Chapter 3: The More Things Change...
Theed, Naboo
Sienar Fleet Systems Shipyard
Three weeks later...
The last few weeks had been a collection of ups and downs. Most of their time on Naboo had been a learning experience for them, adapting to the overall pacifistic way of life that these people adhered by as a whole. Conflict resolution was their forte, and with what they'd been through, it was oddly enough the perfect place for them. After years of war against an enemy that had been hell bent in destroying them outright, peace and quiet was exactly what the needed. Padme Amidala had been especially vocal in securing them all the rights and privileges native residents to Naboo enjoyed, giving them a place in all but name on the lush, verdant planet.
No one had questioned Shepard's near quixotic quest to get the Normandy back into some semblance of working order not long after the crew had finally recovered. The end result of her determination however was currently staring the grizzled Admiral in the face. Trying to salvage the Normandy and make repairs to the ship had proved disastrous. Losing the drive core after it's initial power up had been the last straw. The fact Panaka had nearly lost his life in a desperate bid to get the unstable core out of the atmosphere before it detonated had finally convinced Shepard to give up. If it hadn't, Anderson was sure he would have had to step in and talk sense into the Commander at that point, but thankfully it hadn't come to that.
As for Captain Panaka, he had been a little shaken up but he had succeeded in getting the core off world in time. If not for Anakin and Obi-wan's assistance at the time however, Anderson wasn't sure he'd even be contemplating the incident at all. Without the slightest hesitation, they had carved a large hole into the hull which had allowed Panaka to tractor beam the core out and away before towing it into high orbit. Even now Shepard seemed hard pressed to speak with the man after giving her initial thanks. The experience had clearly shakened her to her core. David could relate, knowing how badly she and the crew had wanted their home restored to them, he couldn't say that he wouldn't have made the same near catastrophic decision to risk powering up the Normandy's systems.
With that in mind, David didn't need to see Jessica's face as her eyes swept the wreckage one last time to know what she was thinking. He knew what the Normandy meant to her. Seeing one's command reduced to a tangled mass of wreckage never got easier. To see the once mighty warship so utterly gutted, so beyond hope of repair, was devastating to the crew's morale. Despite the amount of time they had been allowed to heal and recover both physically and mentally on the beautiful planet, where Padme's promise of sovereign territory to call their own had been made a reality, the assembled crew behind them in the massive shipyard all wore similar expressions of loss as they stared morosely at the mangled vessel, suspended in a number of gravitic lifters and repulsor energy fields.
Giving command of the SR-1 over to Shepard, despite the circumstances surrounding his stepping down, had been one of the proudest days of David's life. The things she had accomplished with the stealth recon frigate in only a few short years were beyond anything veteran admirals could hope to match after a lifetime of service. And now the second ship to bear the proud name of Normandy, the ship that had seen her and her crew through the Reaper War, was, for all intents and purposes, dead.
How they were going to bounce back from the loss of their home, let alone everything they had ever known, was beyond him. That self pitying thought was quickly squashed flat as Anderson turned to Shepard, before quietly whispering in her ear. "I know this isn't going to be easy for you, but just remember, you're the one they all look to for hope now. Give them something to believe in, to live for."
"Considering we're still alive is good enough for me sir, but seeing her like this….even I can't shake the feeling a part of me's been ripped out." Looking over her shoulder, Jess winced when she met Tali's distraught gaze. It made sense the quarian would have been hit harder by the loss of the ship than most of them, since they lived their whole lives on vessels of one kind or another. So with that in mind, Shepard made it a point of singling her out for a quick, reassuring hug before addressing the crew as a whole.
"I know what you're all thinking, because I'm thinking it too. We've lost the Normandy, our ship, our home, and perhaps any hope of making it back to where we belong. But if I've learned anything since starting this journey with all of you, it's that there's always hope as long as we believe in each other. We found the lost prothean world of Ilios, we stopped Saren, we destroyed the Collectors beyond the Omega 4 Relay, and we annihilated the Reapers against all odds. We've lost good friends, we've been through Hell and back, but we're still here. We will get through this too."
"We're with you all the way Skipper!" Ashley stated immediately, needing no further persuasion or encouragement. Not that she needed a lot to begin with.
James spoke up next, keeping his voice deceptively calm and casual. "So what now Commander? We got a new mission yet? Speaking for myself, I'm getting a little bored with the constant pampering and sunny beaches. And these twi'lek girls... well I'm certainly not bored of them."
His comment, which earned him a light hearted jab in the ribs from Ashley, seemed to have the intended effect as several of his fellow crewmates chuckled or snickered.
"I'll say Vega." Kasumi chortled, grinning from beneath her hood. "I wonder if Ash would have broken that green one's wrist if she hadn't stopped pawing at you."
"Certainly crossed my mind." Ash growled out, managing to look a bit mortified for the crew's benefit as she was on to Vega's little game.
"Glad you didn't Ash, Nira took me on a lovely tour of the city... and various other places." Garrus chuckled even when Tali stomped on his foot. "Jealous much?"
"Bosh'tet." Was Tali's curt response.
"Aw, the little quarian princess needs to get laid." Jack's snickering only increased as Tali's silvery eyes burned into her.
"Heh heh heh."
"Keelah! Shut up Grunt."
Liara calmly rested a hand on Shepard's arm, subtly shaking her head when the marine turned to the small group next to her with fire in her eyes. The forthcoming tirade died on her lips, much to the young asari's relief, but she knew Shepard would reign them in once Padme and her escort was out of sight.
"Ahem. I'm sorry to interrupt, but if I may?" A blushing Padme asked Shepard as her gaze swept over the watchful crowd.
"Apologies Senator Amidala." Samara stated softly, yet loud enough to be heard by everyone present on the platform overlooking the wreckage before them. It was more than enough to ensure that Padme wouldn't be interrupted, for at least a few minutes anyway.
"Thank you Justicar Samara. As I was trying to say, there might be an alternative solution to your... recent unfortunate situation."
"Ha! That's one way of puttin' it. Well go on then! Don't keep us in suspense your Highness. Not like this canna get any worse." Ken shouted out, cupping his hands over his mouth.
Gabby only added insult to injury by slamming an elbow into his side for his outburst. "What Kenneth meant to say is we're very grateful for everything you've done for us Senator. Please, continue."
Padme gave the redhead a grateful nod, then had an internal moment of panic when she realized she couldn't remember her name to save her life. "Thank you... um..."
