A/N: This is it, the conclusion on the Noveria mission and the beginning of some of the biggest changes in canon from here on out. It took a lot of hard work to plan this chapter out. I had my doubts, but I have faith in my work and I will let you all be the judges.
I own nothing
Alexander 'Maverick' Drake
Rift Station - Peak 15 (Noveria)
August 13, 2183 - 16:21 hours
The Rift Station of Peak 15 was just as quiet and empty as the central station. The winter storm continued to pound the outside of the facility sending odd sounds throughout the sector.
Alex checked his motion tracker for the tenth time since they stepped off the tram. Jane, Garrus and Liara all kept their eyes open as they moved farther in. "Did Prophet ever find where Benezia or the Rachni Queen are located?" asked Jane.
"The Queen is located in the main lab on the next floor. If there is anywhere that Benezia could be hiding it would be there." said Alex as his omni-tool chimed. "It also looks like all the security personnel are stationed in the barracks defending the surviving scientists." he said looking over the information collected.
"What about the Rachni? Is there anyway we can put them down and fast?" Asked Garrus.
"The hot labs below us has a neutron purge sequence. From what Prophet could gather, most of the Rachni are being quarantined to the labs. Activating the purge would wipe out all of them save for the ones that managed to escape through the ducts." replied the nano soldier.
"What about the ones that escaped?" asked Liara.
"They'll die after a period of time." Alex brought up another window on his omni-tool. "I was also able to find the experiment data Binary Helix was able to collect on them. The original data held in the Archives said something about the Queen being able to communicate via an ultrasonic frequency. But from what the company was able to discover, if the underlings are kept far enough from the Queen as they grow they wouldn't be able to tune in on the frequencies that she emits."
"Doing this turns them wild, and makes it hard for them to survive outside of the Hive Mind created by the Queen. They don't develop properly, her mind shapes theirs so that they can thrive as a central unit. Without that to guide them, they'll die off."
The team paused, "Are you telling me that these bastards took the Rachni from their Queen and it turned them feral?" said Garrus not believing people would be this stupid for messing with such a dangerous species.
"This would explain why the Rachni we've met were so vicious." said Jane. "Their disorganized because they weren't raised around the Queen after they hatched. Binary Helix must be raising them separate to make them into living weapons."
"They were trying to build an army of Rachni." said Alex. "Taking the egg they found to try to clone them, instead a Queen hatched and they decided on something else entirely. Now they're running loose and out of control. And if we don't find a way to put an end to the outbreak there are security measures in place to make sure they don't escape."
"And what measures are those?" asked Garrus.
"The battlestations around Noveria will target Peak 15 and wipe it out. Complete liquidation of the facility and all experiments contained within. And that includes people if they can't get out in time." said the nano soldier evenly.
Jane walked up next to him, "You and Prophet have a plan for this?"
Alex nodded, "The way I see it we have three options." he said bringing up a map of the Rift station. "We can hit up the hot labs first and put down the feral Rachni before moving on to the corrupt security thugs who will probably attack us once they realize we've dealt with the bugs."
"The second option is that we hit the security first, but doing so would leave the scientists and other innocent people in the barracks vulnerable to a Rachni attack." he added while going over the map.
"Or?" asked Jane.
"We deal with the Rachni, and bypass the barracks all together. Leave the security and science teams to the local authorities for when all that data I sent to the Council puts Binary Helix in the ground." said the Post-Human finishing with the plan. "I'm leaving the final decision up to you Shepard. Which do you want to do?"
The Commander chewed on her lip in deep thought a moment before deciding. "The hot labs first, even though the scientists weren't innocent in this they don't deserve to be slaughtered like that. Then we move on to Benezia and the Queen, we don't have a lot of time for much else."
Alex nodded as they headed for the hot labs entrance. "Prophet, release all security locks leading to the hot labs. And prepare the neutron purge."
"Acknowledged. Activation Code Required to Complete Purge Sequence." said the AI as the door opened and the team rode the lift down to the labs. "How do we get the code?" asked Liara.
"Only a handful of people have the code on hand in case of experimental breakout. However, all the scientists that have it have either fled or been killed...all except for one." said Alex as the lift stopped and opened revealing a large empty room with a lone man sitting in a chair in the center of the room.
"Yaroslev Tartakovsky. Just the man we were looking for." said Alex as they entered the room and approached the hunched over man.
