2155 – June 21st - Serpant Nebula – Widow system – AOS Philosophe in orbit of the Citadel.

Nihlus Kyrik, Spectre of the citadel council, slowly opened his eyes as consciousness returned to him. He could tell he was lying upon a bed of some form, comfortable, yet awkward to feel underneath him, and above him the celling was a clean silver in color. Though the ties were marked with symbols and glyphs that he did not recognize. Ultimately it was the smell that told him where he was. The smell of sanitizer, of clean machinery and instruments.

"A Medical ward," He muttered out to himself, then letting out a cough and feeling that his jaw felt rather sore.

"Ah, you are awake."

Nihlus tried to move to look toward the voice that spoke up, but instantly found that his body war rightly held down.

"Ah, do not squirm to much please," The woman said as she walked over to the side of the bed so that Nihlus could see her. She was of under average human height, and was dressed in a black suit with a white smock overtop her front. Her eyes and long straight hair were a deep red, and above small pointed ears were odd black Almost wing like protrusions that moved and twitched about, marking her as likely not human. "Apologies for you being strapped down Mister Kyrik, however it is for your own safety as your injuries sustained upon the citadel were rather grave."

"Injuries, yes, Desolas used that absurd magic and then, Sovereign exploded," Nihlus said as he recalled the last of his memory. "Where are we?"

"Currently we are upon the AOS Philosophe, my Lady Patchouli Knowledge's personal Academy ship in far orbit of the Citadel itself. We are in the Meical bay. And as for my name, I am known as Koakuma."

Nihlus was silent for a moment before chuckling. "you get such questions often I presume?"

"Sometimes, however I do find it best to hasten such conversation at times," Koakuma admitted as she picked up a tablet from beside the bed and tapped it. "Would you prefer to know the date, time, and current events first, or the extent of your injuries and the work done to repair you?"

" . . . injuries, please. How bad?" He answered after a mere few seconds of silence.

"the explosion of the Reaper caused a small and contained, but very energetic, Element Zero explosion that tore gravity apart in a small area, similar to a small scale zero-point reaction that also unfortunately scattered the remnants of Arterius's magical residue. The result was that roughly half of your body was crushed by the gravitational anomaly, while the rest was contaminated," Koakuma explained as she tapped the tablet a few times. "And before you say something silly like you should be dead, I meant that the gravitation waves damaged your bone structure and carapace, it did not actually crush your body physically. It was still very messy, and both Arterius and Lady Nicotris were in bad shape, though not as bas due to being Youkai," she then turned the tablet around, showing Nihlus a image of his own body, with a number of marking and diagrams overtop of it. "The citadel council was told we healed you without using magic, but that would have been impossible. Your body was out in stasis while regeneration magic was utilized to repair the majority of your main body. Unfortunately due to the nature of regeneration magic, and the fact it had to be done slower than normal due to the contamination you had, only your body, and part of your one leg were able to be regenerated properly. Your left arm, the lower section of your right leg, and a portion of your jaw have been healed and fixed with cybernetic replacements, of which the nerve connections are connected to, hence why you are not feeling anything amiss at this moment."

Nihlus was silent as he tried to feel his whole body. He could, though some parts of his body felt, odd, numb. He could feel them though, which was odd, as he had heard that most cybernetics technology still left a bit of resistance and weight to them that people could feel. "So, I have some replacements. I can move though, yes?"

"You can, you were merely tied down in case the internal limiters deactivated without intent while you were asleep. Please wait one moment while I undo the restraints," Koakuma said as she put down the tablet and then crouched down beside the bed, disappearing from sight for a moment. In the next second Nihlus felt the restraints come loose and then slide across his body and into the bedside without a Nosie. Feeling this he sat up and lifted his left arm and found his eyes go wide.

Most Citadel cybernetics were designed to look as close to the original limb, down to often having a matching pattenr to the users skin or plate tone and patterning, but while the cybernetic arm he now had looked like a Turian arm, it was a plastic white in color with number of glowing pale blue nodes along its length. There also appeared to be a small mark on the forearm that, upon gently touching it with a talon, slid open to find a compartment within. "this is, uh-"

"Different than what you were expecting I presume," Koakuma offered with an oddly genuine seeming smile. "Most Alliance cybernetics come about when magic can't fully do something in time, or when someone prefers it over magic, so they are often designed in such way to have a number of, bonuses," she explained as she put the one tablet down and picked up what looked like some form of disc. I can give you the manual if you would like. It has been translated."

"Ah, please," Nihlus said as he reached over with his good talon, finding they were rather short, likely clipped and filed down when he was out. He then looked at the disc and realized he did not recognize it. "Um, how do I access this?"

