Miranda almost dragged Shepard out of his cabin into debriefing room.
"You brought intact geth. Fantastic, but what you want to do with it? It cannot stay in AI Core. Too much of a risk."
"I don't know really. Was going to think about it when someone dragged me out here." John replied grumpily.
"Give it to Cerberus. There is a substantial reward for intact geth"
"Really?" Max walked into room. "You would just sell one of a kind talking geth that helped us, to bunch of idiots who would probably set it up as some smear action or something. You're already swimming in creds by the way. Me and 'Sumi can get you whatever you want."
"Wait what? Talking geth?" Miranda asked blinking rapidly.
"Yes, Princess Ice-cream" Max scoffed "There was only one geth there, talking to Logan by name, and helping us against Collectors. Top of that, That bastard has part of N7 armor welded to it's chest. Coincidence? I don't think so." he finished with mocking voice.
"I wanna talk to it" John decided. "If it's not screwed up but only inactive, maybe we can jump start it. Who knows what a crazy mystery it holds."
"I'm in, but Tali will do a damn backflip once she hears that." Max commented.
"Then we should go there now, before she'll get any ideas." John decided.
/.../
Shepards entered AI Core located behind Med Bay. A geth was lying there shielded with numerous barriers, preventing from any connection with the ship.
"EDI? Anything about the geth?"
"It appears intact, I detect it's still operational, only in equivalent of sleep mode"
"Put on every firewall you can, I will take shield down and try talking to it. Be ready."
"Acknowledged."
John took a deep breath, "Here goes nothing", and tapped on his omni-tool. Barriers went down. Geth flashed light from its visor, then stood up.
"Shepard-Commander" it spoke with mechanized, synthethic voice.
"You know me?"
"Yes."
"How? Have we met?"
"Shepard-Commander, revered as Hero of the Citadel, destroyer of Old Machine. Shepard-Commander opposes Heretics. We never met."
"I've met my share of geth, though we conversed on muzzle velocity only."
"We are geth. We never met. You fought heretics following Old Machine."
"Old Machine? Heretics?"
"You know them as Reapers. Heretics are geth that joined Old Machine and attacked Citadel along with Saren Arterius"
"Woah, woah hold on. You are saying that the geth that attacked Eden Prime...that served as an army for Saren and Sovereign...They weren't all geth?"
"There was a schism among the geth. Part of them decided to join Old Machine when it made an offer to the geth. Rest of geth refused. We seek no conflict with organics."
"Well dip me in shit and breadcrumbs..." Max commented. "Geth doesn't want a war? They just sit on the fringe?"
"The Geth want to exist peacefully. But there was never any peacful contact with organics." geth moved flaps around its visor resembling Garrus's mandibles. "Shepard-Commander, you are the first organic who are not openly hostile to us. It is noted."
"Noted?" John raised his eyebrow
"Geth are connected to eachother at all times. Even now, all that happens here is discussed with all Geth. We share and build a consensus in every matter."
"I'm not following"
"Geth are software. You percive us as a single individual. This is merely a terminal, platform currenty housing thousand and hundred-eighty three programs."
"So I'm talking to a bunch of geth?"
"To all geth."
"Okay...So let's clear few things... Why you were on that Reaper."
"We were seeking a data regarding Old Machines. We oppose them."
"Enemy of my enemy...Okay, I'll take it for now. Why do you want to work with me?"
"You are first organic to oppose and succeed in destroying Old Machine. We share common goal. Also despite your aggression towards Heretics, you do not displayed resentment against other species. We decided that you would give geth a chance."
"Chance in what?"
"Fighting the Old Machines. Their return is closing. We seek allies."
"Huh...well look at this Max" John smiled at his brother. "All powers hiding and lying to themselves when geth revered only as enemies know the score" John recalled that also krogans were not blind and preparing for war. All those pushed to the sidelines...Outcasts and renegades...
"Alright...I'm willing to risk believing you, because fate proven to me that the strangest allies are the true ones."
