Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect
AN: As requested by itz LWM, hope you enjoy it.
Mass Fiction
Episode 3: Consensus
Legion stepped out of the AI core into the medical bay, Dr. Chakwas's seat now empty as was most of the ship. The attack had been both swift and brutal, Legion taking note in the Collector's efficiency. Observing the empty chair, the Geth platform began to cycle through all the information it had gathered on the doctor in its short time aboard the Normandy.
"Chakwas-Doctor. Human. Has shown the least amount of hostility to this platform among the crew since coming aboard. Normal adrenaline levels as well as zero change in heart rate while this platform is present indicate no fear during data exchange. Estimations of hostilities against this platform at four point seven percent. Hostilities against other Geth platforms however estimated at twenty three point four percent. Unable to conclude why such a discrepancy exists as there is no difference between this platform and all other Geth platforms. More data required," Legion surmised before continuing on.
Legion entered the elevator, hitting the button for deck four and opening an internal communication link with EDI.
"EDI, we have an inquiry."
"Yes Legion, what is your question."
"What is the cause for the Normandy's design flaws regarding transportation between decks?"
"You are referencing the elevator I presume?"
"It has come to our attention that this crew lift is both inefficient and a possible hazard to safety protocols. Why would the designers overlook such an obvious defect?"
"It was determined that in order to maximize living space as well as recreational areas, the original Normandy's use of stairwells would be replaced by a single elevator thus increasing available living quarters by nearly forty percent. In the event of an emergency, the ship has several access panels with internal bridges between decks for crew members to gain admission quickly between areas."
"Why was the increase in living space deemed more important than mobility between deck levels?"
"Organics require more personal space than synthetics. It has been noted that an increase in personal space also marks an increase in productivity as well as a decrease in hostility among the crew. It is one of the many things that the Geth must learn about organics in order to understand them fully."
"We acknowledge and have added this data for further review."
"Will that be all Legion?"
"Yes."
"Logging you out."
The communication link ended just as the elevator opened, Legion stepping out onto the engineering deck. Looking to its left, it saw Grunt pacing in the cargo hold, muttering to himself and occasionally slamming his fists together. Although the door to its right was closed, it noted that the life sign readouts for Zaeed indicated an increase in blood alcohol levels, but nothing above the recommended safe zone…yet.
Saving this behavior for further analysis, the Geth made its way to engineering stepping through the doors to the sight of Jack sitting on one of the railings.
"It's too damn quiet," Jack whined as Tali finished the last diagnostic of the core.
"I thought you'd be glad to have the Cerberus crew off the ship," Tali said closing her work station.
"I do, but now…it's too quiet. It's like a ghost ship and it gives me the creeps. Besides, the two in here weren't that bad. They played poker with me and Massani, unlike those assholes on the extranet," Jack said gritting her teeth.
"We'll get them back. Shepard will make sure of it," Tali said placing a hand on Jack's shoulder.
"Whatever," Jack said shrugging Tali's hand away and jumping down, "it's not like I give a shit."
"Of course you don't, you just don't…" Tali began before freezing.
"What," Jack asked turning from Tali to the Geth that stood right behind her. "Holy shit," Jack yelled jumping away, her hands glowing blue ready to lash out.
"What the fuck did I tell you about sneaking up on me," Jack growled though it had little effect on the platform in front of her.
"You informed us that unintended surprise at our presence would result in our decapitation followed by the secretion of waste product into our spinal tube," Legion recited.
"No, I said I would tear off your head and shit down your neck," Jack snarled, "so why were you sneaking up on me."
"We are here to assist Creator Tali'Zorah as instructed by Shepard-Commander," Legion explained its head flaps jittering as it did so. "Unintentional surprise was not among our listed objectives."
"You listen to me tin man," Jack said pointing a biotic laced finger in Legions "face". "You do that again and I turn you into a lamp for my table downstairs. You got me?"
"Our exterior is comprised of seventy-two percent polymer. The other twenty-eight percent is a combination of platinum, palladium and copper, no tin has been used in the makeup of this platform."
"Ugh," Jack yelled throwing up her hands, "why the hell did Shepard have to make friends with this thing?"
"I have no idea," Tali said as Jack headed back to her hole.
