Chapter 33: Breadcrumbs

Sitting in the waiting area of the medical bay, prospective Specter Ashley Williams and Geth rebel Legion made for an interesting pair. While Dr. Michel was examining Tali, Williams used the opportunity to ask a few more questions.

"Legion, you're not what I expected from a Geth."

In his mechanical voice, he responded, "What did you expect?"

"To be honest," she said, "someone I would have to shoot who came attacking mindlessly." She looked him square in his big red eye as she said that.

"Your experience must have been with drones, programmed by the heretics, assigned a limited military function."

Curious about that, she asked, "Are you saying there are different types of Geth. More like you?"

"Yes, there are different Geth platforms. This operating model is 1183-Alpha. There are presently no other models like this platform, as this is a prototype."

She said, "I never thought I would be having a conversation with one of you."

"Analog conversation is inefficient, but also different. Shades of ambiguity color words suggesting multiple meanings. Following along is a skill to be learned."

Not knowing what to make of that, Ashley said, "I'll try to make it easy for you, Legion."

"Thank you, Ashley Williams."

"Just call me Ash. Everyone else does."

"Thank you, Ash."

At this point, Samara emerged from the medical observation area and joined the two visitors. She took a seat across from them, and said, "The doctor gave me medicine for the headaches, but said there was nothing I could do except wait. Since I will be waiting anyway, I will stay here to see what happens with Tali."

Nodding as she understood the instinct, Ash was thinking how Shepard had assembled another good crew. She didn't approve of the steps he had taken, but he was never one to go by the book. It was something she would have to learn if she took on this new responsibility.

Between the meditative Asari and the passive Geth, Williams found herself in the unique situation of being the most vocal person in the room. Although she had a bit of an attitude, no one would say she was the most talkative, so she was quiet and waited for the doctor as well.

A few minutes later, Dr. Michel emerged and invited the guests to join her in her office. Both Legion and Samara followed Williams and all gathered around her desk.

"I've done my first round of scans and administered what drugs I could. The good news is the infection is contained to her bronchial system." Bringing up a computer display, she showed how there appeared to be a film of sediment coating the interior of her lungs, making it difficult for her to breathe. "The bad news is I don't know how to fight it. Her body seems to have resources enough to keep it at bay, but not to overcome the contaminant."

Samara asked, "Is there anything we can do to assist?"

"Frankly, I doubt it," Michel said. "It is a rather unusual situation because the material spreading over her lungs isn't actively attacking her, but seems to have settled into place. Given what I know of where she has come from, it suggests there may be a symbiotic relationship between the Quarian biology and this pathogen. More than that, I cannot say."

Ashley said, "Thank you, Doctor. Can Tali be safely transported?"

"I'd want her to remain in a clean room environment and under medical stasis for her own protection. Provided those conditions are met, I don't see her getting any worse than she already is."

"Do you have an empty room we could use for a few minutes?" she asked the medical chief. Michel gestured to an office with a table and chairs, taking her leave of the party.

Taking seats at the table, Williams opened up to Legion and Samara sharing what she hoped to accomplish. "I don't know either of you, but I had the pleasure of serving with Tali the first time around on the Normandy. She's a friend and I want to do what I can to help her recover, but I will need your help. The Council has given me the authority to use their resources to use as I see fit."

Legion asked her, "And what is your objective, Ash?"

She responded, "Your visit, Legion, has surprised them. They knew nothing about the peace overtures you have spoken about between the Geth and the Quarians. My job is to learn more about what is being discussed and to help facilitate a peaceful resolution."

Looking at the two next to her, she said, "I'm not a diplomat. But apparently, Tali is. So I think the best thing I can do to achieve my mission is make sure we get her up and running again. The question I have is what we can do to make that happen."

Legion spoke first, "The Geth have no knowledge of her condition and were unable to help. A Quarian might have better understanding of their biology."

"Are there any major known Quarian outposts beyond the Migrant Fleet?" Williams asked. Since their defeat in the Morning Wars, they had travelled in secret in a massive armada constantly on the move. While Quarians could find their way back home through their private communications system, it would take either a miraculous stroke of luck or a guide for anyone else to locate them.

Samara had a similar thought saying, "Why don't we just find a Quarian and see if they would escort us back to the fleet?"

Considering all the elements of the situation, Williams thought better of that, "It is an option we can consider, but I don't know how the Quarians will respond to Legion. Beyond that, I don't know what negotiations Tali had made, and it is possible her condition could be seen as a provocation."

