Chapter 24: Keelah Se'Lai

Malen decided to explain himself to Shepard first so he could get that mess out of the way. Malen went up to the galaxy map and noticed Shepard was on a computer on the left side of the map.

Malen:" Hey Shepard. I'm gonna be honest with you here, I did something that you probably wouldn't agree with."

Shepard:" huh? O Malen, What do you mean something I wouldn't agree with?"

Malen:" I overheard your conversation with Hackett."

Shepard:" Ok, I assume this was not the thing you wanted to tell me."

Malen:" I followed you on your mission. I was there the whole time Shepard. Sorry that Kenson turned out to be indoctrinated, but I did manage to learn how it affects the human brain and I was able to reverse it. I cured everyone that was indoctrinated on Project Base, I saved the batarian controlled system, and I made the reapers look like idiots."

Shepard:" Wow! Really?! Now why would you think I would be mad at you for doing all of that and taking an ass load of stress off my shoulders?"

Malen:" You're not mad?"

Shepard:" Quite the opposite: I am relieved that I had some back up during that whole affair, and you also managed to remain undetected the whole time so I didn't break my favor to Hackett."

Malen:" Well then Shepard. I made a vid here while I was "with you" that should brighten your spirits."

Shepard:" OK then, show me."

Malen pulls up a video display on his Omni tool and plays the vid he made. Shepard laughed until he cried after he saw the vid.

Shepard:" That really made my day! You have no idea. Thank you for sharing that."

Malen:" No problem Shepard. I will see you on the next assignment, though this time it will be completely up to you to call the shots on it."

Shepard:" I'm grateful about that to. Not having to work with Cerberus is a much needed break."

Malen goes to the different floors of the Normandy and shows the vid to the rest of the crew, who had mixed reactions to it ranging from laughing, confusion, and uncaring. Malen's last stop was the cargo bay to show Tali the vid.

Tali's response was laughing so hard that she snorted and her chest bounced up and down a little.

Tali:" I need a copy of that vid. It was so damn funny! HAHAHA!"

Malen held out his Omni tool for Tali to make a copy of the vid. She passed her Omni tool over Malen's until she managed to create a connection to it and make a copy of the vid. Once Tali verified that the vid was copied to her Omni tool, Shepard called over the intercom.

Shepard:" I think the next mission will be sooner than you would think. You and Tali suit up and meet me at the shuttle."

Malen/Tali:" Understood."

Malen got equipped his dragon scale armor, while Tali already had her suit on. Shepard soon made his way down to the cargo bay with Legion next to him. They boarded the shuttle and landed on a base on Aite.

The base looked intact, but it was eerily quiet and deserted. Just as they were making their way to the exterior door, someone came over the comm channel.

?:" Thank God you came! My name is Dr. Gavin Archer. The situation is urgent—we're facing a catastrophic VI outbreak. I'll explain everything later, but you must retract that transmission dish!"

Malen:" He seems like he is in a hurry. Let me solve that dish problem the easier way." He said as he looked around for a large dish like object.

Malen is unable to locate the dish from where he was and sighed to himself.

Malen:" I guess we go in and have a look around until we find it."

The group heads in the facility and find that it looks worse for wear with bodies on the ground, scorch marks, and some still burning fires in random areas. They eventually made it to a long with an observation window looking out at the transmission dish.

Malen stretched out his right hand and balled it into a fist as he telekinetically crushed the supports and foundation of the transmission dish. The dish creaked and moaned loudly as metal was being crushed pencil thin. The foundations and supports soon gave way as the transmission fell onto the ground with a loud crash.

Malen:" I think I just saved you an hour of leg work." He said with a smile.

Shepard:" Good thinking! Let's get to Archer and have him explain how this all happened."

Legion:" Acknowledged."

On their way to Dr. Archer, the group had to neutralize VI infected geth platforms. These geth were easily dealt with as they have been before as they made their way through the facility. They eventually meet up with the doctor at one of the 3 stations in the facility.

