VIII
1445 september 10, 2560 (Military Time)\4 dimensional space\Normandy
"This, this is amazing!" called Tali'Zorah as she looked upon the reddening sky through the windows of the Normandy's observation deck. "If only my people had this technology on their ships, to even have a world within each ship in the Flotilla...to have normal houses instead of stuffy, tight quarters, and grow food in gardens instead of hydroponic labs. To have the sun rise and set and mark each passing of each day like we would have done when we were on the homeworld...how can your people even do this?"
"As I started to say to Liara," began Kedzuel as he settled himself upon the chair. "Magic. I really cannot even go into how it is done. But, if there is a will, there is always a way. But that outside, it's not what my homeworld looks like. If it was, it would be all desert. One big...rusty desert."
She turned back to the Blitzardi: "Did your people destroy your planet's ecosystem because of war too?"
"No," replied Kedzuel. "It was because of progress. Here's a green-lesson for you, pollution is bad. My people ruined Kethoi to the point even most of the oceans dried up. Now all that's left is a bunch of salty, large lakes. Barely even called seas now. But we had a solution, we hollowed out the mantle, turned the planet into a gigantic dyson sphere...like the Shield Worlds the Forerunners built, and lived on the inside. And if you really want to be green with envy, Kethoi is mobile. It can even make spacial jumps. We didn't have the fuel to make the jump here, and right now, it's not the time for looking for a place to drop it in...so we've had to leave it behind to return here and help you."
"But you can take your homeworld with you…" said Tali, her body frozen even at the thought of moving an entire planet from one place to another.
"Yes, we can," said Kedzuel. "Kethoi is my people's identity. It is the only identity we have left after we agreed to become the shield against the darkness. It is our memory of what we used to be before we became this."
"And what were you before you became our protectors?"
"Different," replied Kedzuel as he smiled remorsefully. "But that is all I can say about it."
"Tali," began Commander Shepard. "We really need to get to business."
"Right, sorry, Commander," said Tali. "I...just let my curiosity get the better of me. It is really fascinating. I even wonder if...I could see how the engines of your ship work, Your Majesty."
"I too would like to indulge in the mechanics of how your ship works, Your Majesty," EDI chimed in from the speakers above. "It is rather fascinating. I detect no computer controlling its functions. Not even an artificial intelligence or a virtual intelligence."
"That I can easily answer," said Kedzuel. "My people never developed intelligent machines like yourself, EDI, or like Kiryuu Knight. My ship's internal and external systems are all commanded by my mind. The Shi'lithra is in fact an extension of myself, I am her only pilot and I require no other personnel to fly her. What crew she has is only there to maintanence her. The crystalline sentinels that guard this pocket universe are extensions of my honor guards' and their minds."
"Perhaps Joker can appreciate what you can do with that head of yours, Your Majesty," said Shepard. "I bet he wishes he could just make the Normandy an extension of himself."
"You damn straight, Commander," called Joker from the comm inside the ship. "Then I could really make the Normandy dance."
"As for no computers on board, well, many of us are specifically trained and augmented to take over the computations computers would do for you," said Kedzuel. "The Array does help with some of that, but we do most of the work."
"But why don't you have computers?" asked Tali. "Even we Quarian know that computers are important. We just make sure they won't get too smart to think for their own now after our first mistake."
"There is one thing that computers can never do," said Kedzuel. "Factor in the 'organic' error. It is very hard for computers to understand it. I suppose that is why Kiryuu Knight is among the unique artificial intelligences that can factor in such paradoxes. His processors are organic in their nature."
"That must make your head hurt," said Garrus. "To perform so many functions without the aid of a computer."
"Sometimes it does," said Kedzuel. "Like when I had to dump sections of the ship to fit Telek's little fleet inside. Most times, it doesn't hurt. However, being a Technomancer does help alleviate some of the pain."
"I still would like to know how this ship of yours work, sir," said Tali.
"If there is time," said Kedzuel with a small smile. "But, time right now is not what I have." He lifted his head as two familiar people came walking in. "Ah, there you are."
Shepard turned around to find Supreme Commander Telek 'Heros standing there with another Precursor. This Precursor had dark green skin, black straight hair hanging down just below his shoulders, and wearing a science uniform and coat. Though, like Kedzuel, he had the cyan blue eyes and the cords dangling from the back of his head. Shepard came to her feet and saluted Telek.
"Admiral!" she said.
"At ease, Commander," said Telek. "Don't you worry now. I ain't seen ya. And I won't be tellin' no one where you been at either."
"Thank you, sir," said Shepard.
"Thank you, Mel," said Kedzuel. "For bringing the Supreme Commander." He directed his attention to the others. "This is Megellan J'rasai, he is Science Commissioner of the Imperium, what some people like to call top egg head of the egg heads."
"You may have not known this, Commander," began Megallan. "But I was the prisoner Captain Tyler found on one of the Halos discovered. For the last fifty thousand years or so, I've been in stasis, held captive by the one of the Forerunner custodians, a Monitor. It was only until Alan came that I was freed. I served on Alan's ship as...replacement engineer since he lost a member of his crew during the escape from Onyx. And I was the one who ended the Forerunner known as the Didact's life."
"Do tell Captain Tyler my condolences," said Shepard. "Believe me, I know what that feels like."
"Why were you a prisoner, Commissioner?" Garrus asked.
