out loud Garrus, if Iron had taken over, it would be a lot more obvious. For one thing, the eyes would be red, even if he wasn't doing the voice, and he'd be either trying to kill you, rambling about killing you, or so on and so forth. It's a very one track mind."
"What did you call this meeting for Bourne?" Shepard interrupted.
He smirked. "Well, if you want to get Smurfette there to check that's fine, but the conduit is on Illos."
Shepard frowned, trying to figure out what he meant by that name, and if he needed to be punched for it. Knowing him, it was probably an innuendo.
"Illos, I don't think I've heard of that." Garrus muttered, cutting off her train of thought. But then again, that might be for the best right now.
Liara's mouth moved silently as she whispered to herself.
"Illos is a planet only accessible through the Mu Relay, which was lost thousands of years ago." She said after a moment.
"So then, how is Saren supposed to get to it?" Ashley said.
Bourne nodded at Liara. "Her mom is on Noveria trying to find the coordinates of the thing."
"And you know all this… how?" Garrus asked.
Bourne looked at him impassively for a moment. "You have a few trust issues, don't you?"
"Not when it's deserved. What was all that that Saren said?"
"Would you believe that they're what I thought was just a clever backstory for myself, yet turned out to be repressed memories that I used as a basis for said fake backstory?"
"…what?"
"Amnesia. When I met Shepard on Eden Prime, I didn't even know my own name. I just thought I did."
"What?!" Several voices said at once.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. Apparently I got a bunch of fake memories stuck in there by Saren and. Hell, the name comes from an old movie."
"Then what is your real name?" Ashley asked, face between angry and confused.
He shook his head. "Honestly, I'm not sure I even had one before."
"So you've been lying this whole time?" Ashley said, clearly hurt.
He shook his head. "I had no inclination of the truth until Iron woke up after Feros. And what was I supposed to say then? Oh, by the way, I have no idea of my real memories, so I made it all up? And I have no idea whatsoever why there's another person in my head? There's an old saying proving very true at the moment: Truth is stranger than fiction."
Garrus stood up suddenly, hand dropping to his pistol. "Well your fiction paralyzed Alenko and nearly killed Tali."
"Oh no. You figured out my master plan." He said sarcastically. "Garrus, let's be realistic here. Had I wanted any of you dead, you would have been food for the scavengers a long time ago. I did what I could with the hand I was dealt…and I fucked up more than I thought was possible."
"So let's have the truth then while you can tell it."
"I was going to tell you anyway. Okay, so here's what I know now- the reason I passed out and ended up floating is that my memories resurfaced- not all of them mind you, but enough to put the pieces together. The body you're looking at was, yes, created by Saren."
"Body?"
He tapped his head. "The mind is another matter. They ended up with a blank slate,- the perfect body but a vegetable with no mind. So they somehow…copied my brainwaves off who they thought was a perfect match for what they needed. They were wrong, so they tried again with Iron, and then apparently a third." He shrugged. "I've yet to hear anything else from this third guy. Might be Saren was just trying to distract me."
"So then, how'd you end up Eden Prime?" Ashley asked him.
He was silent for a moment. "Saren sent Iron to lead a squad of Geth. Apparently, after resisting, they installed additional tech to make him easier to control, and keep me from interfering as much." He looked down at the palm of his hand. "I'm not sure what happened exactly. But one of us caused the ship we were in to crash. And it jarred Iron's control enough that his control could be fought off, long enough to…uninstall some of the tech. So he can take over if he tries and I'm weakened, but otherwise is nothing more than a whisper in my head…an extremely annoying one."
Garrus looked unconvinced. "That still doesn't explain how you know about Illos. Assuming you aren't lying again."
"Liara can confirm it with Shepard, I'm sure. And as for how I know, it's the same reason that Iron knew Sovereign's other name. Saren might think that he's in charge, but we all know it's really *Nazara* pulling the strings. More than Saren realized. Could be it wanted to replace Saren- more easy to control someone like Iron than a Spectre. So it got Iron ready for that scenario-like spilling about Noveria for instance. Maybe it'd have sent me if I hadn't broken free. Or I might have ended up on Virmire securing the other Beacon. Or looking for the Prothean expert on Therum."