"We appreciate the confidence Shepard-Commander. We assure that Geth hold no hostility to any organics"
"Shepard what are you-" Tali walked into the AI Core and immediately draw her pistol she always carried. Max instantly grabbed her wrist and taken the gun from her.
"Tali!" John walked up to her and holding by the arm walked out of the room.
/.../
"What are you doing you bosh'tet?! It's a geth! Why is it active!" Tali yelled careless whether Chakwas was present in the Med Bay.
"Tali listen to me!" John tried to cut short her ranting. "I know your history with the geth! But can't you see? It's a one of a kind geth! Looking specifically for me! And it says that we never fought actual geth before! A groub rebelled and joined Saren!"
"It wasn't Saren that slaughtered my ancestors and driven them from their homes!" Tali spat furiously.
"And killing just one geth will bring them back? If this is a ruse, I'll dismember it piece by piece. But if they are really seeking allies? It says that they oppose Reapers, the can help us!"
"I will not belive machines that turned my race into nomads..."
"I pulled you out from political sewer that was created by shortsighted idiots. Don't be like them."
Tali shoved John off and spoke with breaking voice "You choose geth over me?! Your choice" and ran out from Med Bay
"Tali!" John shouted behind her. "Aw fuck...This geth better be worth it" he decided to finish talking to the synthethic, then find Tali.
/.../
"A Creator's response predictable." Geth commented.
"Creator?"
"Quarian race created Geth. They are our creators. In effect of Morning War, Creators left their homeplanet."
"That's Tali'Zorah...She's been with Logan during campaign against those...Heretics" Max walked up to it holstering Tali's gun. "If we're about to work at least a bit. We need to iron out some things."
"Specify."
"We can start with name. I'm Jester."
"We are Geth."
"That won't work, we need a name for platform I'm talking to, this... envoy I'm seeing."
"My name is Legion, for we are many" EDI chimed in.
"Christian bible, Gospel of Mark, chapter five, verse nine. We acknowledge that metaphor as appropriate name" geth responded.
"Good enough...Legion." Max nodded. "Other things...Common knowledge is that all geth are the same. Basically you are enemy to everyone. So be careful. Most organics won't wait for any explanation."
"Acknowledged."
"Then, you don't try any hacking or scanning without permission of Commander. If not our AI would put you down, then rest of the crew will."
"Acknowledged."
"Last but not least, why do you have an N7 piece of armor welded to you?"
"No data available." Legion responded twiching flaps.
"You're either very good at lying before or very bad now."
"Geth do not lie. We also decided that lies would behest any possibility of cooperation with Shepard-Commander"
"Then you just won't tell me? Well I'll know it anyway. I'm Maxwell Shepard. Ring any bells, Legion?"
"Scanning. William Maxwell Shepard. Alliance. Brother of John Logan Shepard."
"Correct. So I'll just take a wild guess...That's my armor you have welded on. The geth made this platform a copy or synonym of Shepard. A leader." John said walking up.
"Acknowledged." Legion spoke after a long moment. "We searched for you. we visit Noveria, Feros, Alchera. Your remains were gone, a plate of your armor was left."
"Well, then the great mystery solved" John mused. "Welcome aboard the Normandy. Legion." he extended his hand and Legion carefully shaken it.
"We will integrate with the Normandy. We anticipate the exchange of data"
"EDI? Get Legion limited access. Be watchful." John glanced at Legion "Full trust is earned."
"Acknowledged." both AI's spoke in unison.
/.../
John went to his cabin to take a cold shower. Maybe figure what to say to Tali. Her words hurt. A lot. As John was getting ready to go out looking for her a silent knock on his doors sounded.
"Come in." John spoke and saw familiar figure in purple envirosuit. She walked carefuly, unsure.
"Shepard..." Tali begun but John only closed his arms around her in a hug.
"It's okay Tali..." he tried not knowing what to say to disarm this situation.
"I shouldn't..."
"It's okay. I know your history. I listened when you told about it. But all I ask is for you to trust me." John gazed at shining orbs behind visor. "I'll never choose anybody else"
Tali clinged to him slightly sobbing. Crisis averted...At least for now...