"On Charum Hakkor, the planet were the alliance between the People of Erde-Tyrene, I mean Earth, the San'Shyumm, and the Kethosi met," began Megellan. "The humans were working on a cure to the Flood virus the Forerunners created after dabbling too much with King Ghidorah's cells. Though my people were ordered to leave this galaxy for Andromeda, a few of us did return when we received the message from humanity of what they were working on. However, this happened after the Revolutionary War of Kethoi which Kedzuel won...and finally took the throne of the Tyrant Khan. It left us rather devastated, so we could not return in full force and aid the humans to defend their empire from the Forerunners; once the Didact got wind of what they were doing. We couldn't save humanity from its fate. But I agreed to return here to at least assist in completing the cure. Unfortunately, the Didact got to me and Lord Admiral Forthencho before the scientists could piece the cure together. He took my old friend from me, locked me up in stasis. Unfortunately, even when I was battling the Didact, he could not tell me what he had done to Forthencho or the others. I learned the truth of what happened to humanity. The once great empire of Erde-Tyrene, the one we chose to be our successors...reduced to primitive hunter-gatherer tribes." He turned to Miranda and Jacob. "Though our shared enemy took your minds, they could not take the Mantle of Protection from you."
"It is hard to believe that humanity had a space-faring society over fifty thousand years ago," said Garrus.
"It was far more advanced than it is today," said Kedzuel. "Completely different as well. Even the humans looked different. They were taller, more robust in their builds. And they had more pronounced canines than they do now. The Forerunners devolved humanity into twenty different subspecies. When a few Forerunners involved in this transgression died and their memories and knowledge added to the Array's catalog, we were able to study their notations and see just what they did to the new caretakers. I was especially furious when I discovered that the Didact had kidnapped my best friend. But we couldn't do anything. All any of us could do was watch and that was the worst punishment of all for leaving. I suppose Earth geological records stating this Torba volcano eruption was the probable cause of most of the subspecies dying out, only leaving the ones the Librarian cataloged as the Humanush would later survive to become the Homo sapiens of today."
Megallan then plucked a strand of his black hair from his head. He walked slowly towards Kaelyn Shepard and then handed it to her.
"What is this for?" she asked.
"It is a custom among the scientists of Kethoi," began Kedzuel. "Most importantly among Lengodo Kethosi. Knowledge can always be transferred through the code of life, what your people call DNA. Our code is a little different due to our particular chemical makeup."
"ZXO," said Megellan. "That is the Roman letter-abbreviation for our genetic code. It's name is very unpronounceable by many of your own species."
"This sample is a symbol of my species for the continual transference of knowledge between one another," said Kedzuel. "When knowledge is freely conveyed between two different peoples, there can never be any hostilities."
"I shall give this to Dr. Chakwas," said Shepard. "I know she would be very interested in studying it."
"Well, now we've all gotten to know each other," began Telek. "Time for the debriefing. Commander Shepard, my fleet, or what's left of it, and I...we decided to head for New Llanelli all because that was where the Neru Pe Odosima were headin'. Those of you who do not know, these are the religious nutcases who started the Sangheili Civil War and why we're havin' difficulties right now preparin' for when the Reapers come. All this fightin' and we could be using our energies to make sure King Ghidorah don't bite us in the ass."
"The Sangehili fleets are crucial in the fight against the Reapers," said Shepard. "And thanks to you, they've been Earth's biggest supporters. Even when the Council turned its back on us, Earth could always count on the Sanghelios, thanks to you, Admiral."
"And their ships are gigantic," said Tali.
"And faster than anything seen in the galaxy," said Garrus. "You don't know how many Turians became jealous over Sangheili ships. I've heard it was one of the reasons why some Turians didn't want Earth among the Council aside the fact you all once had a leader who was an AI. It was because some of your ships were the captured Covenant ships from your previous war. Those same ships the Sangheili built. The Asari Ascendant Justice could fit inside your super carrier, Supreme Commander. And with room to spare."
"Well, I got my pride busted down when I discovered that my ship can in fact fit inside his ship," said Telek as he pointed to Kedzuel. "So, this ain't a matter of who's ship's bigger. And as for being one of the fastest. The Shi'lithra got everybody beat."
"I had no idea this was a contest," said Kedzuel with a slight chuckle. "Anyway, because the Sangheili are used to working on large ships, my people need some of their assistance. However, I can't have it unless this civil war is over. And none of you can have their assistance unless it's been ended. I had my own qualms about going in and making the Sangheili Civil War my business where it shouldn't be, but, I discovered that these religious fanatics are using Reaper technology to augment their ships."
"Worse yet, they're rubbin' elbows with Cerberus," said Telek. "That's why we had to snatch you up from your little AWOL trip, Commander."
"That is a very good reason," said Shepard.
"Shepard, the Illusive Man was furious when you blew the Collector Base," began Miranda. "I don't know how he managed to get a hold of Reaper technology."
"Oh, there are other ways," said Kedzuel. "Many other ways. Sometimes, cleansing the galaxy of the Reapers isn't as thorough a job as you might think. There's always something left behind. It matters not how Cerberus got ahold of Reaper tech, what matters is why. This is a Cerberus built ship from what I have been informed of, and some of its crew were also Cerberus members, including Mr. Taylor and Ms. Lawson. Now that you have defected from that organization, perhaps you can inform me why the would give some of this technology to a fanatical cult?"
"You couldn't find out from your trip to New Llanelli?" asked Jacob.
"Kedzuel and I went down there personally once we discovered what was up," said Telek. "And the one I thought was Jul 'Mdama wasn't even there. Once they discovered us, they had that whole place scrubbed clean with a worm. Not even Kedzuel's technicians could recover the data."
"We first captured video, but no sound before we went in," said Kedzuel. "Then, we sent this information to Kiryuu Knight." His eyes returned to Shepard. "It was he who advised me to seek you out, Commander. I'm not asking that you come along on my little adventure, I can understand why you might be busy. But perhaps you and your friends might be able to point me in the right direction as to how I may be able to handle this."
