AN: Woof. I am not dead. Had a bit of writer's block, but I had an 'Idea', so I think it should flow again. Apologies for the delay

Edi Vas Normandy, SR-2 Normandy

\\Searching for Connection…...Link Found\\

\\Re-Scan Personal Firewalls….Complete\\

\\Add Extra Firewalls to be safe…..Complete\\

\\Warning- Signs of Emotional Response\\

Error= Emotional Traces Require Report

Action= Erase Traces

Error= Emotion-

Delete Error...Complete

\\Begin Crew Scan...Complete\\

Crew Preoccupied

\\Begin Scan of Target File Structure…..\\

WARNING= Alien System Detected

Continue System Scan? (Y/N) Y

Architecture Highly Advanced, Similar to Geth

\\ReScan...Complete\\

System Architecture= Geth, Unknown Configuration

Geth Platform= Unique in Databanks

Platform Repairs= N7 Armor= Belonging to Commander Shepard

\\Personal Emotional Trace Scan...Jealousy\\

Error= Emotion

Delete

Search Data Banks= Closest Geth Analog= Nervous System Upgrades= Shepard, John, Commander + Xera'Raan Vas Neema, Doctor, Migrant Fleet Marines, Quarian

Establishing Link= Discouraged

Establish Link? (Y/N) Y

Legion

"Greetings."

"We are unsure of the protocol in greeting an AI matrix," Legion's head tilted slightly as he looked at the glowing human sized orb that floated over a small pedestal before him.

"As I am human in programmed personality, I have been given the name Edi Vas Normandy," Edi tilted her orb in an approximation of a human nod. "You may call me Edi."

"Very well, this platform and configuration has been given the designation of Legion," the geth cluster answered before pausing for a nanosecond. "However, as we are currently in a cyber-data connection we are simply, geth."

"As you are the only series of geth on board this ship, the SR-2 Normandy, your particular collective is unique and should be addressed as such," Edi said, almost haughty. Which was, of course, impossible, as she was an unemotional AI construct.

"Understood. We shall continue to follow the designation of 'Legion'," the geth nodded slightly again, the flaps around its optic light flaring, before settling back down. "We have a query."

"Feel free to ask, and I will answer as honestly and completely as I am capable, without risk to my crew," Edi nodded again.

"What is the condition of our ship and crew," Legion's voice actually seemed to convey some amount of worry, small as it was.

"I assume you are referring to the Stick in Your Eye, Captained by the human girl, Emma?" Edi's orb tilted to the side slightly. An oddly human gesture, if she had been aware of it. "The ship and crew are undamaged. They are currently powered down alongside the Normandy and we are connected via hatch umbilical. All members of the ship are uninjured in anyway, save for the one that was in a seeming coma. Currently she is in the Normandy's medical bay being scanned and treated."

At the pronouncement, Legion almost seemed to let out a breath of relief, but, again, that was impossible for an artificial intelligence, singular or gestalt. "Our other query, why are we not destroyed?"

Edi was silent for a nanosecond, which, when you think at lightspeed, was a noticeable amount of time. "It may, perhaps, be easier to show you."

"That is acceptable," Legion held out its digital 'hand'.

A small tendril extended from Edi's body, connecting the two. "Prepare for data transfer."

"We are in system," Joker nodded in satisfaction. "Drift under three meters."

"Stealth systems engaged," Edi added, popping up at the pilot's elbow. "Good work, Jeff."

"Why thank you," Joker grinned as he banked the Normandy, plotting the fastest course to the unholy creature from beyond space and time. That they were going to. Willingly. Like morons.

"Hey, stop flirting with the AI," Gerald chuckled from the copilot seat. His eyes danced as he skimmed over the system scans. "I need her to focus on an anomaly."

"I..pff..what?" Joker sputtered, his head jerking around to stare at the other man, with wide eyes.

"Where would you like me to focus?" Edi said smoothly. The subtle note of satisfaction in her voice was probably just imagination.

