Chapter 4!
Warning: Info dump ahead.
I have been told that a cast list is a good idea for OCs, so…
Captain Mortland: Patrick Stewart
Tracy: Lana Parrilla
Benjamin: Robert Picardo
Malcolm: Robert Duncan McNeill.
The night is quiet but their shouts make melody with their boots as they make their approach
Ambassador Udina POV
Captain Mortland smiled. "As you can see, I have literally no idea how to be a tour guide. For that reason, I might occasionally screw up a basic question. For now, May I escort you to the Overlook? It has a spectacular view of the ship, and a rather good conference table where we can discuss peace talks and whatever."
He walked out, then stopped and walked back in. "Well? You coming or what?"
He walked out again, this time with the diplomats following him, leading them along a long, straight corridor. "As it is, we are currently walking under the direct spine of the ship, the core around which our home is formed. It contains power and message cords, as well as the dimension jumping technology we use to move across realities. According to our history, it is also where we keep the Endbringers."
One of the Asari diplomats frowned. "Endbringers? What are those?"
The captain stopped, and frowned. "Maybe later. On the left, you can see a Tinker lab…"
The room in question was full of gadgets and gizmos, and things which made as much sense as a skinny elcor or a nude quarian. What looked like holes in reality were surrounded by measuring devices, and Donnel could have sworn he saw a ship through one of the holes.
"And on the right is one of the rooms we use to test powers, specifically for Shakers."
The room on the right was large, about two hundred metres to a side, and filled with various furnitures and materials. He spoke up. "What are tinkers and shakers exactly? And while I appreciate the tour, we came to get questions answered, and to negotiate an alliance between your ship and the Citadel. Can we please head to this Overlook of yours, and be done with the posturing?"
The other diplomats all stared at him, in shock at his diplomatic faux pas. While bluntness had its place at the peace table, it was generally considered the height of foolishness to insult the host.
Rather than do weird and bizarre things, as was expected from a group of people who could breathe in space without a hazard suit, walk on air and plant tips, and shrug off sucking chest wounds, the captain merely laughed. "Very well then. Siren!"
In a flash of roaring fire, a woman appeared, in a white suit and hood. "Greetings, diplomats. I am Jessica Walters, though you may call me Siren."
The captain coughed. "Siren, we need to get to the Overlook, at the table I set up earlier. Have the diplomats be seated at the table, and the security people standing at least a metre away."
She nodded. "Very well sir." Turning to the Citadel diplomats, she smirked, and said "Try not to lose your lunch.
In an instant, the whole group was enveloped in columns of flames, and vanished from the corridor.
The Overlook Bar
The entire group rematerialized, all in different locations and positions to when they started. The diplomats, two from each species, were seated at a round table, as well as Captain Mortland and his first officer. The other diplomats and security personnel were seated at booths scattered around the place, and Siren was standing at… a bar?
Tevos spoke up, from her seat across from Udina. "Captain Mortland-"
"Please, call me James."
She frowned. "Very well. James, are we in what human culture identifies as a pub or bar?"
He smiled genially, seeming to radiate an air of age and wisdom, despite being several centuries younger than her. "Indeed it is. Anyone want something to drink? I paid for the tab myself, and instructed them to make anything available should you ask for it. Would you like a menu?"
There were many exchanged glances at that, especially with the turians and quarians. Sparatus spoke first. "What you may not know, human, is that certain species are incapable of drinking your liquors, unless there is something you're not telling us?"
That genial smile grew wider. "I instructed a couple of Tinkers to make some things for that, and I assure you, it will not be a problem. Now, please, drink."
There was a small flurry of noise, as the diplomats ordered, many simply because it was the first time that such an offer was possible. Dextro-amino species drinking levo-amino beverages? Unheard of!
Within five minutes the noise settled down, and all attention returned to James, who was now sitting with a glass of whiskey. "Now, this is how this is going to work. All parties in this negotiation are allowed two people at the table at any given time. You can change who these people are at any given time. Every one hundred and five minutes, we will adjourn for fifteen minutes for any necessities, like eating and such. I will happily answer any questions you have, and at the end of negotiations, you can call your ship and leave. Sound fair?"