"Are you all here to secure the situation?" asked the scientist weakly, looking up at them with hollow eyes.
"We're here to help. What do you do here?" asked Jane.
"I'm the operations director. I would stand and shake your hands but...ehh." he groaned as he leaned back in the chair. "You must listen to me. If we do not contain our mistake, they will drop bombs from the battlestations. You understand?"
"You tried to let them out. If my VI hadn't resealed the labs when it took control, the bugs would still be running loose." said Alex grimly.
"I was only following orders." said Tartakovsky shifting his weight.
"We already know what's been going on here. The illegal experiments, the cover ups, everything. And we are here to put a stop to it so that nothing else can go wrong here." said Jane strictly. "We need the code to activate the neutron purge."
The scientist let out a deep sigh before bringing up his omni-tool. Jane's omni-tool chimed. "I just sent you the key to activate the purge. The arming controls are through that door over there." he said motioning to said door. "You must hurry, before-ARGH!" A tendril burst from the floor and speared the man through his back and out his chest.
It happened so quickly no one could have even attempted to stop it as a Rachni Warrior pulled itself out of the floor. Throwing the body of the dead scientist across the room before going after the squad.
Alex brought up his Grendel and put half his clip into the bug, the others adding their own gunfire to the assault and dropping it before it got within striking distance. "We need to get the purge started, more will be on the way."
They moved quickly to the room the scientist pointed them too and headed straight for the wall of terminals inside. "Prophet, we have the code. Start the neutron purge." said Jane as the possessed VI hologram appeared. "Activation Key Required." said the AI.
"Code Input: 875-020-079. Code Omega. Local Execution." said the Commander.
Alex walked over to a storage locker and hacked it open. He grinned when he found what was inside. "Garrus catch!" he called tossing a Firestorm flamethrower over to the Turian.
"What's this for?" asked Garrus putting away his assault rifle and hefting the flamethrower.
"The moment the purge starts alarms will sound throughout the labs. It'll be like ringing the damn dinner bell for these things." Alex up his own flamethrower, "These will give us a chance to make our escape before the purge activates."
"Code Verified. You have 120 seconds to reach minimum safe distance." said Prophet as alarms resounded throughout the labs. At the same time, all their motion trackers went off as dozens upon dozens of red blips started to close in on them as the counter on their HUDs began counting down from 2:00.
"I think we should get moving and quickly!" shouted Liara over the alarms.
They double timed it back to the main room where over a dozen Rachni had entered through the ducts with more pouring through. Alex and Garrus stood at the front and sent streams of fire into the large crowd of insects. The creatures screeched the more they were burned as the squad ran through the opening that had been made.
Liara threw up a barrier around them as shots of acid were launched at them. Jane brought up her shotgun and blasted any targets that got too close.
Reaching the doorway to the lift, Alex spun around and emptied the rest of his firestorm into the swarm of bugs behind them. Tossing the spent flamethrower aside as he ran into the lift with the team and sealed the door.
The elevator made it halfway to the main floor when an explosion shook the facility. "And that's the end of the Rachni problem." said Alex as the lift continued to rise.
X
Stepping off of the lift, Alex sealed the doors leading into and out of the barracks before tthe team headed toward the entrance to the main lab.
The lock switched from red to green and opened revealing a staircase that lead up to the next level. "How are we going to do this?" asked Garrus setting his empty Firestorm aside and drawing his rifle.
"If Benezia's in there with the Queen she will not be alone. Geth and her escort will most likely be waiting to ambush us once we're inside." said Jane.
"I'll go in cloaked. Set up a few counter measures to give us an edge should it come to a firefight in the end." said Alex.
Shepard nodded before casting a glance over at Liara. The young Asari had her eyes closed taking deep breaths as she attempted to calm herself. "You don't have to do this Liara, the three of us can handle it if you're not ready to." said Jane letting her compassionate nature out.
"No, I am fine." said Liara opening her eyes and glaring at the doorway at the top of the stairs. "I need to face her, and understand why she's doing this."
With that they all headed up the stairs, weapons ready for what they might end up facing. "Cloak Engaged." Alex vanished once they reached the top and the door opened. Inside was a large room surrounded by walkways with doors in each corner. A large glass containment unit sat in the center and held a large Rachni that they immediately knew must have been the Queen.
