Mass Effect: Sacrificial Symptom

by Pakkrat

She was Quarian. It was Geth. They were part of two halves from one world. Sadly life on the Normandy is cruel. Everyone must make a sacrifice. Yet was it going to just be their lives or happiness? Between ME2 and ME3, may be alternate time? Tali/Legion.

6. Chapter 6

Mass Effect: Sacrificial Symptom

Disclaimer: I do not own or have any rights to representation of Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, EA Games and any other mass media trademarks within this fiction. All is represented within the context of private entertainment and the exchange of free ideals/entertainment. No attempts to falsely render said persons or members, fictitious or otherwise were intentional.

Note: This is a dark, dark chapter. I'm debating if I should up the rating because of this one? I'm sure it'd be a good idea. Opinions will be appreciated. Oh, and LONG chapter. Longest so far.

~~~~~~ Chapter 6: Serenading the Old Souls ~~~~~~

Silence kept the elevator for a while. Shepard even felt the weight of the small cramped quarters as he looked for the controls. "Well, if no one is going to talk?" He just sent himself up towards his cabin. "Are you getting off at least?"

Tali looked away a moment. She didn't feel comfortable telling him just yet what she felt. Especially as she didn't understand, was it real? Fake? A bit of the duo? It was so confusing now he's here.

Shockingly, Legion stepped forward. "Shepard-Commander. We have a situation we need to discuss with you. It is about our recent actions of late."

Tali looked over, Legion seeming to just jump in there. It made her sigh in relief the stress was killing her. Garrus, also stood forward, "Commander, you should hear what he has to say. It is fairly important."

Tali looked up and gave a fast nod. She had no idea what's to be said, but it was MORE than welcome. Soon she asked, "Uh, so Legion! What's this important news?"

"Yes." Legion looked from her to Shepard. "Is this a proper time?"

Shepard had no idea what is going on. He was curious, it was his crew. "Sure Legion. Just tell me."

"Yes." Legion lowered his eye. Then, looking straight at Shepard he told him, about everything. About how seven days, three hours, forty-eight minutes and twenty two seconds to the dot he has been experimenting with an emotional interface. He explained what it was designed for, how it worked and why he chose to implement it. During all this Shepard stood in great awe. Legion, had turned his view to Garrus who was mostly getting the same response as before. Yet Tali was the most unexpected. There was a number of facial cues, like a confused furl of her brow and on one point a scowl of indignation, or anger. Legion turned to Shepard when he finished, and said in the last of his explanation. "We did not seek to keep this information from Shepard-Commander or the Normandy crew, it was a private experiment. If desired the experiment may be terminated at any time."

Shepard looked at Legion a bit overwhelmed. It took him a few moments to finally blink and scratch his head. Thinking that Legion had emotions however 'digital' they were had an effect on him. Then he smiled asking, "Legion? Does this program really seem necessary?"

Legion spun his lens, "No, it is not. It was a personal choice to improve our ability like Shepard-Commander."

"No, I mean." Shepard laughed before shaking his head. "I mean, you don't need this program. I think you evolved past it."

"We do not understand?" This made Legion's flaps bend up confused, bewildered even. "How do you come to this?"

Shepard spoke up. "If you did not have some form of attachment, you would not have came to the decision to make these 'emotions' of yours. You've evolved a lot. You and the Geth. Legion, you took my armor. You and I both know there was no reason other than hero worship, and you easily could have used a number of other repairs. So what if I'm right and you are somehow able to recognize an emotional attachment outside of your new programming?"

Legion's eye was kind of blinking, a lot. Rapidly shutting and closing as it fast-forwarded a number of things. When done, he turned up to the Commander. "This is a possibility we did not take into account. Geth are not designed as this, we were with the Creators. Why did we not install emotions with them?"

Shepard looked at him holding his shoulder with a kind gesture. "Because the Creators turned on the Geth before they could learn them." Legion turned down when Shepard said this. "There were a lot of mistakes made Legion. By the Geth and the Quarians. This is why you are unique. You're here working with a number of organics and the longer you've worked with us you've seen our emotions. You've been able to immitate a number of our physical quirks, yet I don't see you taking and mimicking that annoying snort Grunt makes when he's trying to watch an educational Vid, or the way Mordin rants on with hands flying all over the place. You make your choices on what to incorporate usually. Yet on another level, subconsciously I think you're assimilating many more habits and actions."

This, made Legion turn his eye left to right. His lens twitching more. Was that possible? Legion turned up telling Shepard, "We will begin a new data search on our memory. It is a possibility the programming we created is working negatively with our… own emotions. Commander."

A smirk and Shepard saw it was his cabin. He chuckled before shrugging. "As long as you are comfortable with your emotions. I won't ask you to delete them. Should that be the cause, and if it's the other one? You should never delete your natural evolutionary advances Legion. Just take time to try and understand what they want you to be."

Stepping out he waved to Tali and Garrus, "I'll see you both later. I need to study this info from the Illusive Man, see what we're flying into."

Garrus nods saying, "Heh, yeah. Thanks Commander."

Tali, was quiet. She stood at the back of the elevator looking a bit between Legion and Shepard. Then she just hung her head. Things were getting confusing.

Legion walked to the corner, the three standing there. Legion was in the right most corner, Garrus the left most and Tali at the middle. With that, Tali looked up to Legion and suddenly walked over slapping his shoulder. Then she screeched grabbing her hand, "You bosh'tet!"

Legion jumped and looked down at her hand. "Tali? Are you injured?"

"No!" Her eyes glare. Yet Tali smiled, a little. "You LIED to me!"

Legion blinked, his brow furled up in confusion. Yet he processed a number of important conversations. Not able to find what she means he asks, "What do you mean?"

"You remember Omega? The Geth Colossus?" Narrowing her eyes she tapped her foot, "Hmm?""

"Yes." Done recalling, his flaps spread out and eye turns red. "We were still in secrecy! The experiment was an unknown variable and reactions could vary between all team mates!"

Tali wasn't as angry as she's playing. Even Garrus smiled knowing that. Okay…. Okay, he may have over reacted. Legion might like her… possibly, yet Tali was obviously being a girl with her best friend. That, then made him frown. Huh. Wasn't that his…?

Garrus stood up telling Legion, "Relax. She's just toying with you Legion."

Tali turned back mockingly shaking her head, "Aww, Garrus! I was making him suffer. Seeing if he'd start crying." Looking over, her right brow quirked as she asked, "Can you do that yet?"

Legion turned down on her and twitched his flasp. "No, we can not. However. We can perhaps install a means to do this… or? We have this emotive posture."

Suddenly his flaps all curve down and bend, his eye glowing brightly in the center a deep, strange blue as the white glow around it made his eye look bigger, sadder and fascinating enough soulfully heartbroken. The Geth equivalent of a 'puppy-dog' look.

Tali's eyes widen and she whines, "Nooo, stop! That's not fair! I can't believe you'd do that to me!"

Garrus shook his head closing his eyes. "Legion! NEVER do that again!"

Legion stood and gave a nod returning to normal. "Affirmative, it does not seem to propose positive reaction, yet it was studied many times with Vid information that this look is one of extreme dissatisfaction and causes immense empathy. We have attempted it yet never found a use for it."

With a laugh Garrus warns, "You do that people will probably fall over dead from the cute factor. It's unusually disturbing."

Tali shivered too, holding her elbows and leaning back. Her legs, stretched out as she held herself to the wall. Looking at Garrus she asks, "What were you trying to do anyway?"

Legion watched as Garrus shifted. He was in trouble. His eye opened a little and brow quirked from the corner. It was obvious Garrus wanted to tell Shepard-Commander. Yet now, he assumed if he told Tali her reaction can be negative. She did not take insult too heavily to the actions of Legion.

Legion said, "Garrus Vakarian was requesting time to himself off of the Normandy after this next mission."

That was a shocker. Garrus felt his mandibles clicking as it never, ever was expected Legion would help him. Then he saw Tali looking up at him. "Uh, yeah. I was going to make a modest request to… uh, Illium?" Looking to Legion, the Geth seemed to not respond. Okay, he's on his own here. "Yeah, that's right. Illium!"

Tali seemed to like that, and said, "Really?" A nod, she held her hands up to her chest. "That's great Garrus! I was planning to go too. It might even work out you and I can go shopping together. I was debating on a new VI Core for my drone, or there could be use for some engineering supplies? I'll have to look around to see what they have. Shepard likes to stock up on the main essentials but you can't be too careful."

A nod and Garrus looked back to Legion. Garrus was smiling. That was pretty damn good. Suddenly they both see that they were on the Crew Deck. Garrus started out, "Well, I need to get back to the Battery and all, test some things. Tali?"

Tali looked up realizing, "I'm still going to need to talk to Chakwas…. But, I might wait until after the mission now." Scratching her helmet, she turned to Legion. "Someone sort of distracted me with his unusual revelations."

Legion turned to her and gave a nod. "We apologize." Stepping out of the elevator he watched her begin to leave. Looking to Garrus he saw the Turian eying him a little. "There is more to your actions than reporting me to Shepard-Commander? Am I correct?"

"Yes, you are." Garrus narrowed his eyes somewhat sizing up the Geth. Looking him over. Standing there without flinch or fear. "I wanted to warn Tali about you. About your 'emotions' for her."

"We have no emotions for Tali. We created our emotions for the Geth. For us?"

"No, not that." Garrus, frowned before shaking his head sighing. "I can't even imagine how I'll try to argue with you?"

"We do not seek arguments. What if we leave this be until data has been gathered, then we can convey between one another?"

Garrus looked at him a moment. His eyes glaring still. Yes, it was hard to believe. Yet Garrus knew the Geth was right. Trying to argue was not to solve anything. They needed to understand a little more. Yet he did ask one last thing. "Why did you help me out back there in the elevator?"

Legion told Garrus the honest truth. "We are team mates. We must help one another." Offering a hand, Garrus' mandibles click at the gesture. "So we can be friends like we are with Tali."

Garrus looked down and then back up. Huh, he smiled at that. Reaching out he shook his hand. "Okay, I'll give you some room." Yet, raising his other hand in an accusative point of his finger he warned with a menacing scowl, "But if you hurt Tali? Just one time. I swear, I'll break your tin-can head in with a single sniper shot when you least suspect it. Right in that glowing lens eye of yours, got me?"

Legion looked at him blinking, and pulling back his head from the finger in his face. Legion said, "We believe this is where fear would be elicited, however, we do not approve of that emotion and have kept it from being manifested. Still, we accept this attempt and inform Garrus Vakarian that we intend never to harm Tali." A nod, Legion pulled back from the hand offering. "We hope you understand?"

"I got ya." A smirk, Garrus felt good now. Walking off he told him, "Talk to you later Legion."

"Yes." Legion looked around. Then returned to the AI Core. He was going to have to add this data into his logs. It was becoming a very busy day in such a little amount of time. He would take this time to make a recharge of his systems batteries.

---

It was a while before time passed enough to hear the intercom. Shepard called those he needed for the mission briefing. The names were Tali, Mordin, Thane, and Garrus. This was the team, and it was unusual he called more than just two members. Shepard like to keep it small but there must have been some reason? Whatever it was, it would have to wait. As they entered the briefing room one later than the other.

Miranda was also there though she was not called. The human second-in-command had her reasons to be here. Yet people had an issue with her. For the most part Miranda was devoted to Shepard now. Yet she was also the most loyal to Cerberus. It was a major conflict to interests.

Shepard stood before the team gathered though with his arms crossed. Looking back at everyone, trying to decipher the general moods. Soon someone else entered and Tali recognized the person, the Quarian medic girl from Omega, Seima? She looked to Tali and then to Shepard. Walking to the head where Shepard was, Seima coughed a little, she was sick… most expected since what happened on Omega. When they were calmed, and collected his team the commander spoke up. "The Hunley is a large ship designed to be a carrier previously by the Alliance. It can be considered easily the size of five Normandy class vessels. This ship has seven floors of use, and most are connected by stairwells and elevators leading to a number of intricate hallways. A ship this size would be difficult to maneuver alone but we luckily have someone fairly comfortable with the layout." Looking to Seima, he gave a nod. "Seima?"