"What?" koakuma said for a second before then realizing what he meant. " Ah, I apologize, one moment," She then said as she took the disc back and stepped across the room to a table where she picked up Omnitool bracelet, put it on and opened ,wincing as she did, before doing something between it and the disc. Then, seemingly done, she closed the omnitol and took it off as she walked back over. "there, I have put the files upon your omnitool."

"My omnitool has Eezo in it. Is that not, painful for you?" Nihlus asked in concern.

"It is uncomfortable, however beings like I are a slight bit more, resistive to its negative effects," Koakuma stated as she placed the Omnitool on the bedside and stepped away. "You should be able to install the Omnitool directly into your replacement arm if you wish to."

"I see," Nihlus said as he sat up straighter and simply put the Omnitool on his arm, not in it. "So, there are types of youkai that are less affected by Eezo?"

"No, not precisely. Youaki is a catch-all term for any form of magical being, though to those from the alliance it often more references those from the eastern hemisphere. I am a Devil, albeit a weak one."

"A, Devil?" Nihlus asked in confusion. "I'm sorry; my translator may not be picking it up correctly. You are referencing, evil spirits?"

"No, but if the word does not exist in your language that may be close, " Koakuma said as she walked back to the nearby table and picked up a tablet off of it, tapping causally upon it and seeming to write a message. "Devils and Demons are, youkai like being that exist more often to the western side of our world, and many come from Hell itself, our underworld. Lady Scarlet is a Vampire, a being considered one of the preeminent and most powerful of Devils. I am a mere imp, one of, if not the, weakest."

"You, do not sound distressed by such a fact," Nihlus stated as he then noticed a simple Turian cloak lying at the foot of the bed and grabbed it, realizing he was naked.

Though koakuma did not seem bothered by it whatsoever as she turned to face him. "Few from new Hell ever leave, and I am here, serving one of the greatest magicians in all of current time, and am able to see and understand things so many others never could, or would care to. I do not care about my own weakness, for I have family, a master, and even friends who I may count on," she stated just before the tablet in her hand loudly beeped. "It appears Lady Patchouli would like to speak to you now that you have awoken. Do you feel up for coming with me, or would you prefer to stay here?"

"I feel that I can walk," Nihlus said as he put the cloak on and got up off the be, his body feeling oddly unbalanced, but not heavy as he expected. "I would like my clothing however if possible."

"Your armor was almost utterly destroyed and it and your underclothes needed to be cut away to properly provide medical care. We do have the pieces of you armor if you want it that badly however."

"No, just pieces would be, less than useful," Nihlus said with a sigh as he took a few hops up into the air. "Alright, I believe I am ready, please lead the way."

"Of course," Koakuma said as she turned toward the door.

"And, thank you."

Koakuma stopped in her tracks and looked back at Nihlus, with a raised eye framed by red locks. "For?"

"Helping me when you did not have to."

"Hmmm, well, you may not be so grateful in a few minutes when you find out what has occurred in your absence," Koakuma said as she waved for Nihlus to follow her and moved to the door, it opening as she reached it on its own.

"The alliance has caused issues to the council then I take it?"

"Not . . . by physical action, not directly," Koakum said with a sigh. "You will need to ask lady patchouli about it so she can-" Koakuma began to say, only for the lights in the hallway to flicker for a second then go out. And then come back on again.

"I, take it that is not normal?" Nihlus asked.

"For the last few days it has been," she said with a slightly exasperated sigh as they turned a corner and continued down the halls.

As they went Nihlus could feel a tingle in the air upon his fringe that made his plats itch in a bad way. The same kind of feeling he got when going into a seriously prepared ambush, or a truly dangerous place. And after going down a number of hallways, including one that went down a long ramp, they came to a set of double doors and opened them.

And immediately Nihlus could tell why he was feeling a tingle upon his fringe.

The room before him was a massive rectangular arena, and in the middle of it was a ball of what looked like living lightning, while standing just off to the side was a woman in a purple robe of some form with a rainbow colored belt around her waist. She was simply holding a hand up, and around the ball of lightning a number of various elements, torrents of flames and water, shards of crystal and metal, and even motes of light an coils of wood, circles it in waving torrents, seeming to hold it at bay. Then, in a simple last gasp of power, the electricity simply disappeared, leaving Desolas floating in the air for a mere second before he fell to the ground with a dull thud.

"Lady Patchouli, our gust has arrived," Koakuma spoke up.