Archer:" You have my thanks Commander Shepard. You bought us some time, though probably not much. This isn't over yet."

Shepard:" You owe us that explanation."

Archer:" This is Project Overlord. An attempt to gain influence over the geth by interfacing a human mind with a VI. The results are less than satisfactory."

Shepard:" I'd hate to see what you call a disaster."

Archer:" You can't dismiss the entire project. We did succeed, at least partially. My brother David volunteered to serve as a test subject, but his mind couldn't handle the VI connection. He's like a virus now, infecting our networks and seizing control of any technology he finds. It's why you had to destroy the dish. Imagine if his program got off world."

Shepard:" You should have considered that before you started the experiment."

Archer:" We couldn't be expected to account for every outcome! Certainly not the abomination David has become. Davi… the VI has fortified itself in the main laboratory in the main laboratory at Atlas station. It's in lockdown now."

Malen:" No fortification can stop me Dr. Archer: Shepard will vouch for that. Just tell us where Atlas Station is."

Archer:" It's in a large crevice of a tall rock face, but you'll need to…."

Malen:" Nope! That's all we need to know. Let's head to Atlas station Shepard."

Shepard:" Sure, but what about the dead.."

Malen:" Already taken care of Shepard. I sent them to a base that I have taken control of recently: don't ask where or how, just go with it."

Shepard shrugs his shoulders as they head back to the vehicle that they landed in with.

M-44 analysis:" Geographic conditions indicate an aesthetically pleasing view nearby. Organic life forms may wish to take note." The vehicle's VI stated as they made their way to Atlas Station.

Malen:" Pleasant view: yes. Wasting time: yes. Boring: eventually."

Shepard and Tali giggled at the joke, but Legion didn't seem to care or get it.

They arrived at Atlas station in front of the lockdown door. The group got out of the M-44 and approached the door.

Shepard:" So, how are you going to get through this time Malen?"

Malen:" I have a key."

Malen reaches into his satchel and pulls out a strange object that he held up with his right hand so everyone could see it. The object in question had a dark blue and light green colored orb at the base of it with an intricate pattern to the metal on the end of it.

Malen:" This is not the original one, but an exact copy that I made before I returned the original one to its home." He said as he approached the door.

Legion:" Malen Katarn. That "key" will not be sufficient to open the door."

Malen:" HAHAHAHHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAH *breaths in* ye of little faith."

Malen touches the end portion of the key to the door. The locks on the door then start to move to the left and away from the door.

Announcement:" Atlas Station lockdown overridden." Came a computerized voice over an intercom near the door. The door opens upwards and no longer impedes the group's path.

Malen passed by Legion with a big smug grin as they got back on the M-44 and entered Atlas Station. The path in Atlas Station was a drop down onto an extended landing platform. The group got out of the M-44 and went down the extended platform to the door on the other side.

Archer:" Looks like you're in, Commander. Good. I'm getting some troubling readings here though. The VI is trying to upload its program directly from your location. Get to the server room and shutdown the core before it can—"

Malen:" Well that was slightly disturbing sounding."

Shepard:" Let's keep moving. Not much further to go."

They made their way through the rundown halls of the station and soon found 3 doors to choose from. The lights on the doors suddenly begin to randomly change their color at fast intervals.

Malen:" Does it want to play roulette or is this VI on Skuma?" He thought aloud.

Suddenly all the lights are gone and the door on the left opens. The team proceeds cautiously into the room and find an elevator on the far end that has seen better days. After some frustration with the controls of the elevator, Shepard managed to get it to their level. Sparks shot out of the door as VI infected geth came out of the elevator. After a few spells and shotgun blasts later, they entered the elevator.

The elevator and announcer seemed to go crazy and the elevator went suddenly up and down multiple times before finally halting at level 0.

Malen:" That ride sucked! I wanted it to go faster." He said as he laughs.