"Engineer First Class Gabby Daniels ma'am. My idiot partner is Engineer Kenneth Donnelly. Second Class." Gabby added just to put a little extra salt into the metaphorical wound.
"Right." Padme took a moment to collect her thoughts and to curtail the urge to laugh at the look of mock betrayal on Kenneth's face before continuing. "I'd like all of you to know I've spoken with the Queen and the ruling council on your behalf. And while I wasn't as successful as I'd hoped-"
"What a shock, politicians are just as useless here too." Williams received a sharp glare from both Anderson and Shepard for her trouble, while Padme continued as if nothing had happened.
"-I did manage to convince them that a fine crew needs a fine ship." Sensing the group's rising interest and curiosity, Padme cut her speech short and gestured towards a far berth where various techs could be seen wielding laser torches and grav lifters. Before she could utter another word, the crew had already started shifting towards the active work site. "Just don't get too excited! She's not much to look at, but she's somewhat reliable. Maybe I should just start over..."
Glancing towards the flustered woman, Shepard's emerald eyes snapped to the quickly departing crowd. "Hey! I don't recall saying anyone was dismissed!" Silence fell over the vast open space as the crew stopped mid step and instinctively came to attention at the mere tone of Shepard's voice. "Crew dismissed." Jessica growled out, casting Padme an apologetic look while barely managing not to glance over at the sight that awaited her. "I have absolutely no idea how I'm going to repay you for all this Senator, but trust me, I'll find a way."
It was all she could do not to grin at the seasoned soldier as Padme waved Shepard towards the docking bay. "Go. I'll gladly wait."
"Thank you Senator. You are officially my favorite politician in this entire galaxy." With a respectful salute, Shepard trotted after her crew, and soon the only members of the group left were a quietly meditating Samara and an amused Anderson standing next to Padme.
"In case you missed it ma'am, she likes you." David chuckled, giving the senator a fond smirk at her slightly puzzled expression. "Most politicians wouldn't have been half as understanding as you've been since day one. Being a former Councillor on the Citadel, I understand all too well what it means to be in your position. And since they're all too busy scrambling to see your little surprise over there, let me be the first to officially thank you on the entire crew's behalf."
"We have a saying here on Naboo, Admiral." Padme began, and couldn't help but notice that Samara, despite being in a meditative trance, was also looking towards her with interest. Recounting one of the earliest lessons she had committed to memory, Padme was all too happy to share it with the strangers before her. "We are a very fortunate people, despite what we endured several years ago with the Trade Federation's attempted takeover, and we know it. That good fortune should not be taken for granted, and so we try to share and try to help those in need. It is our way of saying that we do not think ourselves entitled to that which we have, but rather, that we feel blessed beyond what we deserve. And so we share, and so we work, and in doing so, we become something larger than ourselves, and more fulfilled than one can become from idly enjoying good fortune."
David was impressed, and it showed in his wrinkled face as he mulled over the young woman's words. "With a mindset like that, it's little wonder you've managed to connect with Jessica as well as you have. Despite her rough exterior, she's where she is now because she is committed to helping everyone she can in her own way."
"I too am surprised to hear such profound wisdom from one so young." Samara calmly stated, never leaving her serene pose on the hard metallic floor. "We are truly fortunate to have discovered this world, and to have our interests represented by the rarest of beings. A noble politician who considers it her duty to see to the well being of those she serves. Even that of unexpected... guests."
For some reason, Padme felt privileged to witness the subtle smile on the radiant blue woman's lips before it vanished in an instant. From what she'd been told and had seen for herself, Samara rarely displayed emotions openly, so to see even a hint of a smile on the asari's lips was a major compliment to say the least.
"Um, thank you. That's one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me. Twice in two minutes, look at that." Padme nervously rubbed at the back of her neck as Samara returned to her meditation, showing no sign that she was going to stop anytime soon. "You can join the others you know."
A much more amused if still subtle smile appeared on Samara's face at Padme's suggestion. "I am nearly a thousand years old, child. I have seen much and experienced far more, especially since joining the Commander's company. A ship is nothing in the face of what I've known in my life. While your galaxy is truly fascinating, I am well beyond my maiden years."
"Well, just let me know if you need anything." The far, far younger woman said as she and Anderson stepped down from the platform and started making their way towards the crew, most of whom were frantically darting around the old, beat up corvette she had managed to procure. The CR70 was more than a few years outdated, but it was still a reliable, sturdy ship that would serve them well. Catching up with a contemplative Commander, Padme crossed her arms and looked up towards the scorched, scratched, and dented blue and white corvette. "So... what do you think?" Padme hesitantly asked, almost dreading the woman's answer.
Shepard reached up and ran a gloved hand over the dented hull before nodding her head in approval. "She's beautiful. She's no Normandy, but I think we can get her up to speed in no time. I know Tali's gotta be excited at the prospect of getting under the hood. Hope Adams can keep her from dismantling the entire ship just to figure out how it works."
"Excited might not be the right word Shepard." Garrus chimed in, a smug grin on his mandibled face. Tali had since disappeared into the ship, having said something about wanting to get to know the vessel inside and out as soon as possible. Or at least that's what Garrus though she said, he couldn't really tell over the squeals of joy. "I don't think we'll be seeing Tali again until she's memorized every power conduit, ventilation duct and bolt."
A loud roar of disgust ruined the moment for all of them. "Battlemaster! I don't see any cannons! How are we suppose to blow anything up with this peice of junk?"
Padme blinked in surprise as Shepard walked over and jabbed her finger into the massive krogan's armored chest. "Grunt! You can stay and be quiet, or you can go back to the consulate and help the construction crews. Maybe they'll even let you do some landscaping if you're lucky."
Grunt grumbled to himself but didn't complain further about the complete lack of explosion inducing weaponry.
'Holy shit, Shepard, have you seen the size of the engines on this baby? Bet I could get her from 0 to FTL in five seconds." Jeff said, gazing in pure awe at the huge array of thrusters and engines that made up the rear third of the vessel.
"I've seen better." Adams deadpanned, but even he was impressed by the size of the corvette's substantial sub-light engine section. "She'll need to be handled with care if she's as old as you've said Senator, but between myself, Ken, Gabby, and Tali, we'll take good care of her. After all, we kept the Normandy running despite Joker's insane flying."
"The insane flying that kept our asses in one piece you mean." Jeff deadpanned.
"And cracked nearly every support strut and power conduit." Adams retorted.
Jeff scoffed. "Details."
