Leviathan & Ω
Dock 42
Kaidan stood at the nav terminal in the cockpit, uploading the remainder of the coordinates they had retrieved from Dr. Bryson's lab. Footsteps dressed in non-military footwear sounded on the gangway. He took his attention away from the terminal and set down the datapad he was holding. It was Shepard, dressed in jeans, leather jacket and a loose shirt. Their gazes met and he fell in beside her as the decon bay doors opened.
"Where're you headed?" he asked. Shepard smiled.
"A meet with Aria T'Loak," she replied, moving to step into the decon bay. Kaidan took her by the arm, stopping her.
"Alone?" The decon bay doors tried to shut themselves but opened again when sensors detected interference. The two put themselves inside the bay to let the doors close.
"Yes. Alone. If there was a choice in the matter…"
"I know, Shepard. Doesn't mean I have to like it."
"Don't worry. No one's getting shot today. I'd say Aria has a vested interest in keeping me alive." Shepard said, a restrained smile on. Kaidan brought her in close, arms wrapped tight around her as he kissed her. Letting out a resigned breath as their lips parted, he shook his head slightly. One hand went under the back of her shirt, resting on the knives she had strapped and sheathed there.
"'No one's getting shot', huh?"
"They won't be shot." Shepard smirked. Even half-truths were no good here.
"Wearing your omni-blade?" Oh for cryin' out loud, Shepard thought.
"That goes without saying. How do I say this without…" Shepard let out a sigh. "I've survived Omega's streets without you watching my back. I'll be fine." Kaidan frowned and stepped back some, keeping one hand around her back.
"You had Garrus and others in your crew with you."
"I'm talking a lot further back than that." Shepard said. Kaidan looked puzzled.
"What do you mean?" Shepard shook her head.
"It's a long story. I'll tell you about it when I get back." There was only one long story he hadn't heard yet.
"I'm gonna hold you to it." Shepard nodded and smiled as she hit the holo-panel to open the exterior hatch.
"Alright…I'll be walking back in before you know it."
v
Shepard stepped out of the aircar and accepted a small datacard from Bray.
"These are the coordinates for the command ship. Rendezvous there in two hours."
Shepard took the card and pocketed it, turning to go. Bray stood with his arms crossed as he watched her go. Scoffing, he mused,
"Can't wait to see what all the fuss is about."
Shepard couldn't help smiling as she walked away.
Keep all four of your beady black eyes open, and buckle in tight.
v
Joker turned back to see for himself who it was as she walked back through the hatch. Surveillance feeds might lie.
"That was fast," he observed. Shepard stepped up behind the pilot's seat, between him and EDI. She handed EDI the datacard.
"That's where we're headed. Now. Rendezvous with the command ship. I'll disembark there and send word from the Embassy when I'm back." Shepard explained. Familiar footsteps fell on the gangway.
"Shepard. That was quick." Kaidan. Joker turned away from Shepard and tried to get smaller in his seat.
"Oh shit," he said. Shepard looked at Joker critically. She took in a fresh breath and faced Kaidan. He looked on, eyes moving back and forth between the two.
"What?"
"We're heading for a rendezvous with Aria's fleet. I'm disembarking there to retake Omega." Kaidan froze.
"May I speak with you in private, Commander?" His tone was restrained. Shepard tensed and nodded, intending to head to the Captain's cabin.
"Of course."
v
"You expect me to stay here and do nothing?" he demanded, voice a few decibels louder than normal. Shepard couldn't help but feel impressed - their first shouting match. At least shouting about something like this kept in perspective how…unimportant…the mundane things they might argue about were.
"No. Of the 12 possible locations Dr. Garneau might be found, Liara's narrowed it down further to two. A research outpost in the Aysur System being the more likely of the two. Find Garneau and bring me up to speed when I'm back on board." Kaidan was wide-eyed.
"Orders."