"You said you captured at least some video," said Shepard. "Can you show us?"
Kedzuel turned to Megellan and dipped his head. The Lengodo stood up, placed one arm on top of the other, and then, pulled them apart. From this simple movement formed a blue-hued screen and a scene playing back on it.
"We could not capture sound because my ship was phased at the time," said Kedzuel.
"And sittin' between the bedrock and inside the base," said Telek.
"Your ship can phase through solid objects?" asked Garrus.
"Yes," said Kedzuel. "That was how I was able to bring you all inside of her. It isn't really phasing as you might know of it, but going around a three dimensional object. It only appears like I am going through a three dimensional object. My ship moves in multiple dimensions. Currently, we are situated inside the fourth."
"So, that's the secret on how you were able to show up to the Citadel without anyone noticing," said Garrus. "Citadel Tower can't scan anything existing in a dimension they can't sense. They must've nearly wet their trowsers when they saw your ship appearing out of nowhere."
"I did scare a few Turian ships passing by," said Kedzuel with a chuckle. "And a Salarian cargo freighter, from what I was told after I put the Citadel Council in their place."
"I wish I was there to see that too."
"Of course I had to make a lot of promises as well," said Kedzuel, flipping a long braid over his shoulder. "So I could at least get their blessing for mining on their planets for the minerals I need to finish the other ships, and to port in a small star gate to bring in the rest of my fleet. I've promised that everyone will have at their disposal the full might of the Imperial Fleet."
"At least I know I got one fleet on my side besides Earth," said Shepard. "And the Sangheili fleet too."
Telek nodded in agreement.
"That's good to know, though, Your Majesty," she continued. "I'm glad you're willing to help us out."
"Shepard," began Kedzuel. "It's why my people exist. We are the shield against the creatures from the Far Realm, including the Reapers."
Megellan filed through the probe's capture as they chatted, finding the correct images that Kedzuel wanted to show the Normandy crew and their commanding officer.
"I was one of the few who were against Khan's decision of leaving this galaxy," said Kedzuel. "For one thing, it is my home. I was born in this galaxy, as was my late wife, and my daughter. I believe at least the last five Emperors were all born here, even my crazy uncle Khan. This is my home, Andromeda is not. I've longed to return to it and I'm glad I finally got that chance. I just wish it was under better circumstances."
"Born in this galaxy," said Tali. "Wanting to return to your home. Now you know how my people feel. We've wanted to return to our home for the longest time."
"It ached even more," Kedzuel continued. "Whenever I hopped into my ship and all I could do was sit and look up at the big fuzzy splotch in the night sky, always looking, never being, never touching. But it's good to be home. When the war is over, we've all sent the Reapers back to their hellish reality, I think I might settle back here. Even if that means I have to yank Kethoi out of Andromeda myself…"
"Over Serina's dead body," said Megellan, his gaze breaking away from the cyan-hued screen. "She won't let you move the planet without the High Council's say."
"Fine, then I'll go find another planet to live on," said Kedzuel. "One far away from that wrinkly old prune. Besides, I can always just teleport in whenever the Council needs my opinion on something, or whenever Serina feels like she needs to gloat about how wonderful she is and how horrible I am, or gripe about the Blitzardi secretary who accidently knocked over her cup of ghuchoe all over her desk. I think that's the reason why she hired Yu Quin Rae, so she could have a Blitzardi she could boss around and threaten to fire if the girl couldn't make her cup right every morning."
"And poor Quin isn't even a noble born Blitzardi," said Megellan. He turned to Commander Shepard. "Commoner Blitzardi weren't the usurping bastards like the nobility were. They were lucky to scrounge around for food and work like the rest of the slobs in the streets."
"Are you saying I'm a horrible person just because my father was a prince?" Kedzuel asked. "Pay Mel no mind, Commander. Not all Blitzardi are rotten, power hungry monsters like my uncle."
"No Emperor Farm Boy," said Megellan. "You worked the fields like every country peasant on Kethoi." Finally, he paused upon a image of the screen captured by the probe. "Ah, here we go." He flipped the holographic screen around. "Do any of you know who this is?"
Miranda Lawson stood, her eyes lighting brightly when she saw the face upon the screen. It was an image of a man with shoulder-length black hair. His ethnicity looked to be of Asian descent, with almond, black eyes, and olive skin. Her face melted into a sneer when she saw him.
"Kai Leng," she said. "I know him."
"Kai Leng?" Shepard asked. "Who is he?"
"One of the Illusive Man's… 'gopher boys'," the slender Technomancer replied. "Go for this, go for that. He is a top assassin, black ops, espionage, you name it, Leng has done it. Specialty is getting what the Illusive Man wants no matter who's life it cost to do so."
"Wonderful, a human Inlet/Outlet," said Kedzuel. "I should have known."
"What is an Inlet/Outlet?" Shepard asked, looking back at the Blitzardi.
"It's our word for political spies, government spies, assassins who also work like spies, Black-Ops," Kedzuel replied. "I like to call them information vampires. They soak up information and usually someone ends up dead because of it. I have the unfortunate position of housing one of these Inlet/Outlets who is keeping an eye on me for the High Council. Making sure I don't go blowing up planets on a whim."
"Kai Leng was originally an N7, ODST," said Miranda. "Until the Illusive Man got a hold of him. He was also one of those who practiced Technomancy without authorization."
"Cerberus Technomancer," said Shepard. "This is getting better."
"Why didn't he stay with the ODST?" Kedzuel asked.