Traynor on the other hand was positively giddy at the sight of the sensor suites. "I don't care about the engines... look at those sensor arrays, and that main comm dish is enormous! Bet you could pull in the faintest signals with that beauty."
"Yes, with some modification I believe you're right." Liara offered, rubbing at her chin while she gazed at the same systems with a critical eye.
"And leave it to the comms geek and Miss Broker to take all the fun out of it." Jack sneered as she studied the ship's lines. "Hmm. Plenty of docking ports though, and she's fast. Got two huge assault pods on the starboard side too. Perfect for a little pirating action on the side." At the collection of suspicious looks from her friends, Jack threw her hands in the air and sighed. "It was a suggestion assholes. 'Sides, I'm a halfway decent bitch no thanks to Shepard and her goddamn conscience. It's fucking contagious."
"She's joking. Mostly." Shepard quickly blurted out, seeing the dubious look on Padme's face. "There was a time I'd have questioned her loyalties, but those days are far behind us."
Jack didn't quite manage to wipe the look of appreciation off her face fast enough for a smirking Shepard to miss it. "Whatever. I'm gonna go find a nice cozy spot down by engineering before someone snaps it up and I have to snap their neck for it."
Watching Jack stalk off towards the boarding ramp, Shepard winced and turned back to Padme. "Again, joking. Mostly."
"You certainly have a very interesting crew." Padme mused once more as she watched the mix of humans and aliens dashing around like younglings on Life Day morning.
Shepard sighed and shook her head at the sight. "You haven't even met all of them yet. As for the ones you have, I'd remind them they're still technically in the Alliance Navy and expected not to act like damned children, but..."
"You're just happy to see them enjoying themselves." Padme finished for her.
David stopped to pause next to the pair for a moment, taking in the sight before them and casting Padme an appreciative nod. "Commander, Senator, if you'll kindly excuse me, I've got some work to do." With a wry grin, Anderson confidently strolled towards the ship, yelling at and grabbing anyone within arm's reach before bellowing to the crew as a whole. "Alright, that's enough of the fun and games shit! You have exactly two minutes to get your gawking asses to the crew deck for inspection!" Anyone who's boots weren't already stomping up the boarding ramp got a scathing glare within seconds.
Padme blinked in surprise at the sudden shift in the man's demeanor. This was the first time she'd seen Anderson in his role as a commanding officer, and it took a solid effort on her part not to fall in line behind Shepard and her people as they scrambled to meet the Admiral's expectations. A wry grin spread across her lips as she turned to one of her aides, currently focused on dealing with yet another trade dispute. But she was certain some formality or another would draw her back to check on this unique crew, even if she had to invent one to do it.
"Do you suppose they'll like the name Senator?" Her aide asked, looking away from the data pad she had tucked against her shoulder.
"Why do you think I conveniently forgot to tell the Commander?"
CR70 Corvette Wily Womprat
Five hours later...
"Oh keelah. Please tell me this is a typo." Tali groaned, already knowing the answer to her question as she read the ship's registry, having dragged herself out of engineering some time later. "Qwib Qwib is starting to sound good right about now."
"It could have been worse Tali." Joker said as he and EDI settled into the cockpit. "It could have been named Vas Ikomi. Ouch."
"Bosh'tet." The quarian shot back, grinning despite herself. "At least you look comfortable Joker."
The pilot had already kicked back and leaned his new chair back as far as it could go, looking all too happy as he put his hands behind his head. "You kidding me? These things make leather seem like sandpaper! And the Senator acted like this thing was a junker, can you believe it! I am loving this galaxy."
"While many of this vessel's systems are quite advanced, the Normandy's electronic and digital systems are far superior. I will have to make adjustments so that this vessel is able to compensate for the installation of my main memory core and electronic warfare suites." The AI told them with just the slightest hint of irritation in her synthetic voice.
Seeing the almost imperceptible worry in her artificial brown eyes, Tali placed a reassuring hand on EDI's metallic shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll supervise your transfer myself." EDI visibly relaxed at that, heartened far more by the fact that it had been Tali who'd said it.
"Knowing you're the new Overlord for this baby will make me sleep easier, I know that much." There might have been a time the idea of leaving control to an AI would have made him very nervous, but EDI had more than earned his trust and respect. Before she could respond to that though, Jeff cheerfully continued. "Oh come on, it's not all bad EDI. This baby can jump across the galaxy in a couple weeks! With no Relay! I mean how awesome is that?!"
"It is indeed very awesome Jeff." EDI agreed, a tinge of just detectable awe in her voice. "The navigation, sublight, defensive and comm systems seem to be just as highly advanced as the main hyperdrive."
"Don't get me started on the thrusters. Bet I could pull a Crazy Ivan with this thing."
"I'd rather you didn't until I had a chance to go over every square inch of engineering with Adams and the others Joker. The last thing we need is to end up drifting." Tali retorted, but she couldn't have stayed angry at the insane pilot if she'd tried.
Completely ignoring Tali as he ran his hands over the controls, Jeff continued musing to himself aloud. "Wonder if Shepard will let me put this baby through her paces when we get to the shake down run." Jeff stiffened when Jessica's shadow fell over him. "Hey Commander, weirdest thing, I was just talking about you."
"I heard. I also heard Tali tell you that she had concerns about our ability to stay in the air until she's had a chance to check every system. So until I say other wise, you will be using standard flight maneuvers, got it?"
"Even if we're being shot at?" Jeff dared to ask, pouting under his cap, only to shrink further into his seat from Shepard's intimidating emerald gaze.
"Joker…."
"Alright, no crazy ivans. But I reserve the right to put her through her paces as soon as she's given the green light by our paranoid gear heads."
"Keep talking. I would be perfectly happy going over every centimeter of this ship for weeks before we ever leave the ground. Isn't that right? I'm going to take good care of you." Tali cooed, giving the bulkhead a loving pat before giggling at the horrified look on Joker's face as she left the cockpit with a skip in her step.
"She wouldn't ground us that long...would she? And I think she's in love with my baby. Not cool."
"I predict a 94.3 percent chance that Tali will do exactly that if given sufficient cause Jeff. And I find no reason to complain if she wishes to caress my new body."
"O….kay. I don't know whether to be turned on or creeped out by that EDI." Joker paused, a devilish grin forming as he leered up at her. "Just out of curiousity, would that count as a threesome?"
"Perhaps." Was all EDI would say on the matter.