He crossed his arms. "If I'm being vague, it's because I don't know a lot about this."
"And we're supposed to trust you after you admitted you've been lying since day one?"
"I'd hope you'd be smarter than that." He said sardonically. "I'm not doing this solely because I want to save the galaxy from those things- though that certainly isn't a small part of this. I'm doing this for my own selfish reasons too- revenge, self-preservation, wanting to keep the Spectre Status-" he glanced at Ashley. "And a few other reasons."
She just glared at him, and he turned back to Garrus.
"You dislike and distrust me- for admittedly good reasons. But compared to the Reapers…"
"You killed that scientist because you thought the reapers might still be controlling her. What about you?"
"Iron, ironically enough, acted as a barrier." He looked troubled for a moment. "It's possible that he could be, but he's already so sociopathic and kill-happy it's near impossible to tell the difference. He seems to want revenge against them, but trusting him isn't something I plan on doing."
Shepard looked at Liara. "Well, one way to find out if he's right about Illos."
Bourne leaned against the wall, eyes closed. "Just do it before I get images in my head I don't need."
"Bourne…"
"I said unneeded, didn't I? Wake me when you're done."
I turned my focus inward, leaving only a distant awareness of the outside world. I could dimly hear Shepard and Liara melding minds.
(Later, you are going to pay for blaming me…and calling me crazy…and a few other things.)
)You and what army?(
*Well, if he gets me on his side, you'd be in trouble.*
(…) )…(
*What? You don't think I'd be able to take Iron?*
)…It's not that, it's just that having a chick's voice in my head sorta freaks me out.(
(Yeah, if you make him start shopping, I'm going to help him take you out.)
)If that happened Iron, I'd take her out myself.(
*You don't take anything seriously do you?*
)Oh, I'm sorry Hero, you're right. I'm in a video game trying to save the universe, while simultaneously attempting to ignore the fact that my friend is going to be dead in a few short months, and possibly me along with her. Not to mention, Ash might straight up dump me. So you're right, I have no right to try to make jokes as a coping mechanism!(
(Yep, she's definitely affecting you. Don't get your panties in such a twist.)
)Next time we meet in my head like before, you are getting a knife right to the family jewels.(
(Come on, that's just wrong. Even for me. Who do you honestly know that deserves that?)
)Udina, the Turian council member, You, Garrus on certain days, The Illusive Man, the Turian councilman, You, Kai Leng, Udina, The Turian counselor-(
*You have some social issues to work on.*
)Did I ask you?(
*So, we can start with the short temper.*
(Wow, I'm actually starting to like her. Well, as much as I can like a goody two shoes like her.)
)At least she isn't a mindless butcher like you are.(
*Can you stop arguing long enough to have an actual conversation and plan something out?*
)Like?(
*The trust here is still very low…and if they somehow found out you knew about Virmire…not just what it was, but what would happen…*
(I don't think even he's dumb enough to tell them this is all a video game…mind you, I've been wrong before. For instance, apparently babies can't swim if their legs are broken.)
*You know Bourne, if we do that void thing again, I might be able to make an omni-blade to stab him.*
(...We're a biotic class.)
*If I could do it to Kai Leng, I can do it to you.*
(…you make an excellent point.)
)Wonder what class I am? Obviously more skilled with weapons than an adept- no offense Hero- but I'm a hell of a lot better with the biotics than Iron will ever be...something in between, what'd that be? A vandept? Adgaurd?(
*Focus please.*
)Right sorry. What if I only told them part of what I knew?(
*What do you mean?*
)Well…couldn't I say I'm from the future?(
(…that is arguably most idiotic and insane idea I've ever heard…from someone else.)
*I hate that I agree with him.*
)If I gave Raptor just enough knowledge-(
*Reality warping, remember? You could just make things worse. And how far could you go with it anyway? Say you made sure the Council lived, telling them the Council died and that's where things went to hell.*
)…then everything afterward should have been changed, so how would I still know everything…I see what you mean.(
*And, there's the fact that if you told her the future, it could be she'd give up. Or go with what you told her so as not to mess things up…and how would you have gotten here?*
)I said the brain got scanned in from another person. I never said where or when the other person was.(
*Still. Unless you have no other option…*
(At this point, if these lies are shown to be lies, your head is going to end up on a plate anyway.)