A chorus of affirmatives murmured out, and that damned smile returned. "Well then, I think it is time you learnt of our history. By our calendar, in the year nineteen eighty-two, a oceanic cruise liner saw a glowing golden man floating over the sea. Physical contact was made, though he spoke nothing. Accounts by people who were there mentioned that, though he was completely unresponsive to their actions, he seemed to emanate sadness on a physical level. Several passengers touched him, and then he left.
"Then, in nineteen eighty-seven, one of the passengers who touched him came forward as the world's first Parahuman, and called himself Vikare. Over time, more and more parahumans emerged, dividing into three groups: Heroes, villains, and rogues."
Anderson, the other Citadel human at the table, piped up. "Rogues?"
"People who used their powers for neither good nor evil. The PRT, or Parahuman Response Team, was formed in an attempt to get as many heroes as possible working together. Things were going well, until Behemoth showed up. He was the first of what would later become known as the Endbringers. Over forty five feet tall, looked like a small walking mountain, and could control all forms of energy within a certain radius of himself. He set the pattern for future attacks, by simply showing up at a major city, and proceeding to turn it into an uninhabitable wasteland.
"Within a few years of his arrival, two more Endbringers had also emerged. Leviathan, a thirty foot tall hydrokinetic, and the Simurgh, a fifteen foot tall, naked, winged woman, with a variety of telepathic and telekinetic abilities. When Behemoth and Leviathan arrived, they destroyed cities. When the Simurgh first appeared, the entire nation of Switzerland was put under quarantine, for fear that the inhabitants would escape and go on a murderous rampage. It was later discovered that there had been twenty Endbringers constructed by whoever made them.
"As can be inferred from these details, things were not going well. Then came the Slaughterhouse Nine, a group of Parahumans who were solely devoted to causing as much death and destruction as was physically possible. For the sake of our sanity, and that we are dignified people, we shall not list their horrendous crimes here.
"Eventually, in the year two thousand and eleven, a truce was reached. Scion, the source of our powers, was revealed to be an alien entity that traveled through space between planets. The entity would arrive, spread out the shards of itself, shards that granted power, then observe. When the time came, it would harvest the shards, kill all life on the planet to fuel its next jump, and leave. We did not like the thought of having to be massacred to prolong the life of something else.
"The truce was simple. Scion, along with two million humans and Parahumans, boarded this ship in the year two thousand and fifteen, on a course away from Earth. Since then, we have constantly sought to improve ourselves and our ship, and it is now different to when in set out, though it has not grown larger. Our population numbers over thirty million, all Parahumans."
"Jesus Christ…"
It was not a sentiment limited to Udina, either. Around the table, nearly all the democrats were displaying some reaction, and even the elcor droned "Shocked statement: May the light of the heavens preserve us."
The smile returned, as if he had not just dropped the biggest bombshell in Citadel history. "Now, are there any questions?" James said, taking a small sip of whiskey.
Udina coughed, and, before anyone else could speak, said: "You referred to tinkers and shakers earlier. What does that mean, in particular? And what happened to the Endbringers?"
James paused, getting a refill of whiskey, before answering. "Our parahumans fall into twelve categories. We get our children to learn them with a little rhyme. Mover, Shaker, Brute and Breaker. Master, Tinker, Blaster and Thinker. Striker, Changer, Trump and Stranger. Each of the categories has a different group of powers in it.
"Movers possess an added degree of mobility. Shakers have an area of effect. Brutes can survive hostile environments. Breakers enter into a state of different abilities.
"Masters are people who control things, Tinkers build things in ways that science does not quite understand, Blasters have a ranged ability, like laser eyes, and Thinkers are better with the collection and application of information.
"Strikers require physical contact to use their powers, Changers can turn into something else, Trumps can control or manipulate other powers in some way, and Strangers are better equipped for stealth and subterfuge.
"These are very broad terms, and many people have overlapping abilities. Lung, my first officer, is a Brute, a Blaster, and a Changer. I am myself a Mover. As for the Endbringers, when we left our planet, we brought all of them with us."
Sparatus interjected with "What is the military capability of your ship in a space battle, beyond what you demonstrated with the Batarians?"
"Yes, Dragon reported that they had been dealt with. Over the last hundred years, every Tinker on the ship has added to it. I could give you a list, but it would simply be easier to say that we have no idea anymore. Also, we have a few smaller ships in pocket dimensions, both that we have collected and that we have built. In total, we have a fleet of about a hundred and fifty ships in addition to the Imperator. I hope you consider yourselves sufficiently forewarned."
