Disclaimer-I do not own Naruto or Overlord, or any other game or manga, which I used while writing this...unfortunately.
Note: found a good cover image for my fic, all rights reserved.
Darth Jeviso.
Chapter VI.
Minato looked at the lines of droid soldiers for several minutes, before returning his gaze to datapade in his hand. He sighed, thinking about his current situation. His family in shambles, Confederacy forces slowly pushed back by Empire and Grievous leading crusade in other Galaxy thinning their recourses.
And that Sith… Minato's metal hand clenched and destroyed the datapad. He looked at the device with disappointment. He stretched his hand and pieces of metal circled around his hand. He once again sighed. His temper slowly took a better hold of him.
Minato thought about his family. He knew that he needed to fix the situation with his them. He knew that he needed to start from his son. Only if he returned him to his family his wife and daughter will speak to him.
Malevolence. The docking bay.
Jeviso slowly walked away from the transport followed by young asari. Liara looked around with curiosity and nearly gaped when one of the human officers stopped near Jeviso to give him a report. Meanwhile Jeviso smiled under his helmet. Liara's reactions were so fun to observe and she herself was very pleasant to his eyes.
Her reaction, when one of the human officers reported to him was priceless. Sith's smile grew even wider when Mariss Brood came to his view. Ohh, his inner prankster prepared to create another masterpiece.
Liara T'Soni.
Young asari looked around with awe. Never in her life was she in such amazing construction. This ship easily dwarfed anything created by her kind. And Asari were most advanced race in this Galaxy.
She turned her gaze to humans in the hangar. Humans… they already met this strange blue – skinned race, than for what was this farce with "first contact"? She once again turned her head and faced a pale human – like woman… with red horn – like things on her forehead.
"Emm… Hello…" shyly mumbled the young asari.
"Good day, I'm Maris Brood, I will help you to adjust to your life on the ship."
Several minutes later Liara already laughed on Maris' jokes .
"… and than he was like "Who dared?!" ended Maris one of her jokes.
"Ha – ha – ha, please… Stop… I will die from laughter."
After taking several deep breathes, Liara managed to ask a question that bothered her for a while.
"Maris, those humans on your ship… what are they doing here?"
"Serving of course." replied Maris.
"Interesting… than why do they needed all that nonsense with "First Contact"?
"Yeah that's what we thought when we heard that a race, which for hundred of thousand years traveled between the stars, just get into the space here."
"Wha…?"
"Yeah, our admiral said exactly the same."
"But, but… how is it possible? This will completely turn everything we know about humans… Maybe a crushed expedition and degraded descendants, or the same organisms, which they evolved from somehow got to Earth? Oh, I'm so excited! Followers of different theories of evolution will clash in grandiose battle once again!"
Liara suddenly once again turned into her shy version.
"Maris… I also wanted to ask…"
"Yes?"
"Those things on your forehead… are they real?"
"Of course they are natural to my kind."
"Natural… th –then you aren't…"
Maris raised her brow. "Human? No, of course not I'm zabrak."
"Zabrak… wait a minute! This means that I represent Citadel before not only one but two races!? I think I'm not well…"
"Well… it's not two… Liara? Liara! Hold on! I will get you to med bay."
Maris took Liara's hand placed it behind her neck and helped young asari get to med bay. Everything went good until Liara heard metallic voice.
"Despising statement: you filthy can of rusty bolts. I'm the greatest step of droid – evolution, created by Lord Revan and updated by Lord Jeviso themselves."
Liara heard only strange sounds in return.
"Statement: yes I wasn't right. My mistake was 0.0002 per cent. Yet I have the power of all our calculation net under my control and you don't even have the comm – link."
Af ter they reached the med bay Liara was greeted with visage of two sintetics one humanoid in appearance and other, who she could describe as metal bucket… on wheels. Meanwhile two sintetics continued to argue.
"Statement: Private Overseer didn't count his view is biased. On the other hand Private Overseer of Creator, who is working with me…"
Bucket whistled murderously and some sort of fork covered in micro lightning get from it.
"R2! HK! Stop your bickering this instant!" said human mechanic near them. "R2, if you have so many volts use them to connect this metal tubes. HK, if you have so much energy to spare for pointless argument than holding this massive metal tubes while R2 is connecting them will be no hard task for you."
"Statement: yes master. Worsless suck of bolts it's because you can't realize your own defects we are in such situation."
Meanwhile Liara T'Soni fell into arms of Maris Brood. "There are sintetics on the ships, they aren't trying to kill organics, organics are ordering them around and sintetics listens to them like this is how it should be." She could hear, how her view on world broke into milliard of pieces and under the this sound she fainted.
With Darth Jeviso.
Jeviso meanwhile once again redecorated his office (read threw a lot of expensive equipment into the different walls, trying to calm himself), which led to recolor of the walls into burnt black color. He made a deep breath and thought about the choices he had.
First of all his goals: he needed to cover his base that protected Star Gates, he needed to kill Maul, he needed resources and fabrics to produce weapons and ships for his war. Naruto massages his temples feeling a coming headache.
But first things first. Resources. He can find them on nearly any planet, but fabrics, equipment and other things… will be needed to built from scratch. Unacceptable. Too much time. He also could capture some planets with all needed industry. Which will led to confrontation and revealing of his incognito. Unacceptable.
In frustration Naruto hit his massive black table so hard that he nearly broke it in half. Two very simple decisions, built or capture, if only there will be some race with industry, which he can capture whitout getting… attention.
Collectioners. Race of unknown creatures with unknown motives, who traded technology for slaves. Naruto smiled, nobody misses slavers. Nobody. And all their technological wonders will be his. Suddenly a pair of soft slender white hands hugged him from behind.