Patchouli knowledge, Nihlus realized as he looked at the purple haired and robes woman, and as she turned to look in his direction, her massive display of magic simply disappearing, he realized why she was considered one of the alliances most powerful operatives, and felt that the information the alliance had given on her did not do her justice. Her gaze was cold, but not disconnected. It was like she was judging everything she looked at, considering everything at its most basic, whether it was a danger to be snuffed out, or something she could use or improve. It was similar, yet so different to how many Asari Matriarchs looked at people.

"Yes, I can see that, come in," Patchouli said after a few seconds, turning to face Nihlus completely. "So, you are walking, how do you feel?"

"My body feels, wrong, but that is not unexpected," Nihlus said as he followed koakuma in, his gaze drifting over to Desolas, who appeared to be struggling to get up off of the floor. Arcs of electricity coming off of him to the floor, but unlike when in combat, they seemed to be causing him pain. "Uh, is-"

"Fucking hell!" Desolas suddenly yelled as he slammed a clenched talon to the ground, more jolts of electricity arcing across his body and making his body wince and twitch.

"He will be fine," Patchouli said coldly as she swung and arm up toward Desolas and spoke. "Earth-water sign, Naochian Deluge." And in that same moment a magic circle formed in front of her, spinning viciously as it let out a deluge of water that even from a distance Nihlus could tell was ice cold. It crashed into Desolas and sent him sprawling upon the floor, looking utterly and completely disgusted.

After all, Turians and water did not go well together. In fact Turians hated water. A lot.

"The fool is merely dealing with the results of his own foolish actions," Patchouli then said with a smirk before looking back at Nihlus. "Yes, it appears you do not have any outward signs of issues with the regeneration magic's, nor the cybernetics."

"No, I can't feel any issue, though admittedly I would need time to, what is that human term? Break them in?"

"Yes, that is the saying," Patchouli said with a nod "Sadly you will need to see one of you own doctors for maintenance, or calibration, as shortly we will not be in council space."

"This ship is moving?" Nihlus asked in a worried tone.

" Not yet. But as soon as you depart we will be. The alliance is pulling all assets from council space, including our embassy. We will no longer be dealing with the actions of those in council space unless they are negative to us, or a boon to prepare for the coming dangers the Reapers shall present."

"And, I take it the council did not take this information well?" Nihlus asked, already imaging the councils reactions.

"No, especially not as we used information we had already, as well as the helmet cam footage of Adaaya, Desolas, and yourself to push the truth to them, and to all of council space against their wishes.

Nihlus's eyes narrowed a bit. "I never gave permission for anyone to have access to that."

"No, you did not. You can consider it payment for healing and repairing you, as if your council doctors had been in charge of it, you likely would have died in a bare hour," Patchouli said with a strangely uncaring expression before she turned back to face where Desolas was Lying down. "Fool, do you think you will work through your issues by lying there like a layabout? I was under the impression you had followed my teachings properly? Is this all you have to show for that time?"

"How, am I-" Desolas began to say as he crawled to his hands and knees and tried to get up on one knee. "supposed to, when I do not even understand, what, is going on with me?"

"Fool, I told you who holds the information you need, but if you cannot even deal with this pittance of control of your newfound power you will never make it to them in one piece to speak to them. Get up, or get out!" Desolas said nothing as he slowly but surely got up to his feet, looking like he would fall over at a moment as arcs of electricity began moving across his fringe once more. "Hmph, good enough I suppose. You have two minutes to prepare. Koa, kindly get him a drink if you would please."

Koakuma simply bowed and began walking toward Desolas, doing something magical and pulling a pitcher from somewhere unseen as she walked.

"You have other questions I presume?"

Desolas looked at Patchouli and nodded. "Yes, how long was I, in your care for?"

"it is the 21st of June, it has been five days since your assistance in dealing with Saren," Patchouli answered. "a great number of things have occurred since that time."

"I see," Nihlus said simply, understanding the meaning that she was saying to him. "Then, do I have your permission to leave and return to the Citadel and the council?"

"You are in as much of one piece as you can be and are no longer dying, so yes," Patchy said with a nod. "A Citadel shuttle is waiting in Bay two that you can take back to the citadel. Koakuma can lead you there."

"I see. Thank you. Both for that, and for healing me and giving me these cybernetics. You did not have to."

"Perhaps, however you were pivotal in the situation with Saren, so it is only proper. I would suggest you steel yourself however, as I expect thins will not be easy for you shortly."

Nihlus faltered for a moment at Patchouli's oddly grim words, but simply nodded. "Thank you for the warning. Did, any of my gear survive, or di they end up like my armor?"

"Like your armor."