And standing in front of the container on top of a high-rise in the walkways was Matriarch Benezia. Who stared at the Queen not even acknowledging their presence before speaking.
"You do not know the privilege of being a mother. There is power in creation. To shape a life. Turn it toward happiness of despair." she said without emotion. "Her children were to be ours. Raised to hunt and slay Saren's enemies.
She turned to the group, Alex slipped away while cloaked and began moving about the room to set up for the ambush that he knows would be coming.
"I won't be moved by sympathy. No matter who you bring into this confrontation." said Benezia.
"Liara's here because she wants to be. Not because I asked her to." said Jane sticking up for Liara.
Benezia narrowed her eyes, "Indeed? What have you told them about me, Liara?"
"What could I say, mother?" asked Liara, her voice cracking slightly. "That you're insane? Evil? Should I explain how to kill you? What could I say!"
Alex had just finished setting up the last precaution before making his way back. Walking up the stairs and approaching the Matriarch from behind. "Prophet, is there any chance that the suit can fix what indoctrination has done to her?" he whispered.
"Checking...One Possible Course of Action Available." The AI displayed several readings on the HUD. Alex was surprised at first, but realized that it was the only chance he had at trying to break Sovereign's hold over Benezia that didn't involve killing her. "Do it. If we can break her free she can become an ally that'll help us in the end."
"Acknowledged. Suit Reconfiguration in Progress."
"Have you ever faced an Asari Commando unit before, Commander? Few Humans have." said Benezia darkly.
"I can't believe you'd kill your own daughter." said Jane disgusted.
Benezia's eyes darkened, "I now realize I should have been stricter with her." she searched the group. "Where is the other Spectre in your group?"
"Reconfiguration Complete. System Rebooting." "Right here!" Alex said deactivating his cloak and grabbing the Matriarch from behind and locking her arms behind her back.
"Release me Human!" she shouted blasting a wave of dark energy at him. "Maximum Armor." the biotic attack washed over the nano soldier, his energy meter dropping by a good margin as he kept his grip strong.
A small group of Asari Commandos entered the room to help their mistress. However, the moment they passed the entrance into the main lab they tripped the censors Alex had set up before.
The hostiles were blown away from the well placed proximity mines as Alex spun Benezia in his arms and put his hands on either side of her head. Knocking her headdress off and pressed his gloved fingers into her temples. "Prophet now!" he ordered as the others ran up to them.
"Neurological Scans Initiated." said the AI as it started mapping out the Matriarch's brainwaves through sensors in the suit's fingertips.
Benezia struggled in his grasp, but he held her still as the scans completed. Readouts of her brain activity displayed on his HUD and he immediately started looking for anything that looked out of the ordinary. "Neurological Anomaly Detected." A small section of the brain wave was highlighted red, and from its erratic frequency it did not belong there.
"Initiating Neurological Repairs." The doors around the room shook as more proximity mines were tripped by more Commandos and several squads of Geth that tried to get into the room. "Shepard keep them from me for a few more seconds." said Alex as Prophet began cycling through Benezia's brainwaves and fought against the intrusion.
"Alex what the hell are you doing?" asked Jane as they surrounded the two. Liara keeping her eyes on what the Post-Human was doing to her mother.
"Saving her life." he said simply as Prophet doubled its efforts.
The corrupt brain wave fought back. Alex started seeing flashes of something in his mind's eye. Images of Sovereign shot through his head too fast to focus on. "She hasn't been indoctrinated long there's still hope!" he shouted mentally.
The corruption began to lose ground. The rest of the squad fired on a few Geth that had managed to get into the room and putting them down quickly.
Alex's HUD started to waver. Benezia's eyes rolled into the back of her head as her brainwaves were cleared with Prophet's influence. More images passed through the nano soldier's head the more the indoctrination strain was destroyed. Whispers were heard as the brain wave was overcome completely and fell silent.
But not before a cold deep voice bellowed in his head, "YOU ARE AN ANOMALY THAT MUST BE REMOVED."
"Neurological Repairs...Complete."
The nano soldier and the Asari stumbled away from each other. Benezia collapsed on to the floor while Alex had to grab on to a nearby railing for support. "Son of a bitch..." he muttered as a headache lanced through his skull.
Liara knelt next to her mother. "Mother?" she asked hesitantly.
