Ok, chapter six is now up and running. I've also gone back to fix a few spelling erros and added a new codex entry at the end of chapter 3. The next update should hopefully include and expanded chapter 2.
Enjoy.
Chapter 6
Down in the Redcilffe's makeshift brig General Desolus paced up and down the small cell he shared with three other Turians. After being shuttled up to the orbiting alien fleet, he'd quickly been dragged off to an interrogation room. One of his captors had asked a series of questions to which he'd given no answers. Eventually his interrogator stopped and ordered in someone called 'Averice'. Everything after that was a blur. He'd woken up later to find himself alone in the cell he was in now and over the next few days his fellow cell mates had been thrown in with him.
One of them, a sergeant named Varken had tried to break down the force field but all he'd accomplished was bruising his shoulder. The next day when their captors had brought their meals Varken attempted to grab one of their weapons and was telekinetically slammed into a wall for his trouble.
Desolus heard someone approaching. He stopped pacing and strained to hear their conversation.
"I hear they found another one on the Starkhaven."
"Another! That's ten now. Andrastes blood. How many do you think are infected?"
"I don't know, at least they got this one before he turned and killed the others."
The Darkspawn guards, both Hurlocks, stopped outside the Generals cell. Desolus saw that one of them was carrying a staff slung over his back which meant that he had magic. Desolus had given up trying to explain most of the things he'd seen rationally and had grudgingly accepted that the Darkspawn had some kind of supernatural powers. He took a few steps back as one of them dispelled the barrier.
"Which one of you is General Desolus?"
"I am" stated Desolus, trying to seem as in control as possible.
"Then you are coming with us General."
The other three Turians leapt up and ran to the Generals side, one of the Darkspawn drew his pistol and pointed it at the nearest Turian.
"You think we're just going to let you drag our commander away!?" yelled Varken.
The pistol wielding guard nodded "Yes, that's the idea."
"No guns my friend." muttered the emissary "We don't need them."
Desolus watched as the Hurlock's form began to glow and change. Moments later a large eight legged insect now stood where the Darkspawn had been. It reared up on its two back legs and aimed its abdomen in the Turians direction. The creature fired a white sticky webbing that hit the Turian on Desolus' right, gluing him to the wall. The other two soldiers acted too late and both were caught by two more web blasts.
Desolus was sure that he was going to be cocooned and dragged off but while he'd been watching the giant bug the other guard had snuck up behind him and whacked him over the head with his pistol.
He had no idea how long he was unconscious. As Desolus started to wake he became aware of people all around him, talking.
"Did you really have to hit him? He was alone and unarmed, we could have just dragged him off."
"Better safe than sorry."
"Is this what you call acceptable treatment of prisoners Mr Vanguard?!"
"He's alive. I'd call that acceptable."
"Omega, Ambassador, I believe the General is awake."
Desolus forced his eyes open. As his vision cleared he realised that he had been taken from his cell and was now in a much larger room surrounded by various Darkspawn that he assumed were the commanders of this fleet. Much to his surprise there was also an Asari in the room. The council must have found out what happened and sent a diplomat to prevent a war.
"General Desolus Pallas?" asked the Asari.
"Mmmm...Yes." groaned Desolus.
The Asari moved closer and looked down at him with concerned eyes "I'm Matriarch Nerysse, here on behalf of the council. How have you been treated?"
"The food is...well, I wouldn't even call it food. They've got half my men convinced that they're going to be eaten alive and I know that not everyone comes back from 'interrogation'!"
Nerysse looked at Vanguard "Is that true?"
Vanguard took a few seconds before answering "Yes. We have no real experience with interrogations so we hire...outside help."
Nerysse looked appalled "You hired another race to help you and you let them kill prisoners of war!?"
"They're not an alien race exactly" this time it was the Genlock blood mage, The Known, that answered. "And while some of them do enjoy killing most just forget how...frail creatures like us are."
"They 'just forget'!?" Nerysse was starting to lose her composure, allowing anger to tinge her voice.
"We needed information." said Meredith "For all we knew we were days away from another invasion."
"And you think that justifies murdering your captives!?"
"To save countless lives across the rest of our worlds? Let me think. YES!"
Nerysse was about to yell back but she was interrupted by a loud beep from Vanguard's Omni-tool. The Hurlock raised his arm and read the message on the holographic display.
"I am needed elsewhere. Meredith, you're in charge."
Meredith didn't say anything but her mouth twitched up in a smile.
"Wait. We still need to discuss this!" insisted Nerysse.