)And if it doesn't, the only person who'll have that honor is Saren.(
I heard a gasp from Liara, and I snapped my eyes open, pushing Hero and Iron away.
"I take it that means I was right?"
"The conduit is on Illos. I recognized it from my research."
I pushed away from the wall. "Good. First thing I've been right about today. But unless we have the coordinates for the Mu Relay, we aren't getting there anytime soon."
"Unless we do manage to somehow find the coordinates-" She suddenly swayed, and Shepard was at her side in an instant.
"Liara?"
"I'm fine Raptor. But sorting out the visions tires me out more than when we would normally meld minds."
Just think about something else, just think about something else.
(Dead ponies.)
Hero and I both mentally glared at him.
(Well, maybe he should have been more specific.)
"You should go to our room and lie down for a bit." Shepard said. "Except for Bourne, you're dismissed."
She waved me over, and I sighed. )You know, I almost prefer talking to Iron to talking to the council.(
*You said 'almost', right?*
)Yes.(
*Good. You had me worried for a minute there.*
(You know, if you can't put up with just me, you aren't going to have a very fun experience on the SR-2…Jack is a crazy lady. Hot, but crazy…I mean, not as hot at Miranda, but-)
I tuned him out as stood next to Raptor. "Joker, patch us in."
"You want to warn the council about Sovereign?" He sounded hoarse, and his usual cheerful demeanor was gone. Kaidan must have hit him hard too.
I felt an strong urge to trigger my Biotics as the Council's holograms materialized, though I barely managed to restrain myself.
(That is not me this time.)
*Nope. You just don't like those guys.*
)No. I don't.(
"Commander, Lt. Bourne, I'm glad to see your mission on Virmire was a success."
(She has an odd idea of success.)
*Your idea of success is to kill as many people as painfully as possible.*
(…What's your point?)
"Saren is formidable enough without an army of Krogan serving under him."
I almost growled. "Do you idiots never read the damn reports? Sovereign is the real threat, Saren is just its puppet."
*That could have been said better.*
(I agree.)
*Thank you.*
(No, I mean you only called them idiots? They need something way stronger than that.)
*Okay, never mind then on the thank you.*
"The Reapers wiped out the Protheans, and if we don't stop them, we're next." Shepard agreed, shooting me a look that said to let her handle this.
The Salarian spoke hesitantly. "Yes, we saw mention of this on your report. Sovereign. A sentient machine. A true artificial intelligence. This is quite alarming. If it turns out to be accurate."
The Turian gave a harsh laugh. "It sounds more like Bourne has been snorting Red-Sand."
It took everything I had not to let lose the string of expletives flooding through my head. Hero and Iron were actually shocked into silence. Somehow, despite how many times I've had them accuse me of lying, in game or not, I still want to kick him in the nuts for saying that. Repeatedly.
(You already wanted to do that.)
*He's got a point.*
)Well now I want to do it more! Probably with biotics!(
"Sovereign is real. The Reapers are real. Saren even admitted it." Shepard defended me.
"He's playing you. He's obviously heard about your visions." The Turian scoffed. "You two are walking right into his lie."
)Iron, if I ever do decide to kill him, I'm letting you do it. That way it will be as long, drawn out, and painful as physically possible.(
(I just might have to take you up on that.)
)I'm not saying I'd do it. I'm just saying it would be satisfying.(
*You'd end up regretting it later, one way or another.*
)I can dream, can't I?(
"We tried to warn you about Saren, and you wouldn't listen. Don't make the same mistake now."
"Yeah, because if turned out that so well before, just imagine how well it will work out now." I said sarcastically.
"You humans have a saying. Even a broken clock is right twice a day." The Turian chuckled.
I saw red, and I was barely keeping my biotics under wraps. "Yeah, well we have a gesture too."
I raised both fists, and flipped him off with both hands.
(…. You know, maybe you should disconnect now. You're just letting them piss you off.)
*I thought you'd want him pissed off?*
(Not while I'm trapped in his head. He's a real ass when he's mad…and Raptor will probably kick his ass for this. Lady punches harder than a Krogan.)