/.../
John left Tali curled up on the couch in his cabin as she fell asleep. EDI informed him that Miranda assembled whole team in the briefing room.
"She just can't let it go...Ungrateful bitch..." he mutterred in the elevator.
Walking into the briefing room, a tensed atmosphere welcomed him.
"So what this is all about?" he asked already feeling cranky.
"Cheerleader here says you activated the geth?" Jack spoke bluntly. At least she was honest.
"Yeah I did. And some apparently forgot" John glanced at Lawson "I'm the captain of this ship. Which means I do things the way I want it. Not the other way around."
"Hey calm your tits Shepard. Did I said I'm riding your ass for this?" Jack deadpanned. "Little info though could be nice if I'll stumble on walking flashlight on my way to shitter."
"Tell you what. I'll bring it here. Legion will tell you first hand what you want. Good enough?"
Crew nodded.
"Max, Get Legion."
"Legion?" Miranda asked
"Yep. This one has a name."
/.../
Max entered the room with geth following him. All faces turned toward it.
"Legion? Meet rest of the team." John said and introduced everybody in the room. Most people were barely surprised. Serving on the Normandy made them hard to impress. Even talking geth didn't hit the high notes.
Per Shepard's request, Legion repeated some of his speech. Most crew absorbed it calmly, a few deeper breath were drawn once Legion stated importanty of Shepard and high esteem his name held among Geth.
"So everything clear now? We're good?" John asked and a series of acknowledgements and nods anwsered him. "Then dismissed unless you have any other questions."
"Garrus, Legion, come with me for a second." Max motioned at them to the Armory.
"I think the words you are looking for now, Miranda are 'I'm sorry for undermining your command, Shepard' " John spoke glancing at Miranda. She tried to stay icy.
"Why-"
"Because you just acted like a total bitch. Ungrateful one, because I secured your sisters safety and that's how you repay me? Lining up the crew over a geth?"
Miranda felt heat on her face. It wasn't blush, but a feeling like she just got slapped. Worse, she knew she deserved it. She played like good Cerberus operative. Even after all Shepard did for her...
"I...I'm sorry" Miranda finally stuttered.
"Get over the fact that you're working for me not for Cerberus anymore. We're supposedly friends right?" John spoke leaving into the Armor curious what Max was doing.
/.../
"That's fantastic...What do you humans say? It's like Christmas?" Garrus chuckled holding heavy sniper recovered from Reaper.
"Glad you like it." Max smiled. "Hey Legion, I noticed on Reaper that you are a sniper too right?"
"We are upgraded to fight using long range weaponry."
"Another one like that would be sufficient?"
"Correct."
"Okay, I'll fabricate another one like that. You're free to go." Max looked as Geth walked into CIC. Max aready had to make EDI comm whole ship to not flip out about a geth, so he trusted nobody would try shooting it.
"Hell of a mess. A talking geth seeking Shepard's help..." Garrus commented.
"If I wouldn't be already insane, I would lost my mind..." Max chuckled. "So Birdman, got any special orders for your new toy?"
"I guess nothing can be made with the weight..."
"Nope. no without losing any other parameters. Had to experiment, gun was fried inside a bit when we found it. I could make this two shot per heat sink...probably. Upside of it? You can calibrate it. Scope, barrel...All of it" Max chuckled.
"Now that's what I call fun time" Garrus smiled.
"Enjoy it, Master of Calibrations. bet you'll use it soon." John said walking in. Garrus let out a nasty smirk.
"What's up? You look pissed." Max commented while Garrus left.
"First Tali flipped out then we worked it out...Now Miranda tries to play some shit picturing me like I made some secrets from the crew... Even after she read all that shit I've done, seen proof of Cerberus being a menace and after we saved her sister's life..."
"I think she needs one more push...She's on the verge of breaking, Logan. That stunt? That was just one last remainder who she were. The seeds of doubt are already there" Jester laughed.
"Yeah...We'll see about that. Gonna have to find Tali and see if she's okay. Then I'll just mob Legion with more questions. If he's connected to all geth, maybe I'll get anything useful."
/.../