They were all glad to get out of the proto-Reaper's chamber, even if that meant being in the command hub overlooking it. Shepard headed immediately for the console and asked EDI, "Anything good?"
"I believe 'useful' would be a better word," EDI answered, cuing the console remotely.
"Should we be worried we haven't run into much resistance?" Alenko asked.
"No," EDI answered. "Sheffler's unit has most of the Cerberus forces' attention. They are in disarray. I believe his crew ate their Blast-Os this morning."
Shepard and Alenko both chuckled at this, though Javik predictably did not.
"Grayson's brain is a mess. He must have been completely under Reaper control by the end."
"And the physical enhancements?"
"No," Shepard muttered. "Don't think about it being useful, don't wonder if it's helpful…just get rid of it…"
"Extremely impressive…if we could avoid having entire neural pathways rewritten in the process…"
"Grayson's failure was a lack of resolve: he wasn't loyal to anything beyond his next dose of red sand."
"I hate that stuff so much," Alenko sighed, shaking his head.
"Least it really was only one dose for you," Shepard agreed, freeing a hand to wrap it around his wrist.
"You'd like to try it on loyal test subjects, sir?"
"That's right, be worried, Doc."
"Find volunteers among our new recruits. The physical benefits are too useful to ignore."
"At least we know how this bullshit started," Alenko heaved a sigh.
Shepard nodded, cuing the next entry.
"The performance upgrades are off the charts! Our troops can out-fight any Alliance soldier!"
Several snorts from those with sinuses ensued.
"Roll it out. I want all our troops fitted with implants before the Reapers arrive."
"I'm still concerned about losing control of our forces. Some of them are already complaining about hearing voices."
"When our work at Sanctuary pays off, the only voice they'll be hearing is ours."
Shepard shook her head. She'd wondered when he'd started building his shock troops, when he'd begun building Sanctuary. It looked like the answer was 'while she was still working with Cerberus.' No wonder he'd gone to such lengths to ensure she was cushioned and as far removed from Cerberus as she could be while still operating under their patronage. She'd always known he was a smart bastard making a lot of stupid decisions, but she hadn't really appreciated just how smart and how stupid.
She shook her head again, heaving another sigh. This was all in the past; anything she could do about it had already been done. Still…she wished she could have done something, more things, sooner.
"Sir, you wanted my opinion on this? It's too dangerous."
"No. We're close. Sanctuary was a success."
"EDI, how recent is this?" Shepard asked sharply.
"It is timestamped four days after the raid on Sanctuary," EDI replied promptly.
"We can control Reaper forces. Everything we've been fighting for, every sacrifice we've made, is about to pay off."
"We can't lose you, sir! Humanity needs your mind, and they need it intact."
"I understand the danger, Jana. That's why I'm trusting you with this."
"EDI, pull any files on Dr. Jana, no last name, then see if you can locate her. I want a word before we go…" Shepard ordered.
"Pulling files."
"As long as you're there, I know you'll keep me in line."
"I have located and isolated Dr. Jana Withers," EDI announced. "We can collect her on our way back to the extraction point."
"Good, thank you."
"I'm holding you to that, sir...okay…"
"Apparently someone slipped his minder," Javik observed.
"Apparently," Shepard agreed.
"Begin the procedure. No anesthetics. Computer, end recording." The file's playback cut off.
"No anesthetic? Hardcore," Alenko said into the silence.
"Dumbass, I think you mean," Javik grunted.
"You'd say no to anesthesia," Alenko pointed out innocently.
"I would not be accepting Reaper implants. Hence 'dumbass' still applies," the Prothean returned.
"Painkillers?" Alenko asked, turning his attention to Shepard.
"Nah, I'm fine. It's just a couple neurons still lighting up."
"Painkillers. The OTC, so it's okay," Alenko said, handing over two pills.
Shepard popped them dry. "You know, you're helping me murder my liver with these things."
"Maybe we can ask Miranda to grow you a new one." But the joke was hesitant, as if he wasn't sure whether it was safe to joke about just yet.
Shepard snorted. "She probably could. Still, she'd want to know what I did to the old new one she grew for me." Shepard rolled her shoulders, knowing it would take up to twenty minutes for the painkillers to quiet down those few overactive neurons. "Makes me wonder what he can do now that he couldn't do before."
"Remember Saren and all that jumping around?" Alenko asked uneasily, returning to seriousness.
"Yeah. Let's hope it's only that. Well, at least we know he's fully gone over. No way he can still be an independent mind if he's got Reaper implants."
"I still don't see how he could think it was a good idea," Alenko said. "Look at what it did to his troops. And he thought it wouldn't affect him?"
"That's the Cerberus pattern in a nutshell, Alenko," Shepard answered grimly. "Everyone thinks they're not expendable, they're not experimental, they're not whatever. And then they find out, too late, that they are. And now it's happened at the top of the dung heap. EDI, are we getting close to our objective?"
"We are," EDI assured her. "Only a few more decks to clear. Sheffler's team reports mission success; they are continuing to hold the Cerberus forces' attention, and are making headway against them. Our backup team reports no altercations, Cortez reports that the fleet has fully neutralized the Cerberus fleet presence. Admiral Hackett wishes to know if you would like additional forces to begin moving in."
"No. Wait until we have the data, then they can start going over this place. I don't want any more variables in play."
"Done. Admiral Hackett agrees with your request for more time."