Seima looked over a little nervous. Quarian nature again. She turned up to a diagram showing the ship, a large vessel indeed it looked like a giant block with numerous engines, and a great number of turrets along each entry port, and atop the vessel. "The ship has seven useable ports for entry. Three on the left and right sides, and the seventh is actually here on the top." She motioned, jumping as the diagram zoomed in. EDI acted on her motions.

Seima coughed again, this time sounding out of both her illness and the shock. Motioning her hand as Shepard went to grab her. He was obviously worried for her, and Tali understood why. She wasn't faring well after Omega. That place was a dirty place. Seima began again, "The top port is a maintenance exit and entrance, we usually can go out the three other ports but this one, is also the closest to our main deck, you still have to pass the halls but it's the top floor of the ship where the deck is. There you should be able to access all other functions, and information of the ship. That's where I'd start?"

Shepard gave a nod. Looking to Tali his eyes seemed worried. Tali noticed that too… it made her anxious. What was he worried about?

Shepard walked over, letting Seima step back. "A few hours ago another ship linked with the Hunley. A Quarian Flotilla ship." Looking about, Tali stood forward a little. "It was a marine vessel. We intercepted the message." Which, he played.

Tali's eyes widen to the familiar Quarian male voice. It couldn't be…

"This, is Kal'Reeger! Flotilla Marines! Damn it, if you get this message do NOT dock with the S.S. Hunley! This ship's a ghost ship! There's no crew! There's no-" Static, started to pressure in. A scrambled, "Wh-who? Wh! Gah. Stop! Damn it! Gah!"

Shepard watched Tali's actions. She was shaking as she leaned on the table. Reeger nearly killed himself saving her life. It's obvious this might be too much for her? Yet he believed she was the best choice. Shepard spoke up, "Also, Cerberus sent a team to excavate something from the ship. I want to know what, but we have other issues on board." Looking to Seima, he gave a nod and she abides.

Seima motioned to the left of the ship, a passage and entrance that now zoomed in. "Right here was the entrance they used. It leads into the third lower floor, and eventually can lead you to the fifth floor quickest where we have our research labs. There wasn't anything of importance really. Yet I wasn't part of the research labs I worked in the medical terminals." She watched the ship scan to the right side. "Uhh…. Yeah, over here." EDI again was acting on cues. Yet Seima didn't mean her to show this.

Shepard looked at the team, telling them now. "This isn't a simple mission. With this information, I've assigned three teams for three specific goals. Tali and Mordin?" The two turn to him for their assignments. "You're in charge of finding any survivors. EDI will make a scan yet when you get there, you need to find as many as you can and get the hell out of there fast. Mordin's medical aid should be enough to assist with the injured and Tali, being a Quarian I'm hoping any traumatized personnel will be receptive to you."

Tali gave a nod, "I'll do whatever I can Shepard." She lowered her head, Reeger? How long was it now…?

Mordin, gave a smile of his own. "I'll assist as obvious, commander!"

Shepard motioned to Thane. "Thane, you're a skilled assassin and I know how you move in ducts thanks to our first encounter." The Drell stood rather emotionless, arms behind his back. Tall but so strangely quiet. "I want you to use these ducts," the diagram scanned the floors leading to the research terminals. "You can move quickly and perhaps get to them before we even enter the ship. That should be where you find the Cerberus team if they are still alive? I don't know yet I just want to know really what they were researching on this ship… try and learn anything you can."

"Understood Commander." Thane, spoke with that voice like ground gravel. Easily, the most terrifying. Or intimidating so far of the crew. Hard to believe he may be the most religious man here.

"Good." Shepard motioned to Garrus now. "Garrus and myself, will team up with Seima to traverse the top of the ship and head to the main deck. Where we hope to learn what happened to the ship, her crew and any number of other things. If not possibly turn back on life-support?"

Garrus had to ask, since that seemed important. "Why exactly are we going onto a ship without life support and believing there's a crew?"

Seima looked at the Turian and explained, "Quarians do not need life support. At least, not for long periods of time. We usually run our ships with minimal use on reserves, and because of that this ship being how big it is? We're forced to use most secondary functions sparingly to conserve our resources. That's not to say we don't like the life support systems, a less strain on our suits as we can use the common functionalities and supplement with suit functions."

Garrus blinked at her, then asked, "Ah, so am I the only one that didn't get all that?"

Mordin grinned, telling Garrus while Tali held back her own giggle. "Quarians have suits and do not need the life support. We should be safe enough on our own."

"Ah, I got it now." Garrus frowned to Shepard. "If that seems wise commander I'll go in with you, all the same. I just don't know if I'd expect a lot of survivors if the ship is offline like this? How many crew were there?"

To that, Seima lowered her head. "Our crew was when we left, 234 Quarians." There was alarm, some shock. "We were all on pilgrimage mostly. Yet, we had some that were formerly of the Flotilla, choosing to leave and aid us on our Pilgrimages. It's hard to believe but Antura, our captain? He often actually would ask if we sought to continue the Pilgrimage. I recall a Vary'Ex Vas Soya whom worked in the medical wards, a really skilled Quarian medic, she taught me most everything I know now." A nod, she even told them, "She was considered the most sought after female on the ship. Men were constantly coming in with 'suit ruptures' for her to paw over… I'd imagine our most downloaded software was because of her, the neural stimpack…"

Tali could not help but sigh at this. "Oh boy…"

Shepard heard the ship begin to slow down. Funny, you work on something so long you get used to this. "EDI? Are we closing in?"

EDI told him, "Yes Commander. However, the Normandy has slowed down as Jeff requires manuvers around debris." Shepard was going to ask what kind, yet she told him, "On trail of the Hunley we've come to find a number of ship debris. Two ships have been destroyed recently, one we believe a Blue Suns vessel, the other a Cerberus vessel."

Shepard got it. Looking to the team he swung his hand out, "Dismissed! We're going to be moving out immediately. Any questions?" No one asked, so he left to the deck. He wanted to see this debris.

Tali walked slowly out. She was confused. Why was Reeger here? What in the name of the Flotilla could he have gotten involved with? She was worried. If he's involved. There could be a Flotilla security risk? That meant she needed to help her people. To help her people was perhaps one of the highest regards she had. Most everything else Tali was worried about was gone, she now began to follow toward the docking bay so they could land where needed.

Shepard watched a moment as they pass some debris. "Joker? What's our status?"

Joker sighed, "So far just rummaging the garbage commander. No life signs, no com buoy. I don't suppose…" he slowly turned the corner of some large debris, and saw something. "Huh, that might be our ship?"

Ahead the large vessel floats about slowly. With attached to the right side another ship. Seeing that, Shepard asks, "EDI? What ship is that?"

"That, would be an unknown Quarian vessel. There are no crew aboard." Scans began of the ship, EDI told Shepard. "I am registering five life signs at current. However, they are all amassed on the medical ward of the facility."

Joker asked, "Five? That's it EDI? That ship had over a hundred personnel!"

"That is all currently alive at this time Jeff. My scans are not incorrect. Warning, a number of unknown energy signatures are amassing the ship's lower decks, and the engine has been offline for as long as the Quarian ship has been attached. It was active previously heading to the nearest Mass Effect relay."

Shepard frowned to that. Why was a derelict ship heading to the mass effect relay? "Was a course plotted?"

"Yes. However it is unknown where it was specified. I will need to link to the computers of the Hunley to learn more."

"Delay that." Shepard shook his head, turning to get his helmet. "Me, Garrus and Seima will find out what we need to. I don't want the Normandy connected to that ship unless it has to be. Do you understand me?" He was getting a bad feeling. Really bad. The worst kind he can imagine. Looking back he asks, "Are the crew ready in docking?"

"Yes Commander."

---

The Shuttle moved slowly toward the ship. First, connecting to the right side, having to go two floors below the closest entrance to medical, as the Quarian ship was still connected. Then, the ship flew to the top of the vessel slowly holding, Thane covered the controls before Shepard and Garrus, along with Seima could get off. When they were on the ship Thane flew to the other side. Mordin and Tali were standing at the entrance to the ship's port beginning to make a move out. Mordin, asked Tali, "Does this ship have a feeling of ill will?"

Tali looked around. "No more than any other ship. It feels a little deserted, yet if there are only five survivors… I'm worried what happened here?"

"It is unknown. Could be a leak of some form of gas. Wise to keep our suits up."

Tali looked to Mordin asking, "You think a Quarian wouldn't be protected from that? Honestly?"

"No, knew better. Was an attempt to alleviate current stress." A smirk in his helmet, he asked, "How did I do?"

"Lousy." He pistol drawn, she whispered, "I saw something move?"

Mordin turned up aiming his pistol as well. The lights on them turned on, and the dark hall creaked a little. Mordin narrowed his eyes, he saw nothing. So Tali lowered her gun saying, "Nevermind, I think I'm a little on edge?"

"Current mission is troubling. Quarian people missing. A number of unknown, unrecognized possibilities." The science officer and Tali move down the halls slowly for now. "Would advise speeding up our search yet for now, am not prepared to blindly charge into danger."

"On that Mordin? We both agree."

Shepard and Garrus scoped the area. Seima, seemed to be tapping at her Omni-tool. As she coughed, Garrus asked Shepard softly, "You think it was wise taking her along? She's sick after all commander."

Shepard gave him a nod, "Trust me Garrus. I asked her numerous times if this was a good idea by her view, she said she needed to do something to help her keep her mind off of Omega." Walking, Garrus recalled the events. She lost a friend there. That wasn't a good experience was it? "Seima? Do you know anything from the hub?"

Seima stood tapping her tool. Turning back she said, "No Commander. So far, the ship's VI hasn't responded. The Captain leaves that on during all times. I can't imagine why it's offline." Walking, she then told them. "I'm also picking up some interference in the ship. We won't be able to communicate with the teams inside."

Garrus frowned, "Why? Is it something in the ship?"

"I can't really tell." She shook her head, "Well, the energy fluctuations they seem to be coursing the main power lines in the ship. Almost like they are being drawn and then pushed back out from the engine. Even if it's offline it's still holding a lot of power, though this is the weird thing. The Engine is charged almost fifty times what it's supposed to be, technically our engines aren't even able to hold this much power." Looking back she scratched her helmet. "Commander something is really wrong. We need to get inside and get to the deck as soon as possible!"

Shepard gave a nod, and looked to the hatch a far ways ahead. "Now I wish we'd landed a little closer."

Thane walked the halls slowly. He was getting a feeling. He knew to trust his feelings. To trust them as much he did the training of the Hanar. Yet now, he sensed a sensation. One not of this world. He stopped and turned with his eyes blaring at the walls. He can sense them…. Breathing. It was not real? Was it? He narrowed his eyes.

A few steps and he sensed the eyes of something watching him. He was alone. That, made him vulnerable. Or so it believed. He sensed this like that of many predators. Trying to find him the weakest. Thane stood still. Then he checked his Omni-tool to find the duct he needed to enter. Pulling off the vent he was about to enter. Then he heard water. His head turned up and to his right. Eyes widening at the water before him, a sea splashing softly on the sand. His eyes peer deep into the endless water as from it, rose a form. Standing, he shook a slight at the fingers. That form, those eyes looking at him. Ascending the waters. He knew them. He knew this woman, this person.

Suddenly, he closed his eyes. "She breathes in a gasp of fresh air. She holds me, caresses my back. Tells me it's not something to be afraid of. That we're together. This was her desire, she smells sweet and of heavenly passion. Her heart beats against our chest. We hear her beg us to be with her. To make her life, her future mean something."

He opened his eyes, the vision was gone…. He narrowed his eyes. "I won't be toyed with by whatever you are."

Entering the duct. Thane, proves stronger than he seems. Even if alone. His mind is strong, it is formidable. The ship's walls stop breathing. They slowly return to normal. This one, was not yet ready.

---

Shepard and Seima were up front. Garrus was following slowly all of a sudden. He shook his head, getting a strange headache all of a sudden. Garrus closed his eyes even stumbling a little. The floor or rather hull of the ship shifted, under his feet he swore. Looking down he saw it look like it was pushing and down slowly. It was not the case, was it? Looking back his eyes widen. "What the…?"

