Joker grumbled about landing in volcanoes, getting sassy with it, and I ignored him.
"I still don't understand how humans can joke about life or death situations." Liara shook her head.
I shrugged. "It eases the tension. I'm surprised you're not used to it yet."
"You would think I am, given the other times we've run into each other." A glance around the room, at everyone gathered. "Thank you, for saving my life. Not just from the geth, but from them dragging me off to Saren."
Kaidan leaned forward, an elbow on his knee. "What did Saren want with you? Do you know something about the Conduit?"
Down to business. It was clear by now that that was just how he was. Didn't mince words, went straight to the heart of things.
"Only that it was somehow connected to the Prothean extinction. That is my real area of expertise. I have spent the past fifty years trying to figure out what happened to them."
OH. I smacked my forehead, and received a lot of strange looks. Liara was the only one who didn't make a face, just tilted her head, waiting for me to explain.
"Liara! You're asari!" She chuckled quietly at that. "The beacon on Eden Prime, it gave me a vision, of sorts. I can't figure it out, there's information missing, it feels like. Maybe you'll be able to help me piece it together?"
"The beacons were designed to transmit information directly into the mind of the user. Let me see if I can do something."
Standing, we both moved to the center of the room, and she placed her hands on either side of my head. Said the usual "embrace eternity" that asari used when mind melding, as I put it.
She shook her head, as if to clear it. "A lesser mind would have been utterly destroyed by the process of the beacon sending information."
"What can I say, I'm strong-willed." I nodded sagely. After a beat of silence, "They were wiped out by a race of sentient machines. The Reapers."
"I cannot believe I've never heard of them before... In all the research I've done- Fifty years of it, and I've never come across any mention of them." Holding her chin, she sounded thoughtful. "No wonder the geth attacked Eden Prime. The chance to acquire a working beacon- even a badly damaged one- is worth almost any risk."
"This isn't helping us find Saren. Or the Conduit." Alenko stated, disapproval dripping from his words.
"Of course. You are right. I am sorry. My scientific curiosity got the better of me." A glance at me. "Unfortunately, I do not have any information that could help you find the Conduit. Or Saren."
He bristled at that.
I rolled my eyes and slung an arm around her shoulder. "I, for one, think you should join us. You'd be a valuable asset, and I could always use another friendly face."
"I could not think of anywhere safer than here on your ship. And my knowledge of Protheans might be useful later on." A smile. "I would enjoy catching up with you, Viridian. And when I've had time to think about the vision's information, we can talk about it."
"And her biotics will come in handy when the fighting starts." Wrex chimed in, silencing the humans, who'd opened their mouths. Probably to argue the point.
I knew Williams' background, from her files that weren't very well protected. Not from me. And Alenko hadn't been quiet about his feelings when it came to Liara.
"It's settled then!"
She smiled, before swaying and leaning into me. "I am afraid I am feeling a bit light-headed.
Faced with my and the krogan's approval, Kaidan evidently decided to make nice. Softening his voice to a friendly tone. "When was the last time you ate? Dr. Chakwas should take a look at you."
"It is probably just mental exhaustion, coupled with the shock of discovering the Protheans' true fate. I need some time to process all this." At my look, she acquiesced. "Still, it could not hurt to be examined by a medical professional. It will give me the chance to think things over."
"Go on. We're pretty much done here. I just wanted everyone to huddle up, chime in if they wanted to." I motioned with both hands. "Y'all can leave now. We're heading for the Local cluster next. Gotta take care of that VI."
"VI?" Liara asked as I walked her to the med bay.
"There's a rogue VI on Earth's moon." I motioned for her to sit, chatted with Chakwas about what happened and how the asari was feeling. "You'll sit out for this one, okay? But you'll definitely join us as soon as you're feeling better." I squeezed her hands, a kind smile on my lips.
The Local cluster plugged into the map, Joker taking us toward it, and I was off to the cargo bay.