"Ventress." said Naruto.
"Jeviso, dear, you are a bit too stressed." replied she in her disturbing silky tone.
"And?"
"And our guest is in med bay. She fainted."
"And?"
"Younglings are under watchful eyes of Celeste and Ahsoka."
"And?"
"And Ar'Alani is taking reports from officers."
"And?"
"And most importantly this new bed still haven't been tested."
"You should have started with this." said Darth Jeviso taking Ventress bridal style.
Meanwhile on Coruscant. Emperor's palace.
Palpatine slowly walked away from the Senate, protected by his Crimson Guard. He still burned with anger, decades of careful planning of seducing young Anakin to Dark Side, all destroyed in several minutes by Tarkin's scheme, in other time he would have applaud on something like this, In other time. And if it were his enemy's plans that were destroyed.
While senator Amidala were on diplomatic mission in Neutral Systems, there was no one, who could rally other senators against him. He used this to gain as much strength as he could, so Senate couldn't block his decisions as they did with Jedi and Neutral Alliance, during Kashyyyk incident.
He returned to throne room and once again thought about his Force program. He had a lot of agents, starting from fanatical servants of dark cults and ending with his noble Crimson Guard. But his project… Inquisitorius… was nearly doomed because Jedi were banished and not exterminated as he wanted. Now all he could gain were the likes of Jerec, who could betray him anytime and young but very capable Antinnis Tremayne, who in truth was just a rabid animal.
Inquisitorius… How a proper Emperor of the Sith could live without such a thing, Sidius didn't know. But because of Tarkin he had to survive somehow. Tarkin… Palpatine felt, wave of anger slowly rose in him once again. If only he could somehow… Realization struck him like a lightning. Yes, he had the DNA of different Jedi Masters in his disposal, including Anakin Skywalker, He can clone them, than through Sith Alchemy change them, and made most of his Assault Force user Corps from them. In return he would receive much more recruits for Inquisitorius program.
Of course not all will be moved from their positions. And Corps will suffer because he chose quantity over quality, but at time like this, situation demanded his choice, and Palpatine always choose his well – being over others.
Palpatine placed first datapad aside and took another. Situation on the frontlines or "Border Conflict" as Senators preserve to call it was not good. Confederacy managed to hold their ground and even push back Republic forces from several planets and Jerec suffered a lot of wounds. And only due to his secret cameras he managed to know that it was possible because of the effort of one man.
Palpatine scratched his chin; this golden – haired force user was without a doubt Dooku's new apprentice. Well, somebody so skilled without a doubt deserved much proper Master. Like Darth Sidius. Sith smiled, he needed to test this one, but Force already whispered that he will be very proper replacement for Anakin. Young Antinnis will be a good test for him and if he will not survive the wrath of Antinnis… Sidius will manage to profit even from his death.
Another datapad was placed near the first one. Palpatine took another one and suppressed the desire to sneer. Darth Jeviso. So – called Lord of the Sith. Despite his pride clouding his judgment Sidius felt his power in the force and it was astonishing. If only he could take him as his apprentice… But he knew that Jeviso will not settle for something like this. He was behind formation of Neutral Alliance, he managed to gain Traun's loyalty and power of this… other Sith, colled Dart Vader. His assassins already tried to assassinate him. Their heads were sent back to him. He found them in the bag near his bed. Nobody saw that somebody moved in or out.
Sidius learnt his lesson and didn't do anything. But his pride took a major blow; he prided himself for being supreme player of "cloak and dagger" game. And some boy, who appears from nowhere, defeats him? No not in this life. Third datapad cracked in his fingers from sudden Force move. Sidius rose from this throne and left his throne room. He needed to destroy something and a couple of training droids will be right what he needed.
While his red bladed sword zoomed as he cut the head of another droid, Sidius imagined that he cut his hated enemy, in his mind fountains of blood covered him as his enemies begged for mercy lying near his feet, while he stood above them with blazing sword in his hand, prepared to give them his justice. Suddenly he return from his dreams into training room, filled with metallic bodies, cut into pieces. His dream ended as it was no one to kill anymore. Sidius left training grounds unsatisfied with results.
He will kill the boy, no matter the cost. There will be no peace in the Galaxy while both of them breathed the same air. That he was sure about.
Darth Jeviso. Malevolence. Twenty hours later. Med Bay.
First thing Liara saw was a ceiling a very unfamiliar one, she might add. Then, slowly memories of past weeks returned to her mind: expedition, geth attack, imprisonment in prothean lab and rescue in form of another race. She once again remembered Maris' horns. Several races. She made a deep breath and breathed out, it was a bit too much for a shy archeologist, who she was. She never thought that she will wish something like this, but Liara whished that her mother was here. She is experienced diplomat and negotiator, she is a matriarch, Goddess damn it!
And She was just a simple asari archeologist, who by the standard of her race just stopped being a child and became somewhat known as teenager among humans. Goddess, why she?!
"Hey! You finally wake up!" heard Liara a very familiar voice of Maris Brood right near her ear. Asari turned her head to see Female zabrak and unknown green skinned male alien with a pair of tentacle – looking things on his head.
"This is doctor Tresphor he took care about you while you were unconscious and I changed you." said Maris. At this moment Liara noticed that she wasn't in her usual clothes and instead was in some sort of white pajama. She instinctively covered herself; her reaction caused Maris' laughter.
"Look Liara, I know you have questions, so doctor and I will try to answer them."
"Em, em… How can you use AI's?! Don't you know they are dangerous? How are you even still alive so many of them around?" finally exploded Liara.