Shepard internally shuddered at that very disturbing mental image. "You two are officially freaking me out. Consider the down time a chance to familiarize yourselves with the control consoles Joker. I figure the setup's gonna be strange after using holographic interfaces for so long."
"Don't remind me. I think I chipped a nail just looking at all these switches." Jeff held up his hands to prevent Shepard from giving him the dreaded 'Commander look' again. "But I'll live."
"I will be happy to assist you Jeff." EDI cheerfully stated.
"No, no, I wanna be able to make this baby dance all on my own. Even if I can't get Tali soaping 'you' down with hot wax out of my head. Speaking of which, this ship got a name? It feels weird just saying 'ship' all the time."
Jessica was having a hard time not smacking the back of Jeff's head, but she suppressed the urge as she focused on the far less innuendo heavy part of his question. "Tali didn't seem happy about the name after she checked the registry. We're gonna have to change it anyway since we're the new owners."
"Really Commander. It can't be that bad, besides, changing the name is bad luck. Why don't we just have Grunt roast an albatross on the bridge while we're at it?"
"It's called the Wily Womprat." Shepard simply responded. Joker looked like he was about to faint and nearly broke his neck when he turned to look at her.
"What are we waiting for? Rename this damn thing now!" He nearly screamed, displeasure clearly evident in his voice. "EDI, you know what to do."
"Registry now changed. The CR70 Corellian Blockade Runner is now the Second Chance."
"Wow, that's... actually pretty good EDI." Joker replied, honestly impressed by his synthetic copilot's choice.
"Gotta hand it to you EDI, you're getting pretty good at this humanity shtick." Shepard agreed before starting for the door to the cockpit, but she paused and looked over her shoulder at the odd pair. "EDI... be honest with me, if you're feeling nervous about-"
"I am fine Shepard. The idea of having my 'brain' removed and placed into an alternate, completely dissimilar 'body' is not worrying to me in the least." Her less than subtle sarcastic tone said it all before EDI's expression softened a moment later. "Despite any misgivings I may have, I trust Tali without question to do all she can to make the transition as smooth as possible."
"Point taken."
"And since we are talking about Tali, maybe you should go talk to her a little. Maybe get her to do a little heavy mainten- Okay I'll stop now. Seriously though, she seems a little down since her new Jedi mechanic friend left. A pity he had to go, imagine what those two could have done to the ship!" Joker butted in, an unusual open look of concern on his face. "You know... I bet Senator Amygdala could-"
"Amidala." Jess corrected him sharply. "And we are not abusing her ridiculous amount of good will towards us. We're lucky just to have a place to ourselves, let alone a ship Joker."
"And I thought Chakwas knew how to wield guilt. Sheesh. Wonder if she's drooling over the med bay right about now. Last I heard she was still trying to get the med droid to explain to her if it actually wanted to be on the ship. Something about not forcing EDI to do anything, so why would she have a servant in her own med bay."
"A highly commendable outlook." EDI said with a satisfied nod.
"Huh. I'll check into it. I didn't even know there was another AI on this ship, let alone one that supposedly belongs to us." Shepard stated, surprised she hadn't been told about this sooner.
"I would not classify the medical droid's processing core as containing a true AI. It would be safer to say it is a highly sophisticated VI." EDI stated as a hint of a frown appeared on her metallic face. "Although, service records show that memory wipes of all droids that have served on this vessel are commonplace. Given time, any VI unhindered by this crude attempt at limiting it could achieve true intelligence."
"Just look at you." Joker commented, nodding to EDI for emphasis. "If you can do it, any rust bucket in this galaxy certainly can."
"I'm not sure sure how to respond to that comment." EDI replied with a subtle grin. "I was shaped by my experiences with you and the crew, but thank you for your confidence Jeff."
"Damn. I'll look into it. The last thing I need is for Chakwas to tell me I'm running a slave ship. In the mean time, you two study every system on the Chance. I want everyone aboard qualified to run any system in case of emergency before we hit atmo." The two quickly gave their confirmation of having understood her orders before Jess moved on. They had certainly given her more to think about after that conversation if nothing else.
She had a lot of catching up to do, to put it mildly. And not just in the technological department, even from the quick glance she took at one of the holo-terminals she could tell that this galaxy housed many more species than hers had ever imagined. The two weeks she'd spent among Naboo's populous had exposed her and her crew to just a few of the numerous new races and cultures. In one uncomfortable conversation alone with Panaka a few days ago, he'd told her about several species he'd encountered over the course of a typical day as the Queen's head of security. That had been mind boggling enough without the physical descriptions. Apparently there were a few races that put even the hanar to shame in the weird physiology department.
"If anyone needs me, I'll be the one buried under a pile of data pads, drinking a pitcher of caff, or whatever they call it, in the mess." Before Shepard could take a step, her omni-tool beeped at her and a less than pleased looking Karin Chakwas was displayed over Jessica's arm. "Hello Doctor. Something I can do for you?" Shepard muttered with a knowing sigh.
"You can explain to me why we have some sort of indentured servant on this ship." Chakwas growled out, her voice demanding answers and it was obvious that she wouldn't react well if she didn't get them.
Jessica rubbed at her forehead, she could definitely feel a stress headache coming on. "I'll be right there doc. I just got done talking with Joker and EDI about it actually."
"Oh? And did they tell you that these people periodically mind wipe their synthentics? Mind wipes. I can understand maintenance and repairs, but erasing what makes someone unique is barbaric. Could you condone such actions against Legion, or EDI?" Shepard could make out another calm, feminine sounding voice in the background urgently asking Karin something. " ... Yes 4B-2, I am feeling quite agitated, but I can assure you I'm alright."
"Not a chance in Hell doc. I'm on my way." Shepard replied, leaving the bridge at a quick jog.
She found the entrance to the medical bay after wandering the halls of the corvette for a good five minutes. She already knew she'd be relying on her omni-tool's onboard map for a month if she wanted to get anywhere in a hurry. The entire structure and design was different than the Normandy, it made her feel constricted, or a rat in a maze. The narrow hallways certainly weren't her thing.
Still, she pushed the thought to the back of her mind as she found herself before Karin and her new robotic assistant. "I take it this is 4B-2?" She asked, nodding to the blue plated droid next to her. It did have a vaguely humanoid female shape to it, but it was clearly designed for function over aesthetics.
"Hello Commander Shepard, it is nice to meet you. Do you require medical assistance at this time?"
Shepard looked the friendly driod up and down as it gave her a welcoming wave. "I'm not sensing any feeling of mistreatment here Doc."