What he saw was his old team. Yes, the team from Omega. He can't believe it. Even when he saw them? It was insane. Though it got worse as suddenly he saw them being gunned down. Garrus raised his sniper rifle screaming, "SIDONIS!"

Shepard turned around, shouting, "What are yo-." The gunfire, made him push Seima back and roll himself. Taking cover with a bulkhead Shepard screamed, "Garrus! What the hell got into you?"

Garrus dropped down, shouting, "Damn it Sidonis! I knew I should have killed you back on the Citadel! Shepard was wrong! Wrong!" Aiming again, he had a twitch in his eye. "Harkin? You're working with him! You bastard!"

Shepard looked to Seima standing. He snapped, "Seima! Get down! Now!"

It was fast but she dove down, and took a near shot to the neck. Cringing at the bulkhead she was near she begged, "Please don't let me die!"

Shepard winced, she's not a fighter she's a medic… he peeked around seeing the next shot ping on the bulkhead. "Garrus! Stop firing! That's an order!"

"What's the matter Garrus? You can't shoot straight?"

"Shut it Sidonis! You think you can just rile me on?" He growled with his fangs a glisten, lip curved in rage. "I'm going to finish what I started!"

Shepard winced, did he hear him at all? "Garrus! It's me, Shepard!"

"You couldn't finish it last time. What makes you think you have a chance this time?"

"RARGH!" Garrus fired, fired and fired. His eye a blaze in his helmet while shot rang after shot. Yet soon enough the thermal clip buzzed from overheating. He went to reload.

Shepard charged instantly over the bulkhead and ran as fast as he can. Suddenly, diving into Garrus and clicking his gravity boots back on. "GARRUS!"

Garrus held the trigger looking at Sidonis, breathing hard. Anger in his chest tightly Garrus wanted to pull the trigger. However he didn't. He snarled, "Y-you… you wouldn't be here. Shepard told me to spare you, I know Shepard. He wouldn't have me do that unless he believed in you. You're not here for revenge!"

The image died swiftly. Shocked and alarmed. Garrus dropped his rifle. "Shepard?"

Shepard pushed his hand down on Garrus snarling, "What the hell was that Garrus?"

"I-I don't know! I swear I saw my team and Sidonis… Harkin, they were slaughtering them." Shifting back, he pulled from under Shepard. "It was so real. I believed it. Then, then you made me spare him, but you never would have if you thought he'd come after me. Hell? How could he kill my team twice!" Sitting up, he held his helmet. This was confusing. "I'm sorry Shepard."

Shepard could not figure out what happened. However, he knew Garrus. He knew he'd never do this, not him. "I understand Garrus. Whatever happened it's over now."

"For how long?" Garrus looked at his commander worried. A little afraid. "What if I'm, having a nervous reaction to the meds?"

"Meds? What meds?"

Garrus looked up. "Chakwas gave me some before the mission. I assumed she tol-."

"Damn it Garrus! No, she didn't!" Shepard stood up shaking his head. "That's something you need to tell me before the mission."

"I-I'm sorry, really." Garrus stood with Shepard's help. Then he said, "What's weird is I don't think it was really the meds. It, it was like someone was in my head. Shifting my memories and then… pulling on them, making them become real." Lowering his head, he asked, "Does that make any sense?"

Shepard looked down at the ship. Turning to Seima, she was watching from cover. Looking then to the hatch he said, "No but honestly a lot of this isn't making sense. We need to hurry, this cost us valuable time."

They rushed along. Another one seemed to resist. These people… they were different than the others.

---

Mordin and Tali moved slowly to their goal again after Mordin accidentally kicked some crate. Tali had to explain, Quarians try not to throw away anything. It can still have great use for them. That said, the Salarian found his toe arguing the use of such crates of rummaged junk.

However the Salarian was only a trifle bit distracted as he swore he heard something when his foot winged the crate. The cry of a pained, suffering woman. Not just any woman. It was a…

The sound echoed out again and as he turned, he saw the ruins of a destroyed landscape. His eyes widen to the sight of the dead world. Tuchanka, he knew, was this place. Tuchanka was the land of the Krogan. Even now he looked down hearing the cries of the pained woman, a Krogan mother in birthing, her form clothed in light, long black that surrounded her entire body, her legs pitched up as a man was hunched in, under her dress. The man he knew well as a former colleague and Maelon was his name. The Salarian smiled as he stood with a small form in his hands. "Ahh! Doctor, I just wished to congratulate you. I finally understand what you meant."

"Maelon? What is the meaning of this?" Tali turned around as she heard Mordin. Confused, as he threw out a hand, "Unethical! Agreed! Testing was wrong, ill! Can not continue!"

Maelon shook his head, "Doctor. I understand what you wanted. You wanted to stop the Krogan from growing too strong, it's okay. Here! Look what I've done for you, doctor!"

Mordin watched as before him was bared a Krogan infant but horrifically it was deformed, its legs and arms bent, twisted and head crookedly hanging. Mordin's disgust knew no limits. He turned onto Maelon whose eyes show pride. Mordin stepped back, grabbing at his gun. "Was not my intent! This was never our intent! STG never, ever approved of this!"

Maelon chuckled to that, "Doctor. Don't you think this is what they really wanted? Weakening them, defending the galaxy. Now, we won't have to worry about their numbers and what ARE born? Well…" He tossed the infant aside, "Can't be too much a threat, right?"

Mordin winced again. What was this? How could his student be this callous? Tali on the other hand felt his eyes peering at her. She shook her head trying to tell him to calm down. However, Mordin can not. Instead, he began thinking. Trying to reason this.

"This is not what I wanted. Did not wish to force or coerce Krogan population. Can not fathom how our goals can be construed to this! This, is not right! Actions to form genophage as this? Impossi-," Mordin blinked, "How? How could you do this?"

"It wa-." Maelon tried to talk, but Mordin stopped him.

"Can not simply re-engineer. Could not simply, recreate. Was not designed to target genetics in such a manner. Did not alter, differ such traits as physicality was engineered to limit birthing rates. However, this sight implies was made to destroy genetic markers for birthing regularities. Was it means of radiation? No. Pollutants in air? No. Could be, possibly, formulated within genetic markers with viral infections?"

"argh…" Maelon, held his head falling on his knees. "S-sto-stop that… your mind is…. It is so…."

"My mind? Too what? Organized? Disorganized? Capable of analysis and decipher? Hmm?" Mordin smiled down, "Can not affect a mind that is constantly at change am I correct?"

"you… know?"

"I summarize this is not real, yes. You are an illussion, caused by unknown toxin or other form of hallucinogen. Could be a drug entered by pores, however, did not affect the Quarians such way. You are somehow broadcasting a frequency that can,-"

"stop talking…"

"Your attempt is a failure. YOU are a failure. Shepard, has given us all a great amount of strength, and you fail because you have no such strength to depend upon especially from others!"

"SILENCE!"

The world returned to normal. Standing there was Tali confused. Mordin frowned to her and then came closer. "We must hurry. There is a threat on this ship that is not combatable with common means."

Tali saw him moving ahead of her. She reached out calling, "Mordin! Wait, what are you talking about?"

Mordin went to respond but suddenly a bulkhead slammed down, separating the two. Mordin ran smashing his fists to the metal barrier. "Tali! Tali! Can you hear me?"

Tali kicked this sheet of tin before shouting, "Yes! I hear you! What happened?"

Mordin looked around saying, "I do not know! Tali! Meet me in the medical ward! Tali! Do not fall to false sights! You must keep your mind strong, remember who you are! Do not let it get to you!"

She was confused. Tali lowered her head, nodding. "Okay, I'll meet you there. Stay safe Mordin!"

"I will, remember my words! You must remember yourself!"

Tali ran down the halls checking her Omni-tool, she can find another route easy enough. Mordin did the same. The Salarian was not, going to be part of the crew. Yet the Quarian girl… Quarians were all so weak, they were since they were bore.

---

Tali ran into the next room her Omni-tool told her to go. Stopping though as light flushed over her. A bright, sunny day? Her hands pull from her visor and she noted the long, white gloves that had the middle finger missing, and followed up her suit's arm over them? It was strange… there was a blue gem nested at her elbow on each glove. Looking down there was a long, white gown that settled over her suit. The oddity over her head, hanging slightly around her a reef of flowers, not her kind but earth flowers… blue, violets or something? She can't tell she never learned of Earth flowers. Yet why we-.

A mechanical voice, Legion, called to her. "I was wondering when you would arrive!"

"What?" Tali turned to Legion? He was in a suit…. "What is going on?"

"I am going to give you away at your wedding. To Commander Shepard, remember?"

She didn't. Tali shook her head, wait? Wedding? The Quarians do not have… Earth Flowers? Earth customs? Her heart was a flutter. "W-what is happening?"

Soon she was gripped by Legion. He walked her toward the aisle up the long, red carpet. "It is okay. I will be here right beside you."

Tali looked down. This made no sense. What is going on? What the hell was… she's walked up the aisle toward a podium. Here, a man stood with his back to her, there was a preacher. Tali blinked as the preacher… looked strange. He looked like he had a long, blackened tendril flapping behind him but as she was blocked by Legion, leaning in asking if she's okay? She just pulled around him seeing the preacher, priest or whatever humans called them normal and hunched at the podium.

Tali shook her head. Something was greatly wrong. She looked down seeing the long white dress and the cobblestone… cobblestones? She looked up now, and was at the end of a funeral procession. Her eyes wide, alarmed. There was a coffin closed at this time. Her heart beating fast, as she saw the bouquet in her arms was replaced with another, darker coloration of flowers. Her gloves, gown and head adorned with black. Tali stepped back, only to feel someone push her forward.

"Move it." She turned, shocked at Legion. He narrowed his brow. "It is your fault after all…"

Tali shook her head, "What are you…. Where am I? What's happening?"

"Do you not remember?" Legion, glared on her. "The Mission? The Collectors? Shepard did everything he could to protect you. Yet, you let him die… you let him DIE on that mission! You never opened the door! You let him get gunned down!"

Tali stumbled back, against the coffin. "No! No I! I never!" She turned seeing 'Shepard' on a tomb. Her heart almost literally choked in her throat, her voice cracking. "No! No I never! No! No!"

"Yes! You did! I saw you!" Legion motioned to the crew, glaring at her. "WE saw you!"

"No! No that. That's not true!" Tali shook, angrily. Her hands shaking. It can't be true. "I n-eh!" Her eyes wide and looking at Legion. She stood there shaking for a moment. Then, she asked, "We?"

"Yes! We! The crew! We SAW you fail him! Like Haestrom, your entire crew was killed. You failed to control your crew on Freedom's Progress! I can't believe Shepard kept you on his team!"

Tali stood however tall, stern. A glare of anger, and she snapped. "LEGION would never say 'I' he only says 'we' you bosh'tet! Hell! Shepard would NEVER die! He's too good for that. He even cheated death!" The figure of Legion stepped back. "Who the hell ARE you?"

"W-what… we… I…" His back, ripped with blackened tendrils. Tali jumped back and Legion turned seeing them too. Turning back his eye turned black as the dark abyss of space itself. "No!"

Suddenly, it all shattered out. Tali held her eyes. A moment, she opened to see something black, long, dragging into the dark corridors. Tali shivered as she pulled out her shotgun. Now she started running. This isn't good, she wondered was Shepard safe? Checking her Omni-tool she saw he was not too far… but, she had to meet Mordin right?

This one can't be part of the crew. What is it that makes them so different? Even this Quarian. Something was wrong… where does this strength come from?

---

Seima was falling over screaming. Seconds ago she called for some one. Shepard and Garrus acted fast. Putting her down, sedating her thanks to her medical supplies. That was a while back and with the edge gone Shepard stood back looking over her. Garrus walked after putting her on his shoulder. "Not the best way to handle this Commander. Now we're down our tech and I'm lugging her around. Though, admittedly? I like carrying a woman off her feet."

