Convergences: Epilogue
RRW Gallena—Sickbay
"I'm sorry, but we're going to have to ask that you remain our guests for a little while longer." V'lana apologetically informed Oriana and her guardians. "We're on our way to the Farinata System where we'll be rendezvousing with a Citadel fleet. Once we complete our mission, we'll help you find a safe place to live. Has Miranda explained everything to you?"
"She has." Kenneth, Oriana's adoptive father, replied.
"It's a lot to take in…you understand." Josie, the mother chimed in, "That we might have to make a new home in a whole new universe…"
"That's assuming we succeed." V'lana qualified, further cautioning, "There are no guarantees of that. This could well be what you humans call a 'wild duck chase."
Chuckling, Oriana corrected, "You mean 'wild goose chase'."
"Yeah." V'lana laughed, "That."
"We understand, Subcommander." Kenneth acknowledged, "And we still thank you."
"Dad's right." Oriana echoed, "Thank you for everything you've done."
"You're welcome." V'lana smiled back. Then her attention drawn by Doctor Chakwas's gesture for her to come over, the subcommander politely excused herself, "If there's anything you need or that we can do for you…"
"We'll be fine." Oriana answered back with a smile, "Miri's taking us to dinner at the…what did she call your lounge?'
"The Raptor's Nest." Josie interjected, adding "And then she said something about going on the holodeck—whatever that is."
"We'll be fine, Ma'am." Kenneth assured.
Grinning, V'lana replied, "Enjoy yourselves and again…if you need anything…"
"We'll let you know."
"How are…" V'lana stammered slightly as she gazed down at the two humans enclosed in their stasis tubes.
"I'm sorry…but there's no change in either Staff Commander Alenko's or the Shepard clone's status." Dr. Chakwas ruefully responded. "As you probably already know from your basic biology…" the physician explained as she called up a picture of the human brain on her computer monitor, "…the hippocampus is the part of the brain responsible for the retention of memory. While suffering no physical damage, the hippocampi of both of them has seemingly been virtually erased."
"So, you're saying that they might not have any memories of who they are…were…" V'lana choked out in response.
"Precisely." Dr. Aven affirmed, "Their minds are essentially tabula rasa—blank slates."
"While they might very well retain memories of basic functions such as speech and language, their memories of their past experiences…" Dr. Chakwas shook her head, "…all gone."
"So…" V'lana sighed, "Where do we go from here?"
"While a skilled telepath might not be able to bring back their memories…at least not all of them…" Dr. Aven averred with his colleague nodding her head in agreement, "…the telepath might be able to break them out of the fugue state they are currently in."
"Once they're fully conscious again…" Dr. Chakwas opined, "They could be retrained and reeducated. While their old memories would be gone, their capacity for learning should still be intact."
"Making them essentially entirely different people." V'lana somberly declared as the two doctors nodded their heads.
Her eyes filled with sympathy for the young Romulan woman standing before her, Dr. Chakwas consoled, "I'm sorry, V'lana…truly…but you can take some solace in the fact that Kaidan will still be alive. And the Shepard clone…" the doctor finished on an optimistic note, "…she'll have a chance for a new life. They both will."
"And where there's life, there's hope." The subcommander responded, wiping the tears from her eyes. "I know. And I am grateful for all you both have done for him…for both of them." As she turned to walk away, Dr. Chakwas called out to her.
"If there's anything we can do…"
Her lips turning up in a sad smile, the subcommander replied, "I'll let you know. Thank you."
RRW Gallena—Kelly Chambers' Office
Seated behind her desk, Kelly flashed a warm smile to her guest as he entered the office, escorted by a Starfleet security officer. "Good afternoon, Rupert." The redheaded counselor called out in greeting, "Come on in and have a seat."
"Not like I have any choice in the matter." The Cerberus mess sergeant groused as he glanced at his guard.
"Of course, you do, Rupert." Kelly responded, keeping the smile on her face, "I just thought that you might like to stretch your legs and maybe chat for a while."
"What about the others?" Gardner asked, still refusing to budge from the entranceway. "Do they get a chance to stretch their legs too?"