Maris raised her hand. "I think all contact with AI's ends with Geth. But we also looked in history of their creation. You see Geth were created as VI and therefore didn't need all restrictions that AI gets when it is created. Then they somehow evolved. We still don't understand this part, but they managed to combine into some sort of… hive mind, I think."
"And about dangers…" interrupted them doctor Tresphor. "I remember, one case which proved the theory that you can use everything for killing, maiming and destroying other people."
Maris raised her brow. "Oh really and what was the case?"
Tresphor scratched his chin. 'If my memory serves me well, we once get a patient, who got a wound from… a tool for cleaning toilets. And admiral was there, when we get him in infirmary, visiting one of the wounded officers. He also said something like: "Why there isn't a cure from stupidity?". Before leaving the med bay."
Several minutes of dead silence was cut open by combined and loud laughter of three persons.
After she finally stopped laughing Maris started to tell Liara all that she needed to know.
"First of all you will eat, than you have a meeting with admiral. After that you see your new quarters…"
Liara stopped listening after second phrase. ADMIRAL wants to meet her. Her. Simple archeologist, who now, by some twist of fate, represented Citadel before Goddess knows how many races. This led to usual reaction. She panicked.
"Admiral?! Wait a minute I can't! We need an asari – matriarch for this! I can't just go and meet an absolutely unfamiliar person of such a high standing!" nearly screamed Liara.
"Unfamiliar?" asked doctor Tresphor. "But I heard that he get you top this ship."
"No." Liara already felt, how fate once again twisted and she didn't like this. "Mister Jeviso led me here."
"Ah, "mister", I see. Well, it looks like Lord Jeviso didn't want to traumatize you more than you already suffered. You see, truth is, Lord Jeviso is a Second Admiral of our fleet, and he also holds position of the General. Also he is a powerful Sith Lord. Sith is an order of people, who can use abilities similar to your biotics." added twi'leck, seeing the look of complete loss on Liara's face. "Miss T'soni can you also tell me, how your biotics works? I'm a bit new to this and I heard biotics are natural in your race."
"Umm… of course. By the way doctor Tresphor, what kind of an alien are you?" At this moment after several knock droid with a plate full of food came into mad bay.
"I'm a twi'leck. I will tell you more while you eat Miss T'Soni."
Meanwhile with Darth Jeviso.
Naruto sat behind his table, when he sensed a presence behind his back.
"Better than before, Ahsoka. But you still can do better."
"Oh fuck!" frustrated togruta came from behind and sat on the chair in front of Jeviso.
"You still luck in stealth department and you let your emotions control you. Even Jedi aren't foolish enough to let something like this happen. Sith demand full control over emotions." lectured her Naruto.
"I still don't understand." said Ahsoka. "What's the difference in teachings if both of them deny emotions?" After betrayal of the Jedi, from Ahsoka's and nearly every other point of view, she decided to learn something new, Naruto teachings, which combined both Dark and Light Sides views were very promising, but they still confused her to no end.
"No, no, no. Sith learn to control their emotions, Jedi – to let go of them."
Ahsoka crossed her hands on her chest. "And the difference?"
Naruto sighed. "Let me describe this using the lightsaber style, you remember Master Windu? His style Waapad is based on control, his anger is coursing through him into his blade making his attacks more powerful. But using something like this will put you in a danger of losing yourself to your anger. Same with Dark Side, it reacts to nearly all emotions fear is very intoxicating, it tastes really sweet, when somebody is afraid of you and I really mean "taste". Dark Side use all senses to gain control."
"It will try to seduce with sheer rapture of killing somebody with lightsaber or burning somebody with Sith Lightning, not because you hate somebody, of course not, just because you need to show others, how good is everything for you. And of course most widespread occurrence: displeasure. Never wanted to hit someone in the face for their stupidity? I bet you wanted. Imagine what a Sith feel in that situation."
"Wow." Ahsoka was surprised by that sudden lecture. "So in a way Jedi are right with letting go of attachments?"
"No." Naruto sighs. "Look bonds that we create through li our life makes us stronger, if you have anger problems you should work on your restrain and not turn yourself into obedient logic – driven drones like current generation of the Jedi. Should I remind you what their "No attachments" policy turned you into?"
"No, no you shouldn't." Ahsoka instantly remembered her court and saving from death verdict by her Master.
"And do you know why it happened?"
"Why?"
"Because with all negative emotions they lost all positive. No compassion, no love, no sympathy."
"By the way what are you thinking about?" trying to change the theme asked Ahsoka.
"Our guest." with this honest answer Naruto felt a spark of jealousy from Ahsoka . "That's what I'm talking about."
Ahsoka made an innocent face. "What?"
"You should control yourself better. Your thoughts betray you."
Ahsoka raised her brow. "Really? And what I'm thinking about?"
"Something like, if that blue whore gets too close, cosmos is big she will not be found anytime soon."
Ahsoka pouted.
"That's also part of what I'm talking about, desire, lust. And you can't just receive it, if you take it now, before you completely control yourself Dark Side will completely overwhelm you and you will try to kill object of your desire, because of every hint of advowtry, false or true."
Ahsoka oce again tried to change the theme. "Where is our dear doctor? Maris reported that she already woke up."
"She should be here in five minutes." replied Jeviso. He once again massaged his temples. Liara in many ways reminded him about Ahsoka. When a panicking girl was pushed into the cabinet by Maris Jeviso sensed that she even panicked in the same way.
"Good day, Miss T'Soni."
"Good day, mister… ehm… Lord… your highness…" Naruto finally saw the source of her shyness.
"Darth Jeviso if you want to be official, I prefer just Jeviso."
"Ehm… of course… Darth… Jeviso."
Seeing that this discussion is pushing Liara deeper in her shell, Jeviso decided to change the subject.