"I see. Thank you again, I will get out of you . . hair?"

Patchouli simply nodded and turned toward Desolas. "Alright, time's up, show me what you can control!"

And as arcs of lightning and various sounds of fire and wind began to fill the room Koakuma flew over to Nihlus, her great black wings disappearing into her back as she landed. "Come, I will lead you to the shuttle you can take to leave."

"Thank you," Nihlus said as he followed koakuma out of the arena, sparing a glance back as he left, a simple question nagging at his thoughts. What had happened while he was out, and what had happened to Desolas to lead to such a serious training regime right after having completed a mission successfully?

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

" - Emerald Megalopolis!"

"Shi-" Desolas began to say, only to have his body smashed against by a suddenly forming pillar of green stone, sending him once more backwards into the wall, leaving a dent as he hit and then fell to the floor. He let out a cough as he tried to get up only for electricity to arc around him and make him wince again. "Spirits, what is this accomplishing!"

"Your survival, have I not been unconditionally blunt about that?" Patchouli said with a slight shake of her head.

"Yes, but you still-"Desolas stopped as electricity made him wince. "Haven't told me why my magic is going out of control like this, or who I need to speak to, to fix it."

"Use your brain and think then, you were the one who regaled your dream to myself after all. Does that not give you your answer?" Patchouli stated as she motioned with a hand and conjured a torrent of flames toward Desolas at will. He rolled to dodge it, but as he did more electricity arced from him, making him slip and falter from the pain, landing face first on the floor.

"How, would it? It was just a strange dream," Desolas gasped out in pain and exhaustion. After all as soon as he woke up healed, he had been dragged here to get beaten into by Lady Patchouli. He hadn't even seen if Adaaya was alright or not.

"You have been in the alliance long enough to know that dreams are not always just, dreams," Patchouli said with a huff and yet another shake of her head. "Perhaps this is one of those times where the academic would suit you of all people better.

"Hah, please?"

Patchouli shook her head again and waved a hand, forming a massive cluster of crystal out of the floor. "Hold that and keep trying to distance into it so you can listen without failing to die."

Desolas said nothing but did as he was told, touching the crystal and feeling it drain both electricity ,and magic from him. A highly uncomfortable proposition.

"Your dream was a communication, you realize that, yes?"

"I, considered that possibility, but that would be absurd," Desolas stated.

"Why?"

"Well, Turians don't have magic, and the spirits are just a belief system, they don't actually exist. They never have."

"And what if that is wrong?" Patchouli asked with a sigh. "Project faith has proved that Turians have the innate ability to learn magic and affect the power of deific persons after all. Have you not considered what the situation could be if say, the Turian peoples gods, simple went into hiding, or a deep sleep?"

Desolas was silent as his eyes widened with realization, his mandible spreading in shock. "That, would explain a few things, but it would also change. . . A lot."

"Yes, especially if they woke up for a reason. Like one proclaiming the name of their pantheons progenitor gods while killing what amounted to a space god amalgamation of sentences."

"You think, I did something?"

"Byakuren believes your spell to destroy Sovereign, when you invoked that god's name, perhaps broke something holding them back in sleep, and that their awakening is nigh, but not yet truly complete," Patchouli said before smirking. "She also believes that by doing so, you may have unintentionally Deified yourself."

Desolas was dead silent for a straight minute before a single word slipped from his mouth. "What?"

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Nihlus stood by the shuttle in the Citadels Spectre hanger and looked at his Omnitool, looking over the manual and customization options his new arm had, while seeing it just past the Omnitools orange glow. When he was given confirmation to land he was informed that Councilor Sparatus himself wished to meet him at the docks, so here he was, waiting.

"Hmmm, it really does have a strange number of options," Nihlus said as he closed his Omnitool and tried fiddling with the arm, causing one of the compartments to open up just above his wrist. "Shame they have no Omnitool compatibility though."

"Nihlus that, is you right?"

Nihlus looked up to see Sparatus as well as Executor Pallin walking toward him, looking slightly wary.

"Yes it is me, or what is left of me," Nihlus said with a small grin, or as close as a Turian could grin as other species understood it.

"Quite the cybernetic," Pallin commented. "I didn't realize the alliance even had that technology."

"It seems they do, and it does work very well," Nihlus said before stranding to attention and facing Sparatus. "Spectre Nihlus Kyrik, returning for duty, sir."

"Good, how are you feeling?" Sparatus asked, his tone making it clear he was honestly worried.

"Very good actually. Body feels a bit off, but that is expected. I feel surprisingly light on my feet.