"Yes." Kaidan took a breath in and let it out, his expression angry and movements tense. He turned to leave the cabin.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Kaidan…Being in command and on point for something like Leviathan doesn't beat hovering around the Citadel twiddling thumbs?" she asked.
"It's a smoke-screen, Shepard. You're keeping me busy." Shepard put on a half-smile, suddenly feeling much less in command.
"Where's the man who can't stop looking at the bright side while I'm around?" Kaidan paused a moment, putting together the honest answer.
"He's letting you walk off in the hands of the worst scum in the known universe…to attempt to take control of a space station away from, arguably, the worst thing humanity has let loose on the galaxy." Shepard took a breath. He wasn't wrong.
"He's also stepping out of a shadow. Somewhere you chose to stand without hesitation in exchange for the chance to serve on the Normandy again. Finding the light a little blinding?" she asked. Kaidan didn't know what to say.
"Take the opportunity. Take command. When I get back, let me know how it goes," she said. Shepard couldn't help a smile. Kaidan sighed and shook his head, eyeing Shepard critically.
"Is it still an order?" he said. Shepard shook her head.
"No. Whatever you decide, I'll respect it…Listen, I did it without you. You can do it without me. And...just a 'heads up': your psyche is going be kicking and screaming about it like a little kid the whole way." Kaidan smiled and nodded, standing himself up straight.
"I noticed," he said. Shepard set the cases she'd be carrying with her to the side as she stood and reached out for Kaidan, stepping in close. She kissed him like she might not get another chance.
"Watch yourself," he whispered, looking her in the eye. She nodded.
"Don't get into too much trouble while I'm gone." The two allowed themselves subdued laughs as they stepped apart. Shepard picked up the cases with her weapons and armour and joined Kaidan in the elevator.
v
The elevator opened onto the CIC and Shepard stepped out. The doors closed on Kaidan behind her. He was destined for the crew deck and a briefing with Liara.
v
Ω
"What's the history between you like?"
"Some mutually beneficial dealings and some occasional violence. The Talons weren't even a blip on our radar until the plague in 2185. Your little war against the other gangs left a vacuum…"
"Wasn't my intention." Shepard interjected. Even things that seemed beneficial to a populace at the time can have unpleasant implications later. After all, burn a garden to the ground and the weeds are the first to bounce back.
"Their leader, Darius, took advantage, carving himself out a bigger piece of the local drug trade."
"I don't like them already. Are we enlisting them because they're good or because we need numbers?"
"They're cannon fodder. We're using them because they're the only game in town." Aria said coldly. Shepard smiled.
"You're lucky I left my moral compass on the Normandy."
"You're learning fast, Shepard: this is how it works on Omega…"
v
The Normandy
Kaidan walked up behind the pilot's seat. Joker didn't even turn around before he spoke.
"No, sir. Nothing."
"That wasn't what I came up here for."
"Of course not. You were 'not asking', very loudly." Kaidan sighed and shook his head. Alright.
"Thanks, Joker…An asari archaeological expedition went missing in the Phoenix System. We'll investigate what happened before heading back to the Citadel," he said. Joker was surprised. He'd been expecting a beeline back to the Citadel.
"Yes, sir." Joker said, preparing to enter FTL and make the jump through the relays.
"ETA is 16 hours, 26 minutes, Major." EDI informed him.
"Thank you, EDI."
v
Ω
The panel sparked, part of it going dim. The button to trigger an emergency shutdown was still lit. Maybe it could be rerouted, but it would take a mind better than hers. She looked at the button and instantly before the thought went through her head:
No one on Omega is innocent.
Shepard shut the reactor down.
v
"I like to know what makes people tick. Especially someone I might…need something from, in the future. So come clean and stop messing with me - validating me one minute and judging me the next. Which is it, really?"
"Am I that hard to read?"
"I have lived for five hundred years, Shepard, and you may be the most compelling, dynamic being I've ever encountered. I have no idea where I stand with you. It has me…curious."
"Why do I think you'll be much less interested the moment I give you an answer?" Aria let out a frustrated sigh.