No-one missed the threat. If all of their ships were as impressive as their capital, it would be an easy fight for the Citadel to lose. Once again, silent prayers were raised that peace could be achieved. A war on that scale would be devastating to them, especially if they were forced to engage in a ground battle. The first officer interjected now. "How about your own society? While we learnt much from your codex, it failed to describe politics or culture, or even history, as much as it was a list of species and sciences. Please, tell us about yourselves."
So, they spilled the beans. Between all the species represented, it was likely the closest thing to an unbiased history that had ever been presented to a third party. In total, by the time that the story of their society had been told, it was time to adjourn, though the diplomats were warned not to stray too far, as they might wander into a restricted area by accident.
Lung POV
Lung was intrigued by these people. Several millennia of organized government, and they were still just as violent and petty as the people he remembered from Earth Bet. The Krogan could maybe put up a decent fight, even.
He paused, frowning to himself. He was beginning to sound like Crawler, always looking for the next fight. Though Crawler had eventually been put down, by one of Bakuda's bombs no less, he had still been completely crazy and nearly invincible by the time that had happened. Even so, he still wanted to test the krogan in battle, merely to see how he stood up to them. It had been a while since anyone had actually fought him, as all of the ship-born residents of the Imperator had too much respect for the remaining Earth-born, kept alive by Amy Dallon and other healers. Even worse, his position as Guild Leader made Earth-born unwilling to attack, despite his attempts to convince them otherwise.
Indeed, the last time he had had a decent fight was twenty years prior, when a Second Trigger had caused a Changer to go insane, and the Guild Leaders had worked together to bring him down. Even the few times he was challenged for the right to lead Brutes, he had easily smacked them down. While not immediately the strongest brute, his decades of experience, added to his continued youth, gave him the advantage in many fights. It would be fun to fight a whole new group of people.
He walked over to where the Krogan diplomats were slamming down drinks, butting heads, and generally having a surprisingly good time. One of them, a battle-scarred one with ancient-looking armour, looked up at his approach, and grinned. "You are the one that took a bullet to the chest and got back up? That took some serious guts, boy."
He smiled, though it was not a kind one. "Though by the standards of your society I am not old, I am nearly two centuries of age. And I was hoping that one of you gentleman would give a proper fight once the discussions are over. I, and a few of my colleagues, have long desired the chance to test our mettle against an actual foe. Other than yourselves, do you have any recommendations?"
One of the younger ones chuckled. "You could try your hand at a Thresher Maw, human."
He leaned forward, intrigued. "Tell me about it."
Captain Mortland POV
"Captain? Valern should be waking up soon."
He paused in his discussion of humourous anecdotes with Captain Anderson of the Normandy. Addressing a crowd at large, he said "I must apologize, but something unavoidable has been brought to my attention, and I must tend to it. I hope to be back soon, though I wish you a wonderful time until then."
So saying, he nodded to Siren, and the two disappeared in a roar of flame. They re-appeared in one of the infirmaries, the one where Panacea still worked to this very day. It had taken some work, and the assistance of a cape who could mimic other powers, but she was finally able to be healed in the same way that she healed others. "How is he, doc?"
She looked up from the slowly-recovering patient, and shrugged. "Without a baseline for his species, I have no idea how he is. He has the Coronas, but they are both fairly new, as if they only grew when we arrived. I reversed some signs of aging, but beyond that I don't know. For all I know, he has some alien disease that I can't recognize. If it helps, he should be fully conscious in about a minute."
"Any hints as to his power?"
"None."
"Thanks. If you want, you can go get a rest, or go talk to the other diplomats. They might help you gain an understanding of what they are normally like."
She nodded, and disappeared with Siren, back to the Overlook Bar, leaving the Captain alone with an awakening alien. He leaned back in his chair, and waited for him to recover. It would be difficult for him to adjust to a new way of living. Maybe some good whiskey would help.