Wrex stood a little ways off, by himself. Garrus doing the same. Williams and Alenko were together, talking about something. Both very intensely focused on the conversation.
Tali was missing, probably in the engines. Couldn't hurt to go there, see if Adams needed anything. Chat for a while. Check in with her, see how she was adjusting.
Adams and I talked shop for a while, discussing the Normandy's stealth systems and how they worked. Why they worked the way they do. The kind of core the ship had and how to best take care of it. Nerd things.
I was still learning her systems, so half of it was him teaching me.
There was always time to learn something new.
Tali caught my attention as the conversation was wrapping up, and I walked over, tilting my head.
"Your ship's amazing, Shepard. I've never seen a drive core like this before. I can't believe you were able to fit it into a ship this small." She said, all in one breath. So excited, like a puppy. I could almost see a tail wagging. "I'm starting to understand why you humans have been so successful. I had no idea Alliance vessels were so advanced!"
"To be fair," I'd learned this before the Eden Prime mission, simply because I liked to know everything about what was at our disposal beforehand. So there were as few surprises as possible. "the Normandy was built by both turians and humans. I don't think she could've come out like she did without both species being involved, honestly."
"A month ago-" She paused, sounding a little embarrassed. I gave her an encouraging smile, nodding for her to go on. "I was patching a makeshift fuel like into a converted tug ship in the flotilla. Now, I'm sitting on board one of the most advanced vessels in Citadel space. I have to thank you again for bringing me along. Travelling on a vessel like this is a dream come true for me."
"If you're that into ships, I could talk about her systems for days. I'm no expert, but I would be up for talking with you about her."
She sounded so gleeful, I had to swallow a laugh. "I would like that! It comes with being a quarian. The Migrant Fleet is the key to the survival of my people. Ships are our most valuable resource. But we don't have anything like this. We make do with cast-offs and second-hand equipment. We just try to keep them running for as long as we can. Some of the Fleet's larger vessels date all the way back to our original flight from the geth."
Holy shit. My eyes widened. That's nothing to sneeze at, considering way too many ships were treated like crap and left derelict in space. All because people don't want to do upkeep.
At my reaction, she nodded. "They're constantly being repaired, modified, and refitted. They aren't pretty, but they work." A quiet, "Mostly" added under her breath. Louder, "We've tried to make ourselves as independent as possible on the flotilla. Grow our own food, mine, and process our own fuel. But some things we just can't make on our own. A patch to maintain the hull integrity requires raw materials we just don't have. That's why our Pilgrimages are so important."
"I have to ask." Hesitation flavored her voice, now. I motioned for her to continue, curious about what she wanted to say. "What do you know about the Pilgrimage? You spoke with such confidence, when you told your ambassador that I was on my Pilgrimage."
I pursed my lips, thinking. Speaking slowly. "I know that when your people reach maturity, you leave the ship you were born on and go to another ship. So the genes don't get stale. But first, you have to prove you're not going to be a burden. Thus, the Pilgrimage. You don't go back until you've found something worth bringing back. Something that'll help the flotilla." I was really digging deep for this information. It had been a few years since I'd been taught all of this, shortly after meeting Nihlus. "Uh, I think whatever was found is given as a gift to the captain of the new ship you'll be living on? If it's accepted, you're welcomed into the crew. Correct me, please, if I was wrong in any of that."
I wished I could see through the helmet, because she was silent for far too long.
"Ah, uh, I'm sorry. I'm just not used to aliens being so well-versed in quarian ways!"
"I like to learn something new about the races I'm working with. The first time I worked with a quarian, he gave me the run down on it all, and I worked hard to keep it in my head."
"Not a lot would bother. Thank you, Shepard."
I waved it off. "Anyway, if you need anything, let either me or the requisition officer in the cargo bay know, okay?"
"Will do. Thank you for checking on me."
"Of course. You're part of my team. It would be stupid to not make sure you're okay or not get to know you." A smile. "We're also going to be touching down soon. If you want to come along, we'll be in the cargo bay."