"Of course, they do." Kelly responded. "In fact, I'll be seeing both Hadley and Matthews after we finish talking." Her smile now replaced by a look of concern, she implored, "No one's going to hurt either you or anyone else, Rupert. You have my promise."
"What about Hawthorne and Markham and Jackson?" The grizzled former miner challenged, "Did you give them the same promise?"
Shifting uncomfortably in her chair as she remembered Markham and Jackson's interrogations at the hands of the telepath Neilana, a former interrogator for the Tal'Shiar, Kelly responded in a soft voice, "All three of them are safe in Alliance custody and they're all going to receive a fair trial. But…you have to remember that Markham and Jackson are looking at both treason and war crimes charges…"
"So…they're just going to stand them up against a wall and shoot them?" The mess sergeant growled as he sat down in the chair on the other side of the desk.
"Not necessarily." Kelly replied, "Both the Federation and the Romulan Republic are planning on filing pleas for mercy, and Hawthorne's only facing conspiracy and collaborating with a hostile organization charges. I've got a feeling that he's looking at a light prison term at most."
"Because he sold his mates out." Gardner all but shouted, half rising from his seat until a firm hand on his shoulder caused him to sit back down. "You're a traitor to humanity. And so are the rest of these…" the old mess sergeant sneered, "…so called Federation humans. I don't want any part of you. Return me to my cell."
Sighing in dejection, Kelly inclined her head in a gesture to the guard. "Ensign Garraway will return you to your cell, Rupert. But please…remember…my door is always open when you're ready to talk."
The Raptor's Nest—later
"Rough day at the office?" V'lana asked the redheaded ship's councilor sitting at a corner table nursing her drink.
"Oh…Subcommander!" Kelly exclaimed as she began to rise to her feet only to be halted by a gesture.
"Please…don't get up on my account." V'lana smiled as she inclined her head at an empty chair, "Mind if I join you?"
"Not at all." Kelly responded with a wan smile.
"Wanna talk about it?" V'lana gently prompted as the Bolian waitress handed her a Romulan ale. "I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours."
Heaving a sigh, Kelly sipped her drink. "Without violating confidentiality…" she shook her head, "…it's the prisoners."
"Your session didn't go well, I take it?"
"That's putting it mildly." Kelly let out an ironic chuckle, "It's the Cerberus indoctrination. It's so insidious and difficult to break through. So far…the only ones I've heard of who broke through it are Hawthorne and the one who defected—Doris…I believe was her name…Doris Whaley. An engineer on Shepard's ground team."
"What about yourself?" V'lana inquired, "Didn't you go through their indoctrination too?"
"No." Kelly shook her head, "At least not the complete program. I went to a few new recruit orientation sessions where we got fed a little of the bull, but they hold off on the heavy orientation until training school—that's when they cram the hardcore stuff at you. I was slated to go to their training school when it looked like I was going to the Normandy, but when that got cancelled…well…I was given the option to continue or resign. I chose to resign…" her lips turning up in a slight smile, she quipped, "…I think I made the right decision."
"I think you did too." V'lana smiled back, "So…what are you going to do?"
"Keep trying." Kelly shrugged her shoulders, "It's all I can do. Rupert and the others aren't bad people. They're not like Kai Leng and the hardcores. I think they can still be reached—it's just going to take some work to break through that conditioning. But I think it's worth it. They're worth it." The waitress bringing both women fresh drinks, Kelly smiled at the Romulan woman seated across from her, "Okay…your turn. What's bothering you. Let me guess…" the counselor said, now in a much more serious demeanor, "…it's Kaidan—right."
"Yeah." V'lana replied with a sigh. "Assuming we can get him to a telepath who knows what they're doing, odds are he'll come back…" she shook her head, "…that thing erased everything he was…all his memories…Shepard…me…everything. All gone."
"So…" Kelly inquired, "What are you going to do?"
"What else can I do?" V'lana sighed, "Let him go. If…when…" she quickly corrected herself, "…he recovers, he'll be an entirely different person. A blank slate. He deserves a chance to choose his own path in his new life. As does the clone should she recover as well."
"Maybe your paths will cross once again?" Kelly remarked, offering a ray of hope.
"Maybe." V'lana answered back with a single nod of her head, "Maybe not. I guess all we can do is let the future take care of itself and worry about the now—right?"