"How do you find my ship?"
Liara smiled a little. "Fascinating, even I, who don't understand anything about ships, am overwhelmed by the greatness of this ship. If the quarians were here… I couldn't even describe the sheer rapture that they will experience just from seeing that ship."
"Quarians? What can you tell us about them?" Naruto asked this question just to calm down Liara before the main dialogue between them.
"Well… I'm specializing on protheans, but quarians' dawnfall started after their loss in Morning War, they were banished from all their planets and colonies in Perseus Veil… ehm… it's…"
"We already know where it is from your extranet, please continue." interfered Naruto.
"Mmm.. yes, where was I? Ah, after their loss, they became nomads and and for three hundred years they are living on their Migrating Fleet, so sheep for them are like… holy relics."
"Wait a minute! If they are rouges and exiles everywhere in the Galaxy, than how do they manage to fix their ships during three hundred years?"
That was a reasonable question, Naruto, who supplied the Fleet of Neutral Alliance, understood, how much was needed for even one sheep to work properly and for ships to work for three hundred years without proper repair works they will just fell to pieces.
So either they somehow repair them without proper equipment, or they created secret docks, or other races let them use theirs… yeah at least first two variants sounded reasonable.
"Mmm, actually I don't know, I never heard that other races let quarians repair their ships in their docks. And where can we place fifty thousand ships."
Number itself was impressive; of course Naruto understood that it also included "light ships" like recent Empire's TIE fighters. Yet number was still impressive. Naruto once again decided to change the theme. He used the Force to sense Liara's thoughts.
"My rank is equal to Turian Hierarchy's General, Miss T'Soni."
"Oh, thank you I just… wanted… to ask… Wait a minute you…"
"Just read your thoughts? Yes."
This led to usual reaction.
"Kyaah! I'm sorry!" asari became dark violet in color.
"I saw just the glimpse of your thoughts miss T'Soni and it's hard to do something like this."
"Yeah, for youngling."
"Not now Kurama."
Liara sighed in relief, while Jeviso continued to smile. "Don't worry miss T'soni you just thought "too loudly", nearly screamed about our political structure."
"Th – thank you. Maybe you will tell me more about your Order? As I understand it plays a great role in your politics." asked Liara.
"Well, originally Sith were the race of humanoids, who lived on the planet called Korriban and first analogy of Order of the Sith was their nobles. But unlike most other races, Sith nobles were not chosen through blood connection. They must have had the certain abilities, which gave the right to call themselves Sith Lords. This race was very aggressive and ambitious, the reasons were the obstacles, which led them into space age. It was possible through aggression of other race – rakath, who tried to conquer Korriban to include it into their Empire."
"They lost and lost miserable, gap in technologies was great: sith just entered the medieval era, while rakath traveled between stars for thousands years. Still Sith managed to win the war and took the rakath technologies for themselves. Because of technological jump social reformations became stagnant and even suffered regression. Nonetheless they managed to create their own Empire, eventually it lost the confrontation with Republic, which itself broke into three pieces: Galactic Empire, Confederacy of Independent Systems and Neutral Alliance, which I serve."
Liara was like a child in candy store, who just received a candy, while all other were hidden from her. "Can you tell me more? You said that the first Empire lost the war? How many years ago it happened? Those rakath were they older than protheans? You are talking about the thousand upon thousand years of evolution. Oh… sorry I once again forget myself." Liara once again changed her color.
Naruto's smile just grew wider. "Don't worry. Oldest artifacts of Rakath Empire are dated from forty to forty five thousand years old." Naruto decided to be silent about the fact that Coruscant became a city – planet more than a hundred of thousand years ago.
Liara just gaped like a fish trying to process information, she just received a bit too much, so Jeviso once again decided to push her in right direction. Just make her focus on one simple thought…
"Can you please tell me what is the Force?" asked Liara.
"Force…" started Jeviso. "For many generations scientists and force users tried to find an answer to this question. All of them failed miserably. Short version: Force is power that exists in every living and not living object, it connects them into one big stream of energy, this is the Force."
"Marvelous!" said Liara. "You told the teachings of the Goddess nearly word in word."
"Goddess?"
"Yes, asari believe that after death you became a part of giant cosmic energy that we call "The Goddess" just like Force it connects everything in universe." said Liara in cheerful tone, but her cheerfulness downed a little when she continued. "But we have no force users."
"Hmm, interesting…" Naruto scratched his chin hidden by helmet. "But there is still difference, dear Liara, Sith don't believe. We know and use the knowledge."
"It's kind of hard to believe." said Liara sheepishly. "I'm sorry."
Veviso just raised his hand and all objects in the room levitated in the air one of the metal forks melted and turned into complete replica of Liara. Small statue landed right into young asari's waiting hands.
"I can't believe my eyes."
"You can touch it, it's not hot." said Ahsoka.
"Fascinating! How you did it?" asked Liara.
"It's called Force Forging, I remade object atom by atom by usage of the Force."
"Interesting, what more can Force do?" asked Liara.
"There are no borders, just the Force." replied Jeviso. "Force moves in mysterious ways Liara, its users can survive mortal wounds, heal incurable diseases. Or just on instinct, activate the technology that you had never before seen and worked with and save your life with it. For example, several days ago it led me to prothean Beacon. Working prothean Beacon."
Liara instantly bombarded him with questions. " …And? You contacted with it? Had you seen something? Where is it now? Can I see it? At least by one eye? Pleeease? Pretty Please?"
"Well… I managed to get in contact with it, but the Beacon was destroyed in process…"
"And?" Liara was ready to just jump Jeviso to get answers for her questions.
