TRIO OF IMMORTALITY: A BACCANO/MASS EFFECT STORY
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
NARTUL MENTUS, an Alchemist.
DELEN S'LEYA, an Alchemist.
ZAAL'DORAN VAS ALAREI, an Alchemist.
ARIA T'LOAK, an Immortal.
TEYI T'SERA, a Slave.
SHEPARD, a Leader.
NAZARA, a Reaper.
GARRUS, a Squadmate.
TALI, a Squadmate.
JACK, a Squadmate.
JAVIK, a Squadmate.
CHORUS.
[A chorus comments collectively on the course of the plot. They originated in Ancient Greek plays and I think they're overdue for a revival with some modern adjustments; my choruses do not always directly interact with characters, for example.]
1 - Everything Starts With The Summoning Ritual
1711…
"ENOUGH!"
Across three planets, the alchemists were frozen by the command.
"Your words are meaningless to me. I hear your thoughts, at all times. So let us dispense with ceremony."
And so the Grand Panacea was distributed, and the Trio of Immortals began their eternal life.
-tot-
TURIAN CHORUS: What is immortality to be used for?
NARTUL MENTUS: For the advancement of our people. Every good turian must sacrifice themselves for the betterment of the whole, and if called, sacrifice their immortal life for the good of the Hierarchy.
TURIAN CHORUS: We agree, and wonder if you always will.
NARTUL MENTUS: Explain.
TURIAN CHORUS: The folly of Nartul! O how mortals wish they could stay true to their virtue in times of great strife.
[anger.]
NARTUL MENTUS: I will NOT betray the Hierarchy!
TURIAN CHORUS: Perhaps not in a day, a year, a century. But in two centuries? Three? We shall see, Immortal, and we shall always be watching.
-toi-
ASARI CHORUS: What is immortality to be used for?
DELEN S'LEYA: I…I don't know?
ASARI CHORUS: How little this surprises us, and how much it should surprise you.
-toi-
QUARIAN CHORUS: What is immortality to be used for?
ZAAL'DORAN VAS ALAREI: To unlock the secrets of our ancestors.
QUARIAN CHORUS: Is that so wise?
2 - Aria Learns And Kills A Lot
1895…
There was enough in Delen's Panacea cup for but one other companion.
She would never be able to decide if she made the correct decision.
-toi-
1909…
ARIA: Man, forever is kind of hard to wrap your fucking head around, huh?
DELEN: I figured you would have an easier time of it, what with how many lives you have prematurely ended.
ARIA: Hey, don't give me that. I do what is needed to keep this galaxy running.
DELEN: Goddess, you really tell yourself that.
[glare.]
ARIA: Delen-
DELEN: Don't.
-toi-
DEMONIC CHORUS: And so the Trio is joined by another. The company of three has become repetitive over the centuries.
ARIA: Forever. I'm going to live for fucking ever.
DEMONIC CHORUS: Shock will be replaced by acceptance. But what after acceptance? What after the immortality becomes the status quo. We shall see.
NARTUL: Why must eternity be so frustrating? People keep making the same spirits-cursed mistakes over and over again.
DEMONIC CHORUS: Life experiences teach us to learn from our mistakes. But when the life cycle ends, the experience is lost.
DELEN: A maiden for eternity. I am between two worlds, as if one part of me belongs to youth, another old age.
DEMONIC CHORUS: So the mind grows, but the body remains stagnant. Delen S'Leya will never be a mother.
ZAAL'DORAN: I HATE WEARING THIS SUIT! And I hate the way the galaxy has turned on us even more. This has NOT been pleasant.
DEMONIC CHORUS: [laughter.]
3 - Delen S'Leya Likes To Sneak Onto Lorek
1913…
She was the Liberator of Esan.
The name had been struck in the wake of the barbaric annexation. Had this been Council space, war would have been declared. But this was the Terminus Systems, where might made right and her dear friend Teyi T'Sera had been enslaved.
She was going to fix that. Just as she was going to fix the enslavement of as many Hegemony victims as she could without getting caught by the new authorities of "Lorek".
-toi-
TEYI: Delen, I can't describe what I've been through.
DELEN: Then don't. Come back to Thessia, and heal. With me.
[pause.]
TEYI: Are we more than friends?
DELEN: No.
TEYI: Oh. Ok. But, why?
DELEN: I've gotten over heartbreak too many times.
-toi-
BATARIAN CHORUS: We are the rulers of Lorek! And we will kill anyone who questions our rule!
DELEN: Death is a rather more subjective idea than most realize.
BATARIAN CHORUS: Who is the Liberator of Esan?! Why are they doing this?! HOW are they doing this?
DELEN: Immortality is a wonderful way to gain awareness.
4 - Nartul Mentus Thinks About The Spectres
1935…
NARTUL MENTUS: I have done much over these two centuries, but I have never joined the spectres.
