This is an informative chapter just so you know.
Sorry if it seems a little 'Ehh' you see I'm allergic to grass pollen and there is about a mile of nothing but grass surrounding my house...
Anyway I hope You enjoy this installment of That Which Deifies Her
Not human? A tear ran down Shepard's face. "What do you mean I'm not human? What the hell am I then?"
"We... aren't sure. The Normandy lacks the facilities to run an in depth study-" Dr. Chakwas stated
"Prata inte som om jag är någon sort av testämne!" Shepard was getting angry.
"Calm down Commander, I can't understand you." Dr. Chakwas shook her head.
"Jag är... I am sorry. This is all just a little too much to handle." She was crying. Shepard grabbed her side again to confirm that she wasn't the same as before. Again she felt the pulsing underneath the muscles. "So doc, got any theories?"
"Well I did do a brain scan this morning when you finally calmed down enough to be examined." the doctor reported.
"Calmed down?" Shepard inquired.
"You were constantly thrashing around. Sometimes we were forced to restrain you." Liara spoke up.
"Ok, what about those brain scans then?" Shepard sat back down.
"Well average humans only use ten percent of their brains. You are using ninety-three percent." Doctor Chakwas informed.
"So I'm smarter now?" The commander tried to understand.
"Well if you were still... Your brain isn't that same as before. It has been vastly overhauled, rewritten. I believe the increase in brain activity is due the necessity to maintain new organs and organ systems.
Shepard looked down "I have new organs in me!?"
"Yes, Body scans indicate several unidentifiable structures within you. I haven't been able to study the data since you woke up." the doctor answered her internal question.
"Wait a minute... did you just?" Shepard couldn't believe it. "Don't tell me you can hear this..."
"What do you mean? Of course I can hear you. You're acting as if I don't have ears." Dr. Chakwas looked confused.
Shepard looked at the two women in front of her and with out moving her lips thought "Doctor I'm not saying anything..."
Both of their expressions showed surprise, Liara's more so. "Wow this is incredible! It has been theorized that Protheans communicated by projecting thought directly into the minds of whoever they were 'talking' to but to experience such a phenomenon is simply amazing!"
"I hate to ruin your excitement but I'm not Prothean... am I?" Shepard looked to Dr. Chakwas.
"Would you believe me if I told you?" She asked.
"At this point, you could tell me I can breath in space, and I would take a walk outside the airlock."
The doctor nodded "It is very likely that when you received the Chipher on Feros, it unlocked information that was put in your brain by the beacon on Eden Prime. This information was injected into your DNA which rapidly carried out the changes."
"I guess that makes sense. It's logical to assume that the Protheans would hope to carry on their legacy by storing their genetic code in the beacons. After the Reapers went back to wherever they lived, some unsuspecting organism may happen upon the beacon which would inject the genetic information into the organism causing it to become Prothean and along with the information of their downfall, the new Preothean could gather more organisms to mutate, eventually attaining enough numbers to repopulate the galaxy and prepare for the return of the Reapers. In theory it could have worked if the beacon completely re-wrote code of the user but in my case it didn't, leading me to confirm that the beacon had been heavily damaged and therefor I am a Prothean/Human hybrid." Shepard concluded her hypothesis. Liara and Dr. Chakwas were looking at her with amazed expressions. "What?"
"Maybe you are smarter now..." Dr. Chakwas muttered.
"That is an amazing theory! Are you insinuating that the beacons were a means to repopulate the Prothean species?" Liara was ecstatic.
"Essentially, yes. Uh... Liara? Please stop looking at me like that..."
"Oh I am terribly sorry! I have been letting my fascination with the Protheans get the better of me! Here you are, going through a traumatic experience, and I am practically drooling over you. Please forgive me!"
"Drooling over me? Is that an asari thing?" Shepard teased.
"In all seriousness, I am overjoyed to see that you are well. I-I was really worried about you." Liara replied
" Liara..." Shepard smiled.
"Well Commander I would say that you should stay and let me examine you in order to make sure you are ok, but I don't really know if I can do that anymore. Why don't you go check up on the crew. We were all really worried about you. I'm sure they'll be glad to see you so active although the accent will through them off."
"Thanks doc." Shepard called over her shoulder. Almost as soon as she walked out, someone noticed
"Commander! You're ok!" Came Kaiden's voice. He was sitting at the table and, by the looks of it, just started his meal. "How are you feeling?"
"A little sore but nothing serious. How has the Normandy been?" She asked her friend as she sat sown across from him.
