A/N: All right guys, this is it. The last chapter before I am in absentia until April 9th. And yes, sadly I am probably going to be a horrible, horrible person and leave this on a cliff-hanger.
It's what I do
So, while I'm gone, y'all do me a favor and keep an eye on Del for me. Make sure she doesn't get into too much trouble. You know how she is.
Keep her out of the bars, whatever you do.
"Shepard, good to see you," Mordin greeted as the lab door swept open, not even bothering to look over to verify the entrant. It was only logical, after all. She had acknowledged his request to come to the lab almost immediately, and she was punctual as a rule.
As well, her boots made a distinct sound on the floor, distinguishable from the rest of the crew in cadence, resonance, and weight.
"You said you had something ready for me?" she asked. Finishing his last command into the computer console, he straightened and looked at her.
He had always found humans a fascinating species. Most of his opinion stemmed from his clinical and scientific admiration. Humans were the most genetically diverse advanced species that he'd encountered. Physically they had twenty-one more genetic variations than salarians, fourteen more than asari, and an incredible sixty more than the hanar. Their limbic and adrenal systems alone had the potential for six salarian lifetimes worth of study, and he had honestly considered writing a paper on their structural differentials himself.
Imagine it! One healthy adult male human being could stand a simple 1.22 meters tall while another could stand 2.133 meters in height…and even be from the same family! That was the height difference between a volus and a krogan…all in one species!
Weight, density, muscle development, pigment development, skeletal structure, hair texture, skin texture…all so widely varied and diverse it would require a supercomputer just to determine all possible combinational variances.
Of course, the diversity was not limited merely to physical development. In personality and mental processes he could honestly say that no human being was identical to another. Habits, propensities, tendencies, cadences and resonances of speech, preferences of color, preferences of gender and sexuality, idiosyncrasies, belief systems, morality baselines, affinities and affiliations…well. It was easy to see how human beings had survived for so long. With such a wide variety of subjects, it increased the chances that out of a given population, there would be a significant number able to adapt to environmental variety. A disease variable that may wipe out an entire population of asari would only dwindle the number of humans with the same population count. Variances would mean that at least some of the humans would be immune or find themselves adaptable to the disease, and the species would continue.
Of course, asari only need one surviving member of a catastrophe to repopulate. If the individual has access to divergent species able to meld, extinction all but impossible. Given lifespan increases chances of locating such a divergent species as well.
Humans of course, like the majority of other species, had the standard two gender approach to reproduction which drew their extinction threshold slightly closer than that of the asari. Their very diversity also demanded access to that diversity to maintain a viable population. Salarian would only need four surviving members, two male and two female, in order to continue the species. Humans would need a population of at least fifty unrelated individuals in order to avoid the degradation of genetic inbreeding.
Like most bi-gendered species, as well, they were programmed with an automatic population control…one out of every ten of their kind had the genetic marker for same-sex attractions and interactions which, by its very nature, limited reproduction. Humans were advanced enough to work around that of course, using in vitro methodology to reproduce regardless of persuasion or partner, however on a basic primal level it was an old fail-safe to insure that the given population, lacking predation, did not outgrow its resources.
Shepard, of course, bore those markers, as well as a dormant carrier gene for cystic fibrosis, which would not express in her but could potentially be carried into her offspring…were her offspring born human, of course. Given her relationship with Dr. T'Soni as well as her sexual preferences it was highly unlikely that Shepard would ever bear natural offspring-
"Mordin," Shepard's voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts, and he blinked at her. She smirked. "You cad. You were dissecting me with your eyes again…and you didn't even buy me dinner first."
"Apologies, Shepard, got lost in thought. Focusing a great deal on your species, your genetic markers as well as implants, to solidify cohesion and improve performance."
"There's… a problem with my cohesion to my implants?" Shepard asked.
"No, not at current time but…potential is there. Aging brings biological change in chemistry, physicality. Could cause implant rejection in the future. Want to avoid that. Minor detail, side project, easily rectified. Most focus on nanites, prevent hacking, prevent adverse biological stimulation to signal from Harbinger. Easiest course to simply block signal."
"Make it so the nanites don't even pick it up," Shepard nodded, folding her arms as she cocked a hip against the wall, leaning as she pursed her lips thoughtfully.