"If this is what it takes…" she said. Aria turned to her with an unreadable expression on her face. She took hold of Shepard by one shoulder and a cheek, pulling her into a kiss. Wow. Aria stepped back and looked away, eyes darting toward and away from her a few times. Shepard let out a surprised breath.
"Get your answer?" Genuinely frustrated now, Aria shook her head.
"No. Well, either way, thank you…for not interfering. Killing that man was deeply satisfying."
"I can relate…You have Omega, once again. Where does that leave your partner in crime?"
"Don't worry, Shepard. I honour my debts. You'll have all the ships, troops and eezo I promised you." Shepard nodded, grateful.
"Then I'll be going." Shepard said.
"Bray will take you back. Don't be a stranger, Shepard."
v
The Normandy
Kaidan took off his helmet as he stepped out of the decon bay, Garrus and James bringing a small crate in behind him. Science teams at work on the Crucible would be grateful to have their cargo in hand, once they made it back to the Citadel. Joker turned in his seat as if to greet them but said nothing. Kaidan looked his way and shook his head.
"Any word?" he asked.
"That wasn't so hard, was it?" Joker asked, poking fun. Kaidan raised an eyebrow, otherwise unreadable.
"You have a great poker face. Can you give me a few pointers? James keeps cleaning me out." Kaidan stayed silent. Joker's stoic expression cracked and he smiled as he turned back to the flight panel.
"Good news, Major. At 01:53 hours, en route to deliver 5000 kilos of eezo to the Crucible construction site, a mercenary ship inbound from Omega delivered the Commander, safe and sound, to the Citadel. Course laid in, FTL and mass effect drives in the green and ready." Kaidan laughed and smiled.
"Go."
"Aye aye, sir."
v
"Commander! Omega - back in the hands of one of the most feared crimelords in the galaxy. Never thought I'd be glad to hear that." Shepard gave Joker a cool look.
"I don't want to talk about it," she said.
"Alright. That's…fair. Hunh." Joker replied, settling back into his seat. He wasn't used to being shut down so quickly. Kaidan approached, datapad in hand. Shepard stood herself at attention to return his salute.
"Welcome back, Commander."
"Glad to be back." Kaidan handed her the datapad he carried.
"The report on what we found when we located Dr. Garneau." Shepard was excited. She made for the conference room. If Garneau was here, she wanted to talk.
"Is he on board?"
"No. He was dead before we arrived. A few days, at least." Shepard's intended destination quickly became the Captain's cabin.
"Was he in contact with anyone else working on the project before he died?" Kaidan nodded.
"He was still corresponding with a Dr. Ann Bryson up until a few days ago. She's the lead on a dig in the Pylos Nebula – also part of 'Project Scarab'." Shepard opened up the file and took a close look.
"Ann 'Bryson'? They're related. How?"
"She's his daughter…The employees at the facility were all indoctrinated, just like Derek Hadley. One of the researchers seemed to be under much stronger influence than the others. He pretended to be Garneau before we found the man's body. He killed himself when he destroyed an artifact like the orb in Bryson's lab. When he did, everyone else at the facility returned to normal. Somehow, they thought it was the year 2176." Kaidan explained. Shepard let out a shocked breath. The elevator doors closed behind them.
"It feels good, helping those people gets their lives back. But, that's a lot of time to lose," he said. Shepard nodded.
"Yeah. I know the feeling." Kaidan shifted his gaze to her. That fact weighed down the heart.
"Let's make sure we never let time just…slip by, Shepard." She smiled and nodded.
"Never. A very good thing came from this – Ann Bryson's our next lead. We find her and she may be able to help us find Leviathan."
"I'm not sure we want to, Commander. If what affected those researchers was indoctrination…and the way the man who pretended to be Garneau talked? I'd bet my life on the fact that we're not looking for a weapon that kills Reapers. We're looking for a Reaper."