"Well things have been rather hectic. Not soon after Feros, it was decided that we head to the Citadel and get you to a hospital. I think we are one day out in fact." Alenko reported.
Liara had come out of the med-bay and got herself a meal. Shepard indicated that she sit next to her. "How is the rest of the crew doing?"
Kaiden must have just now notice her accent because he gave her a perplexed look. "The crew has been doing their duties although everyone was worried about you. Commander why are you talking like that?"
"Like what?" Shepard tried to stall him.
"You're speaking with an accent. Why?" Kaiden was getting suspicious.
"I'm not entirely sure myself, but Dr. Chakwas tells me that receiving the Cipher caused severe seizures while my brain adjusted to the new information. Perhaps this accent is Prothean seeing as i think like one now, but we can't be sure." Shepard insisted. It would be better if the crew didn't know about the recent development.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize... are you in any danger of relapse?" The sentinel asked with concern.
"I don't know, I just woke up about ten minutes ago so I'm still getting my bearings." Sai replied.
"That soon!?" Kaide was shocked "Three weeks of constant writhing around and then suddenly you just wake up wand walk away like nothing happened? What are you Commander?" he asked jokingly.
"I..." Shepard looked down Good question... What am I? Am I still the same person...
"Commander, I've been meaning to ask you something." Liara spoke up. Noticing the darkening of Shepard's mood, she tried to change the subject. "When I first came aboard the Normandy, one of the marines suggested that Lieutenant Alenko had 'big ones'. What does this mean?"
Kaiden choked on his food and furiously beat his chest in attempt to swallow. Shepard's glance shot up to Liara, then to Alenko, and she burst into laughter. "What was he doing?"
"He had woken me up to inform me that Dr. Chakwas desired to see me. I had been having a nightmare and I may have screamed out in my sleep." Liara sported a confused look.
Alenko had quickly finished his meal and stood up "I'm glad to see that you are well Commander." He walked over to a sleeper pod and stepped in.
Shepard and Liara were alone in the mess seeing as it was very late and only those with night shifts were awake. For a moment they sat in silence while Liara finished eating. Shepard examined the asari sitting next to her Now that I really look at her, she is quite... ah what am I thinking? She probably doesn't have any interest in me... "Liara, why don't you use my first name?"
The asari looked at the commander in surprise "I-I... It is just that I have so much respect for you that calling you by your given name is rude."
"But you don't respect me enough to give in to a simple request?" Shepard put her head on the table "I know I've asked you many times to call me Saiori."
"Commander..." Liara began.
"Don't call me that. I'm not Commander, not Spectre... hell, I don't even know if I'm Shepard anymore!" She started crying "Who am I Liara? What am I?"
Liara Wrapped her arm around Sai and brought her close. "I am sorry Saiori. Will you forgive me?" she spoke with a soothing voice.
Shepard smiled through the tears for a moment and continued to cry, appreciating the embrace and closure Liara was offering. After a while she spoke "I made that name myself. I guess you already knew that though."
"Please tell me. I wish to hear it from you." Liara replied.
Shepard sat back up and smiled. She retold the events of her childhood for Liara who listened intently despite knowing everything already. After a while she finished and they sat in silence for a moment. "Liara, thank you." Shepard leaned in close "I think I still owe you a reward." She whispered and lightly placed her lips on Liara's.
For a moment, Liara was stunned but quickly regained her composure and gently returned pressure. Oh Goddess yes! Please let this be real and not a dream! Eventually Liara felt Sai draw away and she felt at a loss. No... please do not pull away... Liara stared into the Commander's eyes.
"Liara, I..." Commander started.
"Commander! You're awake!" Ashley interrupted.
Liara could feel the anger coming from Shepard and heard "Tomorrow" in her head before Sai stood up and greeted the Chief. The asari was slightly agitated as well but knew that Shepard and Ashley were close friends and Williams had been worried about her. Liara stood up and returned to the storage room.
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"It was really scary seeing you like that. Are you ok?" Ash commented.
"More or less, The Cipher gave me seizures. It re-wrote my brain so it would be compatible." Shepard informed.
"Wow... That sounds painful..." Williams replied.
"You have no idea..." the Commander said remembering the never ending limbo. "Ash I want you to keep this under wraps ok? This never leaves your lips unless I specifically say otherwise."
"Aye, aye Mam." As complied.
"Good girl. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to talk with someone." Saiori stood up.
"Does this person happen to be an asari?" the Chief smirked.