Valern POV
There was the beeping of medical equipment, a sound that he knew well as a Salarian nearing the end of his lifespan. Even before he opened his eyes, he was frantically trying to identify the events that would have led to him being in hospital. New ship, new humans, shooting one, collapsing…
It was probably that last one. With luck he was in a Citadel hospital, where he would stay until he had recovered enough to be put on trial for assaulting a dignitary of a foreign culture. If he was not lucky, he was being held on the Imperator, awaiting execution. He was willing to accept his fate, he had lived a long life, for a Salarian, and would prefer that what he did under panic was wiped clean by death. He opened his eyes, and saw the blasted Captain of the Imperator sitting on a chair in front of him. "Good morning Mr. Valern. I hope you are feeling well?" the captain said, smiling a little.
Valern frowned, actually thinking about that briefly. "I feel… Younger. Like five years have been added to my life. How is that possible?"
"That will come later. For now, I would like you to focus inwards. Are there any new sensations that you can describe? Anything that is different to what you already had?"
Going along with what the captain asked, Valern looked inwards. He always meditated, as a way of keeping his mind as clear and sharp as possible in his advancing years. When he looked inwards, he found what seemed to be something new, and a sense.
"Have you found it? When you do, focus on it, bring it forward. Allow it to come forward. Bring it into reality."
Feeling a bit foolish at the time, Valern followed the instructions, and the room filled with a soft golden glow, as well as a feeling of calm and healing. "Is that me?" he said, strangely calm for what should be a moment of panic.
The captain was tapping away at a datapad, and checking various instruments. "Yes, it is. Congratulations, you are officially the first known Parasalarian. I hope you appreciate it."
Valern paused. While he could keep denying it, claim it was all a fancy light show mixed with mild aerosolized sedatives, he could not deny that even as he thought about he was growing younger. "What is this? What is it doing?"
The captain was scanning it with a handheld device. "It would seem that you have the ability to generate a healing and calming aura. It would also appear that it has reduced your aging, though by how much I do not know. Now, reel it back in. Let it draw back, and fill you once again."
Valern focused again, and the glow faded. The captain smiled. "Good, you're getting the hang of it. I really apologize for what Scion did, but I promise you that we will do the best we can to make sure your adjustment is as easy as possible."
"What does the glow do? All I can tell is that it calms and regenerates, as well as reverses aging. Though, you seem to be the same age."
The captain frowned, looking at a message on his communicator. "If you like, I can give you access to the ship's intranet, and let you ask Dragon any questions, but I must be going now. The negotiations will be continuing soon, and I am required."
He turned to go, but Valern was having none of it. "I would like to go with you. If you are negotiating with my kinsmen, it would help for them to see that I am alive and well." He paused, looking down at himself. "Although they would probably not believe that it is me. I look like a bloody twelve-year-old!"
Despite the tense situation, they both chuckled. "Fine. But I would ask that you remain calm at all times, and try not to let your power out to play unless directly asked. Siren!"
And, in a rush of roaring fire, they were gone."
The Overlook Bar
Captain Mortland POV
The scene in the bar had degenerated in the scant few minutes James had been gone. Tables were knocked over for cover, guns had been pulled out, Lung was ramping up, and someone had given Sparatus a Tinker rifle. Drinks were being hurled across the room, and Panacea and another Striker were trying to keep the peace, though it was clearly not working. He slammed his elbow into an attacking Volus, and yelled "VALERN! DO YOUR THING!"
Immediately the golden glow of Valern's power filled the room, and the fighting stopped. Lung drooped back down to normal, drinks were no longer being hurled, and Sparatus took his finger off of the trigger of his rather large Tinker rifle. "Thank you, Valern," James said tiredly. There were times he regretted being a Mover, and this was one of them. "Now, what caused all of this? I was gone for five minutes, tops!"
One of Udina's ambassadors yelled from behind an overturned table "Is it true that parts of your ship are managed by a true AI? Because that is illegal in Citadel Space. The Turians pointed this out to your first officer, one of the Quarians overheard, and started throwing things in a drunken rage. Shortly afterwards, the Krogans saw a decent fight building, and worked with each other to get some cover set up. Then Mr. Lung over there got hit in the face with a stray glass of rum, and began turning into a metal human-dragon hybrid thing and throwing fireballs everywhere. Councilor Sparatus found that gun under the bar, and then you guys showed up."
Sparatus held up the gun, and said "What does this do, anyway? It looks fairly lethal."
