Mel sat on her bed and carefully pulled her uniform tunic off, trying to ignore the weary, burning ache in her muscles as she did so. Her forehead was set, a line between her brows indicating her irritation both at the weakness…and at her son's behavior.

Neither she nor Dae had been terribly pleased that Aleu had gone down to the cargo bay alone- a place he was expressly forbidden from venturing. Lately, he had taken to bending the rules a bit, if not outright breaking them. Dae said it was merely a normal course of him growing up, testing his boundaries, and discovering his own identity apart from his parents- but that didn't make Mel like it any more.

While no major problems had come up with regards to raising the young rakir aboard the Normandy, Mel had expressed her misgivings about it from the start. If Aleu started getting into places he was not allowed to be, it was a lot more serious than just misbehaving .What if his curiosity led him to playing with a console down in engineering, or innocently sneaking into a hazardous section in the subdecks?

He wasn't a small and easily controlled child any more, either. Very swiftly he would be an adolescent, with likely the same bullheaded stubbornness most adolescents seemed to magically develop-blended with mature, aggressive male rakir hormones.

He could still be Stunted. Even if they do cure the Affliction, if Lily's toxicity theory is correct. He could still be naturally, genetically Stunted-

Mel set the tunic aside, and was distracted from her thoughts by the sudden scent of jasmine, the mattress shifting a little behind her. She smirked a bit and shook her head.

"You are too good to me."

"Yes, I am aware," Dae replied with a smile in her voice as she eased up behind her wife, dipping into the pot of jasmine balm and gently starting to work it into Mel's sore flesh. The lotion and friction was soothing, as was the deep, warm tingle as Dae let tiny amounts of biotic energy dance from her fingers.

Mel sighed, stretching her neck a bit. After a moment, still carefully working at her muscles, Dae said, "I heard about the monastery. I am glad that Beth is all right."

Mel said nothing for a moment, before nodding. "Yeah. Me too."

"It seems a strange target to me," Dae told her, dipping into the pot again. "Not military, and of no strategic value."

"It was just the one Jabberwock," Melara said. "Just a scout, maybe. The biological equivalent of a probe sent out to look around. Or maybe they have Fold technology but it still has glitches. Maybe he was part of the party meant to go to Oasis, and he accidentally got sent elsewhere."

"One could go crazy thinking about all of this," Dae said with a sigh.

"It all comes down to information. We need a hell of a lot more of it than we have. Without it we're just groping around in the dark, not only trying to figure out from feel alone where we are, but on what planet, in what system, and in what galaxy. It is impossible."

"It is too bad that EDI has not yet gotten Pio working again."

"Yeah, I read her report. She wants to stay on board to work on it while we head to the Citadel. Joker went back to the Freedom and will meet us in the Sol system later on. That's as puzzling as the rest of it. According to her, there was no system malfunction in the integration between the chassis and the AI. The AI deliberately overloaded and cut its connection to isolate itself- and every time she tries to reestablish connection it immediately shuts it down again. Willfully."

Dae paused her motions. "That makes little sense. He was happy to cooperate with us. Why would he suddenly sever his links to his chassis and…and hide?"

"I don't know, but I don't think the fact that he did so just as Sihra entered the conference room is a coincidence."

Dae shifted, seating herself more beside Melara so they could look at each other. "You think Pio was afraid of Sihra? Why would that be?"

"I have no idea. Like everything else, we just don't have the information- but what happened can't be denied. He was helping, she walked in, and suddenly he's shut himself off and hidden himself away."

Dae shook her head, then leaned forward and kissed Mel's brow. "Shh. You will drive yourself crazy if you keep turning the questions over in your head."

"We need answers."

"I know, but you are not going to find them right this moment, not tonight," Dae said. Her fingers brushed over Mel's cheek and she shook her head. "You are exhausted, still healing. Let all this go for now, my love. Rest with me. The questions will still be there in the morning."

Gathering up the pot of lotion she capped it and set it aside. Helping her wife out of the rest of her uniform, the pair crawled under the sheets, holding each other close. Sleep almost immediately tugged at Mel's eyes, but for a short while she thought the churning thoughts in her head would prevent her from finding it.

Then, she felt Dae's spirit gently brush against hers. Closing her eyes, she fell into the meld and, wrapped up in her wife's very essence, swiftly fell into sleep.