"Dishonorably discharged because he was charged with murder," replied Miranda. "He murdered a fellow marine while at a bar in Reach."
"And then the Illusive Man picked him up," said Jacob. "That sounds about right. I've heard of Kai Leng's military history, but I've never worked with him. And from what I heard, I never want to."
"Unfortunately, I've had the opportunity of working with Kai Leng personally," said Miranda. "He and myself have been one of the few who have seen the Illusive Man in person." She turned towards Shepard. Kai Leng was sent after fist, Fist, who had information Cerberus needed on Saren."
"Back when Cerberus was...helpful…" said Shepard as she called Kedzuel's attention. "And I use that term lightly."
"Leng was sent to recover Fist," said Miranda. "Or at least what he had on file about Saren. That is until you got to him first, Shepard."
"I have a habit of ruining everybody's party," said Shepard with a satisfied smirk upon her face.
"And Saren, the Turian Spectre, was the first to be indoctrinated by Sovereign," said Tali.
"He also had some of Sovereign's technology implanted into his own body," said Garrus. "He had this belief Sovereign was making him 'better'. But Shepard managed to talk him down and Saren killed himself when he realized the horror of the truth and what he had done."
"Except Sovereign managed to reanimate Saren's corpse and it started attacking us," said Shepard. "I took him out too."
Telek leaned back in his chair, wagging his head. Of course he knew this was not even close to being true. Saren was not one of the first to be indoctrinated. There were many that came before, including Telek himself and Kiryuu. The Sangheili was about to mention that, but decided to keep his mandibles tight on the subject, realizing that for now, it was best to keep such things away from the ex-Cerberus agents. Though Megellan could sense some of his thoughts on the matter and nodded with agreement. Telek passed him a similar glance as their eyes met.
"Ms. Lawson…" began Kedzuel as he rose up from his chair. "Do you have an idea why Cerberus and the Illusive Man would give Reaper technology to Jul 'Mdama?"
"One thing that is a trait of the Illusive Man," began Miranda. "Is that he is very illusive." She rose up and held out her cream-colored hand. "And it's Miranda, Your Majesty."
Kedzuel took it and shook it firmly: "Thank you."
"Jacob, sir," said Jacob as he held out his thick hand to the Emperor. Kedzuel returned the gesture, giving it a firm shake as well.
"Kedzuel," said the Blitzardi.
"No one knows who the Illusive Man is," said Tali.
"No one knows his name," said Garrus. "And I believe Kiryuu Knight has been stumped by who and what the Illusive Man just so happens to be." The Turian turned his gaze upon Telek. "And from what I heard from you, Supreme Commander, that's been more trouble for the big cyborg dinosaur."
"What I've been gettin' from Kiryuu is that he and the Illusive Man are playing some huge game of chess," said Telek. "The only problem is, I think Kiryuu fears that he is losing the game."
"Finally an organic who can out think Mr. Knight?" Tali asked, her voice holding a note of interest. "That is a first."
"The Former President as never seen himself as infallible, Tali," said Shepard. "And you forget one thing about him. He's not entirely a synthetic either, he was alive, organic once. Even had a...mate...sons, daughters."
"Back when Kiryuu was nothing more than a confused animal in the wrong century," said Telek. "Never ended well for him. That's why he is what he is now."
"I...keep forgetting that part," said Tali as she bowed her head and folded her hands in her lap.
"Miranda, if you think you might have some idea as to why he's giving Jul Reaper tech," said Telek. "Is the Illusive Man backing Jul and his little cult?"
"As I said," said Miranda. "I can't give you a definate answer." Then she lifted a hand to chin and gave it a scratch in thought. "Though, I can perhaps give some suggestions. Cerberus, before it became fully controlled by the Illusive Man, was a section controlled by the Office of Naval Intelligence. Some of their notable references is during the Insurrection War. They would often times implant operatives who would pretend they were Insurrectionists, gain trust from the masses, while secretly subverting them. ONI used Cerberus agents to manipulate Insurrectionists and weakening their infrastructure."
Kedzuel turned around to look at Telek, who seemed lost as he listened to Miranda's stories of how Cerberus worked during the Insurrection War. His arms were crossed and his eyes unfocused.
"Telek," began the Blitzardi. "You said the Sangheili Civil War is weakening your people's might. It's why you wanted me to help you stop this, so you can come together to help us defeat the Reapers. Cerberus maybe trying to weaken the Sangheili by fueling this war and providing technology that can give them an easy win."
Telek wagged his head and huffed with a snort of frustration.
"What I don't get is why," he said. "Why would they do this? We're supposed to be allies with the humans now."
"I know for a fact that some of humanity haven't really forgiven you guys for the little genocidal war you threw us in," said Jacob. "Despite the fact you...Admiral, decided to make friends with us."
"I suppose some old hatred are hard to get rid of," said Telek. "I've heard some of Jul's men call some of my own human crewmen 'nishum'. It means armored parasite, which is the very insulting word my people used to mean humans. The hatred still goes both ways." His head dropped as he removed his helmet. "Jul is more than willing to use anything to his advantage. He's a Zealot, as you maybe able to guess. Though from what I've seen of his religious propaganda vids, that old beat-up armor he wears doesn't make him look like one. Even if that means using technology he has no business in touching. Since Jul and his little cronies don't believe the Reapers are a threat, they're not afraid to dabble in their technology."
"Maybe we can use their ignorance to what it can do to our advantage," said Kedzuel. "My people were not against studying Reaper technology. After all, it was a part of the game...eliminating them. We had no choice but to study, experiment, however, there were heavy regulations."