Benezia looked up at her slowly, her eyes now clear compared to what they were before. "Little Wing?...Goddess...what have I done?" she said in sorrow. "I...tried to fight it. But it was too strong. His influence tainted my mind, forcing me to do things I would never do."
Jane looked up from helping Alex stand back up. "What do you mean by tainted? What is going on?"
"The things I have done was not my will, Shepard." said Benezia slowly getting to her feet. "People are not themselves around Saren. You come to idolize him. Worship him. You would do anything for him. The key to this is Sovereign, his flagship. It is a dreadnought of incredible size and its power is extraordinary."
"Where did he get something like this? It's nothing like other ships." asked Jane.
"I cannot say. The Geth did not build it. Its technology is far more advanced than that of any known species." explained the Matriarch. "The longer you stay aboard, the more Saren's will seems correct. You sit at his feet and smile as his words pour into you. It is subtle at first. I thought I was strong enough to resist, I became a willing tool, eager to serve."
The elder Asari looked over to the nano soldier as he approached them, "That is until your friend here broke Saren's hold over me. How in the Goddess' name did you overpower the indoctrination?"
"Wasn't easy." said Alex shaking off the last legs of his headache. "While we've been here I've had my VI record and monitor the ultrasonic frequency sent out among the Rachni. That coupled with the research I jacked from the databanks allowed me to synthesis my own version of the frequency. I combined this with what I was able to collect of the Thorian spores from back on Feros that controlled the colonists."
"Basically, Prophet and I were able to create an anti-mind control neural-wave."
Everyone's mouths hung open at the explanation. "By the Goddess..." said Liara in awe. "That's brilliant!"
"And dangerous." said Alex seriously. "The drawback from using something like this could disrupt a person's brainwaves and destroy their mind if not done properly. It was a good thing that the indoctrination wasn't complete."
"Can you use this again?" asked Jane intrigued with the new creation.
"No. I only had so many spores from the Thorian. It was a one shot deal." the Post-Human looked to the Matriarch. "And I believed that Lady Benezia would be a strong ally if we could break whatever hold Saren had over her."
As the group spoke, none of them noticed the burned body of an Asari Commando start to twitch.
"How did you even know that she was being controlled?" asked Garrus.
"All the signs were there." Alex looked to Benezia. "From what Liara said about you, nothing about your behavior made sense. Then I saw what the Thorian did to the colonists on Feros. I had a feeling that something similar was happening to you. So I started making the counter measure just to be safe."
Benezia smiled. "Thank you, Maverick. For freeing me of Saren's influence."
"What did Saren want here? Why did he send you to Noveria?" asked Jane.
"He sent me here to find the location of the Mu Relay. Its position was lost thousands of years ago." said Benezia.
"How exactly does a mass relay 'go missing'?" asked Alex always wanting to know that answer.
"Four thousand years ago, a star nearby went supernova. The shockwave propelled the relay out of its system, but did not damage it. It's precise vector and speed are impossible to determine. As millennia passed, the nebula created by the nova enveloped the relay. It is difficult to find any cold object in interstellar space. Particularly something swathed in hot dust and radiation." explained the Matriarch.
"Did someone here on Noveria find it?" asked Jane.
Benezia nodded before looking at the containment unit that held the Rachni Queen. "Two thousand years ago, the Rachni inhabited that region of our galaxy. They discovered the relay. They can share memories and experiences across generations. Queens inherit the knowledge of their mothers. I took the location of the relay from the Queen's mind."
She looked down in sorrow, "I was not gentle...I was not myself...I should have been stronger." Benezia looked to them, "I'll help you in anyway that I can, but we must move quickly. I sent the data on the Mu Relay to Saren before you arrived. We have to stop him before he achieves his goals."
"Can you tell us where he was headed? Where the Conduit might be located?" asked Alex.
"Saren wouldn't tell me his destination. But he possesses another facility on the planet Virmire. It is the most likely of places that he will be." said Benezia.
"Then it would seem we have our next heading after we're done here." said Jane.
"What about the Rachni Queen? We can't just leave it." said Garrus.
The dead Asari stood on shaking legs before stumbling in the group's direction. Jane approached the large container with Alex at her side. The Rachni Queen spun around and screeched at her making the Commander stumble back a step and bumping into the walking corpse.
Everyone aimed a weapon or charged biotics as the Asari stood infront of the container and faced them. Alex, who hadn't even flinched during all of this merely turned to the walking corpse.