"Yes, actually." the Commander replied "But not the one you're thinking of." Shepard called over her shoulder leaving Ash in the mess and headed for the CIC. She walked up to the helm "Joker, I need you to set up a secure line, class three encryption, with Councilor Tevos. Have her contact me immediately."
"Commander!? Since when have you been up? And what's with the accent?" Joker jumped in his seat.
"It's a side effect of the Cipher, just ignore it. For now just follow my orders."
"Uh... Aye, aye Mam." Joker sent a comm request. "I'll patch her through to the Comm Room."
Saiori headed straight to the Comm Room, ignoring the surprised faces looking at her. If Alenko was correct and we're only one day out from the Citadel... I don't have much time or room for finesse. She paced around the room until the slightly opaque image of the councilor could be seen.
"Commander Shepard? I was told you were in critical condition. What is going on?" the asari asked.
"Risa, det är dålig. På Feros tog jag emot Siffran." Shepard spouted not really thinking.
"Saiori? What are you saying? What language is that?" Ri'sai looked confused.
"That's the problem... On Feros, I received the Cipher. In short, it is the experience of the entire Prothean species. That, in turn, unlocked dormant information in my brain implanted by the beacon on Eden Prime. Over the past three weeks, My body has been undergoing changes. Apparently my brain has be completely re-written and I have a few extra organs that humans shouldn't have. We theorize that my DNA has been altered."
"So... So you're saying you're Prothean now?" The councilor asked in disbelief
"Close, however it is more accurate to say I am a Prothean/Human hybrid. I suspect that had the beacon not been damaged, I would be full Prothean. Of course that is just a theory. We can't be sure until we check my DNA. However, I would prefer to do so in a private and secure facility rather than having C-sec scanners tell just about anyone with security clearance that I have new DNA. I request that you redirect the Normandy to a private dock."
"The Alliance will not simply stand by and let me commandeer their most advanced warship." Risa pointed out.
"Just tell them that I requested a personal audience with you. Tell them it's Spectre business. Please do this for me. If I am right and word get's out that I share DNA with the most advanced species known to the galaxy, I'll become a high value target for the rest of my life." Shepard pleaded.
"I... I understand. I'll see what I can do." the councilor nodded. "For now I must go."
"Thank you Risa, I owe you one." Shepard smiled as the image faded. Just then, an insatiable hunger over took her. I guess I haven't eaten anything in the past three weeks... Is that even possible? She made her way back to the mess to find Dr. Chakwas sitting at the table, looking at a datapad and eating. "Doc, you're just now eating?"
"Ah Commander, how are you feeling?" Doctor Chakwas looked from her datapad.
"Just a little sore actually. Did you ever find out what's making me tic?" Shepard sat down. The doctor hid her datapad. "Don't worry, I've come to terms with it. I'm not the same."
"Very well then. I'm sorry to say but almost none of your internal organs are that of a human's. What bother's me more though, is how you still have your old appearance." She reported.
"I'm that ugly? Seriously though, who's to say that won't change soon as well? Hell, maybe the Protheans modeled us after themselves." Shepard said retrieving a meal. "I guess we'll just have to wait for those top notch facilities on the Citadel."
"Commander? What makes you think we will have access to such facilities?" Chakwas inquired
"I have friends in high places." Shepard finished her meal and headed back to the helm. She had become incredibly sleepy."Joker, har jag ett meddelande för besättningen"
"Commander? I hate to point this out but I can only speak Galactic Basic. Whatever you're speaking just sounds like gibberish to me." Joker replied.
"Sorry, It's hard to distinguish between the two at the moment. I want to make an announcement to the crew." Shepard rubbed her face.
"Alright there you go, comm is yours." Joker replied
"Attention everyone, This is Commander Shepard. I wanted to thank you all for keeping the Normandy running smoothly while I was out. Also I haven't forgotten my promise of a week's shore leave so when we dock, I want everyone out of here." Shepard listened to the urah's throughout the Normandy as she made her way back to her quarters. I guess tomorrow I'll find out the truth about me. I need to figure out who I can trust with this information, get the details on Nihlus's 'funeral', and set things straight with Liara... Then there's the whole 'find Saren, exact my revenge, and stop the Reapers' thing. Just once I wish something could be easy...
Ugh I hate allergies...
Anyway, I might not be able to carry on releasing a chapter a day. I have plenty of ideas but I'm not sure how to incorporate/deliver them. So please be patient!
Anyway tell me what you think!