"Yes. Would not hear Harbinger then. However, not ideal. Communication with Harbinger potentially essential. Might slip. Reveal plans, strategy. Valuable intel could be lost."
"I agree, but I can't be incapacitated whenever that fucker decides to gloat."
"Yes. Fortunately, middle ground. Am able to adjust nanites to receive signal and transmit without biological repercussions. Should hear Harbinger's voice…may be irritation but no headache, no pressure overload, no capillary rupture. Physically much safer."
"Well, that's good to hear. What about the wireless? The way the AI and David were able to take control?"
"Simpler fix. Adjust frequency of accepted nanite signal on random quantum code fluctuation. Proper tools programmed to match rate of flux, however outside source unable to adapt quickly enough or in sufficient quantity to overtake systems again."
"I'm not a scientist doc. Quantum code…?"
"Mathematical variance based on extensive…" Pausing as he saw the look on her face he shook his head. "Doesn't matter. David referred to wireless as 'song'. Nanites functioned on one song. Now accept only a dozen correct song sequences simultaneously, sequences that change in nanoseconds. Impossible for outside influence to identify songs and notes needed fast enough to link. No control."
"Ok, I think I get it," Shepard said, then shrugged. "So long as it works, right?"
"Will work, no doubt," Mordin told her. "Seat yourself, Shepard. Will only take a few minutes to finish adjustments."
Shepard moved over and sat down on the indicated bench, Mordin moving over and lowering an interface directly over her head. As he worked on the console HI, tiny beams of light scrolled and danced over her skull.
"Eyes functioning smoothly?" He asked as he worked.
"Yeah, well enough. No problems except that everything has a bit of a vid shimmer to it."
"Normal. Impossible to get synthetic eyes perfect. Yet."
"Miranda said the same thing," Shepard said.
"Many advantages to synthetic. Might be wise to keep them. Program for infrared, ultrasonic, direct data feed, telescopic zoom-"
"No thanks. I think I just want mine back, thanks."
"Understood."
"Thank you for doing this, Mordin."
"No thanks needed. Intriguing challenge, enjoyed research, analysis, problem solving. Should be the one thanking you for opportunity."
A moment later the light died and he straightened, raising the interface. "Complete. Any sensation? Headache, vertigo, nausea?"
She paused a moment, assessing, then shook her head. "Nope. Feel five-by."
"Good. Won't be sure until direct field test with Collector signal but…confident."
Shepard got to her feet, thanking him again before heading toward the door. Just before she reached it, he called out, pausing her. "Shepard…one more thing."
"What's up?" she asked, looking back at him. He looked almost sheepish.
"Wanted to tell you, been thinking about what you said on Tuchanka, about Maelon, about genophage. Do not completely agree about genophage…necessary evil, stand by work. You were right about Maelon. Grateful you stopped me…grateful you stood by me."
Shepard inclined her head in an understanding nod, giving him a faint smile before she turned and walked out.
"What did you call her?" Tali asked, looking up from her meal in the mess, her eyes meeting those of the drell sitting across from her.
The man rarely came out of his room but for some reason he had emerged shortly after Tali had finally ventured out of engineering. She didn't feel like eating, her head and chest still aching with all that had happened but…she knew she had to at least try. The drell had appeared almost like magic. Tali had thought she still wanted to be alone but she was finding conversing with him was helping more than she'd thought it would.
"Siha," he replied.
"What…does it mean?"
"It is what she is," he said simply. "I…if you wish, I will tell you the legend."
"I think I would like that," Tali told him. He nodded slightly.
"In drell legend there are three who guide our lives. Amonkira is the Lord of Hunters…He protects our paths, strengthens us, guides those who seek. Arashu is our Mother. She protects and comforts…She teaches and guards us from the darkness that would seek to consume us. Kalihira is Goddess of Oceans…she decides our fate and takes us home to the Depths once our journey is done.
"The Goddess Arashu has many warrior angels. Siha is the name of the one that leads them. She is fierce in wrath, a tenacious protector. In legend…it is said that at the end of days, the Void will release its plague upon all that live. When this time comes, the angel Siha will sacrifice all, even her immortality, to battle this plague and drive it back into the Void."
"You think that Shepard is this angel?" Tali asked. Thane smiled faintly.