"A Reaper that broke ranks. We need to know why. If a Reaper can decide not to be part of this conflict, maybe we can get others to think same way." Shepard closed the report and locked the pad.
"Liara's working on a system dump from all computers and datapads in Bryson's lab. She and EDI are using that to narrow our search area. So far there are three systems. She thinks she can narrow it down to one before we arrive." Shepard nodded. She brought up her omni-tool, opening a channel to Joker and EDI.
"Joker. Set course for the Pylos Nebula. I'll have a destination for you before we get there."
"Yes, Commander."
"Commander, our ETA for the Pylos Nebula is 10 hours, 7 minutes."
"That's good news. Thank you, EDI." Shepard replied. Kaidan looked at Shepard, gauging.
The elevator opened onto the top deck. Shepard stepped into the cabin and shed her boots, taking a bottle of water out of a small cooler under the desk. Taking a long drink, she headed for the bed.
"So…how'd it go?" Kaidan asked, stepping down the stairs behind her.
"Could've gone better…" Shepard began, thinking back on shutting down the reactor, "…but we won. The Illusive Man's top military strategist is dead – even though I might've liked to ask him a few questions first…and Aria's…grateful. The first of the eezo she promised should arrive at the Crucible site soon, if it hasn't yet…She's already tasked sizeable mercenary fleets to opposing the Reapers across the Traverse…" Shepard trailed off, tossing the covers back on one side of the bed before throwing her jacket onto the chair behind her.
"Something else, Shepard?" Kaidan prompted. Shepard tersed her lips and shook her head.
"She…she kissed me." Kaidan's eyes went wide.
"Did you kiss her back?"
POFF
He took the pillow to the face and sighed, smiling and laughing. It fell neatly into his hands.
"That's why you didn't want to talk to Joker," he observed, laughing again. Shepard smiled.
"You and your extranet fetish sites I can handle. But Joker?…I don't think my self-respect would've come out unscathed." Kaidan chuckled as he took as seat on the other side of the bed and set her pillow down close to his. Shepard lay herself down and closed her eyes. Not unexpectedly, a hand shortly found her chin and a kiss touched her lips. She was genuinely sorry.
"It's been 76 hours and I may have had three hours rest," she said, eyes closed, quickly sliding down into sleep. Kaidan laughed, letting his hand trail down her neck to rest flat on her chest…a warm, familiar feeling.
"Want company?" he asked. Shepard smiled slightly, almost asleep. Her reply was a whisper.
"I'd love some."
v
Leviathan
"I gotta say, I'm not liking this plan." Shepard leaned forward in the seat, elbows on her knees.
"Me neither. Got any better ideas?" Kaidan shook his head.
"If we'd brought the orb from Bryson's lab, I might." It was too bad there wasn't one lying around. Shepard nodded holding his gaze. She looked down a moment and when she met his eyes again she nodded. Shepard looked up and pressed the button that closed the hatch.
"I'll be alright."
v
Kaidan ducked under cover as the fireball hit the deck. Peering over cover as the smoke cleared, two brutes and a host of husks stumbled to their feet. This was ugly. He pulled EDI back, closer to the shuttle and the diving ramp. If Shepard didn't surface soon…
"I have searched your mind. You…are an anomaly. Yet that is not enough." The Leviathan's apparition turned and moved away.
"Wait! With your help we can stop the cycles!"
"No. The cycle will continue." Shepard was at a loss for words. Coming this far for nothing. To be lost in this void, with Kaidan and the others trapped on the surface.
"We will remain here and survive. You will become a servant of our needs. All else will be harvested. And the cycle will begin again." The apparition receded into the darkness. Shepard shouted after it.
"If you release me…if you work with us, the harvest can end! Your need the same thing we do. You need to survive, and you can't do that if you stay here. You've been found. The Reapers are here. This is your chance, to end this once and for all." It's voice suddenly coming from behind her, the Leviathan replied.
