Chakwas

She watched as Priscilla chewed her lip processing the information.

"It feels so strange, you have none of the troubles Lordran had. No cycles, no curse." Priscilla muttered half to herself before shaking her head. "No magic…"

Chakwas grimaced slightly at the word cycle. "No, we have some of those things, cycles, powers some people have while others don't. It's not outright magic but it does seem to straddle the line fairly hard. We have a saying. The extremes of technology and magic become almost indecipherable from each other. Or something along those lines."

Priscilla cocked her head and clearly thought about that for several moments, before she nodded. "That does make some amount of sense I suppose. The device you wear on your arm did at first strike me as a type of magic."

Chakwas smiled slightly. "I'm certain it did. Now the Commander did find a few things on the planet, I thought you could take a look and maybe tell us what they are." She said as she powered up a data pad and presented an image to Priscilla who studied it.

Priscilla shook her head. "It's a sword I don't know where it comes from, these shards are called titanite. They are useful in the right hands, but given the weapons you described I don't know if they are useful." Priscilla paused as she looked at the last artifact and relief spread across her face. "This last item… Can you have it brought here?" She asked looking up at Chakwas.

Chakwas looked at the image of the small green flask and ask. "What is it?"

Priscilla opened her mouth to answer when Chakwas's omni-tool lit up.

"Doc! We're coming in hot. We have a medical emergency. We found Garrus but he's hurt bad." Shepards voice stated in a firm but worried tone.

"Garrus? What's he doing… Never mind I understand Commander. I'll be ready once you arrive." Chakwas said as she grabbed her go bag.

"Thanks Doc. Come on buddy just hang on..." Shepard said before the line cut out.

Chakwas looked at Priscilla. "I'm sorry but we'll need to continue this at another time." She said before dashing into the med-bay's airlock.


Priscilla

She looked at the image of the small green flask again, before looking at Yorshka. Doctor Chakwas was certain that she would recover on her own, and she definitely looked better. Priscilla frowned slightly and bit her lip looking at the flask. The estus flask could likely get Yorshka up faster but still…

They both owed Shepard a debt, and whoever this Garrus was sounded important to both Shepard and Chakwas.


Shepard

Garrus was bad.

Almost dead bad.

He didn't need to be a doctor to see that.

The shrapnel had torn into Garrus and some of it had ricochet inside the turians chest cavity, causing even more damage, one of his mandibles was barely hanging on by a few strands of sinew.

They were plugging what holes they could to stop the external bleeding but internal shrapnel meant internal bleeding.

He wanted to yell at Goldstein to go faster but there was a line between speed and stability which she was straddling very hard at the moment. Keeping Garrus as still as possible was just as important as getting him to Chakwas fast.


Illusive Man

He pulled at his cigarette as he monitored his various screens. It had been over a day since he had a report from Miranda or the Normandy. His agents on Omega had reported that the ship was in fact there, and that Doctor Solus had been recruited.

He drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair. Last report was that the Normandy was heading to Alchera then nothing…

He wasn't unaware that Shepard didn't trust him, that wasn't important in the grand scheme of things but…

He frowned. There was only one answer to this problem. Shepard found something either on Alchera or in the space around the planet. He doubted that it had anything to do with the Normandy SR1, that ship had been picked clean several years ago. So, what was Shepard hiding?

He tapped a holo-console. "Lang, I have an assignment for you. Take a squad and investigate Alchera and the surrounding space. I want to be informed about anything out of the ordinary."


Chakwas

She was aside the shuttle even before it finished landing, and the moment the door opened, she ducked in.

Kneeling beside Garrus she ran her scanner over him. "Get him into the elevator." She said grimly as she injected him with a dose of medication to keep him stable. Shepard and Jacob worked together to carry Garrus as quickly and carefully as possible. Miranda and Zaeed trailing behind them.

"What happened?" She asked.

"He took a near hit from a light rocket. Multiple shrapnel injuries, some ricochet inside of his chest, and we think there's internal bleeding." Miranda stated as they crammed into the elevator.

Chakwas shook her head. "I'll do what I can Commander, but you might want to set course for the Citadel, just in case he needs more in-depth medical procedures than I can do here."

Shepard gave her a look so she explained. "The equipment is good and Patel is well trained according to her file, but this isn't a fully stocked hospital."

He nodded. "Joker get us off Omega. I'm sick of this station. Plot course for the citadel."

"Aye aye, Captain." Joker replied.

"Just keep him alive, Doc. I don't want to lose more friends." Shepard said as the elevator doors opened.


Priscilla

She already knew something was wrong, given how Chakwas had left. So, when the section of clear wall fitted with a door slid into the walls and ceiling, she knew that this Garrus, who was someone that Chakwas clearly knew, was badly hurt. She leaned against the wall out of the way as Chakwas, Patel, Shepard, along with a dark-skinned human she didn't know came in carrying what she recognized as a turian from Chakwas's description on a stretcher. As they hurried past one of the turians arms slid of his chest and with a clunk something fell from his grasp and rolled on the floor to rest by her feet.