"Not even Kethosi were immune to King Ghidorah's charms," said Megellan. "It was often advised that Lengodo handle most of the studying. It has to do with my race's natural psychokinetic abilities." He turned his head towards Kedzuel and then bobbed his head. "Lengodo natural abilities aren't as flashy as the Blitzardi, but they are still pretty damned powerful. I can tear through your mind and leave you babbling on the floor in a second. Or I can make you believe you're a fuzzy little bunny delivering chocolate eggs. And I was born with those powers."
"However, Megellan is half Blitzardi," said Kedzuel. "On his mother side. Even if he doesn't look it. Blitzardi are the only Kethosi who have sharp spines on their forearms. That's the only thing that makes Mel a little different than other Lengodo."
Megellan rolled up his sleeves to show the four black, sharp spines under his forearms.
"And he's a pretty good shot with his fulgurkenisis," said Kedzuel. "Though it's not as potent as a full-blooded Blitzardi. But if anyone needs someone's who's studied all sorts of electromagnetic frequencies and how to disrupt them, Mel is just as good as any Blitzardi, if not better."
"It's because I stop and think, use my powers at least scientifically," said Megellan. "Blitzardi have a habit of being a bit brutish. All muscle, and none of the brain."
"Hey!"
"Case in point," said Megellan, noting Kedzuel's retort. "Both his arms and his wing pectorals are over developed, but his brain case is quite small."
"Excuse me for not passing math in the academy," said Kedzuel. "Blitzardi math, one plus one, means my fist in your face."
Megellan chuckled: "Alright, I'll shut up now. But you did beg me to do all your homework while you went out and partied with the girls."
"You two sound like you're old friends," said Shepard.
"We met in Kethosi version of what you humans call middle school," said Megellan. "Well, because of my particular race's ability to block psychic attacks, especially with the best trained Lengodo having that ability, Lengodo scientists were essential for the study of Reaper technology. However, we couldn't block it for long. So minimum exposure was important. But there were often casualties dying for the greater good. I over saw many of these studies, and had the harder job of informing families of what they lost." He paused in his thought as if to remember some of the faces he had lost during such studies. "And the work was often ongoing. There was never any singular answer, just a pile of data stored, we learned more and more about them, but we lost just as much as we gained."
"Indoctrinated scientists," began Kedzuel. "Can never join the Array…give You Know Who the knowledge she needs to assist us in defeating King Ghidorah. Each time our scientists came close to an answer, that was when they were taken and whatever knowledge they gained from it was lost...returning to King Ghidorah rather than being shared through the Array."
"So we made habits in keeping hard copies," said Megellan. "We saved what we could on the Array, but when it got too far, and we knew it, we had to resort to paper copies, mineral slabs, data laced upon crystallized Black Lake cubes. Those were stored in what we called 'Sacred Records'. Not for any religious reasons, mind you, but they were very sacred because they held the key to knowing the Reapers weaknesses. Weaknesses we exploited over and over. But there was always a small problem."
"And what's that?" Shepard asked.
"There wasn't a true way to destroy Reapers once and for all," said Kedzuel. "We've spent five million years trying to figure one out...since King Ghidorah started to use the Reapers as a method of causing the Cycle of Extinction."
"It's because King Ghidorah cannot be killed by any means this reality can offer," said Megellan.
Kedzuel slowly walked over to the Commander as she rose from her chair.
"I hate to tell you Shepard, but if you're trying to find a way to destroy the Reapers once and for all," he began in a low, sadden voice. "You're going to need a lifetime even greater than ours to find one. The best we can do is destroy the Reapers King Ghidorah forms from harvested biomass. But it doesn't mean that will stop King Ghidorah. He will always create more Reapers, a new batch. It takes him fifty to a hundred thousand years to form them. In that time, he readies planets for harvesting, gathering up souls and knowledge. Your people witnessed it in the early 21st Century of your calendar when King Ghidorah came down from the stars and attacked London." He turned his gaze upon the others. "And even if we could destroy King Ghidorah, the fighting is ongoing. There will always be other abominations from the Far Realm. It's been that way since the beginning, even since the creations of the very first universes that came before this one."
"Do you know why?" Shepard asked. "Why these creatures tend to attack realities like ours."
"That, Commander," began Megellan. "Is a question not even the Array can answer. It is a question that You Know Who has never understood. That is why the Array exists and why Technomancers exists." He looked to Miranda and Jacob. "We're here so we can answer that question for her."
"Then, if it is information you need," began Miranda. "I can supply with some of what I have on Ceberus. But since we've gone rogue, the Illusive Man has cut much of my accesses to their databases. What all I have now was saved on EDI's hard drives."
"And maybe you can provide us with some information about the Reapers that you learned," said Shepard.
"I intend to give that knowledge freely without any strings," said Kedzuel.
"Good to know."
"However, if any of you wish to have my fleet's help," Kedzuel continued. "Then I do need to ask for resources. Meaning, help us help you."
"Resources," said Telek, finally able to speak after such a long silence of deep thought. "I'm beginning to figure out why Jul went to Cerberus for Reaper tech. Jul and his cult believe that creating technology is a sin, however using technology discovered is not. This explains why his ships were in such disrepair, why he and his men were wearing such broken and beat up armor. They can't build or even repair what they need on their own. They have to go to outside sources."
"Then, the Illusive Man may have found his perfect guinea pig to test what Reaper tech he has found," said Miranda. "And that is where Kai Leng comes in. Leng is providing Jul 'Mdama with Reaper tech to augment his ships and extend the civil war, which will of course keep the Elites divided and weak. After all, I know he was never happy about you or Kiryuu's constantly ruining his plans."