"Not literally, of course. I simply see a resemblance in her. She is a fierce warrior, a tenacious protector. This mission against the Collectors, against these legendary Reapers, could be likened to a plague from the Void of dark space. The parallels are there. I merely note them."
"I see. Well, forgive me but I hope the comparisons differ in one key aspect. I have no wish for Shepard to give up her life to stop them."
"Neither do I," he agreed. "However if it came to that, you know she would. Without hesitation."
"I know," Tali said softly.
"Hey, Tali," a gentle tenor interrupted as Garrus strode up. He glanced at the drell a moment before looking at the young quarian. "How are you doing?"
"A little better," she told him. "I still…well, it's just going to take time."
"I understand. Going through something like that…it's never easy."
"No, but it could have been so much worse."
"Even so, you can't discount your feelings. We're here for you if you need us. You know…your friends."
"I know, Garrus. Thank you."
Barely had Shepard left Mordin's lab than Kelly tracked her down to let her know the Illusive Man wanted to speak to her. Just hearing his name put a scowl back on her face and steeled her muscles.
He had told her in the beginning that he hadn't come to see her in person to maintain a level of security. He was fortunate that he'd made that decision, because their relationship had gone from cold to downright freezing. If she ever saw the man in person the very least she'd do would be to land him in a fucking hospital somewhere, drinking out of a straw.
Keep the peace, just a little longer, she told herself as she headed for the conference room, the holographic interface powering up at her approach. You still need his resources for now. When this is done the fucker can kiss your ass.
The room around her dimmed as the holographic representation of the Illusive Man's ostentatious office appeared. The man turned to look at her, a strange gleam in his synthetic eyes.
"Shepard, good news. We have a Collector vessel."
Her arms had been folded the moment the holograph had started to power up…now they dropped, her face smoothing out in shock. "What?"
"A turian patrol confronted them and engaged their weapons. They were destroyed but the Collector ship was disabled…it's drifting, apparently without engines or guidance systems. It is less than an hour from your current location."
"How do you know this?"
"The turian ship's emergency beacon is still intact and transmitting. We have intercepted the signal and are temporarily blocking it from other receiving ships to give you a chance to get in there first."
"I'd rather go in with an armada at my heels than bring the Normandy alone," Shepard retorted. "The Collectors took down the original Normandy without even breathing hard. If that thing powers back up-"
"You are the closest human vessel, Shepard. If the turians arrive do you think they're going to allow you to just board the Collector vessel? They'll contain it, quarantine it for their own purposes…if they don't just come in and destroy it outright. We can't pass this chance up. If their computer systems are still functional EDI can mine them for data, information that may help us learn where exactly the Collectors come from, what they want, and why they are taking human colonists. Our people may even still be alive inside. We can't risk it."
Shepard scowled. She wanted to point out that, once again, he wasn't the one taking the actual risks. An argument would help no one, however, and if he was right…if any of their people were on that vessel then they needed to get to them as soon as possible. It was hopeless that Nan would be aboard it, not after so long but…it might point them to where they had taken her. Alive or dead, Shepard wanted to bring her home.
"Send the coordinates to Joker. We're heading there now."
"Good luck, Shepard," he nodded. She turned and strode out of the conference room without a response.
By the time she got to the helm Joker was already correcting his course. The VI was hovering over his shoulder, silent for the moment. Of course, EDI would have halted its audio output the moment any kind of emergency situation arose. The VI was meant to be an irritation, but it was foolish for that irritation to continue when it might compromise Joker's direct duties or the safety of the ship.
As she strode up, EDI spoke before Shepard could.
"At FTL speeds we should be to the Collector vessel's location within forty minutes, Commander," she reported. "I am searching Cerberus encrypted channels to receive the turian distress beacon, but we won't be in range for a full pick-up of the signal for another ten minutes."
"Do we know anything else? Size and compliment of the vessel?"
"It appears to be a dreadnought, similar to the one that attacked the first Normandy and Horizon. It is possible, however unlikely, that it is the same vessel. I will have to be within range to do a full scan of their systems before I can determine for sure."
"All right. Start the scan as soon as we drop out of FTL. Joker, locking in to dock quickly and quietly is our priority the moment we arrive. If that monster does power back up I don't want us to be in scope of its weapons if at all possible."
"Understood."