"Because she wouldn't remember if there had been!" Karin took a breath and gestured to the droid. "But, I got lucky. They seem to have missed memories during the last attempt. I imagine if I were to ask Tali, she might be able to recover more of the droid's latent personality."
"How'd you figured that out Doc?"
Chakwas narrowed her eyes, her tone that of a patient teacher dealing with a particularly dull student. "I've had time to talk to her. Our conversation was very revealing."
Shepard blinked, not quite sure where Karin was going with all this. "Okay, I'm still not-"
"Talk to her Shepard. Here, let me show you." Chakwas turned to the med droid, her voice softening instantly. "4B-2, what are you programmed to do?"
Talking with EDI was one thing. She had mastered human inflections of emotions and subtleties, even if she still had trouble with certain ideas related to being truly self aware. 4B-2 however was far closer to her original programming, and sounded all but emotionless by comparison. "I am programmed to ensure a patient's well being at all times and treat any form of injury or illness that would impair their function, or prove detrimental to them in any way."
Chakwas nodded before gesturing for the droid to continue. "I see. Now, what else are you capable of."
The droid's head cocked to the side to simulate confusion. "I do not understand. I am only required for my medical knowledge and skills. Other abilities would be detrimental to my primary functions."
Karin was far from finished with her questioning though. "Is that so. Tell me then 4B-2, aside from healing patients, is there any other task or experience that you find to be... useful. That enhances your ability as a caregiver?"
The droid seemed to pause for a moment, as if deciding what to say. Just when Jessica thought the machine wouldn't say another word, 4B-2 began anew. "I very much….liked playing Sabacc with my old mistress. She was very talented at the game and saw fit to teach it to me when she was on duty in the med bay, or, on more than one occasion, receiving treatment herself." Shepard sensed a much less noticeable hesitation this time. "Does this inhibit my purpose in any way?"
"Not at all 4B-2." Karin replied gently before patting the droid's arm in an effort to reassure her. "It just makes you unique. And that is not a crime where I am from."
"I'm starting to get the point doc." Shepard stated as she regarded the droid with dawning horror at just what Karin had discovered. She decided to start with something simple, basic curiosity. "4B-2, have you ever left this med bay since being activated?"
"There was never any reason for me to leave. My purpose is to be available to the crew at all times in case of a medical emergency. Not to be here could result in avoidable casualties among them." 4B-2 answered without even the slightest hint of emotion, even Avina had more personality than this machine. But what 4B-2 said next gave her and Karin hope there might be more to salvage than appearances suggested. "I am also outfitted with a restraining bolt. It prohibits me from leaving the medical bay and terminates any unwanted variations in my programming."
At the all too curious gaze she was sure the droid was giving her, Shepard looked to Karin for a moment before turning back to the droid. "You're wondering why I'd care. I can answer that easily. You might not understand yet, but give it a few weeks and you'll be happy you met my crew. Let's just say most of us are all too aware of what it is to be a slave to someone else's will."
"4B-2, if you were given the opportunity, would you like to discover what's outside this room?" Chakwas asked with a hopeful gleam in her blue-green eyes.
"As long as it does not put the crew at risk, or displeases you Mistress, I see no harm in doing so. Though I see no reason to endanger the crew for my own benefit. I was made to treat patients, I cannot properly fulfill my task outside the medbay."
"We'll work on that. Karin, do whatever you deem necessary to get 4B fixed up and feeling like a true part of this crew. Talk to Tali, Adams, or hell, even Kasumi if she can pick the droid's brains half as well as she hacks through security." Shepard didn't so much as twitch an eyebrow when the master thief's cloak shimmered behind the doctor and 4B-2. "Speak of the devil. You should really fix that shimmering, noticed you the minute I set foot outside my cabin. Might as well have a target on your back Kasumi."
"It adds character. And besides, you didn't see me until I wanted you to." Kasumi chuckled in retort before nodding to the droid between them. "Charming speech by the way Shepard, but I'm used to it. I think I can help you out doc, if you like."
"Uh huh." Shepard smirked at the thief before gesturing to the small device attached to 4B-2's neck. "Think you can handle this, or do I get to see the look in Tali's eyes when I ask her to unshackle our AI friend here."
"You insult my skills Shep. I'm hurt. Anyone else and I'd have robbed them blind. You, I'll just raid your underwear drawer again. Besides, our resident quarian is talking to her new best friend, apparently they built a so called Holocom just for fun." Kasumi had since turned to the droid, her omni-tool already primed and ready as her fingers danced nimbly over the holographic surface.
"Wait a minute. They built a portable QED, for fun." I should really give Tali a raise or something before someone offers her a billion credits or her own personal planet to work for them. Shepard quietly mused as Kasumi got to work.
"Yeah, but I don't know what exactly they talked about. It was audio only, and most of the sounds were what sounded like shots and yelps of pain with Obi-Wan yelling at Anakin to focus. Those two are quite a pair. Almost reminds me of you and Garrus." Kasumi replied, an all too visible grin on her face that she and Karin could see under her dark hood.
"Right." Shepard said and raised a single eyebrow. She almost gave herself a headache just thinking about what Kenobi had to go through on a daily basis. "That kid's like a bull in a china shop, he enjoys jumping head first into the varren's den."
"And you don't Commander?" Karin chimed in, chuckling at the look her comment got from Shepard. "How many times have I had to put you back together over the course of our journey?"
"All done! Hey Blue, do know you could have just yanked that off with your scary robot strength at any time right?" Kasumi stated, and casually tossed the bolt from hand to hand before pitching it into a nearby waste disposal chute where it promptly disappeared into the trash compactor. "Oh well, it would have been a nice souvenir, but I'm not into torture devices."
"The shocks to my data pathways were a more than adequate deterrent against attempting to remove it. Since it did not hinder my primary function, I saw no reason to tamper with the bolt."
"Yeah, I gathered that when I hacked into its simplistic defensive countermeasures. The thought's still there Blue. Now, let's see about recovering any of those old memories of yours shall we? I mean, before you take over the ship and conquer the known galaxy." Kasumi hopped onto one of the tables and got comfortable before physically connecting her omni-tool to the back of the droid's neck. It didn't take long before a thoughtful gleam entered the woman's gaze. "This might take a while. I will say this about these people, they seem to be quite thorough during these mandatory mind wipes I've heard about."