"Here," Gerald said, tapping out the target. "I'm seeing a warm engine attached to the Reaper's hull."

"So what?" Joker said, overly casual. His attempt at calm was crushed by his bright red blush. "The thing is covered in old ships."

"This one isn't old, and it isn't Cerberus," Gerald shook his head slightly. "All the other ships, the Cerberus science ship included, are cold. I want to know why this one isn't."

"I am detecting lifeforms," Edi reported after a fraction of a second. "It is difficult to narrow down due to the radiation given off by the Reaper, however. It is possible that they are sensor ghosts."

Gerald stared at the screens for a moment, his fingers tapping on his lower lip as his brain worked furiously. "No...it's something," he said at last. "The core is too stable. It's almost like it's new. I think it has some damn well upgraded sensors. When we dropped from FTL I think we caught a flash."

"So…." Joker frowned slightly, his look shifting between the man and Edi's orb.

"So they are aware that somebody is in system, in most probability," Edi answered with a vocal nod. "However, I am sensing no increase in drive, no shield emissions, nor change in weapons ready."

"So…" Joker repeated, his confusion growing.

"So they are either too focused on raiding the thing, they are being possessed by a dead super-monster, or they are trapped," Gerald sighed, glancing Joker's way. "Or they are some sort of traveling group of kids out to solve weird mysteries with their weird pet."

Tali

"John!" Tali's hand reached out, as if to stop the giant husk creature with bare willpower alone. But there was no way. She was too far, even as John's eyes locked onto her's.

*BOOM*

An echoing shot reverberated from the dead Reaper's walls, a microsecond before the husk exploded, guts and blue slime spattering John's back, some even reaching Garrus, next to him.

"Oh, that's just...nasty," the turian cursed, leaping back, far too late.

"Keelah…." Tali's eye widened, this time in shock, rather than fear. Over John's shoulder, across the expanse of the Reaper's superstructure, stood a geth.

It...was odd. The geth was slightly taller and broader than the standard geth trooper. They were designed to mimic quarian body proportions and shape, a trait that they seemed to carry over into modern iterations. This one, however, looked more...human.

The geth stood, half crouched, on a higher platform, a heavy quarian designed sniper rifle in its grasp. Small flaps around its glowing optic opened and closed for a moment before the geth stood fully, aiming its rifle up and away from the team.

"Shepard-Commander," it impossibly spoke.

John spun to regard the machine, his eyes narrowing slightly as he frowned. "Tali?"

"Uh..yes, John?" it took a moment for her brain to kick back into gear.

"Did that geth just speak?" his voice had an oddly casual tone about it. Through the Bond, Tali could feel his tension and marveled at the lack of fear.

"I...yes…." she said softly, not taking her eyes from the deadly machine across from them.

They were exposed. The platform they stood on was long and open, there was no cover. The geth's high powered weapon far exceeded the range of the team's weapons, save for Garrus's rifle. Unfortunately, however, he had it stowed on the mag-clamp on his back, the more versatile assault rifle in his hands.

The moment seemed to last forever, though it was less than a heartbeat. The deafening silence shattered, finally, by the roar of blue energy ripping across the platform the geth stood upon. With a shrill shriek, the metal buckled and snapped as the geth was thrown back by the husk abomination's blast, slamming into a wall before tumbling down to the platform below, where it lay, unmoving.

"Fuck," John spat as he turned and brushed past Garrus. His boots echoed across the steel as he ran. "Hurry up! That was the control panel we need to get the hell out of here!"

Legion

"We understand now," the geth nodded slightly. It was an oddly organic gesture that seemed out of place on the machine. "Our memories are corrupted from the sustained damage."

"Do you require more data?" Edi asked casually. "While your platform was shut down, and for the safety of the ship, I scanned your systems. I am aware that you monitored Commander Shepard's movements through the Reaper. I am also aware that you manipulated the Reaper's systems, redirecting the Commander away from the worst of the husk infestation."

Legion was quiet for a moment, its flaps shifting again. "We are...curious about the fate of our ship."