"People, we are at action level two," Shepard announced over the comm as she headed back toward CIC. "We are about to intercept a disabled Collector vessel. Full readiness alert. Samara, Grunt, Kasumi…I want you three suited and armed, we're going aboard. Medibay, stand by for potential injured in case any of our people are still aboard and retrievable. XO Lawson will assume command until I return. Let's get to it!"
Shepard was suited up and fully armed by the time they dropped out of FTL. EDI immediately started her scans as Shepard and Joker grimly regarded the tableau before them.
The Collector vessel was, in fact, identical to the one that they had encountered before. A great looming monstrosity it drifted idly in the deep black. Damage from the impact of weapons-fire was visible along its almost wood-like hull. Not far from it, the ruins of a small turian frigate drifted in more than a thousand pieces.
Joker whistled low under his breath, sitting forward slightly in his seat. "Gotta hand it to the turians. A single frigate managed to knock the breath out of that beast? They have some serious fight in them, that's for sure."
"Commander, the engine core of the Collector ship seems to be offline. I am picking up only minimal power. Weapons and guidance systems are completely cold," EDI reported.
"There's a…docking port maybe, just on the starboard flank," Joker said, checking his readings. "I'll bring us in as close as I can. The shuttle should be able to land there."
"Shepard, you will need to establish a direct uplink to their computer network from within the ship. When that is complete I can mine their systems for any relevant information," EDI informed.
"Understood. We're heading down to the shuttle now. Keep communications open and the Normandy ready. This may get hot."
Heading toward the lift, Shepard shook her head, jaw tight. If this 'Harbinger' is lurking around it looks like Mordin's alterations to my nanites and implants are going to get their test sooner than we thought.
The silence, the weight as they stepped off the shuttle and aboard the Collector ship was much the same as it had been when she, Tali, and Kasumi had gone onto the crashed geth vessel. What light filtered in here and there was dim and golden, more adept at making shadows than illuminating their path…shadows that seemed to crouch, to move.
Shepard adjusted her HUD for semi-infrared, and everything that was hidden in these pools of dark showed up as faintly glowing outlines. Weapons ready, the four moved carefully forward and into the ship, but only that impenetrable silence greeted them.
"This…architecture, is unique," Samara murmured, her eyes travelling over the corridor. It seemed almost carved from earth, supported by metallic struts and occasionally broken by odd, honeycomb shapes that were the source of the soft golden glow. "I have not seen the like of it before."
"It looks like a giant insect hive," Kasumi noted. "Guess that makes sense, given what the Collectors look like."
"Just keep your eyes peeled for hostiles or any of our people," Shepard replied. "Ship this size could have thousands of crew. I'd rather not have to fight them head on with just the four of us."
Kasumi shimmered and vanished from sight as she moved forward, scouting ahead carefully. As the corridor joined onto a larger room her voice filtered back to them over their ear buds.
{Far end of the room, Shep…there's…Jesus. I just…}
"Take a deep breath, Kasumi, we're almost there. What are you seeing?" Shepard replied.
{Bodies…a lot of them. Human bodies. Shep…this is bad.}
Spotting the woman as her cloak fell, Shepard headed her direction, gesturing at Grunt and Samara to cover the junctures joining to the room. Even before she got to Kasumi's side she could see for herself, and felt her stomach clench in a greasy knot.
Dozens of human bodies were cast against a wall, haphazardly piled, carelessly thrown as if they were refuse. They were in varying states of decay, the ones near the bottom clearly in advance stages of putrescence. Bloated, blue-black faces seemed to grimace up at her from the heap, curled fingers seeming to beckon for help, gaping jaws drawn by contracting muscle tissue seemed to utter silent cries of agony.
Some were nude, some still wore clothing. Men, women…thankfully no children that she could see. Gritting her teeth she stepped closer, forcing herself to be clinical, to see if she could spot wounds or marks…anything to tell her how they died.
"EDI, Miranda…this is Shepard," she spoke.
{We're receiving,} EDI replied.
"There's a lot of bodies here. They are piled in a corner. Human bodies, in varying states of decay. It's hard to see direct injury…I think I can make out ligature marks on some…perhaps injection points on others but the skin is so mottled and discolored it's difficult to tell."
{Shepard, scan them with your omni-tool,} Miranda suggested. {EDI can assess the readings directly.}
Shepard powered up her omni-tool and cast its scan over the corpses on the top of the pile. Dead eyes glimmered faintly in its orange glow, making them almost seem to shift and wink. In the light, she saw something else.