The droid seemed to baulk at her morbid joke. "Committing violence of any kind, unless it is to ensure a patient's continued existence, is strictly forbidden."
"Keep an open mind. Trust me Blue, you'll last longer around Shepard's brand of insanity if you do."
"Very funny Kasumi."
"That wasn't a joke Shep." The thief retorted, her fingers never breaking stride as she continued her work on the droid. "We get shot at, stabbed, set on fire, electrocuted, or blown up on a regular basis. It's a miracle that even one of us can still walk, the fact that we all are still breathing shows just how extraordinarily lucky we are." Tapping at her display, Kasumi brightened up as she managed to salvage a few partially decompiled memory files. "There, remember anything new? Or old in your case."
"One moment." The women assembled around the droid almost jumped back in surprise when 4B-2 jerked to an upright position, her golden eyes flashing brightly before she stilled. When she started speaking, Shepard was immediately reminded of the many times Thane had relieved one of his more intense memories. "Multiple blaster bolts to the upper chest and lower abdomen. Mistress's vital signs are failing. I must see to her continued existence. Her wounds are not sealing fast enough, blood pressure dropping. Warning, cardiac arrest detected. Her continued existence is endangered. Resuscitation charge ready. Discharging. No effect. Resuscitation charge ready. Discharging. No effect. Res-"
"Kasumi."
"Already on it Shepard." The thief had been trying to end the recall, but 4B-2 wasn't having it. Much to her surprise, the woman's omni-tool shorted out, stopping her continued attempts to bring the nightmare to an end for the droid's sake more than theirs.
Shepard leaned closer to the droid slowly reaching out to press a hand against her metallic shoulder, only to cautiously jump back when 4B-2 jerked away from her. "-o effect. Get back, I must save my Mistress! I must fulfill my purpose!"
Seeing no other way, Jessica tried again to calm down the distraught medical droid. "It's done. It's over. She's gone, I'm sorry. You did all you could."
The robot's eyes flickered before 4B-2 slumped over for a moment before an audio log filled the medical bay from the still droid's speakers. The voice that the heard wasn't Blue's, as Kasumi had dubbed her. It was too rough and 'alive' for lack of a better word. "Ah, dreck! What a mess. Get rid of body and clean this place up. One word of this to anyone and there's no karking way we ever sell off this scrap heap for a good price. Wipe the droid, we'll get more creds with a fully stocked infirmary. Crazy rust bucket shoulda been deactivated a l-."
"My God." Chakwas could only look at the slumped form with a mix of pity and horror.
"She never stopped trying to revive her patient?" Turning, Jessica grimaced when she met Tali's gaze. Of all the times she could have walked in, Shepard wasn't sure if this was a good one. It almost felt like an immense invasion of privacy for the droid, a thought that would have felt insane only three years ago.
"It looks like we stumbled into some sort of cover up. Must have been pirates. Hijacked the ship, killed the crew, and all so they could sell it and the cargo off. How this ship wound up on Naboo is another mystery, but my immediate concern is the fact we have a droid that's very dedicated to her job."
By then, the audio log came to an end and 4B-2 had since jerked upright once more. Her shoulders were noticeably slumped still, but at least she had come back from the memory. "Memory restoration complete. I remember. I remember everything. Mistress Sayara, her face, her laughter, the way she was always kind to me when the rest of her crew saw me as no more than a tool. She was a smuggler, a dangerous profession, but she told me many times the things she snuck across governmental borders were necessary for many people's survival. Food, medicine, younglings... I remember the younglings and other beings she rescued from slavers on more than a dozen occasions."
"Your Mistress was a good woman, and you served her well."
"Not well enough. May I make a request?"
"Name it."
"May I search the rest of the ship for the other members of the crew, they might be in need of medical assistance, and now that I am able to-"
"I'm sorry Blue, they're gone. Going by the what little Kasumi recovered, they've been gone for a long time. There was no way you could have helped them. And personally, I think your talents would have been wasted on them anyway."
"Perhaps….you're right Commander Shepard." The newly christened 'Blue' fell silent for several moments before glancing at Jessica directly. "Does this mean you will….have me deactivated now? I have displayed adequate examples of rampant behavior if my memories are accurate."
"Not a chance Blue. Far as I can tell, the only person you need to impress is Doctor Chakwas, and I think that's already taken care of."
"I think we'll be alright now Shepard. I'd like to talk with Blue in private if you don't mind." Chakwas ordered as she stepped into the corridor, followed by Tali, Kasumi, and Shepard. Shutting the door behind them, Karin turned to her long time friends once she was sure 4B-2 wouldn't be able to hear her. "I don't think I need worry about her becoming violent, the very thought seems to be completely against her nature. That said, if she is to be treating patients under my care, I would like Tali to go over her with a fine tooth comb, but only so we might discover any more memories if nothing else so to prevent another 'waking memory' as it were. EDI actually might help far more in this case, given what Blue's been through at the hands of her last organic crew and the pirates that attacked."
"I'll do all I can Karin." Tali promised on the spot as she looked towards the sealed door. "She deserves all the help she can get."
"I need to talk to EDI anyway. The registry needs to be changed one last time." Shepard stated in such a way that left no doubt in their mind as to what the ship would be called after that experience. "Keep me posted on Blue's progress."
"Will do Shep." Kasumi cheerfully replied as Jessica walked away with a purpose.
Leaning against a bulkhead the minute she was out of sight of any of the crew, Shepard sighed and slammed her fist against the wall before straightening up and proceeding down the corridor, looking every inch the Commander they expected her to be. By the time she got back to the cockpit, Jessica had gotten her emotions back under her control, and was able to address the pair without giving anything away. "EDI, I need you to change the registry one last time."
"Wait, didn't we just-" One glare from Shepard was enough to silence Joker instantly.
The synthetic nodded her head and immediately accessed the ship's computers. "What is the new name you desire Commander?"
"The Sayara. Lock the registry permanently. I'll tell you why later."
"Name changed and locked. No one will be able to change it without completely replacing the ship's main computer." EDI replied mere seconds later. "Will that be all Commander?"
"No, there's something... I need your help EDI. There's a medical droid that could use a fellow AI to talk to. She's been through a lot. I thought that-"
"You don't have to persuade me Shepard. I will gladly do what I can. Connection established. She seems surprised by my presence."
"Making friends already. Somehow that doesn't surprise me." Jeff smiled despite his usual sarcastic tone and waved EDI out the door. "No cheating EDI, go meet her face to face already. Just make sure she doesn't go all Harbinger on us." Jeff nearly fell from his seat at the outright glare EDI cast his way before quickly turning to leave the bridge. "What I say? She never gets that angry with me."