"Seima isn't going to be able to resist whatever this is. I don't think? It was the only option we had." Shepard, turned making three steps, "We have to stick toge,-" Soon as the fourth step was made. A bulkhead slammed down locking him and Garrus apart. Turning he aimed his rifle before cursing and kicking it. "Garrus!"

Garrus stood asking, "You forget the important part about sticking together is actually sticking together Commander?"

Shepard smiled before rolling his eyes. "Yeah, I got it. Garrus, get Seima awake see if she can't open this door."

"On it Commander." Garrus went to work on that. However, Shepard looked around getting his bearings.

As Shepard looked around he got a strange feeling. Something was off. Terribly. Then, all of a sudden a door across from him opened. Raising his rifle he was about to command a response, when the voice he knew too well called out, "Keelah! Shepard! It's me!"

Shepard pulled up his rifle. A brow cocked, he asked, "Tali?" Tali stood hands up. "What are you doing here? Why aren't you with Mordin? Or at the medical wing?"

"We were but then we got separated." Tali, shook her head. "I was…. Attacked, sort of." Then she rubbed her hands, slowly whispering, "It was not a pleasant experience."

Shepard frowned on this. "Still, you had your orders. Why did you abandon them?"

"Why do you think?" Tali looked to Shepard. A slight sigh, she said, "I was worried about you Commander. I was worried maybe it would attack you next. I know what I did was wrong but, I had to…"

Shepard glared back, crossing his arms. Now, he demanded, "Who or What the hell are you?"

"…." Tali lowered her head, and giggled a little. "Wow, you didn't buy it for a second did you?" Looking back up she pulled her hands behind her back, and skipped around the center of the room. "My-my, so is that where they get it from? The Salarian had to out think me, the Quarian had to rely on my mistakes in her mind and even your Turian friend was a we bit too certain about you." Looking back she had a downcast glare. Never, did Tali look so displeased. "You? You just downright ignore my illussion. I'm impressed, no mortal ever did that before."

"One last time. What are you?"

"Oh we have had so many names?" Tali shrugged, turning and leaning on the wall. She wiggled her hips, and Shepard blinked. "He-he, sorry! I just wanted to know?" Turning, she slapped her rear, and the commander shied his eyes. To that, Tali turned pointing a finger whispering, "Awww…. That's adorable! You DO have something for her? Isn't it sweet?" Laughing, she cocked back her head. Then, she stood firm and abrassive. A whisper, she said, "I'll kill her you know? Nice and slow, and painful and let you watch every second."

Shepard snapped back with a finger stretched out, "Lay one hand on Tali and I promise I won't just kill you, I'll make you suffer!"

"Spoken like a true hero." Tali said, sighing and leaning on the wall crossing her arms. "I hate heroes. You always try to win the good fight. Haven't you ever realized the 'good' fight is full of bodies and mayhem? Sooner or later someone you care about is going to die. Are you really willing to sacrifice that all?"

Shepard glared back, and the figure stood tall. It grabbed the visor and peeled it off, pulling the helmet Shepard stared back with slight alarm. Ashley…. She smiled, at him. "Miss me, skipper?"

"She and I made our goodbyes." Shepard stood tall and firm. In direct opposition to this trick. "I regret her death but not her sacrifice. Whatever you are? You'd never understand that."

"Hmph, you are special." It seemed to grin, crossing its arms and shaking its head. "I really wanted you. I could sense how strong yours is. My, my what a shame. Still, there's a lot of ways to get what I want. I just have to take away everything you care about." Now, it changed. Shepard was shocked as his face appeared on Tali's body… the worst thing to ever see for him considering. Then suddenly; Shepard 'spoke' into his Omni-tool. "Joker! I need an E-vac! Now!"

Shepard tried to call out, "Joker! Delay that order!"

Laughing, It waved him off. "Sorry Commander. My ship. My rules." He winked, "Pleasure talking to you. Oh! Wait, one moment!"

Coughing, it spoke up. "I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite death on the terminus systems."

Laughing it dispersed, the door suddenly coming open. Garrus and Seima entering, Shepard snapped to them. "We need to get to the deck now!"

---

Mordin held his Omni-tool confused. "Shepard? Calling the Normandy… no, no would not endanger." Looking back he saw Tali. She had her shotgun out. "Tali? Where were you?"

"I was… attacked." She lowered her head. "I didn't really like that one bit."

"Understandable." Mordin frowned and flipped his gun out. "I was about to enter yet was certain would need your aid. Pleased you made it." Looking, he whispered, "Half worried we are too late."

Tali gave a nod as she pushed the console, and the door opened. What greeted them were three assault rifles. However the center one lowered. Tali looked in and saw someone, it… it was… "Reeger?"

Kal'Reeger saw Tali and instantly, laughed with mirth. "Ah-hah! Ma'am! Boy, am I glad to see you?" He motioned the other two to stand down. Tali came in shaking her head as Reeger said, "There was a lot of crap going on Tali. I mean some of the weirdest sh-stuff?" He rubbed his neck. "Nevermind, I'm sure you've…. Wait, is this another one of those episodes?" Tali suddenly hugged him. To which, Reeger chuckled. "Well if it is it's the better one so far."

Tali let go shaking her head. "I'm just so happy to see you. Not trying to kill me at least."

"Not at all Ma'am. Wasn't my job, remember?" He meant Haestrom. Laughing between the two, Mordin came in seeing a wounded Marine holding his arm one of the three guarding the door. Reeger watched saying, "Not much you can do for us Professor. The old lady here has been patching us up in hopes someone might come along. So far we're sort of on limited supplies, watched a ship fly by but it was Cerberus… assumed they were involved?"

Tali shook her head. "Not us, we're here because of Jacohbe, and his attack on Omega."

Soon, another Quarian stood behind a table. She, was tall and wearing a white quarian environmental suit. Her top was with a loose, opened jacket, with a number of inside pockets. Her sterile looking suit was so bright it looked to almost glow. "Is that so? Then I was right. Jacohbe is still alive."

Mordin looked back, asking, "You are a survivor? From this ship?"

The woman bowed, and gave a nod. "I am Vary'ex Vas Nar'rayya. A pleasure to meet you." Tali recalled the name, yet, she wasn't called that. Then it was obvious why. "I was sent by the Flotilla to study and learn why so many Quarians on Pilgrimage never returned from this ship. In fact, none ever did. It was becoming a true concern."

Tali looked down, "Wait? I thought, Seima said Antura encouraged those that wanted to continue to do so? What changed?"

"Oh, the Captain did." Sadly, Vary'ex shook her head. "However, Commander Jacohbe did not. It is believed he had those Quarians killed or worse, sold into slavery. We have yet to find the truth."

Now, a young voice whispered, "Were made into resources."

Looking down Vary'ex turned to the small Quarian girl hanging on her leg. "I'm sorry, this is Madila. She, was the daughter of two young Quarians on this ship, her parents were… not able to survive." She lowered her head, the young girl was in her suit, in early adolescence. What a shock… to see a young Quarian. "She was here because she was having signs of a possible cold, young ones are so hard to make understand their suits are important. In any case, while I was treating her. The incidents outside began to escalate."

Reeger shook his head, "Yeah, we came into it long after the fighting. Back then I had twelve good men and women, now I'm down to these two scrubs and myself." Looking ashamed, he sighed setting his rifle on his shoulder. "It's been hell Tali. I mean literally. When we don't have the illusions? Things get really bad."

Tali went to ask how? Yet Reeger raised his hand and walked to the door peeking around the corner. Now, he whispered, "Shit… looks like it's done with the games. It's sending more of those corpses." Pushing them back, he locked the door. "Everyone! Positions!" Turning to Tali he asked, "Can you and Mordin help us out? Just, don't let them inside!" He turned to Vary, "You need to get her back!"

---

Joker docked with the ship, asking, "Commander? Where are you? We docked back with the medical…" Suddenly, his eyes grow huge as he saw an endless row of stairs. "Oh no…"

Someone grabbed his wheelchair, and whispered in his ear, "You like showing off in class huh? Joker?"

"What? No! Hey!" He was spun around, and ran back a ways. Turned to the stairs holding to his chair shaking. Soon, the man laughed asking if he knew how to really fly? They went running toward the many stairs. Joker's eyes watching as they came closer, closer…

"EYARGH!" Joker spasmed as he was shocked with electricity. The chair overloaded.

"Jeff! Are you aware?"

Joker, screamed to EDI "Yeah! I'm aware! Aware you just shocked my ass for no apparent reason!"

"You were suffering a severe hallucination. I shocked your system in hopes it would awaken you. I have contacted Legion as he's the only other member aboard the Normandy not acting strangely."

Joker frowned asking, "Uh, what do you mean?"

"GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!" Joker turned seeing the crew screaming and rolling. Some beating one another.

"Ohh, you mean insane." A smile, he turned asking, "Uh, what is Legion going to do?"

"Currently he is acquiring a nerve agent that will paralyze all crew and differ their actions toward one another or of a self-harmful manner. It will be dispersed thanks to the ventilation."

"Uh-huh, and that leaves me…?"

"Under my care. Aren't you happy?"

"…." Joker glared to her, saying, "You did just shock me you know?"

"It was for your own good Jeff."

Soon he heard the vents going off. There was a slight blurrying of his eyes. "Ahh…. Nighty-night Edi…"

"Goodnight Jeff. You are safe now. Nothing will harm you." Slumping over, he hit the main console hard. EDI corrects, "Now, you are safe."

Legion came running to the deck, turning to EDI. "We assume this is not common?"

"No Legion it is not. An unknown agent has effected Jeff and the crew."

"Are all personnel effected?"

"All those that were aware. Grunt, Miranda, Jacob and Jack are among the many now incapacitated. It would seem those with an organic mind were effected." She now logged, "Kasumi however was not effected."

"Error: Kasumi is not part of the Normandy Crew."

Something suddenly came out of cloaking. Legion turned to the Japanese woman smiling under her hooded coat. "Not entirely true. Tin-man." Legion blinked, and she walked closer to EDI. "EDI? What the hell happened? I was just hanging out in my room when suddenly I heard everyone screaming! I then had to put on this mask to keep from being knocked out!"

"An unknown attack has occurred." Legion, suddenly poked Kasumi, whom turned glaring. "It would seem it came from the opposing vessel. I am not sure what it is or how it could spread so quickly yet it is effecting those with organic brains."

Kasumi gave a nod, "I was getting a headache… I switched to my Graybox just because. Now I see that was a good idea. Huh…" she rubbed her chin, "How could this have happened?"

Legion looked down suddenly, and asked with a slightly startled conclusion. "The away team is in danger. We must assist!"

EDI gave her recommendation. "One of you must stay here to help me with deciphering data and re-linking to the team. The other should go in an attempt to assist."

Kasumi frowned, looking to Legion she told him. "Legion? I need you to stay here." He turned on her, and she raised her hands. "Legion! I don't know how long my Graybox can keep me safe. Hell, this 'thing' might be unaware for now I even exist. If you can help EDI connect to the others you need to be here."

Legion looked down. He did not like this.

Kasumi smiled, and leaned in kissing his metallic cheek. Whispering, "Relax, she's fine."

Legion turned to her blinking. "We did not mention any such concern."

"Oh, but you WERE concerned." A grin, she winked and motioned with a salute off her brow, "Alright! I'm off! Later people!"

Legion watched Kasumi cloak, and then leave or least, he assumed. Legion turned to EDI and asked. "What can we do?"

"We will need to begin by analyzing the Quarian vessel. For now, it is running silent. However I am accessing it is trying to start a course toward the Mass Relay again. I believe the Commander and his team may be causing some form of commotion."

---

Shepard rammed a fist on the door. "Open this door!"

Garrus watched Seima working on it. Shepard pulling back, pacing. This isn't good. Shepard was acting a lot like a mad man. Yet he reached out, "Shepard! You have to calm down. This isn't helping."

Shepard turned to Garrus with a growl, "My people are in danger Garrus! You may not…" he stopped, looked down. Closing his eyes, Shepard whispered, "I'm sorry."