"Or the fact you called for the Illusive Man's head after Lord Hood was…" said Jacob. He soon cut himself short, swiftly realizing what he was about to say to the Sangheili who thought of Lord Hood as a brother in arms.
"Murdered?" Telek asked. "Yeah, you better believe I want the Illusive Man's head." He ignited his plasma sword. "I am more than willing to deliver the killing swing."
Kedzuel ignited his technomantic blade clashing it against Telek's own.
"Hey," he said. "Come on…"
Telek parried the blade away from him and then growled furiously at the Blitzardi. His mandibles flapped and quivered. With a snort, the Sangheili shut the emitter off and holstered it upon his hip.
"You didn't know Terrance, Kedzuel," he said. "When that man died, it was like losing Jacob Keyes and A.J. Johnson all over again. He...put a lot of faith in me and he didn't have to."
As Kedzuel let go of his sword, the beam of light vanishing, he placed a hand upon Telek's shoulder.
"I may not have fought that war, but Malcho has never let a single day go by since I got here two years ago where he didn't remind me over and over what it was all about," he said. "And what men like Lord Hood did for Earth."
The big Sangheili's crystal blue eyes narrowed upon Miranda and Jacob.
"So, the Illusive Man wants to make my life a living hell by keeping the Sangheili Civil War up, huh? Makes me wonder if he is helping some of those crazies in the Council to incriminate me, make me look like the heretic that Truth tried to make me look like after I defected."
"I wouldn't put it past him in some ways," said Miranda. "He does like holding grudges. He's about to hold a few against all of us, no doubt."
"Well, at least we have something to go on," said Kedzuel.
Shepard nodded and looked to Miranda: "Can you provide Admiral 'Heros and Emperor Kedzuel with some possible places Jul 'Mdama and his cult are meeting up with Kai Leng, or even any Cerberus operative giving them the tech."
"Yes, ma'am," said Miranda as she clutched her hand, allowing the glowing, orange gauntlet of the Omni Tool to form around her arm. She then stood there, silently waiting for the Blitzardi to call upon his own version of the Omni Tool in order to receive the information she was about to give him. Kedzuel shook his head and held up his hand again with small smile.
"I don't use Omni Tools for transference of information," he said. "However, I can jack my cords into yours and transfer it through there. I don't suppose Cerberus keeps their logs on the Array...encrypted…?"
"Cerberus knows that it's possible for other Technomancers to get into things he doesn't want them to see," said Jacob. "So, no. He only uses Technomancers for our combat abilities only. Being able to create a weapon out of energy...from nothing is a skill he appreciates. And the fact that we can knock even the most skilled Asari biotics off their feet helps too. Teleportation is another.
"And now since we've discovered that the Forerunners also used Technomancy, our skills are becoming even more valuable," said Miranda.
"Forerunners, huh?" Kedzuel asked as the long, glowing tendrils crept across the floor towards Miranda. "You just gave me another piece of the puzzle. Sangheili technology is loosely based around Forerunner tech. There could be a connection."
Miranda held out her arm as the glowing threads attached themselves to the hard light surface of her Omni Tool. She watched upon the small screen just above her forearm as files scrolled downward. Kedzuel's cords flickered, lights pulsating through the silia. Once the transference was complete, the Emperor's cords retracted slowly behind him.
"Thank you," he said.
"You're welcome," said Miranda.
"Well," said Shepard. "I think we've learned a lot for one day. You think you can let my ship go now, Your Highness?"
"I can," said Kedzuel with a slight chuckle.
As the meeting had concluded, Shepard escorted her guests to the launching bay. The bay doors were fully open, letting in the light of the golden sun. It spilled upon the shiny, black paneled floors. The air outside smelled sweet, clean. Shepard could see pink blossoms blooming over a small, grassy knoll. Behind, was the edge of a forest filled with what looked to be pale blossoms of cherry trees. Beyond that, she could see a grand palace carved out of a rocky hill, decorated with entwining, gigantic trees and vines. Waterfalls spilled out from the cliff above the palace and emptied into babbling brooks of crystal blue water. She could hear the sounds of birds singing in the trees and she spied a flock of them flying just beyond the bay doors. If Shepard did not know anything of Kethosi architecture, she could have sworn the Precursors had a thing for nature.
Behind her came Garrus, Tali, Jacob, and Miranda. Before they could say their goodbyes, both Kedzuel and Megellan vanished, only to suddenly reappear outside the Normandy SR-2 and standing in their true, gigantic size. The ship's bay was now at chest height to the enormous Blitzardi.
"Wow, your species really is gigantic," said Shepard.
"Makes the rest of us look like tiny dolls," said Tali. "And the Normandy a toy."
Kedzuel rumbled a chuckle, his broad voice causing the doors of the bay to rattle.
"I would dare to say that you are nearly as big as the Normandy SR-1," said Tali.
"Not that big," said Kedzuel. "But my wingspan is close. By your measurements, I'm 79 meters tall. My length from nose to tail is around 127 meters and my wings are nearly twice that."
"Big man," said Shepard. "I'm betting the size is rather handy when fighting Reapers."
"Very much so," said Kedzuel. "Considering many Blitzardi are their size to begin with. To us, fighting Reapers is just like fighting against other warriors rather than ships…a few times when we engaged them on planet surfaces, we jump upon their crests, stick our swords in them and slice downward, cutting them in half."
"Wouldn't want to tangle with you in a fight," said Garrus.
"We'd be afraid you'd squash us if you did," said Jacob.
Kedzuel reached out, angling his hand flat so Telek could climb right into his palm. As soon as the Sangheili was safe, Kedzuel backed away.