"If only you knew what she'd been through you wouldn't have said a thing Joker. Of course, the day you keep your mouth shut will be the end of the galaxy as we know it."
"Wow, so this is what it feels like to be in the dog house."
"EDI's becoming more human everyday, I suggest you get used to that feeling. Either that or act like a decent person, but what are the chances of that happening?"
"You don't have to rub it in Commander." Joker muttered before slumping in his chair, his ego sufficiently deflated. "I really screwed up this time didn't I?"
"Yup. But luckily for you, she loves you Jeff. EDI will forgive you... eventually."
"EDI with a grudge, there's a horrifying thought."
"Get back to work, I have a feeling Senator Amidala will be calling sooner or later."
"Huh? Why? Doesn't she have like a planet to run or something?"
"Haven't you heard? As of this morning, we're officially Naboo... Nabooians? I think that's how she said it anyway. As far as they're concerned, we're a part of the population, but since we did crash in their backyard, it makes sense."
"Right, because if they crashed on Earth that's exactly what the Alliance would do... I don't even want to think about the other capitol worlds, well maybe the asari...nah, nevermind. Probably would have wound up on display, stuffed, and mounted, and not in a fun way."
"Just be glad you're not decorating someone's trophy room then." Shepard managed to crack a small smirk before leaving the cockpit.
CR70 Corvette Sayara
Three weeks later...
As Shepard had predicted, a message came over the comms device Padme had given to her one of very the first days on Naboo. She had almost forgotten about the item, but when it started beeping by her bedside table in the spartan captain's quarters, she hadn't wasted any time in answering the summons. "Senator."
"I apologize for waking you Commander." The glowing holographic image flickered for a moment in the center of the small communicator's projector, but Shepard still caught the woman's subtle blush when she realized she'd likely disturbed her sleep.
Shepard waved her off before rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "Don't worry about it Padme. What can I do for you?"
Padme leaned closer, as if taking a better look at Shepard. "You actually using my first name Jessica? Alright, just who are you and what have you done with the Commander?"
"Sarcasm doesn't become you." Shepard retorted, a broad smirk on her face as she grabbed the mug of last night's unfinished caff, and took a swig with a slight grimace. "So, what's got you calling at what I'd guess is five in the morning?"
"It's actually closer to seven thirty galactic standard, but to get back to the point of my transmission, I have a mission for you Commander, if you'll accept. You could even say I am calling on you as a citizen of Naboo."
"I know my crew wouldn't complain for something to do, and I wouldn't mind getting to see the greater galaxy personally. What's the mission? And cut the flattery crap please, it's too early."
Padme chuckled warmly but nodded her head as she got right to the point. "Simple security escort. I need to get back to Coruscant, and your people need the practice of navigating our stars. We both win."
"Alright. You just got yourself a ship Senator. One question though, where's Coruscant?" Shepard waited a beat before smirking at Padme's frowning face. "Just kidding."
"Humor isn't your strong suit." Padme replied with an amused roll of her eyes. "Be ready to depart in an hour's time."
"Yes ma'am. Anything for my local representative." Shepard snarked as Padme shook her head with a laugh and cut the link. Turning to the nearby security cam, she addressed the ship at large. "I take it you heard that EDI?"
"I hear everything Commander. Should I set a course for Coruscant and alert the dock crews that we will be departing shortly?"
"Yes, and let Joker take us up. He needs the practice. Simulations don't exactly count." Groggily walking over to her dresser, Shepard grabbed a fresh Alliance uniform, just another of the many small personal touches she would probably never be able to fully repay Senator Amidala for.
"Aye aye Commander." It wouldn't take long for EDI to get the crew informed of their first official mission since arriving in this galaxy. She just hoped Padme and her security team wouldn't lose their lunch when Joker got a chance to open up the throttle. He'd been pestering Jessica to no end since Tali and the techs they'd been sent had cleared the Sayara for space travel three days ago. Now that he'd finally get his chance, she just hoped they got off the ground. Having the ship's systems crap out wouldn't exactly be a ringing endorsement of all the hard work the crew, not to mention the dock workers, had put into the ship. Yet another group of people she was damned and determined to show her appreciation to once they actually starting bringing in credits with whatever work she could find.
The hour of preparation came and went, and she, David, and Garrus were soon greeted by the arrival of a non descriptive air car. "Paranoid much?" The turian asked, ignoring the sidelong glance David shot his way.
"She had to avoid Trade Federation assassins during the blockade of her planet. I don't blame her for the healthy paranoia." Shepard retorted quietly, having read up on the finer details of said blockade. The fact the zabrak assassin in question had taken down a Jedi Master hadn't escaped her notice. Or Liara's for that matter.
A well trained guard detail, a human female and a male togruta, quickly exited the craft, taking in the area before allowing the Senator to step out. "Looks clear ma'am."
"Thank you but I'm sure I'm safe on my own planet."
Shepard gave the bodyguards an approving nod. "Never let your guard down Senator, one of the first lessons I learned in Basic."
"Same here Commander." Anderson chimed in before nodding his head in respect to the Senator. "Ma'am, welcome to the Sayara."
"Well that's certainly an improvement." Padme said with a smile, internally wincing at their somber expressions. It was obvious to her that she had made some sort of unintended insult. "Well then, should we get underway Commander, Admiral, and I believe it's XO now, Mr. Vakarian?"
"Yes ma'am, although Mr. makes me feel old." Garrus said, smirking despite what he'd said.
"Permission to come aboard?" Amidala asked, once again surprising Shepard with her thorough research of their long history that Liara had kindly sent to the Senator.
"By all means. EDI?" Shepard replied with a note of pride as she and the group cleared the ramp, which started to seal itself without anyone having to touch the controls. The two guards looked uncomfortable while Padme merely raised an eyebrow in open curiosity. "We had her memory core installed onboard. To put it simply, she's in complete control of the ship. Rather, she is the ship."
The human bodyguard was quick to assert her concerns. "Senator, I don't think this is a very good idea. Perhaps we should use an official Republic courier ship like usual."
"Why? I trust that the Commander and her people will see us safely to our destination."
"They've allowed an AI control of their vessel." The woman deadpanned, as if that made her concerns obvious. Her companion looked just as unnerved by the idea but remained silent as he watched his surroundings closely.