She leaned down and picked up the small metal disk which felt warm to her touch. Under the blue liquid which she guessed was blood gold gleamed, the smiling symbol of the sun looked back at her.

Her head jerked up and over to the cluster of people as Chakwas yelled.

"OUT! All of you get out and let me work!"

The dark-skinned man raised his hands and left casting a glance her way as he passed. Shepard was more stubborn.

"Commander I know you're worried and want to help. I will let you know if anything changes, but you need to leave before we can begin. Please." Chakwas said.

Shepard made a frustrated gesture and turned to leave saying. "Yes, you're right. Keep me informed."

Priscilla looked down at the data pad and picked it up, before looking at Yorshka again. Between one step and the next she turned invisible, padding after Shepard, sipping out before the med-bay door closed.

She followed him into another room which seemed wrong to her. The room was small and save for the way the entered there was no way out she could see. The blood on the floor showed they had come from here to bring the turian, Garrus to the med bay. However, where had they come from?

She jumped as Shepard suddenly screamed with rage and hit one of the metal panels which buckled under the impact.

"Is this what it's like to come back from death? A hell where we watch our friends suffer and die…" He muttered in a voice so soft she almost missed it.

She stared at him. He didn't feel like an undead least an undead as she understood them. Yet she had heard variants of those questions in the past.

"He is thy friend." She said, causing Shepard to jerk upright and whirl to face her.


Shepard

He had sworn he was alone, save for EDI's constant monitoring. That voice was distinct and sure enough Priscilla simple seemed to appear out of thin air.

"Of course, you can turn invisible." He grumbled more out of shock than real anger. He took a deep breath before speaking again. "Yes, Garrus is my friend one of my best friends in fact. Is there something you need?" He asked.

Priscilla bowed her head slightly. "My apologies Shepard. I did not mean to startle you or eavesdrop." She paused and looked at the data-pad in her hand.

Shepard waited for her to get to the point. She seemed to waver before she handed him the data-pad which showed the small flask from Alchera.

"It's called an estus flask. The contents help men and women where I am from endure what would be mortal wounds." She paused again. "I was looking for one for Yorshka in the city. To help her recover."

"You still want to use it for your sister?" Shepard guessed provoking a nod.

"Yes. She is my sister after all." Priscilla replied.

"So why tell me?" Shepard asked causing Priscilla to fidget.

"Doctor Chakwas is almost certain Yorshka will recover in time." Priscilla said quietly.

Shepard cut in gently. "Doctor Chakwas is one of, if not the best medical professionals I have ever worked within the Alliance. Your sister is in good hands, same as Garrus. I know we barely know each other but trust me when I say that Chakwas will take good care of her." He paused and watched her for a moment. "That's not the only thing bothering you, is it?" He asked.

"My sister and I owe you our lives Shepard." Priscilla said slowly as if a part of her hated admitting that. "That sort of debt where we are from holds power. If the estus flask helps your friend that makes us closer to balanced…"

Shepard shook his head. "Neither of you owe me anything. I was just doing my job."

Priscilla opened her mouth to say something, paused, and closed her mouth, before looking away. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Thank you, Shepard. That rarely happened where we're from, but the flask could help your friend, but I don't know if it will."

"Thank you for telling me Priscilla. Now you should get back to the med-bay before Chakwas notices you're missing." He said as he touched the holo-lock to open the elevator door. Priscilla took a few steps and seemed to vanish but he could faintly hear her feet on the floors.

He sighed as he hit the button for the CIC. This whole thing just kept getting weirder. He didn't doubt Chakwas but he knew her enough to know when she was genuinely worried, and she was worried about Garrus.

He stepped out of the elevator and headed for the armory. Once there he opened the secure container which held the smaller items, they had found on Alchera. Carefully he picked the glowing flask up. There wasn't much inside maybe a small mouthful. Hopefully it would be enough.

He barely even checked to see who it was when his omni-tool chimed. "Doctor." He said as he headed back for the elevator.

"Leaving the armory already?" She asked.

Shepard hit the button for the crew deck. "Am I that obvious?"

"No just predictable." Chakwas answered. "I'm not sure using an untested substance is wise Commander."

"What choice do we have? We both know that Garrus is in bad shape. This could help him." Shepard said.

"Or it could kill him." She countered.

"No less lethal than a rocket to the face." He pointed out as the elevator door opened.

Chakwas saw quiet for the short time it took him to reach the med-bay. Once he entered Chakwas took the flask from him and inserted a probe to test the contents.

She shook her head after a few moments. "It's not dextro or levo, but I have no idea what it is. I'd really like to study it before we trust it."