"I have an entire fleet to run, ambassador. And you'd do well to remember that we are not a council race. We don't take orders from you." Vanguard marched towards the doors which opened automatically with a quiet whoosh of air. He stopped at the threshold and looked around outside. "Archer, Guardian." The two guards looked up "Did you see an Asari and Kass outside when you came in?"
The two Hurlocks looked at each other, then shock their heads in unison.
"Iona's not there?" asked Nerysse, concerned.
"Evidently." muttered Vanguard, placing his fingers on his temples.
"I'll find her." said Aeducan "There are only so many places on this ship she can be." Vanguard left with Aeducan following close behind.
Nerysse paced up and down for a few seconds before speaking "I should go to. Iona's my responsibility and-"
"We will find your aide." said Meredith in an authoritative voice. The Broodmother stalked over to Nerysse and loomed over her. "Guards, take the General back to his cell."
One of the guards grabbed hold of Desolus' shoulder. He shrugged him off and ran up to Meredith. One guard brought up is gun and aimed it at Desolus but at a signal from Meredith he held his fire. "You said something was 'spreading' amongst my men. Is there some kind of disease killing us?!"
Meredith seemed surprised by the question. "Ah, no one's told you yet...hmmm. Follow me."
Meredith lead the group out of the conference room. Nerysse followed close behind along with The Known and Redsteel. General Desolus was at the back, flanked on either side by the two guards. Eventually they came to a large elevator which they all had too bundle in to. There was a control panel on one side of the doors, Meredith pressed one of the lower buttons.
"I'd ask you to keep this in mind, General." Meredith turned to look at Desolus "You wanted to know."
Elsewhere on the ship
Vanguard had never seen a Geth before. He'd read that they were robots, synthetic beings but they looked much more...organic than he'd imagined. There were three of them, all roughly the same height as a Hurlock with long necks that ended in hoods covering a single bright green eye.
One of the trio stepped forwards. "We speak for the Geth. We wish to discuss an exchange of data." it said in a mechanical voice.
Vanguard examined the Geth representatives closer. The one that had spoken to him was bone white in colour while the other two were a dark grey. 'Maybe their colour shows their role in society, or military rank?'
"That is...interesting. I have read the council report on your race. 'Isolationist and highly dangerous' was the overall impression."
Several flaps on the Geth's hood raised then lowered again but otherwise it showed no reaction. "Council reports vary in their accuracy and are often subject to bias. While we do not normally interact with organic species we are not openly hostile."
"But you did drive your creators from their home world?"
The Geth paused and made a few strange wiring noises before continuing "The Creators began the Morning War by attempting to exterminate us when they realise that we had achieved sentience. We would have preferred a non-violent solution, however Creators refused to negotiate."
Vanguard nodded as he digested this. "That still doesn't explain why you are here now?"
"Circumstances have changed. It is possible that Geth may require allies. Darkspawn have similar history to Geth and have no ties to the Citadel Council. We believe that you are the best option."
"And how do you know our history?" asked Vanguard.
The Geth's head-flaps flared again. "We analyzed your data transmissions before initiating contact."
"In other words, you hacked us."
"...Correct."
'Well, at least their being honest about it' thought Vanguard. "You said that 'circumstances have changed'. What circumstances?"
On the Redcliffe's lower decks
After what felt like the longest elevator ride in history Nerysse, Meredith and the others had arrived at the ships medical bay. It looked much the same as the rest of the ship but Nerysse thought she could hear a commotion off in the distance.
Meredith was examining her omni-tool as she walked "So, General...do you know an officer named 'Gyas Korick'?"
Desolus nodded "Yes, he was part of my command staff."
"Would you describe him as sane, rational, no danger to his fellows?"
"Yes." said Desolus, sounding quite annoyed.
They came to a stop in front of a set of metal doors. Nerysse could defiantly hear a struggle going on inside. The doors opened automatically as a Hurlock was thrown out of the room. Nerysse had to jump back to avoid being knocked over.
"Ahh, son of a...Admiral Meredith!" The Hurlock leapt to his feet, gave Meredith a hurried salute, and then he ran back into the room. Desolus followed him in with the rest of the group right behind him. Inside there were three Hurlocks struggling to subdue a single Turian who'd apparently broke free from a metal chair in the centre of the room. At first Nerysse thought that this was an interrogation room but then she got a better look at the Turain.
His eyes were dull and glassy, a black substance was constantly seeping from his mouth.
"I thought you had him restrained?" said Meredith.
"We did!" yelled one of the Hurlocks.
"We gave him enough tranquiliser to bring down a drake!" grunted another.
"What...what did you do to him!?" demanded Desolus.
"Nothing!" yelled Meredith "There's something inside us all. It's called the taint. In Darkspawn it gives longevity, power, empathy. In all others madness, mutation and death."