"This one...serves as our voice. We cannot sing. Not in these low spaces. Your musics are colorless..."spoke the Asari.
"Musics?" asked Jane confused.
"Your way of communicating is strange...flat. It does not color the air. When we speak, one moves all. We are the...mother. We sing for those left behind. The children you thought silenced...we are Rachni." said the corpse.
Alex looked down at the Queen as she looked right back at him. "The Queen. She's speaking through the dead Asari like a puppet so we can understand her." he said getting their attention.
The Queen tilted its head, "Your...songs are different...like many strings being plucked at once. Making a whole symphony. You are different..."
He felt a presence pushing on his mind. "Neurological Intrusion Detected."said Prophet. "Allow it Prophet." ordered Alex as he felt what could only be described as a small warm breeze coating his mind. Filling every part as it tried to understand.
"You sing of strength...of valor. We sense this within you. But we also sense chaos and undertones of loneliness that taint your songs. Disrupting its purity. Your heart is clouded by pain...it must be mended for your songs to truly florish once more. Only then, can you truly achieve what you desire." said the Queen.
Alex felt the presence leave his thoughts. Jane walked up next to him and rested a hand on his arm. He looked back as her and saw concern in her green eyes, the subtle signs that said that they would talk later.
With a nod he turned to the corpse, "What of your children? The ones taken from you."
"They were stolen before they could learn to sing. They are lost to the silence. You have freed them of their pain. An act we thank you for." said the Queen. "We now stand before you, what will you sing? Will you release us? Are we to fade away once more?"
"They have suffered enough from us." said Benezia approaching the glass and resting a hand on it. "Part of which was my doing." She looked at Jane and Alex. "She has committed no harm to anyone. She is unlike her ancestors and has learned from their mistakes. Let this be the first atonement for the horrors I have inflicted. Allow her to live. Please."
"Your songs...are free of darkness. You now sing of purity and truth. We forgive." said the Queen making the Matriarch smile.
Alex looked at Jane, "I agree with Benezia. Her children were not really 'her's'. What do you think Jane?"
Shepard looked to the Queen before walking over to the terminal nearby. She cast a smile the creature's way before pressing several buttons. "We won't destroy your race...you will go free."
"You will give us the chance to compose anew? We will remember. We will sing of your forgiveness to our children." the body collapsed to the ground as the containment unit rose. The Queen looked down on the group one last time before disappearing from sight.
"Well...this has been one hell of a day." said Garrus. "Anyone else feel like getting wasted?"
Everyone had a laugh, the tension finally leaving them after the ordeal they each had to face.
Benezia looked at the two Spectres. "I was true with my words. I will do whatever I can to undo my wrongs. I will help you stop Saren, if you will give me the chance to do so."
Jane crossed her arms and bit her lip in thought. She then looked to Alex, "Are you completely sure you cleared her mind of indoctrination?"
Alex nodded, "I did one last scan before we separated. Prophet just finished going over it and found no traces of the corruption. Lady Benezia is herself again."
The Matriarch turned to her daughter, "Liara...I am sorry for everything that has happened. Can you find it in your heart to-" she was cut off when the younger Asari wrapped her arms around her mother and held her tightly.
"You were not yourself mother, there is nothing to forgive." said Liara with tears in her eyes.
Benezia embraced her daughter with tears in her eyes as well, sending silent prayers to Athame for allowing her to hold her child again and to have her mind clear once more. She looked at the Post-Human and sent a prayer for him as well for giving her this chance, despite the risks.
Alex smiled at the scene before him. He had changed things big time in doing this. And the repercussions could be dire later on. But at the moment he didn't care; because he knew somewhere down the road it would be worth it.
A/N: And done! A lot of you were expecting that kind of outcome. For those who doubt it consider the nano suit's abilities for a moment. It can absorb, record, assimilate and create a multitude of things if the user can gather the right materials to make it all happen. After researching this ability, coupled with the Feros and Noveria missions, I came up with the idea of the anti-indoctrination neural-wave.
However, that doesn't mean it'll keep being used. Like Alex mentioned it's a one shot deal since the Thorian is now dead and there are no more spores to collect. But it left me the option to keep Benezia alive and gave me near infinite ideas for the rest of the series.
With shit as good as this is going you know I'll have an update for you all damn quick. So don't be going too far!