To my irritation, the Councilor took it calmly- or else somehow didn't understand it. "Maybe we were wrong Bourne."
*See? You managed to win him over.*
(Wait for it.)
"Maybe Humans are too hot headed to be Spectres."
(Told you.)
)Ok, is it wrong of me to sort of want to let them get killed?(
(Nah) *Yes!*
"Enough!" The Asari broke in. Raptor sighed in relief at her intervention. "Commander Shepard and Lt. Bourne have performed admirably so far. This discussion is just a minor disagreement."
Minor disagreement? If we were having this conversation in person, that Turian would be needing a full body cast!
*Ok, we get it. You don't like the council. Get over yourself, you're not supposed to like everyone you meet. It's a thing called life.*
"You and Bourne seem to have a lot of disagreements." Shepard said wryly, shooting me an 'I'm going to be pissed about this later' glare.
"Try looking at it from our perspective. Saren is recognizable as a threat."
Only when it's shoved under your nose with more evidence than should be needed. I managed to refrain from saying it out loud that time, though it took a lot of effort. I also wasn't sure Turians had noses.
"However, as far as we know, the Reapers only exist in your visions."
The Salarian put in his two cents. "Our decisions affect trillions of lives. We can't make decisions based on wild accusations, even from Spectres. Were you to bring solid evidence, that would be another matter, but as it stands…"
"The Council cannot take any official action here." The Asari finished. "That is why the Spectres were created."
I shook my head. "Well, it's obvious that you won't see the truth, so I guess we should stop wasting each other's time."
The Salarian sighed "If you truly believe Sovereign is a threat-"
"It is." Raptor and I said at once. As did the two Shepards in my head.
I took one of my knives from my pocket, and examined it. "It seems that yet another human saying is true. 'None are so blind as those that Will not see.' I'd say it was nice talking to you, but I'd be lying."
I threw the knife at the off button, easily hitting it without even needing to use the biotics. I picked it back up and slid it back into my pocket. Okay, now I feel a little better.
*Yeah, but she's still going to be pissed.*
)How do you know?(
*….*
(…Really Bourne? You're asking the person who's literally another version of her- and actually is like her in most ways-)
)Yeah, I get it, stupid question.(
(No kidding.)
I turned to Raptor, who was now glaring at me full force. And I recognized that glint in her eye by now.
My hand went up to block her punch, and I held it there a moment, meeting her gaze evenly.
She pulled her arm away angrily. "Bourne, do you try to make my life more difficult?"
I kept my expression even, though not without effort. "Shepard, if you'd seen what the Reapers are capable of as well as I have, you'd be just as angry with those idiots."
"You just pissed off the three most powerful people-"
"And the dumbest, clearly."
She groaned in exasperation.
"Look, you're the one they wanted to make a Spectre in the first place. As is, they're questioning that decision for both of us. If I take the heat and make you look better though-"
"They might just consider us both the same."
I waved a hand. "Let's agree to disagree. We have bigger issues."
I brought up my Omni-tool, checking the date. About three weeks since Eden Prime. Which likely didn't leave much time until the Battle of the Citadel. I grimaced at the thought of the many lives lost, but between Kaidan and Fai Dan, I'd learned my lesson about trying to change fate from its intended path.
I looked back up. "Our next Priority needs to be Noveria…and Liara's mother."
She bit her lip.
I spoke before she could. "I know. You care about her, and don't want to see her hurt. If it was Ashley's mom, I'd feel the same way."
She reluctantly nodded. " There is one other thing we should take care of on the way. Admiral Hacket called and asked us to check out a few Geth outposts."
That got my attention. "That's also worth doing…And if we give whatever data we find to Tali, she could take it as a pilgrimage gift."
She gave me an odd look. "She has told me that something showing how the Geth have evolved would make an excellent choice."
"Alright, let's head for that next. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go shoot something, and it might coincidently look like that Turian counselor."
"Want company?"
I chuckled darkly. "Shepard, I always have company, remember?"
"So you can actually hear him?"
"Yeah. And Hero."
"Hero?"