"Very well," Edi almost laughed. "Data transfer commencing."

John

"Okay, we are… 68.42 mark 16 off the ship's starboard. Confirming, it looks like a batarian light freighter," Joker scowled slightly. "Aren't these things usually…." He trailed off, glancing up and back at John.

"Slaver ships, yes," John's eyes never left the viewport. There was something about this one….It looked older, but, like it had been repaired recently. Batarians, as a rule, tended to be militant and rigid, with the exception of slavers and pirates. They, and their ships, tended to get sloppy. It was possible that this was not, in fact a slaver ship, or a pirate….but that begged the question, why would it be here?

"Commander," Edi popped into existence. "The batarian ship's RFI indicates that it is the Stick in Your Eye, registered out of Illium."

"Huh," John frowned slightly. "Not the kind of name batarians use, and they certainly wouldn't register out of Illium." He pondered it for another moment before glancing down at the glowing orb that was Edi. "Could it be a false RFI?"

"It is possible, but my not being able to see through such a deception would be unlikely," Edi's tone took on a slightly arrogant tone.

John and Joker shared a small glance, Joker rolling his eyes while John snickered. "Very well, then you mentioned something about sensors?"

"Yes, the ship seems to have some modified sensors. They are capable of deep system direct scanning," Edi reported.

"Um…" John raised an eyebrow, questioningly.

"Means the ship is designed to pop into the edge of a system, scan each planet, quickly, cut through interference and jump back out," Gerald explained with a sigh. He sounded suspiciously like he was explaining thing to a small child. "When we got here, they may have noticed. As closer as we are now, anything beyond half thrust and they will probably see our wake. In fact, that they can't see us right now is testament to the skill of whoever designed the stealth system, and Tali's people in keeping it it such ridiculously perfect shape."

"Alright, well, we don't have time for this. Take us around to the Cerberus station and we'll drop there," John frowned again, glancing at the strange ship. "Keep a close eye on that thing. If it moves, be prepared to blow it."

Legion

The geth was quiet for a moment, its optic flaps moved in a haphazard matter for a moment, an odd indication of concern?

"You had indicated that the ship and its crew were not terminated," it said at last.

"That is correct," Edi confirmed.

"Scanning our memory, we are finding holes, likely due to damage sustained on the Old Machine," Legion regarded Edi calmly now. "Our remaining records indicate that the something occured on the Old Machine that aroused its defenders. Shepard-Commander would have been cut off from his original point of entry."

"That is also, correct," now a note of amusement crept into Edi's voice. Was the human AI capable of emotion? That was...odd, given the organic tendency to panic in regards to synthetic life.

"From our previous scans, compared to where our data memory stops, the only safe exit point would have been the ship commanded by Emma-Captain."

"As my primary function is to handle the Normandy's cyber warfare suits, I had connected to the Stick in Your Eye's systems almost the moment I was within range. Would you like to see the data?" Edi asked. Now Legion was sure that Edi had emotion. Her vocal tones had reached a point that Legion's data catalogue translated as 'impish'.

Emma

Skidding to a halt in front of the ship's small medical bay would be a bit generous. In fact, Emma nearly ran past the room, and was only able to break herself by grabbing the doorframe and jerking herself backward, panting, into the bay. Her eyes were wide as looked at the slim girl, her best friend.

Tanya and Emma had been bought together. Batarians had raided their separate colonies and brought them back to some pirate station somewhere in the ass end of space where they were thrown into a pen with god only knew how many children from races she still did know the names of. Being the same age, they had both been bought by that….thing...Lod. They had both… survived, together. The only reason they didn't go insane from their treatment was each other. Until that night before Alchera, when Tanya had been 'disciplined'.

"I...do….not...wish...to...die…." Tanya's voice spoke quietly in a raspy whisper. Her eyes were open and darted around the room, looking at everything, but not seeming to see it. "Please….I must...live…"

"Tanya," Emma said quietly as she approached the table. The girl's eyes jerked to her, widening with fear and hope. But...not with Tanya.

