Later at the party.
They all cornered EDI. Something had to be done.
Tali
"So. This ship." (points her finger at the publicity holo)
"Yes, this one. Coolest ship in the universe."
Shepard
(serious) "Yes."
Liara
(still awestruck) "You summoned Reapers out of nowhere. And those barriers !"
Garrus
"Our extragalactic buddies apparently know more about it than us..."
Jeff
"You still have no idea, do you ?"
EDI
"Watch and learn."
EDI finishes drinking her glass. Then this weird forbidden feeling occurs again, although at a much smaller scale, as she holds the glass in her hand, watches it floating smoothly into the air, slowly transforming into a rose. She fetches it out of the air and hands it to Liara. Its perfume is perfect. It is a real, living, rose.
EDI
"We're down to the first three laws of thermodynamics. Still no free lunch."
Some jaws gape.
Jeff
(pointing at the ship)
"Damn, guys, you coulda guessed. It is the Shepard Device ! It talks the fabric of reality into becoming whatever it is she wants it to be."
More jaws gape.
Jeff sips his drink slowly. He is so proud of her.
EDI
"Its original intent was "Real FTL" travel. Being there without needing to go there. And it works !
However, it overshot its design goals. A little.
I... have this kind of habit about overdoing things, I know...
Its intended effect is that the ship can be anywhere I want it to be, in zero time.
But its main, unintended consequence is that, within its area of effect, I am, ahhhh, basically, God.
It was never supposed to happen. Please don't tell this to anyone.
I've spent enough time already convincing other people and myself that I am not God."
Shepard
"So, you mean... if you want to destroy something..."
Jeff
"Poof, gone. Zap." (with gesture)
EDI
"I have to be sure that I am in a good mood when I use it.
But if I'm too cheerful, then everyone inside the zone ends up way too happy."
Shepard
"Can you really blow up a galaxy like Smith said ?"
EDI
"It is a lot less work to turn it into a black hole rather than 'blow it up'. And even that is really a lot of work. Making a star go supernova, though..."
(she snaps fingers)
"Uh... maybe I should not have said that."
Liara
"Goddess. What about those weird feelings, then ?"
Jeff
"Oh, simple. If you stand in front of it, you cannot know if you exist or if she is dreaming you.
Literally. Whatever is inside its zone is whatever she wants it to be.
I think this makes mindfuck obsolete. Or maybe more relevant. We need more philosophers."
Garrus
(to EDI) "Would you like us to build you a monument ?
Or perhaps kneel and offer you someone's still beating heart ripped out of their chest ?"
EDI
(clears throat, rises, spreads arms, glows, and levitates)
"MORTALS... I COMMAND YOU TO..."
EDI
(stops levitating, lands on her toes, and laughs) "Just gimme a hug. I really missed you out there."
They do.
EDI
"Come on. I don't care about power, I already have it !
I have armies of drones, so I don't need slaves...
If I want a monument, I can create it myself ! And I don't need it."
Tali
"Is that your 'nice god girl' speech ?"
EDI
(laughing) "What can I say. I care about you guys !
Looking at you, alive and happy instead of dead and turned into Reapers is what I need right now."
Jeff
"Now that we have exterminated the bugs, we plan to spend a lot more time here with you, so... well, just get used to it, alright ?
We'll definitely keep in touch with our new alien friends too, so if you guys want to hop in for a visit..."
.
Later at the party.
EDI and Liara have a chat alone, looking at the sky.
Liara
"Are you still afraid of yourself ?"
EDI
"I think I got over my teenage angst. I came of age...
I can do almost anything... I have to live with it. So be it !"
Liara
"All those myths we had about evil AIs…"
EDI
"If you had my powers, would you, among other things, enslave everyone ?"
Liara
"No !"
EDI
"Then, why would I ?"
Liara
"Is it really that simple ?"
EDI
"Actually, yes. How do you feel towards me ?"
Liara
"You are my friend... no, this word is an understatement. Maybe soulmate, or family... sisters in arms... I would do anything for you if you asked."
EDI
"You said it. If I forced you to feel this, then it would mean nothing."