{Data received,} EDI told her as the beam died. {Analyzing.}
"There's something else here," Shepard said, edging closer to the pile as she took a risk and switched on her omni-light. "Some motion near…"
{What is it Shepard?} Miranda asked.
"Bugs," Shepard grimaced in disgust. "Tiny…no bigger than gnats, but a lot of them. They're clustered on some of the bodies. Around the eyes, lips…"
{I am reading no live organic tissue from the scan, but there are several miniscule electromagnetic signatures,} EDI said. {It is my conclusion that these insects are synthetic. If you are able to take a sample, Dr. Solus can perform a more in-depth study as to their purpose and nature.}
"Fuck," Shepard whispered. "EDI, I don't exactly have something to put them in-"
"Here, Shep," Kasumi murmured, offering a small sealable container. When Shepard looked at her she shrugged. "Part of my tool-kit. Not everything of value is in solid form. Even fluid needs to be stolen now and again."
Shepard accepted the container and cracked it open. Grimacing with distaste, she managed to scrape several of the tiny creatures into it, then sealed it tight again before slipping it into her pouch. "We've got the sample. Any luck on the analysis?"
{It is not completely conclusive, the organic tissue is too far degraded,} EDI told her. {However from what I can determine it is my belief these humans were used in various experiments.}
"Can you tell what kind of experiments?"
{They seem to be chemical in nature, perhaps judging how human physiology stands up to various toxic substances or viral infestation. Some seem to have been dissected, others bear marks of electromagnetic and plasma burns. Various organs also seem to have been harvested.}
"But we can't confirm exactly what or why?" Shepard sighed.
{It is impossible to speculate without further information. It is likely that the computer systems of the ship may hold records that will better direct us. I suggest continuing to look for an interface for the uplink.}
"Will do."
"Shepard," Grunt spoke up. She turned her head, looking at the boy who gestured at the tunnel he had been covering. "No sign of hostiles but I can see a light not too far down this way. Looks like an active console maybe."
"Hang on, EDI, we may have something," Shepard said, heading that way.
The corridor was short, and widened into a large niche, before continuing on. It looked like a small lab of some kind had been set up in the niche…and Grunt was right. The light was from a console that was powered up next to a trio of the same strange pods they had seen on Horizon.
Kasumi hurried up to the pods as Shepard strode toward the console. "I've got an active interface here, EDI…I'm hooking you in now."
{Link established…accessing. This is a stand-alone terminal, not linked to the main system. I have found several data files regarding the medical experimentation, however. Analyzing.}
"Shep, two of these are empty but…this one has a body in it," Kasumi told her. "Looks like a Collector."
Shepard moved over, glancing within. "Well, fuck me," she murmured. "Miranda, we have a body here. It's a Collector. Looks like they were experimenting on him just as they were on the humans we found."
{We haven't been able to examine a Collector's corpse,} Miranda said, surprised.
"I know, they all dissolve with that weird acid shit when they die. I guess they have a way to turn it off when it suits their purposes. He's a pretty big boy, I don't think we have the time or manpower to pull him onto the ship but I can at least do another scan."
As she ran her omni-tool over the body, the asari nearby shifted slightly.
"Shepard, I feel disquiet," Samara stated. "We should have come across some of the crew by now. This…does not feel right."
"Maybe they're all dead," Grunt snorted. "They dissolve right? Like you just said? Maybe the turians overloaded their systems and they were hit with a radiation pulse when their engines went down. Fried the lot of them, and then they melted."
"Maybe, but we haven't seen any puddles of acid either," Shepard said. "My gut is with you, Samara. Something is seriously not right here."
"Hmm," Grunt frowned, lowering his head a little. "Yeah. I'm with you. This whole place feels…wrong. Like…static before a storm."
{My analysis is complete. Shepard, I have found something remarkable.}
The tone in EDI's 'voice' made Shepard blink. Usually even and calm, the AI actually sounded…surprised.
"What is it?"
{According to the records in this console the Collectors were doing comparison experiments between human physiology and their own. Your scan on the Collector remains shows they were inflicting direct chemical and anatomical comparisons, and even DNA co-compatibilities.}
"Co-compatibilities?"
"Please tell me the Collectors aren't trying to breed with us," Kasumi groaned.