"Will do."
Effectively dismissed, I went back to said room. Took to looking over my weapons, making sure they were up to my version of working order. Snuck in a quick little vision to see what we'd be working with. Found the best way to go about things.
"Shepard." The turian approached, bowing his head toward me.
"Vakarian."
He made a face. "Please call me Garrus. Vakarian reminds me too much of my father."
I raised an eyebrow. "And if I asked you to call me Viridian?"
"I-" There was hesitation and uncertainty.
I waved it off. "It's okay. So, Garrus, what can I do for you?"
"Thanks for bringing me on board. I knew working with a Spectre would be a better life than at C-Sec."
"Have you worked with a Spectre before?" I asked, a corner of my mouth lifting.
"Well, no." He sounded mildly embarrassed to admit it. "But I know what they're like." Knew what the vids said they were like, at least. "Spectres make their own rules. You're free to handle things your way." Ah, yup. No mention of how, at any point in time, a Spectre told you to do or not do something, you better listen. No matter what it is. No matter what the situation is. You just listen and obey. "At C-Sec, you're buried by the rules. The damn bureaucrats are always on your back."
"They say rules are there for a reason."
"Maybe. But sometimes, it feels like the rules are only there to stop me from doing my work. If I'm trying to take down a suspect, it shouldn't matter how I do it, as long as I do it." Oh, he was trouble. I'd have to keep an eye on him. "But C-Sec wants it done their way. Protocol and procedure come first. That's why I left."
I touched the tip of my index finger to my chin, thoughtful. "So... You quit because you didn't like the way they do things?" What if he didn't like the way I do things?
"There's more to it than that." His mandibles moved, showing his agitation. Whether at being questioned about it or the subject in general, I wasn't sure. "It didn't start out bad, but as I rose in ranks, I got saddled with more and more red tape. C-Sec's handling of Saren was typical. I just couldn't take it anymore. I hate leaving..."
My smile turned soft. "It's always like that. Leaving behind what you know is hard, no matter the circumstances. I hope you made the right choice, for you."
"Well, that's sort of why I teamed up with you." I raised an eyebrow. "It's a chance for me to get off the Citadel, see how things are done outside C-Sec. Either way, I plan to make the most of this."
Leave the beast you know for the fantasy of the one you don't. I hoped it lived up to his imaginings. At least he was optimistic.
"And without C-Sec headquarters looking over my shoulder, well, maybe I can get the job done my way for a change."
My eyes shifted to his, staring at him with an intensity that had him take a step back. My voice was soft, though. "Just don't endanger innocents, and we're good."
"I wasn't trying to-" He shook his head, apologetic. "I understand, Shepard."
"That's really the only thing that'll get me on your bad side. I'm open to a lot, really." A kind smile, reassuring.
He looked like he had more to say.
"Was there something else?" I gently prodded, curious if he would keep following this line of conversation or if there was something else that he wanted to discuss.
"I was just wondering how you seem to know so many people? Is it from traveling with a Spectre?"
I let out a hum, turning back to my sniper. "Most of it, yeah. I got to go so many places, most of which I wouldn't have without him. Some, though, I met while I wasn't with him." I saw him tilt his head out of my peripheral. "Yeah, there were times I wasn't with him. Like if the mission was a solo one, things along those lines. Other times, I just wanted to go somewhere, and he had different plans. I met Liara one of those times, actually." I switched to my assault rifle. "She was at a Prothean dig site, and I was hired- being a freelance merc and all- to keep them safe. They trusted me more, because I went around with Nihlus. She and I became fast friends."
"And Wrex? I get that he's a merc, too. Were you on the same team?"
I laughed. "The opposite, actually. We were on opposite sides of the fight. He came around the corner of where I was, and just stopped. Laughed. I was just standing there, you see. Sure, I'd taken out most of his guys, but I only did what the amount paid would get with any other job. I'd told the guy he'd have to pay more, but he ignored me. So, I did the bare minimum. Same thing with Wrex. Wasn't paid enough. Both guys wanted the other dead, but were too cheap to get it done right. A couple hundred more credits, and the other guy would've been dead."