"Right." Kelly acknowledged as she held up her glass and offered a toast, "To a brighter future."
"I'll drink to that." A voice answered back with a chuckle.
"Anaya." V'lana exclaimed as she looked up at the asari ex-detective, giving her a welcoming smile, "Ready for dinner?"
"Famished." Anaya answered back with a grin of her own.
"You're welcome to join us, Kelly." V'lana declared as the waitress approached to take their orders.
"Please do." Anaya echoed, "I'm still trying to get to know everyone on the crew…there's just so much to take in."
With a smile on her face, Kelly responded, "Sure. Thanks. I'm feeling a bit hungry myself. So…what's everyone having? I'm for the chicken cordon bleu myself."
RRW Gallena—Samantha, Liara, and Satra
"So…" Samantha inquired, gently teasing her asari friend, "A little bird told me that you and a certain blonde ice queen were seen leaving the holodeck late last night. Wanna tell us about it?"
Blushing deep blue, Liara responded, "I have no idea what you're talking about. Cilla and I were just taking a walk through Amsterdam and before we knew it…"
"Uh Huh." Satra quipped, joining the good-natured razzing of their friend. "So…why is it that when Samantha and I went there this morning to run some simulations we saw that the last program uploaded was the one for Vaenia."
"Don't worry, Liara." Samantha interjected with a warm grin, "We'll keep it quiet as long as you want us to."
"Of course." Satra affirmed, "We're happy for the both of you. Before you came, Cilla was probably the loneliest person on the ship. She rarely socialized with anyone other than us and almost never smiled. Since that time on the Citadel when the two of you became friends, it's like a light appeared. She's smiling now and is even a little more outgoing."
"Sat's absolutely right." Samantha declared. "You've been good for her."
Relaxing a little, Liara confided, "She's been good for me too. I was getting lost in my work…to the point of becoming obsessed until she pulled me out of it. And…thanks for not spreading it all over the ship. It's not that we're trying to keep it secret…" the elegant asari explained, "…it's just…for a little while…we kind of want to keep this to ourselves…you understand?"
"Of course we do." Satra replied as Samantha nodded her head in agreement, "Don't worry. We'll keep it quiet as long as you want us to." Turning her attention back to the computer monitor, the Romulan scientist sighed, "We better get back to work. Hopefully we'll find something in the data you brought back."
After what seemed hours of hard work with occasional breaks for meals, Samantha, spotting something suspicious on the computer screen, exclaimed, "Come take a look! Do you two see what I think I'm seeing?"
Carefully scrutinizing the alphanumeric sequences appearing on the screen, Satra turned to the asari standing next to her, "Do you see it, Liara?"
"Indeed I do." The information broker replied, "Coordinates, frequencies, and resonances."
"The key to opening the door." Satra finished. "We need to notify the subcommander now."
RRW Gallena—Farinata System
"Entering the Farinata System." Joker reported as the Romulan warbird passed through the mass effect relay.
"We're being hailed." Samantha announced, "It's the Onizuka. Admiral Hackett."
"Main viewscreen." V'lana commanded as the Alliance admiral's visage appeared on the screen.
"Welcome to the party, Subcommander." Hackett remarked with a wry grin, "We've been waiting for our guest of honor. Chief Adams and his people have arrived with the Normandy 2. We're sending it back to Earth for refitting and repainting in Alliance colors. Thank you for returning and restoring that ship's good name. The Chief and his people are also ready to transport back to the Gallena whenever you're ready."
"Thank you, Admiral." The subcommander politely responded, "I'm sorry about the delay, but while we were taking care of business on Illium we found out some information that you'll find interesting. It's the key to opening the door."
"Indeed." Admiral Hackett replied, his heart racing at the news. "Are you sure?"
"Positive. All the computer simulations we've run confirm it. It will open a stable portal into our universe." V'lana affirmed. "Specialist Traynor is transmitting it to you now. We also have the clone and the Normandy 2 crew in custody. While the clone is in stasis, the captured Cerberus crew are available, should you wish to see them."