Legion said, "Our analysis suggested a high probability of violence if the condition of Tali was known to the Quarian admiralty and seen as a result of Geth intervention."

"Do we have any other options?" asked Ashley.

Samara thought about what Shepard would do in such a situation. He wouldn't know the answer to a question like this, but he would find someone who could. "Solus. We could ask Dr. Solus and he might be able to figure out what is happening."

"Who is Dr. Solus?" asked Ashley, unaware of the Salarian who had been recruited by Shepard.

Legion answered, "Dr. Mordin Solus, Salarian geneticist and special operations officer. Born in…"

Samara put her hand on Legion's shoulder and said, "That's enough. He's a doctor who is good at solving seemingly impossible medical questions."

"Okay," said the prospective Specter, "Where is this Salarian?"

"He was supposed to travel with Grunt to Tuchanka and then on to Sur'Kesh according to the original plan. I don't know whether that was followed or not."

"It gives us a place to start," said Williams. "I am going to look for Dr. Solus and would like to invite each of you to join me."

Legion spoke first saying, "Completion of the mission has a low probability of success without the assistance of Tali. This unit will accompany Ash."

Samara hesitated for a moment saying, "I was trying to get back to the Normandy to rejoin the crew. But maybe Mordin can help with this headache problem. Besides, I am presently without a ship," she smiled beatifically.

"When I was leaving Arcturus Station, I had the chance to speak to Shepard before he left. The Normandy was heading out to the Terminus Systems to undergo some maneuvers, so it would probably be difficult to reach them anyway," said Williams.

Taking a look at each of her new companions, Ash said, "Then it is settled. We will go to Tuchanka."

Before leaving, Williams made the arrangements necessary for Tali to be transported safely onto the Asari vessel that had been provided for her usage. It was also agreed Legion would leave the Geth shuttle at the Citadel so as not to frighten anyone else. These plans made, the three proceeded to take a private ferry to the dock where the Asari vessel was located.

A well-outfitted cruiser, the Benevolence appeared as a sleek and graceful vessel. Not armed as heavily as other vessels she had seen, it seemed to Ashley that the emphasis was on speed if looks weren't deceiving.

As she entered the command deck of the Benevolence, Ashley found herself greeted by an Asari woman who appeared younger than she would have expected. "Greetings, Ashley Williams. I am Niala, whom you would call Captain of this vessel."

"Nice to meet you," said Williams as she looked around the bridge.

Stepping behind her, Legion entered second and Samara followed next.

Bowing at the entry of the justicar, Niala said, "The justicar honors us with her presence."

With cool reserve stemming from years of such treatment, Samara replied, "Your welcome is kindly returned. But I am presently not here as a justicar, as I have taken the Oath of Subsumation to help these Humans."

With shock, Niala said, "So you serve this Williams."

"No," she replied. "I serve another for now and until the threat is extinguished."

"Is it as bad as that?" Niala asked.

"I am afraid so, my child," she said. "But we should speak of such things at another time." With that comment, the conversation was ended.

Ash had watched the whole exchange carefully and didn't know what to make of it. She didn't know this Samara very well, but from how she was treated, it was obvious she commanded instant respect. She would have to learn more about justicars and this oath.

Equally surprising was the nature of the crew. Since all Asari are female in appearance, she wasn't surprised by that, but she was surprised by the apparent youth of these maidens. Commenting upon this to Niala, Ashley said, "It appears you have a rather young crew."

"Every woman on this ship is a huntress, Ashley Williams. This crew has been assigned to assist in your efforts because of our ability to handle difficult situations." The Asari smiled both playfully and provocatively adding, "We can do things perhaps you cannot."

They would see about that. She replied, "It's just Ash, and I would like to see some of your techniques in action. I'm not too bad myself in a fight."

With a laugh, Niala said, "I would like to see what a Human Specter can do. Did you know all Asari Specters are taken from our ranks?"

Not ceding an inch, Ash responded, "So you must have developed the basics of the program then, but I'm sure a lot has been added since you started."

Sensing the two women would have continued their contest for a while, Samara intervened and asked respectfully, "Niala, when can we depart for Tuchanka?"

Assuming instant respect, she said, "We can leave now." Giving the order for the departure, she offered to take Samara to her cabin and said to Williams, "I'm sure you would like a chance to explore the ship. Please feel at home."