"Your certainty is…singular. We will fight. We were the first, the apex race. We will not fight for you or any lesser race. You will carry our mirrors out into the galaxy. Where they hear our mirror's call, the Reapers will fall."
"'Mirror'?"
"The instruments of our will. Take it. Return and you will receive more. Use these mirrors and any Reaper that hears its call will die. We will no longer live in the oceans and shadows. Any Reaper who trespasses on this world will fall to our power." The apparition approached, holding an orb in hand, slightly different in appearance from the one in Bryson's lab. It's colour was lighter, glassier. New. It was handed to Shepard.
"Today we accept their sacrifice in blood."
v
Shepard thrashed in her seat, coming back to herself, shaking. It was hard to breathe. Through the cockpit window she could see the orb she'd accepted secured in the mech's grasp. She'd been completely overtaken.
Warnings were flashing in too many places on the heads-up display. She found the ascent booster control and triggered lift off. The jolt jarred her head backward into the back of the seat with dizzying force.
Oxygen tanks were in the red. She had to slow her breathing down.
Air pressure in the cockpit was too low. If she'd been wearing a suit designed for hostile environments she'd have had a little longer. She wasn't.
She heard a strange sound when she moved her feet. Looking down, her eyes went wide. Water. At this depth, if the cockpit filled she'd be crushed before she suffocated.
3210 metres…
She'd started below 4000…
Suddenly a jet of water shot past her face. She threw herself back against the seat. It was a pinhole leak, but with the pressure on the hull it could cut a person to pieces. If she lost consciousness and fell into it…this was getting worse by the second. There was an emergency purge system for the cockpit, but flushing the water in the cockpit would send precious oxygen out with it.
2530 metres…
How long had it taken to get this far?
Her vision was starting to get hazy. The display readout had a rate of ascent listed but she couldn't focus to read the smaller numbers. She used her leg to hold herself back against the seat. She concentrated on slowing her racing heart.
1870 metres…
Almost 2 kilometres to go. Her ears popped. The water was sloshing about at chest level. She couldn't feel her hands. Her ears and nose were numb. The water splashed against her face, colder than ice. She put her hand on the emergency purge lever. Once she was under water losing oxygen would be a moot point.
The last readout she saw before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath was 1015 metres. Too deep…
She held her breath as long as she could manage before she'd lose the strength to pull the purge handle. She heaved. Nothing. Bringing her legs up and using them to push herself down she gave one last heave.
The water left in an incredible rush. She leaned to the side, away from the incoming jet of water and coughed up the water she'd taken in. The water was so cold it burned her skin, throat and nasal passages. Even with air in her lungs she was still suffocating. She undid the latch on her restraints. If this was it she wasn't going to die tied down.
800…
590…
Her breath was short and shallow.
Where was the emergency hatch release? No. Still under water. Still…
220…
50…
Light. Landing on the diving deck resulted in one hell of a jolt but she didn't really feel it. Shepard put a hand on the glass, meaning to push…but there was nothing left.
Darkness.
v
"Cortez! Land! Shepard's surfaced!"
Kaidan saw her hand drop from the window.
"Shepard!" he shouted, running for the mech. She didn't answer. He let off a spray of shots, dropping two husks running up to his side. A husk lumbered into his path. A biotic push launched it out of the way. The emergency hatch release was too far up to reach from the ground. Getting a foothold on the mech's leg he climbed and got hold of the emergency release. He pulled. It wouldn't move. Putting both hands on the lever and bracing himself against the mech's leg he pulled with everything he had. The lever let go and he fell back to the deck. The mech's hatch snapped open, depositing Shepard and a half a cockpit of water onto the deck. She wasn't moving.
One of the brutes turned on them. EDI's gunfire drew its attention. The orb in the mech's hands fell to the deck and rolled into a stack of crates nearby. The orb was surprisingly light. Throwing open one of the crates and dropping the orb inside, Kaidan hauled it back to where Shepard lay unmoving. He slung Shepard over his shoulders, holding her fast with one hand and dragging the crate in the other behind cover. He made for the shuttle as it landed.