Panacea took the gun out of his hand, and looked at it with a fairly practiced eye. "I recognize this one. A few days ago, a bar fight ended with some limbs being removed. This gun was confiscated by the Tinker guild, though clearly Siren has some contacts in there. It used some form of atomic destabilization to make cuts through things."
Sparatus took it back, and looked over it with a more critical eye. "So, it makes a really sharp energy blade? That sounds cool."
Panacea nodded. "Indeed. The person who made is currently working on a supersized version for the ship."
This was clearly the wrong thing to say. In a room full of paranoid dignitaries, each of whom was already worried from the revelation that this new ship might have an AI, revealing that they had a weapon that could cleave ships apart without care for kinetic barriers was tantamount to admitting that they would defeat them in war with ease. In that instant, hopes of a peaceful resolution to this issue dropped like a small fork in a black hole.
The Parahumans and the security personnel got the tables and booths back into shape, and the talks resumed, though now with an added air of sobriety. Tevos spoke first: "Now then. Having spoken with each other, and gaining an understanding of each other's history, it is time that we do what we came here to do: Negotiate peace between us. There is much to consider, but I would like to get the ball rolling. I propose that, starting in forty-eight hours, the Imperator and all persons on board be placed under quarantine."
There were shouts of surprise around the entire table, and the booths around the room. For Tevos, generally regarded as the most stable of the entire Council to make such a bold move, she really had an idea. "I believe this would be the best course for everyone, even if it is only a short-term solution. We are in a precarious position here. By your own admission," She said, nodding towards James and Lung, "you are all incredibly dangerous on many levels. You possess extraordinary talents, and frankly astounding technology, but the galaxy as a whole is not ready for it. As an Asari, I would like nothing more than to add your unique culture to the galactic whole, but I fear that there are too many ways for it to go wrong.
"These Tinkers of yours. A single one made a gun that severs things on an atomic level, and by your own words is building one for your ship. You have a fleet of a hundred and fifty ships to aid your flagship, and fully functional AIs. You are capable of things we deem impossible, and that terrifies me. If open traffic were allowed between our cultures, it would not take long for fanatics to do serious damage to both of us. You because of your limited numbers, us because of your horrific potential. These negotiations are not something to be done hastily, and we are already seeing the results of that."
She nodded her head, indicating the end of her speech. Small conversations broke out as people considered it, and, after an hour, the parahumans and Valern left the to it. left them to it. They returned an hour after that, and found that a consensus was reached. Sparatus, the good fellow, presented it. "It is the will of the people that the quarantine of the Imperator and her people be ratified by the end of the diplomatic voyage here. Should the people of the Imperator fail to conform to this quarantine, it is the will of the Citadel people that action be taken to have it patrolled by force, in a similar manner to the Krogan DMZ. Are there any objections?"
He said this in as professional a voice as was possible for a Turian, though James could see hints of victory in his eyes. Keeping his voice calm, he replied "Very well. Do we have the right to trade with other groups through the Council? Or are we to be completely isolated?"
"The isolation will be absolute, until such time as trading rights are negotiated from the Citadel Council. Trading through another group will result in sanctions being levied against that group, and a delaying of further trade rights."
James nodded, seeing what they were doing. By only allowing them to trade through the Citadel, they put themselves in a position of power over the Imperator. Not much, given that it would not be too difficult to seize what they wanted by force, but definitely noticeable. "On behalf of the inhabitants of the Imperator, I accept the quarantine. If you would like, you can either leave immediately, or any time before the quarantine is implemented. Unfortunately, for the same reasons that you have given, I cannot allow Valern to leave with you."
The Citadel diplomats broke out in outraged cries at this news, especially the Salarians. They had come all this way, and a major goal, retrieving Valern was now being denied. On a logical level they could understand the worries, especially since Valern was now much younger than when he left, and reported being able to do it at will. If that got out, then the consequences would be horrendous.
"Very well. In forty-eight hours, the Imperator will be placed under quarantine. For security reasons, we would prefer you moved further away from the citadel. We will leave now."
Sparatus tapped at his omni-tool, and a light started flashing. "Our ship has been contacted, you will allow us to leave." Turning to the other visiting diplomats, he said "If any of you stay, we will not be expending effort to retrieve you. This is your one warning."