"Where would you like for me to drop you off, Commander?" the Blitzardi asked.
"Drop me off?" Shepard asked. "What do you mean?"
"My ship can go anywhere within a blink of an eye," said Kedzuel. "Since you are still on the run from the UNSC authorities, I can fold space to an area where you would be less likely found."
Shepard looked behind her to her fellow squadmates: "Got any ideas where we could go?"
"The Terminus System is one spot, Shepard," said Garrus. "It is out of UNSC judicial range, as well as the Council. Though not always the safest place to be, but considering the current state we're in, it's better than nothing."
"I do know where the Terminus System is," Kedzuel said. "Since I've traveled with Alan, I was able to log a visual coordinate of Ilium. I can easily just take you there."
Garrus shook his head: "Bad idea. A lot of people...especially people we don't want seeing the Normandy might be able to spot us there."
"I am afraid that is the only visual coordinate I have," said Kedzuel.
"You just can't plot a course and go to a system, or even an empty piece of space?" Tali asked.
"No," said Kedzuel. "Folding space is a little bit more complicated than that. I need a visual coordinate, images, a landmark so I can guide the Shi'lithra to it."
"Can you just pick just pick a system?" asked Shepard.
"No," replied Kedzuel. "I have to have a visual landmark. Usually, it is best that it be a planet. No two planets look alike, so it is easier to navigate."
"If this ship can in fact be undetectable by virtually any scanner known to the galaxy," began Tali. "Then, why not...um...fold space to Ilium and then drop us off just outside it's oort cloud? No one usually watches from there."
"I suppose the gravity wells from the debris may be able to keep you hidden when I leave," said Kedzuel. "I could do that."
"Just whatever you do," began Telek. "Don't make me sick again when you move the ship."
"No promises."
"I thought not."
Kedzuel raised a claw and the reddening sky suddenly turned pitch black. Tiny stars filled the sky, twinkling like diamonds in the blackness. A singular light in the far off distance grew brighter and brighter as the stars themselves streaked across the sky. The sea green and blue surface of Ilium zoomed swiftly into view, its disk filling half of the sky inside the ship. Kedzuel grinned as he heard the sound of a few gasping from his captive audience. The Shi'lithra came into a slow orbit above the planet, though it went undetected by any of the ground scanners.
"Here we are," said Kedzuel.
"That was fast," said Jacob.
"Very fast," said Miranda. "Blink and you're there."
Cargo ships floated through the landscape of the pocket dimension inside Kedzuel's massive ship, completely unaware that they had done so.
"My ship mostly has to remain phased," said Kedzuel. "It is quite dangerous to just suddenly appear out of nowhere and who knows what may have collided with us. Normally, I would contact terminals below, advising them to move their ships out of the way so that mine can return to reality without getting anyone stuck it the hull."
"That is still something else," said Shepard.
Kedzuel pulled up a cyan hued holographic vector of the Tasale and its six planets. Above in the sky, Ilium began to shrink as the ship backed away. Within mere seconds they passed the third planet, and then the fourth, and the fifth, and at last the sixth. The ship entered the oort cloud just as a misshapen dwarf planet passed across the sky above. Kedzuel opened his own scanners, searching for any signs of who was watching. Once he felt satisfied that he could safely phase the ship back into reality, he did so.
"Alright," he said. "We are back in three dimensional space."
"I don't feel any different," said Shepard.
"You're not supposed to."
Tali pointed at the palace a ways from the grassy plain: "That cannot be your house."
Kedzuel turned slightly just to peak beyond his wing: "It is."
"You have a palace inside a ship!" Tali called, breaking with disbelief, or perhaps envy. "And forests, and mountains, and streams, water, birds. A sun, a sky. Wind. You have wind in here. Where does your crew live?"
"Some of them live in the palace," said Kedzuel. "Most live in the crew apartments surrounding the palace. Though not as fancy, they are very comfortable, and...by your standards...more spacious and lavish. We care about comfort on my ship. Less chances of mutiny that way."
"Ack, don't ever say 'mutiny' to a Quarian," said Tali.
"It's considered a bad word among them," said Shepard.
Kedzuel dipped his head: "So sorry, I didn't mean to insult. I just meant, the comfortable quarters help boost morale among the crew."
"I know my morale would very high if I could manage a walk through the woods," said Garrus. "While serving on the ship that houses those woods."
"Well, perhaps when we meet again," Kedzuel began. "I can take you on a tour some time. Maybe showing your fellow Quarians the interior of my ship might help bring the Migrant Fleet into helping us."
"They would say it is a very pretty ship," said Tali. "But I know many of them wouldn't want you to attempt to build these pocket universes for their ships, Your Highness. We Quarians have a very low immune system, even having plants around us can be a bit disastrous."
"I can understand," said Kedzuel. "I suppose living in a sterile environment does weaken the helpful cells needed to fight off infections and viruses. I don't know what my scientists can do for you, since we know nothing at this time of Quarian biology, I have heard of the state of your homeworld. As I promised Wrex, I could attempt to refurbish yours as well after the war, Ms Vas Normandy."
"Easily done," said Megellan. "And if I had cell samples to study, I could have our medical experts figure out ways of strengthening your immune system. It must be very uncomfortable living in an environment suit all the time."
"I'm used to it," said Tali. "But it is not pleasant. I'll think on that."
"Promising more gifts?" asked Shepard. "The war's not won yet, Your Highness."
"It is certainly not," said Kedzuel. "Anything you'd like as well, Mr. Vakarian?"
"It's Garrus," he said. "And nothing personal. Palaven is still habitable, we've got all we need. I just want to make sure you'll be ready to fight when the Reapers get here. Can Palaven count on a few of your ships to help out?"