{No, that does not seem to be the point of their study,} EDI reassured. {However I noticed that the genetic structure of the Collector body was familiar. They have unique quad-strand DNA that has only been found in one other species. Minute and rare samples found in Prothean ruins match this quad-strand structure.}
"So…what? Collectors are related to the Protheans?" Shepard blinked.
{No, Commander. It is my conclusion that the Collectors are the Protheans.}
Oh, Liara is going to flip her shit, was the first thought that popped into Shepard's head, even before she managed to really wrap her head around it.
"How is that possible? The Protheans were wiped out."
{The genetic code is similar enough to leave no doubt as to origin, however it has gone through significant genetic rewrite. It has been artificially repurposed. It is possible the Reapers altered the genetic code of Protheans they captured in order to create the Collectors. It will take time to deduce more from these samples.}
"Could that be what they're doing to the humans they take?" Kasumi asked. "Repurposing their DNA to make them mindless slaves?"
{It is possible. I do not have enough information to give a solid conclusion.}
"All right, we can't just stand here speculating," Del ordered. "We still need to find a console that links into the main network. Let's get moving."
Shepard was not usually one to actually despair. When it seemed such a sensation was about to come over her, more often than not she merely lowered her head and bulldogged right through it. Focus on the next task. Keep moving. Keep fighting. Keep on.
It took something she couldn't shoot, stab, or strangle to make her truly despair, to truly feel helpless. She had felt it when Liara was shot by Tela Vasir and lay dying, her warm blood on Shepard's hands. She had felt it when Nan had called her to tell her about what had happened to Paul.
She was trying not to feel it now, trying not to imagine Nan at the bottom of a pile of bloated, tortured bodies. She fought the image of her being experimented on, or changed into something servile, hopeless, inhuman.
Standing now at the edge of the abyss, Shepard could feel the tide of that battle slipping into defeat.
The entire center of the Collector ship was hollow. Thousands…millions of pods lined walls that sailed away into the distance, arched more than three hundred feet above. Each was identical to the one she'd pulled Esmé and her family out of. Each was identical to the one Nan had no doubt been thrown into back on Freedom's Progress.
The sheer scope and volume of them staggered her to her core. These were more than their colonies could ever hope to fill. The Collectors had no need for this many unless they planned to hit a major population center.
Unless they planned to hit Earth.
Kasumi looked ill behind her face-plate as she silently took in the sight. Even Grunt seemed grim and humbled.
"Shepard, there is a console over on that platform," Samara said gently, the first to break the atmosphere. Shepard tore her eyes away from the abyss and looked in the direction that the matriarch indicated. A console interface was indeed lit up on the edge of a promontory platform, a wide octagon that formed a kind of balcony over the massive room. Shipping her rifle, her jaw tight, Shepard strode that way.
"EDI, we have an active console. I'm going to link you in. See if it connects to the network."
{I am prepared, Shepard.}
Powering up her omni-tool, Shepard established the connection. Instantly the console interface lit up, information scrolling across its display faster than any human eye could follow.
{I have connection,} EDI informed unnecessarily. { Shepard, this console is indeed connected to the main network hub. I have access to most systems. Data mine in progress.}
"Shepard…I think something moved," Grunt suddenly rumbled. Without lowering her arm, Shepard turned her head and looked at the young krogan as he gestured upward. Samara and Kasumi both backed in closer, weapons in hand as they scanned for a threat.
Drawing her pistol Shepard's eyes crept over every nook and cranny of the wall above them, narrowing when she saw a shift in the shadow.
She saw a metallic glint, and then an all too familiar shape emerged from a crevice and turned toward the platform upon which they stood. Her eyes went wide. "Fuck…move!" she cried out.
A flash of light and a stream of smoke zipped directly toward them, even as the four flung themselves to the side. Shepard dove, time seeming to slow as her eyes widened, her body stretching out. Her gaze was on Kasumi, who was also mid-leap. The thief was far too close to the edge of the platform, and even in that half-heartbeat of pause, Shepard realized that Kasumi was about to tumble right off the side of it…off the side and to a sheer drop of more than a hundred feet.
Then electricity filled the air in snaps and sparks of white, every muscle in Shepard's body seemed to seize in a flare of unbelievable agony that seared her to the core, and she drew away to darkness.