She was sleeping deeply, dreaming that Aleu was happily showing her a new toy that Ashley had given him. It looked like a simple ball, but it was gleaming from within with silver light. As he handed it to her, she suddenly jolted awake, sitting abruptly as her eyes flew open.

"Goddess!"

Dae was instantly awake at the motion, sitting up as well, tensed to fight almost before consciousness fully asserted itself.

"Wh-what? Mel-"

"Could that be it?" Melara asked. "Could it really be that stupidly obvious?"

"What, Mel? What is wrong?" Dae asked. Melara looked at her, then shifted and took her hands.

"The plague, Dae. The 'infection'; the reason the galaxies were quarantined in the first place. I think I just figured out what it is."

"What? What do you think-"

"Biotics."

Dae blinked at her. "Biotics?"

"Yes, don't you see? It makes sense!"

"I…well, Irie mentioned offhand something about it possibly being biotics yesterday. I overheard her talking with your mother, before they departed. But then she laughed and said that it was not possible."

Dae saw the smallest measure of doubt creep into her wife's eyes, and she knew her well enough to know what she was thinking. She had always considered both Irie and Liara to be far smarter than she was, and if Irie had put forth that hypothesis before, even in passing- and then dismissed it- then obviously it must be wrong. Quickly gripping her wife's hands tightly Dae said, "But tell me why you suddenly came to that conclusion? Why do you think it could be biotics? Maybe you thought of something she did not…"

Melara shook her head, then rose, casting aside the blankets. "No," she said, more to herself than to Dae. "No, she has to be wrong…"

"Mel-?"

Daenys got up off the bed as well as her wife touched the com, selecting her sister's communication ident and placing the call. A few minutes later, Irie's hard-light image appeared in the room. She was dressed, so they had not awakened her, but she looked tired and confused.

"Melara? What has happened? I was not expecting a contact this soon-"

"Irie, were you talking to Mama about this plague possibly being biotics?" Melara asked. Irie blinked at her.

"Actually, yes. I mentioned it before we said goodbye-"

"But you said it was impossible."

"Well, yes. I mean, some clues fit but-"

"Why do you think it's impossible?"

Irie gave her a look, loving but impatient. "Mel," she said kindly. "I understand your sense of urgency, but I could better answer your questions if you would let me finish a sentence."

Mel let out a frustrated breath, then nodded. "Sorry, Irie. I just…sorry. Why do you think it's impossible?"

"For the simple fact that both dark energy and element zero are naturally occurring phenomenon," Irie told her. "They are abundant in the universe, normal elements to the balance and function of reality. Why would the Senate quarantine galaxies for having substances that occur all throughout the universe? It would make as little sense for them to, say, quarantine the Milky Way because the stars within them contain nuclear fusion and give off various forms of radiation."

Dae could see Melara working through this, eyes unfocused and shifting as if she were reading some unwritten text. Then she met Irie's eyes. "Is it possible they don't?"

"I…am sorry? I do not understand the question. What if stars don't-?"

"No, no, not the stars. What if the other galaxies don't- I mean, what if element zero and dark energy are actually not abundant through the entire universe? Do we have any proof they are, or do we just assume they are because they are abundant and naturally occurring here?"

Irie blinked, then shook her head. "Of course we cannot prove as yet that element zero exists in any great amount outside the Milky Way itself but it is a logical conclusion."

"What are you thinking?" Dae asked, touching her wife's elbow. She didn't like the way Mel lost her confidence when it came to intellectualizing things, especially when her sister and mother were around. Melara may not have been as academic as they were, but she was damned smart all the same.

Melara looked troubled. "I had a dream. Aleu was handing me a ball, one that was glowing silver. That made me think about how the rakir see biotics in a different spectrum than we do, and suddenly it was like lightning hit me. Everything started falling into place. We know from Mama's testimony about Rakhana how the Jabberwockies seemed inexplicably and instantly terrified of biotic energy- we saw that borne out down on Oasis, and not just with the Jabberwocks; those winged creatures reacted in the same way. Back before the war, Aunt Tali was on an old quarian world researching exactly why the sun was prematurely aging and dying- it was found to have an unusual amount of dark energy at its core, causing an early breakdown of its fuel and aging the star. Since then, three more suns in the Traverse have shown the same premature aging, the same concentrations of dark energy. The Cinch devices- they are designed to hold biotic energy, and with too great a charge they can cause cataclysmic events, like the Anadius phenomenon."