"Thank you, Subcommander." Hackett acknowledged as the Onizuka's comm. officer nodded his head, confirming that the transmission had been received. "I'll review the information you attained before switching my flag to your ship and would very much appreciate the opportunity to look in on both Staff Commander Alenko and the clone and talk to the prisoners. I want to understand why they made the choices they made."
"Might I suggest that Ms. Chambers join you when you talk to the prisoners?" V'lana diplomatically suggested, "She knows several of them personally and has some insights as to their conditioning that might prove helpful."
"A good suggestion, Subcommander." The grizzled Admiral responded. Also, I'd like to thank you again for allowing me to transfer my flag to your ship."
"The honor is ours, Sir." V'lana responded, "We look forward to your coming aboard."
"I look forward to seeing you soon. Hackett out."
"Welcome on board, Admiral." Subcommander Avesti said as Admiral Hackett and three other Alliance officers exited his shuttle.
"Thank you." Hackett responded, gesturing to the officers behind him. Introducing them, he declared, "My staff. Thank you for making room for them as well."
"I imagine you would like to look in on Commander Alenko and the Shepard clone first and then speak to the prisoners..." V'lana prompted receiving in return a confirming nod from the human admiral.
"Thank you, Subcommander. After you."
"This way, please." V'lana acknowledged as she fell in beside the admiral, serving as his escort as they made their way towards the first of their destinations.
Entering Sickbay, the admiral greeted Doctors Chakwas and Aven with a nod of his head, "Doctors. I understand there has been no change in the status of your patients."
Doctor Chakwas affirmed as she escorted the admiral to the stasis tubes, "Unfortunately there has been no change. Assuming we're able to bring them out of stasis in the first place, the odds are great that they will lose all their memories of their previous lives beyond what they would have learned in elementary school at the best. Worst case…we're talking completely blank slates that will have to relearn everything except for basic speech and bodily functions."
"In other words…" Admiral Hackett somberly concluded, "They'll be able at about the level of a five-year old."
"A five-year old at worst." Dr. Aven confirmed, "Best case…the equivalent of middle school."
"As far as memories of previous experiences are concerned though…" The human doctor declared, "Those will all be gone. Neither one of them will have any memories of their training or time in the Alliance. They will most likely possess muscle memory, but the training in using that memory…" Chakwas shook her head, "It will be as if they were two completely different people."
Heaving a sigh, Admiral Hackett remarked, "I don't know. Part of me wants to say that this might be a good thing for the clone. It'll give her a chance for a fresh start. But another part of me wants her to face justice for Ferris Fields and Fehl Prime. And as for Staff Commander Alenko…" Turning to the Romulan subcommander, the grizzled admiral offered his sympathies, "In the span of a couple of years, I saw a young officer and already fine young man who had lost the woman he loved transform into an even better officer and man who had found love again. Subcommander Avesti…I know it might not sound like much, but, for what it's worth, you have my condolences."
"Thank you, Admiral." V'lana replied with a sad smile, "It means a lot."
After a momentary pause during which everyone gathered their thoughts, the admiral suggested, "Subcommander? I think we should leave the doctors to their work, don't you? Besides, I would like to see the prisoners."
"Of course, Admiral." V'lana replied after giving on last look at Kaidan lying peacefully in his tube. "This way please."
Entering the Romulan brig, Admiral Hackett was escorted by the subcommander and Kelly Chambers to the cells containing the Normandy 2 crew, the admiral received a few words of advice from the redheaded counselor.
"Admiral?"
"Yes, Ms. Chambers? Is there something you wanted to tell me before I met with the prisoners?"
"Yes, Sir." The former Cerberus worker replied, "I just wanted to remind you that these men have undergone intense indoctrination and conditioning. This conditioning is difficult to break. We only know of two examples…maybe three if we count the Shepard clone…where that conditioning was successfully thrown off."
"Whaley and Hawthorne." Hackett nodded his head in understanding, "Whaley, unfortunately, is missing and presumed dead, while Hawthorne is cooperating with us in exchange for a lighter sentence."
"Correct, Sir." Kelly affirmed. "While I've tried to work with the three men you're about to see…" she concluded on a rueful note, "I haven't had much success."
"It's a good thing you left Cerberus when you did, Ms. Chambers." Hackett observed, "Otherwise, you might have undergone the same form of conditioning."