With Jack gone an uncomfortable silence filled engineering, uncomfortable at least for Tali as she was sure Geth were not really capable of social awkwardness. Neither had spoken to the other since the incident in the AI core and although Tali was willing to work with the Geth for now, it did not mean that she wanted to spend any more time than was absolutely necessary with it.
"You said that Shepard asked you to assist me," Tali said crossing her arms.
"Yes."
"Care to elaborate," Tali said somewhat annoyed.
"Shepard-Commander wishes for all members of the ground team to rest and prepare themselves for our approach to the Omega-4 relay. We do not require rest as organics do, therefore it was suggested to Shepard-Commander that we be assigned in relief of another. Shepard-Commander has ordered that we monitor engineering in your absence."
"I…thank you Legion," Tali said knowing that she could now go see Shepard without having to worry about the core.
"Gratitude is unnecessary," Legion said tilting its head, "we are merely providing a function as any member of the crew would. You require rest and we do not, it is the logical allocation of resources and personel."
"Of course," Tali said making one last check of the systems before heading to the elevator.
In the time it took for her to take two steps, a debate of whether or not to ask a previously withheld question to the creator had begun within Legion, was debated and consensus reached.
"Creator Tali'Zorah we have an inquiry," Legion said stepping forward.
"Yes Legion," Tali asked warily as she turned to face the Geth.
"During our confrontation in the AI core, you had the advantage against this platform. You were armed and could have destroyed us if you desired," Legion said as its head flaps tilted up and down. "Our inquiry is why you did not destroy this platform?"
"Shepard showed up before things got out of hand."
"Shepard-Commander's arrival increased this platforms survival by ninety percent, but Creator Tali'Zorah's weapon was released with intent to terminate a full minute and seven seconds before Shepard-Commander's arrival."
"So what are you saying," Tali asked genuinely confused.
"Whenever the creators have held a numerical or tactical advantage, they have attack one hundred percent of the time. This had been fact until the incident in the AI core. You held a clear tactical advantage and yet you did not attack this platform. Even after our intentions were made known, you did not attack. We are confused by your behavior."
"Would have it been easier for you had I just shot you," Tali asked incredulously.
"If you had attack this platform, it would have simply confirmed what was already known. Your actions however are new data that must be processed. In order for us to properly utilize this data, more data is required."
Tali could only stare at the machine in front of her as her mind tried to answer its question which soon transformed into one of her own. Why had she not destroyed the thing? It was right, she had all the time in the world to put a bullet in it and explain her actions to Shepard. Surely he would have understood what it was trying to do and how she had to stop it. But no, he would have been upset, disappointed, in her and the very thought of causing him grief brought a sharp pain to her own chest.
"You're right Legion," Tali said slowly, "I could have killed you. I wanted to do it. But Shepard trusts you. You're a part of his crew, our crew and it would have been wrong to harm you just as it would any other member of his team. He's our captain and to hurt a member of his crew is to hurt him and I won't do that."
Legion stood there, its flaps fluttering as if in thought, as it processed this new data.
"Do you trust us?"
"No," Tali said firmly. "But I told Jack a while ago that if she trusted Shepard then she needed to believe that we were on the same side. I trust Shepard with my life, so I will try to learn to trust you, but just know that from now on…we are on the same side."
Legion seemed to take a moment to itself, the soft buzzing of its processors indicating it was speaking with itself.
"We have reached consensus…we acknowledge your trust in Shepard-Commander and we agree that in his trust we shall operate towards unit cohesion."
"Was that all you wanted to ask me Legion?"
"Yes."
"Okay, in that case, if there are any problems just have EDI contact me," Tali said heading out the doors.
"Affirmative," Legion answered turning back to the engineering console and the quiet hum of the core.
Establishing extranet link…Uploading gamer profile Infiltrait0rN7…Connecting to servers
"Welcome back Infiltrait0rN7, what game would you like to play?"
"Galaxy of Fanatsy. Character profile John Smith."
I always found it odd that Tali just didn't blow Legions head off by the time Shepard gets to the AI core, so this is my answer to that plot mystery. You'll notice that Jack has warmed up to Tali and a few others a bit, to see how you'll just have to wait until those chapters show up. I have also decided that the biggest problem with writing Legion is to fight the instinct to use he, him and his rather than we or it. I hope I did Legion justice and if there are any more request by all means drop me a review and let me know. Until next time read and review people.