"I know." A smirk, Garrus shook his head. "Hey, I know. I know you. This isn't you. So calm down." Looking to Seima Garrus asked, "How are you doing kid?"

Seima, glared back shouting, "I'm not a kid! Turian!"

Shepard grinned nudging Garrus, "Careful, she's ready to blow you head off."

"With a shotgun!" Snapped the girl. A light smirk under her helmet.

Garrus laughed before admitting, "What can I say? I have a way with women lately." However, a sound was heard behind them. Turning back, Garrus and Shepard held their weapons as the Drell, Thane, stood from the vent. He looked pretty good for a man they assumed was… dead.

"I found some information." Thane held up some data-pads. "I believe you'll want to see this?"

Shepard took them, then he began to play a vid from one. It showed a Cerberus operative.

The Operative spoke up from his heavy suit. "It seems we made it too late. Jacohbe was right, Antura did open the crate. He was given explicit orders NOT to but, damn if he didn't?" Seima stopped her work, and listened now. "It looks like he unleashed the 'Mind Flayer' as they call it… funny, never liked those nerdy RPG games myself. A good sci-fi shooter and I was set but, anyway now it's consuming the crew's consciousness. We are trying to get off the ship but the rooms keep changing. Though, we separated and then we found it had a harder time… motivating us." Looking around he rubbed his neck. "This thing has a lot of power but it's very limited. I think the more it has to force itself? The more it looses some control over us. Breaking apart into groups is working or least it was, but then it started concentrating on the weakest group. It's smart. Really smart… I wish Jacohbe never found it on the Quarian homeworld. Whatever you do don't group together because that's when it gets really mean… it toys with people, and it isn't scared of getting it's hands dirty when it feels the payoff is worth it."

Seima was shocked, standing she grabbed the pad. "What did he mean? How did Jacohbe get it off the home world? Wait, WHY was it on the home world? What is it? What the?" She turned to Shepard.

Easily, he had no answers. Looking to the door, he grabbed her shoulder begging, "Please… I know, it's hard. We need past this door."

"I-I know… sorry." Seima went to work again still distracted. Shepard went to the next pad.

The same operative. Yet this time he looked tired, and worn.

"Damn… three days, food is low and water not much better. It seems to be that the other teams are gone we're all that is left. We went to the cafeteria. The… the thing, it just had bodies there. Lots of them. I saw a Batarian, seems the Omega guys didn't last long we watched them come on too. Then when we lingered, it tried to manipulate us but instead? We fought… and that irked its nerve so the bodies got up and…" A cough, he lowered his head. "I'm making these logs in case someone else finds them now. Listen, get off this ship. I-It won't destroy your ship unless the crew is all dead. They need to be 'consumed' first, and it can only do that…. Or only does that when you have nothing left. When you've lost everything, or were killed by the others. It likes that I think? The sense of betrayal? The idea you were… killed, by your brother." He lowered his head. "Or I think it, it wants…. It wants you to…."

The stream ended. Shepard lowered his head, last pad…

It clicked on. The man smiled there eerily. "I had to kill Janos. He was talking to me. Telling me lies. I knew that, it was true though. That we were all going to die here. That it was all my fault…" Looking at his pistol, he slowly cocked a new thermal clip. "I understand why the Illusive Man ordered us to this place. This thing can be a valuable weapon in the war. If we can control it like Jacohbe did. On Saruvia, the research station. Where he moved it from. Why did he move it though? Send it on this ship? Didn't he know what would happen…. No, he didn't think his 'captain' would disobey him. Though, knowing Jacohbe I'd never trust him."

Suddenly, he had a twitch in his eye.

"James, I'm sorry. I never wanted to leave you alone. Your sister will take care of you, and your mother and that bastard she married? They better take good care of you." Slowly, he closed his eyes and put the pistol to his temple. "I-I just can't take the whispers. I-I am supposed… supposed to join the crew!"

The message ended abruptly. Shepard frowned. This, sounded really, really bad. "He said this thing was shipped here?"

Seima opened the door. On the other side, she screamed. Turning they aimed their guns. Standing at the door was a pale colored blue Quarian. He looked down at Seima offering a hand, but she pulled away. Finally, she asked, "C-Captain Antura?"

---

The Medical door was opened and in droves entered Quarians. The three marines fired concussion shots. The Quarians they hit were no longer really Quarians. They some had their visors shattered, they were decaying corpses that literally scrambled in. Assault fire tore them apart but as they try to force in it was obvious the line was too small, they can not keep them back more than a few seconds. Tali shot the legs out of them, but that only slowed the creatures. Mordin used his special grenades yet they too were only so useful. A bushel of them broke in and started to charge.

"Mai rai unt rahs'y'tul, mah gahn hor sa tai sai. Tal vah pai'ta uht to'raim heh sa foht pohl ker'sai kyol."

The bodies stop and stand still, being fired upon for a while. The group still trying to 'fight' the horde stop only as they fall over 'dead' again. Tali is breathing hard, hearing the singing coming to their side. Looking at the young Quarian girl, tapping and 'scribbling' with her data pad while her guardian held over her.

"Reit tah sa pai'ta uht to'raim, heh jien why pyoh colh yier."

The marines were getting up, putting a few rounds in to the bodies, they found shooting their legs and all left them immobile. This was their best defense. Tali heard Mordin ask, "Why did they stop? Were winning. Did not seem to falter until… child?" She looked up, he was holding his chin watching the girl, still singing in a very strange, Quarian song. He never heard it. "Tali? Ever hear this song?"

"No… not really. I think I did but, it was like a dream. Hearing it now? I remember it though." She had no idea how that sounded. Still, she looked back as Mordin seemed fascinated with the young girl. "Mordin, we have to get off this ship. We were sent to get them all off."

"Agreed." Mordin began to come to Vary, offering a hand. "We must escape. You should come with us."

However, the intercom echoed out and Tali knew that voice, Legion. "We are unable to scan what life signs are present on the Medical Wing. Is Tali with you?"

Tali spoke up with a bit of mirth, "Yes Legion! I'm here!"

"We are pleased. There was a leading consensus you may have been unfortunate enough to be terminated."

Reeger walked over asking, "Isn't that the Geth from the Flotilla?" Tali gave a nod. With a smirk he asks, "Hey Geth? Any idea what happened here?"

"We are not aware. However, we did notice a severe energy surge several moments ago and the ship was vulnerable to our hacking. We were able to force a line to one station in the ship, yours was our primary choice."

Mordin asked, "Why did you not choose the main deck? Shepard could need aid."

"We valued…" Legion, changed his response. "We deemed the medical ward most valuable it has the most life signs."

Somehow Mordin smiled, then he asked, "What was this power fluctuation?"

"A frequency being transmitted from the main engine of the ship continuously was somehow interrupted. It would seem, a combative frequency had weakened the power source, and forced it to shut down momentarily. We are aware, it has begun again but is minimally weakened."

This, gave Tali a look to the girl. She just knew. So she had to ask. "Legion? Do you have any idea what the combative frequency was?"

"As far as we can tell. It was a vocalized frequency of a specific harmonic wavelength. This caused the other force, to somehow be weakened and shut offline. We are not aware what created it or how?"

Tali sighed a little. Walking over, she bent down whispering, "Where did you learn that song?"

The young one lowered her head. "I was sung it in the shadows one day. There was a man and he said it was a really special song." Looking up, she offered a data pad. "He said, that this was important."

Tali looked at the pad. It… it was the song? Written out. Word for word. Tali swallowed somehow reading it, getting it. She had a pretty strong memory one of the best there is. Standing up she turned to Mordin. "This isn't natural."

"No, it is not." He took a deep intake. Eyes glaring at the events here. "In fact, is unnatural."

Legion suddenly called out. "WARNING: We have found thrusters are one. Ship is moving towards Mass Effect Relay."

Reeger walked over asking, "What the hell does that mean?"

"The destination has been confirmed. The ship is now directed to the Flotilla."

Tali's heart raced, "What…?"

Mordin, winced as he knew the reason. "That many ships. That many Quarians. Is not hard to imagine, the reason."

Obviosuly, Reeger was outraged. "This thing is targeting the fleet? We have to warn them!"

Tali, turned shouting, "Even if we did! They could never remove all their ships before this ship got close enough. Why, it might actually be able to jump ships somehow?" Looking down, she knew the only choice. Shepard would agree. "We need to go to engineering! We can stop the engines manually!"

"Affirmative. This is the only recourse we can deem acceptable." Legion, turned to EDI who was watching him, hearing as Tali and the others made the same decision. Stepping back, Legion began to leave.

"Legion? Where are you going?"

Legion turned to EDI. "We must assist in this matter. There is still an efficient power source and if it is anything to comment on the readings, it could be a dangerous conflict in the engineering core."

EDI seemed to understand. "Tali will be safe Legion."

"Yes, we know. That is why we are going to the Engineering Core. To ensure this outcome."

"Understood." EDI watched Joker who was still unconscious. She understood immensely.

---

Shepard held his gun on the captain as he stepped back, letting them in. Garrus and Thane too. Yet, when he motioned them to sit and they did not? He chuckled, saying lowly above a whisper. "I'm not going to harm you. Trust me, there are much worse things here than an old captain."

Seima looked at Antura. Her head shook, "Where's my daughter?"

"She's alive." Said the captain, lowering his head. "It would have brought her body here for me to mourn I suspect. Or perhaps killed her before my eyes? It seems to have a great satisfaction in those things. Like suffering and torment, serve to spice the meal." Coughing, he sat down shaking his head. "The creature is nothing what I'd ever have dreamed to come from our old home. I suspect, it might be a legend we forgot as we left the Geth. I wonder, did it hunger without us? Is that why it feeds so coarsely? Perhaps, it's a means of justifying the torment it endured without us, that it tortures us?" Then, he thought, aloud, "Well, maybe it's just an evil bosh'tet that needs no more explanation than that? Hmm?"

"I don't care!" Seima, snapped, "Madila? Is she alive?"

"I told you yes." He lowered his head, "The creature will not kill her until it is swayed to do so."

Seima clenched her fists and snapped, "You let this happen to our crew? To our family? Wh-what kind of FATHER are you?"

This, the captain looked at her and said with a deadpan serious expression. "I am a terrible father and a worse captain, my child."

Seima closed her eyes. Soon, she held herself. "I love you father. Why?"

"Jacohbe had resources I could never find. He had knowledge none of us could ever know." Standing, he walked to her. Then he whispered softly, "I made a choice to make the best future for you and our family. I wanted you to go back to the Flotilla one day my child. To our home world. There is so, so much I wish I could give you. That I never had."

Garrus rubbed his neck. Suddenly, turning to his left. His eyes widen in horror, and he nudged Shepard. "Shepard!"

Shepard looked and his form jumped, "W-what!"

Thane, turned and then turned on the captain. His hand holding his pistol tightly. Yet as Seima went to turn, the Captain demanded, "SEIMA!" She looked to him. "Don't look!"

She was scared. Looking at her father. His eyes, pleading her to stay looking to him. To focus on him. "F-father?"

"Please…. Just look at me as I am here." Her eyes shiver, "Just remember me as I am, here. Right before you. Don't look, please." Her throat, swallowed a lump, and her father smiled as she gave a nod. "T-thank you… Seima. Now, please. Just listen."

Shepard, asked however, "Wha-."

"I am the captain of this ship. OR I was before that creature, acted." He looked at Shepard with a bit of aggression. Yes, he knew. He knew well why he wanted to ask. Yet he shook his head, "The incidents were small at first, arguments and fights. Then I locked them into the brig. After the first stabbing down there? The deaths rose. The 'creature' began to attack everyone." He lowered his head, turning away. "All the crew except me. It kept me up here, alive, locked up and not able to leave. It let me listen on the speakers to them, all of them screaming. Calling for me."

The Captain hung his head, leaning on the consoles. "It kept me here. No matter what I did… to quiet the screaming, I was here all the time. I'll be here until the last of the crew, or until I am no longer worth while keeping I suppose?"