"Aye, Sir." Kelly acknowledged as they approached the cell containing the Cerberus prisoners. "I was very fortunate to get out when I did." Then, seeing the calculating look on the admiral's face, she quickly added, "I've also been checked and rechecked by Doctors Chakwas and Aven and have undergone a telepathic scan from Neilana to ensure that there was no hidden conditioning."
"None was found, Admiral." V'lana interjected, supporting her counselor.
"I'll take your word for it, Subcommander…Counselor…" Admiral Hackett acknowledged, adding as an apology, "I'm sorry…but…you do understand my concern…"
"Yes, Sir." V'lana agreed as she and Kelly both accepted the admiral's apology. "As Ms. Chambers will attest, we were on our guard as well when she came on board. The use of deep conditioned infiltrators is an old Tal'Shiar trick—one we are very familiar with."
"I appreciate that." The admiral responded as they approached the cells containing the Cerberus prisoners. Pausing in front of the cell containing Mess Sergeant Gardner and Crewmen Matthews and Hadley, the grizzled Alliance admiral cleared his throat.
"Look who's come to see the animals at the zoo!" Hadley snorted with derision on catching sight of the admiral. "Come here to gloat, Admiral? Or are you here at the bidding of your alien masters?"
"I understand you lost family to a Collector attack." Admiral Hackett responded with a note of sympathy in his voice. "I'm sorry for your loss…"
"I don't want to hear it, Admiral." Hadley bit back, "While the Alliance sat on their collective asses, Cerberus promised to do something!"
"Yeah." Mess Sergeant Gardner echoed, "The Alliance didn't do squat when the batarians killed or kidnapped my family." His voice now almost a whisper, the old miner somberly stated, "My grandkids are probably now either dead or zombie slaves working in some batarian mine. What have you done for them or all the others taken by the batarians?"
"I'm also sorry about what happened to your family, Gardner." Admiral Hackett replied in a soft voice. "I'm officially declassifying what I am about to tell you. A few years ago…after the colony your family lived in was attacked, I received word about the batarian slave ring that carried out the attack and sent Shepard and her people to take out the pirates and rescue as many people as they could. While Shepard was able to wipe out the pirates, she couldn't find any prisoners. They'd already moved them."
"So why doesn't the Alliance just go ahead and take out the batarians once and for all?" Gardner countered with a scowl.
"I wish we could put an end to their piracy and terrorism, but we can't. Unfortunately, there are limits as to what we can do. A full-scale war with the batarians would be a disaster for everyone." The admiral replied, "It would ruin us along with them and in the end cause a lot more families to lose people they love."
"So…" Gardner inquired, speaking for the other prisoners, "What's going to happen to us?"
"You'll be taken to a secure facility and detained." Hackett responded, the rest of his reply cut off by Matthews' angry retort.
"You mean before we're brought up before a kangaroo court like Markham and Jackson and then stood up against a wall and shot."
"Those men are facing serious charges and will receive a fair trial." The admiral vowed, "I'm not going to lie to you. Each and every one of you will undergo investigation and will most likely stand trial as well where a judge and jury will determine your sentence should you be found guilty. Those of you who merely served on this ship without engaging in any war crimes or other similar criminal behavior will most likely be treated leniently as Crewman Hawthorne has. However…" the grizzled admiral further warned, "I also promise you that those of you who willingly and knowingly participated in either the Ferris Fields or Fehl Prime Massacres will be, if found guilty, punished to the fullest extent of Alliance law." Turning to V'lana, Hackett inclined his head, "I think we're done here, Subcommander."
"Aye, Admiral." V'lana responded, "If you'll come with me, there are some reporters waiting with questions for both of us."
Heaving a sigh, Hackett's dark humor made a rare appearance, "Lead on, Subcommander. This day keeps on getting better and better."
RRW Gallena—Press Conference
"Have you really found a way for us to travel to another universe?" Emily Wong asked, getting in the first question.
"We're about to find out." Admiral Hackett responded with a smile as the ace reporter asked a follow up question.
"Can you tell us what it's like over there?" The reporter inquired, "What sort of reception are we likely to receive."
"I'm going to let you field this one Subcommander." Admiral Hackett prompted, giving the Romulan woman beside him a sly grin.