"EDI! Fall back!"
"Sir!" EDI retreated, shooting as she went. Kaidan tossed Shepard into the shuttle, followed by the crate and jumped in, drawing his rifle to cover EDI's retreat. A husk landed on the side of the shuttle and tried to get in through the hatch before it closed. It fell to the ground, headless.
Visible energy fluctuations emanated from the orb, through the crate. Descending on the shuttle like a hawk on a mouse, the Reaper spread it's legs and charged it's primary weapon. Cortez watched, partly in terror, partly in awe, as the massive creature shuddered and began to fall, crashing lifelessly into the ocean.
Tossing his weapon aside, Kaidan turned Shepard onto her back. She wasn't breathing. Her skin looked frighteningly pale. He patched his omni-tool into her suit's computer. No heartbeat. Resuscitation systems were offline.
"EDI. Patch yourself into her suit. Get the ERS back online." EDI nodded. She established her own connection with the suit, accessing the medical systems.
He braced himself above Shepard and found the centre of her chest, using a biotic push to press down.
"Rerouting ERS functionality. Stand by."
Water came out with almost every thrust down but no air went in. Giving her air once and again, he braced himself over her, pressing on her chest as quickly as he could to get her blood moving.
"Please stand back, Major." EDI said.
He backed away and EDI triggered a shock. A few seconds ticked past.
"Her heart is beating."
Kaidan tried to give her air again. Shepard contorted and coughed, arms flailing slightly. He moved back onto his haunches and pushed her over onto her side to help clear out anything she might cough up. A few more coughs and a deep, wheezing breath and Shepard was pulling herself up toward the nearest seat. She grimaced as a shooting pain went through her side. She gave herself a shot of medi-gel, letting it take effect before pulling herself up the rest of the way. Her voice was hoarse.
"That felt…fantastic...You broke ribs." she griped, coughing. She wiped tears away to look him in the eyes. "Thanks."
Kaidan fell back against the bulkhead, relieved and breathing heavily. Better broken ribs and a beating heart than death.
"Never do that again." Kaidan said firmly. Shepard smiled, managing a slight laugh.
"Looking for a promise I can't keep? That's not like you." Kaidan shook his head, even though his expression was affectionate. He stayed silent while Shepard recovered.
"What was down there?" he asked, his tone much less severe.
"The Leviathan. Plural. And they've agreed to join the fight. Hang on…did you…is that the mirror?" Shepard asked, pointing to the crate by the loading hatch.
"If by 'mirror' you mean 'large glassy orb', yes." Kaidan answered. Shepard took a breath in relief.
"Cortez. Patch us in to the Normandy - to Liara." Shepard ordered.
"Actually, there's a transmission incoming, Commander. It's Ann Bryson." Shepard went wide-eyed and nodded.
"Put her through." Ann's image appeared on a nearby display panel.
"Doctor. How are you doing?"
"Very well, Commander. Thank you. What happened?"
"We found them, Ann. The Leviathan."
"Was it worth it?" Shepard looked to the crate. It could be.
"I'm not sure yet. But they're in this now…they can't hide this time."
"Sounds like an incredible story."
"One to go down in history. And your father started it." Ann laughed.
"I'm looking forward to hearing all about it…My father would appreciate this – to know the truth of what's out there. That you saw his work through."
"Glad to be of service, Ann."
"Well, we all have our parts to play. Admiral Hackett has asked me to join the Crucible science team. I can't wait to get started." Shepard nodded, approving. The perfect place for her.
"Take care, Ann. Thank you, for all your help. Shepard out." Ann nodded, a small smile on. The screen went dark.
"I've got Dr. T'soni for you, Commander."
v
Liara had a shielded container for the orb ready when they docked with the Normandy. She ran over as the hatch popped up.
"It's only a temporary solution. The shielding won't hold if we don't get it into quarantine at a properly equipped facility."