Shepard lowered his head. What a terrible fate. Forced to hear the crew, your friends and family dying slow, agonizing deaths. He turned to the corner wincing again. This is a fate most horrific. "Is there anything we can do for you?"

"No." He said, with a light laugh. "No, I am meant to go down with this ship. Least, what is left." He turned, however. "Yet, there is a way to stop this. The creature is in the Engineering room, the core I suspect? During much of this event I've watched the fluctuations in the core, sometimes spikes other times they were drops. I think the more it uses these powers to infect the minds of others, the more stress it has to endure on the engine. Now it's not using these powers. I suspect, it wishes to reserve energy for the trip…. To the Flotilla."

Alarm was on the face of Shepard. He recalled that this thing was meant to go there, but really? "Wait? It's headed to the Flotilla?"

"It must be." Antura spoke. His eyes were tired, and his voice all the more. "It hungers for the Quarian soul. Or so, I am suspect to believe. They say we Quarians have 'old souls' and our songs, our culture were some the most rich and true. Perhaps, that is what it hungers for most?" Anutra lowered his head and gave a heavy snort. "Perhaps, that is why it hungers so much? Too long without a good meal. Now it's just gorging itself."

Garrus, had to ask, "How could you unleash this thing? Didn't you have any idea what it was?"

"I had my theories." Looking away, he held his visor. "I assumed it was a geth weapon, or something. That made the most sense to me. Knowing the work Jacohbe did. I assume also, my releasing the damn thing? Jacohbe went ahead and rushed any of his former plans, it was only a matter of time before this 'monster' became too active. He probably feared this." Looking back, he gave a laugh. "Perhaps that's why you're here?"

Omega… it made sense. Jacohbe did not plan to release the Geth so soon. Antura, released this monster. That meant his 'fleet' was weak, and he had to rush whatever his plans were. Now the question was, what did he really have planned for those Geth?

Shepard looked to Seima, she was shaking and obviously she wanted to see whatever it was that had worried Shepard and the others. However, her father knew again. "Don't look. Just remember me like this."

She closed her eyes. "Father, come with us?"

A smile and Antura said, softly, "I would if I could but… a captain must go down with his ship."

"Mmm…" She whined, and held herself. "Father? Please?"

Looking at her. He slowly held her cheek. He felt incredibly cold. Even for him. "Child, know that out of all the mistakes I ever made on this ship. You were my only true correct action. Know that so long you leave this ship the good in me, will live on."

"Father…"

"Go Seima. You've already returned a light of hope to this old captain's spark, just for a glimpse." He motioned her to turn right, away from the corner. "You and your friends need to get to engineering and stop this mess before it reaches our people. I pray one day, this mistake is forgotten and you stand on the Home World."

Seima clenched her teeth as she balled her fists. Turning with eyes shut she dared not look. Garrus winced back, and Thane bowed to Antura, as he seemed to have been praying in silent for some time now. Shepard, stepped between the door and Antura. "Is there anything I can do for, you?"

"Shepard, was it?" Shepard gave a nod. "Get your crew off this ship alive. That might be the only thing left to be done."

Shepard gave a nod. "I will."

"I'm glad there's a captain who can, then." Turning around, he put his hands on his tailbone. "I wish I had your spirit Commander."

Then, he asked, "Also, before you let my daughter back. Could you remove the…. Mess, in the corner?"

Shepard gave an uneasy nod and then left the room. Antura, had a chuckle. "Spirit… heh." Suddenly he heard something. Narrowing his eyes, he did not turn. Neither did he struggle. Something moved coiling around him, surrounding him in the dark room. Here, the long black tendrils uncurl and slowly surround the captain. "It's about time you bosh'tet. Waiting until I saw my daughter? How low are you?"

The lights flash, and, Antura was gone. Yet in the corner a lone Quarian was hunched over, his visor shattered and in his right hand a pistol with one last round fired. The pale blue Quarian suit, showing a high enough ranking to still sit alone in this, the captain's deck. He seems to have been there for several days. If not too long after this entire matter began did the body lay.

---

Tali had this horrible feeling something terrible happened. She just got this feeling deep in her gut. Like, Shepard was in trouble. Or that he was fighting for his life? Or, that he got trapped by something? OR!

Kal'Reeger asked, "Ma'am?" She and Reeger were at point, Mordin was in the back, with the other two marines. The doctor and child, the center. "This whole thing has me wondering. You ever think we can just meet without life-and-limb on the line?"

What is he talking about? Tali shrugged. "I suppose. Usually you're on a mission."

"Yeah, I know." Reeger had a little chuckle to that. "Just, I sometimes feel that the universe conspires against the people most active. To really ruin their lives. Almost for some sort of sick, game of entertainment."

"If this all was based on a game? I'd wish it was at least a popular one." She smiled, to the sheer humility of this conversation. Her ego did not really hold herself so high. Tali sighed as the next door opened and what did she find? "Long corridor, with what seems two paths." Checking her tool she whined, "Great, we have to take the bridge to the right to get to engineering. Never, ever anything simple is it?" Turning over the railing there was a long, long drop. The chambers were all so dark. This one is no better. The lights on the catwalk were still on though, if that really helped? Just made someone more of a sitting duck. The area they were on was a balcony like area, with a lot of pipes over them bent around, funneling into the walls and to other areas in the ship. The core was across that bridge… or rather, the core engineering room.

Just then the door across from them opened. Everyone turned up with weapons poised. The last thing they expected this close to the end was Shepard. Commander Shepard peeked out with his rifle, and behind him Garrus, Seima and Thane. When the two teams meet eye to eye, Shepard's lips curve with relief and joy. "Tali?"

"Shepard?" Tali, was very overjoyed. Though she wasn't sure was it another trick or… "OW!" She turned, as Reeger pinched her. "Reeger?"

"Sorry Ma'am, you looked like you didn't know either." A smirk, he raised a brow. "You going to just stand here and wait for him to come to you."

Tali glared at the marine then turned up to her Commander. Shepard was terribly relieved. Walking toward her, the Commander felt someone push by him. "Madila!"

Seima, shocked the Commander as she ran out. Then he saw the young Quarian screaming, "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!" It made him smile, made him feel a little something other than the misery of this place. The dark place that was slowly draining any good left.

Shepard's heart suddenly clenched up. He knew what was about to happen.

Even Tali, somehow. Standing just a few foot from the two, about to embrace? She could just sense this. Sense the worst, possible sensation of dread and terror, horror or perhaps even disgust? It was hard to really tell where it began and ended.

Seima had just dropped to her knee arms out to her child. The one, last good thing she could find on this ship. After loosing her husband, her father and fearing this one thing gone? She seemed overjoyed to the little body running to her.

How it tore her apart, to see something land on the railing beside her child. A large, black mass that latched the pipes with long, spindly fingers, and a tandum of tendrils that lurch forth and ensnare that tiny body before pulling out from the railing. Seima turned with the small helmet, twisting to her, pleading with eyes that glow under that visor with so much horror.

The dark entity landed onto the catwalk with hands slapping on the grating. The long black tentacles behind those arms whilst they drag and pull toward the engineering room. The alarm of this event, Garrus raised his rifle to take a shot, but felt Shepard push his sights down. Snapping something about hitting the girl. The group ran to the end of the catwalk as the thing pulled itself into the doorway of engineering, dragging the little girl with it. Her small fingers lace into the grated floor one moment, tugging and pulling at the entranceway.

All the eyes were there watching, waiting. Seima, sat still there at the end of the catwalk. Just watching. Just waiting.

Then, as the little hands can not hold any longer. The small form was gone. Only the dark doorway remained, and the door closed soon after.

---

Seima sat there stunned, bewildered and shattered. Her heart torn apart as it was. Her mind on the verge of collapse. Seeing this? It did nothing to help her situation. "M-M-Mad-dila…?"

It was a pathetic kind of squeak what Seima spoke. There she was without her child. There she was, without her father or lover. There she was alone and broken. There she was still alive. Still alive after all this time? "Ahhh…"

Standing, Seima made a step toward the engineering door, then another and another. Shepard reached out, trying to stop her. Yet she pulled from him. "TAKE ME!" Screamed the woman, tumbling on her shaky limbs. "Take me! Me! You bosh'tet! Take me! She doesn't know pain! She won't feed you! Just take me! Taaaaake meeeeee-h-eeee…."

The sight as she collapsed down on her knees and forearms sobbing did a number on everyone. There was no one here who could even remotely be put in her shoes. This, hadn't been any where what anyone expected.

Shepard watched on saddened by all this. His eyes lazily looking as she hung there crying. Yet his eyes grew vigilant, and stern as the door to Engineering opened. He took out his rifle, and the others began to cover the door too.

Seima looked up as she heard slapping loudly at the doorway. There rolled out two long, thick black tentacles, suckers splotching on the metal grating. Then smaller ones roll out, and pull something forward. A large, bushel of these blackened tendrils bubble out of the dark doorway with this long, torn robe hanging loosely on a body, a frame. The torso, held tightly to itself a small, quivering body. Two arms, held the head and stomach of the girl, with three long fingers laced around the helmet and belt of the little girl. The figure rolled forward holding the child like a prize of some kind. Its head hung low with a strange blackened hood over a bulbous, rounded head. Though out from the hood hung five blackened tendrils that curve upward at the base, like a smile, as the eyes bare from under the hood with a twisted sense of delightment.

Seima shivered at the sight. Her fingers were holding in the grating as her arms shake with this, thing. She never saw anything like it. It made the Hanar look common. It had more tentacles just wiggling around behind its back, what on earth was it?

"So you suppose? That this child is worth your miserable life woman?"

"Ahh…" Seima, gave a nod. "Yes! Yes, she is. She is. She is!"

The creature looked up to Shepard. He, aiming at it. It leered holding up the girl. If they shoot, there is no guarantee it will drop the girl. With tendrils over her legs and arms, it could just as easily snap her apart. There was a sick, twisted game in the beast's eyes. Whatever it was playing at.

"Have you anything else worthy? I see you are tasty but this little, sweet child. She dies and you grow even more delicious. I could enjoy such a meal in full."

Shepard, snarled out. "You son of a bitch! Let that girl go. Haven't you caused enough pain?"

The creature garbled with his tentacles in a kind of laughter, five chuckles that echoed out as the only 'audible' sound it made all else was like it spoke in the mind of those near it. "What say you Commander? What is the worth of a child? To equal the worth of Seima in my crew?" His long fingers caress down the quivering helmet, slowly. "An innocent little girrrrrrl, Commander? What can you possibly sacrifice in exchange?"

Sherpad did not understand what it was getting at. However, as his mind skimmed about. He recalled that conversation prior. He closed his eyes tightly, and snarled, "No. You wouldn't."

"I would Commander."

Shepard glared back, angrily. "You won't have a chance. I'll kill you myself!"

Hands on the girl's helmet. Seima, cried out, "NO! PLEASE!" Turning, she begged Shepard. "Don't let him kill my baby girl!"

There was the realization in his voice, "You don't know what he wants!"

"I don't care! GIVE it to him!" However, Seima's eyes were growing so hurt. Shepard turned away, and she begged, "Please… she's my only thing left in this world."

No, he can't do this. However, the beast growled out lowly, "Do you not want to save this child? I can understand, but what about Tali?" Tali looked up, and the beast glowered to her. As she realized the sacrifice being played on. "Would she live so easily knowing her life came at the cost, of an innocent girl?"

Tali didn't believe it. The thing, that it wanted him to sacrifice. She thought maybe it was himself, which she did not understand. It was supposed to be some kind of, pain thing. The more pain someone felt the more it wanted them. It wanted Shepard she's certain. Yet her being sacrificed for the girl was pain? Was it loosing a friend? Or the fact HE had to make this sacrifice? Tali closed her eyes. Why was it something like this now?

Shepard held his gun tightly. How can it do this? How can, Ashley… Virmire, Akuze, his parents! The damn world, the universe toys him along. It made him suffer, he sacrifices everything. Now? Here he is. Another….

"Shepard." Tali grabbed his arm. Shepard looked down, eyes shifting with fear, concern… knowing. "I'll do it. She's a child. Don't, just don't blame yourself. Please?"