"You have to remember, my information is a couple of years out of date. Things have probably changed somewhat during that time, but what I can tell you is that it'll depend on who we run into first." V'lana truthfully replied. "If it's Federation or Romulan Republic, a good response. Klingons and independent Remans could be iffy—it all depends on their mood at the time. Ferengi will try to sell you a planet…" receiving a chuckle from the reporters at her quip, the subcommander then sounded a cautionary note, "…if we run into Tal'Shiar, Romulan Star Empire, Orions, Hirogen, or Nausicaans…then there'll be trouble. Same thing if we run into Terran Empire intruders. Then there are the other powers such as the Cardassians and Dominion. If we run into them, it could go either way. Lastly…and pray to whatever deities you might worship that we don't run into them…the Borg. If we run into them, then it will be your worst nightmare."
"Next question." Admiral Hackett prompted, picking on the reporter from Battlespace. "Ms. Allers?"
"My viewers are interested in the combat capabilities of the different powers in your universe. How would you rank them, Subcommander?"
"As I said earlier…" V'lana responded, "My information is a couple of years out of date. But…when the Gallena passed through into this universe, the situation was in a fair amount of flux. The Republic was in the process of developing New Romulus and was officially neutral in the war between the Federation and Klingon Empire."
"So…we might be jumping into a war?"
"Maybe." V'lana conceded, "However, because of a few developments that had taken place prior to our arrival here, an uneasy truce was beginning to take shape as both sides found that more and more they were dealing with common threats."
"Like the Borg?"
"Exactly. It's amazing how a common enemy that wants to wipe out both sides can bring former enemies together in common cause." The subcommander affirmed after the chuckles from her little joke had abated, "Also, the Republic was, thanks to the support of both the Federation and the Klingon Empire, beginning to win its war of independence against Sela's Empire and the Tal'Shiar. We had opened negotiations with the free Remans with many of them accepting Proconsul D'Tan's offer to settle on New Romulus. It's still…just like here…a dangerous universe though. I have no idea what we're going to run into on the other side."
"Ms. Al-Jilani?" Admiral Hackett called out to the Westerlund News reporter. "You have the final question."
"With all of the advances in your universe Subcommander: transporters, replicators, non-mass effect interstellar travel…what are we to you? Is our universe an area for future conquest? Your people, Subcommander, have a reputation for ruthlessness and cruelty. And then there are the Klingons and Cardassians. What assurances do we have that you will not invade us?"
"I can assure you that neither the Federation nor Romulan Republic seek any territory or conquests in your universe." V'lana reassured. "There's more than enough room in our universe."
"What about the others?"
"Yes…the Tal'Shiar and the Terran Empire and a few others could prove to be threats." The subcommander admitted, "But you will have our help should there be incursions."
"Will you give access to your technology?"
"I'll let our diplomats sort that out." V'lana replied as the admiral held up his hand.
"I'm sorry, but that's all the time we have for questions. Right now, we have a door to open. A door into another universe."
"You're welcome to join us on the bridge when we open that door." V'lana announced, gesturing to the turbolift, "If you will accompany us."
RRW Gallena—The Bridge
"We've fed in the coordinates and resonances we learned from the intelligence we picked up from the Shadow Broker into the computer, Subcommander."
"The deflector has been adjusted to emit dark matter radiation." Veril declared from her engineering section.
"The other ships in the fleet report ready." Samantha called out.
"We're ready to go, Little Sister." Tovan reported, giving the subcommander a smile.
"It's your show, Subcommander." Admiral Hackett grinned.
Taking a deep breath, V'lana commanded, "All stations, prepare for transit. Open the portal."
As an opening resembling a wormhole gradually took shape, Satra declared from her science station. "All readings are positive and we have a stable portal, Subcommander."
"Inform the fleet to follow behind us. We're going in. Joker…" V'lana ordered, flashing a grin as she gave her next command, "Take us in, one-quarter impulse. Time to go home."
A/N: This ends the "Convergence" arc. The pieces are in place…it is now time for "Bridging the Divide", the next arc. Thanks again to everyone for reading and reviewing this story. I hope you are enjoying it as we reach the moment that has been eight years in the making.