"I see," Sparatus said with an affirmative nod, before he gestures for Nighlus to follow him and turned toward the doorway. "How aware of recent events are you?"

"The operative who owns the ship I was on just earlier told me the alliance is pulling all assets from citadel space including heir embassy. She did not say much else aside from the alliance sharing Hemet and armor cam footage to prove their statements of the reapers to the council. Also, I did not give them my footage; they just took it while I was out."

"You will want to watch this as we move then," Pallin stated as he did something on his Omnitool and sent Nihlus a file.

Nihlus opened it and carefully watched it as he followed Pallin and Sparatus to a small secure room, one of many in the Spectre areas, and sat down. "This, is this file accurate? A Prothean Beacon and archive on Thessia hidden from the rest of the galaxy?"

Sparatus glanced at Pallin, and when he received a nod of the room being seure he spoke. "We do not know as of yet. The Asari Republics are denying it exists with adamancy; however they are also not allowing anyone into the Temple of Athame on Thessia. A number of Spectre's are on route to look into it now, but some of them are expecting violence. As am I."

"Why?"

"Because, with the discovery of some Spectres being part of some kind of anti-Alliance organization, those part of it have disappeared, and we do not know their intentions. I fully expect some of them will get in the way of others looking into this, just because it was the alliance that gave the information."

"I take it you want me to join those heading to Thessia then?" Nihlus asked.

"No actually," Sparatus said in an oddly nervous tone. "The council is in a precarious positions right now. It is difficult to be sure who is on our side, so I'd like you and Jondam Bau, one of the few for sure still loyal Spectre's, to look into this organization of spectre's and others."

"Understood. I will acquire replacement gear and prepare to meet him at once," Nihlus said as he moved to stand up.

"There, are some other things you should know."

"Such as?"

"The Hierarchy is considering leaving the Council to join the alliance. This consideration is however, causing a huge disconnect between large groups of our people, and with the citadel council."

"I can imagine. What exactly does the Hierarchy think it will get out of this?" Nihlus asked in curiosity. His own feelings on the matter were mixed, but mattered little when compared to how it could change basically everything.

"More economic power and control over their own culture, access to magic as an alternative to Biotic Cabals, access to Alliance technology and weapons, an excuse to more actively deal with pirates and the terminus systems, the list goes on," Sparatus said with a sigh. "The main issue is that it is unsure what would happen to the Volus, and the Citadel Council and space if this should occur. The Hierarchy is also in the process of requesting every single Turian in the Hierarchies thoughts on the matter. So you will receive mail about it, if you haven't already."

"I understand. And?"

Sparatus let out a heavy sigh. "You, and many other Turians opinions will carry weight in this matter and many in the coming times. Just know that no matter what anyone else says, I am proud to call you a Turian and believe you did the best job you could in taking down Saren and discovering what you did."

"Thank you sir."

"That's all."

Nihlus nodded and got up, leaving the room and Pallin alone with Sparatus.

"Executor, has C-sec found anything of note?"

"The pieces of the ship sovereign have been mostly accounted for and are being properly destroyed as you ordered. There are some that have disappeared however and we expect a combination of STG, Asari and other elements to be the ones who have claimed them."

"Hmm, what about the body count?"

"Not nearly as big as it could have been, but still larger than I would ever like to see," Pallin said with his own sigh. "We haven't detected any alliance people on the citadel since, and the number of humans is sparse with nearly all of them being in custody as they admitted to being part of Terrafirma."

"And how is that situation going?

"About as expected. Their organization claims that Charles Saracino was no longer their leader and acted alone."

"As if we believe that. Anything else of note?"

"No, not that I am aware of."

"Good. It won't be much, but this may be the only time we have to rest in a while. Spirits that is sad."

"a bit, but it is what it is," Pallin said with a nod.

"True. Thank you for your time Executor, please keep me posted."

" I will," Pallin said as he then left the room, leaving Sparatus alone with only a pile of work, and stress to keep him company.

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Authors note: Alright, now we've got the new updated timeline, and the first chapter of the boundary effects second book up! i hope you shall enjoy it as much as you did the first story.

Now, the proper information.

As I have a bunch of other stories that i enjoy writign beign written right now, iwill not be guarenteeign a fixed update schedule for this one, though i will be tryign to update everyhtign as often as i can despite this summers grueling heat.

additinally, this will likely not go as many people expect for a while with how im shiftign canon around. the collecto ME2 stuff will happen, but not i nthe same way, and not right away as, as you can pronably tell from this chapter, there are other plots that will be taking place.

so I hope everyoen will look forwrd to what is is to come!

And of course, thank you for coming once again!