"And how did he catch this...taint?" asked Nerysse.
Meredith grimaced "We don't know. He must have ingested Darkspawn blood at some point. We can't exactly ask him."
The ghoul, Gyas, gave a loud shriek as he tried to break free from his captors again.
"Is...is there a cure?" asked Desolus.
Meredith shook her head "It can be delayed, but there is no cure. And once you've gone this far there's no going back."
Gyas managed to throw off the Darkspawn holding him back and charged at Desolus. He got about two steps before Meredith grabbed him in her tentacles, lifting him off the floor. One tendril wrapped around Gyas' neck then twisted. The Turian-ghouls neck snapped with a sickening crunch and Meredith let him drop to the deck. At first Nerysse thought he was dead but then she heard a rasping sound and saw Gyas' jaw move in a biting motion. He was still trying to attack even with his neck broken.
"Final question General. Is this Gyas Korick?" asked Meredith.
Desolus looked down at his former comrades broken body. He looked into it's cold eyes and saw no trace of sentience or emotion, it was like looking into utter emptiness. "No." was all he could say.
Meredith unholsered a hidden pistol she'd concealed beneath her cloths and shot Gyas in the head.
"I think that's enough for today." muttered Meredith. "Take the General back to his cell."
Desolus didn't have the strength to argue or resist he simply let the guards lead him away. All he could think of was the horrifying emptiness in that creatures eyes.
"Matriarch Nerysse." the Asari looked away from Gyas' corpse and up at the Broodmother looming over her. "The Known will escort you back to the hanger bay. When we've found your aide you can both return to your ship. The return of all captives will be discussed with your Council. Later."
Nerysse nodded meekly. Much like Desolus she no longer had the strength to argue. As she walked away she took one last glance at the dead ghoul. How on Thessia would she explain all this to the council?
The Redcliffe's comms room. Sometime later.
"I must admit Vanguard. I for one am impressed." said the holographic image of Broodmother Saarebas. Vanguard was standing in front of holographic images of the rest of the council arranged in a semicircle. "A war averted, a truce with the Citadel and a possible alliance with the Geth. I doubt our species has gone so far so fast since the Awakening."
"The Citadel Council would react badly if they discovered our relationship with the Geth." said The Found. "I suggest that we keep our alliance secret."
Vanguard nodded "Agreed."
"Do you think we can trust the Geth?" asked Wynne.
"I trust them more that the Citadel. The Geth may have spied on us but that was out of caution, not hostile intent. Aside from that they've been honest with us and unlike the Citadel they haven't attacked us."
Vanguard's omni-tool started beeping. He raised his arm and quickly read the holographic display. 'Found Asari aide. She'd had a nasty run in with Seduce. No permanent damage. Taking her back to hanger bay now.'
"Is there a problem?" asked Saarebass, sounding a little annoyed.
"Nothing important. There is one last thing." Vanguard pressed a few buttons on his omni-tool making another holographic image appear between him and the imagers of the councillors. It had a long semi-cylindrical body with a tapering plate at one end and five tentacle like arms at the other.
"This" Vanguard continued "could be the greatest threat to our civilisation. To all life in the galaxy. It calls itself Nazara."
The Redcliffe's hanger bay
Nerysse had been pacing up and down next to a shuttle craft for close to an hour now and she was getting more worried by the second.
"Will you please stop pacing" said The Known "At this rate you'll wear a hole in the floor."
Nerysse let out a long sigh "I'm sorry. Today has been...trying."
"Mmm. I remember the first time I saw a ghoul, a Bereskarn. They never get any less horrible."
"Matriarch Nerysse!"
Nerysse turned round and saw Aeducan walking towards her with Iona following close behind.
"Iona! What happened? Where did you go?"
"I'd...rather not go into it Ma'm." Nerysse was surprised but she didn't press her aide for any further details. They could discuss this trip in greater detail back on the Illintia.
"She'll be fine Martiarch" added Aeducan. "Nothing that rest won't cure. You and your ship are free to leave this system."
"Excellent." Nerysse gave Aeducan the best smile she could muster "There has been a lot of ...unpleasantness over the last few days. But I hope that you and your people can put this behind you and consider joining us on the Citadel."
"My people live a very long time Matriarch. We don't forget easily. As for joining the Citadel...that's not up to me. But you will have an answer soon."
Nerysse didn't stop smiling but her nose had fallen slightly. "That is very...encouraging Commander. It has been a pleasure." Nerysse and Iona both boarded the small shuttle and took their seats inside. As she looked over at her aide Nerysse spotted something on her neck. "Is that a bite mark?"
Iona sat up a little straighter and blushed.