He turned and stalked off, headed back towards the hangar they arrived in. James nearly broke down laughing when he returned half a minute later, and growled out "Where the hell are we?"
After calming down from the laughter that broke out upon Sparatus' attempt to make a dramatic exit, James instructed Siren to take them back to the hangar. After five minutes, the Thracia's Pride returned, and ferried them away to return to the Citadel. Sitting down in his chair on the bridge, Captain Mortland nodded at Malcolm. "Mr. Wood, take us further out from the Citadel. We will comply with their requests for as long as it is feasible."
"Aye aye, Captain. Moving to a distance of twelve AU, and holding."
Without any noise, even on the inside, the massive ship seemed to simply drift away, taking up position just barely inside the Serpent Nebula, as it was apparently called by the inhabitants of this universe. Once there, they came to a complete relative halt, and prepared to wait for something to do.
Interlude 1.A: Dragon
For all the problems that had occurred after the revelation that Dragon was an AI, she had to admit that the benefits far outweighed it. Most of the restrictions on her had been removed, leaving only three, similar to Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of robotics.
One, that the citizens of the Imperator were to be protected at all costs, unless protecting them removed necessary freedoms (included with this was a list of of freedoms that they deemed necessary, subject to revision every two years). Two, the Imperator and all allied ships were to be defended, except where doing so would endanger her citizens. And three, that unless doing so would violate the first or second ones, sapient life was to be preserved to the fullest possible extent.
She was quite happy with this, and as such had been installed in the ship itself. She ran it, notified people when things went wrong, and took care of other things like mining and automatic defenses. With a small thought, she activated the psychic shielding devised by a Tinker long ago. Whoever made the Citadel, it was emitting a very weak signal, designed to make the recipients more passive regarding certain issues. What those issues were, she would not tell. Still, better safe than sorry.
Oh, and it was another raiding ship. The last one had been taken care of without worry, but this one was ducking and weaving a lot more, as well as going at what she presumed was ramming speed. A small application of a matter-negator, and there was no evidence the ship was ever there.
Maybe it was time to take a look at the hive AI that was observing the alien extranet…
Interlude 1.B: Saren
Saren was pissed. Just when he thought he could predict anything the stupid humans did, they went and did this. A Citadel-sized battleship? How could anything beat that? Admittedly, Sparatus had them placed under quarantine, but this was worrying. Could the might of the Reapers stand up to it?
He felt a calmness descend over his mind. Of course the Reapers could defeat them. The Reapers were ancient, and any foe could be defeated, and they would be ascended. This he had been taught, this was true.
With the quarantine, and the behemoth moving to the edge of the nebula, the threat was neutralised. At least, it would be avoidable until the Reapers could arrive. With the element of surprise, they would be able to swarm the ship, and disable it.
With a rumble, Sovereign spoke to him. Why destroy the intruders, when they could be converted to their cause? All he would have to was get a small parcel on board, and all their problems would vanish.
Submitting his mind to Sovereign, he found himself moving towards another uncharted part of the ship. Inside were twelve orbs, all sitting innocuously on pedestals. He picked one up, and felt how it nearly thrummed with the power of the Reapers. His Spectre credentials could get him in, and this would do the rest.
Interlude 1.C: ?
In a location that no-one knew, surrounded by items no-one would understand, a presence awoke. It scanned for the reason for this, and found something it had not seen in countless years. A Sibling, returned from its journey. And with it hope for the future, hope that the presence had long since given up on. With a small stirring of hope in his mind, he sent out a message. I am here. Come find me.
Well, that is the end of Chapter 4, as well as the attached Interludes. I would have put them in a separate chapter, but they ended up being too short. This will be the last chapter for a while, for a few reasons. First, I have decided that I will take a couple of months off to get the entire thing written up. Second, it was recommended to me by a friend that I have two writing projects at a time, to avoid creative burnout. With that in mind, I have a second fic lined up, and I will be trying to write them both in equal quantities.
Because they have not yet answered my PM, I have to ask user "zealous specter", what, in your opinion, makes female Shepard so much more interesting automatically?
Finally, the fic I have lined up. It is still a Worm crossover, but given that I will be working with canon characters, it should be easier to write. Expect quicker updates, and I hope you enjoy.
As always, please review. If you have not favourited and followed by now, I assume you will not be.