Shepard sighed. "But it won't poison him? Make things worse?"

"I don't believe so." Chakwas answered.

Shepard looked at Garrus. He still looked horrible, his mandible was only still attached to his face by a brace.

"I'm doing it Chakwas. The results are on my head if it goes wrong." He said and carefully opening Garrus's mouth he poured the liquid in.

At first, he thought it didn't work, then Chakwas cursed something he had rarely head from her. Then he noticed what she had. Cracks in Garrus's plates were fusing at a remarkable pace, and the tissues which held his mandible to his face were knitting themselves rapidly. He took a step back just before Garrus came awake coughing and sputtering, even as several jagged shards of metal were forced from sealing wounds.

"Ugh… Spirits… What was that… It tastes like ash…" Garrus complained as he sat up. Then he blinked and looked around. "What happened?"

"You took a rocket to the face…" Shepard said warily as Chakwas ran her scanner over Garrus.

Garrus rolled his shoulders and then his neck. "I did? I don't feel like I did…"

Chakwas shook her head. "No wonder you don't. I'm not seeing anywhere near the amount of trauma you had a minute ago." She shook her head again and sighed. "If I hadn't seen it…" She muttered.

Garrus looked at her then at him. "Tarik's dead, Solare well he just kind of vanished."

"He was a phantom. One of the sunlight warriors covenant." Priscilla chimed in causing Shepard to look at her, she held out a small disk covered in blue blood and he took it. On the face of the golden disk was a symbol he recognized. "This symbol was on his shield…" He said as he passed the disk to Garrus, who gave him an odd look.

"You understood that? I got something about a ghost and a shining promise?"

"Right…" Shepard sighed. "Update your translator with Shakespearian English. You know the one for the Elcor Hamlet play which was being done a couple years ago. And no, I don't really understand it either."

Garrus gave him an odd look but taped his omni-tool and flinched subtlety as his translator updated.

"Alright. Garrus this is Priscilla she's…" Shepard paused and tried to find the right word and gave up. "She's the reason your awake at the moment." He decided changing tactics.

Garrus looked at Priscilla and bowed his head slightly. "Thank you."

She returned the gesture saying. "You are welcome."

"So, explain these phantoms you called them? Pretend I know absolutely nothing about them. Which is actually true." Shepard said.


Sometime later.

Shepard groaned as Garrus laughed despite himself. They had left Priscilla in the care of Chakwas after she had explained the whole concept of what phantoms were. Mordin was in the lab ranting, (they could hear him whenever someone entered the communications room) about cross dimensional theorem, temporal displacement, and other things such as spontaneous tissue regeneration, not to mention the idea of full-blown magic…

He looked up as Zaeed entered. Which made everyone save Mordin.

He planned on giving the salarian space until he calmed down a bit more.

"Alright. We're heading to the Citadel to pick up Kasumi and so I can touch base with Counselor Anderson. In theory I'll introduce our guests to the Counsel, or at the very least make them aware of the situation. Presuming that we're not immediately impounded, Jacob, I'm putting you in charge of at the very least removing the Cerberus logos from the outer hull."

At Miranda's almost suppressed objection, Shepard shot her a look. "In case you have forgotten Miss. Lawson. Cerberus is classified as a terrorist organization by the Alliance, and I want to limit the number of times we get shot at if possible. Zaeed, Lawson, you're on a munitions and supply run. Also, for my own sanity Lawson please don't wear anything with the Cerberus logo on it if you can. Garrus will be with me when I go speak to Anderson. Mordin, I want working on the counter measures, unless he's finished them already…" Shepard paused and shook his head. "That's all for now. Dismissed."

As everyone filed out EDI avatar appeared. "Commander I have several logged communications requests from members of the crew. Some of which are wondering how long you plan on the communications lockdown being in place."

"Not much longer. Not until I let the Counsel know about our guests. EDI I want all files, audio, video, and text about our guests compiled and sent to my omni-tool. Then I want them secured so that all access requests go through me first." He instructed.

"May I ask why Commander?" EDI replied.

Shepard sighed. "EDI I know we haven't really talked so I don't exactly know you as an individual, but this is important. I don't trust the Illusive Man for a long list of reasons. I don't trust how he could react to the potential of getting actual magic users under his control. He has been very clear about his goals, and while I do believe that humanity is important, I don't feel that stepping on anyone else is a worthwhile means to that end."

"You believe that he would attempt to abduct them to gain access to the abilities they have displayed so far." EDI surmised.

"In a nutshell yes. I know about the Cerberus experiments on Akuze which resulted in the deaths of all but one of the 42nd Frontier Company, I know that Cerberus murdered Rear Admiral Kahoku, when he got to close looking into the deaths of a squad under his command, and I know they turned nearly one hundred and fifty human colonists into husks using dragon's teeth on Chasca, not to mention what they did to the Rachni which they wanted to turn into shock troops. So, tell me honestly EDI, with all that in mind. Would you trust Cerberus with two members of a new species, one of whom wields power which only existed in fantasy novels before now?"