"Unfortunately it was destroyed in the process. But I managed to receive a message from it. Protheans' civilization was destroyed by race of machines called Reapers."
"YES!" screamed Liara. "Take it blue bitches! …Umm, I'm sorry I shouldn't be too happy about something like this, but… That bunch of blue whores just irritates me to no end! Only because I'm younger, only because I didn't fuck around and dance in strip clubs like they did at my age… They didn't even let me to show my findings and theories!"
Ahsoka clapped her back. "Don't worry Miss T'Soni, you shouldn't worry yourself about being better than your predecessors. On the contrary, they should be ashamed that they were whoring themselves in your age, while they could had spent it in much more productive ways."
Liara cleaned her face. "Thanks… but we should return to protheans… I see that you want to ask me something?"
"Yes… Our own knowledge in this subject is rather… lacking." said Jeviso. "Maybe you can tell us something?"
Liara sighed. "Citadel Consul is always vigilant when it comes to prothean artifacts, sometimes even a small datapad from those times can lead to greatest achievements in our science. Unfortunately, ancient artifacts are few in number whoever destroyed the prothean race was very good in covering his tracks and some traces we cannot check with our technology."
"Explain please." Jeviso already sensed that he was close to something, something big, that will help him to achieve his goals.
"Legendary Ilos of course." By the scraps that we managed to salvage there should be an unscratched archieve of prothean history! All their knowledge, all their secrets, it's a wet dream of every archeologist." replied Liara. "Unfortunately, it's not possible…"
"Let me guess… There are only space dust and asteroids there?"
"Goddess forbade! Of course not! It's just because rachni… Emm, rachni are…"
"I know, who are rachni." interfered Jeviso.
"Yes, anyway the mass relay, which led to Ilos was blown away from Rachni Space, I don't know how, don't ask me. Citadel scientists had a theory that it was moved away from its place by supernova's explosion, but it's still debatable, because many others think that it can destroy the mass relay. Anyway, since it was either destroyed or deactivated, we cannot trace it and without the entrance point we cannot find the exit one and usage of the normal engines will take us too much time to reach the Ilos, let alone find it."
That was it, burning numbers and words finally turned into clear vision in Naruto's head.
"Would you want accompany me and see the legendary Ilos Liara?" asked Jeviso.
"Is it… some kind of joke?"
"No, I just once again understood that there is no such thing as coincidence… only Force."
Minato Namikaze. Several days later.
Minato looked into the depths of space from the deck of his venator – class battle cruiser. Hundreds of plans were analyzed in his head while he seemed to be sleeping in captain's chair.
"Finding that brat is harder than I thought… After I checked several reports from ANBU, I managed to uncover that he was last seen near forbidden ruins, I managed to find and copy different writings on ancient Sith language. Unfortunately I can't find where he disappeared to. Judging by dust he just stepped into the ark that was in the center of the temple and disappeared. Dooku's knowledge in Sith language is… limited at best. I need… AGH!" Minato's thoughts were interrupted when ship shook violently.
Minato raised his head and searched lieutenant with his eyes. Fortunately young man was still alive and he soon reported the situation:
"Sir, we are under attack by one of Empire's Star Destroyers! It's "Black Hound"!"
Minato cursed under his breath, "Black Hound's" captain was well known for his cruel and thick methods, rumors also said that he could use Force, all in all – Sith in all but name.
"Captain! Incoming transmission!"
"Connect us."
Minato instantly didn't like the smug face of Empire's negotiator. His metallic arm clenched in desire to squash his head into red paste. Patience, Minato reminded to himself, while unclenching his fist. All come to those, who are patient enough.
"Good day, Commander. I hope our greetings reached you." Negotiator smiled and continued. "You have a choice surrender yourself to my custody or die from my hand."
Hissing sound of Minato's lightsaber was his answer.
"I hoped for this answer. Fire! In the name of Emperor and under my, Inquisitor Antinnis orders, fire!"
"Evading maneuver." Calmly stated Minato deactivating his lightsaber.
"Sire, there is an asteroid belt ahead of us!"
"I know lieutenant. Follow my orders and get us through this."
"Sire they are closer!"
"I know, continue."
"Sire, they are following us into the asteroid belt, if you tried to hide us there your plan failed."
"That wasn't my intention, but it was a good guess continue to observe." Minato was cold and collected as if there was no Star Destroyer behind his ship.
Star Destroyer continued to follow Minato's ship and slowly it managed to shorten the distance however Minato managed to reach the end of the asteroid belt first.
"Turn our ship and prepare to fire." commanded Minato.
"Fire? Where?"
"Download coordinates and fire by my command." responded Minato.
"Sire, these aren't our enemy's coordinates."
"I know. Download them and fire."
By Minato's command his crew oblihirated several asteroids, but to their surprise their action led to explosion, which started the chain reaction and second later "Black Hound" was engulfed in flames. After everything calmed down, Minato saw heavily damaged and motionless "Black Hound".
"Good, prepare to board that ship we shall not let even a single imperial warrior alive."
"Captain!"
"What is it?" asked annoyed Minato. "We received transmission of several Empire's Star Destroyers coming from hyper space to this system."
Minato cursed under his breath. "There is no point in continuing our fight. Retreat. We will have another fight and another chance to kill Empire's scum."
By his orders his battle cruiser went to hyper space.
Several days later in one of Empire's med bays.
"He lost his eye and hand Your Highness . And he is now even more unstable than before." reported one of the doctors, who monitored Antinnis' recovering.
"Good, continue your work." Emperor massaged his temples. This warrior from backwater planet proved himself more cunning and capable than Emperor thought. Emperor cursed in his thoughts. After all as people say, if you want something done, do it yourself, or hire professional. The question now was: should he stretch his legs himself like in situation with Maul, or should he send Cad Bain?