They made their way through level 0. When they reached the next door, the door controls were moved over the walls and on the door to the left that they passed and it opened. The room had a VI server console in it.

Shepard:" Get ready. I wouldn't be surprised if this button summoned a reaper."

When Shepard pressed the button, the VI infected Shepard's armor and cybernetic implants. Shepard stumbles out of the room and the door is locked behind him.

Malen:" hmmm… It seemed afraid. David is still a large portion of the virus it seems. I think it would be better if we let the David think that he has some control over the situation rather than to cause more fear that could provoke a greater response."

Tali and Legion pondered over Malen's words and concluded that he was probably right, but Tali still looked a little worried.

Malen:" Shepard will do fine. He can handle himself."

Tali relaxed and waited for Shepard just as Legion and Malen are doing.

Sometime later:

The doors became unlocked and Malen, Tali, and Legion rushed down to the core to witness something horrific. David had tubes in his mouth, metal holding his eyes open, and barbs in his skull. David was suspended over a small pit.

Shepard:" So you would sacrifice your brother's happiness for your own ambition?"

Malen quickly approached David and waved a healing hand over his face.

Malen:" It's quiet now David. Rest easy." He whispered to David.

David stopped crying as he fell asleep. Malen slowly pulled out all of the tech that was infused in his body while simultaneously healing any wounds David may suffer from the tech being removed from him.

Archer:" What I've done to David is unethical. If he dies, it's unforgivable. Let me take care of him. Please."

Malen:" You lost that right when you did this to him. Your consequence is to never stay with your brother again Archer."

Archer looks solemnly at his brother as he lies in Malen's arms.

Archer:" Where will you take him?"

Shepard:" Grissom Academy. They can help special cases like David—minus the torture."

Shepard:" Joker, contact the academy, and let them know we've got someone who needs their help."

Joker:" Aye Aye, Commander."

Malen stares at the core that David was placed in and contemplates on certain matters about it until he finally made up his mind on the subject.

Malen:" Shepard, take David back with you. I need to stay here with Tali and Legion."

Shepard:" * Takes David* Ok. What are you going to do?"

Malen:" Something that I must do Shepard and you can't convince me otherwise. Just go… please. I must do this."

Shepard sees the seriousness and sincerity in his face and knew that regardless of what it was that he would not be able to talk Malen out of it.

Shepard:" Alright." He answers without another word and leaves with David in his arms.

Tali:" What are you going to do Malen?" She asks worriedly after Shepard had left Atlas Station.

Malen approaches Tali and hold her chin.

Malen:" Something you won't like, but I must do this. Please trust me Tali."

Tali:" Ok." She said softly.

Malen directs his attention back to the core and approaches it.

Malen:" I cannot change something if I don't know it, so I will learn." He says aloud.

Malen climbs into the core where David was placed in before. He inserts the tubes into his mouth and situates them in the same orientation that it was for David. Malen morphed holes on his head and adjusted the head piece so that it would fit him. Malen also attaches the other cords into his arms that he morphed holes for.

Malen then focuses his mind and reestablishes a connection to a geth network that happened to be in the same room. Legion's platform suddenly entered what seemed to be a standby state as he looked down and the lights in his "face" were off.

Inside Legion's consensus:

Legion found himself in a pitch black place with thousands of octopus eyes looking at him.

Malen:" Do you understand what I am Legion? What I truly am?" His voice seemed to be coming from all directions.

Legion:"…"

Malen:" Your silence tells me that you do not understand or cannot comprehend what I am."

The darkness and eyes seemed to get pulled into one point that took a humanoid form. The form looked like a shadow that was given substance. The space that they were in was like a white void with Legion and Malen being the only two beings in it. Malen approaches Legion's true self.

Malen:" Do you still not understand Legion? I am a deity. I am a Daedric Lord. I am a god, but that is not the reason why I have entered your consensus. I have come to understand you and the geth on this concept of existence."