"I decided that part was an acceptable omission under the circumstances- they distrust me enough as is. Turns out Hero was just hiding since I ended up an amnesiac."
"Isn't Hero sort of a girl's name?"
(Ok, I'm not even getting involved in that minefield.)
*Yeah, you can handle this one.*
"Let's just say, Hero is also based on you, but a lot more accurately than Iron is." I thought for a moment. "But with less chance of me getting hit."
"Garrus, hasn't he saved you at least once by now?"
"I don't know. I was too busy getting beaten up by Iron. Or that time it was actually him that attacked me."
Tali sighed, checking the engine readings again. "Maybe it's just a culture difference. If he had caused an accident on the flotilla, he would have to prove it wasn't his fault. He has."
"Or, he's just crazy."
"Garrus, Liara and I were both listening on the coms to what Saren said. Iron is real."
"Just because he's mostly contained doesn't make Bourne any less dangerous."
Tali sighed and turned to face him. "If you're always expecting it to happen again, you'll both just end up at each other's necks."
"I think you mean, 'at each other's throats'."
Tali frowned inside her helmet. Apparently her translator was on the fritz again.
"Bourne has to earn my trust."
Tali shrugged. "I guess that's as good as I can get. But you don't need to keep rubbing his face in it. He's good at keeping his face masked, but I can read his body language pretty well. Every time you bring up what happened to me, he tenses like he wants to run, or grabs at the wound. I can tell he regrets it fully."
He shook his head. "I need to go finish up a few things on the Mako. But just be careful around him."
Tali forced herself to concentrate on the engine. And as much as she… Well, I can't really figure out how I fell about Garrus. But he clearly has a vendetta against Bourne for what Iron did.
Tali could no longer quite bring herself to trust Bourne, but Shepard trusted him, and that was enough for her. But I'm still going to keep a closer eye on him.
"I believe that's two for me, and one for you." Bourne gloated.
Shepard rolled her eyes. "You only beat me by one point with the pistols, and that was because you cheated with your Biotics."
"How was it cheating?"
"You knocked the target to the side so I'd miss it."
"I was pulling it closer to me. Which makes it strategy." Bourne chuckled and put away the shotgun.
"You know Bourne, Saren might be deluded, but he knows what he's doing training soldiers." He was as good as she was with his custom modded pistol, and much better with shotguns.
But Shepard still was better with the assault rifle. She smiled. "You know, we still have one last gun to use."
"Hah! Like I'd be dumb enough to go against you with a sniper! Only time I ever saw you miss a target was Saren's head."
Shepard rolled her eyes. "So you forfeit than?"
"Something like that."
"Well unless I somehow end up with Biotics, you have me beaten there at least."
Bourne pretended to shiver. "I hope not. You're dangerous enough already. If you were a biotic Saren would surrender within the week."
Shepard shook her head. "So you want to work with your Biotics for a bit, or are you going to hit the showers too?"
Bourne's face instantly snapped to its blank look. "I'll work on the biotics for a bit. You go right ahead."
Shepard chuckled after a moment, realizing what he meant. "You know, the showers are coed on this ship."
"I know…took me ages to figure out how to use the CO status to lock the damn things. Might've been the first thing I figured out."
"…you can go face to face with Krogan, but you don't want someone walking in on you in the shower?"
"Oh shut up."
Shepard shook her head as she walked away.
)Will you stop laughing Iron?(
(Or else what?)
*I know even more bad songs than him.*
)Yeah, but then I'd hear it too! I mean, it'd still be better than listening to him, but-(
(You two have no sense of humor.)
I brought up my Omni-tool and hit the com. "Joker, what's our current destination?"
"Uh, actually, we don't have one right now."
I considered my options. "Head for the Citadel. We need supplies." I softened my voice a little. "And we need to offload Alenko."
"Roger that Bourne." he said soberly.
I thought about saying more, but comforting was more Shepard's thing.
I cut the channel and activated my custom Biotic training program.
(Seriously, shooting the effigies of me is just overkill.)
)You know what they say- There's no kill like overkill.(
*God, what have I been signed up for?*
Probably a bunch of terrible jokes and cliff hangers.
But the latter shouldn't happen again for a while.
Adiós hasta el lunes