Week later. Orbit of Ilum.
Liara sighed looking at planet from illuminator. Last week was rather hectic. First – Jeviso's proclamation, than – meeting with young padawans or as Jeviso called the Acolytes. Human looking ones like Petro and Katooni didn't surprise her, on Katooni's example she finally understood the aspect of different descendants of first human tribes. Her headdress was interesting sight to see.
Zatt reminded her about drells so he too wasn't as alien as others. Gungi due to his friendliness and a bit of fluffiness didn't gave her a strange vibe too. Most alien to her seemed Byph and Ganodi. But he managed to slowly build relationship even with them. And now here she was above legendary Ilos.
"Liara?" She turned her head to see Darth Jeviso followed by Ahsoka, Ventress and Celeste.
"Lord Jeviso." greeted him Liara. She turned her gaze back to planet. "Ilos… I can't believe that I'm here."
"I still think that we are losing our time on this desolated world." said Ventress.
"Dead world." corrected Ahsoka.
"We still don't know…" started Celeste.
"It's dead." once again stated Ahsoka.
Naruto on the other hand gave certain orders to his lieutenants, only foolish Masters will ignore their students' feelings. Younger ones feel better, after all.
"It doesn't matter if there is nothing there, it the greatest moment of my life… sorry, it sounded a bit egoistical." sheepishly ended Liara.
"Don't worry." replied Jeviso. "I understand, how it is, to stand in the reach of your dream."
Liara nodded and returned to observation of the planet, Jeviso sensed that his words just raised more questions in the girl. Girls just hmphed behind Jeviso's back. However they didn't think about killing Liara. That was a certain progress.
"My lord, we found the main complex, or something big that radiates a lot of energy. I'm giving you an image." They saw an image of different buildings connected in one, most noticeable structures were statues of eyeless aliens, that were everywhere near the complex.
"Wow that's how protheans looked?" asked Liara.
"According to beacon protheans were quite… different from those statues." answered Jeviso.
"Oh? So that's one of the races of their cycle? Allies of protheans? Maybe their predecessors? Oh, it's simply… unbelievable!"
"Well, I think that we will find all answers on the planet's surface, right beneath our feet, it's time to reach it."
Several minutes later Liara nearly squealed, while she used her omni – tool to find the statues' age. "I can't believe my eyes! Age of these statues… from one hundred to hundred and twenty thousand years! Now those blue bitches have no choice but recognize my theories! I have a proof!" Constant rapture of Dr. T'soni irked Naruto a bit. Dark Side has several minuses, thirst to kill, or in Naruto's case burn someone with lightning was nearly irresistible. Not because he hated said person. Maybe even because he cared.
It happened several times before, most noticeable was with Darth Malgus. When his love died by his hand it drove him insane. But in death she became his greatest strength.
Fortunately Naruto was sane enough.
"As good as it is, we must proceed. Miss T'Soni…" Liara was like a child in candy store, she just couldn't chose where she must start. Jeviso's order made her choice much obvious.
"Sire." Jeviso heard Ar'alani's voice in his communicator. "We fpound local transport net, it's still working."
"Got it we are coming." Ar'alani and her group waited for them near elevators, several droids already connected to complex's net. After several minutes in elevator and traveling throu tunnels they found themselves in large empty space. Judging by traces of wheels it was once hangar. They continued to walk until they reached the opposing wall, at this moment. One of the consoles activated.
"…All… is lost… our frontline… is broken… in several… places… complex must be… hope…"
"Wonderful! A prothean VI! Unfortunately I can't understand what he is talking about, we can translate their writings but speaking…" Liara just sighed heavily.
"It's last report of local comendant…" Jeviso signaled to one of the astromechs to connect and check the information terminal.
"Fascinating! Can it be the Beacon's work? Lord Jeviso can you… ehm.. amm… Never mind." Jeviso sensed something alongside shyness and desire to learn.
"What is it Liara?"
"N – nothing, absolutely nothing!" Liara once again started to change colors and from the side of his "battle harem" he felt something akin to rising suspicious.
"And still?"
"Emm… Well, you know Lord Jeviso, you received your abilities to understand protheans from the link with Beacon, as I know, such technology works through obtaining the "Key" made from emotions and visions… well, for a while I wanted to ask you for such a "key", since my race can do this, but… emm…"
"You mean the famed "Embrace"?" at this moment Jeviso sensed how the thoughts of Ahsoka started to resemble something like: if on this blue banta right now, because of pure accident will fell the part of ceiling, Jeviso of course will understand…
"No Ahsoka. I will not. And start to control your thoughts better finally!"
"Forgive me, you know, that I'm a bit itchy about relationships." Said Ahsoka, in her mind she added "Relationship with you was the only stable one and I don't want to lose it."
"Emm… Truth to say I have never… emm… I meant never before… well I have no experience… oh, I didn't mean that one! Well in that field I have no experience too, but… aaaaah, forgive me! And forget everything I said!" Jeviso started to worry for Liara, so many "color changing situations" can be bad for her. It looked like she just wanted to use her telepathic abilities, until she remembered that asari usually use them mostly during copulation.
"I will work on this problem, a bit later I will download the basic associations into protocol droids. It will not take much time to translate what you wanted." replied Jeviso. He waved his hand, ordering them to follow. After the hangar they got into another room, but unnatural walls made Jeviso cautious: unlike ceiling and floor walls seemed to be made from something else and looked like they were put into the room much later.
"Hm, dead world indeed…" Jeviso came closer to the wall and cleared dust on one of it's sections. Serial number and name. Prothean name.