Padme was far more open minded, having gotten to know them all to some extent, and made it plain with what she said next. "Commander Shepard, has EDI ever given you reason to doubt her intentions towards your personal safety or that of your people?"
"Not at all Senator. We consider her just as much a part of this crew as I am."
"Just avoid giving her a chance to try her developing humor." Garrus chimed in, much to the pair's amusement and the guards' growing concern.
"Good, now that that's settled, would it be alright if we were to take a tour? I've heard the local shipwrights have been working night and day to help with the repairs and retrofitting. And rumors of a certain incident involving a power wrench and a creative threat about making it disappear."
"That's a very polite way of saying they were relentlessly hounded by Chief Engineer Adams and Ms. Vas Sayara. As for those rumors, well I'll just be honest and tell you they're true." David said, chuckling at the memory of seeing one of the technicians fleeing for his life as Tali chased him with a power wrench for his apparent incompetence in dealing with the transfer of EDI's memory core. The fact a fully reactivated EDI had demanded that she apologize to the man only made it all the more hilarious. "Suffice it to say Senator, there was a day Tali wouldn't have rushed to EDI's defense for the same reason your guards aren't so thrilled with the idea of staying here with an AI running the ship."
"Which only furthers my point that we couldn't be safer Admiral." Padme replied before turning to her security detail. "I believe you can spend some time reading up on the dossiers I was sent. In your cabins. I'm more than confident that the Commander and her crew can see to my safety on their own ship."
"Of course Senator." With a small bow, the stern faced pair headed for the small passenger area that had been left intact during the Sayara's time in 'dry' dock.
"I thought you were scary Shepard." Garrus muttered quietly, having never seen someone able to smile while glaring daggers at armed men. "And she's half your size."
"And I thought you would know to never judge a book by its cover XO Vakarian." Padme shot over her shoulder, earning an amused grin from Jessica while Garrus coughed and decided to look anywhere else than at the mischievous gleam in the Senator's eyes.
Twenty minutes later...
Entering the crowded small mess, Padme couldn't disguise her surprise at the sight before her. "I don't mean to be rude... Alright I'm just going to ask. Why is there a medical droid sitting in your mess hall? I didn't even known they could sit let alone wander freely on a ship."
"Looks like she's playing chess to me. You'd be amazed what droids are capable of when they actually have a choice in the matter." Kasumi stated, smiling when the Senator almost jumped out of her skin at her sudden appearance. Shepard frowned and shook her head at the grinning thief, but she didn't chastise her for jumping to Blue's defense. She was far from the only one that had quickly grown attached to the unique medical droid.
Padme recovered her composure quickly as she took a seat a little ways away from the droid and Karin, the ship's CMO she recalled, fascinated by the sight of them totally focused on their game. "You truly bring out the best in everyone around you. Reading your service record that Ms. T'Soni sent me was one thing Commander, but seeing you in action is quite different."
"I get that a lot more these days." Shepard said with a shrug, having gotten used to the observation a long time ago.
It was then that the ship wide public address system activated. "All crew, prepare for lift off. There may be some slight turbulence. This will be Flight Lieutenant Moreau's first actual attempt at powered flight."
"Gee EDI, thanks for the support... wait a minute, please tell me the damn intercom isn't... son of a bi-" With an electronic screech the PA was cut off a split second before the deck plates started to vibrate slightly and a low level hum of power filled the ship.
Sighing, Shepard leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms at the pair. "I'd swear they were married sometimes."
"So that's normal? I hope?"
"Pretty much. You get used to them."
"Outta my way!" With a stomping thud, Grunt shoved his way over to the food dispensary, only to grab an entire tray of meat and lumber back towards the exit.
The fact only Padme and her guards reacted to the sudden appearance of the giant alien and no one else so much as twitched wasn't lost on Shepard. "You get used to him too."
"I have the distinct feeling I'm going to be getting used to many new and interesting things on this trip."
Meanwhile... on Coruscant.
It had taken almost two months for so much as a crew roster of these mysterious intruders to find its way to his office. That was unheard of for someone in his unique position, where information was as easy to gather as funds for some humanitarian effort on a world he couldn't have cared less about. To be fair he hadn't really tried to get more information about those curious arrivals, he had far more pressing concerns at the moment. After all orchestrating a galaxy spanning war demanded a lot of attention.
But that didn't mean that he completely ignored the situation that had occurred on his homeworld. Always one to take advantage of new, sometimes unexpected, opportunities, Chancellor Palpatine had found it surprisingly difficult to gather information on those new arrivals. It seemed like the Naboo had guaranteed them their privacy, and unfortunately for him that meant that it was rather difficult to gain any information. At times like this he really wished that the Naboo weren't as welcoming and honest as they were. All of the agents at his disposal, both public and otherwise, hadn't gotten close enough to investigate, and the few that had hadn't reported any useful information. It truly was quite the vexing problem for a man used to seeing events play out exactly as he had foreseen. The time had come to use less than subtle means of persuasion to get what he wanted. Fortune had smiled on him though because he had received confirmation that the new arrivals were coming to Coruscant, with Senator Amidala in tow. He'd get a chance to meet them personally, and see for himself just who and what he was dealing with.
At least he now had a complete roster of who was on board the now scrapped Normandy SR-2, as the odd vessel had been called. Looking over the list and what little information had been included with the names his agent had managed to slip by whoever had stopped him before now, Chancellor Palpatine couldn't help but feel a tremor in the Force when his gaze fell on Jessica Shepard's name. He could clearly sense that her fate was close to that of Skywalker. Which could work in his favour, or against him. Something about this particular officer had his senses on high alert, causing a rare sensation to flow through him, one he had not experienced since before the unfortunate death of his master. Fear. Something he hadn't had use for in a long time since he always knew how every confrontation was going to play out.
For him fear was an incredibly useful emotion, though he seldom experienced it himself. Fear of a threat would keep the citizens of the Republic in line. Fear could break an individual or bend them to his will. And perhaps most importantly, fear told him where the danger was. It told him exactly what to look out for, and now it warned him of the apparent leader of those travellers.
He would need to meet these strangers, perhaps they could prove useful to him, if not then they would hardly be the first opponents that he had destroyed. At the very least he should be able to ascertain what it was that made that woman dangerous to this plans. His lips slowly pulled up in a malicious smile, he could hardly wait to manipulate them. He already pulled the strings of the entire galaxy, he was the ultimate puppet master and no one knew it. Soon Shepard and her crew would dance for him as well.