"Understood. Call the senior crew down to the cargo bay." Liara nodded, sending the request via omni-tool.
v
One by one the crew assembled. Garrus and James…Tali…with Liara, Kaidan and EDI already present.
"What's this about, Shepard?" Garrus asked. Shepard seated herself on a nearby crate.
"I asked the Leviathan to fight. They intend to vehemently defend their home planet and remain there. To join the fight anywhere else, they gave me this," she said, pointing to the orb sitting suspended in an upright cylinder, the storage compartment surrounded by an energy shield. James looked it over, slightly confused.
"It does what, exactly?" he asked.
"It is what the Leviathan use communicate with planets throughout the galaxy. To put it simply, a form of naturally occurring quantum entanglement." EDI explained. Shepard cut in.
"The Leviathan have offered us more of these. Deploying just one of things in battle can almost instantly take down any Reaper nearby. Imagine how many lives we could save, if we find a way to weaponize these orbs and deploy them ahead of our fleets or on the ground." It was hard to keep a leash on her enthusiasm for the idea.
"If we'd had this sooner, Thessia might not have been lost." Liara stated. Shepard's demeanor sobered.
"Probably not," she replied. Kaidan waded in to the conversation.
"So, if the Leviathan aren't Reapers…what are they?"
"They're organic. They created the AI that set the cycles in motion, created the first Reaper, using the Leviathan as a raw material. It said the lesser races of the galaxy had bowed to their will. They were the dominant species across the galaxy."
"Much like the Protheans." Javik observed.
"Close, but, instead of forcing lesser races into servitude, they planted these, and kept them under control from afar."
"It's likely why the Reapers are capable of indoctrination in the first place. A synthetic imitation of a natural trait." Liara mused, fascinated. "They likely gain new abilities from every species they conquer and retain the most useful ones."
"Commander, I'm not gonna lie…I can't believe we're considering this." Kaidan said, visibly shaken. Shepard frowned.
"Why not? With these, winning is certain. The only question is how and when." Shepard replied.
"True. A weapon such as this almost surely guarantees survival," said Javik.
"Using these orbs as warheads in torpedoes…no explosions, no collateral damage, just instant dead Reapers…" Garrus said, focusing on how to use the Leviathan's gift.
"They can be shielded until they're launched, just like the orb in Bryson's office. There's no risk of indoctrination…" Tali said. Kaidan interrupted her.
"Until you use it in battle and detonate it. Then we're just as vulnerable as the Reapers."
"Ships can be shielded just like the individual orbs. The only real barrier to using them in combat is how long it will take to outfit enough ships with proper shielding." Tali said, eager to make the idea work. Kaidan shook his head.
"Alright, religion isn't usually something I use to make a point, but this is nothing less than a deal with the Devil. These things are a double-edged blade if I've ever seen one. Use them and we might end the cycles - destroy the Reapers - but we'd be exchanging one master race for another."
"Commander, where I'm from we have a saying; the Devil gets in easy enough when you don't show him an open door. Sorry, Loca. I'm with the Major on this." James said, arms crossing.
"The Major is right. This isn't a weapon, Commander." Javik began. "A weapon is a tool, over which you exert complete control. If it can control you it is not a weapon, it is a trap." Shepard frowned. The drive to use the orbs had a hold on her heart and its claws were sinking in.
"These could save the remainder of sentient life in the galaxy, and you're saying we should just throw it away?" Liara demanded, angry. Voices quickly started to overlap, getting louder with every new entry into the fray. Shepard stood and turned away as the debate flared, trying to filter out what was useful…
v
"If you won't use it, at least leave it with someone willing to try." Tali suggested.
"Like who? Cerberus? This sounds like something they'd stake the fate of the galaxy on." Kaidan replied shortly.
"Actually, I was thinking of the Quarian Special Projects team. They're specifically trained and equipped to handle an object this volatile…"
v
"You're afraid." Liara snapped, her tone derisive. Kaidan put his focus on her in surprise.