SPECTRE CHORUS: How we would desire your skills! Your knowledge! Your wisdom!
NARTUL: But I fear I am not on the right side.
SPECTRE CHORUS: Cursed words! Words you must take back!
NARTUL: I have seen how Zaal'Doran's people were tossed aside. How the krogan have been subject to centuries of stagnation. Is the Council just? The right rulers for the galaxy?
SPECTRE CHORUS: Long have we persevered! Long have we built a civilization that is the envy of ours lessers!
NARTUL: Is Zaal'Doran truly beneath me? Such a thought haunts me, and will continue to. But I will join the Spectres
SPECTRE CHORUS: Such wisdom! Long did we hope for this day!
NARTUL: Not for justice, however. Simply because I am bored!
SPECTRE CHORUS: So we will receive the skill of the Immortal for the sake of ennui. Grateful we are to ennui, that lethargy that demands all change the routine that defines them.
5 - Zaal'Doran Checks Out Due To Exhaustion
1939…
NARTUL: Are you sure you want to do this?
ZAAL'DORAN: Yes. I'm tired of being called a suit rat, and I'm tired of wearing this suit.
[pause.]
ZAAL'DORAN: It's been a good life.
NARTUL: And you have been a good companion. But if this is what you feel is best…
ZAAL'DORAN: It is. Truthfully I have not enjoyed life since we lost the homeworld. It is time to join my ancestors in whatever world comes after this one.
NARTUL: Very well. Farewell, old friend.
[hand on head.]
NARTUL: I want to eat.
[death: consumption.]
6 - Everyone Is Surprised By The Humans
2157…
NARTUL: I don't understand why it has to be this way! There had to have been a better solution for humanity!
HIERARCHY CHORUS: Recklessness! Foolishness! It must never go unpunished! The law must always be enforced! ALWAYS!
NARTUL: At what cost? Now humanity is poisoned against us. Never trusting, never forgiving. The First Contact War is a folly for the arches.
HIERARCHY CHORUS: We will defeat them! Bring them low under the heel of the Hierarchy!
NARTUL: Such a response is the exact sort that would fill me with dread.
2176…
SHEPARD: Torfan will not be an issue.
BATARIAN CHORUS: MONSTER! DEMON! ACCURSED FOE!
SHEPARD: For too long have the Batarians gotten away with the worst excesses of the galaxy. Now humanity arrives, and we will show them what power truly is.
BATARIAN CHORUS: You do not own the galaxy! Such arrogance! Such pride!
SHEPARD: Pot, meet kettle.
[pause.]
BATARIAN CHORUS: We will destroy you. Take your planet. Enslave your people. Torture your children to death.
SHEPARD: No. You will try, but you will not succeed. For humanity will not bend to cowardly slavers!
7 - The Reapers Decide To Crash The Party
2185…
NAZARA: There is an anomaly in this Cycle.
REAPER CHORUS: How dare these Immortals! The audacity! The gall! WE are the immortals! We are the eternal Ascended!
NAZARA: They will fall before all of us.
REAPER CHORUS: YES!
-toi-
GARRUS: So, you think there's really something to this, Shepard?
SHEPARD: There wouldn't be this many mentions of the Grand Panacea if there weren't.
GARRUS: So we bring the whole Normandy crew in for the summoning ritual?
SHEPARD: Yes.
-toi-
DELEN: Immortality is about to get a lot more crowded!
ARIA: I don't know how I feel about all these people. Shepard I respect, but the rest…
NARTUL: Regardless, we will have to get used to their presence now. I doubt any will wish to be devoured anytime soon.
7 - The Grand Panacea Returns To A New Group
2185…
SHEPARD: Drink up everyone.
TALI: Here's to eternity!
JACK: Fuck yes!
SHEPARD: So, I trust we're all ready to take on the Reapers now?
GARRUS: Got that right, Shepard, and we'll be ready in another 50,000 years if we lose to them!
[laughter.]
-toi-
DELEN: They don't get it, do they? It's not a blessing. It's a curse.
ARIA: Then why the fuck haven't you been eaten yet?
NARTUL: For the same reason I haven't: we still haven't run out of things to do.
Epilogue: Everyone Is Endless And Parties At The Citadel
2186…
TALI: I still can't believe it. We won…and we get to live forever.
JAVIK: Not even my people were able to perfect immortality. It is fitting that the party is so lively.
GARRUS: I'm happy for Joker. He can walk again, and now he gets EDI forever.
JAVIK: Forever. It is a difficult concept to wrap your head around.
DELEN: I have to admit, I never thought I'd be fighting alongside you. That Crucible construction was a close call.
NARTUL: I knew the Hierarchy would prevail in the end.
ARIA: Bullshit! We all saw how nervous you were.
[laughter.]
-tot-
[immortality.]
[eternity.]