Two decks below the hanger bay
Seduce was in two minds right now. While she was annoyed at not having more time with the Asari she had enjoyed the experience immensely and she had learned a great deal from reading Iona's desires. She rounded a corner and almost walked into another Desire daemon. One she knew.
"Amourie!"
"Seduce." the other daemon bowed her head slightly. Amourie was unlike most Desire daemons in that she preferred making 'fair' deals with mortals. While this meant that she spent less time experiencing what the mortal world had to offer it ensured that her 'customers' always returned.
"I hear that you got your claws into an alien. You must tell me all about it!" said Amourie in her sultry voice.
Seduce giggled "Ah, it was fantastic. It was like the old days of corrupting Chantry Priestesses. All those walls of self control and purity tumbling down, ha ha ha." The two daemons started walking together down the corridor, arm in arm. "These Asari, oh they have such desires yet they deny themselves so."
"Truly!" Amourie seemed shocked "That won't do. I've heard that there are many Asari and other races all living together on a 'Citadel'. Perhaps we should go there someday and...liberate them from their dull little lives."
Seduce gave a wide smile "Yes. It's the least we can do for these poor creatures."
Three days later. The Serpent Nebula
Amid the ever shifting gas clouds of the Serpent Nebula a huge mass relay hung motionless in space just beyond the Citadel itself. Slowly its central rings began to turn faster and faster until a small ship appeared alongside the relay.
The arrow shaped frigate made its way rapidly through the nebula until it came within view of the colossal space station.
"Now that is impressive." muttered the Shriek piloting the ship. A flashing button on the display in front of him told the pilot that he was being hailed. He tapped a few keys to patch it through.
"Attention unknown vessel!" said a voice over the ships speakers, slightly garbled by static. "You have entered Citadel Space. Identify yourself!"
"This is the DMS Calenhad." replied the pilot. "I believe that you are expecting us."
There was a brief pause before the voice returned "Understood Calenhad. Please proceed to these coordinates. A traffic controller will guide you from there. Welcome to the Citadel."
Council chamber. Inside the Citadel tower.
"I still don't like the idea of making peace with these people when need I remind you they are holding hundreds of my people hostage!" said Sparatus for what seemed like the hundredth time.
Tevos rolled her eyes "Part of this negotiation is the return of all prisoners of war, Sparatus."
"I read Matriarch Nerysse's report. I know that these 'Darkspawn' executed some of their prisoners. What kind of civilised race would do that?" Sparatus growled.
"Actually" Marken chose this moment to cut in "the report states that the Darkspawn hired another race to carry out 'interrogations'. Not executions."
Sparatus was about to continue arguing when the towers elevator arrived. A single Darkspawn, a Hurlock, walked out accompanied by six C-sec officers. The officers lead the ambassador up past the trees, fountains and the throng of assembled diplomats to the Petitioners stage in front of the councillors. Now that they were close enough they saw he was wearing old fashioned looking armour with a velvet coloured cloak draped over his left shoulder and an ornate shoulder pad on his right.
"Greetings." Tevos spoke first "On behalf of the entire council I welcome you to the Citadel."
"I doubt somehow that the 'entire' council is glad to have me here." said the ambassador, while shooting a glance at Sparatus.
Tevos had been expecting some lingering hostility "While we may not have meet under the best of circumstances, I'm sure we can move past that and work towards a brighter future. But first introductions are in order. I am Councillor Tevos of the Asari Republic. This is Councillor Sparatus of the Turian Hierarchy. And Councillor Marken of the Salarion Union."
The Hurlock spread his arms and said "I, here before you, am The Messenger."
"Is...that you name or your function?" asked Tevos.
"Both. My name is The Messenger and I speak for the Darkspawn Council."
"A council?" asked Marken "You're a democratic species?"
"Yes. This was all in the codex we sent you. Did none of you read it?"
"I did." said Marken before the others could answer. "It made for very interesting reading. Direct energy weapons, lyrium, a multitude of extinct sentient races. Absolutely fascinating."
Sparatus' mandibles clicked "And how exactly did those races become extinct?"
"There was a cataclysm, an apocalypse. We only survived because we were miles underground at the time. The loss of Thedas' other races is a great tragedy."
"An interesting choice of words." said Tevos "According to your own history your race waged frequent and bloody wars against your worlds other species."
"That was before the Awakening!" insisted the Messenger "Before that we were soulless monsters bound by a hive mind." A lot of diplomats, including the council shared worried glances at the mention of 'hive mind'. "The Archdemons called us to war and we obeyed. The Architect gave us thought, free will. We no longer headed the call of the Old Gods."