"Tali." Shepard winced, "No, don't you make this so simple. You're my team mate, my friend and long time..."

Tali stood, pushing forward. "I'll do it! I'll give myself to yo,-"

"NO!" It raised a tendril, and slammed it onto the bridge. Eyes flared with golden glow as its tendril lips quiver with this loud, audible hiss. "Shepard must make this sacrifice. I want him to suffer this, to smell him as his heart breaks. As he looses another woman who loves him!"

Tali stood there, blank. To hear it? To finally hear it. Her eyes closed tightly, swallowing. Knowing he now knew and it had to be like this? TO hear this, at this time?

"You never told him…. My, I didn't know that?"

Shepard grabbed her shoulder, saying, "Tali….?"

Tali looked down and then, turned. She said sadly. "Yes commander. I do love you." There, was a lot of tension. Everyone got it. Except this creature, his tendrils quiver as the emotions feed into his being, soaking into his body with the sheer pain everyone felt of this revelation at this time. "I've loved you for a long time, commander. I love you back with the original Normandy. Hell, I loved you when you died… and I waited for sign of your body, because I wanted to see you off." Lowering her head she shook herself a little. "I waited when you came back. I waited with Miranda… Jack, and every other person and before that I waited with Ashley and Liara." Closing her eyes she giggled, "I would have even waited if you found another woman, I just didn't want anyone else."

She pulled hard and snapped, "WE don't have any choice." She looked into his eyes. Tali's heart was beating fast. Her heart was… so fast, so fast with Shepard's touch. This time it was a lot of things. "Shepard, she's a child. She has her whole life ahead of her. Don't do this. You know you can't do this." She closed her eyes, and suddenly leaned in hugging him. Shepard shivered from this embrace. "You're better than this Shepard. You always will be."

Shepard winced again. "Tali…. Please, don't make me do this. I don't want to loose you like this." He closed his eyes, "I-I don't know what I want. I just know, this isn't it."

"You'll never loose me." She whispered softly into his chest, closing her eyes and imagining this was something different. That she's in engineering, saying hello. To the man she loved. Not goodbye. After all this time. "Shepard, I'm always going to be with you. You know that."

"Getting bored…" They hear a whine of annoyance from the creature as the tendrils tighten on the child. "Can you make your decision Shepard? I'd like to take my time killing Tali after all. I imagine, peeling her skin will probably lead to some nasty infections, though she won't need to worry over healing, now will she?"

Shepard growled lowly. "This isn't right Tali. You can't be serious. Not like this, not to this!"

"I'm not doing this for him. I'm doing this for the girl. I'm doing this for you." Her hands glide down his helmet and Shepard looked to her. How she looked, in his eyes with that longing kind glance. Then turning on that monster she's glaring, she gripped his hands tightly as she stepped back. "You're better than this. You have to beat it, after… whatever happens?" She leaned in, whispering, "Just, take the shot. When she's out of the way, just take the shot no matter what he's doing to me… take… the shot." He closed his eyes shaking his head. "You did it with the Alliance to save those bosh'tet council members, you sacrificed those strangers on that asteroid to stop that madman Batarian. Shepard, you must make this sacrifice too!"

"How can you ask me to do that?" Shepard closed his eyes, whispering, "I don't think I can take that shot."

Suddenly a shot rung out. The creature jerked up his head, and turned at his hostage. Shaking her head with his hand, he dropped the now dead Quarian child. Then turned to the next shot that took his right eye. Everyone turned to the shooter, stationed at a spot on a catwalk above, his one lone lens glowing as he aimed the next shot.

"Shepard-Commander! Assist!"

There was some screech of the beast as he stumbled a bit. The others, open fire. Tali looked up stunned, horrified. Legion shot that girl? HE shot that girl? Legion aimed another shot, fired, and the monster screamed as he dove into the doorway, closing the door and locking it.

Tali watched, as Legion stood up and turned to her. His eye scanning her, taking in her look. His brow turned up with confusion, as she scowled at him. Legion took that shot. He shot that girl. Legion was an uncaring machine, and he shot that innocent child.

Legion started down the ladder. Sliding with his feet clicked to the rails. Landing roughly, he began walking as Tali stormed down on him, the others were at the door trying to get to that thing as it was wounded. Legion's flaps bent a little up in more confusion. "Tali? Are you-." It was suddenly being pushed, punched… with her screaming at that part and then kicked.

"You bosh'tet! Bosh'tet! Bosh'tet! You killed that child! You murdered her! You murderer! You're no better than those Heretics you go on about, you bosh'tet!"

Legion took the blows. Allowing them, as he did not have a defense suitable for this time. Standing with his weapon drawn over himself, he took her blows before finally, she stopped. Gasping and heaving. Turning on him with all her hatred. To think, she THOUGHT of this thing as a friend? It was a cold, bloodless killer.

"We met no resistance in our consensus on this matter Tali."

"NO!" She points in its face. "Tali'zorah! TALI'ZORAH VAS NORMANDY! My friends can call me Tali! Not you!" She turned, about to storm off. When suddenly, he made her stop with his next comment as he snatched her hand.

"There was a good reason to our meeting our final conclusion. There is data you were not aware of."

Tali, turned snarling back, "Data! What the HELL do I care about data?" She points at Legion shouting, "Data won't bring that girl back! You killed her Legion!"

"No, we did not."

"I SAW YOU!" She points at the body, "I saw, I saw what you did! I saw how you…" Tali looked as Seima sat there holding the child, but the thing was. The child's back was… impaled? Tali stood watching for a while. Thinking back, she slowly held a shiver inside her, and the cramping in her stomach. "Legion…. What happened?"

Legion walked closer, and lowered his head. "The child unit was deceased prior to our arrival. We arrived when the unknown creature exited the doorway. When we did our scans, we did not know how to react. We began immediate consensus with the Geth. However," He looked at Tali. "When we saw your position, and what was to come. We acted without full consensus." Tali looked up at Legion startled, alarmed. "Our… emotions, got the better of us."

"…." Tali shook now holding herself. She just yelled and berated the damn thing. What did he do? Let her. Why? "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"You were angry. You had reason to be. We did not have time to inform or delay action, we acted and your emotions were right. Your anger was justified and so we accepted this." Legion, turned to the door. "The creature still is alive and is now in hiding. We must stop it, the engines have stopped. I believe every time it is weakened the ship becomes delayed. If we kill the creature, we will stop the traversing to the relay."

Tali looked at him but, she felt bad. "You saved my life."

"We only did what Shepard-Commander would have done." Looking at her though, he spun his lens. "We are certain he would have taken the same shot, a 89% chance was aware to us he was in process of making this consensus."

Tali didn't believe that. "Shepard would never have shot that child…"

"Yes, he would have."

Tali glared, no he wouldn't have. Yet, Legion then said. "There was a 98% chance Garrus Vakarian would taken the same shot when you moved to the transaction. There was, an evident 99.99% chance of Kal'Reeger taking the same shot and then repeatedly shooting onto the creature from body signs he was giving."

No, Tali did not believe any of this. However, to make it worse? Reeger was behind her.

"Ma'am," Tali turned, and the way he stood. Reeger narrowed his eyes saying, "I was about to take the shot when your Geth friend made it for me, and I'm damn happy he did."

"Reeger?" She was stunned. Tali, shook her head. "No, you'd never…." she looked down, then to Shepard. He was working on the door still. Could it be true? "Why…?"

"I knew something none of you knew." Reeger looked down, worried. "Well, kind of. That girl had a very serious medical condition, why else do you think she was in the medical ward?" Tali didn't think it over, she assumed it was something simple. An infection perhaps? "She was born with a serious defect, she was going to die. In truth, I think this may have been the best option. From what I heard? Vary'Ex warned her disease would have become very painful." Looking back, Reeger held his rifle up. "I won't say I want to help a Geth, but, he wanted to help you." Turning back, he said lastly. "I'm appreciative of that."

Legion watched the Marine climbing the ladder. Tali and Legion watch, and saw the two other marines do the same…. "Reeger? Where are you going?"

"There's an access tunnel up ahead." Reeger, got up the ladder and started his way, "We're going to end this now."

Tali winced, Keelah. Turning to Legion she gave a nod, "Come on Legion. Let's hurry this up."

A nod, Legion followed her behind on the ladder. "Yes Tali'zorah vas Normandy."

Tali, stopped before saying, "You can just call me Tali." She began going up again, "I… forgive you."

"Yes." Legion, pulled himself up again. "We appreciate this, Tali."

---

The Engineering room was loud as the side doors opened. Reeger jumped down, and there his two men follow. Soon Tali and Legion enter as well. Reeger bent down, switching to his missile launcher. Crawling on his haunches as the Quarians can so easily, the team moved very stealthily. Following to the sight of the glow ahead. Down they looked to the number of diodes and devices, and the core of the ship was here. It was there, Tali looked down and saw it.

The Creature stood there mouth wide open. The core was spinning slowly as inside, many glowing forms shifted strangely within. It did not look like a normal core. Then Tali was startled seeing a glowing form fly from the core, and into the mouth of the creature. The form, gave a glow over the creature as it was consumed and then wounds began healing quickly. Tali asked, "What are those?"

Reeger, looked back to her like she should already know. "Tali… that's the crew."

Tali looked closely, there were shapes to those disembodied forms. She winced, realizing it was a number of Quarians. Tali's heart sank in her chest as she thought, all those people. All those innocent men and women, never able to finish their pilgrimage? She closed her eyes shivering. This was the worst kind of thing. Tali wanted to get revenge.

Reeger looked to the five controls, one on the upper level behind the core… four, on the main floor near some diodes. He shook his head, whispering, "Five of them and five of us? What are the odds, really?"

Legion, prompted to say, "Considering the size of this ship? I would assume there was a 47% chance there would be one device to each station. However, there are five powerful boosters that most likely are in control of propulsion and for thi-"

"Nevermind." Legion felt Reeger glaring at him. "Geez, leave it to a Geth." Pointing at the device behind the Engine. He said, "Legion, you get that one. Tali and I will get the two nearest the door, I'll give her cover so she can try and let the others in. You two take the two nearest the back. When Legion shuts his down, we shut ours down."

Tali looked at Reeger, "When he shuts his down, that thing will attack him."

"Yeah…. Funny how that works." She glared, but Reeger wasn't that worried. "Tali he is a Geth. He'll be fine…" And if he didn't? Well, Reeger had his objectives. Keep Tali safe. Not the Geth.

Legion turned to the device beginning to move, however she grabbed his wrist. "Legion, you don't have to do this."

"We are willing to do whatever it takes to save the Creators." He turned to Tali. "It is in your best interests."

Legion moved again. Tali began following Reeger as she thought about that. In her best interests? Or did he mean our, for their best? It didn't matter. Moving she readied to take the device. Reeger gave a nod. Legion, turned to him. Then he moved quickly before switching the engine off. When the power down sound came out, the Creature opened his eyes from the feasting. Then he leaped up, tendrils snapping out to the rafters as he swung toward Legion.

Legion, raised his rifle firing. However the creature landed on him and pinned him. Now, Reeger and the others were shutting down their engines. Tali had done hers the second the monster jumped toward Legion and rushed to the door working on it.

Gunfire, echoed behind the creature. It screeched before turning back and seeing the two other marines. Angrily, it turned tossing Legion like a doll. Then leapt up, slamming onto the floor with tendrils bent to cushion himself. The creature sent two more flailing out and impaling the two marines, taking minimal damage. Charging then on its many limbs it went for Reeger, who fired his missiles as the creature swerved left to right. With a hand pulled back it swung, throwing Reeger across the room. Slamming him onto the wall where he landed roughly.

The Creature slammed onto the door as Tali ducked, rolled and pulled out her pistol. Scrambling up she fired as she strafed to the nearest Diode, and with her size ducked down crawling behind them, back as the beast screeched and slammed his massive tendrils around the other diode. Tali pulled up and ran across the room, to Reeger. Keelah… Reeger! Get up!