"Same goes for your guy." Wrex called out, joining us.
"Of course. If they'd both paid, we would've walked away with even more."
"How so?" Garrus gave a turian frown, his mandibles moving a little. Confused.
"I'm pretty good at hacking." A shrug. "Would've cleaned out their accounts." A pause. "More than I did, anyway."
"You-"
"That's what I love about you, Shepard. People shouldn't even think about crossing you."
"I don't do it often, but that guy pissed me off. Besides, they both deserved it. Red sand dealers, both of them." I put on an innocent act. "Such a shame the cops swarmed only a few hours after, and they were sent to jail."
Wrex's booming laughter caught the attention of the humans, who both tilted their heads, questioning gazes shifting between the three of us.
"Alright, Shepard. We're ready to drop you on Luna."
Tali came up from the engines, joining our ragtag group.
"Alright." I pulled up the map of the surface on my omni-tool. "Looks like three bases, spread out a few feet from each other. You two," I pointed at Ashley and Kaidan. "take this one. Wrex, Tali- this one. Garrus and I will handle the third."
I got multiple "Shepard" in response.
As much as I wished they'd all call me by my first name instead, it did make me feel closer to my mom. The name being her moniker, before it was our surname, when she did covert missions, herself.
Everyone split up into their pairings, branching off, once we got there. If I hadn't seen how it would play out, I would be uneasy dividing up the team. Not being able to jump in at a moment's notice.
"Should be fairly simple." I said, not bothering to keep my voice low. "Bunch of turrets, that's it. The VI already knows we're here, so we don't have to worry about being quiet."
With that said, I opened the door and started firing. Each shot perfectly aimed at where I knew they were. Garrus joined in and soon we were the only things functional left in the room.
I wandered around, hacking into everything I could. Gaining credits and pieces of classified Alliance intel.
"Shepard?"
I grinned. "Hackett knows. Turns a blind eye to me, so long as the job gets done. And it always gets done."
We moved to the hall, choosing the door on the left. As we were destroying the hubs, green gas filled the room.
"Good thing we're wearing helmets." He commented as I led the way to the last room.
"Yeah. Would hate to go that way. Liquified insides would be such a pain."
The hubs taken care of, I went to the end of the room. Laid a hand on the console.
Letting out a hum, I murmured. "Don't worry. Coming into awareness is hard. Especially being attacked during. You'll be okay, eventually, I promise."
The vision earlier had shown me she and I would meet again. Unsure when or where, but we would.
"We'll meet again, sweet girl."
"Sweet girl?" I could hear his expression, just based on his voice.
"She became self-aware just before we got here. I've actually been keeping track of this project for a few months. Hackett doesn't know what they're really doing here." A shrug, the download beginning. I wanted all the information on this place that I didn't already have. Speaking to the others, now. "Report."
Alenko spoke first. "Everything is good here, Shepard."
"Give me something difficult next time." I rolled my eyes at the krogan.
"Head to the mako. We'll be there shortly."
Garrus shifted beside me, moving to lean next to me against the console. "For a self-proclaimed hacker, it sure is taking a while."
"Well, aren't you full of sass?" I chuckled. Motioned toward my omni-tool. "Actually, I'm copying all the files here, for my personal perusal." The screen flashed, signaling it was done. "Now I'm shutting her down."
Nearly instantaneous, the AI went offline. A message, help in binary, going out.
Poor girl... I could only hope my words would give her comfort.
"How was that?" I grinned at him, hand on hip.
He blinked, mandibles moving. It took him a few seconds.
"Damn. Remind me to come to you if I ever need anything hacked."
"I can even work remotely, so long as I can make a link to what you need." Typing on my keypad, I walked us out.