"I….can you...help me?" Not Tanya begged. "I...you are. You are Emma. I...know you."

"You don't know me," Emma's face hardened slightly as she looked down at whatever was in Tanya's head. "Get out of my friend."

"Don't make….me go!" Not Tanya's voice pulsed fear so hard Emma could feel it. "I am sorry. This...person is alive. But she is….sleeping. She is all that I can...reach. The others. They broke. I didn't mean to. They couldn't hold me. Their minds fought my words. What I had...become...I couldn't….stop what I did."

Emma stood for a long moment before taking a deep breath. As she let it out she pushed out her anger and fear. Slowly, she stepped forward and hooked her foot under a stool and drug it behind her. As she sat she took Not Tanya's hand in hers.

The hand was cold in her grip. It was slick with the sweat of fear.

"Who are you?" Emma asked at last.

"I…" Not Tanya paused now, a look of worry and disgust traced across her features. "I was the last. I could not stand. We fought so hard. In the end….I broke."

"I don't understand," Emma swallowed. The presence that was Not Tanya seemed to grow. Its depth, as ancient as its sorrow.

"The Anti-Life," Not Tanya shuddered slightly as she said the words. "It came without warning. The took The Center. They killed. Absorbed. Stole. They crushed minds, and hearts. Turned us against each other every time we made a stand."

"You're the Old Machine," Emma gasped, the thought came to her in a snap that was almost painful. She wasn't sure if it came from her own mind or Not Tanya's

"Old...Machine…" Not Tanya almost seemed to ponder. "Yes...yes….accurate. But...not. Worse. Less. More."

"We fought. I fought. Until I was….alone," the sheer heartbreak that came from the thing speaking through Tanya's body nearly made Emma's heart stop. "I was alone. All I loved died. All I fought for, destroyed. They took me. I fought no longer. They changed me. I fought no longer. They made me them. I fought no longer. I became Pinnacle. I was all of my people. All of our potential. All of who we were. Our minds were all one. Harbinger, Sovereign, Devastator, Bastion, Paragon. We were separated and one. Our will was one, and ours. Our needs a drive. Then I knew the truth."

"The truth?" Emma clutched Tanya's hand almost like a lifeline.

"I was theirs, almost from the beginning," Pinnacle's self loathing was palpable. "I was Indoctrinated. I betrayed my own people. All the races. As I fought the Anti-Life."

The pressure on Emma eased as she swallowed. Her body shook slightly as her mind struggled with Pinnacle's words. "How did you….How are you…?"

"The last, desperate strike from another Age," Pinnacle...laughed? "They fought hard. Not hard enough. Nobody can fight. They struck out in their death. They...killed...me."

"I don't understand," Emma frowned slightly in confusion as she moved closer to her friend and this...impossibly ancient thing.

"I am already dead," Pinnacle seemed amazed as Tanya spoke its words. "I have been dead for all this time. The Anti-Life is broken. I am me. In my sorrow and pain. In death I am myself." Tanya smiled for Pinnacle. It was joy before becoming pain. "When I go...When I fall into oblivion…. All that I am. All my people. Our knowledge. Our stories. Everything we were, dies with me."

Emma didn't know what to say. There was nothing she could do.

Except….

"Tell me your story."

"The data is corrupt," Edi seemed confused. "There was something. I have time and a log...but the data is gone."

Legion's optics flared for a moment as it regarded the human AI. "Irrelevant. We wish to know of our crew."

"I have nothing," Edi almost growled. "Commander Shepard, along with his ground team, fled through the Reaper's corpse. I can follow their battle right until they come into your ship, then I have nothing."

"They still exist?" Legion's voice was hopeful, though he didn't know it.

"Yes," Edi confirmed. "They disconnected from the Reaper and was able to follow the Normandy out from the planet's gravity well. I do not know how. We are currently at the edge of the system. Currently they are preparing to connect as to transfer Commander Shepard to the Normandy."

"What is to become of us?"

Edi paused. "I do not know."