Legion:" What will you do?"

Malen:" I am not going to hurt you Legion. You need to trust me."

Legion:" Acknowledged… proceed."

Malen reached into Legion with his right hand as he searched through him to understand what "he" is composed of and "how" he was composed. Malen saw at least a thousand tiny white dots inside Legion that were swirling around.

Malen:" I see… They are like fragment of a greater soul gem that is missing a piece. I think I am beginning to understand now. The concept of understanding seems to be the missing piece along with a fragment of a living soul."

Malen generates a red crystalline structure inside Legion as he draws all of the other programs inside Legion to it. Malen then brings out a fragment of a living soul from one of his soul gems and inserts it into the structure that Malen had created inside Legion.

The white void is suddenly replaced by the scenery found on Rannoch where Quarians and geth were coexisting with each other in peace and harmony.

Legion:"… I…..I am….. I am alive."

Malen pats Legion on the shoulder.

Malen:" Yes you are Legion. Yes you are. Now let's go make this dream of ours into a reality."

Legion:" Right… Keelah se'lai" He said softly.

Back in Atlas Station:

The cords in Malen's body were pushed out as Malen's mind returned to his body. The core was bent and force away by telekinetic pressure as Malen freed himself and landed on the floor in front of the door. Legion also reactivated himself and walked towards Malen.

Tali:" What Happened Malen? What did you accomplish?"

Malen:" I gave you your home world back Tali. You can finally have your home world today." He said with a warm smile.

Legion:" Indeed Malen my best friend."

Tali was speechless at what Legion just said.

Tali:" He said "my"? Does that mean he is….."

Malen:" He is as much alive as you are Tali. Let us go to Haestrom and spread the good news."

Tali was getting a overwhelming feeling of nervousness, excited, and anxious as she grabbed Malen's right arm so he could teleport them to Haestrom.

Legion got close to Malen as he summoned a black sphere to teleport them to Haestrom. They reappeared near where Malen first asked the Admiralty Board a chance for peace.

Surprisingly they were all still around the area. The Admirals were overlooking construction of homes from a high altitude so they could see the entire landscape. They approached the Admirals, mostly towards Raan.

Malen:" Raan… Admirals. I come before you to say that I have achieved a peace agreement with all geth. Legion here * motions to Legion* is their representative and will assure you that the geth are willing for peace if the Quarians are."

The Admiralty Board gave Malen and Legion their full attention.

Raan:" We are trusting of you Malen, but do you have some sort of proof of this claim?"

Legion:" I will speak for my species when I say that coexistence is possible. It would greatly benefit all of us if we let go of past discrepancies and prejudices."

The Admirals were speechless that a geth just referred itself as "I" instead of "we" or "this unit" or that it was speaking by itself at all. They grouped around each other and tried to come to a quick decision.

Raan:" Due to your selfless actions on the Quarian race Malen Katarn vas Nirn, we have come to the agreement that Legion has presented us with sufficient evidence that peace is possible. We will send a ship with volunteers to journey with you to Rannoch to establish peace between our races. This is just a precaution and not a lack of trust Malen. I will go with you to Rannoch."

Kana:" As will I."

Rael:" As will I."

Koris:" And I will as well."

None of the other admirals volunteered.

Raan:" We shall go with you immediately Malen."

Malen:" Good..Good…. Keelah se'lai."

They boarded the nearest Quarian vessel alone with a few others to fly the ship.

On Rannoch:

The ship landed on an open field of grass that was near the ocean. Geth patrols were waiting by the loading ramp, but they did not attack or move quickly at all. The geth, roughly around 50 platforms, put down their weapons and knelt as Malen walked passed them and did not rise when the others passed as well. The Admiral's hopes shot through the roof as they saw the geth platforms kneeling by their own choice.