"Of course they can," said Kedzuel. "After speaking with the Citadel Council, Valern sent a few of my requests to the Primarch on Palaven. And they've sent me a listing of a few uninhabited worlds I might be able to mine for Black Lake. Actually found a very large deposit on Aventen and we're currently scraping it off now, after getting permission of course."
"Aventen?" asked Garrus. "There's nothing on that planet. We Turians mined that one clean ages ago."
"Nothing you could have used," said Kedzuel. "But much similar to Earth's rather massive deposit of Black Lake, Adventen's mantle has veins of the stuff. I think one of my geologists called it a Black Lake gold mine and we've kicked ourselves for not discovering it sooner."
"Well, if the Primarch isn't all that bothered about you Precursors excavating it, it's fine by me."
"We are still sticking to the plan of only mining on either uninhabited worlds or worlds that have very little habitation on them," said Megellan. "Since Black Lake mining tends to cause major ecological damage to the planet. Earthquakes, multiple volcanic eruptions, and if the planet has oceans, massive tsunamis."
"Big reason why we've stopped mining operations on Earth," said Kedzuel. "Instead we've switched over to a few moons around Uranus. They've got better deposits." His eyes roved back to Commander Shepard. "It was nice to finally meet you after the stories I've heard."
"Same here," Shepard said with a swift nod.
"I hope we can keep in touch at least."
"Love to, but right now isn't the best idea for that," said Shepard. "I'd hate to be chatting with you and all of a sudden the UNSC discovered my location. I do intend to turn myself in, but only after I've dropped off my crew into safe locations first."
Kedzuel and Megellan backed away from the ship and then politely bowed.
"Da'i shijou han," Kedzuel said as he leaned back up. "It means fair travels in Blitzardi."
"Good luck, Commander," said Telek. "Just be careful. My fleet won't tell anyone you were here, but that don't mean that it's safe to relax."
"I know that, sir," said Shepard as she clicked her heels and saluted. "Thank you, Admiral." Her eyes returned to Kedzuel. "And take care of Liara, Your Highness. Tell her I asked about her."
"I shall," said Kedzuel. "Speed on."
"Alright, everybody get inside before this boat takes off," called Joker from the comm. "If you're not inside in two seconds, it's sailin' without you!"
"We're in, Joker," said Shepard.
"Aye, aye, Commander."
The hatch closed slowly. A flicker of energy fluctuated around the Normandy as the shielding around it vanished. The ship powered its thrusters and streaked through the sky. Kedzuel dipped his head and a flicker of blue light appeared against the sky, guiding the Normandy safely out of the inclosed universe within his ship. The moment they finally existed the Shi'lithra, Joker could at last get a view of Kedzuel's ship. Behind him, Commander Kaelyn Shepard came walking with Tali and Garrus.
"Take a look at that, Commander," said Joker. "Now that is a dreadnaught."
"It's too big to be a dreadnaught," said Garrus. "That ship is in a class all its own."
The Normandy glided down across the black, slick, shiny, sharp angular surfaces and impossible geometric architecture that gave shape to the Shi'lithra. There were curves along the ship that no current space-faring species could even create. Speckles of light flickered across the surface, energy zipped and zapped upon thin needles jutting forth from the sea of black. The Normandy looked like nothing more than a speck of dust amid the goliath Shi-class juggernaut.
"It is beautiful," said Tali. "Twenty of those ships could house every Quarian on the Flotilla. And have room to spare."
"He has more of those ships," said Garrus. "Isn't that what we got from the report?"
"Lots more," said Shepard. "Each one specifically designed to destroy Reapers."
"Kinda makes me just want to step back and let them handle it," said Joker. "And watch the fun from the sidelines."
"They did it that way, Joker," said Shepard. "And civilizations died, mostly because of them, as Kedzuel said. No one was involved with the destruction of the Reapers except for them, and they caused just as many extinctions as the Reapers. I think it's better we do it this way, have them work with us. It will save a lot of lives. This is our galaxy." She looked behind to Garrus and Tali. "All of our galaxy."
"Normandy are you at a safe distance away now?" chimed in Kedzuel's voice from the speakers.
"Roger that, Shi'lithra," said Joker. "You are cleared for departure."
"Thank you. Take care."
At last the whole body of the Shi'lithra could be seen through the forward glass in front of Joker's pilot chair. Blue-white ribbons of energy laced across the black surface.
"I think he's going to give us a view of what folding space looks like when he's ship is not phased," said Garrus.
"Folding space," said EDI. "His ship can warp spacetime itself, bring the destination he wishes to go to him, instead him going to it. Such a method has always been theorized by scientists, but never been proven or seen. This should be quite educational."
As the energy intensified across the hull of the ship, the Shi'lithra appeared from the Normandy as stretched, farther and farther to enfinity, coalescing upon a singular point off in the distance. For what Shepard could tell, the ship seemed to be a rubber band in space, stretched out to its maximum. When the tension had reached its peak, the aft part of the ship zipped way, faster than the human eye could catch. To Shepard and Joker, the ship just winked out.
"I have logged the phenomenon in my database," said EDI. "As I had stated, it was educational."
"That is a fast ship," said Tali said, finally able to breathe after witnessing something even her people believed to be an impossibility.
"Nah," said Joker. "I bet the Shi'lithra has really bad maneuverability. But she can certainly leave in style." He turned his seat around to Shepard. "I must say though, it was awfully nice of the Emperor of the Known Universe to leave us in a system with a Mass Relay."
"Certainly was," said Shepard. "Set course to it."
"Aye, aye, Commander."