The more she spoke the more swiftly her words came, and the more animated she seemed. She started pacing a little, gesturing. "The Forbian Signatures that indicate an extra-galactic relay network- they have different energy traces than our own relay system, which run on eezo, making them somewhat weaker- why would that be? We know that element zero is common in our galaxy. Several species can use biotics- even our own species, thanks to nodes of the stuff inside our own physiology. Could that not be considered some kind of a plague? If enough dark energy is concentrated, we know what can happen-the black hole that Bába set off, for example. A single Cinch less than three feet in length caused an entire star to collapse into the strongest gravitational force known in the universe. Imagine if it had been twice as big…three times. A hundred. Is it hard to believe that a concentrated dark energy output of that magnitude couldn't punch a hole right through space-time and create a chain reaction event capable of wiping out the entire known universe?"

Irie looked troubled. "What you say about the stars prematurely aging is true, as well as the Anadius phenomenon. As well, you bring up an interesting point about the biotic nodes in our physiology. We know from our own recorded history and from Javik's testimony that asari did not always have biotics. By the time we advanced to stone age levels, only one in a hundred asari had any biotic ability- they were considered holy in some tribes, cursed in others. By the time the Protheans began to observe us and interfere in our development, that number was one in ten, but the biotics were still weak."

"Yes," Dae said. "The Protheans encouraged our biotic potential, taught us how to use them better. I always just assumed that it was this that helped our biotics become as strong as they are today."

"Even the Protheans could not introduce more element zero nodes into our bodies where none existed," Melara said.

Dae's brows knit. "Wait- did Gellian Osco not do that exact thing when she created Eír and Thug?"

"No," Irie said. "Eír, and by extension Athena, have no more eezo nodes in their bodies than any other asari. What Gellian did was use the DNA of other species to strengthen the asari physiology to handle an increased dark energy output, among other things. She did not increase the number of nodes, she simply made the use of them more efficient- and made the flesh around them capable of handling such levels of dark energy without destroying itself."

"Thousands of years ago, we had little to no element zero in our bodies and very few, weak biotics. Now, only one in a million asari are born with no biotics, and the nodes in our bodies are more numerous than in any other species," Melara said. "Sounds like an infection to me."

"One that is getting worse," Dae said. "The increase in biotics in the asari and other species, the suns now starting to be affected by high levels of dark energy in their cores…the suggestions are that the amount of dark energy and eezo in our galaxy is actually increasing. Is that possible?"

Irie's brows knit. "We know that molecules of eezo attract one another if they are drawn close enough together- this is seen in the Coreador effect of a ship's wake. A ship's eezo core, if not properly shielded, can sometimes draw isolated molecules of eezo floating in deep space in towards itself- like dragging a weak magnet across a desk top covered with widely spaced iron shavings. The closest will move toward the magnet, and as a result toward each other. If they get close enough to each other their own personal draw can cause them to join together, even after the ship itself has passed. The slow increases of dark energy in certain areas of the galaxy, such as those in the cores of those three suns, has been attributed to this effect. Eons of time have simply allowed isolated eezo particulates to concentrate in one location through natural activity. There has even been speculation that our increased amounts of space faring vessels with eezo cores is causing this process to speed up slightly, but I do not believe the idea that the amount of eezo galaxy wide is actually increasing has ever been seriously entertained. It is not a life form. It cannot reproduce. If there is actually more element zero in this galaxy, it must come from somewhere."

She sighed, shaking her head. "There are simply too many unanswered questions. I do admit, Mel, that these things all lead to at least a curious coincidence, if nothing else. Perhaps I dismissed the possibility a bit too hastily. Even so, we are left knowing less than we did before. If dark energy is this 'infection', then why are the Citadel and the internal relay system run on eezo cores? If the Senate built them-"

"Maybe they didn't. Maybe the Iovino did. Or maybe they had other energy sources and the Iovino or like-minded individuals changed them to use eezo," Mel said.

"Perhaps, but we do know that it was the brasa and the Senate that built the Reapers," Irie reminded her. "The Reapers also ran on eezo cores."

Mel sighed. "Yes, there is that."