"Oh! Prothean language! Can you tell me what's written down there?" asked Liara readying her omni – tool.
"Serial number of the capsule and owner's name." Jeviso pushed nearly invisible button near the name. "The owner himself is here too." Capsule moved forward with a hissing sound revealing mummified body of the prothean.
"Real prothean! So that's how they looked… And capsule is it really a stasis sarcophagus?" asked Liara. "Really fascinating."
"What's so strange about stasis sarcophagus?" asked Ventress. "Celeste spent four thousand years in one."
"Don't remind me…" said Celeste.
"Really I thought you were joking…" said Liara. "Anyway… we didn't manage to replicare this technology, I mean we have no problems with freezing bodies but unfreezing process is whole other thing. And there is so many there… prepared to return into action…"
"Maybe it's to save bodies and return them to relatives." said Ahsoka. "We practiced it for our own sometimes."
"Maybe…" muttered Liara. "But I don't think that in their situation they had spent time and resources to save dead bodies. Anyway where are we going?"
"This way." replied Jeviso.
"How do you… ah, yes, the Force."
"Yes, droids must stay here, I don't know how prothean's systems will react to them." After another quick walk they found themselves near the room with writing "Main terminal" in prothean's runes. Inside there was old and dusty console, when they walked close enough a glowing orb appeared above it.
"Scanning…" Jeviso felt strange sensation in his brain, similar to contact with Beacon on Iden Prime, only it didn't broadcasted nearly unlimited knowledge in his mind, it searched for mental control of really strange type. He was prepared for this, his "battle harem" just greeted their teeth and Liara didn't sense a thing. "Scanning complete. Searching. Specimen of primitive race "asari". No traces of indoctrination. Specimens of unknown races similar to primitive race "humans". No traces of indoctrination."
"What's he is talking about?" Liara nearly jumped from her jumpsuit.
"He is scanning us." replied Jeviso. He also made a note to search through prothean databases later.
"Language is found, correction started." Hologram switched to something that resembled asari's language, but very archaic, it was a miracle that language was in database. Language should have changed drasticaky during fifty thousand years, but if protheans were responsible for asari's rise… It explained everything.
"Wow, I can understand him now… hey he hacked my omni – tool and is searching through databases!" said Liara.
"Settings complete, I'm greeting you in Archieve, beings of new Cycle."
"Who are you?" asked Ventress.
"I'm nonorganic analytical system, made from the mind copy of Ksade Ishaan, main overseer of this complex."
"AI?" looks like young asari will see synthetics in every toaster after what happened in med bay.
"No, I'm made from his mind scan so to say, but I can't be considered as full AI, I'm more like a shade of him." replied computer.
"What resources are in your possession?" asked Naruto.
"All knowledge of technological tree of Prothean Empire and resources for creation of prototype weaponry and equipment. Reports of last protheans, coordinates of other research facilities. According to directives I must report the last events of previous Cycle. Reapers attack started from Citadel. Citadel is one big Mass Relay, which leads to "dark space" where armadas of these ships dwell. Citadel was our capital, so enemy's forces overpowered our forces there and obtained the information about all our strongholds and secret projects. Only top secret ones like Ilos, which weren't in databases were safe. Than our empire was broken into several systems, they lost contact and ways of travel because Mass Relays were deactivated, than reapers started to collect their harvest. Even thou Ilos was top secret object overseers decided to put all members of personnel into stasis and wait for the end of harvest."
"Reasons of failure?" in Naruto's mind plan was good, but judging by corpses in capsules, good it was only in mind of it's creator.
"Genocide of entire prothean race required a lot of time. I lacked energy required for sustaining lives of so many protheans, so I deactivated life support systems of those members, who were… not so important."
"He just killed all those innocent people just to save energy?" asked Liara.
Ahsoka looked at her sympathetically "It was war times, it's obvious choice between saving somebody and dooming everyone."
"When they stopped their harvest, here only high personnel survived. Prothean race was doomed."
"Why?" asked Ahsoka.
"Too small population for producing offspring without incest. Most of the survivors lost their reproduction abilities years ago due to their age." replied VI.
"There were only elder ones, you killed young first." accusingly stated Liara.
"My priority was saving the complex with maximum potential and usefulness of survivals. It was achived."
"That why we used AI instead of VI." said Celeste with despise. "They can at least, think about consequences."
"Why they didn't clone their own, there are enough samples here for creation of healthy society." asked Darth Jeviso.
"This variant was found impossible. Reasons: lack of needed equipment and specialists for such a task." replied VI.
"I see. What happened next?"
"After realizing their situation, protheans decided to cause as much harm to Reapers as much as possible. Through Channel their teleported to Citadel, where they influenced the race of Keepers, removing the Reapers' control over them."
"Keepers were under control of the Reapers?" disbelievingly asked Liara.
"Yes, apparently their main function is turning Citadel into one big Mass Relay, after receiving special signal from the Reaper – overseer, a machine, which monitors the next Cycle."
"So one stays here than he calls his friends that Harvest is ready." said Ahsoka.
"Yes. But protheans removed the control they had over the Keepers. Now for remaining Reaper it will be troublesome to activate the Mass Relay."
"First good news in I not know how much times." said Jeviso, he thought a little than continued. "You said something about the Channel. What is it?"
"This research facility studied Mass Relays Scientists managed to create their own analogue." Naruto raised a brow. In his Galaxy only Star Gates and Gates of Infinity were based on the same principles as Mass Relays, for protheans to built their own was… a miracle no less. "Channel is a one – way ticket from this complex to Citadel, that isn't mentioned Mass Relay maps." Continued VI.
"Interesting… Now main question: will you follow my orders and give us an access to all your resources and databases?"