EDI was silent for a count of three seconds. "No. I see your logic Commander. I will do as you ask."

"Thank you, EDI." Shepard said. "I'm heading to my cabin if anyone needs me."


?

He landed with a muffled thump before the great doors, his companion banking away even as the thunderous sounds of great-bow strings resounded across the gothic arches of Anor Londo. He cast a concerned glance at his companion but for the moment he seemed fine.

He batted a hollowed silver knight out of his way as he strode to the doors and pressed his hands against them and pushed.

The great mechanisms which controlled the doors shrieked as he forced the doors to open with only his might.

The inside of the cathedral was dark. And it stank.

He strode forward and swatted a blob of feted goo away from his feet with his spear point. Reflexively he brushed his shoulder as moisture dripped from overhead.

His intuition warned him and he leapt to the side as a large, furry, spider like creature slammed down where he just stood.

It roared at him having its strike foiled like that.

He leveled his spear and charged.


Aldrich

He was content basking in the memories of one of the old gods. The strength and power of which would be his soon. Despite his long illness the God of the Darkmoon still fought but only barely. Soon he would have to go hunting. Maybe for those little half breeds, Sulyvahn had one in a tower…

She'd be a fine dessert.

His ruminations were cut abruptly short as one of his deep accursed flew through the ornamental archway, shattering it as it passed into his chamber to splat in the mixt of his body. Its legs curling up as a dying spiders would as it dissipated.

He had company, there would be time to finish the God of the Darkmoon later…

He boiled upright puppetting the dying god as he faced the intruder.


?

He stormed into the old audience hall one of the damned priests impaled on his spear point. As he passed the broken archway, he flicked his spear to the side flinging the priest off the blade and through a window with a loud crash, causing cold, clean are to pour into the room.

He surveyed the feted blob of bones and rot with disgust.

"Who are you!?" A voice demanded. It wasn't Gywndolin's voice and he could see his brother hadn't spoken. In fact, Gwyndolin was feebly gesturing for him to run from his place half way buried at the top of the muck.

He could tell at a glance that Gwyndolin was dying, but his brother had apparently forgot somethings.

He never backed down.

"I am the first born of Gywn the Lord of Sunlight." He declared striding through the muck. "And you, Abomination, you will suffer for this trespass!" He roared as he hefted his spear, lighting splitting the roof of the cathedral, causing great chunks of masonry to rain down.

The thing which held his brother roared in pain as lighting and stone rained upon it. It used his brother like a puppet drawing Gwyndolin's bow and fired.

He dodged, landing on a wall and leaping to the top of a broken pillar as his companion landed on an archway now opened to the sky and poured fire down into the audience hall.

He landed moments after the flames died down blacked bone crunching beneath his feet as he did. The blob was dissipating spilling Gywndolin's body out of its grasp. He hadn't been wrong, there was little left of the God of the Darkmoon below his waist.

He knelt next to his younger brother despite the charred mess. "Oh, little brother what did they do to you…" He sighed as Gywndolin coughed weakly.

"You must listen…" Gywndolin gasped.

"Save your strength." He ordered but Gywndolin shook his head weakly.

"No time… listen… Gwynevere… She had two daughters… Father feared them… Tried to protect them… One was strong… the other… she needs to be saved… The pontiff imprisoned her…"

"After I tend to you-" He started but Gywndolin shook his head.

"Please Gwynfor…" With those last words Gywndolin's head lolled to the side and he went limp.

He watched as his brother's body dissipated, and clenched his hands into fists one hand closing around a golden short bow.

So, he had nieces then…


Fun fact Gwyn is actually Welsh, for white or blessed.

Bit more of a filler chapter but hey Garrus didn't lose half his face so there's that…

Anyhow… Review responses. As always, constructive criticisms are welcome. What am I doing well, what needs work. The usual.

Jctherebel: Thanks!

Quartermass: Yep, who could say no to JOLLY COOPERATION! Also yeah… Not very subtle but neither is he for that matter. I mean the guy surfs on a dragon… Also expect ass-kicking…

ThyDevoutBeliever: Thanks!

Jebest4781: We will have to see that may take a while though.

Guest 1: Yes he does and we're always grateful for JOLLY COOPERATION!

Astrashar: Thank you!

Guest 2: Glad you liked it but yeah writing is hard at times it's something I'm working on.

Carre: Thank you!

gold crown dragon: Indeed it is.

Slaggedfire: You're right I could have made her a foot or two tall without any issue. Still six feet isn't short and a reasonable height in my perspective. Her current height isn't really going to be that big of a plot point. It is more for convince.