Ashley nodded and watched as the Asari women walked off in the distance. For as civilized as the Asari were, their clannish behavior seemed much more akin to the Krogan than the strict military efficiency imposed by the Alliance. In that, Humans were much more like Turians. Yet, just as the Krogans were deadly foes, she could see how the Asari were trained warriors and could make a deadly team.

While she set herself to exploring the bridge, with Legion following her and paying close attention to what was happening, another conversation was happening between the captain and the justicar.

"You seem unsettled, Niala," said Samara.

"I cannot believe they chose a short-lived Human to be the next Specter. It was my turn to be selected and yet, I was not!"

"Williams is very capable," said Samara. "I have only known her a short time, but I know of her through Shepard and she served valiantly during the Battle for the Citadel."

"Perhaps," said Niala, "but why did they select another Human?

Samara was not familiar with all the politics of the question. Her lifetime of experience had taught her while every Specter selected usually proved qualified, there were reasons things happened in the order they did. In truth, the process that led to Williams being chosen had begun with the death of Shepard, but neither woman was privy to those details.

"I do not know. But she will do a good job, I am certain. As will you, one day."

Niala beamed at this recognition, as the impatience of someone barely a century old was showing itself. There would be time for her, thought Samara. She smiled to be able to talk like this, an impossibility during her previous oath, and wondered with Morinth dead if she would ever resume her vows.

"In truth, maybe this is test is not just for Williams, but also for you."

Having reached the room where Samara would be staying, she entered and assumed a meditative pose. Her head was still hurting her, and despite trying to act as normal as possible, it was still a challenge for Samara to keep completely poised.

Niala hung by the doorway for an extra moment before asking, "Can I ask one more question, Justicar?"

Not moving from her position, Samara said, "Speak."

"Why did you forego your oath?"

"I made a promise to catch a deadly criminal, an Ardat-Yakshi. Shepard risked his life to make this possible, and so I repay that debt."

Catching how the younger woman gasped at the mention of the mythical Asari killer, she anticipated her question. "Yes, they did exist."

"I see," said Niala. "I will leave you be, Justicar."

Nodding serenely, Samara entered into the depths of her meditation looking for relief. Reaching into her bodysuit, she swallowed a pill to help and hoped more permanent relief would be coming soon.

While this happened below deck, the vessel quickly approached the relay in the Serpent System. Sliding into the advanced technology, the ship was shot forward in a blinding flash in the direction of the Aralakh system, in the Krogan demilitarized zone.

It was not common for Asari vessels to travel in Krogan space as they usually visited places where trade was conducted. While the Krogans purchased weapons in prodigious quantities, the amount of currency they had was considerably less than other worlds, and their unwillingness to bargain made this less than a hot spot on the galactic trading circuit.

As the Asari vessel closed in on Tuchanka, a transmission was sent from the Benevolence to the surface requesting permission to land at the capital as well as to meet with Dr. Solus.

A grizzled Krogan face came on the viewer and said, "I am the Chief Scout for Clan Urdnot. Urdnot Wrex is not present, but he gave orders Dr. Solus was not to be disturbed under any circumstances until his return."

Williams spoke up, "We only wish to speak with Dr. Solus briefly. One of his crewmates has been injured and requires his assistance urgently."

"The clan leader has spoken," said the scout, as he made clear the conversation had ended.

Not wanting to provoke an incident, Ash was getting frustrated that they had found the man and couldn't reach him. "I am friends with Urdnot Wrex, and when he finds out you didn't help his friend and his crewmate, you will suffer the consequences."

She thought the Krogan hesitated for a moment, but then he said, "I have done my duty. There is no other option."

Niala stepped in front of Williams, asking, "Mind if I try?" She spoke before a response could be uttered.

"We're coming down there," she said, "and we are going to see the doctor. You will make it happen."

"It will happen over my dead body," responded the Scout.

"Very well," she said. "I challenge you to combat, Scout Leader. When I win, we will see Dr. Solus."

He barked a laugh and said, "You have bigger quads than men I know to challenge me. You will fight me, and when you lose, you will pay with your life." A set of coordinates for a location within Tuchanka was transmitted from the surface with instructions of where to land.

"I look forward to dancing with you," smiled Niala. Then she broke off the transmission.

Ashley yelled at her, "What did you do that for? Are you trying to provoke a war?"

"Relax," said Niala as she strode away in a catlike fashion. "I just solved your problem."

Author's Note: Thanks to everyone favoriting this story. I probably should have split it in two or even three, but I'm just going to continue it for a while and see where it goes. I've worked out the next stretch and it should have some fun surprises as we follow Ashley and her team.