"Affirmative. You are organics, who aren't influenced by machines. According to my latest directive I must gave a full control over this complex to your highest officer."
"By machines you mean Reapers or other AI?"
"Use of AI by organics is possible, but the usage of organics by AI cannot be tolerated, it's an already mentioned indoctrination." replied VI.
Naruto continued to ask VI other questions for several hours, a bit later he ordered to use Malevolence and other ships to haul the deactivated Mass Relay from this system as far as possible.
Meanwhile. Tau Artemis. Jane Shepard.
Commander Shepard was a many things: Spectre, professional soldier, a Hero of Alliance… But when he arrived to save doctor T'Soni and with her confront her mother on Noveria, she didn't expect to find very familiar sight in form of destroyed geth bodies with burns from very powerful weaponry, much more powerful than the thermal weapons so widely spread in militaristic society.
"I'm starting to think that Universe has a very twisted sense of humor." said Ashley. "First Iden Prime than this."
"What an unusual marks." said Tali, who silently walk to them with Garrus. "Their armor was melted, but there is no kinetical damage usual to our thermal weapons, and the depth of said burn marks…"
"Never in my life I had seen something like this." supported her Shiala, an asari – commando, who was once part of Benezia's group, hearing something like that from a women with experience of several hundred years was a bit… terrifying. Also, Shepard didn't trust that blue bitch, but she was a powerful biotic, who surpassed Kaiden in every aspect of the field, she gave her the "key", which already was very valuable for their search, Shepard also preferred to keep her possible enemies where she could shoot them into the skull, in other words – closer to herself and one of the most important things that all crew of the Normandy, male and female alike, managed to notice already, Shiala had a really sexy ass. Clad in her black tight armour it was… marvelous.
"I saw something like this before." said Shepard. "And his appearance here bothers me greatly."
"His?" asked Shiala.
"This is secret information." cut the conversation short Shepard. "In two words: unknown player with very powerful and never before seen technologies and weapons."
"Second group reporting." heard Shepard in her communicator. "No traces of doctor T'Soni, also no signs of any equipment, only ravaged bodies of the geth."
"Got it. Fourth group what's on your end?"
"Nothing." reported a low and raspy voice of the Wrex. "Where was a camp right now is only empty space with signs of geth tanks."
Shepard cursed loudly, repeating several curses that she learned from her friends back in her wild cadet days.
"Looks like our friend from Iden Prime managed to get here first. Once again disappearance of equipment and people with no trace, it's his doing without a doubt." said Kaiden.
"He or somebody else… who works with him, We still don't know if he works alone." said Ashley. "This is bad Commander."
"Yes…" she felt it with all her being that she should had went here right after Feros, but she needed to complete several missions for Stiven. No, of course disarming nuclear bombs from The First Contact War, negotiating with groups of violent biotics and saving the group of space marines was something that needed to be done. Even thou she was Spectre she was human first and denying admiral, who helped her so much was really bad on her end, so carried those missions. "To all groups take photos and prints of what happened here and return to Normandy."
"What shall we do Shepard?" asked Garrus.
"What we always do, return to Noveria and try to stop mad aliens before they can destroy the Galaxy." replied Shepard. "It's disappointing, but we must go on negotiations with Benezia without her daughter. Shiala what can you tell us about the matriarch?"
"Lady Benezia…" said asari closing her eyes. "She inspired admiration wherever she walked, her biticak might knew no equal, she was great teacher and leader, she was also a great mother she always worried for Liara. After Saren's influence she turned into mere shadow of her former self. I was like that until you saved me, Commander…" she gave a strange glance to redhead. "So I really doubt that we can negotiate with her."
"Super powerful biotical bitch, great." summed everything Ashley. "And we already had one crazy turian. No offence big guy."
"None taken." replied Vakarian. "After everything I want to just kill the fucker and be done with it."
While she returned to her frigate Shepard looked at her crew and thanked that Andersson and Hacket managed to find humans for her ship, she didn't gad anything against aliens but if she still gad the same number of humans on board of "Normandy" it would slowly started to resemble some pirate ship instead of secret agent's.
Still her task wasn't easy and she couldn't achieve her goal without "Consultants" as he called them before observers. Tali was irreplaceable when they faced geth, Garrus saved their asses on Ferrus, Shiala's good sides she already remembered. Kaiden was good biotic, not powerful but very dutiful. Ashley… was a bit problematical but she learned. And finally Wrex. Grim looking krogan, who was covered in battle scars and had experience of facing and killing nearly everything that this galaxy has to offer.
She was returned to reality by Joker's voice:
"Shepard? Commander?"
"Yes Joker. I was lost in my own thoughts."
"Don't worry Commander. So where are we going?"
"We need supplies so after we get them we are going to Noveria, time to deal with blue bitch."
"Good, I'm setting our course. By the way Commander, locals managed to find what happened to gas mining station."
"Hmm, really" said Shepard. "And what?"
"It has been stolen."
"Repeat yourself Joker I think something isn't right with my communicator."
"I said that something stole a fucking gas mining station."
Shepard facepalmed, she could theorize that geth, for some unknown reason stole the station, but even if they don't need to stop for eat and sleep, it still was too hard to imagine. Geth never stole anything. Destroyed – yes, stole – never. On the other hand… when their "friend" pays them a visit something of value always dissapeares.
Her thoughts were voiced by Ashley. "Fan – fucking – tastic, our friend's appetites are slowly growing, from ravaging geth bodies and stealing guns to stealing mining gas stations, it's a huge leap in my mind. What's next he will steal a Mass Relay?"
Meanwhile on Ilos Naruto sneezed when he gave orders to relocate the Mass Relay.