"Yes, I am. I'm more afraid of using this than I am of losing hundreds of thousands of lives. Doesn't that tell you something?"
"Guys, maybe we should take it down a notch, huh…?" James suggested.
v
Shepard's expression contorted in anger. It was all just…noise. Breaking free from her train of thought, her eyes went wide. She turned back to her crew. The surfaces all around the cargo bay had started to take on an ondulating, oily appearance. She drew her pistol and reloaded a fresh clip. Kaidan saw the move.
"Shepard!...What are you…?" he demanded. Shepard set herself steady and took aim at the orb.
"Everybody! Hit the deck!" Kaidan shouted, taking Tali with him as he ducked behind a crate. Shepard let off the first shot. It went through the container and shield, taking a chunk out of the orb. The others had scattered to cover. Shards of the orb remained inside the barrier, safely contained. Shepard let off another shot…another…another…another….more.
v
Liara had put her arms up to shield her head. She suddenly took a deep breath and shook her head to clear it, blinking as if waking up.
Shepard blasted her way through the exterior, finding a core that seemed to be made of something different from the rest of the orb, by the way the outer layers peeled away. It had a strange colour, almost a glow. Letting off the last of the few shots left in the clip, the core cracked and splintered, losing it's eerily riveting quality.
"That settles it." Garrus quipped, blinking as if he'd been feeling groggy. Shepard looked around the cargo bay. The sheen was gone. She seated herself on a nearby crate, relieved.
"The…frequency…they…use to communicate must change over time…decay somehow…" Liara said, thinking aloud. "The shields we have won't work." Shepard looked up.
"EDI. Get us to the Citadel fast as you can." Shepard ordered. EDI nodded.
"Yes, Commander." Shepard opened a channel to Joker.
"Joker, we're headed for the Citadel."
"Uh, yeah. I kinda figured that out. Thanks for the heads up."
"Sorry. It's urgent. When we arrive, bypass Alliance Control. Head straight to Dr. Bryson's lab. If they aren't looking out the window, I don't want to be seen."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Liara. What kind of access do you have to Alliance research databases?"
"Uh…" She hesitated. Shepard laughed and shook her head.
"Forget I asked. Find whatever records you can on Dr. Bryson's work. Everything to do with Project Scarab. Collect them and destroy the original information. When that's finished contact Alliance command, tell them to detain anyone who's been in close proximity to the orb there. Document what's happened here…Everyone, stay here until you're debriefed…"
"You want me to destroy the information?" Liara asked, still hesitant.
"No. But while I live and breathe this is as far as it goes. If there comes a point where relying on the Leviathan seems…necessary…I leave that decision to you. Preserve it. Hide it. If we fail and the next cycle finds it make sure they know what they're getting into before the goose chase starts." Kaidan walked over, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Shepard, are you okay?" he asked. She didn't answer.
"Did things start looking different to you? Sounding different?" Kaidan frowned.
"How?"
"Things just looked…like they were moving, but they weren't. Everything had this weird sheen to it…" One eye twitched, and Shepard rubbed it out with the back of a glove. "Your voices started to sound odd…"
"Like Harbinger?" he asked. Shepard nodded.
"Sort of…When I drew the gun I didn't intend to shoot the orb. I was going to shoot you." Momentarily drawing back, Kaidan shook his head and smiled, exhaling. Shepard reached out a hand and he took it, holding on tight.
"If I'm debriefing us, Shepard, we should start with you." Liara said. She'd been standing behind Kaidan, listening. Shepard took a deep breath and gave her head a shake.
"Yeah. Let's get to it."
"Commander, what should we do with…what's left of it?" James asked as Shepard and Liara walked toward the elevator. Shepard smirked.
"Feel like a little target practice, Garrus?"
"With what?"
"The Thanix cannon." Shepard replied, smiling. Garrus and James laughed.
"Gotcha, Loca. We'll get rid of it."