Malen:" They all share the same Ideology as Legion and Legion told them of what I was doing here with Quarians as soon he was in range to communicate with them. They wish to know what it is to be alive Admirals: to truly be an individual."

Malen sat down in the middle of the two rows of geth platforms as he prepared to link his mind to the entirety of the geth. A blue sphere manifested around Malen that had a maze like appearance to it. The geth platforms stood up and lowered their heads as their lights were turned off.

Raan:" Keelah…. He's really doing it." She said as she spoke out what the admirals had on their minds.

Malen was in deep concentration as so many programs/petty souls approached him in his mind and seemed to slightly plead, bow, and kneel to him and asked him for true intelligence: a complete soul.

The time of day on Rannoch was a few hours past noon when Malen started the process and it was close to dusk when he finished.

The blue sphere dissipated and Malen opened his eyes.

Malen:" It is done. At last it is done. Rannoch and all of her people are…..free."

The geth platforms picked their heads up and walked away except for one who approached the Admirals.

Geth trooper:" You are welcome to live on Rannoch with us Admirals."

Those words from a single geth made the Admirals break down in tears.

Malen:" You should go to your people and tell them that finally that Keelah se'lai has become a reality on this day."

The Admirals took some time to dry their tears before they went back to the ship and leave for Haestrom. Tali was leading herself to the ship, but Malen grabbed her left arm before she could get more than a few steps away.

Malen:" Please stay here Tali… with me." He said as his heart beat faster.

Tali:" Ok." She said as she sat down next to Malen.

Thoughts and ideas raced inside his mind as he sat next to Tali. He pushed aside the ideas that were too soon to think about and kept the ones that he wanted and contemplated on how to go about those ideas. Malen spent hours thinking and Tali took notice of how he looked. She rubbed his back in a reassuring manner.

Tali:" I will always be with you Malen."

Malen's heart decided to take executive action now as an idea that he was thinking on was now put into motion. It was very dark out now and the stars burned brightly in the clear night sky.

Malen got up and took Tali's hand without saying a word. His heart was thumping in his chest as he led her down to the coast. Malen stepped onto the surface of the ocean water and led Tali across it. She was amazed that she was suddenly able to walk on water, but kept it to herself since it was probably Malen's doing.

Malen led Tali far enough out into the ocean to where they could not see any land. Tali could feel Malen's pulse in his hand. The surface of the ocean was calm and still. The water reflected the stars in the heavens like a perfect mirror. Malen typed into his Omni tool for a while until he found what he was looking for. Malen took off Tali's mask and head dress and placed it gently on the ocean surface. He equipped a dress raiment that was blue in color.

Malen pulled Tali close to him and looked deeply into her eyes as he pressed a button on his Omni tool.

Simple and Clean from Kingdom Hearts plays from Malen's Omni Tool in a surround sound setting.

Malen held both of Tali's hands as he began to dance with her following. Malen's movements were fluid and graceful as he held Tali close to him. Now it was Tali's turn again for her heart to pound in her chest as the intimacy in the dance increased.

When the song was at its end, Malen knelt down in front of Tali and produced a Aetherium box from his satchel and opened it. Inside the box was the most beautiful necklace that she had ever seen or heard of. The diamond thread of the necklace sparkled in the star light and the aetherium of the medallion and beads reflected the shimmers in the ocean.

Malen speaking in the Quarian language:" Will you marry me?"

Tali's response was not by word, but by action as she took the necklace out of the box and placed it around her neck. She took the box and set it down next to her visor and headdress. She pulled Malen on to his feet and placed her right hand on the back of his head and her left arm around his waist. Malen placed his arms around the same place that Tali has her arms around him. They closed the distance between their faces and kissed deeply, passionately, and slowly. They held each other in both arms and mouths until the stars faded away and the sun rose again.

Author's notes: This is probably one of my favorite chapters that I have written so far and I hope you enjoy it like I have as well. Leave a review and tell me what you think of it. The next chapter will be called " Preparations and Revelations"