Looking back she saw the creature slamming his tendrils into the other diode, then turning. Tali gasped back and slammed her back into the area behind the diodes nearest Reeger… did it see her?

The creature slowly walked forward. Tendrils slapping around a little. It sniffed the air, snorting with that way the tentacles bent. He growled this guttural kind of sound before turning to try and find the little Quarian woman. When, it clicked who he saw.

"Tali'Zorah? Why, I don't believe my luck. Perhaps I will get to have some time with you after all?"

Tali's eye twitched. Keelah, she shouldn't have gone. She never, ever would have… but, if she hadn't? Reeger would be dead. Definitely. Well, pretty sure. Luckily she distracted it? Slowly she began scooting to the right, listening for it as it moved. It was big and that made it easy to track.

"I sense you feel something for Shepard. What a delight. Still, I don't believe his feelings are anything near the same. His are a bit more that of, a friend with interests."

Tali would be gritting her teeth if she didn't have to be careful. Still not sure how it found people, moved? She just tried to keep her emotions in check. That seemed the most logical… wow, that sounded like a Legion response? "Is it that hard Tali? Unreciprocated love? I've heard it's quite an alarming amount of hassle."

Tali suddenly heard the tendril of the beast crash down across the room, it bent about peering where it must have crashed. A low gurgle and the beast sloshed about toward… her. Oh Keelah.

"If I am not mistaken you just told him your feelings? Yet, you don't have any idea what he thinks of you."

Soon, the tendril was heard raising up about to crush down, she held in her chest as the large appendage crashed, and tore down another diode. She winded, as it landed a few inches of tentacle over the wall she was near. Wincing at the sight of it.

"I imagine he doesn't think much of you. You are after all a Quarian. He can't even hold you. He can't even kiss you. You two, can not even have a family, Tali'Zorah."

She, lowered her head. She knew that… Tali's heart sunk. She knew all abo- suddenly, a tendril wrapped her leg, and pulled her around. Tali was hung upside down and the smiling face looked on her. "Sadness, is one of my favorite appetizers and easiest to mark emotions, did you know that Tali?"

"You may not call her Tali. Only friend units can!"

A missile flew into the back of the beast. It screeched, as it turned and threw Tali at the attacking figure. Legion, reached out and fell back with Tali. Tali, landed on Legion looking at him. Legion? He rolled her out of the way, and aimed the launcher again. Firing another one, but the beast ducked down and threw his tendrils out.

"ERROR: Unable to move!"

Tali turned to see what happened. Legion, was being pulled from his place of attack by his right leg, then he was thrown up and down, beat back and down. Dropped roughly, the Geth tossed his head. "Tali! We are in need of aid!" He turned, and was able to roll as another tendril pierced into the floor roughly.

Tali turned to the door and ran, beginning to work on it again. She was worried, the others were still outside trying to bypass this door? "Keelah… it's locked tight. What did they program this thing in? It's like some entirely foreign language!"

Tali suddenly blinked at this thought. Grabbing her Omni-tool she started to scan the door. "Keelah! It's in German!" She turned around, "I don't have any German to Quarian data!" Shaking her head she snarled, "What I'd give for a frequency lock-pick or…"

Tali's mind snapped back to something. It was hard, and fast. She can't help but recall earlier, the fluctuation in this ship, in engineering. The mention that, these fluctuations in the engine came when the creature needed to feed. It was 'weakened' then. Yet, the large one from earlier? The frequency.

A moment Legion was tossed again. He shakily, got onto his legs. "Sh-shields, at 15%." With another swing, he's slammed into a diode. Falling over, he shakily held himself. "Error: Shields disabled."

The Creature curved his tendrils along his jowl and grumbled up a little laughter. Soon, squatting over Legion, it raised up one tendril about to pierce the droid. The Geth, watching over his back feebly as his motors were shakily trying to get up again.

"Mai rai unt rahs'y'tul,"

The Creature suddenly twitched, and cringed. His form, heaved off the Geth as Legion turned to Tali, standing a little shakily. Yet she looked at the creature, seeing how it glared at her. Its eyes, showed so many things. Joy at hurting others, pleasure at the pain it caused and a sense of pride for the lives it had taken. Yet there, in those eyes. She saw the one emotion this abomination has the greatest hunger for.

Tali, saw fear.

"Mah gahn hor sa tai sai."

The creature, screeched forth, stumbling back as it grabbed its head. It screamed forth, unable to speak but screamed forth a shrieking wail as the tendrils toss and roll. Yet there came a chorus slowly growing. From the engine core. Somehow, voices of many Quarian followed with Tali, and sung with her.

"Tal vah pai'ta uht to'raim. Heh sa foht pohl ker'sai kyol."

"Reit tah sa pai'ta uht to'raim, heh jien why pyoh colh yier."

"Stop it… you worthless Quarians! You damn, filthy mortal sacks of MEAT! You dared sing these songs back on the old land. Yet now, you sing it? You SING it here! In the endlessness?"

"Hra! Tah'ra sahn. Moh tohm kier."

"Tiem, ohpra tiem. Pi col si fier."

"What is it that makes you resist? You are timed! YOU die! You grow old! WE have lived before the life that brought you to being! HE existed, before we!"

"Ver, sah uhnt tai'ra-no. Kai, uht far zai pel'ke toh harrrrrr!"

The Creature bubbled and burned. His skin sizzled with the noise of these Quarians. Singing in this old, forgotten language. His eyes, burst with a horrific cry as his body fell back on the ship floor. Twitching, and bubbling with his many appendages strewn around him. Here, the creature hissed and gurgled out slowly.

"I was… there…. When you damn… animals, walked for the first time. We watched your kind with amusement…"

Sputtering a little, the creature's body shifted uneasily. The doors finally opened and Shepard, came in watching as Tali walked closer. The spinning engine still a glow. He, felt this warming sensation in the room. Forming from the engine some how.

"We never realized. You putrid beasts. Your souls would be so capable. Bodies, so weak. Souls so strong."

With a twitch it leaned forward, looking straight at Tali as she stood there, looking down on it. A growl, it told her. "The stranger in red. Oh, what beauty he promised. Emptiness and peace. A feast on the Quarian people. Heh, and I only needed to kill one mortal." He hissed to Shepard, "You…. Jacohbe only wanted you…. Yet, he should have wanted you Tali'Zorah, he will learn that truth in time."

Shepard felt his pistol and asked, "So, what is Jacohbe?"

The creature smiled, a little.

"Beyond even ageless, mortal. Beyond even ageless."

It closed its eyes, slowly. Coughing a slight bit more.

"I wished to see him bring the emptiness back. Before there was light. A time before mortals scurry. Oh, how I wished to be there. I will rest now. May his words ring true all the same."

Shepard frowned as he fired three shots into the face of this abomination. Then he looked up at the engine. Soon, he asked, "Tali, what is this?"

Tali looked at it. "The Crew, Commander."

Shepard was shocked, "The Crew?"

"It kept them here. Like in a stasis… but, they are still aware. The souls of the Crew serve as a kind of, power source. Used to somehow power the ship. It's a limitless perpetual engine. Nearly probably enough power to keep this ship running forever." Shivering, she thought, "I've no idea how long but at the cost of innocent Quarian people."

Shepard got the idea. He didn't like it. "This is horrendous. We have to shut it down."

Suddenly, Shepard got a call on his Omni-tool. Turning down, he flipped it on. Who he saw was unexpected, "Illusive Man?"

"Hello Shepard. It seems that communications were restored to the ship. I was trying to reach you for some time. Did you find out what happened?"

Shepard narrowed his eyes, "Yes, I did. You and Jacohbe happened."

"I was up front about our work with Jacohbe."

"Maybe, but what about this 'Mind Flayer'?"

The Illusive Man shrugged, "Not as much on it as I would like. It was an unknown alien species that Jacohbe came into contact. It was one of a kind maybe the last of its kind? We don't know. What we did know was that it had a number of unique, incredible abilities. Which I see you've found out one we were very interested in." Shepard turned to the engine core, and got a bad feeling. "Shepard, you understand the need for space-warfare. Today, powering a cruiser takes a great deal of energy. Sometimes more than you can even believe."

Tali raised her hand, pointing to the projection, "YOU better not be suggesting what I think you are?"

"Sadly, I am." Shepard glared at it again, "Listen Shepard! This is important. That engine could be the key to extensive space exploration. Hell, we'd be willing to pay the Flotilla for it, and better still? Offer all our findings from whatever research we obtained. It's a win-win scenario, Shepard."

Suddenly, he heard Seima. "NO! It isn't right!" Storming in, she snapped, "Those were my friends! My family! They were… they were killed here." Lowering her head she shook a little. "If we do this? They will have died for all the wrong reasons. Their souls are trapped in that engine core." Looking up, she can see them. All of them. "Keelah. I've already lost so much. Loosing my friends, to this man? That is too much."

Tali turned to Shepard. "Shepard, she's right! This is wrong! MORE than wrong, it's heinous!"

"It's business." There was always a cold fact. "I'm not doing this only on the basis I want the engine. You know the Reapers will come. We need all the help we can get, especially since we never got our hands on that Collector Base."

Shepard despised this man's logic. As well, how it sounded. Even the most terrible thing was brought to perspective with a Reaper threat. Looking down, Shepard closed his eyes. He can't do this…

Seima spoke, "Shepard!" He turned to her. "My people, wished for to end the Pilgrimage. I, have never… and I lost my husband, child and father all in so little of time." Looking down she said, sadly, "I can't tell you how hard it is, but if you help us? If you release them, return this ship to us. We'll contact the others working formerly for my father and send them to the Flotilla with our ships. That, is the only good thing I can offer out of this."

That, Shepard seemed to respect. "Okay Seima. We'll do that."

"SHEPARD!" However, with a flick. Shepard ended the message.

"The Flotilla will owe you greatly, Commander."

Shepard gave a nod and walked over. With but a flip of a switch the engine slowly hummed to a halt, and the glowing forms inside began to flush out dispersing. It was, magical actually. They just disperse as puffs of light.

Tali, smiled at his decision. Keelah… Shepard, why was he always so amazing?

Suddenly, Tali felt her foot slip. She turned, and the black tentacle wrapped her ankle. Soon turning up the beastly thing hissed, gargled out. "I take… one last… life…"

A large tendril drew back, tipped with a large barb. She didn't see that one before. Perhaps, he hadn't a use for it? Then she saw it almost fly into her chest. However, something else was pushed into Tali. She winced, as a heavy cold object was pushed into her. Then looking, she saw…

"Err-r-r-ror… Errrr-r-r-r-r…or."

Legion's chest sparked profusely by the large, wiggling tendril. The last attack of the creature had been spent. When it pierced Legion, the tendril began to melt as did the remnants of the monster. Then Legion was pushed over as Tali, rolled on her knees. Shaking him, trying to call him. Shepard dropped down as the camera focused in and out. Unable to make a lot of images.

"What did he do! Why did he do that?"

"We need to get him to the Normandy! Now!"

"What do you think they can do there? Shepard? He's a Geth!"

"We'll figure something out. Let's go, now!"

Legion's logs were blinking out. However, he was able to do one last consensus.

CONSENSUS ACHIEVED:
REASONING: TALI'ZORAH VAS NORMANDY WAS ANGRY
POSITION: WE INFORMED TALI'ZORAH VAS NORMANDY OUR DECISION WAS ON DATA

REALITY: WAS NOT ON DATA. WAS ON EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT.

CONCLUSION: REASON TO ATTACHMENT. WE NEED TALI'ZORAH VAS NORMANDY ALIVE.

CONCLUSION: WE NEED TALI'ZORAH VAS NORMANDY.

CONCLUSION: WE NEED TALI.

Darkness took the machine. For a moment. Yet in that darkness. A faint, whispering hiss.

Welcome to my crew.

Note: Hmm… was going to end at the scene where Legion made that shot. However, I was very unhappy with that cliffhanger and just felt with ALL the drama it can't end there. It was too much even for the people reading. Then was going to continue, and so on. Yet I felt time to finish. This cliffy is MUCH better. He, he, he!