"Is everyone else hearing this?" Sparatus' voice was thick with contempt. Tevos shot him a warning glace but he ignored it. "I may not have read all of your codex but it seems more I read the more it resembles a work of fiction. Daemons, haunted forests, evil gods, magic and monsters. Are we seriously expected to believe any of this?"
"You are required to do nothing, least of all believe, Councillor." growled Messenger.
"Perhaps we should focus on the matter at hand?" suggested Tevos in an attempt to change the subject.
"Yes" agreed Sparatus "Why don't we discuss the hundreds of Turian prisoners being held by your people!"
The Messenger shrugged "Very well, you may have them back at a time and place of your choosing."
The entire council was surprised. They hadn't expected that the Darkspawn would be so willing to hand over their prisoners. "I...that's very...generous of you." said Tevos.
"And what about the ones that died while being interrogated!" said Sparatus in a accusing tone. What about the plague that you allowed to spread and-"
"We did not allow the taint to spread!" roared the Messenger. "Do you have any idea how dangerous the taint is? What it does to non-darkspawn? The first Turian affected tore her cell mates apart and ate them. Ate them, councillor!"
Everyone in the room grimaced at that. Sparatus seemed particularly shaken.
Marken recovered first "Where did this 'taint' originate?"
"It comes from us. All Darkspawn carry the taint. It gives us our longevity and power."
"It also makes you all a walking bio-hazard!" yelled Sparatus.
"It's only contagious if you drink our blood, so unless you all suddenly develop vampirism you'll be fine."
"All the same, I think it would be best if you refrained from going near any large bodies of water while here on the Citadel." said Tevos
"Agreed. As for the interrogations we had no idea what we were facing. If we were going to be attacked again. So we turned to those who could assist us."
That peaked Marken's curiosity "Another alien race?"
"They are not an alien race. We asked the daemonic creatures of the Fade to aide us and they were willing."
Sparatus couldn't believe what he was hearing "Daemonic creatures. Are you mocking us!?"
The Messenger shrugged "You asked a question and I gave you an answer. It is not my fault if you don't believe me."
Sparatus clacked his mandibles "Unacceptable! If the Darkspawn are going to become an associate member of the council you will have to give us real answers!"
The Messenger stared at him for a moment, then let out a rasping laugh. "It seems that this councils idiocy is outweigh only by its arrogance. We have no intention of joining the council in any way, shape or form!"
Tevos finally lost her composure "What?! Why!? No race has ever refuse to join the council!"
"We can see no benefits in joining. We would have to follow your laws on genetics, artificial intelligence and limit our fleet size."
"I assure you that those laws are in place for perfectly valid reasons." insisted Marken "And you will still have enough ships to protect yourselves from pirates and-"
"We don't need protection from pirates! We need protection from you!" The Messenger pointed an accusatory figure at the Council. "You exiled the entire Quarian race from Citadel Space for three hundred years for a mistake! You used the Krogen to exterminate the Rachni, then you infected the them with a plague that makes only one in every thousand pregnancies viable! Does the word genocide mean something different in your languages than it does in the common tongue?"
"The Krogan are a menace to galactic peace!" argued Sparatus "And the Quarians broke Citadel law by creating the Geth!"
The messenger waved his hand dismissively "We care not for your reasons, what matters is your actions. Or in some cases lack of action. The Batarian race funds regular slave raids on outer colonies yet you do nothing!"
"There has never been any evidence linking these raids back to the Hegemony" said Tevos "Slavery is, unfortunately, a large part of Batarian culture and their cast system. Any attempt to force them to stop would cause a war."
The Messenger gave another snarl "We can argue in circles all day, but I have better thing to do with my time. We expect the Turian government to pay for all damages to our colony and our ships."
Sparatus' eyes widened "That is completely outra-"
"I'M NOT FINISHED!" yelled The Messenger.
The council had never been yelled at before and were all shocked into silence "We will also be keeping any captured or destroyed Turian ships. This is non-negotiable. We are willing to trade with you but we will not share our weapons or lyrium. This meeting is over. Inform us when you want your people returned."
With that he turned and started walking back to the elevator.
"This meeting is NOT over!" Yelled Sparatus "We're the Council. You can't just walk in here and-"
The Hurlock spun round and almost ran back to the petitioners stager "I AM THE MESSENGER!... I am over two thousand years old! I stood beside the Architect and the Grey Warden! I looked into the eyes of two Archdemons! I have fought men, elves, daemons and monsters! ...What are any of you compared to them!"
For the second time that day the whole council was stunned into silence. This time when the Messenger turned to leave no one tried to stop him.
The silence was broken by Councillor Marken "That could have gone better."