"Still, we cannot afford to dismiss this possibility. You have brought up very valid and troubling points. I will contact a few colleagues of mine. We can explore the dark energy option, see if there is evidence that dark energy and element zero are actually increasing in the galaxy, or if they are merely accumulating and becoming more concentrated- not that the latter disproves your theory. A great deal of naturally concentrated eezo- say the size of a planet- would still be enough to destroy at least this galaxy, if not everything else as well. It could be this that the Senate feared."

Mel shook her head. "All right. You work the dark energy angle if you can- at least until EDI can get Pio talking again. I'll concentrate on helping to keep the galaxy secure from further invasion, plug up all the ways they can get in and whatever else it is the Council wants of me."

"Honestly, I hope this particular theory is wrong," Dae said softly, looking between the two. "If it is element zero and dark energy that is to blame, then what hope do we have of fixing this situation?"

Her eyes met Melara's as she hugged herself in worry. "I mean, how do we rid the entire galaxy of dark energy? Not to mention all the other quarantined galaxies. How do we 'cure' entire species- including our own- of biotics? How, by the Goddess, could we ever hope to fix this?"

"Biotics?" Karina said with surprise, amidst the startled murmurs of the rest of the Council.

"We have nothing but a vague theory at this point, Councilor," Melara said, standing in the center of the Chambers once again, hands clasped behind her back. "We have no concrete proof as of yet that dark energy is the culprit, only circumstantial evidence and speculation. I just wanted you to be aware of all the avenues we are exploring, and where the evidence is leading us."

"Keelah, I sure hope you're wrong," the quarian Councilor said nervously. "If it was element zero…could you imagine?"

"Goddess forbid," V'Dess said softly, and for the first time Melara saw quite clearly the strain that all of this was putting on the older asari, however professional her exterior might be. "We will provide your sister the resources she needs to, hopefully, disprove this hypothesis, of course. In the meantime, we must move forward. You have told us in great detail what occurred on Oasis. I think our questions on that front have been adequately answered. As you may suspect, while you were thus engaged, we ourselves were not idle. It appears the theory that the Forbian signatures outside of the galactic rim form a small, extra-galactic relay system is indeed correct. In light of the two recent…incursions…from outside parties, we have deemed it prudent to find a way to access this extra-galactic system. If successful, we can establish a front with a fleet that will allow us to better monitor the situation around the Milky Way- and possibly even to travel to the other quarantined galaxies if it is deemed prudent. The salarians have offered their services to this end."

"Sending vessels to the other quarantined galaxies may cause more problems than it solves," Melara said. "It could trigger their dormant Reapers into action. Not to mention we have no idea the mentality or even technological level of the native species within those galaxies. They may not be cooperative. They may not be advanced enough to provide resources or even comprehend us. They may be outright hostile."

"We have taken that into consideration," the turian Councilor said. "It is not our plan to travel to these galaxies unless we have no other options-however prudence insists that we start work now to even see if it is possible, and lay the groundwork just in case that does become our only other option."

Melara looked at him, then nodded slowly. "This isn't a bid for allies or resources," she said. "You are considering this for an evacuation plan."

"That is correct, and much as we do not like to even entertain the notion, it may come down to that," Karina said. "We will do all we can, but if the Senate and their people invade in force we stand little chance of victory against them- less of a chance than we did even against the Reapers, and they almost annihilated us. We may be reduced to sending as many of our people as we can to the other quarantined galaxies…abandon ship as it were, just so we have a chance to survive."

"It is little chance," Melara said. "If the Senate takes that move and decimates us, they will not stop with just us. When they were finished here their forces would merely turn on the other local clusters. Our refugees would only have delayed the inevitable."

"Yes. It is true, but if that comes to pass, it will be the only thing we can do, however futile it may prove to be."

"We're not going to let it get to that point."

The deep voice was clearly krogan, but it was not Druff, the krogan Councilor. Surprised, Melara looked around as a big, mature krogan warlord strode in. Blue eyes fixed on the Council keenly, old scars crossing one side of his face and pulling up a lip until he looked like he was sneering.

"Our people have survived everything that's been thrown at us for millennia," he said, his voice booming as he drew even with the asari Spectre. "If these 'brasa' come here, we'll show them a thrashing like they've never seen and send them whimpering home with their tails between their legs."

Urdnot Grunt looked at Melara with a grin. "They may have advanced tech, but we have a Shepard. They don't stand a ruttin' chance."